text:
Science Channel
In 73 B.C., Spartacus began his slave revolt by leading about 70 men in an escape from school -- gladiator school, that is. A former soldier-turned-gladiator-turned rebel, his name became legendary for resisting the most powerful empire of his time. Though it probably wasn't his intention when he escaped, Spartacus led an army of tens of thousands of slaves across Italy.
The common thread of captivity bound Spartacus and his followers. The men who fought as gladiators were usually prisoners of war, slaves or convicted criminals. In other words, gladiators were not people whose lives were not highly valued, though they did represent a significant investment to their owners.
Gladiator combat was often a fight to the death. Sometimes, if a gladiator was merely wounded and unable to fight, members of the crowd would voice their opinions as to whether he should live or die. Thumbs up meant the fighter lived, and thumbs down meant "die." Though slaves, gladiators lived almost as professional athletes; they were in constant training, sometimes famous, and often travelling in troupes from one arena to the next. Some gladiators were born free but volunteered for the job in exchange for a lavish down payment they'd received from troupe owners, essentially selling themselves into a job where they gave up their lives. Whether they won or died, the earnings usually went to their owners [source: BBC].
Not long after his escape, Spartacus soon had 70,000 rebellious slaves in his army; some estimates put the number even higher. In fact, this was actually the third in a series of slave rebellions in Rome. At first, the escaped slaves were seen more as a crime wave than a rebellion. Spartacus intended to lead the slaves to freedom across the Alps, but Roman leaders sent troops after them -- these forces were sometimes hastily assembled militias. Practicing guerilla warfare, Spartacus and his army were able to win victories against the Romans. Soon, a larger Roman force led by Marcus Crassus blocked the route and forced Spartacus and the slave army south. It is assumed that they were probably looking for a way to connect with Sicily, the site of a previous slave rebellion.
Spartacus' men were not trained soldiers. Discipline and order broke down on the long marches, and men deserted and plundered the countryside. Eventually, in 71 B.C., the Roman army surrounded Spartacus' forces. In Plutarch's retelling of the story, one battle between the two forces saw 12,300 slaves killed with only two pierced in the back, denoting their willingness to go toe-to-toe against trained Roman soldiers [source: Plutarch]. Spartacus and most of his men were killed in the ensuing battles as the Third Servile War was put to an end. The Romans executed whatever rebel slaves they captured by crucifixion.
Unfortunately, our collective memory of Spartacus and his intentions remains fuzzy and open to interpretation since not much is known about his early life, and those who followed him were killed. That's where fiction has stepped in to fill many of the gaps.
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text:
Categories > Original > Drama > The Stupid Boy and the Outsider
Chapter 350 Reviews
The Stupid Boy and the Outsider Chapter 35
Cindy and Jerby... a couple. Who would have thought? I'm sure I wasn't the only person in the room pretending to watch the Fonz pick up a chick on Happy Days while still getting over the shock of this new info.
All of a sudden there was athud sound. I jerked up to a normal sitting position as I felt Joe do the same.
"What was that?" JD asked no one in particular.
"It came from outside," Kevin said.
I thought I heard something else, but it wasn't really distinct like the first sound. A second later we heard two thuds at the same time.
"It sounds like it's hitting the front door," Berna said walking to it.
"Wait," Joe said getting up and walking to a window. "Let's check it out first."
He pulled the curtain to the side and looked out.
Jerby, Ryan, and I joined Joe at the window, but I didn't see anything. The street lamps didn't help much so late at night.
"I don't see anything," Ryan said.
"Neither do I," Berna replied from the other window where she, Kevin, JD, and Cindy were looking through.
All of a sudden I saw something white headed for the window and smashed against the glass. It was an egg.
"I saw someone," Ryan said running outside.
"I saw two," JD said following him.
The rest of us followed behind them, but we didn't see what JD and Ryan saw so we were no help. As Ryan headed for a bush, JD headed for Ryan's car. That's when I saw someone dressed in all black and a black ski mask run from behind the car. He was pretty fast. Joe and Kevin took off running for him too. Just then I heard a female scream. I looked over at the bush were Ryan was to see him holding someone from behind. He didn't have a really good hold on her. I'm guessing she's a female from the scream. He just had her around the waist. The other person was flailing her arms and legs trying to get away.
"Jerby help him," Cindy said pushing him towards Ryan.
A second later the lights in the Jonas house turned on and Pastor Jonas and Mrs. Jonas came out to see what was happening.
"What's going on here?" Pastor Jonas asked.
"She was trying to egg Jackie's house," Berna said.
"Ow, stop hitting me," Jerby said as the person in Ryan's arms kept flailing away.
"Where are Kevin and Joe?" Mrs. Jonas asked.
"We're right here," Kevin said as he and JD flanked an unmasked Kristine with Joe trailing behind clutching his side.
Apparently it wasn't a him.
"Kristine Koonz?" Mrs. Jonas asked surprised.
The person in Ryan's arms finally stopped stuggling and Jerby pulled off the ski mask to reveal Francis.
"Alright, everyone in the house, you girls too," Pastor told us.
I grabbed my house key, locked my front door, and walked with everyone to the Jonas house.
"Are you okay?" I asked Joe.
"Yeah, I just fell on Kristine and hit the curb pretty hard," he answered taking the ice pack Pastor Jonas handed him.
"Is there something you all would like to tell us?" Mrs. Jonas asked us all when we settled down in the living room.
"Like what mom?" Joe asked innocently.
"Like why these girls all of a sudden decided to egg the Mathews' house," she answered him. "And in black ski masks," she continued looking at Kristine and Francis.
I looked down at my hands as everyone looked at me except for Kristin and Francis who looked at each other. I'm surprised Kristine didn't try to make up some story. I guess she didn't want to lie to Pastor and Mrs. Jonas... in the parsonage no less. Or maybe she knew she was stuck with no way out.
"Jackie," Pastor Jonas said. "Is there something you want to tell us?"
"She didn't do anything," Joe said trying to defend me.
"Okay Joseph, calm down. I wasn't implying that it was all her fault. I just assumed she had the answers since you all looked at her."
"It was at the pool," I started. "I didn't fall into the pool... I was pushed."
I could see everyone turn to look at Kristine causing Pastor and Mrs. Jonas to look too. I couldn't look at them anymore. I was too embarrassed.
"And what does that have to do with tonight?" Pastor asked.
"I... might have... kind of... assaulted Kristine shortly after," Berna confessed. "Verbally, not physically."
"If I know my cousin like I think I do, she probably did this for revenge thinking they wouldn't get caught or that we wouldn't tell anyone about it," Ryan added.
"Is this true?" I heard Mrs. Jonas ask. Everyone was quiet and I could feel guilt in the air. I guess Mrs. Jonas felt it too. "Well, I'll be calling your mothers. Follow me you two," she said as she walked to where the phone was with Kristine and Francis following her.
Pastor Jonas cleared his throat. "The rest of you girls should go home, same with you boys. And Berna I think I should call your father, but... I'll wait for the weekend to be over. Ican only imagine the language you used that day."
Berna may not go to church, but Pastor still knew Berna and Mr. Rada pretty well.
"Thank you Pastor Jonas," Berna said before we walked out of the house.
Ryan took JD and Jerby home and Joe walked Berna, Cindy, and me home.
"Are you okay?" He asked me. "I know you just wanted to ignore the whole thing with Kristine."
"I'm fine I guess. How's your side?"
"Good, I'll just bruise a little bit that's all."
"Good," I repeated.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said before giving me a kiss and saying by to the girls.
While we were getting ready to go to bed everything was quiet.
"Call me an airhead, but why do you seem upset about all this?" Cindy asked. "Kristine might actually, finally be getting what she deserves."
"I don't know," I sighed.
"I do," Berna said. "Jackie's not exactly confrontational. Actually the only person she's ever stood up to was Joe before the first pool accident. It's like she doesn't want to have to put up with it. She hopes that the problem will just go away on its own. I guess it's partially my fault she came out tonight. I shouldn't have bitched her out at the party. I guess JD was right about it not being my fight."
"I never really liked it when Joe saw me at my weakest," I confessed. "That would explain why I always hit him before I ran away crying and I guess now is no different. I just want to show him I can take care of myself and tonight showed the opposite."
"How is it the opposite?" Cindy asked.
"Tonight Pastor and Mrs. Jonas had to come into it and settle it for me," I said.
"Well, now it's settled. I doubt Mrs. Koonz will let Kristine get away with this," Cindy said.
"What a night," Berna commented as she got situated in her makeshift bed on the living room floor.
"Yeah, let's go to sleep," I suggested.
"You know," Cindy said before I could say good night. "I don't think Joe will think any less of you if you need a little help with defending yourself. He's a guy and your boyfriend so... he wants to be the one to protect you."
A mental image of Joe dressed as Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty popped into my head. He had the cape and all... then he tripped over it and that made me giggle.
"I think she has a point," Berna said. "Like JD might be a little more soft spoken and reasonable, but he tries to protect me when my temper flairs or something. He knows I can hold my own ground, but he's there to make sure I don't get into trouble because of it."
"See," Cindy said with a smile. "I bet Joe even loves you. I wouldn't be surprised if he does."
"Okay time fore bed," I said with a laugh.
"I think you scared her with intimacy," Berna joked.
"Good night!" I said ending the conversation.
"Good night," the girls echoed.
Love? Aren't we a little young for that?
Weren't Romeo and Juliet our age? They were in love. Bur are we in love? Could we love each other like they did?
And what is gonna happened when he goes on tour? Can we handle a long distance relationship?
If we can get through five years of hating each other and two near death experiences then we can get through anything.
Throughout all this mental questioning and reasoning I finally fell into a peaceful sleep.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Nom des collectivités et droit des marques
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Bibliographic InfoPaper provided by Paris Dauphine University in its series Economics Papers from University Paris Dauphine with number 123456789/12283.
Date of creation: Mar 2013
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Publication status: Published in AJCT : actualité juridique collectivités territoriales, 2013, no. 3. pp. 127-129.Length: 2 pages
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Related researchKeywords: Droit public; Droit des marques; Dépôt du nom d'une collectivité comme nom de marque; Nom des collectivités; Patrimoine immatériel;
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|Staybridge Suites Scotts Valley hotels are provided below. Search for cheap and discount Staybridge Suites hotel prices in Scotts Valley, CA for your family, individual or group travels. We list the best Staybridge Suites Scotts Valley hotels + motels so you can review the Scotts Valley Staybridge Suites hotel list below to find the perfect place.
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The 2012 MOTYC thread
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"There's eleven esé!"
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: England
Posts: 27,883
Re: The 2012 MOTYC thread
Young Bucks vs Roderick Strong & Eddie Edwards - PWG Mystery Vortex
Chalk another one up for the Young Bucks. They're so fucking great. Best act of 2012? Strong and Edwards is just what both guys needed. Allows them both to just stiff opponents which is where they're best at. This is pretty workratey but when you get it right it's awesome and this was awesome. Even the trading kicks sequence worked much better than usual.
El Generico vs Rich Swann - PWG Mystery Vortex
Maybe the minimum I'd want from a Generico/Swann match but at least I still a Generico/Swann match so I'm happy. Loved Generico playing the grumpy vet against the new kid. He works this role every now and again and he's so great in it considering how far it is from his normal comfort zone.
Kevin Steen vs Adam Cole - Guerrilla Warfare Match - PWG Mystery Vortex
Hell of a battle. Can genuinely say this felt like two guys going to war to settle their rivalry and neither would come out unscathed but one would end up winning somehow. Hell of a battle. Steen destroying the life out of Cole was a great introduction to set the tone of the match. Cole took a beating and a half in this and took everything like a total pro. Dug how Steen controlled the majority of the match and established all the dominance. Kept him looking strong and made Cole even easier to hate for getting out of it with the belt. Cole's face earlier in the show when the stip is added is glorious too. Liked how they went for a more of a chaotic battle than a hardcore match with weapon spots. Tower of chairs spot is scary as hell and a rare case of where them taking time to set it up actually added to insanity of the spot by building the extra level of holy shit to the spot each time. I've seen so many hardcore matches that hardcore spots tend not to get a big reaction from these days because what was OMG when I first saw the spot done wears off pretty quick and you don't see many original spots anymore that are holy shit spots. The tower of chairs spot got a MASSIVE reaction from me watching it and it looked NASTY. Really liked Steen having the jug of tacks ready at the start of the show as a measure of how far he'll go if need be. Finish felt a bit flat given what they went through earlier. If you're gonna have big spots before that like they did have then that finish is a bit of a downfall from the previous peak in the match. Biggest spot should tend to be the finish in matches like this. I guess tacks are a big spot to some though. Again, maybe just a case of seeing so many tacks spots and them falling into chair shot territory for me. Steen drinking the tacks and then spitting them at Cole was classic Steen mind.
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Find Funding
Contract Topics
The NCI SBIR Program recently announced 7 new contract funding opportunities in a range of novel technology areas. To view the FY2015 Contract Topics Solicitation, visit: (PDF) or (Word). For more information about this solicitation please see the Guide Notice NOT-OD-14-120.
To download the appropriate forms for Phase I, Direct-to-Phase II, and Fast-Track proposals, please visit: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm#contracts. Direct-to-Phase II SBIR proposals must be prepared in accordance with the Phase II proposal preparation instructions.
The deadline for receipt of all FY2015 contract topic proposals is November 5, 2014 by 4:30 PM ET.
Of note, submissions must be on paper (not electronic, not through Grants.gov).
The PHS 2015-1 solicitation includes 7 contract topics released by NCI:
- 334 Vacutubes to Preserve the Viability of Circulating Tumor Cells
- 335 Development of Advanced Culture Systems for Expansion of Cancer Stem Cells
- 336 Development of Novel Therapeutic Agents That Target Cancer Stem Cells
- 337 Cell-Free Nucleic Acid-Based Assay Development for Cancer Diagnosis
- 338 Predictive Biomarkers of Adverse Reactions to Radiation Treatment
- 339 Systemic Targeted Radionuclide Therapy For Cancer Treatment
- 340 Validation of Mobile Technologies for Clinical Assessment, Monitoring, and Intervention
If you have questions about any of the topics or general questions on contract administration, please contact:
Ms. Victoria Cunningham
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Please reference solicitation PHS 2015-1 and the Topic number with any questions. Learn more about the difference between SBIR contracts and grants by clicking here.
View past contract opportunities.


text:
Moscow Exchange
Coordinates: 55°45′19″N 37°36′22″E / 55.75528°N 37.60611°E
|This article is outdated. (January 2012)
|Moscow Exchange
|Stock exchange
|Moscow, Russia
|19 December 2011
|MICEX Group, Russian Trading System
|Key people
|Aleksandr Afanasyev (Chairman of the Board)
|Russian ruble
|MICEX Index, RTS Index
Moscow Exchange (Russian: ОАО Московская Биржа; latinization: OAO Moskovskaya Birzha) is the largest exchange group in Russia, operating trading markets in equities, bonds, derivatives, the foreign exchange market, money markets and precious metals. The Moscow Exchange Group also operates Russia's central securities depository and the country's largest clearing service provider.[1] The exchange was established in December 2011 by merging the Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange (MICEX) and the Russian Trading System.
On July 1, 2014 Central Bank of Russia, the largest shareholder of the exchange announced selling its shares to comply with a 2013 law.
Moscow Exchange was established on 19 December 2011 by merging the two largest Moscow-based exchanges, the Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange (MICEX) and the Russian Trading System (RTS), hence the name "Moscow Exchange MICEX-RTS".[2] Both organisations had been formed in the 1990s and were the leading Russian exchanges for two decades with their MICEX Index and the RTS Index. The merger created a single entity[2] and advanced Russia's plans to turn Moscow into an international financial centre.[3] The exchange rebranded in July 2012.[2][4] The exchange completed its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on February 15, 2013, raising 15 billion rubles (approximately $500 million).[5] The IPO, at the time the largest ever held exclusively in Moscow, was more than twice oversubscribed and drew demand from institutional investors globally. The Exchange's shares were included in the MSCI Russia Index as of November 26, 2013.[6] On July 1, 2014 Central Bank of Russia, the largest shareholder of the exchange announced to sell its shares to comply with a 2013 law to do so by 1 January 2016.[7]
The Executive Board consists of 5 members:
- CEO Alexander Afanasiev (*1962),[8] Chairman of the MICEX FX Market Council in 2005-2012, co-chairs the National Foreign Exchange Association and National Securities Market Association
- Deputy CEO as of October 2012 Andrey Shemetov (*July 18, 1974), former CEO of the brokerage firm Aton,[9]
- Chief Information Officer (CIO) Sergei Poliakoff, a 20-year veteran of the securities industry who joined Moscow Exchange October 2012,[10]
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Evgeny Fetisov (*1975), since February 2013 [1]
- Chief Operating Officer Dmitry Shcheglov (*1975).
The Head of Risk & Clearing in September 2013 is Luis Vicente, former risk manager at Brazil's BM&F Bovespa.[11]
The Supervisory Board consists of 19 members; for 2013-2014:
- Chairman Sergey Shvetsov, head of the Central Bank of Russia "Financial Markets Service", Russia's main financial regulator.[12]
- CEO Alexander Afanasiev
- Sergey Lykov from Vnesheconombank,
- Andrey Golikov, Director for Investments and Commerce at Strana Detei,
- Nicola Jane Beattie, Director of Nbxc Ltd (trade name of Market Structure Partners,a UK based diamond drilling company)
- Mikhail Bratanov, Head of Societe Generale Securities Services Russia, head of Depository Department of its subsidiary Rosbank,
- Alexander Buzuev, an advisor for the Board of Management at UniCredit Bank,
- Sean Glodek, Director of the Russian Direct Investment Fundformer Vice President of Lehman Brothers,
- Martin Paul Graham, Chairman of the Board at Secondcap Limited, LSE (web based transactions for secondary private funds),
- Yuriy Denisov, National Research University – Higher School of Economics, Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge,
- Jacques Der Megreditchian, former CEO of Troika Bank from 2000-2011, former deputy manager of Societe Generale in Russia 1996- 2000, and former Chief Representative in Russia for Credit Commercial de France (CCF)1993 to 1996,[13]
- Oleg Jelezko CEO of Capital management firm Da Vinci [14] Capital,
- Bella Zlatkis, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board at Sberbank,former Deputy Finance Minister of Russia,
- Nadezhda Ivanova (*1955), Director of the Consolidated Economic Department at the Central Bank of Russia,
- Anatoly Karachinsky, Chairman of the Board at IBS Group (IT Services Provider in Central and Eastern Europe),
- Qingyuan Li, Director-General, Office of Strategy and Development Committee at the China Securities Regulatory Commission, Advisory Board at Deutsche Bank,
- Rainer Riess, former General Manager of Frankfurt Stock Exchange,
- Kirill Shershun, First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board at CentroCredit Bank Moscow, and
- Andrey Yumatov, Member of the Management Board at Bank of Moscow.[15]
Moscow Exchange's shares are publicly traded under the ticker MOEX. As of September 25, 2013 the largest shareholders of the Exchange were the Central Bank of Russia (22.47%), Sberbank (9.6%), Vneshekonbank (8%), EBRD (5.8%), UniCredit Bank (5.7%), MICEX-Finance (6.6%), VTB Bank (5.4%), Shengdong Investment Corporation (5.3%). [2]
Trading markets[edit]
Securities market[edit]
As of October 1, 2013, 1,845 securities of 709 issuers were listed on Moscow Exchange's Securities Market, including stocks, bonds, Russian depositary receipts, OFZs, Eurobonds, mutual funds, mortgage certificates, foreign securities and ETFs. The full list of securities is at [3] Moscow Exchange ranks among the world's top 20 exchanges by total capitalization of stocks traded,[16] including shares of many of Russia's largest companies including Gazprom, Sberbank, Rosneft, Lukoil and VTB [4].
In October 2013 the Russian diamond miner Alrosa completed its IPO on Moscow Exchange, raising 41.3 billion rubles ($1.3 billion).[17] The transaction was part of Russia's privatization program, that the government has decreed should be executed through Moscow Exchange.[18]
Foreign exchange market[edit]
Moscow Exchange's oldest market, the foreign exchange market has operated since 1992. The electronic trading system offers transactions in a wide range of currencies including the U.S. dollar, euro, Chinese yuan, Ukrainian hryvnia, Kazakhstan tenge, Belarusian ruble, dual-currency basket and foreign exchange swaps. In 2012, total trading volume on the foreign exchange market was RUB 117 trillion [5].
Derivatives market[edit]
Moscow Exchange is one of the 10 largest exchange platforms for derivatives trading globally.[19] The Derivatives Market facilitates trading of options contracts on, as well as futures contracts on indices, shares of both Russian and foreign companies, currency pairs, precious metals, energy and agricultural products.[20] Futures on the RTS Index ranked fifth among the world's most actively traded derivatives on stock market indices according to data from the Futures Industry Association as of October 9, 2013. Futures contracts on the U.S. dollar-Russian ruble are ranked third in global liquidity, according to the Futures Industry Association.[21]
Commodities markets[edit]
Precious metals trading[edit]
Moscow Exchange introduced spot trading in gold and silver in 2013. It has postponed a launch of trade in platinum and palladium by end of October or early November 2014 in order to do additional testing of the trading and clearing system.[22]
Grain trading[edit]
National Commodity Exchange is Russia's platform for spot grain trading, as well as in deliverable futures on agricultural products. Since 2002, National Commodity Exchange has been the platform by which the Russian state executes interventions in the grain market.[23]
Post-trade services, subsidiaries[edit]
Moscow Exchange subsidiary National Settlement Depository (NSD) was granted status as Russia's Central Securities Depository in 2012. Subsequently Euroclear and Clearstream opened accounts with the NSD, allowing international investors access to Russia's federal government bonds.[24] Another Moscow Exchange subsidiary, National Clearing Centre (NCC), is Russia's largest clearing center and is the Central Counterparty (CCP) across all Moscow Exchange markets.
See also[edit]
- Russian Trading System (RTS) Stock Exchange historic, merged 2011
- Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange historic, merged 2011
- Moscow International Business Center, a commercial district in Moscow
- ^ "Moscow Exchange". Moscow Exchange.
- ^ a b c "Micex and RTS merger creates Russian Exchange powerhouse". newswire.ca. 2011-12-19.
- ^ "Russia's Micex and RTS set to complete merger". Financial Times (subscription only).
- ^ "Russian Stock Exchange Gets New Name". RIA Novosti. July 3, 2012.
- ^ "Themes of the week - Moscow Exchange". Kommersant. 2013-02-18.
- ^ "LSR Group, Inter RAO, TMK Tumble on MSCI Deletion: Moscow Mover, Ksenia Galouchko". 8.11.2013.
- ^ "Russian central bank decides to sell Moscow Exchange shares". Reuters.com. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
- ^ "Management- Moscow Exchange". Moscow Exchange. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ^ "Change in Management". Finparty. 2012-10-26.
- ^ "Sergei Poliakoff". ITAR-TASS. May 24, 2013.
- ^ "Exchange has summoned Brazilian for help". RBC Daily. September 4, 2013.
- ^ "Supervisory Board- Moscow Exchange". MoEx.com. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ^ "Advisory Board- Spectrum Partners". Spectrum Partners. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ^ "Oleg Jelezko Executive Profile". businessweek.com. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
- ^ "supervisory board- Moscow Exchange". Moscow Exchange. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ^ "World Exchanges Statistics".
- ^ "Alroas Public Offering Raises $1.3 billion". October 28, 2013.
- ^ "Putin backs privatization of stakes on Moscow Exchange". June 12, 2013.
- ^ "World Federation of Exchanges - Monthly Reports".
- ^ "Futures Market Instruments".
- ^ "Futures Industry Magazine's Trading Volumes".
- ^ "Moscow Exchange launches trading in precious metals". October 21, 2013.
- ^ "National Commodity Exchange".
- ^ "Project "South Stream" cannot be stopped, said the head of Gazprom Invest". Business-Tass. 3.12.2013.
External links[edit]


text:
Blue Book® Suggested Retail Value
Fuel Economy (city/hwy)
Tell us what you think...
The community thinks...
Dont do it! by blond car on 10/12/2009. Trim: 1997 Dodge Avenger ES, Owned more than 10 years.
Pros: I just love the way the car looks. It really is a cool looking sporty but spacious car.
Cons: Oh Boy.. the price for vanity has been steep. This is my second one. The first one gave me so many problems at first that I got the dealer to take it back under the lemon law. I foolishly thought that it was a fluke. Unfortunatly just as with the first car the transmission went out and needed to be replaced. I have been hit with constant mechanical and electrical problems with the car as well. And I am the cars one and only owner and this car was given only the best oils and care her whole life. This is an example of a pretty car with no substance. to top it all off the freeking pain is chipping and pealing off of it for no reason. seen a few around and they all have the same problem.
Overall review: Dont do it! For me I have to keep it.. only because I have put soooo much money into this car over the years that I cant get myself to junk it. So I got it painted and got another transmiission from the junk yard ..but who knows how long that one will last. SO unless you have a real full time car dont buy this one. But if you have a real car and want this one and can afford the maintence, go for it.. it looks great .... especially with crome rims. But more times than not it will be stuck in your driveway... or on the tow truck... of and be careful of the oil pan when you get it towed...i scraped mine a few times on the driveway. take care
Review ID: #543000 Is this review offensive?
An unfortunate buy for me by An MSN Autos Consumer on 06/16/2003. Trim: 1997 Dodge Avenger ES, Owned 6 years.
Pros: Handles well. Sporty design. Decent pick-up and gas mileage. Comfortable leather seating. Good sound system.
Cons: Mechanically unsound. As previous entries state, I've had to replace all four O2 sensors THREE times, and I only have 87K miles on the car. Had problems locating inexpensive 17" tires; had to change rims on the car 3x (weather and road conditions kept warping them, causing my tires to leak air). Doesn't handle U-turns well... car seems to move only in a 3-point turn fashion. Car only accepts Mopar (Chrysler) parts, which are outrageously expensive... and not worth a penny!!!
Overall review: Caveat emptor - buyer beware. Do your research first and be prepared to repair the car frequently.
Review ID: #367246 Is this review offensive?
UNhappy Dodge Owner by TUC on 02/07/2003. Trim: 1997 Dodge Avenger ES, Owned 6 years.
Pros: The price and the appearance of the car.
Cons: I bought this car brand new and had nothing but trouble with it. There was always a light coming on the dashboard. My last straw came when it left me stranded on the highway when the torque converter blew up!
Overall review: I will never buy a Dodge again.
Review ID: #341517 Is this review offensive?
exceptional car by bigdog on 01/31/2003. Trim: 1997 Dodge Avenger ES, Owned less than 1 year.
Pros: (No data provided)
Cons: (No data provided)
Overall review: great car
Review ID: #340276 Is this review offensive?
Dodge Avenger by A MSN Autos Consumer on 12/17/2002. Trim: 1997 Dodge Avenger ES, Owned 5 years.
Pros: Great sound system. Comfortable fun car to drive.
Cons: Replaced transmission at 70K miles. O2 sensors replaced a couple of times. Check engine light comes on too frequently.
Overall review: An aesthetically pleasing car, but make sure you have a service agreement.
Review ID: #331658 Is this review offensive?
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text:
Their names are instantly familiar, their logos immediately recognizable. Some of them represent the world's most famous brand names, while others are well on their way to prosperity and success.
Chain retail stores are as much of the American way of life as hot dogs, baseball and apple pie. And over the past several months, their numbers seem to be growing throughout metro Atlanta.
In Chamblee, a new Zaxby's - which tooks months longer to build than expected because of financing issues - will open on Monday. An old Stone Mountain Dairy Queen has been demolished, and another Zaxby's will soon take its place.
After announcing plans to replace the old Atlanta Diner on North Druid Hills Road, McDonald's now plans a second location on Clairmont Road.
And fast-food chains aren't the only ones proliferating in metro Atlanta lately. Walmart recently broke ground on its newest Supercenter on Cascade Road in southwest Atlanta, directly across from another retail giant, the Cascade Home Depot.
But while a new Family Dollar store is under construction in Lithonia, some southwest Atlanta communties have been actively fighting an influx of Family Dollar stores, and a similar fight against the new Walmart may be brewing.
Walmart is already facing a fierce battle on Decatur's border, as residents have joined together to fight its proposed Suburban Plaza location.
Are chain stores choking our communities? Do we need more of these major retail developments, or are too many already dotting our urban landscape?
Keep up with news by subscribing to our free email newsletter, liking us on Facebook and f ollowing us on Twitter.


text:
We just reported yesterday that Carey Mulligan is playing Daisy Buchanan in Baz Luhrmann's upcoming adaptation of The Great Gatsby. The above image comes from the rehearsals that Baz Luhrmann held for the highly-coveted role. Leonardo DiCaprio will play Jay Gatsby in the movie, while Tobey Maguire is expected to play Nick Caraway, the story's narrator.
The Great Gatsby was released May 10th, 2013 and stars Lisa Adam, Frank Aldridge, Amitabh Bachchan, Steve Bisley, Richard Carter, Jason Clarke, Adelaide Clemens, Vince Colosimo. The film is directed by Baz Luhrmann.


text:
This product data sheet was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to produce a precise translation; however, no automatic translation is perfect, nor it is intended to replace a human translator. The original product sheet in Spanish is available at Escariadores y raquetas manuales
Escariadores And raquetas manual: with four handles and clip of subjection
The escariadores and the manual scrapers that manufactures Ega Master, have of four handles with clip of subjection, ergonomic, for the different needs that the professional can have. Besides, they complete with different blades that contribute to the user suitable tools for the escariado of steel, copper, aluminium, plastic, stainless steel, brass, etc… Also are instrumented with spare blade for an easy and comfortable reemplazamiento.


text:
tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69836459104030411302014-09-20T16:19:37.316-04:00The Overnight BestsellerMichael J. McCann blogs about crime fiction, writing, and other adventuresMichael J. McCannhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-82740582302815237492014-09-15T00:00:00.000-04:002014-09-15T00:00:09.004-04:00Gone Girl

Gillian Flynn's thriller Gone Girl, published in 2012, was critically acclaimed and became a NY Times bestseller. It tells the story of two out-of-work writers, Amy and Nick Dunne. Flynn used her own experience as a laid-off writer for Entertainment Weekly in developing the characters. (She is now among the world's wealthiest authors.)

Amy disappears and the reader is uncertain whether her husband has murdered her. The novel relies on unreliable narration, plot twists, and suspense to engage the reader, while exploring the psychology of long-term relationships.

If you enjoyed the novel, the film version will be released on October 3, 2014. Flynn wrote the screenplay.

To view the trailers for the movie, please see http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gone_girl/.
Michael J. McCannhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-68890014520500172452014-09-08T00:00:00.000-04:002014-09-08T08:48:49.362-04:00The Perfect Crime Story

Crime fiction writer Niall Leonard, who writes television scripts and books for teens and young adults, has some interesting advice on how to write the "perfect" crime story.

Photo courtesy of  The Guardian

First, he suggests starting with a story that fascinates you as a writer so you can convey this enthusiasm to your readers. Second, he recommends a lot of research so your stories will ring true to life and be "far more interesting than anything you could dream up at your desk". His third point is not to drown your story in details. Remember that you're entertaining, not lecturing your reader. His other points include the importance of a protagonist in unraveling the crime, and the identification of motive(s). Also, he suggests that the killer should operate in plain sight of the reader from the beginning of the novel. He or she may have a rock-solid alibi, but it's through the actions of the characters that the mystery should be revealed rather than through the introduction of the killer at the end of the story like a deus ex machina. It's the writer's job, he contends, to hide the clues leading to the ultimate revelation of the killer as the book progresses.

And his final word of advice? " Perseverance, patience and resilience are essential." Even the most successful of today's crime novelists, he notes, took years to establish their reputation.

Leonard's advice is, of course, commonsensical, but it never hurts to remind ourselves of the basics of crime fiction writing.

For the full text of the article, please see http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2014/aug/31/how-to-write-the-perfect-crime-story-niall-leonard-writers-tips.Michael J. McCannhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-79569938649944260932014-09-01T00:00:00.000-04:002014-09-01T00:00:04.844-04:00I'm Back!Thanks, everyone, for sticking with me while I took the summer off to write. I'm pleased to say that I have finished the first of my new crime fiction series set in Canada. It was quite a learning curve for me because there are so many differences between U.S. and Canadian criminal investigation procedures. At the same time, I enjoyed developing two new characters, Kevin Walker and Ellie March of the Ontario Provincial Police. The draft of the novel is with an OPP subject matter expert who so kindly agreed to allow me to pick his brain for this new series. Stay tuned for more information on the new novel, and rest assured that you also haven't seen the last of Donaghue and Stainer.

Now that The Overnight Bestseller is up and running again, I will be talking about the latest book news, especially new crime fiction. If you have a particular topic that you'd like to see covered in the blog, please be sure to let me know.Michael J. McCannhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-11989875830485987882014-05-05T00:00:00.000-04:002014-05-05T00:00:06.396-04:00Book Review of Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves by Dianne Ascroft

Once again The Overnight Bestseller is pleased to participate in a Tribute Books blog tour. Today we welcome Dianne Ascroft, the author of the short story collection entitled Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves.

Book Summary

Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves is a collection of half a dozen short stories with Irish connections. Tales of outsiders who discover they belong, a humorous slice of life yarn, heartwarming love stories and a tale of taming fear. The shadows are on the wall, in the heart and clouding a woman's memories while tangible foes tramp through the physical landscape. The stories were previously printed individually in a variety of publications, including Ireland's Own magazine, Dead Ink Books' website, and the anthologies, Fermanagh Miscellany and Tuesdays At Charlie's.

Dianne Ascroft's Biography

Dianne Ascroft is an urban Canadian who has settled in rural Northern Ireland with her husband and an assortment of strong willed animals. She writes contemporary and historical fiction with an Irish connection. She has released the short story collection, Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves, and a novel, Hitler and Mars Bars. Her articles and stories have been printed in Irish and Canadian magazines and newspapers as well as in anthologies by Writers Abroad, Fermanagh Writers and Fermanagh Authors' Association.

 Our Review of Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves

Short stories are not easy to write. The author has just a few pages in which to introduce and delineate characters, develop the action, and reach an ending that will satisfy the reader. In Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves, Dianne Ascroft demonstrates that she has mastered the craft of short-story writing. The stories included in this collection are understated, allowing characters to be delineated through their gestures and thoughts. The prose is simple, and the language is cadenced and at times almost lyrical. The stories are vignettes from daily life that examine such themes as nostalgia and regret, pride, self-awareness, and second chances at happiness.

Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves is a delightful collection that will appeal to a wide range of readers, including those who enjoy short stories, contemporary and literary fiction, romance, and quiet-time reading.

Related Sites

Rafflecopter GIVEAWAY HTML ($25 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash):
 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dianne Ascroft's Web Site:
 http://www.dianneascroft.wordpress.com/

 Dianne Ascroft's Blog
 http://www.dianneascroft.wordpress.com/blog/

 Dianne Ascroft's Facebook:
 http://www.facebook.com/DianneAscroftwriter

 Dianne Ascroft's Twitter:http://www.twitter.com/DianneAscroft

Dianne Ascroft's Goodreads:
 https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1357575.Dianne_Ascroft

 Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves Goodreads:
 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16080070-dancing-shadows-tramping-hooves

 Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:
 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

 Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves blog tour site:
 http://dancingshadowstrampinghooves.blogspot.com/
 Michael J. McCannhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-43314987905819420252014-04-28T00:00:00.000-04:002014-05-01T09:08:43.188-04:00Time for a BreakI will be taking a break from my three weekly blogs, The Overnight Bestseller, Open Investigations, and Behind the Walls of Nightmare so I can focus on completing the first novel in my new Canadian crime series.

Thanks to all of you who continue to follow my blogs. I expect to be back at the end of August with an update on the new series.

I will continue to post reviews as part of the Tribute Books blog tour. Next week's review on The Overnight Bestseller  will feature Dianne Ascroft's Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves.

In the meantime, I will remain active on Facebook and Twitter.

Have a great summer, everyone!Michael J. McCannhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-66980560294986539522014-04-21T00:00:00.000-04:002014-04-21T00:00:00.039-04:00Pet Vet Day

It begins in early January with the dreaded postcard reminders from the veterinary office. When these are ignored, there is a tactful reminder call from office staff asking if we would like to schedule an appointment for our five pets for their annual shots and check-ups. No longer able to procrastinate, we set a day aside for the annual Pet Vet Visit.

This annual event has taken on a somewhat legendary status complete with war stories and survival bragging rights. It begins with a search for cat kennels which we have dutifully packed away in a storage shelter outside. The trick is to remember which shelter and then to excavate the cages and remove the mouse droppings.

Once the cages are located and brought inside to be cleaned, previously bored cats become hyper-vigilant. THEY KNOW WHAT'S COMING. For those cats unlucky enough not to have moved quickly, this means going directly into the cages. For the cat who is a grizzled vet (no pun intended), there is a hasty retreat upstairs. Quick question: how many people does it take to coax a cat from under a bed and then get it inside a cage? Answer: at least two, but reinforcements are always welcome.

Now all three of our cats are inside their cages and meowing in unison. They are NOT amused.

The dogs are next. Our black Lab Charley actually loves to go to the vet's to socialize. Cody, on the other hand, hates going there and is already looking very worried.

The dogs are on their leashes now, and we've spread an old blanket on the back seat of the car. Two cat carriers are perched there, and the dogs jump in too. My wife sits in the front passenger seat, and I balance the remaining cage on her lap. After a brief discussion with Cody as to who will actually drive the vehicle, he moves to the back again while I take over the driver's seat. The cats start meowing in tandem, and a pungent odor alerts us to the fact that one of them has found a new way to express his or her displeasure.

We're off now, and my wife is serving as navigator because I can't see past Cody's head. When we finally get to the vet's, we're already exhausted. We shuffle them all inside. Charley has meanwhile changed from his usually sleepy self to being a whirling dervish, and he requires two hands on the leash to keep him from sacking the office.

Two hours and $900 later, it's finally over for another year. All of our guys are well, although Sammy the cat has gained three pounds instead of losing the six extra from last year. The vet will call us later with details of a DIET, which will no doubt involve exorbitantly-priced cat food and will probably not lead to weight loss.

Oh well, at least we have another whole year before we have to do this all over again. . .

Michael J. McCannhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-61066157397624217552014-04-14T00:00:00.000-04:002014-04-14T00:00:01.342-04:00The Uni Project

Photo courtesy of Uni website

The April edition of the Goodreads newsletter has an interesting article on the Uni project, which is bringing books to the people by setting up reading rooms and seating in public places, including parks, farmers' markets, and city plazas. Currently the project is placing pop-up reading rooms at various locations in New York City. The project is non-profit, and it provides high-quality books and knowledgeable staff. Moreover, the reading rooms can be shipped across the world.

For more information on the project, including how to donate books, please click here.

It's always nice to see books shared among readers.
Michael J. McCannhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-18009751097075483792014-04-07T00:00:00.000-04:002014-04-07T00:00:10.964-04:00No More Selfies!

I am probably not the only one among you who is sick to death of "selfies", supposedly candid (but often posed) shots of oneself alone or with a group. Even President Obama has succumbed several times to the craze, only to learn that his latest selfie with David Ortiz was a Samsung marketing ploy. (The President is not amused: see http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2014/04/03/white-house-objects-samsung-use-obama-ortiz-selfie/GPbER1XMYmMDa4kLi89z3H/story.html.)

With spring here, it would be nice to see people, especially adolescents, moving outdoors to see what's awakening in the world. So far, I've spotted robins and red-winged blackbirds and that sure harbinger of spring, the Canada goose. The snow is gradually melting (unless you live in Newfoundland) and, fingers crossed, we've hopefully seen the last of snow storms.

You can even take non-selfie pictures of birds and wildlife outside. . . Michael J. McCannhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-36005656355238837032014-03-31T00:00:00.000-04:002014-03-31T00:00:12.166-04:00Elementary, My Dear Watson?

Jerome Caminada

The Telegraph has an interesting article on Jerome Caminada, the real-life detective who may well have been the inspiration for the fictional Sherlock Holmes. Author Angela Buckley has written a biography of Caminada entitled The Real Sherlock Holmes, which underlines the similarities in character, methods, and case work between the real and fictional detectives.

Buckley states that "Caminada became a national figure at just the time that Sherlock Holmes was being created. There are so many parallels that it is clear Doyle was using parts of this real character for his."

Caminada spent most of his career with the Manchester City Police Force, later operating as a consulting detective. He relied on an extensive network of informants to keep him apprised of criminal activity and would often move among the underworld in disguise. He was purportedly responsible for putting 1225 criminals behind bars.

For the full text of the article, please see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10700558/Has-the-real-Sherlock-Holmes-been-deduced.html.

For an article on Angela Buckley and her book, please see http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/manchesters-sherlock-holmes-new-book-6892219.

 Michael J. McCannhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-25137005264927459782014-03-24T00:00:00.000-04:002014-03-24T00:00:01.330-04:00Historical Crime Fiction, Anyone?

Historical crime fiction writer S.J. Parris has recently published her latest Giordano Bruno novel in a series set in Elizabethan England and featuring the unlikely detective duo of a monk and a courtier-poet. (The latter is Philip Sidney, whose poetry you probably read if you were an undergraduate in English literature.) The novel is reviewed in The Telegraph.

The Telegraph recently carried an article by Parris entitled "The Best Murder Mysteries Are Historical" in which she postulates that reading about crime in an historical setting is more satisfying to the reader.

Parris states:

Writing history is a kind of detective work, so it's no surprise that the murder mystery lends itself so well to historical settings. Part of the pleasure of historical crime is that it allows a return to the golden age of the amateur detective, before investigations depended on forensics and CCTV.

Among her favorite historical crime novels are Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time, based on the murder of the Princes in the Tower (Edward and Richard); Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose, a tale of ritualistic murders inside a 14th-century monastery, and novels by Iain Pears, Charles Palliser, and Matthew Pearl.

For the full text of the article, please click here.

Michael J. McCannhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-40604127429945476632014-03-17T00:00:00.000-04:002014-03-17T00:00:04.544-04:00The Science of Aging WiselyThere is an interesting and very positive article in a recent edition of The New York Times which examines the topic of wisdom as it relates to age. The article looks at various studies and how wisdom encompasses not only cognitive knowledge, but our ability to gain insights from that knowledge as a basis for our decisions and behaviors.

Among the observations of researchers are the following:

- Older people have much more information in their brains so retrieving it naturally takes longer;

- While younger people are faster in cognitive performance, the quality of information in older people is more nuanced;

- One neuroscientist has postulated that there are "cognitive templates" based on pattern recognition that develop in the older brain, and these "templates" form the basis for wise behavior and decisions;

- One of the impediments to wisdom in older people is negative thinking and dwelling on the perceived negatives of aging; and

- Showing compassion to others is an important element of wisdom: "Wise people try to understand situations from multiple perspectives, not just their own, and they show tolerance as a result."

For the full text of the article, please click here.

Michael J. McCannhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-55833526251051148282014-03-10T00:00:00.000-04:002014-03-10T00:00:07.305-04:00Breezy and Other Animals in Need

If you live in the Ottawa area, you have probably been following the story of Breezy, who was severely beaten with a shovel and left for dead in a dumpster by her former owner. She was nursed back to health by the staff of the Ottawa Humane Society and got a second chance when she was placed with new, loving owners last week. She will always be blind in one eye as a result of the beating, but is fortunate to be alive. (A few years ago, a Boxer was beaten so severely with a broom handle that he lost one eye. He too was rescued and placed in a new home.)

Charlie the Great Dane

Currently the Ottawa Humane Society is nursing back to health a Great Dane that was starved to the point of death. Charlie has now gained 50 pounds and is making a good recovery after he was rescued.

Animal abuse and child and spousal abuse often go hand-in-hand. A few years ago a man stalking his ex-girlfriend, who had fled their abusive relationship, broke into her apartment and killed her two cats. Animal rescue agents are always on the lookout for other types of abuse in the home.

You've probably passed by homes with dogs chained constantly outside with no protection from the elements, and wondered "what's the point"? Neglect is also a form of abuse.

Not everyone is meant to own an animal. It involves commitment and responsibility.

Michael J. McCannhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-66146082010425172042014-03-03T00:00:00.000-05:002014-03-03T00:00:07.826-05:00And Nothing but the Truth. . .

There is an interesting post on The New York Review of Books blog by Tim Parks entitled "Writers into Saints". It talks about the apparent need for literary biographers to glorify the lives of writers and to gloss over or justify their behavior as if they "were afraid that the work might be diminished by a life that was less than noble or not essentially directed toward a lofty cause." Among the examples he cites are biographies of Virginia Woolf, D.H. Lawrence, Samuel Beckett, and James Joyce.

Parks sees this tendency most pronounced in the biographies of Charles Dickens. He states:

 Quite apart from the writer's [Dickens'] dramatic rejection of his wife after she had given him ten children, there is simply an enormous resistance to admitting what a tyrant the man was, seeking to control the lives of those around him to an extraordinary degree, deeply disappointed and punitive when they didn't live up to his expectations, which was almost always, yet at the same time fearful of any sign of competition.

Parks' comments are telling: shouldn't we be able to accept a writer--warts and all--and still be able to critically appraise his/her work?

For the full text, please see http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2014/feb/11/writers-saints/?insrc=hpbl.

Michael J. McCannhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-72932949060224689582014-02-24T00:00:00.000-05:002014-02-24T00:00:01.058-05:00Prize-Winning Books More Apt to Receive Negative Reader ReviewsAs reported in The Guardian, a study undertaken by two academics indicates that books winning such prestigious prizes as the Booker or National Book Award are more apt to receive negative reader reviews after the fact. The study is based on an analysis of almost 39,000 Goodreads reviews.

The authors of the study believe this phenomenon is the result of a mismatch between reader and novel: readers assume that a book is "good" because it has won an award, but what is "good" depends largely on individual taste. If the prize-winning book is not to a reader's taste, s/he may be disappointed, thus giving it a negative review.

For the full text of The Guardian article, please see http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/feb/21/literary-prizes-make-books-less-popular-booker.

I'm not really surprised by these findings because if you look at random at Goodreads and Amazon reviews of novels generally considered to be literary classics, you'll find the same trend towards negativity if the book does not accommodate the reader's taste. (For my earlier post on this subject, please click here.)Michael J. McCannhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-76465760622525119482014-02-17T00:00:00.000-05:002014-02-17T00:00:00.116-05:00The Game's Afoot
There is an interesting article in The New York Times on the use of video games to improve brain function. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, neuroscience research lab are trying to determine whether the addictive feature of many video games can actually be used to our advantage to make our minds healthier.

As indicated in the article, researchers are using neuro-imaging techniques (brain scans) to peer into gamers' heads to determine if "we might develop games to treat depression or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Or games that rewire our brains to improve memory and cognitive function. . . . For now the goal is to figure out what makes a game addictive on a neurological level, then to couple this with brain research showing how play can improve the mind."

Maybe we don't have to feel so guilty about the time spent on gaming after all!

For the full text of this interesting article, please click here.

Michael J. McCannhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-12797043201599339902014-02-10T00:00:00.000-05:002014-03-23T11:04:31.127-04:00Book Review: I Am Abraham by Jerome Charyn

Once again The Overnight Bestseller is pleased to host a Tribute Books blog tour. We welcome back Jerome Charyn with his novel I Am Abraham.

 I Am Abraham Book Summary:

Narrated in Lincoln's own voice, the tragicomic I Am Abraham promises to be the masterwork of Jerome Charyn's remarkable career.

Since publishing his first novel in 1964, Jerome Charyn has established himself as one of the most inventive and prolific literary chroniclers of the American landscape. Here in I Am Abraham, Charyn returns with an unforgettable portrait of Lincoln and the Civil War. Narrated boldly in the first person, I Am Abraham effortlessly mixes humor with Shakespearean-like tragedy, in the process creating an achingly human portrait of our sixteenth President.

Tracing the historic arc of Lincoln's life from his picaresque days as a gangly young lawyer in Sangamon County, Illinois, through his improbable marriage to Kentucky belle Mary Todd, to his 1865 visit to war-shattered Richmond only days before his assassination, I Am Abraham hews closely to the familiar Lincoln saga. Charyn seamlessly braids historical figures such as Mrs. Keckley—the former slave, who became the First Lady's dressmaker and confidante—and the swaggering and almost treasonous General McClellan with a parade of fictional extras: wise-cracking knaves, conniving hangers-on, speculators, scheming Senators, and even patriotic whores.

We encounter the renegade Rebel soldiers who flanked the District in tattered uniforms and cardboard shoes, living in a no-man's-land between North and South; as well as the Northern deserters, young men all, with sunken, hollowed faces, sitting in the punishing sun, waiting for their rendezvous with the firing squad; and the black recruits, whom Lincoln's own generals wanted to discard, but who play a pivotal role in winning the Civil War. At the center of this grand pageant is always Lincoln himself, clad in a green shawl, pacing the White House halls in the darkest hours of America's bloodiest war.

Using biblically cadenced prose, cornpone nineteenth-century humor, and Lincoln's own letters and speeches, Charyn concocts a profoundly moral but troubled commander in chief, whose relationship with his Ophelia-like wife and sons—Robert, Willie, and Tad—is explored with penetrating psychological insight and the utmost compassion. Seized by melancholy and imbued with an unfaltering sense of human worth, Charyn's President Lincoln comes to vibrant, three-dimensional life in a haunting portrait we have rarely seen in historical fiction.

Prices/Formats: $12.99-$14.99 ebook, $26.95 hardcover
Pages: 464
Publisher: Liveright
Release: February 3, 2014

Kindle buy link ($12.99):
 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DX5X80S?tag=tributebooks-20

 Nook buy link ($14.99):
 http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-am-abraham-jerome-charyn/1115449611?ean=9780871404275

 Amazon hardcover buy link ($26.95):
 http://www.amazon.com/dp/0871404273?tag=tributebooks-20

 Barnes and Noble hardcover buy link ($26.95):
  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-am-abraham-jerome-charyn/1115449611?ean=9780871404275

Jerome Charyn's Biography

Jerome Charyn is an award-winning American author. With nearly 50 published works, Charyn has earned a long-standing reputation as an inventive and prolific chronicler of real and imagined American life. Michael Chabon calls him "one of the most important writers in American literature." New York Newsday hailed Charyn as "a contemporary American Balzac,"and the Los Angeles Times described him as "absolutely unique among American writers." Since the 1964 release of Charyn's first novel, Once Upon a Droshky, he has published 30 novels, three memoirs, eight graphic novels, two books about film, short stories, plays and works of non-fiction. Two of his memoirs were named New York Times Book of the Year. Charyn has been a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. He received the Rosenthal Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and has been named Commander of Arts and Letters by the French Minister of Culture. Charyn was Distinguished Professor of Film Studies at the American University of Paris until he left teaching in 2009. In addition to his writing and teaching, Charyn is a tournament table tennis player, once ranked in the top 10 percent of players in France. Noted novelist Don DeLillo called Charyn's book on table tennis, Sizzling Chops & Devilish Spins, "The Sun Also Rises of ping-pong." Charyn lives in Paris and New York City.

Our Review of I Am Abraham

In I Am Abraham, Jerome Charyn undertakes the formidable task of presenting the life of Abraham Lincoln, as seen through his letters, speeches, and other historical sources. As Charyn indicates in his Author's Note, the novel is not a biography, but a work of historical fiction: the author has reconstructed major events and players in Lincoln's life, with the poetic licence to add fictional characters when needed. The book as a whole has the feel of a picaresque novel with its expansive cast of characters as it explores Lincoln's journey through life to its inexorably tragic end. Charyn succeeds in creating a first-person narrative that feels honest and intimate.

Charyn does a masterful job in presenting the complexities of Lincoln's character. He is a dark horse candidate for the Republican nomination who wins the convention and attains the presidency. Lincoln becomes president at a time when several southern states have formed the Confederacy, and in the ensuing civil war he must come to terms with the fact that he is sending young men by the thousands to die. He must also cope with his melancholia, the 'blue unholies" that plague him throughout his life, at times incapacitating him, as well as the increasingly erratic behavior of his wife after the death of their son Willie. He is the president of a nation divided by war, but he is also a compassionate family man, often seen carrying his young son Tad on his shoulders, and a husband who must face the prospect of placing his wife in an insane asylum. (Mary in fact spent four months in an asylum following the assassination of her husband before being consigned to the care of her sister Elizabeth.)

Historians, for the most part, have not been kind to Mary Todd Lincoln, but Charyn recognizes the complexity of her character. She is ridiculed by the press for her plainness, but excoriated when she spends money to improve her wardrobe and to refurbish the White House, which has essentially gone to ruin under Buchanan. She recognizes that her husband is regarded as incompetent by many of the men who surround him, including General McLellan, who commands the loyalty of the Union troops, but her support for her husband remains steadfast. She is surrounded by flatterers and charlatans, and often succumbs to their influence. And because she has no real role in politics, she smothers her oldest son Robert, forcing him into a profession in which he has no interest. She is a woman born in the wrong century: better educated and more intelligent than many of the men who surround her (as Charyn comments in his Author's Note), but relegated to the background because she is female. She is also representative of the deep divisions and contradictions of the times: Mary Todd is from a wealthy family of slave-owners in Kentucky, yet her closest confidante is a former slave. Mrs. Keckley becomes her constant companion, as well as her dressmaker. Mary must also deal with the fact that many of her relatives in Kentucky have joined the Confederate army.

It is important to note that the subtitle of I Am Abraham is "A Novel of Lincoln and the Civil War". More than 600,000 soldiers were killed in the American Civil War, and these deaths represented ten percent of northern males aged 20-45 and thirty percent of southern males aged 18-40. The symbolism of the novel readily underlines the horrors of the war: the ditches filled with amputated limbs (one in thirteen veterans suffered amputations); the sounds of the Friday firing squads killing Union deserters (many of whom Lincoln would have preferred to pardon); the starved Confederate soldiers outfitted with cardboard shoes in winter; and the carnage of the battlefields littered by bodies and dead horses. As Lincoln and Tad tour the ruins of Richmond, which has been burned almost to the ground by fires set by the retreating Confederate army, Lincoln recognizes that there are no real winners in this battle. He looks ahead to the Reconstruction that he hopes will mend the country's wounds, but sadly it will be a Reconstruction he will not live to undertake.

I Am Abraham will appeal to lovers of historical fiction and of the oral storytelling tradition at which Lincoln himself excelled.

It is an exuberant novel that speaks equally of life and death, hope and sorrow.

Related Sites

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Michael J. McCannhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-16282586643564200432014-02-03T00:00:00.000-05:002014-02-03T00:00:08.554-05:00Mixed Results for Groundhog Day

Photo courtesy of Reuters

Those of us not fortunate enough to live in a more temperate climate could be forgiven for wishing for an early spring and an end to this frigid and blustery winter. Hence the interest each year in Groundhog Day.

According to folklore, if a groundhog emerges from his burrow on a sunny day and spots his shadow, we can expect six more weeks of winter. Conversely, if it's an overcast day and he doesn't see his shadow, we can look forward to an early spring. (Those who point out that this isn't exactly scientific might want to consider the success rate of meteorologists in predicting the weather.)

This year the most famous of the groundhogs, Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow, condemning us to six more weeks of winter. His Canadian cousin, Wiarton Willie, offered the same gloomy forecast. However, if you're a "glass half full" kind of person, you'll be pleased to learn that Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam and Quebec's Fred la Marmotte both predicted an early spring.

For a comparative chart of leading groundhog predictions, please click here.

Michael J. McCannhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-76240458555549154082014-01-27T00:00:00.000-05:002014-01-27T00:00:02.827-05:00Fighting the Stigma of Mental Illness
One in five Canadians will suffer some form of mental illness during their lifetime. Nevertheless, fighting the stigma of mental illness is an ongoing battle in which victory is long overdue. Research shows that:

Mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some time through a family member, friend or colleague.

Mental illness affects people of all ages, educational and income levels, and cultures.

Approximately 8% of adults will experience major depression at some time in their lives.

Anxiety disorders affect 5% of the household population, causing mild to severe impairment.

Almost one half (49%) of those who feel they have suffered from depression or anxiety have never gone to see a doctor about this problem.

Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among 15-24 year olds and 16% among 25-44 year olds.

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in both men and women from adolescence to middle age.

The mortality rate due to suicide among men is four times the rate among women.

 (Statistics are from the Canadian Mental Health Association's "Fast Facts about Mental Illness" at http://www.cmha.ca/media/fast-facts-about-mental-illness/#.Ut61P_tOldg.)

We can start to help those affected by mental illness by debunking the myths associated with it. For example, many adolescents (and adults) think that depression is just part of "growing up" and will disappear on its own, but we need to appreciate instead that depression may be a life-long challenge. The Kids Help Phone helps youths who are suffering from depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and other mental health concerns or who just need someone to listen to them. The telephone number for the helpline in Canada is 1-800-668-6868.

One of the underlying causes of depression and suicide in adolescents is bullying. This topic is finally receiving national attention, and there are numerous resources available. The Kids Help Phone website at http://kidshelpphone.ca/Teens/InfoBooth/Bullying.aspx?gclid=CI7K2ciVpbUCFfBDMgodKV8AyA has extensive information on this subject and also has a bullying forum where teens can post questions. In addition, many websites now provide resources to combat bullying, including incident reporting for schools. See, for example, http://www.stopabully.ca/bullying-resources.

In Canada, there are also numerous other Internet and local resources for those of all ages seeking help. For a list of crisis intervention resources in the province of Ontario, please visit http://ontario.cmha.ca/mental-health/services-and-support/crisis-support/. For further information and to locate the chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association nearest to you, please visit the Canadian Mental Health Association website at http://www.cmha.ca/.

Tomorrow, on January 28, 2014, Bell Canada is sponsoring its fourth annual "Let's Talk" Day. The four pillars of the Let's Talk initiative are anti-stigma; care and access; workplace health; and research. To download a complete copy of the "Let's Talk" toolkit, please visit http://letstalk.bell.ca/en/toolkit.  Join the campaign tomorrow to end the stigma and contribute to mental health research by talking, tweeting, and texting. The toolkit provides you with the details.

Mental health is a global concern. Please check your Internet and local resources if you live outside Canada.

Let's help put a human face on this suffering and end the silence.

Michael J. McCannhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-60416138747251230602014-01-20T00:00:00.000-05:002014-01-20T00:00:12.131-05:00Tell Me If This Hurts

Over the years, I've had a lot of dentists: ones who piped in music; others who showed videos of an aging James Taylor; and still others who had "new age" ceiling tiles that you could stare at while you were in the chair.

But as you're sitting captive in that chair--your thoughts free-ranging--you recognize that there is nothing quite like a visit to the dentist's office to put things in perspective. Here, then, are some of my more profound observations while sitting in "the chair":

Why is the receptionist so friendly? Is she in denial?

Why are the magazines all two years out of date? Who reads old women's magazines?

Who feeds the fish in the aquarium? Why do they even have an aquarium? What about an office cat or dog to pat to lower your blood pressure?

Why do they always ask you how you are after they put their instruments in your mouth? Do dental hygienists learn a special language to communicate with their patients? And, speaking of dental hygienists, how can a woman who probably weighs less than 110 pounds inflict such a world of pain?

Why do they say "tell me if this hurts" after your gums are already bleeding?

Why do you have to pay someone an exorbitant amount to inflict pain on you if you're not a masochist?

Why does the dentist look like the guy in Marathon Man?

I had one dentist whose Yellow Page ad read: "We cater to cowards." He got you to rate your fear on a scale of one to ten. I think I'm a ten. . .

Michael J. McCannhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-44011723789596533352014-01-13T00:00:00.000-05:002014-01-13T00:00:01.865-05:00Can a Computer Algorithm Predict the Success of Books?

The Guardian reports that an assistant professor at Stony Brook University in New York claims to have created an algorithm that uses a quantitative approach to predict literary success with an accuracy rate of 84 per cent. The researchers used Project Gutenberg to identify works (poetry was also included); analyzed the literary style of the first one thousand lines of each work; and correlated the results with the number of downloads the title had received. They then identified the stylistic elements in the successful writings. They also applied their analysis to titles outside the Gutenberg database, such as works by Ernest Hemingway, Truman Capote, Philip Roth, and Dan Brown, and were able to predict successful writings at a rate of 70 per cent. (Their system was apparently confused by Hemingway's minimalist style because the algorithm depends on a "high-level syntactic structure".)

In terms of their findings, the less successful books rely on verbs that are "explicitly descriptive of actions and emotions", whereas more successful books contain straightforward verbs such as "say". The less successful books also contain a higher percentage of verbs, adverbs, and foreign words; topical words that are almost clichés; and extreme and negative words.

The study also found that there is an inverse relation between "success" as defined by the attainment of literary awards and the "readability" of a work.

For the full text of the article from The Guardian, please click here.

If you're interested in reading the academic paper itself, please click here.

Michael J. McCannhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-71591144950430864462014-01-06T00:00:00.000-05:002014-01-06T00:00:09.272-05:00New Crime Fiction for 2014

 The Crime Fiction Lover has published a list of the first new crime novels of 2014. Included in the list is Sam Eastland's The Beast in the Red Forest, which is the fifth novel in the series featuring Inspector Pekkala, a Russian cop. The British author Ann Cleeves has a new novel entitled Harbour Street, which features Vera Stanhope. This character has also been re-created in a UK television series. For those who like the thrillers of Clive Cussler, his ninth novel in the Oregon File series (Oregon being a spy ship) entitled Mirage has been released. And last but not least, the Maigret novel entitled The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien by Georges Simenon has been re-published by Penguin. (For my post on the Penguin re-publication project, please click here.)

For the full text of the Crime Fiction Lover article, please click here.

And if you missed my Open Investigations blog on new reading for the holiday, please click here.

Michael J. McCannhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-49836616409215001272013-12-23T00:00:00.000-05:002013-12-23T00:00:03.222-05:00Resurrecting the Millennium Series of Stieg Larsson

Fans of Stieg Larsson's trilogy of novels may have mixed feelings about the announcement that Quercus will publish a fourth book in the Millennium series in August 2015. Larsson died in 2004, but before his death had penned about two hundred pages of the fourth novel in what was intended to be a ten-book series.

The fourth novel will be written by Swedish author David Lagercrantz, who is not exactly a household name in Sweden, but has co-authored an autobiography of a Swedish "footballer" and has written some fiction. He was apparently chosen by Quercus because he "has in his writing constantly sought out odd characters and complex geniuses".

I'm always dubious about one writer taking over another author's works, although it's a fairly common practice (for example, Felix Francis for his father Dick Francis, Andrew Neiderman for V.C. Andrews, and various writers for Robert Ludlum). On the one hand, this practice encourages continued interest in the original author, who may have died prematurely, and allows his/her fans to enjoy a similar type of novel. On the other hand, the practice can be viewed more cynically as a means of generating ongoing revenue for the publisher.

In any event, it will be interesting to see how the uniquely individual Lisbeth Salander fares in the hands of a new author.

For the full text of the article in The Bookseller, please click here.

On another note, I'd like to wish you and yours a safe and happy holiday. Merry Christmas! Michael J. McCannhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-57681343587210834512013-12-16T00:00:00.000-05:002013-12-16T00:00:06.634-05:00Michael Connelly: Influences and Favorite Books

The Sunday Book Review of The New York Times has an interesting interview with Michael Connelly in its "By the Book" feature. We discover, for example, that Connelly has an eclectic taste in books from historical non-fiction to Stephen King's Doctor Sleep.

Connelly has some interesting observations to make about writing. He refers to the "momentum" that carries an author through the writing process rather than the time spent writing a book. In fact, Connelly thinks that his best novels are the ones he wrote quickly when he had an "unstoppable" momentum.

He also talks about how his mother introduced him to crime fiction and how he became "hooked" once he began reading John D. MacDonald. And of course he has very strong words of praise for Raymond Chandler, whose work was the impetus for Connelly himself to become a crime fiction writer.

For the full text of the interview, please click here.

Michael J. McCannhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-26974869059058579782013-12-08T00:00:00.000-05:002014-03-23T11:03:39.336-04:00Book Review: Ruby Heart by Cristelle Comby

Once again The Overnight Bestseller is pleased to host a Tribute Book blog tour. We would like to welcome Cristelle Comby as we look at her new-adult novel Ruby Heart.

Ruby Heart Book Summary:

When elderly client Doris Hargrave informs private investigator Alexandra Neve that her beloved antique ruby heart necklace has gone missing for the second time in a period of over sixty years, Alexandra knows this is no ordinary jewellery theft. The ruby heart is a family heirloom and the only thing that connects an ailing Mrs Hargrave to her parents, who were murdered during the Holocaust.

To solve the case, Alexandra and her business partner, blind history professor Ashford Egan, must sift through obscure Holocaust documents to find out the truth. It's that way that they learn of a secret World War II-era love affair which could hold the key to all the answers they are looking for. Meanwhile, Egan is under immense pressure from the university to quit his private investigating business, and Alexandra is afraid that a man she trusts will leave her. Again.

When Alexandra begins to receive anonymous threats and her flat is vandalised, this all becomes personal. Knowing that there is someone out there to hurt her, Alexandra vows to find that elusive ruby heart if it's the last thing she ever does.

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Ruby-Heart-Neve-cases-ebook/dp/B00FRDV51I/

Cristelle Comby's Bio:

Cristelle Comby was born and raised in the French-speaking area of Switzerland, in Greater Geneva, where she still resides. Thanks to her insatiable thirst for American and British action films and television dramas, her English is fluent. She attributes to her origins her ever-peaceful nature and her undying love for chocolate. She has a passion for art, which also includes an interest in drawing and acting.

Ruby Heart is her second new-adult novel, and she's hard at work on the next titles in the Neve & Egan series.

Our Review of Ruby Heart:

In Ms. Comby's previous novel, Russian Dolls, Alexandra Neve and Ashford Egan team up to investigate the death of Alexandra's friend. Ruby Heart is the second novel featuring this private investigation team. The two work well together despite their obvious differences in temperament, and are engaging and unique characters. Operating on a shoe-string budget, Neve and Egan have no real office and often meet clients in a local bar. However, they are anxious to establish themselves as professionals and are delighted to tackle the case of a stolen ruby necklace (as opposed to searching for missing dogs).

Comby has drawn a sympathetic portrait of an elderly and gravely ill woman trying desperately to recover her family heirloom. She has also done a very good job of weaving together current events with the back story of World War II and the plunder of valuables from Jewish victims.

This is an interesting and enjoyable novel, and readers will no doubt look forward to the third novel in the Neve-Egan series.

 Related Sites:

Rafflecopter GIVEAWAY

 Cristelle Comby's Web Site:
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Cristelle Comby's Facebook:
 http://www.facebook.com/cristelle.comby

 Cristelle Comby's Twitter:
 https://twitter.com/Cristelle

Cristelle Comby's Goodreads:
 http://www.goodreads.com/CristelleComby

 Ruby Heart Goodreads:
 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18633760-ruby-heart

 Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:
 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

 Ruby Heart blog tour site:
 http://rubyheartblogtour.blogspot.com/
 Michael J. McCannhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983645910403041130.post-91288551901735219872013-12-02T00:00:00.000-05:002013-12-02T00:00:00.209-05:00A Simpler Way to Celebrate the Holidays?

Now that the snow is here, and Christmas music is being piped into sound systems in every store, there is the "traditional" mad rush to buy gifts. The excesses of Black Friday are probably the best symbol of consumerism gone rampant-- fed by the advertising industry and based on the premise that buying more is better. On the one hand, I understand this. Retailers are still feeling the effects of the recession, and they especially count on Christmas spending to pump up their bottom line. But I find the advertising starts earlier and earlier each year, and the ads get more crass. (Witness the ad where the salesclerk is piling more and more electronics on a lady who is trying to find gifts for her nieces and nephews and would have to have Bill Gates's income to afford all that stuff!)

Maybe we should take a small step back and enjoy precious time spent with our families rather than seeing how much we can buy for people who probably already have a lot of stuff. Not a new theme certainly, but one that bears consideration in the face of all this pressure to spend...Michael J. McCannhttp://email@example.com


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Definición de depot en inglés:
depotSilabificación: de·pot
Pronunciación: /ˈdēpō , ˈdepō /
1A place for the storage of large quantities of equipment, food, or some other commodity: an arms depot
Más ejemplos en oraciones
- He says the government is trying to secure loans to build granaries and depots to store food to help the people through difficult times.
- A food storage depot was looted and burned down during the night and businesses were badly hit by the tense atmosphere yesterday.
- They have prevented the government building granaries and food depots that could store grain from one year to the next.
storehouse, warehouse, store, repository, depository, cache; arsenal, magazine, armory, ammunition dump, drop-off
1.1North American A railroad or bus station.
Más ejemplos en oraciones
- The resistance movement rescued downed pilots, radioed military movements to London, and sabotaged German railway depots.
- Have you heard the rumours of a tunnel under the Viaduct, or the one connecting the main Post Office basement to the railway depot?
- The moment of explicit defiance of command authority came most often at railway depots or other embarkation points.
terminal, terminus, station, garage; headquarters, base
1.2A place where buses, trains, or other vehicles are housed and maintained and from which they are dispatched for service.
Más ejemplos en oraciones
- The company employs 5,500 people in Britain, many of them at train maintenance depots.
- In the past, diesel locos and coaches, which formed services on the West of England line, had been maintained at several depots.
- The drivers immediately discharged their passengers and drove their buses back to the depots, bringing transport services in Edinburgh to a virtual standstill for three hours.
1.3The headquarters of a regiment; a place where recruits or other troops are assembled.
Más ejemplos en oraciones
- This was mirrored in England by the establishment of regimental depots after the army reforms.
- The four recruiting depots have been busy all day, air raid warning tests have been heard across the city this evening, and posters are calling for volunteers for first aid.
- Currently, the regional army commanders are responsible for their respective regional army depots, logistics support units, and medical units.
late 18th century (in the sense 'act of depositing'): from French dépôt, from Latin depositum 'something deposited' (see deposit).
Definición de depot en:
- el diccionario Inglés británico e internacional
- el Sinónimos ingleses
- el Sinónimos de inglés estadounidese
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Palabra del día hypnopompic
Pronunciación: ˌhɪpnə(ʊ)ˈpɒmpɪk
relating to the state immediately preceding waking up


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Um. I need anatomy help? So I suppose a redline I can't see anything wrong at this point, so I need more eyes to look in mine's place, because. Well, you know how if you draw it, and it looks fine, but then other people see and it's like "thisthisthis and this is wrong!" D:
This looks promising. I can see why the pose looks off! Let me explain.
When drawing anatomy and breaking it down into shapes, it's really important to remember that the limbs, torso, head, and other parts of the body all have sides. The head has a front plane, back plane, and side planes, the same with the torso.
Since they have distinct sides, I find it a lot easier to base the forms off of cubes. It's a lot easier to make sense of the planes on a cube than a sphere!
See how the jaw seems more solid when it is drawn based off of a cube.
Obviously anatomy is more complex than cubes, and it DOES involve spheres, but using them as your base and adding muscles or carving in features will be easier.
For drawing forms interacting, I find it easiest to draw the most independant form (the figure sitting down) and then add the depedent form (the girl laying across his lap) to be efficient. Drawing them at the same time can get confusing really fast. If the arms are interacting, I like to draw one of the figures without arms and add accordingly. I'll just show you:
first I drew thumbnails too figure out what pose I wanted! I wrote down the things that really needed to be figured out.
then I drew a plane so I knew what the figure was sitting on, and added the fist figure. Since the girl is laying on his lap, I drew him first. If I have a solid figure for her to sit on, drawing her pose will be loads easier. I had trouble with his foot, so I just blocked in the basic shape to figure out later.
then I drew her figure on top. Note how I am leaving out the arms. Also take note how her figure sits on top of the man's lap.
Then I finally add the arms! Since his arm is wrapping around her head, I saved it for last, after I had her head down.
Here's the pose all cleaned up so you can easily see what's going on. There are some glaring errors in my drawing, but what I want you to understand is the process. I think you'll have much an easier time figuring out their forms this way. ;u;
I know that you wanted a red line, but since this pose is so complex I thought it would be more helpful to see it this way. Also.. this might not be the MOST efficient way to draw interacting poses, but it's the best technique I know so far. Studying from photos and anatomy in general will help loads too. I hope this helped! Sorry the post is so lengthy. ;n;
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There's just something so soothing in watching this! Even more so, shining your own shoes, TRY IT
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On Contrast and Balance
Dressing well means pulling things together that both match and contrast, and in doing so, striking a balance. Basic pattern mixing, for example, should involve varying patterns by type and scale. A striped shirt can sit well behind a bolder striped tie and glen plaid suit, or maybe even a windowpane.Stephen Pulvirent, the writer behind The Simply Refined, recently wrote about the advantages of mixing "hard" and "soft" garments. Hard garments are things such as crisp white shirts, polished calf shoes, and any metal jewelry, while soft garments are flannels, challis ties, and wool sweaters. Wearing too many soft garments can make you look a bit sloppy and too relaxed, while wearing too many hard garments can make you seem rigid and stiff. Pulvirent admits that there are exceptions - a tweed jacket, corduroys, wool sweater, and suede loafers go quite well together - but he suggests that mixing the two is best. It's a potentially controversial idea, but not one without some nugget of wisdom.
I think there are other dimensions that are worth striking a contrast. A textured tie such as a woven grenadine or silk knit can sit well against the flatness of poplin or smoothness of gabardine. Likewise, a man should consider how he balances between the shine and dullness of his clothes. A lustrous silk tie looks good next to a dry linen pocket square, and a tie in a duller fabric, such as wool or cotton, is perfectly complemented by a shiny pocket square in a printed solid or foulard. Similarly, the gleam of a man's tie or well polished shoes can act as a good counterbalance to his otherwise matte ensemble.
There are ways of doing this poorly, of course. A satin tie would not go well with a tweed jacket and winter wools shouldn't be mixed with summer linens. Though you want things to contrast, nothing you wear should stand out on it's own; everything should harmonize. But that's why we seek to both match and contrast, and in doing so, we strike a balance.
"Success comes at a price. The artist must stand alone to observe the crowd, right?"
Chuck Bass.
(Source: dangerouslydebonair)
This to me just screams, refined, elegant, dandy!
Menswear is a game of proportions and balance. A large degree of our pursuit for gentlemanly aesthetics boils down to these two elementary ideas; whether we are talking about colours or patterns, cuts or cuffs, the kernel of discussion ultimately revolves around the topics of proportion and balance.
Mr. TC (the man above) understands proportions and balance well. Pay attention to the area around his collar - the texture, pattern and colour of his shirt, tie and jacket are in perfect balance, his lapel is neither Mad Men skinny nor Sportscaster wide, there is no space between the collar point and the lapel, and collar gap is non-existent.
If Menswear101 had a textbook, this would be the cover.
(Source: bespokenn)
the-ill: Nothing like matching your facial expression to your suit…this one screams! " I'M CHUCK BASS"
(source: the-ill.com)
(via tetinotete)