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Home >> Igneous Rock
Igneous RockQUESTION: What is igneous rock?
Igneous rock is one of three basic kinds of rock, along with sedimentary and metamorphic rock. The word igneous comes from the Latin word, ignis, which means fire. Igneous rocks are rocks which were once molten inside the earth.
There are over 700 different kinds of igneous rock. Two well known examples are granite and basalt. All of the many different kinds of igneous rock can be subdivided into one of two categories: intrusive rock and extrusive rock. Intrusive rock hardens and forms below the earth's surface. Extrusive rock forms on the Earth's surface. Intrusive rock is also called plutonic rock, named after Pluto, the Roman god of the Underworld (because Plutonic rock forms beneath the earth's surface). Extrusive rock is also called volcanic rock, named after Vulcan, the Roman god of fire, because volcanic rock is spewed onto the earth's surface by volcanic activity which is also named after Vulcan. There it cools becoming extrusive rock.
Many scientists believe that by using radiometric dating techniques they can determine approximately how long ago igneous rock cooled and formed. The idea behind this belief comes from the idea that when the rocks are molten their atomic clock resets. When the rocks cool the clock starts. As radioactive elements within the rock decay into stable elements, the stable elements build up. Scientists estimate how long ago a rock cooled by how much stable "daughter" element was produced by the unstable radioactive "parent" element.
Radiometric dating is opposed by some scientists who believe that the underlying assumptions inherent to the dating scheme have been brought into question by various scientific studies.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? - We have all sinned and deserve God's judgment. God, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him. Jesus, the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buried, and rose from the dead according to the Bible. If you truly believe and trust this in your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your Savior, declaring, "Jesus is Lord," you will be saved from judgment and spend eternity with God in heaven.
What is your response?
Yes, today I am deciding to follow Jesus
Yes, I am already a follower of Jesus
I still have questions
What is your response?
Yes, today I am deciding to follow Jesus
Yes, I am already a follower of Jesus
I still have questions


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Joy of joys! The US purpose not be excluded from partaking in Audi's first rear-wheel-drive wonderful car, the R8 RWS (Rear Wheel Series).
Confirmation comes today from Audi spokesperson Fingerprint Dahncke, who added that the RWS would be coming in 2018.
Audi Sport unveiled the two swing drive R8 earlier this week at the Frankfurt motor show. Stephan Winkelmann, Audi Make a fool of CEO, called it a rawer car for "purists." With two fewer driven wheels, smaller fa wheels, and a number of other weight savings, the RWS will be a lighter, meaner R8.
Stilly propelled by Audi's excellent naturally aspirated, 5.2 liter V10, the RWS inclination get the same 540 hp as the standard R8 (though not the 610 hp of the V10 Plus). Thanks to the lack of face wheel drive, and all the associated equipment, the RWS will weigh 110 lbs less than the beau id R8.
The result is still a net loss in acceleration speed (albeit only by 0.2 seconds), but a freer bum end and less weight dragging you off the apex.
Production will be limited to just 999 examples in both Coupe and Spyder configuration and we wish know it by the optional red stripe that starts on the left in the front crosses over and beyond to the right side by the time it reaches the rear (among other, subtler differences).
"The R8 V10 RWS is made for purists," said Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of Audi Distraction GmbH, at the launch. "A limited-edition special model for customers with an thankfulness for essential driving enjoyment, the R8 V10 RWS is an absolutely exclusive offer. With its mid-mounted V10 motor and rear-wheel drive, it successfully brings the driving concept of our R8 LMS racing car to the streets."
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subset: commoncrawl


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What's Haunting Your House and What to Do About It
Is Your House Haunted?
Maybe you're experiencing strange things in your house. Maybe you've seen things, felt things, or heard things, and you're wondering if your house is haunted. The first thing you should do is stop doubting if your house is haunted or not. If you've had the inclination, it is most likely haunted. The next step is to determine what kind of haunting you are experiencing, and then you can move on to determine what to do about it.
Each section below will tell you the signs of each type of haunting, and then will go into what you can do about these hauntings. A good rule of thumb is to keep notes and say yes or no to each sign: the section with the most signs will most likely tell you what kind of haunting you are dealing with. Keep in mind that each haunting is unique, just as each individual is unique. You may have to adjust and adapt.
Signs You're Being Haunted by a Ghost
You might be thinking your house is haunted by a ghost. Ghosts are the spirits of the human deceased who have gotten trapped between this world and the next or of whom have returned to earth for a specific reason (though the former is most common). Ghosts who are trapped on the earthly plane tend to be the more sad, angry, or vengeful ghosts while ghosts who visit earth for a reason from the other side are usually bringing a message of peace or hope to someone they love.
Here are some signs your house is haunted by a ghost:
- strange noises at night: footsteps, banging of doors or drawers, knocking, voices, laughs
- strange scents that seem to come out of nowhere and disappear as fast: grandma's perfume, cigar smoke, roses, food smells when those foods aren't around, etc.
- strange sights: wispy translucent images, movement in the corner of your vision, visions of deceased loved ones or strangers
- strange feelings: feelings of not being alone when you are alone in the house, feeling of someone touching your shoulder/back/arm/etc, goosebumps with no explanation
Other signs could be shown by your pets. Often dogs and cats (and other animals) can see ghosts and sense things when we can't. You might notice your animals staring or barking/meowing at the air. You might notice them getting scared and hiding for no known reason.
Here are reasons why your house might be haunted by a ghost:
- your house is old (usually 40 years or older)
- someone died in your house
- you live near a cemetery or gravesite
- a tragedy occurred in (or possibly near) your house: murder, suicide, chronic illness, fire, a nearby battlefield, hunting accidents, drowning, etc.
- the person who lived in your house before you might have messed around with the occult or magic
- a loved one recently died and might be visiting you
What to Do About a Ghost Haunting
If you can say yes to a bunch of these signs and reasons, then your house is most likely haunted by a ghost. Some people have a hard time distinguishing between demons and ghosts, which I plan to clear up for you in this article (read to the next section if you're not sure). If you're sure you have a ghost in your house, here are some things you can do:
- if they are relatively peaceful ghosts, live alongside of them in peace (particularly if they were in your house before you)
- if they are becoming bothersome or ominous in some way: perform a spiritual cleansing and blessing of your house with sage smudging and holy water/oil
- ask a priest or religious official to perform a cleansing or blessing on your home
- look for evidence that the ghost might be attached to a specific object in your house and remove it from your house (look in the attic, basement, etc. for antiques or other heirlooms potentially left behind)
If these things don't work, you might be dealing with something more sinister and more steps will need to be taken to remove the entity from your home and life. See the next section on demons.
Your pets may be showing you signs that your house is haunted. Often they pick up on things that we don't notice.— Nicole Canfield
Signs You're Being Haunted by a Demon
If you answered yes to many of the signs above in the ghost section, but you're having problems of a more aggressive or violent nature, you might be dealing with a demon. A demon is a spirit that has never incarnated as a human. There are debates as to their origin, which include: fallen angels that work for Satan, ancient gods that have been forgotten over time, guardians of the land, thought forms, and more. Regardless of their origin, when they decide to attach to a family or person, they can be downright terrifying and destroy lives in their wake.
Here are the signs you're dealing with a demon's presence and not just a normal ghost:
- the hauntings began randomly in a house where you've lived for a while
- they seem to center around one particular person in your household (often a teenager or even a child)
- the person of whom the activity is centered around has become withdrawn or lashes out, acts like a different person than what they used to be
- if it's a child, they may mention having an imaginary friend but this imaginary friend encourages them to do bad things
- you may see shadows in your peripheral vision that move without an explanation, you may even see shadows directly
- you may hear voices at night that sound evil, whisper awful things, curse, scream or cry. Sometimes these voices mimic the voice of a child.
- things are moved, tossed, thrown, destroyed without an explanation
- heirlooms, photo frames, and precious personal items are destroyed without an explanation
- nightmares, night terrors, sleep paralysis (waking up and not being able to move) that continues regularly and comes out of nowhere
- strange, offensive smells: sulfur, smoke, rotten meat, etc.
- violent attacks on you or other people in your house by an invisible force: smacks, kicks, choking, pushed.
- inexplicably bruises, cuts, marks on bodies after waking up in the morning
If you have these signs, please read on to find out some options to end this cycle.
- 6 Cases of 'Demonic Possession' That Might Convince You
Movies featuring exorcisms like The Exorcist (1971) and The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) have thrilled audiences around the world, but do demonic possessions actually happen in real life? That's prov
What to Do About a Demon Attachment/Possession
If your type of haunting is demonic in nature, often it is more than just a "haunting" where the spirit is living in your house. Often it is what is known as a demonic attachment which can lead (in rare situations) to a possession. It is a terrifying though, but these things have been documented and do occur whether you are a religious person or not. Don't believe me? Do the research yourself.
Here are some things you can do to sever the attachment between the demon and person before it goes too far:
- the person being tormented needs to stop all bad habits that weakens them: alcohol abuse, drug abuse, addiction of any kind, negative thinking, self harm, etc.
- the person being tormented could be dealing with depression and anxiety, both of these illnesses need to be addressed with counseling immediately
- someone in your house could be dabbling in black magic (magic that deals with dark and negative energies such as necromancy and curses). Also be aware of any ouija board use as ouija boards are known to be wide channels for spirits to come through, most often attracting low level spirits and demons. Get rid of any ouija boards or dark magic items.
In addition to helping the person of whom the spirit is trying to attach itself, you'll need to do a full cleansing of your house on your own or by a religious official. If you feel like you will be too scared or weak to do it on your own, contact your religious official such as a priest, pastor, mambo, shaman, medium, witch, etc. If you decide to do the spiritual cleansing on your own, use sage to smudge your house (always open the windows to let the entity out otherwise you'll piss it off more). Also bless our windows and doorways and the person's room with holy water or olive oil (draw a protective religious symbol using the oil or water).
Here are some other things you can do:
- leave some lights on at night (demons thrive in darkness)
- leave some fans running (demons thrive in stagnant air)
- teach your family members not to fear or thrive on negative thoughts as this feeds the entity
- hang religious or protective symbols around your home
- be firm in your beliefs and don't take no for an answer if there are those who are unwilling to help you
Signs You're Being Haunted by an Elemental
There's a third kind of spirit that could be haunting your house or property that most people are unaware exists. This is an Elemental. Elementals are the spirits of the land and could also be guardians of certain sacred natural sights: waterfalls, rivers, forests, lakes, mountains, caves, even certain old trees and groves. They are also what are called fairies, the wee folk, the sidhe, dwarves, trolls, etc. They aren't just mythological creatures, they are spirits of the land that were made into these creatures over time. When these beings haunt a house or building, it is most often because they feel their territory is being infringed upon in some way. And, unfortunately, these beings will be harder to "get rid of". They are extraordinarily strong and willful beings and often act much different than a ghost or demon will.
Here are some signs you might be dealing with an Elemental haunting:
- you recently moved into a brand new house or new construction of some kind
- you recently had a large tree or trees cut down
- you made some kind of major change to the landscape near your house
- you added on to the structure of your house
- jewelry, sparkly things, keys, and other smaller items are moved or lost then returned later
- poltergeist activity such as things being broken, moved violently, doors slammed, things thrown in plain sight
- strange sounds during day twilight hours (dusk and dawn): instruments playing, giggles, singing, bells ringing, voices speaking another language
- aggression shown towards you outside of your home: pushed, hit, hair pulled.
- if you have animals, their hair being braided or cut without an explanation
- animals acting strangely - being spooked or playing with something unseen
Elemental spirits have been known throughout folklore to braid horses' hair. Watch your pets' hair for signs of this.— Nicole Canfield
What to Do About an Elemental Haunting
The reason an Elemental could be haunting your house or your property as mentioned before is because they feel their territory has been invaded. Because of this, and unfortunately, it's going to be more difficult for you to deal with this kind of haunting. Until the spirit feels it is safe or justified for its activity or until its territory is left alone, you might be dealing with its antics and anger.
Here are some things you can try to do with an elemental haunting:
- contact your local medicine man or shaman: this specific kind of spiritual official often know more about this kind of haunting than say a priest or official from the church
- hang wind chimes and bells around the outside of your house (elementals while they love their own music are often scared off by our loud or sharp noises)
- hang iron horseshoes above your doors (elementals are historically known to despise or be driven off by iron)
- leave offerings for them outside of your house: elementals are thought to like sweet desserts, milk, cream, mead, ale, wine, bread, etc. (Never leave an offering inside of your house as it's like saying they are welcome in your home)
- smudge your house using white sage (google how to smudge your house), make sure to open the windows to let the spirit escape
- erect a sanctuary outside for the elemental to show it that you want peace: this can be a garden, bird bath and bird houses, plant a tree(s) (this works especially if you recently cut down a tree which might have been the elemental's home)
- if all else fails, deal with the haunting or move.
Questions & Answers
We have dealt with paranormal issues our whole lives. I think we might be dealing with an elemental. We have seen small dark black creatures with spiky hair both inside and outside. Also, we have had many odd occurrences that could match up. Do elementals manifest this way?
It sounds very much like elementals. Yes, they can manifest that way.Helpful 6
© 2017 Kitty Fields
So I have a severe question. Its goes with the article of whats haunting of a demon. Just alittle catching up for everyone. It started when my father passed in 2015 in my mother ans fathers house as he passed in the bed next to her in his sleep. After so long had went by everything was normal. Then my mother was being forced to move due to the property being bought by the county. Then thats when the paranormal activity started for her. My mother and her roommate would get there hair touched in the shower. My mother glasses moved. Her shoes being put in random places. The washer,dryer,and her refrigerator went out completely. Something saying there names and voices. I then came to realize something was making my mother accept it for being my father so she allowed it to enter. She had her house blessed as she was sti looking for a place. It all stopped, 1 month later it all came back and thats when the washer and stuff quit. The hair pulling. And things being put in different places more often. 2 weeks later me and my wife put my mom and her roommate into a house. It stopped then. Well then things started happening in my house hold. Mood swings,things come up missing then put back. Things put in random places. Someone saying my name. A quarter was found in my sons diaper he was about 6 months old hes a year old now. The quater with the date 2015 and it had blue Ridge hideaway which is in Cherokee and Cherokee was my dads absolute place to go to. But these moods caused such bad fights. My kids bedroom door opened frequently in the nights. So i blessed the house it stopped. Then just recently after about 6 months its back. It all started the night i foind my red nose pit passed away in her sleep in her kennel. She was sick and it was to late. I went back out a couple hours about 12am to bury her. As im putting her to rest which ididnt get to finish till in the morning because my female cat was by my side thru it all. As im in the process of digging she runs under the shed and looks towards the woods and starts low growling and hissing repeatedly. I looked and used a flashlight nothing but i had this really uneasy, that something is there but why cant i see it and why is my cat so angry all of a sudden. I finishedthat morning before finding out what it could of been. My childs voice saying my name but there no where in the area. My 1 year old being woke up constantly at night when hes in the bed by his self. Things being moved around or strange sounds. Aggressive mood swings in my wife toward me over nothing. I dont understand how it has came back. Its only the beginning of it being back so this is all thats happened so far. I feel like its going to pick up as time builds. I need help. But if someone can really assist me further my email is firstname.lastname@example.com and my name is Kevin Catt im 26 years old with 3 children ages of 11,9,and 1y and my life living in are household. Thank you for your time Kevin Catt
Throughout my entire life I'm and off I have had odd occurrences. I have lived in three places in the same town, when the odd occurrences start I see things out of the corner of my eye, I see shadows fleetingly and the only common denominator seems to be I will walk past a cupboard door (both of these doors have been stiff and difficult to open) and looked back and they've been open. I hear noises and things too I'm more bothered now than I've ever been because I have a baby now. I've felt presences of many different types during my life, sometimes I smell smoke and cherry bake wells which strongly resembles my grandfather or my grandmothers perfume, these don't leave me feeling uneasy. When these occurrences I'm talking about happen I don't get any smells I feel very uneasy things seem to move etc, the cupboard door opening has followed me between my last home and the current one however when I was a child I felt the same unease and seeing the shadows etc but no doors opening that I remember. I was hit on the back of the head by a pencil in my bedroom which was empty in that house however. What do you think is following me?
I have an interesting situation. Something has been waking my six year old at night. I often go to her and feel a presence. It doesn't feel very friendly. Over the summer months it seemed to disappear but tonight it has returned.
Maybe a bit of background could help in narrowing down what it is.
When we first moved to this house 11 years ago I saw a large cat like shadow in the back garden. A few days later I had a mans voice growl at me whilst I was doing chores. The odd thing would go bump in the night but nothing major. Then a few years ago my then 5 year old saw a spiky creature in on her bed, about the size of a cat, that jumped through the wall and out of the house. And that was when the night stuff started to happen. Every night at 12:30 she would wake. Most of the time a smell like compost or rotten veg peelings would be present in the stairway. We put warding signs around the house and that helped a lot. But now I feel it has returned. Any advice?
Very interesting stuff. I used to live in a haunted place so I know exactly what you're talking about. I have heard about land being haunted by an elemental, but didn't know much else about it. I think I've seen on one of those ghost hunter shows where a family was being haunted because they built their house on land that used to belong to Native Americans and was an ancient burial ground. I've always been fascinated by the paranormal. Thanks for sharing this article.
Oh wow... this is EXACTLY why I am here.... let me explain. ... my fiance committed suicide in 2009 in my name. Since then I've always felt his presence near me and not in a good way but he's never hurt me..... he goes everywhere I go. WELL I'VE recently moved in with some extended family and they have had a spirit in this home since they moved in regards years ago, but in their case they feel it protects them. Moved things on occasion and also knocks on one certain wall all the time.... I also moved into the most active room in the home. And in the last week 2 huge bruises have appeared on my leg, I am waking up literally drenched in a cold sweat (enough to ring out a shirt)... I am a lucid dreamer but these last few weeks I can not remember a dream to save my life.... ALSO my things (only my things) are now starting to disappear. Not move like before this is different... my glasses (very expensive and mostly special to me because I could never afford them and got them by chance) have gone missing among other things but in this case I accused one of the teenagers I live with (also my cousin) of stealing. She DID NOT take them however it caused a great deal of animosity in the home.... my idea is that the spirit of my fiance was never a good one and has caused many bad relationships and torn family ties... but now with this other spirit here is it possible that he is feeding off of it and gaining the power to hurt me? He was physically abusive when alive..... I'm starting to feel a bit crazy. If anyone has any information please reach out!!!
MzB WHAT?! OMG, all these years I've been tearing the house up, one side and down the other, searching for my keys, my glasses, my purse, etc??...and all I had to do was tell them all to "STAY?!" Damn, where were you 50 years ago? I don't even want to think about the total hours of life, I've spent looking, under, inside, over, in the house, the yard, the car!! Wracking my brain, going over my steps...until I want to sit down and cry.
You have just made my day!!................Paula
I dealt with a cranky elemental in a building where I worked at night years ago. It loved to scare me, but when I let it know that I knew it was harmless, it left me alone.
Right now I'm dealing with things disappearing. Sometimes they come back on their own, sometimes I or my husband can call them back, and sometimes I never see them again. I've come to the conclusion that this is a manifestation of my own multidimensionality and not an elemental or a demon. I lost a bracelet a few months ago, and tried to call it back. After I bought a new one just like it, the old one reappeared exactly where I had placed it. Now when I put up a piece of jewelry or something that I care about, I hold my hand over it and say "stay". So far that has worked and nothing has disappeared that I've commanded to stay. LOL Have you had any problems with this, Nicole?
The veil is so thin between dimensions that right now many people are exhibiting this trait. The thin veil also can account for seeing shadows or shadow people around us or in our homes.
Not likely our house is haunted. But good to know what to look for! Even if not haunted, I think homes retain the energy of their occupants in some way. Interesting as always. Have a blessed weekend!
My home isn't haunted, but I have been places that are. I find it all very interesting.


text: Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone – we find it with another. by admin January 30, 2015, 8:43 am . See more Previous article Valentine's Day 2015 Quotes: Top 10 Romantic Sayings To Share With Your Loved Ones Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment Name * Email * Website Please enter an answer in digits:thirteen − 6 =


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Travel Guide Migmaging offers the best package deals on Berlin Germany vacations. With more than 400 airlines from 1,700 departure cities plus world-class Berlin resorts, we can help you create a great vacation package for the best price. Booking your flight and hotel room together can help you save on the entire package.
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Berlin, Germany's capital, dates to the 13th century. Reminders of the city's turbulent 20th-century history include its Holocaust memorial and the Berlin Wall's graffitied remains. Divided during the Cold War, its 18th-century Brandenburg Gate has become a symbol of reunification. The city's also known for its art scene and modern landmarks like the gold-colored, swoop-roofed Berliner Philharmonie, built in 1963.


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Originating from Red River Delta in northern Vietnam during the 11th century, this uniquely Vietnamese art form uses a shallow pool of water as a stage to tell a story. Shows are performed entirely in Vietnamese, though the story is easily understood by an international audience thanks to skills of the puppet masters and their gestures. Accompanied by a traditional orchestra, singers tell an ancient Vietnamese tale that mixes daily life, national history and folklore as the lacquered wood puppets glide, float, fly and swim across the stage.
Set inside an exquisite yellow-and-white colonial villa with airy corridors and verandahs, this museum is home to some beautiful local art dating back to the 4th century alongside rotating exhibits of contemporary art by local and international artists. Historical pieces include elegant Funan-era sculptures of Vishnu, Buddha and other revered figures carved in both wood and stone, and Cham art dating from the 7th to the 14th centuries. The second floor of the museum features a permanent collection of sketches, paintings and statues, many of which focus on the resistance to colonial rule. The third floor exhibits older works from Vietnam's history.
Located in the heart of the city, the Central Post Office is one of the oldest and most beautiful buildings in Saigon. Designed at the end of the 19th century, the interior boasts ornate furnishings, a gorgeous pattern-tiled floor and soaring ceilings with a spectacular dome. Of special note are two painted maps created just after the post office was built. The first one, located on the left side of the building, is a map of southern Vietnam and Cambodia titled 'Telegraphic lines of Southern Vietnam and Cambodia 1892'. The second map is of greater Saigon, entitled 'Saigon and its surroundings 1892'. Besides being a tourist attraction, it is important to remember that this is, in fact, a working post office.
The War Remnants Museum is a sometimes confronting and disturbing experience housing harrowing displays from what the Vietnamese call "the American War." It may not be cheerful viewing but it is one of the most popular museums in Vietnam, attracting approximately half a million visitors every year.
Established in September 1975 (five months after the last American troops left), it is home to U.S. armored vehicles, aircraft, infantry weapons and bombs, including a giant "daisy cutter," as well as controversial images detailing the brutality of war. Not to be missed is Requiem, a homage to the photojournalists who lost their lives covering both sides of the conflict.
Reunification Palace, also known as Independence Palace, became part of history in 1975 when a North Vietnamese tank crashed through its main gate, signifying the end of the long-running war. The official handover of power also took place here.
Originally it was the site of the Norodom Palace, which served as the home and workplace of the French Governor of Cochinchina. Today it is like a time capsule frozen in 1975, with two of the original tanks used in the capture of the palace parked in the grounds.
Surrounded by lush tropical gardens, the palace hides secret rooms, antique furniture and a command bunker within its eerie corridors. It is still used occasionally to host government functions, including APEC summits and national events.
The Saigon Opera House, also known as the Municipal Theater of Ho Chi Minh City, is one of the top venues in Vietnam for opera and classical music. It is only open to the public for performances, but it is worth visiting any time as great photo opportunities await. The building is a fine example of French colonial architecture and is located on a wide, tree-lined boulevard which feels very European.
Currently, the most famous performance you can see at the Opera House is the A O Show, which can be described as a blend of Cirque du Soleil and traditional Vietnamese elements. Tickets for the A O Show can be bought at the Opera House, online, at travel agents, or at any Silverland hotel.
Starbucks Coffee is the largest coffeehouse company in the world and its stores have been presented in 49 countries.
Starbucks locations serve hot and cold beverages, whole-bean coffee, microground instant coffee, full-leaf teas, pastries and snacks.
Saigon's Notre-Dame Cathedral (or Basilica of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception, as it is officially called) is a twin-towered cathedral and one of the most prominent architectural landmarks in the city. Built from 1863 to 1880 with materials imported from France, it now stands between two busy streams of traffic. While the streets outside are always bustling with tourists, locals and street vendors, inside is an austere oasis of peace and calm. It does, however, comes alive as a church during services.
Ben Thanh Market (Cho Ben Thanh in Vietnamese) is a popular market located opposite Saigon's central bus station. In the market, you can find clothes (including the famous ao dai traditional Vietnamese dress), footwear, accessories, jewelry, hardware, souvenirs, crafts, flowers and food. With a little patience and savvy bargaining skills there are some excellent deals to be had. While Ben Thanh is aimed at tourists and not an authentic local experience, it is definitely worth visiting and a good starting point for touring the city center.
The bed is to die for. There are many street food around the area within walking distance, although cabbing is also quite cheap. The hotel provides ree bathtub in room, and also free sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and afternoon tea.
Stayed here for 8 nights, it's a great property. Very central like walking distance to coffee, food, great little story just a couple of minutes (Anam Market)......they even had Kusmi tea from Paris. The hotel spa was rather good & they had 40% off some treatments


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The Sad State of Louisiana Nursing Homes
We trust nursing home facilities to provide ongoing care for our aging loved ones, but how much care is actually being taken to ensure their safety and well-being? It turns out the answer is not much in the state of Louisiana. With 90% of nursing homes insufficiently staffed and 85% of residents suffering from malnutrition, Louisiana nursing homes may be in worse shape than you could have ever imagined.


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See it here!
Okay I think my favorite word is stuff and things.. Only things I said Iin the whole video.. ='D
Heres few thing I forgot when I was doing the video..
There's two big boxes full of fabric under my bed.
Pictures above my bed
My first loli-dress
Pictures of me and Pin sitting on the Harajuku bridge<3
Yesterday I as so bored! I wasn't in a mood for sewing, being on the computer or watching TV. I tried to call few of my friends but they didn't answer. I had already painted my nails.
They are trying to be leopard and zepra pattern.. =D
I had nothing to do. I decided to do some makeup just for fun. Then after half hour I had make up on and I thought that I have to go somewhere because I have makeup on. So I went to Entresse, the mall nearby.
I bought from Lindex underwear for 6 euros all together.
Then finally Isabella answered and I went to Sello to meet her.
We ate subway food and walked around the stores and talked about everything.
I bought these super cool earrings. Orginal price 15 e, now 4 e!
When I got home I tried them on and they were so heavy! Too heavy. I have to do something else with them.
I have already now few ideas. =)
Then pictures of my outfit.
I had black Converse shoes.


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The series title is literally "Seventh-sign Matches in the Floating World," referring to the belief that the seventh zodiac sign after the sign of one's birth was an especially lucky one.
Utamaro hitsu 歌麿筆
1934, bequest of Nellie Parney Carter to the MFA. (Accession Date: October 4, 1934)
Credit Line
Nellie Parney Carter Collection—Bequest of Nellie Parney Carter
Japanese, Edo period, about 1800–01 (Kansei 12–Kyôwa 1)
- Artist Kitagawa Utamaro I, Japanese, (?)–1806
- Publisher Moriya Jihei (Kinshindô), Japanese
Catalogue Raisonné
Asano and Clark 1995, #356; Ukiyo-e shûka 3 (1978), list #464.5; Shibui, Ukiyo-e zuten Utamaro (1964), 98.2.1
Vertical ôban; 38.3 x 25 cm (15 1/16 x 9 13/16 in.)
Accession Number
Medium or Technique
Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper


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About Luxury Vinyl Products
With its enhanced surface treatment helping to protect against everyday wear, scuffs and spills, Karndean timber designs are hardwearing – even high heels or heavy furniture are less likely to cause damage.
From stone effect tiles to hand scraped wood, Karndean's stunning and stylish floors will match any design vision you have for your space. Looking for a contemporary look? Try one of Karndean Design flooring's darker wood tones
Why Luxury Vinyl?
At Ralph's we love Wood! But sometimes, the environment you have just isn't the right place for it. Luxury Vinyl products allow you to overcome some important challenges you may face when thinking about new floors such as:
Durability: Do you love the beautiful dark walnut colors but are concerned about maintenance? Luxury Vinyl flooring is made of extremely hard and durable vinyl that will last a lifetime.
Stability: Wood flooring is a challenge when it comes to changing moisture conditions. As a synthetic material, Luxury Vinyl flooring is resistant to moisture.
Why Karndean?
In 1973, Karndean started as a small family business. Although becoming one of the world's most renowned and respected luxury flooring companies, Karndean remains family owned - allowing them to stay true to their roots.
Karndean's passion is for developing imaginative, innovative products - versatile, luxury vinyl flooring with the look of simply beautiful, natural floors. For this reason, we've chosen to work exclusively with Karndean.
Our Top Picks
Da Vinci Series
The Da Vinci Series brings a modern twist to a traditional look and feel.
Each of the Da Vinci wood planks features a distinctive beveled edge and light surface finish, creating a traditional and elegant look. With a wide range of colors and designs, from the pale tones of Canadian Maple to the richness of Australian Walnut, there's something to suit any decor.
Van Gogh Series
The ever popular Van Gogh collection captures the look of real timber in a variety of colors and designs from traditional rustic to cool contemporary. Large plank sizes, distinctive grain details and a subtle texture create a look that works in any space.
Art Select Series
The Art Select Wood collection is made up of six distinct sub-ranges that feature Karndean's most intricate wood designs combined with detailed embossing techniques and elegant beveled edges. This collection also includes the popular Parquet range with its small 9" x 3" planks.


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The 2016-17 Contract is now available on this site under contracts. The new Evaluation Timelines are also available here. Each building rep and officer also has a paper copy of the contract if you need to see one.
Welcome Back! Convocation day begins on 9/1 at your respective buildings (check with your building principal for start time). We will all be meeting at the high school at noon. See you soon!


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(red madder, rose madder)
Origin, History and Characteristics
Madder lake, also called red madder, is an extract made by boiling the root of the madder plant (rubia tintorium). It was used as a textile dye in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, being the most permanent of the maroon or ruby-red colors of natural dyestuff origin. It is said to have been introduced in Italy by the Crusaders and was cultivated in Europe from the thirteenth-century on.
First the madder is uprooted from the ground and left to dry in fields in small piles. The madder plant is often so tall that it cannot stand on its own. After that, it is put in larger piles for 2-3 days and then it is dried in warm air drying houses. Next, the dried roots are crushed and separated from the bark by sifting. Finally, the roots are crushed with stones and sifted to a fine powder. Some madder cannot be used immediately for dyeing; Alsatian and Dutch madder must remain in barrels for one or two years where it ferment. The best European madder is Dutch, but that from Smyrna is said to be even finer. Since madder lake has very little bulk it must be precipitated on an inert pigment or lake base, in order to make it suitable for brushing. Clay or alum was often used for this purpose. Such pigments were know as lakes. Madder like absorbs much binder, about 100% by volume.
El Greco
c. 1600
Oil on canvas, 106.3 x 129.7 cm.
National Gallery, London
Madder lake produces a fairly permanent (if used properly and not exposed to excessive light) brilliant ruby-red tone, unique among the very few bright red pigments available to the artists of Vermeer's time. Its highly transparent nature makes it excellent for glazing. Madder lake was often glazed over a light toned underpainting as can be observed in the detail of El Greco's Christ Driving the Traitors from the Temple to the left. El Greco's method differed from common practices of the period. Most painters tempered the pigment with a more fluid oil medium which was applied in smooth strokes with a soft brush to achieve an unbroken glaze. An example of this more common method can be seen in Filipe IV, a caballo, by Velázquez. Vermeer never used this specific technique as he never painted pink drapery where it was usually employed.
Madder lake was frequently used to glaze over vermilion, a bright red pigment with a distinct orange tone. This glaze not only enhances the opaque vermilion but also protects it from fading.
Madder Lake in Vermeer's Painting
Vermeer used more than once madder lake glaze over vermilion technique. He first modeled the object to be represented in various tones of vermilion using white to lighten the tone and black to darken them. Black must be used very sparingly since even the smallest addition creates a rather sullen effect. Once the area was dry it glazed with red madder. Madder lake deepens the orange tone of vermilion is nearing it in hue to today's brilliant cadmium reds. Two excellent examples of this glazing technique an be found in Vermeer's work: the red satin gown of Girl with a Wineglass and the red plumed hat of Girl with a Red Hat.
Madder lake was also used in the warmer parts of the flesh tones such as the lips or cheeks either by direct mixture or as a glaze in conjunction with the basic lead white and yellow ochre mixture which he often used as a base for the lighter parts of flesh tones. The mouth of the Girl with a Pearl Earring was painted with madder lake. Some of the rather monochrome flesh tones seen in Vermeer's faces might be explained by madder lake's tendency to fade if used in minimum proportions.
Vermeer may have used a mixture red madder and black to make the preliminary drawing on the canvas and in the shadowed areas of the flesh tones as other Dutch painters. Madder lake has been detected as an admixture with other pigments in Vermeer's paintings.
- E. Melanie Gifford, "Painting Light: Recent Observations on Vermeer's Technique," in Vermeer Studies, eds. Ivan Gaskell and Michiel Jonker, National Gallery of Art Washington D.C., New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1998, 1998.
- Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., Vermeer and the Art of Painting, New York and New Haven: Yale University Press. 1995, 122.


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M+ is building a world-class collection of twentieth- and twenty-first-century visual culture, grounded in our location in Hong Kong and our global perspective. Spanning the disciplines of design and architecture, moving image, and visual art, the M+ Collections geographically cover Hong Kong, mainland China, and regions across Asia and beyond.
The M+ Collections are continuously growing, and we are committed to cataloguing, photographing, researching, and improving the data around our collections.
Explore a selection of over 500 works from our holdings of around 6,000 objects.
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Manchester city"Manchester City" this season looks just impressive. Team Josep Guardiola pretty confidently passed the Christmas marathon, losing points only in the last match before a break from the "Crystal Palace" - a draw 0-0. This draw was interrupted by a brilliant series of victories "townspeople" in the championship, which totaled 18 matches in a row, which is a new record in the English Premier League. To date, "Manchester City" came off the Premier League from the second place by 15 points, so it can afford to switch to the cups.
Last Saturday Guardiola's team took home in the 1/32 finals of the FA Cup "Burnley" and staged another rout on their arena - 4: 1. I must say that in just two home games this season in domestic tournaments, the mankunians scored less than two goals.
In the League Cup, "Manchester City" acted before that almost a reserve team. Nevertheless, the team has already reached the semi-final, although not without difficulty. Two previous rounds, "citizens" were only due to a series of penalties. So the Leicester was away at home and Wolverhampton at home. Started in the League Cup wards Guardiola victory 2: 1 over "West Brom."
Bristol"Bristol" in his division also looks very good. Not so long ago the team was located at the second position in the championship, but a number of failures in the last rounds moved the "robins" to the fourth position. In the championship, "Bristol" lost in the last two rounds of the house "Wolverhampton" 1: 2, and at the exit "Aston Villa" 0: 5. To them also added a guest defeat 0: 3 in the FA Cup of "Watford". The abundance of missed goals in previous meetings makes it possible to guess about the problems in defense at Bristol.
On the way to the semi-final, "Bristol" defeated pretty serious rivals. They started "robins" almost from the start of the tournament and managed to beat Plymouth 5-0, Watford 3-2, Stoke 2-0, Crystal Palace 4-1 and Manchester United 2-1. It should be noted that only a match with "Watford" was held at a party.


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The Rank Group on Wednesday completed the long-awaited sale of its film processing division, leaving it more focused on its gambling and leisure businesses but also raising market expectations that it may be vulnerable to takeover approaches.
The Deluxe Film business was sold for $750m to MacAndrews & Forbes, the holding company for Ronald Perelman, the US billionaire who also holds controlling stakes in Revlon cosmetics and Panavision, the film equipment rental company.
Selling the cash-generative division will dilute earnings and leave Rank?s dividend uncovered, and the group admitted its dividend policy and capital structure were ?under review?. It plans to announce a return of capital to shareholders with its preliminary results on March 3 but would not elaborate on how much money it might hand back or by what means.
The owner of the Mecca bingo and Hard Rock Cafe chains has not commented on a recent report of abortive merger negotiations with William Hill, but its shares have risen by 20 per cent since August amid growing takeover speculation. Analysts said on Wednesday that the sale of Deluxe could make a bid from a trade rival or private equity group more likely, although they cautioned that the rise in its valuation could deter many bidders.
Rank would not say by how much it expected earnings to fall as a result of the sale, but Joseph Thomas, an analyst with Investec, said yesterday he expected to lower his forecast for 2006 pre-tax profits from ?173m ($298m) to ?134m. This would cut earnings per share estimates from 20.2p to 15.5p, threatening the 5 per cent dividend yield on Rank?s shares, he said.
In 2004, the division made profits before interest and taxation of ?52.9m on sales of ?366m. Its film processing and distribution business, the world?s largest processor of 35mm film for studios and the largest distributor to cinemas, has been declining but it has expanded its small creative services operation, which includes digital compression and encoding technology. ?Deluxe is a terrific business and a world-class brand,? Mr Perelman said. ?We are excited about the future of the business and its proven leadership team.? Deluxe?s management team, led by Cyril Drabinsky, will continue to run operations ?without interruption?.
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EChO Patron and local composer Frank Bayford
Enfield Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1942 by Jack Hickford and previous conductors have included Grace Rossiter, Amanda Denley, Stephen Bingham, Stuart Donaldson, Andy Meyers, David Littaur and Peter Broadbent.
A number of distinguished soloists have performed with the orchestra including Stephen Isserlis, Jack Brymer, Elena Duran, Alfredo Campoli, Philip Jones and Malcolm Messiter and we are delighted also to be able to give opportunities to young up-and-coming soloists, especially from the local North London and Enfield area.
We have introduced many new works to the public, including a number of compositions by our patron, Frank Bayford.
Past concerts have included performances of
Bach: Brandenburg concerto No.4
Bayford: Elegia Atlantica Op.54. Aubades, with Cloudscapes, Op.108 (first performance), Symphony Op.109 (frst performance)
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 3, 5, 7 and 8; Piano Concerto No.3 (soloist - YaYi Tian); Violin Concerto (soloist - Richard Blayden)
Bizet: Suite from L'Arlesienne
Brahms: Symphony No 2
Bruch: Violin Concerto (soloist – Anna Harpham)
Dvorak: Symphony No.8, Three Legends from Op.59 (Nos. 5, 6 & 7)
Glazunov: Serenade No.2
Gunning: Spring Winds
Haydn: Symphonies No. 7 (Le Midi),99, and 01 (The Clock), Trumpet Concerto (soloist - Peter Desmond)
Humperdinck: Hansel & Gretel Overture
Krommer: Oboe Concerto No. 2 (soloist - Joel Wilson)
Mahler: Symphonic movement,Blumine, Three songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn (soloist - Giulia Laudano)
Mendelssohn: Symphonies No. 1 and 3 (Scottish) & 4 (Italian), Incidental Music to Midsummer Night's Dream, Overture - Ruy Blas
Mozart: Symhonies Nos. 31 (Paris), 35 (Haffner) and 40, Idomeneo Overture, Piano Concerto K 453 (soloist – Sarah Down), Clarinet Concerto (soloist - Rebecca Teager), Concerto for Flute and Harp (soloists - Jessica Wilkes (flute) & Rosanna Rolton (harp)), Two arias from The Marriage of Figaro (soloist - Giulia Laudano), Violin Concerto No.4 (soloist - Gabriella Bavetta)
Prokofiev: Classical Symphony
Schubert: Symphony No.6
Schumann: Piano Concerto (soloist - Aleksander Myslek), Cello Concerto (soloist - Tim Posner)
Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme for cello and Orchestra (soloist - Jessica Burroughs); Symphony No.2 ("Little Russian"); Nutcracker Suite
Weber: Bassoon Concerto (soloist - Josh Wilson)
and works by Butterworth, Delius, Faure, Ravel, Saint-Saens, Vivaldi, and many others!


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"Money Boy"
By Paul Yee
ISBN No. 978-1-55498-093-2
It's an unspoken rule in children's books that no one goes all the way. Of course, in real life young people really do have sex. But first times for the poor put-upon youth of kid lit are almost always interrupted by religious guilt, fears of pregnancy, meddlesome parents or dateless sidekicks; all the better to second-guess, come to your senses, and realize you've got your whole life ahead of you.
Fifteen year-old Ray Liu has his whole life ahead of him too – as everyone keeps telling him. As a new immigrant to Toronto he's still learning English. As the leader of the online game, "Rebel State," he's learning about honour and teamwork. As a closeted gay youth he's learning about cultural homophobia - especially when his army veteran Dad evicts him after discovering he's gay.
Like any young gaysian he heads to Toronto's Chinatown. "The first time we came here," he recalls, "I was surprised at how big this district was, full of Chinese restaurants, Chinese stores and Chinese people. I thought, if people want to do Chinese business and buy Chinese groceries, then they should stay in China!"
After he's beaten and robbed he realizes/rationalizes that becoming a prostitute couldn't be that bad, could it? Like an actor, athlete or model, he's just going to use his body to make money. "I feel as though I am in a jerky fast-forward video," he says. "Monday I get kicked out of the house. Blippety-blip. Tuesday I am homeless at a shelter. Blippety-blip. Wednesday I dine with a drag queen. Thursday I sell my body. Blippety-blip." But will Ray second-guess himself, come to his senses, and realize he's got his whole life ahead of him BEFORE it's too late?
I'm not going to tell you what Ray does, but by the last third of the book he's saying, "if the thief who stole my laptop could break into my skull and steal the last sixty minutes of my life, I would pay him well."
After enduring the endless courtship of the vampire genre's erotically neutered tweens (please no e-mails) it's a pleasant surprise to read about young people who are actually interested in sex – and aware of its exploitation. Maybe Paul Yee ("Ghost Train", "Dead Man's Gold") is the only writer sensitive and reckless enough to handle a reality that many parents wouldn't want their children to know exists. He beautifully captures both the narcissism of youth (Ray is equally desperate for food, shelter and to "get back to Rebel State. Players are waiting for me to lead the fight against the guerrilla war") as well as the cultural tyranny faced by both young immigrants and older gay men ("Younger men laughing in a circle, they're a fortress with no door. A stranger can walk around them and around them and never find an opening"). For a book about the oldest profession seen through new eyes FOR young readers, "Money Boy" is nothing less than astonishing. It's perhaps Yee's best book yet.
"Today, Maybe"
By Dominique Demers and Gabrielle Grimard
ISBN No. 978-1-55469-400-6
The introspective, reflective medium of print has always had a problem when it comes to younger readers. Inside a child's head is a dangerous place to be. First impressions solidify into lifelong perceptions and emerging emotions permanently merge with dramatic storylines. The best example of this is the unexpected (?) demonizing of foreigners when a writer gives her story's evil characters with unusual names. But with mainstream non-fiction addressing loneliness as a lifelong condition "Today, Maybe" – about a girl whose "only treasure was her one hundred favorite books" choosing imaginary friendships with literary characters over real people – is both the hot button book of the moment and a hopeful sign that kid lit is evolving as fast as the internet. This is a lovely little book – with bite. Yes, it's "just" a children's book full of famous friendly/frightening heroes (wicked witches, princes, wolves) that entertain bored children, but it's also a book of epic perspective. It evokes everything from the plot of "Where the Wild Things Are" (a child's solitary daydream), Sartre's comment that "hell is other people" and a line from "Looking for Mr. Goodbar": "I'm alone, not lonely." Of course, that's a fat interpretation of a very slim picture book – but it's also a big recommendation. Ideal for children and perfect for parents who actually like to connect with their kids, "Today, Maybe" is as much about a lifelong love of literature as it is about the importance of a rich imagination.
"She Said/She Saw"
By Norah McClintock
ISBN No. 978-1-55469-335-1
By the time you get to the line "…if you want to get the whole story…you need to pull the pieces together," that comes maybe two pages into this book about the faulty memory of a witness to a gangland-style slaying, you realize you're in the grip of a serious storyteller. When the narrator finishes her introduction with: "Here are the pieces," we're hooked. The "She Saw" part of this book is Tegan, the witness/survivor of a shooting that claimed two of her friends. The "She Said" part of this book is Tegan's shaky recollection about the shooting. She says she doesn't know why her friends were targeted, why she was spared or even who did the shooting. She also worries that the killer might come back to finish her off. No one believes her, of course. Even her sister, Kelly, is suspicious. She details and catalogues the facts in an effort to learn the truth – even if it incriminates Tegan. Because Kelly sees life "like a movie or a TV drama, or, sometimes, a comedy" parts of the story are told in the form of a screenplay. No spoiler alert here! All I'm going to say is that "She Said/She Saw" a triple good read of a suspenseful thriller – for kids (the book's audience is aged 12+) and adults. Its topic is timely, its characters flawed but smart, and the screenplay format a great introduction to the discipline.
"When Apples Grew Noses and White Horses Flew"
By Jan Andrews
ISBN No. 978-0-88899-952-8
"When Apples Grew Noses…" follows the everyday yet fantastical adventures of a foreign fairy tale everyman named Ti-Jean (the introduction wisely explains that Ti-Jean is like "Jack" in the fairy tales most of us remember: a projection of our myriad selves, and whose past changes to accompany whatever story he's in). In the three tales here Ti-Jean outwits "a greedy princess", "a pint-sized scoundrel" and a young woman "too clever for her own good." In short, he's a karmic Better Business Bureau, evening up the score in places referred to as the "New World" while being faithful to the Old Country style of oral history storytelling. And unlike a lot of oral history, the stories here seem to have actually improved with each airing: plots make sense, characters are smart, and the moral lesson isn't always obvious. And when it is – as in the case of a fiddle that's both inspirational and magical – it evokes touches of the Pied Piper that'll be appreciated long after the stories are finished.
By Teresa Duran; Illustrations by Elena Val
ISBN No. 978-1-55498-098-7
By Maxine Trottier; Illustrations by Isabelle Arsenault
ISBN No. 978-0-88899-975-7
Both available at www.groundwoodbooks.com
The first lines of "Benedict" are very disturbing. They tell us that the little boy of the book's title "lives in a very hot place. It is red, red, red." And in case you didn't get the point of all that red, Elena Val draws you a picture: battling snakes, pitchforks, and the gaping maws of hell itself. Your mouth will be gaping too when you consider that "Benedict" is about a kid living in H E double hockey sticks – but only until you realize that "Benny" is actually tired of seeing all that red. So with one springy coil of his tail (just picture the slingshot on the iPhone app "Angry Birds") he vaults himself from a red place to a white one (the North Pole). Here everything is cold and snowy. Another "sproing!" and Benny is in the desert where everything is yellow. And so on and so on, until he's visited earth's whole colour scheme. "Benedict" is a cute book – and a conversation piece. I would have enjoyed it more had Teresa Duran set the whole story in various imaginary places (religious zealots, no e-mails please) and the book's font more rousing than rudimentary.
"Migrant" is even more to the point. It's the story of a Mennonite/Mexican child named Anna who travels north with her family each Spring to work on farms harvesting fruits and vegetables. Speaking patchy "Low German" or "Plautdietsch", Anna doesn't make new friends; she just tries to acclimatize herself to the new culture. At the supermarket she "listens to all the voices – to the woman with pink hair at the cash register, to the tattooed men who put cans on the shelves. But she only understands some of their words. Dollars. Peas. Meatballs." With a child's-eye view the book compares her life with that of a bird or rabbit migrating north each Spring and then south in the Fall. There's Anna's observation of her mother making "a home of yet another empty farmhouse, the rooms filled with the ghosts of last year's workers." Her sisters sleep in one bed, her brothers in another. In a year when immigration is a hot-button election topic, "Migrant" should be a hot-button book – and it is. It's just so culturally sensitive and beautifully told that it's hard to take exception with its closing message that migrants "be treated with the same respect that is extended to citizens and visitors alike."
Serious Business: Fall Kid Lit
"The Way it Works"
By William Kowalski
ISBN No. 978-1-55469-367-2
"Silver Rain"
By Lois Peterson
ISBN No. 978-1-55469-280-4
Available through www.orcabook.com
"The Way it Works" is one of Orca's "Rapid Reads" and presumably that means you can breeze through this 128-page book in one sitting. Then again, given that it's about a homeless hottie living in his car after his mother's medical expenses and death leave him both destitute and drifting, you won't be able to put the book down until you're finished anyway. For this is the kind of book that Orca does best: character-building through adversity. You just have to keep reading to see how things turn out – and whether our hero will win the heart of the pretty girl who doesn't know he lives in his car. And while tweens and teens will enjoy the book, adults and writers will be equally fascinated with the economy with which Kowalski manages to draw full-fledged characters, create increasingly dramatic situations and then resolve it all in just a hundred-plus pages. Wow one.
"Silver Rain" is only fiftysomething pages longer than "The Way it Works" so it isn't labeled a "Rapid Read" but you won't be putting it down until you're finished it either. What the first book had in plot, "Silver Rain" has in plot PLUS historical significance. Here, a destitute, depression-era 11-year-old named Elsie deals with vagrants, bread lines and a local dance marathon while searching for her missing father. Yes, "Silver Rain" is "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" for the tween set and it must be read - if only for curiosity value. After you pick your jaw up from the floor, however, you'll find that this story feels wholly and respectfully authentic to its time period. There's a Nancy Drew aspect to the book, of course (and that'll keep the young readers reading): Will Elsie find her dad? What's going on over at the dance marathon? But what'll keep coming up is how Peterson gets the little, evocative details just right: old coats, stained-glass windows, and a house that looks "like a spider's web, with the wash lines zigzagging across it." Wow Two.
"Flying Feet"
By James McCann
ISBN No. 978-1-55469-290-3
It used to be so easy. If a fight broke out during a hockey or soccer game it was poor sportsmanship, bad manners; it was just…wrong. These days the fights are fast becoming the main attraction. More than just "The Karate Kid" turned up a notch but not quite "Fight Club" for tweens, "Flying Feet" is about a youth seduced into that violent culture known as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Jinho, is a young man feeling constrained by the limits of traditional tae kwan do. When he's invited to join an underground MMA club where there are no boundaries or even referees, he's amped. That is, until he realizes just how dangerous the sport is. What follows is the customary life lesson, the learning to depend on one's integrity, and a frightening visit to the ring against a fighter known only as "The Ripper" [shudder]. Seriously, it's like "Rocky" - but with real suspense. Obviously, "Flying Feet" is a topical book. But it's also a welcome and important socio-political ring tone for kids already a bit desensitized by cement head Dad's addiction to TV's "Ultimate Fight Club." It's also written in a nice, easy style that will keep both kids' and parents' interest in the outcome piqued. It's also got a bit of a surprise ending – if you expected calm heads to prevail before the big fight – because if I didn't mention it earlier there actually IS a fight!
By Holly Bennett
ISBN No. 978-1-55469-158-6
These days, it seems everyone is re-writing the "Twilight" phenomenon (vampire as metaphor for alienated teen) to fit either their own writing style or to take advantage of some freakish entity (werewolf, spirit, witch) that another writer re-writing the "Twilight" phenomenon hasn't written about yet. But even with that furious flurry of opportunistic publishing "ShapeShifter" is a standout. For starters, the book announces immediately that it intends to be different than the usual Sorcerer fare by declaring its love of Irish mythology in the Preface (nicely augmented by an old map of Ireland on the opposite page). This gives the goings-on (mythology purist alert: Bennett also includes a "version of the ancient legend" upon which she bases her story) a kind of Book of Kells curiosity and credibility. (It also gives the book an academic pedigree that parents will appreciate.) The "ShapeShifter" of the title is a Sive, a young woman discovering her powers of transformation in The Otherworld. But when she becomes a deer she becomes prey to all of the figurative and metaphoric evil around her. As for what happens next, it involves the struggle for Sive's soul between a strong, strapping hero of Irish legend and an evil entity known only as [shudder] the Dark Man. As far as books about tween mythology go (the book is recommended for readers aged 12 years and up) "ShapeShifter" has an awful lot going for it. The story is compelling, the characters involving, the plot twists make sense, and the suspense is really, really suspenseful.
"The Wild Things"
By Dave Eggers
ISBN No. 978-0-307-39904-5
It's official: Maurice Sendak's children's book "Where the Wild Things Are" is now a cottage industry. First it was a rudimentary bedtime story that parents read to their kids. Then the book became a movie – and then a book again in the form of a shaggy hair tome by Dave Eggers (who wrote the movie's screenplay). And now the book-turned movie-turned concept book has turned into something closer to its original form: a paperback. In a way this makes perfect sense. In an era of Twihard Grandmothers and middle-aged PotterHeads, a 284-page novelization of the movie adaptation of one of the most enduring – and controversial – children's books ever written is arriving right on time. No trilogies or series of books here; "Where the Wild Things Are" has gone through so many transformations it IS the series of books. And why not? Eggers clearly has affection for the story of a naughty boy's time out that turns into a celebration of the id in every kid. In its own trendy way (looking inside instead of out) "The Wild Things" is very much an epic of the "David Copperfield" tradition; one in which a young man has a great, maturing, heroic adventure. True, it's an adventure overly friendly to today's Gamers but there's still plenty here for the geezer generation to enjoy. Even better, Eggers' descriptions and plot twists make so much sense that you can read this book aloud without feeling like an idiot (hey, that means something these days!). "The beasts took off in seven different directions," Eggers writes. "Then, one by one, they turned to see where Carol was running, and they changed directions to follow him." See? Dignity intact; intellect stimulated. And if it works that well read out loud then it works equally well read to yourself or to your child.
"What Do You Want?"
By Lars Klinting
ISBN No. 978-0-88899-988-7
There's a kind of children's book that I call the "piece together" genre. It's probably the most common kind of kid's book; the kindergarten-starter book that shows how something fits with something else. "What Do You Want?" is a new addition to the "piece together" genre – but with a twist. But first a little background. Normally, I just leaf through these kinds of books to see how easily their lessons in pairing can be absorbed by a child's eyes. But as I was reading "What Do You Want?" my mind wandered away from the etiquette lesson for newborns (i.e. chairs have to go with tables) and started to wonder about the very nature of wanting and pairing in a world where nothing is guaranteed anymore. For instance, on one page of the book is a picture of a bumblebee. The next page shows what it wants: a flower. The text says as much: "The bumble wants…[turn the page] its flower." There. Done. But in that example arise all sorts of messy philosophical wanderings about instinct, desire, fate, and free will. Sigh… On a brighter note, of course everything in the book makes sense and is beautifully rendered in daydreamy watercolours. But as you read about all this wanting in a world of increasingly limited resources you begin to realize the book is more than just a lesson in pairing alike things. There's a poignancy to the simplicity of this book. Read through it a couple of times and you'll learn something important; you'll slowly realize that contentment – real achievable contentment – already exists all around us.
By Sarah N. Harvey
ISBN No. 978-1-55469-252-1
"Bear Market"
By Michele Martin Bossley
ISBN No. 978-1-55469-220-0
Both available at www.orcabook.com
Those of you disheartened by the seemingly endless downward trajectory that is tween/teen magazines can take your heads out of the oven now. Judging from two new books for kids you may be raising Noam Chomskys instead of Paris Hiltons after all. "Plastic" is the more topical of the two books. When Leah announces she wants some plastic surgery for her 16th birthday her best friend Jack tries to talk her out of it. What follows is a dramatization of every alarmist newspaper headline you've read in the past couple of years about young girls wanting nicer cheekbones and bigger breasts. The difference here is that Jack's case for a modest B-Cup is fuelled by some Hardy Boys-style investigating that flushes out a couple of corner-cutting plastic surgeons. Even better, this revelation leads to a public protest – which, in turn, leads to a violent splinter group taking up Jack's cause without his approval. While the book milks the mediagenic outrage of a culture obsessed with physical perfection, it also illustrates the embryonic fanaticism that's borne of – seemingly - every societal protest; be it a global summit on climate change or the Winter Olympics. Forty years ago a businessman in "The Graduate" summed up the future to the younger generation with the word "plastics," and so it has come to pass. The strongest word for tweens and teens today is a word you hardly ever hear them say: "no." In our hyperkinetic, disposable culture, the book "Plastic" is that rarity: a readable cautionary tale about responsible activism. As usual, "Bear Market", about the poaching of bears for their gall bladders, is arguably the more important yet less palpable of the two books. And it's to Bossley's credit that her book is just grisly enough to get young minds thinking about taking up the cause, but not so much that you have to stop reading because you're disgusted with your fellow humankind. She presents the poachers' side with a kind of polite, cultural respect (which is more than they deserved. See? There's my disgust for my fellow humankind) and has her three lead characters succinctly address the moral quandaries of correcting the destructive, exploitive beliefs of other cultures. Socio-politics aside, her book is a really catchy read. Sure, there's the suspense element, but just reading the nuts and bolts about how her characters talk is oddly fascinating. Maybe it's a backlash against all the vague "highbrow" fiction I've read (or just a complete disgust for the Bret Easton Ellis humankind) but the joy of "Bear Market" is just how forthright and sincere a read it is. The book captures the tween/teen energies of today's kids in a way I hadn't read before.
Salt series
By Maurice Gee
ISBN No. 978-1-55469-209-5
You'd think that after the glut of "Twilight" and "Harry Potter" books and movies that any young adult fiction series of books with supernatural overtones would pale in comparison to "Twilight" and "Harry Potter." But after the aforementioned glut of "Twilight" and "Harry Potter" books and movies any young adult fiction with supernatural overtones is a breath of fresh air simply because it ISN'T a "Twilight" or "Harry Potter" book or movie. Still, "Salt" has a bit of an uphill battle re-thinking pre-conceived notions born in a "Twilight" and "Harry Potter" world (romance, danger, the showdown between good and evil) but it also has a nice way of making the required devices of youth fiction sound fresh and inventive. For starters, "Salt" is more fantastical than the "Twilight" books and darker than the "Harry Potter" ones. It's the story of Hari, a young man who really can talk to the animals, trying to free his dad, Tarl, after the latter has been captured and enslaved by a sinister corporation called "Company" and banished to the hellish working prison of Deep Salt. Along the way he meets an aristocratic young woman fleeing an arranged marriage with help from her gifted maid named Tealeaf. Then things get weird… Perhaps the best thing about "Salt" is it doesn't remind me of "Twilight" or "Harry Potter" at all. While I was reading "Salt" I was transported back to the 1980s and all those Piers Anthony novels I used to read back then. Like those books "Salt" creates a wholly unique and timeless universe of weapons like fizzing rings and fingertip bolts while keeping character motivations firmly grounded in that's-what-I'd-do territory. It's certainly an adventure of a read. My only nitpick is the chaotic writing of the action sequences where necessary description is sacrificed for breakneck pacing.
When a book's title says it all...
By Norah McClintock
ISBN No. 978-1-55469-152-4
Youth lit has certainly grown up since the days when "The Catcher in the
Now, this being youth lit publishing and not the wild west internet you just know that Stephanie, the book's narrator, is going to mine her confidence, resources and survival lessons taught by her grandfather to survive her ordeal. That's a given, right? Right? What we're not prepared for, though, is the news that since Stephanie's run away from home before she knows the police won't be looking for her. Uh oh. And suddenly "Taken" takes on a whole new emotion for this genre: dread.
But before any happy ending (and I'm not saying there is a happy ending just that most youth lit books have happy endings) we're treated to the obligatory checklist of do's and don'ts for at-risk kids (which is another major ingredient of youth lit). Thankfully, the lessons are made palpable by McClintock's winning way with the way tweens and teens talk and think and text. Even more impressive is how effective the book is at warning and informing parents and kids about avoiding dangerous situations and dealing with them when they happen. "Taken" is a keeper.
Urban Alphabet
City Alphabet
By Joanne Schwartz and Matt Beam
ISBN No. 978-0-88899-928-3
How's this for a never-ending English lesson? The premise of this unusual book is that language is alive and well, and all around us: sentences spray painted on walls, letters inlaid in a cement sidewalk, words pieced together with vinyl decals on a storefront window. If we just look around enough, the book suggests, we'll see walls, sidewalks and windows talking to us; we just have to be open to what they're saying. Each letter of the alphabet gets two pages in the book. On the left hand side we see the letter itself and on the right an image of the word containing the letter captured in the concrete jungle (each photo is captioned about where the letter or word was found). It's a disarmingly lovely valentine to the idea of "found art." But the beauty of the book isn't its startlingly simple yet effective concept. It's that it invites children to consider the world around them as a sort of story constantly being written, edited and then re-written. As for HOW the words got onto a wall, sidewalk or window, well, that's never explained and becomes part of the bigger wonder about the English language in general (I don't know why but I'm picturing the creatures from Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are" doing the engraving and taping and pasting; you know, typical Vancouverites putting their flyers up on lamp posts at 3AM on weekends). "Alphabet City" looks at urban geography as the most exciting library ever – one in which even adults can have fun spotting the words and then wondering about the story behind them.
It's a Grimm World After All!
Definitely Not for Little Ones
By Rotraut Susanne Berner
ISBN No. 978-0-88899-957-3
Finally! A book for any parent who ever wanted to shorten the bedtime stories they read to their child. No ye olde English text to plod through. No long, meandering plotlines. No heavy metaphors to decipher. Yes, for a kid's book this is one weird piece of work. The drawings are comic-strip kitschy, the stories sometimes so succinct they're hard to follow, and the pacing breakneck. And while the book is subtitled "some very Grimm fairy-tale comics" there's not a grim thing in here. Gone are the dire warnings and moral lessons of the old fairy tales (unless you remember them from your own childhood); instead the fairy tales are re-invented into almost a kind of funny limerick. And while I was personally hoping for something along the lines of 2001's "Strange Stories for Strange Kids" (Spiegelman & Mouly; HarperCollins) the bonus here is that DNFLO isn't likely to frighten kids or tire out their bedtime story-reading grandparents. They'll also be grateful they don't have to answer any questions from the little ones about cannibalism. Short. To the point. Colourful. Welcome to Grimm for the Internet age.
The New Classics
"Learning to Fly"
By Paul Yee
ISBN No. 978-1-55143-953-2
"Watch Me"
By Norah McClintock
ISBN No. 978-1-55469-039-8
Both available through www.orcabook.com
It used to be that if you wanted to read A Classic you had to suffer for it. The perverse sentence structure, the obscure religious references, the Big Statement symbolism turned tiny because no one gets it anymore; even the "Moby Dick" academics recommend skimming some chapters because they're just too dense and verbose for contemporary readers.
Instead of shying away from the big thick books, however, Kid Lit is taking its cue from classics that have practically become unreadable now thanks to their ye olde English style of writing. If you like to read – and you like to read classical stuff – there's never been a better time to be a tween. For instance, in "Watch Me", an angry kid evens up things in the universe by stealing a lady's purse and then suffering mightily for it "Crime and Punishment"-style. In "Learning to Fly" a recent Chinese immigrant tries to find his way in a racist, corrupt society. The first half of the book is equal parts Salinger's "Catcher in the Ryle" and "David Copperfield" with its worldly, bored narrator wondering if he'll be the hero of his own story. Mid-way through the book echoes Somerset Maugham's "Of Human Bondage" with its characters ostracizing each other through the tyranny of style and cliques. By its hopeful ending (the only thing that really deviates Tween Classics from Ye Olde Classics, it seems) you've had the complete Comparative Literature Experience – but without any of the university-level pain.
Genius vs. Jokes
"Smart-Opedia Junior: The Amazing Book About Everything"
ISBN No. 978-1-897349-30-4
"The Hilarious Adventures of Mish and Mash"
ISBN No. 978-2-89579-208-6
How's this for a Kid Lit combo: a book that smartens children up and then one that dumbs them right back down. The smart one is rightly called "Smart-Opedia" and it's the newest incarnation of last year's "Smart-Opedia" – but for younger eyes. Whereas that title was full of surprisingly direct life lessons (like a pretty realistic section called "Eat or Be Eaten") the Junior version is all about learning the nuts and bolts of daily life (how cartoons are made; how a library works). For new kids it'll all be new stuff. For adults it's an interesting refresher course on modern day etiquette (especially in a section about school behaviour called "Polite or Rude?" that should be required reading for all kindergarten freshmen). "The Hilarious Adventures of Mish and Mash" is indeed hilarious – if it's the first time you've heard some of the most eye-rolling jokes ever. Sample joke: "What can you serve but never eat? A vollyball." And this book has what seems to be a million of these gems. And while it's hard thinking that plugged-in kids would be entertained with a book this basic you have to remember that we're talking about new kids with newborn senses of humour. There's a nice little sense of discovery in the innocence of these groaners that can be enjoyed by both kids and their parents; each one is a lesson in the delicacies of funny stuff; an education in the evolution of a nice chat and a good joke. Cute cartoons too.
Children's Department: Idioms & Myths
"Monkey Business"
By Wallace Edwards
ISBN No. 978-1-55453-228-5
By Teresa Cardenas & Margarita Sada
ISBN No. 978-0-88899-795-1
Attention word lovers: there are books out there that want your kids to love strung-together letters as much as their authors do. There really are books around that will smarten up – not dumb down – your kids.
"Monkey Business" isn't a long book. It isn't even a very complex one. What it does have is a wholly contagious celebration of the sing-song delicacies of the English language that's frankly beautiful to see given today's kids' devolving understanding of how words work, what they mean and why they matter.
Essentially, Edwards takes an idiom (defined in the beginning of the book as "a group of words whose meaning cannot be understood from the meaning of the individual words; an expression, peculiar to a specific language, that cannot be translated literally") like "snug as a bug" and illustrates it as, in the bug's case, a grasshopper wrapped up in a brightly coloured blanket reading comic books. That's it. That's the whole book. What no single review can convey, however, is what a joy it is to see "illustrated idioms" that remind you how lovely and playful words can be when rightly appreciated. It makes you think about all the other nooks and crannies of language (metaphors, personification) that you just don't notice anymore because you're too busy trying to decipher the legalese in your cell phone contract. [Sigh] It's so nice to see words played with in such a respectful way instead of being massacred and hacked up by texting idiots. This book should be required reading for the little ones. Maybe there's hope for the post-Millennials yet.
Words figure prominently in "Oloyou" too; from the mysterious title of its main character to a story told in dual translation. But whereas "Monkey Business" is all about the building blocks of language, "Oloyou" is all about the sharing of a mythic piece of storytelling from one culture to another.
The story goes something like this: At the beginning of time God-child creates Oloyou the Cat so he'll have a friend. But one day Oloyou falls into the depths of Nothing and the kingdom of Aro, the Sea. When Oloyou falls in love with Aro's mermaid-daughter her angry father throws them both back up into the heavens. And then things get complicated.
Parents raised on fantasy books like "The Lord of the Rings" will either want to read "Oloyou" themselves or read it to their lucky kids. The plot might sound complex but the book is friendly and accessible and its illustrations watercolour daydreams. The book not only introduces kids to an ambitious kind of storytelling but also to a different culture (the book is based on a Yoruba myth borne of a Cuban religious tradition brought to the Caribbean by African slaves). I complain a lot about how children's books don't challenge them; how most of them are just television in a flip-book format. "Oloyou" and "Monkey Business" are red flags for the kid lit publishing industry. These progressive bits of glorious edutainment and storytelling will get young imaginations racing
Homage of the Month: "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
"Special Edward"
By Eric Walters
ISBN No. 978-1-55469-092-3
You have to admire a kid's book that dares to tweenize "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." "Is Edward special or special ed?" the back of this book asks. Well, Edward is a career slacker whose passing grade at school is threatened. And like McMurphy from Cuckoo's Nest (who avoids jail time by being declared insane and institutionalized), Ed has himself declared "special" (as in requiring special education) because the special ed kids get kid glove treatment like more time to complete tests. Edward thinks he's found the perfect way to cheat the system but if he'd read Cuckoo's Nest all the way through he would know that the system always wins. Kids will identify with Edward, no problem, but older readers will find lots to like here too. Part of the fun of reading this book is figuring out who's who from Cuckoo's Nest. For instance, Nurse Ratched becomes the middle-aged Dr. McClintock in this book (she was "attractive-for a woman that age," Edward says) and Cuckoo's giant Indian becomes – what else? - a big, lumbering, grade 12 kid. Thankfully, the book's cafeteria doesn't include anything like Kesey's description of scrambled eggs; a vision that still haunts me two decades after reading his book.
The Bad Tween
"Running the Risk"
By Lesley Choyce
ISBN No. 978-1-55469-025-1
By James C. Dekker
ISBN No. 978-1-55143-995-2
By Norah McClintock
ISBN No. 978-1-55143-989-1
All available at www.orcabook.com
Pity the kids. When you're a child you get to read fairy tales, a bit older and you're into Archie comics, but when you turn tween every book becomes a how-not-to. Such are the perils of being society's most treasured resource.
"Running the Risk" is all about how not to get yourself killed by doing something stupid. Chasing that risk is all Sean wants to do after he survives an armed robbery at his workplace, Burger Heaven. Addicted to the adrenaline rush he starts to seek out increasingly dangerous situations and people to test his invincibility until he gets into some real trouble. The great thing about RTR is how acutely the book captures the appeal of victimhood (Sean is suddenly a celebrity at school) and why kids think they'll live forever. Even better, adult fiction usually takes up twice as many pages to explain the risk-taking mentality and often comes up short.
The emotional wallop in "Impact" comes from a place we don't read often enough about in youth fiction: impact statements. The book has a moral to teach (the consequences of violence) but it smartly looks at it in the rear view mirror instead of as a preventive measure (pretty daring when you're writing for kids). There's a mystery here to keep the young ones reading, of course (did Jordan know more about his brother's death than he's saying?) but the real appeal is how the author shows what a child's death does to the remaining family members and how slowly he rolls out the big reveal.
"Back" is all about what happens after the violent act, the impact statements and the jail time. Here, a bad seed gets released from prison. Is he reformed? Has prison made him even worse? Is he targeted for revenge? The book hits all the obligatory notes about how the sentence never fits the crime, how society is responsible for making these monsters, and the frustration felt by the law-abiding populace. But it also has a genuinely surprising ending that makes everything that went before it make perfect sense. There's a scene in here with a child and a rock that rivals anything in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery."
Tweener Fiction Grows Up
by Katherine Holubitsky
ISBN No. 978-1-55143-851-1
by Susan Vaught
ISBN No. 978-1-59990-230-2
Books for adolescents have officially come of age. Long gone are the easy moral lessons tucked into reader-friendly adventures. Today's youth lit is dead serious and plays for keeps.
Take "Tweaked" for instance. It's about two young brothers, one of whom is a methhead. That's it. That's what the book is about. Kid gets hooked and drives his family to their respective breaking points as they try to get him into rehab. The book's most obvious connection to youth literature is that Holubitsky's narrator is the clean brother and his eyes are those of the book's reading audience. And what he sees will rightly scare kids straight (there's some very effective After School Television Special stuff about the physical ravages of meth) and make them think twice about using.
"Trigger" is a trickier piece of work and just as addictive a read whether you're a child or an adult. (I dunno...maybe it's just the manufactured pretensions of adult fiction but it's so nice to read books with linear storylines.) Essentially, "Trigger" is about a boy recovering from a bullet wound to the head and the subsequent brain injury it caused. But it's also about youth violence, their sense of invincibility and failure to consider consequences. But wait, there's more. The book is also about hearing voices, feeling different, peer pressure and what it might be like for survivors of the Columbine massacre after the headlines fade. The writing is forthright and direct; the story surprisingly affecting. For young readers it'll be like a friend telling you a secret. For adults and parents it'll be like a conversation with a usually laconic kid. "Trigger" a "Catcher in the Rye " for the millennium.


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Setting Boundaries with Grace
I am currently in beautiful Texas with Preston's family. Preston's sister has a son who is six months older than Austin and we are excited to trick or treat together and spend a week all about family.
Austin has a fat, fluffy, puppy costume for Halloween. Agh, can you imagine?! I promise to share pics.
I had a really cool connection call earlier this week that turned into an impromptu coaching session. We shared a special 45 minutes together. The woman was vulnerable, honest and full of heart, and I was able to offer some insights that struck a chord.
At the end of the conversation, this lovely lady mentioned that she had taken up way more of my time than she had meant to.
I was reminded of how we women are afraid of taking up space and time.
I would love to give every woman the gift of receiving all that she is given without feeling like she is too much.
We naturally talked about coaching and in my follow-up email I found myself writing this line:
Also, I want you to feel clear that you want to work together. I do not want your next step to be out of obligation for our call today. We must be a "hell yes" to our experience together otherwise you won't get what you're looking for.
I felt so good about myself after writing this, and sending it. It's so easy to hit delete when you think you're being a little forward.
It was evident to me that the inquiry about a next step could have easily come from a place of "taking up too much of my time," which could also lead to crickets after the email was received because she was never seriously interested in coaching. How many times have we asked about a next step out of obligation or guilt, only to feel resentful or fall silent? I know I have.
It is for exactly this reason that intention, in every decision we make, is paramount.
These statements set a clear boundary about what type of client I'm looking for, gave her a clear indication of what she needed to feel for this to make sense (i.e. a decision making tool), and it also let her off the hook, if she couldn't do it for herself, which is always welcomed with open arms.
Just like children crave boundaries to feel safe, so do adults.
When we are clear about our intention, we communicate with clarity, and that makes us feel whole. Not always happy, but whole.
We will be using intention and clarity (as well as so much more) as guideposts in the 7 week group coaching experience that launches on November 6th, 2017. Badda bing, badda boom……Connecting To My Inner Juicy Woman is designed to help you use your voice confidently in any given moment, fall more in love with your husband rather than feeling like roommates, and help you to know what it is you desire from your life. I want to help you feel so full of yourself that life gets even more juicy and joyful.
Check out all the details here and secure your spot if you're a hell yes 😉
When you think of the word boundary, what is your first thought? Share your response below.
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Love Sarah,


text:
Swatch of the Jackyard is an Act 2 side quest in Dragon Age II.
Acquisition Edit
During Raiders on the Cliffs, loot Fell Orden to obtain the Swatch of the Jackyard and a new quest will appear in your journal.
From Hawke's journal: "Sailcloth bearing the sign of The Fifth Wind, a pirate vessel once active on the Waking Sea. A prize find for any shipspotter along the docks."
Walkthrough Edit
Head to Docks and talk to the Ship Spotter on the center dock.
Rewards Edit
- 1


text:
I can remember a time when I often wished that I would hurry up and grow out of watching cartoons so I could finally officiate that transition from teenybopper to full-fledged angsty teenager. Fast forward fifteen years later, I can't recall a time when I needed cartoons in my life more than ever.
The older we get, it becomes harder to deny that reading and our love for books is put on the back burner as we pursue other easier ways to relax our minds and unwind after living stressful lives during the day. I still carry a book everywhere with me out of sheer habit, but after a long day of looking at tiny words, reading, writing and typing in tiny fonts on tiny screens, even looking at a paperback can prove to be a challenge. Nowadays, cartoons are my drug of choice; the boisterous mistress I keep in an easy yet meaningless affair as opposed to the brooding, aging hardback waiting for me at home. It's just simple, quiet moments in my day split into thirty minute episodes that I can choose to laugh at or just stare at for hours and hours on end while curled up in bed.
Watching cartoons does to my brain the equivalent of listening to One Direction's "Kiss You" while driving home on a dark road at three in the morning. It puts my mind into a calm, peaceful state where nothing can hurt me and there are no murderers sitting in my backseat and no ghosts crawling down the window. Because, hey, even if there were, I wouldn't be able to hear it because I'm too busy bopping my head and jamming out to the ultra catchy chorus (also, let's be honest, even if there were murderers or ghosts lying in wait to scare me, they'd probably do a really bad job because they'd be too embarrassed for me anyway).
Even while I was an intern living on my own in the city, cartoons were my everything, especially when I had no friends. I would watch Upin and Ipin while getting ready for work, even if it meant having to walk a little bit faster to get to my office since watching it until the end always made me late. Later on as an exchange student in a different city where thankfully I had more friends this time, every half past four in the morning after a night out, I could always rest assured knowing I could come back to my apartment, collapse on my bed and fall asleep laughing to a hilarious episode of Fish Hooks.
At night when the rowdy neighbours upstairs had guests over or were playing their music too loud with the windows open, I could always blast Baby TV's bedtime lullabies at maximum volume and I could count on falling asleep like a baby to that despite the ruckus going on overhead. I don't think I changed channels much during that entire year abroad other than the lone 5% of the time when I missed pretending to be an adult and driving my car around.
At the ripe old age of twenty-four, my love for simple, no-fuss, 2D animated cartoons has only gotten stronger and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon much to my delight. While others believe in talking their stress out, eating ice-cream or writing a letter they'll never send, I can't imagine a better way to blow off steam than to indulge in the "comfort food of comedy" such as Bob's Burgers absurd humour or the snort-worthy nonsensical antics of Clarence.


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