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Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan.
Winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Autobiography. Barbarian Days is William Finnegan's memoir of an obsession, a complex enchantment. Surfing only looks like a sport. To initiates, it is something else entirely: a beautiful addiction, a demanding course of study, a morally dangerous pastime, a way of life. Raised in California and Hawaii, Finnegan started surfing as a child. He has chased waves all over the world, wandering for years through the South Pacific, Australia, Asia, Africa. A bookish boy, and then an excessively adventurous young man, he went on to become a distinguished writer and war reporter. Barbarian Days takes us deep into unfamiliar worlds, some of them right under our noses—off the coasts of New York and San Francisco. It immerses the reader in the edgy camaraderie of close male friendships annealed in challenging waves.
Barbarian Days is an old-school adventure story, an intellectual autobiography, a social history, a literary road movie, and an extraordinary exploration of the gradual mastering of an exacting, little understood art. Today, Finnegan's surfing life is undiminished. Frantically juggling work and family, he chases his enchantment through Long Island ice storms and obscure corners of Madagascar.
Dark at the Crossing by Elliot Ackerman.
Haris Abadi is a man in search of a cause. An Arab American with a conflicted past, he is now in Turkey, attempting to cross into Syria and join the fight against Bashar al-Assad's regime. But he is robbed before he can make it, and is taken in by Amir, a charismatic Syrian refugee and former revolutionary, and Amir's wife, Daphne, a sophisticated beauty haunted by grief. As it becomes clear that Daphne is also desperate to return to Syria, Haris's choices become ever more wrenching: Whose side is he really on?
Transit by Rachel Cusk.
In the wake of family collapse, a writer and her two young sons move to London. The process of upheaval is the catalyst for a number of transitions—personal, moral, artistic, practical—as she endeavors to construct a new reality for herself and her children. In the city she is made to confront aspects of living she has, until now, avoided.
Selection Day by Aravind Adiga.
Manju is fourteen. He knows he is good at cricket – if not as good as his elder brother Radha. He knows that he fears and resents his domineering and cricket-obsessed father, admires his brilliantly talented brother and is fascinated by CSI and curious and interesting scientific facts. But there are many things, about himself and about the world, that he doesn't know . . .
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi.
The unforgettable New York Times best seller begins with the story of two half-sisters, separated by forces beyond their control: one sold into slavery, the other married to a British slaver. Written with tremendous sweep and power, Homegoing traces the generations of family who follow, as their destinies lead them through two continents and three hundred years of history, each life indelibly drawn, as the legacy of slavery is fully revealed in light of the present day.
Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities by Bettany Hughes.
In this epic new biography, Hughes takes us on a dazzling historical journey through the many incarnations of one of the world's greatest cities. As the longest-lived political entity in Europe, over the last 6,000 years Istanbul has absorbed a mosaic of micro-cities and cultures all gathering around the core. At the latest count archaeologists have measured forty-two human habitation layers. Phoenicians, Genoese, Venetians, Jews, Vikings, Azeris all called a patch of this earth their home.


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We've heard reports that PC users are going up against a number of technical issues with RAGE, which publisher Bethesda Softworks has attributed to driver problems. No matter the cause, it's disappointing to see any game -- especially one as high-profile as this -- run into launch-week trouble.
Fortunately, new AMD Catalyst drivers are out, and those seem to be helping remedy texture pop-in and unstable frame rates; Giant Bomb is reporting noticeable improvements. Those in need of NVIDIA drivers can find the latest ones here.
What has your experience with the game been like?
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subset: commoncrawl


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The Thames View (Charing Cross Hospital)
Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, W6 8RF, London, United Kingdom Get Directions Tel + 44 (0) 20 3311 7700 Fax + 44 (0) 20 3311 1119 Email firstname.lastname@example.com http://imperialprivatehealthcare.co.uk/our-hospitals/charing-cross/
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Oncology - general
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Trauma surgery
Other important information
As a customer of Bupa Global, you have access to additional medical providers. For details of these, please check Bupa's UK Facility Finder.
To find out if this facility is included in your cover, take a look at your plan's details by logging into your online area or contact your customer service centre using the number on your insurance card.
Our network of medical facilities offers cashless settlement for in hospital and day-case treatment. Please contact the number on your insurance card for pre-authorisation of in-patient and day-case treatment.


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Marella Dream
Flights available from Manchester, Newcastle, East Midlands, Doncaster Sheffield or Birmingham
Price Includes:
Malaga, Costa del Sol • Cartagena, Spain • Barcelona, Spain • Toulon (for the Cote d'Azur), France • Monaco • Livorno (for Florence & Pisa), Italy • Civitavecchia (for Rome), Italy • Ajaccio, Corsica • Palma, Majorca
Set on the sun-drenched Costa del Sol, Malaga is a Moorish delight. During the Arab occupation of Spain, the city was the principal port of the Moorish kingdom of Granada. So what does that mean for you? It means the city of Granada and its striking Alhambra Palace are just a short drive away. Prepare to be blown away.
Tucked in a deep bay guarded by two cliff-top fortresses, this Spanish gem is steeped in history. In the 18th century it became a major Spanish naval base and reminders of its seafaring past can be seen down in the port, where you'll find a prototype submarine.
Barcelona is up there with the most famous cities in the world, and for good reason. Sandwiched between the Mediterranean Sea and the Serra de Collserola hills, this Spanish titan promises cutting-edge architecture, trend-setting fashion and art that breaks the mould. It's a place where boutique-lined boulevards and intimate espresso bars give way to authentic tapas joints and narrow cobbled streets.
Fusing French Riviera glam with the feel of a traditional old town, Toulon is your gorgeous gateway to the Côte d'Azur.
Follow the sound of popping corks and clinking champagne flutes to über-stylish St-Tropez, a long-time glitterati favourite.
Venture into Aix en Provence and find out about its dual identity. This place is known as the Town of Water thanks to its fountains and the Town of Art because of its many museums.
Monaco, despite being the most densely populated country in the world, is just a fraction of the size of the Isle of Wight. You'll find this pint-sized nation in a prime spot on the French Riviera, just a stone's throw from the Italian border. Million-pound yachts try to outdo one another in the harbour, which is flanked by contemporary apartments and a scattering of Art Nouveau-style buildings. Shopping malls and casinos are jumbled up with pretty boutiques and churches in the maze-like Monaco-Ville neighbourhood. And just along the waterfront in Monte Carlo, palatial mansions and lavish hotels face up to the Mediterranean Sea
Get ready to be impressed – this is your gateway to the dazzling riches of Florence and Pisa.
A living monument to the Renaissance, Florence might be famous for its art galleries, but the entire city is like one gigantic piece of artwork. Beautiful buildings, picturesque piazzas and stunning sculptures are everywhere you look. Marvel at Michelangelo's David in the Accademia. Clap eyes on Botticelli's Birth of Venus in the Uffizi Gallery. Then head for the Ponte Vecchio bridge to browse the glittering jewellery shops that find a home here.
Few cities on earth have the power to bowl you over quite like Rome. Discover a city packed with historical wonder, artistic splendour and culinary temptation at every turn. Not to mention enough designer shops to keep you browsing for a year.
Rugged peaks, emerald countryside, twinkling blue waters – Corsica's been plucked from the prettiest postcard. Rising up from one of the most beautiful gulfs in the world is Ajaccio, a town oozing charm. An impressive place in its own right, it's also your gateway to the sensational scenery and sleepy little towns that this sun-soaked isle is famous for. One word of advice – take plenty of spare batteries for your camera.
Palma. Think leafy boulevards that echo with the stilettos of stylish shoppers. Tiny tapas bars tucked down narrow sidestreets. Architectural gold hidden in the historic quarter. With its trademark cathedral dominating the skyline, cosmopolitan Palma never fails to impress.
At a glance....
Plenty of space and a brilliant selection of facilities - that's what you can expect on the Marella Dream.
This Platinum ship is well-known for its plush show lounge and fantastic West End-style entertainment, with performances and games geared up for the whole family.
6 restaurants, 9 bars, 3 lounges, nightclub, casino, 2 whirlpools, 2 swimming pools, card room, beauty salon, boutiques, health club, sports deck, Thomson Kids' Club, sauna, library, medical centre, internet access, air-conditioned throughout, stabilised, worldwide satellite telephone, telex and fax.
|243 m
|Beam (width)
|30 m
|19 knots
|Cruise passengers
|Crew and staff
|Electrical current


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RIDGID Model 31A ½" - ¾" - 1" BSPT RH Threader cuts three sizes and uses 12-R ratchet threader dies.
Three-Way Pipe Threader.
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Cambridge Exam Preparation in Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane
Cambridge Exam Preparation Course Information
ELSIS Cambridge Exam Preparation Courses will provide you with all the skills needed to pass a PET, FCE or CAE exam. Cambridge qualifications are recognised by employers, colleges, and universities (especially in Europe and South America), and the certificate remains valid indefinitely.
The Cambridge Exam Preparation course is excellent if you need a formal English language qualification. This course is designed to prepare you for the examinations which are conducted by the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.
Preparation Course for the Cambridge English Examinations
(Pre-Intermediate to Advanced)
|10-12 weeks
|10-12 weeks
|20 hours per week
|Intermediate level and above
Learning Outcomes
Students who undertake the full-length 12 weeks of the course will gain:
- Knowledge of test-taking techniques specific to FCE and CAE.
- Knowledge of text types, e.g. formal and informal letters, narratives, reports and articles.
- Improved listening skills.
- Improved reading skills for a variety of genres.
- Improved speaking skills.
- A greater awareness of word families and word formation.
- The ability to analyse texts grammatically and to transform sentences so as to express the same meaning in different form.
- Development of speaking fluency and accuracy.
- Students are assessed at regular intervals and are well prepared for the demands of the Cambridge exam.
Click here to apply for a Cambridge Preparation Course
Cambridge Exams
- The exams are internationally recognised and useful for students who need to use English in their workplace.
- The exams consist of five papers:
- Reading
- Speaking
- Listening
- Use of English
- The course develops and improves skills in all five areas.
Click here to learn more or book your Cambridge Exam in Melbourne or Sydney.
Request More Information
PET Exam Preparation Course
Cambridge English Preliminary (PET) course is an introduction to the Cambridge examinations for intermediate level students. It prepares students for the international examination which is held four times a year. You will receive a solid foundation in intermediate-level grammar and learn to develop your skills in:
- Listening
- Speaking
- Reading
- Writing
FCE Exam Preparation Course
Cambridge English First (FCE) course is our most popular Cambridge course.
This is a rigorous course which blends general and academic English elements to ensure students gain a full and all rounded exposure to the English language.
It is widely accepted by TAFE and other VET institutions around Australia.
CAE Exam Preparation Course
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) course is a highly intensive and specialised course which blends academic and general English elements to ensure practical usage of English in a range of situations.
With 4 components: Reading and Uses of English, Listening, Writing and Speaking It is highly regarded and accepted by the Department of Human Affairs for Immigration.
It is highly regarded and accepted by the Department of Human Affairs for Immigration.
Benefits of taking the Cambridge Exam Preparation Courses
- Get an internationally recognised certificate from Cambridge University
- Become more employable and confident with English
- Over 20,000 universities recognise the exams
- Improved employment opportunities globally.
- Accepted by the Australian Immigration Department of Home Affairs
- Cambridge certificates are valid for life
- ELSIS is an approved paper-based testing centre – you can test at the school so you can be familiar with the setting and be more comfortable taking the test


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Building Erectors
This petition had 1 supporter
Prime as well as General Getting Principles the Proprietor Should Understand
General contracting is one of the most common means for an owner to realize a building and construction job. By contracting with a general, he yields monitoring control yet preserves the final say in regards to permission and also approval. The arrangement is legitimately and also monetarily binding to both events, calling for implicit trust fund and also relationship, at least to some extent.
General contracting usually begins after the completion of comprehensive design illustrations, restricting its obligations to the building stage. The proprietor obtains quotes, and also specialists who want to react are permitted to study the style prior to doing so. This somewhat standard strategy is often referred to as the Design-Bid-Build (DBB) approach.
Should the design details not be an overriding concern of the owner, he might select an option method called Design-Build (DB). In this technique the contractor supervises the design stage along with building and construction. This offers him with higher adaptability in picking materials and also subcontractors, and it tends to prevent prospective disputes that are prone to develop between designers as well as home builders.
In either technique, when his proposal is approved, the basic professional becomes a project supervisor. This implies supervising everything from start to finish while keeping in close communication with the proprietor. He routines all the subcontractors and user interfaces as needed with federal government demands such as evaluations.
Something the owner have to understand is that for typical DBB contracts he is assuming the overall threat for the job. The service provider simply has to bother with sticking within his bid, and also they is entitled to charge additional for modification orders during building and construction. On the other hand, in a DB contract the danger stays with the contractor, that has to take in extra costs related to adjustments.
If the owner desires to pursue DBB however lower the threat, she can stay clear of placing every little thing in the hands of a solitary prime service provider by employing the subs straight (in a manner dealing with each sub as a basic for his certain component). For instance, the building job could require pre-engineered metal structures; that is a largely independent component that requires experts with one-of-a-kind abilities who recognize the best ways to set up steel structures. In such a case there is no reason the proprietor can't acquire with the business separately.
In doing so she avoids paying compounded revenue as well as expenses margins to the single prime service provider. This technique could likewise motivate even more proposals, placing downward stress on prices. On the other side, the proprietor is extra associated with the details; she needs to evaluate numerous proposals as well as bargain separate contracts.
Exactly what should the owner expect of basic contracting? The major job is to offer all services, tools, materials, and also labor to finish the task. The second vital duty is to maintain close communication with the proprietor (and most likely designers).
Extra especially, the general has to work with as well as set up all the belows, as well as look after security obligations. These include acquiring structure permits, scheduling surveys and/or design, and also getting energy solutions (short-term or long-term) linked onsite. Extra jobs are to supervise quality assurance, to dispose of storm water and also building and construction particles, as well as to offer any type of necessary security monitoring.
An essential standard for the owner in picking basic contracting is ability in taking care of risk. Although overall danger is borne by the owner, the service provider must prepare for possible issues prior to they take place and have experience as well as success in resolving them. Or else he could easily be affected straight.
Some of the issues that commonly arise are countervailing weather conditions, hold-ups in obtaining shipments, as well as inadequate subcontractor performance. Workers could also disregard important safety laws, and unsafe materials or various other pre-existing problems may trigger inspections to fall short.
The proprietor ought to likewise expect the professional to take care of cash flow correctly, maintain careful supervise crucial courses in the schedule, as well as to be expert in dealing with change demands. By comprehending these general having concepts, the proprietor must be much better prepared in seeing her project to successful conclusion.
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The problem with Rovio going public isn't that the Finnish game maker is best known for its years-old hit, Angry Birds. The problem is that it is onlyknown for the Angry Birds franchise.
The company has proven itself adept at making the most of the hit game, to be sure, spawning years of sequels, merchandise galore, and even a blockbuster movie. The Angry Birds Movie, along with strong game sales, allowed revenue to nearly double last quarter, according to Rovio's earnings report Tuesday.


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How to use: select data categories and parameters, then click on the "download" button.
DUKES, or the Digest of UK Energy Statistics, has data arranged hierarchically, from the aggregate supply and demand of energy down to the production or consumption of individual fuel types. This hierarchy is reflected here by having elements inside their parent elements, which can be opened by using the button, and closed again using the button.
The two main categories are energy type and energy use, (where and how the energy flows). Open up the main energy types to see its subcategories; open up the flows to explore all the ways energy is used, generated or transformed, as well as many other things that happen with energy.
Please note, this data downloader has been tested in Google Chrome and Firefox; however it may not necessarily work as well in other web browsers.
For feedback or comments on the DUKES beta tools, please email email@example.com.


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Upgrade your account if you need more clients, users, storage or modules
$8 / month
$25 / month
Email us
Where's the catch?
There's no catch. You are surrounded with all CRM services that want a lot of money, giving you a lot of unnecessary functionalities. This type of software should be free for every entrepreneur when they start and grow.
So you will not force me to upgrade?
No! We will not force you to anything and will not give you trial or other bullshit to force you to pay. You upgrade when you feel it is time to do that, when your business grows enough to spend that extra $5 on things we're giving you.
How many users can work with my damn client list?
There's no limit for that. You can work in large groups, also. Invitation is simple; just enter the email address of people you want to invite to your list.
SMS and Email why they are paid?
As you probably know, sending SMS and email in a professional way costs money. That's why it's in the paid plan. We're giving you a free service, but when we need to pay for your special actions, you need to participate. We're fair with you, so you need to be fair with us :)
What if I want more disk space?
Not a problem! Contact us and we will talk about a monthly plan that fit your needs. We can deliver as many Terabytes as you want for a reasonable price.
What if I want this to work on my server?
No problemo! Contact us and we will talk about a standalone version for your business.


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How India won Independence and How India became closer to USA
Without help in any form from USA or other countries India won Independence in 1947 after a struggle of 100 years from 1847 when British East India Company Conquered Ranjit Singh's Sikh Empire mainly through British conspiracy with the clandestine assistance of Dogras Dhyan Singh who was Prime Minister and his brother Gulab Singh. From 1847 to 57 British rule was in turmoil and there was uprising of 1857 what British called revolt and India considered First war of Independence. British succeeded by employing the entire then Indian allied troop headed by British Army with latest weapons, canons and trained artillery. After prolonged struggle Muslim rule of almost a thousand years ended and the last Mughal King Bahadur Shah though nominal, confined to Red Fort, was taken prisoner and extradited from India.
Next most historic event was Jallianwala Bagh massacre by the British General O'Dyer killing more than a thousand unarmed citizens, men, women and children who had gathered to listen to Indian leaders. This cruelty of British was turning point in India's fight for independence. Even Gandhi who was till then pro British joined and ultimately led the independence movement though through non-violent and peaceful means. Leaders like Subhash Chader Bose wanted Independence by all means. Bose was elected Congress President but as Gandhi opposed it he resigned. He went to Germany and then during 2nd world war beginning to fight for India's Independence through Indian National Army.
Had Allies not been supported by USA, Britain would have been conquered by Germany as France and all the European countries. Thus, British after 1945 war losses in men and material realized that it would not be possible to rule such a vast country like India. So Indian independence movement both of Gandhi and Subhash Bose succeeded and in 1947 India won Independence. This is in brief how India won Independence despite Churchill's opposition which resulted in partition of India and creation of Pakistan. Nehru became Prime Minister of India and Sardar Patel Home Minister. Gandhi who had become Mahatma opposed partition of India and in view of partition riots initiated by Pakistan under Jinnah right from August 47. Thus Mahatma Gandhi started fast on 15th August 1947 instead of celebrating independence of India, by prolonged struggle spread over 100 years. He was ready to go to Pakistan for which he paid with his life.
During Nehru era from 1947 to 1964 and for some years thereafter India had close relations with USSR and Nehru followed Socialist pattern of Society and controlled economy almost banning private enterprise. This policy became injurious to India's growth and economy as it became more of inspector rule and hub of corruption all over. India's GDP during this period of State control of economy remained static. It is India's defeat in 1962 against Chinese aggression in North East of India that Nehru woke up to the horrors of following a communist USSR and approached USA for assistance, which reluctantly USA gave though with conditions. Here after era a mixed economy started. After Nehru's demise in 1964 because of the shock of defeat of 1962. Hereafter relations with capitalist countries particularly USA started developing fast. This is how communist influence declined and American cooperation and influence increased since 1964 onward.
Earlier US President Clinton had visited India. It too, was a remarkable visit as he was very popular at home and abroad especially in India. But President Obama's visit in November 2010 after commonwealth games was very significant as well as memorable. He promised, among other economic, social and agricultural cooperation that India deserves to be permanent member of UN Security Council, like USA. UK, France, Germany and China. For this announcement he got tremendous applause both from the government and people of India. Here are some extracts and valiant points from his speeches and agreements.
President Obama's India's visit along with his wife to India was historic in many respects. In one of his speeches he welcomed India's rise in comity of nations as a great and fast growing democratic country. He said ' I believe that in one interconnected world increased commerce between the connected states and India can be and will be a win-win proposition for both nations 'There was business and entrepreneurship conference between more than 100 US businessmen that accompanied Obama and India's top businessmen in equal number to discuss and finalize trade agreements between two countries.
There was agreement between Reliance Power and US Exim Bank to provide about 5 billion US dollars in financial support for development of up to 8000 mw of gas powered electricity generating units and in addition up to 900 mw solar and wind renewable energy facilities. Spice jet of India and Boeing of USA concluded an agreement for the sale of 30 B 737-800 aircrafts for the commercial use by Spice jet. In the sphere of Railway improvement in India, there was agreement to manufacture and supply 1000 diesel locomotive in 10 years, about 100 such locomotives every year. This will make Indian Railways more efficient and modern. To help India provide houses for the poor, an agreement for production of equipment and manufacture of pre fabricated house has been reached. There are many other MOU'S and agreements, details of which cannot be given in this brief survey. Support of USA to India is vital as India is no more dependent on Russia or any other country for its development and rise as a big power in all spheres in another 10 to 20 years.
Second Afghan War – India to be Alert
William Dalrymple, a renowned Writer has called the present American war in Afghanistan as 2nd Afghan war. First Afghan war was fought in 1842-1843 when England in its arrogance as a supreme power, attacked Afghanistan and suffered the most humiliating defeat when British East India Company lost 40,000 soldiers, only 40-50 were able to survive Afghan onslaught. As it was East India Company's folly in 1840, so is the American folly under George Bush in the year 2000. In 19th Century England as biggest and strongest colonial power in which, as they said,' Sun never set', thought of conquering Afghanistan or at least subduing it, so that it does not, as it was feared, join the Russian czarists against British. Similarly USA considered itself, after the breakup of USSR, the only super power in the world. Accordingly USA thought that it can subdue Afghanistan, after dominating Latin America and whole of Europe as the founder and organizer of NATO and its dominant and supreme leader.
USA forgot about its virtual defeat in China, where after the war in 1945, it intervened on the side of Chiang Kai Shek against Mao communist movement and after a prolonged struggle lost whole of Chinese mainland and Chiang had to flee. America also failed to recall or learn lesson from its humiliating defeat in Vietnam where 80,000 American soldiers lost their lives and ultimately USA had to evacuate its diplomatic staff and some other military personnel, who survived, by helicopters from the roof of American Embassy building. Yet America unnecessarily intervened in Afghanistan a decade back to annihilate Talibans who were in fact American creation with the help of Pakistan to turn out Russian soldiers from Afghanistan and topple the communist government of Kabul in which they succeeded because of fight and sacrifice by Taliban of Afghanistan, though USA had provided them money, arms and equipment.
Afghanistan's present puppet regime of Karzai which hardly controlled one third of Afghanistan and despite American bombing in the hideouts of Taliban for the last almost 10 years they could not defeat or ever demoralize Talibans. Taliban are resentful of USA because they feel that when they attacked Russian soldiers to turn them out of Afghanistan USA and Pakistan considered them as "freedom fighters" and now they consider Taliban as enemies and terrorists and have been killing them, their women and children in Afghanistan as well as in parts of Pakistan, NWFP and Baluchistan by incessant daily attacks by drones and other means.
Now Talibans instead of being defeated and accepting defeat are encircling Kabul and its adjoining territories with a view to over throw Karzai government and end American intervention. America has already lost thousands of American soldiers as well as NATO soldiers. It is reported on 5th Sept 2010 that America and NATO have lost 500 soldiers up to August, while during whole of 2009 only 500 were lost as per Reuters tally. After having ended US combat operation or war in Iraq. President Obama is now realizing the inability of USA to eliminate Talibans, so is preparing for withdrawal of US combat forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2010. Obama seems to be determined man and believing in peace and harmony is likely to succeed in ending war in Afghanistan as he has done in Iraq. Obama rightly thinks it is more important to devote time and money for development of US economy which has suffered a lot during 2008 and 2010. By the end of 2010, as Karzai has set up a committee to negotiate with Taliban America, NATO and in fact whole world will be relieved, thank him and appreciate his efforts. Obama has also called to USA Israeli PM and Palestinian President to discuss and agree for lasting peace. Another meeting has been called for Sept 14-15 to finalize the agreement. Obama is likely to succeed.
It is high time that India should realize the futility of helping Karzai government with construction of Infrastructure and sending to Afghanistan hundreds of Indian workers. Government of India have 3 months to steadily reduce the Indian Embassy staff and Indian workers, in view of hostility of Talibans towards India. Talibans believe that India has been serving American interests as American ally like other NATO countries without militarily supporting American war in Afghanistan. Talibans even consider Pakistan as their enemy and are attacking now and then with suicide bombing even places far off as Quetta and Lahore. In India, too, Taliban are helping Kashmiri dissidents with arms and men to create unrest, in a revengeful manner. Thus government of India should give first priority to end American sponsored assistance to Afghanistan and start recalling back Indian workers.
India and China Shine
According to International Monetary Fund (IMF) GDP growth of China and India is the highest in the entire world. India comes as number one because India is a democracy while, though China's GDP, set to grow during 2010, is a little higher, China is a dictatorship with controlled economy, though with doses of liberalism. However it is heartening to note that whole of Europe America and even Japan are far behind in GDP growth. According to latest IMF figures of GDP growth during 2010 of selected important countries of the world is as under:
High growth countries of GDP
China – 10.5%
India – 9.5%
Brazil – 7.1%
Modest growth of GDP
Mexico – 4.5%
Russia – 4.1%
Slow growth of GDP
Japan – 2.4%
France – 1.4%
Germany – 1.4%
Negative growth of GDP
Spain (-) 0.4%
There are more than one hundred countries whose growth of GDP% has not been mentioned in the Newspapers. There are countries of Europe like Holland, Denmark, Italy and Portugal as well as Czechoslovakia and other countries of Eastern Europe. No country of Middle East and Africa has been mentioned. P-rosperous countries like Turkey, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand have been forgotten.
Just as Chinas high GDP is because of China's dictatorship under Maoist communism but India's highest GDP amongst Democracies of the world is despite India's 30 per cent people living below poverty line and most of them not in regular organized or unorganized employment because they are either landless farmers or from so called SC and other backward classes. In addition India's polities and political parties are not stable. Besides there are many corrupt leaders of political parties, other politician and even civil servants and some army officers.
In spite of all these shortcomings India is shining because of industrial growth which is highest, mainly due to cheap labour. A worker in American and European industry costs 50 times more than an Indian worker. Thus India's achievement is remarkable in export of textiles, handicrafts etc. In addition India's Technocrats of information technology, Business managers and doctors as well as world famous entrepreneur like Mittals amongst the Richest ten people of the world. They have done India proud and has contributed the most in India's growth to make India shine, almost the most, in the comity of nations.
Indian American Governors in the USA
It is great tribute to intelligence and adjustment of Indians in a foreign country, USA, to rise to such a coveted positions as to be governors of American states. Bobby Jindal was the first to be elected to US house of Representatives and then to become Governor. Equally, rather much more, is the achievement of an Indian-American woman, Nikki Haley to be nominated by Republican Party to become Governor of another American state. It is noteworthy that there are immigrants in large numbers form other Asian countries like China and Japan but none from their communities has attained high positions in American politics, not to speak of a Chinese or Japanese origin American becoming governor of an American state, though there are so called China towns and big Japanese enclaves.
Both Bobby Jindal and Nikki Haley were brought up by Indian-American parents as Hindu and Sikh respectively. Both got converted to Christianity of their own as they grew up. Bobby Jindal embraced Christianity when he was too young and studying in High school while Nikki Randhawa became Christian at the age of 24 when she had experienced racial discriminated by white American against non-white Americans belonging to other religions than Christianity.
Bobby Jindal married an Indian-American girl. Priya Jolly when he was 24. Nikki married an American Christian Micheal Haley, after a Republican had called her 'rag-headed'. Thus Amarita Nikki Randhava thereafter became Nikki Haley though she was daughter of Dr. Ajit and Raj Randhawa, hailing from Amritsar, the holy city of Sikhs like Vatican for Christians. But Nikki and Micheal Haley were married twice, once under Sikh rites in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib and again under Christian rites performed by a bishop.
Nikki Haley though has been nominated by Republican Party to be Governor of South-Carolina state will be actually sworn in November 2010. There are bound to be jubilations amongst American Indians, particularly amongst. American Sikhs, besides her relations in USA and India.
Governor Bobby Jindal is now 39 years old, while Nikki Haley is only 38 years old. To be Governors of American states in their thirties is really a big achievement. To be Governor of American state has the status and powers of an Indian states Governor as well as Chief Minister, as Governor of an American state appoints his own Cabinet and other officials, they don't have to be elected or nominated while in India Governor is mostly figure-head and is to act on the direction of President or Central Government while all power rests with the Chief Minister who is a political party's nominee and has to follow the instructions and guidance of the Party.
India Pakistan and USA
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's latest meeting with President Obama of USA seems to have been quite successful. On Manmohan Singh's insistence Obama has promised to restrain Pakistan from sending terrorist of Al Qiada Taliban etc to India. PM has also got assurance of 9/11 bombing of Mumbai. Further, President Obama was serious in preventing Pakistan government's access to nuclear missiles. Our Prime Minister has also suggested formation of a wider organization to control the spread of nuclear energy and weapons. There are few achievements of Manmohan Singh's US visit on April 12 to 14, of this year.
USA is more concerned with its own problems in Iraq Afghanistan and even Talibans of Pakistan. USA and President Obama are rather worried because even after a decade, Afghanistan and Iraq problems do not appear to be over despite US and NATO allies armies using their best armies and weapons and in addition bombing by Drone planes. During last decade or so more than one lakh insurgents in Iraq Afghanistan and Pakistan have been killed besides many thousand civilians because of suicide bombing by insurgents, in addition to USA and NATO armies attacks on their hide outs in Afghanistan and tribal areas of Pakistan in NWFP and Baluchistan.
Recently Afghanistan President, Hamid Karzai criticized US military attacks on the hide outs of Taliban killing many civilians and Talibans. All this has led to intensive retaliation by Talibans even on the Afghan capital Kabul and embassies located close by even Indian embassy. USA is, since then more worried about Afghanistan.
President Obama is more worried about insurgencies continuing in Iraq and Afghanistan as America is not in any way near a victory or solution though the US President has virtually announced to withdraw US Army from Afghanistan and Iraq by the end of 2010. Because of thousands of Americans having been killed and wounded during a decade of fighting, Obama is losing his popularity which is on decline.
Thus it is evident that USA cares much more for Pakistan by giving billions of dollars as financial aid as well as latest arms so that Pakistan Army tackles Taliban particularly in the tribal areas of NWFP and Baluchistan, by following dictate of USA and attacking Taliban in their hide-outs, killing not only Talibans but the civilian population too, which is displaced. Because of all these attacks by USA and Pakistan Army, Pakistan Government is facing occasional suicide bombing in Lahore and Peshawar and areas adjoining the Pakistan Capital.
Thus, so far as India is concerned, despite half a dozen visits by Manmohan Singh and talks with President Obama and US officials, there can not be much support by USA to India. India unlike Pakistan, can not ne subservient to USA. India is the biggest democracy and second most highly populated state with diverse cultures and languages. No Prime Minister or Government of India can take a decision, unlike Pakistan, to support and help USA, as Pakistan has been doing for the last 50 years or so under different governments and dictatorships.
Even India-US nuclear deal is being reprocessed despite American pressure, sometime, for immediate approval or agreement by India. Manmohan Singh and Government of India can not approve this deal without approval of Parliament. There was heated debate in Parliament and lot of opposition by BJP and Communists in and outside Parliament. It is therefore not possible for Manmohan Singh to get Parliament's approval to nuclear liability bill in the present form. Accordingly USA, too, has understood Manmohan Singh's difficulties and has toned down its requirements. US Ambassador to India has said on March 29 that "arrangement and procedure" for reprocessing US origin spent fuel have been made. He further added "This instant step is part of the great win – win narrative of US India Global Partnership.
On relations with Pakistan and resumption of talks PM made it clear in his after Security Summit press conference "If Pakistan takes credible steps to bring perpetrators of horrible crimes of 26/11 bombing in Bombay, to book that is the minimum we expect. If Pakistan does that, we will be very happy to begin talks once again". Prime Minister Manmohan Singh further said that he would not enter into argument with Pakistani PM Zardari on this subject as India had given all evidence against them and the LeT hand.
USA and Russia, biggest nuclear powers of the world, signed a protocol to get rid of 24 tons of plutonium each equivalent to 17000 weapons. The protocol was hailed as full success. This is the greatest achievement of the Nuclear Summit.
It is noteworthy that President Obama has expressed and even eulogized Indo-US friendship. He said after the conclusion of Nuclear Summit. "There is no country where opportunities for a strategic partnership are more important to me personally and to the US than are with India." India hails this friendly gesture towards India by President Obama of USA.
Controversy Over Nuclear Bill- Implications of Civil Nuclear Liability
It is surprising that neither the PM or a senior Minister has tried to explain the nuclear liability bill. It was Shivshankar Menon, National Security Advisor who briefed a group of Congress MP's claiming that this Bill "would introduce a transparent, orderly and predictable system of compensation to victims and fix responsibility for nuclear incident" He has not said that the liability of an Indian operator will be insignificant compared to liability, because of an incident, in USA to an American operator which will be 20 to 25 times more than in India or compensation for an Indian citizen. Payment of compensation to a victim of nuclear accident will be on the basis of a complex formula which has not been explained by Menon or the PM in Lok Sabha.
The government favours the passage of the Indo-US Nuclear Bill, as of high priority. But its retreat indicates its worries over its smooth passage. Mamta Banerjee has opposed the bill and is ready to play spoiler. As in 33 percent reservation for women's bill Sonia Gandhi's prestige is involved, so in the Nuclear Bill Manmohan Singh's prestige is much more involved.
BJP the main opposition party is vehemently apposed to nuclear bill. BJP's Yashwant Sinha, former Union Minister, has even gone so far as to say that BJP will never accept this bill which favours USA and "transfers a large part of liability to the government in other words to tax payer". Sinha further elucidated that the bill violates Article 21 of the constitution, right to protection of life and personal liberty and is also violation of Article 14 'Right to Equality' as the liability under Price Anderson Act of the US is 12.5 billion Dollars (Rs 49,266 crore), while that of India is Rs 2,142 crore, which is 23 times higher than the liability fixed for an Indian operator. That means an American life is valued 23 times more than that of an Indian.
All the left parties, CPM, CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP in a joint statement have condemned haste to pass this bill with unjust liability to government of India and Indian operator. These parties have written an open letter to all MPs to oppose the Bill. The left parties have "questioned the government's rationale to put a cap on liability at Rs 2,142 crore out of which amount Rs 1,642 crore would be borne by the government and the rest by nuclear operator." Considering the damage that was caused by nuclear explosions i.e. dropping atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan in 1945, the damage caused is million times more in lives and property. Who will bear the cost, unfortunately if it takes place? There are many loopholes in the Bill which USA is insisting for India to ratify. PM and the government of India have not clarified in detail the implications.
There seems lot of confusion as well as lack of clarity. That is the reason for the opposition parties to declare strongly rejection of the nuclear liability Bill. The government of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh should not forget that 33 Percent reservation for women Bill could only be passed in Rajya Sabha because of complete and wholehearted support by the opposition parties. Neither 33 Percent women representation Bill nor the nuclear liability Bill can get through in Lok Sabha as Congress and UPA do not and can not have two third majority for the passage of these two important and rather historic Bills.
Indo-US Nuclear agreement has brought hope for nuclear development in India for peaceful purposes. Nuclear energy is to provide in due course, maximum share of the electric energy required in the country, demand for which will be manifold in coming two decades. It will reduce pollution in India as well as reduce global warming which is posing danger to our planet. Hydro electric power, wind energy as well as solar energy can meet the demand marginally though progress in these sectors, too, will be there. Production of nuclear energy even for peaceful uses has many problems to name a few like heavy cost of construction of nuclear power stations as well as safeguards against incidents, radio activity and disposal of nuclear waste.
Article 2-4 of Indo-US agreement gives India freedom to use nuclear material available in India that has not been supplied under the Indo-US agreement. But the crises in India as outlined above, is strong criticism by left parties and BJP about the details of civil nuclear liability which require to be clarified by the Indian government so that opposition to the Bill is diluted. Whatever modifications in the nuclear agreement in India's interests are required should be done and taken up urgently. Infact detailed clarifications should have been given long back.
Islam its Origin and Teachings
About 600 years AD i.e. after Christ, came Hazrat Mohammad. He was born in Mecca in 570 AD. All those who consider Mohammad as their prophet and believe in Allah (God) are known as Muslims. To begin with his teachings had annoyed the people of Mecca. Many Muslims were 'prosecuted' as his followers grew in numbers and "rejected idol worship". So, in 622 AD Mohammad and his followers emigrated to Medina. His and his followers emigration to Medina is known as Hijra and Muslim calendar starts from this year. When Mohammad and his followers had become strong they returned to Mecca victorious and "destroyed all the idols" in the shrines of Mecca, known as Kaaba. The inhabitants of Mecca accepted Mohammad as prophet and accepted Islam as their religion. Thereafter Islam spread to Arab and adjoining countries like Iraq, northern Africa and even some areas of Spain. Muslims encouraged learning, in medieval times, as part of their religious duty. The Muslims of those days translated into Arabic, the ancient knowledge of ancient world available only in Greek and Syriac languages.
After Mohammad died in AD 632, Abu Bakar his close companion was elected caliph (successor).
However the basic tenets of Islam, which have been ignored by many Muslims and others, are for harmony with followers of all religions and their prophets as the following extract from Quran will elucidate:
Say, we believe in Allah and in what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Issac, Jacob and the tribes of Moses and Jesus and the other prophets. We make no destination between them and to Allah we have surrendered ourselves (2-BC)
"O mankind, we have created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, that you might get to know one another. The noblest of you in Allah's sight is who is most religious. Allah is all knowing and wise (49,13)
Christians are living in Christian or Christian dominated countries in peace and harmony with followers and worshipers of all religions, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jewish religion. To this day there are insignificant number of non-Muslims in Muslim dominated countries of Arabia, Iran and North Africa. There are millions of Hindus Sikhs and Muslims in USA, Canada, Britain and virtually in all the so called Christian or Christian dominated countries including Australia and New Zealand and now in Latin America, too.
For the peace in ever –changing world, which is now worried about climate change, all people of this planet must join hands, irrespective of their religions, to save this (planet) or the world otherwise entire humanity and all living beings on earth, in rivers oceans, and in air will suffer.
American Failure in Afghanistan and Iraq Imminent
It is not Obama alone the current President of USA, but chiefly his predecessors, particularly George Bush who is to be blamed for imminent failure of USA's intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq. It seems to be writing on wall. America is almost committed to withdraw its and NATO troops fighting in Afghanistan and possibly in Iraq before the end of 2010. American intervention to finish violent Taliban had become necessary because the very Taliban who were creation of USA with the assistance of Pakistan, to push out Russian Communists who had converted Afghanistan into a communist state. Withdrawal and expulsion of Russian troops was mainly due to courage and fighting capacity of dedicated Talibans. Thereafter Taliban turned to capture power in Afghanistan and push out the Americans, too. With a view to establish pro-American and Anti Communist government in Kabul American intervention got intensified. Talibans did not and could not tolerate that in place of Russian dominance there should be American dominance in Afghanistan.
Talibans not only resisted American and so called NATO troops, they started killing all those Afghans who were pro-American or had become power hungry to rule Afghanistan with American support and without Taliban participation or help. Thus besides thousands of US and NATO troops having been killed, lakhs of Afghans, many women and children, have perished in this fratricidal war of Talibans against their own Afghans, through suicide bombing and other war like attacks.
Even when Americas war of intervention in Afghanistan was going on, George Bush, US President decided to intervene in Iraq on the plea that Iraq was preparing nuclear weapons. Though this view of George Bush had no validity. Even the UN sponsored team that was sent to Iraq did not support this view of George Bush. Yet George Bush in 2003 sent American Army to Iraq to destroy their military and nuclear capability. As a result in 2003 USA sent its troops to finish Iraqi President Sadan and establish a pro American Government in Baghdad. America succeeded in their aim but the war in Iraq has continued for seven years.
Consequences of both the interventions of USA under the aegis of NATO, earlier in Afghanistan and in 2003 in Iraq, seem to have been utter failures in achieving American purpose of establishing with American help so called democratic governments. Both the attempts have failed and so USA is facing imminent failure.
It is surprising that USA has not learnt lesson from its gigantic failures in China and thereafter in Vietnam. In China, against Mao Tse Tung's communists, America supported Chiangkai Shek who ultimately ran out of mainland China and with American support became ruler of Chinese off-share island of Taiwan.
Similarly Americans refused to learn lesson from their utter or worst failure for intervention in Vietnam against Ho Chi Minh's government. For quite a long time America used all types of weapons and scratched earth policy, and carpet-bombing but ultimately USA had to quit when eighty thousand American soldiers had died. The humiliating end was marked by America taking away its last soldiers and diplomats through Helicopters from the roof of American Embassy.
The above review points out that though, as a last resort Americans are trying to integrate with Karzai Government in Kabul the so called, comparatively non-combatant Talibans. This policy of dividing Talibans is likely to meet with failure. Thus American intervention in both Afghanistan and Iraq faces imminent failure.
On January 30, 2010, Hillary Clinton US Sec of State gave a disappointing statement about possibility of good Taliban getting integrated. She said "we are not going to really (get) bad guys, because really bad guys are not going to renounce violence and agree to re-enter society." Such a firm statement is likely to discourage even those who were expected to leave Taliban Al-Quaida and join Karzai.
Washington Post and ABC News had asked a simple question as to how much confidence they had in President Obama for making right decisions for the American nation. 'A majority 53% gave two dismal of the four responses. "None at all "had tripled in just one year from 9 percent to 27%". In addition democrats had lost Kennedy's seat in senate after almost 70 years. These were two bad omens for Obama and his Presidency, after one year.
Thus in Afghanistan America's hope of dividing Talibans and getting a section integrated in Karzai's government in Kabul has been falsified. In Iraq, too, there is no hope of America succeeding and firmly establishing pro-American democratic government in view of almost daily suicide bombing. Latest being in Karbla where a woman suicide bomber killed more than 50 and injured more than 150. Thus failure of American intervention both in Afghanistan and Iraq seems imminent.


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The news of Fidel Castro's death couldn't have been a big surprise to anyone: he was 90. And though he did seem to go on and on, to emerge and then re-emerge from periods of silence to comment, always with rigor, and often bitingly, on events of the day, mostly in Granma–occasionally reprinted here in Counterpunch–he was old enough that an end had to arrive one day soon.
And why not now, as the planet surges towards disaster on so many fronts, most of which he foresaw and called upon us to avoid? The end looks to be closing in and while we can't know the future, it surely isn't a bad time to slip out if your opus is complete, if you have given your all and made your contribution.
Personally, I don't think there is any question about Fidel's contribution, his dedication to humanity, his brilliance. True: Cuba is not paradise. It is not perfect. But we might well ask, sitting here in the heart of darkness: compared to what? Fidel and his fellow revolutionaries held aloft a vision of what might be, of a national community that values its members and their lives, not simply with words, but with toil, with sacrifice, with action. And they worked against the odds (as well as the US embargo) to bring together vision and reality in their own country, to support that movement in other countries, and to carry the visionary torch for those of us who have needed to hope that humanity contained the essential goodness required to redeem itself.
Fidel was a luminary, and he inspired more lives than can ever be known or counted. Some are well-documented, like this century's exciting roster of South American leaders on the left. Like Nelson Mandela. But perhaps just as important, there are untold little lives, quiet lives, ones that will never be recorded or remembered, which were changed in fundamental ways by Fidel Castro and the Cuban revolution.
Such as the 60-year-old taxi driver who drove me from José Martí International Airport to La Habana. He told me that he was twelve at the time of the revolution, with no shoes, no food, and no prospect of education. His spoke of his great love and loyalty to the revolution, and to Fidel, for bringing him these profound but simple necessities, for changing the course of his life. Or the elderly black woman whose stately home in the Vedado section of the city was assigned to her specifically because of Castro's aggressive program to balance racial disparity amongst Cubans. She had never thought to have her own house, much less one that made her feel proud, one that made her feel she really belonged. My young African American daughters breathed in the air of her self-assurance and dignity, and they carried some of it away within themselves.
Castro's net was cast wide, reaching people all over the world. International Cuban humanitarian and medical missions, for instance, are fairly well-known even in the US, and have saved and improved countless lives on several continents. Ambassadors of Cuban culture and the arts—most notably music, dance, and literature–spread joy and beauty far beyond the island's shores. Cuba's political and tactical support for liberation struggles played an important role in ending apartheid and overthrowing colonial rule in a number of nations.
But he found his way into unexpected and unsuspecting hearts and minds as well. My father travelled a great deal for work in the 1960s and happened to be on one of the first planes hijacked to Cuba. He and his fellow passengers were met by Fidel at the airport, welcomed to Havana (at length!), put up in a well-appointed hotel, generously plied with rum and cigars and good Cuban food. They stayed for several days, and my father returned home with great stories, a new respect for and connection to the country, and a thick volume of Cuban poetry, which I quickly purloined.
Much has been written about the Cuban Revolution, and more will follow now, in the wake of Castro's death. Serious students will debate its successes (even as the revolution's accomplishments are eroded) and Fidel's role will be further scrutinized and deconstructed. Likely, new original source material will become available and scholars will analyze it. This is as it should be. Fidel made history and yes, Mr. Obama, history will judge him. (Frankly, I doubt that this prospect cost Fidel many hours' sleep, though Obama himself might well be doing some tossing and turning these days.)
As the Cuban people undertake nine days of mourning, I want—for a moment—to step back from the political and the historical, and to join them in honoring this man, whose passion, integrity and commitment to making a better world allowed him to touch an extraordinary range of ordinary human beings. In my own small and very personal way, I want to share gratitude for the light he shone upon my journey, and to celebrate from that perspective a remarkable life, one lived large and with great heart. He was a beacon for me, for so many of us, an oft-needed reminder in a world where corruption and venality are everywhere, that the political sphere can indeed be a platform for creating good, alleviating suffering, and transforming the lives of the people in tangible and profound ways. He was, although far from without flaw, a true rarity, a living testament to the potential of power guided by love.
Today, I unearthed a letter which I sent him on the occasion of his 85th birthday. Because of the restrictions placed on communication by the US embargo, I had to send it through a fairly convoluted route and never had any certainty that it reached Cuba at all. That was fine; it was an appreciation I needed to make regardless of whether it was received. Rendered in English, I offer it up again now, one small blossom in a massive floral tribute laid before the legacy of a man who truly changed the world he lived in, one person at a time.
13 August 2011
Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz
c/o Embassy of Switzerland
Cuban Interest Section
2630 16 St. N W.
Washington D.C. 20009.
Your Excellency,
Firstly, please pardon my poor Spanish. I wish that I were fluent in your beautiful language so that I could more fully express my appreciation.
I understand that today is your birthday, and thus, I have the opportunity to offer you my very best wishes for good health and happiness in the year ahead.
Also, I want to tell you how great an influence you have been on my life. Since my youth, I have admired you and the revolution you led. As a teenager, I had a dream of coming to Cuba to cut cane side by side with the campañeros. Three years ago, I finally had the chance to visit your country for the first time, to meet and get to know the kind, welcoming and courageous Cuban people, and to see your historic and beautiful land.
I am a simple American woman, without particular political power, trying to live an honorable and honest life, who has profound respect for you and for all the men and women who made the revolution–the Cuban people–and for the radical example you have all created: a society based on justice, equality and humanity. You are a magnificent inspiration.
You have a grand heart, Fidel. A thousand thanks for everything you have done and been.
With gratitude and warm affection and a hearty birthday embrace,


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"As true fans of Walt Disney and his Disneyland Resort, it is the sole purpose of "Tales From The Mouse House – A Disneyland Podcast" to deliver the magic and happiness we have experienced in all that Walt Disney created with his Original Park to our listeners by delivering the most entertaining and sincere shows possible through the use of audio and video episodes. Following Walt's example, we will always strive to improve what we bring to our listeners"
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Monster Musical
The Director of Return to Never Land, Donovan Cook and Executive Producer of Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Rob LuDuca, brings another fun Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Adventure. The DVD, released on September 8, 2015, will surely get the little ones excited for Halloween. The DVD includes an exclusive Mini tote trick-or-treat bag.
Mickey needs help solving a spooktacular mystery!! Can you help him out?
Put on your favorite Halloween costume and get set for a spooktacular full-length adventure. Visit the creaky castle of kindly "Count Mickula" and help your Clubhouse pals solve a puzzling riddle: Who, or what, is making a curious clanging, banging noise? With the right Monster Mouseketools and help from YOU, this mystery will soon be history! Then, enjoy two more exciting episodes as you search for pirate treasure with Captain Mickey and don your dungarees for delightful fun down on the farm. Packed with singing, dancing, laughter and surprises, Mickey's Monster Musical is a high-spirited treat that can't be beat.
Joyce's Thoughts:
Mickey's Pirate Adventure was my favorite episode and I liked joining Mickey and friends on the beach for a day of adventures. How amazing would it be to catch some waves with Mickey, even if you wipeout!!! One of my favorite scenes was the duo with Goofy and his Grandpappy. Will they be able to tune the island? You have to watch to find the answer.
My least favorite episode was the Monster Musical. I can't really pinpoint what I didn't like about the episode, but I am sure that it will be a favorite of many.
Voice Cast: Bret Iwan as Mickey; Russi Taylor as Minnie Mouse; Bill Farmer as Goofy and Pluto; Tony Anselmo as Donald Duck; and Tress MacNeilleas Daisy Duck.
The DVD has a running time of 115 minutes and includes the following episodes:
Mickey's Monster Musical
Mickey's Pirate Adventure
Mickey's Farm Fun Fair
Bonus: Minnie's Bow-Toons: Tricky Treats
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This is going to be sweet and short.
My name is Moses. I am a college student and I write poetry and short stories for fun.
Please read and comment on my poetry, it will make my day 🙂
However, realize that most of my poems are works in progress so I ask that you don't judge them too harshly.
On the other hand, as much as I love being told "awesome, great…etc." I really would appreciate constructive criticism.
I would love to get to know you better.
Contact me if you have any questions.
Well. I lied. It's not short and sweet. People keep asking why my blog is named what it's named. If you are curious keep reading, if you're not then don't.
Welcome to Pathetic with Potential. This is what will become my blog for my writings, rantings and anything in between. The title or the name of the blog speaks to me at something of a personal level, though the meaning is quite apparent. I also think it applies to just about everyone who is honest with him/herself because we are all works in progress striving for perfection.
Until we reach the perfection we seek, we always view ourselves as pathetic because we are less than what we can be. Or I could just be expressing how I feel and using we so I don't feel like sucha loser. Who knows. But anyway, that is where the title came from and it is one I hope to change once I have done something I feel is worthy a name change. If you follow you may be able to see this happen.
I will first say that I will not apologize for my work. Some of it is good, some of it bad, and some of it really good and some of it is really bad. Chances are I won't post the really bad stuff but I will post almost everything I do since this is also something of a record for me. I ask only for constructive criticism so if you think something is bad or good please tell me why. Don't worry I doubt I will be offended. Another thing to note is this is an expression of self which means I will reveal things that I may normally not portray in real life. But also remember that there is poetic (something) being used so if I write about killing and eating someone…it doesn't mean I am secretly a cannibal.


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2018! WHAT A YEAR! It has been a GREAT year for Boys & Girls Clubs across the Movement, and it has been an INCREDIBLE year for the ClubX Blog! This is our first full calendar year, and I've been so excited for all the support. So how did the year end up looking? I MADE... Continue Reading →
Follow us on Facebook!
BREAKING NEWS!! The BGCA Youth Development team now has a Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/BGCAYouthDevelopment/ We will use this page to post all new Club Experience Blog posts, plus lots more from the Youth Development team at BGCA. That will include new resources and tools on BGCA.net, links to training opportunities, and exclusive giveaways! Why Facebook? We... Continue Reading →
Join the YDT Community!
Did you know that the YD Toolbox app has a BUILT IN COMMUNITY???? You can get to the YDT Community online or through the Social button on the home page of the YD Toolbox app, which looks like this: There are two separate forums right now, one for Supervisors and one for Youth Development Professionals, although... Continue Reading →
2017 In Review!
2017 has been both the fastest and the SLOWEST year of all time. But it has been a GREAT year for Boys & Girls Clubs! In 2017 the Movement has grown and strengthened, and incredible things are happening in Clubs across the country. And this little 'ol blog began! The Club Experience Blog has been... Continue Reading →
It's the Youth Development Toolbox!
Have you downloaded the Youth Development Toolbox app yet? If you haven't, GO DO IT RIGHT NOW. I'M SO SERIOUS. IT'S AMAZING. Here are the links: Apple Store Android This app is going to be your go-to resource for all kinds of practical, easy to implement activities and strategies in your Club. We've had some... Continue Reading →
When I was working as Education Director at Boys & Girls Clubs of the Smoky Mountains, I was constantly scouring the EVERYWHERE for activity ideas and suggestions and anything else I could find. Working at the Club was unlike anything I'd done before, and particularly different than my former life as a middle school teacher.... Continue Reading →


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Get the jump on new items at Anthony's Comic Book Art! Join our mailing list today!
Original Comic Art // Andy KubertAndrew "Andy" Kubert (born February 27, 1962) is an American comic book artist, son of Joe Kubert, and brother of Adam Kubert, both of whom are also artists. He is a graduate of and an instructor of second-year classes at The Kubert School, founded by his father (who also teaches there).
Featured Pages
Ka-Zar #5 p.6 - The Rhino Splash - 1997
Art Type: Splash Page
Price: $350
Ultimate Fantastic Four #2 p.19 - 2004
Art Type: Interior Page
Price: $275


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Thank you
Traffic Control at Intersections
An ITE Learning Hub Webinar
Developed by the ITE Traffic Engineering Council
Now available to purchase and stream on-demand!
When two roadways intersect, various modes of traffic are commonly stopped, slowed or restricted by the use of traffic control devices resulting in an "interrupted flow." Since the traffic control is critical at intersections, it is important that uniform design and implementation of these devices be considered. This webinar will focus primary on introducing many of the concepts found in Chapter 10 of the Traffic Engineering Handbook entitled "Design and Control for Interrupted Traffic Flow Through Intersections." Concepts include the various elements and characteristics of an intersection, the different types of intersection control, a review of the traffic signal warrants, development of a traffic signal timing plan, and various types of intersection control technologies.
Learning Objectives
This webinar aims to provide transportation engineers and practitioners with the basic principles of a controlled intersection resulting in an interrupted flow condition.
Adam Allen and Kyle Othmer
Fees: $49 Members/$99 Non-Members
This fee includes a webinar recording, PDF of presentation, webinar evaluation, and certificate of completion. The recording is available to stream in the learning hub upon purchase.
To access the Presentation(s) as a PDF, click the resources tab above (following purchase). Login Required.
Return to Course Description for more information


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Designated alcohol and entertainment premises supervisor
Every premise licensed for the sale of alcohol must have someone named as the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). You can vary an existing premises licence to specify an individual as DPS.
Role of DPS
The DPS is responsible for the sale of alcohol at licensed premises. They also act as the main point of contact for any licensing, compliance or enforcement enquiries.
Who should be the DPS?
The DPS should be a person with sufficient authority to control and direct activities at the licensed premises. Normally, this is the person who has day to day responsibility for running the premises. The DPS can also be the premises licence holder.
Appoint a DPS
You must provide a DPS when applying for a premises licence. A premises licence can only name one DPS, but a DPS can be named on more than one premises licence.
Change the DPS
If you change your DPS then you must apply to make a change to your premises licence.
You can change the DPS in one of two ways:
- Complete the form online
- Save a copy of the completed form for your own records
- Make the payment using a debit or credit card
- You do not need to send an additional copy to the Police when you make an online application, as we will fulfil these requirements.
- Download and complete the application form
- Keep a copy of the completed form for your own records
- Enclose the existing premises licence, or if not available a statement why the licence cannot be returned.
- Send a copy to the Police at:
Lavender Hill Police Station
176 Lavender Hill
You should note that the application process will not start until the fee is received.
Consent Form
The proposed DPS must complete and sign a consent form that confirms they agree to be responsible for the sale of alcohol at the premises. If the form is completed by hand and sent in the post, this document must be the original and not a copy.
The application must be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
What happens next?
As soon as we receive your application, we will check to ensure that the application is valid and a copy has been submitted to the police.
If we identify a problem
If there is a minor problem with the application, we may contact you for further information or may return the application to you for correction. Where there is a fundamental error, the application may be rejected.
Objections by the police
If you apply to change the DPS and the police have concerns about the proposed person, they can object to the application (within 14 days). In such cases we will contact you. If you wish to proceed with the application we will hold a hearing of the councils licensing committee to decide on the application
If no objections are received
We will send the varied licence to you.
How long does it take?
We aim to process variation of DPS applications within 28 days of receipt (or sooner if the police raise no objection). However, you can ask that your application takes immediate effect from the date that we receive it by ticking the appropriate box on the application form.
Remove yourself as the DPS
If you no longer wish to be named as the DPS on a premises licence, you can remove yourself as the DPS online(GOV.UK) or write to the Safety and Licensing Team.


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Contact Us
We're always here for you no matter what. Get in touch. We're available 9-5 for phone calls during the week, and you can always email us any time of the day, and day of the week. We'll get back to you promptly.
Reach us by Phone or Email
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Or Fill out The Following Form, and we'll get back to you ASAP!
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The overall goal of the English program at St. Francis is effective communication, reached through close examination of literature and regular practice in written and verbal communication. The core of this four-year program is literature, on which every facet is based. Students analyze works, relying on shared inquiry methods for discussions and formal writing assignments. Writing assignments (both formal and creative), verbal skills (in both discussions and presentations) and vocabulary skills all stem from the literature studied. Grammar is taught in the context of the writing assignments. The classes contain a wide variety of genres, styles and periods of literature in order to help students develop an appreciation for the subject. Students should complete their Summer Reading prior to the first day of school.
9th Grade
- English 9
10th Grade
- Great Books
- Honors Great Books
11th Grade
- American Literature
- Honors American Literature
12th Grade
- Literature and Film
- Philosophy and Literature
- Heroes and Villains
- Writing from Literature
- AP English Literature


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Easy Returns Policy // Free Worldwide* Shipping With Min Order
Material : Polyblend. Not StretchableDetails : Featuring structured mode cut, hidden back zip and fully lined.Note : Please allow 20-30% discrepancy in the product color due to lighting and monitor resolution (actual may appear darker/brighter). In such cases, the variance may not be considered as a defect. There might be 1cm-2cm differences in the measurements given due to the different stretchable quality of the material and the way measurement is taken.
Measurements : (measurements are taken laid flat, x2 for circumference) Check your sizes here
SIZE XS: Length: 84cm, Bust: 38cm, Waist: 29cm, Hips: 41cm, Shoulder: 32cmLength:33 inches, Bust:15 inches, Waist:11.5 inches, Hips: 16 inches, Shoulder:12.5 inchesSIZE S: Length: 84cm, Bust: 41cm, Waist: 33cm, Hips: 44cm, Shoulder: 33cmLength:33 inches, Bust:16 inches, Waist:13 inches, Hips:17.5 inches, Shoulder:13 inchesSIZE M: Length: 84cm, Bust: 43cm, Waist: 34cm, Hips: 46cm, Shoulder: 36cmLength:33 inches, Bust:17 inches, Waist:13.5 inches, Hips:18 inches, Shoulder:14 inchesSIZE L : Length: 86cm, Bust: 46cm, Waist: 38cm, Hips: 48cm, Shoulder: 36cmLength:34 inches, Bust:18 inches, Waist:15 inches, Hips:19 inches, Shoulder:14 inches
SIZE XL : Length: 89cm, Bust: 47cm, Waist: 40cm, Hips: 52cm, Shoulder: 38cmLength:35 inches, Bust:18.5 inches, Waist:15.5 inches, Hips:20.5 inches, Shoulder:15 inchesModel wears size XS.You are adviced to check the given measurements with your existing dresses for best fit.Measurements for every dresses is different.*IMPORTANT* Please read our terms of use before you proceed.
All items should be hand wash with mild detergent using cold water. Do not soak. Hang dry.Wash dark colors separately and iron under low heat.
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We accept returns as long as the item purchased is not worn, not washed, not changed or damaged in any way.
Returns and exchanges must be done within a 5 days window. Postage in the event of a return is to be born by the buyer and processing fees apply


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Your phone model is: Sharp 930SH
Version for your phone is: UC Browser 126.96.36.199
Updated date: 2010-11-03
Change phone model:
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Sharp 930SH is an non-touchscreen phone. It supports Single SIM, GSM. Sharp 930SH gets a 480 x 480 pixels (Wide-VGA), 3.0 inches' pixels LCD screen, an 8 MP main camera supports Recording Formats: MP4 video recording. The phone can use Wi-Fi 802.11. Talktime Up to 3.5 Hours(2G) / Up to 3.16 Hours(3G) is long enough for common use. 110 grams weight make it easy to take.


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The Klein Tools circuit breaker kit allows your circuit breaker finder to do more than just indicate standard circuits. Adapters in this kit indicate the correct breaker of bare wires or other exposed conductors. Adapters also indicate the correct breaker for light fixtures.
California residents:
WARNING: Cancer and reproductive harm - See www.P65Warnings.ca.gov for more information.


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Chief Financial Officer
DD DANNAR, LLC, is an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of an electric, off-road energy platform that is the first in a new class of electric work vehicles for governmental fleets.
Located in our offices in Muncie, Indiana, we are looking for a Chief Financial Officer with proven strategic and analytical experience to join our fast-growing company and help lead us into our next phase of growth. Our CFO will be a key member of our executive team, partnering with our Founder and CEO to set financial strategies and drive overall strategic direction.
The ideal candidate is interested in making a significant impact by building a trusted relationship with our team and by working to support DANNAR in delivering its business objectives. They will work with the leadership team to increase efficiency and drive continuous improvement within different functional areas of the company.
Exempt, Full Time
Key Success Factors
- The CFO will work to identify, design, and implement financial initiatives that will support the existing and developing needs of our organization, as well as potentially overseeing various departments.
- They will help drive decisions about pricing models, operational strategies, and performance metrics, as well as day-to-day operational activities such as forecasting, budgeting, reporting, management of funds and cash flow, and financial analysis.
- The CFO will serve as a spokesperson for DANNAR, with an emphasis in managing relationships with investors, banks, and other external constituents.
- Excel at bringing financial acumen and operational excellence into a growing company.
- Hands-on financial leader who utilizes proactive analysis and sound judgement to identify and execute appropriate accounting policies and procedures.
- Proven track record of managing financial operations across many markets, particularly manufacturing.
- The CFO has built infrastructure and systems that support the timely and accurate reporting of financial results, while partnering with company leadership to develop and drive recommendations for growth and best practices.
- 10+ years of experience as CFO/VP Finance of a fast growth company
- Demonstrated experience managing production costs and driving gross margin improvement
- 10+ years of experience with pricing development, profit analysis
- Proven track record of originating and closing equity and/or debt financing deals
- Experience working with international and domestic sales channels, both direct and distributors. understanding of the underlying costs and compensation structures for each
- Ability to develop KPIs and other metrics to run a business
- Experience overseeing manufacturing operations, including experience working with and negotiating agreements with contract manufacturers
- Ability to manage other functions such as procurement, human resources, legal/compliance, and facilities management
- Experience managing operations across multiple locations
- Successful implementation of ERP/CRM and other corporate wide systems
- Experience in M&A, including IPO experience
- MBA / CPA preferred
DANNAR is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality, sex, or veteran status.
DD DANNAR, LLC 4620 W. Bethel Ave., Ste. 1 Muncie, IN 47304 and San Clemente, CA and San Jose, CA 765-216-7191


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Swept Away By a Kiss
Paperback(Mass Market Paperback)
"A breathtaking romance filled with sensuality and driven by a brisk and thrilling plot…. Katharine Ashe writes with eloquence and power—what a compelling read!"
—New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas
"You'll be swept away."
—New York Times bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries
An absolutely amazing debut novel from Katharine Ashe, an exceptional new voice in historical romance, Swept Away by a Kiss is the first book in an exciting new series—the story of a society jade who thinks she's done it all until she meets the devil himself. Piracy, intrigue, rogue lords with a dangerous secret…can love unmask the Masters of Masquerade? Read Swept Away by a Kiss and find out!
Product Details
|HarperCollins Publishers
|Publication date:
|Rogues of the Sea , #1
|Sales rank:
|Product dimensions:
|4.58(w) x 11.04(h) x 1.04(d)
About the Author
Katharine Ashe is the award-winning author of historical romances that reviewers call "intensely lush" and "sensationally intelligent," including How to Be a Proper Lady, an Amazon Editors' Choice for the 10 Best Books of the Year in Romance, and My Lady, My Lord and How to Marry a Highlander, 2015 and 2014 finalists for the prestigious RITA® Award of the Romance Writers of America. Her books are recommended by Publishers Weekly, Women's World Magazine, Booklist, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Barnes & Noble, and many others, and translated into languages across the world.
Katharine lives in the wonderfully warm Southeast with her beloved husband, son, dog, and a garden she likes to call romantic rather than unkempt. A professor of European History, she writes fiction because she thinks modern readers deserve grand adventures and breathtaking sensuality too. For more about Katharine's books, please visit her website or write to her at PO Box 51702, Durham, NC 27717.
What People are Saying About This
A hero who is not what he pretends, a heroine who is determines to unmask him, and a sexual chemistry that burns up the pages.
"Swept Away By A Kiss" is a breathtaking romance filled with sensuality and driven by a brisk and thrilling plot. Her characters are intelligent, vibrant and wonderfully complex. Katharine Ashe writes with eloquence and powerwhat a compelling read!"
"You'll be swept away by Katharine Ashe's evocative writing. This unforgettable tale will dazzle you with its memorable characters, fascinating plot, and sizzling tension."
"A wonderfully written, sensuous romance by an author who expertly weaves time and place into her story."
Customer Reviews
Average Review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Thoroughly enjoyed this book-- pirates, priests, ships, castles, intrigue, and a lot of passion! I've never read such a well done "scandalous" lady, with a reputation for being loose. Those are hard to do and still make them likable, but Valerie was very endearing. I also enjoyed the two distinct halves of the book. Without giving spoilers, I'll just say that you get two distinct settings, and ALMOST two distinct heroes. Lots of fun! I recommend it!
Sadly I found this book below expectations; it was hard at times to follow the story line. To much agnst and not enough explanation given for it. Took the hero n heroine way too long to find each other. Almost gave up on the book.
My favorite of the series... excellent
Enchantingly written, this book makes my top 10 list of romance books. The author draws you in and makes you feel the story. When the herion's heart aches, yours will ache right along with it! So often you begin to read a book and think "wait, that was too fast" or "there is no way that that would happen like that". Not so with this book. The build up was superb. You know it was an excellent book when you wonder what happens to the charactures after it ends.
Loved the intrigue and romance in this book. Katharine Ashe weaves a GREAT story that captures the reader until the very last page.
This was a fun book. I was getting so frustrated with Steven. Not only was he driving Valerie crazy, he was driving me crazy. I couldn't wait to get to the end of the book. Valerie is a strong willed woman.
i could not put it down it was so good.
In 1810 after two years of exile in Boston, Lady Valerie Monroe is on her way back home as she knows her brother Valentine the earl forgives her foolishness. Although her upper crust American relatives led by Cousin Abigail are concerned that she travels alone on a Dutch merchant ship, Valerie cannot wait to reach Portsmouth. On the vessel Valerie meets passenger Jesuit priest, Etienne LeMarque who prefers the Anglo version of his given name Stephen. They are attracted to one another, but both hesitate. When pirates capture their ship, he keeps her safe until they are rescued. In England her hero whom she loves disappears breaking her heart. However, she is stunned when she enters a salon only to be introduced to her beloved Viscount Steven Ashford who loves her too. However, he has a quest to complete unaware that the adversary he seeks now has a pretty pawn to use to destroy him. This is a wonderful Regency romance starring two likable lead characters who are fully developed so that the reader understands what motivates them besides love. The story line is fast-paced from the moment Valerie goes on deck to breathe only to find her breath stopped upon seeing Etienne. He is shocked by his attraction as he has no time for the distraction of desire. Sub-genre readers will appreciate Katharine Ashe's fine historical. Harriet Klausner
good characters. enjoyable
I got to page 80 and quit. I rarely give up on a story, but this book had too much violence and sadism. I did not find it fun to read. I prefer humorous and page turning romances.
I really wanted to like this book. The hero and heroine were intriguing and I liked the mistaken identity plot device. But, the plot jumped all over the place. We'd be moving along nicely and then bam, one character would do something completely out of place. At a few points I actually checked page numbers because I thought I had a book that was put together incorrectly. Also, the plot was dependent on too many characters. There were at least 15 central characters who were key to the plot development. Trying to remember that many character's names and titles (since they are called by both) and relationships is just frustrating.I'll read Katharine Ashe in the future since I saw a lot of promise in the book and hope that her next book is more cohesive.
A good effort marred by inconsistencies. There is no physical description of the heroine at the start so the reader is left wondering who she is. The hero is described in loving detail. The heroine's tarnished past is alluded to but never explained satisfactorily. Ditto her upbringing; many allusions to her cold father but no exposition at all. The threads of that part of the story never feel complete.
You've got to read this book!!
Swept Away by Swept Away by a Kiss A Secret Identity When pirates storm Viscount Steven Ashford's ship upon the high seas, it brings him closer than ever to the nefarious criminal he seeks to ruin. Only one seductive detail threatens his victory: the scandalous beauty imprisoned with him, Lady Valerie Monroe. Temptation has never been so intoxicating or so forbidden, for Steven is disguised as a French priest. If they make it off the ship alive, to protect her from his enemies he must never see her again . . . An Undeniable Love Back in England, and under the ton's scrutiny for a reckless past she hasn't escaped, Valerie dreams of the breathtaking "man of the cloth" with whom she shared her greatest adventure. Then he reappears in society under his true identity, Viscount Ashford, but, despite the danger, their consuming passion cannot be denied. Now standing in the way of their desire are Valerie's wounded heart, Steven's lone destiny, and a villain who will stop at nothing to crush them both. What a cool story this was. So unique – that's what I love about Katharine Ashe's books is that they are really like no other. This book is almost two completely different books. The first part is about the pirate ship takeover and the tortuous situation that Steven and Valerie find themselves in and the second part is back in England where Valerie is still Valerie, but Steven is a completely different person. The conflict they face on the ship in the first part is tortuous because the Captain, a crazy one of course, wants to break Steven, the priest, by putting him and Valerie in situations where he may be forced to take her virtue. The tension in these scenes is palpable. I did not see the resolution to this conflict coming. The ideal would have been that Valerie and Steven continue on with the tension from there, but the book picks up in England where they are reunited but Steven is a complete ass. Valerie's so confused, as are the readers, but we understand that he is trying to protect Valerie until he can ensure the danger he is facing is gone. Hard core though this is, the reader must suffer through what Valerie feels and I tell you, I, as the reader, did! Rewards are always sweeter when earning them was tough and I, the reader, was well rewarded. I highly recommend Katharine Ashe in general – she is an extremely talented writer – and I recommend this book. Did I mention this is her debut? Amazing talent! I'm onto the second one in the Rogues of the Sea series, Captured by a Rogue Lord, and I'm excited. While sad to see Steven and Valerie go, I am assured they appear in the next book, so I look forward to it.


text: I have been been reading female led stories for years and always had a secrect femdom fetish. To serve my life to mistress so can u help me out. In the real world of Medieval, Near Eastern and even pre-Civil War America, those rights did indeed include selling, killing, maiming and grievously torturing slaves. Please consider this as a serious application. Session Male Slave is forbidden from Bdsm male slave execution fantasy its genitals at any time during an appointment. I have an open mind and an eagerness that can be surprising.


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