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Library Journal When Bess learns that an earlier crime committed in India involves her father, she must grapple with disturbing truths. Number five in this series (after the award-winning An Unmarked Grave) for the mother/son writing duo. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publishers Weekly Bestseller Todd (the pseudonym of a mother-and-son writing team) once again demonstrates his talent at depicting the horrors of war in his excellent fifth mystery featuring English nurse Bess Crawford (after 2012's An Unmarked Grave). As the carnage of WWI finally nears its end, Bess finds herself investigating murders committed a decade earlier on two different continents. In 1908, Bess was living in India with her parents when a member of her father's regiment, Lt. Thomas Wade, came under suspicion of killing his parents. But before he could be apprehended, Wade vanished near the Khyber Pass. Although no body was recovered, he was presumed dead. While Bess is serving in France in 1918, the last words of a dying soldier persuade her that Wade might have survived. Her innate curiosity and knowledge of how traumatizing the scandal was to her father lead her to again play sleuth. In the process, she also examines the triple murder of an entire family that Wade may have committed in England before leaving for India. The extremely clever plot builds to a satisfying resolution. Agent: Jane Chelius, Jane Chelius Literary Agency. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Book list A battlefield nurse familiar with the horrors of trench warfare, Sister Bess Crawford is tirelessly competent, stubborn, and endlessly in motion, though perpetually exhausted. Lieutenant Wade, previously with Bess' father's regiment, reputedly killed five civilians in India and two in England and was presumed killed while attempting to flee. Wade was therefore never brought to justice, casting a pall over regimental honor. Now, years later, Bess bumps into him on the battlefield before he disappears again, and in her moral indignation she sets off in search of an explanation. While on leave, Bess takes shameless advantage of her friend Simon, forcing him to drive her around as she vets shifty and suspicious characters connected to Wade's childhood and leaves a trail of deadly consequences in her wake. Despite this flitting about, suspense is lacking in this heavily interpretive fifth installment in the series, though series fans will enjoy another adventure of the intrepid and endlessly curious Bess a heroine whose intuition rivals tht of Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs but whose spunk doesn't quite match that of Anne Perry's Hester Latterly.--Baker, Jen Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
Book list *Starred Review* Some of President Lincoln's associates and some historians have questioned if the supposed conspiracy to assassinate him upon his arrival in Baltimore was serious. Stashower has no doubt that the plot was real, and he has written a convincing and well-researched chronicle of it and the successful effort to thwart it. His story has the necessary elements of a successful historical thriller, including a determined assassin; a wily, intrepid detective; a serpentine plot; and, in Lincoln, an important and sympathetic potential victim. Stashower seems determined to lay out the painstaking details of the plot; although it provides credibility, it sometimes acts as a drag on the narrative. Still, the stakes are high, so the story has a built-in urgency and excitement. The detective, the soon-to-be-famous Allan Pinkerton, is a relentless and clever sleuth, and the chief conspirator, a Baltimore barber named Ferrandini, is a formidable adversary. Despite some slow moments, the book generally succeeds as both a historical inquiry and a detective story.--Freeman, Jay Copyright 2010 Booklist
Publishers Weekly John Wilkes Booth succeeded in 1865, but the first major plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln unfolded in 1861 in anticipation of the then president-elect's railway trip to Washington, D.C., for his inauguration. Stashower (The Beautiful Cigar Girl) explains how Allan Pinkerton, a temperamental Scottish cooper turned "fierce and incorruptible lawman" and founder of the Pinkerton Agency, sought to infiltrate and obfuscate a murderous group led by Cypriano Ferrandini, an outspoken Italian barber in Baltimore. Interwoven with the tale of Pinkerton and company's efforts to foil what would become known as the Baltimore Plot, Stashower offers a rich portrait of a resolute but weary Lincoln as he makes his way, both politically and physically, to the White House. As everyone knows, he arrived without incident, but while he saved his skin, he lost some respect for stealing into the capital "like a thief in the night," as one newspaper put it. The book starts out slow, but once Stashower lets the Pinkerton operatives loose, their race against time as Lincoln's train speeds toward Maryland makes for an enthralling page-turner that is sure to please true crime, thriller, and history fans. Photos. (Feb.). (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Library Journal The first known attempt to murder Abraham Lincoln occurred in February 1861 during his railway journey from Springfield, IL, to Washington, DC, for his inauguration. Stashower (The Beautiful Cigar Girl) details how Allan Pinkerton, head of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, managed to stop a band of rebels bent on killing the president-elect in Baltimore. Stashower describes a campaign-weary, nonchalant, and somewhat incautious Abraham Lincoln, traveling east toward the presidency. The author records him arriving safely in DC after stealing through Maryland's darkened countryside and Baltimore's precincts as "a thief in the night"-at Pinkerton's behest, but in the process forfeiting a measure of political stature to his detractors, who questioned his courage and fitness for office. The tale builds methodically before shifting into dramatic mode as Pinkerton, in fewer than two weeks, uncovers and quashes the would-be assassins' designs, assisted by agent Kate Warne, the leader of Pinkerton's female undercover unit. VERDICT Stashower's character-driven narrative and lively writing style reveal the finely honed skills of an accomplished mystery writer. Recommended.-John Carver Edwards, Univ. of Georgia Libs., Cleveland (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publishers Weekly Librarians and English teachers will happily recommend this adventurous romp from Grabenstein (the Riley Mack books), which pays playful homage to books and libraries while engaging readers in a fast-paced competition involving research and reasoning skills. Twelve seventh-graders win a chance to spend an overnight lock-in previewing their town's new public library-it's a marvel of technological delights conceived by Luigi Lemoncello, the Willy Wonkalike founder of Mr. Lemoncello's Imagination Factory, which is a source for every kind of game imaginable. During the lock-in the winners, who include game-lover Kyle Keeley and a group of multicultural classmates with a mix of aptitudes and interests, are offered a further challenge: "Find your way out of the library using only what's in the library." The winner will become spokesperson for the Imag-ination Factory. Book lovers will relish the lavish sprinkling of book titles and references while puzzle fans will enjoy figuring out the clues. A lighthearted parody of reality survival shows, the book reinvigorates the debate over the Dewey Decimal system and traditional library skills while celebrating teamwork, perseverance, and clever wits. Ages 9-12. Agent: Eric Myers, the Spieler Agency. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Library Journal When PI Liz Talbot learns that her grandmother has been murdered at her South Carolina island home, she returns to Stella Maris, where she will stay until she can help solve the shocking homicide. Two other factors sway this decision: the ghost of her late best friend from high school is talking to her, and she inherited Gram's house. Her big brother, Blake, who is also chief of police, doesn't want her meddling-as if his hardheaded sister is giving him a choice. Plenty of secrets, long--simmering feuds, and greedy ventures make for a captivating read. VERDICT Boyer's chick lit PI debut charmingly showcases South Carolina island culture. Her light paranormal garnered nominations for the 2012 RITA Golden Heart Award and the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. A nice pairing with Sue Ann Jaffarian's "Ghost of Granny Apples" series. (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Book list In her seventeenth Deborah Knott mystery, Maron's two series protagonists the warm North Carolina judge, Knott, and the cool NYPD lieutenant, Sigrid Harald (last seen in Fugitive Colors, 1995) meet for the first time. A year after their marriage, Deborah and Deputy Sheriff Dwight Bryant are off to New York for a weeklong honeymoon, staying at Dwight's sister-in-law's Manhattan apartment. They are asked to deliver a package to Sigrid's mother. When Sigrid comes to get the package for her vacationing mother, during a party in a neighboring apartment, the building superintendent is found dead and the risque and potentially valuable statue from the package is missing. Then the body of one of the building's elevator men is found in a garbage bag, and the teenage son of the chair of the co-op board goes missing. Maron tosses in plenty of red herrings before Deborah's intuition and curiosity combine to break the case. A reliably entertaining addition to an always enjoyable series, though, by the end, it's clear that, for Deborah and Dwight, home proves a lot more enticing than Broadway glitter.--Leber, Michele Copyright 2010 Booklist
Publishers Weekly Bestseller Maron's charming 17th Deborah Knott mystery (after 2010's Christmas Mourning) takes the North Carolina judge and her husband of one year, Dwight Bryant, to New York City for a belated honeymoon. They bear an unusual gift, a small bronze sculpture, for photojournalist Anne Lattimore Harald from Anne's dying mother, wealthy Jane Lattimore, who's a distant cousin of Deborah's. Deborah arranges to meet Anne's daughter, NYPD Lt. Sigrid Harald, who will pick up the gift, at a large party next door to the Manhattan apartment that an absent friend is letting the couple use. When Sigrid and Deborah return to the borrowed apartment, the sculpture is missing from the kitchen counter; worse, the dead body of the building's super is lying on the balcony. Could someone from the party be responsible for the theft and the murder? Deborah, with her inveterate curiosity, assists Sigrid, last seen in her own series in 1995's Fugitive Colors, in the official investigation. This is a strong addition to a series that's won Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Library Journal Judge Deborah Knott's (Christmas Mourning) honeymoon in New York City is tainted by murder. It's always good to see our favorites in new venues, even if it turns out to be a busman's holiday. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publishers Weekly Freelance writer Troy Chance, the protagonist of Henry's impressive first novel, impulsively, and literally, dives into trouble when she sees a youngster fall from a ferry boat on Lake Champlain. Troy manages to rescue the boy, discovers that his fall was no accident, and after brief, anonymous reports to the police, embarks on an ill-conceived attempt to become the boy's protector. Bonding with the boy, she eventually learns his name, Paul Dumond; his age, six; and that he and his mother had been kidnapped and his mother later shot and killed. Troy locates Paul's Canadian father, Philippe, and reunites father and son, but she is unwilling to end her involvement. When the police can't find the kidnappers, Troy starts to probe more deeply into the lives of Philippe, his abducted wife, and Paul's captivity. Henry adroitly handles Troy's exposure to new emotions as she re-examines her life and relationships. An inconclusive ending may signal that Chance's journey is not yet over. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Book list When Troy Chance spots what she thinks is a small boy being tossed off the back of a passing ferry, she instinctively jumps into the icy waters of Lake Champlain. She rescues the youngster and discovers that his arms were bound with an adult sweatshirt. He's incredibly frightened, speaks only French, and won't tell her what happened. Troy determines that she will keep him safe rather than turn him over to the police. When he finally begins to confide in her, he tells a bizarre tale of being kidnapped, hearing his mother murdered by gunshot, and then being held for months. As Troy tracks down the boy's father, she begins to question whether she will be able to let him go, since he has unleashed within her a maternal instinct she had no idea she possessed. In her debut, the first in a projected series, Henry proves herself to be a smooth and compelling storyteller. And her lead is highly appealing: an athletic, fiercely independent young woman who, like crime-fiction author Gillian Flynn's feisty females, is capable of making delightfully acerbic observations.--Wilkinson, Joanne Copyright 2010 Booklist
Library Journal Freelance writer Troy Chance sees a child thrown from a ferry and jumps into the water to save him. Haunted by a past experience with an abandoned child, she decides to be sure that his parents weren't responsible before she notifies the police. She travels to Canada to meet with Paul's divorced father and realizes that she has become more attached to the child than she wanted to be. Accepting an invitation to stay with the family for a few days while Paul recovers from the trauma of his kidnapping, Troy finds herself falling for his father. At the same time, she is unable to leave the investigation in the hands of the police, still fearing that one of the parents could have been involved. Verdict Fans of both mystery and romantic suspense will welcome this promising new author; the unsettled ending hints at a follow-up mystery.-Linda Oliver, MLIS, Colorado Springs (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Library Journal Budewitz, an attorney-at-law who has been published in mystery magazines, wrote this book to help crime writers wade through the time-consuming and often confusing process of legal research. She provides an insider's perspective on often overlooked legal concepts and pinpoints common errors writers make when incorporating criminal and civil law into their fiction. The book covers 160 topics, including proper legal terminology, realistic courtroom behavior and dialog, proper procedure (both at the state and at the federal level), and the legal system as a whole. The frequently asked questions featured in each chapter are also arranged by topic within the table of contents, enabling readers to pick and choose the legal aspects most relevant to their writing. The final chapter offers guidance on conducting legal research, and the "Book Links" section references useful URLs listed throughout. VERDICT Budewitz's material is straightforward and user-friendly. Her content will help shave off hours of research time and enable writers to focus more energy on craft, plot, and character development. Highly recommended for aspiring writers of crime fiction. [Quill Driver also published Carolyn Kaufman's The Writer's Guide to Psychology.-Ed.]-Karen McCoy, Northern Arizona Univ. Lib., Flagstaff (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Book list Lawyer and crime-fiction writer Budewitz has put together an essential guide to getting it right when writing about the law. Starting with the basics (the difference between criminal and civil action; the difference between a judge and a justice) and proceeding in a logical fashion to more complicated stuff (how prosecutors decide whether to proceed with a case; the difference between direct and circumstantial evidence; the facts about diplomatic immunity), the author explains how crime writers can make sure to use the correct terminology and proper procedures, thus ensuring that they will not, well, embarrass themselves. Budewitz also makes intelligible to the layperson some of those baffling legal terms Res ipsa loquitor, that sort of thing and she dips into such potentially murky waters as legal ethics and the death penalty (from a writerly standpoint rather than a philosophical one). Written in clear, simple prose and drawing on examples from crime fiction and the author's own career as a lawyer, this book belongs on the shelf of every crime writer.--Pitt, David Copyright 2010 Booklist
Book list Gruesome, hilarious, and truly scary, the latest entry in the prizewinning Haunted Mysteries series about Zack, 11, is a great read-aloud for Halloween. In fact, that is when it is set, on the night when ghosts gets special powers and the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest. Zack and his friends dress up as killer bees, and from the school bus to a family crypt in the cemetery ( totally creepy but totally cool ), they encounter demons, including ghosts of gangsters with scores to settle. Zack, who loves his stepmom, is terrified when his dead birth mother returns as a dybbuk demon: Does she want to harm him or make amends? The story is set in contemporary New England, and the characters rely on cell phones and texting to communicate, but the horror is timeless. Caught up in the fast-paced action, kids will want to share the irreverent commentary, including the occasional gross-out rhyme: There's one little worm that's very shy / Crawls in your stomach and out your eye. --Rochman, Hazel Copyright 2010 Booklist
School Library Journal Gr 4-7-Zack, 13, is still seeing spirits. and they see him. He has more or less come to terms with them, though, and he thinks that he has defeated the worst the spirit world could throw at him. But that was before the spell was broken, releasing 13 ghosts, the entire Ickleby clan. Zack's family moved the Icklebys' coffins and imprisoned their spirits decades ago. Now, with the curse broken and their ancestor offering up his body for possession, they have the ability to exact their revenge on Zack for his family's deeds. This novel speeds along at a breakneck pace, hauling readers along as Zack and his friends (and his dog, Zipper) attempt to dodge and defeat the vengeful, rather inept, spirits. The action-packed short chapters and vivid imagery will make this book an easy sell to young teens and reluctant readers, even if they haven't read the previous books in the series.-Heather Miller Cover, Homewood Public Library, AL (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. TermsPublishers Weekly: Starred Review. Chief Insp. Armand Gamache and his team investigate another bizarre crime in the tiny Québec village of Three Pines in Penny's expertly plotted third cozy (after 2007's A Fatal Grace). As the townspeople gather in the abandoned and perhaps haunted Hadley house for a séance with a visiting psychic, Madeleine Favreau collapses, apparently dead of fright. No one has a harsh word to say about Madeleine, but Gamache knows there's more to the case than meets the eye. Complicating his inquiry are the repercussions of Gamache having accused his popular superior at the Sûreté du Québec of heinous crimes in a previous case. Fearing there might be a mole on his team, Gamache works not only to solve the murder but to clear his name. Arthur Ellis Award–winner Penny paints a vivid picture of the French-Canadian village, its inhabitants and a determined detective who will strike many Agatha Christie fans as a 21st-century version of Hercule Poirot. (Mar.)
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Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. TermsPublishers Weekly
: Fans of stylish English detective work will welcome Malliet's droll debut, the first in a new series. When Sir Adrian Beauclerk-Fisk, a pompous cozy author, invites his four grown children to his Yuletide wedding to Violet Winthrop at his 18th-century manor outside Cambridge, none of the four is pleased at the prospect of a young stepmother who could inherit their father's vast fortune. Besides, Violet's considered a black widow who did in her first husband. Soon after Sir Adrian announces during a family dinner that he and Violet are already wed, eldest son Ruthven turns up dead in the wine cellar. Sir Adrian's subsequent murder in his office doesn't inspire tears from either his bride or his first wife. Detective Chief Inspector St. Just and Detective Sergeant Fear of the Cambridgeshire constabulary conduct a lively investigation that underscores how the lack and the love of money might be at the root of society's ills. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. TermsSchool Library Journal: Adult/High Schoolââ¬âAs much a social history of the times as a book about the popular series, this is a fun title that will appeal to older teens who remember the series fondly. In 1930, she arrived in her shiny blue roadster and she has remained a part of the children's book scene ever since. While Nancy may have been the brainchild of Edward Stratemeyer, creator of the successful Stratemeyer Syndicate, it was the devotion of Harriet, his daughter, and syndicate writer Mildred Wirt Benson who brought her to life. The series succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams but things were not always peaceful in River Heights. Rehak does a good job of explaining the intricacies of the Stratemeyer Syndicate and the sometimes-rocky relationship between these two strong women, each of whom felt a sense of ownership of the girl detective. Those who followed the many adventures of Nancy Drew and her friends will be fascinated with the behind-the-scene stories of just who Carolyn Keene really was.ââ¬âPeggy Bercher, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. TermsPublishers Weekly
: Even Stephanie Plum's antics will seem sedate after readers make the acquaintance of Los Angeles's own Wollie Shelley, greeting card designer and small business owner. Wollie is dating 40 men in 60 days as part of a research project for a bestselling radio personality; the $5,000 fee could help her struggling store, "Wollie's Welcome! Greetings." In particular, Wollie's worried about inspections from national headquarters, who want to ensure that her franchise is up to standard. Her already full plate gets loaded up further when her paranoid schizophrenic brother, P.B., who resides at a mental hospital called Rio Pescado, phones to tell her he's witnessed a murder. The last thing Wollie wants is to call the police, so she dashes off to Rio Pescado. On the way she finds a dead body. At the hospital she picks up a charismatic stranger, "Doc," who's on the run, and Wollie can't help getting herself mixed up in his troubles as well. Juggling dates, avoiding the bad guys on Doc's trail, trying to keep her store up to snuff and figuring out what to feed the ferret Doc left in her care have Wollie hopping at a pace reminiscent of the best 1930s screwball film comedies. Kozak has struck gold first time out with a wacky, high-octane plot and characters to match.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. TermsPublishers Weekly
: The eponymous heroine of Winspear's promising debut, Maisie Dobbs (2003), continues to beguile in this chilling, suspenseful sequel set in England a decade after the end of the Great War. Maisie, "Psychologist and Investigator," as the brass nameplate on her office door declares, gets hired by a wealthy industrialist to find his only daughter, Charlotte Waite, who has gone missing. With the help of her cockney assistant, Billy Beale, Maisie sets out to learn all she can of Charlotte's habits, character and friends. No sooner has Maisie discovered the identities of three of these friends than they start turning up dead—poisoned, then bayoneted for good measure. At each crime scene is left a white feather. Increasingly preoccupied with these tragedies, Maisie almost loses sight of her original mission, until it becomes apparent that the murders and Charlotte's disappearance are related. As in her first novel, the author gives an intelligent and absorbing picture of the period, providing plentiful details for the history buff without detracting from the riveting mystery. Readers will be eager to see more of the spunky Maisie, with her unusual career as a one-time maid, nurse and university student. Agent, Amy Rennert. (June 15)Forecast: A Top Ten Book Sense 76 pick for 2003, Maisie Dobbs has been nominated for both Agatha and Edgar awards. A win of either of these in late May, followed by a national author tour, will help propel sales of Birds of a Feather.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. TermsSchool Library Journal
: Adult/High School–The spirited heroine of Maisie Dobbs (Soho, 2003) is back to solve another puzzle in post-World War I London. Having been trained by a master detective, the former serving girl now a Cambridge graduate is hired by grocery magnate Joseph Waite to find his wayward daughter, Charlotte. What begins as a simple missing-person case evolves into the investigation of three murders, all of young women who were friends during the war. Charlotte may be the next target. Chock-full of period details such as how to start a 1920s-era MG, what to buy at the grocer's, what to wear in the country, soup kitchens, and heroin use, the novel follows Maisie's progress as she uses detection, psychology, and even yogalike centering to clear her mind. There is much substance to this mystery, which mines the situations brought about by the horrors of the war–both on the front and at home, and its still simmering aftermath–plus a hint of romance and the beginning resolution of two father-daughter rifts. The story flows easily, descriptions are vivid and apt, and character is limned quickly, with each an individual. This is an utterly enjoyable and painless history lesson and a well-plotted and consistent mystery that will appeal to teens looking for more than just historical fiction.–Susan H. Woodcock, Fairfax County Public Library, Chantilly, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. TermsPublishers Weekly
: Hart has created a fabulous two-in-one: an excellent mystery and the poignant memoirs of her heroine, Gretchen Grace Gilman. A letter received by the now elderly newshound extraordinaire returns her physically, mentally and emotionally to her past and to her hometown in northeastern Oklahoma. As the pages of the letter unfold, so does the story of Gretchen's summer of 1944. With every able-bodied male involved in the war effort, Gazette editor Walt Dennis agrees to give 13-year-old Gretchen a shot as a newspaper reporter. But the sleepy town is soon rocked by the murder of Faye Tatum, an artist and the mom of Gretchen's friend and neighbor Barb. To make matters worse, the prime suspect is Barb's dad, Clyde, home on leave but nowhere to be found after the murder. Political ambitions spur the county attorney and the sheriff to track down Clyde and arrest him, while less hasty Chief Fraser is more interested in first sorting through all the facts. The obviously well-researched history draws the reader into this atypical whodunit. Characters are Steinbeck vivid, as is the sense of time and place. Hart masterfully portrays an American small town during WWII.
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Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. TermsPublishers Weekly
: In Winspear's inspired debut novel, a delightful mix of mystery, war story and romance set in WWI-era England, humble housemaid Maisie Dobbs climbs convincingly up Britain's social ladder, becoming in turn a university student, a wartime nurse and ultimately a private investigator. Both naive and savvy, Maisie remains loyal to her working-class father and many friends who help her along the way. Her first sleuthing case, which begins as a simple marital infidelity investigation, leads to a trail of war-wounded soldiers lured to a remote convalescent home in Kent from which no one seems to emerge alive. The Retreat, specializing in treating badly deformed battlefield casualties, is run by an apparently innocuous former officer who requires his patients to sign over their assets to his tightly run institution. At different points in her remarkable career, Maisie crosses paths with a military surgeon to whom she's attracted despite his disfigurement from a bomb blast at the front. A refreshing heroine, appealing secondary characters and an absorbing plot, marred only by a somewhat bizarre conclusion, make Winspear a new writer to watch.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. TermsSchool Library Journal
: Adult/High School-Maisie is 14 when her mother dies, and she must go into service to help her father make ends meet. Her prodigious intellect and the fact that she is sneaking into the manor library at night to read Hume, Kierkegaard, and Jung alert Lady Rowan to the fact that she has an unusual maid. She arranges for Maisie to be tutored, and the girl ultimately qualifies for Cambridge. She goes for a year, only to be drawn by the need for nurses during the Great War. After serving a grueling few years in France and falling in love with a young doctor, Maisie puts up a shingle in 1929 as a private investigator. She is a perceptive observer of human nature, works well with all classes, and understands the motivations and demons prevalent in postwar England. Teens will be drawn in by her first big case, seemingly a simple one of infidelity, but leading to a complex examination of an almost cultlike situation. The impact of the war on the country is vividly conveyed. A strong protagonist and a lively sense of time and place carry readers along, and the details lead to further thought and understanding about the futility and horror of war, as well as a desire to hear more of Maisie. This is the beginning of a series, and a propitious one at that.-Susan H. Woodcock, Fairfax County Public Library, Chantilly, VA
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Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. Terms...More
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. TermsPublishers Weekly
: Meet Bubbles Yablonsky, beautician-reporter-sleuth and blazing star of Strohmeyer's entertaining, establishment-bashing debut as a mystery writer. Like the mills that gird the book's seen-better-days steel town of Lehigh, Pa., the city is itself a seething cauldron. Battle lines are sharply drawn between the haves and have-nots. Bubbles is hell-bent on getting even with the overlords, especially her former husband, a heel who has gone over to the other side. Opportunity knocks when Bubbles incriminates a wealthy socialite in a brutal murder and then uncovers a murky past, where corpses are littered around the accused's steel-magnate husband. The going is never easy, as Bubbles faces more perils than Pauline: falling off a bridge in the arms of a potential suicide; dodging drive-by gunmen and car bombers; being handcuffed and fitted for cement boots; and always searching for a better way to display her cleavage. Armed with her certificate from Two Guys Community College, abetted by a quirky array of social castoffs and fueled by Doritos, Velveeta and Diet Pepsi, Bubbles overcomes every obstacle on her way to shaking the foundations of the corporate world and, in the process, leaving more than a few wrinkles in her ex's tailored Brooks Brothers suits. Hop in the Camaro and buckle up: Bubbles is behind the wheel, and a wild ride awaits. Agent, Heather Schroder at ICM.
Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. TermsPublishers Weekly
: A bizarre inheritance, a dangerous quest and a political battle are the main events of Benni Harper's captivating sixth adventure (after Dove in the Window). Benni's work at the San Celina Folk Art Museum is interrupted when she unexpectedly inherits the estate of a stranger named Jacob Chandler. His house in Morro Bay is worth $200,000, but Chandler's will stipulates that Benni can keep the windfall only if she lives in the house for two weeks--alone. As expected, her protective husband, police chief Gabe, is none too happy about this development. But Benni is unwilling to turn down the money, and more important, her curiosity is piqued. After all, why would someone she'd never met make her his sole heir, especially when it turns out that many others were expecting to benefit from his death? To find the answer, Benni embarks on a dangerous search for Chandler's motives, following a series of cryptic notes that he's left for her all over California. Meanwhile, Gabe has his hands full keeping peace between San Celina's mayor and Benni's formidable Gramma Dove, who leads a sit-in at the Historical Museum to thwart the mayor's plan to convert it into a restaurant. As Benni's inquiries lead to unsettling information about her mother, who died when Benni was six, Fowler captures her plucky heroine's secret anxieties, but offsets them with a good dose of humor. Benni's need to know the truth about her family imbues the novel with alluring intimacy and suspense. And Chandler's penchant for wood carving provokes engaging descriptions of that craft, which accompany Fowler's usual bits on quilting and food. Chandler's puzzles test Benni's relationships with her husband, father and grandmother in this excellent addition to a notable series.
Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. Terms...More
Copyright 1998 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. Terms...More
Jan Blodgett, Davidson Coll., Davidson, N.C. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. TermsPublishers Weekly
: Calling upon his abundant knowledge of the Vatican's inner workings, Sheehan (Innocent Darkness) gives a view of modern Catholic church history as seen through the eyes of Augustine Cardinal Galsworthy, a man of legendary intellect, pride, sensuality and refinement, who wants to be pope. The story begins on the eve of the third millennium. A conclave of cardinals has assembled shortly after the death of their beloved "Slav Pope" to elect his successor. As the cunning cardinal wheels and deals his way toward election, he recalls the story of his life to this point. An awkward, lonely, stammering child, he grew into a man whose intelligence, ambition and charisma propelled him through the ranks to become the youngest cardinal in the church. From his hard-won position as papal advisor, he has counseled a succession of popes on ecclesiastical and personal issues and has zealously managed the "offerings" stowed away in Swiss bank accounts, all the while battling to preserve traditional Catholicism in the wake of Vatican II reforms. As Sheehan takes pains to show, the cardinal's preoccupations are not all temporal or political. On trips to the Congo and Somalia, he ministers passionately to the starving and diseased multitudes. Self-possessed in every sense of the word, Sheehan's crafty cardinal recalls such saintly Machiavellians as Browning's Bishop Bloughram and Strachey's Cardinal Manning. It should come as no surprise that the supporting cast often fades into the scenery while Cardinal Galsworthy's morally ambiguous triumphs and sufferings dominate this tale. Author tour.
Copyright 1997 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. Terms...More
Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. TermsPublisher's Weekly
: With vivid detail and engaging, credible characters, Maron's series featuring North Carolina district court judge Deborah Knott (Edgar winner Bootlegger's Daughter, etc.) brings to life fictional Colleton County and chronicles a charming but rapidly changing South. Here, the background is the suburbanization of the rural countryside less than an hour by superhighway from Raleigh. A few days after Dallas Stancil refuses to sell his land to a speculator, his stepson and wife murder him. Then, Dallas's peripatetic cousin Allen, the devil from Deborah's past, comes to town. Several days later, Dallas's father, Jap, is killed just before he can divide the property between Merrilee Grimes, his late wife's niece, and Allen. So who killed Jap, and who gets the Stancil land--Dallas's widow? Allen? Merrilee and her husband, Pete? Billy Wall, Jap's partner in the produce business? Dick Sutterly, a real estate developer who has a signed deed to Jap's property? Suspicions extend to Deborah's own family when one of her 11 brothers, visiting from California, reveals that he's lost his job and plans to sell his acreage, which abuts Jap's. In the end, the answer derives from a combination of greed, fear and ignorance of the intricate laws of inheritance. Maron eloquently describes different behaviors toward the land, from stewardship to despoliation. The old-fashioned warmth of the extended Knott family and Maron's well-constructed plot make this series a standout. Mystery Guild selection.
Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. Terms...More
Copyright 1995 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. TermsPublishers Weekly
: Drawing on American sensibilities and English tradition, Dams's debut introduces widowed American sleuth Dorothy Martin, who will delight lovers of cozies set on both sides of the Atlantic. Dorothy has moved to the fictional university/ cathedral town of Sherebury, where she and her academic husband had planned to retire before his unexpected demise. After the Christmas Eve service in the Cathedral, Dorothy stumbles over the body of Canon Billings. Once she recovers her equilibrium, she finds herself feeling involved in the case and curious about the unpleasant but learned Canon, who had made more enemies than friends. He had recently argued vehemently with his young, hot-headed assistant in the library, had tried to get the choirmaster fired and was gathering evidence against the verger who was stealing from the collection plate. Dorothy charmingly insinuates herself into village life in the best Miss Marple tradition, talking to neighbors and befriending others (including widower Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt) and determinedly pursuing the killer even as she puts herself in danger. With her penchant for colorful hats, Dorothy establishes herself as a fresh, commanding--and always genteel--presence among female elder-sleuths of the '90s.
Copyright 1995 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. Terms...More
Copyright 1994 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. TermsPublishers Weekly
: In 1779, Katie Wyler, 18, was captured by the Shawnee in North Carolina. The story of her escape and arduous journey home through hundreds of miles of Appalachian wilderness is the topic of ethno-historian Jeremy Cobb's thesis-and the thread which runs through the third of McCrumb's ballad novels (after The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter). As Cobb begins to retrace Katie's return journey, 63-year-old convicted murderer Hiram (Harm) Sorley escapes from a nearby prison. Suffering from Korsakoff's syndrome, he has no recent memory: old Harm is permanently stuck in the past. Hamelin, Tenn., police dispatcher Martha Ayers uses the opportunity to convince the sheriff to assign her as a deputy. One of her first duties is to calm a young mother who, angry at her inattentive husband, is threatening her baby with a butcher knife. Ayers and the sheriff must also warn Harm's ex-wife Rita that he has escaped. Acting as a kind of narrative conscience is a local deejay, a ``carpetbagger from Connecticut,'' who sees Harm as a folk hero from another era. Deftly building suspense, McCrumb weaves these colorful elements into her satisfying conclusion as she continues to reward her readers' high expectations. Mystery Guild selection; author tour.
Copyright 1994 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. TermsSchool Library Journal
: YA--Mystery and folklore are skillfully blended in this contemporary Appalachian tale. Driving the plot are ``Harm'' (Hiram) Sorley, an aging prisoner suffering from recent memory loss, who receives a spiritual message to escape from prison and return home to North Carolina; history grad student Jeremy Cobb, who wants to hike the trail used by Katie Wyler in the late 1700s when she escaped from Indians who held her captive; and members of the sheriff's department who search for both of these men. Strong females also figure prominently in this title, not the least of whom is Katie Wyler, dead over 200 years, whose spectral image helps several characters. Assisting Sheriff Arrowwood is his newest deputy, Martha Ayers, who's determined to prove she can rise above the lot of dispatcher. When all these folks converge beside a burning trailer home, more than one mystery is solved. McCrumb's rich use of dialect, accompanied by both physical description of and folklore about the mountains, combine to produce an evocative, haunting story. This novel defies stereotypical mystery elements, offering instead a complete melange of character study, plot, and setting.
Pam Spencer, Chapel Square Media Center, Fairfax County, VA Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. Terms...More
Copyright 1994 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. Terms...More


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After a herd of more than 100 elk were found dead last week in northeast New Mexico, officials searched for an explanation. The elk had not been shot, according to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, so poachers were not to blame.
Experts believe that epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD, is the cause. EHD is not transmitted animal to animal, but rather it comes from insect bites and is often fatal causing animals to develop a fever and eventually go into shock and die.
This is not the only report of mass animal deaths in recent years. We've rounded up some of the weirdest and most mysterious reports from the last decade.
Photo by Ron Sinfelt
Image via Catfisheye
Image via Lairich Rig
A class action lawsuit was filed against King America for people who suffered adverse health impacts from the chemicals.
Image via Fir0002/Flagstaffotos
What's the weirdest case of mass animal deaths you've ever heard of? Share with us in the comments below.

subset: commoncrawl


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Golden Circle Luncheon: Meredith
Wednesday, August 14, 2013 · 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Hart's Turkey Farm
233 Daniel Webster Hwy Meredith, NH 03253
Need more information? Be sure to look on the Golden Circle webpage.
Patty Farmer
Categories: Alumni
To request accommodations for a disability, please contact the coordinator at least two weeks prior to the event.


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Norwegian Breakaway ports in NYC
The Norwegian Breakaway, the largest cruise ship to ever port in NYC, rode in to the Big Apple last night. The spectacle it created on the river last night was captured in social media and we've gathered together some of the best shots. Check it out!


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Archive for category Rock Band 3
Rock Band 3 Dirt Cheap!
Posted by Luke in QuickNews, Rock Band 3 on April 5th, 2011
For those that are interested in Rock Band 3 may want to grab their copy at one of the following places since now it's only $20:
Rock Band™ Country Track Pack™2 Announced!
Posted by Luke in PSN, QuickNews, Rock Band, Rock Band 2, Rock Band 3 on January 12th, 2011
Get your dancing shoes ready people, Harmonix and their partner EA have announced the released date for Country Track Pack 2, which is set to release on the 1st of February. There are going to be a totally of 21 songs in this pack which you can see a list of after the jump. At first, a bunch of these tracks are going to be exclusive to the Rock Band Country Track Pack 2 disc for a limited time, once the time expires they will be making their way to the Rock Band 3 Music Store as downloadable content. Once exported or bough through the Rock Band 3 Music Store players will have the ability to access harmony vocals and Pro Drums, in addition to the traditional five-button guitar. Price will be set at $29.99!
Rock Band 3 Squier Guitar To Release on March 1 2011
Posted by EdEN in Accessories, PS3, Rock Band 3 on November 8th, 2010
Are you thinking about buying Rock Band 3 for your system of choice because you've heard so much about how this new game is supposed to be a great tool to, finally, teach you how to actually play guitar? Then you might as well want to start saving so you can kill two birds with one stone: the highly hyped Fender-Squier-Stratocaster-Rock-Band-3-Branded-Fully-Functional-Electric-Guitar (or HSSRB3BFFEG, so you can easily remember the name since it just rolls from your tongue) has been given a firm release date which shall fall on the 1st day of the third month of the next year. Yep, March 1, 2011 (a tuesday in case you're wondering).
Now, here's the extra kicker: you'll need $280 (plus tax) to buy this guitar, $60 (again, plus tax) for the Rock Band 3 software AND a $30 (plus, plus, plus… taaaaaax!) Mad Catz labeled MIDI adapter… as well as an AMP to actually plug in the guitar and rock out for the realz in the lifezes.
There IS a final catch: the Squier Stratocaster can be used for playing the new Pro mode in RB3… and only that mode. The guitar CANNOT be used to play any other mode and thus you either must really be fully committed to use RB 3 as a guitar tutor or already own a RB guitar or buy a new RB3 plastic guitar or else you won't have much fun if you realize that you can't play a real guitar solo as easily as our plastic friends allow us to.
Will you be spending over $400 for the whole package?
Review: Rock Band 3
Posted by Sakinah in PS3, PS3 Reviews / Vita Reviews, Rock Band 3 on October 31st, 2010
Here's a little food for thought. Did you know that Rock Band 3 went into development right after the release of Rock Band 2? During that two year period how many installments of the Guitar Hero franchise did Activision release? That number would be eight ( not including the handheld versions ). Now, how many of those games raised the bar as high as Harmonix's Rock Band 3? If you answered zero, then you're correct.
It's been two years since Harmonix released a direct installment to the Rock Band franchise. Even though we've had the Beatles: Rock Band, Green Day: Rock Band, and Lego: Rock Band to fill the gap, those games were just appetizers. Rock Band 3 is the main course. Prepare to dig in.
Read the rest of this entry »


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A look at the Flyers' week ahead: Wins on tap?
After a six-day break, the Flyers take on an important three-game stretch this week. (AP)
The Flyers have had a full week to contemplate last Thursday's bitter loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. For six days, they've done nothing other than practice and, apparently, go to Eagles games and Pearl Jam concerts.
But game action returns to the Wells Fargo Center (see game notes), kicking off a week of winnable games -- something the Flyers could use more of. Between now and the end of October, they'll face teams with early-season issues of their own -- and they should have a much firmer grasp of coach Craig Berube's system.
Let's start with tonight's game.
Oct. 24: Flyers vs. Rangers
There couldn't be a much better opportunity for the Flyers to finally nab their second win of the season. The New York Rangers, at 2-5 and sitting in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division, have experienced some of the same struggles as the Flyers. They've scored only 11 goals through their seven games and will arrive at the Wells Fargo Center coming off a devastating 4-0 loss to the Devils, who have had a rough season of their own. Even better (possibly) for the Flyers: With Vezina Trophy winner Henrik Lundqvist battling injury, the Rangers will start Cam Talbot in net tonight. Talbot has never played in an NHL game before.
Oct. 26: Flyers at New York Islanders
On Saturday, the Flyers will travel to the Nassau Coliseum, a venue in which they've had success in the past (even during rough stretches like last season). It will be defenseman Mark Streit's first chance to play his former team, and perhaps a perfect opportunity for the ex-Isles captain to finally show that he can be dangerous on the power play. However, this isn't the Islanders team of the past few seasons that's hardly been a threat. At 3-3-3, the Isles currently occupy third place in the Metro Division, and two of their top centers -- Franz Nielsen (5 G, 6 A) and John Tavares (4 G, 7 A) -- have had very strong starts to the year.
Oct. 29: Flyers vs. Anaheim Ducks
The Flyers' toughest competition of the week will be the Ducks. At 7-2, the Ducks are second in the Pacific Division and lay claim to a plus-9 goal differential that would have them near the top of any of the NHL's four divisions. Working in the Flyers' favor, perhaps, will be the fact that the Ducks will have been on the road for the four games preceding their Wells Fargo Center visit as well as the three games that follow it. While they're an impressive 5-0 on home ice, the Ducks are just .500 away from the Honda Center.


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If There's Anything Better Than Punching a Hippie, This Video Might Be It
[High Praise! to Shout First, Ask Questions Later]
[YouTube direct link] (Viewer #42,119)
When a hippie goes to hell, this is his Groundhog Day for eternity.
[High Praise! to Shout First, Ask Questions Later]
[YouTube direct link] (Viewer #42,119)
When a hippie goes to hell, this is his Groundhog Day for eternity.
"If you take away the carrot, all that's left is the stick!"
I can respect the old, practiced-what-they-preached hippies who left the cities and grew carrots on communes. Give them a few more generations out on the farm and they'll evolve into the Amish. "Psst, brother, dost thee want to buy some fresh, under the counter, UN-pastureized milk? Don't let the Feds catch thee, it'll be more than thy beard is worth!"
But the modern, city infesting hippies? That's what sticks were invented for. "I want it all, I want it now, and I don't want to pay for any of it!" Yeah, that'll work.
"Capitalist Propoganda" was always one of your best segments, Harvey. Glad it's coming back.
But you see to the libs and progs it wouldn't be like this. Unicorns would crap rainbows and everyone would have every thing they want and no one would have to work for it or to provide it. It would be like Star Trek only not in the nastiness of space and no one would have a real job. Just time to surf the net, have sex and eat and not in that order. Liberals don't have time for logical thought, there are snail darters to save and Capitalistic pigs who have homes to protest at.
John – Huh. I completely overlooked the fact that this fits perfectly into that category. I shall add it.
Thanks for pointing that out. Bacon to you, sir!
I should have shown this to my husband. He voted Obama today. Sigh. The best I can do for Northern Virginia is to make our house a purple one. I have failed.
#5 – CarolyntheMommy,
You still have they young'uns to influence. Teach them to chant "Romney-Ryan! Romney-Ryan!"
CtM – I just hope *Romney* sees this.
I know he's light-years better than Obama, but I haven't forgotten that he's a RINO-squish, and only gives Republican-establishment lip-service to the virtues of free markets. He WILL disappoint me many times in the next four years.
Ronald Reagan de-regulated trucking & airlines. I bet Romney won't even de-fund PBS.
Harvey, your description gave me a great idea for a movie: All Hippies Go To Hell. It will be the feel-good hit of the year. I'll give you an "inspired by" credit.
Eric – Can it feature the Robot Devil singing a song while he tortures them?:
Batten down the hatches, Carolyn! Best of luck in the storm.
My vision of hippie hell consists of demons mechanically ram-feeding strapped down hippies for all eternity, saying "So you like free stuff, eh? Well, have all the free stuff in the world!"
I do love the Simpsons
Thanks, Jimmy! We're inland a bit so I'm hoping it's no biggie. Worst comes to worst I have friends with generators. Come to think of it: why doesn't POTUS just give me a generator?
Wow, we do away with capitalism, and we get taken over by the Combine? Half Life was more prescient than I realized.
CarolyntheMommy: I'd cut him off. No, not in a lorena bobbit way, but make sure he understands there are consequences to his actions, and make the consequences immediate. I know, I know, not nice, but I'm a prick like that.
Anyway, sex is better with conservatives.
He's already asking me which of the kiddos I want politically – like he can have one be a Dem and I can have one be conservative. I told him, "It's not our job to teach them what to think; it's our job to teach them HOW to think."
The Children of the Corn are supporting obamaria:
I am reminded of the Simpsons episode where Homer became a hippie. His leftist daughter Lise told him was good at it because "You;re lazy, selfish and don't bathe"
CarolyntheMommy: That's just it. If you teach them to think at all, they'll be republicans.


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Dardan Petrela
this wiki
- "You broke my arm!"
- ―Dardan Pertrela.
Dardan Petrela is a minor antagonist in Grand Theft Auto IV. Dardan was a high-ranking member of the Albanians and possibly the leader of the Broker Chapter. He was known for his extortion involvement against weak Russian immigrants in and out of the Hove Beach area in Broker, Liberty City.
Dardan is notable for being the first minor antagonist in Grand Theft Auto IV (followed by Vladimir Glebov). He is also the first antagonist in the HD universe.
Dardan is an Albanian gangster and part of the small Albanian Mafia. Dardan is the boss of a small gang of thugs based in Broker. Along with Kalem and Bledar Morina, he is a loan-shark and extorts the lower members of society.
One such man is Roman Bellic, who owes them gambling debts. Despite pressure from Russian mobster Vladimir Glebov to leave Roman alone, Dardan continues to harass him for the owed money by chasing him out of a poker game and eventually tracking him down to his taxi depot. Bledar smashes Roman's computer and Dardan threatens him with a knife, but Roman's cousin Niko Bellic shows up and breaks Dardan's arm. Dardan and Bledar flee, but catch up with Roman later.
Bledar and Kalem corner Roman at a basketball court and beat him severely for Dardan's broken arm, but Niko arrives once again and defends Roman. Niko beats Bledar and Kalem and then finds Dardan watching the attack. Niko chases him through Broker until Dardan crashes his car and attempts to escape into an abandoned warehouse. Niko follows him, eventually cornering him in a factory floor where Dardan comes at him with a knife, which Niko may choose to disarm. From this point on, Dardan can be killed or injured by one of multiple means, including a push or kick that sends Dardan falling two stories, hitting and rolling off a metal awning, and landing lifelessly in the water below, taking his knife and stabbing him, or simply beating him up.
LCPD Database record
Mission Appearances
- Three's a Crowd
- Bleed Out (Killed)
- In the mission, It's Your Call, it is revealed Dardan drives a unique beige colored Willard. The vehicle can be obtained during the mission Bleed Out. However the player will have to push the Willard with Roman's Taxi to the Broker Safehouse. As driving it there will fail the mission.
- If the player has a gun, Niko can shoot Dardan in the head near the window which results him falling into the river, dead. The player can also simply punch Dardan until he stumbles backwards off the window and falls to his death.
- In Three's a Crowd, Dardan wears a white shirt under his jacket and in Bleed Out he wears a blue and grey shirt under his jacket. However, during the cutscene of Dardan falling from the window, he can occasionally be seen wearing a white undershirt.
- His clothes are identical to Dwayne Forge's.
- If the player only beats him up, he will lay on the ground or limp away. The police database still lists him as deceased, so it's possible that he didn't resist the injuries that Niko caused.


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Jetboil Coffee Press
Enjoy a cup of fresh warm coffee during your camping or hiking adventures using the unique Jetboil Coffee Press. Over the years the coffee press has gone through several changes, and different designs. Today the Jetboil Coffee Press has been created covering all your basic coffee necessities. The Jetboil coffee press stem now detaches from the basket, so you can stuff it in your PCS cup. Since this lightweight product is only 0.8 oz., it is light as a feather, and it won't add any unnecessary and uncomfortable weight to your pack, which is very important in case you are traveling. This is an ideal product for all coffee lovers to use when you are not at home, and want to enjoy a rich hot cup of coffee. The smell of fresh hot coffee in the morning has never been the same, as with the original Jetboil Coffee Press.
This product can only be shipped to U.S. addresses.


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15-29, 2005
to Agree
Sensenbrenner's Sensibilities
Allan Uthman
Newsweek Still Gagging on Unnamed Sources
Matt Taibbi
Summer Makeover
Dan Devine
Kid's Summer Survival Guide
It's not fun for everyone
Sports Blotter
The Week in Sports Crime
Sporting News
Erie Surfin'
People Really Do This
Last Issue: (76)
Control: County Sheds Cumbersome Democracy
democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and
murders itself."
-John Adams
Western New York is getting another control board, which,
according to the latest polls, many taxpayers will greet as
good news. After all, democracy has failed them for many years.
Here's how the new deal will work: Rather than removing
from office the politicians responsible for the county's
$120 million budget shortfall, lawmakers in Albany will impose
a set of unaccountable insiders to straighten things out.
Like the control board for Buffalo, this new body will be
in existence for 20 to 30 years, during which time they will
fly first class and hire a large staff.
The new county control board will be a New York State Authority,
like the good folks who run the Thruway. Meanwhile, the Erie
County Legislature will be relegated to a "rump"
body, something like the British House of Lords, but without
powdered wigs – or whigs. State Comptroller Alan Hevesi
has declared that this is the best thing for the county.
Never mind that last year Hevesi published a study showing
the corruption of New York State's authorities; how
authorities have generated over 90 percent of the state's
debt by outliving their utility. How do they survive? By borrowing
more money. For example, the Triborough Bridge was paid for
in the late 1930s. The authority set up to build it survives
to this day.
Many control board apologists have noted that elected leaders
in Albany select the members. That is sort of like picking
a surrogate to buy your clothes for you, who then sub-contracts
the task to someone else, and that guy then buys things you
are ashamed to wear because people will laugh at you.
Indeed, they are laughing already. Buffalo and Erie County
suffer from a serious image problem, which not even a highly-paid
Hollywood agency could remedy. "The Armpit of the East,"
is not a flattering sobriquet.
Alas, nothing good can come of a control board for Erie County,
not even for those who think they really want it. See, Erie's
property taxes are the second-lowest in the state already.
The control board can't cut them further.
Get ready for steady tax increases to offset the reckless
cutting of County Executive Joel Giambra and the legislature
during the past several years. Get ready; they comin'
to tax yo ass!
brief [8]: Illuzzi's 'Sources' -/- Next
brief[2]: Helfer, Great White Dope>


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mommyazuela11's Mom Answers Activity
Recent Activity | Asked | Answered
How do I tell my partner I don't want his family at the hospital when I go into labor?
Most recent answer (06/14/2011):
I definitely don't think you are being unreasonable, it is your body and your time, you should be able to do what your comfortable with a...posted by a BabyCenter Member
My boyfriends mom is driving me crazy!! What do I do!?
Most recent answer (06/04/2011):
What I would do is tell her back off. You had YOUR chance to raise YOUR kids. This is MY child so I will RAISE him. HOW I want to. WHERE ...posted by mommyazuela11


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I think Flash will still be around for a few years, especially in games and applications.
If only Apple would buy out Adobe…
Please give us a brief bio of yourself.
Max Galli, 44 years old, Italian, from a long line of Milanesi.
After years of studying graphic art and visual communications, some master's courses and various workshops, I began my career as a freelance designer about 20 years ago. Pencils, Pantone, paintbrushes and the Minolta 9000 were the tools I used to express myself.
Apple had launched their Mac plus, but it was not available in Italy yet. After years of creating covers for the record industry, Internet finally came along.
By 1996 I had some 20 Websites in my portfolio.
I founded vanGoGh in 2002 and, together with my partner, began seeking talent for it from all over the world. I was the interactive creative director there until 2008.
Now that I have surrounded myself with people who have much more talent than I do, I have become the CEO and focus my energy on strategy, relations and management.
What do you do for inspiration?
My daughter. She's a little artist who, even though she's only 5, shows me all her love and imbues me tremendous energy through her designs and her creative and transparent vision of the world.
Art. Some works of art, some museums and some artists have something magical that exerts an incredible influence on me. As I am gazing at the work of art I would rather be in front of a blank canvas to express all the emotions that explode inside me at that moment.
vanGoGh employees get to go to exhibits, movies and museums of all types for free as these are a real source of artistic inspiration for them. We crave stimulus, and if we don't have some new and exciting nectar our creative capacity tends to stop growing.
Please list 3 of your favourite sites.
www.ultranoir.com, http://hellomonday.com/, www.ro.me
What do you regard as being your biggest achievement?
My twenty very satisfying years of activity notwithstanding, I still see myself as being on the tenth step of a 100-step stairway. Every goal reached, every race won and every new award that rewards us for a project that has distinguished itself on a national or international level represents a very important moment of my professional life. The latest great success, thanks to my team, was to represent Italy and win the Webby Awards in New York for the www.vespa.com project.
How many hours do you work each week?
Although work is my overriding passion, my life is not made up of only that.
In order to improve, I think that it's vitally important to find time for oneself and one's family.
My typical day begins at 6am. I alternate between yoga exercises and running, then I meditate for twenty minutes. It's something I have been doing for six years now.
I then take an hour to get updated (FWA ;-)), after which I throw myself headlong into the day which, I'm lucky to say, is always different and exciting. At 8 pm I finish.
How do you relax or unwind?
I learned meditation skills a few years ago and now I can't do without it. Great ideas can come from silence, from full immersion into yourself and from relaxing your mind completely.
If you weren't working on the internet what would you be doing?
When I am not working I like to paint, make music (I once played the guitar and I sang in a rock band up until last year, when they got rid of me and recorded an album ;-)) and I "train" others (a few years ago I became a coach and, for fun, I offer my experience to people who seek personal growth).
Amazingly enough, I even find time to spend with my family.
What's your favourite part of your job? What's the hardest part of your job? What do you do when you get stuck?
There was a time when I preferred the creative aspect of my work, but now I am really into the strategy that lies above creative thought.
The hardest part, which is also the part that intrigues me the most, is convincing clients that you really are offering them the best possible solution. To do this you need relationship skills that bring together psychology-empathy and professional expertise.
When I get stuck I stop. I take a break, step back for even just 5 minutes and clear my mind of all thoughts. After that I find the answer.
If there are any pivotal experiences/decisions you could point to that helped shape your career, what would they be?
Having decided in 1994 that the internet would be my future.
What software could you not live without?
Photoshop. You never forget your first love.
How many projects does your company juggle at any one time?
We can follow 3 or 4 projects at the same time with specialized teams.
The choices we make, however, are based on quality. If we don't have the time and budget to craft a quality project we won't take on the job.
Developing a lot of projects at the same time does not correspond to high quality results.
Who do you rate as being the top 3 design companies?
I have a great deal of respect for North Kingdom, Group 94, B-reel and, of course, vanGoGh
What effect on traffic do your new designs have?
Our first objective when developing a site is to increase its power to attract users. Design plays a very important role in this. We live in a very visually-oriented society which, before even going in to explore the content, evaluates the aesthetic quality. If the container is not attractive, then the contents are often left untouched.
Who is your target audience?
People who understand the importance of an equal balance between the quality of the content and the quality of the container. Companies who appreciate the many details and the passion we put into our work.
What area of web design lacks the most?
I think young web designers need a bit of "old school" training when it comes to the use of typography. The importance of choosing just the right font and knowing how to use it in just the right way should not be underestimated.
Are there any websites that have shone through as being pioneering in the last 5 years or so?
Starting with the past, perhaps "get the glass" was very illuminating for me. Last year ro.me was able to draw a clear boundary between the past and the future.
Has winning FWA awards helped you in any way?
Sure! The FWA award gives our agency a great deal of prestige and helps keep the team united in its goals. It is always a joy and an honour to be selected by FWA.
When dealing with major clients, how difficult is it to meet the needs of such wide target audiences?
Knowing how to interpret the needs of the client is increasingly an art in and of itself. Psychology and NLP are valid tools to help steer you away from mistakes.
What did your very first site look like? Is it still online?
The first site I designed was in 1994 for the Teatro della Scala in Milan. A more recent version of it is now online. My version was better.
Have you written any books, if not do you plan to?
No, I have never written a book and I have no intentions of doing so. If and when I find something with which I can leave an indelible mark, then I'll consider it.
Are there things you do OUTSIDE of work to ensure that you are in the right mindset to be creative and/or successful in whatever you are doing?
We are that which we see, feel and hear and if we don't constantly stimulate our "lateral thought" our creative capacity will diminish. That's why we at vanGoGh offer the chance to stimulate our senses by giving free access to movies and cinema.
I personally spend a good deal of time training others, I love meeting and getting to know successful people to study their makeup and learn as much as I can from them.
What was the last digital effort you saw (or were a part of) that used social media in a way that really made sense. Why?
I love sites that use the information and passion of facebook users and then transform them into interactive activities based on the "likes" declared and aimed at involving the user himself. An good example of this is www.lotus2012.com
Have you been a part of a campaign that was rooted in digital and THEN reached over into other consumer touchpoints? Did this happen organically or was it a part of the plan from the beginning?
For several years now all the activities we have been involved in are multichannel. The strength of the agency is to come up with a concept which can be applied with the same effect in all the media used.
An interesting case we are working on now for an Italian milk producer has resulted in a really unusual road. An activity that began on the Web and social media will soon become a print campaign and a TV spot.
It's a great victory for digital souls such as ours!
The web is getting out of the web. Do you find that thinking in digital solutions alone hinders you? Do you feel the urge to solve the problem using all mediums necessary?
Multichanneling is a must this day and age. The consumer asks for it. There are still many people out there who are attracted by a TV spot, a print campaign and an interactive site. Users have different levels of sensitivity and we as communicators have the duty to satisfy this type of diversity.
The Web is and will always be increasingly vital to the marketing mix and this, as far as I am concerned, is already a victory.
Looking 10 years in to the future, how far can websites go?
Our thoughts will probably allow us to navigate with all types of devices.
We will be the actors, puppets and directors all at the same time because we will have given so much personal information to the social media that we will be recognized, accompanied and conditioned in every environment. The Web will be outside of the Web, and access to all types of information will be much more rapid than we can even imagine it now.
Of all the websites you/your company have produced, which one are you most proud of?
Vespa.com was one we put a massive amount of effort into and we are really very proud of the results. It's a blend of video, motion graphics, 3D, Flash, Flex, etc…
Our efforts were also much appreciated internationally. The project dates to 2010 and has won a variety of prizes worldwide, the latest, as I mentioned earlier, was the Webby award.
What was the toughest thing you ever did with Flash? How long did you spend on it? Is it still online?
Vespa.com, which although it is an institutional brand site, is also about a product. It is entirely managed by CMS and is multi-lingual. It took the team 5 months to make it and it is still on-line.
Do you think Flash is here to stay?
I have always considered Flash as the only solution to really thrill the user. Over the years I have had some real battles with stupid thick-headed technicians who were fixated on html and who hated Mac and Flash because they couldn't understand its communicative potential. Then, all of a sudden, I was betrayed by Steve Jobs who, for entirely economic reasons, banned Flash.
Now the great potential of html5, webgl and paper js has just about made up for the differences with Flash. Well, almost.
I think Flash will still be around for a few years, especially in games and applications.
If only Apple would buy out Adobe…
What are your views on design/graphic school. Do you think someone can get into the field without educational experience in a school environment?
School increases a student's technique, not talent. I'm sure it is of great help for establishing the basis for future growth and it is often the road that leads to the agency. I am convinced that you can learn a lot more in 60 days of agency work than in a year of schooling.
If you were a student entering this industry or an aspiring FWA award submitter, what advice would you give them?
Having a very clear idea of your goals helps you to achieve them. Knowing your limits helps you to exceed them. You have to invest in personal and professional growth so that you never stop learning. You have to have the courage to make mistakes and let those who work with you also make them. You have to find the time to simply stop and think, to find the right balance between logic and your heart, and smile.
How difficult do you find employing the right people in a world where everyone calls themselves a web designer?
Very difficult, especially when you have set very high standards. Fortunately, a person's portfolio reveals a lot about his expertise and abilities. I will take advantage of this interview, if I may, to make an announcement: we are looking for a very talented senior interactive art director. If you know of someone who wants to work in Italy, please give them my e-mail address: email@example.com
How do you keep up with the latest capabilities of Flash or do you rely on other members of you team to do this?
It really helps to have a team that looks far beyond the horizon. Sharing experiences and knowledge is vital to increasing our own personal value, and that of the agency as well.
What would be your ultimate vehicle to travel in?
My Aprilia Motò. An old bike designed by Philippe Starck.
When your company was just getting started, what did you find was most effective for getting new clients?
I think it was showing the quality of the work we had done up to that point, even though the portfolio was not very full at that time.
Meticulous attention to detail has always been one of our main priorities and clients appreciated it. We also had a tremendous ability to look beyond the ordinary and see colour where others saw only grey, and our ability to see "summer even in winter" has always fascinated our clients.
How have you learned so many Flash/design skills and techniques and can you offer any advice for newbies?
Keep up to date with everything, experiment and don't stop even when faced with something seemingly impossible. Be curious and absorb everything. Never ever stop learning.
How do you keep your finger on the pulse of the latest web trends?
If we don't nurture our creative abilities through research, reading, exploration and experimentation we will never be able to innovate and create trends.
You have to have the right points of reference. And you need to follow them.
What country excites you the most in terms of innovation?
I think that in a few years time China will amaze us all. We have an office in Hong Kong where I have met with agencies the western world has never heard of, agencies with an enormous potential and competences to create excellent projects, for now only for their own domestic market. They study us and are inspired by us, by Sweden, Australia and Brazil, and they learn. In silence.
They will make their mark, soon.
There must be a project that you have always dreamed of doing, what is it?
For some time now I've been working on a project/live performance that blends interactivity, painting and guitars. Unfortunately, it is still only in the embryonic stage.
What does the future hold for your company, or you as a person?
I know I have a great deal of responsibility on my shoulders. The future of my agency, apart from the quality and the motivation of the team, depends on my choices of strategy. I feel a bit like a father to those who work at vanGoGh, a protective dad who looks ahead, way ahead, but still has his feet firmly on the ground.
What are you excited about learning next and is there a long term challenge you are considering tackling?
I have something new to learn every day. Every day there is some new challenge to overcome. The important thing is to face everything in a positive way and to have a plan.
Confucius said "If there is a solution to the problem, why get angry? If there is no solution to the problem, why get angry?" I have coined a sort of personal slogan: "Intention, attention, no tention."
What is the most expensive thing you have bought in the last week?
An olive tree for my Zen garden.
What type of overcoat do you wear when Flashing, basically are you a labels man?
I put on my Basque.
Any parting shots or pearls of wisdom?
Intention, attention, no tention.
It has been a privilege, thanks very much
Thank you! The pleasure was all mine.


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Geraldine L. (Yeager) Thompson of Feasterville, passed away Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, at her home surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 49.
She shared her life for the past ten years with her beloved husband, Bruce J. Thompson.
Born in Philadelphia, she was a daughter of Helen G. (Crean) Yeager of Pennsylvania and the late William J. Yeager, and sister to the late John 'Budd' Yeager and Mary Beth Pellegrini.
Geri was employed by Waste Managements in community relations for over 10 years. She loved her job, and served on several different boards to benefit the community, enriching many lives.
One of her favorite pastimes was working in her gardens. She enjoyed watching plants grow and 'playing' in her garden. She had an eye for detail for the world around her, a talent she used in her job, her home and in her relationships with those she loved. She loved animals, especially her German Shepherd, Jax and her cat, Zeus.
Geri was thoughtful, considerate and selfless, and touched the lives of many. She had a contagious smile and brought joy to those around her. She will be deeply missed.
In addition to her mother and husband, Geri is survived by her stepchildren, Airman Bruce Thompson of Oklahoma and April Thompson of Pennsylvania; her granddaughter, Olivia; her siblings, William Yeager Jr. (Nancy) of Florida, Lynn Jacobson (Steven) of New York, Susan Yeager of New Jersey, Joseph Yeager of New Jersey, David Yeager of Pennsylvania, Anthony Yeager of New Jersey, Stephen Yeager of Pennsylvania, Patrice Martin of Pennsylvania, and Michaele Nissley (William) of Pennsylvania; and many nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to call on Tuesday, Feb. 4, from 6 until 8 p.m. in the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, 800 Newtown-Richboro Rd. (at Holland Rd.), Richboro, PA 18954 and to her Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5, in St. Christopher Church, 13301 Proctor Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19116. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Grace Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Healing Consciousness Foundation, 45 Second Street Pike, Southampton, PA 18966, an organization that was special to Geri. www.fluehr.com


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Marisa Tomei & Debra Messing at People's Choice Awards
January 9, 2009 in Body Comparisons, Body Type and Clothes, Debra Messing, Marisa Tomei by Versus
From the "Hot Celebrities over 40" category, here are Marisa Tomei (44) and Debra Messing (40) at People's Choice Awards, looking fabulous in midi strapless dresses.
Debra's got a little extra puffiness (not on her body, but in her dress) and they both chose slim legs' number one friend, a.k.a. nude platform shoes.
Pick your favorite figure / look!


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The Rail Mounts from C-MORE Systems gives you everything you need to mount your STS Red Dot Sight to either a Weaver/Picatinny rail or a 3/8" Dovetail like you would find on most rimfire firearms. Includes the Weaver or 3/8 Rail mount, mounting screws, wrenches and instructions.
Mfr Part: STSMT200
Mfr Part: STSMT210
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Please enter your email address and quantity below andwe will send you an alert when the item becomes available.
Please note that alerted inventory is on a first come, first serve basis.


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Positive Black Swans
How to fund research so that it generates insanely great ideas, not pretty good ones.
The following is excerpted from Tim Harford's new book Adapt: Why Success Always Starts With Failure. Also read Part 1 about the Spitfire, the experimental aircraft that saved Britain during World War II.
Mario Capecchi's earliest memory is of German officers knocking on the door of his mother's chalet in the Italian Alps and arresting her. They sent her to a concentration camp, probably Dachau. Mario, who had been taught to speak both Italian and German, understood exactly what was being said by the SS officers. He was 3½.
Mario's mother, Lucy, was a poet and an antifascist campaigner who had refused to marry his abusive father, Luciano, an officer in Mussolini's air force. One can only imagine the scandal in prewar, Catholic, fascist Italy. Expecting trouble, Lucy had made preparations by selling many of her possessions and entrusting the proceeds to a local peasant family. When she disappeared, the family took Mario in. For a time he lived like an Italian farmer's son, learning rural life at an apron hem.
After a year, his mother's money appears to have run out. Mario left the village. He remembers a brief time living with his father and deciding he would rather live on the streets: "Amidst all of the horrors of war, perhaps the most difficult for me to accept as a child was having a father who was brutal to me." Luciano was killed shortly afterward in aerial combat.
And so Mario Capecchi became a street urchin at the age of 4½. Most of us are content if, at the age of 4½, our children are capable of eating lunch without spilling it or confident enough to be dropped off at the nursery without tears. Mario survived on scraps, joined gangs, and drifted in and out of orphanages. At the age of 8 he spent a year in the hospital, probably suffering from typhoid, passing in and out of feverish oblivion each day. Conditions were grim: no blankets, no sheets, beds jammed together, nothing to eat but a crust of bread and some chicory coffee. Many Italian orphans died in such hospitals.
Mario survived. On his 9th birthday, a strange-looking woman arrived at the hospital asking to see him. It was his mother, unrecognizable after five years in a concentration camp. She had spent the last 18 months searching for him. She bought him a suit of traditional Tyrolean clothes—he still has the cap and its decorative feather—and brought him with her to America.
Two decades later, Mario was at Harvard University, determined to study molecular biology under the great James Watson, co-discoverer of DNA. Not a man to hand out compliments easily, Watson once said Capecchi "accomplished more as a graduate student than most scientists accomplish in a lifetime." He had also advised the young Capecchi that he would be "fucking crazy" to pursue his studies anywhere other than in the cutting-edge intellectual atmosphere of Harvard.
Still, after a few years, Capecchi had decided that Harvard was not for him. Despite great resources, inspiring colleagues and a supportive mentor in Watson, he found the Harvard environment demanded results in too much of a hurry. That was fine, if you wanted to take predictable steps along well-signposted pathways. But Capecchi felt that if you wanted to do great work, to change the world, you had to give yourself space to breathe. Harvard, he thought, had become "a bastion of short-term gratification." Off he went instead to the University of Utah, where a brand-new department was being set up. He had spotted, in Utah, a Galapagan island on which to develop his ideas.
In 1980, Mario Capecchi applied for a grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, which use government money to fund potentially life-saving research. The sums are huge: The NIH are 20 times bigger than the American Cancer Society. Capecchi described three separate projects. Two of them were solid stuff with a clear track record and a step-by-step account of the project deliverables. Success was almost assured.


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This post is part of our "Penny For Your Thoughts" column where readers can write into Penny with their dilemmas on money and relationships. If your question is chosen for the next Penny For Your Thoughts column, you will receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card. In addition, one commenter who offers the best advice will receive a $15 Amazon Gift Card.
Dear Penny,
My family goes all out for Christmas – spending into the realm of ridiculousness. Sometimes it seems to be quantity, not quality, and it's almost too overwhelming for the kids!
I provide the sole income for my household, and live very frugally (sometimes to a fault), especially at Christmas. My son is 18 months old, and within my limited budget, I chose not to buy a ton of clothes, toys, and books that we don't need. I bought a couple of small, meaningful gifts (i.e. unique and frugal Christmas holiday gift ideas), and I felt that our Christmas at home was just right.
My family, on the other hand, has been outright intrusive with their questions about the material part of our celebration: "What did he get?" "Was he excited for all his gifts?" "Where are you going to put everything?" After tactfully avoiding the direct questions for as long as possible, I finally told them my presentation of Christmas gifts and the mentality behind it. They were absolutely horrified – even going so far as to call me "cheap" and "inconsiderate!"
I know that their reactions are way out of line and have no basis in responsible reality, but what's the best way to get them to move on? Ideally, I'd like them to adopt the same sensibilities about holiday gift giving as the ones that have worked for me…but am not sure where to go from here.
— Not A Grinch
Dear Not A Grinch,
It seems your family has bought into the idea, especially popular this time of year, that the only way to show someone you love them is to buy them things. Therefore, if you aren't buying your son a pile of gifts taller than he is, you must be an awful parent. For a lot of people, it's a pretty straight-line conclusion. But unless a gift-buyer neglects normal household purchases and bills in order to give, it's not really about the money.
Unfortunately, the question you have asked ("How do I get them to change?") is a classic one that cannot be answered. People can change only if they are willing to change, and a person with differing views will have a harder time convincing others when coming from a place of opposition. After all, you think they're "way out of line," but they think you are, too. Imagine the letter your mother might have written, "My poor grandson gets nothing for Christmas!"
The underlying issue isn't about how much is spent, but rather it's a head-on collision between value systems on how best to raise children, a touchy subject at the best of times. Both sides claim they know what is "right," which really, is not something that can be quantified or solved. Your family most likely feels they raised you to act as they do, and they don't understand why you're taking up a position in the opposite camp.
In these situations, I think of the proverb, "There is no solution. Seek it lovingly." There is no correct answer here. Just because your Christmas gifting is more financially responsible doesn't mean you get all the points in this match.
However, since you are the parent and the choices are yours, there's no need to either avoid questions or give them a speech. (This will be good practice for when your child gets older and you get to the, "Why? Why? Why?" stage.) Just answering calmly, "I've got a couple of interesting books and a couple of toys he's going to love. He's going to be so excited!" is going to go a long way. Neither side will convince the other, so answer the question in a basic and positive way. Change the subject when appropriate, and peacefully move on.
What might work better with your family is to present it in terms of what is best for your child and what he needs. For a kid that young, the first present he gets is the most exciting thing that ever happened. Then, the second present is the most exciting thing that ever happened. After that, it's pretty much playing with the boxes the first two came in until nap time. The nervous system of a small child gets overloaded easily. Your gift philosophy could just as easily be about keeping the celebration at a level he can understand, as it is about whether you feel it is appropriate to give him so many things.
If he still receives a ton of stuff from your family, I'd space it out over the year and let him open a present every now and then. As he gets older, you can use a "present-in-present-out" system where he can choose toys to give away when he gets a new one.
Ultimately, if the worst thing they can say about the way you raise your son is that you don't buy him enough stuff, you're doing a pretty good job as a parent. Just remember, everyone thinks they're an expert on parenting, and everyone has an opinion. If you feel discouraged, think about how you are teaching your kid about money management. And hopefully, you're giving him an even greater gift by saving for his 529 college fund rather than buying gifts he won't remember.
Readers, a penny for your thoughts! How do you get out of having these round-and-round arguments with your family? What can our letter-writer do to stand her ground without causing hurt feelings?
Yours Truly,
Today's letter-writer won a $20 Amazon gift card! Congratulations!
Do you have a question about relationships and money? Write to Penny [at] moneycrashers [dot] com and win a $20 Amazon Gift Card if your question gets chosen! And the commenter who leaves the best advice on this post will win a $15 Amazon Gift Card!


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Craniac was the alien science officer in Muppets Tonight's Pigs in Space: Deep Dish Nine sketches.
Leslie Carrara-Rudolph recalls being present at a discussion in which someone suggested a character that had only a brain at the end of its neck. She offered an empty bubble gum container that she'd been carrying in her purse.[1]
See also
- Fern, another creature whose brain is exposed.


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General Managers - Branded Restaurants
Select Hospitality - East London
This job posting is no longer available on Select Hospitality. Find similar jobs:General Manager jobs - Select Hospitality jobs
About this company
At Select Hospitality, our goal is to find the best hospitality managers, the best hospitality jobs. Our mission is to consistently...


text: Hey Fernando, On Jul 2, 2008, at 12:10 PM, Fernando Perez wrote: > Hey Travis, > > On Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 7:32 AM, Travis Vaught <email@example.com> > wrote: >> Greetings, >> >> We're pleased to announce the beta release of the Enthought Python >> Distribution for *Mac OS X*. > > First of all, this is *fantastic*. OSX has been a major pain for us > here in terms of distribution, so I am extremely happy and grateful to > you guys for putting this out. You're quite welcome. I'm glad it's useful. Let us know if you see any issues in the beta. > > > Two minor requests: any chance in the next release, you could update > ipython and matplotlib? You are shipping 0.8.1 and 0.91.2, both of > which are fairly old and the current versions of both do have > reasonably useful improvements and fixes (ipython has threading fixes > that impact plotting, and mpl has all the new mathtext code that gives > good math rendering without needing latex). I want to see these as well. It should be no problem to get these in the next release. In fact we'll upgrade to the latest versions of _everything_ as long as the developers recommend doing so and there are no compatibility issues. > > > In any case, a big cheer from me :) :-) Thanks, Travis > > > Regards, > > f > _______________________________________________ > SciPy-user mailing list > firstname.lastname@example.com > http://projects.scipy.org/mailman/listinfo/scipy-user >


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Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) has announced a new PCB calculation method with effective year 2009. The formula reconciles employee monthly PCB; and also allow employees to include personal waiveable tax wages (e.g. books, life insurance, parent medical claims) into monthly PCB calculation with the objective of calculating an accurate final year-to-date tax amount.
In brief, LHDN attempts to predict and calculate employee annual income tax amount accurately by incorporating an advanced mathematical formula to derive monthly PCB tax amount. The formula supports payroll computation with items such as basic salary, bonuses and additional wages, perquisites, benefit-in-kind (ie. TP2) and many other personal tax reduction items (ie. TP1).
LHDN has also included a web-based PCB Calculator (see http://www.hasil.gov.my) to cross check PCB accuracy.
Why latest PCB contribution is paying with cents ?
With effective from year 2009, LHDN has made compulsory for all computerized payroll software to compute PCB accurately with cents value. Final PCB result is rounded to the "highest 5 cents".
Can we still use Manual PCB 2010 Table to compare result ?
Manual PCB table for year 2010 should NOT be used anymore. Employers using computerized payroll software MUST use computerized formula as per specified by LHDN.
Labels: income tax, lhdn, pcb 2010
1 comment:
- arronbond said...
Professional Payroll Company is able to clearly define the separation of duties, providing transparency and an audit trail if needed.
- September 27, 2011 at 3:10 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Is boating ok during early pregnancy?
My in-laws have a lake house with wave-runners and boats. I am only 4 weeks pregnant and am wondering if it's ok for me to ride on the boat. Let me know what you all think?
Posted: 06/22/2010 by a BabyCenter Member
Mom Answers
Sort by: best answers | most recent answers
1 - 1 of 1 answers
You're probably just fine - the boats should definitely be okay. If it were me, I'd stay off the wave runners until about week 12 or 14, just to be safe.posted 06/22/2010 by JaneyRhino
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Paradox Interactive has announced the release off the third expansion for the grand strategy game, Europa Universalis III. The game is available on all major digital distribution outlets for €19.99/$19.99. Paradox Interactive has released a demo which can be found here.
- Brand new Casus Belli system, where wars have specific goals from start to finish.
- Monarchs now belong to dynasties, with new influence on the diplomatic model.
- Increased Holy Roman Empire and Papacy options for more powerful ruling
- New diplomatic options for Merchant Republics
- Enhanced "Cultural Tradition" and recruitment of specific adviser types
Europa Universalis III – Heir to the Throne requires the original Europa Universalis III game and the previous two expansions in order to play. Europa Universalis III Complete owners are set, as it contains everything you need in order to play the game.
Europa Universalis III Complete is available with a 40% discount throughout December here.
Article from Gamersyndrome.com


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Welcome to Deer Run Golf Club
Deer Run Golf Club, just a short drive from Ocean City MD, offers the golfer a great golf experience. Located on route 50 just west of Berlin, MD., Deer Run presents a number of challenges for every level of golfer. The mission statement at Deer Run is to offer a championship golf course at affordable prices with great service.
Ocean City, MD Golf at its Finest
Open since May, 1998, Deer Run Golf Club is a par 73 championship golf course. This routing offers the golfer a championship golfing experience coupled with a speedy pace of play. The new course is designed by the "Whole in One Design" company (designers of the Easton Club and Cambridge Country Club golf courses), and challenges golfers with varied lengths ranging from 110 yds to 595 yds. Featured holes on the championship 19 include four par 5's each well over 500 yds. Add several long par 4's and par 3's ranging up to 205 yds. and you have a true test of golf. Deer Run's signature hole is No. 16 which is an island green. Six multi-acre lakes make this a beautiful golfers paradise.
There truly is nothing like it on the eastern shore!
Celebrating Eighteen Years of Service - 1997 to 2015 - Golfing Ocean City MD - (410) 629-0060 / (888) 790-4465
COME TO DEER RUN GOLF CLUB AND PLAY YOUR BEST GAME EVER - JUST A SHORT DRIVE FROM Ocean City MD
- WIN a Free Round of GOLF
- 19 Holes Championship Golf Course Par 73
- Practice Putting, Chipping & Sand Greens
- Golf Carts Pull Carts & Rental Clubs
- Twilight Rates
- FREE email Newsletter
- Deer Run Golf Academy
- Clubhouse, Pro Shop & Deli & Pub
- 40 Station Driving Range
- Coupons Details
Deer Run Golf Club offers golfing recreation for the entire family, from juniors to pros, moms, dads and kids. We are located but a short drive from Ocean City and Salisbury Maryland and also from the Delaware Resort Regions, including Fenwick Island and Bethany Beach, Delaware. With an 19 hole professional course, Meg's Greenside Deli, clubhouse, driving range, practice greens, and golfing lessons for the entire family, find your hole in one at Deer Run! Short of Time to play 19 holes? WE NOW ALSO OFFER LOOP GOLF - click here for more information about Loop Golf
- 19 Hole Championship Golf Course
- 5 Different Tee Boxes
- Driving Range - Chipping Area
- Large Putting Green
- Golf Academy
- Full Service Pro Shop
- Clubs for Rent
- Golf Club Repairs
- Hole #16 - Island Green - Top 10 Toughest
- Meg's Greenside Deli / Beer, wine, soda, water
- The Complete Golf Facility - 19 Hole Championship Course
- Junior Golf Program - Golf Academy - Practice Greens -40 Station Driving Range
- Golf Digest has Deer Run on their list as one of the "Best Places to Play".