Yeah. So I think some of you have already seen the, you know, the final assessment which has been posted in the e-platform and also in Google Classroom. So even though we'll be finishing Second Thessalonians next week, you know, you can get started with the multiple choice questions. And I think even if we, you know, even without having attended the last session, I think you should be able to answer the questions.  So you will be able to, you know, you can actually finish the final assessment questions.  So nobody should miss out on their marks. So yes, Second Thessalonians. In Second Thessalonians, I think it is in Chapter 2 that we get to know that someone had spread the wrong information that the day of the Lord had already come and gone. You know, these believers in Thessalonica were undergoing a lot of severe persecution regarding the, you know, access to the assignment being restricted. I again reopened the thing. So I'm sure it should be available now. Every time I close that assignment form, it again, you know, goes back to the default. I'm not sure why it does that. Every time I open the form, I, you know, reset it. And then when I close the form, it goes back to its default mode. But I did that again. And so I'm assuming that, you know, it's no longer restricted. So yeah, you can try to access it right now if you wish. Yeah, I think, you know, you will be able to access it. So yeah. So coming to the Second Thessalonians, the wrong information that is given by somebody to this Thessalonian believers is that the day of the Lord has already come and gone. So these believers had been undergoing very severe persecution. And so they thought that, you know, the Lord has found them unsatisfactory. And so he has left them. He has not collected them and taken them along with him. And now they have been left behind to face the tribulation period. It's what these poor people, I know, were thinking in their minds. So they were very discouraged. They were very confused. They were thinking that, you know, this intense suffering that is happening is because the day of the Lord has finished coming. And now the Lord has gone away with his people. And they have been left behind to suffer a lot of persecution. So therefore, Paul immediately sits down and writes another letter to them, telling them that certain events need to take place before the Second Coming will happen. So he gives some details regarding that regarding what the things which will take place before the actual Second Coming will happen. So he assures them that the day of the Lord has not yet occurred and certain events, some some some end time events will first need to happen only after that the Second Coming will take place. So details regarding that are given over here in this second letter. So coming to chapter one, if we could have someone read out for us the first five verses. Yeah. So Second Thessalonians chapter one verses one to five. Second Thessalonians chapter one verses one to five. Greetings Paul, Sylvanus and Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians in God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. God's final judgment and glory. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting because your faith grows exceedingly and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other. So that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which you also suffer. Yeah. So here Paul begins with some words of encouragement because these believers have been going through a lot of suffering and they are now feeling very abandoned, very insecure. And so he assures them and he tells them that they are on the right track. He says your faith is growing more and more and we are so grateful to the Lord for this and we are thanking him regarding this and he says we are boasting about your perseverance to all the other churches. We're telling them about how you guys have held on to God in spite of all the difficulties and trials that you are enduring. And so he says all this is evidence that God's judgment is right. You know, he basically is saying to these believers, in spite of all the persecution that you are suffering, you have held on to God because you believe that God will reward you one day. You completely believe in his faithfulness. You completely trust in his genuineness. So even though so much persecution has happened, in spite of that, you have held on to him because you believe he is just, he is fair and he will reward you. And this is the evidence that God's judgment is right. So all the people who are watching you will realize that your God must indeed be very, very faithful. Otherwise you would have abandoned him and gone away a long time ago. Why are you still holding on? Why are you still persevering in spite of all the suffering and trials? It's because you know he is completely faithful. He is completely fair and just. So you know that he will never do injustice. So this is like evidence and proof to the world that God is indeed a faithful God. So the way we respond to our circumstances and our difficulties will show people what we really think about our God. It will be like a demonstration to them of who our God is. When we are going through severe trials, if we become very, very flustered and very worried and we go into depression and we become deeply anxious and we respond in all of those negative ways, then the people who are watching will think, Oh, their God is also like our God's. When things go bad, times are tough, you're on your own. When everything is fine, then you can say God, God. But when you're in the middle of a trial, you're on your own because these people's God also seems to be like our God's. That is the impression which people would get, the wrong impression which people would get. On the other hand, when they see a believer going through a severe time of trial and they see him continuing to rejoice, continuing to pray and not giving up, and they see that person continuing to thank God in all circumstances, then it's like evidence to them that, Oh, here is a God who can be trusted even when things are the worst. So it makes them sit up and pay attention. It makes them realize that this living God is very different from the other Gods, that here is a God who can be trusted even when things are completely dark. And when they see this believer giving thanks even in such circumstances and rejoicing, it really proves to them, it's evidence to them that this God is right in all that he does, which is why when Rup Paul, when he's writing to the Corinthians, he boasts about these Macedonian believers, the ones who are here in Thessalonica and in Philippi, he boasts about them and he says that in the midst of the severest trial, these guys are overflowing with joy, he says. So these were people who trusted God and because they trusted God in the most difficult circumstances, it proved to the whole world that they believe in a God who is completely faithful. So the way we respond to our trials can be a great testimony to the people who are watching us, to the world which is watching us. So in verse 6, he goes on to say, God is just, he will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled and to us as well. So if we could maybe have someone read out for us all the way from verse 6 up to verse 12. Yeah. Second Thessalonians chapter 1, verses 6 to 12 please. Verse 6, since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you and to give you who are troubled, rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power when he comes in that day to be glorified in his saints and to be admired among all those who believe because our testimony among you was believed. Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and you in him according to the grace of God, grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Yeah. So Paul says over here that God is just, see sometimes justice may not be received while we are still on this earth because sometimes our persecutors you know they it looks like as if they have won you know and we are not given the justice which we deserve while we are still here but a day will come when every account will be settled every wrong that has been done you know will be punished. So even though these Thessalonians might not have received justice you know while they were still alive on the judgment day all the wrong that was done against them that will be punished without faith. So that's an assurance that believers are given you know because especially now in the end times when the persecution is increasing and the law enforcement forces are working against us rather than for us you know when believers go out to the police station and you know file their complaint because of the injustice which is being done to them the police officers sometimes are unwilling to even take down their written complaint you know they they refuse to file their complaint. So we are living in times where justice may not be received on this earth but the assurance that we are giving is that God is just and one day every wrongdoing will be punished. So Paul says this will happen and the Lord is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels you know which is what revelation 19 talks about how God will come to bring judgment. So judgment will be brought upon the people who are living at that time you know in the end times and also judgment will be declared against all those who have done wrong against the church again and against the followers of God through the ages. So last class when we were talking about the difference between rapture and the second coming we talked about how Jesus will descend upon the Mount of Olives it talks about how you know his feet will rest upon the Mount of Olives and so in that passage Zechariah 14 versus 3 to 4 this is what it says over there in Zechariah 14 3 to 4 then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as he fights on a day of battle on that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives. So in the second coming when the Lord comes he will avenge all the wrong that has been done to believers. So the Lord has his own timing sometimes justice may be received right now you know in our current day but sometimes the justice will be seen in the end time when on the judgment day when everyone who deserves to be punished will receive punishment for whatever wrong they have done. So we never have to think you know that we have just been left that God ignored our pain that God ignored the wrong that has been done to us no the Lord does not overlook any wrong every wrong doing will be punished so except of course if a person repents of their sins and comes to him under his covering so in that case whatever rotten things that person has done all of those sins will be forgiven in the same way our sins were also forgiven you know so that privileges there and in those cases the injustice of that the punishment for that has been borne by Jesus Christ on the cross so he has paid for the wrong which was done so that person will not be punished Jesus would have taken that punishment upon himself but in all other cases the punishment will come upon the people who have harmed and hurt the people of God. So in verse 11 he says with this in mind we constantly pray for you that our God may make you worthy of his calling and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. So here he says that it is God who will make you worthy of his calling how will he make us worthy by his power there are two things that the Thessalonians believers were desiring for first they had a desire for goodness they really wanted to become more holy they really wanted to please God they really wanted to live good lives so this desire for goodness which they had all assures them that God will make this happen by his power the second thing which they desire is that every deed should be prompted by faith they want to do good deeds for God you know out of their love out of their faith. So Paul says that this too they will be able to do by the power of God we pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you is what Paul says so God will glorify himself by fulfilling these two desires you know just like these Thessalonians we too have a desire for goodness we don't want to continue living in sin we want to leave our old ways and become more pleasing to him so this desire for goodness which we have God will fulfill it by his power in the same way there are so many deeds which we are doing you know out of faith and out of love God will cause us to succeed and you know be effective in all these good deeds that we are doing by the resurrection power which he has given us so we can have confidence that we will be able to live a righteous holy life and become more and more sanctified not by our own strength but by the resurrection power of God and in the same way we can have the full assurance that if we are doing anything you know out of faith out of love for God any good deed that we are taking up God will cause us to succeed in it by his resurrection power so his resurrection power is available for living a godly life and his resurrection power is available for doing ministry work doing good deeds helping those who are in need you know so in all of this God's resurrection power is available and at work so God himself will make us worthy of his calling because you see if you remember these Thessalonians were worried they were thinking that God had left them behind because he found them lacking he thought that they are not worthy and so he left them behind and he just collected all the other believers and went away is what they were thinking so here Paul is assuring them and telling them don't worry you too will be made worthy God will do this by his resurrection power so you know if any of us are out there thinking that you know I will never really amount to anything the things which I am doing will never really bear any fruit because I'm so small and insignificant this these words which Paul writes over here are applicable even to us God will make us worthy of his calling no matter how small we are or how insignificant we are by his resurrection power he will fulfill our desire for goodness and living a godly life by his resurrection power he will cause every deed you know that we are doing for him to be successful this is something that God will work in us through his power so he will make us worthy of his calling we never have to think that you know I will always stay unworthy we do not have to you know live under that kind of a wrong impression so this is basically what Paul you know says in chapter one he assures them that they are on the right track and he comforts them that you know if they if they hold on to this right track God will do what is required God will make them worthy and so then he goes to the you know the the key issue that they are facing and he talks about that in chapter two so if we could have someone read out for us the word the first seven versus yeah second Thessalonians chapter two versus one to seven please now brethren considering the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him we we ask you not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled either by spirit or by word or by letter as if from us as though the day of crisis come let no one deceive you by any means for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first and the man of sin is revealed the son of petition who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worship so that he sees as God in the temple of God showing himself that he is God do do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things and now you know that it is restraining that he may be revealed in his own time for the mysteries of lawlessness is already at work only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way yeah so here Paul assures them and tells them don't worry the day of the Lord has not come yet so he says in verse two he says do not become easily unsettled or alarmed that Greek word that is used over there literally talks about you know someone who has been shaken in their mind is like they have received a very shocking jolt you know that because that's basically how the this one believers felt when they heard this wrong teaching that God has finished coming and has collected his people and gone away so it is like a shock to them it is like a jolt it unsettled them in their mind so he says do not become unsettled do not become alarmed by this wrong teaching and so then he goes on to say two two main events have to take place before the second coming will happen so the first is that a rebellion will occur and the second thing is that the man of lawlessness will be revealed so only after these two events have happened only then the second coming will take place so the first one is that the rebellion will occur that word which is used over there that's the Greek word apostasia it literally talks about someone who is turning their back and walking away from the position which they had held earlier so it's talking about a very deliberate decision of being told the truth and then choosing consciously and saying no I don't want this truth I choose to walk away so it's like an outright rebellion so a time will come when and in fact we're already seeing that happening now where you have a major portion of the church turning their backs on God turning their backs on the word of God and walking away I mean we're seeing that all over the world right many many people who used to be attendees in the churches are now turning their back on the church and walking away and now you have a new kind of church coming in you know they're calling them progressive churches not sure whether you heard that term there are progressive churches being set up everywhere these are new types of churches where whatever you want to do you do you know you feel like doing something you do it there's no longer any obedience to the word of God you know so people say oh yeah you know the word of God is can be adjusted to modern times we are progressive in our thinking is what they say so you have a large section of the church which is walking away in open rebellion they have turned their back on what God has said they no longer have respect and they no longer regard the word of God as being authoritative you know they they exert their own authority they decide what is right and what is wrong and they have the temerity to call it a church you know they actually call it progressive church but in fact these churches are not progressing they're in fact backsliding into a very you know bad condition of total destruction so the first thing is that the rebellion will occur there'll be a major move away from the church of God there'll be millions of people walking away from the truth walking away from the things of God and walking away from whatever the word of God has commanded and we are actually seeing that happening even now and it'll probably continue to increase you know even as the end times keep progressing the second thing which will take place before the second coming will be the you know revealing of the man of lawlessness in our Christian circles that word anti Christ is being used you know for this particular person but over here Paul just describes him as man of lawlessness because in the New Testament that word anti Christ is generally used for you know false teachers false prophets people who have taken an anti Christ stand you know rather than being for Christ they are anti Christ they're against Christ so that the word in the New Testament is generally used for people who are false teachers and false prophets but you know in our modern Christian circles generally this man of lawlessness he is referred to as the anti Christ that final man who will come and lead the people into deception so there's much debate about who this person is and from where he would come and what he would be like in Daniel 11 this person is mentioned so Daniel 11 versus 36 to 37 if someone could read out for us Daniel 11 36 and 37 Daniel 11 was 36 and 37 then the king shall do according to his own will he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god shall speak blasphemies against the god of gods and shall prosper till the Roth has been accomplished for what has been determined shall be done he shall regard neither the god of his fathers nor the desire of women nor regard any god for he shall exalt himself above them all yeah so here it talks about this person who will come in the end times he will it says he will not have regard for any god but will exalt himself above them all so this person will portray himself as a god he will he will declare that he is divine and in fact he will succeed to some extent it says because everyone you know will will believe in him and they will go after him so this is the kind of anti Christ who's talked about in Daniel 11 36 to 37 it says that he will in verse 37 it says he will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women here it's referring to you know the Hebrew women who were longing to be the mother of the Messiah you know the Israelite nation was always eagerly looking forward to the to the revealing of the Messiah and it was a longing among the women of Israel that you know they should receive the honor of becoming the mother of this Messiah when he is born in fact this privilege was not given to any of them it finally comes to one you know unknown youngster named Mary so she's the one who is granted this privilege of becoming the mother of the Messiah so here in verse 37 it's talking about that how this anti Christ will have no regard for any gods nor will he have any regard for the Messiah but rather he will exalt himself above everyone so when people talk about this topic of anti Christ they generally refer to two people in the past who were like an anti Christ the first person that that is generally referred to is Antiochus Epiphany this was a person who you know lived about about 200 years before the coming of Jesus to 15 BC to 164 BC this was a Syrian king who comes and you know attacks Jerusalem and just to dishonor the temple and just to you know dishonor the Jewish people he goes into the temple and he installs a new altar over there to the to the pagan gods Zeus so he makes a new he builds a new altar inside the Jerusalem temple and over there on that altar he sacrifices a pig specifically because the Old Testament says that I know the Jews should not either sacrifice pigs or eat them and so he deliberately does this as an act of open rebellion that Greek word apostasia so he basically basically indulges in an open act of rebellion against God so people generally refer to Antiochus Epiphanus as an anti Christ a second person who's generally referred to as an anti Christ is Emperor Gaius Caligula this was basically the Roman Emperor in AD 40 it's like shortly after the you know the the resurrection of Jesus he sets up a statue of himself in the Jerusalem temple he makes a large statue of himself he sets it up inside the Jerusalem temple and he tells all the Jewish people to bow down before this statue and in fact many of the Jews who refuse to do that you know they are tortured and all of that so these are some people who came in the past who openly rebelled against God and you know basically established themselves as a God so the anti Christ who will come in the end times he will be something like this and so in the Thessalonian passage it says in verse 4 it says he will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or his worship so that he sets himself up in God's temple so there's some debate about where exactly this anti Christ of the end times will set himself up some people say that the Jerusalem temple will be rebuilt at that time and he will set himself up in that Jerusalem temple because right now you know right I mean the temple is no longer there it was destroyed in AD 70 and after that in the middle ages the mosque was built over there so right now there is no temple but the belief is that in the end times the temple may be rebuilt and the anti Christ may set himself up over there I will will continue to look at this theme of the anti Christ and you know cover some details regarding this in our next session so right now we'll just close with the word of prayer Lord we just thank you so much for the things that we could learn from the Thessalonian letters we pray O Lord that we would remember these things and apply them in our lives help us to prepare ourselves O Lord for your second coming enable us to be sober and awake and alert O Lord so that when you come you will be very pleased to see us the way we are and we will we will receive praise from you so we pray O Lord that we will remember all the instructions that are given in chapter 5 and we would apply them to our own lives thank you Lord in Jesus name amen amen thank you


Item number SCP-408 Object Class Safe Special Containment Procedures The screen mesh aviary must be kept properly maintained by level 2 personnel, with backgrounds in biology or lepidoptery. Proper humidity must be maintained and recorded once per day, and backed up to site 17. 200 feeters filled with an aqueous sugar solution are to be maintained and refilled once per week. Description SCP-408 is a large mass of lepidoptera, taking the appearance of zebra butterflies when not camouflaged. SCP-408 acts as a single entity at all times, speculated to be a form of hive mind communication amongst the mass. When inactive, SCP-408 will take on the color, pattern, and even texture of its immediate surroundings, making them functionally invisible. When threatened, SCP-408 has been observed to take on the form and appearance of a number of threatening creatures as a defense method, including a pride of lions, a tyrannosaurus rex, and most notably, SCP-682. SCP-408 possesses the ability to communicate and reason, utilizing its ability to manipulate its color into words and sentences to reply to researchers. IQ tests administered to SCP-408 have evaluated its IQ to be 109, or slightly above average. However, when a part of the swarm is isolated, lower scores have been reported, resulting in a theory that SCP-408 shares its cognitive capacity amongst the entirety of the swarm. As of date expunged, SCP-408 prefers to be identified by its SCP number. SCP-408 was discovered and expunged, Brazil, after reports that locals and logging teams found their maps to be frequently inaccurate regarding the size of the rainforest. After reports of animal sightings not local to either the Brazilian rainforest and some not found on Earth at all, Foundation agents began an investigation resulting in the discovery of SCP-408. After learning it was intelligent, Dr. Poole, who accompanied the agents in the field, communicated with SCP-408 and convinced it to accompany him to Site-17, where their current habitat exists. Addendum 408A. Regarding SCP-408's knowledge of SCP-682, an investigation is underway regarding this leak of information. Incident 408A. Due to a failure by appropriate personnel to properly refill 408's feeders, the swarm took it upon itself to find sustenance by its own means. Taking the appearance of several level 1 personnel, SCP-408 convinced a passerby to open the door to the aviary, upon which they made an escape into the Site-17 facility. For the whole of the day, Site-17 personnel reported an alarming series of irregular events, ranging from color-changing walls to several dozen versions of SCP-529 walking down a hallway. Site-17 was placed on lockdown, and Delta-level alert when it appeared that 90% of the containment units had been breached. Dr. Kondraki, head of research for 408, had been out on assignment that day, and it wasn't until his return that the illusion had been revealed, and in short order, SCP-408 was returned to its aviary. Little damage was done, except to the faculty break room, which was left without proper sweeteners for the next week. Note. It may be just sugar water, but without it, 408 is prone to mischief, as we clearly saw yesterday. It's fortunate that it doesn't act maliciously, but think about others next time you slack off custodial duties. Think about yourself as well, as I will not tolerate having to use sweeten low in my morning coffee for very long. Dr. Kondraki. Addendum 408b Recent field testing has shown that SCP-408 can act as an effective form of active invisibility when ordered to. SCP-408 was able to conceal 5 level 2 personnel, and keep them undetected throughout the facility. Tests show the concealment to operate at 99.997% efficiency, and can be maintained for up to 5 hours without need for rest or recuperation. The option of lending SCP-408 to task forces for covert operations is pending approval. Addendum 408c During Incident 239b-CLEF Kondraki, which SCP-408 was heavily involved in, a number of corpses left by Dr. KLEF vanished in the aftermath of the event. Surveillance showed that at certain times, the entire swarm of SCP-408 would descend on the body, only to leave no trace of the corpse behind. Subsequent testing shows a proportional increase in IQ, although a lack of cooperation when questioned has shed no light on this development. Interview Log 408c Interviewer Dr. Sagai Interviewee SCP-408 Dr. Sagai is seated within the aviary, while SCP-408 hovers around a large feeding trough, filled with sugar water. Dr. Sagai, I'll start off with asking how you're recovering. You seem to have lost quite a bit of your mass after the SCP-531D termination. SCP-408 responds by uniformly creating words one after the other. SCP-408 Kondraki Where? Dr. Sagai, I'm his substitute for the interview, as he happens to be busy adjusting to his new promotion. Lots of paperwork, I'm told. A moment goes by. SCP-408 I… fine. Recover. Good. Food. Good. Dr. Sagai, how exactly do you replenish your numbers? SCP-408 comp… another pause. SCP-408. Decaded. Don't… know. Word. Dr. Sagai. Was Dr. Kondraki the one who taught you to speak? SCP-408. Yes. Teach a… lot. Dr. Sagai. He taught you, but how do you communicate with him? SCP-408. Don't… know. Word. Lost. In… space. Dr. Sagai. You lost the part that knew? SCP-408. Yes. I… forget. Until… return. Dr. Sagai. Next question then. What happened with SCP-091-ARC and you during the incident a few months ago? SCP-408. Pretty. Smell. Familiar. Long. Time. Dr. Sagai. You mean you'd smelled it before? SCP-408. Yes. Before. Long. Before. People. Dr. Sagai. Are you saying you predate human existence? No response from SCP-408. Dr. Sagai. Never mind. Doesn't matter. Last question. Dr. Sagai closes the interview questionnaire and sets it onto the ground. Dr. Sagai. What is the nature of your relationship with Dr. Kondraki? SCP-408. He… think. Right. Dr. Sagai. That's not what I meant. Log show that you're with him. Out of containment. Almost all of the time now. Dr. Kondraki has been breaching protocol by letting you out of containment. SCP-408. I… don't. Know. What? Dr. Sagai.  Do you know what I was doing before that schmuck snatched me up as an assistant? I was head of research for the entire subhuman safe SCP sector.  I will have him thrown out. Oversight won't let him get away with this. SCP-408 proceeds to approximate a laugh, as described in the log as a caricatured face displayed by SCP-408. Dr. Sagai. Are you laughing at me? I'm about to have your little friend terminated, and you're having a chuckle. SCP-408 shifts to display a new image, which was presumed to be a live feed of Dr. Kondraki in his new office. Dr. Sagai. No. That's not possible.  You can't do that. You can't do that. Dr. Sagai attempts to damage SCP-408. Guards later found Dr. Sagai huddled in a fetal position, displaying symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress syndrome. Item number SCP-478. Object Class. Euclid. Special Containment Procedures. Instances of SCP-478 are to be surgically recovered whole from victims before death. After recovery, they are to be kept in specialized vacuum-sealed lockers within BioSight 66. Instances of SCP-478 do not seem to be able to pass through solid matter, and thus may be held indefinitely unless damaged. Mildly affected victims may be treated in a normal civilian medical establishment by Foundation surgeons under the guise of orthodontic surgery. General sedation is to be administered as per normal surgery. Severely affected victims of SCP-478 are to be recovered by the nearest Foundation establishment and subsequently moved to BioSight 16 for study. Because of SCP-478's unique structure, infected individuals are not to be terminated prematurely. Victims deemed capable of full recovery may be treated for infection and released as above. Survivors are to be administered a class B amnesiac and false memories are to be planted. Victims deemed unsalvageable may be terminated. Description. SCP-478 are small entities of inconsistent size and shape that resemble a darkly colored butterfly or moth in flight. Wild instances have been encountered a number of times, but their elusive nature makes capture difficult. Extracted instances of SCP-478 do not seem to need to eat, sleep, breathe, or breed. After some testing with captured instances, it is understood that SCP-478 are somewhat predatory and normally prey exclusively on humans under the age of 25. Furthermore, SCP-478 most often seeks out individuals who have not yet shed all their deciduous teeth. SCP-478 will enter a victim's mouth while they sleep and attach onto the soft palate in the upper nasal cavity, usually blocking one nostril. The body's mucus production will increase, leading the victim, upon waking, to believe that they have developed a minor cold. From there, the victim's palate will begin to generate teeth in addition to the gingivas, gums, normal replacement of teeth. This growth process will begin at a rate several times faster than normal tooth growth and quickly increases in speed and severity. The palate's generation of new teeth will continue until the entire palate has been covered, proceeding down the victim's throat and esophagus. Over the course of two to four days, these teeth will completely saturate the stomach lining, then begin growing within the lungs and the subcutaneous layer of skin. Skeletal calcium will be leached away to provide material for the new teeth in an increasingly painful process. This growth will continue until the entire digestive tract has been saturated by dental tissue, after which SCP-478 will exit the victim's mouth and flee. Teeth within the stomach are exposed to the body's normal acid production, while teeth within the skin will group closely together, forming rigid masses of dental material underneath the surface. All teeth are normal beyond placement, containing a root, nerve, and enamel. It is unknown exactly how or why SCP-478 causes this explosive new growth of dental tissue. Addendum Historical Note Documentation recovered from Foundation raids on the dental laboratory of Dr. Rasmund Yelkov, implicate SCP-478 as a primary source of the phenomenon observed in SCP-1994. Investigation into Dr. Yelkov's ability to communicate and capture instances of SCP-478 is ongoing. Item Number SCP-532 Object Class Ketter Special Containment Procedures Standard biohazard containment procedures are to be followed for all research samples of SCP-532. Samples are to be kept at a constant temperature of minus 8 degrees celsius. Any personnel encountering instances of SCP-532 outside of Foundation custody are to evacuate all outdoor areas immediately and contact Dr. Rasmund Yelkov. Description SCP-532 is a pathogenic bacteria, most similar in composition to pseudomonas or isohabitans. SCP-532 shows an increased tolerance for low temperatures, showing peak reproductive rates at negative 25 degrees celsius. The full tolerance range of SCP-532 is approximately negative 52 degrees celsius to negative 5 degrees celsius. Furthermore, SCP-532 shows several mechanisms in order to cope with high temperatures. Several small flagella line the cell membrane, allowing SCP-532 to be carried by air currents into the upper stratosphere and lower mesosphere. Due to a lack of energy source, SCP-532 will enter into a state of hibernation for an indefinite amount of time while in the atmosphere. SCP-532 will leave its hibernating state once it detects warm air currents coming from the troposphere. SCP-532 will then retract several of its flagella and descend into the troposphere. The heat provided by the troposphere generally causes several instances of SCP-532 to turn into a clump, similar in view to a snowflake. If the heat provided by the troposphere is above 0 degrees celsius, SCP-532 will typically die before reaching the Earth's surface. Instances of SCP-532 reaching any inorganic material or non-exothermic organism will spread their flagella and be carried by air currents back into the upper stratosphere. SCP-532 is coated in a chemical that reacts with the lipids of an exothermic organism's cell membranes to create an endothermic reaction. This simultaneously kills nearby tissue and provides a suitable temperature for SCP-532 to reproduce. Victims of SCP-532 describe this in a similar manner to the cold felt when a snowflake makes contact with human skin. SCP-532 shows a tendency to break down and ingest the dermis and will not enter the body until the surrounding dermis has been covered. SCP-532 will then enter the bloodstream, causing major damage to the circulatory system due to the freezing and subsequent crystallization of water molecules.  Following the death of a host victim, SCP-532 will migrate back into the upper stratosphere. SCP-532 shows a 98% mortality rate, if left untreated, 100% if SCP-532 is caught on the tongue. Treatment of victims of SCP-532 may be conducted through exposure to water heated to 20 degrees Celsius or more. However, this results in massive tissue damage to affected areas. Extreme cases of SCP-532 infection may require amputation of affected limbs. Item Number SCP-553 Object Class Safe Special Containment Procedures The primary colony of SCP-553 is to be kept in the cave system they were discovered in, located in China. Coordination with the Chinese Ministry of State Security has resulted in the surrounding area being declared a munitions testing range and off limits to non-military personnel. Foundation agents have further encouraged local folklore, which indicates that the cave system is inhabited by demons in order to discourage casual exploration. A Chinese Foundation security force is stationed on site and will monitor the status of the colony. 125 instances of SCP-553 have been transported to Site 37 for observation and experimentation. They are kept in an 8 meter by 17 meter by 5 meter steel walled room, whose interior replicates conditions in their originating cave system. Native cave flora and fauna are to be maintained in sufficient quantities to provide the appropriate nutritional needs of SCP-553. Multiple IR and night vision cameras have been installed in order to provide full coverage of the interior, as well as numerous passive acoustic sensors. Any personnel entering the chamber must only use the designated path and be wearing full body protection, as laid out in Document 553-0942 Alpha. Effective 0601 2000, a decontamination airlock has been installed, and all rooms and hallways adjoining SCP-553's chamber are to be equipped with high strength UV lamps, as well as a humidity level of 50% or less. Industrial dehumidifiers are to be on hand in the case of containment breach. Description SCP-553 is a colony of approximately 140,000 winged organisms, superficially resembling butterflies. They possess a silicone-based biochemistry, and are composed primarily of calcium and silicate compounds. The body of a member of the species is mostly calcite, with some of the internal organs composed of a material similar to quartz, with piezoelectric properties. This silicate impurity adds rigidity to the creature, giving it a rating from 3.5 to 4.5 on the Moe's hardness scale. Although they continue to grow throughout their observed lifespan, the growth rate slows considerably once they have entered their adult stage. The average observed wingspan of an adult is 2.3 centimeters. The life cycle is notable in that it appears more closely related to crystal growth than standard biological growth. The creature starts out as a crystal seed, rather than an egg. Adult instances deposit them on stalactites, and they hatch approximately 12 days later. The larval stage appears as anthodites, and leech minerals from the stalactite using a weak acid. They move extremely slowly, approximately 5 centimeters per day, and leave distinctive tracks behind them as they progress. These tracks can be used to discriminate between genuine anthodites and SCP-553. The larval stage lasts approximately 70 days, at which point it becomes stationary and begins to grow its wings. During the transition from the larval to the adult stage, the wings of an instance of SCP-553 grow rapidly, becoming fully formed in less than 9 hours, at which point the adult will detach from the stalactite. Through an unknown process, SCP-553 maintains a relatively stable population, with eggs only being laid when an adult dies. The population transplanted to containment has stabilized at 137, give or take 2. Members of SCP-553 primarily rely on a form of echolocation to sense their surroundings. They do this by creating a variety of ultra-high-pitched tones, via scraping and striking their legs together, and appear to use their wings as a mobile array to detect reflected sound. Additionally, they appear to have a variety of chemo sensors in their foot pads, allowing them to determine the mineral composition of the surfaces they land on. Adult instances of SCP-553 primarily feed by scraping fungus and lichen from the cavern floor, and, to a lesser extent, leaching minerals from stalagmites, using a similar acid as used by the larval stage. Note, adults have never been observed to feed from stalactites. It is hypothesized that this is an adaptation to preserve foodstock for the larval stage. When any adult instance of SCP-553 suffers significant damage, it produces a unique sonar signature, which alerts all other nearby adults to the presence of danger. Adults will swarm the perceived source of danger, and proceed to attack it by attempting to slice it with their wings. The wings of SCP-553 members have an average thickness of 5 millimeters, where they attach to the body, and taper rapidly to an average thickness of 0.05 millimeters with sharp, beveled edges. In testing, individual lacerations as deep as 1 centimeter have been measured. However, deeper lacerations usually result in some portion of the wing structure breaking off in the inflicted wound. These fragments typically continue to fracture in the wound due to mechanical stresses. The circulatory fluid of SCP-553 reacts with most carbon-based tissues in a necrotizing fashion, resulting in significant post-traumatic infections. Incident 553-4 Gamma On 05-21-2011 instances of SCP-553 escaped their containment chamber due to an improperly sealed access door. They reacted to recapture attempts as an attack, and retaliated. SCP-553 displayed a high degree of pattern recognition and target analysis, and quickly focused their attacks on the exposed fleshy parts of the containment personnel, particularly the throat and face. The nine immediate fatalities received, on average, 10 wounds greater than 1 centimeter. It is currently hypothesized that these were caused by multiple slashes on the same wound site. The secondary necrotic infections caused by SCP-553 wounds resulted in a further eight deaths. Twelve instances were successfully recaptured and returned to containment, and the remaining dead instances were retained for autopsy, structural analysis, and chemical analysis of their circulatory fluid. Item Number SCP-556 Object Class Euclid Special Containment Procedures SCP-556 is stored in a secure hangar at site. No materials containing any ink, dye, or paint may enter the red zone established in a 50 meter radius around SCP-556. In the case of a runoff incident from accidental introduction of raw material into SCP-556, the containment area must be locked down for a minimum of 48 hours pending reevaluation of SCP-556 via remote exploration. Personnel working within the red zone of SCP-556 must be paired at all times, and any missing personnel are to be reported immediately. Description SCP-556 is the recovered wreckage of Varig cargo flight PPVLU, a Boeing 707-32-3C that crashed approximately 320 kilometers east northeast of Tokyo, Japan, on January 30th, 1979. At the time, the aircraft was carrying 153 paintings when a Foundation listening post picked up an anomalous Mayday signal from the flight. Officially, the aircraft disappeared without a trace, and no wreckage was ever discovered. Foundation assets were able to recover SCP-556 mostly intact, at a depth of 0.5 meters, on 0.979, and transported the wreckage to site where it remains today. The exterior of SCP-556 has sustained extensive damage, consistent with a high-speed impact into water, followed by exposure at crush depth. Despite this, the interior of SCP-556 is mostly intact, and was in fact discovered dry at time of recovery, and 86% covered by a layer of paint. Spectroscopic and chemical analysis has shown this layer to be a mixture of the paint on the paintings, carried by PPVLU on its last flight, with traces of human DNA. The paint forms a continuous, static scene, depicting a large industrial complex in which several human figures are being data-expunged. At time of discovery, no physical remains of the cargo or the six crew members could be found. An initial survey showed that the painted scene contained 68 uniquely identifiable individuals, of which several have shown incredible similarities to descriptions and photographs of the missing crew. Addendum 556-1, translated excerpt from the damaged cockpit voice recorder, CVR, recovered from SCP-556. R, unintelligible, coming up from the cargo hold, unintelligible. M, unintelligible, got unintelligible, closed the unintelligible. R, unintelligible, unintelligible, screaming. R, unintelligible, mayday, this is unintelligible, going down near unintelligible, mayday, mayday, mayday, unintelligible, screaming, cut off. End of transcript, loss of onboard power. Addendum 556-2, on 1980, an attempt to transfer the paint from the interior of SCP-556 to another medium was made. SCP-556 subsequently data expunged, within a 200 meter radius. Subsequent analysis now shows 217 unique individuals within the scene, and coverage of the cabin walls has increased to 91%. Further attempts to remove the paint have been suspended, pending further investigation into the incident. Addendum 556-3, on 1990, a Class D maintenance worker with extensive tattoos over 46% of his body, accidentally walked within the red zone of SCP-556, and was immediately data expunged. Current figure count within SCP-556 now stands at 218, with paint over 92% of the cabin walls. Class D personnel must now be screened for body tattoos before being allowed within SCP-556's containment area. Item number, SCP-569. Object Class, Euclid. Special containment procedures. SCP-569 are currently held at Bio-Research Site 66. Contained instances of SCP-569 are to be sealed within 1 meter cubed steel crates, and immersed in ice water baths, when not under research. If containment is breached, aggressive instances are to be neutralized through application of aerosolized liquid nitrogen. Passive instances are to be herded back into a containment crate, and returned to containment. Personnel injured by SCP-569 may be treated via amputation of affected surfaces. Severely affected personnel are to be terminated. Matter produced by agitated instances of SCP-569 is to be ground into powder, and utilized in site construction. Description. SCP-569 appear to be a collection of 46 animate, disembodied, floating human heads. All instances are identical, resembling a bald man in his late 40s. Analysis reveals that SCP-569 are sculpted from silicauga marble. No further anomalous materials are present. SCP-569 will usually congregate into a loose swarm and float aimlessly at a mean height of 10 meters. Individuals will randomly shift between several identical expressions, ranging from apparent joy to considerable distress. No pattern probable cause for these shifts may be found. They are hypothesized to be simply random. In addition, instances of SCP-569 appear to react to temperature variances. Temperatures below 4 degrees centigrade render them inert. If an instance of SCP-569 is assaulted by a human, a sudden movement is perceived in its direct field of vision, or a sufficiently sudden loud noise occurs in the immediate vicinity, the affected instances will transform into an aggravated state and attempt to destroy the source of aggression or noise. This transformation involves said instance seemingly dissolving into the shape of a human skull, then launching a colorful material spray in the general direction of its target. This material will rapidly harden into colored marble, coating the target in a heavy sharp shell. This marble produced from SCP-569 is chemically similar to the normal silicauga marble that SCP-569 consists of, but contains simple pigmentation to lend to its various hues. In addition, the colored portions are fused, solid sheets of marble, no seams, cracks, or similar structural flaws are present after setting. SCP-569 will continue launching this material at its target until the target has been completely covered. Material will fuse at the molecular level to the target's surface. At this point, the instance will revert to its calm state and resume aimlessly floating. Addendum, Cross-Testing. Due to recent developments, proposals regarding cross-experimentation with SCP-2860 have been suspended.


A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty hyo silver, the Lone Ranger. With his faithful Indian companion, Tutto, the daring and resourceful mask rider of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early western United States. Nowhere in the pages of history can one find a greater champion of justice. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. Come out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse silver. The Lone Ranger rides again! Cascade in Northern had just been completed, and Hunter's Bend was its northern terminus. And Jonathan Blair, divisional superintendent of the new railroad, was celebrating a little more than most. Yes, sir! People said we couldn't do it. Said the Cascade in Northern couldn't be built, but we showed them. We filled her. She's here to stay. Suddenly a tall, lean figure came stalking toward the group addressed by Blair, and the men fell silent. And even Jonathan Blair, flushed with triumph, eyed the approaching figure nervously. Oh, hello Kirk. Glad to see you with us, sir. Of course I am, Kirk. Let bygones be bygones, I always say. So if you're here to extend the hand of friendship... End of friendship, yes. I fought you a railroad every inch of the way, and I'm not through fighting yet. I extend no hand of friendship to such as you are. Well, I'm sorry to hear you say that, Kirk. But of course, if that's the way you feel. It is! You're no more sorry about it than I am. Besides, that's not why I came here. I didn't come to tell you how I felt you already knew that. I came here to warn you. I've been hearing my voices again. Oh, of course. Smile if you wish. But you do so at your own peril. They always tell me the truth. Do they, Kirk? What do they tell you this time? That your railroad will bring to this territory only death and destruction. You've always said that, Kirk. And I say it again. You've brought the steam engine here. You call it the iron horse. I tell you, that you will soon have a better name for it. Will we? And what's that? The iron horse. The people of Hunter's Bend had always been disposed to smile at Kirk Masters and his talk of voices. But on this occasion, they took him more seriously than usual. Tata would have been on hand to hear Kirk's strange announcement. The Indian hurried to a secret camp near town and reported it to the Lone Ranger. Tata, you're sure Kirk Masters said that. You've hurt him yourself. Ah, me hear him. Then he comes straight here. Evidently impressed you. You believe in Kirk's voices, too? Me think plenty trouble comes. If there is any trouble, Kirk is likely to make it. It's odd that he'd give warning ahead of time. That right. Kirk hates the railroad. I can understand how he feels. After all, he spent years building up his stage and fretting line. Now the railroad will take most of his business away from him, one blow. But the railroad's in and it's too late to fight it. The railroad means progress. Kirk should forget his bitterness and adapt himself to the new ways. He'll not forget. No, he won't forget. Tata, we'd better move our camp. Where we go? We'll move closer to Kirk's place. I'd like to keep an eye on him. Belongreen Jurem Tato found another camp and kept an eye on Kirkmasters. But days went by and there was nothing to mar the efficient service of the railroad. During this time, Kirk and Jonathan Blair seldom met. But one evening in the dispatcher's office... Wow, look who's here. I didn't think you'd ever get this close to a railroad, Kirk. Thought you'd be afraid to invite you. Oh, hello, Lim. Well, take all he wants to send. We're here to give service no matter who was it. Always glad to be of help, Kirk. Yes, I imagine you are. That's one of the things I don't like about you. I trust you haven't forgotten the warning I gave you. I wanted to mention that. This is one time your voice has misled you, isn't it? Haven't had one single accident since we opened for business. You congratulate yourself too soon. Trouble is closer than you think. Your voice is again? My voice is again. Well, next time you hear from them, you'd better give them a talking to. They don't seem to be so very well-informed. Oh, wait! Not leaving us, are you? I won't stay to be further, Blair. I bid you good evening. He's a kind, Lim. Him and his voices. You'd better be careful. One of these days, they'll be locking him up. Just a second, Mr. Blair. What? There's a message coming through. Something important to them? Yeah. Well, I'm with it, man. What is it? Number four was caught in a rock slide. The whole thing's been smashed. The kingdom come. And this was only the first blow. What's happening again, Mr. Blair? Yards caught fire. We full towns out fighting the blaze. They say 60 cars have been burned up. Freaks smashed up other side of Iron Mountain. Somebody fooled with a switch. Mr. Blair, somebody blasted the stock train. Most of the stock and ten people killed. Ten people killed. The church behind this. He's not coming so much. Let's go get him. Let's make him answer some questions. The mounting toll of death and destruction finally roused the railroad men upon who spent a fighting fury. They gathered in the yards outside the station to shout their demands for action. Man, wait. Quiet down. Listen to me.   Now then, men, I've been listening to you and I know exactly how you feel. You've had friends killed or injured. This keeps up. You may be next. And it's certain, of course, that these have not been accidents. Not in the real sense of the word, that is. It's certain that someone has been responsible. But that doesn't mean Kurt Masters is to blame. Or does it mean that we have a right to take justice into our own hands? And what does it mean? Does it mean we're just a stand-vital something that happens sometimes? If we don't do something who will, I don't see the law around here trying to do anything. The law is doing all it can. But the law can't proceed without evidence. What do you mean, evidence? Didn't Kurt say we'd be calling our engines iron horses? Didn't he tell you there'd be trouble? That's right. I heard it myself. If he's innocent, how come he knows so much? Listen to me, listen. I haven't said Kurt was innocent. I've only said we have no proof that he's guilty. How much proof do you want? I think he's going to give you an invite next time he wrecked one of our trains. Man, listen, wait. Well, we're not waiting for any invites. We're calling on Kurt right now. Let's go. Let's get in on down there. Let's see what the coyote has to say. Wait, wait. One moment. I demand that you listen to me. Wait, man. All right, all right. Speak your piece, Mr. Blair. But make it fast. We've got places to go and work for you. Well, will it be all right if I speak to Kurt? It will be if we're along to hear his answers.  You'll promise, will you? Well, I can only trust you'll be sensible. We'll call on Kurt now. Tuttle had been in the crowd. As soon as the mob began to move from the railroad yards in the direction of Kirkmasters' home at the far end of town, he mounted Scout and speedily rejoined the lone rangers. Hold, Scout. Hold, fellow. Hold, fellow. What is it? Hold, fellow. There's plenty trouble. I thought so. I started saddling Silver when I saw you coming on railroad trailers calling Kirkmasters. Them heap mad. Maybe lynch them. I was afraid things might come to this. Does Blair know about it? Has he tried to hold them back? Uh, him try, but men not listen. Is Kirk in town? Uh, him home. Let me see him. Then we better act fast, Tuttle. Then he's over. Me ready? Easy, big fella. One, two, let's go. The lone ranger and Tuttle had farther to go than the railroad men, and the latter arrived at Kirkmasters' home ahead of them. Wait right here. You'll promise I could talk to him. Kirk, open up. It's Blair. I want to talk to you. Come on. Open up, Kirk. We know you're home. Open up, or there may be trouble. Yes. What kind of trouble? Listen, Kirk. There he is. There's the cutie, Kirk. Look at him. Where'd he get the nerves that face him? Quiet! Quiet! You promised to let me handle this. Now quiet, all of you. Then drop to this gunk and make it fast. What's this all about, Blair? I'm sorry, Kirk. I didn't want this to happen, but I'm afraid at this time you're in real trouble. We've been having accidents on the Cascade in northern. Too many accidents. Property has been destroyed and men have been killed. Men who are friends of these men. Now, we're not here to accuse you of these accidents, Kirk, but, well, we do think we have a right to an explanation. You seem to know these accidents would take place. How did you know? I told you that. If you refuse to believe me, that's your concern.  Yes. Yes. That voice has told me. Don't listen, all of you! Kirk, Kirk, I'm warning you. Unless you give me an honest answer, I can't control these men. I've tried to protect you. I've made them promise to let me do the talking. They'll talk to you in quite a different way. But if you don't appreciate... I don't appreciate your interference. This is all you had to say to me, I had bid you good-bye. I don't. Come on, men. He's trying to get away. Men, stay back. One side, Blair. I've got Kirk, fellas. Bring him off the board. Bring him along! Do you know what to do with us, Kirk? Let me go!  Let him go! Let go of that man. It's a mass, man. He's got two guns. Don't let anyone move. The first man who makes a move is asking for trouble. What are you doing at Kirk's house? I came to the back door. Come here, Kirk. This way. Back into the house. Thank you, stranger. You will pay for this, you scoundrels. You'll pay for it, every one of you! Keep fighting. Keep still. Don't you men try to follow? They're gone. They're in the house. Come on. They can't get away with this. After them, break the door down. Wait. There they go. They've got horses. They went out the back way. There's an Indian with them. They got away. Find horses. Follows will get after them. No, no. It won't do any good, men. Why not? You'll never catch them. That masked man is the lone ranger. The lone ranger? Yes. And it looks as though he's thrown in his lot with a killer. The curtain falls on the first act of our lone ranger story. Before the next exciting scenes, please permit us to pause for just a few moments to continue our story. The newly completed short-line railroad, the Cascade in Northern, had suffered a series of costly disasters. The angry employees of the railroad blamed lean, cadaverous Kirkmasters for these disasters. Blamed Kirk, because he had not only fought the railroad while building, but had forecast the disasters before they occurred. Their anger threatened violence, and Kirk escaped only through the resolute and daring action of the lone ranger. But the masked man himself was not convinced of Kirk's innocence, and a little later in the lone ranger's camp. Keep watch, Tutto. We may have been followed. Ah. You what? Ellen Kirk, I don't want you to misunderstand me. I didn't take you from that mob because I believed you innocent. I did it so they wouldn't be tempted to act outside the law.  Yes. I thought so. There was pretty sure I knew why you acted as you did. Whatever your motives, I'm grateful. Well, I'm glad you are. But that's beside the point. Actually, there's plenty of reason why you should have been suspected. In the first place, you've been the enemy of the railroad ever since it was started. And why shouldn't I have been? I used to own two dozen stages and over a hundred freighters and kept them all busy. Now I can find business for a third of them. But you knew the railroad had to come. Not without me fighting it. Play your cards right, and you may end up more prosperous than you ever were. This whole territory will benefit in time, you will too. Maybe. But I'm not convinced. Well, at any rate, there's nothing you can do about it. Or rather, nothing you should do. If you're hitting that I was behind those accidents, mister, I'm denying it, you see. Then how did you know that it occurred? I'll see it once more for the last time. My voices told me. Voices? Call them hunches, anything you want. I don't care. It's something inside me. They tell me things. I know they're true. And they always happen. You're asking me to believe a lot? No, I'm not asking you to believe anything. I'm not sure that I don't believe you. No? No. In this place, I'm not as ready to discount hunches as some people may be. I've seen too many strange things along those lines, especially among the Indians. And in the second place? Yes. Well, I'll be frank with you. Todd and I have been watching you. Oh, not 24 hours a day, of course. But enough to make it unlikely for you to have contrived all those accidents without our catching you at least once. I see. But ordinarily, I might resent being spied on, stranger. But this is different. If it's kept you from being as sure as the others at the time guilty, then I'm glad you did. What I think doesn't matter. But if there's a chance you're innocent, we'll try to clear you. How? By catching the man who's guilty. 24 hours went by. Then back in Hunter's Bend, Lem Oaks, the train dispatcher, had important news for the divisional superintendent. Mr. Blair, Mr. Blair got a message for you. Yes? What is it, Lem? This just came through from the dispatch in Cascade. Well, let me see it. Well, it is important, huh? They're sending that special train through from Cascade sooner than I expected. General Juarnal Graves was just elected president of the road? I remember. Well, he's bringing a bunch of Eastern bankers and lawyers with him. The road needs new financing, and they're here to make an inspection. They're leaving Cascade for Hunter's Bend the first thing in the morning. What if something happens to that train, Mr. Blair? You know, that's what I've been thinking. There'd be the dickens to pay. Lem, find the yardmaster. What are you going to do? Take a hand car and meet them. I'm going to ride that train all the way here. If it doesn't get through safely, it won't be because I didn't try. Outside the dispatcher's office, at heard Lem tell Blair of the special train that was leaving Cascade for Hunter's Bend. He reported the news to the Lone Ranger, and with Kirk Masters accompanying them, they too left to ride in the direction of Cascade. Kirk, if someone is really trying to ruin the Cascade in Northern, this train will be an ideal target. Yes, you're right, Mr. No doubt about it. But we've got to decide something. Now, we're on horses. We can't hope to guard the train throughout its entire trip. The best we can do is decide where an attempt is likely to be made, then watch that place. Well, maybe it's a mountain. I think Tonto's right. How about that trestle across Wild Horse Canyon? There's a 500-foot fall there. That's the place I'd pick if I were out to wreck any trains. Wild Horse Canyon. You see, the train rounds occur just before it reaches the trestle, doesn't it? That's right. And no one in the cab of the engine can see the trestle till they're ready. In other words, the trestle isn't there. If it's been wrecked, no one on the train is going to know it till it's too late to stop. Right. There's a long way from here. We'll have to make time. Come on till it! Henry Blair riding his handcar reached Cascade in time to board the special train. Until the train approached the modernist country, separating Cascade from Hunter's Bend, he spent most of his time in conversation with Arnold Graves, the Cascade and Northern's new president. I didn't want to say too much in front of your guests, Mr. Graves, but I'm worried. That's why I joined him. I'm worried, too, Blair. We need new financing. That's why these men are here. We've been having a battle with that transcontinental and Pacific gang. They want control. One more accident and they'll get it. I hope you can, Blair. I'll do my best. Excuse me. I'd like to go forward and ride in the engine. Our greatest danger lies in this mountainous country ahead. I'd like to be in the engine where I can keep an eye on things. Good idea. For right ahead. All right. Thanks. I'll see you later. Henry Blair went forward. Several minutes later, he had climbed over the tender, piled high with wood for fuel and had let himself down onto the swaying platform of the engine. Hello, Matt. Hello, Jim. Well, don't go on if it isn't Mr. Blair. Look who's here, Jim. We'll be needing all the pressure we can get through here. Don't worry, Mr. Blair. No one can keep these boilers far better than I can. Good. I came forward to keep an eye on things, Matt. How close are we to Wild Horse Canyon? About five minutes now, Mr. Blair. Expecting trouble there? Not expecting, Matt. Just hoping there won't be any. Wait. Look ahead there. What's that? I don't see anything, Mr. Blair. Mr. Blair, what are you doing? Put that bar down. Oh, don't. Hey, what's going on here? You're going crazy, Mr. Blair. What's the matter with you? There. That takes care of you two. Not a jump clear while we're still going up this grade. My work will be done. We're almost at the same moment. A short distance away. Look at the trusses. Someone's been here ahead of me. He's been blown up. There, Crane. Follow me. It's got to be stopped. Come on. But there's two companions close behind him. The masked man raced toward the approaching train. As he neared the Carini engine, the lone ranger began to shout and fire warning shots, not knowing that the engineer and fireman lay unconscious on the engine floor. The trusses are down. They're not here. I couldn't even see them. Then how's the train to be stopped? We can't board it. It's going too fast. No chance to board it. There's one chance, Tutto. There's just one thing we can do. Come on. After leaping from the cab of the engine, Henry Blair began his long journey a foot back to Cascade. He already had a story prepared to explain his return. And his appearance, scratched and bleeding as he was from his fall, was designed to make his story convincing. When he finally reached the station at Cascade, it was late at night. He pushed the door open and fell inside, exhausted. Help. Help, someone.  Hey, Clare. Mr. Clare, what happened? What are you doing back here? Right, Mason. Tressel. The train was out. The train went through. Oh, it was awful. The train went through the tressel, you say? Yes, but I don't even want to talk about it. Mr. Clare, if it went through, how did you get back? I was in the engine. Saw it coming just in time. I jumped. But you did see the train go into the canyon, Blair? But it's a mask man again. Answer my question. Did you or did you not see the train go into the canyon? Yes, yes, of course I did, man. You lie. But it can't be. You were killed, you. No, none of us was killed, Blair, thanks to the mask man. Not even me, Blair, though I'll bet you wish I was dead. Matt. I'm here, too. We're all here and alive, every one of us. You, Jim. Sure. With a bump on my head where you hit me. If it hadn't been dark, or if you would follow the right of way all the way back, Blair, you would have known we were alive, for our train is sitting out and back in the yards right now. But how are... I don't understand. Needless trick I ever heard of. The mask man tried to rouse Jim and me to stop the train, but he couldn't because we were knocked out. Then just before we got past him, he noticed we had air brakes. Air brakes? Yes. He fired at the air brakes connecting the last two cars. When the brakes parted, the train stopped automatically. Just in time, too. Yes, just in time. Well, I thought... I thought you were short again. Blair, well... Who hired you to do all this? Was it the Transcontinental and Pacific? You might as well confess it, you know. We've got you dead to rights. Sure they hired me. What if they did? They're more powerful than you are, Graves. They'll protect me, too. You won't dare touch me. Blair, you're fooling yourself.  They don't dare. And even if they tried, it wouldn't do them any good. You're through, Blair. If we're lucky if you aren't strung up. You work for the Transcontinental, Blair. We had a much better man on our side. We had the Lone Ranger. The feature of the Lone Ranger incorporated, created and produced by George W. Trendle, directed by Charles D. Livingston, and edited by Fran Stryker. The part of the Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beemer.


Yeah, we're at the track covering the sport of kings coming up this week the infinity on the beach Barbados feature to the 9-year-old gelding show the money on an afternoon highlighted by a Ricky Walcott triple in Jamaica champion trainer Jason Dacosta unleashes a talented three-year-old on the rim ski trophy field While the cold rhythm buzz is on song in the bunny blue flag trophy race Jamaica and jockey Anthony Thomas beats the Gulf Stream Park champion again in a tight finish This time winning for a trainer who is a former Jamaican national footballer plus the weekly stats on Caribbean success on the North American continent our opening story from Barbados Minutes before Saturday's infinity on the beach feature of the garrison savannah The three horse show the money was showing as a favorite for the final odds as the starting gates opened had number five the code Sneaking up as the betting choice three scratches including 2022 triple crown winner hurricane the four horse leaving only four starters But check out how competitive the betting is Shane Dome the two horse and number six Bayesian a stecker the outsiders as Five to two bets the six to five favorite is number five the code and the nine-year-old show the money Who beat Shane Dome and the code the last time he raced in November is the three to two second favorite? Watching the five and a half furlong sprint from the con box Dean Springer as a head down the box stretch It's a speed dole up front Bayesian a stack on the outside Shane Dome on the inside Then show the money a length and a half about we come to the code. They're round the far turn And Bayesian a stack that's the leader bow about length and a half from Shane Dome Show the money under the pump the code is beginning with his run from the back of the field the opening quarter 26 and three And it is Bayesian a stack who she's a leader on the outside here comes the code Between horses show the money on the inside Shane Dome is hot enough inside the quarter pole Bayesian a stack of running in the middle of a course on the white outside Here's the code between horses show the money and down the stretch to come Bayesian a stack on the inside Surrenders the leaders on the outside show the money picks it up show the money on the court Show the money under left-handed drive the court with one last desperate search Not going to get there show the money wins it now under left-handed drive Enrico bus boy Prescott who won 43 races in Canada last year fights off ricky wallcott in the finish For the repeat winner board show the money after they scored on last november's independence day holiday card So after going winless intense starts over three years mark Goodridge's uk bread show the money completes back-to-back wins Superbly conditioned by 2023 sandaline gold cup winning trainer remel perkins lovell Good ride two by Enrico Prescott who you may remember won the 2019 Barbados derby in a 21 to 1 upset aboard the filet nasinga Show the money scoring in the infinity on the beach trophy by a length as the three to two second favorite Chased by the favorite the code with the front running bayesian a stack of third One minute eight and two fifths the winning time for five and a half furlongs Also saturday at the garrison savannah former northland spark champion jockey in canada ricky wallcott had a solid day Landing a three-timer closing that triple in the crane resort trophy fifth race over 7.8 furlongs A field there that included the 2023 dabu winner social media heading to the homestretch long-time leader dancing prospector still with a big lead wallcott patient and third aboard the second favorite airy's They come to the world's a quarter pool and that same prospector has about nine lengths advantage on film Wars then there's airy's too bad to undisputed as social media Inside the quarter pool and that's in prospector's lead is short into six Film Wars is saying on a second airy's is third and there are no more turns A dancing prospector trying to go from go to war on the outside. Here's airy's a film was running it down That's a prospector has calling for the line airy's picks him up puts him away and goes on to win it Film Wars stays on to be second a perfectly measured ride by wallcott a few right hand cracks of the whip and airy's Gets the win by a length the dabu runner-up in 2022 behind a triple crown winner hurricane airy's lands his fourth win in 17 lifetime starts wallcott adds to wins he had earlier on the card with zazzy in the sandals resort co-feature And the hilton barbedo's event with thunder lady as the eight to five second favorite margo atkinson's airy's lands the crane resort for Trainer kenny john the 72 bet film war second with dancing prospector third the favorite undisputed fourth and social media Who hasn't won since his darby triumph in august fifth one 40.80 the winning time for 7.8 furlongs Races saturday and sunday this past weekend in jamaica saturday's main event the rimski trophy run in honor of the 1975 Horse of the year seven starters three-year-old non-winners of two and imported three-year-old enough maidens going six furlongs here And it's the on debut u.s. Bread fun can done the odds on favorite setting the pace under two-time champion apprentice shamari mur It is fun can done eking out a two and maybe three length lead in front of katie strong racing in second right against the rail That is amazing force bit behind amazing force and coming on nicely That is also smart backing out a bit that is riches to rags then comes recovering a lucy in the sky and racing at the back of the field player patrick queen but this Fun can done telling this field tata about five or six lengths in front racing in second that's Amazing force it is fun can done at the furlong pole and this one looks done a fun can done about five six seven Maybe eight lengths running them into double digits. This fun can done easy in the end By the rider fun can done ease down a very easy victory in pressing indeed kevin bernside on commentary fun can done is on an afternoon stroll here in an uncontested victory shamari mur a winner of 146 races in canada while he rode there between 2016 and 2022 aboard an impressive first-time runner here fun can done for champion trainer jason the costa and multiple champion owner Carlton watson Fun can done by nine and a quarter lengths as the one to two favorite on debut lands the rimsky trophy ahead of Amazing force and riches to rags Deputants one two three in the finish the winning time for six furlongs are pretty quick one twelve and two fifths Sunday's came on a spark feature was the body blue flag trophy race in memory of the hall of fame us bread racer who was a two-time horse of the year 1964 1965 the field of 12 the biggest of the weekend and the front group tightly bunched leaving the backstretch watched in the com box by brand rickman The good which has now taken charge the good which narrowly from a babylike rhythm buzz right there in third A jonker jeff now begins a move snowflakes overtakes Sonny tion chippy and a get a pepsi race next ahead of justin biden's sunset silhouette pump for more Big big daddy races up next xion toward the back and last of all it's gambler As the field will come thundering into the top of the lane in the body blue flag Who do you like here? Pete Ayala would say and rhythm buzz now snatches that leader rhythm buzz grabs the advantage Babylike is running down against the rail in between them That's the good which does being switched off a true line sonny tion chippy trying to close up with get a pepsi But rhythm buzz continues to hold the advantage inside the final 16th It is a rhythm buzz driven flat to the boards by javenil paterson sonny tion chippy coming late But too late is a cry rhythm buzz wins the money blue flag After four victories in 2023 rhythm buzz opens his winning account for the new year for trainer vinny atkinson 2018 2000 Guinness winning rider javenil paterson in the irons Rhythm buzz by a length has a three to five favorite sonny tion chippy closing for second at six to one odds 134 and three fifths the winning time We leave you with the story of the jake and jockey antony thomas for the second time this month Defeating gulfstream park champion jockey edgard zaz in a close finish In wednesday's maiden claiming second race thomas who also had a win on sunday was aboard the eight to five favorite antelion conditioned by Former jamaica international footballer now racehorse trainer leon minot aka juvenile Coming off the final bend thomas who was last most of the trip in the yellow cap in about fifth position here But closing well on the outside. They're at the top of the stretch Sir guza turns for home on tough by two and a half Way out the center is antelion ginger snapjack battalion bound out the rail They come past the eighth pole sir guza Clear by two and a half weaving between horses antelion surging laden up on the outside ginger snapjack antelion's gaining good ground Antelion is in a win photo With a steady hand ride thomas in a lost to first effort out ganza as aboard the front running sir guza in a tight finish Trainer leon minot's first win of the year this he's in the white shirt in the winners enclosure His barbican minor league coach in jamaica leebert halliman the plaid shirt also sharing in the moment The eight to five favorite antelion gets up in time for the win thomas repeating the narrow victory He had two weeks earlier aboard love paradox beating zazz and cloy's toy Then by a half a length this time by a nose over the two to one shot sir guza Glocking 140.26 over a mile Our weekly tally of wins for caribbean racing men in the usa before we go I've counted in the past week since our last show 16 among them a flurry of victories at florida's gallstream park Where the barbedian sappy joseph junior champion trainer there had five wins including a saturday double The jamaican trainer ron krite and also had two wins on saturday the jamaican trainer matthew williams One for the jamaican owner don webby elsewhere the barbedian jockey reshawn latchman at charlestown And jamaica's champion trainer jason the costa at mahoning valley also had wins in the past week We've been at the track covering top stories and exciting races in the sport of kings Check us out again next week


Do we start? That's the same question. Okay, good. I think it's time. So good afternoon, everybody. We will talk about how we will connect the human dots into the digital world and we'll provide you some best practices for post-corona working. The session will take 20 minutes so I will propose to ask a question at the end of the session if that's okay with you. So before we start the presentation just a little introduction of who are we? We are with two speakers. So I'm Ina Zeklerk. I'm an account manager at Dropsolid. This is my second Drupal console last year. I did my session why UX testing is a must and how we can iterate it towards an editorial experience. So if you're also interested in that topic please do reach out to me at our Dropsolid boot. And we have Sarah. So I'm Sarah. I'm at Dropsolid. That means I manage projects I'm a project manager so I deal with clients and projects and on the other hand I'm a team leader for one of our solutions teams Team ROC. Okay, good. So you hear we're both from Dropsolid so really small in a nutshell who is Dropsolid. So we're also the diamond sponsor of this Drupal com. But we're a digital agency and we are with more or less 90 employees who are really passionate by contributing to the community and by providing workshops and trainings to actually get to know people Drupal because we believe that Drupal can be the basis for open digital experience platform that can be the basis to make a connection with marketing, automation with personalization but if you want to know more about our open digital experience platform please do reach out to our beloved colleague Milou Duhon our founder Dominique Dukoma who is always standing at our booth. Yes, so that was no offense the sales pitch and the numbers but for this presentation it's very important that you also know what Dropsolid as a company is about and what the people are about. I joined Dropsolid in March 2020 which was still a good time and at that time this was Dropsolid we had about 70 employees who were really very connected we have our bases in Belgium we have two locations there so about half of our developers are local people and the other half more or less is remote but the locals were really used to working from the office they really came to the office a lot there was a lot of fun there nice atmosphere we liked to celebrate things so whenever there was an event or something to celebrate our presentation an office presentation people came to the office we made sure that it was fun we had cakes we had drinks so a lot of life at the office Belgians that's what we are we like to drink and eat so whenever there was a birthday or after a happy hour we went out of the office as well and we rejoined each other and we joined people from other teams so that was 2020 before the pandemic hit of course we all remember that moment and as of then we suddenly all had to work from home couldn't leave our home couldn't see our colleagues so for everyone that was a very very big change so this is what we want to talk about in this speech due to COVID we had to limit our context indeed like Sarah said we had to work from home so as Dropsolid we had the feeling that we lost the connection with our customers but also with our employees and between the employees for example our customers we had to provide the training online via Google Meet or Teams Meetings but it is as you already know I think if you do a Teams Meeting it's always more easy to go to your emails and finish your tasks that has to be done by the end of the day so your attention span on the Google Meeting or the Teams Meeting is really short so we really had to make sure if we do a training of a workshop to make it very short to make it very interactive and make sure that we understood what is the human need that we need to pinpoint and to provide them the correct answers also with our customers staying at homes they have their own children that they have to take care of or other stuff that they had to deal with so behind the camera a lot of people also put up a wall to read the body language to read the emotions to find a connection but also with our employees like Sarah said she started in Covid so it was really hard to find a connection with your colleagues to know who are they what is their function but also to collect all the information that is inside the brain of a colleague because some people doesn't have the reflex to put all the information in their head into a content hub or via email so there was a little bit of miscommunication and there was no time to celebrate or to talk during lunch or having a coffee so it made sure that the connection was lost so that's why we did a lot of efforts to stay connected and we will give you some examples to show how we wanted to make the feeling go away and to make sure that we become closer to our customers and employees so one of the first things that management did was introduce something maybe small but very very high in value after I think a week they introduced the daily drop solid news short videos that they shared through our WhatsApp group and through email it could contain anything just news of the day maybe a sales deal that had come through or a website that went live or a project that was really going well but even some private news once in a while and that was really nice at first it was one of our founders Dominic who took that job who made a video every day always from a different location sometimes from his garden, sometimes from the city park sometimes when he was running or when he was on his bike but every day he took the time to make a video to really make sure that everyone was up to date with what was happening in the company then after a while the whole management took over so each and every one of the managers made a video they all took turns and after a few weeks or months actually the whole company started to participate so even developers service delivery managers anyone was recording a daily news with their news of the day so it could come from their own team or it could be something they picked up from other teams or indeed private news so during the pandemic we knew about all announcements of marriages that were coming up even pregnancies were announced through those daily news and even some babies were born and that news was spread during those videos as well we're not going to show you all of the videos there were like hundreds of episodes after the pandemic but we'll show you a quick compilation just to give you the idea this is the next episode of the baby update so good evening everyone today is my turn today is my turn today is my turn today is 44 so 80 episode 83 episode 85 I lost my bet of the last episode but in fact we stopped counting we are finishing the strategic track for a good and bold battle of the hill I'm going to have a sort of camping trip with my oldest daughter they even made plans for a marketing FAT hosted our very first prog solid ETD session today today is exactly 4 years tomorrow bye bye there you go so small impression but it was very valuable and then in our whatsapp channel we were really waiting for the daily news and there were tons of reactions each time with thank you messages with people sharing what they had done that day sharing pictures of how they were having a imperative or how they were spending their Friday evening before they were heading into the weekends so a lot of positive vibes which really made us feel we are not alone in this I don't know if you remember the pandemic it was a very lonely time and this was really a highlight in our lives and it really kept us connected with the company one other thing that they did was occasionally they surprised us with something in our mail for instance for Easter or when there was another holiday coming up we received Belgian chocolates or for instance this is a picture of when we had I think it was a quarterly review which is normally an office event they sent each and every one of us a box with some drinks and chips so that you could enjoy them during the online presentation what else we of course within the teams we also tried to keep up the spirits Adrian I think you're in the audience you're actually in the picture here we had some online team we tried to do some online gaming just tried to find some time some quality time apart from talking about work to make everything a little bit lighter but also for our customers we want to do something special so we made thank you cards by the end of the year so for Christmas we sent them a thank you card to actually say thank you for being our customers thank you for being you but also make sure like we're there for you it's okay to have a bad day we're there for you we can help you with everything you want private professional and from a distance yet close by but we're always there another way is also we investigated a lot of time in account management so our CEOs in collaboration with our sales team had contact with several customers each day so each day they actually made a phone call and checked in like how are you how you're dealing with your kids we can help so really human to human and not talking about projects or how is the business going but actually make it more personal and actually what energize the people of doing their job then another way was information sharing on social because as I told you earlier this meeting a lot of people had to focus on their kids to deal with other private stuff so there were different working hours and it was really important for us to gather all the information post it on a video post it on a blog that people can actually read it whenever they want whenever they are ready for it and that they can make it more interactive because there were a lot of webinars that moment so we really had to make a distinction and make sure that we can capture all the questions all the cases that they were dealing at the moment that we can show our expertise so indeed we have put a lot of time we have put a lot of effort to stay connected with our customers to stay connected with our employees we have shown several cases but we did so much more so indeed corona of Covid was a bitch but it does have a written a positive story so Covid had also create a huge opportunity for the digital agency so me as an account manager I can really see a digital shift for my customers that I have seen before Covid are now digital mature enough to actually make a jump into the digital world to actually be aware that website is not only a visiting card but also something that is an experience platform to share your knowledge, to share information or when your physical shop is blocked by Covid that you can actually promote your products and make an e-commerce due to the fact with corona that we did a lot of efforts to stay connected we are actually aware of the human needs, what they have been through to Covid, what was the one step that they needed to make the jump into the digital world and now we're ready to catch them but of course there's a lot of extra steps and extra efforts to actually guide them in the digital shifts so what is the guidance, the guidance stays important even though that video calls and video meetings are always less time consuming, more efficient personal contact always stays important so it's really important to go to the customers and ask what are you doing today, who is your colleagues, what is your desk how is the building and actually be interesting and get to know them, get to know their job, get to know their human needs to find a collection and to connect it with putting it on a website or into the digital world but also with your employees the personal contact stays important to be all together, to be one team within a project but also for your customers, like one team one happy team will also leads to a happy customer so here you can also see a team picture there are now more people on board so we have to retake the picture in a couple weeks yes so a lot of crappy things came from Corona a lot of positive things in our case as well now Dropsolid has always been a very value driven company so we have five values that were there from the start and we use these values in everything we do so in our strategy and mission and vision but also in our recruitment process for example so we will always try to find a fit with these values now with all the changes that we made because of the pandemic and all the positive outcomes that we saw we really wanted to make sure that also those positive things were not left to waste so we formed a working group, we thought about the future of working at Dropsolid we talked to experts, we did our research and actually the best outcome that we decided to do was to just add another value to our DNA so we added a sixth value which is simply the connect value so since half a year ago I think officially these are the six values of Dropsolid so that means everything that we do we also think about how does this fit in our value connect now of course to really incorporate this in your culture you have to do more than just name the value and put it on your website you have to also do some practical changes so one of the changes we did is also in evaluations so up until then we really did go over those values five ones and really check like how did you grow how did you challenge yourself how do you trust your fellow team members etc so we are adding the connect value so we will be looking in evaluations into like how are you feeling do you feel connected what have you done to really stay connected well how can you improve what can you do next year etc so this is an important one secondly within each team we've appointed an ambassador we always pinpoint opportunities for the team to connect it can be projects, it can be events it can be just chats between people but these ambassadors will really really try to make everyone do an effort and if they feel that their team is being too much on their island they will really take initiatives to improve this connection and then some digital small changes sometimes but they really have had their effect so all our events the office are live streamed it's not always ideal but it's a step so as we said we like to have celebrations we like to have parties so there's always a video screen open for people at home to be able to enjoy it as well meetings are recorded during meetings it might be something very small but I think I don't know how many remote people are in here but when you're in a meeting and there's like four people in the meeting room and one person remote that's horrible so what we did improve everyone has to log into the meeting online have to show their face the camera make sure that the audio is well so we did invest a little bit in our audio and video system so that has improved and everything that is business related all meetings are now also documented so we really invested in the hub to make sure that all knowledge is centralized so that even if you weren't in the meeting or if the audio wasn't that good that you're actually able to pick up that information so that was it okay so to conclude our presentation we have gathered three key takeaways so the first one is human connection remains remains essential for your employees but also for your customers second the small improvements like Sarah said it can has a huge impact even though it's really small like sending them a box it can make a huge difference and the third one is embody the value connects in the organizational culture so thanks for listening to us I see we have two minutes left so if you have some questions please ask them right away or come to the booth and we have all the time thank you very much