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JK is Back
Or at least it is on Steam.
The entire series is now available for download; yes, that includes Dark Forces, which incorporates some of the best FPS level design, par none.
Alternatively, for JK virgins, you can buy the entire series in one bundle for only $20, which is quite a bargain considering that they all ooze quality.
Linkity, dinkity, lock
*squeals girlishly* OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG. I'M SO BUYING THIS RIGHT NOW! Dark Forces on XP?! *faints*
We really need to get the
Problem is most of the old gang are all grown up with jobs and families and stuff now. I mean, I was 15 years old back in the JK MP days. Good times that should be revived but I don't know how feasible it is.
Man... this is really tempting. Too bad I already spent $120 yesterday and bought KotOR on Steam last week... >.<
I hate Steam, I just picked up the JK pack as well as the LA adventure pack. Can't beat the deals though.
Never played any of the JK games so I'll give them a try pretty soon. I'd be up for some multiplayer too.
Yeah it is DOSbox but bottom line is that it actually works perfectly. No modding, or file swapping or tweaking. Just jump in and play. Good times so far.
Well, my faith in LucasArts delivering quality products became quashed yet again; I found out that DF2 doesn't have any of its CD-based music in the Steam version. Not to mention, it also crashes everything I try to menu save; it lacks 3D hardware acceleration, and I'm forced to play all of the cutscenes in windowed-mode. Of course, LA would have the resources to correct all of this; they own the source code, naturally, and have all of the manpower to rewrite several components to make the SITH engine OpenGL/AL-compliant, but they lack the will to do so. Unfortunately, it's become a rather recent trend to expect this, particularly from LucasArts. :rolleyes:
Yet once again, you have my sincerest regards, LA. :disaprove
This is exactly what i was waiting for when they LA announced the whole Steam thing.
i cant *wait* to play Dark forces! I found a 3 level "super sampler" disc at a recycle shop, and i really want to play the rest.
... the game has no music??
Is anyone else having these problems? I was considering buying this since I never played Dark Forces 1 or 2 and haven't gone through JKII:JO in years, but I'm not going to get them if they're buggy.
I don't know about the Steam versions, but IIRC the CD versions of JK and MotS both worked pretty well on my XP64 system. At least I don't remember it crashing a lot, although I think the menu was a bit buggy. Nothing unplayable though.
i actually still have my retail version of JA with lightsaber keychain...LoL
WANT, or DO NOT WANT, that is the question.
The Steam forums are also a beehive; apparently everyone has these problems.
And for those wanting a better DF1 experience, see here.
Edit: Commemerative Invasion of Poland Post.
whenever i played we didnt use force powers outside of push and saber throw
I can't take it anymore; JK1 is so incomplete without the music, not even when taking in mind the dozen other compatibility issues. For $5, I've received an incomplete, broken 12-year-old game. What's even worse, is that the original discs included not only the elements in question, but they also didn't force you into a restrictive DRM scheme, so you could install the game on any system, rather than one with an internet connection.
What's really irks me is the fact that this is a 12-year-old game; LucasArts had plenty of time to understand and resolve the hundreds of compatibility issues that plague the game. I also blame Valve for not enforcing higher quality standards in their releases; if they had set stricter compatibility and quality standards, much like with GOG.com, then there would've been a great fewer number of problems. GOG.com also don't force you to install any draconian DRM system, and it also provides you with a bounty of extras, including game soundtracks, artwork, or wallpapers. So, if you want but an older game, always check GOG.com first; you'll be getting a much better product in the long run.
If you're as agitated as I am with JK1, then ask Valve for a refund. Send LucasArts a message: If you don't give us a complete, functional copy of a game, then you won't receive our money for it. Don't create a petition or vow to not buy any LucasArts game again, becuase you will eventually. All of the other games in the JK Collection bundle run absolutely perfectly on my computer, and I love those games dearly, but JK1 is a total waste of money. Hell, if you're that desperate to play JK1, then just go and pirate it; at least you'll be getting the full, original game at very little monetary expense.
I can't agree that Steam is "draconian" DRM, I think it's reasonable to expect everyone to have a computer with an Internet connection, but I'll give you the rest. It does seem like a rather rushed job and it is too bad Valve accepted it the way it is.
Can something be done about adding the music back in? Not that I care enough or know how to do that, but I'd add some files if someone else figured it out.
While that seems fairly easy for LA to accomplish, it's essentially impossible for any fan-made project, unless if you want to reverse engineer and rewrite the whole SITH Engine. Again, that's why I'd still say that simply "finding" the isos would be dramatically easier, as that is really the only path to get the complete game, in its entirety.
I highly dislike digital downloads.....they could release the collection in disc form....please?
Thanks for briefing the problems PastramiX, I'll probably buy the pack anyway despite the issues...
Music or not, It'll be great to re-experience some JK moments =)
Well ... here is what I've seen with the Steam versions:
- JKII / JA work great
- Jedi Knight - cutscenes are in small-window then flashes back to full-screen. Full save crashes, quick-save is fine. T for Talk doesn't seem to work.
- Dark Forces - controls are a sort of hybrid of old & new with no apparent way to change.
Overall ... meh. Dark Forces is solid, but I had just removed the CD install of JK from my netbook since I had gotten this ... and now regret it!
You have to use dosbox to rebind controls. Their forum have a short tut for it.
Thanks for the link ... I had trolled around the Steam forums after my post and saw some similar things.
JK / MotS are the really big disappointments to me.
Glad I still have my old disks!
Highest exaltations to Kukulkan; brave hackers made the ultimate sacrifice by fashioning a ddraw wrapper to force 3D acceleration.
Drink the anti-aliased elixir from this most holy font, my friends! :bow:
Cool, it's good to see the steam releases have garnered some interest and especially some fixes for the problems plaguing JK1 on newer systems. Too bad Lucasarts didn't feel they could have helped us out, but this is just as good.
Well cool, I'll finally be able to play DF again. Some buttwipe stole my original CD of it years ago... and I haven't gotten one since. Ebay burned me when I tried. >:v[
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The good news is that the man placed in isolation at New York City's Mount Sinai Medical Center does not have Ebola, and that the two Americans, Dr. Kent Brantly, 33, and aid worker Nancy Writebol are improving at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta where they are being treated with a new experimental drug after becoming sick while tending Ebola patients abroad.
The bad news is that the epidemic is continuing to spread at alarming rates thoughout western African nations, where the World Health Organization has reported 163 new cases of Ebola virus disease and 61 deaths in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone between July 31 and August 1, 2014, with Liberia reporting n increase in cases for the 3rd straight week, now at 108.Sierra Leone also reported a sudden increase from last week (89), although the numbers are dropping in Guinea (down to 18). This brings the global total to 1,603 cases (including 887 deaths) since February 2014.
Due to the positive results seen in Brantly and Writebol, the Nigerian government has petitioned the CDC for the new drug cocktail, although President Obama announced yesterday that he needs more information about it before he would "advocate" additional use.
In the meantime, the CDC has issued guidelines for specific Ebola testing of individuals within 21 days of visiting affected counties according to risk level of exposure: High risk exposure (specific known exposure to infected fluids or human remains);Any fever;No fever but symptoms AND abnormal blood findings (platelets < 150,000 and/or elevated transaminases);Low risk exposure (health care workers or household members without specific direct contact with infected fluids); Fever AND abnormal blood findings; Travel to an affected area but no specific exposure;Fever AND symptoms AND abnormal blood findings AND no other apparent cause (consider testing only).
Patients with known or suspected Ebola infections should be kept isolated from others with strict infection control procedures in place.
Note: As of July 31st, the. CDC recommends avoiding all nonessential travel to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak, and noted that civil unrest in many affected areas is causing foreigners to be targeted.

subset: commoncrawl


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Norwich, England
Whether it's interning in London, studying in Spain or doing research in Germany, most Hobart and William Smith students will have had some kind of international learning experience before they graduate.
Students are strongly encouraged to further explore the culture, history, art, language, and people of a particular nation by participating in a semester abroad. The vast number of off-campus opportunities apropos of the program include Denmark, England, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, and Switzerland.
Aix-en-Provence/Avignon, France
Aix is a university town with a large student population and is a major cultural center of the Provence region. In addition, it is a major art and cultural site, with concerts, festivals, museums and a lively café life for students to explore and enjoy. Although it has ancient roots, today Aix is a modern town with a diverse population. Provence, one of the most celebrated regions in France, is renowned for its Mediterranean cuisine, its mild climate and its natural beauty that inspired painters like Cezanne and Van Gogh.
Bath, England
Hobart and William Smith Colleges maintain an affiliation with Advanced Studies in England (ASE). ASE, in association with University College, Oxford, provides opportunities for students to participate in a semester-length program in England. This program is based in the beautiful 18th century city of Bath, where students are integrated into British culture through living in the city, having membership in the University of Bath Student Union, and through volunteer and internship opportunities.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Hobart and William Smith Colleges have affiliated with the Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS) to offer an off-campus program in Copenhagen, capital of the oldest kingdom in the world and one of the most socially progressive countries in Europe. At DIS students can take classes (over 130 courses are offered) taught in English by an outstanding group of faculty and can participate in study tours to other European countries (Russia, Germany, the Czech Republic, and other parts of Northern Europe and Scandinavia).
Galway, Ireland
Hobart and William Smith Colleges maintain an affiliation with the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) to provide students with the opportunity to live and study among Irish students at an Irish university.
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland is home to a multitude of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, including a variety of UN-affiliated entities and the International Red Cross. The Geneva program focuses on issues associated with globalization as well as the work of international organizations based in the city.
London, England
The program in London is one of the oldest international programs sponsored by the Colleges. It is offered in collaboration with The Foundation for International Education (FIE), our on-site partner, and is designed to provide students with a variety of academic and cultural experiences in one of the world's leading cities. The centerpiece of this program is an internship with a local business, agency or organization.
Maastricht, Netherlands
Hobart and William Smith Colleges has an affiliation with the University College Maastricht (UCM) in Maastricht. UCM is a small, international undergraduate division within the larger Universiteit Maastricht (UM), which boasts a student population of 12,000. Founded in 2002 as one of the first liberal arts honors programs in the Netherlands, the UCM program offers highly qualified HWS students the opportunity to study for one semester (in English) alongside Dutch and international classmates in a rigorous, highly interactive learning environment.
Madrid, Spain
As part of the Spain program, students will study in Spain's largest city and political center. Participants will enroll in four courses, all of which are taught in Spanish. The curriculum is con-structed to help students strengthen their linguistic skills while studying Spanish literature and culture. While attending classes in Madrid, students will live with a local family to fully immerse themselves in Spain's rich culture.
Norwich, England
Hobart and William Smith Colleges has an affiliation with the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich, England. UEA has a student population of 13,000, with Norwich street approximately 2,000 international students drawn from 100 nations around the world. The university is ranked among Britain's finest academic institutions. HWS students have the opportunity to study at UEA, taking classes and living alongside their British and international classmates, for a full cultural immersion experience.
Rome, Italy
The interdisciplinary Rome program utilizes the entire city as a classroom or studio. While the program is designed to immerse students fully in the experience of being in Rome, excursions will provide students a wider perspective on the history, culture and daily life of Italy as a whole. Students will live in furnished flats to provide an opportunity to practice Italian language skills and experience Roman daily life. Students are affiliated with the Scuola Leonardo da Vinci (SLdV), one of the leading language and culture schools in Italy.
Tuebingen, Germany
Hobart and William Smith Colleges maintain an exchange program with the University of Tuebingen. Its diverse faculty offer specializations in the fields of Protestant theology, Catholic theology, law, economics and business administration, medicine, philosophy and history, social and behavioral sciences, modern languages, mathematics and physics, chemistry and pharmacy, biology, geosciences and informatics, all of which are taught in German.
At HWS, students have the freedom to study at any of our Global Education destinations.
The featured abroad programs are recommended by the European Studies department based on content of the curricula.
- Aix-en-Provence/Avignon, France
- Bath, England
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Galway, Ireland
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Maastricht, Netherlands
- Madrid, Spain
- Norwich, England
- Rome, Italy
- Tuebingen, Germany


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On Monday, May 26, via press release from the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), the group announced that Indy 500 veteran Scott Goodyear will join the field of 24 other former Indy 500 racers and winners in the "Legends" Pro-Am at International Motor Speedway (IMS) on June 8. The Pro-Am is part of SVRA's Brickyard Invitational historic and vintage motor racing event, the first one ever at IMS.
SVRA expects over 700 cars spanning 100 years of motor sport history to be not only on the grounds of IMS, but also racing in action. Both the traditional oval and the road circuit will be utilized throughout the three-day weekend of racing.
According to the press release, Scott Goodyear is perhaps best known for narrowly missing victory in the Indianapolis 500 no fewer than three times – in 1992, '95 and '97. He finished second in 1992 to Al Unser Jr. in what remains the closest finish in the 98 editions of the famous race (the second closest finish being the 2014 contest, just concluded on Sunday, May 25). After starting last, Goodyear charged through the field to narrowly miss the win by 43 thousandths of a second.
In 1997, Goodyear scored an additional second-place in another of Indy's closest finishes when, in the closing stages of the race, the green flag was waved even though the yellow light continued to burn during a re-start. Goodyear finished behind teammate Arie Luyendyk.
Controversy stalked Goodyear again when he was penalized for passing a slow pace car in a disputed officiating call during the closing stages of the 1995 Indianapolis 500. This time he finished ahead of race winner Jacques Villeneuve on the track but officials had stopped counting his laps.
In all, Goodyear competed in 11 Indianapolis 500 races.
In addition to Goodyear, 2006 Indianapolis 500 starter P.J. Chesson will race in the Pro-Am. Cutting his teeth at age 12 in go-karts he quickly proved his potential and graduated to sprint cars in 1998. A talented sprint car driver with a World of Outlaws background, Chesson scored three feature wins and 28 top ten finishes in the span of two seasons with that series.
He also won the South Pacific Sprint Car Championship in 2004 in Australia. A force in the Indy Lights series, Chesson won three races in 2004 and finished fourth in points despite not completing the entire season. One of the more colorful characters in racing, Chesson is remembered for acquiring a tattoo of the event logo of the Indianapolis 500 after qualifying for the race in 2006.
Goodyear joins his old rival and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, Al Unser Jr., in the Pro-Am contest that now has 26 entries total. Other entries include 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Lazier as well as former Indianapolis 500 Rookies-of-the-Year Lyn St. James and Robby McGehee and other top names Willy T. Ribbs, Mark Dismore, Alex Lloyd, Johnny Parsons Jr., Davey Hamilton, Robby Unser, Pete Halsmer, Rocky Moran, Eliseo Salazar, Dick Simon, Scott Harrington, Jack Miller, Rick Treadway, Spike Gehlhausen, Billy Roe, Tom Bagley, John Martin and John Hollansworth.
Lazier's father and brother - Bob and Jaques - will also race, marking the first time the family has competed together at IMS.
Parnelli Jones, who won the 1963 Indianapolis 500, will pace the field as part of his duties as Brickyard Invitational Grand Marshal. Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Unser will lead a Brickyard Invitational high-speed oval experience.
The cars for the Pro-Am will be 1963 to 1972 vintage Corvettes, Camaros and Mustangs of SVRA's "Group 6," with an engine displacement limit of 355 cubic inches. The Indianapolis 500 veterans will be paired with amateur drivers, each taking a 20-minute stint. Five minutes will be allotted for change of drivers.
SVRA's inaugural Brickyard Invitational takes place at Indianapolis Motor Speedway June 6-8. Tickets and camping are available.
Suggested Links
- Historics: SVRA posts 2014 Road America Spring Vintage Festival results
- Historics: Indy 500 veterans Pro-Am grid full for SVRA Brickyard Invitational
- Historics: Brian Redman to drive Porsche 917 at 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed
- Historics: A. J. Watson tribute part of Indy, SVRA Brickyard Invitational
- Historics: Goodwood releases statement on Sir Jack Brabham passing


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From Rubinstein's Simulation Monte Carlo Method, assume r.v. $X$ has density function $f$, $H$ is a measurable function, and $g$ is another density function. If $g$ dominates $Hf$ in the sense that $g(x) =0$ implies $H(x) f(x) =0$, then $$ E_{X \sim f} H(X) = \int H(x) f(x) dx = \int \frac{H(x) f(x)}{g(x)} g(x) dx = E_{Y \sim g} \frac{H(Y) f(Y)}{g(Y)} $$
I was wondering why $g$ is required to dominate $Hf$? For example, under that condition, $\frac{H(x) f(x)}{g(x)}$ will never be $\frac{a}{0}$ with $a \neq 0$, which is $+\infty$ or $-\infty$, but may be $\frac{0}{0}$, which I think is undefined even for integrand in Lebesgue integral? How does that affect the above equation for importance sampling?
Does a different condition "$g$ being non-zero a.s." suffice for importance sampling? Why not $g$ being non-zero a.s. but $g$ dominating $Hf$? Also see the comments after Stefan Hansen's reply.
Thanks and regards!


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Cardinal CC team opts for Connell
For access to this article please sign in or subscribe.
Smoky conditions forced cancellation of last Saturday's Seaport Classic cross country race in Clarkston, Wash. and Medical Lake was left without a race to run.
This week, with the Wenatchee Invite in question due to similar problems with wildfires, Cardinals' head coach Gene Blankenship is making alternate plans.
"I emailed Wenatchee Tuesday and haven't heard back," Blankenship said. "I can't see how the air quality will be okay by Saturday, so we've signed up for the Connell Invite."
Eagles take 3-game win streak into Big Sky soccer play


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Motorcyclist dies in collision with trash truck
THURMONT, Md. - A motorcyclist is dead after colliding with a trash truck early Monday morning.
Maryland State Police said the crash happened just after 5 a.m. in Frederick County on Route 15 at the intersection with North Franklinville Road.
According to state police, the trash truck pulled across Route 15 on North Franklinville Road when the motorcycle, driven by James Boehner of Pennsylvania, hit the back of the truck. He died at the scene.
The driver of the trash truck told police he didn't see the motorcycle when he pulled across Route 15.
Speed and alcohol don't appear to be factors in the crash, police said.


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In each episode, Max takes viewers behind-the-scenes of each business or innovative project, offering fans an all-access view at these creative ventures and the famous faces behind them. As with the first six episodes, viewers will witness how these celebrities are acting disruptive and leveraging their star power in an effort to better the world through their innovative businesses.
Look out for two more episodes being released this December.
Today on @aolon: Watch @MaxLugavere discuss Hollywood passion projects in 4 new episodes of #ActingDisruptive http://t.co/PJUvPyNGIn- AOL PR (@AOLPR) November 19, 2013


text: Johannesburg - The Springbok rugby team's flight to Australia was forced to return shortly after departing from Johannesburg on Friday night due to engine failure."The Qantas flight on which the team was travelling was forced to return to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg less than two hours after take-off," the SA Rugby Union said in a statement.Saru said the third engine on the Boeing 747 overheated, but it returned and landed safely in Johannesburg. The team would remain in Johannesburg overnight.SARU says the plane returned safely to Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, landing less than two hours after its departure."There was a loud bang and a bump and the captain told us we would be unable to continue our journey to Australia as engine No. 3 had failed," team spokesman Andy Colquhoun said. "So we dumped fuel and returned to Johannesburg. Everyone is fine."Colquhoun added that the 28-man squad would stay overnight in Johannesburg and was waiting for advice from Qantas on when they would be able to travel to Australia.Several Springboks and Springbok staff members reported the incident on the social network Twitter.Alistair Hargreaves - "@Al_Hargreaves: So Quantas have to send another aircraft which means 1 more night in jhb. @GaryGoldrugbyiq reckons he checked flames coming out the engine!""@Al_Hargreaves: "The Springboks have just landed... In joburg. One of the engines failed and we had to turn around. Beautiful start to the trip! #hack"John Smit - "@JohnSmit123: Wow,just had to do an emergency landing at OR Tambo,we lost an engine after take off but safely landed now!My second safe emergency landing!"Ashley Johnson - @ashj1605: Back in joburg!! Our nr3 enjin exploded with a big bang!!!Gary Gold - "@GaryGoldrugbyiq: Wish I never watched #carteblanche on the #quantas 380 incident! Our engine just blew on take off and we just returned to Jhb, not much fun!"Sports journalist Brendan Nel, speaking to rugby writer JJ Harmse had the following to say - "@BrendenNel: Just spoke to jj harmse who was on the plane. Says it wasn't that bad, they were on a 747 and not an A380...""@BrendenNel: Jj reckons it felt "like a speed bump" not too bad and they only knew when it was announced over the intercom."South Africa is scheduled to kick off the Tri-Nations against Australia in Sydney next Saturday July 23.The Springboks play Australia in their opening match of the Tri-Nations in Sydney next weekend, before they travel to Wellington for the second and final match of their away leg against New Zealand.


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2014 Football Recruiting Reviews Announced
Jan. 17, 2014
Red Raider fans in Dallas, Austin, Midland and Houston will have the opportunity to learn about the 2014 football signing class by hearing from head coach Kliff Kingsbury as part of the Red Raider Club Recruiting Review.
The Recruiting Reviews provide fans a unique chance to gain insight not only from Coach Kingsbury, but the entire coaching staff, on the new signing class, upcoming spring practice and the 2014 football season.
"Our coaches and staff are looking forward to spending time with Red Raider fans all across the state and providing them with an inside look at this year's signing class," Kingsbury said. "These are exciting times on our campus and we are grateful for the support of our fans and for the Red Raider Club."
The Red Raider Club has added a Hill Country Recruiting Review this year, building off of the remarkable success of the San Antonio Tailgate Tour in 2013. This annual Recruiting Review will alternate between San Antonio and Austin, giving Hill Country Red Raiders a chance to see Coach Kingsbury and his staff every year. Future plans call for the Recruiting Reviews to expand into Amarillo and Abilene as well, giving more and more fans the opportunity to participate.
"Annually, these events allow Red Raiders to gather and celebrate the next generation of Red Raider football players," Associate AD/Red Raider Club, Amy Heard said. "Plus fans get to hear directly from our coordinators and head coach. These events also serve as a reminder about the importance of investing in our student-athletes by contributing to the Red Raider Club. The generosity of our membership ultimately leads to our students' success on and off the field of competition."
The tour kicks off on Thursday, Feb. 6, for an evening dinner in Dallas at the Hyatt Regency (300 Reunion Blvd.) that begins at 6:30 p.m. Coach Kingsbury and his staff then make their first Recruiting Review visit to Austin on Friday, Feb. 7. The dinner even in Austin will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel (9721 Arboretum Blvd).
The group continues on to Midland on Monday, Feb. 10 with a dinner, which begins at 6:30 p.m., at the Horseshoe Facility (2514 Arena Tr.) The tour concludes in Houston on Tuesday, Feb. 11, with a dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency (1200 Louisiana St).
Recruiting Review Ticket Information
Dallas Recruiting Review (6:30 p.m.); Thursday, Feb. 6 - Hyatt Regency Dallas
Hill Country Recruiting Review (6:30 p.m.); Friday, Feb. 7 - Renaissance Austin
Midland Recruiting Review (6:30 p.m.); Monday, Feb. 10 - Horseshoe Facility
Houston Recruiting Review (6:30 p.m.); Tuesday, Feb. 11 - Hyatt Regency Houston
Tickets for all four of the 2014 Texas Tech Football Recruiting Reviews can be purchased through the Red Raider Club online, by emailing email@example.com or by phone at (806) 742-1196.


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State Agencies |
Online Services
Find more...
Optional five-year forecast revision period open
The EMIS optional five-year forecast update period will be open through March 31, 2014. During this time districts have the opportunity to update and re-submit their October FY14 forecast information if necessary. Submitters should note that both portions of the forecast, the QF and the QN, must be submitted each time a correction or update is made in EMIS. Questions about the five-year forecast process may be directed to email@example.com.
Home school authorization required
The most recent budget bill (Am. Sub. H.B 59) amended Revised Code section 3365 to allow home-schooled students to participate in the postsecondary enrollment options (PSEO) program and authorized $250,000 in fiscal year 2015 for this purpose.
Please be aware that the PSEO application process for home-schooled students will require the parent or guardian to provide a copy of the authorization letter pursuant to OAC 3301-34-03(C)(1) that excuses the applicant from compulsory education. It is anticipated that applications for home school students wishing to participate in PSEO in the following school year will be accepted between May 15 and June 15.
More information about PSEO for home-schooled students will be communicated and posted to the ODE webpage as it becomes available.
Take action on missed days
A number of districts have already experienced a high number of weather-related closings. There are two things that a school district can do this school year to address days missed due to bad weather.
First, the school district can apply to the Ohio Department of Education for a waiver of the length of the school district's calendar when hazardous weather conditions results in closing schools. However, the district still must provide 175 days of instruction.
Second, a school district has the option to make up three calamity days via online instruction or blizzard bags which make lessons and homework available at home. The department will still accept plans for 2013-2014 school year.
Transportation: T-1 reports must be completed by Jan. 31
Some districts are amending their T-1 report for FY-14. As a reminder, the report must be completed by Jan. 31, 2014. This includes the signature and submission process. Please make sure that the final step of submitting the report, is completed by the deadline. Reports that are signed but not submitted may not be approved in a timely manner and will delay any payments that might be forthcoming for the districts. Any district having questions or concerns, should contact the pupil transportation office at email@example.com.


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CHICAGO – The Young Adult Library Services Association's (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is making Young Adults Deserve the Best instructional kits available for purchase through the ALA Store.
"The Whole School Library Handbook 2"
"Being Indispensable: A School Librarian's Guide to Becoming an Invaluable Leader"
"Complete Copyright for K–12 Librarians and Educators"
CHICAGO — A new edition of an ALA bestseller, "The Whole School Library Handbook 2," published by ALA Editions, remains an indispensable all-in-one resource for everything related to the school library media center. Edited by Blanche Woolls and David V.
CHICAGO – As part of the association's commitment to scholarly publishing and open access, the full archive of the Association of College and Research Libraries' (ACRL) official scholarly research journal College & Research Libraries (C&RL) is now freely available online. The online C&RL archive now contains the complete contents of the journal from its beginnings in 1939 through the current issue.
"Web Analytics Strategies for Information Professionals: A LITA Guide"
"Using Web Analytics in the Library"
"The Transformed Library: E-books, Expertise, and Evolution"
CHICAGO — Whether gathering information for a department report or planning a website redesign, easy access to meaningful, actionable data is critical. In "Web Analytics Strategies for Information Professionals: A LITA Guide," published by ALA TechSource, Tabatha Farney and Nina McHale address the distinctive needs of libraries' educational mission with specific advice on how to use web analytics in a library setting.
CHICAGO — American Libraries Live, a free, streaming video broadcast that you can view from your home, library or on-the-go, returns 2 - 3 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, April 18 with a new episode.
"The Work/Life Balance Planner: Resetting Your Goals"
Huron Street Press
Huron Street Press furthers ALA's mission to the public
CHICAGO — Offering a fresh strategy for reexamining life and work goals, "The Work/Life Balance Planner: Resetting Your Goals" addresses numerous practical concerns, such as housing, moving, education, career choices, family and emotional support. Written by Ann Kepler, this workbook and planner is adaptable to almost any lifestyle change and allows readers to work at their own pace, gather facts and define their goals.
"Evaluating the Impact of Your Library, Second Edition"
"Assessing Service Quality: Satisfying the Expectations of Library Customers, Second Edition"
"The Quality Library: A Guide to Self-Improvement, Better Efficiency, and Happier Customers"
CHICAGO — Assessing impact is increasingly critical to the survival of services: managers now require comprehensive information about effectiveness, especially in relation to users.
CHICAGO – The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) is currently accepting applications, and nominations are invited, for the positions of editor of RBM, a biannual research journal covering issues pertaining to special collections libraries and cultural heritage institutions, and of Publications in Librarianship (PIL), an imprint of
CHICAGO — Since its original publication more than two decades ago, "Staff Development: A Practical Guide" from the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA) has remained a respected handbook for supporting one of libraries' most important assets: their human resources.
CHICAGO - "I'm a novelist with a day job making YouTube videos. I used to be a novelist with a day job being an editorial assistant and then a production editor at Booklist Magazine," says John Green in his Hostile Questions interview with Booklist Books for Youth Senior Editor Dan Kraus.
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Hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs bid $200 million for Fuse TV Network, a cable company owned by Madison Square Garden Co. according to Bloomberg.
If Diddy does acquire Fuse TV, he intends to fuse it with his newly-acquired Revolt TV. Revolt TV reaches an audience of about 22.8 million while Fuse TV reaches an audience of about 74 million
Combs already has his own clothing line Sean John, founded vodka brand Ciroc and founded Bad Boy Entertainment. He is one of the richest rappers and continues to expand his empire.
Music channel Revolt TV plays music videos, live performances and interviews. By acquiring Fuse TV, Diddy would increase his audience and thus have higher subscriber fees.
However, acquiring Fuse TV won't be easy. There are said to be other bidders besides Diddy. Also, the Dolan family is said to be asking for about $400.
Michael Senno, an analyst for Credit Suisse, predicted in September 2013 that Fuse TV would receive bids between $200-$250 million.
The process is still on-going and nothing has been decided. If Diddy does acquire Fuse TV, he may be closer to becoming the first billionaire rapper.
Jay Z has made strides to inch closer to becoming a billionaire but he doesn't have the influence that Diddy has. Diddy will most likely become the first billionaire rapper, even though he might have to wait a while before that actually happens.


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Issue #70 (April 1, 1999)
Issue #70 (April 1, 1999)
Happy (Belated) Anniversary:
A month ago, this column celebrated its third anniversary, but I didn't realize it until a couple of days ago. I know that this column has meant different things to different people over that time period, and that some of you have read it since the start while others of you are far more recent readers of Laurie's News & Views. I've never been particularly fond of that name, it was not of my choosing, but at this point I wouldn't want to change it because of that name recognition thing. I hear from readers who, upon discovering the column, set about to read all the back issues. To those of you who have done so, my hat is off to you, especially those of you who have printed out those prior columns. I feel badly for the trees, but if reading the column has helped to create a feeling of community and allowed you to enjoy romance reading and perhaps think about romance novels in new ways, I'm gratified. Thank you all for your support. I'll continue writing this column until it no longer serves a purpose; I'm sure you all will let me know when that happens.
Kissing Cousins:
In the last edition of this column, I brought up the idea of the "cabin" romance. I've been reading a tremendous number of series romances these days (for some reason I'm eating them like they were candies), and the ones I've gravitated toward are Cabin Romances. First I read the re-issue of Elizabeth Lowell's Warrior. Most of this book takes place in an isolated cabin inhabited by the heroine after she rescues the hero from injury and freezing after he falls from his horse and is trapped by debris. Their relationship in this isolated mountain setting is filled with conflict and tension, but the prose was so over-the-top that the book was ultimately unsatisfying.
Then I moved on to Society Bride by Elizabeth Bevarly, which I mentioned in the last issue of LN&V. While the hero's skepticism about women seemed unrealistic to me, his isolation with the heroine for virtually the entire read grabbed me from the start.
This past weekend Half-Priced Books, a Dallas-based chain of used bookstores, sent out a signal to me and I was impelled to make an extensive visit. I walked out of the bookstore an hour later with fourteen books for fifteen dollars and considered the money very well spent. The very first book I chose to read was The Three Musketeers: Surrender the Dark by Donna Kauffman. It was terrific. Look for this book; you won't be able to find it as Amazon, but as of today, Hard To Find Books has at least one copy. It's the first in a trilogy and I've already ordered books two and three from HTFB, as well as two other books based on Donna's comments below. Considering that the first book I read by Donna was just a drop above average, this says a lot about how Surrender the Dark affected me.
What is it about the Cabin Romance that has me so captivated? I think I first became aware of this type of romance when I read Julie Garwood's One White Rose in 1997, although I didn't have a name for it yet. I just knew I liked reading a romance wherein the hero and heroine are alone together for most of the book in isolation. It wasn't until I read that Elizabeth Bevarly that I realized it was a Cabin Romance, and perhaps a kissing cousin to the Road Romance (an original Special Title Listing here at AAR and now found as a sub-list for American/Western, English, Contemporary, Regency, and Medieval romances).
Romance readers have long enjoyed the Road Romance, where a significant portion (or perhaps all) of the story takes place en route from one locale to another. The hero and heroine are often isolated and have to work out their issues in the face of danger along their journey. Oddly enough, the Cabin Romance is kissing cousin to the Road Romance, and I feel safe in saying this because author Barbara Samuels (aka Ruth Wind) agrees with me! The hero and heroine are isolated, often by injury, the elements, or danger from villainous characters and have to come to grips with each other and their problems in a cabin or house (or boat)- usually in the wilderness. As an added benefit, the Cabin Romance may be the ultimate romance for those readers who don't like separations between the hero and heroine. As Barbara Samuels said, "It's one of my favorite scenarios. I like it because it forces the hero and heroine to be the only ones on the page for the most part. Makes for a lot of intensity and sexual tension." I couldn't agree more.
While there are many of us out there who enjoy this type of book, it doesn't have universal appeal, although what does? Reader Kitty said that she finds Cabin Romances boring. She added, "I can sort of see a similarity to 'on the road' books but also see a huge difference as well. In your typical Road Romance, a lot of the fun is reading the interaction between the main characters and everyone they meet along the way. In a Cabin Romance, that interaction with others is missing and I tend to get bored when there is only the hero and heroine."
While I enjoy romances with strong secondary characters as well, there's something about a gripping and dramatic romance between a man and a woman who are fighting their attraction to one another and perhaps fending off danger to boot. Perhaps the shorter length of the series romance is the perfect venue for this type of story, although there are full-length romances that include Cabin Romances as a part of the book. Can two people alone in the wilderness or a boat sustain a full-length read? Hmmm.
A Terrific Cabin Romance:
In Donna Kauffman's The Three Musketeers: Surrender the Dark, the hero and heroine were by themselves in a small mountain home for 95% of the book. The internal and external conflicts to be worked out created an immense sexual tension that was utterly gripping. I asked Donna to talk about the Cabin Romance. This is what she had to say:
Okay. I admit it. The thought of being stranded with a sexy, strong-willed man in a cabin for a day or two. . . or six. . . nights included, naturally. . . has crossed my mind. Once or twice. It's like the stranded island romance only better. . . especially when it comes complete with a fireplace and a bear skin rug. Or even better, a big brass bed.
Perhaps this is why I've always been a sucker for that kind of plot line in the romances I read. I can definitely say that particular fantasy factored in to some of the romances I've written. I've used more than one "plot device" in stranding my soon-to-be-lovers, from the "need a place to hide" scenario, to the tried and true "trapped in bad weather by accident" storyline. But I'm never satisfied with leaving it at that. It's the way a writer twists the premise that really fascinates me.
Example. In my Loveswept Wild Rain, the hero and heroine are trapped in her home by an oncoming hurricane. But, never one to settle, I took that one step further and trapped them in a closet. . . under a mattress. . . for a goodly part of the book. The "hideaway" premise holds even more allure for me. I like to put my characters in difficult situations, give them a direct conflict, then force them to deal with it. . . when all they want to do is hide. Especially from each other. In the book mentioned by Laurie above, Surrender the Dark, I use another familiar plot device, that of wounding the hero so he must seek shelter. Yet, again, that wasn't enough for me. . . so I set it up so that the only available place for him to hide was the mountain home of our heroine. A woman who had good reason to hate him. He'd almost had her killed. Difficult situations, indeed. Yes, those are the stories that get my blood pumping. In yet another Loveswept, Dark Knight, I did a twist on the "trapped in bad weather" scenario. Our hero is using a remote mountain cabin as a base of operations and is snowed in. Our heroine, a highly trained agent who doesn't let a little snow stop her, must keep our hero in this cabin and out of the way of the rest of her team for a week. Any way she can. She uses a variety of methods. I think I enjoyed the handcuffs and chains best. I know he enjoyed getting out of them. Like Surrender the Dark, this book largely takes place inside that small cabin.
Tight spaces. Trapped. Together. Why does that scenario push the hot buttons of so many readers and writers? Speaking for myself, I think it's because by putting your hero and heroine in such a difficult spot, with seemingly no way out. . . then tossing in a conflict that they cannot ignore, and cannot avoid, forces them to confront each other right off. . . and often. The focus of the story is thereby completely on the two of them - no distractions, no side trips. And did I mention tension? In this situation, you cannot avoid the kind of tension that is high-wire taut right from the get go. And when you have two combatives. . . who also happen to discover they are wildly, if irritatingly aroused by each other. . . well, screaming sexual tension never hurt a story either.
Well shoot, all this talk about screaming sexual tension in tight little spaces is making my fingers itch to tell another one. Which brings me to the final guilty pleasure of this kind of romance. . . dreaming up new ways to tell the next one!
Donna's next book, The Legend MacKinnon (which we awarded Desert Isle Keeper status on May 17, 1999), features its own "cabin" segment. One of the three heroines, it seems, heads off to a remove Smokey Mountain cabin she inherited to escape a violent ex-boyfriend. Only, the cabin isn't as deserted as she had thought. According do Donna, "She opens to door to a towering Scot wearing a kilt, and little else. He claims he owns the cabin - in fact, he claims he's personally owned it for the past 300 years. It's the middle of the night and her junker car has died. With nowhere else to turn, she must find a way to deal with him. Whoever. . . or whatever. . . he is. When he finds out she is the last living ancestor of the clan that wiped his out three centuries before, things get a little dicey."
More on the Cabin Romance:
I hope that if you haven't identified any romances you've read as Cabin Romances, you are at least intrigued by the idea, but if you're like Kitty, I'll want to hear from you when it's time to post to the message board! It's exciting to try to define a kind of romance that perhaps hasn't been defined before, but frustrating too, and here's why. Anne Stuart's A Rose at Midnight is one of my favorites. When I started to think this past couple of weeks about Cabin Romances and Road Romances, this was the book that had me thinking the two are kissing cousins. The hero and heroine in this book travel by land and sea throughout England, to Italy, then France, and then back to England (or is it Scotland?) Part of the book, a most intense part, is spent at an isolated "cabin," if you will, in the countryside. It's not a long part, but a significant part. So, is this book a Road Romance? Is it a Cabin Romance? Is it both? To be either, does some percentage of the book have to take place in a cabin/home/hut/desert isle? To be a Road Romance, how much of the book should the journey signify?
This becomes important because, as AAR Reviewer/Reviews Editor Marianne Stillings pointed out in a recent review, "the abandoned estate cottage is such a worn device. There must be conveniently abandoned cottages every ten feet in England, just filled to bursting with lords and ladies having impromptu trysts. I'm surprised they all don't bump into each other on the way out."
In order to present a well-rounded viewpoint of the Cabin Romance, I asked members of AAR's listserv (fka the Prodigy Romance Listserv) to share their favorites. Of course, they went beyond the Cabin Romance and got into Lighthouse Romances (some of their favorite Lighthouse Romances are:
But I digress. . .
What I'd like to do now is list the recommended Cabin Romances (although I'm not going to re-write the titles addressed above) and then open the list up for agreement/disagreement/additions/corrections. I'd like to be able to turn this list into a new list for the Special Title Listings, either as a sub-section, or mixed in with Road Romances. Although, if many of you agree with Kitty's assessment, the latter would obviously not be a good idea. Keep in mind these key questions when assessing these books: should most of the book take place in the "cabin" or is a crucial segment enough to be part of our final description? For readers like Mary Lynne, such a book "has the h/h in utter isolation for a majority of the story." Other readers are less stringent, and would include Anne Stuart's A Rose at Midnight or Merline Lovelace's Tiger's Bride which feature crucial parts of the book as part of a larger Road Romance. And, do some of these belong instead on a Road Romance list?
What I'd like to do now is list the recommended Cabin Romances (although I'm not going to re-write the titles addressed above) and then open the list up for agreement/disagreement/additions/corrections. I'd like to be able to turn this list into a new list for the Special Title Listings, either as a sub-section, or mixed in with Road Romances. Although, if many of you agree with Kitty's assessment, the latter would obviously not be a good idea. Keep in mind these key questions when assessing these books: should most of the book take place in the "cabin" or is a crucial segment enough to be part of our final description? For readers like Mary Lynne, such a book "has the h/h in utter isolation for a majority of the story." Other readers are less stringent, and would include Anne Stuart's A Rose at Midnight or Merline Lovelace's Tiger's Bride which feature crucial parts of the book as part of a larger Road Romance. And, do some of these belong instead on a Road Romance list?
|Light of Day
|Ruth Wind
|Jezebel's Blues
|Ruth Wind
|recommended by Susan Kay Law
|Breaking the Rules
|Ruth Wind
|Her Ideal Man
|Ruth Wind
|Christmas Forever
|Ruth Wind
|motel room/on the run combo
|Ruth Wind
|Spies, Lies & Lovers
|Sally Tyler Hayes
|cabin/on the run combo recommended by Ruth Wind
|Absolute Trouble
|Michelle Jerott
|Santa Reads Romance
|Dara Joy
|from anthology Night Before Christmas
|Dark & Stormy Night
|Anne Stuart
|One Christmas Knight
|Kathleen Creighton
|marooned in a big rig
|Lilac Awakening
|Barbara Delinsky
|Montana Man
|Barbara Delinsky
|The Real Thing
|Barbara Delinsky
|Twelve Across
|Barbara Delinsky
|Heartbreak Kid
|Alison Kent
|Love Potion
|Jennifer Greene
|recommended by Eileen Wilks
|Dear Reader
|Jennifer Greene
|recommended by Eileen Wilks
|The Loner & the Lady
|Eileen Wilks
|Come Spring
|Jill Marie Landis
|Upon the Storm
|Justine Davis
|recommended by Susan Kay Law
|Sandra Hill
|Roman's Heart
|Sharon Sala
|A Home for Adam
|Gina Wilkins Ferris
|Bluebird Winter
|Linda Howard
|Linda Howard
|White Lies
|Linda Howard
|White Out
|Linda Howard
|from anthology Upon a Midnight Clear
|Ingrid Weaver
|The Woman's Touch
|Ingrid Weaver
|Gabriel's Angel
|Nora Roberts
|One Man's Art
|Nora Roberts
|Time Was
|Nora Roberts
|Elizabeth Lowell
|Love Song for a Raven
|Elizabeth Lowell
|marooned in a boat
|Journey's End
|BJ James
|Her Child's Father
|Christine Flynn
|Baby in his Cradle
|Diana Whitney
|Dakota Dawn
|Dana Ransom
|Shadow on the Mooon
|Connie Flynn
|Cast Adrift
|Donna Carlisle
|marooned on a small boat
|One Lonely Night
|Susan Kay Law
|Judith McNaught
|A Special Man
|Billie Green
|Temporary Angel
|Billie Green
|Morgan's Marriage
|Lindsay McKenna
|Zack's Law
|Kay Hooper
|Two Alone
|Sandra Brown
|Her Child's Father
|Christine Flynn
|Tiger's Bride
|Merline Lovelace
|marooned on a deserted island
|Hard-Hearted Hero
|Pamela Burford
|Bride Overboard
|Heather MacAllister
|marooned on a deserted island
|In Praise of Younger Men
|Lyn Ellis
|To Love a Dark Lord
|Anne Stuart
|Some Kind of Magic
|Teresa Weir
|The Snow Angel
|Mary Balogh
|Snow Bride
|Dallas Schulze
|Whirlwind Courtship
|Jayne Ann Krentz
|Uneasy Alliance
|Jayne Ann Krentz
|Cabin Fever
|Terry Lawrence
|An Unexpected Delivery
|Laurie Paige
|Another Dawn
|Deb Stover
|A Willing Spirit
|Deb Stover
|Jill Barnett
|marooned on a desert island
(To see our list of Cabin & Road Romances, please click here.)
Silly Sex Questions:
Anyone who can explain "pouting" or "pouty" breasts, please do! And, aren't heroes' afraid they'll put an eye out when they settle down to feast on those "diamond-hard" nipples?
It's What I Call Bonding:
Not all that long ago I reviewed Amanda Quick's I Thee Wed, and I was disappointed in the lack of what I termed "bonding" between the lead characters on an emotional level. I felt an intellectual and physical bond, but I never felt an emotional one. This is something that's never happened to me w/a book by this author, either as Amanda Quick or Jayne Ann Krentz.
I've read romances where the only bond I felt was a physical one (when the characters have an "I hate you, now let's go to bed" relationship), but to have both an intellectual and physical bond but not an emotional one is something fairly rare for me. Reader Mary Lynne Nielsen feels that there are actually four components of bonding necessary to make a romance work for readers, and you'll be able to read her rif on this topic a little later in the column. First, let's see what some other readers had to say about bonding.
Sandi wrote, "I'm intrigued by the question of 'bonding'. It seems to me in thinking about it that a book where a lack of bonding is an issue would also be a book in which the Big Misunderstanding plays a big part. If characters are bonded wouldn't it be harder to have the Big Misunderstanding as an issue? I would also think that a book where characters didn't bond would be a book that doesn't end up on too many keeper shelves. I think it is the emotional bonding in most cases, that really brings the reader into the story, and results in that smile on the face after the HEA. I also think that those books are the ones that we remember long after we have closed the book."
I agree that the only memorable romances I've read are those in which I felt an emotional bond. The Big Misunderstanding may be among those instances when I didn't feel a bond - although many times these books manage to have (at the very least) a physical bond. For me, that lack of an emotional bond sometimes comes from having one lead character I've not come to like, so I wonder why their partner loves them. If I can't "get it," if I can't fathom why they are loved, than I don't feel an emotional bond.
In I Thee Wed, there was an intellectual bond and a physical bond, but not an emotional one. Perhaps the reason, which I stated in my review, was that the hero was so enigmatic that I didn't feel I "knew" him, even after reading the book. Since I didn't know him, I guess I wonder whether the heroine "knew" him emotionally, and without that knowledge, how could she love him?
They seemed more like wonderful friends who had sexual chemistry than soul mates. But that's just that book. Other books may have neither of the three bonds I mentioned (physical, intellectual, emotional), just one, or perhaps two. I'm interested in talking about those books and perhaps contrasting them with books with all three.
Beverly Medos (who wrote Beverly's Book Basket for AAR from of mid-1998 through late 1999), had this to say about the Quick book in specific and her thoughts on bonding in general; I agree with much of what she has to say:
"Are we talking about a case of the relationship actually overpowering the love story to some extent? Meaning they are a couple, they have a relationship of some sort, but at the end of the book you, the reader, end up not really convinced they're in love. Yes, I could easily see that happening with a JAK book because she tends puts so much emphasis on partnership aspect between the hero and heroine. This is a situation that I would consider the direct opposite of a relationship black hole where the love story moves along without the relationship showing any development through a major part of the story.
"Personally, I really do believe that there is an aspect of genre romance which tends to get ignored a great deal - both within and without the genre. Namely that there isn't only two main characters in a romance, but three - the hero, the heroine and the relationship. All three have to show growth and development for it to be a truly successful genre romance. . . and not simply a love story or general (or woman's) fiction. Show only one, or even two, of those three changing over the course of the story and you might have a love story, but do you truly have a romance in the genre sense of the term.
"For example, how many times have any of us read a story and thought 'Oh, wow, what a great love story!' but have in the back of our brain this true doubt that they will actually last as a couple? To me, that's a case of either one or both of the hero or heroine showing development towards 'love' but the relationship having not shown us enough growth to convince us we actually read a romance.
"Why couldn't the opposite be true also? In other words, why couldn't a couple have a relationship which shows growth and development over the course of the story, maybe from being friends to being partners, and yet not show us enough about one or both of them to convince us they've actually grown to be in love?
"It would be so seductively like a romance, i.e. a developing relationship between a man and a woman, but would it truly feel like a romance to us in the long run? Is that the bonding, or lack thereof, that you are talking about? Personally, I'd think so. In fact, this may even be an overcompensation that might be developing some of today's romances. We've wanted so much to see the pendulum swing away from the happily-ever-after syndrome where there wasn't any relationship development at all that now we're faced with some stories slipping in where there are relationships, good male/female relationships, but the love aspect is getting short shrift."
And now, here's what Mary Lynne has to say about the magic of bonding, perhaps more about the reader bonding with the story than her original topic, but still fascinating nonetheless.
|I think that when a book works for you, it's a kind of alchemy. It really is something wondrous and different, and that has to do with what I consider to be the four key elements of reading a romance: the plot, the characterization, the writing style, and the bond between the reader and writer.
The story has to be one that intrigues you, one that you want to find out more about. The characters have to be detailed and interesting, people you'd want to get to know outside the context of the book. The author has to write in a manner you appreciate or that you find approachable. And all of those are achieved by the magic of having an author connect to something deep in the very soul of you as a reader.
If any one of these four elements is lacking, the book probably isn't that great for you. If you think the plot is silly, or Yet Another Great Misunderstanding plot, it doesn't matter how nifty you think the characters are. If you can't identify with or understand the characters, it doesn't matter how well the author writes. If the author writes in a chunky manner, it doesn't matter how creative the plot idea is.
Laurie spoke of bonds that she registers when she reads a book: the physical, the intellectual, and the emotional. These are bonds that she, the reader, creates with a character. An aspect of this is the relationship between the hero and the heroine. You can like the hero. You can like the heroine. But if you can't accept them as a couple, then those bonds aren't created, because your fundamental belief that these two characters are meant for one another isn't achieved. If Laurie didn't perceive an emotional bond when she read I Thee Wed, than something was lacking somewhere for her, because we as dedicated romance readers expect a great romance novel to deliver the whole package.
In a past issue of this column, Laurie mentioned Clive Barker's comment that the reader is partly the creator of a book when it is read. Without the reader's input, the book doesn't come alive. This, I think, is part of what Laurie found in this particular Amanda Quick romance. For every book that I see praised, someone will come back and respond that they didn't enjoy that novel at all. Many authors inspire strong love/hate reactions from readers - Dara Joy being the most recent example that I can think of. So there are an infinite number of possibilities within the four major elements of a romance novel that I believe are at the heart of the relationship between an author and a reader.
I'll try to give you some specific examples of romance novels that I think are fantastic and some that I found just wretched. And I'll try to explain what about them worked or failed for me. I know I may mention someone's favorites in either category. But that's the way it is when you look at the unique and varied bonds between books and their readers.
Books I Loved:
The Temporary Wife by Mary Balogh:
Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase:
This is All I Ask by Lynn Kurland:
Knight of a Trillion Stars and Rejar, both by Dara Joy:
Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss:
Another Chance to Dream by Lynn Kurland:
So those are examples of what's good and bad for me, books that reached right into my heart and touched me deeply and books that made me search for the nearest wall. For you, they're probably different. But all involve those four core elements:
It's the three most important words in book writing: plot, plot, plot. It's the hero and heroine you adore, and the way they work together. It's the way an author has with words, point of view, and situations. It's the special, unique, and indefinable way an author speaks to you and you alone.
When you find them all, you've found a keeper. And isn't that a wonderful feeling?
The Message Board:
It's time to post to the message board again. Please consider the following and comment about any and all the topics discussed in this issue of my column:
Happy Anniversary: Permit me this self-indulgence. How long have you been reading Laurie's News & Views? What about it do you like?
Kissing Cousins: Road Romances and Cabin Romances. Do you like either or both this type of romance? Tell us why! When we create our sub-list of Cabin Romances, should it be separate from Road Romances or included as "kissing cousins?" Which titles on the list should be included or removed, and why? Can a full-length read sustain two people isolated in a cabin or boat or desert island? Should most of the book be about that isolation or just a significant section? Do Cabin Romances bore you or excite you?
Fixations and "Callings": Do you get fixated as I do on a kind of book and want to glom till you drop? Do bookstores call out to you and demand you come and visit them?
Silly Sex Questions: Can you answer the two I posed this time? Can you think of one you'd like answered? Come on, now - don't be shy!
Bonding: Let's explore bonding, both bonding between the hero and heroine and the bonding between the reader and the romance. Do my comments resonate with you? How about Sandi's and the Big Misunderstanding? Beverly's theory of hero, heroine, and relationship? Mary Lynne's four-part recipe for alchemy?
|Post your comments and/or questions to our Potpourri Message Board


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Banana Split Cake
Kraft Kitchens
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- 1-1/2 cups HONEY MAID Graham Cracker Crumbs
- 1 cup sugar, divided
- 1/3 cup butter, melted
- 2 pkg. (8 oz. each) Cream Cheese, softened
- 1 can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple, drained
- 6 medium bananas, divided
- 2 cups cold milk
- 2 pkg. (4-serving size each) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
- 2 cups thawed Whipped Topping, divided
- 1 cup Chopped Pecans
MIX crumbs, 1/4 cup of the sugar and the butter; press firmly onto bottom of 13x9-inch pan. Freeze 10 min.
BEAT cream cheese and remaining 3/4 cup sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Spread carefully over crust; top with pineapple. Slice 4 of the bananas; arrange over pineapple.
POUR milk into medium bowl. Add dry pudding mixes. Beat with wire whisk 2 min. or until well blended. Gently stir in 1 cup of the whipped topping; spread over banana layer in pan. Top with remaining 1 cup whipped topping; sprinkle with pecans. Refrigerate 5 hours. Slice remaining 2 bananas just before serving; arrange over dessert. Store leftover dessert in refrigerator.
This recipe was submitted by one of our readers and has not been tested by our food editors. We are not responsible for errors in this recipe, but if you find one, please let us know.
Updated Saturday, September 2nd, 2006
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Josh Garcia returns to Arizona to begin his first year as a full-time assistant coach after spending last season working as an assistant at Yavapai Community College in Prescott, Ariz. For the Wildcats, Garcia will instruct corner infielders and hitters, assist in all aspects of recruiting, coach first base during games and handle various other duties inside the program.
With the Roughriders, Garcia mentored three all-ACCAC hitters, including Luke Doyle (.369), Brody Clifford (.324) and Andrew Hermanson (.346). Yavapai ranked first in doubles (125) and slugging (.462), second in home runs (27), third in batting (.317) and fourth in stolen bases (99) in the ACCAC.
During that season, Garcia served as the team's bench coach during games and he worked closely with UA's corner infielders throughout the season. Along with his in-game duties where he helped manage defensive substitutions and pinch hitters, Garcia also was an integral part of the coaching staff in preparing opposing scouting reports and he fulfilled various other responsibilities on a daily basis.
Garcia returned to the staff in 2013 as a volunteer assistant coach when he worked directly with outfielders, hitters, coaching first base, scouting and coordinating the Andy Lopez Baseball Academy camps.
Prior to his enrollment at Arizona, Garcia starred at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Ariz., during the 2008-09 seasons. He was named to the All-ACCAC team as a sophomore after hitting.360 with five home runs and 13 doubles. He was also named All-Region and All-Conference as a freshman.
Garcia was in the 46th Round of the 2007 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 1,354th overall pick following a successful career at Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, Ariz. As a senior in 2007, Garcia hit 13 home runs and was named to the Arizona Republic's 5A All-State team. He was also recognized on the Rawlings and Louisville Slugger All-American teams.


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About Nokia, nostalgia, and dwelling on the glories past
I wonder at the enviable stubbornness with which former glorious victories are constantly brought to our attention. And how people get into ecstatic trance brandishing these ancient trophies. The hero of the Trafalgar, commendation for Iwo Jima, and this medal.. well, for something glorious too, can't remember what for right now. Countdown of former, long forgotten battles known only to few history buffs is pouring in an endless stream. The mention of the new wars is carefully avoided. And how can it be any other way, when new hungry and aggressive upstarts are beating the shit out of you, time after time. The new punch is in, your false teeth flying out, and you are crawling back behind the chest of glorious trophies to get hem back. Again. It's an acquired taste. The crawling. And you made a plenty wide a path from it already. Like in a trainer fight, the old winner of all the most famous battles known to man cries out loud where he is hitting next. Letting out a lisping cry "I am on the offensive!", limbering giant charges. But his opponents just side step with a knowing smile. Letting the 800 pounds of the old gorilla to slam into nothingness and roll away.
It's an impression I get after reading another Nokia press release about how they created the first internal cellphone antenna in 1998. Yes they did. In 1998. And, I must say, it was a real piece of crap. Radio chip in it went bonkers with amazing speed. Those were my impressions as a user of that phone. 3 replacements in 3 months. In friggin Italy, because nobody could fix it here, in Russia. And you know what? It didn't matter. I was a happy user. Because that device was uber cool, and nobody else had it (it wasn't very available at the time, to put it mildly). I couldn't care less about radio chip problems, because, well – I had something that was on the bleeding edge. My friends and acquaintances felt the same.
Nowadays Nokia is getting their comforts remembering the days when they were the pioneers. Remembering one's past is all good and well. But it's not enough to keep one successful today. iPhone 4 "antennagate" just proved that it is such a cool device, that people will buy it despite potential antenna problems. They'll buy it no matter what. Compare that to Nokia phones. The world has changed. Nowadays Apple is making "cool great" things. The first step in getting back on top – is to recognize the problem. Recognize and internalize it, so you have the strength to double down, change and come up with something really great and cool. Something that will bring about a sea change of how people see your products and company right now. As it once was. When the name "Nokia" triggered automatic expectation of something great. But it ain't happening. Company is swimming in nostalgia. "Do you remember the times when we made this and that…". Memories are all good and well, but I prefer to see top of the line handsets and innovation I care about, right now. Just look at the things others are making, and how they are barging ahead. I think the old Nokia is just fizzling out. And there's only one way out of this slump: you have to change the old management with new, young, aggressive and ambitious people. The company, following their leaders, just became too old. And needs a major shakedown. Otherwise the fond remembrances of the old glory days, will remain the only thing we'll see from Nokia. And remembrances, mostly undeserved, because all those former glorious victories came mostly at the hands of men that are not in charge today.
All this dredging up of the ghosts of the past shows that Nokia is not ready for a change yet. They are just looking back and admiring their past. And deem themselves too great to change. Pity. There was a time when this company lived on change and was changing continuously. Today it turned into a scarecrow with a lisping – "We are on offensive" – cry, crawling back under the trophy chest as soon as the air runs out…


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Robert Rønnes
Bassoonist and Composer
( Last updated 26 July 2012 )
Back To
Robert Rønnes
Studied bassoon with K. Bjærke and T. Nedberg at the Norwegian State Academy of Music
and with R. Birnstingl at "Conservatoire de musique de Geneve" in Switzerland.
He continued his studies with G. Brooke in London and V. Popov in Moscow.
Since 1981 he has been the principal bassoonist of the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra,
a position he also held for a period in 1988 with the Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.
Rønnes was the first Norwegian Bassoonist to receive support from NorConcert - the Concert Institute of Norway -
for his début concert at the University Aula in Oslo in 1985, which received excellent critical acclaim.
Rønnes has established himself as a highly regarded chamber musician and as an ardent advocate of Norwegian contemporary music.
Several Norwegian composers have dedicated works to him, which have resulted in several CD-recordings.
He is in much demand as a soloist in Europe, Russia, China and USA.
He has given bassoon masterclasses in several music universities in Scandinavia,
France , China and Russia ( Tschaikowsky - Conservatory, Moscow.)
In addition to his career as a musician Rønnes works as a composer and is a member of the Society of Norwegian Composers.
His works have been performed in many countries around the world and are constantly attracting a wider audience.
He has received several commissions funded through the Norwegian Cultural Council.
From 1980 and up to now Rønnes have restored about 30 works from different composers.
His major projects has been restorations of works by Harald Saeverud (from 1980-2000) partly together with the composer
and Arvid Kleven (2000-2005) which have resultet in several CD recordings by
Stavanger Symphony Orchestra at the CD label BIS.
Since August 2006, he has been appointed main lecturer in bassoon at
The Norwegian Academy Of Music, Oslo.
Since May 2007 he was awarded the
Governments Grants and Guarantee
Income for Artists for 2 years.
Rønnes will do research in Norwegian music for bassoon by
restoring and performing forgotten music for bassoon.
From August 2009. he went back to his position as solo bassoonist
in Stavanger Symphony Orchestra.
Works by Robert Rønnes
is published by the following music publishers:
Address: Robert Rønnes
Erika Nissens vei 15
4023 Stavanger Norway
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Address: Bodo Koenigsbeck
Guffertstraße 18a
83627 Warngau
Tel.: (++49) 08021-506646 Fax: (++49) 08021-506647
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Address: TrevCo Music
P.O. Box 4
Tallevast, FL 34270
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
My Compositions
By clicking the works with the blue text,
you are linked to one of my other sites where the composition is performed.
Works for 1 Instrument
Raginato for Solo Violin 1976
Nocturne for Flute solo 1976
For the modern picture for Bassflute 1977
Deux petites libertés for Altoflute1977-78
Aubade for Harp solo1979
Catacombes for Organ1980
Premier solo pour jeu de cloches 1980
Little Suite for piano-solo 1988
Petite suite pour trombone-tenor seul 1988
3 Suite for Bassoon solo 1988/89
Dostojevskij-Variations for Piano solo
Intrada Quasi Tango Melancolia e Finale for Bassoon Solo 2000
Twelve Virituoso Studies For The Professional Bassoonist for Bassoon solo 1993/2003
16 Studies For The Orchestra Bassoonist 2006
Works for 2 Instruments
Pour violon et piano 1976
A Spanish night for Oboe and Harp 1978
The old Castle in Chinion for Bassetthorn and Tape 1978
6 Duos for 2 Contrabassoons 1979
Nocturne for Bassoon and Piano 1979
Réflexion for Bassoon and Harp 1979
Air et Petite scherzo for bassoon and harp 1979
Poéme for Bassoon and Harp 1980
Meditation for Violin and Harp1980
Legend for Clarinet and Bassoon1980
Aventure for Tuba and Piano1980
Hommage á André Jolivet for Ondes Martenot and Piano1980
Hommage á André Jolivet version also for Altoclarinet and Piano1980
Scherzetto for Tuba and Percussion. 1981
Novelette for Flute and Harp 1981
Store Gud for Trumpet and Organ 1982
2me Lyrisme for English horn and bassoon 1982
Three Pieces for Toby the Tuba for 2Tubas 1983
Divertimento for Bassoon & Accordeon 1984
Lento for Basstrombone and Organ 1985/98
Coffe-Tango for Bassoon and Piano 1989
Coffe-Tango version for Bassoon andMarimba 1989
Small Suite for young Bassoonists for 2Bassoons1 989
Timisoara,Sakral meditasjon-- for Bassoon or V.Cello and Organ 1989/1990
Sonate pour flute et piano : A memoire Olivier Messiaen 1989-92
Lacrimosa for Horn andOrgan 1991-93
Sonata no.1(Baroque Sonata) for Bassoon and Piano or Harpsichord 1994
3 Stages of My Life for C-Trumpet and Piano 1995
Jürgen K :A Tribute to a "Cool" Friend for Bassoon and Piano 1996
Second Sonata for Bassoon and Piano 1996/1999
Christ at Via Dolorosa : A Religious Poem for Bassoon and Piano 1998
Concerto for Bassoon and Tape 1998/99
3 Nocturnes for Bass oboe(to low B/b)or Heckelphone and piano 1982/2000
3 Nocturnes for Bass oboe and piano : Version for Bassoon and piano 1982/2001
3 Nocturnes for Bass oboe and piano : Version for English Horn and piano 1982/2001
Third Sonata (Sonata Classica) for Bassoon and Piano (Or Cembalo) 2001
Fourth Sonata( A.K. in memoriam) for Contrabassoon or Bassoon and Piano 2001
"Kumoi Kudan, Masahito Tanaka in Memoriam" For Bassoon and Piano 2002
"A prayer for New York 2001" For Bassoon and Synthesizers. 2002
"Fantasia" for Flute and Synthesizers.2003
Grand Polonaise Romantique for Bassoon and Piano. 2005
Works for 3 Instruments
Stylistic Contrasts for Flute Clarinet and Bassoon 1980
"Library Fanfare" for Oboe,Clarinet and Bassoon 1985
Trio pour 3 trombones 1986
1er suite for Clarinet trio.Clar in B/b -Bassclar.-Contrabassclar. 1986-87
Vocalise for 2 sopranos and piano 1989
Vocalise version for 2 bassoons and piano 1989
Grand Trio Concertant:Three pictures of Odd Nerdrum. for Oboe Bassoon and Piano 1991
"My Time"12 poems by Charles R.Bergesen for Narrator,Bassoon and Piano 1993
Works for 4 Instruments
Tango for 4 Bassoons 1980
Grand Waltz for 4 bassoons 1980/98 (1st movt. from Suite Lite)
Quartet for 3 Bassoons and piano 1999
Tangouleme for 4 Bassoons 1999 (3rd movt. from Suite Lite)
Concerto Grosso Con Tromba for Trumpet 2 Oboes and Bassoon
Works for 5 Instruments and more
Small Fanfare for Brass and Percussion 1976
Fanfare for Brass and Percussion1979
4 Pieces for Trumpet ensemble 1982
Tango Eccentrico for Violin,Panflute, Guitar,Piano and Contrabass 1986
La Stingas for Bassoon and Stringquartet 1986-87
La Stingas version for Solobassoon 3Bassoons and Contrabassoon.1986/2002
4 Suite for Brass quintet 1989
Septet for Bassoon,Contrabass and Percussion 1993-94
Concerto Grosso for Vibraphone,Marimba,Timpani solists and Perc.quintet 1994/95
Concerto Grosso, version for 8 bassoons 2 contrabassoons and Perc.trio 1994/2004
Works for Choir
Ave Maria for Female Choir 1989
Idyl for 4-part Mens Choir a cappella 1990
Trois Images : 3 Images of Christ for Female Choir 1984/2004
Opening Fanfare for Girls Choir and Brass 1989
Works for Solo Instrument and Orchestra
Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra 1979
Hommage à G. Fauré for V.Cello and String Orchestra 1985
Romance for Violin and String Orchestra 1985
Concerto for Bass Trombone(or Tuba),String Orchestra and Timpani 1987
Timisoara,Sacral Meditation for V.Cello and String Orchestra1989
Concerto da Requiem for Horn and Orchestra 1991-92
A.Vivaldi : Concerto in do minore no. 40 per Fagotto, Archi e Cembalo 1994
Bassoon Concerto no 3 for bassoon and Oboe Quintet. 2005
Works for Orchestra
Quartetto per un violon solo : Fanfare for Orchestra 1827/1979
4 Poems for Orchestra 1983
Stomperud-marsjen : March for Concert Band 1985
3 Town Portraits : Concert Overture for Orchestra 2003
Works for other Instruments
106 Meditations for Synthesizers.
From My Bassoon Repertoire
You can listen to several of my solo performances at this web site:


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Local schools will be on break Feb. 18-22, but there's still plenty for kids to do to keep their brains active and creative juices flowing. Saratoga Reads will play its part by offering a Lego contest at a local elementary school and an art program for kids at Skidmore College's Tang Museum.
Lego Challenge
The Lego contest, open to all grade levels, will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the Division Street Elementary School in Saratoga Springs. The challenge issued by Saratoga Reads is to build an original Lego model inspired by a favorite book. Students may work on their own, or with family and friends as a collaborative project.
Contest participants will bring in their pre-built models between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., with judging beginning at 10:30. Prizes will be awarded at each grade level, with a special prize for the entry that best characterizes Saratoga Reads.
Click here for a Lego contest entry form and rules. Deadline for submission of the form is Feb. 11. There is an entry fee of $10, which goes directly to Saratoga Reads to support programs for the community.
Saratoga Reads and SUNY Empire State College will present a screening of the HBO documentary Unchained Memories: Readings from Slave Narratives on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2 p.m. at the Empire State College Center for Distance Learning, 113 West Ave, Saratoga Springs. The film will be followed by discussion led by members of the ESC faculty.
The screening will kick off a series of events related to this year's Saratoga Reads book of choice, Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup.
The material used for Unchained Memories dates back to the 1930s, when journalists, under the auspices of the WPA's Federal Writers' Project, conducted thousands of interviews with former slaves who had been emancipated at the end of the Civil War.
"These faithfully transcribed 'slave narratives' are vividly read (acted, actually) here by a host of distinguished performers ranging from Samuel L. Jackson to Oprah Winfrey, from Don Cheadle to Angela Basset, with narration by Whoopi Goldberg," said Sam Graham, editorial reviewer for Amazon.com. "This is a moving record of bitter, weary, yet resilient and quietly proud people living with memories that never would, or could, fade." The narratives in the film are complemented by archival photographs, period images, and music.
Saratoga Reads has announced its choice of a junior discussion book and a list of eight other titles for young readers, selected to complement the program's designated book for this year—Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup—a harrowing account from the pre–Civil War era of the author's abduction into slavery and long struggle to regain freedom.
The list of "companion books," designed to appeal to a wide of range of age groups, includes picture books for beginning readers through titles for young teens. This year's list focuses on slavery in the U.S. and related issues such as the abolitionist movement, the Underground Railroad, and the legacy of Abraham Lincoln. Some of the books depict daring escapes from slavery, both fictional and nonfictional.
Among the selected junior books is Stolen into Slavery: The True Story of Solomon Northup, Free Black Man by Judith and Dennis Fradin, which will be the focus of a two-part discussion series for students in grades 5-7. This biography of Northup closely parallels the story told in this year's adult selection.
Saratoga Reads will launch its ninth year of community programming with a book fair featuring activities for the whole family on Sunday, Dec. 2, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Barnes & Noble, Route 50, Wilton.
The event will celebrate this year's Saratoga Reads book of choice, Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup, a compelling account from the pre–Civil War era of the author's harrowing abduction into slavery and long struggle to regain freedom.
The book fair will raise funds to support Saratoga Reads and its series of public events related to Twelve Years a Slave. Door prizes at the event will include a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card, as well as copies of the book.
Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup, a compelling account from the pre–Civil War era of the author's harrowing descent into slavery and eventual rescue, has been selected by public vote as this year's book of choice for Saratoga Reads, the community reading program now marking its ninth year.
Northup, a freeborn black man who lived with his family in Saratoga Springs, worked for local hotels and earned a reputation as a talented violinist. In his book, Northup tells how in 1841 two men enticed him to join their traveling circus as a musician, eventually luring him to Washington, D.C., where he was apparently drugged, then shackled and imprisoned. He was illegally sold into slavery in Louisiana, where he served three masters. He had left behind a wife and three children.
Twelve Years a Slave then chronicles Northup's travails as he is passed from one owner to another and the political wrangling necessary for him to regain his freedom and be reunited with his family in 1853.
Saratoga Reads has announced that out of some 87 titles nominated by the public for this year's book of choice, five have been selected as finalists.
The winning title will be decided by public vote, with area residents having until October 31 to cast their ballots. The selected book will be announced in mid-November.
Among the top five contenders are three novels—The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon, Doc by Mary Doria Russell, and The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach. The ballot also includes two memoirs—Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup (as told to David Wilson) and Blood, Bones, and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton.
Voters are urged to read the descriptions of the books here. Votes may be cast online at the Saratoga Reads site here or at ballot boxes available at the Saratoga Springs Public Library and at Barnes & Noble in Wilton.
"This ballot launches our ninth year of Saratoga Reads with five great books that are engaging and thought-provoking," said Tabitha Orthwein, chair of the board of Saratoga Reads. "Each of the books has the potential to inspire great programming and discussion, and now we need the community to make the tough choice as to the top book."
To help readers learn more about the five books, Saratoga Reads will offer a "meet the candidates" event on Oct. 16, 7-8:30 p.m., at the Saratoga Springs Public Library. The evening will include an introduction to each of the top choices, a scavenger hunt designed to give new insights into the books, and door prizes. ...more
The clock is ticking for those who want to suggest a book for the next round of Saratoga Reads. As the community-wide reading program gears up for its ninth year, organizers are seeking nominations from the community for the next book of choice.
Nominations should be works of prose such as novels, short stories, memoirs, non-fiction works, and biographies. The suggested books must be readily available in paperback, capable of inspiring community participation and dialogue, and appealing to a wide audience.
A online nomination form is available here. In addition, a nomination box is located at the Saratoga Springs Public Library. The deadline for nominations is August 24, but organizers are looking for an early response.
"We are urging community members to make their nominations as soon as possible, so that our Selection Advisory Group can get a jump start reading the suggested books," said Tabitha Orthwein, president of the Saratoga Reads board. She noted that all titles that fit the criteria are carefully reviewed, and that the selection group works throughout the summer and early fall to come up with a ballot of the top five for a community vote.
Saratoga Reads will announce a ballot of the top titles on October 1 and will then open the selection process up to a public vote through the month of October. The winning book will be announced in early November.
Saratoga Reads is a community-based organization dedicated to creating an extensive and shared conversation for a range of age groups. The program centers on community-wide reading of a single book, one compelling enough to inspire lively conversation and diverse educational and cultural activities. To inspire young readers, the organization each year produces a list of junior companion books for a range of reading levels.
Saratoga Reads is a Skidmore College–Saratoga collaboration.
If you are digging into any great books this summer or have titles you highly recommend, Saratoga Reads wants to hear from you. As the community reading program gears up for its ninth year, organizers are seeking nominations for the year's book of choice.
Nominations should be works of prose such as novels, short stories, memoirs, non-fiction works, and biographies. The suggested books must be readily available in paperback and capable of inspiring community participation and dialogue.
"Each year, we urge members of the public to nominate titles they think would be super reads for our community," said Lauren Cohen, coordinator of the Saratoga Reads Selection Advisory Group. "We are looking for books that can stimulate lively discussion for a wide audience. Don't forget that the selection must be engaging enough to win a community-wide vote."
Enter your nomination on line here. In addition, a nomination box is located at the Saratoga Springs Public Library. The deadline for nominations is August 24.


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MindTap on Blackboard
Please note that our website has moved! To access the latest training and support materials for MindTap on Blackboard, please visit our new Digital Course Support website.MindTap provides a unique personal learning experience that is now made even more powerful because of our partnership with Blackboard. Blackboard helps clients enrich a variety of aspects of the education experience by engaging and assessing learners while making their daily lives more convenient. Because of this partnership, access, structure and student engagement improve while saving time for users by providing seamless entry to your MindTap course material from directly within the Blackboard environment. In short …it makes life better!


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Last year Café Boulud Palm Beach took its Boulud Sud guests on a culinary tour of southern France. This year Café Boulud Palm Beach Executive Chef Rick Mace is offering a Boulud Sud menu that takes guests more toward the Middle East, featuring items such as Stone Baked Arabic Flatbread with Spiced Lamb (my favorite), Crispy Sicilian Olives and Chicken Tagine with Couscous, Honeyed Eggplant and Preserved Lemon.
Located in the historic Brazilian Court Hotel, Boulud Sud is a pop-up restaurant based on Chef Daniel Boulud's Manhattan-based location of the same name. The Boulud Sud menu will be available through Oct. 1. Guests can choose between inside dining or outside courtyard dining, either of which comes with the restaurant's impeccable service.
"This is our third year with Boulud Sud,'' said Café Boulud Executive Chef Rick Mace, who came to the restaurant in August of 2013. "Our goal is to go with what's worked for us the past two summers and add some new items.
"This year we wanted to have items from the eastern Mediterranean and delve into some of the more exotic cuisines of Syria and Jordan.
In that regard, Mace corroborated with Café Boulud New York Executive Chef Travis Swikard on what each thought would be good representations for this year.
"I tried to put a little of my personal touch to it, too,'' said Mace, who joined the Daniel Boulud's restaurant group in 2007 as executive sous chef of Daniel Boulud Brasserie at The Wynn Resort Las Vegas.
Mace's "personal touch'' is exemplified in the Arabic Flatbread, a dish he was introduced to as a youngster while living in Turkey, where his father served in the U.S. military.
"They were doing that in New York,'' Mace said the Arabic Flatbread. "I hadn't seen it in years so I thought I'd add it to the menu down here.''
Another good example of the Middle East fare is the spiced grilled chicken (for two) that features a fragrant (and delicious) blend of eastern spices.
"The flavors from that part of the world really resonate with people here, considering the climate this time of year,'' Mace said. "We've been getting a lot of positive feedback. What we are seeing is that (guests) are trying multiple dishes and sharing. That's kind of what Boulud Sud is all about – communal dining and small plates being shared among friends.''


text: "I'm not in favor of nationwide minimums for CCW because that would require federal bureaucracy oversight. Concealed carry decisions should be left to the states, but this shouldn't be a hurdle to reciprocity. If we can do it for drivers' licenses without federal involvement, why can't we do it for concealed carry?"