text:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - View original article
Christina | |
Portrait by Jacob Ferdinand Voet | |
Queen of Sweden | |
Reign | 6 November 1632 – 6 June 1654 |
Coronation | 20 October 1650 |
Predecessor | Gustav II Adolf |
Successor | Charles X Gustav |
House | House of Vasa |
Father | Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden |
Mother | Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg |
Born | 18 December [O.S. 8 December] 1626 Stockholm |
Died | 19 April 1689 Rome | (aged 62)
Burial | 22 June 1689 St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City |
Religion | Roman Catholic prev Lutheran |
Christina | |
Portrait by Jacob Ferdinand Voet | |
Queen of Sweden | |
Reign | 6 November 1632 – 6 June 1654 |
Coronation | 20 October 1650 |
Predecessor | Gustav II Adolf |
Successor | Charles X Gustav |
House | House of Vasa |
Father | Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden |
Mother | Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg |
Born | 18 December [O.S. 8 December] 1626 Stockholm |
Died | 19 April 1689 Rome | (aged 62)
Burial | 22 June 1689 St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City |
Religion | Roman Catholic prev Lutheran |
Christina (Swedish: Kristina Augusta; 18 December [O.S. 8 December] 1626 – 19 April 1689), later adopting the name Christina Alexandra,[1] was Queen regnant of Sweden from 1633 to 1654, using the titles of Queen of Swedes, Goths, and Vandals,[2] Grand Princess of Finland, and Duchess of Ingria, Estonia, Livonia and Karelia.[3] She was the only surviving legitimate child of King Gustav II Adolph and his wife Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg. As the heiress presumptive, at the age of six she succeeded her father on the throne of Sweden upon his death at the Battle of Lützen. Being the daughter of a Protestant champion in the Thirty Years' War, she caused a scandal when she abdicated her throne and converted to Roman Catholicism in 1654. She spent her later years in Rome, becoming a leader of the theatrical and musical life there. As a queen without a country, she protected many artists and projects. She is one of the few women buried in the Vatican grotto.
Christina was moody, intelligent, and interested in books and manuscripts, religion, alchemy, and science. She wanted Stockholm to become the Athens of the North. Influenced by the Counter Reformation, she was increasingly attracted to the Baroque and Mediterranean culture that took her away from her Protestant country. Her unconventional lifestyle and masculine dressing and behaviour would feature in countless novels and plays, and in opera and film.
Christina was born in Stockholm in the royal castle Tre Kronor, and her birth occurred during a rare astrological conjunction that fuelled great speculation on what influence the child, fervently hoped to be a boy, would later have on the world stage. The king had already sired two daughters – a nameless princess born in 1620 and then the first princess Christina, who was born in 1623 and died the following year.[4] Excited expectation surrounded Maria Eleonora's third pregnancy in 1626. There was much excitement when the baby was born and was first thought to be a boy as it was "hairy" and screamed, "with a strong, hoarse voice".[5] Christina later wrote in her autobiography that, "Deep embarrassment spread among the women when they discovered their mistake". The king, though, was very happy, stating, "She'll be clever, she has made fools of us all!".[6] From most accounts, Gustav Adolf appears to have been closely attached to his daughter and she appears to have admired him greatly. Her mother remained disappointed Christina was a girl.
Before Gustav Adolf left for Germany to defend Protestantism in the Thirty Years' war, he secured his daughter's right to inherit the throne, in case he never returned and gave orders that Christina should receive education normally only afforded to boys.[7] Her mother, of the House of Hohenzollern, was a woman of quite distraught temperament and was melancholic. It is possible she was insane. After Christina's father died on 6 November 1632 on the battlefield, Maria Eleonora had him brought home in a coffin, with his heart in a separate box. Maria Eleonora ordered that the king should not be buried until she could be buried with him. As a result, he was not buried until 22 June 1634, more than 18 months later. She also demanded that the coffin be kept open, and went to see it regularly; patting it and taking no notice of the putrefaction. Eventually the embarrassed Chancellor, Axel Oxenstierna, saw no other solution than to have a guard posted at the room to prevent further episodes.[8]
Christina then became the belated centre of her mother's attention. Having previously showed her daughter complete indifference, Maria Eleonora suddenly became perversely attentive to her. Gustav Adolf had decided that in the event of his death, his daughter should be cared for by his half-sister, Catherine of Sweden.[9] This solution did not suit Maria Eleonora, who had her sister-in-law banned from the castle. In 1636 Chancellor Oxenstierna saw no other solution than exile the widow to Gripsholm castle, while the governing regency council would decide when she was allowed to meet her nine-year-old daughter.[10] For the subsequent three years, Christina thrived in the company of her aunt Catherine and her family. After the death of her paternal aunt and foster mother, Catherine of Sweden, Countess Palatine of Kleeburg in 1638, the royal council appointed two foster mothers for the queen: countess Ebba Mauritzdotter Leijonhufvud and Christina Nilsdotter Natt och Dag.[11]
On 15 March 1633 Christina became queen at the age of six, giving rise to the nickname the "Girl King". Christina was educated as a state-child. The theologian Johannes Matthiae Gothus became her tutor; he gave her lessons in religion, philosophy, Greek and Latin. Chancellor Oxenstierna taught her politics and discussed Tacitus with her. Christina seemed happy to study ten hours a day. She learned Swedish as well as German, Dutch, Danish, French and Italian.[12] Oxenstierna wrote proudly of the 14-year-old girl that, "She is not at all like a female" and that she had "a bright intelligence". From 1638 Oxenstierna employed a French ballet troupe under Antoine de Beaulieu, who also had to teach Christina to move around more elegantly.[13][14]
The Crown of Sweden was hereditary in the family of Vasa, but from King Charles IX's time (reigned 1604–11) excluding Vasa princes descended from a deposed brother and a deposed nephew of his. Gustav Adolf's legitimate younger brothers had died years earlier; his only surviving brother was his father's extramarital son, and therefore there were only legitimate females left. There were no eligible living female lines descended from elder sons of King Gustav I Vasa, so Christina was the heiress presumptive. From her birth King Gustav Adolph recognized his daughter Christina's eligibility even as a female heir, and although called "queen", the official title she had as of her coronation was King.
In 1636–1637 Peter Minuit and Samuel Blommaert negotiated with the government about the founding of New Sweden, the first Swedish colony in the New World. In 1638 Minuit erected Fort Christina in Wilmington, Delaware; also Christina River was named after her. In December 1643, Swedish troops overran Holstein and Jutland in the Torstenson War.
The National Council suggested that Christina join the government when she was sixteen; but she asked to wait until she had turned eighteen, as her father had done. In 1644 she took the throne, although the coronation was postponed because of the war with Denmark. Her first major assignment was to conclude peace with that country. She did so successfully; Denmark handed over the isles of Gotland and Ösel to Sweden, whereas Norway lost the districts of Jämtland and Härjedalen, which to this day have remained Swedish.
Chancellor Oxenstierna soon discovered that Christina held differing political views from his own. In 1645 he sent his son, Johan Oxenstierna, to the Peace Congress in Osnabrück and Münster, presenting the view that it would be in Sweden's best interest if the Thirty Years' War continued. Christina, however, wanted peace at any cost and sent her own delegate, Johan Adler Salvius. Shortly before the conclusion of the peace settlement, she admitted Salvius into the National Council, against Chancellor Oxenstierna's wishes. Salvius was no aristocrat but Christina wanted opposition to the aristocracy present. In 1648 Christina obtained a seat in the Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Empire when Bremen-Verden and Swedish Pomerania were assigned to Sweden at the Treaty of Osnabrück. In 1648 she commissions 35 paintings from Jacob Jordaens for a ceiling in Uppsala Castle.
In 1649, 760 paintings, 170 marble and 100 bronze statues, 33 thousand coins and medallions, 600 pieces of crystal, 300 scientific instruments, manuscripts and books (including the Sanctae Crucis laudibus by Rabanus Maurus, the Codex Argenteus and the Codex Gigas[15]) were transported to Stockholm. The art, from Prague Castle, had belonged to Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor and was captured by Hans Christoff von Königsmarck during the Battle of Prague and the negotiations of the Peace of Westphalia.[16]
In 1649, with the help of her uncle, John Casimir, and her cousins Christina tried to reduce the influence of Oxenstierna, and she declared Casimir's son, her cousin Charles Gustav, as her heir presumptive. The following year, Christina resisted demands from the other estates (clergy, burgesses and peasants) in the Riksdag of the Estates for the reduction of tax-exempt noble landholdings.
In 1645 Christina invited Hugo Grotius to become her librarian, but he died on his way in Rostock. She appointed Benedict (Baruch) Nehamias de Castro from Hamburg as her Physician in ordinary.[17] In 1647 Johann Freinsheim was appointed. The Semiramis from the North corresponded with Pierre Gassendi; Blaise Pascal offered her a copy of his pascaline. To catalogue her new collection she asked Heinsius and Isaac Vossius to come to Sweden. She studied Neostoicism, the Church Fathers, Islam, and read Treatise of the Three Impostors, a work bestowing doubt on all organized religion [18] and had a firm grasp of classical history and philosophy.[19] Other illustrious scholars she invited to visit were Claude Saumaise, Pierre Daniel Huet, Gabriel Naudé, Christian Ravis, and Samuel Bochart.
In 1646 Christina's good friend, ambassador Pierre Chanut, corresponded with the philosopher René Descartes, asking him for a copy of his Meditations. Christina became interested enough to start correspondence with Descartes about hate and love. Although she was very busy she invited him to Sweden, Descartes arrived on 4 October 1649. He resided with Chanut, and had to wait till 18 December until he could start with his private lessons and gave her an insight into Catholicism. With Christina's strict schedule he was invited to the castle library at 5:00 AM to discuss philosophy and religion. The premises were icy, and on 1 February 1650 Descartes fell ill with pneumonia and died ten days later. Christina's rigorous philosophical schedule is why many blame her for Descartes death.
Christina was interested in theatre and ballet. She was also herself an amateur actress.[13][14] Plays had always interested her, especially those of Pierre Corneille. In 1647 Antonio Brunati had built a theatrical setting in the palace.[20] Her court poet Georg Stiernhielm wrote her several plays in the Swedish language, such as Den fångne Cupido eller Laviancu de Diane performed at court with Christina in the main part of the goddess Diana.[13][14] She invited foreign companies to play at Bollhuset, such as an Italian Opera troupe in 1652 with Vincenzo Albrici and a Dutch theatre troupe with Ariana Nozeman and Susanna van Lee in 1653.[13][14] Among the French artists she employed at court was Anne Chabanceau de La Barre, who was made court singer.[13]
Christina understood that it was expected of her to provide an heir to the Swedish throne. Her first cousin Charles was infatuated with her and they became secretly engaged before he left in 1642 to serve in the army in Germany for three years. Christina revealed in her autobiography that she felt, "an insurmountable distaste for marriage" and "an insurmountable distaste for all the things that females talked about and did". She slept for three to four hours a night and was chiefly occupied with her studies; she forgot to comb her hair, donned her clothes in a hurry and wore men's shoes for the sake of convenience. However, she was said to possess charm and the unruly hair became her trademark. Her closest female friend and noted passion of her youth was Ebba Sparre, whom she called "Belle". Most of her spare time was spent with la belle comtesse, and Christina often called attention to her beauty. She introduced Sparre to the English ambassador Whitelocke as her "bed-fellow", assuring him that Sparre's intellect was as striking as her body.[21] Despite their relationship, Christina hosted Ebba's wedding to Jakob Kasimir De la Gardie in 1653; the marriage lasted only five years; Ebba visited her husband in Elsinore when he was shot and killed, and their three children all died young. When Christina left Sweden she continued to write passionate letters to Sparre, in which she told her that she would always love her. Christina, though, used the same emotional style when writing to men and women she had never met (those whose writings she admired) and there is conjecture as to the context of her letters to Sparre.[22]
On 26 February 1649, Christina announced that she had decided not to marry and instead wanted her first cousin Charles to be heir to the throne. The nobility objected to this, while the three other estates — clergy, burghers, and peasants — accepted it. The coronation took place in October, 1650. Christina went to the castle of Jacobsdal, where she entered in a coronation carriage draped with black velvet embroidered in gold, and pulled by six white horses. The procession to Storkyrkan was so long that when the first carriages arrived at Storkyrkan, the last ones had not yet left Jacobsdal. All four estates were invited to dine at the castle. Fountains at the market place splashed out wine, roast was served, and illuminations sparkled. The participants were dressed in fantastic costumes, as at a carnival.
Her tutor, Johannes Matthiae, represented a gentler attitude than most Lutherans. In 1644 he suggested a new church order, but was voted down as this was interpreted as excessively Calvinist.[citation needed] Christina, who by then had become queen, defended him against the advice of chancellor Oxenstierna, but three years later the proposal had to be withdrawn. In 1647 the clergy wanted to introduce the Book of Concord (Swedish: Konkordieboken) - a book defining correct Lutheranism versus heresy, making some aspects of free theological thinking impossible. Matthiae was strongly opposed to this and was again backed by Christina. The Book of Concord was not introduced.
In August 1651, she asked for the Council's permission to abdicate, but gave in to their pleas for her to retain the throne. She had long conversations with Antonio Macedo, interpreter for Portugal's ambassador.[24] He was a Jesuit, and in August 1651 smuggled with him a letter from Christina to the Jesuit general in Rome.[25] In reply, two Jesuits came to Sweden on a secret mission in the spring of 1652, disguised as gentry and using false names. Paolo Casati had to gauge the sincerity of her intention to become Catholic. She had more conversations with them, being interested in Catholic views on sin, immortality of the soul, rationality and free will. Though raised to follow the Lutheran Church of Sweden, around May 1652 Christina decided to become Roman Catholic. The two scholars revealed her plans to Cardinal Fabio Chigi and King Philip IV of Spain and Spanish diplomat Antonio Pimentel de Prado was sent to Stockholm.[26][27]
After reigning almost twenty years, working at least ten hours a day, Christina had what some have interpreted as a nervous breakdown. She suffered with high blood pressure, complained about bad eyesight and pain in her neck. In February 1652 the French doctor Pierre Bourdelot arrived in Stockholm. Unlike most doctors of that time, he held no faith in blood-letting; instead he ordered sufficient sleep, warm baths and healthy meals, as opposed to Christina's hitherto ascetic way of life. She was only 25 and should take more pleasure in life. Bourdelot asked her to stop studying and working so hard[28] and to remove the books from her apartments. The funny Bourdelot showed her the 16 sonnets of Pietro Aretino, which he kept secretly in his luggage. For years Christina knew all the sonnets from the Ars Amatoria by heart and was keen on the works by Marcus Valerius Martialis.[29] By subtle means Bourdelot undermined her principles. She now became an Epicurean.[30] Her mother and de la Gardie were very much against the activities of Bourdelot and tried to convince her to change her attitude towards him; Bourdelot returned to France in 1653 "laden in riches and curses".[21]
In 1651 Christina told the councils she needed rest and the country needed a strong leader. The councils refused and Christina agreed to stay on the condition the councils never again asked her to marry. Within weeks, Christina lost much of her popularity after the beheading of Arnold Johan Messenius, together with his 17-year old son, who had accused her of serious misbehavior and of being a "Jezebel".[32][33] Instead of ruling she spent most of her time with her foreign friends in the ballroom on Sunday evenings and in the theater.
In 1653 she founded the military Amaranten order. Antonio Pimentel was appointed as its first knight; all members had to promise not to marry (again).[34] In February 1654 she plainly told the Council of her plans to abdicate. Oxenstierna told her she would regret her decision within a few months. In May the Riksdag discussed her proposals. She had asked for 200,000 rikstalers a year, but received dominions instead. Financially she was secured through revenue from the town of Norrköping, the isles of Gotland, Öland and Ösel, estates in Mecklenburg and Pomerania. Her debts were taken over by the treasury.
Her plan to convert was not the only reason for her abdication, as there was increasing discontent with her arbitrary and wasteful ways. Within ten years, she had created 17 counts, 46 barons and 428 lesser nobles. To provide these new peers with adequate appanages, she had sold or mortgaged crown property representing an annual income of 1,200,000 rikstalers. During the ten years of her reign, the number of noble families increased from 300 to about 600,[35] rewarding people like Lennart Torstenson and Louis De Geer for their war efforts and Johan Palmstruch the banker. These donations took place with such haste that they were not always registered, and on some occasions the same piece of land was given away twice.[36]
Christina abdicated her throne on 5 June 1654 in favor of her cousin Charles Gustavus. During the abdication ceremony at Uppsala Castle, Christina wore her regalia which were ceremonially removed from her, one by one. Per Brahe, who was supposed to remove the crown, did not move, so she had to take the crown off herself. Dressed in a simple white taffeta gown she gave her farewell speech with a faltering voice, thanked everyone and left the throne to Charles X, who was dressed in black. Per Brahe felt that she "stood there as pretty as an angel." Charles Gustavus, who was crowned later on that day, proposed her again to marry. Christina laughed and left the country, hoping for a warm reception in Catholic countries. Charles had to move into an empty palace.
In the summer of 1654, she left Sweden in man's clothes with the help of Bernardino de Rebolledo, and rode as Count Dohna, through Denmark. Relations between the two countries were still so tense that a former Swedish queen could not have traveled safely in Denmark. Christina had already packed and shipped abroad valuable books, paintings, statues and tapestries from her Stockholm castle, leaving its treasures severely depleted.[37]
Christina visited Johann Friedrich Gronovius, and Anna Maria van Schurman in the Dutch Republic. In August she arrived in the Southern Netherlands, and settled down in Antwerp. For four months Christina was lodged in the mansion of a Jewish merchant. She was visited by Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria; the Prince de Condé, ambassador Chanut, as well as the former governor of Norway, Hannibal Sehested. In the afternoon she went for a ride, each evening parties were held; there was a play to watch or music to listen to. Christina ran quickly out of money and had to sell some of her tapestries, silverware and jewelry. When her financial situation did not improve the archduke invited her to his Brussels palace on Coudenberg. On 24 December 1654, she converted to the Catholic faith in archduke's chapel in the presence of the English exiled Catholic Priest Thomas Giles. Raimondo Montecuccoli and Pimentel, who had become close friends, were present. She did not state her conversion in public, in case the Swedish council might refuse to pay her alimony. On top of this, Sweden was preparing for war against Pomerania, which meant that her income from there was considerably reduced. The pope and Philip IV of Spain could not support her openly either, as she was not publicly a Catholic yet. Christina succeeded in arranging a major loan, leaving books and statues to settle her debts.
In September she left for Italy with her entourage of 255 persons and 247 horses. The pope's messenger, the librarian Lucas Holstenius, himself a convert, waited for her in Innsbruck. On 3 November 1655, Christina converted in the Hofkirche and wrote to Pope Alexander VII and her cousin Charles X about it. To celebrate her official conversion L'Argia an opera by Antonio Cesti was performed. Ferdinand Charles, Archduke of Austria, already in financial trouble, was almost ruined by her visit. He was relieved by her departure on 8 November.
The southbound journey through Italy was planned in detail by the Vatican and had a brilliant triumph in Ferrara, Bologna, Faenza and Rimini. In Pesaro Christina got acquainted with the handsome brothers Santinelli, who so impressed her with their poetry and adeptness of dancing that she took them into service, as well as a certain Monadeschi. On 20 December she reached the Vatican, the last distance in a sedan chair designed by Bernini. She was granted her own wing inside the Vatican, and when the pope spotted the inscription symbolizing the northern wind, Omne malum ab Aquilone (meaning "all evil comes from the North"), he ensured that it was rapidly covered with paint.
The entry into Rome proper took place on 23 December, on horseback through Porta Flaminia, which today is known as Porta del Popolo.[38] Christina met Bernini some days later, and they became lifelong friends. She often visited him at his studio, and on his deathbed he wanted her to pray for him, as she used a language that God would understand.
In St Peter's Basilica she knelt in front of the altar, and on Christmas Day she received the sacrament from the Pope himself. In his honour she took the additional names Alexandra Maria – Alexandra not only after the pope, but also in honour of her hero, Alexander the Great. Her status as the most notable convert to Catholicism of the age, and as the most famous woman at the time, made it possible for her to ignore or flout the most common requirements of obeisance to the Catholic faith. She herself remarked that her Catholic faith was not of the common order; indeed, before converting she had asked church officials how strictly she would be expected to obey the church's common observances, and received reassurances. She respected the Pope's position in the Church, but not necessarily his acts as an individual; she once commented on this to one of his servants: The papal summer residence at that time was the Quirinal Palace, located on Monte Cavallo (literally "Horse mountain"). Christina stated that Monte Cavallo might rather be named Monte degli Asini ("Donkey mountain"), as she had never met a pope with common sense during her 30 years in Rome.[39] Christina's visit to Rome was the triumph of Pope Alexander VII and the occasion for splendid Baroque festivities. For several months she was the only preoccupation of the Pope and his court. The nobles vied for her attention and treated her to a never-ending round of fireworks, jousts, fake duels, acrobatics, and operas. At the Palazzo Barberini, where she was welcomed by a crowd of 6,000 spectators, she watched in amazement at the procession of camels and elephants in Oriental garb, bearing towers on their backs.
Christina settled down in the Palazzo Farnese, which belonged to the Duke of Parma,[40] just opposite the church of Saint Birgitta, another Swedish woman who had made Rome her home. Christina opened an academy in the palace on 24 January 1656, called Academy of Arcadia, where the participants enjoyed music, theatre, literature and languages. Every Wednesday she held the palace open to visitors from the higher classes who kept themselves busy with poetry and intellectual discussions. Belonging to the Arcadia-circle was also Francesco Negri, a Franciscan from Ravenna who is regarded as the first tourist of North Cape, Norway. Negri wrote eight letters about his walk through Scandinavia all the way up to "Capo Nord" in 1664. Another Franciscan was the Swede Lars Skytte, who, under the name pater Laurentius, served as Christina's confessor for eight years. He too had been a pupil of Johannes Matthiae, and his uncle had been Gustav Adolf's teacher. As a diplomat in Portugal he had converted, and asked for a transfer to Rome when he learnt of Christina's arrival. However, perhaps the most illustrious of the eminent figures befriended and patronized by Christina was the sculptor-architect-painter, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the greatest artistic genius of the century, to whom the queen showed the highest of personal honors by visiting his home-studio on more than one occasion. "Whoever does not esteem Bernini is not worthy of esteem himself," she is quoted as saying by Domenico Bernini, son of the artist, in his biography, The Life of Gian Lorenzo Bernini.[41]
However the arranged appanage from Sweden did not materialize; Christina lived off loans and donations. Her servants burned the wood from the doors to heat the premises; and the Santinelli brothers sold off works of art that came with the palace. The damage was explained away with the staff not being paid.[22]
29-year-old Christina gave occasion to much gossip when socializing freely with men her own age. One of them was Cardinal Decio Azzolino, who had been a secretary to the ambassador in Spain, and responsible for the Vatican's correspondence with European courts.[42] He was also the leader of the Squadrone Volante, the free thinking "Flying Squad" movement within the Catholic Church. Christina and Azzolino were so close that the pope asked him to shorten his visits to her palace; but they remained lifelong friends. In a letter to Azzolino Christina writes in French that she would never offend God or give Azzolino reason to take offence, but this "does not prevent me from loving you until death, and since piety relieves you from being my lover, then I relieve you from being my servant, for I shall live and die as your slave." His replies were more reserved.[43]
At times, things got a bit out of hand. On one occasion the couple had arranged to meet at the Villa Medici near Monte Pincio, but the cardinal did not show up. Christina hurried over to Castel Sant'Angelo, firing one of the cannons. The mark in the bronze gate in front of Villa Medici is still visible.[44]
Having run out of money and surfeited with an excess of pageantry, Christina resolved, in the space of two years, to visit France. Here she was treated with respect by Louis XIV, but the ladies were shocked by her masculine appearance and demeanour and the unguarded freedom of her conversation.
When visiting the ballet with la Grande Mademoiselle, she, as the latter recalls, "surprised me very much – applauding the parts which pleased her, taking God to witness, throwing herself back in her chair, crossing her legs, resting them on the arms of her chair, and assuming other postures, such as I had never seen taken but by Travelin and Jodelet, two famous buffoons... She was in all respects a most extraordinary creature".[45]
The King of Spain at that time ruled the Duchy of Milan and the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily. The French politician Mazarin, an Italian himself, had attempted to liberate Naples from the Spanish rule against which the locals had fought, but an expedition in 1654 had failed in this. Mazarin was now considering Christina as a possible queen for Naples. The locals wanted no Italian duke on the throne; they would prefer a French prince.
In the summer of 1656 Christina set sail for Marseille and from there travelled to Paris to discuss the matter. Officially it was said that she was negotiating her alimony arrangement with the Swedish king.
On 22 September 1656, the arrangement between her and Louis XIV was ready. He would recommend Christina as queen to the Neapolitans, and serve as guarantee against Spanish aggression. On the following day she left for Pesaro (?), where she settled down while waiting for the outcome of this. As Queen of Naples she would be financially independent of the Swedish king, and also capable of negotiating peace between France and Spain.[46] In the summer of 1657 she returned to France, officially to visit the papal city of Avignon, perhaps to flee the plague in Rome.
In October, apartments were assigned to her at the Palace of Fontainebleau, where she committed an action which stained her memory – the execution of marchese Gian Rinaldo Monaldeschi, her master of the horse.[47] Christina herself wrote her version of the story for circulation in Europe.
For two months, she had suspected Monaldeschi of disloyalty and secretly seized his correspondence, which revealed that he had betrayed her interests and put the blame on an absent member of court. Now she summoned Monaldeschi into a gallery at the palace, discussing the matter with him. He insisted that betrayal should be punished with death. She held the proof of his betrayal in her hand and so insisted that he had pronounced his own death sentence. Le Bel, a priest who stayed at the castle, was to receive his confession in the Galerie des Cerfs. He entreated for mercy, but was stabbed by two of her domestics – notably Ludovico Santinelli – in an apartment adjoining that in which she herself was. Wearing a coat of mail which is now on exhibition outside the gallery, he was chased around the room for hours before they succeeded in dealing him a fatal stab wound. Father Le Bel, who had begged on his knees that they spare the man, was told to have him buried inside the church, and Christina, seemingly unfazed, paid the abbey to hold Masses for his soul. She "was sorry that she had been forced to undertake this execution, but claimed that justice had been carried out for his crime and betrayal. She asked God to forgive him," wrote Le Bel.
Mazarin advised Christina to place the blame on Santinelli and dismiss him, but she insisted that she alone was responsible for the act. She wrote to Louis XIV about the matter, and two weeks later he paid her a friendly visit at Fontainebleau without mentioning it. In Rome, people felt differently; Monaldeschi had been an Italian nobleman, murdered by a foreign barbarian with Santinelli as her executioner. The letters proving his guilt are gone; Christina left them with Le Bel on the day of the murder, and he confirmed that they existed.[48] She never revealed what was in the letters.
The killing of Monaldeschi was legal, since Christina had judicial rights over the members of her court, as her vindicator Gottfried Leibniz claimed. As her contemporaries saw it, Christina as queen had to emphasize right and wrong, and her sense of duty was strong. She continued to regard herself as queen regnant all her life.
When her friend Angela Maddalena Voglia was sent to an abbey by the pope, to remove her from an affair with a cardinal at the Sacro Collegio, Angela succeeded in escaping from the monastery and went into hiding at Christina's, where she was assaulted and raped by an abbot. Understandably, Christina was most upset that this could happen to someone under her roof, and demanded to have the abbot executed, but he managed to escape.[49]
While still in France, she would gladly have visited England, but she received no encouragement from Cromwell. She returned to Rome and resumed her study of arts and sciences.
On 15 May 1658, Christina arrived in Rome for the second time, but this time it was definitely no triumph. Her popularity was lost with her execution of Monaldeschi. Alexander VII remained in his summer residence and wanted no further visits from this woman he now referred to as a barbarian. She stayed at the Palazzo Rospigliosi, which belonged to Mazarin, situated close to the Quirinal Palace; so the pope was enormously relieved when in July 1659 she moved to Trastevere to live in Palazzo Riario, on top of the Janiculus, designed by Bramante. It was Cardinal Azzolino who signed the contract, as well as provided her with new servants to replace Francesco Santinelli, who had been Monaldeschi's executioner.[50]
The Riario Palace became her home for the rest of her life. She decorated the walls with paintings, mainly from the Renaissance; and almost no paintings from northern European painters, except Holbein. No Roman collection of art could match hers. There were portraits of her friends Azzolino, Bernini, Ebba Sparre, Descartes, ambassador Chanut and doctor Bourdelot. Azzolino ensured that she was reconciled with the pope, and that the latter granted her a pension.
In April 1660 Christina was informed that Charles X had died in February. His son, Charles XI, was only five years old. That summer she went to Sweden, pointing out that she had left the throne to her first cousin and his descendant, so if Charles XI died, she would take over the throne again. But as a Catholic she could not do that, and the clergy refused to let her hold Catholic Masses where she stayed. After some weeks in Stockholm she found lodgings in Norrköping town, which was her area. Eventually she submitted to a second renunciation of the throne, spending a year in Hamburg to get her finances in order on her way back to Rome. She left her income to the banker Diego Texeira – his real, Jewish name being Abraham – in return for him sending her a monthly allowance and covering her debts in Antwerp. She visited the Texeira family in their home and entertained them in her own lodgings, which at that time was unusual in relation to Jews.
In the summer of 1662, she arrived in Rome for the third time, followed by some fairly happy years. Some differences with the Pope made her resolve in 1667 once more to return to Sweden; but the conditions attached by the senate to her resuming residence there were now so mortifying that she proceeded no farther than Hamburg. There she was informed that Alexander VII had died. The new pope, Clement IX, had been a regular guest at her palace. In her delight at his election she threw a brilliant party at her lodgings in Hamburg, with illuminations and wine in the fountain outside. However, she had forgotten that this was a Protestant land, so the party ended with her escaping through a hidden door, threatened by stone throwing and torches. The Texeira family had to cover the repairs.[22]
Christina's fourth and last entry in Rome took place on 22 November 1668. Clement IX often visited her; they had a shared interest in plays. Christina organized meetings of the Accademia in the Great Hall[52] which had 'a platform for singers and players'.[53] When the pope suffered a stroke, she was among the few he wanted to see at his deathbed. António Vieira became her confessor. In 1671 Christina established Rome's first public theatre in a former jail, Tor di Nona.[54] In 1672 she was mentioned as one of the candidates for the throne in Poland after the death of John II Casimir Vasa.
The new pope, Clement X, worried about the influence of theatre on public morals. When Innocent XI became pope, things turned even worse; within a few years he made Christina's theatre into a storeroom for grain, although he had been a frequent guest in her royal box with the other cardinals. He forbade women to perform with song or acting, and the wearing of decolleté dresses. Christina considered this sheer nonsense, and let women perform in her palace.[55]
She wrote an unfinished autobiography, essays on her heroes Alexander the Great, Cyrus the Great and Julius Cæsar, on art and music ("Pensées, L'Ouvrage du Loisir" and "Les Sentiments Héroïques")[19] and acted as patron to musicians. Carlo Ambrogio Lonati and Giacomo Carissimi were Kapellmeister; Lelio Colista luteplayer; Loreto Vittori and Marco Marazzoli singers and Sebastiano Baldini librettist.[56][57] She had Alessandro Stradella and Bernardo Pasquini to compose for her; Arcangelo Corelli dedicated his first work, Sonata da chiesa opus 1, to her.[58][59] On 2 February 1687 Corelli or Alessandro Scarlatti directed a tremendous orchestra [60] performing a Pasquini cantata in praise for James II[61] to welcome Roger Palmer, 1st Earl of Castlemaine as the new ambassador to the Vatican, accompanied by the painter John Michael Wright, who knew Rome and spoke Italian.[62]
Her politics and rebellious spirit persisted long after her abdication of power. When Louis XIV of France revoked the Edict of Nantes, abolishing the rights of French Protestants (Huguenots), Christina wrote an indignant letter, dated 2 February 1686, directed at the French ambassador Cesar d'Estrees. The Sun King did not approve of this, but Christina was not to be silenced. In Rome, she made Pope Clement X prohibit the custom of chasing Jews through the streets during the carnival. On 15 August 1686, she issued a declaration that Roman Jews were under her protection, signed la Regina – the queen.
Christina remained very tolerant towards the beliefs of others all her life. She on her part felt more attracted to the Spanish priest Miguel Molinos, whom she employed as a private theologian. He had been persecuted by the Holy Inquisition for his teachings; proclaiming sin belonged to the lower sensual part of man and was not subject to man's free will. Christina sent him food and hundreds of letters when he was locked up in Castel Sant'Angelo.[21]
In February 1689, the 62-year-old Christina fell seriously ill after a visit to the temples in Campania, and received the last rites. She seemed to recover, but in the middle of April she developed an acute streptococcus bacterial infection known as erysipelas, then contracted pneumonia and a high fever. On her deathbed she sent the pope a message asking if he could forgive her insults – which he could. Cardinal Azzolino stayed at her side until she died on 19 April 1689.
Christina had asked for a simple burial, but the pope insisted on her being displayed on a lit de parade for four days in the Riario Palace. She was embalmed, covered with white brocade, a silver mask, a gilt crown and scepter. "The Queen wore a thin mantle, decorated with hundreds of crowns and fur bordered with ermine, under this a splendid garment in two pieces, thin gloves and drawers of knitted silk and a pair of elegant textile bootees".[63] In similar fashion to the popes, her body was placed in three coffins – one of cypress, one of lead and finally one made of oak. The funeral procession led from Santa Maria in Vallicella to St. Peter's Basilica, where she was buried within the Grotte Vaticane – only one of three women ever given this honour. Her intestines were placed in a high urn. From 2005 to 2011 (when his grave was moved), her marble sarcophagus was positioned next to that of Pope John Paul II.
In 1702 Clement XI commissioned a monument for the queen, in whose conversion he vainly foresaw a return of her country to the Faith and to whose contribution towards the culture of the city he looked back with gratitude. This monument was placed in the body of the basilica and directed by the artist Carlo Fontana. Christina was portrayed on a gilt and bronze medallion, supported by a crowned skull. Three reliefs below represented her relinquishment of the Swedish throne and abjugation of Protestantism at Innsbruck, the scorn of the nobility, and faith triumphing over heresy. It is an unromantic likeness, for she is given a double chin and a prominent nose with flaring nostrils.
Christina had named Azzolino her sole heir to make sure her debts were settled, but he was too ill and worn out even to join her funeral, and died in June the same year. His nephew, Pompeo Azzolino, was his sole heir, and he rapidly sold off Christina's art collections. Venus mourns Adonis by Paolo Veronese, for example, which was war booty from Prague, was sold by Azzolino's nephew and eventually ended up in Stockholm's National Museum. Her large and important library, originally amassed as war booty by her father Gustav Adolf from throughout his European campaign, was bought by Alexander VIII for the Vatican library, while most of the paintings ended up in France,[22] as the core of the Orleans Collection – many remain together in the National Gallery of Scotland. Her collection amounted to approximately 300 paintings. Titian's Venus Anadyomene was among them. At first, removing them from Sweden was seen as a great loss to the country; but in 1697 Stockholm castle burned down, where they would have been destroyed. 1700 drawings from her collection (among them works by Michelangelo (25) and Raphael) were acquired in 1790 by Willem Anne Lestevenon for the Teylers Museum in Haarlem, the Netherlands.[64]
Historical accounts of Christina include regular reference to her physical features, mannerisms and style of dress. Some historians have speculated that references to her physical attributes may be over-represented in related historiography, thus giving the impression that this was of greater interest to her contemporaries than was actually the case.[65] However, given how influential Christina became in her own era (especially for those in Rome), it is likely her style and mannerisms were at least of general interest to those around her and this is reflected in many accounts.[42][65] As a result of conflicted and unreliable accounts (some no better than gossip), the way in which Christina is described, even today, is a matter of debate.[63]
According to Christina's own autobiography, the midwives at her birth first believed her to be a boy because she was, "completely hairy and had a coarse and strong voice". Such ambiguity did not end with her birth; Christina made cryptic statements about her "constitution" and body throughout her life. Christina also believed a wetnurse had carelessly dropped her to the floor when she was a baby. A shoulder bone broke, leaving one shoulder higher than the other for the rest of her life.[66] A number of her contemporaries made reference to the differing height of her shoulders.
As a child, Christina's mannerisms could probably best be described as that of a tomboy. Her father insisted she should receive "the education of a prince" and some have interpreted this as acceptance, on the part of the king, that she had masculine features or that there was some form of gender ambiguity in her upbringing.[21] In reality, she received the same education as that of her cousins (from her aunt), though accounts suggest she was more physically active and boisterous. She did, however, show a greater interest in boys' sports and games. She was taught (and enjoyed) fencing, horse riding and hunting.
By adulthood, Christina's gender identity was, perhaps, more ambiguous. It was said, "she walked like a man, sat and rode like a man, and could eat and swear like the roughest soldiers".[21] Christina's contemporary John Bargrave described her comportment in a similar fashion but said witnesses ascribed her style more to childishness or madness than masculinity.[42] When she arrived in Rome in 1655, she had shaven her head and wore a big, dark wig.[21] By 1665, according to Edward Browne, she regularly wore a velvet justacorps, cravat and man's perruke.[21]
While Christina may not have been alone in her own time for choosing masculine dress (Leonora Christina Ulfeldt, for example, was known for dressing the same way), she also had physical features some described as masculine.[21][67][68] According to the then Duc de Guise (likely Henry II, Duke of Guise), "she wears men's shoes and her voice and nearly all her actions are masculine".[69] When she arrived in Lyon, she again wore a toque and had styled her hair like that of a young man. It was noted that she also wore large amounts of powder and face cream. In one account she, "was sunburnt, and she looked like a sort of Egyptian street girl, very strange, and more alarming than attractive".[21]
Living in Rome, she formed a close relationship with Cardinal Azzolino, which was controversial but symbolic of her attraction to relationships which were not typical for a woman of her era and station.[42][70] As a result, for a time, Christina's "dormant femininity was awakened". She abandoned her manly clothes and took to wearing décolleté gowns so risqué that they drew a rebuke from the Pope.[21] When Azzolino was sent away from Rome and their relationship dissipated, Christina reverted to her more masculine style.
As an older woman, Christina's style changed little. Buckley provides the following description from François Maximilian Misson (visiting in the Spring of April 1688):[21]
" | "She is over sixty years of age, very small of stature, exceedingly fat and corpulent. Her complexion and voice and face are those of a man. She has a big nose, large blue eyes, blonde eyebrows, and a double chin from which sprout several tufts of beard. Her upper lip protrudes a little. Her hair is a light chestnut colour, and only a palms breadth in length; she wears it powdered and standing on end, uncombed. She is very smiling and obliging. You will hardly believe her clothes: a man's jacket, in black satin, reaching to her knees, and buttoned all the way down; a very short black skirt, and men's shoes; a very large bow of black ribbons instead of a cravat; and a belt drawn tightly under her stomach, revealing its rotundity all too well." | " |
Christina's gender ambiguity did not end with her style of dress. Some historians assert she maintained both heterosexual and homosexual relationships during the course of her life or was asexual depending on which source is consulted.[71][72] According to Veronica Buckley, Christina was a "dabbler" who was, "...painted a lesbian, a prostitute, a hermaphrodite, and an atheist" by her contemporaries, though "in that tumultuous age, it is hard to determine which was the most damning label."[21][73] Christina declared at the end of her life she was, "neither Male nor Hermaphrodite, as some People in the World have pass'd me for".[21] Regardless of labels, it seems clear Christina did at least challenge traditional ideas of gender and sexuality.
Bargrave recounted that Christina's relationship with Azzolino was both "familiar" (intimate) and "amorous" and that Azzolino had been sent (by the Pope) to Romania as punishment for maintaining it.[42] Buckley, on the other hand, believed there was, "in Christina a curious squeamishness with regard to sex" and that "a sexual relationship between herself and Azzolino, or any other man, seems unlikely".[21] Based on historical accounts of Christina's physicality, some scholars, like Buckley believe her to have been an intersexed individual (someone with a combination of female and male genitals, hormones or chromosomes).[21]
In 1965 these conflicting accounts led to an investigation of Christina's remains. Physical anthropologist Carl-Herman Hjortsjö, who undertook the investigation, explained: "Our imperfect knowledge concerning the effect of intersexuality on the skeletal formation [...] makes it impossible to decide which positive skeletal findings should be demanded upon which to base the diagnosis of intersexuality". Nevertheless, Hjortsjö speculated that Christina had reasonably typical female genitalia because it is recorded that she menstruated.[74] Hjortsjö's osteological analysis of Christina's skeleton led him to state that they were of a "typically female" structure.[75]
Physicians today consider her symptoms to be that of Polycystic ovarian Syndrome, a complex multi-endocrine disorder resulting in many symptoms including hirsutism (male pattern/type hair growth) due to increased androgen hormone levels, and abdominal obesity due to the hormone insulin receptor defects. Also medical specialists consider her reported behavioral issues to be closest to those in the Pervasive Developmental Disorder family, i.e., Asperger's Syndrome as she had very little comprehension for the need of most social norms and little desire to act, dress, or do other social norms, preferring to wearing, acting, and doing only that which she deemed logically practical.[21]
The complex character of Christina has inspired numerous plays, books, and operatic works:
Christina's ancestors in three generations
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Christina of Sweden". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Christina of Sweden. |
Wikisource has the text of a 1905 New International Encyclopedia article about Christina, Queen of Sweden. |
Christina Born: 8 December 1626 Died: 19 April 1689 | ||
Regnal titles | ||
Preceded by Gustav II Adolf | Queen of Sweden 1632–1654 | Succeeded by Charles X Gustav |
New title | Duchess of Bremen and Verden 1648–1654 |


text:
Amongst the drivers who will take part in the official FIA press conference in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday will be Ferraris Kimi Raikkonen who scored his first ever Grand Prix victory in Malaysia in 2003. And on Friday it is the turn of senior team personnel - including Lotuss recently-appointed deputy team principal Federico Gastaldi - to answer questions from the press. The line-ups in full...
Thursday, March 27, 1500 hours local time (0800 CET)
Valtteri Bottas (Williams), Kamui Kobayashi (Caterham), Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso), Pastor Maldonado (Lotus), Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari), Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
Friday, March 28, 1600 hours local time (0900 CET)
Cyril Abiteboul (Caterham), Federico Gastaldi (Lotus), Paul Hembery (Pirelli), Monisha Kaltenborn (Sauber), Graeme Lowdon (Marussia), Franz Tost (Toro Rosso)
The qualifying and post-race conferences with the top three drivers will take place immediately after the respective sessions.
Formula1.com will bring you full transcripts.
For tickets and travel to 2014 FORMULA 1 races, click here.
For FORMULA 1 merchandise, click here.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Running Robert
This submission is currently being researched & evaluated!
You can help confirm this entry by contributing facts, media, and other evidence of notability and mutation.
Running Robert is always running from something!
The meme started on a /b/ thread in the early morning hours of 11/13/11. The blank slate was posted and the /b/rothers began to display their creativity. Soon, an anonymous poster coined the name "Running Robert" and due to his dubs roll the name stuck.
Examples of Running Robbert meme:


text:
Supporting Women and the Arts
Views: 2
Share Tweet Facebook
Join Art By Latina Artists ABLA
Don~a, would it be possible to re-print? Blacktino.net seems to be down. Grazie.
Welcome toArt By Latina Artists ABLA
Sign Upor Sign In
Thank you for sharing ABLA on FaceBook! We are now over 2K followers!
Judyanne Ibargaray Give a Gift
Lidia J. Ortiz Give a Gift
One Brown Crafter Give a Gift
© 2015 Created by Maria Sanchez.
Badges | Report an Issue | Terms of Service
Please check your browser settings or contact your system administrator.


text: Their work goes on display together this Saturday, when a-d furniture interiors presents the exhibition "Duet: Photographs by Albert Watson and Sarah Moon." Misleading name aside, a-d has consistently devoted itself to filling its 3000-square-foot space with the work of major photographers, often being the first to unveil their images in Miami. This show, which runs through December, will close a triumphant year that featured shots by bigwigs such as Helmut Newton, Horst P. Horst, and Peter Beard. Also being unveiled on Saturday: upscale furniture and accessory lines by international design-world stars such as Sam Robin, Ton Luyk, Monica de Rhode, Alison Spear, and S. Russell Groves. Not one to be outdone, a-d owner Juan Carlos Arcila-Duque is more than just the photo curator. He designs as well. He'll show off his own work, too -- clean-lined chairs and tables that he created for the soon-to-be-open South Beach nightspot MYNT Ultra Lounge. "It's a very challenging view," Arcila-Duque notes of the show, "about what's happening design-wise in Miami."


text:
Musical Justice Underground - The Cutting Edge of Alternative & Indie Music
Indie, Britpop, Punk, Post-Punk, Psychedelic, Shoegaze, Garage, Selected Classic Rock, Mod, Electronic, New Wave, No Wave, New Wave Of the New Wave, Psychobilly, Industrial, Assorted '60s Nuggets
Broadcasting To The World From One Man's Garage * Handpicked Daily * Whatever.
Indie Rock, Pop and Americana
The best country, rock, pop, and jazz indie artists. The future of music...
KXLU 88.9FM Los Angeles 128kbps stereo
- On the Air - All the best Alternative, Modern, Indie Rock/Pop!
The favorite songs of 2015 (with a few reminders from 10 years ago and a few outlooks to SxSW, March 17-22, 2015) - the music independent and alternative to boring mainstream - the music you and I like!
FRIDAY FLASHBACK: Every Friday we set the Hot Tub Time Machine to one year in rock history and give you the best (and worst) music from that year. This week 1968
Alternative Radio,The Killers,Silversun Pickups,Garbage,The Shins,Jack White,Cage the Elephant,Foster The People,Young the Giant,Black Keys,Arctic Monkeys,Counting Crows,Gaslight Anthem,Neon Trees,Duran Duran,Coldplay,Bob Schneider,Strokes,Emmet Swimming
Selections from a Daft Dog
Everything new, everything indie. Catch the latest releases by the hit indie bands and up-and-coming artists that don't always hit the FM airwaves!
Foster The Peope, Train, Doors Down, Temper Tramp, Snow Patrol, Rise Against, Phoenix, Paramore, Muse, Mumford & Sons, MGMT, Local Native, cake, Amy Winehouse, Kings of Leon, Coldplay, Cage the Elephant, The Rapture, White Stripes, Wombats, Cake, Oasis
Hodge Podge
91.7 WPCR Plymouth
Streaming new & classic alternative, pop, and modern rock from the High Country. OK Go, Green Day, Weezer, Cage The Elephant, Jack White, Beck, Delta Spirit, Arcade Fire, Muse - best served loud


text:
Pear Shaped Smokey Quartz and Diamond Stud Earrings
These wonderful earrings feature two lovely all natural 10X8mm Pear Smokey Quartz gemstones prong set in 14K yellow gold. Come standard with push back posts but can be upgraded to screw back posts. More
FindGift.com Customer Special: 15% off and FREE Shipping on all orders! Use Coupon Code SZFG15.$249.00 | MORE DETAIL |
Featured Offers
Personalized Gifts
Exclusive designs personalized free Preview online, order today & save!
Christmas Gifts - Jewelry
Personalized Jewelry, Monogram Rings & Necklaces On Sale Now!


text:
Booksie Address: | http://www.booksie.com/QueenPortia |
Country: | United States |
Member Since: | Aug 21, 2014 |
Poem by QueenPortia
Posted: Nov 15, 2014
He straightens his tie, preparing his soul for the words...
Novel by QueenPortia
Posted: Sep 3, 2014
Rachael Hunt a 22 or 60 year old vampire, has had to say...
Poem by QueenPortia
Posted: Aug 21, 2014
A poem about the coat that belongs to Elijah... XD
I'm Portia, and I am just starting out on here. I don't have much to say besides I read, romance, fantasy and horror mostly. I'm a taphophile and I'm 20 years old. I swear a lot and could probably out run a full grown man with wings on his back.
Lets just be honest.
You can follow me on instagram @skindeep_soulwide
I'll be posting some random poetry and such.
I have a novel now I am trying my hand at called
"Kissing Goodbye" It's fantasy ect.


text:
Join Linda Taylor as she kicks off our spring film series featuring stories of family relationships. Double Happiness, is the story of... more
For Readers
We provide best selling audio and print books you can checkout and download to a wide range of devices.
Learn more about Digital Downloads
UAPL patrons have access to additional titles that's
Why we would like you to log in before you browse
Zinio Digital Newstand Platform offers you access to full digital copies of some of your favorite magazines. You can download and view these titles on your computer or mobile device. Learn more about using Zinio
Download your favorite music from Freegal Music Downloads, a new FREE digital download for music. Learn more about using Freegal
Hoopla is a free audio and video streaming service available to all Upper Arlington Public Library cardholders. Through Hoopla, patrons now have access to thousands of titles in video, music, and audiobook formats for streaming or temporary download. Content can be enjoyed on smartphones, tablets or computers. Learn more about Hoopla, check our support page, or download a copy of our Hoopla Instructions sheet.
Schedule a 1-on-1 training with staff in our Media Services department. We can help you get started with UAPL's free eBooks and Magazines. Each session is up to one hour.
Connect with Your Librarians
Join our Adult Department's Goodreads Group: connect with your librarians and other Goodreads Group members to discuss and share book recommendations.
Books Librarians Love
LibraryReads is a monthly Top 10 list of books chosen by librarians all over the country. You can see the current and past lists at
In addition, our librarian Bonnie stocks a
Goodreads shelf with those titles for your convenience.
Adult Guides
Our downloadable guides range from new release lists to "how to" instructions designed to help you with our collection.
Events for Adults
Let's Speak English is an opportunity to practice speaking with ESOL trained volunteers.
Real estate professional, Rachel Kayla, will take a humorous look at common mistakes people make when trying to sell their home and will... more
Caitlin McGurk from the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum will come to Lane to present on the history... more
New Releases
Check our lists of ► New Books ► New Audiobooks
The Adult Readers' Blog
Yesterday five deer were outside my kitchen window. Elegant lawn ornaments in the falling snow. My heart thrilled to see them at the same time it ached for their struggle to survive. They are part of a regular group of visitors to my suburban backyard. A few weeks ago it was two red foxes passing through. The wildlife at my backdoor is changing. I'm not ready for lions, tigers, or bears but as the current cold snap continues it looks like we have a March of the penguins. They are adorable and at least the one in this photo is already dressed for Ohio weather.
- H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald is the 2014 winner of the British Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction. A daughter deals with her father's early death by raising and training a hunting goshawk. A sometimes brutal pursuit. The author is informed by her reading of The Goshawk by T. H. White (currently available as an EBook)
- You can literally march with the penguins at the Cincinnati Zoo Penguin Parade
- Knitting sweaters for penguins recovering from oil spills is the hobby of Australia's oldest man. It is also a controversial practice
- Elephant in the Living Room is a documentary about the exotic pet trade in Ohio. It follows a Dayton humane officer before the changes to the law.
Adult Recommendations
Crazy Good: The True Story of Dan Patch, the Most Famous Horse in America by Charles Leerhsen
Similar to Laura Hilldebrand's Seabiscuit, Leerhsen's tale of Dan Patch is about a horse who loved to run. Few folks are familiar with trotter/pacer racing but a hundred years ago it was more popular than thoroughbred racing. Leerhsen's story includes the social history of the Ragtime era, small Midwestern farmers, big city con men, and rise of the trotters and pacers popularity into the racing world. Crazy Good: The True Story of Dan Patch, the Most Famous Horse in America is truly an inspiring horse story of an underdog lame colt becoming a superstar champion in racing history. Good read!
The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook
Fans of the Smitten Kitchen blog can rejoice in this cookbook by home cook Perelman. She cooks in a tiny New York City kitchen – although a friend told her upon move in that "ovens are for sweater storage." Perelman's love of cooking is apparent, with many photographs of both the process and finished product, with some innovative and some more classic recipes to try in your own kitchen, large or small.
Sentinel: A Spycatcher Novel
Written by an ex- MI6 field agent, Matthew Dunn, this spy thriller exudes authenticity. Trained to be the ultimate spy, Will Cochran is sent to Russia on a fool's errand: to find a deep cover agent who has betrayed the U. S. and wants to start a war. Not only does Cochran face geographic and physical odds in Russia, political and economic tensions at home, he is up against the clock, and it is ticking!


text:
cory booker - Page 11
Is Anybody Really Paying Attention to U.S. Senate Battle In NJ? [POLL/AUDIO]
Booker Makes Senate Run Official
Who Will Christie Pick? [POLL/AUDIO]
It's up to Gov. Chris Christie to pick a replacement for New Jersey U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, who passed away from complications of viral pneumonia Monday morning at the age of 89.


text:
Allied Telesis
Allied Telesis Executive Assistant Interview Questions
Interview Experience
Interview Experience
Getting an Interview
Getting an Interview
Interview Difficulty
Interviews for Top Jobs at Allied Telesis
- Software Engineer (3)
- Senior Program Manager (1)
- Sales (1)
- Executive Assistant (1)
- Customer Service Representative (1)
- Vertical Head ( Givernment, Education & Manufacturing) (1)
Executive Assistant Interview
I applied in-person. The process took 2 days – interviewed at Allied Telesis in May 2012.
Wonderful experience with a great PR representative. She asked me the normal questions one would expect, but after pleasantries were exchanged, we were able to bond in a more personal, fun way.
- How honest are you? View Answers (32)


text:
Dental cleaning involves a lot of tooth polishing and plaque removal, unlike professional boxing, which involves a lot of plaque polishing and tooth removal. Get a heavyweight cleaning with this Groupon.
$49 for a Dental-Checkup Package ($340 Total Value)
The package includes:
- Dental exam (a $60 value)
- Full-mouth x-rays (an $85 value)
- Periodontal charting (a $75 value)
- Standard cleaning (a $120 value)<p>
Tower Dentistry
Stepping into Tower Dentistry is like stepping into the house of a neighbor—a neighbor who's really into the Middle Ages. One of the sunny, yellow walls in the reception area gives way to the stone exterior of a castle, where children climb through a kid-size archway to enter their own play space. Overhead, a flat-screen TV entertains parents as they shift focus between the screen and their progeny, sipping coffee or juice on the plush cushions of the sofa. Nearby, a vibrant blue-and-orange flower painting crowns the fireplace, complementing the blue backlighting of the rotunda-like ceiling and the dark-wood cabinets.
If you can bring yourself to leave the cozy comfort of the foyer, you'll find that the rest of the office is just as calming. Satellite TV or music await in treatment rooms, where dentists Adam Raschke, Paul Pierce, Paul Velton, and Frank Duran would love to hear the nicknames you've chosen for each of the fish in their 1,000-gallon aquarium. The caring team maintains its patient-centered philosophy with timesaving, state-of-the-art dental technology. They use a CEREC software system to design and fabricate ceramic restorations in about an hour, and offer mini dental implants that stabilize ill-fitting dentures in a single visit.
95% of 55 customers recommend
"It was a good visit, would recommend to family and friends."
"Lovely, spa-like setting and friendly, competent staff."
"they were wonderful and professional"


text:
First Look: Word Driven offers fun license-plate inspired game
Word Driven from Headlight Software, Inc. transforms a cherished car trip game into a fun iPhone application. You're given three letters to work with (in the real world, you'd get those letters from passing license plates, but here they are automatically generated by the application) and must produce a word using each letter in the proper sequence.
The underlying dictionary seems pretty robust, handling nearly all the words I threw at it. At each possible completion, the application chimes to let you know you can submit the word as-is. If your word continues on further, you can keep typing, otherwise you can tap to submit.
The application offers both a timed challenge mode and a "complete n words" mode, allowing you to pick whether you want to race the clock or simply work your way through a standard number of puzzles. While the game itself is free and ad-supported, in-app purchases ($0.99 each) allow you to expand the game for additional difficulty settings.
I found the game easy to use but I took exception to some of the GUI choices, especially the hard-to-use custom keyboard and the off-center text entry for top winners. The application could use an interface spruce-up but even as-is it's a fun way to while away some time.
Word Driven has been submitted to Apple for approval. When it goes live, it should be available at this URL.
Software Updates
more updates- Apple Remote Desktop updated with Yosemite support
- OS X Yosemite 10.10.2, iOS 8.1.3 updates now available
- Sports Illustrated 120 SPORTS channel comes to Apple TV
- Logic Pro X update brings AirDrop support, new effects, tools, and more
- Parallels Access 2.5 released, adds file manager, computer-to-computer remote access
- The Google Translate iOS app is about to get a lot smarter


text:
Rand Is a Tool, Forget Him
Where in the Constitution is Congress given the power to legislate on state labor laws? Hmm???
If there were federal laws against right-to-work, then overturning them would be fine. But this is using federal power to overturn state law.
By forcing every issue to be resolved at the federal level, you make the fight for liberty impossible. People will support the Patriot Act because they are afraid of gay people getting married. People will support Obamacare because they think birth control will be outlawed federally.
This is how the public gets played and the powerful stay in charge. By playing this political game.
It's obvious Rand is not liberty-minded. I don't know what perverse masonic/good ole' boy/what-have-you club he belongs to, but it has nothing to do with liberty.
This is a move that will win Republicans points in a district or two. But the chess board will remain largely unchanged.
Seriously, really, what's Rand's deal? This sort of policy is boilerplate Republican, and it's good policy in theory (you union hacks out there, c'mon, whistleblowers? yeah, wouldn't want them to remain unpunished for defying the bosses). But how can Rand be ignorant of the deep systemic flaws of the federal government.
This is why this issue won't go away. Our problem is not Obama. Our problem is the whole federal establishment and its overabundance of power and influence in American society. Rand is merely part of the problem.
What, you think that 4 or 8 years of boilerplate right-to-work, low taxes, or whatever is going to unravel the bureaucracy, the Fed, all that? No thanks, I don't need no Reagan-lite. Look elsewhere people, this tool does not deserve our support.
- Login to post comments


text:
Children's Miracle Network
Here Are Ways You Can Donate During Our Radiothon
Even when it's at its best, modern SNL is rarely shocking. Funny, strange, silly and clever, sure. But shocking? Nah. The show doesn't seem to set out to offend every week. So when the show broke out a fake commercial that depicted 50 Shades of Grey star and guest host Dakota Johnson joining the radical terrorist group ISIS, jaws rightfully hit the ground. Who approved this? And could they start approving more sketches?
Of Mice & Men have revealed 'Broken Generation,' 'Something to Hide,' 'Never Giving Up' and the acoustic version of 'Feels Like Forever.'
A post on Pantera's Facebook page condemns a despicable act by a band who desecrated Dimebag Darrell's grave.
If you're ever feeling crappy, you can always find comfort in the Best Cleavage Ever (This Week).
The late, great Leonard Nimoy, who died earlier today at the age of 83, will always be Mr. Spock, second-in-command of the USS Enterprise under Captain James T. Kirk. For a long time, Nimoy was not okay with this. And then, over the years, he embraced the character that defined his career and inspired an entire generation of fans (many of whom became scientists, engineers, and astronauts). But Nimoy didn't just sit back and rest on his Vulcan laurels. When he wasn't wearing those pointy ears, Nimoy was acting, directing, writing, singing, and lending his likeness and distinctive voice to commercials and TV specials. He was a real Hollywood renaissance man, dabbling in high art, low art, and everything in-between.
Steven or Stephen? Cathy or Kathy? Alan or Allen? These are just a handful of names that can be spelled differently.
Hockey players can take it when their bodies are put through the ringer. Hockey fans? Not as much.
We're beginning to think this might just be our sexiest collection of GIFs yet.
'Star Trek' favorite Leonard Nimoy has died at the age of 83 and his wide-ranging influence has reached the rock and metal world.
NetherRealm Studios introduces Cassie Cage, Takashi Takeda, Kung Jin and Jackie Briggs in this new story trailer for Mortal Kombat X.
The Offspring's Dexter Holland spoke with 'Loudwire Nights' host Full Metal Jackie about their new single 'Coming for You,' their new album progress and more.
We have very sad news to report from The New York Times: Leonard Nimoy, Star Trek's Mr. Spock for almost 50 years, has died. Nimoy's wife, Susan Bay Nimoy, told the Times the cause of death was "end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease." The beloved actor and director was 83 years old.


text:
Cops: Elderly Man Found Unconscious At Coney Island Subway Stop
The NYPD has asked the public for help in identifying a man who was found unconscious inside of a train car at the Stillwell Ave subway stop in Coney Island.
State Trooper Credited With Saving Unconscious Boy, 6, On Southern State Parkway
A New York State Police trooper was being hailed as a hero Tuesday, after clearing the airway of a 6-year-old boy who was not breathing on the Southern State Parkway on Long Island.
Man Files $50 Million Lawsuit, Claims Cops Beat Him Unconscious
Attorneys announced a $50 million lawsuit against the NYPD Thursday, on behalf of a Bronx man they claimed was beaten unconscious by officers.
Carroll Gardens Woman Pronounced Dead After Being Found Unconscious, Investigation Underway
A neighbor found the 55-year-old woman inside of her Carroll Gardens home, she was suffering from head trauma, according to investigators.
Mbarek Lafrem Pleads Guilty To Beating Nurse In Bathroom Of Midtown Pub Social
The Moroccan-born Lafrem and the woman, a nurse, crossed paths at a Manhattan bar in March 2010. He lived in Norwood, Pa., but was working in Manhattan.
Neighbors Remember Beloved Elderly Bronx Woman
Police continued their search Thursday for the person behind the deadly stabbing of an elderly woman inside her home in the Bronx.


text:
Clarion Hotel Carrickfergus 75 Belfast Rd. Belfast, XB BT38 8PH Phone: (44) 289 3364556 Fax: (44) 289 3351620 |
Arts & Museums
»Flame The Gasworks Museum Of Ireland
Flame is the only complete Victorian Gasworks in Ireland and Carrickfergus Gasworks has the largest surviving set of horizontal retorts in Western Europe. Built in 1855, it initially produced gas to light up the town's streets. It wasn't until the end of the 19th Century that gas for domestic purposes was produced. You can see the sights and hear the sounds of Belfast's industrial past on a visit to this museum. Educational packs are available for school visits and group bookings are welcome. Tours are also arranged. Call the museum for timings.
»Andrew Jackson & US Rangers Centre
The parents of Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, lived at Boneybefore in Carrickfergus before migrating to America. Their son was born in South Carolina and served two terms as president from 1829 to 1837. The ancestral home, a single story thatched farmhouse with an open fireplace, has been reconstructed and is typical of local homes of the period. At the center you can enjoy an audiovisual show covering the emigration of the Ulster Scots, including the Jackson family, to America and see craft work demonstrations and exhibitions. The Jackson's cottage is located less than a mile from the town center just off the Larne Road.
»US Rangers Centre
Carrickfergus is officially twinned with Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where the ship the Ranger was built before it sailed off to its encounter with H.M.S. Drake near Carrickfergus in 1778. Much later came the connection with the U.S. Rangers who were based in Sunnylands Camp in Carrickfergus during the Second World War. Under their first commander Major William O. Darby, the Rangers were officially trained as a combat unit, acting as a spearhead force for the invasion of the continent. The U.S. Rangers Centre is located in the garden of the Andrew Jackson Centre at Boneybefore and the exhibition shows uniforms, photographs, documents and equipment. There is also a video to let you experience what it was like to be a U.S. Ranger.
»Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
This museum constitutes the largest transport collection in Ireland, housing everything from carriages to cars to fighter planes, as well as the definitive exhibition on the Titanic. The second half of this museum is an open plan village from about a 100 years ago. Discover how a small rural community in Ulster survived, interacted, educated children and worshiped God. Some cottages evoke nostalgia, especially when you see the delicately carved cribs and the beautiful quilts; others are bare and cramped. This is a world rendered with loving care and attention to detail. The museum opening times change seasonally.
»The Wastewater Centre
If taking a trip through a Victorian sewer museum is for you, you should plan a visit to the Clean and Green Wastewater Centre. You'll learn all about how your body eliminates waste, how they failed to eliminate waste in the days when there was a "Big Stink" in Belfast and how the Water Service of Northern Ireland eliminates waste today. You'll come away feeling more grateful for modern sewage systems than you would ever have thought possible. This is a well thought through exhibition with a proactive environmental ethos. The center is closed the last Thursday of every month.
»Emer Gallery
Emer Gallery is a spacious gallery offering a solid representation of what's popular in Irish painting. Ballard, Markey Robinson and Dara Valley are all featured here. Recent one-man shows from Steven Darragh and artist Comghall Casey have attracted a lot of attention. Gift shoppers as well as serious collectors will find this gallery space worth a browse, as will those who like a more modern, minimalist style. The Emer Gallery also houses sculptures and offers an in-house framing service.
»Titanic Belfast
This impressive architectural attraction opened on March 31st 2012, to commemorate the famed Titanic. It functions as a museum with interactive displays, including nine galleries, dark rides and special effects. There's also conference center facilities and several luxury banquet halls. Overall it's an excellent spot to visit for tourists and locals alike.
W5 refers to "who, what, where, when and why," and is the name of this latest museum to open in the city. Meant for kids, this is the place to bring them on a rainy day. Have a go at playing a laser harp, building a robot, defying the lie detector or just try hanging out in the wind tunnel. You will find W5 inside the Odyssey, Belfast's millennium landmark project and the latest architectural addition to the spectacular waterfront skyline.
»Creative Exchange Artist Studios
Creative Exchange Artist Studios was born in 1996 when artists in East Belfast decided to do something about the absence of a studio space in that area. This led to the setting up of this studio for working on sculptures, paintings, digital media, printing, painting etc. Collaborations with international art associations see some of the best artworks displayed here. Community workshops are also conducted for those interested in taking up a particular skill. Check website for more details.
»Crumlin Road Gaol
The Crumlin Road Gaol, or Her Majesty's Prison of Belfast, is located in Northern Belfast on Crumlin Road. Established 1846, this prison was the most advanced of its time, and was often regarded as the Alcatraz of Europe in its heyday. Although the building last functioned as a prison in March 1996, some claim that a few men (who were executed here, some hundred years back) are still imprisoned within these gloomy walls and they make their existence pretty evident by various sightings and weird happenings around the place. Exceeding interesting and mysterious, this old prison makes for a thoroughly entertaining visit! The first tour begins at 10a and the last tour starts at 4.30p.
»Golden Thread Gallery
Located a bit further from the city center in the 'sailor-town' area of Belfast in an old mill, the Golden Thread Gallery has given a boost to the visual arts scene since 1999. Although there is no permanent collection as such, this spells good news for emerging artists who now have a chance to feature in their well-received ongoing exhibitions. Check website for a list of upcoming events.
»Royal Ulster Rifles Museum
Royal Ulster Rifles Museum is a must for anyone interested in military history. Ulster was heavily affected by both world wars suffering enormous losses in battles of the First World War, particularly the Somme, and sustaining the heaviest Blitz damage of any UK region outside London in the World War II. Artifacts from the uniforms and weapons of the Royal Ulster Rifles and its predecessor foot regiments are collected here, charting its impressive history through the wars that have shaped the 20th Century. Admission is free.


text:
I Hate Everyone--Starting With Me"Joan Rivers, comedienne, actress, jewelry monger, lives by the golden rule: Do unto others before they do unto you--and for God's sakes, do it funny! During the past two hundred years Joan has gained acclaim as an award-winning entertainment goddess. Joan is an international star (she can sneer in eight different languages) having performed all over the world, raising eyebrows, dropping names, and getting laughs. Her career in comedy began with a fantastic sense of self-loathing, but, after spending a couple of years looking at the human decrepitude around her, she figured, "Why stop here when there are so many other things to hate?" Here--uncensored and totally uninhibited--Joan says "F.U. to P.C." and says exactly what's on her mind...And HER mind is a terrible thing to waste. She proudly kicks the crap out of ugly children, dating rituals, funerals, and lousy restaurants. She nails First Ladies, closet cases, and hypocrites to the wall. She shows no mercy towards doctors, feminists, and historical figures. She even goes after Anne Frank, Stephen Hawking, and the plucky handicapped. Joan lets everyone--including herself--have it in this one hundred percent honest and unabashedly hilarious love letter to the hater in all of us. This is absolute Joan Rivers. You gotta love her. Even if she hates you"-- |
What people are saying - Write a review
User ratings
5 stars |
| ||
4 stars |
| ||
3 stars |
| ||
2 stars |
| ||
1 star |
LibraryThing Review
User Review - laurustina - LibraryThingI love me some Joan Rivers. "A Piece of Work" is one of my favorite documentaries - giving that full-force, workaholic Joan, vulnerable and brutal all at once. I hoped this book would give more of ... Read full review
Review: I Hate Everyone... Starting with Me
User Review - Samantha Smith - GoodreadsVery funny. There's only one Joan. She's alternatively hilarious, offensive, and insightful Read full review


text:
Air Freight Management
Customs Brokers Trade Compliance
Global Trade
Intermodal and Rail Freight
Mobile & Wireless
Motor Freight Management
Ocean Freight Management
Ports and Infrastructure
Software & Technology
Third Party Logistics
Transportation Management Systems
Warehouse & Distribution Center
Warehouse Management Systems
All critical topics or View all topics
Join our panel of leading economic and transportation analysts as they share their exclusive insight on where rates are headed and the issues that will be driving those rate increases over the next 12 months.
View more webcasts
A comprehensive source of news and trends in Warehouse and Distribution Center Management covering operations, strategies, sustainability and metrics.
Handling & Ergonomics Product: Pack 10 cases per minute with no changeover
Posted 10/22 · 04:28 AM · MMH Editorial
The GSL10 horizontal case packer handles up to 10 cases per minute and does not require part changes to accommodate different case sizes.
A Primer on Sourcing and Procurement in an Integrated Supply Chain
Posted 10/21 · 03:01 PM · SCMR Editorial
Part 4 in our series on "Back to Basics - Managing The Basic Supply Chain Functions." A Primer on Sourcing and Procurement in an Integrated Supply Chain - The task of sourcing and procurement professionals is to find an effective means to balance the demands of both internal and external customers with economic considerations while taking into account the potential for supply disruption and technological change.
MHIA prepares for MODEX 2012 with upcoming Spacedraw
Posted 10/21 · 01:00 PM · MMH Editorial
MODEX 2012, the industry's newest trade show for the materials handling, manufacturing, distribution and supply chain market, has a format similar to MHIA's ProMat event, which is scheduled for March 21 – 24, 2011 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Supply Chain •
Materials Handling •
Modex 2012 •
Lift trucks: Industrial Truck Association honors Stan Simpson with a special industry award
Posted 10/21 · 11:41 AM · MMH Editorial
Simpson was recognized for volunteer efforts as well as innovative accomplishments.
Lift trucks: Crown lift truck conquers giant pumpkins
Posted 10/20 · 11:25 AM · MMH Editorial
The company's new Class V pneumatic tire forklift tackled an unusual application when it hauled the winning pumpkin at Pumpkinfest 2010 in New Bremen, Ohio
3PL-warehousing: New Armstrong report says U.S. commercial warehousing market will hit $50 billion
Posted 10/20 · 09:21 AM · LM Editorial
A new report from supply chain consultancy Armstrong & Associates Inc. states that United States-based commercial warehousing revenue will hit $50 billion in 2010. The report notes that combined contract and public warehousing revenues are expected to top 2008 levels by 2 percent after a 2009 decline. And it added that the contract and public warehousing market now represents 45 percent of the entire U.S. warehousing market.
News •
Warehouse •
Armstrong & Associates •
Lift truck survey reveals which parts rank highest in quality and reliability
Posted 10/20 · 09:06 AM · MMH Editorial
Toyota genuine parts rank highest in independent survey of industry decision-makers.
Packaging Product: Stretch wrapper system uses less
Posted 10/20 · 05:15 AM · MMH Editorial
No film break (NFB) stretch wrapping machines use a film delivery system that seamlessly and consistently wraps loads without breakage.
RedPrairie donates to WMS Don Frazier Supply Chain Training Center
Posted 10/19 · 08:19 AM · MMH Editorial
Rock Hill, S.C. High School implements on-demand warehouse management solution to teach next generation of materials handling and logistics professionals.
Technology •
Materials Handling •
Education •
RedPrairie •
Applied Technology Center •
Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs) help Del Monte Foods be best in class
Posted 10/18 · 07:57 AM · MMH Editorial
Del Monte Foods' new Topeka DC brings laser-guided AGVs from manufacturing into distribution. The result is a best-in-class materials handling system that minimizes costs with room to expand in the future.


text:
OkCupid.com: Free Online Dating
"The Google ofonline dating"
— The Boston Globe
"The bestfree dating site"
— About.com
"A favorite hangoutfor internet goers"
— The Village Voice
"Pretty legit"
— Some guy on Yelp
Next →
The 50 Question Match Perfection Test
yumberbitch18 / f / Straight
The are you more of a slave or submissive Test
Autiostone24 / m / Gay
The What SHOULD you look like Test
MIkeHawk20020 / m / Straight
The Outdoor Adventure Test
Dedpl79441 / m / Straight
The be ye pirate? or be ye ninja? Test
PraetorMax51 / m / Straight
Forgot your password?
Restore your account to continue meeting new people.
We'll email you a link to reset it.
Or, try logging in again.
An email is on its way to . If you don't see it, try checking your Spam folder.


text:
Sleeps | 7 |
Bedrooms | 2 |
Bathrooms | 2 |
Property type | condo |
Minimum Stay | nights |
Don't miss the opportunity to stay in this lovely beachfront condo! The condo is beautifully decorated and offers a balcony for the best ocean views. The weather is beautiful year-round! White sands abundant with shells within walking distance of beachfront restaurants and entertainment. Enjoy the large swimming pool. Tigertail Beach, which is next to the condo, offers rental equipment such as paddle boats to make the most of your sunny Florida vacation. Walk to shopping and restaurants on Marco Island. Golf, fishing, boating, parasailing, tennis and biking all available on Marco Island. Within thirty minutes you can enjoy all of the dining, shopping, antiquing and entertainment including the symphony, zoo, nightlife, etc. in Naples. The Everglades is also within 30 minutes--visit the alligators and natural surroundings.
Book your vacation now---and you won't be disappointed!
Keywords: Condominium
Oceanfront beach
I have travelled extensively and Marco Island was so outstanding that I chose to make it my second home!
Gated community, spectacular views and beach access, private, friendly.


text:
by Joe Romm Posted on July 29, 2014
Dehydration boosts the risk of kidney stones. That's why countless studies have shown kidney stones are linked to higher temperatures, and global warming is only going to make it worse.
by Will Freeman Posted on July 23, 2014 Updated: July 23, 2014
Warring sides in Syria's civil war are targeting doctors for doing their jobs.
by Katie Valentine Posted on June 9, 2014
Wendy Bredhold lives within 62 miles of 17 coal-fired power plants and on some days, the pollution is so bad her two-year-old daughter can't play outside.
by Abigail Bessler Posted on June 3, 2014
Apple CEO Tim Cook presented an app with huge implications: Healthkit, which promises to revolutionize how we track our own health.
by Jeff Spross Posted on April 30, 2014
The report tracked ozone and particle pollution from fossil fuels, and found 147 million Americans live in counties were safety thresholds are breached often enough to be unsafe.
by Emily Atkin Posted on April 23, 2014
Until now, the U.S. Health Department would not say whether the chemical had any negative affect on human health.
by Emily Atkin Posted on April 23, 2014 Updated: April 24, 2014
"As we get more and more information about what the impacts of this industry really are, I think we're going to see more and more of these kinds of verdicts."
by Emily Atkin Posted on March 12, 2014
While those afflicted by pollution from Tirreno's plant will likely breathe a clean sigh of relief from the Italian court's decision, those who think they are in a similar situation in the United States are unlikely to see similar results.
by Jeff Spross Posted on March 7, 2014
Researchers looked at the effect nitrogen dioxide has on the heart, and found the changes encourage cardiovascular disease.
by Josh Israel Posted on February 24, 2014 Updated: March 6, 2014
With suicide rates on the rise, here's one example of how our nation's mental health system is failing patients.


text:
Erik Kimel, now 22, launched his peer-tutoring business while still in high school, pairing struggling learners with older, high-achieving student tutors who are well paid for their efforts. "Students learn best from other students," Kimel said. "You want a peer. You want someone close to your own age."
View Full Article in:
Washington Post (tiered subscription model), ThePublished in Brief:


text:
Flashman, Flash for Freedom!, Flashman in the Great Game
By George Macdonald Fraser; Michael Dirda (Introduction by)
(Everyman's Library, Hardcover, 9780307592682, 912pp.)
Publication Date: February 2, 2010
Shop Local
Enter your zip code below to find indies closest to you.
Three of George MacDonald Fraser's incomparable and hilarious novels featuring the lovable rogue, soldier, cheat, and coward: Harry Paget Flashman.
Praised by everyone from John Updike to Jane Smiley, Fraser was an acknowledged master of comedy and satire, an unrivaled storyteller, whose craft was matched only by his impeccable historical research. And his greatest creation was, of course, Flashman. The novels collected here find our hero in the midst of his usual swashbuckling adventures of derring-do: fleeing adversaries in the First Anglo-Afghan War; meeting and nearly deceiving a young Abraham Lincoln in America; alternately impersonating a native Indian cavalry recruit and wooing women in India; and managing, whatever the circumstances, to keep his hero's reputation unsullied.
A must-have treat for the legions of dedicated Flashman fans, and a delightful introduction for those lucky enough to be encountering him for the first time.
George MacDonald Fraser was born in England and served in a Highland regiment in India, Africa, and the Middle East. In addition to the twelve Flashman novels, he wrote screenplays, most notably for the James Bond film Octopussy. He died in 2008.
Michael Dirda is a Pulitzer Prize–winning critic for The Washington Post and the author of the memoir An Open Book and of four collections of essays: Readings, Bound to Please, Book by Book, and Classics for Pleasure.
"A novelistic gallop through history and imagination. . . . Fraser can easily juggle Conan Doyle and Holmes, Fleming and Bond, Wodehouse and Wooster, and Chandler and Marlowe."
—Vanity Fair


text:
4 ways to spice up your spring break
Ask Cliff: How to tell your crush you like him
iNeed a break: Celebrate National Day of Unplugging!
Get all the deets on Twitter chats with the lovely ladies from our April/May music issue
Feel Good Friday: This 13-year-old proves the true meaning of puppy love
Spring 15' fashion must-have: Short shorts are taking over
Three mascaras you can totally ugly-cry in
Get happy: 8 tricks for a more delightful life
Thoughts on our Feb/March issue? We wanna hear 'em!
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast Character Voices
More Friends = More Fun
GL Tweets !
8 HOURS AGO How do you deal with rude boys? http://t.co/bf6uCNOkF7
9 HOURS AGO #GLmusicissue chat week lineup is up! Deets on our Q&As w/ @rydelR5 @olivia_holt @SabrinaAnnLynn @allisimpson + more: http://t.co/mZPv9T2bTW
11 HOURS AGO Is @bellathorne coming to #PLL?! http://t.co/gKsnx11McY
sponsored links
Rock out to your fave beat
Just Dance 3, the newest in a long line of dancing games, is not only super fun, but it's also a fab workout. There's a "Just Sweat" mode where you can pick either the quick and easy "Free Session" to bust some serious calories with your girlies, or you can go for the "7-Day Challenge," which gives you a full week of fitness. The best part is that by doing these workouts, you still get to unlock stuff and enjoy the fun songs and choreography that comes with the normal dance mode. Feels like a game, but it drops those calories like you won't believe!
Tip: Focus on filling up your "Mojo Meter" to unlock cool stuff – it'll keep ya goin' when you're runnin' low on motivation.
For sporty sistahs
For exercise junkies, EA Sports Active 2 offers just plain working out. No question if these moves are legit – there are over 70 activities that range from just running in place to skateboarding courses where you jump over obstacles. Although this game needs lots of different components to work, it's totally worth it. You can use things like the heart rate monitor to track the deets from your workouts and even share them online.
Tip: Be sure to put in all your personal info, like height and weight, so that your fitness readings are as accurate as possible.
Be a big-time winner
If you're serious about slimming down, so is The Biggest Loser Challenge. It'll keep track of your goals for you as the weeks progress, and there are tons of different workouts to keep ya focused. If you like watchin' the show, this game will make you feel like a part of it with activities that mirror the ones on TV.
Tip: For an extra health boost, you can check out recipes and advice for fitness from the pros under the "Health and Lifestyle" category.
Lights, camera, adventure
For gals who like a li'l adventure, Active Life Explorer will take ya right outta your living room and into an epic Indiana Jones-style treasure hunt. You do have to buy a special mat for it, but this game it totally worth it. There are 24 different activities that'll keep ya coming back for more exercise every day. And if ya get to the end of the storyline, there are "treasure trials" that'll let you unlock new excitement so that your workout never gets old.
Tip: It's super fun to compete with your bestie by splitting the mat and seeing who can get the most treasure.
Loved this post? You'll heart these, too!
» Bikini bod workouts you can do at home—really
» Yum! Delish frozen treats to eat all summer
» Body 911? How to deal with all your summer bod sitches
WIN BIG! Score a pile of sizzlin' summer beach reads
POSTED IN games, Wii, dance workouts, workouts
Heading a soccer ball can mess up your melon.
*Shine* this season with the Fresh Spring Picks giveaway
Have your best spring yet with our amazing bounty of books and beauty products.
CLICK HERE for your chance to win it!


text:
Phil Robertson, the patriarch in A&E's "Duck Dynasty," won't be duck calling on air anytime soon. The network suspended him after he made controversial remarks about gays in a magazine interview.
Chris McGrath/ Getty
Seph Lawless
Flickr: epSos .de
No email address was supplied by . To complete your registration on this site, please supply an address.
Please confirm or modify the email address to which you will have subscription offers sent.
For a more personalized experience, please supply the following optional information.