What the State of the Impeachment Trial Can Tell Us About the State of our Democracy
Oral arguments for the conviction of President Trump began in the Senate impeachment trial Wednesday afternoon, opening the first of three days of arguments from the seven House Democratic impeachment managers.
The arguments, led by Adam Schiff, come after last-minute changes to the trial rules proposed by Senate Majority leader, Mitch McConnell, were announced Tuesday night. The changes include allowing three days rather than two for the 24-hour oral arguments by the House. The new rules also allow evidence from the House record to be admitted into the Senate trial record by default unless there is an objection.
The changes appear to be in response to pressure from vulnerable Senate moderates inside the party, like Republican Senator from Maine, Susan Collins. A spokesperson for Collins said to NPR that the Senator had “raised concerns about the 24 hours of opening statements in two days and the admission of the House transcript in the record. Her position has been that the trial should follow the Clinton model as much as possible. She thinks these changes are a significant improvement.”
McConnell had previously stated his intent to follow the rules precedent set by the 1999 impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton. The rules were approved Tuesday by a party-line vote of 53-47 after eleven amendments by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer were rejected. Two independents, Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont and Senator Angus King from Maine, joined the Democrats.
Party Politics Threaten Congressional Legitimacy
The last-minute changes may signal some softening from McConnell who has previously stated that he will not be an impartial juror, despite the oath the Senators all swear to do impartial justice. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-Sc.) also previously contradicted this oath, stating, “I’m not trying to pretend to be a fair juror here.” These statements from Senate leaders are causing concern among Americans who want an impartial trial for the President.
A January poll by Ipsos and FiveThirtyEight found that 83 percent of Americans believe Senators should attempt to be impartial jurors. Fifty-seven percent said that the Senate should allow new witnesses and testimony.
Despite the small rules concessions, McConnell does not appear to have any interest in conducting a fair trial. He has repeatedly pushed back against calling witnesses or hearing new testimony during the trial, all while claiming to follow precedent. Both the impeachment of President Clinton and of President Andrew Jackson in 1868, the only two Presidential impeachments to ever come to Senate trial, have included the testimony of witnesses.
Although there is no expectation that there is any path to a conviction in the Senate, which requires a two-thirds majority if McConnell refuses to allow witnesses it could set a dangerous precedent for our democracy. Although they won’t be making their oral arguments until next week, the White House defense team has indicated that they do not plan to contest the facts in question, but the legitimacy of impeachment, itself.
In a response to the impeachment summons, the White House claimed that “This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election…” The response also stated, “The Articles of Impeachment are constitutionally invalid on their face. They fail to allege any crime or violation of the law whatsoever”.
Constitutional scholars, however, disagree with the idea that criminal behavior is necessary for impeachment. Over 870 legal scholars signed an open letter to Congress to this effect. By continuing to insist that the impeachment is unconstitutional, the White House is eroding public faith in our system of checks and balances.
Republicans have even disagreed with themselves over this issue. During the impeachment of President Clinton in 1999, Senator Graham agreed with the scholars’ analysis, saying, “You don’t even have to be convicted of a crime in this constitutional republic if this body determines your conduct as a public official is clearly out of bounds in your role. Impeachment is about cleansing the office. Impeachment is about restoring honor and integrity to the office.”
Scholars Warn of a “Regime Cleavage”
The partisan flip-flopping by senior members of the Republican party is increasingly raising questions about the legitimacy of our democratic system when those who are meant to be impartial are clearly operating along party lines.
The same was true two decades ago during the Clinton trial, but the problem seems to have gotten worse as the country has moved to more extreme ends of political polarization since the 1990s. There is now significantly less overlap between the individual ideologies of Democrats and Republicans than there was twenty years ago. Since one-third of the Senate Republicans are up for re-election in 2020, they have an incentive to tow the party line if they want to keep their jobs.
Increased political polarization appears to be driving the willingness of many Senator Republicans to overlook abuses of power that a Democratic president would never get away with.
In his opening arguments today, Representative Schiff argued that by allowing this behavior to go unremedied, Congress would be fundamentally altering the future of American democracy. He stated, “If not remedied by his conviction in the Senate and removal from office, President Trump’s abuse of his office and obstruction of Congress will permanently alter the balance of power among the branches of government, inviting future presidents to operate as if they are also beyond the reach of accountability, congressional oversight, and the law.”
Some scholars are arguing, though, that Trump is not the cause of our democratic decline, but rather a symptom of what political scientists call “regime cleavage”, defined as “a division within the population marked by conflict about the foundations of the governing system itself.” In October, Thomas Pepinksy, a Cornell professor of government, wrote for Politico that, “In societies facing a regime cleavage, a growing number of citizens and officials believe that norms, institutions, and laws may be ignored, subverted or replaced.”
The White House claims that the impeachment proceedings are “illegitimate,” and attempts by the Senate Republican leadership to make it so by refusing to hear witness testimony, are examples of such cleavage.
The coming days of the impeachment trial will serve as a benchmark by which to measure how far gone into this cleavage our democracy is. Nothing short of a clear bipartisan rebuke of this divide is likely to change the course. While that seems unlikely, the small concessions made by McConnell on Tuesday indicate that he might be willing to take the impending Constitutional crisis seriously—if only bipartisanship polled well.


ZLATAN AND LAX HAVE ALSO BEEN ANNOUNCED AS THE HEADLINE ACTS AT THE NEXT GEN STAGE AT THIS YEAR’S GIDI FEST.
Written by thereachfm on March 14, 2019
Organizers of the Gidi Culture Festival have announced the second wave of acts for this year’s event scheduled for April 20, 2019.
The 6th edition of the biggest one-day music festival in West Africa which takes place at Landmark Beachfront Victoria Island, unveiled Wande Coal, DJ Cuppy and Sarz who will all be joining the already announced Patoranking, Niniola, Teni, Moonchild Sanelly, DJ Neptune and more on the main stage.
Meanwhile, Wande Coal has announced his readiness to dominate his debut at Gidi Fest this Easter.
While speaking to newsmen, Gidi Fest and Eclipse Live Co-Founder Chin Okeke says 2019 will see a return to promoting the future of African music, while promising a beautifully curated experience with a big focus on the culture around the music.


Nantes Métropole takes out €200M loan from EIB for public transport and cycle paths in France
This EIB loan has a 30-year term and comes with a €30 million grant from the European Commission under the Just Transition Mechanism.
Nantes Métropole has taken out a €200 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for public transport and cycle paths, aiming to offer users more efficient, affordable and environmentally friendly transport services.
This funding package supports several of the Métropole’s projects promoting alternatives to private cars: work to upgrade 3.2 km of tram routes on lines 1, 2 and 3 together with the purchase of 46 new Citadis trams, which will gradually replace older units; the construction of the new Babinière tram technical and operations centre (CETEX) with a new, redeveloped multimodal interchange hub and park and ride; and the creation of 38 km of a total of 50 km of cycle paths planned by the Métropole.
This EIB loan has a 30-year term and comes with a €30 million grant from the European Commission under the Just Transition Mechanism. This mechanism makes it possible to finance public investment in European regions for the transition to a low-carbon economy, with €1.5 billion of grants funded by the EU budget.
Nantes Métropole is participating in the European Union’s mySMARTLife project (sustainable mobility infrastructure for low emissions and quality services), the main goal of which is to foster the development of a more sustainable city, the reduction of CO2 emissions and the development of renewable energies via innovative solutions in the mobility, energy and digital fields.
“I thank the EIB for its firm and clear support for the environmentally friendly path our city has taken,” said Mayor of Nantes and President of Nantes Métropole Johanna Rolland during a signing ceremony with EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle held on the sidelines of the metropolitan council. “Our investment in developing sustainable mobility is huge. It totals €1 billion under the current mandate, 20% of which will be financed by this loan, making travel in the 24 municipalities of our Métropole easier, cheaper and less polluting.”
“The EIB is supporting regional authorities in their green transitions,” added EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle. “These investments that the EU climate bank is helping to finance are completely in line with this approach. They will have a direct and tangible impact on the daily lives of residents and users in the Nantes area. This shows that EU action can improve people’s quality of life and well-being.”


text:
HARRISON, N.J. — Six months ago, the New York Red Bulls dominated the Chicago Fire in a 4-0 playoff demolition at the Fire's home stadium. On that day, the Red Bulls were the bullies, overwhelming the Fire with a physical brand of soccer they simply didn't look ready for.
On Saturday, in their first meeting since that memorable playoff defeat, the Fire took a page from the Red Bulls playbook, beating them at their own game by using physicality and tenacity to keep the Red Bulls from feeling comfortable at Red Bull Arena, where they usually dominate opponents.
The result was a 2-1 Fire victory that snapped the Red Bulls 11-match home unbeaten streak and helped the Fire climb further away from the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
"Against Red Bulls its always a very physical game, so we tried to think about a very intense game plan for them," Fire star Bastian Schweinsteiger said. "I think we had, in both halves, very good situations for transitions to create good chances, even if we knew the Red Bulls would have more of the ball and possession than us."
Even New York boss Jesse Marsch was quick to admit that the Fire brought a lot of intensity to the match.
Fire winger Aleksandar Katai gave the Red Bulls defense headaches and set the tone for the match with his outstanding 30th-minute volley finish. Katai also drew the penalty kick that led to Nemanja Nikolic's goal, which wound up being insurance the Fire needed.
The Fire didn't dominate the Red Bulls — they needed goalkeeper Richard Sanchez to make several big saves to keep the Red Bulls from taking control — but they made the New York look worse at home than we have seen Marsch's side look in a long time. They exposed a Red Bulls defense that had been incredibly tough so far this year, and they outworked a midfield known for doing just that to opponents.
From a physical standpoint, the Fire made things tough on the Red Bulls midfield, which never really found a good rhythm. Fire coach Veljko Paunovic gave rookie first-round pick Mo Adams his first professional start and gave him the daunting task of trying to contain Red Bulls playmaker Kaku. Adams responded with an outstanding debut, keeping Kaku contained and teaming up with Dax McCarty to help the Fire dominate the middle of the field for large chunks of the match.
"To win a game like this you have to be up for it, and give them no respect," Mo Adams told Goal. "We just came out here and did what we had to do."
The win was a vital one for a Fire side still working to climb out of the hole created after managing just one point from their first three matches. They have done so relying more on playing well as a unit, rather than as a team leaning on its stars. The Fire are greater than the sum of their parts right now, which is the only way they're going to win when they're missing defender Matt Polster, forward Luis Solignac and midfielder Michael de Leeuw, and are still sitting on a considerable amount of money earmarked for the acquisition of a high-level attacking midfielder and central defender.
That's what made Saturday's match all the more impressive. If you just looked at the starting lineups, which included the Fire starting three rookies, you would have pegged the Red Bulls for a comfortable victory. The Fire had other plans, and executed Paunovic's game plan to perfection, frustrating and bullying the Red Bulls on the way to a big road win.
Now after registering two wins in three, the Fire are in much better shape heading into a pair of extremely difficult matches against Toronto FC and Atlanta United.
"It's a really important result," Fire midfielder Dax McCarty said. "I, more so than most, know how hard is to win here when you’re on the opposing team. It’s a gutsy performance, a really gritty performance and basically it was one that we needed."

domain: sports


text:
Asked by: Yucheng Heintzelmannpets reptiles
How do you treat tail rot in leopard geckos?
Last Updated: 28th February, 2022
Click to see full answer.
Herein, how is stick tail disease treated?
Treatments a Veterinarian Would Likely Recommend Metronidazole and ronidazole are often prescribed for flagellated protozoa and certain kinds of bacterial infections. Trimethoprim-sulfa, amikacin, enrofloxacin or other antibiotics may be prescribed for Gram-negative bacterial infections.
Also, how can I help my sick leopard gecko? If your gecko is having these problems, try soaking it in a warm water bath twice a day. The water should be deep enough to cover your gecko's hips. While your gecko is submerged you should gently massage its belly. If that doesn't help your gecko pass their stool and urates you should take your gecko to a vet.
In this regard, how do you treat tail rot in bearded dragons?
Betadine & Water Soak Find a shallow dish that will allow you to submerge your dragon's tail. A good rule of thumb is to be able to submerge the tail about an inch above the visible tail rot to ensure it is fully submerged. Fill it with 3 parts water and 1 part Betadine.
How do I know if my leopard gecko has parasites?
Worms may be visible in a reptile's feces or vomit, but even if worms are not seen, they can certainly still be present within the animal's body.
Reptiles with intestinal parasites frequently have the following symptoms:
- Poor appetite.
- Weight loss.
- Vomiting or regurgitation.
- Abnormal appearing stools.

domain: pet


text:
This is a great buy for anyone who needs a couple of gourd birdhouses to provide homes for their nesting birds. You get 2 gourd birdhouses, variety of shapes and colors (will vary) with a 1-1/8" or 1-1/2" entrance hole. Drainage holes in bottom, leather hanging strap, may have some very minor imperfections, which do not make any difference in the performance of the birdhouse. Gourds may be a combination of kettle style, dipper style or bottle style birdhouse in a variety of colors.
Ramelson tools are made using the finest high carbon tool steel, hand forged, heat treated and tempered by expert American craftsmen. Each tool is polished, sharpened and brushed to reinforce the high standard that makes the Ramelson tool a lifetime tool. Used for wood or gourd carving. The 3/8" skew with the palm handle fits nicely into your hand for intricate work. This tool will cut even the thickest gourds.

domain: artistic


text:
- elroyie (6439)
- [2006-07-23 14:31]
Interesting bird with interesting colours, very good light.
- leboistoo (156)
- [2006-07-23 15:40]
Hi Paul, on the 'cutie scale' you obviously have your work cut with this subject. However, it is a good clear shot with good contrasting background. It has a very powerful eye contact, I wonder how threatening it was? Regards Tim.
- wkshelton (5492)
- [2006-07-23 15:47]
Hello Paul, excllet colors, Bg,POV DOF perfect details, Great work, TFS Kyle
- pvs (14464)
- [2006-07-23 16:08]
An excellent shot of this hornbill,good exposed ,nice colors,well done and TFS,
- vanderschelden (30441)
- [2006-07-23 16:31]
Good capture. Nice colours in hard sunlight.
- manyee (23770)
- [2006-07-23 16:49]
Great shot of this hornbill in the wild, Paul.
Good POV and sharp details.
The subject is well shown against the lighter colored dried grass.
A note about this interesting bird would be greatly appreciated.
TFS. : )
- takos1 (2607)
- [2006-07-24 16:48]
Bella foto, Paul!
Belli i colori e ottimo il contrasto, bravo!


In the fight against sexual violence, educating the public and providing healing for sexual assault survivors are steps the Florida A&M University Office of Counseling Services has developed.
According to the counseling center, one in four college females are sexually assaulted during their time at college, and one in six males are sexually assaulted before the age of 16. In addition, 90 percent of sexual assaults go unreported.
According to Lt. Angela Kirkland, since 2008 only two sexual assaults have been reported to campus police.
“The goal is to send a message that this is something that needs attention and needs to be talked about,” said Allison Lockard, assistant director of clinical programs. “It is an issue that needs to be addressed on college campuses.”
In recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Office of Counseling Services will host its third Annual Clothesline project April 7-10, where students, faculty and staff can hang hand-designed t-shirts to express their feelings about sexual assault.
“The project displays shirts designed by students to portray messages of support to survivors and let others know that this is an important issue that they are in support of speaking out against sexual assault,” said Lockard, who will also be a guest speaker on FAMU’s radio.
By participating in the Clothesline event, students can learn the prevalence of sexual assault and the importance of being aware. Survivors will also learn that there are available resources to them.
“I believe this project is a great idea, especially seeing as to how several students are not aware of sexual assault, domestic violence and even rape,” said Kierra Eileen Lang, 20, a second-year education student from Orlando, who participated in this project last year.
Other students like Tamara Williams agreed and said she thinks the counseling office does a great job informing students about sexual awareness and how to protect themselves.
“Nowadays, people think things as sexual assault and things of that nature only pertains to ladies,” said Williams, 20, a second-year political science student from Miami. “Every day, the number of men who are being assaulted continues to increase.”
Some students said they feel safe, but not at all times.
“Personally, I feel pretty safe on campus because the lighting around campus has increased tremendously and I do not walk alone at night,” Williams said.
Both Williams and Lang agree the one thing that should increase around campus is FAMU police.
Kirkland said there are a number of precautions students can take to protect themselves.
“Trust your instincts when you sense danger,” Kirkland said. “Don’t be embarrassed to make a scene if you feel you are in danger,”
The awareness activities will also educate students about the difference between sexual assault and rape.
The Florida Department of Health describes a sexual assault as any type of sexual activity that’s not consensual. This includes inappropriate touching, sexual harassment, or rape. It can also be verbal or visual. However, rape is a form of sexual assault that involves penetration.
The Office of Counseling has three certified victim advocates who can help students with sexual assaults. The office also provides many other services such as individuals and groups counseling, programs on housing, organizations and classes.
FAMU Department of Public Safety offers rape aggression defense training to FAMU community. Lockard encourages students to be supportive if they know someone who has been a victim, and accompany the person to the police counseling or hospital.
“Don’t ask a lot of why’s,” Lockard said. “Believe them and don’t judge them.”
The office will accept t-shirts donations until Friday, April 3. Everyone is encouraged to stop by Sunshine Manor to design t-shirts this week from 8 a.m. 5 p.m.


text:
Achal Patel, Mercer University College of Pharmacy
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the more common form of diabetes mellitus compared to type 1 diabetes (T1D) and accounts for ~90% of all diabetes patients.  Complications of diabetes include cardiovascular, macrovascular, microvascular, peripheral nerve, and renal diseases. Evidence shows that use of SGLT2 inhibitors may help in reducing the risk of cardiovascular complications, albuminuria, and renal diseases.
Canagliflozin (Invokana®), is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor that lowers the renal threshold for glucose and increases urinary glucose excretion by interfering with the reabsorption of renally-filtered glucose across the tubular lumen of the proximal renal tubules.  Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are the most recent type of diabetic agents approved for T2D management in the U.S. Previously, the Food and Drug Administration published a guidance for industry that new diabetic agents should be assessed for their cardiovascular safety.  The article below summarizes two canagliflozin trials that assessed its effect on CV risks (CANVAS) and albuminuria (CANVAS-R).
|Canagliflozin and cardiovascular and renal events in type 2 diabetes|
|Design||Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial; N= 10,142|
|Objective||To determine the effects of canagliflozin on cardiovascular, renal, and safety outcomes as indicated by evidence about SGLT2 inhibitors|
|Study Groups||Canagliflozin (n= 5,795), Placebo (n= 4,347)|
– T2DM with HbA1c ≥7.0% to ≤10.5% at screening
– Not currently on antihyperglycemic agent therapy or on antihyperglycemic monotherapy or combination therapy with approved class of agents
– History or high risk of CV disease defined on basis of either:
o Age ≥30 years with documented symptomatic atherosclerotic CV disease or amputation secondary to vascular disease.
o Age ≥ 50 years with 2+ following risk factors at screening: duration of T2DM ≥10 years, SBP>140 mmHg, while on ≥1 BP-lowering medication, current smoker, microalbuminuria or macroalbuminuria, or HDL <1mmol/L
– Women of childbearing potential must have negative urine beta-HCG pregnancy test at screening
– History of DKA, type 1 DM, pancreas or beta-cell transplantation, or diabetes secondary to pancreatitis or pancreatectomy
– On antihyperglycemic agent and not on stable regimen for at least 8 weeks
– History of ≥1 severe hypoglycemic episode within 6 months screening
– History of hereditary glucose-galactose malabsorption or primary renal glucosuria
– GFR <30 at screening
– Serum Cr ≥1.4 mg/dL for men or ≥1.3 for women for those taking metformin
– Life expectancy <1 year
– Current use of other SGLT2 inhibitor
– Pregnant or breastfeeding
The study was a non-inferiority trial which calculated that 688 cardiovascular safety events to achieve a 90% power.
Participants in the CANVAS trial were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive canagliflozin at a dose of 300 mg, 100 mg, or matching placebo
Participants in CANVAS-R were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive canagliflozin 100 mg daily. or placebo with an option to increase canagliflozin to 300 mg daily or matching placebo.
|Duration||December 2012 – March 2014|
|Primary Outcome Measure||Composite of death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal MI, or nonfatal stroke|
* These are significant outcomes.
|Adverse Events||Common and Serious Adverse Events: event rate/1,000 patients
** p< 0.001
≠ Low-trauma fracture was the pre-specified primary outcome, all fracture was a secondary outcome
|Percentage that Discontinued due to Adverse Events: canagliflozin (35.5%), placebo (32.8%)|
|Study Author Conclusions||Daily doses of canagliflozin 100 mg daily significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular causes, nonfatal MI, or nonfatal stroke compared to those patients who received placebo. There is also an increased risk of UTI infections as well as an increased risk of amputations in patients taking canagliflozin.|
For this article, the study had a high internal validity because of its double-blind, randomized design. The external validity of the study was also strengthened with the large sample size. However, the study included only a small percentage of non-white population (< 25%) who may be at an increased risk of cardiovascular and renal diseases, especially African Americans. Although the subgroup analysis (not shown in the table) showed no significant differences based on race (p= 0.40), the confidence intervals of non-white population are wider compared that of white race suggesting racial differences may be present and variable results may be expected from non-white population. However, the study was not designed to detect the differences among the racial groups; therefore, whether this observation is true cannot be determined.
The wider confidence interval may be due to the smaller number of patients in non-white racial groups. Subgroup analysis showed several patient characteristics (eg. Baseline eGFR, RAAS inhibitor use, blood pressure control, duration of diabetes, and hemoglobin A1c) did not result in significant differences, suggesting the beneficial outcomes may be independent of these factors. For adverse events, the risk of urinary tract infection was increased with the study drug; however, such outcome may be expected based on the mechanism of action of canagliflozin. However, there is no known mechanism for the increased risk of amputations. Despite the limitations, there were multiple strengths in the study that helped provide safety data in the use of canagliflozin compared to placebo for cardiovascular and renal safety in diabetic patients. Therefore, it may be reasonable to consider canagliflozin in type 2 diabetics with high risk of cardiovascular events, and such recommendation is also reflected in the 2018 American Diabetes Associations Standards of Care.
 Cefalu WT et al. American Diabetes Association Standards of medical care in diabetes – 2017. Journal of Clinical and Applied Res and Ed., 2017;40(1):S1-S132.
 Neal B, Perkovic V, Mahaffey KW, et al. Canagliflozin and Cardiovascular and Renal Events in Type 2 Diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2017;
 Canagliflozin. Micromedex 2.0. Greenwood Village, CO: Truven Health Analytics, 2017.
 American Diabetes Association. 8. Pharmacologic approaches to glycemic treatment: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes 2018. Diabetes Care 2018;41(Suppl. 1):S73–S85

domain: medical


text:
The Rabbit StoryBook - 1989
A young rabbit is born, grows up with his brothers and sisters, is caught by a farmer and kept in a pen by his little boy, and finally escapes to return to the free life of the other wild rabbits.
Publisher: New York : Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, c1989.
Branch Call Number: E
Characteristics:  p. : col. ill. ; 26 cm.

domain: literature


Washington state program could be model for the nation.
Tracking Medicaid beneficiaries who frequently use emergency departments and adopting electronic tracking systems to exchange patient information is among one of the ways states can cut Medicaid costs, according to a new report by the Washington Health Care Authority (HCA).
According to a press release issued by The Washington Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (WA-ACEP), preliminary data from the first six months of a study in Washington suggests the state is saving more than 10 percent in Medicaid fee-for-service emergency care costs by following seven best practices:
Tracking frequent users of emergency departments and adopting electronic tracking systems to exchange patient information;
Disseminating patient educational materials about appropriate settings for health care services — to be provided at arrival or at discharge;
Designating personnel and emergency physician personnel to receive and appropriately disseminate information on Medicaid clients;
Contacting primary care providers at the time of the emergency visit and relaying any issues regarding barriers to primary care;
Implementing narcotic guidelines that direct patients to primary care or pain management services;
Enrolling physicians in the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program;
Designating emergency physician and hospital staff to review and provide feedback reports— and taking appropriate action.
Andy Sama, MD, president of ACEP said, “Clearly, this is a model for the nation.”
The report, “Emergency Department Utilization: Assumed Savings From Best Practices Implementation,” analyzes the results of the best practices implemented through a partnership between the Washington Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (WA-ACEP), the Washington State Medical Association, the Washington State Hospital Association and HCA.
Read the full article here.


text:
Saginaw double homicide
Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:09:53 GMT —
Saginaw police are investigating the first two homicides of the year after the bodies of two young men were found in an East side home this morning. More than one hundred onlookers crowded the intersection of Cherry and S. 14th streets early Saturday morning after the bodies of two young men are found in a home. Police say many of the gatherers are either related to or acquainted with the victims.
Criminal Investigation detective Joseph Dutoi says, " It's a small neighborhood, it's a close knit neighborhood."
Because of the crowd investigators worked carefully to find out who shot the two men believed to be in their mid twenties. Police were initially called to the home at 8 a-m after getting a call about one deceased person. upon arrival they found more in the upstairs apartment of this cherry street home.
Detective Dutio continues saying, " They actually found two males in there deceased, they both suffered. both had suffered gunshot wounds."
Police are not saying if the two men were related, their names, or why they were at this home. The news is too much for neighbor Majorie Sanders who woke to nearly hundred people and police gathered outside her door. She says, " That's scary, it means to me its time to go, I'm sorry its time to go."
As residents contemplate whether or not to stay in the neighborhood police are trying to figure out when the shooting actually occurred and how long the bodies had been here.

domain: law


text:
Multi-Award Winning Music and Books for Children Globally
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
PS Mom Reviews "Reading Rocks!"
This CD is my son's newest love. I don't know what exactly he likes about it, but there is some big draw for him. Maybe it's the variety of music styles all in one CD. Maybe it's his love for reading being the content of this CD. Either way, he really enjoys it. It's one that we hear him playing in his CD player often. It's a great kid friendly and family friendly CD that will make a great addition to your CD collection. - PS Mom Reviews

domain: entertainment


text: Background Recently diagnosed patients without anti-tuberculosis (TB) treatment histories have not often undergone drug susceptibility testing (DST), but have received the standard treatment regimen without information about their DST profiles in many countries with inadequate resources. confirmed by those from reverse hybridization-based line probe assays (LiPAs) that detected mutations associated with RMP, INH, PZA, and fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance. To investigate a diversity of these strains, ISand gene. Conclusions Our results suggest that drug-resistant strains, particularly those with INH resistance characterized by a single mutation, S315T, are spreading in Hanoi, Vietnam. When RMP resistance is combined with this setting, sufferers aren’t cured by conventional short-term treatment easily. We should carefully monitor these search and tendencies for the origins and transmitting routes of the strains. (MTB) strains, those from previously neglected sufferers especially, haven’t been contained in scientific practice in many countries with inadequate resources. A single standard anti-tuberculosis (TB) treatment without information regarding drug susceptibility is prone to failure or relapse, as initial drug resistance increases the chance of acquiring additional drug resistance . Molecular fingerprinting of MTB strains has been used extensively and is crucial for elucidating the transmission routes of drug-resistant TB [2,3]. A rapidly developing large city is often accompanied by overcrowding and a floating populace, and it is often not easy to identify the epidemiological link between TB cases. Nevertheless, the molecular epidemiological techniques are useful for providing insights into the spread patterns of MTB on site and can thus aid in enhancing TB control activities in the entire city. Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country stretching over 1,800 km from north to south. It is one of 22 high-burden countries worldwide, and its TB prevalence remains high (323 per 100,000 in 2011) . Vietnam reported an incidence of 2.7% multi-drug resistant-TB among new cases in a 2006 survey (95% confidence interval: 2.0C3.6) . The northern and southern regions of Vietnam have also been under different health guidelines for Rabbit Polyclonal to GRAK more than 20 years. It remains unclear whether entire profiles of MTB isolates obtained in one area are equally useful throughout the country. An earlier statement  suggested differences in genotypes and drug susceptibility patterns between isolates obtained in distant regions of Vietnam. Even though position of principal medication level of resistance continues to be reported in a few certain specific areas of Vietnam [7-9], molecular natural methods to this concern haven’t yet been exploited completely. Thus, we examined the information of medication susceptibility examining (DST), drug level of resistance genes, and fingerprint patterns of MTB isolates extracted from 339 neglected sufferers with smear-positive energetic TB in Hanoi previously, the administrative centre of Vietnam. Strategies Ethics declaration A written up to date consent was extracted from each participant. The scholarly research was accepted by moral committees from the Ministry of Wellness, Country wide and Vietnam Middle for Global Health insurance and Medication, Japan. Clinical isolates from acid-fast bacilli (AFB)-positive sputum Clinical isolates had been consecutively collected from previously untreated patients with AFB-positive active TB in Hanoi city between August 2007 and August 2008. At least two sputum specimens were collected from each patient; one was for any smear test and the other was used for culture in the Department of Microbiology of the Hanoi Lung Hospital. Specimens were decontaminated and homogenized Aztreonam with 0.5% NALCC2% NaOH and subsequently inoculated on L?wensteinCJensen media. MTB isolates were transferred to the Molecular Biology Laboratory of the National Lung Hospital and subjected to MTB id using niacin and nitrate lab tests, DST, as well as other molecular epidemiological lab tests. Drug susceptibility examining (DST) DST was performed utilizing the percentage method predicated on Globe Wellness Organization (WHO) suggestions . The check medium included rifampicin (RMP; 40 g/mL), isoniazid (INH; 0.2 g/mL and 1.0 g/mL), ethambutol (EMB; 2.0 g/mL), and streptomycin (SM; 4.0 g/mL). Medication level of resistance was thought as 1% colony development weighed against a drug-free control of L?wensteinCJensen moderate. Pyrazinamidase (PZase) assay PZase activity was dependant on Waynes technique with minor adjustments [11,12]. As a confident control, we utilized the MTB H37Rv stress that is vunerable to pyrazinamide (PZA) and it is positive for PZase. As a poor control, the BCG was utilized by us strain that’s resistant to PZA and it is negative Aztreonam for PZase. Isolation of Aztreonam genomic DNA Genomic DNA from MTB was extracted utilizing the original method defined ,.


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People should learn how to use polythene products so that they do not harm environment. In some cases it is not possible to close all the polythene factories although polythene bag is banned countrywide, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Shahab Uddin said while briefing at ministry. The minister presented statistics on banned polythene seizures and fine collection in the operation of the Department of the Environment for the past six months. He said that in the last six months, 126 mobile courts seized 126 tones of polythene.
"It is not possible to close all polythene producing factories at a time. We have banned polythene, however, in some cases there is a scope of using polythene. I will stop the production of polythene which are already prohibited under the policy of the government.” He said. "However, we don’t want to ban those that are not prohibited. We are making alternative bags such as jute generated sonali bag which is biodegradable and safer for environment. The use of polythene cannot be stopped even with punishment. People have to be motivated through awareness”
To strengthen the activities of the Department of Environment, in eight divisional cities and 36 districts we have set up office and necessary manpower has been provided. Shahab Uddin said, "We have also plans to prevent air pollution. We have set up 16 camps to assess the air quality in large district cities including Dhaka.”
“58% of our air pollution is from brick kilns. Appropriate plans and laws have been passed to close down brick kilns. ” Regarding noise pollution, the minister said, “We have legally forbidden hydraulic horn to control noise pollution. If people are aware, noise pollution can be stopped. We want to end noise pollution. ”
He said that action was taken against the grabbers of forest land. The land recovery is in process. I hope to be able to recover land soon. ” He also talked about setting up a power plant at Rampal in Bagerhat near Sundarbans. “There is nothing harmful to the environment because of the Rampal Coal Power Plant. The power plant will not do anything harmful to the environment and the mangrove forest. ”

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Rachel Carver blames herself for the death of an innocent woman in her last case as a special agent for the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Unable to accept her superior’s attempts to cover up the incident, she turned in her badge. But when a former partner asks her to consult on a new murder case, she reluctantly agrees, traveling to a small mountain community, where she’s tasked with leading a group of detectives on a hunt for the killer. What seems to be the act of a loner proves to be much more as Rachel’s team comes under attack—and a detective is killed in the fallout. Rachel’s old employers at the SBI step in to take over the investigation, but Rachel, convinced they are on the wrong track, continues to work the case alone. As she delves into the town’s past, she discovers a secret history that connects the victims—one that makes her the target of a man who would kill to keep it a secret.
J. R. Backlund, author of AMONG THE DEAD, spent some time with The Big Thrill discussing his debut novel:
Rob Ramer was the perfect husband until he committed the ultimate family faux pas—he shot his sister-in-law to death. Believing himself under attack by an intruder in his home, he fired back. However, when e-mails are discovered between Rob’s wife, Brooke, and her sister plotting his murder, Brooke is charged with conspiracy and manslaughter in her sister’s death.
Geneva, a third sister, seeks the help of San Francisco astrologer, Julia Bonatti. Geneva has never believed in astrology, but she’s desperate for answers. She’s lost one sister and now it seems she’ll lose the other. Was this a murder plot or just a terrible accident? Is there more to this family than meets the eye? Julia vows to find the answesr in the stars.
Connie Di Marco recently spent some time with The Big Thrill discussing her latest mystery, ALL SIGNS POINT TO MURDER:
After being laid off from his job as a newspaper reporter in a coastal Florida town, Dexter Vega meets a wealthy retiree who hires him to find his daughter who is supposed to be attending the local college. When Vega visits his client to inform him that his daughter is in Mexico, he discovers the man has been murdered. And Vega’s prints are all over the murder weapon.
As the police build a case against him, Vega flies to Mexico City to locate his client’s daughter, hoping she will help him find the murderer and thus clear his name. But when he finds the woman, she tells him a very different story—nothing is as it seems.
Beaten by thugs and ordered to leave Mexico, Vega returns home to find himself immersed in a web of blackmail, greed, and revenge.
The Big Thrill had the opportunity to discuss THE LAST GIRL with author, Danny Lopez, and here’s what we learned:
Police Chief Aidan Cruz has instructed Sgt. Grace Gabbiano to find out everything she can about a body farm smack in the middle of one of the town’s largest filbert orchards, and to get it done five minutes ago. Six students, led by a teaching anthropologist from the university, seem to spend as much time making whoopee on the grounds of what they fondly call the B-Farm, as they do collecting and recording research data on the thirteen decomposing cadavers planted there. Grace barely gets her report written before a fresh grave is discovered inside the compound, and it doesn’t contain a body donated for research. With the body count rising, the pressure is on for her to find the common denominator among the victims who share no obvious thread other than being female.
Author Ann Simas recently answered some questions for The Big Thrill about her latest release, BURIED TO DIE:
What do you hope readers will take away from this book?
Coburg, Oregon, a community of around 1,000 residents, is a real town. In actuality, homicides don’t occur there; in fiction, Grace Gabbiano and her crew face murder with regularity. It’s fun creating small-town characters with a vast range of personalities. I want my readers to get a sense, not only of what it’s like to live in a small town, but also what it’s like to be part of a large Italian family.
By Wendy Tyson
THE FIFTH REFLECTION, the new novel by Ellen Kirschman, is the third book in the popular Dot Meyerhoff series featuring police psychologist Dr. Dot Meyerhoff. As a police and public safety psychologist, Kirschman knows her subject. She brings a fresh voice and a chilling sense of realism to her thrillers. Recently, The Big Thrill had the chance to catch up with Kirschman.
Congratulations on your upcoming release. Without giving any spoilers, what can you tell us about your book that we won’t find in the jacket copy or the publisher’s material?
My mysteries are inspired by real officers and real events. What remains hidden are any identifying details. I owe a great deal to my clients. It frustrates me not to be able to thank them publicly.
DEAD SPIDER is Victoria Houston’s 17th book featuring Police Chief Lew Ferris, retired dentist Doc Osbourne, and their friend Ray—all fishing fanatics.
In fact, everyone in Loon Lake is a fishing fanatic, but only Ray “lives in a house trailer painted to resemble a predatory muskie: lurid green scales covering the outside of the little place and capped at one end with a row of gleaming razor-sharp teeth.”
Doc Osborne, deputized to help with forensics, and Ray the playboy fisherman, are the police chief’s murder-solving team. The murder in DEAD SPIDER takes place at a youth fishing tournament. While everyone is watching fireworks, someone walks up to Chuck Pfeiffer, the richest man in Wisconsin, and executes him with a bullet behind the ear.
No one really mourns Pfeiffer. Not his first wife. Not his current, sour-faced and sour-voiced trophy wife. Not his children.
But Pfeiffer’s murder isn’t the only crime Ferris has to solve: Osborne’s granddaughter is caught in a drug sting. And the local nursing home was robbed; residents lost their money, medications, and their guns.
In 1810, Atlas Catesby, a brilliant adventurer and youngest son of a baron, is anxious to resume his world travels after a carriage accident leaves him injured in London. But his plans are derailed when, passing through a country village, he discovers Lilliana Warwick being auctioned off to the highest bidder—by her husband. When the husband turns up dead several weeks later, Atlas is the only one who can help clear her name of the crime.
Fortunately, Atlas is a master at solving complicated puzzles, both with games and the intricacies of human motivation, and finds himself uniquely suited to the task, despite the personal peril it may put him in. But soon Altas learns the dead man had many secrets—and more than a few enemies willing to kill to keep them quiet—in MURDER IN MAYFAIR, the first in a new historical mystery series by D. M. Quincy.
The Big Thrill had an opportunity to sit down with D. M. Quincy to discuss her novel, MURDER IN MAYFAIR:
When the Oakland coroner’s office uncovers a body buried in a shallow grave in the outskirts of the city, homicide sergeant Matt Sinclair expects to find a drug dealer caught in the crosshairs of a turf war. Instead, the victim is identified as Phil Roberts, the commander of the police department’s intelligence unit and Sinclair’s former partner.
Police brass want to pin the murder on a dead member of an outlaw motorcycle gang, and they want the case closed quickly, but Sinclair and his current partner, Cathy Braddock, aren’t satisfied with that answer. As Sinclair delves into the details of Roberts’s past, secrets from his work and personal life come to the surface—secrets that some people will go to any length to keep buried. But Sinclair won’t stop until he finds the truth, even if it means sacrificing his former partner’s reputation and possibly his own career.
With SHALLOW GRAVE, Brian Thiem brings back his beloved detective for a thrilling third adventure in his acclaimed police procedural series.
Author Brian Thiem spent some time with The Big Thrill discussing his latest novel, SHALLOW GRAVE:
It seems about the only thing Ovidia Yu has quit was her quest to become a medical doctor. When she realized it was not what she wanted to do with her life, she turned her attention back to her writing—something she has enjoyed since childhood.
Yu is an award-winning short story writer and playwright with more than 30 plays performed. In addition, she has written novellas, a children’s book (The Mudskipper), and is the author of the entertaining Rosie “Aunty” Lee mystery series whose latest offering is Meddling and Murder.
Here a missing domestic worker is assumed to be a runaway in the midst of a series of home invasions and other unusual events. Aunty Lee, as she struggles to understand, continues her meddling ways, putting herself, her restaurant, and her hard-working domestic worker Nina in jeopardy.
Fellow author Louise Penny said, “Rosie Lee is a terrifically original heroine.” Yet, according to Yu, many readers around the world say Aunty Lee reminds them of relatives—mothers, aunts, grannies. “And I thought Aunty Lee was a typical Singaporean Peranakan Aunty. I hope it means I have captured the well-intentioned busybody traits of the ‘feed you and fix your life for you’ women who were part of my growing up.” (Killer Reads, April 10, 2017)
According to Yu in the same interview, Meddling and Murder has its origins in a newspaper article about a woman who went on a tour of China, met a tour guide who later turned up in Singapore and moved in with her, then started taking over her finances and isolating her from her family. The true crime story allowed Yu to explore other themes, including what it is like to be a foreigner in Singapore, especially if you look like you fit in but don’t and the unconscious assumptions we all make.
Buffalo, New York, private investigator Gideon Rimes, a black Iraq-war vet and retired army CID detective, is hired to protect blues singer Indigo Waters from her ex-boyfriend, a police officer who serves as a driver and personal bodyguard for Buffalo Mayor Ophelia Green. When the boyfriend is murdered, Rimes is the prime suspect. He’s arrested but police are forced to release him due to a lack of evidence. As the cops search for clues to tie Rimes to the murder, he begins his own hunt for the killer, uncovering a plot that involves city leaders, a wealthy business owner, corrupt cops, access to control of a half-billion-dollar project—and a dark family secret that someone will do anything to keep hidden, regardless of who they have to kill…
NICKEL CITY BLUES author, Gary Earl Ross, recently discussed his latest novel with The Big Thrill:
What do you hope readers will take away from this book?
As a black writer who tries to capture the diverse cultural and social intersections of modern America, I hope readers find NICKEL CITY BLUES engaging and the central characters compelling enough to make them read future Nickel City titles.
When stylish Hillary Whitney dies alone in a locked, windowless conference room at the offices of high-concept magazine RAGE Fashion Book, her death is initially ruled an unfortunate side effect of the unrelenting pressure to be thin.
But two months later, a cryptic note in her handwriting ends up in the office of the NYPD and the case is reopened, leading Det. Mark Hutton straight into the glamorous life of hardworking RAGE editor Catherine Ono, who insists on joining the investigation. Surrounded by a supporting cast of party girls, Type A narcissists and half-dead socialites, Cat and her colleague Bess Bonner are determined to solve the case and achieve sartorial perfection. But their amateur detective work has disastrous results, and the two ingenues are caught in a web of drugs, sex, lies and moisturizer that changes their lives forever.
Author Barbara Bourland discussed her debut novel, I’LL EAT WHEN I’M DEAD, with The Big Thrill:
What do you hope readers will take away from this book?
A new understanding of the pressures that modern women face every single morning when they get dressed—and of course, the satisfaction of having been wildly entertained.
By Terri Nolan
Elena Hartwell is a novelist, a playwright, and a teacher. A renaissance woman. Her recent novel, TWO HEADS ARE DEADER THAN ONE, features private investigator Eddie Shoes, and is the second in the series.
Hartwell says if Kinsey Millhone and James Rockford had a love child, it would be Eddie Shoes. As homage to the noir private detective, Hartwell has taken that classic character—the hard bitten, loner, male PI—and, first, turned him into a woman who’s not so much hard bitten as she is practical and logical, and, second, not so much a loner as she is a person who was once on her own and now finds herself surrounded by friends and family. Eddie is a new classic.
TWO HEADS ARE DEADER THAN ONE begins with a plea for bail money from Eddie’s high school friend. Eddie’s decision to free her friend sets the stage for more trouble than she imagined. Humor brackets the serious aspects of the human experience explored in the novel. Readers will be thrilled and amused at the same time.
Introduce us to your protagonist. How was she “born”?
My protagonist was born on a road trip. My husband and I were driving across Washington State and for some reason he made up the name Eddie Shoes. I thought that’s a perfect name for a female private eye. I started to think about what this character would be like. What kind of person would be named Eddie Shoes? I realized she would be quirky and a little irreverent and not take life too seriously. She would also be independent and a bit suspicious of people. So that’s where I started with her.
This Jim West mystery/thriller, the seventh in the series, finds Jim traveling to Fabens, TX, in an effort to locate an old acquaintance who had written Jim a cryptic letter asking for his help in finding a briefcase. In Fabens, he discovers that someone has murdered his friend. Jim provides a copy of the letter to the local police explaining that he has no idea where the briefcase is or how to decipher the sets of numbers provided in the letter. Figuring there is nothing more he can do, Jim starts his trek home. He plans to spend a night or two relaxing at the Lodge in Cloudcroft, NM, on his way, only to find that he is being followed. An ominous, unidentified phone caller gives Jim an order—find the briefcase and turn it over to him within a week. A violent confrontation in Cloudcroft verifies Jim’s worst suspicion, a Mexican drug cartel wants the briefcase. The confrontation also brings the FBI into the picture. They also want Jim to continue his search. The search takes Jim to the New Mexican ghost town of Chloride where the final confrontation takes place and Jim finds out who the bad guys really are.
Author Bob Doerr spent some time discussing his latest novel, GREED CAN KILL, with The Big Thrill:
What do you hope readers will take away from this book?
I hope readers find that this book tells an interesting and fun to read story. They should find the use of Fabens, Texas, Cloudcroft, NM, Truth or Consequences, NM, and the ghost town of Chloride, NM, as seldom used but fascinating settings for a mystery. Finally, I hope readers take away a hunger to read other Jim West books they may not have already read.
Baltimore police officer Fia Mckee is suspended for excessive use of force. Given a second chance, she’s sent to work undercover for the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau (TRPB) at Gulfstream Park in Florida, where her assignment is to spy on two racetrack workers suspected of illegal activities and whose horses continue to outperform all expectations.
To complete her cover story, Fia moves in with her semi-estranged brother, Patrick, and his daughter, Jilly. Fia’s investigations become twofold when Jilly disappears after an off the grid Cuban gang steals her beloved pony for horse meat. Along the way, Fia encounters, a (very handsome) do-gooder who’s close on their trail, and a cabal of super wealthy gamblers who will stop at nothing to ensure they always win.
The Big Thrill caught up with Sasscer Hill to discuss her latest novel, FLAMINGO ROAD:
Sherry Knowlton, author of the Alexa Williams suspense novels, was born and raised in small-town Pennsylvania, where she developed a lifelong passion for books. Like so many authors, she was the kid who snuck a flashlight to bed at night so she could read beneath the covers.
Knowlton’s interest in the written word never faded. Her novels focus on contemporary issues and DEAD OF SPRING, her new release, is no exception. An environmental crisis is at the heart of this latest story, which deals with fracking and government corruption. As the current crisis unravels, a parallel historical story tracks the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear incident.
In researching her novel, Knowlton drew on her personal experience living in Pennsylvania during the Three Mile Island episode. Written material on the Internet, state regulations, news clips, and interviews of experts provided additional background material. Knowlton said, “One of my most useful bits of research came when I visited a landowner in northern Pennsylvania who had leased his land to an energy company for fracking. He leased in the early days of fracking in Pennsylvania and was unaware of the problems he might encounter.” This man shared his experience, showing the process that transformed his property from a beautiful woodland into an acre of gravel and machinery. Pristine drinking water now requires constant filtering for showers and bathing, and his life is a constant battle with the energy company for compensation.
Buddy and Martha Whitacre, a blue-collar couple, celebrate early retirement with a trip to Spain. They return home to discover that they’ve been wiped out by the investment fund that made retirement and travel possible. DAMN NEAR BROKE is the tale of how they deal with impending poverty, each other, and especially the shame of it all.
Seniors fleeced by a phony investment scheme, why did you choose this story line?
Since I’m far too young to be an AARP member, I steal the monthly magazine out of a neighbor’s mailbox. Nearly every issue has horror stories of people who’ve fallen victim to a variety of scams and articles warning of new twists in impoverishing seniors.
You’ve labeled this as a cautionary tale, rightfully so. Is this based on a true story or did it almost hit anyone close to home?
Fortunately, I’ve experienced nothing of this sort up close and personal.
By Karen Harper
Karen Katchur writes suspense novels that beautifully blend a compelling setting with a realistic story. Her background in criminal justice makes her work feel “you-are-there” authentic. The focus on family also moves her novels into the realm of psychological fiction.
This month, Katchur took time out of her busy schedule to provide insight into her thrilling new release, THE SISTERS OF BLUE MOUNTAIN, and share with The Big Thrill some of the secrets behind her success.
Please tell us what THE SISTERS OF BLUE MOUNTAIN is about.
For Linnet, owner of a Bed and Breakfast in Mountain Springs, Pennsylvania, life has been a bit complicated lately. Hundreds of snow geese die overnight in the dam near the B&B, sparking a media frenzy, threatening the tourist season, and bringing her estranged younger sister, Myna, to town. If that isn’t enough, the women’s father has been charged with investigating the incident. But when a younger expert is brought in to replace him on the case and then turns up dead on Linnet’s property, their father becomes the primary suspect. As the investigation unfolds, the sisters will have to confront each other, their hidden past, and a side of Mountain Springs not seen before.
Dark, gritty, disturbing. Those are the types of characters you’ll encounter in the award-winning stories within this collection. Tough people in a tough world. But also real people, struggling with difficult decisions when faced with unthinkable circumstances. What happens when you discover a dead body but can’t go to the police because of your own dark past? Or your father’s dark past? What might a woman resort to when her husband doesn’t hold up his end of a bargain? What frightening surprises lie buried beneath the beaches of North Carolina? Or in the desolate hills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains? Or in the swamps of the New Jersey Pine Barrens?
These are stories that are as dark, gritty, and disturbing as the characters who inhabit them, yet there is a pervasive humanness which forces us to empathize. That asks us to understand why people sometimes do what they do. Perhaps that’s the reason these stories have been chosen for the Best American Mystery series, honored by The Atlantic Monthly’s Student Writing Contest, not to mention various other awards and honors. Perhaps that’s why these stories will stick with you well after the reading has commenced. Always gnawing at you, unrelenting, asking, “What would you have done in that situation? Would you have behaved any differently?”
Scott Loring Sanders took some time to discuss his latest book, SHOOTING CREEK AND OTHER STORIES, with The Big Thrill:
When the Jarrett Creek Fire Department is called to douse a blaze on the outskirts of town, they discover a grisly scene: five black young people have been murdered. Newly elected Chief of Police Samuel Craddock, just back from a stint in the Air Force, finds himself an outsider in the investigation headed by the Texas Highway Patrol. He takes an immediate dislike to John Sutherland, a racist trooper.
Craddock’s fears are realized when Sutherland arrests Truly Bennett, a young black man whom Craddock knows and respects. Sutherland cites dubious evidence that points to Bennett, and Craddock uncovers facts leading in another direction. When Sutherland refuses to relent, Craddock is faced with a choice that will define him as a lawman—either let the highway patrol have its way, or take on a separate investigation himself.
Although his choice to investigate puts both Craddock and his family in danger, he perseveres. In the process, he learns something about himself and the limits of law enforcement in Jarrett Creek.
A tried and true adage is to write what you know. The difficult part is taking what you know and making it interesting reading for an audience. This is well executed by Lynn Chandler Willis in her latest novel, TELL ME NO LIES, the debut Ava Logan Mystery.
The heroine of TELL ME NO LIES, Ava Logan, is the publisher of the newspaper for the small town of Jackson Creek, North Carolina set in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. Like her character, Willis has lived her entire life in North Carolina and owned a small-town weekly newspaper. Both Ava and Willis have two children, are single mothers, and have dogs named Finn.
TELL ME NO LIES finds Ava in the middle of covering the local election, just weeks before Election Day. Then the simple act of dropping off her friend’s toddler after a night of babysitting changes everything. Her friend is dead, and Ava wants to know why. Juggling her two teenage children, her friend’s orphaned toddler, and her own muddied past, Ava’s digging for the truth puts her and those she loves in danger. It is imperative the killer is found before either Ava or someone she loves ends up dead.
Ava Logan stands as her own person. She brings a backstory that is “tragically realistic” according to the author with “enough struggles to help shape her character without defining it.” Willis wanted to make sure that Ava was not “broken” and sees Ava as “that magical combination of strength and vulnerability. She’s not perfect. She’s many things, but she is not broken and she’ll be the first to tell you that!”
Sebastian Snow is the owner of Snow’s Antique Emporium. With an encyclopaedic knowledge of the 1800s, Sebastian and his Emporium seem to be a magnet for murderous mysteries. After The Mystery of Nevermore, Sebastian is now happily dating lead homicide detective, Calvin Winter, but when a brick is thrown through the Emporium window, Sebastian finds himself swept up in a series of grisly murders.
Author C. S. Poe tells me about her latest novel THE MYSTERY OF CURIOSITIES, the second instalment of the Snow and Winter series, as well as about her inspiration for the story and what drives her to write gay mysteries.
THE MYSTERY OF THE CURIOSITIES is Book 2 of the Snow & Winter series. Where is Sebastian Snow after the events of The Mystery of Nevermore?
Sebastian Snow is in a much healthier place after Nevermore—physically, mentally, and emotionally. He came out of an intense murder mystery relatively unscathed, and he and lead homicide detective, Calvin Winter, are happily dating. If it wasn’t for the fact that he’s become prone to trouble, Sebastian may have gotten through Valentine’s Day without having to put his sleuthing hat back on.
Katie Taylor is the perfect student. She’s bright and funny, she has a boyfriend who adores her and there are only a few months left of school before she can swap Banktoun for the bright lights of London. Life gets even better when she has an unexpected win on a scratch card. But then Katie’s luck runs out.
Her tragic death instead becomes the latest in a series of dark mysteries blighting the small town. The new school counsellor Polly McAllister, who has recently returned to Banktoun to make amends in her own personal life, is thrown in at the deep end as the pupils and staff come to terms with Katie’s death. And it’s not long before she uncovers a multitude of murky secrets. Did Katie have enemies? Is her boyfriend really so squeaky clean? And who is her brother’s mysterious friend?
With Banktoun’s insular community inflamed by gossip and a baying mob stirring itself into a frenzy on social media, DS Davie Gray and DC Louise Jennings must work out who really murdered Katie before someone takes matters into their own hands…
The Big Thrill recently discussed THE DAMSELFLY with author S. J. I. Holliday:
Rookie cop Laura Mori catches her first investigation when the fiery crash of a sports car lights up the night sky. The fire burns the body beyond recognition, but the police are able to identify the car as that of Kent Jameson, celebrity author and benefactor of Sunrise Lake. And Jameson fears that the unidentified body is his seventeen-year-old daughter Lucy, who stormed out of the house that night after an argument.
When lab reports reveal that the body was not Lucy, but a teen runaway named Kyra whose disappearance has been linked with other missing persons—more than half a dozen “lost girls” who disappeared while living on the streets of Portland—the investigation takes a drastic turn. How did Kyra come to land at the Jameson estate in rural Oregon, and what was she doing driving their car? And who cut the brake lines on the vehicle?
Just when Laura is making progress in the case, she comes across a suspicious lane in the forest that uncovers new evidence that will once again alter the course of the investigation and rock Sunrise Lake to its core. R. J. Noonan’s electrifying mystery will resonate with fans of Lisa Gardner and Lisa Jackson.
Author R. J. Noonan took some time to discuss her thriller, WHERE THE LOST GIRLS GO, with The Big Thrill:
As the single mom of an energetic toddler and an investigator working for the medical examiner’s office in small-town Sorenson, Wisconsin, Mattie is used to her life being a juggling act. But now that she’s moved in with Detective Steve Hurley and his teenaged daughter Emily, and has started planning their wedding, her home life is looking more like a three-ring circus. And with her boss and friend, Izzy, suddenly having a health crisis, she could not be more grateful for the newest staff member in the ME’s office, Hal Dawson.
All too quickly her gratitude turns to shock when a floating body found trapped against a dam turns out to be Hal, but the cause of death isn’t drowning—his throat’s been slashed. Hal was supposed to be fishing on his day off with his girlfriend. And when their empty boat is found in a nearby lake, the whereabouts of the woman becomes an even more urgent question.
To find out what really happened to her coworker, Mattie may need to rock the boat. But a killer is just as determined to keep the truth from ever surfacing, even if that means making Mattie the next one to go under.
Annelise Ryan recently discussed her novel with The Big Thrill:
Award winning criminologist R. Barri Flowers is a bestselling author of both fiction and nonfiction. This month he makes all his fans happy with the release of two new books: a true crime volume called SERIAL KILLERS AND PROSTITUTES, and a cozy mystery — MURDERED IN THE GOURMET KITCHEN.
In MURDERED IN THE GOURMET KITCHEN, Riley Reed is the suspect in a murder because the victim was beaten to death with Riley’s casserole dish. Protagonist Riley Reed is a single, spunky and humorous interior designer who somehow finds herself in the middle of murder investigations.
“Riley would be a hit at a cocktail party,” Flowers says, “as she is the type of person one gravitates toward for her affable nature, perkiness, and willingness to engage on a seemingly endless variety of topics. Riley is definitely a heroine in the true sense of the word, as she is more than willing to step out on a limb to catch a killer.”
Of course, Riley doesn’t see herself as a heroine, just a proud citizen of Cozy Pines, Oregon, who does her best to help others any way she can — including the police when they fall short in the pursuit of a culprit.”
During Mac’s first paranormal investigation, the group’s leader is found dead at the bottom of a staircase, his neck broken. On the next outing, another group member falls to her death from the observation deck of a “haunted” lighthouse. Mac suspects there might be more to these deaths than a vengeful spirit. His launches an investigation that takes him for a true hair-raising ride.
Author E. Michael Helms recently sat down with The Big Thrill to discuss DEADLY SPIRITS:
What do you hope readers will take away from this book?
The satisfaction of taking part in an exciting adventure, knowing the time invested was well-spent.
How does this book make a contribution to the genre?
By living up to the standards set by many predecessors: hooking the reader and keeping him/her guessing; and by book’s end, leaving the reader satisfied yet wanting to spend more time with the main characters.
Haunted by the disappearance of his mother when he was eight years old, detective Hud Matthews begins his own investigation to find out what really happened so many years before. When a rare murder occurs in the lakeside community, Hud’s veteran skills are called upon to capture the killer. Pulled deep into the threads of the community with ties to the past, Hud quickly becomes a target, not only of the killer, but of those who wish the past to be left alone. As Hud gets closer to discovering the truth about the crimes, he has to face a choice of enforcing the law, or stepping outside of it to make sure that his version of justice is served.
Larry D. Sweazy recently discussed WHERE I CAN SEE YOU with The Big Thrill.
What do you hope readers will take away from this book?
Detective Hud Matthew’s mother disappeared when he was eight years old and was never heard from again. That loss not only changed his life in a deep, inexplicable way, it also taught him how to ask questions and to look differently at the world from a very young age. He had no choice but to grow up to become a detective. So, I hope readers will root for Hud and see a little of themselves in his story. The experiences of our entire lives puts us where we are now.
Before the criminals they were tracking headed underground, evidence pointed toward two organizations as key to an epic art heist. Despite their best efforts, Laurel Beacham and her team haven’t caught a break in months—even Jack Hawkes’s unofficial intel stuttered to a halt. But on New Year’s, as Big Ben’s bell tolls midnight, the guilty return and nowhere is safe. A source in Rome is killed within hours. Other allies are attacked in Rome and London, and a contact in Germany reports dangerous shadows closing in. The nearer the answers, the higher the stakes. Worse, Jack may not be the only one Laurel must learn to trust to avoid another brush with death.
Author Ritter Ames recently discussed ABSTRACT ALIASES with The Big Thrill.
What do you hope readers will take away from this book?
Because the character is an art recover expert who operates primarily in Europe, I hope readers see art in new ways. The books are fast paced and the dialogue witty (and sometimes a bit snarky), so I hope readers enjoy these characters and love to see how they solve the crimes they’re charged to solve. I also hope readers love the settings used in the story, as much of the information on locations and culture are not made up just for the story.
By Don Helin
Phyllis Smallman’s debut novel, Margarita Nights, won the inaugural Unhanged Arthur Award from the Crime Writers of Canada, and was short-listed for the Debut Dagger in the U.K. She has been awarded both silver and gold medals by the Independent Publishers book awards in the U.S. Her work has appeared in Spinetingler and Omni Mystery magazines. She was a potter before turning to a life of crime. She lives on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.
Smallman has written seven novels that were traditionally published, six in the Sherri Travis mystery series, and one in the Singer Brown mystery series. BEACH KILL the second in the Singer Brown mystery series, but the first to come out as an ebook as well.
I asked Smallman a few questions.
Is there anything special you’d like to tell us about BEACH KILL?
The setting is a small island off the west coast of British Columbia. At the very edge of the continent, and straddling the border of two countries, the Gulf Islands are playgrounds for the very rich. Policed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, with only six officers to handle ten thousand residents and a few thousand visitors, resources are stretched thin. On this May holiday weekend, the town of Kilborn is full of tourists and pleasure boats for the round-the-island regatta.
By Anne Tibbets
“WALK INTO SILENCE is the debut in a series featuring Texas police detective Jo Larsen,” says thriller writer Susan McBride. “I wrote it almost a decade ago, but put it aside. I was deep in the midst of my Debutante Dropout Mysteries for HarperCollins at the time, and had also signed with Random House to do a non-mystery series about debutantes in Texas. So I forgot about WALK INTO SILENCE until last spring, when I dusted it off and did a major rewrite. A lot had changed in ten years, particularly regarding technology, but the plot felt pretty timeless: a missing woman with a tragic past and a detective determined to find her.”
“Jo Larsen is kind of my own Jack Reacher without the military background and the penchant for drifting,” McBride goes on to add. “She’s had a lot of bad things happen in her life, but she hasn’t let them destroy her. They’ve made her incredibly strong and empathetic. She truly feels for the victims and fights for them, because no one fought for her. I love that she’s very controlled on the outside, but roiling with emotion on the inside. Those who know her well—and there are few—understand her need for privacy but keep knocking on the door, asking to be let in. When she believes something, she believes it fiercely, which is why the term ‘dogged’ comes up so often when other characters in the book address her. She is like a dog with a bone: she won’t let go.”
As with any thriller, research and accuracy can be a key component to the book’s success and authenticity.
“I definitely do a lot of Internet research, and I kind of go wherever Google takes me when I have a particular question come up. While researching WALK INTO SILENCE, I needed to know about quarries and what happened to them when they weren’t viable anymore. What does one do with a gigantic pit? I also looked up various laws relating to missing persons, gun ownership, et cetera. Since the book is set in Texas, and I don’t live there any more (although I did for twenty years), I checked back on locations and directions. But I do love hands-on research as well and returned to the Dallas area to talk to folks at the Frisco police department and get a tour of the facilities. I put my notes to good use when I set up my fictional Plainfield P.D. So I do whatever it takes in order to feel like I’m getting things right.”
Even with research and craft, a writer can still have favorite scenes in each of their books.


A delegation of young unemployed graduates from The Unemployed Youth, a recently formed national group, embarked on a Gauteng protest under the hash tag #NoJobNoVote on Thursday. The group led by Innocent Khumalo (26), is threatening to not go to the polls next week for the national elections until all 46 392 youth on their database receive employment.
Speaking to City Press, Ndumiso Mpungose (22), marketing management graduate from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) said he has been unemployed for three years. “How can they expect us to vote while we are on empty stomaches. What is the rationale that motivates us to vote? We are hungry and we are going to Luthuli House to hand over our memorandum. We will not vote until they hear us."
Ziyanda Mdingi (27), community development and leadership graduate from the University of Johannesburg said she only received a one year internship. “I have had to sit at home for three years. Right now I am starting to really undermine and not value the education thing. It has done nothing for me, it’s not taking me anywhere. If government doesn’t respond on Monday I am not voting," she added.
The delegation met with ANC General-Manager Febe Potgieter-Gqubule at the ANC headquarters of Luthuli House and were received by Potgieter-Gqubule and representatives from the ANC economic transformation committee that includes trade and industry, youth development, as well as the ANC professionals’ league committee, and the Office of the Secretary-General.
- Unemployed but qualified (graduates) youth of South Africa having free access to the government departments to make free copies of their CV’s and their business proposals;
- Graduates that have no income being allowed to travel freely in all government transportation to submit their CV’s and going for interviews;
- Government internships to be 3 years;
- Internship programmes to pay interns the same amount as permanent staff members, “since the duties are the same and equal”; and
- a Department of Youth and Job creation that will be led by a youthful relevant minister.
The group expected these demands to be met by the end of the meeting but after nearly an hour of engagement the group changed tune and conceded to the planning of a job summit, said to be hosted in June by the ANC and were open to voting on May 8.
Khumalo, who led the group, described the outcomes of the meeting as being a step in the right direction. “It was quite a progressive gathering. We are however a bit worried if the said commitments would be realised. These engagements have happened in the past and nothing came of them but we have decided to not look at the past for references. The ANC delegation agreed with us on how genuine our cause is and we brought with a database and CV to plead our case. Our members said this fight must continue until we are all with a job”.
Speaking to City Press, Potgieter-Gqubule denied that the ANC’s decision to meet with the young people was part of electioneering. “I received the request from the Unemployed Graduates in April, before Easter, and we agreed to meet because it’s an issue we are concerned about, in and outside of election time”.
Potgieter-Gqubule added that the ANC believes the grievances of the youth are genuine and deserving of their attention.
“The frustration of having been through higher education and not finding a job is deeply frustrating, given the personal and family investments and sacrifices. The fact that they are organised is an advantage which gives them a voice, but also capacity to find solutions since they have the database.”
When asked if the ANC was concerned by the youth’s threat to not vote she said: “We believe honest engagement on what is possible and follow-up is important, not just to convince them to vote. We believe they will do the right thing and participate in this important moment for South Africa.”
The group also left behind their CVs and were treated to scones and fruits and jokingly encouraged one another to eat as they are without a job and food.
“To be honest we took it with respect as ubuntu. I imagine they also treat each other like that, and the CVs were with us to really legitimise and back up our cause that we are not random people with nothing to show, we actually are skilled and qualified graduates,"Khumalo said.
When asked if the group is going to vote, Khumalo said: “It will depend on their response. If they do not respond to our primary demands, including committing to implementing certain initiatives. But we will respond on the 6th formally."


The Tesla Model S is already a visually stunning vehicle. Filled with sleek lines and an option to have a massive panoramic glass roof installed, the electric car is pretty much as premium as it could get. If a recent patent filing by the carmaker is any indication, however, the future of the premium electric sedan might get even more interesting.
A patent filing from Tesla, published on October 5, 2017, features what appears to be a new type of glass roof for the carmaker’s electric vehicles. Unlike most of the glass roofs that are offered for the Model S, X, and Roadster, the new roofs in the recently published patent show a design that enables the glass panels to move in a unique manner.
Unlike usual convertible roofs, the recent Tesla patent reveals a design that features non-parallel tracks on the body of the vehicle. This would enable Tesla to design a larger opening in its iconic panoramic roofs, making its vehicles feel even airier than before.
“The fact that the tracks are parallel puts design limitations on the vehicle body. For example, a distance represents the spacing between the parallel tracks. In other words, with parallel tracks, the design of the vehicle’s roof has placed certain limitations on how large the sunroof opening can be made.”
Tesla’s current lineup has one model that supports a movable panoramic roof, and that is its flagship sedan, the Model S. The Model X, due to its Falcon Wing Doors are available with glass roofs, but they are non-movable, according to an Electrek report. The Model 3, yet another EV with a glass roof option, is also offered only with a fixed glass roof design.
It is yet unclear if Tesla would indeed roll out its new patented glass roof design to its vehicle lineup. So far, the only EV in Tesla’s offerings that the new glass roof design could really work with is the Model S. Thus, there is a good chance that if Tesla does indeed roll out the new roof design, it would most likely make its debut with the company’s flagship sedan.
That is, of course, if Tesla does not make another version of its powerful Roadster. In a lot of ways, a movable glass roof sounds perfect for a small, lightweight, high-performance EV. Being a convertible, the first Tesla Roadster was equipped with a movable roof. Thus, if Tesla does make another iteration of its sports car, this new glass roof patent would practically be a perfect fit.
[Featured Image by Tesla]


Valentine gets little relief from Aceves
Suffice it to say that Bobby Valentine isn’t a big fan of Alfredo Aceves. The Red Sox manager suspended the reliever for three games on Aug. 25 after he threw a tantrum when he wasn’t used as a closer. Andrew Bailey has since assumed that job and Aceves continues to stew.
On Wednesday against the Yankees, Aceves shunned Valentine and didn’t hand him the ball on the mound after being removed from the game in the seventh inning.
“If I have to explain Aceves’ actions, I’ll end up going across the river and work for Harvard,” Valentine said.
Aceves, who got into a Sept. 1 shouting match with teammate Dustin Pedroia over an infield popup, showed up for work Thursday with four guests in the clubhouse, which is a violation of MLB rules. He also played loud music from his locker, something he hadn’t done this season. It would seem that he is in a snit, but Valentine said he won’t take any further action against the right-hander – no fine, no lack of playing time.
“Oh, yeah, he’s on the roster,” said the manager before his team’s 2-0 loss the Yankees. “No, I’m not fining anyone.”
Valentine said he was aware of behavioral problems that helped lead to Aceves’ exit from New York two years ago. “I think I knew what I was dealing with from spring training.
“Y’know, you always want people around who know the difference between right and wrong, and sometimes when people don’t know the difference between right and wrong you can talk all day long to them and it doesn’t matter.
“In Alfredo’s case, I think that he understands what he’s doing. That means that if you know you do something wrong you understand that there’s also consequence.”
A ROSS CAUSE
Valentine said he didn’t have a feel for whether Cody Ross would get suspended by the league after he went ballistic on a third-strike call by plate ump Alfonso Marques Wednesday.
“I would have any concerns after I know how the system works,” said the manager. “It used to be that you’d have to touch someone or say something really bad and it seemed like a guy who was into the moment got excited. That used to be acceptable, but I don’t know how the system’s working these days.”
Ross declined to speak of the incident, but said of his frustration after the Thursday loss, “It’s up there. Last year was tough for me, obviously, defending the World Series (with the Giants) and then not making it to the playoffs. But this is tough. It’s not easy to come here and get beat every day. We got to try to turn it around and finish in a positive note.”…
Rehabbing pitcher John Lackey threw to live batters for a second time, 20 pitches. “Felt even better than he did last time and looked better than he did last time,” said the manager, who said there’s no chance he’ll pitch in the majors this year. He will, however, head to Florida for the late stages of the Instructional League, where he can pitch a couple of innings.
“It’s been a goal of his, so you always want to be able to reach your goals and he’s worked so hard that he looks good, He feels good, and to check that off I think would be a good thing for him to do. He’s been right on schedule, he’s made every bullpen session, he’s made every weight session.”
Lackey will throw on flat ground next and then throw a two-inning simulated game…
HENRY: LUCCHINO TO RETURN IN '13
Pedroia was not in the lineup after his wife, Kelli, gave birth to their second son. He’ll join the club in Toronto…Valentine was surprised to hear he’d set a Red Sox record with his sixth ejection Wednesday night. He’s even more surprised that umpires have seen fit to thumb him for what he considers minor infractions. “I can tell you this year I’ve done less in all six times than I ever did before. So it’s a different system.”…Sox owner John Henry confirmed that CEO Larry Lucchino has signed on to return next season… After playing shortstop all season, Mike Aviles played second base in the ninth inning…Bill Cosby threw out a ceremonial first pitch…


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Hello lovely reader. Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is my favorite books from the past two years. It was hard enough to only choose ten books from all the wonderful novels I've read so you can't expect me to put them in order, right? Right. Yet again I chose to include quotes because I think you guys find it more interesting than reading my random thoughts but do let me know if you think otherwise. Hope you'll enjoy.
1. On Dublin Street by Samantha Young
read in June, 2013
“I was washing the dishes and the sneaky bastard crept up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. And kissed me. Right here.” I pointed angrily to my neck. “Can I not have him committed or something?”
Dr. Pritchard snorted. “For loving you?”
I drew back, shaking my head in disgust. “Dr. Pritchard,” I admonished softly. “Whose side are you on?”
2. Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
read in June, 2013
“I might appear confident and chatty, but I spend most of my time laughing at jokes I don't find funny, saying things I don't really mean - because at the end of the day that's what we're all trying to do: fit in, one way or another, desperately trying to pretend we're all the same.”
3. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
read in 2015, January
“Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens.”
4. Wait for You by Jennifer L. Armentrout
read in March, 2013
“You've been checking me out, haven't you? In between your flaming insults? I feel like man candy.”
5. The Selection Trilogy by Kiera Cass
last book read in March, 2014
“I loved him.
I couldn't pinpoint what made me so certain, but I knew it then, as surely as I knew my name or the color of the sky or any fact written in a book.
Could he feel it, too?
Maxon broke the kiss and looked at me. "You're so pretty when you are a mess."
I laughed nervously. "Thank you. For that and for the rain and for not giving up."
He ran his fingers along my cheek and nose and chin. "You're worth it. I don't think that you get that. You're worth it to me.”
6. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
read in May, 2014
“She confused being spartan with being charitable, and gave away her possessions without truly doing good with them.
She confused being sick with being brave, and suffered agonies while imagining she merited praise for it.
She confused wit with intelligence, and made people laugh rather than lightening their hearts or making them think.”
7. Dangerous Girls
read in February, 2014
"Any one of us could be made to look a monster, with selective readings of our history."
8. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
last book read in July, 2014
“A relieved grin filled up Thorne’s face. “We’re having another moment, aren’t we?”
“If by a moment, you mean me not wanting to strangle you for the first time since we met, then I guess we are.”
9. The Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater
first book read in March, 2013
“You are being self-pitying."
"I'm nearly done. You don't have much more of this to bear."
"I like you better this way."
"Crushed and broken," Gansey said. "Just the way women like 'em.”
10. The Catcher in the Rye by Z. D. Salinger
read in March, 2014
“When you're dead, they really fix you up. I hope to hell when I do die somebody has sense enough to just dump me in the river or something. Anything except sticking me in a goddam cemetery. People coming and putting a bunch of flowers on your stomach on Sunday, and all that crap. Who wants flowers when you're dead? Nobody.”


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In the chaos and unsettling of today, I have come to the evening reminding myself of my new goal of simplicity and peace.
There are chores to be done, that I don’t want to do.
There is exercise for the taking, that I am feeling so lethargic about.
Okay, find the peace.
Find the simplicity in the quiet of the house, the purring of my cat.
Get off the computer, away from the TV and find the quiet.

domain: psychology


Displaying items by tag: election
Goldman Sachs is stressed about the election. In particular, they are concerned about what a contested outcome could mean for stock prices. Because of that, they think the debates which started this week have the potential to be an “important catalyst for investors to assess risks”. The debates have the possibility of swinging the election strongly one way or the other, which means they can be tipping points for investors. “One way to lower the odds of a contested outcome (that brings noise and volatility) is via a large margin of victory that cannot be undermined”. That said, according to the bank’s strategists, even a big win could have risks: “Although undoubtedly under the clean-sweep scenario there is the negative implications for risk assets to be considered, stemming from a Democratic legislative agenda including higher corporate taxes and increased capital-gains taxes”.
FINSUM: Goldman is making it abundantly clear that they think most paths for the market lead lower—likely until the end of the year. With Trump now having COVID, that makes uncertainty even higher.
Advisors need to start thinking about what the post-election tax landscape might look like for clients, especially high earners. The proposed Biden/Democratic tax package is even more stringent than many think, as when you diver deeper it becomes clear that the increases are quite extensive. One core element that is less understood is Biden’s Social Security Payroll tax of 12.4%, which applies to all income with no cap (all income between $137,000 and $400,000 would be taxed at the same level). Combining that with a raised federal tax rate of 39.6%, and state taxes means that some residents of high tax states could see punitive-levels. For example, in California, which has a 13.3% top tax rate, the total tax burden for high earners would be over 65%! Even in states without state taxes, income taxes could be 52%. Furthermore, Biden intends to eliminate capital gains tax rates for those who earn more than $1m, effectively doubling the capital gains tax rate.
FINSUM: There is good news and bad news here. The bad news is obvious. The good news is that because of the state of the economy and the need for fiscal stimulus, Democrats are unlikely to pass these measure until we re-reach full employment, which could be years.
Many articles have been written about which stocks and sectors will do well or poorly if Trump or Biden wins/loses. Generally speaking, these articles are useful but repetitive. A more interesting idea is to look at the sectors/assets that will do well no matter who wins. With that in mind, here are a few ETFs poised to thrive when either candidate emerges victorious. One surprising area that should prosper in either scenario is clean energy. Biden plans to invest heavily in the area, but even if he does not win, this group of companies have finally become profitable. Couple that with rising pro-green public sentiment, and their long-term outlook is positive. Another area is infrastructure stocks. Both Biden and Trump have big infrastructure spending plans in their agenda ($1.3 tn vs $1 tn), so that appears to be a win-win.
FINSUM: Just as there are winners in either situation, there are also losers. Pharma, for instance, would be under attack in either presidency.
A lot of investors are worried about what will happen to stocks if Biden wins, and even more worryingly, if the Democrats sweep the election. The general fear is that without at least a Republican Senate, the Democrats could give in to their more leftist impulses and create policies which would be detrimental to the financial-economic paradigm. However, UBS argues that even if Biden hikes corporate taxes up to his planned 28%, he will offset that with big economic spending to accelerate the recovery, which should more than make up for the loss of profits because of taxes.
FINSUM: This makes pretty good sense. Even if taxes are raised, it is not like the Democrats are planning to balance the budget. Large amounts of deficit spending will likely help keep stocks afloat.
Here is an eye-opener for you: odds are that 7 months from today the SEC’s Reg BI and the new fiduciary rule will be no more. The Democrats—who are currently leading in the polls—have published an action plan for a potential Biden presidency. Included in it was a clear plan to reverse the current version of Reg BI, all according to a section of the report entitled “Guaranteeing a Secure and Dignified Retirement”. On page 24 of the document, Democrats say “Democrats believe that when workers are saving for retirement, the financial advisors they consult should be legally obligated to put their client’s best interests first. We will take immediate action to reverse the Trump Administration’s regulations allowing financial advisors to prioritize their self-interest over their clients’ financial wellbeing”.
FINSUM: Because of how polls are trending, these kind of manifestos are becoming very relevant for advisors to consider.


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AU: Making sure your nuts are sterile
Food Processing: Nuts, grains, spices and seeds were once considered low risk from a food safety perspective. As they had a low moisture content it was assumed they would not support microbial growth, but Salmonella can survive on nuts and E.coli in non-heat-treated flour. Making matters worse, both Salmonella and E. coli are pathogenic at such low doses that sampling and testing cannot guarantee that products are not contaminated.
Read the full article at the Food Processing website

domain: food