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Waterfowl Protection & Conservation: Mangalajodi, Chilika Lake, Orissa
Wild Orissa's initiative supported by Chilika Development Authority & State Wildlife Wing, Orissa to script a success story
Circa 1996: Chilika's birds and people
Chilika Lake, indenting into the Orissa coastline on India's eastern seaboard, turns into a global carnival of birds, each winter. Migratory waterfowl, by the thousands, jostle for this prime wetland real-estate with resident birds, amid a great cacophony of calls. But on the fringes of this great lake, there has been, for long, an uneasy calm. As night falls, sleepy villages wake up: dark shapes slinking off, gliding in canoes, crush water lily pods into tasty morsels lacing it with a deadly poison, Furatin. Pintails & Whistling Teals, Gadwalls and Godwits feast, on what becomes their last supper, and die by the hundreds; canoe-loads of bird meat are ready by dawn for markets far and near. Furatin is the upstart: it's upstaged the convention of nets, traps and guns. But the killing is an ancient ritual, almost folklore but for the meat fresh and sold, that has visited Chilika faithfully like its moonlit winters and bird flocks.
In village markets, by the highways, you can bargain for a bird. You can also buy a dozen eggs. Chilika harbours rare waterfowl and water bird breeding habitats and that is where the eggs keep coming from. The rate for bird meat is pegged to the species and to the way it's killed. The supply lines keep running thanks to the fifty-odd poachers that come from each of the villages of Sorona, Mangalajodi, Bhusandpur, Kalupada, Chilikasahi, Jatiapatna, Satpada, Sundarpur, Kumandala and the like. These poachers know the waterways like the back of their hand and can kill a bird in their sleep. The technique is a hand-me-down, passed on like precious family silver; the skills, of course, are polished each passing year. The palate for bird-meat is as old as the killings. Orissa, like any coastal state, relishes its fish and the taste for meat extends naturally to birds. The taste for birds keeps the poison supply running and a skilled poacher can make unto half-a-laky rupees a year. The authorities watch helplessly, wary of local sentiments fuelled by politics. Conservation is a well-meaning word, at best, when Wild Orissa steps into the brackish waters of Chilika.
Summer of 2002
Kishore Behera, christened "Veerapan of Chilika", rows the canoe noiselessly in the weeds a little off shore Mangalajodi. Wild Orissa founding members are in the canoe with ornithologists from the Bombay Natural History Society waiting to catch the Oriental Pratincole and get a glimpse of her eggs. Kishore will ensure that. After all, he has caught these birds all winters. It has taken a few years, a slow, steadfast persistence, long listening and these boats to coax a gentle change of heart in Kishore and his kin. They guide tourists across the waterways that sneak between the tall reeds, wake up drowsy sentries who volunteer to watch over roosting birds at unearthly hours, and greet you with cobras in transit which they have caught and will soon release in the wild.
Sometime in 1997
Wild Orissa first steps into Mangalajodi. Heavily involved in poaching, this village will be an acid test for us. But the dark cloud of suspicion has a silver lining - a personal, involved effort might turn around this trail of poaching. Wild Orissa members start a long journey, a slow process of persistence and trust building. For long hours they listen, sharing with villagers in their grief and rejoicing in their happiness. The villagers open up with their problems, as they sit together in the remains of the day. The relationship matures, tested by time and tried by forces, forging a bond between Wild Orissa and the people of Mangalajodi.
Three Years Later (2000)
The DFO of Chilika Wildlife Division invites Wild Orissa to help contain the rampant waterfowl poaching. Working in tandem with the local community, Wild Orissa gains insights into the dynamics of this trade.
The first milestone of efforts is Sri Mahavir Pakshi Suraksha Samiti at Mangalajodi on 10th December, 2000: a committee for bird protection, constituted by Wild Orissa, whose chief activists are the erstwhile poachers. The metamorphosis of poachers into protectors of waterfowl has been an arduous task often fraught with danger. But when the bigger poachers like Kishore Behera turn around, this committee is empowered beyond belief. Poaching supply lines are hit, their resources dry up, information on poachers and poaching attempts helps apprehend offenders and, more importantly, the credibility of the bird protection body enhances manifold. Poaching figures plummet. Wild Orissa's efforts at Tangi are an example for many in the region. Kishore Behera, and his kin - Madhav, Madhusudan, Mahendra, Dibakar and others - have shed their past and played stellar roles in Chilika's bird conservation. Armed with the knowledge of the waters, they have been scouring the region with Wild Orissa and the forest department nabbing poachers, destroying nets and rescuing birds. Soon, the Chilika Development Authority, together with Wild Orissa and Mangalajodi's bird protection body, adopts a direct action program to accelerate this change.
A slew of direct action programs follow. There are poachers to snare, waters to scour, and tourists to take around. There is also coordinating with the forest department, assisting research, helping scientists from organizations like BNHS and creating awareness and interest in children.
These are busy years.
2001: Wild-life Week
The Mangalajodi experiment is recognized by the Government of Orissa when the Hon'ble Chief Minister gives the Pakhshi Bandhu (Friends of Birds) Award to the Sri Mahavir Pakshi Surakshya Samiti of Mangalajodi during the course of the wildlife week celebrations. The members of 'Wild Orissa', play their parts in this story to remember and enact.
Of memories and moorhens
Documentation on film of a varied species of avi-fauna records birds and eggs of the Purple Moorhen (Poorphyrio porphy) and Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum). The dinghies, double up for eco-tourism by the day and patrolling by night. Wild Orissa boats, bought at donated at shoestring budgets have proved invaluable for fishing for one-time poachers. With about twenty-five rupees of catch on an average day, they make a sustainable nine thousand rupees a year. Not enough, but a start, nevertheless.
There is a sense of urgency at Mangalajodi about conserving this waterfowl-breeding habitat. Perhaps only a few such spots now exist in India making Mangalajodi's Chilika priceless. Mangalajodi Ghera (an embanked area of 1.5 sq km), draws special attention from Wild Orissa and the bird protection committee as a crucial bird habitat. It retains water for most of the year, is protected from draining and boating and sees an explosion of waterfowl, resident and migratory.
The Government - state wildlife wing, the forest and tourism departments have visited this site on the heels of the spectacular turnaround of poachers and the efficacy of the bird committee at Mangalajodi.
Small delights too happen. Like the discovery of five eggs in a Little Grebe nest with which the tiny bird laid low a holy ornithological count of three.
Chilika Development Authority has financed construction of a bird interpretation building at Mangalajodi, apart from a Watch Tower and Jetty.
Mangalajodi wetlands are fragile.
Human traffic will hamper nest building, nesting and rearing for these birds. We have urged control and restrained overuse of wetlands for eco tourism. We advocate that breeding be cocooned from human interference. The movement is down now and it's better for bird breeding this way.
Oil spills from motorboats, especially if eco-tourism takes off, might be a nightmare for birds and the aquatic life at large. An early movement towards eco-friendly transport like sail boats will preempt such dangers.
We suggest using cycle rickshaws like in Bharatpur, to ferry tourists along the Mangalajodi embankment.
The involvement of locals, more importantly the poachers-turned-conservationists, in bird conservation is imperative.
We have already addressed the authorities to involve people like Kishore Behera in eco-tourism projects. Without them, this wetland might become a mirage.


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Staff Writer
St. Augustine Record
Mr. and Mrs. Al Korn, of St. Augustine, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on July 16, 2016.
Korn and the former Linda Johnson exchanged wedding vows July 16, 1966 at the First Baptist Church in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Mr. Korn is retired as director of engineering from Georgia Public Television in Atlanta, and Mrs. Korn is a retired pharmacist from CVS and Flagler Hospital.
They celebrated their anniversary with a trip to Key Largo, Florida, with their daughter, Traci Korn Resenstein, her husband, Scott, and their 3-year-old twins, Ian and Kyli, of Ponte Vedra Beach.
Later this month, the couple will take a seven-day Carnival Cruise to the western Caribbean.

subset: commoncrawl


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At last logic and reason have their own spirit animal. Ravens shed light on weird reasoning, but especially on the random statements that people make on the internet.
Is there anything you want more on a Monday morning than a logical paradox? Well, too late now. You clicked. And so you're going to hear about Carl Gustav Hempel and the case for scattered reasoning that he so logically made, using a raven.
Or rather, using a series of ravens. The idea begins with you seeing a single raven, and noticing that it's black. When you see a few more ravens, and notice that they are black also, you begin think that you might be seeing a pattern. If you wanted to prove that ravens are black, you would have to look at all the other ravens in the world, check out pictures of past ravens, and keep looking as more ravens hatched. A daunting task. But how else, Hempel asks, can you strengthen your case?
He puts forward that you have made a logical proposition - if it is a raven, then it is black. Put like that, the reverse would also be true. If it is not black, it is not a raven. So if you look at, say, a can of coke, and notice that it isn't black, and also isn't a raven, you have strengthened your case. In fact, all non-black objects that are not ravens build up your hypothesis. Saying things like "Ravens are black, the sun is yellow," is making a coherent case for a single statement - that ravens are black - even though the two things are completely unrelated to each other.
Some say that logic has no applicability to our lives, but I think this paradox shows us something very deep about the world - and especially internet culture. When someone replies to a post on a forum with a picture of an otter wearing a hat, when someone replies with a barely connected furious political screed, or when someone simply uses grammar that is so non-standard that it is unintelligible, they aren't being obnoxious. They're simply showing off every point you're not trying to make in an effort to help strengthen the case for the point you are trying to make. No need to argue with them, or snark. Thank them, wish them good luck in their continuing data collection, and move on.
Top Image: Harald Hoyer
Via EurekaPuzzles, Math Academy.


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Jump on the raft at Rafting in the Smokies outfitters and make a big splash on your family vacation with your white water rafting in Gatlinburg excursion. You'll encounter big splashes and waves on these exciting white water rafting in Smokies trip on the Upper Pigeon River. Those looking for Smoky Mountain adventures to fill up the itinerary of your Smoky Mountain getaway.
Come find out why white water rafting in Gatlinburg is one activity to do on your adventurous vacation with your church group, family reunion, or group of friends today at Rafting in the Smokies outfitters.
Rafting in the Smokies offers two white water rafting in the Smokies excursions for the whole group to enjoy. There no need for experience on either trip, and your trained guides will help you enjoy every twist and turn of your wild ride down the rapids of the Smokies.
Rafting in the Smokies' Upper Pigeon Adventure
Rafting in the Smokies has provided its white water rafting in Gatlinburg excursions for over 35 years. In fact, they even helped name some of the rapids when the first white water rafting in Smokies outfitters opened in the 70's. Rafting in the Smokies keeps this tradition alive with its Upper Pigeon River rafting excursions.
The upper section of the Pigeon River offers riders of all levels (there's no experience required for this trip) 12 Class III and 3 Class IV rapids, making this one of the most unforgettable Smoky Mountain adventures you'll ever experience. There's no need to worry if this is your first time white water rafting - at Rafting in the Smokies, the skilled guides will navigate the group through all the waves and splashes the 5 miles of thrilling rapids your white water rafting in the Smokies tour follows. Expect splashes, bumps, and waves during this 1.5 hour white water rafting in Gatlinburg excursion on the Upper Pigeon River!
This trip is open to anyone 8 years old or older or weighing more than 70 lbs. Life jackets/personal flotation devices are provided by Rafting in the Smokies, and it is required for all participants to where these on the raft. Consequently, all riders must be able to fit in a 58″ personal flotation device.
Rafting in the Smokies Family Friendly Float Rides
Do you have small children in your group or those who are not up for too much of thrill? Rafting in the Smokies offers another white water rafting in Gatlinburg excursion that allows to enjoy a more relaxing ride which boasts Class I and Class II rapids with only one Class III at the end of the trip. You and your group will glide down the lower part of the Pigeon River with your very own white water rafting in the Smokies guide, who will maintain the safety of Float in your boat down 6 miles of this laid back portion of the the river, taking in the breathtaking scenery of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as you go.
Like Rafting in the Smokies' Upper Pigeon River ride, personal flotation devices are provided for your group and it is required to wear them throughout the duration of the trip. This white water rafting in Gatlinburg trip is open to anyone 3 years old or older.
For any white water rafting in the Smokies trip, quick-dry synthetic material shorts, t-shirt, or a bathing suit are recommended clothing options, while tennis shoes, deck shoes, or river sandals are suitable footwear choices. Rafting in the Smokies offers its guests a shady picnic area, grills, swimming beach, swing area for small children, and nature trail for their added enjoyment of the outdoors.
Stay near Rafting in the Smokies
Guests looking to stay near Rafting in the Smokies and other white water rafting in Gatlinburg opportunities should take a look at Cabins USA's cabins in Wildwood Cabin Resort or our other Gatlinburg cabins which place vacationers near the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and all it's exciting outdoor Smoky Mountain adventures. Our nearby Pigeon Forge cabins place you a few miles from the park, but also provide shopping opportunities, exciting shows, and dining opportunities on the Parkway
Rafting in the Smokies Gatlinburg
813 East Parkway
Gatlinburg , TN 37738
Written by Brittany Tipton


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At OrthoSmile our team of specialists are renowned for their work with braces, dental implants in the "Aesthetic Zone", cosmetic porcelain veneers, ceramic crowns, Invisalign clear braces, and gum contouring surgery. Our dentist team have been educating in the field of cosmetic dentistry for decades and continuing to lead the way in the advancement of cosmetic dental materials, cosmetic periodontal surgery and cosmetic dental implant reconstructions in Thailand.
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of ceramic that bond directly to the front and top surfaces of the teeth. They are an ideal choice for improving your smile and have become increasingly popular due to their simplicity and versatility. With veneers as an alternative, there is no reason to put up with gaps between your teeth, teeth that are stained, badly shaped, or crooked. A veneer placed on top of your teeth can correct these maladies, simply and quickly and help you achieve a beautiful smile!
At OrthoSmile, we use 3 types of porcelain systems: Empress, Emax, and Feldspathic Porcelain. These systems are recognized as the superior porcelain systems available in cosmetic dentistry today. Our cosmetic dentists will help decide which is the best suited for you.
When bonded to the teeth, the ultra-thin porcelain veneers are virtually undetectable and highly resistant to coffee, tea, or even cigarette stains. For strength and appearance, their resemblance to healthy, white tooth enamel is unsurpassed by other restorative options. Because they are thin, light can shine through them and they take on the natural color of the underlying tooth.
With proper care, porcelain veneers will brighten your smile for well over a decade. We will ensure that your veneers are crafted from the highest quality porcelains and are bonded with the most advanced and proven materials available.
If you have teeth, chances are you are a candidate for porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are ideal for people who want to improve their smile. Popular reasons include worn teeth, uneven teeth, discolored teeth, crooked teeth, chipped/broken teeth, or a desire to have a gorgeous smile. Porcelain veneers are a conservative treatment, and can improve the color, shape, symmetry and overall appearance of your smile.
This procedure will require three appointments:
You will want to take an active role in planning your smile design. We will review the corrective limitations of this procedure and help you plan your new smile.
The second appointment will take one to two hours. Although the porcelain veneer is very thin, the teeth are lightly buffed to allow for the added thickness. Approximately one half of a millimeter of tooth is removed. This may require little or no local anesthesia.
Then a mold is taken of the teeth and sent to the lab for fabrication. In some cases, temporary veneer will be placed at this time. The permanent veneer should be ready in approximately one to two weeks.
At the time of your third appointment, We will first place the veneer on your teeth with water or glycerin to check the fit and color. At this point, the color of the veneer can still be adjusted by the shade of the cement used to adhere it. Once the color is determined and the veneer is ready to be applied, the tooth is cleaned with specific chemicals to achieve a bond. Special cement is placed between the teeth and the veneer and a visible light beam is used to harden the cement. This appointment takes approximately one to two hours.
Dental care for veneers is no different from regular dental care. Clean and floss your new smile daily, visit us regularly for professional care and maintenance, and consider wearing a night-guard to prevent teeth grinding while you sleep. If you're ready for a smile that can boost your self-confidence and enhance your image.
Brush and Floss as you normally would. Don't be afraid that you will damage your veneers by doing so. Non-abrasive toothpaste is recommended. A good home care regimen will insure the best aesthetic success of your veneer.
You may experience some sensitivity to hot and cold after placement of your veneer. This is due to the amount of enamel left on the tooth after preparation. Sensitivity is totally normal and should dissipate in one to two weeks. If sensitivity persists, please call the office.
If you are a known clencher (bruxer), please be sure to let us know. We may recommend a soft nightguard for you to wear to minimize stress placed upon your teeth while you sleep.
We hope that your new veneers fulfill your esthetic goal. With proper home care and scheduled visits, they are sure to provide you with a beautiful smile for years to come, ask us about porcelain veneers today!
Empress Esthetic
Case 1
Empress Esthetic veneers done by Dr. Kornthep * Results can vary between patients.
Empress Esthetic veneers done by Dr. Ken Kasidis * Results can vary between patients.
Now you can see that porcelain dental veneers are a wonderful way to brighten, straighten with natural-looking results. Contact us OrthoSmile for more information about dental veneers.


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Deepika heats up Filmfare cover yet again!
Check out Deepika Padokone in a subtle pose for Filmfare magazine's Hindi issue for next month!
Apart from gracing the cover with one of her good-girl avatars, Deepika has, as the cover explains, revealed many secrets she's always been hush-hush about.
The junta would do anything to read about her candid confessions about her ex Ranbir Kapoor, who has apparently joined hands (strictly professionally) with Dippy dear for their next film together - Karan Johar's Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani.
We would also love to be informed about their rumoured lip-lock in the film - whether the two are actually going to scorch the big screens with some passionate sequences or not.
Tell us what do you think of this serene mood of the hottie.
The Conversation (0)
Start a conversation, not a fire. Post with kindness.


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Olamide, Simi, Vector & Others Join The #EndSARS Twitter Trend (See Tweets)
Nigerians have found a common course in voicing out against the societal threats and danger posed by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The topic is currently trending on social media under the hashtag #EndSARS and the general consensus seems to be that the group causes more harm than good to Nigerians, especially the youths. This has caused people to call for the group to be scrapped.
Former Vice -president of the nation, Atiku Abubakar has aired his opinion on the matter and several music stars are coming out to do the same. The likes of Olamide, Vector, Simi, TJan, Baseone, Orezi and co. have lent their voices to the course for the establishment of the supposed anti-robbery group called SARS.
See posts below.
#EndSarsBrutality plenty suffer man de face. Guide and protect the people not make life miserable for them due to the pressure that comes with your work or what you going through at home. A man with gun should be mentally balance and well oriented
— Olamide Adedeji (@olamide_YBNL) December 3, 2017
People are not supposed to be afraid of the people that are supposed to be looking after us. A couple weeks ago, at almost midnight, my friends and I had a gun pointed at us for laughing. For laughing. #EndSARS#ActuallyTakeGunsAwayFromTriggerHappyPeopleWhoHideBehindTheUniform!
— Simi (@SympLySimi) December 3, 2017
Their boss had to talk him down! Pointing a gun at 3 ladies because of your insecurities is incredibly frightening! Policemen need to be mentally evaluated and checked before being handed guns. And they need to be accountable!! Otherwise, they can get away with anything. #EndSARS
— Simi (@SympLySimi) December 3, 2017
i have actually been almost home invaded in festac that year by sars. if not for the metal door. had my passport on d table playing C.O.D with my laptop open searching flights to travel we cant #EndSARS but we can make them accountable. @PoliceNG_PCRRU@PoliceNG
— #TESLIM (@VectorThaViper) December 2, 2017
there were seven of them with AK's that night. they came for d guy in the flat below and decided to pay me a visit too. the men come begin bang door with gun o. lol. #smh. so we were two young guys living alone there. when dem taya dem bounce
— #TESLIM (@VectorThaViper) December 2, 2017
wear face cap = #Suspect
wear hoodie = #Suspect
wear tattoo = #Suspect
ear ring? = #Suspect
male with braids = #Suspect
nice phone = #Suspect
nice clothes, why don't u have car? = #Suspect
young? = #Suspect
gadgets = #Suspect
Alone = #Suspect
accessories = #Suspect
fill urs
— #TESLIM (@VectorThaViper) December 2, 2017
Now u c dis SARS issue..they've harrassed me upto 7times..slept in the cell for 2days at PWD cos they said they are raiding..a week ago i got brutalized by police in surulere..itire division to b precise,wit injuries on my back..its sad when they say police is my friend #ENDSARS
— BASE ONE (@iambaseone) December 3, 2017
Just yesterday on my way back from ilorin with my team . Luck wasn't on our side because ? We met SARS operatives who asked for receipts to a car we hired from Lagos to ilorin. I was weak. They threatened to shoot my manager for arguing with them #ENDSARS
— OMO YI (@iamTJAN) December 3, 2017
Source – Tooxclusive


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Today, I have a special treat with another Fireside Chat. Our favourite fictional interviewer, Richard Dale, sits down with Lizzie Borden (from Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter), to talk monsters and murder. Plus, there's a quick peek at the book, Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter by C.A. Verstraete. Enjoy.
Fireside Chat with Lizzie Borden
"Welcome everyone, to another Fireside Chat. I'm Richard Dale, your host. Today, we have a most special and infamous guest, none other than Lizzie Borden." Richard grins with obvious excitement and delight. "It is a most delightful pleasure and honour to have you here, Miss Borden."
"Thank you. I am pleased to be here."
"Your story is been told many times and, dare I say, even become part of American folklore. Yet, the dark truth of the matter has remained shrouded over the years. I think our audience would like to hear your version, about who you are. Would you care to a bit about this tale of tragedy?"
(Sighs.) "I still find it difficult to talk about, as you may understand. That August 4th was a terrible day. You see, people have it all wrong." (Sniffs and wipes her eyes.) "I-I had no choice! I didn't want to do it. I didn't! But when Mrs. Borden came at me so… (Shudders.) It was ghastly. I've never seen anything like that before—and I hope I never do again."
"Before this unnatural event, did you believe in paranormal forces, Miss Borden?"
"I never believed in such things before. I had sneakily read a copy of Miss Shelley's Frankenstein. It is not my reading taste, but I had heard others speak of it. It's pretty gruesome. But you never expect such things to be real. Not at all. Not ever."
"Has it been hard, living with secrets?"
(Sighs again.) "I have been a private person, but with the attacks and murder of my father and stepmother, and then the trial, of course, I was thrust into the center of something I never dreamed would happen. The hardest part was not telling anyone the whole truth, the real truth, of what happened that day for fear of compromising the Society's work in stopping this terrible scourge. All I wanted was for it to go away and never threaten my family again."
Richard leans forward the look on his face intense. "Tell us about John, Miss Borden."
(Her face turns red.) "John? Mr. Fremont was a big help as part of my legal team and a good friend. He introduced me to the St Alphonsus Society. I don't know what else I can really say."
Any further discussion is interrupted by the arrival of a gentleman carrying a tea tray. "Is it time for tea, Jenkins?"
"Indeed, sir. I have a lovely Earl Grey today." The butler turns to Lizzie. "Would you care for a cup, Miss Borden? We have milk and lemon for the tea, and sugar should you take your tea that way. And some lovely cinnamon tea cakes as well."
"Thank you. Yes, I believe I will have a cup. I'm feeling rather parched."
Jenkins pours two cups, and discreetly withdraws, leaving the tray.
"Shall we return to the interview?" Richard smiles softly and sips his tea, not waiting for her answer. "What would you consider your greatest character flaw?"
"That's a rather personal question." (Clears throat.) "We all have our flaws, don't we?"
(She looks to the side and then dabs her eyes.) "My one flaw, my greatest regret, may be in not being firmer that my sister, Emma, not be so involved in fighting off those monsters. She just isn't as strong as I am. I should've insisted she stay inside and let me or our instructor Pierre handle things."
"Much of the world regards you as a bit of a villain, but your story is more complicated now isn't it? So I ask, do you consider your actions heroic?"
"I'm neither a villain nor a hero. I'm simply someone who wanted to protect her family and her hometown from the horrors unleashed on us. I wanted the scourge to end and see our family name cleared. I'm not sure I succeeded in that."
"What one word best describes you, Miss Borden?"
"How do you think your life would have turned out, under more normal circumstance?"
"Emma and I had plans. Once we moved into my beloved Maplecroft, we felt comfortable and almost free of the spirits of the past. We wanted to travel more. We both enjoy the theater. But life doesn't always turn out as you expect, does it?"
"Any violent actions aside, what is your biggest regret?"
"I think I've addressed that already. I really don't have much else to say on the subject."
Well thank you Miss Borden, for agreeing to this interview. It has been illuminating.
Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter by C.A. Verstraete:
Every family has its secrets…
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they'd become... zombies?
Available on:
Amazon, Print & Kindle - also on Kindle Unlimited: http://getbook.at/LizzieBordenZombieHunter
B&N Print: - http://tinyurl.com/hz6c8cz
Add it on Goodreads: http://tinyurl.com/hp9rvyd
For more about the author, C. A. Verstraete, check out these sites:
Website: http://cverstraete.com


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WCW: In love with Hailey Baldwin
1. Hailey Rhode Baldwin is an American model and television personality. She is the daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin. Was born on November 22, 1996.
2. Hailey is the daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin, the youngest of the Baldwin brothers, and graphic designer Kennya Deodato Baldwin. Her Brazilian mother is of Italian and Portuguese descent and her father is of English, Irish, Scottish, French and German descent. Baldwin's maternal grandfather is the Brazilian musician Eumir Deodato.
3. In 2005, aged 9, Baldwin appeared by the side of her family in the television documentary Livin It: Unusual Suspects and in 2009 she made a cameo in an episode of the TV show Saturday Night Live by the side of her uncle Alec Baldwin.
4. In 2011, she appeared as Australian singer Cody Simpson's love interest in the music video of the song "On My Mind" as part of her early work and several years later, in 2016, she had role in a second music video, "Love To Love You Baby" by French male model and singer Baptiste Giabiconi, a cover of the homonymous song by Donna Summer released in 1975.
5. The first modeling agency Baldwin signed for was New York agency Ford Models. She initially appeared in magazines such as Tatler, LOVE, V and i-D. Her first commercial campaign was for the clothing brand French Connection in the winter of 2014.
6. In October 2014 Baldwin made her runway debut walking for Topshop and French fashion designer Sonia Rykiel. In December 2014 she was involved in a photo-session for Love magazine, which also produced a short movie shot by photographer Daniel Jackson and released on the magazine's official YouTube channel.
7. On October 25, 2015, Baldwin worked as a TV host at the 2015 MTV Europe Music Awards in Milan, Italy, revealing by the side of Italian supermodel Bianca Balti and English rapper Tinie Tempah the winner of the Best Music Video Award, won by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis for the music video of their song "Downtown".
8. Starting May 2, 2017, she began hosting a new TBS show Drop the Mic with rapper Method Man, which features 4 celebrities facing off in a series of rap-battles.
9. Baldwin's first career aspiration was to become a professional classical ballet dancer, but her training ended due to a foot injury. She was raised as an Evangelical Christian and often shares quotations from the Bible on social media.
10. She currently has more than thirteen million followers on Instagram and is engaged with Canadian singer Justin Bieber.
Remember, good vibes only.


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The UK's largest and most comprehensive range of National Curriculum based interactive quizzes.
Every quiz is designed for students and created by teachers.
Over 3,000 quizzes (that's more than 30,000 questions!) covering 90% of the National Curriculum.
Developed specifically for children from Key Stage 1 through to GCSE (including 11-Plus).
Why Play Quizzes?
Quizzes are interactive and fun to play. They are based on a scientifically proven method of learning (called Active Recall). Active Recall embeds knowledge in the long-term memory more effectively than passive learning.
"Students benefit greatly from being able to take online practice quizzes. These quizzes focus on the critical lower-level thinking learning for the students. The students can practise these activities on online quizzes, therefore, freeing up class time for higher-level thinking activities."
Harry G. Tuttle writing in Education with Technology
Why Use Education Quizzes?
Since 2012 we've helped tens of thousands of students learn more, revise better and pass tests and exams with flying colours. That's why we're loved by students, parents, tutors, and schools.
"I would like to say thank you for providing such a fantastic website. Myself and my partner are both Maths teachers and use it on a daily basis with hundreds of our students."
What's In It For Me?
As a member of our community you get all of the following:
- Unlimited access to quizzes, games and more
- Ongoing record of your quiz scores in your personal account
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- PDF versions of quizzes with answer sheets
- Inclusion on weekly age-specific leaderboards


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In order to keep up with goings-on in the U.S. while I'm in Russia (where I'm writing this from), I bought a $60 WinBook TW700 tablet (on which I'm writing this) equipped with full Windows 8.1 in mid-January of this year (like it or not, Windows 8.1 is currently the only non-mobile OS with the full backing of Microsoft as of the time of writing). I think it has the greatest variety of ports for a tablet of its price range, with a MicroSD slot, a Type D HDMI port, a micro USB charging port, and a full-size USB 2.0 port. The screen's pretty decent, too, although there's under six gigabytes of useable disk space out of the box, forcing me to block the installation of all Windows updates but Windows Defender malware definitions to conserve disk space. So far, without using a keyboard or mouse, I've been able to post multiple blog comments, watch a couple of hour-long YouTube videos, and even check five check boxes in the Windows 8.1 File Explorer (one of the hardest things to do without a mouse in Windows 8.1). I found the separately sold tablet folio to be very useful for protecting the screen from damage.
As I've used this tablet for a month now, I think I am able to judge well the merits and demerits of Windows 8.1. This post shall focus on the demerits.
*In XP, Task Manager is used to kill unresponsive apps. In 8.1, Task Manager is the first app to become unresponsive. Instead of killing unresponsive apps, it is used to kill Modern UI apps. Even attempting to kill unresponsive apps with the 133 kilobyte XP task manager failed, as 8.1 does not appear to allow any new programs to open until issues with the unresponsive one have been resolved.
*"Closing" Modern UI apps (by dragging down) does not actually mean closing them.
*There being no easy way to shut down the OneDrive Sync Engine Host without a registry hack.
*OneDrive (which cannot be uninstalled easily) bans literally at least 85% of the Internet (also, links to it and uploading of the same content more than once). Yes, these policies are effectively enforced. Even if they're not meant to be. So there's never really a reason to use OneDrive for personal use, despite Microsoft's aggressive promotion of it (see above). Dropbox has similar, though much less broad and more vague policies. Google Drive has infinitely more sensibly-written and explicit policies, suggesting a greater willingness to listen to reason (this doesn't mean they always do so; just listen to some of Thunderf00t's complaints about YouTube policy enforcement).
*The LoveSummerTrue mousepad (a requirement in some cases; e.g., moving forward/backward without arrow keys in some video players, scrolling quickly in File Explorer and Control Panel, mousing over to find menus on some websites, dragging some items in some websites) is not built-in.
*8.1 File Explorer and Control Panel are terrible for touch. Checkboxes and scrolling are the worst.
*Modern UI only being able to serve a very limited purpose in desktops and laptops, with many (most?) Modern UI apps being unnecessary for large screens attached to computers with 4+ gigabytes RAM. Most desktop and laptop users do not even open one Metro app per day.
*The default calculator not having a quick way to convert square units.
*Having to go through some hoops to truly remove the default apps from the hard disk (Uninstall just won't do; you'll also have to delete some hidden folders and change folder ownership). Default apps include Health and Fitness, Games,
Zune X-Box Music, and Mail+Calendar+People.
*I found the learning curve to be excessively steep due to omnipresent Mystery Meat navigation. I'd never have guessed where the Show Desktop button is without intoxication, excessive concentration, or Googling. Neither would I have known how to move or remove Modern UI apps. Or fill half the screen with one app and the other half with another. The charms are quite difficult to purposefully pull up on a desktop without some experience, but are much easier to pull up (while actually meaning to) on a tablet.
*The Windows Mobile and Windows RT/Full Version Windows App stores not being the same thing. Mobile Windows apps are unavailable on Windows for tablets and desktops. That's just insensible.
*Related to the previous point, fewer and less feature-filled apps (for why, see above).
*No way to view exact percent battery left in Modern UI without installing a quite cruddy third-party app.
*OneNote requiring constant connection to the Internet.
*No free Office Online Modern UI apps (other than OneNote). Office Online is available for free on live.com. But why isn't it available as a set of Modern UI apps in the Windows store?
*The tabs in the latest version of Internet Explorer for Desktop are too small when there are more than about five of them.
*Internet Explorer for Modern UI not supporting extensions. What's up with that?
*The toxic rule that only the default web browser is allowed to have a Modern UI mode. The fact other browsers are allowed to be default does not change the fact this is a clear anti-competitive business practice, since Internet Explorer for Modern UI was always the best-established Modern UI web browser. That rule successfully killed Firefox for Modern UI, which was shaping up to become the best Modern UI web browser up until 2014.
*No screen sharing in the Modern UI Skype App (this is part of an issue mentioned above, but shouldn't Microsoft have some respect for what it owns?).
*The Windows app store having a more-than-decent amount of questionable apps (including a questionable "UC Browser").


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Start Date:
Realistic predictions of how existing and emerging anthropogenic stressors (e.g. climate change, pesticides and nutrients) affect our natural environment and the organisms therein are essential for targeted ecosystem management. Historically, scientific studies have focused on the effects of single anthropogenic stressors and single ecosystems. However, it is increasingly recognized that multiple anthropogenic stressors can interact and that anthropogenic pressures resonate beyond ecosystem boundaries. This CWE symposium unites research on various stressors and natural complexity, focusing on aquatic ecosystems.
Mirco Bundschuh (SLU, Uppsala): Effects of contaminants across ecosystem boundaries: Concept and experimental design.
Annemarie van Wezel (Utrecht University/KWR): Understanding and mitigating risks of chemicals in (ground)water systems.
James Campbell and Hans Slabbekoorn (Leiden University): Sound impact on fish: From individual hearing to population effects.
Alessandro Manfrin (IGB, Berlin): Artificial light at night alters fluxes and community structure in recipient aquatic ecosystems.
Ellard Hunting (Leiden University): Cascading effects of stressors on detrital food webs.
Milo de Baat and Michiek Kraak (University of Amsterdam): Innovating ecotoxicological water quality assessment.
Thijs Bosker and Nyncke Blomer (Leiden University College): Modeling population-level impacts of stressors on sheepshead minnow in the Gulf of Mexico.
Luc De Meester (KU Leuven): Genetic adaptation to a mosaic of environmental stressors.
Els Smit (RIVM): Water quality policy in a European context: Looking for the right tools to protect aquatic ecosystems.


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Chocolate City Boss, Audu Maikori who appeared in court today has been granted bail on health grounds.
It is recalled Maikori fainted in Lagos a week ago and was last night rushed to the Police Medical center where he was diagnosed of Respiratory ailments.
The case has now been adjourned to April 20, 2017.


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I am holding onto summer as long as possible.
Our last trip to the farmer's market had us splitting a basket of summer peaches with our friend. We sampled the offerings and found the stall that had the ripest, juiciest peaces. It was the stall we had been purchasing from all summer long.
Just as I am keeping up with the salads as we roll into October.
And while this noodle salad appears to be summer inspired, it is composed with plenty of root veggies available year round. Beets, carrots and jicama (if you can find it) along with crispy cucumbers. I also added zucchini, my favourite vegetable to turn into a noodle.
The recipe may seem familiar, at least it did to me, reminiscent of the Tangled Thai Salad from Toronto's chain of Fresh restaurants. The dressing is a bit different but still peanut-lime at its core. I embellished the salad with elements from Fresh's salad topper (puffed quinoa, goji berries, currants) more as an homage to the recipes roots, than out of necessity. The salad is fresh and vibrant and literally bursting with vegetables. You will likely need extra dressing as your vegetables become such voluminous noodles.
The recipes comes from 150 Best Spiralizer Recipes. While not a vegan cookbook, it is very vegan friendly. The recipes are broken down into gluten-free recipes, paleo recipes, vegan/vegetarian recipes and raw recipes. This means you can focus on a specific area, and ignore the rest that do not interest you. However, if you care to substitute your favourite plant-based protein (beans, tofu, etc), the paleo recipes would also be very accessible.
Beyond salads, there are soups, main dishes and even desserts. I can't wait to try some of the recipes like Bountiful Thai Tofu with Peanut Sauce, Kung Pao Tofu and Zoodles, Kohlrabi Slaw, Lettuce Wraps with Pineapple, Curly Jicama and Water Chestnuts and Carrot Pasta with Coconut Lime Dressing. I also would like to veganize the Southern-Style Bourbon Chicken and Sweet Potatoes. I think chickpeas could work well.
I like how the recipes suggest less common vegetables to be used in the spiralizer: turnip, plantain, butternut squash, kohlrabi and daikon while still including more common vegetables/fruits like apple, carrot, beet and zucchini. I look forward to becoming more creative in the kitchen.
Thankfully, the publisher allowed me to giveaway the cookbook to a reader living in the US or Canada. To be entered in the random draw for the book, please leave a comment below telling me about your favourite fruit or vegetable to spiralize. How do you use it? The winner will be selected at random on October 14, 2015. Good luck!
PS. I am sharing this with No Croutons Required, Vegetable Palette (for orange), Pasta Please for seasonal vegetables and Extra Veg.
PPS. There is still time to enter the giveaway for Food52 Vegan.
Twisted Thai Salad with Peanut Lime Dressing
Author's note: A bounty of vegetables is topped by a sassy peanut lime dressing that will awaken your taste buds.
Food processor or blender
3 carrots, peeled and ends cut flat
3 yellow beets, peeled and ends cut flat
1 jicama, peeled and ends cut flat
1 small cucumber, ends cut flat
1/2 small head green cabbage, outer leaves peeled and ends cut flat
1 clove garlic, coarsely chopped
5 tbsp peanuts, divided
1/4 cup peanut oil
1 1/2 tsp peanut butter
1 tsp liquid honey (I substituted maple syrup)
1 tsp tamari or soy sauce
Grated zest and juice of 2 limes
3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
Janet's addition: puffed quinoa, dried goji berries, dried currants and chopped hazelnuts, for garnish (as homage to the Fresh inspiration, optional)
1. Using a spiralizer, cut carrots, beets and jicama into thin strands. Pat jicama strands dry. Cut cucumber and cabbage into wide ribbons. Pat cucumber ribbons dry. Trim all strands and ribbons to 4-inch (10 cm) lengths. Toss together in a large serving bowl.
2. In food processor, combine garlic, 3 tbsp (45 mL) peanuts, peanut oil, peanut butter, honey, tamari, lime zest and lime juice; process until almost smooth and only a few chunks remain.
3. Drizzle dressing on top of salad. Garnish with cilantro and the remaining peanuts.
When spiralizing, you always end up with a little bit of vegetable or fruit that is too small to spiralize. I use these pieces to taste-test my dressing before adding it to the salad.
The dressing doubles easily and can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It's delicious on a variety of salads or as a dipping sauce for tofu satay.
Serves 6-8 as a side.
Courtesy of 150 Best Spiralizer Recipes by Marilyn Haugen & Jennifer Williams © 2015 www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with publisher permission. Available where books are sold.
Note: I was given a copy of the cookbook from the publisher. I was under no obligation to share a review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.


text: This is a time for exile. A time when insomnia makes sense and any light is welcome. This is a time when weather pauses for silent reflection and songs repeat themselves for fear of being misunderstood. This is a time for discretion and decay. A time to delete all you can until you are back to the body and soul you came in. A time for beginnings you can believe in.


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Early Learning Coalition has open enrollment available for a limited time; school readiness program
For a limited time the Early Learning Coalition of Santa Rosa County has open enrollment for school readiness child care for income-eligible families. Since we have not had open enrollment for some time, many families may not have applied, knowing that we have had a significant waiting list in the recent past but may need to apply for services again.
Basic qualifications:
· Family/Parent must reside in Santa Rosa County
· Applicant must be working 20 or more hours per week or be a full-time student
· Total family gross income must be at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level
· Child or children must be 5 years of age or younger and not yet eligible for kindergarten; and older siblings may be considered if younger siblings qualify for care
Our contact for anyone to call to see if they are eligible for child care is 850-983-5313 in Milton and 850-916-5422 in Gulf Breeze.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Early Learning Coalition has open enrollment available for a limited time; school readiness program


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Music's busy man Michael Sweet talked with Erich Morse of National Rock Review about his new projects, what makes him happy, and a glass eye.
The new Sweet & Lynch album, Only to Rise, will be released Jan 27, 2015. A new video in support of the LP will be released Jan 19, 2015. Half of Sweet & Lynch, Michael Sweet, was kind enough to give National Rock Review some of his time and take us behind the scenes.
"Our voices change as we get older, but I'm blessed to able to still be singing." ~ Michael Sweet
Michael Sweet: Yeah, it's going to be good. It's definitely going to be a follow-up to No More Hell to Pay. It's going to have a little different flavor here and there from time to time. But for the most part, it's a good follow-up to that. We're going to stick to our roots, give people what they want. We're not going to try to reinvent the wheel here at all.
You can find the review of the soon to be released album, Only to Rise, by National Rock Review, here.
Sweet & Lynch
Website |Â Facebook
Michael Sweet
Website | Facebook | Twitter
George Lynch
Website | Facebook |Â Twitter
Website | Facebook | Twitter
Photo credit ~ Tina Marie Enos


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An opportunity for those interested in co-counselling to find out more before signing up to the full five-day training course (starts in Guildford on October 19th). Event runs 10.30 am until 1 pm this Saturday, October 5th, 2013 in Guildford, Surrey. All welcome (trained co-counsellors and new people alike. Trained co-counsellors come meet new people and practise your skills!). Entry: Free (donations welcome).
Please contact long-time CCI co-counselling teacher Tonya Stewart on 07919 00 6845 or tonyalittlewhitefeather [dot] co [dot] uk for further details. See also www.littlewhitefeather.co.uk


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Vaping: Reliable and Powerful Distribution of Cannabinoids
The best-known potential medical uses of blow include discomfort alleviation for multiple sclerosis sufferers, as a treatment for glaucoma, an appetite stimulant for AIDS patients, and an anti-nausea agent for folks on chemical treatment. In reality, more than 190 conditions and illnesses have at one point shown potential for being treated with marihuana have been identified. We're going to be highlighting some of these uses in the coming months, and assorted medical users will comment in our blogs.
Contemporary studies from the Varsity of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and the Varsity at Albany, State University of Long Island show vaporizing offers safe and effective delivery of cannabinoids.
The UCSF study, conducted by Dr. Donald Abrams and co-workers and released by the journal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics in May 2007 compared use of (in which vapour is collected in a detachable bag with a mouthpiece for inhalation) to smoking in 18 volunteers.
The subjects inhaled 3 different strengths of blow either as smoked cigarettes or vaporized using the Volcano. The analysts then measured the volunteers ' plasma THC levels and the quantity of expired carbon monoxide, which is considered a trustworthy marker for the unwelcome combustion products contained in smoke.
The two techniques produced similar THC levels, with vaporization producing slightly higher levels, and were judged similarly efficient for the administration of cannabinoids.
The massive difference was in expired carbon monoxide, with a sudden rise in carbon monoxide levels after smoking, while "little if any" increase was uncovered after vaporization. "This indicates little or no exposure to gaseous combustion toxins," the analysts wrote. "Vaporization of weed does not end in exposure to combustion gases, and therefore is predicted to be much safer than smoking cannabis cigarettes."
The study at the University at Albany concerned a Web survey of just about 7,000 cannabis users. Participants were asked to spot their primary method of using pot (joints, pipe, vaporizer, eating, for example.) and were asked six questions about respiration symptoms. After adjusting for variables such as age and ciggie use, vaporizer users were 60% less certain than smokers to report respiratory symptoms such as cough, chest tightness, or phlegm.
herbalvaporizerworld.com wishes to offer you fair and objective vaporizer reviews. In our top 10 vaporizers review pages we give you a list of what we suspect are the finest available vaporizers on the planet.


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The three top selling books in April at Abebooks were a Larsson trifecta:
1. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
3. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
Ali Karim interviews the author of a new biography of Stieg Larsson at The Rap Sheet. Barry Forshaw, author of The Man Who Left Too Soon, warns that his literary biography contains (as one would expect) spoilers and that he thinks the author's heavy smoking and generally punishing lifestyle were more likely to blame for his premature death than a conspiracy (though fellow chain smoking writers would have it otherwise…) He also has this interesting thing to say in response to a question about Larsson's feminism.
There is no question that he was genuinely a feminist who celebrated strong, capable women. But it has to be said that his strong, capable female protagonist [Lisbeth Salander] is also a disturbed sociopath who is psychologically damaged. What do we read into this? Is it simply a novelistic imperative to render his heroine more vulnerable? My own personal jury is still out on the graphic descriptions of sexual abuse in the novels. I can't see an argument for Larsson describing such things in a discreet, mealy-mouthed fashion–and I would have thought it would be difficult (except for certain individuals) to find these passages erotically exciting. Basically, Larsson provides us with a remarkably high number of male scumbags to function as antagonists for his vengeful heroine. And I think–in the final analysis–he does it in a (largely) responsible fashion. But it's a difficult call … Sorry if that sounds like fence-sitting.
I have to agree that it's hard to imagine the sexual violence in these books as titillating; at any rate, if it is, that's more the reader's problem than the author's – which one can't say for the large number of thrillers that use violence against women in an obviously exploitative manner.
The Guardian takes a break from the election to report on various entertainments, including a Nordic film festival in Edinburgh.
Perhaps it's the long winter nights, perhaps it's their excellent road-safty record, perhaps it's the satanic strains of Roxette, but stereotyping aside, Scandinavian crime fiction seems to have taken over the world – first as books, now as movies. So if Stieg Larsson's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo whetted your appetite, head for the fresh imports on show here. Norwegian crime writers Karin Fossum and Gunnar Staalesen are represented by adaptations of their noir-tinged novels The Girl By The Lake (which was actually made in Italy) and Varg Veum: Bitre Blomster (Bitter Flowers) respectively. Alternatively, you can compare the Swedish Wallander with the UK version in a double bill, or revisit such overlooked cult gems as Jar City, Just Another Love Story, The Ape and Erik Skjoldbjærg's original version of Insomnia.
Who said they were allowed to have so much fun!? Then again, the election is so much not fun, I shouldn't begrudge them a break.
The Viking invasion of India continues to get press coverage; this week brings an interview with Hakan Nesser in the Business Standard. The Swedish writer thinks the boom in Scandinavian crime is caused by Germans reading such a lot of it.
Nesser is sceptical about the existence of any such thing as a "Swedish tradition" in crime writing. "The only thing [Swedish crime writers] have in common is that we write in Swedish," he says. Fans, however, will point out that the tradition goes back to the 1960s, when the husband-wife team of Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö wrote their Martin Beck series. Nesser (whose best-known character is the philosophical detective Chief Inspector Van Veeteren) counters with the observation that since Sjöwall-Wahlöö no Swedish crime writer had gained worldwide recognition until Henning Mankell (creator of Inspector Kurt Wallander), Nesser himself and a handful of others shot to fame in the 1990s.
"When critics try to scrutinise the Swedish crime fiction situation," he says, "they look for patterns… and find, because they want to find it, this or that which is rotten in the state of Sweden, and thus has caused this explosion of crime writing… Since Sweden used to be a kind of model society in the latter part of the 20th century, [they] like to link our literary hype to a fall from grace of the country." Nesser does not consider his own books to be making any kind of social criticism, though he agrees that some authors do. This is not a Swedish specialty, he insists. "You can hardly write a realistic contemporary story, crime or not, without involving the society where it takes place." . . .
"Right now," says Nesser, "we probably have the world's largest number of good crime fiction writers per capita, but please be aware that we also have the world's largest number of bad crime fiction writers."
Maxine points out that Swdish Book Review has just published an issue devoted to Kerstsin Ekman, whose crime novel Under the Snow and Blackwater have been translated into English. It has been a long time since I read them, but I loved the latter and didn't so much love the former. I look forward to the issue since my library (on Maxine's advice) has just started a subscription to this publication.
Incidentally, that periodical has published an article based on Selling Ice to Eskimos: Translated Crime Fiction and British Publishing, a dissertation by Paul Engles, who has kindly put it on the web. He looks at the market for translations, particularly in view of the recent popularity of Scandinavian translations, and compares the British market for Italian and for Scandinavian titles.
Maxine reviews Mikkel Birkegaard's The Library of Shadows, and finds that it's "fast-paced, exciting and readable, if a somewhat formulaic mixture of Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and Da Vinci Code-type themes," including a fair amount of supernatural shenanigans, which means it's not really her sort of book at all.
Rob Kitchen reads Roseanna, the first in the Martin Beck series, and wonder what it is about the book that gives Sjowall and Wahloo the reputation of being transformational. It has a much quieter, more leisurely pace than what we're used to today.
There is a sense of progression, but it is not driven along at breakneck speed, with an endless succession of cliffhangers. Instead the story meanders along at a relatively sedate pace, detailing how the case is patiently and dogmatically investigated, eventually reaching a relatively understated climax. . . . I find it quite difficult to conceive Roseanna as a book that broke the mould and started a new way of writing crime fiction given the vast quantity of work that follows in their path, some of which advances what they started and branches off in new directions. That said, it is a fine piece of work that reads just as well now as it no doubt did forty years ago.
Bernadette reads The Serbian Dane by Leif Davidsen and finds it fits the bill very well indeed, giving high marks to both author and translator.
The suspense built in a gradual, quite understated way as the date for Santanda's visit draws closer and you know that everyone will intersect somehow but are never quite sure how this will happen and what the resolution will be. The flow of the writing appears to have been expertly captured by Scottish born translator Barbara Haveland as the novel was a particularly easy and engaging read and I would recommend it heartily.
Dorte reports that another children's writer has turned to crime, reviewing a book co-authored by Lene Kaaberbøl and newcomer Agnete Friis, The Boy in the Suitcase. She considers it the best Danish thriller she's ever read and, while it's not translated into English as yet, she was kind enough to translate her review.
Photo courtesy of Global X, who had to start reading the trilogy in French because it took so long for the English translation to come out.


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Nearly four decades after New Edition burst onto the music scene, the R&B supergroup is getting the TV treatment.
BET's six hour, three-night miniseries, "The New Edition Story," about the boy band's rise to the top of the charts in the 1980s, premieres tonight.
The biopic stars Bryshere Y. Gray as Michael Bivins, Elijah Kelley as Ricky Bell, Algee Smith as Ralph Tresvant, Keith Powers as Ronnie Devoe, Woody McClain as Bobby Brown and Luke James as Johnny Gill, and is directed by Chris Robinson.
To prepare for their roles, the actors went through an intense boot camp with the real-life members of New Edition.
"It was definitely nerve-racking, but when you have them there, it's kind of like a cheat sheet at the same time," Algee Smith said during an interview in Pasadena at the 2017 Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour. "They can show you exactly how it's supposed to be."
• RELATED PHOTOS: New Edition honored with Hollywood Walk of Fame star
The movie follows New Edition from its humble start in the housing projects of Roxbury, Massachusetts, in 1978 to worldwide fame. It's filled with musical performances of their hits, including "Candy Girl," "If It Isn't Love" and "Can You Stand the Rain."
Unlike other recent TV biopics that feature the actors lip syncing to original music, the cast of "The New Edition Story" does its own singing.
"Everything that you saw on the screen, we re-imagined their vocals," said Elijah Kelley — who previously appeared in "Hairspray" (2007) and NBC's "The Wiz Live!"
But the performances weren't easy.
"We tried as best we could to match their tones," he added.
For Keith Powers, whose previous work includes "Straight Outta Compton" (2015) and MTV's "Faking It," the most difficult part was matching Ronnie Devoe's mannerisms.
"The main thing I focused on was his simple mannerisms in his dancing when it came to the routines," Powers said. "Ronnie has a certain vibe that I had to get down, and you notice it the most in "If It Isn't Love."
The film includes the highs and lows along New Edition's road to stardom, including contract disputes, Bobby Brown getting voted out of the group and the addition of Johnny Gill.
Algee Smith, a Disney Channel veteran who plays Ralph Tresvant, said the low points were difficult.
"Emotionally, it was just challenging," he said. "It was more than just dancing and singing, there were moments where these guys just opened up their hearts."
• RELATED STORY: Backstreet Boys say new album will be 'more sexy'
New Edition paved the way for other boy bands, including Boston-bred New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men and The Backstreet Boys, and the group launched the solo careers of Brown, Tresvant and Gill.
The real-life members all serve as producers on the miniseries, along with legendary music producers Jimmy Jam Harris, Terry Lewis, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds and Antonio Dixon.
For Algee Smith, having the original singers on set ensured the actors got it right.
"We gave our all to this, and we were fortunate to have these guys actually there with us, co-producing it and guiding us through," he said. "I want the world to see. I want our generation to see what the music felt like back then."
"The New Edition Story" airs Jan. 24, 25 and 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on BET.
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Billy Roberts And The Rough Riders – The Last Of The Originals
Billy Roberts And The Rough Riders – The Last Of The Originals – Album Review
Well…hello to you all in Australia once again! It is literally and musically ALWAYS a pleasure to visit this beautiful continent full of wonderful talent – and I always make sure to tell you Aussies just how much I appreciate you and how grateful I am for what an electric and exciting musical-scene you've kept up, especially over this past two decades. Though…all this being said – I was definitely surprised to hear the overall sounds of Billy Roberts And The Rough Riders…in many good ways, don't pull the fire-alarm just yet! Push play on Billy's latest album The Last Of The Originals and let me explain!
Starting out the new ten-song set is a complete rocker by the name of "Mrs. Jones – " and right away things got WEIRD for me. I rubbed my eyes and I've triple-checked now…and YES…I can report that somehow, someway – Billy Roberts And The Rough Riders do indeed STILL come from Australia.
The fact that this music ISN'T Canadian…not even from the North American continent…well it blows my mind! Cause you see…comparisons are going to come Billy Roberts' way in spades through the work of my fellow peers out there in music-journalism land…people will throw out Bob Dylan…Lou Reed…and even the off-continent giants The Rolling Stones…and they'll all be close, but they'll all be wrong…
There are two bands out there that I can certainly point to in the recipe of the blend of music that you'll find coming from The Rough Riders' amps – one Canadian, one American – BOTH a heck of a long way from Australia and the musical-mainstream…both staving-off obscurity only by true fans of something old done completely new. Those bands…are Canadian-legends The Headstones, and from the USA , we've got the true-authors of Alt-Americana from the band Cracker. The most beautiful thing about both, is that chances are Billy Roberts and his crew haven't heard a single guitar-lick from either of those bands – but the comparisons are undeniable.
Here's the thing…just so you KNOW how truly sick I am…
I've been putting off this review as a punishment to myself. I've been searching my brain for the name of the lead singer for The Headstones, for whom Billy Roberts is a dead-ringer…and I would not allow myself to simply Google information I knew was stored in my very own dome. So until I could finally remember the name HUGH DILLON – I was refusing to begin. But if you're Canadian, and you can listen to songs like "No More Mr. Nice Guy" and "Not That Special" and not immediately think of The Headstones I'd be shocked & surprised. The tight rock you've always known and loved is there – the drawl of the lead-vocals is definitely there…these are sounds I've literally grown up with echoing in my own backyard and booming from my speakers.
But truthfully…The Headstones didn't work out and never found that avenue that would lead them to commercialized success. And if you were to ask me…as much as I might personally love their sound & tunes – they simply weren't creative ENOUGH.
But the other comparison I've made to Cracker…is what makes things even more interesting. The tones of the guitars in songs like "I'm Gonna Get That Girl" or "With You" definitely sport the same style and comfort you can find in the playing from Johnny Hickman of Cracker. It's a very distinct way of bending those guitar notes and tones to really resonate with the heart in ways that can't be explained in words. But it's that authenticity and sincerity that you can definitely now hear on The Last Of The Originals.
Cracker? No. They didn't really 'make it' either. And if you were to ask me…it's cause they didn't quite rock hard ENOUGH or provide enough energy through their incredible melodies and astounding lyricism.
THANKFULLY…I now have Billy Roberts And The Rough Riders to now provide the BEST of both of these worlds in this new album full of style, full of rock, full of melodies and incredibly authentic songwriting. Whereas these bands I've mentioned didn't quite make it all the way to the top of the musical-mountain – I think Billy and his crew stand a much larger chance given this evolutionary approach to both of those unique sounds; and in combining them as successfully as this band has will appeal to a much broader audience overall.
There's an intimacy you can't fake that comes along with this record. Songs like "My Baby Gone Cold," and "I Was Young" feel like you're right there with Billy Roberts in a private jam session made just for YOU. The songs are interesting…often personalized but written in such a way that you'll discover your own life's storyline will find similarities and relevance – they're songs that you can connect with.
Where it gets a little tricky…is a song called "Davy Crockett And The Alamo." It gave me a couple of quirky reactions I wanted to share with you all. The first thing to hit me…was that instantly you can tell this song is going to be HUGE. With a slow but booming start…Billy Roberts almost takes on a similar role to a giant like Nick Cave in his stylistic approach to the mic here. Retelling a massive piece of history – this song matches the feel of this particular story through and through, and in that sense it's an incredible winner. Once the chorus came in…I did find myself shouting "I don't want to LEARN right now" at my computer, as my brain had already exceeded its comprehensive intake for the day. It was quickly ignored as this track progressed and really kicked in, bringing in an absolutely stellar violin/string accompaniment that really helps make this seven-minute song become the epic, memorable piece it becomes. There's a ton happening in this track, which is almost twice the length of every other track on the album, but with the added musicianship & feverishly-hot instrumentation, it certainly becomes the climax of The Last Of The Originals as it heads towards the end of the final chapter and last song on the album "Red Head Baby."
This final cut really serves the album well…bringing it right back to a place of alt-rock that has really worked well throughout this album. "Red Head Baby" is a dark & funked-out rock groove; once again Billy Roberts is in full control of the mic up front and commanding it with resounding presence. I'm a huge fan of this style of music…but I'm sure you've all picked up on that by now!
So…if any of my rambling has made sense here today…you'll at the very least notice that Billy Roberts And The Rough Riders have been compared to some truly original and groundbreaking artists and bands of our time; and if you know the references I've made and they've made music you've loved – it's time to check out The Last Of The Originals and really see where the future of this sound is headed. Cause I have the feeling…you can call it intuition…but I really believe that Billy Roberts And The Rough Riders are still just in the beginning stages of what will no doubt be a musical career with longevity & consistency.
Check out this album The Last Of The Originals by Billy Roberts And The Rough Riders direct from their bandcamp page! https://billyrobertsandtheroughriders.bandcamp.com/
Join the thousands of bands & artists reviewed by sleepingbagstudios by clicking here!


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"Before having kids, I had no idea just how much of my energy would go into feeding them. Maybe it's because my children are so active—my 12-year-old daughter dances every day, while her eight-year-old brother does taekwondo, swims, and takes hip-hop and tap lessons—but it feels like I hear the words, "I'm hungry," every fifteen minutes some days! Because our home is so busy, and I'm constantly ferrying the kids to their activities, I'm always looking for decent snacks to throw at the kids, and Slammers have become a staple in their lunches and sports bags.
As much as I'd love to handcraft healthy snacks for my children, who has the time for that? I've come to realize over the years that most store bought snacks – especially the ones my children want most – are not actually that healthy and I might as well be giving them junk food. I love that when they enjoy a Slammers, they're getting a nutrient packed portion of fruit and veggies that's giving them energy to do what they love.
When my kids were little, they loved applesauce pouches, so Slammers was an easy sell to them. They love all the flavors, and I love that some of the crushed superfoods that Slammers includes are things that my son would never eat if I served them up to him — such as beets, pomegranates, amaranth – combined with ingredients the kids already crave such as strawberries, blueberries, carrots, mangoes, apples, and banana. The fact that all these ingredients are USDA certified organic makes me really happy, and I feel like I'm supporting their growing bodies and minds with minimal effort on my part!
The crushed superfoods that Slammers contain are the exact same ingredients that I squeeze into my own diet to try and be healthier, and I already know that things like blueberries, acai, and carrots are immune boosters. The fact that Slammers has all that and now contains the immune boosting supplement Wellmune®, a natural beta glucan derived from baker's yeast, makes me even happier to give my kids these snack pouches. These days, our immune systems need all the help we can get, and living in the shadow of Covid-19 means that keeping my family healthy is top of mind all the time. Because Slammers are gluten, nut, and dairy free, they're also a fabulous help to busy families that are dealing with food sensitivities.
If you're looking for an easy, healthful snack for your active kids, then Slammers are a slam dunk. Pick up a box of Awesome (apple, strawberry and acai), Chill'n (banana and blueberry) or Epic (mango, banana and orange) to get your kids hooked on crushed superfoods with an added Wellmune® boost."
– Lola, mom of three and Slammers fan


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Advice on Scholarships to Study Abroad
Study abroad scholarships are a wonderful option for students who aspire to pursue high-quality overseas education.
This automatically makes education accessible and affordable even in the best universities across the globe, to the less privileged. While it can be challenging to deliver high-quality education to all who simply seek it, there is a threshold of the population that is demarcated by Universities and Governments to provide that much-needed opportunity to compete on common grounds. The financially less fortunate or the highly meritorious, can, there fore, apply for scholarships and funding to broaden their opportunities.
This automatically makes education accessible and affordable even in the best universities across the globe, to the less privileged. While it can be challenging to deliver high-quality education to all who simply seek it, there is a threshold of the population that is demarcated by Universities
Overseas scholarships
Overseas scholarships can be based on merits, needs, students, career and colleges. Connect with IECAbroad's counselors
to know more about both undergraduate study abroad scholarships and postgraduate study abroad scholarships.
Aids are offered based on merit, a scheme that primarily originated when top tier universities began competing with each other for the best and most desirable students. Following the famous words of Troy Miller, awards for meritorious students are being granted on the basis of their superiority in academics, athletics, arts, and even extra-curricular projects.
To address the supply of shortages and foreseeing the generic long-term benefits of stemming careers, often financial assistance is provided by universities to produce such talent. This benefits employers that often face a deficit of labour to perform a set of skilled tasks. Students pursuing careers in areas with skill shortages can get substantial financial aid. Awarded antecedent to various factors including academic, personal achievements, extra-curricular activities, overall profiles and much more, these scholarship opportunities are highly competitive and generally in the form of reduced tuition fees.
Financial assistance is one of the biggest conditions that makes students eligible for a scholarship. Monetarily less fortunate student groups are granted subsidies after considering their academic performance. Although, the decision-making by itself is dependent upon the monetary comfort of the students' families. Get financial coverage for your tuition fees, living costs and sometimes even costs of books, either fully or partially with study abroad scholarships when you apply with IEC Abroad.
Student characteristics
Students and their distinctive characteristics are considered when scholarships are granted. This could be due to medical conditions, race, gender or any other distinguishing parameters. Otherwise, known as minority-based scholarships, these benefits are meant to target factions that are deprived at some level. It is a way of providing them with opportunities, in the form of financial aid to contest on common grounds.


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Trump Regime Upping the Stakes in Venezuela
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
Replacing Venezuela's Bolivarian social democracy with US-controlled fascist tyranny is a key Trump regime aim in Latin America – wanting Big Oil able to exploit the country's world's largest oil reserves, along with Washington gaining another imperial trophy.
That's what years of US political, economic, financial, sanctions, and propaganda war on the country is all about, Trump regime hardliners upping the stakes.
Despite earlier failures, another US coup attempt may be coming. Pompeo made Trump regime intentions clear, calling democratically reelected Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro "illegitimate" – a bald-faced lie.
Democracy is America's deadliest export. Pompeo's warning about "restor(ing)" it in Venezuela is all the Trump regime's pure evil intentions.
According to CNN en Espanol, its Spanish-language channel, Trump may (illegally) recognize Venezuelan opposition leader/National Assembly head Juan Guaido as the nation's president, a coup d'etat if this occurs forcefully.
In April 2002, the Bush/Cheney regime forcefully installed Federation of Chambers of Commerce head Pedro Carmona as interim president, replacing Hugo Chavez, the coup aborted after two days.
Do Trump regime hardliners have a similar scheme in mind, Guaido their designated puppet? On Tuesday, Mike Pence contacted him, praising he called "his courageous leadership (and) decision (to) "declare the country's presidency vacant" – wanting Maduro's legitimate reelection reversed.
Pence expressed the Trump regime's "resolute support for the National Assembly (AN) of Venezuela as the only legitimate democratic body in the country."
For illegally swearing in three contested legislators in January 2016, Venezuela's Supreme Court held the opposition-controlled AN in contempt, ruling its decisions null and void. At the same time, pro-Maduro lawmakers boycotted parliamentary sessions.
Things remain unresolved in standoff. US and other Western media falsely claimed the AN was dissolved.
It's very much intact – in contempt of the judicial system, a resolvable situation if the three MPs in question, accused of gaining their seats by electoral fraud, resign or are removed.
Article 336.7 of Venezuela's Constitution authorizes the Supreme Court to "declare an unconstitutional default in the national, state or municipal legislature…and establish, if necessary, corrective measures" at the court's discretion.
In cahoots with the Obama regime and now Trump, AN opposition members have focused almost exclusively on trying to oust Maduro and Supreme Court justices.
In July 2016, the High Court struck down an AN motion to remove its 13 justices, falsely alleging constitutional violations for ruling against the legitimacy of three contested AN members discussed above. In its ruling, the Court called the AN commission "illegitimate and constitutionally nonexistent."
Under Article 265 of Venezuela's Constitution, High Court justices can only be removed by a two-thirds AN super-majority in cases of major misconduct.
The scheme by Venezuela's hard right in cahoots with Washington is all about delegitimizing Maduro, calling his democratic credentials authoritarian or dictatorial – a Big Lie.
Trump regime hardliners may be bent on doing whatever it takes to oust him from office, military intervention a possible option.
Following Maduro's inauguration, Guaido invoked a constitutional provision that permits transferring power to the AN if the presidency becomes vacant.
Is he part of a US-planned coup plot? Rejecting Maduro's legitimacy, he's promoting himself to replace him with "support of the armed forces, the people and the international community" – most of all backing by Washington if this is what the Trump regime is planning.
OAS secretary general Luis Almagro, a notorious US puppet, hostile to Venezuelan social democracy shamefully tweeted:
"We welcome the assumption of @jguaido as Acting President of #Venezuela in accordance with article 233 of the Political Constitution."
The US-controlled 13-nation Lima Group issued a statement, refusing to recognize Maduro's legitimacy. Caracas slammed what it called a "humiliating subordination" to US imperial interests.
Pence urged Venezuela's military to remove Maduro. Pompeo tweeted: "The US condemns #Maduro's illegitimate usurpation of power and urges those who support the Venezuelan regime, including security forces sworn to support the constitution, to stop enabling repression and corruption. The time is NOW for a return to democracy in #Venezuela."
The Trump regime's scheme may be to recognize an illegitimate parallel government in Caracas. His State Department called for "begin(ning) the orderly transition to a new government."
Opposition AN members illegally adopted a so-called "Transition to Democracy" measure, a coup d'etat attempt by any standard if invoked and enforced.
Efforts appear to be underway in Washington to oust Maduro by coup d'etat. If it fails along with other hardline tactics, is military intervention the Trump regime's next option?
A Final Comment
According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump hardliners may sanction Venezuela's oil industry, the same illegal tactic used against Iran.
How long will the world community put up with its bullying, belligerence and lawlessness? What the world needs now is unity against Washington's destructive imperial agenda – rejecting it, slapping it down hard, isolating the US in the process.
VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home – Stephen Lendman). Contact at firstname.lastname@example.com.
My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."


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My friend (and Tor.com novella writer) Rob Ziegler has a saying about a word, sentence, or section of a book which really blows him away: "That was so good, I want to punch the author in the face." Rob (one of the nicer guys in the business) obviously only means that metaphorically, but I can sympathize with the sentiment…sometimes you run into something so good that as an author you can't help wishing you had come up with it yourself.
Such was the case with my first reading of Ian McDonald's The Dervish House, several years ago. Friend and fellow speculative fiction writer (also a Tor.com novella writer) Brad Beaulieu and I had tapped Ian to appear on our podcast Speculate as part of our set of shows on The Dervish House, and when I sat down to read it I expected to react as I usually do to good work: intrigued by the premise, impressed with the craft, and excited to read more. Then I read the opening sentence: "The white bird climbs above the city of Istanbul: a stork, riding the rising air in a spiral of black-tipped wings. A flare of the feathers; it wheels on the exhalation of twenty million people…"
Well, I thought. Guess I'm all in now.
The opening chapter of The Dervish House, a book about Istanbul, begins with a stork. In fact, the first two paragraphs are about storks. And based on much current advice about genre writing—get the reader into the story as fast as possible, don't wander about the main idea, drop them right into the heart of the action—it ought to be an utter failure. Yet the shifting of expectations is so surprising, and the craft so brilliant, once you're well into the book it's hard to imagine it beginning any other way. This is very much a story about place, after all, and—like all of McDonald's books—it is driven by the seemingly endless and intimate knowledge of that place. "Istanbul, Queen of Cities" is as much a character in The Dervish House as Necdet, Can, or any other of the fascinating people which populate the book's pages, and clearly McDonald wants the reader to get to know it as much as possible. But rather than dropping us into one of its busy marketplaces or streets, overwhelming our senses and critical capacities, he brings us in slowly, gradually, spiraling above the city with the storks making their twice-yearly migration.
As the narrative continues, McDonald begins to bring in more details about Istanbul and its current conditions—sweltering heat, the sound of countless air conditioners and fans, the noise of radio talk shows as the city prepares for a big Champions' League match—and then the explosion which truly begins the tale. But by the time we get there, we have already been irresistibly seduced by the city itself, and we cannot wait to hear more of its story. It's brilliant in part because it is so counter to what we typically expect, immediate tension and conflict from the opening sentence. Instead it's calm, peaceful, and utterly compelling; we can't help leaning forward, with the stork, circling towards the gorgeously told story which awaits us.
I've had many people ask me, whether at a convention panel or in one of my classes, what books have most surprised me or blown me away, and of course my answer throughout the years has varied depending on the criteria and the time period. When I was younger, The Lord of the Rings amazed and inspired me; when I was in college, Snow Crash was one of the most stunning books I had ever read; when I was beginning my own writing career, John Gardner's Grendel was an unequalled tour de force. But in the last ten years, I don't know that any book has more gripped me earlier or more decisively than The Dervish House, and I know I've never read an opening page as striking as that one at any time. I certainly don't want to punch McDonald in the face for having written something that good—but man. Work that surprising and assured? I'll cop to being—just a little bit—jealous.
Gregory A. Wilson is Professor of English at St. John's University in New York City, where he teaches creative writing and fantasy fiction along with various other courses in literature. His first academic book was published by Clemson University Press in 2007; on the creative side, he has won an award for a national playwriting contest, and his first novel, a work of fantasy entitled The Third Sign, was published by Gale Cengage in the summer of 2009. His second novel, Icarus, will be published as a graphic novel by Silence in the Library Publishing in 2016, and he has just signed a three book deal with The Ed Greenwood Group, which will be publishing his Gray Assassin Trilogy beginning with his third novel, Grayshade, in 2016.


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Mountainside Realtor Featured In The New York Times
Mountainside New Jersey Real Estate The feature came to us organically. Our reputation in the Mountainside area of Union County New Jersey as the top real estate brokerage is growing very rapidly. As we prepare for the opening of our Westfield
Most Real Estate Sold In Union County New Jersey
REALTORS Everyone's journey in real estate is different. To make the most of the experience you need to find someone who has the experience and expertise that will make your deal as smooth as possible. Finding the right realtor that has
Youngest Broker, Michelle Pais, Named #1 Agent in Union County
Youngest Broker, Michelle Pais, Named #1 Agent in Union County #1 Agent in Union County Michelle Pais, "Youngest Broker Named #1 Agent in Union County," according to an article published by Benzinga. Click here to read the full article. More impressively, as
New Listing For Sale: 470 Cherry Ln, Mendham, NJ 07945 l Michelle Pais Group
by Michelle Pais The Michelle Pais Group is excited to present our newest listing for sale at 470 Cherry Lane, Mendham, NJ 07945. Please call Michelle Pais Group at 908-686-1200 for all questions and/or showing instructions! Taking full advantage of all Mendham has
House For Sale: 994 Woodmere Dr, Westfield, NJ 07090 l Michelle Pais Group
by Michelle Pais The Michelle Pais Group is excited to present our newest listing for sale at 994 Woodmere Dr, Westfield, NJ 07090. Please call Michelle Pais Group at 908-686-1200 for all questions and/or showing instructions! Picture perfect, expansive colonial beautifully framed by
Baltusrol Golf Club: 39th Best Golf Course
(Image 1) In naming Baltusrol Golf Club Lower the 39th best golf course in the United States for 2017-18, a panelist for Golf Digest remarked that, "walking through the clubhouse is like being in a golf museum." Numbers are an integral
5 Questions Every Homeowner Should Ask Before Hiring A Realtor
Are you a homeowner and thinking of hiring a realtor to help you sell your home? Watch this before you do anything!!! Sell your home for TOP DOLLAR Click Here
Signature Realty NJ Takes Second!
Signature Realty NJ - #2 Independently owned Boutique Real Estate Firm By Michelle Pais Today I wanted to take a moment to announce some major accomplishments on behalf of Signature Realty NJ! First and foremost, as CEO of Signature Realty NJ, I am
Brand Building in Twenty-Eighteen
Brand Building By Michelle Pais If you missed my first ever "Building A Brand" presentation last week at NJRESN, don't worry! As a professional in the real estate business for over 16 years, I have a lot of first hand experience working
#Agent2021 with Gary Vaynerchuk
#Agent2012 with Gary Vaynerchuk By Michelle Pais Just a two weeks ago my husband, Jonathan Steingraber who is now the Chief Operating Officer of Signature Realty NJ, and I spent a few days in Miami. We went down there for the first ever marketing


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READ MORE: Exclusive: St. Lawrence International Film Festival Announces Second Wave of Programming
The first annual St. Lawrence International Film Festival came to an end over the weekend with a closing brunch that featured the announcement of several awards. Big winners at the festival — which calls both the U.S. and Canada its home, thanks to its unique location on "The Fourth Coast," stationed in both Canton, New York and Ottawa, Ontario — included "The Sex Temple," "Sucker" and "The Preppie Connection."
"I couldn't be more excited that 'The Sex Temple' and 'Sucker' are taking home our top prizes, and representing the international flavor of our festival. They both capture our Beyond Borders theme in more than one way, showcasing stories that force people to reassess the boundaries of propriety, class, and legality. We are very proud that the filmmakers came from Sweden and London to share their films with us," said Bears Fonte, Director of Programming for the St. Lawrence International Film Festival.
Below are the St. Lawrence International Film Festival award winners.
Narrative Feature
"Sucker," Writer/Director: Ben Chessell, Co-Writer: Lawrence Leung, Cast: Timothy Spall, Lily Sullivan, Jacek Koman, Jacinta Stapleton, and Eddie Baroo
Documentary Feature
"The Sex Temple," Director: Johan Palmgren
Narrative Short
"Unspoken," Writer/Director: George Zaverdas
Documentary Short
"The Rat Slayer of Hillside NJ," Director: Andrew Keogh Ruotolo
Empire State Filmmaker Award
"The Preppie Connection," Director/Writer: Joseph Castelo, Co-Writer: Ashley Rudden
Student Film Winner presented by St. Lawrence University
"Face Time," Director: Sharlene Lee from Clarkson University
READ MORE: Exclusive: Ernest Hemingway Biopic 'Papa' Announced as Key West Film Festival Centerpiece
Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.


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Newly released emails from 2001 by the disgraced Penn State trio of former officials (Gary Schultz, Graham Spanier and Tim Curley) discussed Jerry Sandusky and appeared to reference Joe Paterno. Check that, they imply deference not reference to Paterno. As if to say what Joe Paterno wanted, Joe Paterno got.
CNN's Anderson Cooper reported on emails exchanged between Penn State University officials back in '01.
According to the report, Curley, Schultz and Spanier exchanged emails to determine how they would deal with child sex abuse allegations that had come up regarding Sandusky, who was convicted of 45 of 48 child rape charges against him a week from last night.
The emails show that they initially planned to tell the authorities about the allegations, but instead opted not to after speaking with "Joe." Now which Joe would that be? One of the emails shown by CNN reads:(h/t SB Nation)
"After giving it more thought and talking it over with Joe yesterday, I am uncomfortable with what we agreed were the next steps. I am having trouble with going to everyone, but the person involved."
Stories of a cover-up have emerged for some time, and reports of such emails surfaced on June 12th. However, this is the first time we've seen a paper trail that could further besmirch this high profile institution of college football and the Big Ten. Even the biggest "JoePa" apologists and acolytes have to admit that this evidence could be rather damning of Paterno and his so-called legacy.
And there is no doubt that he wielded enough clout at the school to have the officials defer to him on their decision. When Beaver Stadium was renovated, Paterno allegedly did not have the press box upgraded because of his distaste/grudges with the media. And when the city wanted to expand the airport, he reportedly nixed that- wanting the community to stay as much insulated and cut off as possible, as to further consolidate his power. If these last two stories can be verified, then it only further proves that Paterno was the man truly running the University and town. In the same manner Dick Cheney and Halliburton truly ran the United States for eight years while George W. Bush was president.
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site generating millions of unique visitors. He's also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Chicago Tribune.com, Fox Sports, MSN, Walter Football and Yardbarker
A Fulbright scholar and MBA, Banks has appeared on live radio all over the world; and he's a member of the Football Writers Association of America, U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and Society of Professional Journalists. The President of the United States follows him on Twitter (@Paul_M_BanksTSB) You should tooFollow paulmbanks