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UT | Member Since 2009
"Heart Pounding, Gripping Thriller"
My heart is still thumping as I pull my mind back from the dark recesses where it has been dwelling the past 15 hours...this is the stuff from which nightmares are borne. Karin Slaughter is one of our best. With her crackling originality and vivid details, she once again creates characters and events that you think could be out your own newspaper - and pray they aren't.
Followers of Slaughter will recognize this as part of the Will Trent series, something I did not know; there was no mention of "series" in the publisher's summary. But this story easily stands on its own and should not be passed by if you are worried about sequence. I speak from experience: I noticed that I'd read 2 of the books years ago and had no idea they were a series. With that said, I'm sure there is information that would have been good to have, and I am tinged green with envy of the devout followers of the Will Trent books; I can only imagine the great satisfaction this long awaited tell-all will bring to them. (I'm even considering picking up the between rerads, here's the order: Triptych, Fractured, Undone, Broken, Fallen, & Criminal).
Detective Will is baffled when his hard-nosed boss Amanda restricts him from the case of a missing girl. To Amanda, there is something eerily familiar and threatening with this case, and when the brutalized bodies start to show up, she knows she is on a collision course with Will -- a collision full of dark secrets that has been 40 years in the making --and she isn't sure she wants to reveal the answers. "Sometimes it's criminal what a woman has to do..."
One of the great mechanisms Slaughter uses is starting this book with a quiet prelude of sorts, a reverent requiem. She introduces us to Lucy,we witness her -- the young daughter full of promise, the little sister, the insecurities and drug use to control her adolescent weight -- we watch her downward slide -- the predictable addiction, string of abusive boyfriends, and eventual plunge into prostitution. Slaughter creates a human being; Lucy is a person rather than just another wretched addicted prostitute. This approach creates an emotional bond to the victims, and explains deputy director Amanda's bulldog determination, and humanity.
The story is told in a series of flashbacks, back to the 70's when Amanda was a novice detective, fighting her first case, pitted against a squad of resentful sexist males that don't want the girls around. (Remember "male chauvanist pig"?) The resistance is abussive and hard edged.The men crassly refer to she and her partner as the "slits", and at one point, when the ladies call in for back-up on Cherry Street, the male dispatcher remarks, "What's that? You want to give me your cherry." This treatment, plus the horror she witnesses in her first case bely how tough Amanda will have to become.
One noticeable change in style is Slaughter's handling of the nauseous gore.(Something that kept me from picking up another Slaughter book after I'd read 2.) Instead of her ususal in your face detail, she presents the grossities more like a quick visual spanning of crime scene photos, allowing the listener to fill in the blanks. The change doesn't affect the jolt...the story is still tight and tense with layer upon layer of pulse-pounding apprehension. The edge-of-your-seat anxiety reminded me of The Silence of the Lambs, and the creepiest deviant ever created, Buffalo Bill. The monster in Criminal is reminiscent of Bill (and they share an affinity with needles and thread...). I would have liked to see Slaughter pry into this psycho's sick mind, and think she may have missed a chance for the psychological underpinning that could have made this ghoul memorable and kept this story forever in our minds. (But do we really want that haunting us?)
I couldn't put my earbuds down--the pace was exhilarating, the execution of the narration very very good. Though harsh, I don't recall a lot of foul language, but the intense scenes may have kept my mind from noticing particular words. The flashbacks help build some backstory and character development for those just jumping into this story, but you have to pay close attention or you can lose track of which era you're in. If like me, you've been craving a smart thriller, and you don't mind a few nightmares, this may be your book. Highly recommend to fans of hard- hitting criminal thrillers.
"A Bad Conscience"
As far as just the facts ma'am...Navarro does a good job giving a detailed, no frills outline of psychopathy. It reminded me a little of watching one of those films in high school where everything is boiled down to rudimentary facts..."if a, b, c, d are present then you may be dealing with a psychopath. You're life is in danger. Get help immediately..." He knows his material and presents it in an easy to understand format for any level of reader, though a bit bland and blunt, very textbook.
Navarro gives a criteria checklist at the end of each chapter, containing over 100 items; when you're done tallying your own score, or your neighbor's and friends, you are convinced you are all psychopaths -- a problem inherent in these armchair psychology books. But before you schedule analysis, or turn your neighbors into the FBI, consider what Professor Robert D. Hare has to say. Hare is the criminal psychologist responsible for the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised which has been adopted worldwide. Hare's assessment tool, in contrast, uses a list of 20 criteria:
"On average, someone with no criminal convictions scores 5. It's dimensional" says Hare. "There are people who are part-way up the scale, high enough to warrant an assessment for psychopathy, but not high enough up to cause problems..."psycho-pathy", the diagnosis, bleeds into normalcy."
If you are seriously interested in this subject, I highly recommend Hare's book Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths. I sat in on several of his presentations while I was working in the field, and he was always fascinating. Navarro refers to Hare and the PCL-R often in this book.
Navarro is precise and accurate, narrates the book clearly, and his professional record clearly gives him authority in this field. He also responsibly advises readers with concerns to get professional advice. While he drops a few names that we all relate to heinous crimes, (Ted Bundy, Henry Lee Lucas, Jerry Sandusky, John Wayne Gacy) I felt he missed the chance to tie in the predators with their profiles which would have more narrowly defined the many traits on his lists. His professional/cautionary approach make this book read more like an informative report than the really chilling and interesting read it could have been.
"A bow (wow wow) to the ever great Sir Arthur"
What a great pleasure it is to pick up a read, even one you are already so familiar with, and be totally immersed in atmosphere; a pace that proceeds with urgency; and writing that takes you to foggy old England and holds you there so convincingly that real-life seems like a fuzzy distant intrusion while you are reading. There is here that kind of precise balance of the writerly elements -- you can count on them with Sir Arthur. So easily, the reader can slip into the inner circle of Watson and Holmes.
When I was a child, I saw the film version starring Peter Cushing as Sherlock Holmes and Christopher Lee as Sir Henry Baskerville; a Hollywood version for sure, Doyle may have rolled once or twice in his grave, but it inspired me to read the book. Minus the grandiosity of Hollywood, the book lacked nothing, and still contains magic that even Hollywood can't trump. On a calm enough evening, sitting with your family, The Hound of the Baskervilles might even be able to compete with Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, Warlord, Doodle Jump. What's that old saying..."They just don't make 'em like this anymore"...they do, but not very often. Great production, and worth re-visiting.
"A Ghost of a Story"
It's October; who doesn't like a ghost story this time of year; Garth Stein has a pretty impressive track record (The Art of Racing in the Rain); lots of high ratings; fellow well-credentialed authors gave some enticing blurbs...if it sounds like I'm thinking aloud, I'm trying to figure out where I went wrong -- because this was the wrong book for me. I'm not sure whom this book is for.
My biggest complaint, and one that is consistent when I'm duped, is that it is presented as one thing, "a ghost story," but is something very different, but what I'm not sure. It could be a message about conservation, a spiritual philosophy, a Puget Sound Broke Mountain (melodramatically, "the dark past of his forefathers"), but it's not a ghost story.
The *ghost* element seems more an excuse, or a utilitarian connection to history; the ghosts themselves limp and (NPI) lifeless -- dancing in ballrooms, turning out the lights, writing messages through human Ouija boards. The story had an over reliance on the diaries and their expository dialogue, which could have been passable but came across as a lazy means to move the story forward. Stein is heavy-handed with the philosophy that's suppose to bolster the plot, and spouts it often and unnecessarily, from the mouth of a temporarily possessed grandfather. The 14 yr. old narrator Trevor also possess an uncanny repertoire of philosophy and literature. Like all of the characters, there was a thinness, a randomness, even a falseness to Trevor. Both the characters and the plot seemed to fall apart under the weight of an ambiguous sense of importance.
There is plenty of restless wandering here, but not from any ghosts. In my opinion, an unsuccessful melding of too many random elements, not well thought out or executed, and not particularly well written. Only Hope propelled me -- battling all the while with contrivance, predictability, and banality -- as far into this novel as I got. I don't like to write mean-spirited or pernicious reviews, and I like to think I could say anything I write face to face with the author...I heard Stein's other books are good, but I can't say the same about this one.
"Comedy to either laugh with or roll your eyes at"
After a handful of Hiaasen novels, my hypothesis is that your first Hiaasen experience is the best. From that introductory experience, the thrill of it all either drops a notch and maintains a level of mildly humorous material guaranteed to lighten your mood, or you find the giggles slowly sliding into eye rolling, until you have to break up with Hiaasen. (Which reminds me of my first fiancé -- eventually everything I found so charming about him in the beginning, I later cited as reasons to loose the guy.) Hiaasen's humor still makes me smile, but I resort to it only when I need a little pick-me-up. It relies a bit on Murphy's Law mixed with ridiculousness, so there is an element of predictability after 2 or 3 of his books. Native Tongue had it's moments, and the expected characters, but it was a little dated, and a lot ridiculous. My fave is still Skinny Dip, my first experience with Hiaasen. NT is still the silly fun I've come to expect from Hiaasen, but at my 5th outing with the author... most of the thrill is gone. Let's just say I laughed AND rolled my eyes.
"Melancholy, Reflection, and Venison"
I can't say what kind of apocalyptic society member I would be. A religious, rapture-ish event... I'd have to brush up on my survival skills, but a nuclear event or count down to Armageddon, and I would place my chair at Ground Zero, because I wouldn't want to be without the people I love, nor would I choose to live in a world where there was not some form of beauty, or sense of community. Alone, fighting just to survive, I would wind up as mad as King Lear. Station Eleven opens with a scene from the Shakespeare play and expands on the themes of survival and meaning.
Opening night, the lead actor suffers a heart attack and passes away. The news that night pronounces the actor's passing, and barely mentions a mysterious illness that has people flooding hospital ERs. Within 3 weeks, 99% of the world will die from a flu pandemic. Forward: Twenty years later, a troupe of actors and musicians called The Travelling Symphony moves from one outcropping of survivors to another performing plays and music. Their mission statement sounds enlightened and magnanimous, an ode to the arts... "Because survival is insufficient," it is a quote one member recalls from a Star Trek episode he watched as a child. The troupe includes a woman that was a young child in the King Lear production the night the actor had his heart attack on stage.
At times, author St. John Mandel is eloquent with understated visions of a broken world. Her museum of artifacts is a centerpiece that connects people and stories, including the actor Leander. His personal life, his celebrity, is captured there in articles from the celebrity magazines left intact. She doesn't go into the breakdown of society or the aftermath of the pandemic, but focuses on the emptiness and melancholy borne of lost loved ones, simple pleasures only remembered, and the connections that remain stretched across a barren world, traversed by The Travelling Symphony. Here, the author is a mighty gentle giant.
Beyond the difficulties of surviving day to day, there is a menacing group of brutal men ruled by The Prophet, but sadly,he makes only a brief appearance and whimpers away. Just when I was hoping for a little trouble-maker to take my mind off the moping and memories, and roasting venison over burning tires, again. Once you get the general premise, you better be ready to dwell on it. Mandel writes beautifully and has created a world that is eerie and surreal, but I started to feel swallowed by the melancholy. For all the hype, all the great reviews, all the promises that I would be haunted by this powerful story, I wasn't feeling it. From my frame of reference, it's been done before. Mandel thinks outside the apocalyptic genre box, but doesn't enlarge the real estate.
The book stays high centered in that world of reflection, the menagerie of meandering melancholics mourning the past, hoping for a better future, chewing deer meat, occasionally appreciating the arts, coming up with some profound thoughts--wallowing in sentimentality. I recommend the book, in spite of my sarcastic, irreverent nature; but not to hard-core apocalyptic/dystopia fans, or anyone that believes the saying "you can't move forward with one foot in the past." (I think Mr.Spock said that in an episode.) It is a lovely novel, written beautifully-- my head tells me so.
"Not Short Listed, This Time"
There's nothing wrong with pretending you know what's going on...sometimes you are along for the ride and will get it later. (Take Cloud Atlas for instance.) Mitchell does that best, and at a speed that sometimes reminds me of trying to have a conversation with a hyper active person at the height of their hyper arc (and pharmaceutically enhanced). His brilliance and out-there creativity require a catch-up period; you don't wait for the story to develop, you wait to catch-up with the story. I'm not a member of the Mitchell cult, but I've read many of his books and recognize an author with a rare creative talent and freshness that almost promises there are still great books to come. The Bone Clocks was a good one, (it was long-listed for a Man Booker before it was even released). I liked it enough to say Mitchell fans will be okay with it, but it is a departure from his more sophisticated novels.
Bone Clocks is not just a journey through time at warp speed, it is a frenetic jump in and out of ages with the future periods reflecting on some I-told-you-so moments that are frighteningly timely (global warming, Iraq, etc.),major issues to us presently, but just back ground for an eternal battle raging between the forces of good and evil. He obviously has a message for his readers in here.
Mitchell bends the boundaries, as usual, with connected characters, engaging backstories, and places in time, but pinning down which character you are with, and at what moment and where, is tricky. The constant present tense, the static back and forth, and the similarities in the characters, present challenges -- and not the kind intended by the author. The audio version is probably an advantage in some ways, (the presentation is done well) but the voice alone doesn't tell you when or where. Mitchell's presence is always looming subconsciously; Bone Clocks seemed to be lacking separation from the author.
The level of writing and creativity have already been expounded on by reviewers. Worth mentioning again is Mitchell's superb "ventriloquistic" style that pulls you in while the story unfolds around you. The story itself expands on Mitchell's on-going play with fantasy; he gives us a version of *vampires* -- soul sucking fiends that feed on children. But, these are Mitchell's vampires, so I am pretending I get it... that these undead might just be metaphors for something deeper and more meaningful.
The story is enjoyable and reminded me a little of the fantastical film, Highlander (the movie with the Scottish swordsman that battles the evil immortal, the two swordsmen popping in and out of time periods and places). It wasn't exactly the book I anticipated, but I saw plenty of glimmers of Mitchell's brilliance. Worth the read, but probably not worth the Man Booker.
"Big Boys Behaving Badly"
Months ago I finished this novel, attempted to review, but my fingers hovered over the keyboard and my head felt scrambled -- the condition is called being *dumbstruck.* As a reviewer wrote, Summer House is "uncommon" and if you read Koch's previous novel, The Dinner, you know the author has a blunt-force style that is anything but common. He is out of the box, out of bounds, and you need to brace yourself for a style that might leave you a little dumbstruck. It's not that he is offensive -- he is completely unique and captures his characters in sticky icky situations, at the edge of civility, then pushes it to places we hope we are incapable of falling to ourselves.
Subject matter is borderline, of course, it's Koch, and if just hearing *lecherous older men and barely-into-their-teens young girls* already has you grimacing -- not your book because that is just the beginning. (I had to keep in mind that nude sunbathing and swimming is de rigueur in some cultures.) Throw in lots of alcohol, a doctor that is repulsed by the human body, adultery, rape, and nude frolicking on the beach... it's gritty and uncomfortable (like getting sand in places usually covered by your bathing suit). And as if it isn't already prickly enough, there are plenty of moments where you shouldn't be laughing, but you are...that watching someone stumble and ride down the stairs laugh. Koch connects with a part of us that some of us don't want to know is there, and that is what is the most discomforting.
Koch is a good writer and does what he sets out to do well. He keeps you engaged even when it's uncomfortable -- but so does an electric fence. I occasionally like a book where I am expected to boo and hiss the bad guys -- it's all good fun. But, I think Summer House crossed MY line by featuring too many taboos. In the end (and what about that end??-huh?) I recognize the author's uniqueness and talent, but Summer House "enriched me not" and left me feeling almost guilty, "poor indeed." If you think you have the mental fortitude, you don't have bouts of depression triggered by icky situations, you love to hate the characters and dark deeds, don't mind sand in cracks...this may be your book.
"Maybe this one should have stayed lost..."
I started at the beginning with Relic, moved onto Reliquary, became a fan of Pendergast, continued, even outside the series with Riptide, Thunderhead, and Ice Limit because I enjoy a clever, original thriller. Like most fans, a P&C release guaranteed an entertaining read to me, and I believe fans will again be entertained with The Lost Island.
Increasingly, I've found myself less intrigued by the prolific duo's stories, relying more and more on my devotion to the pair than the satisfaction I have been getting from their novels. White Fire, I didn't even review -- it tested my endurance and left me a little sickened. The sensationalism trumped the writing. The Lost Island not only tested my endurance, it asked me to venture way outside the limits of my reasoning until I felt like I was being dragged through nonsense for the sake of entertainment. I finished this, but without a sense of satisfaction. There isn't much depth (other than the deep blue sea), the story seems flat, contrived, and I hate to say it, but, silly. In fairness, I haven't read other books in the Gideon series...but I don't feel compelled to do so after reading this one.
"In His Own league"
It's Burke therefore it's great. He is one of those authors that has to be placed in a different league, one a few steps higher, like a handicap in golf -- he's just that professional and good with his craft. I've read almost everything he's written; even his books I didn't initially like I have looked back over. I appreciate them more the longer I read, and the more I read. I've not liked some stories, not cared about the subject matter, but I've never been disappointed with the quality of writing or the power of the story. Burke is a phenomenon; a class act, taking on stories of oppression, corruption, and integrity, with larger-than-life characters that seem charged with the iconic traits we all associate with heroes and scoundrels. In many ways, I enjoy him as much as I enjoy McCarthy (though I don't know if you can use *McCarthy* and *enjoy* in the same sentence). His style is identifiable within the first paragraph of any of his books, and always makes me feel like sitting down, once again, with an old very good friend.
Wayfaring Stranger seemed a bit of a departure from Burke's usual crime fiction format. Weldon Holland (who can trace his geneology back to the Hackberry Holland familiar to hard core Burke fans) is a more solitary introspect character than Robicheaux or Holland cousins Billy Bob and Hackberry. Weldon's early memories of a chance encounter with infamous crime partners Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow impacts his life and stays with him through his adulthood, an encounter that reaches into his future to come full circle.
The book covers the fascinating period of time in America after WWII, including the politics and anti-Semitism following the war. It was a time when simple investors became powerful tycoons, when mobsters like Bugsy Siegel rubbed elbows with powerful movie studio moguls, and when Hollywood had the power to make starlets out of girls they discovered at soda fountains -- or break them. And Burke wraps it into a neat circular story.
The story is rich and layered with themes and history, and Burke's writing is as polished and lush as ever, yet, I missed the sparring I've come to love so much from Burke's characters. I miss the white hat morality taking on a barrage of smart-ass comments from the black hats; that back and forth volley between two polar characters that were equally matched. These characters were dynamic, but dark, without much, if any, humor. It's a fine book in every sense, but my personal tastes (regarding Burke's books) have been spoiled by the usual dark story highlighted with a sprinkle of wisdom and copious amounts of witty repartee in his previous novels...thus my 3* for what is probably a 4* book.
"Just for the experience"
If you have ever listened to Gaiman being interviewed, to his podcasts, or been lucky enough to attend one of his performance readings you'll understand the Gaiman experience. The experience goes far beyond reading one of his books. His voice is almost a magical instrument that lifts the words off the pages. I'm not an expert or even a follower of Gaiman's, but I've read a few of his novels, even a couple of his graphic novels. It was after listening to him read just a few paragraphs of The Truth Is a Cave on the radio that I went looking for the rest of the fable -- specifically, him reading the novelette himself. I wasn't looking for the end of the story, as captivating as it was, but rather being under Gaiman's spell during the journey.
He is a performance artist. His voice is like a ripple in time that harkens back to nights tucked safely under a cozy blanket, listening to a bedtime story...a huge, dark story more Grimm than Disney. I wasn't a child that closed my eyes and dreamed of princesses with golden hair or frogs that burst into handsome princes...I closed my eyes and shivered with delighted at the trolls, goblins, and witches that lived in gingerbread houses.
A trait I realized I passed onto my own grandchildren: one night I told my 3 little ones a story, embellishing as much as I could to compete with Spongebob Squarepants. With attention to their tender ages, and the fact that they each were expected to sleep in their own beds once the lights went out, I was careful to balance the scary tale with some sparkle. It was completely silent when I finished, and I waited to assess their emotional state...then the oldest child whispered, "tell us more about the bad wolves." They still ask me to tell them that story; they've heard it dozens of times, yet still want the experience. Gaiman reminds me that I still need an occasional *tuck in* experience, to feel swept away into far away lands where shivers can be delightful.
It's a short story I think best left to the interpretation of the listener. An award winning tale I found charming, brilliant in its sparseness and illusion, but I wouldn't say it is a work of staggering genius unless you can hear it told by the author. As noted by another reviewer, the music is part of the presentation. I enjoyed it because I expected it, but can understand that it might be distracting if you just want straight story: try out the sample. Trying to recreate Gaiman's lauded public performance of this piece didn't work entirely, so I recommend switching to the kindle version to see the collaboration with artist Eddie Campbell. His paintings, whatever you may think of his style, do add an additional dimension. At the price of a ticket to a performance, the book is worth paying for, keeping your credit for those $40 behemoth novels . *Also: You can find this complete novelette on line -- free to read. Audible won't appreciate that announcement, but you won't get Gaiman whisking you away -- and that is priceless.
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Posted: July 30, 2013
Scorecard: Hunter Mahan's WD, Our favorite courses
Hunter Mahan withdrew from the Canadian Open to witness the birth of his first child. But should he have entered the event in the first place? Jeff Ritter and Alan Bastable debate this, along with Inbee Park's run at history, and their personal favorite courses from Golf Magazine's Top 100 List.

subset: commoncrawl


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Federica has that classic model look. She is tall, slender, with fairy-tale blonde hair, and eyes that sparkle like pools of water reflecting the setting sun.
At 29 years old, Federica is not afraid to admit she is still a bit of a Mommy's girl. Hailing from a small town just south of Milan, she lives in a flat with her mother and makes it a point to express her disdain for immature men. What on earth could they possibly offer?
Federica's current boyfriend is 49 and has only been dating men over 40 since she became an adult herself. She loves shopping and enjoys working for showrooms with well known Italian designers.
Being an only child, Federica is positive she never wants to have children – they just don't fit into her lifestyle.
|snowhounds United States
Federika hmm, nice intro. she seems mysterious enough. i like the goose bumps. was it cold out or was she simply xcited? she reminds me of the venezuelan princess but prhaps she has a wee bit more pizzaz. i like it.
|SeptemberBug Norway
Federica Yet an attractive woman in a nice outdoor setting. Great series! I was going to complain about the number of images, but looking at her goose bumps, I'm going to give it a rest..! And thanks again for bringing a bit of maturity into the line-up. More pictures of ladies in their late twenties/early thirties wanted.
|Ralph United States
Pretty A little light on the number of photos, but a pretty photo gallery. I love the galleries photographed outdoors.
|Andrew Cayman Islands
Petter, great room for a shoot - in fact, your room selections are consistantly groovy. I would be genuinely interested in a list of your recommended funky hotels around the world, or the name of your travel agent!
|Ralph United States
More robe More photos with the robe, please. The photos could be incredibly sensual with the robe slightly open and a hint of what lay beneath. Nice gallery otherwise, though.
|Dave United States
Beautiful setting!
|Daniel Germany
Yes, beautiful setting, but Federica's a good example why a pussy should be clean-shaven.
|Eric Jeffries United Kingdom
Frederica An attractive model but does she know that she's allowed to have more than one facial expression?
|PM United States
Nice model, nice ass, nice work...
|alex United Kingdom
federica terrific girl,great set.
|Matt Germany
Frederica She looks like my boys Firstclass schoolteacher!
|Marlon Brando's Helper Monkey Australia
She has a hairy back like my Uncle Vito
|Ralph United States
Jail Nice touch with the jail-like theme, but too short a photo series. Should have done more with the robe. Beautiful model wearing a robe with nothing underneath ... a lot of potential.
|PM United States
The model is great; the prop or theme is stupid
|joe Ireland
I love the face and the pussy framed.Imagination
|Dan United States
Frederica Lovely woman. Not my favorite series of photos. I would love to see more Frederica though.
|jason chang United States
I can see every detail of her back. Terrific.
|GERBOU France
Very nice blonde cuty and wondeful ass. Send us more a little bit more intimate.


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Found December 06, 2012 on With Leather:
PLAYERS: Charisma Carpenter, Bo Jackson, Nancy Kerrigan, Eliza Dushku, Ashley Olsen
This week on Sports On TV, we tackle the horror/comedy/drama/everything else of 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer,' the 1997-2003 hit that catapulted Avengers director Joss Whedon into public consciousness, gave Sarah Michelle Gellar seven more years of television success and adapted a semi-forgotten Kristy Swanson movie into a layered, sometimes absurd and always worth-talking-about cult classic.And yeah, believe it or not, Buffy had more than 20 great sports moments. I was originally going to supplement the list with a few 'Angel' moments (personalized hockey jerseys for babies!), but I revisited the show, re-watched several of my favorite episodes and found so many things to talk about I could barely fit it into a part 1.If you're a fan of vampires, good television or magical axes that give teens the power to kick through somebody's chest, you'll love this week's column. Please click through to enjoy my picks for 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer's' 20 greatest sports moments.How To Unlock:Log...
Original Story: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uproxx...
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Latest update : 2012-12-18
Syria: Aleppo struggles with food shortages
We look at the growing humanitarian crisis in Syria's northern city of Aleppo, where bread is becoming scarce. Next, Israel is seeing a controversial tattoo trend, replicating numbers from the Nazi concentration camps. Finally, whirling dervishes from Damascus perform in Paris.


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(Ten'notsurugi: Mythos, Jinsei no Sāberu) Astrum Sword: Mythos, Vita Saber
Rank: N/A
Type: Weapon
Range: N/A
Chakra Cost: N/A
Damage: +30 to Command Arts, +20 to Kenjutsu
Description: "The Blade of Heaven...Mythos the Life Sabre. One of the Ten Shinning Weapons." When Keotsu returned to the known continent from his journey to regions unknown, he returned with his blade Mythos in a new form; some secret event took place which reconfigured the blade and created a powerful connection between Keotsu and the sword. The Mythril blade retained its ability to change it's shape, but not it's mass when subjected to Keotsu's chakras, as did the scabbard of the weapon, though the two were no longer explicitly linked. A few improvements were noted by Keotsu, though: the blade seemed to resonate better than before, boosting his powers in battle; second, the blade came to reject energies that were foreign to Keotsu - that's to say, for example, if an enemy tried to use Nagashi after grabbing the blade, the energy would stop completely due to the nature of the blade's composition. This particular power comes about from the blade's new found synergy with Keotsu, in an effort to prevent it from being used against him. Retaining all the properties of the metal it was forged from, Mythos is indestructible and will never dull, in any of its forms.
*The user can manipulate the blade's form during battle at any time, but it costs 35 chakra to do so, and also counts towards one of that turn's three allotted moves.
*Can only be wielded by Keotsu. When someone else tries to hold the blade, it will reject their chakra and increase its density exponentially, making it to heavy to be lifted. However, it reverts to its original density when Keotsu is holding it.
±± Declined ±± +20 to Kenjutsu is already a strech, but i'd allow it. But +30 to command arts? Also, add in a small note a smal explanation of the limitations of what it can transform into. I mean, what exactly is the limit and use of this transformation.


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Eagle Creek's No Matter What™ Warranty covers the Lifetime Warranty promise plus the added insurance of repair or replacement due to damage, regardless of the cause. During this period, we will repair or replace it at our discretion. Contents of your bag are excluded. For more information, contact us at 888-CONTAIN (266-8246) Monday through Saturday, 8 AM - 9 PM and Sunday, 9 AM - 7 PM (Central Time). You may also contact Eagle Creek directly at 800-874-1048 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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• Female • $700
• Female • $1,000
• Female • $650
View More Puppies for Sale
Breed Group: Terrier
Weight: Male: 35-45; Female: 30-40 lbs
Height: Male: 18-20 Female: 17-19 inches
Color(s): Puppies are born black, but lighten to the final adult wheaten color by about two years of age.
Originating in Ireland, this breed was used as an all-purpose farmers' dog. They were vermin killers, guard dogs, herders of sheep and cattle, hunters on land and in water, and a deterrent to trespassers. By 1932 this breed had nearly vanished, but were saved from becoming extinct by dog fancier Patrick Blake. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is highly intelligent and extremely versatile. They are steadily gaining in popularity in the United States.
The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is medium-sized, compact, agile, and powerful. They possess stamina, gameness, strength, and gaiety. This breed is more steady and stable than most terriers. They have not been overly refined and retain the many fine attributes they were originally developed with.
A happy, well-balanced and friendly terrier, the Wheaten possesses grace and pride. They are self-confident, easy-going, and deeply devoted to their family. They get along well with older children and with dogs they have been raised with. This breed is not suitable for homes with cats or other small household pets. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier requires a great deal of effort and commitment and is not recommended for novice dog owners. This breed rarely barks, however, due to their size and loyalty they make an excellent dog for personal protection. They are very sensitive and reflect the moods of those around them.
This is a high maintenance breed that requires daily combing to prevent mats and tangles. Professional trimming is needed four to six times per year. Bathing or dry shampooing should be done when necessary. It is important to clean and check the eyes and ears on a consistent basis. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is prone to flea allergies, Addison's disease, PLN, and PLE. They do not do well in hot climates.
The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier's coat is this breeds' most distinguishing feature. It is medium long, abundant, soft, silky, and slightly wavy. Although they are a single coat breed, their hair continuously grows and provides insulation and protection. Puppies are born black, but at maturation the coat ranges from gold to reddish-gold to silver. This breed is low shedding.
The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is typically independent and stubborn and requires a dominant owner. However, they are quick to learn and eager to please. Early socialization and basic obedience is recommended. Due to their sensitive nature they do not respond to harsh or heavy-handed training methods. They do best with patience, praise, consistency, firmness, and fairness. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier excels in agility and fly-ball competition and is used with great success as a therapy dog.
Athletic and energetic, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier enjoys many family activities such as hiking, play sessions, and walks. A securely fenced yard where they can romp and run is ideal. They will do well in an apartment or condominium dwelling provided they are sufficiently exercised and receive an appropriate amount of attention and stimulation.
Help reduce the number of dogs in shelters by doing your due diligence. Many puppies are often purchased with little or no knowledge of what goes into parenting one. Uneducated decisions often leave the puppy in need of adoption and in the care of rescue groups. Bringing home a puppy into your family has many benefits but we first implore you to educate yourself. An informed decision will take into account the characteristics of the breed, your lifestyle, expected veterinary care, the demands and limitations of owning one, their activity requirements and levels of companionship required.
Note: We provide the only safe marketplace for Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier breeders to list and rehome their purebred dogs. Breeders listing puppies on Next Day Pets are required to verify their identity for your protection.


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Micro-Star International (MSI) has launched a new gaming notebook, the GT683DX, featuring the latest Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia discrete graphics chip.
The notebook features Intel's second-generation Core i7-2630QM quad-core processor with Nvidia's high-end GeForce GTX 570M discrete graphics card, and is equipped with gaming keyboards made by SteelSeries.
The system is also capable of supporting DDR3 memories up to 16GB, while the adoption of RAID 0 setting for the notebook's hard drives helps double their storage capacity, and accelerate read-write speed by 70%, the vendor said.
The MSI GT683DX features a 15.6-inch panel and an HD720p webcam.
- 2014 global high brightness LED market, trends and shipment forecast
For the global LED lighting market, the market size will reach US$25.82 billion in 2014 or a market penetration rate of 23.4%. This is attributable to exponential shipment growth for light bulbs, tubes, and directional lamps.
- Greater China touch panel shipment forecast through 2015
This Special Report provides forecasts through 2015 for Greater China touch panel shipments with breakdowns based on technology (glass, film, resistive), application (smartphone, NB and tablet) and by firm.
- 2014 global tablet demand forecast
This report analyzes the main players, their strategies and shipments forecasts for 2014, as well as other factors contributing to either growth or decline in various segments within the tablet market, with a particular focus on Apple, Google, Samsung, and Microsoft, along with whitebox vendors.


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"No, you don't need expertise, your dps/threat sucks because you only Shield Slammed 12 times in a 3 minute fight."
Anyways, back on topic:
For what it's worth, raid finder has this item marked as a tanking item (wanted to give this a shot with SMF, but nope tank had role bonus).
Edit: Who am I kidding, I wanted this to tank heroics with.