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Now, with Think Like a Freak, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner have written their most revolutionary book yet. With their trademark blend of captivating storytelling and unconventional analysis, they take us inside their thought process and teach us all to think a bit more productively, more creatively, more rationally—to think, that is, like a Freak.
Levitt and Dubner offer a blueprint for an entirely new way to solve problems, whether your interest lies in minor lifehacks or major global reforms. As always, no topic is off-limits. They range from business to philanthropy to sports to politics, all with the goal of retraining your brain. Along the way, you’ll learn the secrets of a Japanese hot-dog-eating champion, the reason an Australian doctor swallowed a batch of dangerous bacteria, and why Nigerian e-mail scammers make a point of saying they’re from Nigeria.
Some of the steps toward thinking like a Freak:First, put away your moral compass—because it’s hard to see a problem clearly if you’ve already decided what to do about it. Learn to say “I don’t know”—for until you can admit what you don’t yet know, it’s virtually impossible to learn what you need to. Think like a child—because you’ll come up with better ideas and ask better questions. Take a master class in incentives—because for better or worse, incentives rule our world. Learn to persuade people who don’t want to be persuaded—because being right is rarely enough to carry the day. Learn to appreciate the upside of quitting—because you can’t solve tomorrow’s problem if you aren’t willing to abandon today’s dud.
Levitt and Dubner plainly see the world like no one else. Now you can too. Never before have such iconoclastic thinkers been so revealing—and so much fun to read.
—Jerome Groopman, New York Times bestselling author of How Doctors Think
"Ariely not only gives us a great read; he also makes us much wiser."
—George Akerlof, 2001 Nobel Laureate in Economics
—New York Times Book Review
Why do our headaches persist after we take a one-cent aspirin but disappear when we take a fifty-cent aspirin? Why do we splurge on a lavish meal but cut coupons to save twenty-five cents on a can of soup?
When it comes to making decisions in our lives, we think we're making smart, rational choices. But are we?
In this newly revised and expanded edition of the groundbreaking New York Times bestseller, Dan Ariely refutes the common assumption that we behave in fundamentally rational ways. From drinking coffee to losing weight, from buying a car to choosing a romantic partner, we consistently overpay, underestimate, and procrastinate. Yet these misguided behaviors are neither random nor senseless. They're systematic and predictable—making us predictably irrational.
From the actor who somehow lived through it all, a “sharply detailed…funny book about a cinematic comedy of errors” (The New York Times): the making of the cult film phenomenon The Room.
In 2003, an independent film called The Room—starring and written, produced, and directed by a mysteriously wealthy social misfit named Tommy Wiseau—made its disastrous debut in Los Angeles. Described by one reviewer as “like getting stabbed in the head,” the $6 million film earned a grand total of $1,800 at the box office and closed after two weeks. Years later, it’s an international cult phenomenon, whose legions of fans attend screenings featuring costumes, audience rituals, merchandising, and thousands of plastic spoons.
Hailed by The Huffington Post as “possibly the most important piece of literature ever printed,” The Disaster Artist is the hilarious, behind-the-scenes story of a deliciously awful cinematic phenomenon as well as the story of an odd and inspiring Hollywood friendship. Actor Greg Sestero, Tommy’s costar and longtime best friend, recounts the film’s bizarre journey to infamy, unraveling mysteries for fans (like, who is Steven? And what’s with that hospital on Guerrero Street?)—as well as the most important question: how the hell did a movie this awful ever get made? But more than just a riotously funny story about cinematic hubris, “The Disaster Artist is one of the most honest books about friendship I’ve read in years” (Los Angeles Times).
These may not sound like typical questions for an economist to ask. But Steven D. Levitt is not a typical economist. He is a much-heralded scholar who studies the riddles of everyday life—from cheating and crime to sports and child-rearing—and whose conclusions turn conventional wisdom on its head.
Freakonomics is a groundbreaking collaboration between Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, an award-winning author and journalist. They usually begin with a mountain of data and a simple question. Some of these questions concern life-and-death issues; others have an admittedly freakish quality. Thus the new field of study contained in this book: Freakonomics.
Through forceful storytelling and wry insight, Levitt and Dubner show that economics is, at root, the study of incentives—how people get what they want, or need, especially when other people want or need the same thing. In Freakonomics, they explore the hidden side of . . . well, everything. The inner workings of a crack gang. The truth about real-estate agents. The myths of campaign finance. The telltale marks of a cheating schoolteacher. The secrets of the Ku Klux Klan.
What unites all these stories is a belief that the modern world, despite a great deal of complexity and downright deceit, is not impenetrable, is not unknowable, and—if the right questions are asked—is even more intriguing than we think. All it takes is a new way of looking.
Freakonomics establishes this unconventional premise: If morality represents how we would like the world to work, then economics represents how it actually does work. It is true that readers of this book will be armed with enough riddles and stories to last a thousand cocktail parties. But Freakonomics can provide more than that. It will literally redefine the way we view the modern world.
Bonus material added to the revised and expanded 2006 editionThe original New York Times Magazine article about Steven D. Levitt by Stephen J. Dubner, which led to the creation of this book.Seven “Freakonomics” columns written for the New York Times Magazine, published between August 2005 and April 2006.Selected entries from the Freakonomics blog, posted between April 2005 and May 2006 at http://www.freakonomics.com/blog/.
In his international bestseller The Game, Neil Strauss delved into the secret world of pick-up artists—men who have created a science out of the art of seduction. Not only did he reveal the techniques that they had developed, but he became a master of The Game, and the world's No. 1 PUA, as Style.
Now, in this bestselling companion, Strauss reduces three books of life-changing knowledge into a single-volume set. The first book, The Stylelife Challenge, breaks down the knowledge he learned and techniques he invented into simple step-by-step instructions that anyone can follow to meet and land the women of their dreams.
In the second book, Strauss takes readers into the dark side of The Game. The Style Diaries offers a series of tales of seduction and sexual (mis)adventure. From accidentally getting married during a drunken night in Reykjavik, to luring a famous musician's granddaughter into a threesome; to the stress and frustration of the torturous and highly unorthodox "30 Day Sex Experiment," The Style Diaries takes you further into the seduction underworld than ever before. Finally, in the all-new, updated third volume, Strauss collects the greatest, most powerful, field-tested, word-for-word routines.
You don't need money, looks, or fame to succeed with women. All you need is an understanding of how attraction works—and this thirty-day workout program for your social skills, which has already guided countless men from frustration to fulfillment.
The RZA, founder of the Wu-Tang Clan, imparts the lessons he's learned on his journey from the Staten Island projects to international superstardom. A devout student of knowledge in every form in which he's found it, he distills here the wisdom he's acquired into seven "pillars," each based on a formative event in his life-from the moment he first heard the call of hip-hop to the death of his cousin and Clan- mate, Russell Jones, aka ODB. Delivered in RZA's unmistakable style, at once surprising, profound, and provocative, The Tao of Wu is a spiritual memoir the world has never seen before, and will never see again. A nonfiction Siddhartha for the hip-hop generation from the author of The Wu-Tang Manual, it will enlighten, entertain, and inspire.
This book gives readers an up-close and personal, behind-the-scenes look at the family in the exploding A&E® show—Duck Dynasty®. This Louisiana bayou family operates Duck Commander, a booming family business that has made them millions. You’ll hear all about the Robertson clan from Willie and what it was like growing up in the Robertson household. You’ll sample some of Willie’s favorite family recipes from Phil, Kay, and even some of his own concoctions; and you’ll get to know the beautiful Robertson women. You’ll hear from Korie about the joys and hardships of raising a family, running a business, and wrangling the Robertson men while staying fashionable and beautiful inside and out. Discover more about the family dynamics between brothers Willie, Jase, Jep, and parents Phil and Kay. You’ll even meet a fourth brother who isn’t in the show.
The popularity of Duck Dynasty is skyrocketing, garnering a Wednesday-night top two finish in all of cable. The book releases in time for season two of the show in October 2012.
Hailed by the New York Times as one of the most unexpectedly consistently popular bands on the rock charts, Five Finger Death Punch has become the new heavyweight champ of the metal scene. In this high-energy memoir, Jeremy Spencer, the band’s cofounder and drummer, takes us onstage and behind the scenes, on tour and into the studio to tell the band’s story and his own.
Death Punch’d is a detailed in-depth account of the group’s origins and influences, as well as the infighting and tensions that, when channeled properly, result in the music fans love. It is also the hard-charging, laugh-out-loud tale of how a mischievous boy rose from small-town Indiana to rock royalty—and how he nearly destroyed it all for a good time.
Told in his unique, self-deprecating voice, filled with his twisted and humorous take on living the sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll dream turned nightmare, and including dozens of photos, Death Punch’d is a lively, no-holds-barred ride and an inspiring cautionary tale that offers lessons for us all.
“California, Labor Day weekend . . . early, with ocean fog still in the streets, outlaw motorcyclists wearing chains, shades and greasy Levis roll out from damp garages, all-night diners and cast-off one-night pads in Frisco, Hollywood, Berdoo and East Oakland, heading for the Monterey peninsula, north of Big Sur. . . The Menace is loose again.”
Thus begins Hunter S. Thompson’s vivid account of his experiences with California’s most notorious motorcycle gang, the Hell’s Angels. In the mid-1960s, Thompson spent almost two years living with the controversial Angels, cycling up and down the coast, reveling in the anarchic spirit of their clan, and, as befits their name, raising hell. His book successfully captures a singular moment in American history, when the biker lifestyle was first defined, and when such countercultural movements were electrifying and horrifying America. Thompson, the creator of Gonzo journalism, writes with his usual bravado, energy, and brutal honesty, and with a nuanced and incisive eye; as The New Yorker pointed out, “For all its uninhibited and sardonic humor, Thompson’s book is a thoughtful piece of work.” As illuminating now as when originally published in 1967, Hell’s Angels is a gripping portrait, and the best account we have of the truth behind an American legend.
From the Hardcover edition.
'It's about the terror, isn't it?'
'The terror of what?' I said.
'The terror of being found out.'
For the past three years, Jon Ronson has travelled the world meeting recipients of high-profile public shamings. The shamed are people like us - people who, say, made a joke on social media that came out badly, or made a mistake at work. Once their transgression is revealed, collective outrage circles with the force of a hurricane and the next thing they know they're being torn apart by an angry mob, jeered at, demonized, sometimes even fired from their job.
A great renaissance of public shaming is sweeping our land. Justice has been democratized. The silent majority are getting a voice. But what are we doing with our voice? We are mercilessly finding people's faults. We are defining the boundaries of normality by ruining the lives of those outside it. We are using shame as a form of social control.
Simultaneously powerful and hilarious in the way only Jon Ronson can be, So You've Been Publicly Shamed is a deeply honest book about modern life, full of eye-opening truths about the escalating war on human flaws - and the very scary part we all play in it.
A GoodReads Reader's Choice
In One Summer Bill Bryson, one of our greatest and most beloved nonfiction writers, transports readers on a journey back to one amazing season in American life.
The summer of 1927 began with one of the signature events of the twentieth century: on May 21, 1927, Charles Lindbergh became the first man to cross the Atlantic by plane nonstop, and when he landed in Le Bourget airfield near Paris, he ignited an explosion of worldwide rapture and instantly became the most famous person on the planet. Meanwhile, the titanically talented Babe Ruth was beginning his assault on the home run record, which would culminate on September 30 with his sixtieth blast, one of the most resonant and durable records in sports history. In between those dates a Queens housewife named Ruth Snyder and her corset-salesman lover garroted her husband, leading to a murder trial that became a huge tabloid sensation. Alvin “Shipwreck” Kelly sat atop a flagpole in Newark, New Jersey, for twelve days—a new record. The American South was clobbered by unprecedented rain and by flooding of the Mississippi basin, a great human disaster, the relief efforts for which were guided by the uncannily able and insufferably pompous Herbert Hoover. Calvin Coolidge interrupted an already leisurely presidency for an even more relaxing three-month vacation in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The gangster Al Capone tightened his grip on the illegal booze business through a gaudy and murderous reign of terror and municipal corruption. The first true “talking picture,” Al Jolson’s The Jazz Singer, was filmed and forever changed the motion picture industry. The four most powerful central bankers on earth met in secret session on a Long Island estate and made a fateful decision that virtually guaranteed a future crash and depression.
All this and much, much more transpired in that epochal summer of 1927, and Bill Bryson captures its outsized personalities, exciting events, and occasional just plain weirdness with his trademark vividness, eye for telling detail, and delicious humor. In that year America stepped out onto the world stage as the main event, and One Summer transforms it all into narrative nonfiction of the highest order.
Fantasy football, fantasy baseball, fantasy basketball, even fantasy sumo wrestling: the world of fantasy sports is huge, and still growing. Today, more than 35 million people in the United States and Canada spend hours upon hours each week on their fantasy sports teams. And as the Senior Fantasy Sports Analyst for ESPN, Matthew Berry is on the front lines of what has grown from a niche subculture into a national pastime.
In his New York Times-bestselling Fantasy Life, Berry celebrates every aspect of the fantasy sports world. Brilliant trash talk. Unbelievable trophies. Insane draft day locations. Shake-your-head-in-disbelief punishments. Ingenious attempts at cheating. And surprisingly uplifting stories that remind us why we play these games in the first place.
Written with the same award-winning style that has made Berry one of the most popular columnists on ESPN.com, Fantasy Life is a book for both hard-core fantasy players and people who have never played before. Between tales of love and hate, birth and death, tattoos and furry animal costumes, the White House Situation Room and a 126-pound golden pelican, Matthew chronicles his journey from a fourteen-year-old fantasy player to the face of fantasy sports for the largest sports media company in the world.
Fantasy will save your life. Fantasy will set you free. And fantasy life is most definitely better than real life. You’ll see.
MO' META BLUES
The World According to Questlove
Mo' Meta Blues is a punch-drunk memoir in which Everyone's Favorite Questlove tells his own story while tackling some of the lates, the greats, the fakes, the philosophers, the heavyweights, and the true originals of the music world. He digs deep into the album cuts of his life and unearths some pivotal moments in black art, hip hop, and pop culture.
Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson is many things: virtuoso drummer, producer, arranger, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon bandleader, DJ, composer, and tireless Tweeter. He is one of our most ubiquitous cultural tastemakers, and in this, his first book, he reveals his own formative experiences--from growing up in 1970s West Philly as the son of a 1950s doo-wop singer, to finding his own way through the music world and ultimately co-founding and rising up with the Roots, a.k.a., the last hip hop band on Earth. Mo' Meta Blues also has some (many) random (or not) musings about the state of hip hop, the state of music criticism, the state of statements, as well as a plethora of run-ins with celebrities, idols, and fellow artists, from Stevie Wonder to KISS to D'Angelo to Jay-Z to Dave Chappelle to...you ever seen Prince roller-skate?!?
But Mo' Meta Blues isn't just a memoir. It's a dialogue about the nature of memory and the idea of a post-modern black man saddled with some post-modern blues. It's a book that questions what a book like Mo' Meta Blues really is. It's the side wind of a one-of-a-kind mind.
It's a rare gift that gives as well as takes.
It's a record that keeps going around and around.
The Princess Bride has been a family favorite for close to three decades. Ranked by the American Film Institute as one of the top 100 Greatest Love Stories and by the Writers Guild of America as one of the top 100 screenplays of all time, The Princess Bride will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come.
Cary Elwes was inspired to share his memories and give fans an unprecedented look into the creation of the film while participating in the twenty-fifth anniversary cast reunion. In As You Wish he has created an enchanting experience; in addition to never-before seen photos and interviews with his fellow cast mates, there are plenty of set secrets and backstage stories.
With a foreword by Rob Reiner and a limited edition original poster by acclaimed artist Shepard Fairey, As You Wish is a must-have for all fans of this beloved film.
When Lisa, a seventeen-year-old from Queens, New York, found out she was pregnant, she knew she only had one choice—to keep the child and give him the best life she could. That baby was Terrence Jenkins, better known to the world as Terrence J. From hosting gigs on BET's 106 and Park and E! News to roles in some of Hollywood's biggest movies, Terrence J is living a life he could have only imagined when he was a young boy. But it was the lessons he learned from his mother that helped make him a man—lessons about sacrifice, courage, loyalty, dreams, and perseverance. Through her words and her actions, Lisa showed Terrence the right path.
From an early age Terrence's mother pushed him to succeed and led by example. Most important, she put her son first—even if it meant leaving behind the only life she had ever known in New York City in search of a safer environment for her son, having the drive to go back to school to learn a new skill, or having the courage to start her own business and build it from the ground up. Her drive eventually became Terrence's drive.
Inspirational, funny, current, and down-to-earth, The Wealth of My Mother's Wisdom offers advice for a new generation. With stories, lessons, and advice from one of the top young names in Hollywood, along with input from some of his famous friends like Kevin Hart, Ludacris, T.I., Trey Songz, and Laz Alonso, Terrence J offers a positive, powerful message: with a strong family bond, the possibilities are endless.
When Freakonomics was first published, the authors started a blog—and they’ve kept it up. The writing is more casual, more personal, even more outlandish than in their books. In When to Rob a Bank, they ask a host of typically off-center questions: Why don’t flight attendants get tipped? If you were a terrorist, how would you attack? And why does KFC always run out of fried chicken?
Over the past decade, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner have published more than 8,000 blog posts on the Freakonomics website. Many of them, they freely admit, were rubbish. But now they’ve gone through and picked the best of the best. You’ll discover what people lie about, and why; the best way to cut gun deaths; why it might be time for a sex tax; and, yes, when to rob a bank. (Short answer: never; the ROI is terrible.) You’ll also learn a great deal about Levitt and Dubner’s own quirks and passions, from gambling and golf to backgammon and the abolition of the penny.
He was a gentle dreamer whose genial bearded visage was recognized around the world, but most people got to know him only through the iconic characters born of his fertile imagination: Kermit the Frog, Bert and Ernie, Miss Piggy, Big Bird. The Muppets made Jim Henson a household name, but they were just part of his remarkable story.
This extraordinary biography—written with the generous cooperation of the Henson family—covers the full arc of Henson’s all-too-brief life: from his childhood in Leland, Mississippi, through the years of burgeoning fame in America, to the decade of international celebrity that preceded his untimely death at age fifty-three. Drawing on hundreds of hours of new interviews with Henson's family, friends, and closest collaborators, as well as unprecedented access to private family and company archives, Brian Jay Jones explores the creation of the Muppets, Henson’s contributions to Sesame Street and Saturday Night Live, and his nearly ten-year campaign to bring The Muppet Show to television. Jones provides the imaginative context for Henson’s non-Muppet projects, including the richly imagined worlds of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth—as well as fascinating misfires like Henson’s dream of opening an inflatable psychedelic nightclub.
An uncommonly intimate portrait, Jim Henson captures all the facets of this American original: the master craftsman who revolutionized the presentation of puppets on television, the savvy businessman whose dealmaking prowess won him a reputation as “the new Walt Disney,” and the creative team leader whose collaborative ethos earned him the undying loyalty of everyone who worked for him. Here also is insight into Henson’s intensely private personal life: his Christian Science upbringing, his love of fast cars and expensive art, and his weakness for women. Though an optimist by nature, Henson was haunted by the notion that he would not have time to do all the things he wanted to do in life—a fear that his heartbreaking final hours would prove all too well founded.
An up-close look at the charmed life of a legend, Jim Henson gives the full measure to a man whose joyful genius transcended age, language, geography, and culture—and continues to beguile audiences worldwide.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY BOOKPAGE
“Jim Henson vibrantly delves into the magnificent man and his Muppet methods: It’s an absolute must-read!”—Neil Patrick Harris
“An exhaustive work that is never exhausting, a credit both to Jones’s brisk style and to Henson’s exceptional life.”—The New York Times
“[A] sweeping portrait that is a mix of humor, mirth and poignancy.”—Washington Independent Review of Books
“A meticulously researched tome chock-full of gems about the Muppets and the most thorough portrait of their creator ever crafted.”—Associated Press
Heller turns the music industry inside out, exposing its strange logic and larger-than-life personalities. Ruthless provides keen insight into the popular music scene, with an unforgettable portrait of its rollicking excesses, life-churning drama, and multimillion-dollar highs.
Last Night at the Viper Room explores the young star’s life, including his childhood in Venezuela growing up under the aegis of the cultish Children of God. Putting him at the center of a new generation of leading men emerging in the early 1990s— including Johnny Depp, Keanu Reeves, Brad Pitt, Nicolas Cage, and Leonardo DiCaprio—Gavin Edwards traces the Academy Award nominee’s meteoric rise, couches him in an examination of the 1990s, and illuminates his lasting legacy on Hollywood and popular culture itself.
Chuck Klosterman, “The Ethicist” for The New York Times Magazine, has walked into the darkness. In I Wear the Black Hat, he questions the modern understanding of villainy. When we classify someone as a bad person, what are we really saying, and why are we so obsessed with saying it? How does the culture of malevolence operate? What was so Machiavellian about Machiavelli? Why don’t we see Bernhard Goetz the same way we see Batman? Who is more worthy of our vitriol—Bill Clinton or Don Henley? What was O.J. Simpson’s second-worst decision? And why is Klosterman still haunted by some kid he knew for one week in 1985?
Masterfully blending cultural analysis with self-interrogation and imaginative hypotheticals, I Wear the Black Hat delivers perceptive observations on the complexity of the antihero (seemingly the only kind of hero America still creates). As the Los Angeles Times notes: “By underscoring the contradictory, often knee-jerk ways we encounter the heroes and villains of our culture, Klosterman illustrates the passionate but incomplete computations that have come to define American culture—and maybe even American morality.” I Wear the Black Hat is a rare example of serious criticism that’s instantly accessible and really, really funny.
There's more to being a Goth than throwing on some black velvet, dyeing your hair, and calling it a day (or a night). How do you dress with morbid flair when going to a job interview? Is there such a thing as growing too old to be a Goth? How do you explain to your grandma that it's not just a phase?
Jillian Venters, a.k.a. "the Lady of the Manners," knows how to be strange and unusual without sacrificing politeness and etiquette. In Gothic Charm School, she offers the quintessential guide to dark decorum for all those who have ever searched for beauty in dark, unexpected places, embraced their individuality, and reveled in decadence . . . and for families and friends who just don't understand.
IN REAL LIFE: Love, Lies & Identity in the Digital Age
As the host of the wildly popular TV series Catfish which investigates online relationships to determine whether they are based on truth or fiction (spoiler: it's almost always fiction).
Nev has become the Dr. Drew of online relationships. His clout in this area springs from his own experience with a deceptive online romance, about which he made a critically acclaimed 2010 documentary (also called Catfish). In that film Nev coined the term "catfish" to refer to someone who creates a false online persona to reel someone into a romantic relationship. The meme spread rapidly.
Now Nev brings his expertise to the page, sharing insider secrets about:
-what motivates catfish
-why people fall for catfish
-how you can avoid being deceived
-rules for dating -- both online and off
-how to connect authentically with others over the internet
-how to turn an online relationship into a real-life relationship
...and much, much more.
Peppered throughout with Nev's personal stories, this book delves deeply into the complexities of online identity. Nev shows us how our digital lives are affecting our real lives, and provides essential advice about how we should all be living and loving in the era of social media.
Even if you’ve never played Dungeons & Dragons, you probably know someone who has (whether or not they’re willing to admit it). Released in 1974—decades before video games and the Internet took over the gaming world—Dungeons & Dragons became one of the original nerd subcultures, and is still revered by over thirty million fans today. Now Forbes senior editor David M. Ewalt explores the rich history of the game, revealing the magic that enlivened his youth, and has since re-entered his adult life in a whole new way.
From its roots on the battlefields of ancient Europe, through the hysteria that linked it to satanic rituals and teen suicides, and to its apotheosis as father of the modern video game industry, Of Dice and Men recounts the development of a game played by some of most fascinating people in the world. Chronicling the surprising history of D&D’s origins (one largely unknown even to hardcore players) while examining the game’s profound impact, Ewalt weaves laser-sharp cultural analysis with his own present-day gaming experiences.
An enticing blend of history, journalism, narrative and memoir, Of Dice and Men sheds light on America’s most popular (and widely misunderstood) form of collaborative entertainment.
The Psychopath Test is a fascinating journey through the minds of madness. Jon Ronson's exploration of a potential hoax being played on the world's top neurologists takes him, unexpectedly, into the heart of the madness industry. An influential psychologist who is convinced that many important CEOs and politicians are, in fact, psychopaths teaches Ronson how to spot these high-flying individuals by looking out for little telltale verbal and nonverbal clues. And so Ronson, armed with his new psychopath-spotting abilities, enters the corridors of power. He spends time with a death-squad leader institutionalized for mortgage fraud in Coxsackie, New York; a legendary CEO whose psychopathy has been speculated about in the press; and a patient in an asylum for the criminally insane who insists he's sane and certainly not a psychopath.
Ronson not only solves the mystery of the hoax but also discovers, disturbingly, that sometimes the personalities at the helm of the madness industry are, with their drives and obsessions, as mad in their own way as those they study. And that relatively ordinary people are, more and more, defined by their maddest edges.
“Nobody, but nobody, can hate like Joan Rivers. It is a gift. It is also shocking, the things she makes us laugh at…Joan Rivers is extraordinary, but she's not for the easily offended—or for anyone who gets offended at all.”—People
Joan Rivers, comedienne, actress, jewelry monger, and an award-winning international star (she can sneer in eight different languages) lives by her own golden rule: Do unto others before they do unto you—and for God’s sakes, do it funny! Her career in comedy may have begun with self-loathing, but, after looking at the human decrepitude around her, she figured Why stop here when there are so many other things to hate? With all of her diverse experiences, Joan has looked down at, turned away from, and thrown up over a lot of hateful things, deplorable places, and despicable people. Thank God she took notes.
Here—uncensored and uninhibited—Joan says exactly what’s on her mind…And HER mind is a terrible thing to waste. She proudly kicks the crap out of ugly children, dating rituals, funerals, and lousy restaurants. She nails First Ladies, closet cases, and hypocrites to the wall. She shows no mercy towards doctors and feminists, and even goes after Anne Frank and Stephen Hawking. Joan lets everyone—including herself—have it in this one hundred percent honest and unabashedly hilarious love letter to the hater in all of us.
When Bronwen Dickey brought her new dog home, she saw no traces of the infamous viciousness in her affectionate, timid pit bull. Which made her wonder: How had the breed—beloved by Teddy Roosevelt, Helen Keller, and Hollywood’s “Little Rascals”—come to be known as a brutal fighter?
Her search for answers takes her from nineteenth-century New York City dogfighting pits—the cruelty of which drew the attention of the recently formed ASPCA—to early twentieth‑century movie sets, where pit bulls cavorted with Fatty Arbuckle and Buster Keaton; from the battlefields of Gettysburg and the Marne, where pit bulls earned presidential recognition, to desolate urban neighborhoods where the dogs were loved, prized—and sometimes brutalized.
Whether through love or fear, hatred or devotion, humans are bound to the history of the pit bull. With unfailing thoughtfulness, compassion, and a firm grasp of scientific fact, Dickey offers us a clear-eyed portrait of this extraordinary breed, and an insightful view of Americans’ relationship with their dogs.
From the Hardcover edition.
Ronson investigates the strange things we’re willing to believe in, from lifelike robots programmed with our loved ones’ personalities to indigo children to hypersuccessful spiritual healers to the Insane Clown Posse’s juggalo fans. He looks at ordinary lives that take on extraordinary perspectives, for instance a pop singer whose life’s greatest passion is the coming alien invasion, and the scientist designated to greet those aliens when they arrive. Ronson throws himself into the stories—in a tour de force piece, he splits himself into multiple Ronsons (Happy, Paul, and Titch, among others) to get to the bottom of credit card companies’ predatory tactics and the murky, fabulously wealthy companies behind those tactics. Amateur nuclear physicists, assisted-suicide practitioners, the town of North Pole, Alaska’s Christmas-induced high school mass-murder plot: Ronson explores all these tales with a sense of higher purpose and universality, and suddenly, mid-read, they are stories not about the fringe of society or about people far removed from our own experience, but about all of us.
Incisive and hilarious, poignant and maddening, revealing and disturbing—Ronson writes about our modern world, the foibles of contemporary culture, and the chaos that lies at the edge of our daily lives.
Join me on a global adventure in search of the 7 dragon balls, as we head west toward Japan, the birthplace of Dragon Ball. Along the way we'll meet 81 fans from 25 countries who will share their Dragon Ball story. From artists to authors, collectors to philosophers, we'll hear their Dragon Soul and discover how Dragon Ball changed their lives. Includes over 100 images.
We'll meet such famous fans as Lawrence Simpson (MasakoX) from Team Four Star, Malik from Dragon Ball New Age, Salagir from Dragon Ball Multiverse, MMA fighter Marcus Brimage, YouTube celebrities SSJGoshin4, Nelson Junior (Casa do Kame), and film critic Chris Stuckmann, famous cosplayers "Living Ichigo," Atara Collis, and Jah'lon Escudero, the creators of Dragon Ball Z: Light of Hope, Twitter star @Goku, authors Patrick Galbraith, Nestor Rubio, and Vicente Ramirez, and dozens more.
Joining us will be 27 professionals from 7 countries, including American voice actors Chris Sabat (Vegeta), Sean Schemmel (Goku), Chris Ayres (Freeza), Chris Rager (Mister Satan), Mike McFarland (Master Roshi), Chuck Huber (Android 17), Kyle Hebert (Son Gohan), Jason Douglas (Beerus), Chris Cason (Tenshinhan), FUNimation employees Justin Rojas, Adam Sheehan, and Rick Villa, Dragon Ball Z composer Bruce Faulconer, Dragon Ball manga editor Jason Thompson, Canadian voice actors Peter Kelamis (Goku) and Brian Drummond (Vegeta), Latin American voice actors Mario Castaneda (Goku), Rene Garcia (Vegeta), Eduardo Garza (Krillin), French voice actor Eric Legrand (Vegeta), French journalist Olivier Richard, Spanish voice actors Jose Antonio Gavira (Goku), Julia Oliva (Chichi), and manga editor David Hernando, Danish voice actors Caspar Philllipson (Goku) and Peter Secher Schmidt (Freeza), and Brazilian voice actor Wendel Bezerra (Goku).
Gather your belongings, jump on your magic cloud, and embark on a grand adventure, in Dragon Soul: 30 Years of Dragon Ball Fandom!
Hand-drawn illustrations and full-color and black-&-white photographs provide the reader with steps in the cultivation process and exact identification of desired species.
The four species detailed include two species that have previously had very little coverage: Psilocybe mexicana (a tiny mushroom used for millennia by indigenous Mexican shamans) and Psilocybe azurescens (a newly described species native to the Pacific Northwest and easily grown outdoors on woodchips).
This innovative book also offers a wealth of information about the use of psilocybin-containing mushrooms in both traditional and modern contexts. Contributing ethnobotanist Kathleen Harrison highlights the history, ritual and mythology of sacred Psilocybe mushrooms used in indigenous shamanic settings. The book’s authors offer insights into how these principles might be put into practice by the modern voyager, to provide, safe, healing and fruitful journeys.
From the moment he began writing his syndicated sex-advice column, Savage Love, Dan Savage has never been shy about expressing his opinion on controversial topics—political or otherwise. Now, he addresses issues ranging from parenting and the gay agenda to the Catholic Church and health care. Among them:
• Why straight people should have straight “pride” parades, too
• Why Obamacare, as good as it is, is “still kinda evil”
• Why what passes for sex-ed in America is more like “sex dread”
• Why the Bible is “only as good and decent as the person reading it”
Speaking to a broad range of subjects with brutal honesty and irreverent humor, American Savage cements Dan Savage’s place as a provocative and insightful voice in American culture.
How Will You Survive?
In the apocalyptic world we live in, Mother Nature is angry. Danger waits at every turn, and catastrophes like the Los Angeles sharknados have taught us that we need to be ready for anything. Too many lives have already been lost.
But fear not. How to Survive a Sharknado and Other Unnatural Disasters is the first and only comprehensive guide to surviving the very worst that Mother Nature can throw our way. Inside this life-saving reference, you’ll find:
• Vital information about dozens of unnatural disasters and ungodly monsters that can injure, maim, or kill you, from arachnoquakes and ice twisters to piranhacondas and mega pythons;
• Easy-to-understand survival tips for avoiding a bloody demise;
• Inspirational words of wisdom from survivors, including Fin Shepard and April Wexler;
• Useful resources, such as the Shepard Survival Assessment Test (S.S.A.T), and much more.
With this essential book in hand, you too can be a hero who laughs in the face of calamity while saving friends and family. Or you can just avoid getting savagely ripped apart by a robocroc. Either way, you’ve been warned. Now be prepared.
Sharknado 2: The Second One premieres July 30 at 9/8c on Syfy!
From the Trade Paperback edition.
The book is organized into three sections, each focusing on one of the artist's public personas (Slim Shady, Marshall Mathers, Eminem), with each section further divided into chapters that explore various aspects of Eminem's cultural, spiritual, and economic significance. Besides being a book that every fan of Eminem and pop music will want to read, the work will be valuable to researchers in the areas of race and ethnicity, communication, cultural and musical studies, and hip hop studies.
As the leading name in the world of horror, Fangoria magazine has been the source of information for fans of fright flicks for more than twenty years—covering feature films, video games, comic books, collectibles, and all aspects of horror entertainment. Working closely with Fangoria’s experts, including Editor in Chief Anthony Timpone, Adam Lukeman has compiled a must-have guide for casual horror fans and hardcore horror junkies with Fangoria’s 101 Best Horror Films You’ve Never Seen.
With a brief synopsis for each of the included films, lists of cast and crew, “Terror Trivia,” and little-known facts about these lesser-known but must-see gems, Fangoria’s 101 Best Horror Films You’ve Never Seen offers a feast of gruesome information. Featured here are flicks that were dumped by their distributors or were initially flops, like Cherry Falls, Manhunter, and Pumpkinhead, foreign winners such as Cronos, The Vanishing, and Funny Games, and straight-to-video sleepers waiting to be discovered, including Shadowbuilder, Jack Be Nimble, and Nomads. There are even surprise entries directed by industry giants—movies like George A. Romero’s Day of the Dead, Brian De Palma’s Sisters, or Dario Argento’s Opera—that are frequently overshadowed by the filmmakers’ other, better-known works but are worthy of further examination.
Entertaining and informative, Fangoria’s 101 Best Horror Movies You’ve Never Seen offers more than a hundred reasons to look beyond the often ho-hum Hollywood hype fests . . . when you’re really in the mood to feel your flesh crawl.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
“Schlosser has a flair for dazzling scene-setting and an arsenal of startling facts . . . Fast Food Nation points the way but, to resurrect an old fast food slogan, the choice is yours.”—Los Angeles Times
In 2001, Fast Food Nation was published to critical acclaim and became an international bestseller. Eric Schlosser’s exposé revealed how the fast food industry has altered the landscape of America, widened the gap between rich and poor, fueled an epidemic of obesity, and transformed food production throughout the world. The book changed the way millions of people think about what they eat and helped to launch today’s food movement.
In a new afterword for this edition, Schlosser discusses the growing interest in local and organic food, the continued exploitation of poor workers by the food industry, and the need to ensure that every American has access to good, healthy, affordable food. Fast Food Nation is as relevant today as it was a decade ago. The book inspires readers to look beneath the surface of our food system, consider its impact on society and, most of all, think for themselves.
“As disturbing as it is irresistible . . . Exhaustively researched, frighteningly convincing . . . channeling the spirits of Upton Sinclair and Rachel Carson.”—San Francisco Chronicle
“Schlosser shows how the fast food industry conquered both appetite and landscape.”—The New Yorker
Eric Schlosser is a contributing editor for the Atlantic and the author of Fast Food Nation, Reefer Madness, and Chew on This (with Charles Wilson).
One of America’s most original and biting comic satirists, Denis Leary takes on all the poseurs, politicians, and pop culture icons who have sucked in public for far too long. Sparing no one, Leary zeroes in on the ridiculous wherever he finds it—his Irish Catholic upbringing, the folly of celebrity, the pressures of family life, and the great hypocrisy of politics—with the same bright, savage, and profane insight he brought to his critically acclaimed one-man shows No Cure for CancerLock ’n Load.
Proudly Irish-American, defiantly working class, with a reserve of compassion for the underdog and the overlooked, Leary delivers blistering diatribes that are both penetrating social commentary with no holds barred and laugh-out-loud funny. As always, Leary’s impassioned comic perspective in Why We Suck is right on target.
Leary is the star and co-creator of the Emmy-nominated television show Rescue Me.
A Learjet's view of the fast, fun world of PARIS HILTON -- packed with enough photos, advice, and inside scoop to help anyone live a glamorous life.
Paris Hilton has a lifestyle most girls dream about. Her name is on everyone's lips -- but can she help it if she was born rich and beautiful? Now, with her trademark sense of humor, Paris looks back on her rise to fame and reveals the delicious details of her fairy tale life.
"People say they envy my lifestyle," says Paris, "but I'm convinced that anyone with a little imagination can live 'The Life.'" In her fabulous, tongue in-cheek -- and very chic -- guide, readers will learn Paris's thoughts on fashion don'ts ("I look like Army Barbie in that Pucci dress!") to romantic advice ("I like guys who are hot, funny, sweet, and loyal"), to celebrity tips ("Never have only one cell phone"). She also shares personal information on her lifelong friendship with sister Nicky; fashion shows and favorite designers; her famous friends; how she likes to travel; what modeling is like; her highly successful television show The Simple Life; a look at the glamorous life of her teacup chihuahua Tinkerbell -- the best dressed dog in the world; and a glimpse at her upcoming movie roles.
Featuring beautiful, full-color pictures by famed photographer Jeff Vespa and his colleagues at WireImage, Confessions of an Heiress is a look at life from the unique perspective of a celebrity who has the whole world at her Jimmy Choo-clad feet.
From the author of the highly acclaimed heavy metal memoir, Fargo Rock City, comes another hilarious and discerning take on massively popular culture—set in Chuck Klosterman’s den and your own—covering everything from the effect of John Cusack flicks to the crucial role of breakfast cereal to the awesome power of the Dixie Chicks.
Countless writers and artists have spoken for a generation, but no one has done it quite like Chuck Klosterman. With an exhaustive knowledge of popular culture and an almost effortless ability to spin brilliant prose out of unlikely subject matter, Klosterman attacks the entire spectrum of postmodern America: reality TV, Internet porn, Pamela Anderson, literary Jesus freaks, and the real difference between apples and oranges (of which there is none). And don’t even get him started on his love life and the whole Harry-Met-Sally situation.
Whether deconstructing Saved by the Bell episodes or the artistic legacy of Billy Joel, the symbolic importance of The Empire Strikes Back or the Celtics/Lakers rivalry, Chuck will make you think, he’ll make you laugh, and he’ll drive you insane—usually all at once. Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs is ostensibly about art, entertainment, infotainment, sports, politics, and kittens, but—really—it’s about us. All of us. As Klosterman realizes late at night, in the moment before he falls asleep, “In and of itself, nothing really matters. What matters is that nothing is ever ‘in and of itself.’” Read to believe.
Celebrated journalist, TV personality, and award-winning author Touré investigates one of the most enigmatic and fascinating figures in contemporary American culture:
Drawing on new research and enlivened by Touré’s unique pop-cultural fluency, I Would Die 4 U relies on surprising and in-depth interviews with Prince’s band members, former girlfriends, musicologists, and even Bible scholars to deconstruct the artist’s life and work.
Prince’s baby boomer status allowed him to play a wise older brother to the latchkey kids of generation X. Defying traditional categories of race, gender, and sexuality, he nonetheless presents a very traditional conception of religion and God in his music. He was an MTV megastar and a religious evangelist, using images of sex and profanity to invite us into a musical conversation about the healing power of God. By demystifying the man and his music, I Would Die 4 U shows us how Prince defined a generation.
Originally published in 1979, the first volume of the bestselling “Gonzo Papers” is now back in print. The Great Shark Hunt is Dr. Hunter S. Thompson’s largest and, arguably, most important work, covering Nixon to napalm, Las Vegas to Watergate, Carter to cocaine. These essays offer brilliant commentary and outrageous humor, in signature Thompson style.
Ranging in date from the National Observer days to the era of Rolling Stone, The Great Shark Hunt offers myriad, highly charged entries, including the first Hunter S. Thompson piece to be dubbed “gonzo”—“The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved,” which appeared in Scanlan's Monthly in 1970. From this essay a new journalistic movement sprang which would change the shape of American letters. Thompson's razor-sharp insight and crystal clarity capture the crazy, hypocritical, degenerate, and redeeming aspects of the explosive and colorful ‘60s and ‘70s.
With Thompson's trademark insight and passion about the state of American politics and culture, Songs of the Doomed charts the long, strange trip from Kennedy to Quayle in Thompson's freewheeling, inimitable style. Spanning four decades -- 1950 to 1990 -- Thompson is at the top of his form while fleeing New York for Puerto Rico, riding with the Hell's Angels, investigating Las Vegas sleaze, grappling with the "Dukakis problem," and finally, detailing his infamous lifestyle bust, trial documents, and Fourth Amendment battle with the Law. These tales -- often sleazy, brutal, and crude -- are only the tip of what Jack Nicholson called "the most baffling human iceberg of our time."
Songs of the Doomed is vintage Thompson -- a brilliant, brazen, bawdy compilation of the greatest sound bites of Gonzo journalism from the past thirty years.
For the first time in history, the tools for cooperating on a global scale are not solely in the hands of governments or institutions. The spread of the internet and mobile phones are changing how people come together and get things done—and sparking a revolution that, as Clay Shirky shows, is changing what we do, how we do it, and even who we are. Here, we encounter a whoman who loses her phone and recruits an army of volunteers to get it back from the person who stole it. A dissatisfied airline passenger who spawns a national movement by taking her case to the web. And a handful of kids in Belarus who create a political protest that the state is powerless to stop. Here Comes Everybody is a revelatory examination of how the wildfirelike spread of new forms of social interaction enabled by technology is changing the way humans form groups and exist within them. A revolution in social organization has commenced, and Clay Shirky is its brilliant chronicler.
"Drawing from anthropology, economic theory and keen observation, [Shirky] makes a strong case that new communication tools are making once-impossible forms of group action possible . . . [an] extraordinarily perceptive new book." -Minneapolis Star Tribune
"Mr. Shirky writes cleanly and convincingly about the intersection of technological innovation and social change." -New York Observer

domain: library


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Two cool accomplishments that I am boasting about because I have no shame:
1. The Cubeecraft I designed of Molotov Cocktease from Venture Bros. (as of yet unposted on the website) was actually shown to people that work on Venture Bros and they loved it.
2. The Director of my Favorite documentary, King Of Kong, just bought one of my shirts from Spliteason.
And I don't care what spell check says, I spelled Cocktease right.
Reminder - just a few days left to Pledge for NEW glass by Wayne Husted - New hand-blown art glass by Blenko’s most collected designer. Six new creations in dazzling colors https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/wayne-husted-jazz-in-...

domain: design


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Much less hair, don’t care.
On Friday, the “Actual Housewives of Atlanta” character Porsha Williams debuted her newly bald head on Instagram.
“Bald is gorgeous … inspo @sanaalathan,” the Bravo star shared together with her three million followers.
Williams, who is about to seem on Season 10 of “Housewives,” is referring to actress Sanaa Lathan‘s current type revamp, during which she shaved her head for a task in Netflix’s upcoming movie, “Nappily Ever After.” Based mostly on the 2001 novel by Trisha R. Thomas, the flick follows a lady who dramatically alters her private life by slicing off her hair.
Following in Lathan’s footsteps, Williams will put her appearing chops to the check with the manufacturing of “Two Can Play That Recreation,” which premieres Sunday, Oct. 15 in St. Louis.

domain: entertainment


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The seasonal food makes me very happy indeed, we quite often have some lovely sunshine, the season of change with back to school and new beginnings approach to life and then added to the mix it is my birthday.
I am sure you enjoying so much that September has to offer but here are some of my favourites for September, it's about flavour & quality therefore choose fresh.
Apples Fennel Blackberries Beetroot
Sometimes tricky to resist the choice but the rest of September’s harvest can be saved for deep midwinter by preserving apples and freezing blackberries for use in wintry fruit pies and much more. Creating a long supply of really good food & smarter for both you & the environment.
It is not about purchasing staggering amounts of food but buying what you need to avoid waste or preserving the excess to create longevity to the season in a completely different way whether the increasingly popular processes of fermenting and preserving. Do not underestimate your freezer, I have a batch of fresh blackcurrants just waiting for something to happen!
I love a crisp apple in its purest form but so good sliced with cheese in a salad or stewed/grated over porridge complimented by the joy that they are really good for you.
In addition, a crumble or pie is a welcome treat with single cream, although everyone has their favourite accompaniment, we have it all covered with vanilla ice cream and custard in addition to cream.
Compliment both sweet & savoury dishes, and work well with apples.
Delicious on their own & so pretty on cakes or friands, however, the balance of sweetness with tartness makes a great addition to a pavlova with a medley of berries and currants and clouds of cream,
Although they are available to buy, I am watching and waiting patiently as mine become plump and ripe in the garden.
Figs are simply beautiful inside and out, the sweetness is so delicious as a fruit tart or over sliced atop porridge or granola but they really come alive when you serve with soft cheese and herbs. Voila!
Simply wilt with butter or olive oil , garlic, seasoning and squeeze of lemon juice although oranges work really well too.
I use chard where I would use spinach so stir through curries and stews at the end of cooking until wilted but retain their wonderful, intense colour.
Roasted beetroot has always been high on my list, not so keen on the purple hands but now with more produce at our fingertips than when I was a child, a larger repertoire of recipes is at hand and has moved on so far from just adding vinegar as part of a salad, which I did not enjoy much.
The versatility of roasting means I can cook with different vegetables; onions, squashes, peppers, carrots etc then serve over rice or pasta with a simple tomato sauce
With a soft aniseed flavour and crunchy texture, fennel gives salads a good base for just a simple dressing of choice or a slaw.
Once braised the flavour and texture mellows to create an amazing sauce. I love chicken, olives, garlic and orange juice plus a good splash of olive oil and season to taste.
Hopefully this has given you some food for thought...there is so much, pretty much on our doorstep that can create a better environment for us. If we all purchased and cooked a little more thoughtfully we would all really reap the rewards.
Whilst I continue to enjoy September has to offer, I am a little excited about new seasons and new foods. Lovely Bread & Stuff will continue to look towards the seasons for inspiration for the weekly menus.
Look forward to you sharing your seasonal fruit and veg pics whether in the garden or on a plate. Please share with #LBandSFood
See you soon.
Let me know what you would love to see and if you have any questions. Follow me on LovelyBreadAndStuff (@lovelybreadandstuff) …….

domain: food


text: CARDINAL BRANDS-Zips all the way around for quick access and added security. Comfort handle for easy transport. Oversized to accommodate 12 by 12 paper features 7 expandable pockets for paper photos and supplies plus a 4 by 5 accessory pouch is perfect for stickers and die-cuts. The archival safe and acid free poly protects photos and mementos. Holds 300 sheets of paper. Organizer is clear.

domain: hobby


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Can You Use Coffee Grounds In your Garden To Deter Pests and Encourage Plant Growth? What Works & What Is a Myth? This Article Provides Some Answers & Surprises.
Table of Contents
It’s relatively easy to source coffee grounds from our kitchens, coffee shops or even factories, and to recycle them in our gardens. Even commercial growers use them to grow things such as mushrooms and fungi. But do all the things claimed for coffee grounds online actually work. What is fact, what is hearsay and what is total BS?
What Are Coffee Grounds?
It’s a basic question, but often misunderstood. They are the leftover product from when coffee is made. More importantly, from a gardening perspective, they are an organic product , even if not grown organically. So they can be composted and used in the garden to provide nutrients that plants can use.
In France they are also mixed with sawdust to form a briquette for burning. So there are some other commercial uses for coffee grounds.
Are Coffee Grounds Acid?
No, not very. Very rarely they can be acidic when fresh but generally speaking they are only slightly acid and adding a few kilo to a square meter of soil is going to make very little difference to soil pH.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s a myth that coffee grounds are acidic and will lower the pH of the soil. After brewing, the grounds are close to pH neutral, between 6.5 and 6.8. Research shows that whatever change coffee grounds bring to the soil is short-lived,Linda Brewer Oregon State University
One research paper from Indonesia claimed their coffee grounds had a pH of 6.2 and the research was meant to ascertain how this impacted soil pH. But nowhere in the paper can I find any indication of what the soil pH was at the beginning or end of the research!
Are Coffee Grounds A Rich Source of Nutrients?
I often read how coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, which is essential for plant growth. But the reality is that the normal value is between 1-2% which is not very rich in nitrogen. The levels of potash, phosphates and trace elements are also not significant.
Here are typical levels.
- Nitrogen (N): Coffee grounds typically contain around 1.45% to 2% nitrogen by weight.
- Phosphorus (P): The phosphorus content in coffee grounds is relatively low, usually ranging from 0.05% to 0.15%.
- Potassium (K): Coffee grounds contain approximately 0.3% to 0.6% potassium.
- Calcium (Ca): Calcium content in coffee grounds is generally around 0.05% to 0.15%.
- Magnesium (Mg): The magnesium content in coffee grounds is typically around 0.05% to 0.1%.
Coffee Grounds As An Organic Matter Source
Coffee grounds are an organic material, which means they decompose over time, adding valuable organic matter to the soil. This can improve soil structure, increase moisture retention, and encourage beneficial fungal and bacterial activity. However, don’t spread them too thick as they can cap on the soil surface which limits water and air penetration to the soil pore space.
Pest Control Using Coffee Grounds
I recently read that a layer of coffee grounds around plants will prevent slugs from eating plants. the clim is that the abrasive nature of the coffee grounds repels slugs. I doubt it! Slugs produce mucous and slide over the coffee grounds without actually touching them. So they are not going to prevent slug movement. Elsewhere on the website we show slugs climbing over a razor blade … if they can do that why would coffee stop them?
However, coffee can be toxic to slugs. When used as a soil drench.
Linda Brewer, from Oregon State University, highlights a potentially useful aspect of coffee grounds beyond their composting benefits: their efficacy as a slug deterrent. Studies reveal that employing a solution of 1% to 2% coffee mixed with water as a soil drench prompts a complete departure of slugs from treated soil, leading to their demise due to caffeine toxicity.
To prepare a 1% to 2% soil drench, simply combine 1 part water with 2 parts strong brewed coffee. For instance, mix 1 cup of water with 2 cups of coffee. To deter slug feeding on foliage, dilute the coffee solution with 9 parts water to 1 part brewed coffee and administer it as a spray. But test it for a few days on the foliage before spraying all your plants.
Are Coffee Grounds Cost Effective In the Garden?
If obtained without cost they are worth applying to the soil. But should transport costs be high I have my doubts. In most cases I suggest they are better composted with other organic matter rather than applied to the soil. Unless applied as a solid drench to kill slugs.
Tag: Coffee Grounds in your garden
Image attribution: Msmurugan1, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, & Lamiot, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Join the Facebook Groups Here
To join the How to Dig For Victory Facebook group follow the link.
And here is the link to UK Garden Flowers, Trees, Shrubs & More

domain: agronomy


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Secrets of the Forbidden City
With unique access to the Forbidden City, this documentary reveals the spectacular history of the world's largest palace, and the secrets of its astonishing design.
It’s the greatest wonder of the medieval world. China’s Forbidden City is an unrivalled palace - it stands at the very heart of Chinese history, home to the emperors for almost 500 years. But the Forbidden City was full of secrets... This film goes behind closed doors to explore this extraordinary palace-city, discovering the clues to its creation. With unique access to the latest conservation works we investigate the evidence hidden in locked halls and high in the mighty roofs – revealing a ruler who ruled with fear but also created an exquisite and enormous work of art and technology. We test the paints, revealing trade with Europe, reapply intricate gold leaf and experiment with an ice road to move an entire marble stairway. And in a huge modern day experiment we test the Forbidden City to destruction, building a giant scale model and placing it on a seismic shake table – replicating the earthquakes that shook Beijing in order to explore the design secrets that made it proof against the greatest shocks on earth.
- Channel 4
- TX Date:
- Director/s: Ian Bremner
- Producer/s: Kristine Allington, Michael H. Amundson
- Exec Producer/s: Bill Locke


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Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Cressida Dick said that London is a city of many faiths and many nationalities and an attack on one community is an attack on all of us….reports Asian Lite News
Earlier one person was killed and eight others were injured after a van rammed into a crowd of worshippers near a north London mosque, police said on Monday.
A 48-year-old man was arrested following the collision just after midnight near Finsbury Park Mosque in Seven Sisters Road, reports the BBC.
“The driver of the van was found detained by members of public at the scene and then arrested…He has been taken to hospital, and will be taken into custody once discharged,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
The statement said no other suspects at the scene have been identified or reported to police.
“Due to the nature of this incident extra policing resources have been deployed in order to reassure communities, especially those observing Ramadan,” the Guardian quoted the statement as saying.
Police said all the victims were Muslim and that a 48-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, BBC reported.
Eyewitness Abdul Rahman said the driver said he wanted to “kill all Muslims”.
Mr Rahman told the BBC he struck the man and helped subdue him.
“When the guy came out from his van he wanted to escape, run away and he was saying ‘I want to kill Muslims. ‘I want to kill Muslims.’
“I hit him on his stomach… and then me and the other guys… we held him to the ground until he couldn’t move. We stopped him until the police came.”
Speaking to media this morning Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, the Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism, said that sadly Londoners are waking to the news of another dreadful incident in the Capital that has left a number of people seriously injured
” The attack unfolded whilst a man was receiving first aid from the public at the scene, sadly, he has died. Any causative link between his death and the attack will form part of our investigation. It is too early to state if his death was as a result of the attack.
“One man was pronounced dead at the scene. Eight others are in hospital and two more were treated at the scene.
“All the victims were from the Muslim community”, he said.

domain: sociology


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The good news: Charney, who up until fairly recently was (allegedly!) "trespassing on company property and threatening employees who did not support his return* by taking their photos and promising to fire them" once he came back, hasn't been sued for sexual harassment lately! For a guy who once masturbated "eight or so times" in the presence of a reporter profiling him for a story and danced nude in front of his employees, that's really something. The less good news: American Apparel's decision to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy is not great for Charney in the fiscal sense.
American Apparel said it expected to cut its debt to $135 million from $300 million through the elimination of more than $200 million of bonds in exchange for equity. The big loser will be founder Dov Charney, who was fired as CEO in December for alleged misconduct, including misusing company funds and failing to stop a subordinate from creating blog posts that defamed former employees. Charney, who has filed several lawsuits against American Apparel, had for years before his ouster faced highly publicized lawsuits accusing him of sexual harassment. Along with other shareholders, his stake will be wiped out, said Neil Saunders, chief executive of research firm Conlumino.
*As in the one he was planning in his mind.

domain: law


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Book description:Publisher: With facsimile of original t-p..
The book was published in 1932
"Narratives of the Trans-Mississippi frontier" serie.
This book describes the following items:Overland Journeys To The Pacific, West (U.S.) > Description And Travel, California > Description And Travel, Central America > D, West (U.S.), California, Central America Publisher: With facsimile of original t-p..
With facsimile of original t-p.
Number of pages: 292
We found some servers for you, where you can download the e-book "Scenery of the plains, mountains and mines" by Langworthy, Franklin MOBI for free. The FB Reader team wishes you a fascinating reading!
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domain: literature


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Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Literature For Young Children” as Want to Read:
Literature For Young C...
Literature For Young Children
This broad introduction to early childhood literature focuses on literacy analysis and on specific techniques and methods of effective literature-based education. Updates references of children's books that readers can use as examples of quality literature. Strengthens coverage of several areas including nonfiction, multicultural/international literature, and the use of ...more
Hardcover, 231 pages
Published by C.E. Merrill Pub. Co.
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Sat, May 9, 2015: Today’s free Amazon android app of the day is: LYNE!
Deceptively simple. Infinitely complex. LYNE is a minimalist puzzle game that will knot your brain as it calms your soul.
Connect the shapes. Fill the board. Lose yourself in the interflowing paths of LYNE.
– Hundreds of pre-built puzzles
– An infinite number of procedurally-generated puzzles, released daily
– No in-app purchases. No ads.
– Slick, intuitive interface
– Soothing dynamic audio
– Unlockable colour palettes
– Finalist for Audio Design at Freeplay 2013
– Honorable Mention for Design at Freeplay 2013
?The whole thing is a gentle puzzle game that?s thoroughly enjoyable, which is rare because the majority of puzzle games frustrate the hell out of me.? – IndieStatik.com
?From the get go, LYNE exudes a very zen feel. The ambiance is calming, the layout simple and clean. … if you’re in it for the challenge to your brain, dim the lights, find a quiet place, and get to solving.? – JayIsGames.com
from GeekExile: Free App of the Day from Amazon! http://ift.tt/OSWBRQ


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Photographs are the perfect way to capture a little moment in time and preserve it forever. People grow older, and places change over the years, but as long as a photograph is intact, we can have a fully preserved glimpse of the past with all its memories and emotions. Today, photographs are used for so much more than simply taking pictures of the family to display in the home or office. Photos can be printed on a wide variety of items and used in dozens of settings. If there is a specific use that you want to make of a photo, then you can count on professional photo printing in Connecticut. They offer a wide variety of options, from the type of material your photos are printed on to how they are finished.
Today, an extremely popular alternative to having a photograph framed is to have it printed onto canvas and wrapped around a backing. A canvas printed photo has a unique and appealing appearance that makes the perfect addition to any room, whether that room is in your home or a professional setting.
Full color, glossy photographs are some of the best ways to call people’s attention to whatever you are trying to say, making these photographs extremely popular for use in marketing. If you have something you want to sell or a message you want the world to know about, then you can rely on professional photo printing to transform your photos into an eye-catching, high-quality pop-up banner.
Putting your photos onto magnets is another great way to preserve and display them. Photo magnets make great gifts, and it is also a unique and unforgettable way to send invitations to events such as weddings, graduations, birth announcements or christenings.
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domain: artistic


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Where to stay in Viszák?
Our Heatmaps tool will help you find the perfect place to stay in Viszák by showing you how close hotel options are to major activities
Best Viszák hotelsShow all
Set in Viszák, Tündérkert B&B has a garden and a terrace. Staff on site can arrange a shuttle service. The parlour at Tündérkert B&B is equipped with a TV. Rooms are equipped with a private bathroom, while some boast a garden view. All rooms include a desk. A continental breakfast can be enjoyed at the property. Guests at Tündérkert B&B will be able to enjoy activities in and around Viszák, like cycling and hiking. Tündérkert B&B can conveniently provide information at the reception to help guests to get around the area. Moravske-Toplice is 30 km from Tündérkert B&B. The nearest airport is Hévíz–Balaton Airport, 55 km from the property.
Pros: Judit and Tibor make an excellent team operating their B&B. The inside and outside of their property is spotless, and the landscaping is fantastic. The breakfast was wonderful as well, much to choose from and very good. If you would like to experience the Hungarian countryside, Tunderkert is perfect.
Pros: Excellent taste of owners.
Boasting a garden, Rigó Vendégház is situated in Őriszentpéter. There is a terrace and guests can make use of free WiFi and free private parking. At the guest house, the rooms have a patio with a garden view. With a private bathroom, rooms at Rigó Vendégház also feature a lake view. All rooms will provide guests with a fridge. At the accommodation guests are welcome to take advantage of a sauna. The area is popular for hiking and cycling, and bike hire is available at Rigó Vendégház. Moravske-Toplice is 30 km from the guest house, while Loipersdorf bei Fürstenfeld is 42 km from the property. The nearest airport is Hévíz–Balaton Airport, 83 km from Rigó Vendégház.
Pros: The location is awesome
Cons: The smaller house is kinda far from parking lot and the ladder to the bedroom is hard to climb
Pros: Friendly, helpful, clean, smart. A top notch rural experience. Thank you!
Pros: A private small house decorated in an old-fashioned style and renovated with appropriate materials specific for the area where it is located. Sauna on wood.... "dressed" in grapevine... Near (100m) to "Pajtna" - excellent restaurant where you can enjoy great and delicious food (degustation menu) accompanied by fine wines... Great forest (specialy now in autumn with gold, red and green colours of trees...) around for hiking, great possibilities for bycicle trips... food and wine.. national park...etc
Dedesi Vendégház Zalalövő is set in a green area of Zalalövő, in Göcsej Region. Featuring a restaurant with Hungarian and local specialities, it offers free parking and a garden with barbecue facilities. All rooms are decorated in vivid colours. Each room features a wardrobe, night stand and a private bathroom with a shower. A library is at guests’ disposal. Various massage treatments can be organised upon request. Roman Museum is 2 km away. Borostyán Lake, suitable for fishing, is at a distance of 3 km. Zalaegerszeg Aqua City is 19 km from the Dedesi Vendégház.
Pros: Kindness from the people... even they do not speak any language apart little German...
Cons: The rooms are with very old forniture, the shower was working but unconfortable. Carpet on the floor is very old and....
Pros: Harm welcome, friendly people. Nice accomodation.
Pros: Nice place for rest during traveling to Croatia. Good location, quiet and nicely surrounded. Beautiful garden. Beds were comfortable, good breakfast.
Cons: Personel do not speak English at all
Surrounded by the Őrség National Park, in a dead-end village of Ispánk with a green environment, Arkánum Vendégház offers accommodation in rooms, a spacious garden, free WiFi in all areas and free private parking possible on site. Arkánum Vendégház features studios with a private bathroom with a shower and rooms with shared bathroom facilities. Facilities for archery, pottery, barbecue, bread baking and painting are provided for a surcharge. Bicycle rental is also available for guests. The nearest grocery store and restaurant are located in the town of Őriszentpéter 4 km away. The train station in the town of Nagyrákos can be found 7 km away and the No.86 road is reachable within 17 km.
Pros: Very nice people with fantastic scrambled eggs. They grow the best tomato I've ever had. Great place for discovering the hiking trails of the Őrség. There's a really cool chocolate manufacture in the village.
Cons: We did not see the deers. No grocery in 3km.

domain: travel


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Myostatin is a potent negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth. Therefore, myostatin inhibition offers a novel therapeutic strategy for muscular dystrophy by restoring skeletal muscle mass and suppressing the progression of muscle degeneration. The known myostatin inhibitors include myostatin propeptide, follistatin, follistatin-related proteins, and myostatin antibodies. Although follistatin shows potent myostatin-inhibiting activities, it also acts as an efficient inhibitor of activins. Because activins are involved in multiple functions in various organs, their blockade by follistatin would affect multiple tissues other than skeletal muscles. In the present study, we report the characterization of a myostatin inhibitor derived from follistatin, which does not affect activin signaling. The dissociation constants (Kd) of follistatin to activin and myostatin are 1.72 nM and 12.3 nM, respectively. By contrast, the dissociation constants (Kd) of a follistatin-derived myostatin inhibitor, designated FS I-I, to activin and myostatin are 64.3 μM and 46.8 nM, respectively. Transgenic mice expressing FS I-I, under the control of a skeletal muscle-specific promoter showed increased skeletal muscle mass and strength. Hyperplasia and hypertrophy were both observed. We crossed FS I-I transgenic mice with mdx mice, a model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Notably, the skeletal muscles in the mdx/FS I-I mice showed enlargement and reduced cell infiltration. Muscle strength is also recovered in the mdx/FS I-I mice. These results indicate that myostatin blockade by FS I-I has a therapeutic potential for muscular dystrophy.
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

domain: biology


text: I made a stop at The Dollar Tree and found these. The bags will be great for any teacher gift thought the year. The pencil flags I thought were really cute to put in my treasure chest. Finally, the pocket cards will be great to use for my classroom jobs. I was planning to do a construction theme so they are perfect. All for just $1.00 each!


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With Forza Horizon 4 to be released on PC and Xbox One from October 2nd, YouTuber RavenwestR1 has recreated the trailer for the Xbox One exclusive game on GTA V. The results of his endeavours were proudly posted on his channel with a side by side comparison video.
While Horizon 4 makes do with licensed vehicles RavenwestR1 has to use unlicensed cars that look less similar. And Forza Horizon 4 also has advanced weather and seasonal effects.
GTA V has an editor tool built into the game which allows the casual gamers to modify a whole bunch of objects.
These recreations can take weeks to perfect, but the results are worth it.

domain: game


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A DECORATED CAREER
Harvey ‘truly honored’ by five straight years of postseason awards
Maggie Harvey has never taken the recognition for granted — even as an outgoing senior who played in her last high school game this past week.
The Fort Dodge standout was recently named a unanimous all-conference and all-district softball player for the fifth time in her career. It’s a rare feat to say the least, and Harvey made sure the accolades didn’t get lost in the shuffle.
”I am truly honored,” the Minnesota State University recruit said. ”It really means a lot to me. In our conference and our district especially, I feel incredibly fortunate to make the first team.
”I can’t thank the coaches from the other schools enough. To see my name next to players like (Urbandale’s) Skyler (Shellmyer) and (Johnston’s) Brooke (Wilmes) is amazing and something I appreciate very much. Not many players get a chance to see (varsity action) for five years. I’ve been blessed.”
Harvey, a four-time all-stater at both St. Edmond and FDSH, hit nearly .400 this season with six home runs, 37 RBI, 20 steals and 37 runs scored. In their bid for a third straight state tournament appearance, the Dodgers bowed out in a Class 5A regional final at No. 2 West Des Moines Valley last Tuesday.
”I’m still struggling with it,” said Harvey, the 2017 Florence Nordman Award winner as the top female senior athlete at FDSH. ”I see everything on social media about teams coming to Fort Dodge for state, and it’s hard to accept that it’s over. I’d say I’ve been pretty heartbroken.
”It hurts, but I can’t dwell on it and have to build from it. I’m really going to miss Coach (Andi) Adams, the rest of the coaches and my teammates here. Spending time with them is what it’s been all about. I know seniors always say this, but time really does fly by.”
Harvey is looking forward to a fresh start in Mankato with legendary Mavericks head coach Lori Meyer. Minnesota State is a two-time Div. II national champion with seven conference titles and 13 NCAA national trips to its credit during Meyer’s 32-year tenure.
”It will definitely be a challenge academically, socially and softball-wise,” said Harvey, also a basketball and track letterwinner this past season. ”But I’m excited and ready for it. When I get there, I’m not an all-anything anymore. None of us are. We’re all starting from scratch. I have to make a name for myself through my work ethic and determination.
”It’s like being an eighth grader again. I’ll have to prove myself and earn my role (with the MSU program).”
TIMEOUT WITH MAGGIE HARVEY
Vacation destination: Spirit Lake.
People I would like to have dinner with: my grandpa and my dad.
It would surprise people that I: have a lot of exotic pets.
My sports role model: Paige Lowary.
My everyday role model: my mom.
I can’t go a day without: a nap.
Superstition: getting my hair done by Bre Tjebben before games.
Most heated rivalry: Waukee.
Favorite road trip: Ames.
What are you listening to right now? ‘Don’t Blink’ by Kenny Chesney.
Team: Minnesota Vikings.
Class: Iowa Central Comp.
Book: The Cat in the Hat.
Phone App: Instagram.

domain: news


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The Port of New York/New Jersey and Sustainable Terminal Services (STS), the consortium of container terminal operators, have selected Advent to provide a solution for their Clean Truck Program, as well as a port-wide appointment system.
Having provided solutions for clean truck programs in the Port of Seattle, Washington, and the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, Advent was the logical choice for the Port of NY/NJ. Advent will implement a custom drayage truck database for the registration of trucking companies and trucks servicing the container terminals at the port. The drayage truck database will capture the information regarding the trucks visiting the marine terminals to ensure compliance with the port’s engine and emissions standards. Additionally, the drayage truck registry will be used to help Advent distribute and associate RFID tags to trucks visiting the terminals. These tags will uniquely identify the trucks as they enter the terminals to ensure compliance with the Clean Truck Program.
Advent will also implement a port-wide appointment system to help the container terminal operators flatten their gate traffic and ultimately provide better service to the trucking community. This program will go into effect at a later date.

domain: geography


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Indore (Madhya Pradesh): GST expert Sunil P Jain said that from October 1st, it will be mandatory to make e-invoice for B2B supply to businessmen with more than Rs 10 cr turnover in the year 2017-18 or in any subsequent year.
Jain was addressing a meeting of the Plywood and Laminates Traders Association of the city. If such e-invoice is not generated by the taxpayer, he will be deemed to have delivered his goods without invoice and is liable to penalty under Section 122 up to the amount of GST and ITC of the buyer will also be disallowed. He also informed that from last 18th July, the liability of GST has been implemented on the entire amount of transport.
Jain resolved many doubts of the traders present and informed that interest received on receipt of late payment is also liable to GST and it was not mandatory to see the same in GSTR 2a for availing ITC in respect of initial years.
With regard to the new provisions effective from July 18 this year, he said that if any residential property is given to a registered taxpayer for business use whether it is in the form of godown or for the residence of employees, then the taxpayer who rents the property will be liable to pay 18 % GST under Reserve Charge.


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Asian stock markets were higher on Thursday after Chinese manufacturing data came out in expansionary territory, while further softening of the yen pushed Japanese shares to their highest level in more than six months.
The main data point for Thursday was HSBC's HSBA.LN -0.52% HSBC Holdings PLC (UK Reg) U.K.: London GBp656.40 -3.40 -0.52% Dec. 5, 2013 4:35 pm Volume : 29.81M AFTER HOURS GBp603.80 -52.60 -8.01% Nov. 12, 2012 4:39 pm Volume : P/E Ratio 11.48 Market Cap GBp123.70 Billion Dividend Yield 3.72% Rev. per Employee GBp194,946 12/04/13 EU Fines Financial Institution... 12/03/13 EU Fines in Rate Case Expected... 11/29/13 Philippine Officials Take 'Non... More quote details and news » preliminary Chinese manufacturing data for November. The purchasing managers index for November came out at 50.4, compared with a final reading for October of 49.5, indicating an expansion for the first time in 13 months.
In recent months, economic data from China has reassured many investors that the region's largest economy is recovering from its slowdown. The expansion in manufacturing was taken as further confirmation that economic recovery is back on track.
The market reaction in China was mixed, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index climbing 1% to 21743.20, with China plays leading the gains: China Shenhua Energy 601088.SH -0.93% China Shenhua Energy Co. Ltd. China: Shanghai ¥17.05 -0.16 -0.93% Dec. 6, 2013 3:04 pm Volume : 16.32M P/E Ratio 7.58 Market Cap ¥353.33 Billion Dividend Yield 5.63% Rev. per Employee ¥2,968,550 More quote details and news » jumped 2.3% and China Resources Land 1109.HK -0.48% China Resources Land Ltd. Hong Kong $20.70 -0.10 -0.48% Dec. 6, 2013 3:07 pm Volume : 3.10M P/E Ratio 10.70 Market Cap $121.28 Billion Dividend Yield 0.71% Rev. per Employee $3,033,240 10/22/13 Asian Shares Slightly Higher B... More quote details and news » was 3.5% higher.
Telecoms company China Unicom 0762.HK +0.84% China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd. Hong Kong $12.06 +0.10 +0.84% Dec. 6, 2013 3:07 pm Volume : 13.42M P/E Ratio 25.99 Market Cap $287.71 Billion Dividend Yield 1.24% Rev. per Employee $1,544,230 12/04/13 China Issues 4G Mobile License... 09/17/13 China Unicom Preorders Show We... 09/12/13 China Mobile Executive Bemoans... More quote details and news » climbed 3% in Hong Kong due to a deal to buy fixed line assets in southern China from its parent company for 12.2 billion yuan.
The Shanghai Composite however dropped 0.7% to 2015.61 due to a lack of policy leads.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was up 1% at 4413.10, with gains among heavyweights including BHP Billiton BLT.LN -0.16% BHP Billiton PLC U.K.: London GBp1815.50 -3.00 -0.16% Dec. 5, 2013 4:35 pm Volume : 6.34M AFTER HOURS GBp1898.00 +82.50 +4.54% Nov. 15, 2012 4:35 pm Volume : P/E Ratio 0.14 Market Cap GBp38.41 Billion Dividend Yield N/A Rev. per Employee GBp850,224 11/11/13 BHP and Rio Tinto Adopt Differ... 10/22/13 BHP Raises Prediction for Iron... 10/15/13 For Cost-Cutting Rio Tinto, a ... More quote details and news » which was up 1% and Commonwealth Bank of Australia, CBA.AU -0.44% Commonwealth Bank of Australia Australia: Sydney $75.17 -0.33 -0.44% Dec. 6, 2013 5:20 pm Volume : 2.53M P/E Ratio 16.19 Market Cap $123.80 Billion Dividend Yield 5.32% Rev. per Employee $974,694 11/06/13 Banks Impress Investors Down U... 10/31/13 Australia Banks May Face Tough... More quote details and news » which finished up 1.4%.
The dollar was little moved against the yen on Thursday, at ¥82.52, keeping most of its 1% overnight gains, as the Japanese currency retreating after Wednesday's poor trade data further fueled expectations that Japan could implement further monetary easing.
The weaker yen remained broadly supportive of Japanese stocks, with the Nikkei Stock Average up finishing 1.6% higher at 9366.80, its highest level for six-and-a-half months.
Thursday's gains added to the 4.5% rise in the Nikkei over the previous five sessions, nourished by expectations that the Liberal Democratic Party will win the election next month and introduce aggressive monetary easing.
Exporters continued to benefit from a softer currency: carmakers Toyota Motor 7203.TO 0.00% Toyota Motor Corp. Japan: Tokyo ¥6220 0 0.00% Dec. 6, 2013 3:00 pm Volume : 8.05M P/E Ratio 13.93 Market Cap ¥22032.70 Billion Dividend Yield 1.93% Rev. per Employee ¥71,033,100 12/04/13 GM, Ford Stocks Wobble on Worr... 12/03/13 Pickups, Model Close-Outs Lift... 11/28/13 Toyota, Honda Raise Output More quote details and news » gained 2.3% and Nissan Motor 7201.TO +1.93% Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. Japan: Tokyo ¥897 +17 +1.93% Dec. 6, 2013 3:00 pm Volume : 17.98M P/E Ratio 10.62 Market Cap ¥4122.89 Billion Dividend Yield 3.34% Rev. per Employee ¥58,958,200 12/04/13 GM, Ford Stocks Wobble on Worr... 11/30/13 Takeda Taps French Glaxo Execu... 11/28/13 Toyota, Honda Raise Output More quote details and news » advanced 2.9%. Semiconductor manufacturer Advantest was up 3.8% and electronics company Nikon 7731.TO +1.40% Nikon Corp. Japan: Tokyo ¥1951 +27 +1.40% Dec. 6, 2013 3:00 pm Volume : 3.47M P/E Ratio 32.17 Market Cap ¥773.30 Billion Dividend Yield 2.26% Rev. per Employee ¥40,908,800 11/21/13 Big Small Talk: Nov. 22-29 11/08/13 Are Camera Apps Enough for Pho... 11/08/13 Are smartphone cameras and app... More quote details and news » gained 3.9%.
Despite the strong demand for exporters, telecoms company Softbank jumped 4.2% in Tokyo. The company recovered from its sharp fall after it announced that it would purchase U.S. telecom provider Sprint Nextel, S +0.63% Sprint Corp. U.S.: NYSE $8.00 +0.05 +0.63% Dec. 5, 2013 4:02 pm Volume (Delayed 15m) : 18.44M AFTER HOURS $7.96 -0.04 -0.50% Dec. 5, 2013 7:56 pm Volume (Delayed 15m): 418,381 P/E Ratio N/A Market Cap $31.26 Billion Dividend Yield N/A Rev. per Employee N/A 12/04/13 Dish Network to Bid in FCC Spe... 12/03/13 Cheaper Cellphone Plans 12/02/13 FCC Chair Hints at Spectrum-Al... More quote details and news » with analysts saying that there has been a large inflow of foreign investors into the stock since the acquisition was announced.
The remainder of the week could be quiet, with the U.S. celebrating Thanksgiving on Thursday and a public holiday on Friday in Japan.
South Korea's Kospi Composite was 0.8% higher at 1899.50, with index heavyweight Samsung Electronics 005930.SE -0.83% Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. S. Korea: KRX KRW1428000 -12000 -0.83% Dec. 6, 2013 3:00 pm Volume : 181,010 P/E Ratio 7.31 Market Cap KRW234177.09 Billion Dividend Yield 0.07% Rev. per Employee KRW2,485,940,000 12/05/13 Samsung Blurring the Lines In ... 12/05/13 Apple, Google's Android Gain M... 12/05/13 Samsung Blurring the Lines In ... More quote details and news » up 2.4%.
The euro climbed to $1.2844, compared to $1.2829 late Wednesday in New York, with the single currency recovering from its Wednesday dip as the market looked ahead to negotiations by euro-zone finance ministers on Monday to decide whether to release Greece's next tranche of bailout money.
Write to Daniel Inman at email@example.com

domain: economics


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I love chocolate.
And perhaps that may be the only reason I joined this book tour.
I hadn’t heard of Karen Brooks before, although she is an author of quite a few other books. But the title had “chocolate” in it and here I am.
This chocolate of 17th century London though isn’t exactly the chocolate we are used to today.
It is a drinking chocolate and before our main character Rosamund gets involved, it doesn’t exactly sound very palatable. But we are getting ahead of ourselves…
Rosamund’s story is a bit of a fairy tale one. She works in a small inn in a small village and is abused by her stepfather and stepbrothers. And one day when she is fleeing her stepbrothers, she quite literally falls in the path of the wealthy Sir Everard Blithman who happens to be traveling through the area. Sir Everard is so taken with her, mostly because she resembles his late daughter, and pretty much buys her hand in marriage. Sir Everard is going to open a chocolate house and Rosamund becomes an important part of the business and it is booming. However, this is a family full of secrets, which Rosamund, to her horror, gradually uncovers.
I loved all the history that is brought into the book – the plague, the great fire of London, as well as the beginnings of the chocolate that we love today. Brooks brings in all the sights, sounds and smells of 17th century London, and it is rank and vile for most of it. But luckily, there is the chocolate house and its spices and flavours.
Rosamund was, for me, a bit too perfect and sweet. And as I prefer to take my main characters with a pinch of saltiness and flaws, it was hard for me to fall for her unlike all the rest of the characters in the book who are so taken with her.
But it was an enjoyable read, best with a stash of chocolate nearby to dip into whenever the craving hits.
Thanks to TLC Book Tours and
publisher Harper Collins for sending me a copy of this book.
[…] Friday, September 6th: Real Life Reading […]
I love when an author can paint a setting so vivid that you can imagine being there yourself. Thank you for being on this tour! Sara @ TLC Book Tours
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly! Thanks Sara!
Comments are closed.


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PureInsight | July 9, 2001
Before I became a cultivator, I loved Beethoven's music for its vigorous power and rich emotion. It seemed to be so free from all restraint and knew no boundary. When I listened to Bach's music, I thought it was pleasant, but simple and boring.
But after I read Zhuan Falun once and then listened to Bach's music, I suddenly realized that I was touched by its purity. The very accord of harmony and melody, compared to Beethoven's work, manifested as clean and pure on the surface. And this is exactly what I had thought was the limitation.
During Bach's time, religion was still very powerful in society; music was created in service to religion. At that time, no matter if it was music, art, architecture or literature there were still certain restrictions because people were required to behave according to religious teachings. But with decreasing religious faith, people began to admire personal emotion, personal effort and personal heroism. In music, Beethoven took the lead in this rebellious trend. His music completely revealed his emotion without any restrictions. This rebellion was represented by dissonance, stunningly contrasting melodies, accents and untraditional instrumentation. These can really invoke strong reactions from people both superficially and profoundly.
On the surface, Beethoven's music presents the conflict between humans and fate, which contains a lot of personal expression and freedom. But Bach's music highlights the understanding and acceptance of fate, which reveals an even broader freedom.
When people behave in accordance with their conscience, they are not caged but are lead to real freedom.
Translated from http://www.zhengjian.org/sci/sci/home/newscontent.asp?ID=10782.


Canadian woman ignores court to claim right to dieBMJ 1994; 308 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.308.6928.554 (Published 26 February 1994) Cite this as: BMJ 1994;308:554
- J Roberts
Sue Rodriguez, a 43 year old woman from British Columbia, committed suicide with the help of a doctor last week after fighting for the right to die for three years. Ms Rodriguez, who had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, challenged Canada's laws, which said that the state's interest in protecting her life was more powerful than any right she might claim to a “dignified death.”
At the end of last year the Canadian Supreme Court …
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One of Britain’s most successful techno acts made their debut on Factory 93 Records earlier this year as Spektre dropped their 2-track ‘Love Never Ends’ EP with the label.
The pair seem to never miss when it comes to making fast-paced and infectious club techno, and as a result they have released on some of the genres biggest record labels, including Drumcode, Noir Music, and Kraftek.
The Los-Angeles-based Factory 93 imprint are also beginning to develop a deep and high quality catalogue of their own, having already put out sounds from Alan Fitzpatrick, Victor Ruiz, BEC, and Eli Brown in the past.
‘Love Never Ends’ combines resonance-tinged basslines and hammering kick drums with pulsating vocal chops and a wave of climactic chords which really come to life in the breakdown.
Spektre – Love Never Ends EP is out now on Factory 93 Records.


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In the summertime, you might change your wardrobe to show off more skin and keep cool. To help your skin look its best and protect it from sun damage, try incorporating more of these skin-nourishing foods into your summer diet.
Dark berries such as blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries are all rich in antioxidants that fight free radicals in the body. Free radicals play a role in the aging process in the skin, and they can lead to the development of cancer when they are not kept in check.
Water is essential for healthy skin, because proper hydration ensures that your skin will stay soft and supple even in hot, dry weather. To boost your hydration, consume watery foods such as soup, watermelon, and cucumber in addition to drinking a few extra glasses of water a day.
Nuts & Seeds
Most nuts are high in omega-3 fatty acids, otherwise known as good fats. These fats fortify the skin by building healthy cell membranes to keep waste products out of the skin cells and help the cells retain moisture. Increase your intake by adding Flaxseed to your next smoothie!
Like berries, sweet potatoes are high in antioxidants to fight off free radicals. These delicious low-fat veggies also help to give your skin a smooth, even complexion.
While you get creative with these healthy foods that will benefit your skin, be sure to round out your diet with plenty of vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and lean meats. Eating this way will help you both maintain beautiful skin and stay healthy through all of your summer activities.


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My name is Karin Sjöblom and I have always painted and drawn since I was little and been creative in different ways. The desire to create was always in the back of my mind. Being able to shape people and animals into clay is now my passion. Often there are women who dance, people in motion or rest, horses on the go or sometimes something completely different.
Part of my life I am an artist and another part I devote myself to my other profession as a teacher in Linköping.