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Are you having trouble finding the right phone to suit your needs? Our personal shoppers are here to help. This free program from Ting allows you to put in some of your wants and needs, and from there we match you with the phone of your dreams! Not convinced? Take a look at our frequently asked questions.
1. What is the Ting personal shopper program?
The personal shopper program offers you a more cost-effective alternative to buying a new or refurbished phone directly from Ting. We search Glyde, eBay, Swappa and Amazon for used, inactive devices that are compatible with our GSM network. Check out the personal shopper program page so you can get started.
2. How quickly do personal shoppers find phones?
Our personal shoppers will try to provide at least three recommendations from our partner sellers within two business days. If you need a recommendation sooner, please call 1-855-846-4389 or chat with one of our agents online.
3. What types of phone options will I receive?
As long as it is supported by our GSM network provider, or it is an unlocked GSM device, we will look for whatever style of phone you are interested in. This ranges from smart-phones, feature phones, tablets, hot-spots, qwerty slides and beyond.
4. Will the phone I purchase come with a SIM card?
Only devices purchased directly through Ting will come with a Ting SIM card. We will send a Ting SIM card free of charge only when buying a suggested item a personal shopper has recommended. A screenshot of your order will be required to have the free SIM card sent out.
5. Does the personal shopper only recommend GSM phones?
Due to the Sprint Financial Eligibility Dates Policy, we currently only provide GSM options to you, to avoid purchasing a flagged incompatible device.
6. What are GSM and CDMA?
In the U.S., CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and GSM (Global Systems for Mobiles) are shorthand for the two major radio systems used in cell phones. CDMA carriers use network-based white lists to verify their subscribers, while GSM carriers put the customer's information on a removable SIM card.
7. Will I need to set up an account with Glyde, eBay, Swappa or Amazon to buy a phone?
Yes. They are separate companies, so you cannot use your Ting account billing information to make purchases with these sellers.
8. The listing mentions that the phone has an IMEI number?
IMEI stands for International Mobile Station Equipment Identity and is a unique identifier for a mobile device.
9. Does it matter if I buy a device with a "bad IMEI"?
Yes. A device with a bad IMEI cannot be added to your Ting account because it has been flagged by the previous carrier for a specific reason. It could be a lost or stolen device or a device on an account with an unpaid balance. Our personal shoppers will only recommend devices with a "clean" IMEI.
10. How do I know if a phone has a clean or bad IMEI?
The listings might mention the status of the phone's IMEI. If not, ask the seller and check the IMEI number with Ting's compatibility checker. We will tell you if the phone will work with Ting or not.
11. Does it matter if I buy a device that is "rooted," "flashed," or "jailbroken"?
Yes. These terms mean that the original owner or seller has changed fundamental aspects of the way the device works and more often than not, we cannot activate or troubleshoot devices that have been modified. Ting does not support devices that are running unauthorized operating systems or software, and our personal shoppers will only recommend devices that have the original manufacturer's settings.
12. Can I return the device if I don't like it?
Return policies depend on the individual site or reseller. Make sure you are aware of their return policies before you place an order. Here are the return policies of some resellers we might provide:
13. What if the personal shoppers can't find the device I want?
If you have a specific phone in mind and we can't find it, it is possible that it is not supported. We will only recommend phones that are GSM compatible, but we will always try our best to find something that works for you.
14. Will the device definitely work on Ting?
We hope so! Our personal shoppers assume that the device will function as advertised by the seller in the phone's listing. We cannot guarantee 100% that the phone will work because it doesn't come from Ting.
15. I don't want to buy a phone from a third party seller. Can I get a used phone from Ting?
Absolutely! We offer refurbished used phones on our shop page. We test all our refurbished devices before we ship them, and we offer a 30 day warranty period with each refurbished phone.
16. Are the devices you recommend from Glyde, Swappa, eBay, and Amazon "refurbished"?
Unless the seller specifically mentions that the device is refurbished, then it is more than likely just passing hands from one owner to another.
17. I only want to buy new phones. Can you find me a new phone?
If you are looking for a new phone, look for all the devices marked "New" that we sell on our main shop page. All new phones from Ting come with a one year warranty. Our personal shoppers will also recommend new devices if you specify this when filling out the personal shopper request form.
18. How long will I have to wait for the device to arrive?
Delivery times depends on the distance between the shipping location, the seller and your location. We recommend that you check with the seller beforehand. The seller might offer express shipping options.
19. What if I don't like the choices the personal shopper finds for me?
Your requirements might change over time, so let our personal shoppers know if you are not happy with the recommendations. In turn, you can also let the personal shoppers know of your specification updates, and they can keep searching for you.


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Giuliani gave to Planned Parenthood
Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani in his campaign appearances this year has stated that he personally abhors abortion, even though he supports keeping a legal right to choose. But records show that in the '90s he contributed money at least six times to Planned Parenthood, one of the country's leading abortion rights groups and its top provider of abortions.
Federal tax returns made public by the former New York mayor show that he and his then-wife, Donna Hanover, made personal donations to national, state and city chapters of Planned Parenthood totaling $900 in 1993, 1994, 1998 and 1999.
Story Continued Below
The returns have been on the public record for years, but the detail about Giuliani's support for Planned Parenthood -- along with e-mailed copies of the returns -- was provided to The Politico by aides to a rival campaign, who insisted on not being identified.
Giuliani's old contributions could echo throughout the 2008 GOP nomination battle, as he seeks to lessen the political impact of his support for abortion rights -- an unpopular position among the social conservatives who in recent elections have weighed decisively in the primaries and caucuses. The issue was raised anew at last week's debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, when Giuliani gave a noncommittal answer to the question of whether it would be a good day for the country if Roe v. Wade were overturned.
"It'd be OK," Giuliani responded, adding that it would also be all right if the Supreme Court decided the other way.
On the campaign trail, Giuliani has a consistent mantra when the abortion issue comes up. "I'm against abortion. I hate it. I wish there never was an abortion, and I would counsel a woman to have an adoption instead of an abortion," Giuliani said last month in Columbia, S.C., in a typical comment.
He also frequently notes that, during his tenure as mayor, the number of abortions went down in New York City and that, as president, he would appoint "strict constructionist judges," a description meant to reassure social conservatives.
Asked how Giuliani could reconcile personal opposition to abortion with a contribution to Planned Parenthood, a Giuliani spokeswoman reiterated the former mayor's stump message and took what could be construed as a shot against former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who has recently become an opponent of abortion rights.
"Mayor Giuliani has been consistent in his position -- he is personally opposed to abortion, but at the same time he understands it is a personal and emotional decision that should ultimately be left up to the woman," said Maria Comella.
Comella added that, "from the start, Mayor Giuliani has been straight with the American people about where he stands on the issues and saying exactly what he thinks.
"Ultimately, this election is about leadership, and it's a sign of leadership to stand by your position in the face of political expediency."
Giuliani's bid will test how far an abortion-rights politician can advance within the GOP. Every Republican nominee since 1980 has opposed abortion.
Opposition researchers for other candidates hope to make Giuliani's life more difficult at regular intervals -- and to help them out, they have a trove of video clips and quotes from Giuliani's time in City Hall showing him to be a vocal advocate of abortion rights.
For example, in 2001, appearing at a NARAL/Pro-Choice America luncheon, he voiced the conservative case for abortion rights, arguing that it "might be more consistent with the philosophy of the Republican Party.
"Because the Republican Party stands for the idea that you have to restore more freedom of choice, more opportunity, more opportunity for people to make their own choices rather than the government dictating those choices," said Giuliani.

subset: commoncrawl


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Bible Quiz Practice Game
The Bible Quiz Practice Game is a fast paced quiz show style multiple choice quiz for one to four players. Test your knowledge of the first half of any Awana T&T handbook in KJV, NKJV, or NIV.
Quizlet Study Games
We've stored study materials at Quizlet.com. Now you have have access to flash cards, matching games, fill in the blank games, timed challenges, and all new practice tests. If you would like to track your proficiency with our Quizlet study materials, you can create an account and "register" for a handbook "class", then track your best scores.
Word Wise Matching Game
The Word Wise Matching Game tests your knowledge of Word Wise words, phrases, and their definitions from the first half of any Awana T&T handbook in KJV, NKJV, or NIV.
Daily Bible Trivia Quiz
This is a fun, random, multiple choice Bible trivia quiz provided through ChristiansUnite.com. A new quiz is presented daily.


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In Case You Missed Anything/
Writing from my last day of training in snowy Boulder (more to come on that in the future) and wanted to make sure to get out everything in case you missed it. Last night I did my first Ever Upward Book Club. I had a blast getting emails, tweets and texts of questions about the book. I really hope you enjoyed it. Please keep those questions coming for next week! And, in case you missed it, you can watch the video here.
Also, my friend Lesley featured my story on her blog yesterday. She has amazing resources, so make sure to check her out. My story can be seen here.
If you have read Ever Upward, I would really appreciate an Amazon review. I am up to 25 incredible reviews. Just make sure to click the Kindle version of the book and you will be able to create your own review. Thank you so much in advance!
Finally, I still need your help in the Thunderclap campaign. Just a few clicks and Thunderclap will post for you on April 7th, the bookstore launch of Ever Upward. It would also help so much if you shared that you are going to be a part of this positive social media flash mob.
Thank you so much everyone! Make today amazing and as always rise ever upward! Justine


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Know Your Rights in Colorado
Help from Denver DUI Attorneys
In all cases you have legal rights. In DUI cases, you have fewer rights than just about any other alleged crime in the United States. This is what Lawrence Taylor, one of the leading DUI defense attorneys in the country, calls "The DUI Exception." DUI is one of the few criminal offenses where you do not have the right to speak to a Denver DUI attorney before incriminating yourself.
Upon arrest, the police officer will advise you that you have "expressly consented" to submitting to a chemical test of your breath or blood by driving on the public roadways of Colorado. Which test are you willing to take, breath or blood? If you choose to refuse a chemical test, your license will be revoked for a minimum of one year.
Keep in mind you do not have the right to consult or speak with a Denver DUI attorney before choosing a test. Upon submitting to a test, you have now provided incriminating evidence against yourself. So not only do you not have a right to speak with an attorney before choosing a test, but upon taking a test you have now provided incriminating evidence that will be used against you. Because of the "DUI Exception" to the Constitution defending DUI cases are difficult and require the skill and knowledge of a competent Denver DUI lawyer.
What You Need to Know About Your Legal Rights if You Are Pulled Over for DUI in Colorado
Remember the following:
- You do not have to help the officers make a case against you.
- Anything you say (admission of drinking) or do (roadside maneuvers) can and will be used against you.
- Field Sobriety Tests are completely voluntary. You do not have to do these!
- You have the choice of breath, blood or refusal.
- You do not have the right to speak with an attorney before choosing.
- Refusing a chemical test carries a mandatory minimum one year revocation of your driving privileges.
- Blood tests can be re-tested. Breath tests cannot.
- Roadside, portable or preliminary breath tests (PBTs) are voluntary. They cannot be used to prove guilt or innocence in court, but can be used as evidence to support an arrest.
In all breath test or refusal cases you only have seven (7) calendar days to respond in order to protect your driving privileges and avoid an automatic revocation of your driver's license.


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Just after new-year a national radio station did a phone in on 'how would you improve football?' I have been thinking about this anyway for a little while and whilst I didn't phone the show, it did provoke me to crystalise my thoughts a little. So, here is how I would improve football – if I had the power! (Wahahahahaha etc.)
1. Respect
The FA seem to be entirely weak on this. Entirely weak to the point of damaging the game. The many ill-informed comments of high-profile managers and the constant challenging and attempted influence on referees by players whilst on the field cause much dismay to those of us who love the game. I think the solution to this problem is actually very straight forward.
The FA needs to do two things – one is within its power the other would need to be an international move by FIFA. Firstly, managers who publically criticise officials need to be actually punished and not given what can only be described as 'token-fines' at best – and often nothing at all. If the punishment is real, managers will stop making the comments, especially as many are not 'heat-of-the-moment' but carefully crafted words. The other change – that has been suggested from many quarters – is to simply not allow any player other than the captain to talk to the referee during the game. Say anything to any official and it should be a yellow card. No debate, no question, just a yellow card. There is no doubt that the first few weeks after this law was brought in would be chaos. There would be a very large number of bookings and far too many red cards. And then everyone would get used to it and things would settle down, just like when the back-pass rule was brought in, nearly twenty years ago. This would change the culture of football subtly and yet profoundly. It would not be possible to back-chat referees. I do think that the standard of officiating needs to be improved but that is no excuse for the appalling behaviour displayed by many on the football field towards officials. If FIFA were really smart, they would remove the pointless rule that removing one's shirt when celebrating a goal is an automatic yellow card. (Not that I have any idea why players do this)
2. Timings
The control of time in football and the amount of stoppage time is a cause for much debate in the game and often, in my view, is a cause of unnecessary argument. I am trying very hard here not to make too many comparisons with rugby union but this is one parallel I think is worth drawing.
In rugby union, the timing is controlled by the referee, but independently. Once the ref starts the game the clock runs down, unless he calls 'time off.' There is no such thing as stoppage time because the clock stops for stoppages – that is injuries, discussions with players etc. (not every time the ball goes dead). Once the time is up, the next time the ball goes dead – except for penalties or try conversions – is the end of the game. Simple and clear.
Football could easily adopt this policy. Referees would merely have to signal 'time off' for major injuries or substitutions. There would be no room for arguing that refs had allowed too much or too little because it would be unarguable. Once 45 minutes were up – and in professional games this would be publically displayed on the scoreboard - the half would end next time the ball went dead, except for freekicks, penalties and corners.
3. The use of technology.
Eventually football needs to realise that as the world's biggest and most significant sport, it is laughable that it is so far behind every other major sport in terms of technology. Which technologies are used and for what I think remains an open question – but that something needs to used is, in my view totally clear. Imagine Formula 1 still relying on stopwatches!
There is one piece technology I would like to see used and then we can look at the others and decide. There are many decisions in football that require judgement but whether the ball has crossed a line or not is entirely objective. I think the idea of goal-line cameras is flawed but a microchip in the ball that would indicate whether it has crossed, not only the goal-line but also the touchlines if brilliant in its simplicity. I understand that the technology is not yet perfected but I have no doubt that if FIFA said it wanted to use it in all top level games then it would be made ready in a very short space of time.
The linesman (my apologies; assistant referees) would still need to indicate who the ball game off for throw-ins and corners but they'd have no doubt that the line had been crossed. Probably the easiest way would be a ear-piece with a sound for the linesmen. Or maybe like ice hockey, a light that goes on when a goal is scored.
Once working, I could see the next step being the put microchips in the player's shirts in order to aid off-side decisions – but that's a potential future development, whereas I think a chip in the ball is long overdue.
4. Money
The money-related problems in football are many and numerous. In part it stems from a trend to concentrate the wealth with a small number of already wealthy clubs. That is what the various re-incarnations of the European Cup as the Champion's League is all about.
It the long term this kind of thing will kill the game. The so-called G14 have a lot to answer for.
The solutions to this problem are many and complex but there is one very simple change that I think would be a very good start.
Up until the early 80's all gate-receipts from matches were split between both teams. This still happens for FA cup games. Currently the home club keeps 100% of the income from the gate. Naturally that gives a massive income advantage to the big clubs. Simply reversing this stupid decision would do a lot to improve the income of the smaller clubs in each league.
The FA
So come on Football Association, save our beautiful game!


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The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will be holding a Northern California session of the public workshop to discuss the regulatory proposal for off-highway recreational vehicles (OHRV).
At the request of stakeholders, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) invites interested parties to participate in a Northern California session of the public red sticker workshop on Thursday, May 17, 2018, in Sacramento, California, to discuss proposed regulatory amendments for Red Sticker off-highway recreational vehicles (OHRV).
The Northern California session will include the same presentation and elements of the Southern California session but will be located in Sacramento to provide access for stakeholders in the area. The purpose of this workshop is to present and solicit public feedback on a draft regulatory proposal that would phase out the current Red Sticker program and reduce emissions from OHRV in California. Staff will discuss the projected costs and benefits of the proposal, and will outline various alternatives for consideration.
The details of the public workshop are as follows:
Date: Thursday, May 17th, 2018
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (PST)
Location: California Air Resources Board
MLD South
1927 13th Street
Sacramento, California 95811
If you are unable to attend in person, the workshop presentation will also be available remotely via GoToMeeting™.
Webinar ID: 243-346-555
United States: +1 (914) 614-3221
Audio PIN: Shown after joining the webinar
Approximately one week prior to the workshop, the presentation material will be made available.
We welcome and encourage your participation as we finalize the OHRV emissions inventory and develop regulatory amendments. If you have questions about the workshop or OHRV regulations, please contact Mr. Scott Monday, Staff Air Pollution Specialist, at (916) 445-9319 or Mr. Scott Bacon, Manager, at (916) 322-8949.
The Red Sticker Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle program email system will be used to notify stakeholders of updates to the proposal and of additional opportunities for public input throughout the rulemaking process.


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Originally published February 4, 2014 at 9:12 AM | Page modified February 5, 2014 at 6:13 AM
John Thompson, veteran tech exec, now Microsoft chairman
In picking John Thompson, the board is betting that he'll be able to use his experience running a security-software company to help turn around Microsoft.
Bloomberg News
With Microsoft's appointment of John Thompson as chairman to replace co-founder Bill Gates, the world's largest software maker is looking to the veteran technology executive as the main outside voice in its new leadership structure.
Thompson was the lead independent director heading the board's search for a new chief executive, resulting in the appointment of Microsoft insider Satya Nadella to replace Steve Ballmer, the Redmond company said in a statement Tuesday. While the naming of Thompson and Nadella, who were already involved in Microsoft's transition, signal continuity, it's also the biggest break in the company's history as the Gates-Ballmer duo who have been in charge for more than three decades step aside.
The former CEO of Symantec Corp., Thompson, 64, is stepping in at a crucial point as Microsoft remakes itself to better compete with rivals including Apple and Google. In picking Thompson, the board is betting that he'll be able to use his experience running a security-software company to help turn around Microsoft.
"Thompson's going to be a major voice for the company," said James Staten, an analyst at Forrester Research. "They wouldn't have made him chairman, if he didn't have strong opinions about how to drive the company forward. And Satya is looking for strong partners on the board."
In a video that Microsoft posted online, Thompson said he was "looking forward to working closely with Satya and other members of the board. The board is always focused on long-term success of this great company and takes seriously its responsibilities to shareholders to ensure long-term success."
As Microsoft's key products face decline, Thompson and Nadella will oversee a transition to a new organizational structure and integrate the $7.2 billion acquisition of Nokia Oyj's handset unit. The management transition at Microsoft follows the worst decline on record for personal computers in 2013, when shipments dropped 10 percent and are projected to languish through 2017.
Thompson knows what it's like to be at the head of a struggling incumbent. While at Symantec in 2005, he orchestrated the ill-fated $10.2 billion purchase of Veritas Software to push into data storage. When Thompson stepped down as CEO four years later, Symantec was contending with slowing growth amid an economic downturn and rising competition. Thompson joined Microsoft as a director in 2012 as part of an expansion of the board.
The son of a Florida postal worker and a teacher, Thompson joined International Business Machines straight out of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in 1971. The IBM interviewer said he was interested in a stereo, so Thompson spent the session trying to sell him one, Thompson wrote in a New York Times column in 2012. He wound up with a job as a sales representative for IBM in Tampa, Fla.
Thompson likes to tell people he spent "27 years, 9 months and 13 days at IBM" before joining technology security company Symantec as CEO in 1999. He took the company from $600 million to $6 billion in sales over his decadelong tenure, before stepping down in 2009. Thompson currently runs Virtual Instruments, a San Jose, Calif.-based maker of software that tracks application and hardware performance.
After joining Microsoft's board in February 2012, Thompson was involved in discussions about the company's performance under Ballmer, regulatory filings show. The board, in annual reviews, rebuked the CEO for poor results in Windows and tablets machines, even as it lauded areas such as server software and expense cutting.
Thompson helped to create an environment that sped Ballmer's decision to retire, according to people with knowledge of the matter, and the director led the board in pressing the CEO on his strategy. Thompson listened to each board member and made sure Ballmer heard them, improving lines of communication and making strategy talks more productive, the people said.
The new chairman is only Microsoft's second since the company was founded by Gates and Paul Allen in 1975. Some external candidates who discussed the CEO job with Microsoft expressed concerns they would lack independence if both Ballmer and Gates stayed on as directors, people familiar with their thinking have said. Gates and Ballmer together own 8.3 percent of the stock; Gates is Microsoft's largest individual shareholder with a 4.3 percent stake.
A new director set to join the board next month is Mason Morfit, president of activist shareholder ValueAct Holdings. He's eager to see Microsoft emphasize its business software and Internet-based cloud services rather than consumer technology, people familiar with the situation have said.
The nine-member board includes seven independent directors. Three of the seven have been on the board for more than eight years, including 33 years for David Marquardt, an early investor in the software maker.
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Inertia, aka "Pants", our International Cat Of Mystery, died today. He just laid down to sleep and his heart went out, which is probably one of the nicest ways we can think of to die.
I already miss him, horribly. He joined our family as a kitten, while we were living in England. He lived with us for 12 years, and we loved him very, very much. He was the sort of sweet, affectionate cat that converted even cat- haters; I can't count the times people told us that they didn't like cats, but if all cats were like Pants, they'd love cats.
He lived with us since Beckett was four. She used to put dresses on him. He tolerated it with grace and a begrudging affection, even if he did try and steal her stuffed unicorn.
He spent the last two years of his life being fawned over by us and all of the studio elves. I'm glad that the last stretch of his life was so full of people who adored him. I'm so happy it ended this way. I wish he were still with us, but I am glad he had this, and that he got to leave us in this way.


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A father of women, and other poems/In Sleep
For other versions of this work, see In Sleep.
I DREAMT (no "dream" awake—a dream indeed)
I DREAMT (no "dream" awake—a dream indeed)
A wrathful man was talking in the park:
"Where are the Higher Powers, who know our need
And leave us in the dark?
"There are no Higher Powers; there is no heart
In God, no love"—his oratory here,
Taking the paupers' and the cripples' part,
Was broken by a tear.
And then it seemed that One who did create
Compassion, who alone invented pity,
Walked, as though called, in at that north-east gate,
Out from the muttering city;
Threaded the little crowd, trod the brown grass,
Bent o'er the speaker close, saw the tear rise,
And saw Himself, as one looks in a glass,
In those impassioned eyes.


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By Ben Lucas
The immediate headlines from the Spending Review 2015 will be all about how George Osborne escaped from the straightjacket he had put on himself. This is particularly true with the U-turn on tax credits and the decision not to cut the police and FE budgets. He was hugely helped in this by the OBR happening to find £27bn of extra revenues as result of revised forecasts - proving the old adage that there's always something to be found at the back of the sofa.
But the real significance of the Spending Review lies elsewhere. Two substantial and important shifts are taking place, from the state to the private sector, and from central government to cities. The state may be shrinking to 36% of GDP by the end of the Parliament, but it is business that is being asked to pay for this. This is a fairly ruthless appropriation of Labour policy before the last election. Business will pay the cost of phasing out tax credits in the future through the introduction of the Living Wage and yesterday we learned that the Apprenticeship Levy will raise £11.6bn over the next four years.
At the same time, we are seeing what George Osborne is calling a 'devolution revolution'. Where these two shifts intersect is over business rates, and in particular the new power that City Region Mayors will now have to raise an extra 2% on the business rates to fund infrastructure spending. Whilst there were no major new eye-catching moves on devolution in the Spending Review, what was more significant is that this has now become a mainstream priority for Government. It's no longer seen as a gimmick, but instead an underlying imperative.
One of the longest sections of the Spending Review report was on devolution, with a full 12 pages of the report given over to this. The Chancellor announced four overarching priorities: health and social care integration; spreading economic power through devolution; widening social inclusion and opportunity; and improving national security. Not only was devolution one of the four priorities, it's also at the heart of achieving two of the others - health and social care integration and spreading social opportunity through better skills training.
Devolution to Combined Authorities has been moving at a rapid pace in the past few months. Most people have probably not yet noticed this, as this process has largely taken place below the national media radar - the devolution revolution has not been televised. But this is a very significant development. Around 11 million people in six City Regions will now be covered by new arrangements that will include directly elected mayors, new investment funds, and local control over transport, and skills, and a big say over housing, health and some other public services. The Spending Review confirmed the intention for there to be a Cardiff Capital Region deal and deals for Aberdeen and Inverness, The door has also been left open for City Region Deals in Bristol and the South West, Leeds and West Yorkshire and for Nottingham and Derby.
By the Budget in 2016 we could see every major urban area covered by devolution and new governance arrangements, add in what we already have in London, and most of metropolitan England will have Mayors by 2017. This does of course raise an interesting question about the future of counties, the Spending Review had nothing to say about County Deals, even though a large number of the 38 devolution submissions to government were from Counties.
Accompanying this policy devolution is a process of gradual fiscal devolution. By the end of this parliament the intention is for local government to be largely self-financing, with 100% retention of business rates and the phasing out of the Revenue Support Grant. Yesterday we had several new announcements that add to this. Councils will now be able to raise an additional 2% of Council tax to fund social care (raising upwards of £2bn) and they will be able to retain 100% of asset sale receipts. But, as my colleague Sarah Whitney has pointed out, partial fiscal devolution on business rates can increase risk for local government. The best way to mitigate this is to widen the scope of fiscal devolution, so that the critical mass of local finance and borrowing is greater and therefore the impact of one off changes (for example in relation to appeals) is less.
However, there are still some big questions to ask about the devolution journey. One glaring inconsistency is to give City Regions power over skills budgets and responsibility over area reviews of post-16 education, whilst at the same time removing responsibility for education from local government. The two are surely connected. In the North East, for example, the devolution deal is based on an integrated approach to human capital development from early years to FE and beyond. This has to involve a greater co-ordination role for local government in relation to schools, which cannot sit outside a local strategy to improve skills and life chances.
Housing is another area where more should be done through devolution. George Osborne echoed, in more prosaic form, JFK's famous commitment when he said "we choose to build". But all he has really chosen to do is to stimulate demand, through additional help for people to buy homes. Whilst this will undoubtedly help, if he really chooses to build then we need to see much more on supply. Councils need to be able to build more and to use their land assets to boost housing supply and at the same time to provide proper skills and apprenticeship opportunities for local people.
And, of course, the biggest caveat of all should be to not to rush to final conclusions about the Spending Review before the ink is dry on the statement. Reading the small print is always necessary and there will be further details published by Departments which could well change initial verdicts, as well as spell out the detail of cuts.
But what the Spending Review confirms is that a large part of the future will be local. This is a big opportunity for cities, even though they will have to cope with yet further cuts to local government funding that will imperil many local services. The challenge for city leaders will be to fashion a new future for their places, based on mobilising their local social and economic assets in the knowledge that there will be fewer barriers put in their way by central government, and a lot less Government funding.


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American entrepreneur Brian Stroh started up his business after the state of Washington ruled cannabis legal
Now his company, Cannaman Farms, sells in over 12 stores across the state with a variety of different herbs on the market. Brian says: "We're a boutique grower. We're not looking for scale. "When this was passed in the state of Washington it was a no brainer for me. I knew it was something I could do. "I knew it could be profitable, interesting and exciting." When discussing his role in the weed world Brian spoke plainly: "I had gotten out of the mortgage, finance, and insurance industry two years prior. "I knew there would be a lot of people who would shy away from [growing cannabis] because of the stigma that it had. "I've always been the kind of personality where I really don't care. If the state wants to issue me a license and its legal then that's good enough for me." He works closely with enthusiastic botanist, Shane Wahl, who had his own reasons for getting involved. The weed gardener said: "I got into farming marijuana when my mother was on a bunch of drugs that were prescribed by doctors. "Because of the cocktail of drugs she was on it was stopping her liver and digestive system from working properly. "She was getting vastly overweight, diabetes had set in and it was really bad. "We started smoking weed and it made her happy and mobile and I started talking about growing medicinal weed." But Shane isn't just interested in the getting-high side of things – he truly loves plants. "Agriculture is a passion of mine," he added. "Anybody can just throw a nutrient on a plant and watch it grow. It's about building a relationship with these plants. "And understanding that they're going to heal people – even on the recreational side." Shane has high hopes for the future of Cinnamon farms, he said: "I want to have three highs out there on the market. "I want to have something that will make you get up and do something. Your morning weed. "Afternoon weed to get you through the day and your night night weed to put your to bed at night." And owner Brian put out a plea to straight-laced folks trying to block or dismiss the legalisation: "This is already happening in your county. "It's just illegal and it's not being taxed. If you want to regulate it, tax it and test it and do things of that nature then let's move forward with it. "Otherwise, you're just burying your head in the sand." Cannaman farms offer Superskunk, Northern Lights, Greasy Papaya, Kali Mist, AK47 and a whole host of other types of weed. Cannabis is still illegal in the United Kingdom and is considered a Class B drug a sentence of 28 days is given to anyone caught in possession three times or above


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Khelaun Khelaun is Play for Change's three year long volleyball and badminton programme in Nepal.
The second Khelaun Khelaun tournament, which was hosted on 26th May, brought together over 190 children from across the mountainous region of the Lamjung District. The tournament was a great success, featuring various volleyball and badminton matches led by members of the community.
Play for Change, through rebuilding playgrounds and providing equipment, has given children in Nepal the opportunity to play sports in safe environments. Furthermore, the tournament was unique in its ability to bring girls and boys together in mixed teams, an uncommon occurrence in Nepal.
The innovative nature of Khelaun Khelaun has attracted interest and enthusiasm from official local leaders. Guman Sing Aryal, Mayor of Besisahar, attended the event, noting that:
"This programme creates the history that is boys and girls playing together on the same team. Girls will learn a lot of techniques from participating in the the sports team, besides building life skills."
PFC and Global Action Nepal's Khelaun Khelaun programme has successfully launched two tournaments, and began to tackle gender inequalities, while working alongside the members of the local communities.
The programme is in the Lamjung District of Nepal, a landlocked region of marginalized communities, which provides access to sports for 5,993 children, half of which are girls, from 37 schools across the country. The project trains local community members to be coaches, offering access to coaching qualifications from FIVB and BWF. Additionally, the project develops sports and learning facilities, and offers life skills classes which address social issues such as gender. So far, 49 coaches have been employed, 7 school playgrounds have been rebuilt, and women empowerment groups have been established.
Read more about Khelaun Khelaun, and what it's like being a coach, here!


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Getting the insulation and ventilation right is essential to maintaining comfort in your camper van. You need the insulation to keep you cosy at night and to keep out unwanted noise.
On the other hand, ventilation is essential to remove hot air, cooking fumes and smells and water vapour. The two work together to maintain a pleasant living environment.
Here's everything you need to know about insulation and ventilation in your camper van.
Converting vans to camper vans
There are plenty of examples of people successfully converting vans into camper vans including one example in the Sun newspaper. Here, a couple spent under £1,000 on the conversion and are now travelling around Europe in it.
Once you have invested in some vanlining from a provider such as http://www.vehicle-accessories.net/Security/Van-Locks all you have to do is sort out the ventilation.
Ventilation in a camper van
One of the main reasons for providing ventilation is to prevent condensation. This causes a lot of problems in a camper van because it can lead to rust. A lot of moisture is produced by cooking, washing and even breathing. Without an effective ventilation system, it condenses from vapour into liquid water and causes damp, mould and eventually rust.
The most obvious way to ventilate a camper van is to simply open the doors and windows. That's fine on some occasions but on others, they will let in rain, cold air and even thieves. If you fit wind deflectors to the side windows you will be able to leave them open a little at night.
Louvred vents are good for delivering a constant intake of fresh air. They are relatively easy to fit. All you have to do is cut holes in the side of the van and fit them in. Wherever you fit a louvre vent you also need a fly screen or you will have some unexpected guests in the van with you.
A small wind-powered roof vent is perfect for ribbed roofs including those on a Sprinter van. They do not use any electrical power and will not drain your battery. The extraction rates are reasonable, especially when you are driving along.
Pop up roof vents open on all four sides and provide constant ventilation. They need fly screens and need to be strong and robust.


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Mike Goodson
Height: 6-0 Weight: 210 Age: 32
Born: 5/23/1987 Irvington , NJ
College: Texas A&M
Experience: Season
Combine 2009
- Broad Jump118.0 inches
- 20 Yard Shuttle4.22 secs
- Bench Press14.0 reps
- Vertical Jump39.5 inches
- 40 Yard Dash4.54 Secs
- 3 Cone Drill6.89 secs
Positives: Lean, athletic build, but one that seems better suited to wide receiver in the NFL. Rare speed and agility. Quick to and through the hole. Can make defenders miss in tight spaces and flashes exceptional elusiveness in the open field. Rare balance and the ability to cut at top speed in either direction. Experienced receiver out of the backfield. Runs with functional power, despite less than ideal strength, as he keeps his legs churning and spins out of tackles. A threat to go the distance every time he has the ball in his hands. Lacks experience as a special teams returner, but has the potential to be a standout in this area -- much like former Aggie Dante Hall. Negatives: Lacks the bulk to be an every-down back. Marginal leg drive for short-yardage situations. Undeniable athleticism, but Goodson's production dropped in each of his three seasons with the Aggies -- and it can't be blamed on just touches as his yards per carry also dropped each year. Legitimate intangible red flags regarding his struggles to coexist with former Texas A&M head coach R.C. Slocum and his staff, as well as current head coach Mike Sherman and his staff, especially considering that Sherman publicly touted Goodson as the player the offense would be centered around when he took the position. Scouts will also question Goodson's toughness after he missed time with sprains in his neck, groin and right knee since last spring.


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Now showing items 288-307 of 1147
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(2014-05-30)In this work, we prove effective decay of certain multiple correlation coefficients for Weyl chamber actions of semidirect products of semisimple groups with $G$-vector spaces. Using these estimates we get decay for ...
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(1993)Ramsey's Theorem states that if $P = \{C\sb1,\...,C\sb{n}\}$ is a partition of ($\omega\rbrack\sp{k}$ (the set of all unordered k-tuples of natural numbers) into finitely many classes, then there exists an infinite set A ...
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(1995)We establish a quadratic time algorithm for the word problem and a cubic time algorithm for the conjugacy problem for Coxeter groups of large type. We also give conditions on the relators of a large-type Coxeter group that ...
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(1989)Representations of meromorphic functions as quotients of analytic functions have been studied for years. Miles showed that any meromorphic function f can be written as f$\sb1$/f$\sb2$ where each f$\sb{\rm j}$ is entire and ...
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(2004)Chapter 4 is devoted to finding new partition identities inspired by the work of O. Kolberg and S. Ramanujan. We use functions studied by N. J. Fine and R. J. Evans to construct analogues of modular equations, and then ...
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(2016-07-14)In this dissertation, we will focus on a few problems in extremal graph theory. The first chapter consists of some basic terms and tools. In Chapter 2, we study a conjecture of Mader on embedding subdivisions of cliques. ...
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(2003)The third part contains some applications, among them Hilbert-type inequalities and inequalities of the form fx ≤cnsupy∈ Rfn y for bounded functions f with a spectral gap at the origin.
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(1995)A ribbon knot is one which bounds a certain type of singular disk in the 3-sphere. In this work we investigate an enumeration procedure for such disks and study a natural topological grouping of related ribbons which differ ...
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(2012-09-18)This thesis consists of three parts. In the first part, we compute the topological Euler characteristics of the moduli spaces of stable sheaves of dimension one on the total space of rank 2 bundle on P1 whose determinant ...
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(1987)Let K be a number of field with ring of integers o, and let G be a fixed finite group. If K$\sb\pi$ is a tame Galois G-extension, the integral closure ${\cal O}\sb\pi$ of o in K$\sb\pi$ is a locally free rank one oG-module, ...
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(2002)We explicitly characterize the family of networks for which such a protocol exists. This characterization is given in terms of forbidden rooted minors, which leads to a linear time recognition algorithm for this family of ...
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(2017-11-28)The equivariant 𝔼∞G operad has the property that 𝔼∞G(n) is the total space for the G-equivariant universal principal Σn bundle. There is a forgetful functor from 𝔼∞G-algebras to 𝔼∞-algebras, where 𝔼∞ is the classic ...
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(2004)We classify embeddings of algebraic groups as open orbits in affine varieties, generalizing results from toric geometry to connected reductive groups. In particular, we show that an embedding is determined by the set of ...
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(2013-05-24)We improve the error term in the van der Corput transform for exponential sums, \sum g(n) exp(2 \pi i f(n)). For many smooth functions g and f, we can show that the largest factor of the error term is given by a simple ...
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(2017-07-19)My dissertation consists of two essays which analyze the impact of public transit usage on obesity. Chapter 1 introduces the backgrounds of this field and layout the general framework of this thesis work. Chapter 2 ...
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By Dan Weil |
Monday, 27 July 2009 03:00 PM
Many experts have criticized the government's bank bailout in the wake of the financial crisis.
But at least one insider thinks the government handled things well.
That's Robert Kelly, CEO at Bank of New York Mellon, the world's largest custodial bank.
"I was negative initially on the stress test, because going public with it created downward pressure on the stock prices for several months," he told Fortune magazine.
"But in the end, the numbers spoke for themselves and the markets responded."
The banking system has improved markedly from last fall, Kelly points out.
"Until January or February, many observers thought that the entire banking system was insolvent," he explains.
"After the stress tests, (we saw) that the capital hole wasn't nearly as great as people had feared and that the underlying earnings power of the banks is fairly high. That's why bank stocks rallied as much as they did this spring."
The stress test "was breathtaking," Kelly says.
"Our regulators wanted loan-loss forecasts for the rest of this year and next year using two scenarios: what they expect and then an 'adverse case,' which was actually, in many ways, worse than the Great Depression."
The test "was materially more conservative than what we expect," Kelly says.
Some experts have turned bullish on banks.
"We're seeing hope on the part of the market that" banks are "going to show a slowing in growth of non-performing assets," superstar analyst Dick Bove told CNBC.
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Never look down again while painting!!
Artist's palettes are very personal. They represent our artistic history and are so closely linked to the work that we have created from their use.
Palettes are the sounding board for our visual notes while painting. The closer that our painting and palette are in harmony with each other, the easier and clearer it is for us to express our thoughts
In this first video I paint a 2.5 hour portrait study with the first parallel PALETTE
As seen in Professional Artist Magazine
Risks and challenges
The parallelPALETTE project has been in the works for a few years now. We have a strong passion for painting, being artists ourselves and made it a mission to make our product available to service all artists like us.
The parallelPALETTE is ready to go and the patent is pending. We have vendors ready to start production at the conclusion of our successful kickstarter campaign. It is with this that we can promise you that your parallelPALETTE will immediately ship within 6-8 months.
We have done our homework and we know this project can be completed in a timely manner. The longest lead time will likely be the development of the injection molds and shipping.
Backer communication will be a top priority and we will be posting updates as we progress, that way you are always a part of the process!Learn about accountability on Kickstarter
Funding period
- (60 days)


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To donate by credit card, click the link below. To donate by check: Please make your donation payable to the "The Center for Independent Documentary" and put "Cohibernation" in the memo line. Please mail your check to: The Center for Independent Documentary 1300 Soldiers Field Road, Suite #5 Boston, MA 02135.
COHIBERNATION is a documentation of long term gay male bear relationships, concentrating on 6 couples of varying age, ethnicity and length of relationship from 10 – 26 years. We've asked questions about what it's like to live as a male couple, what are the challenges and rewards, as well as what is unique to each couple. Two of the couples have raised children. All of them are married. The couples are from varied backgrounds: one from Colombia and Mexico who speak of their own cultural differences while being seen as "Latino" in the US: a couple that lived as bi-national having to deal with visa issues for 16 years of their relationship; a couple dealing with depression; a couple in which one had a calling to ministry. The couples discuss monogamy, non-monogamy, their place and identity as gay men in the bear subculture, the larger gay culture, and what it's like being in a long-term relationship.
Most gay films focus on "gay" as issue or the dramatic engine for the film. Concurrently, there is a wish fulfillment aspect to many films, of getting the guy at the end of the film, while few explore what it's like to live as a gay couple. There's a lot of "it gets better," but not a great deal documenting when it is. The bear community and bear/normal body are also under-represented in the community at large.
Our goal with this short film is to celebrate gay couples and explore what happens in relationship while also documenting our own history. We have many, many stories to tell. Gay history isn't always kept reliably, and certainly not taught as widely as it should be. Our lives as we live them are history in the making and our idea is to capture, explore and celebrate that.
Brad Griffith is a writer/actor/filmmaker living in Los Angeles. His first short film, "Under Construction", premiered at Outfest in 2014, and was also shown as part of Pride of the Ocean and the OUTrageous Santa Barbara Gay and Lesbian Film Festival among others. His comedy pilot "Meet Betsy Crown" was a quarterfinalist in the 2015 Screencraft competition, and his screenplay "Slam Book" was a semi-finalist for the Outfest Screenwriter's Lab. He also directed connie-kim/Lucy Peru's music video "Pomegranate." He has appeared as an actor on stage, commercials and in film. He holds an MA in Dramaturgy from SUNY Stony Brook and an MFA in Acting from the University of Washington. More information at www.griffithparkproductions.org
Matt Rose. Ex-Corporate suit, Ex-Bartender, former United States Marine, Road Warrior, World Traveler, Image Maker, and Storyteller, shifting perspectives by documenting and adding to the human narrative. Currently enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts program at Cal-State Northridge, with a focus on Photography/Photojournalism. Matt is also a graduate of The Corcoran College of Art+Design with a BFA in Photojournalism and is very close to achieving the perfect pie crust.
Website: www.cohibernation.com


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"For decades, Liberty University has hired only faculty members who affirm the university's doctrinal statement," reads a statement from the Lynchburg, Va., school sent to Patheos blogger Benjamin L. Corey. "The choreographer in question is an independent contractor supplied to the university through a third party association and has never applied for employment at Liberty University and has never been an employee of Liberty. Liberty has never required vendors who provide goods and services to the university to adhere to the university's doctrinal beliefs."
Corey, suggesting that Liberty's ...
Neil wrote:Indeed. Many Puritans (e.g. Richard Baxter) were hostile to stage-plays; perhaps their best reason is that many were bawdy; Shakespeare had a lot of dirty jokes or double-entendres in his works, which becomes more clear once the Elizabethan slang is understood. Sex was a far less risky subject than politics. Also, boys played female roles, making them effectively transvestites. If we dig around, we can probably find some other reasons.Yet now, even Bob Jones University does Shakespeare plays & emphasizes other "fine arts." Got to be well-rounded, old boy.
Strat wrote:As if putting on plays that require a choreographer is an important responsibility of a "Christian" university to begin with.
G.F. Händel wrote The Messiah as an oratorio because he learned that the English of his day had hang-ups about opera, perhaps because of the Puritan legacy. Well, opera stars still often have dodgy morals.
Yet now, even Bob Jones University does Shakespeare plays & emphasizes other "fine arts." Got to be well-rounded, old boy.


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Summary for the Busy Executive: Simple gifts.
Tom Lehrer once remarked that the only thing wrong with folk music was "that it was written by the people," and proceeded to take "My Darling Clementine" through the styles of "real professionals" like Cole Porter, Gilbert and Sullivan, and Mozart. Well, that sort of thing's all right for "My Darling Clementine," but not for "Shenandoah," which has absolutely nothing to apologize for. Puccini should have lived long enough to write something so beautiful. My feeling about those composers who think folk songs beneath serious aesthetic notice is that they take second-best - something a lot easier than coming up with a great tune.
I might as well just say this up front: "Blue Wheat" is the best choral recording of American folk music since the heady days of the Robert Shaw and Roger Wagner Chorales. As far as I'm concerned, the Dale Warland Singers are the next golden link in the chain of professional American choral groups, and they do have very strong competition. What sets them apart from the rest is a gorgeous, flexible sound, achieved in no small measure by intonation that is not just dead on, but downright ravishing, and clarity of texture helped both by the aforementioned intonation and by razor-sharp rhythm.
The success of this subgenre of recording depends on three things:
As far as (1) goes, there's only one dud. Nothing on earth will make me love or even like "Skip to My Lou." However, it's like the piece of horehound in a box of Godivas. I can always sample around it. The rest - known and not-so-known - glean the best of Appalachia, the Black spiritual, and the minstrel song.
Warland uses mostly contemporary arrangers, with a few "classics" thrown in: H. T. Burleigh, Gail Kubik, Robert De Cormier, and the fabulous Alice Parker. All the arrangements, even the unfortunate Edwin Fissinger's for "Skip to My Lou," are first-rate, and some are minor masterpieces. I can't talk about all of them, but I'd like to at least mention some.
H. T. Burleigh, a Black composer who straddled the turn of the century, became an American friend of Dvořák's and may have been the first to play for that master the great spirituals. "My Lord, What a Morning" is one of his best arrangements. It pulls off the trick of using very sophisticated, chromatic harmonies to clad a simple tune. "Taste" is the answer, I guess. The harmonies wrap the tune like a warm blanket. Warland's performance rubs elbows with the Shaw Chorales, from their classic RCA LP "Deep River." I can't choose between them.
Gail Kubik's harmonic palette stands at a distance from Burleigh's, much of it based on fifths and fourths, which works to great advantage in "He's Goin' Away." This also applies to Gilbert Martin's "Wayfarin' Stranger," which adds a gorgeous harp part and simple canonic imitation. Both tracks will break your heart.
Some choral afficionados will recognize the name Robert De Cormier, a talented musician whom I believe ran into political trouble to the 1950s and got put on several Guardians of American Liberty's blacklists. The music itself - "Soldier, Soldier" succeeds better than "Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier" - shows that you don't need a lot of notes or "touches," as long as you put down the right notes. Mark Keller's vigorous "Hard Times Come Again No More" shows this as well.
My heart skipped a beat or two when I saw the listing of Keller's "Pretty Saro," since I had just finished arranging the tune myself. Fortunately, I had already sent it to the performers and couldn't call it back. Immediately I wondered what he had seen in the tune that I hadn't. It turns out that he figured out what to do with the simplicity of the song - simplicity without sentimentality - while for me, the song triggered memories of other mountain tunes as well.
The big find for me on this CD is Carol Barnett, who contributes three incredible arrangements: "Steal Away," "Red River Valley," and "Deep River." "Steal Away" does amazing things with astounding enharmonic modulations, while keeping the integrity of the tune. It's as if the melody is clothed in a shining robe. I like it even better than Tippett's setting for a Child of Our Time. "Red River Valley" has been mangled and reduced to Jew's-harp triviality by so many bad movie soundtracks, it's all but obliterated the poetry of the original. Barnett reminds you of the time before interstates and jets when going away usually meant going away forever. The singers don't want to let go of the tune, just as the speaker wants to keep the one about to depart. "Deep River" seems to pay homage to the older generation of Spiritual arrangers: Burleigh, Hall Johnson, Roland Hayes, and William Levi Dawson, with perhaps a hint of Michael Tippett. Stunning.
A danger for a group as technically accomplished as the Dale Warland Singers is that the music might be too simple. One nice thing about leaping over the hurdles posed by a difficult piece is that this alone can become the end. Something much simpler gives the performer nothing he's used to chewing on. The simpler the technical requirements, the more immediate the demands on musicianship and artistry. The Dale Warland Singers meet this challenge fully. They are idiomatic, but never patronizing.
In short, spend an hour with some of the greatest tunes in the world, freshly and handsomely arrayed, lovingly sung.
Copyright © 1998, Steve Schwartz


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I am obsessed with Glad plug-ins. I have one in practically every room in my house. They make my home smell so inviting. People are constantly asking me what I use to make my home "smell so good". Well, glade plugins! My favorite scent is "Be At Peace" (last years shimmering spruce). It has such an amazing scent that lasts long. Yes, I have used Yankee plug-ins and Wallflowers from BBW but they just don't do it for me, and not to mention the cost is double. But, they do have the beautiful decorative covers that Glade for some reason has yet to capitalize on. Why? I have no idea. Yes, my house smells amazing, but what an eyesore the ugly white plug-ins are! I HATE them. They just don't look nice, but I am not willing to give up my glade scented oils. So what is a girl to do?
I contacted Glade
begging suggesting they come up with something! Why make a product that smells so good but looks absolutely hideous I asked? Continue reading "$2 DIY Glade Plug In Decorative Covers"


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African press review ANC End of the world Kenya Maya Mwai Kibaki Press review South Africa UNHCR
Issued on • Modified
African press review 20 December 2012
What we can learn from the Mayans. A former miners' leader becomes deputy ANC chief and gets a cool reception from unions and a warm one from markets. Discord continues at the head of Kenya's Jubilee Alliance. Mwai Kibaki bows out. Ugandan school students gat a few more days off. And Kenya tries to keep refugees in camps.
Given the fact that tomorrow is the end of the Mayan calendar and of everything else according to some cheerful souls, South African financial paper BusinessDay publishes an opinion piece headlined "What we can learn from the Mayans about the end of time".
The Mayans flourished in central America from about 1,200 years ago until 800AD. And then the lifestyle of the Mayans fell apart. Archaeologists have pieced together the story. Warfare with neighbours, severe drought, deforestation and a decline in large game animals seem to have triggered their collapse. Millions of inhabitants placed too heavy a burden on the land and on each other.
Following wars and famine, says BusinessDay, the Mayans abandoned their magnificent stone structures and fled into the jungle, disappearing from the record of advanced human achievement.
The lesson for us in all of this is not that we need to fear that extinction-sized asteroids will collide with the Earth in our lifetimes. One may well do just that but they only come with the frequency of about once in 100 million years. Much more critical to our survival is the need to manage the Earth and its resources.
If we don't want to go the way of the Mayans (and other failed civilisations) we must take practical steps to limit our effects and impose global peace.
Elsewhere in BusinessDay, under the headline "Workers take wait-and-see stance on Ramaphosa's election", the Johannesburg-based paper reports that labour has adopted a cautious approach to the election of businessman Cyril Ramaphosa as deputy president of the African National Congress, with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) lukewarm in welcoming him as the ruling party's second-in-command.
Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said on Wednesday that Ramaphosa was part of a collective, which was good. He was also highly respected both as a trade unionist and as head of the ANC's negotiating team during the transition to democracy. But the sticking point for Vavi was that Ramaphosa was now a capitalist and so speaks on behalf of those with money.
Other analysts point to the fact that the business sector and the financial markets rejoiced at the election of Ramaphosa as Zuma's deputy.
The rand extended gains to a more than two-month high after the announcement of the election results.
Analysts and business leaders said the choice of the billionaire businessman and former mining union leader as deputy president would make the ANC a more business-friendly party.
In Kenya the high jinks continue down at the Jubilee Alliance, which is looking ever less allied and none too jubilant right now. The problem is, basically, how to get the coalition's two alpha-males, Uhuru Kenyata and Musalia Mudavadi, to agree on why the other one should become president.
The Jubilee Alliance yesterday secured an extra week to inform the Registrar of Political Parties of the name of its presidential candidate following the lapse of the initial 14-day period.
This means the two Deputy Prime Ministers, Kenyatta and Mudavadi, have more time to compromise on which one of them will be picked as flag-bearer, and whether the picking will be by way of consensus or delegate system.
The Standard gives pride of place to Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki, who yesterday closed his 50-year colourful history in parliament with an exhortation to MPs to use the House's potential to transform the lives of ordinary Kenyans radically.
The president looked back over the great achievements of the 10th parliament and singled out the enactment of the new constitution as particularly important.
Giving his final address to the House, the head of state, who is the longest-serving Member of Parliament, appeared to set the tempo for the coming elections when he said Kenya's full potential can be realised only if there is peace.
There's good news for school-goers in Uganda. According to this morning's Kampala-based Daily Monitor, the education ministry has released the 2013 school calendar, pushing the opening of the new term from the last week of January to 4 February.
According to the commissioner for Secondary Education, the reporting date was changed following complaints from parents that the new school term was opening before they receive their January salary, which they would need to buy basic school necessities for their children.
Regional paper The East African reports that the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has opposed the decision by the government of Kenya to stop registration of refugees in urban areas.
After meeting UNHCR officials earlier this week, the government proceeded to stop the registration of refugees in urban areas and directed that the process be carried out only in refugee camps.
The directive also ordered the UNHCR to stop providing direct services to asylum seekers and refugees in urban areas. Of the estimated 1.1 million refugees in Kenya, about three-quarters are assisted by the UNHCR. Most have fled the fighting in neighbouring Somalia.
The government ordered the closing down of all urban registration centres in a move to boost security by keeping refugees in rural camps.


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Getting Older? 4 Tips To Achieve Those Desired Younger-Looking Eyes
Although many don't realize it, there are actually a lot of perks to getting older. You get to retire, go on the road, find stability and even have grandkids. However, most people don't actually want to look their older age. The skin around the eyes is one of the first places that your age really begins to show, but a few good habits can help keep you looking young and fresh. Here are a few eye-related tips to achieve that younger-looking appearance:
1. Don't Slack on the Beauty Rest.
Getting your beauty sleep has long been a saying, but it is one that has merit in the case of your eyes. When you don't get enough sleep each night, your eyes become puffy and those annoying dark circles form underneath your eyes. Neither of these do any good when it comes to promoting younger-looking eyes. When you do have dark circles, you can use concealer to lighten their appearance.
2. Protect Your Eyes with Proper Gear.
When you're going to be out and about, even if it is just 30 minutes, protect your skin and those eyes. According to Mayo Clinic, UV ray exposure can cause your skin's collagen to break down. Once this happens, your skin isn't as strong and supple, which results in premature sagging and wrinkling. Make sure you wear sunscreen to protect your skin, but you should also ensure you're wearing a quality pair of sunglasses as well to avoid squinting.
3. Give Your Eyes a Spa Day.
When you are dealing with dark circles and puffiness, consider providing your eyes with a cool compress. This can help reduce blood circulation and relieve the swelling. Alternatives to cold compresses would be chilled teaspoons, tea bags or cucumber slices.
4. Consume a Diet That Is Good for the Eyes.
There are certain foods that can help protect your vision by preventing eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma. According to WebMD, you need to eat foods that contain lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Omega-3s. Some of the best foods for your eyes include spinach, kale, strawberries, grapefruit, sunflower seeds and almonds. Carrots, sweet potatoes, salmon and turkey are all good sources of the nutrients that your eyes need to remain healthy and young.
These tips may help you achieve the appearance of younger-looking eyes, but you can actually keep them younger by visiting your eye doctor on a regular is and undergoing eye exams. Eye exams are designed to catch problems early on so that they can be treated before they can major issues and lasting damage. If you haven't had an exam in a while, it's time to contact your local eye doctor to schedule an appointment. Plus, you can update your eyeglasses so that they frame your face perfectly, which can also help you look younger.
For more information, contact Envision Eyecare - Dr. Erika Duggan and Dr. Marilyn Lehrner or a similar location.


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In Indonesia, we found a most unusual cafe when Ingrid and I were travelling. It was a cafe that was built around an enormously large banyan tree. Now, I can't tell you where it is, as the proprietor prefers that it not show up in even the more unconventional travel guides such as those done by the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide folk. Let's just say that you'll love it if you ever find it.
There's at least six or seven levels of cafe which are accessed by a staircase that winds around the tree like a large snake hugging its trunk. The seating areas look out over the jungle. A jungle complete with elephants, monkeys and such. Quite a view would be an understatement!
The entire structure is made out of various bamboos. Did you know that bamboo is stronger than steel? Well it is. It's quite a sight — all glowing wood lacquered with coat after coat to keep it from rotting it away in the humid weather. Humid being an understatement when a monsoon storm can drop a foot in ten minutes. We got caught in one of them. Definitely not fun.
There a dumbwaiter running up alongside the tree that brings food and drink up to the customers, and dishes back down to be cleaned of course. The food is mostly vegetarian with just seafood from the nearby coast for protein. Ingrid and I shared a very large shrimp and veggie biriyani after some superb bakwan, deep fried veggies in batter and pastel, a fried dumpling filled with veggies. We finished off with an odd-sounding dessert, green tea crepes with shredded coconut filling, which was quite delicious.
It was a great meal in a stunning location. I hope you find it someday while in Indonesia.


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Fashion (Finally) Meets Function: Ten Tech Pieces to Upgrade Your Wardrobe
The advent of the iPhone was the first inkling that technology—long relegated to the ranks of the uncool—might be making a serious foray into fashion. Now, just a few years down the road, not only has the smart phone gotten sleeker (hello gold, iPhone 5S!) but there are all kinds of helpful gadgets that make your life easier while allowing you to keep looking good.


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Who didn't love playing with a Polaroid camera? Not to mention that cross-processed or faded quality to the images that you can't get on any other camera. I was upset to hear they stopped making the film for it. Poladroid to the rescue. It's a free application you can download that attempts to recreate the experience of the real deal – complete with sound effects, the burned in edges and the ability to "shake" your print while the image develops. You're literally made to wait for the image to appear (remember?). Pure fun! Go play!
Below are examples of my own Poladroid conversions as well as selected ones from the Poladroid group pool on Flickr.
These are a couple of favourites from the Flickr group pool:


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❮ Back
Suiko was born in Oita located in the western part of Japan and grew up in Hiroshima which has become the base for all his activities. He has traveled around Europe and Asia and all of Japan and has collaborated with various artists. From those experiences, dynamic and lively Chinese character designs have informed his original style. Now, he is widely known as one of Japan's best graffiti writers.


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Afghan businessmen on Sunday said they met with Kazakhstan Prime Minister Karim Massimov last week and held constructive discussions that helped resolve issues and cement trade ties.
Among the issues discussed during their meeting were matters on expanding trade between the two countries, transit issues, the establishment of an Afghanistan bank branch in Kazakhstan, resolving visa issues for Afghan businessmen, facilitating trade to Kazakhstan and the importation of fuel and gas.
The prime minister agreed to help Afghan traders by expanding trade ties and to pave the way for investment by Afghan traders in Kazakhstan.
Yunus Mohmand, the deputy head of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said: "The meeting we had with the prime minister of Kazakhstan resolved almost all our problems including the visa issue. Meanwhile, the prime minister promised to expand trade dealings between Afghan and Kazakh traders."
According to the Afghan businessmen, Kazakhstan is interested in expanding transit services to Afghan traders and assist in cementing joint trade dealings.
The Afghan businessmen expressed optimism about the outcome of the meeting and hoped transit issues to central Asia will be overcome.
Esmatullah, a local businessman, said: "We hope that from now on our issues will be resolved and that we can expand our trade dealings with Kazakh partners. If our problems are resolved the trade volumes between the two countries could significantly increase in the near future."
This comes after President Ashraf Ghani signed a number of agreements during his one-day visit to Kazakhstan on Friday and stressed the need for Kabul to strengthen economic, cultural and political ties with Astana.
During his trip, Ghani signed agreements on the management of natural disasters, a cultural agreement and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on agriculture, diplomacy, foreign relations and administrative reforms.
Ministers from both countries signed four draft agreements and two agreements.
"A new agreement which was signed on natural disaster management encompasses three parts including technical, financial and other types of cooperation," said Wais Ahmad Barmak, State Minister for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs.
"Kazakhstan will support us in tackling natural disasters as it has lots of experience in this regard," he added.
It is said that trade volume between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan is at least $300 million USD per year. This is expected to increase in the coming years.
Ghani's deputy spokesman Sayed Zafar Hashemi said on Saturday that Ghani had also signed an agreement to buy 600,000 tons of wheat from Kazakhstan.
Hashemi said Kazakhstan has in addition agreed to provide 400,000 tons of wheat in aid - as Afghanistan is looking for an alternate supplier to Pakistan.
According to him, Kazakhstan has also agreed to the lower the price of exports to Afghanistan. He went on to say that Kazakhstan has shown an interest in purchasing Afghanistan's dried fruit, nuts, saffron and marble.


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In Honor of Fallen Eagles
This page is dedicated to the fallen eagles who pass away while enrolled. We will fly the UNT flag at the Student Memorial Flag area (south library lawn) at half-staff for seven days upon the Dean of Students Office being notified of their death. If the UNT flag is being flown at half-staff, you can visit this site to find out more information.
Spring 2019
Joshua R. Akers
Engineering Technology/College of Engineering
Died March, 8 2019
Kelechi Gabriel
History/Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
Died Feb. 12, 2019
Joshua D. Gulley
Applied Arts & Sciences/New College
Died Jan. 23, 2019
Joseph H. McCain
Applied Tech & Perf Improvement/New College
Died Jan. 8 2019
Fall 2018
Charles R. Ellis
Studio Art/College of Visual Arts
Died Dec. 18, 2018
Sydney M. Gray
Interdisciplinary Studies/College of Education
Died Sept. 7, 2018
Summer 2018
William N. Emmett
Material Science & Engineering/College of Engineering
Died July 24, 2018
Kevin S. Pugh
Special Education/College of Education
Died June 20, 2018
Rachel L. Okon
English/Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
Died May 27, 2018
Spring 2018
Mikala Davis
History/Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
Died April 4, 2018
Lucas Tucker
Biology/College of Sciences
Died January 21, 2018
Fall 2017
Prithvi Sankar
Pre-Business/College of Business
Died December 18, 2017
Amanda M. Clairmont
Business/College of Business
Died November 19, 2017
Winston C. Coffey
Kinesiology/College of Education
Died October 8, 2017
Holden G. Stucky
Philosophy/College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
Died September 25, 2017
Margaret R. King
Interdisciplinary Studies/Toulouse Graduate School
Died September 14, 2017
Christian N. Scherff
Biology/College of Sciences
Died September 9, 2017
Nicholas P. Sheahen
Pre-Business/College of Business
Died August 17, 2017
Summer 2017
Oziel Garcia
Business/College of Business
Died July 4, 2017
Orenda M. Spikes
Library Science/College of Information
Died June 30, 2017
The Dean of Students Office holds an annual memorial service called Flight Memorial. Flight Memorial is a time for the UNT community to honor all faculty, staff, students, and alumni who have passed away during the last year. This year Flight Memorial will be held on April 10, 2019 at Noon at the Onstead Promenade (Library Mall).


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Links to various booksellers provided. I hope people will consider Book View Cafe if possible, as most of the royalty goes to the author, and the formats are both epub and mobi (Kindle).
Coming Soon or Just Out
Amazon | B&N | audiobook (terrific recording)
It's eight centuries after the INDA books took place. Magic has been slowly returning, and with it some of the ancient powers that had been all but forgotten–except by those in Norsunder, watching and waiting.
Readers familiar with Crown Duel and especially A Stranger to Command have asked what was going on at the end of the latter. Well, this is that story. It picks up with Senrid, fifteen-year-old king of the Marlovens after a very rough period. It doesn't help that Senrid finds himself drawn into world politics. But along the way he meets other young rulers in various precarious positions.
They are not ready to deal with Norsunder, but Norsunder is more than ready to deal with them. This is the setup for the overall story; the allies are introduced before their adversaries show up in the next, Firejive, resulting in the third, Nightside of the Sun, which sets things up for the Norsunder War long arc.
Kindle | Nook
In a time of change and danger, peace sparks to war, and sons become daughters…
It's nearly a century after the death of Inda, the unbeatable Marlovan commander.
Danet and Arrow, content in their arranged marriage, just want to live in peaceful obscurity and raise their family. But when a treaty sends them to the royal city to meet the heir to the throne, they discover that peace is fragile, old enemies have long memories, and what you want isn't always what you get.
By the time they learn that you can't go back again, events ignite a conflagration that no one could have foreseen—except for the ghosts who walk the walls in the royal city.
This is the first half of an epic story of politics, war, family and magic in the beloved world of Sartorias-deles.
Amazon e-book | B&N | Kobo | Apple Books |
trade paperback
The pleasure of your company is requested.
Graceful feet tracing courtly steps.
Eyes behind jeweled masks meeting across a room of twirling dancers.
Gloved hands touching fleetingly—or gripping swords… Anything can happen at a ball.
I collected thirteen stories intended for sheer escapism, full of beautiful ballrooms, intrigue, some swashbuckling, a balance of dark and light with light winning. My own story goes way back in Sartorias-Deles's history, concerning the beginnings of
one of the kingdoms readers have most frequently asked me about: Colend.
Forthcoming from Book View Cafe
In Traitor, Voske comes back.
All of Felicite's secrets come crashing down around her; a resistance is formed by those least expected; Ross, Jennie, Mia, and former princess Kerry are forced into the position of heroes once again, always with commensurate cost.
And Paco is forced to face the father he denied.
Wren's World
The Change Series (written with Rachel Manija Brown)
Sartorias-deles, Historical Era
Sartorias-deles Books, Modern Era
For the Crown Duel and the Kids' stories, see this page
Latest Books
Book View Cafe | trade paperback |
Nook |Kindle | Audio book
"With music you can tell the truth about human experience."
In this romantic fantasy set in the same world as Crown Duel, Flian is an ordinary princess who would rather be left with her music, but gets abducted not once, not twice–three times!
What is a civilized princess to do? Especially when she can't tell which prince is the hero and which the villain!
Re-edited, with a new cover for Book View Cafe
Book View Cafe | Kindle | Nook
First half at Audible, narrated by Jessica Almasy
Second half at Audible, narrated by James Patrick Cronin
A romantic fantasy set in the same world as Crown Duel, Sasharia En Garde begins with Sasha kidnapped to the kingdom where Sasha's mother, Sun, was once swept away by a real prince.
But not to happily ever after. Her prince vanished, and a wicked king took the throne. Since then, Sasha and Sun have been hiding on Earth, both training in martial arts until Sasha is tricked into going back to Khanerenth.
She's more than ready to kick some bad-guy butt, but is the stylish pirate Zathdar the bad guy? Or artistic, dreamy Prince Jehan, son of the wicked king?
Dobrenica Urban Fantasy Series
Kim's a grad student in L.A. Her passions are ballet, fencing, Jane Austen, and swashbuckling, romantic old movies. When her grandmother begs her to go east and see if "they" are safe, then slips into an uncommunicative silence, Kim goes to Vienna to search for a family, armed with only two clues. She's having no luck when she first runs into a ghost, and then encounters a guy she mentally dubs Mr. Darcy. Only this Mr. Darcy acts like he knows her. When she goes out for a drink and wakes up on a train, the adventure begins. This story began as an homage to Prisoner of Zenda, only with a female having to prove her courage, dash . . . and honor.
Kim decides the only way to fix the disaster she left is to return to Dobrenica, but what she finds there is far more shocking and dangerous than she ever imagined. Not just politics and personalities but ghosts and magic, murder and mystery, ballroom dancing and moonlit sleigh chases await her. Once again Kim has to take sword in hand as she tries to make peace, she risks her heart when she finds love, but there can be no happiness until she learns the truth. Only whose truth?
Here is a book trailer for Blood Spirits, made by Karen Osborne.
Amazon, print | Audio book | Barnes and Noble
Kim is happily planning her wedding when she finds herself pulled two centuries back in time. It's 1795, the rise of Napoleon, and Kim is now a guardian spirit for a twelve-year-old kid who will either become Kim's ancestor . . . or the timeline will alter and Kim will vanish, along with Dobrenica. What? Yes, the child called Aurelie de Mascarenhas must get to Dobrenica, or more than the Dsaret family will vanish.
Kim hates time travel conundrums, and knows nothing about kids. How is she going to guide a kid born on Saint-Domingue, with whom she has nothing in common?
From Jamaica to England to the Paris of the early 1800s, Kim and Aurelie travel, sharing adventures and learning more about Vrajhus, the Blessing, and the Nasdrafus than is known in Dobrenica's modern times. Along the way to wedding bells or annihilation, Kim makes a shocking discovery . . .
(With story connections to Danse de la Folie.)
Regency Era Stories
Book View Cafe | Kindle | Nook | Audio book (delightful pro voice)
A light-hearted Regency folly, starring Miss Clarissa Harlowe who wants a quiet life-but falls in love with a smuggler, the marquess of St. Tarval. St. Tarval's sister, Lady Kitty, is determined to write a dramatic Gothic to save her brother's mortgaged estate-if she can reach London. Clarissa's much-pursued cousin, Mr. Philip Devereaux, is inexplicably intrigued by Lady Kitty, who is doing her best to encourage the match between him and Clarissa, except that Clarissa is now betrothed to . . . Lord Wilburfolde. And so the madness of changing partners begins in the dance of love.
(And because I can't help my mind thinking that way . . . a connection to Revenant Eve)
Book View Cafe | Kindle |
Trade paperback |
Nook | audio book (extraordinary pro voice)
In 1799, all of Europe is at war.In Palermo, sixteen-year-old singer-in-training Anna Maria Ludovisi is married by her dying father to Captain Henry Duncannon, the Perennial Bachelor. Minutes after the wedding he sets sail.
The threat of French invasion causes Anna to flee to Paris. At the end of the Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte is transforming France; Anna must transform herself into a professional singer in order to survive.
in 1805, Anna's opera company is traveling through Spain when events bring the long-missing Captain Duncannon and his forgotten wife back together again, as the English, Spanish, and French fleets converge for battle off the Cape of Trafalgar.
For Henry Duncannon as well as Anna, everything changes: the demands of war, the obligation of family, the meaning of love, and the concept of home. Can they find a new life together?
One Jane Austen's best-loved books is Persuasion, and of the characters in it, among the most popular are Sophy and Admiral and Croft, dashing Frederick Wentworth's sister and brother in law.
In this short novel, Sherwood Smith takes a look at what the Wentworths' lives might have been like before they met the Elliots, and Sophy's view of Anne Elliot's and Frederick Wentworth's stormy relationship—and how she might have had a hand in bringing about that happy ending.
Eleanor Tilney is little more than a plot device in Jane Austen's tale, whose first half scintillates so brightly, but whose second half hints at the brilliance to come. In this, another of Sherwood Smith's Jane Austen novellas, Eleanor gets a voice, and a romance, as we see Catherine through hers and Henry's eyes.
This novella-length homage to Jane Austen's Emma was inspired by a single line in the novel that makes Miss Bates, for one moment, startlingly prescient. Supposing Miss Bates really could hear others' thoughts? A look at three marriages in Highbury with a touch of magic and wonder.
One of the longest-running debates about Jane Austen's work has been the problematical ending of Mansfield Park. As I have stated in my review is that part of the problem is how the narrative stops abruptly in Book Three, Chapter XVII. Here Austen's narrator takes the stage to issue a long summary of what happened, after all those brilliant pages of immersing readers in the minds of the characters and their world.
When I read James Austen-Leigh's memoir about his famous aunt in which he reported sister Cassandra begging Jane for a different ending, I got the courage to join the host of other authors who love to play in Jane Austen's world, and take up the story from that point and offer a new ending, solving that problem, plus some others.
One of three long novella-length stories I've written about Jane Austen's Mansfield Park. This story accepts the ending that Jane Austen wrote, and follows a bitter Henry Crawford wandering the world after his failure at winning Fanny Price. An unexpected encounter with an equally bitter Captain Wentworth, during a sea battle with the French, brings about changes for both gentlemen . . .
Exordium Series (written with Dave Trowbridge)
In L. Frank Baum's Oz
The Emerald Wand of Oz; HarperCollins, January 2005 Amazon
Trouble Under Oz; HarperCollins, August 2006 Amazon
Trade paperback | Kindle | Hardcover at Lulu
The finale to Sherwood Smith's Oz trilogy. Journey back to Oz with Dori and Emma, along with old favorites like Scraps and Polychrome, as they travel through the skies over Oz. There's a plot afoot with a dastardly villain who kidnapped Princess Dorothy in Smith's first book, The Emerald Wand of Oz. It'll take Glinda, Rik the Nome (met in the underground adventures related in Trouble Under Oz), Dori, Emma, Scraps, and many more to contend with this threat–even a shaggy dog named Dad! Sky Pyrates Over Oz is illustrated by Kim McFarland.
With Andre Norton
Derelict for Trade (Solar Queen Universe); Tor Books, March 1997| Audio book
A Mind for Trade (Solar Queen Universe); Tor Books, June 1997 | Audio book
Echoes in Time (Time Traders Universe); Tor Books, November 1999 |Audio book
Atlantis Endgame (Time Traders Universe); Tor Books, December 2002 | Audio book
Other Books
Augur's Teacher; based on the TV series Earth: Final Conflict; Tor Books, August 2001
Paradise Drift; based on the TV series Andromeda; Tor Books, October 2005
Shorter Works
In this novelette, Hera is angry with Zeus and the rest of the male gods. She takes their powers, and comes to Earth, handing them out to random old women, saying that the weakest have the most wisdom, and further warns them to prove her right! I had such fun writing it.
There are secret powers that might get you locked up or spirited away. And then there are the secrets that get you shunned. The first kind are surprisingly un-useful at helping with the second. This fantasy novelette set in San Diego, Ca, is about teens and different kinds of secrets.
In one of my rare explorations of modern life, with a touch of magical realism, anxious, indecisive Barbra is ferocious about one thing: her daughter. When a mysterious music teacher appears at the local school, Barbra and some local parents are up in arms. . .
So many things can steal the magic from life. So few things can restore it.
In this near, could-have-happened future tale, teenage Lys finds out that her family has been selected for a reality show. The megabucks are conditional upon the family being interesting enough to catch the interest of fellow Americans. Lys and her drummer brother and overworked elder sister go to great lengths to "be real" . . .
In this short, satiric novella, I have fun with inward and outward expectations: personal, familial, social, and governmental.
Book View Cafe | Kindle | Nook | Audio book
As a child, Sherwood Smith was always on the watch for magic: no fog bank went unexplored, no wooden closet unchecked for a false back, no possible magical token left on the ground or in the gutter. In these nine stories, the impossible becomes possible, magic is real, aliens come visiting. How would our lives change?
"Masks," The Feathered Edge, Sky Warrior Books, 2012
"Court Ship," Firebirds Soaring, Firebird, 2009; reprinted in e-form in Remalna's Children
"Beauty," Firebirds, Firebird, 2003, reprinted in e-form in Remalna's Children
"Miss Austen's Castle Tour," Lace and Blade 2, ed. Deborah J. Ross, Norilana Books, February 2009
"Rule of Engagement," Lace and Blade, ed. Deborah J. Ross, Norilana Books, February 2008, REPRINT, Lightspeed 2014
"Commando Bats," Athena's Daughters, 2014
Older Stuff
"Monster Mash," Werewolves, eds. Jane Yolen and Martin Greenberg, Harper & Row, Summer 1988
"Ghost Dancers," Things That Go Bump in the Night, eds. Jane Yolen and Martin Greenberg, Harper & Row, Summer 1989
"Daria's Window," Sisters in Fantasy II, eds. Susan Shwartz and Martin Greenberg, NAL, March 1998
"Faith," A Wizard's Dozen, ed. Michael Stearns, HBJ, Fall 1993; reprinted in Between the Darkness and the Fire, SFF Net anthology, 1998; reprinted in Read (teen version of Weekly Reader), November 2000
"Curing the Bozos," Bruce Coville's Book of Aliens, BPVP, February 1994 (fifth printing 1995)
"Echoes of Ancient Danger," Orphans of the Night, ed. Josepha Sherman, Walker & Co., Spring 1995; reprinted in MOOREEFFOC, Summer 2000, vastly rewritten and published as "The Rapture of Ancient Danger," in Beyond Grimm, e-Anthology, Book View Cafe, 2012
"I Was A Teen-Age Superhero," Starfarer's Dozen, ed. Michael Stearns, Harcourt Brace, Fall 1995 (paperback, 1996)
"What's A Little Fur Among Friends?" Bruce Coville's Book of Spinetinglers, BPVP, January 1996
"Visions," Bruce Coville's Book of Magic, BPVP, March 1996; On Year's Best List for 1996 picked by TANGENT Magazine; reprinted MOOREEFFOC December 2000
"Illumination," Nightmare's Dozen, ed. Michael Stearns, Harcourt Brace, Fall 1996
"And Horses Are Born With Eagles' Wings," Realms of Fantasy, October 1997; reprinted in Electric Wine, January/February 2000
"Mastery," Wizard Fantastic; ed. Larry Segriff and Martin Greenberg, Tekno Books, 1997
"And Now Abideth These Three;" Realms of Fantasy Magazine, 1998; reprinted in Coyote Wild, December 2007
"Finding the Way," Bruce Coville's Alien Visitors, Scholastic, October 1999
"Diary of a Henchminion," Faeries, France, 2001; Fictionwise, 2002
"Mom and Dad at the Home Front," Realms of Fantasy, August 2000; reprinted in Year's Best Fantasy, Harper Eos, Spring 2000; Nebula Finalist 2002; Fictionwise 2002; New Magics, Tor, 2004
"The Hero and the Princess," Lone Star Stories, November 2005
"Being Real," Lone Star Stories, October 2006; Book View Cafe
"Summer Thunder," Coyote Wild, January 2007
"The Princess, the Page, and the Master Cook's Son," Heroes In Training, August 2007