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The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper Book Review
Posted byemilymalek June 28, 2021 Posted inAudiobooks, Charm Bracelets, Literature, Self-realization, WidowersTags:Audiobook, audiobook review, blakowski, by, by emily blakowski, Charm Bracelets, emily, Literature, literature review, Patrick, Phaedra, phaedra patrick book review, Self-realization, Widowers
For nearly two years, I've read a few curmudgeon novels, and they tend to follow similar patterns. They're usually about a stubborn person who has a certain way of living. Then, they go on a journey (physically and emotionally) to discover more about themselves and that they grow to appreciate the people around them, thus resulting in them opening up. The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick fits into this category like a bracelet on a wrist. Despite some flaws, it stands out in a couple of ways.
In The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, the 69-year-old title character has a strict routine, which involves getting up at 7:30am, wearing the same pair of pants and vest, watering his plant named Frederica, and gardening. On the one-year anniversary of Miriam's – his wife – death, he discovers a charm bracelet that he's never seen before. Each of the charms tells a different story of her life before she met him. To feed his curiosity, Arthur goes on a journey to various places like London, Paris, and even India to find out his wife's past life, and in the process, he discovers hope, healing, and more about himself.
The other curmudgeon novels that I've read in the past were A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. At first, I wondered how The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper was going to stand out. Luckily, unlike the titular characters of those two books, Arthur is a parent who spent a lot of time traveling for work. This made him emotionally distant from his two now adult children and not being attentive to his wife's needs. I like how the novel shows the consequences of behaving this way and how it affects his kids, especially his daughter Lucy.
Another thing that makes Arthur Pepper stand out from this bunch is the lighter tone. While both A Man Called Ove and Eleanor Oliphant can be quirky and fun at times, they are both balanced by a consistent dark tone. In the example of the former, Ove's tragic backstory is revealed through stream-of-consciousness and how it resulted in him not trusting people. He also tries to end his own life multiple times. In the case of the latter, Eleanor struggles to come to terms with what happened during her childhood. Besides one scene where the main character tries to take his own life, Arthur Pepper is much peppier because he doesn't have as much baggage as the other curmudgeons. This is good for readers who want something light.
Also, some of the characters that Arthur meets along the way are pretty colorful. These include his seemingly obnoxious, but caring neighbor Bernadette, the tiger loving Lord Graystock, and Mike – a caring homeless man. While these characters were memorable, they all seem to follow a pattern. Arthur meets or stumbles upon them, and they reveal their backstories before telling him how they know of the charm that he has questions about. After a while, it starts to get predictable, and don't get me started on how inconceivable some of these situations are and how willing these people are to tell their stories. For example, when trying to get into Lord Graystock's house, Arthur climbs over the fence and almost gets mauled by a tiger. If someone did that onto my property, I would be more likely to call the cops then tell them my backstory. The only time that someone was reluctant to tell Arthur their story about one of the charms was when Sonny Yardley initially refused to speak about Miriam, even when he came to the college that she worked at. She was this way because of a family tragedy that involved Miriam decades ago, and this was the only part that truly stuck with me because of this conflict.
I'm also convinced that Patrick was watching the Nudge, Nudge sketch from Monty Python when she was writing the scene, in which a random guy approaches Arthur in a café to discuss which girl he should marry. I couldn't take this scene as seriously as the author wanted me to because I added "Nudge, nudge" every time the stranger talked. After the coyness went away and the man explained his dilemma, it began to feel realistic again. This was when I was pulled back into the story.
I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by James Langton. I understand that readers who listened to the audiobook loved his narrations, and I can see why. He has a refined English voice that definitely carries the story. Since the book mostly takes place in York, England, he does a good Yorkshire accent for the male characters with enough differences to make each character distinct. However, the flaw with his voicing is with most of the female characters. They all sound dangerously close to Eric Idle impersonating a Yorkshire grandmother. I tolerated this when Langton voiced older women like Bernadette, but not younger ones like Lucy, even when he delivers the right emotions for them. And I can't quite put my finger on it, but his French accent for Sylvie was off. I really want to enjoy his performance, but how he voiced most of the women really threw me off.
All in all, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick is a light curmudgeon novel that stands out from the other titles in that category. Along with the tone, the main character is a parent, which adds a dimension to this subgenre. Yes, it does have its issues, but if readers are willing to suspend their disbelief, they'll enjoy it more. I recommend this book to those who like this particular type of novel, those who enjoy reading about self-discovery, and those who simply want a light read. It's available in regular and large print and as an audiobook; one can also find it on Hoopla and Overdrive/Libby.
Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!
Published by emilymalek
I work at a public library southeast Michigan, and I facilitate two book clubs there. I also hold a Bachelor's degree in History and Theatre from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI; a Master's degree in Library and Information Science from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI; and a Graduate Certificate in Archival Administration also from Wayne. In my downtime, I love hanging out with friends, play trivia and crossword puzzles, listening to music (like classic rock and K-pop), and watching shows like "Monty Python's Flying Circus"! View more posts
What Am I Reading – Chapter Fifteen
What Am I Reading – Chapter Sixteen
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Of course, before you can invest hundreds and thousands of dollar in a proposed business, you must evaluate the market and the potential growth of a proposed startup by conducting a Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threats analysis.
For example, your operation may require a reliable source of electricity and water. Construction of new kitchen: Any funder worth his or her salt wants to see it right off the bat. Company History This is predominately for businesses that have previous trading history, but can also be used by new companies that want to highlight relevant history on how the company came to existence, work completed to date, milestones achieved, etc.
How long it takes to business plan templates free downloads the plan depends on the primary objectives of the startup as well as the long-term goals of the potential trader.
Putting it all together For equity financing, answer the following: For example, you might want to open your software company in Silicon Valley as that provides a competitive advantage from an employee recruitment and fundraising perspective.
Required Funds In this section you will tell the reader how much money you need to raise, what you are going to use it for, and how you got to the requested amount. Kudos to Invoiceberry for figuring out this effective lead-gen tactic too!
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The plan will help you determine where the money will go, what the money will do, and what returns to expect. Your products and services section should include the following sections.A Business Plan is a written document that outlines a company's goals and how it plans to achieve them.
Global financial services firm vFinance offers a basic, page business plan template to download from its website — one the company says has been downloaded more than a quarter of a million times.
Try Microsoft Edge A fast and secure browser that's designed for Windows 10 No thanks Get started. Free business forms to use in your small business. Business Forms & Templates.
Get instant access to hundreds of business forms, templates, and contracts online today. Business Plan. The business plan generally projects years ahead and outlines the route a company intends to take to reach its yearly milestones, including revenue projections.
A well thought out plan also helps you to step-back and think objectively about the key elements of your business venture and informs your decision-making on a regular basis. Subscribe to the Free Printable newsletter.
Just choose a business plan template and download it.


Hilton Honors has launched new bonus miles offer for ANA frequent flier program member stays between July 14 – September 30, 2017.
ANA Mileage Club members can earn double miles worldwide and triple miles for their stays in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia.
You must have your Hilton Honors Double Dip option set to Points + Miles and have ANA Mileage Club chosen as the preferred partner.
Earn up to triple ANA Mileage Club ("AMC") miles: Offer is valid for Qualifying Nights completed between 14 July 2017 and 30 September 2017 ("Promotion Period") at any participating properties within the Hilton portfolio, except Hampton by Hilton™ hotels in Mainland China (view participating brands). To register and start earning up to triple AMC miles per eligible US$1 spent, Hilton Honors members must first register at http://www.HiltonHonors.com/TripleAMCMilesEN prior to check-out of your stay within the Promotion Period. Registered Honors members will only receive bonus miles for Qualifying Nights completed during the Promotion Period, regardless of a check-in date before the Promotion Period begins or a check-out date after the Promotion Period ends. Certain negotiated and group rates are ineligible for participation, for a full listing of excluded rates, please click here. "Qualifying Nights" mean the number of nights spent at the same hotel during the Promotion Period, whether or not a guest checks out and checks back in again.
Double AMC miles can be earned for Qualifying Nights at participating properties within the Hilton portfolio globally (except in Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Japan and Korea where you can earn Triple AMC miles). "Double Miles" means you will receive bonus miles equal to the number of base miles earned during a Qualifying Night – 2 AMC miles per eligible US$1 spent (1 base mile and 1 bonus mile per US$1 spent), for Qualifying Nights completed at a participating property. For stays at Tru by Hilton™ and Home2 Suites by Hilton™, you may only earn up to 100 miles per stay. Void where prohibited.
Triple AMC miles can be earned for Qualifying Nights at participating properties within the Hilton portfolio in Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Japan and Korea. "Triple Miles" means you will receive bonus miles equal to twice the number of base miles earned during a Qualifying Night – 3 AMCr miles per eligible US$1 spent (1 base mile and 2 bonus miles per US$1 spent), for Qualifying Nights completed at a participating property. For stays at Tru by Hilton™ and Home2 Suites by Hilton™, you may only earn up to 100 miles per stay. Void where prohibited.
To be eligible for this offer, you must (1) be a Hilton Honors member; (2) be a member of ANA Mileage Club; (3) register for the promotion on this page and; (4) select All Nippon Airways as your Preferred Airline Partner. Ensure that you select Points and Miles as your Double Dip® Earning Style within your Honors profile in order to earn up to triple AMC Miles in conjunction with this offer.
Please allow six to eight weeks from completion of your stay for miles to appear in your AMC account. Offer is not transferable, not valid for groups and cannot be combined with other select offers, promotions or discounts. Reward stays are not eligible for this offer. Other restrictions may apply. Hilton Honors membership, earning of Points & Miles when booking direct and redemption of Points are subject to Honors Terms and Conditions. All Hampton by Hilton™ hotels in Mainland China are excluded from the Hilton Honors program.
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Dimensions.-Main axis of the cortical shell 0.18, equatorial axis 0.07; breadth of every chamber 0.09; meshes 0.003 to 0.01, bars 0.002 to 0.004.
Habitat.-Comopolitan; Mediterranean, Atlantic, Pacific, in various depths.
Basic shell consisting of two concentric medullary shells joined to the equatorial constriction of the figure-8 cortical shell (cylindrical to ellipsoidal latticed shell divided into two approximately equal halves by an equatorial constriction) by 15-20 or more cylindrical radial beams arising from the surface of the outer medullary shell and confined to the equatorial region. Inner medullary shell spherical with subequal, polygonal pores, 3-5 on the half circumference; joined to the outer medullary shell by numerous radial beams. Outer medullary shell ellipsoidal, compressed in the polar axis, with subequal, circular to subcircular pores, 7-9 on half the major circumference. Pores of the cortical shell variable, relatively large, polygonal, subpolygonal, subcircular, or with irregular shapes, with or without polygonal frames, nearly equal with subregular arrangement in some specimens to unequal with less regular arrangement in others, slightly smaller in the region of the equatorial constriction, 7-12 on half the circumference of the broadest part of the shell. Surface of cortical shell with numerous thorns or cylindrical spines, some or all of which are branched distally in most specimens, representing rudimentary structures of the secondary shell; surface rarely devoid of spines, always with relatively stout thorns if spines lacking.
Secondary shell consists of the latticed polar caps and one or two outer latticed mantles; represented in various states of development (P1. 8, figs. 8-13; P1. 9, figs. 1-2) from absent but generally rudimentary to the form illustrated in figure 10 with three polar caps at each pole and two outer mantles; the latter form is not complete because there are spines on each of the third caps (indicating a fourth cap) as well as a few spines on the outer mantle. No specimen was observed without some structure indicating either additional polar caps, an outer mantle, or both. First polar caps supported by numerous radial beams whose points of origin define an approximate polar circle on the cortical shell; second and third polar caps supported by similar beams which are less constant in their position on the preceding cap but generally define a polar circle. Caps of variable shape from subhemispherical, to subconical, to irregular in outline; with pores similar in shape and arrangement to those of the cortical shell but slightly smaller. First outer mantle developed between the distally branched spines of the cortical shell, generally cylindrical but with irregular surface, relatively thin-walled, with unequal, generally very small, irregularly arranged pores of all shapes; it tapers at each pole, merging with the lattice of the first polar cap; if a second cap is present the mantle is double-layered at each pole, the outer layer merging with the lattice of the second cap (fig. 10). Second outer mantle with lattice similar to that of the first, joined to the first mantle by numerous cylindrical beams, tapers at each pole merging with the third latticed polar cap if present.
Measurements; based on 38 specimens from stations 46, 81, and 92: length of specimens with one cap at each pole (16 specimens) 172-252 µm, with two caps at each pole (9 specimens) 232-317 µm; maximum breadth of first outer mantle (18 specimens) 135-178 µm, of second outer mantle (5 specimens) 178-196 µm, of polar caps (14 specimens) 68-105 µm; length of cortical shell 102-141 µm, maximum breadth 74-104 µm; diameter of inner medullary shell 11-16 µm; polar diameter of outer medullary shell 26-31 µm, equatorial diameter 3l-37 µm.
....specifies, in connection with something previously mentioned, another or a different thing, and leaves the preference between the two to be decided by subjective opinion or choice..
specimens, page priority requires assignment of the Gulf species to Zygocampe chrysalidium.
The illustrations of several species and genera of earlier workers conform to several of the ontogenetic stages of the Gulf species. Without study of the type material of these apparently "ontogenetic" species and genera, however, they were not placed in synonymy with Zygocampe chrysa1idium because they may represent ontogenetic stages of other valid taxa. In the writer's opinion, study and revision of this group of forms with figure-8 cortical shells will reduce the number of genera and species to only a few.
Distribution. In the Gulf this species is cosmopolitan, being present at all stations except 203, and 214. It is rare at all stations except 90 (7.4%), 92 (2.4%), 184 (2.2%), 194 (7.5%), and 206 (3.0%) where it is common. At stations 90 and 194 it is the fifth most abundant species. In general, its frequency in the southern Gulf is slightly greater than that in the northern Gulf, but its frequency at stations 90 and 194 is much greater than its average throughout the Gulf. Its increase at station 90 may be explained by upwelling in this region. The increase in its abundance at stations 194 and 184 may be explained by its tolerance for higher than average salinity and temperature, although upwelling may be important in this region except that there is no direct evidence that it occurs. It is of almost common occurrence in the southern Gulf; therefore, it is an important member of the tropical Pacific fauna.
Because the taxonomy of this species as well as of forms similar to it is poorly known, little can be said about its world wide distribution. The basic shell with or without polar caps has been reported by numerous workers from the tropical parts of the world's oceans. The writer could find no reference to its occurrence in high latitudes; therefore, it may be confined to tropical seas.


Know the rules and it'll make a huge difference to your career.
You know you're not supposed to walk into work wearing your slippers or be caught sleeping while on the job. But when it comes to emails, the lines can get a little blurry. What is considered too much, too little, too friendly, too impersonal? These 10 rules of email etiquette will set you straight.
You know why some emails get deleted or overlooked? The subject line isn't clear enough. Keep in mind that whoever you're emailing is likely to have tons of other messages to go through, especially if it is your boss. So make sure the subject line is clear and explains it all to ensure they actually open and read your email.
Even via email, you're making an impression and being judged. So avoid being too casual (keep them for your peers in the office) but don't take an overly formal approach too as it may seem stern and impersonal. It's a fine balance but here's the go-to tip: Keep it formal, short and to the point. Start with a proper salutation (Good morning, Hello), go straight to the point of the email, and end with a polite sign-off (Regards, I'll speak with you soon, Looking forward to your reply).
The golden rule of email? Don't write aimlessly! Focus on your subject (what, why, when, where, who, how). If you need to address two subjects, write two separate emails so that both topics won't get lost further down the email thread.
It's rude to keep the other person waiting for your reply – a standard 24-hour rule (or within the same work day) applies when you're responding. If you're too busy to address everything in the email, a short acknowledgement ("thanks, I've received your email and will get back to you soon) is better than not replying. Plus: Don't just reply OK or Noted; it's super impersonal and kind of rude, especially if the person has taken time to craft an email that warrants more than just a one-word reply.
#5 Watch your grammar, spelling – and no LOLs!
You're emailing bosses, current and potential clients, colleagues in the office – you don't want to be known as the person who can't spell or string a proper sentence together right? Remember, your email reflects your personality and professionalism. This also means no LOLs, BRBs, TTYLs – save those for your friends.
The most annoying thing to receive via email? Huge files that take forever to download or jam up the server. Compress files before you send them. Or use free large-file attachment services like WeTransfer.
WHEN YOU TYPE IN ALL CAPS, IT JUST LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE SHOUTING (right?). Even if you want to make a point, there's no need to use all caps, bold and underline. If your message is clear and direct, everyone will get it.
Best still, go without emojis. Not everyone appreciates it. But if it is someone you've been working with for a long time and you want to keep things a little light-hearted between the two of you (especially when you've both finalised the project), a smiley face will do (nothing more!). And please, no emojis to your boss or CEO – no matter what!
Does everybody in the office need to know you'll be away for the day? Do you need to reply all to the email asking for volunteers for a project? Unless it is a huge work thing that involves everyone or if the subject is of interest to all of the recipients, don't hit reply all or your email might be considered spam – and annoying.
There are times when you're better off with a face-to-face or a phone call, like when you need a super-fast response, if you're asking your boss for a raise, or if you have a serious issue that needs to be resolved ASAP. It is better to discuss it personally instead of exchanging conversations via email that may be miscommunicated.


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by chris munden | Dec 18, 2019 | Adult Cricket, League and Cup News
Following on from the successful West of England Premier League (WEPL) Improvement Fund and in line with the WEPL pitch preparation criteria, the league will once again be operating a Club Machinery Fund in 2020. Clubs can also apply for funding support towards sight-screens this year.
The league recognise the importance of grounds machinery in the preparation of quality playing surfaces as well as the value of two sight-screens at each end in improving speed of play. WEPL are therefore increasing the funding pot for clubs to £15,000 in 2020 from the previous £12,000 in 2019.
When is the fund open?
We will welcome applications between 20th December 2019 and 27th February 2020.
All 2020 WEPL clubs, who didn't receive money from this fund in 2019, are free to apply.
What is eligible for funding?
Sight-screens or any item of grounds machinery required by a cricket club for pitch or outfield maintenance will be considered, including, but not limited to:
Light roller
Heavy roller
Pitch mower
Outfield mower
Funding will not be given retrospectively for items already purchased.
Items will need to be purchased by the 1st October 2020 to be eligible for funding.
Machinery can be new or second hand but must come with a minimum 12-month guarantee.
Please do not apply for service costs or replacement parts for existing machinery as this will not be covered by WEPL.
How much can we apply for?
Up to a maximum of £1,500 per club and no more than a 50% contribution to the total cost of the project/product.
The club machinery & sight-screens fund will be £15,000 in 2020.
How do we apply?
Complete the electronic application form
Attach at least two quotations for the item(s) in an email to Allan Taylor (allanetay@btinternet.com) confirming that you have also completed the electronic application form
How will WEPL decide which clubs to fund?
A WEPL panel will make and communicate the decisions by the 5th March 2020.
There is a possibility that we will receive more applications than we can fund. Decisions on which clubs are successful will therefore be based on applications meeting the criteria for the fund, a fair geographical spread, the perceived need of the club and whether the club have previously received funding from the WEPL Improvement or Machinery funds (2016-19).
If we are successful when we will we get the funding?
WEPL will distribute funds to successful applicants once decisions have been made AND clubs have signed and returned documentation regarding the funding.
Clubs will need to evidence the purchase of the item by the 1st October 2020 or the funding provided by WEPL will need to be returned.
By Scott Tremain | Disability, Latest News

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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ACTING BURLESQUE with Tigger! Disney After Dark launches Thursday March 8.
Tigger! (Photo by Don Spiro)
Around 2004 or so, when the burgeoning neo-burlesque movement that had been going on since the early '90s was noticeably spreading beyond New York and LA, many of those obsessively searching for information discovered a book called Burlesque and the New Bump-n-Grind by Michelle Baldwin. The foreword was by none other than living legend Dixie Evans, and the paperback was chock-full of the art form's secret history (modern as well as from burlesque's "golden age"). What struck me most at that time were the photos. I'd seen snapshots of the Legends before, but never before had I encountered this underground world of exotic new performers- Bambi the Mermaid? The World Famous *BOB*? The arresting girl with the eyepatch…Miss Astrid? One performer in particular caught my eye, not just because of his bizarre makeup and ferocious poses- although those definitely made an impression. Here was a very unique man in a world of neo-burlesque seemingly dominated by women. Tigger! was his name, and little did I know at the time that he was the missing link between burlesque, boylesque, male strip, and theater, predating anything I'd considered related to those types of performance.
Men can do this too? I wondered. Yes, they can. And they surely do.
Tigger (who in addition to Boylesque boasts triple titles of Artist/Actor/Dancer) started stripteasing in 1992 and was one of the first performers in New York's burlesque revival. Men performing under the banner of "burlesque" were fairly rare at that time; it wasn't until years later that Tigger met up with other pioneering male performers from other parts of the country like San Francisco's Roky Roulette and Baltimore's Evil Hate Monkey. Over the years, Tigger became an accidental mentor and teacher to a new generation of burlesque and boylesquers. To this day he remains a cherished performer in the now very wide world of burlesque.
Stripped Screw Burlesque have brought the man himself to Seattle for Disney After Dark this weekend, and he is also teaching a class at the Academy of Burlesque on Saturday March 10.
Here's the scoop:
ACTING BURLESQUE with Tigger!
Set the stage on fire! Go from talented to TNT! Build a larger-than-life Burlesque Persona with Tigger! and take your shows and your stage identity to the next level. Tigger! is a recognized pioneer of the current burlesque scene but has been an actor all his life, "acting like a stripper" for 20 years. Using his degree in theatre, his experience teaching college acting, and over 30 years on the stage (both Shakespeare & Shimmy), he employs his theatrical training & perspective to break down what makes a burlesque performer stand out from the herd.
Whatever you do in front of any kind of an audience, You are an Actor. Learn techniques and tips to make the most of what you've got.
*Bring anything from ideas to works-in-progress to signature numbers to workshop in class.*
$35 in advance, $40 at the door
Tickets can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/228084
Also visit www.tiggertiger.com
And back to Disney After Dark– in addition to Tigger, Stripped Screw's three night run at the historic Columbia City Theater will also feature these legends-in-the-making:
Sinner Saint Burlesque's Evilyn Sin Claire (Photo by Greg Holloway)
Portland's Baby Le'Strange (Photo by Meghann Mary Gilligan)
Don't miss out! This bill is too good to miss.
Get tickets to Disney After Dark HERE, and visit Stripped Screw's brand spankin' new website HERE.
~ by angrytruffle on 03/07/2012.
Tags: Baby Le'Strange, Burlesque and the New Bump n Grind, Disney After Dark, Evilyn Sin Claire, Michelle Baldwin, Stripped Screw, Tigger


In 2016 Adam Lankford published a widely propagated article purporting to show that during a 47-year period the United States represented 31 percent of worldwide public mass shooters, and claiming that the outsized U.S.
Earlier this year we completed a detailed evaluation of 38 years of prison data for Arizona.
In this edition of Prisoners in Arizona we provide an update to the findings of the previous report published in June of 2014. That report covered a wide range of inmate-related subjects with an emphasis on trends in inmate characteristics.
"I said that the biggest terror threat in this country comes from radicals on the far right, primarily white men.
Originally posted on May 31, 2018. With the media giving news coverage to a study based on this politically biased data, it seemed useful to again point out the flaws in the FBI's data.


Over the years, the world has invented several different ways of making coffee. We have new flavors, creamers and much more.
But nothing is more pleasurable than a hot, delicious and steaming cup of coffee in the morning.
And out of all the ways to brew coffee, the French press is probably the most popular.
Not only is it least-expensive but also a fast and delicious way to prepare your morning brew.
In the French press, the coffee grounds steep in hot water and afterward the grounds are pressed out.
It is important to note here that French Press coffee might taste bitter and feel oily since the coffee is sitting directly on grounds for a prolonged time.
Of course, you need a French Press coffee maker as well.
Before we start, you need to take care of two important things.
Boiling water scorch the grounds while tepid doesn't extract fully. Also, if you pick badly ground coffee with an excess of fine grit, it will make the coffee muddy and bitter.
– For water temperature, once it reaches a boil, take it off the stove and let it sit for a minute before your brew.
-For coffee grounds choose a professional blade grinder that grinds coffee perfectly for French Press. I like this one since it takes care of the ground size.
You may use your regular grinder, but that may not work for French press coffee since it relief on evenly-sized grains of coffee. Smaller-sized grains will pass through the filter and will spoil the taste.
I would recommend using Burr Grinder. It has multiple grinding options, and you can customize it according to the type of coffee you are preparing.
A final thing to consider before we move on to the ingredients and preparation is "Water & Coffee Ratio" for French press. Here is a small table that gives you a clear idea.
1 8 fluid ounces 2 tbsps.
THE BELOW RECIPE IS FOR ONE SERVING. SEE THE TABLE TO ADJUST INGREDIENTS ACCORDING TO SERVING SIZE.
The first thing to do is grind the coffee beans on coarsest setting if you are using a burr grinder. In a regular grinder, use sharp pulses, stopping every couple seconds so that all the grounds are properly grinded. The final texture of the coffee must be rough and coarse with no fine grit.
Pour the grounds into the French press.
Now heat the water to boiling temperature. For French press, the recommended temperature is 195 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use a thermometer to measure the temperature. Once it reaches boiling temperature, remove it from the stove and let it sit for a minute.
Next, you have to add the water to French press and using the spoon, stir it like crazy.
Steep for about 4-minutes and finally plunge the press as soon as the timer goes off. Take a sip and enjoy.
Let us know if this was helpful.


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BUCKHANNON – A judge denied bond to be set for a man who has been held in jail for the alleged first-degree murder of his father since March.
Timothy Allen McWilliams, 65, has been held without bond since March 8, the date of his arrest for the alleged murder of his father, Norman "Leo" McWilliams. McWilliams allegedly admitted to sheriff's deputies that he got into an altercation with his father and while Leo McWilliams was lying face down on the ground, got on his back and cut his throat with a knife, according to previous The Record Delta articles.
On Tuesday, McWilliams' attorney, Dennis Willett, asked that Circuit Court Judge Kurt Hall consider setting a bond.
He called one witness, McWilliams' sister, Rita Yaun, who testified that McWilliams would be able to return to the home he had lived in since 1987 with his parents and the home where she is caring for their elderly mother if released on bond.
Yaun testified that her brother had been the caretaker of the property and did chores while he resided there with their parents. He did not own a car or driver's license and walked for exercise or to needed appointments.
Prosecuting attorney David Godwin asked Yaun where she was when her father died.
Yaun said she had been in Florida but had returned home when she learned of her father's death.
The prosecuting attorney asked Yaun if she had any concerns because her father had suffered a partial decapitation at the hand of her brother.
"You weren't afraid of his safety before that?" he asked.
Yaun did say she was aware that McWilliams had mental issues and that her father had administered McWilliams' financial affairs because he was unable to do that. Since her father's death, Yaun has been handling McWilliam's financial affairs.
She said that she had been coming back and forth more regularly in the last 10 years to take care of her dad who had dementia but was then diagnosed with Alzheimers.
Willett told the court that McWilliams had been incarcerated since March 8 and had just undergone a competency evaluation where he was found competent to stand trial.
"Mr. McWilliams' other siblings stand behind him as Ms. Yaun does," he said. "This seems to be a rather unfortunate and very bizarre occurrence given the totality of circumstances involved.
Willett suggested home confinement for McWilliams.
Godwin said the mental problems of the father may have been part of that – alluding to Yaun's testimony of dementia and later Alzheimer's diagnosis for her father.
"She is not afraid for her safety now and she wasn't afraid for her father's safety then," he said.
The judge said he only knew what he had read in the complaint and what he had heard in the court. However, Hall expressed concern with McWilliams' mother being an elderly woman with dementia and noted that McWilliams had been taking care of his mother and father while he had his own mental health problems at the time of the alleged murder.
"Now, I hear he would be residing in the same residence in almost the exact same situation," he said. "I'm not willing to do that.
Hall said putting McWilliams back in a similar situation with his mother and the lack of information available along with the nature of the offense led him to deny bond.
Although it was not brought up in the hearing, McWilliams' was previously convicted of murder and malicious assault in 1980 stemming from an incident at a Morgantown nightclub, but this was later reversed by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. McWilliams was acquitted of both counts.


Climate change, rising atmospheric carbon dioxide, excess nutrientinputs, and pollution in its many forms are fundamentally alteringthe chemistry of the ocean, often on a global scale and, insome cases, at rates greatly exceeding those in the historicaland recent geological record. Major observed trends includea shift in the acid-base chemistry of seawater, reduced subsurfaceoxygen both in near-shore coastal water and in the open ocean,rising coastal nitrogen levels, and widespread increase in mercuryand persistent organic pollutants. Most of these perturbations,tied either directly or indirectly to human fossil fuel combustion,fertilizer use, and industrial activity, are projected to growin coming decades, resulting in increasing negative impactson ocean biota and marine resources.
The ocean plays a pivotal role in the global biogeochemicalcycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon, and a varietyof other biologically active elements and chemical compounds(1, 2). Human fossil-fuel combustion, agriculture, and climatechange have a growing influence on ocean chemistry, both regionallyin coastal waters and globally in the open ocean (3–5)(Fig. 1). Some of the largest anthropogenic impacts are on inorganiccarbon (6), nutrients (4, 7), and dissolved oxygen (8, 9), whichare linked through and affect biological productivity. Seawaterchemistry is also altered, some times quite strongly, by theindustrial production, transport, and environmental releaseof a host of persistent organic chemicals (10) and trace metals,in particular mercury (11), lead (12), and perhaps iron (13).
Marine biogeochemical dynamics is increasingly relevant to discussionsof ecosystem health, climate impacts and mitigation strategies,and planetary sustainability. Human-driven chemical perturbationsoverlay substantial natural biogeochemical cycling and variability.Key scientific challenges involve the detection and attributionof decadal and longer trends in ocean chemistry as well as moredefinitive assessments of the resulting implications for oceanlife and marine resources.
The biogeochemical state of the sea reflects both cycling andtransformations within the ocean, much of which are governedby biological dynamics, and fluxes across the ocean boundarieswith the land, atmosphere, and sea floor (2, 14). For most chemicalspecies, seawater concentrations are governed more by kinetics—therates of net formation and transport processes—than bychemical equilibrium with particles and sediments. Clear exceptionsare dissolved gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen(O2), which are driven to solubility equilibrium with the partialpressure of gases in the atmosphere in the surface ocean byair-sea gas exchange.
Phytoplankton in the ocean surface plays a crucial biogeochemicalrole, converting CO2 and nutrients into particulate organicand inorganic matter via photosynthesis and releasing O2 inthe process. The rate of marine primary production is governedby temperature, light (strongly influenced by surface turbulentmixing depths), and limiting nutrients, most notably nitrogen,phosphorus, iron, and silicon for some plankton. Some fractionof the biologically produced particulate matter subsequentlysinks into the subsurface ocean and is consumed by microbesand macrofauna, releasing CO2 and nutrients and consuming subsurfaceO2. Export production thus maintains strong vertical gradientsin biogeochemical tracers over the water column.
The global biologically driven export flux of ~10 Pg of C year–1 must be balanced by a supply of "new" nutrients brought up frombelow by ocean circulation, input by rivers, or deposited fromthe atmosphere. With sufficient iron and phosphorus, some diazotrophicmicrobes can produce "new" nitrogen in situ through nitrogenfixation that converts inert nitrogen gas into biological reactivenitrogen. Marine microbes produce and consume a number of tracegases that can influence climate, for example CO2, nitrous oxide(N2O), methane (CH4), and dimethylsulfide (DMS).
Ocean upwelling and mixing bring water with elevated CO2 andnutrients to the surface and replenish subsurface O2, with ventilationtime scales of years to a few decades in the main thermocline(upper 1 km of the water column) and many centuries for deepwaters. Natural ocean-atmosphere climate modes (e.g., El Nino–SouthernOscillation and Pacific Decadal Oscillation) generate substantialinterannual to interdecadal variability in ocean biogeochemistry.The major external source terms to the ocean are typically riverinputs and atmospheric deposition of dust, aerosols, and precipitation.These source terms are balanced mostly by losses to the seafloorvia the burial of the small fraction (<1% of organic matter)of sinking particulate matter that is not destroyed either inthe water column or in surface sediments.
For most of history, it was inconceivable that humankind coulddirectly influence ocean chemistry other than in local and inconsequentialmanners. That changed after the industrial revolution with thedevelopment of modern energy systems, chemical industries, andagriculture that process ever-growing volumes of material, someof which are released either advertently or inadvertently intothe environment and eventually reach the ocean. For example,because of human fossil-fuel combustion, deforestation, andland-use change (3), global mean atmospheric carbon dioxide(CO2) has grown by almost 40% from about 280 parts per million(ppm) in the preindustrial era to nearly 388 ppm by 2010 (15).The invention of the Haber-Bosch process, which converts N2gas into fixed nitrogen for agricultural fertilizer, has hadan even greater proportional impact on the global nitrogen cycle,approximately equaling the annual production of reactive nitrogenfrom natural sources (4). Comparable amplifications of a factorof 2 to 3 have occurred in the emissions of reactive phosphorus(16) and mercury (17) to the atmosphere and hydrosphere.
Indirect human effects on ocean chemistry can also occur, mainlythrough climate change. According to the most recent synthesisby the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, warming ofthe climate system since the mid-20th century is unequivocaland is very likely caused by the increase in anthropogenic greenhousegas concentrations (CO2, N2O, CH4, and chlorofluorocarbons)(18). Documented physical changes relevant to ocean biogeochemistryinclude upper-ocean warming, altered precipitation patternsand river runoff rates, and sea-ice retreat in the Arctic andthe West Antarctic Peninsula. Reduced stratospheric ozone overAntarctica appears to be causing a major shift in atmosphericpressure (more positive Southern Annular Mode conditions), whichstrengthens and displaces poleward the westerly winds in theSouthern Ocean and which also may be increasing ocean verticalupwelling (19). Future climate projections indicate continuation,and in many cases acceleration, of these trends as well as otherchanges such as more intense tropical storms, an ice-free summerin the Arctic, and a very likely reduction in the strength ofthe Atlantic deepwater formation.
Rising atmospheric CO2 causes a net air-to-sea flux of excessCO2 that dissolves in surface seawater as inorganic carbon throughwell-known physical-chemical reactions. The global uptake rateis governed primarily by atmospheric CO2 concentrations andthe rate of ocean circulation that exchanges surface watersequilibrated with elevated CO2 levels with subsurface waters.The distribution, global inventory, and decadal trend in anthropogenicCO2 are well characterized from ship-based observations (6,20) and models (3). Based on a recent synthesis, in 2008 fossil-fuelcombustion released 8.7 ± 0.5 Pg of C year–1 tothe atmosphere primarily as CO2, contributing to an ocean uptakeof 2.3 ± 0.4 Pg of C year–1 (3). Cumulative oceancarbon uptake since the beginning of the industrial age is equivalentto about 25 to 30% of total human CO2 emissions (6).
Climate change is expected to decrease ocean uptake of anthropogenicCO2 because of lower CO2 solubility in warmer waters and slowerphysical transport into the ocean interior due to increasedvertical stratification and reduced deepwater formation (21).In contrast, stronger Southern Ocean winds and ocean upwellingmay increase future uptake of anthropogenic CO2 (22). Changesin ocean circulation also alter the upward transport of subsurfacewater enriched in nutrients and dissolved inorganic carbon,and these biogeochemical feedbacks tend to partially offsetclimate effects on anthropogenic CO2 uptake. In model estimatesfor the contemporary Southern Ocean for example, enhanced effluxof natural CO2 due to stronger winds and upwelling more thancompensates for increased anthropogenic CO2 uptake, leadingto a net reduction in global ocean uptake (19, 23). Recent observationsof the air-sea difference in the partial pressure of carbondioxide (pCO2), the driving force for air-sea CO2 exchange,indicate a weakening of oceanic uptake in a number of regions,although there remains some debate about whether this signalshould be attributed primarily to climate change or decadalclimate variability (3, 24).
Ocean uptake of anthropogenic CO2 also alters ocean chemistry,leading to more acidic conditions (lower pH) and lower chemicalsaturation states ( ) for calcium carbonate (CaCO3) mineralsused by many plants, animals, and microorganisms to make shellsand skeletons (25). Seawater acid-base chemistry is bufferedlargely by the inorganic carbon system, and CO2 acts as a weakacid in seawater. Processes that add CO2, like air-to-sea gasflux or bacterial respiration of organic matter, increase theconcentration of hydrogen ions (H+) and thus decrease pH (pH= –log10[H+]).
Critically for many organisms, the addition of CO2 reduces carbonateion (CO32–) concentration through the reaction H+ + CO32– HCO3–, even though the total amount of dissolved inorganiccarbon (DIC) goes up (DIC = [CO2] + [H2CO3] + [HCO3–]+ [CO32–]). Declining CO32– in turn lowers CaCO3saturation state, = [Ca2+][CO32–]/Ksp, where Ksp is thethermodynamic solubility product that varies with temperature,pressure, and mineral form. Ocean surface waters are currentlysupersaturated ( > 1) for the two major forms used by marineorganisms, aragonite (corals and many mollusks) and calcite(coccolithophores, foraminifera, and some mollusks). Becauseof pressure effects and higher metabolic CO2 from organic matterrespiration, decreases with depth, often becoming undersaturated( < 1), at which point unprotected shells and skeletons beginto dissolve.
Ocean acidification is documented clearly from ocean time-seriesand survey measurements over the past two decades (Fig. 2) (26, 27). From preindustrial levels, contemporary surface oceanpH has dropped on average by about 0.1 pH units (a 26% increasein [H+]), and additional declines of 0.2 and 0.3 pH units willoccur over the 21st century unless human CO2 emissions are curtailedsubstantially (28). Surface ocean CaCO3 saturation states aredeclining everywhere, and polar surface waters will become undersaturatedfor aragonite when atmospheric CO2 reaches 400 to 450 ppm forthe Arctic and 550 to 600 ppm for the Antarctic (29). Subsurfacewaters will also be affected but more slowly, governed by oceancirculation, with the fastest rates in the main thermoclineand high latitudes where cold surface waters sink into the oceaninterior. Many coastal waters naturally have low pH, a factoramplified by acid rain (30) and nutrient eutrophication (seebelow).
The rates of change in global ocean pH and are unprecedented,a factor of 30 to 100 times faster than temporal changes inthe recent geological past, and the perturbations will lastmany centuries to millennia. The geological record does containpast ocean acidification events, the most recent associatedwith the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum 55.8 million yearsago. But these events may have occurred gradually enough andunder different enough background conditions for ocean chemistryand biology that there is no good paleo-analog for the currentsituation (31).
On the basis of laboratory experiments and limited surveys acrossocean chemistry gradients, ocean acidification will likely reduceshell and skeleton growth by many marine calcifying speciesincluding corals and mollusks (25). Ocean acidification alsomay reduce the tolerance of some species to thermal stress.Some studies suggest a threshold of about 550 ppm atmosphericCO2 where coral reefs would begin to erode rather than growbecause of acidification and surface ocean warming; this wouldnegatively affect diverse reef-dependent taxa (32). Polar ecosystemsalso may be particularly susceptible when surface waters becomeundersaturated for aragonite, the mineral form used by many mollusks.
Some organisms may benefit in a high-CO2 world, in particularphotosynthetic organisms that are currently limited by the amountof dissolved CO2 in seawater. In laboratory experiments withelevated CO2, higher photosynthesis rates are found for certainphytoplankton species, seagrasses, and macroalgae, and enhancednitrogen-fixation rates are found for some cyanobacteria. Indirectimpacts on noncalcifying organisms and marine ecosystems asa whole are possible but more difficult to characterize frompresent understanding.
Primary production by upper-ocean phytoplankton forms the baseof the marine food web and drives ocean biogeochemistry throughthe export flux of organic matter and calcareous and siliceousbiominerals from planktonic shells. Satellite observations indicatea strong negative relationship, at interannual time scales,between productivity and warming in the tropics and subtropics,most likely because of reduced nutrient supply from increasedvertical stratification (33). Numerical models project declininglow-latitude marine primary production in response to 21st-centuryclimate warming (34). The situation is less clear in temperateand polar waters, although there is a tendency in models forincreased production because of warming, reduced vertical mixing,and reduced sea-ice cover. The climate signal in primary productionmay be difficult to distinguish from natural variability formany decades (35).
Changes in atmospheric nutrient deposition also can alter productivitybut mostly on regional scales near industrial and agriculturalsources. Present anthropogenic reactive nitrogen depositionto the surface ocean (54 ± 23 Tg of N year–1) (Fig. 3) supports an export production of ~0.3 Pg of C year–1 (~3% of global total) while producing an additional ~1.6 Tgyear–1 of N2O (7). In much of the North Pacific, equatorialPacific, and Southern Ocean, phytoplankton are limited by iron,but most of the atmospheric iron deposition is in the form ofmineral dust that is not readily bioavailable. Anthropogeniccombustion sources and increased cloud-water acidity are increasingsoluble iron input to the ocean (13, 36). Models suggest thatanthropogenic iron deposition could have a greater positiveimpact on productivity than anthropogenic nitrogen and alsoenhance nitrogen fixation, but direct observations are lacking(37).
Low subsurface O2, termed hypoxia, occurs naturally in open-oceanand coastal environments from a combination of weak ventilationand/or strong organic matter degradation (8, 9). Dissolved O2gas is essential for aerobic respiration, and low O2 levelsnegatively affect the physiology of higher animals, leadingto so-called "dead-zones" where many macrofauna are absent.Thresholds for hypoxia vary by organism but are ~60 µmolof O2 kg–1 or about 30% of surface saturation. Under suboxicconditions (<5 µmol kg–1), microbes begin touse nitrate (NO3) rather than O2 as a terminal electron acceptorfor organic matter respiration (denitrification), resultingin reactive nitrogen loss and N2O production. Toxic hydrogensulfide (H2S) production occurs under anoxic (no O2) conditions.The organic matter respiration that generates hypoxia also elevatesCO2, thus leading to coupled deoxygenation and ocean acidificationin a future warmer, high-CO2 world. The synergistic effectsof these multiple stressors may magnify the negative physiologicaland microbial responses beyond the impacts expected for eachperturbation considered in isolation (38, 39).
Fertilizer runoff and nitrogen deposition from fossil fuelsare driving an expansion in the duration, intensity, and extentof coastal hypoxia, leading to marine habitat degradation and,in extreme cases, extensive fish and invertebrate mortality(8, 40, 41). About half the global riverine nitrogen input (50to 80 Tg of N year–1) is anthropogenic in origin (4, 42),and anthropogenic nitrogen deposition is concentrated in coastalwaters downwind of industrial and intensive agricultural regions(30). The result is coastal eutrophication and enhanced organicmatter production, export, and subsurface decomposition thatconsumes O2. Nutrient eutrophication is also associated withincreased frequency of harmful algal blooms (43).
Worldwide there are now more than 400 coastal hypoxic systemscovering an area > 245,000 km2 (40). Population growth andfurther coastal urbanization will only exacerbate coastal hypoxiawithout careful land and ocean management. Accelerated hypoxiamay also result from climate warming and regional increasesin precipitation and runoff that increase water-column verticalstratification; on the other hand, more intense tropical stormscould disrupt stratification and increase O2 ventilation (8).
Expanding coastal hypoxia is also induced in some regions byreorganization in ocean-atmosphere physics. Off the Oregon-Washingtoncoast, increased wind-driven upwelling is linked to the firstappearance of hypoxia, and even anoxia, on the inner shelf after5 decades of hypoxia-free conditions (44). Further south inthe California Current System, the depth of the hypoxic surfacehas shoaled along the coast by up to 90 m (45). The same physicalphenomenon, along with the penetration of fossil-fuel CO2 intooff-shore source waters, are introducing waters corrosive toaragonite ( < 1) onto the continental shelf (46). There isconflicting evidence on how coastal upwelling may respond toclimate change, and impacts may vary regionally (47).
Extensive deoxygenation is also occurring in the open ocean,most notably in the thermocline of the North Pacific and tropicaloceans (9, 48) (Fig. 4). A portion of the observed oxygen changelikely reflects decadal variability in ocean circulation, butsimilar to ocean CO2 distinct secular trends are apparent atsome long-term time series stations (49). Models project furtherreductions of 1 to 7% in the global oxygen inventory and expansionsof open-ocean oxygen minimum zones over the 21st century fromdecreased solubility in warmer waters and slower ventilationrates (50).
Points sources of pollution from industrial discharges and oilspills are often highly visible and destructive to the localand regional marine environment (51). Perhaps less well knownis the global spread of industrial pollutants into what otherwisewould appear to be pristine environments. Elevated oceanic levelsof persistent organic pollutants (10) and methyl mercury, ahighly toxic organic form (11), raise serious concerns for marineecosystem health and, potentially, human health through theconsumption of contaminated seafood. Many organic and organo-metalliccompounds bioaccumulate in the fatty tissues of marine organismsat levels orders of magnitude higher than ambient seawater concentrations.Such pollutants are passed up the food chain and are most concentratedin marine organisms at the higher trophic levels including predatoryfish, marine mammals, and seabirds.
Key factors in determining overall biological impacts for aparticular pollutant are source magnitudes and locations, physicaland biological transport pathways, toxicity, and persistencein the environment. Pollutants exhibit elevated levels nearlocal point sources and in coastal and open-ocean waters becauseof atmospheric deposition downwind of industrial regions (e.g.,western Pacific near East Asia and North Atlantic near NorthAmerica and Western Europe) (17, 52) (Fig. 3). However, theyare also distributed globally, found in even the most remotemarine locations, transported through the atmosphere in thevapor phase, aerosols, and soot particles (i.e., black carbon);by ocean currents; and in some cases by migrating animals (53).
Elemental mercury (Hg0), the main chemical form in the ocean,is transformed into the more toxic methyl mercury form by microbes,particularly in reduced environments such as coastal sedimentsand perhaps oxygen minimum zones (11). Although mercury distributionsare poorly characterized from direct seawater measurements,time histories reconstructed from numerical models (17) andbiological samples (e.g., seabird feathers) indicate increasingtrends over the 20th century (11). It is encouraging that, afterthe phaseout of leaded gasoline in North America that beganin the mid-1970s, the high levels of anthropogenic lead observedin the North Atlantic declined sharply and are now comparableto those occurring at the beginning of the 20th century (12).
Some persistent organic pollutants are synthetic and did notexist in nature before industrial manufacture. Production forsome organic pollutants peaked in developed nations in the mid-to late 20th century but is continuing to grow in the developingworld. Commonly measured synthetic contaminants include pesticideslike DDT, polychlorinated biphenyls, and brominated flame retardantssuch as polybrominated diphenyl ethers. However, there are manymore organic compounds synthesized and used that presumablyexist in the ocean but that have not been detected (54).
Human activities have also increased levels of naturally occurringcompounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which havesources from petroleum spills and natural oil seeps as wellas, primarily, incomplete combustion from wildfires, biomassburning, and fossil fuels (55). In a study on the Gulf of Mainedownwind of the Northeast United States, another combustionproduct, black carbon, contributed up to 20% of the total particulateorganic carbon in seawater and about half of the "molecularlyuncharacterized" fraction (56). Environmental samples oftencontain organic compounds similar in chemical structure to knownpollutants but which may be biosynthesized natural products;compound-specific radiocarbon analysis is emerging as a powerfultool for distinguishing between natural and industrial sources(10).
A deeper understanding of human impacts on ocean biogeochemistryis essential if the scientific community is to provide appropriateand timely information to the public and decision-makers onpressing environmental questions. Although some progress hasbeen made on a nascent ocean observing system for CO2 (57),the marine environment remains woefully undersampled for mostcompounds. The oceanographic community needs to develop a coordinatedobservational plan that takes better advantage of in situ autonomoussensors and observation platforms (58). Monitoring efforts shouldbe paired with laboratory and field process studies to betterelucidate the biological effects of changing chemistry at organism,population, and ecosystem levels.
In particular, more detailed biochemical, system biology, andgenomic studies are required to explain mechanistically theresponses of cells and organism to external perturbations, supplementingwhat have often been to date more phenomenological findings.Genomic and physiological research should be embedded in large-scaleecological and biogeochemical spatial surveys and time seriesto facilitate scaling to ecosystems (59). Further work is neededacross scales exploring possible synergistic effects among multiplestressors and to assess the potential for biological acclimationand adaptation to human perturbations over decadal to centennialtime scales. Lastly, targeted research is needed on the impactson marine resources and fisheries, potential adaptation strategies,and the consequences for human social and economic systems (60).
1. W. H. Schlesinger, Biogeochemistry: An Analysis of Global Change (Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 1997).
2. J. L. Sarmiento, N. Gruber, Ocean Biogeochemical Dynamics (Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, NJ, 2006).
3. C. Le Quéré et al., Trends in the sources and sinks of carbon dioxide. Nat. Geosci. 2, 831 (2009).
4. J. N. Galloway et al., Nitrogen Cycles: Past, present, and future. Biogeochemistry 70, 153 (2004).
5. S. D. Donner, C. J. Kucharik, Corn-based ethanol production compromises goal of reducing nitrogen export by the Mississippi River. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 105, 4513 (2008).
6. C. L. Sabine et al., The oceanic sink for anthropogenic CO2. Science 305, 367 (2004).
8. N. N. Rabalais et al., Biogeoscience 7, 589 (2010).
10. C. M. Reddy, J. J. Stegeman, M. E. Hahn, in Oceans and Human Health: Risks and Remedies from the Seas, P. J. Walsh, S. L. Smith, H. M. Solo-Gabriele, W. H. Gerwick, Eds. (Academic Press, Burlington, MA, 2008), pp. 121–141.
14. M. J. R. Fasham, Ed., Ocean Biogeochemistry (Springer, New York, 2003).
15. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Earth System Research Laboratory, www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/.
18. S. Solomon et al., in Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, S. Solomon et al., Eds. (Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 2007), pp. 19–91.
29. M. Steinacher, F. Joos, T. L. Frölicher, G.-K. Plattner, S. C. Doney, Imminent ocean acidification in the Arctic projected with the NCAR global coupled carbon cycle-climate model. Biogeoscience 6, 515 (2009).
51. National Research Council, Oil in the Sea: Inputs, Fates and Effects (National Academies Press, Washington, DC, 2003).
58. K. S. Johnson et al., Oceanography 22, 217 (2009).
61. This work was supported by the Center for Microbial Oceanography, Research and Education (C-MORE) (NSF grant EF-0424599) and the W. Van Alan Clark, Sr. Chair for Excellence in Oceanography from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. I thank J. Dore for Fig. 2, I. Lima for Fig. 3, S. Mecking for Fig. 4, and C. Reddy and C. Lamborg for discussions on ocean pollutants.


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You are here: Home Auto Raasi Group plans to set up production of LI-Ion Cells
Raasi Group plans to set up production of LI-Ion Cells
Raasi Group plans to set up production of LI-Ion Cells – India's First Indigenous Technology based
Hon'ble Gover of Tamil Nadu Shri. Banwarilal Purohit inaugurated the Li-Ion Production Lines – India's First Indigenous Tech product. Mr. Kim Hyung Tae, Consul General of South Korea was the Guest of Honor.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the group and a former Member of Parliament Mr. C Narasimhan said that he would like to work for the development of Tamil Nadu and sought guidance from the Governor for the 1gw plant, production of Li-Ion Cells, for the first time in the country and invited the Governor to inaugurate the factory which is expected to be started soon, at Hosur, Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu close to Bangalore; and, also sought the support of State government and the technology collaborators CSIR & CECRI.
He further added that the companies like Hyundai Motors, other Korean cos, L&T, Hero, TVS expected to support. Under the leadership of our Governor of Tamil Nadu and the State Govt. support, this project would be supreme country and super country in the world. The life of the Li-Ion battery would be for 8 years – costing only Rs.30,000/- compared to the Lead acid batteries, which has only 6 months span of life – costing Rs.7000/-.
The technology development with the support of CSIR and the Dept. of Science & Technology helped them to sign an agreement last month with the Union minister for Science & Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan, along with Dr Vijayamohan K. Pillai, Director, CECRI, in Bengaluru on Saturday, at an outlay of Rs. 1,000 crore.
Governor on his inaugural speech said that make in India, Swadish movement is to encourage the manufacturing activity in the country and aspire to achieve electric vehicle production by2030 is certain. And the public private partnership would always bring in faith along with right kind of skills training and providing employment to the youth of India.
Li-Ion batteries have applications in Energy Storage System – from hearing aid to container sized batteries to power a cluster of villages, Electric Vehicles (2-wheeler, 3-wheeler, 4-wheeler and Bus), portable electronic sector, Grid Storage, Telecom and Telecommunication Towers, Medical Devices, Household and Office Power Back (UPS), Powering Robots in Processing Industry. Lithium-ion batteries can power any electrical application without the need of physical wires-means wireless.
Later Mr. B C Datta, Nissan said that the cell attributes 30% cost of eVehicles and indigenous production would surely bring down the cost of vehicles.
Filed in: Auto, Infrastructure, Logistics, Road Tags: featured, headline


The Deluxe Original Cotton Rope Hammock is a woven bed of 100% 3-ply cotton rope. It always looks new with the rope's natural color. It can carry weights up to 450 lbs and has an excellent constructed hardware to support two or more persons comfortably. Hammock spreader bar are built of solid oak for high durability.


Elektra – Assassin #1 – 8 (1986-1987) : Good ninjas never die, let alone the baddest one of all! Fan favorite Frank Miller ushers his awesome assassin through good and evil and life and death and rebirth and more! Who is the otherworldly entity in pursuit of the presidency? When has Elektra met her greatest triumphs and tragedies? Why did she die, and how did she return?


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New campaign to encourage female creatives to "Be More Boss"
A £2m investment pot is being made available to address the "chronic shortage" of female-led businesses in the creative sector.
Be More Boss is being led by Creative England, in partnership with Facebook and Creative Review.
The social media campaign hopes to encourage more women working in the creative industries to start their own businesses and, for those who have, to apply for investment.
Kate Bones, a GIF artist and photographer has produced profiles of 4 female leaders, which have been specifically formatted for Instagram and Facebook.
"Kate Bones's work profiles these four innovative women in a beautiful, eye-catching way. With the wonderful support of Facebook and Creative Review, we really hope this campaign will inspire more female entrepreneurs to 'Be More Boss' and start their own companies. And when they do, we're here to support them," explained Dawn Paine, chief marketing and strategy officer of Creative England.
Bec Evans, co-founder of Prolifiko, one of those supported by Creative England added:
"Starting a business is tough. But for female-founders it's even harder - only 9% of funding goes to female-led businesses. The saying 'you can't be what you can't see' might be overused, but it remains depressingly true.
"That's why I'm proud to be involved in Creative England's campaign to support female-leaders in the creative industries. As women gain more visibility they become role models that inspire a generation of girls and young women to start their businesses. Which is good for women, good for business and good for the UK economy."
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MMSI® became an idea in the late 1980s when Wilfred (Bill) Johnson was asked by a large department store conglomerate to move their backup tapes from coast to coast in the most expedient way. Bill pulled off the unimaginable and succeeded at delivering the tapes on time. As technology advanced, clients asked Bill to provide transportation for their IT equipment, particularly the media holding their valuable live data. As MMSI® supplied this service, they discovered a market for its newfound skills. As the advance of technology continued, MMSI's® clients asked for more services in regards to their IT equipment, including relocations of the entire data center. Then in 1995, Bill asked his son, Kirk Johnson to assist and the company was formed. Kirk brought in vast experience in the international aspects of relocations so the business expanded to include international services. Lori Jump was added to bring her extensive experience in international transportation to the company.
With its history in the transportation field, MMSI® has always had strength in the relocation of datacenter equipment and infrastructure. Over the years, MMSI® has become adept in all aspects of IT asset management, from purchase to disposal.


Badshah To Launch A High Fashion Street Wear Clothing Line!
Known for numbers like "Mercy", "DJ Waley Babu" and "Chull" among many other, rapper Badshah is now all set to launch his own high street fashion line titled -- Badfit.
"I am busy with my clothing line, which is due to launch in September. It's primarily high fashion street wear line and it's more on the urban side. It's similar to what I wear... It's called Badfit and the pre-orders are going to start in September," Badshah told IANS from Mumbai.
The rapper, whose real is Aditya Singh will collaborate with American electronic music trio Major Lazer as part of a new campaign -- Tuborg OPEN, a global collaborative music platform, which will see the star producers travel on a journey of musical and cultural discovery.
Badshah says the platform is very exciting.
"It's a great initiative to get creative artistes from around the world to collaborate on a platform, which is huge in terms of the approach and exposure," he said.
Talking about Major Lazer, Badshah said: "Major Lazer has such a universal sound and a huge fan base so it's going to be a great amalgamation of artistes from different places."


Not really, Mr reread and I are heading in the same direction and that direction is south-east Asia, for three months. Woo hoo! That means my last markets for 2012 will be the Young Designers on Sunday, 1 July and then the BrisStyle indie Designers Market on Saturday, 14 July. After that it's packing, selling, leaving stuff on the street, sending Ms Sybil to FNQ for a 'farm stay' and loaning out my beloved wee car. Please do come and see me at the markets - last chance to get a reread card in 2012!
If you have tips and tricks for place to stay, eat, play, sleep in south-east Asia, India and Sri Lanka let me know - also Sybil would much rather stay in Bris Vegas, so if you're keen on three months of dog sitting...?


In celebration of 75 years, Trees For Tomorrow (TFT) hosted its 75th Anniversary Gala Fundraiser at the Rothschild Pavilion on March 2, 2019, attracting 120 attendees from forestry, logging, pulp and paper, and utility companies.
Attendees dressed in their favorite plaid shirts, hats and lumberjack attire during this Forester's Ball. The night included hors d'oeuvres, a plated dinner, live and silent auctions, raffles, award ceremony, a beer and wine cash bar, and beer tasting hosted by Bull Falls Brewery.
The event brought in more than $27,000 for environmental science programs for K-12 students, and was the most successful banquet in TFT's 75-year history.


FINALLY, the school year is over! And now, I get to sit back, relax, and update my life online. Last April 8, 2011, Friday, my cousin Jen invited me to go with her to the BUM Equipment 2nd Blogger's Night @ Dulcinea, T. Morato. The event was supposed to start at 7 pm. But since I came from work (my last official day of duty before my summer break from school!), I arrived late.. around 8pm. Thank goodness I didn't arrive too late and I was able to have a fun time there to meet up with some bloggers, view BUM's new clothes, and have a grand time taking pictures!
So as it was my first "bloggers" meetup and event meetup too, I was really excited. I didn't know what to expect. It was great that my cousin and Rache were there so I didn't feel too uncomfortable. Later on, I was able to meet up with another fellow blogger, Bec and we had a cool time getting to know her as well. As for the event, it was really great! They setup a place where you can take pics of yourself with the BUM logo at the back.
Then I registered and was given this really cool giveaway bag with awesome goodies (thanks so much BUM... the black bag is my favorite.. a teacher can never have too many bags.. hahaha).
We were also given a chance to "vote" for our favorite blogger and of course, who else would I vote for then my cousin. She also won a prize for being one of the top 3 "most voted" blogger.
Then Rache and I checked out the clothes.
B.U.M. had a lot of statement shirts. Definitely for those who want to express themselves--especially for the Emo people out there. I know, I used to be a bit "emo" too! LOL. Here are some of the shirts that I found interesting and struck a chord with me.
When I saw this shirt, it really spoke to me.. and I remembered the times when I felt empty and broken. Now, I'm Healed and Restored and I can now look back at those times with a smile on my face because I know that God can use a situation to make you into a better and stronger person.
Anyway I had a lot of fun and hopefully I will be able to do things like this again during my summer vacation. Thank you BUM, Jen, Rache, and Bec for the awesome time last Friday. For me, it was indeed an event to remember!
Rache, Bec, Jen, and ME!
Photo credits go to Jen and B.U.M!


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Home Scores Rankings Standings Stats Video History Bowls
Derek Levarse | The Times Leader | August 27, 2014
Irish entrance
DUBLIN, Ireland -- For Central Florida, it all started with a phone call from Bill O'Brien.
Knights coach George O'Leary was approached by the former Penn State coach, who was once one of his top assistants.
Ireland sounded just fine to O'Leary.
"Billy had called and said, 'Coach, do you have an interest?' " O'Leary said at his weekly news conference. "What he was trying to do was, because of the probation that Penn State was on, to get the kids a trip. And I said sure, I'd be willing to play that.
"Billy knew it was a game he wanted to get to."
Of course, it won't be O'Brien on the other sideline Saturday when UCF faces the Nittany Lions in the Croke Park Classic. James Franklin took over in January shortly after O'Brien left for the NFL.
"He called me before he took the Houston job," O'Leary said. "Said, 'Coach, I'm taking that job.' I said, 'That's great. There's only 32 of them. You might as well take one.'
"He said, 'Boy, I'm catching a lot of heck from my dad.' "
No more overseas trip, apparently, for the entire O'Brien clan. From Penn State's perspective, the plan was to find something that could take the place of a bowl game with the program facing a four-year postseason ban.
George O'Leary Radio Show now recording in a very historic section of Carton House #IrishKnights pic.twitter.com/r1LESMTgwZ
— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) August 27, 2014
UCF, meanwhile, was looking for exposure. The Knights agreed to the game back before their landmark 12-1 season in 2013, one in which they beat the Nittany Lions in Beaver Stadium and Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl. This time around, however, they don't have a sure-fire NFL quarterback under center.
Blake Bortles played very well in the win over PSU before skipping his final year to enter the draft. His successor, Pete DiNovo, is a redshirt freshman who has yet to take a snap in a college game.
O'Leary, never one to stifle an opinion, was asked if he was happy with the progress of DiNovo and his other young quarterbacks who are battling for playing time.
"No," he said simply. "I'm not. You know, sometimes you get spoiled a little bit, but I think it's a constant work in progress with the quarterbacks.
"Pete DiNovo was named starting quarterback because of what he took from the sideline to the huddle to the execution of the play. I think he's done a good job with that. But from the execution, he's a typical freshman that has to understand consistency is the key. You're constantly trying to make sure that basically you're a productive quarterback back there. You can't turn it over. You can't do things that cause games to be lost."
Hear what Sean Galvin - the pride of Cork - had to say prior to his first UCF football practice in his home country. https://t.co/HGgRNXgx6p
UCF was forced to replace most of the offensive line from a year ago. The Knights likely won't ask DiNovo to do too much in his debut. But it's far from a grim situation for UCF, which returns nearly every receiver of consequence from a year ago to help out the young quarterback. O'Leary pointed out that Bortles wasn't a highly rated passer coming out of high school and said that some of the tape from Bortles' freshman year would still make him cringe.
In that regard, DiNovo is further along than his predecessor at the same stage in their careers.
"As a freshman? Heck yeah," O'Leary said. "I think Blake really came in his sophomore year. Blake just had a fantastic growth. The freshman QBs are all the same. that's why you don't see them starting across the country. Because they're just not used to the speed of the game."
"I think Pete and all of the quarterbacks have done a good job. I'm not looking at them compared to Blake. I'm looking at them compared to other freshmen that we've had ... and they're a heck of a lot further ahead of freshman quarterbacks we've had in the past as far as getting things done.
"It's just, as a head coach, you always want it done now."
UCF is women's basketball Team of the Week after two big wins against Houston and USF
UCF is NCAA women's basketball Team of the Week after opening the new year with four straight wins, most recently against Houston and South Florida last week.
WATCH: Tulsa men's soccer wins AAC regular season title over UCF via penalty kick
Tulsa is the regular-season AAC men's soccer champion, defeating UCF 2-1.
Here's how college football programs with first-year coaches are performing in 2021
Here's how first-year coaches have performed through Week 8.


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Opelika Songwriters Festival
Merch Artists 2019 Gallery Venues Travel
MerchArtists2019 GalleryVenuesTravel
fri 8:30pm John emerald distillery
sat 6:30pm irish bred pub
Pat Wictor first burst on the folk and acoustic scene as an innovative slide guitarist known for fresh and memorable interpretations of traditional and contemporary songs. He has since made his mark as a singer-songwriter penning lean and poetic songs that honor - and subvert - rural blues and gospel traditions. For seven years he toured as one third of Brother Sun, the powerful harmonizing trio with Joe Jencks and Greg Greenway, garnering critical acclaim, two #1 CDs on the Folk DJ charts, and a continent-spanning tour schedule. His latest solo release, This is Absolutely Real: Visions and Versions of Phil Ochs, was nominated for an Independent Music Award in their Best Tribute Album category.
An American by birth, Pat's early years were spent in Venezuela, the Netherlands, Norway, England, and East Texas. His time abroad gave him the perspective of a world citizen, and set him on a journey to understanding America - and his own American-ness - through music. Through these early experiences, he gained an appreciation for taking different paths to arrive at the same destination.
Indeed, Pat took a convoluted path to folk music, winding his way through rock, heavy metal, jazz, and free improvisation. He started with guitar, shifted to bass, moved to saxophone, and then quit music entirely before returning to guitar, and teaching himself lap slide guitar. He organized and ran a songwriters circle in New York City for 13 years, mentoring and influencing dozens of songwriters. An adept improviser and accompanist, he is sought after as a collaborator, sideman and session musician, with over 60 recording credits to date, including recent releases by Sloan Wainwright, Jon Vezner, Joe Crookston, and David LaMotte. His monthly e-mail column, "A Few Choice Words," is read by thousands of subscribers. He is a music educator of note, teaching workshops , songwriting, interpreting, and rearranging songs, on slide guitar and other guitar techniques, vocal and instrumental improvisation, and various topics of music history.
Recognition and honors have followed Pat for years: he won the Falcon Ridge Emerging Artist Showcase, was nominated for Emerging Artist of the Year by the Folk Alliance, was nominated for Gospel Song of the Year by the Independent Music Awards, and was a finalist in the Kerrville New Folk songwriting contest. His CDs "This Is Absolutely Real" and "Sunset Waltz" both reached #2 on the Folk-DJ charts, and "Heaven is so High" and "Waiting for the Water" both reached #4.
In 2018 and beyond, Pat will spend his time performing in solo engagements, developing new collaborations, and teaching workshops. His solo shows are unique performances mixing great songs, spontaneity and surprise.
HONORS AND CREDITS:
Finalist, New Folk competition, Kerrville Folk Festival;
Most Wanted, Falcon Ridge Emerging Artist Showcase
Nominee, Emerging Artist of the Year, International Folk Alliance
Nominee, Best Gospel Song, "Love Is the Water," Independent Music Awards
Nominee, Best Tribute Album, "This is Absolutely Real," Independent Music Awards
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Frank Dikötter's Mao's Great Famine
by Philip Clark on November 30, 2018
In the four-year span between 1958 and 1962, some 45 million Chinese people lost their lives, mostly as a direct or indirect result of starvation. Within China, the figures have been downplayed or denied, and the causes obfuscated. Food shortages were blamed on natural disasters, crop failures, wild fires, and the policies of "imperialist" Western governments. In the last two decades, however, the Communist Party of China has made a concerted attempt to confront its own past, allowing a group of carefully selected historians access to previously sealed government documents, including official statistics, census reports, economic production figures, and the minutes of important government meetings. From 2005 to 2009, Frank Dikötter, a Dutch historian and professor at the University of Hong Kong, combed through these documents, not only in the major cities but in the remoter villages of rural China. In addition, he conducted or presided over countless hours of interviews, to gather first-hand accounts from survivors of what Chairman Mao termed the "Great Leap Forward," China's desperate gambit to not only industrialize its mostly agrarian economy, but to catch up or surpass in production those Western nations that had been industrialized for more than a century. What he discovers, and recounts to us, is a narrative of unbroken misery and suffering, on a scale that surpasses even the cataclysms of Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia.
At the center of this narrative is Mao Zedong, the self-appointed ruler of China, whose egomaniacal vision for the nation was implemented at gunpoint, across the vast countryside. It was at Mao's bidding that the campaign of collectivization was, by 1958, largely complete. Private ownership of land was replaced by collective farms, which were in turn further collectivized into "people's communes." The pace was so rapid that, by "the end of 1958, the whole of the countryside was collectivized into some 26,000 communes." With the abolition of private property came the abolition of wages. Instead of earning money directly, from the sale of their harvest, the farmers were given credits ("work points") by their commune leaders. The troubles were evident early on, when production quotas were set from above, rather than below, and squad leaders – whose only incentive was to please their higher-ups – acquiesced to increasingly impossible demands. More and more of the harvest went to the central government, leaving less and less food for the workers. And as food shortages emerged, production figures tanked, for a starving workforce can scarcely be expected to work at maximum capacity. The overseers concocted a diabolical solution to this problem of food shortages: work credits were given on the basis of production. The most productive workers – mostly young and male – were given the full share of their wages (though this, it should be said, still scarcely proved adequate), whereas those workers who were least productive (women, the very young, and the very old) were given reduced credits. As the food shortages increased, inflation eroded the value of the food credits. "In Jiangning county, just outside Nanjing, one work day was equivalent to 1.05 yuan in 1957. A year later it was worth no more than 28 cents. By 1959, its value had declined to a mere 16 cents." By the close of the decade, then, you could work a full day in the fields, under a sweltering sun, and still receive such inadequate compensation that you could not afford to feed yourself, let alone any dependents.
It was not only the quota system that worked from the top down. Farming is a demanding profession, not simply because it is physically exhausting, but because it requires remarkable precision and knowledge to bring a crop to harvest. Experienced farmers know when to sow, in what soils, and in what amounts; they know what crops their land can produce, and which it cannot; they have learned, through painstaking trial and error, how to squeeze the maximum efficiency from their land. By collectivizing the farms, Mao not only dispensed with the wisdom of the farmers and their influence over agricultural techniques, but he empowered a group of inexperienced bureaucrats to make important decisions about the techniques to be applied, the seeds to be planted, and the amount of seed to be used. In a bid to increase the harvest, seeds were sown much more densely (a technique known as "close cropping"), and planted at much greater depths ("deep ploughing"). The consequence of this – predictable to experienced farmers – was not a greater yield but widespread crop failures: seeds sown too closely together compete for nutrients, and the soil was often tilled to such great depths that the subsoil was damaged, impairing its ability to retain moisture. These techniques were also excruciatingly labour-intensive. Without mechanized ploughs, and often without shovels, the commune farmers were reduced to digging by hand, often well into the night.
The troubles did not end once the harvest came in. As we have already seen, production quotas were set from on high, and the commune leaders were accountable only to their superiors. In order to inflate their grain shipments, and therefore boost their esteem in the eyes of the Party, the commune leaders had two main strategies. The first was to exaggerate the size of the harvest, which meant that the government received a larger proportion of the actual harvest than they would otherwise, further reducing the farmers' share. The party itself was aware of this dishonest reporting, and even, at times, encouraged it. But the second strategy was even more devastating. Harvest sizes were measured by weight, and so one way to inflate the size of the harvest was to water down the grain, or store it at higher humidities, causing the grain to store more water, and therefore weigh more. But these same strategies that were effective in inflating the size of the harvest also compromised it: watered down grain, or grain stored in humid conditions, is vulnerable to rot and infection, both of which claimed large shares of the already depleted grain harvest.
In Guandong close to a third of 1.5 million tonnes of state grain contained too much water, so that one granary after another succumbed to rot. In Hunan one-fifth of all grain in state granaries was either infested with insects or corrupted by a high water content. In Changsha, the provincial capital, over half of all stored grain was contaminated. Temperatures in the state granaries were often too high, accelerating the blight, and in turn benefitting the insects, which took advantage of the heat and moisture.
In the former, market system, farmers were responsible for the grain, and were at pains to store it in good conditions; under collectivization, a proliferating series of middle men took responsibility of the grain between its harvest and its redistribution, and the more middle men emerged, the harder it became to hold any one person accountable for the health of the harvest.
But Dikötter's book is not just a chronicle of inept policy decisions and their disastrous consequences. At every turn, he connects the troubles of the average Chinese peasant to the policies of Mao, and his callous unconcern for the human cost they were exacting. Even as his citizens were starving by the millions, Mao was exporting grain, meat and other foodstuffs to the Soviet Union and East Germany, unwilling to sacrifice the trade agreements that were providing China with Soviet weapons and factories. He went even further, refusing to accept much-needed international aid (which would amount to an admission of failure on his part), and even sending food aid to poor Eastern European countries, presumably to bolster his image among Communist countries. From these macro decisions, we turn to the vivid consequences: the peasants reduced to eating bark or boiling their leather goods in order to survive; the systemic sexual exploitation of village women and girls by the commune leaders, who would trade sexual favours for the food the girls needed to survive, or to feed their children or grandparents; the exhumation of corpses, either for fertilizer or – in some cases – for meat. Dikötter is meticulous and exhaustive in his reporting: we get comparative birth rates, before and after the famine; workplace accidents (which rose dramatically as food supplies dwindled); even a comprehensive account of the ecological devastation wrought by Mao's drive to industrialize the entire country. For this, we owe him – and the numerous other historians working to recover China's forgotten past – a debt of gratitude: so large a loss of life should not go unremembered – or unpunished.