text:
This is the first ARC I ever won *Squee*~ I absolutely loved "Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side" which I am kicking myself for not reading sooner. I admit it: for some reason the title kinda turned me off. I don't know why. Maybe it wasn't lyrical enough or too plain but the story is top notch and fresh. After reading "Dating" I went to Beth Fantasky's website and found an awesome novella of Jessica and Lucius' wedding. If you haven't read it, you definitely will want to read it before reading "Rules". I only wish I could put it on the Nook. :)
This book takes place after Jessica and Lucius have been married. Jessica is trying to adjust to being a princess and ruling over the elders. Jessica is really adverse to the violence and power that is now a part of her world. Lucius loves her very much and is supportive and trying to help her adjust. There interactions are just as intense as before. But before Jessica can find her inner strength, Claudiu, Lucius' Uncle is murdered and Lucius' stake has his blood on it. Because of the law, Lucius must be held in custody in the dungeon of the castle with no blood and only bread and water. No blood will slowing make Lucius weak and desolve into madness that some vampires never recover from that is if he isn't destroyed for murder first. Jessica is left to rule by default. Lucias' cousin, Raniero comes back to protect Jessica and help solve the murder mystery. Jessica isn't sure she can trust Raniero as uncovers his past as a vampire assasin. Mindy, Jessica's BFF comes to help support Jessica. Mindy and Raniero have a history from the wedding novella which is why you should read the novella first. Raniero is a CA beatnik surfer who Mindy feels will never amount to anything like her deadbeat Dad. But underneath, trust me, Raniero is all hot Romanian Vampire. Jessica's only remaining family, Uncle Dorin and Cousin Ylenia also lend support and advice. There is a lot of action and intrique in this book that keeps you reading and wondering what will happen next. I refuse to spoil the mystery but can say I personally had a feeling about it. Fantaskey's hunky Romanian Vampires are back and just as attractive. My only complaint is that I personally would have loved to have more interaction with Jessica and Lucius but because of the storyline this was impossible. Fantaskey did give me the honeymoon flashback which I craved after the Novella. Lucius' quirky sarcastic wit that I loved in "Dating" is back but this time it's between Lucius-Raniero as email/note exchanges.
This is a well rounded original story and if you read "Dating" you will love the sequel. If you haven't read it--what are you waiting for?!

domain: literature


“I don’t think I have ever seen so many people on set."
Johnny Sins shared his experience of what it was like to work with Ranveer Singh on a sexual wellness advert.
The hilarious Bold Care advert promoted a sexual enhancement pill whilst parodying an Indian soap, complete with family arguments and dramatic effects.
Viewers found the advert funny but were surprised to see US adult film star Johnny Sins playing Ranveer’s brother in the clip.
Johnny has now opened up about the experience.
On the Honestly by Tanmay Bhat podcast, Johnny said everyone was welcoming but regretted not seeing more of India.
Speaking to the host, who also wrote the advert’s script, Johnny said:
“It’s been a little hard because you come all the way here, to a country you have always wanted to see, really not be able to see it.
“The people have been amazing.
“Everybody has been extremely nice and what I have seen so far has been extremely cool.”
Johnny’s role in the advert was kept a secret before filming commenced.
He also admitted that the number of people on set was overwhelming as his usual shoots feature up to five people.
Johnny continued: “I don’t think I have ever seen so many people on set.
“The largest set I have seen in the US is maybe 15 people and most of my shoots these days are me and the girl usually. Most shoots are 3 to 5 people.”
Speaking about the Bollywood superstar, Johnny Sins said:
“Ranveer was awesome. That was the first time I met him.”
“He was so nice and everybody on the sets admired Ranveer and liked being around him.”
Ranveer Singh and Johnny Sins in an ad ?? pic.twitter.com/LfTs4eBuFa
— Pranooth Gowda (@pranooth_mp) February 12, 2024
Meanwhile, Bhavna Chauhan, who played Johnny’s wife in the advert, suffered a blunder as she admitted that she thought she would be filming with former wrestler John Cena.
She explained: “I don’t know why I misread the name.
“But to think of it, never in my dreams, I thought that Johnny would be part of an ad like this.
“I thought wrestlers do a lot of work in India and so I was foolishly thinking it was going to be John Cena. Only after I got the final details, I found out it was Johnny Sins.”
On working with Ranveer, she said:
“It was so much fun being around him. Our energies quite matched and he also told me how he liked my work.”
Although she did not get to interact with Johnny much, Bhavna said “he was quite cooperative and professional”.
Bhavna also responded to the backlash the advert has been receiving from some TV actors.
Stating that there was no intention to make fun of the TV industry, Bhavna said:
“They are marketers and understand the ripple effect of such things.
“Honestly, the original script was funnier but they altered it accordingly.
“The intention has always been to make it look like a normal scene from a TV show so that it’s viewed casually by everyone at home. They wanted the topic to be normalised.”


text:
ISICLIN rectal enema solution EASYCLEAN Purpose:
EasyClean is a device designed to introduce a solution into the rectum and colon. Applies to:
• constipation due to difficult passage of faeces and / or faeces (hardened intestinal contents);
• cleansing of the lower bowel levels before performing various diagnostic or surgical procedures, including sigmoidoscopy and / or colonoscopy.
The product consists of a plastic polyethylene bottle with a nozzle and a protective cap made of polyethylene, for direct introduction of the ready-to-use solution.
ISICLIN rectal enema solution Composition of 100 ml of solution:
• Sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate (Sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate) -16.0 g,
• Disodium hydrogen phosphate dodecahydrate - 6.0 g,
• Sodium Methyl Parahydroxybenzoate - 0.2 g,
• Purified water up to 100 ml.
ISICLIN rectal enema solution EASYCLEAN Dosage and method of administration:
It is used only once a day for a short period of time. The procedure can be performed daily for up to 1 week. If necessary, it can be used up to 2 weeks after consulting a doctor.
The recommended dose for adults and children over 16 years of age is 250 ml, once a day, rectally.
Before use, the bottle should be warmed to human body temperature (in a water bath or close to the body). The patient should lie on his left side and bend his knees to his chest. After removing the protective cap, the lubricant-coated nozzle is gently inserted into the rectum in the direction of the navel. To avoid injury to the rectum, no strong pressure should be applied and the insertion of the tip should be stopped immediately if an insurmountable mechanical obstacle is found. After inserting the nozzle into the rectum, the bottle should be pressed until the solution contained in it is almost completely released. After the solution enters the rectum, the patient should not change position and wait until the urge to defecate occurs, usually 2-5 to 15 minutes after the enema.
Do not use EasyClean on:
Hypersensitivity (allergy) to the components of the solution;
Severe renal failure;
High levels of phosphates in the blood;
High levels of sodium in the blood;
Low levels of potassium in the blood;
Low levels of calcium in the blood;
Congenital or acquired bowel abnormalities;
Congestive heart failure (severe heart disease);
Ileus (obstruction on the cheravta);
Intestinal perforation (breakthrough);
Toxic or congenital megacolon (swelling of the colon);
Hypomotility syndrome (decreased intestinal peristalsis);
Ascites (collection of fluid in the abdomen);
Pregnancy and lactation.
EasyClean is not administered orally.
Not used in children under 16 years of age.
It is applied only rectally as an enema. Disposable!
EasyClean should not be used in patients with toxic megacolon, congenital megacolon (Hirschprung's disease), congestive heart failure, gastric, intestinal and rectal obstruction. If the rectal obstruction is from feces, the enema may be part of a treatment complex.
The product should be used with caution in patients with renal impairment, heart disease, dehydration or present electrolyte disturbances due to an increased risk of hyperphosphatemia, hypernatremia, acidosis, hypocalcaemia and tetany.
In patients with nausea, vomiting, increased intestinal motility and abdominal pain, the use of EasyClean should be avoided.
Warnings and precautions
Although saline cleansers are well tolerated and do not pose significant risks with short-term rectal administration, long-term administration (over 2 weeks) and especially high doses (more than once daily) of phosphates can cause water disorders. electrolyte balance, acidosis, diarrhea, hypovolaemia (decreased blood volume) and osteomalacia (due to persistent hypocalcaemia), therefore the enema should not be used for more than 2 weeks.
If after the application of the enema there are no urges to defecate and respectively no fecal mass is excreted within more than 30 minutes, as well as in the case of blood in the stool after administration of the product, the patient should seek medical attention immediately. .
It is normal to detect residual solutions in the bottle after applying the enema.
Put the used bottle back in the carton and dispose of it in the designated places.
In patients with severe renal impairment, phosphate elimination is delayed, resulting in an increased risk of hyperphosphatemia, hypernatraemia, hypocalcaemia (electrolyte disturbances) and hypovolaemia with EasyClean.
Due to the risk of electrolyte disturbances in the blood, EasyClean should be used with caution in patients treated with diuretics and other medicines that affect the water-electrolyte balance. Calcium antagonists may aggravate the symptoms associated with EasyClean-induced hypocalcaemia.
Rectal administration of EasyClean causes evacuation of the contents of the colon exclusively and practically does not affect the bioavailability of other orally administered drugs. It should be used with caution in patients taking medicines that prolong the QT interval of the electrocardiogram.
Rectal irritation, swelling, redness, bleeding, necrosis and rectal rupture have been reported extremely rarely. If any of these symptoms occur or if a patient complains of pain or burning during the infusion of the solution, the procedure is stopped and the GP is notified.
Prolonged abuse of the product carries the risk of symptoms such as weakness, dehydration with hypovolemia, osteomalacia (bone breakdown), bone pain and weight loss.
Geriatric patients and patients with renal insufficiency are at risk for adverse reactions.
In case of accidental or intentional overdose, as well as in any case of incorrect oral administration of EasyClean, seek medical attention immediately!
Keep out of reach of children!
Do not use after the expiry date which is stated on the pack!

domain: biology


Passengers at Heathrow face zero tolerance
Passengers at Heathrow airport's glittering new terminal, which opens three months from today, will face a tough new zero-tolerance policy: be in the queue for security at least 35 minutes before the flight or count as a "no show".
British Airways, the sole tenant at Terminal 5, is seeking to improve its woeful punctuality. Even without the kind of disruption seen at Heathrow and Gatwick before Christmas, BA's operations routinely fail the airline's own modest targets. For the week ending 16 December, fewer than one in three flights departed on time, compared with a target of 52 per cent.
It is believed to be the first time, at any airport, that an airline has taken such a hard line on passengers who have already checked in. The only exception to the 35-minute rule will be travellers on standby, who get an extra five minutes' grace to allow for the fact that their seats are assigned only after check-in formally closes at "minus 45".
The Independent travel offers: Discover a world of inspiring destinations
- 3 The enemy within: People who hear voices in their heads are being encouraged to talk back
- 4 Phil Neville backtracks on Tomas Rosicky 'I'd smash him' comments from Match of the Day 2
- 5 British grandmother Lindsay Sandiford faces execution by firing squad in Indonesia
Nigel Farage: NHS might have to be replaced by private health insurance
'We would evict Queen from Buckingham Palace and allocate her council house,' say Greens
French court convicts three over homophobic tweets, in case hailed as a 'significant victory' by LGBT rights campaigners
Greece elections: Syriza and EU on collision course after election win for left-wing party
British Muslim school children suffering a backlash of abuse following Paris attacks
George Galloway condemns 'racist, Islamophobic, hypocritical rag' Charlie Hebdo at freedom of speech rally
Negotiable: Recruitment Genius: This is a fantastic opportunity to join a is a...
Unpaid voluntary work: Old Royal Naval College: Join our team of friendly volu...
£8 per hour: Recruitment Genius: This airport parking organisation are looking...
£8 per hour: Recruitment Genius: Do you enjoy bus driving and are looking for ...


text:
BU Today featured Dr. Megan Sandel, Children’s HealthWatch Principal Investigator,on raising awareness about the importance of SNAP benefits for vulnerable families with young children.
SNAP Judgment: A week on food stamps shows MED students the program’s limits
In advance of continued congressional debate over whether to cut SNAP, about 15 BU MED students and deans took the SNAP challenge, sponsored by the school’s Student Nutrition Awareness & Action Council. The goal was to raise future doctors’ awareness of the nutritional challenges faced by poor patients.
Fabian Chang (BU MED’16) conceived this “SNAP challenge” for himself and others on the Medical Campus, and during last month’s weeklong regimen “I was able to get enough food,” he says, “but it was definitely difficult to maintain a healthy diet.” And with the expiration of the portion of the Obama stimulus devoted to SNAP, things like coffee were an unaffordable luxury.
“For some of our kids in our clinic, SNAP can be a lifeline,” says Megan Sandel, a MED associate professor and a pediatrician at Boston Medical Center. Some of her patients have had problems ranging from inactivity to disruptive school behavior after their families’ food stamp benefits were cut, she adds.

domain: news


“Imagination is as vital to any advance in science as learning and
precision are essential for starting points.” - Percival Lowell
The Ubuntu team is very pleased to announce the release of Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
(Long-Term Support) for Desktop, Server, Cloud, and Core products.
Codenamed “Precise Pangolin”, 12.04 continues Ubuntu’s proud tradition
of integrating the latest and greatest open source technologies into a
high-quality, easy-to-use Linux distribution. The team has been hard
at work through this cycle, introducing a few new features and improving
To be a bit more precise about what we’re releasing today…
There are 54 product images and 2 cloud images being shipped with
this 12.04 LTS release, with translations available in 41 languages.
The Ubuntu project’s 12.04 archive currently has 39,226 binary packages
in it, built from 19,179 source packages, so lots of good starting points
for your imagination!
For PC users, Ubuntu 12.04 supports laptops, desktops, and netbooks
with a unified look and feel based on an updated version of the desktop
shell called “Unity”, which introduces “Head-Up Display” search capabilities.
Finding and installing software using the Ubuntu Software Centre is
now easier thanks to improvements in speed, search and usability.
Ubuntu Server 12.04 has made it much easier to provision, deploy,
host, manage, and orchestrate enterprise data centre infrastructure
services with the introduction of new technologies such as “Metal as
a Service” (MAAS), the Juju Charm Store, and the latest OpenStack version,
codenamed Essex. These technologies further position Ubuntu Server
as the best OS for scale-out computing.
Read more about the new features of Ubuntu 12.04 in the following
Long term support maintenance updates will be provided for
Ubuntu 12.04 for five years, through April 2017. For those working
on the ARM architecture, an 18 month supported release is also
provided for the ARM server using the ARM Hard Float (HF) architecture.
Thanks to the efforts of the global translation community, Ubuntu
is now available in 41 languages. For a list of available languages
and detailed translation statistics for these and other languages, see:


text:
Moringa Wize B.V was created because they wanted to find solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems: food security, equity and employment, and climate change.
Moringa (Moringa Oleifera Lam) is a multipurpose tropical tree. It is mainly used for food and has numerous industrial, medicinal, and agricultural uses including in animal feed. This traditional plant was rediscovered in the 1990s and its cultivation has become increasingly popular in Asia and Africa, where it is one of the most economically valuable crops. It has been called the “miracle tree” or “tree of life” by the media. Moringa is nutritious, fast-growing, and drought-tolerant.
All their products are grown under organic circumstances. They include cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that encourage the recycling of resources to promote ecological balance and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilisers, irradiation, and genetic engineering are not used. When the product is certified it is sold under the ‘organic label’ and otherwise, it is sold under the ‘natural’ label.
MONEY IS A BY-PRODUCT OF VALUE
To thrive for longer, Moringa Wize decided to remain focused on producing value. It’s easy to get distracted by other things like profit margins, expanding your product catalogues, or competitors.
To become a success, Moringa Wize has a purpose that unites and inspires people and “make more money” won’t do the trick. As the author Simon Sinek said, “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” Therefore, Moringa Wize creates this mission and vision statements.
Moringa Wize wants to create and promote healthy, organic, and Nutritional products, to be used in the Pharmaceutical, Nutraceutical, Agricultural, and Cosmetic industries. They strive to grow their business with the same honesty and integrity used to create their products. They aim to be sustainable and protect the natural environment.
PROMOTING HEALTH & WELLNESS
Families are prioritising health and wellness, they want to know what goes into the food they eat. Moringa Wize is proud to provide healthier options for both kids, adults, animals, and the environment.
REDUCING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT
Consumers want more sustainable options. Moringa Wize is working hard to figure out packaging options across all its products and be aware of progress and challenges.
Moringa Wize in the 1-2-Taste sustainability podcast
Nature always wears the colours of the spirit

domain: agronomy


text:
I know you might think that is rude of me to ask but maybe…just maybe you’re metabolism is in need of a makeover?
Whether we like it or not, because of the world in which we live and the food and drink we consume, there is toxin build up in our bodies. And this build up can drain you of energy, promote inflammation in your body, add a few extra unwanted kilos and your metabolism may be in a state of disrepair!
I believe there is a need to have a thorough clean out at least once a year, and if you’re that way inclined, (highly recommended) one every season would be extremely beneficial to you and your waistline!
Traditionally, cultures all around the world have practiced seasonal cleansing in all types of different ways. Specifically for a liver cleanse, the liver is how the body takes toxins out of the body, and that is how the liver earns the spot of one of the hardest working organs in our bodies! The liver works with many other organs in our body to detox blood, produce bile, hormone breakdowns, and acts as a storage facility for our vitamins and minerals. If the liver is not functioning properly, it affects many other areas of our body.
Some more important functions of the liver include removing old blood cells, helping the intestines process nutrients, chemical production for blood clotting, the breakdown and metabolizing of alcohol and consumed medications, and the production of necessary proteins and cholesterol. When people hear ‘liver disease’ they typically think of alcoholism, but that is not the only cause of liver disease or liver failure. Some other risk factors associated with liver disease include low potassium levels, drug use, exposure to certain chemicals, obesity, processed foods, viral infections and autoimmune diseases.
Some things you may notice if your liver is not performing at its best include…
- gas or bloating
- acid reflux
- yellowish tint to skin and eyes
- high blood pressure
- difficulty losing weight
- cognitive difficulties
- dark urine
- chronic fatigue
- poor appetite
If you want to support your liver you don’t have to resort to pills and potions as there are certain foods you should focus on. These foods include…
- citrus fruits
- Brussels sprouts
- dandelion root
- leafy green vegetables
- green tea
- olive oil
- alternative grains like quinoa, millet and buckwheat.
Makeover your metabolism will ensure that your hormones are functioning at an optimal level thus allowing your liver to do its job! Below are some general tips that have worked for me:
- Eat clean and organic
- Exercise regularly
- Eat healthy fats
- Ensure your fibre intake is high
- Take a probiotic.
- Get the proper amount of sleep
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco products
- Avoid processed foods and whole grains
- Detox – ie Eat Clean Reset – minimum twice a year.
When you make over your metabolism and and allow your body to heal, you’ll find that when you’re done with your cleanse, you’ll notice more energy, your digestion has improved, and your skin looks younger and brighter. You will also have better mental clarity and cognitive functioning, along with a boost to your immune system and more balanced blood sugar levels and perhaps a few kilos gone …for good!
Are you interested to learn more about removing toxins naturally? Join me for my upcoming free webinar Makeover Your Metabolism. Check it out here, it’s happening next week and of course there will be a replay, as if you’re anything like me, you’re busy and may need more time….?
Be Healthy, Happy & Amazing!

domain: medical


text:
Have you ever found the words “I’m sorry” fall short of accomplishing anything? Sometimes they seem to hover ineptly above us. Not only do they fail to penetrate the hurt of the other person, they leave us feeling foolish, confused, and frustrated. Rather than repairing the damage, they increase the divide leaving us both feeling angry and misunderstood. As the apologizer, we may even come to the conclusion that it isn’t worth the trouble. And yet, without it, our relationships suffer.
Here’s why it often goes wrong. For the words “I’m sorry” to hold any true meaning, two fundamental things are required: Head and Heart.
When we are hurt, especially by a loved one, we want them to know the reasons we feel hurt or injured. Our desire to feel understood is profound, even if it is never verbalized. That is why an apology that lacks clear understanding, whether it’s made out of pity or love, falls short of repairing the damage.
To get it right: Ask questions to learn, or clarify, why the other person is sad or hurt. Seek to understand them and your apology - if sincere - will have true depth and meaning.
Being understood is important for any apology. But so is the feeling that we matter. We want the other person to feel a concern that we were hurt and a desire to make it better. Without that, the words “I’m sorry” seem intended only to appease us, not to repair. And they fail to do so.
To get it right: Genuinely show you care about the other person and their concerns. Validate their feelings. Acknowledge the reasons you are sorry and find out what they need (from you) to move on.
When both our head and our heart feel satisfied, an apology feels sincere and is easy to accept. We can move forward with renewed trust and a deeper more meaningful love and understanding of each other. With head and heart, our apologies are accepted, and our relationships can be repaired.

domain: sociology


text:
For All Writers and All Stories
Green Ink Writers’ Gym welcomes writers of all levels of experience. Our workshops, courses, coaching and editorial support provide the skills, confidence, techniques and inspiration to help you develop and explore your writing voice. Whether you’re closer to ‘first draft’ or ‘the end’, we’ll help you find the right workout for your story.
Green Ink Writers’ Gym is founded and run by fiction and non-fiction author Dr Rachel Knightley. Her short story collection, Beyond Glass, was published by Black Shuck Books in May 2021. Previous titles includeYour Creative Writing Toolkit.
Coming up this Month:
Tuesday 1 June: Member Jackie Naffah’s story published in Mslexia
Saturdays: Your Creative Writing Toolkit Saturday writing workouts
Tue 8 June, Sat 19 June: Just Write It – Afterwork Writing Retreat
Friday 2 July Coffee & Creativity – Virtual Cafe socials
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays: See Courses Page

domain: artistic


text:
Black & White in COLOR #5 : The CREATURE!
Wow, just when you think you've seen everything....
Much debate has been made over the years on the subject of our old pal, The Creature From the Black Lagoon and his true pallor pallet. Since color shots of the west coast Production
--outside of a precious few publicity stills-- don't seem to exist, it only added to the legend.
I've even read that these shots were hand-tinted by the studio!
And -- just to give the east-coast production a little equal time -- Note not only the differences in design and stature between the land and water (florida unit) costumes but also in the overall color scheme as well. The water costume (below) was painted with much more of a flat yellow pallor than the land suit was so it would photograph more clearly in the waters of Wakulla Springs.
The underwater suit for Revenge of the Creature (below) was signifigantly darker than the original's.
So just very recently these next pictures surfaced. And -- Holy Cow! They're previously unpublished photos from LIFE magazine's massive archives. Unseen by just a select few until now... Who knew he had that much gold on him?
At least one picture from this shoot -- the black-and-white (below) -- DID appear in LIFE in 1953. It identified Ben Chapman as the actor portraying him for this shoot.
(Yes... also a source of some debate)
And here's some more!
The above and below shot look to have been shot not only on the same day, but look to have been snapped just about a second apart!
So here's the Creature looking like we know him in B & W... But in color he's got the red lip thang goin' on. Hmmm...
Jack Theakston notes on the material:
Here is the B/W photo from LIFE next to the color photo ... I assume they are from the same session and the suit was the same, The lips don't look so "Tammy Faye Baker" in monochrome.
Huh! Well, seeing is believing -- red and green do photograph with much the same value.
Other sources state that "the suit was repainted for the few color publicity shots. (there are more than these, and they've been circulating for ages.) it only had the red lips there. same with the gold drybrushing. As to the eyes, there were 3 different sets. the close-up and publicity set had a transparent pupil."
Julie (Julia) Adams herself has stated in interviews (and specifically in the "making of" documentary on the Creature From The Black Lagoon dvd) that the lips on the original Creature costumes used during filming were not red:
"Well, the original Creature was this, uh, sort of a softer moss green, a very very subtle color so that it picked up shadows, and...and it had the feeling of a reality of flesh, really, being there, and most of the recreations are too bright. They're...they're much too vivid a green...and sometimes the lips are red, and uh...it's, uh...they're garish compared to the original."
Bob Burns backed this up when I visited his famous Basement in 1998. When I inquired about the true coloring of the costume he showed me a mask made off the original Land costume mold that was painted a "frog green" as he called it. "It's pretty darn close to the original color" he added. It sported no such red lips.
(Wow... what a great shot)
So does this really clear anything up?
But it sure is COOL!
Big Thanks and a flip of a fin to the Hobby Talk forum, Tom Weaver, The LIFE magazine archives, and everyone else responsible in part or whole for making this post possible!


text:
Graceful and lovely, these rabbits come as a set and have almost a sculpted quality about them. Made of paperstone, they are durable, but the appearance is stately -- not unlike a vintage piece from another era. These two are very handsome with lots of detail on each face. A long and slender design makes them suitable for just about any location -- put them on a garden wall or make them a focal point of your mantle. The finish is a deep brown with a beautiful patina.
- Price is for pair of statues
- Each rabbit is 16 inches high x 6 inches wide
- Deep brown finish with a beautiful patina
- Made of paperstone
- Made in China


text:
On the pothole-ridden 52nd Street, women in towering heels hopscotched into the Four Seasons Restaurant on Wednesday night. Along with the entire cast of “The Good Wife,” Michael J. Fox, Cristina Cuomo and Emily Mortimer were there to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Love Heals, the Alison Gertz Foundation for AIDS Education.
In a pair of nude Louboutin’s and escorted by her husband, Keith Lieberthal, Margulies explained her decades long involvement with the organization. She was awarded a Tiffany & Co. red heart for her service and dedication, as was Cristina Cuomo and Michael Lorber.
After dinner, drinks and the awards were served, pink balls of cotton candy the size of a human head were brought to each table. Margulies dove right in to the treat, telling her entire table that she hadn’t had cotton candy in years. She also explained the importance of finding a cause “and really staying with it for years.”
With a long black ponytail, the actress also talked shop with her colleagues Josh Charles and Christine Baranski, who was in a royal blue dress.
In total, the gala raised over $675,000 that will go to HIV/AIDS education and the organization’s speakers program, which uses HIV positive community educators. The foundation was started in 1992 after Gertz died of HIV at the age of 16.


text:
Vegan Rocky Road
This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team.
Dairy-free and egg-free chocolate fridge bars
- Prep Time 15 minutes
- Serves 4
- Difficulty Level Easy
- Total Time 15 minutes
- Preparation Time 15 minutes
- 50g coconut oil
- 100g golden syrup
- 250g vegan dark chocolate, roughly chopped
- 50g Rich Tea biscuits, broken into pieces
- 100g vegan marshmallows, chopped into pieces
- 50g glace cherries
- 50g dried apricots, roughly chopped
- 50g pistachios, roughly chopped
- 25g coconut chips
- Place the coconut oil, syrup and chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of gently simmering water, ensuring the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water.
- Heat until melted and combined, stirring periodically with a wooden spoon.
- Place all of the remaining ingredients into a large bowl and stir to combine.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until everything is combined.
- Transfer to a greased and lined 20cm square tin and press down well with the back of a wooden spoon.
- Place in the fridge for four hours or overnight.
- Cut into squares before serving.
You will need
20cm square baking tin
Try dried sour cherries instead of glace cherries if you can find them - they have a delicious tangy flavour and aren't quite as sweet.
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Slow cooked sausage and onion casserole for kids
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Chocolate cornflake cakes for cooking with kids
Rice Krispie cakes made with golden syrup
Easy treacle syrup sponge pudding

domain: food


|Publication number||US5205360 A|
|Application number||US 07/753,091|
|Publication date||Apr 27, 1993|
|Filing date||Aug 30, 1991|
|Priority date||Aug 30, 1991|
|Publication number||07753091, 753091, US 5205360 A, US 5205360A, US-A-5205360, US5205360 A, US5205360A|
|Inventors||Billy F. Price|
|Original Assignee||Price Compressor Company, Inc.|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (16), Referenced by (15), Classifications (8), Legal Events (6)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
The present invention relates generally to oil field production equipment. More specifically, the present invention provides an improved system for pneumatically stimulating fluid flow in a petroleum formation adjacent a well bore.
Many oil and gas wells are drilled in "tight" formations having a very low permeability which limits the flow of fluid from them. A number of prior art techniques have been developed to increase the production of petroleum from such tight formations. In general, these prior art production enhancement techniques include various uses of explosives, chemicals, or hydraulic pressure fracturing to increase fluid flow in the geologic formation. Common explosive techniques include nitro shooting and bullet perforations. Chemical techniques include the use of acids, organic solvents, and surfactants.
Most prior art hydraulic fracturing techniques involve some form of injection of fluid into the well bore under sufficient pressure to cause the formation in question to fracture. One of the problems with prior hydraulic fracturing techniques, however, is the inability to repeatedly deliver forces needed to increase the amount of formation fracture at a desired depth within the well.
The present invention provides a new and improved pneumatic well tool which assists in fracturing or enlarging the pores of a formation to promote more free flow of petroleum from the formation into the well bore. The preferred embodiment of the tool comprises an elongate metallic tool body or sonde which is lowered by a wireline into the well bore to a desired depth adjacent a perforation formed in the formation of interest. A fluid chamber in the sonde in fluid communication with the fluid in the well bore is filled with a quantity of well bore fluid at ambient hydrostatic well bore pressure at the sonde depth. Periodically, a pneumatic pressure source in the sonde exerts a surge of pressure on the fluid chamber greater than ambient well bore pressure. This action causes rapid flow of fluid from the sonde chamber into the well bore and surrounding perforated formation. The pressure surge thus formed is a sudden pressure increase which further fractures the perforated formation.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the fluid chamber in the sonde is formed in the interior of a flexible tubular member which is mounted within a housing in the sonde between upper and lower fluid permeable cages. The upper and lower cages are provided with a plurality of ports which communicate through openings in the sonde to the ambient hydrostatic pressure in the well bore adjacent the formation of interest.
A first pneumatic pressure chamber in the sonde receives and stores a pressurized gas from the surface via a pneumatic supply line. Periodically, a pneumatic actuator in the sonde is activated, allowing a burst of pressurized gas from the first pressure chamber to rapidly surge into an annular chamber between the tubular member and the sonde housing. The rapid surge of the pressurized gas into the annular chamber collapses the tubular member, forcing the well fluid in the fluid chamber outwardly through the ports in the cages. The outwardly forced well fluid causes a sudden surge of pressure in the perforated formation adjacent the tool, thus further fracturing the formation.
At a suitable time after the pressure surge, a second solenoid-actuated valve is opened. The second valve when open permits the well fluid pressure to expand the tubular member back to a normal expanded state, forcing gas from the annular chamber into a second storage chamber. The foregoing cycle of operations may be repeated at the desired perforation in the well until the formation has been fractured sufficiently to allow desired flow of petroleum into the well bore.
FIG. 1 is an elevation view, taken in cross-section, of a pneumatic well tool according to the present invention in a well bore before sending a pressure surge into a fractured formation.
FIG. 2 is an elevation view, taken in cross-section, of the pneumatic well tool of FIG. 1 after sending a pressure surge into a fractured formation.
Referring to FIG. 1, a pneumatic well tool 10 of the present invention is shown in a fluid-filled well bore 12 within a petroleum producing subsurface geologic formation 14 of interest. The well bore 12 is typically lined with a cemented casing C in the usual manner adjacent the formation 14. A suitable number of perforations P in the formation 14 and casing C have been formed using any of several conventional well perforation techniques.
The well tool 10 is lowered by a wireline 16 into the cased well bore 12 and suspended at a desired depth adjacent the formation 14. The well tool 10 comprises a generally cylindrical outer housing body or sonde 18 which is supported and held in place within the cased well bore 12 adjacent the perforations P by an upper packer assembly 20 and a lower packer assembly 22. Packer assemblies 20 and 22 are preferably inflatable wireline operated packers. They may be of any of several suitable conventional types available in the petroleum industry to isolate the well tool 10 from the casing C.
A reservoir of pressurized gas is stored in an upper pneumatic pressure chamber 24 which receives pressurized gas from a compressor at the surface via a pneumatic supply line 26. The pressurized gas from the surface may be air, nitrogen or some other inert gas or in some instances gas produced from the formation 14, as desired. The pressure of the gas may be chosen based on several factors set forth below. A flexible tubular member 28, which is similar in structure and nature to a high pressure water hose or fire hose, is mounted within the sonde 18 above a ported cage 30. The cage 30 is provided with a suitable number of ports 31, which allow communication of fluid to and from the interior of sonde 18 and the surrounding well bore 12.
The interior of the tubular member 28 defines a fluid chamber 32 which is normally filled with fluid which enters through cage 30 from the well bore 12, due to the ambient hydrostatic pressure of well bore fluid at the depth of the formation 14. When the chamber 32 is filled with well bore fluid, the tubular member 28 is in a normally expanded position (FIG. 1). A space present between an outer surface 28a of the tubular member 28 and an inner surface 18a of the sonde 18 defines a variable capacity annular pneumatic pressure chamber 34, seen best in FIG. 2, for receiving pressurized gas to collapse the tubular member 28.
A pneumatic air gun 38, such as of the type used as an energy source in marine seismic exploration, is mounted in fluid communication, between the pressure chamber 24 and the annular pressure chamber 34. Periodically, the air gun 38 is activated via wireline 16, allowing a quantity of pressurized gas to surge into the annular pneumatic pressure chamber 34. The surge of the pressurized gas into annular chamber 34 collapses the tubular member 28 (FIG. 2), forcing the fluid in the chamber 32 outwardly in the well bore 12 through the ports 31 in the cage 30. If vertical fluid movement is desired, cage 30 with ports 31 may be replaced with a sleeve member having no ports and the lower portion of sonde 18 left open for vertical fluid passage in the well bore.
The firing rate and pressure at which gas passes from the air gun 38 to collapse tubular member 28 and the volume of such gas are dependent on several interrelated factors. One factor is the nature and condition of the formation 14 and the perforations P in it. Another is the ambient hydrostatic fluid pressure in well bore 12. Yet another is the volume available for gas in annular chamber 34. Still another is the discharge pressure capacity and volume rate for the air gun 38. It is thus a combined function based on knowledge of geologic and fluid dynamic conditions and considerations.
This movement of fluid into well bore 12 through the sonde ports 31 may be selected so that it causes a sudden surge of pressure in the fluid in perforations P of the formation 14 adjacent the tool 10. Alternatively, the movement of fluid may be chosen so that it is a pressure increase to a relatively high pressure on the formation 14. This high pressure can then be quickly abated, causing a suction-like action on materials and fluid in the perforation P. The impulse formed in the foregoing manner in the air gun 38 may be controlled to thus be either an implosion or explosion as desired. In either case, well tool 10 serves to increase the ability of formation fluid flow through the perforations P in the formation 14 into the well bore 12.
At a suitable time after each pressure surge, gas present in the annular chamber 34 is forced by the hydrostatic pressure of fluid in well bore 12 to flow through a tube or channel 46 into a second pressure chamber 48. As the pressurized gas flows out of the annular chamber 34, the fluid pressure in well bore 12 causes well bore fluid to enter the chamber 32 in flexible tubular member 28 and thereby causes it to return to its expanded position, as shown in FIG. 1.
The foregoing cycle of operations may be repeated for a desired number of cycles at one or several depths in well bore 12 to increase the fracturing of the formation rock adjacent the perforations P. The number of cycles is determined in part by the storage capacities of chambers 24 and 48.
Such a repeated number of cycles can be continued until a limit is reached. This situation generally occurs when the pressure of the gas in storage chamber 48 is substantially equal to the ambient hydrostatic fluid pressure in the well bore 12 and formation 14.
The tool 10 may then be retrieved by wire line 16 from well bore 12 and the stored pressure in chamber 48 abated at the surface. The tool 10 may then be lowered by wire line 16 again into the well bore 12 for further operating cycles.
If desired, the chamber 48 may be vented in situ while in the well bore 12. When chamber 48 is so vented, the gas used is preferably either nitrogen or an inert gas. In situations where natural gas is being produced, portions of it may be used as the pressurizing gas, if desired. Alternatively, chamber 48 may be drained by a pressure vent line to the surface. Such a pressure vent line would generally have a construction similar to pneumatic supply line 26. In some situations, such as shallow wells or low pressure situations, supply line 26 may be used to both charge chamber 24 and drain chamber 48.
Although the method and apparatus of the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications and equivalents as can reasonably be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
|Cited Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US3209834 *||Jun 7, 1962||Oct 5, 1965||Shell Oil Co||Shock inducing well tool|
|US3674093 *||Jun 24, 1970||Jul 4, 1972||Reese Dale C||Method and apparatus for stimulating the flow of oil wells|
|US3825071 *||Dec 18, 1972||Jul 23, 1974||Amoco Prod Co||Method and apparatus for fracturing of subsurface formations|
|US4064935 *||Sep 13, 1976||Dec 27, 1977||Kine-Tech Corporation||Oil well stimulation apparatus|
|US4682309 *||Nov 28, 1984||Jul 21, 1987||Institut Francais Du Petrole||Device for generating acoustic pulses by implosion, inside a well|
|US4683943 *||Jul 24, 1986||Aug 4, 1987||Mt. Moriah Trust||Well treating system for stimulating recovery of fluids|
|US4697255 *||Jul 11, 1986||Sep 29, 1987||Texaco Inc.||Implosion type energy source for seismic exploration|
|US4718493 *||Dec 18, 1986||Jan 12, 1988||Mt. Moriah Trust||Well treating method and system for stimulating recovery of fluids|
|US4775016 *||Sep 29, 1987||Oct 4, 1988||Hughes Tool Company - Usa||Downhole pressure fluctuating feedback system|
|US4798244 *||Jul 16, 1987||Jan 17, 1989||Trost Stephen A||Tool and process for stimulating a subterranean formation|
|US4823875 *||Dec 30, 1987||Apr 25, 1989||Mt. Moriah Trust||Well treating method and system for stimulating recovery of fluids|
|US4823876 *||Sep 18, 1985||Apr 25, 1989||Mohaupt Henry H||Formation stimulating tool with anti-acceleration provisions|
|US4903772 *||Nov 16, 1987||Feb 27, 1990||Johnson James O||Method of fracturing a geological formation|
|US4967840 *||Jan 18, 1990||Nov 6, 1990||Resource Production Management, Inc.||Process and apparatus for forming a gaseous stream for introduction into hydrocarbon bearing formations and gas generator therefor|
|US4997044 *||Dec 1, 1989||Mar 5, 1991||Stack Walter E||Apparatus for generating hydraulic shock waves in a well|
|US5005641 *||Jul 2, 1990||Apr 9, 1991||Mohaupt Henry H||Gas generator with improved ignition assembly|
|Citing Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US5271465 *||Apr 27, 1992||Dec 21, 1993||Atlantic Richfield Company||Over-pressured well fracturing method|
|US5400856 *||May 3, 1994||Mar 28, 1995||Atlantic Richfield Company||Overpressured fracturing of deviated wells|
|US5560427 *||Jul 24, 1995||Oct 1, 1996||Mobil Oil Corporation||Fracturing and propping a formation using a downhole slurry splitter|
|US5810514 *||Apr 8, 1997||Sep 22, 1998||Terralift International, Ltd.||Method for introducing materials into a medium|
|US5836393 *||Mar 19, 1997||Nov 17, 1998||Johnson; Howard E.||Pulse generator for oil well and method of stimulating the flow of liquid|
|US6527050||Jul 31, 2000||Mar 4, 2003||David Sask||Method and apparatus for formation damage removal|
|US6543538 *||Jun 25, 2001||Apr 8, 2003||Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company||Method for treating multiple wellbore intervals|
|US6722438||Oct 17, 2002||Apr 20, 2004||David Sask||Method and apparatus for formation damage removal|
|US6959762||Mar 12, 2004||Nov 1, 2005||David Sask||Method and apparatus for formation damage removal|
|US7810567||Jun 27, 2007||Oct 12, 2010||Schlumberger Technology Corporation||Methods of producing flow-through passages in casing, and methods of using such casing|
|US9383094 *||Mar 15, 2013||Jul 5, 2016||Orbital Atk, Inc.||Fracturing apparatus|
|US20040168800 *||Mar 12, 2004||Sep 2, 2004||David Sask||Method and apparatus for formation damage removal|
|US20090000786 *||Jun 27, 2007||Jan 1, 2009||John Daniels||Methods of producing flow-through passages in casing, and methods of using such casing|
|US20130341026 *||Mar 15, 2013||Dec 26, 2013||Alliant Techsystems Inc.||Fracturing apparatus|
|CN104704194A *||Jun 24, 2013||Jun 10, 2015||阿利安特技术系统公司||Fracturing apparatus|
|U.S. Classification||166/308.1, 166/63|
|International Classification||E21B43/26, E21B43/263|
|Cooperative Classification||E21B43/26, E21B43/263|
|European Classification||E21B43/26, E21B43/263|
|Aug 30, 1991||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: PRICE COMPRESSOR COMPANY, INC., A TX CORP.
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:PRICE, BILLY F.;REEL/FRAME:005840/0185
Effective date: 19910812
|May 28, 1996||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4
|Oct 13, 2000||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 8
|Nov 11, 2004||REMI||Maintenance fee reminder mailed|
|Apr 27, 2005||LAPS||Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees|
|Jun 21, 2005||FP||Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee|
Effective date: 20050427


text:
Roll up your sleeves and dig right into this fish dish! Our fish rolls are wrapped in bacon and topped with a rich lemon cream sauce. You can’t stop at just one!
Tick the box to add ingredient to your grocery list.
Shop Alaska Milk Products


text:
- Yield: 3
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Calories: 1587 kcal
- Carbohydrate Content: 80.22 g
- Cholesterol Content: 520 mg
- Fat Content: 57.52 g
- Fiber Content: 25.7 g
- Protein Content: 186.5 g
- Saturated Fat Content: 10.747 g
- Serving Size: 1
- Sodium Content: 8035 mg
- Sugar Content: 10.27 g
- Trans Fat Content: 0.145 g
Chicken Xacuti is a popular Goan cuisine. The word “Xacuti” is pronounced as “Shakuti” actually; this word is derived from the Portuguese word “Chacuti.” In this dish, chicken is spicy, tangy and very flavorful. This dish generally made for a festival and another special occasion. This dish is prepared with roasted spices and chicken. The dish is perfect for dinner. Let us have a look at the easy recipe of Chicken Xacuti.
Ingredients of Chicken Xacuti Recipe
- Chicken - 800 gm
- Oil - 4 Tablespoons
- Scraped coconut - 1 Cup
- Garlic cloves - 6
- Dry red chillies - 4
- Cumin seeds - 1 Teaspoon
- Coriander seeds - 1 1/2 Teaspoon
- Black peppercorns - 10
- Fennel seeds - 1 Teaspoon
- Carom seeds (Ajwain) - 1 Teaspoon
- Poppy seeds - 2 Tablespoons
- Cloves - 6
- Cinnamon stick - 2 inch
- Star anise - 4
- Turmeric powder - 1/2 Teaspoon
- Medium finely chopped onion - 2
- Salt - 1 Teaspoon
- Tamarind pulp - 1 Tablespoon
- Grated nutmeg - 1/4 Teaspoon
How to Make Chicken Xacuti
Step 1: In a pan, heat one tablespoon of oil and add coconut scrap to it and sauté it until light brown. Transfer it to the mixture jar.
Step 2: In the same pan, dry roast red chilies, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, black peppercorns, fennel seeds, carom seeds, poppy seeds, cloves, cinnamon stick, and star anise till fragrant.
Step 3: Add all these dry roast spices along with garlic cloves, turmeric powder and a little water to the coconut in the grinder and grind this all ingredient together and make a smooth paste.
Step 4: Heat the remaining oil in a deep pan and add chopped onions and sauté it till well browned.
Step 5: Now, add chicken and sauté it on HIGH heat for about 2-3 minutes.
Step 6: After that add the masala paste and salt to it and mix well.
Step 7: Then add 2 cups of water to it and stir well.
Step 8: Add tamarind pulp and grated nutmeg and stir it again.
Step 9: When it starts boiling reduce the heat and cover the pan with its lid and cook it for about 30 minutes.
Step 10: Serve hot with steamed rice.


text:
quickgifts card mall
From neighborhood stores to national chains - the largest gift card collection online.
Austin, TX 78758
SLAB began as a food trailer in 2006, originally named Sugar Shack BBQ, and in August 2014 opened a brick and mortar location.
Pitboss and Founder, Mark Avalos, has been featured on Travel Channel and Food Network for his famous pulled pork sammies. Visit our restaurant, order catering to you, or find our food truck around Austin!


text:
Rarely have I found it possible to read a book after I have already seen the movie. The process, I think, is much better the other way around. However, I have a penchant for horror tales and movies, and laying my hands on a tattered copy of The Exorcist at home was the best medicine for sleepless nights. I was very impressed with the book – the movie having made a general “green-pea-soup-vomit” impression on me. (Don’t get me wrong, I think the movie is nice and super-scary).
Moving to the book, it was extremely entertaining, fast-paced, and impressively enough – scientifically sound. While the movie deals with the exorcism, the book deals with the exorcist and his struggle to deal with Regan McNeil’s possession from the point of view of a priest and a psychiatrist. The book will be especially interesting for people who are scientifically inclined and even for an uninitiated person like me, it was a compelling read.
You may know how it all ends, but that won’t stop the book from being suspenseful and nail-bitingly chilling. I think we all agree that book versions are always better and that a book can never be translated into a satisfactory 70mm version. But the movie The Exorcist is a classic, and no one can argue about that. It is no wonder that it is, because it’s based on a brilliant book.


text:
It's National Transplant Week, a time when it's hoped more people will sign up to the donor register. Derriford Hospital in Plymouth has one of the highest rates in the country for the number of its altruistic donors - healthy people who donate one of their kidneys to strangers.
More top news
A Bowhead whale - almost never seen south of the Arctic - was spotted by a diver just off Par Beach on St Martin's island.
Monkey World in Dorset has welcomed a second baby Sumatran orang-utan to the park.
The mother of a Muscular Dystrophy patient says he could have lived longer if he had been given access to vital medical equipment sooner.


Mark Rylance, Mackenzie Crook, Joanna Lumley and directors Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris have been nominated in this year’s Tony Awards.
British imports Jerusalem and War Horse picked up six and five nominations respectively, and will go up against each other in the Best Play category when the winners are announced on 12 June. However War Horse can already be assured of one award; it will receive a Special Tony Award for the work of the Handspring Puppet Company, which created the life-size horse puppets in the World War One tale.
Rylance and Crook were nominated for their performances in Jez Butterworth’s depiction of rural England, Jerusalem, which was also nominated for Best Play, Scenic Design, Lighting Design and Sound Design. Rylance won an Olivier Award in 2010 for his performance in the play, which originated at London’s Royal Court before transferring to Broadway.
Elliott and Morris, whose stage production of Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse premiered at the National Theatre in 2007, are nominated for Best Direction of a Play for the New York transfer, which opened at the Lincoln Center earlier this month.
In addition to its Special Tony Award, War Horse, which runs concurrently with the West End production at the New London theatre, also receives recognition for its designer Rae Smith, lighting designer Paule Constable and sound designer Christopher Shutt.
Lumley receives a nomination for La Bête, David Hirson’s comedy which premiered at the Comedy theatre in London before moving across the pond. Lumley, who starred alongside Rylance and David Hyde Pierce, is joined in the nominations list by costume designer Mark Thompson.
Another British-originated show to be recognised is Arcadia, producer Sonia Friedman’s production of Tom Stoppard’s drama, which was recast for its Broadway run following a 2009 stay in London. It receives two nominations including Best Revival of a Play.
Kneehigh’s Brief Encounter, which broke new ground when it combined cinema and theatre in a production at London’s Cinema Haymarket in 2008, receives two nominations for its New York run.
Musicals Sister Act and Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical also feature in this year’s Tony nominations list. Although neither show originated in Britain, both enjoyed West End runs before making the move to Broadway. Both Priscilla leading lady Tony Sheldon and Sister Act’s Patina Miller receive nominations, while Sister Act features in the Best Musical line-up.
The nominations were announced today at the Lincoln Center, New York, by two former Tony winners, screen and stage star Matthew Broderick, a previous winner for The Producers, and Anika Noni Rose, who won a Tony for Caroline, Or Change. The announcement was broadcast live at tonyawards.com.
Britain’s offerings will face competition from US shows including The Scottsboro Boys, The Book Of Mormon, Catch Me If You Can, The Normal Heart and Good People. Donmar Warehouse Associate Director Rob Ashford’s show How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, which stars Daniel Radcliffe, receives eight nominations including two for Ashford himself, for choreography and direction.
The winners will be announced on 12 June.


There’s something immensely satisfying about rolling out of bed before the sunrise, thermos of coffee in hand, and heading out to start the day at Jim’s Heating & Cooling. Despite being at the heart of business, it’s not just about HVAC Maintenance; it’s about bringing comfort and peace of mind to families and businesses in Boise, ID, Star, ID, Eagle, ID, Middleton, ID, Meridian, ID & Garden City, ID.
The Kick-off Meeting
Every morning begins with a quick catch-up with the team. We review our assignments for the day, discuss any particular HVAC issues we might be facing, and share a few tips and tricks. With jobs ranging from AC Repair to AC Service, there’s always something new to learn. We prioritize AC Replacement and Central Air Repair calls, ensuring our clients won’t spend a day sweltering in the summer heat.
Every move is built around quality service and excellent customer relations. Customers aren’t just a number to us. They are people who have trusted the comfortable environment of their homes and businesses with our service. This sense of responsibility is something we keep at the forefront of our minds as we set out on our daily tasks.
AC Repair & Replacement in the Field
Once we hit the road, our mission is to bring efficient and effective solutions to our customers. Whether we’re in Boise, servicing an AC that’s seen better days or in Middleton, overseeing a complete AC replacement, every job gets the same committed attention.
Of course, there are challenges. Sometimes, the issue isn’t as straightforward as it seems. That’s where our expertise in HVAC maintenance becomes invaluable. We analyze, diagnose, and resolve even the most complex issues. By the end of the call, the look of relief and satisfaction on our customer’s faces is a testament to our effort.
Wrapping up the Day
As the day draws to a close, and the temperatures in Star, Eagle, Meridian, and Garden City start to cool, we head back to our base. Reports are filled out, inventory checked, and tools loaded up for the next day. There’s a sense of satisfaction in a job well done, a day spent improving people’s lives through our work.
We are not just a team at Jim’s Heating & Cooling, we’re a family. And every day is another opportunity to uphold our values in a new way, offering the absolute best in HVAC Maintenance, AC Replacement, Central Air Repair, AC Repair & AC Service to our neighbors in Boise, ID, Star, ID, Eagle, ID, Middleton, ID, Meridian, ID & Garden City, ID. We wouldn’t have it any other way.


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Securing America: Boston Bombers’ Overseas Connections?
The investigation into last week’s bombings at the Boston Marathon and subsequent violent manhunt has moved onto Capitol Hill, where questions about potential ties to terror organizations persist.
FOX’s Catherine Herridge reports from Washington in our ongoing series on national security:
After the closed door meeting with an assistant director with the FBI, both Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee say it is too early in the Boston bombers investigation to rule out overseas ties. Ranking member Saxby Chambliss:
(Sen. Chambliss) “They constructed the weapons inside the United States. Did they have some sort of training, or inspiration, or coaching inside or outside the United States? That’s all still under investigation. We don’t have the answer to it yet.”
The Senators also telling reporters that the FBI is reconstructing Tamerlan’s six months in Russia.
In Washington, Catherine Herridge, FOX News Radio.


text:
I've traveled a lot over the years. Traveling doesn't have the stress for me that it has for many people. Strike that. I love traveling.
I've traveled in the airplane sense. I've had several jobs where I traveled over 50% of the time (one week out of two away, or half of every week). One of those jobs was working for an engineering consulting firm out of Cleveland. That was a fun job. I sometimes wish I was still there. The other 50% travel job was working for the corporate HQ of a diversified industrial firm. I had to go to many of their plants all over the world. One job was 90% travel, leave on Sunday and come back home on Friday 9 weeks out of 10, teaching Lean Six Sigma classes. One job was ALL travel - I lived out of suitcases. Literally. Air travel was so much more enjoyable years ago than it is now. But with the right attitude it can be semi-OK.
I've traveled in the driving sense. I've been to all continental 48 states of the 50 states. I got 44 of them naturally through work and living, but I had to make a special trip to see Idaho, Montana, North and South Dakota. I loved Idaho and Montana and have been back to both states since. I would live in western Montana if I thought I could support myself. It's beautiful and I like the people. Same for Idaho.
I've driven across the country three times. The first time was with a friend, driving from LA to Cleveland in 3 days. We stopped and had a beer in every state. Fun, until you have to have a beer at 9 am in Wyoming. In Arizona in mid-afternoon, our only two choices were a trailer park or the local dive bar. Got to meet the locals. Fun. The second two times were by myself, from Washington DC to Oregon, and then from Oregon to upstate NY. I took 3 weeks going west and stopped in Sedona, AZ, Santa Fe, the Grand Canyon, beautiful Utah, and then up to hot springs in Idaho and west to Oregon. I took 8 days coming back east. My car doesn't have cruise control, so 500 miles a day was about my limit. I sometimes daydream about being a long-haul truck driver. I think I'd enjoy it.
And I've traveled in the moving sense. I have lived in: New York, Massachusetts, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Washington DC, Oregon, and now New York again. Also, The Netherlands, Jordan, Singapore, Egypt, and Oman for shorter periods of time.
This post has been quite a bit more wordy than I intended, but tough! It's my blog and I'll write what I want.
I've had an MP3 player for somewhere between 5 and 8 years, and over the years I've collected a playlist of traveling songs that I pull out and play at top volume with the windows rolled down whenever I start on a trip. It's called, appropriately, Traveling Songs. Without further ado, here are my Traveling Songs. All of them.
The Kingston Trio, A Rollin' Stone
Bob Seger, Roll Me Away
Janis Joplin, Me and Bobby McGee
Suzanne Vega, Calypso
Cowboy Junkies, First Recollection
Nanci Griffith, Going Back to Georgia
Dixie Chicks, Cowboy Take Me Away
Nanci Griffith, The Flyer
Nanci Griffith, Southbound Train
Joni Mitchell, The Refuge of the Roads
Lyle Lovett, The Road to Ensenada
Melissa Etheridge, Baby You Can Sleep While I Drive
Marti Jones, Follow You All Over the World
REM, Don't Go Back to Rockville
Dixie Chicks, Wide Open Spaces
Rod Stewart, Mandolin Wind
Bonnie Raitt, The Song About the Midway
Crosby, Stills & Nash, Southern Cross
Cyndi Lauper, I Drove All Night
Little Feat, Voices on the Wind
Little Feat, Willin'
Stevie Winwood, Dust
Old Crow Medicine Show, Wagon Wheel
Martin Sexton, Freedom of the Road
Anybody know of other traveling songs that I'm missing?
Exploring the Shore of Lake Desolation
1 day ago

domain: geography


The Baltimore Police Department is investigating a shooting in the morning of Aug. 3.
According to a news release, patrol officers were called to the 600 block of N. Luzerne Street around 9:45 a.m. for reports of a shooting, where a 46-year-old man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.
Medics transported the victim to an area hospital, where he is listed in serious condition.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was shot on East Monument at North Rose Street, by an unidentified suspect.
Eastern District detectives are asking anyone with information to contact them at 410-396-2433 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7Lockup.


Welcome to MedGlobal Group, where you'll find a wide range of accurate and reliable blood pressure monitors
We offer a variety of sphygmomanometers, including manual, digital, and electronic models, to meet the diverse needs of healthcare professionals and individuals monitoring their blood pressure at home. Explore our selection of top-quality sphygmomanometers and find the right one for your needs:
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- Sphygmomanometer Manual: Our manual sphygmomanometers are designed for healthcare professionals who prefer traditional blood pressure monitoring techniques.
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Making Money Online
I call them the most famous three words searched for on the internet, “making money online“. When I got laid off a few years ago it was what I searched for to figure out how to increase my income.
I found many ways to make money online but only 4 business models which appealed to me.
Making Money Online Business Models:
- Affiliate marketing
- Internet network marketing
- Selling your own products
Affiliate marketing, which is selling others people stuff allows you to earn money without having your own products. An important advantage of selling affiliate products is the affiliate owner has tested the marketing and conversions. This leaves the only thing you need to know how to do is to get targeted traffic to the offer.
Internet network marketing offers you the ability to tap into a billion dollar industry and build a team and help others become successful.
Also, you get to see some of the quality people in the profession which may provide a more positive view of network marketing. As a result of the internet I believe it is a better way to create your own economy instead of waiting on entitlements.
It will probably be the hardest work you’ll ever do but also the most rewarding. The internet help me see network marketing as a real way to build a business.
I’ve been able to meet and work with many that have been in the profession for over 20 years who provide a realistic view of the possibility for creating massive income.
Making Money Online with YOU
Selling your own products puts you in complete control of your business but this process takes talent and skills.
You can make great income doing affiliate marketing however, you don’t control the business because you don’t control the offer.
Internet network marketing can also provide good income and allow you to build relationships. Just as with affiliate marketing you don’t own that company either. However, it can provide you with enough income to create the life you want if you apply the steps laid out for you.
The key to making money online is to tap into those business models to create income while you are learning the skills needed to sell your own products and services.
You may find the income you receive from an affiliate/network marketing company may be more than enough to satisfy your income needs for your livelihood.
Coaching is also a great way to make money online because it allows you to tap into skills you already have and provide help to others.
Just make sure that the coaching you provide is in a niche market where people are spending money.
Remember multiple streams of targeted traffic and income are the key to a profitable business online. This is the most important statement on my site so read it again.
These business models are the ones that I found to be the best for newcomers in the internet marketing space.
Regardless of the route you take with your online business the formula for success is the same. Get traffic, get leads, convert leads and you will make money online.
Get in now to stay up to date with tips that’s only shared with my subscribers.

domain: economics


The acoustic facade panel
View, an intelligent green building...
In 2018, the VIEW tertiary building was built at Porte des Lilas in Paris. Designed by the Austrian architectural firm Baumschlager Eberle, this 22,500m² R+6 building was co-built by Nexity and Crédit Agricole Immobilier.
This dragonfly-shaped building is distinguished by its bold architectural design with two organically shaped wings and a reflective west facade clad in glass and metal panels. It can accommodate up to 1,600 employees and offers 450 m² of retail space. It will also offer its future employees a 130-metre-long company restaurant. The VIEW building is perfectly in line with the Paris Climate Plan thanks to its performance.
Energy management allows a saving of more than 40% compared to a reference building RT2012.
Photovoltaic and thermal solar panels ensure a production of around 80 MWh/year, and provide the restaurant with hot water.
VIEW also has a water management capacity, thanks to hydro-economical equipment, plants that promote biodiversity and green roofs that allow rainwater treatment.
The interior is also designed in an ecological way, 85% of the offices are lit by daylight thanks to a 140 m² long glass facade.
All these performances have enabled it to obtain certification (HQE® with an "exceptional" passport, BREEAM international, Effinergie+, RT 2012 -40%)
"Its silhouette recalls the movement of urban flows on the periphery and offers pedestrians a more human face on the street side. »
ANNE SPEICHER Architect, General Manager of the Baumschlager-Eberle agency.
Setting up offices on the edge of the ring road, a challenge taken up with SONORA
Working quietly on the edge of the ring road may seem utopian when you consider that 1.3 million vehicles use it every day.
This building with its moving architecture raises questions... can we work calmly in this environment? The answer is YES thanks to SONORA, the ISOSTA Group's first ultra-acoustic facade panel. With an acoustic attenuation ranging from 36 to 45 dB Ra,tr, the SONORA range is the solution for facades that fight against noise pollution. Ice finish, aluminium sheet, steel sheet or composite aluminium SONORA is available in different finishes to satisfy architects' desires. The ISOSTA Group has invested in research and development to offer a patented solution and under the Technical Advice of the CCFAT (Commission in charge of Formulating Technical Advice).
For the VIEW project, 200 m² of SONORA panels n°6 were installed with an enamelled glass finish RAL 9011. This panel offers a sound insulation of 43 dB Ra,rpm. No more road traffic noise.
In addition to protecting against noise pollution, the façade panels supplied for VIEW had to meet the standards of the IGH (High-rise building). Thus the SONORA panels installed on the façade provide a 1-hour flame-retardant function, and the enamelled glass has also been treated with an HST (Heat Soak Test) for the safety of people.
Mission accomplished by the ISOSTA group to meet the acoustic and safety challenge of the VIEW project.


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Security personnel escort Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit as she returns after anti-rape protesters forcibly stopped her at Jantar Mantar to take part in a demonstration to mourn the death of the gang-rape victim, in New Delhi on Saturday. PTI
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Writer Angie Thomas grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, in a neighborhood plagued by drug dealing and gun violence. While earning her BFA in creative writing at Belhaven University, a predominantly white institution in Jackson, she initially stuck to writing fantasy because she believed her white classmates wouldn’t care about stories about her community. After a white professor suggested she give her community’s stories visibility through her work, Thomas began writing short stories that reflected her life and her concerns.
Then in 2009, during Thomas’s senior year, Oscar Grant, an unarmed black man, was killed by police in California. Thomas was angered by the killing as well as by the way her classmates essentially put Grant on trial for his own death—talking about his past, speculating about what he might’ve done wrong. It all reminded Thomas of young men she’d grown up with and how they were viewed as criminals by the mainstream. Inspired by the Grant case, she wrote a short story called, “The Hate U Give.”
In the years after graduation, the story weighed on Thomas emotionally, so she set it aside. But then Trayvon Martin was killed. And then Mike Brown. Tamir Rice. And Sandra Bland. In the wake of these high-profile killings and the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement, Thomas revisited “The Hate U Give” and expanded it into a novel of the same name.
In 2016, Thomas’s debut novel, The Hate U Give, was acquired by Balzer + Bray/Harper Collins after a thirteen-publishing house auction. Film rights were optioned by Fox 2000 with Amandla Stenberg (Hunger Games) attached to star. Last month, The Hate U Give topped the New York Times’s YA bestseller list a week after its release.
In The Hate U Give, sixteen-year-old Starr struggles to navigate the differences between the poor neighborhood where she lives and the suburban prep school she attends. When Starr witnesses a cop shoot her unarmed childhood best friend, Khalil, this balancing act becomes even more difficult. Thomas was moved to place a black girl at the center of her novel after Trayvon Martin’s friend Rachel Jeantel faced harsh criticism about how she presented herself on the witness stand during George Zimmerman’s murder trial.
Thomas talked with us about landing an agent on Twitter, why she trusts teenagers more than the publishing industry, and why a diverse representation of authors, as well as characters, matters.
The Rumpus: So a lot has happened since the last time we spoke. Like The Hate U Give topping the New York Times bestseller list. Tell me how you found out.
Angie Thomas: We knew the list was coming out that day. And we knew there was a strong possibility that [The Hate U Give] would be on there. But you just never know. My agent and I were calling each other, texting each other, “Hey, have you seen anything?” And then he texted me around four, and he tortured me, texting one word at a time! The—Hate—U—Give—is—number—one! And I just hit the floor. I cried. Because for me being the black girl from the ‘hood in Mississippi, hitting number one on the New York Times bestseller list is—one of those things that seemed beyond my reach.
And knowing that I did it—it was one of the best moments of my entire life. And I thought about all those kids in my neighborhood who’ve been told that they can’t do certain things because of their circumstances, knowing that I was just like them at one point. And now I’m on the New York Times bestseller list. It just goes to show that really anything is possible.
Rumpus: So The Hate U Give started as a short story you when you were in college. After that, you wrote a different novel and queried agents, then went back and wrote The Hate U Give as a novel. Had you published prior to that?
Thomas: In college, my short stories were published in the literary journal of the school. So The Hate U Give is really the first thing I’ve had that’s been for sale.
Rumpus: Wow. You’re giving new writers all kinds of hope! That’s wonderful.
Thomas: Thank you. You know, a lot of writers, more established writers, can get into the mindset of, “What’s going to be my breakout story?” Or, “What’s going to win the awards?” Or, “What’s hot right now?”
But with my earlier book, I got rejected so much—sixty times—that I had to say, “Let me put it aside and work on something else.” And I knew that with The Hate U Give, I couldn’t hold back and that was scary because in young adult literature at the time, the reading diversity movement was just starting up. As a black woman, when I’m hearing them say, “We need diverse books,” and people are saying, “We want diverse books,” in the back of my mind I’m thinking, “Well, how much diversity can you handle? Can I be unapologetically black? Is that going to be too much? Do you want the whitewashed version of diversity? Or do you want the real deal unapologetically black diversity?”
So, it was coming to the conclusion that I’m going to write it the way I want to write it. I’m not here to make anybody comfortable. I’m here to write the book I want to write and a book I felt like I needed to write. That was the best thing I could have done for myself as a writer, for sure.”
Rumpus: But after you finished The Hate U Give, you were afraid to send it out to agents. Why?
Thomas: Because I knew when you say “Black Lives Matter” to three different people, you’re going to get three different reactions. And as I mentioned, We Need Diverse Books had recently started, and they were doing amazing work ushering diversity into young adult and children’s literature. But again, as a person of color, you always wonder, “How diverse is too diverse? ”
So when my now-agent was participating in a Twitter Q&A for aspiring authors, I was hesitant to say anything. But then I just took a chance and asked him if the topic of Black Lives Matter was appropriate for a young adult book. And my agent, a thirty-something-year-old white Jewish guy from the suburbs of Massachusetts [laughs] responded and said that not only was it appropriate, but that no topic should be off limits for YA books. And he also asked to see part of the manuscript. After he read that, he asked to read the whole manuscript. Then about a month or so later, he offered to sign me as a client. He loved it. He told me that he’d been wanting something that touched on Black Lives Matter, but he didn’t want an Afterschool Special or anything that was preachy. He wanted something authentic, and he saw that in my book.
Rumpus: In 2015, you were an inaugural winner of the Walter Dean Myers Grant, awarded by We Need Diverse Books. This interview column was inspired in part by the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign and the overwhelming whiteness of publishing. Since that campaign began, I’ve seen more YA books centering young people of color, but they’re not always written by people of color. I looked up the stats. Of the approximately 3,400 books documented by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center in 2016, only two percent contained “significant African or African American content” and were written “by Black authors and/or illustrators.”
Thomas: And We Need Diverse Books released a study that found that seven and a half percent of all children’s books published in 2015 featured black characters as the main character. And that number is even lower for Asians, lower for Latinos, and lower for Native Americans. But twenty-five percent of books published that year featured animals or trucks as the main character. You mean to tell me there are more book about trucks than there are about black kids? And as you said, the number of the books with black main characters by black authors is even lower. So I was going into a space that for the most part has said stories by people like me about people like me don’t sell. That was terrifying. That was intimidating.
Our black kid books get pushed into the “adult urban” section for some reason.
Rumpus: Because our kids are not viewed as children.
Thomas: Exactly. They always view our children as older than they are, and they don’t market to them enough.
But I’ve been pleasantly surprised because teenagers have more empathy than adults. And they’re more open-minded than adults. I hear from black girls who thank me because they see themselves on my book cover. I hear from white girls in rural Texas saying, “Thank you so much for this book. It’s opened my eyes. And I love [the character] DeVante!” [Laughs] I’ve had so many girls tell me they love this boy!
And it goes to show me that instead of putting so much faith in publishing and how the publishing industry was going to react to the book, I should’ve put a little more faith in teenagers. Because they’re the consumers. They’re the ones buying this book and sharing it with their friends and falling in love with the characters. They’re the ones posting about the book on Tumblr and sending me fan art. I’m in awe. Although my publishing journey has been great so far, and I’ve had a great team behind me, I’m going to continue to put my faith in those kids.
I had an event in New York the other day, and there were over 150 people there, all ages, all races, and they all loved my book. It gives me hope, especially in this current political climate. And yesterday, I was in a small town, Maplewood, New Jersey. I was in conversation with a professor from Harvard. It was an older crowd, middle age and up, and the majority of them were white, and they loved my book! And what I’m learning—and I’m thankful to be in this position—is that words have power and that empathy still exists.
I’m also encouraged by #ownvoices in the YA community, started by author Corinne Duyvis to promote books by marginalized authors featuring marginalized characters. The authors share the same marginalization as their characters. And there’s a big push now for #ownvoices. Matter of fact, there are rumors that some editors will not accept diverse books unless the characters are from the same marginalized group as the author. Because we see too many problematic representations, unfortunately, when people write outside of their marginalization.
And this is not to say that a white author could not write about a black girl, but I feel like I’m going to get a more authentic portrayal from a black woman [author]. So I think it’s important, and not just because of authenticity. I’ll give you a personal story. The other day at my book launch, a middle school teacher brought forty of her students, all black kids. And this was their first time seeing an author. And all of them want to write, and they told me, “I did not know that I could be a writer until I met you. Because you look just like me.” That’s why it’s important.
Like I said, I’m in no way saying that people shouldn’t write outside of their experience, but I feel like when we do get authors who look like the characters, or who share the marginalization of their characters, we get a more authentic experience, and we give kids a better mirror. And we give kids a better window [to the world].
It is definitely something that we’re seeing a push towards now in publishing. So much so that there are white authors who do not like it. Oh yeah, we’ve had some drama. We’ve had some issues. But [we have to] remember who we’re writing for and why we’re writing for them, and realize that it goes beyond just the books. Sometimes it’s just them seeing themselves in the person who wrote the book. The more we focus on that, the more we will read books by people of color featuring characters of color. I have hope. I really do. We really are pushing for it.
Rumpus: Have you always had a YA focus in your writing?
Thomas: I did middle grade, and I’m probably going to go back to middle grade at some point, but The Hate U Give was always YA for me. I don’t see myself ever writing for adults, but that could change. That’s not to throw shade on that category or anything like that. But I feel like with teenagers, I get a little more wriggle room. They’re more open. I have a better chance of getting a white kid to read my book than I may have with a white adult who’s already set in their ways. That age range especially—it’s important to give them books where they see themselves and books where they see other people’s lives because it helps promote empathy. Empathy is stronger than sympathy.
But also, I know that there are so many adults who read YA. I read YA myself. Especially with a subject like The Hate U Give, I felt like if it came from the perspective of a sixteen-year-old girl who still has her innocence, I may have more people who are willing to listen than they would to maybe a thirty-year-old woman.
Also, because so many of these cases [involve] young people losing their lives, young people are being affected by it when they see it on the news. So, I’m going to give them something. I wanted to make this for them and nobody else. And I’m glad that older people are picking it up, and it’s getting reactions, and getting people thinking, but I really wrote it for those kids.
I’m from a neighborhood known for all the wrong reasons, unfortunately. And so often I was afraid that people would define me because of where I’m from. And I hope that young black women in ‘hoods around this country realize that where you’re from, your circumstances, or what’s in your bank account, doesn’t define you. Even beyond writing, it doesn’t define you. Be your unapologetic self. Don’t hold back, because you don’t have to. If you’re told, “Your book’s not marketable,” then that’s not the opportunity for you. There’s somebody out there who needs those words, who needs your book. But write it for yourself, first and foremost.
The best way that we can communicate is through stories. People don’t want to be lectured. And we’re all kind of entrenched in our positions, but a good story really can impact change. [People are saying to me,] “Okay, I understand a little bit more why people say ‘Black Lives Matter.’” I didn’t set out to do that, though.
Rumpus: Who are your writing heroes?
Thomas: Toni Morrison, for sure. Jacqueline Woodson is my hero. I met her a few months ago at the Mississippi Book Festival, and I forgot how to speak. [Laughs] My favorite book of all time is Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. And when I found out that not only was it about a black girl, but the author herself is a black woman, Mildred D. Taylor, I was in love!
Christopher Paul Curtis. Walter Dean Myers. Jason Reynolds. Dr. Maya Angelou. And I was a big Harry Potter fan growing up. J.K. Rowling gave me a window that I wanted to keep open for life, and I’m sad I never got a letter back. I also love Octavia Butler, Richard Wright, and Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Rumpus: How did you start writing? What was it that made you say, ‘This is what I want to do.”
Thomas: I’ve been telling stories for as long as I can remember. I was telling stories when I was six years old. My mom would read me a book, and afterwards I would tell my own version of it, like fan fiction. And when I was in third grade, I had a teacher who noticed that between classwork, if I finished my stuff early, I would sit there and doodle, or write stuff in my little notebook. And one day she glanced at it and realized I was writing a story. She told me, “If you want to do this, I’ll let you read to the class every Friday.” So every week, I’d work on a story from Monday through Thursday, looking forward to be able to tell it to everybody. I thought I was the S-H-I-T! [Laughs]
I knew there were black authors out there, but the unfortunate thing was that I’d never met an author. And here I was, a black girl in the ‘hood, in Mississippi. I didn’t think it was possible for me to be an author. If I had been like those kids at my book launch the other day, and I met somebody who looked like me, who was doing what I wanted to do, I probably would have realized [that I wanted to be a writer] sooner than I did. Because it took me until college to realize that it was something I could actually do. I’d been telling stories, even writing fan fiction, for years. But until you actually see that somebody’s doing it, and they show you how it’s achievable, sometimes you don’t think it is. Especially being in Mississippi with all those counter-messages, telling you to the contrary. So many of the authors who are upheld highly in Mississippi are white. You have William Faulkner, Eudora Welty. I don’t look like either one of them. It took a while, but I’m glad that I eventually got there. And I’m hoping that I will inspire those little black kids who tell stories and who don’t know what to do with them. I hope I inspire them to actually become writers.
I’m in Texas right now at the North Texas Teen Book Festival, and one teacher, an older white lady, came up to me, and said, “I teach mostly black students, and this week I put up, in the hallway, pictures of all the authors who are here at the festival this weekend, so they could see. And a bunch of my students saw your picture and they came to me and they were like, ‘You know there’s a black woman up here on the wall?’” She said, “Yeah, that’s an author.” And they were like, “No way!”
So, the more visible we can be, the better.
Want more VISIBLE: Women Writers of Color? Visit the archives here.
Author Photograph © Anissa Hidouk.

domain: library


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Toast to Independents Week with Local Wineries and Breweries
Celebrate National Independents Week by raising your glass to local business and enjoying a locally brewed beer or toasting with a glass of wine, all while using your 20% off Golden Coupons. With numerous local wineries and breweries, there’s no shortage of opportunities to cheers to keeping it local around the state. Check out these wineries and breweries for great Arizona wines and beers!
[Tweet "Toast to #IndieWeekAZ with #AZWine & #AZBeer #DrinkLocal "]
Hannah’s Hill Vineyard: Featuring expanses of vineyard growing space and plenty of wines to choose from, this local vineyard located in Elgin, just 45 minutes southeast of Tucson is a must visit for any local wine connoisseur.
Four Tails Vineyard: Nestled at the base of the Dragoon Mountains, just West of downtown Pearce, this is the perfect winery for anyone looking to enjoy locally grown and produced wines, while maintaining an appreciation for their four-legged friends of the canine variety; Four Tails being named after the owner’s four happy dogs.
Cellar 433: Nestled in the heart of historic Jerome, Cellar 433 is not just a tasting room, but a chance to experience owner John Mcloughlin's wide selection of Arizona wines from Dragoon Mountain Vineyard near Wilcox. Sample wines from approachable to esoteric, and everything in between, accompanied by a fine cheese plate or selection of fresh fruit with aged brie. Indulge at Cellar 433, located at 240 Hull Ave, Jerome.
Prescott Winery: Prescott Winery, the first tasting room to join the city’s array of attractions, is an easy walk from Whiskey Row, located just a few blocks east of the downtown square. Set in a small, charming house, visitors can enjoy wine either inside or on the patio in an inviting and comfortable environment.
Dubina Brewing: Family owned and operated out of Glendale, Dubina Brewing seeks to bring the family’s heritage and a European and Czech feel to the valley. Offering up a variety of fine craft beers as well as wine and cider, stop in and relax with a fine beer and enjoy some of the items from their starters, salads, brats or burgers menu.
Desert Eagle Brewing Company: Located in Mesa, this tap room offers a wide variety of craft beers, a full kitchen menu and plenty of live entertainment such as various live music acts, open mic nights and comedy night events.
Mother Bunch Brewing Company: Family owned and operated and located in Phoenix, this brewery features an expansive menu of fine craft beers, including porters, lagers and IPA, as well as a full menu of plates to share, appetizers, salads and entrees, as well as a selection of decadent desserts and after-dinner cocktails.
McFate Brewing Company: Featuring small-batch beers and wood-fired pizzas, McFate Brewing Company, located in Scottsdale, specializes in bold and well-paired flavor combinations in constant rotation to keep their menus fresh and exciting.
Scottsdale Beer Company: Placing emphasis on freshness of product and ingredients, from their craft beers to full menus, Scottsdale Beer Company seeks to bring back the time-honored tradition of crafting fine products from locally sourced ingredients to put out into their community.
1912 Brewing Company: Located in Tucson, this family owned and operated nano-brewery features craft beers, wines and ciders. Their tap rooms offers up eight beers on tap, four wines on tap, bottled beers, ciders and mead. Enjoy board games at the bar, comfortable couches, multiple TV screens and fine artisan popcorn along with your brew.
Catalina Brewing: This nano-brewery located in Tucson offers up a variety of craft beers made from all locally sourced and selected ingredients, giving patrons a taste of the southwest in their glass, using ingredients such as mesquite agave and prickly pear fruit. Along with their love of craft beers, Catalina Brewing also has a great love for bikes and all the biking trails that the region has to offer.
Prison Hill Brewing: Located near the infamous prison in Yuma, this brewery features a menu of creatively named variety beers and a gastropub menu of eats featuring dishes such as poutine, fried avocado and a prison hill sampler plate, as well as sandwiches, burgers, entree plates and beer infused desserts. Prison Hill Brewing promises its patrons beers and eats so good...its criminal.

domain: hobby