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It's The punchline to the old solar-landing joke: "So we'll go at night." … Except now there's a flight scheduled every night.
It remains astonishing how networks, and at great expense, are driven to prove that anything the other networks can do they can do even worse. Everyone takes a shot at reinventing the flat tire.
TBS, throughout these MLB playoffs, has been unable to perform the simplest task: Providing an instantly discernible, right-now score, inning-and-count box in the corner of the screen. Those chimp-simple but pertinent numbers have been turned into a colorized, follow-the-dots, diamonds-and-dashes brainteaser eventually solved through squinted eyes and reasoned guesswork.
"Let's see. Over there's a tiny number 6 above an itsy-bitsy arrow, and to the right of that yellow thing, are some teensy-weensy dots. … Hmm. I think it's 6-0, second period, one team either has a timeout left or is in foul trouble."
TBS wants three-man booths? Who doesn't? Excess long ago replaced logic, just as live TV now wants to be radio. But is there no one to remind these fellas that there's no reason to discuss everything and anything until viewers' hearing either dulls or drives them to the bell tower to give Quasimodo a hand?
The TBS crew assigned to the Yankees-Orioles — Ernie Johnson, John Smoltz and Cal Ripken — quickly established itself as another non-stop baseball lecture series when we only signed up to watch a game. It's also another crew that encourages us to ignore what we see — often several times in replays — to instead believe what they said we saw.
Monday, Ichiro Suzuki scored when he avoided the lunging tag of catcher Matt Wieters, who had caught the throw up the third-base line. Ichiro first missed the plate, but then dived back to put a hand on it before Wieters, also diving, could tag him. It was that clear, that simple.
Yet, Smoltz, then Ripken, went into a spiel from which they concluded that Wieters botched the play.
"I've often wondered why, as a catcher, you don't lay on the plate," followed by the suggestion that Wieters should have just "waited for [Ichiro]" at the plate.
What both said Wieters should have done, was, in this case, physically impossible. Wieters would have had to make the catch, then done a 180, then, from a dead stop, beat Ichiro, already running hard, to the plate in order to "wait for him" or just "lay on the plate," blocking Ichiro from it.
Wieters not only did the best he could, he did the only thing he could. Or perhaps he should have remained at the plate the entire time in order to tag Ichiro with that spare ball catchers hide in their back pockets.
The stat graphics during TBS' latest postseason run thus far have been culled from the standard TV collection of indiscriminant, context-barren, satire-proof nonsense.
Twice, during Monday's telecast, TBS posted this about Andy Pettitte: "First postseason start since Oct. 18, 2010."
So what? That was the last time he could start a postseason game! He didn't pitch last season! Why not go with, "Pettitte's first postseason start since his last one"? Or, "Andy likes carrot cake, but if they don't have it he'll go with the black and white cookie."
This interactive "Social Dugout" thing that TBS has been pitching is clearly intended to 1) gauge the number of nitwits watching, or, 2) solidify the notion that TV rights are available to anyone if the money's right.
I'm not creative enough to make this stuff up, folks: Saturday, as seen during Tigers-A's, "Which team will commit the most hits?" and Wednesday, during the eighth inning of O's-Yankees, "How many pitches will be thrown?"
Ya mean in this half-inning, or at the Idiots' Picnic?
Yesterday, during Giants-Reds, the question was "Will there be a lead change?"
The score, at the time, was 0-0. Yep, rocket ship to the sun, every day at dusk.
Teams' cost for tix prices is empty seats
The Yankees yesterday sent a mass email begging folks to buy tickets to last night's game. "Old" Yankee Stadium never had a problem selling out playoff games — and it sat 7,000 more.
The Jets, having PSL'd their way through a 20-year waiting list, now play to lots of empty seats. And no matter how much the Jets discount what they can't sell, they can't compete with the secondary-market pricing that their own greed created.
Same with the Yankees. They can't beat the heavily discounted resale prices that the team's avarice created. Pigs get slaughtered!
The good news: Yankee Stadium parking, during the playoffs, was only hiked $10 — to $45!
You never teach your best customers to live without you. And unless teams radically reduce prices to minimally logical levels — especially for the better-to-best seats — that empty look will worsen.
Funny, how TV folks never mention what viewers plainly see, such as empty up-front seats at Yankee games. Ever hear a TV guy/gal working a Jet or Giant game even say "PSL"?
* What did the Jets expect from Mark Gastineau on Monday night, after handing him the stadium microphone? If they were surprised by his slurred, incoherent rant, they must know him by name only.
Carroll "Beano" Cook, Pittsburgh-based college football freak whose growling for years was enjoyed on ESPN, died yesterday at 81. In 1981, after the Iranian/Islamist hostage crisis, MLB gave lifetime passes to the 52 freed Americans. Cook's snarling take: "Haven't they suffered enough?"
In 2006, the Cardinals, with the 13th-best regular-season record, won the World Series among eight eligibles. This year the Cardinals, one of 10 qualifiers, can win it, tied with the Tigers for the 11th best record.
By now, WFAN must have a warehouse filled with missing Mike Francesa tapes. Before Wednesday's Game 3, he belittled callers who preferred Raul Ibanez's bat to Alex Rodriguez's. Later that night …
How is it CBS' Phil Simms is able to make football sense without talking Pigskin Latin? Monday night on ESPN, after Texans RB Arian Foster broke through for a long run, Jon Gruden exclaimed, "It's not just the zone stretch!" Hmm.
TBS' Bob Brenly yesterday scolded Teddy Roosevelt for his excessive celebration after winning the Presidents' Mascot Race at Cardinals-Nationals: "Act as if you've been there before!"


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Jackie Lowe
REALTOR®, NC Real Estate Broker
- Office #(704) 644-9784
- Cell #(704) 644-9784
- firstname.lastname@example.com
- Websitehttp://jackielowe.fathomrealty.com
She has served in various areas of Ministry and is a Mom of four who knows how to maintain balance and organization. Jackie Lowe is a Charlotte Transplant also, and knows firsthand what it takes to oversee a Successful Relocation. Whether you are a First Time Home Buyer, Investment Buyer, or a Seasoned Veteran; she has all the resources you need to buy and sell real estate in the Charlotte area. Jackie Lowe takes great pride in Repeat Business, Past Client Referrals, as well as Realtor® Referrals. How can Jackie Lowe help serve you with your Real Estate Needs?
"I am a "People Person"! I love to help people achieve their dreams. As your local Real Estate Professional, I am eager and willing to help you make your Real Estate dreams a Reality. Whether buying or selling your home, together we can achieve this goal.
I look forward to talking with you soon!"
Fathom Realty
For the last FOUR years in a row - Inc. 500 has included Fathom Realty as one of the fastest growing privately held companies in the nation - from all industries! And most recently, we were named as the fastest growing privately held residential real estate company in the nation. Although that is wonderful recognition for us, it hasn't changed who we are or what has fueled our growth. Our motto certainly isn't original, "Whoever wants to be great must become a servant," but more and more people say they find it refreshing. As a company, the fact is we still simply exist to serve. If we get that part right, we believe growth will continue to take care of itself.
What does it look like at Fathom to "serve?" By providing our real estate professionals with support, technology, and training while encouraging, mobilizing, and equipping them to serve you, we have an atmosphere that considers others more important than ourselves. After all, we want you to experience the highest level of integrity and service when you need it most: when you are making a real estate decision.
Our goal is to ensure you are thoroughly served throughout your Fathom experience. Perhaps you can go out and do the same for someone that needs it as well? Let's change the world together (at least our corners of it!).
Thank you for placing your trust in Fathom Realty and God bless!
"Whoever wants to be great must become a servant." Matthew 20:26

subset: commoncrawl


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Saving a smokehouse
Historic preservationists hereabouts take it very personally when the loss of a one-of-a-kind piece of history appears imminent. No matter how modest, each entity constitutes a priceless, irreplaceable link to our past.
Leading the way in saving some of the most important examples of our historic built environment around the state is the Historic Preservation League of Oregon. For nearly four decades, this Portland-based nonprofit has marshaled the forces of committed volunteers to keep these cherished treasures from our past intact and in place.
Perhaps the highest profile among them would be the Crater Lake Lodge, which HPLO successfully lobbied the federal government to reconstruct, literally from the ground up. The meticulously rebuilt lodge includes originally planned amenities and enhancements never put in place when it first opened in 1915.
The most recent is the 1883 Ladd Carriage House in downtown Portland.
HPLO championed the Carriage House for nearly a decade and helped broker a plan that saved it from demolition. A stylish new restaurant is now being incorporated into the historic building, originally owned by William S. Ladd, one of the city's most prominent citizens in the mid to late 19th century.
The Carriage House lies at the corner of Southwest Broadway and Columbia streets, directly across from the Oregonian building. It was on the Oregonian block that Ladd's Queen Anne Victorian manse once stood.
A rare rural survivor, the Rosemont Farm Smokehouse just outside Yamhill was placed on the HPLO's most endangered list in 2012. And it is slated to receive the determined attention for which this organization has become known.
The Rosemont Farm dates back to 1846, making it one of the earliest in the Yamhill Valley. Descendants have continued to own and operate it over the course of the 166 ensuing years.
Though only 22 acres of the original homestead remains, it has been designated as a Century Farm. The property includes a farmhouse dating from the 1870s, in addition to smokehouse, of like vintage.
Many farmsteads of that era had smokehouses, but over time and diminished use, they dropped away one by one. Torn down or left to collapse on their own, this once common structure has all but disappeared.
Consequently, retention of the Rosemont Smokehouse has risen in importance to priority status among the relics of pioneer life in Oregon.
Despite deterioration owing to neglect, the "bones" of this building remain solid.
It stands on its original site and features its original footprint. The original siding is still intact.
There are smoke holes still visible near the peak of the gable. Two interior levels feature meat hooks still attached to the rafters.
Putting its significance in historical context, the smokehouse is an important example of food preservation techniques prior to the advent of cold storage and refrigeration.
Preservationists determined the local specimen would likely qualify for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, but it was in danger of collapse. So in late November, a crew led by Richard De Wolf of Arciform, a Portland firm specializing in vintage building restoration, put temporary supports in place to stabilize the structure.
Initial evaluation has determined that most of the building remains viable. It can be easily rehabilitated, study shows, once basic structural issues have been properly addressed.
Owners of an HPLO endangered list structure such as the Smokehouse can apply for a $2500 match from the League. If it is put on the National Register, there may also be opportunities for other assistance.
As HPLO executive director Peggy Moretti said, "This documents it for posterity and helps to qualify it for future grants or tax incentives.
"Its rarity makes the Smokehouse an important candidate for preservation, which may take place in stages over time. We've been talking with the owners about next steps....A good roof is key."
The Rosemont Farm Smokehouse is but one example of buildings all around us that tell a historic story. Oregon is filled with such small but essential threads in our heritage fabric.
Following are just a few of those recently included on the HPLO's list of endangered places:
In 2012, the Jantzen Beach Carousel in Portland, St. Francis Hotel in Albany, Rivoli Theater in Pendleton, View Point Inn in Corbett, Skidmore/Old Town Historic District in Portland, Uppertown Net Shed in Astoria and Willamette Falls Locks in West Linn, in addition to the Rosemont Farm Smokehouse.
In 2011, the Baker City Middle School in Baker City, Civic Stadium in Eugene, Ermatinger House in Oregon City, Tillamook Bay Lifesaving Station in Barview, Petersen Rock Garden in Redmond, Watson-Price Barn in Philomath, Josiah Burnett House in Eagle Creek, Dr. Pierce's Barn in Cottage Grove, Egyptian Theatre in Coos Bay and Kirk Whited Farmstead in Redmond.
Each of these places faces the possibility of demolition for a variety of reasons. But not if the HPLO has anything to say about it, because they create the rich and complex tapestry that is our past.
And that's what I found out while OUT and ABOUT — admiring a diverse group of historic structures spread across the length and breadth of the state.
Karl Klooster can be reached by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com or by phone at 503-687-1227.


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Emeritus at Conway Place
Emeritus at Conway Place in Conway, South Carolina, is set on acres of beautifully landscaped grounds with a courtyard, walking trails, and lovely gardens. Offering retirement living and assisted living, Emeritus at Conway Place is considered one of South Carolina's premier senior living communities. In close proximity to State Road S-26-1121 and Highway 544, our senior living community's 42 apartments are set on one floor for easy access. Here at Emeritus at Conway Place, our residents – in many cases, with their pets – enjoy retirement living at its best. Yet should you require a helping hand from our well-trained, courteous and compassionate staff, complete assisted living services, tailor-made to your needs, are also available. Our services at Emeritus at Conway Place focus on wellness to help you maintain your health, allowing you to live as independently as possible.
Boasting a warm, family-friendly environment, Emeritus at Conway Place feels like home the moment you walk through the doors. Our senior living community's common areas – including our lovely dining room, TV room, game and craft room, sunrooms, ice cream parlor, and library – give residents and their loved ones the opportunity to get to know one another better. At Emeritus at Conway Place, we also offer a wide range of activities each month. As our community is conveniently located in a rural area of South Carolina, the surrounding area is quiet but close to Coastal Carolina University, shopping and banks for our residents' convenience. In addition, several medical facilities are in the area, including Conway Medical Center and a nursing home rehabilitation facility if the need arises.
Housing Type
Assisted Living, Retirement Living
Payment Options
Private Pay
Minimum Monthly Rate
$2,575/ month


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Support Your Local Farmers
Sometimes, a sign says it all.
We strongly believe in the 'Buy Local' movement. Just call us locavores! Locally grown food is by far fresher than any produce found in a grocery store, and therefore much tastier. To me there is nothing tastier than a tomato or apple or fresh herbs that I grew right in my own backyard. And when weather has other plans, I just head for the farmer's market. Luckily here in New Hampshire we have plenty of those, so we can eat local 7 days a week during the gardening season. We also prefer that our alpacas 'eat local' too so we try to buy hay only from local farms as well.
Fall has arrived! With this cooler weather we're all getting back to our knitting and weaving and other fun fiber arts. Locally raised fibers are also a good thing!
(Thank you to our neighbor on South Road / Route 43 for putting up this sign in his hay field. In case you can't read the fuzzy picture, it says 'Do You Like this View? Support your Local Farmers')


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John Brodie is a Guardian, a member of a secretive network devoted to winning a way very few even know exists: protecting the vulnerable psychics in his charge from a deadly, ruthless - and virtually invisible enemy.
Tasha Solomon is a gifted psychic whose abilities have saved her more than once from situations as dangerous as they are baffling. She doesn't believe she needs help and she doesn't even know that Guardians exist - until Brodie saves her life.
Unaccustomed to depending on anyone for anything, Tasha now finds herself embroiled in a deadly game where the ultimate goal is a fate far worse than any nightmare. Brodie is the only person she can trust to guide her through a maze of danger and deception, lies and treachery, friends and enemies, until they reach safe harbor.
IF they reach safe harbor.
Kay Hooper has penned another glue your eyes to the page read!
Monday, May 4, 2015
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
INDISCRETION is an intense read. From the Spanish landscape to the homes, to the people to the relationships, to the entertainment of the bull fighting ring.
The passion between Salvador and Alexandra runs deep. Although she couldn't understand his intermittent aloofness towards her, she loved him unconditionally. Salvador would go from talking to her, being passionate toward her to totally ignoring her and not even acknowledging her presence at times.
Alexandra leaves her home in London during the Spring of 1950 to reunite with the family she's been estranged from for a long time. What she finds in Spain is not at all what she expected and she finds herself wondering if she's made a mistake by going there. Her only redemption in her visit there is, Salvador whom she falls madly in love with. The love and deep passion between the two of them is like one heartbeat.
I kept finding myself wanting to rush them into their relationship, wanting to push them to the point of no return but it was not to be, I had to be patient. Their love story took my breath away and left me reeling and wanting more. I so didn't want this story to end.
I thought Ms. Fielding had outdone herself with her second novel but she's done it again with this third one. The writing was so clear and descriptive that I could hear the crowds in the bull fighting ring, I could feel the dust in my nose and eyes and feel the scorching Spanish sun on my skin. I loved the gypsies, one of whom actually scared me!
Indiscretion is filled with passion, intrigue, suspense, and a deep intensity that you'll want to read it again. I was taken in from the very first page and could hardly swallow until I reached the end. I'm looking forward to Ms. Fielding's next book with bated breath.
Friday, March 27, 2015
What would you do if you learned your life was a lie?
All her life, Kelli Huddleston has been told the story of a fire - a fire that killed her mother and two siblings when she was an infant. After her father's death, though, she uncovers evidence of a different story, including clippings about a boat accident that killed a young father and his infant daughter. And Kelli quietly realizes the story of her life has been a fiction.
How far would you go to discover the truth?
Armed with only a few pictures of what she thinks might be her family, Kelli crosses the country to Tennessee, determined to uncover the truth about what happened over twenty years ago in a small southern town. When the trip threatens to open doors to the past better left shut, and her plans for the future are jeopardized, Kelli is faced with an agonizing choice that will change her life forever.
FINDING ME was a phenomenal read, don't miss this one!
As a pet breavement counselor, Maggie Brennan uses a combination of empathy, insight, and humor to help patients cope with the anguish of losing their beloved four-legged friends. Though she has a gift for guiding others through difficult situations, Maggie has major troubles of her own that threaten the success of her counseling practice and her volunteer work with a dog resuce organization.
Everything changes when a distraught woman shows up at Maggie's office and claims that her dog has been stolen. Searching the streets of San Francisco for the missing pooch, Maggie finds herself entangled in a mystery that forces her to finally face her biggest fear - and to open her heart to new love.
Packed with deep emotion and charming surprises, DOG CRAZY is a bighearted and entertaining story that skillfully captures the bonds of love, the pain of separation, and the power of our dogs to heal us.
Anyone who loves dogs will adore this story and understand the physical, emotional, and spiritual bonds that people have with their four-legged fur friends. I hope their will be a sequel to this.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
For veterinarian Geneva Novak, animals can be easier to understand than people. They're also easier to forgive. But when her mother, Helen, is injured in a vodka-fueled accident, it's up to Geneva to give her the care she needs.
Since her teens, Geneva has kept her self-destructive mother at arm's length. Now, with two slippery teenagers of her own at home, the last thing she wants is to add Helen to the mix. But Geneva's husband convinces her that letting Helen live with them could be her golden chance to repair their relationship.
Geneva isn't expecting her mother to change anytime soon, but she may finally get answers to the questions she's been asking for so long. As the truth about her family unfolds, however, Geneva may find secrets too painful to bear and too terrible to forgive.
My eyes never left the pages until I was done, I read this in one sitting as I just couldn't put it down. Helen is certainly a force to be reckoned with and I'm glad she wasn't my mother. I felt sorry for Geneva who put up with a lot, much to the detriment of her own health and sanity, but she did what any responsible adult child would do and took Helen in anyway. However, even the worst of families sometimes come out at the end okay, much worse for the wear at times, others better people for what they've endured together.
Dr. Emory Charbonneau, a pediatrician and marathon runner, disappears on a mountain road in North Carolina. By the time her husband, Jeff, miffed over a recent argument, reports her missing, the trail has grown cold. Literally. Fog and ice encapsulate the mountainous wilderness and paralyze the search for her.
While police suspect Jeff of "instant divorce," Emory, suffering from an unexplained head injury, regains consicousness and finds herself held captive by a man whose violent past is so dark that he won't even tell her his name. She's determined to escape from him and willing to take any risks necessary to survive.
As her husband's deception is revealed, and the FBI closes in on her captor, Emory begins to wonder if the man with no name is, in fact, her rescuer from those who wish her dead - and from heartbreak.
This was a real nail-bitter of a read! And, surprise oh surprise, I certainly didn't see THAT end coming at all. As usual, Sandra Brown continues to entertain to the fullest degree possible. Highly recommended for those who want a good suspense story.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Told through the eyes of a young Jewish woman growing up in the North End of Boston in the early twentieth century, Addie Baum is the Boston Girl, born in 1900 to immigrant parents who were unprepared for and suspicious of America and its effect on their three daughters. Addie's intelligence and curiosity take her to a world her parents can't imagine - a world of short skirts, movies, celebrity culture, and new opportunities for women; a world where women finish high school, go to college, have a career, and find true love on their own.
THE BOSTON GIRL begins when Addie's twenty-two-year-old granddaughter asks "How did you get to be the woman you are today?" Eighty-five-year-old Addie starts her story in 1915 - the year she joined the library group for girls at a neighborhood settlement house, where she found her voice and made friends who would help shape the course of her life. Addie recalls her adventures with compassion for the naive girl she was, empathy for the woman she has become, and wicked sense of humor.
Written with the same attention to historical detail and emotional resonance that made Diamant's previous novels bestsellers, THE BOSTON GIRL is a moving portrait of one woman's complicated life in twentieth-century America and a fascinating look at a generation of women finding their places in a changing world.
I fell totally in love with Addie Baum. She was so lovable, so kind-hearted, so naive, so innocent that you just wanted to hug her and tell her how much she was loved. Anita Diamant has certainly outdone herself with THE BOSTON GIRL. I'm going to remember Addie Baum for a long time to come. I highly recommend this novel for everyone, especially those fascinated with history.
Neva Bradley, a third-generation midwife, is determined to keep the details surrounding her own pregnancy - including the identity of the baby's father - hidden from her family and coworkers for as long as possible. Her mother, Grace, finds it unbearable to let this secret rest. The more Grace rods, the tighter Neva holds to her story, and the more the lifelong differences between private, quiet Neva and open, gregarios Grace strain their relationship. For Floss, Neva's grandmother and a retired midwife, Neva's situation thrusts her back sixty years in time to a secret that errily mirrors her granddaughter's - one which, if revealed will have life-changing consquences for them all. As Neva's pregnancy progresses and speculation makes is harder and harder to conceal th truth, Floss wonder if hiding her own truth is ultimately more harmful than telling it. Will these women reveal their secrets and deal ith the inevitable condequences? Or are some secrets best kept hidden?
Three generations of women with secrets from the present and the past make for good story-telling. I loved these women's characters and felt like I knew them well and wanted to spend more time with them. I didn't want the book to end. I also enjoyed Ms. Hepworth's writing style and will be looking for more of her work. For anyone who enjoys stories about midwives, this one will give you exactly what you're looking for. Highly recommendable.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
September 3, 1940, TEN PECULIAR CHILDREN FLEE an army of deadly monsters. And only one person can help them - but she's trapped in the body of a bird. The extraordinary journey that began in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children continues as Jacob Portman and his newfound friends journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. There, they hope to find a cure for their beloved headmistress, Miss Peregrine. But in this war-torn city, hideous surprises lurk around every corner. And before Jacob can deliver the peculiar children to safety, he must make an important decision about his love for Emma Bloom. Like its predecessor, this second novel in the Peculiar Children series blends thrilling fantasy with vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reading experience.
Hollow City was as exciting and magical as the first novel and I couldn't wait to finish it to find out what happened. The characters are so well fleshed out and the plot line runs along smooth as glass, not a single word out of place. I'm really looking forward to the third installment.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Every day the same. Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and night. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She looks forward to it. She's even started to feel like she knows them. Jess and Jason, she calls them. Their life - as she sees it - is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.
Until today. And then she sees something shocking. It's only a minute until the train moves on, but it's enough. Now everything's changed. Unable to keep her discovery to herself, Rachel goes to the police. But is she really as unreliable as they say? Soon she is deeply entangled not only in the investigation but in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good.
This was a compulsive read and one I could not put down. Highly recommendable.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
As a child, Bailey Browne dreamed of a storybook rescue: of a knight in shining armor swooping in to bring her and her mother to a better life. After her mother died, those dreams transformed, becoming ones of a mysterious stranger who would sweep her off her feet and whisk her away from her ordinary existence to one of passion and adventure. Then, suddenly there he is: tall, dark, and wonderful. Despite the ten-year difference in their ages, and the differences in her workingclass upbringing and his of privilege, Logan Abbott and Bailey fall deeply in love. Marriage quickly follows.
However, when Logan brings her home to his horse farm in Louisiana, a magnificent estate on ninety wooded acres, her dreams of happily-ever-after begin to unravel. A tragic family history she knew nothing about surfaces, plus there are whisperings about the disappearance of his first wife, True, and then rumors about the other women from the area who have gone missing - and when another woman disappears, all signs point to her husband's involvement.
At first Bailey ignores the gossip, even as it grows louder and the circumstancial evidence against Logan mounts. But finally, she must make a choice: believe what everyone says is true, and turn against the only person who ever saved her - or bet her life on the man she loves but who she realizes she hardly knows.
My Review
I was very disappointed this novel. It just wasn't up to Ms. Spindler's usual and almost seemed as if it had been penned by someone else. I'm so disappointed in the entire novel that I don't have anything else to say. This is one book I unfortunately won't be recommending.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
WELL IN TIME is the sequel to Suzan's second novel 'Fiesta of Smoke' but most definitely can be read as a stand-alone.
Javier Cartena and Calypso Searcy return for another exciting, sit-at-the-edge-of-your-seat adventure! An ancient gold locket, which was a gift, has the ability to tell the future; sometimes through a whispered word, sometimes during a dream. Calypso also has the ability to wander through different worlds; the present and a world where she meets a group known as 'The Ghosts'. They are a very dark, scary, mysterious group who mean business.
While searching the locket's past, Calypso and Javier's ranch in Mexico is attacked by a certain drug cartel. Along with their good friend, Walter Hill, Calypso manages to escape unseen. Thus begins her journey through another world where everything she ever knew about herself is tested to the nth degree - her physical strength, her endurance, her emotional and spiritual strengths. WELL IN TIME has such a stong mystical aspect to it that Calypso carefully straddles the line that divides worlds and tests her ability to stand in either.
My favourite part of the book is when Calypso takes us through the caves and into the tunnels. You won't believe what she goes through and will want to keep reading and reading. Some of the tunnels are so constricting we don't know whether she is going to get through or have to turn back again and again to locate an alternate route. Ms. Still's writing is so descriptive and vivid that you'll feel like you literally can't breathe as you transverse the tunnels with Calypso. You almost have to the put the book down to catch your breath and psyche yourself up that you can do this, never mind Calypso! The writing is just phenomenal.
Through their struggles both Calypso and Javier learn that there is more to life than they both thought and that you don't always have to be together to accomplish your goals. You can change, you can be alone and be okay with that, and you can force yourself to be a more positive influence in this world and on the people around you.
Suzan Still has outdone herself with WELL IN TIME. She is a literary queen with the ability to pen the most beautiful prose, creating characters, and plotting her story to get the most bang for the buck.
I whole-heartedly believe WELL IN TIME is going to be a huge success and I wish Ms. Still great success. Thank you for providing me with the best two days of reading I've done in quite some time.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Haatchi and Little B tells the inspiring and moving true story of Owen Howkins (also known as Little B, short for 'Buddy') and Haatchi, an Anatolian shepherd dog who was abandoned on a railway line as a puppy and left for dead.
Thankfully, Haatchi was rescued, despite sustaining severe injuries. And so Haatchi, in turn, was able to rescue Owen, at the time an anxious and withdrawn boy born with a rare genetic disorder, who found it hard to make friends. But Owen fell in love with his new three-legged canine housemate at first sight and life would never be the same.
The touching story of this dynamic duo is a life-affirming tale of happiness and friendship.
You'll definitely need the tissues when reading this true story. The relationship between Haatchi and Owen is absolutely incredible. It's like Haatchi is really human and knows exactly what Owen is saying to him. They climb into his crate together and have chats with each other and I'm positive Haatchi knows every word Owen says. This was both an incredible story and an incredible journey these two foraged together. Just a beautiful story all round.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
The Imperial Harem, Constantinople, 1578, Hannah and Isaac Levi, Venetians in exile, begin anew in the Ottoman Empire. Isaac owns a silk workshop, and Hannah, the best midwife in the capital tends to the hundreds of women in Sultan Murat III's lively and infamous haren One night, Hannah is summoned to the palace to ascertain the virginity of Leah, a Jewish peasant girl. The sultan favors Leah as his next conquest and wants her to produe his heir, but if the spirited girl fails this test, she faces a terrible fate. Captivated by Leah's tenacity, Hannah must decide whether to risk everything to lie for her. Soon Leah reveals a dark secret that could comdemn them both. Meanwhile, as Hannah agonizes over her decision, a beautiful woman arrives from Venice with a plot to destory Hannah's marriage, and steal her beloved son, Matteo.
This novel is filled with adventure and vivid detail and peopled with memorable characters.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
You've seen these spunky and loving women on Duck Dynasty, and you know that they are the beautiful wives of the quirky Robertson men, but you don't know much about who they are as women or what goes on when the cameras are turned off and the production crew has gone home.
Are they really who they seem to be - down-to-earth, sincere, commonsense, loving wives and mothers? Do the women really get along and support one another? Do they truly love their families as much as they seem to on the show? Are their children actually as respectful as they come across? And do they really have the sense of humor that viewers have come to love?
In the pages of this book, you'll find the answers to these questions and much more. The five leading ladies - Miss Kay, Korie, Missy, Jessica, and Lisa - share their hearts and thoughts on the spiritual foundation that guides their lives. In a section titled "Happily Ever After Can Take A While," they reveal some of the difficulties and challenges they have faced. And they share how each one became a Robertson and talk about the myths regarding their motives for marrying into the family. The wives of these beloved characters share precious stories about thier love for Phil and Kay - with chapters titled "Oh, Kay!" and "Getting Our Phil" - as well as what life in the limelight is really like. You'll learn about all their children, their own parents and grandparents, and what made these strong women of substance the spirited characters you've come to love.
Each of these women love God first above all else and raise their families up on His word. God first, family second, and everything else comes after that.
All of the women have a huge amount of love and respect for Miss Kay and Phil and can't say enough about their faith in God, their willingness to share with anyone whether you're rich or poor, fat or thin, black or white, or just need a listening ear and some helpful advice.
All the daughters-in-law lay their cards on the table, no holds barred and bare their souls for us to see the "real" family the way we've always wondered. The questions you've always wanted answered will be done in this book. I read it one sitting as I couldn't put it down it was that interesting.
The Robertson's are quite the clan and I wish them much continued success. They strive to live in a way that we've lost over the past many years. No foul language, no smut, or dirty talk...just good clean, faithful fun. Their families are very important to them and they strive to keep them together and running as a well oiled machine. You won't be disappointed in this book and I highly recommend it for everyone.
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Cassie Holloway is not content. She's stuck in an unhappy marriage and an unsatisfactory job. Longing for an escape, she moves to the little Australian coastal town of Whitby Point. There she meets the Aquino family, whose fishing business was founded by their ancestor, Giuseppe, an Italian immigrant, some ninety years before. Life for Cassie on the southwest coast turns sweet as she sets up a successful restaurant and finds an intriguing new love. But when the Aquino family patriarch dies, a devastating secret is revealed that threatens to destroy her dreams. Cassie's future happiness now rests with her quest for the truth.
I was glued to this book from the first page to the last. I had not ever read any of Di Morrissey's novels before but will be looking for more of her work in the future. An excellent story!
Theodore Finch is fascinated by death. Every day he thinks of ways he might die, but every day he also searches for - and manages to find - something to keep him here, and alive, and awake.
Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her small Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister's death.
When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school - six stories above the ground - it's unclear who saves whom. And when the unlikely pair teams up on a class projec to discover the "natural wonders" of their state, they go, as Finch says, where the road takes them: the grand, the small, the bizarre, the beautiful, and the ugly, the surprising - just like life.
Soon it's only with Violet that Finch can be himself - a bold, funny, live-out-loud guy, who's not such a freak after all. And it's only with Finch that Violet forgets to count away the days and starts living them. But as Violet's world grows, Finch's begins to shrink.
This is a heart-wrenching, unflinching story of love shared, life lived, and two teens who find one another while standing on the edge.
I totally fell in love with Finch and Violet. Finch so wanted to be loved and cared for but just couldn't see his way through. He loved Violet, deep down and it shows throughout the reading of the novel. These two had a connection like no other.
I'd heard a lot of hype about this book and it didn't disappoint.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
My Review
Ryder Creed and FBI Agent Maggie O'Dell team up in this spine-tingling mystery to find the killer on the lose. Ryder Creed is a K9 specialist with a large entourage of trained dogs at the ready. He has explosive detector dogs, cadaver dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs, and just about every other type of detector dog you can think of and he's very good at what he does.
When a body washes up on the shores of the Potmac River in Washington thus begins not only the beginning of a new case for Maggie, but also for Ryder who meets Maggie. Soon sparks are flying and they each have feelings for each other but try to maintain a professional relationship. Will they be successful?
The "Iceman" who no one has ever seen is at the head of the killings in the story and anyone who has seen him, winds up dead. No one sees the Iceman without dying.
Can Maggie, Ryder and his well-trained K9 unit find the Iceman and stop these brutal and tortureous killings before the Iceman finds them first?
Alex Kava has done it again. I've read every single book she has ever penned and have never been disappointed yet. I was literally glued to the edge of my seat and read this in one sitting. I just had to keep turning page after page to find out what happened next. I'd try to book the book down but just couldn't do it. I'll be highly recommending this one.
A sequel titled "Silent Creed" will be coming out shortly. Don't miss it either.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Since her parents' mysterious deaths many years ago, scientist Cora Sparks has spent her days in the safety of her university lab or at her grandmother Etta's dress shop. Tucked away on a winding Cambridge street, Etta's charming, tiny store appears quite ordinary to passersby, but the colorfully vibrant racks of beaded silks, delicate laces, and jewel-toned velvets hold bewitching secrets. With just a few stitches from Etta's needle, these gorgeous gowns have the power to set free a woman's deepest desires.
Etta's dearest wish is to work her magic on her granddaughter. Cora's studious, unromantic eye has overlooked Walt, the shy bookseller who has been in love with her forever. Determined not to allow Cora to miss her chance at happiness, Etta sews a tiny stitch into Walt's collar, hoping to give him the courage to confess his feelings to Cora. But magic spells - like true love - can go awry. After Walt is spurred into action, Etta realizes she's set in motion a series of astonishing events that will transform Cora's life in extraordinary and unexpected ways.
You will simply and absolutely fall in love with this spellbinding novel. I couldn't take my eyes off the page for fear I might accidentally skip over a word. I will be highly recommending THE DRESS SHOP OF DREAMS and can't wait for Menna's next book!
Sunday, January 18, 2015
MY SUNSHINE AWAY is one of those rare books that you'lll remember long after the last page has been turned. Although a story of growing up and coming-of-age, it is also quite the mystery.
The book begins with the rape of a young teenage girl named Lindy Simpson and thereby lies your mystery. Who committed this horrible crime? As the group of neighborhood teens contend with the every day effects of growing up and experiencing a lot of firsts, the underlying current is always "who done it?" The narrator of the novel is one of four suspects. I found myself wondering a great deal about the narrator throughout the story. I had a difficult time trusting him. Although his words and actions apeared to be honourable, there was just "something" about him that kept me from letting my guard down and moving on to other suspects in a more detailed way with a more intense critical eye.
Lindy's rape becomes personal for the narrator because he is obsessively in love with her, watching her out his bedroom window, talking to her late into the night on the telephone and looking through photos of her someone else gave to him.
From what I know of the south in the late 80's and early 90's, M. O. Walsh seems to have hit the nail on the head. with perfectly descrptive prose he lays out the traditions and rituals of that era with precision.
All in all this was an excellent read and one I would highly recommend. I look forward to reading more of M. O. Walsh's work in the future.
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What's Happening
Market Street Apartments-NOW PRELEASING! 02/23/2017
Market Street Apartments will be open before we know it! Offering 1 & 2 bedroom apartments just a few blocks from MSU. This new building will not only be a great place to live, but also will include; water, trash, sewer, high speed internet (up to 1 gigabit) and washer/dryers in the apartment! Call 417-866-2938 for more details!


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LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles Mission will host a job fair Thursday connecting area homeless with companies looking for employees.
The 12th Annual Skid Row Career Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the mission, located at 303 E. Fifth Street, in downtown Los Angeles.
The 2013 event will draw dozens of companies and organizations looking for workers. There will be job opportunities, training prospects and other employment services available at the event.
Employment opportunities will be offered by California Army National Guard, California Department of Transportation, Chase Bank, Double Tree by Hilton-Los Angeles/Commerce, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, GMI Building Services, Inc., Goodwill Industries, Great Hire, Inc.. IBEW Local Union 11, InterCoast Colleges, Iron Workers 416 & 433, Kaiser Permanente. L.A. City Police Department. L.A. World Airports, MV Transportation, ResCare Home Care, Reliable Resources, SRO Housing Corporation, United Parcel Service, Universal Protection Services, US Bank, United States Marine Corps, Volunteers of America – LA, Vons (Safeway Inc.)


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* European shares fall as Chinese data raises growth worries
* Crimea keeps investors wary as Obama begins talks
* Losses limited by robust French and German data
* Euro gives up France-fuelled gains
By Nigel Stephenson
LONDON, March 24 (Reuters) - European shares fell on Monday after data showed Chinese manufacturing contracted in the first quarter, raising worries over global growth.
Geopolitical concerns jangled nerves as U.S. President Barack Obama began talks with his European allies on their response to the Crimea crisis.
The euro gained against the dollar and German Bund futures extended losses after the flash composite purchasing managers' index for France jumped to 51.6 in March from 47.9 last month. But the currency gave up its gains after figures showed growth slowed in Germany. Data from the euro zone as a whole dipped compared with February.
By late morning, the FTSEurofirst 300 index, which rose 1.8 percent last week, was down 0.4 percent.
The flash Markit/HSBC China Purchasing Manager index fell to an eight-month low of 48.1 in March from February's 48.5. The index has been below 50 since January. A score over 50 indicates expansion; anything under, contraction.
"China's slowdown is sharper than what most people had expected, which fuels worries about the impact on global growth," said Philippe de Vandiere, an analyst at Altedia Investment Consulting in Paris.
"But Chinese authorities have plenty of tools to avoid a hard landing, and we know that the country's transition to an economic model more focused on consumer spending will lower its growth rate a bit, so no big concern here."
A string of weak numbers has reinforced concern over a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy. The impact on Asian shares was limited, though, because the data raised expectations China would take steps to stimulate its economy.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 1 percent and Japan's Nikkei share average gained 1.8 percent. China's CSI300 index of leading Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listings rose 0.8 percent.
Wall Street looked set for a higher open. S&P e-mini futures were up 0.2 percent.
Analysts said markets would partly be driven this week by geopolitics, as Obama began talks with Europe on their response to Russia's annexing Crimea from Ukraine.
In the biggest East-West confrontation since the Cold War, the United States and the European Union have imposed visa bans and asset freezes on some of Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest allies. But they have held back so far from measures designed to hit Russia's wider economy.
Russian shares gave up early gains and were last down 0.1 percent. The rouble strengthened against the dollar.
"There have been no further sanctions imposed over the weekend, investors can more soberly assess the threat of sanctions already imposed," Vasiliy Tanurkov, an analyst at Veles Capital, said in a morning note.
MSCI's emerging stocks rose 0.9 percent.
The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, ticked up to 80.258, not far from Thursday's three-week high of 80.354.
The euro last stood at $1.3764, down 0.2 percent on the day, after the French data helped it touch a high of $1.3875. The dollar rose 0.2 percent to 102.50 yen.
"It doesn't look like the ECB (European Central Bank) will do anything," said Alvin Tan, a currency strategist at Societe Generale. "So the next leg in the euro/dollar pair has to come from the dollar's side. And for that we need U.S. data to outperform and investors to price in expectations of Fed rate hikes."
ECB Governing Council member Erkki Liikanen said monetary policy would remain accommodative well into the recovery.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange traded flat at $6,483.00 a tonne, erasing losses from immediately after the China data.
Spot gold dipped to $1,323.60 an ounce, following a sharp fall triggered by comments last week from Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen that suggested U.S. interest rates could rise sooner than many in markets had expected.
Brent crude edged above $107 a barrel, supported by supply disruption worries. (Additional reporting by Blaise Robinson in Paris, Lidia Kelly in Moscow and Shinichi Saoshiro in Tokyo; Editing by Larry King)


text: Study programmes HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht (HU) offers programmes at different levels and of varying duration. Whether you are looking for a full Bachelor degree, a short summer course or a preparatory language course, HU has something to offer you! Bachelor programmes and Master programmes Some of our programmes are entirely taught in English and have a strong international focus. HU organizes Bachelor's degree and Master's degree programmes with a strong focus on professional practice. Exchange programmes HU offers many chances for international students to study in Utrecht as an exchange student. Here you can find a listing of our exchange programmes. Summer School HU also participates in the largest summer school in Europe, with over 3,000 students from all over the world. The Utrecht Summer School offers over 170 academic programmes in many areas.


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The North Face Women's Apex Elevation Jacket is a versatile soft shell, perfect for those of you who like to stay active during the cooler months. A wind resistance rating of 20 CFM means that you'll be protected from all but the harshest of winds, leaving you free to frolic in snow fields to your hearts content (or whatever it is that you do). The adjustable hem drawcord and detachable hood allow you to easily customize the amount of protection you need from the elements. And since it's Insulated with PrimaLoft Silver®, this jacket will maintain it's toasty-ness even when damp and is lightweight and packable enough that you'll be able to take it anywhere (maybe not black tie functions but that's between you and the President).
Products on Sale are Discontinued Styles or Colors.


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Empty Stocking Fund can meet your gift-giving needs
By Linda Luck
Published in News on December 9, 2004 2:02 PM
Having trouble finding a Christmas gift for that person on your list who has everything?
Want to remember someone who made Christmases past special?
Need to recognize someone who helped make 2004 a good year for you?
A gift to the Empty Stocking Fund will meet those needs, and help a less-fortunate child, too.
The contribution will be acknowledged in the newspaper and posted on its web site.
Caring employees of the News-Argus, members of the Goldsboro Woman's Club and Continental Society, and other volunteers from the community give generously of their time so there are no ESF administrative costs -- all of the money goes for gifts and treats for the children.
This year the goal is $33,000, enough to provide Christmas cheer for 610 children at the annual party next Saturday.
The half-way mark has been passed, but the charity is still $15,663 short of its goal.
Give the perfect gift today -- make a check out to the Empty Stocking Fund and mail it to the News-Argus, P.O. Box 10629, Goldsboro, N.C., 27532; or bring it to the newspaper office at 310 N. Berkeley Boulevard.
Latest contributions:
In Honor of Grandchildren by Hubert & Mary Lewis 50.00
Goodwill Group 25.00
Cosmetology Club #8 100.00
In Honor of our Children by J.A. & Latha Jones 50.00
First Congressional United Church of Christ, Inc. Women's Fellowship ....................................................200.00
In Memory of Jimmy Hardison by Jean H. Pierce 50.00
Daniel & Stephanie McPhai 100.00
In Honor of Pastor & wife, Rev. Johnny & Nora Sasser, by Emmaus Baptist Church 100.00
In Memory of Judy Howell 20.00
In Honor of Grace Howell 20.00
Anonymous 10.00
In Loving Memory Robin Braswell 40.00
Wayne County Shrine Club 500.00
Daniels Memorial UMC Morning Circle 100.00
Today's Total $1,365.00
Previous Total $15,792.00
Total To Date $17,337.00
Other Local News
- Care in the sky: Members of the aeromedical evacuation crew fight to get injured troops back to their families


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Book Talk & Signing: Analisa Leppanen
Thursday, April 26 6pm
Focusing on his evocative and profound references to children and their stories, Children's Stories and 'Child-Time' in the Works of Joseph Cornell and the Transatlantic Avant-Garde explores the relationship between the artist's work on childhood and his search for a transfigured concept of time. This study also situates Cornell and his art in the broader context of the transatlantic avant-garde of the 1930s and 40s.
Analisa Leppanen-Guerra explores the children's stories that Cornell perceived as fundamental in order to unpack the dense network of associations in his under-studied multimedia works. Moving away from the usual focus on his box constructions, the author directs her attention to
Cornell's film and theater scenarios, 'explorations', 'dossiers', and book-objects. One highlight of this study is a work that may well be the first artist's book of its kind, and has only been exhibited twice: Untitled (Journal d'Agriculture Pratique), presented as Cornell's enigmatic tribute to Lewis Carroll's Alice books.
Winner of a College Art Association Wyeth Foundation for American Art Publication grant
Analisa Leppanen-Guerra teaches in the History of Art & Architecture Department at DePaul University, Chicago, USA. She specializes in nineteenth- and twentieth-century art and visual culture