It's true what they say, understanding others helps us understand ourselves.
Well, in my quest for understanding (OK, let's be honest, a little excitement!) this girl from San Antonio didn't exactly follow a straight and narrow path.
Along the way, I traversed the jungles of Costa Rica, saw first-hand the weathered faces of Guatemalan farmers, talked politics with locals over un cafecito in Cuba, cozied up to a camel in Morocco, dined in the Eiffel Tower, rattled castanets in Spain, and the list goes on.
Sometimes I was gainfully employed, other times I was stretching each penny as far as possible.
It's no secret I LOVE to travel, but even more thrilling to me than experiencing a new place, is meeting new people, learning their history, absorbing their culture.
I started in TV news because I had an uncle in the business and what he did seemed like the best possible job a person could have: tell people's stories, simple as that.I was a sophomore at Brown University when it became clear to me I wanted to be a journalist.
My mother -- a hard-working, single parent -- had hoped I'd continue on the pre-med track I had started on, but that wasn't in the cards.
I graduated and went to work at NBC News in New York. It was an amazing first job, but it was far more commitment than I was ready for at the ripe old age of 22. When else was I going to be young, unattached and virtually care free?!
So I sold my car, packed my bags and decided to see the places I'd only read about. During my travels, I didn't always know where I'd end up, but I knew I'd learn something.
I eventually settled down again, landed a reporting gig at a small station in New Jersey and from there moved to Miami, where there is no shortage of news, ranging from hurricanes and the devastation that follows to what seemed like weekly police standoffs and hostage situations to immigration and cultural issues to high- profile court cases, and then of course, celebrity drama.
Yes, I covered it all.
Now here I am, years after I left, back in my home state, close to my family. But this isn't where my story ends.
Each day is still an adventure, only now I feel a greater responsibility as a journalist to the people nearest and dearest to my heart. When I cover a story, I'm allowed a glimpse into someone's life, and I get to walk in their shoes, if only for a moment.
My hope is that by telling people's stories we all get to embark on a journey and we all get to keep the souvenir -- a better understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Got a good story idea?
District leaders say they’ve heard from parents. They understand the demand and capacity at schools, and they believe this proposal will help get as many students on campus as possible while maintaining social distancing.
A tight-knit community of parents and students in Ellis County is devastated after a beloved teacher died in a car crash.
A Dallas man’s lung cancer is gone after he was the first in North Texas to undergo a new robotic procedure.
A Dallas woman says she’s the product of 'fertility fraud' after a home DNA test revealed her mother’s former doctor is her biological father. Now, her mother is suing the doctor.
Police records from the arrest of a Tarrant County Sheriff's deputy charged with his girlfriend's murder show evidence contradicts his claim she committed suicide.
Mesquite ISD east of Dallas welcomes back students on campuses Monday.
Allen's fire chief is one of the tens of thousands of people worldwide who are helping researchers develop a COVID-19 vaccine.
After decades of being listed as non-recoverable, the remains of a Dallas sailor killed in the bombing of Pearl Harbor have been identified.
A federal lawsuit accuses an SMU football player of raping another student last fall.
With a little more than a week until the start of school, Fort Worth ISD is making one last push to get every school-aged child registered.


Learn details of the Trend Share Opportunities and Forecast to 2025. The development in the international trade flow and recent economic environment have largely impacted the cargo shipping market in a positive aspect.
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The development in the international trade flow and recent economic environment have largely impacted the cargo shipping market in a positive aspect. Further, increasing intra-regional trade in the emerging economies has propelled the growth of the market.
Moreover, increasing number of regions that forge free trade agreements are anticipated to boost the cargo shipping industry. The global cargo shipping market is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 4% from 2017 to 2025.
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The global cargo shipping market is segmented on the basis of cargo type, industry vertical, and geography. Container, general, and bulk cargo are the cargo types in the cargo shipping market.
The industry verticals analyzed in the study are oil & ores, food & manufacturing, and electrical & electronics. Geographically, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA, followed by country-level analysis.
Global economic growth
Cost effectiveness by 3PL services
Shortage of skilled manpower
Lack of infrastructure
The top players in the global cargo shipping market include Mediterranean Shipping Company SA, China Cosco Holdings Company Limited, A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, DHL Global Forwarding, CMA-CGM SA, Panalpina World Transport (Holding) Ltd, Nippon Express Co.
Ltd, Hapag-Lloyd AG, Ceva Logistics, and Deutsche Bahn AG.
By Cargo Type
o Container cargo
o General cargo
o Bulk cargo
By Industry Vertical
o Oil & ores (petrol, diesel, and iron ore)
o Food & manufacturing (fruits, drinks, solids, and manufactured raw materials)
o Electrical & electronics
- North America
o Rest Of Europe
o South Korea
o Saudi Arabia
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The New Tower of Babel in Fritz Lang’s Metropolis | Source: Wikimedia Commons
Neil Gaiman’s American Gods paints a picture of world in which the Gods are real beings, struggling to subsist in a modern world that no longer values their relevance. Members of every pantheon use means from seduction to corporatism to fraud to murder to manipulate humans into supplying the tribute they need in order to survive. They feel their power waning as humanity finds new processes by which to obtain its goals, no longer relying on ritual or a sense of exchange with the sacred and supernatural to meet its needs. In their place, he posits (using references from the early 2000s that are somehow both dated and relevant), humans have begun to worship technology and science.
None of these [imagined myths and entities have] a physical existence — rather, they are all narratives that humans have created around physical realities.
Ori Soltes | Source: Georgetown University
Ori Soltes, a scholar of art, religion, and philosophy at Georgetown University, introduces his class on magic and religion by explaining the etymology of the word “religion,” which derives from the Latin for “to bind back.” In his argument, ritual served as a tool to enter into contract with the forces beyond to implore them for help, support, or just safety from their wrath. He describes the forces as the “sacer” — a Latin word from which we get both ‘sacred’ and ‘sacrifice.’ In his argument, ancient religious rituals sought self-preservation via worship. They derived an attempt to comprehend what the mysterious forces beyond us wanted or didn’t want, and behaved accordingly in order to petition those forces to provide for our needs or not to harm us. We turned to them in awe, in plea, and in fear of consequence. In the modern, as Gaiman’s allegory beautifully illustrates, we no longer operate from the same sense of obligation to these forces beyond. Instead, our rituals and worship, by which we hope to gain the answers to our prayers, respond to such modern systems as science, technology, logic, government, and capital. These forces also promise access to well-being and protection for the communities who participate in their rituals.
This raises the question of what mythologies and corresponding imagined realities might help us pivot to a new type of relationship — one in which we associate our own fate with that of the natural world again.
I recently started reading Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Hariri, who, in his book, helps tie the ways humans responded to religious pantheons to the ways we now respond such entities as science, technology, and the state. In the early part of the book, he traces the ascent of humankind and the forces that allowed us to be the dominant environmental forces we now are. In particular, he describes the power of human speech as being able to create, communicate about, and organize around “imagined realities.” Our language allows us to organize large groups of people and their behavior around myths and entities that exist exclusively in our minds. These are the entities by which we order our actions. None of these things has a physical existence — rather, they are all narratives that humans have created around physical realities. From religious pantheons to the law, the corporation, or science, these imaginary structures provide guides for our behavior. Over time, in Hariri’s words, “The imagined reality became ever more powerful, so that today the very survival of rivers, trees, and lions depends on the grace of imagined entities such as the United States and Google.” In other words, the fate of physical realities depends on the actions dictated by the imagined ones.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
One of my favorite books, Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, makes the case that our perception of evolution itself is a myth around which humans have structured our relationship to nature. He argues that, from the way the story is currently told in modern culture, we derive the perspective that mankind is the pinnacle of evolution, the entity for which the world was made. This perspective creates a sense of binary between ourselves and “nature” and treats natural forces as chaotic, best submitted to human control. However, in his argument, our mythology has also built in the idea that our human flaws prevent us from being able to run the world without making mistakes. In Quinn’s perspective, the mythology of our own necessary and rightful supremacy, combined with our perception of our inborn flaws, is the basis for most modern societal structures. The resultant relationship to nature, he argues, will inevitably continue to lead the fate of rivers, trees, and lions in such a dangerous direction.
It seems that part of the challenge today is that the non-religious mythologies and institutions of modern man do not include a relationship to the environment in their rituals.
Source: CTS Books
This raises the question of what mythologies and corresponding imagined realities might help us pivot to a new type of relationship — one in which we associate our own fate with that of the natural world again. Historically, numerous religious practices strove to cultivate and maintain a relationship with natural forces. Such rituals often entail both a practical element and a gratitude element — both equally important in the eyes of someone who believed that their interaction with both this world and the next are equally valuable in creating results. Jewish holidays, for instance, mostly stem from agricultural cycles and practices, and the modern rituals still reference ancient practices whose purpose was to promote or celebrate a good harvest. In the words of Soltes, in a recent interview on religion and climate change, the texts of the Abrahamic faiths speak of humans “very emphatically […] as caretakers, of stewards of the planet.” Much more recently, Pope Francis dedicated his entire 2015 encyclical, a papal letter regarding Catholic doctrine, to addressing climate change — an unprecedented move for a Pope. He appealed for a care-focused interpretation of Biblical texts, arguing that we “must forcefully reject the notion that our being created in God’s image and given dominion over the earth justifies absolute domination over other creatures,” addressing the very issue that Quinn notes. If we can eliminate the distinction between nature and ourselves, we might be more ready to see the consequences of our actions towards nature as consequences we face as well. He also directly pointed out the consequences for humans in addition to our responsibility for cleaning up our own mess.
Source: U.S. National Archives/Flickr
It seems that part of the challenge today is that the non-religious mythologies and institutions of modern man do not include a relationship to the environment in their rituals. Without such structures to dictate respect to the earth, the other imagined realities that dominate and order modern day life — industry, technology, business, money, beauty — have no accountability to the forces of nature. However, because these forces serve similar roles in our lives, they may also have the capacity to make a similar appeal to our better selves, our moral codes, or at least our fear of consequences. Though traditional faith may not be trendy, a modern godless pantheism seems to be. According to a recent Pew study, though religious affiliation has decreased, people report feeling an increased sense of wonder towards the universe. Atheists, in fact, are more likely to report that they feel this way. A spirituality based on one’s sense of connectedness, of oneness with everything, has the capacity to compel people to respond with the exact “sacred, affectionate and humble respect” for nature and the world as a whole that Pope Francis called for in his encyclical.
This case for environmental sustainability, much like that of religion, calls upon the existing rules, norms, and values of the existing institution as a motivator for change.
Responding to this sense of awe, in addition to a fear of consequence (i.e. death by climate change), the other institutions that shape our world may also offer possibilities of new “green” rituals in which our society can participate. Nordic countries, for example, are exerting the power of the state to lead individuals towards environmentally sustainable practices. For example, former Finnish Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi recently stated that, “Our abilities and our natural resources will take us to the top of international development. The green economy opens up enormous possibilities for us to become successful in these markets.” As of yet, they still have not focused their philosophical approach into codified rituals (an action plan), which remains a source of concern. However, this case for environmental sustainability, much like that of religion, calls upon the existing rules, norms, and values of the existing institution as a motivator for change. If we want to see change from within the realities we have today, this seems to be the best approach. Simultaneously, Apple, which epitomizes the modern cults of technology and progress, is signaling its dedication to make a difference on the environmental front. They are positioning themselves as leaders setting an example by focusing on environmental impact at each stage of their production process, and they have consistently brought down the impact of their products over time. Again, there is a case to be made for this being a ‘corporate’ strategy — but if we need corporations to be the imagined realities from which we derive our new behaviors, and they create ritual around a demand for preservation of the earth, is that so bad? If the modern day god that is the tech industry can take the lead in ritualized environmental responsibility, perhaps we still stand a chance.
Apple’s solar rooftop project in Singapore | Source: © Apple
There is a complex confluence of factors involved in climate change, most of which derive from the complex structures humans have built out of nothing but ideas. However, we rely on the power of these ideas, and their associated entities, to drive us, to structure our action, and to establish our norms. Whatever the realities may be that we’ve created around ourselves, if they can lead our actions towards collaboration with the earth, rather than exploitation, we may be able to stabilize. The imagined realities in which we operate are perpetually shifting, and we can change and reform these structures more easily than we can rebuild our planet. The onus of our survival is on us, and it demands that we prioritize the survival of our planet.

domain: literature


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ROTTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The Schalmont High School baseball team is two wins away from winning its second state championship in three years.
For the seven seniors on the Schalmont baseball team, Friday was their final practice on their home field. Heading into Saturday’s semifinals, one of the seniors will get the ball and will have more pressure than the rest.
“Yeah, I’m throwing,” Chris Hamilton said. “I gotta pitch tomorrow. Of course I’m throwing.”
Hamilton wasn’t always a starting pitcher, but that changed after the Sabres lost to Albany Academy early in the year.
“He came up to me after that first game and said, ‘You know, I need the ball next time,’” head coach Chris Teta said. “I said, “What do you mean?’ He goes, ‘I’m pitching against Academy next time.’ I said, ‘You want to start?’ He goes, ‘I’m pitching against Academy.’ I’m like, ‘Let’s do it.’”
Thus began Hamilton’s career as a starting pitcher even though he’ll tell you it’s not his biggest strength.
“I think hitting,” he said. “I’m going to college to be a hitter and outfielder.”
But his team needed him on the mound, and so that’s where he went. And during his last start, he threw 138 pitches.
As a former relief pitcher, he had never pitched 138 pitches before. But that was more than a week ago, and Hamilton said his arm is ready to go.
“I was rested for five years waiting for this point,” he said. “So I came to coach and told him I was ready to pitch and my arm feels good.”
That’s good news for the Sabres who get an extra boost of confidence with Hamilton on the mound.
“Chris goes out there like he’s gonna strike everybody out, and that’s what you want to see in your pitcher,” Jake Defayette said. “A pitcher with a huge amount of confidence, and it’s great to see him when he pitches.”
Hamilton will lead the Sabres onto the field against Fredonia in the semifinals on Saturday. If they win, the championship game would be immediately after at 4 p.m.

domain: news


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– tax and security reforms, transparency a must
The private sector has listed 20 main barriers that are stagnating the business environment, including security and tax reforms and the holding of local government elections.
The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has since prepared a “Competitiveness Manifesto” which it hopes will spur remedial action.
The advocacy body, comprising over 100 top businesses, met earlier this week with A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), the largest Opposition bloc in the National Assembly.
According to APNU, Leader of the Opposition, (R’td.) David Granger and Policy Adviser, Lance Carberry met with the GCCI’s President, Clinton Urling; Immediate Past President, Komal Ramnauth, Executive Director, Bonita Lowden, and the Marketing and Communications Officer, Roderick Bascom, on the issue.
“The purpose of the meeting was to enable the GCCI to make a presentation of their Competitiveness Manifesto which identifies their Top 20 Barriers to Guyana’s Competitiveness and provides An Agenda for Action,” APNU explained yesterday.
“The meeting enabled the elaboration of the concerns of the GCCI and for the issues identified to be commented on and clarified. It was agreed that the APNU Shadow Cabinet would review the document and, at a mutually convenient time, there would be a follow-up meeting with the Executives of the GCCI.”
According to the document, the building of a more productive and an internationally competitive economy represents an unprecedented collective project that involves virtually every network and stakeholder group in the country. This includes involvement of not only businesses but Parliamentarians, the education sector, all levels of Government and citizens.
“The challenges of achieving and sustaining significantly higher economic growth, of reducing poverty, of creating good jobs for our labour force, of building strong businesses and a healthy private sector must be met initially by working through and resolving the issues associated with numerous current barriers to Guyana’s capacity and capabilities for global economic competitiveness,” Urling said in the manifesto.
GCCI listed political stability, use of alternative energy to reduce power costs and the transformation of the University of Guyana as some of the actions that needs to be taken to make the country more competitive.
Regarding UG, GCCI believes that the institution should be managed in a profession manner free from political and partisan interference.
GCCI is also recommending the establishing of a development bank which will see reduced interest rates and the fostering of an environment that will cater for more financing to small businesses.
“We need a development bank, preferably structured in the public/private partnership model that offers longer term lending, lower interest rates and economically feasible collateral requirements.”
GCCI is also calling for more transparency and accountability in the management of the public and private sectors, noting that it should be one of the highest priorities for the country’s leaders as there would be the building of a climate of trust.
“That trust is achieved in the public sector by providing accurate and complete information on expenditures, projects and other transactions.”
The business body also called for the enactment of the Public Procurement Commission and the addressing of the skills problem facing Guyana.
The ease of opening a business, along with a reduction of the red tape and the opening up of the economy for new telecommunication companies, should also be explored as part of the plan to improve the country’s competitiveness, GCCI urged.
Policy makers will also have to find ways to improve Guyana’s attractiveness to investments along with the strengthening of the commercial court.

domain: economics


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A major release of 2010 U.S. Census data today includes interesting information about the growth of Nebraska's minority populations. Mike Tobias of NET News talks one-on-one with census expert David Drozd about these new numbers. Drozd is research coordinator for the University of Nebraska at Omaha Center for Public Affairs Research.
David Drozd, UNO Center for Public Affairs Research
Below is part of Drozd's summary of the newly-released census information.
Age Data by Race and Gender
The percentage of the population that is minority (non-White or Hispanic/Latino) increased between 2000 and 2010 in each 5-year age category (under 5 years through 85 or older). The minority population comprises more than 30 percent of those under age 5 in 2010, roughly triple the percentage in 1990. Four Nebraska counties are "majority-minority" for those under age 5, and eight counties have 40 percent or more of their youngest children being minority.
Minority females increased at a slightly faster rate than minority males, with larger differences among those aged 15-34. All female 5-year age groups below age 70 increased by at least 40 percent over the decade. All minority 5-year age groups increased by at least 35 percent from 2000 to 2010, whereas several White non-Hispanic 5-year age groups lost population and children under 5 had virtually no change.
2000 to 2010 population increases among Nebraska's fastest growing racial/ethnic group of Hispanic/Latino were evenly divided among men and women. This stands in stark contrast to the 1990s when gains among Hispanic men were about 7,100 more than for Hispanic women.
The Nebraska White non-Hispanic (majority) population actually had a decline in the number of females. While the White non-Hispanic population grew overall by about 5,300 over the decade, this stemmed from an increase of about 7,300 White non-Hispanic men while White non-Hispanic females declined by 2,000. Differences exist by size of county, with less populous counties tending to lose relatively more females, while metropolitan counties gained both White non-Hispanic males and females. There are more males than females in Nebraska for each 5-year age group under age 45, while older age groups became somewhat more similar regarding numbers of males and females than in the recent past.
While 50 percent of the state's White non-Hispanic population resides in the state's most populous three counties of Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy, these "big 3" counties contain more than 60 percent of the state's population aged 20-24 and 25-29. Conversely, they only contain 35 percent of the state's 85 and older population.
There were more Black non-Hispanic men than women in 2010; in 2000 the opposite was true. The change stems mostly from larger gains among men aged 15-34.
Origins and Heritage
Of the 167,405 Hispanic/Latino Nebraskans in 2010, more than 128,000 listed a Mexican heritage. This equates to slightly more than 75 percent, similar to 2000. More than 8,600 state Guatemalan, along with 6,000 Salvadoran, 3,200 Puerto Rican, 2,100 Cuban, and nearly 1,000 listing Columbian - each of these groups besides Puerto Rican increased by at least 145 percent since 2000, roughly double the overall Hispanic/Latino increase of 77 percent.
Nebraskans listed specific Asian categories of 7,900 Vietnamese, 5,900 Asian Indians, 4,500 Chinese, and 2,700 each Filipino and Korean. A new category for 2010 shows nearly 2,200 Burmese. Asian Indian was the fastest growing of these groups, increasing by more than 80 percent over the decade.
Households that contain three or more generations are becoming more prevalent in Nebraska. There are now more than 16,000 "multigenerational" Nebraska households in 2010, an increase of nearly 50 percent from 2000.
Nebraska 2010 homeownership rates were higher than in 2000 for households headed by someone relatively younger (under 35), while homeownership rates declined among older households. As in 2000, those aged 65 to 74 are most likely to own their residence, with more than 80 percent of Nebraska householders of this age being a homeowner.
Homeownership rates increased most among Asian non-Hispanic households (+4.5 percentage points), followed by Hispanic households (+3.0 percentage points) and White non-Hispanic households (+0.6 percentage points). The homeownership rate among Black non-Hispanics declined 4.2 percentage points. More than 70 percent of White non-Hispanic households own their residences, compared to less than 45 percent of minority households.
Nebraska census information from the University of Nebraska at Omaha Center for Public Affairs Research
U.S. Census Bureau home page


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Oh, no! Big Tex burned today.
(photo by John McKibben)
Big Tex was the 52 foot tall icon of the Texas State Fair in Dallas, Texas. He was huge, fun, and slightly creepy. You just can't have the fair without Big Tex walking around and talking in his booming voice! The fair officials said he would be rebuilt next year. I hope they don't 'modernize' him.
(You can see Big Tex at :21)
The mayor and police department said there will be an investigation, but for now, they think it was an electrical fire.
The fair is held in the historic Fair Park, famous for its Art Deco architecture and sculptures.


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This was a very fun story! I loved the creativity and humour and adventure. Our protagonist is not exactly hero-material, but it was great to see him develop throughout the book and use his skills to navigate the trials he faced.
I had a moment where I thought, ‘How in the world does this all connect to the 1st book.” But then suddenly everything started to fall into place and connections were revealed all over the place. It was exciting to see characters from the previous book come back!
I can’t say I was thrilled about how women were portrayed and thought of in this book. Flower-in-the-night is illustrated as this ‘perfect’ woman who also happens to be well-educated and then you get the two women who are set up with Abdullah by his father’s first wife’s relatives. They are described as fat and seemingly because of that, are assumed to be distasteful, boring, and shallow. It was very insensitive and could be harmful to anyone who is already struggling with body shaming.
That aspect aside, I do plan on eventually reading “House of Many ways” and am excited to see if familiar characters appear in that story as well.
HOUSE OF MANY WAYS
Charmain Baker is in over her head. Looking after Great-Uncle William’s tiny cottage while he’s ill should have been easy. But Great-Uncle William is better known as the Royal Wizard Norland, and his house bends space and time. Its single door leads to any number of places—the bedrooms, the kitchen, the caves under the mountains, the past, and the Royal Mansion, to name just a few.
By opening that door, Charmain has become responsible for not only the house, but for an extremely magical stray dog, a muddled young apprentice wizard, and a box of the king’s most treasured documents. She has encountered a terrifying beast called a lubbock, irritated a clan of small blue creatures, and wound up smack in the middle of an urgent search. The king and his daughter are desperate to find the lost, fabled Elfgift—so desperate that they’ve even called in an intimidating sorceress named Sophie to help. And where Sophie is, can the Wizard Howl and fire demon Calcifer be far behind?
Of course, with that magical family involved, there’s bound to be chaos—and unexpected revelations. No one will be more surprised than Charmain by what Howl and Sophie discover.

domain: library


text:
Our products run on Z-Wave Plus. Philips HUE components run ZigBee Light Link. How can this be compatible? In our solutions, we use a FIBARO Home Center 3 together with a [...].
No, we only have white keys, as this allows light to pass through.
Logic Group creates integrated smart home solutions where everything is programmed from the start. This means that we have designed a solution based on an electrical plan from the customer and integrated with [...].
Make sure you have associated endpoint 0 to group 1 in Home Center as Multichannel. This will automatically update the status in the Home Center.
Our current solution is made to control all windows in the VELUX INTEGRA series. The solution consists of our VELUX 1G and a Sensative Strip switch for the window. With our solution you copy the [...].

domain: design


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The White Stag, by Kate Seredy, was published in 1937 by Viking.
For generations the tribes of Huns and Magyars had moved relentlessly westward, obeying the voices of their pagan gods, which compelled them to follow the elusive white stag to their promised homeland. They swept Europe, all the while pursuing their vision of the stag. Their leader was called Attila, and the land Hungary. Here is the epic story of their tribal migration and their fierce leader—known to us even today.
The White Stag is a fairy-tale-esque narrative of the Huns’ migration from Asia to Europe. Seredy states from the beginning that she is more concerned with story than fact, and the narrative she unfolds rings very much like a mythic tale. The imagery of the book is quite striking, and the story flows well and has beautiful description.
The story focuses on three leaders of the Huns, though I believe only Attila has been historically confirmed. The first leader is Nimrod, of biblical fame, who has twin sons, Hunor and Magyar. Hunor’s son, Bendeguz, is the second leader, and the third is Attila. Seredy weaves mythological elements into the narrative in order to emphasize the importance of Attila—fiery portents, the White Stag, Moonmaidens, prophesy, sacrifices, a flaming sword, and eagles.
However, despite the beauty of the writing and the whole mythological aspect, I did find it hard to relate to the book. Seredy’s grand overtures in her heralding of the coming of Attila was a bit hard to take. I get that Attila was an important historical figure, but the godlike way he’s described in this book is too much. Seredy is trying to portray it from the Hun’s history, of course, but a downside of that is that it does make the book seem wildly over-the-top and grandiose. It also makes it seem as if Seredy is extolling Attila beyond what he deserves.
I ended The White Stag a little disgruntled, since the way Seredy portrayed Attila sat wrong with me. There was too much hero and not enough reality, not to mention the fact that none of the book is historically grounded beyond brief sketches. And I do understand that Seredy wanted to get away from fact and go back to the mythological, imaginative way of telling history, but I feel as if she took it too far in that direction. A good balance between the two would have been much better.
Running. That’s all that Ghost (real name Castle Cranshaw) has ever known. But never for a track team. Nope, his game has always been ball. But when Ghost impulsively challenges an elite sprinter to a race—and wins—the Olympic medalist track coach sees he has something: crazy natural talent. Thing is, Ghost has something else: a lot of anger, and a past that he tries to outrun. Can Ghost harness his raw talent for speed and meld with the team, or will his past finally catch up to him?
Ghost is a book I wasn’t sure I would enjoy, but ended up loving. Ghost has a great voice as the first-person narrator, and it’s easy to get swept up in the book. It’s a fast read, but the pacing is good and the balance of light and dark is perfect: there’s angst, but there’s enough healing and light-heartedness to cut through it.
Ghost is the main character, but it’s Coach who’s the real star of the show: he pretty much becomes Ghost’s much-needed father-figure, helping him own up to his mistakes, but also showing compassion when necessary. He’s also not afraid to share weakness or past hardships, which makes him the best sort of adult character. Ghost himself, as I said, has a great voice, and everything he does is completely believable, to the point where I’m so caught up that I can’t even get annoyed at the dumb teenage things he does sometimes. And I love how all the chapter titles mention world records until the last one, to especially highlight how important it is.
Speaking of the last chapter, I do wish that there had been more resolution to the ending. And I know that it’s not really important who won the race, and that the point is that Ghost got there and he’s ready to put the past behind him, but…I kinda wanted to see the race unfold! That’s pretty much my only complaint about the novel: the ending could have been better, in my opinion.
Ghost stars an endearing protagonist, a fantastic adult figure in Coach, and several other fleshed-out side characters (who, I believe, will star in their own books). It’s a fast-paced, fast-read of a book and it’s mostly perfect, except for the ending. Still, I’m ready and willing for the next books to fall into my lap.
Disclaimer: First Impressions, by Debra White Smith, was provided by Bethany House. I received a free copy from the publisher. No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.
In an attempt to get to know the people of London, Texas—the small town that lawyer Eddi Boswick now class home—she tries out for a local theater group’s production of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. She’s thrilled to get the role of lively Elizabeth Bennet…until she meets the arrogant—and eligible—rancher playing her leading man. Dave Davidson chose London, Texas, as the perfect place to live under the radar. Here, no one knows his past, and he can live a quiet, peaceful life with his elderly aunt, who also happens to own the local theater. Dave doesn’t even tryout for the play, but suddenly he is thrust into the role of Mr. Darcy and forced to spend the entire summer with Eddi, who clearly despises him. Sparks fly every time Eddi and Dave meet, whether on the stage or off. But when Eddi discovers Dave’s secret, she has to admit there might be more to him than she thought. Maybe even enough to change her mind…and win her heart.
I was excited when I found out this book was a Pride & Prejudice retelling. I figured I would enjoy it even if it turned out like many of the other mediocre romances I’ve read. I did get a bit of a scare when I reached the second chapter and had a “who thought this way of writing was a good idea?” moment when Smith described a tornado as a “beast,” a “devil,” a “demon,” a “gyrating monster,” a “funnel,” a “ghastly specter,” and, my personal favorite, a “capricious adolescent,” all in the span of three pages. Trust me…I almost stopped reading then and there.
However, I shouldered on, and I’m glad I did. Smith manages to keep a lot of the main characterization of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy and transfers them to her modern characters, Eddi and Dave. I don’t think she quite understands Darcy, but at least her presentation was better than the 2005 Kiera Knightley “shy romantic soul” movie interpretation. A lot of the same issues were addressed, at least in terms of their relationship, and in that regard I quite enjoyed it.
My main quibble was simply the shape of the retelling itself, especially how Smith chose to reinterpret some of the elements. It’s difficult to retell a Regency novel in a modern world, so I can say that Smith did a good job trying to find an equal equivalent to things that happen in the book (though none have done it better than “The Lizzie Bennet Diaries,” in my opinion). I do think she takes it a bit too far, though, especially in terms of Linda, this story’s Lydia. The Lydia of Pride & Prejudice is naïve and silly, but not worldly. I suppose the closest modern interpretation would be a sort of wild party girl, as is portrayed here, but I still think Smith could have done something a little better than what she does with the Lydia plotline. And I get that Christian novels love redemption stories, but redeeming Wickham (or this story’s Wickham, anyway) was too much. I did like the changing of Georgiana to a boy, though, and the way Smith modernized that event.
Some of the other elements were a little all over the place, such as the Chari/Charlotte and and Conner/Mr. Collins plotline, which seemed thrown in purely for the sake of the retelling as opposed to the plot. To be honest, they could have been cut out completely with nothing lost at all. I also was thrown by the early Catharine de Bourge/Davidson’s aunt scene, and I felt the effect was ruined because of it.
Basically, I enjoyed the main plotline of First Impressions, the barebones Pride & Prejudice romance retelling, but I had more serious problems with the writing and the side characters, as well as some of the ways Smith chose to retell and reinterpret the original. I liked it, but if I want a good Pride & Prejudice retelling, this won’t be the book I turn to.
Lincoln: A Photobiography, by Russell Freedman, was published in 1987 by Clarion.
Abraham Lincoln stood out in a crowd as much for his wit and rollicking humor as for his height. Here is a warm, appealing biography of our Civil War president, illustrated with dozens of carefully chosen photographs and prints. Russel Freedman begins with a lively account of Abraham Lincoln’s boyhood, his career as a country lawyer, and his courtship and marriage to Mary Todd. Then the author focuses on the presidential years (1861 to 1865), skillfully explaining the many complex issues Lincoln grappled with as he led a deeply divided nation through the Civil War. The book’s final chapter is a moving account of that tragic evening in Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865.
A truly deserving Newbery Medal winner, Lincoln: A Photobiography takes us through the life of Abraham Lincoln from childhood to death, complete with photographs and prints of written documents. I learned a lot about Lincoln I hadn’t before, as well as much about the Civil War period that I hadn’t known.
Freedman neither idolizes nor demonizes Lincoln, instead taking a refreshing, objective viewpoint as he recounts Lincoln’s ideas, motivations, and political aspirations. I had never before known that Lincoln started out quite lukewarm about slavery—convinced it was bad, but unsure about what, exactly, he could do about something so deeply grounded in culture. It was only the pressure and tension from the Civil War that gave him both the will and the power to accomplish emancipation, when he was in a position where he could no longer be so easily browbeaten by opposing forces.
I also appreciated how Freedman lists his research and additional resources in the back of the book. Sometimes many biographies aimed for children can leave out this information, assumingly because they think children will have no need or interest for such things. I, however, appreciate seeing both the effort the author made in creating the work and making it accurate, and the additional information that I can utilize for myself if I am so inclined.
Lincoln: A Photobiography is a wonderful read, highlighting the life of one of America’s most famous presidents, a man whose legacy lives on today. The research Freedman put into this book is exhaustive and well explained, and the photos add another layer of depth and interest. There’s also much about the culture and the thought of the time that I found enlightening. A fantastic book, and great to use for reports or the like for school assignments.
Recommended Age Range: 10+
Lincoln is best known as the Great Emancipator, the man who freed the slaves. Yet he did not enter the war with that idea in mind. “My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union,” he said in 1862, “and is not either to save or destroy slavery.” As the war continued, Lincoln’s attitude changed. Eventually he came to regard the conflict as a moral crusade to wipe out the sin of slavery.
No black leader was more critical of Lincoln than the fiery abolitionist writer and editor Frederick Douglass….Later, Douglass changed his mind and came to admire Lincoln. Several years after the war, he said this about the sixteenth president:
“His greatest mission was to accomplish two things: first, to save his country from dismemberment and ruin; and, second, to free his country from the great crime of slavery….taking him for all in all, measuring the tremendous magnitude of the work before him, considered the necessary means to ends, and surveying the end from the beginning, infinite wisdom has seldom sent any man into the world better fitted for his mission than Abraham Lincoln.”
Five months after the events in The Creeping Shadow, we join Lockwood, Lucy, George, Holly, and their associate Quill Kipps on a perilous night mission. They have broken into the booby-trapped Fittes mausoleum, where the body of the legendary psychic heroine Marissa Fittes lies. Or does it? This is just one of many questions to be answered in Book Five of the Lockwood & Co. series. Will Lockwood ever reveal more about his family’s past to Lucy? Has their trip to the Other Side left the two of them changed forever? Will Penelope Fittes succeed in shutting down their agency—and does she threaten something deeper still? The young operative smut survive attacks from foes both spectral and human before they can take on their greatest enemy in a climactic and chaotic battle .And to prevail they will have to rely on some surprising—and shadowy—allies.
The Empty Grave is a satisfying, suitably big ending for the Lockwood & Co. series, delivering on character development and the usual mix of action, tension, and downtime that is especially distinctive in this series with its formulaic sequencing that manages to avoid being repetitive.
I loved the double meaning of the title in The Hollow Boy, and this title, too, has a double meaning, one which manages to communicate both essential plot elements and character development. Speaking of plot, while nothing in this book totally surprised me, I can’t say anything negative about the buildup or delivery or anything. Perhaps some of the details at the end could have been made clearer—who, exactly, was Ezekiel?—and the final battle was almost anticlimactic in its ending (though there’s no reason why it should have been, knowing what we know about ghosts in these books), but it was also satisfying and thrilling and lots of other good things. The resolution between Lucy and the skull was fantastic—in fact, the entire development of the relationship between the two of them was great, and far more interesting than Lucy’s other significant relationship with Lockwood—and the ending, though not as clear-cut as it possibly could have been, made sense and fit with the overall “feel” of the books.
I really enjoyed these books, so much so that I want to reread the Bartimaeus trilogy again (though I do feel that Lockwood & Co. is a superior series). The balance between horror and levity was spot-on, and Stroud’s writing made me enjoy a story about ghosts, a genre I usually stay away from. The Red Room scene from the first book still stands out in my mind as one of the creepiest scenes in any book I’ve read, yet it hooked me rather than scared me away.
The Empty Grave is a fitting end to the series, with resolution from all corners (no dangling plot threads! Yay!), the satisfaction of knowing that the characters grew and changed throughout the series and weren’t just cardboard throughout, and a slightly ambiguous, but ultimately hopeful ending that was a fitting end. I’m going to miss this series, but I’ll be looking forward to whatever Stroud puts out next.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl, was published in 1964 by Knopf.
Willy Wonka’s famous chocolate factory is opening at last! But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum-chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!
To be honest, I really don’t know what to say about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It’s a well-known, beloved children’s book for many people. There have been two films based on it—the less accurate, but much-loved Gene Wilder version, and the more accurate, but weird Johnny Depp version. Nestlé once had (or perhaps still has) a whole Wonka candy line. It’s hard to add to all of what has already been said about it.
I never realized, growing up, how moralizing this book is. Each child in the story represents something: Augustus—gluttony, Violet—obnoxiousness (or something like that; Violet seems the most sympathetic of the bunch, at least according to the Oompa Loompas), Veruca—selfishness, Mike—TV addiction. These negative traits are expounded in each Oompa Loompa song. There’s also digs at the parents, too, especially in Veruca’s case (her parents get a mention in her song). Each child is presented with an obstacle that exactly highlights their negative trait, which they then get punished for, until in the end, there’s only Charlie, the best boy of them all, left. It’s all wrapped up in cute chocolate factory candy land with adorable, silly Oompa Loompas, but Dahl really packs a punch with those songs.
At its heart, it’s an incredibly fun book, and you can tell Dahl had a great time thinking up all of Wonka’s inventions. The moral of the story is quite obvious, but Dahl delivers it with a lot of fun and style, and perhaps because it’s so familiar of a story it’s not so terrible when the Oompa Loompas sing the lesson of the chapter. There’s also some great things Dahl says about family, and Charlie Bucket is as unselfish and lovely a boy as you could ever imagine—yet still manages to avoid being too perfect (though, again, that might be familiarity talking. I expect Charlie to be that way because he’s a foil to the other characters). In any other book, this sort of thing wouldn’t work. But since it’s Dahl, and it’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, it works perfectly.
A few hours after nine-year-old Garnet Linden finds a silver thimble in the dried-up riverbed, the rains come and end the long drought on the farm. The rains bring safety for the crops and the livestock, and money for Garnet’s father. Garnet can’t help feeling that the thimble is a magic talisman, for the summer proves to be interesting and exciting in so many different ways. There is the arrival of Eric, an orphan who becomes a member of the linden family; the building of a new barn; and the county fair at which Garnet’s carefully ended pig, Timmy, wins a blue ribbon. Every day brings adventure of some kind to Garnet and her best friend, Citronella. As far as Garnet is concerned, the thimble is responsible for each good thing that happens during this magic summer—her thimble summer.
I don’t think Thimble Summer is quite as strong as Enright’s Melendy Quartet or Gone-Away Lake (which must have had much stronger competition when it was published, as it only received a Newbery Honor and it’s arguably a stronger book than this one), but that’s understandable since this is one of Enright’s first books. It still has all the lovely Enright charm to it—she can make descriptions of one girl’s summer sound more exciting than a book about pirates and stolen treasure.
You can see the shaping here of what Enright really loved to explore in her books—the day-to-day, the small adventures that take place over the course of a day or a summer, the boundless joy of children, their desire for new things battling with their desire to keep things the same. Things never get too dark or too scary in this book, yet there are times when even Enright recognizes the need to express when things are serious. One of my favorite moments in the book was when Garnet goes off to a neighboring city without telling anyone where she’s going, and when she gets back she’s confronted by her neighbor, who gently chides her and reminds her that she has people who care about her and who worry if she disappears, and that what she considered an adventure was not felt that way by other people. It’s delivered in such a way that readers can definitely tell that Garnet did the wrong thing, but it’s done gently and woven well so that the story still keeps its lightheartedness and its joy.
Thimble Summer simply highlights how much better Enright will get in her writing: the good things in this book are amplified and better developed and executed in her later works, the flaws and weaknesses in this book are better reined in or gotten rid of altogether in later books. This is not my favorite Enright book, nor do I think it is her best, but it’s still charming, and so full of joy and life that you can’t help but read it with a smile.
Recommended Age Range: 10+
Genre: Historical Fiction, Children’s
Garnet saw a small object, half-buried in the sand, and glittering. She knelt down ad dug it out with her finger. It was a silver thimble! How in the world had that ever found its way into the river? She dropped the old shoe, bits of polished glass, and a half dozen clamshells she had collected and ran breathlessly to show Jay.
“It’s solid silver!” she shouted triumphantly, “and I think it must be magic too!”
So Far From Home: The Diary of Mary Driscoll, an Irish Mill Girl, by Barry Denenberg, was published in 1997 by Scholastic.
In the diary account of her journey from Ireland in 1847 and of her work in a mill in Lowell, Massachusetts, fourteen-year-old Mary reveals a great longing for her family.
So Far From Home recounts not only the Irish potato famine that ravished Ireland (that killed about one million people), but the harsh work environment and living conditions that awaited the Irish immigrants in America. Denenberg also offers a look at the “cradle” of the Industrial Revolution, the Lowell textile mills.
Denenberg only superficially sketches a picture of the desperation and determination of some immigrants—desperate to work, determined to send money home for the families—and how business owners used that to their advantage. He does capture this well, though this Dear America book is weaker than others. I wish he had also focused on the way the Irish were treated beyond work environment—there is next to no mention of Catholicism (a strange religion to Protestant New England) and though there is some mention of Mary being bullied by other girls, there is no indication that it is her ethnicity that is prompting it.
Denenberg mostly focuses on the textile mills and their dangers, though I feel he could have done much more. It seems in his determination to portray as much as possible of that time period, he missed out on depth and richness. Mary is a phlegmatic protagonist, there only as a vehicle for the viewer to experience the time period. She has no characterization, no “body,” no memorability. This is further accentuated by the epilogue, which is the most depressing and least developed epilogue of a Dear America book so far. It seems even Denenberg didn’t know what to do with Mary.
It’s hard for me to believe that So Far From Home is written by the same author who wrote One Eye Laughing, The Other Weeping (one of my absolute favorite Dear America books). So Far From Home is good for a general look at the Irish potato famine, Irish immigration, and the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution, but Denenberg misses many opportunities for lasting impressions and Mary is a forgettable character.
Archer B. Helmsley has grown up in a house full of oddities and treasures collected by his grandparents, the famous explorers. He knows every nook and cranny. He knows them all too well. After all, ever since his grandparents went missing on an iceberg, his mother barely lets him leave the house. Archer B. Helmsley longs for adventure. Grand adventures, with parachutes and exotic sunsets and interesting characters. But how can he have an adventure when he can’t leave his house? It helps that he has friends like Adelaide L. Belmont, who must have had many adventures to end up with a wooden leg. (Perhaps from a run-in with a crocodile. Perhaps not.) And Oliver Glub. Oliver will worry about all the details (so Archer doesn’t have to). Archer, Adelaide, and Oliver make a plan. A plan to get out of the house, out of their town entirely. It’s a good plan. Well, it’s not bad, anyway. But nothing goes quite as they expect.
The Doldrums is a whimsical, light-hearted story about a boy who longs to have an adventure and, especially, to meet his grandparents. He befriends two other children, one a down-to-earth boy and the other an imaginative girl, and together they plot a way to get Archer out of his house and on his way to see his grandparents. A controlling mother who wants to keep Archer from becoming his grandparents and a strict, overbearing teacher help bring in some tension and conflict for the characters.
What really won me over in this book wasn’t the story, though that was delightful. It was really the beautiful color illustrations. I am a sucker for color illustrations, and these were perfect and fit the mood of the book so well. I also love whimsical stories at heart—stories that aren’t too absurd as to be farcical, that are light and funny and charming and interesting. That’s exactly what The Doldrums is, and it is so perfect for anyone who is in “the doldrums” because it will lift them out immediately. It’s a very cheering book, in my opinion.
The Doldrums is one of the more stand-out books I’ve read in a long time. It was delightful and charming, and the color illustrations were gorgeous. There’s absurdity in the book, but it’s more whimsical than anything. Archer learns important lessons about family and imagination, and everything is bright and cheery and lovely. The book entranced me and swept me up. It’s probably not a book for everyone, but it was a delight for me.
Recommended Age Range: 10+
Genre: Realistic, Middle Grade
Archer opened his bag and handed Oliver a mobile made of fish.
“What am I supposed to do with this?” Oliver asked.
“Use the headband,” said Archer. “Strap it to your head.”
Oliver considered this and then, like any good sidekick, strapped the fish to his head. “Why am I strapping fish to his head?” he asked.
Disclaimer: Joey, by Jennifer Marshall Bleakley, was provided by Tyndale. I received a free copy from the publisher. No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.
With her fledgling horse ranch, Hope Reins, in dire financial trouble, the last thing Kim Tschirret needed was one more problem. But when she met Joey, a former prizewinning jumper who had been abandoned, neglected, and malnourished to the point of blindness, she saw in him the same God-given potential she saw in every abused and abandoned child her ministry was created to serve. So, despite the challenges that would come with caring for a blind and wounded horse, Kim took a leap of faith and brought Joey home to Hope Reins. But as Joey struggled to adapt to his new surroundings, trainers, and pasture-mate, the staff’s confidence began to falter. Could Joey learn to trust again-to connect with the children who needed him so badly? What if they couldn’t take care of Joey? And how much longer could they afford to try?
My rating: 2/5
I was excited to receive and read Joey because, let’s face it, horse books were my favorite type of books growing up, and even today I still get excited to read one. And it seemed intriguing–a blind horse? Horse-centered therapy? Count me in!
However, I rated this book low for a reason, though it didn’t have anything to do with the horses. In fact, the horses were the best part of the book, though admittedly it did confuse me a bit when the first part of the book focused more on Speckles than on Joey. But I enjoyed reading about the training and the innovative ways the trainers helped Joey overcome his blindness. The interaction of the horses and the children was sweet; Bleakley definitely shows how an animal-centered therapy works, as well as its effectiveness overall.
So, it wasn’t the horses that I had a problem. It was the rest of the book–the humans, basically, and the overly preachy and sentimental tone. I had an incredibly difficult time telling the three main characters apart (Kim, Sarah, and Lauren), as their voices all sounded the same. I soon learned to differentiate by various traits always brought up–Lauren and her knee, Sarah and her inner monologues about her inadequacies. However, what also confused me was the voice of the characters. I initially thought Sarah was a teenager until she brought up a husband, which really threw me for a loop. Her voice just sounded like something more akin to a teenager’s than an adult’s to me. There was also a random romance thrown in with her that came out of nowhere; I understand that this is more nonfiction, but at least hint that she’s getting into a relationship with the vet before suddenly mentioning them holding hands when they rarely appear “on page” with each other and exchange conversation. Lauren also sounded younger, but she mentions a husband and kids earlier on so it was easier to adjust.
I also didn’t much like the sentimental, preachy tone of the book, and this is definitely more reflective of my personality than of anything really wrong with the book itself. I hate preachiness, especially extended preachiness that sounds scripted, and I’m not fond of sentimentality. If a grief scene stretches for longer than a paragraph, I already think it’s overdone. I recognize the sadness of the book, and what losing horses means to the people who work at Hope Reins, but I’d prefer not to linger on one particular scene for pages at a time.
I really didn’t like the tone or the confusing characters who blended into one another, but the book is focused on the horses, and the horses really do shine. This is a great advertisement for Hope Reins, if nothing else.


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Read this excellent interview with Donald Bloxham, author of The Great Game of Genocide and lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. I really like his analytical, unagitated approach to an ugly topic. The interview's subject matter is the Armenian Genocide, an apparent historical fact which is still rather aggressively contended by contemporary Turkey, probably against better knowledge. However, it is interesting to see that another Edinburgh historian, Norman Stone, takes the opposite view to Mr Bloxham's in Weltwoche, namely that the genocide technically was not a genocide because it cannot be proved that the Ottoman government had ordered it. That's probably what happens when you try to adjudicate on historical matters by using non-legal historical terms.
The reason for this accumulation of articles about the Armenian genocide is an ongoing political controversy in France and Switzerland these days.

domain: history


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The largest and most central property of the city's public park system, this 80 acre Liberty Park offers recreational activities for all. Children applaud the Children's Garden and boating pond, playground, amusement park and snack bar. Older visitors enjoy the swimming pool and the tennis park's 16 lighted courts. Recent developments have added a well-conceived interactive map that uses pools and fountains to depict the topography of Utah. Liberty Park is also home to the ever-popular Tracy Aviary, the Chase Mill and the Chase Home Museum of Folk Art.
The Corinthian theme beautifully amalgamates with the Neoclassical style of architecture to reveal an imposing structure in the form of the Utah State Capitol Building. Completed in 1916, this ornate Seat of the Utah government is crowned with a 165 feet (50 meters) rotunda while its interior is brought to life with artist Lewis Schettle's painting. Massive ionic columns, each carved from a single piece of marble, are thought to be the largest solid marble columns in the United States. Epic paintings around the arches and the rotunda represent Brigham Young and the Mormon pioneers.
An opulent granite monument, designed in a Gothic style, the Salt Lake Temple is commonly known as the Mormon Church. As testimony of the faith and devotion of the people, this structure took over 40 years to build from 1853. Like other Latter-day Saints temples, this one too is not open for public tours and only members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are permitted to enter. However, the temple grounds can be visited, making it a popular tourist attraction for those looking to experience the magnificence first-hand.
This Roman Catholic cathedral stands majestically near the avenues in Salt Lake City. The building was renovated in 1990. The Romanesque facade, with gargoyles and stained glass, invites visitors to enter its Gothic Revival chambers within. The Eccles organ welcomes all with its reeds and diapasons booming their robust tones. The clergy holds Mass regularly.
Selected as the spot for the epic Mormon Temple by Brigham Young himself, the iconic Temple Square is the religious locus of Salt Lake City. A stirring mosaic of history, religion, architecture and sophisticated gastronomy, the historic Temple Square invokes an ethereal picture further riddled with the nuances of art, theater and culture. Ever since it was first built, Temple Square has been the headquarters of the Church of Latter Day Saints, containing not only the Salt Lake Temple, but the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the Family History Library and the Assembly Hall as well. This revered downtown expanse is laced by a tapestry of shops, restaurants, parks, gardens and an array of other historical sites. The elaborate South Visitors' Center illustrates the history of the temple whereas the North Visitors' Center is home to a scaling statue of Christ, called 'The Christus'.
The Natural History Museum of Utah lets you embark on a journey into the natural world offering extensive collections of biological, archaeological and anthropological documentations, archives and articles. It also offers exhibits specific to the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau, and is a center for information on a variety of subjects. Located at the University of Utah, the Museum is educational as well as entertaining for adults and children alike with impressive, interactive displays. Their biology collection includes more than 300,000 species of mammals, vertebrates, birds, insects as well as seeds while the geological collection boasts of more than 50,000 minerals, rocks and fossils. These collections are carefully exhibited in the the Cooper Hall of Anthropology, Earth science galleries, Norton Hall of Minerals, Life science halls and the Dumke Gallery. In addition, the museum is an address to the fascinating Quinney Dinosaur Discovery Hall. Special statewide outreach programs include curriculum kits for teachers, field trips, guided tours and natural history classes.
This staple of downtown Salt Lake City has been a local favorite for well over a decade and continues to grow in popularity. More than just your average dive bar, the Cheers to You establishment features themed nights like karaoke on Fridays, the Mug Club for those who'd like to keep their steins in a safe place, pool tables, televisions to catch the latest game and big wide booths for you and your friends to cram into. The food is classic pub grub with offerings like meatball subs and local restaurants that will even deliver!
Enjoy hysterical parodies and improv acts at this popular theater. Quick Wits, a comedy act, involves two teams of comedians who compete to see which team is able to make the audience laugh louder and longer. Parking in nearby garages for hourly rates on the street is available. Call ahead to know ticket prices and get them early because they sell out fast.
The Jeanne Wagner Theater was born out of a community need that was recognized by The Performing Arts Coalition. Wagner, a businessman built this theater in memory of his beloved wife Jeanne. This large theater opened on March 31, 2001, and hosts concerts, plays and musicals, and is a part of Rose Wagner Center and the Salt Lake County Center for the Arts.
Founded in 1966, this popular dance theater brings the community the very best in modern dance. A museum and gallery of dance history is on display at the theatre, as well. The theatre archive has more than 230 dances by 90 choreographers, which provides diverse performances for everyone to enjoy. Here you will find both a world-view and a local appreciation for the art of dance. Bring the kids for an educational outing. Contact ArtTix for ticket prices and performance dates.
This new venue occupies the building once home to the defunct Wagner Bag Company. The intimate space houses a 150-seat black-box performance stage, rehearsal studios, and the offices of the Repertory Dance Theatre, the resident dance company. Built in 1990 as part of the Downtown Alliance's city-center revitalization efforts, the center hosts performances as progressive as the theatre itself. Various troupes take the stage for a wide variety of performances. Call to check the schedule and buy tickets.
Whether you are just visiting the area or live here full time, the public library is the place to be. Many educational activities for both children and adults are available. Spend the day reading, studying or researching on the Internet. If the main branch does not have what you are looking for, try another area branch. Inter-library loans make it convenient to obtain and return materials from any location.

domain: geography


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domain: entertainment


MUSKEGON, MI – Melching Inc. environmental and demolition experts understand the concern over bringing down two remaining smokestacks on the former Sappi paper mill property in April.
The fears of harm to human health and the Muskegon Lake environment have to do with the A-word – asbestos. The smokestack outer paint has been found to have 3 percent asbestos content, Muskegon city commissioners were told at a work session Monday, March 10.
Melching officials told commissioners that a plan will be in place for the April 27 demolition by explosives of the more than 200-foot-tall smokestacks that will not spread asbestos in the air. That plan includes the total removal of the masonry smokestack material and cleanup of the ground where the stack falls.
Melching and its demolition team led by Trinity Specialty Services of Atlanta – the same group that successfully brought down a 10-story Sappi power plant by explosives in October – were asked by commissioners if they can “guarantee” no environmental incident or human exposure.
Melching environmental manager Tyson Lahmeyer said no one can provide a “100 percent guarantee” on such a project. Melching Inc. is a West Michigan demolition company that purchased the 120-acre former paper mill property on Muskegon Lake in 2009 and expects to have the demolition of the former manufacturing plant completed by the end of the year.
“It is not likely any asbestos will become airborne with the demolition,” Lahmeyer said, pointing to a plan of wetting the smokestacks and the landing area prior to and after the implosion and extensive dust-control misting machines to be used throughout the process.
“Most of the dust off the demolition will be concrete, but no engineer can say they will stop 100 percent of the dust,” Lahmeyer told commissioners.
The paint on the outside of the stacks containing asbestos has been determined to be “non-friable” material by the state qualified asbestos inspector, Melching’s asbestos safety engineer from Analytical Testing and Consulting Services Inc. of Plainwell stated in a Feb. 19 safety plan for the smokestack demolition.
A “non-friable” material cannot be crushed with “hand pressure” to create a powder or dust. It is the tiny asbestos fibers that can create lung disease and cancer, according to health experts.
“Friable” material can be crushed with “hand pressure” such as the old asbestos insulation materials used in construction, causing harmful fibers to be airborne. Such asbestos material has much greater regulatory controls.
Lahmeyer provided city officials two sealed plastic bags with the asbestos paint material removed from the Sappi smokestacks. The environmental project manager for Melching who is a state certified asbestos removal technician said the outside paint covering looks and acts like floor tiles.
No doubt the smokestack demolition issue will be raised with Michigan Department of Environmental Quality officials providing an environmental update of the waterfront Sappi site at a 6 p.m. Thursday, March 13 session at the Grand Valley State University energy center in Muskegon.
Once to the ground, the dust control and wetting process will continue. Certified asbestos removal technicians will begin to remove the smokestack material using covered trucks to transport it to the Ottawa County Farms Landfill in Coopersville for disposal. Disposal operations will take about a month and will include removal of the soils underneath where the stacks will fall, Melching officials said.
Melching asbestos abatement crews have already taken the paint off the bottom 12 feet of each stack where Trinity will use explosives to bring them down. The explosions will not scatter any asbestos laced paint and demolition crews do not expect any asbestos paint material to become airborne, Lahmeyer said.
An independent company will test air quality at the demolition site and in the residential and commercial areas surrounding the former Sappi property. Lahmeyer said environmental officials expect to find no asbestos air readings above state- and federally-regulated acceptable levels.
“But what if there is a release?” pressed Commissioner Willie German Jr. “What are our contingency plans?”
Muskegon Public Safety Director Jeff Lewis said that as was the case in the October power plant demolition, a 500-foot exclusionary zone will be established where no one will be allowed and a 1,000-foot evacuation zone where residents are encouraged to leave their homes the Sunday morning of the demolition or “shelter in place” inside their homes with windows closed.
The Muskegon County Hazardous Materials Team will be asked to standby near the demolition site in case a dangerous airborne asbestos release is detected, Lewis said. The team will provide contingency plans in the event of a problem, which is far preferable than coming to a scene of an unexpected chemical release from a local industry, he said.
Lewis said that city staff will provide the city commission with a recommendation on approval of the Melching demolition plan for the two smokestacks at either the March 25 or April 8 commission meeting. City commissioners must approve the demolition permit as they did for the Oct. 27 power plant demolition.
Like the prior event, Lakeshore Drive will be closed from McCracken to Cottage Grove streets. A checklist of 18 requirements of federal, state and local approvals will need to be met before Lewis signs off on the final go-ahead, Lewis said.
Most of those approvals from agencies such as the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the Michigan State Police, the U.S. Coast Guard and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are well underway, Lahmeyer said.
“The reality is that the smokestacks must come down,” City Manager Frank Peterson said of eventual plans for a mixed-use development on the former industrial property. “The time to do it is when the site is cleaned and not having other debris that could be contaminated with this material.”
Melching officials have pre-written a notice to nearby neighbors and property owners that states the implosion method by explosive devices is the “safest” way the demolition industry has to bring down such structures.
Trinity demolition explosion expert Steve Murray said that the explosive charges will be set the morning of the event in such a way as to “tip over” the smokestacks in a northerly direction away from Lakeshore Drive. The exact direction of the stack fall will be determined by wind conditions that morning, he said.
There will be no members of the public allowed on the former Sappi property the morning of April 27, Murray said. Melching will not be having a VIP viewing tent as the company did in October, he added.


text:
"Amer. Sep. Partie des Etats Unis. No. 39", Vandermaelen, Philippe Marie Guillaume
Subject: Northwestern United States, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming
Period: 1827 (published)
Publication: Atlas Universel…
Color: Hand Color
20.5 x 18.8 inches
52.1 x 47.8 cm
This scarce, large-scale map covers western Montana, Idaho and part of Wyoming. It features Lewis and Clark's route with notations concerning the hardships they encountered on the passage. John Colter's 1807 route through Crow country is also shown. The map is based on the Lewis and Clark map as evidenced by the erroneous Lake Riddle draining into the Big Horn River. Several Indian tribes are located (along with their population) but there are no towns or settlements shown. The source of the Yellowstone River is noted as chaude et sulfurease (hot and sulfurous).
The Atlas Universel was the first atlas to present all the maps on the same scale (1: 1,641,836), with each map covering an area of approximately 20 degrees longitude (from Paris) and 6 degrees of latitude. Also considered to be the first lithographic atlas ever published. There was only one edition, published in 1825-27, and the subscription list shows that 810 copies were sold.
References: Phillips (A) #749; Wheat [TMW] #378.


text:
Impressions from the Encod delegation at the UN CND in Vienna Part 2 Farid Ghehioueche 14 march 2012
Impressions from the Encod delegation at the UN CND in Vienna Part 1 Fredrick Polak 13 march 2012
Drug Peace March 10 March 2012
With the slogan ‘Drug Peace Festival 2012‘ the critics of current drug policies based on three UN Conventions will unite during the forthcoming annual meeting of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
On 19 October 2011, the European Commission announced a public consultation on drug policy. For this consultation, a private company was hired (the Rand Corporation). This company organises the consultation through a survey which can only be filled in by people who receive a special code. We do not know who are the people who […]
On 13 & 14 April 2011, the 5th session of the Civil Society Forum on Drug Policy in the EU was held in Brussels. Frederick Polak and Bruno Valkeneers participated on behalf of Encod.
In this letter written to the European Parliament in september 2005, Encod encouraged the EP to make a start with the organisation of a true dialogue between citizens and authorities on drug policy in the EU. 6 years later, we are still waiting.
AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COALITION OF NGOs FOR A JUST AND EFFECTIVE DRUGS POLICY (ICN) TO THE SECOND CONFERENCE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ON DRUGS POLICY BRUSSELS, FEBRUARY 28/29, 2000 Ladies and Gentlemen,
In the end of june 2010 we launched “Plan C” with the purpose of obtaining the legal import of traditional derivates of the coca leaf in Europe. See also the first progress report of August->article2594], September 2010 and October, as well as the [full report of the mission in Bolivia in Spanish.
Encod has sent a delegation to the 54th. session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs Here is a third impression 25 and 26 March 2011

domain: law


text:
New research published by the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) investigates for the first time the attitudes and perceptions of local elected representatives on digital technology, governance and leadership in their authorities.
Author, Cllr Theo Blackwell, gathered data from over 800 elected councillors across England, to give a unique insight into digital leadership and the potential sleeping giant that local public services represent both for reform and the growth of markets for solutions to public service challenges.
Start of the Possible found that local councillors are not ‘digital dinosaurs’: whether veteran or first-term; metropolitan or district; leadership or non-executive; they hold strong and positive views about technology, automation and data and how public services can benefit from them. However, for a small and vociferous cohort, digital exclusion and the fear of the digital divide is a major issue. While this challenge does not stop change, it may impede progress or the pace of change.
Number one issue
Tackling digital exclusion is still the number one issue now and for the future amongst councillors. Connectivity also remains a concern and there was a strong and widespread view that current data-sharing arrangements are not effective.
The survey found that there is clear backing for digital to be included in thinking around devolution and a thirst for councillors to be better supported to understand more about technology and transformation in all its forms.
LGIU and Cllr Blackwell, funded by the Sandy Bruce Lockhart scholarship, undertook this primary research to understand the views of local government political leadership on the impact of digital transformation on public services. Further detail below.
Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, LGiU, said: “Much has been written about the shift to digital in local government and public services more generally. Such a shift represents an opportunity, almost uniquely, to drive down costs while simultaneously improving outcomes. But that’s not just a question of doing the same things better online, it’s about using digital as a way of thinking and connecting, of driving a cultural and relational attitude that changes how we think about what local government does and how it interacts with the communities it serves.
“Start of the Possible makes an important contribution to this conversation by explicitly focusing on digital leadership, including a national survey of councillors which reveals their real attitudes to digital local government.
“LGIU has been pleased to support this research along with Essex, Kent and East Sussex county councils as part of the Bruce Lockhart member scholarship, a programme in memory of the late Sandy Bruce Lockhart which seeks to encourage and celebrate leadership and innovation in and from elected members.”
Blackwell added: “Successful digital transformation requires redesign on every level — workforce, customer service, process, governance and technology — to make public services faster at doing things, more adaptable, able to share more information and do so securely.
“For this to happen we need to support digital leadership right across our cities and counties in order to make public services more effective and make a difference to the people and communities they represent.
“This research shows that the vast majority of councillors are not ‘digital dinosaurs’, but hold positive views about the application of technology to public services and how councils should work together and share data.
“We need to translate that into action. There is a good foundation built by those leading councils who have set out bold digital plans. There is now a need for proper co-ordination between authorities supported by a new deal with Whitehall.”
The full report can be viewed here.
Digital literacy of senior managers has widely improved, survey adds
Minimum broadband speed obligation part of the new bill
Wiltshire Council’s plan to design services and systems around customers championed in new briefing
Government leaders presented with information needed to better understand the security underpinning cloud and fully embrace the technology


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text:
I made this with my 2 year old, for a friend who lives far away. Much better than a get well card. My friend has cancer and said this really makes her happy when she looks at it. (Thanks mom for posting this so I could repin it)
Adorable DIY Yarn Birds
Pom Pom Love Birds:
How to make Paper Rosette Birds
DIY Spring Project: Make Paper Rosette Birds using DCWV Paper Stacks & Xyron products - would look pretty as a banner!
Νίκου Βασιλική Νηπιαγωγείο Δημιουργίας...: ΠΑΣΧΑ ΜΕ ΥΛΙΚΑ ΑΝΑΚΥΚΛΩΣΗΣ

domain: artistic


text:
We jump on asparagus the second we see it at the market this time of year, but green beans, snap peas, or any other crisp green spring vegetable would also be great here.
Like this Bon Appétit recipe? There are plenty more where this came from. Subscribe to the magazine here!
Heat 1 tsp. peanut oil in a large skillet over high. Once pan is hot (oil will be lightly smoking), add half of asparagus and a couple pinches of salt and cook, tossing only once or twice so the pieces have a chance to blister, until crisp-tender and lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer asparagus to a plate. Add 1 tsp. peanut oil to skillet (no need to wipe it out) and repeat process with remaining asparagus.
Reduce heat to medium-high; add remaining 1 tsp. peanut oil to skillet, then add pork, spreading out into an even layer. Season with a couple pinches of salt and cook, undisturbed, until meat begins to brown underneath, about 2 minutes. Break up meat with a wooden spoon and add scallions, garlic, and ginger. Cook, stirring, until pork is crisp and mixture is very fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add wine and soy sauce and return asparagus to skillet. Cook, turning to coat with pork mixture, until heated through, about 1 minute.
Transfer stir-fry to a platter or large shallow bowl and drizzle with sesame oil. Serve with rice and chili crisp.

domain: food


Isolated from the global financial market, Russia can no longer access many services, starting with video games.
The noose is tightening on Russia. Since the country was banned from the international Swift system, then from the Visa and Mastercard markets, the whole country has been cut off from the world. For several days now, the ban on payments in Russian rubles has had a strong impact on the tech sector, and in particular that of video games, which has not spared the Kremlin.
Developers and publishers take up arms
The video game boycott began last week, when CD Projekt Red halted sales of its games in Russian and Belarusian territories. On the studio’s GOG store, both countries are now banned from games, starting with Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Quickly, Electronic Arts followed suit in Poland, preventing Russia from making purchases from its online platforms.
Epic is stopping commerce with Russia in our games in response to its invasion of Ukraine. We’re not blocking access for the same reason other communication tools remain online: the free world should keep all lines of dialogue open.
— Epic Games Newsroom (@EpicNewsroom)
Finally, after Ukraine’s distress call to the video game industry, Microsoft had also taken the lead, suspending all its services in the countries concerned. Other studios then followed suit, such as Activision-Blizzard, but also Epic Games, which confirmed its decision on Twitter. The developer, however, detailed that it does not intend to block its other online communication tools, arguing that “a free world needs all means of communication to remain open”.
Nintendo and Sony play it discreet
While some editors jumped at the chance to affirm their public commitment to Ukraine to the world, others preferred not to say too much. On the Nintendo eshop, the Russian platform has temporarily been placed in maintenance. Officially, this is not a unilateral decision by the Japanese giantbut the simple consequence of blocking transactions in rubles on the various payment services.
Glory to Japan! Nintendo shop is blocked in Russia and probably in Belarus and Kazakhstan too (the picture from KZ user)
— Occupied Peter (@B_Right)
Same observation for Sony. While the video game giant – like Microsoft and Nintendo – was also concerned by the appeal of Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, the company was content to withdraw discreetly Gran Turismo 7 from the Russian PlayStation Store. According to Eurogamerthe company would not yet confirm this decision, simply stating about the game: “Release date pending confirmation”. The decision seems logical, however, especially when we know that the cinema branch of Sony has already announced the suspension of its films on Russian territory, starting with Morbiusthe next spin-off from Spiderman scheduled for March 24 in theaters.
Whether spontaneous or not, the decision to exclude Russia from the video game market will cost publishers and developers dearly: according to an estimate of Statistics dating back to last year, the country is the eighth largest consumer of video games, with $2.7 billion in play every year.


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Over the past couple of years, the concept of Gov 2.0 has grown beyond being an emerging trend to becoming a defining strategy that makes government more open, transparent and more effective. This was further underscored by the White House's push for "Transparency and Open Government" memo that aims to enhance collaboration, participation and innovation in government.
So, then what exactly is Gov 2.0? Mark Drapeau, Gov 2.0 advocate and thought leader, recently defined Gov 2.0 in a blog post leading into the inaugural Gov 2.0 Expo. Here is what he said:
Gov 2.0 is about changing the status quo of government in various ways. What are those ways? They include but are not necessarily limited to: innovation by government, transparency of its processes, collaboration among its members, and participation of citizens.
As you can imagine, the idea of improving government via innovation and transparency of processes caught the attention of the BetterGov editorial team.
Along those lines, Craig Newmark, creator of Craigslist.org, has been speaking lately about government transparency initiatives needing to be raised up in the mainstream media ñ beyond the Beltway. We agree that there needs to be more awareness around the administration's transparency initiatives, and new innovations could help better bring these efforts out of the shadows.
What is really happening now is that Business Process Management (BPM) is not only giving Gov 2.0 the processes and discipline it needs to make it more efficient, effective and transparent, but also making government more effective overall. This innovation allows government agencies to better meet new transparency standards ñ making Gov 2.0 actionable and real ñ and thus creating a bigger story to capture the mainstream media's attention.
The combination of administrative directives for more openness with the rise of Gov 2.0, and an enabling technology such as BPM, has created a platform for a more innovative government that can better serve citizens.
Gov 2.0 comes to life through BPM!
Appian is a software company that automates business processes. The Appian AI Process Platform includes everything you need to design, automate, and optimize even the most complex processes, from start to finish. The world's most innovative organizations trust Appian to improve their workflows, unify data, and optimize operations—resulting in better growth and superior customer experiences.