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About Me
- Ann Lory
- Welcome to Blog Bites! I love writing and reading romance of all genres which is why I've created "In the Author Spotlight". That way you and I can find out who's out there and what more they have for use to dig our claws into. Are you an author interested in being in the "Author Spotlight"? Shoot me an email at firstname.lastname@example.com for a spot. Currently, I'm published in contemporary and paranormal. If you'd like to read excerpts and find out what's out, or what's in store for you please visit my website at www.annlory.com.
Where to Find Me
Or shoot me an email at:
If you want to sign up for my newsletter you can email me as well. The newsletter goes out bi-monthly and is filled with:
* free reads
* sneak peeks
* author interviews
* contests
* & more.
Author Spotlight Calendar - March
- 19th Barbara Meyers
- 22nd Desiree Holt
- 26th Tracey Lyons
- 29th Meg Benjamin
- 2nd Ann Lory
- 5th Ann Lory
- 9th Wendy Soliman
- 12th Ann Lory
- 16th Caridad Pinero
- 19th Ann Lory
- 23rd Selena Robins
- 26th
- 30th
- 2nd BLOG BITES BREAK
- 5th BLOG BITES BREAK
- 9th
- 12th
- 16th
- 19th
- 23rd
- 26th
- 30th Xakara
- 4th J.A. Garland
- 6th
- 10th
- 13th
- 17th BLOG BITES BREAK
- 20th BLOG BITES BREAK
- 24th BLOG BITES BREAK
- 27th BLOG BITES BREAK
Blog Archive
- ► 2011 (46)
- ► 2010 (72)
- I'm the Guest Author at Erotic Book Junkies Linde...
- In the Author Spotlight & Contest Meg Benjamin ...
- Wednesday's Witty Words from Wise Women It's not ...
- In the Author Spotlight Lucynda Storey AL: Hi Cy...
- Wednesday's Witty Words Men who have a pierced ea...
- In the Spotlight & Contest Missy Jane CONTEST: O...
- Wednesday's Witty Words (A little deep this week)...
- In the Author Spotlight & Contest Beth Corneliso...
- BAIT AND SWITCH Now Available in "PRINT" Hi al...
- In the Author Spotlight and Contest Sylvia Shults...
- And the Winners Are... And the winners from last ...
- ▼ June (11)
Meg: My Venus in Blue Jeans has been out since January (going to print in November), and the sequel, Wedding Bell Blues, comes out July 21 from Samhain. It's about the ultimate Wedding from Hell, except the bride and groom (the heroine and hero from Venus in Blue Jeans) aren't the problem—it's the rest of the family. My heroine's the maid of honor and my hero's the best man. It's a sequel, but you don't need to have read Venus in Blue Jeans to understand it (although I'd certainly be happy if you did!).
AL: Where and when do you write?
After her second glass, Docia began eyeing the presents. "Are those serious or funny?"
Allie leaned back in her chair, her face solemn. "Serious, of course. This is a kitchen shower. We all think it's time you took your domestic duties in hand, Docia. I myself provided some oven cleaner."
Docia stared at her wide-eyed.
"Oh for god's sake, lighten up, toots." Allie shook her head. "It's a freakin' bachelorette party. What did you think we'd give you—an engraved pocket watch?"
Docia blew out a breath, pulling her hair back from her face. "I've been opening wedding presents for at least the last month, usually with Mama looking over my shoulder. You wouldn't believe the stuff people think you need when you get married."
"Like what?" Bethany sorted through the remaining tapas with her index finger, selecting some flatbread with sirloin and blue cheese. "All I got when I married Lloyd was a set of Corelle. I should have known that marriage was doomed."
"Place card holders." Docia grimaced. "Silver. Swear to god. Like I'd ever give a party where I needed to show people where to sit."
"Maybe we could use them in the shop," Janie mused. "I'm always looking for something to hold up the display cards."
Allie guffawed. "That should start a new Konigsburg legend—the bookstore with sterling silver display card holders." She reached for a gift bag. "Here, babe, take a look at this."
Docia opened the bag and pulled out what looked like a pair of panties.
Or not. A strip of lace with a large bow and a thin string hanging down below. Janie hadn't ever seen anything quite like it before.
"What the hell is this, and how does it work?" Docia frowned, holding it up for inspection.
"The bow goes in back," Allie explained.
"That string looks uncomfortable." Bethany shook her head. "Geez, I hate thongs."
"Crotchless," Sherice said.
All four women turned to stare at her.
Sherice reached for the panties. "Crotchless. Works like this." She spread the string apart so that it formed a thin border around a very large hole.
Janie swallowed. "I never really understood the logic behind crotchless panties. I mean, if you're going to do the dirty, why wear panties in the first place?"
"Men." Sherice shrugged. "They like mystery."
Janie studied the panties. They were undoubtedly the least mysterious item of clothing she'd ever seen.
Bethany swallowed. "Still looks really uncomfortable."
Sherice shrugged. "It's not that bad." The corners of her mouth edged up in a slightly smug smile. "You usually don't wear them long, anyway."
Janie fought the impulse to say "Eeeew".
"Good to know," Docia muttered, staring at the other bags. "What else you got there?"
Lee appeared with another tray of food. "Oh good, you're opening the gifts. Anything interesting?"
Docia hurriedly dropped the panties back into the bag. "Not for general inspection, no."
Janie picked up a plate, checking the contents. "Bruschetta?"
"Close to it." Lee grinned at her. "Just eat, sweetheart, you look like you need sustenance." He patted her on the shoulder, then walked back out the door into the dining room.
As soon as Lee was gone, Allie handed Docia another bag. "Try this one."
Docia reached in and pulled out something that resembled a white satin placemat. "Gee, this looks…intriguing."
"Oh, hold it up," Bethany cried. "We can each take a shot at guessing what it is."
"I know what it is. It's a nightgown," Allie explained.
Docia's eyes widened. "Like hell."
She gave the placemat a shake. It unfolded to reveal two satin panels, attached by three small straps on each side, with two more at the top.
Docia shook her head. "There is no way this will cover me, Allie, not even slightly."
"Nonsense." Allie got to her feet, a bit shakily. Apparently, they'd gone through more bottles of wine than Janie had counted. "C'mon, toots, stand up here. I'll show you."
Docia stood and Allie held the satin panels in front of her. They extended from the top of her breasts to a couple of inches at the top of her thighs. "See? I told you."
Docia stared down at her front, the corners of her mouth quirking up slightly. "That's not an accurate measure."
"Sure it is." Allie grinned. "Everything essential is covered."
"Look, Al, let me put it this way—my cups runneth over." Docia moved forward slightly so that her breasts pushed against the fabric. It moved up an inch.
"Still," Allie mused, "you've got essential coverage, I tell you."
"But why bother?" Docia's eyebrows inched up. "Why wear anything at all?" She sank into her chair again, peering at the satin panels in Allie's hands.
"Mystery." Sherice shrugged. "Like I said before."
"She's right." Allie plopped into her chair, staring off at the fireplace. "Sometimes I make yeast rolls at the restaurant."
"Your yeast rolls are terrific," Bethany mused. "A life-changing experience."
"Thanks. Anyway, I make yeast rolls. And then when we serve them we put them in these wicker baskets with a white linen napkin over the top. You can't see the rolls, just the outlines under the napkins, but you know they're there."
"Yeast rolls." Docia stared at her.
Allie closed her eyes, her voice low and crooning. "All warm and round and smelling like bread. Just under that linen napkin."
"Yeast rolls." Docia's lips began to tremble.
"Yep." Allie smiled beatifically. "All in the presentation."
Docia threw her head back and whooped. "Oh, god, yeast rolls." She put her arm around Bethany's shoulders.
"Lord yes," Bethany cried, guffawing, "yeast rolls."
They both embraced Allie, and the three of them leaned together, laughing so hard that tears rolled down their cheeks.
Janie glanced at Sherice, who was staring at the three women, her face blank.
Sherice raised an eyebrow at her, as she tipped back the last of her wine. "What's so funny?"Janie shrugged. "Maybe you had to be there."
Wednesday's Witty Words from Wise Women
It's not easy being a mother. If it were easy,
fathers would do it.
- Dorothy, the Golden Girls
Cyn: I just graduated two seniors this spring. My oldest son graduated from the United States Air Force Academy, distinguished in the field of Military Strategic Studies and hoping to be of benefit in the Counter-terrorism arena; my daughter graduated this spring as well from her high school as Valedictorian and carrying straight A's through 8 semesters. She is planning on attending my Alma Mater in Nebraska where she wants to study biology and specifically the brain in the pre-med program. My youngest is having me run him around while he attends sports camps this summer.
I literally did something major for NINE days running. I was exhausted by the time all the graduation activities were over…but I have to admit, they were also a lot of fun.
In my "off" periods, I'm trying to restore my yard, and get a garden of perennials to survive. I'm not known for a green thumb so that is always a challenge for me.
I'd like to spend some time at a lake or in the hills too, if that works out.
AL: Shifters, cops, pirates…oh my! What current or upcoming release do you have on your bookshelf for the outstanding Blog Bites readers?
AL: What did you do to pay the bills before making your break in writing?
Cyn: I taught 7th and 8th grade in a self-contained classroom. What that means is that I taught ALL subjects from Math to Social Studies to Art. I taught middle grades for over ten years, then I did a couple with elementary kids and a couple with high school. Of all the grades I taught I loved 7th the most, with 10th grade American Literature a close 2nd.
AL: What do you feel is the most important thing that a first-time author should know?
Cyn: How to finish. Seriously. You can never be published if you don't finish what you've begun.
AL: When you write do you do a detailed outline before you get started or do you have the idea then just 'fly by the seat of your pants'? :-)
AL: If you had to write yourself as a heroine, what kind of heroine would you be? What would you be named?
AL: Lethal Weapon or Pirates of the Caribbean?
Cyn: Lethal Weapon all the way (and that is absolutely no DIS to Johnny Depp). The Mel Gibson character is tragically wounded and in need of a woman's healing touch, but also has that he-man protective streak (Much like Tor in Blind Devotion). He's smart and funny and frequently acts before he thinks (although that does sound a lot like Jack Sparrow). He has a heart of gold, looks at the world with a simple sense of implied naiveté. This man wants very hard to trust but still remember what the knocks feel like from that awful School of Hard Knocks.
Cyn: My favorite sport is football, so I have to say my favorite quote is by a football player…Mike Singletary. "My favorite part of the game is the opportunity to play." I can't think of anything truer for writing. Every sale fills me with this incredible sense of awe…that someone out there is giving me yet another opportunity to play this wonderfully crazy, creative game.
Cyn: Again, thank you for inviting me. You're questions were fun. If any of your readers have questions I'd be delighted to answer them.
Wednesday's Witty Words
Men who have a pierced ear are better prepared
for marriage - they've experienced pain and
bought jewelry.
- Rita Rudner
AL: So, tell us what's happening with you.
Missy: Heehee, my current release has some great "shifting", it's titled They Call Me Death.
Missy: Well, I really enjoy my job (odd, I know), so I'm not concerned with making writing my full time career at the moment. My short-term goal would have to be getting the full series published set in my world of Shape-shifters. I've fallen in love with my characters and want to tell all of their stories.
Missy: It would definitely have to be an action movie, Jason Statham of course would be my leading man. I'd be a woman of mystery who can kick butt without messing up my hair.
My name is Alexia Williams. In my world, North America is divided between north and south—but not the way it's taught in the history books.
After losing my family to the shifters, I joined the Combined Human States Army. Now I find myself on the front lines, defending the wall between my species and theirs. My mission is simple: keep the animals on their side by whatever means necessary—and I'm good at it. I don't talk to them. I don't sympathize with them. I sure as hell don't admire them…until one saves my life.
Andor isn't like any shifter I've ever met. He's a three-hundred-year-old golden eagle asking for help finding missing shifters who may be in my lands. I just have to decide between helping the animals or ignoring signs that my fellow humans aren't what I thought they were. But how can I help a species I hate and fear? Even if Andor makes me feel alive again?In the land of the shifters…they call me Death.
He sighed and rubbed his face. I looked at how large his handsappeared and wondered why I stood with a shifter I barely knew in myspace. The feel of my Glock still in my hand reassured me.
"Would it be too much to ask for you to place your gun…somewhereelse?"
"Yes. I shower and sleep with my gun, Andor."
He grinned and nodded in understanding. He took a step away frommy sofa into a clearer area of the room, removed his coat and shirtand dropped them to the floor. His wings instantly unfurled from hisbody, spreading across the room. I looked him over, and everythingelse about him remained human, or as human as usual. I took a steptoward him before I realized what I was doing. Placing my cup on thecounter, I stretched my hand toward the tip of his wing and Andorfroze. I touched the feathers tentatively at first, amazed at thesheer size of each one. They were soft and beautiful. I had a deepdesire to see them in full sunlight, wondering if they would shinelike gold.
I heard Andor's breathing speed up, as if he were panting fromphysical exertion. I still had my hand on his right wing when Iturned to look at his face. He was watching me with completely maleinterest, and I became self-conscious."Can you feel this?" I asked, as I ran my fingers lightly over afeather.
Wednesday's Witty Words
(A little deep this week)
As world events reflect, we remain far from
mastering the art of human relations. We have
invented no technology that will guide us to the
destinations that matter most.
After two world wars, the Holocaust, multiple
genocides, and countless conflicts, we must
ask how long it will be before we are able to
rise above the national, racial, and gender
distinctions that divide us, and embrace the
common humanity that binds us.
The answer depends not on the stars or some
mysterious forces of history; it depends on the
choices that you and I and all of us make.
- Madeleine Albright
AL: What current or upcoming releases do you have for us to sink our teeth into?
Beth: Well, first is my romantic suspense from Samhain called UNDER FIRE. This one is a thrill ride featuring smokejumpers, kidnappings, terrorist plots, chemical bombs…you name it. I loved writing that book! It is non-stop action—my favorite kind of scene to write!
AL: Dark, heroic defenders, oh my... J What got you hooked on weaving such dramatic-action packed tales?
Beth: I write the kind of stories I love to read. I've always been a fan of intrigue, action and suspense (in my books—hate it in my personal life!) My favorite authors from way back are Karen Robards, Sandra Brown, Suzanne Brockmann, Linda Howard… all masters of suspense and drama.
Beth: I love working from home…in my pajamas! I love the freedom of setting my own schedule, being my own boss, not having to report to an office. The downside is I have infinitely more distractions at home…the laundry that needs to be washed, the bills to be paid, the teenaged son who can't wait until I finish a scene to ask his all-important questions…"When's dinner, Mom?"
Beth: Well, I've already mentioned Karen Robards, Sandra Brown, Suzanne Brockmann, Linda Howard. More recently I've added Harlan Coben to that list. I love Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Susan Wiggs too. Oh, and Diana Duncan, and Loreth Anne White, and CJ Lyons, and… how long do you have? There are so many!
My son has this on his bulletin board: " It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. -Theodore Roosevelt
AL: Thanks so much for sharing with joining us this week, Beth.
Beth: You're most welcome and thanks for the opportunity to share a bit about myself and my books!
AL: If you'd like to find out more about Beth please visit:
Arriving at the scene of a wildfire, smokejumper Lauren Michaels and her crew are caught in the crosshairs of Jackson's nightmare. Lauren is the only one who can lead Jackson off the burning mountain and to the police. In order to prevent a national crisis and save a child's life, they embark on a treacherous journey—one step ahead of a sniper!
Jump thousand.
Despite the strap squeezing her chest, she dragged in a lungful of thin, smoke-tinged air. Think. Stay focused.
Look thousand.
Waves of heat rolled up to greet her from the conflagration below. Thirty-foot flames reached skyward from the head of the fire like wicked, writhing hands waiting to snatch her from the air. The whip of wind streaming past roared in her ears.
The eighty-five pounds of dead weight strapped to her body pulled her toward the flaming trees. She forced training to the forefront.
Reach thousand.
Lauren grabbed the green ring near her left shoulder with her right hand.
Wait thousand.
Anticipation danced along every synapse.
With a firm yank, she drew her arm across her chest and flung it outward. A hard jerk at her shoulders snapped her upright. Lauren squeezed her eyes shut. Prayed.
Looking up, she watched the billow of white and orange splay overhead. Thank God.
The team was fanatical about checking chutes, but the off chance existed…
She craned her head until she spotted Boomer, her jump partner, drifting along to her left. Below them, she located the first stick of jumpers. Riley's and Birdman's rectangular canopies drifted smoothly toward earth. As Lauren sailed down, she scanned the ground for the tiny clearing that was her target.
"Over there! Top of that ridge!" Boomer shouted in the loud, deep voice that was the source of his nickname.
Lauren gave him a thumbs up. Jump spot in sight.
God, she loved her job!
Suddenly her view of the burning forest began turning dizzily. Something was wrong.
Lauren tugged on her left toggle to correct her spin. Once stabilized, she cocked her head back to check her chute again.
Dread slammed her stomach. A suspension cord had wrapped around the corner of her canopy and hung up. A tension knot.
"Damn it!" She grabbed the suspension line with both hands and jerked hard, working to free it. No luck. Another tug.
She started spiraling again and had to release the tangled line in order to pull her toggle. But she continued twirling, losing precious seconds.
"Mike! Cut away!" Boomer shouted.
Still whirling like a human fire devil as the earth rushed toward her, Lauren gave up her toggles and yanked again on the hung line. "Come on, you sorry sonofa—!"
"Mike!" She heard an uncharacteristic note of panic in Boomer's voice.
Lauren knew she had to be close to five hundred feet. The point of no return. Cut away or face death. Below five hundred feet, the reserve chute wouldn't have time to deploy for a safe landing speed. Not to mention how far she'd, no doubt, drifted off course.
One more hard tug. Nothing.
With the dense and unforgiving treetops getting closer by the second, she had no choice. She jerked the cutaway clutch. Again the tug of a canopy filling jerked her harness, this time from her chest.
"Shit, woman! You 'bout gave me a heart attack!" Boomer yelled.
"Piece of cake!"
Boomer laughed. "You're a wild woman, Mike!"
She allowed herself a quick cleansing breath then started her checks. Canopy. Airspace. Toggles.
The jump spot was too far to the left now, and the treetops too close to clear. Damn. So much for her perfect record.
As she dropped into the forest, sharp branches jabbed at her and snagged her canopy. A veil of dark green pine boughs obscured her view. She heard the snap and tear as her canopy settled in the branches of a black spruce, suspending her forty feet in the air. She groaned. Boomer was sure to give her hell about this.
Her two-way radio sputtered, and from the plane, their spotter called. "Jump 49, Michaels. You okay?"
She fumbled for her radio and put it to her lips. "I'm in a frigging tree, but I'm okay. I'll let you know when I'm on the ground."
"How's the view from up there, Mike?" Boomer said over the radio.
"Bite me, Boom," she radioed back.
Even without the radio, she could hear Boomer's answering hoot of laughter. She grinned and shook her head as she secured her radio and assessed her situation.
Checking her risers, she discovered her plight wasn't as bad as it could have been. Without wasting any more time, she started working through the letdown procedure. Rope in leg pocket. Feed through D-rings. Tie off to tight riser.
She paused to make sure she had no lines or straps around her neck then released her cutaway clutch and rappelled to the forest floor.
"Jump 49, Michaels," the spotter called over the radio. The rumble of the Twin Otter aircraft filtered through the transmission.
She dug her radio out again. "Go ahead."
"We're low on fuel and need to head back. You down yet?"
"Roger that. I'm on the ground. Go on home."
"Jump 49, Fire Boss," the spotter said, addressing Birdman.
"Go ahead," Birdman's melodic voice answered.
As she listened to the radio exchange between the jumpship and Birdman, Lauren shed her harness and helmet, leaving them in a heap to collect when she returned for her chute.
"We've just dropped your cargo. If everybody's accounted for, we're outta here. How on that?"
"Roger that. Fire Boss clear."
Lauren was working to free herself from her jumpsuit when Birdman called her over the radio. "Whenever you're through playing monkey in the trees, Mike, we could use you over here."
Lauren rolled her eyes. "Don't get your boxers in a knot. I'm coming."
"I want you helping Boomer start a scratch line up the right flank."
"Roger that." After shucking out of her jumpsuit, she clipped her radio to her hip, gathered her personal gear bag and plodded through the brush toward the jump spot.
They only had a small fire to catch, but from what she could see from the air before she started spinning, the head was already heating up and getting ready to run. They'd have to work fast to contain it by nightfall.
When a loud crack splintered the air, Lauren stopped in her tracks. Another pop followed. And another. Her initial thought was that boiling sap had caused a few trees to explode. But the pitch was wrong. The sound too close.
"What the hell?" Boomer shouted from a distance.
After a brief pause, another crack echoed through the woods.
And Boomer screamed. In pain. A hoarse, anguished sound that knotted Lauren's stomach.
"Boomer! What happened?" Her own voice didn't carry as well as her partner's, but visions of all forms of disaster added volume to her cry. Smokejumping was inherently rife with danger. The most lethal threat was the unexpected, untrained-for, fluke happening.
"Lauren, look out!" Boomer called over the radio. "They're shooting at us!"
Shooting? Who?
"Riley! Oh God, no! Jump 49, mayday! Are you there? Mayday! There's a sniper out here!" Boomer's horrified cry wrenched inside Lauren.
She dug in her personal gear, or PG, bag and wrapped her fingers around the .357 Magnum the Bureau of Land Management allowed jumpers to carry in case of bear attack. She'd never imagined one day she'd use the weapon to defend against a human assailant.
Heart thumping, she flicked the safety off and headed toward the jump spot. She stayed in the thickest brush and behind fat tree trunks whenever possible. As she inched forward, hiding from the shooter, she scoped the terrain before moving to the next spot that provided cover.
Jitters scrambled through her. Her fingers trembled around the gun, and she prayed she didn't have to use it. A ninety-foot wall of fire she could handle. This game of cat and mouse with an unseen sniper spooked the hell out of her.
Finally she spotted a yellow jumpsuit at the edge of the narrow clearing that had been their jump spot. From her distance, she thought it looked like Boomer. Lying on the grass. Unmoving. Her pulse leaped.
She checked for signs of the shooter once more. Seeing no one, she gauged the distance to her fallen friend. Prepared to dash across the clearing…
A hand snaked from behind and clapped over her mouth. She spun, met the hard brown glare of a stranger.
Now Available in "PRINT"
Hi all Bait and Switch is now avaliable in "print".
For those who'd like to order it please visit:
Please see below for Chapter One of Bait and Swtich.
Thanks all!
One workaholic. One gigolo. One week in Sin City. You do the math…
Frisky Business, Book 1
Anna Jackson's ex-boyfriend may have stolen her promotion, but she's not mad. Not anymore. She's getting even—by beating him at his own game. So what if she has to give up all her free time and any semblance of a personal life? With a partnership in a law firm as prestigious as Beckam, Beckam and Leland on the line, she's willing to pay the price.
Las Vegas escort Devon McGuire is charming, sexy, and damn good at pleasing women. He'd better be, it's what he gets paid for. Always up for a challenge, he's looking forward to his newest job. Who wouldn't enjoy a week as the companion of a smart, sultry, high-powered attorney—no strings attached?
Devon's used to pushing boundaries, but there's something about Anna that makes him want to turn up the steam. And when she learns to let go and unexpectedly opens to him, he finds himself falling right in.
Whoa, hold it. Love was never part of the plan… Product Warnings
This book contains a sizzling, drop-dead gorgeous, sex-on-a-stick gigolo who wants to make women's fantasies come true, and a woman who won't cooperate and let him do his job.
Chapter One
If the plane lurched one more time Anna was going to run up to the cabin and be sick all over the pilot just to teach him a lesson. Granted, the pilot couldn't control turbulence, but she needed to blame somebody. She clutched the paperwork in front of her as the plane took yet another sudden drop. Grimacing, Anna righted the documents in her lap.
Beside her, her legal assistant's grin was mischievous. "We're flying over the Vegas strip. Want to lean over and take a look at it as we fly in?"
Anna shook her head. "No, I'm fine. Thank you."
"It's a pretty awesome sight." The woman leaned closer placing her chin her hand and gazed down. "I love Vegas. It's true what they say, you know? What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas."
Half listening, Anna highlighted a sentence. "Uh huh."
"Oh yeah, Anna…I banged the whole league of Thunder from Down Under dancers in one night, then went on to find other men to have my way with for the rest of the weekend. It was some of the best sex I've ever had."
Dropping her highlighter, Anna stared in horror at Janie O'Donnell. The woman was grinning from ear to ear, her green eyes flashing with humor. "What did you say?"
Janie laughed. "I'm kidding. I just wanted to get your attention."
"You shouldn't say stuff like that. It's not funny. Someone might hear and take you seriously."
Anna peeked behind them, hoping their colleagues hadn't heard, but the laughs and thumbs-ups said differently. Blowing an exasperated sigh at the small group of women, Anna went back to her paperwork as the plane continued to make its descent.
As the plane touched the ground, everyone was forcefully propelled forward. Anna caught herself before her face met the seat in front of her, then reached down and grabbed the briefcase by her feet to put her work away.
The pilot chuckled as he came on over the speaker, "Well, now everyone's awake." The passengers all laughed except Anna, who waited impatiently for the plane to reach the terminal.
Once there, Anna worked on exiting without elbowing anybody though she wanted to for the sheer pleasure of it. At the baggage claim area, she pounced on her luggage before departing the airport with her troop.
The limo driver, holding a Beckam, Beckam and Leland sign greeted them kindly and loaded their bags in the trunk.
Anna climbed into the back of the limo, caught up in the week to come. She immediately started going over the agenda for the week again with Janie. The younger woman laughed and patted her shoulder. "I've got everything taken care of. Don't worry. The week will go off with flying colors."
Anna wanted to make partner. It was her goal. Thomas Leland had swept it out from under her, and she refused to let anything like that happen again. He had used her, dumped her, and stolen her promotion.
The women around her laughed, coaxing her to join them as they entertained themselves with drinks from the limo's mini bar, but Anna refused. She clutched the strap of her purse in her hands and stared out the window, not really seeing anything. She was on a mission. This week she would prove that she was the best and she would let nothing stand in her way.
* * *
Janie held up her glass. "To a week's vacation on BBL, with only a little bit of work to ruin it."
All the ladies lifted their glasses in salute, except for Anna; she only lifted her glass half-heartedly.
Janie sipped on her margarita and batted her green eyes at Anna, her bright red hair slipping from its chignon at the back of her head. Mindy Fletcher, another attorney reached across the table and laid her hand over Anna's.
"Snap out of it. You've got to lighten up. I don't remember you ever being like this before Leland pulled his nasty stunt. You've been wound so tight this last year, like a hurricane ready to unleash itself on the world."
Though Anna didn't appreciate being referred to as a natural disaster, she shrugged and pushed her drink aside, studying the other women at the table. They'd all been friends for the past few years, with the exception of Mindy whom she'd known since their first year at college. They hadn't been parted since.
Anna cocked her head as Mindy continued to rant. It was what Mindy did best, though it never used to be that way. Somewhere during their junior year, Mindy had changed from a soft spoken, sweet young woman, who'd been willing to bend over backwards for anyone to an overbearing, bossy, control freak, but Anna loved her despite all that. Mindy still bent over backwards to help a friend, that fact had never changed. Anna supposed it was Mindy's way of trying to make it in the world, not to be judged because she was of the female population. She was obsessed with being a career woman and refused to rely on any man to succeed.
Sighing, Anna cut in when Mindy finally took a breath. "You know why I'm so dedicated to my work. I need to make partner. It's not just a goal now; it's a mission."
"I thought you wanted to help people. Remember? The reason you wanted to be a lawyer was to 'Help those who've been wronged.' Not to be partner."
Anna grabbed her purse and laid money on the table to pay for her meal and drinks. "Plans change."
Nichole Schafer, another attorney in their firm, chimed in. "Thomas is a dick. Everyone knows it. He'll get his someday, Anna, but you don't have to kill yourself in the meantime."
Anna stared at her, a slight smile touching her lips, watching as Nichole's pale green eyes darkened in indignation. "I'm hardly killing myself."
"I need to get in on this," Holly Monroe, Mindy and Nichole's legal assistant, stated. "You don't go out. You don't do anything fun. You work all day into the late hours of the night. You're acting like a crusty old woman."
Anna balked. "I. Am. Not. Old." She almost yelled it across the table. The others began laughing. Anna was fuming now. "I'm pushing thirty, yes, but that hardly qualifies me as old."
Janie was trying unsuccessfully to hide her riotous laughter. "She didn't say you were old, counselor, she simply said you're acting like it."
Anna stood up with such force, she almost knocked her chair backward, but Holly caught it.
"Whoa, slow down there, little buckaroo."
Anna's face flamed, knowing the slow drawl coming from Holly's lips was an attempt to tease Anna for the Tennessee accent that always managed to creep up when she was upset.
She clutched her purse in her hands and glared at all of them. "You snots." She shoved her chair against the table and stormed off, their laughter ringing in her ears.
"Okay, now that she's gone—good idea by the way, Mindy, my love," Janie said mischievously, giving the woman her props with a "pound," knuckle to knuckle.
Mindy blew a breath on her nails then rubbed them against her shirt as if polishing them. "I knew that would set her off. Leave it to me to get her panties in a bunch."
They all shared another laugh then their heads came together as they spoke in low voices.
"So what's the plan?" Holly asked, her finger twirling a long, blonde lock of hair. She gazed back and forth among them.
"We need something good. Something that will knock her socks off and bring her back to the same happy woman we all knew once before," Nichole commented.
"If we have time, maybe we can plan Thomas's demise while we're at it," Janie teased.
"Done," Mindy stated. "Holly, pencil Thomas's demise between lunch and drinks on Thursday."
Nichole brought them back to the important matter at hand. "Come on, ladies, think. What can we do for Anna?"
"Shopping spree?"
They all shot down Holly's idea. "That's good for you, but not for 'practical Anna'," Mindy said, mimicking Anna's no-nonsense tone.
"A day at the spa," Nichole threw out. They all shook their heads. "What about bungee jumping?"
"I don't know," Janie said. "Something about the thought of Anna possibly going splat doesn't sound appealing. I'd be a nervous wreck for her."
"How about we take her to a strip show," Mindy blurted out. "I know I wouldn't mind seeing a bunch of hot looking guys up on stage shaking their money makers." She licked her lips for emphasis.
Janie's eyes widened, a grin spreading ear to ear. She clapped her hands in delight and yelled for another round of drinks. "Oh, Mindy, bless you, I have it. It's perfect. I don't know why I didn't think of it earlier."
"Strippers?" Mindy arched a brow.
Janie shook her head. "No, but close."
They all huddled closer, their heads almost bumping together.
"What?" Nichole exclaimed.
"Spill it," Mindy demanded.
Janie brought her hands together in front of her, her expression smug as their drinks were wedged in front of them by the server. She lowered her voice, conspiracy in every syllable. "A pros-ti-tute."
"Anna's not gay."
Janie smacked Holly on the hand. "Stop playing dumb. You know what I mean. A male prostitute. A gigolo. A man so gorgeous, so well put together, so charming and determined that he will sweep her off her feet for a full seven days of fun whether she likes it or not."
They were all silent, looking at one another. Then they started cheering at once and lifted their drinks, uncaring of the other patrons.
Mindy made the toast. "Let's do this, ladies. We'll find Anna a gorgeous love machine, and she will thank us later."
Their glasses all clinked together, their laughter filling the bar. Mindy slapped her hand on the table and held up her credit card with the other. "I hope he takes platinum."
* * *
Mindy, Nichole, Holly, and Janie sat at the back of one of the Caesars Palace bars. They waited and watched for their guest to arrive.
"How did you find this guy?" Janie asked.
Mindy sighed. "I called Angelica Montero."
"What? Your client who runs the escort service?"
"Yeah. So?"
"So? Are you kidding me? You asked a client who is up on charges for her business to help you find a gigolo?"
Mindy looked bored. "Janie, she's innocent until proven guilty. Besides, she knows everything about and everyone in this business. And she's a good friend. She helped me out at a time in my life when I really needed someone. I'd defend her even if it cost me my license to practice. What are you complaining about anyway? This was your idea."
Janie shook her head while Holly and Nichole chuckled, though all three women eyed Mindy curiously. None of them asked about Mindy's relationship with New York's most notorious madam, they knew it would get them nowhere fast.
Nichole chimed in. "Don't start acting like Anna, Janie. It's fine."
Janie sighed. She rubbed her hands over her face. "I hope I don't lose my job over this."
Holly wrapped her arm around Janie's shoulders. "Anna loves you too much. She'd never fire you."
Smiling, Janie took a sip of her drink. Her gaze moved to the entrance, and choked on her drink. Holly started hitting her back, but Janie waved her off. "Whoa. Ladies, I believe this is our man."
They all turned and stared. "Oh, he's hot," Nichole announced to no one in particular.
Mindy waved her hand, and the man made his way toward them. "Okay, ladies, be cool. I'll handle this."
Nichole blew and exasperated sigh. "Don't be so dramatic, Mindy."
"Ladies." The man's deep voice surrounded them, drew them in. "Devon McGuire." He shook their hands as they introduced themselves, each trying not to gape. After being invited to have a seat, he sat opposite them in the large corner booth, his long frame filling the space. Delicious, naughty thoughts filled their minds. "What can I do for you?"
"Well," Mindy began, "I've been told that you're one of the best in this town, professional and a gentleman. We have a friend who's in need of some serious help."
He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. "I'm sorry, but as I told you over the phone I'm not taking on any new clients at this time."
"Then why did you bother coming here at all?" Mindy demanded.
Devon shrugged. "Your friend, Ms. Montero, threatened to rake me over the coals if I didn't at least come down and hear you ladies out."
Mindy smirked.
"You have to take her," Holly blurted out. "She's sweet, but she's just kind of…lost right now."
Nichole nodded, setting her drink aside. "And it's just for one week. She wouldn't be a regular."
"She really is great, but she's just been burned and really needs someone to show her—"
Mindy snapped her fingers to draw everyone's attention to her, and then focused on Devon. "Look, like Nichole said, it's just for one week. Anna needs a fling. Otherwise, I'm afraid she might implode, she's wound so tight."
Devon smiled at that comment, but glanced at Janie. "I was hoping to have a week free before my regulars pick up again. I could recommend another gentleman instead."
Janie cleared her throat. "Look, you don't know us from the next showgirl, and we don't know you, but you come highly recommended. I know you don't care—why should you, you don't know her—but if you could just give her a chance. She really needs something, you know?" She paused as if waiting for his reply, but when he only continued to watch her, Janie went on. "She really needs this, needs you, as ridiculous as it probably sounds. Her heart's been broken, and her dreams are uprooted for the time being. We only want to help her get back to the fun, and loving woman we all adore. She won't be your clingy, whiny type, we promise."
He didn't say anything for a moment, but his eyes were thoughtful. Finally he pulled out his calendar. "I might be able to fit you in. When do you need me?"
"Right now," Mindy stated firmly.
He flipped through the pages till he came to July. He slid the pencil out and looked back at them. "How long?"
"Tomorrow through Saturday."
"What's her name again?"
He entered her name and made an arrow through the rest of the week. "Can you tell me what she looks like so when I meet her I'll know her?"
Holly held up her hand and grabbed her purse from under the table. "I have a picture."
"What are you doing with a picture of Anna?"
Holly dropped her purse on the table and glanced at Nichole. "I have a group picture of all of us that I keep. I'm sentimental, so cut me some slack."
Holly handed the picture to the man. "That's her, except she has short hair now."
His eyes flicked over the picture before he handed the photo back to Holly. "Thank you." He glanced at Mindy. "What exactly am I to provide for Anna?"
Mindy crossed her arms and stared at him, before finally responding. "Anything she wants."
"Fine, my fee for the week is seven thousand dollars, and that does not include other expenses such as meals, shows, clubbing."
Mindy nodded. "Fine. I was told you'd be about that much, but you need to keep receipts for all your expenses and I'll reimburse you."
Devon smiled as if he found her amusing. "No, you'll pay up front and I'll keep receipts and return any cash left over."
Mindy glared at him, but nodded her head in agreement, then grabbed her own purse and pulled out a fat envelope filled with travelers' checks that she'd advanced on her card.
He took the envelope, counted the checks, making sure each was signed before stuffing it inside the pocket of his blazer. Grinning, he leaned back and appeared to be making himself comfortable. "Now, where do I meet your friend?"
Sylvia: Thanks so much for inviting me!
AL: What current or upcoming releases do you have for us to read?
As for working in both genres, I guess I'm very lucky to be as disciplined as I am. With all I've got going on in my life, I do NOT have time for writer's block. So when I sit down to work on a horror project, that's what I do, my mind is focused on a horror story. Same with the romance. A couple of summers ago, I had the exhilarating experience of working on two novellas, one horror, one romance, each with a deadline. I wanted to finish both of these projects. I HAD to finish both of them. And I had a grand time doing it!
AL: What do you hope for your writing career in the next few years? Any goals that you have yet to obtain that you have set for yourself?
Sylvia: YES. I've got a list going, of projects that are going to be popping up in the next year or so. Right now I'm working on a romance novella about Greek mythology – that's the first project. Also, a publisher in Iowa contacted me last year about doing a book for a series of ghost stories. So, I'm currently working on Ghosts of the Illinois River. I'm having an absolute BLAST, you have no idea. I've been a sucker for ghost stories ever since I was a little kid, and doing the research for this book just lets me wallow in ghosts! I actually got to go to several of the sites I'm writing about, and I have had a couple of encounters with Norman, the ghost at the Peoria Player's Theater. He's a real character; I just love him. Then I'm also planning another romance novel about witches…the list just goes on.
Sylvia: My husband. I couldn't live without him for six months. A BIG stack of books. And fruit dip, like my grandmother-in-law used to make. I'm assuming there's going to be fruit on this island, right? Right? (And I'd have to smuggle my dog Eureka in too, because I'm over three things. But I'm just nuts for this dog. I couldn't leave her for six months either.)
AL: It's raining cats and dogs in your house. Have you always been a pet lover?
2) There's a test you have to take before you can drive a car or ride a motorcycle. There should also be a test you take before having children. I'm just sayin'.
3) And for heaven's sake, be nice to each other!
What You Wish For: Egyptian prince Ankh-Kheperu had been dead for centuries, until museum curator Emily Chase coaxes him back to life with the help of text from Ancient Egypt's The Book of The Dead. What kind of girl could say no to being seduced by a dark, handsome, exotic Egyptian prince?
Love 101: Someone is stealing ancient Greek artifacts. When sexy detective Tony Saals signs up for professer Becca Hellenga's art history class, he thinks that he'll learn something that will help him catch his man. But Becca is about to catch a man of her own!
Through a Glass Brightly: When American Angela Woods moves to Europe to pursue a job as a English teacher, she never expected to find herself caught in a ménage a trois with two attentive Italians, both dedicated to pleasuring her to utter writhing fulfillment. The problem? One of them is a ghost!
"I agree," Ankh-kheperu murmured. He brushed a stray lock of hair from my forehead.
"Agree? Agree with what?" I had completely forgotten what I'd just said. His nearness, his scent, his sheer maleness was driving every coherent thought from my mind.
"There is no need for me to put any clothes on." He took my hand and turned it over, kissing the tender inside of my wrist. "However, there is every need to get you out of the clothes you're wearing."
Hoo boy. All of a sudden I was finding it very hard to breathe properly. My breath was coming in shallow little gasps as he nibbled his way up my hand. Ever so gently, he took my index finger into his mouth, first laving it with his tongue, then grazing it with tiny little nips of his teeth. A whimper escaped my closed lips. Oh, he felt sooo good!
Now there's something you have to understand about me, if you haven't figured it out already. I am so not into one night stands. I've dated, sure, but I have never brought a guy home from a bar somewhere (or from a museum, for that matter) and made wild, crazy, passionate love to him all night long, pausing only long enough for some hot quasi-sexual snacking on the kitchen floor in front of the fridge. Unfortunately, that has never been my style.
But there was something about Ankh-Kheperu that drew me to him. I mentioned before that I had felt a connection with him that went far beyond the merely sexual. In fact, there was nothing remotely sexual about it – he was still a mummy at that point, for crying out loud.
When I had made that recording, he had been on my mind. When I gave tours to groups of giggling, wide eyed schoolchildren, I saw him in his case. When I wrote up my yearly reports on the status of the Egyptian exhibit, he was in my thoughts. Ever since I had started working in that museum in high school years ago, Ankh-Kheperu had been a part of my life. Heck, for all I knew, we had been lovers in ancient Egypt in a previous life together. Don't laugh too hard. It's happened before. I don't doubt that for a moment.
One thing was for absolute sure. It had been my voice on the recording, saying his name over and over through the hours for months, even years on end, saying his name with respect and maybe even with a little bit of love, that had brought this man back to life. That had to count for something.
And the Winners Are...
And the winners from last weeks contest are:
Eternal Embrace & $10 gift card from Barnes & Noble: CAFFEY
Eternal Embrace: KAT HALL
Thank you everyone for stopping by and leaving your comments. Please be on the look out for Eternal Embrace's release next Tuesday, the 9th.


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Note: After reviewing my Ahnentafel with greater care, I found that Marianna Stocker is No. 19 on my ancestor table. See the posting for Sunday, September 20, for Ancestor 23.
This week's Saturday Night Genealogy Fun is Ahnentafel Roulette, a game played as follows:
> Determine how old your father is or would be this year
> Divide that number by 4 and round up
> Find the ancestor in your own Ahnentafel chart who fills the slot with that number
> And then tell us three things about that ancestor.
My father Donald Custer Bradley was born in 1919 so would be 90 this year. The figure 90 divided by 4 is 22.5, rounded up to 23. Ancestor 23 is a second-great grandmother on your paternal side.
My ancestor 23 is Marianna Stocker, b. 18 Jun 1826 near Zweisimmen in Canton Bern, Switzerland, one of 11 children of Jacob Stocker and Magdalena Werren.
A family tree notes that Jacob and many of his children came to America, with other evidence showing their arrival about 1852-1854. Marianna settled in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
On 31 March 1857, Marianna married Joachim Speich, who had come in 1847 to Wisconsin from Luchsingen, Glarus, Switzerland, and they had 2 sons and 3 daughters, the youngest being Caroline Belle Speich, my great-grandmother.
Relative Musings: Both Marianna and Joachim came from German-speaking regions of Switzerland so would have felt at home among the many German immigrants in mid-19th century Milwaukee. On the other hand, they surely missed the beautiful high mountains of Switzerland, their native home, as they lived in a pioneer city on Lake Michigan in the flat Midwest of the USA.
I am grateful for the research done by cousins on these Stocker and Speich ancestors and graciously shared!
NOTE: What is an Ahnentafel? The word is German for Ancestor table. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahnentafel
Thanks for the SNGF, Randy! http://www.geneamusings.com/
Please follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BBPetura
Please join my group Finding Family for Free at GenealogyWise:

subset: commoncrawl


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SCHEVENINGEN – Supported by the appearance of current World Champion Freestyle Youri Zoon at the beach of Scheveningen the Easterly side-offshore wind turned up before noon. Flat water and clear blue skies formed the stage of an exciting day of action.
As the racers got on the water quickly after the skippersmeeting, the challenging aspects of racing in offshore conditions at the shores of metropolitan city The Hague forced all riders to make the right material choices. As the wind seemed pretty low in the morning at the first race competitors were out on their biggest sizes available, while the wind started to pick up big time. Outstanding performance in the first overpowered race came from the side of Dutch local Rolf van der Vlugt who ended up winning the first race. In the quick transition time between back to back racing there was a gigantic switch of kitesizes probably ever displayed on the beach of Scheveningen. 19's got replaced by 13's and for some of the lighter racers even 10's to hit the water for the second race.
Stephanie Bridge dominated the Course Race on the women's side, navigating effectively through big wind gaps and adapting to the sometimes shifty winddirection. Also the British veteran experienced a though couple of races today. Looking back, with a smile she comments: 'Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't. The conditions are all the same for all competitors. I'm satisfied with my results, it was a good day.' Race Director Markus Schwendtner 'you still see the top ranked guys winning their races in these difficult conditions. Today we have completed six races with five different winners, which isn't common.' The German Florian Gruber is holding a firm grip on the ranking with three wins, during day three of the MINI Kitesurf Tour Europe Scheveningen. Followed by the Polish Blazej Ozog, who didn't win any races, but really consistently finished in the top three. Third ranked racer is the Spaniard Alejandro Climent Hernandez, winning the sixth race. Big highlight of the day was the 14-year old French talent Anastasia Akopova , winning her first race ever, leaving Steph Bridge and also Katja Roose behind during the last race of the day.
As the wind kept picking up during the late afternoon, the Freestylers got out to test conditions for a possible end of day three with the newest tricks. As visitors lined up at the beach, the wind died as quick as it seemed to pick up before, leaving the freestylers with no other chance then return to the shore. As wind looks very promising for tomorrow, riders are expected at the beach for an early first announcement at 8:30 am.
Course Race Results (after 7 races)
1. Florian Gruber (Germany)
2. Blazej Ozog (Poland)
3. Alejandro Climent Hernandez (Spain)
4. Maks Zakowski (Poland)
5. Rolf van der Vlugt (Netherlands)
1. Stephanie Bridge (England)
2. Aga Grymska (Poland)
3. Katja Roose (Netherlands)
4. Anastasia Akopova (Russia)
5. Astrid Berz (Switserland)
Read original article: KTE News:Very challenging race conditions at day three of the MINI Kitesurf Tour Europe Scheveningen


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YannonsThe Gallery
3 New Quay Street
10 Feb 2020
The leaders of the UK and European Union signed the Withdrawal Agreement, and the UK left the EU on 31 January 2020.
Details of the Spring Statement. Our summary focuses on the issues likely to affect you.
Details of the Autumn Budget 2018. Our summary focuses on the key issues.
Factsheets covering a range of relevant accountancy and business topics.


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UPDATEv1.1: Boosted the water gun stats
Hey guys! SickDeathFiend and I decided to make a christmas game, I think it turned out pretty cool! Some kind of halloween-christmas crossover...haha but you'll be the judge of that won't you? We hope you like it! It's got great music by Josh Hunsaker and Antfish landed us his voice! So unwrap your christmas gifts but beware, you may not find what you're looking for...you may find...evilll.....mouahah ...MOUAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA! :D
Controls are with the mouse, shift to grab stuff through enemies and space to discard the current weapon or trap.
As usual, toggle quality (Q) or use the Dim Light option to play with better performance.


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Imagine a world where people rise each day to shine, where creating great experiences is the order of the day, where the sky is the limit. Imagine a company steeped in heritage, driven by youthful and dynamic leadership. Imagine a world of energy, excitement and passion.
This is a world of limitless opportunity… This is Tsogo Sun.
Our Vision
Our vision is to provide the greatest possible variety of quality hospitality, leisure, gaming and entertainment experiences at every one of our destinations.
From basic economy through to the finest luxury, our aim is to consistently provide our guests with an experience that meets their needs and exceeds their expectations – regardless of whether they are on business, at leisure, on their own, with colleagues, far from home or just down the road.
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We seek people who share our passion and commitment, who will excel and thrive at Tsogo Sun!
Doing what's best for our employees has made Tsogo Sun one of the Best Employers in South Africa* and helping our people to reach their full potential is one of our proudest achievements.
We have the privilege of working for the most dynamic and exciting company in one of the most seductive industries, and we do so with passion, energy and enthusiasm.
* Tsogo Sun was ranked the third best employer in the Giants category and Best Employer in the Hospitality Industry in the 2012/13 CRF Institute Best Employer Awards.


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Singin' in the RainArthur Freed & Nacio Herb Brown/arr. Hayes - Alfred Music Publishing
Click to review
Grab your umbrella and your yellow slicker! ĀEveryone will enjoy performing and hearing this lightly swinging Mark Hayes arrangement of the well-known song originally performed by Gene Kelly in the 1952 movie musical of the same name. ĀThis is so nice, it even includes the familiar accompaniment riff, sung on "Doo-va doot doo doo-va doo-va doot doo." ĀIt's just a sunny, happy song that leaves you with a good feeling!
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Picture: Jenny Frost and Where's Wally Specsavers Spectacle Wearer of the Year 2012 held at Battersea Power Station - Arrivals London, England - 30.10.12
Pregnant British singer Jenny Frost is in "agony" and struggling to "stand up straight" as she nears the birth of her twins.
The former Atomic Kitten star and her Spanish husband Vicente Juan Spiteri are due to become parents to two daughters next month (Feb13), but Frost is battling severe back pain due to the strain of carrying the babies.
In a post on her blog, she writes, "Backache/sciatica... To say my back has been sore this week is the understatement of the century. It's been agony. It's so bad that I can't stand up straight sometimes. Whoever said pregnancy is a beautiful thing was either a man, drunk or very lucky!"
Frost, who is already a mother to five-year-old son Caspar, from a previous relationship, also reveals she experienced additional problems over Christmas (12).
She adds, "I've had the worst acid reflux but it was especially awful on Xmas day. It was my own fault though as I had a huge dinner and then lay down. My tummy was so painful and I just kept doing really pathetic little burps that burnt like anything."


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Hope springs eternal for Cruz, Sizemore
Both players have something to prove as they debut with new ballclubs
BALTIMORE -- Opening Day of the baseball season is all about renewed hope, turning the page, fresh starts. But it isn't often though that the poetic promise of a clean slate plays out as dramatically as it did on a sunny Monday afternoon in Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
When the Orioles pitchers and catchers reported to Sarasota, Fla., slugger Nelson Cruz was still looking for a job. Who's to say why? He hit 27 homers and drove in 76 runs in just 109 games for the Rangers last season. Maybe it's because he missed 50 games after being suspended for links to the Biogenesis investigation. Maybe he overestimated his value on the market.
Regardless, the Rangers made little effort to keep him and other teams didn't line up to sign him either.
A few weeks before the Red Sox pitchers and catchers reported to Fort Myers, Fla., Grady Sizemore signed a one-year contract with Boston. The news evoked more what-might-have-been nostalgia than excitement. Once considered one of baseball's best and brightest young stars -- think of how Mike Trout and Bryce Harper are talked about today -- his last great season was with the Indians in 2008. He hit 33 homers, drove in 90 runs, had an .876 OPS. He was 25 years old and his future seemed limitless.
When Sizemore signed with the Red Sox on Jan. 22, he hadn't played a game in the previous two seasons because of a series of serious back and knee injuries.
Opening Day worked its restorative magic for both players on Monday.
Sizemore, who beat out No. 3 prospect Jackie Bradley Jr. in the Grapefruit League, started in center field. It was his first game in 922 days. Sizemore singled his first time up. In his second at bat, leading off the fourth against Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman, he homered to right to tie the score at 1. It was his first home run since July 15, 2011.
Cruz, who was cheered by the partisan Orioles crowd when introduced before the game, had walked and scored Baltimore's first run in the second. He led off the seventh and drilled the first pitch from Red Sox ace Jon Lester into the seats in left for what turned out to be the decisive shot in the Orioles' 2-1 win over the defending World Series champions. W.P. Kinsella couldn't have written a better script.
"I dreamed about a good start," Cruz said. "And I think the dream came true."
During a winter when dozens of players cashed in with rich, long-term deals, Cruz signed a one-year contract with a guaranteed base salary of $8 million. Sizemore was an even bigger bargain. He's getting $750,000 plus incentives.
Both players have something to prove. Cruz has to demonstrate that he can put Biogenesis behind him and still put up big numbers. If the enthusiastic reception he received even before the game is any indication, the fans are willing to forgive and forget.
"New team, new teammates, new fans. So I think God blessed me today and gave me a chance to drive in the winning run," Cruz said. "It was really special. I think I made the right decision to come and be part of this organization. And be part of this town. So hopefully I can do some stuff to contribute to get some Ws for this team."
Red Sox manager John Farrell spoke poignantly about Sizemore's tribulations before the game.
"This is the realization of a lot of work. To have the game taken away, I'm sure there were a lot of lonely hours," Farrell noted.
Sizemore's durability will remain an issue for awhile. The Red Sox will take care to make sure he gets days off. But baseball's long journey starts with a single game and this one helped make all the solitary training worthwhile.
"I think every day I've been here since Spring Training has been gratifying. I'm just happy to be back, happy to be healthy, looking forward to getting the opportunity to play and help contribute," Sizemore said.
"It was very exciting. I couldn't wait to get to the ballpark. I was up first thing in the morning and definitely had a better appreciation for the game and all the little things that go into it. For me, it was more, I wasn't thinking my career is over, it just how am I going to get back. I just couldn't find the right game plan. You just try to find any solution to get healthy."
Sizemore didn't think he hit the home run that well, and may have even broken his bat. He said he was shocked when he saw the umpire signaling that the ball had gone out. Shocked and also moved.
"I definitely felt, not like the pressure was off, but it just felt good to get the first one out of the way," said Sizemore. "When you've been gone for so long and you step in there for your first one, just have a good at-bat. Not necessarily get a hit, but just hit the ball hard. It felt good."
Opening Day is about hope springing eternal and new beginnings. It's hard to imagine two players illustrating that ancient truth more neatly than Nelson Cruz and Grady Sizemore did Monday.


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Building a New Business Vision
An interview with Susan West Engelkemeyer, now in her second year as dean of the School of Business, on where the world of business is heading and how Ithaca's program will prepare students to help pilot it.
Ithaca's School of Business is on the rise. With a revamped mission statement (box), a new sustainable building on the way, curricular innovations, climbing student profiles, and the distinction of AACSB accreditation, the school is breaking new ground in preparing the business leaders of tomorrow.
Indeed, there is enough change underway at the School of Business that the stunning new building now under construction will be but the most visible sign of the school's transformation.
Susan West Engelkemeyer, now in her second year as dean of the school, has clear notions where the world of business is heading. She recently shared her thoughts on how Ithaca's program will prepare students to help pilot it.
What are the most important things to consider for higher education as the global marketplace continues to evolve?
Tell us about the new building.
We're getting noticed: We had a 30 percent increase in undergraduate applications for this fall. However, we don't plan to grow much. We want to keep the program selective and focused on improvement.
Why the priority on sustainability?
Sustainability touches every aspect of business management; it incorporates the "triple bottom line" of people, planet, and prosperity. Students who pass through our programs receive a solid grounding in sustainable practices and corporate social responsibility. Most of our graduates move on to profit-driven businesses where success traditionally has been measured via a financial bottom line. However, there are competing — even conflicting — demands on organizations, and good managers need to know how to balance all the pieces.
Green for green's sake is generally not a viable strategy; rather, leaders must invest in systems that reduce the environmental impact while reducing operating costs and providing an appealing and inspirational workplace.
Our new building will be inviting and cost efficient, and will reduce its environmental impact through features such as a vegetated roof. It will have 50 percent lower operating costs than similar buildings; our investment in HVAC and other systems will have a payback in three to five years. Our design builds community through open stairwells, a large atrium that is our "family room," and naturally lit workspaces.
Another enormously helpful way for alumni to give back is to sponsor internships. Many were fortunate enough to receive similar opportunities as students, and offering an internship to a student today is a marvelous way to return the favor. For example, Lee Bird '86, former COO of Gap North America, hired Carrie Fuss '06 to intern at the corporate offices in San Francisco last summer. Carrie has recently accepted a permanent position with the Gap. Thad Fortin '81, CEO of Haas TCM, sponsored a summer '06 internship for Yani Matanov '07 in Eastern Europe. And Steve McCluski '74, CFO of Bausch and Lomb, has been a long-term sponsor of internships. Such experiences provide a tremendous advantage for our students as they seek permanent positions upon graduation.


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A new invisibility cloak can hide objects in semi-plain sight — sometimes. Unlike earlier cloaking devices, this one can conceal things from light of any color and coming from any direction. But that flexibility comes at a price: This cloak only works under hazy conditions, such as in fog, in a cloud or when viewed through frosted glass.
via Hazing: How to hide in nearly plain sight | Student Science.


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You don't have to travel the world to enjoy high quality international cuisine thanks to the Feast Buffet at Palace Station. Here you can sample culinary delights from around the globe at what is widely regarded to be the best buffet in Las Vegas. Recently voted Best Brunch Buffet by the readers of Las Vegas Review-Journal, we promise you won't leave disappointed!
Whatever your tastes may be, you're virtually guaranteed to find your favorite foods at the Feast Buffet. We've got Italian, American, Chinese, and more, with convenient stations representing international culinary destinations. But what's more, we feature chef stations where you can order your favorite dishes cooked to order, and perfectly in line with your specific standards. Bring the whole family down for a breakfast, lunch or dinner buffet and be sure to bring along your Boarding Pass card for some super savings. All Las Vegas buffets claim to have something for everyone, but we take that experience to the next level in both choice and quality.
Some buffets in Las Vegas offer coupons, but we don't play by the standard rules at the Feast Buffet. Our year-round pricing is so affordable that you won't need a discount, but for those of you who have enrolled in our Boarding Pass players club, we're willing to kick in a few coins of our own. Sign up for Boarding Pass today to take advantage of discounted food, entertainment and gaming at all of Station Casinos' premiere Las Vegas hotels & resorts.


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With gesture controls becoming more common in software and apps, it makes sense to maximise the size of a laptop's touchpad to facilitate more than just a couple of fingers. So researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed the Longpad, an oversized touchpad that's as wide as a keyboard and smart enough to ignore the user's hands when they're typing.
Instead of a capacitive surface that can't distinguish the skin on your fingertips from the skin on your elbow, the Longpad uses an array of thin infrared LEDs alongside light sensors that are able to detect the light bouncing back on them. By creating profiles of how different parts of the hand reflect the infrared light, the researchers are able to program the Longpad to ignore accidental touches from the palm and pad during typing, while still recognising and acknowledging gestures from the user's fingertips. [YouTube via New Scientist]


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Getting your hands dirty - history Fieldwork
Simon Haw
Mr. Retired inspector of History. KwaZulu Natal. email@example.com
Introduction]]> Much emphasis has been placed in the recent past on the need for education to relate to the real world. But how does one do this in History, which is about the past. One of the fields where I believe this is still possible is in the area of heritage. Heritage is what survives in the present and raises obvious questions of preservation and interpretation for living generations. I believe strongly that it is in this field that it is possible to engage learners in an active and dynamic relationship with the past.
The project I will be describing in this paper is one I initiated while I was teaching at Maritzburg College in the 1980s. It may be that a project of this nature would be very difficult to replicate at the current time, as the project was extra-curricular in nature and involved work on sites which were a great distance from the school, involving expensive and time-consuming travel. This said I believe many of the basic ideas behind the project are possible to replicate provided one aims at a more modest outcome. Furthermore I believe that the range of skills that a project like this engages makes it of enormous value in the general education of learners. Some of the skills which I found emerging from this project went far beyond the normal skill set of the historian of collecting, evaluating and interpreting data and included model making, mapping, tree identification as well as inter-personal skills such as working in teams.
The way in which the idea for what I called the Special History Project first germinated was in many respects unusual. I had been reading up in the Times History of the War in South Africa on Louis Botha's Second Invasion of Natal and decided to visit the battlefields of this September 1901 conflict in December 1982. It was on the top of Italeni Mountain, where a British graveyard had been vandalised, that I came up with the idea of involving the boys of Maritzburg College, the school where I taught for fourteen years, in the restoration of the Itala and Fort Prospect battlefields. The success of this venture led on to other similar ventures. I must confess I was driven by the enjoyment that both the boys and I experienced rather than any formal desire to research different learning modalities.
The Special History Project operated at its highest intensity between 1983 and 1987. I will now turn to a brief account of the individual projects tackled by the Special History Project.
Individual projects by the Special History Project
Itala Post and Fort Prospect
As I have already mentioned in the introduction, the original idea of setting up a school project aimed at on-site restoration of a heritage site came to me as the result of a visit to the two battlefields of Itala Post and Fort Prospect in the Babanango area of KwaZulu-Natal in 1982. At the time of my visit, both sites were in a state of extreme neglect and were unmarked and uncelebrated.
The battles were part of Louis Botha's so-called Second Invasion of Natal and both occurred on September 25, 1901, when Botha sent out forces commanded by his brother Chris Botha and brother-in-law Cherry Emmet to attack British defensive positions.
The work itself started in 1983 and involved the following aspects:]]>
Restoration work, primarily to the grave enclosures, which were overgrown and required re-fencing. In the case of the grave enclosure on the summit of Italeni all the metal crosses were missing and these were replaced using surplus crosses obtained from Ladysmith;
Production of a booklet giving details of the two battles for local distribution;
Erection of signposts to the two sites.
In the case of this project, it is gratifying to note that all aims were successfully achieved.
Wynne Hill and Intombi
Wynne Hill was the site of one of Sir Redvers Buller's attempts to break through to Ladysmith, while Intombi was the site of the neutral hospital established about five kilometres from the centre of Ladysmith. Both sites were dealt with over a single weekend in 1983. In both cases the work involved the restoration of graves. In the case of Wynne Hill it consisted of the de-rusting and painting of metal grave markers, while Intombi also involved the repair of marble crosses that had been vandalised and the clearing of the entire cemetery.
The Battle of Hlobane took place in March 1879 and was part of the Anglo-Zulu War. Hlobane is a large, flat-topped hill about 20 kilometres east of Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal. The battle developed from the British decision to launch a surprise attack on the AbaQulusi people, who were allies of the Zulus. Owing to the stiff resistance put up by the AbaQulusi and the unexpected appearance of a large Zulu impi, the battle turned into a flight for the British forces, with the action at the Devil's Pass at the western end of Hlobane particularly famous as the place where Sir Redvers Buller (commander of the British forces during the early stages of the South African War 1899 - 1902) won his Victoria Cross (VC).
During an initial reconnaissance with two colleagues, I discovered that a cross erected in memory of two members of Sir Evelyn Wood's staff, Ronald Campbell and Llewellyn Lloyd had been dug up and was in a poor state of repair and a monument to Piet Uys, who had been killed at the Devil's Pass was missing completely. As part of the restoration process, the cross was loaded up in our vehicle and taken back to the school for restoration work.]]> Based on what we had discovered we set ourselves the following aims:
Restoration of the Campbell and Lloyd cross;
Re-erection of the cross and clearing of grave enclosure;
Creation and installation of a monument to Piet Uys at the Devil's Pass;
Construction of a model for display at some suitable site.
Once again all our aims were achieved.
Wonder and Ngotshe gold mines
Work on these two gold mines that were situated close to the Pongola River in incredibly rugged country in what is now the Ithala Nature Reserve commenced in 1985 and continued through to 1987. Of the two mines, the older is the Wonder Mine (1909 to 1939), while the Ngotshe Mine operated from 1946 to 1971. Because of its more recent establishment and operation both the owner of the Ngotshe mine and its manager were still alive at the time of the project and were able to provide valuable insight into the working of the mine. Both mines were what are called adit mines, in other words they accessed the reef which has been folded into a near vertical position by means of horizontal passages cut into the hillside.]]> Needless to say without the co-operation of the Natal Parks Board, this project would have been quite impossible for a number of reasons, not least because the Wonder Mine was only accessible with four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Project aims
The aims of the Special History Project tended to develop in stages over the three years that the project was in operation. Briefly they were:
]]> The massive scale of this project made it impossible for us to say that we had achieved all our objectives to the same extent as the earlier projects. Nevertheless, the park continued to make use of the material we had developed and to take tourists to the mines for many years after the project had come to an end.
Survey the mines
Research the mines leading to the production of a brochure;
Clear trails through the bush to all the key areas at the mines;
Research and if necessary paint machinery and equipment;
Develop a walking trail to the mines. This would identify good examples of the many indigenous trees along the trail and would also have some interpretative material on early iron mining by the indigenous people as the trail started where there were clear indications of early mining in the banded ironstone strata.
The establishment of a core of enthusiastic "history workers" meant that I was able to deploy the Special History Project to assist in creating the school museum for the school's 125th anniversary in 1988. We also created a model of the defences of the Platrand outside Ladysmith as part of another minor project.
In conclusion it is worth noting at least some of the many positive spin-offs from the work of the Special History Project.
]]> Although, as I mentioned earlier in this paper, the project in the form described would be difficult to replicate, there is no doubt that there are opportunities for heritage work along these lines in the local environments in which many schools find themselves. ]]>
It provided a wonderful sense of engagement. Learners became really involved with the past;
It explored and developed a huge range of skills in participants. These included practical skills as diverse as fixing engines, carrying out surveys, making models, fencing grave enclosures and clearing trails, as well as the more academic skills such as research and the production of brochures;
Although it was not restricted to learners studying History, it did wonders for popularising the school's history department, which was recognised for its dynamism;
Some useful product was left behind at least for a few years.


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Great day for a run
Figured the app out and had an awesome run. Best pace so far. Shooting for 7′ 30″ pace. We'll see 🙂
Figured the app out and had an awesome run. Best pace so far. Shooting for 7′ 30″ pace. We'll see 🙂
Sowing the seeds of today's dreams, so tomorrow they are harvested as realities
A blog full of humorous and poignant observations.
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
Tales of humour, whimsy and courgettes
CELPH is a world created to discover humanity.
Just because it is, doesn't mean it should be
Tiny Travel, Big Adventure!
Victorious living...by faith - (Romans 1:17)
one man's guide to guardian soulmates, redundancy, being a single dad and the recovery from drug addiction.
I live in my own world, but it's okay, they know me there..
I did'nt blink when the universe stared back at me
Abeer Ghander's thoughts and readings!
Engaging Instruction, Technology, & Inspiration!
Its all about me that I know......rest you all can let me know
There is fun and humor in being healthy. Stay sexy!
Inspiring & Encouraging People Through The Word Of God By The Leading Of The Precious Holy Spirit.
Find Your Way With Real People & Real Stories
Author, Writer, Creator
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Live your life, shape the world
The humor and humanity of storytelling.
just another annoying girl with a blog
you only lose to what you think you can't handle
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Just a regular thirty-something-year-old trying to capture the essence of life in writing. Join me as I journey through the ups, the downs and the adventures in between.
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The ramblings and writings of a twenty something


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Around this time of year, graduating students at all levels are treated to pearls of wisdom dispensed by commencement speakers. Theoretically, the bigger the name of the commencement speaker, the more valuable is the advice given to the graduates—who are probably too busy worrying about the dim prospects for jobs and the looming specter of student loan debt to listen to what the dignitary at the podium has to say. Nationwide, politicians, celebrities, captains of industry, and towering figures in dozens of fields are exchanging enough pithy words about grit, determination, and unlocking your inner potential to fill the average infomercial or self-help book, all in the cause of collecting a fat honorarium check, an honorary degree, or both. I feel especially sorry for the graduating law students out there, who are entering a summer that, for most, is characterized by uncertain employment prospects, crushing school debt, and of course the dreaded bar exam. I wish somebody would pass along some nuggets of practical advice to these young people. And since I'm not a big enough name to rate a real invitation to give such a commencement address, my only chance to impart some of the lessons I've learned comes courtesy of this column. So here goes nothing.
1) People will never pass up the chance to poke fun at the legal profession, so develop a really good sense of humor (if you don't have one already). Case in point: northern Virginia attorney Hana Brilliant, who doubles as the president of the Fair Oaks (Virginia) Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company. Tired of the ambulance-chasing jokes she heard around the firehouse, Brilliant started the Fair Oaks Ambulance Chase 5k and Kid's Fun Run, in which runners actually do chase an ambulance and the proceeds benefit the volunteer fire department. This year's Ambulance Chase raised over $7,000.
2) Just because you're becoming a lawyer doesn't mean you can't indulge other passions. Whether it's writing or roller derby, building legos or banging drums, find time to pursue other interests that keep you balanced and help you find that inner bliss. Remember that bit about all work and no play? One great example of having it all is the Honorable Nicole Laurin-Walker, whose day job consists of presiding over misdemeanor criminal offenses as a municipal court judge in Gilbert, Arizona. But since 2006, the judge rocks by night as lead singer of the Love Me Nots. Her band's "modern take on garage rock" has led to four albums, a European tour, and even a writeup in the French edition of Rolling Stone magazine. A bout with breast cancer convinced Judge Laurin-Walker that "This whole thing can end at any time, so do what you can while you can do it." Presiding over shoplifting charges, DUIs, and domestic violence cases may be what she does in the way of a career, but she finds the time to pursue her musical passions as well. Find your happiness wherever you can.
3) Never stop learning, and be open to learning from unexpected sources. Armed with your J.D. diploma and a passing score on the bar exam, you may think you know everything. You do not. Listen and learn from anyone and everyone, from the grizzled old trial lawyers telling you war stories to the legal secretaries and paralegals urging you to be nice to the courthouse staff. To this day, I delight in learning—whether it's from the continuing legal education courses or professional journals that keep me current on the areas of law in which I practice, or even from pop culture. Rappers like Kanye West have waxed philosophical on the finer points of family law, as in the song "Gold Digger:" "If you ain't no punk, holla 'We want pre-nup! We want pre-nup!/Yeah, it's something that you need to have, 'cause when she leaves . . .she gon' leave with half." Similarly, Jay-Z helps break down 4th Amendment search-and-seizure law and the finer points of criminal procedure in his song "99 Problems" when he says "Well my glove compartment is locked, so is the trunk in the back/and I know my rights so you gon' need a warrant for that."
4) Be respectful of the judiciary, no matter how they behave. Judges can be pretty sarcastic when they want to be. In response to an out-of-state lawyer's motion to change the venue of a case away from Galveston in the Southern District of Texas, the federal judge noted "Defendant will be pleased to discover that the highway is paved and lighted all the way to Galveston, and thanks to the efforts of this Court's predecessor . . . the trip should be free of rustlers, hooligans, or vicious varmints of unsavory kind. Moreover, the speed limit was recently increased to seventy miles per hour on most of the road leading to Galveston, so Defendant should be able to hurtle to justice at lightning speed." Smith v. Colonial Penn Ins. Co., 943 F. Supp. 782, 752 (S.D. Tex. 1996).
5) Give back. Remember why you decided to become a lawyer in the first place. Maybe it was a lawyer who came to speak at a career day when you were in high school, or some attorney who made an impression on you in your youth, or a relative's brush with the legal system. No matter how busy you may be, make some time to give back—to your community, to the legal profession, or to people who can't afford to pay for legal services. I was fortunate enough to go through both my undergraduate education and my law school years with the aid of academic scholarships, and I am happy to write checks that will help support future students in getting their degrees. Similarly, while I've won plenty of cases for companies that barely acknowledged the victories beyond paying my bill, nothing compares to hearing the heartfelt thanks of a pro bono client. A judge I know refers to it as "billable hours for the soul," and I can't describe it better than that.
They don't teach you this stuff in law school, but they probably should.


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Carson City Sheriff's Log: Woman arrested for alleged DUI, child endangerment
Carson City
The following people were booked into the Carson City Jail. All suspects are innocent until proved guilty in court:
• 9:30 p.m.: Dana Lynne DeBord, 36, of Carson City was arrested at Fifth Street and Fairview Drive on suspicion of DUI-first offense and child endangerment. A deputy reported seeing her speeding on Fairview, then crossing the center line and driving 150 to 200 yards down the middle of the road. According to her arrest report, she had a blood-alcohol level of .145 on a partial blow. She reportedly told a deputy that she'd left to children, ages 8 months and 5 years, alone at her home. Deputies had a locksmith let them into the home, and their grandmother was called to care for them. Bail was set at $3,500.
• 11 a.m.: A 22-year-old Reno man was arrested at the Carson City Jail on a violation-of-probation-conditions warrant. He allegedly failed to pay fines and fees. Bail was set at $3,000.
• 10:27 a.m.: A 33-year-old Carson City man was arrested at North Roop Street and Winnie Lane on a failure-to-appear traffic warrant. Bail was set at $375.
The Nevada Appeal only names people arrested on suspicion of felonies, violent crimes and DUIs. Carson City Secret Witness will pay up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of people committing crimes. Anyone with information is asked to call 775-322-4900. The School Secret Witness number is 775-283-1799. Callers remain anonymous.


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BioMed Central API - Developers
BioMed Central publishes peer-reviewed articles with medical content. With BioMed Central API, developers can retrieve specific data using HTTP, REST and JSON formats. With this API, users can retrieve medical information. The main value for developers might be the added credibility to a new web application, since BioMed Central aims to include authoritative sources. Users can find sample results and sample responses in the features of latest articles, editors picks, check article access and search.


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Michael Haneke's quiet and emotional "Amour" has won the Palme d'Or at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, the Cannes jury announced on Sunday.
A favorite of Cannes viewers from the moment it debuted at the festival a week ago, "Amour" was considered one of the favorites for the Palme. Haneke won in 2009 for his previous film, "The White Ribbon"; this victory makes Haneke only the second director to win the top Cannes award for back-to-back films.
Bille August also did it for "Pelle the Conqueror" and "The Best Intentions" in 1988 and 1992. August, though, made a TV-miniseries version of the latter film before turning it into the feature.
"Amour" follows an elderly couple as one of them has a stroke and gradually deteriorates. In announcing the award, jury president Nanni Moretti singled out the film's two stars, iconic French actors Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva.
At TheWrap, Sasha Stone called the film "absolutely brilliant," and wrote, "every tiny moment between them feels precious, essential, like it can't be skipped over."
Also read: Cannes Review: In 'Amour,' the Agony and Beauty of Enduring Love
The film will be released by Sony Pictures Classics in the United States.
(Photo of Haneke at the awards ceremony by Pascal le Segretain/Getty Images)
The second and third-place awards, the Grand Prix and the Prix du Jury, went to more lighthearted films. "Reality," Matteo Garrone's film about a fishmonger obsessed with getting on a reality television show, won the Grand Prix, while British director Ken Loach won the Prix du Jury for a rare comedy, "The Angels' Share."
Shut out of the awards picture entirely was Leos Carax's strange and divisive "Holy Motors," which some observers had tapped as a serious Palme d'Or contender. Also overlooked: Jacques Audiard's well-received "Rust and Bone," with Marion Cotillard.
The main competition contained an unusually large number of English-language films, eight, but "The Angels' Share" was the only film in English to win an award. David Cronenberg's "Cosmopolis," Andrew Dominik's "Killing Them Softly," Jeff Nichols' "Mud," Walter Salles' "On the Road," John Hillcoat's "Lawless," Lee Daniels' "The Paperboy" and Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom" went unrewarded.
Acting awards went to Mads Mikkelson for playing a kindergarten teacher accused of child abuse in "The Hunt" and Cristina Flutur and Cosmina Stratan for playing teenage girls whose friendship is tested when one enters a convent in "Beyond the Hills."
Carlos Reygadas won the directing award for his surreal and reportedly autobiographical "Post Tenebras Lux," while Romanian writer-director Cristian Mungiu won the screenplay honor for "Beyond the Hills," a rare film to win more than one award at Cannes.
The Camera d'Or, which goes to a first-time director, went to Benh Zeitlin for the Sundance sensation "Beasts of the Southern Wild," which will be released this summer by Fox Searchlight. The film was not in the main competition at Cannes, but the Camera d'Or is open to directorial debuts in all sections of the festival.
The field for most of the awards was made up of the 22 films in the main competition.
The ceremony was hosted by Berenice Bejo, one of the stars of last year's Cannes entry (and Oscar winner) "The Artist."
The jury was headed by Italian director Moretti, and also included directors Alexander Payne, Andrea Arnold, Hiam Abbass and Raoul Peck, actors Ewan McGregor, Diane Kruger and Emmanuelle Devos and fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier.
Many of the 22 films in competition have North American distribution deals in place, including "Amour" and "Rust and Bone" (Sony Classics), "Moonrise Kingdom" (Focus Features), "Killing Them Softly" and "Lawless" (The Weinstein Company), "Holy Motors" (Indomina), "Reality" (Oscilloscope), "In Another Country" (Kino Lorber), and "On the Road," "The Angels' Share," "Like Someone in Love" and "The Taste of Money" (IFC, Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight).
Over the years, Palme d'Or winners have included "Taxi Driver," "Apocalypse Now," "Paris, Texas," "Sex, Lies and Videotape," "Pulp Fiction," "Dancer in the Dark," "The Pianist," "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "The White Ribbon," as well as a number of films that had very little impact in the U.S. market.
Two of last year's winners, "The Tree of Life" (Palme d'Or) and "The Artist" (Jean Dujardin, Best Actor) went on to receive Academy Award nominations, and "The Artist" won five Oscars, including Best Picture.
The only film ever to win both the Palme d'Or and the Oscar for Best Picture is "Marty," from 1955.
Palme d'Or: "Amour," Michael Haneke
Grand Prix: "Reality," Matteo Garrone
Prix du Jury: "The Angels' Share," Ken Loach
Prix de la Mise en Scene (Best Director): Carlos Reygadas, "Post Tenebras Lux"
Prix du Scenario (Best Screenplay): "Beyond the Hills," Cristian Mungiu
Camera d'Or (Best First Feature): "Beasts of the Southern Wild," Benh Zeitlin
Prix d'interpretation masculine (Best Actor): Mads Mikkelsen, "The Hunt"
Prix d'interpretation feminine (Best Actress): Cosmina Stratan and Cristina Flutur, "Beyond the Hills"
Palme d'Or, Short Film: "Silence" ("Sessis-Be Deng"), L. Rezan Yesilbas


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Pregnant woman among several people who escaped fire in McKeesport
Fire destroyed one house and damaged three others
A pregnant woman and her teenage daughter were among several people who escaped a fire on Banker Street in McKeesport on Tuesday morning.
"I'm seven months pregnant and I lost everything and I don't know what I'm going to do," Francine Cook said. "Everything is gone. We have nothing and it's really bad when you don't have that much and now you don't have anything."
The fire started next door, where a man lived with his dog. He managed to escape, but lost everything -- including his pet, who was killed in the fire. The fierce flames damaged three other homes.
(SLIDESHOW: Photos of the fire)
Dusty Sellers also watched as her house caught fire. She said that she woke up and heard her father screaming: "My dad just yelled, 'Fire,' and I jumped up, came down, looked outside, ran upstairs, grabbed my dog."
Firefighters spent several hours on the scene, trying to put out the intense flames. They had trouble getting an adequate amount of water to douse the flames.
"You're standing there, looking at a full-blown fire, and the water supply isn't there," McKeesport Fire Chief Kevin Lust said. "But the guys did a good job to get the supply through. It might have looked hectic for everybody, but they did their job."
Donna Clay saw the flames and called 911. She watched with fear as her neighbors' homes were destroyed.
"It was horrible, especially when the side of the house fell and then the other side started leaning up against that red house," Clay said. "It was a horrible thing to see. Sad. Scary."
The Allegheny County fire marshal has been called to investigate the cause of the fire. The displaced fire victims are getting help from the American Red Cross.