By now, you likely know about the important role that links play in search engine optimization (SEO). Google's search ranking algorithm depends heavily on links to evaluate the trustworthiness of various sites, judging the number and quality of links pointing to a site (and individual pages on that site) to determine how to rank it. It's why no SEO strategy is complete without some kind of link building strategy.
The trouble is, not all link building strategies are effective, and sometimes, it's hard to tell whether all that time you spent building links is truly paying off. Add to that the complexity of keeping track of all the links you've built or naturally earned over the years, and it's easy to see why link building evaluation is such a struggle for marketers.
Fortunately, there's an approach that can help you track everything you need to build links effectively, and it's not especially hard to learn: link profile analysis.
What Is Link Profile Analysis?
Depending on the nature of your site and how much effort you've put into building links, there are probably hundreds to thousands of links pointing to the various pages of your site. Maybe you were referenced in a press release or noted as a sponsor for a charity event, or maybe you were featured in a series of offsite articles. The sum total of these links, as they exist today, is your backlink profile (or simply, link profile).
Link profile analysis, then, is the art of studying and evaluating this link profile. There are many ways to use this in your favor; for example, you can use it to track how far your reach has grown over a period of time, including how many new publishers you've been featured on. You can use it to spot and correct mistakes. Perhaps most importantly, you can tie factors like the quantity or quality of links you've built to the results you're seeing on your website.
You can also use link profile analysis as a means of competitive analysis. Instead of evaluating your own link profile, you can look at the profiles of your close competitors to examine differences between your approaches, or gain inspiration for new strategies.
Before we get into specifics on what your link profile should look like, you should know how to view and analyze your profile itself. Google doesn't publish information related to links (since it wants to avoid incentivizing link schemes, so you won't find this in your Google Analytics dashboard. You may keep track of the links you've built manually, but this won't tell you any information on links you've naturally attracted, which are also important.
One of the best tools to use is Moz's Link Explorer, which is free to access with an upper limit on the queries you can make per month. There, you can search for any domain and see a breakdown of how that domain is performing, including an estimation of your domain authority (which can help you track the authority of your site over time), the number of inbound links that are currently pointing to your site, the number of different domains that have links pointing to your site, the number of keywords for which your site ranks, and other information. You can also view how many links you've gained or lost over a specific period of time, and of course, see the actual links pointing to you.
There are other tools available to evaluate your backlink profile, but so long as they provide you with accurate information, the differences come down to UI, so your choice should be based on personal preferences.
As an evaluative tool, your backlink profile's main function is to help you measure how far you are from the ideal, and whether your efforts are being translated into measurable results. If you're not seeing results, you can dig deeper into your link specifics to see which areas are lacking. Even if you're seeing moderately good results, you can identify key areas for improvement, based on whether they adhere to "ideal" standards.
Link quantity. Anyone active in the link building or SEO community knows that there's a danger in excessively linking to your site. If you build too many links or build them too quickly, it will look suspicious, and you could face a penalty. That said, link quantity does play a role in how your site's trustworthiness is evaluated. Essentially, the more links you have pointing to you, the more trustworthy it's going to seem (so long as you meet a number of other important conditions, which we'll cover momentarily).
Accordingly, it's good to keep a close eye on the number of links in your profile. This will help you ensure that you're executing on your goals, like if you have a target of publishing 10 new links a month, but will also help you notice and evaluate links that come to you naturally. Perhaps even more importantly, finding a deviation in your link numbers can clue you into a problem with your strategy, such as a publisher removing your links from publication.
Link quantity also matters for your individual pages, since you'll need to focus on both domain authority and page authority. For a general strategy, you'll want to build links pointing to a variety of internal pages, but if there's a specific landing page or a specific piece of content you want to emphasize, you may want a disproportionate number of links pointing to it.
Linking Domain Authority. You'll also need to pay attention to the domain authority, or DA, of the linking domains pointing to you. In general, the higher the DA, the more valuable the link is going to be. One strong link from a high-authority source could potentially be more valuable than dozens of links from low-quality sources.
By that same token, you should keep an eye out for links from low-quality or questionable sources. If Google notices one or more links from a source that could be considered spam, it could diminish your domain authority and hurt you more than help you. Hopefully, you aren't actively seeking these low-authority sources, like article directories and shady forums, but it's still possible that a link to your site could show up there.
Evaluating your link profile in this dimension can help you remove links from questionable sources; to do this, usually all you have to do is send an email to the webmaster (though in some rare cases, you may need to disavow the link). You can also determine whether you're meeting your high-DA linking goals, and take action if not.
Linking domain relevance. Each domain linking to your site should have some kind of relevance to that site, either due to the purpose of the domain or because of the topic of the article. This isn't a strict necessity, but you should consider it as a general rule. For example, if you run an ice cream parlor, but all your links are coming from auto manufacturers, it could raise suspicions that you're receiving your links illegitimately, or that your links aren't providing value to the people encountering them.
This can alert you to any sites that are linking to your pages nefariously or without link quality in mind. Again, it's a good trigger to reach out and remove them. Otherwise, this can help you stay on track with your goals by giving you a bird's-eye view on the relevance of your linking domains.
Linking domain diversity. Backlinks have diminishing returns when they exist on the same domain. The first time you earn a link to your site on a domain, you'll get tons of authority (and value) from it. The second link you earn will still have a measurable impact, but it will be significantly less so than your first. After building multiple links on a single domain, you'll stop getting authority benefits from new links, incentivizing you to seek out newer domains. For similar reasons, if it looks like your domain is consistently "swapping" links with another partner domain, it could render both efforts counterproductive.
Ideally, you'll get links from a diversity of different sources, and your link profile analysis will inform you how close you are to that goal. If you notice lots of links from the same source or series of sources, it should motivate you to branch out.
Branded and keyword-based anchor text. Despite getting nerfed by the Hummingbird update and Google's increasing focus on semantic search, keywords are still an important part of SEO. In addition to playing a massive role in your onsite optimization strategy, your keyword choices in your links' anchor text can influence your site's relevance and rankings.
A link profile analysis is the perfect opportunity to evaluate which keyword terms you're using, and how much brand exposure you're getting in that anchor text. Generally speaking, anchor text that features your brand name (or a variable of your brand name, like a product name, abbreviation, or nickname) is more valuable than other kinds of anchor text.
You can also use keywords in your anchor text to improve your relevance for search queries that include or are similar to those keywords. Chances are, if you're planning a keyword and/or link building strategy, you're already orchestrating your keywords intentionally. Still, observing your anchor text patterns is valuable in a link profile analysis because you'll see what types of keywords or brand-related terms are being used in natural links, and you can see whether certain types of anchored links are being removed.
Relevant anchor text. Even though including strategic keyword terms can be valuable for your ranking strategy, you still need to consider their relevance. For a truly strong link, the anchor text of that link need to be semantically relevant both to the article it's linking to and to the article in which it's included.
For example, if you're writing an article about roof repair and you're linking to your law firm's homepage, the anchor text "repair a roof" might be relevant to the core article, but won't be relevant to your law firm. The anchor text "contact an attorney" might be relevant to your home page, but won't be as relevant to the core article.
Your anchor text relevance doesn't need to be perfect, but you should examine the patterns of anchor text you use and make note of trends of irrelevance. The more semantically natural and appropriate the anchor text is, the better it's going to be for the integrity of your link.
Anchor text diversity. Link profile analysis is also a good time to check your anchor text diversity. If you use the same anchor text over and over again, Google's algorithm is going to catch it—and you could end up with a penalty as a result. Too many link builders get fixated on a single keyword or phrase, and use that as the anchor text for every link they build, regardless of the article housing that link or the nature of the domain. This is bad practice, and should be avoided at all costs.
If you notice too many instances of the same anchor text, but you still want to target the same keywords, you can experiment with synonyms and different phrasings to achieve a similar result. After all, Google takes synonyms and similar phrases into account when populating results.
Link destination diversity. Even if you're trying to push for one key page on your website (like a landing page for a product or a piece of content you're particularly proud of), it's still a good idea to feature a diversity of links in your backlink profile. Building links to many internal pages, as well as your homepage, will make your link profile seem more natural, and give you more page authority throughout your site.
Again, your strategy may already specify which pages you want to target, but your link profile analysis is a good opportunity to evaluate how you're doing (and potentially make adjustments). As you add more valuable content to your site, you can work it into your rotation and ensure there are always new destinations to target.
Link history. Finally, you'll want to pay attention to the overall history and integrity of your links. Monitoring your link profile is the best way to see whether your links remain up for an extended period of time; if an abnormal number of your links end up being removed, it could be a sign that the quality of your content is lacking, or that you aren't targeting the right publishers. Ideally, you'll want most of your links to last for years.
Google also wants to see fresh links. If all your links are from several years ago, with minimal recent links, or if your new links come in massive spurts (rather than being built iteratively), it could be a bad sign. Make sure you have plenty of new inbound links to keep your link profile modern and relevant—though if you're already working on your link profile analysis, you're probably investing in new links regularly.
These are the areas you should bear in mind when evaluating your current links, at least in terms of authority and SEO contributions. However, as briefly referenced above, links have more than just authority or SEO value. When evaluating the overall effectiveness of your link building strategy, you should keep in mind other, secondary benefits, like brand exposure, thought leadership demonstration, referral traffic, and earning you future publication opportunities. Because some of these factors are difficult to measure, you may not be able to objectively assess them during your link profile analysis.
Missed opportunities. Are there domains or publishers where your competitor is frequently mentioned, but you have no real presence? These could be missed opportunities. The fact that your competitor is using them frequently means they're either highly accessible or they're extremely valuable (or both). They're worth considering if you're looking for new ways to distribute or promote your content.
Brand differentiation. This is also a chance to find unique ways to differentiate your brand. Look for patterns in the types of publishers and keywords your competitor is targeting. Is there a key demographic they're overlooking? Is there a keyword niche they aren't taking advantage of? If you swoop in and take over that niche, there may be nobody else to compete with.
Keywords and strategic insights. Once you get experienced in link profile analysis, it will be easy to see the hallmarks of a focused strategy; you'll notice specifically phrased anchor text, similarities in posting titles and publishers, and a rhythm to the posting schedule and/or publication frequency of their work. If there isn't much competition vying for the same online space, it should signal you to kick your strategy into higher gear; after all, nobody's going to stand in your way. Otherwise, you can get a feel for what types of strategies they're using, specifically, and craft a strategy that can complement it.
Consistency is key if you want your link profile analysis to be effective. You can start by committing to a regular schedule; at periodic intervals, you should be checking your progress, keeping an eye on your domain authority and number of inbound links. If and when those results deviate from your expectations, or on a defined rotation, you can dig into the "meat" of your link profile, identifying lost links, inconsistencies, mistakes, or potential areas of improvement.
The exact timing here depends on your brand and your goals. For example, if you're managing links for a large company and you have significant competitors and a high volume of outgoing content, you should be checking your link profile at least a few times a week, and doing a deep dive once a week. For smaller businesses just getting their feet wet in SEO, a monthly deep dive may be plenty.
Link profile monitoring also shouldn't be your only mode of evaluation; for example, you'll need to study the patterns in your referral traffic closely if you want a better understanding of how your strategy is panning out, and evaluate other elements of your strategy (such as onsite optimization) if and when you notice deviations from your expectations. Your link profile, while important, is only one piece of the bigger puzzle of SEO analysis.
The insights you glean while studying your link profile aren't going to mean much unless they lead to real, actionable changes in your link building strategy. For example, if you lose a link, the knowledge might help you find peace with the fact that your domain authority is taking a hit, but it isn't going to restore or replace that link. And if you notice you aren't accumulating a diversity of linking domains as quickly as you intended, that knowledge is only going to benefit you if you change your approach.
Accordingly, the best way to structure a link profile analysis is to summarize it with action-focused takeaways. Instead of making a bullet point that "anchor text lacks diversity," make a memo to come up with new keyword targets and/or phrases, and designate a point person to be accountable for seeing the change through to fruition. From there, check in regularly to make sure you're following and/or achieving those action items.
Alternatively, you could work with a link building agency to make sure you're building links as efficiently as possible. If you're ready to conduct a link profile analysis on your site, or if your link building strategy is in need of an overhaul, contact us today! We'll work with you to get your brand featured in the best publications out there—and your link profile will look better than it ever has before.


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Tips for Helping Grieving Children
Doctors today have documented evidence to demonstrate that grieving can, in fact, make children sick. Health issues such as skin problems, cardiovascular disease and even cancer can often track their onset to a painful event translated as grief. Traumatic loss is so abhorrent to the mind that children often have difficulty coping. Children today have […]
Dr. Gail Gross, Author and Parenting, Relationships, and Human Behavior Expert
Doctors today have documented evidence to demonstrate that grieving can, in fact, make children sick.
Health issues such as skin problems, cardiovascular disease and even cancer can often track their onset to a painful event translated as grief. Traumatic loss is so abhorrent to the mind that children often have difficulty coping.
Children today have numerous opportunities to distract themselves from grieving properly; i.e. video games, computers and television. In my book, The Only Way Out is Through, I share some insight into working through grief. Here are some tips for parents and caregivers to help children deal with grievances in a healthy manner.
Tips for Nurturing Bereaved Children
Grieving children must get plenty of rest, eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water. Exercise is also very important; however, remember that fatigue is often a characteristic of both loss and depression.
Encourage a grieving child to express and vent shock, anger and fear. This will help the child stay connected to life and can re-establish trust in what has become an unsafe world.
Children should be allowed to participate in the rituals of saying goodbye. This will give them a sense of realty and closure to this unthinkable event.
Parents or caregivers of grief-stricken children should encourage their child to participate in weekly therapeutic groups with other children who have encountered the same kind of loss.
Dr. Gail Gross, Ph.D., Ed.D., M.Ed., a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and member of APA Division 39, is a nationally recognized family, child development, and human behavior expert, author, and educator. Her positive and integrative approach to difficult issues helps families navigate today's complex problems.
Dr. Gross is frequently called upon by national and regional media to offer her insight on topics involving family relationships, education, behavior, and development issues. A dependable authority, Dr. Gross has contributed to broadcast, print and online media including CNN, the Today Show, CNBC's The Doctors, Hollywood Reporter, FOX radio, FOX's The O'Reilly Factor, MSNBC, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Times of India, People magazine, Parents magazine, Scholastic Parent and Child Magazine, USA Today, Univision, ABC, CBS, and KHOU's Great Day Houston Show. She is a veteran radio talk show host as well as the host of the nationally syndicated PBS program, "Let's Talk." Also, Dr. Gross has written a semi-weekly blog for The Huffington Post and has blogged at EmpowHER.com since 2013. Recently, Houston Women's Magazine named her One of Houston's Most Influential Women of 2016.
Dr. Gross is a longtime leader in finding solutions to the nation's toughest education challenges. She co-founded the first-of-its kind Cuney Home School with her husband Jenard, in partnership with Texas Southern University. The school serves as a national model for improving the academic performance of students from housing projects by engaging the parents. Dr. Gross also has a public school elementary and secondary campus in Texas that has been named for her.
Additionally, she recently completed leading a landmark, year-long study in the Houston Independent School District to examine how stress-reduction affects academics, attendance, and bullying in elementary school students, and a second study on stress and its effects on learning.
Such work has earned her accolades from distinguished leaders such as the Dalai Lama, who presented her with the first Spirit of Freedom award in 1998. More recently, she was honored in 2013 with the Jung Institute award. She also received the Good Heart Humanitarian Award from Jewish Women International, Perth Amboy High School Hall of Fame Award, the Great Texan of the Year Award, the Houston Best Dressed Hall of Fame Award, Trailblazer Award, Get Real New York City Convention's 2014 Blogging Award, and Woman of Influence Award.
Dr. Gross' book, The Only Way Out Is Through, is available on Amazon now and offers strategies for coping with loss, drawing from dealing with the death of her own daughter. Her next book, How to Build Your Baby's Brain, is also available on Amazon and teaches parents how to enhance a child's learning potential through various developmental stages.
Dr. Gross received a BS in Education and an Ed.D. (Doctorate of Education) with a specialty in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Houston. She earned her Master's degree in Secondary Education with a focus on Psychology from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. Dr. Gross received her second PhD in Psychology, with a concentration in Jungian studies. Dr. Gross was the recipient of Kappa Delta Pi An International Honor Society in Education. Dr. Gross was elected member of the International English Honor Society Sigma Tau Delta.
When a Child Loses a Loved One, Part 2
by Dr. Gail Gross
We Need to Talk About Grief
by Sara Deren
9 Ways to Support Someone Who's Experienced Pregnancy Loss
by Dr. Claire Nicogossian

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Arsenal fans react to Aliko Dangote's comments on takeover bid
by Will Jones share
2 minute read 8/11/2018 | 11:15am
Speaking at the New Economy Forum in Singapore, Aliko Dangote – Africa's richest man – commented upon his ambitions to buy Arsenal, as reported by Bloomberg.
Dangote, a fan of the north London club, first attempted to take control at the Emirates Stadium in 2010, and spoke again of his desire to own the Gunners in 2015, according to Bloomberg.
The Nigerian businessman, estimated to command a net worth of well over $10 billion (around £7.6 billion), has once again reiterated his interest in launching a takeover bid of Arsenal. However, this time he has not ruled out investing in another club should the current owner, Stan Kroenke, refuse to sell.
[brid autoplay="true" video="327140″ player="12034″ title="Rafa's Pub Facts Leicester Trump Man City Chelsea & Liverpool"]
Speaking in Singapore, the 61-year-old said, "I'm very attached to Arsenal but if he won't sell, I might have to change.
I'm very much a fan of football. I have to have a club. I don't have to own Arsenal."
With Kroenke having only recently attained sole ownership of Arsenal, he is extremely unlikely to be willing to sell unless he is presented with an unbelievable offer. Dangote is capable of offering such an astronomical figure, but there are certainly big clubs he would find much easier to purchase.
In light of these reports, plenty of Arsenal fans took to Twitter to give their thoughts of Dangote's comments…
It's all nonsense he's been saying the same thing for years now.
— afcRob (@afcROB9) 7 November 2018
Stan's not going to sell
— Rashidinatör (@rashidinator) 7 November 2018
All talk no balls on this guy. He's been talking about buying Arsenal for 8 years now. Nothing will come of this.
— Alfie (@Alfie1307) 7 November 2018
Dangote talks too much. Men who needs to get things done, don't go talking all day about it. You want arsenal? Splash the cash and have it
— Lincoln (@linkomeiza) 7 November 2018
Arsenal (Kroenke) will not sell to Dangote. Waste of time.
— D.O. à (@DaRealDOA) 7 November 2018
He did say a few years ago he wouldn't be ready to buy Arsenal until at least 2020.
— James Aparicio (@JamesAparicio1) 7 November 2018
Same old same old, even arsenal changed
— DINOS (@Guendozzii) 7 November 2018
Article title: Arsenal fans react to Aliko Dangote's comments on takeover bid


The routing address within an ISDN network is termed the point code. Global titles identify end terminals that may be beyond the ISDN network. To route information the Global Title is translated into a point code this is typically conducted at a STP (Signalling Transfer Point).


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Bullets Over Broadway
Writer-director Woody Allen mounts a lively farce (1994) set in Manhattan in 1928—in a milieu that interfaces prohibition gangsters with Broadway theater—and has a number of amusing things to say about the interactions between art and commerce, both seen here in their crasser forms. Like Husbands and Wives and Manhattan Murder Mystery, though to somewhat less effect, this shows a certain improvement in Allen's work; the material is certainly lively, though the plot becomes a bit mechanical toward the end. The performances, however, are very enjoyable, with first honors going to Chazz Palminteri and Dianne Wiest. Most of the others—John Cusack as the playwright-director hero, Jennifer Tilly as a gangster's moll forced into Cusack's production as an actress, Rob Reiner, Jack Warner, Mary-Louise Parker, and Harvey Fierstein—aren't too far behind. 99 min.
By Jonathan Rosenbaum
Cast information not available at this time.


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Q: Is it possible to call a telephone number with an extension? I'm writing an iPhone application which needs to have an option to call our office. However, the phone number that needs to be dialed has a 5 digit extension.
I know that to call a regular phone number we can use openURL using something like:
[[UIApplication sharedApplication]
    openURL:[NSURL URLWithString:@"tel:1-800-555-5555"]];

Can I get this to work with an extension? If so, how?
The Apple docs link to RFC 2806, which describes the URL scheme for tel: and it seems as though extensions are supported, but I can't figure out the syntax from the RFC.

A: Not 100% sure if this is the answer, but from the RFC you linked on page 14:

tel:+358-555-1234567;postd=pp22

The above URL instructs the local entity to place a voice call to
   +358-555-1234567, then wait for an implementation-dependent time (for
   example, two seconds) and emit two DTMF dialing tones "2" on the line
   (for example, to choose a particular extension number, or to invoke a
   particular service).

Hope this helps.

A: If it is a phone system where you dial the main number, hear a prompt and then enter the extension number then you can include a pause in your number to allow for the call to be picked up. Per the RFC 2806 that you linked to this is done using a "p" pause character for each 1 second pause.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The SST™ typeface family is sure to wear well. Its subtle design traits provide a quietly handsome and consistently friendly typographic presence. Drawn to be a comfortable melding of orderly structure and an organic mien, SST can be used for just about any typographic application you can think of. And since it was originally drawn as a branding typeface for the far-reaching and complicated branding needs of the global consumer brand, SST is one of the most comprehensive type families in the world. Its broad branding applicability combined with its coverage of almost a hundred languages makes it one of the most widely accessible and usable typefaces available.
"Daunting," yes – but entirely successful. The family spans six weights from ultra light to heavy, each with an italic complement. In addition, three condensed designs and two monospaced (typewriter) typefaces were drawn to further expand the family's range of uses. And the range is vast. This is a suite of typefaces that performs equally well in print and on-screen. The designs can be used at very small sizes in packaging and catalogs, while page-crowding headlines – and even billboards – pose no stumbling blocks to the SST family's typographic prowess. Adding further to its versatility, the design is also available in Arabic, Thai, Vietnamese, and Japanese families as well.
And it does all this with a quiet grace. The SST design lets the message shine through, not overpowering content with design distinction – but subtly and effectively supporting it. Whether it be for specific use in a brochure or periodical, or attending to the wide-spread needs of a branding typeface, you can't go wrong with the SST family.


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Dungeon Keeper 2 is een RTS videospel ontwikkeld door Bullfrog Producties en gepubliceerd door Electronic Arts in 1999 voor Microsoft Windows. Het is in Europa en Noord-Amerika in juni 1999 uitgebracht. Het was de opvolger van "Dungeon Keeper" en de voorloper van het door Electronic Arts gestopte project "Dungeon Keeper 3". Net zoals in Dungeon Keeper neemt de speler in Dungeon Keeper 2 de rol in van een Dungeon Keeper (kerker houder) die een kerker moet uitbouwen en zich moet verdedigen tegen heldeninvasies of andere Keepers. In de "Campaign Mode" is het het doel van de speler om in elk niveau de "Portal Gem" te vinden.

Gameplay
Het spel speelt nogal op een soortgelijke wijze als zijn voorganger, maar de gameplay is meer gestroomlijnd en bevat minder kleine opdrachtjes, ook is er gezorgd voor de eliminatie van overbodige informatie van de wezens.
Voorbeelden hiervan zijn de verwijdering van de "vijanden te doden" / "sla ze bewusteloos "knop (wezens worden altijd bewusteloos geslagen - het gedrag kan niet worden gewijzigd) en het schepsel-paneel, dat allerlei soorten van irrelevante informatie zoals de bloedgroep en het geluk van een wezen vrijgaf.
De kleuren, de muziek en het geluid in Dungeon Keeper 2 zijn over het algemeen ook helderder en levendiger, de originele Dungeon Keeper was over het algemeen donker en grimmig met een serieuze toets.
Dungeon Keeper 2 neemt ook veel gebruik van droge humor.
Net als het origineel, plaatst Dungeon Keeper 2 de speler in de rol van een strenge Keeper die uit is op wereldheerschappij.
De speler moet alle koninkrijken uit het ondergrondse land veroveren en moet in al deze landen de "Portal gems" vinden, die het portaal kunnen openen om naar de bovenwereld te gaan zodat deze wereld kan overvallen worden door het kwaad.
Het koninkrijk zelf heeft de vorm van een grote tafel met een 3-dimensionale kaart waar de speler op een gebied moet klikken om het aan te vallen, dit is vrij gelijkaardig aan Dungeon Keepers wereldkaart.
Er zijn 20 belangrijke niveaus in de campagne. Sommige niveaus hebben meerdere methoden om gespeeld te kunnen worden, waardoor de speler kan kiezen welke weg hij wil ingaan.
Net als in het origineel, neemt de speler de raadselachtige vorm van een grote drijvende groene hand aan die beweegt over de kaart en dingen opraapt,neer zet, spreuken uitspreekt en aangeeft welke gebieden de dondersteentjes moeten uitgraven.
De game interface bestaat uit een groot paneel aan de onderkant van het scherm en de wereld zelf.
De gameplay is onder toezicht van "De Mentor", een anonieme kwaad klinkende man, ingesproken door Richard Ridings.
Na het voltooien van een campagneniveau ontvangt de speler een korte film die meestal een grap bevat in verband met het spel.
Buiten de campagne, bevat het spel ook multiplayer en skirmish modes, evenals de sandbox-modus "My Pet Dungeon ".
In "My Pet Dungeon" niveaus heeft de speler een doel zoals bijvoorbeeld "10.000 punten verzamelen". Als deze doelstelling is volbracht, kan de keeper kiezen of hij wil doorspelen of stoppen.
In de skirmish-modus kan de speler vechten tegen bots maar de moeilijkheidsgraad van de bots is niet bijzonder hoog.

Verschillen met de voorganger
 Het videospel is nu volledig in 3D
 Spreuken kosten nu geen goud meer maar worden betaald door een nieuwe magische kracht mana.
 De eigen wezens sterven niet meteen in een gevecht maar ze vallen bewusteloos neer zodat de dondersteentjes hen gedurende een korte tijd kunnen redden door ze naar hun hol te plaatsen.
 Als de speler na het grijpen van een wezen het opnieuw loslaat dan heeft het wezen een korte herstelperiode nodig.(hangt af van wezen tot wezen)
 Dondersteentjes kunnen niet meer getraind worden, ze verdienen nu ervaringspunten door allerlei klusjes te doen in de eigen kerker.
 Er zijn twee nieuwe kamers
 De strijdput
 Het casino
 De "Horned Reaper" is geen te besturen wezen meer maar kan nog wel voor 100000 mana opgeroepen worden voor een korte periode.
 Spreuken kunnen nu opgewaardeerd worden
 Vele wezens zijn verwijderd en ook veel nieuwe wezens hebben het licht gezien.

Wezens
 Duveltje: Deze wezens kan de speler maken uit mana, ze zijn de ruggengraat van elke kerker omdat er zonder de donderstenen geen kerker zou zijn. (Kapt goud, diamant, zorgt voor de expansie van de eigen kerker en neemt gebied in maar is niet strijdvaardig.)
 Kobolt: Op zichzelf zwak, maar in een troep zeer sterk
 Vuurvlieg: Een zwak wezen dat alleen maar als een verkenner kan dienen
 Tovenaar: Zeer krachtig wezen, wordt aangetrokken door een Bibliotheek
 Salamander: Een reuze salamander die door lava kan waden
 Duistereelf: Vrouwelijke elf die wordt aangetrokken door een wachtpost
 Trol: Een sterk maar lui wezen dat wordt aangetrokken door een werkplaats
 Galdemon: Een sterk maar zeer lui wezen dat alleen maar naar de eigen kerker komt mits een ruime Broedplaats
 Vampier: Komt tot leven als er een wezen sterft in het eigen mortuarium
 Duistere engel: zeer sterk wezen dat erop wijst dat de kerker succesvol is
 Zwarte ridder: sterk wezen dat wordt aangetrokken door een strijdput
 Meesteres: Wordt aangetrokken door een martelkamer en wordt ook graag gemarteld
 Bandiet: Wordt aangetrokken door een casino
 Skelet: Een wezen dat in de gevangenis van een speler sterft komt als een skelet tot leven (heeft geen eten nodig)
 Ook nog een aantal wezens die men door martelingen kan laten overlopen

Gebouwen
 Hol: hier slapen de wezens van de speler
 Broedplaats: Hier eten de wezens van de speler
 Schatkamer: goudopslag
 Bibliotheek: wezens doen hier onderzoek naar nieuwe spreuken
 Hart van de kerker: Zonder dit gebouw verliest de speler het level(mana wordt hierin opgeslagen)
 Trainingszaal: Hier kunnen de eigen wezens ervaringspunten opdoen
 Gevangenis: Hier kan men vijandelijke wezens die bewusteloos zijn inzetten tot ze veranderen in een skelet dat het eigen leger komt versterken
 Kerkhof: Hierin kunnen de lijken van dode wezens transformeren tot een vampier
 Martelkamer: Hier kan men vijanden martelen opdat ze informatie vrijgeven of aan de kant van de speler komen te staan
 Tempel: Hier kunnen wezens bidden om een hogere mana opbrengst te verzorgen.
 Werkplaats: Wezens kunnen hierin allerlei beschermingswerken voor de kerker maken.
 Portaal: Zonder dit gebouw te veroveren kan de kerker geen wezens ontvangen.
 Arena: Hierin kan men wezens de ervaringspunten geven die ze niet in de oefenruimte konden verkrijgen.
 Casino: Dit is een ruimte waarin de eigen wezens zich kunnen ontspannen door te gokken.
 Wachtpost: Hierin kan de speler enkele wezens plaatsen die dan een groot omringend gebied bewaken.

Systeemeisen
Pentium II 166 MHz of hoger, 32 MB RAM of meer, 2 MB Video RAM of meer, 300 MB hard drive space of meer, DirectX 6.0 of hoger.

De systeemeisen zijn anno 2011 niet hoog.
De game wordt enkel nog tot Windows XP correct ondersteund.
Windows Vista en windows 7 hebben problemen met het ondersteunen van de grafische delen van de game.

Het afzetten van hardware acceleratie kan een oplossing zijn of men kan werken met de Microsoft Compatibility Toolkit.

Ontvangst
Hoewel Dungeon Keeper 2 het niet zo goed heeft gedaan als zijn voorganger, transformeerde het de serie succesvol in 3D. Vele gamesites zoals Gamespot en IGN gaven het spel een behoorlijk goede score.(zie externe link voor bronnen)

Vervolg
Dungeon Keeper 2 had een korte trailer als bonusmateriaal, deze trailer ging over de opvolger van het spel Dungeon Keeper 3. Maar dat project werd gestopt in maart van het jaar 2000.

War for the Overworld - Opvolger van Dungeon Keeper 2. Ontwikkeling door Subterranean Games.

Externe links
  Profiel van Dungeon Keeper 2 op de website van Gamespot
  Profiel van Dungeon Keeper 2 op de website van IGN

Computerspel uit 1999

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


is to be enjoyed quietly among the every-day noise.
onto the flesh of the tightly bound buds on my tree.
IS YOUR DISPLAY BOOTH READY FOR THE ART FESTIVAL?
when the moon is so full.
I stole his sideways glances.


text:
West Burlington vigil all about the children
By Bob Saar for The Hawk Eye
Jul 13, 2019 at 8:09 PM Jul 13, 2019 at 8:10 PM
Local Lights for Liberty event part of global protest of Mexican border detention camps
WEST BURLINGTON — It was all about the immigrant children Friday night at the Lights for Liberty vigil.
It was not about politics. It was not about President Donald Trump.
"The immigrants issue goes beyond Trump's time," event organizer Sam Hellberg said. "This is kids dying."
Hellberg said she heard of the Lights for Liberty vigil and reached out on Facebook; Burlingtonians Phoebe McNeece, Blake Bell and Tobin and Mollie Krell helped Hellberg organize Friday's event.
Lights for Liberty is a national coalition of people dedicated to human rights; Friday's nationwide vigil to end human detention camps on the Mexican border had events on five continents. The local event was held at Homestead 1839 on Agency Street in West Burlington.
The impetus behind Lights for Liberty is the conditions that humans in detainee camps, including children, are being forced to endure. At 9 p.m. around the U.S. and around the world, participants lit candles in a silent vigil for all those held in U.S. detention camps.
The local event included a march to the Gear Avenue overpass, two short documentary films and a discussion about immigration. Homestead 1839 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to growing community capacity through service learning and food security for sustainable, equitable outcomes.
The 30-acre farm is the Leffler family homestead since 1839.
The local event drew more than four dozen Americans concerned about the incarceration of children whose parents, after bringing them across the U.S.-Mexico border, were released, forcing them to leave their children behind in detainment facilities.
Findings released earlier this month by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General described standing-room-only cells, children without showers and hot meals, and detainees clamoring desperately for release, according to the New York Times.
"What's happening right now is not sustainable or equitable," Tobin Krell said.
Californian Clair Goldberg moved to Burlington last Monday to work for for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris as a field organizer for southeast Iowa.
But she wasn't at the vigil to campaign.
"Seeing children in detention camps is one of the worst things in the country right now," Goldberg said. "I'd be wearing my Kamala shirt if I were campaigning."
Goldberg was echoed by candidate Pete Buttigieg's southeast Iowa organizer, Ronen Schatsky of Chicago; both said they were looking forward to their coming year in southeast Iowa.
Hellberg posted on Facebook to get things going locally when she heard about Lights for Liberty and the others responded.
"This is awesome," she said. "There's more people here than I thought."
She said there were over 800 events held worldwide Friday night. Most started at 7 p.m. local times with the candle lighting at 9.
Two documentary films about the incarceration of children at the border were screened; both appeared earlier this year at the Snake Alley Festival of Film. Hellberg learned of them from SNAFF director Tadd Good. Both are available on Vimeo.
As the second film, "The Separated" ran, about a dozen little kids played near the video screen, unaware of the stunned, angry faces on the adults watching the separation and subsequent reunion at the Texas border.
In 2018, Honduran asylum-seeker Anita and her 5-year-old son, Jenri, were forcibly separated at the U.S.-Mexico border and reunited after a month apart.
"I want to go to the jail," Jenri wails shortly after their reunion. "I don't want to be your son anymore."
Someone handed Hellberg's 18-month-old daughter Hayden to her as she spoke after the film.
"I've been separated from her just minutes," Hellberg said, then looked back at the now-blank screen. "I can't imagine."
When McNeece was asked why she became involved in the event, she said, "I have a child. I can't imagine him being alone, and scared, and not speaking the language of the people who were locking him up."
Blake spoke afterwards, saying, "This is a pro-humanity rally, not a political rally. This is beyond politics. This is about the kind of world we want to live in."
He said he got involved because, "I'm tired of watching people suffer and wanted to do something about it. I felt the call."
The group took up placards and walked up Agency Road to Gear Avenue, then onto the U.S. 34 overpass. Their signs were all about the incarcerated kids, a few with a Christian flavor, and there was nothing about the current administration.
"I think we'll get some honks," Hellberg said.
They did.
Cars passing underneath the bridge tooted horns in support, and one local police cruiser whooped his siren and raised a fist and a smile in support for the entourage.
Elizabeth Bell, pastor for the West Burlington United Methodist Church and Asbury UMC, carried a placard with a verse from the Bible depicting Jesus Christ as a refugee.
"He was always an outcast and a refugee," Bell said.
As the group hiked back to Homestead 1839, someone ran out of the Westland Fast Break and shouted, "Free drinks for all of you!"
Fast Break cashier Brody Burns had hoped to take the night off to participate.
"It's all on me," he told the thirsty peace marchers. "I'm completely for what you're doing."
Burns paid for the sodas out of his own pocket.
Max Sarvello, local representative of the Beto O'Rourke campaign, summed things up after the candlelight vigil back at the farm.
"I was just happy to be there," he said.
Meanwhile, some 2,000 undocumented immigrants are expected to be swept up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in raids beginning today.
Donations will be accepted on behalf of the Mount Pleasant-based nonprofit Iowa WINS (Iowa Welcomes Its Immigrant Neighbors), which provides practical and legal resources to assist local immigrants. The group formed in response to a 2018 Mount Pleasant immigration raid by ICE authorities. Email firstpresbymtp@gmail.com or call (319) 986-5851 for more information.


The word savanna comes from a Panamanian word for prairie or plains. They are covered with tall grasses. They may have scattered bushes and trees, but not enough to keep grasses from growing. The most common definition of savanna is the tropical grassland, such as in Africa. They have seasonal rains and dry periods. All savanna plants and trees can survive periods of drought. Most savannas get enough rain to support a forest, but the forest never happens because something keeps the trees from growing. This can be animals that graze and knock over trees (like elephants in Africa), or fires that kill most kinds of trees. Instead there is lots of grasses and other plants that can regrow from the roots.
↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "World Savanna Biomes". BluePlanetBiomes. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
↑ "Tropical savannas". Radford University. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
↑ "Oak Savannas - characteristics and restoration". OakSavanna.org. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
This page was last changed on 27 February 2019, at 00:32.


Cirrhonin is an oral herbal supplement that improves liver function.
Cirrhonin helps remove stasis in the liver and helps break down the fibrotic tissues that cause hardening of the liver in advanced fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis, and cirrhosis.
A proprietary blend of: Cortex Fraxini, Cortex Lycci, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi, Fructus Liquid Ambaris, Fructus Lycii, Herba Artemisiae, Heterophylly Falsestarwort Root, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Poria, Radix Curcumae, Radix Glehniae, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Radix Ophiopogonis, Radix Rehmanniae, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Rhizoma Alismatis, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Rhizoma Cyperi.


text:
2018 Book 38: THE WEDDING DATE by Jasmine Guillory
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
ASIN: B072LT1XT5 (Kindle edition)
Publisher: Berkley Jove Books
I vow to take thee as my date, to pretend to have and to hold, from rehearsal dinner to reception end, till Sunday do us part.
A groomsman and his last-minute guest are about to discover if a fake date can go the distance in a fun and flirty debut novel.
Agreeing to go to a wedding with a guy she gets stuck in an elevator is something Alexa Monroe wouldn't normally do. But there's something about Drew Nichols that's too hard to resist.
On the eve of his ex's wedding festivities, Drew is minus a plus one. Until a power outage strands him with the perfect candidate for a fake girlfriend...
After Alexa and Drew have more fun than they ever thought possible, Drew has to fly back to Los Angeles and his job as a pediatric surgeon, and Alexa heads home to Berkeley, where she's the mayor's chief of staff. Too bad they can't stop thinking about the other...
They're just two high-powered professionals on a collision course toward the long distance dating disaster of the century--or closing the gap between what they think they need and what they truly want...
Alexa Monroe is an accomplished young woman and isn't really looking for a man or a man bringing complications into her life. She's a lawyer and the chief of staff for the mayor of Berkeley. Dr. Andrew "Drew" Nichols is a pediatric surgeon from the Los Angeles area (miles away from Berkeley). He's agreed to be a groomsman in his ex-girlfriend's wedding and at the last minute, his +1 had to cancel out. After a power outage that strands Alexa and Drew in an elevator and the Fairmont, Alexa unwittingly agrees to become Drew's date for the weekend. Alexa is not the type of person to make spur of the moment decisions especially about a man she doesn't know, so her behavior is somewhat shocking to all who know her. But she and Drew connect over the weekend in their "pretend" relationship, so much so that Drew reschedules his flight back to LA after the wedding so he can spend more time with Alexa. What follows is a long-distance relationship that neither one of them saw coming with them hopping planes every weekend to visit one another. In between those weekend visits, they text and text and then text some more. Drew enjoys his time with Alexa and is afraid to put a label on what they have. Alexa isn't sure where this relationship is going especially since Drew can't even seem to introduce her to his friend as his girlfriend but simply as "Alexa" and then she learns that he has the annoying habit of politely dropping his "girlfriends" after a two-month run. Is this the end of their relationship since he can't even admit who she is to his friends? Could they have made their long-distance relationship work without his commitment-phobic issues?
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory was a delightfully fun, sexy, and fast-paced read. It was interesting to read about the relationship dynamic between Alexa and Drew without race being the primary focus (yes, this is an interracial relationship and yes, race is discussed within the story). The story gets sexy and steamy without the author going into graphic detail and there's plenty of romance without it being over-the-top (such as when Drew gets Alexa sweets for breakfast and makes her coffee just the way she likes it). The Wedding Date also provides political drama (Alexa does work for a politician), medical drama (Drew is a physician), relationship drama, romance, and more. For me, this felt like a contemporary romance story containing hints of Pride and Prejudice meets Sense & Sensibilities with all of the crossed wires and misunderstandings. I enjoyed the multiple storylines, the characters, and the action and look forward to reading more from Ms. Guillory in the future. If you're a romance fan, trust me and run out to grab yourself a copy of The Wedding Date to read.
Disclaimer: I received a free print review copy of this book from the publisher. I was not paid, required, or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Labels: Berkley Books, Book Review, ChickLit, Jasmine Guillory, romance, THE WEDDING DATE
2018 Book 37: BEST FRIENDS FOREVER by Margot Hunt
Best Friends Forever by Margot Hunt
ASIN: B06Y5RLJN9 (Kindle edition)
How well do you really know your best friend?
Kat Grant and Alice Campbell have a friendship forged in shared confidences and long lunches lubricated by expensive wine. Though they're very different women—the artsy socialite and the struggling suburbanite—they're each other's rocks. But even rocks crumble under pressure. Like when Kat's financier husband, Howard, plunges to his death from the second-floor balcony of their South Florida mansion.
Howard was a jerk, a drunk, a bully and, police say, a murder victim. The questions begin piling up. Like why Kat has suddenly gone dark: no calls, no texts and no chance her wealthy family will let Alice see her. Why investigators are looking so hard in Alice's direction. Who stands to get hurt next. And who is the cool liar—the masterful manipulator behind it all.
Alice Campbell and Katherine "Kat" Grant met three years ago at JFK airport on their way back to Florida after the holidays. A chance meeting due to a delayed flight became a life-line friendship for both women. Kat is unhappily married to Howard, a man that she admits routinely cheats on her, is reportedly an alcoholic, and has at times physically abused her but she refuses to divorce him because she has all the money and there was no prenuptial agreement. Kat also thinks she will be seen as the poor, battered divorcee in the wealthy circles she mixes in and she simply can't have that be the image of her in people's minds, so she stays unhappy. Alice is dealing with a different set of issues, namely monetary. Her family was uprooted from Miami and moved off of Palm Beach for her husband's job, but the promised promotions never came nor did the raises. Things might not be so bad if their credit cards weren't maxed out, if they weren't behind on their mortgage payment, behind on their children's private school tuition, and her husband hadn't lost his job -- their sole income. Alice has never seen Kat as a "cash cow" and has never asked her for money, but when she's told her children will be expelled from their school if their tuition isn't paid the next day she doesn't know what to do. Thankfully, Kat offers to pay the tuition and doesn't think twice about it. Or does she...because not soon after that she approaches Alice with a request that most people would consider horrifying? Soon after that Howard winds up dead, Kat is safely alibied by being out of the country, and Alice is arrested for his murder. Alice has clear logical answers for everything that happened but even she's beginning to wonder if she really knew what was going on between Kat and Howard? Is it possible we can ever really know another person? Can we truly tell when we are being manipulated and lied to? Is Kat lying to and about Alice or is Alice lying to and about Kat?
Best Friends Forever is a taut psychological suspense thriller and one that I found to be a rather fast-paced read. I enjoyed the way Ms. Hunt presented the contemporary storyline and then went back in time to present the past building up to the present. That helped to build the tension between not only Alice and Kat, but between Alice and her husband Todd, and Kat and everyone else. By the time I was halfway through the story I began to realize neither Alice nor Kat were wholly reliable narrators and that provided this reader with a dilemma because the story is being told primarily from Alice's perspective. Alice comes across as a somewhat disgruntled stay-at-home mom trying to do anything she can for her family (true to a certain extent). Kat comes across as somewhat manipulative and a needy (also true to a certain extent). As we learn more about each character the author provides little clues that help the reader fine-tune their presumptions about each person. Best Friends Forever is a story about friendship, but it is also a story about being realistic in that we can never truly know another person. We know people by what they say, what they reveal in their actions, and by our assumptions, but these can all be tainted and manipulated if the person is highly skilled. So in this story someone dies and yes, it's revealed that is a murder. The questions become who did it and why. And no I will not be telling you the answers to either of those questions, read the book to find out for yourself!
Disclaimer: I received a free digital review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not paid, required, or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Margot Hunt is the pseudonym of a bestselling writer of twelve previous novels. Her work has been praised by Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus Reviews. Best Friends Forever is her first psychological thriller.
Connect with Margot at her website, Facebook, and Twitter
Enter to win one trade paperback copy of Best Friends Forever by Margot Hunt. This giveaway begins at 12:01 AM ET on January 29, 2018, and will end at 11:59 PM ET on February 2, 2018. The winner announced by 10:00 AM ET on February 3, 2018. If the first winner has not responded within 48 hours after notification a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to residents of the United States only (sorry to all of my international followers). All non-US residents will be disqualified. Books will be sent out via TLC Book Tours at the conclusion of the blog tour. Please use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.
This review, giveaway, and blog tour brought to you by TLC Book Tours
Labels: BEST FRIENDS FOREVER, Blog Tour, Book Giveaway, Book Review, Digital Review Copy, Harlequin MIRA, Margot Hunt, NetGalley, TLC Book Tours
2018 Book 34: TEMPEST by Beverly Jenkins
Tempest (Old West #3) by Beverly Jenkins
ASIN: B0713W4425 (Kindle edition)
From USA Today Bestselling Author Beverly Jenkins comes a new novel in a mesmerizing series set in the Old West, where an arranged marriage becomes a grand passion . . .
What kind of mail-order bride greets her intended with a bullet instead of a kiss? One like Regan Carmichael—an independent spirit equally at home in denims and dresses. Shooting Dr. Colton Lee in the shoulder is an honest error, but soon Regan wonders if her entire plan to marry a man she's never met is a mistake. Colton, who buried his heart along with his first wife, insists he only wants someone to care for his daughter. Yet Regan is drawn to the unmistakable desire in his gaze.
Regan's far from the docile bride Colton was expecting. Still, few women would brave the wilds of Wyoming Territory for an uncertain future with a widower and his child. The thought of having a bold, forthright woman like Regan in his life—and in his arms—begins to inspire a new dream. And despite his family's disapproval and an unseen enemy, he'll risk all to make this match a real union of body and soul.
Regan Carmichael has an adventurous soul. When she lived with her Aunt Eddy and Uncle Rhine she drove the mail wagon locally and was always up for the next new adventure. When her sister Portia gets engaged, Regan knows that she needs to get away from home to begin her next adventure as a mail-order bride. After Portia's wedding, Regan leaves the comfort of friends, family, and the familiar in Arizona to travel to Wyoming to marry a local doctor with a young daughter. All is going well until the wagon coach she's traveling in is attacked by would-be robbers and Regan helps thwart their attempts by shooting at them. Moments later another group of riders approach the coach and once again Regan begins shooting. Unfortunately this time she's shooting at the good guys and actually hits her intended. Dr. Colton Lee was expecting someone as docile and passive as his deceased wife and that's definitely not Regan Carmichael. To say their relationship starts off on the wrong foot is a massive understatement. It continues in a downward spiral when Dr. Lee's grandfather decides he doesn't like Regan even before he meets her, Dr. Lee is upset to find out that Regan isn't a virgin, her mother was a prostitute, she has opinions of her own (not to mention her own money), and she thinks that a husband and wife should share the same bedroom. The only plus in all of this is that Dr. Lee's daughter, Anna, and his sister, Spirit, both like Regan and want her to stay. After deciding to get married for the sake of his daughter, the question becomes can they make the marriage work and become a united family or will Regan's adventurous nature destroy their chance for marital success?
Tempest is the third book in the Old West/Rhine Fontaine series by Beverly Jenkins, aka Queen Bevy aka Slayer of Words. These books are all set in the West after the Civil War when the country was growing by leaps-and-bounds and the rights of freed Blacks and other people of color were sorely being trampled upon. Each book in this series presents historical tidbits that make me increase my TBR list by at least 2-3 books. Tempest presents historical information about the founder of Howard Medical School as well as information about germ theory in medical treatment, something radically new at the time. Tempest also presents a fiery relationship between Regan and Colton, interesting family dynamics for both Regan and Colton, details of the hard life in the West for minorities and women, and more. Ms. Jenkins can always be counted on for providing an intelligent, steamy historical romance, but she also imbues her characters with such charm and essence that they become part of the family. It has been fascinating watching Regan grow from her first presentation in Forbidden through Tempest, as well as watching the unending romance between her aunt and uncle throughout all three books. There are scoundrels, robbers, kidnappers, and more in this story and if you want to find out just what happens you'll need to read the book. If you haven't read Forbidden and Breathless, the first two books in this series, I strongly encourage you to grab copies of those to read along with a copy of Tempest. Seriously, if you're into historical romance or romance you'll want to read this series. Just in case you couldn't tell, I enjoyed reading Tempest and am wondering if we'll be seeing more in this series next year. I can only hope this isn't the end of the Old West series (hint, hint). If it is, I'll simply spend a few days next year revisiting Eddy and Rhine in Forbidden, Portia and Kent in Breathless, and Regan and Colton in Tempest to get my Old West reading fix in.
Disclaimer: I received a free digital review copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss+. I was not paid, required, or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Labels: Avon Books, Beverly Jenkins, Book Review, Digital Review Copy, Edelweiss+, Historical Romance, Old West Series, TEMPEST
2018 Book 30: CRAZY ON YOU by Nicole Terry
Crazy On You (Life in the Fast Lane #1) by Nicole Terry
ASIN: B0782WDP72 (Kindle edition)
Publication date: January 9, 2018
Publisher: City Owl Press
Diane Thompson wakes up in the backseat of her car, shocked to find she's acquired a chauffeur. Realizing she's been inadvertently kidnapped, she swears off tequila—and Chili's—then dials 9-1-1. But her rescue comes at a cost. Her savior, too-macho-for-words Lt. Cole Anderson, refuses to let Diane out of his sight until her kidnappers are apprehended. He's already lost one woman he cared about due to his inattention; he's not letting it happen a second time.
But Diane isn't a damsel-in-distress type of girl. When it turns out the criminals left a valuable item in her car and they want it back, involving Cole isn't part of her plan and not only because the criminals have forbidden her from involving the cops. Men are like birds—messy, easily distracted, and only around when there's something to eat. She's got this. All she has to do is find and return the item in question to the drug runners threatening her life, survive a high-speed car chase, and keep her vow to never trust a man with her heart.
Some people are just magnets for disaster and Diane Thompson is just such a magnet. A simple dinner out with her cousin has her attempting to sleep off too much tequila and ends up with an inadvertent kidnapping when her car is stolen by drug dealers. Why her car? Well, it was one of the few left in the lot and it was an older vehicle without all the whistles and bells and therefore easier to steal. Little did the thieves know that there was someone in the back seat hidden by all of the bags slated to be dropped off at a local Goodwill. Good thing Diane is something of a procrastinator. The would-be carjacking/kidnapping is quickly squashed when Diane calls 911 and is rescued. Diane is also a bit clueless because the local lieutenant, Cole Anderson, at the sheriff's department has been attempting to get her attention for more than a month. He has it now in spades. What follows is a series of calamitous events that make it clear these drug dealers know not only where she lives and works, but also know everything about her family as well. Diane isn't one to depend on others for help and she's determined to find what the drug dealers want before it's too late for her and her family. The big question is can she do it without alienating Cole and saving herself and her family?
Crazy on You by Nicole Terry is the first in a new series and a debut as well. I found this to be a sexy, sassy, raucous, rollicking laugh-out-loud read that reminded me at times of books by both Joshilyn Jackson with the Southern sensibilities and Beverly Jenkins with the strong female and take-charge male protagonists. Diane is kind of a modern-day-equivalent of Lucy Ricardo from "I Love Lucy" fame in that she always seems to find herself in the midst of trouble and it's up to her family and Cole to bail her out (FYI, she does a darn good job of bailing herself out a few times). Cole is a "by-the-book" lawman that has a "don't-mess-with-my-woman" mentality. He doesn't see Diane as fragile or weak, he just wants to protect her and her family from the bad guys as best as he can. Yes, there's an obvious romance angle between Diane and Cole, but there's also insecurity issues, family drama, small-town drama, crime, and more. There are bad guys along with the good guys and there are varying degrees of bad guys (trust me on this and read the story to understand what I mean by this statement). I'm always a sucker for stories set in West Virginia or written by West Virginia authors and I lucked out on both counts with Crazy on You by Nicole Terry. I recommend Crazy on You for those of you that enjoy reading romantic suspense. For those of you looking for a madcap, comedic romance read, then I encourage you to grab a copy of Crazy on You to read. I wholeheartedly enjoyed reading Crazy On You and can't wait to more from this author in the future.
Disclaimer: I received a free digital review copy of this book from the author. I was not paid, required, or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Read an excerpt from Crazy On You here.
Labels: Book Review, City Owl Press, CRAZY ON YOU, Life in the Fast Lane series, Nicole Terry, romantic suspense
Book Showcase: THE LUCKY ONES by Tiffany Reisz
The Lucky Ones by Tiffany Reisz
ASIN: B073ZFLPWJ (Kindle edition)
They called themselves "the lucky ones."
They were seven children either orphaned or abandoned by their parents and chosen by legendary philanthropist and brain surgeon Dr. Vincent Capello to live in The Dragon, his almost magical beach house on the Oregon Coast.
Allison was the youngest of the lucky ones living an idyllic life with her newfound family…until the night she almost died, and was then whisked away from the house and her adopted family forever.
Now, thirteen years later, Allison receives a letter from Roland, Dr. Capello's oldest son, warning her that their father is ill and in his final days. Allison determines she must go home again and confront the ghosts of her past. She's determined to find out what really happened that fateful night--was it an accident or, as she's always suspected, did one of her beloved family members try to kill her?
But digging into the past can reveal horrific truths, and when Allison pieces together the story of her life, she'll learns the terrible secret at the heart of the family she once loved but never really knew.
A vivid and suspenseful tale of family, grief, love—and the dark secrets that bind everything together—Tiffany Reisz's latest is enthralling to the final page.
Read an excerpt (follow the excerpt tour to read more):
"We had sex yesterday," she said. "Twice."
"That wasn't breakup sex," he said. "And don't give me that look. This is your own fault."
McQueen pointed at her, shook his finger.
"My fault? My fault?" Allison was laughing in utter amazement at the sheer gall of the man.
"Your fault. You've been trying for years to make me a better man," he said.
"Give more money to the poor. Be nicer to my employees. Don't date girls my daughter's age. Well, maybe your guilt trips finally started to sink in a little. I don't call you Jiminy Cricket because you wear a top hat and tails."
"You are unbelievable," she said.
"Allison," he said, "I am sorry about this. I truly am."
He held out his hand to shake.
"Six years of my life," she said, "and it's going to end in a handshake."
"You already said no to breakup sex," he said.
Another hard truth. So she took his hand. As soon as her hand slipped into his he pulled her gently to him and held her close.
"You bastard," she said even as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
"Thank you for always being there for me, Allison. You are smart and lovely and kind—when you aren't furious at me—and I'll miss you."
"I hope you and your new lady and the baby are very happy together," she said.
"I hope so, too."
A knot formed in her throat. A vise clamped down onto her chest. One tear escaped her eye before she could capture it, lock it up and throw away the key.
"You know what the stupid thing is," Allison said, speaking to stave off the building panic.
"I don't even like you very much."
McQueen chuckled. She felt his chest rumble against hers. She'd miss that, too.
"I mean it," she said. "You're arrogant and entitled and you do whatever you want, consequences be damned, and you're…you're…"
"Rich," he said. "That's the word you're looking for."
"That's it," she said.
"If you don't like me, why are you so upset?" he said, his tone teasing, and any other day they'd be in bed together already.
"Because I'm going to miss not liking you."
He pulled her a little closer, a little tighter. He kissed her cheek, her forehead and then, at last, let her go. She hated herself for letting him be the one to let go first. Once he was gone, she would be alone, completely alone. No family. No friends. A woman on call day and night for a powerful man didn't get to make friends. She hated him and never wanted to see him again. She loved him and never wanted him to leave her. But she didn't cling to him when he pulled away, and she counted that a victory.
"If it makes you feel any better," McQueen said, his hands still on her face, "this wasn't an easy decision."
"Weird," Allison said. "It doesn't make me feel any better."
McQueen raised his hands in defeat. "I'll go."
She swallowed again. "Bye."
"Don't forget there's some mail for you in the box."
"Anything important?" She never got mail at McQueen's address.
"It's a package from Oregon. No idea why it came to my house."
"Oregon?"
She glanced in the box at the padded envelope. Sure enough, it was postmarked Clark Beach, Oregon. And the name on the return address read Roland Capello.
Allison gasped, then clapped a hand over her mouth in shock.
"Allison?" McQueen had been retreating during the conversation but now he rushed to her. "Honey, what's wrong? You look like you're about to faint."
"It's from my brother," she breathed. "This is from my brother."
McQueen stared at her like she'd grown a second head in the past three seconds.
"Your brother?" he repeated. "I've known you seven years. You never told me you had a brother."
Allison looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"That's because…I don't."
Excerpt From The Lucky Ones by Tiffany Reisz,
to be released on February 13, 2018, by MIRA Books.
Copyright © 2018 by Tiffany Reisz. All Rights Reserved.
Tiffany Reisz lives in Lexington, Kentucky with her husband, author Andrew Shaffer.
Connect with Tiffany at her website, Facebook, and Instagram
This excerpt and tour brought to you by TLC Book Tours
Labels: Blog Tour, Book Excerpt, Book Showcase, Harlequin MIRA, romantic suspense, THE LUCKY ONES, Tiffany Reisz, TLC Book Tours
2018 Book 24: THE CHALK MAN by CJ Tudor
The Chalk Man by C. J. Tudor
ISBN: 9780525526391 (digital audiobook)
ASIN: B071FDZYVK (Kindle edition)
Publisher: Crown Publishing
In 1986, Eddie and his friends are just kids on the verge of adolescence. They spend their days biking around their sleepy English village and looking for any taste of excitement they can get. The chalk men are their secret code: little chalk stick figures they leave for one another as messages only they can understand. But then a mysterious chalk man leads them right to a dismembered body, and nothing is ever the same.
In 2016, Eddie is fully grown and thinks he's put his past behind him, but then he gets a letter in the mail containing a single chalk stick figure. When it turns out that his friends got the same message, they think it could be a prank--until one of them turns up dead. That's when Eddie realizes that saving himself means finally figuring out what really happened all those years ago.
Eddie Adams, known as "Eddie Munster" when he was a child, had four neighborhood friends: Gavin aka "Fat Gav," Mickey aka "Metal Mickey" (as a result of braces), David "Hoppo" Hopkins, and Nicky Martin. Eddie's mother was a doctor and provided abortions, just as controversial in 1986 as it is today, and his father was a freelance writer. Gavin's father owned the local pub and his mother was an Avon lady. Mickey's parents were considered ordinary working parents. David's mother worked as a cleaner and his father was not in the picture. Nicky's father was the local vicar and led the crusade against the local abortion clinic and her mother was reportedly deceased. The story briefly begins with these young friends finding the gruesome remains of a decapitated and mutilated body in the woods. From there we witness Eddie and one of the local school teachers, Mr. Halloran, provide critical medical assistance to a young girl when tragedy strikes at a local fair, a ride flies apart and a girl is seriously injured. After that bonding experience, Eddie learns that Mr. Halloran is a gifted artist and used chalk with his friends to leave secret messages with his own childhood friends. Eddie and his friends begin to use chalk, with each friend using a different color, to leave messages for one another. The chalk messages fade into obscurity when more tragedy strikes, Mickey's older brother drowns, Hoppo's dog dies, the mutilated and dismembered body is found in the forest, and Nicky's father is brutally attacked. Thirty years later, Eddie is still leaving in his childhood home and only Fat Gav and Hoppo are still around. Nicky left town with her biological mother (surprise, not dead) after her father's attack. Mickey is now a big ad executive and lives in the city (presumably a major city, like London). Then chalk messages begin to reappear, Mickey returns to town and tells Eddie he knows the identity of the killer from 1986, and then Mickey turns up dead. It was bad enough when Eddie began to "see" the ghosts of Mickey's dead brother and his teacher-friend, Mr. Halloran, as a child but now he's seeing them again along with chalk messages. What do the messages mean? Is it possible Eddie's next in line to die? If so, why and can he figure out the messages in time to stop the killer?
I initially had difficulties getting into The Chalk Man because I felt the pace was moving a bit slow, but then about halfway through the book it began to pick up and I was entranced. Ms. Tudor had to provide all of the backstory in order for the contemporary story to work and the backstory took time to reveal. Trust me, it's worth the time. Some people have difficulty with stories than vacillate between two timelines. I actually enjoyed getting bits of the story from 1986 and then bits from 2016. I thought I had the story figured out, then it took a nice twist (no, I won't reveal the twist...read the book!). There's a lot of action in this story with the coming-of-age angst of Eddie and his friends compounded by the deaths of a sibling of one friend, the death of a school teacher, and them finding a dismembered body in the 1986 storyline. In the 2016 storyline, there's the return of a childhood friend and his subsequent death, secrets revealed from 1986, possible hallucinations, and more. There are a few minor characters with major impact in this story and that threw me (hint: when reading this story, don't try to figure out whodunit). The Chalk Man is a psychological suspense that provides a boogie man that haunts both the children and adults in the story. The primary character, Eddie is deeply flawed and his flaws seem to take over the story at a time. Told you, there's a lot happening in this book. If you enjoy reading suspense with unexpected twists and turns, then I strongly encourage you to grab a copy of The Chalk Man to read. If you're simply seeking something radically different to read, then I urge you to go out and grab a copy of The Chalk Man to read. (FYI: I suggest that you throw out all pieces of chalk in your home before reading this story.) I enjoyed reading The Chalk Man and look forward to reading more from Ms. Tudor in the future.
Disclaimer: I received a free digital review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley/TLC Book Tours. I was not paid, required, or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
C. J. TUDOR lives in Nottingham, England, with her partner and three-year-old daughter. Over the years she has worked as a copywriter, television presenter, voice-over, and dog walker. She is now thrilled to be able to write full-time and doesn't miss chasing wet dogs through muddy fields all that much. The Chalk Man is her first novel.
Follow the author on Facebook and Twitter.
Enter to win one print copy of The Chalk Man by C. J. Tudor courtesy of TLC Book Tours. Please note that this giveaway is open to US residents only (sorry), all non-residents will be disqualified. This giveaway will run from 12:01 AM ET on January 23, 2018, through 11:59 PM ET on January 30, 2018. The winner will be announced by 10:00 AM ET on January 31st, 2018. If for any reason, the initial winner does not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be selected. Please note that this book will be mailed by TLC Book Tours at the conclusion of the blog tour.
This review, blog tour, and giveaway brought to you by TLC Book Tours.
Labels: Blog Tour, Book Giveaway, Book Review, book trailer, CJ Tudor, Crown Publishing, THE CHALK MAN, TLC Book Tours
2018 Book 20: SUNDAY SILENCE by Nicci French
Sunday Silence by Nicci French
ASIN: B071RBDHKM (Kindle edition)
It started with Monday. But it doesn't end with Sunday.
Read Sunday Silence, the new novel in the series that LOUISE PENNY calls "fabulous, unsettling, and riveting"— and brace yourself for the breathtaking series finale in summer 2018.
Lover of London, gifted psychologist, frequent police consultant — Frieda Klein is many things. And now she's a person of interest in a murder case. A body has been discovered in the most unlikely and horrifying of places: beneath the floorboards of Frieda's house.
The corpse is only months old, but the chief suspect appears to have died more than seven years ago. Except as Frieda knows all too well, he's alive and well and living in secret. And it seems he's inspired a copycat…
As the days pass and the body count rises, Frieda finds herself caught in a fatal tug-of-war between two killers: one who won't let her go, and another who can't let her live.
Crackling with suspense, packed with emotion, Sunday Silence is a psychological thriller perfect for fans of Elizabeth George and Paula Hawkins.
Frieda Klein's home is a crime scene when the body of a private detective is found under her floorboards. Then she receive's a phone call from her niece saying "come get me," but Chloe doesn't know where she is. Apparently, Chloe had been abducted three days earlier and released in a local graveyard. Why? To antagonize her aunt, of course. This is followed by her good friend and mentor, Reuben, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, is found badly beaten in his home. After a brief disappearance, Josef returns with his youngest son Alexei in tow and then his son is abducted and returned with a message for Frieda. And adding insult to injury, one of her former patients is murdered, her former co-worker, Jack Dargan, is beaten up, and the police commissioner is fired and blames her. The only spot of good news out of all of this is that everyone finally believes her when she tells them that Dean Reeves is still alive and responsible for the body under her floorboards. Dean also sends a message via Alexei that he "is" responsible for that abduction but not for the beatings and other things going on. Is it possible there are two serial killers targeting Frieda Klein? How can she protect her family and friends and stay alive while the body count is constantly building and another person is missing? Will they be able to find the missing person before it is too late?
I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Dark Saturday (which I thoroughly enjoyed) last year and was honored to receive a copy of Sunday Silence to review. Let me see if I can sum up my reaction to Sunday Silence in a few brief words, WOW! This was an amazingly fast-paced, engaging, and enjoyable read for me and one that I finished in a few short hours despite an ever-increasing migraine (thank you triptan medicines). Seriously, I couldn't put this book down. The authors have crammed quite a bit into this taut psychological thriller, such as murder, suspense, illegal immigration, battery, abduction, family drama, friendship drama, workplace drama, psychological manipulation, and more (read the book!). The one phantom boogie man that has been a constant in the Frieda Klein series is Dean Reeves and although he doesn't quite come out of the shadows in Sunday Silence, he does make his presence known and packs quite a punch towards the end of the story (no I won't tell you how - read the book!). This is the seventh book in this series and apparently, the series will be coming to an end with the eighth installment due out later this year. I, for one, will be sad to say goodbye to Frieda Klein and her adventures, but until then I will continue reading (and yes, rereading the earlier books). If you've read any of the books in the Frieda Klein series then you'll definitely want to read Sunday Silence to see what's happening next. If you haven't read any of the books in this series and you enjoy psychological suspense, then I strongly encourage you to grab a copy of Sunday Silence along with the other books in this series, set aside a few weekends and read, read, read! Not sure about psychological suspense or unsure what all the hoopla is all about, start with Blue Monday and work your way up to Sunday Silence and then trust me, you'll understand.
Nicci French is the pseudonym of English wife-and-husband team Nicci Gerrard and Sean French. Their acclaimed novels of psychological suspense have sold more than 8 million copies around the world.
Follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
This review and tour brought to you by TLC Book Tours
Labels: Blog Tour, Book Review, Frieda Klein Series, Nicci French, SUNDAY SILENCE, TLC Book Tours, William Morrow
Book Showcase: THE LAST DAYS OF OSCAR WILDE by John Vanderslice
The Last Days of Oscar Wilde by John Vanderslice
Publisher: Burlesque Press
Meet Oscar Wilde. His life is ending.
The year is 1898. Wilde's once esteemed reputation is in ruins.
After the scandal, after the trial, and after the incarceration at Reading Gaol, Wilde lives in precarious exile in Paris. His friends urge him to start another great work, a new play or poem. But Wilde's attention is elsewhere: on the mysteries of art, on the demands of love, and on a final great flowering of the spirit.
Turning the corner at the Avenue de l'Opéra, intending to head north, it was actually difficult to walk despite the fact that the night before he'd slept better than he had any right to expect, that he carried his cane, and that he'd already braced his nerves with a glass of Armagnac at a café three streets back. He wore the best of his suits, the only one that evidenced no sign of stain or tearing, the one with the least obvious end-of-life smell. The one he reserved for those times, even now, when it seemed important to impress. He'd used the last of his current resources to get his shirt pressed and his shoes shined—and for the drink, of course. He would not eat later in the day and probably for the next one as well, unless he could find a café or restaurant willing to extend him credit. Virtually no chance of that. And he had to hope that Douglas would be willing to cover the cost of whatever they consumed during this meeting. Surely they would consume something. This was too significant a conference for them to simply gab and leave. Certain diplomatic—to say nothing of Parisian—protocols would need to be respected.
But Wilde couldn't know. He couldn't know what Douglas was planning exactly—assuming Douglas himself even did—he couldn't know if the boy had guessed in advance what he was here to tell him and what that might mean. Bosie might come primed for battle or for reconciliation; but Oscar well knew from all his years of association with Lord Alfred Douglas that no matter what Bosie came primed for he was capable of changing his mind in seconds.
Ahead of him lay the busy business of the avenue, including, blocks away from where he presently stood—bloated and unsteady on his feet—the intersection with the Boulevard des Capucines, on the other side of which sat the Café de la Paix. That was where Douglas had agreed to wait for him, after specifying that he would not visit Oscar at his "atrocious" place of residence. Wilde had never eaten at the famous—and expensive—café, which sat on the bottom floor of the Grand Hotel, although Louis Latourette and Ernest La Jeunesse and Jean Moréas and several others had said kind things about the place. He'd started the morning hoping he would finally have the opportunity to take a meal there. But now, standing on the street, close enough to spy the café's actual location, Wilde wasn't sure if his stomach was in good enough shape to handle anything more than a stiff drink. Probably after the meeting was concluded he would be ravenous, no matter what kind of answer he got from his old lover. But he was nothing but nauseous with tension now. As he stood and wavered and squinted, he thought that he ought to be able to see the amazing sunlight of Bosie's hair, the exquisite sculpture of his forehead, the needy intensity of his eyes, even from this far away. But, of course, all he could see was colored awnings, chairs assembled on the sidewalk, shadowy bodies leaning or bending or sitting. He was not close enough yet for a truly clear view. He couldn't just stand here. He had to move forward if he ever wanted to see.
Excerpt from The Last Days of Oscar Wilde by John Vanderslice.
Copyright © 2018 by John Vanderslice.
All Rights Reserved. Published by Burlesque Press LLC.
John Vanderslice teaches creative writing at the University of Central Arkansas. His short stories, poems, essays, and one-act plays have been published in scores of literary journals, including Seattle Review, Sou'wester, Laurel Review, South Carolina Review, 1966, and Crazyhorse. His linked book of short stories Island Fog (Lavender Ink) was named by Library Journal as one of the Top 15 Indie Fiction Titles of 2014. His historical novel The Last Days of Oscar Wilde is forthcoming in January 2018 from Burlesque Press.
Connect with John on his website, blog, Facebook, and Twitter.
Labels: Book Excerpt, Book Showcase, Burlesque Press, John Vanderslice, THE LAST DAYS OF OSCAR WILDE
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An emotional question by a mother whose child has food allergies led me to discover the fascinating world of food scanners. Will we ever really know what's on our plates? And if we knew, what could we do with the answer?
I often blog about trends that promise to have the biggest influence on medicine in the coming years. These posts receive a lot of feedback from people around the world. After I published predictions for how medical technology will advance in 2015, a mother left an emotional comment about her daughter of 8 years who was allergic to most foods.
She described how hard it was to find food her daughter can eat. She had to check labels diligently for allergic ingredients, and she had to cook very carefully. She was pregnant at the time she wrote the comment, and worried. Were there any labeling advances or technological devices that could make her life easier? Was it possible to scan foods for their ingredients?
Extrapolating from European statistics, 220 to 250 million people may suffer from food allergies worldwide. In the US one out of three people has a food allergy or modifies the family diet because of a suspected food allergy in a family member. Approximately 5% of children and 4% of teens and adults have clinically proven allergic reactions to foods.
Globally, about 35 % of adults are overweight, with half a billion being obese with a body mass index of over 30. According to The International Diabetes Federation, around half a billion people will have diabetes by 2035; half of them will be undiagnosed. Food allergies, obesity and diabetes are only the most striking examples where knowing calorie intake and ingredients are pivotal in managing medical issues day and day out.
Given these statistics, the European Commission launched a €1 million prize challenge to develop an affordable, mobile, non–invasive solution that enables users to measure and analyze their food intake. The contest runs until the end of 2016. Hundreds of other similar initiatives are needed to help people deal with diabetes or obesity.
We can only guess. Ingredients are listed on most of the products we buy, but every meal and every plate is different. One remedy would be having a list of exactly what ingredients and how many calories a meal contains, and what allergens and toxins might be in it. Not just the kind of meal we eat but the actual food on our plate and its specific amount. Several companies have been trying to address this.
Canadian TellSpec had a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2013 that raised more than $380,000. Now it aims to develop a hand–held food scanner that can inform users as about specific ingredients and macronutrients. Through spectroscopy, an analysis of how matter interacts with different wavelengths of light, it can quickly determine the chemical compounds in a given food. The company founder, Isabel Hoffmann, had a story similar to that of the mother who commented on my blog. Hoffman's daughter got sick after the family moved to a new flat in Toronto. Months later the girl was found to have a variety of food allergies.
As a result, Hoffmann recruited a team to design a device that could tell what was in a particular food. That way she and others could know what to avoid. They sent out the first devices to beta testers in mid-2015. Several critics have raised questions about the device and whether the company can deliver what they promised. Backers in the crowdfunding campaign seem willing to wait and see. The first commercially available models are launching in 2016.
Another device, SCiO, from Israel, was founded by people with optical engineering backgrounds. They have raised over $2.7 million on Kickstarter in 2014. It uses a technology similar to TellSpec's but is designed to identify the molecular content of foods, medicines, and even plants. It illuminates an object; optical sensors detect the reflected light; and the device analyzes it using an algorithm and a cloud–based database that is constantly updated. The company promises that in milliseconds the ingredients and molecular make–up of the foodstuff will appear on the user's smartphone. The device was scheduled for shipment in 2015, but disappointed backers, but still hasn't shipped. On top of the delays, experts in applied science criticized both SCiO and TellSpec for overstating what their inventions can do.
There are two major issues. One is size, because the device must be hand–held to become popular. With current technology this means engineers have to sacrifice sensitivity and accuracy in order to achieve a convenient size. The other issue is the algorithm. SCiO sends data to the cloud which then sends its calculation back to the device. But to simplify what the algorithm has to do, users need to tell the scanner specifics – like whether the sample is a solid food, a liquid, or vegetable. These inconveniences are the price of keeping the scanner small.
There aren't any promising hand–held food scanners on the horizon besides these, but there is no reason to believe a solution will not arise in the coming years. The challenge is not when a workable device comes along but what we will do with the large amount of data it generates.
Let's say a scanner tells me how many grams of sugar my fruit contains, or what the alcohol percentage of a drink is. So what? It won't change my behavior and dietary habits unless I'm a dietitian and understand what the data means, and how it can be acted upon. Food scanners will need to progress similarly to wearable health trackers – move from raw data to automated analysis and smart suggestions to the user.
A good food scanner should accurately determine ingredients, and compare the data to my lifestyle, dietary choices, and my genomic background. Given how different we all are genetically, two people might digest the same food at a different pace. One might be allergic to an ingredient while the other is not. So far, pure luck and experience have alerted us to these differences. It should not work like that. Eating should be a conscious process where we know what we eat, and know what we should eat for optimum health. A food scanner, supported by a smart application could fill this place.
But let's not leave out an interesting side note here, namely, incorporating genetic information into food scanners. I already have the data of my complete DNA sequence at home in a digital file. Literally thousands of studies speak to the genetic aspects of nutrition, a field called nutrigenomics. I should be able to learn what foods and individual ingredients are bad for me. Genetic tests showed me that I'm sensitive to caffeine and process alcohol more thoroughly than most people (I'm Hungarian after all).
Nutrigenomics tries to understand how nutrition affects our metabolic pathways, and what we can do to get the most out of nutrition in a personalized way. If I'll have the opportunity to choose another type of meat or cheese as a smartphone app suggests based on my DNA, I will enjoy the meal more and take better care of my body in the long run. With access to such data, a scanner or app could tell us what products not to buy at the grocery store, what type of food makes us more productive, sleep better, or just feel healthy. Right now we're depending on blind luck.
Some people wonder if this wouldn't be an overly technological world where devices, scanners, and apps tell us what to eat and do. I prefer to look at it from a different angle, from the benefits of finally knowing what we eat and what ingredients lead to positive and negative consequences. I see customization to my specific genetic background as another benefit, too.
Diabetes patients would know how many carbohydrates their food contains. But knowledge doesn't change behavior alone, otherwise nobody would smoke by now. Knowledge supported by gaming or technologies revealing our lifestyle choices to our family members or caregivers might do. Patients with rare genetic metabolic disorders such as phenylketonuria would know what to avoid at all cost. People with allergies could avoid dangerous meals. Having a good diet would not rely on the experience we bring with us from childhood and what we have learned since then. Instead, it could be based on informed decisions. If it means a food scanner should become a commodity in my life for this, count me in.