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Life For A Kid was on a mission to help 6 year old Ethan Bird who has spinal muscular atrophy. We are building decking in Ethan's back garden so he can play out and have some freedom in is electric chair. The Full cost will be £4,000.
Life For A Kid Chairman Darren Palmer started building the Decking in
December 2013. After the Money was raised by the following
- Signed and Framed Hull FC shirt donated by Napoleon's Casino, Hull… auction- £250
- £160 donated by Mark Chatwin (Life For A Kid Trustee)
- £1,000 Grant from Sir James Reckitt Charity
- £40 donated by John Colley from Armadillo Storage Hull
- £300 donated by Huddersfield Giants Rugby League star Danny Brough from 3 x Sky Man of the match awards
- £500 donation from St.Helens Law
- Cost Price material donated By Wickes, Hull
- Donations from Life For A Kid
England and Huddersfield Rugby league Star and Life For A Kid Patron Eorl Crabtree has kindly donated his England Shirt signed, from the 2013 exiles Rugby League game, you can win this shirt and also donate £3 to the Life For A Kid Ethan Project. Text "LFK Eorl" to 70300 to enter


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Karambamuchero v. Canada (Minister
of Citizenship and Immigration)
of Citizenship and Immigration)
Naome Karambamuchero, Applicant, and
The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Respondent
Naome Karambamuchero, Applicant, and
The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Respondent
[2014] F.C.J. No. 1342
Docket: IMM-5855-13
Federal Court
Calgary, Alberta
Zinn J.
Heard: December 17, 2014.
Judgment: December 18, 2014.
Docket: IMM-5855-13
Federal Court
Calgary, Alberta
Zinn J.
Heard: December 17, 2014.
Judgment: December 18, 2014.
(12 paras.)
1 ZINN J.:-- This is a judicial review of the decision of a visa officer in Pretoria, South Africa, on July 3, 2013, denying Naome Karambamuchero a Temporary Resident Visa [TRV].
2 Ms. Karambamuchero is a citizen of Zimbabwe. She sought the TRV in order to visit her daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren, and son in Canada. She had visited her children in Canada in 2002, 2004, and 2007. However, since 2007, she has been refused a TRV four times. As a result of these refusals, she decided to engage counsel to assist her in the most recent application, presumably hoping for a different result.
3 In the form letter rejecting her application, the visa officer checked boxes indicating that in reaching that decision several factors were considered including "your family ties in Canada and in your country of residence" and "purpose of visit." More detail is provided in the notes of the officer which read as follows:
· Reviewed application. Pa is still in same employment in Zim as school principal since 1994. Pa has son in UK and 2 children in Cda who were previous refugee claimants -- pa travelled to UK in 2010 and 2012 on holiday -- pa indicates her previous travel to China in 2012 was for business purposes. Pa has submitted a letter from Cdn lawyer indicating that pa as strong ties to Zim -- pa lives with mother, son and a nephew. Fosscheck dghter who made cr claim in 2002 and landed in 2004 and pa's son made cr claim in 2008 and landed in 2011. Based on the information provided I am not satisfied that pa's situation has significantly changed since her previous refusals in 2012 -- pa remains in same employment etc with same family ties to Cda who both have history of refugee claims in Cda. I have also considered aspects which might influence pa to remain in Cda such as the current unstable situation in Zimbabwe and I am not satisfied that she wld leave Cda after her authorised stay. TRV refused. [sic emphasis added]
4 Ms. Karambamuchero submits there are three issues to be considered: Whether the visa officer failed to consider the totality of the evidence, whether the visa officer breached the duty of fairness by relying on extrinsic evidence and his knowledge of local conditions, and whether the visa officer breached the duty of fairness in failing to provide sufficient reasons to allow the applicant to know why her application had been refused.
5 I agree with the Minister that no one is entitled to a TRV, that considerable deference is to be given to visa officers in making such decisions, that the duty of fairness lies at the lower end of the scale, and that a court should not parse the wording of decisions too minutely given the nature of the decision and the demands placed upon visa officers. Nonetheless, this application must be allowed and the decision set aside because the decision-making process and accordingly its result does not meet the required standard of justification, transparency and intelligibility.
6 Ms. Karambamuchero provided evidence of several factors that would suggest that she would not overstay a visit to Canada. As the visa officer noted, she is a school principal in Harare. But that is only part of the story. She is the director and principal of Greatstride College, which she founded in 1994. Accordingly, she is not a mere employee; she is a successful business woman. She has two business bank accounts with balances totaling more than $35,000 USD, and she owns her home and three vehicles. She has family ties to Zimbabwe. She lives with her mother and a son. She has other family in Zimbabwe.
7 The visa officer observes that there is a "current unstable situation in Zimbabwe" but it is unclear how or whether that impacts Ms. Karambamuchero. There is nothing in the record that suggests that the stability of the country has had any impact on her. On the contrary, she appears to be prospering in the country and one must wonder why she would voluntarily leave. The country has in fact been unstable for some time, but she had left Zimbabwe and returned a number of times, including two then recent trips to China on business, and a trip to the United Kingdom to visit her son living there.
8 There can be no objection to the visa officer accessing the Field Operations Support System [FOSS] to confirm the status of Ms. Ms. Karambamuchero's two children in Canada. However, it is troubling that the visa officer does more than note that both are landed residents. Rather, he notes that "both have history of refugee claims." The inference surly is that Ms. Karambamuchero will therefore make a refugee claim when she is in Canada. But such an inference is unreasonable on the facts here.
9 The reality is that Ms. Karambamuchero had previously visited Canada when the refugee claims were pending, or had been granted, and then returned to Zimbabwe. Her daughter entered Canada in 2002 and was granted refugee protection in 2004. Her son entered Canada in 2008 and was granted refugee status in 2011. Ms. Karambamuchero visited Canada in 2002, 2004, and 2007. Therefore, she visited Canada and returned to Zimbabwe at least once and quite possibly twice after her daughter was granted status. To suggest that she might make a claim for status now, when she did not previously, requires some explanation from the visa officer. There is none.
10 In summary, the decision rests on two observations by the visa officer: The unstable country conditions in Zimbabwe and previous refugee claims by her children. Absent some explanation how those country conditions might prompt this business woman to flee her country and leave behind a successful business, a mother, a son, a home, and other family, the conditions alone cannot reasonably support the decision. Absent some explanation why her children claiming and being granted refugee status in Canada, might prompt her to do likewise when she did not do so in the past, the visa officer's decision cannot reasonably be supported.
11 For these reasons, the result is set aside.
12 Neither party proposed a question for certification.
THIS COURT'S JUDGMENT is that this application is allowed, the decision is set aside, the application for a temporary resident visa is to be determined by a different visa officer, the applicant is to be permitted to update her information, and no question is certified.

subset: commoncrawl


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One of the first searches I did in the 1901 census was for Gertrude Constance Musk, Mark's maternal grandmother; I found her, age 12, living with her parents Charles (37) and Florence (36), and younger sister Kathleen (7). Charles was listed as a congregational minister, and thus far there were no surprises, although there was plenty of additional information in terms of places of birth for each of the four members of the family, as well as an address as at the date of the census.
The census conducted ten years later was equally unsurprising at first glance, although it appeared the family had moved home since the 1901 census had been conducted (I haven't yet researched whether they were living at a different address in the same area, or had moved to a different area entirely). As the two girls were now older I hoped to see some information as to whether one or both of them had started working, and I wasn't disappointed: Connie, as she was known to the family, was working as an elementary school teacher and 17 year old Kath was still at school.
However the 1911 Census of England and Wales introduced additional questions and this is where the surprise that caused me to catch my breath came in: there had been a third child born to Charles and Florence, a child who, by the time of the 1911 census, had died.
It's a shame the 1901 census didn't ask the questions as to how many children had been born to the relationship and how many were still living... was this child born between the 1901 census and the 1911 census, meaning it would have been the youngest of the three siblings? According to the 1911 census Charles and Florence had been married for 23 years; was this child born soon after their wedding and, as such, would he or she have a been older at the time of the 1911 than the 22 year old Connie?
My research plans include:
- finding out when Charles and Florence were married, and where,
- finding a date of birth for Connie, and then using these two dates to work out the likelihood that another birth may have occurred in the interim (highly unlikely),
- researching births in the areas Charles and Florence had lived between the time of their marriage and the time of the 1911 census, which may list them as parents, to see if I can track down the mystery child,
- conducting the same sort of research with deaths, however perhaps if the child was stillborn the records may be different.


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Potato snack foods include French Fries and dried miniature versions of them (chips in the US sense, or crisps in UK) in many flavours. They appear as mashed potato in many convenience meals such as TV dinners, and as potato salads in take-away meals.
Chip/Fries Firmness
As fruit and vegetables are natural they have inherent variability which usually compromises the repeatability when testing single pieces. For this reason, the firmness of chips or French Fries can be determined using a Multiple Chip Rig.
This rig measures the force obtained by the penetration of a multiple sample of chips. Up to 10 chips can be tested at any one time and the rig ensures that each chip is completely penetrated by a 2mm diameter probe.
The probe head has a fast release adapter to enable the probe to be rapidly cleaned and relocated in the same position. Two adjustable stainless steel rods are used to hold the samples in position on the sample holder.
A typical curve produced from this test is shown below highlighting the area calculation which is used for comparison purposes.
Determining the Presence of a "Crust"
With the use of frying as home food preparation technique in the U.S. dropping 22% over the past five years, according to a Food Marketing Institute report, and sales of French fries falling in restaurants for eight consecutive years, finding alternative ways to add crispness and crunch to foods is a very big idea.
Cooking in oil is widely used in the production of snack foods of various kinds, and results in drastic changes to the structure of the food. Penetration of oil is particularly important for structure development in products such as potato chips, tortilla chips and potato crisps. In products which become totally hard and crisp, the oil first coats the surface and begins to move into the chip.
As the heat builds up inside, moisture turns to steam and exits the chip, leaving a sponge-like network of tunnels which fill with oil. This process occurs within the first 20 seconds of frying. Starch granules gelatinise inside the chip, but not at the surface. The interior becomes smooth and plastic as protein, starch and lipids interact to form a continuous phase which hardens upon dehydration.
In products with a soft interior, such as potato chips, the dehydrated oil-infused layer is confined to the peripheral four or five layers of cells. The hard crisp surface pellicle (or crust) develops at the same time as the interior of the chip is changed to a structure comparable to that produced by moist heat.
A penetration test using a small cylinder probe can be used to puncture the sample and indicate the presence (or absence) of a distinct crust. Such a "crust" would be highlighted by much higher penetration forces than the force required to penetrate through the underlying potato tissue.
Crispiness of Potato Chips/Crisps
The assessment of potato crisp/chip crispiness is perhaps the most dominant characteristic and can greatly affect consumer acceptability. A sample possessing a crispy texture produces a curve featuring multiple force peaks. This type of curve (as shown below) can be analysed using Special Calculation features in Exponent software.
Firmness of Potato Salad and "Mash"
Thermal treatment is one of the most important processes in the manufacture of storable and ready-to-serve food products of agricultural origin. During thermal treatment, many desirable and undesirable reactions take place; components such as vitamins and colour components, for example, and also physical properties, such as texture, may be changed.
A suitable test to monitor effects of processing time of e.g. potato salad preparation, or effects of changing quantities of additional ingredients for e.g. "mash", is to use an Ottawa Cell (as shown right).
A typical curve obtained from the testing of mashed potato using an Ottawa Cell is also shown below and highlights a plateau region obtained during the extrusion test.
The measurement of the mean force obtained over this plateau region and an area calculation are most often recorded as indicators of texture differences between batches, changing formulation or modification in processing parameters.
Watch the video below to see a summary of the types of testing possibilities that are available for the measurement of fruit and vegetable texture to provide quality control tools and ultimately, consumer satisfaction:
We can design and manufacture probes or fixtures for the TA.XTplus texture analyser that are bespoke to your sample and its specific measurement.
Once your measurement is performed, our expertise in its graphical interpretation is unparalleled. Not only can we develop the most suitable and accurate method for the testing of your sample, but we can also prepare analysis procedures that obtain the desired parameters from your curve and drop them into a spreadsheet or report designed around your requirements.
For more information on how to measure texture, please visit the Texture Analysis Properties section on our website.
The TA.XTplus texture analyser is part of a family of texture analysis instruments and equipment from Stable Micro Systems. An extensive portfolio of specialist attachments is available to measure and analyse the textural properties of a huge range of food products. Our technical experts can also custom design instrument fixtures according to individual specifications.
No-one understands texture analysis like we do!
To discuss your specific test requirements click here...


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Roxana graduate Abbey Revelle plays hockey for Robert Morris University in Chicago.
Abbey Revelle blazes the trail for women in sports as she laces up her skates and takes to the ice.
The 2012 Roxana graduate doesn't dress up in a sparkly dress with her hair put in its perfect place and her make-up brightly overdone. She straps on the pads and tightens the helmet as she grabs her hockey stick to join her women's hockey team at Robert Morris University in Chicago. The Eagles play in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA).
"I actually started playing hockey when I was 9 years old," Revelle said. "My brother had been playing years before me, so we were already in the hockey lifestyle. At first my mom was like, heck no, but she eventually came around and we bought the equipment and I jumped on the ice."
Majoring in business administration with a concentration on law enforcement at RMU Chicago, Revelle wants girls to know hockey isn't just for the boys anymore; girls can get on the ice and have some fun, too.
"My message to any girl going into a male sport — especially hockey — is that you are just as good or even better as one of the boys," Revelle said. "Do not let anyone ever tell you otherwise because when you lace up those skates, strap on those pads, and put on that helmet nothing matters. No label or gender. What matters is the effort and desire you put into the game. That should be the only thing that defines you as a player. So go out and make them talk."
Robert Morris Chicago head coach Chris Chelios is thrilled with the progression his young forward is making for the Eagles.
"Abbey is just fun to watch," Chelios said. "You would never know that she is a young player, she brings a physical presence to the team. She didn't come in as a freshman and just go through the motions, she jumped right in there and has shown natural leadership qualities. She is strong in the corners, if she goes into the corner, I can be confident that she will come out of the corner with the puck."
Playing for the same programs as her brother, Roxana senior Alec Revelle, Abbey rose through the ranks to achieve her success.
"I played for the Twin Bridges Lady Lightning from age 9 to 17 and then the Midwest Mustangs from 17 to 20," Revelle said. "I played for Roxana High School eighth grade to my senior year where I was captain my senior year and made it on the All-Star team to represent Roxana in our district."
Sharing the ice with guys on a competitive team proved to be an asset at the collegiate level.
"There is a definite difference in the female players who are brought up playing on a boys' team," Chelios said. "You can see the benefits; they are a little more aggressive, more physical, but also have a different finesse on the ice. Abbey has all those qualities as well as a great teammate. She's supportive of the players around her."
Revelle said the best advice she was given when she considered challenging herself in a male dominated sport was to "suck it up."
"It may be cliché, but that's how I go through not only hockey, but life. Hockey is a very demanding sport. It takes endurance and it takes time," Revelle said. "We only have 14 players at Robert Morris Chicago when most teams have about 20. We have to be on our game every shift, we have to train hard, and be the best player you can offer to your team. Whenever it feels like you can't lift another weight or skate another shift, you have to push yourself. So I look at the girl next to me and see my teammates struggling just as much as I am, so I tell myself to, 'suck it up, do it for your team, they need you, too.'"
Revelle has played 14 games in the 2014 season and has put up 11 points with three goals and eight assists. In 60 minutes of hockey, Revelle is averaging more than 25 minutes on the ice. The Eagles are 10-4 overall and 2-2 in the conference and hope to repeat the success of previous seasons by advancing on to the top eight in the nation. RMU Chicago has averaged more than six goals per game in their last five competitions.
Follow @advantageDiane on Twitter


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Share your files with no limit on its size through Mail Drop with iOS 9.2:
So far, we have been sending out attachments through Mail apart from Dropbox, Drive, etc. And there are cases where we have to limit the size of attachments while sharing files through Mail. With iOS 9.2 you can share any files if you have a valid iCloud account.
Mail Drop is the latest feature that was designed as part of the release of iOS 9. With this feature, you can easily share your files with no limit on its size. Here, comes a question on your mind. Do we have any inbuilt default application available for sharing? The answer is no. It is the additional feature that was provided in addition to Mail using iCloud.
When you attempt to share large size files through Mail, then you can come across an alert that "This attachment may be too large (<size>) to send by email. Do you want to use Mail Drop to deliver the attachment using iCloud? It will be available for next 30 days" with the two options, Use Mail Drop and Try Sending Attachment. In such cases, before you attempt to share a file make sure that you were logged in iCloud Account on your iPhone or iPad and then start up with sending attachments.
When you choose the Mail Drop option, the attachments will be shared with the recipient in the form a link. This link will be available and valid up to 30 days of its issue. It's the easiest way of sharing large size files through Mail. You can even send the attachments through Mail, but it is better to prefer Mail Drop as the attachments get shared in a less span of time.
Originally posted 2016-04-17 20:47:16.


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© 2018 Quad Cities CVB
1601 River Drive, Suite 110
Moline, Illinois 61265
A fantastical exhibit of carousels, from German Immigrant Gustav Dentzel to a carousel kaleidoscope by Tom Chouteau. Learn how carousels create mechanical merriment in this exhibit on the artistry, physics, and history of this delightful amusement.
The German American Heritage Center's (GAHC) new exhibit celebrates the whimsical world of carousels, or merry-go-rounds.
"Steam Circus: The Colorful World of Carousels" opens May 13 and continues through to October 21, 2018. Learn about the mixture of old world craftsmanship with new world technology and engineering, and the history of carousels from its military origins. The exhibit features beautiful pieces of art, history, and carousel horses crafted by the world renowned Dentzel Carousel Company and Charles Looff Company.
GAHC Hours/Admission
The German American Heritage Center is open Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 12-4 p.m. Admission is $5 adults; $4 for ages 60 and up; $3 for ages 6-17. For more information, visit www.gahc.org or call 563-322-8844. The German American Heritage Center is located at 712 West Second Street, Davenport, Iowa.


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Why Walk?
Because 1.1 billion people in the world don't have access to clean water. In Burkina Faso alone, 3.4 million people don't have access to clean water! And only 19% of the country has access to a sanitation facility. Over 20,000 children under 5 die each year in Burkina Faso from water related diseases! The average sub-Sahara African walks up to five miles a day to get to water clean or not. The good news about these statistics is we have the power to change this! What can we do to change this?
We can Walk for Water! It is about walking in the shoes of sub-Sahara Africans for one day, raising money, and building awareness to end this epidemic! Walkers will raise or contribute a minimum of $100 to participate. Then, walk 2.5 miles to get a 5-gallon jug of water and carry it back 2.5 miles.


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Rider: Stirling HopsonCity: La HabraYear Born: 1959Started Riding in: 1972Desert Class: Quad AmmieBike Make and Size: Suz. 450 QuadFamily: Cindy (wife) Aaron (son) Rachael( daughter)Funniest race moment: Crashed off course once and landed in a tree, nobody could see it though, so how funny is that?What you like about the Rovers: My dog always went over to Rovers camp to poop, so I figured...... Really, I knew alot of the Rovers anyway. We helped form four on the floor, but we need to be part of a club with more members and be able to join in to support.
Racing Accomplishments: Long History of bike racing from mid 70's to 95. Was D-37 expert in 200 and open class. SRA Gp's, SCORE finisher. LOTS of D-37 GP trophies. Then Law School happened and it all went away. Came back with a CR500 in 1992 as a slow vet class rider.
Your ultimate goal in racing: FUN, and new friends
Other Info: I had a BIG crash in 1995 at a practice track so there was no riding for 8 years. Well it still hurts every day but I started riding a quad for fun in 2003. Now Aaron wanted to race, so here we are.
Next Profile-->
Copyright© 2003 - 2019. All rights reserved to the Rovers MCCreated By Blais Web CreationsHosted by BWC Hosting


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MBGN World 2017 Ugochi Ihezue is currently repping Nigeria at the 2017 Miss World competition and we are rooting for her all the way.
Click here to find out how to vote for her.
Ugochi, who won the coveted crown of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria a couple of weeks ago, is the cover star of House of Maliq magazine's latest issue. She talks to the magazine about how her life has changed since winning the crown, her road to the Miss World beauty pageant and more.
The new issue also features MBGN Universe 2017 Stephanie Agbasi and MBGN Tourism 2017 Winfrey Okolo.
Photography- StudioQ Nigeria
Styled by – Malik Zenishia Zainab
Makeup – Studio Q
Costumes – Helen Blakk
Accessories – Dope Accesories Lekki
Directed by – Missmaliq
Location – Lekki Phase 1, Nigeria


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The Sports Xchange
By Guy Curtright, The Sports Xchange
Love's 43 not enough as Hawks top Timberwolves
ATLANTA -- Not even 43 points by forward Kevin Love was enough to finally get the Minnesota Timberwolves a victory in Atlanta.
Guard Kyle Korver, who stretched his NBA record to 115 consecutive games with a 3-pointer, had 17 of his 24 points in the second half and the Hawks won for the 11th straight time over Minnesota at Philips Arena with a 120-113 victory Saturday night.
Love, who is winless in his six-year career against Atlanta, had 21 points in the fourth quarter, but the Timberwolves could not get closer than two points. The Western Division All-Star Game starter also had 19 rebounds and was 17-for-18 from the foul line.
"We had a tough game here two years ago and again tonight," Love said. "We only get one chance a year."
"Give Kevin Love credit," said Korver, who as 3-for-5 behind the arc. "He kept on coming. He's relentless."
It was the third time that Love scored more than 40 points this season, and the Timberwolves (23-24) are 0-3 in those games.
"I didn't even know, to be honest," Love said of his point total. "I was just trying to get us back in the game by any means."
Forward Paul Millsap had 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Hawks before fouling out with four minutes to play.
Guard Jeff Teague joined Korver with a big second half. Teague had 17 of his 19 points after intermission, including 11 in the fourth quarter.
The Hawks (25-21) scored 72 points in the second half after some strong words by coach Mike Budenholzer at halftime.
"Coach laid into us at halftime," Korver said. "...Obviously, it was a great third quarter for us. Hopefully, he doesn't have to talk to us like that all the time."
"We picked up our energy and took it to another level," Teague said.
Korver, who missed his only attempt from behind the arc in the first half, kept his streak alive with a tying 3-pointer early in the third quarter and then hit two more during a 16-2 run as the Hawks took charge.
Atlanta, down 54-48 at halftime, led by as many as 16 points in the third quarter before the Timberwolves, outscored 38-21, cut it to 86-75 going into the fourth.
"I think the third quarter was something we can reference going forward on how we want to play," Budenholzer said.
Forward DeMarre Carroll also had 19 points and forward Mike Scott scored 14, his 11th straight game in double figures off the bench.
Minnesota guard J.J. Barea, who had seven of his 12 points early in the fourth quarter, was ejected with 6:43 remaining after drawing his second technical foul.
Guard Kevin Martin scored 17 for the Timberwolves, but there were few bright spots except for the play of Love.
"He played his tail off and he kept battling," Minnesota coach Rick Adelman said. "But we have to look at the defensive end in the first half. We were not very good."
Love had his NBA-best 40th double-double in 46 games by halftime, with 15 points and 12 rebound as the Timberwolves overcame an early 11-point deficit to go up by 11 after an 18-5 second-quarter run.
Atlanta jumped to a 14-3 edge behind 10 points by Millsap, but the Timberwolves took a 24-22 lead before guard Lou Williams hit Atlanta's first 3-pointer in seven attempts for a 25-24 edge at the end of the first quarter.
Minnesota, which went to the foul line just seven times in a 94-90 home loss to Memphis on Friday, was 33-for-39, while the Hawks went 25-for-30.
NOTES: The Hawks signed F Cartier Martin to a 10-day contract Saturday to replace F James Nunnally, whose second 10-day deal with Atlanta expired Friday. Martin, who averaged 11.3 points in six games with Chicago, averaged 6.6 points in 25 games for the Hawks, but was waived Jan. 7 at the deadline for his season contract to be guaranteed. ... Hawks G Kyle Korver, who has the NBA record with 115 straight games with a 3-point basket, declined an invitation to compete in the 3-point shooting contest at the All-Star Weekend in New Orleans, citing a desire to spend time with his wife and daughter. ... Minnesota C Nikola Pekovic missed his third straight game with inflammation in his right ankle, a bursitis condition that is expected to keep him off the floor for at least another week. ... The Hawks' game against Detroit postponed Wednesday because of snow in Atlanta will be made up on April 8. It gives the Hawks their 21st set of back-to-back games, but the team will have six of their nine April games at home.


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Read: June 6 - 8 Verdict: 4 stars
I'm not going to lie. Before reading this book, I had already watched the first series of the BBC take on the books. The TV program is the reason I picked up the books in the first place, I had never even heard of them but they are very much my cup of tea.
Ross Poldark is the first in the Poldark series and focuses on the return of Ross Poldark to his Cornish birthplace. Poldark has been away for several years, fighting for the British army in America - he is changed from the way he was before and carries scars from his battles. However, not all is as he left it at home in his mining community, his father is dead, leaving his small estate and mine in Ross's hands and , even worse, Ross's first love Elizabeth is engages to his cousin and best friend Francis Poldark.
Now Ross is faced with building back up his inheritance on his won, with the help of his two old and lazy employees. However, a little light comes into Ross's life when he rescues a young girl from a pack of street boys. Her name is Demelza and without knowing it, she will change Ross's life.
I really loved this book. All the characters are exactly what you want them to be. Dark and brooding Ross with his kind eyes (as said by Demelza) and his generous spirit, Francis - handsome and privileged yet racked with jealousy and weakness. Elizabeth - beautiful yet cool. Often seems to want what she can't have and Verity, the poor dull sister who is trapped by family and obligations and faces a future of spinsterhood.
The book was easy to read and get through, despite being of the older persuasion, and may I say, a classic. It wasn't terribly hard too understand, and though I certainly can't say that I'm an expert in mining, I think I did alright (though, this may be due to watching the series).
I really really didn't like the character of Elizabeth. She is portrayed as quite a delicate flower yet can be strong when needed to. However, she was rather cold and cruel towards Ross - despite her being the one to jilt him for his cousin - yet still manages to make everything about herself. She has a special way of making you feel sorry for her and hating her all at the same time.
While Elizabeth is on one end of the spectrum, Demelza is definitely on the other. While she is only thirteen when she is first rescued by Ross, her spirit grows away from the threatening blows of her father and she becomes cheeky and willful - in a way that you can never be angry at her for breaking rules. While in today's society, the relationship between Demelza and Ross could be eyed with something like disgust, due to the fact she's 10 years younger and first came to live with him when she's 13, there's something undeniably sweet about it and it makes it work. Ross needed someone like Demelza - someone full of lightness and joy in simple things, and the occasional exclamations of "Judas!"
This book, like many, touches upon things that every generation, young or old, experience - from poverty, homelessness, unemployment and despair. Losing love, finding love and then also being denied love. Exceeding expectations and stepping away from unfair obligations. Overcoming fear and embracing change. And the hope that there's something bright around the corner.
I'm really looking forward to the next book,which I believe focuses on Demelza. It will be interesting to see things from her POV as she tries to touch her toes into the waters of Cornwall's high society and try and forget about her humble beginnings.


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I'm married with 3 kids ages 20, 16, and 14. I work outside the home in the Human Resources Field. I have been crafting for years but when the kids were small I put it away. For the last 4 years I have gotten back into it and recently convereted my dining room into my craft studio. I call myself a jack of all trades, mistress of many because I enjoy scrapbooking, rubber stamping, card making, altering items, sewing, quiliting, and crocheting.
Marci's blog: Incredible Creatables
My name is Valerie as known as Poupetteval I am 36 year old and I live in the North of France with my DH Frédéric and my 2 children Lola and Jules I started scrapbooking and cards in 2005. My passion ? stamps , inks and my Cuttlebug !!!!!My job ? i'm driving trains ( yesssssssssssss !!! it's not a joke )I love colouring cards with prismacolor pens but i'm going to buy copic pens much better ;)I'm so happy to join cuttlebug spot and can't wait to show you my cardsValeri's blog: Poupetteval
With 4 grown children and 3 grandchildren, I find all kinds of excuses to paper craft. My passion is card making. I find inspiration EVERYWHERE. I love to challenge myself to make unique and memorable cards. I have an enormous sense of humor and I think my cards are a reflection of that. I am usually my biggest fan! My Cricut and Cuttlebug are my dynamic duo! I use them on almost everything I create. I am beyond thrilled that Nilda has asked me to join her Design Team. I am looking forward to the new challenges each week and I invite you all to play along!
Margie's blog: Bella Bug Creations
Hi ya'll! I'm Steph, and I've been addicted to Paper Crafting for about 6 years now. My boyfriend, Stephen, and I have two beautiful children, Sydney and Mikey. We currently reside in the Dallas, TX area. My love of all things crafty started at a young age. I have always made my own personalized stationery, so when a friend introduced me to Paper Crafting, I was hooked immediately and I haven't looked back since! I am very happy to be a part of the wonderful Cuttlebug Spot Design Team, and I look forward to the challenges, and creating some beautiful things for you to enjoy. Happy crafting!
Steph's Blog: Steph's Designs (Where'd All My Money Go?)
SoniaHi, my name is Sonia Kertznus, I was born and raced in Cali-Colombia, so my native language is Spanish. I moved to the USA 23 years ago. I am a SAHM of my 9 year old son, Steven and have been happily married for 10 years with Kenny, my soul mate and the love of my life. We have 2 dogs, a long hair Chihuahua, Foxy, and a Basset Hound, Billy. I live in farm land of Homestead Florida, just 5 minutes away from the Everglades and the exit to the Florida Keys. The most important thing in my life is my family and spending time with them, but in all my free time (and I have a lot of it) I scrapbook. I have been scrap booking all my life, but started the right way and with the right stuff in 2006, ever since, I have become an avid cardmaker, stamper and everything crafty. Other things I love to do are cooking, sewing and cleaning. Yes!, cleaning, believe it or not, I can't start my day if the house is not spotless. I am thrilled to be part of The Cuttlebug Spot Design Team, and hope you join us in the weekly challenges...Sonia's blog : Scraps 4 Fun
I have been a crafter my whole life and have tried just about every craft there is. I started scrapbooking about 8 years ago and in 2004 I attended my first stamping party and I have been hooked ever since. I got my first introduction to Cuttlebug embossing when a friend sent me some embossed pieces of cardstock a couple of years ago. I thought, "What am I going to do with this bumpy paper?". Little did I know what an addiction these folders would end up being!I've been married for almost 20 years. I don't have children, but I do have lots of cats. I work as an accountant at a small construction company. Besides crafting, I like to hike and do some birdwatching.
Susan's Blog: Susan's Day off Creations
My name is Angela Robledo. I live in South Florida and, am a SAHM of
five children ages between 13 and 2. I have been married for 14 years
to a wonderful loving husband, and have been stamping since December of
2006. I quickly became addicted to this wonderful craft and have been
making cards since to give to family and friends. I am very excited to
be able to join the team here on the Cuttlebug Spot and with each of
you. Thank you for this exciting opportunity.
Angela's Blog: The Paper Gourmet
My name is Aymee Gandy a.k.a. Southernbellescrapper. My husband, Brandon, and I are originally from Russellville, AL. We currently reside in Carlisle, PA due to his job. Brandon works for the railroad and I am a stay at home wife at the present. We currently do not have any children, but are looking forward to starting a family very soon. I began scrapbooking in my teens, but only became a hardcore fanatic within the previous year. I am in love with my Cricut Expression and my Cuttlebug. I enjoy creating layouts, cards, altered projects, and scrapbook sketches. I absolutely love anything and everything that has to do with scrapbooking. I scrapbook almost everyday. If you don't find me in my scraproom, you will find me online talking or obsessing over scrappy stuff. My scrapbook style is ever evolving and I am always up for new challenge. I maintain 2 blogs. One for my scrapbooking and one for my sketches. They are: Aymee's Blog : A Scraphappy Southerbell
Donna I'm a SAHM to 2 kitties, Goliath and Jezebel and have been married 33 years to a wonderful guy who encourages and indulges my interests. I began making cards in May 2008 with the purchase of aCricut Expression. Visiting the Cricut message board I soon realized that the Cuttlebug was a must have. I love the rich texture it gives to my projects and I use it alone as well as with my Cricut machine.
Donna's blog : Popsicle Toes


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H.R. 3523: CISPA Worse Than SOPA?
Is this yet another manifestation of the growing Government-Corporate complex? To quote an article posted on the Electronic Frontier Foundation website:
H.R. 3523, also known as the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act of 2011, would let companies spy on users and share private information with the federal government and other companies with near-total immunity from civil and criminal liability. It effectively creates a "cybersecurity" exemption to all existing laws.
On the surface, this bill has the look of something more nefarious than the ill-fated SOPA. If a company can make the claim that information collected from internet users is in the interest of "cybersecurity"; there are virtually no restrictions on what can be collected and how it can be used. Simply stated, your comrades such as AT&T, Facebook, Google, or Twitter could intercept your emails and text messages. These companies could then forward copies to one another and to the government, wherein potentially modifying those communications or preventing them from reaching their destination if it fits into their plan to stop "cybersecurity threats."
What could constitute "cyber-security" is as broad as it is nebulous. According to the above-referenced article, a company could sensor any speech that it believes could "degrade the network". In my view, the network has already been substantially degraded!
H.R. 3523 indicates specifically that the act of cybersecurity can include the protection against the "theft or misappropriation of private or government information" including "intellectual property."
The long and short of it is Congress believes that companies should have the right to monitor our communications throughout the vast galaxies of cyber-space and copy and share those communications if a perceived cyber-threat is detected. If H.R. 3523 is passed, our freedoms and free speech will be further constricted in the name of stopping the misuse of corporate or government information and the thievery of intellectual property. I, for one, stand against the stealing of intellectual property, but ultimately that is not what this bill appears to be about.
Government and large corporations have become partners; working hand in hand to bring a pseudo Martial Law to the flyways of Cyberspace as the free world slowly but steadily morphs into a new world order and one world system.
Categories: General


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I've been teaching this subject since 1990 at RLT College of Science, Akola. My first textbook was the Applied Electronics textbook for 12th std. students. Then I wrote number of books for bifocal electronics students.
After my first year of being teacher in the college, I realized that the basic concepts of many topics in different books recommended in the syllabus of HSC Board. All those books were good, but only for my brightest students. What about those, who were average or below average in my class? This is because I was teaching any student that passed through my doors.
So with deep thinking and applying profound logic, studying my observations, I started scaffolding my teaching strategy. I started to teach with different methodologies, better and better. This made a magic! I observed that when I teach a theory topic using practical methodology, then the basic concepts of the topic surely fall in the orbit of understanding of average and even below average student.
Hence from that very day on, I teach every topic through its practical approach first and then explain the theory part of it.
Thus I have been making up my own worksheets, practical apparatus, models, illustrative diagrams, etc. for my own teaching strategy and methodologies, to correlate with my teaching and topic presentation.
As I told, I practiced this methodology since then, till today, so now I have got a huge collection of it. Many of my subject colleagues suggested me to write a complete volume of this collection, so I have started working on it and soon such workbook will be available for free downloading, to all my students, on this website.
May I add here, that when I started using LCD projector, the results came out to be unbelievable…! So I will suggest using such AV aids, to those teachers, who do not use them in their teaching, yet. It will surely give you great result, appreciation, complete satisfaction of teaching and respect, as well…!
Useful Links
Following are useful information and links for the students of 11-12th standard bifocal electronics.
12th Electronics Complete Notes
Marking Scheme
If you are a student of bifocal electronics then you must learn the marking scheme in HSC board examination.
Download the revised syllabus of 12th bifocal electronics and plan your studies systematically as per the weightage of the chapters.
If you are planning for IIT-JEE then you must have bunked college practicals. For such students we have free download of practical booklet. Go through it and learn practical approach of the subject.


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For a hyena, downtime usually looks something like this…
For the Homo sapiens out here, downtime is a bit harder to come by.
Honestly, between watching hyenas, thinking about hyenas, and writing about hyenas, we don't have a whole lot of free time. And, when we do have a moment to spare, we usually spend it peering under the hood of the car, repairing tent zippers, or fixing whatever's gone wrong with the solar panel.
On those glorious occasions that we can unwind, we make it count. Fisi Camp knows how to throw a great party. All you need is some bad American music, a campfire, and a freshly-slaughtered goat. As if by magic, everyone in a 10-mile radius – both Masai and foreign - shows up at camp within the hour. It's a great way to take a break from work, as well as show some generosity to the local community.
Another one of our favorite leisure activities is "sundowners," Kenya's variation on cocktail hour. The idea is simple: rally some friends, find a hilltop with a gorgeous view, pour some libations, nibble on cashews and "crisps" (that's "chips" to us Americans), and watch the sun go down.
Often, however, our downtime is less exotic. When there's enough power to spare, we watch movies (our standards are pretty low, so we don't mind watching the same 5 movies over and over and over again). When we're out of power, we read…we have an eclectic collection of books donated by previous Fisi Camp residents. When Kay is around, we play some bizarre German board game involving railroads. We gossip, we nap, we play with our food.
While there's a definite scarcity of downtime here, there's certainly no shortage of ways to fill those fantastic free moments.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
3 comments:
- Dan said...
Ticket to Ride! That game is awesome.
- March 15, 2009 at 11:07 PM
- Leslie said...
I am also a Ticket to Ride convert. Kate—the trick is to forget the whole cockamamie passenger thing. Then it's a great game. Although I do prefer the non-German version. :)
- March 18, 2009 at 12:30 AM
- Kate said...
I love games...give me Scattergories, Labyrinth, even Monopoly any day. Those railroads just drive me insane.
Suddenly I have NO qualms whatsoever about leaving soon. You all can play that ridiculous game all day long.
- March 19, 2009 at 7:09 AM
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We now have 4 new volunteers: Sara, Jake, Jeremy and Maggie-Jo who are working in the Cube Garden.
People with different skills are very welcome to come and try their hand at different tasks in the gardens. Working in the gardens has proved to be a springboard for many volunteers who have gone on to gain employment in other areas. Teamwork, confidence building, friendship and community support are all benefits gained from joining in this small friendly group. Please contact June at firstname.lastname@example.com or drop into the Cube and speak to Jon or phone Malvern Cube on Phone: 01684 575363 Email: email@example.com


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Wednesday, 23 Jul 2008
This post will cover the US Army Entrenching Tool or e-tool. The e-tool is one of those pieces of gear that you don't know you need, until you really need it. I think every outdoor enthusiast should have one. I am not advocating carrying it with you on every trip, but if you are "car camping" as opposed to primitive camping, then throw one of these e-tools in your trunk. If I plan on making a new campsite, I take the e-tool with me. If I visit an old campsite for the first time in the season, I take the e-tool with me to clear out new growth, and remove old ashes from the fire pit.
Entrenching tools come from many different manufacturers and from different decades. You can find an older type, with a wood handle, or the most common I see today, is the tri-fold metal handle. There are many cheap fakes from Asia, and many decent "replicas" as well. There is an excellent guide on eBay "U.S. Entrenching Tool Identification — Spot a Fake!". According to this reviewer, my newest e-tool may be a fake. While comparing it to my old e-tool, I cannot tell any physical differences, except for stamped markings. Overall design, weight and "feel" are the same. There are several types of entrenching tool carriers; the newest type is a MOLLE pouch with buckle closure in the front. I use old-school rubber ALICE carriers with snap-ons to secure the lid. In my situation it makes no sense to pay more for the MOLLE carrier, but a soldier, who may have to hit the ground hard, the snap-on ALICE pouch can come open easier than the MOLLE carrier with buckle closure.
I have used the e-tool in the field as a shovel and a spade. I think for chopping branches, a machete or hatchet are best. The e-tools weakest points are it's hinged parts, and chopping violently stresses them much more than digging. Size of the blade is good for camp chores like digging a fire pit, or getting rocks out from underneath the tent. One could use the e-tool as a weapon in some situations, it certainly has the weight and the edge to damage flesh and bone.
A few words about using the entrenching tool… There are several hinges, and one plastic nut on the last hinge. Twist this nut counter-clockwise to allow the hinges to work. Once this is done, unfold the e-tool into desired position, shovel, pick, or closed. Twist the nut clockwise till it stops. This will lock all the hinges, and you can use your e-tool.


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As a former journalist, I was always trained to write the truth. My duty to society was to provide a fair and balanced account of whatever event I was covering.
Call me naïve, but I believed that. I still do.
I also believe that what we write speaks volumes about our credibility. When the time came to move into the public relations field, I left journalism feeling good, knowing that my reporting of health issues helped others.
But things are not the way they used to be. In the past few years, it seems as if journalistic integrity in the consumer world has deteriorated considerably and been replaced with sensationalism, egotism and the drive to sell newspapers.
It's disheartening to see just how far some reporters have veered away from journalistic ethics. My media relations team has come across articles that are blatantly one-sided and poorly researched; reporters' reliance on non-reputable sources clearly demonstrates how honest digging for credible information has gone by the wayside.
We've pitched national and local publications that have demanded we place advertisements before they would even consider covering our stories. And we've arranged interviews with journalists whose purpose was clearly not to seek the truth but to support their "truth."
Of course, certain columnists are expected to swagger. But arrogance, in this field, can quickly breed ignorance. More and more writers seem to have traded their news judgment for bigger egos. We've talked with reporters who unbashedly told us the reason they've "focused on" (read: attacked) a specific company was because "it was an easy target."
Gradually, this deterioration of journalistic integrity has created paranoia within our industry. As a result, pharmaceutical companies have shied away from talking with consumer media–or any media, for that matter.
While my colleagues and I always advise our executives to tell the truth, we can no longer reassure them that the dialogue will be balanced and the coverage fair. So we bolt the doors and slip carefully worded statements under the door instead. Sadly, the truth will have to be found another way.
And so, without balanced information, companies are sending more communication to shareholders, advising them of negative news impact. Sales representatives are spending more time defending their products to healthcare professionals. And we are doing more monitoring for negative stories in preparation for the "inevitable."
In the end, everyone suffers. The company. The physician. The patient.
Professional integrity is the cornerstone of journalistic credibility. And for reporters to lose that credibility is to relinquish their role as the voice of the people.
But there is hope. It's called grassroots. Companies are realizing that it may be better to bypass mainstream media altogether and focus instead on smaller, more intimate audiences, such as local churches, rotary clubs and health fairs. They are recognizing the value of meeting with neighborhood bowling leagues and soccer moms.
We've certainly found that by building databases of loyal supporters, and communicating with them, we're able to tell pharma's story more effectively.
As for communicating to the masses: Forget it. Those who control the message have lost the integrity to convey it.
Marita Gomez is a partner at HealthInfo Direct in Schaumburg, IL
From the May 01, 2006 Issue of MM&M - Medical Marketing and Media


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David Ruccio's Blog is daily filled with valuable critique of capitalism.
One of his posts today was more personal.
I encourage you to read this short summary of what Professor Resnick meant to Ruccio as a teacher. Many of his thoughts echo my own (that I have not yet been able to face and clearly articulate since Steve's death).
I would also like to draw attention to the point that capitalism, has a history, thus a beginning and an end. Profound and beautiful in summary. Thank you to David for this post....


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Kathryn Zeiler
Kathryn Zeiler is Professor of Law and Nancy Barton Scholar at the Boston University School of Law. She was Senior Academic Fellow at the Center while on sabbatical from Georgetown Law School during the Fall 2010 semester. Professor Zeiler was working on a co-authored book to be published by Yale University Press titled "To Sue is Human: A Profile of Medical Malpractice Litigation." The book will provide the most detailed empirical study of the performance of the medical malpractice system available to date. The project utilizes data on approximately 16,000 medical malpractice claims closed from 1988 to 2005 to study the liability system and insurance markets in Texas. She was also working on a book chapter that will appear in the "Tort Law Handbook," (edited by Jennifer Arlen). The chapter will report results from a meta-analysis of empirical research investigating the impacts of medical malpractice tort reform on payouts, claims rates and insurance premiums.


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If you are the type with an aversion for nude pictures, then I will advise you to steer clear of the internet this period. This is because, in the past couple of weeks, the internet has been awash with nude photos of certain persons, both famous and the unknown. Never knew that taking naked pictures of one, has become the latest hobby in town.
First, it was those of a certain lady said to be a top banker in one of the financial institutions in the country. The story goes that the photos were the handiwork of a jilted lover, who incensed by being dumped, took his revenge in a most shocking way, by posting his lover's nude photos on the web. Those who saw them, all agreed they were not a sight you will want your young children to see. They were that raunchy. Who knew that some bankers, in a profession renowned for its conservatism, lived such 'wild lives' on the side? They present such a serious image in those banking halls, it's quite shocking to hear stuff like this about some of them.
And secondly, the British Monarchy is in the middle of a serious media storm as a result of naked pictures of Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge and wife of Prince William that were published in a French magazine last week. The offending pictures were allegedly taken by the sharp lens of a paparazzi while the couple were holidaying in a villa in France. This latest scandal is coming so soon after the Harrygate affair- when naked photos of Prince Harry while holidaying in Vegas, were published on the internet.
From all these examples, it's becoming crystal clear that the web is becoming a tool that the inventors never envisaged- a medium for exacting revenge and for publishing stuff that will put people, especially the famous in a very bad and embarrassing light.
For the lady whose pictures were circulated on the internet, one can image her state of mind when the photos, taken in privacy became public property via the web. Anger and despair must have been some of the emotions she felt. And regret for taking such intimate pictures in the first place and sending them to her boyfriend. One of the questions asked by some who saw the photos was why would a grown woman, and a married one at that, with a responsible position in a bank, take such pictures in the first place, much less send them to a boyfriend, not even her husband?
To them, she brought all the mess on herself and as such has no one to blame for all the humiliation and embarrassment she's going through, including losing her job. I agree totally with them. Nobody put a gun on her head and forced her to take those pictures. It was a choice she made, a very bad choice as events have shown.
And her experience should be a lesson to others-those who think nothing of taking lurid pictures of themselves and storing them in their computers, mobile phones and other gadgets- remember, they might come back to haunt you one day. If in doubt, ask former actress Anita Hogan, whose movie career, prematurely ended due to some nude photos of hers that were splashed all over the internet in 2006. Six years later, she's yet to recover from that scandal.
As for the Duchess of Cambridge, all I can say is, welcome to the club! As soon as she married into the Royal Family, she 'signed' a life-long contract with intense media interest, the paparazzi and public scrutiny. All her actions will be covered by the media (especially the papps) who will go to any length to get exclusive photos of her as the ones taken in France show. She will learn now that with the kind of 'gold fish' lifestyle and the life of privilege and luxury she married into, also comes great responsibility. And that includes keeping her clothes on all the time except perhaps in the privacy of her bedroom. So, no more topless sunbathing by the pool, please since she's not a page 3 girl.


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Private Funds Lawyer, central London.
- Recruiter
- Chadwick Nott
- Location
- City of London, England, London
- Salary
- £79000 - £98000 per annum
- Posted
- 29 Mar 2018
- Closes
- 26 Apr 2018
- Ref
- Contact
- Emily Oakes
- Sector/Practice Area
- Corporate, Financial Services
- Vacancy Type
- Lawyers
- Contract/hours
- Full time
Our client is an international and commercial City practice with a market-leading brand. Its holds one of London's most advanced and experienced private funds teams and they handle significant investment work, which is often cross-border and with an international coverage. An experienced private funds lawyer is now required for a highly lucrative opportunity with an excellent investment group.
Moving into a fast pace environment, the work will range from investment funds, private equity, private debt, real estate and hedge funds. The client base forms one of the team's most valuable assets in that they work with large corporates on an international scale and deal with businesses from a number of disciplines.
Applications are invited from specialist private funds lawyers who have at least 1 years PQE of strong private practice or in-house experience. Those who have top academics and have trained and qualified from a similar high profile City firm are welcomed to apply.
This is a unique opportunity for an energetic and driven individual who is looking to take the next step in their career.
Chadwick Nott Ltd is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
Similar jobs


text: This is one of best programs I've seen in a while. Gmail drive allows you to use your gmail account as a virtual drive in windows exployer. Everytime you put a file in the virtual dirve (10mb limit) gmail drive send an e-mail to your account essentially uploading that file (sweet!!!). enjoy....it's totally free. http://www.viksoe.dk/code/gmail.htm


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After the spending an abundance of summer days in front of the barbecue, there is nothing that the hubs and I enjoy quite like a roast bird. Not only does it make an excellent and super fancy-shmancy dinner, but the oven also helps heat the house. Cooking absolutely has its perks. Warm home, delicious dinner...that's a win-win combo.
Scene: The dairy section of a our market. Enter the Mrs. stage left, clasping a butternut squash to her heart with light in her eyes. Enter the hubs, stage right, with two cornish game hens and a finger pointed at the $7 price tag. They grasp hands, smile at one another and skip off down the baking isle into the sunset. Curtain. Applause. (Encore?)
Ok, that may be romanticized a bit, but the basic idea is fact. I wanted squash, he wanted hens and behold, dinner was born. My hubs has a knack for poultry and came up with a fantastic rub for these cute little individual-sized birds - ground hazelnuts and brown sugar. The nuts toasted up to glorious perfection while the brown sugar added a touch of sweetness for a uniquely delicious twist. Never before have I had a bird with skin so incredibly crisp, with literally double the crunch thanks to the ground nuts. Point hubs.
Now my squash and I had quite a bit of fun. I love it either oven or pan roasted, especially when paired with chicken. I also like a little fruit in my stuffing, and the grapes added nice moisture and flavor along side the squash, fresh sage and even more chopped hazelnuts. The stuffing was enough for a small duck or chicken and we baked the leftovers on the side. It was both delicious on its own and baked inside the bird. To match the sweetness of the skin, a little brown sugar would be an excellent addition to the stuffing but the hubs and I found the grapes added enough sweetness for our taste.
Little hens are show pieces. If you want to impress someone on a date, this is absolutely one they will never forget. Just imagine your date showing up to a home filled with delicious roasted scents and nothing for you to do but wait for the timer to ring. Wine, anyone? However, you might want to avoid this on the first date...unless you're lucky enough to find someone who finds eating with your fingers and chewing on bones attractive....
...like this little love right here. Sorry pups, no hen for you! But she did get lots of drippings and a little breast meat in her kibble, more than enough to make her scarf dinner down faster than a speeding chug. (Not just a pug, but a chihuahua too..huzzah!)
The hubs prepared the birds a few hours before dinner and I mixed the stuffing as the oven pre-heated. Once they had been popped in to roast, all that was left to do was throw together a quick side salad and crack a bottle of white wine. Voila, uber romantic dinner that may or may not have been eaten in sweats. No judgement!
Hazelnut & Brown Sugar Roasted Hens (2 hens)
- 2 cornish game hens
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (we used herb infused, but any would do)
- 1/3 c ground hazelnuts
- 1/4 c brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Wash and dry the hens inside and out. Drizzle with the olive oil and rub into the skin. In a small bowl, mix together the hazelnuts, brown sugar, pepper, salt and garlic powder. Generously cover both birds with the hazelnut mixture, being sure to penetrate all crevices and the bottom of the bird. Transfer to a pie dish, cover with plastic wrap and store for up to 8 hours in the refrigerator.
When ready to cook, remove the birds from the refrigerator and pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees. Stuff the bird with stuffing (or 1/4 onion, 1/2 celery stalk & 1/2 carrot) tying the legs together to help everything stay inside. Place the birds on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake* for 50-60 minutes, until an internal thermometer reads 165 degrees. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Butternut, Grape & Sage Stuffing (serves 2)
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1/4 c freshly chopped sage (about 8 leaves)
- 1 c cubed butternut squash
- 2 tbs onion, diced
- 1/2 tsp garlic, minced
- pinch each salt & pepper
- 1/2 c grapes, halved
- 3/4 c stale whole wheat bread cubes
- 1/4 c reduced sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 1/2 tsp brown sugar (optional)
Place a medium non-stick pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add the olive oil and swirl to coat. Add the sage and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add the squash and toss in the oil to coat. Spread into a single layer and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring once, until browned. Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Continue to cook for 8-10 minutes, until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork. Remove from the heat and transfer to a small bowl.
Add the cubed bread and broth to the squash and toss together with a spoon. Stuff into the hens prior to roasting or bake uncovered in a greased baking pan for the last 30 minutes of roasting time with the birds.


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It's not enough to pay homage to your mom on Mother's Day. You've got to honor thy mother (as one command, said to come from on high, puts it)—giving her the respect, love, and attention she's due—on a daily basis. The same goes for George Balanchine. This season marks the 100th anniversary of the master choreographer's birth, and the dance world is rushing around commemorating it with productions of the ballets, exhibitions in multiple media, symposiums, lecture-demonstrations, and so on. Some of the activity will be wonderful. Some of it, inevitably, will be mediocre or, worse, merely bandwagon behavior.
The most important thing is the performance of the ballets, and we're about to see what the New York City Ballet, heir-in-chief to the Balanchine legacy, can do with that, as it launches a Balanchine-heavy season. Its record in the 20 years since the choreographer's death does not provide a sanguine forecast. The rival contenders already apparent are Edward Villella's Miami City Ballet and the Suzanne Farrell Ballet—both of which are only glimpsed in the New York area, still America's dance capital and Balanchine's adopted home.
Performance, of course, is tragically ephemeral. Among the non-performance tributes, the ones with the most lasting value may be the archival ones, notably the George Balanchine Foundation's Video Archives. In a pair of programs supervised by Nancy Reynolds, segments of valuable choreography are retrieved from oblivion by the dancers on whom the material was created, and veteran dancers honed by Mr. B coach the rising generation in roles they originated. The results of these projects enjoy ongoing life in videotapes available at research libraries. A live taste of the undertaking is slated for three programs in the Works & Process series at the Guggenheim Museum.
Meanwhile, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts has mounted "The Enduring Legacy of George Balanchine," an exhibition commemorating the choreographer's career in America. Taken singly, its raw materials might seem pathetic—old sheets of paper imprinted with text and images, pieces of cloth constructed into costumes that now have no bodies to set them in motion. Such random souvenirs of glorious happenings are marshaled here into a simple, intelligent, mercifully ungaudy whole. It provides a resonant echo of Balanchine's achievement and, obliquely, honors the devoted colleagues, from mastermind Lincoln Kirstein to the School of American Ballet's children, who made it possible. My favorite items in the show are the photos that capture Balanchine dancing. Demonstrating for his acolytes, he becomes a veritable Astaire of contrapposto, then a wounded, faltering tilter at windmills; with fellow choreographer Jerome Robbins, he executes a spontaneous dos à dos. Among the Balanchine utterances writ large on the walls is this: "I don't have a past. I have a continuous present." Let's hope so.
The George Balanchine Foundation provides a complete, continually updated list of the Centennial doings at www.balanchine.org/05/archive/2003cent.html.


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With ties to Dallas and Houston -- and ever-abiding love of Austin -- we're always happy to have a reason to explore Texas. If you want to spend a day in Houston -- without breaking the bank -- these suggestions will get you on your way!
By Katie Skrzek of Trazee Travel
The most populous city in Texas, Houston is continually growing. With an expanding restaurant scene, beautiful public parks and a bustling downtown, Houston is the place to be in the Lone Star State.
Start your morning with breakfast tacos at Tacos A Go Go. Combine eggs with your favorite toppings — chorizo is a go-to for locals — all made from scratch. Breakfast costs $5. With locations throughout the city, rent a Houston bicycle for $5 for the entire day. Ride to Hermann Park with a two-mile hiking and biking trail.
Satisfy a Texas-sized appetite at Bernie's Burger Bus. Boasting homemade ingredients, Bernie's offers a burger for every taste, including their behemoth Detention burger with two patties sandwiches between two bacon grilled cheeses serving as buns. Lunch costs $20. Walk off your hefty lunch at the Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston. The free museum displays work from the best international, national and regional artists of the past 40 years. Tours are available at a fee.
Sample true Texas whiskey on a tour and tasting at the Yellow Rose Distillery. Tours cost $7 and include tastings of four Yellow Rose whiskeys and the Howdy Stranger vodka. A visit to Houston isn't complete without a Tex-Mex meal. Go to Ninfa's on Navigation for menu staples like enchiladas, tamales and —their most popular dish — fajitas. Dinner costs $20–25.
End your night under the stars at The Showboat Drive-in Theater. Located a short drive from downtown, the $7 price of admission includes a double feature.


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In this article we investigate the relationship between disasters and societal trust. A growing body research suggests that factors such as income inequality, ethnic fractionalization and religious heritage are important determinants of social capital in general and trust in particular. We present new panel data evidence of another important determinant of trust – the frequency of natural disasters. Frequent naturally occurring events such as storms require (and provide opportunity for) societies to work closely together to meet their challenges. While natural disasters can have devastating human and economic impacts, a potential spillover benefit of greater disaster exposure may be a more tightly knit society.The title of the the paper is "Do Natural Disasters Enhance Societal Trust?" A draft is here.
Apr 26, 2014
Every cloud has a silver lining
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Articles and Resources
228 Articles and Resources. Go to: [Beginning] [Previous 50]
Date Fairness.com Resource Read it at: May 18, 2006 Does Higher Per-Pupil Spending Guarantee Success? The Numbers Say No
QUOTE: As county governments in Northern Virginia continue finalizing their budgets...one number always stands out: their school divisions' cost per pupil....it can be difficult or unfair to compare districts whose sizes differ by magnitudes.
Washington Post May 17, 2006 Promoting Special Education in Catholic School
QUOTE: Unlike the public school system, Catholic schools are not required by law to provide special education services...Patricia A. Weitzel-O'Neill... "Some schools have been able to serve those children. We'd like to do this in more of our schools, but in order to do that we need resources."
Washington Post May 13, 2006 Mandel Broke U-Md. System Ethics Rules, Review Finds
QUOTE: Former Maryland governor Marvin Mandel has violated the Maryland university system's ethics policy by profiting from work as a lobbyist while serving as a regent...
Washington Post May 04, 2006 Professors want their classes 'unwired'
QUOTE: A growing number of professors now want computers - not just the Internet - out of class... Supporters of computers in the classroom emphasize useful ways that computers can be used in class, such as a program that lets professors ask questions of students and receive responses electronically to see how well they understand a lecture.
Christian Science Monitor May 02, 2006 College's Ex-President Pleads Guilty to Fraud
QUOTE: The former president of Morris Brown College, a historic black school in Atlanta, pleaded guilty yesterday to embezzling millions of dollars in federal funds from the government and students, the climax of a financial debacle that caused the school to lose its accreditation.
Washington Post Apr 20, 2006 Students weigh in on closing the gap
QUOTE: At some schools...students say they hadn't been counseled about the SAT before 12th grade. In other parts of the county, it's routine to start prepping much earlier. That delay "cheats the student out of an opportunity they could have had for college,"
Christian Science Monitor Apr 03, 2006 Area Families Pinched as Private Tuitions Top $26,000
QUOTE: Tuition at some of the region's elite private schools will exceed $26,000 this fall, sparking new worries about how to attract middle- and low-income students and recruit more minorities...families that used to be donors in addition to paying tuition are now seeking financial aid for their children.
Washington Post Mar 24, 2006 College Board Acknowledges More SAT Scoring Errors
QUOTE: an additional 27,000 SAT tests from the October exam had not been rescanned for errors.The announcement was the third admission in two weeks by the testing organization of potential errors and underreported scores.
Washington Post Feb 19, 2006 Student scolded over plagiarism accusation
QUOTE: An official at Argosy University-Chicago has been accused of plagiarizing her doctoral research project... But instead of punishing the official, the school moved to dismiss the student who accused her, in part because the student pushed the allegations.
Chicago Sun-Times Feb 04, 2006 Failing Students Spell Profit for Some Schools: One couple built a lucrative business using state funding to provide dropouts with classes that could -- but often don't -- lead to diplomas.
QUOTE: In the Halls' two charter school operations — the nonprofit Options for Youth and the for-profit Opportunities for Learning — students work independently, completing assignments at home and typically meeting with a teacher just two hours a week. The state's dropout crisis has given rise to many schools like theirs, publicly funded programs offering alternate routes to graduation.
Los Angeles Times Feb 02, 2006 Easing the burden of school fees in Africa
QUOTE: Although South African law says that no student should be denied an education and that impoverished students should be exempt from paying fees, children's advocates say that schools often do not understand or follow these regulations.
Christian Science Monitor Nov 13, 2005 Class Focus: It's Not Just Poor Students Who Need Attention
QUOTE: So much of the focus in public schools today is on bringing along underperforming low-income and minority kids...If that's where virtually all of a school's energy is going, then can a school...with many poor kids...who are far behind their middle-class counterparts academically, meet these students' needs without selling middle-class kids short?
Washington Post Nov 10, 2005 Visit over?: Tulane beckons, students balk
QUOTE: In late August, UVA welcomed them with open arms: more than 150 university students, many of them freshman, displaced from their Gulf Coast schools by Hurricane Katrina. Now, after a semester as "visiting students," taking classes and making friends, some of those students want to remain at UVA. But the welcome mat, it seems, is no longer out.
Hook Oct 28, 2005 Evolution Debate in Kansas Spurs Battle Over School Materials: Teaching of Theory's Doubts Spurs National Academy of Sciences, Teachers Association to Bar Use of Curriculum Guidelines
QUOTE: the National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Teachers Association announced...they will not allow Kansas to use key science education materials developed by the two organizations. The refusal came after the groups...concluded that they overemphasize uncertainties about the theory of evolution...
Washington Post Oct 19, 2005 College costs continue to go up
QUOTE: this annual escalation of college costs is just not sustainable, and it's resulting in students' having to take on ever-increasing debt loads...two-thirds of students attending four-year colleges today have taken on student loan debt.
Bankrate.com Oct 14, 2005 When students get rowdy, should colleges step in?: University of Rhode Island is latest to extend disciplinary reach over student behavior.
QUOTE: ... the debate is intensifying now that schools have been held liable for alcohol-related accidents off campus and have faced more demands from communities that they clamp down on raucous behavior - from late-night parties to rioting after sports events.
Christian Science Monitor Oct 09, 2005 AU Scandal Atypical in Post-Enron Era, College Presidents Say
QUOTE: Despite Ladner's explanation that much of the spending was business-related, school administrators scoffed at the notion that a president has to spend tens of thousands of dollars to raise money.
Washington Post Oct 06, 2005 Justices Hear Special-Ed Case: Supreme Court Appears to Concur With Montgomery Schools
QUOTE: ...questions and comments from the justices during the one-hour hearing strongly implied that most of the court agrees with the school system -- which maintains that the burden of proof should be on those trying to show that officials' plans are flawed.
Washington Post Sep 27, 2005 Pa. Case Is Newest Round in Evolution Debate:'Intelligent Design' Teaching Challenged
QUOTE: Eleven parents from Dover, in central Pennsylvania, are seeking to block their school board from requiring that high school biology teachers read a four-paragraph statement to students that casts doubt on Darwin's theory of evolution.
Washington Post Aug 11, 2005 Getting an online degree
QUOTE: industry watchers warn that consumers looking for credible credits on the Internet need to be cautious.
Bankrate.com Aug 11, 2005 Cutting the cost of college incidentals
QUOTE: The semester-after-semester tuition bills are just a beginning...But there are ways...to make sure that you aren't spending more than you have to...
Bankrate.com Aug 11, 2005 9 things you should know about work-study
QUOTE: Weighing the work-study option? It's a great way to get money for school without any repayment worries. But if your schedule's tight, it's also one more obligation.
Bankrate.com Jun 15, 2005 Teacher Gifts Run the Gamut -- But No More Mugs, Please
QUOTE: The school year is winding down and kids aren't the only ones finishing big projects and taking major tests. Parents face their own tricky final exam question: What is the proper end-of-the-year gesture for their child's teacher?
Washington Post Jun 14, 2005 Where Some Give Credit, Others Say It's Not Due
QUOTE: While tests demanded by the No Child Left Behind law measure each school's and each student's progress on the same scale, it is the report cards that students and parents care about most. And report cards are still based, as they have been for generations, on conflicting rules and personal assumptions made by individual teachers.
Washington Post Jun 06, 2005 Conservatives see liberal bias in class - and mobilize: Complaints that teachers push liberal ideology are trickling down from college campuses to the K-12 level
QUOTE: Students in primary and secondary schools tend to feel "intimidated," due to the "imbalance of power" in the classroom,... [Students] are not really going to want to rock the boat even if they disagree with what the teacher is saying."
Christian Science Monitor Jun 05, 2005 A's for Everyone!: In an era of rampant grade inflation, some college students find it shocking to discover there are 26 letters in the alphabet
QUOTE: "The students were relentless. During the spring semester, they showed up at my office to insist I reread their papers and boost their grades. They asked to retake tests they hadn't done well on. They bombarded me with e-mails questioning grades."
May 29, 2005 No Merit in These Scholarships
QUOTE: Over the last few decades, an increasing number have been offering significant aid based only on merit, without regard to a family's resources. In pursuit of class averages that will support a strong national ranking, these schools are essentially buying better students.
Washington Post Nov 10, 2004 High Achievers Leaving Schools Behind: Transfers in Fairfax and Elsewhere Were Meant for Struggling Students
QUOTE: The legislation is intended to give struggling students the chance to move from high-poverty, low-performing schools, but Fairfax school officials have found that the students who take the transfers generally aren't the ones who need extra help.
Washington Post Nov 09, 2004 Drinking Deaths Draw Attention to Old Campus Problem
QUOTE: Experts say that these deaths represent just a fraction of the problem of binge drinking on college campuses...less studied or publicized were the many college students who did survive near-lethal intoxication after being rushed to emergency rooms by friends.
New York Times Sep 05, 2004 Good Schools or Bad? Conflicting Ratings Leave Parents Baffled
QUOTE: School ratings issued under the terms of the president's No Child Left Behind law have clashed with school report card systems administered by some states, leaving parents unsure which level of government to believe...
New York Times Aug 29, 2004 U.S. Cutting Back on Details in Data About Charter Schools
QUOTE: The Department of Education is sharply cutting back on the information it collects about charter schools...Education researchers who focus on charter schools...said the change would limit what they could learn about charter schools at a pivotal moment in their growth.
New York Times Aug 29, 2004 Officials Unraveling Woes of Texas Schools
QUOTE: When they talk about mismanagement and poor leadership, why is it that it always happens in predominantly minority school districts?
New York Times Aug 23, 2004 Dealing With Depression: Mental health has become a big topic at schools. Suicides and litigation have forced the issue. What students and parents must know
QUOTE: ...more than 40 percent of students reported feeling "so depressed it was difficult to function" at least once during the year. Thirty percent identified themselves as suffering from an anxiety disorder or depression...there's also concern that colleges aren't dealing with the problem adequately.
Aug 11, 2004 10 Things Your Child's Tutoring Service Won't Tell You
QUOTE: While schools must now meet federally mandated standards, these criteria don't apply to supplemental education companies. "You could end up with an excellent tutor who put up a flier at the grocery store, or a crummy tutor from a national organization..."
Smart Money Jul 17, 2004 New York City Will Limit Chance to Leave Failing Schools
QUOTE: New York City, which last year allowed every child who wished to transfer out of a failing school to do so, will drastically reduce the number of students allowed to move this year...Some critics said early on that New York City risked harming its better schools in allowing so many students in them.
New York Times Jan 14, 2004 10 Things College Financial Aid Offices Won't Tell You
QUOTE: At first glance, the amount of financial aid available to students seems like a gold mine...Problem is, you'll need a treasure map to find your share. The bewildering aid-application process stumps thousands of families each year, leaving many to pay more tuition than they have to.
Smart Money Nov 15, 2003 Girls' Buss Causes Fuss at School and in Media
QUOTE: Now a Howard County high school has seen senior Katherine Pecore and junior Stephanie Haaser lock lips on top of a lunch table. The result? Two-day suspensions, a school protest and 15 minutes of fame.
Washington Post Aug 12, 2003 10 Things Your Private School Won't Tell You
QUOTE: But just because private schools are becoming more popular, don't assume they've become more selective.
Smart Money May 19, 2003 Diversity Or Division On Campus? Minority Graduation Galas Highlight a Timely Issue
ABSTRACT: According to some officials at the University of Pennsylvania, racially and ethnically themed graduation ceremonies help foster cultural connections and instill confidence in minority students. Critics, however, see these separate ceremonies as a manifestation of self-segregation.
May 19, 2003 Sit In for School Equality
ABSTRACT: American public schools are largely separate and unequal segregating students on the basis of race and resources.
Apr 26, 2003 Writing in Schools Is Found Both Dismal and Neglected
QUOTE: The commission's report asserts that writing is among the most important skills students can learn, that it is the mechanism through which they learn to connect the dots in their knowledge — and that it is now woefully ignored in most American schools.
Mar 06, 2003 ACLU-Backed Case Challenges U-Md.'s 'Free Speech Zones': Limit on Discourse Called Too Broad
QUOTE: A local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is suing the University of Maryland for allegedly violating students' right to free expression by restricting public speaking and leafleting to two specific locations on campus.
Jan 30, 2003 Ah, Love, Let Us Be True, or at Least Be Accurate
QUOTE: ..news accounts reported that Regents exams had sanitized many famous writers, including cutting out references to Jews and Gentiles...officials promised to end the practice. But the August exam changed the words of several writers...
Oct 10, 2002 MIT tries free Web education
QUOTE: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has decided to publish online all its course materials--a $107,840 value.
May 21, 2002 ACLU Endorses Repeal of Unfair Financial Aid Denials;
QUOTE: "Rather than allowing them to better themselves through education, this misguided legislation tragically strips away their future potential."
May 01, 2002 Federal Agencies Release First Annual Report to Congress On College Scholarship Fraud
QUOTE: ...a substantial amount of fraud occurs in offering college education assistance...
Jul 08, 2001 Teachers Mull Paper-swapping
QUOTE: ...the Supreme Court has agreed to decide if swapping papers to correct them violates students' privacy rights.
Washington Post Apr 01, 2000 Ten Things the College-Prep Industry Won't Tell You
QUOTE: Every year thousands of parents shell out big bucks to private college counselors...the counselor at your teenager's high school would probably give you the same advice -- free of charge.
Smart Money May 01, 1999 Ouch! Students Getting Stung
QUOTE: ...in their efforts to pay the bills, many...are falling prey to scholarship and financial aid scams.
Jan 01, 1999 Ten Things Private Schools Won't Tell You
QUOTE: parents, disillusioned with public schools, are sending their kids to private schools in record numbers...f you're thinking of sending your kid to a private school because she'll have a better chance of getting into Princeton, think again...
Smart Money
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text:
What Worries Democrats
John McCain is the one Republican who can go anywhere in the country and always be met with respect:
Later this spring, McCain will embark on a two-week tour of places where, his advisers say, few Republicans ever campaign, including Alabama's Black Belt, where African Americans in the state are concentrated; Appalachia; and New Orleans. Davis said the goal is to send a message that McCain is appealing for votes from all types of Americans in all regions.
As Dean Barnett agrued yesterday, the left's attempts to attack the Arizona senator blow up in their hands, because McCain is a fixed entity in the public's mind that will be near impossible to distort:
You don't have to parse a John McCain speech to figure out where he stands. Heck, you don't even have to listen to McCain's speeches to know where he stands. From campaign finance to immigration to the Bush tax cuts to the Iraq War, McCain has been a man of action rather than words. Such men develop records and reputations. They become known quantities.
Barnett contrasted this fixed quality with the shape-shifting of the likely Democratic nominee:
On the other end of the spectrum stands Barack Obama. Obama lacks a biography that tells you where he stands. He also has taken no defining or even noteworthy political action in his short time in public life.
And that's where the speeches come in. Obama's campaign is one purely of words. Verbiage matters for the Obama campaign, more than it has for any presidential campaign in memory. Verbiage matters for Obama in a way it couldn't possibly matter for McCain. The only way Obama can tell the country of his plans and of his basic nature is through speeches and other campaign set pieces. When Obama said "words matter" to rebut one of Hillary Clinton's attacks, he had it right. For his campaign, nothing matters more.
It's therefore understandable that Obama partisans would prefer the presidential race to hinge on the candidates' words and even on their words' provenance. That's Obama's home court. Obama is a remarkable speaker, and a gifted writer. McCain is neither.
But McCain is a man of action, one who has a 40 year history of being a man of action. And even in politics, actions speak louder than words.


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I woke up with a hangover today not fully understanding how many books I had actually bought this week... Turns out it was a lot of books.
Midnighter #8
This issue needed way more Spyral. I look at that cover and go "Great, Spyral!" But then it's just the next issue tease basically. Helena just shows up and goes "Suicide Squad, get em!" That's great, fantastic even, but I just could have used more Spyral, less Freedom Beast… Sorry buddy, you ain't Spyral! David Messina, coming off Catwoman, stepped in for art on this one, and I quite liked it. Had a different look from Catwoman going, as his work seemed to try and stay in line with Garry Brown's work prior. Looked great, I dunno.
Swamp Thing #1
Wasn't the idea of this new round of minis (most of which got stuck in an anthology series) supposed to be new takes on characters… Nothing says new like Len Wein and Kelley Jones, right!? That came off meaner than it sounded. The art was actually fantastic, but we're going from Swamp Thing being a fucking god, to him chasing a zombie… The downgrade in scope this mini has taken in comparison to the perfectly fine (great, even) title that ended not too long ago definitely wasn't a new and refreshing take, I'll say that much.
Uncanny X-Men #1
Shut up Marvel, this is an X-Force book with a wider market appeal title. We all know it. I thought this first issue was pretty alright, as the cast of characters definitely is a pretty good selling point. All sort of bad guys or some sort of anti-hero inbetweener. Fuck, I'm honestly still surprised that Sabertooth is still under his Axis invert spell or whatever. If Marvel is going to completely ignore an event, I'd expect it to be Axis, quite honestly. Interesting cast, didn't notice any obvious porn traces, so I'm on board.
Deadpool #5
This was another one of those Deadpool issues where I feel like I'm done with it, but it does enough serious drama stuff to make me go "okay I'll see where this goes a little while longer." The next thing I know it's going to be issue #38 and I'll be saying the same damn thing. I don't know, Madcap? Deadpool hates himself? Sure. Whatever, it's got enough hooks in me I guess.
Vision #3
This is going to sound SUPER weird, but the way Virginia got undressed for robot sexy times was really fucking clever. Took me half a second to sort of just sit there and go "Wait, wha-oh… OH…" So way to go Tom King and Gabriel Walta, you made sexy robots? But outside of sexy time robots, we got some real weird shit going on with that plant and the witch… super ominous visions and all that, wasn't quite sure what was going on, but this book has been so good, I'm up for anything.
The Fade Out #12
So that's the end, we find everything out (maybe) and things are left in a pretty shitty place, where you'd expect a washed up drunk of a writer to end up. It's weird, we got all the answers, but Charlie wasn't exactly left with a resolution of any type. I guess that is in line with what Brodsky was saying at the end, it's just how shit works. Fucked up things happen, life moves on, so you got your main character ending the series just wandering around drunk and upset. The end. I liked the series, not as much as Fatale, but it was still a pretty alright ride.
Paper Girls #4
I've pretty much given up trying to make sense of this book, but that's not to say I'm not enjoying it. This book is just nuts. It's fucking crazy, there's weird shit on every page, and it's just an incredibly fun read because of it. How do you make a book about for girls who deliver newspapers in the late 80s interesting? By throwing all the random bullshit you can think of at it, and making it a book. That's pretty much how this title has gone, and it's been great. You know what I enjoyed this issue? The fact that Mac is a homophobe. We're in such a PC world, where anyone who isn't super liberal and PC often vilified. Is Mac an evil character? No… she's just grossed out by mens kissing mens, I guess. I'm not here going "YEAH, GO HOMOPHOBES!" but it's just refreshing to see variety in characters, even if I don't agree with their stances.
Nailbiter #19
I'll be honest, this was the last book I had to write about, so I'm kind of tried of typing. It's fine. Good even, it's just one of those title that tells a long consistent story so I never have much to say from issue to issue. It's still good? Hooray.
Black Science #19
This arc has been a real big change of pace, but I'm definitely enjoying the sort of "Grant McKay, this is your life" vibe… even though his life is super depressing and shitty, but hey, Remender comics, right? Holy fuck though, the art from Scalara and Dinisio this issue was on fucking point. The pages where Grant was talking to the god mountain or whatever the hell that thing was, man… the colors, THE COLORS. I like colorful shit, and this is the most colorful of all the shit I read this week, so yeah, it's going to stand out. Also, I laughed when Grant quite literally unlocked the power of IMAGINATION.
Archie #5
This book continues to be great. New artist jumped on board, Veronica Fish, who I had never heard of, and coming after Fiona Staples and Annie Wu, that's some big shoes to fill. Good news is, the art looked great. Kind of cartoony, but still keeps inline with the modern take that Fiona Staples had set up.
Sheriff of Babylon #2
Oh god, I accidentally copy pasted what I wrote for this issue, then accidentally copied something else and closed Evernote. NOW IT'S GONE! Fuck premium. Anyways, I forgot to write something for the first issue, but that's because I forgot to read it when it came out. Anyways, it's super great. Really tense, has a great web of characters with crazy motivations. Tom King came the fuck out of nowhere and everything he writes is great... I want to see his take on Batman some day.
Invader Zim #6
So they changed the art in this book, for the worse if I'm going to be honest. The first five issues absolutely NAILED the look of the series, now this issue looks sort of like what would happen if Invader Zim and Rick and Morty had a baby… WEIRD, right? That's pretty much it. Still funny, but it took a major hit now that it looks really different.