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Challenge Wrap-Ups
Posted by jocelyn under 2k8 Challenge, 888, challenge, Chunkster Challenge, First In a Series Challenge, Printz challenge, The Chunkster Challenge, The Short Story Reading Challenge
I began many challenges in 2008, but, as I suck at challenges, I did not complete most of them, though I tried.
First up, The 2k8 Challenge! By my (probably inaccurate) count, I was ten books away from finishing this one; I read 18 YA debuts. Check out my list here.
The Read For Your Dreams Challenge, also started by me, was a success! And, okay, I had to stretch a little to include some of these, but I did read ten books about or including significant amounts of travel. My list is here. I also want to give a shout out to Cafe Shree, who finished the challenge by reading about photography!
Let us not even speak of the failure that was The Printz Award Challenge. Not one book read.
I also tried the First in a Series Challenge. By my count, this was a success! However, the rules state that the "series" must be at least a trilogy, and I'm not entirely sure all of these are slated to have at least three books.
The Short Story Reading Challenge was a failure. I read some books, yes, but not enough to complete the challenge.
I really don't know about The Chunkster Challenge. I suspect I completed this one, but I don't really want to go and look up the page numbers of the books I read and figure out what I read in what quarter.
I only finished three of my eight categories in the Triple 8 Challenge.
I give up. Challenges are not for me, though I like the idea of them, and I do not plan in participating in any in 2009.
Review: Rites of Spring (Break): An Ivy League Novel by Diana Peterfreund
Posted by jocelyn under 888, four windows, review
I loved the first two books in this fabulous series, Secret Society Girl and Under The Rose, and also quite enjoyed Rites of Spring (Break), though I'm not sure that it's quite as good as the first two (but my love of Secret Society Girl in particular would be difficult to match!). In this book, Amy will be spending some of her spring break on her secret society's private island, along with some of the other past and present members of Rose & Grave. Many of the delightful and colorful cast of characters from the previous two novels return in this installment, including my favorites, Poe and Malcolm. Amy is having some relationship troubles, with Brandon, an ex who currently has a girlfriend but is spending suspicious amounts of time with Amy, and with a new fling as well. She is also being subjected to vicious pranks by a rival secret society, dealing with intra-society dynamics, the disgrace of a Rose & Grave patriarch, possible invaders on the island, and everything else that goes with being a member of one of the most untraditional clubs of one of the most notorious secret societies at Eli University.
I loved every second of the time I spent reading this book! Diana Peterfreund has a way with words that will have you spending hours devouring this novel when you only meant to read a chapter or two. I love all of the interesting characters present in this book, although there were some who I wished were a little more present, and, really, Rites of Spring (Break) has so much awesomeness in it that you can't help but love the book. There's romance, secret society rivalry, mysteries, a vicious prankster, a private island, conspiracy theorists–basically, everything you need for a delightfully fun pageturner. I love Amy's voice, too, funny and smart and witty and just awesome. If you're a fan of the first two books, you've got to read this one, and if you haven't read those, then what are you waiting for? Go get them, now! Rites of Spring (Break) will be out in June.
Review: Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Posted by jocelyn under 888, five windows, heart, review
Princess Ben is a departure from Catherine Gilbert Murdock's previous books, Dairy Queen and its sequel The Off Season, and it is quite a wonderful book! In this book, the author proves herself to be versatile as well as extraordinarily talented.
Princess Benevolence of Montagne is no ordinary princess. She has lived her life free of the constraints of things such as court etiquette, residing outside the castle proper with her parents who let her run wild, playing outdoors with girls from the village, and devouring fairy tales and her mother's cooking.
Ben's life is happy and uneventful, for the most part, until one fateful, dreadful day. Both Ben's mother and the king have been killed, by assassins from the rival kingdom of Drachensbett, it is believed, and her father has vanished on the icy slopes of Ancienne, the mysterious and impassable peak that rises over the valley that is the kingdom of Montagne.
This tragedy leaves Ben under the control of Queen Sophia, at least until Ben reaches her majority and can properly take her place as ruler of Montagne. Sophia moves Ben into the castle and controls her every movement, not even letting her eat properly, in an attempt to turn the princess's rather rotund figure into a more slender one. Ben is forced to learn embroidery, horsemanship, music, dance–all sorts of things at which she fails miserable. However, when she is locked in the castle's highest tower, Ben does attempt to master one new skill: magic. She finds a secret passageway to a secret room at the top of the tower, a room which provides the tools she needs to become a sorceress of sorts. Perhaps those legends of wizards back when Montagne first came to be had a basis in fact, and Ben, as a descendant of theirs, is taking the tradition back up again in secret.
With her complete lack of grace or skill with a needle, but with a secret magical education, can Princess Ben free herself and save her kingdom from destruction or defeat?
I quite enjoyed this captivating new fairy tale, with its little references to the tales we know and love that made me grin. See if you can spot them! Ben is a wonderful princess, one who needs no prince to rescue her. I loved her even more because she didn't care about her weight, and realized how many things in the world are more important than appearance. My pet peeve, though? When book characters claim not to care about weight and then lose some weight all the same. Sadly, Princess Ben does not escape this. That is a minor flaw, though, and overall I really loved this book. There is romance (although that is a bit hurried for my taste), adventure, magic, and an independent heroine who takes charge of her own life. Ben really grows as a character, and that was an aspect of the book that I really enjoyed. Princess Ben is written in a style that really fits the story–a bit old-fashioned and fantastical, as well as witty and intelligent. Catherine Murdock really has a way with words, and Ben's distinct voice makes this story even more of a pleasure to read. Ben is not the only complex, interesting character, though; there were many characters I enjoyed, and the relationships between them were well-done as well. In short, Princess Ben is an extraordinarily well-written novel with all of the elements that make for an enchanting story I couldn't put down!
Review: Airhead by Meg Cabot
Posted by jocelyn under 888, four and a half windows, review | Tags: airhead, book review, fiction, first in a series, june 2008, meg cabot, young adult |
This is a spoiler-free review! As Meg Cabot requested on her blog, I certainly do not intend to reveal anything that might ruin it for you, but I do want to share some of my thoughts on Airhead.
Emerson Watts is a video-game-playing tomboy, a loner at a school full of those she and her best friend, Christopher, have dubbed the Walking Dead. Christopher seems to be Em's only friend, but she likes it that way, for the most part; she just secretly wishes that perhaps he could be something more than a friend.
What seems like an annoying but relatively routine trip to the opening of a new Stark Megastore in her neighborhood, an event at which Christopher and Em are chaperoning Em's annoying little sister, turns out to be far more important in Em's life than anyone could have predicted. In fact, it changes her entire existence, but that's all I feel comfortable sharing with you at the moment–you'll just have to wait for the book to find out what happens there!
Airhead is definitely one of my favorite Meg Cabot books, and she's written some really fantastic ones. I loved the characters, the whole premise of the novel, and, of course, Meg's funny, distinctive writing style. Meg Cabot fans will adore this book, but so will those who aren't necessarily fans; I gave this to a friend of mine when she had nothing else to read on a school trip, and she quite enjoyed it, even though she usually only reads fantasy! I'd say that says a lot about the awesomeness of this book, and hopefully has convinced you to preorder it (the book will be out 1 June). Like many of Meg Cabot's books, this is a fun and entertaining read, but also a smart, and at times thoughtful, novel. I'm really excited for this book, and already can't wait for the next book in the series! It's not quite a cliffhanger, but the end does leave the reader itching to know what happens next. But first, you have to read what happens to set off the whole series, and for that, you'd better mark 1 June on your calendar!
Review: Almost Fabulous by Michelle Radford
Posted by jocelyn under 2k8 Challenge, 888, review, three windows
Almost Fabulous is Michelle Radford's first YA novel, and I certainly hope it's not her last. It was such a fun read! I read it while sick in bed, and it was the perfect book to keep me completely interested and distracted from my various ailments, not bored for a second, but it also did not hurt my already throbbing brain. Which is great even if you're not sick (which I hope you're not; it sucks).
Ahem. I digress. Almost Fabulous stars Fiona Blount, a fourteen-year-old girl living in London with her mother, a former pop star and currently a major music producer. When she was younger, Fiona's mum used to travel around with her band, the Bliss Babes, and Fiona has lived in various countries and started over so many times that she's perfected the art of Total Anonymity. They're staying in London now, which Fiona is happy about because she does not enjoy change, to say the least, but Fiona, now with her best friend, Gina, is still content to lay low and not attract attention from the school bully, Melissa.
Some of Fiona's problems are typical fourteen-year-old girl problems; some are not. She's got a crush on a fantastic guy, Joe, who happens to be dating the mean girl and school bully, Melissa. Her mother might just ruin her life (if anyone finds out who Fiona's mum really is, Total Anonymity will be difficult). Melissa might ruin her life. The new girl, Peaceflower, stands out far too much for comfort and has attached herself to Fiona and Gina. Fiona is also searching for her long-lost father, William Brown (a common name doesn't make it any easier). And to make it even worse? She might have superpowers. Or possibly a brain tumor.
Although I do tend to find all-powerful and totally evil popular girls in teen novels a little unrealistic, because I don't think anyone is really that powerful or that evil (but maybe I'm just lucky enough not to have experienced that), it didn't detract from my enjoyment of this book. Almost Fabulous is completely fabulous and entertaining and hilarious! I loved the characters. I loved the London setting (I love London, actually). I loved the music aspect, the superpower aspect–well, the whole book is just pretty fantastic and fun. It's not a seriously deep-thinking read, but my brain certainly didn't deteriorate as I read it, either. Somewhere in between, which is just what I need a lot of the time! I really loved this book, and I would love to read more about Fiona in the future.
Review: Alive and Well in Prague, New York by Daphne Grab
Posted by jocelyn under 2k8 Challenge, 888, four and a half windows, review | Tags: alive and well in prague new york, book review, characters, class of 2k8, daphne grab, debut novel, fiction, june 2008 release, new york state, parkinson's disease, small town life, teen, ya fiction, young adult |
Daphne Grab is a member of The Longstockings blog and The Class of 2k8. Alive and Well in Prague, New York is her impressive debut novel about Matisse Osgood, a New York City girl through and through who has to move with her parents to Prague, a small town in upstate New York about four hours away from the city. Matisse loves the city, and that, along with her bitterness about having to leave her world of art galleries and foreign restaurants and everything she loves, makes her seem to be a bit of a snob at first. Matisse has a bit of a holier-than-thou attitude; in her opinion, city people (herself included) are cultured and artistic and mature and intelligent, and the residents of Prague are backward hicks. The name of the town, in Matisse's opinion, is a cruel joke.
However, Matisse's attitude can be forgiven, a bit, when readers discover the real reason she and her artist parents left the city. Her father, a rather famous sculptor, has Parkinson's Disease, or PD. He can't sculpt anymore; he can hardly function even with the help of all his medications. Matisse can't deal with that, and she doesn't want anyone in Prague to find out. She doesn't want to have to deal with the huge pity party that she left behind in the city. Matisse has a lot to deal with; she may be a pain and a snob at first, but there's a real reason she's acting that way. She's refusing to deal with what's really bothering her (her father).
Soon, though, despite her attitude, she begins to make some friends. Violet, a loner who writes poetry and sits by herself with a book at lunchtime, for one. Maybe even Hal, her next-door-neighbor who Matisse at first writes off as a complete hick, and Marco, who at first just seems like a shallow stereotype of a jock. Despite alienating her best friend in New York, maybe Matisse isn't as alone as she thought.
I quite enjoyed Daphne Grab's debut. Matisse is a realistic character, especially in terms of the way she handles (or rather, doesn't handle) her father's illness. Matisse's character development is right on. Alive and Well in Prague, New York is an engaging, interesting story, and solidly well-written. I loved Daphne Grab's portrayal of small-town life, and it's pretty accurate (though I don't live in such a tiny town, the community where I live is a lot like Prague, New York in some ways. And, yeah, I've been on a hayride!). I put this book down feeling quite satisfied, and I look forward to Daphne Grab's future efforts. This book will be released on June 3.
Review: Violet by Design by Melissa Walker
Posted by jocelyn under 888, five windows, review | Tags: barcelona, body image, book review, brazil, celebrity, chapel hill, eating disorders, family, fashion, fiction, friendship, love, madrid, melissa walker, modeling, new york city, north carolina, novel, relationships, romance, sao paola, spain, travel, violet by design, violet in private, violet on the runway, violet series, weight, young adult |
Violet by Design is Melissa Walker's second book about small-town-girl-turned-supermodel Violet Greenfield, and it's just as great as Violet on the Runway. In this book, Violet has decided to return to the modeling business and she's off to work the Sao Paolo runways. That's right–Brazil! Violet is on her way to becoming an international star.
Of course, there was a reason she left it behind before. Modeling certainly has its ups and downs. Sure, she gets to travel to exotic places–but she also gets called "la gordita" (little fat girl) for not being afraid to gain five pounds and be normal-girl-skinny instead of anorexic-looking. She's in the tabloids, and anything she says can and will be used against her. Is the life of an international supermodel really worth leaving all of her friends and family at home behind to deal with so much pressure and superficiality?
On top of all of that, she's got the typical teenage girl worries about her future, her romantic prospects, her friends, staying true to herself, and, like any recent high school graduate, balancing new with old. What's a girl to do?
Yes, this is a book about modeling. But, as with Melissa Walker's debut novel, it's about so much more than that! It's about life and friends and family and romance and knowing who you are and blindly feeling your way through an uncertain future the way we all do at some point.
As you can probably guess, I was pretty disgusted with the way already-super-skinny Violet was always being pressured to lose five pounds, but that doesn't detract from this book because Melissa Walker knows what she's talking about when she writes about the fashion industry, and I do believe this is true-to-life. It's not the book that horrifies me; it's the truth of it, of the fashion industry, of that horrible negative body image that so many girls get from it. It's relatively minor here–five pounds. But many girls are dozens or hundreds of pounds above the "ideal" weight in the fashion industry, and there's nothing wrong with those girls. There is, however, something wrong with the fashion industry.
PSA over for the moment. Violet by Design is an honest, funny, thoughtful, and intelligent book about one girl's struggle to figure out who she is and stay true to herself despite the temptations to be someone else (like international superstardom and money and free stuff and exotic travel in this case, but there can be so many things that threaten us in that way). I love Melissa Walker's characters, and she is quite a talented writer. I can't wait for the third book in the series, Violet in Private.
Review: Honeybee by Naomi Shihab Nye
Posted by jocelyn under 888, heart, review, six windows | Tags: book review, habibi, honeybee, middle east politics, naomi shihab nye, poetry, politics |
I have to start by saying, Naomi Shihab Nye is one of the most amazing writers whose work I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I have read her poetry and her young adult novel, Habibi, which has been a favorite of mine for years. I am not the biggest fan of poetry, in general (I do like it, but not as much as I do novels or short stories most of the time), but Naomi Shihab Nye is a huge exception to that. I'd rather read her poetry (or her prose) than almost anything else. Her way with words is just astounding and beautiful. Her words, in Honeybee and in all of her other writing that I've ever read, bring out so many thoughts and questions and emotions and images and are just so brilliant that my words cannot possibly be enough to describe hers in any way doing justice to them.
Honeybee is a collection of poems and short prose (though the prose is more poetic than most), some right from the author's experiences and life, others more about politics (though that's not an adequate description for many–more about the daily lives of those people of whom all we see is the politics of their situation, but she shows their humanity), and others a mixture of the two, being about her experiences as an Arab-American in post-9/11 America. Everything in this book is so honest and true and thoughtful and observant and so, so many things. Often, sad, when we read about the state of the Middle East today or the way we treat our fellow humans. There is despair here, but there is also hope.
Naomi Shihab Nye sees so clearly and writes so wonderfully about the sad state of the world today, as in this poem "Consolation":
"This morning the newspaper
was too terrible to deliver
so the newsboy just pitched out
a little sheaf
of Kleenex."*
Naomi Shihab Nye takes the title of my favorite poet, hands down, even more so after reading this collection. It will be available in May, at which point I strongly suggest you go and buy and read it. Until then, go read something else of hers, if you haven't already!
The sad thing? One of the greatest poets and writers around is probably on a ton of government watch lists because she has the courage to speak the truth (and does so quite eloquently). And, of course, because of her ethnicity. What a world we live in.
*This is from the Uncorrected Proof copy and subject to change in the final book.
Review: The Fortunes of Indigo Skye by Deb Caletti
Posted by jocelyn under 888, cybils, five windows, review | Tags: book review, characters, deb caletti, family, fiction, fortune, friendship, love, money, money doesn't buy happiness, novel, rags to riches, relationships, rich, romance, teen, the fortunes of indigo skye, waitressing, young adult |
Before I read this book, I already knew that Deb Caletti was amazing, but The Fortunes of Indigo Skye showed me just how brilliant and talented this author really is!
Indigo Skye is a waitress, and she loves her job. She loves forming personal relationships with the people who come regularly to Carrera's (a group known as the Irregulars). She loves when she manages every table and order perfectly, like it was a dance someone choreographed. She loves her boyfriend, Trevor, and her family (her mom, her little sister, Bex, and her twin brother, Severin). She's about to graduate from high school, and she lives in a suburb of Seattle, Washington. Her life is great, and she's happy just the way it is.
And then, it changes. A new guy comes into Carrera's, a guy who seems to have a lot of money. He rides a Vespa, and becomes known as Vespa Guy. He orders "just coffee," and becomes something of a mystery to the Irregulars, who like to speculate on who he is. One day, Indigo sees a package of cigarettes in his jacket pocket, which really sets her off. She yells at him about killing himself, then talks to him about his life. Not that remarkable, really–except then, he leaves an envelope for her at the diner. It's a mystery that she's sure will be disappointing when she finally opens the envelope.
Disappointing? Think again: he's left her a two-and-a-half million dollar tip.
That seems great at first, but money changes people. Indigo has been warned of it, but she doesn't believe she will be changed by her sudden fortune. She was fortunate enough already. Once she gets over the shock, having that money is pretty great–or is it?
This book is seriously amazing. Deb Caletti is such a fantastic writer, and her characters! They're just so real and awesome. All I can do with regard to this book is gush! The characters, and the relationships between them, are just so marvelous and honest and real and fascinating. The story, too, is very interesting, but there's a lot more to this book than a rags-to-riches or money-doesn't-buy-happiness story. There are real, big, fundamental truths here about life and humanity and love and family and so much more. All I can say is, read this book!
Review: Haunted Waters by Mary Pope Osborne
Posted by jocelyn under 888, three windows, Twisted Fairy Tale Challenge | Tags: book review, fairy tale re-telling, fiction, francesca lia block, haunted waters, mary pope osborne, novella, undine |
Haunted Waters is based on the little-known (I didn't know it) German fairy tale Undine. This book begins when Lord Huldbrand finds himself stranded at a fisherman's cottage for days after getting lost in the woods and chased by a demon. He finds himself falling in love with the fisherman's daughter, Undine, though he does not quite know what to make of the girl or the mystery that surrounds her.
This book is a love story, a mystery, and a creepy fairy tale–it's written in the style of a fairy tale, I guess, in that it does not delve deeply into the characters and their feelings and their pasts. It's not a long book, but I think Mary Pop Osborne manages a lot in these few pages. It reminds me of Francesca Lia Block in that I'm not a hundred percent sure what happened (very ethereal and, well, Block-like), and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this book. Haunted Waters is a captivating story, to be sure, but it still leaves me feeling a little uncertain. I do believe I liked it, in an odd way, and I would recommend it to fans of fairy tales or of Francesca Lia Block.
Review: The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle
Posted by jocelyn under 888, five and a half windows, heart, review
The Surrender Tree is a verse novel based on the actual events and actual historical figures in the Cuban struggle for independence (despite the publisher's classification of this one as non-fiction, it is definitely historical fiction). It is a story I was not too familiar with, so I did learn some history, or at least refresh my memory of these events. It is about Rosa, a slave freed by an owner who rebelled against Spain and said that freedom only existed when everyone shared in it. She healed the injured during Cuba's three wars for independence, hiding out in the mountains and forests and caves, healing not only the sick and injured Cuban rebels, but also the Spanish soldiers–anyone who needed healing.
There are also poems told from the perspectives of the other people in Rosa's life, but she is the common thread of the story and narrates her fair share of it. The book covers almost all of her life, but only briefly does it cover her childhood, and soon after she grows up and gets married, so I'm not certain what makes this book classified as middle grade or young adult (the back of the ARC says middle grade, the publisher's catalog says young adult, both mysteriously say non-fiction). I'm not sure you could find many young readers for it, especially younger than high school. The poetry is beautiful and breathtaking and more than just sentences with line breaks–and how many teenagers enjoy poetry? I do, and most of the ones who will read this will because we love language and words, but most of our peers are not big fans of poetry.
Despite the problems with nailing down an audience, this really is an amazing book. The story itself is fascinating (especially to someone who, like myself, enjoys history), but it Margarita Engle's brilliant use of language that really makes this book shine. The poetry is just gorgeous and nearly every word is perfect. This certainly would not have been such a captivating story told another way. The Surrender Tree is a powerful, emotional portrayal of one amazing woman's part in Cuba's struggle for independence. Margarita Engle is an extraordinary talented writer, and I highly recommend this book.
Review: Kitty Kitty by Michele Jaffe
Posted by jocelyn under 888, four windows, review | Tags: ally carter, bad kitty, book review, crime-fighting, family, fashion, friendship, hilarious, italian, italy, kitty kitty, louise rennison, meg cabot, michelle jaffe, mystery, novel, relationships, romance, teen, venice, young adult |
This sequel to Michele Jaffe's fabulous Bad Kitty is pretty fantastic in its own right. In this book, Jasmine Callihan's father has moved himself, Jas, and Jas's stepmother, Sherri!, to Venice. Yes, to Italy. The day before the start of her senior year. With twenty-four hours' notice. To research soap. He is, quite possibly, Jas thinks, insane. Or maybe evil. After all, what kind of a father would move his daughter half a world away from her friends, her new boyfriend, and her chances at graduating high school and continuing on to an institution of higher education? (Side note: I'd be thrilled to move to Italy today, right now, but I have been told that I am not representative of teenage girls–or people-in general).
Of course, moving to another continent doesn't mean Jas will stay out of trouble like her father is hoping. Trouble can find her anywhere. In this case, it begins when her only friend in Venice is murdered, and more people may be in danger. This is a mystery that Jas can't solve on her own, so I was thrilled to see more of some of the awesome cast of characters from Bad Kitty. Tom, Polly, Roxy, Alyson, and Veronique (excuse me–Sapphyre and Tiger's*Eye) were as hilarious and quirky as ever.
Kitty Kitty is kind of like a mixture between Ally Carter, Meg Cabot, and Louise Rennison, but with Michele Jaffe's own fabulously unique twist (and in many ways, dare I say it, better than these authors) on it all! It's a smart, fresh, laugh-out-loud hilarious mystery full of cool gadgets and inventions a Gallagher girl would be proud of (reference to Ally Carter's books, for those who haven't read them). It's as hilarious and insane as Louise Rennison only with a much better, suspenseful, and more recognizable plot. Jas is a heroine worthy of a Meg Cabot book. Put it all together, and you have near-perfection!
My only disappointment in this book was that we did not see more of Venice, but that's more of a personal taste than anything else. I love great settings, and Venice was a barely-there backdrop; only the canals were of any importance, and any body of water would have worked there. Jasmine's Italian classes and hilarious troubles with the language were the only indication that they were even in Italy!
Kitty Kitty is a funny, intelligent, and adventurous mystery that readers will love. I can't wait for the next book in the series, and this one isn't even out until July! I guess for now I'll have to be content rereading Bad Kitty, but I think this book may be even better than that one (unbelievable, right?). Kitty Kitty is a madcap adventure in the streets and canals of Venice involving friendship, mystery, fashion, pigeons, crime fighting, language barriers, suspense, romance, water wings, six-foot-tall squirrels, locked-door murder mysteries, tweezer tasers, cats, gondoliers, and much more hilariousness that will have readers laughing hysterically as they turn pages as quickly as their fingers will allow.
Review: Dingo by Charles de Lint
Posted by jocelyn under 888, review, two windows | Tags: australia, book review, charles de lint, dingo, fiction, friendship, magic, novel, romance, teen, the blue girl, urban fantasy, young adult |
Charles de Lint's latest novel, Dingo, is certainly good, but it was less wonderful than I expected. Worth reading for fans? Yes. But if you haven't read anything of his, don't start with this, or you'll have an unfairly low opinion of his talent (my favorite book of is is The Blue Girl).
Dingo is told from the viewpoint of Miguel, a teenager who is working at his father's store one day when a girl and her dog come in and change his life. Lainey is a beautiful girl, with eye-catching red hair the same color as her dog's coat. Em, the dog always at her side, is less than fond of Miguel. They have just come from Australia, and Lainey is being homeschooled by her stepfather, Stephen.
Lainey is gorgeous and smart and funny and seems to like Miguel. He can't stop thinking about her. Still, though, there's something a little strange, a little off about Lainey and her life. He's not sure what it is, so he can't tell his friends, even when strange paw prints show up outside his window, or when he starts having bizarre dreams. Lainey needs his help, and he needs Lainey–but is he up to the challenge, far greater than it seems, of saving her?
It's hard to give a summary without giving away too much, though if you read any summary of the book online, you'll find out a major plot twist (which I advise you not to do, if you dislike spoilers. Don't read anything else about it). I liked this book. I read it all at once, never putting it down. But isn't the author's ability to make us suspend our disbelief essential in fantasy? I never felt like I was able to stop questioning certain elements of this book–the love story in particular, which happened quickly and was never explained in such a way as to satisfy my disbelief. I also felt like Charles de Lint took the easy way out, the short way of solving the many problems, in a way (though it was still difficult for the characters–I just mean from a writing standpoint). After thinking long and hard about it, I realized that this seems like a several-hundred-pages-more-long story abridged and shortened and made into something that makes far less sense but is only 213 pages long. This is a big story crammed into a little book, a book of such a length that Charles de Lint didn't explain things well enough, a short book that meant he took too many shortcuts. There was so much potential in Dingo to be amazing and brilliant, and I know Charles de Lint is capable of that, but this potential was far from realized.
Review: Down To The Bone by Mayra Lazara Dole
Posted by jocelyn under 2k8 Challenge, 888, four windows, heart, review | Tags: cuba, debut novel, family, fiction, florida, friendship, latina, lesbian, lgbtq, love, miami, novel, relationships, romance, teen, tortillera, total constant order, young adult |
Mayra Lazara Dole's wonderful first novel is a very necessary addition to the somewhat limited selection of LBGTQ literature out there (and what there is seems to be more about gay boys than anything). Necessary, because it represents a subset of the population that perhaps doesn't have much literature to directly relate to. Laura, the main character, is a Latina (Cuban, specifically) lesbian living in Miami, but enjoyment of this great book is not limited to those that fit that profile, not by a long shot! I'm a straight white girl in North Carolina, and I really liked it.
Laura's life is seriously changed when she is caught reading a love letter in class. That would be embarrassing for anyone, sure, but seeing as Laura's love letter is from a girl, and Laura goes to a conservative Catholic high school, she's more than embarrassed–she's expelled from school and kicked out of the house by her mother. Being a tortillera in Cuban Miami is completely unacceptable, and Laura's mother won't let her back–won't let her even see her beloved little brother–until she is convinced that her daughter has turned straight. Laura can't tell her it doesn't work that way. Laura's life is further devastated when her first love, Marlena, is shipped off to Puerto Rico–to marry a guy.
Luckily, Laura is far from alone. She has her little brother, when he manages to call despite their mother's forbidding they have contact. She's got her dog, and for those who aren't dog people out there–that means a lot. She's got great friends, especially her best friend, Soli, and Soli's mom, who take her in when she has nowhere else to go. Now, if only she can come to terms with who she is, help her mother to accept her, and find her place in the world, things might just be okay.
Down to the Bone is a funny, bold, and poignant novel readers will quite enjoy. I loved the great characters, and the setting of Miami! I've never been to Miami, but reading these books set there (this and Total Constant Order, most recently) really makes me want to go! Also the fact that I am freezing here makes the weather there sound like heaven…
I loved this fresh, engaging, and honest book about love of all kinds, friendship, heartbreak, family, and life in general. Down to the Bone is a promising debut novel, and I look forward to Mayra Lazara Dole's future writing.
Review: You Know Where To Find Me by Rachel Cohn
Posted by jocelyn under 888, four windows, review | Tags: body image, d.c statehood, d.c., depression, drug abuse, drugs, family, fiction, friendship, grief, loss, love, new york city, rachel cohn, racism, relationships, suicide, washington DC, you know where to find me, young adult |
I really need to remember to actually save my work. I had a complete review of You Know Where To Find Me last night, but I lost it when my computer crashed. Grr. Very annoying. So here is my re-written review:
Before picking up this book, I already knew that Rachel Cohn was an amazing, brilliant, and very talented author. You Know Where To Find Me, is, however, not much like her other books (it's much more serious and depressing, but not in a bad way), so I wasn't sure what to expect.
I was seriously impressed with how wonderfully she pulled it off. You Know Where To Find Me is by no means a light read. At the end of the first chapter, one of the main characters, Laura, commits suicide. Laura and Miles were biological cousins, but they grew up more like sisters in a wealthy part of Washington, DC. They were very different, though, superficially; Laura was thin and pretty and popular and smart and rich (Miles is, in her opinion, none of these things). She had tons of friends and an acceptance to Georgetown (Miles is a year behind in school, and has only one friend). But Laura had at least one vice–she and Miles used to get high together in their old treehouse.
Now, Miles's whole world is falling apart, and she's spiralling dangerously downward. She is fat and ugly and alone and, after Laura dies, all she wants to do is get high. Apparently, Laura's pill popping and then suicide didn't deter Miles in the least.
Miles isn't really as alone as she thinks, though. She's got her best friend, Jamal, and his family, Laura's father, Jim, her often-absent father, Buddy, and maybe even an old friend of Laura's. She's got lots of people to count on, if only she can realize it.
I adored this book. It is wonderfully written, powerfully moving and emotional story. It's full of interesting, well-drawn characters. Miles in particular is a great character and a fantastic narrator. Her voice and character are fresh and distinctive and honest and real. I quite enjoyed the DC setting of this book, too. This is an engaging novel that fans of Rachel Cohn's previous books will love because even though it's different, it's just as wonderful as the others! Anyone who hasn't read her previous books will soon become a fan after reading this novel.
You Know Where To Find Me is a book about loss and grief and suicide and depression and drug abuse and family and love and friendship and life (and DC statehood, which is a very interesting political issue I'd never actually thought much about). Yes, by definition, there's a lot of sadness in a book that starts with suicide, but, ultimately, it felt like a hopeful book to me.
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text:
<resources>

    <style name="AppTheme" parent="Theme.AppCompat.Light.NoActionBar">
        <item name="colorPrimary">@color/colorPrimary</item>
        <item name="colorPrimaryDark">@color/colorPrimaryDark</item>
        <item name="colorAccent">@color/colorAccent</item>
    </style>

    <style name="ShopTheme" parent="Theme.AppCompat.Light.NoActionBar">
        <item name="colorPrimaryDark">@android:color/white</item>
        <item name="colorAccent">@color/shopAccent</item>
    </style>

    <style name="WeatherTheme" parent="Theme.AppCompat.Light.NoActionBar">
        <item name="android:windowTranslucentStatus">true</item>
    </style>

    <style name="GalleryTheme" parent="AppTheme">
        <item name="colorAccent">@color/galleryAccent</item>
    </style>

    <style name="ClickableImageView">
        <item name="android:clickable">true</item>
        <item name="android:background">?android:selectableItemBackground</item>
    </style>

</resources>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Android Button initialized but not working I have nine buttons in 3 X 3 grid for tic-tac-toe app. Here is the code from board_layout.xml for first three buttons -
<TableLayout
    android:id="@+id/tableLayout1"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:padding="20sp" >

    <TableRow
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:gravity="center" >

        <Button
            android:id="@+id/cellOne"
            android:layout_width="90sp"
            android:layout_height="98sp"
            android:text=""
            android:textSize="70sp"
            />

        <Button
            android:id="@+id/cellTwo"
            android:layout_width="90sp"
            android:layout_height="98sp"
            android:text=""
            android:textSize="70sp"
            />

        <Button
            android:id="@+id/cellThree"
            android:layout_width="90sp"
            android:layout_height="98sp"
            android:text=""
            android:textSize="70sp"
            />

    </TableRow>

<!and so on for other 6>

Now in my MainActivity.java I have a function setboard() that sets this layout on this screen and initializes the buttons as follows:
private String p1name = "P1";
private String p2name = "P2";

protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
}

public void setName(View view) {
            //Function called upon click on some button
            // Other code irrelevant to the question
            setBoard();
    }

}

public void setBoard() {
    ////////////
    LayoutInflater inflater = this.getLayoutInflater();
    View boardView = inflater.inflate(R.layout.board_layout, null);
    ////////////

    boardCells = new Button[3][3];
    boardCells[0][0] = (Button) boardView.findViewById(R.id.cellOne);
    boardCells[0][1] = (Button) boardView.findViewById(R.id.cellTwo);
    boardCells[0][2] = (Button) boardView.findViewById(R.id.cellThree);
    // Code for other 6 buttons

    for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
        for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++) {
            boardCells[i][j].setOnClickListener(new MyClickListener(i, j));
            boardCells[i][j].setText("");
            boardCells[i][j].setEnabled(false);
        }

    setContentView(R.layout.board_layout);

    TextView tv1 = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.p1Name_board);
    tv1.setText(p1name + ":");

    tv1 = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.p2Name_board);
    tv1.setText(p2name + ":");

    turnDisp = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.turnDispString);
    turnDisp.setText("Turn of " + p1name);
}

Here is the code for MyClickListener class (inner class of MainActivity class):
class MyClickListener implements View.OnClickListener {
    int x;
    int y;

    public MyClickListener(int x, int y) {
        this.x = x;
        this.y = y;
        //This Log.d works fine
        Log.d("TAG1", Float.toString(x) + " " + Float.toString(y));
    }

    public void onClick(View view) {
        //This Log.d doesn't work
        Log.d("TAG2", Float.toString(this.x) + " Hi ");

        //This Toast also doesn't work
        Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "Pressed", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();

        //Plus Other code irrelevant to the question
    }

Now the issue is that Log.d in constructor called while setting buttons is working fine and prints to Logcat but the onClick function doesn't works when the button is clicked. Neither the Log.d nor the toast is shown for onClick function.
Any help would be appreciated.

A: Short answer:
Your views aren't in the hierarchy
Long Answer / Solution (the right way to fix it):
You're seeing this problem because the views with your onClickListeners on aren't actually attached to the view hierarchy.
This could be easily avoided by never using a null in an inflater like you have here:
inflater.inflate(R.layout.board_layout, null);

It skips a useful block of code in the inflater anyway and there is already a provision for waiting to attach where you need to (i.e. in adapters):
inflater.inflate(R.layout.board_layout, parent, false);

When you pass null as the second parameter, the inflated views aren't attached to the hierarchy unless you manually do so.
However, in your case there is no need to inflate the layout. You're in an activity so setContentView() inflates and replaces the layout (but should never be called after onCreate).
Just change the layout being used in onCreate() and then remove the inflater.inflate and call findViewById directly on the context:
 LayoutInflater inflater = this.getLayoutInflater();
 View boardView = inflater.inflate(R.layout.board_layout, null);
boardCells[0][0] = (Button) findViewById(R.id.cellOne);

Also remove that second call to setContentView:
 setContentView(R.layout.board_layout);
That second call was adding a new inflated set to the screen (not using the ones you attached a listener to)
There are also some other minor mistakes here. Java always uses Zero-based arrays (So the elements are [0],[1],[2]... not [1],[2]...). You're wasting memory with your board allocation - you have a 3x3 grid in your layout but a 4x4 array
boardCells = new Button[4][4];
boardCells[1][1] = (Button) boardView.findViewById(R.id.cellOne);

for (int i = 1; i <= 3; i++)
    for (int j = 1; j <= 3; j++)

When you use the loops above you're only using some items in the array (x's below). The zeros are empty wasted elements
0 | 0 | 0 | 0
- - - - - - -
0 | x | x | x
- - - - - - -
0 | x | x | x
- - - - - - -
0 | x | x | x

Another note (just to save you effort). Anytime you concatenate anything with a string, it will be cast to a string for you (primitives automatically, Objects automatically through their toString method), thus for logging the following are all equal:
Log.d("TAG1", Float.toString(x) + " " + Float.toString(y));
Log.d("TAG1", new Float(x) + " " + new Float(y));
Log.d("TAG1", x + " " + y);

Short Solution (a hack):
If, and only if, you didn't understand what I've just explained. Then you can fix it by changing
setContentView(R.layout.board_layout);

to
setContentView(boardView);

A: You should'nt use that code ,
boardCells[i][j].setOnClickListener(new MyClickListener(i, j));

I think , bugs starts from here.
You can ,
boardCells[i][j].setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener(....
Log.d("Testing","Clicked : " + i + "-" + j);
...)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Why do mainstream Banks put limitations on how strong your passwords can be?
It is because their internal systems are archaic. Many banks still have some elements of their databases running in COBOL. They have hard coded password requirements in at various points in their development in such a way that it is challenging to change them.
Chase Bank denied claim for $8000 in fraudulent Quickpay transfers! Seeking advice!
He may have tried but he didn't really succeed. Now that he is the acting White House chief of staff he certainly doesn't have time to continue trying.
Speaking as a former regulator with multiple friends who are currently with the CFPB things are continuing as normal there now.
Visiting the UN in Vienna - what are these diplomats getting up to in the elevator that requires a sign?
Most of the time they will have to open an investigation that can take up to 6 months. if they are able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that it was in fact fraudulent then they will give you your money back. the only problem i can see is that you yourself did in fact authorize the charges so that might come back and bite you but most FIs will give you your money back if it is indeed fraud.
They will if the transactions occurred on a credit card but I don't think the same protections apply to peer to peer payments like Zelle. Most of them have lines in their terms of service saying that they are not intended for use to buy things and should only be used to send money to people you know. I hope the OP gets their money back but I wouldn't hold out much hope. Sorry.
Guess I won't be buying a house or car in the next few years. Thank you mom!
The lender SHOULD stand to lose more than the individual. THEY are the one who took the risk in lending. THEY were the ones in a position to ensure who they were doing business with. The individual had nothing to do with the transaction, and is only a victim of the credit bureau.
Except in this situation they probation did do quite a bit to verify the identity of the card holder. His mom would have been able to answer every question about him pretty easily.
"Friendly fraud" is also becoming a huge problem where the person claiming identity theft is actually the perpetrator of the fraud. Consumer protections are very strong in the US and the laws default to protect the consumer. I could go into best buy to buy a TV today and call my card company tomorrow to say that i didn't make the pruchase and have better than 50/50 odds of getting away with it. Best buy is responsible for challenging my claim in that situation and, even showing security camera footage, they will lose the challenge more often than not because the card company is penalized if they harm a consumer.
Bad people exploit these protections all the time. There isn't a silver bullet solution but a better identity system is one of the best things we could do. We can't rely on easily compromised data points that a sketchy relative can exploit whenever they want, we need modern biometrics or cryptographic verification that can't be replicated by a third party.
Did someone really litter sidewalk chalk packaging?
Yep, and no chalk drawings anywhere that I could see!
First Time in New Mexico- Where to Go?
They have good spot for dinner since Michaels closes at 2:30. Orlando's is also always a good choice.
How is it headine worthy when 50 out of more than 100k employees sign a petition?


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text:
Obituary for Roger Gerard Jolicoeur
February 6, 1934 - January 13, 2020
Roger Gerard Jolicoeur, 85, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2020 at Hillsborough County Nursing Home after a long period of declining health. Born in Manchester, NH on February 6, 1934, he was son of the late Donat and Jeannette (Gelinas) Jolicoeur. He shared 55 years of marriage with his wife, Claudette (Bilodeau) Jolicoeur.
Roger was raised and educated in Manchester, graduating from St. Joseph's School for Boys in 1951 before joining the United States Navy. He first served in the Naval Reserves in NH, and later enlisted in active-duty service, training aboard the USS Macon in VA and serving for two years at Naval Air Station Port Lyautey in Morocco. Upon return to civilian life, Roger worked for many years in tire sales at several companies including John A. Connare Tires, Lee Tire & Rubber and True Tread Tire. He eventually started his own business, Roger's Tire Company, which he ran for several years before retiring early and moving to Jacksonville, FL. Though he was retired, Roger's passion for sales led him to become a wine consultant for PRP Wine for 10 years.
In his early years, Roger loved bowling and won many bowling championships and was even followed by WMUR TV who would document his tournaments every Saturday. Roger was also an avid sports fan and especially loved watching the Patriots and University of Michigan football. While raising his children in Boardman, OH, Roger organized the first Girls' Softball League where he coached and enjoyed seeing both of his daughters play. He was active in the Catholic community throughout his life and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. As a seasoned traveler, Roger with Claudette made many fond memories while traveling the world; enjoying cruises, trips around the USA and abroad.
Roger is survived by his wife, Claudette Jolicoeur of Manchester, NH; his daughter, Dr. Lynn Okamoto (Andrew) of Bedford, NH, as well as their children, Kameyo and Kiyomi; his daughter, Kristin Lozon (Steve) of Ann Arbor, MI, as well as their children, Julia, Alex and Claudia; his godson, Brian Jolicoeur of Bedford, NH; and many extended family members and friends. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Ronald Jolicoeur.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 19th from 1PM-5PM at Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 250 Coolidge Ave, Manchester, NH. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, January 20th, 10:30AM at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, 190 Meetinghouse Road, Bedford, NH.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Roger's memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital www.stjude.org
Add your thoughts, prayers or a condolence to Roger's guestbook.
Upcoming Funeral Services
1:00 PM to 5:00 PM 3871249 3968115 20200119T130000 20200119T170000
Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium
250 Coolidge Avenue
Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 250 Coolidge Avenue, Manchester, NH 03102 Visitation for Roger Gerard Jolicoeur https://www.tributes.com/obituary/show/Roger-Gerard-Jolicoeur-108024676#services https://www.tributes.com/obituary/get_ics/108024676?service=3871249&tr=
10:30 AM 3871250 3968116 20200120T103000
St. Elizabeth Seton Church
190 Meetinghouse Road
St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 190 Meetinghouse Road, Bedford, NH 03110 Mass of Christian Burial for Roger Gerard Jolicoeur https://www.tributes.com/obituary/show/Roger-Gerard-Jolicoeur-108024676#services https://www.tributes.com/obituary/get_ics/108024676?service=3871250&tr=
Donate to St Jude Children's Research Hospital
Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium - Coolidge Ave.
Your inquiry has been forwarded to Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium - Coolidge Ave..

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


For SoundSwitch, I needed to fix a bug where the installer wasn't detecting correctly the version of VC Redist C++ installed.
As I found on Stack Overflow, each version has it's own MSI key in the registry, but this is impossible to use since at each update of the VC Redist you need to find the new registry key and check for it.
However, I found this excellent post explaining where in the registry you can find if the wanted version is installed. The best part, the build is also present at the key given.
With that information at hand, I had all I needed to future proof my installer, and I'm happy to share with you the script I wrote for Inno Setup.
Hi, did you post somewhere the [Run] part of the Inno Script?
I'm using a full framework to check and download dependencies.
The regkeys when IsX64() is false seem false here.
\RuntimeAdditional in the second case.
Are you sure about the x86 version ?
I admit, I don't have a 32Bit Windows (since a long time) and haven't been able to try it. Only based it on previous found code.
If you can confirm me that you have tested it on 32 bits, I'll glady change those regkeys.
Yes. I have checked with a 32-bit Windows (with regedt32 and with my setup program).
As soon as github is back online, I'll fix the code.
Thank you for the correction !


1) My parents are back from their trip, sailing through the British Virgin Islands. They had a good time, even though minor to major disasters happened nearly every day.
2) There is no way most moderately intoxicated drivers are worse than my grandfather sober.
3) My mom has a cousin, who has been almost the prototypical nerd staying home in his parents basement. I learn today that started some time during high school, and my mom thinks it's because some gay teacher made a pass at him. I didn't say anything, but I think it's got to be much more serious to cause someone essentially to drop out of life- he was raped, or started to discover he was gay, and this was completely unacceptable, or something. I'm sure I'll never know the answer.
Oh i love that, that's something my mom would say. "A man made a pass at him, so naturally he retired from the world as we know it..."
Re number 3. Google "Kevin Underwood" and "Jamie Lynn Bolin" and click the News links.


text:
The Airbus CityAirbus is a multinational project by Airbus Helicopters to produce an electrically-powered VTOL personal air vehicle demonstrator. It is intended for the air taxi role, to avoid ground traffic congestion.

Development

The CityAirbus follows other Airbus Urban Air Mobility initiatives: Skyways to deliver packages by UAVs on the National University of Singapore campus, the A³ Vahana single-passenger, self-piloted VTOL aircraft and the A³ Voom on-demand shared helicopter booking service app by Airbus.

A 2015 feasibility study confirmed the design's operating costs and that it could meet safety requirements.
Full-scale testing of the ducted propeller drivetrain was completed in October 2017.
Type certification and commercial introduction are planned for 2023.

The iron bird systems test prototype was completed and powered on in December 2017 on a test bench in Taufkirchen, Germany, to test the propulsion system chain, flight controls and propeller dynamic loads, verifying the electric, mechanical and thermal dynamics before being installed on the flight demonstrator by mid-2018.

The first structural parts for the demonstrator were produced by Airbus Helicopters. The aircraft's first unmanned flight was on 3 May 2019. Manned flights have been planned for 2019. 31 August 2020 the CityAirbus demonstrator moved from Donauwörth to Manching near Ingolstadt / Munich, Bavaria.

After 242 flights over  in total with the Vahana and CityAirbus demonstrators, Airbus updated the CityAirbus project in September 2021.
The new configuration boasts a fixed wing, a V-tail, and eight electric propellers without moving surfaces or tilting parts.
It should carry up to four passengers over  at  with sound levels below 65 dB(A) during fly-over and below 70 dB(A) during landing.
First flight is planned for 2023 and certification is expected around 2025.

EASA is already working on a special condition VTOL (SC VTOL) means of compliance (MOC) to certify eVTOL aircraft. The final version of the MOC for eVTOLs will use newly developed Eurocae standards. The second flight control computer will be developed in collaboration with Diehl Aviation and Thales.

Design

The multirotor is intended to carry four passengers, with a pilot initially and to become self-piloted when regulations allow.
The overall system is being developed in Donauwörth, with the electrical propulsion system built in Ottobrunn/Munich.
The use of four ducted fans contribute to safety and low acoustic footprint.
The fully integrated drivetrain has eight propellers and eight  Siemens SP200D direct-drive electric motors.
The fixed pitch propellers are controlled by their RPM.
The four electric batteries total  and can produce a combined output four times .
The design should cruise at  on fixed routes with 15 minutes endurance.

Specifications

See also
 List of aircraft
 Air taxi
 Airbus A³ Vahana
 Boeing Passenger Air Vehicle
 Urban air mobility

Related development
 Volocopter

References

External links

Airbus Helicopters aircraft
Electric aircraft
Electric helicopters
VTOL aircraft
Airbus
Airbus Helicopters
Prototypes
Proposed aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 2019
Urban air mobility
EVTOL aircraft

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


When I came across Proposition Paper 72 by Mental Health America (MHA), the longest running mental health organization in the country, what I read gave me chills because not only did they take a neutral stance on guns, but I learned that only 5% of people that battle with mental health are actually violent to others.
It was important for me to see if they felt the same thing I did after I explained what I like to call the "A-Ha" moment that started back with at that dinner table in New Orleans with Rafael, and snowballed after I read the position paper by Mental Health America.
Next up was what I thought would be the hard part, reaching out to Mental Health America and getting them to see my vision. I started writing what I like to call my "Jerry McGuire-Hail-Mary memo email" where I laid my cards out on the table.
I was fascinated and moved to action by your Position Statement (#72: Violence: Community Mental Health Response) that I came across from MHA. It spoke to me, and it brought some clarity to my mind. I may be in a unique position to assist, and to empower a tipping point in your movement. The nonprofit I recently started is called walkthetalkamerica.org.
I sent one email to America Paredes of MHA, and then another to Dr. Jeffrey Swanson of Duke University (one of the leading researchers of violence and mental illness).
The day I got confirmation of my 501-C-3 status from the government, and as I was discussing and celebrating this with Maria Kernasovic, one of the first people who believed in WTTA and is also a board member, an email came through from America at MHA.
Maria and I immediately booked a flight to Los Angeles, CA to attend MHA's conference. This was a huge opportunity for us as we knew MHA was giving us an opportunity to be heard, and this was a huge step forward from an organization that has been fighting the stigma some of my very own peers have helped perpetuate. I even got a response for Dr. Swanson and he was kind enough to give me an hour and a half of his time to have a conversation, which reaffirmed my feeling that WTTA could make a difference. It's not everyday you get to talk to an industry leader.
The morning of August 1st, Maria and I were so anxious to meet some of the key players, we were literally the first people to show up at the conference. As we walked up, we introduced ourselves to a woman named Debbie Plotnick, who just happened to be the Vice President of MHA (another sign if you ask me).
What that conference did was show me that WTTA is on the right path and MHA was the right organization to align with for the future.


How do I hire an Assistant to Artist Manager? This is a full-time entry-level Assistant job for an artist management firm in Los Angeles. The pay is $25K per year. You must have experience working or interning for an artist management company.


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Аеропорт «Апатакі»  — аеропорт, який обслуговує атол Апатакі архіпелагу Туамоту у Французькій Полінезії. Розташований у 200 м на північний захід від села Ніутахі. Аеропорт може використовуватися лише у світлу частину доби.

Відкритий у 1977 році.

Показники діяльності

Кількість пасажирів

Кількість злетів-посадок

Вантажообіг

Див. також
 Список аеропортів Французької Полінезії

Примітки

Посилання
 Профіль аеропорту на порталі «Aviation Safety Network»

Апатакі


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Posted on April 15, 2019 May 7, 2019 by Geoversiv
Interactive Risk Tracking to Finance Resilient Prosperity
TRACKING OF INTERACTING COMPOUNDING RISKS SHOWS HIGHER VALUE OF FINANCING EXTERNAL RETURNS
Resilience is the ability to weather and emerge from shock events. Resilience intelligence is the complex work of understanding whether we are positioned to do so. Structured, evolving guidance, rooted in Earth systems science, is critical for achieving reliable ongoing operational resilience.
The Resilience Intel initiative is a coalition effort to aggregate climate-smart finance commitments and opportunities, grade the climate intelligence of investments of any kind, at any level, and map finance and investment to scientific observations about the health of Earth systems. To achieve 100% climate-smart finance — where we no longer invest in the degradation of vital natural systems — we need to engage a diverse landscape of actors in an integrated process of learning. The end product will be a service that allows better understanding of particular stories of risk and opportunity, to ensure operational resilience intelligence is a routine element of everyday decision-making in policy, commerce, and finance.
Interactive Risk Tracking
Assessing risk is a notoriously tricky business. When risk is high enough to be a 50-50 chance situation, assessment is not normally required; the risk is obvious, and precautions become a priority. When probability of crisis is lower, but costs could be both significant and attached to nonlinear influences, risk assessment becomes vital for understanding both the level of vulnerability and the most effective strategy for achieving resilience.
To achieve meaningful resilience intelligence, we need to find ways to make previously invisible value-building or value-eroding trends visible, so everyday decision-making amounts to smarter future-building.
The IPCC's Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5ºC — requested by the 21st Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Paris in 2015, and released in October 2018 — shows the risks to humanity and natural systems from warming of 1.5ºC or higher are unacceptable and unaffordable. In other words, there is not enough money in circulation to deal with the ramifications of interacting compounding Earth system impacts, without significant degradation of living standards, and so of generalized security and prosperity.
Safeguarding Opportunity from Situational Risk
All value everywhere now carries risk tied to planetary systems. The specific character of the risk plays out differently in different contexts, and then those risks compound through critical interactions. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals provide a detailed map of those diverse interactions, at all levels.
To achieve resilience against the risk of failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, we must initiate and sustain serious, fast-paced, multilevel innovation and action toward Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG1) — No Poverty.
In densely populated, rapidly developing countries like China and India, increasing investment in renewable energy generates hundreds of thousands of clean energy jobs — in fields as diverse as research, engineering, construction, sales, and installation.
Many construction and installation jobs will go to unskilled and semi-skilled labor, providing a pathway out of poverty for millions of people in rural and under-developed regions.
Building resilience against the risks of extreme weather events means building on SDG8 — Decent Work and Economic Growth.
The intensity and frequency of extreme weather events around the world is increasing every year. The North Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2017 was the most costly hurricane season on record. Hurricanes interrupt and reduce industrial production, increase unemployment, disrupt labor markets and supply-chain infrastructures, and incur other high costs.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that coastal shoreline counties — which host 40% of America's jobs and are responsible for 46% of its GDP — are very susceptible to extreme weather events like hurricanes.
Extreme weather — not only cyclonic storms, but also floods, droughts, and wildfires — will pose an escalating threat to the social and industrial resilience of communities around the world, thus affecting inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Similarly, building resilience against the risks of biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse means building on SDG1 (No Poverty), SDG2 (Zero Hunger), SDG3 (Human Health), SDG10 (Responsible Consumption), and SDG14 (Life in the Ocean). Operational resilience intelligence means mapping upstream-downstream connections, as well as other vital teleconnections between distinct regions and sectors, as well as between generations.
Aggregating Climate-Smart Finance
Finance is the projection of current wealth into future scenarios. One measure of financial return on investment is that the money value held by the investor, in specific relation to that investment, ends up being more than at the outset of the investment. Another measure of financial return is that the integral decision-making of an institution, over time, secures added command of resources in a number of specific areas. Limiting our evaluation of the value of financial decision-making to these two metrics makes it more difficult to assess, and therefore capitalize on, the climate-specific value of any given investment.
Climate-related investment generates both internal investment value and also external co-benefits. Because we have not had to test these co-benefits historically, the degree to which external returns on investment flow to and benefit investors tends to be greatly underestimated.
Initial climate-smart finance aggregation work for Resilience Intel finds more than $3.5 trillion* in already committed financial resources from the public and private sectors and from multilateral development banks. Revealing this vast pool of financial resources programmed to deliver measurable co-benefits should give confidence to major investors and small-business owners, as well as to cities and other public-sector and institutional investors, that coordinated alignment with climate-smart opportunities is the safest bet.
External Returns on Investment
These external returns on investment (XROI) can be higher value than the whole internal business activity of a given enterprise or portfolio. Lack of visibility leads to the assumption that XROI does not equate directly to bottom-line internal ROI. As these value-building interactions become visible, and the wider resilience value of specific investment decisions becomes more apparent, the competitive advantage that comes with achieving a higher XROI becomes clearer to more market actors and is consolidated.
Maximizing XROI through a shift to climate-smart finance connected to other everyday concerns is the most effective way for investors at all levels to avoid risk, connect to new opportunity, improve progress toward (operational, socio-political and environmental) sustainability goals, and ensure broader and deeper-rooted future market relevance. Climate intelligence is a direct path to future value.
This report was produced by the Resilience Intel team, with extensive background research by Resilience Intelligence Fellow Shantanu Agrawal.
Resilience Intel Charter: ResilienceIntel.org/charter
The Path to 100% Climate-Smart Finance: ResilienceIntel.org/hld11
Contact us here to share your ideas or propose a partnership
* UPDATE — May 6, 2019: An earlier edition of this brief cited "more than $2 trillion" in aggregated climate-smart finance. Ongoing aggregation work has now identified $3.56 trillion in already committed resources. This aggregate will continue to evolve.
This entry was posted in:generative economics
Tagged with:climate-smart finance, finance, Resilience Intel
Written by Geoversiv
The Geoversiv Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Foundation exists to support, connect and empower innovative projects oriented toward achieving social good, through promotion of: climate solutions, clean energy innovation and deployment, responsible enterprise, education, peacebuilding, and expansion of the civic space.
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Ms. Ward worked in the computer industry for 20 years first for Princeton University where she performed systems analysis and software development and then for Mathematica Products Group where she was responsible for systems engineering.
In 1987, she joined Automatic Data Processing (ADP) in its brokerage unit first as a director of account management and then as director of marketing. Upon leaving ADP in1995, Ms. Ward became an independent management consultant helping to grow small technology companies. In 1997, she began working exclusively with Marketware International and when the company was acquired by TD Waterhouse, she remained with the new company as vice president for international initiatives.
She left TD Waterhouse in 2001 and continued her consulting until she was appointed to direct the Community Development Department of West Windsor Township by Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh. She has remained with the Township since then managing the Land Use, Engineering, and Code Enforcement divisions.


All are invited to join Midcoast Conservancy's AmeriCorps Outdoor Adventure members Emma, Jess, and Miranda on Saturday, Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for some outdoor fun at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson.
The event will provide a chance for participants to give fat tire biking a try on one of Midcoast Conservancy's bikes (or bring their own) and learn a few helpful bike basics. Volunteers will be on hand to help attendees find the right size bike and to recommend a trail based on the rider's ability. The event is open to all ages and skill levels.
Midcoast Conservancy's bikes are a great fit for anyone taller than 4' 8". However, others are encouraged to bring their own mountain bikes. After riding, everyone is invited to enjoy some cider and s'mores and talk to the team about what other activities people would like to see for future Outdoor Adventure Programming with Midcoast Conservancy. No registration necessary, but a signed wavier is needed for kids unaccompanied by an adult. Stop by anytime between 10 and 2.
Contact Midcoast Conservancy for more information, or with any questions: (207) 389-5150 or americorps@midcoastconservancy.org.


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Carlos Alcaraz defeats Frances Tiafoe on the US Open semifinals in a battle of tennis' rising stars
After being down within the match, Tiafoe had pressured a fifth set, delighting the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd — which included Michelle Obama. But it was the 19-year-old and world No. 4 from Spain who pulled by way of, 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3 in 4 hours, 19 minutes.
Alcaraz will face Norway's Casper Ruud, the No. 5 seed, in Sunday's closing, and the stakes are excessive: The winner will rise to No. 1 on the planet for the primary time.
"Too good from Carlos tonight," Tiafoe advised ESPN in entrance of the group. "I gave every thing I had. I gave every thing I had the final two weeks. Honestly, I got here right here and wished to win the US Open. I really feel like I allow you to guys down. This one actually hurts. This one actually, actually hurts."
Alcaraz is "going to win quite a lot of grand slams," Tiafoe advised the teenager phenom. "You're a hell of a participant, a hell of an individual. I'm completely happy I bought to share the courtroom on such an enormous stage with you. I'm going to come back again and I'll win this factor in the future. I'm sorry, guys."
If Alcaraz wins the ultimate, he'll turn into the youngest world No. 1. Should he ascend to the highest, he would tie Carlos Moya, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras for the largest jumps to world No. 1 (from No. 4).
"It's superb to have the ability to battle for giant issues," Alcaraz mentioned to ESPN in an on-court interview. "First time in a closing of a grand slam. I can see the No. 1 on the planet, however on the similar time, it is so distant, ? I've yet one more to go towards a participant who performs unbelievable. … I'm going to present every thing that I've."
Should Ruud, 23, win the title, he would make greatest soar to world No. 1 in males's tennis historical past. He entered the US Open ranked seventh. He defeated Russian Karen Khachanov, the No. 27 seed, 7-6(5), 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 within the earlier Friday semifinal.
"I believe what's most honest is that if we each attain the ultimate and whoever wins the ultimate reaches the world No. 1," Ruud advised reporters as Alcaraz was enjoying in his semifinal. "That could be I believe the perfect state of affairs."
This will probably be Ruud's second grand slam closing look, having misplaced within the French Open closing earlier this yr to Rafael Nadal. Nadal, who misplaced to Tiafoe within the spherical of 16, would have risen to No. 1 on the planet if Ruud and Alcaraz had each misplaced within the US Open semifinals.
This will probably be Alcaraz's first grand slam closing.
This yr there have been 4 first-time US Open males's semifinalists for the primary time for the reason that inaugural US Championships in 1881 (William Glyn, Robert Gould Shaw, Edward Gray, Richard Sears). Sears went on to win that title.
Rising stars arrive
For years, tennis followers have been fearing the day the game's 'Big Three' all lastly resolve to hold up their rackets.
Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are unquestionably the three biggest gamers of all time — whichever order you could have them in is down to private desire — and their inevitable departures from the Tour will depart a gap no participant will be capable to fill.
However, the rise of kids akin to Daniil Medvedev, Alex Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas in recent times has offered sufficient proof to recommend that there will probably be no lack of leisure and drama as soon as the 'Big Three' do lastly resolve to name it quits.
This season, followers have seen one other future famous person in Alcaraz emerge, whereas Tiafoe, now 24 years outdated, has lastly come of age on the US Open and earned the breakthrough at a grand slam that many have been predicting for a few years now.
Hailing from the area of Murcia in Spain and being a clay courtroom specialist, Alcaraz has naturally drawn comparisons to his compatriot and idol Nadal.
But whereas the 19-year-old has immense respect for the participant he has appeared as much as throughout his childhood, Alcaraz has no need to be dubbed "the following Nadal" or "mini Nadal," as has occurred on multiple event throughout his fledgling profession.
Instead, as he advised CNN Sport again in March, he needs to carve out his personal legacy and be identified solely as Alcaraz.
READ: Carlos Alcaraz reaches first grand slam semifinal after marathon, late-night finish against Jannik Sinner
He has definitely gone a great distance in the direction of attaining that already.
After profitable his maiden ATP title in 2021, Alcaraz has flourished additional in 2022, profitable 4 titles — together with two Masters 1000 tournaments — to stand up the rankings to No. 4 on the planet.
"I imply, every thing got here so quick, two Masters 1000 titles — one on exhausting courtroom, one on clay courtroom," he advised CNN's Don Riddell in May.
"So if in the beginning of the season, somebody advised me that I'm going to attain these tournaments — Barcelona as effectively — I did not imagine it, I did not imagine him. For me, I do not know what to say about an unbelievable month for me.
"It's good that everybody's speaking about you and goes to look at your match. For me, it is fairly good. But it provides me quite a lot of energy to play in the most effective stadiums towards the most effective gamers on the planet. So for me, it is fairly cool."
He went into this yr's French Open in sensational type and was tipped by many to be among the many favorites to win however misplaced within the quarterfinals to Zverev.
Now, in New York, he has reached the ultimate of a grand slam for the primary time and because the highest ranked man left within the draw would be the favourite to win.
'Cinderella story'
Tiafoe, 5 years Alcaraz's senior, received his maiden ATP title again in 2018 and lots of believed it could be a win that might spark a fast rise to the highest.
Though nonetheless touted as a rising star, that rise has been regular reasonably than meteoric. Last month, Tiafoe reached a career-high of No. 24 on the planet — he is at the moment twenty sixth — and this yr has proven flashes of the standard that many predicted would take him to the highest.
But make no mistake, given Tiafoe's disappointing type coming into the US Open, there was no indication that he would make a deep run in New York. However, the big-hitting Washington, D.C. native has talked about on multiple event how the house help on Arthur Ashe has spurred him on to new heights.
In profitable his quarterfinal, Tiafoe grew to become the primary Black American man to achieve a US Open semifinal since Ashe in 1972.
His father, Constant Tiafoe, began working on the Junior Tennis Champions Center in Washington again in 1999 and ultimately moved into certainly one of its vacant storage rooms whereas working across the clock.
READ: How Frances Tiafoe went from sleeping at a tennis center to the US Open semifinals
His two twin boys, Frances and Franklin, would typically stick with him, sleeping on a therapeutic massage desk, whereas their mom labored night time shifts as a nurse.
The uncommon gateway into the game gave Tiafoe a chance to start out creating his expertise and, after starting to coach on the facility, he did not look again.
"Obviously, I wasn't the rich child or wasn't having all the brand new stuff or no matter. But I used to be simply residing life. I might play tennis totally free, the game I liked," he advised CNN Sport again in 2015, including that he would not change his upbringing for the world.
He was requested Wednesday what message individuals ought to draw from his story.
"I imply, anyone can do it, truthfully," he mentioned, including that his ardour and obsession is tennis. "Obviously, that is a cliché, however I believe if you're actually keen about one thing… Everybody's bought a present."
CNN's Jill Martin contributed to this report.
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Home Pacific China steps up patrols over South China Sea as it attempts to...
China steps up patrols over South China Sea as it attempts to prove greater capability in the region.
Recently the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force announced that it had been involved in a number of training patrols over the South China Sea.
Article submitted by Peter Henson
These exercises covered the Bashi channel between Taiwan and the Philippines in the south and the Miyako Straight Japan and Taiwan to the north. The Chinese Air force used the long range H-6K bombers. These highly capable aircraft have nuclear strike capability and can host a vast array of anti-surface, anti-ship ballistic missiles and LT PGB laser guided bombs.
The geographical location of these exercises have historical as well as physical importance. PLA Air force spokesman Shen Jinke announced to the media that the training was initiated to "improve maritime real combat capabilities and forge the forces' battle methods".
Shen also stated that the patrol showed Chinese capability to breach the 'First Island Chain'. The concept of the 'First Island Chain' was developed during the Cold War in the 1950's by US diplomat John Dulles. The island chain of channels and straights stretches from the tip of Japan through to Taiwan and the Philippines. These islands were seen as a physical barrier or containment from Communist China during the Cold War era. China's new assertion is a similar approach to that of their Russian allies. As Russia prods western defences with Tu-95 Bear bombers along numerous NATO borders in Europe and North America, China seems to be following their example.
The key difference for China is that it seeks to assert its sovereignty over the South China Sea and this could eventually include over Taiwan, the breakaway republic.
Chinese President Xi Jinping's made it clear in his Party Congress speech in October that Taiwan was still an active concern:
"[We will] resolutely safeguard the national sovereignty and territorial integrity and will absolutely not tolerate the tragedy of the country's split. Any activity aiming to split the motherland will be firmly opposed by all the Chinese people. We have a firm will, sufficient faith, and adequate capacity to defeat any intention of 'Taiwan independence' in any form."
The rhetoric over Taiwan was upped further when it was reported in The Xinhua that the PLA Air Force commander the Key Party Congress, "planes circling the island of Taiwan would become routine during their training".
As China's military continues its modernisation and expansion Taiwan has increased its purchase of American defence hardware. In June, the US agreed to a $1.42 billion arms package.
In September Donald Trump offered to relax arms restrictions on 'sophisticated' military gear to South Korea and Japan in the wake of the recent North Korea threats. The potential sales of highly advanced missile and radar systems poses a risks to China's assertion of sovereignty in its own back garden. China's increase in military patrols and exercises would seem to be a reflection of its regional ambitions and a way of keeping pressures on its ideological opponents.
Japan confirms that 'helicopter destroyer' Izumo will operate F-35B jets
US approves sale of 105 F-35 jets to Japan, including F-35Bs for carrier
United States deploys B-1B Lancer task force to Indo-Pacific
US supercarrier and assault ship team up for joint operations
Chinese Destroyer lases American aircraft over international waters
US Air Force and RAAF team up to support Australia wildfire relief
An air-launched anti-ship ballistic missile..? Think that's a typo.
China's peaceful rise will remain so providing it's on China's terms.
It intends to dominate the region through military backed mercantilism.
We should stay very close to India and Japan whilst working hard to be a trusted third party including with China itself.
China has shown much greater restraint re: Taiwan than the US ever has with Cuba, which has never been a part of the USA.
Reply to Steven
Well Taiwan has never pointed nuclear missiles at mainland China.
Reply to Patrick
That too! Also China sees Taiwan as China and takes a long term view it will come back as HK did.
At the end of the day to think the UK with our armed forces in their present state could influence China paper tiger springs to mind perhaps our political rulers could use some of the soft power that they seem to believe in i.e.the overseas aid budget but we probably borrowed the money of them in the first place.
The whole Chinese claim to the south China is ludicrous. The most widely claimed reason is due to anchinet Chinese saliors being the first to sail it's waters, but is thay was applied world wide it would unleash a chaotic sprawl of claims.
Mr Bell
The south china seas are cjina's back yard.
they have home advantage and closeness to their home ports, air bases and missile batteries. Despite the bluster I do not think even if Japan, South Korea, India, USA and Australia united they would be hard pressed to face down China in its own backyard.
Oyr military are a non existent distant echo to what they used to be. Our political masters have no interest in uk armed forces, capabilities or size, they continue to invest the minimum budget to keep the uk armed forces at a minimal force size.
HMS Protector back at sea after refit
UK taking advice from Israel on vaccination programme
North Korea threatens strike near US territory Guam
Singapore receives first A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport


A Washington University Law education introduces students to all facets of the law, while also empowering them to personalize their curriculum and further investigate their areas of interest. Our program is designed to educate well-rounded, thoughtful attorneys. Students will be well-prepared to make a difference for their clients, with a solid foundation in the history of the law and the skills to respond to new challenges.
In addition to offering a curriculum leading to the JD degree, the School of Law offers multiple joint-degree programs with other graduate schools on campus as well as a variety of advanced, post-JD degree programs. We also offer graduate law programs online.
Visit online course listings to view offerings for W80 OLAW.


A vast introductory knowledge on shipbuilding activities.
This course will provide participants with a vast introductory knowledge on shipbuilding activities especially meant for non-naval architects who are the players and directly involved in the industries especially in ship construction. Participants will learn the various elements on the introduction of shipbuilding, together with ship production, and hull survey & inspection.


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Functions and Tasks
Selected information
Culture - Society
Planning - Urban - Enviroment
Libary
Image - Map
Theoretical research service
Search Legal Documents
Exchange of scientific information
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Center for Socio-Economic Simulation and Forecast Ho Chi Minh City
WTO center
CIT center
Xem nội dung bài viết
COOPERATION WITH THE FUKUOKA ASIAN URBAN RESEARCH CENTER
In the framework of exchanging academic experiences and cooperating in scientific research, on 27/10/2011, in the hall of the headquarters, leaders of HIDS signed a basic memorandum with the Fukuoka Asian urban research Center (URC), represented by Mr Shigemi Hara (CEO).
The main areas that will be cooperated are:
- Doing research on regional development and urban development policies
- Consulting and advising on the matters of regions
- Co-organizing or participating in seminars and academic events
- Exchanging information and experts in the technical and academic field
- Exchanging research results and publications related to the issues of science and technology within the framework of the law of Vietnam and international law.
- And some other professional fields related to economy, society and urban planning.
These are some pictures of the meeting:
Leaders of both parties signed the memorandum
Exchanging the signed agreement
Both sides presented souvenirs
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SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES IN OCTORBER, 2022 (2/11/2022)
SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES IN SEPTEMBER, 2022 (1/10/2022)
SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES IN AUGUST, 2022 (3/9/2022)
SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES IN JULY 2022 (2/8/2022)
SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES IN JUNE 2022 (2/7/2022)
SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES IN MAY 2022 (1/6/2022)
SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES IN APRIL 2022 (1/5/2022)
SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES IN MARCH 2022 (1/4/2022)
SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES IN FEBRUARY 2022 (6/3/2022)
Domestic News
Institute for construction plan
Scientific research activities
SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES IN NOVEMBER, 2022 (1/12/2022)


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April 2011 Vol. 3 Issue 4
Radiation in Dietary Supplements
Risk to dietary supplements appears minimal, but vigilance is required
By Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO
The potential health implications caused by the nuclear disaster in Japan may extend beyond Japanese citizens. The wind and water currents have carried radioactive materials to many parts of the world. Furthermore, concerns are arising regarding consumable goods exported from Japan. Included in this category are dietary supplement ingredients and their finished products. In this issue, you will find several commentaries from manufacturers about some of the proactive steps that they are taking to ensure the continued safety of their products. These manufacturers, along with other dietary supplement manufacturers, are to be lauded for their timely and quick accountability to this situation.
On March 25, 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began detaining all shipments of FDA-regulated products imported from the Japanese prefectures (sub-national jurisdictions) that are in the closest proximity to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, specifically Fukushima, Gunma Ibaraki, and Tochigi. This is a result of the fact that in mid-March, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare confirmed the presence of radioactive iodine contamination in dairy and fresh produce from these regions. The FDA's Import Alert further explains that radioactive iodine has a short half-life of about 8 days and naturally decays, but does pose risk to human health if contaminated food is absorbed into the body prior to its decay. In addition to produce, other at-risk Japanese exports, such as seafood, are being tested by the FDA prior to release into the US market.
It is not clear at this time what degree of risk is represented by dietary supplements with ingredients sourced from Japan. One would presume that there is risk associated with products containing raw materials sourced from, or processed in, the prefectures with proximity to the nuclear power plant. Michael McGuffin, president of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), recently released this statement: "AHPA will keep its membership apprised of any additional information of interest that may impact raw materials and ingredients, supply chains, distribution, and members' ability to market products." This statement summarizes the current state of watchfulness and caution.
Emerson Ecologics* is in the process of soliciting information from each of its suppliers any raw materials that present risk of radioactive contamination and how they are mitigating this risk. Thus far, several companies whose operations are based in Japan have noted that their manufacturing facilities are located in the southern region of Japan, hundreds of miles away from the nuclear reactors, and areas which have not evidenced significant radioactive contamination. These companies continue to monitor the situation. Other companies with raw materials at risk for contamination are subjecting their raw materials to testing. Testing for radioactive iodine and cesium can be done by FDA-certified methodology. This test analyzes Cesium-134/137 and Iodine-131 by means of gamma-spectrometry using a Germanium-detector. Sample quantities of about 1 kg are typically required which effectively restricts the use of this test to raw materials as opposed to finished products. One qualified independent analytical laboratory charges $160 for this test.
At this point in time, the radiation risk to dietary supplements appears to be minimal. That being said, continued vigilance is required on the part of dietary supplement manufacturers to ensure that is parameter of supplement safety remains a non-issue for consumers.
*The author is the V.P. of Quality and Education at Emerson Ecologics
Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, is a professor of clinical medicine at the University of Arizona where she is the associate director of the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. Alschuler obtained her naturopathic medical degree from Bastyr University where she completed her residency in general naturopathic medicine. She received her bachelor of science degree from Brown University. She is board-certified in naturopathic oncology. Alschuler is past-president of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and a founding board member, immediate past-president and current board member of the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians. She is coauthor of Definitive Guide to Cancer, now in its 3rd edition, and Definitive Guide to Thriving After Cancer.