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" Genre: Junior Books / Author: Suzanne Collins / Edition: 1 / Paperback / 464 Pages / Book is published 2011-12-01 by Scholastic "
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'What must it be like, I wonder,to live in a world where food appears at the press of a button? How would I spend the hours I now commit to combing the woods for sustenance if it were so easy to come by? What do they do all day, these people in the Capitol, besides decorating their bodies and waiting around for a new shipment of tributes to roll in and die for their entertainment?'
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen lives in a frightening Dystopian world. Twelve Districts surround the Capitol, and the Capitol controls everything in the Districts. Ever since the failed uprising of the Districts, one boy and one girl from each is chosen to compete in The Hunger Games, a live TV show in which only one can survive.
When Katniss' sister is chosen for District 12, Katniss steps forward to take her place. She knows that the chances of her safe return are slim, but Katniss is used to surviving.
---My thoughts---
I bought myself a copy of this a long time ago, after seeing everyone going mad for The Hunger Games books, as well as the film. I hadn't heard of it at this point, so I didn't go to see the film in the cinema with everyone else. I loved the film, and I knew I had to get around to reading the first book. I received book two and three for Christmas, and this gave me the push to finally get stuck in.
From the start, I loved this book so much more than the film, which always happens to me. In the film, we see how difficult life is for Katniss, living in District 12, where the people are downtrodden, and food is hard to come by. But it's only in the book that we really get to see all sides of Katniss, seeing into her thoughts, about the games, about Peeta Mellark, and even about her best friend Gale.
Seeing into her thoughts like this, made me love and respect Katniss even more. We know that she's had to be tough ever since her father died, and the responsibility of taking care of her sister and mother fell onto her shoulders. She's never cared much for her appearance, as that is the least important thing in District 12, with finding her next meal the priority.
But just before the games start, the tributes must be prepared for all their public appearances, and in a strange way, this seemed to give Katniss a brief respite from being tough. The tributes are given stylists, and while Katniss doesn't enjoy being waxed and plucked, when it comes to putting on her dress, it's clear that she can't believe her eyes. She's never worn something so beautiful before, so for just a brief moment, she could just enjoy being a woman for once.
Katniss is full of conflicted thoughts and feelings, and it was great to get to know each side of her. There were times when everything was clearly becoming too much for her, but the thought of her little sister waiting for her at home, always gave her the little bit of strength she needed to carry on.
This book was quite simply amazing. It was full of action, suspense, tension, and even a bit of romance. If you've already seen the film, a lot of the twists and turns won't shock you, as the film kept mostly to the same plot as the book. However, there were a few changes that I noticed, so if you've seen the film and not read the book, they'll still be plenty of surprises in store for you.
---The Author---
Suzanne Collins is an American Author who has been writing for children's television shows since 1991. She has worked on several Nickelodeon shows, including Clarissa Explains it All, and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. Although Suzanne is more commonly known for The Hunger Games series, she has also written a number of children's books, including the Underland Chronicles series.
---Book Info---
Kindle Edition ASIN - B0083JCCX8
Kindle Edition price from Amazon - £2.87*
Paperback Edition ISBN13 - 978-1407139791
Paperback Edition price from Amazon - New from £2.97 - £3.85*
Hardback Edition ISBN13 - 978-0545405775
Hardback Edition price from Amazon - New and Used from £8.09 - £10.90*
*Prices correct at time of posting
---The Hunger Games Series Info---
Book 1 - The Hunger Games
Book 2 - Catching Fire
Book 3 - Mockingjay
I'd heard a lot of fuss about the Hunger Games, but as I don't watch much tele I'd got it confused with "Game of Thrones" and decided it wasn't for me. That is until one day when I was in a charity bookshop and I came across the first book of the Hunger Games, and after reading the blurbs on the cover I realised my mistake in thinking it was Game of Thrones and found myself paying for it and eager to get home and start reading.
What's the story?
A 16 year old girl named Katniss lives in the poorer part of District 12, the district which provides coal for the Capitol. Every year, the Capitol has a lottery type draw to see which two young teenagers will compete from each district in the Hunger Games - a battle in an arena where there can be only one winner so contestants must kill or be killed. This is the Capitol's way of keeping the districts in line. Katniss' younger sister was originally chosen, but Katniss volunteers for her place instead. She is sent off to the Capitol to prepare for the games with Peeta, also from her district and the son of a baker.
During training prior to the games beginning, a plan is hatched that Katniss and Peeta should act like they are in love - this could give them an edge in the arena. As the games begin and other contestants start to die, Katniss and Peeta are separated. She allies with a small girl called Rue and together they outwit their pursuers for a while. Rue dies (which is a very sad moment in the book) and not long after Katniss and Peeta are reunited. A few more contestants die and the two from District 12 are left to face a "last man standing" strong opponent in the form of a boy called Cato, who has been prepared for this by his district who see it as an honour to have children competing in the games.
What happens to Katniss and Peeta, do they win or lose the showdown with Cato?
My Opinion
Even though it weighs in at 454 pages, I read this book in four hours - I couldn't separate myself from it. I found it to be absolutely captivating and I hung on every word to find out what would happen to Katniss. I was surprised at first to find out that this book is aimed at a young teenager audience, but on reflection I can see why and how. Although dealing with the uncomfortable subject of children being pitched against each other in mortal combat, she has handled it as tastefully as most people would find acceptable for a teenage target audience. She doesn't go into huge amounts of detail about the violence but I feel there's just enough detail not to condescend that age of audience.
I became immersed in Katniss' struggle to stay alive within the arena and honestly found it gripping. The way the author has built the suspense is superb and I enjoyed the level of detail provided about the hunting and survival skills that Katniss has to employ in order to stay alive. The outcome of the story's climax is sort of predictable as there is a trilogy - and that's all I'm saying on that, but I did enjoy the way it ended on the last page and of course as soon as I put the book down I was on Amazon adding books two and three to my wish list. I've subsequently found out that there is a film - one more for the wish list!
I thought this book has all the required plot ingredients of a damn fine and memorable story - romance, death, suspense, terror, tragedy, a good versus evil power struggle, a rags to riches side plot, a heroine and hero that leaves the reader rooting for them etc. If I was to sum those plot ingredients, I would compare it to a version of the Lord of the Rings that appeals to more than just geeky blokes (I count myself in that category!) with a little bit of Star Wars and Bear Grylls thrown in. An odd sounding mix perhaps, but the end result is fantastic.
I'm looking forward to my eldest daughter being old enough to read this without being too upset by the fact that children are dying; I've noticed that the age certificate on the film is a 12 rating so I might let my little reader have a look at the books then. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a gripping read, please don't be put off by the teenage fiction genre. I'm glad I gave it a chance, I haven't enjoyed a book as much as this one in a long time. Five stars from me, thanks for reading.
Available on Amazon for £4.68 brand new
I'm a bit behind when it comes to popular books and films sometimes, but seeing a trainer for the new Hunger Games film reminded me that I hadn't read the first book yet (or saw the film) so I decided to download a sample of the first book, just in case I didn't like it before paying for the full book. My worries were unfounded though, and almost instantly I was hooked.
I knew a bit about the story before I started reading it, but even if you knew nothing about the story, the author does a fantastic job of setting the scent and explaining what is happening and why. The author has states that her inspiration for the books was channel surfing one evening. One channel was showing a reality TV show and another was showing footage from the Iraq war, and the idea was born.
The story is told from the viewpoint of Katniss Everdeen, a 16 year old who lives with her mother and younger sister Prim in the area of District 12. Due to the severe poverty that they are forced to live in, Katniss is forced to hunt and scavenge for food for her family.
The book is set in what seems to be a post apocalyptic America, where the wealthy Capitol controls the 12 poorer districts of the country. As a punishment for a past rebellion, each year the Capitol holds The Hunger Games where one girl and one boy from each district aged between 12 - 18 fight to the death until only one individual remains. These competitors in the games are known as Tributes.
At the start of the book, Katniss and her family are getting ready for The Hunger Games, which is compulsory viewing for everyone in the Districts. Effie Trinket, the escort for District 12's 'tributes' starts with her catchphrase "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour!"
However, the odds were not in Katniss's favour, Or rather her younger sister's favour. When she hears her sister's name called out, Katniss does the only thing she can do - and volunteers to take her younger sister's place.
As well as Katniss volunteering, Peeta Mellark, a former schoolmate of Katniss is also chosen. They seem to be an instant success, but how much will that help when the games get underway? A very unexpected change to the rules comes into play which could save Katniss, but will it be enough? Or will it bring more problems for her?
This book had me hooked from the start. It is a fast paced novel, but the author does take the time to set the scenes. One thing that I really liked about this book was the lack of descriptions of the violence and bloodshed in the Hunger Games. After reading some other books with graphic descriptions, it was refreshing to read a book where the violence was implied rather than described and the reader can form their own picture of the goings on.
I found the book very touching in places. The love between Katniss and her family seemed so real and the section where she decided it was a good thing that she hadn't drowned her sister's cat, as the cat would provide comfort almost had me in tears. I felt sorry for Katniss, and I was really hoping that she could overcome all the obstacles and be happy. Some important issues are covered through this book. Greed and corruption is a central issue and the poverty that some people are forced to live in does seem very realistic. While parts of the book are very much fictional, the poverty and the lengths people go to to find food seems worryingly real.
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone. I'm not a fan of fantasy thrillers, but this book had me hooked from the start. I read it in two days, as I was so keen to read on and find out what happens. Even though I knew what the ending would be, there were moments where I wondered how that could ever happen. The book had its thrilling, exciting moments, moments of tension, poignant moments, happy and funny moments and characters that you can't help but like.
While the ending is abrupt, it's understandable as this is only the first book in a trilogy, and I am definitely going to read the rest of the trilogy. I will also watch the film the first chance I get.
My copy cost me £2.87 for the Kindle version, but it is available as a paperback for a similar price.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
The Storyline.
As the 74th annual Hunger Games approach, every boy and girl across each of the 12 districts holds their breath. Each district will hold a 'Reaping' in which both a male and female tribute will be chosen from all those aged between 12 and 18. It is the tributes job to head to the glitzy, glamorous Capitol and represent their District in the annual televised fight to the death. Friends become enemies, allegiances become deadly and moral lines become blurred as the annual event evolves into a blood soaked battle for survival, there can be only one winner and this year Katniss Everdeen needs it to be her.
Forced to watch their beloved children battle to the death in an entertainment driven television show causes unease throughout all of Panem's twelve Districts but rebellion, defiance and an uprising are not an option, the destruction of the rebellious District 13 and the power of the Capitol holds the citizens of Panem firmly in their place. They watch as the tributes destory one another, each District hoping that one of their children will return a Victor, that their loved one will return home.
In a society dejected and abandoned how do you remain hopeful? And in 'The Arena' alongside 23 other tributes all desperate to survive how do you stay alive or more importantly how do you die with dignity, grace and your morals intact?
Join us for the 74th annual Hunger Games and remember, let the odds be ever in your favour.
The Review.
I fought reading this book for quite a while. I had heard it compared to Twilight (hated the films, haven't read the books) and having seen the first Hunger Games film and not finding it particularly outstanding I resisted reading the book until I had nothing better to do. I picked up the book whilst on holiday and didn't put it down until the week was over. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I hang by head in shame at truly 'judging a book by it's cover'.
The Hunger Games is described as being 'teen fiction' and so I found it quite an easy read in terms of language choices and sentence structure but the concept I found quite adult. Some may find the concept of teenagers fighting to the death to be the most disturbing part of this book for I personally found the Capitol's control of the twelve Districts more concerning. In a modern society of reality TV, self made celebrities and advances in psychology, weaponry and other such disciplines, just how far away are we from our own version of The Hunger Games? That is the scary part for me. The book has a strong storyline, that has been well thought out and well executed.
Having said that though I found the Capitol, District 12 and Panem in general to be far enough away from reality to be enjoyable. They were well drawn and the systems, rules and connections between the Districts and the Capitol were well explained as opposed to the film, where I felt things got a little confusing for those not already familiar with the world of Panem. The characters throughout the novel were easy to relate to and their motivations were easy to understand, even the more viscious and brutal characters had threads of humanity running through them.
The main characters of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are much more likeable throughout the book than they are the film. The contrast between the hardened, restrained Katniss and the loveable, doe- eyed Peeta makes for great chemistry between lead characters. The more minor characters are also well explained and no one fades into the background. The interactions between characters build excitement and tension in equal measure. I felt like I was part of District 12, I felt the excitement, the terror and the sadness.
The physical surroundings are described precisely and without excess description. I know the layout of the Arena, I know the woods just outside of District 12's border and I know the coal dusted streets of District 12, the hustle and bustle of the illegal trading scene and the sweet smell of the Bakers shop. I believe that such a place exists, this book is so well written.
I found the novel slower in pace to start with but I found that necessary as it led to a greater understanding of the dystopian world that the characters inhabit. Once inside the Arena the novel became fast paced and exciting, I connected with characters, I felt the tension in the air and I whipped through the pages. I didn't just want to know what happened next- I needed to know- a significant indicator of a good book!
Overall the Hunger Games is a fantastic 'teen' exploration of a dystopian world. I use the term 'teen' as I found it tame in comparison to my favourite books such Clockwork Orange, 1984 etc. but it is a very enjoyable book in it's own right. Suzanne Collins has done a fantastic job in creating a believable world inhabited by believable characters and I can't wait to continue reading, in fact I'm off to read the second book right now.....
I was given this book by a friend some time ago, before Books 2 & 3 were published, and although I had misgivings I found it to be one of the best books I've ever read!
(I've recently seen the movie which was fantastic- a great representation, and well worth watching whether you have read the book or not. )
I noticed that it was "Teen" fiction - the only other recent fiction of this type that I had read was Phillip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy, and to be perfectly honest, I read THG to be polite, thinking that it wouldn't be my thing at all.
However, the book was a most original and thought-provoking story!
Set in the country of "Panem" (I assume America, "Pan-Am?) the vast majority of the population live in austere poverty amongst the 12 Districts, each producing goods and consumables for the rich, privileged people of the Capital.
Years ago the Districts rebelled and as a punishment, District 13 was destroyed and every year the other Districts must send two "Tributes" (one boy and one girl) to contribute in "The Hunger Games", a televised reality show, where the winner (Victor) is the last remaining survivor.
16 year old Katniss Everdene lives in District 12 the coal producing District, where life is particularly harsh.
Her father was killed in a mining accident, so Katniss provides for her young sister Primrose and her mother (who appears to have suffered a breakdown after her father's death) by hunting and gathering, and risking her own safety.
As the 74th Hunger Games approach, the Districts gather for the "Reaping", the choosing of the Tributes, drawn from the names of all children between 12 and 18. Peeta, the son of a local baker is chosen, as is Primrose - and instantly Katniss volunteers to take her place.
Peeta and Katniss are taken on a luxury train to the Capital in the company of Haymitch, District 12's only Victor. Middle-age and drunk, Haymitch is scarred forever by his experience, and initially Katniss is hostile to him.
The pair receive training, have make-overs and participate in TV interviews and an elaborate opening ceremony before being transported to the Arena, a purpose-built landscape where the games will be played out with all aspects televised. Genetically-engineered creatures and a treacherous environment all contribute to the danger as the 24 children are pitted against each other in a bloody and violent fight for survival - and victory.
"The Hunger Games" is a frightening reflection of the current taste for TV reality shows, combined with the disturbing potential of powerful governing elite. It suggests so much about society and celebrity culture of today, and along with the sinister influence of superpowers, the reader wonders how far away we actually all are from "The Arena".
Once the characters and the situation where established, I could not stop reading. It was slow to start, but this only added to the tension and the action. The book is incredibly stark and brutal - but moving, especially through the personal journeys of the main characters.
It might not be suitable for sensitive younger teens, and even as an adult reader I was shaken by much of the graphic descriptions of conflict and death (these are just kids!) but it is uncompromising in its portrayal of the savagery of the concept.
A really exceptional read!
I was recommended to try this book by various people who all said it was a real page turner. If I would have read the blurb I probably wouldn't have bothered with it as it isn't the kind of book that I would normally read but I am really glad that I listened to peoples' recommendations and read this as I think it is an outstanding book which is rather abstract but fantastically written. It really did leave me wanting to keep on reading.
The book tells of Katniss who is a teenage girl living in District 12. It is set at some point in the future although when exactly is never mentioned and it's details like this that aren't really relevant and leave you, the reader, with the chance to fill in the blanks. District 12 is part of what was America. It is broken down into twelve districts which are all under the power of The Capitol. The Capitol use propaganda to influence the districts and to keep them 'under control'. There was a time when the districts tried to revolt but The Capitol enforced stricter rules and even blew District 13 to pieces leaving just 12 districts. Now, to remind them of how they should not revolt every year The Capitol hosts The Hunger Games.
The Hunger Games is where two children from each district- a boy and a girl- are called up to an arena to fight it out. Only one can survive and then return to their district with enough food to keep them comfortable for the rest of their lives and a new house set in their district's very own 'Victor's Village'. This is no ordinary arena- this is a huge place with forests, rivers and all kinds of things all of which are under the capitol's control- they can turn the temperature down to below freezing, can drain the rivers of water and can send dangerous insects in to cause chaos. On top of all this The Games are televised. It is riviting viewing for members of The Capitol who look forward to this event every year and can pledge money to help send in various equipment to help their preferred candidate. Contestents don't just think about surviving but about how they come across on the television with the hope that they may appeal to viewers who could potentially help them.
Katniss is the unfortunate candidate for the 74th Hunger Games and she enters the arena alongside Peeta- the son of a local baker who she has various members of throughout her childhood. Whilst in the arena Katniss has to put all of her strength to the test and try to survive. She has to learn to kill and work out how to manipulate the audience in order to hope to appeal. There are various twists and turns throughout the book as The Capitol decide to spice things up by changing the rules.
The question is will Katniss survive? And will she have the heart to kill the other contestents who are just like her- poor, unfortunate children from other districts?
What I loved about this book was that it was so very well described that you could picture the arena, feel the fear of the contestents and really felt passionate towards them and willing them to survive. It covered a lot of ground- the politics of the whole of this country, the rather sick desire the public have to see people suffer on reality television, the relationship between Katniss and her friends and family back home and futuristic ideas. Despite so much ground being covered I didn't feel as though it was just one whole book full of descriptions or as though I was being lectured at, instead it was written in such a way that so much information was absorbed in a natural way throughout the story.
It made me think about programmes that we watch such as Big Brother and I'm A Celebrity, how we like to see people get pushed to what we consider to be the limit in order to make for good entertainment. This book is like taking that to the extreme. It also makes me think about the various countries out there that are being ruled by various propaganda and how, in some ways, the events in this book are quite real.
This was an extremely readable book. I was told before reading it to have an open mind as it's quite abstract but I didn't feel as though that made it difficult to read. I thought it was completely absorbing, it really was a book which was full of escapism as I could read it and feel as though I was in the book and lose myself in the story for a while. I haven't read a book like this before and now it's made me realise that this genre of book can really be enjoyed.
There are two other books in this series and I am just beginning the second one. I am enjoying this one just as much so far and can't wait to see where it ends up.
I am really glad that I gave this book a try, it's definitely a very different read and one which will stay with me for a long time which is something that I think shows the sign of a good book. I definitely recommend this to everyone whether you're looking for a book to take on holiday with you or just a general read, it's fantastic!
I have not seen the movie yet but have just finished reading the first part of this trilogy. I was sucked in by all the hype surrounding this trilogy and managed to get an excellent deal on the books at a charity event - just a pound for each book!
It took me a while before I finally got round to reading the first book - The Hunger Games - and it took me even longer to finish reading the book. That's not because it wasn't a pleasure to read but more because I have a really busy lifestyle. The book itself was a joy to read and The Hunger Games is most definitely a page turner.
The story is set in the future and in a nation called Panem. This is actually a collection of the states of the 'old' North America but we soon see that life is very different to the way it is now. Every year, there is an event called the Hunger Games which is organised by the national political government called the Capitol. These brutal games have no real rules - the only rule is that you must do whatever it takes to survive. A boy and girl from each 'district' in Panem (there are 12 in total) is entered in to the games each year and only one can win. Every other 'contestant' dies. The Games are a way for the Capitol to show the people of Panem who is in charge.
The story is narrated by a girl from District 12 - Katniss. She is entered in to the Games alongside a boy she barely knows and who goes by the names of Peeta. Those who are entered in to the Games are done so by a lottery and are referred to as 'tributes' following selection. After selection, the tributes from each district are trained alongside all the other tributes from the other 11 districts in preparation for the Games.
That's all I'm going to say on the storyline as I don't want to ruin it for anyone. But I will say that this is a very original story and unlike most fictional books I have read. Katniss is a very strong character in the book, and definitely manages to capture my attention throughout the entire story. I found myself wanting her to do well and continue to be strong as quite early on in the story we learn that she comes from a household of poverty.
My copy of the book is just over 450 pages long and I must say there weren't any points at which I felt bored. It was also very easy to read. I now cannot wait to read parts 2 and 3 of the trilogy (Catching Fire and Mockingjay). I also cannot wait to see the movie on DVD.
In conclusion I would say that this is fantastic book which probably falls in to the category of thriller or science fiction. I would highly recommend this to readers of fiction!
It was through hearing of the release of The Hunger Games film and all of the hype surrounding it back in 2010 that first made me aware of the trilogy of books written by Suzanne Collins upon which the film was based. I never actually managed to get and see the film so when I saw all three of The Hunger Games books on offer at 3 for £10 in my local Asda store I couldn't help but pick them up. Despite being a series aimed mainly at teenagers and young adults I had heard good things about the series of books and picked them up knowing if nothing else they would hopefully be a nice easy read.
The Plot:-
The Hunger Games is set in a North American Civilisation after civilisation was almost wiped out, those that did survive now live in 12 seperate districts all controlled by the wealthy Capitol; each district has its own speciality supplying the Capitol with vital materials, fuel, and workers along with every other consumable available. There used to be 13 districts until the Capitol destroyed District 13 during an uprising and as a continued reminder and punishment every year each district is made to hold a draw in order to chose 2 tributes a boy and a girl aged 12 - 18 years to compete in the Hunger Games, a fight to the death with the winner being the last one standing. Winning the Hunger Games will bring fame on the winning tribute along with extra food drops provided by the Capitol in times of starvation and poverty in the 12 districts.
The Hunger Games kicks off with giving us a good insight into the life of Katniss Everdeen and builds up a decent profile of Katniss Everdeen, her life and the people that surround her which is handy as she is the main character and narrator of the book. Before I knew it I was a fair way into the book and the build up to the 74th hunger games where this trilogy really starts was well under way. The 24 selected tributes from the different districts are selected and it is here the reader finds out that it will be Katniss and Peeta who will be the two main people the book follows.
The Hunger Games is set at a different venue each year with the Capitol generating a vast artificial environment, where only one thing can be relied upon, and thats that the conditions and survival will be hard enough, along with the fact that every tribute knows that only one of them will make it out alive. Televisions are placed in the street to encourage citizens to gather to support the tributes from their district and treat the occasion as a celebration under the watchful eye of the controlling Capitol.
The main plot of the Hunger Games is pretty simple but by no means boring, there is plenty going on along the way and the main characters are constantly being built upon with a host of side characters being introduced along the way each with their own miny profiles. It does feel at times like a big build up to the second book but once the 74th Hunger Games are underway its all action rather than character building.
My thoughts
From the second I started reading the first book of this trilogy I was completelt gripped; from the very first page the reader is submersed in into the world and story of Katniss Everdeen and by page 10 the story is in full flow moving along as swiftly as possible. I found this book nearly impossible to put down, mainly due to the anticipation that Suzanne Collins manages to build during the build up to the start of the Hunger Games and what will face the 24 tributes forced to fight to the death.
I thought it was quite obvious from quite close to the start of the book who was going to survive the Hunger Games, however a twist that starts to develop around halfway through the book comes into fruition at the end, making the book a lot more interesting but still far from mysterious which to be fair isn't the aim of the book.
I feel that Suzanne Collins has done an excellent job of writing this book, to be an easy enough read to interest teenagers yet to appeal to a much wider age range than what the book is actually aimed at with a lot of much older readers picking up the book for a read. There is enough action, romance, drama and suspense to keep the book flowing really well and keep the reader involved in the book, I can honestly say that I was not bored or wanting a chapter to end at any point in this book other than the last chapter because I wanted to start the second instalment.
In Conclusion
In conclusion this book is a great read and was exactly what I was expecting from the recommendations I had received; an easy yet interesting and suspense building read. I would recommend it strongly as tea break or lunchtime reading as the plot is easy to follow and therefore easy to pick up and put down, yet despite this being my plan I had still finished the book within two days of purchasing it.
Despite being unsure as to whether this reading material would be up my street despite many positive reviews surrounding the books especially when compared to the film, I am glad to say that the proof is in the pudding with the postive things that I had heard and I was in no way dissapointed by this brilliant start to the Hunger Games trilogy.
5/5 stars from me.
I loved the Hunger Games. I couldn't stop reading and found myself being sucked into the disturbing world of Panem. I personally really liked Katniss and although Peeta was more admirable as a character, Katniss had a strength that had to be admired.
The Hunger Games was one of those books which you end up reading late into the night as at the end of each chapter the desire to find out what happens next is just too compelling. The only trouble is that the story is so disturbing that you then end up unable to sleep as you ponder the story, what will happen next and worst of all, what you would do in a similar situation. For that reason I would worry about allowing sensitive teens to read this book without any supervision. The thing is in todays modern world exposing children to situations, albeit in the safe world of fiction, which make them ponder morality, immortality and the importance of freedom can only be a good thing.
As a parent I would be concerned about my daughter reading the Hunger Games at too young an age or without some feedback. It is a great book for parents and children to both read and discuss. It is definitely not a story that is only limited to children and adults will find the story just as compelling.
Altogether, I found this to be one of the most memorable books I have read in a long while.
The hunger games is the first book in a trilogy aimed at young adults set in an alternate North America, the setting is a dystopian world filled with inequalities and violence. The book is told in the first person by Katniss Evergreen, she is a feisty 16 year old living in District 12 who takes her sisters place in the annual hunger games. The hunger games are an annual competition where a boy and a girl from the 12 districts are placed in an arena and only the winner is allowed to leave. The games are bloody but watched by the masses, it is a propaganda tool used by the new rulers (Panem) to maintain control over the various districts.
I do love a bit of dystopian literature, whether it's the ideological contrasts employed by HG Wells in the time machine, or the oppressive nature of control in 1984 or the subtle control over age in Trollopes the fixed notice. WE all love the view of an alternate world, where the state rules supreme and the masses are ruthlessly supressed, in many ways the closeness to our own worlds only makes dystopian literature all the more shocking. Here in the hunger games we have an oppressive regime using something similar to the old Roman gladiatorial contests as a means of controlling the people in the outlying districts. The country is run from a decadent Capitol filled with bizarre almost unnatural people, where colour and flamboyance are encouraged whereas life in the districts is harsh, unrelenting and bland.
Katniss is a young girl but she has skills as a hunter and is clearly intelligent and resourceful, she is paired with Peeta a young baker who took pity on her once and from then on has had a candle for Katniss without ever talking to her. Along the way we meet the only previous winner from district 12 still alive Haymitch who is the drunken advisor to the picked contestants and the woman who guides the contestants in terms of behaviour and public awareness.
This book is aimed at younger adults and does tend to use the cliff-hanger ending favoured by the Twilight novels but the chapters are much longer and the writing is of a higher quality than those books. The use of the first person narrative does give the focus on the novel on Katniss and we don't have any clues to the rest of the story beyond her perceptions, she does describe the world she lives in very well but the wider picture is deliberately vague at times. The reader then follows Katniss and Peeta through the hunger games and lives through their successes and failures, my particular favourite sections are the tracker jackers and the fire balls but don't want to give too many spoilers away.
This novel does cover some pretty tough material, whether its poverty, crime, punishment, inequalities or just plain fear we follow Katniss as she describes her harsh life, her fight to survive and her hatred for the system. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and I'm eagerly looking forward to the second part of the trilogy, I'm hoping the writing is as sharp and incisive as this first novel.
Having started my career life as a literacy teacher in a young offender's prison I quickly became familiar with - and soon after addicted to - fiction aimed at young adults. I would devour these books in the hopes of finding some rare gem that would engage my particularly difficult and reluctant learner group. I initially struck gold with the John Marsden 'Tomorrow Series' but haven't found anything that resonated with them quite as much since... until I read The Hunger Games.
I was a little skeptical at first. As a massive Japanese film fan, I was horrified at suggestions that this book was a mere rip-off of Battle Royale. Concerned, yet curious I bought the book after reading a sample chapter that I found in the case of a DVD I had bought (genius idea, has to be said! Bring the books back to the masses!).
After chapter two I was well and truly hooked. The premise, whilst similar to that of Battle Royale in its most basic sense - children on an island fighting for survival - presents a certain sense of innocence and naivity, that is rarely found in a book dealing with such a potentially violent subject matter. The difference is this book doesn't only focus simply on the battle for survival but on the struggle for hope, happiness and above all freedom, in a place it is seemingly impossible to find.
The contrasted descriptions of the districts and the Capitol leave the reader in no doubt who's side of this battle they stand on. Even with our instant dislike for the Capitol and all it represents, the incredibly well written characters from the Capitol, like Effie Trinket and Cinna, break down this dislike and challenge us as readers to explore the morality of the situations in the book on a far deeper level. As each page turns we get to know each character far better, and this furthers the sense of ambiguity. We hate the Capitol, yet come to love Cinna. We believe in the rights of those from the Districts, who are simply fighting for their lives, and the lives of thier families, and yet we find ourselves hating Glimmer and Cato. It is this constant challenge to how we react to these characters that draws almost as much tension as the storyline!
An exploration of moral, familial and social obligations, told through the eyes of an instantly likeable character, The Hunger Games is a fast-paced page-turning gem of a book. It engages the reader instantly, with well-rounded, honestly flawed characters, a fantastically urgent storyline and a truly engaging sense of narrative.
I took my copy of The Hunger Games into work with me, hoping to convince a few of my young charges to read it. That was six months ago and I am yet to see the book since. It has passed from person to person, from learner to staff and back again. It has has such an effect that I have been forced into buying six copies of each of the sequels as so many people (staff included!) could not wait to find out what happens next.
The overwhelming reaction to this piece in such a situation lends far more resonance to the quality of the book than my words ever could. All in all an absolute blinder of a book that appeals to even the most reluctant of readers.
After reading a few reviews on the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins I decided to throw myself in at the deep end and order all three books, the books arrived on Thursday 30th August 2012 and by bedtime on Sunday 2nd September I had finished the last one. I am impatient little lady and I was very glad I had ordered all three, what follows is my first book review in nearly two years, so please be gentle if it's not very good.
Katniss Everdeen lost her father in an accident in the mines of District 12 when she was 11, since that day she has been looking after her Mother and her little sister Prim, hunting and trading food with her friend Gale. Katniss takes her role very seriously so when her sister Prim gets chosen as tribute for District 12 in the Hunger Games she does the only thing she can think of to protect her sister, she volunteers as tribute, thereby saving her sister but possibly condemning them to a life of starvation and poverty as she will no longer be there to provide for them.
I really enjoyed this book; it is the first book in a long time that I devoured from cover to cover in a couple of sessions.
The idea that the future will be very different to the place we are now is not a new one, and the idea of a life or death competition has been done many times. What I enjoyed about this book were the twists and turns that Suzanne Collins gave the reader, I truly felt as if I was sat on katniss's shoulder urging her on, there were times when I genuinely thought Katniss would not make it, which was a silly idea as she is the main character in the next two books.
I found the shallowness and decadence of the citizens of Capitol very interesting, the way they rely totally on the 12 Districts, but are ignorant about the lives of the people who live there. The way they see the Hunger Games as a piece of exciting entertainment despite the fact that it involves 24 children aged between 12 and 18 fighting to the death as there can only be one victor. My daughter and I thought it sounded very much like Big Brother and spent a while discussing the possibility that games like this could genuinely take place 50 or 100 years from now.
Once in the arena Katniss feels that she has to take up the role of protector and provider again, and is torn between her desire to survive for Prim and her unwillingness to kill the other competitors, the games put Katniss in many dark and dangerous situations, forcing her to make choices that do not sit well with her conscience.
Katniss and her rival from District 12, Peeta, are given a mentor, Haymich. The only problem is that Haymitch is battling his own demons, will he be able to provide enough advice and guidance to help Katniss or Peeta survive the Games or does he have an underlying motive all of his own?
Will Katniss make it out alive? What consequences will her actions have?
I heartily recommend the first instalment of The Hunger Games; although it is classed as a young adult book the story line is adult and very gripping. Having read this I have passed it on to my 12 year old daughter who also loves it.
Thank you for reading.
I don't get the same time now to read like I used to since my daughter was born, but for my recent birthday, I received the three books making up the Trilogy of the Hunger Games, and was pleased but thought to myself 'when will I get time to read these?'. I had the first book read within three days, and that was only in the evening when my daughter was in bed and I had some time. THese books are totally addictive, to the point that every time my husband looked I had this book in my hand!
I had never even heard of this book before the film was launched, and I haven't seen it either, but I was aware of the hype surrounding this book and did wonder if they would live up the hype!
From the very first page where we meet Katniss Everdeen on the morning of the Reaping, were all children between 12 and 18 are eligible to be selected to compete in the usually fatal Hunger Games, were there can be only one winner and every other competitor will face death, I was hooked. We also meet Gale, the male hunting friend of Katniss, her mother and her sister Prim, the people closest to her. Her father is dead and with her mother having sunk into depression after his death, Katniss has become the sole provider for the family, and she is only 16. The only way to provide however, is by illegally hunting in the woods, which are out of bounds in theory but not for Katniss and Gale, who is also fatherless and the main provider for his family. You don't sense any self pity with these two characters, but rather a strength of character and a perseverence that makes them do whatever it takes to care for their loved ones rather than starve.
As the book continues the bigger picture of what is going on in this future world starts to unravel. Katniss and Gale live in District 12, the last of the 12 districts based around the Capitol, the main city where the rich and wealthy live. The districts do not interact, and are all in the depths of deprivation because of a rebellion years ago against the rulers in the Capitol that didn't succeed. The punishment for this rebellion, is the extinction of District 13 and the Hunger Games, where each district offers up a boy and girl every year as a tribute to recompense for the rebellion. Only one of the 24 children survive and to survive you have to kill. The Reaping is the day when the names are picked out. Katniss and Gale almost expect that one of them may get selected, but Katniss is not ready for her 12 year old sister to be selected adn that is exactly what happens. Katniss isn't willing to let that happen so volunteers to take her place, which she is allowed to do according to the rules and hence starts the Hunger Games.
I honestly thought I would get bored as the games themselves begin, thinking it would be full of war like language and images, but not at all. Even in the actual games arena the action is fast paced, and the 'pretend' romance between Katniss and her male counterpart from District 12 Peeta keeps a softness to the story. I can't say that this book was predictable apart from guessing that Katniss would win, but a lot of the twists and turns were unexpected, and as a reader you honestly felt like you were there with her in the arena.
I liked the character of Katniss from the beginning. She is strong but very likeable and humble throughout, not realising just how capable she is. Her care for those who are in need never stops even when it comes to the other tributes she is fighting against. WIth Katniss telling the story from her viewpoint it makes her even more accessible and a very lifelike character. I also liked the fact that the novel had just enough characters so I didn't lose track but kept the story interesting.
All in all, I struggled to set the book time and kept reading even though I was tired and needed to sleep. The characters, story line and writing makes this book totally addictive. It is easy reading, but thought provoking at the same time, and the imagery is fantastic. I have now just started the second book ;Catching Fire' and am enjoying it equally as much. A super author.
I'll get straight to it: The Hunger Games is addictive, powerful and completely absorbing. A young adult's read, I have yet to meet someone (of any age) who does not like this book - it is compelling and original, and a somewhat scary vision of what could become of our future.
I happened to watch the film version before I read the book, having heard that 'The Hunger Games' had been deemed 'the next big thing' in young adult fiction. The concept: in a dystopian future, children aged 12-18 are chosen, and forces to compete in a fight to the death as punishment for an old uprising against the all powerful Capitol. Their action in the 'arena' is broadcast for entertainment - a chilling idea that sends shivers down the spine.
I won't talk too much about the film, although it certainly inspired me to read the novels. I simply HAD to know what happened next! It didn't matter that I already knew the ending of the first book; I simply could not put it down. The characters were fully rounded and believeable, and the intricacies of the plot designed to keep the reader engaged on an emotional and energetic level. My adrenaline seemed to pump almost as much as protagonist Katniss' as I stayed up late at night, every night, until I had finished the book. And then finished the series.
There's certain books which have the ability to keep you hooked even after you have finished the last page, and this is certainly one of them. Even now, I still dream that I am competing in The Hunger Games myself. I also bought abow and arrow to begin my new hooby; archery.
A very imaginative story, this is a must read for fans of fantasy or sci-fi fiction. In fact, I think it would please anyone with an appreciation of an eventful plot and gripping concept. Completely un-put-downable!
There's only one criticism I have about the book, and to be honest it isn't really the fault of the book itself! Perhaps because it is such a successful adaptation of the novel, (or maybe because I saw the film first), I do think the film is a tad better. It is visually stunning, the actors extremely talented, and it makes a change to see a novel adapted into such a good film. Although, if I'd read the book before seeing the film, my opinion may be different, as is the cae with many adaptations.
All round a brilliant read nevertheless!
"Winning with make you famous. Losing means certain death. In a dark vision of the near future, twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live TV show called the Hunger Games. There is only one rule; kill or be killed. When 16 year old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sisters place, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature."
Before I took the plunge to dive in and read the Hunger Games trilogy, I had never heard anything but praise for them. Now I understand, just what the rave about these books is. I am not a bookworm, and only read something if it really takes my interest, which is a rare occasion, however when I finally did sit down to read these books, I read the first one in 24 hours. I literally could not put the book down. Along with falling in love with the characters and their stories, I love the way Suzanne Collins has written the books, they are very much to the point and give just enough detail for you to build up a picture in your head of each little event or detail happening in the book.
Currently on the second Hunger Games, Catching Fire, this is also not failing to disappoint. I think it is nice the stories continue where they left off, recalling events in the first book, so you are not forced to read one immediately after the other.
The book has something in there for everyone. Romance for the girls, bloody murder and action for the boys, yet they are not explicit and also would be just as good to read for those in their early-late teens.
If I had all day to talk about these books I would, however, no words could summon up how much I would urge you to buy them.
You will not be disappointed. 10 out of 5 stars from me at the least. (and cant wait for the next book!)


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June 26, 2014 |
2014 Mid-Year Investment Outlook
Risk assets are grinding higher and volatility is extraordinarily low. Nominal economic growth is subdued (but rising) and monetary stimulus still plentiful.
What are the implications of the first post-crisis divergence in central bank strategy? And what does life after zero (rates) look like? We debated this at a New York gathering in mid-June and updated our 2014 Investment Outlook Squeezing Out More Juice.
The eight-page piece includes specific investment recommendations, updated probabilities on market scenarios and key market themes (and risks).
- Our overall views on markets are essentially unchanged. We again give our main investment scenario, Low for Longer, the highest probability for the second half. This does not necessarily mean yesterday's winning trades will work tomorrow: Internal market leadership can change quickly.
- Valuations are getting stretched and investor complacency is high. This sets markets up for more volatility–especially as focus shifts to the timing and scope of U.S. rate hikes.
- The biggest change over the past six months? A brewing crisis in emerging markets (EM) has stabilized. Many economies have adjusted, setting the stage for a rebound. Check out our interactive EM Marker for current financial trends in the emerging world.
- The U.S. Federal Reserve has stuck to the mantra of keeping rates low with great conviction–despite mounting evidence the U.S. economy is set to improve. View our interactive BlackRock Jobs Barometer to track developments in global labor markets
- The risk? When the Fed shifts gears, markets will notice. Think steeper (and earlier) rate hikes than the market expects–but a lower peak Federal funds rate than in previous cycles.
- The European Central Bank (ECB)'s resolve to prevent the eurozone from falling into a deflationary spiral is likely good news for European risk assets. Watch Eurozone current account balances to gauge competiveness and the ECB's maneuvering room to start an asset purchase program.
- We are bullish on Japanese equities–despite recent underperformance. Reasons include Godzilla-like QE by the Bank of Japan (BoJ), cheap valuations, structural reforms and domestic investor interest. View key metrics for Japan's economy in our interactive BlackRock Japan Tracker.
- China's GDP growth expectations have fallen over the past years but could edge even lower. The country's investment fueled growth is not sustainable. Reform is the only way out—but it may dampen growth in the short term.
Helen Zhu, Russ Koesterich and Ewen Cameron Watt
Nigel Bolton, Sergio Trigo Paz and Tom Parker
So What Do I Do With My Money?®
- We generally prefer equities over bonds, particularly in our Low for Longer base-case scenario.
- Equities are not cheap—but they are not (yet) in bubble territory. We favor Europe and Japan on valuation and asset-price boosting central bank policies.
- Volatility is unnaturally low—and set to rise. Stock up on downside (and upside) protection while it is cheap.
- Many bonds look expensive and risky (especially government debt). Stick to select yield plays and relative-value investments.
Investment strategies mentioned may not be suitable for all investors, depending on investor guidelines and market conditions at the time of investing.
Browse Insight Topics
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Haydn: Songs
Helios (Hyperion's budget label)CDH55355
No 1. Recitative: Teseo mio ben
No 2. Aria: Dove sei, mio bel tesoro?
No 3. Recitative: Ma, a chi parlo?
No 4. Aria: Ah! che morir vorrei
The subject of the Cretan Princess Ariadne's desertion by Theseus on the island of Naxos has attracted composers from Monteverdi to Richard Strauss. In some sources of the myth (and in Strauss's opera), Bacchus turns up in the nick of time to rescue her from her plight. But in others she dies, half-crazed with grief. And the anonymous text set by Haydn implies such a tragic outcome. Like the orchestrally-accompanied Scena di Berenice Haydn composed in London, Arianna alternates recitative and aria in four distinct sections. First comes a slow, reflective recitative, beginning in E flat but modulating widely, that depicts Ariadne's voluptuous awakening, the dawn (evoked in a long keyboard crescendo before 'Già sorge in ciel') and her mingled languor and impatience for Theseus's return.
Then in a largo aria in B flat ('Dove sei, mio bel tesoro?'), opening with a wonderfully sensuous phrase that recalls the Countess's 'Dove sono?' from Figaro, she begs the gods to bring him back to her. Her underlying anxiety, though, becomes increasingly evident in the faltering vocal line, often punctuated by rests, and the music's harmonic instability, with sudden shifts to the minor mode. The aria breaks off for the second, intensely dramatic recitative ('Ma, a chi parlo?'), full of sudden changes of tempo and motif: at the opening Ariadne climbs the cliff (duly illustrated by the piano) as the music modulates slowly from C major to A major and back again; then after the numb realization of her abandonment ('ei qui mi lascia'), she experiences, successively, desperation, indignation and near collapse (expressed in a poignant, 'tottering' F minor arioso at 'Già più non reggo'). The daughter of Minos recovers her regal dignity for one last time in the slightly formal F major opening of the final aria ('Ah! che morir vorrei'). But her anguish and outrage erupt in the closing F minor presto, with its yearning repetitions of the key phrase 'Chi tanto amai' (the words Haydn cited in his letter to Maria Anna von Genzinger). After the singer's last despairing F minor outburst, the piano postlude culminates in a laconic F major cadence of grim, almost mocking finality.
from notes by Richard Wigmore © 2002


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Narrow your search
The bi-annual camera conference arrives in Cologne, Germany. CNET brings you all the latest news.
No stranger to insensitivity, social media pours some salt in Brazil's wounds with a deluge of wisecracks.
German labor union Verdi calls on workers at five distribution centers to strike, saying Amazon is underpaying employees.
Austria and Switzerland are next on the streaming-video service's list as it tries to amp up its growth across Europe.
The e-commerce giant takes its streaming-media box beyond the US for €99 in Germany and £79 in the UK, expanding competition with companies like Roku, Apple, and Google.
Uber had already been banned in Berlin, but the Tuesday's court ruling means the car service could be shut out nationwide.
Eighteen teams are in a race to get to the moon, with a $30 million payoff. Team Part-Time Scientists recently explored a simulated lunar surface in Bremen, Germany.
The match between Germany and Brazil generated 35.6 million tweets, breaking a Twitter record.
Streaming of Thursday's key soccer games hits a record for ESPN -- and perhaps for video on the Internet, period.
The Germans are at it again, and headphone-maker Beyerdynamic sent a slew of great gear to the Audiophiliac.
More than 600 people walked off the job over the weekend following a dispute over pay.


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A reef safe water treatment that controls "Ich" by disrupting the life cycle of C. irritans (marine) or I. multifiliis (freshwater). Does not contain copper.
KICK-ICH is a scientifically developed water treatment, which was proven effective during two years of national test marketing, for stopping C. irritans and I. multifiliis infections. The KICK-ICH formulation is specifically designed to interrupt the free swimming stage (i.e., the tomite stage) of their life cycles, thereby stopping progressive infection and reinfection, without use of copper, malachite green, hyper-irritants or other chemicals that are toxic to many aquarium inhabitants. In addition, KICK-ICH does not affect nitrifying bacteria (e.g., Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter) and is biodegradable.
During the typical Ich lifecycle, a free-swimming tomite penetrates the host skin, where it undergoes metamorphosis into a trophozoite. The trophozoite matures within the host skin -- forming the whitespot cyst until it emerges from the cyst as a trophont and leaves the host. The trophont secretes a thick, highly resistant mucous coat immediately upon exit from the host: the mucous coat protects the trophont as it undergoes replication and division into hundreds of infecting units, which emerge as new, fully infectious tomites upon rupture of the ripe trophont.
It is generally impractical or impossible to attack, by chemical or drug therapy, maturing trophozoites residing between dermal layers of skin. [NOTE: It is possible to cause spots to "slide off" by employing highly stressful and sometimes toxic hyper-irritants that induce sliming and shedding of dermal layers.] Similarly, it is virtually impossible to attack [or irritate] the mucous coated trophonts. However, practical interruption of the infection cycle can be accomplished by attacking the unprotected, free swimming tomites. KICK-ICK is a water treatment that, when used as directed, can be directly and safely added to any marine, reef or freshwater aquarium to effectively interrupt the tomite stage of the Ich life cycle, without concern for the health and vigor of fish, corals, invertebrates or nitrifying bacteria.
1. Trophozoites mature between the dermal layers of the skin causing whitespot. 2. Mature trophozoites (trophonts) leave the infected fish. Trophonts secrete a thick gelatinous coating. 3. Tomites (infecting units) develop in mature trophonts. 4. Tomites (swarmers or free swimming parasites) are released upon rupture of mature trophonts. 5. Tomites penetrate the skin of fish host and begin cycle again.
Directions for treatment:
Beginning on day #1 add 2 ozs of Kick-Ich for each 25 gallons of total water volume for the entire aquarium & filter system. Repeat on days #4, #7, #10 & #13. Persistent infections may require repeating the cycle. Do not use carbon or similar absorbent media during treatment (phosphate absorbents are OK). Protein skimming can appreciably reduce effectiveness of the treatment. Safe for all fish (including scaleless fish), plants, corals and invertebrates. Will not effect biofiltration. Safe to use with Rally, but do not use with any other treatments.


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Comments on editorial in American Medical Association Journal, 25 September 1948
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Comments on Editorial in American Medical Association Journal, 25th September, 1948. The Journal seeks to discredit proposals for a nation-wide sickness insurance plan in the United States by an attack on our National Health Service here in Great Britain. Before dealing with these charges, it should be made clear that our National Health Service, although part of the general social security plan, is not based on an insurance principle. National Health Insurance providing both cash benefits and a limited range of medical treatment was introduced into this country in 1912, when attacks similar to those now made by the A.M.A. Journal were made from various quarters, but despite the opposition of critics National Health Insurance developed into a system which conferred numerous benefits on the insured population. The new Health Service has abandoned the insurance principle and provides a full range of medical treatment for everybody without insurance conditions. Experience of the old scheme amply justified this development. We are told that "the greatest folly in the world is the manner in which Great Britain embarked in a nation-wide Health Service without hospitals, doctors, nurses, drugs or money." So far as hospitals are concerned, is the Editor of the Journal acquainted with the following facts incontestably established by numerous hospital surveys made before and during the war :- That hospital accommodation was gravely deficient in both quantity and quality? That the existing hospital services were completely unco-ordinated? That one-third of the beds in our so-called voluntary hospitals were in places with less than 100 beds which, with certain exceptions, were not in a position to give their patients the resources of modern medicine and surgery? Faced with this position, it was, according to the Journal, "the greatest folly in the world" to ensure, by the setting up of a National Health Service, that the great work of hospital development and construction which now has to be undertaken should proceed on a planned and co-ordinated basis. In fact, the existing system of hospital administration (or rather the patchwork of unco-ordinated systems) was quite incapable of doing the job. The stern test of war conditions had already shown that this was so. At that time, when large-scale air attacks demanded the highest efficiency and co-ordination of all available resources, the need for nation-wide hospital planning was universally recognised and embodied in the Emergency Hospital Service. As Lord Moran, a distinguished leader of British medical opinion, has recently written, "It was the war which, by rubbing the nation's nose in the facts, prepared it for reform and educated many in the medical profession to accept change." The Journal blandly assures its readers that "the unfortunate public have no means of knowing whether or not what they get is good medical service." Let us test this statement in relation to fracture treatment, a matter of first-class importance to the Trade Union Movement. In the years before the war, we were gravely concerned at the lack of uniformity in the treatment available. Scientific research gave startling support to our criticisms by establishing that only one per cent. of patients in a consecutive series treated at organised clinics remained permanently incapacitated, whereas thirty-seven per cent. of another series, including a proportion who had been treated at general hospitals without an organised clinic, remained permanently incapacitated. During and since the war there have been notable advances in this field, and we are convinced by past experience that it is only by the co-ordination of planning made possible by a National Service that these improvements can be maintained and developed. Men and women suffering the effects of permanent, preventable incapacity are not likely to share the Journal's view.
Object Description
|Archive collection
|Trades Union Congress
|Archive file
|National Health Service, 1946-1952
|Document reference
|Comments on editorial in American Medical Association Journal, 25 September 1948
|Issuing organisation
|Trades Union Congress
|American Medical Association. Journal
|Document date
|Great Britain. National Health Service
|Course code
|Course name
|Social Welfare in Britain
|Copyright status
|Copyright: Trades Union Congress. Reproduced with permission.


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Biggest upgrades that offer the most armor and stam. Offset gear > tier10.
Edit: Just realized I should have posted this in Halp!, not Gear discusision forum. Perhaps a mod can move it for me? My bad...
I've just started ICC 10, have about 130 Frost emblems, and have been trying to figure out how to best spend them the past two or so weeks. All I've got for my efforts so far is a headache.
My Armory and Wow-heroes.
1. Two biggest possible upgrades are my 219 cloak -> 264 cloak and 200 Trink -> 264 trink. Start with these, or try for a 251 cloak or trink drop instead? If the latter, then...
2. Which T10? All 5 pieces, or get the 264 non-tier chest with Expertise and Def and 4pc T10? Or don't bother w/ T10 at all and focus on EH from the 264 emblem items and drops?
3. I really like the T9 2pc set bonus, and am trying for another ToC trophy to upgrade to my 232 T9 gloves to 245, and hence justify keeping them (and the 245 T9 legs) for the 2pc T9 bonus. Thoughts on this? Good idea, bad idea?
Last edited by Kurtosis; 01-28-2010 at 05:23 PM.
Biggest upgrades that offer the most armor and stam. Offset gear > tier10.
Thanks, that's what I suspected.
This might have just changed though with the patch notes released yesterday. The armor values of the T10 pieces have been significantly buffed. The change will happen until next week so you might want to wait until then if you havent already done the purchases.
Oh, thanks for the headsup, I'll definitely wait another week. Was just seeing people complaining about this on the wow forums, qq'ing about wanting emblem refunds and whatnot.
Badge chest is still better than Tier chest. Pillars Of Might > Tier Legs. Tier Helm > Broken Ram Skull
There seems to be some debate now as to whether 4p t10 (assuming ilvl 264+) eclipses offset gear. I'm not entirely convinced either way at this point, but with things being much closer i'd hang onto badges until more math is avalible.
My suggestion pick up the cloak and at least the belt dont worry about the trinket. Its nice but youll be able to get it in time and personally I would go double armor trinks if I had them IE Glyph and Putri Trink. Also suggest at least getting your 2 peice VIA chest and gloves. If I remember correctly pretty much all 2 peice's for tanks are threat based. And I know I personally need all the help I can get as DPS catch up faster and faster. As well there going to be armor based so even better.
The dk 2piece is trash. Do not use that as a factor in how you gear.
It's a threat increase to DnD, which is either used at the start of an aoe threat rotation (or on occasion for a single target pull, though not normal) or not at all, varying by spec. There have been some math-crafters suggesting dnd-centric rotaitons because of the 2piece and glyph, but these are just math to my knowledge and I haven't read any practical successes with the builds.
Long story short: yes, it is an "odd" set bonus. In all honesty it's probably the worse than 2 seconds off taunt from t9, but it's been apparent blizzard doesn't know what to do with our class since 3.2 so we'll just suck it up and drive on as usual.


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Maximize your work space with our Poppin® Pencil Cup. Two sections divide this pencil cup to hold all your pens, pencils and other writing utensils. Its beautiful colors make this into a piece you'll want to mix and match. Coordinates with the entire Poppin® Desktop Collection.
How do we measure?


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Truven Health Analytics conducts an annual study to determine the nation's top 15 health systems, choosing five large, medium and small health systems for its final list.
For the second time in three years, Carrollton, Ga.-based Tanner Health System stands among the top health systems in the nation for quality. Tanner earned a spot in the top 15 among the 2014 study's top five small health systems, an honor it also received in 2012. Tanner was the only health system in Georgia to receive this honor.
View the complete list of 15 Top Health Systems.
Learn more about the Truven Health Analytics study.
Truven Health Analytics — formerly Thomson Reuters — delivers unbiased information, analytic tools, benchmarks and services to the healthcare industry. Hospitals, government agencies, employers, health plans, clinicians, pharmaceutical firms and medical device companies have relied on Truven for more than 30 years.
Truven Health Analytics annually conducts objective, quantitative research that serves as the foundation of a national balanced scorecard of health system performance. That scorecard, published annually in the Truven Health 15 Top Health Systems study, provides critical benchmarks for health system boards and executives across the United States.
To maintain the study's high level of integrity, only public data sources are used for calculating study metrics. This eliminates bias, ensures inclusion of as many health systems as possible and facilitates consistency of definitions and data. Health systems do not apply, and winners do not pay to market this honor.
Outperforming their peers in a number of ways, the winners of the 15 Top Health Systems award:
In determining the 15 Top Health Systems in the nation, Truven researched all U.S. health systems with two or more short-term, general, nonfederal hospitals; cardiac, orthopedic and women's hospitals; and critical access hospitals.
Researchers looked at eight metrics that gauge clinical quality and efficiency: mortality, medical complications, patient safety, average length of stay, 30-day mortality rates, 30-day readmission rates, adherence to clinical standards of care (evidence-based core measures published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS), and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) patient survey scores.
The study relied on public data from the 2011 and 2012 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) data and the CMS Hospital Compare datasets.
The study from Truven found that the 15 Top Health Systems experienced 2 percent fewer deaths than non-winning peer-group hospitals. They also had lower 30-day mortality rates, with smaller health systems like Tanner outperforming their peers by the widest margin. Patients at the top-performing hospitals also had 3 percent fewer complications, a shorter median average length of stay and 8 percent fewer adverse patient safety events than expected due to better adherence to core measures of care than their peers.


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One other thing to remember is that mastery has an active component, mainly from
enrage - critical strikes with special abilites and critical blocks enrage you, increasing rage generation by 25%
This makes mastery a resource generating ability on top of mitigating damage. Avoidance may be better at reducing damage passively but mastery should scale better with player skill. Since shield block also produces a finite amount of guarantees block we're going to have to assume a default boss swing timer to compare avoidance with mastery as well as figuring out how much crit block mastery gives.


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2013 Tour Schedule
2013 Lions Supporters Gear
Our 2013 range of Lions Gear now on sale in sizes up to 5XL. You can get FREE delivery on all orders over £60 and for the first time, we've got Hoodies available and you've even got a choice of colour too!
Tees from £17.99!
Also Available…
1930 Australia & New Zealand
Coach: James "Bim" Baxter
The biggest issues of the 1930 tour seemed to be the availability and injury of its key players. 100 players were invited to tour but the Lions could only manage to get 29 players on board for the tour.


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WASHINGTON - The National Pinball Museum in Baltimore, Md., is looking for a new home again.
The museum's last day at its current location near the Inner Harbor will be March 3. It opened there about a year ago after relocating from Georgetown.
"Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we were unable to negotiate favorable terms with our landlord to extend our rental agreement without creating an extreme financial strain on the Museum's limited resources," writes David Silverman, the museum's founder, in a statement on the museum's website.
The museum was founded at the Shops at Georgetown Park in 2010, but lost its lease a year later.
Related Stories:
Follow @WTOP on Twitter.
© 2013 WTOP. All Rights Reserved.


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The Apple Retail Store is much more than a store. It's also the best place to learn about your new Apple product. We offer free workshops to teach you the basics. And if you're ready to take your skills to the next level, you can sign up for One to One training when you buy a Mac.
Explore everything you can do on Mac, iPad, iPhone, or iPod. Create slideshows with iPhoto. Edit movies with iMovie. Or discover ways to make your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations look their absolute best.
Discover Your Mac
We're eager to show you some Mac basics and share some tips and tricks. Come see how easy it is to get started, stay organized, and get the most out of your new Mac.
Discover Your iPhone
Let us show you some of the features of iOS 8 and built-in apps that make the everyday things you do even more incredible with iPhone.
Discover Your iPad
Come learn about iOS 8, built-in apps, iCloud, the App Store, and more.
We know iPad will become your new favorite way to do just about everything.
OS X Yosemite
Come discover OS X Yosemite, the latest release of the world's most advanced desktop operating system. We'll show you great new features and all-new ways to use your Mac, iPhone, and iPad together.
We'll show you how to set up a free iCloud account and use it to keep the content on your devices up to date automatically — no syncing required.
See for yourself why iPhoto is so easy to use. Learn how to import, organize, enhance, and share your photos in ways you never imagined.
In this workshop, we'll show you how to use iMovie — on your Mac or iOS device — to turn your home movies into blockbusters, complete with Hollywood-style trailers, effects, soundtracks, and more.
Come and learn how to use GarageBand on your Mac or iOS device. Play, record, and mix your own music like a pro. And when you're finished with your next big hit, we'll show you how to share it with the world.
iTunes, App Store, and iBooks
Find out how to browse and download the music you want to hear, the movies and TV shows you want to watch, and the books you want to read. And learn how to find a variety of useful and entertaining apps in the App Store.
iOS 8
Discover iOS 8, the world's most advanced mobile OS. Get an overview of the elegant and intuitive design. Learn about features like iCloud Drive, Health, and more.
In our Pages Workshop, you'll learn to create great-looking flyers, invitations, budgets, and more using Apple-designed templates on your Mac or iOS device.
Learn to create dynamic spreadsheets — complete with tables, charts, and graphics —
on your Mac or iOS device in our Numbers Workshop.
We'll show you how to incorporate themes, transitions, and animations into
your presentations on your Mac or iOS device. And we'll share tips on how to keep your audience captivated.


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Skip to content
and found 1 items
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Never a big seller when new but the Triumph Sprint RS can be a real bargain on the used market. Sporty sports tourer with Triumph's powerful, mellifluous three cylinder engine. The Triumph Sprint RS is similar to the better selling Sprint ST but with a cheaper and lighter conventional swingarm, less plastic, firmer suspension, sharper geometry and a different exhaust. The ...
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The competition has ended, a winner will be announced soon!
Competition: Win 50 kilos of Swedish gingerbread
Monday, December 05, 2011
Well not really, but it is competition time again, and why make it hard on you. We decided to follow Father Christmas and just be nice. No rules or heavy Trivial Pursuit torture questions. One happy winner will get a leather Margiela bag filled with some goodies. The new Candy mag, some Swedish gingerbread (what's left of them ), a Visvim scented candle, warm Falke boot socks and Christmasy Our Legacy shirt, Terry style.
Just like this post and type your name and e-mail address in the comments field below…


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BLAG30k goes BETA
BLAG Forum Index
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Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 2:53 am
Post subject: BLAG30k goes BETA
I'm quite happy to announce that BLAG 30k is now BETA.
Alpha == testing new stuff, adding/removing packages, kicking things around
Beta == It is "feature complete" and there will be no changes unless there are big clear bugs.
Not to knock Fedora folks, but this beta release should be much more stable than Fedora's final release, due to the massive number of package updates.
As of this writing, the current image is: BLAG-29999.40000.iso
There is some testing remaining to be done. My guess is that the only real changes that will be done from beta->final is whatever errata Fedora releases in the interim and some upgrade tweaks.
Take a look here for all current bugs (including 9k/10k):
If you see any problems now, let me know soon. :) It's best if they get filed in bugzilla.
P.S. Oh yeah, the 30k repositories are now yum-enabled as well.
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 12:00 am
Post subject:
My computer must be to old or something....Downloaded FC3...installed and it looks really nice but doesn't pick up my NIC (D-link 220 ISA PnP)...or CD-ROM
Also it freezes after about 10 minutes (no keyboard.....no mouse)....reset to re-boot !!
Tried BLAG 29999.40000 same thing ....no internet
Guess I need a newer computer !!??
BLAG 10000 re-installed...all is well again !!!!
Thanks for your efforts.....I'll try again again when this one dies....
Registered Linux User # 342652 Mandriva One 2007 Spring
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 12:04 am
Post subject:
Hmm. A quick guess is the 2.6 kernel versus the 2.4 kernel (esp. ISA NIC). Also, did you verify the cd image? It shouldn't lock the box... ;)
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 12:54 am
Post subject:
Thanks Jeff...
Yes, I'm thinking 2.6 vs 2.4
I did verify the cd.....tested... PASS.....
Too bad...the video is much cleaner....did I mention that my CPU is 466 Celreron???
Kind of outdated I guess !!! Anyway ... 10K is excellent !!
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 2:15 am
Post subject:
Rob, I've run it down to 200MHz machines... It should certainly be possible. But 10k is nice too ;)
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 11:25 pm
Post subject:
jebba wrote:
Rob, I've run it down to 200MHz machines... It should certainly be possible. But 10k is nice too ;)
Just to clarify a point....the 4 CD FC3 is the one that freezes the box...
BLAG 29999.40000 is good except for my ISA NIC problem...
Also, I failed to mention that the first line when BLAG 30 starts to boot up is....
ACPI: Unable to locate RSDP
I have no clue what this means....no doubt some of you will know...
It then proceeds to boot into the OS
Should I try again with a PCI NIC ??? I have a few old ones in stock from a network I'm salvageing....
Thanks again....Rob
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 11:31 pm
Post subject:
A PCI NIC has way better odds of working.
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2005 4:44 pm
Post subject:
I installed 30k on a test box a couple of hours ago.
Nice job :D !
I have noticed something though, I've never used inkskape before so this might be normal. When I start inkscape I get a warning "One or more extensions failed to load". Probably nothing but I just thought I'd mention it.
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2005 7:19 pm
Post subject:
guest wrote:
I installed 30k on a test box a couple of hours ago.
Nice job :D !
I have noticed something though, I've never used inkskape before so this might be normal. When I start inkscape I get a warning "One or more extensions failed to load". Probably nothing but I just thought I'd mention it.
Yep. This can be solved by adding the ps2edit (IIRC) package. I don't know of it being packaged anywhere right now... I did request Fedora Extras to package it as they package inkscape too--I thought it would be a complementary package for them. I'll bug 'em again... ;)
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 9:16 pm
Post subject:
jebba wrote:
A PCI NIC has way better odds of working.
Removed ISA NIC....installed NEC PCI NIC....detected ..but fc3 unable to initialize..........DANG....works perfect on FC1....even configures itself during the install and the internet is ready to use on first boot !!!!
As for the ACPI error.....I had to alter the BIOS APM setting to enable to solve this (although the cutoff is 2000 and mine is 1997)
I now get a postfix error on FC3 and FC1 during boot but all seems well (didn't get this with the ISA NIC)
Sticking with BLAG 10 until new machine !!! This one shows no signs of quitting even though it's 8 years old.....
Registered Linux User # 342652 Mandriva One 2007 Spring
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Yellow chocolate
About Chocolate.orgChocolate.com offers local delivery through a network of gourmet chocolate companies. We take fresh truffles from your local shop and make them available for online purchase. Our chefs, bakers, and confectioners have created a wide variety of gifts: luxury truffles, chocolate brownies, kosher chocolate, and bulk chocolate are available in one place.
If you are buying premium chocolate for your own enjoyment, we suggest dark chocolate (and it's wonderful health benefits) or snack on chocolate covered pretzels.
We proudly serve thousands of international customers who send chocolate to the US to celebrate the birthday or anniversary of a husband, wife, daughter or son. We also offer gifts to India, the UK and many more countries via UPS International. California and New York are home to many Chocolate.com vendors. All chocolate shop locations can be found on the map of USA chocolate shops. We offer local delivery service with free shipping options for many gifts and gift baskets.
During checkout, Chocolate.com customers have the option to include a gift note, schedule deliveries for a future date, and opt for expedited shipping. Our customer service team works with you to make sure your order arrives on-time.
We believe that small artisan chocolate shops offer the best truffles. When you ship locally through our service, you receive fresh chocolate and fast delivery. Thank you for visiting Chocolate.com - your source for online chocolate gifts.


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- You are here:
- Photos >
- espera sbarro eight concept paris 2012
Espera Sbarro Eight Concept is the best student project car in history
by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) on Sep 28th, 2012 at 7:30AM
Here's a showstopper. Tucked away in a corner of the Fourth Pavilion here at the 2012 Paris Motor Show was this carbon fiber hot rod from the Espera Sbarro Montbéliard School of Design. Known simply as the Eight, cribbed from the Maserati-sourced V8 engine, this machine was reportedly designed and built in just eight weeks. We also hear that it's powered by the impure thoughts of heathens, or maybe just gasoline. The Sbarro Eight Concept was built to help showcase some of the latest technology available to automakers, including a driver-facing tablet computer that occupies the spot... Read More


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» Greek Super League 2012-2013 : Results
Copyright © 1998-2014 Statto Organisation Limited. All rights reserved.
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Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek says Mehdi Abeid is a different person since his loan spell with Panathinaikos . read more24 Nov » tribalfootball.com
• Greece lose at home again despite Claudio Ranieri's departure • Pressure eases on Fabio Capello as Russia beat Hungary Continue reading...19 Nov » Guardian
Plus: Who scored in more successive seasons than Ryan Giggs? The worst Match of the Day ever; and the club that wanted to use crocodiles as a hooligan deterrent. Send your questions and answers to firstname.lastname@example.com or get in touch via Twitter @TheKnowledge_GU Continue reading...19 Nov » Guardian
As Scotland prepare to welcome the Auld Enemy on Tuesday, we look at how the games fiercest duels have been shaped by history, geography and downright loathing Police ramp up security and expect trouble Scotland v England stripped of its emotional primacy Continue reading...17 Nov » Guardian
Dutchman steps down after four months in charge Fridays 3-1 loss played behind closed doors Dejan Stankovic touted as potential replacement Continue reading...15 Nov » Guardian
Italian manager reportedly dismissed after shock defeat FA president refers to most unfortunate choice of coach Football suspended in Greece after referee attacked Continue reading...15 Nov » Guardian
Real Madrid forward hits 23rd goal to defeat Armenia Faroe Islands stun 2004 winners Greece 1-0 in Athens Continue reading...15 Nov » Guardian
Minnows record shock of the night with victory in Athens while Cristiano Ronaldo becomes record goalscorer in European Championship history14 Nov » Telegraph
Germany beat Gibraltar 4-0 and Romania beat Northern Ireland 2-0 but the result of the evening was Greece losing at home to the Faroe Islands Continue reading...14 Nov » Guardian


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Mental illness has many faces. Below is a glance at what patients have said about Willowbrooke at Tanner's services and its various programs. Everyone's experience is unique, and we strive to make every experience as positive and comforting as possible.
Comments from patients during "intake" for scheduled appointments:
Comments from patients who have received screenings from "Help Line" counselors:
Comments from child/adolescent and adult partial hospitalization patients and family members:
Comments by inpatients:
Comments about Willowbrooke at Tanner's specialty programs (including TIFIP and TIP):


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Seasons Greetings from Brand Labs
In our quest to keep up with the latest web technologies, apps, and social media sites, Brand Labs thought it would be fun to play with Vine to create a special holiday message for all our clients and everyone everywhere. Our whole team got together and made some short Vine videos that we've assembled into a special webpage.
From all of us at Brand Labs, we wish you the best this holiday season!
Now cuddle up next to your fireplace and Charlie Brown Christmas Tree and check out the fun →
Asking if Brand Labs loves ecommerce is like asking if Jeff Bridges makes awesome movies. The answer is obvious. (We are still debating on whether or not the Tron remake did the original justice, but we're also realists. We understand that even awesome things may not be awesome for everything. For example, The Dude will go down in history as one of the great characters in American cinema, while the whiny, sex-phobic math nerd Bridges played in The Mirror Has Two Faces just makes us sad.) That said, we're well aware ecommerce isn't 100% ideal for every, single purchase you make.
To help you avoid any potential problems that could arise from copping certain items off the Internet, here are ten purchases you might be better off making in person. You do remember how that works, right?
Google Follows in Brand Labs' Footsteps
Google is, at this very moment, holding their annual developers' conference, which would be big enough news, but they also used the opportunity to introduce their new tablet computer, the Nexus 7 and the odd, spherical media hub called the Nexus Q. Google's entry into the tablet game has been a long time coming, so tech nerds from across the globe were glued to their livestreaming feeds to catch a glimpse – and they also got a glimpse of something else: Brand Labs' ability to stay way, waaaaay ahead of the curve.
In order to demonstrate the Nexus 7′s media-playing abilities, Google chose the new album, Coastlines by Detroit band, FAWN. They even played some of All The Lights, the first track on the album. Now if the name FAWN sounds familiar to you, it may be because they were featured on Brand Labs' only foray into musical & scientific self-promotion – the Audiosonic Identiglyph.
The Audiosonic Identiglyph was created as a universal geolocation system that would allow any user armed with a simple phonograph (or "record player") and a basic, functional knowledge of the Goertzel algorithm and global cartography to be able to locate Brand Labs' corporate offices with some degree of accuracy.
The Audiosonic Identiglyph featured Hip Parade by FAWN on the B-Side and was released in a star-studded brunch gala at Detroit's very own Steak Hut. (If you're ever in town, we strongly recommend Gus's homemade hash browns, which are like little greasy slices of starch heaven.)
So, anyway, the point is that Google is totally on Brand Labs' jock. There. We said it. We had FAWN first. Your move, Google. Bring it.
Also, if you want to catch FAWN, you can do so at the CBGB Festival in NYC from July 5-8. It'll be worth the effort. Brand Labs says so… and now so does Google. What more do you need?
We're Going to Make You Cry, Then (While You're Emotionally Vulnerable) We're Going to Talk About Ecommerce In a Way That May Seem Crass In Context, But We Assure You That Our Motives Are Pure, So Just Go With It
While searching the Internet this morning for important new pictures of baby sloths, we stumbled on the video we've posted below. Before you play it, we'd like to warn you about a few things. First, it's eleven minutes long. Second, you're going to want to watch all of it. Finally, unless your heart is a tiny, ice-cold cinder, you're going to cry. We're misting up just thinking about it, but that might be because we're also listening to Sarah McLachlan, so we're probably thinking about that frigging animal shelter commercial that always drops like a bomb into the middle of whatever lighthearted romp you're watching on TV and brings your life to a screeching halt while you scrape together all of your change to donate just so you can make all the big-eyed homeless puppies stop crying in HD all up in your grill.
The video below is the opposite of that. Enjoy.
Caine's Arcade from Nirvan Mullick on Vimeo.
Okay… now just pull yourself together now so we can talk about this like the totally composed businesspeople we are. So, that was deeply charming on a lot of levels – the boundless and inspiring enthusiasm of youth, the near-universal love of The Arcade and the way that something so frivolous can bind us all at such a basic level, the unqualified support of a working class father for his son's passion project, the pride of accomplishment – there's a lot of real genuine heart-string-plucking going on here.
… but did you notice how no one gave a crap about Caine's Arcade until a savvy outsider stepped in and started a social media campaign in support of it? Did you further notice that Caine's Arcade also benefited from the Holy Grail of viral luck – an appearance on the front page of reddit? The Internet basically prevented this from being an incredibly sad or possibly even heart-crushingly tragic story. Let's talk about how all of this could have played out after the jump…
What the World Googled in 2011
Google has produced their 2011 Google Zeitgeist report. The report takes Google's amazing collection of data to show just what people across the globe cared about in 2011. We can only assume that the appearance of Rebecca Black has more to do with people looking forward to Friday (the day) as opposed to actually seeking out her mind-grinding pop hit of the same name. (We need to believe that in order to retain or faith in humanity.)
We're crazy about Google and searching in general. We're always searching for things. Ask anyone. Our friends call us "Google McSearchypants." We love search so much that watching this video makes us a little verklempt. (Google it.)
Here's wishing you (and everyone) a healthy, happy and search-worthy 2012!
Social Media Inspired Pumpkins
For the social media nerds among you, Mashable has a gallery of some truly inspired pumpkin carvings. My personal favorite is the Nyan Cat design. Happy Halloween!
As we mentioned a while back, our VP, Dane Downer, just visited the Google Campus for an invitation-only Google Analytics Summit. Of course, he was there for very thinky/business-related reasons. After all, going to the Google Campus to learn about analytics is like going to the Jersey shore to learn how to be an orange douchebag. It's nerd Mecca. Of course, it wouldn't be a complete nerd Mecca without toys – specifically, exclusive designer toys.
Behold the very cool and possibly kinda rare Google Analytics Android Collectible Mini Figure! Dane brought this little treasure back from his trip (along with a proper boost in his already formidable interweb skills). We subsequently destroyed any value it may have had by opening it so we could properly document it just for you.
We're still die-hard iPhone users over here (mostly) but you must never look a gift toy in the mouth.
UPDATED: It turns out that Dead Zebra, the company that designed this figure for Google, is owned by Andrew Bell, who was in The 3D Art Book with our very own Kevin Skinner… and the circle of nerdiness is once again complete.
Enjoy the mini-gallery after the jump…
Facebook in England Right Now
Wario Is Excited About Your Conversions
Tiburcio has a fantastic way to celebrate sales on his ecommerce site: with the light-up eyes and smoking ears of Mario's nemesis:
"I wanted something nice to have at the office that tell us every time someone make a purchase on our game. Every time we make a buck Wario rings the bell and flash his greedy green eyes. If we made a lot then Wario shoot smoke from his ears!"