Baby boomers are fighting again to survive in an unfavorable economic climate. Born between 1946-1964 and as one of my sons would say "way too old" we are actually we're pretty cool. We did what this the younger generation can't imagine and we changed the world in the process.
Bottom line we need income. And just when we thought we were in a position to get it, ole corporate America says" we don't want you here anymore. Go home".
But boomers are made of tough stuff. They get knock down yet always find a way to get back up.
This time is different or is it?
We're not young and crazy on weed and LSD. Instead we're being injected with pharmaceuticals. This time were not fighting for peace and civil rights. This time were not fighting for a war that makes no sense. This time women don't have to prove they matter.
This time we're old and have failing health but we still need income to take us 20-40 years out.
And on a daily basis we're told there is no place for us other than to debate politics and discuss social security and medicare. The message being delivered is our lives are over and we no longer matter to society.
Well that's just a bunch of bull.
We're boomers and we still have fight in us.
And we've been introduced to this media called the internet that may just prove to be the workhorse needed to do the heavy lifting for us.
We were forced here because there's no other place to go. So make room for us because we're coming. And whats' amazing is that we're quite comfortable with being here because the computer age is another change we made happen.
So we might as well have some fun with our only option left to reinvent ourselves.
The fact that we've work a full career gives us a foundation to build upon and you just need to know how to use it. You can create value in a marketplace that might just be starving for what you already know.
Don't worry my boomer friends if you've worked 20 or more years you've got this.


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Home / Design & Culture / Architecture & Interiors / 2021 Interior Design Trends, According to the Experts
By Sophie Killip | December 28 2020
It is normal for interior design trends to emerge or die down each year, but this year has been significantly different from the rest, not least because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Several such trends have sprung up in the wake of the current climate and are set to continue garnering interest well into the new year. With this in mind, we spoke to five interior designers – Charu Gandhi, Jo Littlefair, Ed Ng, Winch Design and Elisabeth Rogoff – to discover their insights into the interior design trends that will be most prevalent in 2021.
Reimagining Furniture
Whether it's investing in a campaign-inspired desk, or the return of the drinks cabinet and trolley, antiquated furniture has slowly been making a comeback, thanks to the growing interest in owning pieces that are full of craftsmanship and heritage. As Littlefair, co-founder of Goddard Littlefair, mentions, "Drinks trolleys in hotels have been popular for some time, and we've seen the theater that they can bring to a cocktail evening, whilst linking to a more decadent period of time such as the swinging '20s." "In the home, [these pieces fill our need for] a bit of self-indulgence or pampering," agrees the co-founder of AB Concept Ed Ng. "These kinds of [pieces] also anchor memories and set the milestones in our lives."
Chelsea Barracks / ©Elicyon, Michael Sinclair
Award-winning design studio Elicyon has definitely noticed this, says its founder, Charu Gandhi. "We recently worked on a private apartment within Chelsea Barracks where we incorporated a bespoke small chest of drawers with an adjoining upholstered bench – a contemporary take on the traditional telephone table. Looking ahead, the roll-top desk could be set for a comeback," Gandhi predicts. "Not only are they beautifully crafted pieces, but they serve a practical purpose, allowing those working from home to hide away laptops and work paraphernalia at the end of the day.
[See more: Chelsea Barracks Launches Exclusive Furniture Collection]
Paint as Material
Textures and fabrics usually go hand in hand, but a new way of creating texture in an interior has recently come on the scene – by using paint and plaster in innovative ways. While paint is used to simply refer to the color of the walls or ceiling, "paint texture is becoming a pivotal element of a design scheme, and we've noted a much more experimental approach being taken," says Gandhi.
"High gloss paints and even '80s-style sponge techniques are being used to add texture, depth and interest to walls," Elicyon's founder continues. "Another popular choice is textured plaster – we love to work with polished plaster in a bathroom."
According to Gandhi, the new neutrals "comprise ivory base notes and a scattering of additional tones including rust, pink, beige, mustard and burnt orange," and is a color palette that is being seen more and more in the projects her studio is involved in. Coincidently, these colors work perfectly in tandem with Dulux's 2021 Color of the Year: Brave Ground, which Gandhi says is "the ideal base to build from" when using orange or pink tones.
Neutral tones are a great base for pops of color / ©Elicyon
One Casson Square / ©Elicyon
"I find Brave Ground has a place as a warm, nurturing color," agrees Elisabeth Rogoff, a principal at Champalimaud Design. "It sets an earthy tone." As it is neutral enough to invite splashes of more bold colors, Brave Ground is a versatile and comforting choice for the 2021 Color of the Year. It "speaks to our desire to invite calm and stability back into our lives and to make choices that won't flit in and out of fashion," says Littlefair.
"There is always an ease of living with a neutral backdrop where smaller elements can be played with to change the tempo," the co-founder of the international design studio continues. "Cushions and decorative lighting choices are simple to change and can amplify the sense of color and decoration one step at a time."
Now more than ever, interior designers are finding that there is a move toward using natural materials – something that many hope will not simply be a trend but become a stable consideration for future projects. "As a studio, we are focusing heavily on using natural materials such as linen, wool, rattan and light blonde timbers," Gandhi confirms. Rogoff suggests that this change to using natural materials could be to do with the "global warming and environmental concerns [that are becoming] paramount."
"[It] seems completely logical considering our current circumstances," Littlefair agrees. "We have a heightened awareness of the environment, how nature has impacted our lives and the legacy that we leave behind. We are pushing for greener and more sustainable ways to design, from materiality to design style, combined with cleaner lines of design, which perhaps appeals to the sensitivities around cleanliness post-2020."
"Our interiors team have been working hard incorporating an extensive selection of sustainable materials into their main sample library so that they can offer environmentally friendly solutions with every design," says a spokesperson from the luxury interior design studio Winch Design. "Traditional finishes such as shagreen and horn can be substituted with faux versions with great success. Examples include olive-tanned and plant-based leathers, as well as fabrics such as organic cotton and bamboo, which are much kinder to our planet."
Rattan furniture blends well with indoor greenery / ©Goddard Littlefair
Warm tones and natural materials / ©Champalimaud Design
Sculptural Furniture
With many of us spending more time indoors and in our homes, the spaces we live in are beginning to become more informal and multifunctional. Traditional entertaining and dining areas are less desirable when a space has to serve a range of purposes; instead, there is a growing trend of creating laid-back arrangements, which has given rise to an increase of sculptural furniture. "It's become the accent piece, the gem and the highlight of a space – and now has become a required part of any polished interior look," says Ng.
"Sculptural furniture helps to break up a space and creates a more fluid ambience," explains Gandhi. "We're using a lot of textured fabrics such as suede, wool and bouclé for our upholstery pieces, and these lend themselves to rounder, softer pieces. It's also all about the placement of the pieces – a curved sofa, for example, can draw the eye to a particular view or lead you through to another room. They also speak to the fun and decadent spirit of the Art Deco 1920s."
"Bespoke sculptural furniture has increasingly become a prominent part of our designs," says Winch Design. "It allows for the furniture to fully integrate with the energy and backdrop of each room. Most recently, Winch has created a bar for a yacht project which was developed to mimic the forms found in moving water. It perfectly matches the spirit that our interior team has created, and offers up complete originality."
A trend that has risen to the fore as a result of the current climate is the desire for well-designed outdoor spaces and "extending living spaces outdoors," says Rogoff. These outdoor environments are perceived as safer spaces to socialize; as a result, many hospitality venues are investing in their outdoor offerings, enticing guests in with the promise of a cozy, safe environment.
Landmark Place / ©Goddard Littlefair
"We [have sensed] the calm that our clients feel by being connected to nature and, as such, how this enhances their well-being," Littlefair mentions. "As interior designers, we always aspire to integrate outdoor space into interior spaces as much as possible. The effect is to create additional 'rooms' that link to the interior and then zones that blend into the greater landscape behind it."
Gandhi has found that for her studio, whether they be an expansive garden, courtyard or terrace, outdoor spaces are now a "key consideration on many of our projects," she says. "We have [also] seen a growing demand for statement outdoor furniture and accessories such as wall lights and lanterns, durable throws and cushions, and innovative heating solutions."
Discover Real Japan on the Three Star Road – Part 1
Regent's Crescent: The UK's Only Grade I Listed New Build
The Shore Elevation From Salcombe Distilling Co.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Chapter 1 Summary and Analysis
Chapter 10 Summary and Analysis
Hester Prynne
Arthur Dimmesdale
Roger Chillingworth
Sample Essay Outlines
Critical Evaluation
Critical Overview
Essential Quotes by Character: Hester Prynne
Essential Quotes by Theme: Moral Cowardice
Multiple-Choice Quizzes
Key Plot Points
History of the Text
Significant Allusions
Ideas for Group Discussions
Suggested Essay Topics
Topics for Further Study
Short-Answer Quizzes
Chapters 1-4 Questions and Answers
Chapters 9-12 Questions and Answers
Chapters 13-15 Questions and Answers
Annotated Text
The Custom-House
Chapter XVIII
Chapter XX
Chapter XXI
Chapter XXII
Chapter XXIII
Chapter XXIV
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Extended Character Analysis
The main character of The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne, is a beautiful young woman who readers first witness standing on the scaffolding of the town pillory. Hester is a widow who has been accused of committing adultery and having a child out of wedlock. The Puritan townspeople of Boston publicly torment and humiliate her. She holds her infant daughter, Pearl, close to her chest in an effort to conceal the letter "A" which has been sewn into her gown and which she must wear as a public reminder of her adulterous sins. Despite the torment Hester endures, she remains stoic and brave. Throughout the novel, she demonstrates compassion and an indomitable strength of character.
Since Hester is a widow—her husband is presumed to have been killed by Native Americans—town officials show mercy on her. They do not sentence her to the standard punishment of death; instead, they make an example of her through public humiliation, social ostracism, and the scarlet letter she must wear on her bodice for the rest of her life. Though she is at first isolated from the rest of the community and living on the outskirts of town, Hester makes a name for herself as the town seamstress. She sews beautiful, sparkling dresses for her daughter Pearl and becomes a counselor within the community. She acts with humility and provides comfort for many of the Puritan women. Once an outcast, Hester finds her place in society, offering help to the needy and the sick. The scarlet letter, which had before represented "adulterer," now stands to many of the townspeople for "able." Once a "badge of shame," the scarlet letter now "glimmered… with comfort in its unearthly ray."
Hester primarily demonstrates her strength by refusing to name the father of her child, the minister Arthur Dimmesdale . Her...
(The entire section is 460 words.)
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Next:Arthur Dimmesdale Previous:Characters
Related Questions and Answers for Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter
How did the Puritan society view Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter?
The views of the villagers toward Hester Prynne change dramatically from the beginning toward the end of the novel. In chapter 2, "The Market Place" the puritanical "goodwives" gather around to...
In The Scarlet Letter, is Hester Prynne a worthy role model?In The Scarlet Letter, is Hester...
What actually makes Hester a role model is her ability to overcome great trial and turmoil in her life and create the best that she can with it. Over the course of the Hester's perception in the...
How does Hawthorne feel about Hester Prynne in the book The Scarlet Letter?
Throughout the Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne is very ambiguous about his perception of Hester's adultery. In some ways, he does seem to show her actions in a negative light. He shows Hester as being an...
Please analyze the character of Hester Prynne from The Scarlet Letter.
Hester Prynne's character is dynamic, meaning, it changes throughout the course of the book. At the beginning, we see her as a proud, ostracized woman struggling with her lot in life. But as...
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Being a government-aided school established by the Singapore HokKien Huay Kuan (SHHK), Nan Chiau Primary School has always been receiving support, guidance and financial assistance from SHHK.
Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan (SHHK)
Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan set up its first school in 1849. Over the years, it built Chongwen Ge, Chui Eng Free School, Tao Nan School, Ai Tong School, Chong Hock Girls' School, Nan Chiau High School and Kong Hwa School. Initially, these schools adopted prevailing China's curriculum and taught Chinese culture and values, including Analects of Confucius (Lun Yu《论语》), in Hokkien. To meet the pace of societal changes, these soon gave way to offering English Language and Mathematics in addition to the Chinese Language.
Today, the six affiliated schools: Tao Nan School, Ai Tong School, Chongfu Primary School, Nan Chiau High School, Nan Chiau Primary School and Kong Hwa School have a combined enrolment of 14,000 students and 700 staff. They share a common set of mission and motto:
To provide for development in the moral, cognitive, physical, social and aesthetic spheres;
To instill a love for the nation and the community;
To equip students with basic life skills;
To preserve and promote Chinese language and Chinese culture.
Motto: Sincerity & Perseverance


text:
Browsing the "Natural Gas" Category
January 20th, 2020 | by Johnna Crider
Big tech has entered the oil business. Well, not all of big tech, because we do have Tesla out there trying to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels. Companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, however, are a bit different. They are talking the talk, but when it comes to the oil and gas industry, they are eager to work with companies to find easier ways to extract oil
How Much Energy Does The US Consume & Where Does It Come From? — Pew Research
January 16th, 2020 | by Steve Hanley
Electricity from renewables is expected to be the largest source of new electrical supply in 2020. But fossil fuels continue to dominate total US energy usage
January 14th, 2020 | by Guest Contributor
The "Stop the Money Pipeline" Mobilization aims to end the financing of fossil fuels and deforestation.
Sony Electric Car … Australian Fire Insanity … Zombie Solar Energy Storage System — CleanTechnica Top 20
January 14th, 2020 | by Zachary Shahan
The biggest, hottest, most enticing CleanTechnica stories last week were led by Sony unveiling an electric car, the impossible-to-comprehend scale of this month's Australian wildfires, and a solar energy storage device from the 1980s that has come back to life. You may have noticed something unusual by now — there wasn't a single Tesla story in the top 3! That's the first time in a long time, and ironic considering that Tesla stock [TSLA] went bonkers last week (and is still going bonkers)
Natural Gas Provided False Promise, Deception — Severe Health Problems From "Natural" Gas
January 12th, 2020 | by Cynthia Shahan
Pleasantly called natural gas and sold to many as a better solution, a good transition fuel, natural gas has been dominating new US electricity capacity alongside renewable energy. Yet, hydraulic fracking absolutely takes the "natural" out of it. Originally, natural gas was successfully sold as a cleaner transition fuel. Who knew there were not even laws on the books to address the hidden pollutants, and that there would be much information lacking about the truth of the acid stimulation, hydraulic fracturing, and other new extraction technologies
US Electricity: Solar Up 15%, Wind Up 9%
January 9th, 2020 | by Zachary Shahan
"Small-scale solar photovoltaics (e.g., rooftop solar systems) alone grew by 19.22% YTD. Compared to all other energy sources, solar-generated electricity has enjoyed the fastest growth rate thus far in 2019." Natural gas generation grew by 6.71%, nuclear energy generation grew by 0.8%, and coal-generated electricity generation declined by 14.46%
Collective Action at the Crossroads: What to Watch in 2020
January 7th, 2020 | by World Resources Institute
It seems like a lifetime ago when at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, I watched more than 100 heads of state and government queue to sign the original documents of the Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Biodiversity Convention and Agenda 21. Negotiations had been tough, and some leaders were more enthusiastic than others
Around 10,000 More U.S. Deaths Last Year From This Silent Killer
January 6th, 2020 | by Johnna Crider
Air pollution killed nearly 10,000 Americans in 2018, and 2019 must have seen a similar total
Alberta's $200 Billion Oil & Gas Clean-Up Bill Will Be Footed By The Rest Of Canada
January 5th, 2020 | by Michael Barnard
Alberta and its primary industry are going to leave Canadians from outside of Alberta with a quarter trillion dollar liability to clean up. And Canada and Canadian citizens will, for decades
Tesla Cybertruck vs. Garage … Dutch EV Sales Explosion … 2012 Model S Still Beats New Non-Tesla EVs — Top 20 CleanTechnica Stories of December
January 2nd, 2020 | by Zachary Shahan
The Tesla Cybertruck may be "old news" by now (ah, the not-so-endearing ADD of the internet), but a piece of ours explaining why it doesn't really need a garage was still king of the hill last month. Tesla took silver too, with a story explaining that the 2012 Tesla Model S still has superior specs to new 2020 EV entrants from other companies than Tesla. In third was a piece on world-leading research from our friend Mark Z. Jacobson and several colleagues on how the world could be a galaxy-leading 100% renewable energy planet!
Investing In Fossil Fuels = Burying Your Money — 20th Century Fuel Is Staying In The Ground
December 31st, 2019 | by Guest Contributor
Given the accelerating effects of climate breakdown — established by scientific consensus and visible with our own eyes — it is rational for investors to expect much tighter carbon regulation in the near future
FERC Sides With Fossil Fuels In Forcing Renewables To Match Prices
December 27th, 2019 | by Joshua S Hill
The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced a directive just a few days before Christmas which will require PJM Interconnection to raise prices of wind and solar power to be in line with the cost of fossil fuels
Court Hands Natural Gas Power Plant Lump Of Coal For Xmas
December 24th, 2019 | by Tina Casey
Ratepayers in Wisconsin are breathing a sigh of relief after a Minnesota court sends a proposed new natural gas power plant back for review -- wait, what
Ørsted Divests "Loss-Making" LNG Business
December 23rd, 2019 | by Joshua S Hill
Danish renewable energy giant Ørsted announced last week that it has signed an agreement with leading global natural resources company Glencore to divest itself of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) business
Is Goldman Sachs' Recent Environmental Push Enough?
December 21st, 2019 | by Anand Upadhyay
Goldman Sachs has been garnering quite a lot of Twitter praises after the bank updated its "Environmental Policy Framework." As per the changes, the firm has now pledged
Taxpayers Give $400 Billion To Oil Companies Each Year, Enough For 91 Tesla Gigafactories
December 20th, 2019 | by Johnna Crider
The article, noting that we spend $400 billion on oil subsidies globally, indicates that taxpayers want their governments to stop subsidizing this rich, over-mature industry, yet politicians keep the money funneling toward them
100% WWS Part 3: Jacobson's New Study Leans Into The Green New Deal
December 20th, 2019 | by Michael Barnard
While Jacobson's latest Stanford study on 100% renewables by 2050 will draw fire for leaning into the Green New Deal, it strongly supports that policy
100% WWS Part 2: Jacobson's Latest Study Covers Storage, Transmission, & More
Jacobson's latest study carefully uses with current technologies and currently available resources for storage and transmission. The latest evidence is that there are much cheaper alternatives than his team models, underselling the potential
100% WWS Part 1: Jacobson's New Study Displaces 99.7% Fossil Energy With Massive Savings
100% renewables for 143 countries covering 99.7% of global energy carbon emissions is very inexpensive compared to business as usual in Jacobson's latest
Another Study Shows: Air Pollution Hurts Us — A Lot
December 16th, 2019 | by Cynthia Shahan
Another scientific article is out on the health effects of air pollution, and this one exposes both the long and the short of it. The comprehensive study proves what numerous other studies and common sense told us: air pollution hurts us. "Hospitalizations for several common diseases—including septicemia (serious bloodstream infection), fluid and electrolyte disorders, renal failure, urinary tract infections, and skin and tissue infections—have been linked for the first time with short-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5)."


Homezone works closely with a number of local developers, so if you are looking for a new home or are seeking to market a new development and want to entrust the process to an experienced local estate agent, we can guide you through the entire process.
Some new homes developments are marketed once complete, but some developers require the development to be marketed off plan, meaning that a prospective purchaser secures a property based upon plans and show homes, often being able to choose many of the internal firings and design features themselves.
With offices covering Bromley and Beckenham, we've got the borough completely covered and are able to market properties to a wide database of registered applicants, both through our branch network and also through our extensive website coverage.
To register with Homezone's New Homes department, call us on 020 8464 9952 (Bromley) or 020 3794 7545 (Beckenham), or click here to submit an online new home enquiry form.


Guest Editors play an essential role in framing the scope of article collections at BMC Biology, advising on front matter content and relevant articles, and may contribute guest editorials or other content.
Article collections provide a great opportunity to explore a specific theme, discuss aspects or advances in research, and ultimately influence future research, policy and practice.
Manuscripts submitted to the collection (including the ones submitted or commissioned by Guest Editors) are not guaranteed acceptance for publication. As for all manuscripts submitted to BMC Biology, all articles are assessed by the in-house editorial team. To be considered, manuscripts must be within the scope and threshold of the journal, and we base decisions upon an extensive and rigorous peer review process by academic experts.
The role of Guest Editor is mostly advisory. The overall editorial responsibility for the journal is with the Chief Editor. Editorial decisions are made by considering the advice of the peer reviewers following at least one round of peer review. Guest Editors and Editorial Board Members may provide advice on manuscripts submitted but are not always involved in the final decisions.


Home Hemp And so it begins….
The Kentucky Industrial Hemp Commission will hold a special meeting after years of dormancy on Wednesday, Nov. 14 in Frankfort. This meeting was called at the request of a majority of the Commission's members, including Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer.
Staff from the office of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul will make a presentation at this meeting along with honored guests. This meeting is open to the public. The meeting starts at 10 a.m. at the Office of Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer at 111 Corporate Drive, Frankfort.
How does cannabis help with your anxiety?


text:
import { Injectable } from '@angular/core';
import { Observable } from 'rxjs';
import { Response, Request, RequestOptions, RequestMethod, Http } from '@angular/http';

import { CourseItem } from '../../entities';

@Injectable()
export class CourseService {
	public dayMilliSec: number = 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000;

	private courseList: CourseItem[];
	private count: number = 0;
	private myObservable: Observable<CourseItem[]>;

	constructor() {
		this.courseList = [];
		// Now
		this.createCourse ();
		// Old
		let cD: number = new Date().getTime() - 20 * this.dayMilliSec;
		this.createCourse (new Date(cD), true);
		// Future
		cD = new Date().getTime() + 10 * this.dayMilliSec;
		this.createCourse (new Date(cD), true);
	}

	public getObsItems (): Observable<CourseItem[]> {
		console.log('CourseService.getObsItems()');

		this.myObservable = new Observable(
			(observer) => {
				setTimeout(() => { observer.next(this.courseList); }, 1000);
				setTimeout(() => { observer.complete(); }, 3000);
			}
		);
		return this.myObservable;
	}

	public getItems (): CourseItem[] {
		console.log('CourseService.getItems()');

		return this.courseList;
	}

	public createCourse (cDate: Date = null, top: boolean = false) {
		let newId = this.count++;

		if (cDate === null) {
			cDate = new Date();
		}

		console.log('CourseService.createCourse() : ', newId);

		this.courseList.push(new CourseItem(newId,
											'title ' + newId,
											cDate,
											newId * 10 + 41,
			'This training is about Angular 2 directives and pipes. It covers pipes purpose,'
			+ ' build-in pipes usage and custom pipes creation. Participants will know about'
			+ ' built in directives and how to write custom directives.',
											top));
	}

	public getItem (title): CourseItem {
		console.log('CourseService.getItem(' + title + ')');

		let res = this.courseList.filter( (course) => {
			return (course.title === title);
		});
		return (res.length > 0) ? res[0] : null;
	}

	public updateItem (courseId) {
		console.log('CourseService.updateItem(' + courseId + ')');
	}

	public removeItem (courseId) {
		console.log('CourseService.removeItem(' + courseId + ')');

		let res = this.courseList.filter( (course) => {
			return (course.id !== courseId);
		});
		this.courseList = res;
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Wendee
Torrin
Krijn
For Middle Graders
For Early Readers
QABC Reads
Coe ES / McClure MS / Ballard HS
Coe Library Wish List
McClure Mavericks Read: Summer 2021
Ballard HS Library Wish List
A Time for Mercy: A Jake Brigance Novel (Paperback)
By John Grisham
Available to order - Usually arrives at our store in 1-5 days
This is book number 3 in the Jake Brigance series.
#1: A Time to Kill: A Jake Brigance Novel (Paperback): $9.99
#2: Sycamore Row: A Jake Brigance Novel (Paperback): $9.99
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • Jake Brigance is back! The hero of A Time to Kill, one of the most popular novels of our time, returns in a courtroom drama that The New York Times says is "riveting" and "suspenseful."
Clanton, Mississippi. 1990. Jake Brigance finds himself embroiled in a deeply divisive trial when the court appoints him attorney for Drew Gamble, a timid sixteen-year-old boy accused of murdering a local deputy. Many in Clanton want a swift trial and the death penalty, but Brigance digs in and discovers that there is more to the story than meets the eye. Jake's fierce commitment to saving Drew from the gas chamber puts his career, his financial security, and the safety of his family on the line.
In what may be the most personal and accomplished legal thriller of John Grisham's storied career, we deepen our acquaintance with the iconic Southern town of Clanton and the vivid cast of characters that so many readers know and cherish. The result is a richly rewarding novel that is both timely and timeless, full of wit, drama, and—most of all—heart.
Bursting with all the courthouse scheming, small-town intrigue, and stunning plot twists that have become the hallmarks of the master of the legal thriller, A Time for Mercy is John Grisham's most powerful courtroom drama yet.
There is a time to kill and a time for justice. Now comes A Time for Mercy.
JOHN GRISHAM is the author of thirty-five novels, one work of non-fiction, a collection of stories, and seven novels for young readers.
"Grisham has returned to the place closest to his heart... The trial is riveting...it's striking how suspenseful the story is...how much we're gripped by the small details."–Sarah Lyall, The New York Times
"Textbook Grisham—and that's a compliment…a briskly paced legal drama, with just the right amount of suspense, conflict, plot twists, and courtroom theatrics."—St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Publisher: Bantam
Series: Jake Brigance
Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense
Fiction / Legal
Fiction / Thrillers / Legal
Digital Audiobook (My Must Reads)
Paperback (June 29th, 2021): $9.99
Copyright © Queen Anne Book Company


STEM teacher Greg Brovont with his seventh-grade students, one of the classrooms that will benefit from BASF's $9,000 contribution to Wyandotte Public schools.
BASF recently contributed $9,000 to the Wyandotte (Mich.) Public School system to support the purchase of classroom materials for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs for students in grades K-12.
Students in teacher Greg Brovont's sixth to eighth grade STEM classrooms at Wilson Middle School are some of the many students who will benefit from BASF's donation. According to Brovont, students work on several projects throughout the year that focus on the STEM processes. As part of the curriculum, they test project variables to learn what works and what doesn't, which helps them develop ideas, revise methods, and perfect project designs.
Brovont has already seen Wilson students flourish in the STEM program when, in 2016, a team from the school won "Best in State" and "Fan Favorite" in a competition for their development of a Protect our Parks (POP) app. The app allows users to send photos to park owners to report graffiti and needed repairs. Each student was rewarded with a computer tablet and the school received a grant for their STEM program.
"Through BASF's support and contribution, our students will have increased opportunities to use advanced technology to help prepare for a possible STEM career," said Dr. Catherine Cost, Wyandotte Public Schools superintendent.


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Q: IT Assistant salary for college student How much should a person working as an IT Assistant doing intranet development on drupal and anything else needed to be done with the computers/network at any of our five locations supporting ~150 employees.
I have a total of about 3 years real experience in IT and am a sophomore in college taking CS classes.
I'm discussing the a raise tomorrow with my boss and the HR manager, I live in Michigan and am making 9.50 an hour working there now working 35-35hrs a week with no benefits.
Am I getting screwed with that salary? How much should I ask for tomorrow and is there anything I can reference to show them I am being underpaid, if I am?

A: My suggestion would be to take the $9.50 an hour and be happy with it. You're essentially getting a paid internship while you're going to school. Granted you're working a lot of hours (but far less than most of the rest of us in IT work) but where else are you going to get a salary plus experience while basically having your employer teach you how to do the job that you're studying for a career in?
Ahhh... To be young and making $9.50 an hour and only working 30 hours a week while my boss helps launch me in to my career... (Sigh)

A: College students are generally paid pennies on what their job is worth because of the absurd amount of candidates available. Bring all the reasons you can for a raise (Salary.com would help with an average for your area), but don't be too disappointed if you get a "Take it or leave it" answer.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Eulophus mortuorum is een vliesvleugelig insect uit de familie Eulophidae. De wetenschappelijke naam is voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1792 door Rossi.

Eulophidae

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Very soft and comfortable knit slippers will make you feel cozy at home!
Slippers are handmade from cotton yarn and have soft felted soles.
Hand wash / wool wash recommended.
Available in three sizes: 35-36, 37-38, 39-40.
* Please note that the color of the yarn can be slightly different from the pictures.


CARSON, Calif. (AP) — Five months before the United States makes its sixth consecutive World Cup appearance, coach Bob Bradley is searching for starters.
Forward Charlie Davies is likely to miss the tournament because of injuries sustained in a car crash last October and defender Oguchi Onyewu is sidelined until spring following knee surgery. Bradley is also hoping to find players to provide consistency on the left side and who can serve as an effective link in the midfield.
Bradley began the search Tuesday with the start of the team's annual training camp for players from Major League Soccer and Scandinavian clubs on winter break.
Bradley cited the competition between Chivas USA's Jonathan Bornstein and FC Dallas' Heath Pearce for a spot at left back as an example of the intensity he expects to see.
With most of the team's regular starters — such as Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and Clint Dempsey — in Europe, Bradley invited 25 players from Major League Soccer and five from clubs in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
The Columbus Crew's Robbie Rogers hopes to be in Bradley's mix for a place on the 23-man World Cup roster.
"I want to show that I have something to add to the team," said Rogers, who has played nine games for the United States. "I know the team needs some players who are creative, who can attack with speed but also work hard.
Being good for the team means adapting to the style Bradley has brought since becoming the national coach in 2007.
The camp will end with an exhibition against Honduras on Jan. 23. The U.S. has been attempting to schedule a February home match against Mexico. The United States plays the Netherlands in Amsterdam on March 3, the only date before May that European clubs are required to release players to national teams.
The U.S. also is trying to schedule May exhibitions to prepare for its World Cup games against England (June 12), Slovenia (June 18) and Algeria (June 23).


It's July 1st 2017, and I'm writing the first blog post on this site. This marks the first public act as a build a new business. And you can watch me do it!
Some of you will know that this isn't a new site. I'm relaunching it to support this new business, and I've removed or hidden just about everything that was on here before.
You can't fail to have noticed how I'm describing the business since it appears at the top of every page. It's to provide "Results-oriented digital training to individuals and SMEs".
A simple and not particularly original idea – but it DOES address a real need. And over time, I hope it will become clear that the Your Digital Ally training WILL have some USPs that differentiate it from the competition.
I have a pretty clear idea of what they will be, but I won't start talking about them until I have some concrete examples.
So – this post is turning out much as I expected – rather rambling and inward-looking – but let me try and turn that around and make it relevant to YOU!
End-user micro-enterprises (1-3 people) who want to make more impact on their business by smarter use of digital technologies – probably involving better online marketing for the most part. These are folk who don't have big (or any!) budgets to pay to agencies and have to do most things themselves.
Service provider micro-enterprises (probably individuals) who support end-user organizations with web development/management, social media management, training etc. who want to run their businesses more efficiently and/or train up to provide additional services.
Professional employees in any organization who want to take more active control in promoting their personal brand online and expanding their network of contacts.
Anybody who has figured out that the online world offers significant opportunities to build a business and generate a second or even first income – but perhaps hasn't yet managed to get all the ducks lined up in a row to make it happen!
The chances are, you fall into at least one of those categories. Personally, I'm smeared across all four, to some degree!.
Now why might this be of interest to you – whichever category(s) you may relate to?
will be an INVALUABLE case study – no matter what your level of experience.
I'm planning to document that journey and share my successes and failures – all of which will provide excellent lessons.
And here's the first lesson – one I know well from prior experience.
I'm currently approaching the end of the "easy" part of the journey (although it's never felt easy!): the planning and building of enough of the "stuff" to get something out there and publicised and start building an audience.
I call it the easy part because up until now, there has been a finite number of tasks needed to get to this point, and the order they are done in is reasonably clear.
I still need to keep building and refining all the "stuff" (or "infrastructure" to be a bit more formal). This is all the online assets and all the tools and systems for running the business. Building and developing and maintaining that never ends.
I need to monitor, test and improve all elements of the business (the "stuff" and the processes), continually learning and trying out new technologies and ideas.
And it's no longer obvious what the most important or urgent next task is!
This is the reality (and the fun!) of what happens when you build a new business, and then start running it.
So – if you want to watch me go through that process, just sign up to my new Newsletter (see the form below or at the top of the page). I'll make sure I keep you updated.
And just in case you need any further incentive, I'll be making various artfacts available for free to my subscribers as I go along. Worth it at 10 times the price!
Great! Good luck Alex! Look forward to the coming days!!
I'm still going through some core setup activities – then I'll start ramping up the posting frequency.
PS I love the idea of having a Chief Ally!
Excellent and useful articles so far. This is information that I can apply to my business right away. Thanks, and keep the articles coming!


Searching for Indian or American restaurants in Tempe that have good reviews? Utilize our website to find the Sweet Tomatoes Maps and Hours - Restaurant Locator in Tempe, AZ. If you are looking for the Sweet Tomatoes that is near or in Tempe, use our website. We have all the info you need, including Store Hours and Location for Sweet Tomatoes and Free Coupons.


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ESTATES, TRUSTS & GIFTS
Simplified Method Offered for Requesting Extended Time to Make Portability Election
Taxation of Estates & Trusts
The IRS on Monday offered certain executors a simplified way to request an extension of time to make the "portability" election to transfer a deceased spouse's unused estate tax exclusion to the surviving spouse (Rev. Proc. 2014-18). Executors of estates of spouses who died in 2011, 2012, or 2013 and that did not timely file an estate tax return to make the portability election will have until Dec. 31, 2014, to make the election on Form 706, United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return, rather than having to go through the process of making a letter ruling request to get an extension of time to make the election.
Temporary regulations issued in 2012 require executors to file Form 706 to make the election to transfer the deceased spousal unused exclusion (DSUE) to the surviving spouse. To make the election, executors must file Form 706, computing the DSUE amount, even if the estate would not otherwise be required to file an estate tax return. Unfortunately, because they are not otherwise required to file Form 706, some executors have failed to make the election.
And while the due date for filing Form 706 is prescribed by statute for estates that are required to file an estate tax return, the requirement to file Form 706 just to make the election is prescribed by the regulations, not by statute, so it is the IRS's position that executors may seek an extension of time under Regs. Sec. 301.9100-3 to elect portability. This so-called Sec. 9100 relief will be granted if the taxpayer establishes to the IRS's satisfaction that the taxpayer acted reasonably and in good faith and that granting relief will not prejudice the government's interests.
Until now, the IRS has been granting such relief in private letter rulings, but with Monday's revenue procedure it is providing a simplified method for taxpayers who meet certain requirements.
The simplified method applies to the executor of the estate of a decedent who died after Dec. 31, 2010, and on or before Dec. 31, 2013, who has a surviving spouse, and who is a U.S. citizen or resident of the United States on the date of death. The estate must not be required to file an estate tax return under Sec. 6018(a), and the executor must not have filed an estate tax return during the time period required to elect portability.
To qualify for relief under the revenue procedure, the executor must file a complete and properly prepared Form 706 for the estate on or before Dec. 31, 2014, and must write "FILED PURSUANT TO REV. PROC. 2014-18 TO ELECT PORTABILITY UNDER § 2010(c)(5)(A)" at the top.
If the executor meets these requirements, he or she will be deemed to have satisfied the conditions for relief under Regs. Sec. 301.9100-3, and relief will automatically be granted to extend the time to elect portability.
The simplified method does not apply to estates that timely filed an estate tax return under the temporary regulations to elect portability.
Executors of estates that do not meet the requirements of the revenue procedure, including those that died after Dec. 31, 2013, may request an extension by making a letter ruling request under Regs. Sec. 301.9100-3.
Claims for credit or refund by surviving spouse
If a surviving spouse wants to obtain a credit or refund of a tax overpayment as a result of a portability election made under Monday's revenue procedure, the surviving spouse must file a claim for credit or refund before the expiration of the Sec. 6511(a) limitation period (generally, three years from the date a return was filed or two years from the day of tax payment, whichever expires later).
Pending letter ruling requests
Executors with letter ruling requests pending on Jan. 27, 2014, seeking an extension of time to make the portability election, may, if the estate is within the scope of the revenue procedure, withdraw the letter ruling request and receive a refund of the user fee it paid. Such withdrawals must be made by the earlier of March 10, 2014, or the date the letter ruling is issued.
Effect of the Windsor decision
The IRS notes that some decedents who died during the 2011–2013 period may have been spouses in same-sex marriages, whose marriages were not recognized for federal tax purposes until the Supreme Court's decision in Windsor, 133 S. Ct. 2675 (U.S. 2013), and subsequent IRS guidance in Rev. Rul. 2013-17. Executors of the estates of such decedents would not have been eligible to make the portability election and may have therefore missed the Form 706 filing deadline. They may now be eligible under Monday's revenue procedure to make the election and get Sec. 9100 relief.


Feel the thrill of speed and get behind a set of wheels to get your heart racing!
Wonder Speedway – Noida's only place where one can de-stress through a few laps of go karting and enjoy with friends on a day out. The thrill of speed, the flow of adrenaline, and the sound of the engine gets the heart racing.
Wonder Speedway is North India's largest, and India's best professional two-stroke go-karting track. The best of facilities, a series of well-designed and power-packed karts ranging from Twin engine pro karts to Duet karts and single-seaters are provided here.
Whether you're planning a holiday, already on holiday or living in Noida, it's a MUST to visit our Go Karting Track. Plan your go karting outing today with Wonder Speedway.


From great goodie bags to artsy kits, party favors don't have to be a basic coloring books and thank you notes. It great to provide a reminder of a good time.
Here's a list of some great party favor ideas for all your party guests to enjoy.
Who doesn't love bubbles? Some Pump It Up locations even over to help you throw a bubble-themed party.
Cheap and plentiful during any time of the year, bubbles are fun for everyone. Get creative and decorate the bottles with things like ribbons and cellophane, or let the kids customize their own with colorful name labels. Want to help parents give their kids a reason to spend some time outside and get off their gadgets? Bubbles are always the answer.
Image courtesy of Kevin Smith on Flickr.
Instead of trying to fiddle with to-go Tupperware or wrapping plates of cupcakes, why not make it fun with a classic summer treat? Package together a s'mores kit complete with graham crackers, a chocolate bar, a couple marshmallows, and a skewer. Send your guests on their way with a fun and fresh take on party favors. This great for camping or outdoor-themed birthday bashes, and will help inspire your guests to get outside and have a mini-camping trip.
Having a baseball- or softball-themed party? Keep the party swinging by putting together customized bags filled with Cracker Jack, temporary tattoos, bubble gum, sunflower seeds, and baseball card packs from the grocery store. Perfect for your little sluggers and their friends, these bags are a hit especially during Little League seasons. Tie them up with ribbon and create name labels that look like baseballs and you're sure to hit a home run.
Check with your local Pump It Up to see if any pre-packaged, baseball themed-goodies are available for your party.
Image courtesy of patchattack on Flickr.
This idea is perfect for any kid looking to get artsy during the summer. A cool and easy way to help your kids use their creative talents and flex their artistic muscles, art bundles are simple to make and fun to create with.
Package together Crayons and colored pencils with notepads, coloring books, watercolor sets, and stickers, and watch them spend hours drawing masterpieces. Your refrigerator may be decorated a little bit more, but it'll be worth it when you see how much fun they're having.
Spending some time indoors for your kids' birthday party? Pump It Up has some pretty sweet goodie bags for the kids that they can dive into after the party as well as fun cups and goblets. Filled with fun items and toys like harmonicas, puzzles, thundersticks, and themed bags like superhero and rock stars, Pump It Up keeps the fun going after your kids have had their fun indoors.
If you'd like to skip the often hard prep-work and a safe, easy party; book with Pump It Up by calling us or booking online now.


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A Highlander Walks into a Bar
I'm delighted today to welcome author Laura Trentham to Thoughts in Progress to talk about her latest release, A HIGHLANDER WALKS INTO A BAR.
The timeless romance, soaring passion—and gorgeous men—of Scotland comes to modern-day America. And the rules of love will never be the same…
Isabel Buchanan is fiery, funny, and never at a loss for words. But she is struck speechless when her mother returns from a trip to Scotland with a six-foot-tall, very handsome souvenir. Izzy's mother is so infatuated by the fellow that Izzy has to plan their annual Highland Games all by herself. Well, not completely by herself. The Highlander's strapping young nephew has come looking for his uncle…
Alasdair Blackmoor has never seen a place as friendly as this small Georgia town—or a girl as brilliant and beguiling as Izzy. Instead of saving his uncle, who seems to be having a lovely time, Alasdair decides he'd rather help Izzy with the Highland Games. Show her how to dance like a Highlander. Drink like a Highlander. And maybe, just maybe, fall in love with a Highlander. But when the games are over, where do they go from here?
A HIGHLANDER WALKS INTO A BAR can be purchased HERE.
Join me now for a Q&A with the author.
What inspired you to write A Highlander Walks into a Bar?
It was actually a Buick car commercial from a couple of years ago where a grandson picks his grandmother up from the airport and she says saucily, "I did a lot of shopping in Italy." From behind her luggage steps an Italian gentleman. Of course, my writer brain kept picturing what happened after the three of drove off and twisted it into an entire story but had to make up a town for them to return to!
Another big inspiration is a real-life place: Helen, Georgia, is a town that has transformed itself into a German village. It's picturesque and they celebrate Octoberfest every year. I twisted that concept and made my little town of Highland, Georgia, into a Scottish village including an annual Highland Games that the Buchanan ladies put on every summer which is an important aspect of the book.
Introduce us to your main characters!
Isabel Buchanan is the daughter who picks her mother up from the airport only to be surprised by the appearance of Gareth Blackmoor, who happens to be keeping his title of Earl of Cairndow a secret from everyone in Highland, Georgia, including Rose Buchanan, Isabel's mother.
Alasdair Blackmoor is Gareth's nephew and heir to the title and castle in Scotland. He's been sent to round up his wandering uncle and to make sure he isn't being taken advantage of by some pushy American women. Complications ensue, including love (of course!)
Lots of aspiring authors out there. Any advice for them?
To become a better writer, you must write. Sounds simple, but I know so many aspiring authors who get stuck in their own head. They plot and make inspiration boards and talk about writing, but when the fingers hit the keyboard, they get mired in doubts. Just get the words down. They don't have to be perfect; they don't even have to be good, but you can't fix a blank page!
How is A Highlander Walks into a Bar different from your other books?
While it's still a Southern small-town romance, it has a definite rom-com vibe. Expect low angst and lots of laughs! I love to read reviews where they reader has literally laughed out loud at several points.
I know asking someone's all-time favorite book is a loaded question so what's your current favorite read?
Two series I have loved lately are Katherine Arden's Winternight Trilogy (a fantasy retelling weaving medieval Russian history and folklore) and Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell's mysteries (a Victorian butterfly hunter teams up with a taxidermist to solve mysteries. I mean, seriously, how can you beat that combo?!)
Alright, the ultimate question: why should we read your book?
If you need a pick-me-up, good-time, laugh-out-loud book, then read A Highlander Walks into a Bar!
Favorite quote or scene you wrote in A Highlander Walks into a Bar?
As the woman continued to stare at him as if he were the bearer of the bubonic plague, his smile faltered. He stuck out a hand. "I'm Alasdair Blackmoor."
Although he registered a split-second hesitation on her part, she took his hand. "Isabel Buchanan."
Her handshake was firm and no-nonsense, but her palm was soft and her hand small in his. On closer inspection, her eyes striated into all different shades of brown and amber, and freckles dusted her cheeks. He hung on to her hand for too long, but couldn't seem to pry himself away.
Breaking the spell, she wrested her hand from his, pulling it into a fist. Was she planning on throat-punching him? He rubbed his neck and took a step back, out of the radius of her magnetic energy, and her reach. On her approach, she'd seemed birdlike, insignificant even, but up close, he was having a hard time not staring like a first-class prat.
He was punch-drunk with exhaustion. It was the only logical explanation.
She stuck her hands into the back pockets of her jeans, stretching her red V-neck T-shirt tight. His gaze dipped instinctively and then stuck around to read the print on the pocket over the soft curve of her left breast: Highland. The Heart of Scotland in the Blue Ridge.
She cleared her throat. His gaze shot to hers, and he blinked to try to refocus his thoughts. "I was admiring . . . I mean, reading your shirt."
"It's not a novel."
His face heated. He couldn't remember the last time he'd blushed this hot and fierce.
What inspired you to become a writer?
I've always been (and still am) a huge reader. My youngest child started preschool and I wasn't ready to go back to work in what I'm trained for (chemical engineering) so I sat down one morning and started writing a book. I didn't tell anyone what I was doing until I was around halfway done and loving every minute! That book became a Golden Heart finalist, got me an agent, and is published as An Indecent Invitation, a Regency historical.
What is a typical writing day like?
During the school year, I work while the kids are in school. I love the flexibility of being there to pick my kids up and drive them to soccer or gymnastics or chaperoning field trips, etc.
Do you have any interesting writing quirks or habits?
My only habit is a bad one in that I drink *way* too much coffee while I'm writing! It's become a ritual, I suppose.
What has been one of the most surprising things you've learned as a published author?
How slow the industry can move, but also how quickly changes have come because of indie publishing.
Can you tell us about what's coming up next after this for you writing wise?
For my contemporary fans, I have my second women's fiction releasing early February 2020, An Everyday Hero. The second book in the Highland, Georgia, series, A Highlander in a Pickup, releases late February 2020.
For my historical romance fans, look out for A Wicked Wedding in the Once Upon a Christmas Wedding anthology releasing in October 2019. And two more full length books in the Spies and Lovers series, A Sinful Surrender and A Daring Deception, coming sometimes in mid to late 2020!
How can readers connect with you online?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLauraTrentham
Or join my reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1733284316920632/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraTrentham
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lauratrentham/
Sign up for my newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/w7o6b1
Follow me on Bookbub for new release or sale announcements: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/laura-trentham
Author Laura Trentham
For those who aren't familiar with Laura, here's a bit of background on her.
Laura Trentham is an award-winning author of contemporary and historical romance, including Then He Kissed Me and The Military Wife. She is a member of RWA and has been a finalist multiple times in the Golden Heart competition. A chemical engineer by training and a lover of books by nature, she lives in South Carolina.
Now for an added treat, here's an excerpt from A HIGHLANDER WALKS INTO A BAR.
From A Highlander Walks into a Bar. Copyright © 2019 by Laura Trentham and reprinted with permission from St. Martin's Paperbacks.
"I brought home a surprise!" Rose Buchanan threw her arms out wide as if embracing the world. From the sto- ries she told to the way she entered the room, Rose was exuberant and entertaining and enjoyed being the center of attention.
Isabel Buchanan, who was perfectly content on the fringes, pushed her wavy hair off her sticky forehead with hands that trembled from the nightmare drive through At- lanta to the airport to pick up her mom. Her mom's trip to Scotland had doubled as both research and vacation. The jammed stop-and-go traffic had left Izzy flustered and al- ready dreading their exit from the airport.
Rolling her stiff shoulders, Izzy stepped around the bumper of the car, popping the trunk open on the way. Her mom had a beautiful plaid scarf of greens and browns and blues tossed over her shoulder and what appeared to be new earrings. Either purchase might inspire her mother to gush, and she would expect reciprocal gushing from Izzy. Making an educated guess, Izzy asked, "Are those ear-
rings your surprise?"
Without waiting for an answer, she hauled one of her mom's giant wheeled suitcases closer and prepared toheave it into the back. The sooner they got out of Atlanta, the sooner she could get back to work planning the High- land festival. Or she might pour an extra-large glass of wine and escape into a book. A guilty pleasure, consider- ing how much she still had to get in order in three scant weeks.
"Allow me, please." A bearded man who had been roll- ing cases to the curb stepped forward with a grin and an accent Izzy couldn't place.
She checked her pockets and winced. No cash to tip the man, and no hope her mom had thought of something so inconsequential.
"Do you like them? They're hammered silver." Her mom flipped her bobbed matching silver hair to the side and displayed one earring with her fingers. "And as a matter of fact, I did buy them from a lovely shop in Edin- burgh, but I brought something bigger home. Something more exciting."
"Your scarf? It's lovely." Izzy gave her mom limited attention while she watched the man load suitcase after suitcase into her trunk, fitting them together like a puzzle. More luggage than her mom had left with. She waved to catch the man's attention. "Hang on. That's not all my mom's stuff."
For the first time, Izzy really looked at the man. He was close to her mom in age, and good-looking in a bear- like way with a gleaming white smile highlighted by a salt-and-pepper beard. His full head of hair was a shade darker, but graying heavily at the temples. The expres- sion on the man's face when he looked in her mom's direction—a mix of adoration and amusement—cleared the fog of confusion.
Lord have mercy, her mother had brought back a six- foot, two-hundred-pound-plus souvenir from Scotland.
Thanks for stopping by during Laura's visit. Have you ever watch an event unfold and/or saw an action between people and thought "that would make a great story"?
Labels: #AHighlanderWalksIntoA Bar, #excerpt, #LauraTrentham, #Q&A
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill
I'm excited today to tell you about author Abbi Waxman's new release, THE BOOKISH LIFE OF NINA HILL (Berkley Trade Paperback Original, July 9).
Inspired by the incredible young female booksellers she's met while touring, Abbi's third novel introduces confirmed introvert and twentysomething bookseller Nina Hill—whose carefully plotted life is about to go way off-script.
THE BOOKISH LIFE OF NINA HILL is what happens when Liane Moriarty's skewering of suburbia meets the endearing quirkiness of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.
Meet Nina Hill: A young woman supremely confident in her own…shell.
The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book.
When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They're all—or mostly all—excited to meet her! She'll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It's a disaster! And as if that wasn't enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn't he realize what a terrible idea that is?
Nina considers her options.
1. Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.)
2. Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee).
3. Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.)
It's time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn't convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It's going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page.
Author Abbi Waxman/Photo:
© Photo by Leanna Creel
Abbi Waxman, the author of Other People's Houses and The Garden of Small Beginnings, is a chocolate-loving, dog-loving woman who lives in Los Angeles and lies down as much as possible. She worked in advertising for many years, which is how she learned to write fiction.
She has three daughters, three dogs, three cats, and one very patient husband. She can be found online at abbiwaxman.com, Facebook.com/abbiwaxmanbooks, and on Twitter @amplecat.
Thanks for stopping by today. What are your thoughts on the solace and sanctuary of a good book? When someone asks for a book recommendation, what's your first response?
Labels: #AbbiWaxman, #Berkley, #bookseller, #TheBookishLifeofNinaHill
The Saturday Night Ghost Club


In the meantime, melt the raw chocolate.Take the dates out of the freezer and dip each of them in the melted chocolate.
Place the well coated dates on the baking tray lined with baking paper. Continue until you have no dates left.
Before eating let it thaw for a few minutesthat is if you can!Dont forget to lick every drop of the melted raw chocolate left in the bowl, this mustnt go to waste.


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Is there a science to lessening turnover?
Here's probably the easiest place to begin on the concept of employee turnover: most people who run companies (i.e. decision-makers) don't really give much of a crap about it. How do we know this? The idea of employee turnover and its corresponding metrics are owned by HR. Let me give this to you pretty straight: most senior decision-makers think of HR as compliance and not much else. It's definitely not a revenue arm for them, and they don't view the CHRO as "having a seat at the table." In short? HR is a joke to the execs. So anything "owned" by that department is probably 90 percent lip service and 10 percent "OK, we'll revisit this idea once a year."
That's the first issue.
The second issue is that most guys (predominantly men, but not always) who run companies grew into their role with a specific set of ideas. Typically, these ideas are around processes, products, services, margins, revenues, and financials. All this stuff about people? Engagement? Purpose? Mission? Most of that has only come to the fore within the last 20 years, if that. No chest-pounding workaholic who loves to bellow about his margins would ever really give two craps about people. This is where employee turnover begins to run into some issues, as well.
By the way, is it possible for a standard guy to talk about the financial aspects of their job and not sound like a douchebag? I am not sure it is possible.
Through all this muck, though, there's one thing you need to "get:" employee turnover is important. It's important to the bottom line. The math is a little bit murky, yes. But in general, if you lose a manager making $40,000, you can expect to pay about $30,000 to replace him. Now imagine you lose a manager making $275,000. See where this gets dicey?
Employee turnover is something we need to really be discussing. So let's try. And we'll bring in a little science here too.
Employee turnover: First up, why do employees leave?
The old adage is that people leave managers, not jobs. Personally, I believe that. However, the research is iffy on it. Most of what I've seen would say the following are the key factors for employee turnover:
Lack of respect (which ties to your manager, yes)
No real opportunities for growth
Too much stress over supposedly urgent projects without a corresponding salary bump
Communication issues leading to blame games
Some of this is hard to figure out or work through — there's research that good managers also create lots of turnover, for example. Nothing is perfect. But that list kind of seems like a good four-step starting place for "Hey, why does employee turnover happen in the first place?"
If you look through those four elements, the common theme (to me) is trust. Trust should be a central element of a workplace, because most jobs are made up of humans and trust is a currency for humanity. In most workplaces, though, trust is pretty absent. I think we all know this and we all secretly know why: lack of priority + constant belief that your thing you're doing is more important than anything else. That gets to the urgency / stress / communication issues above.
If you worked at a place where you felt there was trust, you probably wouldn't want to leave as much. You might eventually (over salary), but generally trusting environments are good, positive things. So let's reduce employee turnover by getting more trust. But how do we do that?
Employee turnover and the science of trust
Good article on IDoneThis about the science of trust in the workplace right here. At my last job, I used to read IDoneThis stuff all the time. It got me through the muck and the mire. Godspeed, people over there.
The article talks about 2001 research from "oxytocin research icon" Paul Zak. In that specific research, he tied oxytocin boosts to "intentions of trust" being perceived. In sum, then:
Zak's research team showed that all you need to do to get someone's oxytocin to go up is "give someone a sign of trust." Trusting other people means you're there for them, but that can only happen if everyone is consistently on the same page.
Hmmm. OK. What could that mean for work and employee turnover? Let me give it back to IDoneThis quickly:
The best precursor to communication is to give people autonomy over their work. It sounds counterintuitive, but it shows employees that their managers trust them, and this sign of trust in the workplace also helps to keep people happy at work. That's key to retaining your employees.
Alright. So, if you're following along, here's what is interesting. We don't need to go all crazy giving people signs of trust everywhere. We just need to do a minimum viable product on trust, and that can help along the bonding (oxytocin), which can lessen employee turnover. Small, simple trust steps. That's it. It's not super duper hard.
Employee turnover: The trust excuses
Look, admittedly workplaces are not designed to be moral high grounds and/or even provide "trust" to employees. Most organizations have a "mission" (fake) and an "actual mission" (make money, get people fat-ass bonuses), and that's it. What they "provide" to people is often debated over in magazines and on TED Talks, but none of it really matters. At least in a capitalism, the goal is money. I don't think that would necessarily surprise anyone.
I try to think about work in different ways, and I also try to call out some managerial BS we've all experienced. If that kinda sorta interests you, I do a newsletter every Thursday. Feel free to join up.
If you started talking to an executive about employee turnover and the need for "small signs of trust," these are the excuses you would get back:
"I don't have time for this shit. I'm dealing with my quarterly returns and the consultants."
"Isn't this an HR thing?"
"Trust my subordinates? But they fuck everything up!"
"Employee turnover? So what? We'll hire some new peeps at a cheaper salary!"
"This is all fluffy people stuff. We're revenue dragon-slayers up here!"
"I'll trust those buffoons when I see the margin ROI on their salary, baby!"
All bluster and corresponding bullshit, which happens with every people issue out there. Employee engagement is all BS. If you have an employee recognition program, it's caked in excuses.
Ever stop and realize that because we lip-service these things, employee turnover goes up?
So can we reduce employee turnover?
To an extent, yes. But to an extent, no. If you scroll up and see "opportunities for growth," that means "more money" to a lot of people. The only real way to make more money in the modern age is to job-hop. HR views this as a stigma — that's another example of how out of touch HR commonly is — but in reality, most companies want to suppress your salary and give more to the big dogs. So, if you want to make more money, you need to be a big dog. But you'll never get there at one place anymore unless you're an absolute superstar with a good sense of the politics. You gotta job-hop, and that's going to drive up employee turnover.
But let's say you work at a small enterprise company selling widgets. You want to reduce employee turnover. Can you? Why yes. Start with small signs of trust. Here are a few examples:
Let an employee work from home for a week
Offer some employees 20 percent time to work on something outside their standard deliverables
Hand a project to a low-level employee and say "Run with it and show me what you've got"
Let other team members run and organize some meetings
Show people you trust them, and they'll enjoy working there more. That's science. If they enjoy working there more, that's reduced employee turnover. Not rocket science, but often missed in a crush of day-to-day tasks and assumptions.
Your take on employee turnover — and reducing it?
How to Find Your Tribe
Nick Wignall
Leadership versus talkers, a lesson from AutoZone
Shamontiel L. Vaughn in We Need to Talk
Six Things Business Leaders Can Learn from the Military in 2020
Wes O'Donnell in The Startup
Managing controversies responsibly. Tips and Lessons learned
Farid Baddache in Ksapa
How To Properly Strategize In 6 Basic Steps
Anthony Boyd in I Am Anthony Boyd
Leadership: Pulling not Pushing
Calin Aneculaesei
Remote Work: Potentialities and The Future
Nextplane Inc.
How Learning to Follow Made Me a Better Leader
James Williams in The Innovation


The number is not important to me. I only wish I had killed more. Not for bragging rights, but because I believe the world is a better place without savages out there taking American lives. Everyone I shot in Iraq was trying to harm Americans or Iraqis loyal to the new government. I had a job to do as a SEAL. I killed the enemy — an enemy I saw day in and day out plotting to kill my fellow Americans. I'm haunted by the enemy's successes. (emphasis mine) They were few, but even a single American life is one too many lost.
Chris Kyle's autobiography, subtitled The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History, may not be the best war memoir ever written, but it might be the most unapologetic since George S. Patton's War as I Knew It.
For better or for worse, American Sniper has hit the bestseller list, not merely because of Kyle's frank account of combat and his love for his job or because of his remarkable achievements. No, the book and its author have gained a considerable amount of notoriety because Kyle reports he punched out Jesse Ventura (identified only as "Scruff" in the book, but confirmed in media interviews) at the funeral wake for one of his fellow SEALs when Scruff told the SEALs they "deserved" to lose a few guys.
Kyle opens his book in a similar fashion to the most famous sniper biography of all, Marine Sniper, Charles Henderson's telling of the story of Vietnam War sniper Carlos Hathcock — with a story about the need to shoot a female combatant.
In Kyle's case, the woman approached a Marine patrol surrounded by children with a grenade hidden in her clothes. Kyle was still in training as a sniper and was merely spelling his chief on the long gun when the decision had to be made.


The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and French Legation are proud to present you with outdoor movies on the beautiful French Legation lawn. Bring your fold out chairs, blankets, and beverage of choice for a night of entertainment.
When: Oct. 21, 6:30 p.m.
Boo at the Zoo is a fun-filled evening for ghosts and goblins of any age. Come dressed in your Halloween finest (no adult masks, please) and enjoy the Zoo-wide event including the Zoo bedecked in Halloween spookiness, our nocturnal animals, unlimited trips through the Haunted Mansion and an eerie train ride.
The regular story night is back this month with a spooooooky theme. Bring a blanket, a chair, a snack, a friend or just yourself and settle in for some scary stories. If you'd like to tell a story, you can fill out this form.
When: Oct. 23, 7 p.m.
Where: The Historic Scoot Inn. 1308 E 4th St.
Both Black Sheep Lodge and Haymaker are hosting pumpkin carving on their patios this month. You can bring your own pumpkin or buy one for $5. The bars will provide the pumpkin carving tools, have Halloween candy and do a contest for the best carved pumpkin. The winners of the carving contests will get passes to the upcoming Sound on Sound Fest.
When: Oct. 25, 7 p.m., 2108 S Lamar Blvd.
Where: Haymaker, 2310 Manor Rd.
Hear Austin writers read their spine-tingling short stories. Featuring work by Owen Egerton, Felix Morgan and AJ Reyes. Content is for mature audiences, this event is recomended for ages 17 and up. Costumes are encouraged and light refreshments will be served.
Where: Old Quarry Branch Austin Public Library, 7051 Village Center Dr.
Alamo Drafthouse and Austin Parks Foundation invite the community to celebrate Austin's parks and the season of witches with a special fundraiser event benefitting Austin Parks Foundation! Much more than the typical Movies in the Park, this event is a true Halloween Spelltacular featuring Westen Borghesi as DJ Skellyton hosting a Halloween dance party at Palm Park filled with a variety of activities, including broom races, photo booths, a candy corn wading pool and food trucks. The whole party is BYOB, so guests may bring anything in their cauldron that they'd like to enjoy. Additionally, guests will have the opportunity to participate in a costume contest with special prizes for top adult and child costumes. To cap off the evening, guests are invited to sit back and enjoy Hocus Pocus on Rolling Roadshow's giant outdoor screen. Tickets for admission are $20 for adults, $5 for children 4-17 and free for children 3 and under.
When: Oct. 27, 5:30 p.m.
The Austin Symphony Butler Pops series kicks-off with one of Tim Burton's most celebrated films, "The Nightmare Before Christmas." The film will be projected on the big screen with dialog and effects accompanied by Danny Elfman's enigmatic score played live by the Austin Symphony Orchestra.
When: Oct. 28, 8 p.m.
Where: The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Dr.
The free tours cover the chilling, untimely deaths of 13 "residents" of Oakwood portrayed by actors at their grave sites. The 45 minute tours highlight historical – not scary – events from 1842 through 1918 and showcase a wealth of information from the Austin History Center and local Austin sites. Tours start every 15-20 minutes between 10 am-3:15pm at the blue tents erected for the tour. Kids under adult supervision are welcome, but please leave your pets at home and wear closed-toed shoes.
When: Oct. 29, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where, Historic Oakwood Cemetery, 1601 Navasota St.
Nothing says 'Halloween' like costumes, pumpkins and spooky stories – and this October, PBS KIDS is celebrating Halloween with friends from some of our favorite series including Nature Cat, Odd Squad, Peg + Cat and Wild Kratts. Families are invited to come in costume. It's the perfect way to celebrate Halloween with all the treats and none of the scary tricks. Reserve your seat with a donation of $1 to 3, with all ticket sales benefiting education programs at KLRU.
See a full list of Halloween-related events in Austin here. Create your own event to add to the Austin360 "Things to Do" calendar here.


Now that the VI360 is over we put the interior back in Icon and removed all the racing gear with the intention of doing a little cruising. Plans for this summer include numerous trips around the islands, the Northern Century (www.northerncentury.org), plus at least one trip up north to Canada.
Stay tuned for more updates - here is a cool video take by DragonFly during the VI360.. For many of the legs we had dophins playing around Icon like this...!


Are you feeling frustrated or overwhelmed by the lack of organization you deal with on a daily basis? I can get you past what you don't want to do, to get you where you want to be. My goal is to help you to move from feeling overwhelmed, to feeling satisfied and functional in your space.


Ringside Report Radio November 11, 2016. Hosted by Dave Simon and Fred Garcia.
Simon and Garcia previewed UFC 205 including Conor McGregor challenging Eddie Alvarez for the UFC lightweight title and Tyron Woodley defending the UFC welterweight title against Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson.
Simon and Garcia discussed Joanna Jedrzejczyk defending the UFC strawweight title against Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Chris Weidman v. Yoel Romero and the rest of the UFC 205 card.


text:
AArt & Culture
Art & Culture / Picture Perfect
May 4, 2017 , Art & Culture
A host of festivals, exhibitions and technology is giving photography its rightful place in mainstream art, says Poonam Goel
A picture is worth a thousand words, they say. Imagine the impact, then, of an image that has been created using thousands of photographs? At the 9th edition of India Art Fair in New Delhi, French artist Jean-François Rauzier's photograph titled Babel was an instant crowd-puller. Belonging to the "hyper-photography" genre, where thousands of small high-resolution images are stitched together to form one cohesive picture, Rauzier's work was one among many sold at the fair this year. Several other galleries showcasing photographs at the event were also elated that the buyer interest in photography has seen an upswing over the past few years.
Says Ajay Rajgharia, director of the Wonderwall gallery in New Delhi, "We have been exhibiting at the India Art Fair since the very beginning, but 2017 has been the best in terms of sales. The increasing number of photography-based events in the last few years has not only garnered more recognition for the medium but also increased the choices for the customer." Bert van Zetten, director of Villa del Arte Galleries in Barcelona, representing Rauzier's works, also admits that photographs have an instant appeal to new buyers.
While private galleries like Tasveer (Bengaluru), Photoink (New Delhi) and Wonderwall have been promoting photography for a long time, it's only now that the medium has begun to claim its rightful place in the main- stream art discourse. In the last two years alone, several festivals have been organised that have taken photography out of the confines of the gallery and into the public domain. JaipurPhoto, Habitat Photosphere, Pondy Photo Fest, Goa International Photo Fest and Shillong International Photo Fest are among the biggest names and the list is only growing.
The first edition of Habitat Photosphere was hosted by India Habitat Centre, New Delhi last year. It focused on the theme of sustainability and included interactive workshops, photography awards and theme-based exhibitions. Alka Pande, artistic director, Photosphere, says, "Photography in India was earlier used mainly for either documentation or reportage, while in the West, it had already carved a niche for itself. There was no commercial value attached to photography in India till some private galleries began to promote it. But what large-scale public arts festivals such as Photosphere have achieved is to create an immediate connect with the audience. Also, more cohesive programming and curated exhibitions around photography by galleries have aided this growth."
What has also helped is the availability of new technology. The second edition of JaipurPhoto, held in February this year, included large-format prints adapted to the exceptional architecture of the venues, which included Jawahar Kala Kendra, Albert Hall Museum and, new to this year's festival, the City Palace. As Lola Mac Dougall, artistic director of JaipurPhoto, puts it, "Photography occupies a privileged position because technology can be used to enlarge photographs and fit them to a required scale and venue. This creates a surprise element for the viewer." She mentions that Marco Barbon's work at Hawa Mahal in Jaipur was one of the most clicked pictures at the event.
When it comes to photographs, the viewer today is not only the audience but also the creator. Armed with smartphones and digital technology, photography has become part of everyday life. Says photographer Parthiv Shah, whose photographs on MF Husain are part of an ongoing show titled Stretched Terrains at Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, "We are exposed to so much photography around us that we have become its consumers."
Interestingly, mainstream artists like Vivan Sundaram, Sheba Chhachhi, Shweta Bhattad and Anindita Dutta have increasingly begun to use photography to document performance art, the latter also gaining popularity among the fine arts. "Galleries and buyers get exposed to photography through these well-known artists and therefore take it more seriously," adds Shah. For instance, one widely admired work at the India Art Fair was by Nepalese artist Sanjeev Maharjan, presented by the Nepal Art Council. Documenting a performance linking farmers to their land, Maharjan's work could easily bridge the divide between a painting and a photograph.
Photography as a medium also lends itself to varied techniques. You can create photograms, inkjet prints, pigment prints, digital prints, hand-painted images and more. This variety is what made art gallery Tarq's debut at the India Art Fair a success. Tarq in Mumbai showcased Waswo X Waswo's hand-coloured digital prints at the Focus Photography Festival in the city. Says Hena Kapadia, director, Tarq: "The Indian art market is aware of the importance of photography, and the community of photographers, collectors and gallerists is working hard to support and nurture the medium."
The author is an art enthusiast and the views expressed in this article are her own
Capital Muse


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When you've got kids in your home, you could wish to think about using slip covers. Slip covers are very versatile, as you possibly can match them to the colours of your furnishings. Use totally different patterns because the seasons change. When crafting an interior-design plan for a room in your house, do not fail to keep the room's dimensions and furniture proportionality on the forefront of your thoughts. By balancing the dimensions and kind of furnishings chosen for a selected room, you'll be able to avoid overwhelming the house with gadgets that are too large and that make the space really feel smaller than it truly is.
No matter your skill stage in the case of inside design, you must now have some nice ideas that you can use in your home. Get started as we speak making a dreary home into a house that you just feel comfy in and happy with. You'll be happy that you took the time to read the information and then put it to make use of! At any time when you might be designing a room in your home, it's a good idea to arrange your furniture in small groupings that cater to dialog. Regardless of how massive or small your room is, closely positioned chairs or sofas next to a desk give a room an inviting and comfy feel.
An ideal interior design tip is to at all times pay attention to area while you're designing. For those who go loopy with a room it'd find yourself getting cluttered. Irrespective of how nice trying and effectively adorned a room is, if there is not enough house to move around no one will even trouble to go in it. Set a funds for your inside-design venture before you start any work. Prices for home-enchancment projects can quickly spiral out of control if you don't set a spending limit. When you generally is a little flexible, you shouldn't spend greater than you'll be able to afford. Having a budget may also help you be more creative as effectively.
Previous to beginning your private home renovation challenge, you have to determine the length of time you propose on dwelling in your present residence. If you only plan on staying 5 years or less, a neutral design will suit you higher. What you would possibly contemplate superior might turn off a potential buyer in a while. Every time doing any design project, attempt to keep away from giving your room a cluttered look. Having tons of furnishings and other accessories could cause your room to appear small and cluttered. Use only a choose few pieces of key furnishings, and hold plenty of open space.
Have a theme in mind. Is there a specific shade scheme you somewhat enjoy? Do you might have a fondness for retro furnishings? Deciding on a theme before you even start your planning section can save you loads of effort and time. Be sure to know what you are going for before you start planning for it. Even if you love your exterior landscaping, give your trees and bushes a trimming every so often. Overgrown outside crops and bushes can block mild from entering your home, resulting in dull trying inside design. Simply with a minimal amount of trimming, you'll be able to actually brighten up the rooms in your house.
Whenever you're overhauling the decor in a room, take the time to replace peculiar on-off gentle switches with dimmer switches. These offer you much better control over a room's lighting. Dimmer switches will allow you to give a room a variety of different appears to be like without altering a factor about it. Additionally they make a small however positively constructive difference within the resale worth of your home!
Try to incorporate a "warm haven" in one of many rooms in your own home. This is a vital space so that you can have so to loosen up after an extended day of labor or faculty. Use tranquil colors in this room and attempt to embody a fireplace in this area. Whereas fluorescent gentle bulbs save power, and last more than incandescent bulbs, they are not at all times superb for some areas of the home. They emit a harsher, extra blueish mild than incandescents. Fluorescent bulbs are often advantageous for kitchens and bathrooms. For areas like the den or living room, the softer, extra refined gentle of an incandescent bulb could be the better choice.
For example, do not place a modern couch in a room with an outdated, antique fireplace. Deciding on a single, cohesive theme ensures that the finished product achieves the specified feel and look.


text:
The Craft Sequence, II
June 24, 2018 Roman Orszanski
Roman continues his look at Max Gladstone's Craft sequence, looking at books four to six.
Forty years after the God Wars, Dresediel Lex bears the scars of liberation—especially in the Skittersill, a poor district still bound by the fallen gods' decaying edicts. As long as the gods' wards last, they strangle development; when they fail, demons will be loosed upon the city.
The King in Red hires Elayne Kevarian of the Craft firm Kelethres, Albrecht, and Ao to fix the wards and redevelop the district, but the Skittersill's people have their own ideas about the appropriate form of urban renewal. The current proposal means that they won't be able to afford to stay in the gentrified district. A protest rises against Elayne's work, led by Temoc, a warrior-priest turned community organizer who wants to build a peaceful future for his city, his wife, and his young son. Someone's circulating a broadsheet paper to further inflame the situation.
Clearly, someone stands to profit if the Skittersills can be evicted.
As Elayne drags Temoc and the King in Red to the bargaining table, old wounds reopen, gods stir in their graves, civil protest becomes an uprising; profiteers circle. Elayne and Temoc must fight conspiracy, dark magic, and their own supporters to save the peace—or failing that, to save as many as they can.
This is an interesting look at urban renewal, and continues the connection between sorcery and accountancy which is at the heart of the craft and the use of soulstuff as currency. Though the fourth novel published, it actually occurs first in the sequence.
In Four Roads Cross, the great city of Alt Coulumb is in crisis. The moon goddess Seril, long thought dead, is back—and the people of Alt Coulumb aren't happy, as their religion had painted Seril as a deserter, who left the city and her lover to die in the God Wars. Not all the residents are happy about welcoming back Seril — and her gargoyles. Protests rock the city, and Kos Everburning's creditors attempt a hostile takeover of the fire god's church. They claim his support of Seril (his lost love) is an unaccounted for burden which threatens Kos' soulstuff balance. Tara Abernathy, the God's in-house Craftswoman, must defend the church against the world's fiercest necromantic firm—and against her old classmate, a rising star in the Craftwork world.
As if that weren't enough, Cat and Raz, from Three Parts Dead, are back too, fighting monster pirates; choirs of flame sing over Alt Coulumb; demons pose significant problems; a farmers' market proves more important to world affairs than seems likely; doctors of theology strike back; Monk-Technician Abelard performs several miracles; The Rats! play Walsh's Place; and dragons give almost-helpful counsel.
As usual, there are wonderful descriptions of locations, like this one of the wharves and their smell:
"Round out the odor with a long list of prosaic cargo: saffron, sandalwood, and cinnamon, paper, steel, demon-haunted manufactured goods, long planks of magisterium and sheafs of synthetic dragonscale (inferior in all respects to the real thing, save only for the practical point that the synthetic variety need not be harvested from a dragon), bananas by the crate and oranges by the tube and soybeans by the ton, green bottle after green bottle of wine, and of course the flat nothing-scent of the airtight vessels made from the processed bones of the eons-dead monsters in which alchemists stored their toxic earths and strange silvers."
It's all a rollicking adventure, with a few surprise twists. Theological disputes take corporeal form in a world where Gods exist. And the idea that accountants would hold Gods to ransom is extraordinary.
The first five novels are available in an omnibus edition, making up what Max calls "season one" of the craft series. Season two opens with a long novel, dealing with the key questions of what happens when Gods die.
The Ruin of Angels shows us what happens when old beliefs aren't displaced by the new orthodoxy.
The God Wars destroyed the city of Alikand. Now, a century and a half and a great many construction contracts later, Agdel Lex rises in its place. Dead deities litter the surrounding desert, streets shift when people aren't looking, a squidlike tower dominates the skyline, and the foreign Iskari Rectification Authority keeps strict order in this once-independent city―while treasure seekers, criminals, combat librarians, nightmare artists, angels, demons, dispossessed knights, grad students, and other fools gather in its ever-changing alleys, hungry for the next big score.
Priestess/investment banker Kai Pohala (last seen in Full Fathom Five) hits town to corner Agdel Lex's burgeoning nightmare startup scene, and to visit her estranged sister Ley. But Kai finds Ley desperate, at the centre of a shadowy, and rapidly unravelling, business deal.
This is basically a caper novel, with very high stakes, as Ley leads a team back in time to retrieve volumes from the city's past.
When Ley ends up on the run, wanted for a crime she most definitely committed, Kai races to track her sister down before the Authority finds her first. But Ley has her own plans, involving her ex-girlfriend, a daring heist into the god-haunted desert, and, perhaps, freedom for an occupied city. Because the old city of Alikand might not be completely dead ― though some people want to finish the job.
This novel resolves some questions which have been previously raised about what happens to old beliefs, and the attempted replacement with new ones. Agdel Lex is a palimpsest, with later cities and their underlying beliefs overlaying earlier cities. Despite the best efforts of the IRA, old beliefs still filter through.
An interesting read, providing a broader understanding of events hinted at in the earleir volumes. More stories are promissed in 2019.