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The University of Michigan just opened its new "Mcity" site, a 32-acre faux town with a downtown main street, a stretch of freeway, and multiple paved and unpaved roads. But Mcity's purpose isn't municipal, but technical: to provide a realistic test setting for driverless cars.
Built on the university's campus in Ann Arbor, the "city" was designed to re-create the situations self-driving cars would bump into (or not) on the road. There are building facades, fire hydrants, trash cans, mailboxes, and even mechanized pedestrians and cyclists. The area will serve as a testing ground where the vehicles can experiment with real life situations over and over again.
"Mcity" was officially launched during a ceremony on Monday, and cost an estimated $10 million.
"If you ever had one of those large play mats for toy cars as a kid, Mcity will look familiar. It features a variety of roads and streets, including a small section of freeway, a little downtown Main Street, an underpass, gravel and brick-paved roads, roundabouts, plus plenty of traffic signals and intersections. (Of course, this one is built for real cars and adults, not Matchbox toys.)," wrote Jonathan Gitlin for Ars Technica.
"The whole lab is also packed with networked sensors to collect data on tests conducted on its streets."
Since 2010, Google has successfully tested a variety of driverless vehicles in locations across the country. Still, the company also confirmed that its prototype vehicles have been involved in 14 accidents since it began testing the self-driving cars 5 years ago, including 11 accidents during which the Google vehicle was rear-ended by another car.
This revelation led lawmakers in Michigan to support the concept of a closed testing site in their state.
While self-driving vehicles will be tested in Michigan in 2016, Sen. Gary Peters (D), a member of the US Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, stressed that "it's better to start in a closed facility." Senator Peters has authored several bills on advanced vehicle technologies in his role.
A similar facility, GoMentum Station, opened earlier this year in a private location in northern California. Several carmakers, including Google, use the site to test self-driving vehicles.


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See All
Video Recipes
"Pachakam" means cooking in kerala and Pachakam.Com welcomes you to the magnificent world of easy and healthy Indian cooking with a probe into the fascinating Indian cooking recipes. Cooking is not just about making food but is an art of presenting your culinary skills to those who love food with a different flavor and Indian cooking, by no means is an exception.
Very tasty dish!
Category :
Published On: 16 Jan 2013
English: Chilli Powder
tamil: Mulakupodi
malayalam: Mulakupodi
telugu: Erra Mirapa Kayalu / Yendu Mirapakayalu
kannada: Molaku / Kempu Menasinakai / Ona Menasinakai
hindi: Lal Mirch
Bengali: Paka Lanka / Lal Mirch / Lankamorich
Gujarati: Lal Marcha
Konkani: Sukki Saangi /Suke Miriyasang
Marathi: Lal Mirchi / Mirchya
Oriya: Lanka / Nali Lankamaricha
Punjabi: Lal Mirch
Kashmiri: Marach Wangun
Urudu: Lalmirch
for more details, click the name of the ingredient
English: Turmeric Powder
tamil: Manjalpodi
malayalam: Manjalpodi
telugu: Pasupu
kannada: Arashina / Harasina Pudi
hindi: Haldi / Hardhar
Bengali: Halood
Gujarati: Hardhar / Haldi
Konkani: Haladpito
Marathi: Halad / Halede
Oriya: Haladi Gunda
Punjabi: Haldar / Haldi
Kashmiri: Lader
Urudu: Haladi
English: Gram Flour
tamil: Kadalamaavu
malayalam: Kadala Podi / Kadala Mavu
telugu: Senaga Pindi / Chenaga Pindi
kannada: Kadalehittoo
hindi: Besan / Channa No Lot
Bengali: Baeshun
Gujarati: Channa No Lot
Konkani: Chonyapitti / Sone Pet
Marathi: Besan
Oriya: Besan
Punjabi: Besan
English: Salt
tamil: Uppu
malayalam: Uppu
telugu: Uppu
kannada: Uppu
hindi: Namak
Bengali: Laban / Noone
Gujarati: Meethu
Konkani: Meet
Marathi: Mith
English: oil
tamil: Ennai
malayalam: enna
telugu: camuru
kannada: taila
hindi: tela
Punjabi: moyen
English: Onion
tamil: Vaengayam
malayalam: Savala
telugu: Nirulli / Ullipayalu / Yerra Gaddalu
kannada: Ulligadde / Erulli / Neeruli
hindi: Pyaz / Dungri / Kanda
Bengali: Pyajj / Piyaz
Gujarati: Dungri / Kanda
Konkani: Sawalo / Piyavu
Marathi: Kandaa
Oriya: Piaja
Punjabi: Pyaz
English: Green Chillies
tamil: Pachchii Milagai
malayalam: Pachamulagu
telugu: Patchimirapa / Pachchi Mirapakayalu
kannada: Hasi Menasinakai
hindi: Hara Mircha / Hari Mirch
Bengali: Kancha Lanka / Maricha
Gujarati: Marcha
Konkani: Jeevisaang / Tanrni Mirsang / Tanrni Miriyasang
Marathi: Pachchai Milagai
Oriya: Lila Marcha
Punjabi: Mirchan
English: Curry Leaves
tamil: Kariveppilai / Karivempu
malayalam: Kariveppila
telugu: Karivepaku / Karepaku
kannada: Karibevu / Baisoppu / Karibevina Soppu
hindi: Kadi Patta / Kathnim / Mitha Neem / Curry Patta / Gandhela / Bareanga
Bengali: Curry Patta / Barsanga / Kariphulli
Gujarati: Mitho Limdo / Meetho Limbado / Goranimb / Kadhilimbdo
Konkani: Karbapathi / Beva Palo
Marathi: Kadhi Patta / Karhinimb / Poospala / Gandla / Jhirang / Pandheri Kunthi
Oriya: Bhrusanga Patra / Barsan / Basango / Bhuraunga
Punjabi: Kadipatti / Curry Patta
Tulu: Bevudirae
Clean chicken and make small even sized pieces.
Make a paste with chilly powder, turmeric powder, gram flour and salt.
Apply the paste into the cleaned chicken pieces and mix thoroughly.
Marinate for 15 minutes.
Heat a frying pan, pour oil(coconut oil/sun flower oil/any refined oil can be used).
Deep fry the chicken pieces.
Fry some sliced onion, curry leaves and green chilly and garnishthe fried chicken pieces.
Aviyal is different in all places. This is a pattambi-guruvayoor style aviyal...
Very tasty dish!...
Pepper chicken or Nadan kurumulaku kozhi is an easy and quic...
This is my own creation influenced by the cuisine of Kerala....
Tomato Chicken Curry Recipe is a chicken curry made with tom...
If you've wanted to learn how to make fried chicken, this is...
Nizana Shammas is a hosewife who has lots of interest n cooking. She is an expert in providing various traditional recipes.
Renukadevi Kumanan is a well versed person in providing varities of South Indian recipes and also some modern recipes. She used to try varities of recipes from different cuisines.
Sign up to receive email updates for New Recipes/Special Announcements

subset: commoncrawl


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A parish can never have too much communication. Whether by Sunday announcements, website, newsletter, weekly email, or the occasional letter, St. John's strives to keep everyone informed. Join our email list to stay informed of what's happening at St. John's.
Stjohnsoakland.org is THE place to get immediate information on upcoming events, parish leaders and ministries. You can also fill out a form for a Sunday Bulletin announcement and hear the sermons you missed or want to hear again.
Church Mouse - Newsletter
This newsletter is published every month. It contains articles from the Rector and staff, Senior Warden, information and reservation forms for special events, ministry activities and news from around the parish and the diocese. It is distributed primarily by email. Printed copies are always available on the shelves on the right hand side of the Narthex. The 17th of every month is the deadline for articles. Email them to email@example.com
Weekly emails give the service times, adult education offerings and news of parish events. To submit an announcement, visit the Anouncement Request Form.
Sunday Bulletin
Parishioners may use the bulletin to announce upcoming events in the parish and community. Use the Anouncement Request Form to submit items for the weekly bulletin.
Parish Directory
Published twice a year, the directory has the most recent phone, address and email information for all parishioners. Changes should be sent to email@example.com.
Bulletin Boards
These boards in the Narthex and hall areas help keep parish members informed by displaying information about upcoming events, educational opportunities and special occasions. Use of them are scheduled through the staff and recorded in the office calendar.
History/Archive/Parish Narratives
St. John's is almost 60 years old. Bryan Culp is archiving the past and present through electronic and print mediums. Volumes are on display at the Ministries Fair and St. John's Day.


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Dear Clients and Partners!
We're pleased to inform you that from 6th to 8th of November 2015, RoboForex (CY) Ltd will take part in one of the largest financial events in Asia, "Money Fair 2015" forum. This is another logical step of the Company's extension in the Asia region and an effective way to introduce our trading opportunities and solutions to local traders. RoboForex Financial Group is a permanent participant of "Money Fair" exhibition – for the first time the RoboForex stand was introduced here in 2013.
The following topics will be discussed during the exhibition:
Improvements of affiliate programs: review of potential changes and prospects of developing multi-level affiliate IB networks in China.
CopyFX investment system: how Traders and Investors should make their first steps.
New Bonus programs: details of the Company's offers and discussions whether they're popular and essential for the region.
- WebTrader terminal, developed by the Company: the terminal's opportunities and plans for development.
Shanghai Exhibition Center (Shanghai, China)
From 6th to 8th of November 2015
The number of our stand is F30
More detailed information about the event can be found on its official website.


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Stretch Training
A good stretching regime is often the missing component in many people's exercise program or lifestyle patterns. It is essential for the functional integrity of the body to have the correct balance between opposing muscle groups.
This balance provides correct joint stability, reduced muscle imbalance (some muscles over working ) improved muscular co-ordination, helps to correct your posture and above all it helps address many muscular/skeletal conditions (back pain, knee pain etc) and aid in the prevention of injuries, both sports and occupational.
So no matter what your flexibility level is there are simple stretching exercises to get you started. A structured stretching program can benefit many people from many different ages and demographics.
From adolescent boys and girls who suffer from growing related conditions, sports people wanting to reduce the chance of injuries and alleviate post exercise soreness, to people who find their general movement restrictive, all of these needs can be easily addressed through a simple and focused stretching program.


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Whether you're budgeting for your next big trip or simply interested in the cost of living around the world, we think you'll find Price of Travel's research on global taxi fares worth a look. We've listed for you here the cheapest fares, the most expensive, and some interesting in-betweens, all researched by PriceofTravel.com. The pricing range reflects if very little or a lot of time is spent waiting in traffic.
What are your thoughts on finding the best (or worst!) taxi fares worldwide? Let us know!
What A Two-Mile Taxi Ride Will Cost You Around The World


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Email has been sent to with instructions on resetting your password.
Enroll in a Dignity Health account to simplify finding a doctor and scheduling an appointment. Let's start!
By selecting "I Agree" or "Create Account" and clicking the box "I AGREE" below, you acknowledge and agree that you have read, understood and accepted the terms of service at the hyperlink below:
Legal and Privacy Notices
Press Center and News
Awards & Recognition
Community Benefit
St. Joseph's Executive Leadership
Helicopter Feedback
History of St. Joseph's
St. Joseph's Mission, Vision and Values
Research and Education
Sponsorship Request Application
Vendor Registration
An expectant mother, Kimberly Oswalt, was visiting Arizona from Ohio three years ago with her husband Adam. At just 23-weeks gestation, she unexpectedly began to experience premature labor complications. When the couple arrived at St. Joseph's, they were immediately grateful for Vold's presence, telling hospital administration that Vold has an infectious smile and an optimistic approach to stressful situations. She made sure that Oswalt was relaxed and comfortable even during the toughest times.
The Oswalts named their son Joseph, partly because of their positive experience at the hospital. While the couple was ultimately faced with grieving the passing of Joseph, they are forever grateful for the skill and level of care provided by the nurses assigned to them, including Vold.
"When Adam and I think back to Arizona, we have fond memories of our small family of three, and although we can't help but think about those moments of intense fear followed by sorrow and grief after Joseph passed, we are always uplifted by the hope, compassion, and love our nurses left in our hearts," Oswalt said.
Vold's direct influence on her patients' level of comfort and happiness leaves an everlasting impression on those around her. The DAISY Award was presented to Vold because she consistently demonstrates the outstanding degree of compassion and diligence the award sets out to recognize.
The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is part of The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Foundation's program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses make every day.
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation, based in Glen Ellen, Calif., was established by J. Mark Barnes and his family in memory of his son J. Patrick Barnes. J. Patrick died at the age of 33 in 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little-known autoimmune disease. The nursing care Patrick and his family received while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and families.
"We are proud to be among the hospital systems participating in The DAISY Award program," says Patty White, president and CEO of Dignity Health St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center. "Nurses are heroes every day. It's important that our nurses know their work is highly valued, and The DAISY Foundation provides another way for us to do that."


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Getting a scholarship is as easy as tailgating and enjoying some football for University of Iowa students this year.
After seeing a decline in student season ticket sales, the school is getting creative in order to get more kids in the seats. According to the Associated Press, the university is offering five randomly selected students a year of free tuition for purchasing season tickets for the 2014 season.
But if students don't win the grand prize that will make their parents jump for joy, there are other incentives for buying tickets by the Aug. 1 deadline. One lucky Hawkeye will win an away game viewing party in the press box, one will win up to $500 in free books and four students will cover the pizza and beer for the year, winning $1,000 gift cards to the Hy-Vee grocery store.
Hey, Big Ten football might not be the best, but a free year of school certainly is.
UPDATE (9:47 p.m.): Some things are just too good to be true.
Iowa athletic director Gary Barta released a statement later on Wednesday in response to questions about the legality of the promotion.
"This afternoon we learned of concerns related to a student football promotion," Barta said. "A question has been raised whether the promotion is compliant with state raffle laws. I have suspended the promotion temporarily as we determine how to make sure that this promotion is in complete compliance.
"In the end, our goal is to do everything possible to make sure that the student experience at Hawkeye football games is as fun and exciting as possible."
Photo via Twitter/@ForTheWin


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Wait what? I know I know it was just Labor Day and we have not even had Halloween or Thanksgiving yet!
Don't worry I am not decorating or anything like that I am just trying to go into this year prepared so that I am not my normal "last minute Lucy self"
I have a ton of Christmas paper and I have really been trying to use up my old stuff. I mean if you have it you should use it right? Plus if you use it up...you will need more!!
So like I said using up my old stuff...this is Evensong paper. I think this is way back from when I first started up with Close to my Heart...I do miss those days.
This paper is pretty and I have been moving it around for about 7 years so this year I used it all up! All of it. Half on this card set and half on a set I will be sharing in the new future. I LOVE the way these turned out.
Another thing that I noticed my Art Philosophy does not get the same love from me as Artiste and Artbooking. The brochure just is not set up the same way and so instead of all items on the page coordinating; you kind of have to mix and match. Anyway I saw this adorable little ornament card.
Actually there are several cards with shapes cut out of them on the Art Philo cartridge and I plan on trying a bunch of them out. Let me know if you have made any of them cause I would love some more ideas.
Here is what I did on the inside of the cards.
Pretty cool huh? I took the shape of the ornament from each of the cards and added it to the inside. Then I added some Colonial White cardstock on the bottom under the shimmer tape and took the bottom of the pattern paper and added it inside as well.
I seriously love these cards! Even now blogging about them is making me smile, they just came together so nicely and they coordinate so well. I know that when my friends and family open up these cards they too will get a big smile.
Here is a close up of the cards, I love these poinsettias, I have had these laying around for a long time as well but not 7 years! Honestly though I wish I would have used these when I got them because I probably would have bought some more. They are so cute, but this just goes to show why you should use your stuff! Now I sort of want more of these but CTMH no longer sells them. I could probably find more if I really tried as I have seen them here and there around Christmas time...we will see.
Anyway I hope you have enjoyed this card and if I hope I inspired you to start on your Christmas cards so that you can really enjoy the holiday season.
Cardstock - Cranberry, Colonial White, New England Ivy, Olive
Pattern Paper - Evensong
Embelishments - Poinsettias, Silver Shimmer Trim
Stamp Set - Pear & Partrige WOTG , Card Chatter - Christmas
Cartidge - Art Philosophy *All supplies are from Close to my Heart
unless otherwise noted.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Starting to think about the holidays
Posted by Amy Pitts
Labels: Art Philosophy, Card Set, Christmas, Evensong
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Harvard Researchers Develop Tough, Self-Healing RubberAugust 14, 2017
Self-healing rubber links permanent covalent bonds (red) with reversible hydrogen bonds (green).
[Image courtesy of Peter and Ryan Allen/Harvard SEAS]
Imagine a tire that could heal after being punctured or a rubber band that never snapped.
Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have developed a new type of rubber that is as tough as natural rubber but can also self-heal.
The research is published in Advanced Materials.*
Self-healing materials aren't new — researchers at SEAS have developed self-healing hydrogels, which rely on water to incorporate reversible bonds that can promote healing. However, engineering self-healing properties in dry materials — such as rubber — has proven more challenging. That is because rubber is made of polymers often connected by permanent, covalent bonds. While these bonds are incredibly strong, they will never reconnect once broken.
In order to make a rubber self-healable, the team needed to make the bonds connecting the polymers reversible, so that the bonds could break and reform.
"Previous research used reversible hydrogen bonds to connect polymers to form a rubber but reversible bonds are intrinsically weaker than covalent bonds," said Li-Heng Cai, a postdoctoral fellow at SEAS and corresponding author of the paper. "This raised the question, can we make something tough but can still self-heal?"
Cai, along with Jinrong Wu, a visiting professor from Sichuan University, China, and senior author David A. Weitz, Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics and Applied Physics, developed a hybrid rubber with both covalent and reversible bonds.
Continue reading "Harvard researchers develop tough, self-healing rubber" by Leah Burrows, August 14, 2017. http://www.seas.harvard.edu/news/2017/08/harvard-researchers-develop-tough-self-healing-rubber.
*Jinrong Wu, Li-Heng Cai, David A. Weitz, "Tough Self-Healing Elastomers by Molecular Enforced Integration of Covalent and Reversible Networks," Advanced Materials (11 August 2017) DOI: 10.1002/adma.201702616.


text: Cheryl Snell has published over four hundred poems and stories online and in print. Her books include both fiction and poetry, and Prisoner's Dilemma, poetry and art on game theory, won the Lopside Press Competition. Snell has been nominated for the Pushcart and Best of the Net four times, and her poem "Fire on the Cuyahoga" was chosen by Dorianne Laux for inclusion in a Sundress Best of the Net Anthology. In addition to Cheryl's traditionally published books, she collaborates with expressionist Janet Snell on projects for their Scattered Light Library. Follow the sisters' blog Scattered Light and Cheryl's author's blog about all things Indian at shivasarms.blogspot.com.


text: This was a great wedding bunch. When ever I do a Kailua/Lanikai wedding everyone is always so friendly and they definetly know how to party it up. The ceremony and reception was at the beautiful Mid Pac Country Club. Just a short walk from the famous Lanikai beach and surrounded by the picturesque Koolau Mountain Range. Rebekah's sister Melissa Laudise (a great wedding planner! Who I work with quite often, check out her site at Let's Do This! Event Planning) worked her magic and managed to surprise the bride and groom with a bright yellow fire truck parked right around the corner. The perfect surprise for the groom since he is a fire fighter. The truck made for some different shots which I am always happy to have. Thanks Mellisa! Stephen Ludwig - Hawaii Wedding Photographer - Oahu, Hawaii


text: This is the readme file for the model associated with the paper: Bar-Yehuda D, Korngreen A (2008) Space clamp problems when voltage clamping neurons expressing voltage-gated conductances. J Neurophysiol You can auto-launch from ModelDB (after you have installed NEURON) and then choose Potassium or Calcium conductance simulations to generate figures associated with Figures 1 and 4. You can further create graphs of sample spatial voltage values by selecting from the NEURON Main Menu "Graph" -> "Shape Plot" and then drag the mouse from the box in the upper left corner of the graph to select "Space plot" from the pop-up menu. Finally, drag the mouse from the lower extremity of the cell to the top. When you release the mouse button a graph of the voltage along the path you selected through the cell appears (see bottom of below figure which was created after Potassium and then the L5 Pyramidal Neuron were selected and then after the run (takes about 20 seconds) the above shape plot procedure was followed): Alternatively you can run the files manually. The demo code contains two simulations. The "potassium.hoc" file contains code simulating parts of figure 1. The "calcium.hoc" file contains code simulating parts of figure 4. To run the simulations you will have to first compile the MOD files in the SpaceClampDemo directory (nrnivmodl under Linux, mknrndll under windows, or drag and drop the SpaceClampDemo folder onto the mknrndll icon under MAC OS X). To run the simulations simply run one of the above HOC files, or the mosinit.hoc file. In windows just double click on the icon, in Linux invoke the "nrngui filename -" command, and under the MAC drag and drop the mosinit.hoc file onto the nrngui icon. All simulations will generate two graphs, one displaying the membrane potential in pseudo color in each compartment of the neuron and one displaying the activation of the voltage-gated conductance also in pseudo color.


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He's been on the big screen since the early 1990s, playing the roles that range from an intellectually challenged boy to a pauper, a pilot, Romeo, Gatsby, and an undercover cop, to name a few.
He got his first Oscar nomination at the age of 19 for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of a mentally challenged boy in the 1993 film "What's Eating Gilbert Grape." He received three more nominations after that, but he hasn't yet won an Oscar.
DiCaprio started out in the business at the age of 13, had no formal training in theater or film, and learned acting on the job. In a recent interview on CBS, he said it's been his goal to focus on his career.
"It's an honor to be able to be a working actor, period. I'm not going to squander this opportunity," he said.
To date, DiCaprio played lead roles in Oscar-winning movies like "Django Unchained," "Inception," and "Titanic" and garnered nomination for lead roles in "The Aviator" and "Blood Diamond." But as he's entering his 40s this year, DiCaprio is still a name on the nominee list.
Many talented people have received numerous nominations before finally landing the golden statue. Film composer Victor Young was nominated 21 times before he received his first and only Oscar, posthumously, in 1957.
This March, DiCaprio will walk into the Hollywood Dolby Theatre with his fourth and fifth Oscar nominations, both for "The Wolf of Wall Street," which DiCaprio starred in and helped produce.
Fans of the star and entertainment buffs have started to question the matter, as websites sprouted posts and discussions about how DiCaprio is getting left out. All kinds of memes and posts and GIFs about him with a "photoshopped" Oscar have circulated the social media sphere, all in hopes that DiCaprio will finally be called up onto the stage.
Some fans got excited when, shooting the factory where the statuettes get made, CNN showed the Oscar nameplate for DiCaprio as the best actor. Never mind that the Academy creates nameplates for all nominees and recycles the unused ones after the big night.
'The Wolf of Wall Street'
DiCaprio already picked up a Golden Globe for his role as lead actor in the "The Wolf of Wall Street" earlier this January. He was going up against Oscar Isaac, Joaquin Phoenix, Bruce Dern, and Christian Bale, three of whom are also his contenders for the same Oscar.
The idea for "The Wolf of Wall Street" came from DiCaprio, who became interested in the story after he read the memoir of Wall Street banker Jordan Belfort. DiCaprio started pursuing director Martin Scorsese over the years with the idea for the film, he said during his acceptance speech at the recent Golden Globes Awards.
"I waited until I got the right financing, the right people that would allow us to make the movie that we wanted to make," DiCaprio said in the same CBS interview.
But it wasn't until the stars aligned that the Oscar-winning director picked up the script and set out to direct the film.
This was the fifth collaboration between DiCaprio and Scorsese. Their relationship dates back to 2002, when DiCaprio starred in "Gangs of New York."
This award season, "The Wolf of Wall Street" raked in five Oscar nominations, including best leading actor, best supporting actor, best directing, best writing, and Motion Picture of the Year.
"On this picture, it's the role of a lifetime, really. And he's just taken it to another level," Scorsese said in the same interview about DiCaprio's performance in "The Wolf of Wall Street."
We shall see if the Academy shares Scorsese's high estimation. The 2014 Oscars will air on ABC on March 2, at 7 p.m., EST.


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Halloween Projects!
Hey All! Did you guys celebrate Halloween at all? Well my youngest Rhys and myself did but not Ethan, think he is going into the 'tween' stage hahaha! Rhys wanted to be a shark… Baby Shark Song has a lot… Continue reading
Hey All! Did you guys celebrate Halloween at all? Well my youngest Rhys and myself did but not Ethan, think he is going into the 'tween' stage hahaha! Rhys wanted to be a shark… Baby Shark Song has a lot… Continue reading
Now apologies everyone! It's been over a month ago now that our event taken place ….Wow, what day we all had!! Don't know about you guys but i'm thinking i'm still recovering!! But i thought i'd share my thoughts around… Continue reading
Hi there! Where has the time gone? The year seems to be speeding away from me and all of a sudden, it's almost time for Sew Up North! Only 6 days to go!!! Say what?!! All attendees should have received… Continue reading
Oh my! It's getting closer!!! Only 2 weeks away now!! Becca is busy preparing your guide to the day so keep an eye on your inboxes as it will be winging its way soon! Still can't quite believe how many… Continue reading
Hi there! This blog post is a call for help from any of you lovelies who have tickets for Sew Up North and feel kind enough to give us a little bit of a hand on the day. Becca and… Continue reading
Hi everyone! We've got an important update today for those of you with tickets for Sew Up North. First things first, don't panic! The event is still very much on, same date and time. However, our final location has had… Continue reading
Afternoon All! Can you believe we are only 6 weeks away from Sew Up North?!! Time flies when you're having fun!! The list just goes on with the number of lovely sponsors that we have for the Charity Raffle in… Continue reading
Hello everyone! So we're back again today with yet more sponsors for our charity raffle for Sew Up North. As I'm sure you know, the event has currently sold out and we do have a waiting list for tickets;… Continue reading
Wow….what can we say… the tickets were all claimed within 24 hours!! Blimley you lot were keen! If you have a ticket and if your circumstances change then please let us know as we can re-release your ticket to someone… Continue reading
Hello there! Right, so exciting news; the tickets for Sew Up North will be going live as this blog is published. As a reminder, Sew Up North is a sewing social event held in Leeds City Centre on September… Continue reading


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THE robots are coming! Word is they want your job, your life and probably your little dog, too.
Robots have once again gripped the nation's imagination, stoking fears of displaced jobs and perhaps even a displaced human race. An alarmist segment on "60 Minutes" was only the most vivid of a recent series of pieces in respected magazines and news outlets warning about widespread worker displacement. Professors at Cambridge University and a co-founder of Skype are creating a new Center for the Study of Existential Risk, which would research a "Terminator"-like scenario in which supercomputers rise up and destroy their human overlords, presumably plotting the whole caper in zeros and ones.
In New York alone, there are four plays running this month with themes of cybernetics run amok. One is a revival of "R.U.R.," a 1920 Czech play that was the granddaddy of the cybernetic revolt genre and that originated the current meaning of the word "robot."
Such android anxiety has a long history. John Maynard Keynes wrote about "technological unemployment" during the Great Depression. In the Industrial Revolution, disgruntled laborers — including the original Luddites — smashed automated looms and threshing machines that "stole" their jobs. In the 15th century, scribes protested the printing press, with a futile zeal rivaled perhaps only by that of modern journalists.
Even Aristotle foretold that automation would expunge the need for labor, observing that if "the shuttle would weave and the plectrum touch the lyre without a hand to guide them, chief workmen would not want servants, nor masters slaves."
Throughout the 20th century, science fiction writers created pop culture touchstones about technological tyranny. Among the most resonant is Kurt Vonnegut's 1952 "Player Piano," about a dystopia in which mechanization has displaced the lower classes and assigned the world's wealth to engineers and managers.
You might even carbon-date this literary line to the Golem of Prague, a 16th-century Jewish legend about a clay automaton that ultimately destroyed those it was designed to protect. That story, too, recently enjoyed a revival on the New York rialto.
There is something almost Freudian in these robot takeover terrors, which foretell that the technology we fathered will rise up against us, rendering us obsolete or even extinct.
It's not exactly clear, though, what triggers these fears, which seem to come in both good economic times and bad. It might be actual accelerations in technical change. But Andreas Bauer, an official with the International Federation of Robotics and a German robotics company executive, says that such fears are unheard-of in the equally mechanized economies of contemporary Japan and Europe.
In Japan, he says, people love the anthropomorphic robots that give Americans the willies. Factories in Germany have big, splashy media junkets to announce their latest automation investments, moves their North American counterparts dare not publicly divulge.
Labor also has more protections in these other developed countries, making it harder to fire workers when more efficient manufacturing processes are developed; in fact, labor contracts in Japan have traditionally banned laying off workers displaced by automation. In the 1980s, economists credited these contract provisions with helping make Japanese manufacturing so productive, since workers had an incentive to suggest efficiency improvements.
In hindsight, historical fears of technological change look foolish, given that automation has increased living standards and rendered our workweeks both safer and shorter. In 1900, when nearly half the American labor force was employed in backbreaking agriculture, the typical worker logged 2,300 hours a year, according to Joel Mokyr, an economic historian at Northwestern University. Today that number is 1,800. (If you believe "The Jetsons," by 2062 we'll be working only two hours a week; Keynes had similar forecasts.)
That said, creative destruction is undoubtedly painful. Historically, the children of displaced workers have benefited from mechanization, but the displaced workers themselves have often been permanently passé.
"Every invention ever made caused some people to lose jobs," says Mr. Mokyr. "In a good society, when this happens, they put you out to pasture and give you a golf club and a condo in Florida. In a bad society, they put you on the dole, so you have just enough not to starve, but that's about it."
And many economists today believe the transition will be even more difficult this time around.
Erik Brynjolfsson, an economics professor at M.I.T. and co-author of the book "Race Against the Machine," argues that we have reached a sort of inflection point in productivity growth. It took expensive capital equipment to revolutionize farming and manufacturing; the marginal cost of the technologies (software and so on) producing the most recent gains in efficiency is near zero. Any job that can be reduced to an algorithm will be, leading to the displacement of workers in industries as diverse as retail and radiology.
That's not to say there will be no new jobs to fill the void: we can scarcely imagine the industries and occupations that will flower as the economy adjusts, just as prior deep thinkers could not have conceived of today's nanophysicists or social media consultants. The challenge, of course, is training or retraining workers quickly enough to take on new, higher-skilled roles.
An optimist like Mr. Mokyr might note that the economy is actually becoming unusually good at scaling up retraining programs just as we need them most. The technological shocks that have affected manufacturing and office administration, after all, are now infiltrating education: with online courses, an expert can teach 60,000 students at a time rather than the 60 Mr. Mokyr lectured on Tuesday.
Mr. Mokyr is not too worried about what this will mean for his own livelihood, despite the mass layoffs that similar cybernetic developments have wrought over every other industry he has studied.
"I can be displaced by technology, but they still can't fire me," he says. "I have tenure."


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- Rentals
- Soccer
- Corn Hole
- Driving Range
- Field Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Football & Flag Football
- Ultimate Frisbee
- T-Ball
- Camps
- Special Events
Smith River Sports Complex plays host to many summer camps every year. We partner with the Piedmont Youth Soccer League to offer a number of soccer camps and clinics for all ages. More information on this will be available soon.
Smith River Sports Complex also is looking for groups to host camps and clinics in other sports such as football, field hockey, ultimate, lacrosse, and more. Contact us today at (276) 638-5200 for information about our current camps as well as inquiries regarding holding your organization's camp in the future!


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Full Name:
Sue L.
I was so excited when I first heard this message. If you've always wanted to strengthen your relationship with God but didn't quite know how to go about it this message will give you a practical, step-by-step jump-start. Being the type of person that was never in the house with the TV off I thought that giving up TV completely for 7 days would be difficult, but once I made the determination that I needed to do this, it became an easy thing. I wasn't able to follow the plan to the letter (this time) but the great thing about God is as you take a step toward Him, he takes a step toward you (& He's got mighty long legs!) Even going slightly off the plan I can sense a definite change in my walk with God. I'm more on fire & more hungry for the Word of God than I've ever been. This is something I am absolutely going to do again & I'd highly recommend it to anyone who's hungry for more of God or wants to be. I can only imagine the results I'll have when I follow EVERY step of the plan!
Non Denominational
Brockton, MA
Jenn D.
I highly recommend the teaching of Pastor Mike Faherty. I have grown spiritually and learned so much from him and his wife. You should definitely take the time to listen to this message and act on it!!
Somerville, MA
I have just completed my second "Rapid Spirituality" session. I will repeate this again in the future as I see the need. It is a jump start into spiritual things. I am focused and getting answers from God in my life. I thank God for this practicle, easy-to-do program.
Falmouth, MA
Michael Faherty Ministries


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Following Monday night's engaging Life and Death on the NY Dance Floor/ Creative Talks event at Sketch--thanks to Aj Kwame for hosting and chairing--the launch series now switches to Germany. I'll be in Bochum on Thursday, heading to Berlin on Friday, then on to Offenbach on Saturday and wrapping in Hamburg on Sunday. Will there come a point when I grow tired of talking about NYC 1980-83? No chance...
Thursday 8 December
Institut für populäre Musik der Folkwang Universität der Künste Prinz-Regent Str. 50-60
Bochum, Germany (Telekom Electronic Beats)
Doors 18:00, Reading starts at 19:00 Free entry. Info here
Friday 9 December
Echo Bücher
Grüntaler Str. 9 Berlin, Germany (Telekom Electronic Beats)
7pm to 10pm Reading from the book, followed by a moderated Q&A with TEB's editor-in-chief Sven von Thülen Info here
Saturday 10 December
Robert Johnson Theorie
Nordring 131 Offenbach, Germany (Telekom Electronic Beats)
10pm to 11:45pm Info here
Sunday 11 December
PAL Karolinenstr. 45 Hamburg, Germany (Telekom Electronic Beats)
20:00 to 02:00 Book presentation followed by Finn Johannsen DJ set Info here
I'm very much looking forward to hanging out with Sven VT and Hans Nieswandt as well as getting a chance to spend some time with friends Lisa Blanning, Daniel Wang and Lou Louften. If I'm lucky I'll also get to see Angus Finlayson (an ex-student at UEL who is now working as a writer and musician in Berlin), Arnold Dreyblatt (one of Arthur Russell's dear friends) and Steve Mass (owner of the Mudd Club).
Many thanks to Sven VT for organising the tour and Telekom Electronic Beats for funding.


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Darren Proppe
- Dr. Darren Proppe
- Assistant Professor
- Biology
- (616) 526-6662
- email@example.com
- BS in Biology, Texas A & M University in Biology, 1998
- MS in Applied Ecology, Eastern Kentuky University, 2005
- PhD in Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 2010
Professional Experience
- Assistant Professor, Au Sable Institute, Mancelona, Michigan, 2014 – 2017
- Assistant Professor, Montreat College, Montreat, North Carolina, 2010 – 2012
- Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, 2006 – 2010
- Avian Biologist, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Fort Collins, Colorado, 2005 – 2006
- National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky, 2003 – 2005
- Environmental Science Educator, American Outdoor Schools, Coarsegold, California, 2001 – 2003
As an educator, Dr. Proppe strives for a comfortable, yet rigorous, approach to learning about the natural world. He promotes applied learning through hands-on activities, research, and example-driven presentations. He is most invigorated when teaching students while immersing them in the ecosystems they are studying! Perhaps, that is because it is here that the beauty of God's Creation is most evident.
In his spare time he enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife Sarah, son Elliott, and daughter Grace. He does watch birds off the job too! He also enjoys road and mountain biking, hiking, and backpacking. Past experiences include leading wilderness trips in the West and Midwest, teaching scuba diving in the Caribbean, and teaching environmental education along the West Coast.
Academic interests
Dr. Proppe is interested in how animals respond to novel environments – especially those altered by human development. His research focuses primarily on the responses of songbirds to the increasing levels of anthropogenic (human caused) noise that overlaps their vocal signals. Since these overlapped signals are less detectable, he is investigating mechanisms that species employ to increase the effectiveness of their signals in areas of high noise. He is also examining the negative impacts of noise on species diversity and fitness, and searching for potential tools to mitigate these negative effects.
Research and scholarship
- The effect of anthropogenic noise on songbird behavior and demographics
- Bioacoustic tools for mitigating the impacts of anthropogenic noise on songbirds
- Using conspecific song playback to restablish populations of grassland birds
- The effects of habitat structure on sound transmission
- The use of thermal drones for locating songbird nests
- Assessing predation rates on songbird nests at abondoned oil pads
- Testing the ability of Kaleidoscope Pro software to detect and cluster sounds embedded within anthropogenic noise
- The impacts of urbanization on animal behavior
- Yip D.A., Bayne, E.M., Campbell J., & Proppe D.S. 2017. Sound attenuation in forested and roadside environments: Implications for avian point count surveys. Condor, 119(1): 73-84. https://doi.org/10.1650/CONDOR-16-93.1
- Shepers M. & Proppe D.S. 2017. Song playback increases songbird density near low to moderate use roads. Behavioral Ecology, 28 (1): 123-130. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arw139
- Proppe D.S., McMillan N., Congdon, J, & Sturdy, C.B. 2017. Mitigating road impacts on animals through learning principles. Animal Cognition, 20(1): 19-31. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10071-016-0989-y
- Sturdy C.B. & Proppe D.S. 2016. Hearing is believing: Birds learn fear. Learning and Behavior, 44(3): 205-206. https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13420-015-0207-9
- Pettinga D., Kennedy J., & Proppe D.S. 2016. Common urban birds continue to perceive predator calls that are overlapped by road noise. Urban Ecosystems, 19: 373-382. 10.1007/s11252-015-0498-9
- DeJong L.N., Cowell S.D., Nguyen T.N., & Proppe D.S. 2015. Attracting songbirds with conspecific playback: A community approach. Behavioral Ecology, 26(5): 1379-1388. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arv094
- Proppe D.S., Byers K.A., Sturdy C.B., & St. Clair C.C. 2013. Physical condition of black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) in relation to road disturbance. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 91(11): 842-845. http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/cjz-2013-0081#.Wam8a62ZOMI
- Proppe D.S., Sturdy C.B., & St. Clair C.C. 2013. Anthropogenic noise decreases urban songbird diversity and may contribute to homogenization. Global Change Biology, 19(4):1075-1084. 10.1111/gcb.12098
- Proppe D.S., Avey M.T., Hoeschele M., Moscicki M.K., Farrell T., St. Clair C.C., & Sturdy C.S. 2012. Black-capped chickadees sing at higher pitches with elevated anthropogenic noise, but not with decreasing canopy cover. Journal of Avian Biology. 43:325-332. 10.1111/j.1600-048X.2012.05640.x
- Proppe D.S., Sturdy C.S. & St. Clair C.C. 2011. Flexibility in animal signals facilitates adaptation to rapidly changing environments. PLoS ONE. 6(9): e25413. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0025413
- Kociolek A., Clevenger A., St. Clair C.C., & Proppe D.S. 2011. Effects of the road transportation network on bird populations. Conservation Biology. 25(2): 241-249. 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01635.x
- Proppe D.S., Bloomfield L.L., & Sturdy C.S. 2010. Acoustic transmission of the chick-a-dee call of the black capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus): forest structure and note function. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 88(8): 788-794. http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/Z10-047#.Wam9iq2ZOMI
Performances or exhibitions
- AAAS Science Update (2017) http://www.scienceupdate.com/2017/02/road/
- Anthropocene Magazine (2016) http://conservationmagazine.org/2016/10/recorded-songs-get-birds-take-roads-less-traveled/
- Calvin College Spark (2014) http://www.calvin.edu/spark/past-issues/a-beautiful-noise
- BBC online (2013) www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21716030
- Links:
- Course code:
- Credits:
- Semester:
- Department:


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Chances are may have tried running barefoot or at least in a minimalist shoe. The latest trend is less is better. By removing (or greatly reducing) the traditional foam-cushioned outsole, a minimalist shoe can complement the natural function of the human foot, preventing injuries.
"Running barefoot or with a minimalist shoe forces you to run with a forefoot strike, resulting in less loading to the knees and hips, as well as a reduction in the initial impact peak of the ground reaction force, which could be injury preventative," explains Dr. Reed Ferber, Director of the Running Injury Clinic at the University of Calgary. "However, it also forces you to shorten your stride as a result. In fact, the average runner will take 1,230 more steps to run a marathon. More steps could mean a greater risk for other injuries."
Ferber hypothesizes barefoot runners may have fewer knee and hip injuries, but more cases of plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, and metatarsal stress fractures.
Taking the time to transition from a cushioned shoe to a minimalist design requires patience. Going too hard, too soon can have negative consequences and result in injury.
East coast running shoe guru Luke MacDonald believes "the running industry is based upon people's lack of ability to self-regulate." Some "experts" recommend a minimum of four weeks to allow your body to adapt before tossing your old shoes aside, while others suggest a full year of progressive training.
Chris Murphy, half-marathoner and sport physiotherapist, advises adequate warm-up and cool-down sessions for each run, with specific strengthening and stretching exercises suited for the individual.
Jeffery Zahavich, MScK, CSEP-Certified Exercise Physiologist.


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Monument Design
With 20 years' experience in exhibit design for natural history museums, John Maisano's fascination with the natural world strongly influences his work. His paleo art sculptures of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals bring the scientific record to life. He is equally adept at sculpting modern animals, people and fantasy subjects. From clay to finished bronze, his sculpture will inspire any home, office or institution. To discuss ideas for a commission, contact John at email@example.com .
Bronze Eagle in flight - "Ascension"


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Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Review - Maybe This Time
Author: Jennifer Crusie
Publishing Date: September 2010
Genre: Contemporary/Paranormal
Rating: A-
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: I borrowed a copy from the library.
Andie Miller goes to see her ex-husband North whom she hasn't seen in ten years to ask that he stop sending her alimony checks. After all, she has every single one he has sent over the years and not a single one was ever deposited. But seeing North is a shock to Andie's senses. She can't believe the overwhelming feelings that come rushing back after that brief encounter. Plus, she somehow finds herself the nanny to two unruly children who have recently been orphaned which North now has sole custody. When Andie arrives to whip the children into shape, she realizes it's not the children who are the problem, it's the unruly ghosts that are haunting the house.
The last Jennifer Crusie book that I read earlier in the year, Wild Ride was a very big disappointment. I really wasn't sure what to expect with Maybe This Time, but I was definitely intrigued by the summary. It turns out that Maybe This Time is a huge score for me and I think fans of Ms. Crusie will delight in this latest release.
Where to begin...the characterization is great. Andie and North just jump off the pages. Andie and North are opposites. Andie is whimsical, flighty, impulsive and fun, whereas North is responsible, organized and serious. We get to see a lot of Andie through North's eyes and vice versa North through Andie's. These characteristic s are what attracted the other, but it is also what eventually drove them apart.
Even though these two aren't together through a lot of the book, we relive their past relationship through flashbacks including how they first met. I think this is the first book with the reconciling couple theme that I have really enjoyed. Ms. Crusie gets it right. This time I really do believe that they can make it work the second time around.
One little odd ball thing that I would like to point out with this book was that there were references to electronics that lead me to believe that this book was written a few years ago. For example, the little girl Alice likes to listen to her Walkman instead of an iPod and also there are references to them watching videos instead of DVDs. It just made the story seem dated. At any rate, this one was a page turner and it worked really well for me.
Here is what others had to say:
Dirty Sexy Books
Novel Addiction
Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
Book Fare Delights
Medieval Bookworm
Smexy Books
My Book Addiction
Posted by Jill D. at 8:25:00 PM
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Labels: Contemporary, Grade A, Jennifer Crusie, Paranormal
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Review - The Pirate Lord
Author: Sabrina Jeffries
Publishing Date: 1998
Genre: Historical
Rating: B-
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: I received a used copy from Paperbackswap.com
The Pirate Lord is the first book in Sabrina Jeffries Lord Trilogy. Sara Willis, Stepdaughter to the late Earl of Blackmore, has devoted her life to helping those less fortunate than her. She learns that a group of women convicts are being shipped to New South Wales. Despite her brother's opposition Sara obtains passage on the ship as a schoolteacher. Shortly after passage Sara's boat is taken by a group of pirates. The Captain Gideon Horn learns that the ship is full of women and gets the brilliant idea to capture the ship so his men will have wives. Gideon has found an unoccupied island in the tropics and plans to create his own Utopia. His plans don't exactly go as planned once Sara puts her mind to riling up the women to disagree to the idea.
I picked up The Pirate Lord because my good friend Kristie J. recommended it to me. It sounded like a fun, yet silly book and I haven't read a good pirate romance in a while. I was pleasantly surprised that the book wasn't as silly as I feared. It actually had more serious undertones than I expected and was pleasantly surprised. It was a little slow in the middle and the ending was predictable. However, I thought both Gideon and Sara were strong characters.
Sara and Gideon have met their match with the other. Both are used to getting what they want, easily bowling over any opposition. Once they encounter each other it is like fire to water. Both are stubborn in the face of their own wants and beliefs and are not afraid to go after them. Their first encounters are fun to read. The middle part of the book drags a little bit for me because Sara takes so long to come to the conclusion that Gideon is a good man. It is pretty obvious to the reader that he is a decent guy despite his kidnapping a bunch of women for his own nefarious purposes! Gideon is one of those heroes who doesn't trust women and predictably the story foreshadows that Gideon will believe that Sara betrays him. While that was predictable there is still a surprise element that left me quite satisfied with the story. Thanks Kristie J for recommending this one to me!
Posted by Jill D. at 5:53:00 PM
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Labels: Grade B, Historical, Sabrina Jeffries
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Review - Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Publishing Date: November 2010
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: B
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: I borrowed a copy from the library.
Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor is the first book in a new contemporary romance series by Lisa Kleypas. This new series revolves around three bachelor brothers whose parents have passed away. Mark Nolan, the oldest of the group, finds himself the guardian to his niece when his younger sister unexpected dies in a car accident. Holly, at age 7, easily steals his heart as a solemn, silent child. Mark takes Holly into a local toy shop that recently opened up and is owned by Maggie Collins who is no stranger to grief. She, herself, is a recent widow and feels and instant connection with Holly and not to mention Mark. Maggie isn't sure if she is ready for the feelings Mark stirs in her.
Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor is a sweet, stirring story about grief and recovery. Holly is such a sweet child, you can't help but feel tenderness towards her and it is no surprise that as reluctant as Mark is about his surprising parenthood he takes to it like a duck to water. I enjoyed the camaraderie between Mark and his brother Sam as they muddle through learning the ropes of child rearing and establishing a family atmosphere for Holly.
Holly is extremely reluctant to get involved in another romantic relationship after the devastation of losing her husband. So it is with reluctance that she develops a friendship with Mark and his daughter Holly. But the truth is Holly is irresistibly drawn to Mark. I enjoyed this sweet romance between Holly and Mark. Although, my major complaint would be that the story was too short!! The story is only 210 pages and of course as a fan of Ms. Kleypas I wanted so much more. Really, I felt like this story was just a tease of greatness to come from this new series. I can't wait for more!
Here is what others had to say:
Babbling About Books and More
The Happily Ever After
Alpha Reader
Posted by Jill D. at 6:11:00 PM
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Labels: Contemporary, Grade B, Lisa Kleypas
Friday, November 26, 2010
Happy Turkey Day and December Releases
Happy Turkey Day, everybody!!! I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. I know we sure did. Hubby and I went to my Uncle's place and he lives on a farm. The kids wore themselves out feeding the pigs, riding horses and chasing the dog. We're city folk, so we don't commune with nature nearly enough. I practically had to drag the kids inside when it was time to eat dinner, they wanted to spend every moment outside that they could. Below is Annabelle and Jake on my Uncle's horse.
On to the important stuff, like giving thanks to book publishers and authors for keeping me entertained. Coming up in December I have just a few books in which I am looking forward to their release.
Dirk and Steele Series - Book 10
Contemporary Erotic
What about you? What's on your wishlist?
Posted by Jill D. at 6:40:00 PM
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Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Review - Demon From the Dark
Author: Kresley Cole
Publishing Date: September 2010
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: B+
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: I received a used copy from Paperbackswap.com.
Demon from the Dark is the 8th full length novel in Kresley Cole's Imortals after Dark series. Carrow Graie is a witch who has been captured by a group seeking to add to their paranormal menagerie. They have tasked Carrow with locating Malkom Slaine, a Vemon (vampire/demon). They have her sweet niece Ruby as collateral to make her comply. Things get tricky when Carrow starts to fall in love with the beast. How can she possibly choose between Ruby or Malkom?
I love this series, but the last couple of books have left me with a bad taste in my mouth, worried that the series isn't going anywhere. Things seemed a little stagnant in terms of the big war amongst the immortals. Well, I am happy to say this book pushed all those worries to the back of my mind. It was an incredible journey and things are finally starting to pick up in terms of the overall story arc. Yay!!!!
I had a little bit of trouble getting into the story. It started out slow giving us Malkom's back story, plus coupled with my own preconceived notions, made me put it down and pick it back up repeatedly. Once I got past the first chapter (I know, short attention span) things really picked up. Malkom is a crazy beast of a man. Well, not exactly a man, a demon really. But he is completely Alpha with a soft, sensitive inner core. Carrow can't help but be drawn to him. He is fiercely protective, yet extremely inexperienced when it comes to women. He is a very unique hero and a lot of romance fans are going to adore him. I know I did.
I really enjoyed Demon from the Dark. I have not been as enthusiastic about paranormal romance compared with urban fantasy, but I thought Demon from the Dark was up there with urban fantasy this time. I highly recommend this series and this book if you like paranormal romance. I recently posted an excerpt, which you can find here. Enjoy!
Posted by Jill D. at 7:12:00 PM
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Labels: Grade B, Kresley Cole, Paranormal
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Review - Pleasure Control
Author: Cathryn Fox
Publishing Date: 2006
Genre: Contemporary/Erotic
Rating: C
Senuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: I received a free copy from the RT Book Lovers Convention.
Pleasure Control is book one of Cathryn Fox's Pleasure Game series. Laura Manning is a scientist working on discovering a potion to inhibit a man's libido. For a long time she has had a crush on her lab partner Jay Cutler. With a deadline for the potion hanging over them, Jay suggests Laura try the potion on him and then seduce him to see if it works. Against her better judgment Laura goes along with the plan.
Pleasure Control was an okay read for me. This book kind of gets the kiss of death I guess since there is not a lot that sets it apart from other books, nor is there anything that really stands out in my mind about it. It was neither good nor bad but somewhere in between. The characters, the plot and the execution were all just mediocre. What else can I say?
The good things Pleasure Control has going for it are that is it short and sweet. There is not a lot of conflict. It's a relatively fast read at only 228 pages. Unfortunately, I can't really recommend it, unless there is not much else to read, or you want something short.
Posted by Jill D. at 7:07:00 PM
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Labels: Cathryn Fox, Contemporary, Erotic, Grade C
Monday, November 22, 2010
Guess the Book #7
Can you guess the book this passage came from?
Before she could retreat, he cupped the back of her neck, easing the canteen to just before her lips. Apparently, he wanted to hand-feed her the water.
She didn't trust the demon, didn't like him. He was brutish, possibly a hardened murderer. She was tempted to tell him where he could shove that canteen, but she needed the contents too badly.
Humans could die after three days without water-- indoors. C--- had been in hell for more than a day, mostly running, and she was feeling it.
"Very well." She parted her lips, and he pressed the opening against them. Water flowed, hot and metallic. Never had she tasted anything as good.
As she drank, she could feel the liquid already hitting her system, the effects washing over her with the force and speed of a drug rush. Her eyelids slid shut.
Within moments, her headache and twinges ebbed.
He drew the canteen away, but only to let her breathe for a second. "So good," she murmured.
He hastily pressed it back to her lips. She peeked at him, saw how he stared at her, his gaze hooded. He was probably growing aroused by how greedily she hit that canteen.
But she couldn't worry about that. Water ran down her chin and neck, wetting her halter over one of her breasts. Doesn't matter.
What was wrong with her? She was being manipulated by a demon, was captive to his whims. He could bite her at any time. And I can barely keep my eyes open.
He pulled it away much too soon, his eyes glued to her sodden top. He got a sinful look in his eyes...then he poured water over her other breast. She jerked back, out of his hold, gasping, "Stop that!"
In the middle of a place like this, purposely spilling water seemed extravagant and wicked. She couldn't contain a shiver, and her nipples hardened beneath her halter, right before his transfixed gaze.
He gave a husky growl, emanating a weird sense of happiness. Like awe. Like wonder.
"Ara, minde jart," he finally said, hitting his hand against his chest. His voice had gotten hoarse.
"Female, my...heart?" Again, he tried to make her understand that she was his. So he thought that was the only reason she hadn't surrendered to him?
What do you think? Any ideas??
Posted by Jill D. at 7:05:00 PM
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Labels: Guess the book
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Review - Bound to a Warrior
Author: Donna Fletcher
Publishing Date: September 2010
Genre: Medieval
Rating: C-
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: I bought an ebook from Barnes & Noble for my Nook.
Duncan MacAlpine, on his way back home to Scotland finds himself captured by the English. He is handcuffed to a brave English woman, Mercy. At the first opportunity Duncan and Mercy break away from their captors. They must travel over treacherous land riddled with English soldiers avoiding recapture while literally bound to each other by their wrists. Talk about teamwork. These two must learn to master the art of hiking, eating, bathing and sleeping as one unit.
Sounds like a winning scenario for a great romance, right? Not so much. After the first chapter I knew this book wasn't for me. I am one of those optimistic readers who hope that the book is going to get better. While it did get better, it still wasn't a stellar read.
My main problem with the book was the writing style. It was overly simplified and too explanative. I didn't need to be given an explanation for every little action made by either Mercy or Duncan. Readers aren't idiots. We don't need every little nuance spelled out. Give us good action and we can intuit what is going on between the characters for ourselves. Also, the characters especially Mercy seemed a little too "fairy tale" perfect. Their personalities were not realistic enough for my taste. It is difficult for me to recommend this book.
Posted by Jill D. at 7:15:00 PM
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Labels: Donna Fletcher, Grade C, Medieval
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Review - Wicked Lovely
Author: Melissa Marr
Publishing Date: 2007
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy
Rating: B
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: I borrowed a copy from my library
Wicked Lovely is the first book in Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series. Aislinn has always been able to see faeries ever since she can remember. Her Gram taught her that no matter what, she must pretend as if they don't exist. Up until now that really hadn't been a problem for Aislinn to pretend as if they didn't exist, until Keenan the Summer King decides that Aislinn is his Summer Queen and must make it so. Keenan sets out to court Aislinn but to his dismay she doesn't want anything to do with him, no matter that he is the most beautiful man she has ever laid eyes on.
I don't usually read YA novels, but there has been a lot of buzz revolving around Miss Marr's popular series and what the hell, why shouldn't I jump on the faery train too? With that said, I liked the story. It was very captivating, although with Aislinn being so young I felt like her maturity level was difficult for me, personally, to relate too. This is one of the reasons I have hesitated to read YA. But that minor issue of mine aside, I did enjoy the story and wouldn't mind continuing with the series.
Wicked Lovely's pacing was great and the story just flowed beautifully. There is plenty of conflict between Aishlinn trying hard not to attract any attention from the faeries, Keenan not being successful with his courtship of Aishlinn and to Aishlinn and Keenan defeating the Winter Queen. I wish there would have been more description of the faery world and how everything works. Although as the series progresses, I am sure more will be revealed. Also, I thought Aishlinn was a little weak as a heroine, but that also could have been attributed to her age. I mean what teenager isn't riddled with doubts, right? Good story. Good writing. I'm definitely reading more.
Posted by Jill D. at 7:28:00 PM
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Labels: Fantasy, Grade B, Melissa Marr, Young Adult
Friday, November 12, 2010
Review - Touching Darkness
Author: Jaime Rush
Publishing Date: May 2010
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: B
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: I received a free copy at the RT Book Lovers convention this year.
Touching Darkness is the third book in Jaime Rush's Offspring series. Nicholas Braden was recruited by the CIA to find a dangerous group of young people called "Offspring". Nicholas has always been good at finding things ever since he was a teen and now he can put those skills to good use, or so he thinks. After a while he discovers that the side he is fighting on may not be the right side. He has to convince Olivia, the director's daughter that her Father is involved in illegal activities. Nicholas must find answers if he is going to survive and protect Olivia as well.
Touching Darkness is my favorite book in the series thus far. Plot wise things are really heating up. More information is revealed regarding the secrets behind the Blue Eyes science project. The bigger picture is starting to unfold and new intriguing characters are introduced with very interesting psychic powers. Also, it is interesting to see those "happy for now" endings in past books are continuing and evolving in this book, Lucas and Amy's relationship especially.
As far as the main relationship, Nicholas courts Olivia with tenderness. Their romance was very sweet and not at all what I had expected compared to the other books in the series. Olivia is a very sheltered young woman who spent most of her life in isolation trying to please her Father. Nicholas's upbringing was very different from Olivia's as he came from a loving family and had a normal childhood. The romance is still the weakest part of the book for me because it is not nearly as well developed as the plot. However, because Nicholas and Olivia were very young characters, 20 and 23 respectively, it worked for me. And the plot is fantastic. Therefore I am willing to sacrifice some of the romance. I definitely will be reading the next book in the series.
Posted by Jill D. at 3:23:00 PM
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Labels: Grade B, Jaime Rush, Paranormal
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Review - An Unforgettable Lady
Author: Jessica Bird/J. R. Ward
Publishing Date: 2004
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: B-
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: I purchased a new copy.
An Unforgettable Lady was originally published in 2004 under the penname Jessica Bird and was rereleased this year because of JR Ward's popularity. Grace Hall is a woman born of wealth and privilege. A madman had decided to target the richest most influential women of New York. One by one Grace's friends are being brutally murdered in their homes and Grace fears that she will be next. She hires John Smith, a body guard to the rich and famous who is the best in the business. What complicates things even more is that John and Grace shared a passionate moment a few days prior and neither thought they would see the other again.
An Unforgettable Lady was my first Jessica Bird book and a contemporary none the less. I am very familiar with Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood books which I have enjoyed very much. I was looking forward to this with enthusiasm. I thought it was a solid read with a few minor annoyances.
I liked both Grace and John's personalities. Grace although a high society princess, never acted like one. She was very considerate and polite of others, albeit she was always very contained when it came to her own emotions. Her buttoned up demeanor is what John is drawn to and he can't help but admire her poise. John himself is very contained when it comes to his emotions except when he is around Grace. Then he surprises himself when he is unable to remain in control. I enjoyed his inner monologues when he is trying to rationalize his attraction to Grace and the steps he plans to take to resolve this problem. As logical as he tries to be it doesn't exactly work out like he planned.
John and Grace fight their attraction to each other for most of the book. This is where the book falters for me somewhat. This is not a romantic suspense therefore John and Grace's relationship is front and center. While this may sound like a good thing, I felt that the middle of the book became stagnant with not enough of the plot moving forward. Grace and John fighting their attraction is okay the first couple of times, but after the fifth time, things were getting old. Lather, rinse and repeat. Other than a dull middle, the beginning and end were great. I can see myself reading more of Ward's contemporary books.
Posted by Jill D. at 9:07:00 PM
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Labels: Contemporary, Grade B, J.R. Ward
Sunday, November 7, 2010
The Best of 2002
Another one of my "best of" posts.
Here are the top books for 2002 according to RWA and AAR.
***Bold means I read it - and () is my personal grade for that book. At the bottom will be my top picks for this year, based on what books I read.
Lets see how things compare...
RWA's 2002 RITA Winners
Shades of Honor by Wendy Lindstrom
No Place Like Home by Barbara Samuel
Never Say Goodbye by Irene Hannon
Taking Cover by Catherine Mann
Stealing Heaven by Madeline Hunter (B)
Contact by Susan Grant (B)
A Debt To Delia by Barbara Metzger
Three Fates by Nora Roberts
Taming The Outlaw by Cindy Kay Gerard
The Bride Fair by Cheryl Reavis
The Christmas Basket by Debbie Macomber
All About Romance - Reader's Poll
Out of Control by Suzanne Brockmann (B+)
Faking It by Jennifer Crusie
No Place Like Home by Barbara Samuel
Beyond Seduction by Emma Holly
No True Gentleman by Liz Carlyle
Stealing Heaven by Madeline Hunter (B)
Untie My Heart by Judith Ivory (A-)
The Wedding Journey by Carla Kelly
Prairie Moon by Maggie Osborne
The Older Woman by Cheryl Reavis
Contact by Susan Grant (B)
Romance Rookie's Top Picks
Let Me Be the One by Jo Goodman (A)
Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris (A)
Behind Closed Doors by Shannon McKenna (A-)
Untie my Heart by Judith Ivory (A-)
Bitten by Kelley Armstrong (B+)
Out of Control by Suzanne Brockman (B+)
Lord of Fire by Gaelen Foley (B+)
Lord of Ice by Gaelen Foley (B+)
Killjoy by Julie Garwood (B+)
The Dark Highlander by Karen Marie Moning (B+)
Romancing Mr. bridgerton by Julia Quinn (B+)
The Lady's Tutor by Robin Schone (B+)
Ravyn's Flight by Patti O'Shea (B+)
Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich (B+)
Some things of note:
- I only read a total of 37 books published in this year.
- No Place Like Home by Barbara Samuel made both the RWA and AAR lists. Hmmm.. I might have to give that one a try.
- Cheryl Reavis made both the RWA and AAR lists but with different books. I haven't ever tried her but I might be changing that.
How about you? Any particular books that stood out in 2002? Agree or disagree with this list?
Posted by Jill D. at 7:53:00 PM
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Labels: Best of
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Review - Hot Finish
Author: Erin McCarthy
Publishing Date: August 2010
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: C-
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: I borrowed a copy from the library.
Hot Finish is the third book in Erin McCarthy's Fast Track series centering around NASCAR race car drivers. Suzanne and Ryder Jefferson married young and could never seem to talk about their marriage problems. After a few years they divorced feeling it was for the best. But Suzanne and Ryder somehow seem to keep the other still in their life, not to mention the pesky little problem of still having feelings for the other. Suzanne and Ryder are once again thrust together when the wedding Suzanne is planning is a NASCAR wedding the Ryder is the best man of the groom. To complicate matters it turns out the divorce papers were never signed properly and Suzanne and Ryder are still legally married.
Hot Finish was a major disappointment for me. I really enjoy Erin McCarthy's writing. I loved her last Fast Track novel, Hard and Fast choosing it as a top read for last year. With that in mind I was really looking forward to her next release. The main reason for my disappointment was that Suzanne was such a BITCH!!! Honestly, she was not a very nice person. She was always griping and complaining. It was made even more glaringly obnoxious because Ryder was always so considerate and generous with her. I just couldn't stand the way she would treat him. Granted I will say that some of her behavior I could understand, but most of the time it just grated on my nerves.
Fortunately, Hot Finish is a well written book, with good dialogue between the NASCAR boys and the camaraderie between Suzanne and her friends. It's funny and fast paced like McCarthy's other books, but I just couldn't stand the heroine. If it wasn't for the stellar story telling I would haven't even finished the book. If you don't mind a prickly, bitch heroine with a stick up her butt, then maybe you will enjoy this more than I did.
Here is what others had to say:
Book Binge
The Good, The Bad and the Unread
Babbling About Books and More
Dear Author
The Book Girl
Smexy Books
Books, Books and More Books
Posted by Jill D. at 11:10:00 AM
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Labels: Contemporary, Erin McCarthy, Grade C
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Access Romance, My Turn!
Hey Everyone,
I am over at Access Romance today discussing Holiday themed romance novels. Come join me!
Posted by Jill D. at 9:00:00 AM
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Labels: AccessRomance
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Review - Nicholas
Author: Elizabeth Amber
Publishing Date: 2007
Genre: Historical Erotic
Rating: B-
Sensuality: Burning
Book Disclosure: I received a free copy at the 2010 RT Book Lovers Convention
Nicholas is the first book in Elizabeth Amber's The Lords of Satyr series. The King of the Fey is dying and has tasked the Satyr brothers to find his lost daughters and protect them through marriage. Nicholas is the first to find his bride, Jane. Jane is surprised when this handsome stranger wants to marry her after only one brief meeting. Jane accepts her situation and Nicholas whisks her off to his vineyard where Jane will eventually learn of Nicholas's beastly behavior.
I have to say, I have heard a lot of rumors about this series, rumors about the crazy sexual things that happen in The Lords of Satyr series. I wasn't really sure how I would feel about the book because of that, but I have to say I actually enjoyed it. Yep, I confirm that there is a bunch of crazy, satyr sex happening but despite all of that I thought the characterization and plot were better than average. A lot of it was outrageous and I was expecting that, which allowed me to sit back and just enjoy my reading experience. It is what it is.
Since Nicholas and Jane didn't know each other before marriage, the book focuses a lot on Jane and Nick working out the kinks most newlyweds have but throw in a few fantastical elements, like the fact that she is half Fae and he is a satyr and these two have their work cut out for them. Nicholas's views on women were too archaic for my taste, but I loved that Jane was willing to address the situation head on and not let Nicholas run roughshod all over her. I will definitely be giving the next book in the series a try.
Here is what others had to say:
Alpha Reader
Posted by Jill D. at 6:16:00 PM
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Labels: Elizabeth Amber, Erotic, Grade B, Historical
Monday, November 1, 2010
October Reading Summary
Books read this month:
1. My Dangerous Duke, Foley (Historical) Rating: B
2. The Search, Roberts (Romantic Suspense) Rating: B
3. Down in Texas, Devlin (Contemporary/Erotic) Rating: B
4. Sins of the Flesh, Pineiro (Romantic Suspense) Rating: B
5. Where Dreams Begin, Kleypas (Historical) Rating: B
6. Wicked Appetite, Evanovich (Paranormal) Rating: B
7. Sinful in Satin, Hunter (Historical) Rating: B
8. Nicholas, Amber (Historical/Erotic) Rating: B-
9. Hot Finish, McCarthy (Contemporary) Rating: C-
10. An Unforgetable Lady, Bird (Contemporary) Rating: B-
Posted by Jill D. at 8:37:00 PM
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text:
TRENTON — Subpoenas have been delivered to four top Port Authority of New York and New Jersey executives as part of an ongoing wasteful spending probe by New Jersey Democrats.
The Associated Press learned the subpoenas were delivered Thursday morning.
Assemblyman John Wisniewski says top officials failed to respond to repeated requests for information on toll increases, political hiring and a canceled multi-billion-dollar rail-tunnel.
Wisniewski, who chairs the Assembly Transportation Committee, was granted subpoena power by fellow Democrats in April to pursue allegations of waste and mismanagement at the bi-state agency.
Republicans have called the so-called information requests a political witch hunt by the head of the state Democratic Party.
Wisniewski is said to be interested in seeking the Democratic nomination to run for governor next year.


text:
Hostess Employees Get $2.2M Grant from U.S. Labor Department
Related Story
BOONVILLE - Unemployed Hostess workers in Missouri will receive assistance from a national emergency grant to transition into training and locating new areas of employment.
The U.S. Department of Labor released a report that said it will give initially $2.2 million to the Missouri Division of Workforce Development. The grant will provide assistance for workers to find new jobs, in addition to their benefits from a previous agreement.
This organization will use these funds toward the Hostess employees among the 39 work sites in Missouri, including Missouri residents employed in the Kansas and Oklahoma location.
Boonville lost about 80 workers at its Hostess factory. Boonville City Council member Hayes Murray said this assistance is much needed, but he said this will not provide any long term benefit for the economic climate of the city -- especially after Nordyne announced lay-offs this week.
"We can't go on with here's a hand out today, here's a hand out for tomorrow, but sooner or later, that handout is not going to be there. If all your manufacturing jobs are gone and tax base completely eroded, what do we have to give?" Murray said.
In order for the state to continue to qualify, the state must apply for the assistance.


text:
MSNBC anchor Chris Jansing was unable to finish a segment with Florida congressman Ted Deutch after she went into a coughing fit in the middle of the live show. After croaking out "Frog in my throat," Ms. Jansing quickly cut to commercial.
Ironically, Ms. Jansing was in the middle of a piece on Mitt Romney's plan to repeal ObamaCare. Maybe she was just trying to make a point…or maybe Captain Tripps has finally come for us all.
(Video via Huffington Post)


text:
Baseball Chapel is an international ministry recognized by Major and Minor League Baseball and is responsible for the appointment and oversight of all team chapel leaders (over 500 throughout professional baseball).
Baseball Chapel's ministry extends throughout Major and Minor League Baseball, and reaches outside the United States serving leagues in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Japan. more...
Sunday's Worship Reading
"The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence His soul hates. On the wicked He will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. For the LORD is righteous, He loves justice; upright men will see His face." (Psalm 11:5-9 NIV) chapel handouts page »


text:
Citi Center Chennai is a shopping mall in Mylapore, Chennai, India. It was built by B.S. Abdur Rahman's Buhari Group and was opened in 2006. According to Cushman and Wakefield,a global real estate consultancy firm, it is one of the most expensive shopping malls in Chennai
Major brand outlets in the Citi Center shopping mall include:
--Allen Solly
--Health & Glow
--Mochi footwear
--Van Heusen
--The mall also has INOX theatres, a food court with outlets including Copper Chimney and KFC, a video arcade for kids, several department stores and confectioners.
Lifestyle and Landmark, which together occupy more than half of the mall. The rest of font>the mall has designer shoe shops like Mochi, Titan, a Health and Glow outlet, Cookie Man, Foodworld and a few accessory shops. There are many food stalls serving coffee, fresh corn, samosas and other snacks and is a great place to take a break during shopping.
There is also a food court serving various cuisines and a large play area for children.
Citi Center is a one-stop shop to shop, dine and watch a movie, or just hang out with friends.
Citi Center is a unique host of flagship outlets of the top brands.
For movie lovers there is INOX. For food lovers there are various spots starting from Pakistani Kebab, Arabian Hut, Little Italy, KFC to south Indian Sangeetha – so try out anything you want!!!
Kids will love the Fun City with its electronic rides and various arcade games.
Most important you need not worry about parking – there is a huge parking lot exclusively for Citi Center Chennai shoppers. If you don't want to take your car or your own vehicle, you can travel in comfort by MRTS or any one of the air-conditioned buses which stops opposite Chennai Citi Center.
Visit Citi Center Chennai to know the truth


text:
Funky florals from McQueen and Celine (left) and denim at Kenzo and Louis Vuitton (right)
Apologies for not posting for so long, but Paris Fashion Week seemed even more gruelling this season than ever before. For me, the whole season was a bit flat. There were no real disasters but no standout shows either, as designers keep on doing their thing and reworking trends that seem to be selling well (fringing, crop tops, shirting and flats – yay!)
In Paris, we said goodbye to Jean Paul Gaultier (although he is still doing couture which is his real talent anyway) while JW Anderson's women's debut at Loewe was super chic. There were some designers who moved forward in positive ways like Haider Ackermann, whose masculine look was updated with a hint of romance that was never fussy or forced. McQueen was also a standout as Sarah Burton sent out her most wearable runway collection to date.
Since it's too late to post reviews, I present spring/summer 2015's must-have essentials because it's never too early to start planning ahead.
Jacked up florals
Liberty style florals aren't cutting it anymore as this girly print was given a fresh update. It was all about the ugly-pretty mix at Celine, and velvet pants suits at Louis Vuitton. McQueen's were inspired by antique kimonos and were blown up and printed on warrior-like tailored separates. Margiela's covered their must-have sunglasses.
It was only a matter of time that denim became a big trend again (it matches with fashion's new obsession with trainers too!). Even the big names like Chloe and Louis Vuitton sent out haute jeans that will definitely become wardrobe must-haves. At Kenzo the look was oversized and casual. Chloe's denim sweater and matching wide legged trousers was one of my favourite looks of the week.
1970s at Saint Laurent and Valentino (left) and trousers at Chanel and Giambattista Valli (right)
The 1970s
I gave up counting the amount of times I saw bellbottoms on the catwalk. Celine's were matched with cut-out tunics while Acne's were made with crisp fabrics. Hedi Slimane sent out boho style dresses and matching turbans, although his versions were super glam thanks to gold and sequins. At Valentino the designers experimented with pastel shifts and scarf print jumpsuits that had a glam touch.
Trouser suits
Yes the midi skirt is still around, but the trouser suit is a much more comfortable (and wearable) alternative. At Chanel it came in tweed or in stripes. Many designers featured cropped or wide bottoms to update the silhouette. It's a man's world after all.
It's all about the details at (from left to right) Chloe, Givenchy, Haider Ackermann and Stella McCartney
Lace, eyelets, weaving, cut outs, ruffles
The look was less girly and more breezy (see Chloe's awesome collection) or modern (see Dior or Louis Vuttion). Haider Ackmerann's ruffles were poetic yet contemporary. Most designers opted for virginal white so the craft details really stood out.
Maison Martin Margiela
Standout Sunnies
Forget Statement sweaters, it's all about the must-have sunglasses next season. Experiment with mirrored or patterned finishes and space age styles.


text:
Talavera is fully committed for reservations or walk-ins on Tuesday January 8th. For alternative dining options at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale, Onyx Lounge will be available with a selection of shareable appetizers, flat breads, and light entrees on their menu. Proof Canteen is available for full a la carte menu & bar service from 5:30-9:30pm as well.
Talavera will reopen for regular hours on Wednesday January 9th


text:
Greg Cote
Greg Cote's Week 4 NFL picks
Big bounce-back week for us continues a strong overall start to our 25th season of Friday Page NFL predictions. You will never find us bemoaning a 13-3 mark overall and 10-6 against the spread, except perhaps in our giddiest dreams. Highlighting our week, we nailed outright upset picks with Bills over Dolphins (sorry) and Eagles over Jets, and also had 'dog Raiders-with-points at Browns. Be loyal, momentum. Stay with me. (Note: Thursday-game pick was Steelers (+2 1/2) over Ravens, 23-20).
Cote's record
Vs. spread
Last week
Final 2014
Dolphins this week
Jets (2-1) vs. Dolphins (1-2) in London
Line: NYJ by 1 1/2.
Cote's pick: NYJ 19-17.
TV: 9:30 a.m., CBS (airing in South Florida).
Cheerio! Are you ready for some morning football? A spot of tea with your "Breakfast at Wembley?" Blimey! Quick note: British people don't actually say cheerio or blimey. But they do say, "We wish the States had sent us a better game!" Actually, although these rivals' 100th all-time meeting lacks sizzle, Londoners might like the game. They're used to soccer, and Jets-Dolphins should be about as low scoring. I expect a far better effort from Miami than we saw in last week's home opener vs. Buffalo — can effort get any worse? — but NYJ looms as a tough matchup for a Dolphins offense struggling to get in gear. Jets defense has 11 takeaways and has allowed only 41 points, both NFL bests. Planes D is really good, and Ryan Tannehill has six interceptions vs. four TDs in going 3-3 against this foe. Much focus coming into this has been on the low impact of Ndamukong Suh and the struggles on defense, but Miami's biggest early season issue is Tannehill simply not putting up enough points. And I doubt the remedy comes here.
Game of the week
Cowboys (2-1) at Saints (0-3)
Line: NO by 5 1/2.
Cote's pick: NO 31-27.
TV: 8:30 p.m., NBC (airing in South Florida).
Slim Week 4 pickings for the Game of the Week committee. One team is missing stars Tony Romo and Dez Bryant, and the other team is winless. Nevertheless, this should be a game that keeps NFL RedZone busy — an entertaining pointfest that lives up to the prime-time stage. Yes, the Superdome has stopped being a sanctuary; N'Awlins has lost six in a row at home. But that's a trend fit to end. Saints get Drew Brees back Sunday and that should be enough to carry them off the schneid. Point spread's too big, though.
Upset of the week
Giants (1-2) at Bills (2-1)
Line: BUF by 5 1/2.
Cote's pick: NYG 27-23.
TV: 1 p.m., Fox (airing in South Florida).
"AAAWWWK!" screams the Upset Bird. "New York Giaaawwwk!" NYG isn't far from being 3-0 and isn't as bad as you think coming into this rematch of one of the more famous Super Bowls. Biggies don't get Victor Cruz back Sunday as hoped, but Eli Manning-to-Odell Beckham should do fine against a beatable Buffs pass D that Miami didn't take nearly enough advantage of last week. And Bills could be missing both LeSean McCoy and Sammy Watkins. "Time to once again see Rex Ryan the way we like him: crestfallen," notes U-Bird. "Crestfaaawwwk!
Dog of the week
Lions (0-3) at Seahawks (1-2)
Line: SEA by 10.
Cote's pick: SEA 30-10.
TV: 8:30 p.m. Monday, ESPN (airing in South Florida).
Our Dog of the Week refers to lousiest game not to a betting underdog, and this matchup could call for the guys in the Monday Night Football booth to play Dandy Don Meredith warbling, Turn Out the Lights by halftime. Russell Wilson is 4-0 with a 123.1 rating on MNF, and 27-2 at home. Marshawn Lynch might not play and it won't even matter. Detroit turns the ball over and plays bad defense — terrible attributes to bring to this particular venue, especially.
Jaguars (1-2) at Colts (1-2)
Line: IND by 9.
Cote's pick: IND 27-20.
TV: 1 p.m., CBS.
Andrew Luck is nursing a shoulder issue but expects to play as he works to turn around his and Indy's slow start. Jacksonville's defense might be the perfect remedy. Colts have won five in a row over Jags, won 14 in a row against AFC South games, and Luck has 905 passing yards, nine TDs and zero picks in past three vs. Jax. Until Indy starts to impress, though, this point spreads reads fat.
Panthers (3-0) at Buccaneers (1-2)
Line: CAR by 3.
Cote's pick: CAR 19-13.
TV: 1 p.m., Fox.
The Upset Bird was circling this game like a vulture does road kill. Carolina has won four in a row over Bucs, but these games always seem close. And TB is so due, just law-of-averages stuff, after 10 home losses in a row. We'll bet on Panthers defense giving Jameis Winston problems, but the pick is an anxious one.
Eagles (1-2) at Redskins (1-2)
Line: PHI by 3.
Cote's pick: PHI 24-20.
TV: 1 p.m., Fox.
This grudge match from the wide-open NFC East sees two struggling QBs in Sam Bradford and Kirk Cousins, although each could get a boost with the possible return from injury of DeMarco Murray (Birds) and DeSean Jackson (Skins). Tough call, but the Eagles, at their best, have more upside.
Raiders (2-1) at Bears (0-3)
Line: OAK by 3.
Cote's pick: CHI 26-24.
TV: 1 p.m., CBS.
Oakland, a notoriously bad road team, favored at Chicago tells you how far the once-proud Bears have fallen more than it speaks to the Raiders' undeniable improvement (at least offensively). Two lousy defenses should keep it close. Oaks haven't won consecutive road games since 2011, and I'm pegging this pick on that. Upset!
Texans (1-2) at Falcons (3-0)
Line: ATL by 6 1/2.
Cote's pick: ATL 27-20.
TV: 1 p.m., CBS.
Atlanta is first team ever to be 3-0 after trailing in all three fourth quarters. And Julio Jones has more catches after three games (34) than anybody, ever. Falcons have a little something special going on, and I'm not sure a tepid Houston attack led by Ryan Mallett is enough to derail that in Birds' home dome. Although Texans getting back RB Arian Foster (questionable) would help.
Chiefs (1-2) at Bengals (3-0)
Line: CIN by 4.
Cote's pick: CIN 24-16.
TV: 1 p.m., CBS (airing in South Florida)
Cincy guns for its 4-0 breakout since 2005, a possibility largely because Andy Dalton is off to the best start of his career. (Save some for the playoffs, Andy!) KC just isn't playing well enough now to see an upset. Chiefs are horrid on pass D, and Alex Smith has converted a meager 5 of 30 third downs. Injuns have lost past four trips to 'Nati. Make it five.
Browns (1-2) at Chargers (1-2)
Line: SD by 8.
Cote's pick: SD 27-17.
TV: 4:05 p.m., CBS.
Intriguing matchup. Pressure on Josh McCown heats up as the cry for Johnny Manziel gains volume. On the other side, Philip Rivers is trying to stay upright behind an O-line held together with Scotch tape and twine. Still not sure how good Bolts are. Am more sure Earthtones are seldom very good on road, so we'll make this one a venue call.
Packers (3-0) at 49ers (1-2)
Line: GB by 8.
Cote's pick: GB 34-23.
TV: 4:25 p.m., Fox.
This would have made a decent Game of the Week pick if only because 49ers are Pack's nemesis, with four straight wins over Aaron Rodgers including two in the postseason. The thing is, those Niners were good. These ones are not. Colin Kaepernick and the Frans set new lows for putridity last week. A Gee Bees loss here would be a stunner.
Rams (1-2) at Cardinals (3-0)
Line: ARI by 6 1/2.
Cote's pick: ARI 34-13.
TV: 4:25 p.m., Fox.
Arizona stole the Cardinals from St. Louis, once upon a time. Now here comes another indignity as 'Zona continues to surge and demonstrate why it's a Super Bowl contender. Cardbirds' 126 points are fourth most ever through three games, and that defense is full of playmakers. Did I mention Carson Palmer has won nine consecutive starts and 16 of his past 18?
Vikings (2-1) at Broncos (3-0)
Line: DEN by 6 1/2.
Cote's pick: DEN 30-17.
TV: 4:25 p.m., Fox (airing in South Florida)
Peyton Manning has been shaky at times, with not enough pass protection or running game. But oh that Denver defense! It's why Broncos are unbeaten, and why they'll stay that way here. DEN has enough run stoppers to limit Adrian Peterson. Vikes are improved, pretty good, maybe playoff good. But not good enough, yet, to win in one of NFL's most inhospitable places to visit.
Off this week
Patriots (3-0; next at Cowboys): No deflated results in New England as Bill Belichick and Tom Brady roll on. Pats favored by 12 1/2 over bye. Brady projected to throw for five TDs from couch.
Titans (1-2; next vs. Bills): Record suggests same ol' Titans, but rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota (109.2 rating, eight TDs) has Nashville kicking up its boot heels.


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The cherry tree is part of the Provençal landscape. It is widespread in the Apt region, in Luberon, and changes colors with the seasons – making it a source of inspiration for artists: pure white in spring, bright red in summer, soft green in autumn.
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Taking a break in your day to play some free online video games is an effective way to just take a day out from the world for awhile. They are one of the best on-line recreation websites as a result of you are going to have the ability to really take pleasure in yourself, whether or not you could have hours out there to play or simply have 5 minutes during the day that you want to spend gaming and having a bit of enjoyable. Semua fitur ini akan menambah keseruanmu dalam memainkan sport petualangan pc ini.
This gaming theme is also fully appropriate with the WooCommerce online shop builder plugin, giving you a quick and straightforward option to begin promoting products from your web site, whether or not they're bodily gadgets or digital downloads. Other websites supply a mixture of games, some with on-line browser based mostly video games (html5 and flash) along with downloadable games. Today, there are millions of on-line game web sites catering to different audiences.
If you want to monetize your gaming web site and begin producing an income online, PixieHuge has space for displaying sponsor promotions and adverts. Blackfyre incorporates every thing you will have to be able to build a web-based gaming community. Pogo has around one hundred free online video games together with puzzle, board, card, word, on line casino, and arcade video games which can be all playable from their website.
While it may be used for a spread of functions, akin to travel or know-how evaluations and information, taking a look on the demo version makes it straightforward to see that The Review has been built with players and their websites in mind. Whether you have an interest in Sports, Racing, Flying, Movies, Puzzles, Action, Adventure, Fun, Multiplayer or Platform there are all types of video games designed that you would be able to play on-line. Keeping gamers updates with any new patches, DLC details and bulletins is significant to the general success of your recreation.
Another and better strategy to get PSP video games is to seek out websites that claim to supply free PSP video games, until you in fact try to obtain a game, and as an alternative you are brought to a membership application page. Reloaded offers is a free laptop game web site devoted to remakes of basic/retro video games and community made freeware games.


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Quick History: Why did people believe in the undead?
December 18, 2017
Essentially, modern medicine and science didn't have proper explanations for an improper burial or the methods of disposing of bodies. According to Vampires, Burial & Death by Paul Barber: animal scavenging, shallow graves and the erosion of soil, grave robbers, and flooding were all ways in which the deceased would "unearth" and return to this world.