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Company:
More Products By Top Fin:
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Reader's Reviews (6)
Great to use with your airline tubing
posted.
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http://www.zootoo.com/pet-product/fish-tubings/top-fin-airline-holders
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The most popular serial Balika Vadhu on colors TV has a twist. The twist is that Suguna is pregnant and the baby which she is carring is her husband’s. But, will the family members believe the fact?. Check out for Balika Vadhu episodes below to see what happens to Suguna once the family comes to know about her pregnancy.
We were the first to predict this twist in Balika Vadhu that Suguna will be pregnant:
Hi, am a big fan of Balika Vadhu. Waiting for next episode eagerly.
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http://www.zorsebol.com/television/suguna-pregnant-what-next-balika-vadhu-update/
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Fish and the Ocean
The oceans occupy over 70% of Earth’s surface area and over 90% of the biosphere’s volume. In terms of number of species and individuals, fishes far outnumber all other vertebrate classes (amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals). Usually considered in terms of fisheries and food rather than as wildlife, it is only in the last 15 years that scientists have begun to assess the conservation status of fish in the same way as terrestrial vertebrates.
Threats
Some major problems for our oceans:
- Overfishing - depletes stocks of fish beyond their ability to recover. This disrupts the ecosystem and eliminates a valuable source of food and income.
- Destructive Fishing - can have very damaging effects on a range of ocean habitats.
- Climate Change - warming the oceans and making them more acidic. This is creating dead zones as plankton and corals, the primary producers for nearly all marine life, struggle to survive under inhospitable conditions.
- Pollution - poisons.
Solution: Sustainable Fishing
With over 75% of world fish stocks fully or over-exploited, we are depleting the fish and other marine life that we eat faster than their populations can replenish. Sustainable fisheries aim to help ensure that a wild, diverse and healthy
ocean ecosystem will exist long into the future. This means fishing (or farming fish) in a way which allows fish stocks be harvested without compromising the ability of the population to replenish itself and without harming the environment. More on Sustainable Fishing
Fish Facts
Since 1500AD there have been 58 species documented to be extinct according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
We still know more about the surface of the moon than the bottom of the oceans. The proportion of undiscovered species may still be close to 70%–80% of all marine species.
Fish is the world’s main source of wild protein in our diets - fish provide more than 2.9 billion people with at least 15% of their protein.
Most Threatened
The most threatened marine species currently include:
- Seahorses -
find out what ZSL is doing to help seahorses through Project Seahorse .
The Fishing Industry
Marine capture fisheries have exceptional value as a source of food, livelihoods and income for millions of people across the globe. Nearly 44 million people are engaged in the primary production of fish worldwide. Annual global fish trade is worth $92 billion, while the entire seafood industry is valued at $200 billion. More on the Fishing Industry
Solution: Marine Reserves
A marine protected area (MPA) is an area of the sea which is protected from harmful human activities. MPAs are a way of protecting endangered species and fragile habitats in the ocean. While around 10% of the World’s land surface is currently protected through national parks, this only applies to less than 1% of our oceans. More on Marine Reserves
Printable version Email this to a friend
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http://www.zsl.org/print/conservation/regions/habitats/marine/project-ocean/index,221,ZI.html
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SRH (aka SRH Productions) was founded in 1991 in Pacific Beach, CA. From day one, SRH looked to embrace the lifestyle of its founders by sponsoring and promoting extreme sports by day and throwing underground concerts in Southern California's beach areas by night. SRH has formed and continues to maintain many strong alliances with atheletes and musicians that embody the SRH lifestyle. While SRH has watched many small and big clothing companies emulate its unique brand of artistic-meet-athletic style, SRH has quietly cultivated a loyal and devoted relationship with today's youth. Today SRH, with the easily recognizable SRH spade logo, have come to be a symbol of the restless athlete and musician forging new grounds.
Zumiez is an authorized dealer of SRH. SRH are leaders in moto clothing, and Zumiez is the place to get SRH clothing.
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http://www.zumiez.com/brands/srh-clothing.html/?size=002009_m&d=4294963782
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Cacophony
Cac 1990 after two albums. Friedman joined Megadeth before the group recorded its Rust In Peace album. Becker joined David Lee Roth's band for a short while and played on A Little Ain't Enough. Sadly, Becker was diagnosed… Show more
Reviews & Comments
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Performer Information
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http://www.zvents.com/performers/show/16116-cacophony
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Sutton Blvd, MaplewoodMaplewood is a mecca for all things unique, hip and happening and nothing highlights this better than the Taste of Maplewood Street Festival! On Saturday, May 18th, Sutton Blvd will be transformed...
St Charles food dining events
Taste of Maplewood 2013
Saturday, May 18 12:01p
Heaven Sent Hat
Saturday, May 18 11:00a
Comfort Suites-Westport, St LouisAfternoon with Jazz Saxophonist Rod Tate Special guest: Miss MO Teen USA 2013/ Brenda Smith-Lezama Fashion Show featuring apparel from Marshall's, * TJ Maxx * Milano's Best Hat Contest * Door Prize......
Wine, Women & Shoes benefitting the St. Louis Area Foodbank
Wednesday, May 29 6:00p
The Ritz-Carlton, St. LouisSip fine wines, savor culinary delights and shop all the latest fashions in shoes and accessories at the Wine, Women & Shoes gala...
Pre Father's Day Daddy / Daughter / Dinner / Dance
Saturday, Jun 8 4:00p
The Ambassador, St LouisCalling All Men.... Fathers, Grandfathers, Uncles, Older Brothers, God-Fathers Or Family Friends ..... Come Celebrate This Pre-Father's Day Treat!! Father Is......
Tasting from the Garden
Thursday, Jun 13 4:00p
Queeny Park - east entrance, St LouisStroll through Jarville Gardens while tasting various “fresh from the garden” food and drink...
15th Annual BCI Wing Ding
Thursday, Jun 6 6:00p
Frontier Park, St. CharlesThe 15th Annual BCI Wing Ding heads to beautiful Frontier Park in historic St. Charles from 6 to 10 p.m. Thurs. June 6...
‘Night Of Blue’ Brings Blue Sushi, Desserts, Martinis And Live Blues To The Lobby Lounge At The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis
Thursday, May 23 6:00p
The Ritz-Carlton Lobby Lounge, St. Louis“Night of Blue” happens every Thursday in the new Lobby Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis...
St Louis Uncorked Wine and Music Festival Party Lounge
Saturday, Jun 8 6:00p
Soldiers Memorial Park, St LouisCelebrate the best of long summer days this June 8 at Uncorked - the pinnacle of the downtown summer calendar...
Circle Of Concern Amazing Taste
Sunday, May 19 1:00p
Wildwood Town Center Plaza, WildwoodCelebrate spring and help needy families in west St. Louis County by attending Amazing Taste! Circle Of Concern, in partnership with Lukas Liquor Superstore, will host the 2013 Amazing Taste...
Live Music at the Boathouse Forest Park
Friday, May 24 7:00p
Boathouse Forest Park, St LouisEnjoy lakeside patio dining & live entertainment outside in the Beer Garden, May 3 to October 11. All performances are from 7 pm to 11 pm...
Schnucks Kehrs Mill Welcomes Cardinals Closer Edward Mujica
Saturday, May 18 10:00a
Schnucks Kehrs Mill, ChesterfieldIn conjunction with T.G.I. Friday’s Frozen Snacks®, Schnucks Kehrs Mill is welcoming Cardinals pitcher Edward Mujica for a fan meet and greet at St...
Wine Festival
Sunday, Nov 24 12:00p
Magnificent Missouri Dinner Series
Sunday, Jun 2 6:00p
The Deer Creek Club, LadueTo celebrate Missouri’s food history and support the people and organizations that protect and improve Missouri’s land, plant and water resources, Magnificent Missouri is sponsoring the fourth of a...
Vino Nadoz Wine Dinner
Tuesday, Jun 4 6:30p
Vino Nadoz Wine Bar, St LouisVino Nadoz Bistro & Wine Bar features a monthly wine dinner...
St Charles food dining Related Topics
farmers' markets | wine | food | fire | sunday brunch st louis | new years eve dinner | st louis botanical gardens events | missouri botanical gardens | get out st louis | st louis festival | first night st louis schedule of events | free | first night event st louis | comedy show | music | comedy shows coming up | missouri botanical garden events | events | show | concert | free events in st louis | restaurant | family events | festivals in st louis | first night saint louis | dinner shows st louis | friday in st louis | free event st louis | new years dinner | first night in st louis | vendor events in st louis | food and music st louis | drag shows in st louis | art show in st louis | live music new year's eve
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http://www.zvents.com/st_charles_mo/events/food+dining
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Content Teamer of the QuarterEdit This Entity
After a slight delay, the management of the Zybez Content Team is proud to announce the Content Teamer of the Quarter for Autumn!
Please congratulate Murdoc on being named the Content Teamer of the Quarter for Autumn. Murdoc was quite the work horse on the Content Team during the beautiful autumn months, extending his abilities and skill to all parts of the site. Murdoc took part in a number of our quest and guide releases, while being a dominant force in keeping our extensive database up to date. In addition, Murdoc showed some great initiative, and became a dependant worker of the Content Team.
Congratulations to Murdoc!
Posted by Debenkeyy on 1/8/2013 1:13:28 AM
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http://www.zybez.net/news/2058/content_teamer_of_the_quarter/
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Fact #756: December 3, 2012
Midwest Produces Two-Thirds of All Light Vehicles
Although there are many new vehicle assembly plants located in the South, the Midwest region continues to produce about two-thirds of all light vehicles. The year 2009 was the low point for vehicle production for the Midwest and the South. By 2011, overall production returned to the 2008 level; at that time, the Midwest was 18% below the 2007 production level and the South was 12% lower. The only manufacturing facility in the West was shut down in 2011.
Notes: Midwest includes Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
South includes Alabama, Kentucky, Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Delaware, and Virginia.
West includes California only. For 2011, Tesla did not report production information.
No light vehicles are currently manufactured in the Northeast Region.
Supporting Information
Return to 2012 Facts of the Week
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http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2012_fotw756.html?m=1
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[
[
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"Graphic showing U.S. light vehicle production by region (midwest, south, and west) from 2007 to 2011. See table below for more detailed information."
]
] |
with business partners that help Dell carry out transactions you request or that help Dell to customize, analyze, and/or improve our communication or relationship with you, and then only:
Because some promotions, such as direct mail catalogs, are developed in advance, you may sometimes receive solicitations after we receive your preference request.
How We Secure Your Personal Information do so
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You may also email us at [email protected].
Privacy Statement Regarding Customer and Online User Information Effective Date: July 12, 2009
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http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/policy/en/policy?c=ie&cs=RC1078533&l=en&s=pad&~f=lg&~section=000
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MRC Clinical Sciences Centre
Visit the main MRC Clinical Sciences Centre website. of Clinical Sciences. The present Director, Professor Amanda Fisher, was appointed in August 2008.
Epigenetics
This section studies epigenetically regulated processes in the cell, with an emphasis on stem cell development and its consequences on gene regulation, DNA replication, cell cycle control and chromosome organisation.
Integrative Biology
Established in April 2012, this section studies biological complexity in the areas of systems biology, epigenetics, cancer, development and metabolism. Employing computational and experimental approaches, we integrate multi-level data including genetic, epigenetic, expression, proteomic and imaging information in model systems and humans.
Genes & Metabolism
This section aims to understand the molecular and cellular basis of a variety of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders and apply this understanding to improved healthcare. The groups use a combination of approaches, including biochemical, genomic, physiological and imaging techniques.
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http://www1.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/about/divisions/cs/csc/
| 2013-05-18T10:21:06 |
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Your browser or your browser's settings are not supported. To get the best experience possible, please download a compatible browser. If you know your browser is up to date, you should check to ensure that
javascript is enabled.
› Learn How
Think your event needs a NASA scientist or engineer to present or maybe even an astronaut appearance? Use these tools to make your requests.
› Read more
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http://www1.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/education/exhibits.html
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Denmark v Japan preview
Kjaer suspended for Danes; Japanese have no major worries
By Elliot Ball. Last Updated: June 24, 2010 11:13am
Bendtner: Denmark's attacking threat
It is do or die time in Group E for Denmark and Japan as they battle for a place in the World Cup knockout stages.
Both sides have claimed three points heading into Thursday's showdown but it is the Japanese who occupy the all-important second qualifying spot behind leaders Holland.
That means the Danes require victory at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium to book their spot in second round, while anything else will see their Asian opponents through to the last 16 of the South Africa finals.
Morten Olsen's men head to Rustenburg on the back of an impressive 2-1 comeback win against Cameroon after losing 2-0 to the Dutch via some unconvincing defending in their opening match.
Japan opened their account with a surprise 1-0 success over Cameroon and were denied a point by Wesley Sneijder's long-range effort in their second Group E outing.
With so much at stake, it promises to be an intriguing affair with Denmark set to turn to attacking trio of Nicklas Bendtner, Dennis Rommedahl and Jesper Gronkjaer to lead them to glory.
Takeshi Okada's side, meanwhile, will rely on Veteran Yuji Nakazawa and defensive partner Marcus Tanaka Tulio to perform if they are to scrape a result while midfield talisman Keisuke Honda - being deployed as a lone striker - will be out to add to the winner he scored in the opener.
Team News
Denmark's motivational defender Simon Kjaer will watch on from the sidelines through suspension after collecting two bookings against Netherlands and Cameroon.
Japanese coach Okada has virtually a full squad at his disposal with defender Yasuyuki Konno the only doubt for the Group E decider.
Denmark will take heart that they beat Japan 3-2 in their last meeting - although that was in 1971.
The fact that Japan have never won a World Cup finals game in which their opponents have scored will be a more relative point for Olsen to bark out during the pre-match team-talk.
Okada on the other hand will be hoping his side can improve upon their poor scoring record in football's biggest tournament - Japan have scored only nine goals in 12 World Cup games.
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http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/211311/preview
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Williams admits Premier lure
Boro ace would consider top-flight switch after Bolton interest
By Edwin Chong & Graeme Bailey. Last Updated: May 7, 2011 2:21pm
Williams: Premier League interest and admits he would be keen to play in the top flight
Sky Bet
Football Betting
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Middlesbrough's Rhys Williams has confirmed that he would be interested in a move to the Premier League this summer.
Bolton are leading the chase for the versatile Australian, who is at home in defence and midfield.
Boro are hopeful of keeping Williams and skysports.com understands they have held talks about a contract extension.
However, Williams admits he is flattered by the interest from Bolton which was confirmed by their boss Owen Coyle earlier this week.
"If a Premier League club comes in for me, of course I'd have to be keen to listen to what they have to say," he told Australian Four-Four-Two.
"I've never played in the Premiership and it's always been my dream.
"I've heard nothing from either Middlesbrough or Bolton but I've seen what's been in the papers and if the chance came to make a move to Bolton I'd have to be silly not to be interested.
"I know Owen Coyle well and I have a lot of respect for him.
"I like the way he operates as a coach and the style of football his teams play and he knows and understands me well as a player.
"If the right move comes along and it's right for the club, myself and my career then it'd be the way forward.
"My future lies in the hands of Middlesbrough Football Club. Whether they want to keep me or sell me, it's their choice and time will tell.
"I don't know how true everything is right now. I'm not even sure if the club have said anything because they haven't spoken to me about anything.
"Time will tell, if it's true then obviously I'm delighted for people to be interested in me."
Boro stay?
Boro boss Tony Mowbray, who has already admitted he would have to sell before buying this summer, insists he wants to keep Williams.
"Owen obviously knows Rhys from his time at Burnley and he has a good relationship with this club, having taken David Wheater (to Bolton)," he told the club's official website.
"He is a man of integrity and he's fully aware of the situation with Rhys, who has a good few years left on his deal. There's no urgency to sell him, so we can put that one to bed.
"It's good that people are eyeing our players. We should never be afraid of people enquiring about our footballers - it shows we have got some talent. The secret is to have them on decent contracts, to keep them happy and to encourage them.
"Hopefully the scenario will be we keep the ones we think it's right to keep, the ones we want to build a team round. Some players' salary levels dictate that we have to listen to offers and others don't.
"Rhys comes into that (latter) category and he's shown versatility and great quality in every position we've asked him to play since he came back from injury. I'm pretty sure that next season he'll be here."
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Verdict
A hugely competitive handicap in which most of the 17 declared runners have some sort of chance. Habitual front-runner Shoreacres will ensure it's run at a good gallop and that will suit RED NOT BLUE, who finished ahead of Native Gallery and First Fandango when staying on late behind Pateese at Cheltenham. The better ground here will help and he's taken to see off a number of in-form rivals including Themilanhorse, who is bidding for a five-timer under regular partner Harry Derham. The Jigsaw Man is starting to look well handicapped and Tornado Bob and Torphichen shouldn't be far away again while Clerk's Choice has a touch of class. The Scottish Champion Hurdle third has never won over this trip, however, and Dartford Warbler and Red Skipper would need career-best efforts to follow up recent wins in this.
Formwatch
Clerk's Choice (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Towards rear, headway after 3 out, ridden before last, kept on run-in, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Raya Star (11-6) at Ayr 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Sentry Duty (FR) 18-1 (11-5) Mid-division, chased leaders under pressure 4 out, lost place next, behind when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Dynaste (10-13) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Nov, 20 ran.
Tornado Bob (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders on outside, mistake 5th, challenged after 9th, ridden on long run between last 2, kept on same pace, 3rd and held flat, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Cucumber Run (10-13) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-155 (2) gd in Apr.
Torphichen 4-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway before 8th to chase leaders, chance 2 out, no extra before last, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind The Knoxs (11-7) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.
First Fandango 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders early, mid-division, outpaced after 2 out, 6th last, stayed on well flat, going on close home, 4th of 10, 5l behind Pateese (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr.
Shoreacres (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) With leaders, lost place 3 out, weakened next, 20th of 28, 44l behind Son Of Flicka (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Now This Is It (IRE) 2-1 (11-2) Prominent, led 2 out, strongly pressed last, narrowly headed run-in, kept on well, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Silk Hall (10-13) at Galway 2m 4f hdl gd in Aug.
Higgy's Ragazzo (FR) 22-1 (11-4) Ran in snatches, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 7th of 11, 28l behind Sire De Grugy (11-6) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Themilanhorse (IRE) 1-2fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd briefly 4 out, chased leaders, led and stumbled 2 out, soon driven, narrowly headed last, stayed on to lead again final 100 yards, won at Exeter 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr beating Madam Noso (10-8) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Native Gallery (IRE) 4-1fav (11-4) Tracked leader until 2nd, stayed handy, not fluent 3 out, every chance last, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Pateese (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr.
The Jigsaw Man (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Mid-division, weakened soon after 4 out, 7th of 13, 18l behind Enfant De Lune (10-11) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Red Not Blue (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up on outside, headway 5th, carried right when close up 2 out, outpaced approaching last, stayed on flat, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Pateese (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr.
Art Professor (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, led 3rd until 3 out, chased leaders until weakened before next, 7th of 17, 18l behind Gibb River (11-7) at Sandown 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Apr.
Stopped Out 16-1 (11-12) Led, headed after 1st, led again 5th, headed 2 out, soon ridden, no extra final 100 yards, 5th of 8, 6l behind Humbie (10-12) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
Dartford Warbler (IRE) 7-4fav (11-9) Chased leaders, led before 4 out, clear before last, stayed on well, eased towards finish, won at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hcp 0-115 (4) gs in Apr beating Oscar Stanley (10-13) by 4l, 10 ran.
Red Skipper (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, stayed on, ridden out, won at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr beating Reste Gosse (11-0) by 1l, 7 ran.
Park Lane 2-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, ridden after 9th, outpaced when hit 4 out, went 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 8l behind Callisto Moon (11-12) at Ludlow 2m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Mar.
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Verdict
Syrian comes out best on official ratings but disappointed when dropping back into this grade at Wolverhampton last time. He has also struggled over longer trips in the past, though has won over 1m1f. We'll take him on with ELECTRICIAN, lightly-raced by comparison and a winner over track and trip early last month. He'll be happy to be back on Polytrack after looking ill-at-ease on the Fibresand last time. Temuco's victory here two runs ago is starting to look a fluke and Divine Rule is more consistent though is another better over shorter. Royal Etiquette drops in grade and is preferred to Gunner Will and Maz.
Formwatch
Royal Etiquette (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Held up behind, ridden over 1f out, never on terms, 9th of 13, 8l behind Whitby Jet (9-7) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Electrician 5-1 (8-4) In touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened 1f out, 6th of 8, 9l behind Caledonia Prince (8-12) at Southwell 1m 4yo clm stks 0-70 (6) fbs.
Temuco (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) Chased leader until ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 6, 12l behind Faithful Ruler (8-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f sell stks (6) pol in Jan.
Divine Rule (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Towards rear, headway entering final 2f, ridden and stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 1l behind Fonterutoli (9-6) at Lingfield 1m hcp (0-55) (6) pol.
Syrian 10-11fav (9-0) Held up in rear, headway 4f out, ridden 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 6l behind West End Lad (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f sell stks (6) pol in Jan.
Gunner Will (IRE) 14-1 (9-6) Close up, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 10, 3l behind Bridge That Gap (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-60 in Jan.
Darwinian 100-1 (8-2) Raced wide towards rear, headway to chase leader halfway, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 9l behind Brocklebank (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 3yo clm stks (6) pol in Nov.
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CHAPTER VIII
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Conclusions
An objective analysis of the information available to the Commission leads to the conclusion that a state of affairs exists in the Republic of Paraguay under which the majority of human rights recognized in the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, and in other similar instruments, not only are not respected in a manner in keeping with the international commitments assumed by the country, but also have become the object of a practice of constant violation.
The many denunciations received from within Paraguay itself, information compiled by international bodies that visited the country, and a great deal of other data coming from different sources, as well as the silence of the Paraguayan government in the face of the many observations and recommendations made to it over the years by the Commission, enable the latter to conclude that, under the state of siege which has been in force in Paraguay –in uninterrupted fashion—for more than 30 years, grave and numerous acts have been committed in violation of fundamental human rights, and in particular of the following:
1. The right to life. Well-founded bases exist to conclude that various individuals have died at the hands of the authorities under circumstances which have not been properly clarified. Moreover, cases commonly classified as disappearances, involving individuals who had been arrested by the authorities and held for indefinite periods in “unknown” locations, may well constitute instances of violation of the right to life, although, due to a lack of direct evidence, it may not be possible to establish properly their occurrence.
2. The right to security of the person. The use of physical and psychological duress and of every form of cruelty in order to extract confession or to intimidate and humiliate detainees is a constant and continuing practice in Paraguay, as attested to by denunciations and other information received from widely different sources. The foregoing is also suggested by the fact that the Paraguayan authorities impassively receive the transcriptions of such denunciations which are transmitted to them by the Commission, while allowing the time limits established for the receipt of replies to lapse, without commenting on them in any way. In addition to the above, the Commission must note that no information whatsoever has been received regarding the application of sanctions against even a single individual responsible for such inhuman treatment.
3. The right to personal liberty. As noted in this Report, the detentions carried out under the state of siege –that is, without any form of trial or filing of charges—number in the hundreds. Some of the individuals arbitrarily detained in this manner have spent as much as 19 years in prison being brought to trial. Indeterminate detention without charges or trial is aggravated, in many cases, by the holding of individuals incommunicado for indefinite periods.
According to what has been learned, which can be easily ascertained from many sources, these detentions of individuals representative of different political tendencies, for indefinite period of time, not only create an atmosphere of natural anxiety and uncertainty among Paraguayans, but also contribute to the creation of serious obstacles to the free development of national life and to a return to the full legal effectiveness of democratic institutions.
4. The right to a fair trial. As stated in various passages of this Report, individuals detained by virtue of the sate of siege do not enjoy the right to due process of law. They are no brought before a competent judge within the proper time periods, nor are they allowed or provided lawyers to safeguard compliance with procedural norms. The remedies of habeas corpus or amparo are without any effect in theses cases, as there is no court or judge that considers himself competent to grant such a remedy.
Suspected individuals are as a general rule held in places not suited for such purposes or in establishments which fail to meet even the minimal requirements which every prison should satisfy.
Finally, from a number of denunciations it has also been established that lawyers who assume responsibility for defending individuals detained for political reason and, in general, for cases involving the state of siege, are frequently the object of threats and acts of intimidation, including such measures as withholding their license to practice.
5. The right to freedom of expression and dissemination of ideas. Regarding this right, the obvious conclusion to be drawn is that in Paraguay the mass media are free neither to report accurately the news nor to express their opinions, This is so despite the fact that publications or broadcast of certain news or commentaries critical of the Government are occasionally ignored.
6. The right of assembly and of association. These rights, established in Articles XXI and XXII of the American Declaration, are frequently violated and ignored in practice. The Commission has in its hands sufficient bases for judgment to state that the Paraguayan Catholic Church and other religious institutions have been the object of persecution directly affecting their seminaries, schools and institutions of higher learning, as well as the development of its social action and assistance programs.
Recommendations
On the basis of all of the foregoing, and in fulfillment of its essential mission, the Commission believes it appropriate to make the following recommendations to the Government of Paraguay, aimed at rectifying the anomalies that have been described above and at guaranteeing protection of human rights in the future:
1. To adopt the measures necessary to lift the state of siege, in view of the fact that it has been extended again and again in uninterrupted fashion over a period of 30 years, as the Commission has observed in various passages of this Report; or, in the event that circumstances of grave danger or public calamity make its maintenance absolutely necessary, to issue without delay in accordance with the corresponding provisions of the Constitution, the regulatory law called for in order to establish the indispensable compatibility which must exist between that institution and permanent respect for fundamental human rights.
These provisions should establish a procedure under which detentions are carried out on written orders issued by competent authorities, with a copy of the same being formally transmitted within a fixed period of time to a member of the family or an individual indicated by the detainee. The order of detention should contain all information necessary to identify with precision the detainee and the individual taking him into custody, as well as the location where the detention is to be carried out and the name and authority ordering the measure.
2. These regulatory provisions should also provide for additional safeguards, such as a medical examination carried out both upon entry and upon departure from places of detention. Above all, the full legal effectiveness of the remedies of habeas corpus and amparo for all classes of detainees should be reestablished or guarantee by means of a special law, in view of the fact that under ordinary procedures these remedies are now considered incompatible with the institution of special powers.
3. To release as soon as possible all individuals detained under the state of siege against whom charges have not been filed; or, should there be legal cause for such action, to submit them immediately to due process of law including a fair trial.
To take all measures necessary to guarantee, with respect to women who have given birth in prison or who have been detained with an infant, the special assistance and consideration which is required which is required due to their situation and that of their small children.
4. To adopt administrative and practical measures aimed at ensuring that any official who commits abuses or uses cruel and inhuman methods against detainees will be made an example and duly punished.
5. To take the necessary measures in order to guarantee the proper protection for lawyers and judges, so that both may properly perform their special tasks.
6. To inform the Commission as soon as possible of the measures adopted in carrying out these recommendations.
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Ratification and..
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1 dead in 5-vehicle crash in Berkshires
SHEFFIELD, Mass. (AP) -- Police say a Sheffield, Mass., woman was killed and two people seriously injured after a five-vehicle crash in the Berkshires.
Sheffield Police Chief James McGarry says that at about 7 p.m. Tuesday a pick-up truck driven by 35-year-old Frederick Weller of Sandy Hook, Conn., was traveling north on Route 7 when it collided with four other vehicles.
He tells The Berkshire Eagle that 24-year-old Moira Banks-Dobson was killed when her Toyota Corolla was struck by the pick-up.
McGarry said another driver, 52-year-old Russell Brown of Great Barrington, was airlifted to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. His condition wasn't available.
The chief said Weller was also taken to Baystate, where he was stable. Police said Weller is expected to face charges.
Four others escaped serious injury.
Sheffield is on the Connecticut border.
(Copyright (c) 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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The.
Co-CEO
Other board memberships: Board of Directors, ANSYS, Inc., Canonsburg, PA, USA; and Board of Directors, Under Armour, Inc., Baltimore, MD, USA
Learn more about Bill McDermottMore »
Co-CEO
Other board memberships: Board of Directors, Bang & Olufsen a/s, Struer, Denmark; Board of Directors, The Danske Bank Group, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Learn more about Jim Hagemann SnabeMore »
Other Supervisory Board memberships: Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; QIAGEN N.V., Venlo, The Netherlands; RWE AG, Essen, Germany.
Learn more about Werner BrandtMore »
Learn more about Lars DalgaardMore »
Other board memberships: Supervisory Board of INGKA Holding B.V. (also called the IKEA Group), Leiden, Netherlands; Board of Directors of SAFILO Group S.p.A., Padua, Italy
Learn more about Luisa Deplazes DelgadoMore »
Learn more about Gerhard OswaldMore »
Learn more about Vishal SikkaMore »
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NCA STATEMENT ON MARCH 20TH DEMONSTRATION
As the U.S. occupation and dismantling of Iraq enters its seventh bloody year, it is joined by similarly horrific and gruesome occupation of Afghanistan. The war mentality besieging Washington also conducted, by proxy, wars on Lebanon and Palestine and new war fronts in Yemen, Somalia and Pakistan are activated. The invasion of Iraq, war on Lebanon and Gaza, were designed to achieve a set of objectives, foremost of which is the reshaping of the security environment in Israel’s favor.
Let’s not forget the hysteria and unrestrained campaign against Islam, as a faith, and its adherents, elevating the faith to an adversary and a common enemy. In all, the U.S. successive administrations are transforming the Arab World into a crisis and a long-term battle place. These fronts are a testament to the ideology of empire building, colonialism, militarism and hegemony.
The ideological template of the U.S. mainstream, democrats and republicans alike, has guided the road to the excessive inequality and poverty in the Arab World, in particular. As a result of the Carter-Brzezinski expedition into Afghanistan in 1980’s, more than $55 Billion of Arab petro dollars were shifted to conduct a proxy war fueled by 50,000 young Arab recruits. Currently, the U.S. is spending nearly $200 billion, since 2001, on subjugating Afghanistan alone. The numbers for shifting of resources to conduct war in Iraq are more devastating with far reaching domestic implications.
The end result is a colossal rising rate of poverty and inequality for all peoples, not to mention the methodical destruction of any infrastructure in Afghanistan and Iraq, Gaza and Lebanon. A situation is difficult to fathom in a region that is, by all accounts, considered rich in natural resources but its priorities are misplaced. While we stand in solidarity with the occupied people of Afghanistan and Iraq, the Palestinians in Gaza are subjected to an unprecedented siege by the consecutive U.S. Administrations, Israel and the subservient Arab regimes – dubbed “moderates,” to camouflage their active participation against our aggregate people.
Washington has successfully imposed its hegemonistic vision by creating a false linkage between freedom and economic growth, and adopting its version of democracy as being the cure for all human misery. In contrast, however, there is a direct link between launching endless wars and growing poverty, as more dire resources are shifted from the public domain to fund the illusionary goals of empire building. Poverty rates among the Arabs in the ‘90’s were 26-30% in most countries.
As the class divide widens in the Arab World, and more people are forcibly recruited into poverty, those regimes become more dependent on foreign powers, especially the U.S., for their own security and longevity. But those are the inherent ingredients of revolutions, as history’s lessons are revived..
The campaign to target and isolate our community is conducted with impunity and active collusion, if not collaboration, of subservient Arab regimes. As the U.S. policy is focusing on antagonizing the Arabs and Muslims alike, it is allowing the Zionists to divert world attention from their forcible expropriation of Palestinian lands and dispossession of the Palestinians. With the stalling of the Zionist project and its inability to expand horizontally, as a consequence to the growing resistance, the U.S. looks outwards to opening new war fronts. This must be exposed and brought to a halt through unified and organized action.
We call on our Arab-American community, and their friends, to mobilize on March 20th denouncing wars and shifting dire resources, and to tear down the wall of fear and intimidation.
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Moderator: Moderators
Samsung has pointed to the Galaxy S2 and Galaxy Note as the key reasons behind a record-breaking quarter for the Korean giant.
133
Keltic Dave wrote:
Keltic Dave wrote:Apple is a patent troll its to be expected. Thankfully the UK have laid the smackdown on them recently. ... validates/
3
133
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Relax And Enjoy It!
Gerry Wiggins
CAT # OJCCD-173-25
As the late Ralph J. Gleason observed, "Gerald Wiggins is the kind of musician who is unspectacular, who is not a brash innovator nor in any sense a flamboyant character; yet it is musicians like him who provide the great body of jazz music with its virtues." That is as true of Wiggins today as it was when he recorded these sides almost 40 years ago. Though constantly in demand as an accompanist for singers (Lena Horne, Helen Humes, Carmen McRae, Marilyn Monroe, Ernestine Anderson, and Kay Starr were among those who hired him over the years), Wiggins is a soloist worthy of consideration in his own right. His restrained, tasteful style and inventiveness can be heard throughout this splendid trio set.
with Joe Comfort, Jackie Mills
Find out more about Gerry Wiggins
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Schema Document SCHOOL NCLB SCHOOL YEAR START STATUS xml layout file. Author: Hector Tello - AEM Corporation Version: 5.0 Created: November 2008 Includes: pbdmi-file-xmit-5.xsd NO MISSING An indication that a school is designated under state and federal regulations as being eligible for participation in programs authorized by Title I and whether it has a Title I program. Codes: TGELGBNOPROG – Title I Targeted Eligible School- No Program TGELGBTGPROG – Title I Targeted School SWELIGTGPROG – Title I School wide eligible-Title I targeted program SWELIGNOPROG – Title I School wide The total FTE number of classroom teachers in each school.
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Position Title
Postdoctoral Psychology Associate
University
University of Illinois at Chicago
Department
Counseling Center
Salary Range
$30,000 plus excellent benefits
Position Description
The UIC Counseling Center has two openings for Postdoctoral Psychology Associates. These positions are designed for individuals who are interested in working in a counseling center with a diverse population of students, combining clinical work, supervision and training, outreach, and a more intensive project to develop depth as well as breadth of professional skills.
UIC is a large, primarily commuter, urban Research 1 university with a diverse student body. The Counseling Center is IACS accredited and has an APA-accredited internship as well as a practicum training program. The University of Illinois at Chicago is deeply committed to a community of excellence, equity, and diversity. An AA/EO employer, we welcome applications from women, underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, sexual minority groups, and other candidates who will contribute to the diversification and enrichment of ideas and perspectives.
Minimum Qualifications
-- Completion of a doctoral degree in Clinical or Counseling psychology prior to the start of the postdoctoral position required
-- APA- accredited doctoral program and APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship required
--Professional experience and competence working with multicultural diversity
Desired Qualifications
Previous experience in counseling center setting preferred
University Description
View our website for more information about the Counseling Center and the University of Illinois at Chicago:
Region Description
Required Application Materials
Please submit a cover letter indicating your interest in our program, its relationship to your professional goals, interests you would like to pursue, the status of your dissertation, and expected dates of completion of your internship, dissertation, and doctoral degree; a curriculum vita, three current letters of recommendation, including one from your internship clinical supervisor, and an official graduate transcript or a letter from your doctoral program chair attesting to the anticipated completion date of your doctoral degree.
Application Deadline
For fullest consideration, submit applications by February 1, 2013. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until positions are filled.
Starting Date
August 19, 2013
Send Applications To:
Jeanette Simon, Psy.D., Interim Assistant Director for Training
Mailing Address
UIC Counseling Center (MC 333), 1200 W. Harrison, Ste. 2010
Chicago, IL 60607
Phone Number
312 996 3490
[email protected]
Web Address
This listing expires on:
2/28/2013
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“Lame duck” legislative sessions, facing tight time deadlines, whether at the state or national level, do not provide the best political environment in which to conduct serious discussions or shape long-lasting laws and policies.
Those serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have known for years that if the 2001 and 2003 federal tax provisions are not extended and a variety of other tax provisions are allowed to lapse, the nation and most of its citizens face the likelihood of plunging over a “fiscal cliff.”
According to the Tax Policy Center, a joint venture of the Brookings Institution and Urban Institute, 90 percent of American households will face higher taxes in 2013 if Congress and President Obama are not able to agree on a deficit reduction plan.
Tax increases are scheduled to come about because the various tax cuts were approved on a temporary basis due to end on Jan. 2, 2013, roughly four weeks from now.
The American public, as well as the welfare of the nation itself, now are in the middle of a massive political game with President Obama, a number of Democratic senators playing hardball and the Republican-controlled House.
The debt crisis and how to keep the economy afloat are the critical issues. Obama and his fellow Democrats say the first step in trying to solve the problem is to raise taxes.
Republicans say they, too, want to help bring about a solution, but that if taxes are to be raised, there must be an even greater level of cuts in federal spending to make a meaningful dent in the growing national debt.
Democrats say tax hikes must be approved this year and that any cuts in federal entitlement programs will be put off until sometime next year. Republicans say “no way” and that federal spending cuts must be detailed before they OK tax hikes.
Neither side wants to budge, although all lawmakers realize they must take reasoned, positive action to avert a very serious situation. The big question is whether this “serious situation” is sufficiently serious to force the various players to cut a deal that meets opposing viewpoints somewhere in the middle.
Unfortunately, this all is taking place after a heated presidential campaign, and the fallout from the election certainly is playing a big role.
Obama and his followers in the Senate won the White House for another four years and retained their majority in the Senate. To the winner belong the spoils, and they see no reason they should have to compromise on how they intend to avoid falling off the fiscal cliff. They want tax hikes now and say they will consider spending cuts next year.
Republicans still control the House and, due to Obama failing to measure up on many promises and pledges he made in his 2008 election bid, along with the adamant stance of 30 or more Democratic senators saying they will not agree to any cuts in major federal entitlement spending programs, it is difficult for GOP House members to agree to tax increases at this time and accept a good-faith proposal by Democrats to consider spending cuts next year.
Some might fear the Democrats offer a bait-and-switch proposal. Others might suggest Obama believes this is the time to force the issue and, in the process, crumble any GOP unity in the House.
Also, the manner in which Democrats are staging this battle could be a tip-off to how they intend to conduct affairs for the next four years in partisan legislative battles and the use of executive power.
If Obama is able to split the GOP in this debate, there is every reason to believe he will intensify efforts in future contentious legislative negotiations. He has said he intends to change America and obviously plans to follow through on this pledge. He is on the attack on the tax hike issue, scheduling campaign-style stops around the country to rally support for the Democratic plan and urging citizens to flood the offices of GOP lawmakers with calls for them to approve his tax plan.
Now is not the time to play chicken or see which side is the first to blink.
Granted, Obama won the presidency and, again, to the victor belong the spoils, but there are times when it seems much more can be accomplished when a winner tries to come close to meeting the wishes of those who didn’t win.
Such an approach often pays off in the long run and for the benefit of all parties.
It will be interesting to see whether Democrats continue to try to win a knuckles-down arm wrestling contest or offer a genuine compromise that is best for the country.
Unfortunately, it appears the game rules have been set by Obama, Sen. Harry Reid, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and the 30 hard-core Democrats who say they will not budge on any entitlement cuts.
Once more, to the victor belong the spoils, but consider what the “spoils” may be in this case.
Copyright 2013 The Lawrence Journal-World. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. We strive to uphold our values for every story published.
merrill 5 months, 2 weeks ago
All of above ultimately supply side economics.
Considering repubs have been against any type of new job creation after a 4 year degree one might consider a Vocational-Technical Institute to become a highly skilled technician in some field. This will make any college grad more marketable and perhaps open doors to self employment. It is unlikely that there will be enough jobs for college grads anytime soon.
Or if one has the dollars becoming a career student is as respectable as any other job.
merrill 5 months, 2 weeks ago
The GOP is dead so what to do?
Jobs.
--- put people back to work fixing the nations highways and bridges.
--- put more funding directly into public schools and hire more teachers ( bypass the state legislatures).
--- implement Medicare Single Payer Insurance which is estimated to save $400 billion annually while creating 2.4 million jobs. Move all government employees into this STAT and watch the cost of government and public schools drop significantly.
--- all of the above will create millions of more jobs BUT we must invest in jobs that cannot be outsourced.
--- let the Bush tax cuts hit the road BUT save the middle class tax cuts. Middle class spending
is more likely to create jobs due to larger population numbers of the 99%
--- Bring on the Robin Hood Tax
--- vote out more and more of the new anti american right wing party members who are now posing as republicans. They are frauds.
If the nation is stuck on a two party system those two parties might should be the Green Party and the Democratic Party. At least the nation could have some "working together" yet with plenty of debate.
The more often Kansas votes in the same faces the less opportunity for significant change. Sending back the same faces tells those faces that political election corruption is still okay.
Sam Brownback is one perfect example of why we need to send career politicians home.
woodscolt 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Dolph is too blind to see as usual. Every since the tea party republicans were elected to congress and inflicted their "our way and our way only" policy and are just to stupid to realize that rarely do you get only your way in politics, the congress has been gridlocked. Leave it to the wisdom of the dolphster to read that as....
..."President Obama, a number of Democratic senators playing hardball"....
Once again dolph has proven he has no journalistic creditability or integrity with his to blind to see mentality. Oh, by the way Dolph, did you notice who won the last election? Or did that slip by you as well.
Briseis 5 months, 2 weeks ago
"our way and our way only"
Oh, by the way Dolph, did you notice who won the last election? Or did that slip by you as well.
lol... Psychological projection as its finest....spike the football much?
This reminds me of the Democrat convention, -spike the football event-, parading bin laden's death continuously and blaming Benghazi murders on an obscure movie a couple hundred Muslims may have seen 8 months prior the attack.
/nanny nanny boo boo, we won and you didn't, so there!!
msezdsit 5 months, 2 weeks ago
sour grapes
jafs 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Come on folks - if it's true that D are saying tax hikes now, spending cuts later, that's a bad idea.
We need both, and they should both be part of any deal made now, before the cliff comes, I think.
Why should R trust D to come up with spending cuts later, when they know D don't really want those?
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 5 months, 2 weeks ago
In the midst of a recession, we don't need spending cuts as that will only fuel the recession, which will cause a further reduction in revenues coming into government coffers.
But we do need different spending-- spending that will stimulate the economy by doing the things necessary to remake it for 21st century realities.
Throwing the most disadvantaged of us under the bus just to reduce spending has only one purpose-- to increase their suffering in order to continue the steady redistribution of wealth to the already wealthy.
jafs 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Even Obama says the debt issue is a "medium term" problem that needs to be fixed, and that increased revenue and decreased spending are necessary to fix it.
Why should R trust that D will do that, if they keep putting off the spending cuts, and demanding tax increases?
And, given the outrageously high spending at the federal level, I'm sure there are ways to cut that without "throwing the disadvantaged under the bus".
Obama's proposal that I just read claims to offer a 4.4 trillion reduction in the deficit over ten years. That equates to about half a trillion each year, which leaves about the same amount (if not more) in deficits. So, even though it decreases annual deficits, we're still increasing the national debt by 5 trillion dollars (or more) over ten years.
That's just not good enough for me - we need to be at least stabilizing the national debt, and preferably paying it down.
If the feds actually followed Keynesian principles all the time, it might be ok - that way they'd build up a surplus in the good years, and use it in the bad ones, so it wouldn't involve massive debt. But, they just don't do that.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 5 months, 2 weeks ago
The debt projections of a decade or two out are completely irrelevant if global warming/climate change aren't seriously addressed, as the world economy will be completely destroyed by it.
jafs 5 months, 2 weeks ago
That's called "shifting the goalposts".
Everything's meaningless if we destroy ourselves in a nuclear WWII as well.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 5 months, 2 weeks ago
True enough. A serious effort at eliminating nuclear weapons (unlike the charade we currently have) is essential, as well.
But the deficit/debt issue is nothing but a deadly distraction if it keeps us from addressing the very large killer elephant in the room that really will kill us, unlike the abstraction we are currently obsessing over.
jafs 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I think they're all issues.
And they should all be dealt with appropriately.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I agree, but I would also throw in that they should be dealt with in a way that recognizes their relative importance and urgency. With that in mind, I'd say the deficit resides way down the list.
msezdsit 5 months, 2 weeks ago
cut military spending. bingo. fixes the problem. We don't need to be able to blow something to smithereens and then come back and blow it up another 1000 times after it is already blown up but thats what we are paying for now while blowing up grandma as collateral damage in the process. Military spending is so far out of necessary proportion and it is just big business for the rich get richer fraternity.
jafs 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I agree that military spending should be cut, but I'm not at all sure that fixes the deficit issue, unless we cut huge amounts - we're currently running deficits of about $1.5 trillion each year.
And, also, even those cuts will affect people negatively - there are lots of folks working at jobs for the military, and businesses supplying them, etc. If we just cut the military, where will all those people work?
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Dolph exhibits yet again the Republican definition of compromise-- "It's our way or no way at all."
Paul R. Getto 5 months, 2 weeks ago
"Granted, Obama won the presidency and, again, to the victor belong the spoils, but there are times when it seems much more can be accomplished when a winner tries to come close to meeting the wishes of those who didn’t win."
Huh? W claimed a mandate on a narrower victory in 2004. The TP crowd needs to grow up.
deec 5 months, 2 weeks ago
The debt ceiling has been raised 76 times since 1917. It is political posturing to pretend this is a new problem that began when Obama took office.
JackMcKee 5 months, 2 weeks ago
And there it is. My week is now complete. Thanks Dolph.
Phillbert 5 months, 2 weeks ago
If it's Saturday, it must be Dolph ranting about either KU or Obama. I see it's Obama's turn this week.
beatrice 5 months, 2 weeks ago
So name the cuts desired. Republicans need to state how much they want to cut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, then go back home and face the people they represent. Obama shouldn't be the one offering up cuts, but he should consider those put forward. If Republicans only want cuts in social programs but no cuts in military spending, then they aren't to be taken seriously.
Republicans act as if they are entitled to have the temporary tax cuts extended forever. What part of "temporary" do they not understand and what is with this entitlement mindset?
Alyosha 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Mr. Simons writes, "Obama and his fellow Democrats say the first step in trying to solve the problem is to raise taxes."
Mr. Simons knows, or should know, apparently being an educated individual with access to accurate information, with a quick, honest appraisal of the issues easily available in a number of news sources and statements by the President, that this is not actually the case. Yet, given a choice between accuracy and fairly portraying the President's positions, and repeating sloppy thinking and partisan-motivated mischaracterizations, Mr. Simons takes the unethical and dishonorable path of asserting falsehoods.
Until Mr. Simons can see beyond his own misunderstandings, stop asserting falsehoods, and apprehend honestly the actual state of affairs, his opinion is worthless, and he is shown to favor dishonorable falsehoods over truth.
That kind of thinking is exactly why Republicans, like Mr. Simons in their inability to argue honorably or ethically, were rejected by the American people in terms of the popular vote at the polls.
Get out of the way, Mr. Simons, if all you bring to the table is dishonorable practices.
yourworstnightmare 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Mr. Simons, you should stick to bashing KU.
voevoda 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Mr. Simons, I think you have forgotten the history of President Obama's first term. He started out intending to be a bipartisan president, trying to include Republicans in the process of designing ways to deal with the disparity between income and government expenditures. But he found the Congressional Republicans to be so intransigent, so focused on making him a one-term president, that they used every parliamentary subterfuge to prevent concerted action on the Federal budget (and everything else). The best that President Obama could get out of them was a stop-gap--the "fiscal cliff" we are now facing. Republicans agreed to it because they believed that the 2012 election would give them control of the government--House of Representatives, Senate, and White House, and then they could avert the "fiscal cliff" on their own terms. But the voters didn't agree to give the (far right wing) Republicans control of the government.
So it's the Republicans who created this situation, and that means that it is their responsibility, first and foremost, to make the compromises they should have made earlier, to avoid the creation of the "fiscal cliff" in the first place. The country is watching: will Republicans destroy the economy of the United States in order to deny Obama a positive legacy, as Charles Krauthammer recommends in his op-ed piece today? I hope, Mr. Simons, that you don't advocate the same.
oneeye_wilbur 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Dolph needs to focus on. The high stakes in Lawrence, population 80,000. A city that is going to pass 84.5 million bond issue for schools. As one mhenderson says, "scares the beejeezusout ofme". Every school building in Lawrence could be bulldozed and built new for that much money. Lawrence is running on nite lite wattage brainpower.
WristTwister 5 months, 2 weeks ago
I say let Obama have it. Give him everything he wants. It looks like we are headed for certain financial ruin anyway, so let him take us there and we can hit bottom much sooner. Those who are wise will get out of the way and watch while squirreling away assets and buy gold. The dollar will be worthless.
beatrice 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Your doomsday prediction is likely to be as accurate as your presidential election predictions. You were likely saying you would stay out of stock market until it fell to 3000 for the same reasons, all while blaming Obama.
WristTwister 5 months, 2 weeks ago
You are welcome to write this one down Bea, since I did not say anything about the DOW hitting 3000. I have been in the market all along since about 1975. This is not just another market cycle. We are in a bear market rally courteousy of the Fed's quantitative easing. Any growth in GDP can be attributed to QE. Trouble is, QE is getting less and less effective as evidenced by the GDP since 2009. Although US GDP has been marginally increasing, it's increases are declining year after year. The fed is hoping that they can prop up the economy until we move out of this "cycle". But what they won't admit is there is nothing of value to move us out of our financial problems. All of the money put into play by the fed will lead to hyperinflation. Get ready. I am.
oneeye_wilbur 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Right on spot. More in Lawrence would believe it if they were in private employment. Sadly Lawrence is going to hear of pink slips around town, it's coming and not at the city, county, schools nor KU.
Briseis 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Obama is already tapping into the natural gas market. China needs coal. The country has plenty of both to sell to foreign markets. Those markets alone will offset the debt and pay for the 47%'s needs.
Lawrence is a government town. It will do just fine.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 5 months, 2 weeks ago
The needs of the 0.01% are even greater, and they produce many orders of magnitude less than the 47% you so despise. Why do you hate the 0.01%
Briseis 5 months, 2 weeks ago
lol.... I despise no one sparky. lol
enough of your .01%, fiscal cliff, doom and gloom meme.....btw chief...these are the 1%'rs...originals...lol....
good morning to you mate
JohnBrown 5 months, 2 weeks ago
O'Bama is trying to avoid the 'austerity crisis' that the Eurpoeans have so adroitly placed themselves into.
As for the 'debt crisis' , most of it is thanks to Reagan, Bush, and GW. O'Bama's deficits are the direct result of the Republicans trashing the economy much more severely than anyone thought just four years ago.
There needs to be a discussion about supply side economics, and an explanation as to why rich people (the so-called 'job creators' ) would want to create one single job so long as there is no demand for their products from the middle class.
O'Bama has suggested the following order in which to fix things: First traunch: 1. get the economy going again (Republicans opposed this over the past 4 years because they wanted to have a lousy economy during this election year and blame it on O'Bama). 2. Raise taxes on the top ~2% Second traunch: 3. Get the Republicans to identify and quantify the cuts they want. 4. Make bipartisan cuts.
As for raising the debt ceiling: O'Bama doesn't need congress to okay that. He has the Constitution ordering the debts be paid. Once congress authorizes expenditures the full faith and credit of the United States is in play. Congress can't first authorize expenditures and then renege on them when the time comes to pay up. Since much of the debt we owe is owed to foreigners, paying on the debt without congressional approval would be necessary as a national defense issue.
JohnBrown
Paul R. Getto 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Bravissimo! A breath of fresh air, Ye are
riverdrifter 5 months, 2 weeks ago
+1
kippcolorado 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Hey, Dolph, be glad I never dated Pam because she'd be a Democrat by now.
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Back to gallery
"In those days, you know, we were raised to respect your elders."
Yearbook picture of James D. Jackson, who had an active teaching license in Kansas from 1960 to 1976. He was also the vice principal of Arrowhead Junior High in Kansas City, Kan., between 1973 and 1976.
Browse the gallery
Marketplace
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So it has been a while since my last entry. Classes have been pretty crazy lately with papers, exams, and presentations. I only have 10 short days left in this amazing city! I have been trying to make the best of them and really connect with the Italian friends that I have made over recent weeks. I have not done any traveling since Copenhagen, but I am planning on traveling to Rome this coming weekend with some friends to see a soccer game. Rome is playing against Florence, which should be a good match. I will stay behind after the match to see the rest of Rome since I haven’t even been there yet! I’m currently in the last week of classes. I have my Italian final exam this Friday and then I have two finals next week. I am also participating in an art show with my photo class where we will present some of our best photos. I am looking forward to the last days. I will make sure to write one last entry before I leave to give my final thoughts and feelings on this amazing journey.
Till next time,
Alex
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The young clerk at the Hi Ho Esso station in Okotoks, Alta., says that the famous legal battle over a lotto ticket sold at his counter has been unobtrusive. “The people involved were told by their lawyers not to talk,” he says, “and we know better than to ask.” In a Calgary suburb in 2011, there’s already enough money around for $20 million not to make much visible impact.
But it is enough cash to destroy friendships. Michael and Catherine Clancy were part of a group of regulars in a lottery pool at the Okotoks Elks Club. The participants generally covered for one another, making sure nobody missed a drawing. But the Clancys’ names, for the first time, somehow didn’t make it onto the list for the Nov. 23, 2007, Super 7 drawing; 21 other Elks habitués, however, won a piece of a $20-million prize.
One of the winners testified that the group assembled to discuss the Clancys’ bad luck about a week after the big win. The plaintiffs “were pretty close friends,” Drew DeVries said, and he “would have liked to see them in the money, but everyone voted it down right away.” The Clancys, astonished that nobody had covered for them, sued for two twenty-thirds of the total prize.
“They have convinced me that they sincerely thought that their friends would ensure that they would be in the draw every time,” wrote Alberta Queen’s Bench Justice Suzanne Bensler last week in her judgment. But with conflicting testimony about the nature of the pool, and no written contract, Bensler had to find against the Clancys. They walk away with $100,000 provided by their friend Albert Johnson, an Okotoks retiree whose name ought to become a watchword for integrity: he was the only one of the 21 defendants who agreed with the Clancys’ claim and was willing to back that belief with a share of the prize.
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WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama demanded that lawmakers raise America’s $16.4 trillion federal debt limit quickly, warning that benefits that the elderly and military veterans rely on will be affected if they don’t and warning Republicans against insisting on cuts to government spending in exchange for not “crashing the economy.”
Obama said he was willing to negotiate with Republican leaders about reining in deficit spending but insisted that those talks be separate from decisions to raise the federal debt ceiling and avert a possible first-ever national default.
“We are not a deadbeat nation,” he declared at a news conference Monday, less than a week away from taking the oath of office for a second term.
In addition to noting possible effects on older Americans and veterans, Obama recited a litany of possible consequences if Congress fails to raise the debt ceiling, including sending the economy back into recession.
“We might not be able to pay our troops, or honour.”
Obama warned that Republicans who want to dramatically cut spending in return for raising U.S. borrowing limits “will not collect a ransom in exchange for not crashing the economy.”
Obama’s remarks were in line with a newly toughened stance he has shown toward Congress a week before he is sworn in for a second term. The re-elected president has run his last race — U.S. presidents can serve no more than two terms — and has appeared willing to spend the political capital he believes he accrued after winning handily in November and seeing Democrats improve their numbers in Congress.
Obama made his remarks as a new Congress was settling in for its own new term. The new Congress is expected to be as deeply divided as the last, though Republicans face a smaller majority in the House and Democrats will enjoy a bigger majority in the Senate.
In Obama’s first term, Democrats on the left accused him of giving ground too easily to Republicans on the debt ceiling issue during a huge partisan fight in the summer of 2011. That battle resulted in an unprecedented downgrade of the U.S. credit rating and left in place the contentious federal income tax cuts established during the George W. Bush administration.
Obama spoke at the 21st and final news conference of his first term, just days after he signed legislation that narrowly averted a “fiscal cliff” of automatic spending cuts and across-the-board tax increases as the Bush tax cuts expired on Jan. 1. A last-minute deal preserved the tax cuts for families earning less than $400,000 per year and delayed the spending cuts.
Obama said he would consider future spending cuts to reduce the deficit, but only if they are done independently from a vote to raise the federal debt limit.
“The full faith and credit of the United States of America is not a bargaining chip,” he said. “And they better decide quickly because time is running short.”
In a blunt rebuttal to Republicans who say they will not agree to any more tax increases, the president said both taxes and spending must be on the table.
Within minutes, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell.”
The most powerful Republican in Congress, House of Representatives.”
Underscoring the urgency, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said in a letter to Boehner that the government will exhaust its borrowing limit as soon as mid-February, earlier than expected. The Treasury has been using bookkeeping manoeuvrs to keep from surpassing the debt ceiling, but Geithner said those measures will be exhausted by mid-February to early March. the March deadline. “It will hurt the economy,” he said emphatically.
Jabbing at Republicans, he quoted Boehner’s remarks of two years ago that allowing a default on U.S. obligations — the practical effect of failing to raise the debt limit — would be a disaster.
Until the partisan fight over the debt ceiling broke out in 2011, the limit on borrowing had been increased by Congress as a matter of course.
But with a surge in Republicans aligned with the anti-tax Tea Party movement elected to the House of Representatives in 2010, the opposition party has sought to use the power over the debt to enforce its desires for smaller government and spending cuts.
Conservative Republicans in House rebelled during the fiscal cliff talks, and were blamed for scuttling a so-called grand bargain that would have included both tax hikes for wealthy earners, a Democratic priority, and spending cuts to costly entitlement programs, a Republican goal. The House Republicans revolted over increasing taxes for anyone, including the wealthy, following conservative dogma of the past two decades.
Obama said he is still “open to making modest adjustments to programs like Medicare to protect them for future generations,” referring to the federal health care program for the elderly. He said he also wants to close tax loopholes.
Combined with other bills he signed earlier in the term, he said he and Congress have reduced deficits by about $2.5 trillion over a decade, somewhat less than the $4 trillion he said is necessary to get them down to a manageable size.
Failure to raise the debt limit would put the United States into a first-ever default, a step that Obama warned.
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Review: The Blood of Free Men: The Liberation of Paris, 1944
By Peter Shawn Taylor - Friday, November 9, 2012 - 0 Comments
While Hitler’s Germany laid waste to much of Europe during his short but murderous reign, the Continent’s two most celebrated and historic cities—Paris and Rome—were spared destruction. Could it be that even the Nazis understood the irreplaceable nature of these world treasures?
Historian Neiberg takes a new look at the liberation of Paris and how it narrowly escaped devastation. It’s a story that’s been told many times before, perhaps most memorably by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre in their 1965 book Is Paris Burning? and then given star-laden treatment (Kirk Douglas, Orson Welles, Charles Boyer, Leslie Caron, Alain Delon, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Glenn Ford, Gert Froebe, Anthony Perkins) in a sprawling movie of the same name a year later. That title, of course, refers to an order given by Adolf Hitler but ignored by his retreating army to lay waste to the City of Light.
An equally Paris unburnt. Collins and Lapierre based much of their work on Choltitz’s own memoirs, which suggest he saved Paris for moral reasons.
Neiberg reconsiders the evidence and comes to a different conclusion: Choltitz spared Paris because he lacked the means to do otherwise. The general’s nickname on arrival in Paris was “smasher of cities,” a moniker earned for his treatment of Rotterdam and Sevastopol earlier in the war. So there’s no reason to believe he felt any unease over destroying great landmarks. Rather, says Neiberg, Choltitz underestimated popular support for the Resistance and was left powerless once Parisians took to the streets ahead of Allied forces. In the end, the German general surrendered to save his men from the wrath of a wild mob. As for the famous question of whether the city was burning or not, Neiberg says “There is no evidence those words ever left Hitler’s mouth.”
Visit the Maclean’s Bookmarked blog for news and reviews on all things literary
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Tuesday Evenings at Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
March 16, 2010
Photography © Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
Photographer, Jacob Boll
![ Tuesday Evenings at Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
March 16, 2010
Photography © Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
Photographer, Jacob Boll]()
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Student Affairs presents program on international studies
6 - 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, 2009
First Floor Function Room
Suffolk University Law School
120 Tremont Street, Boston
The Office of Student Affairs presents a Study Abroad Workshop that will focus on international study opportunities for students.
You will learn about:
• Study abroad programs and eligibility requirements
• What students need to do to prepare for their journey
• What kind of academic credit students can earn abroad
• Costs (including financial aid and other types of aid)
• The experiences of returning students and their parents
• How you can help your student throughout the process
For more information or to RSVP, 617-573-8239Back to Events Listing »
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So much worse than I thought
Humanity's treatment of nature and our environment has always been very much about how our society lives and interacts with not just nature, but one another.
That's why we've been so heartened to see how online social networks, such as facebook and twitter, have allowed organizations to work and organize together on important issues in brand new ways.
We all know the power of word of mouth and social networks in our own lives,
but it really does take social networking to save whales too. Through facebook and twitter we've been in contact with dedicated advocates, one of the most dedicated is Jeff Friedman. Jeff volunteers with The Climate Project, BlueVoice.org, Orca Network, and Orca Lab. Last weekend Jeff traveled to Miami to protest the conditions that Lolita (an Orca taken out of the wild 40 years ago) has been kept in at Miami Seaquarium. Below Jeff shares with us what it was like to see Lolita in person. We want to thank Jeff for his tireless efforts fighting captivity.
I want to share my experience at Miami Seaquarium. First, my disclaimer: I did not pay admission to get in. As someone who is against keeping orcas and other dolphins in captivity, I will not support these places financially. I was given a free entrance pass which had been donated to a friend.
Hopefully by now you've seen the photos and read Lolita's story, and even though I had seen many pictures i was not prepared to see first hand how bad Lolita's situation really is. Pictures don't capture depth. Just as pictures of the Grand Canyon can never convey its true size and depth, pictures of her tank do not convey the lack of size and depth.
Many hotels and health clubs have larger pools. Her tank is like a large backyard swimming pool. As soon as I walked in this reality hit me and has stayed with me. I had seen many pictures beforehand, but none of them prepared me well for its true lack of size. 40 years in that pool is unimaginable.
I will also say that Lolita is beautiful. That hit me right away too and it was surreal to see this orca in front of my eyes that I have read so much about. Suddenly, the injustice being done to her became more real to me.
Lolita is mostly unavailable for public observation. Unlike other marine parks (SeaWorld), you can only see Lolita during her 2 shows a day. The public was allowed to entered the stadium 10 minutes before the show. Lolita listlessly floated near the front of her tank, as the stadium music blares loudly, she looked at people for a few minutes. Then she sank to the bottom and was still for several minutes, up for a breath and a look, then back to the bottom. Barely moving.
During the show itself, I was shocked at the lack of Lolita's presence. In the intro the trainer asked in a salesy voice, "Where is the one place in the world where you can
see a killer whale swim and play with Pacific white-sided dolphins?" Of course her answer was Miami Seaquarium, but I was thinking British Columbia. The show is 20 minutes. Lolita swims around with a trainer standing on her back, breaches 3 or 5 times, tail slaps, pec slaps, demonstrates her L pod calls and splashes water on the first 6 rows. Hardly 20 minutes worth of material. So they spread it out. She does one "trick" then swims to the platform for 3 to 5 minutes, mouth open, catching dead fish from a trainer while the Pacific dolphins take over the show. Then Lolita does a breach or another "trick" and back to the platform for another 3 to 5 minutes. Combined, literally, she is performing for maybe 5 minutes of the 20 minute show. The dolphins played a much larger role. I cried the entire show.
I don't know why she's not the main feature of the show, there are rumors and speculation though. Apparently her long time trainer left a year or so ago and there is talk that Lolita has not been the same since and this is impacting her ability/desire to perform. There are rumors that she shows signs of depression and her food is being laced with prozac.
At the end of the show, Lolita immediately swims to the corner of the tank. She was not able to access the back tank, which was gated off and had the 6 Pacific white-sided dolphins. Lolita waits there in front of her trainers, at one point with her mouth open as if she was waiting for food.
Yet they completely ignore Lolita, instead watching the dolphins and talking to each other. Lolita then floated still with her head against the gate, watching the dolphins, still with no attention from trainers.
Within 5 minutes of the show ending, security kicks everyone out.
We were able to get to the rail of her tank and stand within a few feet of her, making eye contact with her. We said hello in an excited, friendly pitch. At one point Lolita nodded her head up and down. Of course I cannot tell you she was reacting to us or what she was thinking or feeling. Only that she nodded and we had eye contact.
So she does 2 shows a day, 20 minutes each. You can see her 10 minutes before and 5 after. That is a total time of 1 hour and 10 minutes public view time per day. At all other time she is behind closed doors, literally. The stadium is secured by metal garage doors. There is no way in. This raises so many questions of what is going on behind closed doors. Do they open the gates to give her access to the back tank behind the trainer platform? Or is she confined to the front of the tank, making her living space even smaller? Is she getting attention, stimulation and exercise? Enough food? Medical care? It all happens privately with no ability for the public to know.
I left the facility very depressed. The facility is a relic to the 1950's. The crowds are small. Many of my photos show empty bleachers. I watched 2 bottlenose dolphins (in a tank larger than Lolita's) pushing beach balls around. I got bored watching them after 5 minutes. I had the freedom to walk away. I can only imagine their plight.
It was all an experience I am grateful to have seen firsthand. I am hopeful that this firsthand experience with Lolita and her conditions enables me to enrolling more people in the cause to return her home. I took a lot of sadness out of there with me that will remain with me for a very, very long time.
Getting Lolita home is so important for her and us. Though we can never fully give back what others have taken from her, we need to give her what we can. After witnessing this, leaving her there is inhumane and wrong. It is terrible for her and it speaks poorly on us if we allow this to continue.
You can follow Jeff on twitter
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Private and public partnerships strengthen Hampshire's economy
Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Maintaining strong relationships between the public sector and businesses remains crucial to the ongoing viability of Hampshire's economy according to the Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Ken Thornber.
The third Hampshire Business Conference, held in Ashburton Hall, EII Court, Winchester on Tuesday 23 October and facilitated by Hampshire County Council, brought together 100 local business leaders to discuss how Hampshire's businesses could position themselves to thrive.
The conference provided valuable insight for the delegates into current concerns and priorities for local businesses, as well as feedback on initiatives that the Council had developed since last year's event such as the 'Hampshire Broadband Programme', 'Invest in Hampshire' and 'Visit Hampshire' projects.
The conference showed delegates from both private and public sectors how the Council is creating the right conditions for businesses to prosper in the county, how they can benefit from measures introduced by the Council to actively grow the local economy and how smarter technology can help Hampshire's businesses to flourish. The evening ended with a panel discussion where delegates were able to quiz the speakers on aspects of business and policy.
Councillor Ken Thornber, Leader and Executive Member for Policy and Resources, welcomed the delegates and said that the full house reflected the shared enthusiasm to develop and grow Hampshire's economy.
Councillor Thornber said that a message that the Council had received from business over the last year was that, "a lack of robust broadband was one of the barriers to business, negatively impacting on efficiency and competitiveness." He spoke about the Hampshire Broadband Programme saying, "Using £5 million of government funding, matched by Hampshire County Council and district council partners, superfast broadband capable of 24 Megabits per second will be available to 90% of homes and businesses in Hampshire by 2015, with everyone else having access to standard broadband of at least 2 Megabits per second."
Another clear message from last year's conference was the need to raise the profile of Hampshire, continued Councillor Thornber:
"As a county that prides itself on its proximity to, and yet diversity from, the capital, Hampshire has enjoyed some knock-on benefit from the Olympics which brought an estimated £10-12 million for the local economy in addition to the 186 local companies that won contracts worth a total of £36 million. More work is now to be done to ensure that Hampshire becomes an essential part of the UK's international reputation. Our 'Invest in Hampshire' and 'Visit Hampshire' brands are growing and will be at the forefront of our work in attracting more business and visitors to the county."
Another request from business had been a simpler procurement process and a pared down Pre-Qualification Questionnaire was now in place for companies that wished to become Council suppliers. The Leader added, "We are also involved in a series of events to help local businesses become suppliers, from 'Meet the Buyer' to our 'Doing Business with Hampshire' conference to be held in Ashburton Hall next month that will guide you through the process of becoming a supplier."
The Leader said that this year's buzzword was 'partnership' and that private and public sectors needed to work together, pool resources, achieve more and bring maximum benefit to everyone. The two Local Enterprise Partnerships which cover the county were essential ingredients for this to happen, and Councillor Thornber welcomed Geoff French, Chair of Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership to the evening's programme. Geoff French, from URS, covered the importance of environment and infrastructure for business and economic growth and the role that Local Enterprise Partnerships and others can play in delivering it.
Councillor Thornber reported that, "The recent investment plans for the Solent Enterprise Zone at Daedalus are a good example of how local partners can work together to deliver development and jobs that will strengthen the county's economy and its key sectors."
Councillor Thornber finished the evening by saying, "There is always potential for further progress, but Hampshire is most certainly not standing still as it strives to get fit for the future."
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http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hantswebnewslist?id=559584&stdate=1352051363288&pagetitle=Private%20and%20public%20partnerships%20strengthen%20Hampshire's%20economy
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Malcolm Armstead could be the answer to Iowa’s point guard problem.
But the Hawkeyes have plenty of competition.
Iowa has offered Armstead, a 6-foot guard from Chipola (Fla.) Junior College, a scholarship. So have Arkansas and Providence, according to JucoJunction, com., a Rivals.com Web site. He’s also drawing interest from Alabama, St. John’s and Charlotte.
Armstead would have three years of eligibility remaining.
Among some of the other jucos of area interest:
• Former Western Illinois point guard James Washington, who played two seasons ago at Western Illinois and this season at Indian Hills Community College, has interest from Colorado State, Evansville and Northern Iowa.
• Delvon Johnson, Washington’s teammate at Western Illinois and Indian Hills, has interest from UAB, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Southern Illinois and Texas Christian University.
• Southeastern Community College guard Larry Dumas, who was with Washington and Johnson at Western Illinois, has interest from Florida International, Loyola (Chicago), Eastern Illinois, and UC-Riverside. Dumas’ season ended prematurely with a knee injury.
2 users commented in " Monday blog: Armstead has three offers "Follow-up comment rss or Leave a Trackback
thankss for the info on the former WIU players, being a WIU alum living in Iowa, I appreciate both the Iowa and WIU recuiting info. So any info on WIU recruiting would be appreciated
Not much new on the recruiting front for Western Illinois basketball. Jim Molinari signed one player in the fall — Jelani Johnson, a prep guard out of suburban Chicago. Still working on the spring class.
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Midwest Labor and Working Class History Graduate Student Colloquium 2012 and 2013
The second annual Midwest Labor and Working Class History (MLWCH—pronounced MILL-witch) Graduate Student Colloquium, organized by the Alliance of History Graduate Students (AHGS), was held February 17-18 2012 at the UWM Student Union, with the theme “Power and Struggle.” The conference began with a keynote panel featuring faculty and students, including Rachel Buff, Jasmine Alinder, Tony Shultz and Jacob Glicklich, who made connections between their identities as activists and historians. Saturday saw a full day of panels of graduate students from all over the Midwest talking about their research. Graduate students from the University of Iowa, the University of Illinois-Chicago, Western Michigan University, the University of Chicago, Northern Illinois University, Northwestern, the University of Michigan, the University of Iowa, and Marquette, as well as UWM, took part in the conference. Both UWM faculty and graduate students chaired the panels and made the experience empowering for the panelists. For many graduate students, this was their first experience at a conference, and everyone said that they felt encouraged by the support and engagement of faculty and graduate students.
AHGS is organizing a third MLWCH conference for February 15 and 16, 2013, with the theme “Solidarity and Fragmentation.” They are soliciting papers of approximately 10 to 25 pages, from any discipline, broadly related to the themes of building solidarity and understanding the fragmentation of worker’s protest movements. They invite papers related to the study of work and working people, labor history, rank-and-file workers, direct action, nonviolence, grassroots organizing, alternative and industrial unionism, labor law, social justice, radicalism, anti-racism, liberation theology and the prison industrial complex. They are interested in work that critiques or suggests. Paper/Panel Proposals are due Dec. 1, 2012 to the conference address: [email protected]
Phi Alpha Theta Induction
The Delta Phi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society, inducted forty new members at a ceremony and reception on Wednesday, March 14. Professor Emeritus Michael Gordon gave a fascinating talk (pdf 42kb) on labor history and local history, highlighting the visit of the labor organizer Mother Jones to Milwaukee in 1910. UWM’s Delta Phi chapter has been reactivated this year under the leadership of new officers, and has sponsored a full schedule of workshops and lectures. Several members of the chapter attended the American Historical Association conference in Chicago in January, and many will be attending the Organization of American Historians conference in Milwaukee in April. The Phi Alpha Theta chapter will also be hosting the first annual UWM undergraduate history conference Friday May 11, from 1-4 pm in Holton 341 and adjoining rooms.
The newly-inducted undergraduate members: Kristen M. Berg, Quentin A. Black, Taylor Bour, Laura A. Carlson, Michael J. Connor, Caitlin M. Drifke, Russell C. Edlund, Danielle Eyre, Russell L. Hayden, Jason W. Hilderbrand, Zachary A.F. Hosale, Samuel A. Johnson, Corey Adam Kriescher, Mary Jane Kunath, Allysia M. Loebel, Katelyn J. Lucas, Timothy Thomas Mankiewicz, Evan S. McAllister, Cassandra L. Mentzer, Joel R. Newburg, Kaitlin A. O’Mahar, Matthew Scott Payne, John A. Rafa Todd, Drake Austin Reinick, Robert T. Sturtzen, Kristian Dee Vaughn, Olivia C. Wesely, and Michelle A. Zapf.
The newly-inducted graduate student members: Maura A. Coonan, Benoit Leridon, Louis R. Mercer, Amanda F. Strobel, and Joseph B. Walzer. The newly-inducted alumni members were Jacob C. Miller and Kathryn E. Weisbeck.
The newly-inducted faculty members: Dr. Michael A. Gordon, Dr. Joseph A. Rodriguez, and Dr. Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks.
The Delta Phi officers: Lucas J. Wolff, President; Danielle Eyre, Vice President; Allysia M. Loebel, Treasurer; Brianna M. Quade, Secretary; Olivia C. Wesely, Historian; Dr. Joseph A. Rodriguez, Faculty Advisor.
History Students Featured in L&S Newsletter
The February 2012 L&S newsletter (pdf) features History undergraduate and graduate students, their professional career paths, and history organizations with UWM chapters.
Four New History Faculty Members In 2011
Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson, who has a joint appointment with Global Studies, received his Ph.D. from Yale University in 2000, and taught at Southern Methodist University before coming to UWM. His areas of interest include three somewhat overlapping yet still distinct research fields: the history of the American West, the broader history of borderland areas, and environmental history. His first book, Revolution in Texas: How a Forgotten Rebellion and Its Bloody Suppression Turned Mexicans into Americans, published by Yale University Press, examined a regional rebellion in south Texas. In his second book, Bordertown: The Odyssey of an American Place, also published by Yale, Prof. Johnson developed an innovative collaboration with an art photographer to present the history of the U.S.-Mexico border through the life stories of the residents of one small town, accompanied by haunting black and white photographs of the land, buildings, and people. He is now working on a history of the conservation movement in the Progressive Era. Prof. Johnson will be teaching undergraduate and graduate courses on borderlands history, environmental history, and historical methods.
Christine Evans
Christine Evans received her Ph.D. in 2010 from the University of California, Berkeley, where her dissertation examined the relationship between mass media, propaganda, entertainment, and technology through a study of Soviet television in the middle and late twentieth century. She has published several articles on television and other aspects of Soviet culture, including “Song of the Year and Soviet ‘Official’ Culture in the 1970s,” which appeared in Kritika: Explorations in Russian and Eurasian History, and is working on a book examining the topic. Prof. Evans will be teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in Russian history, the history of popular culture, and historical methods.
Marcus Filippello
Marcus Filippello received his Ph.D. in 2010 from the University of California-Davis, where his dissertation examined the social and environmental history of a road that connected two towns in southeastern Benin, West Africa. He analyzes debates about the road in terms of larger issues of environmental change, nationalism, and identity formation in the post-colonial world, and is currently developing this into a book while on a semester-long fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Minnesota. Prof. Filippello’s interests in Africa emerged during his time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Togo, and he will be teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in African history and environmental history, and the world history survey.
David DiValerio
David DiValerio, who has a joint appointment with Religious Studies, received his Ph.D. in 2011 from the University of Virginia, where his dissertation focused on “holy madmen” in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. He examines these madmen, who performed shocking activities in public spaces or imitated wrathful deities in their dress and activities, within their social and historical contexts, which provides insights into both the political development of Tibet and the nature of sainthood. During his graduate training, Prof. DiValerio spent nearly two years in Tibet, India, and Nepal. He will be teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in Buddhism and Asian religions, and the introduction to religious studies.
Events
The Organization of American Historians Annual Meeting
Frontier Airlines Center, April 18-22, 2012
Attending to Early Modern Women 2012 Conference
UWM School of Continuing Education Conference Center, June 21-23, 2012
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http://www4.uwm.edu/letsci/history/news/
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The other you
Illamasqua dares women of all ages to come to its counters and rediscover themselves
- Published: 27 Nov 2012 at 00.00
-.
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http://www99.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/beauty/323243/the-other-you
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Posted: Thursday, December 6, 2012
Health Benefits Fair for NYS Employees Today
The New York State Employee Health Benefits Fair will be held today from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m in E. H. Butler Library 210. Representatives from BlueCross BlueShield of WNY (Community Blue), Independent Health, and the Empire Plan will be there to answer questions about current health insurance plans and anticipated changes in coverage for 2013.
Staff members from the Employee Benefits Office also will be present to assist employees in making changes to health insurance coverage. Attendees may have their blood pressure checked; learn about the benefits of and sample massage therapy; learn how to maximize dental and vision care
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http://wwwd.buffalostate.edu/dailybulletin/health-benefits-fair-nys-employees-today-0
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Emerging Infectious Disease ISSN: 1080-6059
Volume 18, Number 10—October 2012
Dispatch
Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Virus in Pigs, Réunion Island
Article Contents.
The Study).
Conclusions..
Table of Contents – Volume 18, Number 10—October 2012
Zombies—A Pop Culture Resource for Public Health Awareness
Listen now or download MP3
Length: 193:25
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http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/18/10/12-0398_article.htm
| 2013-05-18T10:41:33 |
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Reporting Lin Brehmer
Filed underFree Download, Lin's Bin, Music, Shows
What does it mean to be the best? Who determines it? Why do we love to measure things in terms of good and bad, and award the very best? If someone declares himself or herself as the best at something, is that all it takes? Competition to be the best keeps life interesting, and keeps us on our toes. But sometimes the best doesn’t have to be so complicated. Having a favorite thing, whether it be a place, a person, a day, that you can call the best, is well, the very best.
Lin’s Bin – The Best[DOWNLOAD]Lin’s Bin – The Best[DOWNLOAD]
Listen To More Episodes Of Lin’s Bin
Connect With XRT On Facebook & Twitter
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http://wxrt.cbslocal.com/2013/02/08/lins-bin-the-best/
| 2013-05-18T10:40:14 |
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Listen talks on WBGO Jazz Radio Station
Gary Walker, morning host on WBGO (88.3 FM), talks with Wynton Marsalis at 9 a.m. tomorrow. »
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http://wyntonmarsalis.org/news/tags/tag/radio/P20
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Colorado Springs Rod and Custom
Founded in 1979 the Colorado Springs Rod and Custom Club is a car club for all car enthusiasts even though our roots are in rods and customs. The club is one of the oldest car clubs in Colorado Springs. Contact Mariano Nandin Jr (JR) at 719-210-0013 for more details.
CSRC Annual Events
2013 Thin Air Nationals:
Every year the Colorado Springs Rod & Custom car club is pleased to host the Thin Air Nationals Car Show in Green Mountain Falls Colorado. Be sure to check our Club Calendar for the specific dates of this years show.
The Colorado Springs Rod and Custom club is proud to announce support of all meaningful programs of the Silver Key Senior Services organization as a beneficiary of the Thin Air Nationals. Silver Key Senior Services, implemented in 1971, is a nonprofit organization and provides many essential services required by the elderly in the Pikes Peak region including the promotion of independence: economically, emotionally and physically. The members of the Colorado Springs Rod & Custom club thank you for your support so we in turn can support the elderly who have earned and deserved our help.
2013 NSRA Rocky Mountain Streetrod Nationals plus:
An annual event held each year at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo Colorado by the National Street Rod Association. The CSRC is pleased to be the Host Club for this event. You'll often see us manning the front gates or out and about admiring the many fantastic streetrods and classics that convene on and consume the fairgrounds.
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http://xcs.net/crac/index.html
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Week 6 Meltdowns Fire Up Hot Seats
Romeo Crennel, Chiefs (1-5)
Crennel has bit off more than he can chew by also serving as Kansas City’s defensive coordinator rather than hiring someone during the offseason to handle the role. Counting his previous stints in Cleveland (2009 and 2010) and Miami (2011), teams with Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator are a combined 17-37.
In defense of: Crennel is in his first full season as head coach after assuming the position on an interim role for the final three games in 2011. Maybe he can right the ship when given a chance to reassess and make adjustments during the team’s bye week. One area of improvement must involve getting better play and fewer turnovers from whichever quarterback (Matt Cassel or Brady Quinn) is under center Oct. 28 when the Chiefs host Oakland.
Forecast: If an irate fan base had its way, both Crennel and general manager Scott Pioli would have gotten canned during the bye week. Owner Clark Hunt continues to show his faith in the duo, but that becomes more difficult each week with how poorly the Chiefs have played. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
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http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/sports-nflhotseat/3/
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Presenting the XJacKer Soniq Rush 2.0 Gaming Amplifier Kit (PlayStation 3 Edition)...
The wait is over! XJacKer's award-winning, patent-pending gaming amplifier (and headset adapter kit) is back. And for the first time ever, it's now available for PS3 gamers too!
Our new Soniq Rush 2.0 turns your standard PC headset into a premium PlayStation 3 gaming headset with amplified game audio + PSN chat! In addition, we've added the following features to further boost your gaming experience:
So get ready to experience all the rich soundscapes that you've been missing, hear even the faintest and most subtle details, and sense when danger is near. Our new Soniq Rush 2.0!
The XJacKer Soniq Rush 2.0 > Respawn your headset. Raise your KDR. Ra*eface the competition.
"We tested the kit with an older pair of Razer Carcharia gaming headphones, and quite frankly, they've never sounded better."
"These XJacker kits also allow you to use your PC headset's microphone on your Xbox 360 console, and subjectively, gamers on the other end said we sounded "much better" compared to our chat using a Turtle Beach headset designed for the Xbox 360."
."
"This product allows you to use virtually any headphones or earbuds with your Xbox 360 so you won't need to buy a separate set just for your Xbox."
"The Xjacker Soniq Rush 2.0 Gaming Amplifier Kit for the Xbox 360 does what it says it will, it allows you to use virtually any set of headphones with your Xbox 360 and that's a good thing."
"It also adds some nice kick in there...really nice bass. I was very surprised by how powerful the bass was, and it just added a nice touch to the gaming experience."
"The build quality of the amplifier is good."
"The amplifier also offers a bass boost that's controllable with a dial. The bass sounds rich, and the bass boost controls it wonderfully."
"My voice came out with no distortion, and friends I chatted with had no issues understanding me. I picked up their voices crystal clear, and they sounded great in my headset."
"This thing is insane. Honestly it sounds AMAZING."
"Go out and get one of these. Job done. Ltzonda out."
"When I plugged in the Beats by Dre headset...I was really surprised to hear the big difference"
"The bass it delivers on my Beats by Dre headset is great and really enhances the explosions and gun fire with a bit of bass."
"Using the XJacker kits and amplifier, you can get an inexpensive headset that doesn't require charging before play and is still good enough for great online gaming! "
"Final Verdict: Recommended!"
"It almost looks like a PEZ dispenser than an amplifier, but don't let the look fool you. This bad boy can pack a punch."
"Unlike many amplifiers that go from 0-10; this one goes up to 11."
"This item is a good buy for those that can't afford high-end head phones but has a PC headset for use."
"...the product performs as advertised. You can use your PC headset on your console, and you get a truly amplified sound."
"If you want to be able to chat and game, and you don't want to (or aren't able to) shell out the extra cash for a dedicated headset, the XJacker Gaming Amplifier kits may be just the option you need."
"...these kits allow you to cut down on some of the clutter and expense involved in gaming, and for that they get our seal of approval."
"...you've got to admire the product that can turn my $15.00 PC headset into something that rivals a full-blown surround sound system"
"All in all, setup ran me about five minutes..."
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http://xjacker.com/soniqrush2ps3ed.php
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Funny story, actually. Quite recently I told a friend of mine how and why xkcd was going downhill and how it was white-knight-esque pseudo-feminist. That was one day before he came out with 714. I was so happy the moment I read that strip, because of the i-told-you-so routine that was coming my friend's way soon. He ended up greeting me with "Damnit, person. You might be right." that day. Great fun.
Anyway, the reason I am telling this story is that today he was actually the one that lead me to read the strip when I did. He MSN'd me today saying "Son of a bitch", "Why must you ruin things for me.". I like to imagine he put a period instead of a question mark because he knows how much I like making people, specifically him, suffer. He also thought the author of xkcd was named "Rupert Murdock", which is actually kind of a badass name.
But my actual point was that keeping these words in mind, I went to the comic. It's hard not to be biased when you're writing a hate blog, it's even harder if your friend tells you something is shit ahead of time - but it's not even that. I looked at the comic. I read it, went back to him, said "I don't get it", went back to the comic, read it again, and asked him "wait, is this actually the joke? Inspector Gadget has a lot of crazy shit 'under his belt'? That's it? That was a joke in the show too, Randall just made it dirty". Ok that may be paraphrased to insert that hilarious pun.
But yes, that is it, my friend confusedly reassured me. Huh. Well. That's not funny.
I'm going to go more in-depth on the actual joke, but I wanna talk about something else first
That doesn't really look like inspector gadget. a big part about inspector gadget was not only his goofy behaviour, but also his looks. Notice that if you take away the face and the hair, you aren't left with much of his original personality or charme. Could randall possibly have picked a more retarded choice in terms of his comic gimmick? The point of a comic is that you don't spell everything out, you show it. Your characters not having faces does not make this easier. Randall did kind of a good job at making him look around and showing that no one is there, but only considering the arbitrary restriction he set himself.
The point of that is not to prove that I'm a shitty artist, my point is that faces bring a whole new atmosphere to the comic, and allow randall to express himself better. But since you will all just bitch at me that this is his style (this is a criticism of exactly that, by the way - his style) and that it's just something I have to accept, let's move on.
I'm not done with the art, though. Why is he shown so far away in the last two panels? There's no walls, no anything. It makes you think he shrinked. Randall, we're not asking you to draw us an oil panting in the background of your comics, but please, at least draw a line that shows us that your characters are not constantly in limbo. Also, I get that you want to show that he's alone, but too small. You have to realize that since you've drawn nothing, the borders of the panel are the first possible boundary of the room. What this means is that Gadget is standing in a hugeass room (both in height and width). The fact that it is empty is usually not a big deal since your stick figures are closeup, and their surroundings are unimportant - in this part however it plays a big role since the idea is that inspector gadget is all alone, but alive. You're getting one of these points accross.
ALSO, what's up with his arms not being down? That's weird, man. He probably realized he drew him too small to pull that off. So that makes it two points for bigger inspector.
Doesn't that look far less distracting and better than xkcd's version? Yes it does, shut up. Where's YOUR criticism of xkcd? What gives YOU the right to criticize my criticism?
Well, that leaves one thing. The humor. Sigh. Here's the thing, Inspector gadget was meant to be entertaining, and the fact that he had whatever the fuck seemed convenient in his hat was a joke of the show. What randall did was essentially a conversation I imagine some high schoolers are having somewhere right now. "Dude! What if Inspector Gadget had like naked chicks in his hat so he can look at them whenever he wants" "THAT IS AWESOME! HIGH FIVE! I wish I had naked chicks in my hat, man. Inspector Gadget ROCKS". We've established that it's a joke of the show, so what did Randall do? He took something that didn't belong (as it was a children's show) and mixed it with an unfitting concept. Actually, it's not like he showed an emo kid taking care of orphans, he just took something innocent and made it dirty. Rule 34, basically. Except it's not really very imaginative or funny. Hell, even if we completely ignore the bluntness of the joke, he still just showed a dude talking. It's not he even made an effort to at least surprise the reader through action (Maybe by inspector gadget pulling a dildo out of his hat or some shit. It still wouldn't be funny, but it'd at least be a little more creative than just saying something stupid.)
And then we have the alt text. A 2girls1cup joke? Really? Again? Actually, not joke. Just reference. The difference is that he thinks he can get away with just mentioning something, instead of deriving humor from it. LAME.
But enough about the comic, let's see what the forumites have to say
"go go gadget decaying comic"
"...Well congratulations, you've made Inspector Gadget unfunny and disturbing. I didn't even think that was possible. Go go gadget anti-comic!
It's like anti-hero, you see, except not at all interesting. And gone gone gadget repetitive lame joke intro phrase."
This, basically. While half of the forumites thought it would be hilarious to just say "go go gadget" and then a vague reference to the comic or anything really (implicitly giving randall credit for saying something unusual after go go gadget), a lot of them were also disappointed with the comic. Understandable.
"Just gonna say, xkcd been going downhill recently. Maybe it's just me, but it has a really different feel to it..."
"Point of order: "Lesbians doing it" is an event or possibly fantasy, not a "gadget."
A video camera and cup would be a pair of gadgets, but I don't think they ever appeared in the cartoon. (Binoculars may come in handy if his legs go off instead)."
This guy is funnier than the comic. That's really not saying much, though.
"Funny comic, awful (but predictable) mouseover."
I'm slightly uneasy about both the fact that he liked the comic and that he PREDICTED a 2girls1cup joke at the mere mention of lesbian sex. Poor guy.
"Go go gadget people getting butthurt over a difference of opinion on what is/isn't funny"
I like how this guy calls a bunch of people who just said they didn't like the comic or that xkcd was getting worse butthurt, because he was getting "butthurt" over a bunch of people not liking his awesome favorite webcomic. I'm guessing he doesn't know about this site.
YOU SUCK
STFU or I will edit your post to say how much you love dogwangs.
More tragicomic stuff from the forums:
"ALSO YOU GUYS:, it's ALWAYS funny to reference any (children's) cartoon character in combination with sex."
"This comic was really, really, REALLY stupid.
I love it."
That QC comic with XKCD-shirt wearing girl is a total edit goldmine, here's one I just made where she discovers a certain site we all know and love.
aloria - I was addressing myself to get that out of the way. Nice self-confidence.
This was a pretty terrible comic, but I think it'd be even worse with your proposed zoom in the two last panels.
Zooming out to my mind illustrates that after looking around in the second panel, Mr. Gadget has found that he is alone; we can see a larger area around him and there's no one there. Somehow illustrating this is necessary for the comic to be coherent.
Person #1, let's be clear. I thought the comic sucked.
Let's also be clear about something else:
You completely misinterpreted the joke.
The joke is not that Inspector Gadget has lesbians in his hat. It's that anything he prefaces with "Go go gadget" seems to appear from under his hat, as if magically. He says "Go go gadget lesbians doing it" not because he has lesbians "doing it" under his hat, but instead because he is furtively hoping that if he "go go gadget"s them, they will appear. That's why the comic's called furtive; it's Inspector Gadget hoping he has lesbians under his hat. The joke is that his hat might work like that: Anything he announces appears magically under it.
I know that, dipshit. It's the same thing, though. It's semantics, a matter of how you phrase it. Obviously he doesn't actually have lesbians under his hat.
also 5:25 - the idea is not to not zoom out, the idea is not zoom out so much.
That line "Doesn't that look far less distracting and better than xkcd's version? Yes it does, shut up. Where's YOUR criticism of xkcd? What gives YOU the right to criticize my criticism?" reminds me a lot of Maddox. It's okay, it's really funny :)
Part of the "go go gadget" gags in Inspector Gadget was that it wouldn't go according to plan. The mallet was a common choice in the show, a pair of scissors would also be a possibility.
The alt-text was too wordy. It could be improved, while still keeping the same joke, by just keeping the bit about the cup. Maybe the cup should've been part of the visual gag? In either case, a simple "Yowzaa" would also work.
I like that you at least included the alt-text in your analysis Person#1. I was starting to get worried there that you kept going on and on about the strip that, as you said, had very little going on in it. xkcdexplained left it out entirely which is a huge mistake here. The thing is, like you said, there is no joke in the comic. The whole comic then appears to be a set-up for the joke in the alt text. A really, horrible, unfunny, slightly disturbing, moderately confusing, juvenile setup for a horrible, unfunny, moderately disturbing, tired reference joke. I don't think Randal intended the strip itself to be anything more than that, and it certainly isn't regardless of what he thought he was doing, so criticizing it for lack of humor is kind of pointless.
I can kinda see how the Inspector Gadget 2girls1cup concept might be kind of funny with him gadgeting out the equipment... maybe. But the setup was absolutely horrible, and confusing, and it doesn't quite make sense, and it's so annoyingly juvenile. I can't even enjoy making juvinile sex jokes anymore because xkcd does it so horribly that I'm constantly paralyzed with fear that people will think I'm as lame as Randal if I crack a little sex joke (I mean, we're talking about reducing the quality of my life here. Possibly at the expense of increase the quality of everyone else's life but fuck them anyway. If randal stops making really lame juvinile sex jokes there's enough room in the universe for me to make moderately lame juvinile sex jokes without fear of having my eyes stabbed out). I really think Randal just runs with ideas for jokes even if he can't figure out how to make them funny with proper setups and pacing and making sure they actually make sense. You know, stuff that comedians do to turn abstract ideas about things that are kinda weird into jokes.
@Person#2 Are you saying that Randal is also so stupid that he mixed up the order of the last two panels? I would totally buy your explanation if the last two panels were reversed in order. You would have to zoom out AFTER he said that to demonstrate that he he was just pathetically hoping that he could bring himself the pleasure of watching two lesbians doing it simply by calling it out and had failed. That would indeed be a joke. Not a good one, but a joke in line with xkcd norms. Also you would have to redefine the word "furtive" to mean what you just said it means instead of what it actually means for that to make sense. Either you're an idiot who can't use a dictionary reading things into the comic, or Randal is also an idiot who can't use a dictionary and is also so dumb that he screwed up the order of his frames, or both. If we changed the name of the 717 to something like "hoping" or "please let this work" (just off the top of my head, you could probably do better with the same concept) and switched the order of the last two frames you'd have a point. But they're not and you don't.
I'm a comedy genius!
I have been looking forward to seeing this one get torn to pieces since I saw this travesty of a comic earlier today. Good work. Even though you simply added a few lines to the face, it was 100% more clear that this was Inspector Gadget in the first two completely unnecessary panels. In fact, this could have been a great one-panel strip. To add the icing on the cake, it should have been worded "two girls doing it", since that would make them, inherently, lesbians. Saying "two lesbians doing it" sounds like something a middle-schooler would say while adjusting his 1-inch thick glasses, followed by a snorty chuckle.
Since I'm a first time commenter here (and former xkcd fanatic) I'll also add that I love the blog here, big time.
So guys who here really loved John Lovitz's role as Bart Bookman in Southland Tales?
Him, Dwayne Johnson, and...well, really just him and Dwayne Johnson. They were extremely entertaining.
OH! And Wallace Shawn.
The first hour or so of that movie is deliriously, retardedly fun. Then it sort of slows down and increases in pompousness.
Maletooth, you're NOT a comedy genius! Winnie the Pooh has a FACE! You're totally not as awesome as Randall.
Scary thought: how many people have went to Randalize the Inspector Gadget entry on Wikipedia?
Too scared to see.
Captcha: simer. Simer down, you lickin' too hot, so!
Honestly? Until I read the last panel I thought it was supposed to be Rorschach.
And I see I wasn't the only one.
To be honest I don't like it when people make criticisms like the one I'm about to make because it's not really a valid reaction to "is this a good comic or not?"; it's just small-minded nitpicky whinging.
But...
Stickfigures.
Clothes.
Bluhh???
Let's take Inspector Gadgets coat: unless you draw horizontal-to-the-floor stick-shoulders, coats just don't work. They can't.
Or belts, how come the belt seems to be wrapped around something solid if his body is only one-dimensional? Or well just look at how dorky his hands look poking out of the sleeves.
The other thing is, drawing clothes on stick figures in the name of characterisation carries with it the implication that all the non-celebrity stick figures are running around in the nip. If you want a recognisable person, just drop the usual style and draw them properly. Because stick figures & clothes is weird. I don't like it.
- - - -
I think you could make a pretty funny (albeit probably short-lived, but hey) comic based around the various complications and contradictions involved with being a stick figure.
Like how they can't digest food, or they can't tell what way they're facing, or how pointing at something is the same action for them as punching. Stuff like that. You'd run out of material pretty soon but...hmm actually maybe it wouldn't be all that funny...
Ho well.
@ Fernie:
Oddly, no edits to the Inspector Gadget article that are related to xkcd. Two edits were made the day before this comic went up though, one that deleted the entire page and replaced it with "go go gadget robopenis!" and another edit that deleted the entire page and replaced it with an ASCII penis.
i'm a huge xkcd detractor. usually agree with most of the posts in this blog. xkcd sucks, a lot.
but this comic made me laugh - not out loud of course (i mean it's still xkcd after all), but to myself. for some reason i found it pretty damn funny, perhaps because of the stark lack of artwork and very to-the-point punchline. so yeah, i liked this one.
maybe i need to lie down.
Rupert Murdoch is an Australian-American media mogul. He is the founder, a major shareholder, chairman and managing director of News Corporation (News Corp).
I like the idea that Inspector Gadget goes out into the middle of nowhere to watch porn. It seems like his logic to go into a wide open space rather than a bedroom or something.
Thing is, both that and the hat/coat combo are limitations of stick figure drawing. You'd think Randall would figure out the limitations and not write jokes that require detailed art.
As for the joke, it really is just "haha, kids' cartoons have sex". It's not unfunny, but it's been made before.
(Note: References are not jokes in and of themselves. Notable people who think otherwise are Seltzer/Friedberg. Not sure why the guy who thinks Monty Python quotes are sad doesn't get this, but whatever.)
Oh, and I love how Randall can go from "in my porn, people fuck" pseudofeminism to almost literal objectification of lesbians. Wonder what the feminists have to say about this one. LOL.
This is one of the few xkcd comics I agree are truly horrible. I've been refreshing this page since it came out to see you rip it to pieces. I take issue with your criticism of the artwork, however; I found it quite refreshing to see Randall draw something more than a stick-figure.
No. Fuck that. It is not impressive or refreshing to see Randall go from drawing shitty ultra-minimalist stick figures to very slightly more detailed stick figures.
Look at Bill Watterson or Nicholas Gurewitch or John Cullen Murphy or even fucking Mike Krahulik.
Today, instead of just drawing a crudely-rendered stick figure, Randall went the extra mile and drew a crudely-rendered stick figure wearing a crudely-rendered trenchcoat and hat. Pathetic.
Keep, you should read flatland.
this thing again?
yes. just click it. i'm like halfway to the video.
god damn it, Carl, give me comment editing privileges so I can delete this fucking spam
i'll delete your spam ;)
Your life must be so sad :(
Why do you enjoy not enjoying something? Wouldn't you prefer to spend your time finding something you enjoy rather than criticizing something you don't enjoy?
false dichotomy
This is the first comic I've read that I didn't understand until this explanation. Even then I had to search the year this cartoon aired. Randal is referencing a cartoon that my son watched.
Randal's youth is showing.
First, referencing some criticism already posted...
"Oh, and I love how Randall can go from "in my porn, people fuck" pseudofeminism to almost literal objectification of lesbians. Wonder what the feminists have to say about this one. LOL."
Yep. Pretty old news, though, the fact that Randall can't make up his mind on his ideological stances. Pretty "Munroenic".
"Stickfigures.
Clothes."
Keep, I made this same point back at that Halloween/Back to the Future comic. The whole implications of having your comic art done in stick figures should be contemplated further, but Randall just won't do that. If he does, he'll get caught on a lot of complications and may likely be forced to actually draw things, and he'd never want that. Nope, better just ignore that and cash in on the usual loyal blind fans. Yay, meritocracy!
"
Cam, that's what RANDALL should have done. Person did enough just by illustrating the concept, the rest is pretty much implicit -- and pretty much impossible, since we know Randall refuses to do anything that adds effort to his comics, like elongating his stick figures' heads so they look more like the character they're supposed to represent.
Malethoth, I think I saw "2 bears 1 cup" before. In a CRACKED Photoshop Contest, no less. *shudder*
All in all, good job, Person #1, a good and long post like I was missing around. Maybe you should kill Carl and replace him here.
what if he already has
the joke requires some further thinking and imagination - which you obviously lack. sucks to be you
funny, the more I think about it and the more I try to imagine situations where this might be funny the less funny it gets
that's because you are a fucking retard.
as stated before: sucks to be you.
a quality I share with all the xkcd fanboys, apparently
if you approach this comic with the idea that every XKCD must be funny, and therefore when it's not, you make up a reason for it to be funny, then yeah I guess you'd think it'd funny.
It's true, if you have a good enough imagination, you don't even need a joke! You can just sit there and think of funny things.
That's what I've started doing, actually. Every time there's an XKCD I just imagine instead that it's an episode of Red Dwarf. XKCD is my favorite comic again!
get some sleep, your brain seems to need it. and so does your face.
Captcha: "Rob is a pathetic fucktard who thinks he's a writer, hahaha.". True story.
Man, trolls these days have no subtlety at all.
"subtlety" is just a code word for COMMUNISM and FASCISM. DON'T LET YOURSELF BE TAKEN IN, AMERICA
I thought it was better that he wasn't instantly identifiable as Inspector G in the first two panels, because then the last panel acted as a reveal. In other words, he used his so-called substandard art to add to the effectiveness of the punch line.
I don't like the lazy lesbian reference though. It would have been better to choose some other embarassing item, like "Go go gadget nose hair remover".
Minimalistic art style is no excuse for being lazy. I thought it detracted from this particular comic because, the more I look at the stick figure in the trenchcoat, the more it looks like Rorschach or some flasher pervert, and the less it looks like Inspector Gadget, simply because, as has already been stated, Gadget ACTUALLY HAS A FACE.
Simon:
"Why do you enjoy not enjoying something? Wouldn't you prefer to spend your time finding something you enjoy rather than criticizing something you don't enjoy?"
You just answered your second question with your first. Good game.
Unrelated to the comic, but I kept noticing an inordinate number of people using the word Jehova on the XKCD forums. I thought at first that it was some sort of weird meme there but then I realized that the word God is censored to Jehova when you post. Any idea why this is?
About 75 comics back or so xkcd got even worse.
Two theories: one, Randall (or some other admin on the forums) is an idiot and thinks he's being sensitive to Christians etc. by censoring a word they often take offense to. This would work better if it weren't more likely to piss them off.
Two, Randall or some other admin on the forums thinks he's making a hilarious point against Christians etc. who complain about the use of the word 'God' as a vulgarity by changing it to something that's likely to really piss them off.
Apparently it is part of some sort of forum "game" for this week.
The word computer also becomes Porn storage aparatus or something like that. I think internet becomes blagotube.
Essentially, just another dumb xkcd thing.
Strikes me as annoyingly PRO-Christan/Jew. There are other gods out there besides the judeo-christian one; changing all instances of 'god' to 'Jehova' forces it to be all about Captain Jeebus.
No Christian would ever do that, though. Like, there are plenty of Christians out there who don't mind people saying 'god' as a vulgarity, because God is not actually the name of God and the commandment goes 'thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain' or whatever.
Jehovah actually being the name of God, this is basically a deliberate violation of the second or third commandment (depending on your particular orthodoxy). If it is pro-Christian then it was done by someone who has never actually interacted with Christians. It reads like it's mostly supposed to piss off Christians to me.
BUT IN THE LATIN ALPHABET, JEHOVAH STARTS WITH AN 'i'!!!!!
O_o
I guess it's their forum and they can do what they like but saying "nobody is allowed to complain about it" is kind of a dick move.
Also apparently "mod" filters to "god".
"Strikes me as annoyingly PRO-Christan/Jew. There are other gods out there besides the judeo-christian one; changing all instances of 'god' to 'Jehova' forces it to be all about Captain Jeebus."
It's not even how the Jews say or spell it in a roman alphabet.
."
how dare somebody have an opinion (mind you I have neve been particularly fond of the xkcd forum admin team)
They should have just made it יְהֹוָה
aloria you are my favorite person.
Yay let's drink
"how dare somebody have an opinion (mind you I have neve been particularly fond of the xkcd forum admin team)"
It's pretty common to communities like the XKCD forums: the admins essentially feel that it's your privilege to be there, so anyone who doesn't cater to their whims is banned. This belief pervades every level of the forum's culture, so the forum members also viciously attack people who deviate from forum norms.
my little brother just told me that "The_P"'s avatar is some guy from pokemon - what the fuck? How old are you??!
On a side note: Giving a shit about what other people think and attacking them? .. kinda reminds me of this blog. Don't be hypocritical, Rob.
Fuck, seriously? A moderator on a forum posted that? It's okay to enjoy yourself as a mod, but you should never appear capricious or malicious in your moderating. It's the best way to kill a community. Whoever posted that should get their head out of their ass.
yes, I am definitely being hypocritical by describing a common tendency in tight-knit forum communities like XKCD. this blog has a super tight-knit community and isn't basically thread after thread of endless flame wars over shit that doesn't matter at all
It essentially reads to be like:
"Hey, we've decided to act like immature fucktards for a week. Intelligent discourse on whether or not this is a good idea is impossible, as that would be inconsistent with the tenets of immature fucktardery. In order to maintain consistency with the tone of the week, we will throw a temper tantrum and abuse our power if anyone disagrees with us or calls us out on our immature fucktarded behavior."
..sounds like tons of fun!
Even I'm not that bad, and when I do any kind of administrative action in the channel, people just scream at me until I stop and reverse it.
hehe, oh those banhammer days were funny
Person #1 you tyrant
Anon 7:52 - specifically, it's an edited picture of a guy from Pokemon. Your implicit age-related insult is retarded and you are most likely a tremendous faggot.
aloria, I can't drink because I am at work right now but I'll start as soon as I get home.
Just wondering, has anyone taken XKCD's colour name survey?
I used to go to GameFAQs until I got banned for ridiculously minor infractions. Specifically, I insulted people non-stop for about six weeks, and was punished with a serious of mild but escalating restrictions on my ability to post. When I continued to relentlessly insult people, I was banned.
Fascists.
You know, it's funny, people on GameFAQs do complain a lot about how arbitrary its moderators are, but I think it's one of the sites with the very least capricious moderating body. Especially if you compare GameFAQs to any amateur forum, such as a webcomic's. The main issue is just that there's a couple hundred mods on GameFAQs dealing with a couple million registered users. Admittedly, only a few thousand of them are active at any given time, but it's not like every moderator is constantly alert either.
There's actually a pretty well-spelled-out body of rules for when you'll get moderated, and the policy of how punishments is determined is pretty easy to figure out and pretty consistently-applied. They don't radically change what's bannable on a whim.
Hey wait none of you guys care at all about this stuff. :(
I think someone, maybe rob, needs to write a blog post about this, just so we can piss them off.
I have NO problem with the drawings on the subject comic, although I agree the too-tiny last panels were ill-advised. The coat and hat were quickly explained by the go-go text, the combination of stick figure and drawn coat is not an issue for me, and the look-around swivel was clear.
The problem is the comic is utterly witless and illogical, even or especially in the context of the literally cartoonish Inspector Gadget. Lesbians will appear as gadgets, presumably protruding or emanating from him? This is funny? No. This is stupid.
@The_P: Hey, thank you for the explanation on your avatar, that made it cool again!! ..Well, no, in fact it's still gay and so are you. Have a nice day, moron.
:)
person #1, please don't encourage rob to write another post on a stupid subject. in the end he's gonna think he's actually good at it!
too late he's already written an 85-page dissertation on it.
oh fake Keep. you're so compelling!
you do know that people complaining about these posts is the biggest reason I'm still writing them, right?
Rob, it's Emily. I really don't know how to tell you this, but I just found this site and it's really changed how I see you as a person. I don't think we can go on like this with me knowing what a sanctimonious prick you are. I'm leaving you Rob.
rob:
all i know is that you're full of shit.
and btw: you do know that it's a great pleasure for me when you waste hours and hours of your precious life on those fruitless and uninspired rants and comments on this blog, right?
and please spare us your phony shit about how little time this actually takes, because like i said before: you're full of shit.
thank you and goodbye
it's cool, I could never date a girl who doesn't know how to use "sanctimonious" correctly.
Emily, it's Dad. I told you to leave that poor kid Rob alone. Do you want to go back to the hospital again? Now get off the damned computer and do your homework.
fake Keep: as always, I'm flattered that you think it must take me hours to put the posts together--so, again, thank you--but I really am incredibly fucking lazy and I've got better shit to do.
This is by far the absolute worst criticism of xkcd I've ever read. xkcdsucks is seriously going downhill. Yes this comic sucks, but your critique is like somebody vomited words on a page and called it criticism. Its just one long ramble making very few good points.
You keep going on about the art. Yeah we get it, xkcd has shitty art. But that's been the critique in the last 50 posts.
Seriously get some better writers, cause this drivel sucks.
"xkcdsucks is seriously going downhill."
this isn't even written by carl what
"Jehovah actually being the name of God".
When the Bible was translated out of Hebrew, the translator failed to realize that it was two words inter-spliced, and thought that Yahowah was God's name. Except, this was a German translator, so Jehovah.
On top of that, Jehovah's witnesses must have forgotten that the word is German, so they took to pronouncing a j and v instead of y and w.
It is in fact the gross mistake at God's name that should offend Jews and Christians. Or they could get a sense of humor.
(Sorry, wild divergence, but this bit of trivia is one I find particularly interesting.)
Incidentally, even though Inspector Gadget is a buffoon, he should at LEAST be adult enough to say "having sex".
This is by far the absolute worst criticism of xkcdsucks I've ever read. Anonymous article bashing is seriously going downhill. Yes this article sucks, but your critique is like somebody vomited words on a page and called it criticism. Its just one long ramble making very few good points.
You keep going on about people going on about the art. Yeah we get that you get that xkcd has shitty art. But that's been the critique in the last 50 comments.
Seriously get some better commenters, cause this drivel sucks.
@Anon 12:34
Aaand we've now gone meta. cool.
I love the whole "god's name" thing. It's so full of intricate rules. I had no idea they had actually spliced together words to keep from offending him. That's so... I'm sure there's a proper medical term for it, but it sounds like god, and the people talking about him, suffer from a cross of autism and ocd. It's very reminiscent of coming up with rules about which tiles to walk on.
If you don't like my post, don't read it
Uh, El Dude, have you HEARD about the kosher laws?
Great criticism, but I would appreciate it if you didn't start off with 'hey dummies.' On what grounds do you call us dumb?
ok now I am drinking.
The grounds that you're dumb?
OOHH SICK BURN
THIS IS WHAT YOU GET
THIS IS WHAT YOU GET
ME TOO
INTERNET HIGH FIVE
I am drinking a drink called a "red pussy" it is good but also very embarassing
Following both the xkcdsucks and xkcd comic threads, I've almost noticed a blending of the two. It seems like more and more Anons come here to (when not choking on their own drool) try to troll this blog. Meanwhile, looking over at the XKCD individual comic threads for the truly terrible comics (like this inspector gadget piece of shit), it seems like it's in equal measure people calling in to say the comic sucks while the other half is the remnants of the diehard circle-jerkers.
Looks like xkcd's falling popularity is... well, falling faster.
Maybe I'm just being optimistic.
Ok people, feel free to flame me for throwing in something so completely off-topic and possibly old news, but is this who I think it is?
It might be my google skills but I don't think it's been mentioned anywhere online.
I seem to remember him mentioning that site in his blog a long time ago.
Lol Alsworth said "minimalistic art style is no excuse for being lazy." Isn't that the same thing Carl does? With all the one liner posts that are supposed to be funny because it's one line??
Why do you guys praise dinosaur comics so much, when your criticizing xkcd's "art?" I mean, dc is just the same every fucking day.
I wonder why Rorschach is talking about gadgets and lesbians in this comic?
Ryan North is anything but lazy.
"Why do you guys praise dinosaur comics so much, when your criticizing xkcd's "art?" I mean, dc is just the same every fucking day."
But DC is actually funny. XKCD is often unfunny, often because Randall's poor art interferes with the delivery of the joke. Art is no obstacle for DC, but it is for XKCD, hence the criticism.
Man, I absolutely loved XKCD #384. I hope that the next comic is just like it, but with a tautology instead of a punchline.
I hate xkcd as much as everyone else, but some of these criticisms are weak. Firstly there's nothing sexist about this comic. It merely shows Inspector Gadget to have crude, unrefined taste. Secondly, the fact that 'two lesbians doing it' doesn't fit into the usual gadget template isn't what makes this comic not work.
718
The joke
Where is it
Anonymous who talked about kosher laws: could they be even more hilarious than the name thing? I know about the "no pork" and "no work on saturday", and that the latter gets interpreted in many different ways. For example, in one fancy jewish neighborhood in one undisclosed city, on saturdays they hire people to stand in elevators (in apartment buildings!) and press buttons for those more orthodox jews who consider button-pressing to be work.
Anonymous 7:29, Ryan North's feat is that he manages to come up with funny and thoughtful dialogue that *fits those pictures* almost every time. I mean really fits the facial expressions. That's nothing short of amazing.
Btw, I actually liked 718.
It's a sort of an interesting idea, but this really should've been posted to his blog.
For a second I thought Randall was copying Ryan and doing some KLASSIK KOMIX but oh wait, the equation's different.
Oh and he forgot the joke this time.
Suppose the average habitable lifespan of a planet is one billion years--conservative, since the earth has been fecund for four times that. Let's also suppose that the average length of an intelligent civilization is one hundred thousand years. That's fairly generous. You could then have ten thousand civilizations on the same planet, none of whom ever existed concurrently.
One resolution of the Fermi paradox. There HAVE BEEN millions of alien cultures, that never existed simultaneously.
It's also why we wouldn't necessarily detect them. Sure, if a species ten thousand light years away from us broadcast continuously for ten thousand years, we would expect to pick up on it. But if there was a relatively brief blurt of communication--say they broadcast continuously for ten thousand years, but did so three hundred million years ago--we wouldn't notice. We've been listening for alien cultures for an extremely short period of time, in evolutionary terms and even moreso in cosmological terms.
XKCD 718 was funnier the first time, when it was called 384 and had a punchline. Also, there's a Goddamned typo (pracitce) in the alt text, which is unacceptable for a supposedly intellectual webcomic.
."
yes, because it's impossible for someone to have multiple names
"There HAVE BEEN millions of alien cultures, that never existed simultaneously."
This thought, to me, feels lonelier than the thought that we are alone.
Although 718 isn't funny in it self (you could make up as many such formulas as you like), there might be the possibility that this comic is a parody of statistics (when you consider the alt-text): making up a formula that leads to the same results as you experience when doing research, but that basically is worthless.
To comply with the culture on this blog:
Maybe this strip is aparody of xkcd itself: You can make up as many strips like this as you want, that are unfunny, give no insight, and are basically pointless.
Quick nitpick - conservative estimates would UNDERestimate the world population to 6.5 billion or so.
Also, he gives people a 90% chance to make details not fitting the narrative work, and a 0% chance to actually realize that there is a problem with the story and their friend is wrong.
Can't argue too much more, since there certainly are a lot of people out there who think aliens are real and know of sightings.
Carl why must you be spreading communist-nazi lies to the youth of America? Why do you hate freedom?
Oh hey sweet, I went to post how today's comic Flake is "junk math" and found out... I've been banned! I did not even see that post saying they would capriciously ban people on a admin fiat about it. I don't know why, but it made me really really angry. I shot off a quick e-mail pointing out that I only read the original post of the topic (why would I want to read pages and pages of people circle jerking how good this mod madness thing is?). I was actually mad enough to send the following to Randall's contact address on his "blag". I am sure he doesn't give a shit, but I had to at least let him know that his forum mods (oh should I say "gods") are asshats. BTW - I tried to keep it civil and maybe even sucked up a little bit in order to curry favor and get him not to dismiss my claim because I "made him mad".
Here it is:
I am almost certain that this has no weight in your life and that you probably won't care enough to do anything, but as your forums are representative of you, I feel that I must write you about this. did not get very angry though and simply posted "This is pretty much dumb". Your admin then BANNED me from the forum for this. Apparently, somewhere buried in the topic, he said he would ban people who did not kowtow to their whims.
I just cannot believe that I do not have the freedom to protest the worthiness of something on the xkcd forums. I thought xkcd as a concept was supposed to be all about it being okay to be different and have different opinions. I could see a ban if I were trolling people hard, but I just said "this is pretty much dumb". I guess I could justified my opinion more, but it doesn't seem to matter to your power hungry forum leaders who write tripe like:
."
There is nothing fun about being banned. He didn't even remove the post I made for goodness sake. He is just enforcing a totalitarian yes-man regime where only those who are willing to pretend like the mods are oh so funny and witty and great because they were given some meaningless web authority are allowed to have fun.
I would appreciate if you reprimanded your administrators for this behavior and got my account reinstated immediately.
I contacted him about it too. Let's see what he has to say. I don't think he's even aware of it, since he himself doesn't seem like a douchebag.
@Person #1 the Second: um, dude, that's not what "furtive" means. It means secretive. It has nothing to do with hoping. Are you maybe thinking of "fervent" as in "fervently hoping?"
I also created a new account "modmaddnessprotest" for the duration of my ban. While not saying anything about mod madness as a game, I did protest the bannings. I wonder how long before they kill that account too. :)
Haha, oh god. The very idea that Randall had anything to do with NASA, the big fucking dungaree cunt. Imagine making mathematics so *vain*. I hope he eats a witch's dinner.
So maybe I'm an idiot, but what is "P" meant to be? He labelled every variable except for that one.
Also note the current title of the rules thread: "xkcd Forum Rules - Post GoatKCD, Get Banned". I can only imagine the discussion that prompted that.
On that note 716 and 717 make excellent goatkcds (the last line of 716 makes it especially excellent).
In my rage about the forum stuff, I got distracted. Malethoth: I have frequented gamefaqs since 2001. You are right about the rules being crazy strict there, though I don't think it is a necessarily bad thing. In my opinion, for the most part it keeps the community in line and discussion civil, especially compared to some of the spinoffs that exist (luelinks for example)
That being said, I must wholeheartedly agree that the one good thing about the site is relative consistency. It gets messed up when new mods are first chosen, but for the most part, the site is moderated consistently and there is at least a form of recourse to complain to a higher up mod or admin if there are problems.
Last comic... I don't care. It seems he wanted to make a point about accounts of extraterrestrial contact, but I'm not sure what it is, and why bother making a parody equation to state it.
CAPTCHA: laderme. Fancy French for "the skin". I think.
Second CAPTCHA, because I forgot I was posting this comment and got distracted: bullyise. Aw, come on...
The xkcd forum dramarama is exactly the kind of thing a bitchy gossip queen like me thrives on. Keep the updates coming!
Today's Dinosaur comics isn't very worthwhile until you read the title text. Then it surpasses my expectations. We all know Mario 3 is the best video game ever, except it could have been better with more goomba sock!
Dear god. Mod madness. I've never seen anything so dumb defended with such open assholery. I wonder what the mechanism is for choosing mods on those boards. Did Randy pick the initial mods and then it was like, "if you trust the person, you can make him a mod, and he gets the same right"? A couple of years ago the mods sounded like nice, intelligent people.
I'd like to see a graph comic that showed the retards creeping in. Maybe plotting "friend-distance from Randall" versus "idiocy"?
anomalies: Belial
@marsman57
agree that some of that stuff is pretty offensive. I wonder why it says God->Jehova instead of the more accurate God->"Purportedly Magic Fairytale Character"?
I agree that some of that stuff is pretty offensive. I wonder why it says God->Jehova instead of the more accurate God->"Purportedly Magic Fairytale Character"?
The mods probably don't want to cause too much of a stir; some people still believe that God exists. They're right, too.
lol@butthurt qwantzsux
I think God->"Santa Claus" would be more appropriate; some people still believe that Santa exists. They're right, too. My parents told me so.
Spoken like a world-weary eight-year old.
@comic
at least he didnt do a Go Go Inspector G-spot joke
@anonee mice
Santachrist, your new god
Santachrist, Santachrist, we all love Santachrist, he is Santa and Jesus, Goddamn it's Santachrist
One thing I used to do was say "go go gadget" before doing something incredibly mundane. As if it were an actual achievement. "Go go gadget pen," and then take a pen out of my pocket and start writing, for instance.
I'm sure there's a joke in there about an unemployed Inspector Gadget, who gets laid off the force but continues to say "Go Go Gadget" as he goes about his daily life.
"Go Go Gadget Knife and Fork!"
... he rummages in a drawer for a few seconds.
"Actually, I think I sold my cutlery for beer money. ... Damn."
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Black Valedictorian Sues Her School After Being Forced to Share Honor with White Student
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In a lawsuit filed against the McGehee School District in McGehee, Arkansas, 18-year-old Kymberly Wimberly says she graduated from McGehee High School with the highest GPA in her class, but was forced to share the valedictorian honors with a white student with a lesser academic record. The suit alleges a “pattern and practice of school administrators and personnel treating the African-American students less favorably than the Caucasian ones.”
Despite having a baby in her junior year, Wimberly took honors classes and maintained a stellar GPA. “I’m not going to say it wasn’t difficult. My teachers thought I’d fall flat on my face, but I kept trying to succeed,” said Wimberly, who will attend the University of Arkansas this fall.
Wimberly wants punitive damages and for the school record to list her as her class’s sole valedictorian.
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Even Ozzy has his doubts about the new Osbourne Variety Show
If Ozzy is able to spot through the fug that the Osbournes Reloaded is uncomfortable to watch, what hope for America as a whole?
Ozzy mumbles:."
Okay, it's not especially coherent, but it's like a dim light shining somewhere that Sharon would be in trouble if the little people decided they weren't going to be butts of half-assed gags any more.
Seriously, though, Ozzy: when did you ever think you were getting into "the entertainment business"?
As a general rule, posts will only be deleted if they reek of spam.
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Xtra Effort’s latest attempt to better understand “Big Data”
mrodman June 27, 2012 technology company field operations 2010 review, Uncategorized No Comments
Xtra Effort recently had an internal meeting to try to make additional sense of Big Data.
We asked and answered the below questions. See this LINK for the answers. This exercise and related LINK was intended for the average person who keeps hearing Big Data, not the proud propeller head or Gartner analyst, so don’t hold us accountable for its exact accuracy.
1) How is Big Data different than traditional Business Intelligence?
2) What technology trends drive the increase in unstructured data?
3) What are the most compelling “Big Data” applications?
4) What is MapR and Hadoop?
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Rules
1. You must post these rules
2. Answer the questions honestly
3. tag as many other people as you can
5. You must choose your OC that the person before you has chosen for you
6. To show that you have read these instructions, you must write "chicken penis" at the bottom of the journal in capital letters
I'm using Shane
1. Who are you and what are you doing in my computer?
I'm Shane and obviously i'm using it so leave me alone!
2. Oh, hi! How old are you?
If you really need to know 17...
3. What's your favorite food?
Meat... Though some may think of me as cannibalistic.
4. Do you have a crush?
I may or may not...
5. Aww, cute! Who's your best friend?
I no longer have one.... But lets just say he was a really good friend.
6. That's awesome! Do you have a rival?
Anyone that stands in my way so beat it.
7. This quiz isn't even close to being done!
Cool story bro...
8. Just kidding! It's over, are you mad now?
Ive been mad...
9. Now tag people and their Oc's!
No
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David Blight goes on TV, is famous
If you were casually watching C-SPAN on Thursday, you might have noticed Yale celeb professor David Blight moderating a panel about — what else? — the Civil War and Emancipation. The panel — which drew about 100 attendees and was moderated by Blight, a Civil War historian and director of the Gilder Lehrman Center for »
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Praxis Business School, Kolkata, India
Dear All,
The entire class would be divided into 8 groups according to roll number for the negotiation activity. The first 6 groups will have 6 members. Group 7 & 8 will have 7 members each.
A worksheet has been attached. This would give the groups some clarity on what they intend to achieve during the negotiation. Each group will be required to submit the worksheet at the beginning of the session. All the groups have to be ready with their topic for the next session.
Group 1 and Group 2:
Raghu has been working in a factory for 4 years. He has been sacked on disciplinary grounds by the supervisor.
Group 1 is a trade union in a factory with the objective to reinstate Raghu in the factory.
Group 2 is the management that supports the supervisor’s decision.
* It would help to be aware of the legal framework.
Group 3 and Group 4:
Group 3: You are the management of ABC Pvt Ltd. You have been doing business with XYZ Pvt Ltd. for over 5 years. A new contract between the two companies was signed earlier this year. You are extremely disappointed with their unprofessionalism of late. They had promised prompt delivery and installation, which they failed to keep. Their service team is also not responding to the complaints. ABC wishes to terminate this contract.
Group 4: You are employed at XYZ Pvt Ltd. You are managing the key account of XYZ Pvt Ltd. You have to ensure that the contract is not terminated.
Group 5 & Group 6:
Group 5: You are the organizing team of Spardha - FinCop’s annual inter college management fest. You approach Frito Lay for sponsorships. Your goal is to get them to partner you.
Group 6: You are the management of Axis Back. You need to cultivate a relationship with Praxis since you intend to recruit for placements this year but you have already exhausted your budget sponsoring an event at IIM- C this year.
Group 7 & Group 8:
ABC Pvt Ltd is set-up in Kolkata. It is exploring various options for getting the CUG connection.
Group 7 is the marketing team for Airtel. Their objective is to bag this contract.
Group 8 is the management that is looking at striking the best deal.
*Please update yourself with the real time rates. This activity would require some number crunching at your end before you get to the table to negotiate*Please update yourself with the real time rates. This activity would require some number crunching at your end before you get to the table to negotiate
Views: 262
Hii,
Please find the groups.
Group 5 & Group 6: Posting the revised version:
Group 5: You are the organizing student team of Spardha - Praxis Business School's annual inter-college management fest. You approach Frito lays for sponsorships. Your goal is to get a sponsorship of Rs.50,000.
Group 6: You are the management of Frito Lays. You know that you need to cultivate a relationship with Praxis since you wish to get a Day 0 slot for recruitment in the first year of visiting their campus but you have already exhausted your budget sponsoring an event at IIM- C.
© 2013 Created by Praxis Adminstrator.
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Rachel Albert-Matesz grew up eating a typical American Diet of refined and overly processed foods,fries and ketchup were her serving of vegetables.The nickname Betty baker (as in Betty Crocker) best suited her for her obsession with sweet baked goodies.The nutrition deficient diet eventually took the toll on her health with conditions like hypoglycemic episodes,cavities,acne,brittle nails,painful constipation,depression,mood swings,painful menstrual periods and a weight problem.In her quest for good health she discovered natural alternatives for a healthier diet,with keen desire to help other she became the "healthy cooking coach".Learn more about her story at TheHealthyCookingCoach.com.
She took the Challenge of creating a nutritious ice-cream with better all-natural ingredients.Her book Ice Dream Cookbook is the sweet success of endless testing and tasting.The cookbook has 80 delicious and healthy recipes with more than 200 Variations.The book discusses the essentials of incorporating healthy ingredients and provides alternatives to the common food allergens such as dairy,nuts,soy and wheat(gluten).The Coconut milk and virgin pressed Coconut oil is highlighted as the healthier substitutes for the fatty dairy cream and butter.She uses non-caloric herbal sweetener stevia along with other natural sweeteners like Agave nectar ,honey and maple syrup.In this way She cut the amount of sugar but maintained a similarly satisfying level of sweetness and lessen the health hazards of sugar at the same time. The book also has useful guidelines for equipments and techniques needed for whipping up the best tasting Ice Dream.
Rachel has created a whole range of flavors ,from basic like Vanilla ,Chocolate chip,Maple Pecan and Orange cream Ice Dream to beyond basic flavors like Avocado,Basil,Ginger,Lemon cookie crumble and Peppermint.Coffee and tea also have a place in these delectable dessert.My favorite pick had to the fruit and nut flavored.
There is also a chapter each on variety of sauces(fruity,chocolate and more) ,compotes and gluten-free cookies to go with the Ice dreams.
Roasted Banana Nut Ice Dream with Blueberry Sauce
I was truly elated when Rachel sent me a copy for review.With summer at its peak,this book couldn't have come at a better time.This book also reaffirms my recent discovery of Coconut as a health food.The recipes are very clear with intricate details .For my first Ice Dream I picked Bananas,yes! I love them for breakfast ,in smoothie or snacking ,these universal unseasonal fruits are packed with nutrients.Roasting the Bananas brings out the delicious caramelized flavor of the fruit and blended in coconut milk ,cinnamon and nuts,this is by far the tastiest concoction with bananas I ever had.The berry sauce with fresh berries of the season makes the ice dream all the more succulent.
Recipe by Rachel Albert-Matesz as in Ice Dream Cookbook.
Ingredients
3 medium-size ripe bananas, peels removed (about 2 1/2 cups when sliced)
2 to 3 tablespoons real maple syrup
1 tablespoon virgin-pressed coconut oil or palm shortening
1/3 cup cool or cold filtered water
2 teaspoon unflavored gelatin or 3/4 teaspoon agar agar powder (not the flakes)
1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup or 1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup; additional 1 tablespoon as needed
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pure stevia extract powder or 1/2 to 1 teaspoon clear stevia extract liquid (start with less; add more only if needed).
1/8 teaspoon finely ground, unrefined sea salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or alcohol-free vanilla flavoring
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon or 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, optional
1 3/4 cups (one 14 ounce can) unsweetened preservative free coconut milk (regular, not lite).
Method
1-Gently melt coconut or palm oil in a small saucepan over low heat. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Lightly oil a 2 quart (preferably glass or Pyrex) baking dish. I use an 8 x 10 or a 9×9x2 inch pan or a 9 inch Pyrex pie plate. don’t use a large pan or the syrup will burn.
2-Slice the bananas into 2 inch pieces into a medium bowl. Toss with maple syrup and coconut or palm oil. Scrape into the prepared pan. Reduce the heat to 400 degrees F and bake for 30 to 35 minutes (stir only one time) until bananas look browned and cooked through.
3-Add 1/3 cup water to a small saucepan. Slowly sprinkle with gelatin or agar agar powder. Let stand for 2-5 minutes to soften. Warm over medium-low heat, without stirring until gelatin or agar agar dissolves.
Scrape the mixture into a blender, vita-mix or food processor. Add the honey, sea salt, and stevia. Blend until smooth.
4-Add the roasted banana mixture, coconut milk, vanilla, and optional cinnamon. Blend until smooth , stopping to scrape the sides with a spatula. For a sweeter taste, add an additional 1/8 teaspoon stevia and/or 1 tablespoon honey. Blend, taste, and repeat if needed.
5-Pour into one or more wide-mouthed jars. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours before churning.
6-Scrape the chilled custard into the canister of your ice cream maker. Churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
7-Serve immediately or spoon into several 8-to 16-ounce freezer safe containers. Cover and freeze for 3 or more hours for a firmer texture.
8-Soften solidly frozen dessert by placing it in the refrigerator for 30 to 45 minutes or on the counter for 15 to 30 minutes before serving.
Without the Ice cream machine method
You can make the Ice dream even without the Ice cream machine.After the step 4,transfer the Ice Dream mixture in to a freezer proof container,preferably air tight.Freeze for about an hour,then get the container out and whisk the mixture using a spatula or hand held whisk or electric whisk to break the ice crystals forming over the edges of the container.Freeze and whisk again after 30-40 minutes ,repeat this for about 6 hours until the mixture is almost frozen.Serve immediately or freeze.Do as in step 8 to serve.
Blueberry Sauce
Recipe by Rachel Albert-Matesz as in Ice Dream Cookbook.
Ingredients
4 cups fresh blueberries,rinsed and drained or 5 cups frozen blueberries
1/4 cup honey,agave nectar or 1/3 cup maple syrup(I used just 1 tablespoon)
1 pinch unrefined mineral-rich sea salt
2 tablespoon arrowroot powder(I used 1 tablespoon corn starch)
1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon pure stevia extract powder or 1/2 to 1 teaspoon clear stevia extract liquid(start with less;add more only if needed)
2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice or orange juice
Directions
1.Combine the blueberries and honey in a heavy 2 to 3 quart saucepan.Cook over medium heat until berries bubble and release their juices,about 5 minutes
2.Dissolve arrowroot and stevia in lemon or orange jucie and add to the fruit.Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 2 to 4 more minutes until the mixture begins to thicken.Remove from heat and allow to cool.
3.For a smoother sauce,mash or puree half the berries with a potato masher or in a blender.
4.Transfer the mixture to wide-mouth jars or glass bowls.Cover when cool,and refrigerate.When cold to the touch ,freeze when you don't plan to use within 3 to 4 weeks,leaving at least 1 inch space at the top of the jar.
5.Serve close to room temperature ,or warm briefly in a small saucepan over low heat.
Peach Melba
The classic Ice cream dessert was originally created by French chef Escoffier ,in the honor of the Australian singer,Nellie Melba,at the Hotel Savoy in London in 1892.
Made with two favorite summer fruits :peaches and raspberry served with Vanilla ice cream,the fruity dessert sounded very easy to put together with the batch of Roasted Banana nut Ice Dream.
Ingredients
2 cups cool or cold filtered water
1/4 teaspoon pure stevia extract or 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon clear stevia liquid
2 tablespoon honey or agave nectar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or natural vanilla flavoring
4 large ripe peaches
8 scoops of Roasted Banana nut Ice dream or use any of the Ice dreams flavors in the book
1 cup Raspberry sauce *
1/4 to 1/2 cup toasted almonds or pistachios for garnish.
Directions
1.Combine the water,stevia,optional honey,vanilla,and peaches in 2 to 3 quart pot.Bring to boil over medium-high heat.Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer,uncovered,for 15 minutes ,until fork tender.Turn the peaches 3 times,about once every 3 to 4 minutes.(Set them in the pot with their stem ends up,then turn them upside down.This way,you always know which direction they should be facing as opposed to just setting them on their sides).Exact time will depend upon the size and ripeness of the peaches.
2.Remove peaches and reduce the poaching liquid by slow boiling for about 15 minutes,uncovered ,until you have about 1/2 cup.Transfer the peaches to a pyrex bowl and juices to another bowl or small jar.cover and refrigerate until cold.You can do this up to 2 days ahead.
3.To serve,peel,halve and pit the peaches.Divide reserved poaching liquid among 4 dessert dishes or wine glasses.Add a scoop of Ice Dream,and place a peach half on either side of the Ice Dream.Spoon the raspberry sauce in a wide band overlapping both the peach halves and the Ice Dream.Garnish with nuts and serve immediately.
4.Refrigerate unused peaches and sauce and use withing a few days.
*Raspberry sauce recipes remains the same as the bluberry sauce,strain the seeds if desired after pureeing the sauce.
Variations
** Replace water with white grape juice;then omit stevia and honey
** Replace peaches with nectarines,or raspberry sauce with strawberry ,blueberry or cherry sauce.
I served this melting scoop over the reduced poaching liquid ,peach halve and roasted pistachois.
More about Rachel's Secret Ingredients
Stevia,the Healthy Sweetener
Stevia is a non-caloric herbal sweetener extracted from the leaf of South American plant-Stevia Rebaudiana-a small perennial shrub that produces incredibly small,sweet leaves that taste 50 times sweeter than table sugar.Unlike Caloric Sweeteners,Stevia is non-cariogenic,which means it doesn't promote tooth decay,and it has no effect on blood glucose levels,which makes it safe for diabetics,people who suffer from reactive hypoglycemia,and anyone who wants to avoid adverse effects of sugar and artificial sweeteners.
Europeans have known about it since the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors discovered the natives of South American using the leaves of the Stevia plant to Sweeten Yebra mate`,their traditional herbal beverage.Researches were amazed to discover that it took only one leaf to sweeten an entire jar of their bitter tea.The leaves have also been used therapeutically by indigenous people as antiseptic and aid to healing wounds.
Stevia has been used widely as a sweetener in Paraguay,Korea,Thailand,China,Japan and several other countries,with no reported adverse effects.Stevia was first introduced to the United states in 1918,yet very few Americans have heard of it.Why?Stevia is an unpatentable product of nature;it threatens the multi-billion dollar a year artificial sweetener industry,which has been lobbied heavily to keep the sweet leaf off the market.
How to use Stevia?
It takes time to get used to the taste of stevia.The key to avoid the bitter after taste of Stevia is to use it precisely,usually tiny pinches or the purified powder or several drops of the clear liquid ,at a time.Remember more is not always better with stevia,only a minuscule amount is needed to produce a sweet taste.The cookbook provides the clear measurement guidelines to using stevia to substitute for sugar.
Stevia is available in many natural foods stores in US.Stevia comes in several forms and concentrations.
Green Stevia leaves and powder :made from the leaves,this represents the least concentrated form of the herb.
White Stevia Extract Powder :extracted from the leaves of the plant and has a smoother flavor than the unrefined green powder.
Green Stevia Liquid :liquid is made from whole stevia leaves
Clear Stevia Extract liquid :made from the concentrated steviosides,one of the main constituents of Stevia.
The Goodness of Coconut
Coconut is the tropical wonder food packed with essential nutrients.The coconut water is best thirst quencher while the copra(the meat of the nut) is used to make coconut oil,coconut butter and most delicious of all,the coconut milk.
The coconut oil has long been misunderstood as unhealthy saturated fat,but recent studies have revealed ,the medium chain fatty acid in coconut oil is does not have a negative effect on cholesterol and help to protect against heart disease.Also helps to lower the risk of both atherosclerosis and heart disease.
The coconut milk is said be anti-carcinogenic, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral. The main saturated fat that it contains, lauric acid, is also found in mother's milk and has been shown to promote brain development and bone health. Some hope that coconut milk, with its powerful anti-viral properties, can one day be used in the fight against AIDS.
Rachel's exclusively uses the healthy coconut oil and coconut milk to substitute for the dairy fat(butter) and milk in the Ice Dream recipes.
If Allergic to Coconut Milk?
Replace the coconut milk with combination of cow's milk and heavy cream,using equal parts of milk and cream or 2 parts cream to 1 part milk.Use Organic or grass-fed cow's milk.
Get your Copy.
The cookbook is a best buy for any diet-conscious ,Ice-cream aficionados and those on restricted diets(low-sugar,gluten-free,dairy-free). Purchase The Ice Dream CookBook at Rachel's blog or at Amazon.com
52 comments:
A great review on a great book!I just loved your presentation of Ice cream in Coconut shells...
Wow,thank you so much for that :)!I didn't know about Stevia and now I know it.He,he,he,I learned something new :)!
So inspireing,because I've never imagined that sweets can be so healty.
Kiss,kiss...
Yasmeen, why are you tempting me with this ?? Not fair .. Iam gonna dram of ice creams tonight
I am left speechless.. Great review with complimenting recipes. You have done full justice to the book. Lovely presentation. Good effort.
wowo that looks so delicious and so interesting..lovely post..
wow...that is truly a great post........your photos are truly droolworthy n i know they are all healthy desserts......
i have stewea plant here in my garden n the leaves are extremely sweet....have used them only in my tea till now.....hope i'll use it more often..
nice post dear...lovely presentation of icecream....awesome
Wooooooow ! The Ice creams are soooo tempting. Nice clicks.... and great presentation dear.
The icecreams are awesome! Lovely shots with presentation! That was an interesting info. Thankls for sharing!
Wow great review yasmeen and just awesome presentation.. Thats so informative... will try it our for sure...
Thats totally an amazing story to read..lots of effort..hats off..and you Yasmeen,you are beyond words..
not an icecream savvy here..looks spledid.
Oh,that looks drool worthy! And nice presentation in coconut shell!!
Wow that looks so delicious and so interesting... Nice presentation..
Mouth watering.....
That icecream does look so enticing...what a delicious and healthy treat :)
Great review! I don't eat ice cream very often, but I am certain that would change if I had a copy of this book. An informative post in general!
that is a very good review yasmeen! loved your choice of flavours, peach melba is something i love!
Wow, you definitely did the book justice! That all looks fabulous.
Wow!! Drooling over all of them. Bright colours presented great.. Drool-worthy dear!
nice review yasmeen. the icecreams are making me drool :-) awesome post!
Great review,will try to buy this book :)
Yasmeen, what a wonderful review!
The clicks are very good, and the information you shared is enlightening.
I love that coconut-milk ice cream which would be entirely vegan if one were to use agar agar instead of gelatin. Gotta try this, Yasmeen. Your pictures are so lovely.
Excellent review..can't wait to try this one of a kind Ice Dream.
Excellent review. You have convinced me to order the book and then go and buy and ice cream maker!!!
Wow I feel like I have just ben to the best ice cream parlore ever.
wonderful ice cream recipes with tempting presentation !! Perfect for hot hot summer !!
I'm a big fan of coconuts...Ice dream looks like a delicious frozen treat.thanks for the unique recipe.
Manjula
That sounds amazingly good Yasmeen..all those pics have left me craving for some cold ice cream..:)
Drool drool... that book sounds very interesting! Your creations are beautiful and so tempting! Delicious!
Cheers,
Rosa
very very yummy Ice Cream a water is coming in my mouth ..................after seeing this first i am going to buy a Ice Maker after that i will.............. try thnx for such a nice post.............
Thanks for the great post and for the nice recipes, I am not a big fan of ice cream but my children are.
By the way, welcome to Walima club, nice to have you with us.
The review itself tells ur passion on health and family. Nice job done dear. The facts about coconut will come true one day. YES, I love coconut:)
Each picture looks divine! Lovely bok too!
Vow, you are making all of us tempted with healthier version of icecreams. Thanks for sharing.
ur post is really so informative...and i like the coconut shells!!
Wow wonderful post..so many variety...your blog new look is very nice
Delectable to the core.I love this vegan Ice cream!
You convinced me enough to buy this book,WOW!
Though its monsoons here..I'd still love to try this delicious scoop of ice cream..er..dream :)
Sounds like an amazing book - I don't know which recipe I would pick to try first - yum!
Great post, thanks for all the info. I've been using stevia for years,and I think next year I'll buy some plants or seeds and grow my own. Agave nectar has some serious issues, and I don't use it.
I absolutely love coconut milk, coconut oil and coconut flour and am starting to experiment with them in baking. I love the ice dream recipes and may try one, though I don't have a machine and I think the manual method will turn out to be a pain, but the dessert sounds so delicious and healthful, it probably is worth it.
Whoa .. love the pics and day-dreaming abt that ice-cream! Healthy too! I expect no less from you, Yasmeen :))) Howz the kiddo, and his arm?
Wow! Your ice cream looks fantastic!!
Yasmeen, that looks wonderful.So with such a rave review, the book does sound good.Loved the recipe, but sadly, I did not find agave nectar in the costco near where I live :(
Oh Btw, wonderful pics too yasmeen.
Wonderful Coconut flavors..never knew it was healthy.
Great review! Your ice creams look really appealing! I use stevia quite often and found that it is a good substitute!
Awesome!Truly delightful ice dreams ,thanks for the great review.
I've been diagnosed with lactose intolerance.So glad I found the review .I was going to get the book for all the dairy free ice cream recipes.
Hello,
Gelatin is derived from the collagen inside animals' skin and bones.
I wish there was a alternative.
Rupa
Rupa,Agar-agar works best as vegan substitute for gelatin.
Ice cream is a great subject for people to talk about. I do know anyone who dislikes it
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"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBDWULIUdJA/Sl3POVpka7I/AAAAAAAAEUE/vHWR3Db0OUU/s400/RoastedBananaNutIceDream.jpg",
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[
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"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBDWULIUdJA/Sl3UH4hiKMI/AAAAAAAAEU8/hzIwEQB9sCM/s400/PeachMelba3.jpg",
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ProShares Short S&P500 (SH)
28.67 -0.26 -0.90% May 17, 8:00PM Add to Watchlists Create an Alert
View Full Chart
SH Price Chart
View All News
SH News
- SH: ETF Outflow Alert May 17
- Bear Pep Talk: Timing Not Required May 14
- Proshares Short S&P500 (SH) Enters Oversold Territory May 14
- Proshares Short S&P500 (SH) Enters Oversold Territory May 14
- Bullish Sentiment Rises For 4th Straight Week May 9
- Noteworthy ETF Outflows: SH May 9
- Huge Jump In Bullish Sentiment May 6
- 2007 to 2013: A Look at the Markets May 3
- Does This Hedge ETF Give You An Edge? May 3
- 4 ETFs to use if the super bears are right May 1
View All Performance Charts
SH Total Returns Comparison
This total returns chart shows the returns to an investor from both price appreciation and dividends (dividends are assumed to be reinvested). ProShares Short S&P500 is down 24.07% over the last year vs S&P 500 Total Return up 28.65%, ProShares UltraShort S&P500 down 42.83%, and ProShares Short Dow30 down 22.67%.
SH Total Returns -24.07%
^SPXTR Total Returns 28.65%
SDS Total Returns -42.83%
DOG Total Returns -22.67%
You may also be interested in these SH related companies
Other SH Resources
- 13F Filings Whale Wisdom
- Call Transcripts Seeking Alpha
- Insider Trading Morningstar
- Institutional Ownership MSN Money
- SEC Filings SEC
Recent Quotes
New watchlist
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http://ycharts.com/companies/SH
| 2013-05-18T11:07:29 |
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Virtusa Corporation (VRTU)
26.02 +0.29 +1.13% May 17, 8:00PM Add to Watchlists Create an Alert
Virtusa Corporation Cash from Investing Quarterly:-4.476M for Dec. 31, 2012
View Full Chart
Virtusa Corporation Cash from Investing Quarterly Chart
Virtusa
VRTU Cash from Investing Quarterly Benchmarks
VRTU Cash from Investing Quarterly Rankings
VRTU Cash from Investing Quarterly Range, Past 5 Years
VRTU News
Virtusa at JPMorgan Global Technology, Media and Telecom Conference (Transcript)
Seeking Alpha May 16
Seeking Alpha May 16
Virtusa Named a Pegasystems Platinum Partner
Business Wire May 14
Business Wire May 14
Virtusa to Present at the J.P. Morgan Technology, Media and Telecom Conference
Business Wire May 10
Business Wire May 10
Virtusa Corporation's CEO Discusses F4Q13 Results - Earnings Call Transcript
Seeking Alpha May 9
Seeking Alpha May 9
Virtusa Earnings: Everything You Must Know Now
Wall St. Cheat Sheet May 8
Wall St. Cheat Sheet May 8
Virtusa Corporation (VRTU) Tops Q4 EPS by 4c, Offers Guidance
Street Insider May 8
Street Insider May 8
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http://ycharts.com/companies/VRTU/cash_investing
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WGL (WGL)
45.25 +0.31 +0.69% May 17, 8:00PM Add to Watchlists Create an Alert
WGL SG&A Expense Quarterly
View Full Chart
WGL SG&A Expense Quarterly Chart
WGL
WGL SG&A Expense Quarterly Benchmarks
WGL News
Hilliard Lyons Downgrades WGL Holdings (WGL) to Neutral
Street Insider May 3
Street Insider May 3
WGL Holdings Management Discusses Q2 2013 Results - Earnings Call Transcript
Seeking Alpha May 2
Seeking Alpha May 2
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http://ycharts.com/companies/WGL/sga_expense
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Not parades, not fireworks, not speeches or flagwaving will feature this fateful anniversary of the birth of our nation this year.
Instead grim-faced workmen toiling through the holiday in Fitchburg’s 100 per cent war industries, children and housewives still searching out precious scrap to add to the nation’s resources, civil defense unites going seriously about their protective duties and Fitchburg businessmen unselfishly contributing to the great community effort mark this 166th birthday of our independence.
This is a Fighting Fourth; bullets and bombs replace firecrackers and rockets. It’s time to face the issue squarely and to stop side-stepping and avoiding the sacrifices that must be made in the daily life of every man, woman, and child.
It’s time to show a little fury; to get mad at the things that are threatening the freedom we have gained through 166 years of sweat and struggle. We’re a free nation; we’re a fighting nation — read the battle-cries of the men who have fought to protect this country as they are dramatically presented by picture and story elsewhere in this issue of The Sentinel.
What is your battle-cry for this Fighting Fourth?
Fitchburg Sentinel (Fitchburg, Massachusetts) Jul 3, 1942
FIGHTING WORDS FOR THE 4th
IF THERE were no man like Douglas MacArthur to say, “I came through, and I shall return;” if there had been no man like John Paul Jones to shout, “I have not yet begun to fight”; if there were no men like the doughboy at the left, who know such words in their hearts, even if they have not heard them spoken — if none of these men had ever lived, there would be no Independence Day now for America. On this page are pictured some of the Americans whose fighting words have echoed ’round the world. They are shown in the dramatic settings under which the words were spoken.
“The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves . . . .; we shall have their blessings and praises, if happily we are the instruments of saving them from the tyranny meditated against them. Let us, therefore, animate and encourage each other, and show the whole world that a freeman contending for liberty . . . is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth.
“Liberty, property, life and honour are all at stake.”
– GEORGE WASHINGTON, before Battle of Long Island, 1776.
* * *
“Give me liberty, or give me death.” — Patrick Henry, 1775.
“Damn the torpedoes, and full speed ahead” — Admiral David Farragut, 1864.
“Don’t give up the ship.” — Capt. James Lawrence, 1813.
“Come on you __ __ __ do you want to live forever?” — Marine Sgt. Daniel Daly, 1918.
“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” — Nathan Hale, 1776.
Fitchburg Sentinel (Fitchburg, Massachusetts) Jul 3, 1942
* * *
* * *
Fitchburg Sentinel (Fitchburg, Massachusetts) Jul 3, 1942
Hugh Mulcahy, left, is greeted by Hank Greenberg on arrival at Air Force Officers’ school, at Miami Beach. Mulcahy, former pitching star of Philadelphia Nationals, and the big boy who hit home runs for the Detroit Americans are in the same league now.
Fitchburg Sentinel (Fitchburg, Massachusetts) Jul 3, 1942
Tags: 1942, Admiral David Farragut, Baseball, Capt. James Lawrence, Douglas MacArthur, Fourth of July, George Washington, Hank Greenberg, Holidays, Hugh Mulcahy, Independence Day, John Paul Jones, Nathan Hale, Patrick Henry, Sgt. Daniel Daly, WW!!
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Herald: Overwhelming majority of MPs either voting YES or abstaining
August 2, 2009
The New Zealand Herald’s Political Editor Claire Trevett reports on how MPs will be voting in the referendum. The overwhelming majority of MPs will either vote YES or abstain, and only five said they would be voting no.
Of particular interest is Chester Borrows, who “had supported the petition to force the referendum before the compromise law was passed in 2007 – said he would not vote and did not believe the law should be changed.”
VOTING YES
Labour: Steve Chadwick, Charles Chauvel, Kelvin Davis, Darien Fenton, Parekura Horomia, Moana Mackey, Su’a William Sio, Maryan Street. Progressives: Jim Anderton.
United Future: Peter Dunne.
Green Party: Sue Bradford, Keith Locke, Kennedy Graham, Metiria Turei, Russel Norman, Jeanette Fitzsimons, Sue Kedgley, Kevin Hague, Catherine Delahunty.
Maori Party: Te Ururoa Flavell (if votes), Hone Harawira, Rahui Katene.
NOT/ PROBABLY NOT VOTING
National: David Bennett, Jackie Blue, Chester Borrows, David Carter, Judith Collins, Chris Finlayson, Tim Groser, Nathan Guy, Tau Henare, Steven Joyce, Nikki Kaye, John Key, Todd McClay, Tony Ryall, Katrina Shanks, Nick Smith, Anne Tolley, Chris Tremain, Louise Upston, Michael Woodhouse.
Maori Party: Tariana Turia.
Labour: Phil Goff, Annette King, Trevor Mallard, Damien O’Connor.
* Spoiling ballot paper: Clayton Cosgrove, Rajen Prasad.
VOTING NO
National: Cam Calder, Tim Macindoe.
Act: John Boscawen, David Garrett, Heather Roy.
Tags: Anne Tolley ,Annette King ,Cam Calder ,Catherine Delahunty ,charles chauvel ,Chester Borrows ,Chris Finlayson ,Chris Tremain ,Damien O'Connor ,Darien Fenton ,David Bennett ,David Carter ,David Garrett ,Heather Roy ,Hone Harawira ,Jackie Blue ,Jeanette Fitzsimons ,Jim Anderton ,John Boscawen ,john key ,Judith Collins ,Katrina Shanks ,Keith Locke ,Kelvin Davis ,Kennedy Graham ,Kevin Hague ,Louise Upston ,Maryan Street ,Metiria Turei ,Michael Woodhouse ,Moana Mackey ,mp ,mps ,Nathan Guy ,Nick Smith ,Nikki Kaye ,Parekura Horomia ,parliament ,peter dunne ,phil goff ,Rahui Katene ,russel norman ,Steve Chadwick ,Steven Joyce ,Su'a William Sio ,sue bradford ,Sue Kedgley ,tariana turia ,Tau Henare ,Te Ururoa Flavell ,Tim Groser ,Tim Macindoe ,Todd McClay ,Tony Ryall ,Trevor Mallard
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This was a beautiful video… I couldn’t stop smiling while I was watching this.
Free Hugs in Italy….
:qws:
This was a beautiful video… I couldn’t stop smiling while I was watching this.
Free Hugs in Italy….
:qws:
This is my little cousin Amiyah acting so adorable…
pappy i’m sorry
My latest Retouched Photos for Ravolution Multimedia brought to you by Maralis Images through photography. I was told to give a more DARK feel to these photos. How do you think I did?
I’m back!!!! - but just for another week or two……
-
Woke up this morning to an
- Yeah so Myrtle Beach was very chill. I loved the vacation. I loved walking out onto the patio and watching the stream behind the house. I loved watching geese trump ducks trump geese trump swallows… (tee hee -…
Chapel Alliance - I LOVED this post of Quills! I see a book coming from him in the near future with his descriptive detailing! Yes? LOL
So, for the 30th Anniversary of the Evolutionary game PACMAN, Google has modified it’s ever changing Page header of Google.com to an exclusive PACMAN game equipped with 3 lives and multi-levels. I seriously thought, at first, that it was just a picture but once you open google.com and wait for about 5 seconds, the game does an automatic start! If you haven’t tried it out, do it now while you can! They should really keep this up for a week. That would be great!
This is my good friend David Simmons Killin this Brandy song “He Is” and referencing it to God. SANG DAVID!
If you love your sister, or even love someone like a sister, join this group! This is a group my Aunt started and it’s going 178 Members-Strong so far.
Wow! That’s all I can say… Hate is NOT the answer, in ANY circumstance!
My little cousin Amiyah is too grown! “I Love You Amiyah!”
way to smart and cute…..lol
This is HILARIOUS! (I give my clients a little dab of Photoshop Day Cream from time to time.) LOL
This Looks Shopped of the Day: Maybe she’s born with it… but it’s probably Photoshop.
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No posts in there
Something you're looking for is not there.
Contrasting everyday style. Y&Y style.
Cameras. Models. Repton Boxing Club. We take you behind-the-scenes of their Spring/Summer shoot.
We explore the world of butchery.
London, a city of imagination and inspiration.
Beaches, pure acai, thong bikinis, Brahma beers and MUCH MORE.
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http://yinnyang.co.uk/tag/london-college-of-communication/
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A Diamond in the Rough
24 Apr
Forever 21 overwhelms me. There are too many options and too many ripoffs, but I can still picture myself wearing almost every piece in the store! We think it’s cheap, but as soon as you buy a few shirts and a skirt you’re up to $100. Therefore, I try to avoid going into the store unless it’s for a costume purpose. Which is exactly what I did when I purchased a studded, leopard tshirt to wear to a Steel Panther show. I returned it and searched around for something I would actually wear with my exchange allowance.
I found a diamond sweater! I used to have a slight obsession with the diamond shape and had necklaces, rings, shirts, dresses, and I even got a diamond tattoo. It got a little played out for me, but seeing it there in heavy sweater format, I was in love. Plus I dig the high-low cut of the bottom.
I am a little confused at the elbow cutouts. The cutouts sit on the front of the elbows-where my arm eye is. Doesn’t seem to make much sense to me. Remember-if you’re going to cover up a lot on top, you can go skimpy on the bottom. I paired the sweater with a cutoff pair of Lip Service jeans I think I once got when I dated a punk rock kid a lot skinnier than myself. The patterned fishnets are to keep my legs warm, and I hadn’t brought out the fringe cowboy boots inawhile, so I tugged those on. I was actually wearing a much more matchy-matchy beanie from Grand Scheme, but it turns out I lost it in a Lyft cab on the way home.
Diamond sweater: Forever 21
Jorts: Lip Service
Beanie: Betsey Johnson
Tights: Burlington Coat Factory
Fringe cowboy boots: Zodiac
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Bob's Inn Coupons and Deals
Description
When you're in the mood for good times, pleasant dining, and great cuisine, our restaurant can't be beat. We offer a pleasant, inviting atmosphere that is perfect for casual dining with families and friends. The menu features an extensive array of selections, with something sure to please every member of your group. We also feature a professional staff of friendly people, who will ensure that your visit is a pleasant one. Everybody looks forward to seeing you, so please stop in soon!
Every deal, one place.
Best deals from Groupon, LivingSocial and more.
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Horseback Riding Lesson Deals in Orange County
Folk wisdom about looking a gift horse in the mouth is obsolete, now that horses are no longer bred to belch blinding ammonia. Enjoy improved equine exhalations with this Groupon. Choose Between Two Options $30 for one one-hour horse-riding lesson (a $65 value) $85 for three one-hour horse-riding lessons (a $195 value) Trained horses and ponies trot out for private lessons, during which instructors guide students through various riding styles at a facility with three jumping arenas.
Description ...
The Fine Print
Limit 1 per customer, additional as gifts • Reservations required and subject to availability, weather conditions, wave conditions, and crowds • Merchant cancellation/re-scheduling policy of 24 hours applies; voucher subject to forfeiture • Option A & B: Entire value must be redeemed by same customer/couple. Lesson and additional rental may be used in multiple visits • Option C & D: Entire value must be redeemed during a single visit by same customer
Description
Stop surfing the web and start surfing the waves, because riding the pipeline is much better than being online -- especially when learning under the instructors at this Hawaiian-inspired and National Surf School and Instructor Association-certified school. • $49 ($150 value) for a 2-hour surf lesson for 1 with wetsuit, board, and leash • $79 ($300 value) for a 2-hour surf lesson for 2 with wetsuit, board, and leash • $39 ($95 value) for 2-hour stand-up paddleboard lesson for 1 with board • $19 ($50 value) for a 1-hour body board lesson for 1 with board Hang Ten At this beloved aquatic academy, which is situated on Newport Beach Pier, all the talented teachers not only boast years of experience but have made the ocean a way of life for themselves. They are happy to tailor all lessons to your ability levels ad to show you how to soak up a ton of fun along the way. Best yet, if you opt for a surf lesson, you get an additional hour-long rental of a board and wetsuit to put your skills to test. Want more? Check out ABC Surf.
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| 2013-05-18T10:43:09 |
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"Fun With Horses"
],
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"Vogel Equine"
],
[
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"Hangar 18 Indoor Climbing Gyms"
],
[
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"Abc Surf"
],
[
"http://c.yipitcdn.com/thumbor/g4mojZvGC23POfomMuKZ-4B1dZQ=/192x192/c.yipitcdn.com/deal/35-for-four-90-minute-tennis-group-lessons-95-value-1368811496.jpg",
"South Bay Tennis Network"
]
] |
Ice Cream Deals in Palm Beach
Description
Frozen.
Description Menu items include lobster bisque ($5–$11), oysters on the half shell ($15 for six), venison sausage ($11), and broiled scallops served atop a garlic-mushroom rice pilaf with bacon-leek cream ($28).
>>IMAGE
Description
If woolly mammoths had mastered the triple Lutz, they would've made it out of the Ice Age and into the Bronze Age, if not the Silver or Gold Age. Ensure your long-term survival with this Groupon. Choose Between Two Options $13 for ice skating for two (a $26.75 total value) Admission for two (a $20 value) Skate rentals (a $4 value) One small popcorn (a $2.75 value) $26 for ice skating for four (a $53.50 value) Admission for four (a $40 value) Skate rentals (an $8 value) Two small popcorns (a $5.50 value) Patrons can take to the ice during ...
Description
Watching.
Every deal, one place.
Best deals from Groupon, LivingSocial and more.
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http://yipit.com/palm-beach/deals/ice-cream/
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[
[
"http://b.yipitcdn.com/thumbor/TAOFDtfHDI6xbNilTK9GGEkyEbA=/192x192/b.yipitcdn.com/deal/6-for-12-worth-of-frozen-yogurt-at-ashdans-yogurt-and-ice-cream-1353647295.jpg",
"Ashdans Yogurt and Ice Cream"
],
[
"http://d.yipitcdn.com/thumbor/eR-Qukd3YdZTQBcX0gs2pZ5_aHo=/192x192/d.yipitcdn.com/deal/seafood-for-two-four-or-more-at-linda-beans-perfect-maine-up-to-52-off-23-1360042705.jpg",
"Linda Bean's Perfect Maine"
],
[
"http://a.yipitcdn.com/thumbor/Izu77Tv57ZMybiG_WHx0ay9O8oE=/192x192/a.yipitcdn.com/deal/roller-skating-ice-skating-classes-or-camp-1367401550.jpg",
"Palm Beach Skate Zone"
],
[
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"Palm Beach Ice Works"
],
[
"http://c.yipitcdn.com/thumbor/Oa5Z9W419SCbG5AX0lsnZZMjJL4=/192x192/c.yipitcdn.com/deal/up-to-52-off-at-carmines-original-ocean-grill-sushi-bar-1368681655.jpg",
"Carmine's Original Ocean Grill & Sushi Bar"
]
] |
Acupressure Deals in Portland
Description
The shoulders carry much of the body's tension as well as the body's finite supply of shrugs. Let go with this Groupon. Choose Between Two Options $39 for a 60-minute aroma body stone or Thai-Swedish massage (up to an $85 value) $59 for a 90-minute aroma body stone or Thai-Swedish massage (up to a $130 value) The aroma body stone spa treatment incorporates essential oils and alternating hot and cold stones to alleviate aches, whereas the Swedish-and-Thai-blend massage mixes flowing strokes and acupressure to work energy lines. The Sa Wan Thai treatment is also available for an additional $17.
Description
Having ...
Every deal, one place.
Best deals from Groupon, LivingSocial and more.
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http://yipit.com/portland/deals/acupressure/
| 2013-05-18T10:32:54 |
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[
[
"http://c.yipitcdn.com/thumbor/uBuKqkJJe_rBzfbSIb8ySlj_Ano=/192x192/c.yipitcdn.com/deal/60-or-90-minute-massage-at-a-tasis-massage-up-to-55-off-1353313556.jpg",
"A Tasis Massage"
],
[
"http://b.yipitcdn.com/thumbor/zR64zTHBQGmzTnnJox01BwooTg8=/192x192/b.yipitcdn.com/deal/one-or-three-70-minute-hot-stone-massages-or-one-60-minute-massage-at-healing-spirit-touch-up-to-60-off-1365495352.jpg",
"Healing Spirit Touch"
]
] |
Web Hosting Tips
Tips and guidelines for hoster before buying cheap web hosting services, it will be helpful for everyone. Choose perfect company for web hosting , which sells the service for a long time.
Internet Domain Registration
The initial footstep in getting your web site ready for the web is selecting and registering a domain name. This name will serve as your online identity, and help your visitors remember what your site is about. buy domain names and hosting from a separate company.
Choosing Host
After you have finished your site, the next step is to choose a server for your web site that makes the most sense for both your site and your financial plan. Selecting a hosting company is always difficult. So you should be more alert.
Free Hosting Web
You can get hundreds of free hosting web sites in net but there have some restrictions like you may not get Cpanel, web static or any data base support. Web hosting may be free but they will put banner or text ad on your page. So free is not free.
Bandwidth and disk space
You need to consider about bandwidth and disk space. So think about how many visitors may visit your site and how many pages you need.
Windows or Linux hosting
You also might want to think about what hosting server web you want, Windows or Linux web hosting. It generally matters when you create getting into CGI scripts, perl and PHP type stuff.
CPanel
Be sure server company must provide control panel facilities. CPanel is a common one and it can permit you trouble-free access to all sorts of free soft ware, scripts and server side controls.
Web Hosting Reseller
You can create your won business as a reseller. So join a affiliate program and earn now.
Web Hosting TipsNovember 1, 2008
Web Hosting Tips
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Every now and then, I take a break from making multigrains bread and turn to making fruit breads. I also have a tendency to try new recipes (almost) everytime I'm making breads. I suppose it is because I'm still relatively new to bread making and I love to explore and try new recipes.
I have been wanting to try incorporating walnuts into sourdough for quite sometimes. Many TFLers (The Fresh Loaf members) raved so much about walnut breads. This weekend was the weekend I was going to try walnut sourdough. I also like the idea of fruit and nut bread. In my opinion, fruit and nut complement each other well in bread. They are the blend of flavour and texture.
For some reasons, I wanted to try using cranberries in the fruit bread. I never baked or cooked with cranberries before and I was curious what it tasted like. So, cranberry and walnut sourdough that is, for this weekend's menu.
I adapted the recipe from Jeffrey Hamelman's Prune and Hazelnut Sourdough from Bread: A Baker's Book of Techniques and Recipes. This is the recipe I used quite a few times, with my own fruits and nuts adaptation. I have tried fig and hazelnuts, fig and almond, and this time cranberry and walnuts. Funny enough (or strange enough), I never made it with prune and hazelnut as the recipe suggested, maybe next time.
The recipe always delivers great result. It has 25% wholewheat flour, 5% butter and 12% of dried fruits and 12% of nuts (notes: all recipe percentage is measure against the total flour in the recipe, it's called Bread Baker's Percentage).
Cranberries and walnuts works well together. Dried cranberries added moisture, and slight sweet and sour taste to the bread, whereas walnuts added the crunch to the texture. We enjoyed the bread. It made nice fruit toast. It was also a nice change from golden raisin fruit toast to cranberry's. I also made orange butter to go with it. The butter was very easy to make and it added great flavour to fruit toast (and/or muffin). 2 hours fermentation.
3. I did one stretch and fold during 2 hours fermentation.
4. I have left the yeast out of the recipe as I retarded the dough overnight. But if you want to bake without retarding, you can add 1 teaspoon of instant yeast and bulk ferment the dough for 1 – 1.5 hrs.
5. Cranberries and nuts were incorporated into the dough after the dough was kneaded and medium gluten development was achieved.
6. The dough will be somewhat wet before cranberries and walnuts were added. Dried fruits and nuts will absorb some moisture from the dough after they were added.
Cranberry and Walnut Sourdough recipe
Adapted from Prunes and Hazelnut bread recipe From Jeffrey Hamelman’s Bread: A Baker's Book of Techniques and Recipes
Make 2 large loaves
Overall Formula
Stiff Levain build
Bread flour 181 g
Water 113 g
Mature culture (liquid) 37 g
Bread flour 181 g
Water 113 g
Mature culture (liquid) 37 g
Final Dough
Bread flour 499 g
Whole-wheat flour 227 g
Water 504 g
Bread flour 499 g
Whole-wheat flour 227 g
Water 504 g
Salt 17 g (1 tablespoon)
Butter 45 g, softened
Walnuts 110 g, chopped coarsely
Dried cranberries 110 g
Yeast 1 teaspoon, instant dry (omit this if you retard the dough overnight)
Stiff Levain all (less 37 g)
METHOD
Stiff-levain build: Make the final build 12 hours before the final mix. Keep it in the covered container and stand at the room temperature.
Divide the starters into 10 pieces and sprinkle some flour over so that they are not stick to each other..
At the end of the autolyse, sprinkle salt over the surface of the dough and mix on a medium speed for 3 -5 minutes until the medium gluten development is achieved. I usually mix by hand and it takes about 15 -30 minutes depending on my speed on the day.
After gluten is developed, mix walnuts and cranberries into the dough on a low speed until they all combine.
Place dough in an oiled container and cover the bowl with plastic bag or cling wrap. Leave it for bulk fermentation 1 to 1 ½ hours or 2 hours if the dough is retarded overnight.
Folding: If the fermentation is 1 ½ hours, fold once after 45 minutes. If the fermentation is 2 hours, fold once after an hour.
Dividing and shaping: Divide the dough into two equal pieces, pre-shape the dough into round. Cover the dough with tea towel and let it rest for 15 minutes. Final-shape the dough into either oblong (batard) or round (boule).
Final fermentation (proofing): Approximately 1 hour or retard the loaves in the fridge overnight. If you retard the loaves, omit the yeast in the recipe.
Baking: with normal steam at 235°C for 40 - 45 mins. Turn the temperature down to 225°C after 20 minutes. Turn the loaves half way through the bake for equal browning. (I retarded the dough and took it out in the morning. I then let it rest at room temperature for about an hour. In the meantime, I preheat the oven for about an hour to heat up the baking stone).
This post is submitted to YeastSpotting.
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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44962202780006999402013-05-10T18:49:17.256-07:00From Tots to TeensSusan Murray For Our World<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These last few weeks have been full of exciting holidays in Frances' Kindergarten class. There was Earth Day, then Arbor Day before May Day came along. She and the rest of her class are now very focused on recycling, becoming environmentally savvy and saving the earth. Sometimes the message is a little garbled : "Mama, did you know that driving around town kills trees?" "If you don't recycle your paper, animals will die." But I can't fault her for her earnest words and the lesson she is trying to teach us. And so it was a perfect time to introduce <i>Care for Our World</i>.<;"><i>Care for Our World</i> was nominated in the Nonfiction Picture Book category for the <a href="" target="_blank">Cybils</a>. In the front jacket flap, a Punch-Out Play Set is advertised that comes with most copies of the book. We did not receive the play set as part of our review process (it's sadly but reasonably against the rules), but I selfishly want that Punch-Out Play Set - it comes with a habitat box and animals to punch out, and it looks like so much fun! Perhaps more fun for me to set up and play with than Frances and Gloria, but maybe not! Gloria particularly is very interested in that kind of play.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have read this book over and over in our house because of its ties to Frances' current curriculum. It is a rhyming exhortation to young children to take care of the many, many things in our world. Robbins asks children to care for each other, flowers, grass, the animals, fish and bugs. I like the emphasis Robbins places on teamwork - that children cannot do this alone or just with one friend. They must all come together to save Earth. I also like that Robbins doesn't just value the animals, plants, and nature of our planet, she also emphasizes the value of supporting and caring for each other.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The rhyming text flows very naturally. Each page follows a similar pattern - mostly a list of things children can and should care about. Each page's list is organized into categories. There is a spread about Australian animals - emus, kangaroos and wallabies; another page features fish, crabs and sharks. This makes it easy for young readers to see these groups in their natural habitats, interacting with children and each other.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the things I love most about this books is its illustrations. As I have noted before, I wish the illustrative style was noted in the CIP information in the front of the book. There is certainly textured paper used in the illustrations, though, and it subtly reinforces the environmental theme. Each double-page spread includes two children who are learning to care for their world. On a page with a list of pets, a boy is cradling a hamster, and a girl is feeding a turtle and fish in a pond. The children are observing nature, gently and with intention. Their faces are friendly and open. All of the animals, too, are friendly, cuddling with the children and other animals. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is only one illustration that I questioned. The text on the page reads in part "...for black bears with cubs in deep winter sleep." While part of the illustration does show a cut-away of bears hibernating in a den, there is no snow to indicate winter at all. In fact, on the left-hand side of the page, the boy paddles his feet in a small pond - something that would <u>never</u> happen in winter.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But the illustrations and book design are elegant without being too sophisticated for young readers. In fact the whole book is perfectly aimed at bringing environmental awareness to young readers. I could easily see it being used in Kindergarten classes at this time of the year. We've used it to talk about caring for animals as well as the earth, since the past few weeks Frances has focused on the environment. It helps young children, who are very self-centered, realize the sheer number of other things on the Earth which need their help.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One drawback to this book is that there is no back matter - something that would help this book extend further in a classroom. While Robbins is bringing nature and our world to children's attention, it would have been useful to provide a list of resources or ways children could help care for their world. There are many things that could have been added to the book, including additional information about the animals in the book or information about endangered species. Back matter would move this from picture book more solidly into nonfiction.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This book is still impactful for young children, even without the additional resources. They can realize their efforts and how they can help care for our world. It can be a conversation-starter for families and classes alike. It can help spur young children into action.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Care for Our World</i>. Written by Karen Robbins; illustrated by Alexandra Ball. Compendium, 2011.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Note: I am on the Cybils Nonfiction Picture Book panel, but this blog post does not represent the committee's thoughts about the book. It only represents my personal ideas and thoughts.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Susan Murray Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am still trying to catch up with blog posts for some of the titles that were nominated in the <a href="" target="_blank">Cybils nonfiction picture book</a> category, but didn't make the cut for one reason or another. I have had a whole pile of books to blog about. I've already written about <i><a href="" target="_blank">Looking for Lincoln</a> </i>and <a href="" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Bambino and Mr. Twain</a>. I still have a few more to call your attention to, so I am going to try to finish those posts up in the next couple of weeks. I've been working on a huge writing-intensive project at my day job for the past few weeks, and that has really sapped my desire to write anywhere else. But the biggest part of that project is complete, so I'll turn my attention back to children's books, where it belongs.<;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau</i> was nominated for a Cybil. It interested me because I am very aware of books for children about famous artists. First of all, I think it is incredibly tricky to describe the artistic process in a clear, concise way for children. I also recognize the difficulty in creating art that gives readers a strong impression of the artist's work without copying it or resorting to photographs of the artist's work. Illustrators also should maintain their own style while showing readers the artist's way of creating.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Henri Rousseau has a fascinating life story. He didn't start painting until he was forty. And even then, Rousseau was self-taught. Markel says "Not a single person has ever told him he is talented." But he loves nature, and wants to express his love and how nature makes him feel. Clearly, the way he sees nature is very different from the traditional way others see art and nature. But Rousseau uses the traditional artists to educate himself about art and anatomy. He takes his education into his own hands, going to the Louvre and looking at art wherever he can find it.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rousseau then takes an enormous risk by exhibiting his paintings at a major competition. He is laughed at, but Rousseau doesn't take it to heart. He keeps on working, thinking, viewing art and submitting his creations. He isn't disgraced once, or even twice, but multiple times. For more than twenty years, Rousseau only hears criticism of his vision, but he continues on. I cannot even imagine the perseverance Rousseau had, the drive and the belief in his own art that he displayed.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally, Rousseau's strength and creativity are rewarded. He is around long enough to impress a whole new generation of artists, including Picasso. At the end of the book, Markel calls him "one of the most gifted self-taught artists in history", and it is true. For much of his life, Rousseau only had his art. He was extremely poor. His art is what carries him. "Every morning", Markel writes, "he wakes up and smiles at his pictures." It is a compelling picture of the creative impetus, how it feeds Rousseau despite the criticism.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the things that struck me about this picture book was Markel's writing. There are some gorgeous descriptive passages in this book. When Markel is describing Rousseau's love of nature, she says that "it's like the flowers open their hearts, the trees spread their arms, and the sun is a blushing ruby, all for him." Some of these passages are so well put together, they create a word picture of Rousseau's creative spark. She perfectly describes Rousseau's vision of the world around her. And Markel also does a good job of relating this artist, admittedly unique, to her young, contemporary readers. She talks about how Rousseau doesn't give up, year after year, on what he thinks is beautiful. Markel says "Sometimes Henri is so startled what he paints that he has to open the window to let in some air." Beautifully written, and yet it gives readers the sense that creativity can be mysterious, too.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hall's paintings are just as compelling and mysterious. As I said previously, I recognize the challenge of creating pictures that give a sense of the artist's unique style without totally mimicking the artist. And in any book that depicts an artist's life, not every illustration should be in that artist's style anyway - some illustrations usually show their actual life, if that makes sense. Not every part of their life needs to be seen through the filter of their art. But Hall does a great job of combining Rousseau's style with other, more realistic visions of his life. There are paintings where Rousseau's artistic vision literally comes to life. The jungle he creates includes a tiger leaping off the easel, tropical birds soaring around his room. Art experts perch incongruously on a sharply pointed mountain range. Hall's paintings are richly imaginative, giving readers a taste of Rousseau's work.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is very little back matter in this book. There is a column-long author's note with a few additional facts about Rousseau. The only dates of Rousseau's life are included here (Markel mentions the 1889 World Fair, but there is no context of Rousseau's life in that date either). There is a short description of some of Hall's choices when creating the paintings. There is also a key to two paintings that include other famous historical figures. This key only lists their names, though, which might make any connection for young readers more challenging. I am not sure how many young readers are familiar with Gertrude Stein, for instance. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But while the back matter is a little lacking, I think this is a thoughtful look at one man's desire to create art, no matter what anyone else says.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau</i>. Written by Michelle Markel; illustrated by Amanda Hall. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2012.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">sent by the publisher for Cybils consideration</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia;">Note: I am on the Cybils Nonfiction Picture Book panel, but this blog post does not represent the committee's thoughts about the book. It only represents my personal ideas and thoughts.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Susan Murray Dessen<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I haven't written about the teen side of "From Tots to Teens" spectrum in a while. I had been itching to write about teen books for a few months, but nothing seemed right. And then after Christmas, I got a Facebook message from a friend, asking why I hadn't read Sarah Dessen's latest book, <i>What Happened to Goodbye</i>. I wasn't sure why I hadn't, actually - I had bought it, more than a year ago, in hardcover. It has basketball in it, my favorite sport. I love Sarah Dessen's books and read them frequently, recommending them to friends. And when my friend posted that question, I was looking for a good read. I picked it up and read it in two days. Then I went back to some of my favorite Sarah Dessen novels, because I was sick, searching, and badly in need of comfort reading. In two weeks, I read four Sarah Dessen novels! Then another friend mentioned she had the Advance Readers' Copy of <i>The Moon and More</i>, her newest novel, which was very exciting! I read that one in two days also!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've read these books several times at different points in my life. This time, I took four books (<i>Just Listen</i>, <i>Lock and Key</i>, <i>Along for the Ride</i>, and <i>What Happened to Goodbye</i>) and decided to write about one particular theme that was resonating with me. Maybe it's because I'm a mom now, maybe it's just what has been on my mind lately. Not only did I need comfort reading, but I needed to see families - all kinds of families. They are all represented in Dessen's books. Good ones, bad ones, healthy ones, dysfunctional ones. What I think is most interesting about the way Dessen portrays these families is how the central characters, all teenagers, change how they see their families - their flaws, their good moments. It connects the teens to their own families for a moment in time, and it can be magic. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In <i>Just Listen</i>, Annabel is holding on to secrets. She has spent the whole summer pretending that things will be the same when school starts, but of course, they aren't. Her best friend, Sophie, hates her, has rejected her, and because Sophie is popular, now it feels like everyone is against Annabel. This book is really about Annabel, about how this secret changes her, and how her relationship with Owen, who is one of my favorite teenage boy characters - I won't spoil that for you!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Annabel is the youngest of three sisters - Kirsten is the oldest, and Whitney is the middle sister. The time of this novel is a time of growth, reflection and change for all three sisters. Annabel describes a photo taken before these events: "In the picture, we are all intertwined: Kirsten's fingers are wrapped in my mother's, Whitney has her arm over her shoulder and I'm in front, curved slightly toward my mom as well, my arm around her waist." (p. 79). Before the novel takes place (the picture was taken three years prior), the girls are a cohesive unit, a very visible family - all touching. Throughout the year before the book starts, the girls have grown apart. They are all struggling with their own issues and some of their problems are causing cracks in the family relationships.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then all three of the girls are separately reminded of an incident that took place on the day of Annabel's ninth birthday party. The incident is important to each of the girls for different reasons, and they each remember it differently. Annabel reflects "So many versions of just one memory, and yet none of them were right or wrong. Instead, they were all pieces. Only when fitted together, edge to edge, could they even begin to tell the whole story." (p. 236). And to me, this exemplifies families - everyone in the family remembers things or experiences them slightly differently. It is the mosaic that makes the whole picture. Even this novel isn't the whole story of the family. Thinking about the family portrait I mentioned earlier, Annabel realizes "...that was just one day, one shot. In the time since, we had arranged and rearranged ourselves so many times...All i had to do was ask, and I, too, would be easily brought back, surrounded and immersed, finding myself safe, somewhere in between." (p. 353). In this novel, the sisters are reunited through the ways they change. They grow together, instead of apart.<>Lock & Key</i>, Ruby has no family to speak of in the beginning. She has been discovered living in a house without power after her mother left her. Ruby has been doing her best to stay afloat, but it isn't enough, and she is turned over to her older sister, Cora. In Ruby's eyes, Cora abandoned her family when she went off to college and never returned. So Ruby really doesn't want to be with Cora and her husband, Jamie, at all. She feels like Cora must hate her and her mom. Ruby thinks she would be better off on her own.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While in the prep school Cora and Jamie send her to, Ruby is given an assignment. She must define a word pulled out of a jar, and the word Ruby pulls out is 'family'. What Ruby learns about herself, the family she was born into, and the family she creates through this extended assignment. In this novel, Dessen creates a mother who isn't very likable. In fact, while Ruby sees some of her mother's flaws, she works around them, mostly because she is a minor and has to cope with her mother. As the book progresses and Ruby settles into a different life and family, the reader begins to realize how at her best, Ruby's mother was dysfunctional. At her worst, she was addicted and abusive. It is hard for me as a mother to read about Ruby's recollections of her mother. But that was Ruby's life and she made it work until it doesn't work anymore. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally, part of Ruby's realization about family pulls together these disparate lives she has been living - the poor, dysfunctional barely-making-it life, and the rich, comfortable, healthy life she lives now. Ruby thinks "What is family? They were the people who claimed you. In good, in bad, in parts or in whole, they were the ones who showed up, who stayed in there, regardless..." (p. 400). Ruby isn't perfect - after all, she has lived a life that has made her tough and resilient, but also suspicious and untrusting. But she has found a perfect way to balance the family she has with the family she has come from in a way that works for her.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="" width="130" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Auden from <i>Along for the Ride</i> doesn't have a perfect family either. She has lived with her mother since her parents divorced. Her mother is aloof, someone who is tightly controlled. She is an academic and at the top of her field. But that means Auden is mostly on her own. Her father's new wife, Heidi, has invited Auden to stay with them the summer after graduation. Her father is trying to write his second novel, one he has been working on for years. Heidi just had a baby. Auden's mother promises that Auden's father will be no help at all with the baby, just as he was with Auden and her brother. All Auden knows is that she needs to try something new. So she travels to Colby, a beach town where Heidi and her dad live. And she has her carefully planned life and expectations turned upside down.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Auden has always felt that "school was my solace, and studying let me escape, allowing me to live a thousand vicarious lives." (p. 9). She has spent her whole life trying to get her parents' attention and their approval by rigidly sticking to academic success. After all, both of her parents have succeeded in the academic world. This summer she is beginning to realize that while she spent all this time studying, she was missing doing all the things regular kids do. She doesn't have a lot of friends - she studied too hard for that. And Auden hasn't had a food fight, gone to a party. This summer in Colby, she is beginning to understand the freedom that comes from not living up to anyone's expectations.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the things that is made most clear in this Dessen novel is how teenagers, those getting ready to spread their wings, begin to change how they see their parents. But Auden, who has grown up hearing stories her mother has told about her father, begins to experience her parents' flaws firsthand. Her mother told Auden about her stepmother, Heidi, "' I just hope she's not expecting your father to be of much help,' she said...'I was lucky if he changed a diaper every once in a while.'" (p. 13). After Heidi and Auden's father have a fight, Auden realizes "My dad might have made an effort to sound like he would compromise. But again, he had gotten his way." (p. 216). And Auden's mother doesn't like how Auden is spreading her wings this summer either: "'I spend eighteen years teaching you about the importance of taking yourself seriously, and in a matter of weeks you're wearing pink bikinis and totally boy crazy.'" (. 252). Auden has to learn how to become herself, which involves learning to see her relationship with her parents as it is and as it might become.<>What Happened to Goodbye</i>, Mclean has spent the last three years moving with her father from town to town, rehabilitating poorly run restaurants. Her parents divorced and Mclean decided to choose living with her father. The reason for the divorce seems straight-forward at the start of the novel. Mclean's mother had an affair with the head basketball coach at Defriese University, the college in their town. Not only is the affair a matter of local gossip, but her father has always been a huge Defriese basketball fan, so Mclean feels like her mother's choice is even more personal. Mclean has kept her mother at arm's length for a long time. She feels that "my mother wanted control over me, and I wouldn't give it to her. It made me crazy, so she in turn made me crazy." (p. 82).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mclean has taken her father's side in the divorce, no matter how much he insists that she spend time with her mother and her now-husband. After spending some time with her mom, Mclean begins to realize that maybe keeping herself away from her mom for so long has hurt more than she thought. "I must have seemed like such a stranger to her...both of us wading through this limbo world between what we'd been and what we might be. Like seeing her from a distance earlier, this thought made me unexpectedly sad.." (p. 183-4). Mclean, too, must come to terms with what has happened between her parents. Of course, as an adult, I know that divorce isn't just one person's fault. Mclean has to see this for herself, though, as part of the process of growing up.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally, <i>The Moon and More</i>. I don't want to say anything much about it, since I read it before its publication date in June. I'll just say that in this novel, Emaline has an unusual family structure, too. She has grown up in an extended step-family, with stepsisters who she works with in a daily basis. Emaline hasn't had much contact with her biological father until this summer. Her interactions with both parts of her family tugged at my heart. It is a great book, one that combines some of the best of Sarah Dessen's themes with some new ideas.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally, I'll end with a line from one of Frances & Gloria's current favorite movies, <i>Hotel Transylvania</i>, which also has a teenager spreading her wings in it. "Children have to discover things for themselves. They'll stumble and fall, laugh and cry, but such is life." Part of discovering things for themselves is seeing their families for what they really are, not just what they have always hoped they might be.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Just Listen</i>. Sarah Dessen. Viking, 2006.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Lock & Key.</i> Sarah Dessen. Speak: Penguin, 2008.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Along for the Ride.</i> Sarah Dessen. Speak: Penguin, 2009.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>What Happened to Goodbye.</i> Sarah Dessen. Viking, 2011.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The Moon and More</i>. Sarah Dessen. Viking, 2013.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Just Listen</i> and <i>Lock & Key</i> borrowed from Lewis & Clark Library, <i>Along for the Ride</i> and <i>What Happened to Goodbye</i> from personal collection. <i>The Moon and More</i> read in Advanced Readers Copy.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Susan Murray Like a Tiger<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Bedtime is always a difficult time, and my house is no exception. There are days when I've done my job well, the girls tumble into bed on time, and I don't hear another word from them until morning. On the nights that bedtime doesn't work successfully for us, their bedroom seems to have a revolving door. First it's Frances saying she needs to go to the bathroom, then it's Gloria saying she's thirsty, then Frances is back again to tell me Gloria is reading too loud and keeping her awake. Finally, Gloria comes slithering back down the hall, silently, wanting to tell me "one more thing". On the worst nights, they both cry before they fall asleep. I've mentioned before how one of my favorite programs to do at the library was always bedtime storytime. I love the cadence of a good bedtime story; how it winds a child down into relaxation and quiet. It has the capability to turn a bad night around and guide a child into slumber.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" psa="true" src="" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I only heard about <em>Sleep Like a Tiger</em> after it won a Caldecott Honor in January. Once I got it, I was sorry I hadn't been shouting its praises since it had been published. This book is a terrific bedtime story. It combines a wise, elegant bedtime story with magical illustrations - a combination dreams are made of.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The story starts with a little girl who doesn't want to go to sleep. Arms folded, stuffed animals scattered around her, she tells her mother "I'm not tired.". She tells her father the same thing. In a united stance, her mother and father nod their heads and tell her while she doesn't have to sleep, she has to put on her pajamas. And so the little girl does, putting on pajamas "that matched the night sky". The little girl, still insisting she isn't tired, then washes her face and brushes her teeth and climbs into bed. She then, like all procrastinating children, starts up a conversation about the animals of the world and their sleep patterns. Her parents calmly discuss their dog, their cat, bats, whales, snails, bears and last of all, the mighty tiger. The little girl informs her parents that the tiger sleeps as much as possible so "that way he stays strong". They turn out the lights, and the little girl, all tucked in, tells them again that she isn't sleepy. They say good night, and she relaxes into her bed "a cocoon of sheets, a nest of blankets". Soon enough, she mimics the way all of those animals fall asleep, and you guessed it - falls asleep.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">As a parent, I was struck by a couple of things about this story. Bedtime is one of the most chaotic times, especially in a working household. The hours between when we get home and bedtime are filled with "must-dos" - dinner, clean up, baths, stories, bed. The nights churn by quickly - some nights I look up and realize it's 7:30 and we need to hurry into pajamas and stories. This story is calm and soothing from the first page. There is no arguing about bedtime as there is in so many homes. The parents, who go through the whole routine together, united, simply accept what the little girl says and proceed calmly on. Because the little girl seems to have control of her bedtime, she goes to sleep more quickly. She doesn't have to protest very loudly or throw any fits to get her point across. She is heard and can then acknowledge how comfortable her bed really is. Her parents, once they get her in bed and turn off the light, tell her "You can stay awake all night long" and leave the room. They give the little girl space to be herself and enter sleep on her own terms. In a dark room, surrounded by stuffed animals, and quiet, it doesn't take her long to doze off. Genius!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This is Logue's first picture book. Her jacket biography describes her as a poet, and this text is poetic indeed. While I've already cited several worthy snippets of text, my favorite part is when the little girl gets into bed. "She did, stretching her toes down under the crisp sheets, lying as still as an otter floating in a stream." Simple enough for children to understand and related to, but gorgeously described. After all, I feel that very same way when I get under my own sheets. Logue has created a story that children can relate to, parents will understand and the words will resonate for all long after the book is closed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">And I haven't even talked about the illustrations yet! As you know, the Caldecott medal is given each year for illustrations. So Zagarenski won a Caldecott honor for this book's illustrations. I loved her other Caldecott honor winning book, <em>Red Sings from Treetops</em>, and was excited that she had won again. Her style combines computer illustration with mixed media paintings on wood. It is a magical, whimsical combination, and one that begs to be looked at over and over again. There are things I've noticed in my repeated readings of this book, and I know there are still more details to be seen.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The colors are soothing - mostly icy blues, golds and browns, with pops of red throughout. The other pop of color on each page comes from the little girl's clothing - her dress on the first pages is a chalky red which stands out, making the girl easily findable in the busy paintings. When she changes into her pajamas, which "match the night sky", they are a rich, unusual blue. There is a white diamond pattern all over the girl's pajamas to mimic the stars, and at points the stars seem to twinkle. Again, Zagarenski's choice of clothing makes the little girl the focus on every page.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">There is so much texture and pattern in Zagarenski's paintings, and the overall effect is one of layered coziness. This is one of those instances where author and illustrator complement each other perfectly. These paintings supplement Logue's text and extend it. One of the little details that add to the text is the fact that that the mother, father, and little girl all wear similar crowns. Are they a royal family? Maybe, maybe not. It doesn't really matter, but it is one of those things that adds to your enjoyment of the story. The little girl carries stuffed animals with her throughout the book, and they mostly include the animals she asks about - the bear, the whale, the dog, and of course, the tiger. There are details layered upon details in this book. One of the things I wonder about is Zagarenski's inclusion of wheels on almost every page - sometimes animals ride on wheels, sometimes the wheels serve as decoration. One of my favorite, whimsical uses of the wheels are under the father's feet in a particular painting.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This book is rich in text and illustration. The story is immediately recognizable by parent and child alike. The book is whimsical and realistic at the same time. All in all, I can't resist saying that this book is dreamy.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>Sleep Like a Tiger</em>. Mary Logue; illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski. Houghton Mifflin, 2012.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">borrowed from Lewis & Clark Library</span>Susan Murray Photographer Series<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I love <a href="" target="_blank">Cybils</a> season for so many reasons. One of those reasons is my exposure to books I would never have experienced on my own. I have been on the Nonfiction Picture Book panel two years in a row, and both years I have read and blogged about books that are unusual. One of those books this year was <em>The Story of Silk: From Worm Spit to Woven Scarves</em>. When I first picked it up, I believed it would be about the science of making silk. As I began to read, I realized this was more a book about a village, a culture, and a craft. As I read further in the book, I became more intrigued by the story of this village in Thailand, where Richard Sobol had previously written and photographed another book in his Traveling Photographer series, <em>The Life of Rice: From Seedling to Supper</em>. I wanted to know more about the village, and fortunately, my library carried <em>The Life of Rice</em>, so I could explore this country more.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sobol originally travels to Thailand to help protect Thai wildlife. As he traveled the country on that assignment, he began to become aware of the fields of rice he was traveling through, and initially looks at them as a photographer. He is attracted to the strong colors and textures of the fields, the contrast with the villagers who work in those fields. Then he is invited to an official royal event- the Royal Plowing Ceremony. This ceremony kicks off the rice-growing season, and while it is ceremonial and symbolic, it is also very important to the Thai people. The king scatters royal seeds and the families quickly gather the seeds, along with the soil, to replant in their own fields.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" psa="true" src="" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In this book, Sobol focuses on the Issan province, and on the jasmine rice that is grown there. He describes the process from planting through harvesting, threshing, hulling and selling. He details how for many Thai families, this is their business - children come after school to help weed and tend to the rice fields, while the adults work all day long. For almost every family, this is a very labor-intensive, manual process. Only the richest farmers can afford to rent a combine, but that is only used in one part of this cycle. The rest of it - planting, transplanting, weeding, etc., is all done by hand, bent over in the fields. At the end of the season, families sell off most of their crop, saving only a few bags for their food for the rest of the year. However, no part of the rice plant goes to waste. The rice stalks are used for cooking fuel, in their gardens, or as food for their livestock.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" psa="true" src="" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">In the preface to <em>The Story of Silk</em>, Sobol describes how he returned to Thailand with copies of <em>The Life of Rice</em>, to share it with the people of Issan province. He goes to Thailand at a different time of year than his previous trip, and realizes that there is a whole new industry taking place at that time of year - silk-making. Rice cannot grow during the dry season, and so he begins to investigate another fascinating craft. Sobol begins with the silkworm (did you know it's not really a worm?) which must eat mulberry leaves constantly for 28 days. Again, the process of creating silk is labor-intensive and requires the help of the entire village. The leaves must be replaced regularly, worms must be covered so they don't get too hot, worm cocoons must be cleaned carefully... Sobol does a great job of getting into the details of the process that will interest young readers without overwhelming them with the individual tasks. And there are many more tasks in this book that will be good for a horrified groan from readers - silkworms are boiled and eaten (again, as in the rice cycle, nothing is wasted). By the end of the book, readers have gained a real appreciation for the hard work behind what is presented to us as consumers. They may not look at a bag of rice in the grocery store in the same way again, and may take more of an interest in the fabric their clothes are created from.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Of course, in a series called "Traveling Photographer", the photographs are remarkable. The colors are rich and vibrant, and Sobol's photographs help define and delineate the text. But where I think Sobol has a real gift is in conveying some of the Thai culture simply through documenting their work. You can see clothing, houses, family relations, royalty and more through his lens. He doesn't just show their livelihood, but also their lives. The books are full of photographs, which lend life to the text. Every page has at least one photograph on it, and many have two or three photographs to help readers envision what they are reading about. Sobol has a sense for what readers would need clarification on, or have curiosity about, and that is what he photographs.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">While both books focus on the same province of Thailand, they have very different tones. In the first book, Sobol mentions how he travels the province to document the rice growing in the fields. It is well described and documented, but there isn't a lot of detail about the people he meets on the trip. It is constructed as a narrative, and you get the story of rice through the text and see the Thai culture shown more in the photos. But in <em>The Story of Silk</em>, Sobol focuses on one village and that village comes to life both in photos and text. He describes giggling young girls who tell him they will be the supermodels of silk. Sobol writes about the men of the village, who laugh as they eat the boiled silkworms with red pepper sauce. And he retells a weaving lesson given by a village woman named Auntie. The book is more alive than <em>The Life of Rice</em>, although the first book only suffers in contrast. They are both compelling stories, I just prefer the inclusion of the village life in the second book.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Both books include facts about rice and silk and a glossary with English and Thai words at the end of the book. <em>The Life of Rice</em> also includes a list of rice-related holidays throughout the year and the translations of some Thai rice dish names, although no descriptions of the dishes. These books give readers a sense of the real work behind products they experience on a regular basis. But even more valuable to me is the very natural way these books become about Thai culture. Taken together, Sobol has created a durable image of the Thai year, and how it centers around these simple, yet challenging industries.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>The Life of Rice: From Seedling to Supper</em>. (Traveling Photographer). Richard Sobol. Candlewick Press, 2010.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>The Story of Silk: From Worm Spit to Woven Scarves</em>. (Traveling Photographer). Richard Sobol. Candlewick Press, 2012.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>Life of Rice</em> borrowed from Lewis & Clark Library; <em>Story of Silk </em>sent by publisher as part of the Cybils panel.< /><br />Susan Murray Lincoln's Dream<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Abraham Lincoln has been the topic of much discussion lately. Of course, there was the multiple-Oscar nominated movie, with its Oscar-winning best actor. I've already blogged about <a href="" target="_blank"><em>Looking for Lincoln</em></a>, a book which gave facts about Abraham Lincoln a new, postmodern twist. And here at the Murray house, Abraham Lincoln has taken on a great deal of importance since Presidents' Day. Frances' teacher told her Kindergarten class some of Lincoln's biography, and she's been talking about him ever since. We see a ramshackle wooden shed on the side of the freeway, and that is Lincoln's childhood log cabin home. I've heard many times that his mother died when he was nine years old. A few days ago, we were on our way home from dinner, and Gloria wanted me to turn on the car's interior light so she could color. I explained that it was against the law, and Frances piped up and asked whether Abraham Lincoln made that law too. Clearly, Abraham Lincoln is an important historical figure to Frances!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" jsa="true" src="" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This picture book begins with the dogs. The narrator mentions that three of last century's presidential dogs would not enter "that room". The afterword explains that "that room" was the Lincoln Bedroom. The narrator goes on to say that people saw his ghost on February 12th, but everyone was wearing stovepipe hats and beards (although astute readers will easily pick out the ghost peering out from behind a curtain). Then a young girl named Quincy slips away from her school tour and sees the ghost of Abraham Lincoln poring over the Gettysburg Address. They really see and acknowledge each other. He tells her a couple of corny jokes and she politely laughs. Lincoln admits during their conversation that he continues to have the same dream, over and over again: "It's always the same. I'm on a ship sailing repeatedly for some shore I know not where." Lincoln has been pacing through the White House while they've talked, with Quincy scrambling to catch up with his long legs. He apologizes for being so restless, but tells her "...there was so much to do beyond 1865. Our union was so fragile, so uncertain. Like that ship on the rocky sea." Quincy (and the reader) realizes that Lincoln has stayed because he doesn't know how things have turned out in history. Quincy takes Abraham Lincoln on a flight around the world (Lincoln doing the flying), giving him updates along the way. Later that night, the narrator says, Quincy herself has a dream. "She dreamed of a man, a tall man in black, on a boat moving rapidly toward the rising sun." It is, of course, Abraham Lincoln, with his worries and burdens now lightened, who is sailing off towards the sun.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This book is clever in a number of ways. One of the ways I find it most clever is very subtle, and in fact took me several readings to discover and appreciate. The book is titled <em>Abe Lincoln's Dream</em>, but his name is <u>never</u> mentioned in the text. The President is referred to only as "he", or once as "the ghost", although he is described in all the traditional ways we've come to associate with Lincoln: the stovepipe hat and beard, tall, dressed in black. The narrator comments the first time Quincy sees Lincoln: "He was dressed in black from hat to boot, but she wasn't frightened; he had a long face that made her feel sorry for him." These descriptions are all things we know about Lincoln. And of course, there are other textual references to his history as President. The jokes, the references to 1865, his admiration of the Gettysburg Address and his question about whether the states are united all point to his identity without Smith having to name him at all. And because of the preponderance of textual and illustrative clues, I can't help but wonder how many readers actually fail to notice that the ghost is unnamed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Of course, Lane Smith's illustrations also help identify Lincoln. Smith does an incredible job of walking the fine line between evoking the actual man himself and creating a character for this story. His tall black stovepipe hat, his grasshopper-like legs and neatly trimmed beard all echo the portraits of Abraham Lincoln we can all call to mind. The facial expressions, though, are pure Lane Smith. My favorite one is when Abraham Lincoln throws his hand to his forehead, eyes closed, head bent back in a dramatic fashion. The text at that moment is serious, but the look makes readers smile. Similar to <em>John, Paul, George & Ben</em>, Smith takes a historical figure and pokes a little fun at him. There is a lightness to much of this book that contradicts the sadness in Lincoln's long face.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Lane Smith is comfortable creating in that gray area between fact and fiction. As I mentioned previously, the first pages of the book include several dogs owned by other presidents. Smith cites each of the dogs, their Presidents(and which President they were), giving authenticity to the picture book. But the most stunning fact of all is the fact that the morning of his assassination, Smith tells us, President Lincoln told members of his cabinet of a disturbing dream he'd had - the one he described in the text to Quincy. It is an incredible connection for readers and re-emphasizes the fact that this dream kept the fictional character trapped in the Executive Mansion all these years. It is truly an amazing book - enough fact to ground readers in information, enough fancy to help readers soar. All I could wish for were some citations for Smith's afterword, but really it feels authentic without that information. While this is a picture book, and a story, it is based in fact, and again straddles that gray area in between. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">As always, the book design (done by Lane Smith's wife, Molly Leach) is impeccable. The book is a mix of historical and modern touches. Quincy, Lincoln and the narrator all speak in different fonts which adds to the interest on each page. But all of the fonts are clean and crisp, so the page never feels too cluttered, even with all three speaking on the same page.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I think the last thing I would like to mention about this book is its audience. While Frances, a kindergartener, was interested in this book, I believe this book also rewards a more sophisticated, older reader. This is the kind of book that appeals to Kindergarteners with its basic narrative thread. They would enjoy Lincoln's silly, old-fashioned jokes. A fifth grader would have learned more about Lincoln and the history of the United States and could appreciate some of the things that <u>aren't</u> said here. And a high schooler would also be familiar with the history here, and would not feel as if the narrator talked down to them. It's a flexible, entertaining book, good for multiple levels and audiences. I wish I had time to compare it to other books with characters flying through the sky, seeing the world around them, such as <em>Tar Beach</em>. There are lots of ideas that come out of a well-written book, Pick this one up, not to learn more about the facts of Lincoln's life, but to experience history through his eyes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>Abe Lincoln's Dream</em>. Lane Smith. Roaring Brook Press, 2012.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">borrowed from Lewis & Clark Library</span>Susan Murray and Mr. Twain<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Years and years ago, soon after I got my master's degree in library science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I went back to school again. I decided to get a second master's degree in English literature, from Virginia Commonwealth University. I went part-time, at night, so my class choice was a little limited. But I loved learning more about critical writing, and reading more literature. I found most of my classes really interesting. One of the classes that ended up being an unexpected favorite was a class that focused on the writings of Mark Twain. I'm sure I originally thought it would only cover his most famous works, and that I could look more closely at <em>The Adventures of Tom Sawyer</em> and <em>The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn</em>. I thought reading those two books again would tie in nicely with my love of children's literature. Instead, I gained a far more rounded understanding of both Mark Twain the writer and Samuel Clemens the man.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="200" src="" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">So when <em>Bambino and Mr. Twain</em> showed up on the <a href="" target="_blank">Cybils Nonfiction Picture Book</a> nomination list, I was definitely looking forward to reading it. This story takes place in 1904 and 1905. Mark Twain is a famous, well-loved writer; Samuel Clemens is dealing with his grief over the loss of his wife, Livy. He is reclusive, staying in his New York City home and not interacting with the public and reporters who wait outside. He only talks to his housekeeper, his daughter Jean, and his cat Bambino. The winter drags on, cold and dreary, as Clemens drowns in his sorrow. Then as spring begins, a window is opened, and Bambino darts out. Clemens is heartbroken and the family puts an ad in the newspaper, along with a reward for Bambino's return. The response to the ad is completely overwhelming. People bring cats of all kinds and descriptions to the Clemens house to help with this newest loss. They just want to help their beloved "Mark Twain". When Bambino finally returns, days later, the episode causes Samuel Clemens to realize that "there's a whole world outside of this house to enjoy." He begins to return to life and his public, all due to his cat.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I found this book really interesting from my own adult perspective. When the book opens, the entire family is in mourning for their wife and mother. As I mentioned, Samuel Clemens is the one grieving. He sees a huge chasm between his writerly persona, Mark Twain, and his own broken heart. He says to Bambino, "' Everyone wants to meet witty Mark Twain,"..."' would they want to meet sad, old Samuel Clemens?'" His daughters are also in the midst of their grieving - Clemens' daughter Jean is "growing old before her time." and his other daughter, Clara, is in a clinic, "too upset by her mother's death to be with them." They are isolated, sad, and falling apart. The cat is the only sign of energy and life in the home.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">And because everyone is so beaten by their emotions, the cat's personality really shines. Bambino is everywhere, providing distraction and comfort to the family. When Clemens takes to his bed, Bambino curls up on papers next to him. When they half-heartedly celebrate Clemens' birthday, it's Bambino who eats the ice cream. Bambino is clever, sassy and energetic. Maltbie does a terrific job depicting the cat - his behavior is familiar to all cat-lovers. Bambino's personality also gets at the core of the human-cat relationship. Readers can tell how much Bambino cares for Clemens. He accompanies Clemens everywhere, including playing billiards with him.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">In the author's note at the end of the book, Maltbie explains that while Bambino was the Clemens' family cat, and did go missing in the spring of 1905, "whether Bambino's return really had anything to do with Sam's decision is something only Sam and Bambino would know." So what Maltbie is indicating here is something discerning readers may have already wondered about: that at least part of this story has been fictionalized. There is also quite a bit of dialogue in the book, which has also most likely been created by the author, since there are no citations. Even though the story has been created, there are facts behind it, including that Bambino really did go missing. So does the fictionalization make this story any less impactful? I don't think so, in this case. It is still a very vivid portrayal of grief and a family trying to move forward with their lives. It still rings true, both in their sadness and in the depiction of mischievous Bambino. I appreciate Maltbie's author's note, with its clear explication of fact and fiction, to help readers distinguish between them. Maltbie also includes a bibliography of adult biographies, which might help older readers continue to learn about Samuel Clemens and Mark Twain, including one written by his daughter, Clara.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This leads me to my thoughts about the audience of this book. It is a nonfiction picture book, and it seems at first glance to be appropriate for children in younger elementary grades, just by looking at the length of the text. However, most young children wouldn't know who Mark Twain was and would be confused by the duality of his personas - both Mark Twain and Samuel Clemens. Also, the writing is fairly subtle and young readers will miss the grief and the loving relationship with the cat. It seems like this book might be better used in a classroom where Mark Twain is being studied in-depth. I also would have loved to have used it when I was taking my graduate-level seminar on the works of Mark Twain.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I haven't addressed Miyares' illustrations at all yet, and they do a terrific job of bringing this story to life. The combination of mixed media and digital illustrations gives an unusual twist to the feel of this book. They feel historically accurate and yet modern. Everything that needs to be historically correct, is - including houses and clothing. But the rest of the colors and details feel modern and a little more abstract. The combination works well for this story, combining fact and fiction. Again, Bambino's personality shines through. When he returns to the Clemens' house, there is an illustration where the housekeeper scolds Bambino. His tail quirks, questioning and unrepentant. As any cat owner has experienced, he is sorry, but not <u>that</u> sorry.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This book is thoughtful and graceful. It is a real treasure, both for Mark Twain fans and cat owners alike. Explore it for yourself - it is worth the read.<;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Bambino and Mr. Twain.</em> P.I. Maltbie; illustrated by Daniel Miyares. Charlesbridge, 2012.</span><;">borrowed from Lewis & Clark Library</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Susan Murray's Pigeon<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have loved Louise Erdrich's books and writing voice ever since I started reading her work - probably in college. I found her adult novels then, probably reading in chronological order, since that is often how I read books, and her work with then-husband Michael Dorris. And then, for a long time, I tried to keep up with her writing. I read the book I'm writing about today, <em>Grandmother's Pigeon</em>, and loved it so much that I sought out my own copy. But Erdrich's publishing went far faster than I could read, and I moved on to other authors for awhile. Almost two years ago, I went to work at the Office of Public Instruction, right down the hall from our Indian Education division. I started talking books with the Indian Education staff, and was reminded how much I liked her writing. So more than a year ago, I set myself the goal of reading and re-reading Louise Erdrich's novels, both for children and adults. And I knew I wanted to start with <em>Grandmother's Pigeon</em>.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="" uea="true" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This narrative begins with Grandmother. The narrator, an unnamed young girl, begins with the words "As it turned out, Grandmother was a far more mysterious woman than any of us knew." She describes her grandmother and her ways, ways that are slightly magical and definitely a little mysterious. Then the granddaughter launches into the heart of the story - on a beach vacation with the family, Grandmother hops onto the back of a dolphin, and sets off for Greenland. A year later, the family is forced to acknowledge that their Grandmother will not be returning. The family (which includes an older brother) opens their Grandmother's bedroom door and begins to sort through her belongings. Their astonishment grows when the mother picks up a nest and the eggs within it begin to hatch. They are pigeons, eerily similar to the stuffed, taxidermied pigeon on Grandmother's windowsill. As the pigeons grow, the mother begins to suspect something. She calls in an ornithologist, who confirms her suspicions. Somehow, the eggs that have hatched are passenger pigeons, which have been extinct for almost 100 years. The media is called, and the three young pigeons become the focus of much attention. But when it is determined that the pigeons are all male, cannot continue the species, and will more than likely spend their lives in a zoo, the children take matters into their own hands. And in freeing the pigeons, the children make contact with their Grandmother, who they believed lost forever.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">There are so many interesting things about this book that I'm not sure exactly where to start. But maybe I'll begin with Grandmother herself. As you may have realized from the summary, Grandmother is only in the first two pages. And she only has a few lines of dialogue, just as she is leaving the family. She is primarily seen through the eyes of her granddaughter, who seems to be about five years old. But Erdrich's descriptions are rich, unusual and full of evocative detail. The granddaughter describes how the Grandmother's tea could get them out of bed on days when they had exams at school, "when we felt slightly ill", before she even entered the room. When the family enters their Grandmother's room a year after her disappearance, that description makes you want to enter the room yourself. There is a wooden Sun-Tzu effigy of a horse on the windowsill, a petrified buffalo tooth, a Paul Klee painting. All of these small details give you a strong sense of this woman you won't even meet again in the pages of this book. She is quirky - someone of this world and yet not. Grandmother is mysterious, as the granddaughter says in the very first line of this book. As a reader, I was sorry I would never get to meet her.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Another interesting thing about this way this book is composed is the issue of names. There are no personal names in <i>Grandmother's Pigeon</i>. Everyone in the book (except for the ornithologist) is family, and as such, is only described by their family relationship. And this relationship is also very formal - not Grandma or Nana, but Grandmother. The granddaughter only says "my mother" or "my father", not Mom or Dad. Even the brother is not referred to by name. This gives the book a formal feel, which is juxtaposed against the more casual, spontaneous, chaotic feel of the Grandmother's personality. The granddaughter's narrative, with the longest descriptions of family relationships in each paragraph, is much more buttoned up in comparison.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The mysterious hatching of the three passenger pigeons raises questions for the ornithologist, who literally cannot believe her eyes. In a neat twist, they restore her with some of Grandmother's own magic tea - while the children can be roused on "sick days" simply by the smell, the ornithologist takes two cups. Erdrich is able to introduce the unique history of the passenger pigeons at this point as the ornithologist explains it to the children. Erdrich's explanation of the pigeons' history is impressive at this point - it is accessible to young readers, but also sounds enough like a lecture to sound reasonable coming out of the ornithologist's mouth. The ornithologist never seems to notice Grandmother's pigeon sitting proudly on the windowsill, or make any sort of connection between it and the hatched eggs. The children are one step ahead of her.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The ornithologist says while describing the passenger pigeons, "nature is both tough and fragile." This, to me, is the core of the book. The passenger pigeon is extinct and yet alive. The family misses their Grandmother dearly, grieving for her, and yet continues on in the strength she has given them. For them, as for all of us, the correlation can be drawn to life - it can be tough and fragile too. One moment their Grandmother is there with them, full of magic and spark, the next she has left a void (granted, by sailing off on a porpoise). As the newly hatched pigeons begin to droop under all of the media attention, the family comes to the realization that they must be set free. While this will be the only generation of passenger pigeons, they will survive and soar in their freedom - tough, yet fragile.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">When you first look at the cover, you instinctively believe that the cover illustration is of the Grandmother. After all, the title blazoned across the front is <i>Grandmother's Pigeon</i>, and the cover shows a woman, along with the two grandchildren, gaping in astonishment at the pigeons in a cage. It is only as the book progresses that you realize it is not, in fact, the Grandmother, but the ornithologist. Grandmother is absent from the cover of her own story, which is, I suspect, how she would like it. This is yet another example of the mystery surrounding her.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Jim LaMarche's illustrations are full of wonder and perfectly echo Erdrich's tone and text. Again, the Grandmother is only pictured in the first two pages of the book, and there is only one close-up. On that page, where the text describes the children's attempts at a sick day and Grandmother's magic tea, she has strength, wisdom and even magic in her twinkly eyes and knowing smile. Her dress is eclectic, with her wide-brimmed black hat and soft kerchief, but she is no-nonsense too. And yet when she is astride the porpoise, off on an adventure, she is cheery and light.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The glow of the light in these illustrations are remarkable. LaMarche has identifiable light sources in each and every page, from the light pouring into Grandmother's dusty room through the window to the hot sun on the family's beach vacation. That is true of every illustration except three. The children decide to release the pigeons in the dead of night, on a foggy, moonlit night. Mist pools around the tree trunks, giving a hazy look to the dark, shadowy landscape. But even then stars glisten and moonlight highlights the pigeons' wings as they take off into the wilderness. In their escape there is still mystery and magic.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">There are so many more things I could say about this book. While this book is a picture book, the text is long and detailed and requires comprehension beyond that of a young child. But many of the details of the book may also help stretch a child's curiosity to explore whether you actually could ride a dolphin to Greenland, to learn more about passenger pigeons, or Paul Klee's paintings. Grandmother's knowledge can help create more connections for readers. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">In the end, not even Grandmother's own family, who knows many of the details of her life, really knows her. We exit the book with just as many questions about her as when her granddaughter began: "As it turned out, Grandmother was a far more mysterious woman than any of us knew."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><i>Grandmother's Pigeon</i>. Louise Erdrich; illustrated by Jim LaMarche. Hyperion Paperbacks for Children, 1999.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">borrowed from Montana Office of Public Instruction Resource Center</span>Susan Murray, Goodnight Construction Site<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As you know by now, I have two little girls. Like any mom, I hoped when I was pregnant with Frances that she would like cars as much as princesses, and that I would make an effort to introduce both girls to as many different kinds of toys as possible - blocks, stuffed animals, cars and princesses. And as you could predict, Frances ended up loving primarily princesses and all of the tiaras, wands, and high heels. Then Gloria was born, and she could not have been more different. She is a Disney Cars fan. We have lots of trucks, race cars, and of course, Lightning McQueens galore (I think I counted ten the other day!). So a book about construction sites is right up Gloria's alley. And while Frances does still love princesses, she has learned to appreciate cars and trucks too.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="" uea="true" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site</em> is a book that takes two popular subjects - bedtime and construction - and combines them. Even better, it does it in a way that works very successfully. Rinker and Lichtenheld start by looking at the whole construction site during the day. All of the trucks and equipment are busily working away at their day job. As the daylight fades, though, each truck begins to complete their tasks and shut down. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The very first piece of equipment is a crane truck. Rinker takes two pages for each construction vehicle. Crane Truck is a perfect example of how this book is set up. Before bedtime, Crane Truck has to raise one last beam up to the high rise. Rinker demonstrates in rhyming text how a Crane Truck operates and what his specific task is. As the sun goes down, Crane Truck finishes work on the building, and begins tuck his boom away to prepare for bed. Sleepy, Crane Truck holds his teddy bear in his claws and hangs a softly glowing star nightlight from his boom. The last line of every section reads "Shhh...goodnight, Crane Truck, goodnight" or cement mixer or dump truck or bulldozer or last but not least, the excavator.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I really like the way Rinker has treated her subject here. This book is equally about construction and bedtime. So for those readers and listeners who want to know about how construction equipment operates, they'll be able to learn about that. And the rhyming text and soothing goodnight routines help set the tone for bedtime. However, the one thing I did notice after repeated readings is that all of the vehicles shown are male. I wish she could have worked in at least one female vehicle, as I think that would make the book more attractive to girls.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The illustrations add to the comfort and interest of the book. Lichtenheld starts on the construction site is in full action, pouring cement, hauling heavy beams and transporting dirt. The pictures of the vehicles are all accurate, with plenty of detail to appease a construction lover. Yet they also all have expressive eyes and features to give them added personality. As the light dims and the site shuts down, listeners will enjoy all the other things they will spot on the pages. The moon glows softly as the construction site grows silent. The cement mixer cuddles up with a security blanket and I've already mentioned Crane Truck's teddy bear. My favorite, though, is the Dump Truck. He snores contentedly as a man throws open a window in a building across the alley. The man hollers "Hey! Pipe Down!" as the snoring extends through the girders of the construction site. The illustrations are personable and reward a careful viewer.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">At the end of the book, the whole construction site is sleeping peacefully. This is a book I wish I had had at my old library, where I did a monthly pajama storytime. It would have been a soothing mix of big construction noises and quiet, peaceful sleep. Goodnight, goodnight.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site</em>. Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld. Scholastic, 2011.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Reviewed from my personal collection.</span>Susan Murray of the Sullivan Sisters<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am an inveterate reader, and as I've mentioned on this blog before, it often gets me into trouble. I have overdue books that I have to read quickly before returning them. I'm always paying overdue fines. I sometimes (gasp!) let my girls watch movies because I can't stop reading something I really like long enough to play ball outside. So this week I've been racing through a few overdue teen books, including some nonfiction. But I saved <em>Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters</em> for last, and I'm glad I did. I read a review of it in the Sept./Oct. 2010 <em>Horn Book</em> and I had read Standiford's last book, <em>How to Say Goodbye in Robot</em>, earlier this fall, and really liked it. This one was even better.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The story begins at Christmas in the Sullivans' Baltimore home. There are six Sullivan children, and straight off the bat, you can tell this family is a little quirkier than most. All the kids have nicknames - Norrie, Takey, Sassy - that don't seem to hint at their real name. They call their mother by her first name, and call their father Daddy-O. The girls drive around in an old baby blue Mercedes, and each child moves into the coveted tower room before they go off to college. But when they go to their grandmother's house for Christmas dinner, things get a little weirder.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Their grandmother, whom they call Almighty, states that one of the Sullivan children has deeply offended her recently, and if a written confession is not in her hands by New Year's Eve, she will cut them all out of her will. No one is sure which Sullivan child has offended her, but it seems most likely that it is one of the teenage Sullivan sisters. Each of them believes they have done it, and they each write their own confessions. Each of the girls has been very busy that fall, and as their stories unfold, it seems possible that they are the one to offend Almighty.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The confessions are the strength of the book. They begin with Norrie (short for Norris, if you are wondering). Norrie is a senior in high school who signs up for a speed reading class at Johns Hopkins early that fall. It is when she meets a graduate student in her class that Norrie, who has always been responsible and sweet, begins to change. The big event looming over Norrie's fall is her December Cotillion, which is a very fancy party to introduce young ladies to society. Her family, especially Almighty, expects her to go and perform admirably at Cotillion, including having a suitable, society date. But is this what Norrie wants? Is she able to do it for her family? I suspect you know the answer to that question, or we wouldn't be reading Norrie's confession.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Jane and Sassy are Norrie's two younger sisters (but both in high school). They are also in trouble with Almighty this Christmas. Parts of their confessions are interwoven through Norrie's, but each girl has a chance to speak for herself. What's interesting to me about all three girls is that these may not be the kinds of confessions you are expecting. None of the three of them are sleeping around, drinking or taking drugs. They aren't stealing or breaking the law. Indeed, to most of us, they seem like good girls.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">But not to their grandmother, Almighty. Part of the problem is that no one is exactly sure what they've done to make Almighty angry, One of the biggest problems in this book is the gap between the girls' lives and Almighty's expectations. In their own way, each one of the girls is pushing back against Almighty's society rules. None of them really want to go to Cotillion, but feel obligated to do so by Almighty's power and influence in their family. It all comes down to money. Obviously things have changed since Almighty was their age, when girls did not stand up for themselves and what they wanted. And all three of the Sullivans feel they cannot escape her disapproval, even though they want to live their own lives.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I also wanted to mention the town of Baltimore. Standiford's other book, <em>How to Say Goodbye in Robot</em>, is also set in Baltimore. I love the settings in both of these books, and I felt like Baltimore was almost another character in the book. The book is full of Baltimore locations, including shops, streets and of course Johns Hopkins. It is evident that Standiford loves Baltimore, and it really comes through in this book. The book wouldn't have had the same atmosphere set in New York City or even Washington DC.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I will say this about the Sullivan sisters - I couldn't get enough of them. I wanted to hear what happened next to all of them, even if it is just their everyday life. I couldn't bear to say goodbye to them. So when their confessions ended, I was left feeling deflated by the ending of the book. I don't want to spoil it, because I definitely recommend this book. But I just felt the ending didn't have all the thoughtfulness Standiford put into creating the Sullivan family's lives. But I'll still beg her to write more about them, because I loved these girls.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters</em>. Natalie Standiford. Scholastic, 2010.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">borrowed from Lewis & Clark library</span>Susan Murray<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As all the children's literature people in America know, tomorrow is the announcement of the <a href="" target="_blank">American Library Association's</a> Youth Media Awards. It's a magical time for those of us who love children's books. I haven't attended in person for many years, but I usually watch the livestream of the announcements. You can still cheer along with the crowd as the titles are called and authors' lives are changed forever. I've read many accounts of the phone calls authors get early that Monday morning from the committees, telling them they've won, and the stories always bring tears to my eyes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Of course, it would be very difficult for me to choose the book that I think will win these awards, so instead I wanted to honor a clever salute to a Caldecott Honor winner. The Caldecott Honor winner is <em>Madeline</em>, and the book I'd like to bring to your attention is <em>Frankenstein: A Monstrous Parody</em> (written by Ludworst Bemonster). I wish I could remember where I first saw this mentioned this fall, but it made me want to get it. Luckily our public library had it, and I am a little ashamed to admit that we have had it checked out ever since. The girls love it, and keep asking to read it again. It is funny, clever and is a sweet love letter to a classic story.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" oea="true" src="" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oea="true" src="" width="265" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The comparison is evident from the front covers. On the cover of <em>Madeline</em>, Miss Clavel walks towards the Eiffel Tower, trailing behind most of her twelve little charges clutching Madeline's hand. On the cover of <em>Frankenstein</em>, there is a creepy castle instead of the Eiffel Tower and Frankenstein peeking back at the reader. There is a clever seal on the cover as well which cites Frankenstein as a "Caldecott Horror book". And the font for the title and author is the same as well. All of it subtly sets up the reader for the experience they are about to have - familiar and yet a little creepy at the same time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This is subtitled <em>A Monstrous Parody</em>, and it is indeed a perfect parody as it takes the well-known story of <em>Madeline</em> and turns it askew. In this story, the doctor is called by Miss Devel because it is too quiet down in the dungeon. There are twelve different monsters there, including all of the classic horror movie monsters. Besides Frankenstein, there is a skeleton, a werewolf, a mummy, the creature from the black lagoon, and others. But it is Frankenstein who attracts Miss Devel's attention. His head is missing! Frankenstein is trucked off to the laboratory, where he is given a new head, fastened on with those requisite screws. He wreaks havoc, eating the medical staff and the ceiling before Miss Devel and the rest of the group come to visit. And predictably, the night after the visit to the hospital, Miss Devel senses again that something is not right. She rushes to the dungeon door, only to see that every monster has lost their head. It is only in Miss Devel's hilarious response to this situation that the book deviates slightly, but it is great fun.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I think I should pause here to acknowledge that Ludworst Bemonster is a pseudonym for author Rick Walton and illustrator Nathan Hale. Their work is almost flawless and there is just as much enjoyment to be had for adult readers as there is for children who are familiar with <em>Madeline</em>. The rhyming text is almost perfect, and I am impressed with how well they created a story that had to both fit a pre-existing rhyme scheme and pay homage to the familiar plot. And the illustrations! The illustrations, too, pay homage to the original while also acknowledging the classic horror movies of our society. And just like the text, they have a sense of tongue in cheek humor too.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Hale has turned all those classic movie monsters into young children, and as frightening as they might want to be, they are pretty darn cute. On the front cover, Frankenstein turns to peek back at the reader, he does so with an adorable crooked grin that makes me want to scoop him up and kiss him. Miss Devel looks like a hip, steampunk mad scientist as she races down the stairs to her charges. And Dr. Bone wears a dapper suit and enormous voodoo mask with a large bone through its nose. These are the details that make this book so (dare I say it?) charming.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Where Madeline visits the zoo, and shows her bravery by pooh-poohing the tiger, Frankenstein actually frightens the other animals. The illustration shows Miss Devel frantically restraining some of the charges, while the rest run amok. The creature from the black lagoon is diving into the hippopotamus pool, the vampire is astride the ostrich, biting his neck. But the majority of the animals are watching Frankenstein, who stands calmly in the middle of the chaos. When they visit Frankenstein in the laboratory, the monsters arrive in a hilarious motorcycle/open-air carriage combination that really has to be seen. The looks of the drivers around them as Miss Devel steers determinedly are priceless.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This book is worth finding and comparing to <em>Madeline</em>. But it is clever and hilarious in its own right too. Enjoy the Youth Media Awards tomorrow, and find <em>Frankenstein</em>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>Frankenstein: A Monstrous Parody</em>. Ludworst Bemonster. Feiwel and Fiends, 2012. borrowed from Lewis & Clark Public Library</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>Madeline</em>. Ludwig Bemelmans. Scholastic, 1939, 1982. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">personal collection</span>Susan Murray Makes a Mess<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When TOON Books originally asked me to advertise their <em>Maya Makes a Mess</em> contest in July, I asked for a copy of the book to review along with the contest. I mentioned in the <a href="" target="_blank">blog post</a> how much I liked TOON Books, so I selfishly wanted the book for myself. When we got the book in the mail, the girls wanted to read it right away. Gloria ended up loving this book and reading it over and over. In fact, I've had a hard time holding onto it for long enough to get a review written! It's been a huge hit at our house.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="320" src="" width="215" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The book opens with Maya and her parents eating dinner at the table. Her parents are scolding her for eating with her hands (something I am very familiar with!). The scolding continues: "'Sit down!' 'Sit up!'... 'Use a spoon!'. (p.6) Frustrated, Maya asks why she has to follow all these rules. Her father tells her "You <u>need</u> manners! What if you were eating dinner with the QUEEN?!" (p. 7). And then the doorbell promptly rings. Of course, it is the Queen's courtier. Maya is whisked off to court for a dinner party. She does point out htat she has already eaten, but that doesn't matter. When the royal dinner is served, it is made up of all the things a child does NOT like to eat - goose livers, snail salad, spinach juice and broccoli broth. So Maya pulls out her manners to request pasta with ketchup. She pats herself on the back for good manners, and when she isn't sure which fork is the pasta fork, she digs in to the pasta the way she always has. There are slurps, long noodles jammed into Maya's mouth, slipping through her teeth. Suddenly, Maya becomes aware that while she's enjoying herself, everyone in the room is staring at her.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Maya's total lack of manners is at first horrifying to the party guests. The Queen is shocked and disgusted. But when she asks Maya why she eats that way, Maya tells the Queeen that it makes food taste better. This then intrigues the Queen, who decides she (and everyone else at court) should try eating Maya's way. There is a huge free-for-all, with people eating messily, but enjoying every moment of it. And lest you parents worry that your children will want to eat like Maya all the time, the Queen declares that this has been so much fun that they will all eat like this again. But only on holidays. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">In my first blog post on this book, I mentioned that I was a little leery of it. I, along with most parents, work hard to instill good manners and behavior in my daughters. I was afraid that this book would indulge bad manners, messy eating and ignoring the polite way to do things. I was especially afraid when Gloria kept reading it - poring over it again and again in her bed, on the couch, wherever she could find it. I was sure there was going to be a manners revolution in my house.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">But I was so focused on the bad manners that I didn't realize Modan's subtle way of putting those manners into perspective. Maya's bad manners aren't applauded by the Queen at first. As I said previously, the Queen stops the entire dinner party in disgust. But it's the way Maya describes her way of eating that appeals to the Queen. When the Queen asks, repulsed, "...<u>why</u>, for heaven's sake, do you <u>eat</u> that way?" Maya tells her "It makes food taste better." and adds "much better!" (p. 25). It's Maya's total enjoyment that makes the Queen curious. The double page spread that follows is hilarious and gross at the same time. People are cramming lettuce in their mouths with their hands, slurping soup out of a ladle, feeding each other and spilling. But here is the best part - the Queen's dinner party has gone from being a stuffy affair, with too many forks and food no one wants to eat, to a fun party where the guests are relaxed, smiling, and enjoying themselves. That's what Modan is really emphasizing here. There is a time and a place for manners and fun. Maya may have mixed the two up slightly, but she has brought fresh air into the palace. And the Queen is wise enough to mandatethat this sort of fun should only take place on holidays. This isn't an everyday free-for-all - it's reserved only for special occasions.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">For me, one of the best things about this book are the illustrative details. Modan gets the life of a young girl just right. From the very first panel, Maya is a total charming mess. As she leaves on the plane to the palace, she stands on the cabin stairway, waving cheerfully. She wears mismatched socks, scrunched around her feet, with no shoes and unkempt hair. Her parents fruitlessly wave a dress and a toothbrush at Maya while the ambassador mutters "'No time, no time!'" (p. 11). The Queen is much younger than Queen Elizabeth, but does have corgis that follow her every move. And the illustration of her at the wild feast, pouring ketchup into her mouth straight from the bottle, is simply perfect. There is nothing better. Oh, except for the long, loopy strand of spaghetti that meanders along the bottom of all the pages. It begins on the back of the title page, with a pot filled with boiled noodles. And it ends, on the last page, in a final perfectly fitting detail. Just perfect.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">You may also remember from my blog post that I love how TOON Books has created these titles for easy readers. This book lists its reading level as Grades 1-2, and I would say for the most part that is exactly right. Many words are repeated throughout so if a child doesn't know it the first time they encounter it, they'll have plenty of opportunities to review it. The only place I thought an emerging reader might have trouble was with the food labels at the dinner party. I don't know many first graders who would recognize the words broth, livers or souffle, but that could just be nitpicking on my part. Otherwise this book is easy for a child to pick up and get great enjoyment from.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The visual literacy aspect is also strong. There are at the most six panels per page. Modan is careful to indicate movement from panel to panel, so the new reader can easily decode which panel they should look at next. And text and illustrations work together harmoniously. Maya is very expressive, and Modan includes lots of emphasis in the text through bold fonts and italics. It's easy to see how the text should be read. All in all, Maya is a fun book to share with young readers. It might make them not just a voracious reader, but a polite eater too.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>Maya Makes a Mess</em>. Rutu Modan. TOON Books, 2012.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">sent by publisher for review</span>Susan Murray Library<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've written here before about our visits to the local public library. While I check out picture books and nonfiction that appeal to me, Frances and Gloria also check out books, puppets, book & CD kits, and DVD's that they select themselves. Frequently, Gloria selects the same board books over and over again, even at four years old. And sometimes their selection is one we read dutifully and ship right back to the library. But every once in a while, one of their selections really surprises me. For instance, Gloria's choice of <a href="" target="_blank"><em>It's a Little Book</em></a><em> </em>was a happy find. I also wrote about her choice of <em>Ooh La La Polka Dot Boots</em> <a href="" target="_blank">here</a>. When Gloria chose <em>Our Library</em> a few weeks ago, I thought it would be a sweet read, considering how much we love the library. I had no idea how impactful this book would be for me personally.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" eea="true" src="" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This book begins with Miss Goose, the librarian, telling a group of young animals that the library is going to close. The animals can't believe it, and when they ask why, Miss Goose tells them that the building is too old and need a new roof. The group of animal children thinks hard, checks out books on making a new roof, roll up their sleeves, and get to work. But then Miss Goose tells them that the library needs money. And the group does the same thing - check out a book. Then "we read by day, and we read by night." (p. 9). They find a way to earn money. Then the library must be moved to a new location. But instead of throwing up their hands (paws?) and giving up, the animals check out a book and figure out how to get the job done. Their final hurdle is a substantial one, but these library lovers can tackle that, too. And when they are finished, the library is a richer place - not only for their efforts, but for their love and belief in the library.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Eve Bunting shows library advocacy at its most primal in this story. Not only does this book show young readers a group of their peers working for something they believe in, but she also shows them working together for a common goal. These library lovers want their library to survive, and as young as they are, they are willing to learn any skill to save it. I also love that a huge part of their advocacy plan includes learning these skills at the library itself. They quite literally would not be able to achieve this goal without the library. In a way, the library saves itself through its information.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">It goes without saying that I am a library lover. Ever since I was old enough to sign my name on the paper card, I have been a prolific library user. I have always seen libraries as a place of refuge, information, and kindred spirits. I grew up using a small county library in San Diego, where the librarians all knew me, and saved the children's discards for my own personal collection (I still have a few!). Once I became a librarian, I moved from community to community precisely to provide services to children and teens. It has always been a job I loved, a job where I felt I could make a difference, a job where I could change lives. My final children's librarian job was in Glendale, Arizona, as the Youth and Teen Services Coordinator at the Glendale Public Library. I worked there for five years. At that time, it was an amazing system, with a huge emphasis on welcoming the patrons who will impact services in an ongoing way - young people. Glendale was a place I was proud to work for, with incredibly talented, enthusiastic librarians in every department in every branch.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">You may have heard stories of what has been happening in the Glendale libraries, but it is nauseating and dizzying. Even before I left Glendale, as the economy spiraled downward, services were being cut left and right. I should say that this blog post is, of course, my own interpretation of these events, but it has also been reported by the media. Look at articles from this past year <a href="" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="" target="_blank">here</a>. Cuts continued to happen as the City Council took money from every possible part of the budget to support the sports complex that had built right before the recession hit. Then the real shock - it was announced that the libraries might lose hours, materials, programming, librarians and possibly even close buildings to help make up an enormous budget shortfall. This happened to other departments within the city of Glendale as well, but what was most important to me were the libraries.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">But something happened in Glendale. There had always been a very vibrant teen volunteer group in our libraries. In fact, as services, hours and staff had been cut, our teen volunteers had done more and more work to help continue to provide quality services to patrons. And when the news hit that their library would be dreadfully impacted, these teenagers (none older than 18 when this began) stood up and said they would not let this happen. They formed a group - called <a href="" target="_blank">Save the Glendale Public Libraries </a>and they bounded into action. These teens were patrons I knew very well - they used the library on an almost daily basis. Some of them even want to become librarians themselves. They intuitively knew library advocacy, and started attending the City Council meetings, speaking eloquently in protest of the cuts. They handed out flyers in front of the libraries and informed Glendale citizens of the service cuts and how this would impact their lives. Of course, these cuts didn't just affect children's and teen services. They affected job seekers, information retrieval, patrons who rely on the library for medical research, the latest news or even air conditioning when there is no respite. These teenagers spoke up. I have quite possibly never been as proud as I was of these teens.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">And they turned the tide of the discussion. Voters came out and voted against the proposed cuts. But sadly, just because these teenagers won the battle doesn't mean they won the war. The libraries continue to operate on very tight budgets, and the librarians feel so uncertain that they are leaving and not being replaced. All of their skills, enthusiasm and ideas cannot be replaced.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">But this is a story about library advocacy. I haven't even talked about the sweet illustrations and the perfect ending in the book, because in reality it doesn't always work that way. It's why I believe a book like this is so crucial in communities. A library is a privilege, not a right. It is an incredible gift, and it should always be treated that way. Celebrate your library. Go in and say thank you and articulate how important it is to you. Go in and say what you think should be changed, too - that is also part of library advocacy. But stand up for your library before it stands empty because no one fought for it. I am so grateful that Gloria brought this book home.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>Our Library</em>. Eve Bunting; illustrated by Maggie Smith. Clarion Books, 2008.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">borrowed from Lewis & Clark Library</span>Susan Murray the Brave<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I remember the exact moment I was first introduced to Alice. I was commuting from library school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to work in Williamsburg, Virginia, on the weekends. It was my last semester of graduate school, and in order to maximize my time, I tried to listen to as many audiobooks as possible to fulfill my children's literature requirements. I had always loved children's books, and I had been preparing to become a children's librarian. But listening to Alice's worries and fears in <em>Alice the Brave</em> made me connect with the book in a way I had never previously connected with children's literature. I heard one particular conversation between Alice and her father, and it resonated with me. In this last semester, I was struggling with relationships, and something that was said felt unbearably wise. This really formed part of my overall theory of children's literature, which is that children's literature can speak to anyone, regardless of age. It also helped me form an ongoing relationship with Alice herself, which I have blogged about <a href="" target="_blank">here</a>. This is the book, for me, that started it all.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="200" src="" width="134" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Interestingly, I had not ever actually read <em>Alice the Brave</em></span>, <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">only listened to it. And although it was such a formative book for me, I'd never actually re-read it after that first time. So getting ready to read it again, I had to take a deep breath and see if I could re-discover what had made it so impressive for me in the first place. And I did. I'll quote it later. But suffice to say the advice is just as wise today as it was then.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">In this book in the series, Alice and her friends are getting ready to start eighth grade. Alice is part of a close group of friends, both boys and girls, and they have spent the summer primarily at one of the group's family pool. Every time they go to the pool, Alice grows increasingly anxious. She is hiding a big secret - she's afraid of swimming in the deep end, and she has been hiding this secret from everyone she knows, including her family. Even worse, the boys in the group have begun sneaking up on the girls and dumping them into the pool. And Alice is sure her turn is next.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Even though this is a fear Alice hasn't previously disclosed to readers before, there are themes that have continued throughout the whole series. One of those themes is growing up. Alice has two best friends - Elizabeth and Pamela. Pamela is always a little ahead of Alice in relationships and life. She knows how the social scene will be in each grade and what they should all do to be popular, including whether or not they should have boyfriends. And Elizabeth is the exact opposite. She is very embarrassed about anything having to do with sex or boys. Elizabeth's mother is pregnant, and Elizabeth cannot even stand to think about how that happened. Alice is squarely in the middle - she has an on-again, off-again boyfriend, Patrick. Even when they are "off" they are best friends and continue to confide in each other and spend time together. But Alice is nowhere near as sophisticated as Pamela either. She tends to follow Pamela's lead (which has gotten her into situations she isn't ready for in other books), even when she isn't sure of what might happen.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">During this book Alice and Patrick are back together. Even considering how close they are, Alice has not told Patrick about her fear of the water. He has been gone much of the summer, so it is easy to conceal. But it is almost too much to explain, especially when he asks her to join the swim team with him as a fun school activity that fall. She thinks Patrick won't understand her fear, that he will not want to be seen with her because of her inability to swim. When the whole incident finally comes to a head, Patrick is not there. So Alice has to risk rejection and explain her anxiety to him. Unsurprisingly, Patrick supports Alice and encourages her, telling her they will just have to find something else to do together if they can't join the swim team.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">One of the other ongoing themes in these novels is Alice's sense of family. Alice's mother died years ago, before Alice can even remember. But she acutely misses the idea of her mother. Especially as she grapples with growing up, Alice wonders how having a mother in her life would have changed her: "I went up to my room and wondered if it was times like this a mom would come in and sit beside you. Put an arm around you and, no matter how you were feeling, say she'd felt like that once when she was your age." (p. 75) Alice, no matter how she feels about her mother, does have a great amount of support from her father and her brother Lester, who is 21. When Alice confides in Lester that she is afraid to swim in the deep end, Lester comes through for her. He takes her to a friend's pool, where no one else will see them. Lester works with Alice, giving her confidence little by little. It is a sweet moment, and while Lester is a lot older than Alice, he understands her worries, and helps her solve them without giving her all the answers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Alice, very wisely, eventually realizes that her anxiety about swimming is hurting all of her summer, not just the time she spends at the pool. After all, what seems fairly simple affects everything she does on a daily basis. She observes "If parents knew everything that goes on in their kids' heads, they'd be really surprised, I think. Dad had no idea that I always said 'love you' before I went to Mark's pool so that if that turned out to be the day I sank to the bottom the last thing I would have said to my father was 'love you'" (p. 79). This anxiety and panic really has her in its grip. Again, this is a feeling even adults can relate to, especially the way Alice articulates what she is feeling. She realizes that "There was plenty I could do about mine [my situation], but I was too afraid to try. " (p. 90). She has to, finally, work up the courage to take her fear and face it squarely, and she does.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Alice is, of course, triumphant. But this is not the only worry Alice has in this novel. Alice's father has been dating Alice's sixth grade teacher, Miss Summers. Alice is convinced that her father will ask Miss Summers to marry him. Then it doesn't happen, which leads Alice to start asking questions about the adult relationships around her. She asks her father about why he married her mother, hoping to get an idea about what he is looking for. What he tells her at first - that he might have been happy with someone else besides her mother - scares her. But he goes on to explain "Why did I marry her? Because I knew that she was a woman I could love - that I did love...I had committed to the marriage, Al. That's what makes the difference." (p. 123). This next quote, although long, is what really resonated with me when I read this book the first time. Incredibly, it is just as meaningful to me now. "And suddenly my warm fuzzy feeling was back again, my armor for the first days of eighth grade, and all the other firsts in my life...It was the feeling...if any of the other hundred and one awful possibilities that lurked around the corner <em>were</em> to happen, I would take it....Because I had guts....Alice the Brave, that was me." (p. 123-4). And she IS Alice the Brave. It is a victorious ending for a wonderful, strong character. I love her just as much today. Who could ask for anything more?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>Alice the Brave</em>. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Aladdin Paperbacks, 1995, 1996.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">from my personal collection</span>Susan Murray at Lincoln<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have been reading books for the Cybils like crazy for the last few weeks, and have found some real gems that I can't wait to share with you. Here's the first of the nonfiction picture books that I would like you to track down and read. With the movie out about his life and presidency, Abraham Lincoln is a popular president again. While this book was probably not written to take advantage of the movie's buzz, it will certainly be looked at with interest because of its subject matter. And my hope is that it is read again and again, because of how well it has been created.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="320" src="" width="263" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The narrator of this book begins by telling the readers that she saw a man while walking in the park. He attracted her attention with his unusual height. He reminded her of someone, but until she finished eating breakfast, she couldn't think who it might be. When they paid, she realized that he looked like the man on the $5 bill - Abraham Lincoln.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Like my own fondest hope for readers, this chance meeting spurs the narrator on to more research. She goes to the library to learn more about Abraham Lincoln's life, but she finds that she can't tear herself away from his face. The narrator recites facts about Lincoln's life and death, inserting her own ponderings, opinions and questions as she goes. By the end of the story, after the narrator (is it Kalman herself, who is an avowed Lincoln aficionado?) has learned about Lincoln's death, the reader has gotten a much fuller appreciation of his humanity as well as Abraham Lincoln's greatness.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">There are some things that I find really fascinating about this book. First of all, I love the narrator's emphasis on curiosity and research. She sees the man who reminds her of Lincoln, and that is what sends her directly to the library. She tells readers "Abraham Lincoln was such an amazing man that there are over 16,000 books written about him. I wanted to read them all, but I got lost in photos of his unusual face." The illustration on the facing page shows the narrator, poring over a large portrait of Lincoln. The library is filled with people reading (and one guy sleeping on a book) and learning. It is exactly what librarians hope all readers will do - become enthusiastic about a subject and keep researching and learning.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">And while the narrator claims to not be able to read about Lincoln because she is so fixated on his face, the facts she learns and shares form the majority of the book. Another thing that is very unusual about this book is the way Kalman combines facts and fiction in a clear way. She doesn't have to delineate the difference between them - she lets the fonts do it for her. Facts are done in a more typewriterly font, resembling print in a book. Then her opinions or questions about Lincoln are written in a handwriting font. Her questions are fun to read: "I wonder if Mary and Abraham had nicknames for each other." She calls Lincoln's face unusual, calls his wife short and says that his stepmother wasn't as stern as she looks. It brings a light tone to this historical subject and also gives a childlike feel to the book.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Kalman has a very modern illustrative style, and I was very curious about how her style would translate to a historical subject. But it actually works very well. She combines very realistic depictions of the family with other more modern objects or colors. For instance, in a portrait of the Lincoln family, every person looks fairly recognizable, with all of them dressed historically accurately. But some of the children are colored green, which is not as distracting as it sounds. I think her chosen style for this book combines modern with historical, much as Kalman does with the text. It's a well-done book and I recommend it for Lincoln lovers and newcomers alike.<;"><em>Looking at Lincoln</em>. Maira Kalman. Nancy Paulsen Books: Penguin for Young Readers, 2012.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Susan Murray One and Only May Amelia<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As you can imagine, I have a pretty large collection of children's literature. I tend to collect books and authors I really love and hold onto them. But three years ago, my family began a pattern of moving once a year, and I had to start giving away books "to better homes". But I held onto the book <i>Our Only May Amelia</i>. But as time went on, the story became more hazy, and I became less sure of its value in my collection. When the sequel, <i>The Trouble with May Amelia</i>, came out last year, I decided to reread the first one as well, in order to decide if it should stay or go. After reading both books together, I am keeping the first one in my collection. I will look at both of these books as an ongoing story and as historical fiction.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rea="true" src="" width="133" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Our Only May Amelia</i> was published in 1999, and won a Newbery Honor for that year. The action takes place in 1899, on the Nasel River, in the state of Washington. It is written from May Amelia Jackson's perspective, and she is a spark plug. She introduces her brother Wilbert on the very first page, giving an indication of her personality as much as his. He is her "favorite brother which is something indeed since I have so many brothers, more than any girl should have." (p.1). She has seven brothers. May Amelia is the youngest, but has never been looked at as the baby of the family. She is twelve years old, but does just as much farm work as her older brothers. But she is also always in trouble - she doesn't always think before she acts, she is curious and wants to explore. Her father declares "We're living in wilderness, May Amelia , and you girl have got a Nose for Trouble.". (p. 134). May Amelia talks back when she believes she is right, and like the rest of the Jackson family, she is stubborn.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Life in 1899 rural Washington state isn't easy. You have to be tough and creative to survive. Each member of the family is cognizant of the need to survive financially. The boys, all in their teens, find work when and where they can, including at the logging camp upriver. But they are also part of a immigrant Finn community, and they are highly involved with also helping the entire community survive. May Amelia's mother is heavily, uncomfortably pregnant, but besides caring for her own family, she delivers all the community's</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> babies. When an aunt cannot afford to take her son with the rest of her family as they move looking for work, Kaarlo is adopted into the Jackson family. He is counted as one of the brothers.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While their</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> life has moments of fun and hilarity, their strength is really shown through their enduring struggle to survive. It can be unrelenting, but this family shoulders their burden and continues forward. They value education and send the younger children to school, but if they are needed at home, there is no protest. And Holm shows all of life on the Nasel River, the good and the truly terrible. One of the most excruciating episodes has to do with Grandmother Patience. Grandmother Patience has moved in with the Jackson family, and she is cruel, crotchety and outspoken. She does not approve of May Amelia and the way she has been raised. One terrifying episode happens with Grandmother Patience sends May Amelia back repeatedly for the correct cup of tea. </span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> "She [Grandmother Patience] bangs the floor with her cane. But I've had all I can take.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">There isn't any more honey you Greedy Old Witch! I shout.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">She stands up to her full height and shakes her cane at me. She is big, bigger than I thought and she is full of fury. Her mouth is twisted in an evil snarl.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">How dare you defy me, you little brat, she says. Go and make me a Cup of Tea." (p. 104)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This woman is truly a villain. Yet May Amelia finds ways to stay true to herself. There is an awful consequence to the incident I quoted above, but that isn't the worst of Grandmother Patience's behavior. And it isn't the worst of what May Amelia will face in this book. But like the rest of her family, May Amelia knows that life must go on and move forward. And she does as well.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">There is an author's note at the end of this novel describing where Holm got the idea for this novel. It came from the journal of her grandaunt, Alice Amelia Holm. Jennifer Holm did a lot of research to supplement family stories, and it is written so beautifully that the research doesn't show. The chapters are illustrated with photographs (some of which are from the author's own collection). The sepia tones of the pages and the historical photographs add to the authenticity of this novel.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rea="true" src="" width="131" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /><em>The Trouble with May Amelia </em>was published in 2011, and it is billed as the sequel to <em>Our Only May Amelia</em>. However, when I got around to reading it, I read it first, without rereading <em>Our Only May Amelia</em> and it does stand very well on its own. The action in this novel takes place about six months after the last novel has concluded. While Holm spends some time re-introducing the Jackson family and their life on the Nasel River, it doesn't feel awkward or forced. Grandmother Patience, who caused so much strife in the first novel, has died, and in one last stroke of cruelty has left her money to one of May Amelia's uncles, even though her family cared for Grandmother Patience selflessly. Money is still an issue, and in this book it is a real focus. Holm also writes about the issues surrounding immigration in this era. A man comes to meet with May Amelia's father, to talk with him about investing in making Nasel a real town with more business, a developed port and increased financial gain for those people willing to become stakeholders. Her father only speaks Finn, and asks May Amelia to do all the translating for him, both verbally and translating the documents he must sign. May Amelia sees this as a pivotal moment in their relationship - that her father finally sees her as truly ready to contribute to her family. So after May Amelia translates everything, her father decides to take a risk and mortgage the family farm to invest. Others in the community who also do not speak English fluently base their decisions to invest on the Jacksons' risk. This is a close-knit community. It is fairly isolated, and even the children who go to school will not speak English. They rely on each other and go out of the community very infrequently. And family members continue to immigrate from Finland, making this group even more prone to rely on each other.<br /><br />Unfortunately the insularity of this community comes back to haunt them in the end. It ends up that the man who has convinced the town to invest is a con man. Families up and down the river blame their unimaginable loss on the Jackson family's decision. And in an unforgivable turn of events, May Amelia's father blames the con on her. He believes she should have understood better, should have translated more clearly. The family is powerless in the face of his anger and helpless when confronted with his stubborn refusal to see reality. He is stunningly cruel to his only daughter.<br /><br />Much like the events of the first novel, these events show quite a bit about this family's resiliency, their spirit and strength. This novel is based on events from Holm's great-grandfather's life, and sadly, these events are true. Holm writes about this with compassion and a historian's eye for details of the family's despair. And yet from the truly terrible springs hope and innovation. This family creates a new venture that will bring prosperity.<br />I did say earlier that these novels could be read alone. The events of the second book are affected by the events of the first, but Holm gives the broad strokes of the Jackson family history in a very natural way in the second book. But when you read these books together, you begin to see a more complete story. In <em>Our Only May Amelia</em>, Holm focuses primarily on family events. She does introduce some neighbors and community members, the book examines each of the family members closely. Readers get to know each one of them - their personalities, their stubbornness, and how May Amelia feels about each one of them. In the second book, Holm is looking at this family within their community. As I mentioned, she looks at the immigrant community and how they operate as a unit. Readers still spend time within the family, but they get to know more of the neighbors, the hope a potential new town brings to Nasel, and the devastation left when this hope disappears.<br /><br />One of the things I believe works best about this pair of novels is the way Holm crafts her historical fiction. She creates May Amelia as a lively character, one who is easily relatable to readers and is full of spunk. She is very much a girl of 1899, but she bucks against tradition and expectations. There is a family secret that May Amelia isn't privy to at first, although she can sense something isn't being said. When her brothers finally come out with the secret, the explanation is "You're a girl, May, he says. We didn't want to scare you.<br />Nothing scares me, I say. " (<em>Trouble</em>, p. 75) In her overalls, she is constantly being called a boy and indignantly correcting people: "I ain't no boy!" (<em>Trouble</em>, p. 49). Yet Holm also fills these novels full of the information that gives readers a feeling of the time period. Some of the events take place in and around a logging camp, a dangerous place for all of them. But the money is good, and all of May Amelia's brothers long to work in the camp. There are also scenes in the fish cannery in nearby Astoria that highlight both the terrible status of immigrants and the workforce in such grueling, low-paying jobs.<br /><br />I could go on and talk about work in these novels, or education, but you get the idea. These novels are rich in family and period detail, but their episodic nature and May Amelia's strong, sympathetic character will keep readers enthralled. One of the other things that I noticed throughout both books was Holm's beautiful, original way of describing things. She describes objects using easily digested language that brings pictures to the reader's mind. From <em>Our Only May Amelia</em>, she writes "the Nasel is as calm and smooth as the inside of a clam's shell." (p. 24). And in <em>The Trouble with May Amelia</em>, Holm describes May Amelia's mother's interaction with a younger cousin: "Mamma spends hours braiding and brushing Helmi's hair until it gleams like fresh milk." (p. 81). She brings these ideas to life by using pictures that transcend the historical time period, making them appropriate both to May Amelia and the reader.<br /><br />These books are compelling, whether read together or separately. I recommend you find them and acquaint yourself with May Amelia. She's a keeper.<br /><br /><em>Our Only May Amelia</em>. Jennifer L. Holm. HarperCollins, 1999.<br /><em>The Trouble with May Amelia</em>. Jennifer L. Holm, illustrated by Adam Gustavson, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2011.<br /><br />both borrowed from Lewis and Clark Library</span>Susan Murray in the Field, part two<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In 2011, I wrote a <a href="" target="_blank">post</a> on two books in the Scientists in the Field series. I am a huge advocate for this series - I have raved about it to multiple people and at conferences ever since I first discovered it. But I haven't written about other books in the series, even though I have continued to explore the series ever since. I haven't written about them because I haven't found ones that were different from the series formula I had already discussed. That doesn't mean this is a bad formula. On the contrary, this is an well-constructed, well-thought-out formula. All I can wish is that every middle school science classroom had the complete set on their shelves to inspire young scientists. They show fascinating careers and scientists of all ages and cultures who are passionate about what they do. Most importantly, they talk about the world around us in interesting ways without trivializing the science involved. The scientists profiled and the authors who create the books take the science seriously and take the time and effort to create something readable but also informative. However, I've read two contributions to the series lately that I believe should be recommended, and I want to talk about those here.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" qea="true" src="" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>The Elephant Scientist</em> won a Nonfiction Honor from the Horn Book magazine this year, and it is well deserved. One of the interesting things about this book is that the scientist herself is one of the authors of the book. Caitlin O'Connell has also taken many of the photographs of her research and field station that are featured in this book. O'Connell has been studying elephant communication in Namibia, in Southern Africa. She has been observing elephant behavior with a research team in hopes of deciphering the elephants' calls as well as how they are able to detect noises through vibrations in the ground. Some of what she is researching has a very practical aspect - farmers in Namibia are frustrated because there is no way to keep elephants out of their farms, where they destroy crops both by eating them and trampling them. O'Connell believes that elephants' calls may hold the key to protecting the farmers' crops in a non-threatening, inexpensive way. She has been studying elephants and their behavior for quite some time, and she and Donna M. Jackson (the co-author for this title) find ways to include this incredible knowledge about elephants along with her research and methodology. Her group creates an incredible field station, and Jackson and O'Connell describe how this field station must function in order to produce credible research, but at the same time, it must not attract negative attention from the animals they are researching. O'Connell and Jackson also discuss elephant behaviors in this book. One of the sections discusses male elephants (bulls) and their social structure. While we tend to think of bulls as aggressive, they also have affiliative (bonding) behaviors and comfort behavior. The older bull elephants help raise and guide the younger elephants, just as in the female herds. O'Connell's love and fascination for these animals shines through on every page. It gives this volume an almost unparalleled intimacy.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" qea="true" src="" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">In the other volume of this series that I have been thinking about lately, Sneed B. Collard III goes to a reconstructed prairie in Iowa. I just met Collard at the Montana State Reading Conference a couple of weeks ago. At that time, I had this book to re-read and review on the blog, and it was hard not to mention it to him. The grassland that was created in Iowa was the dream of Congressman Neal Smith, who believed that children should be able to see a prairie in their own state, something Iowa had very little of at that time (in the 1980's). They created the prairie meticulously. It was a true community effort - there are photographs here of local people helping to sow native grasses and dancing those seeds into the ground. One of the most unique things about this book is its community - Collard doesn't just profile one scientist in this volume - instead, he emphasizes how many people maintain responsibility for this delicate ecosystem. There is Pauline Drobney, the National Wildlife Refuge's biologist who carefully monitors the plants and native grasses of the prairie. There is Dr. Diane Debinski, who searches for one specific butterfly (the Regal Fritillary) on the prairie. There are the managers who keep the prairie's bison herds healthy, the volunteers who collect and provide seed... this is an ecosystem, and Collard looks at all its working parts in a very compelling way. This story is one man's dream, but it is the community responsibility, and it brings science to life in a different way than some of the other books in the series.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">One of the things that I love most about this series (and if you know me, this is no surprise) is its backmatter. I believe strongly that students must be able to read a nonfiction title and springboard to additional resources on that subject or related subjects. I love the bibliographies in these books. They respect the reader - giving the reader plenty of opportunities to move past this particular volume. And both books offer readers a diversity of materials - adult books, books written for young readers, web sites and Internet resources, and in <em>The Elephant Scientist</em>, DVD's too. There are glossaries, indexes and maps to help readers visualize the subject they are learning about.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">One of the other things I like most about this series is its design. The creators of the series are very cognizant of making these books interesting to look at. The authors and editors present information in multiple ways to readers. There are sidebars, text boxes and extensive photo captions to pique readers' interest along with the ongoing narrative. All books in the series are true, contemporary research projects, and as such, are illustrated primarily with rich, vivid photographs. This choice also brings readers directly into the scientific environment. These are high-quality books about terrific subjects. I cannot recommend these books highly enough.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>The Elephant Scientist</em>. Caitlin O'Connell and Donna M. Jackson; photographs by Caitlin O'Connell and Timothy Rodwell. Houghton Mifflin, 2011.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>The Prairie Builders: Reconstructing America's Lost Grasslands</em>. Written and photographed by Sneed B. Collard III, Houghton Mifflin, 2005.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>The Elephant Scientist</em> was loaned to me by a friend; <em>The Prairie Builders</em> was borrowed from the Lewis & Clark Library</span>Susan Murray Book 10 for 10<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">About two months ago, I asked to participate in the Third Annual Picture Book 10 for 10 <a href="" target="_blank">event</a> and was happily accepted. I had gotten as far as pulling my list together, getting ready to write the post for August 10th when I got sick. Really sick. Kidney stone misery. And I passed the 10th in a haze which left me unable to write or even speak coherently. So I set the list to one side and tried not to think about it again. Except I kept coming back to that list of my top 10 picture books and I was pretty proud of it. I wanted to share it. So with my apologies for the very late entry to <a href="" target="_blank">Mandy</a> and <a href="" target="_blank">Cathy</a>, here is my list. It's mostly my favorites, but I included a couple recent favorites of Frances and Gloria, too. Some of these are ones I've already blogged. Some of them I will describe here for the first time. I'm going to count down to number one, just for the thrill of it.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" oea="true" src="" width="156" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">10. <em>My Little Sister Ate One Hare</em> - Bill Grossman; illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. Have you ever read this book? If not, here is a sample: "My little sister ate 3 ants, she even ate their underpants. She ate 2 snakes. She ate 1 hare. We thought she'd throw up then and there. But she didn't." Hilarious. Gross. It's a counting book with a touch of sibling pride - the unseen sibling cannot believe all the things the sister digests...and then what she doesn't. While the clever rhymes and gross eating are terrific (I can recite parts from memory!), Hawkes' illustrations are brilliant too. Set as a stage show, the sister sits above the stage lights. Children gape at her from the audience - amazed, horrified, transfixed - much as we might think of watching the tattooed woman in a sideshow. Rich vivid colors add to the overall craziness. I used to love to read this one at storytime, and listeners loved it too.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">9. <em>The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred</em> - Samantha R. Vamos, illustrated by Rafael Lopez. My original review is<a href="" target="_blank"> here</a>. I have blogged about this book before, so you can go there and read my gushing about it. Last week I presented at the <a href="" target="_blank">Montana State Reading Conference</a> and this was one of the books that I brought with me to share. It just reminded me how much I love this one. I love the story, created around "The House that Jack Built" but with rice pudding. I love the sun-drenched colors and the creative combination of the nursery rhyme with Hispanic culture. Samantha Vamos, do you have anything new coming out soon that I can gush about?</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" oea="true" src="" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">8. <em>I Stink!</em> - Kate & Jim McMullan. This is very definitely a Frances and Gloria favorite. I've always liked it fine, but trucks aren't my favorite thing. Then the girls checked this out of the library (along with the stellar Weston Woods/Scholastic video) and away we went. They love the trashy alphabet (including dirty diapers, puppy poo and ugly underpants). Gloria likes to watch our garbage truck, which comes to our complex around the time we leave on Wednesday mornings, and recite parts of the book. We bought a board book copy for a young friend this summer, and it is definitely too long to read to a one year old. But the garbage truck's brash personality and matter of fact work habits have become endearing to me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">7. <em>Press Here!</em> - Herve Tullet. This is a book I <a href="" target="_blank">blogged</a> about last winter, and we have looked at it again many times since then. It truly is a magic book - the way Tullet gets engagement from the listeners is genius. I can't believe how quickly Frances and Gloria will leap to do what the text instructs them. The bright, primary colors set against the white page are striking, too. It combines for an impactful book. But it's fun, too. We love this one!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">6. <em>The Gentleman Bug</em> - Julian Hector. <a href="" target="_blank">Another book</a> that I need my own copy of (along with <em>Cazuela</em>). I talked about this book at my presentation last week and I hope people continue to love this one. The Gentleman Bug is perfectly fine with who he is until a new Lady Bug comes in to his garden, making him believe he needs to become someone else to impress her. There are several things that resonate with me about this story. I love the message that the Gentleman Bug is loved most when he is himself, not trying to be someone else. I love the connection to reading and literacy. And I love the intriguing world of bugs Hector has created.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" oea="true" src="" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">5. <em>Good Night, Gorilla</em> - Peggy Rathmann. I can't believe I've never written about this book before as it is one of my very favorites. I have loved this sweet bedtime story about a zoo for a long time. Then I saw the Weston Woods/Scholastic video and saw some details I had been missing in the story. I couldn't believe a movie had added to my understanding of this story. First of all, I love reading this story aloud. It's a perfect example of how to read a wordless book aloud. I love when the zookeeper's wife sleepily says good night, expecting one good night, and ends up with her eyes popping open in surprise at all the animals in her house. I love all the small details in this book - the colored keys that match the locks on the cages, the Babar and Ernie dolls, that mischievous gorilla. This is one of those perfect books, and multiple readings don't make the jokes any less effective.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" oea="true" src="" width="177" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">4. <em>Pete's a Pizza</em> - William Steig. This is one of Gloria's favorite books. I love the ingenuity of the fun game the family plays. If you don't know this one, it is a stormy day and Pete had plans to go to play outside with his friends. In an effort to cheer him up, his parents start to make him into a pizza. They roll him around on the table, "stretching him this way and that". They cover him with pretend cheese, tomatoes and pepperoni. His parents try to cook him, and when they are ready to eat... the whole book is funny and comforting at the same time. Both of my girls think this book is hilarious, and I love how free the parents feel to play with their son. I like the simplicity of the story and how Pete's mood changes long before the weather outside.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">3. <em>Dinosaur's Binkit</em> - Sandra Boynton. I first met this book when I babysat for a family on Nantucket with a toddler son. He loved this book, and soon so did I. It isn't uproarious, totally silly humor, like many of Boynton's books. The rhyming text is soothing and sing-song..."Dinosaur, O Dinosaur, you fuss and fret and yawn. It's time to brush your dino teeth and put your p.j.'s on." But the dinosaur who is being soothed to sleep will have none of it: "I NEED MY BINKIT." He is insistent, the motherly voice persistent. Then the binkit is found, in time for the dinosaur to curl up and go to sleep. This story has flaps, textures and things to touch, which adds to the youngest reader's enjoyment. I continue to give this book as a baby present. Our copies (and yes, we have multiple copies) are tattered, but we still read them (and I can recite this from memory at the drop of a hat).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">2. The <em>Frances</em> books - Russell Hoban, illustrated by Garth Williams, Lillian Hoban. I am probably cheating by including all of these <a href="" target="_blank">picture books</a> here, but I can't help it. As you know, these books are near and dear to my heart. After all, I even nicknamed my girls after those stories. And I can't even say I have one particular favorite. I love <em>Bedtime for Frances</em> with the father threatening Frances to get her to go to bed, clearly at the end of his rope. I love <em>A Bargain for Frances</em>, with that coveted blue china tea set. I love <em>Best Friends for Frances</em>, with the amazing picnic their mother packs for Frances and Gloria. These books with their gentle lessons never go out of style. In fact, they are necessary reading at our house again right now for some reminders of how to behave. Another set of books I talked about last week in my presentation.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">1. I'm sure you have been holding your breath, waiting to see my number one book...and here it is. <em>Goodnight Moon</em> - Margaret Wise Brown </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" oea="true" src="" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is another book I am surprised I have never mentioned on my blog before. I have a deep, abiding love for Margaret Wise Brown. I love her books and <em>Goodnight Moon</em> is my favorite of all. At my last children's library, I read this at the end of every pajama storytime, with my voice getting softer with every page. I read this to Frances every night while I was pregnant with Gloria, and Gloria still can be soothed by this book at four years old. It is a magical, cozy tale, with the perspective getting more and more focused as the objects become more and more abstract. This is the perfect good night book, and my perfect number one. Goodnight noises everywhere.</span></div>Susan Murray Panelist<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am so excited to post here that I will be a Cybils panelist for the <a href="" target="_blank">Nonfiction Picture Book</a> award again this year. If you don't know about the <a href="" target="_blank">Cybils</a>, it is a group of awards for multiple types of books, given to the books that best combine literary merit and kid appeal. The panelists and judges for this awards are children's and young adult book bloggers. This group has a ton of expertise and a ton of enthusiasm. It is fun to read for all of these awards, but as you can guess, I have a special spot in my heart for Nonfiction Picture Books. While I liked them before last fall, I really fell in love with them over the course of my reading. I read more than <u>seventy</u> books last year, and can't wait to read more!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">If you are wondering about this procedure, it goes like this: between October 1st and October 15th, you can nominate books to be considered. Rules are available at the <a href="" target="_blank">Cybils </a>website as the nomination period is opened. Then the first round panelists (of which I am one), begin reading. We read everything that is nominated, folks! Then beginning around Christmas, we begin debating. The panelists look at books and discuss them together, trying to narrow the books down to a shortlist. The shortlist is passed on to the second round judges, who come up with a final winner in each category by Valentine's Day.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">It is an incredibly fulfilling process for me, and I cannot wait to get started again. You will be seeing reviews of some of the books I love as the fall goes on (last year I reviewed books <a href="" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="" target="_blank">here</a>, among others). I will use the same post labels as I did last year - Cybils and Non-fiction picture books - if you are interested in looking at all of the related posts. I hope you'll enjoy this as much as I will!</span>Susan Murray <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I used to be the head of the Weezie Library for Children on the island of Nantucket. It was a wonderful time in my life, in some ways very like a story. I was very lucky to meet a family early on in my time there who became my second family. I babysat for their children, shared adventures with them, spent time at their house...I even lived with them for a while, sharing a bedroom with their middle child. They had the best yellow lab, named Bucky. He was enormous, sweet, and good-natured, a real friend and companion to all of us. When the whole family would go off-island for a vacation, Bucky would come stay with me at my apartment. He would jump up and stretch out on the bed next to me at night. Bucky was a sweet old dog.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="171" src="" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Homer reminded me of Bucky in a great way. The book begins with Homer, a big yellow dog, laying on the porch, looking out over the ocean, nose up to sniff the air. The sun is just rising, and the day seems full of possibility. Cooper's text is brief, but sums up the dog's experience so honestly and lovingly. As the entire family (including a whole passel of dogs) tromp past him, he rests contentedly on the porch. He's right at the edge of the stairs, where he can survey everything. Everyone who passes offers Homer things to do - chase and race around the yard, swimming in the waves, running to the market. But Homer demurs, saying "No, no, I'm fine right here."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The day passes, and soon everyone is back. As they pass Homer on their way back inside, they all report on their activities - the chase and race was tiring, the waves were big and wild, the market trip produced great things to eat. Homer is the family's touchstone. As the sun sets, they all gather on the porch around him, evidence of their day spread around Homer. The sweetest moment come when the father asks if Homer needs anything. Homer answers no, that he has everything he wants. Cooper shows Homer in a series of panels getting up slowly, a little stiff from a day on the wooden porch, going into the house, and settling into an oversized chair. He is surrounded by the family again, and you can see Homer's calm, his love and peaceful demeanor. Homer truly has everything he needs right around him.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This story is heartfelt. Cooper has written a paean to the heart of the home and a beloved dog. You can tell how everyone regards Homer - they pat him, one of the little girls tucks a hydrangea flower behind Homer's ears. Even the other family dogs stop for Homer's approval before moving on. Cooper cuts through the sweetness of these scenes with other techniques. There are details in each illustration that show the life of the family, things we can all relate to. Some of these details are humorous - in the picture of the dogs barrelling past Homer on their way to chase and race, a Scottie flies off the porch, all legs extended. Though one of the parents clearly has the door opened wide to let the pack out, a basset hound chooses to go out through the doggie door. There is also some bittersweetness to this book - Homer is clearly getting older, no longer needing to romp and burn off energy like the other dogs. Instead, he is content to stay at home, sniffing the air and monitoring everyone's activities.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The CIP for this book says that Cooper used watercolors and pencil to create the artwork. First I want to say that mentioning the way the illustrations were created are so important to me. I am actually not sure why EVERY picture book doesn't include this information. It celebrates the art that was made for that book, and that's what it is - art. Could you imagine going to a museum, finding something framed that you really liked, and having no idea how it was created? I think this is a valuable learning opportunity. Even after all of these years reviewing picture books, I am still astonished at the way picture books are created. I still quite often need a reminder of the methods that were used, especially when there are multiple methods used. Especially as art classes are cut all over the United States, the artistic method seems like crucial information for readers to have. I love seeing how a technique works best, and speculating on why an artist chose something particular. Okay, rant over. But if you are a publisher, please consider including this every time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This time Cooper's choice suits the illustrations perfectly. The pencil helps delineate soft, puffy clouds and the fur all over Homer. The watercolors are precise, rich and beachy without being too pastel - they remind me of the natural beauty of Nantucket. In the first illustration, Homer is the exact color of the morning sky and a path to the beach. He is a part of the scenery, even though he remains slightly apart from it. Most pages are paneled - with one or more panels framed with crisp white. There are two double-page spreads, both showing the whole family, busy with their own activities yet all within Homer's eyesight. Your eye catches on many details as you scan, but these pictures are filled with love.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">There is no getting around the love in this book, both within the family and for Homer. Homer is the elder statesman of the family and graciously accepts the respect that is his due. This book really struck a chord with me because of my beach experiences, but I think anyone who has experienced the love of a dog will love it just as much. On the last page, Cooper focuses tightly on Homer's loved, loving face - all is right in his world as he falls asleep.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>Homer.</em> Elisha Cooper. Greenwillow Books, 2012.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">borrowed from Lewis & Clark Library</span>Susan Murray Patrol<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you know this blog at all, you know how much I love children's nonfiction. And I'll say something here that I've said before: I am a fairly recent convert to children's nonfiction. I thought of it as something I should read to round out my blog, not because I had any strong feeling for it. And over the last two years (including a stint as a Cybils judge on a picture book nonfiction panel), I find myself really struggling not to focus my blog almost exclusively on children's nonfiction. There are so many great books out there. So just know for every book I've written about, I've read two or three other great ones. This book, however, is one you can't live without.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="200" src="" width="171" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I first saw this book at our local library and was drawn to the sweet puffling on the cover. Then I saw that it was written and illustrated by Ted and Betsy Lewin. This husband and wife are both Caldecott Honor winners, which is an amazing thing. Their illustrative styles are so different, and I was interested enough to take a closer look at their collaboration. I am always fascinated by collaborations - picture books, nonfiction, chapter books. I love to look at how different authors (or illustrators) "fit" together - one of my favorite collaborations being <em>Will Grayson, Will Grayson</em> (John Green and David Levithan). You can hear each author's voice yet also see the overarching plot and themes. Each author's contribution meshes seamlessly.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This book was strong from the very first page. The Lewins created maps to orient readers immediately. The larger map is a close-up of the island of Heimaey (off the coast of Iceland), where the story takes place, giving landmarks to help readers picture where specific events take place. A smaller map shows the entire world, with Heimaey and Iceland shown in perspective to help readers see how small this island really is. There is a note on the facing page describing the Lewins' interest in this island and its importance for the puffin population.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Then the text begins. One of the most notable things is how well the Lewins are able to incorporate facts into their travel narrative. The Lewins have come to Iceland in August, when young puffins (called pufflings) are ready to venture out on their own for the first time. The adult puffins have already abandoned their pufflings to return to their lives on the ocean. The pufflings have to begin to fly, but their wings aren't always strong, and they become disoriented by the lights of the small town on Heimaey. They fly down onto the streets, and are unable to take off again. The pufflings can become victims of predators like dogs, or be hit by cars since they are so helpless. This is where the children of Heimaey come in to help. They are enlisted into the Puffling Patrol, and go out at night to rescue pufflings before they are injured.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Lewins introduce readers to D<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';">á<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">ni and Erna, eight year old twins who are in the Puffling Patrol. It is compelling to see the rescue efforts through these children's eyes. The twins are all business, capable and confident in their task. They stay up late during their stint as patrol, and their father tells the Lewins that D<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';">á<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">ni "rescued twenty-seven pufflings in one night", so you can visualize the importance of their task.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">While the children are the eyes of the story, the entire island is focused on rescuing and caring for many kinds of seabirds. The Lewins go out on a boat with researchers who are monitoring puffin burrows. They visit the Natural History Museum to see the pufflings measured and weighed before being released out into the ocean. At the time of year when pufflings are taking the first flights, the island is dedicated to puffin rescue. It is rewarding and dramatic when D<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';">á<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">ni and Erna release the pufflings into the ocean.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Ted Lewin creates full-page watercolor paintings, and the most dramatic illustrations (the cover picture of a puffling caught in a spotlight, the pufflings being thrown up and out into the sea) are his. The colors are rich and saturated. There are black volcanic beaches created by sparkling lava, warm red light shining on wet pavement, an azure blue ocean. But for all the drama of his paintings, Betsy Lewin gives the puffins personality. She has created smaller spot illustrations that add details to the text. One of my favorite illustrations accompanies text about the researchers who must scale a cliff to see puffin burrows. When they return to the boat where the Lewins are watching, they must leap in while the small Zodiac bobs on waves, since there is no dock. Betsy Lewin shows a researcher leaping wildly (and almost missing the boat) while they watch. It is funny and terrifying at the same time. She also provides small closeups of a puffling gulping a fish and other endearing puffling activities. Their different styles add interest and diversity to this fascinating text.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">And you know one of my req</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">uirements for strong nonfiction is high-quality back matter, and this book is exemplary. I've already mentioned the maps and explanatory note at the beginning of the book. There are also two pages of Atlantic puffin facts (along with more of Betsy Lewin's expressive illustrations). The Lewins have included a page on a five month long volcano eruption on the island of Heimaey which caused total evacuation of the island. It is a fascinating addition to the story of the pufflings. There is also information about the declining puffin population, a bibliography, and a glossary and pronunciation guide...whew! I also loved the note with the authors' sources, with a citation for Bruce McMillan's <em>Nights of the Pufflings</em>, which first introduced this island to readers.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This book is beautifully constructed from start to finish. I loved the topic (who doesn't love puffins?), and I loved how integral the children of Heimaey are to the survival of the puffins. It is a story that children will relate to, with plenty of facts to encourage further research. I hope this one will be considered come awards season.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>Puffling Patrol</em>. Ted and Betsy Lewin. Lee & Low Books, 2012.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif';"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">borrowed from Lewis & Clark Library</span></span></span></span>Susan Murray Makes a Mess<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I don't usually talk about graphic novels for children for one simple reason - my public library doesn't carry them!! When I worked at the Glendale Public Library in Arizona, I had librarians on my staff with excellent graphic novel taste (<a href="" target="_blank">this book</a> was written by one of my staff) and I honestly could not imagine living in a place without graphic novels for children. Now I want my girls to begin reading some graphic novels, and I can't get my hands on them - it is frustrating!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">One of those series is the innovative easy-to-read comic book series produced by the Candlewick Books imprint, TOON Books. TOON Books is remarkable for being a collaboration between Francoise Mouly (art editor of the <em>New Yorker</em> among other accomplishments) and Art Spiegelman, who is a celebrated, award-winning comic book creator. They have taken many famous comic book and graphic novel creators and artists and have them create books designed specifically for emergent readers. Comic books can help young readers "crack the code" of literacy - the illustrations and text help guide them from left to right, and from the top to the bottom of the page. Also, even though these are beginning readers, they are great stories as well. One of my favorites, <em>Little Mouse Gets Ready</em>, was written and drawn by Jeff Smith (who created the uber-popular Bone series). The books are leveled, so parents and teachers can tell at a glance what would be most appropriate for their reader.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">TOON's backlist is very strong, but there are a couple of books that are coming out this fall that I wanted to draw your attention to. I am interested in seeing <em>A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse</em>, by Frank Viva. Last year I read his picture book, <em>Along a Long Road</em>. What is remarkable about that book is that it was created as one enormous piece of art (from the book: "created as a single continuous thirty-five-foot-long piece of art using Adobe Illustrator"). It had a retro yet modern feel to it. I <u>cannot</u> wait for this new title from him - I think he will only continue to become more innovative.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kda="true" src="" width="215" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">But I'm really here to tell you all about an opportunity to get a new TOON books Fall 2012 title for yourself. TOON Books is celebrating the publishing of the book <em>Maya Makes a Mess</em> with a very fun giveaway. This book is written by another high-quality graphic novelist - Rutu Modan won a Eisner Award for Best New Graphic Novel for her first published work. She has written about a topic that is very familiar to parents - Maya, who has atrocious table manners, is suddenly invited to dine with the Queen. Will the Queen find Maya's manners lacking? I don't want to give too much away, as I plan to blog this soon. But TOON Books is offering copies of this title to the readers who are the messiest eaters. I hate to tell you this, but bad manners are encouraged here!! Follow <a href="" target="_blank">this link</a> to see how to enter (but basically all you have to do is email a picture - what could be easier?). While you are there, check out some hilarious pictures of TOON staffers making...well, a mess. It is a fun way to encourage reading. If you win a copy, you'd better let me know! By the way, don't wait to enter - this giveaway ends August 15th.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Watch for my review of <em>Maya Makes a Mess</em> coming soon. I hope that more reviews of great graphic novels and comic books for children will convince the children's librarian at our public library to reconsider. For now, look for TOON books at <u>your</u> library and enjoy them!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><u>Little Mouse Gets Ready</u>. Jeff Smith. TOON Books, 2009.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><u>A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse</u>. Frank Viva. TOON Books, 2012.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><u>Maya Makes a Mess</u>. Rutu Modan. TOON Books, 2012.</span><br /><br />Susan Murray COOL Friend<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Friendship is a tricky thing - I think we'd all agree. Sometimes you meet someone and instantly connect. Sometimes in my life I have met someone who I long to have as my friend, and it takes time to develop that connection. But sometimes you just know it's right. I see the same routines happen with my girls - they have made friends with the children of my adult friends, because they are so often together. Frances has recently become closer friends with a girl in her preschool class who she didn't like at all last fall. And Gloria, as is typical of Gloria's personality, has one true-blue friend, and he's a boy.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" eda="true" height="155" src="" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Elliot doesn't seem to have any human friends. At the beginning of the book, he appears, looking older than he is, surrounded by a circle of stuffed animals. His father, whose green plaid suit contrasts sharply with Elliot's refined tuxedo, asks Elliot if he would like to go to Family Fun Day at the aquarium. With an almost audible sigh, Elliot agrees, even though he knows that there will be a horde of noisy kids there. As soon as they arrive, Elliot's father plops on a bench to read <em>National Geographic.</em> Elliot roams on his own, steering clear of the crowds. And then Elliot discovers...the penguins! He identifies with their style and their posture. He feels that connection to a true friend. When he asks to take one home, his absorbed father agrees, thinking Elliot's buying one in the nearby gift shop. But of course, that's not what Elliot had in mind. The miscommunication between Elliot and his father (or is it willful misrepresentation?) continues after Elliot absconds with the penguin, who he names Magellan. This ongoing miscommunication ends in a delightful, surprising clarification at the end, a twist that is unexpected and marvelous.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Buzzeo's text is crisp and stark. Just like Elliot, it can be refined. When the father is speaking, you can feel his attempts to find something to connect with his son. Both Elliot and his father are self-contained fellows - the father pores over his journals, maps and diagrams. Elliot putters away making his penguin comfortable. They are both speaking English, but don't seem to be speaking the same language.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">One of the nifty design elements in this book ties together Buzzeo's text with Small's illustrations. Dialogue is entered in balloons, adding to this book's retro, graphic feel. If there are multiple lines of dialogue, the balloons are stacked. This is helpful for new readers, to indicate who is saying what on the page. It also helps indicate the order of the conversation. There is also a distinction between thought bubbles (more scalloped in shape) and dialogue balloons (smooth and oval) to guide readers. It's very clever.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Buzzeo's text is pared down and sophisticated, although it isn't too sophisticated for young readers to get a sense of Elliot's isolation and loneliness. As Elliot winds a garden hose through the house (making an ice rink for the penguin), he tells his father "Forgive the inconvenience." But the text and illustrations work perfectly together - where Buzzeo is short and sweet, Small;s illustrations are grandiose - in a good way! - filling double-page spreads. They are over the top, with Elliot's father's crazy colored suit, tufts of orange hair and eyes rolling wildly with excitement.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">But while the text draws me into the story, I have to spend some time focusing on David Small's amazing illustrations. First of all, the palette for the illustrations are cool tones - an icy blue, white, grey, and black. Other colors are used, but these choices set the tone right from the cover. The word "COOL" is icy blue, along with a tiled square motif along the spine, echoing the tiles in the aquarium. The rest of the cover (Elliot and the penguin back to back) is sharply black and white. And this continues throughout.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This book, after all, is about a penguin and you can almost see Magellan revel in the icy pages. One of my favorite illustrations shows Elliot and Magellan whirling on a makeshift ice rink. The focus of the page is Elliot, dressed in uncharacteristically bright colors, eyes closed with contentment. He is happy. But there are other details which make this page worth poring over - all of the stuffed animals are wearing scarves and earmuffs because the air conditioner is on full-blast. Mobiles and globes drip icicles. The details say just as much about the situation as the main picture does.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The illustrations remind of the matter-of-fact silliness of <em>The Christmas Crocodile</em> - one of my favorite Small-illustrated books. In both books the wackiness of the core situation (in <em>The Christmas Crocodile</em>, a family receives a large package delivered to them - bet you can't guess what's inside!) is in sharp relief against the ordinariness of the setting. But in <em>One Cool Friend</em>, once you read to the end, and discover the father's secret, you'll want to go back and re-read the book. There are many clever indications of the father's secret embedded in the pages - another level of humor for readers to enjoy.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This book fits readers on so many levels - those readers who might long for a penguin, those who might long for the understanding of a perfect friend, those who are looking for a place to fit in. Oh! I can't believe I didn't mention it before, but there is also a cool librarian featured in these pages - one more thing to love about this book. All in all, this is a surefire hit, and not to be missed!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>One Cool Friend</em>. Toni Buzzeo; pictures by David Small. Dial Books, 2012.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>The Christmas Crocodile.</em> Bonny Becker and David Small. Simon & Schuster, 2012.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>One Cool Friend</em> borrowed from Lewis & Clark library, <em>The Christmas Crocodile</em> is my personal copy.</span>Susan Murray of Prophecy<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">First of all, I apologize for the long silence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This early summer has been a little bumpy for me, but I have lots of posts waiting to be written, so I promise more regular posts are on their way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for being patient with me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was approached to participate in a blog tour for this book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heirs of Prophecy</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read some reviews that interested me, and I realized I hadn’t written any blog posts about chapter books in a long time, so I decided to give it a go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this was a fast-paced adventure that kept me reading!</span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sca="true" src="" width="208" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Riverton family is going on vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their father usually plans the vacations, and he chooses some…unusual places (their last vacation featured Japanese ruins and samurai sword making).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But their dad is letting them bring the family cat, Silver, so 14 year old Ryan and 12 year old Aaron figure it can’t be that bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, their vacation doesn’t go quite as planned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The family ends up outside of Tucson, Arizona, exploring caves by canoe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly, there is a loud rumble, and the cave collapses around them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is the Riverton family’s introduction to Trimoria, a world they could not have ever dreamed of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as they stumble through the forests, trying to find civilization, some unexplainable things begin to happen to them all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan, the oldest son, has what looks like lightning shoot out from his fingers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aaron, who had been previously described as “diminutive”, shows amazing strength – lifting rocks as if they were hollow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And their mother and father, too, begin to exhibit powers they never had before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for Silver, well, Silver has grown enormous and even smarter than he was before.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">They are incredibly lucky to find the Protector of the area, Throll, on their second day, and even luckier that he believes their story, even though it seems farfetched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Protector-General of the land, Throll is able to wield some power over the townspeople and gets them to believe that Jared Riverton (the boys’ father)is his old friend from another part of the land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oddly, Jared Riverton had been interested in blacksmithing back home in the United States, and had created a smithy in their backyard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here in Aubgherle, there is an urgent need for a blacksmith.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Magic is outlawed in Trimoria, and people who exhibit any type of magical powers (especially babies) mysteriously disappear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the odd skills that the Rivertons have gained need to be hidden from spies in the town of Aubgherle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They practice these skills in secret, trying to gain control of their powers and learn how they function.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It becomes evident that while Ryan is the strongest wizard, his father is also a wizard of some power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aaron is freakishly strong, and begins to learn a variety of fighting skills and strategies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And their mother, Aubrey, is an incredible healer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But somehow the wizard who controls the country of Trimoria, Azazel, who is evil, becomes apprised of this unusual family and sets out to destroy them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the same time a “small” ogre (only seven feet tall at the start of the novel! And a vegetarian!) named Ohaobbok joins Throll’s family and the Rivertons, and he retells a strange prophecy, one that includes himself and the Riverton family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Rivertons’ inclusion in the prophecy makes sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trimoria is nowhere near as technologically advanced as present-day United States, but the skills the Rivertons have honed in their American lives seem to translate well here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, the blacksmithing (along with the samurai sword making vacation) comes in very handy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jared can actually bring modern technology to creating swords in Trimoria, giving his swords an advantage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both Ryan and Aaron have studied martial arts for years, and that gives them an advantage as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All these things seem to point to their destiny – to fulfill the prophecy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I don’t want to tell too much of the plot, because exploring the country along with the Rivertons and discovering where their destiny lies is part of the ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is definitely a ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book is full of magic, elements of fantasy, and some crazy fights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything is enthralling, and keeps you reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This book sped by – I would pick it up and find I had suddenly read 100 pages!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is easy enough for a fifth grader to read, and perfectly suited for a middle grade audience, including plenty of adventure and danger.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The world-building Rothman does is easy to understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate fantasy books where I spend so much time figuring out how things work, or how the universe was created.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I often feel that that holds me back from really engaging with the plot, and I’ve been known to not finish fantasies that get overly complicated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it is a mystery how the Rivertons arrived in Trimoria (the back of the book calls it a ‘fluke of nature’, but could it be something or someone else?),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the country of Trimoria itself isn’t overly complicated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems to be pretty squarely set in something resembling the Middle Ages, with an emphasis on iron, mining, and blacksmithing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People fight with swords, daggers and bows and arrows, not guns and bombs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the types of creatures that populate the forests are also familiar – dwarves that mine ore, elves in an amazing magical forest glen, and ogres.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the characterization helps keep these traditional types interesting .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really loved the ogre, Ohaobbok – he is sweet, and yet fights for this family he has come to love.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This book includes many of the “big” fantasy themes – good v. evil, the power of magic, but adds in some new twists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt fresh, and made me want to continue on to see how this series gets to the final war and an epic battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For there will be one – it has been foretold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Generations of Trimorians have the same dream, and the Riverton family is front and center in that dream.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I do have a couple of minor quibbles with Rothman, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a cat of my own, and I would never take him on a family vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially if I knew that vacation would involve canoeing along a river in addition to a plane ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know many cats who would agree to those conditions!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also the Riverton family doesn’t seem to articulate any desire to return to the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They seem perfectly happy in Trimoria, and while I’ve already said that they are destined to be there, I can’t help wondering if they will mention a longing for home at some point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Also, I would have liked a glossary or pronunciation guide for the names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see that book two (titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tools of Prophecy</i>) is already out in e-book and will be out in hardback next month, so maybe he will consider it for the prequel or book three, both of which are in the works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it’s important to guide readers to the “correct” Trimorian pronunciation for names like Ohaobbok (oh, how I’d love to say that name!), Ealuanni, Azazel, and others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The elven names are particularly tricky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, please, Mr. Rothman, help us out!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">All in all, though, this is a fun, thrilling adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would love to know more about the Rivertons and their adventures in Trimoria, and I hope you’ll take time to explore along with them!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Rothman , Michael A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heirs of Prophecy</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>M & S Publishing, 2012.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sent by <a href="" target="_blank">TLC Book Tours</a> for review as part of a blog tour.</span></div>Susan Murray Jefferson and John Adams<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There is something many of my blog readers may not know about me, and I need to confess it now. I used to work for <a href="" target="_blank">Colonial Williamsburg</a>. If you don't know about Colonial Williamsburg, go check out the website - among other things, it is one of the biggest living history museums and it is an amazing place. This was a time of my life where I wore a colonial costume to work every day. I told visitors about colonial times, both in my daytime job as a visitor's aide and in my evening job as an interpreter, where I told ghost stories from that time period and gave tours. I loved that job! And for a girl from San Diego, who had been raised on the history of the California missions, it was fascinating to learn more about that time period.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;".</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qba="true" src="" width="146" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">My first pick is <em>Those Rebels, John & Tom</em>..</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;".</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qba="true" src="" width="155" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">After I had decided to write about <em>Those Rebels John & Tom</em>, I came across <em>Worst of Friends</em>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">But I can't close a post on nonfiction picture books without commenti</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">ng on their back matter. In <em>Worst of Friends</em>, the "back matter" is actually in the front of the book, where a selected bibliography sits opposite a paragraph entitled "Can Presidents Be Pals?". <em>Those Rebels, John & Tom</em>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Both books gave me a new view of men I had come to know through their contributions to Colonial-era history. I loved getting to know more about their lives and opinions.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>Those Rebels, John & Tom</em>. Barbara Kerley; illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. Scholastic, 2012.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>Worst of Friends: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and the True Story of an American Feud.</em> Suzanne Tripp Jurmain; illustrated by Larry Day. Dutton, 2011.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">both books borrowed from Lewis & Clark Library</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Susan Murray
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Dan's Wednesday Morning Forecast: 1/23/13
By: Meteorologist Dan Peck
Updated: January 23, 2013
Follow Dan on Facebook and Twitter
Today: Another very cold day with mostly sunny skies to start our day. More clouds will move in towards the afternoon. Wind chill values -5 to 10. High: 18-23.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. A light dusting of snow is possible. Could see 1-2" across western mountain counties. Low: 10-15.
Tomorrow: A mix of sun and clouds. High: 23-28.
Your4State Extended Forecast:
Friday: Cloudy with periods of snow possible. High: 27. Low: 17.
.
Saturday: A mix of sun and clouds. An early morning flurry is possible. High: 26. Low: 16.
Sunday: Mostly sunny skies. High: 29. Low: 23.
Monday: Mostly cloudy skies. High: 39. Low: 30.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with scattered rain showers. High: 43. Low: 33.
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http://your4state.com/education-fulltext?nxd_id=291972
| 2013-05-18T10:12:43 |
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[
[
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Learning Discipline through Taekwondo
By: Justin Zipser
Updated: August 3, 2012
Madock says, "It's made me a better person. I'm more controlled in situations of stress, such as school, and in everyday life"
Michael Robinson has been teaching the sports in the area for more than 3 decades. He said,
"I've seen a lot of people come through here, and it changes peoples lives."
Taekwondo didn't become a recognized sport until 1945, and wasn't in the Olympics until the year 2000 -- but it's always been a confidence booster.
Smith's karate offers taekwondo programs for students as young as 5, all the way up to Adults.
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.
A great bit of history. Amazing, I’ve walked past this house many times, often daily and wondered about it. This blog is great to learn what I’ve wanted to know.
What a lovely site, i came accross it tracing the Vice family, as i live in the Mill at Blaby where they lived and after seeing the large family memorial in the old cemetery decided to learn more about them.
Many thanks for this wonderful glimpse into the past.
I live at 222 Clarendon Park Road and I am a local artist. My sister lives next door and we are both originally from West Yorkshire. I love living here and it’s nice to find out a little about the history and of previous occupants.
Louise.
This is super-spooky.
I am Hannah Vice!
Not the Hannah Vice from this story, but Hannah Louise Vice, born in 1980 in Leicester. I have lived all over England (including Cornwall as another coincidence!) and in the United States and I now live in Clarendon Park.
My brother, Matthew Vice (also now a Clarendon Park resident!) spotted this story and told us at our family Sunday dinner yesterday, and we were all gobsmacked. This is not a very common name and would love to know if these are relatives of ours. Any more details on the Vices would be gratefully received!
This is a message for Hannah Vice, not in anyway related to the above information but when I googled your name this came up, so this is probably a bit cheeky. I am researching my Grandmothers family history and wondered if by any chance you are related to the Bott/Grant family, if so would love to hear from you.
Helen
Hi, Helen.
Yes! My mother is Linda Grant, daughter of Clarence and Margaret Grant. If you have any information please email me back!
Hannah.
.Hello
Pleased to read about the Vice family as I am related to Leonard Vice of Blaby mill and have traced the family with a lot of help back to mid 17th century. I would be please to share my researches with any other one interested, to add information about the family to my book.
A lot of people seem to be related to the Vice family in Blaby! Good luck with your book.
Hi – My great-great grandfather was John VIce, born in Countesthorpe in 1811, and later to become the first Police Inspector in Coventry. Not 100%sure if he was linked to the family who lived at Blaby Mill, but it is almost a certainty. Perhaps you have a definite link that I have been unable to uncover?!!!
Sorry Graham but I haven’t done a massive amount of research into the wider Vice family, so I don’t have a link for you. Your great-grandfather sounds like an interesting man though – have you been able to find out much about him?
Hello, I have a John Vice in my family tree, born 1811, my father was James Edward Vice, his father – same name, he had two sisters, Annie and Edith, could there be a connection.
Kate headland
Found out a bit. He came to Coventry in 1826 and joined the city’s police force in March 11th 1836, just 4 days after it’s inauguration. His weekly salary was 14/- and was one of 20 constables sworn in to keep the peace under the eye of a sergeant who was formerly a bow street runner. He served 20 years and attained the rank of Chief Inspector before retiring to take up a position as a bailiff of the county court, where he remained for 30 years until 75, being the oldest and longest serving court administrator to the judges. He died in 1899. He was the first policeman to be made a Chief Inspector in Coventry, and after just 12 years’ service. His retirement from the police was regarded as a promotion by the Watch Committee who regarded his knowledge of court proceedings more beneficial to the High Bailiff. It would be wonderful to be able to find out about his family background and whether he sprang from a family of millers. The search continues . . .
As a footnote, by a strange coincidence, although born in Coventry I now live in Cornwall.
Hi Graham, i am your Auntie Marjories grand daughter Lorraine. I have only just found this on the web. i too am researching our family and i don’t know if you have found out about a “miller” connection yet but i have. On the marriage certificate of John Vice (2nd marriage) it states his father who is named as William was a miller by profession. I’m sure my facts are right as John married a Martha Chandler who was his live in housekeeper before he married her. It states on the certificate Johns profession is a bailiff and a widower. i am now trying to find out about family in Blably but i’m struggling to verify facts!!
My distant grandfather was John Vice, I am descendant from his son George, b1853, then James, 1873, James, 1900 – James 1924
I thought it was worth mentioning here that there is a gravestone for several Vice family members (children I think) at Leicester Cathedral (formerly the parish church of St Martin)…worth a look?
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http://yourhistories.wordpress.com/2011/05/29/the-disappointing-holiday-of-hannah-vice/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=8b2dcf09a6
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Save The Date
YouthBuild Lake County | 8th Annual
Spring Benefit
Horray for Hollywood!
Saturday June 1st 2013
For more info Click Here
To Purchase Tkts Go to the "DONATE NOW" Button
Contact: Jen Olson
[email protected]
I was recently incarcerated. When I came home, I didn’t know which way to go. YouthBuild has opened up a lot of doors for me. There are a lot of opportunities, great role models and mentors here.They make a way for kids who never really had a way. — Tim, YBLC Student
The answer to "Where do I go from here?" Where young people find the best in themselves and take their first step toward new, better lives.
Did you know? YBLC students go from 95% unemployed to 78% placement in jobs or college.
Find out more about how you can help now.
Watch our 2012 fundraising video.
Saturday June 1st 2013
For more info Click Here
To Purchase Tkts Go to the "DONATE NOW" Button
Contact: Jen Olson
[email protected]
Our mission is to help low-income young adults complete their education, learn the necessary skills to become gainfully employed, and build a hopeful future for themselves and their families.
Saturday June 1st 2013
For more info Click here
To Purchase Tkts Go to the "Spring Benefit" Button
Contact: Jen Olson Email: [email protected]
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| 2013-05-18T10:31:29 |
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Youth Worker Stories: Tobias
By Youth Specialties on January 09 2013
Tobias Haglund shares his story of working with Young Life Capernaum, a ministry that specializes in serving students with special needs.
From Amy on January 10, 2013
Love this story and how you say, “No one teaches you how to be a friend.” Keep rocking, Tobias.
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http://youthspecialties.com/blog/youth-worker-stories-tobias
| 2013-05-18T10:31:43 |
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"Amy Picture of Amy"
]
] |
(Comes racing in, arms full of pop culture, dropping things left and right)
Sorry! Sorry, I’m late, everyone! But, hey, it’s still Friday, so technically I’ve met my deadline!
Hi there, hope everyone is doing well.
Not too much to report this week, except, you know, a GIANT FRICKING ROCK EXPLODED over Russia,
the “Blade Runner” (Oscar Pistorius) probably killed his girlfriend and is apparently (refreshingly) sad about it,
the Walking Dead returned on Sunday and Rick has lost his EVER-LOVING MIND,
and finally, perhaps most importantly, journalist El Mayimbe used his saucy Latino swagger to squeak out this awesome piece of information about the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII….HARRISON FORD IS GOING TO APPEAR AS HAN “KESSEL RUN” SOLO!!!
So, yeah… you know… pretty dead week.
Hopefully next week will be a little more interesting.
El Guapo said,
February 16, 2013 @ 12:01 am
That video is incredible!
But (and I’m as psyched about the last bit as you), will Ford make it a good bit, or just leave a bad aftertaste as Han? (Sort of like the last Indy flick…)
Jen Tidwell said,
February 16, 2013 @ 1:02 am
I know!! I hope he’s not the official spokesperson for Coruscant Life Insurance or something….
Jen said,
February 16, 2013 @ 7:24 am
Um… Yeah, you know nothing TOO exciting. Lol. Awesome thing is I get to see you run in with brain full of geeky awesomeness and drop said tidbits wherever they happen to fall ( usually in my lap) Constantly in awe of your hilarity and knowledge .
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With the national popularity of Roy Choi’s Korean taco concept and the growth of David Chang’s Momofuku empire in New York, Korean food is gaining attention and influence among chefs and foodies across the country. Some might even say kimchi is the new sushi.
Nowhere is this trend more apparent than in Los Angeles, home to one of the largest Korean communities in the U.S. On Saturday, Aug. 7, thousands of hungry diners descended on a parking lot in L.A.’s Koreatown for the second annual Korean BBQ Cook-Off hosted by the Korean American Coalition. The event featured several top Korean BBQ restaurants and vendors, whose offerings were rated by a panel of judges including Pulitzer Prize-winning L.A. Weekly food critic Jonathan Gold, critically acclaimed LudoBites chef Ludo Lefebvre, and award-winning actress Sandra Oh.
The cook-off was conceived as a way to introduce Korean identity and culture to mainstream Los Angeles. “We thought the best way to accomplish this would be through food, specifically Korean BBQ,” said Allen Park, community outreach director for the Korean American Coalition. “It’s easy, delicious, and fun to eat, and getting to be very popular in LA.”
Korean restaurants are beginning to notice changes in their clientele as their cuisine starts to appeal to a wider audience. “Even three years ago, most of the people in Koreatown were Koreans and a lot didn’t speak English,” said Max Shin, whose father owns Hansong Restaurant, a Korean BBQ and seafood buffet in Koreatown. “But that’s definitely changing. Now, I’d say on an average night at our restaurant, it’s a 50/50 split between Koreans and Westerners.”
Korean cuisine influences and gets influenced
Diners aren’t the only ones embracing Korean cuisine. Chefs are also hopping on the bandwagon, with Korean ingredients and flavors showing up more and more at high-profile restaurants around L.A., including LudoBites, where Lefebvre frequently uses kimchi in his dishes. “Korean food is a big influence in America,” Lefebvre said. “I am French, and I cook a lot with kimchi at my restaurant. I’ve made kimchi foie gras, kimchi with cheese, and now I’m working on a kimchi dessert.”
Korean chefs are incorporating American influences into their native cuisine as well, perhaps playing off the success of Roy Choi’s Kogi tacos. At the Korean BBQ Cook-Off, visitors waited in line for half an hour to try Kalbi Burger and Seoul Sausage Company, which sold Korean-inspired burgers and hot dogs. But it was Choonchun Dakgalbi’s signature dish of chicken, rice cakes, yams and cheese in a spicy red sauce that won the attention of the judges. Cook-off judge Oh presented the restaurant with the award for best fusion dish. “I love the fact that Korean food, especially in LA, is moving forward,” she said. “I’m totally there with you guys to expand Korean flavors.”
The rise of Korean cuisine may be more than just a passing trend. Last year, the South Korean government launched a “Global Hansik” campaign to make Korean food one of the five most popular ethnic cuisines in the world. To accomplish this goal, the campaign plans to open Korean cooking classes at culinary schools such as Le Cordon Bleu and the Culinary Institute of America, promote celebrity Korean chefs and health benefits of Korean food and increase the number of Korean restaurants overseas to 40,000 by 2017. This year, the Korean government poured thousands of dollars into its newly opened Korean Food Foundation and plans may still be in the works for a kimchi institute.
Everyone goes to Koreatown
Despite these aggressive marketing tactics, some think Korean cuisine’s popularity may be more organic. “The Korean nightlife scene in Los Angeles is so strong,” said food critic Gold. “There’s something about how Korean cooking more than anything else ties into the drinking culture. The strength and purity of Korean flavors makes it a perfect match.” Lefebvre echoed Gold’s sentiments. “In Los Angeles, everyone is talking about Koreatown,” he said. “When people want to go out, they go to Koreatown for Korean food, soju (Korea’s answer to vodka) and karaoke.”
Gold also pointed to Korean-Americans’ willingness to share Korean culture as a catalyst for the cuisine’s rise. “There’s something about young, second-generation Korean-Americans assimilating to American culture — they’re just really good at it,” he said. “First-generation Koreans banded together, and Koreatown was almost impenetrable when it started out. But now, everyone knows Koreans, everyone has Korean friends, and everyone goes to Koreatown.”
{igallery 98}
Mackie Jimbo is a Washington, D.C.-based food writer who writes about her budget-friendly dining adventures at her website, The Unpaid Gourmet.
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31 Day Favorite RPG Character Challenge 2013
Day 24: Sveta (Golden Sun: Dark Dawn)
31 Day Favorite RPG Character Challenge 2013
Day 23: Alistair (Dragon Age Origins)
I’ve yet to play Awakening or DA2 so far.
Baby snakes appreciation post
!”
nya ha ha~
Let your work become about making what you enjoy making, instead of making what other people will enjoy seeing.
May 2nd - Happy Birthday, Anghel!
Another enemy design for a student-made game.
A buncha monsters/enemy critters made for a school club game making challenge.
The monsters were supposed to be separated into dark, neutral, and light categories.
April 20th - Happy Birthday, Lucina!
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The first vehicles to appear as advertising on on the Zippo lighter was in the 1940's after World War II, beginning with local Pennsylvania truck companies. Zippos were often used by transportation companies and truck manufacturers through the 1970's for advertising until anti-smoking attitudes made such lighters less "politically correct". However, cool truck designs can be found on more recent Zippos produced for collectors like the 1991 Zippo Truck Series shown below.
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http://zippogallery.com/Trucks.htm
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Hi Zoinkers! We are so excited to celebrate New Year’s
(and we thought we’d have to wait a whole year to do that again!)
No, your calender is not wrong nor are we playing a prank. 23rd Jan 2012 is the beginning for the year of the Dragon, in China and they are celebrating it big!
The year of the dragon is considered especially special by the Chinese because dragon is the only animal in their zodiac which is mythical. In China dragons are seen as protectors and symbols of good fortune and great power. And since they are larger than life, the year is expected to see grand events. 2012 under the influence of the Dragon it is a yang year. Yang Water is like a flowing river, which means movement; of ideas, flow of creativity, economies expected to boom, and love to blossom in this environment. Sounds like a really exciting year is about to begin
And of course, celebrations mean loads of good food and Chinese are no exception to this rule. In order to make the year lucky, they start with a meal with special dishes to mark what they want for the new year. Maybe we should also order in from our favorite chinese take out and see if it really works.
Things you would need on the menu:
Long Noodles: Dont break them as they symbolizes long life and continuous good fortune.
Fish: In mandarin, the word fish ‘Yu’ sounds like the word for ‘wish’ and ‘abundance’. Might seem fishy, but what’s the harm in trying to fool the fates?
Chicken : Would need to find a place which serves a whole chicken for this to work it’s magic as the whole chicken represents wholeness and prosperity.
Sweet and sour pork : This is for the old folks wanting grandchildren as the Cantonese word for “sour” sounds like the word for grandchild.
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http://zoinkmediablog.wordpress.com/category/new-years/
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Prayer
Search Results (77)
Your search for "Prayer" returned 77 items
Format
Into God's Presence
Listening to God through Prayer and Meditation
Ebook, ePub
List Price: $8.99
Prayer - 10th Anniversary Edition
Three Views on Creation and Evolution
Grandma, I Need Your Prayers
Blessing Your Grandchildren through the Power of Prayer
Softcover
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The Secret of Receiving What You Need from God
Softcover
by Jim Cymbala
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Insights to Keep You Praying with Greater Faith and Deeper Hope
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Windows of the Soul
Experiencing God in New Ways.
Download - Audio, Abridged
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Not Just Science
Questions Where Christian Faith and Natural Science Intersect
Softcover
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http://zondervan.com/non-fiction/prayer?filter%5bfield_product_form%5d%5b0%5d=%25252522WW%25252522&filter%5bfield_product_form%5d%5b1%5d=%2522BC%2522&filter%5bfield_ptype_desc%5d%5b0%5d=%252522Marshall%252520Pickering%252522
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Search Results
Search Results (11516)
What on Earth Am I Here For?
Ebook, ePub
by Rick Warren
List Price: $9.99
A Step Further
Growing Closer to God through Hurt and Hardship
Softcover
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The Case for Grace
A Journalist Explores the Evidence of Transformed Lives
Hardcover, Jacketed
by Lee Strobel
List Price: $22.99
Streams for Teens
Thoughts on Seeking God’s Will and Direction
Hardcover, Jacketed
List Price: $14.99
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http://zondervan.com/products?filter%5bfield_ptype_desc%5d%5b0%5d=%25252522ZCS%25252522&filter%5bfield_ptype_desc%5d%5b1%5d=%252522Audio%252522&filter%5bfield_ptype_desc%5d%5b2%5d=%2522Marshall%2520Pickering%2522
| 2013-05-18T10:25:34 |
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| 2013-05-18T10:53:18 |
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See the Kids From ‘The Brady Bunch Movie’ Then and Now
.
Thus was born ‘The Brady Bunch Movie.’ Since by this time the Bradys had become the embodiment of the ’70s, the premise of the feature film was that the blended family was still stuck in that decade in terms fashion and overall sensibilities, whereas the rest of the world had progressed to the politically correct ’90s.
While the movie didn’t exactly wow the critics, it was popular enough with audiences that a sequel — ‘A Very Brady Sequel’ — hit theaters the next year. The same six actors played the Brady kids in each of those films. Catch up on what these “other” Bradys are up to these days below.
Christopher Daniel Barnes, Greg Brady
Then: Before snagging the plum role of Greg Brady in ‘The Brady Bunch’ movie, Christopher Daniel Barnes had an extensive list of credits, including a stint as a regular on the late ’80s TV shows ‘Starman’ and the ‘Family Ties’ spin-off ‘Day By Day.’ (In an odd bit of prescient casting, Christopher’s character on that show was obsessed with The Bradys and even meets the original cast in a dream sequence.)
Now: Perhaps Barnes’ most famous role has been one in which you don’t see his face. In 1994 he started doing the voice of Spider-Man for the animated TV series ‘Spider-Man.’ While Barnes hasn’t appeared on screen in almost a decade, he continues to voice the web-slinger, most recently in the video game ‘Spider-Man: Edge of Time.’ He also lends his pipes to other video games, such as ‘Kingdom Hearts II,’ and voiced Prince Charming in Walt Disney’s series of direct-to-video ‘Cinderella’ movies.
Christine Taylor, Marcia Brady
Then: You need a very pretty young lady to play the famously perfect Marcia Brady, and classically beautiful Christine Taylor fit the bill. Before going Brady, Taylor was best known for starring as lifeguard Melody Hanson on the Nickelodeon series ‘Hey, Dude.’
Now: Taylor went on to prominent guest star roles on some of the greatest sitcoms of our times — ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Arrested Development’ and ‘Friends’ to name a few. She also showed off with her comedic chops with her then (and still) husband Ben Stiller in ‘Zoolander.’ Taylor’s acting career has slowed down a bit lately, although she did appear in 2012′s ‘The First Time.’ The 41-year-old lives in New York with Stiller and has two young children.
Jennifer Elise Cox, Jan Brady
Then: While Jennifer Elise Cox’s role as Jan Brady was her first on-screen credit, the-then-25-year-old was already a seasoned actress when she played the perpetually overshadowed middle child. Previously the New York-born Cox had done commercials and appeared in the operas ‘Don Giovanni’ and ‘Madame Butterfly.’
Now: This Jan has been able to step out of Marcia’s shadows, as Cox has enjoyed a successful acting career since ‘The Brady Bunch Movie.’ (She currently appears on the Lisa Kudrow Showtime comedy series ‘Web Therapy.’) Before that, the 42-year-old had a role on the sitcom ’10 Items or Less’ and made guest appearances on shows like ‘Nip/Tuck’ and ‘Numb3rs.’
Paul Sutera, Peter Brady
Then: Paul Sutera played Peter Brady, middle boy and the clumsiest of the blended clan. You might also recognize him from his minor roles in ‘Problem Child 2′ and ‘The Adventures of Superboy.’
Now: Paul Sutera’s acting career ended in 1998 with a guest spot on ‘Felicity.’ But he is still very much in the showbiz game. These days, the 32-year-old is a reality TV producer. Among his credits are ‘Road Rules,’ ‘The Marriage Ref,’ ‘Shark Tank’ and ‘Ice Road Truckers.’
Olivia Hack, Cindy Brady
Then: The Beverly Hills-born Hack was 11 when she played youngest daughter Cindy Brady in ‘The Brady Bunch Movie.’ ‘Star Trek’ fans may also remember her as Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s daughter on ‘Star Trek Generations.’ After doing the ‘Brady’ movies, she guest-starred on shows like ‘Party of Five.’
Now: Like her movie step-brother Christopher Daniel Barnes, Hack is an accomplished voice actor. She has voiced Rhonda Wellington Lloyd on ‘Hey Arnold,’ Irene on ‘Blood+’ and Ty Lee on ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender.’ She also got to reprise her role as Cindy Brady on an episode of ‘Family Guy.’ When Hack isn’t behind the mic, she’s running Salon Atmosphere, a hair and beauty salon she owns in Long Beach, California.
Jesse Lee Soffer, Bobby Brady
Then: Jesse Lee Soffer went by Jesse Lee when he played Bobby Brady in ‘The Brady Bunch Movie.’ At 10, he was the youngest actor playing a Brady kid.
Now: Soffer stopped acting as a teenager but then returned in a big way in 2004 as Will Munson on the soap ‘As The World Turns,’ a role which earned him three Daytime Emmy nominations. Since ATWT’s cancellation in 2010, the 28-year-old has appeared in the Justin Timberlake movie ‘In Time’ and on the TV dramas ‘The Mentalist’ and ‘Rizzoli & Isles.’
Next: See the Kids From 'Hook' Now
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Moyes wants Everton to match points record in his last game in charge
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Rainbow Pride Party Cake
July 16, 2009 at 12:36 pm 116.
116..
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http://17andbaking.com/2009/07/16/rainbow-pride-party-cake/?like=1&_wpnonce=1b5762a7ca
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null
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null
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null
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null
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[
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[
"http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/2594/pride8.jpg",
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THANK GOD IT’S JUMMAH…..Please don’t forget to read Surah Kahf
Posted in Daily Islam,QuranDecember 14, 2012No comments
Posted in Daily Islam,QuranDecember 14, 2012No comments
Posted in Daily IslamDecember 13, 2012No comments
Posted in Daily Islam,MasjidsDecember 10, 2012No comments
Posted in Daily IslamDecember 10, 2012No comments
# Fear ALLAH.
# If u speak, speak truth.
# Do not go after the world even though it may run after you
# Act to gain reward from ALLAH and for the Hereafter.
# Do not give up bidding for good and forbidding from evil lest the wrongdoers get positions over you and ur prayers will not b granted.
# Be an enemy of the oppressors and helper of the oppressed.
# Keep ur affairs in order.
# Maintain good relations among yourselves.
# Keep Allah in view in the matter of prayer, because it is the pillar of your religion.
# Keep Allah in the matter of your neighbours. Because they were the subject of the Prophet’s advice. He went advising in their favor till his friends thought he allow them a inheritance.
# Keep Allah in view in the matter of QURAN. No one should excel u in acting upon it.
# Keep Allah in view in the matter of jihad with the help of ur property, life and tongue in the way of Allah.
# Avoid turning away from one another and severing mutual relations.
# U should strive for regard in kinship and spending for others.
# Keep Allah in the matter of orphans. So do not allow them to starve and they shouldn’t b ruined in your presence.
# Keep Allah in view in the matter of Allah’s house. Do not forsake it so long as u live, because if it is abandoned, you won’t be spared.
Posted in Daily IslamDecember 10, 2012No comments
Posted in Daily Islam,QuranDecember 7, 2012No comments
Posted in Daily Islam,QuranDecember 5, 2012No comments
(23:1) Most certainly those Believers have attained true success
(23:2) who perform their Salat with humility:
(23:3) who refrain from vain things:
(23:4) who spend their Zakat dues in appropriate ways:
(23:5) who guard their private parts scrupulously,
(23:6) except with regard to their wives and those women who are legally in their possession, for in that case they shall not be blame-worthy,
(23:7) but those, who go beyond this (in lust for sexual desires), shall be transgressors:
(23:8) who are true to their trusts and their promises:
(23:9) and who strictly guard their Prayers.
(23:10) These are the heirs
(23:11) who will inherit Paradise and dwell therein for ever.
Posted in Daily IslamDecember 3, 2012No comments
Posted in Daily IslamDecember 3, 2012No comments
Posted in Daily Islam,EventsNovember 30, 2012No comments
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null
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These
5 comments:
WOW what a gorgeous piece of art! So glad to hear that you had a lovely Mother's day!
AWESOME JOB TONY!!!!!! Glad you had a great Mother's day Debbie it sounds perfect!
That's totally gorgeous. Tony's a good kid for spending that kind of quality time with you. He also is talented, though I'd say he inherited it from you!
OH~~this is lovely. How sweet of him!!
Wow, I didnt know that Tony had your artistic characteristics either, Debbie! That's so awesome.
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5 BIG Reasons to Start Selling your Stuff Today
My purging process around the house came to a near conclusion last week with a good ole’ fashion garage sale, and I followed up with some garage sale tips. I was able to pocket over $200 while getting rid of a bunch of junk (er… treasure) around the house.
This, paired with selling on Craigslist, EBay, and Amazon over the past few months has brought my total decluttering bounty to over $1,000.
Not surprisingly, I do not miss one thing
The list of things I’ve sold includes: a couch, a bed, a bookshelf, a fake houseplant, a real houseplant, two old bikes, suitcases, pet supplies, a dresser, a nightstand, and much more. I’ve also given a few garbage bags full of clothing and 6 boxes of household items to charity. That’s enough stuff that I wasn’t using to basically fill up, wall-to-wall, about 200 sq. feet of home space (or about 500 sq. feet of properly furnished space).
It wasn’t easy. In fact, it was a 6 month process, that included:
- Going through every belonging in the ENTIRE house on three separate occasions, each time with a more critical eye than the last.
- Researching where to sell what items for the highest return.
- Posting and selling dozens of items on Craigslist, EBay, and Amazon.
- Planning for and holding the garage sale for everything I wasn’t selling elsewhere.
- Donating to charity four different times.
- Recycling what I could that a charity would not take.
- Throwing away the rest (I’m proud to say that I threw out less than a trash bag worth of stuff throughout this entire process).
Here are five reasons to start YOUR decluttering project, without any delay:
1. Your Stuff is Not Going Anywhere on it’s Own
Unless you leave your doors open inviting in burglars (I actually left my garage sale unguarded for a bit, so don’t laugh), your stuff is not going anywhere on its own. It’s up to you to physically move it and get rid of it. Stop putting off the inevitable.
I had held on to my notes from classwork in college. How ridiculous is that?
2. Your Stuff is Depreciating in Value
This ties in to #1. If you’re going to get rid of your stuff, why not sell it before it depreciates in value even more than it already has? Sure, there may be a few antiques or collectibles that are exceptions to the rule, but not many.
3. Get Rid of your Stuff BEFORE you have to
Let’s say that you are offered a new job or lose your existing one and have to make a quick move. What do we all do when this happens? We fill the truck by priority and get rid of everything that doesn’t fit. Not only does this represent wasted money, but you just added your belongings to a landfill instead of getting rid of them responsibly. Don’t wait for this to happen. Sell or donate while you have the freedom and time to do it and give others the chance to use something you no longer do and get it for a bargain.
4. It will Feel Damn Good
It took a while to get to this point, but my dwelling feels noticeably ‘lighter’. My conscience feels lighter too. More space, less clutter, less dust, and more of a feeling like I own my possessions versus them owning me.
5. You May Just be Able to Downsize your Home & Save a Ton of Money
When we (humans) move into a place, we tend to buy based on how much stuff we have. Ironically, we got started buy buying stuff to fill empty rooms. Why not end that cycle and cut down on your mortgage or rent, property taxes, and energy bills? I need 200-500 less square feet to hold my possessions than I did just 6 months ago. And my next house will be significantly smaller as a result. This will produce multiple times the return that I received for the items I sold.
Decluttering Discussion:
- Have you purged recently? How did you get rid of most of your stuff?
- What benefits did you realize after selling/getting rid of your stuff?
Related Posts:
Awesome! I just purged a bunch of clothes I had that either no longer fit or I didn’t wear anymore. I definitely still need to get rid of a few things.
Decluttering is a big goal of mine for the next few months. I’ve started selling things on Craigslist, and already I’m finding that I need less storage than I thought I was going to have to buy.
I’m all to familiar with the depreciation of goods. I’ve recently traded in my old laptop on Gazelle and got a little over $100 for it. If I had done it when I looked it up the first time a year ago, I would have gotten twice that. It had just been sitting there collecting dust the whole time. Oh well, now I know.
The other cost, especially with electronics, is the risk of damaging or losing it before you can sell it. I’m still looking for an old cell phone that I was going to sell but was misplaced in my last move months ago. It’s probably worth next to nothing now, if I ever find it.
You know, old cell phones typically can fetch a lot more than you may expect. I’ve sold 3-4 year old outdated phones for $50. Bottom line, don’t just toss them in the trash!
Getting rid of clutter alaways feels good. If you can sell some of your belongings in the process–so much the better. I believe that if you hav not used something in the last 6-8 months you are probably NOT going to. We have had a couple a garage sales and I was shocked at what sells. If it doesn’t sell at the garage sale–donate it or give it away!
We’d like to get around to de-cluttering too. We don’t have the luxury of having a large house like most of the people we know so we have to be more efficient in what we do keep.
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"sell your stuff sell your stuff"
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Fun fact: more websites are now using jQuery than Flash.
jQuery is an amazing tool that’s made JavaScript accessible to developers and designers of all levels of experience. However, as Spiderman taught us, “with great power comes great responsibility.” The unfortunate downside to jQuery is that while it makes it easy to write JavaScript, it makes it easy to write really really f*&#ing bad JavaScript. Scripts that slow down page load, unresponsive user interfaces, and spaghetti code knotted so deep that it should come with a bottle of whiskey for the next
sucker developer that has to work on it.
This becomes more important for those of us who have yet to move into the magical fairy wonderland where none of our clients or users view our pages in Internet Explorer. The IE JavaScript engine moves at the speed of an advancing glacier compared to more modern browsers, so optimizing our code for performance takes on an even higher level of urgency.
Thankfully,. We’ll tackle all three of these and hopefully you’ll walk away with some new jQuery batarangs to toss around in your next project.
Selector optimization
Selector speed: fast or slow?
Saying that the power behind jQuery comes from its ability to select DOM elements and act on them is like saying that Photoshop is a really good tool for selecting pixels on screen and making them change color – it’s a bit of a gross oversimplification, but the fact remains that jQuery gives us a ton of ways to choose which element or elements in a page we want to work with. However, a surprising number of web developers are unaware that all selectors are not created equal; in fact, it’s incredible just how drastic the performance difference can be between two selectors that, at first glance, appear nearly identical. For instance, consider these two ways of selecting all paragraph tags inside a
<div> with an ID.
$("#id p");
$("#id").find("p");
Would it surprise you to learn that the second way can be more than twice as fast as the first? Knowing which selectors outperform others (and why) is a pretty key building block in making sure your code runs well and doesn’t frustrate your users waiting for things to happen.
There are many different ways to select elements using jQuery, but the most common ways can be basically broken down into five different methods. In order, roughly, from fastest to slowest, these are:
$("#id");
This is without a doubt the fastest selector jQuery provides because it maps directly to the native
document.getElementbyId()JavaScript method. If possible, the selectors listed below should be prefaced with an ID selector in conjunction with jQuery’s .find() method to limit the scope of the page that has to be searched (as in the
$("#id").find("p")example shown above).
$("p");,
$("input");,
$("form");and so on
Selecting elements by tag name is also fast, since it maps directly to the native
document.getElementsByTagname()method.
$(".class");
Selecting by class name is a little trickier. While still performing very well in modern browsers, it can cause some pretty significant slowdowns in IE8 and below. Why? IE9 was the first IE version to support the native
document.getElementsByClassName()JavaScript method. Older browsers have to resort to using much slower DOM-scraping methods that can really impact performance.
$("[attribute=value]");
There is no native JavaScript method for this selector to use, so the only way that jQuery can perform the search is by crawling the entire DOM looking for matches. Modern browsers that support the
querySelectorAll()method will perform better in certain cases (Opera, especially, runs these searches much faster than any other browser) but, generally speaking, this type of selector is Slowey McSlowersons.
$(":hidden");
Like attribute selectors, there is no native JavaScript method for this one to use. Pseudo-selectors can be painfully slow since the selector has to be run against every element in your search space. Again, modern browsers with
querySelectorAll()will perform slightly better here, but try to avoid these if at all possible. If you must use one, try to limit the search space to a specific portion of the page:
$("#list").find(":hidden");
But, hey, proof is in the performance testing, right? It just so happens that said proof is sitting right here. Be sure to notice the class selector numbers beside IE7 and 8 compared to other browsers and then wonder how the people on the IE team at Microsoft manage to sleep at night. Yikes.
Chaining
Almost all jQuery methods return a jQuery object. This means that when a method is run, its results are returned and you can continue executing more methods on them. Rather than writing out the same selector multiple times over, just making a selection once allows multiple actions to be run on it.
Without chaining
$("#object").addClass("active"); $("#object").css("color","#f0f"); $("#object").height(300);
With chaining
$("#object").addClass("active").css("color", "#f0f").height(300);
This has the dual effect of making your code shorter and faster. Chained methods will be slightly faster than multiple methods made on a cached selector, and both ways will be much faster than multiple methods made on non-cached selectors. Wait… “cached selector”? What is this new devilry?
Caching
Another easy way to speed up your code that seems to be a mystery to developers is the idea of caching your selectors. Think of how many times you end up writing the same selector over and over again in any project. Every
$(".element") selector has to search the entire DOM each time, regardless of whether or not that selector had been previously run. Running the selection once and then storing the results in a variable means that the DOM only has to be searched once. Once the results of a selector have been cached, you can do anything with them.
First, run your search (here we’re selecting all of the
<li> elements inside
<ul id="blocks">):
var blocks = $("#blocks").find("li");
Now, you can use the
blocks variable wherever you want without having to search the DOM every time.
$("#hideBlocks").click(function() { blocks.fadeOut(); }); $("#showBlocks").click(function() { blocks.fadeIn(); });
My advice? Any selector that gets run more than once should be cached. This jsperf test shows just how much faster a cached selector runs compared to a non-cached one (and even throws some chaining love in to boot).
Event delegation
Event listeners cost memory. In complex websites and apps it’s not uncommon to have a lot of event listeners floating around, and thankfully jQuery provides some really easy methods for handling event listeners efficiently through delegation.
In a bit of an extreme example, imagine a situation where a 10×10 cell table needs to have an event listener on each cell; let’s say that clicking on a cell adds or removes a class that defines the cell’s background color. A typical way that this might be written (and something I’ve often seen during code reviews) is like so:
$('table').find('td').click(function() { $(this).toggleClass('active'); });
jQuery 1.7 has provided us with a new event listener method, .on(). It acts as a utility that wraps all of jQuery’s previous event listeners into one convenient method, and the way you write it determines how it behaves. To rewrite the above
.click() example using
.on(), we’d simply do the following:
$('table').find('td').on('click',function() { $(this).toggleClass('active'); });
Simple enough, right? Sure, but the problem here is that we’re still binding one hundred event listeners to our page, one to each individual table cell. A far better way to do things is to create one event listener on the table itself that listens for events inside it. Since the majority of events bubble up the DOM tree, we can bind a single event listener to one element (in this case, the
<table>) and wait for events to bubble up from its children. The way to do this using the
.on() method requires only one change from our code above:
$('table').on('click','td',function() { $(this).toggleClass('active'); });
All we’ve done is moved the
td selector to an argument inside the
.on() method. Providing a selector to
.on() switches it into delegation mode, and the event is only fired for descendants of the bound element (
table) that match the selector (
td). With that one simple change, we’ve gone from having to bind one hundred event listeners to just one. You might think that the browser having to do one hundred times less work would be a good thing and you’d be completely right. The difference between the two examples above is staggering.
(Note that if your site is using a version of jQuery earlier than 1.7, you can accomplish the very same thing using the .delegate() method. The syntax of how you write the function differs slightly; if you’ve never used it before, it’s worth checking the API docs for that page to see how it works.)
DOM manipulation
jQuery makes it very easy to manipulate the DOM. It’s trivial to create new nodes, insert them, remove other ones, move things around, and so on. While the code to do this is simple to write, every time the DOM is manipulated, the browser has to repaint and reflow content which can be extremely costly. This is no more evident than in a long loop, whether it be a standard
for() loop,
while() loop, or
jQuery $.each() loop.
In this case, let’s say we’ve just received an array full of image URLs from a database or Ajax call or wherever, and we want to put all of those images in an unordered list. Commonly, you’ll see code like this to pull this off:
var arr = [reallyLongArrayOfImageURLs]; $.each(arr, function(count, item) { var newImg = '<li><img src="'+item+'"></li>'; $('#imgList').append(newImg); });
There are a couple of problems with this. For one (which you should have already noticed if you’ve read the earlier part of this article), we’re making the
$("#imgList") selection once for each iteration of our loop. The other problem here is that each time the loop iterates, it’s adding a new
<li> to the DOM. Each of those insertions is going to be costly, and if our array is quite large then this could lead to a massive slowdown or even the dreaded ‘A script is causing this page to run slowly’ warning.
var arr = [reallyLongArrayOfImageURLs], tmp = ''; $.each(arr, function(count, item) { tmp += '<li><img src="'+item+'"></li>'; }); $('#imgList').append(tmp);
All we’ve done here is create a
tmp variable that each
<li> is added to as it’s created. Once our loop has finished iterating, that
tmp variable will contain all of our list items in memory, and can be appended to our
<ul> all in one go. Browsers work much faster when working with objects in memory rather than on screen, so this is a much faster, more CPU-cycle-friendly method of building a list.
Wrapping up
These are far from being the only ways to make your jQuery code run better, but they are among the simplest ones to implement. Though each individual change may only make a few milliseconds of difference, it doesn’t take long for those milliseconds to add up. Studies have shown that the human eye can discern delays of as few as 100ms, so simply making a few changes sprinkled throughout your code can very easily have a noticeable effect on how well your website or app performs. Do you have other jQuery optimization tips to share? Leave them in the comments and help make us all better.
Now go forth and make awesome!
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13/12/2011
This is some good advice – I’d like to add my stone on the wall. On the last example, tmp += “…” creates an intermediary string on every iteration, resulting in poor performance when dealing with large arrays. You should instead make tmp an array, push the li’s in, and then join(’‘) it.
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13/12/2011
If you’d rather not play around with all that messy string concatenation when performing costly DOM manipulations, give createDocumentFragment a try.
var div = document.createElement(“div”);
div.appendChild( document.createTextNode(“Test div to be inserted 100 times”) );
var fragment = document.createDocumentFragment();
for(i = 0; i < 100; i++) { fragment.appendChild( div.cloneNode(true) );
}
document.getElementById(“container”).appendChild( fragment.cloneNode(true)
);
Amazingly the browser support for documentFragments goes back to IE6.The benefit comes from the ability to add the entire fragment DOM tree into the page DOM with one insertion – just like the method outlined in the article.
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20/12/2011
Bam! Here it is!
It’s a couple of years old but the idea is still solid. Pushing values into an array on each iteration and then using $(“whatever”).append(myreallylongarray.join(’‘)); to do your heavy lifting shows HUGE performance boosts. In retrospect this is the “right way” example I should have used for the DOM Manipulation section of my article, but hindsight is 20/20, etc.
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13/12/2011
Nice article.
…Just as long as people remember that, as long as you’re at least somewhat considerate of the selectors you pass to jQuery, you really don’t need to worry about selector performance too much. jQuery does an excellent job of optimizing as much as possible. But it’s good to understand the basic concepts, like right-left parsing.
Sure – $(‘div’).find(‘p’) may potentially be fractionally faster than $(‘div p’), but I won’t lose sleep if I use the latter. Readability is more important in most cases….or unless there is noticeable slowdown in your page’s performance. :)
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13/12/2011
This has been a very good read, it’s made me more aware of how sluggish my jQuery code actually is compared to how it could be!
I have a question though, you mentioned caching, how does this fair with using $(this). For example, if you only called upon an element once in your script for a click detection, would you need to assign it to a variable first if that element was the same element also be altered? Some examples…
1st Example
$(”#div_id”).click(function() { $(this).hide(); });
2nd Example
var div_id = $(”#div_id”);
div_id.click(function() { div_id.hide(); });
Apologies for the bad example…
But is there much of a difference in loading time between the two?
Is $(this) a sort of variation of caching as it’s already selected the element and you’re just calling it back by saying “this one, the one you just found, yeah, use that”, or is it having to wade through all the code again to find it?
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13/12/2011
Useful tips all. One mini-pattern that I’ve picked up from co-workers is, when caching selectors, prefix your variable with $ to note that it’s a jQuery object. This can be really helpful in methods where you’re dealing with lots of variables, especially when you come back later to modify them or fix bugs.
var $blocks = $(”#blocks”).find(“li”);
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13/12/2011
Fantastic, specially liked the .find() optimization.
For someone coming from ActionScript jQuery shares lots of optimizations.
But DOM manipulation is the heavyweight here.
I was expecting a mention to the second parameter of jQuery(), the context parameter. I was under the impression it narrowed the scope of the DOM search. Is it really faster? or is .find() better.
I also have the doubt as to how does jQuery reads selectors. Is it like CSS (from right to left) or always goes for the ID first?
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13/12/2011
Nice article.
Last example can perform even better if you use array joining instead of string concatenation.
var arr = [reallyLongArrayOfImageURLs], tmp = [];
$.each(arr, function(count, item) { tmp.push(’<li><img src=”‘’”></li>’);
});
$(’#imgList’).append(tmp.join(”“));
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13/12/2011
Interesting article, objective, useful, and well-supported. I really liked the part on event delegation.
One thing I’m noticing is a schism in the developer community around conflicting sets of standards (performance, aesthetics, reusability).
For example, though inserting inline HTML for DOM manipulaiton may be the fastest method, I recently was turned down an interview because a code sample did just this (which was a violation of separation of concerns or some such philosophical thing).
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13/12/2011
Thanks for this great article !
Here’s the test for the last part, ‘DOM Manipulation’, quickly thrown together, with a notSoLongImageArrayFromFlickr:
Now, off to test it with a lot of different browsers :)
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13/12/2011
Thanks for the feedback and questions, everyone. I’ll try to get to them all in time, today’s going to be a little crazy around the office, though, but I’ll do what I can.
One quick response in regards to selector performance, right-to-left, context vs. .find(), etc.: this jsperf example runs through various methods and in almost all browsers (Opera being the lone exception), .find() outperforms other selectors.
Caveat: all methods get obliterated by native JavaScript (see revision 69 of the same test for proof – I created rev 70 and removed the native version just to make the graph readable), but still.
@Andi: yes, those two methods will generally yield pretty similar results. Using .find() for me is more force of habit than anything else.
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13/12/2011
here is the test for the first part :
Using find is actually faster, but not so much.
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13/12/2011
For further reading I would also recommend the following slides from jQuery core team member Addy Osmani and for some bed time reading: jQuery Fundamentals
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13/12/2011
As seen on this jsperf testcase :
This is also way faster to use :
$(document.getElementById(“foo”));
than
$(”#foo”);
But really, is it really so important ? Most of the time, you just cache the result of the selector in a var once, and use it after this.
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13/12/2011
I’ve gotten a few questions on the Twitters about multiple classnames, and how $(”.class”).find(”.other”) compares with $(”.class .other”). I’ve knocked together a really quick jsperf for that one, though I’ve only tested it in Safari/OS X so far. Hit it in different browsers and let’s see what’s the haps!
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13/12/2011
Really great article. The biggest surprise for me was that element selectors perform so well.
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13/12/2011
I also strongly disagree with the last part. Not about its speed but about its security. Really, doing string concatenation should light a warning in your head ! And I keep seeing these advice on every website talking about jQuery !
Really, what is faster here is that you don’t access the node at each step of the loop. You can do this by adding elements to an “off-DOM” node. Yes, it will probably be slower than string concatenation, but still way faster than using an attached DOM node.
So instead of using string concatenation, use jQuery’s “attr” function on a unattached DOM, and it should be nearly as fast.
jsperf testcase to demonstrate this
(feel free to fiddle with the testcase as it doesn’t seem so reliable on my firefox right now)
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13/12/2011
Kinda shocking how slow jQuery actually makes inserting nodes into the DOM
jsperf.com/dom-insertion
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13/12/2011
Some nice tips here. I’m curious, what’s the difference between .on() and .live()? To me it seems they should both do the same thing so I don’t really get why .on() was added and what the potential differences between them are?
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13/12/2011
@Andreas: with jQuery 1.7 the .live() method has officially been deprecated. The .live() API docs page lists a number of reasons why.
Chiefly, it doesn’t perform as well as .on() (all events are attached to the document element), and doesn’t support chaining.
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13/12/2011
Thanks for all these tips! They are not valid for JQuery moreover, it also works for Mootools for example.
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13/12/2011
Julien: unless I’m reading it wrong, your test seems to show that appending to an off-DOM node is considerably slower than simply adding to the DOM directly in all browsers tested.
You can make it slightly faster by adding the src attribute when you create the img element ($(’<img>’, { ‘src’ : item });) rather than using a seperate attr() call, but it’s still slower than just appending straight to the DOM – pretty surprising, not what I would have expected.
Cheers!
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13/12/2011
Just to prove your first point on multiple element selector strings:
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13/12/2011
@Andi: I’m quite surprised too. Especially on Chrome.
It means that adding once as innerHTML is always faster than creating individual nodes.
But I’m really not satisfied by this as it makes the code exposed to bad characters in strings (read: code injection).
I’d like to see what happens with DOM document fragments…
Anyway, I dislike to micro-optimize because the measured performance can change in the next browser version… I do prefer to code secure and reasonably fast, than the contrary. If jQuery is your bottleneck, you’re doing something wrong (like putting your model in the DOM).
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13/12/2011
Would it be possible for jQuery to detect when an ID is the first bit of a selector string and silently-internally do a getElementById call followed by a .find with the remaining string? I can’t think of any problems that would rise from this.
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13/12/2011
I agree with ALEÅ ROUBÃÄŒEK, from what I’ve seen it’s better to use the .push/.join method than jQuery.each.
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13/12/2011
Nice write-up, Scott!
Just a few clarifications:
* `document.querySelectorAll(’:hidden’)` doesn’t actually work; in other words, supporting QSA doesn’t affect the performance of jQuery/Sizzle’s custom selectors. (The text makes it seem like it does.)
* The reason Opera scores so well in QS/QSA tests is because it caches the results. It would be tricky but interesting to create a performance test case that works around this by avoiding repeated selectors.
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13/12/2011
Really nice article Scott, and thanks for the intro to the .on() method in jQuery 1.7.
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13/12/2011
Excellent article with some good tips. Be careful with caching when using ajax. New nodes added to the page will not exist in the cached selector, you’ll have to re-cache. Or even better, use .live() – or .on() in v1.7 I believe.
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13/12/2011
Thanks for the clarifications, Mathias. :hidden was a bad example for me to use as the “title” for the pseudo-selectors section because as you correctly state, it doesn’t use qSA. Good call-out on that.
I was totally unaware of Opera’s caching, too – I actually can’t run Opera on my work computer because it can be used to torrent so I can’t do a lot of testing with it!
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13/12/2011
This article was a source of one excellent piece of information for me: that .live() had been replaced by on().
I’m surprised that .live() hasn’t had more exposure with the rise of media queries and responsive design: if your page has an element hidden at its initial size (or added to the DOM when the size changes), then jQuery can’t attach, say, a ‘click’ to that element, since it’s not in the tree. Change your page width, add the element back in and… no jQuery action on click.
Rather than $(‘a’).click(function() { … }); we use $(‘a’).live(‘click’, function(event) { … }); instead. It’s very powerful, but I was not aware that live() has been deprecated. Now I know better, and I will use
$(‘a’).on(‘click’, function(event) { … }); instead!
As for the performance issues, I must just not be doing enough with my scripts to tax the browsers. I develop in Safari, then Chrome, then Firefox. I test IE inside virtual machines with only 512Mb apiece and none of them have any performance problems. If I start to spot any, I’ll be back here to see what I can do…
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13/12/2011
@Matthew.. “Would it be possible for jQuery to detect when an ID is the first bit of a selector string and … do a getElementById call “
It does that. :)
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13/12/2011
Great article. I’m guilty of knowing jQuery and not Javascript myself (although I can’t stand either). I didn’t realize the find function was faster than a regular selector. :)
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13/12/2011
In regards to $(’.class .other’) versus $(’.class’).find(’.other’), the docs have this to say:
Internally, selector context is implemented with the .find() method, so $(‘span’, this) is equivalent to $(this).find(‘span’).
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13/12/2011
I ran some of the js perf tests using internet explorer 9.0.8 and in quite a few instances I was surprised to see it outperform chrome. The new JS engine is extremely strict as I discovered when trying to use processing.js
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14/12/2011
Nice article man, we may be reworking some of our app and the future way we do things because of this read and the new 1.7 on() support
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14/12/2011
One of the best articles I have read about jQuery so far. Pure awesomeness.
I really would love to see next part of it. More tips – better internet! :D
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14/12/2011
Great article. Thank you.
little performance question:
or
What would you choose?
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14/12/2011
Good question, Bertram. I’d (almost, see note below) always recommend using the latest version of the library. The addition of .on() is only one change of many since 1.4, there have been an absolute ton of additions and improvements over the last few releases.
Besides, once the libraries are minified and gzip’d the file size difference will only be (by my best estimate) about 6 or 7 kb.
The only time I’d be wary of going with the latest version is when updating the version of jQuery used in an existing project. Though updating is almost always painless, the chance of something breaking in your existing code when moving to a new version of jQuery is always present. When I’m using the Google Libraries API to load jQuery (which is almost every project) I will always specify the exact point version I’m loading rather than relying on it to just feed me the latest version. When a new version of the library gets rolled out I’ll switch to the updated version in a dev environment and make sure nothing’s broken before updating on live.
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14/12/2011
A great way to keep track of your cached jquery selectors (I think I picked this up from Alex Sexton) is to prefix the var names with a $. This makes it much easier to remember:
var $elem = $(”#foo”).find(”.bar”);
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14/12/2011
Great article and discussion. For my 2cents when I cache jquery objects I usually suffix with $ so I can remember that this is a jquery object (so “block$” instead of “block”). This is especially useful because I frequently grab the DOM node directly to work with it, so this avoids confusion about which thing I’m actually working on. I realize some people may dislike this for all the usual reason any Hungarian-ish notation is disliked, but in this case I find it very helpful.
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14/12/2011
Speaking of speed, using jQuery.each to iterate over an array is bloody slow.
Did one of these to test:
(also a lot of stuff to confirm my thoughts on where var’d stuff went)
That also brought me to trying iterating over a jQuery collection in array style:
I wonder how big an impact any of this speed stuff is going to make, though.
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14/12/2011
“The IE JavaScript engine moves at the speed of an advancing glacier compared to more modern browsers, so optimizing our code for performance takes on an even higher level of urgency.”
less than 9, yes I agree. But the engine in IE9, from what I’ve observed is better than any other browser, even those versions that have come along since IE9 was released.
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15/12/2011
I guess I must be missed something? I always use CSS selectors like this:
$(‘body > section div#content p’)…..
which must let jQuery know not to bother looking anywhere else other than the top lever section element, etc? Surely the same – if not better – than the ‘find’ options being discussed???
But great work!
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16/12/2011
Good question, Darren. Logically you’d think that’s exactly how it works, but it’s actually the opposite. Sizzle (the CSS selector engine built into jQuery) parses selectors from right to left so in your case, it’ll search out all paragraphs, then determine which ones are inside div#content, and so forth.
I knocked together a quick jsperf using your example and comparing it to a couple of different options using .find(), and .find() is significantly faster.
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16/12/2011
This is a great guide for those who don’t get Javascript but understand enough jQuery to make things happen. It’s nice to finally get your jQuery commands working after reading and rereading the docs. But, as we do with our HTML and CSS, there is some clean-up always required. Performance is huge. Eight seconds is all it takes before someone’s clicking off your page onto something more interesting. This article is so helpful and will be tucked away in my bookmarks for when I need it next. Thanks!
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16/12/2011
Thank you!!! This is gold, especially appreciate seperating religon from science with samples and data.
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16/12/2011
The best way to speed up jQuery is to not use it at all.
Don’t use jQuery because you are afraid (or maybe bored?) to write some simple JavaScript. Don’t use a 30KB framework in place of 10 lines of JavaScript. <em>Think</em> before coding and don’t cut corners just to cut corners — a little bit more work may be a better solution.
Now, don’t take me wrong — jQuery is a great framework and I love it. But I believe it is being overused.
You wouldn’t need to optimize your jQuery code if you used the framework only where necessary, right?
;-)
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17/12/2011
I had no clue about the on() method in v1.7. After seeing it in use here it definitely makes more sense to attach event handlers to parent elements as you did in your table example.
In your section on DOM manipulation, are you also implying that it’s faster to prepend/append strings as opposed to DOM nodes? I’ve heard the former is faster, but never actually done any speed tests myself.
I noticed one small typo. document.getElementsByTagname should be document.getElementsByTagName (capitalize the “n” in “Name”).
Excellent post!
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20/12/2011
Hey Jose, sorry for the late reply.
There are a ton of different methods for prepending/appending, and unfortunately the best answer to your question about performance is “it depends.” The point I was really trying to make was that, regardless of what kind of element you’re appending, it’s much more performant to append them all at once rather than appending one element in each iteration of the loop.
I read a fantastic article about this recently that I’m trying to dig up again, it did a bunch of performance testing of various ways of appending using loops (both native for loops and jQuery $.each) and by far the best way was pushing content into an array in each iteration and then using that array to build the appended content after the loop was finished. If I can find it again I’ll post it here. Thanks for the question!
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23/12/2011
I’m surprised nobody has mentioned jQuery’s selector context?
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05/01/2012
Context was mentioned in the very first comment and I addressed it (along with a number of other things) in a jsperf a few comments later (here). Or is there something more specific you wanted to discuss regarding it?
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14/01/2013
Very usefull tips !
An other “pro” when you use the .on(‘click’,‘selector’,function({}) is that if you dynamically add a some element in ‘selector’ scope, then it will automatically be caught by the click event and you will not have to stick it to the event :-)
Very usefull when you add new <li> items for example.
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13/12/2011
Great article – I know I’ve been guilty of more than one of these before.
Quick question on the first section – is $(”#id”).find(“p”) not equivalent to using the context attribute – $(“p”, “#id”)? They do the same, but I prefer the syntax of the second – no idea which is more performant, though!
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| 2013-05-18T10:53:45 |
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Something I miss about Autumn is the annual "what I did this summer" report that seemed to be a staple during the first week of school-- a pleasant way to linger over the joys of summer vacation. Here is my report:
1. My 8 days in HELL, er, I mean my beloved birthplace, Southern California
These are the only pictures I have of the trip-- the succulents in my sister's back yard. It was just too dang hot to stand out in the sun and take pictures. These are going in my "to paint later" file...
Happily, I survived my time in the sun, the sale of my sister's house went through (yay!), and I got to spend lots of quality time with my siblings and my BFF Anne, the hostess with the mostess who provided lodging, mint chocolate chip ice cream, and Boggle games to revive me each night!
2 and 3. THE FARM FEST and HARVEST FESTLike many other places in the USA, leisure-time activities are heavily influenced by the weather and the seasons here in the Pacific Northwest. This means that outdoor fairs, festivals, and such are highly concentrated between the months of May and September. Our local Yamhill County Historical Museum plows and plants their fields the old-fashioned way at the May Farm Fest:
then they reap it all at the August Harvest Fest...
It really makes you appreciate farmers and the food on your table!
4. THE LAVENDER FESTIVAL
The most aromatic festival in the county and my favorite art fair!
The most aromatic festival in the county and my favorite art fair!
The Yamhill Lavender Festival takes place in mid-July,!).
5. PDX ADULT SOAPBOX DERBY
By far the most hilarious event of the summer, the PDX Soapbox Derby takes place in Portland each August where "Portland's finest freaks pull their home-built creations to the top of Mount Tabor and let gravity guide them to the bottom of the hill."
6. LOOSE GOOSE BALLOON RALLYIt turned out to be too stormy and windy at 6 a.m. for the hot air balloons to ascend at the Loose Goose Balloon Rally at Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum , but in the evening we enjoyed a piano concert out on the lawn; the Evening Glow with inflated balloons was cancelled due to wind, but we enjoyed the showy Candle Stick Glow where just the burners were fired up in the twilight sky...
7. THE DAHLIA FESTIVAL
All in all, it was a glorious (but somewhat brief) summer. The Art Harvest Studio Tour starts in less than two weeks, so it is time to pack away the shorts and flip-flops and get in gear as I look forward to a glorious Autumn! Now where did I pack away all of those sweaters?
5 comments:
! You got to the PDX Soapbox Derby!! I miss going. I used to go every year WITHOUT FAIL. Waah, now you've mae me miss Portland all over again.
I mean "made me miss"...too homesick to type I guess...
Wonderful post, and great photos. We drove once from WA state to southern CA with unexpected car troubles and it really is nerve wracking.
Lavender fair looks lovely.
What a lovely summer!!!! (even with the CA trip!) Thanks for posting your "what I did this summer" enjoyed reading it and your pics!
This was the first year we'd heard about the Soapbox Derby, Curator-- now we can't wait to go back! Portland certainly is one-of-a-kind and we love it!!
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All of our videos are shown below. You can use the filters below to narrow down these videos. Hold down your control key to click multiple items to filter by.
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Form 5500 Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plans and related instructions were revised in 2007 by the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). According to a press release from the DoL, the three significant changes to the Form 5500 for plan year 2007 [...]
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Check Out Chikarasaurus Rex Saturday Night at 7pm on iPPV!June 1st, 2012 by Gavok | Tags: Chikara, wrestling
The other day I gave the skinny on CHIKARA in general (which Chuck Taylor tweeted and Jigsaw retweeted, which is sweet as all hell). With the show being a day away, it’s time I got into the impending iPPV.
This Saturday night, CHIKARA brings us their second iPPV event in Chikarasaurus Rex: How to Hatch a Dinosaur. Their first iPPV came last November in the form of High Noon, which ended up being a great show with no major technical problems.
The show officially starts at 7pm on GFL.TV, though there will be a live pre-show on Ustream.TV at 6:30. While nothing’s announced as of yet, there’s likely to be some kind of exhibition match in there for the sake of hype. The show itself is $15.
Here’s the card:
Who’s Who?
The tecnico side is headed by CHIKARA’s current Grand Champion Eddie Kingston. The War King is the anti-social anti-hero of the company who may be a little too rough in personality to jibe with the colorful, masked wrestlers on the roster, but he’ll still sacrifice everything he has to defend the company’s honor. Recently, he’s been taking on all comers for the Grand Championship, including Brodie Lee, Vin Gerard and current Ring of Honor Heavyweight Champion Kevin Steen. Despite his never-say-die attitude, his knee has been a gigantic target for months.
Jigsaw is one of the earliest students at the Wrestle Factory and has the role of being Mike Quackenbush’s go-to tag partner. Together they’ve held the Campeonatos de Parejas (tag titles) and Jigsaw himself has won the Young Lions Cup, Cibernetico and was one of the original winners of the King of Trios tournament. Recently, the Wrestling Riddle challenged Kingston for the Grand Championship, but came up short.
The Colony (Fire Ant, Soldier Ant and Green Ant) are CHIKARA’s lead trio team. Working together for years in different forms (Green Ant replaced Worker Ant), the Colony’s worked there way up and have succeeded in winning all sorts of major matches. They’ve been Campeones de Parejas, Fire Ant has won the Young Lions Cup and they’re the reigning King of Trios. Green Ant is the only one who talks normally, with Fire Ant only making intense growls and Soldier Ant only yelling things like, “TEN HUT!” and “DISMISSED!”
The GEKIDO (17, the Shard, combatANT, deviANT and assailANT) have bust onto the scene only months ago. A very anti-CHIKARA faction, they’ve been revealed over time as a group of former Wrestle Factory students who got kicked out or left due to their distaste for having to pay their dues through constant training, working security and putting the rings together before shows. Mike Quackenbush has recognized three of them as “Jose and the two Franks”, who he disliked due to being horrible students with no intention to the safety of their opponents. They’ve finished their training under the tutelage of 17, whose identity is a complete mystery. There’s speculation to who he is under the mask, but he insists that he’s never met Quackenbush before this. They’re all evil versions of top CHIKARA personalities with 17 being Evil Quackenbush, Shard being Evil Jigsaw and the Swarm being Evil Colony.
The Setup:
Since first showing up, the Swarm have focused on interfering in the Colony’s matches, claiming to know their identities and threatening to show the world who they really are. A match between both ant factions led to Green Ant having his mask torn off, although he hid his face from onlookers. Shard and 17 appeared shortly after and most of the matches have had little focus on winning and more on injuring the other side and going for the masks. 17′s name comes from how he’s mastered the 17 Forgotten Holds. So far he’s been able to take Mike Quackenbush off the board by breaking his wrist, end the career of the debuting Tianlong, as well as permanently taking out first generation graduate Dragonfly. Kingston is the only one to have any success against 17, making him the perfect replacement for Quackenbush.
Stipulation: Mask vs. Hair
Who’s Who?
Hallowicked has been with the company since the very beginning, winning the very first Young Lions Cup tournament and Tag World Grand Prix. The pumpkin-headed veteran only speaks in strange grunts that sound similar to someone speaking backwards. Recently, he’s made peace with his longtime foe UltraMantis Black, but having his back has led to his current rivalry.
Tim Donst has been a staple of CHIKARA for the past five years. When the BDK ran roughshod on the company, Donst was one of their soldiers. When the team fell apart, Donst took over leadership and ran it into the ground to the point that it’s now just him and ring announcer-turned-wrestler Jakob Hammermeier. During the BDK’s dominant run, Donst was able to cheat his way into winning the Young Lions Cup. While he’s no longer the cup holder, he still insists to being the best Young Lions Cup winner of all time and has been constantly challenging former champs to different degrees of success.
The Setup:
The two mainly clashed during the CHIKARA vs. BDK feud, mainly during the end. With Donst’s obsession with being seen as the best Young Lions Cup champion of all time, he’s focused himself on taking down Hallowicked, who is usually given the nod of being the best of the best. The feud has led to the two rivals stealing the other’s Young Lions Cup trophy, as well as Donst trying to literally murder Hallowicked in a furniture store with a power drill. Donst has gotten a couple wins against Hallowicked and his sidekick Frightmare through the means of using a shoelace to strangle them while hiding it with a headlock. The hatred’s escalated to the point that they’re putting Hallowicked’s mask on the line against Donst’s mane of hair.
Stipulation: Championship Match, Best 2 Out of 3 Falls
Who’s Who?
Chuck Taylor and Johnny Gargano are 2/3 of FIST along with Icarus. They’re a trio of in-your-face jerks and there’s really not much to describe past that. They’re the resident rudo team. FIST has held the Campeonatos De Parejas multiple times in various combinations and just recently won them back from 3.0 (Shane “Big Magic” Matthews and Scott “Jagged” Parker) after taking advantage of Parker’s taped ribs.
The Young Bucks (Nick and Matt Jackson) wrestle semi-regularly for CHIKARA with a less-than-stellar win-loss record. Recently, they’ve gained the three points necessary to challenge for the tag titles and have made reference to how they’re going to legitimatize the company by bringing the belts to their main company, Ring of Honor.
The Setup:
There’s not much history between the two teams, other than Matt beating Gargano in last year’s Young Lions Cup tournament. What’s interesting about this match is that it’s rudo vs. rudo, yet the more unlikeable team represents the company in a CHIKARA vs. outsiders situation. This is part of a series of situations that either act as coincidences or building blocks to some kind of CHIKARA vs. Ring of Honor feud, especially with how the Young Bucks’ determination to besmirch the company through winning the tag titles is very similar to the recent storyline where Kevin Steen tried to beat Eddie Kingston for the Grand Championship. The main difference being that the Young Bucks think CHIKARA is for nerds while Steen thinks CHIKARA is for babies.
Stipulation: Ladder Match for Gran Akuma’s CHIKARA Contract, Special Referee Gregory Iron
Who’s Who?
For years, Gran Akuma and Icarus competed together as FIST, eventually adding Chuck Taylor as their third member. Icarus was always the mouthpiece with Akuma choosing to talks less and smirk more, since he let his actions in the ring speak for him. Akuma’s stiff kicking style and badass demeanor made it frustrating, as he’d be easy to cheer for if he wasn’t teaming up with the most unlikeable guy in the company. Despite years of success, the team became a little complacent and FIST fan Johnny Gargano started blogging about how he blamed Akuma for being the weak link of the trio. Soon, Icarus and Taylor took notice and kicked Akuma out, replacing him with Gargano. Not only was Akuma gone from the stable, but from CHIKARA as well.
The Setup:
Akuma came back last November after being gone for over a year. He targeted Icarus and accidentally kicked Icarus’ rival Gregory Iron in the head, leading to a 3-way feud. Icarus got into the ear of CHIKARA’s Director of Fun Wink Vavasseur and got him to agree that Akuma had to earn his contract through a series of trials. Akuma has succeeded each time, even when having to face all three members of FIST in a handicap match, thanks in part to Iron interfering on his behalf. The final stage is this Ladder Match with the contract suspended above the ring and referee Iron acting as the x-factor.
Stipulation: Handicap Match (maybe)
Who’s Who?
“The Queen of Wrestling” Sara Del Rey has wrestled in CHIKARA for years, but has only recently become a breakout star. For a long time, she wrestled only against women until she and Daizee Haze joined the BDK due to their frustration with only facing each other a million times over. Since then, she’s earned everyone’s respect as someone able to stand her ground against male opponents and it led to her going to war with BDK co-leader Claudio Castagnoli, who put Haze on the shelf as punishment. Del Rey defeated her former boss and became a top name in the company.
Saturyne is a new addition to the roster who also wrestles men. In terms of personality, not much is really known about her, other than how she looks up to Del Rey.
The Batiri (Kobald, Obariyon and Kodama) are a trio of demons originally in the thrall of Sinn Bodhi (otherwise known as Kizarny from WWE) before going off on their own. They know no respect and are even more despicable than FIST. While only Kobald has the ability to talk and they claim to live in a cave somewhere, they contrast it by being extremely active on the social networks. It’s been said that the only words anyone’s ever heard Obariyon and Kodama say are, “Follow us on Twitter!”
The Setup:
Del Rey has had her problems with all three members of the Batiri, with a win-loss of 1-2 against them in singles matches. What escalates this is how the demons have been harping on her non-stop on Twitter. This got even worse when they started giving out personal information, like posting her phone number and address to the public on internet forums. After a match, the three attacked Del Rey and started to tie her up. Saturyne, who has also had problems with the Batiri, came to the rescue and saved her idol.
Recently, there’s been speculation of Del Rey and Saturyne getting help from a third competitor to round it out. Two possible names have been brought up, but we’ll see.
Who’s Who?
The devious UltraMantis Black has been around CHIKARA since day one. The insectoid overlord has led a series of macabre stables, such as the Dark Breed, the Order of the Neo-Solar Temple and currently the Spectral Envoy. Despite his thirst for world domination, he’s recently joined the tecnico side and works alongside Hallowicked and Frightmare (who is currently injured). Unfortunately, his evil past has caught up with him. A couple years ago, he used the mystical artifact known as the Eye of Tyr to take over the mind of Delirious and make him his slave. The Eye of Tyr was stolen away by the BDK and its co-leader Ares, meaning Delirious followed them. UltraMantis reacquired the Eye and broke the spell, but Delirious remembers everything and has become obsessed with getting revenge on UltraMantis, blaming him for losing two years of his life.
The snake-like Ophidian is most widely known for that Combat Zone Wrestling video where he and his Osirian Portal tag partner Amasis performed the most illegal move in wrestling history. The Portal was a popular act in CHIKARA for years, but tragedy came in the form of Amasis being in a nasty car accident. While Amasis is relatively okay now, he’s been forced to retire from the business. Ophidian responded to this by spitting venom into his partner’s face and stealing his mask. He then fought the Portal’s third member Hieracon and stole his mask as well.
The Setup:
During one of UltraMantis’ matches, Ophidian ran in, spit venom in his face and stole his staff away. The reasons aren’t completely clear, but it’s needed for some kind of dark ritual that involves the stolen masks. Ophidian is preparing for some kind of mystic transformation. UltraMantis wants his staff back, but it’s almost certain that Delirious is going to factor into this somehow.
Stipulation: Loser Leaves Town (for whoever gets pinned)
Who’s Who?
For the past year and a half, Archibald Peck has become a name synonymous with CHIKARA as one of the top comedy acts. Originally, CHIKARA hyped up that, “The Band is coming!” heavily insinuating that the TNA stable of Nash, Hall and X-Pac were going to show up in CHIKARA in time for King of Trios. Instead, they were being more literal and we got Marchie Archie and his valet Veronica. The loud and obnoxious band leader has hit many roadblocks during his CHIKARA tenure and ultimately led to Veronica leaving him, as she doesn’t associate with losers.
At his side is Colt Cabana, who is most widely known by mainstream wrestling fans as Scotty Goldman during his brief WWE run or, more specifically, CM Punk’s goofy best friend. Cabana is a top name in the indies and currently holds the NWA Heavyweight Championship. He’s wrestled a couple times in CHIKARA over the past year or so, but mainly in relation to the others involved in this match.
The competitor known as Create-a-Wrestler needed the ideas of the fans to find an actual persona. Throughout the years, he’s wrestled under the gimmicks of Moscow the Communist Bovine and Ultimo Breakfast but the identity of turn-of-the-century baseball player Dasher Hatfield caught on to the point that he made it permanent. He used to team up with 70′s basketball player Sugar Dunkerton as the Throwbacks, but Sugar left the company. Coincidentally, Sugar is said to be making an appearance in some capacity at Chikarasaurus Rex.
Mark Angelosetti, otherwise known as Mr. Touchdown is Dasher’s half-brother-in-law. While Dasher is an all-around good guy, Touchdown is a complete ass who hates nerds, cheats behind Dasher’s back and always tries to steal the spotlight. Despite their differences, the Old-Timey King of Swing and the Interception of Perfection have made a formidable team.
The Setup:
With Veronica leaving Archie, what made things sting more was her notable attraction to Mr. Touchdown, which has been shown to be mutual. Looking even further, it seems that Archie and Touchdown have a history with each other going back to highschool. Archie lost his mind quite a bit and decided that he needed to be tougher than a simple flamboyant band leader. He started getting heavily into MMA and rebranded himself Mixed Martial Archie. While he’s had a little more success, he’s lost touch with wrestling and no longer even understands the basic rules of the “four-sided octagon”. His thirst for revenge against Mr. Touchdown has led to this tag match. Cabana has also had his problems with Touchdown and despite being former rivals with Archie (a label Cabana disagrees with, as they’ve only had two matches), he offers a helping hand. Together, they’re known as Team Tap Outback Steakhouse.
Once again, you can order the show here.
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| 2013-05-18T10:31:51 |
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Will post more soon as we head into the All-Star break, but here's some news on two of Tulsa's All-Star participants...
Tulsa 66ers forward Latavious Williams has been selected to participate in the slam dunk competition and forward Larry Owens has been chosen for the NBA D-League Haier Shooting Stars Competition during the NBA Development League Dream Factory Friday Night presented by Haier on February 18. The competitions will begin at 10:00 p.m. CT at Center Court at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by Adidas inside the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Williams and three other participants will attempt to.
Returning for its second year is the Haier NBA D-League Shooting Stars competition, which features 12 NBA D-League stars competing in four teams of three in a two-round timed shooting event. The. In the case of a tie, a shoot-off will be used to determine the champion.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Williams, Owens selected for D-League challenges
Posted by Kevin Henry at 12:12 PM
Hi, Nice post thanks for sharing. Would you please consider adding a link to my website on your page. Please email me back.
Thanks!
Randy
[email protected]
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In Cape Town I look forward to:
My mom's smile
My dad's hug
Tipsy's voice
The wriggling, grunting happiness of two corgi dogs
The fanning tail wave of an old black lab
Driving a real car (yes, that surprised me, too)
Sitting on the patio with a drink (longing, with all my heart, that Vince was beside me, gulp, and he won't be)
Perfect coffee at Melissa's - called a flat white, which might be South African karmic humour
Buying boerewors anywhere
Cashiers in supermarkets who smile and greet you and seem to mean it
Picking flowers from the garden to put on the table
African sunshine
My mother's effortless light lunches
Seeing my old cream bedroom with the long curtains
The sound of birds in the morning
Hadedas yelling as they fly over the house
Tasting the best, red-fleshed figs
Smelling the fynbos on the mountain
Buying the first, muscat-y hanepoot grapes of season
It is a bittersweet trip. I long to share it with Vince, and we just can't this time. We spent a lot of time apart when we first met, separated by this huge continent and a border, and we have been very lucky to spend three consecutive northern winters in South Africa together. So I'll just make the most of it, which is of course not hard to do, lest I sound spoiled. Hunt some stories, take a lot of pictures, and have the pleasure of introducing a friend who has never set foot on the continent to her first taste of Africa.
Safe journey, Marie. Absence makes the heart grow fonder was before Skype makes the heart grow closer, n'est-ce pas? We will look forward to your chronicles from "home". Especially those of us who have never been to SA and long to go someday.
Wishing you safe travels and a wonderful stay.
Bon voyage Marie. No doubt Vince will miss being with you as much as you will miss him, you two are fortunate that way.
“A good marriage is where both people feel like they're getting the better end of the deal.”
― Anne Lamott
Wishing all of you (including Vince and the black cat) a lovely holiday season, filled with great stories to share when you are reunited.
We shall miss you, but hope that you will find time to post a bit while on your journey. And, we are dying to see "your" continent thru Ellen's eyes!
Travel safely.
Merry Christmas to all!
oops ... Felice Navidad!
Safe travels always. I know you'll miss Vince and Estorbo, but Skype may offer some consolation. I look forward to seeing pictures of your mother's garden and meals taken under the trees. Pats to all the animals, including D.A.R.G.s.
Are you off yet?
If so belated but heartfelt wishes for a lovely holiday and wonderful visit home.
We'll all keep an eye on Vince:)
xo J.
Enjoy! That way time will fly :) Looking forward to New Year tales of far away x
Oh! your'e "home" for Christmas...love reading your poetry especially about my home country.
Enjoy, and take lots of photos of your mother's garden so we can all have a peek.
Go well.
Have a wonderful trip!
Safe journey. The morning birds, the garden, the lunches, it all sounds beautiful.
Safe journey and happy homecoming to you. (At both ends of the journey!)
I'd forgotten about the "hadedas"...enjoy enjoy!
I will be there with you in my imagination and heart. Enjoy!!!!!
Oh, and it's four (4) consecutive northern winters together in South Africa... ;-)
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There’s nothing like spending a few days camping in the great outdoors, especially if you’ve been feeling the need to get away from all the daily stresses of modern life. Camping can be a terrific way to spend a family vacation, but it can also be an enjoyable solitary experience. This gives you the chance to unwind and gain some perceptive in life. Here are some tips to make sure your solo trip is a successful one.
Buy Quality
It’s always nice to get a bargain on inexpensive camping gear, but it is important to think twice before purchasing gear that may give out on you when you need it most. For instance, a rain repellent tent that helps to keep the elements out is not something you should skimp on. In the same vein, don’t lose a good night’s sleep because your cheap sleeping bag can’t keep out the cold.
Leave Notice
Give detailed information to a family or friend as to where you will be camping, areas you intend to explore and how long your camping trip will be. This gives them peace on mind and increases your safety, there is nothing worse than being lost in the woods and not having anyone that knows where to look.
Consider Communication
Depending on where you will be camping, cell phone reception might be unreliable or even nonexistence. Prior to your trip, note on your map the closest land phone to your campsite. Many parks, like the Great Smoky Mountains Park, offer land phone terminals at various locations within the park.
Park Radio
Many National Parks, for example, operate a park service radio providing information useful to campers. This includes weather conditions and safety warnings related about areas of the park that are off limits due to downed trees, mud slides or other safety related concerns.
Take a GPS Unit
Having access to and knowledge of how to use a GPS device can help avoid a lot of frustration when you’re not quite certain if you’re heading in the right direction on a hike. In some cases, in can be a lifesaver if you become utterly lost.
The Right Camping Spot
When setting up your tent, consider weather considerations, such as wind or the nearness of any water, before choosing the location. If you’re camping within a campground, you will generally find regulations posted as to where you can set up camp, as well as requirements on food storage, noise, and other valuable information that will make your camping experience pleasant.
Avoid Over-packing
Don’t take too much “stuff” when you’re camping solo. Create a list of the absolute essentials, like a hand-cranked combination flashlight and radio. Take only the clothes you will need. Remember, you’ll be packing this around, if you intend to set up camp at more than one site.
These are just a few of the tips we have for a successful solo camping trip. Make sure above all to be safe and have a great and relaxing time.
Author info
Josh works with OutdoorPros.com which sells everything from camping supplies to hiking equipment.
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Things used to be a lot easier for Ozzie Guillen.
He was a slick-fielding shortstop that won the 1985 AL Rookie of the Year award, all while sporting arguably the best uniform of the 1980s (see above).
He won a World Series in 2005 with his beloved Pale Hose, sticking it to their bitter crosstown cosmopolitan rivals, the Cubs.
Then he broke his contract, took the money and absconded to Miami, where the smear of the loathsome Jeffrey Loria tainted Ozzie’s passion for baseball into something more closely resembling zealotry.
After the Castro comments, taking potshots at Bryce Harper and failing to get through to Hanley Ramirez, Ozzie’s
Florida Miami career is off to a woozy start.
luvinsports reblogged this from 80sbaseballplayeroftheday
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- found this incredible image at World Digital Library- found this incredible image at World Digital Library
Title: Indian Demons Attacking Fort Defended by European Troops
Description: This unsigned watercolor by an unknown Indian artist depicts the events of the Third Mysore War (1790-92). The Anglo-Mysore wars were a series of conflicts in the late 18th century that were fought between the Kingdom of Mysore, located in southwestern India, and the British East India Company. After victories in the first two wars, Mysore, led by Tipu Sultan, invaded the nearby coastal state of Travancore, which was a British ally. This led to the Third Mysore War, which the British won. Although the royal family of Mysore was Hindu, Tipu Sultan was Muslim, which may explain the presence of the Arabic inscription on the bottom of the work..
Date Created: Around 1791
Language: Arabic
Physical Description: 1 watercolor; 15.3 x 24 centimeters
Collection: Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection
Institution: Brown University Library
Native Demons Attacking European Troops, 1791
>.
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What They Are Teaching Your Children KATY ISD
Size: 4.63 Mb (pdf)
What They Are Teaching Your Children KATY ISD Pay close attention, these documents show a direct connection to Agenda 21 and it's "Over Population" scare tactics. These documents along with others soon to be posted prove that our children are being "indoctrinated" to believe that control is needed to "save the earth from humans"
1 votes
0
495
Author
Folders
4 Files By Thelma_Taormina
Private Album
1 Files By Thelma_Taormina
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http://912membersusa.com/m/files/view/-What-They-Are-Teaching-Your-Children-KATY-ISD
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_3<<
‘National Hairstyle + Stylist’s Appeciation Day’
Today, April 30, is 'National Hairstyle and Hairstylist Appreciation Day.' In my life, I have had hairstyles ranging from the bowl cut, spiky, a mullet, tapered back and sides, long with no bangs, parts, no parts, sideburns on as well as sideburns off. It’s a rather difficult task keeping up with hairstyles. There was the wet gel look, hairspray, big hair and subdued styles. Styles ebb andflow.
_7<<
Reporter Almost Gets Her Head Taken Off By Baseball While Taking Selfie
_9<<
All The Miss South Korea Contestants Look The Same
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Quentin Tarantino, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston + More Rocked Vanity Fair’s 2013 Oscar Party [PHOTOS]
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Ben Affleck
Reese Witherspoon + Jennifer Aniston
Anne Hathaway
Jennifer Lawrence
Christoph Waltz + Quentin Tarantino
Naomi Watts + Isla Fisher
Vanessa Hudgens + Selena Gomez
Sandra Bullock + Melissa McCarthy
Natalie Portman + husband Benjamin Millepied
Steven Tyler + Catherine Zeta-Jones
Allison Williams
Miranda Kerr + Orlando Bloom
Daniel Day-Lewis
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1368696382261
|
[
[
"http://starcrush.com/files/2013/02/vfparty1.jpg",
"Vanity Fair Party 2013 Vanity Fair Party 2013"
],
[
"http://starcrush.com/files/2013/02/benaffleck.jpg",
"Ben Affleck at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Ben Affleck at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party"
],
[
"http://starcrush.com/files/2013/02/reese-jennifer.jpg",
"Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party"
],
[
"http://starcrush.com/files/2013/02/anne-hathaway.jpg",
"Anne Hathaway at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Anne Hathaway at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party"
],
[
"http://starcrush.com/files/2013/02/jennifer-lawrence.jpg",
"Jennifer Lawrence at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Jennifer Lawrence at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party"
],
[
"http://starcrush.com/files/2013/02/christoph-quentin.jpg",
"Christoph Waltz + Quentin Tarantino at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Christoph Waltz + Quentin Tarantino at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party"
],
[
"http://starcrush.com/files/2013/02/naomi-isla.jpg",
"Naomi Watts + Isla Fisher at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Naomi Watts + Isla Fisher at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party"
],
[
"http://starcrush.com/files/2013/02/gomez.jpg",
"Vanessa Hudgens + Selena Gomez at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Vanessa Hudgens + Selena Gomez at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party"
],
[
"http://starcrush.com/files/2013/02/bullock.jpg",
"Sandra Bullock + Melissa McCarthy at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Sandra Bullock + Melissa McCarthy at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party"
],
[
"http://starcrush.com/files/2013/02/portman.jpg",
"Natalie Portman + husband Benjamin Millepied at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Natalie Portman + husband Benjamin Millepied at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party"
],
[
"http://starcrush.com/files/2013/02/tyler-jones.jpg",
"Steven Tyler + Catherine Zeta-Jones at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Steven Tyler + Catherine Zeta-Jones at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party"
],
[
"http://starcrush.com/files/2013/02/allison.jpg",
"Allison Williams at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Allison Williams at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party"
],
[
"http://starcrush.com/files/2013/02/kerr-bloom.jpg",
"Miranda Kerr + Orlando Bloom at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Miranda Kerr + Orlando Bloom at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party"
],
[
"http://starcrush.com/files/2013/02/daniel.jpg",
"Daniel Day-Lewis at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Daniel Day-Lewis at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party"
]
] |
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