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by Lorelei Moone Shifters of Black Isle, #1 Publication Date: July 20, 2018 Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Shifters, Novella, Standalone
Abandoned by her people, a young woman was being sent to her doom.
Kelly was going to be a prisoner; a slave. At least that's what she thought as she waited for the mysterious giants that lived on the Black Isles to claim her. A human sacrifice, once every eight years. That's what it took to keep mankind safe from these savages.
The human would ensure the survival of his bloodline. Whether he liked it or not.
Broc's reign as King of the Black Isles had lasted seven years already. That was a long time to go without a queen and therefore, an heir. He knew what he had to do; to claim the human offering and make her his own.
When they met, it changed everything. A glimmer of hope, even of love, in unexpected places. But life on the Black Isles was far from simple. And there were powerful secrets, yet to be uncovered, that could change everything yet again.
Claimed by the King is the first in Lorelei Moone's brand new fantasy romance series, Shifters of Black Isle. Shifters, magic and relatable characters; set in a mysterious, distant land, where anything seems possible, and yet all its inhabitants hold dear could be destroyed in an instant.
Chapter 1
Once in every eight springs, a girl will be put forth by one of the coastal regions. A peace offering, a condition of the truce between the Giant Warriors of Black Isle and the men of the mainland.
- No one shall remain with the offering when the time comes.
- None shall attempt to lay eyes on or follow the giants.
- No girl shall ever come home, or her village shall feel the giants' wrath.
By this ritual we are bound, so long as our truce may last.
My life is over.
Kelly sat down with her head in hear hands, making sure she could no longer see the eerily dancing shadows created by the candle on the kitchen table.
They never did waste much time between the lottery and the banishing.
Perhaps that's for the best, Kelly thought. If I had a lot of time to think about this, perhaps I'd be less likely to cooperate.
Of course, she still wasn't willing to accept her fate, no, she had other plans.
After dusk, she would be left on the shores of the Northern Sea, tied up to the strong wooden post erected solely for this purpose, until the giants claimed her.
Perhaps they wouldn't like her. Perhaps they'd leave her behind, demanding a prettier, daintier candidate? Kelly could only hope as much. Or perhaps her ties would be loose enough to wriggle free, allowing her to run before the giants even arrived.
Ever since her mother passed when she was only eight years old, she hadn't felt this alone in the world. Her father had betrayed her. He was meant to keep her safe, those were her mother's last words. Keep Kelly and Ferris from harm, swear it to me.
Instead, what has happened under the watchful eye of their father? She'd been chosen in the lottery.
It's an honor, he had said. Your sacrifice ensures the safety of our people for the next eight summers.
Kelly was to be made into a prisoner and slave, never to be seen again by her people, all of whom were just pleased none of their own daughters were chosen. She'd never got along with most of the villagers, most of whom took great pleasure in pointing out that her mother's death was God's punishment or other such nonsense. Kelly wasn't lady-like enough apparently. As a child she'd played with the boys out in the field rather than stayed at home and helped with the housework. If that was sinful enough to warrant her own mother's death, then she wanted nothing to do with such a God, or the feeble-minded people who believed in him. Of course she could have never said that aloud or they would have branded her a witch and punished her. So she had kept these thoughts to herself all these years.
And yet, she was chosen to protect those same people. Oh, the irony. She would love to see their faces when they realized that there'd be hell to pay for her upcoming escape. All those years playing with the boys would pay off. Now that she had reached a full eighteen years of age, Kelly wasn't half as weak as most girls she'd grown up with.
A horn blew in the distance, signaling that her wait was over.
It was time.
Her father opened the kitchen door, his weather beaten face tense - the only indication so far that he even cared what happened to her. An honor. What a joke.
He'd get over the loss of his first born daughter soon enough, at least he still had a son to focus on.
Ferris would miss her the most. Three years younger than she was, he'd always looked up to his big sister with admiration rather than the disdain others had shown her. She had been there for him more like a mother than a sibling, making sure there was food to eat, clothes to wear, even toys to play with.
Their father had never realized that he had been suffering the most after their mother had passed. While father had stuck to his same old routine; heading off to the tavern after nightfall, as though nothing had ever changed, she had been there for Ferris.
Yes, Ferris would come looking for her as soon as he realized what had happened.
Father had conveniently sent him off on some merchant ship as a deckhand only weeks before the lottery. As if he'd known what would happen…
"Kelly. Our fate lies in your hands." Her father waved her forward with an outstretched arm.
She hesitated for a moment, but took a deep breath and finally got up.
"Yes, father."
Mother, I wish you were here. Kelly swallowed hard.
"Come in," Father called out.
A group of villagers made their way inside the cramped little kitchen. They surrounded Kelly, who had already assumed the position expected of her: her arms were crossed behind her back, ready to be tied. They wouldn't take any chances, because in the heat of panic, many an offering had attempted to flee in the past.
Oh, Mother. Why did you have to leave me to this fate?
Kelly's eyes stung uncomfortably, though she tried not to let it show. A cold gust of wind from outside dried her tears.
As soon as the rough ropes were tightened painfully around her wrists, it was time to head towards the shore. A long procession had already formed outside Kelly's modest family home, which in this dimmed light looked like nothing more but a dilapidated shack.
Of the sun, already vanished behind the mountain ranges towards the west, remained nothing but a reddish glow.
Fittingly gloomy, Kelly thought.
A few wisps of clouds did nothing to conceal the full moon shining down on Kelly's march towards her doom.
Towards the front of the procession two drummers would set the pace for everyone. Some of the villagers carried torches, deep shadows cast over their solemn faces, making it seem like they were wearing masks. These were not the features of the ordinary folk of West Hythe. Tonight, everything had changed. More change was yet to come.
Kelly lowered her head as she stepped forward, positioning herself between the butcher and the tanner, two of the strongest, most impressive men of her village. Their function was ceremonial as well as practical during this ritual: supposedly they'd ensure she was delivered to the right people, and not snatched by anyone on the way to the beach. Actually, it was more likely they were there to prevent her from bolting out of fear.
The drums started to roll, before settling into a comfortable marching pace and the procession started to move. Kelly resisted for a split second, before being hauled forward by the butcher on her right.
Fine. I'm going.
The march was short, Kelly's house was one of the few outside the village limits nearer the shoreline, and yet in her perception it seemed to last forever. With each step, her legs felt heavier.
But soon enough, the outlines of the misty Black Isles came into view in the distance, illuminated only by moonlight. The crisp cold sea shimmered in the light, like diamonds. Not that Kelly had ever seen a real diamond before, but she'd heard it said they were even shinier than fresh ice.
A glimmer of curiosity overcame her. That's where she was headed; if she was to believe the stories. What secrets did those dark rocks out in the Northern Sea hide? Nothing good, for sure.
The villagers surrounding her had initially seemed calm and reserved, but now on the rocky beach, their faces had become tenser, more nervous. Typical, Kelly thought, I'm the one being served up to the barbaric giants, and they're the ones who are scared.
The butcher's large, calloused hands seemed to be trembling slightly as he attached the rope from Kelly's wrist to the huge iron ring on the half-eroded sacrificial post. He didn't even meet Kelly's gaze, which despite the incoming darkness were burning with anger and betrayal. Her earlier tears had long faded in the harsh wind. All that remained was a growing urge to fight.
She'd find a way to escape. She had to.
"Sorry, lass. May God be with ya," he whispered, before joining the procession again, ready to retreat back to the village.
Kelly pressed her lips together. God had nothing to do with what was happening here. She watched scornfully as everyone backed away.
It was one of the rules of the ritual. No one shall remain with the offering. None shall lay eyes on the giants when they collect their prize.
Those rules were now etched into Kelly's mind, so often had she heard the stories. Every eight years, one of the coastal villages will put forth an offering. As prescribed, none of the girls had been seen since they were left at this exact spot.
This had been going on for as long as anyone in the village - even the elders- could remember.
All those lives ruined by such an archaic and stupid ritual!
There hadn't even been any sighting, any evidence that giants still roamed the Black Isles. None, except that the sacrificial post was always found empty the morning after an offering. Anyone could have taken those girls. Who knew what had become of them.
Kelly glared at the retreating villagers, last of whom her father, who looked back once, but then hurried on home, or more likely, towards the tavern.
Bloody cowards, the lot of them.
How convenient to have a rule that nobody was allowed to stay and watch. Who knew who these giants actually were? Whether they even existed.
The last torch flickered away over the dune surrounding the beach, and the sound of the drum faded into the distance. The ritual was over, life could go on as normal until eight years from now when another girl was to be chosen from a neighboring village.
But for Kelly, the night was far from over.
A dense fog had rolled in from the Northern Sea, covering the beach like a damp blanket. Kelly blinked a few times, but was unable to see a thing. How long had she been here for? Minutes, hours? It was impossible to tell, although dawn still seemed impossibly far away.
Mother, don't leave me here.
Kelly's eyelids grew too heavy to remain open.
My darling, rest. You'll need it, a familiar voice seemed to say.
Mother! Was she dreaming already?
The regular crashing of waves had already hypnotized her. One could only be upset for so long, until it took a toll. Kelly tried her best to lift the heavy blanket of exhaustion; to stay alert. But it was hopeless. It would take a lot more than some fog to scare her awake.
Lorelei Moone is an author of paranormal / fantasy romance based in London. A lover of all things sweet, and caffeinated, when she's not writing about sexy bear shifters and their strong-willed curvaceous love interests, Lorelei can be found baking cookies or cakes for her family.
Website • Facebook • Twitter •
Newsletter • Goodreads • Bookbub • Amaz on Author Profile


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The Goodlettsville Fire Department has hosted a Christmas event for children in December each year since 1986. On that day, the department hosts a Christmas party for children who live in the area who would not otherwise have much of a Christmas.
Each child is assigned to a shopping partner from the group comprised of Firefighters and their families, Simmons Bank staff, or local volunteers. Santa Claus joins them for breakfast with pictures and the children get to shop for toys, a coat and a pair of shoes. After their shopping, they are transported back to the Fire Hall where the team assists them with assembly or batteries and everyone gets time to play with the items they have purchased.
For many years, in various ways, members of the Goodlettsville Fire Department and their families have worked to raise money for this local charity. The Fire Department currently sells the best Boston Butts you have ever eaten each 4th of July and our great local partners at Simmons Bank sponsor a 5K run each September to raise funds. The effort would not be afloat today without generous support from our local businesses and citizens alike.
Donate directly to GFD Kid's Christmas Account at Simmons Bank 300 Northcreek BoulevardContact Simmons Bank or Give Online
For more information contact Goodlettsville Fire Department Administration: 615-851-2245 or Email Jan Lanius

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Orioles reliever Pedro Strop has heard the boos from the Camden Yards crowd this year as he's struggled to find the form that made him one of the best setup men in baseball for most of last season.
But as Strop walked off the mound Wednesday afternoon after a two-run seventh-inning lead quickly turned into a four-run deficit, the boos from the announced 25,964 reached their loudest this season — and likely the loudest toward an Oriole since maligned former closer Kevin Gregg's tenure.
Things have changed for Strop since last season, when he recorded 24 holds as a key piece of a stellar bullpen, and his latest struggles in the Orioles' 9-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels might have marked a new low for the right-hander.
"Not good," Strop said. "Only thing I can say. I couldn't do the job."
After winning the first two games of the series, the Orioles had a chance to sweep the Angels for the first-time since 2010.
But in his first late-inning hold situation since returning from the disabled list Saturday, Strop allowed a season-high four runs in the Angels' six-run seventh, which was sparked by No. 9 hitter Erick Aybar's three-run triple that rapidly turned the momentum of the game.
Strop (0-3) pitched a scoreless mop-up inning in Tampa Bay on Saturday, but he hadn't been in a pressure situation since returning from a strained lower back.
"Pete was one of those [key] guys for us last year and has been at times this year, and we hope that he will again," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "He pitched well and got physically fine. … It just wasn't there for him today."
The Orioles (37-29), who had a chance to improve to a season-high 10 games over .500, were also looking to extend their winning streak to four heading into a four-game series against the American League East-leading Boston Red Sox, which begins tonight.
Strop inherited two baserunners with no outs in the seventh and a 4-2 lead. The first batter he faced, Hank Conger, hit a ball back near the mound that Strop deflected with his glove but couldn't corral. Had the ball gone through, Strop said he thought it would have been a double-play ball.
"Can't fault him," Showalter said. "[That's] your first instinct, especially as athletic as he is. That's a 6-3 double play, and you've got a chance to get out of the inning, but we didn't."
That brought Aybar to the plate with the bases loaded. With a 2-1 count, he laced a 96-mph fastball from Strop into the gap in right-center, plating three runs. Aybar then scored when second baseman Ryan Flaherty's relay throw went past Manny Machado at third, giving the Angels a 6-4 lead.
"I was trying to go down and away, and I missed down and in," Strop said. "A happy zone for lefties."
Said Showalter: "He actually made a decent pitch to Aybar. He just went down and got it. But that's kind of the way it is when things aren't going your way."
Three batters later, after Strop yielded a one-out walk to J.B. Shuck, he left an 0-2 changeup over the plate to Albert Pujols, who clubbed it into the left-field seats for his 11th homer of the season.
"It happened pretty quick," left fielder Nate McLouth said. "Got the first two guys on, then we switched pitchers and next thing you know we're down a couple runs. They struck quick in that inning. … That was a tough inning for us."
Strop has allowed multiple runs in three of his past four outings and has an ERA of 30.86 over that span of 2 1/3 innings. He's also walked four batters in that span.
The most telling stat about Strop's struggles might be that he's allowed more than half of his inherited runners — seven of 13 — to score this season.
Strop, who has a 7.58 ERA, hasn't been the same pitcher since last year, and Showalter has publicly feared that Strop pitching high-pressure innings in the World Baseball Classic would have a detrimental effect during the season. Strop pitched in six games over a 13-day span in March during the Dominican Republic's title run.
Orioles right-hander Jason Hammel left Wednesday's game with the 4-2 lead in the seventh, but he put the first two batters of the inning on base before Showalter called on Strop. Hammel was charged with four runs — all earned — on seven hits over six innings.
"You always want to finish what you started," Hammel said. "When you can't even get an out there, that's a pretty pivotal point in the game. Putting the bullpen in the position that I put them in, it's hard not to watch four runs come in when people are on. They shouldn't have been on in the first place."
Adam Jones and Chris Davis both homered and drove in two runs for the Orioles.
Davis hit his majors-leading 21st homer of the season in the fourth inning, a mammoth solo shot that landed just in front of the batter's eye in center field. The home run, his first in 10 days, snapped a string of eight games without an RBI and gave the Orioles a 3-2 lead against Angels starter Jerome Williams (5-2).
Jones added a solo homer in the sixth, taking an 0-1 cutter into the left-field stands for his 14th homer of the season and his second of the series.
The Orioles took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. McLouth led of the inning with a single, and Manny Machado followed with his majors-leading 28th double of the season. Both runners scored on ground outs by Nick Markakis and Jones.
Conger put the Angels (28-38) on the board on the third, blasting a 2-0 delivery from Hammel over the right-field fence and on to Eutaw Street. Conger's blast was the 69th homer to reach Eutaw Street in the history of Camden Yards, the first by an Angel since Lee Stevens on May 23, 1992, the second month of the ballpark's existence.
After Wednesday's game, the Orioles had to take solace in the fact that they took two of three from the Angels.
"We played well today; I didn't think we played bad," Davis said. "They took advantage of the opportunity to score runs late in the game, and that was huge for them. I think everybody was dragging a little bit today just because it was an early start. But yeah, I mean, we beat their ace [Jered Weaver] and beat a pretty good pitcher in [Jason] Vargas."


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Ants, crickets and cockroaches: healthy snacks that taste like potato chips.
Costa Rica: At his home in rural Costa Rica, biologist Federico Paniagua joined his family at the dining table to devour several types of insects that he raised on his farm and whose flavour he compares to potato chips. The head of the University of Costa Rica's Insects Museum decided three years ago to replace animal protein in his diet with crickets, ants, cockroaches, beetles and other insects - and wants to encourage others to do the same.
"Insects are delicious," he said in an interview at his farm in Sarchi, about 30 miles (50 km) from the capital San Jose. "You can sit and watch a soap opera, watch the football game, do any activity with a plate full of insects. Eat them one by one, with a glass of soda... they'll go down well," said Paniagua.
The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has counted more than 1,900 insect species that are edible. Especially in Asia and in Africa, the tiny creatures are touted as delicacies packed with vitamins, minerals and energy. Their proponents also note that bugs emit fewer greenhouse gases and less ammonia than cattle or pigs and require significantly less land and water than cattle.
Paniagua's wife, Gabriela Soto, prepared their meal by splashing oil in a frying pan, adding the farm-raised insects and topping them off with a dash of salt. She then brought out several dishes to her young daughter, who reached into a plate with her hands and munched fearlessly, and husband, who suggested a bit of lemon would enhance their flavour. "They are going to taste like potato chips... you can eat basically a whole plate of these insects," Paniagua said.


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Everyone loves Google (GOOGL 1.54%) Maps... except China.
Google seems to have locked down the U.S. mapping market; Google Maps won the distinction of being App Store's No. 1 free app just seven hours after its reintroduction. Unfortunately, Chinese users have never had the chance to enjoy Google Maps fully because of the Chinese government, and they may not in the future, either. Recently, several Chinese competitors have knocked Google to the side.
Of the companies battling it out, Autonavi (NASDAQ: AMAP) and Baidu (BIDU 0.40%) are winning. And soon, one of them may lay claim to data on more than 390 million mobile users' locations -- and the billions of ad dollars that will follow.
Google Maps' decline
Google in China is a heartbreaking story. Although the company's Android system commands 90% of China's mobile operating system market, all of the tech giant's other services have slumped. In the past year, the company has lost significant ground in shopping, music, search, and now maps. In less than two years, Google Maps went from dominating the market with a 46% share, to sixth place with 9%. The reason? Government and competition.
Perhaps the biggest reason for the decline was Google's move out of China and into Hong Kong in 2010. Despite its efforts to avoid governmental pressure, Google still has to work through Great Chinese Firewall. As a result, Chinese users experienced a slowdown in Google services, including Maps.
Even more unfortunate, the government has censored a portion of the Google Maps website.
As the government keeps Google's services down, competition has pounced at the mapping opportunity. Chinese companies continue to create customized versions of Google's Android OS, and Google Maps is no longer pre-installed on all of China's Android-based smartphones.
Other foreign companies have also had a rough time. Over the past quarter, Nokia's (NOK -0.80%) Ovi maps dropped from 7.3% to 5.1% market share. And as Sohu (SOHU -2.68%), Baidu, and Autonavi pull ahead, it's clear that the companies that make it in China must be Chinese.
Why Autonavi is No. 1
Two years ago, Autonavi trailed Google Maps. Now the tables are turned.
Beyond Google's legal woes in China, Autonavi solidified its position by developing key partnerships. While Apple (AAPL -0.89%) partnered with TomTom to deliver on its U.S. maps product, TomTom didn't have the required license to operate in China. So, Apple tapped Autonavi.
And in late November, antivirus software maker (turned search engine) Qihoo 360 (QIHU.DL) asked Autonavi to provide it with maps, too.
Although it's not technically a partnership, Autonavi has already developed a Windows 8 app ready for use in China as well.
So far, the company's partnership moves are paying off. Autonavi has seen steady margin increases over the years, with a significant jump in gross and net margin from 2010 to 2011. Now that Autonavi reigns in China's maps space, it's not unreasonable to think that the company will post another blowout fiscal year.
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Gross margin
Operating margin
Net margin
Don't count Baidu out
Besides Autonavi's partnerships, there seems to be little unique about its maps product. Yes, it provides public transport routes and local listing information -- but Baidu Maps does that and more.
Back in 2011, Baidu released indoor maps with more than 500 participating malls. (The only other competitor that has indoor maps is Google.) And in September, Baidu better integrated Maps to other services, including built-in discount vouchers, a revamped voice navigation system, and real-time traffic information.
Though it hasn't struck any partnerships, Baidu has made its Maps available for Android, iPhone, Windows Phone, and Symbian. That proliferation suggests that Autonavi better watch out -- Baidu is growing slowly, but surely.
Mapping China in the 21st century
Google Maps' (and Nokia's Ovi Maps) demise in China is a telling tale. Only Chinese companies seem capable of navigating the country's regulated map market.
As a stand-alone navigation company, Autonavi is a pure play for anyone interested in the mapping marketplace. Right now, the Chinese tech industry is still nascent as the big names battle it out over other key verticals -- games, video, social media, etc. If you think China's tech industry will remain fragmented, then Autonavi -- with its partnerships -- might be a great investment.


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Legendary rock band The Velvet Underground sued the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts today in a dispute over the "iconic" banana image from its ground-breaking debut album.
Band members Lou Reed and John Cale say the foundation, established after the 1987 death of the famed pop artist, illegally licensed the logo for use on iPad cases and accessories as part of a greedy effort to exploit the "goodwill" generated by their influential combo.
The Manhattan federal court filing accuses the foundation of trying to "deceive the public" into thinking the Velvets gave their "sponsorship or approval" to the products, which include a $149.95 shoulder bag and a $59.95 protective sleeve.
Warhol, who served as the band's manager and producer, created the cover for its 1966 album "The Velvet Underground and Nico" using a banana image taken from "an advertisement in the public domain," court papers say.
The artist even got a split of the band's $3,000 advance for the record "in consideration for his furnishing the illustration" that adorns what Rolling Stone magazine has ranked the 13th "Greatest Album of All Time," according to the suit.
But while Warhol never copyrighted the design — which included the words "PEEL SLOWLY AND SEE" near the stem — his musical proteges say it's since become "a symbol, truly an icon, of The Velvet Underground."
The band "expressly" noted the banana logo as its trademark in the booklet for a 5-CD box set released in 1995, and later licensed its use in a 2001 Absolut Vodka ad bearing the tag line "Absolut Underground," in which the stem was stylized to look like a bottle top.
"VU's use and application of the design to symbolize the group and its whole body of work has been exclusive, continuous and uninterrupted for more than 25 years," the suit says.
"As a result, the symbol has become so identified with The Velvet Underground…that members of the public, and particularly those who listen to rock music, immediately recognize the banana design as the symbol of The Velvet Underground."
The Manhattan federal court filing — which seeks unspecified damages for trademark infringement and unfair competition — notes that the foundation owns more than $120 million worth of Warhol's art, and makes more than $2.5 million a year licensing various images.
"Inasmuch as the Warhol Foundation has such a large number of Andy Warhol designs, all of which are presumably unique works that are highly valued in the marketplace, there would appear to be no economic need to include the banana design among the designs that defendant licenses," court papers say.
The suit further charges that the "only reason" to license the image "is to capitalize on the goodwill established by VU and vested in the symbol."
"It is not merely the graphic reproduction by Andy Warhol of a piece of fruit: it is the 'iconic' VU banana," according to the suit.
A spokeswoman for the Warhol Foundation declined to comment.


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This post is by Daisy Ball and Nicholas Hartlep.
Several weeks ago, 22 year old Elliot Rodger committed what has become one in a string of mass shootings in the U.S., this time in Isla Vista, CA. Although not technically a traditional school shooting, the case takes on that air, given that he proclaimed he was targeting a University sorority, and since all of his victims were killed in the vicinity of UC Santa Barbara (and, were college students).
Almost immediately following news of the shooting, a video made by Rodger was released—an eight-minute mantra explaining what he had planned (the massacre), who his targets were, and why. He lamented being a "22 year old virgin" and blamed women for rejecting him, all the while falling for "obnoxious brutes." His video message seemed to blame the world for the fact that he had not yet found romance or sex, as though these are things the world "owed" to him.
As Hadley Freeman, writing for The Guardian, wisely notes, the race of the perpetrator often determines the way the media frames a story. In the Rodger case, the news media and scholars have both focused on Rodger's mental health status at the time of the shooting. This is a common trend, especially when a young, white male commits a horrific crime: think Adam Lanza (Newtown shooting), James Holmes (Aurora movie theatre massacre), and Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (Columbine shooting).
Conversely, when a young, African American male commits a horrific crime, it's chalked up to "poverty" and "thug culture," and to be expected (if we even hear of it—unless, of course, the victim is white): think Kahton Anderson (A 14-year old Brooklyn teen who fatally shot a father while aiming for a rival gang member on a crowded city bus) and the super-predator myth of the 1990s, which originated in Chicago when Derrick Hardaway and his brother Cragg Hardaway murdered 11-year old gang member Robert Sandifer. And when a young, Middle-Eastern male commits a horrific crime, it's immediately linked to terrorism (case in point the Tsarnaev brothers—now known as the Boston Bombers—who were immediately pegged as terrorists, rather than mental health patients).
While Rodger did have a significant mental health record—and therefore, we expect this paired with other factors contributed to the events of May 23—a fact few are reporting are that he was part-Asian American. And, it is largely his mixed race—white mixed with Asian—that he attributes to keeping him from being lucky with the ladies. We are interested in this case for its model minority implications: in damming his Asian heritage, Rodger is lending support for the model minority stereotype, which pegs Asian Americans as smart, nerdy, and decidedly not suave. Asian American males are effeminized and deemed to be nerdy or eunuchs. The fact is that Rodger appears to be white—and, the news media coverage approaches the case in the standard way it does when the perpetrator is a young, white male—with a focus on mental health.
But what about when a young, Asian American male commits a horrific crime? While we don't have very many data points to draw from, we do know that in the cases of Seung-Hui Cho (Virginia Tech massacre), Haiyan Zhu (Virginia Tech beheading), One Goh (Oikos University shooting), and Wayne Lo (Simon's Rock College shooting), to name just a few, the news media approached the case similarly to how they've approached young white males who are behind various modern atrocities: mental health is to blame.
It is important for us to place the Rodger case within a larger societal contex—within the context of the white racial frame and white-imposed racism. Chou and Feagin (2008) contend that the myth of the "model minority" is in fact a form of white-imposed racism. Further, it is particularly insidious because of its "positive" nature, which has allowed the "model minority" myth to escape much criticism. While Asian Americans may stand out academically and economically when compared to other minority groups, studies find that Asian Americans, in particular women and male immigrants earn less than whites with similar educations and are underrepresented in managerial positions in corporations (Min & Kim 2000).
A central reason that the "model minority" idea is readily accepted by the mainstream is that whites tend to view the success of Asian Americans (compared to the gains of other minority groups) as proof that the U.S. really is a land of opportunity. The stereotype helps feed the dominant American ideology of individualism. The "model minority" stereotype, however, places undue pressure on Asian Americans to succeed, both economically and educationally; when they diverge, societal reactions tend to be harsher than reactions stemming from other minority group divergence. This pressure to do well in school can be seen in the case of Eldo Kim, a Harvard student who faked a bomb threat in an attempt to evade taking a final examination. What's more, the label brings with it negative ideas about Asian Americans as shy and socially awkward, with "funny" accents and specific phenotypical traits. Thus, although initially this might seem to be a positive stereotype, the "model minority" stereotype is as dangerous as any other more negative stereotypes (Sue 1998).
So, while the Rodger case may have been handled by the media in ways similar to white mass killers, underlying his unhappiness may have been his racialization as a model-minority. Roger's rebellion may come from differential treatment he encountered from girls and society.
An oft-forgotten fact is that the very concept of the model minority was created and originally imposed by whites. While earlier stereotypes concerning Asian Americans cast them as "others," as "outsiders"—consider historian Ronald Takaki's (1998) characterization of early Asian immigrants to the United States as "strangers from a different shore," stereotyped as "heathen exotic, and unassimilable." Stereotypes emerging in the U.S. in the 1960s cast a noticeably more positive light on this group. As Helen Zia (2000) notes in Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People , when turmoil amongst other immigrant groups began to brew, Asian Americans were suddenly recast as the "American Success Story":
As urban ghettos from Newark, NJ to Watts in Los Angeles erupted into riots and civil unrest, Asian Americans suddenly became the object of 'flattering' media stories. After more than a century of invisibility alternating with virulent headlines and radio broadcasts that advocated eliminating or imprisoning America's Asians, a rash of stories began to extol [their] virtues (p. 46).
This shift in the stereotyping of Asian Americans is most commonly attributed to the publication of two influential articles: sociologist William Petersen's 1966 essay "Success Story, Japanese American Style," published in The New York Times Magazine, and U.S. News and World Report's 1966 feature article "Success Story of One Minority Group in U.S." Petersen's essay argued that Japanese Americans were better off, economically and educationally, than all other groups, including Caucasians, while the article from U.S. News stated that through "hard work," Asians had become "economically successful" in the U.S.
So, taken together, we have on the one hand the "white" status of Asian American perpetrators, and on the other, Elliot Rodger, who fuels the highly complex and hugely problematic stereotype of the model minority. While at its outset, the model minority stereotype appears to be positive, we know it has detrimental consequences for both those to whom it is applied, and those who embrace it. Having a highly visible person—at least, highly visible in the moment—offer support for this stereotype concerns us, as does the suggestion that being Asian, or part Asian, is so awful it drives one to commit mass murder. Sadly, the first two of Rodger's six victims were Asian American—his roommates, whom he had described as "…the two biggest nerds I had ever seen, and they were both very ugly with annoying voices"—and definitely not the pretty young blondes he so resented for rejecting him.
Daisy Ball is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Framingham State University, where she teaches a range of courses, including Criminological Theory, White-Collar Crime, and Juvenile Delinquency. She is coordinator of the Criminology Program at FSU, and recently established an Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program in collaboration with MCI-Framingham, the local women's prison. Her research focuses on crime/deviance, race, culture, and Asian American studies.
Nicholas D. Hartlep is an Assistant Professor of Educational Foundations at Illinois State University, where he teaches a range of courses, including the Social Foundations of Education, and the Cultural Foundations of Education. He is the author of The Model Minority Stereotype: Demystifying Asian American Success (2013) and editor of The Model Minority Stereotype Reader: Critical and Challenging Readings for the 21st Century (2014).


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Our roads are clogged with distracted, drunk, texting people pretending to drive but really just aimlessly pointing their vehicles. You don't have to be one of them. Jalopnik readers picked out ten things you can do to become safer and faster behind the wheel.
Welcome back to Answers of the Day — our daily Jalopnik feature where we take the best ten responses from the previous day's Question of the Day and shine it up to show off. It's by you and for you, the Jalopnik readers. Enjoy!
10.) Test your car's limits in a parking lot
Suggested By: Viperfan1
Why it works: Go to a large empty parking lot after it has rained or snowed and start to test out the limits of grip for your car. Practice getting the wheels to spin, then ease off the power and let them come back to you. This is will prepare you for driving in poor conditions on the road, and it's good fun, too. Just be mindful of other people and light poles.
Photo Credit: Valerie Reneé
9.) Video games
Suggested By: WarpedHorizon
Why it works: Before you even have a license, start by playing lots of video games. It won't prepare you for the chaos of America's highways, but it will teach you some important lessons: practice makes perfect, focus on your line, and manual is always better. Again, this medicine isn't bitter.
Photo Credit: Ketil Johansen
8.) Learn to drive manual
Suggested By: absolutedelta12
Why it works: Driving with a stickshift adds another layer of involvement between what you do with your hands and feet, and how you put power to the wheels. It makes you think about how the different parts of the driveline interact with each other, and it gives you more information about what the car is doing.
When you're learning, you feel like you have to pay twice as much attention to everything else on the road. You never think of how people always stop too close to your bumper at stoplights until you're learning to get used to the clutch at a twelve-lane intersection on a slight incline.
Photo Credit: Jordan and Lee
7.) Put your phone in the glovebox and turn off the radio
Suggested By: WantToHoon
Why it works: Distracted driving is a killer, but it's hard to know how to stop. Every text seems so short and you could read just this one at the stoplight. Simply leave the phone in the glove compartment so you don't have to look at it. As long as you're committed to practicing your driving, turn off the radio, too.
Photo Credit: Mike Babcock
6.) Driving school
Suggested By: Trochoid Moon
Why it works: Going to a high performance driver's education day costs you some money, but it will teach you car control in a safe environment, and you'll be learning from someone who is much better than you behind the wheel. We've been to places like Skip Barber before, and they're excellent.
Photo Credit: Flyover Country
5.) Rally school
Suggested By: 48 Spoons
Why it works: Rally school is like high-performance driving days, only you learn on dirt. The emphasis isn't about finding the limits of the car; it's about controlling the car once you've greatly exceeded the limits of traction. This is not only awesome, but a great lesson for driving in poor conditions.
Photo Credit: Jason Paur/Wired.com
4.) Autocross
Suggested By: Kiwi_Commander
Why it works: Autocross lets you test your own car in a safe environment on the cheap. It's fun getting to hoon your car around a parking lot, but it's also a way to make you more aware of your own limits and those of the car.
Photo Credit: Nick Young
3.) Just pretend everyone else on the road is trying to kill you
Suggested By: Ash78 is down with OBD (yeah you know me)
Why it works: Even in the rare event when another driver decides to indicate before turning, it's usually in the wrong direction. Assume that everyone has no idea what they're doing, that they will forget to signal, and that they will easily run you off the road. You won't be far from the truth.
Photo Credit: Duel/Universal
2.) Know what's around you
Suggested By: XKSteeda - GoJJ48
Why it works: After weeks of skidding your car around deserted corners and empty parking lots, you could imagine yourself an expert at car control. This will mean very little on the road. Reader Sylvor Gryphon explains why it's important to know what cars are around you and what they're going to do.
Learn and practice "Situational Awareness". It's important in many aspects of life, but even more so behind the wheel of a car. The mechanics of driving a car isn't' all that hard to figure out, it's being aware of everything that's going on around you, that requires real attention and focus.
Start by just trying to be aware of ALL the road signs you pass. Next, make sure you know where all pedestrians, especially kids, and bicyclists are, and anticipate their movements. Then add being aware of all the cars around you, then add what kind of cars they are and the performance capabilities of each. Make sure you see all the motorcycles out there too.
This is one of the key points taught in race schools everywhere along with car control. But car control is meaningless if you don't know what reaction you need to make because you weren't aware of your surroundings.
I guess this is really just an amplification of the "no texting" thing that was listed initially, but it really is the number one thing to improve upon while driving. I don't believe you can ever be too aware.
Photo Credit: Duel/Universal
1.) Drive more
Suggested By: Nibby4WD
Why it works: The best thing you can do to become a better driver is to keep these lessons in mind and start driving more. Bill Caswell chimed in with this advice:
There's no substitution for seat time. Its like playing an instrument or skiing or any other sport. if you play 4 days a year you are going to suck at it - unless you are Mozart or Senna. Think about the years where you skied one or two days, no improvement. But spending 30 full days on the mountain allows you to build muscle memory and improve. And the kids that grow up in mountain towns? It's not their genes that allow them to ski so well. It's seat time.
Get out and practice, and drive safe.
Photo Credit: Donald Macleod


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There are no words to describe how families feel when they learn that a child they love has been diagnosed with autism. This book was written for those families. It explains autism in simple terms, discusses the major characteristics associated with autism, and offers simple strategies for helping children with autism function in their homes, at school, and in the community. My Child Has Autism provides strategies for families to help their child learn to be independent, build social skills, and communicate with others. 160 pages.
iParenting Media Award
iParenting Media's Award Program provides a credible and objective method of determining the best products in the children's media and juvenile products industries and recognizes those products with our awards.
Parent-Tested Parent-Approved Media Inc.'s Seal of Approval
The winners of the PTPA Seal of Approval are parent tested and parent approved. PTPA Media's mission is to discover and appraise new products designed for children and families with the help of parent reviewers. The winners of the seal are selected based on value, functionality, quality and appeal of the product by PTPA Media Inc.'s review comittee.
Teacher's Choice Award
The Teacher's Choice Awards honor products of exceptional quality and outstanding performance in the classroom and at home! The panel of teacher evaluators use each product in their classrooms and homes to find the best products for teachers and parents.
"This book gives a great outlined approach to the parent and professional. It explains in great detail the why and how of Autism. This is a good starting manual for those parents whose child is newly diagnosed. It brings up characteristics of Autism that no one cares to touch on, like extensively explaining Sensory Processing Disorder, and helping your child develop life skills and why it's important. Communication is vital! And this book gives great tools on how to do this."
Jenny McCarthy, actress, mother, author of three NY Times bestsellers, leading spokesperson for autism awareness
"Anyone can benefit from Dr. Willis's insights - whether your child has a disability or not!"
Nancy Churin, Dallas Moms blog at dallasnews.com
"As an educator, I found this book to be quite useful. It is filled with beneficial information that can help a regular educator in her classroom. It is one of the clearest books I have yet read on the subject. Key terms are defined at the end of every chapter. The numerous references and resources, also found at the end of each chapter, allow for further study on a particular area. It can also provide a springboard for conversation between educators and parents."
Andrea Coventry, educator and reviewer for Bookpleasures.com
Supporting Children with Autism→
Read our Insights and Inspirations article for more information about what you can do to support children with autism in the classroom.


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Episode 38: Interview James Noble
Recording Venue: AOSD 2006
Guest(s): James Noble
Host(s): Markus
Designers, programmers, engineers, we must all return to programming!
Very few programmers tend to see their (sometimes rather general) difficulties as the core of the subject and as a result there is a widely held consensus as to what programming is really about. If these notes prove to be a source of recognition or to give you the appreciation that we have simply written down what you already know about the programmer's trade, some of our goals will have been reached.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
Tags: agile, Interview, post moden programming


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Everyone loves old family photos. Whether laughing at Uncle Mark's 1976 baby-blue prom tuxedo or imagining the life of your great-great grandfather as you gaze at an image of him in a Civil War uniform, we connect with times past and pass along our traditions and memories to future generations through photographs.
With the advent of digital photography and the accessibility of affordable camera equipment, many of us have begun stockpiling photos on our computers. As with physical photos, these digital images are subject to loss and decay over time.
In order to make sure our descendants continue to have opportunities to learn about our lives, action needs to be taken today to preserve and protect the memories we capture using digital media.
On Saturday, April 30th at 11:00 am Kansas City Public Library is recognizing Preservation Week (April 24-30) with a special session on caring for digital photos (we've already conducted a session on caring for print photos). This free presentation will be led by me, Jordan Fields , digital projects manager for the Kansas City Public Library. For details on how to attend the session, click here.
Below are some recommendations for how to preserve your digital images.
1. Locate all of your digital photos
Chances are pretty good that you have more digital photos than what you've taken with your primary digital camera. Have you thought about your smartphone? What about your spouse or child's digital devices? Have your friends taken photos and posted them on websites like Facebook for Flickr? Make sure you consider all of the places where digital images could be lurking. If you do not have original copies, request them from friends and family rather than copying them from the web.
2. Choose the most important images
It's easier than ever to take and store thousands of digital images; however, preserving those photos does take a certain amount of work. Once you know what you need to do to preserve digital images, be realistic about what you have the time to save. If you have several similar images, choose the best one to preserve.
3. Organize your important images
In the past we wrote information about an image on the back of a physical photo (always in pencil, of course). Today you should give your digital image files unique descriptive names. "JuliaClarke_MtRushmore_2007.jpg" is much better than the default "IMG_1362.jpg." Many websites and software include the ability to "tag" people and places or create captions. This is a great thing to do, but be aware that in many cases if you move your photo to a different site or use different software, you might lose that information. You should also organize your digital photos using the file folders or directories on your computer and create a description of how your organization scheme works to store with those folders.
4. Make copies
One of the advantages of digital images is that it's easy to make digital copies. Be sure that you make at least two copies of all of your digital images and store them on different devices, ideally at more than one location. An easy way to do this is to copy them on to an external hard drive, thumb drive, or DVD-R and give them to family and friends as gifts. There are also many online storage options, but you should always have at least two backup copies of your own. For your most important images, make professional-quality physical prints.
5. Check your photos regularly
Technologies and file formats are always changing, and digital images are much more fragile than printed copies. Once a year, open all of your most important photos to make sure that nothing has happened to the files. Create new copies every five years. If you cannot open a file or any of your backup copies, seek professional help.
For more information on caring for digital images, come to the Central Library on Saturday, April 30th at 11:00 am. Please RSVP online if you wish to attend. For questions, feel free to email me or call 816.701.3555.


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Guns N' Roses, Chili Peppers in Rock Hall
NEW YORK (AP) — Welcome to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Guns N' Roses.
The seminal rock band of the late 1980s and early '90s, best known for hits like "Welcome to the Jungle," "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "November Rain," leads the 2012 class of inductees announced on Wednesday. Also making the cut is the hip-hop trio Beastie Boys; rockers the Red Hot Chili Peppers; the late singer/songwriter Laura Nyro; Donovan; and influential British rock group The Small Faces/The Faces, which included Rod Stewart and Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood.
Nyro, who wrote such hits the 5th Dimension's "Wedding Bell Blues" and Blood Sweat & Tears' "When I Die," is the only female act to make it this time around. The hall passed on Donna Summer, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Heart and Rufus with Chaka Khan, who were on the ballot for 2012.
But it wasn't just women who were denied entry into the rock hall for next year. Voters also passed on hip-hop pioneers Eric B. & Rakim, War, the Cure and the Spinners.
Guns N' Roses blazed on the rock scene in 1987 with their official debut, "Appetite for Destruction." Fronted by siren-voiced singer Axl Rose, with Slash and Izzy Stradlin on guitars, Duff McKagan on bass and Steven Adler on drums, the group dominated music with its aggressive rock grooves. Early in their career they were criticized for lyrics in the song "One in a Million" deemed as homophobic, misogynistic and racist. They were also defined by their dysfunction, gleefully embodying the mantra of sex, drugs and rock and roll.
The band sold millions and millions of albums, providing a sharp contrast to a pop world defined by the likes of Madonna and Michael Jackson. But the group's turmoil, often on display before the whole world, would cause the core to fall apart by 1996. Their induction should lead to talk once again of a possible reunion, at least for the induction ceremony.
Their trajectory was the opposite of the Chili Peppers. Despite troubles that included the drug-related death of guitarist Hillel Slovak and the departure of guitarist John Frusciante, the band, fronted by Anthony Kiedis, with Flea on bass, drummer Chad Smith and guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, released its 10th album, "I'm With You," this year.
The Beastie Boys (Adam Yauch, Mike Diamond and Adam Horowitz) are among the pioneers of rap. The first white act to make real inroads in the emerging genre, they were known initially for boorish party music, but would develop into a group critically acclaimed for its musicality, experimenting with different soundscapes, even producing an instrumental album.
Both Stewart and Wood will become second-time members of the Rock Hall (Stewart was inducted as a solo artist in 1994 and Wood as part of the Rolling Stones in 1989) for the Small Faces/The Faces, a key rock group that developed as British invasion was peaking. Among their hits was the song "Stay With Me."
"Well it's quite a thrill and honor to make it in the Hall of Fame a second time," Stewart said in a statement. "We (The Faces) were always synonymous with a good party and with this list of fellow artists being inducted I'm looking forward to (it) … and it's a hell of a good reason to reunite and celebrate with my old mates."
Donovan is best known for trippy hits like "Mellow Yellow."
Guns N' Roses and the Faces were inducted their first time on the ballot. The Chili Peppers had to wait until their second try, and the Beastie Boys and Nyro were denied twice before making it this time around.
Other inductees include Freddie King for early influence; rock promoter Don Kirshner, who died earlier this year, receives the Ahmet Ertegun award; and Tom Dowd, Glyn Johns and Cosimo Matssa will be honored for musical excellence.
The Rock and Roll Hall of fame induction ceremony will be held in Cleveland, where the rock hall is based, on April 14.


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Development of a pest management system for table grapes in the Hex River Valley
De Villiers, Marelize
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
A study was performed to develop a generic pest monitoring system for sampling the main table grape pests in vineyards in the Hex River Valley, Western Cape Province of South Africa. The presence of phytophagous and predatory mites on cover crop plants was also investigated as this may contribute to biological control of the phytophagous mites in vines. Life table studies for Epichoristodes acerbella (Walker), an important phytosanitary pest, were conducted to determine whether or not this pest was sensitive to high temperatures. Information gained from the latter can also be used for breeding purposes in the possible future development of a sterile insect technique (SIT) programme to control this pest. The sampling system consisted of inspecting 20 plots of five vines per plot per one to two hectares. The top fork of each of the five vines per plot was examined for Planococcus ficus (Signoret) to a distance of within 30 cm of the stem, as well as the distal 15 cm of one cane per vine for the presence of P. ficus and damage caused by Phlyctinus callosus Boh. One bunch per vine was examined for insect damage or presence, and one leaf per vine for the presence of leaf infesting arthropods, such as Tetranychus urticae Koch, P. ficus and Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). Corrugated cardboard bands, tied around the stem of one vine per plot, were used to monitor activity of P. callosus. Blue sticky traps, at a density of four to five traps per one to two hectares, were used to monitor activity of F. occidentalis. Pheromone traps, at a density of one trap per one to two hectares, were used to monitor activity of P. ficus, E. acerbella and Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner). All the above-mentioned inspections were done at two-weekly intervals, except traps for E. acerbella and H. armigera, which were inspected weekly. In each of the rows in which the sample plots were situated, one leaf of each of the cover crop plant species was examined for the presence of phytophagous mites and their predators. The abundance and distribution of cover crop plants were determined using a co-ordinate sampling system. Cover crop sampling was done at monthly intervals. The current threshold for P. ficus is 2% stem infestation, which is reached when more than 65 males per pheromone trap are recorded. Counting mealybugs on the sticky pads in the pheromone traps is time consuming. However, the number of grid blocks on the sticky pad with males present can be counted. When P. ficus males are found in 27 blocks on the sticky pad, stem inspections should commence. Due to the spatial association between P. ficus bunch and stem infestation, stem infestation could give an indication of where bunch infestation could be expected. The use of blue sticky traps for predicting halo spot damage, caused by F. occidentalis, is not recommended. The presence of thrips on the vine leaves could not give an indication of where to expect bunch damage, since thrips on the leaves and halo spot damage were not spatially associated. A suitable sampling method for F. occidentalis still needs to be developed. The monitoring system described here can only provide information on the infestation status of the vineyard. For E. acerbella, H. armigera and P. callosus, the traps and cardboard bands could be used to identify vineyards where these pests are present and therefore, where phytosanitary problems may arise. The presence of P. callosus under the bands was spatially associated with P. callosus damage and could be used as an indicator of the latter. The presence of drosophilid flies in the bunches could not be used as an indicator of the presence of E. acerbella in the bunches. If 5% bunch damage is used as an economic threshold for E. acerbella and P. callosus, there will be a good chance of not under spraying if control measures are applied at 1% bunch damage. Epichoristodes acerbella favoured more moderate constant temperatures, with constant temperatures of 28°C and above being unfavourable for development. The economic threshold for Tetranychus urticae Koch is six mites per leaf, or if presence-absence sampling is used, 11 to 29% leaf infestation. Three important predatory mites, that kept T. urticae under control, were found in the Hex River Valley, namely Euseius addoensis (Van der Merwe & Ryke), Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) and an undescribed phytoseiid in the genus Typhlodromus. Various cover crop plants served as hosts for T. urticae and predatory mites. The presence of these plants created suitable conditions for the survival of these mites and may have influenced their presence on the vine leaves. In the case of phytosanitary pests, both field and pack shed inspections can be used to conclude with a 99% degree of certainty that infestation levels in the pack shed will be 10% or less, since similar results for both methods were obtained. However, more than 20 plots will have to be inspected.
Thesis (PhD (Agric) (Conservation Ecology and Entomology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006.
Dissertations -- Conservation ecology and entomology, Theses -- Conservation ecology and entomology, GrapesDiseases and pests -- Control -- South Africa -- Western Cape, Table grapes -- Diseases and pests -- Control -- South Africa -- Western Cape, Table grapes -- Diseases and pests -- Monitoring -- South Africa -- Western Cape, Agricultural pests -- Control -- South Africa -- Western Cape


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U.S. Support Aids Hunt for Central African Rebel Group
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
STUTTGART, Germany, June 22, 2012 – The U.S. military is just one part of a larger, multinational effort to help four African partner nations bring rebel leader Joseph Kony and senior members of his brutal Lord's Resistance Army to justice, said Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, the commander of U.S. Africa Command.
Kony and his followers, many of them reported to be kidnapped children, have for years conducted a reign of terror marked by thousands of deaths, abductions, maiming and rape across several nations in central Africa. But they gained worldwide notoriety earlier this year when a YouTube video about Kony went viral.
The United States' focus on this problem, however, is not new, Africom officials explained.
Since the 1990s, the United States has provided Uganda humanitarian and security assistance and supported reconciliation efforts in support of Uganda's efforts to curtail the LRA's brutalities against civilian populations.
President Barack Obama signed the Lord's Resistance Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act into law in May 2010, affirming U.S. commitment to partners in the region to put an end to LRA atrocities. Since then, the United States has pursued a comprehensive, multi-faceted strategy to help the governments and people of the region in their efforts to end the threat posed by the rebel group.
Last fall, the president increased this effort by ordering 100 special operations forces to the region, where they operate from a joint operations center in Uganda and four remote outposts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and the Central African Republic.
Ham emphasized that the U.S. military has no direct operational role. Instead of conducting the manhunt themselves, U.S. troops are providing information- and intelligence-sharing, logistics, communications and other enabling capabilities for host-nation troops pursuing Kony in Uganda, the Central African Republic, South Sudan and the Republic of the Congo.
"Our effort … is very much a supporting role to try to encourage the militaries of the four African countries that are involved, who lead their effort," he said.
This approach, Ham explained, is consistent with Africom's overall strategy and priorities. "The two overarching principles for us here at U.S. Africa Command are, one, simply, a safe, stable, secure Africa is in the best interest of not only the African countries, but of the United States as well," he said. "And certainly the … effort to bring Kony to justice fits into that ... priority."
The approach also reinforces one of Africom's underlying principles, espoused by Obama during his visit to Ghana in 2009, in that, "in the long run, Africans are best suited to address African security problems," the general said.
Ham recognized the challenges the Africans face in finding Kony and the LRA, who operate across a large ungoverned area and conceal their movements and limit their communications.
"It's a large geographic area, heavily forested, very remote, [with a] lack of infrastructure, very few roads and bridges. It's very rough terrain, and so it doesn't lend itself to an easy solution," he said.
Complicating the effort, he said, is the fact that the LRA's members, estimated at about 200 in number, never congregate and operate in "very, very small groups."
Ham reported signs of progress regarding the collective military efforts against the LRA.
"There are indications that the organization is increasingly in a survivalist mode; that they are moving frequently, that they are focused more on self-preservation than they are on extending their influence… into the small towns and villages across the region," he said.
Ham expressed concern, however, that a desperate LRA might attempt a spectacular attack to weaken the collective will of the Africans confronting them.
"It's a very real concern, and one we have to watch carefully," he said.
However, Ham said he has seen increased commitment and cooperation in recent months between the Africans and expressed confidence that they ultimately will succeed in capturing Kony.
"I'm confident in the abilities of the four African countries: the level of commitment that I've seen from their senior officials, mostly from heads of state, certainly from ministers of interior and defense and chief of staff; the level of commitment I see from the African Union; the level of commitment from my president and from our government," he said. "I am confident this mission will be successful."
Ham offered a reminder about why that success matters for the United States.
"Why does America care about this part of Africa?" he said. "Because we have a great interest in regional stability and regional security. We feel…, as Americans, that our security is enhanced when other parts of the world are stable and secure as well."
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Jay-Z performing at a rally for President Barack Obama in Columbus, Ohio (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
You can take the man out of Brooklyn, but you can't take the BK out of the man. Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter proved that today at a campaign rally for President Barack Obama in Columbus, Ohio.
With a mischievous grin, the multi-millionaire business owner and part owner of the NBA franchise team, the Brooklyn Nets, looked around at the crowd in the battleground state, then said jokingly:
"They told me no colorful language. So I brought two songs. I have to do it, I'm sorry," Jay-Z laughed. "I didn't get clearance from Secret Service, so hopefully they won't tackle me. I changed the lyrics of the song. It goes like this – so let's do it real fast before they come up here and take the mic away."
And, boy oh boy, did he change the lyrics:
Hit me!
If you havin' world problems, I feel bad for you, son/ I got 99 problems but Mitt ain't one."
The crowd exploded in cheers, most appearing to join in.
Senior communications adviser to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, Ted Newton, jumped on the arguably inappropriate song choice, and aired the issue on Twitter:
President Obama — who is admittedly a huge Jay-Z fan, along with being a close friend to him and wife, Beyonce — has not issued a statement. Suffice it to say, he can't be too thrilled that on the eve of this monumental election with so much at stake, the rap phenom chose that song after being told "no colorful language" — especially with the original "bit*ch" still being clearly heard in the background.
Once this election is over, the president is sure to have 99 problems, but Jay-Z just may not be one of them.


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NH Boy Scouts Hospitalized After Lightning Strike
BELMONT, N.H. (AP) — A lightning strike at a New Hampshire Boy Scouts camp has injured nearly two dozen scouts.
Scouts spokesman Greg Osborn says no one was directly hit by the lightning Monday at the Griswold Scout Reservation.
He says some of the 23 scouts and three adults who were injured complained of tingling and burning sensations and all were treated by camp nurses before being hospitalized as a precaution.
He says those who were treated are doing well and are in good spirits.
The lightning struck during a big evening storm just outside Belmont at Camp Bell, one of two camps at the reservation. The camp offers activities including rock climbing and sailing.
Firefighters say the lightning struck near where the Boy Scouts had gathered. Osborn says the Scouts were under shelter at the time.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
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Source: scruffybadgertime.co.uk via Zoe on Pinterest
(image source: Scruffy Badger Time)
I really love seeing other people's versions of the same sewing patterns. Individual personalities have made their own decisions about fabric and notions, etc. and even thought the base pattern maybe the same, the outcomes are always unique. After all, isn't that why a lot of us choose to sew? So we don't end up at a party or walking down the street and bumping into other women wearing the exact same outfit? I know it's certainly one of my motivations.
Source: sarahsewing.blogspot.co.uk via Zoe on Pinterest
(image source: Sarah Sewing)
It was therefore particularly exciting for me when images started to sprout up on the internets of garments made using the free sewing patterns that I drafted and released for download. So in case you were thinking of downloading them, or have downloaded them but not got round to giving them a whirl, take a look at these pics for inspiration!
Lovely blog reader Ashley from Orlando, Florida sent me some pics of the colourful array of undies she's made using my pattern as a base (see above). She says:
"Some of them are made from old shirts I've refashioned and some are made from the scraps of my sewing projects that use knit fabric. I can almost always squeeze a pair of undies out of the scraps if I'm creative with my cutting. What I love most is that, as a runner, I have a weird (apparently) waist to leg ratio so all the undies I buy are either too baggy in the waist/butt or too tight around the legs. My homemade undies allow me to make the legs looser and get a perfect fit. I had to make a few adjustments since I don't have a serger (wishlist!) but they still work great on my simple machine!"
I make me so happy that Ashley can not only use the pattern to create really useful items from the scraps of jersey she otherwise might have thrown away, but also that she's been able to adjust the pattern to suit her athletic shape and make well fitting undies where mass-produced undie-makers have failed!
Source: didyoumakethat.wordpress.com via Zoe on Pinterest
(image source: Karen from Did You Make That?)
I guess it shows how little exercise I do, but it surprised me to see quite a few sewers making the vest/camisole/singlet pattern for sporting purposes! But for whatever use they are intended, I think all the versions have come out fantastically and look like such useful, wearable every-day type items.
Source: fehrtrade.com via Zoe on Pinterest
(image source: Melissa from Fehr Trade)
Source: lazysubculturalgirl.wordpress.com via Zoe on Pinterest
(image source: LAZYSUBCULTURALGIRL)
If you have made either of the free patterns I have released and wouldn't mind sharing your undies with me and/or the internets, PLEASE send me a picture or a link to a post including them! Thanks heaps and happy undie-making!


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This application has a unique set of CoffeeHD wallpapers. It allows you to change your wallpaper by simply swiping up or down. In settings menu you can choose between various effects, enable or disable wallpaper scrolling, fine tune swipe sensitivity or set up a time-based wallpaper switch. This application requires Android version 2.3 or higher. We are actively supporting our application, so should you encounter any bug or issue – send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com, and specify your android version along with steps to take to reproduce undesired behavior. This application has been tested on Nexus 7, Nexus 4, LG Optimus One, Samsung Galaxy Core. In case your device is not supported – let us know. To use: Home -> Menu -> Wallpapers -> Live Wallpapers Features: -Full support of landscape mode; -"Swipe-to-change-wallpaper" system; - High quality HD wallpapers; -NO aggressive Ads! (Only Google approved ads withing settings menu); -Low battery consumption.
Downloads: 430+ (for Android)Report app for spam or abuse!


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Cars Tagged: Battry: 84.7km/h
Cars in Ethiopia
Ethiopia is the one of the most populated countries in Africa and with a growing middle-class the number of cars is also growing. Thousands of cars are imported every year from the middle east, Japan, China and other European countries. Ethiopia is left hand drive and most cars are imported from either left hand drive countries. Moving steering is also becoming a trent before being imported. Majority of cars for sale in Ethiopia are Toyota and japanese made cars
Price of cars in Ethiopia
Price of cars in Ethiopia is growing day by day. While the growing inflation rate contributes to the increase of prices of cars in Ethiopia, the different types of taxes levied on importing cars is also on of the factors.


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News Brief: Biomedical Funding Dips, AD Research Feels the Pinch
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If your lab has been scrimping and saving lately, you are not alone—federal funding for biomedical research has nearly stagnated in recent years, following a doubling between 1998 and 2003. An analysis in the January 13 Journal of the American Medical Association puts numbers on the state of biomedical research monies. The verdict: After adjusting for inflation, funding increases slowed between 2003 and 2007, before funding actually dipped by 2 percent in 2008.
Shallow research coffers are discouraging to researchers, especially when grant approval rates drop into the single digits, said Bill Thies, chief medical and scientific officer of the Alzheimer's Association in Chicago, Illinois. "You might as well go and buy a couple of lottery tickets—that's got the same chance of funding your lab," Thies said, not entirely tongue-in-cheek.
For the report, E. Ray Dorsey of the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York and colleagues used publicly available data to follow up on their previous paper, which covered the period from 1994 to 2003 (Moses et al., 2005). They found that total biomedical research funding went from $75.5 billion in 2003 to $101.1 billion in 2007. Adjusted for inflation, this represents a funding increase of 14 percent during a time when the United States gross domestic product increased by 12 percent. In 2007, the most recent year for which complete data were available, the National Institutes of Health and other federal sources contributed $33 billion toward biomedical research; state and local governments added $5.2 billion; foundations and charities dispensed $4.3 billion; and industry put in the most with $58.6 billion. Between 2007 and 2008, with the economy sagging, the combined funding from industry and the NIH dropped from $90.2 million to $88.8 million.
Alzheimer disease research has certainly been hurt by declining federal funds, Thies said. "The investment in Alzheimer disease is simply inadequate for the size of the public health issue that it is going to present to the world," he told ARF. The Association has been able to pick up some of the slack, he said, disbursing its biggest grant outlay ever in 2007, but nonprofit bankrolls, too, are subject to changes in the global economy. The Association received a record number of grant applications in 2009, he said, as researchers looked for alternatives to federal funds.
In contrast, research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is progressing steadily, despite the funding downturn, suggested Lucie Bruijn, senior vice president for research and development at the ALS Association (ALSA), headquartered in Calabasas Hills, California. "ALS has really benefited from a boom in discovery," she said. Those discoveries include new genes linked to the disease (see ARF related news story on Kwiatkowski et al., 2009 and Vance et al., 2009; and ARF related news story on Sreedharan et al., 2008 and Gitcho et al., 2008) and research in stem cell models for ALS (see ARF related news story on Dimos et al., 2008). This progress has helped make ALS grants appealing to reviewers, as well as attract new talent to the field. Grant applications to ALSA, too, have gone up, Bruijn said. Nonprofit organizations like ALSA stimulate research by providing seed funds for new investigators and new projects, allowing scientists to collect solid preliminary data that makes their next grant application more competitive at the federal level.
The inconsistency of funding hurts scientists and institutions aiming to develop sustainable research programs, wrote Thomas Boat of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in Ohio, in an editorial accompanying the paper by Dorsey et al. Last February, Congress approved a $10.5 billion boost to research funds with the American Recovery Reinvestment Act, but this, Boat suggested, could initiate another boom-and-bust cycle. A stark funding climate means that group leaders make fewer hires, Bruijn noted. It ultimately discourages bright young people from joining the field, Thies added.
How has your lab fared in these turbulent times? Write a comment.—Amber Dance


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Being hungover is anathema to weekend excellence. You wake up with a mouth like the Sahara desert, drool on the pillow, and a headache that feels like a drill to the brain. Luckily, one of the most tried and true methods of combating the effects of a hangover is to dust yourself off and start drinking again. Since the 1800s, bartenders have been hard at work creating cocktails meant to ease the ache in your head and kick your ass back into gear.
Hair-of-the-dog cocktails usually contain several ingredients to get you back in fighting shape. Eggs are the most popular because they contain the protein your struggling body needs. The white goes into any "fizz" cocktail, while the yolk can be seasoned with salt and pepper to be swallowed whole. Many drinks contain fruit and vegetable juices, which inject you with vitamins and help to alleviate headaches caused by dehydration. Additionally, liquors like Fernet Branca have medicinal qualities that, even if they've been debunked, at least deliver bracing flavor that will help open up your bleary eyes.
To help you with your bounce-back manaveurs, we've searched high and low for the best hair-of-the-dog cocktails recipes so that you won't have to hide under your covers all day. Check out our favorite pick-me-up drinks, then try to summon the strength to make one of them—you won't regret it.
RELATED: The 10 Best Brunch Cocktails


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IMMIGRANTS FOUNDED the U.S. In western Wisconsin, where I live, people came in the 19th and the early part of the 20th centuries from Germany, Switzerland, and Norway, lured by the pull of free land to homestead and pushed out of their home countries by adverse economic conditions. Many of these immigrants settled close to each other for protection and comfort. They first began their dairy farms, then started building churches, schools, and businesses. The local newspaper was printed in German until World War I. We still have areas known as Norwegian Valley, or Tell (named for the Swiss).
The dairy industry's story, which began to be written by these first-wave immigrants, continues to be written by today's immigrants.
During the first half of the 20th century, a farm of 40 to 100 cows became the landmark of this area, because it was the size one family could operate. The hours were long, the work hard, but one could provide for a family comfortably.
Fast forward to the 1980s. Many factors made it harder for dairy farmers to make a comfortable living with this number of cows. The family farm was disappearing. If people wanted to stay in business, farms needed to grow. That meant hiring employees—but from where? Young people were leaving the area, migrating to the cities to be educated and to find jobs that matched their skills. Increasingly, dairy producers have had a harder time finding local people to do the honest, but not glamorous, work.
Enter immigrants once again, this time from rural Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. Many found jobs on the dairy farms, living in houses provided by their employers. They're part of a larger trend; the foreign-born share of Wisconsin's population grew from 2.5 percent in 1990 to 4.4 percent in 2008.


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Last year, the EEOC issued its long awaited Enforcement Guidance on the Consideration of Arrest and Conviction Records in Employment Decisions under Title VII. While the Guidance was much more fair and balanced than many employer advocates (me included) expected, it does include some head-scratchers for businesses. One such conundrum is how regulated employers are supposed to act when across-the-board criminal background searches are required by state law, as the EEOC takes the position that a blanket requirement violates Title VII.
Per the EEOC:
States and local jurisdictions also have laws and/or regulations that restrict or prohibit the employment of individuals with records of certain criminal conduct. Unlike federal laws or regulations, however, state and local laws or regulations are preempted by Title VII if they "purport[] to require or permit the doing of any act which would be an unlawful employment practice" under Title VII. Therefore, if an employer's exclusionary policy or practice is not job related and consistent with business necessity, the fact that it was adopted to comply with a state or local law or regulation does not shield the employer from Title VII liability.
How is an employer supposed to handle this conflict? Waldon v. Cincinnati Public Schools, currently pending in the Southern District of Ohio, may provide some future guidance.
That case concerns the application of Ohio H.B. 190, which became law in 2007. That law requires criminal background checks of all current school employees, regardless of whether their duties involve the care, custody, or control of children, and mandates the termination of any employee with a certain number of historical convictions, regardless of the convictions' age.
Two African-American employees challenge that H.B. 190 has an unlawful disparate impact because of race. Both were terminated based on decades-old convictions. All told, the Cincinnati Public Schools fired 10 employees as a result of background checks conducted pursuant to H.B. 190; nine of the 10 fired were African-American.
It is early in the litigation of the Waldon case. The court denied the employer's motion to dismiss.
First, it concluded that it was clear that the Plaintiffs pleaded a prima facie case of disparate impact.
Although there appears to be no question that Defendant did not intend to discriminate, intent is irrelevant and the practice that it implemented allegedly had a greater impact on African-Americans than others.The existence of statistically significant disparate impact, however, if only the first step in the analysis. An employer can avoid liability if the challenged practice is justified by business necessity. While the court believed this issue to be "a close call," it ultimately concluded that it could not make that call on a motion to dismiss:
Obviously the policy as applied to serious recent crimes addressed a level of risk the Defendant was justified in managing due to the nature of its employees' proximity to children. However, in relation to the two Plaintiffs in this case, the policy operated to bar employment when their offenses were remote in time, when Plaintiff Britton's offense was insubstantial, and when both had demonstrated decades of good performance. These Plaintiffs posed no obvious risk due to their past convictions, but rather, were valuable and respected employees, who merited a second chance.… Under these circumstances, the Court cannot conclude as a matter of law that Defendant's policy constituted a business necessity.Talk about a tough position in which to place an employer. Does the employer violate state law or violate Title VII? Ultimately, I think the correct answer should be neither. Shouldn't the need to follow state law provide the employer's "business necessity?" If not, employers will be faced in the untenable position of following one law and violating the other.
photo credit: kevin dooley via photopin cc
This post originally appeared on The Legal Workplace Blog.


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Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer and Daytime Eye Cream
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Kosas Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer and Daytime Eye Cream is a medium coverage, super creamy concealer, eye cream, and spot treatment in one that visibly brightens and helps reveal better skin. This concealer is delivered in a skincare base packed with Hyaluronic Acid, Peptides and Caffeine that hydrate, visibly plump and give a smooth, radiant finish. It covers and reduces the appearance of dark circles, but still fully looks like your skin. Clean, comfy, and clinically tested. Formulated with Caffeine and Pink Algae Extract to fight dark circles, puffiness and dullness, Hyaluronic Acid and Peptides to hydrate and visibly plump for supple, juicy skin, and Arnica and Panthenol, the ultimate skin-calming tool for blemishes and redness. In a consumer study with 20 subjects after using Revealer for 28 days: 100% agreed this product improved the quality of bare skin, 100% agreed this product effectively conceals under eye circles, dark spots and blemishes, 100% agreed eyes appear instantly awake and refreshed, 100% agreed lines and wrinkles around eyes are less visible, 100% agreed the skin around the eye area looks plumper.
The Details
- In .5 N - very light with neutral undertones
- Non-irritating, allergy tested, clinically tested, non-comedogenic, dermatologically tested, vegan & cruelty-free
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- 0.2 oz/ 6 ml
- This item is not available to ship to Australia, New Zealand
- Revolve Style No. KOSA-WU84
- Manufacturer Style No. 09_.5
- Actual packaging and materials may vary. Please read labels, warnings, and directions before use.
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- Apply anywhere you want to brighten, conceal or smooth - under eyes, blemishes, and cheekbones
- Swipe or dab the doe foot applicator over skin, then blend using your fingers, a brush or sponge
- Perfect for spot covering or layering over foundation
Aqua, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mica, Octyldodecanol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Undecane, Glycerin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Tridecane, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Galactoarabinan, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Caffeine, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare Oil, Glyceryl Oleate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lecithin, Maltodextrin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Panthenol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, [+/ -: CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499]. Disclaimer: Ingredients are subject to change at the manufacturer's discretion. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
Makeup for skincare freaks. Sheena Yaitanes created Kosas in 2015. It's quick, easy, really-works makeup that also doubles as skincare - packed with clean treatment ingredients. Because taking care of your skin includes the makeup that you put on it.
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Sochi: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the bobsled USA-1.
If the American bobsled team finds itself in a jam at the Sochi Games, it appears they can call on Capt. James Tiberius Kirk to get them out of it.
William Shatner is an avid Olympic fan, and he's been tweeting out congratulatory messages to the medal winners this weekend. But he seems to have particular interest in the USA bobsled team, especially after seeing a picture circulate of McKinney, Texas, native Johnny Quinn breaking through a bathroom door after he was locked in.
Shatner tweeted to Quinn, "You've certainly made your mark. As I told Mr. Cunningham, take a piece of the door to tell your kids. ;) Bill"
"Please send my best wishes to your teammates," Shatner tweets to American bobsledder Nick Cunningham, a native of Monterey, Calif. "And no more broken doors! Make sure you save a piece of the door to show your kids."
"Eating beef jerky, listening to @Jason_Aldean, tweeting with @WilliamShatner.... not a bad morning at the @Olympics," Cunningham tweets.


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Halo: Reach isn't the beginning, it's the end.
Sure, Microsoft might continue to churn out Halo game after Halo game, but this will be the last one that Bungie will ever have a hand in developing, or so we're told. And that's exactly how Halo: Reach feels: Like a swan song.
Halo: Reach is meant to be a prequel, the table setter for the Halo trilogy that put Bungie, and in many ways the Xbox, on the map. In it you take on the role of a faceless space marine, the newest member of the United Nations Space Command special operations unit Noble Team. As Noble 6, you're an unwelcome replacement in a unit that always seems in need of fresh blood.
As the game opens you're given a dramatic look at the world of Reach, a planet you'll spend the next eight or so hours of gaming, fighting to defend.
Satisfying Story: I've always found that Halo's greatest weakness has been its story. The plot, the characters, even the setting have always felt a bit too sci-fi generic for my liking. Halo: Reach was Bungie's last chance to prove that they can create a game that is as evocative to experience as it is to play. While the game's story certainly doesn't sing from opening to close, it does a fine job of building up a sense of wonder and curiosity in the gamer. More importantly, it delivers a cast of characters you'll come to quickly care about, and then deftly deals with each, leaving few loose ends. If Halo 3 was a bit too much of a cliff hanger, Halo: Reach will most certainly satisfy you in the way it ties things up so neatly, so completely.
A Living Painting: There are points in Halo: Reach when the game seems to escape the confines of graphic animation, transcending the medium to become moving set pieces that look more like a pulsing Baroque painting than a video game. The blending of rich colors and dramatic presentation, cued to important moments, memorable movements in Halo: Reach is pitch perfect, used just enough to help burn the game's high points into your conscience.
Clever Enemies: The enemies of Halo: Reach are somehow even more efficient, tactical and clever than previous iterations. They use all of the new gadgets, weapons and powers this latest Halo grants them to easily parry foolish, head-on attacks and direct confrontation. Instead, players will need to use guile, speed and that wonderful ability to jet-pack through the air to run down, over and around your enemies.
Multiplayer: An entire review could be devoted to just the myriad of ways that Halo: Reach's multiplayer sings, all of the wonderful things it brings to the table. The game reworks the popular Firefight mode to allow for nearly limitless customization of the Spartans versions horde mode. Matchmaking seems to have been greatly sped up, though there weren't many people playing when I was trying the game, and there are now ways to try and find gamers who you want to play with through a set of clever filters. Online campaign matchmaking works seamlessly, allowing you to quickly find up to three other gamers to burn through the campaign with. A player Armory and the use of earned credits allows you to customize your Spartan and gives you one more reason to keep playing those online matches. And Halo: Reach's level building tool, Forge, has been retooled to be easier to use. Bungie also promises to deliver daily in-game challenges when Halo: Reach launches, which will give players another way to earn credits. Of course, there are also plenty of new modes and maps to play with, all of which are augmented by the game's new look and those wonderful class settings.
Graphics: Halo: Reach's greatest achievement is how thoroughly it reinvents the look of the storied franchise, giving everything a much grittier and more realistic aspect. The game throws out the tiring purple pallet of past Halos for an eclectic, vibrant look that doesn't use color to distract, but rather to augment the shooter's look. The developers push their use of color, taking every opportunity to make the settings vibrant and alive. From the color-leaching greys of rainstorms that roll through some levels, to the warm glow of fires and explosions, Reach is artfully depicted as a living world.
Helicopter At Dusk: There's no question that Bungie can make a solid first-person shooter. But a combat flight game? Despite slightly awkward flight controls, the game's lengthy Falcon level is a welcome change to the endless ground combat of previous Halo games.
Space Dogfights: Helicopters, sure, but space combat? I'm not sure which I enjoyed more, but I was delighted to find that the level dedicated to Sabre space combat felt incredibly different from the Falcon's helicopter combat, as it should. If anything, my only complaint about this section of the game is that there wasn't enough of it.
Turret Level: Bungie has their first-person shooter space combat down, so it's nice to see that the developer still pushes themselves to take a chance and try to deliver new experiences, not just with space combat, helicopter combat and an assortment of new weapons and enemies. One unforgettable section of the game has you running back and forth between turrets, activating them as you dodge enemy fire and defend an important position. The simple addition of turrets that need constant care, adds a new facet to the game's dynamic and helps once more to move the game along without feeling like an endless shootout.
Armor Abilities: Somehow the team of pre-Halo Spartans managed to get one considerable upgrade to their arsenal: Armor abilities. While you start off with just the ability to sprint by tapping the left bumper, as you make your way through the campaign, you'll find plenty of places where you can switch out armor abilities. Other abilities include a jet pack, a holographic decoy, active camouflage, a drop shield and armor lock. These abilities can vastly change the way you play through sections of the game, allowing gamers to tackle the challenges they face in a myriad of ways. Multiplayer too includes these abilities, plus a couple more, and when available, they have an even bigger impact on gameplay. I still spend half of my online matches trying to do mid-air take-downs of other jet pack Spartans.
The Little Things: There's nothing really to hate about Halo: Reach, but there are a few things that bugged me. Top of my list was how despite having to face incredibly smart, seemingly complex enemies, my cohorts were as dumb as a bag of hammers. They'll forget to hop into vehicles, get lost, not realize you've left to go on your next mission or, my personal favorite, get locked behind a blast shield because they apparently didn't notice it closing. While it didn't happen often, I was shocked to see that Halo: Reach does on very few occasions, chug. That is, the graphics slow down quite a bit when there's too much going on in the game. The first time I noticed this was near the end of the game when a lot of enemies were around, and we were all shooting off our weapons and something big exploded. But I've since seen it a few other times and in online matches as well. I checked it on a second console and checked in with other players and they've noticed it too. It happens so infrequently that it doesn't really mar the game, but it's not the type of issue I would ever expect to see in a Bungie title.
There is much to love about Halo: Reach, but looking back at my nearly two times through the game and a day spent playing it online, the single thing that sticks with me the most is its setting, its majestic take on a planet that doesn't exist. Bungie has outdone themselves with the game's look, stringing together set-piece after set-piece until there is nearly nothing left.
Halo: Reach is unquestionably the best of the Halo games, and that's not a small thing to say. But Bungie doesn't just match the best of every Halo game that came before it, they've improved it, streamlined it, perfected it. Gone are sections of tedium and vacuous game design, gone too is the almost cartoon look of the earlier games and the narrow vision of the places in which they took place. In many ways, Halo: Reach feels like a coming of age title, not for the characters or the universe Bungie created, but for the studio itself.
Halo: Reach was developed by Bungie and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360 on Sept. 14. Retails for $59.99 USD. A copy of the game was given to us by the publisher for reviewing purposes. Played through the campaign by myself on normal difficulty, and through much of the campaign with one or more friends on Heroic difficulty. Played multiple online matches in campaign, firefight and the plentiful versus modes. Messed around with Forge.
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