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Tag: book review
Book Review: "The Light Over London" by Julia Kelly
Posted at 6:15 am by Laura, on March 18, 2019
The Light Over London by Julia Kelly
Published: January 2019
It's always been easier for Cara Hargraves to bury herself in the past than confront the present, which is why working with a gruff but brilliant antiques dealer is perfect. While clearing out an estate, she pries open an old tin that holds the relics of a lost relationship: among the treasures, a World War II-era diary and a photograph of a young woman in uniform. Eager to find the author of the hauntingly beautiful, unfinished diary, Cara digs into this soldier's life, but soon realizes she may not have been ready for the stark reality of wartime London she finds within the pages.
In 1941, nineteen-year-old Louise Keene's life had been decided for her—she'll wait at home in her Cornish village until her wealthy suitor returns from war to ask for her hand. But when Louise unexpectedly meets Flight Lieutenant Paul Bolton, a dashing RAF pilot stationed at a local base, everything changes. And changes again when Paul's unit is deployed without warning.
Desperate for a larger life, Louise joins the women's branch of the British Army in the anti-aircraft gun unit as a Gunner Girl. As bombs fall on London, she and the other Gunner Girls relish in their duties to be exact in their calculations, and quick in their identification of enemy planes during air raids. The only thing that gets Louise through those dark, bullet-filled nights is knowing she and Paul will be together when the war is over. But when a bundle of her letters to him are returned unanswered, she learns that wartime romance can have a much darker side.
While searching through a client's estate for antiques to bring back to the shop, Cara stumbles across an old tin filled with trinkets and a diary. The diary belongs to a young Cornish woman in 1941, experiencing her first romance and making a name for herself as a Gunner Girl. Cara has experienced recent turmoil in her life and solving the mystery of the owner of the diary rejuvenates her. She is determined to identify the owner of the diary and return it to her, especially because it may lead to answers in Cara's own family's past. The Gunner Girl, Louise, breaks free from her mother's oppressive control by enlisting in the ATS, and then becoming one of the first women in Ack-Ack Command, shooting down German planes bombing London and other large cities—but she also finds herself caught in a whirlwind romance that does more harm than good.
I was listening to this book on audio, two hours away from finishing, when I had to return it to the library—so I ran to the bookstore and bought it to finish! I love the WWII fiction that's coming out lately, focusing on the brilliant efforts women made during the war, the unsung heroes and lesser-known stories, the powerful female friendships taking center stage over the wartime romances. Don't get me wrong, romance is fine, but the accounts of these brave women are far more inspiring, empowering, and interesting to me. (Plus I love a good modern-day heroine who is a curator, archivist, librarian, etc…)
What touched me most about this novel was Louise's story. She's swept up into a love affair as epic as the movies, full of urgency due to the war. She's desperate to leave her mother's grasp and defiant in anything her mother believed, but also wants to find herself in the midst of turmoil. Her search for an identity, to know herself and her strengths and weaknesses, and subsequently finding the thrill of independence among other like-minded women, was such a joy to read, even during her naivete in love. I want more of this. More female empowerment, more female friendships, and less focus on finding The One in order to make oneself "whole." The Light Over London is all about second chances, starting over, reinvention, independence, and strength amidst chaos.
This book is perfect for fans of Guernsey Literary and The Alice Network (likely also Lilac Girls and The Nightingale, though I've yet to read those!). Next on my TBR is The Huntress so expect lots of feminist history reviews!
This qualifies as book 2 of 10 in my library books challenge.
Posted in books, Reviews 2019	| 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: historical fiction, review
Book Review: "The Kingdom of Copper" by SA Chakraborty (ARC)
Posted at 7:30 am by Laura, on January 8, 2019
The Kingdom of Copper by SA Chakraborty
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publishing Date: January 22
With Daevabad entrenched in the dark aftermath of a devastating battle, Nahri must forge a new path for herself. But even as she embraces her heritage and the power it holds, she knows she's been trapped in a gilded cage, watched by a king who rules from the throne that once belonged to her family—and one misstep will doom her tribe..
Meanwhile, Ali has been exiled for daring to defy his father. Hunted by assassins, adrift on the unforgiving copper sands of his ancestral land, he is forced to rely on the frightening abilities the marid—the unpredictable water spirits—have gifted him. But in doing so, he threatens to unearth a terrible secret his family has long kept buried.
And as a new century approaches and the djinn gather within Daevabad's towering brass walls for celebrations, a threat brews unseen in the desolate north. It's a force that would bring a storm of fire straight to the city's gates . . . and one that seeks the aid of a warrior trapped between worlds, torn between a violent duty he can never escape and a peace he fears he will never deserve.
Five years after the traumatizing attack on those Nahri held most dear, Nahri is married to the emir, trying to establish a home for herself in a kingdom run by a controlling madman, and searching for that spark of inspiration and hope for Daevabad's inhabitants. Ali, meanwhile, has been exiled to the sands, and is struggling to control his new water magic, twisting it to be useful for the people of the desert rather than something to cause destruction. As a generation celebration draws near, Ali is summoned home and Nahri must work alongside him to restore a ruined hospital, a symbol of peace and hope for the city. Little do they know that a warrior is in their midst, and every fine thread they've grappled to hold onto will snap in the blink of an eye.
The Kingdom of Copper was one of my most anticipated reads for 2019. I adored the first of the trilogy, and this book held up to my expectations. It's just as heart-pounding, adventurous, political, humorous, and heart-breaking! Nahri is fully immersed in court culture, trapped in a golden cage and struggling to find a way to express herself without fear of Ghassan's wrath and tyrannical power. She's also grown in her magic as well, and I thoroughly loved the way the palace speaks to her and answers her call. While The City of Brass introduced us to the politics and magic of this world, Kingdom of Copper immerses us further into its history, the way prejudices run deep, and introduces us to the vast array of creatures and their abilities. From beginning to end, I was immersed in the magic of these pages. The fate of Daevabad lies in the family drama at the heart of the city.
Thank you, Harper Voyager, for providing the galley for review!
The rest of the review will contain spoilers. If you have not read The City of Brass yet and would like to remain unspoiled, please do not read below the break.
Posted in books, Reviews 2019	| 1 Comment | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, review, rock my TBR
Book Review: "Goodbye, Paris" by Anstey Harris
Posted at 7:15 am by Laura, on December 27, 2018
Goodbye, Paris by Anstey Harris
Publisher: Touchstone
Grace once had the beginnings of a promising musical career, but she hasn't been able to play her cello publicly since a traumatic event at music college years ago. Since then, she's built a quiet life for herself in her small English village, repairing instruments and nurturing her long- distance affair with David, the man who has helped her rebuild her life even as she puts her dreams of a family on hold until his children are old enough for him to leave his loveless marriage.
But when David saves the life of a woman in the Paris Metro, his resulting fame shines a light onto the real state of the relationship(s) in his life. Shattered, Grace hits rock bottom and abandons everything that has been important to her, including her dream of entering and winning the world's most important violin-making competition. Her closest friends–a charming elderly violinist with a secret love affair of his own, and her store clerk, a gifted but angst-ridden teenage girl–step in to help, but will their friendship be enough to help her pick up the pieces?
Grace and her boyfriend David are heading home from a wonderful concert in Paris when a woman in the metro faints and nearly dies on the tracks. David's rescue spawns a media frenzy — who is this mysterious hero, and can we figure it out with CCTV recordings? Through a series of twists and turns we come to know Grace: her loneliness and seclusion, the silent trauma of her past, the humor, heart, and passion for music. Her violin shop, where she makes violins, violas, and cellos for musicians of all ages, is doing well enough that she can create a cello specifically for a world-wide competition for makers. When life spins out of control, she relies on the support and encouragement of her unlikely duet of friends, Nadia and Mr Williams, to set her back on her feet and take the spotlight.
Closing out the year with a five-star read, my seventh for 2018! The librarians have a genre study book club and this holiday season we did a Secret Santa-style event: we expressed our favorite kinds of books and authors to someone whose taste is different from ours, and they recommended titles. An exercise in readers advisory techniques! And my Secret Santa nailed it: she recommended this book, and I was over-the-moon.
Grace's naivete felt so authentic to me, her emotional and mental abuse incredibly powerful and heartbreaking. As someone who has also suffered similar past traumas, I sat there reading, thinking oh no, Grace, you have no idea, oh no, what an awful way to learn. She's such a strong and capable woman, and I adored Nadia — her anger, her passion, her need for validation and respect — and Mr Williams — his spunk, his intelligence, and overall gentlemanly demeanor — for their unwavering, unconditional support of Grace through all her trials and triumphs. What a powerful, moving little novel.
I rarely find characters that feel like kindred spirits. I've been lucky enough to meet both Grace and Eleanor in one year. Grace's talent and gift for music touched my soul. For anyone who has loved Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, for anyone whose heart broke over the moral complexities of Me Before You, for anyone who wants to read and experience the sweeping power of music through words — this is the book for you.
Posted in books, Reviews 2018	| 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, review
Book Review: "Once Upon a River" by Diane Setterfield (ARC)
Posted at 6:45 am by Laura, on December 5, 2018
Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Publishing Date: December 4
Genre: historical fiction, gothic
Rating: ★★★.5
A dark midwinter's night in an ancient inn on the Thames. The regulars are entertaining themselves by telling stories when the door bursts open on an injured stranger. In his arms is the drowned corpse of a little child.
Hours later the dead girl stirs, takes a breath and returns to life.
Is it a miracle?
Is it magic?
Or can it be explained by science?
Replete with folklore, suspense and romance, as well as with the urgent scientific curiosity of the Darwinian age, Once Upon a River is as richly atmospheric as Setterfield's bestseller The Thirteenth Tale.
In a pub known for its storytellers, nestled along the Thames, an injured and soaked man stumbles across the threshold, carrying what looks to be a drowned girl. But as the evening bustles to care for the strangers, a nurse and the innkeeper's son both realize the girl is neither dead nor alive. And yet, she awakens. Three different people claim her as their lost daughter or sister, but the girl refuses to speak. Is she really who the others claim, does she belong to someone else, and how is it she managed to be neither alive nor dead when she appeared at The Swan?
Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale is one of my all-time favorite novels. Though Bellman & Black hasn't quite captured my attention, I knew from the jacket of this book that Setterfield was back in her game with Once Upon a River — atmospheric, absorbing, and full of wonder.
The little girl's arrival sparks an interesting scientific and fantastical discussion on life, death, and the in-between. The inn's patrons are natural storytellers, and as they watch and soak up every minute detail of her appearance and life following the inn, you begin to wonder yourself, as the reader, how she came to be and what exactly happened. Rita, the nurse (and probably my favorite character!), relies on science to find the answers to the little girl's situation, but nothing scientific comes to light. This sparks a philosophical discussion about God, about myths and legends and fantasies, and how to grapple with the unknown.
Setterfield writes the narrative like the tributaries leading to the Thames — little, seemingly insignificant stories and characters grow and develop into a powerful flood of emotion, drama, and enlightenment by the story's end. This is a novel that begs to be read slowly, savored, and not rushed or skimmed. Like the storytellers at The Swan, this too feels like a fairytale, to be read by a warm fire, in a cozy chair, with hot tea in hand.
Posted in books, Reviews 2018	| 8 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, genre: adult fiction, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, review
Book Review: "The Girl in the Tower" by Katherine Arden
Posted at 6:45 am by Laura, on November 29, 2018
The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden
Genre: historical fiction, fantasy
Orphaned and cast out as a witch by her village, Vasya's options are few: resign herself to life in a convent, or allow her older sister to make her a match with a Moscovite prince. Both doom her to life in a tower, cut off from the vast world she longs to explore. So instead she chooses adventure, disguising herself as a boy and riding her horse into the woods. When a battle with some bandits who have been terrorizing the countryside earns her the admiration of the Grand Prince of Moscow, she must carefully guard the secret of her gender to remain in his good graces—even as she realizes his kingdom is under threat from mysterious forces only she will be able to stop.
The Girl in the Tower, the second book of the Winternight trilogy, starts immediately where The Bear and the Nightingale ended. Vasya is free from her village and wants to see more of the world. Her desire leads her to trouble in Moscow, and the rumbling undercurrents of war and oppressive religion. Is she to be trapped as a boy and become a warrior for the Grand Prince, or locked in a tower as a girl to be wed or sent to convent? And what does the prince of night, winter, death, and darkness have to say about it all?
Of these two books so far, the first is my favorite. It stands out in my mind because it was full of medieval Russian culture, mythology, history, and lore. It was a commentary on religion mixed with paganism and magic. However, this book was far more political and battle-hungry, and it worked well with Vasya's character and her need for adventure and freedom. While The Bear and the Nightingale has a clear-cut villain, with a tangible beginning, middle, and end in plot arc, and a cast of recurring characters, The Girl in the Tower felt far more realistic to life (even with its magical elements). Characters come and go depending on the location and political situation, all the characters from her village do not appear in here (of course they wouldn't — Vasya's left them all behind!), and newer, more immediate events take place that require Vasya to look deeply into herself and her motivations and goals. The romantic thread is far more prominent in this novel as well, and it felt appropriate to Vasya's character growth — I was pleased to see that.
By the end of the novel, Arden has set the stage for what's no doubt going to be a spectacular showdown. I'm curious to see where Arden takes us next.
I'd recommend this book — this trilogy! — to anyone who loves Eastern European history, folklore, and fantasy. Uprooted, Spinning Silver, and The Sisters of the Winter Wood come to mind…
This qualifies as book 11 of 16 in my TBR challenge.
Posted in books, Reviews 2018, Rock My TBR	| 9 Comments | Tagged book review, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, genre: historical fiction, review, rock my TBR
Book Review: "The Romanov Empress" by CW Gortner
The Romanov Empress by CW Gortner
Publisher: Ballantine
Rating: ★★★★.5
Narrated by the mother of Russia's last tsar, this vivid, historically authentic novel brings to life the courageous story of Maria Feodorovna, one of Imperial Russia's most compelling women who witnessed the splendor and tragic downfall of the Romanovs as she fought to save her dynasty in the final years of its long reign.
Barely nineteen, Minnie knows that her station in life as a Danish princess is to leave her family and enter into a royal marriage–as her older sister Alix has done, moving to England to wed Queen Victoria's eldest son. The winds of fortune bring Minnie to Russia, where she marries the Romanov heir and becomes empress once he ascends the throne. When resistance to his reign strikes at the heart of her family and the tsar sets out to crush all who oppose him, Minnie–now called Maria–must tread a perilous path of compromise in a country she has come to love.
Her husband's death leaves their son Nicholas as the inexperienced ruler of a deeply divided and crumbling empire. Determined to guide him to reforms that will bring Russia into the modern age, Maria faces implacable opposition from Nicholas's strong-willed wife, Alexandra, whose fervor has lead her into a disturbing relationship with a mystic named Rasputin. As the unstoppable wave of revolution rises anew to engulf Russia, Maria will face her most dangerous challenge and her greatest heartache.
From the opulent palaces of St. Petersburg and the intrigue-laced salons of the aristocracy to the World War I battlefields and the bloodied countryside occupied by the Bolsheviks, C. W. Gortner sweeps us into the anarchic fall of an empire and the complex, bold heart of the woman who tried to save it.
What an absorbing read! My understanding of Romanov history is pretty slim — the gist that the Russians (specifically the Bolsheviks) were upset with their poverty and the Romanov's excess, tore down the monarchy, and established communism, which is great in theory but not in practice. I remember my travels to Russia in 2004 reflecting that juxtaposition of wealth and poverty, all the glorious palaces and churches bursting with gold and light, and the dirty, gray-and-brown streets, transportation, skies, and downtrodden people. So many elements from the last hundred years of the Romanov dynasty are still very much part of the Russian political system today, such as censorship, oppression, and the KGB (and its successors) for example.
This slim understanding of Romanov and Russian history was perfectly fine, as the book details about sixty of the final years of the Romanov dynasty, all that happened, what led to the uprising, and the state of Europe at that time. The Romanov Empress follows Maria (or Dagmar, as she's known in Denmark) as a teenager and ends shortly after her son Tsar Nicholas II is shot. She becomes the daughter-in-law to Alexander II, who freed the serfs but didn't have the foresight to provide homes and jobs. He was assassinated, and Maria's husband Sasha (Alexander III) ruled. He was beloved, but he also lived in fear of the sect responsible for killing his father — thus creating a police system to track down and execute naysayers.
Meanwhile, Maria would hard to show the Russian people the Romanov family cared about their people, the land, their country. She worked in hospitals and established agencies for women and children. Unrest continued — and when Nicholas II took the throne, Maria was devastated by his choice of bride. And I was too. Alexandra was an annoying, arrogant, manipulative, pretentious, horrible woman, who seemed shy and weak at first but proved to be incredibly overpowering as well as gullible. If Nicholas had a backbone, or if Alexandra weren't his wife, I think the Romanovs would certainly still be on the throne, with a Parliament as intended by Alexander II, today.
I was immersed in this novel, and after every engaging chapter I'd look up the people mentioned, the events that took place, the surrounding events in Europe, and found myself falling down an absorbing rabbit hole of complex history. The Romanov Empress is well-researched, a fascinating biographical historical fiction through the eyes of the wife and mother of two drastically different tsars, and all that led to the family's downfall and the rise of Lenin.
Posted in books, Reviews 2018	| 0 Comments | Tagged book review, genre: adult fiction, genre: historical fiction, review
Book Review: "Small Great Things" by Jodi Picoult
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years' experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she's been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don't want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. Does she obey orders or does she intervene?
Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and, as a result, is charged with a serious crime. Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender, takes her case but gives unexpected advice: Kennedy insists that mentioning race in the courtroom is not a winning strategy. Conflicted by Kennedy's counsel, Ruth tries to keep life as normal as possible for her family–especially her teenage son–as the case becomes a media sensation. As the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy must gain each other's trust, and come to see that what they've been taught their whole lives about others–and themselves–might be wrong.
Jodi Picoult is one of my all-time favorite authors, but I was nervous to pick this one up. It was clearly going to be heavier than most of her novels, tackling race, prejudice, discrimination, and justice, all of which can make so many of us uncomfortable. I also knew I didn't want to be in the head of a white supremacist, first and foremost.
So this isn't a review so much as a commentary on what I got from this book. I have to acknowledge that I may say something incorrectly in this post, and I'm sorry in advance if I've inadvertently offended readers.
On a friend's post about the diverse new Congress on FB, someone had left a comment saying, "My personal opinion….I think we should look at all the members of Congress as equal…. regardless of race, gender, creed, or disability. They should all work together to make all our lives better! I worked in several schools where this was the work environment, and I was so appreciative! Love one another." Their heart was in the right place, and they mean well, but this sort of statement is what Picoult tackles in the novel: by not acknowledging someone's difference, you are negating the strengths of that difference, the core of their identity, the success and hardship they faced because of that identity. You are, inexplicably, perpetuating discrimination. Turning a blind eye does not change the system.
I was angry and ashamed and felt such a weight of guilt the entire time I read the novel. I may call myself an ally, an advocate, someone who isn't racist, someone who wants equality for all, who seeks social justice for all. But there are things I've said and done, intending to be a good person, that actually continue the perpetuation of racism (ex: "I don't see color," or like that FB comment above). These are things I need to work on, do better, listen more. Compounding with that were several moments of eye-rolling and shock at the lawyer's naivete whenever she went shopping with Ruth, looking up jurors with Howard, or listening to what children say to one another. Is this really the world "basic white people" live in? Are they really that ignorant? I grew up in a predominantly black neighborhood and school district. So these cringe-worthy moments were horrendous, because to me it seems like common sense. But I had to actively remember Jodi Picoult's audience: privileged white women who probably, genuinely, have no idea. This book is meant to make us uncomfortable. It's supposed to raise these issues, and make us more aware of our own shortcomings.
Which then raises the question: who has the right to tell a story like Ruth's, a black woman or a white woman? Well, a black woman, because she can accurately portray this life and mindset, absolutely! But you also need to think about audience and wide reach — in the case of Picoult, how can you properly show white people (her general audience being white women) what it's like to be a black woman without making them feel too discomforted? Racism can be discussed between two or more races, but more importantly it needs to discussed, addressed, and pointed out within races to start. Whites need to see their ugly side from a fellow white, and learn and grow. Picoult's author's note said exactly this, and she made a great disclaimer too. Roxanne Gay's review of this book is fantastic as well. I cannot stress enough the importance of reading her review alongside reading this book.
Like I said, this wasn't so much a review of the book but a reflection of what I got from it. It shocked me (the basic white outlook of it), it made me uncomfortable, it made me feel guilty, it made me angry, it made me want to do more and be better.
Read this book. Learn. Ask the difficult questions. Seek out information to further your racial education. (Everyone. Even those of you who say you're not racist.) It gives me hope that as the industry continues to strive for diversity, we will finally see Ruth's story through a black writer, and that book would sell just as many copies as, if not more than, Picoult's.
Book Review: "Dear Mrs. Bird" by AJ Pearce
Posted at 6:15 am by Laura, on November 1, 2018
Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce
Publisher: Scribner
London, 1940. Emmeline Lake is Doing Her Bit for the war effort, volunteering as a telephone operator with the Auxiliary Fire Services. When Emmy sees an advertisement for a job at the London Evening Chronicle, her dreams of becoming a Lady War Correspondent suddenly seem achievable. But the job turns out to be working as a typist for the fierce and renowned advice columnist, Henrietta Bird. Emmy is disappointed, but gamely bucks up and buckles down.
Mrs. Bird is very clear: letters containing any Unpleasantness must go straight in the bin. But when Emmy reads poignant notes from women who may have Gone Too Far with the wrong men, or who can't bear to let their children be evacuated, she is unable to resist responding. As the German planes make their nightly raids, and London picks up the smoldering pieces each morning, Emmy secretly begins to write back to the readers who have poured out their troubles.
Emmy wants nothing more than to be a war correspondent for a prominent London newspaper, and is over-the-moon to find an advertisement for a job at the London Evening Chronicle. But with her head in the clouds, she doesn't realize that the job she has accepted is that of a typist for a grouchy, abrasive, particular woman who runs the advice column, "Henrietta Helps." Unlike other advice columns, though, Mrs. Henrietta Bird wants nothing to do with women's problems during the war and will only offer advice on housekeeping and other "appropriate" topics. Emmy can't leave these poor women's letters in the bin, and secretly writes back to them, hoping against hope that the little comfort she can provide will also assist her in her own troubles as bombs fall from the sky.
Several friends read and raved over this little book, and I knew I had to get my hands on this story about friendship and hope in the midst of one of the worst wars in history. I listened to it on audio, and I highly recommend you do too — Anna Popplewell (of Narnia fame) was the narrator and she does such an excellent job! She really brings the characters to life and I enjoyed every second.
Going in, all I knew about this novel was the premise, and it truly is just the first three or so chapters. But what happens after Emmy writes to the readers and defies her boss? This novel is a slice of life for one particular woman in war-torn London, and all the ups and downs each day brought. She has her full-time job at the magazine, her part-time evening job taking calls during raids to send out fire departments, her deep friendship with flatmate and childhood friend Bunty, and their trials and tribulations in love. I was so immersed in Emmy's life, I felt like she was my friend. So while I, too, was invested in the readers and the consequences of Emmy's actions, I found myself drawn to the everyday.
I highly recommend this novel to readers of WWII historical fiction, and readers who want to root for a lighthearted, resourceful, silver-lining protagonist who does her very best in keeping spirits up a during a turbulent era.
Posted in books, Reviews 2018	| 4 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: historical fiction, review
Book Review: "The Lost Queen" by Signe Pike
Intelligent, passionate, rebellious, brave, and one of the most powerful early medieval queens in British history, Languoreth ruled at a time of enormous disruption and bloodshed, when the burgeoning forces of Christianity threatened to obliterate the ancient pagan beliefs and change her way of life forever.
Together with her twin brother Lailoken, a warrior and druid known to history as Merlin, Languoreth is catapulted into a world of danger and violence. When a war brings Emrys Pendragon to their door, Languoreth collides with the handsome warrior Maelgwn. Their passionate connection is forged by enchantment, but Languoreth is promised in marriage to Rhydderch, son of the High King who is sympathetic to the followers of Christianity. As Rhydderch's wife, Languoreth must assume her duty to fight for the preservation of the Old Way, her kingdom, and all she holds dear.
Languoreth is a sixth-century queen of Scotland and twin to Lailoken, whom history later knows as Merlin. The two have a bond unlike any other, and while both have druid gifts, Languoreth uses hers for healing and political alliances while Lailoken uses his for strategy, battle, and preservation of the Old Way. But as Christianity comes to head in their land, sweeping across the country and stirring up violent trouble, Languoreth must navigate difficult waters and ensure the world remembers her brother for the warrior he truly is.
This was one of the most interesting and potentially historically accurate pieces of fiction in the Merlin tale. We've all been led to believe the King Arthur lore originated in Wales, and historians and academics keep finding potential ties to true men in English and Welsh medieval history who may fit the bill. But this book, and the wealth of research behind it backing this up (I know Wiki is not a true source, but seriously, a simple search there only confirms Pike's extensive research further!), will blow your mind. Searching for Arthur isn't the answer––it's searching for Merlin, or Myrddin ("mad man"), which was the obscured name for a man known as Lailoken. Lailoken had a twin sister, Languoreth, whose children also appear in Arthurian lore. And all those big historical Scottish battles also appear in Arthurian lore, and happened during the twins' childhood, teen, and adult years. It all adds pretty well together.
My mind was blown historically, and I'm eager to see Pike's next book in the trilogy (I have some guesses as to which character in Arthurian legend she'll tackle next). The language is appropriately medieval in tone, and at times the novel felt like it was dragging––but I kept reading, and I'm glad I did. This is Languoreth's story, a forgotten strong queen in Scottish history, and it deserves a read. This is Camelot meets Outlander in terms of historical depth and mystical elements, and I would definitely encourage you to crack it open and sink into the mythology that is history!
Book Review: "The Clockmaker's Daughter" by Kate Morton (ARC)
Posted at 6:15 am by Laura, on September 24, 2018
The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton
Publishing: October 9
Genre: historical, contemporary
"My real name, no one remembers. The truth about that summer, no one else knows."
In the summer of 1862, a group of young artists led by the passionate and talented Edward Radcliffe descends upon Birchwood Manor on the banks of the Upper Thames. Their plan: to spend a secluded summer month in a haze of inspiration and creativity. But by the time their stay is over, one woman has been shot dead while another has disappeared; a priceless heirloom is missing; and Edward Radcliffe's life is in ruins.
Over one hundred and fifty years later, Elodie Winslow, a young archivist in London, uncovers a leather satchel containing two seemingly unrelated items: a sepia photograph of an arresting-looking woman in Victorian clothing, and an artist's sketchbook containing the drawing of a twin-gabled house on the bend of a river.
Why does Birchwood Manor feel so familiar to Elodie? And who is the beautiful woman in the photograph? Will she ever give up her secrets?
It has taken me forever to write this review (at the time of writing this, I've since read ten novels), in large part because it's now my favorite Morton (knocking The House at Riverton to second) and because I have difficulty putting favorite novels by long-standing favorite authors into reviewing words. Morton's novels are like Rowling's Harry Potter to me. Rowling was there for my childhood and teen years, and my love affair with the series continues on; Morton was there in my young and early adulthood, showing me that romantic Gothic fiction is still around and accessible and full of wonder, like being with an old friend and picking up where things left off. I adore Morton's work.
The Clockmaker's Daughter is not about clocks, or about a daughter assisting her father making clocks, or anything that title and cover image may suggest. It is very much about time, family secrets, loss, and everything that can happen within one beautiful manor house. It's classic Morton, and this time — thanks to the clockmaker's daughter's narrative voice — the Birchwood Manor is a character in itself. Birchwood links all of the narrative threads together, a touchstone within this gorgeous novel that you love to come back home to.
First there's Elodie. She's a quiet sort, intelligent, observant, a bit of a wallflower, and my kindred spirit. I fell for her instantly. She's an archivist in London for a private art collection. When a package is discovered in a back room containing a leather satchel with a photograph of a beautiful woman and a sketchbook, Elodie sets out to link the two together and uncover the mystery of why the package was there, why it wasn't archived, and how these were related to the man whose collection she works for.
But this isn't her story. It's Birdie's. It's Juliet's. It's Edward's. It's Ada's. It's Leonard's and Tip's and Lucy's. This is probably the most perspectives Morton's had in a novel, and at first it's a little jarring, I'll admit — but hang on. Birdie and Birchwood Manor will bring you back, and soon you'll be making the surprisingly and thrilling connections that all these people have with one another and with Birchwood Manor.
Birchwood began as a magical summer home, later bequeathed to Edward and his friends. After a terrible accident and misunderstanding, it falls to ruin. Edward's sister Lucy spruces up the manor and turns it into a girl's school, where Ada attends and learns all about geology and archaeology and independence with Lucy. But war hits, and Birchwood is left once more. Leonard, seeking solace, finds it to be a place of refuge, and Juliet a lovely home for her children, including Tip, in the country.
But most of all, it's the way Birdie connects these people to this manor, and her tragedy. It broke my heart, gently, softly, the only way Morton can and does every time. I had Secret Garden and Little Princess vibes throughout the novel, and Tip's curiosity reminded me so much of Uncle Desmond in "About Time." I loved this book to pieces. I don't know what I was expecting — definitely something more with clocks! — but this was infinitely better.
The Clockmaker's Daughter is a quietly vibrant novel about love, murder, mystery, loss, art, and the constant flowing river of time. Fans of Morton's earlier work will not be disappointed.
Thank you, Atria Books, for providing the galley on Edelweiss for review!
Posted in books, Reviews 2018	| 6 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: historical fiction, review
Scribbles & Wanderlust


Provides leadership oversight in collaboration and under the supervision of the Operating Room Manager for Central Processing. Oversight includes but is not limited to staffing and scheduling, employee satisfaction, customer satisfaction, and financial management. Individual is also responsible for performing decontamination, high level disinfection and sterilization on a wide variety of medical/surgical instruments and equipment under the direction and supervision of the CPD Operations Manager. Prioritization and coordination equipment. Prioritization and coordination of work for OR, clean and leak test endoscopes, assembly of case carts for OR, maintenance of event related sterility and monitoring of instrument repair.
Provides evidence that the person was employed or otherwise contracted for the services as a central service technician in a healthcare facility for a cumulative period of three years.
Central Service Technician Lead / Charge will also be required to complete 24 hours of continuing education annually.


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The King's Kitchen Close to Donating More Than 9,000 Meals During Pandemic
By Maggie Hughes Mar 27, 2020
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The King's Kitchen is close to donating more than 9,000 meals to the less fortunate in Charlotte during the coronavirus pandemic.
The King's Kitchen, managed by Jim Noble Restaurants, is 100% a non-profit restaurant and the money they make from patrons goes directly to those who need it most.
So when the coronavirus pandemic hit North Carolina, The King's Kitchen did what they do best, serve the community.
The restaurant paused all of its normal operations so they could focus on feeding the less fortunate.
"It takes an average of $7 to provide one well-balanced meal to those in need. Currently, we, in partnership with Charlotte Mecklenburg Dream Center, are already serving 600 of these daily, but with your help, we hope to serve over 2,000 per day," The King's Kitchen wrote on Facebook.
The King's Kitchen announced on Facebook Friday morning that thanks to generous donations, they have been able to donate over 8,000 meals with another 1,000 meals going out Friday night.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The availability of Chinese mobile payment services such as Alipay and WeChat Pay is having a greater impact on the shopping decisions of Chinese outbound tourists than ever before. Security is a major driver of the preference for mobile payments, something that's especially important for luxury retailers selling big ticket items.
In the report Outbound Chinese Tourism and Consumption Trends: 2017 Survey, jointly issued by Nielsen and Alipay on February 28, 77 percent of Chinese tourists said they spent more using mobile payments on their most recent overseas trip than on trips over the past two years. Ninety-three percent said mobile payment was their preferred payment choice, and 91 percent indicated they would be more willing to spend if an overseas merchant accepted Chinese mobile payments.
According to the report, an average of 2.8 payments out of every 10 were made using mobile apps during Chinese tourists' most recent overseas trips, a number that edged up 0.5 from two years before. Simultaneously, the use of cash payments dropped by 0.3 to an average of three in every 10 transactions. "More mobile payments, less cash" is a trend that is particularly obvious in the post-90s generation.
This payment trend has real significance for international luxury brands and retailers. Among affluent Chinese travelers, 61 percent shop at duty-free stores, 47 percent at department stores, and 31 percent at luxury boutiques. In particular, luxury brands and retailers in the United States and Europe should take note. The report shows that Chinese tourists' spend at luxury stores and outlet malls in these markets is much higher than in other countries and regions.
Security is the main factor that makes Chinese tourists more inclined to pay via mobile payments, the report said. When spending abroad, many survey respondents said they have concerns about paying twice or not being able to receive SMS transaction notifications when using their bank cards. They may also feel awkward or embarrassed if a card payment fails to go through.
Cash payments are also less favored as Chinese travelers are no longer happy carrying large quantities of cash when they travel. Chinese travelers find inputting a password or fingerprint on their mobile phones much more familiar — it has become the default way of paying in China — and secure.
As the Chinese economy continues to grow and the country's middle class further expands, the number of Chinese travelers going abroad and the amount they spend are both also increasing.
According to statistics from the International Tourism Association, Chinese tourists spent approximately 260 billion dollars in 2016, up 4.5 percent from the year before. In addition, the number of Chinese outbound travelers grew by seven percent on a year-on-year basis, reaching 131 million last year.


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CD obaly > Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
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Súvisiace hry: The Lord of the Rings: Gollum
The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War - Desolation of Mordor Story Expansion
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War - The Blade of Galadriel Story Expansion
Middle-earth: Shadow of War - Outlaw Tribe Nemesis Expansion
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LEGO The Lord of the Rings
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The Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood
The Lord of the Rings: Conquest
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The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
Battle for Middle-Earth 2: The Rise of the Witch-King
Lord of the Rings: The Battle For Middle-Earth 2
Lord of the Rings: Shadows of Mordor
Lord of the Rings: The Battle For Middle-Earth
Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
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text:
November 1, 2018 by Andrew
Sarah's cell phone rang while Natasha buried her tear-streaked face into her father's chest. Her body wracked with undulating waves of uncontrollable sobs.
Sarah ignored her and unzipped her black leather top enough to pull her phone out, answering it with relieved anticipation. She was agonizingly annoyed with standing around aimlessly while the fractured family was overcome by pathetic emotions. She had no use for them. Compassion, empathy and sadness were a waste of time that detracted from accomplishments. Sarah aggressively avoided vulnerability. Answering her phone, she breathed an internal sigh of satisfaction. Her stiletto boots struck the wooden floor with purpose as she walked to the kitchen. She brought her phone to her ear.
"Brian," she said. "What's going on?"
"We know where Haley is," he answered. "Marcel was already doing an efficient search by the time we got to his house, and this time we did a lot more recon than last time."
"How the fuck did we find her so quickly? It was a pain in the ass to find Natasha," she shot back skeptically. "But we found her now."
Her voice became analytical. "Two cops just came and returned her to Michael. They said that she escaped from wherever she was, and she doesn't know where that is. She came up and knocked on one of their windows while they were sitting in a parking lot."
Brian's tone burst with surprise. "Holy shit! That's lucky. Well at least we don't have to look for her anymore."
He continued"We did a quicker, more systematic search this time. Or maybe we got lucky. Or it could be both. Either way, we found the most likely place where she's being held, and sent a few people to do some recon to make sure we weren't being fucked around this time. They made sure they weren't seen, so no one would know we're coming. We're gonna' catch these motherfuckers with their pants down this time."
Michael pulled away from his daughter, wanting to get an update of the situation. She was latched onto him like a leech, and he had to gently free himself from her. As he peeled Natasha off of his comforting body, he delicately wiped the tears from her face. His touch was so tentative that he barely made contact with her, fearing her fragility.
Sarah was ready as soon as she heard the news. "So what's the plan then?" she asked with anticipation and focused predatory instinct. "Go in there stealthily, take them by surprise, and then slaughter everyone other than Michael's wife?"
"Damn right," Brian confidently answered, itching to satisfy his sadistic urges. "We'll find Haley, kill the guys protecting her, and launch a full-scale assault."
Michael had an unspoken exchange with Natasha. He looked into her eyes, and she nodded. He wrapped her tightly in his inviting arms, and then let go of her before standing up to stride over to Sarah.
"Where is she being held?" she questioned while her mentally reeling partner walked down the hallway to the kitchen.
"It's an old abandoned building on the outskirts of town," Brian answered, his tone cool and calculating. "Right in that lot where the old Sears building used to be."
Sarah's interest piqued. "Oh, that building? That'll give us a huge strategic advantage. It seems like a dumb place to keep Haley," she said critically, editing herself since Michael had stepped into the room. She would have said "that chick" if he hadn't been there. Haley had no significance to her.
Michael heard Brian's booming, gruff voice through her cell phone. "So we're on our way to pick you guys up. Be ready to slaughter those motherfuckers," he said with violent resolve.
Michael was excited. He longed to inflict unbearable suffering on the hit men who had caused his hardship. His even more saturating urge was to rescue his tormented wife from the unforgiving clutches of his dark world. But he was fully aware that he couldn't go to save her while also ensuring his daughter's continued safety. He had gone through so much to get her back that he felt phenomenally overprotective. He interrupted during a pause in the conversation.
"I don't know how I can come with you guys," he interjected regretfully. He was talking to Sarah, but aware that Brian could hear him. "You have no idea how much I want to, but I just finally got Natasha back, and I don't trust anyone with her."
Hearing Brian's instruction, Sarah passed her phone to him.
"Michael, Marcel is coming to your house with his own personal guards to look after Natasha while you come with us to rescue Haley."
"Whoa," Michael reacted with incredulous satisfaction. "That's fucking awesome. All right, then. See you guys when you get here," he said, passing the cell phone back to Sarah.
He moved down the hallway and explained the situation to Natasha. Sarah copied his façade, finishing her conversation with Brian. She walked back to the living room and sat idly in an armchair to wait. Michael had his mind set on vengeance as he spoke in hushed, soothing tones to his daughter. When he was finished, they moved to the couch next to the armchair. All three of them awkwardly sat in silence until they heard a knock on the door.
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text:
About the YWCA
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New Flexible Membership Options for 2017
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All group fitness classes are included whether you are a member or just dropping in for the day.
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"I am committed to my health and wellness in 2017 and plan to work out at least three times every week!"
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If this sounds like you then our One-year Contracts still might be the best option. All members have the ability to place their membership on hold. Our standard hold option allows for up to four months every year.
"For the next six months, I will be committed to my health, wellness and physical fitness."
Our six month paid in full member options have always been popular with those who's life has a seasonal nature. Away for the summer? Or winter? Our Six Month Memberships have been reduced from 2016. An Adult Six Month Membership is now only $297 plus GST.
"I am still going to school and have to watch my money. "
We have a new Youth/Young Adult Membership Rate. Anyone from age 12 to 14 can have a Electronic Fund Transfer membership for $25 monthly. This affordable rate is designed to help our younger patrons create an active lifestyle which can lead you through your entire life. You do not have to be a student to qualify.
"I only plan to use the facility occasionally."
If you are only an occasional user then one of our Ten-Pack Pass Cards might work best for you. You can purchase ten visits to the facility for only $85 as an adult and we have senior and student options too.
When you support Fitness on 25th you are supporting all of the great and impact programming at YWCA Saskatoon including our Child Development Centre, Crisis Shelter and Residence and our Employment & Learning Centre.
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text:
United Ramble
Two Times UCL Winner Reinstates His Love For Man Utd, Insist He Will Sign For Club – Talks On-going
Portuguese tactician Jose Mourinho has rubbishes rumours in the English press linking him away from Old Trafford.
Reports in English press last night suggests Mourinho is not happy with the way things are going at Old Trafford and that he could resign from his job at the end of the season.
The 54-year old tactician joined the Red Devils in May 2016 and signed a three year contract replacing Louis van Gaal.
During his first season with United, the former Real Madrid manager led the Red Devils to three major titles including the UEFA Europa Cup, EFL Cup and the Community Shield Cup.
Speaking in a press briefing ahead of his team FA Cup match against Derby County, Mourinho reinstated his commitment to United while also ruling out exit from the club anytime soon.
"If you want to ask me directly if I see myself next season at Manchester United, then I say I see myself [here]," Mourinho said.
"As I said when I arrived, I am going to leave when the club wants me to leave because I have no intention to leave at all.
"My intention is to stay and to work and to improve and to bring the club to where the club belongs.
"And I want to stay. I do not see any reason not to stay. I still have a contract. In fact I am in the middle of my contract. I am not in the last couple of months.
"My desire is to stay until the owners and the board is happy with my work."
He added: "I am in the middle of my contract. If I am going to sign a new one of course depends on the club but my commitment with the club is total and I want to stay."
When asked if he hopes to be at United beyond the end of his contract, Mourinho replied: "Yes, I see myself [here].
"It is just a question of [whether] the club, the owners, the board, Mr Woodward are happy with my contribution and they want me to stay beyond the end of this contract.
"But yes I want to stay."
The two times UEFA Champions league winner also took exception to reports, which claims he could resign after two season with the club.
"The worst thing anyone can do to myself is not to say that I am a bad manager," Mourinho said. "It is not to say that I am underperforming. It is not to say that I made a mistake in this game or that game.
"The worst thing someone can do to me is to put one inch of doubt on my professionalism or in my dedication to my club, my job, my players and to every detail related to my job."
This comment by Mourinho will certainly serve as big blow to Paris Saint Germain who are reportedly interested in his services.
Official: Highly Talented Midfielder Arrives Old Trafford – He Could Feature In Tomorrow's Game
Almost Done: £53m Rated Africa Star To Become Man Utd First January Signing – United Fans Will Like Him
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If your association is looking for more complex functionality, please visit MemberLeap to learn more about our advanced membership features in our custom website packages.
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Pricing effective through March 31, 2018, subject to change.
Our Association Website Templates are a self-guided solution. So, to purchase, we ask that you first start a free 30 day trial to be sure this is the right solution for you. After logging into your trial account and getting comfortable, when you are ready to purchase, please start a help ticket indicating that you are ready to end your trial and make your account live. We will then contact you to set up your account.


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Most of you guys want to punch Brock Lesnar in the face
Last updated on February 6th, 2010
Another week, another set of ridiculous questions. It feels more like a week because it probably is. The name should be changed to 'Weekly, sometimes Monthly polls' but I will leave them as 'Weekly' in order to give you guys the illusion that the polls are updated weekly. Last time we asked 'Who has the greatest chance of LOSING their belt in 2010?'. 33% of you voted that Jake Shields would be the first to lose his belt in 2010. Alistair Overeem came in second with 20.7% and Lyoto Machida grabbed third place with 19.2%. Only 1.2% of you believe Gegard Mousasi will lose his Strikeforce Light Heavyweight belt. The next question was 'Which fighter would you like to sucker punch in the face and run away?' and Brock Lesnar placed first with 26% of the votes. Josh Koscheck came in a close second with 21.8% and your boy Frank Mir pulled 15.6%. The final question we posed was 'If you could pick one discipline in MMA to master, what would it be?'. No surprise here, Jiu-jitsu came in first with 31.3% followed by Muay-Thai with 25.5%. Hood only nabbed 8% of the vote. Damn.
Here are the questions for this week:
Who would you like to see added in EA Sports MMA?
Which camp would you want to train in?
Who has the strongest kicks in MMA?
You know what to do, vote as often as possible on the right side of every page. Lets get it on!
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text:
Tesco is quitting the world's two largest economies, but it's not even secure on home turf
Reuters/Paul Hackett
Or maybe it's just the weather.
By Jason Karaian
Global finance and economics editor
China October 2, 2013 This article is more than 2 years old.
Supermarkets are a volume business. It was Jack Cohen, the founder of British retail giant Tesco, who coined the oft-repeated mantra "pile it high and sell it cheap". Today, Tesco reported a weak set of results for the first half of its fiscal year and, more significantly, quit the world's two largest economies: the US and China. (It gave up on Japan, the third-largest, last year.)
In September, Tesco finally called time on its US venture, paying an investor group to take the money-losing operation off its hands. Today's are the first financial results to acknowledge that, but the big news was confirmation that Tesco will offload most of its stake in China to the parent company of the country's Vanguard supermarkets. Tesco will inject £345 million ($560 million) into the new venture, in which it will maintain a passive 20% stake. In all, Tesco's discontinued operations represented just over £1 billion in sales in its fiscal first half, saddling the group with a net loss of £317 million. Tesco reported a 24% fall in overall pre-tax profits for the period.
Tesco's chief executive, Philip Clarke, put a brave face on the moves as "evidence of our commitment to disciplined international growth" (translation: to not throwing more money down the drain). But while pulling out of big, saturated markets might be shrewd, it leaves Tesco even more dependent on the UK, which now accounts for 69% of its sales. Operating profits in the UK were up by only 1.5% in the first half, and like-for-like sales at the group's British outlets fell by 0.5%. Smaller rival Sainsbury's reported a 2% rise in UK like-for-sales today, suggesting that it is taking market share from Tesco.
Tesco's remaining international operations are hardly picking up the slack. Trading profits in Asia (now excluding China) fell by 7% in the first half. Profits in Europe, which includes Ireland and a host of eastern countries, plunged by 68% over the same period, with Turkey a particularly weak point, Tesco said. The company is cutting back significantly on new stores in Europe, adding only a quarter as much space in the region as it did last year.
The impression from Tesco's latest results is one of a company in retreat. Having scrapped expensive, unsuccessful ventures in otherwise large and promising retail markets, it is regrouping on its home turf. But this is now also hostile terrain. If the British retailer's model fails to woo foreign shoppers, that is understandable, but if it's losing the shoppers it knows best—Cohen founded the firm in 1919—that's much more worrying.


Several earlier posts have focused on the theory of deliberative democracy (link, link, link). The notion is that political decision-making can be improved by finding mechanisms for permitting citizens to have extended opportunities for discussion and debate over policies and goals. The idea appeals to liberal democratic theorists in the tradition of Rousseau -- the idea that people's political preferences and values can become richer and more adequate through reasoned discussion in a conversation of equals, and political decisions will be improved through such a process. This idea doesn't quite equate to the wisdom of the crowd; rather, individuals become wiser through their interactions with other thoughtful and deliberative people, and the crowd's opinions improve as a result.
But something important has changed since the 1990s when a lot of discussions of deliberative democracy took place. This is the workings of social media -- blogs, comments, Twitter discussions, Facebook communities. Here we have millions of people interacting with each other and debating issues -- but we don't seem to have a surge of better or more informed thinking about the hard issues. On the one hand, we might hope that the vast bandwidth of debate and discussion of issues, involving enormous numbers of the world's citizens, would have the effect of deepening the public's understanding of complex issues and policies. And on the other hand, we seem to have the evidence of continuing superficial thinking about issues, hardening of ideological positions, and reflexive habits of racism, homophobia, and xenophobia. The Internet seems to lead as often to a hardening and narrowing of attitudes as it does to a broadening and deepening of people's thinking about the serious issues we face.
So this is how social media seem to work if left to their own devices. Are there promising examples of more intentional uses of social media to engage the public in deeper conversations about the issues of the day? Certainly there are political organizations across the spectrum that are making large efforts to use social media as a platform for their messages and values. But this is not exactly "deliberative". What is more intriguing is whether there are foundations and non-profit organizations that have specifically focused on creating a more deliberative social media community that can help build a broader consensus about difficult policy choices. And so far I haven't been able to find good examples of this kind of effort.
Is chemistry supervenient upon physics?


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Home / News / Celebrity News
Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich arrested for assaulting prostitute
The 44-year-old is Germany's only Tour de France winner and was arrested in Frankfurt for beating up an "escort lady."
By Akshay Pai
Updated On : 07:47 PST, Mar 31, 2020
Jan Ullrich (Source:Getty Images)
Jan Ullrich, the former German professional road bicycle racer who won the 1997 Tour de France, has been arrested in his home country for beating up a prostitute at a hotel in Frankfurt where he was staying. The 44-year-old was allegedly involved in a dispute that turned physically violent and ended with the cycling star physically assaulting the "escort lady."
According to TMZ, the woman is said to have suffered injuries from the attack, which could mean that Ullrich faces the possibility of being slapped with an assault or attempted murder charge. Furthermore, law enforcement officials are of the belief that he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time, which could spell further trouble for the cyclist.
Ullrich was arrested for assaulting a prostitute (Source: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
In a statement addressing the incident, a police spokesperson told gathered media: "It seems Mr. Ullrich and an escort woman had a dispute and that he attacked her. She alerted the hotel staff and they called the police. Mr. Ullrich is still in custody."
This is the second time in less than a week that Ullrich finds himself in trouble with the law. The BBC reported that he was arrested last Friday in Majorca after he allegedly jumped over a neighbor's fence and made threats. The 44-year-old defended himself by claiming that he had only been trying to talk to his neighbor, who as it turned out, was German actor and director Til Schweiger.
Schweiger starred in Quentin Tarantino's 'Inglorious Basterds' but told the media he would not be pressing charges against his former "good friend." However, he did have a restraining order issued against Ullrich.
Following that particular incident, he had spoken to German newspaper Bild about how his separation from his wife had affected him. "The separation from Sara and distance from my children, whom I have not seen since Easter and have barely spoken to, have had a great effect on me," he said. "I have done things as a result that I very much regret."
Ullrich has bee plagued by a plethora of personal problems since retiring from cycling in 2007 and has admitted that he is receiving therapy for his problems with drug and alcohol abuse. The only German cyclist to have ever won the Tour de France, he also won gold and silver medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was the primary reason behind the bicycle boom in Germany in the early part of the 21st century.
But his cycling career has not been without controversy either. He was banned from the Tour de France in 2006 amidst speculation that he had doped and was found guilty of the same by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2012. Though he initially denied the charges, he admitted to blood doping in 2013 and all results gained since May 2005 were removed from his Palmarès.


Our programs help students develop the soft skills that help them obtain meaningful employment during and after their post-secondary educations. By supporting our youth through this developmental process, we are creating a strong future workforce in our communities.
Our unique programs connect students with volunteers who share real-life experiences, bridging the world of work with concepts learned in the classroom. JA is a grassroots organization, depending on corporate and individual donations to make a difference in your community. To become an active part of effecting positive change in our youth, visit us at www.jacanada.org/sw-ontario.


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Walker Hayes
You Broke Up with Me
boom. 2017
Don't Let Her
Don't Let Her - Single 2019
90's Country
90's Country - Single 2018
Shut Up Kenny
About Walker Hayes
It took Walker Hayes over a decade to break into the country mainstream, but when he finally landed a Top Ten hit in 2017, "You Broke Up with Me" landed with the force of an explosion -- appropriate, since its parent album was called boom. This 2017 album came six years after his full-length debut, Reason to Rhyme, announced a promising talent in a bro-country vein, but boom. was fresh work that fused modern R&B, contemporary country, hip-hop, and rock, announcing a distinctive talent.
Hayes is a native of Mobile, Alabama, born in that city on December 27, 1979. He grew up in Mobile, dividing his time between music and sports as a child and teenager. He wound up earning a music degree from Alabama's Birmingham-Southern College, then attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Hayes and his wife moved to Nashville in 2005 with dreams that he would become a professional musician. He signed a song-publishing deal and then, on the strength of a demo he recorded for Keith Urban, Hayes inked a deal with Mercury before quickly moving to Capitol Records. Hayes released his debut single, "Pants," in 2010, which wound up reaching 60 on the Hot Country Songs chart. The full-length Reason to Rhyme followed in 2011, but it didn't chart.
Over the next few years, Hayes worked as a songwriter, landing placements with Colt Ford and Rodney Atkins in 2014. Capitol dropped him, so he worked at Costco as he continued to write, releasing the single "Pimpin' Joy" to little attention in 2014. Shane McAnally signed him to SMACK/RareSpark in 2016, leading him to release two EPs -- 8Tracks, Vol. 1: Good Shit and 8Tracks, Vol. 2: Break the Internet -- that year. Hayes landed a contract with Monument in 2017, which released "You Broke Up with Me" that year. The song became a hit, earning gold certification and setting up the release of the full-length boom. in December 2017. The album debuted at number six on the Top Country Albums chart, and peaked at number 37 on the Billboard 200. The reference-heavy single "90's Country" arrived in 2018. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine


text:
By Daniel F. Warden
Colorado Non-Compete Law Blog
Insight and commentary on Covenants Not to Compete (Including Unfair Competition, Trade Secrets & Nondisclosure Agreements)
Home > Uncategorized > Leveling the playing field; tortious interference claims against a former employer
Leveling the playing field; tortious interference claims against a former employer
By Dan Warden on November 18, 2016
Posted in Tortious Interference, Uncategorized
A recent decision in Denver District Court, Business Network Consulting v. Perkins, demonstrates the risks taken by aggressive employers when they seek to impose restrictions on a former employee that aren't set forth in any written agreement.
BNC, a computer consulting company, sprung into action when it learned that one of its customers had offered a job to its former employee, Perkins. BNC contacted its customer and threatened litigation even though the customer had never signed BNC's form contract that barred customers from hiring BNC's employees for a limited time after an employee left BNC. Reluctant to get involved in litigation, the customer conferred with Perkins about BNC's threats and Perkins elected not to go to work for the customer. The customer then reached a settlement with BNC under which the customer disclosed its communications with the employee and agreed not to employ Perkins for several years.
BNC was not satisfied with the settlement, however. It filed suit against its former employee and alleged that he had breached his nondisclosure and nonsolicitation agreement by disclosing information to a competitor, performing work for a client, and failing to tell a prospective employer about his nondisclosure and nonsolictation obligations. Based on the language in the nondisclosure/nonsolicitation agreement, however, Judge Brody rejected BNC's claims. Among other things, she found that the supposedly confidential information was not truly confidential. She also found that Perkins didn't have a duty of disclosure because he had worked as an independent contractor rather than as an employee. Those findings are not surprising and appear to be amply supported by the facts.
What's striking about the decision is that Perkins prevailed on his claim for tortious interference with prospective business advantage. Judge Brody found that BNC had caused Perkins to lose his new job with BNC's customer by threatening unfounded litigation and by telling the new employer that the new job would be a breach of Perkins' nondisclosure and nonsolicitation agreement as well as the client's alleged agreement with BNC. These representations were false because BNC knew that it didn't have a written agreement with the new employer that barred the new employer from hiring Perkins. BNC also knew that its agreement with Perkins did not bar Perkins from working for the new company. BNC knew that this representation was false because it had tried to get Perkins to sign a new noncompete agreement with more onerous restrictions but Perkins had declined to sign the new agreement. Under its agreement with Perkins, BNC at best had the right to recover liquidated damages to BNC if Perkins went to work for the new company. Tellingly, Judge Brody found that BNC's conduct constituted a restraint of trade – that is, "Perkins' ability to earn a living". Perkins had the right to work for the new company and the new company had the right to hire him.
Perkins victory was not just symbolic. The Court awarded over $100,000 in economic damages to Perkins on the tortious interference claim, $10,000 for emotional distress and mental suffering and $30,000 in punitive damages. In awarding punitive damages, the Court found that the amount was a "figure that will deter BNC from ignoring its own agreements, engaging in bullying tactics without basis, and interfering with its employees' right to earn a living." Subsequently, the Court awarded over $90,000 in attorneys fees to Perkins.
There is a lot to learn from this case. Even though noncompetes are disfavored in Colorado, employers have the upper hand when it comes to noncompetes. Employers draft the agreements and employees sign the agreements without thought when they are first hired.When it comes time to enforce an agreement, employers typically have a lawyer and the money to pursue their claims. These advantages can make employers overconfident, however, and cause them to make unreasonable demands that seek relief not provided in any written agreement. When that happens, this case demonstrates that there are remedies available to the former employee.
This case is on appeal. Briefs have not yet been filed, and it will be months before the Court of Appeals enters its decision. Among other things, the Court of Appeals may need to decide when an employer's prosecution of an unenforceable noncompete goes too far and becomes the basis for a claim for tortious interference with contract.
Tags: Colorado noncompete, Colorado tortious interference, Tortious Interference
About Dan Warden
Dan Warden practices in complex commercial litigation. He devotes a significant portion of his practice to claims involving breach of non-compete or non-solicit agreements. He has represented employers seeking to enforce non-compete clauses as well as employees contesting such clauses.
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Q: Keyboard column not responding Have a keyboard with hotswap sockets that was previously working... suddenly one column no longer works. Specifically the column consisting of 6yhn does not work anymore.
Here is a link to the schematic https://nicekeyboards.com/docs/nice-60/schematic
Pics of the keys:
6:
y:
h:
n:
And these are things I've tried:

*

*Diode tests on all the non-working keys. All passed.

*Continuity tests between the two ends of the sockets of non-working keys. All passed.

*Continuity tests between the end of the socket and the top of the diode (yellow line in image). All passed

*Continuity test between the end of the socket and the bottom of the diode (blue line in the image. All failed (including known working keys).

*Inspected solder pads for lifting. None.

*Inspected column traces for damage. None.

*Inspected the MCU for issues (it's under the Bluetooth chip), and I don't think there's anything.

*Switched the GPIO for the column in firmware, and connected the GPIO pin to one of the column socket pads. Same behavior as the default GPIO.

I'm actually at a loss at what else to test. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

A: Turns out it was the old GPIO pulling the voltage down for the column. After changing GPIOs, I had to cut the trace for the old GPIO.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The Episcopal School of Knoxville is a private, co-educational school that offers academic excellence and character training to students from three years-old to 8th grade.
The mission of The Episcopal School of Knoxville is to prepare students for higher education and a lifetime of learning within the context of a loving, inclusive and family-centered community. We enrich our students' intellectual, physical, cultural and spiritual growth so that they may realize their potential as children of God and citizens of the world.
Our interactive teaching style allows our students to grasp complex subjects.
Nearly 90% of students participate in a sport before they graduate.
8th grade students share a "This I Believe" speech during chapel, a reflection on how their core values guide their daily lives.
ESK graduate Devin Badgett is intently pursuing a music career, a passion he developed during his middle school years at ESK.


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Joannes Aurifaber (1519 – November 18, 1575), born Johann Goldschmidt in Weimar, Germany, was a Lutheran churchman, theologian, and a Protestant reformer. Owing to a similarly-named contemporary, he is sometimes distinguished by the cognomen Vimariensis or Vinariensis ("of Weimar").

Life
He studied at Wittenberg where he heard the lectures of Martin Luther, and afterwards became tutor to Count Mansfeldt. In the war of 1544–45 he accompanied the army as field-preacher, and then lived with Luther as his famulus or private secretary, being present at his death in 1546. In the following year he spent six months in prison with John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony, who had been captured by the emperor, Charles V.

He held for some years the office of court-preacher at Weimar, but owing to theological disputes was compelled to resign this office in 1561. In 1566 he was appointed to the Lutheran church at Erfurt, and there remained till his death in November 1575.

Besides taking a share in the first collected or Jena edition of Luther's works (1556), Aurifaber sought out and published at Eisleben in 1564–1565 several writings not included in that edition. He also published Luther's Letters (1556, 1565), and Table Talk (1566). This popular work, which has given him most of his fame, is unfortunately but a second or third hand compilation.

See also
 Joannes Aurifaber Vratislaviensis

References

Attribution

Literature

 Robert Stupperich: Reformatorenlexikon. Verlag Max Mohn, Gütersloh 1984,
 Helmar Junghans: "Aurifaber, Johannes." In: Theologische Realenzyklopädie (TRE) Bd. 4, (1979), S.752–755,
 Wagenmann, Gustav Kawerau: "Aurifaber, Johannes (Vinariensis)." In: Realenzyklopädie für protestantische Theologie und Kirche (RE), 3. Auflage, Bd. 2, (1897), S. 290–293

16th-century German Lutheran clergy
1519 births
1575 deaths

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Just a few images of Vanessa and Brad's wedding at the Forest Highlands Golf Resort in Flagstaff. I had such a good time photographing them and getting to know them as a couple. Their wedding and especially their reception was a blast!


In California, the cameras at the traffic lights are operated by private companies hired by the police department. When you violate the red light, the camera will record the violation. The company will send the details of the violation to the police department. The company cannot determine if it is indeed a violation. The company can only report the violation to the police department. Only the police department has the authority to determine if there has indeed been a violation. If police department determines there has been a violation, you will receive a ticket and you will have the option of paying the fine or fighting the ticket.
The exact timeframe for receiving the ticket by mail will depend on the police department and how they deal with the violation. However by law, the company is required to mail the violation to you with 15 days of the violation. Generally the company will forward the details of the violation to the police department within 6 days of the violation. The police department may take up to 4 days to determine the violation. Once the police department determines the violation, the company will mail the violation to you.
When you receive a ticket, the ticket will inform you that you have to appear in court on a particular day. You should contest the ticket. Appear in court on the particular day and request for a trial. Even if the penalty is a small fine, you should challenge it. The fine may be a small amount but it can have severe consequences. It will show up in your driving record. It can even add points on your license. In future if you are charged with another traffic violation, you could be subject to enhanced penalties because of your driving record. Also once you have a violation on your driving record, your insurance company will start charging you more for insurance. You cannot prevent this by changing the insurance company. The new insurance company will do a background check on you and your ticket will show up during the search.
The police department must prove in the court that you had violated the traffic light. At the beginning of the court proceeding, the court will ask you whether you want to stipulate. You should answer in the negative. If you agree to stipulate, the video footage from the camera will be played in court. This will make it easier for the police to prove the charge against you. If you refuse, the video cannot be played in court. Since you were caught on camera, the police cannot produce an officer claiming that he had seen you violate the traffic light. The only person who can provide evidence of the violation is the person who has custody of the video footage. In majority of the cases, where the defendant refuses stipulation, the police more often than not are unable to bring the person who has custody of the video footage to court and to testify. Even if the police manage to bring the person to court, the person has to testify against you and you can cross examine him. The video however cannot be played in the court. The police must prove that you were the driver and the owner of the vehicle.


text:
CCScene* GameAboutLayer::scene()
{
    CCScene *scene = CCScene::create();
    GameAboutLayer *layer = GameAboutLayer::create();
    scene->addChild(layer);
    return scene;
}

bool GameAboutLayer::init()
{
    if (!CCLayer::init())
        return false;
    CCSize size = CCDirector::sharedDirector()->getVisibleSize();
    CCPoint originPoint = CCDirector::sharedDirector()->getVisibleOrigin();

    CCSprite *bg = CCSprite::create("back_1.png");
    bg->setScale(0.6f);
    bg->setPosition(ccp(size.width/2, size.height/2));
    this->addChild(bg, 0, 0);

    CCSprite *kuang = CCSprite::create("tb.png");
    kuang->setScale(0.5f);
    kuang->setRotation(90);
    kuang->setPosition(ccp(size.width/2, size.height/2));
    this->addChild(kuang, 2, 2);
    char info[256];
    sprintf(info, "name : Loli Run\n\nprogram: wa wa\n\nart design: loli\n\ncompany: diqiukeji\n\n              powered by cocos2d-x");
    CCLabelTTF *label = CCLabelTTF::create(info, "Marker Felt", 20, CCSizeMake(400, 400), kCCTextAlignmentLeft);
    label->setAnchorPoint(ccp(0, 1));
    label->setColor(ccc3(0, 0, 0));
    label->setPosition(ccp(100, 260));
    this->addChild(label);

    CCSprite *aboutTitle = CCSprite::create("about.png");
    aboutTitle->setPosition(ccp(size.width/2, size.height - 20));
    this->addChild(aboutTitle, 3, 3);

    CCMenuItemImage *backItem = CCMenuItemImage::create("backA.png", "backB.png", this, menu_selector(GameAboutLayer::menuBackCallback));
    backItem->setPosition(ccp(size.width - 20, size.height - 20));
    backItem->setEnabled(false);
    CCMenu *mainMenu = CCMenu::create(backItem,NULL);
    mainMenu->setPosition(CCPointZero);
    this->addChild(mainMenu, 3, 4);

    return true;
}

void GameAboutLayer::onEnter()
{
    CCLayer::onEnter();
    CCNode *mainMenu = this->getChildByTag(4);
    CCArray *items = mainMenu->getChildren();
    ((CCMenuItemImage *)items->objectAtIndex(0))->setEnabled(true);
}

void GameAboutLayer::onExit()
{
    CCLayer::onExit();
}

void GameAboutLayer::menuBackCallback(CCObject *pSender)
{
    CCDirector::sharedDirector()->setDepthTest(true);
    CCDirector::sharedDirector()->replaceScene(CCTransitionPageTurn::create(0.5f, GameMenuLayer::scene(), true));
}

void GameAboutLayer::onEnterTransitionDidFinish()
{
    CCLayer::onEnterTransitionDidFinish();
    CCDirector::sharedDirector()->setDepthTest(false);
}

void GameAboutLayer::onExitTransitionDidStart()
{
    CCLayer::onExitTransitionDidStart();
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub