Wales boss Warren Gatland is hoping his side can avoid 'second season syndrome' as they prepare to defend their Six Nations crown.
Gatland's side enter this year's Championship in the unfamiliar role of favourites following their Grand Slam campaign last year and some strong performances in the autumn including a victory over Australia. However, he is wary of the pressure that expectancy brings and is determined to ensure it does not have a detrimental effect on their chances.
Together with his assistants Shaun Edwards and Rob Howley he is hoping to combat so-called 'second season syndrome'. Edwards won numerous honours as a rugby league star with Wigan, while alongside (rugby director) Gatland and (scrum-half) Howley, he enjoyed European and domestic success in his current Wasps coaching role.
"Shaun spoke to the players on Tuesday about his experiences of the past, coming from champion Wigan sides and how they responded the following year, and the experiences we had at Wasps," said Gatland. "It's not the external pressures, it is the internal pressures you put on yourself in terms of wanting to perform.
"The last thing we want to do is let ourselves down and let the public down by having a really poor Six Nations. It's all very well being Six Nations champions, and I am not saying we are going to repeat that, but we want to continue to improve the team and compete with the best sides.
"We know the (Welsh) nation expects, but we will not be complacent, we will be on our guard. Teams have gone to Scotland in the past and been over-confident and expected a result, but the Scots will be looking forward to taking us on.
"If we take the challenge lightly, we will be playing straight into their hands. They are a much-improved outfit over the last 12 months, and they have the talent and the ability to turn teams over."
Gatland, not for the first time this season, is sweating on centre Gavin Henson's fitness. Ospreys star Henson, poised for a first Test match appearance since last year's Grand Slam-clinching victory over France, has handed the Wales camp a major injury scare.
The 27-year-old suffered tightening of a calf muscle in training on Tuesday, and he did not train yesterday. Henson has missed Wales' last six Tests, initially because of an ankle injury and then a long-standing Achilles' tendon problem he aggravated before the autumn series opener against South Africa.
Gatland added: "When he comes in on Friday we will make a decision. We are not going to wait like we did in the autumn until the day of the match. It's only fair, in the first game, we make the call on Friday.
"If Gavin is not right, Tom (Shanklin) will come in and probably go to 13, Jamie (Roberts) move to 12 and Andrew Bishop brought in as bench cover."
Henson's scheduled return is one of three changes from the side that beat Australia 21-18 just under 10 weeks ago. He replaces Shanklin, with Roberts moving to outside centre, while 20-year-old Cardiff Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny makes his Six Nations debut and Ospreys scrum-half Mike Phillips returns after recovering from a major knee injury that required two operations.


text:
James (Jim) Newsom
February 6, 1952 - June 10, 2021
James William Newsom, Jr., of Ashdown, AR died on June 10, 2021 in Ashdown. James (Jim) was born to James W. Newsom, Sr. and Virgie A. Moore Newsom on February 6, 1952 in Harrisburg, Ar. He is preceded in death by his parents, his father and mother-in-law, W.T. and Ina Wade, one sister-in-law, Donna Wade Crain, one brother-in-law, Jack H. Young, Jr, and one nephew, Brandon Giles. James was a long-time teacher of High School English and Journalism in various High Schools. He served as a Congressional Aid to Congressman Mike Ross and is an author. His passion was being a Journalist/Reporter for 30 plus years. Jim worked on newspapers throughout many states including Arkansas newspapers, The Northwest Times in Fayetteville, The Hope Star, The Nashville News, The Little River News in Ashdown, and retired from the Sentinel Record in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He received several first-place awards for his excellence in journalism and first place excellence for the state of Arkansas for the coverage of the Albert Pike flood. Jim loved fishing, baseball, music, opera, reading, hockey and being with family. Jim would tell you that two of the best places he had ever been was Canada Niagara Falls with his wife and their trip to Little Rock to see his famous idle, Paul McCartney. Also his trip to New York City and Yellowstone National Park. He is a member of St. Luke Episcopal Church in Hot Springs, AR. Mr. Newsom is survived by his wife, Sherry Wade Newsom of Ashdown, his two sons, Don B. Newsom and James W. Newsom III of Hope, AR, three daughters, Charlissa Newsom of Poquoson, Virginia, Stephanie Zayouna (Duraid) of Katy, Tx and Stacy Revalee (Wallace) of Texarkana, TX, twelve grandchildren and one sister, Mary Wilkenson (Steve) of Virginia Beach, Virginia and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be Monday, June 14, 2021 at 2:00 at Madden Funeral Home in Ashdown with Richard T. Wade officiating. Interment to follow at Arden Cemetery.
James William Newsom, Jr., of Ashdown, AR died on June 10, 2021 in Ashdown. James (Jim) was born to James W. Newsom, Sr. and Virgie A. Moore Newsom on February 6, 1952 in Harrisburg, Ar. He is preceded in death by his parents, his father and... View Obituary & Service Information
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


See What You've Done, R. Kelly?
I believe I can fly! No you can't, you idiot!
You failed so badly, All of the polar bears at the zoo facepalmed.
I told you not to jump from the top bunk without your floaties on!
The Olympics are in Less Than a Month!
Straighten yur back you ninny! Right now you'll only get 5/10.
Where Did You Even Get That Stuff?


The theme of Pagan Spirit Gathering this year was Soul Shine. And man do I feel my soul shining!
It's a wonderful, intense, incredible experience… no one would argue.
And yet… and yet I'm still so surprised at how deeply under my skin Tribe got this year.
I miss it. I miss them. I miss PSG.
I miss the heartbeat of your drums pulsing through my bones.
I miss the swirl of skirts and scarves frolicking in the sun.
I miss the authentic faces of tribe, unhidden by masks and business and 'the real world'.
I miss the hiss of the fire as it spins in the dark.
I miss you like the measured cadence of the Guardians who shepherd our rituals and protect our tribe.
I miss you like the dances pulled from our ancestral memory at the bonfire.
I miss you like the twinkle of solar lights lighting my way.
I miss you like the raucous hilarity of board games fueled by mead.
I miss you like the release of tears that watered my soul.
I miss you like the ululating cry of tribe in celebration.
This year was all about deep connection, for me. I feel the family twining around my heart and soul. I want to snuggle up in the new and continuing friendships. I can't stop thinking about the smiles and the hugs and the jokes and the laughter and the time spent around the fire, around the common tent, passing mead, and achieving deeper understanding of each other through soul sharing talks. I'm like a junkie, aching for more.
The All-Gender Ritual on Wednesday was deeply moving, inviting in that which makes us uncomfortable (at our discretion), making space for it to be there with us, so that we can better work with and beyond the pain or wound or discomfort of the thing. The tears were a beautiful release, and I am so grateful to Jake and Nate for presenting that ritual for us.
There are actually 3 rituals that happen on Wednesday night: Women's Ritual, Men's Ritual, as well as the All-Gender Ritual. For me, I've really been feeling some changes in my spirituality as it relates to binary gender roles, assumptions of continuing the biologically determined rites of passage or group membership, and the general frustration around bigotry and ignorance in our world at large. I went to the Women's Ritual last year, and while it was a nice ritual, it wasn't deeply moving for me. I identify as She/Her, but my buy-in to the biological determination of Maiden, Mother, Crone has waned since my baby-pagan days – and that was a big focal point of that ritual in 2017. So, this year I chose the All-Gender Ritual, and I am so glad I did!
I think I would like to submit for a new type of Rite of Passage next year. One that honors adult transitions, regardless of biology or lifestage. It isn't often that we celebrate, even quietly, leaving an abusive relationship, leaping into a scary new career, moving across the country alone, or any number of other life events that can change who we are at our core, as people. How amazing would it be to receive recognition from your Tribe for doing some of the hardest things adults can do? I have some concerns on crafting something like this: too generic and it loses its power, but too specific and you alienate people who may really crave the experience. It'll certainly require a lot of thought!
Another ritual I would love to craft is a ritual that honors the vibrant, strong, non-biologically determined people! I want to honor the power of The Morrigan, Sekhmet, Kali, Diana, and others. I want to paint our faces, scream a primal scream, and invite the strength and verve of Spirit in to our lives as we go forth to make the changes that are so needed in this world. I feel the power welling in me, even writing this now. I wonder if this would be well received by Tribe, or if I'm the only one that feels this call?
Pagan Spirit Gathering isn't all sunshine and roses, and it isn't even all spiritual growth! It's camping, for starters, and that isn't for everyone. You truck in all your own food, or buy it at the vendors, so that presents unique challenges. Heat advisory hot in the beginning of the week, with thunderstorms finishing out the week. I had a prancident Friday night, resulting in a fairly bad sprain, and am covered in bug bites. We have a medical crew onsite for a reason – besides the normal sunburns and ticks, this year saw several sprains, heat exhaustion, falls, and one case of really horrific fire burns. I can't say enough good things about the volunteers at Safety – they staff the med tent 24/7 for the entirety of the festival to ensure our safety.
Some successes for me: I didn't get sunburned, despite my ginger roots. The maiden launch of the USS Unicorn Party Barge was a success! And though we had to do emergency surgery on Wednesday, it seems to be successful and she will be back next year (hopefully with a different method of entry that doesn't rely on the ripped handle 🙂 ). I even supported my dear friend through his performer's Rite of Passage with a little cha-cha-cha. Love you, Brad!
Coming back is always a Journey, and my reintegration has been a little rough. I should've taken Monday off and slept all day, regardless if I would've been paid for it or not (I wouldn't have). The emotional and mental exhaustion of an immersive festival week can't be overstated. I've been emotionally volatile as I try to bring back up the walls and barriers that keep us sane in mundane society. I was frustrated to the point of anger yesterday because everyone you pass in the store or at work just stares at you with judging eyes, instead of openness and warmth and a friendly smile. I've been tearful just thinking of how much I miss my Tribe.
My best advice for those coming off of a convention or an intensive is always "don't make permanent decisions for a temporary feeling". Wait a week or two. Integrate your experience(s). If you still feel the same, then consider making some changes or decisions after talking with your Circle of Trust. That is a million times true for PSG, both decisions you make there and decisions you make after. Yes, PSG is permanent in that it happens every year and we come Home regularly. However, we don't live in Home year-round, and often your experiences can be different from one PSG to the next. It's so important to use discernment when coming off an event like this.
Grace is an avid reader, geek, and gamer living with anxiety and fighting against depression. She volunteers when she can, in as many avenues as possible. Grace loves attending cons and festivals, but also values her time at home with fur-babies and her books. An eclectic pagan since childhood, Grace has studied as a Chakradance facilitator, level 2 Usui Reiki healer, and has been a member of the Sisterhood of Avalon since 2012. She credits Phyllis Curott and Edain McCoy with her introduction to Wicca, and The Chalice & The Blade by Riane Eisler as her introduction to historical concepts of paganism. Other inspirations include The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, The Red Book by Sera Beak, and Avalon Within by Jhenah Telyndru. Her (current) greatest shero and ladycrush is Michelle Obama <3. Facing hard topics dead on is Grace's signature, asking the questions no one wants to hear, and rustling the jimmies to get Change made. It has often said that you never have to wonder what Grace is thinking! She is currently fleshing out several writing projects, and hopes to pitch those soon.
Hey Buddy!, I found this information for you: "Soul Shine – PSG 2018". Here is the website link: http://paganbloggers.com/anxiousbookdragon/blog/2018/06/29/soul-shine-psg-2018/. Thank you.


text:
Re: Re: Jihad on Jihad
By Andrew C. McCarthy
About Andrew C. McCarthy
Follow Andrew C. McCarthy on Twitter
Kathryn, thanks for the plug. While I think reading Willful Blindness might help, I have to admit that the book these ninnies should drop everything and read is George Weigel's wonderful Faith, Reason, and the War Against Jihadism (which I personally want to thank George for resisting any government insistence that he call it Faith, Reason, and the War Against Shhhhhhh!!!). It's short and trenchant. If pressed for time, they can start with Lesson 3 in Part One, called, "Jihadism is the enemy in the multifront war that has been declared upon us." In pertinent part (which is not to say it's not all pertinent), George writes:
There are many forms of Islam. Some of them, often called "fundamentalism" or "Islamism," stress the need for a deep religious and moral reform within the House of Islam and the reestablishment of Islamic political power. The specific form of Islamism that threatens the West — and with which we are engaged in an unavoidable contest to define the human future — is best described as jihadism. Jihadism is distinguished from other forms of Islamism or the ill-named "Islamic fundamentalism" by its distinctive views on Islamic reform, by its political methods and goals (which are messianic and involve nothing less than a global Islamic state), by its concept of its enemies, and by the methods it legitimates for dealing with those enemies.
Jihadism has been defined distinctly and well by Richard John Neuhaus: "Jihadism is the religiously inspired ideology [which teaches] that it is the moral obligation of all Muslims to employ whatever means [are] necessary to compel the world's submission to Islam."
As George goes on to observe, this is "naming the enemy correctly: those who hold this view are, de facto, in a state of belligerency against the rest of the world."
Of course it is true that Islamic reformers are trying to redefine the very troubling concept of jihad as a positive: viz., an internal struggle for personal betterment. Much as I'd love them to succeed, it is a well-intentioned folly — largely because of modern culture, which puts such a premium on authenticity. If you want to encourage the reformers, then encourage them to drop the concept of jihad altogether. As a matter of history, jihad is a military obligation. As long as it is accorded a central place in Islam, the militants are always going to be deemed more authentic, more true to the faith of Mohammed, than the reformers.
Let's remember folks, the issue is not whether non-Muslim Western intellectuals and Pollyannas can nuance jihad into something it's not. It's whether the world's 1.4 billion Muslims — many of whom live in pockets of illiteracy where jihadist imams are incredibly influential — can be convinced that the reformers are credible. If we want the reformers to have credibility, it would be much more intellectually honest for them to argue that jihad should be abandoned because it worsens the Muslim condition in the modern world than that jihad is something other than jihad.
Andrew C. McCarthy is a senior fellow at National Review Institute, an NR contributing editor, and author of Ball of Collusion: The Plot to Rig an Election and Destroy a Presidency. @AndrewCMcCarthy


text:
Leigh Kramer
Reveling in the Now
Posts from December 2016
Review: How Not To Let Go by Emily Foster
How Not To Let Go- Emily Foster
From the author of How Not to Fall comes an electrifying, powerful new story about love, trust, and emotional surrender.
Once upon a time, med student Annie Coffey set out to have a purely physical fling with Charles Douglas, a gorgeous British doctor in her lab. It didn't quite work out that way. Instead, secrets and desires were bared, hearts were broken, and Annie knew she had to leave this complicated, compelling man who remains convinced he can never give her what she needs.
Walking away is one thing. Staying away is another. Annie and Charles reunite at a London conference, rekindling a friendship they struggle to protect from their intense physical connection. Little by little, Annie gets a glimpse into Charles s dark past and his wealthy, dysfunctional family. Soon, she s discovering what it means to have someone claim her, body and soul. And she's learning that once in a lifetime you find a love that can make you do anything except let go.
Buy The Book Here:
Review- 4.5 Stars
I've been anxiously awaiting the follow up to How Not To Fall (my review here) since June. I have a love-hate relationship with duologies, often preferring to wait to read them until both parts have been published but I was so curious about how Emily Foster (aka Emily Nagoski) would write a romance novel that I could not wait. I flew through How Not To Fall and could not wait to see how Charles and Annie's love story concluded.
When we last saw them, Annie had broken up with Charles and moved across the country to start graduate school. How Not To Let Go is about how Annie learns to heal from the break up. Reading Annie's heartbreak was painful. Charles feels he is not capable of loving someone else because of his abusive father (this broke my heart again and again!) Annie's love was not enough to change him and she has to grapple with that fact and figure out how to do life without her best friend.
Eventually they meet up while attending a conference in England. My heart was in my throat with their every interaction. There is so much mutual affection and regard for one another. While I knew Charles couldn't magically get over his issues, I wished so badly he could and I was impressed with Annie's self-awareness and how magnanimous she could be toward him in spite of her heartache.
Whereas the first book showed Charles as the person holding more power, being generally older, wiser, and more experienced, this book shows how Annie has that position, being emotionally balanced and able to care for herself and others. I loved when we got to see Annie through Charles's eyes and what all he learns from her.
Indeed, it is Charles's growth as a character that puts this book on my favorite list for this year. Foster gave us one of the best depictions of a character working through past trauma and their own inner demons I've ever seen. She also shows what a healthy relationship should look like. It is marvelous to watch it play out, especially because Annie so clearly cannot save Charles. He has to do the work himself. He has to decide to do the work. And he does.
Annie believes in Charles completely. She keeps telling him he's the best man she knows, even when he cannot believe that about himself. Annie needed to learn how to let him work through things on his own and to trust this could eventually bring them back together. Or that she could learn how to love him where he was at, even if he could never love her the way she wanted. This was remarkable to see.
The way it built toward the HEA was phenomenal. The characters go through a lot together and apart. In fact, they're apart more than they are together, which is unusual for the genre but it is imperative for the sake of their relationship. There are no instant fixes and I loved how Foster incorporated this into the story.
I also loved how we got to see Charles's relationship with his brother and his mother. The scene of them all dancing to ABBA in the kitchen was one of my favorites!
There were a few moments where I felt a distance between myself as a reader and the characters, likely due to Foster's narrative style and her background. It can get pretty scienc-y in places, which usually works and is interesting but can also create a disconnect. These moments never lasted long though.
I'm all in favor of smart romance and find Foster/Nagoski's background as a sex educator makes for a compelling romance reading experience. I had to write a few passages down, not only because the writing was lovely but because it struck me as sound relationship advice.
I hope she'll keep writing in this vein. Charles and Annie's love story should be read and enjoyed by all!
"To love someone is to love the process of them, not just the way they are but the way they grow. To witness a human's personal evolution is to worship at the altar of their true selfhood. And all you have to do is listen well. Listen to what they say, what they don't say, and the context in which they're saying it. Keep listening. And then listen some more." p. 204
Disclosure: I was provided an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Affiliate links included in this post.
Posted at 07:46 AM in Book Reviews, Reading | Permalink | Comments (1)
Favorite Fiction of 2016
I read a ton of fiction every year. I had the hardest time narrowing it down so brace yourself for a long list. I've divided it by general fiction, YA, and romance. These books were not necessarily published this past year but this is when I read them. I hope you'll love them as much as I do!
To see the other novels meriting a 4 or 5 star review from me, head over to my Pinterest board.
All The Ugly And Wonderful Things- Bryn Greenwood
The fact that I gave this 5 stars is all due to the author. It is exceedingly well-written, deft and nuanced, but the empathetic portrayal of a situation that is at first glance unconscionable is what took it to the next level. Wavy is 8 and Kellen a decade or more older when they first meet. They are drawn to one another from the start and while Kellen is aware of how the situation could look from the outside, he is more aware of how Wavy and her brother Donal have no one looking after them. When her mom is in a drug-induced haze, Kellen goes to the parent-teacher conferences and brings groceries. It is a needed and valued role for him to play. Greenwood illustrates the long-ranging effects of child abuse and neglect. When your parents both scar and fail you, you don't know how to relate to other people in a healthy way. Kellen and Wavy were both traumatized by their parents and in some ways, it makes perfect sense that they would recognize a kindred spirit in each other. And yet there's no denying a romantic relationship between them is wrong, especially when Wavy is young. Kellen recognizes this but he also doesn't ultimately rebuff Wavy's advances. This propels the plot along and I had no idea what would happen next or how I should feel about any of it. Part of me was rooting for Kellen and Wavy to find a way to be together once Wavy was older, if indeed she still felt the same way by that point. The other part of me recognized this relationship would never have happened if any of the adults in Wavy's life had intervened at some point, whether it was her parents actually taking an active, healthy role or a teacher speaking up or her aunt and uncle stepping in. Wavy was failed time and again and it is no wonder she developed feelings for the one person who was always there for her. This would be perfect book club fodder.
The Winter Sea- Susanna Kearsley
As an Outlander fan, this was a fascinating precursor to the Jacobite Uprising Gabaldon depicts. I learned so much about the exiled King James, who, from my limited understanding, seemed like he would have been a great king, much better than his great-great-grandson Bonnie Prince Charlie. This is my favorite kind of novel- interweaving a present-day storyline with a historical one- and I loved how Kearsley twisted it by playing with genetic memory, a concept I wasn't familiar with but which took the story in entirely interesting directions. Throw in the love stories between Sophia and John and Carrie and Graham and I was quite the happy camper. I also loved that Carrie was a novelist and that we got to see how her manuscripts come together.
The Wonder- Emma Donoghue
This novel (full review here) raises excellent questions of faith, doubt, and miracles. The story is densely layered, with facts and clues doled out to us in a perfectly paced manner, not only about Anna and her family but Lib herself. I raced through the last 80 pages wanting to know whether Anna would die, if Lib would ignore the rules of the watch, and just whether a miracle had occurred after all. The way Donoghue (author of Room) brought it all together at the end blew me away. Masterfully done. (Disclosure: I was provided an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.)
The City of Mirrors- Justin Cronin
The Passage was one of my favorite novels in 2015. I held off on reading The Twelve because it would be a long wait until The City of Mirrors finally came out. The Twelve fascinated me because of Cronin's bold choices in how to move the story forward toward it's ultimate conclusion. The bold choices only continued with The City of Mirrors. While there are a few minor quibbles I have with two things that happened toward the end, they did not distract me from the amazing way Cronin drew this trilogy to a close. We see how character development pays off (or doesn't), we learn a key character's origin story and what that has to do with everyone else, we are treated to more of the complex, nuanced social commentary Cronin served up in the first book. The literary and religious references add depth and richness throughout. And the ending was satisfying and not at all what I expected. Some day I will read all 3 books back to back and I'm sure I will walk away with even more insights. For now, I'm in awe of Cronin's genius. If only I could pick his brain and learn how this giant story came to be!
Inspector Gamache series- Louise Penny
Friends have recommended the Inspector Gamache series for a few years now and I decided to finally see why. I bought Still Life (Penny) from Parnassus Books while I was back in Nashville, as a plane debacle on the way there led to me reading three books in one day and I was in need of reading material for the flight back. It's a delightful character-driven murder mystery. Still Life sets up some interesting premises and I liked learning more about the town and its inhabitants. The mystery itself could have gone in several directions, which led to some surprises. The series has only grown stronger since. There's a bigger overarching mystery introduced a couple of books in and the way Gamache and his squad respond is fascinating. Plus, I adore the inhabitants of Three Pines and wish desperately I could cozy up at Olivier and Gabri's cafe, while away hours at Myrna's bookstore, and talk art with Clara. Penny writes about life, death, faith, and hope in such nuanced ways. There are 12 books so far in the series and I've just finished #8, each better than the last.
The City Baker's Guide To Country Living- Louise Miller
I have long loved food memoir but sadly, food fiction has been more miss than hit for me the last few years. I am relieved this fine novel exceeded all expectations. First, the food descriptions are incredible but I also really appreciated Olivia's approach in the kitchen and seeing the trajectory of her career. Even though she's earned major accolades, she wasn't showy about it and she concentrated more on the quality of whatever her ingredients were than anything else. Second, this allowed us to experience how much the kitchen has overtaken her personal life and therefore see what changes occur when she starts working at the Sugar Maple. Third, I loved getting to know the people in the town and how these relationships softened Olivia and allowed her to take some chances. Of course, she's not perfect and sometimes I marveled at how her best friend put up with her, as well as how men seemingly fell at her feet in spite of poor behavior. But this all allowed for some major character development and the way the novel twisted and turned through all of it had me enthralled. Plus: allow me to dreamily sigh over Martin. The way Miller built the relationship between Livvy and Martin is worth a good look, especially because of one particular choice she made with the characters. But what a payoff in the end! Absolutely lovely through and through. (Disclosure: I was provided an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
Before The Fall - Noah Hawley
Everyone is right: do NOT read this on a plane. But once you're between travels, by all means pick this one up. I loved how Hawley built the story, starting with a plane crash and then introducing us to the survivors and the deceased, while interspersing the present day investigation. The role of media in tragedy and what an unruly beast it can be was quite fascinating. My heart rate was elevated whenever I read a scene involving a Fox News-like newscaster, similar to how I react when someone is spreading outright fear and misinformation.
Jane Steele- Lindsay Faye
If you love Jane Eyre or Gothic novels or well-written creative fiction...If you've ever wondered what Jane Eyre would have been like had she believed the people who told her she was wicked, this is the novel for you. It's not a retelling of Jane Eyre but the novel features prominently, as it is dear to our main character for the ways her life is similar to Jane Eyre and for the ways it is entirely different. To wit: it includes the line, "Reader, I murdered him." It is a DELIGHT! It kept me enthralled and guessing the whole way through.
Happiness For Beginners- Katherine Center
At first, I wasn't too sure about the main character's possible love interest. She's a few years younger than me and interested in a guy who's fresh out of college. It just did not seem plausible. (Not because it's an older woman and a younger man.) But as the plot unfolded and as we learn more about Helen's story, as well as that of Jake, it made more and more sense. It was refreshing, as was the hardcore wilderness trek setting and the well-integrated information on the psychology of happiness. The character growth was complex but believable, even inspiring and I loved the unexpected twists along the way.
Fates and Furies- Lauren Groff
I read this in January and I still ruminate over it. Two sides of a marriage which veer in vastly different directions. The second half is particularly unexpected and ripe for misunderstanding. Or perhaps ripe with nuance. Or perhaps ripe with rot. This would be great for book clubs.
YA:
The Serpent King- Jeff Zentner
Three high school misfits band together in their small rural town in this debut. It's their senior year and while they long to graduate, their futures do not all hold the same possibilities, making this a rich coming of age story. Questions of identity are raised: how well do we know ourselves and others, especially when people try to limit or make us smaller than we are. The impeccable character development and bold plot choices made this book hard to put down, as well as hard to forget. I could not love it more.
The Raven King- Maggie Stiefvater
This was a very satisfying end to the series with some lovely unexpected developments. I was especially heartened by Ronan and Adam's storyline, as well as the addition of Henry. I'm going to miss these characters. Start with The Raven Boys.
Tell Me Three Things- Julie Buxbaum
Buxbaum perfectly captures the angst of being a teenage, albeit self-aware, girl, while also offering a nuanced depiction of Jessie's grief over the death of her mom, which is complicated when her dad ups and marries a woman he met online. Jessie's grieving and then starting a brand-new life in California right as she starts junior year. Then she receives an anonymous email from someone offering to help her navigate her new school and a wonderful depiction of friendship and potential romance evolves. While I was pretty sure I knew who SN was, Buxbaum made me second guess myself up until the very end but oh how happy I was with the ending. Moving in places but also filled with wit.
Romance:
The Winston Brothers series and Knitting In The City series- Penny Reid
I am full on obsessed with Penny Reid. She writes nerdy, quirky romance and I have laughed out loud with every book. Every single thing she's written has been 5 stars. The plots are unpredictable and completely satisfying. Whether she's writing about a family of siblings or a circle of friends, I love how deep and varied the relationships are. So true to life.
I absolutely adored the first three books in her Winston Brothers series: Truth Or Beard, Grin and Beard It, andBeard Science (full review here.) I am full on swooning over the brothers Winston. Can we take a minute to marvel over those cross-stitch covers? The best!
I've also read the first four books in her Knitting In The City series. They are pure fun, while also being educational (random trivia! boy bands! bitcoins!) and I have not been able to stop myself from guessing the main characters' Enneagram types. (One of my quirks.) Start with Neanderthal Seeks Human (free on Kindle and Nook!) I don't know if I've ever encountered a character like Janie before. She was incredibly endearing, even if she was a walking Jeopardy contestant. She is quirky as all get out and incredibly brilliant. She struck me as a classic Five (the need to perceive, all logic all the time), though Nine was an initial guess. She was incredibly stuck in her head and unaware of her emotions and completely oblivious to glaringly obvious things...and I loved it! The way her relationship with Quinn unfolded was so fun to watch, especially seeing what they had to teach one another. Quinn was incredibly dreamy and mysterious and so much more of a good guy than he believed he was. I loved the build up to their relationship and then seeing how they navigated dating. And then you have to read the follow up Neanderthal Marries Human!
This is the follow up to How Not To Fall (my review here.) My full review will be up tomorrow but for now I'll say this was one of the best depictions of a character working through past trauma and their own inner demons I've ever seen. The way it built toward the HEA was phenomenal. Charles and Annie's love story should be read and enjoyed by all!
Beneath This Mask- Meghan March
I listened to this on audiobook and was completely spellbound. The narrators did a great job and the story itself was fantastic. The theme of masks was compelling for both Charlie and Simon. They are hiding different things and I was curious to see whether they'd be able to really trust each other with their true selves. March was able to present the issue of PTSD and its treatment in a nuanced and respectful way. I also appreciated the way she depicted Charlie's legal troubles related to her family. More than that, Charlie and Simon were such intriguing characters and they were an explosive force together. Charlie is such a badass and I loved hearing about her tattoos and what they meant to her. I also loved the supporting characters and how Charlie created her own family in NOLA. Great character growth and snappy writing left me feeling sad when the book ended because I wanted it to keep going forever. Meghan March is definitely a new favorite author!
Girls Night Out series- Victoria Dahl
If you're looking for a great contemporary romance, I highly recommend the Girls Night Out books by Victoria Dahl. Start with Looking For Trouble. Taking The Heat was my favorite. I loved how the friendship between these three woman was such a central part of the series and how their conversations didn't always center around their love lives. Fun fact: a few of the main characters are librarians, which definitely contributed to me dusting off my old dream of becoming a librarian myself.
An Indecent Proposal (The O'Malley's #3)- Katee Roberts
Before The O'Malleys series, I had no idea how much I loved mafia romance. It reminds me of how my friend Jamie describes herself as a feminist who likes to get pushed around. These books make me wish I could fall in love with some Boston Irish mobsters, although with less violence and killing, of course. Each book in this series gets better and better and An Indecent Proposal blew me away. First, I loved the "will they, won't they" nature of Cillian and Olivia. Olivia has valid reasons for not getting involved. (Sidenote: I normally don't like children in my romance novels but I really liked Olivia as a single mom trying to do right by her daughter and make sure she had a different childhood.) Second, consent plays a major role throughout the novel and it was handled so well. I loved how Cillian deferred to Olivia on everything, including what information he could give his family and whether he could approach her daughter. Third, the character growth and depiction of grief was just stellar and also laid some groundwork for the next couple of books. I cannot wait to see what Robert does next! (Disclosure: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
Stage Dive series - Kylie Scott
New Adult is a hit or miss genre for me but whether it's my love for bad boy rock stars or my appreciation for feisty heroines, Scott makes it work in this series. They made me laugh out loud and a couple made me tear up. Lead(book 3) was my favorite. It had fantastic character growth (be still my heart, Jimmy!) and it made me laugh and cry. The banter was perfect and I loved watching Lena and Jimmy fall for each other.
Beautiful Bastard (Beautiful #1)- Christina Lauren
I've read some great novels with the "enemies to lovers" trope but this puts them all to shame. This was crazy hot. I could not get enough of the banter. I completely get why so many people rave about this series!
Honorable Mentions: Royally Screwed (Emma Chase), Off The Clock (Roni Loren), Hot In Chicago series by Kate Meader, and Play By Play series by Jaci Burton (the first four have blown me away!)
What were your favorite fiction reads in 2016?
Disclosure: Affiliate links included in this post.
Posted at 07:12 AM in Favorite Books, Reading | Permalink | Comments (0)
Favorite Nonfiction of 2016
It's time for my annual book roundup! Here are the best nonfiction books I read in 2016. These are the ones I couldn't stop thinking about, that I referenced in conversation and begged other people to read so we could discuss them. If you've read them, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
To see the other books meriting a 4 or 5 star review from me, head over to my Pinterest board.
When Breath Becomes Air- Paul Kalanithi
A wonderful addition to the end-of-life canon. I wish he would have delved into his palliative care team but that is one of the limitations of writing a book while dying. There is much more he could have explored and yet the material he did give us is rich, impressive, and necessary. What a gift he gave us.
Necessary Trouble: Americans In Revolt- Sarah Jaffe
If you asked me what the Tea Party and Black Lives Matter have in common before I read this book, I would have said, "nothing." But after reading Necessary Trouble, I can now point to any number of post-2008 movements and see the common threads. Whether Walmart employees or environmental activists, Jaffe shows how the deep dissatisfaction with and anger over the present state of affairs has been channeled into action and change. It's no longer business as usual. People are risking arrest and starting movements to disrupt the system and it is often working. (Glory be!) Jaffe shows each movement's strengths and struggles and I was particularly impressed by how she delved into the racism of certain segments of the Tea Party. I also loved the emphasis on intersectionality and the way class was highlighted as a common bond. Well researched and incredibly engaging, I underlined and asterisked my way through this book. It's a game-changer. If you read it, let's discuss. (Disclosure: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
Between The World And Me- Ta-Nehisi Coates
I am a huge fan of TNC's writing and this is no exception. There is so much in it that is ripe for discussion that I really think we'd move forward collectively as a country if everyone read it and took its message to heart. Not to be missed.
(If you are someone who doesn't understand why people are upset about Trump's election, please add this to your reading list.)
All The Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation- Rebecca Traister
This is a remarkable undertaking, not only because of the scope of Traister's research and interviews but because of how well it's compiled together. She manages to validate a number of singles' experiences, while also acknowledging her shortcomings, namely the bulk of her examples are white women in their 30s and 40s in NYC. However, she does feature stories from Women Of Color, as well as drawing from research and other works. What I loved is how validated I felt as a single woman. There was good food for thought- I especially loved the chapters about cities and friendship. There's also pointed critiques of society and religion, which is much needed in this age of marginalization. You don't need to be single to gain insights from this book- in fact, I'd encourage everyone to read it. But if you are single, you'll walk away feeling heard and seen and maybe even inspired.
Generation Chef: Risking It All For A New American Dream- Karen Stabiner
This is a must-read for people who love food memoir or who dream about opening a restaurant some day. Stabiner's writing style is reminiscent of Laura Hillenbrand. Her research and access to Jonah Miller and the staff at Huertas makes for one compelling narrative. I loved getting to see everything that goes into starting a restaurant in NYC, from finding the right space to hiring to what goes into creating a menu. Miller is an interesting figure, everything you'd expect a 26 year old chef-owner to be. The sacrifices he made and all of his hard work and dedication ultimately led him to opening Huertas and through the course of the book, we find out whether the restaurant will prevail through the ups and downs. This would have been interesting as it stands but Stabiner also features other chefs' experiences and what went into the successes and failures of their respective restaurants. She also sprinkles in anecdotes from restaurant critics and Culinary Institute of America teachers, along with statistics and insights about the restaurant industry. Absolutely fascinating. (Disclosure: I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)
Good Christian Sex: Why Chastity Isn't The Only Option- And Other Things The Bible Says About Sex- Bromleigh McCleneghan
I am so grateful McCleneghan decided to write this book. I appreciate her care with language, definitions, and applications as she lays out her theology, particularly the chapters on desire and singleness. I wish this book had been around 15 years ago! I would have framed some of my experiences- and lack thereof- in such a different light. The last few years my thinking has evolved toward much of what McCleneghan lays out but I couldn't have explained why. There is so much I want to say about how liberated and affirmed I feel after reading this. McCleneghan makes space for us to go beyond purity culture and examine how we truly respect and love our potential romantic partners before and/or after marriage. This isn't anything I've seen discussed before in church but it's the discussion I've longed for, especially in my "advanced" single state. I'm sure there are plenty who will question her approach but I for one find it to be a refreshing call for grace and freedom. It is a call to lay down any shame. It is a call for joy and self-acceptance. It is beautiful. (Disclosure: I received an ARC from HarperOne in exchange for an honest review.)
Come As You Are - Emily Nagoski
I'm joining the chorus to say every woman should read this, whether single, married, virgin, lackluster or on fire sex life. I learned so much from Nagoski (her fact checking about the hymen blew my mind) and truly appreciated her resounding exhortation, "you are normal." Her insights will go a long way toward undoing the misinformation so many of us have been fed and even patriarchal oppression. I feel incredibly empowered!
Confessions of a Latter-Day Virgin- Nicole Hardy
As much as I've been marginalized in the evangelical Christian church, it pales in comparison to what LDS singles face. Still, I related to so much of Hardy's story. Well-written and thoughtful, I had a hard time putting it down. In the end, her marginalization and doubts about her faith led her to leave the church. I appreciated her honesty and her candor as she made that decision. It spoke so much to me.
When In French: Love In A Second Language- Lauren Collins
I do not often engage in my language geek tendencies but based on how I swooned my way through this book, I should do so more often. Collins's book is part memoir and part ode to the intricacies of language. She delves into the history and meaning, the particular dance of learning another language, and how we use words to both build and divide. Many of the stories she shares, whether personal or research, could have been expanded into long-form essays at the very least for how fascinating they are and they will stick with me for some time. It is lyrical and lovely. It also made me want to get over to Europe asap. (Disclosure: I won a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway but it did not influence my opinion.)
Mastering The Art Of French Eating: Lessons in Food and Love From a Year in Paris- Ann Mah
A rich exploration of expat life in Paris. Her reflections on building community, especially while apart from her husband, resonated with me and I loved seeing where her culinary whims led her as the book progressed.
What were your favorite nonfiction reads of 2016?
Disclosure : Affiliate links included in this post.
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race review
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race - Margot Lee Shetterly
The phenomenal true story of the black female mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped fuel some of America's greatest achievements in space. Soon to be a major motion picture starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kirsten Dunst, and Kevin Costner.
Before John Glenn orbited the earth, or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as "human computers" used pencils, slide rules and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space.
Among these problem-solvers were a group of exceptionally talented African American women, some of the brightest minds of their generation. Originally relegated to teaching math in the South's segregated public schools, they were called into service during the labor shortages of World War II, when America's aeronautics industry was in dire need of anyone who had the right stuff. Suddenly, these overlooked math whizzes had a shot at jobs worthy of their skills, and they answered Uncle Sam's call, moving to Hampton, Virginia and the fascinating, high-energy world of the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory.
Even as Virginia's Jim Crow laws required them to be segregated from their white counterparts, the women of Langley's all-black "West Computing" group helped America achieve one of the things it desired most: a decisive victory over the Soviet Union in the Cold War, and complete domination of the heavens.
Starting in World War II and moving through to the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement and the Space Race, Hidden Figures follows the interwoven accounts of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden, four African American women who participated in some of NASA's greatest successes. It chronicles their careers over nearly three decades they faced challenges, forged alliances and used their intellect to change their own lives, and their country's future.
HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Review - 4.5 Stars
What can I say about this remarkable book?
I was drawn in from the moment the author described how the story first came to her- literally through an off-handed comment from her dad as they were driving through her hometown. She was the right person at the right time and place to discover, research, and then write about the women who directly impacted NASA's space race.
Just as those women were in the right place at the right time to integrate NACA (what later became NASA) and then ascend its ranks, many going from computers to receiving the designation of mathematicians and even engineers.
I had never heard heard about the West Computers before. Nor had I thought much about how the NASA program came to be or just how much math was involved, especially before electric computers were around. And I definitely didn't have a sense about how exciting this time was. I found this book to be incredibly educational on many fronts.
Hidden Figures is part history book, part profile of several of these computers. It's in a similar vein as The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Unbroken, and The Boys On The Boat. Hidden Figures covers more than 25 years between when the first black women were hired in 1943 to the successful launch of Apollo 11 in 1969 and a little of the years after.
The story of what these women accomplished is incredible in itself. I'm not mathematically gifted so reading about the calculations they were figuring out and how it was used to invent plane and then space technology boggled my mind. Katherine Johnson, who is probably the most well known of the West Computers, directly contributed to the space launch. But if anything is evident after reading this book, it's that every single employee, from the janitor to the engineer, made that accomplishment happen and it is sad that history books tell us about the astronauts and maybe the engineers but that's it. For that reason, I'm so glad to now know the names of Katherine, Dorothy, Mary, and the others.
Each of the women profiled deserve to have a book written about them alone! I do wish some of their stories had been further fleshed out. A few narrative threads petered out sooner than necessary and I was left with a couple of questions that the epilogue didn't address either. But overall, Shetterly did a great job bringing these amazing women to life and showing how they helped one another, whether they were there from the beginning or brought in along the way.
What elevates this book even further is its consideration of racism and sexism. Just because NACA was at the forefront of integration does not mean its black workers were treated fairly. There were separate bathrooms and a separate table in the cafeteria. They could work alongside white colleagues but they were still kept in their "place." Each person responded to this differently. And as the times changed, so too did NACA and this was gratifying to see. It also highlighted the disparity with the state of Virginia, which greatly resisted desegregation.
This was also at a time when men didn't believe women's delicate brains could handle tricky mathematics so all women, black and white, started out as computers, even if they had college degrees in math, even though men with the same experience were hired as mathematicians. Women had to prove themselves over and over again and some eventually got to pursue higher degrees and were promoted, though this often depended on which engineer they worked for and how progressive they were.
All of this makes the West Computers' accomplishments that much more impressive. Shetterly effectively used the backdrop of WWII and the Civil Rights Movement within this narrative.
All people deserve to be treated fairly and to have the same rights. What might have happened had NACA delayed integration? Would we still have sent men to the moon? Maybe eventually but Apollo 11's success depended directly on the decision to hire black women to be computers.
The decision to do the right thing shouldn't be based on what we can get out of it. We should speak out against racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and ableism because it's the right thing to do. Because we are better together. Because we have so much to learn from one another.
It's a lesson we need to keep in mind these days.
"It's a story of hope, that even among some of our country's harshest realities- legalized segregation, racial discrimination- there is evidence of the triumph of meritocracy, that each of us should be allowed to rise as far as our talent and hard work can take us.
The greatest encouragement along the way has come from black women...For me, and I believe for many others, the story of the West Computers is so electrifying because it provides evidence of something that we've believed to be true, but that we don't always know how to prove: that many numbers of black women have participated as protagonists in the epic of America." p. 248
I'm so glad Shetterly wrote this book and I'm grateful to the women who were her inspiration.
About Margot Lee Shetterly
Margot Lee Shetterly grew up in Hampton, Virginia, where she knew many of the women in Hidden Figures. She is an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow and the recipient of a Virginia Foundation for the Humanities grant for her research on women in computing. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Find out more about Margot at her website and connect with her on Twitter.
Disclosure: I was provided an ARC from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Affiliate links included in this post.
2016 Reading Challenge In Review
Modern Mrs. Darcy announced the 2017 Reading Challenge the other day, meaning it's time for a public accounting of how I fared this past year.
I love Anne's reading challenges but as with every reading challenge, I never want to follow all the categories so I made it my own. This was my second time listing out what I wanted to read for the year and I find it to be an interesting discipline, even though I haven't completed the lists.
This time around I read 20 and have 3 in progress out of 32 books. I've read 298 books (!!!!!!!!) so far this year, way more than I ever have before. While I could have finished everything on this list, I am prone to letting my reading whims guide me and I'll never regret that.
Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge
A Book Published This Year
Nonfiction: Night Driving: A Story Of Faith In The Dark- Addie Zierman
I devoured my friend Addie Zierman's second memoir. The level of honesty and vulnerability is rare for the spiritual memoir genre. Had Addie waited several years before writing it, we would get a very different book. But I'm glad for the immediacy and that we can learn from someone who is still figuring it all out. Someone who can be honest about the ups and downs and the fears and the doubts. Addie's writing is permeated with grace and wisdom and she's an amazing writer. I'm so proud of her. Plus, I make an appearance, which is a first, as I hosted her for one night during her Epic Road Trip.
Honorable mention: When Breath Becomes Air- Paul Kalanithi
Fiction: The City of Mirrors- Justin Cronin
The Passage was one of my favorite novels in 2015. I held off on reading The Twelve until right before The City of Mirrors finally came out. The Twelve fascinated me because of Cronin's bold choices in how to move the story forward toward it's ultimate conclusion. The bold choices only continued with The City of Mirrors. While there are a few minor quibbles I have with two things that happened toward the end, they did not distract me from the amazing way Cronin drew this trilogy to a close. We see how character development pays off (or doesn't), we learn a key character's origin story and what that has to do with everyone else, we are treated to more of the complex, nuanced social commentary Cronin served up in the first book. The literary and religious references add depth and richness throughout. And the ending was satisfying and not at all what I expected. Some day I will read all 3 books back to back and I'm sure I will walk away with even more insights. For now, I'm in awe of Cronin's genius. If only I could pick his brain and learn how this giant story came to be!
A Book You Can Finish In A Day
The Girl Who Wrote In Silk- Kelli Estes
This is one of my favorite kind of novels, one that intertwines past and present day storylines. It covers how Americans mistreated the Chinese in the late 1800s, which is a surprising but welcome choice as so few people know about that period in history. If we don't know our history, we are doomed to repeat it, something we must be especially mindful of right now. The mystery bringing Mei Lien and Inara's stories together was heartbreaking and poignant. Inara, the present day character, was in a season of transition and trying to figure out what brings her alive, which I found especially resonant. I was so captivated, I had no trouble reading it in a day.
A Book You've Been Meaning To Read
On Beauty- Zadie Smith
I finished this just shortly after hearing Smith speak at the Festival of Faith and Writing. I can see why people rave about her writing but this story didn't ultimately capture me. It was fine but months later, I couldn't tell you what it was really about or what her point was in writing it.
A Book Recommended By Your Local Librarian Or Bookseller
Life After Life- Jill McCorkle
This was recommended by one of the fabulous booksellers at Parnassus a couple of years ago and another year will pass without me reading it. Someday.
A Book You Should Have Read In School
The Death of Ivan Ilyich- Leo Tolstoy
A Book Chosen For You By A BFF
The Art of Happiness- Dalai Lama
My friend Megan recommended this one and I'm about halfway through it. I'm amazed by his perspective. Can you ever sense someone's innate goodness through a book? Because that's what's happening here.
A Book That Intimidates You
11/22/63 by Stephen King
I have very mixed feelings about this one and I'm probably going to sound more critical than I mean to. I'm giving it 3 stars because I've gone back and forth between 2 and 4 stars for weeks. I've never read Stephen King before but so many people raved about this one and assured me it wasn't horror-related so I thought this would be a good one to try. On the one hand, I see why people love King: the plot is incredibly inventive. Many of the twists and turns could have only come from his mind. On the other hand, it was way too long and felt that way- and I'm not one who shies away from a long book. So many friends have told me what an amazing writer he is but I found myself editing his sentences. So maybe they mean he's an amazing storyteller and I agree with that. Maybe King just isn't for me. At least I can say I tried.
Books On The Enneagram
The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge- Beatrice Chestnut
Chestnut has her own spin on the Enneagram. I particularly liked how she lists the key beliefs and assumptions for each type and the way she laid out practical applications. She offers one of the most thorough explanations of the instinctual subtypes (self-preservation, social, sexual) that I've come across and while that particular part of the theory has yet to resonate with me, a ton of friends were able to identify their specific type because of this. I had a huge personal breakthrough while reading the chapter on Fours, which should warrant 5 stars in itself. However, I find her explanation of arrows to be confusing and even misleading and would point people toward Riso and Hudson's explanation in The Wisdom of the Enneagram instead. I also didn't like the insets on each type's Greek archetype, though I can see why others will appreciate it. Overall, a solid resource.
The Enneagram in Love and Work- Helen Palmer
I've read various portions of this and think it might ultimately be more of a reference tool than a book I'll read from start to finish. It has proven to be a very helpful resource thus far.
The Enneagram of Parenting: The Nine Types of Children and How to Raise Them Successfully- Elizabeth Wagele
Fantastic resource for anyone with children in their life, whether or not they're a parent. I'm glad the emphasis is on children containing qualities of a type, instead of typing children. Their personalities can change so much! Still, there's concrete information and practical applications that will be helpful.
More Books By Latino/a Authors
The Book of Unknown Americans- Cristina Henríquez
Read it and forgot to review it. Interesting framework for the main story.
Island Beneath The Sea- Isabel Allende
I normally don't read historical fiction but this was a book club pick. We had a really great discussion about the themes and history Allende presents. It is one of the more honest depictions of slavery I've seen in a novel. There are so-called "good" slave owners who reflect the attitudes of the time- that is to say, they see their ownership of slaves and the way they treat them as a good and moral thing to do because slaves are viewed as subhuman. They do not see slavery as the evil that it is. There aren't any white saviors here, no abolitionists, which is a reflection of reality at the time. It is slavery in all of its every day horror, which is something we need to reconcile as a society.
The House on Mango Street- Sandra Cisneros
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao- Junot Díaz
The plot didn't necessarily keep my attention but Diaz's way with language was something to behold. I totally get why people love his writing so much.
Carry Me Like Water- Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Midnight In Mexico: A Reporter's Journey Through A Country's Descent Into Darkness- Alfredo Corchado
To Read Stack
Half of a Yellow Sun- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
I adored Americanah so I expected to love this one just as much. Unfortunately, while much of the subject matter and themes are interesting, I had a hard time getting into it. Also, there are some storylines involving infidelity, which always makes me want to throw the book against the wall.
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear- Elizabeth Gilbert
This is a great addition to the creativity canon. The chapters were short and easy to read but also packed a lot worth mulling over. It's not so much that Gilbert presented new information but that she presented it with her unique perspective and passion for creativity. I especially appreciated the chapters that addressed the idea that art must be painful and angsty, as well as how she uses curiosity in her art.
Wearing God: Clothing, Laughter, Fire, and Other Overlooked Ways of Meeting God- Lauren Winner
The Day The Angels Fell- Shawn Smucker (Shawn got a publishing deal so I'm going to hold off until I have the shiny new version in my hands. So excited for him!)
Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots- Deborah Feldman
Feldman's extremely conservative Orthodox Jewish upbringing was fascinating, as was the way she wrestled with what she was taught and her decision to ultimately leave the community. However, I do think she would have benefited from waiting several years before writing this book.
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking- Malcolm Gladwell
Engaging look at how we make decisions, both bad and good. I think it should be required reading for all first responders, especially police. While Gladwell doesn't like the term "intuition," I walked away feeling affirmed as an intuitive person.
The Gifts of Imperfection- Brene Brown
I think I would have liked this more if I'd read it prior to reading Daring Greatly, which builds off of her insights here, but there were still plenty of excellent takeaways. I especially liked her definitions.
The Tender Bar- JR Moehringer
The Red Couch Book Club
Life Path: Personal and Spiritual Growth Through Journal Writing- Luci Shaw
A fine meditation on the gifts of journaling.
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up For Education and Was Shot By the Taliban- Malala Yousafzai
An important account of the state of women and girls in Pakistan, as well as what Malala endured after the Taliban attacked her. It's clearly written by a teenager so it lacks nuance at times or drags with unnecessary details but overall, it's an insightful look at the power of education.
Too Heavy A Yoke: Black Women and the Burden of Strength- Chanequa Walker Barnes
I first learned about this book through my friend Christena Cleveland. Academic in tone, Walker-Barnes does a great job of breaking down the myth of the StrongBlackWoman. While I wish it had included more narrative examples, it's a great resource for anyone who is a black woman or who cares for black women. That is to say–it's for all of us.
Reluctant Pilgrim: A Moody, Somewhat Self-Indulgent Introvert's Search For Spiritual Community- Enuma Okoro
Related: 2015 Reading Challenge Review
If you participated in a reading challenge this year, how'd you do?
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Posted at 08:27 AM in Reading | Permalink | Comments (5)
The Widow Of Rose House by Diana Biller {review}
Favorite YA of 2019
Favorite Romance Novels of 2019
Trial By Desire by Courtney Milan {review}
Hoosier Daddy by Ann McMan and Salem West {review}
The Year Of Leigh, The Year Of Hattie, and Sarah MacLean's Brazen And The Beast
Where Love Grows by Jay Northcote {review}
Ashlin & Olivia by Aster Glenn Gray {review}
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Are you searching for the ultimate Caribbean cruising adventure? Are you a water person! Want to sail the islands at leisure? Without a schedule? Visit / snorkel beautiful beaches? Anchor away from the world with us, we do not go to four or five places a day. That is what power boats do. This is a non smoking boat with no extra charge to go sailing! This is a private boat, that means no one but you and your friends will be on it. We also operate in three countries. Spanish Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands. Whether traveling with your family or a group of friends, the dream charter vacation can be yours on board a Captained catamaran charter from Virgin Island Water Fun. This is your chance to sail, scuba dive if certified or just hang out and enjoy this fabulous area with Ray Styles a USCG licensed Captain and Brenda. We run our Catamaran like a B & B on the water! Breakfast is included. No extra charge for sailing the islands!
Why in the world would you stay on land, rent a jeep, rent snorkel equipment, rent a paddle board buy overpriced food, take a ferry to were you want to go , go where everyone else goes ,and not get to see one tenth of what we will show you???
The popularity of catamarans has grown in recent years for several reasons. The multi-hull design provides a fast, smooth sailing experience with the maximum comfort and space. Special for 2016 . Private Boat no one else on board $500 per day, no children or teenagers here. Catamarans are faster than mono-hulls. Thus, you will get where you want to go in less time, allowing for more time for island exploration and water activities. Along with speed, catamarans are much more maneuverable. With engines on both sides of the vessel, you can move the catamaran around its axis, making for easier docking. In addition, the small draft allows you to anchor in shallower water or closer to the beach, thus providing you with more options to drop anchor as well as greater privacy. Catamaran charters are extremely stable. Unlike mono-hulls which tend to heel (tilt) to one side, catamarans remain level while sailing. This stability helps prevent any tendency towards seasickness and allows passengers a more enjoyable sailing experience without having to worry about maintaining their balance. Leave stress behind on our Fountaine Pajot Bahia with over 1,000 sq feet of comfort. From the moment you step on board our Catamaran, you will be amazed at both the deck and interior spaciousness. This extra room allows everyone on board to find a quiet spot for themselves. On the deck, the area between the hulls is netted. This provides for extra lounging space and is the perfect spot for Caribbean sunbathing. The spacious decks make moving around the catamaran easy because there are no cleats to stub toes. The cockpit is larger than normal with spectacular island views and enough seating space for all passengers to rest in the shade or share a meal in the fresh Caribbean air. There is a grand salon and kitchen for socializing and meals. The beautifully designed elevated main salon (well above sea level) is perfect for lounging and entertaining. With wrap around windows, it makes for a panoramic dining experience. The galley is roomy which makes on board meal preparation part of the shared fun of a bareboat catamaran charter. In regards to the sleeping accommodations, the dual hull layout allows for more privacy since salons are located in opposite corners. State salons are spacious and have their own separate head and shower. There are large fans for night with memory foam mattresses on the queen size beds, which allows for more sleeping comfort. In addition, a motorized tender hangs off the stern for use in diving, snorkeling and going ashore for evening beverages and meals. Speaking of diving I also own a Scuba Diving Boat As your exclusive dive charter operator from Coral Bay, I take you to locations away from the crowds. Pristine reefs, abundant fish life, quiet coves and uninhabited islands are easily accessible when you explore the east end of St. John and the British Virgin Islands. Whether you are looking for the perfect party boat with a group of friends or a safe cruising experience with family members of all ages, a captained catamaran charter is the ideal answer to your sun-filled Caribbean vacation. Special for 2016 of $500 per day even if you do not want to spend the night. Cheap ways to get to the Caribbean: Our friends have been catching flights into St Thomas at a reasonable price. Airfare into Tortola is often too expensive and the flights in and out are very unreliable. Many times flights leaving have been cancelled but I will pick you up at either airport. You will not need a passport to come to the USVI but if you want to dive the Wreck of the Rhone or go to the beach bars you often hear about (Foxy's, Willy T, Soggy Dollar, Cooper Island Beach Club etc.) we will have to clear into the British VI. You will need a passport to do that and the total cost for everyone is about $72 for one day to $200. for three nights( it is never the same) A place to stay, travel the islands, swim, snorkel, walk the beach's, private $500,000 Fountaine Pajot Catamarn, and breakfast for only $400 per day. Other web sites: St John Dive Adventures.com American Sailing Asso. ASABOAT.com JostCharters.com If I am not out on a charter and you are going to be on St John, Tortola, Virgin Gorda ect. ask about day sailing with us. Come stay with us if you are a water person! PS If I am out of the country sailing I will be a little slow answering reservation request and questions. AirBNB does not care and will tell you I am booked when I am not!
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Three NFT Coins That Could Revolutionize the Crpyto Market: Mehracki (MKI), STEPN (GMT), and Decentraland (MANA)
Altcoin NewsCryptocurrency NewsMehracki Token
When it comes to cryptocurrencies, a few tend to dominate the conversation. Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Litecoin (LTC) are some of the most well-known coins on the market, but they're not the only ones worth talking about. In this blog post, we'll take a look at three lesser-known cryptos that could have a big impact on the market: Mehracki (MKI), STEPN (GMT), and Decentraland (MANA). Each of these coins brings something unique to the table, so make sure to read on to learn more!
A Meme with a Potential: Mehracki (MKI)
Mehracki (MKI), which was announced as a meme coin but has a distinctive roadmap compared to other meme coins, has already reached a large number of investors during the pre-sale process.
Mehracki (MKI) built its infrastructure on Solana (SOL) blockchain technology. In particular, the project, which aims to be a fast and secure ecosystem, makes the best use of all the advantages Solana offers.
Aimed to be fully decentralized, the project will be managed as a DAO with stakeholder participation. Staking investors will be able to generate passive income while providing needed financing. In addition, digital assets such as NFTs will be issued to investors at specific intervals, depending on the amount of MKI users have.
Mehracki (MKI) is planning a particularly aggressive marketing strategy. Moving forward with a comprehensive roadmap from referral awards to influencers and social media campaigns, MKI has serious potential in the long run. With the start of advertising campaigns, it is predicted that the token value will enter an increasing trend at the second quarter of 2023.
Anonymous and Safe: STEPN (GMT)
STEPN (GMT) is a metaverse game that allows players to earn real-world rewards by walking. The game is played on a mobile device and uses GPS to track the player's progress. The game is currently in beta and is available to anyone with an Android or iOS device. The game is free to play, and there are some in-app purchases. STEPN (GMT) has two main features: the ability to earn rewards and buy virtual goods. Players can earn rewards by walking and can use those rewards to purchase virtual goods or trade their GMT coins to buy other coins. The game also features a leaderboard, allowing players to see how their progress compares to other players. STEPN (GMT) is still in development, but the team behind the game is hoping to release it soon.
Powered by Ethereum (ETH): Decentraland (MANA)
Decentraland (MANA) is a decentralized virtual reality world that runs on the Ethereum (ETH) blockchain. The native cryptocurrency of Decentraland is MANA, which is used to purchase and trade virtual land parcels within the Decentraland world. Decentraland was launched in 2015, and its virtual world went live in 2019. The Decentraland (MANA) world is divided into 10,000-meter squares, which can be bought or sold using MANA. Parcels of land can also be rented out, and users can build on their land parcels to create virtual experiences or applications. The Decentraland world is powered by the Ethereum blockchain, which enables users to create, buy, sell, or rent virtual land without a central authority. The market value of Decentraland (MANA) has fluctuated since its launch, but it remains one of the most popular cryptocurrencies, with a market capitalization of over $1.8 billion.
The three coins we've highlighted in this article have the potential to revolutionize the market. Mehracki (MKI) is a coin with a unique approach that could see its surge in value in the coming months, while STEPN (GMT) and Decentraland (MANA) are both interesting projects with great potential. Mehracki (MKI) seems like a good idea if you're looking for an investment opportunity. Thanks for reading!
Mehracki Token
Join Presale: presale.mehracki.io/register
Website: mehracki.io
Telegram: https://t.me/Mehracki_Official
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Since the Indonesian Tsunami struck, there have been three Volcano events leaving a devastating need for help across central Sulawesi region.
Less than two months after a deadly earthquake struck Indonesia's Lombok island, a massive quake hit the island nation's Central Sulawesi province. The magnitude-7.5 tremor struck at 5:02 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, generating a devastating tsunami. More than 1,400 people have been killed and the death toll is likely to rise, according to the national disaster mitigation agency. At least 800 people are seriously injured.
Getting disaster relief and aid to remote areas such as Palu is a logistically difficult task that relies on local and international government assistance, NGO's and charities to provide aid to the survivors in these moments of great need.
One way you can help is to donate to a disaster relief aid organisation. Experts in getting aid to where its needed most.


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Q: What are the sysLocation and sysContact objects in snmpd.conf? I am trying to configure SNMP on Ubuntu 14.04. There is a step where I have to edit the community string along with sysLocation and sysContact but I am not sure what goes there. What are the sysLocation and sysContact objects in the snmpd.conf file and how I can get those values for my machine?

A: All SNMP devices share the following common configurable parameters:

*

*sysLocation

*sysContact

*sysName

*Read-write and read-only access
community strings (and frequently, a trap community string)

*Trap destination

sysLocation is the physical location for the device being monitored. Its definition in RFC 1213 is:
sysLocation OBJECT-TYPE
    SYNTAX  DisplayString (SIZE (0..255))
    ACCESS  read-write
    STATUS  mandatory
    DESCRIPTION
        "The physical location of this node (e.g., 'telephone closet,
         3rd floor')."
    ::= { system 6 }

RFC 1213's definition of sysContact is similar to that of sysLocation:
sysContact OBJECT-TYPE
    SYNTAX  DisplayString (SIZE (0..255))
    ACCESS  read-write
    STATUS  mandatory
    DESCRIPTION
        "The textual identification of the contact person for this managed
         node, together with information on how to contact this person."
    ::= { system 4 }

sysContact is a DisplayString. It's fairly obvious what it's used for: it identifies the primary contact for the device in question. It is important to set this object with an appropriate value, as it can help your operations staff determine who needs to be contacted in the event of some catastrophic failure. You can also use it to make sure you're notified, if you're responsible for a given device, when someone needs to take your device down for maintenance or repairs. As with sysLocation, make sure to keep this information up to date as your staff changes. It's not uncommon to find devices for which the sysContact is someone who left the company several years ago.
source: http://docstore.mik.ua/orelly/networking_2ndEd/snmp/ch07_01.htm

A: SysLocation and SysContact are simply arbitrary SNMP string variables that are part of SNMPV2-MIB and can be fetched with SNMP get.
OID 1.3.6.1.2.1.1.4 == SysContact
OID 1.3.6.1.2.1.1.6 == SysLocation

Most sites I have been involved with use SysLocation as a decription of the location of the SNMP managed network device, and SysContact as the contact details of somebody who is in some way responsible for the device.
Warning: SysContact also has a habit of becoming out of date without being modified when staff changes.
To get sysContact using snmpget command line:
snmpget -v1 -c public localhost system.sysContact.0

where "public" is your community string, and "localhost" is the ip address of the machine you want to send the SNMP query to.

A: These values are defined by the administrator.  Common formats include:
syslocation Rack, Room, Building, City, Country [GPSX,Y]
syscontact Your Name <your@email.address>

If all the equipment you monitor is in the same country you can use the format google maps uses: "street, city, state zip".  For example searching google maps for the white house returns:
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500

syslocation is often used my monitoring applications to generate visual maps.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Struve Geodetic Arc
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Literature & Links
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Arc measurements and Earth parameters
The basic principle of arc measurement to determine the size of the Earth was originally thought up by Eratosthenes of Cyrene (276 – 194 BC). His calculation of the diameter of the Earth based on the length of shadows was quite accurate for his era and this method was in use until the era of satellite geodesy. During the 17th century it became clear that the true shape of the Earth is not a perfect sphere; but it was unknown if the sphere is elongated or flattened at the poles. As an accurate length measurement was very difficult at this time, no distinct statement could be made.
The initialisation of the triangulation gave essential improvement in man's ability to measure the figure of the Earth. If the length of a side of a triangle is known and the adjacent angles to the third edge are measured it is possible to determine the exact location of this point. To transmit this method now on longer distances, adjoining triangles are attached forming of a line, which finally builds the arc of a meridian measurement. Astronomical measurements allow calculating the exact latitude and longitude of the position. To get the length transmitted on long distances, baselines with the length of 2-12 km are measured by joining iron bars with calibrated length.
In the years of 1730-1740, the French Academy of Sciences sent out two expeditions to southern Lapland and to Peru. Famous names like Bouguer, Maupertuis, Celsius and La Condamine participated in these arc measurements. To get the best results for the parameter of oblateness it was necessary to measure the length of 1° on the Earth's surface once near the poles and once near the equator to get the largest possible difference. Whilst the South American crew was fighting against the significant influence of the Andes on their plumbs (from which Bouguer followed his theories of the vertical deflection), the work of Maupertuis resulted in disagreeing values in comparison with other arcs. Only years later, the Lapland arc was re-measured by order of the Swedish Royal Academy but again errors on the observations resulted in a bad value for the oblateness.
In the years 1802-1843, William Lambton and George Everest made a comparable arc measuring in India with the length of 21° from Cape Comorin north to the Himalayas.
After the defeat of Napoleon and the Vienna Conference, many countries did not trust the peace and used the time to prepare for new possible wars. Tsar Alexander I. was willing to provide large amounts of money to support science and particularly survey to improve the mapping systems. This built the foundation for the initial measurements by Tenner and Struve.
Most Significant Contributors of the Struve Geodetic Arc
Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve was born in Altona, Denmark (now part of Germany) in 1793 and died 1864 in Pulkovo, Russia. After moving to the Russian Empire and studying a few semesters of Philosophy, he changed to Astronomy and Mathematics at the University of Dorpat (now Tartu) in Estonia, where he later became professor and director of the Dorpat Observatory. Among his duties in the Arc Measurement, he was continuing his astronomical studies. Even though he was known as Vassily Jakovlevich in Russia, he always used his first name Wilhelm or the initials F.G.W. in his publications. He married twice and had 18 children. His son Otto Wilhelm, his grandsons Karl Hermann and Ludwig and his great-grandsons Georg and Otto all became famous astronomers publishing important studies about the precession of the Earth, double star systems and the movement of the moons of Saturn.
Lt. Gen. Carl F. de Tenner was born in 1783 near Narva, Russia (now Estonia) and died 1859 in Warsaw. In the war campaigns against the army of Napoleon he was a General of Infantry of the Russian Imperial General Staff. He acquired his knowledge in survey manly in self-education, similar to Struve. He began his triangulation work in 1816 along the meridian of Vilnius (Lithuania) at 25° 25' east, so it was actually him who started the measurement of the Struve Arc.
A few years before the beginning of the measurements of the Struve Arc, important improvements in the accuracy of chronometers were achieved which are necessary to measure the longitude with the required precision. This helped much to achieve the good accuracy of the results as the astronomic measurements could be determined much better than earlier. To get the principle of the triangulation realised on the Earth's surface, hills or mountains are used to get optimal eye-sight between the stations. As the included countries are not mainly characterised by large mountain ranges but rather thick forests, wooden towers were built to elevate the surveyors above the treetops5. Far visible triangles served as marks for the sighting with the instruments. In the whole chain, only two buildings, namely the Alatornio Church (Tornea, Finland) and the Dorpat Observatory (Tartu, Estonia) were used.
As Struve and Tenner did not start their measurements together, different instruments and techniques were used. Struve used a theodolite from Reichenbach of Munich while Tenner had seven instruments in use by Baumann, Troughton, Reichenbach and Ertel. Of the ten measured baselines, seven were measured by Struve and his instruments and three by Tenner. Both used iron bars with different designs, usages and lengths6. Large differences can also be seen in the usage of the point marks. In the first part of the triangulation measured by Struve (see below), marks were mainly engraved on wood, which did not survive until the present investigations. In the Scandinavian areas, the points were marked on solid rock by drilling a hole, filling it with lead and sometimes with a brass plate on the top. Most of the plates have been removed since then and the lead was probably removed by hunters to made shots out of it. Tenner on the other hand often built stone structures in cross-form with a square centre stone, which holds the drilled holes. Those marks have been found up to a metre below the ground level, which makes them harder to locate nowadays.
Stages of the Measurement
The measurement of a meridian arc with the length of more than 25° was not initially the aim of neither Struve nor Tenner. On the contrary they were in charge of different triangulation works in the same area around Livonia (later divided into Estonia and Latvia) and they did not know each other until 1828. This resulted in several phases of the arc measurement.
First Phase (1816-1831) – Central West Russia: As mentioned above, it was Colonel Tenner who started the trigonometric survey in the western provinces of the Russian Empire. By the end of phase one he had measured an arc of 4.5° between the latitudes 25°-27° from Bristen to Belin. Struve started his measurements in 1822 from Jacobstadt to the north and crossed half of the Gulf of Finland up to a little island with the station Hogland (now Gogland, Z). The triangle side over the Gulf had a length of more than 80 km which is the longest triangle side of the whole arc. In the last years of this stage Struve and Tenner met for the first time and decided to connect their stations Jacobstadt and Bristen which are located only 32km apart. After matching their different unit systems – Struve used the old French Toise (6 feet, about 1.949m) and Tenner used the Russian Sajène (7 feet, about 2.134m) – they had triangulated an arc of the length of 8°2.5', tied to three baselines and five astronomical azimuths.
Second Phase (1830-1844) – First Extensions: With the financial support from the Russian Tsar Nicholas I, Struve extended the arc to the north through autonomous Finland to connect it in Tornio (now Tornea) with the ancient Lapland Arc, measured by Maupertius. At the same time, Tenner continued his work to the south through the Ukraine to the Dnestre (now Dniester) river.
Third Phase (1844-1851) – Sweden, Norway and Bessarabia: To measure the most northern part, political agreements had to be made as Sweden and Norway were administratively separated but both reigned by King Karl XIV. Johann and King Oskar I. later. Responsible for the Swedish part was the astronomer Nils Haqvin Selander; the Norwegian measurements were undertaken by Christoper Hansteen, director of the Christiania Observatory. The measurements ended in Fuglenaes (Lat. 70°40'11.2"), a small town near Hammerfest at the Arctic Sea. Tenner meanwhile continued his work through the area of Bessarabia (now Moldova) and finished it in Staro-Nekrassowka (Lat. 45°20'02.8"), Ukraine.
Fourth Phase (1852-1855) – Completion: In the last years of the project, some additional measurements were made and to mark the most northern and southern stations, monuments were established in Fuglenaes and Staro-Nekrassowka. Because of the small size of the northernmost station, Hammerfest is often named instead of Fuglenaes.
Within 39 years, a meridian arc with the length of 25° 20' 08.29" and the total number of 258 principal triangles, 265 basic points, 10 baselines and 13 astronomical stations was measured.
After completing the arc measurements, Struve published the results in two volumes of "Arc du Méridien de 25° 20' entre le Danube et la Mer Glaciale mésure depuis 1816 jusqu'en 1855" [Struve, 1860] together with maps. Due to his failing health Struve was not able to publish his third volume containing a full account of the astronomic measurements, final results, evaluation of several arc measurements and the derivation of Earth parameters. Through the astronomical stations, the whole arc can be divided into 12 segments which can be used separately to compute the length of 1°. These values clearly indicated an oblate shape of the Earth. Struve computed a provisional result of the oblateness parameter f of 1:294.73 in combination with values of Bessel and Everest. Compared to modern results, this value has an overall accuracy of 1/200'000 over the 2820km length of the arc which is consistent with 5mm per km. The measurement of this arc was used later in several calculations of the Earth parameters by Bessel, Clarke, Krassowsky and many others.
After the completion of the measurements, Struve went back to his work at the Pulkovo Observatory (near Saint Petersburg) where all the descriptions of the work and other documents have been archived. During the World War II the Observatory became a target of the German air attacks and was totally destroyed. Fortunately the main instruments and large parts of the library could be saved.
The work carried out had not only earned respect because of the accuracy achieved. The cooperation of several monarchs, astronomers, military surveyors and instrument manufacturers for such a large scientific project after the time of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic War is remarkable and was an ideal example for later investigation campaigns. It also helped the newly established unit "metre" to spread into scientific and popular usage. In several countries, the stations of the Struve Arc have later been used in national networks and some of them are still important today.
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