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The First Book in the Slim in Little Egypt Series.
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The Slim in Little Egypt Series
Buy It Now:
"Long stretches of this unusual first novel would seem to require guitar accompaniment. The genre conventions-treacherous women, double-crossing friends, greedy moneymen-seem fresh in Miller's sensory-rich language….Here's a strong talent just getting under way." (Booklist)
"Fans of FX's Justified TV series, as well as the show's Elmore Leonard source material, will welcome the tough-talking Slim and the eccentric cast of characters he meets along the way in this series launch by the coauthor of the graphic novel Redball Six." (Library Journal)
"Down Don't Bother Me marks the emergence of a wildly assured mystery novelist, and of a series set in the fresh and brutal landscape of southern Illinois." (New Orleans Public Library)
"In his first novel, set in the hardly welcoming world of southern Illinois coal country, he is funny, smart, and extremely self-assured in his writing, creating a book that is almost as addicting as the meth that has taken over the town of Little Egypt, Illinois." (Mystery Scene)
"Miller brings the reader into the cold Illinois landscape with his vivid imagery." (Life Sentence)
"Miller's first novel is raw, gritty and darkly comedic. The first-person POV is perfect for this telling, and readers will fall for Slim quickly. His relationship with his teenage daughter Anci, while typical of the teenage years, is refreshingly real. Overall a fantastic debut novel." (RT Book Reviews)
"While this novel is funny and violent, it also chronicles the soul-sapping meanness and danger of work in the mines. (Memphis Commercial Appeal)
"Jason Miller has delivered a crime novel with all the satisfactions of the genre, coupled with a serious, resonant subtext and the promise of more adventures to come for his offbeat protagonist." (Chapter 16)


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Spider leg veins and varicose veins are practically an interrelated phenomenon. With ageing, majority of people get swollen purple lines or swollen blue coloured cords that are spread all along the calves and thighs. These twisted blood vessels affect 3 adults in every 10. Women are more vulnerable and effected by this condition.
What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins are the large blood vessels in legs that twist and become swollen. They appear dark bluish in colour and raised outwards from the skin like lifted tunnels. They can develop on any part of the body but are most commonly seen on the ankles and legs. These veins are more commonly observed in women.
What are spider veins/ thread veins?
Spider veins or thread veins are tiny blood vessels that are twisted and become visible through the skin. They may appear in red, bluish or purple shades and can most often visible on the legs or face. There are different causes of appearance of these thread veins that include menarche, menopause, smoking, consumption of alcohol, strenuous muscular activities and can be even due to genetics.
People having spider leg veins may also experience:
- Swelling in legs
- Feeling of heaviness or achiness in legs
- Feeling of tiredness in legs
Common causes of Spider Veins
There are numerous factors which can contribute to the development of spider. These factors include;
- Heredity
- Pressure on Varicose veins
- Some Occupations which involve long standing hours like that of nurses, makeup and hair stylists, teachers, and factory workers
- Hormonal changes during pregnancy, puberty, and menopause
- Using the birth control pills
- Postmenopausal hormonal replacement
- History of having any blood clots
- Conditions that may cause an increase in pressure on the abdominal area, like tumors, constipation, and any externally worn garments like girdles.
- Excessive exposure to UV rays
Symptoms of spider veins
Spider veins can cause severe aching or cramping in the legs. The area affected by the spider veins may throb, ache, and burn or even develops a heavy feeling. These swollen veins can feel tender when touched and may reduce blood circulation causing itching ankles accompanied by swelling. This condition can also lead to the chronic changes in skin and tissues like skin discolouration and skin ulcer.

subset: commoncrawl


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The time and place
The future, on a habitable planet unknown to the protagonists
The suspension of disbelief
Space travel exists. Humanity found it could breed with a species of alien it found called the Zh Cle'. Said aliens have some insectoid features, which made some humans totally freak out and start genetically engineering 'perfected' humans (called Puregens) to keep up with the half-breeds. Now those not Puregen are discriminated against and not allowed on some worlds.
The quick summary
Reality television in space! Two prisoners with minor transgressions are teamed up for the Survival Game show. If they win, they get their freedom and some money. Gema is a vagrant and Kellac a Puregen military officer. Despite their vast differences in social station, they get along well as they deal with their growing attraction. Then the production team crashes and all the contestants are stranded. How do Gema and Kellac survive, and can their relationship survive a return to civilization?
My squees
The concept of the reality show and its horrible rules and surveillance is a great setup. I enjoyed hating the Game Master, the little camera drones, the yucky tactics our protagonists had to deal with. I liked that they were penalized for being decent people, because that's my experience of elimination-reality shows. Kellac is a stand-up person.
Kellac's attraction to Gema was a bit strange to me at first, suggesting that Puregen people were not societally conditioned to find attractiveness in what they engineered to be the best humans. However, he does explain that when everyone looks beautiful in a similar way, that standard of beauty isn't much of a draw. She is different than the women he's used to, and he finds that fascinating. I like it when books explore concepts of otherness and feeling apart from society.
My grumbles
Although I didn't see any spelling errors, I found copy editing mistakes. There are plenty of commas missing. When I notice an editing issue, I lose the story and have to engage myself again.
I found it difficult to immerse myself in the book, and I can't completely explain why. Time felt a little disjoint near the end, and the structure felt like it could be tightened or the pace faster. Two important side characters do not make an appearance until late in the book, so it was difficult for me to make a connection to them.
Read if you
- Love Survivor-type reality shows
- Think it's time the bug aliens get some love and sympathetic treatment
- Are interested in disability and speciesism issues
Skip if you
- Want an ensemble cast
- Prefer on-ship in-space action with lasers: space opera vs. planetary romance, if you will
Disclosure and final thoughts
I won this book in a raffle and review this book unsolicited as a token of appreciation for the author's generosity to the community.
Author site: melisseaires.blogspot.com
Resources: Goodreads / Amazon / Amazon UK / Nook / Kobo


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Welcome! This marks the first blog post for Read a Book Take a Bite!
The Book!
In honor of the fall season and Halloween, I thought I'd showcase the adorable children's book "The Goopy Ghost of Halloween" by author and friend V. R. Duin.
The Goopy Ghost of Halloween: "With vivid illustrations that sing the praises of the darkest and most delightful aspects of Halloween, The Goopy Ghost by V. R. Duin is a fantastically fun rhyming tale that celebrates the goopiest of ghostly goo. When siblings Steven and Sally trace the lines of what can only be described as the fiercest of all pumpkin faces and have their father carve the expression, they never imagine that the goo they toss in the rubbish bin will return to haunt them. A goopy ghost whose "Boo!" includes candy thieving, this ghoul roams the house to find a new house—one that isn't on fire. Absolutely unforgettable, this ghost story is perfect for even the youngest of beginning readers and is sure to become a Halloween classic."
Book Stats:
Genre - Children's
Page Count - 24
Target Age Group - 4 to 8 years
Theme(s) - Halloween
The Bite!
Pumpkin Shaped Shortbread Cookies
|My five year old helped mix the cookie batter. For a simple shortbread cookie recipe, you can use Food Network's "Classic Shortbread Cookie" recipe. We used food coloring (red and yellow mixed together) to create the orange color.
|Shape the cookie batter into medium sized balls.
|Place shaped balls on an ungreased cookie sheet.
|Take a toothpick and create lines to resemble the shape of a pumpkin.
|Bake in the oven according to recipe instructions. In this case at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes.
|Continue to use the writing icing (with the aid of a toothpick if necessary) to create the pumpkin's face.
|Aren't they cute?!
Pumpkin Shaped Shortbread Cookies
|Pumpkin Shaped Shortbread Cookies!
|Pumpkin Shaped Shortbread Cookies!


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The following video is brought to you courtesy of the Forgotten Weapons YouTube Channel. Click the video below to watch it now.
Cool Forgotten Weapons merch! http://shop.bbtv.com/collections/forgotten-weapons
By 1939, Auto-Ordnance was thoroughly bankrupt, having about $400 in assets and a debt of more than $1.2 million to the estate of the late Thomas Ryan, it's original financier. Ryan had died in 1929, but the company shareholders had prevented his estate from forcing the sale of the company for a decade. In 1939 they could hold out no longer, and the company was sold to one Russell Maguire, a high profile corporate raider.
Maguire, however, saw the potential of a submachine gun company on the brink of a new world war, and negotiated a contract with the Savage Arms Company to begin new production of Thompsons (the original Colt guns from 1921 having finally all sold). Orders began to come in from Europe, and new Model of 1928 Thompsons were sold to France, Sweden, and most substantially, the United Kingdom. The US military would also start buying Thompsons in quantity (designated the M1928A1), but the UK orders (paid for in bullion) were a massive source of profits for the company.
Auto-Ordnance would roll some of these profits back into the company, buying an old automotive brake factory in Bridgeport Connecticut and tooling up their own production of receivers and trigger frames to supplement Savage's production. A number of changes were progressively made to the guns to simplify and speed up their manufacture, including smooth barrels, stamped ejectors, vastly simplified rear sights, and horizontal front grips. By the time the M1928A1 was replaced by the M1 Thompson, more than 1.1 million had been made by AO and Savage combined. The Thompson had at last found it's purpose!
This is the third of a 5-part series on the development of the Thompson…
Forgotten Weapons
PO Box 87647
Tucson, AZ 85754
If you enjoy Forgotten Weapons, check out its sister channel, InRangeTV! http://www.youtube.com/InRangeTVShow


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David Martin MEP has strongly condemned the statement from outgoing President Jammeh announcing that he does not accept the outcome of the recent Gambian elections and that his opinion declares the result 'null and void':
"This is an affront to democracy and betrayal of the rights of all Gambians.
"Jammeh's regime is notorious for its extensive repression of opposition figures and activists. The Gambian people elected President-elect Barrow fairly and freely by a clear majority and their decision must be upheld. It is not for individuals to decide the veracity of an election.
"The Chairman of the Electoral Commission has confirmed that a recount will not change the result. I commend his bravery and resilience. There is no legal basis on for President Jammeh to annul the elections. This is an obvious and reprehensible attempt to retain his 22-year grip on power and rob his people of a democratic election.
"I welcome the statement by the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, the UN Security Council, Ghana and others urging President Jammeh to respect the outcome of the election and stand aside peacefully. Until such a time, I urge all parties to remain calm and vigilant against disruptive forces. The sudden increase in military presence on the streets in the Gambia is an unacceptable and a worrying sign of President Jammeh's insecurity.
"It is crucial that all parties reject any violence and adhere to the rule of law. The Gambia's election two weeks ago was a beacon of hope to many across the region who also hope for free, fair, peaceful elections where the popular verdict wins the day.
"I call on President Jammeh to abide by the sovereign will of his people, withdraw his rejection of the election results and facilitate a peaceful and smooth transfer of power to the President-elect. The Gambian people deserve certainty for the future they voted for."


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La Chureca ('the scavenger'), located in Managua, Nicaragua, was home to one of the largest inhabited dump communities in the world when I traveled there in 2007. It had a population of almost 1700 people who were housed within its walls. Over fifty percent of them were children, some of whom were addicted to glue, worked in the trash, and, on rare occasion, were solicited by truck drivers. It was a permanent community where people often worked for many years as recyclers, exposed to illness and environmental dangers. There was a small school, an ill-equipped clinic, and two youth programs that received essentially no funding from the Nicaraguan government. The several hundred children of La Chureca had some access to education, small daily meals, and a couple of safe places to play to escape the dump. Recently, the Nicaraguan government relocated the family's to newly built housing nearby.
On the surface, their lives appeared enclosed within a trash dump. However, in getting to know them, I witnessed a richer, deeper life beyond the trash. They had a childhood, developed relationships and experienced boredom and loneliness, like anyone else. Despite enduring exceptionally brutal, dehumanizing living conditions, they were still able preserve their dignity and passion for life. This is a small and hopefully enlightening glimpse into their lives.


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LivingSocial's Final Tally: 1.4M Amazon Vouchers Sold
The official tally for the biggest online coupon deal on record, LivingSocial's $20 Amazon voucher for $10 from yesterday, is jawdropping: 1,378,938 vouchers sold.
That's equivalent to 80 vouchers per second, 100,000 per hour, and $13 million in revenue.
It also beats Groupon's tremendous Gap offer last year, which sold 440,000 units and generated $11 million in revenue.
Maire Griffin, director of communications at LivingSocial, said, "It was an incredibly successful deal. We knew it was going to be a really popular deal, and it did not disappoint."
Griffin wouldn't go into specifics, but the New York Times speculates that Living Social might have taken a loss:
"Typically, retailers sell the coupons directly to consumers for the discounted price, and LivingSocial takes a cut, generally 30 percent. But for this deal, LivingSocial bought the gift cards from Amazon and is selling them itself," the Times wrote. "If LivingSocial paid Amazon $20, then LivingSocial is absorbing the losses. If it paid Amazon less, then Amazon is losing money."
Either way, the two companies will sink or swim together. Last December Amazon invested $175 million in LivingSocial.
Now if you bought the deal, you may be experiencing some activation delays. Throughout the day LivingSocial's Twitter account has been apologizing to users for delayed availability of the Amazon voucher. Usually, purchased vouchers are made available within 24 hours.


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Daniel Chapter 12 is Now! As we can see clearly 'knowledge has increased' also sin and self has increased with the velocity of web, mobile, digital, social platforms, gadgets and devices.
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.' Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but they that are wise shall understand.[ Daniel 12: 1,4,10]
Anyone who thinks they are in TOTAL control of their world or life think again. Read Daniel Chapter 12 and consider that 'knowledge has increased' now humans are experiencing information overload, one has to know to whom they serve and soon most humans will speak more than they write. Humans are also training bots, robots, artificial intelligence and internet-of-things where classrooms and teachers of the future will be Cloud, Internet and mobile than a physical go-to-school classroom. This is great for the eco-system as less car or vehicle travel means less carbon emissions CO2 and a healthier ozone layer.
Not all knowledge of world is good, kids, teens, youth even adults with sext, text, sex, escort, porn and even strip or wear clothes showing their breasts like the Garden of Eden. Please note, that the Garden of Eden was only naked before knowledge of sin so Adam & Eve were NOT humanly aware they were naked until after sin. The point here is Daniel 12 is rapidly unfolding in Heaven to Earth and "Michael" Yahuwah the only begotten Son of YHWH is getting ready to stand – then comes the TIME OF TROUBLE. This is a time that many people like now will not be able to stand within the four walls of their own minds, soul and spirit unless they have faith, courage, boldness and the Holy Spirit within.
Already drugs from cocaine, weed, heroine, Opiod to pills are affecting humans of all ages even people who attend religions & denominations. From England UK, to the USA, Jamaica and other countries humans are doing drugs at an early age through stress, homelessness, fear, anxiety, fashion, rejection, loneliness, etc. A killer drug is carfentanil, a synthetic opioid that is 10,000 times stronger than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl, another deadly synthetic opioid.
This is definitely TIME OF TROUBLE as New World Order designed with a new world in mind for robots, bots, AI, IOT and less of humans. Even less of Commandments, YHWH or GOD as pews of religions and denominations are in decline whilst growth of LGBT equal rights and same sex marriage are government-funded and applauded. So humans get less jobs, employment, housing and YHWH or GOD but more drugs, weed, anal, same sex, suicide, gangs, violence, evil and sin.
Prepare for the BIG Surprise
Prepare for the BIG surprise as you can see from the above links with drugs comes violence, sex, prostitution and a host of other problems that leads to death, suicide, homelessness or jail for most. Are humans being eradicated by New World Order? Just a question as I cannot understand which government would want to legalize any drug if they valued their human workforce of any age.
The big surprise is also this Time of Trouble is worst than any other time in history according to Daniel Chapter 12. If you are smart take a look around the world Russia and the U.S are already on the verge of WW3. The U.S. or America is even imploding with its national debt at over $19 TRILLION USD. The U.S. is also imprisoning more people than the rest of the world and you can get a lengthy jail term for spitting on someone as this is assault. Even hip-hop and most celebrities are you promoting YHWH or sin and evil? Most promote wear no clothes or wear female clothes for man and vice-versa which is mind-control that leads to genocide.
Even if you attend a religion or denomination now is the time of preparation for one to sit, read, walk, talk and hear of YHWH within. As there will surely come a time when preparation or probation is over. Gone will be all those free bibles and pews we all once enjoyed on Sabbath or Sunday if thy get closed or shutdown due to baby-boomers dying or sin, world and or sinful lifestyles how will you overcome your Time Of Trouble?
For Kingdom believers who are meat or deep in YHWH God through His Holy Spirit and Holy Word will know right now 2016-2017 many are being prepared through SUFFERING, shame, rejection, alienation, solitude, silence, persecution and more. You see suffering for good is a cause for rejoicing whereas suffering for evil is hell on steroids.
1 Pet. 4:15-16"But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or asan evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."


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MJ Rome provides advisory and brokerage services for lodging and hospitality real estate transactions. Hotel real estate sales should be conducted by a trusted and dedicated adviser who possesses unique skills in negotiating complex transactions in a highly competitive and constantly changing environment. MJ Rome utilizes its broad industry relationships to provide you with access to a multitude of well-capitalized investors as well as access to key players in finance, property management, franchising, law, design, construction and other areas for all types of hospitality assets.
Mark J. Rome, the founder and President of MJ Rome, Inc. has nearly two decades of experience successfully marketing and structuring hospitality real estate sales. He is a licensed attorney with more than 25 years of experience negotiating complex, multi-party transactions. Since 2000, Mark has participated in structuring over 95 hotel deals valued in excess of $650 million for a variety of clients, ranging from large, publicly-traded companies to individual owners. He has closed transactions in most regions of the U.S. involving many asset types - including full service, resort, select service, conference center, independent, boutique and extended stay - as well as portfolio and individual asset sales.


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New bins bring the number on Square to 12
In a move that will make it increasingly harder to litter on Market Square, Dundalk Town Council have added another set of bins.
The new bins are on the courthouse side of the Square, and will give people usintg that side of the €3 million refurbished Square the opportunity to place rubbish in them.
The new set of bins bring to 12 the number of double bins dotted around the Market Square.
"It's a good thing," said Anna Egan of Panama Café. "It if helps stop people littering, who'd complain."
Yet the number of bins on the Square, each one comprising a green recycle bin and a gray bin for normal refuse, means that you can't walk more then 10 metres in any direction before you are confronted with another bin.
Willie Duffy of Dundalk Tidy Towns says that anything that helps keep the "Square clean' is a good thing.
"If it takes 12 bins to keep the Square clean, then so be it. Their colour means that they are relatively discrete and tend to go unnoticed.
"If it makes one person more litter aware then it's worth it. The town has a long way to go to get itself back to the top of the IBAL list which we won years ago."


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Well, ya'll. I've had a fun little adventure over the past few weeks. And I'm so excited to finally share a snippet with the rest of the world. It's a long, fun, Holy Spirit guided story to how we got here - but I'm overjoyed to announce that I'll be hosting a conference alongside these two ladies come October. We would be thrilled if you would consider setting aside October 11-13th to join us as we encourage, learn, have FUN and walk together as we talk about how the Lord might want us to use our influence for sharing His good news.
Hayley from The Tiny Twig and the wonderful Casey Wiegand have long been some of my favorite ladies on the internet and it seems that the Lord has timed this all perfectly for us to each get to share a massive portion of what we're passionate about. So whether you're a professional blogger/social media pro or a stay at home mama who doesn't care a thing about twitter or a woman of God who just wants to love her community better, we believe the Lord will have something for you at Influence. We believe He's given you influence for a purpose - to make much of Him. And that is something to celebrate.
So, please mark your calendars for October 11-13th. We so hope you join us! Website, speakers list, and ticket information will be coming soon! We are THRILLED to tell you about all the wise, hilarious, awesome women who will be joining us and the fun things we have planned!
You in, sister?


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Welcome to Piccanin Clothing
Piccanin Clothing is based in North Wales. Cynthia Williams hails from South Africa and from her love of South Africa , it's vibrance and colour she started Piccanin Clothing in May 2011. Piccanin Clothing offers a fun range of clothing for little ones aged newborn to 7 years. Piccanin Clothing stocks Hooligans Kids Clothing. Hooligans Kids Clothing is manufactured in the Republic of South Africa by a Fairtrade Cooperative.
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Charlotte Hornets
Not exactly home-sweet-home this season for the Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford didn't want to hear about the four games in five nights or the hour his team lost flying home from Memphis or the fact that the Detroit Pistons hadn't played since Saturday.
Clifford was concerned with two troubling numbers during a 10-8 start:
First, that the Hornets are only 5-5 at home at Spectrum Center. Second, that the Hornets have a 1-3 record when playing the second game on back-to-back nights.
"Great players bring it every night," Clifford said Tuesday night.
The Hornets stunk it up during the second half of a 112-89 loss to the Pistons. Clifford went out of his way after Monday's road victory against the Grizzlies to remind his players and the media that teams with lofty goals validate those victories by sweeping a back-to-back set.
That didn't happen, despite the Pistons playing without star center Andre Drummond in the second half. Drummond was caught elbowing the Hornets' Roy Hibbert in the back of the head as Kemba Walker launched a 3-pointer.
After a video review, the referees charged Drummond with a Flagrant Foul 2, which is an automatic ejection.
So the Pistons, who had won just one of their previous eight road games, blew out the Hornets despite missing their two most important players – Drummond and injured point guard Reggie Jackson.
Forward Tobias Harris was quite enough, scoring 24 points to lead the Pistons home. An athletic 6-foot-9, Harris isn't quite a power forward or a classic small forward. Clifford tried to guard Harris with Frank Kaminsky and nothing about Kaminsky's night went well.
Starting in place of the injured Marvin Williams, Kaminsky made just one of 11 shots from the field. This was his third start since Williams suffered a hyperextended knee and by far his worst.
Kaminsky looked physically flat, not that he was alone in that regard. He and the Hornets will be better off when Williams is back, allowing Kaminsky to play against starters only part-time. The steady diet of front-line scorers is challenging him, and not in a good way.
Despite a miserable start – the Hornets trailed 13-2 in this one – the combination of a 29-point second quarter and Drummond's ejection left the home team trailing by only three at halftime. Clifford felt good about the second-half prospects.
And then … zilch.
The energy level in the second half was flat at best. Worse yet, Jeremy Lamb, who had played so well the previous two games, suffered a right knee bruise early in the fourth quarter and never returned.
I followed up with Clifford about his home-game and second game-of-back to backs numbers. He reminded that the Eastern Conference is better and deeper this season, and concluded that the presumption that playing .500 ball will get a team in the East into the playoffs is no longer valid.
Clifford thinks this is the most talented group he's coached in Charlotte, but he has misgivings about the focus he's getting on a case-by-case basis.
If that doesn't change, April could be about regret.
Rick Bonnell: 704-358-5129, @rick_bonnell


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SkinPro significantly reduces expressionThis doctor recommended anti-aging eye treatment from
wrinkles, fine lines, crow's feet and decreases puffiness and dark circles under and around the eyes. A vast improvement in efficacy over earlier versions.
Breaking News: Elite Serum is usually best priced on Amazon.com. Click here.
Update for June 2016: There is also a special trial offer available here.
Elite Serum Review and What You Should Know
Elite Serum "Rx" is an anti-wrinkle eye serum formulated by Irwin Grams, an award winning cosmetic pharmacist with 37 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry. This highly concentrated Peptide based formula is recommended by doctors, primarily as an alternative to cosmetic injections designed to fill in expression wrinkles and fine lines around the eyes.
Side note: the RX edition is the latest formula with all the best peptides. It's sold in nifty retail packaging with a blue label. While the prior formula got rave reviews, the company has advised to avoid buying the discontinued white label version because it hasn't been manufactured since 2013 and is near expiration.
One look below at the product packaging showcases the care and innovation that goes into this perennial best selling anti aging serum, both online and now in select retail locations.
—-> Visit Their Official Website Here <—-
Despite the syringe packaging, this isn't an injection! So don't become afraid of the packaging, it's actually a very slick airless dispenser that allows you to really control how much product you are dispensing. It's also STUNNING when you receive the package, making Elite Serum a perfect gift to that person in your circle who is really into their beauty products.
Elite Eye Serum Benefits & Testimonials
Well, we have had our entire editorial staff try this product with incredible results. Never before has the internal feedback been so overwhelmingly positive. A number of our test group members already swear by it and have not only continued to use the product following the trial, but they have went out and bought it on their own from the company.
There are no miracles here, simply an extremely effective therapeutic solution that does what it says it will do. So keep on reading as this review is longer than normal, but it is worth a few minutes of your time if you are truly serious about achieving real age-reversing results. There are no mysteries here. If you believe in science, it will make sense to you how and why this product works as well as everybody is saying it does.
Our own product review specialist, Brandice, talks about the product in this video below.
When SkinPro, a boutique skin care laboratory known for their potent cosmeceuticals, let us in on their plans to revamp their award-winning Elite Serum formula, we thought they were crazy! Even more so, we thought that their idea to package it in a custom designed and patented airless syringe would never garner mainstream support. We couldn't have been more wrong.
The frenzy over this hot new product really began during the February 4th 2012 edition of a daytime show of a well respected doctor. During this segment, it was recommended that the use of an Argireline-based eye treatment like Elite Serum as a safe topical alternative to cosmetic injections.
From there the popularity just spread like wildfire, thanks to real proven results. (Read more about those on their website.)
This revolutionary serum is also a very effective treatment for significantly reducing eye bag puffiness and discoloration such as dark under eye circles. It's packed with all of the latest peptide ingredients – Argireline®, SNAP-8, Haloxyl®, Matrixyl™3000, SYN®-COLL, Syn®-TC, Inyline™ and Eyeliss™ – but best of all, Elite Serum uses them in the concentrations that are recommended by the research laboratories where they were formulated and discovered.
This reader submitted photo of Paul, age 70, tells the story best. This photo is completely untouched and unaltered in any way. Paul, who is a retired medical professional, Elite Serum Rx user and regular reader of our website, confirmed to us that he did not enhance these photos in any way. Furthermore, he did not use any makeup, lighting tricks or anything that would artificially enhance the results. We hate asking people this, but you need absolute confirmation when dealing with a purported anti-aging testimonial. These actual photos were taken on an iPhone 4 before treatment and following 90 days of twice daily application. We are firm believers in science when it comes to determining the benefits of a skin care product. We don't believe in miracles.
This is what Paul had to say about his experiences with the Elite Serum Rx syringe eye serum:
"Recently I contacted a plastic surgeon friend of mine to find out what he could do for the puffiness under my eyes. He told me that no injection or surgery will fix this problem and went on to recommend a product called Elite Serum Rx. Although skeptical at first, I purchased some and as you can see from the photos, I have been using it for 3 months now and it really has made a significant difference in virtually eliminating my puffy eye bags. I would recommend this product to friends and family."
The Elite Serum Rx (Extra Strength) version is also heavily doctor recommended and endorsed. Famed anti-aging guru Dr. Mark Weis, MD, from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, had this to say about the new product:
"As a physician specializing in anti-aging medicine, I am very happy I was made aware of Elite Serum Rx. My patients' experience has confirmed its impressive effectiveness in reducing age-related skin concerns such as crow's feet, wrinkling, fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness under the eyes. Because many cosmetic products are poorly researched and ineffective, quality and safety-oriented physicians like me usually won't recommend them because they have not been demonstrated to be both effective and safe in medical studies. Happily, this is not the case with Elite Serum Rx! As a physician concerned with my patients' safety, I find the research effort provided by Elite Serum's creators very reassuring, and am very pleased that physicians like me now have a reliable recommendation for patients suffering from age-related facial skin concerns."
When an eye serum receives such strong professional opinions, it speaks volumes of its efficacy.
Being true to our reputation of providing facts about the latest eye serum breakthroughs, we gave this product the old college try. Since you never get a second chance to create a first impression, an eye serum like Elite Serum is something one can't ignore. It all starts with our eyes. It's important to treat the skin around them with extreme care, and induce rejuvenation with only the best anti-aging treatments. Elite Serum has launched a never-seen-before version of eye serum that was formulated by esteemed cosmetic pharmacist Irwin Grams. He carefully combined the world's most powerful skin care peptides like Argireline®, SNAP-8, Haloxyl®, Matrixyl™3000, SYN®-COLL, SYN®-TC, Inyline™ and Eyeliss™, to formulate a compound so potent that we were left wondering why it does not require a prescription.
Right out of the gate we started out impressed as the Elite Serum Rx comes in what looks like an injectable syringe. However, there is no painful injection here, only a laser-targeted approach to dispensing eye serum in a manner that makes airless pumps a thing of the past. A marketing brochure accompanied each shipment and provided more information about the product.
A simple push of the button will allow the eye serum to be dispensed with ease and applied around the eyes, circulating gently into the area where crow's feet start to form and ending with the skin below the eyes. After a few weeks of using the Elite Serum, we noticed the skin under the eyes developed a certain plumping effect and genuinely felt – and looked – healthier. Within one month's time, everyone agreed that eye wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness were all but a thing of the past. With the "forced DNA rejuvenation" provided by the Elite Serum, the skin reacted better than it had with any other eye serum or anti-aging product we have ever tested.
Elite Serum Rx Review – who would benefit from using this new product?
The quick answer is "anyone who is looking to rejuvenate their skin, especially in the area of skin that ages so awfully around our eyes". Eye wrinkles, crow's feet, dark under eye circles, and unsightly bags can add years to our appearance. Elite Serum addresses all of these concerns – and more – in one targeted skin treatment.
Best of all, this mighty rejuvenation product uses a unique and effective patent-pending syringe that's never been seen before. This syringe takes all of the guesswork out of applying eye serum and delivers laser targeted results that an airless pump simply can't match. Needle-quality results without the pain!
This ultra-powerful eye serum works directly at the DNA level to stimulate and rejuvenate the delicate skin around the eyes. There is nothing on the market formulated to work as well as it does.
Keep on reading as we have an exclusive interview with Timothy Schmidt, who's company SkinPro was responsible for the formulation of the new extra strength Elite Serum Rx, along with our own reader feedback, comments and reviews about this exciting new anti-aging treatment that is simply the best skin care product released so far in 2013.
Or visit the Official Elite Serum Rx Website for more information about this exciting new eye serum.
As investigative reporters on anti aging serums and other skin rejuvenation products, we like to take a look under the proverbial hood and get down to the nitty gritty details. We reached out to Skin Pro, creators of the Elite Serum franchise, and asked some questions about this new revolution in skin care.
Below is an exclusive interview with company spokesperson Timothy Schmidt.
EyeSerum.com: What makes Elite Serum Rx so special?
Schmidt: "based on advanced research and testing, I truly feel this is the most potent eye serum ever introduced to the world market."
EyeSerum.com: Can you elaborate on why you feel this way?
Schmidt: "our initial Elite Serum formula, which we released at the beginning of 2009, was received with great praise for our use of anti-oxidants combined with potent peptides. The formula still gets rave reviews and we have 10's of thousands of regular customers who swear by it as an every day anti aging treatment. We simply upgraded the formula based on time spent in the laboratory and by listening to feedback from our loyal customers."
EyeSerum.com: Elite Serum has always been held in high regard by our readers and we've enjoyed the results in our own testing. You mentioned some changes – we noticed the packaging, of course – but what else has changed from the previous Elite Serum?
Schmidt: "We increased the percentages of the active ingredients by a substantial margin and added Syn-TC in partnership with Centerchem along with Lipotec's most powerful Inyline peptide. It's not easy mixing (bonding) ingredients when you increase the amounts of each ingredients. To put it in more simple terms, it's like maxing a beef stew – sure you want to add all your favorite ingredients, but when you add too much of one ingredient and too little of another, it just doesn't mesh well. That's why we spent so much time working on this before finally releasing it. And yes, it's hard to ignore the packaging – we took a lot of time in addressing the main issue most customers have with anti aging creams and serums – the airless pump. When people spend their hard earned money on skin products the last thing they want to do is waste any amount of the product, so we invested a substantial amount of resources in creating this new syringe style applicator device."
EyeSerum.com: That's a huge advantage, and we've noted in previous eye serum reviews that airless pumps are a huge hassle when they don't work properly. We noticed a couple ingredients were missing from the new Elite Serum: acai berry extract and resveratrol – can you tell us why?
Schmidt: "You certainly picked up on a very BIG change in the formula! While there is nothing wrong with the antioxidant quality of using those two natural resources in an anti aging cream, we found BETTER ways to deliver the same affect from ingredients that are used in more advanced treatments. Not to mention, acai and resveratrol were common ingredients in a lot of the "free trial" anti aging creams out there – and we have never been supporters of that model. You wouldn't imagine the number of consumers that associate those two ingredients with "wrinkle cream scams." It's unfortunate, because research shows those ingredients are of high quality, but we did find better results in our testing with other ingredients – namely seaweed extracts, which in addition to being among the highest quality natural antioxidants, also have a huge impact on discoloration of the skin. Skin care conventions allow us to converse with many great dermatology minds, and ALL of the luxury spa's that are located in five star hotels and resorts use the same seaweed extract in their skin treatments and body wraps. (And they charge a pretty penny for this luxury!)
EyeSerum.com: That's great information, Tim. Thanks for your time today. I'll let you get back to your daily routine unless you want to add anything?
Schmidt: "The pleasure is all mine. I appreciate you taking the time to let us discuss our new product here. I will add that if anyone has any questions or wants to do a similar interview, my door is always open. I can be reached at support @ eliteserum.com via email or ask for me on our toll free 800-575-2065. We're open to doing promotions, giveaways, and more. We actively participate in the anti aging circuit here in South Florida and are quickly widening our retail presence in beauty stores and spa's across the globe. Again, thank YOU for the time and if I can ever offer more information, just get in touch."
EyeSerum.com: We appreciate the time and wish you success with the new product!
Schmidt: "Thanks! Keep up the great work."
That concludes our 2016 Elite Serum Review. If you have any questions or comments, please don't be shy to reach out to one of our editors.


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Bob C wrote:Hey A-Ro,
Thanks for that info. I gather the RAD single has less volume drop because it's a hotter pickup. I've been on the fence about the bridge pickup, but this is pushing me over to the single coil. Is your PB5 active or passive? Blend or VVT? What are your normal settings?
Mine is passive with the standard Volume/Blend/Tone. My settings change depending on the song but, in general I like to have the blend knob slightly favoring the SCP. My tone knob is usually full on for upbeat songs and rolled off about halfway for slower melodic stuff.


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By James Tyberron, www.earth-keeper.com
Hold Onto Your Hats !!!
March is a Month of Mega Energy
Two Eclipses, The Equinox & A Supermoon !
If by any chance, you are not yet sensing the increasing astro-gravity intensity bathing the planet just now, then hold onto your hats, you will be soon ! This month will be a real doozy , blowing with the winds of change ! March 2016 is embellished by 2 mega eclipses, an incredible super moon and of course the equinox.
March 8, 2016 – March 9, 2016 – Total Solar Eclipse
The Total Solar Eclipse will be visible from parts of Indonesia including Sumatra, Borneo, and Sulawesi, and from locations in the Pacific Ocean. However, whether visible or not from your location on the planet, the effects of this eclipse will be felt across the entire earth. The eclipse will begin at 23:19 UTC on March 8, 2016, and its maximum point will take place at 01:58 UTC on March 9, 2016. Totality of this mega total solar eclipse will last for 4 minutes and 9 seconds. The 'energy window of the eclipse will begin 3 days prior to the event, and extend 3 days afterward.
We note the time of the 'Total Eclipse (Below) , to advise you, because the 4 min 9 second span of totality is an extraordinary time for manifestation of focal intent, as in this pause of linear time & dimensional aperture, life force units stream into the earth, and meditations are embellished in the 'Sun-Gate' Portal of the Total Eclipse.
Global Timings – Solar Eclipse
Mega March
The month of March will be one of the most powerful astrological intensities of the year 2016. It will be a phase beginning March 5th , stepping up on the total solar eclipse of March 8th & 9th , peaking on the equinox , and ending in a potent burst 3 days later on the lunar eclipse. It will affect all of you, whether or not you are aware of the astrological forces, whether or not you believe in astrology, you will be effected in this amalgamated surge of incredible gravitational energies.
This will be a time seeding incredible change, seeds will be planted to provoke a close review of life purpose. There may be for the empathic seeker, an intense period within this phase of questioning your lives, of incertitude, and this may for many involve periods of sudden spurts of deep self-doubt, of questioning where you are, what has been gained, what has been lost and what has not been yet achieved; in both the micro & macro scales, individually and group mass arenas. An alliance of Uranus, Saturn & Pluto occurring between March 3rd and March 23rd will bring energies that can affect self-doubt and depression, and these gravities are actually heightened in the amplification of the equinox sandwiched between the tandem mega eclipses and full moon.
But we urge you to realize that this eclipsical time of review is oft laden with phases of diffident vacillation from tenets of positive belief, spiked with jolts of skepticism. Yet these in themselves can absolutely become the springboard for inspiring new actions that are required. It is important to temper the catalytic spice of these potent energies with the seasoning of understanding the influences about you, lest you allow the doubts to lead you into a downward spiral of cynicism, depression and the sticky 'molasses' of apathy. In some aspects, the cocktail of energies of March will feel for a period leading up to the equinox, a bit like a 'shorter-lived' Mercury retrograde, with phases of unjustified, atypical temper outburst, curious unwarranted angers, skewed reasoning, miscommunication, melancholy and procrastination.
During Solar Eclipses the Moon is directly between the Earth and Sun, a conjunction of the Sun and the Moon. During this brief time the Moon can "block out" the Sun, not only temporarily turning off the lights, if you will, but actually pausing for an infinite moment, the passage of linear time in the dimensional fabric of space. In this paused window, a gate opens to the infinitely of timeless non-space. This window allows for the opportunity to recognize your mortality, the finite aspect of your personality in time as a human being on the earthplane. And you will perhaps be stimulated, eclipsically bolted from the mesmerizing dross by this intensity to concentrate on what you wish to accomplish with the remaining time & creative opportunities in front of you.
Remember as we have shared previously with you, in duality dimensions, space is coagulated time, and above duality, time is fixed into the infinite now of non-time, and space freely flows with the lucidity of thought. Accordingly, in this eclipsical aperture, you may rise so high into the great & greater infinity of multidimensional self-awareness & divine aspect, that when you view below into the linear dimension of duality, you will see in a prolific moment of serendipitous clarity, that there is a reason for everything. That physical life is a purposed illusion of learning creatorship, and you will be recharged with the knowledge that you are powerful spiritual beings temporarily wearing the clothing of biology.
The solar eclipse in Pisces occurs in the energy of the Super 'New Moon' of March 8th and the eclipse will achieve 'Total Eclipse' at 1:58 a.m. UT on 9th March, and at 8:58 pm on March 8th on the eastern coast of America. This has far reaching effects, and will provide the energy burst of flooding the planet with 'life force' energy units in peak during the 4+ minutes of totality. Among the primary themes of the energy initiated on the solar eclipse is Emotional Wisdom. Gaining mastery of self in order to forge a greater Truth ! In this eclipsical energy you will be giving the opportunity of removing illusion, the removal of smoke & mirrors, the requisite of finding truth whether hidden by others or self. And let us be clear, finding truth is essential, and the ability to do so involves both the elimination of obstacles and the embracing of opportunity.
You must realize that the constant raising of the frequencial bar, the amplification and increasing intensity of astronomical / astrological gravities is part of the path, year by years, phase by phase, in the New Earth thru 2038. The Jupiter Opposition initiating on the day of the solar eclipse, March 8th, will percolate every emotion. You must stabilize the emotional field, because otherwise the aura will fracture in the emotional extremes of the unmanaged reaction. Otherwise each phase of concentrated energy shift, taking place each year with eclipses, meteor showers, super moons, retrogrades, solstices, equinoxes and eclipses will toss you around like loose cannons on a wild sea of energy waves.
The present surge that we have termed as 'Madness of March' will provide an influx of energy extremes that can easily hurl the un-managed mind, the un-tempered emotions of the unprepared into a battery of erratic feelings. You must control the fear, abate the depression and apathy thru mental discipline. You cannot float on a ship with no sails and wait for the tide to calm, you must be the master of emotion in order to achieve mental clarity…and that is being cosmically taught in March. March will contain the unexpected, forgotten unresolved issues & people from the past may suddenly surface. And in this tumultuous energy, be wary. Mars is in the background and Jupiter is in retrograde. Communication is skewed., emotions can run erratic and logic may be skewed until April. isolate in this time, in order to contemplate the self.
Take time to detach, for the next few weeks, and observe from a 3rd party stance, the flow of emotions that can occur in all seasons, all colors of the next 3 weeks. You must explore your emotions without giving them the reigns of your actions, you are compelled to know your feelings: how they emanate, why they spring forth, their vibratory patterns and behavioral triggers. And, most important of all, how you create, perpetuate and manage them.
For much of the first fortnight of March, Saturn squares the Sun. Disheartening & frustrating in one aspect, but empowering growth and creating opportunities of new strength of will in another. This energy calls for the need to reconsider ones spiritual intents and goals to fit within the parameters of your 3d activity. This means confrontation of hypercriticism, of understanding an opposing point of view, and not stepping on the feet of those that disagree with you. It means that lofting into higher realms doesn't serve you if you lose your footing in duality. Grounding is essential. Being airy-fairy is not the same as being positive.
This Saturn square demands the flexibility to be steadfast and strong, having the courageous determination to confront any unexpected circumstances, and the entire energy of March is teeming with potentials for the unforeseen to arise, and this is energized by Mars's passage into Sagittarius in the first week of March….as well as the ongoing retrograde of Jupiter, and Saturn goes into retrograde on March 25th.
The 2nd week of March is influenced from the 14th to 16th by the maximum frequency of the Saturn T-Square with Mercury & Jupiter. This shifts slightly to include Pluto on the 17th & 18th leading into the equinox on the 20th and 21st. But keep in mind astrological influences are amalgamated when occurring between eclipses and further exaggerated by the frequencial 'amping-up' that is brought by the equinox.
The lunar eclipse in Libra occurs at 11:48 a.m. UT on the 23rd March, opposed by Mercury in Aries. This Lunar eclipse is in effect, the completion of what began with the solar eclipse a fortnight earlier. The full moon of the penumbral eclipse is the perfect timing to reconsider compassion in dealings with self and others. The entire planet is being forced to find the means of unification within the undertow of upheaval and sudden shift.
This frequency in March takes effort to optimally manage , and as uncertain as the environmental vibratory rate may be with the roller-coasters of jagged frequencial spikes & uncertainties inducing anxiety & worry, it also contains extraordinary potentials. You each have the ability to calm the mind, and in so doing are able to reach very high during the eclipses and equinox. These are indeed, extremely potent apertures, windows of wisdom…and within them the wise seeker is able to reach the stars, and find serenity in divinity … and in so doing co-create the changes you want to see.
You can transform the madness into majesty !
Planet Retrograde Direct
March 8 – Jupiter at Opposition. The giant planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view and photograph Jupiter and its moons. A medium-sized telescope should be able to show you some of the details in Jupiter's cloud bands. A good pair of binoculars should allow you to see Jupiter's four largest moons, appearing as bright dots on either side of the planet.
March 9 – New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 01:54 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
March 9 – Total Solar Eclipse. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely blocks the Sun, revealing the Sun's beautiful outer atmosphere known as the corona. The path of totality will only be visible in parts of central Indonesia and the Pacific Ocean. A partial eclipse will be visible in most parts of northern Australia and southeast Asia. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information) (NASA Interactive Google Map)
March 20 – March Equinox
March Equinox: The March equinox occurs at 04:30 UTC. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere.
March 23 – Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 12:02 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Worm Moon because this was the time of year when the ground would begin to soften and the earthworms would reappear. This moon has also been known as the Full Crow Moon, the Full Crust Moon, the Full Sap Moon, and the Lenten Moon.
March 23 – Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's partial shadow, or penumbra. During this type of eclipse the Moon will darken slightly but not completely. The eclipse will be visible throughout most of extreme eastern Asia, eastern Australia, the Pacific Ocean, and the west coast of North America including Alaska. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)


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The Fluted Body Is Titanium With Gold Plating At Its Cap And Bottom With a Cabochon At It's End. The Titanium Body Is Dark, Representing a Cougar. Overall Design Is Simple Yet Elegant.Cartier's Signature Tri-Color Intertwined Rings. Measurements: 13.2cm Long.
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BodyBudd ASSIST BAND CHOSEN BY ATHLETES & PRO'S! Non slip foot straps, Safety hooks, Durable and resilient buckles, all combined for a perfect safe support!
BodyBudd ADVANCED BAND STRENGTHENS THE ENTIRE UPPER BODY, Push your results further shape up your Legs, Hips, Shoulders, and Arms, Get a Nice 'n Tight, Toned, Cored Body - Fast!!!
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BodyBudd CHIN UP ASSIST BAND ARE IMPORTANT to Baseball pitchers for the acceleration phase of throwing as well as tennis players in the acceleration phase of the tennis forehand!
BodyBudd IS WELL DESIGNED WITH YOU IN MIND! BodyBudd Assist Band makes it your Home or Office Gym, A nice compact pouch for travel, anywhere there's a door; there's a workout! NO EXCUSES!!!
This item was provided for Free/Discount and this are our honest thoughts on the product!
This item came with not so good instructions. I wish they would have gone the route to give us directions with photos vs just words as photos are much easier to understand with equipment like this. We're not even sure if this is the right way to use this item. We're rating this one 4 stars for the fact that we shouldn't have to track down videos etc to figure out how to use it. Other than that. It's good construction. And feels well made.
Thanks to Tomoson and Support Up USA for the product.
You can check out this product here : http://amzn.to/1rb4Lc9
Disclaimer: Thanks to Goodreads and Amazon for the book cover, about the book, and author information. Buying via these above links allows my site to get a % of the sale at no cost to you. This money gets used to buy items for giveaways. In accordance with FTC guidelines regarding endorsements and testimonials for bloggers, I would like my readers to know that many of the books I review are provided to me for free by the publisher or author of the book in exchange for an honest review. I am in no way compensated for any reviews on this site. All donations are to help keep this site running via costs from shipping, .com charges, and other giveaways.
Comments are DELICIOUS! and now that were using this new format for comments the TOP 3 Commenters will all win bookish goodies each month! So that is just one more reason to comment! This is open to everyone! So get commenting!
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Nantglyn Blog
Date: 12th May 2017 @ 1:45pm
Nantglyn Blog
Friday 12th May 2017
It's almost time for our residential to Nantglyn on Wednesday 17th to Friday 19th May. We will be updating you here with all the activities and goings on during our stay.
We have arrived in Nantglyn safe and well. Conwy Castle was a great success, it even got a round of applause when we arrived. The views from the castle were amazing. The hungry seagulls dropped less than subtle hints about the packed lunches the children were busy devouring. We have a huge thank you to Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Christian for helping us at Conwy Castle.
The coach journey was entertaining with a coach squeezing through gates and travelling around the small country roads, all the time accompanied by pirate songs for our upcoming White/Green class production.
On arrival, we were greeted by Mr Welch. A quick tour later, bags are unpacked, the children are ready. The boys dormitory went from a civilised tidy collection of beds to something which looked more like a bomb had gone off in it. There was order to this chaos!
After a break to let off steam which involved playing football and exploring the grounds, we were ready for the first activity. The children did a scavenger hunt where Alfie's find of a dead 'May Bug' caused a mixture of amazement and shock. Using the items they scavenged, the had 10 minutes to produce a piece of art.
Our efforts then turned to play a very physical disc game hence the pictures of running children. In the winning team were Poppy, Tom, Zainah, Olivia P, Zack, Rex and Olivia E. They where the only team to follow the exact instructions. Well done!
Tea of fish fingers, potato ball and peas, followed by Jelly and ice cream went down a treat. Full up, we then wrote postcards and wandering into Nantglyn village to post them a visit a yew tree which is one of the 10 world's most unusual trees. I'll let the children explain.
After a story around a fire, bedtime and most he says through tired eyes went to sleep quickly.
Thursday 18th
Morning - I've been inform by one child that he was woken by a child at 6am break dancing in the middle of the bedroom. The accused replied, "it was 6:30am!" So no denying the breakdancing!
Breakfast is being of sausages, beans, cereal, toast and jam. Some children have responded to their parents but more will get the chance when it arises.
Shortly, we will be off orienteering.
Orienteering was a great delight. It's amazing how competitive we all get. The winning team of Alfie, Brendan, Joanna, Maya, Mimi, Jamie and Alex. The got round the 1.8 mile course in 36 minutes. They even made Mr. Robinson run it!
Lunch of cheese, tuna or salami sandwiches with crisps, a penguin chocolate bar and fruit consumed, ready for activities. They were split into 5 groups to try shelter building, dam building, waffle cooking, rope swing and bridge building. Every 25 minutes we rotated so everyone attempted everything. We marked the children on how well they worked in a team. The winning team was Tom, Xavier, Alex, James U, Sam, Francesca and Ella. Tom has been in every winning team this weekend, what an amazing achievement!
Dinner was pizza, pasta, vegetables followed by chocolate cake. The children had there first bit of free time so football, gossip and games were in order.
A lovely evening of a bonfire accompanied by singing and marshmallows eating was enjoyed by all. Children have pyjamas on, story read and now they are in the dormitories attempting to sleep. I say 'attempting' in the looses sense! One dormitory has a chorus of breaking wind but they will have to remain nameless. Let's hope for no breakdancing tomorrow!
All messages have been read. Thank you for them, it has put a smile on all their faces! I'm trying to get all the children to reply to you and if yours haven't I will do my best tomorrow at breakfast time!


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Latest 'Man of Steel' Rumor Claims Another Villain Appears to Menace Superman
Posted on Friday, March 29th, 2013 by Russ Fischer
It's not enough that Zack Snyder's Superman revival, Man of Steel, features a spin on the Superman II villain Zod. Audiences want more, and given that there are expectations that Man of Steel will lead to another film in a similar vein, some fans figure that Snyder's first Superman film will introduce another big bad around whom the next chapter could be built.
Screenwriter David Goyer has suggested that another classic Superman villain will show up, and now there's a report that attempts to confirm that we'll definitely see additional villainy in the film. We'll keep all the detailed talk after the break, to shield those who aren't interested in potential spoilers.
There are a few Superman villains people have hoped to see in upcoming films, but the subject of the current rumor is Lex Luthor. David Goyer recently said "I don't think anyone has ever confirmed that we haven't included him." But there's a report now that says the character is 100% in the film.
AICN reports that Mackenzie Gray, who played a Luthor clone in an episode of Smallville, appears in Man of Steel playing an "ambitious, ego driven and cold version of Luthor" who has a significant role in the story's endgame.
There's even video of Gray talking about being in Man of Steel, with talk starting at 1:10 here:
Gray is definitely in the film, but the nature of his role isn't known for certain. Some legit questions have come up to cast doubt on Harry's report. The primary one is related to Gray's status as a relative unknown. True, Henry Cavill was hardly a star when cast as Superman. His big role in Immortals hadn't even hit, but he did have a significant role on The Tudors at that point.
Gray has been around for a long time, and putting him in a star role like Lex Luthor wouldn't be the first time a hard-working actor got big exposure from a key role. (Think of Christoph Waltz as Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds.) There have been comments that casting someone like Gray as Luthor isn't at all how Man of Steel producer Christopher Nolan works, which is true.
But it is much closer to how Zack Snyder works — look at the way he cast 300, Watchmen, and Sucker Punch. Snyder is a lot more prone to look to under-exposed actors for major roles. Is that conclusive evidence to support this rumor? Hardly.
This report may just be an attempt at canny timing on Harry Knowles' part. Yesterday he was the subject of a long THR profile, and today THR ran a piece from Peter Jackson talking about how much Jackson likes Knowles. What's at the top of the AICN page for any new or returning visitors to find? An exclusive spoiler report about a movie that continues to be shrouded in relative secrecy. Not a bad call on his part.
Man of Steel opens on June 14. As the film starts to screen for advance press we'll get a better idea about the truth of this rumor.


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Fundraising walk for Jonathan Pitre inspired by mom's Facebook post
Jonathan Pitre's supporters will "walk him home" from Minnesota in an act of solidarity and symbolism at a fundraising event Nov. 19.
The event, which will be held in Russell, about 40 km southeast of Ottawa, was inspired by a Facebook post by Pitre's mother, Tina Boileau, in response to a flood of questions from well-wishers about how they could help the family.
Boileau suggested that people walk, run or wheel a mile, and post a picture of something beautiful or inspiring from their journeys.
She called it the Butterfly Mile Challenge and invited participants to also make a donation to DEBRA Canada, a charity that assists people with epidermolysis bullosa (EB).
Pitre suffers from a severe form of EB and is in Minneapolis in an attempt to change the course of his skin disease with a stem cell transplant.
Pitre's hometown of Russell has taken the Butterfly Mile Challenge to heart. Community leaders have organized an event at the Russell Fairgrounds on Nov. 19 that will bring people together from across Ottawa to walk for Jonathan.
More than 325 people have already registered for the Butterfly Mile. Organizers are hoping to sign up enough walkers to collectively cover the distance that it would take for Pitre to return home: About 2414 kilometres.
One of the organizers, singer-songwriter Tara Shannon, said the community wants to show its support for Pitre and his mother as they endure the long wait for a second stem cell transplant.
"He's an incredible kid," said Shannon. "He's this old soul here to remind us what we need to focus on every day."
At the event, Pitre's sister, Noémy, is expected to talk about her brother's journey with EB. Pitre's beloved Boston terrier, Gibson, will also make an appearance.
People can register for the Butterfly Mile with the Kin Club of Russell or donate online.
The money raised will go toward DEBRA Canada's medical assistance fund, which has supported Pitre and his mother with living costs in Minneapolis.
Erin Hoyos, a spokesperson for DEBRA Canada, said Pitre has done more for the organization than anyone in its history. "He put us on the map," she said. "Before, when you would mention EB, people would say, 'What's that?' Now, people are saying, 'Oh, I saw something about that boy from Ottawa.'"
Pitre and his mother have been overwhelmed by the support they've received since travelling to Minneapolis in August.
"This journey is one of the hardest we've encountered and we are grateful to have the support as we work towards getting home," said Boileau.
Pitre went through chemotherapy and radiation in early September in advance of his bone marrow transplant, which ultimately failed to engraft. He remains in Minneapolis — at an apartment near the hospital — and is recovering his strength in preparation for a second transplant, now scheduled for late February.
His lead physician, Dr. Jakub Tolar, has told Pitre the second transplant has a higher chance of success since his body is better conditioned to accept donor stem cells.
Boileau said the family is still waiting for the Ontario government to give final approval for the second treatment, a procedure that is expected to cost $1 million or more.
OHIP officials want to wait until January to assess Pitre's condition and make a determination about funding.


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As a reader, the first two things that catch my eye when selecting a book are a snazzy cover and an intriguing book title. It is the book title that draws me in, piques my curiosity, and begs me to open the cover. As a writer, the title has to be a perfect conveyance of plot, genre, characters, and location without being too long or too short, too simple or too complicated. I prefer one-word titles for my current Felony Romance series and as a reader I'm drawn to one-word titles as well. The quest for a perfect one-word title is a never-ending challenge.
Inspiration hits me at the oddest times. Sometimes it's a song lyric that I hear while I'm in the car driving. Other times it's a phrase spoken by a friend. The best book titles appear from nowhere, on a billboard beside the road or on a scrap of paper meant for the trash can. I keep a list of potential book titles on my cell phone where I record all those spontaneous little bits of information and a master list on my computer. I actually came up with the title of my first novel, Intoxicated, before I developed the context for the book.
I don't know how many times I've been deep in conversation with someone and said, "Wait a minute! That would be a great book title. I've got to write that down."
by Jeana E. Mann
Love is intoxicating, but the hangover can be agony...
Conservative, straight-laced Ally Taylor has the perfect life – successful fiancé, beautiful home, great career – until she catches her fiancé and best friend in bed. Desperate to shake off the sting of rejection, Ally heads to Felony, a notorious heavy metal club on the bad side of town. Even more dangerous than the bar is Jack Jameson, the hunky alpha male bartender whose smoldering dark eyes and dimpled smile turns her common sense to mush and her knees to noodles. After eight long years in a failed romance, the last thing Ally wants is to hook up with someone like Jack, but she can't help wondering if he's really as good in bed as his reputation suggests.
Jack Jameson has had his eye on Ally for months, drawn to her smart mouth and tightly wound self-control. When Jack finds Ally sitting on a barstool in his club, heartbroken and miserable, he's more than happy to offer a little heat between the sheets to distract her. Too bad Ally's not interested in his "hit-it-and-quit-it" philosophy. If only Jack could convince Ally that he's tired of the endless parade of girls through his bedroom, she might see him in a different light.
Her cell phone rang and like an automaton, she answered it.
"Popsicle?" The voice on the other end of the call was deep and masculine, slightly rough, like gravel underneath silk.
"Jack?" Dismay gave way to pleasure at the sound of his voice, followed by a fluttering between her legs.
He chuckled, the sound warming her numb body. "Hi, baby. I missed having lunch with you today."
"Look –– it's really not a good time, Jack."
"Why not?" He paused and she could picture the unlit cigarette dangling from his lips as he spoke, a gleam in his dark eyes. "What are you doing?"
Oh, hell, she thought. Why fight it? She felt like a salmon swimming upstream only to be pushed back time and time again. The strength to resist had ebbed away with her latest disappointment.
"Uh, well, I'm sitting in a parking garage staring at the wall."
"Bad day, baby?" His voice lowered to a caress that raised goose bumps on her arms. For some reason, the compassion in his voice brought tears to her eyes.
"Yes," she whispered. "I'm having a bad day."
"Come and see me," he said. "I can make you forget all about it." Like a lamb being lured to slaughter, she was powerless to resist him when he spoke in that tone.
"I'm not sure you can," she replied as she traced the curve of the steering wheel with a finger.
"Such a pessimist. Come and see me," he repeated, his voice turned seductive. "And take your panties off before you get here."
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Jeana was born and raised in Indiana where she lives today with her two crazy rat terriers Mildred and Mabel. She graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Speech and Hearing, something totally unrelated to writing. When she's not busy dreaming up steamy romance novels, she loves to travel anywhere and everywhere. Over the years she climbed the ruins of Chichen Iza in Mexico, snorkeled along the shores of Hawaii, sailed around Jamaica, ate gelato on the steps of the Pantheon in Rome, and explored the ancient city of Pompeii. More important than the places she's been are the people she has met along the way.
Be sure to connect with Jeana on Facebook or follow along on Twitter for the latest news regarding her upcoming releases.
Website: http://JeanaEMann.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeanaEMann
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeanaEMann / @JeanaEMann
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Jeana-E.-Mann
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21955033-intoxicated
Intoxicated available on:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1d8XTAJ
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1lQ6Ulf
All Romance eBooks: http://bit.ly/O3EGYM
Google Play: http://bit.ly/OIBgei
iTunes: http://bit.ly/1gcECRo
Jeana will be awarding a $40 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon GC will be awarded to a randomly drawn host.
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/06/nbtm-intoxicated-by-jeana-e-mann.html
a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Been a while since I updated... in the meantime, in the month of March I was working on some cakestand bases for Tina Tsang of Undergrowth Design (who I work part time for normally) for a shop opening in Abu Dhabi.
Tina design the cakestands as makeshift ones to stand in place as her original designs wouldn't be complete in time for the shops opening... this is where I stepped in to make 15 bases quickly and cheaply. We then sprayed half of them gold ("very Abu Dhabi") and stuck vintage plates on the top.


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Our Blog is updated many times a week, take a look HERE
A set of 3 laser cut Fir trees with stands that can either be used with or without the stand. Cut from very sturdy 2250 micron greyboard.
Ideal for using in 3D style projects but without the stands can be used in a whole host of projects.
Approx. heights of trees are 100mm, 75mm and 50mm.


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By guest authors Irina Patterson and Praveen Karoshi
Irina: How is the Bizdom U program is different from what you offer?
Ebony: They are not an incubator. They have a four-month accelerator program. They accept a small number of folks, and you have to have a full-time commitment. You couldn't have a job. It is 9 to 5, Monday–Friday commitment. It is a different offering than what we do. We don't have a 9 to 5 intensive, four-month program.
Irina: On average, how long does a company stay in your incubation program?
Ebony: Right now, in theory, is it is a six-month engagement.
Irina: What usually happens after six months?
Ebony: After six months, they can choose if they need to continue with us. They can choose to do that, or we have a lot of other services, such as different workshops and stuff that we can provide. They can take advantage of that. They can get space in the building, and they may just continue building their business and look for other resources.
Basically, after six months, they end their membership time with us. But if they needed to continue on with any of the coaching or educational pieces, they can choose to do that.
And if not, then they just make a decision. Like, I have got enough information. I can continue growing on my own, and they may, we hope. We focus on them building teams or building advisory boards and things of that nature, so that they can continue functioning.
Irina: Do you use any technology in your work? Do you use contractors, consultants? What is in your toolbox?
Ebony: In our toolbox there are a lot of tools like templates for people to understand stuff. For example, if they need to know how to put together a cash flow statement, how to put together a business plan. If they need to know how to build a team or other things that they need to consider like sales and finance.
We have workshops we put on. We do, in some cases, connect them with difference consultants that they need. So, really a lot of it is whether it is templates or people that we connect them with or workshops that we put together for them to help them to understand things better.
Irina: What are your metrics for success? What do you measure?
Ebony: We are measuring, especially in our programming, is how many people we can help to core outcomes. If you think about that quadrant approach that I mentioned, and in each of those quadrants there are some things that we selected.
So, in quadrant one with that first-time, novice entrepreneur who is still in the pre-launch space of development, we want to help them get to feasibility. Is this idea go or no go? Can you actually launch this product or service? That is where we use the Kauffman Foundation's FastTrack program to help entrepreneurs understand and get into the marketplace, do some research, and figure it out if this something they should pursue.
Then, there are various core outcomes that we look at based on the quadrant they are in. So, in quadrant two it is really about having a business plan and executing on the plan; it is having a polished pitch where they can talk about their business to customers and to investors if they need to and generate revenues and seeking funding. There are various outcomes based on those quadrants.
Irina: Can you share some of you success stories?
Ebony: We have people who have come to us with two people that now have over 20 folks that are now doing business internationally. We have companies that are generating millions of dollars in revenue, companies that have gotten funding from significant various sources, a million dollars and more. So, most of it is around their building the business through funding, getting employees, and new revenue generation.
Irina: Do you stay in touch with the companies after their incubation?
Ebony: Yes, we still offer services to the people who have already taken our program. They can always come back to any networking that we have and reach out to us if they need to make a connection, for example.
This segment is part 4 in the series : Business Incubator Series: Interview With Ebony Johnson, Entrepreneurial Programs Champion, TechTown -- Detroit, Michigan
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As a writer, I, at least, never seem to catch the mistakes or odd phrases or stuff at first. Oh, no. Even after the book is sent on to the publisher a thought comes to mind at night and keeps me up. I realize this should be changed. It's minor, but yeah, annoying.
Crafting is the same. You make something and it nags at you that something isn't right... You keep thinking about it, it bugs you... and then you realize what it is. Maybe it's the color, or an empty space, or the shape, or... the list goes on.
Maybe it's being creative that does this. You're never happy with the first few attempts or rewrites (or the first 1o...) You keep changing, manipulating, rereading, rewriting, re-doing...
But then it works.
I did that recently with a miniature market stall I had made a long time ago. It was well, okay... but in my way of thinking it was way too plain. It wasn't "me." I like color and lots of "stuff" and Halloween... so it's in the process of being remade. And it's much, much better! It's full of color and I have to say I'm liking the changes.. a lot.
Here's a photo of the "before" colors with some changes in the process. Pretty boring, right? Stay tuned. I'll show a photo of the "after" soon...
And that manuscript? It's with the publisher. And both the publisher and editor will probably hate me for sending one more change.. But I just had to do it. I had to.


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JUNIOR EDITION: New Books for Younger Readers | #8
by Celia McGee
JUNIOR EDITION: New Books for Younger Readers will search recent releases to discover the best kids' fiction out there. Given that the line between what makes a novel perfect for a teenager and just as compelling for an adult is anyone's guess, Celia will sometimes review an "adult" novel that crosses that divide, as well as books for everyone from pre-schoolers to high-schoolers. We hope Celia's terrific choices help get kids reading, and help create the next generation of readers and writers!
Dinner with the Highbrows
by Kimberley Willis Holt, illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker (Henry Holt and Company/Christy Ottaviano Books)
Ages 4-7
Teaching young children good manners is one of the greatest trials that comes with parenthood. Unless you're Emily Post or a prison warden, why not make this as much fun as Kimberly Willis Holt and Kyrsten Brooker's Dinner With the Highbrows — it's a sure-fire means of inducing giggles, and illustrating why polite conduct may not always be enjoyable but has its own winning ways.
Young Bernard Worrywort is sent off to his first dinner away from home alone with strict instructions from his mother. The invitation comes, after all, from the rich and fancy family of Bernard's friend Gilbert Highbrow. In this status-enhancing setting Bernard must pay particular attention to "tell Mrs.Highbrow how lovely the table is set… Place the napkin in your lap… And bow you head when they say the blessing… Don't talk with food in your mouth. And for goodness sake don't sing."
Kyrsten Brooker's high-jinx illustrations underscore how justified Bernard's mother was to worry. But not about Bernard. The Highbrows are a rambunctious lot, and dinner is at their favorite haunt, Antonio's Italian Restaurant. With more than the ordinary number of opportunities for wild and crazy behavior, it assuredly starts with the blessing, namely "Good grub. Good meat. Good gosh, let's eat." True to his word, though, Bernard is able to show the Highbrows something about helping and kindness. Don't expect a neat ending, though. The messiest, most sugar-heightened shenanigans are yet to come.
The Carver Chronicles: Dog Days
by Karen English, illustrated by Laura Freeman (Clarion Books)
Ages 6-9
Somewhere George Washington Carver is smiling.
The prolific American scientist, botanist, educator, inventor and African-American icon has had lots of schools named after him. But that still doesn't put Gavin any more at ease. He's the new kid in the fourth grade at Carver Elementary, not just a place but also a collection of energy-to-burn youngsters that Karen English and illustrator Laura Freeman evoke with pencil-sharp understanding and humor. Gavin is tight with his mom and dad, which is well known to help calm first-day jitters. He's secure in his skills at skateboarding, soccer and video-games.
New schools also hold out the promise of new friendships, and Gavin jumps at the chance of buddy bonding with Richard, an adventuresome classmate. The problem is, Richard has an older brother as well, who hangs around with a posse of boys who not only have Gavin beat age-wise but include the school bully. Who is really weak, and who truly strong? Those are the kind of questions that can't find answers until a particular setback has been overcome. For Gavin, the setback is Getting In Trouble.
English neatly crayons in the thin line between good and bad, funny and mean, just and unjust. Through no fault of his own—okay, maybe a little—Gavin must suffer his parents' disappointment and their choice of punishment. As is true generally in life, embarrassment can dole out just the right amount of penance, and Gavin's arrives in the shape of an ankle-biter-high yapper with "grotesque orange fur that looks prickly enough to hurt someone:" his Great-aunt Myrtle's Pomeranian, Carlotta. How nice—and cruel—would it be for Gavin to be Carlotta's walker for a week? Especially since, when out for her constitutionals, she's in full regalia of big pink head bow and matching collar. These do not prevent her from attacking a wig store, and much larger dogs.
Gavin's only relief is writing in his journal. But he can also take a certain measure of pride in surviving his ordeal thanks to his newfound acquaintanceship with dog psychology and some impressive smarts. English has a gentle but effective take on how doggedness has its rewards, and breeds understanding. Outcomes like that are worth a hundred Pomeranians.
Mouseheart, Vol. 1
by Lisa Fiedler, illustrated by Vivienne To (Simon&Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry Books)
Ages 8-12
Before leaping screeching onto the nearest chair, or hunting for your family's biggest broom, consider this: the mice of Lisa Fiedler's Mouseheart can be as lovable, brave, and good-hearted as any humans you could hope to meet. So can rats—except a bunch of truly despicable ones. Why, Hopper, the diminutive hero of this thrilling, captivating, knights-of-the-round-cheese-style tale exhibits a trait common among many young males of our species—he can't stand his feisty, pugnacious sister, Pinkie. The feeling is mutual, and also makes Hopper feel secretly inferior. He'd rather play gently with their little brother, Pup, than go near anything like a fight or an adventure.
As denizens of a Brooklyn pet shop, caged but fed well and cleanly housed, not much has darkened their short lives, though Hopper has seemed to hover on the PTSD end of the emotional scale since witnessing their mother roughly removed from the cage one day hanging by her tail, leaving as her last, enigmatic words what sounds like "Find the Mews, Hopper. You must…below." Was she sold to the same shifty customer who enters the shop one day to buy furry edibles for his boa constrictor? The siblings don't stick around long enough to find out, but their escape thrusts them from the "upland" world into an underground universe of subways, secret passageways, an assortment of creatures good and bad, and a turreted imperial rat palace. The politics are complicated. Working with these fanciful creations, Lisa Fiedler deservedly joins the company of fine fairy-tale weavers, quest narrative chroniclers, specialists in detective stories, and writers deft enough to draw chilling parallels between the behavior of their characters and some of the worst crimes of history.
Without letting the cat out of the bag, Volume 2 awaits.
The Year She Left Us
by Kathryn Ma (Harper)
Ages 14 and up, and adult
Moses was found in a basket. Oliver Twist in the workhouse. Little Orphan Annie in a classically depressing New York orphanage. Frances McDormand was raised in foster care, and Steve Jobs became the richest orphan of them all. A child's relinquishment has furnished story upon story about growing up on the way to growing whole in the literature of many lands. Yet for many, a particular void and the perpetual desperation to fill it changes the narrative.
In Kathryn Ma's luminous yet raw The Year She Left Us, Ari—short for her Ariadne—was left as a newborn in a box on the steps of a provincial Chinese department store. Like thousands who fell on the wrong side of the country's one-family-one-child policy, she was shipped to an orphanage where her fate—especially as a girl, undesirable in her culture—came to lie with another demographic, childless Americans on a quest to select and nurture such left-behinds into a very different future. Ma slowly, inexorably lets us in on why Ari refuses, or cannot, feel herself one of the "Lucky Ones."
Brought home to San Francisco by her adoptive mother, Charlotte—or Charlie—an independent single woman and public defender from a well-off upper-class family, there is a feeling that Ari should count herself multiply blessed: her extended adoptive family, the Kongs, is Chinese-American. Yet Ari has somehow turned out differently from her closest friends "salvaged" from the orphanage—she's the angry, unfulfilled side of adoption.
As Ari enters her later, angry teens, Goth in clothing and disaffected attitude, she discovers that "It felt good, behaving badly," for some reason. That reason is what Ma painstakingly, in language as fine as it is cutting—and from one continent and city to another—explores.
"Stop looking for once for a better family," Charlie angrily implores her daughter, as Ari wreaks havoc on relationships among the Kongs—at the top of the list, Gran, the Kong matriarch, who cares only that Ari attend her alma mater, Bryn Mawr, until the girl's agony makes mincemeat of her emotional lockdown, too. Ari is looking for the biological parents that exist primarily in her imagination, especially her father—a longing also connected to the lost lover Charlie once thought would join them as her husband. Abandonment takes many forms.
Not for an instant does Ma abandon the truth, sorrows and joys of this story.
Celia McGee grew up surrounded by books from an early age. In her column, "JUNIOR EDITION: New Books for Younger Readers," she shares her interest in newly-released books for kids, from pre-K through high school. She also contributes regularly to The New York Times on books, authors and the arts. She has been a publishing columnist for The New York Observer, a media columnist and features writer for the New York Daily News, and a book review editor and contributing writer for New York magazine. She continues to review books for adults. Director of the @Macaulay Author Series, she has served on the board of the National Book Critics' Circle, and is a board member of The Center for Fiction. Her earlier reading years were spent in Montana and the Netherlands.
The Carver Chronicles: Dog Days
And don't forget our KidsRead Events and Books For NYC Schools — helping to promote literary fiction and Young Adult novels to under-served public schools right here in New York. Here's what some participating teachers had to say about recent KidsRead Events:
"One of the things I love most about the program is that the kids really get to see how important the writing process is in their lives as students and adults."
"The kids had a wonderful time. We were sent the books in advance and kids were ready with questions. It was the first time any of them met an author and getting their book signed was an important experience for them."
"Knowing they would meet an author was a motivating factor for them to read the novels. And getting to ask questions about an author's intent was a great complement to our literacy work."
"I give a few avid readers the books, and the next thing I know I have students hounding me for the book. These trips have had such a positive effect on the students that I have started a book club."
"Meeting the different authors has been an eye-opening experience for the students. They get to ask about creating characters, ideas they have about the novel, and they learn the circuitous route the author took finding his/her career. Each of the authors has had a completely different approach, but they have all been enlightening."


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