text:
Garlic cloves steeped in milk and butter lend a light garlicky flavor to this easy to prepare side dish.
Perfect with grilled seafood and superb when served with au jus or gravy beside roasted meat.
Petite gold potatoes work best for boiling and smashing. If you can't find them, use the smallest Yukon Gold or Fingerlings' available, and quarter them before cooking.
Leaving the thin potato skins on lends texture and earthiness when combined with a touch of nutmeg and fresh grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
Smashing everything together creates irresistible, creamy and hearty mashed taters.
To prepare the Smashed Garlic Taters you will need:
- 2 lbs petite gold potatoes, scrubbed and rinsed well
- Pinch of salt
- 2 cups skim milk
- 6 peeled garlic cloves
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup fresh grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
- Pinch of fresh grated nutmeg
- Salt and pepper to taste
Place the potatoes and salt in a medium saucepan. Add enough water to cover the potatoes, place a lid on the saucepan, and heat over medium heat to a light boil for 15-20 minutes.
Place the milk, garlic cloves, and butter in a small saucepan and heat over medium low heat, stirring occasionally while the potatoes cook. Do not allow the mixture to boil, reducing the heat as necessary to hold a light simmer.
When the potatoes are tender and easy to pierce with a fork, strain out the water and place the cooked potatoes back into the saucepan. Cook on low heat for a minute to steam off excess water.
Remove the garlic cloves from the milk mixture and discard. Pour half of the milk mixture over the potatoes and smash with a potato masher or heavy slotted spoon.
Add the grated cheese and remaining milk mixture a little at a time while mashing until desired creaminess is achieved (do not use all of the milk mixture for a thicker consistency).
Stir in a pinch of fresh grated nutmeg and taste. Reseason with salt and pepper.
(Servings= 6-8, Prep Time= 5 mins, Cook Time= 25 mins)
Print Recipe Here
My thanks to Kay (and her mom) at Kayotic Kitchen, for the idea to add nutmeg to my smashed potatoes. Mom's Mashed Cheesy Potatoes is just one of the incredible Dutch inspired recipes on her tantalizing food blog.
Something about that touch of nutmeg that just brings it all together…
Thank you for reading my blog!


text:
The Artolater
A blog mostly about books, but often about movies, music, television, sometimes religion, and yes, occasionally, breakfast.
04 December 2013
Review: Slimed!: An Oral History of Nickelodeon's Golden Age
Slimed!: An Oral History of Nickelodeon's Golden Age by Mathew Klickstein
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
In terms of my television consumption, I pretty much grew up on Nickelodeon. I loved Pinwheel when I was really little, ate up Rugrats and Doug and Hey Dude and Clarissa Explains It All and You Can't Do That on Television and Danger Mouse and...I could go on and on.
I was a big Nickelodeon fan.
Slimed is a book chock-full of interviews with pretty much everyone alive who was involved with the creation of the network as well as the actors and showrunners involved with all the classic shows. It's rather epic and exhaustive in its ability to find people involved, and it's a pretty solid oral history up there with the Live From New York oral history of Saturday Night Live from a few years back.
In terms of insider information, there's plenty there for everyone. Discussion of growing up on television, how people got paid, how Double Dare worked, the slime, the awards...one could go on and on and on with how much information is in this book, which is pretty great as a first-hand account.
The downside is that the book doesn't detail who does what until the end, which makes following the narrative a pain. Chances are you know who Melissa Joan Hart played. But do you really know the name of the actor who played Donkey Lips on Salute Your Shorts? Or even the showrunners for some of these programs? I didn't, and having to flip around constantly was frustrating.
Overall, a pretty great read. Definitely perfect for television buffs and nostalgia lovers alike.
View all my reviews
02 December 2013
Review: Summer Knight
Summer Knight by Jim Butcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I continue to be absolutely shocked at how much more I'm enjoying this series from book to book.
Summer Knight takes place a year after Grave Peril, and Harry's not in a good place. He's still trying to sort out the negative repercussions of the end of the previous book, and now even the Wizard Council is more than a little upset. Harry's got a massive, massive target on his back both professionally and personally, and it's not really clear how he'll work it out.
What I Liked: The unpredictability, because so many of the situations Dresden ends up have no obvious exit. It's continually impressive that the situations work out the way they do, good or bad. Plus, there continues to be real danger. People have struggles, Harry seems very mortal still, and so on. I also liked that we got a lot of background regarding the warring factions, as well as some good internal politics. I love me some internal politics.
What I Didn't Like: For as much as I can praise the series for making Harry fallible and experiencing consequences for his actions, it's becoming kind of standard that he finds some bizarre, unique way to weasel out of every situation. For the sake of my sanity at this point, I hope that improves.
Overall, another quality volume in what's fast-becoming a favorite series for me. I hate that I've decided one a month is enough for me, because I really would just mainline all of these at this point.
View all my reviews
25 November 2013
Review: The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling
The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling by David Shoemaker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
In the last year, I've been roped back into the world of professional wrestling. A rite of passage for any preteen boy as is, it's decidedly uncool as a thirtysomething, but being older now I've come to appreciate a lot of the unique storytelling aspects that go along with the goofy lowbrow craziness that comes with the
David Shoemaker is best known for his Deadspin "Dead Wrestler of the Week" pieces as well as writing a regular column for Grantland on the ins and outs of the WWE. It's probably my favorite feature on Grantland these days if only because he appears to be the only mainstream writer taking wrestling seriously, and giving him a full length book opportunity to discuss the topic was something I had to jump at.
The book follows two parallel paths. One of the paths is a detailed history of professional wrestling in America, running from the early stages of the genre through the territorial system and in through the Attitude Era of the WWE. The book is near perfect in this regard - it takes a very straightforward, sober look at the ups and downs of the industry, staying serious while being unafraid to come down on some of the more ridiculous or negative turns. While not fully exhaustive, it is surprisingly detailed and might very well be the best printed piece on the subject we have.
The other portion of the book is a series of reprints, contextually located in the era the book is covering, of the "Dead Wrestler" columns from Deadspin. Seeing as I hadn't read these again since my return to the wrestling fold, they were an interesting look back, but they were also pieces I had already read. As Shoemaker may be catching an audience that he didn't previously have, I'm not completely against the reprints here, but, in this case, it felt less like a value add and more like padding for a book that would have understandably been shorter without them.
Really, though, the strength of the book is the context. There's a wealth of information here for anyone who isn't versed in the history of wrestling promotions, and it's a book I can see lending to a number of people who are interested more in the bigger picture than just a bunch of oversized men fake fighting on television. It would benefit from some more information from the last few years, but, as a whole, an excellent read anyone who has had any interest in wrestling, past or present, to give some time.
View all my reviews
24 November 2013
Review: The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Closer to a 3.5, I'm as surprised as you are.
Michael Pollan is one of those food types who has spent a lot of time pushing a lot of anti-scientific ridiculouslessness, especially about genetic modifications of food. It makes it difficult to take a lot of what he has to say at face value, as well as his approaches on issues of food and the "right" way to do agriculture and food gathering.
On the other hand, there's nothing inherently wrong with his point of view regarding the moral, ethical, or even preferential issues with food collection and production. You don't need to be a slave to science while still being uncomfortable with some of the practices in agriculture and meat production. Pollan truly spends more of his time in this book on those issues than real science.
So The Omnivore's Dilemma, in a sense, is a great book when you look at it through the lens of someone who is interested in understanding their food. The production aspects (good, bad, or indifferent), the historical contexts of agriculture, and so on, they're all really interesting reads.
Where Pollan falls flat, beyond his lack of credibility on the scientific aspects, is his connections. He spends a significant amount of time with Joel Salatan of the Polyface Farm, someone who is one of those crunchy libertarian types, but you'd never really understand that most of his problem is regulatory rather than about the actual food supply. He spends some time with ethicist Peter Singer, who is extremely controversial with some questionable points of view on everything, although you'd never know it reading the text. Even nods to PETA and such along the way certainly pulled me out of the text a bit - you can have a serious nonfiction read about food, or you can go along with unserious sources and points of reference. You can't have both.
Overall, I'm surprised to say that this is worth reading. Whichever direction you fall in the basic debates, you'll probably find something of value. There is a "reader beware" concept to go along with it, but it's not enough to toss this into a pile, never to be seen again.
View all my reviews
06 November 2013
Review: Grave Descend
Grave Descend by John Lange
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was a freak of nature of sorts growing up. I learned how to read before I was three years old, and I was reading books for "adults" by the time I hit third or fourth grade. While the first true "adult" book I read was The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks, the first mainstream adult fiction I read was actually Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park. Right around when the movie came out, I became a full-on Crichton addict, tearing through pretty much everything he had under his name (yes, that included fourth grade me reading Disclosure and learning much more about sexual harassment than I needed to). I'm not sure if I ended up liking The Andromeda Strain or Sphere more when it was all said and done, but there was a fair amount of time where I would have considered Crichton my favorite author.
Crichton passed away a few years ago, and Titan Books is re-releasing a number of his pulpy adventure novels he wrote under the pen name John Lange as part of their Hard Case Crime imprint. Grave Descend takes us on an expedition to the sea with a man who is an explorer of sunken ships. He has been hired on to explore the wreckage of the yacht Grave Descend, but there are a lot of conflicting stories surrounding the wreck. To make matters worse, the competing interests seem pretty angry, and there may be some cargo on the ship that is causing a lot of the grief.
The story is extremely simple, which is kind of the point. It's a pulpy, fast-paced thriller of a book that wastes little time with exposition or unique dialogue, instead going straight for the point. This might not sound entirely enjoyable, but in terms of it being a novel from a certain era looking at a certain type of motif, it works really well. It actually reminded me a bit of the beach-type stuff in the Daniel Craig Casino Royale, if that makes any sense - just a rollicking, punchy good time.
Having read a number of the Hard Case Crime books from Titan at this point, this isn't better than the Stephen King Joyland publication from earlier this year, but is miles ahead of the Harlan Ellison piece. Crichton, even with his faults, was a talented writer, and it's a nice historical piece here to get an idea of what his writing was like outside of the scientific/biological thrillers he's known for. If you're picking these up for the writing, you're doing it for the wrong reason, as they're not really great stories. They are, however, fun, short diversions with the added benefit of the writer being a well-known legend in the community.
View all my reviews
Review: Grave Descend
Grave Descend by John Lange
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was a freak of nature of sorts growing up. I learned how to read before I was three years old, and I was reading books for "adults" by the time I hit third or fourth grade. While the first true "adult" book I read was The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks, the first mainstream adult fiction I read was actually Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park. Right around when the movie came out, I became a full-on Crichton addict, tearing through pretty much everything he had under his name (yes, that included fourth grade me reading Disclosure and learning much more about sexual harassment than I needed to). I'm not sure if I ended up liking The Andromeda Strain or Sphere more when it was all said and done, but there was a fair amount of time where I would have considered Crichton my favorite author.
Crichton passed away a few years ago, and Titan Books is re-releasing a number of his pulpy adventure novels he wrote under the pen name John Lange as part of their Hard Case Crime imprint. Grave Descend takes us on an expedition to the sea with a man who is an explorer of sunken ships. He has been hired on to explore the wreckage of the yacht Grave Descend, but there are a lot of conflicting stories surrounding the wreck. To make matters worse, the competing interests seem pretty angry, and there may be some cargo on the ship that is causing a lot of the grief.
The story is extremely simple, which is kind of the point. It's a pulpy, fast-paced thriller of a book that wastes little time with exposition or unique dialogue, instead going straight for the point. This might not sound entirely enjoyable, but in terms of it being a novel from a certain era looking at a certain type of motif, it works really well. It actually reminded me a bit of the beach-type stuff in the Daniel Craig Casino Royale, if that makes any sense - just a rollicking, punchy good time.
Having read a number of the Hard Case Crime books from Titan at this point, this isn't better than the Stephen King Joyland publication from earlier this year, but is miles ahead of the Harlan Ellison piece. Crichton, even with his faults, was a talented writer, and it's a nice historical piece here to get an idea of what his writing was like outside of the scientific/biological thrillers he's known for. If you're picking these up for the writing, you're doing it for the wrong reason, as they're not really great stories. They are, however, fun, short diversions with the added benefit of the writer being a well-known legend in the community.
View all my reviews
05 November 2013
Review: The In-Between
The In-Between by Barbara Stewart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
If I have a complaint about current young adult trends, it seems like it's that things go dark not because they have to, but because the author wants to. The In-Between is one of those books that I liked less the longer I thought about it, and introduces a lot of stuff that didn't really feel necessary to get to its point.
Our lead character is a girl, Elanor, who failed in a suicide attempt. She meets another girl who is an interesting influence on her, and Elanor's life becomes obsessed with this new girl at the center of it. Things go darker and darker, and questions start to rise about this new girl and her impact on Elanor's well-being.
There's a part of me that wants to blow the whole plot open to explain why this book was so strange and unsettling. A lot of the plot points felt like they were trying to be deliberately shocking as opposed to a good reason for character development. They went to a lot of places they didn't have to go in order to get there, and it just didn't work well for me.
I know a few readers who would probably really enjoy this. It has its audience, but I'm not convinced at all it's good for a discerning reader who will likely see through the contrived plot steps along the way. Not something I can actively recommend.
View all my reviews
04 November 2013
Review: Grave Peril
Grave Peril by Jim Butcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Closer to a 4.5, but the short answer for Grave Peril is that I ain't afraid of no ghost.
The plot of this volume gets a little more complicated than previous volumes. On one hand, we've got vampires. Lots and lots of vampires. A vampire court. Vampires. I wasn't initially excited about the prospect, because vampires, but Jim Butcher hasn't steered me wrong yet, and it wasn't long before we got to the other hand: crazed ghosts wreaking a lot of havoc and problems throughout Chicago.
The one negative I've found with The Dresden Files so far is the way Butcher establishes his world. There are rules and issues to follow, and occasionally we'll be pulled out of the narrative, often by Harry himself, to explain them. That sort of establishment is not very organic at times, and falls into the key issue I've had with urban fantasy to start - the almost automatic need to make sure the worldbuilding is secure because it's not standard majestic sword and sorcery.
This isn't always a bad thing. Part of what makes Dresden work is Harry's need to follow the arcane rules of the magical world around him, and it introduces a lot of danger not only for him, but now for others around him. Could they be introduced in a better way in the narrative? Sure, why not? With that said, the only urban fantasy I've read so far that hasn't gotten hung up in that sort of descriptive speedbump is Max Gladstone's Three Parts Dead, which is arguably not a traditional urban fantasy anyway. It might just be part of the genre, and that's okay.
With all that said, my criticisms feel a little empty because this book was even better than the first two, and watching the trajectory of these stories continue to rise even as things get a lot more complicated? It's great, especially in comparison to my last readthrough of The Wheel of Time, which could charitably be called painful at some times. At 340 pages, it never felt overdone, the last 100 pages may as well have been pure action, and it's fun to see smart, heroic characters making choices that you expect smart, heroic characters to make, even when they don't necessarily work. Kudos to Butcher as well for continuing to put his characters in real danger and giving real consequences to the actions made. A great gut punch occurs in this book that wasn't anticipated for me at all, and it was both stunning and refreshing.
I am so glad I'm reading these, and moreso that I'm enjoying them as much as I am. I actually can't wait for the next volume at this point.
View all my reviews
Review: Burning Paradise
Burning Paradise by Robert Charles Wilson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A lot of times, we read science fiction for the escapism aspect or the cool futurist ideas, or even just as a reflection on current society. It's a much more simple exchange for me, where I enjoy science fiction more for the ideas and worldbuilding than I do for a specific message. When a book that has something to say comes along while also filling in a lot of those gaps for me, all the better. Robert Charles Wilson is probably best known for his modern sci-fi classic Spin, but I became a big fan following his alternate history/science fiction end-of-oil society mashup Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America from a few years ago. Seeing that Burning Paradise was coming soon, I looked forward to reading it. The book spends a lot of time on communications, but it actually feels more analogous to what we know so far about the upcoming Almost Human television show.
In the world of Burning Paradise, pretty much all the negative stuff that happened in the twentieth century of the United States didn't happen. No World Wars, society is in great shape, and so on. The problem is that the situation is entirely manufactured, as there is some sort of life form in the atmosphere that has been impacting our relationships on earth with subtle changes to our memories, our actions, and our future. When this was discovered, most of those who discovered it were killed, and the rest scattered into hiding. Unfortunately for them, this life form is now on earth in humanoid sim form, and they're out to make sure the secret stays intact.
I couldn't stop thinking about Almost Human while reading it, only because the themes of distrust of simulated android-type beings was kind of jolted into me from the constant commercials for the show. It's not the fairest comparison, though, because the story Wilson tells is one more of worldwide conspiracy and trust than a science fiction police procedural. The book is imperfect, but it works in that regard - it's an interesting, albeit unoriginal, concept told in a very engaging way. It puts all its cool ideas up front and mixes them in well with a plot that's surprisingly action-oriented.
I think my issues with the book, overall, come more from the expectation Wilson brings to his work than anything else. This wouldn't feel so pedestrian coming from an unknown, and while the book is very good, I've come to expect bigger and broader ideas at this point. If anything, this might be a good alternative entry point for Wilson's works than Spin, especially for readers who may be adverse to harder science fiction. Without a super-high concept or significantly unrealistic settings, it's a nice tweak to an existing formula.
Overall, definitely recommended. Will rightfully be heralded as one of the better science fiction books of 2013, and a fine addition to Wilson's body of work so far.
View all my reviews
Review: Athlete vs. Mathlete: Double Dribble
Athlete vs. Mathlete: Double Dribble by W. C. Mack
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
While I enjoyed the first book in this series, I'll admit to not having incredibly high expectations for the second book. The initial read was a fairly inoffensive middle grade sports book that fits right into the wheelhouse of that boy reader looking for sports books that are a little more modern. While one could take issue with the somewhat unrealistic and disproportionate responses of some of the characters to the happenings in the story, a lot can be easily forgiven. The second book still runs into that issue somewhat, but it's still a much more cohesive story with a more realistic start and finish than the first book, to its benefit.
The twins from the first book now have the streak happening with the basketball team, and things are going swimmingly until another pair of twins moves into the district and get placed on the team. They're completely in sync and somewhat aloof, and the existing twins aren't too pleased about being displaced on the team, even if they recognize that the new members are better than they are on a whole. The story continues along with the kids learning to cope (or, in some cases, not cope) with the unexpected changes in the story.
The kids do come up with some really mean ways to deal at some points, but the overall finishing message is not terrible at all, and this story overall flows much better and works on more levels than the debut volume. The idea of "Athlete versus Mathlete" has been pretty much abandoned at this point, however, as it comes out more as "jock problems" than using the combined strengths of the two kids to solve their problems. Overall, probably close to a 4.5, and definitely worth a look for this age group.
View all my reviews
31 October 2013
Review: The Naturals
The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
While I do find myself becoming somewhat tired of the "school age kid is X, and is enrolled in special school Y" trope that comes across so often, I was still drawn in by the concept behind "The Naturals." I was hoping that its spy/intelligence aspects would deliver in a way the "Gallagher Girls" series has for me. While there is a lot to like, both in terms of pacing and in story, the book ultimately suffers from being more formulaic than groundbreaking, and more procedural than promising.
The story is about a girl, Cassie, who is somehow pretty solid at reading people. Her mother was murdered years earlier, and the case remained unsolved, but the FBI has taken notice of her standing and recruits her to join a program where teens try to break the code on a series of cold cases. The kids in this program are also unnaturally good at certain aspects of psychological activity (like being able to read/influence emotions), and things get a little more serious a lot quicker than anyone thought.
Cassie is a great character, and the concept behind this entire idea is worthwhile. Where the book stumbles a bit, however, is where it stops feeling special. There are some fantastical/science fictional elements to the plot, for sure, but those are very quickly tampered down in favor of a more NCIS/Law and Order style procedural drama/thriller atmosphere that doesn't quite work with the tone or setup. If the book chose one route or the other, it may have been a lot more successful, but where the story instead tries to be all things to all people in a sense, it just left too much to the side in favor of playing the standard crime drama card.
Flaws and all, it was a good read, just not great. I do look forward to the next volume regardless, in hopes that things might get streamlined a bit, but this ultimately missed the mark somewhat for me.
View all my reviews
28 October 2013
Review: Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America's Public Schools
Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America's Public Schools by Diane Ravitch
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
I can't remember the last time I was so frustrated reading a book. I don't like to say a book is one star very often, because I believe one star represents some sort of irredeemable qualities that cannot be rescued. Sadly, this is one of those books, as it's a pile of strawmen in a heap, knocked over by ridiculous conclusions and poor logic.
On the basic stuff, I actually found myself nodding in agreement with her. There are a lot of myths about education reform that should probably be addressed, there is a problem with testing, with Common Core, with all sorts of different ways to address it.
And then comes the "schools are being privatized by corporate interest groups" conspiracy theory.
It's like someone talking about global warming, making a ton of great points, and then blaming the whole thing on moon men. After spending pages talking about what is and isn't a problem, the solution is to say there isn't really a problem, teachers and education are better than they've ever been, and those evil ALEC corporate funded stooges are lying to you about all of it while privatizing public schools beneath our noses. Vouchers? ALEC-positioned attempts to get public money in private schools. Merit pay and tenure reform? ALEC-positioned attempts to run schools more like the businesses that now apparently own them. Common Core? Corporate enrichment by Bill Gates. There are great arguments for and against all of these things. Ravitch fails to make them, instead choosing to address arguments no one is seriously making and ensuring that she positions those who disagree with her as pro-business stooges.
The issue is not so much with her research (although there have been some murmurings about that) but with her conclusions. Beyond the conspiracy theorizing, her position is profoundly anti-technology, anti-reform period (except when it benefits whatever standard position she holds), and pro-expansion of the only things both sides of the debate agree with, yet she does not. For as much as she feels her position is based in data, her strong feelings toward universal preschool (and things that look like Head Start even though she doesn't name it as such) is especially baffling.
Overall, this is not a book that's worth your time. Even an education extremist as myself who really thinks the entire system needs to be imploded and reworked from the bottom up recognizes that it's an extreme position at its core. Ravitch not only fails to recognize her errors and her issues with the conclusions, but considers herself in the position of the stalwart defender of a system that, because it's working better than ever, needs few changes outside of the ones that would benefit her preferred groups. Very unfortunate.
View all my reviews
25 October 2013
Review: The Incrementalists
The Incrementalists by Steven Brust
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
There's something to be said about high concept science fiction and fantasy. I love books with big ideas, and a lot of them work while a lot of them do not. The Incrementalists is not really positioned as a Big Idea book, but in a lot of ways it's exactly what it is. While big Big Idea is cool, the result ends up a little too formulaic for what I was looking for.
The book is about a group of people who have figured out a way to manipulate the memories of the world in small ways, incrementally. One of their members effectively goes off the deep end a bit, and it's up to the rest of the group to figure things out and, in a sense, save themselves in the process.
The idea and concept behind the group of people is great. I like the idea of a small cadre of people being able to manipulate memories and change things around, I thought the characters themselves, when they were distinguishable, were fun. The book is incredibly self-contained, however, with some strange choices throughout. The shifting of memories and personalities throughout is meant to be disorienting, I think, and it succeeds, but not in a good way but rather a frustrating one. The most troublesome part for me, though, is that this grand idea is effectively boiled down to a speculative murder mystery as opposed to something interesting and significant within the world itself.
Ultimately, not a bad read, just underwhelming. It was a significantly fast read for me on a whole, and it's worth checking out if the idea grabs you. I was just hoping for more.
View all my reviews
21 October 2013
Review: The Twelve
The Twelve by Justin Cronin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Closer to a 3.5.
I really, really enjoyed The Passage. I thought it was a solid modern take on the vampire genre and was a fun read overall. The Twelve, somehow only a middle book in the series, suffers a bit from being a little more allegorical and a little less direct in how it goes about its narrative. Middle book syndrome or an idea that exhausted itself? I don't know.
Regardless, the book jumps around timeline-wise a bit to give us more backstory on the main vamps, and to get into an infiltration scheme to turn the tide a bit. We meet a ton of new characters, we learn about more human interactions with the virus as opposed to the solid government conspiracy angle of The Passage, and, to its credit, we get a really fascinating conclusion to the whole thing.
The number one issue I had with the book is that it somewhat betrays the initial idea in The Passage. It stops being that conspiracy book and becomes something incredibly different, and while that different story is good, it would have worked better had it not been attached to the existing plot. It has a very World War II infiltration feel to it in a lot of ways, which I'm not sure was the intent, but was something I walked away with a bit. It just took too long to get there, even though "there" was a good time.
Overall, a solid read, although definitely flawed. As there's supposed to be a third volume sometime, I have no clue where it will go based on this ending, but I'll still go and pick it up. Hopefully the third one brings things back around to where the first was plot-quality-wise.
View all my reviews
17 October 2013
Review: The Midlife Crisis of Commander Invincible
The Midlife Crisis of Commander Invincible by Neil O Connelly
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Probably closer to a 2.5 for me.
There's a mixed history for me with prose superhero stories. Some, like Austin Grossman's Soon I Shall Be Invincible, work within the framework of the stories it is trying to ape in prose to come up with a good story. Some, like Brandon Sanderson's Steelheart, subvert those tropes in a way that speaks to the stories it is mimicking, but with a good twist. The Midlife Crisis of Commander Invincible tries to be the latter more than the former, but with a slightly different twist to it. While it tries, in a sense, to be a character study of an older, aging superhero (think an adult version of Mr Incredible from The Incredibles), the book comes across more like a McSweeney's-fication of the superhero prose genre than anything else, and it doesn't always work.
The story is pretty basic in the regards that Commander Invincible is older now, and a lot of the threats that he's accustomed to are gone. Yes, superheroes are still a thing, but supervillains not so much. Plus, home life isn't so great for the Commander, with his wife possibly seeking something different and his kids feeling detached. Commander Invincible chooses the path of trying to reassert his relevance while balancing everything else going on in his world.
On the surface, this is really less a book about superheroes than it is a book about getting old within a superhero universe. In that aspect, it does succeed to a point, as it does the one thing that many superhero stories in general do not attempt, and that's bring a level of humanity to the heroes themselves. The problem is that this book overplays its hand more than a little bit in trying to subvert the genre in favor of the narrative it has drawn. There's a significant "get on with it" feel to the entire story that exists throughout the whole thing, choosing to be a deeper character study than a story. It's a choice that doesn't always work, and (especially when it comes to a genre like this) almost feels like false advertising.
When I say it's like "the McSweeney's-fication" of the trope, I mean it in that it feels like it's intentionally throwing a curveball with a wink and a nod to a more literary audience even though everything else suggests people who are looking for a funnier take on an existing idea. Sometimes that works, but this, unfortunately, did not. If you're looking for superhero stories that don't do the same thing over and over, there are a few out there worth noting. If you're looking for coming of age and superheroes, there are probably better comic books that figure this out as well. As for this, it's a good shot that simply didn't work for me at all.
View all my reviews
15 October 2013
Review: Dracula Cha Cha Cha
Dracula Cha Cha Cha by Kim Newman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
First, to get it out of the way, this might be the worst title for a book I've ever encountered.
It makes sense in the story, as it's a reference to something somewhat specific, but still, I'm glad they did a change to the title later. The story actually completes (to a point, apparently) the story started back in the first book, where this takes place close to Dracula's impending wedding in the 1950s. A lot of loose ends are tied, some new ones created, but it's a complete story for the first time.
I liked this one a lot more than the first two books, in part because of the plot being more cohesive, in part because I liked the setting more, but mostly because things actually happen in this book, which was not as evident in the first two. Part of it may be this book's age, which is only about 15 years out as opposed to the 20+. Part of it might just be that it's a better book. Part of it might lend itself to the fact that an endpoint exists and the plot actually moves toward it. Could be any of those reasons, but, regardless, I was rewarded for sticking with the series (even though it wasn't bad for most of it).
The next (last?) book is Johnny Alucard, and I'm interested to see how it fits in with a story that feels finished. We'll see...
View all my reviews
13 October 2013
Review: United We Spy
United We Spy by Ally Carter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
It's ultimately rare that a final book in a long-running, highly-regarded series can leave you completely satisfied, never mind possibly be the best entry in the overall series. United We Spy does both, and does it so well that I'm genuinely sad that the story is complete.
Essentially, the problems that kept arising in the most recent books finally come to a head. No one can be trusted, there are bombings and murders, and Cammie is essentially forced to lead the charge with her Gallagher Girls to try and save her friend while also maybe sort of kind of having to disrupt plans to usher in World War III.
No big deal, right?
Some of the earlier books spent too much time keeping the foot off the gas, but United We Spy really hits the ground running and doesn't stop until the last few pages. We get a sense of danger that hasn't really existed throughout the story, some sophisticated plotting, and a good balance of fun, suspense, and surprises. It's crafted incredibly well, and I really can't complain.
This has always been a favorite series of mine, and I'm glad to see that there's no real letdown to speak of. It's a really strong achievement, and I'm glad that there's nothing here to disappoint. If you've been holding off on finishing this series, you'll be doing yourself a disservice at this point. One of the best young adult books of the year.
View all my reviews
10 October 2013
Review: Steelheart
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Man, is Brandon Sanderson good or what?
I will reflexively read anything he puts out there, so that I'd read and probably enjoy Steelheart is no surprise for me. What I didn't expect was such a solid start for someone who's known more for fantasy than sci-fi in his first solid young adult effort.
The idea behind the book is fun: the nation is effectively run by supervillains, or "Epics," and the one running Chicago is Steelheart. Steelheart killed David's father, and David wants in with the insurgent opposition group, The Reckoners, to get his revenge. The problem is that Steelheart appears to be invincible. The wrinkle is that David's seen Steelheart get hurt before, and thinks he can do it again.
It's a fun, fast-paced ride in every way. The story flows extremely quickly from one point to the next, it's dark without being super negative, it has a lot of good action scenes to go along with some great worldbuilding, which is a standard of Sanderson. Just great.
We have to wait until next fall for the sequel, and that makes me sad. Alas...
View all my reviews
08 October 2013
Review: Blythewood
Blythewood by Carol Goodman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Blythewood is a strange, different YA book that involves a magical school and witches and all sorts of creepy things. This is a long-standing trope among this age group, and yet this book works significantly better than most of them, creating a rich world with a lot of unexpected happenings.
The plot is fairly basic: after Avaline's mother commits suicide following her survival from the Triangle Shirtwaist fire. Avaline is brought to a boarding school - the same one her mother was expelled from as a child, and there she learns more about her own life, her mother, and a lot of details about things she never understood before.
This works because it has an epic-style length and still moves at a pretty breakneck pace. Avaline is a great character, the school is mysterious and interesting without being a retread, and there's equal parts whimsy and craziness. I read this some time ago, and many of the themes and situations still resonate extremely strongly in my mind.
I wish I had a lot more to say about this book except that I really, really loved this book. If you enjoy stories with magic and fantasy, and are looking for something a little more mature for the YA age group, grab this one immediately.
View all my reviews
03 October 2013
Review: The 5th Wave
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Literally one of the better alien invasion novels I've ever been able to read. I enjoyed Rick Yancey's Alfred Kropp series quite a bit, but the size and scope of this one was putting me off for a while. Thankfully, a few people recommended it, I dove in, and quickly mowed down about 300-odd pages in the first sitting.
It's that good.
The story is pretty simple. An alien spaceship comes to earth, kills off a small number of people in an EMP in the first wave, and a larger group in the second, and so forth. We follow Cassie and her little brother as they work toward survival in this new world where the aliens are taking over.
The book is solid. It's fast-paced, plenty of action, it doesn't shy away from good sci-fi elements, and it stays well within the young adult universe while doing so. It reads like YA, which feels a little off-putting given the subject matter and some of what occurs, but it's less like a book and more like an action movie in structure. Plus, nothing seems overdone. There's a lot to keep you guessing throughout, and the setup is ripe for a sequel.
Overall, a solid A. I don't know what I would have preferred to make it even better, but at this point I'm just grasping at things. If you want a solid, quick sci-fi read for an age group sorely in need of books like it, The 5th Wave is absolutely it. Can't wait for the sequel.
View all my reviews
30 September 2013
Review: The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett
The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett by Tom Angleberger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
One of my favorite middle grade reads is Frindle. A story about a kid who bucks authority by calling a pen a "frindle," I always thought that the book (and most of Andrew Clements's school stories) were way more anti-authority than teachers would accept. Alas, Frindle is almost 20 years old, but The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett has come at exactly the right time to carry that torch.
The cynic in me thinks this is more an attempt to stake out a certain place in the broader debates over Common Core and standardized testing than to continue the story of Dwight and Origami Yoda, but I'm willing to forgive it because it's so well-done and so much fun. Given that the school didn't do so hot on their standardized tests, the principal has chosen to more or less eliminate electives in favor of test prep, complete with extremely hokey and poorly done videos and worksheets. The kids want their electives back, so it becomes a seesaw back and forth as the kids threaten to tank the tests, or to not improve, and the story is a war of attrition throughout without a clear conclusion.
There's a lot to like here, from putting the controversies around standardized testing in the forefront of the plot of a book a lot of kids will read, to the continually unique names of the origami Star Wars characters. The faster-than-usual pace combined with the message allows me to overlook some of the flaws and the fact that agenda-driven fictional books (especially for kids) often leave me uncomfortable.
Overall, a great addition to the series. Definitely looking forward to the next volume as well.
View all my reviews
Review: Fool Moon
Fool Moon by Jim Butcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Storm Front was good, but Fool Moon was great!
Fool Moon, if the title didn't tip you off, involves werewolves. The Dresden universe werewolves are a little different than the ones I'm familiar with (spoiler alert: werewolves have never been my thing), but there are some people who take on a more bestial quality, some that are super strong, the "loup-garou" (French for werewolf, naturally), and so on that are involved in a number of murders in Chicago. Harry Dresden, of course, is on the case, and onward we go from there.
What I liked: I complained a bit in the first book about the lack of danger. While I know there are a number of books left, there's was a solid feeling of danger for Harry throughout. He's shot, he's wheeling and dealing with demons, he's getting stabbed, possibly eaten...I knew he'd come away with his life intact, but there's absolutely no guarantee he'll come through clean, and that feels rare, even if it might not be.
I also like that the book is very clearly setting up little plot points for the future. Some are big, like the deals with the demon for Dresden's True Name, and some smaller, such as a certain person escaping to the Northwest at the end of the book or the abilities of the FBI. It's great to see some stuff laid out for the future in that regard.
Finally, kudos to Jim Butcher for making me care about werewolves for the first time. Just what I needed, another fictional trope to explore...
What I didn't like: In this case, actually, not too much. I thought it might have been a slower start than book one, but that's more than okay with how it ended up. I also still wish these books were slightly longer, if only to flesh out some of the more interesting pieces. I could have read 100 pages of Dresden interacting with the demon, but if it means it has to stretch out over 15 books? I'm okay with that, too.
I noted after Storm Front that this was more a dessert course for my literary meals, and this is largely true. With that said, Fool Moon definitely felt more substantive than its predecessor, and I am even more excited to jump into the next volume.
View all my reviews
28 September 2013
Review: Picture Me
Picture Me by Lori Weber
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
There's absolutely a place for those quiet, thoughtful types of books for kids. Some are done really well, like with Cynthia Lord. Others are good but not always for me, like with Linda Urban. Lori Weber's Picture Me tries to be that sort of quiet and thoughtful book, but doesn't really hit the mark.
The story is more about bullying and dieting and the impacts of self-image among teen girls. Spurned by reading a poem in class, the story follows Krista coping with social implications, with her own weight, and so on. There's bullying involved as well, because of course there is.
This largely ends up being a book that's about a lot of things that are hot button issues, but without a real cohesive point, it feels muddled. Krista isn't especially likable or sympathetic, and the bullying feels mild compared to other books that handle it. It tries really hard, but just doesn't work.
I will almost certainly look for more books from Weber, as there's something here. This book, unfortunately, just didn't work at all.
View all my reviews
24 September 2013
Review: Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth
Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Aslan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A 2 for motive, a 4 for scholarship.
With the kerfuffle about the interview on the Fix website regarding Aslan's credentials and the ensuing craziness that surrounded it, I went into the book kind of thinking it was a shame that a possibly interesting read was overshadowed by a nothingburger controversy. Then I read the intro, which at least gives the impression that this is a book less about Jesus and more about a man coming to terms with the "othering," as it were, he felt regarding faith, religion, and Christianity in the United States. That doesn't always lead itself to good scholarship - in fact, I can't say I've ever seen it come to that.
With that said, the book itself is interesting. Jesus is the central figure, as it would have to be, but the meat of the book, and the best parts, are the more contextual histories of the era and the time. It's definitely a look at the historical Jesus as opposed to the spiritual one, which explains a lot of the outrage, but the key points are getting that contextual era straight, and that's where this book succeeds. It's a very basic look, and probably won't be news to people with some information already, but still a different read for people who might have needed it.
Can I recommend it? Depends on what you're looking for, to be honest. I can't speak significantly for the actual scholarship, as this was never really my area, but in terms of history positioned in a certain era, you can absolutely do worse.
View all my reviews
19 September 2013
Review: Night Film
Night Film by Marisha Pessl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I think you might understand the feeling I'm about to put in front of you. Imagine something you really enjoy, something that isn't perhaps your main area of interest or employment, but it's a pretty deep interest nonetheless. One day, you're doing what you do, and you trip up on something really bizarre and definitely related. It stops being an interest, it ceases its existence as a hobby, and becomes a little more all-consuming. It may only happen for a short time, but you probably know this encompassing feeling pretty well from time to time.
Night Film is that feeling.
On its surface, Night Film is a standard journalistic detective novel with some modern flairs. The book peppers the story with a lot of fake found document-type stuff along the way - darknet webpages, online news articles, old Polaroids, and so on. They help illustrate the story of the daughter of a famous movie director who, following a public dark period, killed herself in a warehouse. What starts out as a simple investigation into a famous death becomes a rabbit hole of reclusive actors and filmmakers, dark magic, and the secret underbelly of the internet.
What's great about this book, beyond the fact that it's a mystery that was able to grab me very early on and keep me hooked, is how quickly it plays with perception and reality. It's impossible to know quite where things are going from scene to scene, the ability to trust anyone, from the narrator to the characters involved, disappears in a way we don't normally see in modern fiction. The stuff going on is genuinely creepy and would fit in well with any modern discussion of so-called "weird fiction." The book bends all sorts of genres and succeeds in not feeling overdone even though the book is about 600 pages long. It's a fast-paced, suspenseful burn.
To give away the real joy of this book, though, is to give away the ending, and even then...this is ultimately something that has to be experienced. It has to be experienced because I truly believe that anyone could find themselves in the shoes of McGrath, our "hero" as it were, for something of their own. The allure of falling into a story, the temptation of being completely consumed by it. Marisha Pessl makes it scary, and that's where the fun starts out.
I never got around to reading Special Topics in Calamity Physics, a book very well-regarded that I've had on my shelf for years. Night Film has ensured that that it will be read sooner rather than later, as Night Film is really one of the best things I've read this year. Great for fans of a good mystery, but rock-solid even for those lovers of genre and the underbelly of society on a whole. Definitely highly recommended.
View all my reviews
16 September 2013
Review: Theatre of the Gods
Theatre of the Gods by Matt Suddain
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
As someone who enjoys big, bombastic science fiction space operas, I've been waiting for a long time for Matt Suddain's Theatre of the Gods, which I first heard of ages ago and was able to read an advance copy of recently even though I'm unaware of any United States release date for it. Theatre of the Gods is indeed ambitious and expansive, with a very unique narration and narrative structure, but ultimately falls underneath its own weight and becomes a little messy and haphazard.
The story, in three parts, involves an explorer on a ship with an incredibly differing group of people as a crew. There's a space Pope they're fighting. Some creature called "The Sweety." It's almost pointless to try and derive an overarching plot from this, because part of the ambitiousness of this book is the small mini-tangents that the book and the crew go off on before what ends up being a semi-epic confrontation right at the end.
The downside to the book is, unfortunately, the scope and ambitiousness. With so many moving parts and so much going on, it's very difficult to keep tied together from time to time, and the narration (which I could not stop hearing in the voice of Cecil from Welcome to Night Vale) is interesting enough to almost pull you out of the proceedings a bit. With such an epic scope, it ends up being a little frustrating for things to not go the way one might expect in terms of a more linear narrative. A lot about this book is just difficult, and not in a good way.
My issues with Theatre of the Gods is ultimately one of too much in one place. Suddain is clearly a very talented writer, and I will almost definitely try out another one of his books, but I wish I had proceeded with more caution on this one on a whole, as it ultimately left me cold and frustrated.
View all my reviews
09 September 2013
Review: The Kennedy Chronicles: The Golden Age of MTV Through Rose-Colored Glasses
The Kennedy Chronicles: The Golden Age of MTV Through Rose-Colored Glasses by Kennedy
My rating: 0 of 5 stars
If you're a certain age, you probably hit the sweet spot of MTV - a little after the network finally solidified its image, but before the scourge of things like Total Request Live and the end of the animation block. For me, I probably started watching around 1993, which means I was too young to know much about the personalities of the VJs like Kennedy, but old enough to know who was who at the very least. Kennedy was probably my favorite, if only because she came across to me as the misfit toy of the group - not a model, not a comedian, sort of the nerdy type who wandered in and ended up getting a gig on TV. Now, today, she's a political spokeperson in libertarian circles, and she put out a book about her time at MTV, so I dove right at it.
The meat of the book is effectively the story of Kennedy at MTV. It trades back and forth between anecdotes about working at MTV, getting hired, getting fired, the Beach House, and so on, and contrasts it with some talk of the bands she met of the time, her personal relationships with many of the people involved, and so on. It's a lot of confessional, a little "look how cool I was," and a lot of topics over the 300 pages.
What worked for me was that there were a lot of interesting stories. She spent a lot of time with Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails and you get a different feel for him than perhaps the popular sentiment would represent. In what might be the biggest reveal, we get an admission from the lead singer of the Goo Goo Dolls that their hit song "Name" was actually inspired by and about Kennedy, which is stunning. A lot of other interesting pieces about various musicians, and a surface-level inside look at MTV in general? It's not bad, especially in the short chapter bite-sized chunks it comes in.
I do wish the book spent more time on some of the aftermath. I do wish we had a more in-depth look at MTV's operations. Some stories, like the ones with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, feel like they're missing key information that should have probably been disclosed later on. The book's hyper-focus on MTV was a little disappointing, and Kennedy was way too focused on her virginity in the old stories. Really?
Overall, I enjoyed the read. It is far from perfect, but as a fun nostalgia trip, especially as someone who was right in MTV's wheelhouse during a time when Kennedy was on, and as someone who was young enough to not know what anyone else really thought about her? Absolutely worth my reading time.
View all my reviews
Review: Guitar Notes
Guitar Notes by Mary Amato
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A very impressive read overall, and at times one of the better contemporary YA books I've read recently.
The story goes back and forth between a musician who's faltering at being a good student and is kind of coming off the rails a bit, and a good student who is kind of coming off the rails a bit in terms of being a good musician. Lyla's great, in fact, and could do some prestigious things with her cello, but something's not really right. Meanwhile, Tripp, our guitar-slinging oddball, is having trouble at home and school, and finds refuge in a practice room at the school. Trading days with each other, the two strike up a friendship and perhaps something more along the way.
This feels like the setup to a bad teen romance, and it's really not. It's a lot deeper than that on a lot of levels, and one of those rare books for those in their early teens that would probably be beneficial for their parents to read afterwards as well. There's a lot to be said about friendship, about priorities, and about listening to yourself and to those around you, lessons that don't really come across too often in fiction period.
The last quarter threw a complete curveball that was especially heartbreaking, and really changed the game in this book from being a pleasant read with some nice concepts to a book that was indeed something much, much more. When a book can already be pretty great and move into a brilliant territory for a time, that's worth something.
Highly recommended for everyone. This is one that's going to stay with me for a while.
View all my reviews
28 August 2013
Review: The Thrilling Adventure Hour
The Thrilling Adventure Hour by Ben Acker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Thrilling Adventure Hour is a live, scripted podcast that has a bunch of comedy stars and actors doing a more modern take on old-style radio. Last year, they launched a Kickstarter to do a graphic novel, among other things, and this collection is the end result. It's probably my favorite podcast, so diving right in made a lot of sense for me.
The good? The stories stay true to what we already expect from the minds behind Thrilling Adventure Hour. Some of the stories (like the "Moonshine Holler" short) are lifted straight from the podcast, others seemed new to me. It's fun to see a lot of the characters as they're envisioned, as opposed to knowing the actors who are portraying them on the podcast. The art is fun and incredibly colorful as well. As a fan, I really have no complaints.
The bad is that, while this can act as an entrypoint for new people, I can't imagine this drawing in a new audience. It's almost too good a portrayal in that regard where many of the jokes and catchphrases work because you hear it in your head, not because it necessarily works on its own. I want everyone to read the graphic novel, but they kind of have to listen to the podcast first for this to make a lot of sense.
Either way, I'm happy, and that's enough for me. Very glad this turned out well, and hopefully this won't be the last time we see a print version of the show.
View all my reviews
20 August 2013
Review: The Passage
The Passage by Justin Cronin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
So one of my favorite things is Lost. For the most part, Lost threw a lot of weird conspiracies and curveballs and plotlines at you, and kept you guessing while (until the last season, maybe) keeping the pedal to the floor in terms of reveals and activities. Television studios have spent years and millions of dollars trying to find "the next Lost," never quite getting there, when I personally think that the "next Lost" already exists in book form, and it's The Passage.
The Passage is effectively a book that's about 1/3rd "prequel" and 2/3rds story, where the first third exists mostly to set up the universe that exists for the rest of the story. In a sense, the first part is more compelling than the second if only because things move at a faster clip and we get a lot of answers to go along with the pile of interesting characters. The second part is very different, and has a much different feel to it, but essentially exists to justify the first part and to keep us locked in place after we're reined in. It's a government conspiracy, it's a sci-fi epic, it's a bit of a horror thriller, it's a survival book...it's a lot of things, and it somehow keeps all those balls in the air in spite of its complexity.
I don't want to give away the core part because, frankly, had I know the basic point, I would have never picked the book up. In terms of the specific subgenre it sits in, I can't think of a better modern novel that covers it, nor can I think of anything that comes close. That's how strong this is, and I'm kicking myself that the years and years of people demanding I read this book were unsuccessful, because I absolutely loved it.
The Twelve came out somewhat recently, and I'll be looking into that sooner rather than later. If you have interest in a good, modern story that will keep you off guard and just devour you, pick this one up. So, so glad I did.
View all my reviews
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)

subset: commoncrawl


text: Embed Flugplatz Fricktal-Schupfart (Richtung NO) Zoom Flugplatz Fricktal-Schupfart (Richtung NW) Zoom Olten, Born, La Dôle Gösgen, Schönenwerd, Mönch Aarau, Pilatus, Titlis Staffelegg, Lägern Fricktal, Schwarzwald, Feldberg Webcam Gipf-Oberfrick Zoom View on Aare river valley and swiss mountains (Villnachern) Zoom Aare river valley in Villnachern, Aargau, Switzerland Zoom Elfingen Switzerland Zoom Images Webcams (11) In 1668 Benedikt Martin had an accident on his way back to Keinberg. His horse drawn carriage ran over both his legs, but a lucky stone between his legs prevented them from being hurt. After this incident, people flocked on pilgrimages to the cross this miller had erected here. Even today, using a pendulum and rod an unusually strong energy is detected in the Buschbergkapelle. 0 Comments Comment this article Name* e-mail address* Anti Spam Code Repeat Anti Spam Code* Publish on Facebook Fields marked with * are required.


text:
A Winter Dream: A NovelThe author of the bestselling phenomenon The Christmas Box presents a new holiday novel about family, fate and forgiveness. Joseph Jacobson is the twelfth of thirteen siblings, all of whom are employed by their father's successful Colorado advertising company. But underneath the success runs a poisonous undercurrent of jealousy; Joseph is his father's favorite and the focus of his brothers' envy and hatred. When the father seems ready to anoint Joseph as his heir, the brothers make their move, forcing Joseph from the company and his Denver home, severing his ties to his parents and ending his relationship with his soon-to-be fianceé. Alone and lonely, Joseph must start a new life. Joseph joins a Chicago advertising agency where his creativity helps him advance high up in the company. He also finds hope for a lasting love with April, a kind woman with a secret. However, all secrets hold consequences, and when Joseph learns the truth about April's past, his world is again turned upside down. Finally, Joseph must confront his own difficult past in order to make his dreams for the future come true. A Winter Dream is an ingenious modern retelling of the Old Testament story of Joseph and the coat of many colors by the master of the holiday novel. *** The #1 bestselling master of the holiday novel reimagines the classic story of Joseph and the coat of many colors, presenting an inspiring modern story of family and forgiveness. The story I'm about to share with you begins with a dream. . . . Whether the dream was prophetic or the cause of all that happened, I'll never know. But for years, I kicked myself for telling the dream to my father, who, for reasons I'll never understand, chose to share it with my eleven brothers. —From the Prologue of A Winter Dream |
レビュー - レビューを書く
星 5 つ |
| ||
星 4 つ |
| ||
星 3 つ |
| ||
星 2 つ |
| ||
星 1 つ |
Review: A Winter Dream
ユーザー レビュー - Ali Saeeed - GoodreadsWinter dreams should definitely be recommended to every high school student because is one of the best books that was ever published. The book has all kind materials and traits that makes a book ... レビュー全文を読む
Review: A Winter Dream
ユーザー レビュー - Heather Scheer - GoodreadsThis book was written by one of my favorite authors. Every one of his books has been on the New York Times bestseller list. He seems to take the events out of someone's ordinary life and is able to ... レビュー全文を読む


text:
Multi QuoteGet multi quote
Click 'Add to multiquote' button
▼We have a variety of serviced offices available to rent near London Marylebone. Each serviced office near London Marylebone is offered at the best rates and suited to your individual needs and requirements.
Pricing from GBP30
Pricing from £500
Pricing from £550
Pricing from £685
Pricing from £375
Pricing from £300
FlexiOffices will source the best fit solution for your serviced office requirement, including:
We have comprehensively researched the serviced office market near London Marylebone and will be able to provide you with a full report of options and arrange viewings of those properties that are suitable. If you are looking for a London Marylebone serviced office, London Marylebone business centre, London Marylebone managed office, virtual office near London Marylebone or London Marylebone meeting room please use our search facility above or call 0800 197 1127. Companies of all sizes have used Flexioffices to research and satisfy their serviced office requirements near London Marylebone.
If you need a serviced office near London Marylebone tomorrow, no problem. You can move into your new office space immediately, providing the space required is available on site. We can book a viewing in minutes of your call and, subject to the business centre receiving a signed license agreement and cleared funds, there is no reason why your company can not take same or next day occupation.
Flexioffices provides a free search for the best serviced office spaces around the UK. We also provide a comprehensive search for international offices. Just call 0800 197 1127 and let us do all the work for you.
Marylebone is located in London's West End and is bordered to the south by Oxford Street, the West by Edgeware Road, the north by Marylebone Road and the east by Regent Street.
The landowner is the Howard de Walden Estate and the centre is Marylebone High Street. Marylebone High Street once rather run down and characterised by charity shops has experienced a renaissance due to good town planning by the Howard de Walden Estate and now boasts a vibrant mix of independent fashion shops with the Conran Shop at its northern end.
Centres of excellence for medicine and dentistry can be found in Harley Street and Wimpole Street. Mainline stations are located at Baker Street and Marylebone. Serviced offices in Marylebone can be found above Marylebone station as well as in the surrounding office buildings, serviced offices Harley Street and also serviced offices Manchester Street and serviced offices Manchester Square. There are two serviced office buildings in Cavendish Square, one in a listed stucco building and the other in a high rise 1960's tower.
Tenants with access to serviced offices in Marylebone have some of the best transport links in London. Fantastic motorway links, overground trains, London Underground tube trains, buses and airports are close and easy to access, ensuring that you are well connected when it comes to travelling to your serviced offices in Marylebone.
Airport Code: LCY
Distance from central London: 10 miles (16km)
Airport Code: LHR
Distance from central London: 15 miles (24km)
Airport Code: LGW
Distance from central London: 15 miles (24km)
Airport Code: LTN
Distance from central London: 32 miles (51km)
Airport Code: STN
Distance from central London: 40 miles (56km)
Marylebone serves the Chiltern Main Line and London to Aylesbury Line routes to High Wycombe, Aylesbury, Bicester, Banbury, Leamington Spa, Stratford-upon-Avon, Birmingham (Snow Hill) and Kidderminster.
Serviced offices in Marylebone are currently served by the following bus routes: 2, 13, 18, 27, 30, 74, 82, 113, 139, 189, 205, 274, 453 and night routes: N13, N18, N74.
Several underground stations serve Marylebone:
All Marylebone's stations are within Travelcard Zone 1.


text:
We use cookies to help us make our website better. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. To find out more see our cookie information page.
The Nutcracker at The Rock
Rachael Gillespie, Michaela Griffin, Josh Barwick and Matthew Broadbent made a flying visit to The Rock shopping centre in Bury, near Manchester, to take part in the unveiling of their Christmas lights before travelling to Manchester to perform in The Nutcracker at the Palace Theatre.
The dancers took part in a lantern parade with children from local schools and enchanted the crowd when they appeared alongside Santa in a giant snow globe wearing costumes from The Nutcracker.
The Nutcracker is now performing at Leeds Grand Theatre until 12 December. Book tickets from Leeds Grand Theatre.
Photos by Rachel Poole
Submitted by Northern Ballet on Mon 29 November, 2010
Add your comment using your Facebook ID


text:
Find better matches with our advanced matching system
45 / M / Bisexual / Single
Seattle, Washington
Ocicat's public match questions
If a significant other requested that you stop wearing antiperspirant or deodorant, is this something you would seriously consider?
Would you be turned off by the idea of dating someone who has never been kissed?
It's better to have an open-relationship because there'll be cheating in monogamous relationships anyways.
Are you interested in having a D/s (Dominance/submission) relationship?
Do you try to eat healthy, or do you just eat whatever you feel like?
- Show questions
- Sorted by magic
- He cares about
- About ethics
- About sex
- About religion
- About lifestyles
- About dating
- About other topics
- With explanations
- You've answered...
0 of his 3562 questions
Answer more questions for improved matching »


text:
Photo Gallery | "Memphis to Newtown" sends personalized gifts before holidays
A Memphis mother and group of concerned Memphians sent personalized gifts to Newtown a couple of days before Christmas.
When Jennifer Sadler got the word out about "Memphis to Newtown" people started donating teddy bears, time and retail discounts.
Sunday, Sadler reserved the events room at the Highland Avenue Jason's Deli for people to personalize the gifts - right down to the names of the families.
Since the December 14 shootings, the town has received tens of thousands of gifts ranging from toys to school supplies.
Community organizers are now working through a warehouse full of items to determine the best way to distribute.
The Sandy Hook School Support Fund at Newtown Savings Bank, established in partnership with the United Way, continues to receive donations.
As of Thursday Newtown, Connecticut officials are asking the public to stop sending gifts as they are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support.
However, caring people like Sadler are still appreciated by the Newtown community and the victims' families.


text:
- Connect with LRI:
- YouTube
- Change.org
The Lupus Research Institute is an official charity of the "Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)"
Drive Discoveries with Every Paycheck
92 Cents of Every Dollar Funds Research Toward a Cure
Every fall, federal employees are encouraged to participate in the CFC and allocate a portion of their paycheck to a pre-approved charity. The Lupus Research Institute (LRI) is very proud to be one of the charities approved for this program.
That means anyone who works for the federal government, military or U.S. Postal Service can designate $10, $20, or any portion of their biweekly paycheck as a pre-tax donation to the LRI's fight against lupus.
If you were among the thousands who generously contributed to the LRI in last year's campaign, THANK YOU! You helped us raise an incredible $4.6 million for new and groundbreaking lupus research in just one year. Check out the latest news on activities your contribution has helped achieve - and please, consider continuing your support so the drive for discovery accelerates at full throttle!
Designate your CFC contribution to the Lupus Research Institute
by using our CFC code number – #48891.
Please forward this page today to family and friends
(use the "share" link at the bottom of the page).
And if you're not a federal or U.S. Postal Service employee, see if your workplace conducts a United Way or workplace charitable campaign for which you can designate a gift to the Lupus Research Institute. Many do.
Our efforts combined can find a cure!
On the go?
Text INFO to 50555 and opt-in to receive breaking news about lupus on your mobile phone.
Message and Data Rates May Apply. Text STOP to 50555 to STOP. Text HELP to 50555 for HELP. Full Terms
Home | About Us | News | About Lupus | Our Research | Advocacy | How to Help | Our Partners
Contact | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Site Map | Terms of Use | Link to Us
Lupus Research Institute
330 Seventh Avenue, Suite 1701, New York, NY 10001


text:
Over the course of the past few weeks, since the company's announcement that it would no longer produce tablets and smartphones based on webOS and that it planned to spin-off its PC business, HP has been the target of a lot of negative sentiment.
Drive brand awareness and leads with content marketing.
Sign up with Facebook Sign up with Twitter Sign up with Linkedin
I don't have a Facebook, a Twitter or a LinkedIn account
Start a free trial of Scoop.it Business
Your new post is loading...
Delete the scoop?
Are you sure you want to delete this scoop?
Amanda Groover's curator insight,
November 23, 10:05 PM
Your brand needs to be on Google +, whether your customers are there or not! Google loves Google! Therefore, Google loves businesses that use Google +. Check out this infograph! |


text:
Drugs and medical devices tend to appear more beneficial in scientific papers if they were manufactured by the company that sponsored the study, showing that who pays for the clinical trial has a direct impact on the reported outcome, according to a new analysis by researchers at UCSF and the Cochrane Collaboration.
Latest News
December 14, 2012
Just a half-century after the first human ventured into space, commercial space travel — or "space tourism" — is quickly becoming a reality. A new UCSF study looks at the health implications of flying into outer space and suggests establishing health screening standards for private citizens who want to blast off.
December 14, 2012
Following the tragic shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut, UCSF child-trauma expert Patricia Van Horn, JD, PhD, says parents should be honest with their children about what happened.
December 06, 2012
Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes, which is affiliated with UCSF, are recommending a shift in efforts to treat Alzheimer's disease by developing drugs that target the apoE4 protein, which has long been associated with an increased risk for the disease.
November 20, 2012
The risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease following insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD) is very low, whether or not women have been screened beforehand for gonorrhea and chlamydia, according to a joint study of nearly 60,000 women by researchers at UCSF and Kaiser Permanente.
November 19, 2012
DNA sequences obtained from a handful of patients with multiple sclerosis at the UCSF Medical Center have revealed the existence of an "immune exchange" that allows the disease-causing cells to move in and out of the brain.
November 09, 2012
Seven global health experts from UCSF will speak this Saturday at TEDxSF, which is focused on the theme "7 Billion Well: Re-imagining Global Health."
October 29, 2012
Scientists at the UCSF-affiliated Gladstone Institutes and the Stanford University School of Medicine have discovered how modifying a gene halts the toxic buildup of a protein found in nerve cells. These findings point to a potential new tactic for treating a variety of neurodegenerative conditions, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease).
October 29, 2012
Gladstone President R. Sanders "Sandy" Williams, MD, a professor of medicine at UCSF, will receive the ARCS Foundation's 2012 Pacesetter Award next week for his lifelong dedication to furthering education and his extensive contributions to science and medicine.
October 15, 2012
Three UCSF faculty members are among the 70 newly elected members of the Institute of Medicine (IOM), which recognizes those who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service in the areas of medical sciences, health care and public health.


text:
How the Liver Works
Anatomy of the liver:
The liver is located in the upper right-hand portion of the abdominal cavity, beneath the diaphragm and on top of the stomach, right kidney, and intestines. The liver, a dark reddish-brown organ that weighs about 3 pounds, has multiple functions.There are two distinct sources that supply blood to the liver:
- Oxygenated blood flows in from the hepatic artery.
- Nutrient-rich blood flows in from the hepatic portal vein.
The liver consists of two main lobes, both of which are made up of thousands of lobules. These lobules are connected to small ducts that connect with larger ducts to ultimately form the hepatic duct. The hepatic duct transports bile produced by the liver cells to the gallbladder and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine).
What are the functions of the liver?
The liver regulates most chemical levels in the blood and excretes a product called bile, which helps to break down fats, preparing them for further digestion and absorption. All of the blood leaving the stomach and intestines passes through the liver. The liver processes this blood and breaks down the nutrients and drugs in the blood into forms that are easier to use for the rest of the body. More than 500 vital functions have been identified with the liver. Some of the more well-known functions include the following:- production of bile, which helps carry away waste and break down fats in the small intestine during digestion
- production of certain proteins for blood plasma
- production of cholesterol and special proteins to help carry fats through the body
- conversion of excess glucose into glycogen for storage (This glycogen can later be converted back to glucose for energy.)
- regulation of blood levels of amino acids, which form the building blocks of proteins
- processing of hemoglobin for use of its iron content (The liver stores iron.)
- conversion of poisonous ammonia to urea (Urea is one of the end products of protein metabolism that is excreted in the urine.)
- clearing the blood of drugs and other poisonous substances
- regulating blood clotting
- resisting infections by producing immune factors and removing bacteria from the bloodstream
The information on this Web page is provided for educational purposes. You understand and agree that this information is not intended to be, and should not be used as, a substitute for medical treatment by a health care professional. You agree that Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital is not making a diagnosis of your condition or a recommendation about the course of treatment for your particular circumstances through the use of this Web page. You agree to be solely responsible for your use of this Web page and the information contained on this page. Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and information providers shall not be liable for any damages you may suffer or cause through your use of this page even if advised of the possibility of such damages.


text:
Get my Gadget on your desktop…
Instant free updates and much more
Instant free updates and much more
To install this application you will need theAdobe Flash Player
Publishers' eLibrary
Please browse the eLibrary by category or use the search option. Once you've tracked down a great publisher you'll be able to view their eLerts online or choose from a selection of exciting viewing options.
Category >> Featured Publishers


text:
Hilton Longboat Key Beachfront Resort
4711 GULF OF MEXICO DR Longboat Key, FL 34228-2103
Sarasota and Bradenton: Sarasota and Venice
Note: Unless otherwise noted, the rates shown above do not include (if applicable) Extra Person Fees (Opens in a new window), Child Fees (Opens in a new window), Additional Mandatory Hotel Charges (Opens in a new window) or optional incidentals, such as parking, room service or movies.
Need Help with Your Booking? Call Travelocity Toll-Free: 1-888-TRAVELOCITY ( 1.866.207.1488 )


text:
Nate / Schnoodle
• Male • $650
Darling Schnoodle Fella, Scooter!
• Male • $850
Schnoodle Puppy
Receive an email alert when additional Schnoodle puppies are added. It's easy and free!
BREED: Schnoodle Puppy
INCLUDES: puppy food, potty training pads, health guarantee, first shots, worming
Puppies come with FREE Pet Insurance when adopted from NextDayPets.com! *Please ensure your breeder participates
Schnoodle LOVE
Member Since: April 2007
Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin
ADORABLE Schnoodle Puppy Black (will turn grey)
• Male • $550
ADORABLE Schnoodle Puppy Male


text:
Sea Wind 705 in Gulf Shores
- bedrooms 2
- baths 2
- sleeps 8
- pool yes
- hot tub yes
- pets allowed no
- type Condo
- community Seawind Condominiums
rates (USD)
/ night
$ 840 - $ 1,988 / week
$ 1,600 - $ 8,000 / month
vacation rental description
Great vacations start with like new large condo in the best location, Top of the line facilities, 9ft Ceilings, Crown moldings, granite. But we have much more in this beautifully decorated condo in a new complex just opened in fall 2006. Great location in the heart of Gulf Shores on the white sandy beaches and emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Wake up each morning to a beautiful beautiful view from the master suite and on the deck. From the beach to the pool; from the many golf courses to the fabulous restaurants; the vacation is all yours to do with as you like. Watch the breath taking sunsets from the beach or your private balcony and don't forget to bring your binoculars to watch the dolphins.
Inside this luxury condo, you will find deluxe accommodations that will make your stay most comfortable. From the spacious MASTER BEDROOM with a KING size bed overlooking white sandy beach. 2nd BEDROOM features King Size bed with luxurious bedding.bedroom #3 has 2 beautiful BUNK beds with tv. LUXURIOUS QUEEN SIZE SOFA BED, Well equipped kitchen with side by side refrigerator. All appliances are stainless steel, granite counter-tops, top of the line cabinets. BREATHTAKING SANDY BEACH VIEW!!!!
Spacious laundry room with full size washer and dryer. You will find everything you need for a most relaxing home away from home. Swim with a view anytime of the year in our indoor/outdoor pool, relax in the hot tub, state-of-the-art fitness center, and media room. Lot's of room for the whole family. Sea Wind 705 will help make the vacation you'll always remember! Wifi is provided for your convenience.
property availability
Last modified on 11-20-2013 at 9:31 AM.
email owner view full calendar
Larry Grossmann 573-864-0740
condo rental amenities
Top of the line Furniture and decorations, 2 King Beds, a roll our couch and a separate bunk room, can't call it a bedroom but it is. Large Screen tv's in both Bedrooms and the living room.
Indoor Heated Pool
Outdoor pool with kids area
Hot tub
Huge Exercise facility, use the treadmill while watching the Gulf.
Media Room
Gulf Front Great View
vacation rental rates
Spring ...... $215 per night $20 extra/Fri. and Sat. for stays less than 6 nights
Summer .. ....$284 per night $20 extra/Fri. and Sat. for stays less than 6 nights
Early Fall .. $250 per night $20 extra/Fri. and Sat. for stays less than 6 nights
Fall ........ $215 per night $20 extra/Fri. and Sat. for stays less than 6 nights
Winter ...... $150 per night $20 extra/Fri. and Sat. for stays less than 6 nights
Plus 11% tax ,$120 Clean-up and $20 for parking (up to 2 permits same price)
Specials, call for rates, Monthly Dec, Jan, Feb. $1600 per month
Larry Grossmann 573-864-0740
accepted payment methods
Prior to paying a reservation deposit, always verify payment instructions by calling the phone number displayed on this listing page. By contacting the owner directly and paying by an approved method - credit card, paypal, check or bank transfer - your reservation payment will be protected up to $1,000.
Learn more in our Security Center


text:
Mama June wasn't laughing at the way she and her family were portrayed on "South Park" earlier this month ... telling TMZ the way the show focused on her weight was just plain "trashy."
June and her daughter Alana -- aka Honey Boo Boo -- just appeared on "TMZ Live" ... when we asked how they handled being spoofed on shows like "South Park" and "Saturday Night Live."
June's response -- "Me being a big person, I didn't take offense ... that show is just not a show that I would want to be on in the first place."
She added, "Just the way they portrayed the show ... it was kinda trashy."
June, Alana and the rest of the gang were mocked hard in the "South Park" ep -- in which Honey Boo Boo got a heart transplant ... with a pig heart ... after eating too much 'sketti and butter."
'South Park' Creators Sued
Lollipop King Traumatized
By Cartoon Tea-Bagging
The Lollipop King from the "Imaginationland" episodes of "South Park" was never meant to be exposed to terrorists, gang rapists or Cartman's testicles ... this according to a new lawsuit obtained by TMZ.
Matt Stone and Trey Parker are being sued by a guy who claims he created a show called "The Lollipop Forest" years ago ... only to have the "South Park" guys ripoff one of his characters for the 3-episode "Imaginationland" series that aired back in 2007.
The character in question is The Lollipop King -- which, according to the suit, is a rip off of a character called Big Bad Lollipop from Exavier Wardlaw's "The Lollipop Forest."
In his suit, Wardlaw claims "Lollipop Forest" is a wholesome family show -- and it's value was diminished when the Big Bad Lollipop ripoff was exposed to "unwholesome language and sexual innuendo."
FYI -- during the "South Park" episode ... Lollipop King gets choked out by a Storm Trooper ... witnesses the carnage of a suicide bomber ... and gets a front row seat as Kyle performs a sexual act of an oral nature on Cartman's nether region (... it was a crazy episode).
According to the suit, filed in federal court in Philadelphia, Exavier is suing for copyright infringement -- and is demanding "South Park" remove all traces of Lollipop King from the "Imaginationland" trilogy.
We reached out to Matt and Trey for comment -- so far, no word back.
South Park
DESTROYS Penn State
"Penn State prefers to be losing at half time ... because at Penn State ... they like when you're a little behind in the locker room."
Penn State got South Park'd last night -- as Trey Parker and Matt Stone unleashed on the school over the child rape scandal. Joe Paterno was targeted, along with the entire football program.
At one point in the show, a social worker discovers a torture chamber in a foster home ... and says to himself, "What have I done? I took you kids from your parents, without even checking in to where you were going. I put innocent children into a dangerous environment. What am I ... a recruitment coach for Penn State???"
Check out the entire episode at SouthParkStudios.com.
Gets Diet Offer
After 'South Park' Portrayal
Snooki just scored a lucrative offer from a diet company after her gremlin-esque depiction on "South Park" this week ... but the company may not be doing her any favors.
AcaiSupply.com -- a diet company -- claims it's outraged the show mocked Snooki's issues with obesity ... so they've offered Snooks a cut of the profits and a free year's supply in exchange for a "glowing testimonial."
Here's the rub -- the company's letter to Snooki essentially calls her overweight ... and as you may know, she's had serious weight issues ... claiming she "almost died" from anorexia a few years back.
We're guessing Snooks is gonna 86 the deal anyway -- 'cause she's been telling everyone she likes the way she looks on the show.
'South Park'
Smooshes Snooki ...
Snooki Loves It
Snooki was a moving target on "South Park" last night ... seriously, they actually tried to shoot her ... but the "Jersey Shore" star is taking her animated ripping as a badge of honor.
In case you missed it -- watch it, it's hilarious -- the episode culminates with the Gollum-esque "Snooki" character getting socked in the face after trying to rape Cartman.
After the show, the real Snooks went to her Twitter page and wrote, "snooki want smoosh smoosh. im going to have nightmares tonight lmao!!! we've officially made it. goodnite my bitches."
Check out the entire episode at SouthParkStudios.com ... it's frickin' hysterical.
10 Years for Cartman and Company
It's hard to believe that it has been 10 years since "South Park" burst on the scene with their underground "Spirit of Christmas" video. Last night, Comedy Central celebrated the decade of comedy with a shindig in West Hollywood.
"I remember when we started the show, we had an order for six episodes, and we're like, 'This is great because when we're older we'll always have these six shows. You know, we'll always have these six episodes to show to our kids and stuff," Parker said. "And, it was actually Brian Graden who told us, 'I think someday these will be six of 100.' And we're like, 'You're crazy. There's no way.' And we're up to 150-something."
Parker also said he thinks the show always takes on its subjects from a very positive point of view: "We're not laughing at people, we're laughing with joy, and that what we want. We want 'South Park' to be that show that [says], 'Can't we all relax and isn't this all kind of funny, and aren't we having fun?'"
"South Park" returns with all new episodes on October 4.


text:
FAYETTEVILLE, AR -- Arkansas says its series with Texas A&M will return to campus sites for the next two seasons while targeting a return to Cowboys Stadium in 2014.
The Razorbacks and Aggies have played a non-conference game at Cowboys Stadium the last three years. The two schools signed an agreement to play the game there for 10 years, but that was before Texas A&M announced it was joining the Razorbacks in the Southeastern Conference.
Arkansas says the Aggies will host the game this season. It will be the Razorbacks' first trip to College Station since 1991 - when both were members of the Southwest Conference
The school says it will host in 2013 and that discussions are ongoing and focused on returning the game to Cowboys Stadium in 2014.


text:
The fashion designer who's recently announced the launch of the 'Living the Kors Life' series, which enables fashion enthusiasts to take a glimpse behind the scenes in the world of the stylish women that work for the renowned fashion designer, has managed to wow his fans with his latest accessory creations featured in the resort 2013 collection. Accessories play a huge role in the world of fashion and style, so no wonder that there's no limitation to the time and energy deposited into creating new and innovative accessories as their touch ca... Read More
The Michael Kors resort 2014 collection brought a multitude of references from the seventies. The label brings a multitude of gorgeous alternatives inspired by the glorious decade. The new line aims to bring a fab set of options for every whether out there. Palm Springs proved the perfect inspiration for the designer as it is known for its rapidly changing weather. If in recent season, the brand has abstained from relying on animal prints, the label is bringing them back now. Like always, we've seen well defined proportions, bold yet classy ... Read More
The Michael Kors fall 2013 collection definitely enters the trend setter category from New York Fashion Week. The new options have a distinct urban sporty vibe which feels quite contrasting compared to what we've seen so far. Michael Kors doesn't subscribe to the idea that fall should be necessarily marked by dark tones with a high emphasis on versatility and opts instead for high impact choices which are bound to create a strong impression every single time. The Michael Kors fall 2013 collection feels surprisingly upbeat in the New York Fas... Read More
A quick glimpse through Michael Kors' summer 2013 catalog is enough to help you contour an idea of what's hot this summer as the style book brings to you summer's most covetable pieces signed Michael Kors. Obviously those of you that place a heavy dose of attention on style will go wild for the new designs as their beauty and style boosting powers are difficult to overlook, so if you're ready to give yourself a styleover be sure to add any of the catalog-featured Michael Kors items to your wardrobe. Achromatic clothes and accessories are ... Read More
Michael Kors' fall 2013 ready-to-wear collection is bound to cause a stir as the designer's unique take on American classic sportswear never ceases to amaze. With more than three decades of experience in the world of fashion design, Michael Kors needs no introduction as his creations have managed to make women weak at the knees on an international level. Fashion is supposed to be exciting, fun and a bit glamorous and it seems that Michael Kors' designs seem to capture to perfection each of these must-have details. Proof of his native designi... Read More
Michael Kors adds a beauty range to his to do list. The busy designer analyzed the beauty habits of the important women in his life, his mother - a woman who appreciates natural makeup looks and his grandmother who loved luxurious accents in order to understand what best defines sexiness and what women really need as far as fragrance and color are concerned. The designer told WWD the way these thought processes influenced his new line: "What defines what sexy is?' I thought about someone that was really full of confidence — if her skirt unwr... Read More
With each new campaign released by the big influencers from the fashion industry, the hottest choices for the new season are starting to become more and more apparent. In the past year, the Michael Kors label has enjoyed a lot of popularity among fashionistas and by what we've seen so far in the Michael Kors pre-fall 2013 collection, things are headed towards a similar direction for a good portion of this year as well. Let's focus on the more current offerings of the label for now as there are plenty of inspirational looks to strive for in t... Read More
Things are taking a turn for the best as far as the Michael Kors label is concerned. With high profile clients like Michele Obama, the brand's popularity has skyrocketed this year to the point that it topped Bing's 2012's 'most searched fashion brands' list. Whether the position of superiority will be maintained in the upcoming year remains to be seen, especially since the pre-fall 2013 fashion choices presented seem significantly different from the holiday 2012 offerings. The Michael Kors pre-fall 2013 collection has Maggie in the "Cat on a... Read More
The latest Michael Kors fall 2013 campaign brings models Karmen Pedaru and Simon Nessman once again into the spotlight. The luxury label focuses on outfits that blend urban chicness with a sporty yet glamorous vibe styled by Paul Cavaco in the new campaign shot by Mario Testino in Los Angeles. The new campaign marks ten years of collaboration between him and the high end label. Speaking about the new campaign, the designer stated: "We wanted the campaign to reflect the 'bright lights, fast city' inspiration of the fall collection. It conveys... Read More
The Michael Kors holiday 2013 campaign shot in New York by talented photographer Mario Testino is based on the idea that the holiday season is the best season of all. With that in mind, the renowned designer created a series of looks that would be modern yet festive: "When I was designing holiday, I kept thinking about how can you have it all. I love the idea of this rock-and-roll, denim and diamonds Christmas. It's cozy but glamorous—the perfect combination for the holidays."For the new Michael Kors holiday 2013 ads, the luxury brand enlist... Read More
The MICHAEL Michel Kors sneakers for 2013 will definitely tempt you to forgo sky high pumps in favor of these on trend comfy alternatives. Whether you prefer going for statement styles or simple alternatives which can double as workout shoes, the new Michael Kors shoes for 2013 from the diffusion line can definitely prove a worthwhile addition your new season wardrobe. The new season favors comfort in all of its forms and the multitude of interesting styles promoted can sure tempt fashionistas and make everyone make new additions to the must... Read More


text:
Join the Posse or log in to delete tags on this item.
On View: Doña Josefa de la Cotera y Calvo de la Puerta
To explain and legitimize their place within the imperial system, the Spanish American moneyed elite displayed titles and coats of arms in p...
Hiroshige's One Hundred Famous Views of Edo
Hiroshige's 118 woodblock landscape and genre scenes of mid-nineteenth-century Tokyo, is one of the greatest achievements of Japanese art.
On View: Relief of Eagle-Headed Winged Figure Standing Between Two Sacred Trees
Each genie depicted in the reliefs exhibited here carries two knives tucked in his garment and in some cases a whetstone for sharpening the ...
Brooklyn Museum Posse:
Exploring the collection
When you join the posse, your tags comments and favorites will display with your attribution and save to your profile.
Join the Posse or log in to delete tags on this item.
200 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, New York 11238-6052
Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum
Wednesday: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Friday–Sunday: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.


text:
My husband and I visited this charming bed and breakfast on our recent honeymoon. We only scheduled one night here, and wish we had stayed longer. It was certainly the top of our list and we hope to go back for a much longer stay. The hotel is built in what was the old town hub, post office, school house,... More
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Booking.com and Priceline so you can book your Posta Veglia reservations with confidence. We help millions of travellers each month to find the perfect hotel for both holiday and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.