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Man accused of pouring hot sauce on dog gets 1 year in jail in animal cruelty case
SARASOTA, Fla. – A Florida man accused of dousing a puppy with hot sauce has been sentenced to one year in county jail.
On Thursday 47-year-old Ephrian Myles pleaded no contest to animal cruelty charges. Circuit Judge Donna Berlin also ordered him to serve 18 months of probation and to complete an anger management course. She told Myles he is not to own a pet or live in a house where there are animals.
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune (http://bit.ly/1jnHdcc ) reports that Myles became annoyed with his girlfriend's 3-month-old dachshund-chihuahua mix named Gizmo and poured hot sauce on the dog.
Authorities say the hot sauce got in the dog's eyes and throat. His girlfriend took the puppy to a nearby fire station, where the hot sauce was washed off.
The puppy was treated for neurological problems.
Information from: Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune, http://www.heraldtribune.com


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25 January 2017
The Princess Royal visited the Yorkshire Dama Cheese company, an award-winning dairy company that was set up by Razan Alsous, a microbiologist who left Syria in 2012.
The Princess met Razan's family and toured their factory to see how the cheese is produced. Dama Cheese use fresh cow's milk, sourced locally in Yorkshire, to make their products.
Razan started the business with a loan from the local Enterprise Agency and made Dama Cheese made their first product, Yorkshire Halloum!, in 2014. After four months of production the business won the World Cheese Award Bronze Prize 2014-5.
The Princess ended her visit by unveiling a plaque and declaring the factory officially open.
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"At 14 I was figuring out that the Eagles sucked," Biggar explains when I crowd into a booth with her, Rogers, bassist Dave Dougan, and drummer Casey Keenan at Charlie's Kitchen. (The remaining regulars in the band are guitarist Tom Leonard and singer Sandra Barrett.) "Being in Connecticut had the advantage that a little record shop in Vernon was close enough to New York City to have cool underground records. And the æsthetic was that we grew up without seeing these bands — you weren't part of a scene, you just did what you did. You listened to the records, it was a bedroom scene, a crazy-loner scene."
Wayne Rogers was indeed a prime mover in this late-'70s suburban Connecticut bedroom scene: his compulsive musical appetite coupled with a limitless creative desire created a monster when he began to interface with punk and record geek chic. "When the first couple of Teenage Jesus & the Jerks and DNA singles came out, which I got at my local record shop when I was 14, me and my friends devoured them. And we listened to them and realized, 'Wow, we can do anything! Anything!' " He started by turning on the spigot to his hyperactive songwriting mojo. That resulted in the formation of a band in 1980. "With Crystallized Movements, we realized that if you played the song past where you knew the song ended, then it got really interesting. And we wanted to make records: I got my first job washing dishes at a Bickford's, and after five days I had enough money to press 100 records — so I quit and was like, 'Right, now I can make 100 records!' "
Kate, meanwhile, was having her own adolescent epiphanies. "When I was in high school, I was really into hardcore and popular punk, but at the same time I really loved Yes and progressive rock, and no one could figure me out, because back then you were supposed to choose sides, you know? I had my skate/hardcore friends, and I'd be like, 'You've got to check out this album Fragile, it's a great record!', and they'd be like, 'You smoke too much pot,' and I'd be like, 'No I don't, I drink vodka!' And then I met Wayne."
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Located in Columbus, Ohio, Project Linden Inc offers treatment for Drug Addiction and Alcohol Addiction. The addiction specialists at this multi-licensed treatment facility administers a comprehensive assessment to their patients in order to determine the best course of action for their treatment plan. Project Linden Inc generally offers treatment options (such as Counseling) that are customized to suit the patients' needs.
In some of these treatment options, addicts are taught to develop coping skills so that they can learn to deal with any situation that comes their way without resorting to drugs or alcohol as a means for a temporary escape. It is within these specific coping skills that will help to ensure the success of an addict's recovery.
You may contact Project Linden Inc using their website at www.project-linden.org to learn more about the treatment services that they offer, as well as more information on their accepted insurances, which include: Medicaid, Medicare, Most Insurances.
Kind and considerate staff. Nurse practitioners were thorough and kind. I left feeling like I was getting the attention I needed when I had health issues.
This is a busy walk-in clinic with one physician.


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Our overseas trips have been much dependent on buying SIM cards at airport terminals or tapping into free wifi connection at hotels or cafes. In our recent travel to UK and the States, we decided to rent a portable WiFi router from Traveler Wifi to give it a try for the first time and after trying it out, we are very impressed and will definitely tick it as a travel essential in the future.
These are the top 5 reasons why you should be using Traveler Wifi:
#1 – Hassle Free with Worldwide Connection
Traveling across different continents require us to purchase multiple SIM cards which can be a hassle as it could only be tagged to a mobile device. With Traveler Wifi, it offers secured global coverage which support 4G networks. We are looking for hassle free and plug-and-play connection. All we need to do is to switch on the wifi router and it can automatically be detected in the network after keying in the password provided.
#2 – Long Battery Duration
We were told that Travel Wifi router offers up to 15 hours of connectivity. Based on our experience during the trip, it could easily last 13 hours without a single charge (with 3 mobile devices connected) before we returned to the hotel which we will change to hotel's wifi. The pocket router could also be charged from a powerbank when we are on the go.
#3 – Cost Savings
The wifi router can connect up to 5 smart devices at the same time! It offers unlimited data with fair-use policy. If daily data usage exceeds 500 MB, router speed will slow down but can still connect and use. Data usage count is reset on daily basis. This provides cost savings when comparing to purchasing a SIM card which can only connect to 1 smart device and not forgeting you may need to figure out how to activate the SIM card.
#4 – Multiple Service Counters to Collect
To make collection easier, Traveler Wifi has different service counters conveniently located at the following locations:
Service Counters Islandwide:
(NO reservation required; customers can rent Wifi Routers directly at any of the retail service counters)
- Orchard Road
- Lucky Plaza, 304 Orchard Road #B1-108 (Perfumes & Cosmetics Gallery: 11:30am-9pm daily; Friday 12.30pm -2pm – Closed)
- Chinatown
- People's Park Centre, 101 Upper Cross Street #08-19 (Incredible Odyssey: 11am-6pm; Sat & Sun – Closed, Public Holiday – Closed).
[you may message 91065688 before coming to Chinatown service counter]
- People's Park Centre, 101 Upper Cross Street #08-19 (Incredible Odyssey: 11am-6pm; Sat & Sun – Closed, Public Holiday – Closed).
- Lavender
- 322 Lavender Street (Gap Year Hostel: Daily 8am-8pm)
[Please note only for Singapore WiFi routers rental/return at Lavender service counter]
- 322 Lavender Street (Gap Year Hostel: Daily 8am-8pm)
#5 – Happy Memories
Big & Small M were probably the biggest beneficiaries of this trip. With Traveler Wifi router, they were allowed to use our mobile phones during the long road trips to keep themselves occupied.
We drove from San Francisco – Silicon Valley – Big Sur – Solvang – Santa Monica – Las Vegas – Los Angeles which we will blog about the journeys later so stay tune. These would not be possible without the wifi router which was certainly a life saver as it provided us with google map directions during the long, long and long drive.
And we went places before hitting the books after the holidays.
From London Bridge and Tower Bridge.
To New York – Statue of Liberty.
To San Francisco – Golden Gate Bridge.
To Silicon Valley – Googleplex.
To Las Vegas – Bonnie Springs Ranch.
And Los Angeles – Hollywood Boulevard.
Enough said. First time using wifi router and we were convinced of it's convenience. Planning your upcoming trip soon and need a wifi router? Do not forget to check out Traveler Wifi!
Traveler Wifi
Website / Booking: http://traveler-wifi.com/cms
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travelerwifi/
Service Locations: http://traveler-wifi.com/cms/service-locations
Call for Enquiries) –
(65) 66528470 (General Enquiry) – [Mon-Fri : 9am – 6pm]
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This pathetic attempt to refute the Salafees is found within Zayd Shaakir's lecture 'Introduction to following a Madhab'. It is devoid of any actual reference to the Imaams themselves and is well grounded in the tradition of Hamza Yoosuf industry of lectures, and this maybe explains why Zayd Shaakir has become a replica of Hamza Yoosuf!
The clone of Hamza Yoosuf states:
"Many of the people that claim to be salafees, if you ask them why do you mash your feet against the feet of the other guy in the prayer?
Whats your daleel?
How many (salafees) would be able to give you the hadeeth that justifies that practice and the proof of those who argue against it?
Because for your position to be based on knowledge you have to know both, what are your proofs and the proofs of those people that argue against that?….. but if you ask people for those proofs and what's your daleel (the salafee) says "well, i read it in Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee's "Pray as you have seen me pray" tayyib, then if you're following that book and don't know its proofs you are a muqallid. So the question is would you rather make taqleed of al-Albaanee or Shafi'ee, Maalik, Ahmad or Aboo Haneefah? That becomes a question, and personally I would rather rely on ash-Shafi'ee."


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Book haul time again. It's been a month since the last one, so once more you get to see what new items I've added to my already-groaning bookshelves. Instead of a single photo, I've broken it down this time into several pictures.
First up is a trio of non-fiction books: Personal Landscapes by Jonathan Bolton, a study of British poets in Egypt during the Second World War (poets such as Lawrence Durrell, Keith Douglas, John Jarmain, Terence Tiller, Bernard Spencer, and others); a signed copy of A Short History of Lyme Regis by John Fowles, for the collection (see here); and Seven Miles Down by Jacques Piccard & Robert S Dietz, the only book written about the bathyscaphe Trieste's descent to the floor of Challenger Deep fifty years ago (see here).
Next up is four first edition genre novels. On the right is a signed and numbered slipcased edition from Kerosina Books of DG Compton's Scudder's Game, which also includes Radio Plays. In front of it is A Usual Lunacy, also by DG Compton and signed, and published by Borgo Press. Next is Colonel Rutherfords' Colt by Lucius Shepard, for the Shepard collection (see here). Finally, Phillip Mann's The Eye of the Queen, which completes my Mann collection (expect a book porn post on his novels soon).
Here are a couple of old British sf novels which were listed on my British SF Masterworks list (see here). No Man Friday by Rex Gordon I've had for a couple of months, but A Man of Double Deed by Leonard Daventry is a recent purchase. Expect reviews of both to appear on this blog soon. In fact, I intend to review most of the books on my British SF Masterworks list, the hard-to-find old and obscure ones almost certainly.
This is In Arcadia, a signed and numbered chapbook published in 1968 by Turret Books. It contains the eponymous poem by Lawrence Durrell, and music by Wallace Southam. The pair did two such chapbooks – I've had the other one, Nothing is Lost, Sweet Self, for a while (see this Lawrence Durrell collection post here).
And finally, here are four books for the Space Books collection. Sky Walking is astronaut's Tom Jones' memoir (no, not that Tom Jones, another one; the name, well, it's not unusual). First Landing is a sf novel about the, er, first landing on Mars, by Robert Zubrin, an expert on the topic. Mars Underground by William K Hartmann is also about settling the Red Planet but is non-fiction. And last of all, Reflections from Earth Orbit by Winston E Scott is another astronaut autobiography. All four books are signed.


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Wow, I feel like I woke up into an alternate reality–a mind bending Inception-like film. Nothing new for me. I am an ex-gay survivor. I spent 17 years in what is known as the Ex-Gay Movement. As a gay teen I falsely believed I would be more valuable to God, the Church, my family, and my country if I were heterosexual–or at least "less gay."
So I signed up for string of Exodus programs starting in New York City where I attended support groups nearly every Saturday night for three years. (Exodus International is the group who had an Iphone App that Apple removed after a successful petition pointed out that the app was objectionable and violated Apple's policies.)
At the NYC ex-gay program they tried to cast out gay demons and insisted, "If any man be in Christ Jesus he is a NEW creation! The old is gone. Behold, all things are made new." Ultimately I spent over $30,000 on three continents pursuing an elusive cure. The treatments differed from program to program, but the message remained the same. In so many words they taught—"Gays (lesbians and the rest) are immoral. You are broken and need to be fixed. You are sick and need to be healed. We will help you."
What a surprise when yesterday I read the following statement from one of Exodus' spokespeople:
"In no way shape or form is our message about trying to cure or do we try to promote that type of methodology or message," Jeff Buchanan, Exodus International's Senior Director of Church Equipping & Student Ministries, told The Christian Post.
So I turned to a sexpert, Dr. Jallen Rix, co-facilitator of Beyond Ex-Gay and author of the book Ex-Gay No Way: Survival and Recovery from Religious Abuse. Jallen, was I caught in the Matrix all those years? Is Jeff Buchanan saying that thousands of ex-gay survivors were dupped into believing something Exodus didn't actually offer?
Jallen shared with me the words of Sean, a fellow survivor interviewed for Jallen's book,
Living in an isolated area of the country, I relied heavily on the integrity of my group's literature to help me decide whether or not to join their ministry. I read their promises of "freedom" and "change" with great hope and decided to move to California to join them. Once there I endured months of painful struggle to deny my sexual orientation with no favorable results, and even more disappointing was the fact that no one, no matter how long they had been there, could look me in the eye and say they had really changed. Only then did I realize that the Ex-gay promises were false. Their literature creates an illusion of freedom that does not exist, and they know it.
Jallen adds,
"Cured," "healed," "changed," "heterosexually challenged," — There's no end to the lingo ex-gay leadership coins to infer that homosexuals are damaged goods. They'll find another term as long as heterosexuality remains supreme. All the while, the leadership ignores the harm it causes in their attempts to enforce their views.
Now perhaps Exodus has a communication problem. I know that some of the folks in the organization struggle over words. For instance, they don't always know what to call themselves—ex-gay, former homosexuals, post-gay, straightish?
Alan Chambers, the head of Exodus since 2001 particularly struggles to get his point across. In the following clip he wrestles with Montel Williams over the words freedom and liberate. He also insists he doesn't urge youth into ex-gay treatment (yet his number one goal this year is to reach out to middle school and high school programs)
Only after 15 years of attending a variety of Exodus-member programs, I finally heard one of their leaders admit that actual change in orientation was not a realistic goal. During my first week at the Love in Action ex-gay residential program in Memphis, TN (what would become a two year stint) the director informed us that we would never be heterosexual. Wait! What about the big fat slogan on their website and brochures–Freedom from Homosexuality through Jesus Christ? Turns out it's just PR. They have a public message and then a private reality.
Still the staff at Love in Action (LIA) insisted that I was malformed, misshappen, sinful, addicted, unwell and desperately needed to be healed; they had the cure. If I endured their therapeutic program, walked through their steps, spilled my guts, allowed myself to be humiliated, than just like the heterosexually-married former ex-gays who led the program, I too could experience "change."
And I did. Sadly not the change they promised. In fact, I wished I had been warned that as a result of demonizing my desires and going to war against my sexuality and personality with the weapons that they supplied, I would change into a confused, depressed, self-hating, and suicidal mess. The "cure" was awful. During my time in LIA one client attempted suicide and another, during a psychotic break, was stuffed into a strait jacket and carried out by the police.
If you read Exodus' literature, attend their conferences, follow their links to organizations they endorse, and buy the books they sell, you will hear over and over again that "there is hope for the homosexual. Change is possible" and similar messages worded in clever, misleading ways. And when they say Change, they don't mean two 10's for a 20. They target gays and lesbians weighed down with the burden of a family that rejects or may reject them, a church that says "come as you are—except queer," and a legal system that consistently values heterosexuals over anyone else. Ripe for the picking Exodus offers hope, a way out—a cure.
I have no idea which Exodus International Jeff Buchanan works for. Perhaps he should review the About Us section of the Exodus site.
Christ offers a healing alternative to those with homosexual tendencies. Exodus upholds redemption for the homosexual person as the process whereby sin's power is broken, and the individual is freed to know and experience their true identity, as discovered in Christ and His Church. That process includes the freedom to grow into heterosexuality.
Being an ex-gay survivor myself and personally speaking with over 1,500 fellow survivors, I can say that Buchanan is correct on one point—Exodus has no cure to offer. Instead they issue a curse for those who submit or are forced to submit to their teachings. They offer harm—psychological, emotional, and spiritual damage. They tamper with their clients' relationships, careers, personal development, and finances. They make a mess of our lives in Jesus' name.
So what exactly does Exodus do? They now publicly admit that no one changes from gay to straight. They claim they don't offer a cure. They say they don't therapize. What services do they provide? Basically they will undermine your sense of self as they reinforce the notion that you are not good enough as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer person. They will demonize your desires, and will not even be satisfied if you choose to be celibate yet insist on honestly calling yourself lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. To add insult to injury they have fought to deny happy homosexuals and transgender people legal rights and protections. They malign LGBTQ people, our relationships, our desires, our dreams, and then they export this message to Uganda, South Africa, Croatia, Singapore, Costa Rica and beyond.
It took me nearly 20 years to understand that Exodus' vague promise, "Change is Possible" was false and to discover and embrace that Authenticy and Integrity are possible and well worth pursuing.


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By Vladimir Brezina
This week's Photo Challenge is Resolved.
Cape Cod Bay, July 2011. We are Resolved!
Resolved to reach the water, no matter how long it may take
and to set out over the turquoise sea
to "fresh woods, and pastures new."
And that makes a fine resolution for this New Year as well!
(The story of that day on Cape Cod Bay is here; more photos are here.)


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The Microsoft executive who heads the company's Windows division said Wednesday that the next edition of the operating system will let users treat the traditional desktop as "just another app" that loads only on command.
In a lengthy blog post, Steven Sinofsky, president of Microsoft's Windows and Windows Live division, provided more detail on Windows 8's user interface (UI).
[ Find out how Windows 8 could change everything. | Also on InfoWorld: Microsoft buries two surprises in Windows 8 hype. | Get all the details you need on deploying and using Windows 7 in the InfoWorld editors' 21-page Windows 7 Deep Dive PDF special report. | Stay abreast of key Microsoft technologies in our Technology: Microsoft newsletter. ]
In June, when it unveiled parts of the Windows 8 UI , Microsoft said the new OS would feature a "touch-first" interface to help it compete in the fast-growing tablet market. Underneath that, however, would be a traditional Windows-style desktop. In demonstrations, Microsoft showed the touch-style start screen for Windows 8, and how users could switch to a more familiar icon-based design.
Wednesday, Sinofsky reiterated the dual nature of Windows 8, calling the design work a "balancing act."
"Having both of [the] user interfaces [work] together harmoniously is an important part of Windows 8," said Sinofsky.
The "Metro"-style UI -- the one inspired by Windows Phone 7's tile-based design -- will be the first to show up when a user boots a device. At that point, users reach a crossroads.
"If you want to stay permanently immersed in that Metro world, you will never see the desktop -- we won't even load it (literally the code will not be loaded) unless you explicitly choose to go there," said Sinofsky. "If you don't want to do ... 'PC' things, then you don't have to and you're not paying for them in memory, battery life or hardware requirements."
Users working on conventional PCs, where keyboard and mouse are the primary input devices, will run an "app" to load the desktop, according to Sinofsky.
"Essentially, you can think of the Windows desktop as just another app," he said.
The majority of the blog's 225 comments as of early Thursday gave Windows 8's split personality a thumbs up, although many advised Microsoft to create design continuity between the two to make switching less jarring.
Others wanted to know if it would be also possible to completely ignore the Metro UI and only see the traditional desktop.
"Will it also work the other way? Will users be able to permanently stay in the Desktop and never see Metro?" asked a user identified as "TechFan" yesterday.
A few commenters were unhappy with the direction Microsoft was moving.
"I'm all for Microsoft to develop a rich tablet-centric UI for Windows but tablets aren't going to replace PCs any time soon," said "Fulgan" Wednesday. "Basing the whole Windows experience on that and treating the traditional UI as a second-class citizen is a serious mistake."
While analysts have acknowledged the need by Microsoft to bring Windows to tablets, many have been skeptical of enterprise adoption because the upgrade appears to be aimed at consumers, not business users.
Sinofsky did not directly address the negative reaction to another recent post to the "Building Windows 8" blog that illustrated a "ribbonized" file manager for the desktop UI.
But he took a sideways swipe at critics.
"For the foreseeable future, the desktop is going to continue to play a key role in many people's lives. So we are going to improve it," Sinofsky said. "We're having a good dialog about what folks might think about our design choices but also wanted to put these choices in a broader context of the unmatched utility of the desktop."
Microsoft has been mum about a release schedule for Windows 8, although it's expected to launch next year. The company plans to reveal more about the new OS and its UI, and perhaps issue a preview, at its Build conference, which begins Sept. 13 in Anaheim, Calif.
Gregg Keizer covers Microsoft, security issues, Apple, Web browsers and general technology breaking news for Computerworld. Follow Gregg on Twitter at @gkeizer , or subscribe to Gregg's RSS feed. His email address is firstname.lastname@example.com.
Read more about Windows in Computerworld's Windows Topic Center.
This story, "Microsoft exec: Windows 8 desktop to be 'just another app' " was originally published by Computerworld.


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Adult life: Brittney Griner on dating, tattoos, freedom
- Brittney Griner became the first player to dunk twice in a WNBA game in her debut
- Griner has been open about her personal life%2C including revealing her sexuality
- Griner signed an endorsement deal with Nike and plans to play overseas in China
PHOENIX — At a downtown tattoo parlor, Brittney Griner is cautiously picking out her next choice of body ink.
"I'm getting this next one on my neck," Griner says, showing off a wide array of current tattoos decorating her upper body.
As the tattoo artist shows Griner a sketch, the 6-8 women's basketball star calls over to her girlfriend for approval. Once she gets the OK, Griner slips into her goofball persona.
"I might get my next tattoos on my eyelids," she says, smirking.
Thirty minutes before a doctor's appointment to determine the status of a left knee sprain that kept Griner out of her fourth professional game, the 22-year-old is constantly joking and smiling.
Since being selected by the Phoenix Mercury as the top pick in April's WNBA draft, Griner is getting a chance to do something that has eluded her for so long.
She's finally free to be herself.
"My life is definitely different than it was in college," says Griner. "I love the freedom that comes with being an adult. No one's telling you what to do, nothing's planned out. You know what you have to do, you can get to practice two hours before or walk in at the last second."
Most of Griner's body art has meaning: One is dedicated to her brother, DeCarlo, who inspired her to first consider tattoos. "I want to get the full sleeve like he has," she says. Another is the double-linked female sign that represents Griner's sexuality. On the lower right side of her back, she has a tattoo featuring two skulls with the words, "laugh now, cry later," a phrase that she turned to during her most difficult time.
When she plays, Griner no longer sports long sleeves to cover up her tattoos as she did in college. She's done hiding — both on and off the court.
"There's something to be said about being comfortable in your own skin," Mercury teammate and 10-year WNBA veteran Diana Taurasi says. "That's an incredible trait to have. She's not trying to be anyone she's not. She's not trying to be an actress, she's not trying to be a rapper. She's Brittney Griner, who plays basketball at the highest level, and off the court can get along with anyone.
"She's really re-energized the WNBA and revived the whole city (of Phoenix) with women's basketball."
On the court, Griner is a shot-blocking, dunking, emotional superstar. Off it, she's an active longboarder, she listens to Jimi Hendrix before games and Trace Adkins after, she'll soon be wearing men's clothing as part of a multi-year endorsement deal with Nike, and she has two pet snakes, Audii and Sage.
"I think snakes are misunderstood," she says. "Everyone is scared of them. I can really relate to them. I don't know what sex they are, but I say they're both girls. Audii is gray and a bit bigger, and Sage is red and yellow but smaller. One time, I almost fed Sage to Audii, you know, to see the circle of life."
Griner's formula of openness gives the league, in many ways still seeking an identity with the American public, a star who's highly unpredictable yet uniquely marketable.
"I think you're seeing more guys who are basketball fans purchasing tickets and watching WNBA games because of Brittney," Suns owner Robert Sarver says.
"She's certainly a once-in-a-generation type of player, and she has the opportunity to elevate the visibility of the WNBA in a completely new way," says Val Ackerman, the founding president of the WNBA and former president of USA Basketball. "Fans of today are more interested in the story behind an athlete. The fact that Brittney embraces who she is can only help the game. I think the WNBA has to embrace the celebrity at its fingertips. We're seeing a star player making a stand, and we haven't always seen that in the league."
Griner offers a brand of athleticism never seen before in the WNBA. In the Mercury's season-opening game against the Chicago Sky — Griner's first in the league — she threw down two power dunks in the most-viewed WNBA telecast on ESPN2 in nine years.
"Before games, I'll have fans wearing the opponents' attire and they'll be like, 'I came to watch you dunk.' And I'm like, 'so you came to see me dunk on your team, basically?' That's cool," says Griner, who still considers her defense and shot blocking ability — with an 88-inch wingspan — to be her biggest strength.
"There's a lot of expectations, I get that. There's a lot of 'she has to change the league.' But I just feel like if I play ball the way I know how, I can help make the league more exciting."
The Mercury started the season 0-3 despite being picked as the favorite to win the WNBA title in 2013 — showing that Griner's impact on the game won't simply happen overnight.
"As far as changing the game, how the game is played, I don't see that," New York Liberty coach and former NBA big man Bill Laimbeer says. "No one player can completely change the league. ... Guards dictate it. Even Wilt (Chamberlain) only won (two) championships."
Griner's two effortless slams set a record for most dunks in a game and tied a league record for most dunks in a career. It took Griner 27 minutes to match an all-time mark shared by Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker. And that comes after 18 career dunks at Baylor. Still, that's only part of her game.
"She gives so much more than dunks to the game," Mercury coach Corey Gaines says. "She runs like a deer in transition, her shot-blocking ability is so huge. But it's going to take time for her to adjust and dominate. Guards flourish a little bit faster in basketball. In time, she'll change the game. She already has. There's a three-second rule on defense this season that I don't think is a coincidence."
Taurasi has taken a mentoring role, teaching Griner the intricacies of the pick-and-roll, which she's never run before.
"I think it's incredible for her to come in as the most popular and marketed player and she walks into the locker room, ready to work like everybody else," Taurasi says.
After the season, like most WNBA players, Griner plans to continue playing overseas. She signed a multi-year deal with Zheijiang Chouzhou of China, with plans to play from October through February.
She also plans to suit up for the U.S. national team, something she didn't do in college. Griner told USA TODAY Sports it's "definitely a goal" to play in the 2016 Olympics after passing on the 2012 team for family reasons.
As the WNBA pushes its new star farther into the spotlight, Griner's been slowly answering the question: Who is Brittney Griner?
"Most athletes act all unhuman and you can't relate to them. I'm the exact opposite," Griner says.
During a game of NBA 2K13, Griner is quick to pick the Miami Heat as her team. Suddenly, the most recognizable women's basketball player can't stop gushing about the most recognizable men's basketball player.
"I love LeBron (James). He's easily my favorite player," she says. "Ever since he came into the league, he's just had that graceful power. He makes his teammates better, his basketball IQ is through the roof. I used to try his moves in high school."
During the video game session, Griner digs through into an endless bag of carry out, devouring burgers in a couple of bites.
"She's still on that fast food, eat-whatever-you-want, allergic-to-vegetables diet, but I'm not going to tell her to stop," Gaines says. "We went out to dinner to this steak restaurant and she ordered the ribeye, and then straight up killed a sundae. She put them both down like nothing."
Over the course of a two-day interview with USA TODAY Sports, Griner recalls a time when there were more tears than smiles. Growing up, she was the victim of bullying. The name calling still resonates, and to this day she endures online jabs questioning her femininity among other things.
"The bullying I dealt with as a child was very tough. It kind of shaped who I am now," Griner explained. "Those people would say their mean things, ignorant things, and go about their business and have a great day while I'd be sitting there crying, hating everything, not wanting to be around. You've gotta brush it off. Now, I can relate to a younger crowd or anyone who's gone through bullying."
"You've gotta smile in everyone's face, even if you're crying on the inside," Griner says.
Part of Griner's transition into being herself came with being open about her sexuality.
In April Griner revealed she is gay, an announcement Griner says was an easy decision when she considered the large number of people her message could reach.
"I've heard people say, 'Why do you need to say you're gay, keep your personal life to yourself?' I say to them, 'What about the kids who need someone to look up to?' I'm not trying to target whoever's complaining. I'm targeting the people struggling who need someone to set an example," she explains. "Just knowing that you can help somebody out, that's a feeling you can't express."
"I was really stoked when she came out," says John Ohagan, owner of Golden Rule Tattoo in Phoenix. "It just seems like that tide is finally turning for awareness because of people like Brittney, it's almost become an inevitability for people to come out comfortably."
In a story in ESPN The Magazine, Griner said she kept her sexuality a secret while at Baylor, claiming coach Kim Mulkey insinuated it would hinder recruiting and the program's image.
"Look, Brittney wasn't able to be Brittney at Baylor," Taurasi says. "That happens all over America. We all feel that way like your program is more important when you're at that age. But in reality, without her, who gives a (expletive) about Baylor? I'm glad she's able to be who she really is now."
Mulkey did not return messages from USA TODAY Sports about the ESPN report or Taurasi's comments.
Griner has received positive and negative feedback for her choice to be open with her sexuality, a choice that coincided with Jason Collins becoming the first openly gay NBA player.
"He was very brave to step out like that," Griner says of Collins. "By him coming out, hopefully others will come out as well. When I heard about it, I was so happy for him. … I hope it gets to the point where the reaction to being gay is 'oh, that's cool' where it's just another thing. We're going in the right direction with more and more athletes stepping up."
Griner said it was "kind of obvious" when she came out to family members and started dating in high school. In her freshman year at Baylor, she described the "the worst breakup" of her life. Griner's current girlfriend was present during her USA TODAY Sports' interview. For privacy concerns, Griner asked to keep her name out of the story.
"We started off as friends," Griner says of her current girlfriend. "Then we hooked up and it was good, it was different. She's different than anyone I've ever dated. I'm a rebel; I buck the system a little bit. She's like the complete opposite — good girl with no confrontation. It's everything that we need to help balance each other out."
The rebel is hard to keep in check as Griner drives to a walk-through practice in the truck she bought after getting drafted, Griner complains about the traffic and apologizes to her passengers. "I have road rage," she says, tapping her size 18 shoe on the gas once there's an opening.
Walking into U.S. Airways Center, home to the Phoenix Suns and Mercury, Griner is easily identifiable — not necessarily for her 6-foot-8 slender stature that screams basketball player, but because a 75-foot banner of Griner drapes the side of Hotel Palomar. The arena street corner has overlaying signs that read "Griner Street."
If she hadn't reached celebrity status before, Griner's certainly getting star treatment in the WNBA. And her status could globalize when she plays in China after the WNBA season.
"Just going to Walmart, it's like autograph land," Griner says. "There's no running to get a gallon of milk anymore."
In spite of her newly professional lifestyle, Griner has never turned down an autograph. She knows how much those five seconds mean to someone.
"I want my daughter looking up to her," says Terri Thomas, a longtime Phoenix Mercury season-ticket holder.
The question — Who is Brittney Griner — continues to get answered.
"She's my hero," eight-year old Sarah Thomas said. "because she's confident with who she is."


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Fashion Week Tampa Bay has finally arrived in full, fabulous force! On Thursday, September 23rd, Sherí Taber, The Peak Performance Group, Inc. and Joyce Cotton invite you to Glitz, Glamour, Fashion II as Neiman Marcus hosts a night of true decadance. Presented by Audi and Tampa Bay Fashion Week, Tampa Bay's "A" list will come out for a night of fashion and fun at Glitz, Glamour, Fashion II. The best part? It is all happening for a great cause: PACE Center For Girls!
Guests will sip complementary cocktails as they take in the beautiful fashion ambiance that is Neiman Marcus. Join us from 6-8:30 p.m. and be a part of the glamour. Not only will you experience high-end fashion at its finest while helping a cause, but you can also enter to win luxury items!
It would be absolutely tragic to miss a moment of Fashion Week Tampa Bay. From the dazzling parties to the big runway show, 2010 is going to be amazing.
Visit http://glitzglamfashion2.eventbrite.com/ to purchase tickets for this fabulous event!


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Keselowski finally gets a break, and a victory
CONCORD, N.C. - It was just another surreal moment in this disappointing season for defending champion Brad Keselowski.
He pulled away from his pit stall with his jack planted underneath his car. The jack clattered and clanged as Keselowski dragged it around the track for what should have been one race-ruining lap around Charlotte Motor Speedway.
A late caution - one that ruined Jimmie Johnson's shot at a record seventh Sprint Cup Series win at Charlotte - gave Keselowski the chance to make an electric final dash to the finish and end a 37-race losing streak Saturday night. It gave the reigning champ his first victory of the season in a year in which he's challenged for victories, but for one reason or another couldn't close the deal.
It made him ineligible to defend his championship, so Keselowski's win was the rare victory for a non-Chase driver in a "postseason" race. Kasey Kahne at Phoenix in 2011 was the last non-Chase winner.
"We've had speed in our cars. There's been weeks where we've had the execution, not as many as we want, but we haven't always had those pieces together, and then there's been weeks where we've had the speed and execution, we've just had some rotten luck," Keselowski said. "It's just been one of those years where you say, 'How much more can they throw at you?' I think we ran out of things for them to throw at us ... with the jack and we still found a way to win, so that was very special."
The caution with 27 laps remaining was for debris on the backstretch, as Johnson had a healthy lead in a fairly uneventful race. Before the yellow, it seemed certain Johnson would win and pass Matt Kenseth for the Sprint Cup Series points lead at the halfway point of the Chase, while Kenseth would likely catch teammate Kyle Busch in the closing laps of the race to finish third.
Keselowski was an afterthought.
"That last caution there at the end kind of reset it for us and gave us the opportunity to get in Victory Lane," Keselowski crew chief Paul Wolfe said.
Everybody headed to pit road, where Kasey Kahne and Jeff Gordon were the only two drivers to take two tires. They were the first two back onto the track, while Johnson led everybody else off as the first driver with four fresh tires.
Only Johnson lost four spots on the restart with 23 laps remaining, while Keselowski picked his way through traffic from sixth to second.
Once he set his sights on leader Kahne, he stalked him around the track until he could make a pass for the lead stick with nine laps remaining. The victory gave team owner Roger Penske a win from every one of his drivers this season: Keselowski, AJ Allmendinger, Ryan Blaney, Sam Hornish Jr. and Joey Logano in NASCAR, and Helio Castroneves and Will Power in IndyCar.
"When it was time to go, we raced the best, and it was Brad behind the wheel," Penske said. "It wasn't a fuel economy run. It was him digging deep and bringing us to Victory Lane."
Kahne was second and followed by Kenseth, who increased his lead in the standings by one marker to four points over Johnson as the series shifts to Talladega.
Johnson, who wound up fourth, never saw the debris that cost him the victory. But Kenseth, who figured he was going to finish third either way, understood Johnson's frustration.
"Obviously, with Jimmie dominating, and he didn't get the win, you know he's going to have, I don't know the right word to say here, (it's going to) bother him more," Kenseth said. "You know he's going to think about it more. I honestly didn't look, and I didn't even think about it."
Nothing changed behind the leaders. Kevin Harvick is third in the standings, 29 points out, followed by Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch, who had dropped from third to fifth at Kansas a week ago and couldn't regain any position following his fifth-place finish Saturday night.
"When it's time for championship time, you need wins. We can't win," Busch said.
No, on this night the win went to Keselowski, and Penske never doubted the champ would get it done this season.
"We knew we had good cars and we've got the best drivers. It was a matter of executing," Penske said. "I never lost confidence, and I'm a glass half-full, not half-empty guy. I wanted to see Brad get a win. He didn't want to go through this season after being a champion (not winning).
" You've got some great drivers sometimes that don't make (the Chase). That doesn't mean they've lost anything, it's just the way it works out. This is a very competitive sport, every aspect of it."


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Welcome to my blog!
For awhile now I've mused around with many different types of art: writing, graphic design, music, cinematography and digital editing. There are some art forms I am more gifted in than others and in many ways I like to consider myself someone who is free-spirited with a desire to try to do just about everything until I've tried myself out. Whether it be art or science, I have an intrigued eye for just about everything. But, you can't do, or at least, you can't master everything. Perhaps some have a gift of many different talents and although I've tried to do many things, eventually I had to settle for something; I had to make a choice in profession–I chose media production.
More specially, I chose Film Making and Photography.
Why? Well it's one of the biggest industries that allows me to work with both art and science. Although I couldn't say I'm a gifted musician, astrophysicist or ice sculpture, I at least know that my interest in film and photography will take me to places and people who are gifted in those areas and many more. In a way, I can then live and work vicariously through other gifted people and trade our commodities for the betterment of each other, of humanity and the world.
I've been given wonderful gifts to express myself to the universe by the grace of God–I am a firm believer in the Judeo-Christen Bible and Jesus Christ and am nothing if not for Him.
I've also been given some wonderful tools to use my gifts, family, friends and opportunities.
In the short-term of this photo journal of mine I hope to chronicle an abundance of people, places, things and ideas.
I also want to work in a way that I can be helpful to others who are interested in my line or work. I shall try to do my best to add some in-depth descriptions of my featured work I post on a regular basis along with the imagination, intuition and ingenuity behind it all.
Well, here's to a wonderful new year and many more to come!
I hope you enjoy my work along the way and if you ever have any questions or comments, never hesitate to post them or email me directly.


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All News Releases By Date
Summary of EPA actions to ensure safe drinking water for Utah residents
Release Date: 11/28/2007
Contact Information: Diane Sipe, 303-312-6391, firstname.lastname@example.com David Janik, 303-312-6917, email@example.com
(Denver, Colo., Nov. 28, 2007) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 issued one administrative order and one notice of violation in Utah from April 2007 through September 2007 under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
EPA issues an administrative order when a public water system violates the Safe Drinking Water Act and its regulations. An administrative order requires the public water system to comply with the drinking water regulations and includes action items for returning to compliance. In Utah, EPA and the State work together through a workshare arrangement to identify public water systems against which EPA will take federal enforcement action. Utah also has authority to issue enforcement actions against water systems in the state. EPA is first required to issue a notice of violation to the State before EPA takes a federal action against a public water system that violates the SDWA. In some cases, EPA issues a notice of violation to the State but does not issue a subsequent administrative order.
EPA issued an administrative order to the following Utah public water system:
Dutch John, Utah, due to inadequate disinfection byproduct precursor removal of total organic carbon, and failure to monitor for TOC, nitrate, pesticides, and total coliform. The system has returned to compliance with monitoring requirements and has made system modifications to increase disinfection byproduct precursor removal.
EPA also issued a notice of violation to the State of Utah, without a subsequent EPA administrative order due to the system's return to compliance with monitoring requirements, for the Diamond Ranch Academy in Hurricane, Utah. Over the last five years the public water system failed to monitor for maximum residual disinfectant levels, nitrate, lead/copper, total coliform bacteria, and had one total coliform maximum contaminant level exceedance. A new operator for the system was hired in March 2007 and has completed all monitoring to bring the system back into compliance.
EPA oversees the protection of public health and the environment in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. Compliance and enforcement are important components of public health and environmental protection which encourage governments, businesses and other regulated entities to meet their environmental and public health obligations.
Search this collection of releases | or search all news releases
View selected historical press releases from 1970 to 1998 in the EPA History website.


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Lost in Suburbia classic column: Row, row, row your house
Columns share an author's personal perspective.
There are some places where it's good to have water. Water in the coffee maker is good. Water in the bathtub is good. Water in the basement … not so much.
At first it was just a little bit of water, but soon I started finding larger puddles. And then small rivers. Channeling my inner Lewis and Clark - or maybe just Lewis since I'm only one person - I tracked the river back to its source and discovered the culprit.
"The washing machine is leaking," I told my husband.
"How bad?" he wondered.
"Think Niagara Falls, but without the big drop."
"Call the plumber," he ordered.
I threw towels down on the ground to soak up the mess, and then ran upstairs to make a quick bathroom stop before cleaning up the flood. But when I got to the bathroom, I discovered another issue.
"The toilet is leaking," I told my husband.
"Are you kidding me?" he demanded.
"Honey, I have water in the basement and water in the bathroom. I'm out of towels and the dog is swimming upstream. I wouldn't kid about this."
"Did you call the plumber yet?" he asked.
"No, it's raining outside so I was waiting to see if the roof leaked."
Being an optimist, I always try to look for the bright side of every tragedy. On the up side, with so much water everywhere, I figured I wouldn't need to wash the floors that day. However, after using every towel in the house, I had no way to wash them because the washer was broken.
Furthermore, we were in the middle of a home renovation and only had one toilet - which was now broken, too. As far as I could tell, the only way to turn this into something positive … was to move.
"Maybe we should forget renovating the house and just turn it into an ark," I suggested. "We already have the flood part covered."
"Call. The. Plumber," he sighed.
Since the resale value on arks wasn't very good right now, anyway, I decided to bail on that idea and call the plumber. Apparently though there must have been an epidemic of leaking washing machines and broken toilets because the plumber wasn't available for two days.
Deciding I needed to set some rules during this trying time, I back stroked out of the bathroom and found the kids watching a movie in the family room.
"OK guys, here's the deal. The washing machine is broken so you can't wear any clothes and the toilet is broken so you can't go to the bathroom."
They stared at me in mute silence.
"OK, fine," I sighed. "You can wear some clothes, but try not to get them too smelly. And you can use the toilet but don't flush."
I thought for another minute. "In fact, don't do anything in the house that could possibly cause a leak, a flood, or a tidal wave."
"Don't worry, Mom, we get it, " said my son. "Relax. Come watch the movie with us."
"OK, what are you watching?"
This is a repeated Lost in Suburbia column, which has appeared in GateHouse Media newspapers since 2008. As Tracy Beckerman's main column is shifting focus - her kids are grown and she has moved back to the city - we are rerunning her earlier work for readers who may have missed these the first time around. You can follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LostinSuburbiaFanPage/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tracybeckerman.


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Sedona has long held the reputation as a world-wide spiritual mecca, drawing healers, artists, and spiritual guides. Whether or not you believe in her vortex energy, there is no denying the breathtaking views that can be seen in every direction. Having lived in Sedona for many years, we believe the magnificent red rock formations and evergreen vegetation exudes energy, a year-round feeling of renewal and sense of peace, and is one of the reasons we come back year after year to hike her enchanting trails.
We recently found ourselves back in Sedona to visit friends, get a tune-up for me, and do a little hiking. Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood is where we tend to stay, a peaceful park that is just far enough away from the tourist pace of Sedona, yet close enough to hiking trails. Finding a trail we haven't already tackled is the biggest challenge, particularly Terry, who I think has pretty much hiked them all. I did manage to introduce him to a newer trail that I hiked a few years ago with a girlfriend and he agreed to tag along with me on one that I had yet to cross off my list.
Here are two hikes we would highly recommend should you find yourself wandering around Sedona's red rocks:
1) Slim Shady / Highline / Baldwin / Templeton (with a twist)
Better known by many as the Highline Trail, this was actually designed as a technically difficult mountain biking trail but is equally loved by hikers. It is a bit of a challenge to stay on course as many trails converge at one point or another. And with such breathtaking scenery to distract you, you may as well decide you are going to get turned around a time or two.
Views of one of the most-photographed sights in Arizona, Cathedral Rock, can be seen from many angles, and we soon found ourselves getting off our charted course to see if we could pick up a trail that would take us to the highest saddle point on Cathedral Rock. There is a designated, slick rock trail up to the saddle point but it was on the opposite side of Cathedral Rock from where we were. But did that stop us? Nope!
Although we would not suggest this as the soundest or safest way to get to the saddle of Cathedral Rock, what with the bush-whacking and boulder-hopping, it was certainly a unique approach. What began as a moderate 5-miler ended as a very interesting 9-mile hike.
Our next day's adventure was to be a bear and Terry's all-around favorite Sedona hike. After tackling this mountain, I had to agree.
2) Bear Mountain
I'm not sure why I never hiked this mountain while we lived in Sedona, as it has always been touted to have some of the most breathtaking views from its peak. I had decided this visit was the time and I wasn't leaving Sedona until I had firmly planted my feet on top. All I can say is wow!
Bear Mountain is a 5-mile hike with a 2000 foot elevation gain over some of the most unusual topography in Sedona. There are cairns to mark part of your journey but white arrows painted onto the rocks are your true guides to the peak. There are interesting breaks or decks of changing geology that you pass through, almost as if you traverse three false summits before reaching the true peak. A section of Apache Limestone moves into Schnebly Hill Sandstone, then onto a deck of swirling Coconino sandstone dotted with manzanita, truly spectacular.
Sedona's grandeur can be seen without taking to the trails, but we have always believed that the essence of her spirit lies off the paved roads, tucked back into her hidden canyons.
We have settled into our winter home in Southern California, which I will post about in the near future. It is a change from our existing approach to RVing and we are enjoying it more than I had imagined. More on that later…


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Life Tuscan Train Case - Olive
or 4 installments of $136.25 by More info
In stock
sku: BLF02530.378
The LIFE Collection is handcrafted using durable, easy to clean, sueded PVC and trimmed with full grain Tuscan leather. This collection is offered in BRIC'S signature color combination of classic Olive with rich Cognac trim and for the first time – black with cognac trim. featuring olive lining. BRIC'S LIFE offers a classic, comprehensive, elegant assortment that looks good and travels even better. Enjoy your travel, your LIFE. Store all your cosmetics in one place when traveling to and from. An easy alternative to find just what you're looking for whether its contact lenses or your toothbrush.
Color Weight (lbs)
Height x Width x Depth (in.)
11.4 x 13.8 x 7.5
Is this Item Expandable ?
Extended Depth (in)
Total Volume (Liters)
Exterior Material
Flocked PVC
Interior Material
100% Polyester
Water Resistant
Bovine, Cognac Colored, Drum Dyed, Full Grain, Vegetable Tanned
Country of Origin
Carry On (confirm w/airline)
Luggage Tag Included
Shoulder Strap Included
TSA Lock Included
Number of External Pockets
Number of Interior Pockets
Computer/ Tablet Protection?
Handle Extension (in)
Product Care
Clean cotton-flocked PVC gently with a soft, dry brush. In the case of greasy or persistent stain, use a solution of water and soap with a sponge. Dry the item by dabbing it with a dry cloth and then air dry. Do not dry clean, immerse in water, or brush hard. Do not use benzene or alcohol based cleaning products.
For leather trimmings clean delicately the stained area with a soft and dry cloth. In case of greasy or persistent stain, use a small quantity of neutral wax or a leather cleaning product on a soft cloth and rub delicately. Then polish with a clean and dry cloth.
CAUTION: The trimmings are made of tanned leather to enhance color and sensation to the touch. Exposition to rain or humidity may cause colors to fade or splotches to appear. If the part is in contact with water, remove the liquid by dabbing the part with a dry cloth. Then let it dry completely away from sources of heat before putting it away. Do not brush. Do not immerse the product in water. Do not dry clean. Do not use benzene or alcohol based products. Since the leather may fade, first try cleaning on a hidden part of the trimming before trying to remove the stain.
Shippping & Returns


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(Listen while you read)
Backwards Aging is a reward of the diligent work upon ridding oneself of the negatives. Do not fear; Backwards Aging will commence from the moment you are willing to resolve the inordinate amount of imperfections within. And what are imperfections?
As a perfected consciousness, anything that is not perfect is an imperfection. We shall explain:
You agreed to have a fantasy; a fantasy that includes imperfections. In order to achieve your goal there is a need to rid yourself of those imperfections. We shall list just a few of the imperfections that require your diligent effort to resolve.
- Fear. All imperfections are garnered around this one imperfection. That is, Dear Hearts; all imperfections begin with the negative vibration called fear. That is right, Dear Ones; all imperfections have their beginnings within fear.
- Fear. Yes, Dear Ones, that is right; there is no other imperfection.
Do you doubt this statement, Dear Heart? Our Carolyn smiles as she types; yes indeed. She knows the validity of which we speak. Indeed, it has been her life's journey to, not only appreciate the value of this statement; it has also been the journey of life's experience to teach her of the validity of the statement. Yes, there has been great fear in her life. Fear surrounding illness, rejection, loneliness; you get the drift! Indeed, anything that is not of a positive vibe is a negative.
We need not list more, Dear Ones; fear is always the instigator, and fear is the only imperfection. Once removed, the energies of calm, contentment, and a vigour for life results.
Yes, Dear Ones; Backwards Aging commences the moment your intention is geared, wholeheartedly, toward releasing fear.
We wish you well in your endeavours, Dear Ones; and look forward to your progress.
© 2017 Carolyn Page & The Collective Consciousness
ABC of Spirit Talk/Light Workers of the World


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Woodside Community Group was established by Dr. Erna Brodber who was born in Woodside and spent most of her years there .Dr. Brodber who is a Sociologist established this organization to promote the heritage sites in her community, offer training to the people of the community, and to offer their heritage resources to the world also to share their knowledge with other communities.
The Woodside Group also celebrate Jamaica's special occasions e.g. Emancipation. With their enthusiasm to sell their heritage to the world, they often invite local and international university students and teachers as well as other communities to join them in their various celebrations. Giving tours of the heritage sites in their community is also a very important aspect to the people of Woodside.
Dr. Erna Brodber
WoodsidePear Tree Grove P. O.
St. Mary
Sociology Dept. UWI
Kingston 7
Contact InformationPhone: 819-7721
Fax: 977-9301


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Since I can be competitive, I am choosing to believe that being out waited is quite different than being out smarted. It all stemmed from an encounter with an osprey which is supposed to have far less than IQ than I. The scene was a glorious place I had visited before.
Years ago, we had spent a month at a mountain cabin and discovered the osprey nest nearby. Every morning I was faced with a delicious problem. Should I walk to some beautiful falls or head the other direction to check on the "the kids" – my nickname for the young osprey in the nest.
During that visit, I had the good fortune of taking one of my favourite photos of an osprey in flight from above.
I generally like to keep my expectations in check but I still secretly hoped I would get an even better osprey photo when I returned to the same place. It is such a thrill to photograph this amazing predator.
Within seconds of arriving at the location, I found the osprey preening on a nearby tree. I was excited and hoped it wouldn't fly away too quickly. It didn't. I took a few photos and it preened some more. Then it just stood there. I'm no expert on osprey thot processes but it seemed to me like it was just standing there without a thot or a worry – totally relaxed … maybe too relaxed.
I waited a long time and then waited some more. Finally I had to admit that the osprey had more patience than I that day. I'm not bitter even though I hate to lose.
I'm guessing it's still there on the branch today, occasionally preening and not thinking of much unless it remembers how it out waited the impatient photographer. Hopefully that doesn't prompt a smirk.


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Morning, dears!
Today I'm going to pop in and chat with you about confidence. To be quite frank, I'm not the poster child for confidence. I have many days myself where I want to wear a garbage bag and destroy every mirror in the house. But, I think we all do, right?
This post isn't going to "flip-a-switch" and make you go from loathing to loving yourself.
Take note: this is a practical guide.
I'm going to show you practical ways that will hopefully give you little boosts of confidence. At the end of the day, we're all amazing, beautiful, and one in 7 billion.
Notice Your Strengths
This can be very hard; especially if you're someone who picks apart everything they ever thought of doing. A strength is a strength no matter how small. If you are a thorough cleaner or are really good at remembering peoples' names, give yourself a pat on the back. As you start to recognize things you do right instead of things you do wrong, you'll start to see that you're not bad at this whole 'life' thing after all.
This may or may not be for you, but I thought I'd add it to the list. I know if I'm feeling down about myself and I put on a nice dress or pair of heels, I get an instant boost. I immediately feel more confident! The sound heels make when they hit the floor let people know you're coming through!
Accept A Complement
This is something I used to be horrible at. Whenever someone would give me a compliment, I'd instantly downplay it with, "Oh, my friend can do it much better" or "You're just saying that to be nice." When I really should have been thanking them for their kind words. More likely than not, people aren't going to compliment you out of the clear blue unless they mean it. So, the next time you get a compliment, give thanks not back-talk.
#Boss Playlist
We all have those songs we blast when we're home alone. Whether it's Backstreet Boys or T-Swift, if it makes you feel like you're the star of a music video, listen to it! Music has so many benefits and lifting mood/confidence levels is one among many. Make a playlist of your favorite, confidence boosting songs so the whenever you're feeling down about yourself you can hit the shuffle button and kiss the bad vibes goodbye.
Everyday Will Not Be Perfect
Bad times truly make the good times better. Sometimes I'll have back-to-back confident days and then I'll wake up feeling not so confident. I used to feel like I had failed; I thought I had to be confident 24/7. Not! Being confident is something that takes practice, but it also varies like the weather. Ideally, everyone should feel good about themselves every day, but in today's world, that's not realistic. We need to love ourselves no matter what, but not beat ourselves up if we don't feel 100 all the time.
Embrace Your Perfect Imperfections
In my opinion, the key to confidence is learning to accept the things that made you feel unconfident in the first place. For me, I always worried about my stretch marks or the scars I've collected over the years. Now I'm learning that they are part of what makes me, me! They may not be seen on the cover of airbrushed magazines, but they're seen on billions of people all over the world. I hope that in my lifetime I'll see people be portrayed more authentically in the media. Most celebrities look different in person than they do on the cover of the top fashion magazines. We as everyday people forget that and feel like we just cannot compete. The truth is we're all people; no one is greater than the other.
That's all for today's post! I hope you guys enjoyed it and maybe it gave you a little more perspective on the world of confidence. ❤
Question Time:
What boosts your confidence?
Thoughts on this topic?


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We met at a New Year's Eve party that neither of us wanted to be at, we were the oldest people in the crowd. We gravitated towards each other, talking about our travels, even went outside to smoke a cigar. When we came back in, you were a gentleman and hung my coat in the closet. We shared many laughs as witnessed by the photos of the night. You almost left without asking for my number, I had to chase you down.
Eleven months later we married in Reno, Nevada, just the two of us. A great place to spend our honeymoon. Snow on the mountains and fresh crips air.
You've always allowed me the space to be myself, have my space, and my own life outside of our marriage. The support you've given me during the late nights of writing or months away from home taking care of gramps is not forgotten.
You had no way of know the for better or worse, in health and sickness would come so soon in our marriage. You nurse me to health, taking care of me when I could not walk or feed myself. Most important you've never complained.
We were not new to the rodeo, we both had been married before and knew what was important the second time around. I think we got it right. Below are a few reminders of the years we've spent together. Some good, some not so good.
Thank you for being my best friend and biggest supporter. I look forward to the next 18 years, all the good and the bad. We'll be there for each other and growing slightly older each year.
Your Beautiful Wife


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Jagr's 1,600th Point Helps Flyers Beat Bruins 2-1
Bobby Orr and Mark Recchi were back in their Bruins sweaters to help raise the Stanley Cup banner to the rafters at the new Boston Garden.
The old-timer celebrating after the game, however, was Jaromir Jagr.
The 39-year-old former Pittsburgh star returned after three years in Russia and scored his 1,600th NHL point to help the Philadelphia Flyers beat Boston 2-1 on Thursday night and spoil the Bruins' Stanley Cup celebration.
"We played the Stanley Cup champions. It's not easy," said Jagr, one of eight new players for Philadelphia, including three rookies. "They're probably the best team in the NHL and we've got totally a new team. A lot of young guys. A lot of rookies. You've got to give us time."
Jagr assisted on Claude Giroux's goal with 50 seconds left in the first, and Jakub Voracek scored 47 seconds later - with 2.4 seconds left in the period - to give the Flyers the lead.
Ilya Bryzgalov made 22 saves in his first game for the Flyers as they held on for a victory over the team that swept them out of the Eastern Conference semifinals last spring.
The Bruins went on to win their first Stanley Cup in 39 years, and they invited Orr and a handful of his teammates from the 1972 team back to help raise the franchise's sixth championship banner to the TD Garden rafters.
"We knew coming into tonight that we were going to get emotional. I actually kind of thought it was more emotional than I would have thought," Bruins forward Tyler Seguin said. "It's just about finding that switch to get into game mode and turn the page. But I think we started off well and it didn't end with a win but it's nice to get tonight out of the way."
The playoff loss to the Bruins sent the Flyers on an offseason overhaul in which they traded former captain Mike Richards and leading goal-scorer Jeff Carter on the same day in separate deals, in part to create salary cap room to sign Bryzgalov to a nine-year, $51 million deal. They also added Jagr, the NHL's leading scorer among active players and ninth overall.
Jagr assisted on the game-tying goal when he led Giroux across the blue line, and he found a space in the middle of four Bruins defenders before beating Thomas.
"Gi made a great play," Jagr said. "I told him not even Mario Lemieux can make those plays."
The sold-out crowd stood throughout the pregame ceremony, and it wasn't long before Brad Marchand, a surprising star in Boston's Cup run, scored a power-play goal on a pass from Seguin to give Boston a 1-0 lead. It was the first goal in the NHL this season; Marchand also scored the last goal in the NHL last season, an empty-netter against Vancouver in Game 7 of the finals.
But the Flyers answered with two in the final minute of the first. With just 2.4 seconds remaining in the period, Voracek gave Philadelphia a 2-1 lead with a shot through Thomas' legs.
"It was a big night for Boston, but we came here with a business," Bryzgalov said. "We did not came here to celebrate with them."
Flyers coach Peter Laviolette agreed.
"It's tough to come in when there's that much energy in the building for the opposition," he said. "I thought our guys battled through that."
Notes: The Flyers have won their season opener in three consecutive seasons, all on the road. Philadelphia is 21-16-7 in season openers and 19-14-7 in road openers. Voracek's goal ended a 16-game goal drought. Sean Couturier and Matt Read made their NHL debuts for Philadelphia, and Zac Rinaldo played in his first NHL regular-season game. The Bruins are 35-36-16 in season openers. They are 1-7-1 in their last nine. F Benoit Pouliot was a healthy scratch for Boston.
This program aired on October 7, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.


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Gaining representation in the U.S. Senate remains a glass ceiling for African-American politicians, despite significant strides in winning seats in the House of Representatives during the 50 years since the March on Washington.
It's a fact often overlooked after Barack Obama, the most recent and only the third popularly elected African-American senator in history, capped off a rapid ascent from state legislator to commander-in-chief in just four years.
"It's extraordinary when you look at it in the context that Obama was able to leap from a state senator to being a U.S. Senator to the presidency, because that's been far from what other African-American politicians have accomplished," said Frederick Harris, director of the African American Politics and Society Workshop at Columbia University.
"With the passage of the Voting Rights Act, we added significant numbers of African-Americans into the Congress, more adequately representing our numbers in terms of population in the country, but not fully representing those numbers," said Maryland Democratic Rep. Donna Edwards. "I still think we've made a lot of progress, but we've got some work to do.
How have things changed for African-American politicians in the past 50 years?
- In 1963, there were just five black members of Congress, according to the House historian. Currently there are 41 voting members in the House of Representatives.
- In 1963, there were no sitting African-American senators in Congress -- and there wouldn't be until three years later, when Republican Edward Brooke of Massachusetts became the first African-American popularly elected to the Senate.
- Half of the states have never elected an African-American member of Congress. Only 25 have ever sent a black representative to the House.
- Only three states have ever elected black senators --Mississippi (during Reconstruction), Illinois and Massachusetts -- but South Carolina and New Jersey could soon join that list.
- After Brooke, there have been only two other popularly elected black senators -- Carol Moseley Braun and now-President Obama, both Democrats from Illinois.
- Briefly this year, there were two sitting African-American senators for the first time in history, with Republican Tim Scott of South Carolina and Democrat Mo Cowan of Massachusetts. Scott was appointed to the Senate to fill the seat vacated by Jim DeMint's resignation, and will run for -- and is favored to win -- a full term in 2014, which would make him the first African-American to popularly win a Senate seat in the South. Cowan temporarily filled John Kerry's vacated seat before Democrat Ed Markey was elected in a June special election.
After October there's a good chance those numbers could grow if Democrat Cory Booker wins the New Jersey special election. Then, Booker would be only the fourth popularly elected African-American senator. If both Booker and Scott win re-election in 2014, it would be the first time in history the Senate had two popularly elected African-American members.
Records for African-Americans seeking executive offices at the highest state levels have been similarly dismal. In 1989, Democrat Douglas Wilder made history in Virginia, not only becoming the first black governor since Reconstruction but winning in the former headquarters of the Confederacy. It wasn't until 2006, when Deval Patrick won in Massachusetts, that the country got its second African-American governor. In New York, David Paterson briefly assumed the governorship after Eliot Spitzer stepped down, but amid scandal didn't run for a term in his own right.
The disparity is even starker with Obama's rapid ascension, proving that he could build not only statewide but also national coalitions -- twice.
"It's woeful," said Edwards of the lackluster success Democrats have had statewide. "I think part of it is making sure that we really identify as part of the talent pool when it comes to running for statewide office. Certainly we have people of great capacity in a lot of places."
Redistricting has been a key ingredient for the dramatic rise in African-American politicians in the House with majority-minority districts, designed to elect black politicians and boost their numbers. A decade after the Voting Rights Act's passage in 1965, which helped increase the number of minority districts, black representation had tripled and continued to steadily rise.
The formula hasn't been foolproof, but it's helped others get a foothold into higher office.
But to African-Americans, the key is winning outside of those districts designed for them to win, expanding their coalitions in those places as building blocks for larger campaigns.
"Ironically, in majority-minority districts, African-American politicians don't break out, mostly because they have to serve constituencies that expect them to target policies that concern issues on racial inequality which for many, if not most white voters, is something they're simply not interested in," said Harris. "It's the perception of these candidates that doesn't allow them to be successful as candidates."
"I think part of winning a statewide office is also the capacity to put together a wide ranging and diverse coalition that's built on race and ethnicity and religion and gender and all of the things that make us diverse, and that's a winning coalition," said Edwards.
It hasn't been for a lack of trying by some candidates, and often it's party, not race, that's been the barrier. In Tennessee, Harold Ford Jr., came close in 2006 in a good year for Democrats, but fell short. The same year for Republicans, Ken Blackwell lost a bid for governor. There were high hopes for Artur Davis in 2010's gubernatorial election in Alabama, but he was attacked as too conservative and didn't' make it out of the primary. Davis has now switched to become a Republican.
Politicians point to other elected officials who give them hope they can break other barriers, beyond hoping to keep an African-American as governor for 2014 and hoping to historically elect two black senators. Frequently mentioned as future candidate include California's Attorney General Kamala Harris, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed or now-Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, the former Charlotte mayor.
"Just because we've completed 50 years and we've made some significant progress doesn't mean there's not a ton of work to be done," said Edwards.


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As is traditional (last year's is here) it's time for a list of the best books I read in 2015! YAY! Because lists and books and favorites are all the best things ever. ❤
I read some gems this year, and though it was super painful trying to pick favorites, these (especially the ones near the top) make my heart explode in happiness just from looking at the titles, so I think they're some good ones! My list is roughly in order of amount of loving them, and doesn't include rereads. So here we go! (Prepare for much squealing…)
My top 15 reads of 2015
1. Broken Glass – Emma Clifton (in Five Glass Slippers)
So… I spontaneously reviewed this awhile back. And it's made it to the very top of my list this year. IT'S JUST SO PERFECT AND MY FIRST STEAMPUNK FANTASY AND ALL THE CHARACTERRRRRRRRRRRS!!!! Ahem. I just really really love this story! I want to read it again (and I've already read it twice). It's just perfection and bursting with humor and snark and great dialog and plots and sooo many characters I love, especially Marius and Darcy and Henry, and it's FUN but then it gets epic at the end and it's so British AND I JUST LOVE IIIIIIIT! ❤ It makes me grin and keep grinning and unable to STOP grinning, whenever I think of it. GAAAHH! *tackle-hugs story* ALL OF THE LOVE! *gives Darcy and Marius an extra hug*
2. Archer's Goon – Diana Wynne Jones
HOW. DO. I. DESCRIBE. THIS. BOOK. Ummm… I can't! *flails around* It was Diana Wynne Jones which means it was pure distilled BRILLIANCE mixed up with total uniqueness, absolutely FANTASTIC humor, and just ALL OF THE PLOT TWISTS. Mind. Blown. I can't get over it and it's amazing and I think I need to read it again right now. I still love Howl's Moving Castle the best of Diana Wynne Jones' books (I mean… it's my favorite book EVER besides The Lord of the Rings) BUT I THINK ARCHER'S GOON MIGHT BE SECOND. Maybe. Ahem. All of the characters are fantastic and the dialog and the humor and it's timey-wimey and sci-fi and fantasy and modern and super confusing and I just love it a lot. Ack. ❤
3. The Ordinary Princess – M. M. Kaye
This was, in a word, PERFECT. ^_^ It just makes me so happy. I can't. *beams and huggles book* It's a sort of original fairytale type of thing, feeling like it has some hints of Sleeping Beauty and maybe a couple others, but mostly its own thing. It was just a quick read that was ADORABLE and sweet and perfect, and I loved the illustrations, and the character of the Ordinary Princess herself was awesome, and Peregrine who I loved a ton, and they were so cute together and just alskdjljlsjk it makes me happy and is a perfect little book. ^_^ ❤
4. Illusionarium – Heather Dixon
I've been dying to read this ever since reading Entwined. Needless to say, I pounced on it. The internet is probably still reeling with the incoherent fangirling babbles I shared on this blog about Illusionarium… Ahem. So suffice it to say, despite the creepiness, that I LOVED THIS BOOK AND THE DIALOG AND HUMOR AND EPIC STEAMPUNKNESS AND ESPECIALLY LOCKWOOD. LOCKWOOOOD!!!!! *flails around forever and a day* Basically, Lockwood. ❤ I just can't get over that indescribable airguardsman snarky fiery epic trigger-happy roguish awesome Lieutenant Lockwood. (And he and Jonathan are a great pair. XD I love themmm.) (BUT LOCKWOOD. SO MUCH. ❤ ❤ ❤ )
5. The Pinhoe Egg – Diana Wynne Jones
Diana Wynne Jones books are always wonderful, but this one's one of my top, like… four? of hers? (Howl's Moving Castle, Archer's Goon, The Crown of Dalemark, and this, are my favorites.) This was the conclusion to the Chrestomanci series, which I started late in 2014, and read most of this year. AAAHHH I LOVED THIS BOOK. It returned to the hero of the first book, Cat (who is great), and there were shenanigans and it had sooo much more of Chrestomanci himself than a lot of the others (which is pretty much my one complaint usually, since he usually only shows up a little in the midst of other people's adventures). THERE WAS ALSO A GRIFFIN. AND CHRESTOMANCI AND AND AND ASLKDJFLK I just really really really love Chrestomanci and I need some fancy dressing gowns to wear around the house like he does. Except he has a castle… BASICALLY I WANT TO LIVE AT CHRESTOMANCI CASTLE AND READ ABOUT CHRESTOMANCI FOREVER. Because CHRESTOMANCI!!!!! ❤ ❤ Ahem.
6. Frederica – Georgette Heyer
After reading and loving The Grand Sophy in 2014, I wanted to try another Georgette Heyer, so this happened. I LOVED IT. The characters, just… aaagh! I loved them. LORD ALVERSTOKE. He's one of those kind of awful fellows who's sort of vain/spoiled, a lot like Howl actually, and yet he ends up being all noble too and just alskdjflklaskdj I love Alverstoke, he's wonderful. And his relationship with the heroine and with her younger brothers — just YES! I don't actually read a lot of regency historical romance sorts of things but this one was great. There's also an airballoon and a crash and all of the DIALOG, my goodness it's wonderful.
7. The Penderwicks in Spring – Jeanne Birdsall
AAAAHHHHH. I've been waiting for this ever since I read the first three Penderwick books (I even reread them this year!) and it was amazing. I was actually surprised because in a way it was so SAD but also the usual hilarious and just… I love the Penderwicks, okay. I LOVE THEMMMM. This family. Just. THEY ARE PRECIOUS. *gathers them in a hug* It was a little strange because it's years after the previous ones and the three older girls are like TEENS and Batty's 11 and… yes. o.o And I should have been upset, especially with all the sad, but I just LOVED. IT. SO. MUCH. Also there were like ten billion characters and the author juggled them all SO well and the writing is golden and ALL OF THE FEELS. I wish I could write like that. Basically I waited a long time for it and it did NOT disappoint. ❤
8. Conrad's Fate – Diana Wynne Jones
This was a sort of Chrestomanci prequel because it involves him (Christopher) when he was a teen. LET ME FLAIL. Like Illusionarium, it was a great buddy-movie story (as I call them; even when they're not movies… *cough*) and… Chrestomanci and the hero are so much fun together and I DON'T EVEN KNOW. But it was Diana Wynne Jones and I remember having so much fun and just really ENJOYING this! *flail* Chrestomanci as a youngster is just fabulous to read about, so sneaky but refined but clever and just brilliant and the dialog and I just loved it. ❤
9. Power of Three – Diana Wynne Jones
How. I. What. It. SOMETHING! *flailing* This was totally not what I was expecting and it was so DIFFERENT (something Diana Wynne Jones excels at) and PLOT TWIST! Wow. Also I loved all of the characters, especially the two who were like the hero (you'll understand if you've read it), and it just had a lot of brilliance going on! It was epic. It felt rather different than her other stuff–a bit more like the Dalemark books than her "fun" ones… But I still adored it. Plus, the flashback where the fellows were drunk and met Titch was sheer gold. *dies of laughter*
10. Plenilune – Jennifer Freitag
This is here basically because DAMMERUNG!!!!! It was EXHAUSTING to read and took me from Christmas till August to read… like really heavy chocolate cake. Or the ocean. It was a little much, kind of too rich if you know what I mean, but it was totally worth it for Dammerung. He's, like, possibly my favorite character this year. Possibly one of my top favorite characters of EVER. Like… HE'S UP THERE WITH HOWL, OKAY? Dammerung is just AMAZING and this monster of a 600+ page book of exhaustingly gorgeous poetical prose is totally worth it just for him. (And Rupert was amazing too. I have very complex feels about Rupert. Which makes me super glad that Dammerung is there to cancel those out because he just blows everything away with his amazingness). Like… he's funny and powerful and heroic and epic and just… HE'S LIKE THE COOLEST EVER. Dammerung has a very special place in my heart. ^____^ ❤ ❤ ❤
11. The Skin Map – Stephen R. Lawhead
This was an AMAZING book. Contemporary/time-travel/fantasy/sci-fi-ish/historical… it has a little bit of everything. The writing and setting and just the entire thing is STUNNINGLY well done, not to mention the cast of characters, each of whom I love to bits! Arthur, Cosimo, Kit, Etzel, Wilhemina! (I even love the heroine!) Just. Gaaahh. It was a fantastic book, and would have been much higher up the list if it weren't for something that happened in the last twenty pages… *cough cough* But I've actually gotten over that (mostly) and all I can think of is how amazing this book was and how much I want to read the sequels! *huggles all the characters* It was just a DELIGHT to read!
12. Stone Curse – Jenelle Schmidt (in Five Enchanted Roses)
I reviewed this one on the blog and just YES. Beauty and the Beast retelling, which I ALWAYS love… And RITTER! ❤ Ritter and his heroicness and humor and just aaaahh I love him so much! And the setting and the fairytale feel and BAREND the Beast, down to loving the heroine, Karyna, a ton as well. I just… Gaaah. ^_^ *huggles all of them* The whole cast of characters and their relationships… just fantastic. SUCH A GREAT READ! ❤
13. Corroded Thorns – Emma Clifton
Aaand I also reviewed this one (more Beauty and the Beast, yay!) and it's the sequel to my top favorite of the year, Broken Glass, and I sort of consider them one book because it's so interconnected, sooo I couldn't resist putting this on the list too! DARCY!!! Eeep. I just looooved this story and the characters AND THE ENDING WAS PERFECTION OH MY GOODNESS SO MUCH LOVE FOR THAT. ❤
14. Tahn – L. A. Kelly
This was the VERY first book I read in 2015, so it's possibly a little hazy in my memory… But I know it was an exciting adventuresome read, with some good stuff, and was a little grittier than I usually like but still fabulous. And, like with Plenilune, it's mostly here for one of my favorite characters of the year, namely the title character himself, Tahn. Tahn is the absolute epitome of my favorite archetype of characters, what I call the "dark guy". (I've heard "anti-hero" used as well.) But I really really love him and his story and it was awesome.
15. The Book of Sight – Deborah Dunlevy
This book… I don't know. It just made me happy. It was one of my first "random" ebooks I tried, since it was free on Kindle at the time and sounded interesting. I got so addicted that I've since bought all three of the sequels which are currently out (looking forward to reading The Poisoned Cure soon!) and already hoping the fifth/final book will come out soon! It's a modern fantasy story, and it just… somehow kind of reminds me of the sort of stories I'm writing with my Kedran's Wood series. I just enjoy it and it's about these kids, a group of friends, in a little modern town, and their dealings with fantastical stuff that they start running into. Also, I really love Dominic. But it's just a fun read, so… yes. It makes me think of sunshine. 🙂
You mayyy notice a trend*, which is that books are much likelier to be extremely loved/high on my list when there's a particular character I really like in the story… What can I say. I'm evidently extremely attached to fictional people. But I'd say that Dammerung, Lockwood, and Chrestomanci are my favorite characters this year. THEY'RE THE BESSST!
(*Whaaat, you thought I was going to say that the trend was Howl? HAHAHA. Fooled you. XD Ahem. Sorry. Howl does whatever he likes, and apparently that includes stealing the show in a blogpost that doesn't even involve him… *cough*)
So there's my list! Have you read any of these? (You totally should!) Do you have any favorite reads of 2015? TELL ALL IN THE COMMENTS! ^_^
Hopefully this next year of 2016 will hold some wonderful reads in it for all of us! ❤