text:
I encourage any student of religion to question the idea that the arguments for and against the existence of God can prove (or disprove) God's existence. My basic reasoning for this is as follows: If any of the arguments for God's existence worked as a conclusive proof of God's existence, then (logically) it would provide a sound reason for believing God existed and as such there would be no denying God's existence. In short, everyone would be theists. Likewise, if any of the arguments against God's existence worked to conclusively disprove God's existence, then (logically) no-one would believe God existed and (in theory) everyone would be atheists. However, the fact that the matter of God's existence is still widely debated, and that we have people all around the world who believe in God's existence and do not believe God exists, suggests the issue is far from resolved. As such, we must reject the simplistic notion that any of the arguments (either for or against God's existence) are the final word on the matter.
|Rodin's "The Thinker"
(Copyright Stephen A Richards)
In light of this, it's important to approach the question of God's existence with a degree of humility. The issue has been hotly debated, and often by the finest minds, throughout much of human existence. Thus to think we can easily prove or disprove the question of God's existence beyond all doubt is rather naive.
So why do people regularly engage with others over the issue of God's existence in a simplistic and knee-jerk fashion? I would suggest that many find it hard to see anything positive in another person's point-of-view for fear that in doing so it would undermine their own beliefs. For example, atheists would be afraid that if they see any value in an argument for God's existence, that they would then have to start believing in God; with theists worrying that conceding any ground to atheists would undermine their belief in God. So quickly dismissing another person's belief is the easier option, and simply a matter of self-preservation.
|The author walking on ice
(Copyright Stephen A Richards)
Yet this is a very oversimplified view of who we are and the beliefs we hold. We do not change our fundamental beliefs about things on a whim. Anytime our beliefs do radically change, this tends to happen over a period of time. If a theist or atheist is going to change their belief in God this will have taken place after many months, or even years of thinking and reflection.
Religious Studies/Philosophy of Religion is first and foremost an academic subject. It is not an attempt to convert students to either atheism or theism. Thus in order to do well in the subject, one must be prepared to engage critically, yet also respectfully, with other people's beliefs and opinions. At the end of the day, no-one has all the answers. We are all born into a particular family, society, and place in the world which has a profound influence on who we are, what we think of other people and the way we experience the world. The value in taking a subject like Religious Studies/Philosophy of Religion is that it gives us a chance to experience the world as other's do, and to critically reflect on our own place and beliefs in the grand scheme of things.


text:
The WSS Extensions for Visual Studio 2008 1.2 are terrific – a big improvement over the tools provided in VS2005 – for a number of reasons. One of these is the WSP View tool.
The first time you create a SharePoint solution with the extensions, you will notice that the files which are needed to deploy are generated for you by the extensions when you click "Deploy". No more handwritten solution manifest files (yes, I admit, I have done this – I even created a DDF file for makecab.exe to use in order to create my .WSP files. Not fun.) This is great, but the tools cannot infer the arrangement of SharePoint assets into features. Instead, it simply assumes that each asset is its own Feature. Therefore, if you create 10 Web Parts for your solution, the extensions will, by default, create 10 features for you and deploy them to your development server.
OK, not a big deal at development time, but when we are ready to start thinking about deploying the code to an Integration Server, we will want to consolidate a bit. Ideally, we should have control over how the features are packaged without having to hand-write the changes which come out of our build server.
WSP View is a solution manifest viewer which works inside Visual Studio to do just this. You can drag and drop your feature elements from feature to feature, until you have a set of features which have manageable dependencies.
In the example above, I created a List Definition named "Tracking Report Card". The List Definition has several Views which are represented as ASPX files. I then created an Event Handler for the List Definition so that I can respond to events within the list. When I created this, Visual Studio created 3 features. Since the List Definition, List and Item Event Receivers are all inter-dependent. It makes sense to package them as a single feature with multiple elements.
WSP View makes this much easier than having to hand-change the feature definition files – too many GUIDs!
Brian Berry is a Director of Technology Consulting with BlumShapiro, focusing on Microsoft Business Intelligence solutions, with a strong focus on Systems Integration, Master Data Management and PerformancePoint Services. He has been helping companies optimize their investments in Microsoft technology for over 12 years.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This online class, 'Our blogs, Ourselves', has made me aware of how many sites that we, as teachers, can use in order to develop a better professional career.
She has introduced some tips to get started in all these websites, for instance, how our tweets and Facebook postings should be written (helpful, practical, generous, entertaining, informative…).
I am already in the most famous ones such as Facebook, Instagram, twitter, Google+, but other ones I really looking forward to learning more about (Linked in, about me, ckr,…).
I would like to start with Linked in that, as Karen has said to us all, it is a business- oriented social networking service, so it sounds rather interesting to really find a job opportunity. Also, I am curious of investigating more about https://tagboard.com/, a tool which uses hashtags to search for and collect public social media within seconds of being posted, from networks like Twitter and Facebook.
Another important part Karen has been talking in this online class is the value that our online contribution could have as some reciprocity will be received. It will make us accumulate new information and ideas for our teaching profession. Not being an egg was another essential point she has pointed out (everybody must have an authentic and natural photograph of ourselves on social sites).
Karen also gave us some meaningful hangtags of many different education topics such as #openedu (open education), #FF (Follow Friday. Make recommendations of who or what to follow on twitter), #earlyed (Early Childhood Education) and so forth. She advised us to join them as well as specific communities on Google+, where we can know new people to connect with although we may not participate at the beginning. She said that something interesting may always be found to see. Also, she encouraged us to subscribe to newsletter (PBS LearningMedia, School Library Journal…) and to look for online learning opportunities (Standford, Open Utoronto…)
It was such an extraordinary class about social networking services!
My personal conclusion about all this online class is that I need to be more updated with technologies.
I will keep reading Karen Blumberg´s blog http://karenblumberg.com/.


text: I bought Rumors for $8 and that gave me 20 GB of storage for a year. I'm in the process of uploading all songs from my iTunes to the cloud. And if I buy my music from Amazon the music is stored free and it doesn't eat up the storage you are paying for. And now Amazon has much of their music for 69 cents so I'm switching over for good. This will free up 10 GB worth of music on my iPad. I'll just use the iPad's storage for iTunes movies and TV shows. Now about the cloud player: It only plays through the iPad browser (only tried Safari) It will multitask so you can leave the player and go to another website or app. When multitasking you can use the multitask controls including AirPlay. Controls on your IOS-friendly headphones work also. From the get go this does everything necessary to play tunes from the cloud. I'm sure Amazon will make improvements to the interface so as of right now I am a convert.


text:
Local Leadership in Economic Development Workshop
This workshop is designed to help Vermont's local elected officials and decision makers learn about opportunities to grow their communities while maintaining their distinctive characters and quality of life. Presentations will include data on economic trends in the state, case studies, and information about available tools and resources. Members of legislative bodies (selectboards, city councils, and village trustees), town and city managers, administrators, and municipal staff who lead economic development and planning departments and others are encouraged to attend. Click here to register.
• What is Economic Development at the Local Level?
• Local Economic Development Case Studies: Success Stories and Lessons Learned from Vermont Cities & Towns
• Lunch Speaker: Ted Brady, Deputy Secretary, Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development
• The Developer's Perspective: What Makes Projects Work (or Not)?
• What Does Success Look Like for Your Community? – Facilitated Discussion
• Economic Development Services, Tools, and Resources


text:
January 5, 2010
Toes Tuesday with Ellie
Got to get the tummy....
21 comments:
- Parker said...
We don't take a photo when they're in the shower, do we???
- January 5, 2010 at 6:09 AM
- Maggie May said...
You looks so clean and purrty, Ellie! Great job on the baff!
- January 5, 2010 at 7:43 AM
- Sweet Praline said...
A girl needs a little privacy when she takes a bath.
- January 5, 2010 at 8:19 AM
- Cory said...
It's tough being a CB cat...no privacy AT ALL. I do think we need a kitty revenge day though where we get control of the flashy boxes.
- January 5, 2010 at 8:38 AM
- Brian said...
Just goes to show, when you think you've finally got some privacy...there it went!
- January 5, 2010 at 8:51 AM
- Laila and Minchie said...
Mom's just have a knack for seeing everything. It's like they have eyes in the back of their heads!
- January 5, 2010 at 9:09 AM
Can't a kittie EVER get some privacy?!? Sheesh...that pawpawrazzi is always lurkin...we feel you pain...
- January 5, 2010 at 11:02 AM
- Daisy said...
Maybe we should declare a certain time period every day as a "no-camera" zone!
- January 5, 2010 at 11:19 AM
- One Cats Nip said...
You should go in the bathroom to wash maybe you mom will know not to take pikhs in there
- January 5, 2010 at 12:49 PM
- Cheysuli and gemini said...
I hate it when they photograph me in those compromising positions...No one needs to know if my behind or my toes are dirty...
- January 5, 2010 at 3:27 PM
- Sparkle said...
I hate when humans try to photograph us when we're bathing. I'm with Parker - maybe I should try to get a picture of my human in the shower one of these days and post it on the internet. That would show her!
- January 5, 2010 at 3:29 PM
Ellie, in your Mom's defense, you DO have purrty toesies!
- January 5, 2010 at 3:35 PM
Not only did she see you Ellie, she showed the rest of us too! Rats!
- January 5, 2010 at 5:22 PM
- Teddy Bear said...
Moms and always wanting to capture "the moment" with the camera!
Teddy Bear
- January 5, 2010 at 6:33 PM
- Khyra The Siberian Husky And Sometimes Her Mom said...
I saw what woo did!
- January 5, 2010 at 6:36 PM
- BeadedTail said...
Those flashy beasts are efurrywhere!
- January 5, 2010 at 7:03 PM
- The Island Cats said...
No...she saw you...and so did we!!
- January 5, 2010 at 7:34 PM
- Jasmim said...
Thank you for visiting our blog, you're very beautiful too :)
so bad when our moms invade our privacy!
- January 5, 2010 at 9:51 PM
- The Monkeys said...
Ellie, you have the prettiest little toesies!
- January 5, 2010 at 10:10 PM
- HubbleSpacePaws said...
Compromising photos make excellent blackmail fodder... hmmmm... what will Mom want you to do?
- January 5, 2010 at 10:15 PM
- michico*Adan said...
You are so much better than my brother Lego,
his paws are always full of dirt!
- January 6, 2010 at 1:05 AM


text:
4-36 Riedel St, Fort McMurray, Alberta, T9H 3E1 7807916353
Known as Fort McMurray's one stop shop for east coast delicacies with a full menu and bar. The McMurray Newfoundlanders Bar and Restaurant has a unqiue atmosphere with an abundance of pool tables and dart boards for socializing. Don't be surprised to see a fiddle or two while the crowd dances to Irish, Celtic, and Acadien traditional music.


text:
Accademia Art Galleries – Late Titian and Sensuality in Painting
Arriving in Venice following its great success in Vienna is the exhibition dedicated to the 16th Century great Veneto artist's last years. Product of a collaboration between the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Special Venetian Museum Board, the show is divided to the three section dedicated, respectively, to portraits, secular subjects and religious paintings – twenty-eight masterpieces paintend from 1550 to 1576, the year of the artist's death.
Among the works on display are "La Pietà", the master's last work depicting the effects of the terrible plague that raged during the last year of his life; the "Nyph and Pastor", which has recently undergone a most delicate restoration prior to the Vienna show.
Open through 4 May 2008


text:
The trade fair for the out-of-home market unites equipment, technology and culinary delights for the region and export.
Anuga Culinary Concepts
The boundaries between food services and trade are becoming increasingly blurred, with the area of "home delivery" progressing ever more prominently into the forefront.
And it would be hard to imagine the event without the established professional competition "Chef of the Year" and the "Patissier of the Year".


text:
Mysterious Stranger Artisan
- Member since Dec 10th 2017
- Last Activity
By using our site, you accept the use of cookies to make your visit more pleasant, to offer you advertisements and contents tailored to your interests, to allow you to share content on social networks, and to create visit statistics for website optimisation. More information
Corts -
Hi my problem with rommel and his group. They came to my alliance to help
We were doing a big push on bonus and other things
But they kicked most players including myself. Then started attacking us.
I changed accounts but sadly others didn't have that option. So they killed alot of players game .
They back swm. But lye and say they didn't .
I am only telling you this because I can't stand liers and cheats . Jb is both
Mate, keeping your friends together is a tricky business. Treat them the same you would like to be treated, help them when they need your help the most and they will help you when your time to need them comes...
Step on their balls just once and you may loose them for good.
Same thing applies for travian friends as well, but here your friends are people you don't even know in real life. so think twice before you do or say anything.
It is far more easier to make enemy's than friends.
Be cool mate, be cool!


text:
Today's Target Daily Deal is a variety of Imaginext toys and you'll save 10% when you spend $50. Shipping is free. Also you'll get an additional 5% off with your Target RedCard.
There are a few more Fisher Price deals today too. All with free shipping.
Fisher-Price Servin' Surprises Kitchen & Table – $65
Fisher Price Servin' Surprises Tea Set – $16
Fisher Price Servin' Surprises Baby Food – $16
Fisher-Price Servin' Surprises Birthday Set – $12
Remember to compare the prices with Amazon.com to make sure you're getting the best deal.


text: Just a few shots that Matt took of our day out. We didn't want to have the camera out too much when we were on the lake because we didn't want it to get wet or damaged. We also took some subs, chips, and drinks for dinner. We waited to eat until we were done with the canoe, which is when we discovered the upset seagull. I hope everyone enjoys the photos. If you have any suggestions for other places to explore in Alaska, please let me know in the comments.


text:
Indianapolis medical malpractice lawyer
wilsonkehoewininghamPublished: November 19, 2015
Published: November 19, 2015
Wilson Kehoe Winingham
2859 N Meridian St Indianapolis, IN 46208
Indianapolis, Indiana lawyers practicing in the areas of personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and accidents. Call us at 317-920-6400 today.
Wilson Kehoe Winingham, LLC represents persons harmed by others. The firm concentrates on cases involving serious injuries or substantial financial damages suffered due to others' misconduct. These may involve vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, aviation disasters, dangerous products, fires and explosions and unfair denial of claims by insurance companies.


text:
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.
While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.
But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?
Review: Days of Blood and Starlight is absolutely my favorite book in this series. First off, Akiva and Karou are split up between most of the book, so we get to dive deeper into them as individual characters instead of a couple. Karou finds her talent among the chimera and Akiva is honing his skills with the angels. Their separation also allows us to see more of their respective worlds. The worlds of the angels and the chimera are so intricate. Being able to see their similarities, as a reader, was incredible. The characters in this story don't even see how similar they are to their enemies. It's beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. Laini does a wonderful job of portraying this.
As far as stories go, this one was much darker than Daughter of Smoke and Bone. There is quite a lot more death and fighting on the page. Be careful if that's something that bothers you, but it's handled very well in the context of the world. Once again, Zuze and Mik show up in the story which helps to break up the darkness. Their interactions with the chimera was a nice change in tone. Even Karou points out how singularly unique her friend is. Unfortunately, I feel like there isn't much I can say without spoiling important parts of the first 2 books in this series, but these books are wonderful. Laini's writing style isn't for everyone, but I certainly enjoy it and her characters are to die for.
5 howls
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 5 howls, Days of Blood and Starlight, Laini Taylor
Monday, December 18, 2017
Night of Cake and Puppets by Laini Taylor; Illustrated by Jim Di Bartolo
New York Times bestselling author Laini Taylor brings to life a night only hinted at in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy—the magical first date of fan-favorites Zuzana and Mik. Originally published as an ebook, this new print edition will include breathtaking black and white illustrations, plus bonus content in a gorgeous package perfect for new and current fans of the series.
Review: Night of Cake and Puppets was one of the most adorable books I've read this year. First off, my love for Zuze and Mik have no parallel. They are perfect together and always a joy to read about. Getting to see the birth of their relationship was great. Laini did an excellent job of showcasing Zuze's ability as a puppeteer and Mik's musical talent. The scavenger hunt aspect was so much fun. It showed off how playful Zuze and Mik are as individuals and how they are able to play off each other. This is a constant theme with them throughout the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy, but it's great to see it showcased here. Now we have to talk about the art. I don't have pictures to show you but, trust me, it's amazing. Jim does an incredible job of showing the unique style of both characters. The book is split between "Him" and "Her" sections to indicate which POV we are currently reading from, but it's also nice that Jim included drawings of Mik and Zuze respectively for each chapter heading. Seeing Zuze with her puppet or seeing Mik with his violin put a fresh smile on my face every time. There's a section at the very end of the book where Jim illustrates part of Daughter of Smoke and Bone in a graphic novel form. Holy crap, I didn't think I needed a graphic novel adaptation until I saw that. The only thing I wish is that it was in color. Jim beautifully illustrates the chimera, but it would be nice to see how they would look in color. Regardless, I'd be happy with a black and white adaptation as well. It was incredible. It fit the tone of the story so well, and I genuinely hope a graphic adaptation is something they consider for this trilogy.
5 howls
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 5 howls, Jim Di Bartolo, Laini Taylor, Night of Cake and Puppets
Friday, December 15, 2017
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Synopsis: Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.
When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?
Review: Laini Taylor has a glorious way with words. This was a re-read for me, and it was just as fun as the first time I read it. Karou is great. She owns up to her mistakes, and she makes a lot of them. She is easy to relate to despite living with chimera. Speaking of, the chimera were a large part of why I loved this story. Each character felt unique and necessary to the world. There's a part towards then end of the book where we get a glimpse of the chimera world and, even then, we see the different layers of chimera and how thy influence the world. Another absolute favorite character is Zuze. She is the sassy best friend none of us deserve. She's always willing to put Karou in her place. I'm re-reading this trilogy, so I know she becomes a more important character later on, but she is just wonderful to read in this first book.
The story is unlike anything I've ever read before. I've read other paranormal books and fantasy books since reading these the first time, but Daughter of Smoke and Bone still stands out. The story is set in Prague and the descriptions are vibrant. It's definitely the kind of writing that makes you feel like you're in the story with these characters. Seeing Karou navigate between having a normal, human life and the life with chimera makes for some funny and heart-wrenching scenes. She tries to do things without hurting others, but hurt is inevitable. I will say, having not noticed this the first time, there was some terminology that might negatively affect some readers. The term "gypsies" is used one time. As this is set in Prague, and I don't know how people there speak, it might be a commonly used phrase. It is still good to know that it's there in case anyone who identifies with the Romani community gets hurt. The word "savages" is also used. It's used to describe a certain group of people which has its own negative connotations in our world. Just something to keep in mind in case the use of any of these words is harmful.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is the start to one of my favorite fantasy adventures.
4 howls
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 4 howls, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Laini Taylor
Monday, December 11, 2017
Ash by Malinda Lo
Synopsis: In the wake of her father's death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, rereading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.
The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King's Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash's capacity for love-and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.
Entrancing, empowering, and romantic, Ash is about the connection between life and love, and solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief.
Review: Ash was a re-read for me. I read it long ago and I fondly thought of it as one of my favorite fairy tale retellings, but I've read a number of retellings since then and I wanted to see if it still held up. Good news, it definitely does. From the start, Ash is compassionate and watching her deal with her mother's death is hard. One of the strengths of this particular story is seeing Ash come to terms with her sexuality. She's definitely attracted to Sidhean, but she also harbors an attraction for Kaisa. It's always great to see people figure out their own sexuality, but I especially enjoy it in fantasy based stories. Beyond that, Ash is a retelling of Cinderella. If you like that story, then you will probably enjoy this one.
What makes this book stand out above the rest is that it feels like its own fairy tale. Yes, it is a retelling of Cinderella, but it is lyrical and has its own voice which makes it feel fresh. Malinda does a beautiful job of weaving fae lore with the original Cinderella story. Characters also share their favorite fairy tales within the scope of this world. I always appreciate moments like that because it makes the world feel more rich and developed. This is one of the few books where the ending felt wrapped up, but also a bit open-ended and it worked really well for this particular story.
Even if you aren't a fan of retellings, Ash is worth checking out. It isn't long, but has a beautiful, rich world with fun characters and a well done romance.
5 howls
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 5 howls, Ash, Malinda Lo
Don't Cosplay With My Heart by Cecil Castellucci
When Edan's cosplaying, she can be angry, loud, and not the good girl everyone thinks she is. And when she's at conventions, she feels like she's found her own Team Tomorrow. But when her personal life starts to spiral out of control, Edan has to figure out whether she needs a sidekick, or if she has the strength to be the hero of her own story.
Review: Don't Cosplay With My Heart was a cute book that had a number of good moments in it. As a character, Edan went from having a place of privilege to having barely any. Her father has been accused of stealing and her family no longer has the standing they used to. We get a small idea of who the other characters in the story are, but the main ones we really get to know are Edan, Yuri, and Kirk. Yuri becomes Edan's boyfriend and he's a dick. There isn't a polite way to say it. Kirk is the typical nice guy who does what he can to help Edan throughout the story. Sadly, none of them were particularly interesting to read about. One character I enjoyed quite a lot was Edan's grandmother. We do not spend a lot of time with her but, when we do, she's always ready to put Edan in her place.
This isn't so much a content warning, but if you're a female and you are into fandom culture, then you might find parts of this book bothersome. There's a good bit of the book dedicated to men around Edan who do not seem to think she is a nerd because she's a girl. Edan's boyfriend and his friends are the main people who have this attitude throughout the story, and it does grate on the nerves a bit. Thankfully, the book also shows off other women in fandom. There are a few other girls Edan spends time with who are a part of this culture. There is even some discussion about being a successful woman in comics as Edan gets a chance to meet one of her heroes. I thought this book did a good job of touching on lust versus love and how blind they can make a person. I do wish this book was a little longer and that it touched more on financial issues Edan's club was having. The end felt too sudden.
Don't Cosplay With My Heart had a lot of potential, but fell flat with its characters and predicable plot. It's still cute and I would recommend reading it if you want to see how women are very often treated in fandom culture.
3 howls
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 3 howls, Cecil Castellucci, Don't Cosplay With My Heart
Friday, December 8, 2017
Alex + Ada vol. 3 by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn
In this final arc, Alex and Ada struggle against the growing hatred for sentient robots and their human allies. Can they survive what's around the corner?
Collects Alex + Ada #11-15.
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 4 howls, Alex+Ada, Jonathan Luna, Sarah Vaughn
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Alex + Ada vol. 2 by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn
Review: Alex + Ada vol. 2 picks up where vol. 1 left off. Ada is now sentient and she is trying to adjust to her new life with Alex. Watching her experience new foods was fun, and I could feel her excitement in that moment. The conflict between Alex and Ada felt very real. They both have to learn to live their life together again. This includes being attracted to each other. This part of the story hit me right in the feels because it managed to mirror some things in my personal life. I think that's the beauty of this story though. It's about an android and a human, but it is still incredibly easy to relate to. A few people found out about Ada being sentient in this volume and the amount of people who were not bothered surprised me. Of course, the ending sets up well for volume 3.
4 howls
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 4 howls, Alex+Ada, Jonathan Luna, Sarah Vaughn
Monday, December 4, 2017
Alex + Ada vol. 1 by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn
Collects ALEX + ADA #1-5.
Review: Alex + Ada is a comic series I've seen around, but I am just now picking it up. Honestly, if you like the movie I, Robot, then this might be a good series for you. The worlds are very similar. In Alex + Ada, a company that made androids suffered through a massacre when some androids became sentient. This caused the government to make a law that no robots were allowed to be sentient. This is the world Alex lives in. He is recovering from a recent breakup and, as a birthday present, he is gifted with an android, Ada. He quickly realizes that something is missing from her. A personality. Choices. Her true being. He takes it upon himself to find people to hack Ada's hardware to make her sentient. The art in this series is beautiful. I love the way the characters are portrayed. There are little things about the world that I found interesting. Alex has a chip(?) of some kind in his head which allows him to control everything without speaking. He can lock/unlock his car, make phone calls, search the internet, etc without saying a word. I'm hoping they explore more of that in one of the later volumes. This is very much an introductory comic bind up. We get introduced to a handful of characters, and we explore a little of the world. Alex has a fun group of friends. I hope we get more interactions with them. One of them lost a leg and has a prosthetic. He was also saved by an android, so that is something that might be explored. The start of this series talks a bit about humanity and what makes a human.
Great start to a series. Definitely hoping for certain discussions in later volumes.
4 howls
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 4 howls, Alex+Ada, Jonathan Luna, Sarah Vaughn
Friday, December 1, 2017
Ink by Alice Broadway
Review: I'm a sucker for stories where tattoos play an important role. I loved the idea of tattoos telling a person's history. Leora was an interesting character. I liked seeing her dedication towards inking and what it meant to her. Even though there's clearly something behind all of this, it was neat to see her interact with different people if they were inkers, flayers, or storytellers. I loved Verity. She was a great best friend and I wish we got to see her at work a bit more often. I'm glad she became a more important character and she also had rather high stakes in this story. I liked Oscar, but we didn't get to spend much time with him. There were hints of flirting between him and Leora but, thankfully, it wasn't a major part of the story.
The plot of Ink was good. I liked how dedicated Leora was to this way of life, but there were still moments when she questioned things happening around her. My biggest gripe with this book was that I really couldn't tell if it was supposed to be a dystopian type story or a fantasy one. This didn't hinder my enjoyment too much, it just made it difficult to visualize some aspects. I can genuinely say that I didn't see the plot twist coming. I also didn't expect to see so many characters trying to help Leora. I won't say anymore than that, but it was a nice change of pace from other stories.
This was a refreshing debut and I can't wait to read the next book.
4 howls
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 4 howls, Alice Broadway, Ink
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Empress of a Thousand Skies
The only surviving heir to an ancient Kalusian dynasty, Rhee has spent her life training to destroy the people who killed her family. Now, on the eve of her coronation, the time has finally come for Rhee to claim her throne - and her revenge.
Alyosha is a Wraetan who has risen above his war refugee origins to find fame as the dashing star of a DroneVision show. Despite his popularity, Aly struggles with anti-Wraetan prejudices and the pressure of being perfect in the public eye.
Their paths collide with one brutal act of violence: Rhee is attacked, barely escaping with her life. Aly is blamed for her presumed murder.
The princess and her accused killer are forced to go into hiding - even as a war between planets is waged in Rhee's name. But soon, Rhee and Aly discover that the assassination attempt is just one part of a sinister plot. Bound together by an evil that only they can stop, the two fugitives must join forces to save the galaxy.
Review: Empress of a Thousand Skies was a fast paced book, yet it took a while for me to get into it. I wasn't impressed with Rhee as a character and that disappointed me. She was very much a typical lost princess character I've read in other YA books. I did like Aly though. His relationship with Vin was humorous, and I appreciated how they showed reality television in this world. That was fascinating and I wished more was done with that. Kara was also interesting. I already figured out her secret, but I liked her character regardless. My only complaint is that I wish we could have seen her interact with people and the world a little more.
Like I said, the story is very fast paced. The book starts with a bang and doesn't really ever stop. That being said, I didn't think the world was very developed which is important if you are writing a sci-fi book and there are other planets involved. Even the planets we got to experience didn't feel very fleshed out. This is one of the few books where I saw the plot twist coming, but it didn't actually take anything away from the book. It was interesting, and Rhoda did something different than what other YA authors do. That was a nice touch. I enjoyed this book, but I was left wanting more and expecting more. I think this would have been better if I hadn't read the synopsis, because it is extremely inaccurate and I was expecting a different story than what I got. Still, I'm excited for book 2 so I can see what happens to these characters.
3.5 howls
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Labels: 3.5 howls, Empress of a Thousand Skies, Rhoda Belleza
Monday, November 27, 2017
The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke
Synopsis: When sixteen-year-old Ellie Baum accidentally time-travels via red balloon to 1988 East Berlin, she's caught up in a conspiracy of history and magic. She meets members of an underground guild in East Berlin who use balloons and magic to help people escape over the Wall—but even to the balloon makers, Ellie's time travel is a mystery. When it becomes clear that someone is using dark magic to change history, Ellie must risk everything—including her only way home—to stop the process.
Review: I'll be honest, I wasn't going to pick this book up. I hadn't heard enough about it, so I didn't know if I would enjoy it. Boy, I was wrong. Sadly, I didn't care for Ellie very much. I thought her history and relationship with Germany was interesting but, as a person, I didn't care for her. The other characters though were fascinating. Kai and Mitzi were great companions. I appreciated how Kai took care of his sister even though he was infatuated with Ellie. My favorite scene with Mitzi was when she and Ellie talked about Germany's past and the negative way Germans are still seen. When you have such a dark past, it is extremely hard to come back from that. I thought it brought a beautiful and necessary conversation to light about misconceptions and assumptions. Sabina was neat, but something about her didn't sit right with me. She's supposed to be a teenager, but she acted developmentally behind. More like a small child than a teen. I could see that if she had a developmental issue, but that was never really discussed. Kai described Sabina as a prodigy, but I didn't get that vibe.
The story was a fun ride. I don't read a lot of historical fiction, but I definitely haven't read one that incorporated magic as well. The story shifts between 2 different time periods. One was 1941-1942, where we follow Ellie's grandfather as he endures Nazi Germany. The other is 1988. This is where we follow Ellie in her adventure. I wish the story took place in only one time period, but I understand why it was handled this way. The way the 2 settings were woven together was interesting, and heartbreaking. Plus, it was good to see how things change, but also how they stay the same between these time periods. There is still plenty of racism and judgement even 40+ years apart. There is a slur used a couple of times in this book, but it was addressed a couple of different ways. I'm not Romani, so I can't say if it was handled "well" but characters address the slur and the author even talks about it in her author's note. One little thing that threw me off was the instances where the text read "G-d" instead of "God." I wasn't sure of the characters were saying "God" or "G" "D." This is primarily how the word is shown in the book, but there were also times where it just had "God." So, that was weird to me. There might have been a reason and I just didn't realize it.
The Girl with the Red Balloon is unlike any other historical fiction book I've ever read. It's beautifully written with a unique cast of characters. Definitely worth picking up.
4 howls
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Labels: 4 howls, Katherine Locke, The Girl with the Red Balloon
Friday, November 24, 2017
Want by Cindy Pon
With the help of his friends, Zhou infiltrates the lives of the wealthy in hopes of destroying the international Jin Corporation from within. Jin Corp not only manufactures the special suits the rich rely on, but they may also be manufacturing the pollution that makes them necessary.
Yet the deeper Zhou delves into this new world of excess and wealth, the more muddled his plans become. And against his better judgment, Zhou finds himself falling for Daiyu, the daughter of Jin Corp's CEO. Can Zhou save his city without compromising who he is or destroying his own heart?
Review: Want was a thrill ride from page 1. Zhou was an interesting perspective to see. He knows what it's' like to be poor and broken. That has been his entire life. He also isn't afraid to do what needs to be done in order to fix the world. I liked getting to know the other characters in his group as well. Iris and Lingyi had such a cute relationship. I wish it was more apparent, but it was still nice to see a couple of ladies in love. Arun and Vic were also neat to read about, but I wish we had a little bit more of a relationship within the group. I'm glad we had the chance to know Daiyu. I always appreciate stories where the offspring of rich, corrupt people are not horrible like the parents. She had her own group of friends that made for an interesting parallel with Zhou's own group.
Cindy Pon doesn't hold back when dealing out the heartbreak in this book. The world felt sadly realistic. It seems like the kind of setting we could all be living in if things don't change. Taipei was a fresh city to experience. Not just that, we spent a good amount of time with the "haves" and the "have-nots," yos and meis respectively. It took a little while for me to get used to this terminology, mostly because I know Spanish and yo in Spanish sounds the way it looks. In Want, the term yo is pronounced you. When I got past that struggle, the book flowed really well. I will say that I saw the twist coming, but I felt the relationship between Zhou and Daiyu grew in a realistic way. Want is a fantastic book that uses found family, action, and a bit of romance. Definitely worth the read.
4 howls
Sidenote: If this story sounds interesting to you, I would highly recommend checking out the video game Shardlight. It also has a setting where the air is toxic and there's something sinister at work. Here is a playlist I watched of someone playing through the game. It's also great, and I think it compliments the story of Want very well.
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:28 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Video Game Review: Mario Odyssey
As much as I loved this game, I did still have some complaints. First, as big as the worlds are, there seemed to be a lot of unneeded space. To me, this was mostly noticeable in the Sand Kingdom. For as many power moons as there are to collect, I wish they were more spread out to make more use of the space. Another issue I have is with the ways you have to get some of the power moons. In every world, there are 2 races you complete against Koopas. The first one isn't too bad. The second one can be a pain. Specifically, in the Wooded Kingdom. You have to clear a giant gap with a convoluted long jump, cap bounce, dive combo which I'm having a hard time doing. As far as I can tell, there is NO way to win this race without mastering this trick which feels like something meant for speedrunners. I think Nintendo forgot for a bit that they do still make these games primarily for children. I've seen some people complain about how you can't 100% complete this game before the final boss. I actually enjoyed this. Backtracking in video games can be annoying, but I think it works with Odyssey. Plus, you get to cross paths with a certain princess.
Mario Odyssey is absolutely one of my favorite Mario platformers. It's long. It's packed with content. It's a load of fun.
5 howls
Posted by kimscarecrow at 11:32 AM 0 comments
Labels: 5 howls, Mario Odyssey, Nintendo
Friday, November 17, 2017
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
Synopsis: Raw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone joins industry giants Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers as she boldly tackles American race relations in this stunning debut.
Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can't escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates.
Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.
Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it's Justyce who is under attack.
Review: Dear Martin is one of those books that had a lot of hype surrounding it when the book came out. Thankfully, this book delivered on the hype. It's short, but it packs quite a punch. At the start of the story, Justyce has an encounter with the police and ends up in custody. This inspires him to write letters to Martin Luther King Jr as a way of coming to terms with the world around him. I loved Jus as a character and I found him to be one of the most realistic characters I've read this year. He wants to be like MLK, but he isn't ignorant to the fact that the world is against him. He often questions his ability to follow Dr. King's footsteps and he ends up making some not great choices. I also really enjoyed Manny. I liked having Justyce and Manny's different viewpoints on how white people act. Manny laughs along as his white friends make inappropriate jokes, but Jus is there to question that behavior. It would be great to discuss this with teenagers and why jokes like that are not okay.
As for the story, it got dark quite fast. I'm not just saying that because the book is short. You get a taste of two different environments within this book. Justyce's old neighborhood, and the school he goes to. Both places feel distinct and real. Justyce's narration and his letter entries to MLK were balanced masterfully. I won't go into detail, but I appreciated the connection between the officers involved in Justyce's incident at the start of the book, and the incident involving Justyce and Manny later. Another thing I appreciated was how Justyce's relationships were handled. There were two girls who caught Manny's eye in Dear Martin, Melo and SJ. Melo was a part of his past, something Justyce feared he would never escape. SJ represented a hopeful future where Jus could be more than what was expected of him. They both helped Justyce learn more about himself and where he wants to go in life. The only criticism I have, is I wish there was more of a correlation between Justyce's life and MLK's teachings. Everyone knows Dr. King was a speaker of peace and equality, but it would have been nice to see some of his texts in Dear Martin. I think it would have made for a really nice bridge between Martin's teachings and Justyce's life.
Dear Martin touches on a variety of topics, grief, racism, love, and living just to name a few. It's a spectacular book that is definitely worth reading.
5 howls
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 5 howls, Dear Martin, Nic Stone
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Carrie by Stephen King
Synopsis: Carrie knew she should not use the terrifying power she possessed... But one night at her senior prom, Carrie was scorned and humiliated just one time too many, and in a fit of uncontrollable fury she turned her clandestine game into a weapon of horror and destruction...
Review: Carrie was such a unique book. I feel like there isn't a way to discuss characters because of the way the book is structured. The book was written as if it was a collection of research on telekinesis and Carrie's life. So, instead of the book being broken up by chapters, there would be a title of a fake book or article. Then there would be a section which kind of summarizes what information that article had in it. Finally, there would be a bit which actually felt like a story from Carrie's perspective as we see her living her life described in this article. It's bizarre, but fascinating. Carrie was a tragic character, but I appreciated that she was fat and not pretty. I watched the original movie when I was younger, and I didn't realize Carrie was described differently in the book. I wish they kept that element. The opening scene as Carrie has her first period hurt my soul. I remember what that moment was like for me, and reliving it from Carrie's perspective was hard. If you're a person who is sensitive to women hate, this will be a hard book to read. The entire book follows Carrie's abuse by this group of girls, and the tragedy that comes from it. I have a hard time describing this book accurately because of how it is written, but it's definitely worth reading.
4 howls
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 4 howls, Carrie, Stephen King
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Shiny Broken Pieces by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton
Synopsis: June, Bette, and Gigi have given their all to dance at Manhattan's most elite ballet school. Now they are competing one final time for a spot at the prestigious American Ballet Company. With the stakes higher than ever, these girls have everything to lose… and no one is playing nice.
June is starting to finally see herself as a prima ballerina. However, getting what she wants might cost her everything—including the only boy she's ever loved. Legacy dancer Bette is determined to clear her name after she was suspended and accused of hurting her rival, Gigi. Even if she returns, though, will she ever regain the spotlight she craves? And Gigi is not going to let Bette—or the other dancers who bullied her—go unpunished. But as revenge consumes her, Gigi may be the one who pays the price.
After years of grueling auditions, torn ribbons, and broken hearts, it all comes down to this last dance. Who will make the cut? And who will lose her dream forever?
Review: I'm going to go ahead and say that this review will have spoilers from the first book. Shiny Broken Pieces picks up not long after Tiny Pretty Things. I would highly recommend reading these two books back to back if at all possible. We follow the same characters as the first book, June, Bette, and Gigi, as they come to terms with what happened at the end of the first book. One thing I really enjoyed was Gigi trying the "bad girl" attitude. No, it didn't last the entire book, but it was good to see that she was capable of being as mean as the other girls. I felt like it gave her much needed depth. I also loved getting to know Cassie. One of the things I wondered while reading the first book was whether or not Cassie was using Henri to pull the strings and hurting people at the academy. While I wasn't necessarily right, I'm glad Cassie was in this book and we were able to see how dark she became.
As for the story itself, I felt like the stakes were much higher in Shiny Broken Pieces which I appreciated. Even though it was still a story of the girls trying to win a coveted spot, I didn't feel like I was reading the same story over again. All of the character interactions felt fresh. There is an underlying mystery of who pushed Gigi in front of the car at the end of the first book. I feel like that was paced really well thoughout the book. It didn't last the entire book, but it lasted long enough to stay intriguing. I shouldn't have been surprised by who pushed Gigi, but I genuinely was. I was also surprised by how Gigi handled her relationships by the end of the book. Another thing I thought was handled well was who ended up getting the spot at the American Ballet Company. I won't say too much, but I think it did a good job of nailing home the reality of being a mean girl won't actually get you anywhere. The last thing I want to talk about is June's bulimia. I was a little disappointed that her ED didn't seem to have consequences in the first book, but that completely changes with Shiny Broken Pieces. Someone even says to June that she's not healthy enough for ballet. That being addressed made me love this series even more. This is definitely one of the best contemporary series I've read and I would highly recommend it.
5 howls
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 5 howls, Dhonielle Clayton, Shiny Broken Pieces, Sona Charaipotra
Monday, November 6, 2017
Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton
Summary: Gigi, Bette, and June, three top students at an exclusive Manhattan ballet school, have seen their fair share of drama. Free-spirited new girl Gigi just wants to dance—but the very act might kill her. Privileged New Yorker Bette's desire to escape the shadow of her ballet star sister brings out a dangerous edge in her. And perfectionist June needs to land a lead role this year or her controlling mother will put an end to her dancing dreams forever. When every dancer is both friend and foe, the girls will sacrifice, manipulate, and backstab to be the best of the best.
Review: I was unprepared for how much I was going to enjoy Tiny Pretty Things. I'm not a part of the dancing world but, thankfully, not much of the dancing terminology was lost on me. The characters were all fascinating. Lately, I've seen a lot of people drag books where there's girl hate and they wish there was more female friendships. Honestly, this book was refreshingly familiar. You don't have to go to a dance school to be surrounded by girls who want to watch you fail. This hit me in a very special place. Bette is much like a lot of girls I grew up with. She's used to getting her way and begins to unravel when her plans fail. June struggles with being just barely not good enough. She's always in someone's shadow. Because of this, she heavily relies on purging her body in an effort to make her dancing better. Gigi is the new girl who is naturally gifted. My biggest complaint with her is she seemed too nice. She has medical issues which is her big, dark secret, but she was usually nice and perky. That isn't a bad thing, it just seemed weird. Though, that could have been a large part of why her character stood out to everyone. Instead of being raised in this intense dancing school, she came from a smaller dancing community filled with girls who were loving and supportive. Finally, we gotta talk about Cassie. I have my own suspicions, but I really enjoyed Cassie's part in this book. The book opens with her narrative, and then she is gone for the rest of the story. Yet, other characters talk about her enough that it feels like she is still very much part of the school and the story. I applaud Sona and Dhonielle for making that work.
The story itself was engaging from the start. Again, this is not my community, but I felt like I could visualize the school and the dancing. At the very start, it is clear what expectations the characters have for themselves. Bette has her family's legacy and, more specifically, her sister's shadow covering her. June struggles with being bi-racial and not feeling quite right for either group. She's also constantly having pressure put on her by her mother's unreasonable expectations. Gigi loves to dance and doesn't want her medical problems to get in the way. She also knows how incredibly dangerous this lifestyle is for her, but she's willing to risk it much to her family's dismay. Things heat up when Gigi lands the lead role of their seasonal showcase. From there, bullying and harassment are endless. What was interesting was how none of the other characters seemed innocent. Even smaller characters like Liz, Eleanor, Henri, and Will all have something at stake throughout the story. The mystery of "who is harassing Gigi" always feels fresh. The moment you think you know who it is, something else happens to make you question your suspicions. I found myself questioning everyone. It was interesting seeing all the characters scramble to prove their innocence. There are some romantic subplots going through the story as well. I do wish the discussion of sexuality was brought up a bit more. Hopefully, things will be discussed further in the second book. Overall, Tiny Pretty Things was dark, but great. Definitely would recommend checking them out.
5 howls
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 5 howls, Dhonielle Clayton, Sona Charaipotra, Tiny Pretty Things
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Blood, Sweat, and Pixels by Jason Schreier
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 4 howls, Blood Sweat and Pixels, Jason Schreier
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Halloween Special: IT Movie Review
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: IT, Stephen King
Friday, October 27, 2017
Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero
Synopsis: 1990. The teen detectives once known as the Blyton Summer Detective Club (of Blyton Hills, a small mining town in the Zoinx River Valley in Oregon) are all grown up and haven't seen each other since their fateful, final case in 1977. Andy, the tomboy, is twenty-five and on the run, wanted in at least two states. Kerri, one-time kid genius and budding biologist, is bartending in New York, working on a serious drinking problem. At least she's got Tim, an excitable Weimaraner descended from the original canine member of the team. Nate, the horror nerd, has spent the last thirteen years in and out of mental health institutions, and currently resides in an asylum in Arhkam, Massachusetts. The only friend he still sees is Peter, the handsome jock turned movie star. The problem is, Peter's been dead for years.
The time has come to uncover the source of their nightmares and return to where it all began in 1977. This time, it better not be a man in a mask. The real monsters are waiting.
With raucous humor and brilliantly orchestrated mayhem, Edgar Cantero's Meddling Kids taps into our shared nostalgia for the books and cartoons we grew up with, and delivers an exuberant, eclectic, and highly entertaining celebration of horror, life, friendship, and many-tentacled, interdimensional demon spawn.
Review: So, this book is Scooby-Doo, but darker. There's a group of kids, and a dog, who solved some mystery one summer, and they moved on with their lives. We do not get to experience this mystery first hand. We just get memory remnants from the group after they become adults. I loved these characters so much. The book opens as Kerri is having an anxiety attack. Not a mild one, but a massive one that actually made my best friend uncomfortable when he read it. It was extremely well done. It isn't stated, but I'm assuming Kerri is plagued with PTSD as well as she continually has nightmares. Nate has committed himself into an institution for his delusions. One of these delusions is his friend Peter, an old member of the group, who committed suicide when they were all adults. The dialogue between Peter and Nate has a dark humor to it that is played very well. Andy seems to be the most "normal" of the group, but even she has her demons. Then there's Tim. He is the descendant of Sean who was the original "Scooby-Doo" character. I loved how realistic Tim was to the story. Not in the, "Tim sniffed around like dogs tend to do" kind of way. During some of the adventure, Andy has to carry Tim because he can't get around like his human companions. He does have some human-like qualities which make for some fun moments. The group dynamic was where this book shined. Every character felt unique.
I'll be honest, I'm a sucker for stories where kids leave a small town, come back as adults, and learn new things. This was definitely that kind of book. The story centers around an unsolved mystery but, around that, the group learns more about the nightmares of their past and how it really affects them. There are some supernatural elements to the story, which I was actually a little sad about. It still had a "man in the mask" element, but I wish it was completely grounded in reality. Even still, I enjoyed the story and I'm so glad this book was brought into my life. It was delightful. Funny in all the right places, dark in all the right places.
4.5 howls
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 4.5 howls, Edgar Cantero, Meddling Kids
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
Synopsis: Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father's gruff stableman. He is treated like an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him sectetly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz's blood runs the magic Skill--and the darker knowledge of a child raised with the stable hounds and rejected by his family. As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz is growing to manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom.
Review: I feel like Robin Hobb is one of those writers everyone who enjoys fantasy needs to read. Her ability to create interesting, unique characters and compelling stories is extremely impressive. I loved Fitz so much. I found his past and his upbringing fascinating and I wanted him to succeed in everything he tried, which is actually a very dark thought because he was trained to be an assassin. Somehow I even really enjoyed Burrich. I say *somehow* because he can definitely be a dick at certain points of the book. I was surprised and excited to be introduced to the Fool in this book. I say surprised because I know the series Hobb is working on now is called The Fitz and The Fool, and I'm assuming it refers to the same fool. I just thought he would be introduced much later. He was intriguing. I'm curious to see what role he plays in later books. As far as characters go, those were the most memorable for me, but there were definitely other interesting characters. Lady Patience, Molly, the princes, King Shrewd, everyone was well developed and I hated how much I loved reading about them.
The story was a bit slow to start. It's the first book of a fantasy series, so a lot of this book was building the world, characters, and relationships. One thing I liked was how Fitz was treated. He is the bastard child of a prince, and he gets treated a bit like dirt. He isn't pampered and welcome with open arms. Fitz has an interesting connection with dogs that I hope gets expanded on in later books. Be prepared when picking up this book that the assassinations are more subtle than you might think. When I hear "assassin" I think of things like the Assassin's Creed series where a person sneaks around and stabs a knife through someone's neck. That's not this book. Not even close. Fitz gets trained in the art of poisoning. So, the murders are not as theatrical as I first thought which was actually rather refreshing. It also allowed for this great mixture of political intrigue throughout the story with assassinations peppered in. Assassin's Apprentice, while sometimes slow, was a great experience. Definitely worth checking out.
4 howls
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 4 howls, Assassin's Apprentice, Robin Hobb
Monday, October 23, 2017
Air Awakens by Elise Kova
The Solaris Empire is one conquest away from uniting the continent, and the rare elemental magic sleeping in seventeen-year-old library apprentice Vhalla Yarl could shift the tides of war.
Vhalla has always been taught to fear the Tower of Sorcerers, a mysterious magic society, and has been happy in her quiet world of books. But after she unknowingly saves the life of one of the most powerful sorcerers of them all—the Crown Prince Aldrik—she finds herself enticed into his world. Now she must decide her future: Embrace her sorcery and leave the life she's known, or eradicate her magic and remain as she's always been. And with powerful forces lurking in the shadows, Vhalla's indecision could cost her more than she ever imagined.
Review: I've had my eye on Elise Kova's books for quite some time. I've heard overwhelmingly positive things for this series in particular. I get it. It was entertaining. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't read a lot of fantasy books in my life. As far as characters go, I didn't really care for any of the major characters in the story. None of them were particularly memorable and that bummed me out quite a bit. The story was also kind of meh. First off, yes there were obvious similarities to Avatar: The Last Airbender and Harry Potter. Honestly, that didn't really detract from my enjoyment of the story. It was different enough, it just started to elicit some eye rolls. There were some aspects of the world that I appreciated. I liked how sorcerers were considered bad, but it was also random as to who ended up being magical. One common problem I've seen with other fantasies is how the "bad guys" tend to be focused on specific countries or races. This can be extremely hurtful to readers who are of a specific ethnicity if they read characters who look like them, but are evil. Having magic is a random attribute that has nothing to do with a character's ethnicity and, in this world, anyone with magic can be dangerous. I did find the public's reaction to sorcerers to be a bit odd. It's no secret that one of the princes has magic, and that seems to be fine, but when anyone else is suspected of having magic, it's considered bad. I liked that a prince had magic. I liked that Vhalla had a friend in this. I just found it odd that people were willing to serve someone with magic while also hating others. This book was definitely the basic start up to a fantasy series. It opened with a shocking amount of urgency which was nice, but there ended up being a lot of history and world building which is fine. It made for a slightly slower read, but it wasn't awful. Elise also did things to her characters that I wasn't expecting, but I won't say what because spoilers. Overall, the book was underwhelming, but I am going to read the next one and see if the series gets better. This is by no means a "bad" book, but I'm hoping things develop in the next installment.
3 howls
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 3 howls, Air Awakens, Elise Kova
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there's a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett's son, Davis.
Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.
Review: Turtles All the Way Down has been highly anticipated for quite some time. As someone who enjoys John Green's other books, I was extremely excited for his new book. Especially when I found it out centered on anxiety and OCD. I don't have Aza's brand of OCD, so I'm not going to talk about that, but I know all too well what her anxiety spirals are like. The anxiety rep in this book was very well done and Aza as a character was easy to relate to. Even her habit of digging her nail into her finger was something similar to what I've done and little instances of self-harm like that are not generally discussed in books.
Review: The story in Turtles was...interesting. Aza and her friend Daisy try to figure out where a billionaire has disappeared to, and she somehow finds a way to reconnect with a childhood friend, the billionaire's son.Aza and Davis' relationship didn't feel quite right. I didn't mind it, but I think it would have felt more natural if we saw them interact together more before Davis' dad disappeared. I did appreciate how Aza not only connected with Davis, but also with his brother Noah. More than anything, I loved how this book explored being vulnerable. With Aza, Davis, Noah, even Daisy, it discusses what it means to be honest and vulnerable even when you can loose what's important to you.
4 howls
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 4 howls, John Green, Turtles All the Way Down
Friday, October 20, 2017
Madness by Zac Brewer
Synopsis: Brooke Danvers is pretending to be fine. She's gotten so good at pretending that they're letting her leave inpatient therapy. Now she just has to fake it long enough for her parents and teachers to let their guard down. This time, when she's ready to end her life, there won't be anyone around to stop her.
Then Brooke meets Derek. Derek is the only person who really gets what Brooke is going through, because he's going through it too. As they start spending more time together, Brooke suddenly finds herself having something to look forward to every day and maybe even happiness.
But when Derek's feelings for her intensify, Brooke is forced to accept that the same relationship that is bringing out the best in her might be bringing out the worst in Derek—and that Derek at his worst could be capable of real darkness.
Posted by kimscarecrow at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: 5 howls, Madness, Zac Brewer


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Jason Segel, star of the new Muppets movie that you probably haven't even heard about yet, is everywhere these days. Remember when he hosted Saturday Night Live? I know it seems like forever ago, but that was actually just this past weekend! I KNOW! So you're probably thinking, "Jason Segel, that guy is everywhere and seems very charming and nice, surely he must have a very attractive girlfriend whom he loves and will eventually get married to when the time is right, each of them feeling like they're the lucky one " EEHHH! BUZZER NOISE! WRONG! From Vulture:
My house is packed with puppets. Like, everywhere. Thank God I have a slightly bigger house now, so I have one room that's sort of dedicated to puppets. But for a long time I lived in a one-bedroom apartment that was just crammed with puppets. It's why I'm still single.
A puppet room? Computer, is there something that we missed in the interview where Jason Segel gives an explanation for why he thinks he's still single, because from what I see here– No? We didn't miss anything? So you're telling us that Jason Segel thinks he is still single because he has a room full of puppets, the thing that LITERALLY EVERY WOMAN WANTS TO SEE WHEN THEY VISIT A GUY'S APARTMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME? Admittedly I know very few women. In any case, it's clear that Jason Segel needs some advice. Cute anecdotes about being single from famous actors are NOT things to be taken lightly. So here are a few tips. (And if one of you can e-mail a link to Jason that would be great, thanks.)
- When a woman is visiting your apartment for the first time and you're feeling nervous about your puppet room, take all of the puppets out of the puppet room and put them in your bedroom with roses in their mouths.
- When making conversation with a woman on a first date, ask her if she's ever seen Freaks and Geeks. "Oh yeah," she'll probably respond, "I loved that show!" Then you say, "I was on that show."
- When you've been on a few dates already with a woman and you think everything is going pretty well, for the next date, get to the restaurant very early. Tell her you have to go there from work so you don't have to pick her up. Bring one of your best puppets and go under the table and when she comes, talk to her with the puppet. After a while stop and come back up to your seat and say, "No, just kidding, I'm here."
- Next time you are anywhere and you see a woman who looks like she probably knows who you are, ask that woman on a date.
- When a woman is at your apartment and you've almost made it through the night without her noticing your puppet room, but then she goes for the puppet room and asks, "Hey, what's in here…" you say "NOTHING! IT'S PRIVATE! RESPECT MY PRIVACY!" Forceful and mysterious.
- Go to a puppet convention and find a woman there.
- Marry a puppet.
You're welcome, Jason Segel! Invite me to the wedding! (Thanks for the tip, Amy!)


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Moms in your 40s, did you start waxing your mustache late in life?
posted June 6th, 2016 at 12:22pm in Toddler
21 Replies (log in or sign up to post a comment)
- Been doing it since I was in my teens 6-6-2016 12:23pm
- I have done it for decades 6-6-2016 12:23pm
- No, I don't have one 6-6-2016 12:23pm
- I am not 40 but have waxed since 12 6-6-2016 12:23pm
- I am 35 and started doing my mustache in my mid-20s 6-6-2016 12:24pm
- I just tweeze a few hairs a day 6-6-2016 12:24pm
- omg-so painful 6-6-2016 12:27pm
- no, I buzz it 6-6-2016 12:24pm
- would you start now? 6-6-2016 12:25pm
- no 6-6-2016 12:25pm
- No, I used to bleach, or Nair. Waxed for a little while, but now I just shave it. Have been doing so for years. 6-6-2016 12:26pm
- How often do you have to shave it? 6-6-2016 12:26pm
- I don't notce how often. 6-6-2016 12:28pm
- How often do you have to shave it? 6-6-2016 12:26pm
- yes. ugh. after menopause. used to bleach, now it is just too much. 6-6-2016 12:26pm
- Does it get darker after peri? I am all of a sudden noticing mine 6-6-2016 12:27pm
- yes, sadly. 6-6-2016 12:28pm
- Does it get darker after peri? I am all of a sudden noticing mine 6-6-2016 12:27pm
- Bleach in 30s, wax or thread in 40s, shave in 50s 6-6-2016 12:26pm
- Every day shave it? 6-6-2016 12:27pm
- No, a few swipes here and there during the week. Not daily, but probably more than weekly. 6-6-2016 12:28pm
- Every day shave it? 6-6-2016 12:27pm
- Yes, I'm not very hairy and I'm blonde, but I take dh's electric clippers to it. Never had to before mid 40s. Notice everyone has hair on their face at this age. 6-6-2016 12:28pm
- np - i have a hairy face also - blonde peach fuzz and i notice it on others faces. i think i have to start chaving this. 6-6-2016 12:31pm


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Toronto: Veteran actor Kabir Bedi rates Ranbir Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor as the two best young actors in Bollywood today. "But frankly there is dearth of young bright talented actors coming through" feels Bedi.
"But frankly there is dearth of young bright talented actors coming through. That`s what Bollywood lacks today,`` feels Bedi who is one of the few Indian actors to make it to Hollywood.
"The problem could be also due to the fact that older actors keep reinventing themselves. Salman Khan is still there, Shah Rukh Khan is still ruling there. Akshay Kumar is there,`` Bedi told IANS here.
"But Ranbir and Shahid are the two most promising new-generation actors, and I want to see more young actors in Bollywood,`` he said.
However, he feels there is no death of young actresses.
"Bollywood has seen no such problem when it comes to new actresses. We have so many of them. We have just seen Anuskha Sharma come from nowhere. We have Deepita Padukone who too came from nowhere. We have Priyanka Chopra who has been on the scene for about 10 years now. She also came from nowhere. So I think are some very good young actresses.``
Asked what he thought of Deepa Mehta`s description of Bollywood as "Indian kitsch`` and not true representative of Indian culture, he said, "Deepa is a great filmmaker of finer sensibilities. These may be her elitist views, but Bollywood does reflect India and its Indian culture. That it is has a huge audience worldwide shows that it reflects Indian culture.``
Later, speaking a discussion on `Hollywood, Bollywood and Beyond,`` Bedi said Bollywood is a potent symbol of India.
He said though has not worked much in Bollywood, he has no hesitation calling himself a Bollywood actor.
"Bollywood is the most potent symbol of India. It has promoted (communal) unity. It has promoted Hindi as India`s national language. Bollywood unites India,`` he said.


text: When the keyboard merges with the ballpoint pen then the result is the Manual Keyboard Pen. I am sure the keyboard pen is specially made for computer geeks, or writers. However, you can also use this pen as a gift for your friends. The Manual Keyboard Pen retails for $62. [UncommonGoods]


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shortyFeb 25, 2012-- 11 of 11hello be mine i would love to see ur videos
oldhippyOct 9, 2011-- 10 of 11Please be my friend. I would also like to see your videos. Thank you and have a nice day.
HandymanLAug 23, 2011-- 8 of 11LOVE IT KEEP EM COMING!!! LOVE THE EYE MAKEUP!!!
jakk dreddApr 7, 2011-- 5 of 11tht was awesome m/


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ATHENS, Greece, Aug. 13, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diana Containerships Inc. (Nasdaq:DCIX), a global shipping company specializing in owning and operating containerships, today announced that it has signed, through two separate wholly-owned subsidiaries, two Memoranda of Agreement to purchase from an unaffiliated third party two Post-Panamax container vessels, the m/v "Puelo" and the m/v "Pucon".
The m/v "Puelo" and m/v "Pucon" are both 2006-built vessels of approximately 6,500 TEU capacity. The purchase price for each vessel is US$47 million. The sellers are expected to deliver to the Company the m/v "Puelo" by the end of August, 2013 and the m/v "Pucon" in mid-September, 2013.
Each of the two vessels is chartered to Compania Sud Americana de Vapores S.A., Valparaiso, Chile, for a period of minimum eighteen (18) months to maximum thirty (30) months at a gross charter rate of US$27,900 per day less US$150.00 per day commission paid to third parties. In case either of the vessels is redelivered to the Company in any period between the earliest and the maximum redelivery period after delivery, then the charterers will pay a lump sum equivalent to US$6,000 per day to the owners for the outstanding period between the redelivery date and up to the 30 months. The time-charter parties for both vessels are to commence upon delivery of the vessels to the Company by the sellers.
Including the aforementioned vessels, Diana Containerships Inc.'s fleet will consist of 10 container vessels (2 Post-Panamax and 8 Panamax). A table describing the current Diana Containerships Inc. fleet can be found on the Company's website, www.dcontainerships.com. Information included on the Company's website does not constitute a part of this press release.
About the Company
Diana Containerships Inc. is a Marshall Islands corporation founded in 2010 to own and operate containerships and pursue containership acquisition opportunities. Diana Containerships Inc. intends to continue to capitalize on investment opportunities by purchasing additional containerships in the secondhand market, from other companies, shipyards and lending institutions, and may also enter into new building contracts with shipyards for new containerships.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.
The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "believe," "anticipate," "intends," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "may," "should," "expect," "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.
In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for containership capacity, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.
CONTACT: Corporate Contact: Ioannis Zafirakis Director, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary Telephone: +30-216-600-2400 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Website: www.dcontainerships.com Investor and Media Relations: Edward Nebb Comm-Counsellors, LLC Telephone: +1-203-972-8350 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com:Diana Containerships Inc.


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WD®, a Western Digital (NASDAQ:WDC) company, and world leader in storage solutions, today announced the new My Passport® Cinema 4K Ultra HD (UHD) movie storage device, an easier and faster way to organize, store and enjoy high-definition digital movies and TV shows - including new releases in up to full 4K UHD resolution with high dynamic range (HDR) - on Samsung SUHD TVs and other VIDITY™-enabled devices.
The new My Passport Cinema drive utilizes VIDITY technology to allow users to experience movies in crystal-clear, true 4K UHD picture and immersive audio. Users are able to enjoy 8.3 million pixels of stunning entertainment in minutes by simply plugging in the My Passport Cinema drive into a VIDITY-compatible UHD TV or device and purchasing preloaded movies from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Once purchased on the My Passport Cinema drive, the movie can be accessed immediately online or offline on any VIDITY-enabled device such as Samsung's 2014 HU series 4K UHD TVs and 2015 JU and JS series 4K UHD and SUHD TVs. Users also can download additional titles via M-GO or other VIDITY retailers.
"Our focus is on creating the highest-quality consumer experience possible," said Danny Kaye, EVP, global research and technology strategy, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. "This means the quality of the content as the demand for 4K Ultra HD content continues to increase and evolve, but also the ease of content acquisition and playback on next-generation TVs and other devices. WD's My Passport Cinema drive with VIDITY technology brings together this unprecedented quality with the convenience of digital."
"The My Passport Cinema drive provides another way for our customers to enjoy stunning premium 4K content on our UHD line up, and additionally, High Dynamic Range content from our SUHD TVs," said Bill Lee, vice president of TV product marketing at Samsung. "Our customers will now have the ability to purchase, own and store newly released content on one device that is easily accessible from our TVs."
"Movie playback from the My Passport Cinema drive provides consumers a hassle-free, immediate experience of premium-quality 4K UHD content on their TVs," said Tony Tate, general manager and vice president of Content Storage Solutions at WD. "The technology on My Passport Cinema also enables consumers to take preloaded 4K UHD content anywhere there is a VIDITY-enabled TV. We are committed to furthering the development of products that make consumers' interaction with their content a greater experience."
Additionally, from August 16, 2015, to June 30, 2016, a My Passport Cinema drive will be included free with the purchase of Samsung JS9000, JS9100 or JS9500 SUHD TV models so consumers can enjoy 4K UHD content immediately. Premium movies preloaded for purchase during this promotion include: The Maze Runner, Exodus: Gods and Kings, X-Men: Days of the Future Past, The Wolverine, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, The Fault in Our Stars, Let's Be Cops and The Other Woman. Further details on this promotion are available at wd.com/vidity.
Pricing and Availability
My Passport Cinema UHD movie storage is available today in the WD store at wdstore.com and at select retailers and distributors. The My Passport Cinema UHD movie drive 1 TB capacity has a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $89.99 and comes with a 1-year limited warranty. Terms and conditions of WD's limited warranty may be found at support.wdc.com/warranty.
About WD
WD, a Western Digital company, is a long-time innovator and storage industry leader. As a storage technology pacesetter, the company produces reliable, high-performance hard disk drives and solid state drives. These drives are deployed by OEMs and integrators in desktop and mobile computers, enterprise computing systems, embedded systems and consumer electronics applications, as well as by the company in providing its own storage products. WD's leading storage devices and systems, networking products, media players and software solutions empower people around the world to easily save, store, protect, share and experience their content on multiple devices. WD was established in 1970 and is headquartered in Irvine, California. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.wd.com.
Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ: WDC), Irvine, Calif., is a global provider of products and services that empower people to create, manage, experience and preserve digital content. Its companies design and manufacture storage devices, networking equipment and home entertainment products under the WD, HGST and G-Technology brands. Visit the Investor section of the company's website (www.westerndigital.com) to access a variety of financial and investor information.
Western Digital, WD, My Passport and the WD logo are registered trademarks of Western Digital Technologies, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. The VIDITY Mark used is owned exclusively by SCSA LLC and is a trademark of SCSA LLC. Other marks may be mentioned herein that belong to other companies. Movie titles available on My Passport Cinema are subject to change without notice. Not all products may be available in all regions of the world. As used for storage capacity, one gigabyte = one billion bytes; one terabyte = one trillion bytes. Total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment.
WD product photos: http://wdbrand.com/
Editorial review samples of My Passport Cinema may be requested via WD's website: http://www.wdc.com/en/company/pressroom/eval_request.asp
1 Preloaded movies are locked until purchased. My Passport Cinema is preloaded with eight 4K UHD films from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, including two 4K UHD with High Dynamic Range (HDR) films.


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SHAW, Robert John - Passed away peacefully at the age of 95 years on July 2, 2017.
Beloved husband of 72 years of the late Mary Amelia Shaw.
Loving father of Bertha Zitt.
Cherished grandfather of Tanya, Stephen, Nicole and great grandfather of Jordan, Noelle, Naomi, Nycolette, Noah, Jaden, Nixon, Jocelin, Ryan and Brandon.
A Service to Celebrate the life of Robert will be held at the DESTEFANO FUNERAL HOME, 1289 Keith Ross Drive, Oshawa (south side of Taunton Road east of Thornton Road by the Oshawa Airport) on Saturday, July 8th at 11:00am.
Interment to follow.
Memories may be shared at destefanofuneralhomes.ca.


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He was just 14 when he lied about his age and bravely enlisted with the Leeds Pals battalion in the summer of 1914.
Two years later, blacksmith's apprentice Horace Iles became the youngest of the Pals to die amid the horror of the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
Now, as the nation prepares to mark tomorrow's 100th anniversary of the start of the Somme, a tribute has been paid to Horace in his home city.
Transport firm First Leeds unveiled a bus named in his honour in a ceremony at the war memorial in Victoria Gardens that was attended by his nephew, Trevor Iles.
Also present were pupils from Horsforth School, where Horace will be remembered with a production of a play called The Pals next month.
The double-decker will mainly run on route numbers 1 and 6 through Woodhouse, the area that Horace called home.
First Leeds business manager Bob Dorr said: "We're proud to be able to name one of our buses after Horace Iles, one of many Leeds Pals who made the ultimate sacrifice on that fateful summer day in 1916."
Horsforth School teacher James Bovington, who wrote the play being performed next month, said: "We're working hard to honour the memory of Horace and the Pals, so we're delighted to join First Leeds and Trevor Iles in unveiling the bus, which is a fitting tribute to Horace's remarkable story."
Horace claimed he was 18 when he signed up. It is thought he may have wanted to emulate his father, William, who served in the second Afghan War.
On July 9, 1916, Horace's sister Florrie, as yet unaware of his death, wrote and urged him to come clean about his age in the hope he would be sent home.
His family learned he had died when Florrie's unopened envelope was returned with the words "killed in action" scrawled above the address.
In the letter she had written: "You have seen quite enough now just chuck it up and try to get back. You won't fare no worse for it.
"If you don't do it now you will come back in bits and we want the whole of you."
Bugles will sound across Leeds at 7.30am tomorrow, the time when troops first went into battle at the Somme on July 1, 1916.
Buglers will be stationed at Victoria Gardens, Leeds Civic Hall, Leeds Minster, Dortmund Square, City Square and the top of Briggate.
They will also be in places outside the city centre such as Headingley, Bramley and Morley.
Then, at 10.30am, a paving stone in memory of Victoria Cross winner Corporal George Sanders will be unveiled at Leeds Minster.
The Yorkshire Evening Post will pay tribute to the victims of the Somme with a special commemorative edition tomorrow.
Of the 750 members of the Leeds Pals who fought on the first day of the battle, just 72 were uninjured by nightfall.


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Figuarts ZERO Usopp-ONE PIECE 20th anniversary ver.-
Description of item
May 29, 2017 (Monday) Scheduled to be reserved for general dealers
(Presence or absence of reservation handling depends on the retailers)
Usopp appeared in luxury specification of 20th anniversary!
"Figuarts ZERO-ONE PIECE 20th anniversary ver.-" Series 9th · Usopp commercialized!
Sticking to details in shaping and coloring, reproduce the image of the illustration!
Furthermore, smile facial parts of Robin and Sanji (sold separately) released in the same month are also included!
Replacement facial parts that can reproduce smiles and replacement goggle parts are included.
■ Product Specifications
Height: about 70mm
Material: ABS, PVC
■ Set Contents
· Body
· Stand
· Replacement facial parts for Usopp
· Usopp replacement goggle parts
· Sanji - ONE PIECE 20th Anniversary ver. - For Replacement Facial Parts
· Nico · Robin - IE PIECE 20th Anniversary ver. - For Replacement Facial Parts
© Oda Eiichiro / Shueisha Fuji TV Toei Animation
- The image is an image.
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When the original purchase of 2014 or after April 1, please put your includes it will be settled based on the new tax rate (8%).
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Executing Workplace Units in the Family Technique
When setting up the family medicine, some crucial services, including telephone, mail, answering solution as well as clinical transcription will should be resolved.
Family Practice Telephone Equipments
The family practice telephone system is vital. When evaluating potential telephone heating and cooling units, there are a couple of key factors to consider. What areas will phones be needed in? Just how much automation is chosen? Does the air conditioner have to send out computerized phone calls to patients advising them of consultations or scheduling concerns? Does the heating and cooling unit should play music or existing health and wellness information while callers are on hold?
Exactly what regarding wireless air conditioners? Just what concerning hands totally free systems? Exactly what regarding customer id, voice mail and also far away services? High speed Internet services will not need an added specialized telephone line. If high-speed solutions are not offered, one telephone line will be needed for Internet.
Once the demands of the family practice telephone heating and cooling unit are recognized, it's time to shop. Innovations in wireless innovation have actually resulted in an increasing number of techniques utilizing wireless items.
Selecting an Answering Solution
Family practice employees can not be answering telephones 24/7. It is very important to pick the right answering service to stand for the facility. See exactly what service various other doctors are using. Check references and also track record. Some hospitals provide answering services.
It will be necessary to define answering service standards. What makes up an emergency situation? What about phone calls from relative? Just how much info should the addressing solution get in enhancement to a phone number?
The more certain the information in exactly what is needed of the answering service, the much easier it is for the answering solution to meet those demands.
Managing Mail
While email as well as faxes are often used for document, basic mail is essential. A little family medicine could discover it sufficient to just buy stamps at first. As the practice expands, however, the mail volume will certainly too.
Shipping choices consist of the Usa Post office online mailing and shipping as do solutions consisting of Stamps and also Endicia. Various companies provide postage meters. Pitney Bowes is one of the best understood.
For plans, huge as well as small, the UPSP online mailing and delivery solution is readily available. Independent carriers consist of DHL, UPS and also FedEx. It is necessary to utilize a street address with independent service providers. They do not deliver to upload office boxes.
Clinical Transcription
Clinical transcription was as soon as a problem of sending dictation to be recorded either in the center or contracted out to a person in the location. New growths in family practice computer software application and also digital clinical record software program has done away with the demand for transcription in some clinics. Considering that family medicine team, consisting of workplace, registered nurses as well as doctors, input all info directly into the computer system at the time it's done, individual documents are still present.
If clinical transcription will be required, choices need to be made concerning whether to utilize somebody to look after it in the household practice facility or outsource it. If utilizing a medical transcription service, it's important to check references and also reputation. It does not hurt to ask other doctors what solution they are utilizing.
Some solutions are important to running the family medicine. Trustworthy telephone systems that handle all required activities, a high quality answering solution, a practical and inexpensive mail handling system and clinical transcription are simply a few of those services.


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Sleek and unique our hex wallet is just what you need to update your modern accessories. Designed to fit cash and credit cards. The sleek shape makes it easy to slip into a small clutch or handbag. And it makes a great gift too!
• Genuine Cow hide leather
• Top flap closure
• Measurements are 3.75"H by 5" W
• Unlined/Natural suede inside
Original design by Angela Valentine Handbags
3-5 business days
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
Just contact me within: 14 days of delivery
Ship items back to me within: 21 days of delivery
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value.


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Geeksphone to hit EU on February 20
Geeksphone's Revolution mobile phone, which runs both Android and Mozilla Firefox, is expected to launch in Europe by the end of this month (February).
The handset gives people a chance to get a taste of the Firefox operating system, while still having the reliable and secure Android to fall back on.
Geeksphone has now announced that the Revolution will go on sale in Europe on February 20th for €289 (around £240). However, eager customers who want to pre-order will get €20 off that already reasonable price.
The smartphone will bring a 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Atom processor, a 4.7-inch qHD, 2560 x 1440 display, 1GB RAM, 4GB of built-in storage and an eight-megapixel camera – all powered by a decent 2,000mAh battery. Though users will have to go without 4G connectivity.
Geeksphone also didn't state what version of Android the Revolution will be running, though it looks to be a version of Jelly Bean.
Posted by Clare Marshall