text:
Shoma Sen, Professor and Head of the Department of English at the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, was arrested on 6 June 2018 and eventually suspended from the college, days before she was scheduled to retire in July 2018.
Shoma Sen grew up in the locality of Bandra, in Bombay (now Mumbai). Her father worked as creative head of an ad agency, her mother was an art teacher and an accomplished singer well-versed in Rabindra Sangeet.
In an interview to Jyoti Punwani, of the Mumbai Mirror (reproduced in Kracktivist) in 2009, marking the 40th anniversary of the Naxalite movement, Sen recalled how moved she had felt as a schoolgirl when her father had answered her queries about Naxalites. "I wanted to go to Presidency College and look for Naxalites. I used to fight with God for being so unfair towards the poor," she said. A birthday card her father had made for her, had a bust of Karl Marx against the backdrop of Central Park in Salt Lake, Kolkata, where the Sens lived after her father retired.
The '70s were a turbulent period. At that time almost everyone had sympathies with the Left. Shoma Sen was close to the Vidyarthi Pragati Sangh (VPS). When she married a worker she met during her involvement in Mumbai's historic textile strike, her parents were dismayed, but supportive – they had long been acquainted with their daughter's sympathies.
Sen moved to Nagpur soon after she completed her master's degree in Mumbai's Elphinstone College. She pursued her M.Phil and Ph.D in Nagpur. She felt that if all the intellectuals lived in Bombay, there would be no one to work for the people in the poorest parts of Maharashtra. She would spend the next 35 years of her life teaching in Nagpur.
Sen, her husband Tusharkant Bhattacharya, and their daughter Koel, now a filmmaker, lived in a modest home in the middle-class part of Nagpur.
Family, friend and students
Koel's earliest memories of her mother are of her going out of her way to help people – providing financial support for poor girls and women, and even putting them up in her home for several years at a time. She writes: "One day Maa returned home with Lata, a young girl whose father had committed suicide before her eyes. She had already lost her mother at childbirth. Lata was carrying a cloth bag with a few rags inside for clothes and looked traumatized. Unable to look after her needs, Lata's extended family had requested my mother to help. Lata lived with us for almost five years. She became my elder sister. Then, another girl − Neha − would drop in very often. She was studying for her medical entrance exam and needed a place to stay…."
"Our home became a shelter for almost anyone who needed help. As a child, I often felt outraged and often even jealous, that my mother had so much love to give and share with others' children. It took a distant cousin from Kolkata − who stayed with us for two years − to put it into perspective: "Shoma Mashi is a woman of true individuality, who has worked tirelessly throughout her life for underprivileged people, has empowered women and encouraged them to speak up. She taught us that our voices are meant to be heard."
Koel tells another story of the love and respect Shoma Sen has earned: "One of the policewomen accompanying her to the Swargate Police Station in Pune, fell at her feet the other day. Maa didn't understand. The police woman was in tears. "Madam, you have taught me, I am so sorry to see you in this condition,'' she said."
In recent years, as Sen's old friend Jyoti Punwani writes: "Along the way, the permanent activist mellowed, allowing herself the luxury of domestic help; a kitchen garden which her husband tended; watching Mad Men and other TV series; even occasional holidays abroad from where she posted pictures on Facebook. She seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time on social media, posting her own pictures in striking handloom sarees. Her in-laws spoke highly of the old fashioned Bengali delicacies she cooked for them. Given her arthritis, high blood pressure and early glaucoma, she started going for yoga classes at the nearby temple. She had already started learning the sitar; after retirement, she hoped to spend more time on it and on her other passion, travel".
Koel recounted the time her mother took up the case of an adivasi woman who had been raped in police custody in Gadchiroli. "My mother took up the case despite the police being involved and went to the Bombay High Court against the police. The court ruled in favor of the survivor and she got justice," Koel said.
At the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, heading its English department, she was well-loved as a teacher. Pathatte, one of her ex-students, said of her: "She doesn't have any airs. A majority of the students in the university came from rural or not very privileged backgrounds. They couldn't speak English well, but Sen would immediately put them at ease and emphasize there was no shame in not being able to speak it well."
Patthate was drawn to Sen's work on the rights of women and Dalits. "Even as professor of literature, she would encourage us to look at canonical texts and almost every literary work from the point of view of women and oppressed castes and classes," Patthate said. Together, Sen and Patthate attended and organized several debates, discussions and seminars on these issues. Patthate particularly remembers a meeting organized soon after the government's demonetisation move to discuss how it affected women.
Work: Academic and Activist
Dr. Sen is that rare combination – a committed scholar and teacher, and an equally committed political and social justice activist.
On moving to Nagpur, Shoma got involved with the Women's Studies department at Wardha's Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, and being fluent in Hindi, often helped cover the shortage of teachers and examiners. She taught in ad hoc positions in several colleges, like the People's Welfare Society (PWS) College in Indora, Nagpur, leaving home (and her then young daughter) early in the morning to get to work. She would ride her little moped for half an hour every day to teach her first class at 7 am. Her daughter recalls: "I woke up on most mornings to an empty house, making my own breakfast from the age of 9-10 and living very independently. Her evenings would be spent visiting women (many of them Dalits, and victims of domestic violence) in the slums of Juni Magalwari (a big ghetto in Nagpur), discussing their immediate issues and concerns."
Dr. Sen has been an active scholar in the fields of post-colonialism and women's studies for several decades. Her articles have appeared in scholarly publications such as the Economic and Political Weekly (EPW) and The Journal of Commonwealth Literature. One of her articles, "The Village and the City: Dalit Feminisms in the Autobiographies of Baby Kamble and Urmila Pawar," looks at the ways in which mainstream feminism has tended to ignore the problems of caste, resulting in a distinct Dalit feminism that acknowledges patriarchal oppression from outside and within communities. In 2011, she took part in the Indian Association of Women's Studies (IAWS) national conference in Wardha.
While in college, Shoma Sen was with the Vidyarthi Pragati Sanghatana (VPS) and edited Kalam, the student magazine. She was involved in supporting the workers during the textile strike in Mumbai of the 1980's. During this time, Shoma became member of the Committee for the Protection of Democratic Rights (CPDR), of which she remains a member, and helped bring out the CPDR magazine, Adhikar Raksha. She is an active member of the national collective, Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS). She was an early member of the Nagpur-based Stree Chetna which would discuss issues such as violence against women and dowry deaths. She later became the founder convener of the Committee against Violence on Women (CAVOW) and edited its magazine, Stree Garjana. The organisation took part in fact-finding visits to examine the implementation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Manipur after Thangjam Manorama's brutal killing in 2004, and the allegations of sexual violence by the Salwa Judum in South Bastar in Chhattisgarh. CAVOW also played a role in organizing legal aid for many women political prisoners during the early 2000s. Shoma also convened an Adivasi Mahila Sammelan at Ranchi in March 2006. In recent years,
"The 70s and 80s were the best years of my life," Shoma said in the interview. "Everyone was anti-establishment. To agitate was accepted." The interviewer, her friend Jyoti Punwani, commented: "This rebellious spirit never left Shoma. She's been part of every campaign against the State for violation of human rights. Now she's paying for it."
She has travelled to deliver lectures and talks and is a popular teacher, with a passionate interest in reading, researching, and teaching literature and women's studies. Recently, with 38 years of teaching behind her, Dr. Sen became the head of the English department at Nagpur University. She was going to be honored by the Nagpur Teachers' Alumni Association, with a book on her being released. The event was scheduled for 31 July; 1 August was her 60th birthday, for which her family was planning a celebration. Instead she was arrested on 6 June; just days before she was due to retire, the university suspended her.
Cases:
Shoma Sen has been charged under various stringent sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and has been accused of, among other things, inciting the violence in Bhima-Koregaon in January 2018 through speeches; of doing so on behalf of the banned CPI (Maoist); of having links with and harboring fugitive members of this party at various times; and of fundraising for them. Following the arrest, an attempt was also made to tie her to a plot to assassinate the prime minister. By charging her with an extraordinary number of sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and UAPA, the police want to project her as a "dreaded criminal"; this legal overreach is intended to ensure a prolonged stint in police and judicial custody, irrespective of the validity of the claims. These charges are meant to serve as a life sentence to the arrested by the police, reaffirmed through the media, even if the judicial system finds them innocent in the days to come.
Dr. Sen is currently lodged in Yerwada Central Jail in Pune. She applied for bail in a special court in Pune on Oct 15th on grounds of health – she suffers from arthritis, high blood pressure, and early onset of hyper glaucoma. Her daughter says she has become very frail in the almost 5 months since she has been in jail.
In late October, the Supreme Court had stayed the Bombay High Court's order of October 24 that refused a 90-day extension to the Pune police for filing a charge sheet against the five activists arrested in the June 6 crackdown. This led to the defense counsel applying for regular bail before the special court in Pune. All five activists would have been legally entitled to a default bail on or after November 1 had the Supreme Court not stayed Bombay High Court's order.
Ms. Sen's counsel, advocate Rahul Deshmukh had stated on October 12 that there was nothing in the so-called Maoist communications to incriminate Ms. Sen. Opposing their bail pleas, public prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar had submitted before the court that the activists were actively involved in the recruitment of professional revolutionaries for Maoists.
Her application for bail was turned down by the court on November 2nd. The order rejecting Ms. Sen's bail application noted that the material collected by the investigating officer prima facie revealed her involvement in alleged unlawful activities inimical to the country's security and that the investigation against the accused and other activists was at a very crucial stage.
"We will be moving another bail plea once the Pune police files their charge sheet against Ms. Sen and the others," said advocate Pradeep Vitankar, counsel for the defense. Shockingly, this makes it clear that the police have held the activist for over five months without yet filing any charges.
Patthate, Sen's ex-student, told HuffPost India that her teacher spoke about protests and holding governments accountable, but always wanted to do so with the aid of available laws. Sen, according to her, directed them to get police permissions and inform local authorities before holding any demonstration or meeting. "Activist groups have had a tradition of ceremonially burning the Manusmriti in Nagpur at a public place. The practice is to give the police a notification that such an event will be organized. Ever since this government came to power, the police has suddenly been telling activists that these events will get them in trouble and they will get sued. This must be connected," Pathatte said. She added that the local media's role in demonizing the likes of Sen should not be discounted, saying that even after they sent out formal invites to media houses, including English dailies, a national newspaper owned by a group which owns a plethora of TV and entertainment channels published a report calling it a "secret meeting," suggesting something ominous was being cooked up. "Meanwhile, other papers had reported from the event itself," Pathatte said, so clearly it was not secret at all. Likewise, Shoma Sen had nothing to do with the Bhima Koregaon event, even though she did support its principles.
Koel says: "The literary evidence they collected from my mother's house includes basic Communist literature, like books by Marx and Lenin, which you will find in any left-leaning household. But in the court on Thursday, the police was treating my mother and the others as if they were major criminals."
International Actions Taken:
The Committee of Concerned Scientists has written to the Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, expressing their concern. They note that Professor Sen was involved in a fact-finding effort to look into an April incident in which law enforcement authorities killed 40 people in April an anti-Naxal operation in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, an investigation that concluded the killings were indiscriminate.
Chair of English Department at Nagpur University Arrested
https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/ – has an action alert on Saibaba but not on Shoma Sen
Shoma Sen – Demonising a Beloved Teacher and Life-long Activist
Statement Of Solidarity For Prof. Shoma Sen From The Academic Community
India – Prof Shoma Sen and Portrait of a ' Maowadi"
https://www.huffingtonpost.in/2018/09/05/bhima-koregaon-as-modi-hails-teachers-on-twitter-professor-shoma-sen-languishes-in-jail_a_23517447/
https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/activist-shoma-sen-seeks-bail-on-medical-grounds-in-pune-court-surendra-gadling-s-plea-to-be-heard-on-oct-15/story-NM2KIIGvev9PB3U3ecDOiM.html
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/activist-shoma-sens-bail-plea-rejected/article25406350.ece


text:
function Airport(){

  this.planes = [];

  this.land = function(plane){
    this.planes.push(plane);
  }

  this.isStormy = function(){
    return (Math.floor(Math.random()*4)+1) === 1;
  }

  this.takeOff = function(plane){
    if( this.isStormy() ){
      throw new Error("Weather is too stormy!");
    } else {
      var arr = this.planes;
      var deletePlane = function(arr,plane){
        return arr.slice(0,arr.indexOf(plane)).concat(arr.slice(arr.indexOf(plane)+1));
      };
      this.planes = deletePlane(arr,plane);
    }
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Databricks Raises $1B Capital from Amazon, Salesforce, Alphabet, Valued at $28B
Databricks has seen interest from some of the big tech giants as its Apache Spark implementation allows users to store different kinds of data in massive quantities.
On Monday, February 1, data and AI company Databricks announced a $1 billion fresh capital infusion in its Series G funding round. The funding led by Franklin Templeton shoots Databricks valuations to $28 billion. Databricks provides a unified data platform and specializes in processing large sets of data.
Databricks has attracted capital from some of the top tech giants like Amazon, Alphabet, and Salesforce. Microsoft, which previously invested in Databricks has also participated in the Series-G round. Some of the other big names participating in this funding include Andreessen Horowitz, Alkeon Capital Management, BlackRock, Coatue Management, and Tiger Global Management. Ali Ghodsi, CEO and Co-Founder of Databricks said:
"We see this investment and our continued rapid growth as further validation of our vision for a simple, open and unified data platform that can support all data-driven use cases, from BI to AI. Built on a modern lakehouse architecture in the cloud, Databricks helps organizations eliminate the cost and complexity that is inherent in legacy data architectures so that data teams can collaborate and innovate faster. This lakehouse paradigm is what's fueling our growth, and it's great to see how excited our investors are to be a part of it."
Fueled by Fresh Capital Databricks Is Driving Growth with Apache Spark
Tech giants who are also the top US cloud service providers have recognized Databricks as a big opportunity similar to Snowflake. Databricks recipe for success and growth is helping companies implement the version of Apache Spark. This is an alternative to Hadoop technology that allows users to store different kinds of data in massive quantities.
Besides, the company also helps users to clean up data for exploration in data visualization software like Tableau. The Databricks software offers a simple alternative to run such sort of software without worrying about configurations and updates. Speaking about their recent investments, Jonathan Curtis, Senior Vice President, Research Analyst and Portfolio Manager, Franklin Templeton said:
"Franklin Templeton is excited to work with Databricks as they enter this next stage of their impressive journey. We've seen first hand their ability to help enterprises leverage data to better understand customer journeys, operationalize business processes and, ultimately, build competitive advantage rooted in data. We believe they have a strong, accomplished team and visionary platform, and believe that the future for Databricks is bright, with a clear leadership position and open-ended growth opportunity".
Other news from the business sphere can be found here.
next Business News, Investors News, News
Bhushan is a FinTech enthusiast and holds a good flair in understanding financial markets. His interest in economics and finance draw his attention towards the new emerging Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrency markets. He is continuously in a learning process and keeps himself motivated by sharing his acquired knowledge. In free time he reads thriller fictions novels and sometimes explore his culinary skills.
GameStop (GME) Stock Tanks 30% on Monday, Reddit Army Shifts Focus to Silver
TEL Stock Slightly Up, Telenor Reports Strong Q4 Performance

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Restless Soul is one of Tampa Bay's premier party bands! If you haven't seen a Restless Soul show, wait no longer! Much fun, laughter, camaraderie and lots a drinks! Playing a wide variety from old to new, you'll be guaranteed an awesome night!!


loudwater tesco pharmacy viagra Newgate Security's GPS asset tracking solutions track and locate valuable assets around the world and give you total visibility over your assets, cargo and property. Our full line of devices are cost-effective and easy to install. With Newgate Security, you will have the intelligence you need to account for the assets that matter most to you and your business.
source site Missing, lost or stolen assets can cost your business time and money. Newgate Security's GPS asset tracking solutions enable you to track, recover and manage those assets, helping you save money and run your business more effectively. Advanced features like temperature and motion sensors as well as run-time reporting for powered assets will help reduce your risk by knowing the status and location of your assets at all times.
go to site Whether you need to know the precise location of high-value cargo or property, or monitor the status of assets such as lifts, loaders, mixers or compressors, Newgate Security has the right solution for you.
best place to buy cheap free viagra internet Any subscription plan can be month to month. cheap viagra online canada pharmacy reviews No contract required!
enter Newgate Security offers GPS Asset Tracking solutions that are easy to use, reliable and guaranteed to deliver measurable results quickly. With Newgate Security you'll have peace of mind knowing that you have the tools to remotely track and locate your valuable assets and property in real time.
What Can School Bus GPS Tracking Do For You?


text:
Ramblings on SFF and assorted topics
Where to Find Me (Twitter & FB)
SFFWorld (Book Reviews, Author Interviews, etc)
Tor.com Reviews
SF Signal (Completist, Mind Meld, Reviews)
The Tap Takeover (A Craft Beer Blog)
Twitter: @RobHBedford
Books in the Mail (W/E 11/29/2008)
Another slow week with Thanksgiving shortening up the week. I've read one of them (albeit in a different form, I think):
The Magician's Apprentice The Prequel to The Black Magician Trilogy by Trudi Canavan (Orbit Books , Hardcover 2/15/2009) – I haven't read anything by Canavan, but Orbit has a pretty big push behind her now that they are publishing them in the US. The title alone implies something of a cliché, and was in fact one of the titles of Fiest's broken up Magician. February seems a long ways off, but so did December when I received books with December pub dates in August that still remain unread.
Yokaiden by Nina Matsumoto (Del Rey Paperback November 2008) – Most people fear them, and a few people even hunt them, thinking they are horrible monsters to be destroyed at all costs. But young Hamachi wants to be friends with them! He sees them as mischievous creatures that could coexist peacefully with humans if only given a chance.
When his grandmother dies under mysterious circumstances, Hamachi journeys into the Yokai realm. Along the way, he encounters an ogre who punishes truant children, an angry water spirit, and a talking lantern. Will Hamachi be able to find his grandmother's killer, or will he be lost forever in another world?
Duke Elric (Chronicles of the Last Emperor of Melniboné: Volume 4) by Michael Moorcock (Del Rey Trade Paperback March 2009) – This is the fourth volume in Del Rey's terrific looking repackaging of Moorcock's iconic Anti-hero, Elric. Each volume has had a different artist, this one's cover and interior is by Justin Sweet. There's also an introduction by Michael Chabon. I think this is the third our fourth by a different publisher to repackage and [properly[ reorder the Elric stories.
Star Wars The Clone Wars Wild Space by Karen Miller (Del Rey Trade Paperback 12/09/2008) – This is (the first?) novel based off of The Clone Wars TV show on the Cartoon Network:
The Separatists have launched a sneak attack on Coruscant. Obi-Wan Kenobi, wounded in battle, insists that Anakin Skywalker and his rookie Padawan Ahsoka leave on a risky mission against General Grievous. But when Senator Bail Organa reveals explosive intelligence that could turn the tide of war in the Republic's favor, the Jedi Master agrees to accompany him to an obscure planet in the Outer Rim to verify the facts. What Obi-Wan and Bail don't realize is that they're walking into a deadly trap concocted by Palpatine... and escape may not be an option.
at 11/30/2008 No comments:
Labels: Books in the Mail, Del Rey, Michael Moorcock, Orbit Books, Star Wars
Happy Thanksgiving. Or, as they say outside of America, enjoy your Thursday.
Juggling Reviews and Batman
I posted up my review of Juggler of Worlds, the follow-up to Niven/Lerner's enjoyable Fleet of Worlds. I didn't enjoy Juggler nearly as much as its predecessor:
As indicated in my review of Fleet of Worlds, I've not (even since then) had a chance to read any of Nivens other Ringworld or Known Space novels, so I don't know how much overlap or retconning/re-appropriating is done for this novel. Some parts of the novel lacked dramatic tension. The earliest portions of the novel were tense as we were introduced to Sigmund, but as the novel progressed, Sigmund became less interesting and the story also felt more by-the numbers.
Mark posted his review of James Barclay's latest, Ravensoul. I read the a bunch of Barclay's excellent Raven novels a few years back and like them a lot, here's a brief from Mark's review:
…the book begins strikingly, with the return of old characters in new bodies. The souls of the dead, under threat, are drawn to those they knew best. Removed from their place of rest, they are being hunted by a new enemy travelling across dimensions, the Garonin. These seemingly unstoppable opponents appear from nowhere in Balaia, mining mana, the magical force that drives this world. Any attack on them means they vanish to other dimensions in the blink of an eye. When engaged in combat, their speed is phenomenal, their weaponry awesome and their battle-skills are ferociously scary.
On to things Batman...
I really, really hope Grant Morrison's payoff in Batman R.I.P. is worth the hype and delays. Something inside of me hopes Bruce becomes the Joker, but that might be too extreme even for Morrison. Part I've been enjoying the ride Grant's been taking us on so far and despite what others have said, I like Tony Daniel's art. Time will tell how long "Bruce Wayne will no longer be Batman," since DC will somehow get Bruce back under the cowl. I think the Heart of Hush storyline that just concluded in Detective was pretty good as was the Nightwing storyline involving Two-Face.
Labels: Batman, book reviews, Grant Morrison, James Barclay, SFFWorld
"Only" four books this week…
Shadow of the Scorpion (A Novel of the Polity) by Neal Asher (Nightshade books Trade Paperback 10/22/2008) – Neal Asher has been churning out novels set in his Polity universe to a great deal of positive response over the past couple of years. The only one I've read is The Skinner when it was the SFFWorld SF Book Club selection back inAugust 2005. This book looks like a pretty good entry spot for his work and Neal also happens to have his official forum hosted by SFFWorld, too.
Fortress in Shadow:A Chronicle of the Dread Empire by Glen Cook (Nightshade books Trade Paperback August 2008)– This was a nice surprise in my mailbox. I read the first omnibus of The Dread Empire - A Cruel Wind last year and posted my thoughts on the blog back in June. I said at the time how much I enjoyed the book, both the content and the awesome design by the fine folks at Nightshade. Fortress in Shadow is the follow-up and bolsters an introduction by Steven Erikson, so chances are this will move up the list a bit more quickly.
The Temporal Void Book 2 of The Void Trilogy by Peter F. Hamilton (Del Rey, Hardcover 3/24/2009) – I've been becoming more and more of a fan of Hamilton's epic Science Fiction ever since I read. The Dreaming Void kicked off The Void Trilogy really well so I'm looking forward to reading its follow up here, which is part of his enormous Commonwealth Universe. Hamilton always throws a nice dash of fantasy flavor into his science fiction for good measure.
Keeper of Light and Dust by Natasha Mostert (Dutton Hardcover 4/2/2009) – This looks like a literary urban fantasy, here goes:
Mia Lockheart has a secret, Her mother was a Keeper, as was her grandmother - women who were warriors, healers and protectors. As Mia practices her craft among the boxers and martial artists of South London, and falls in love with her childhood friend, the fighter Nick Duffy, she has no idea that a man who calls himself Dragonfly is watching from the shadows. Adrian Ashton is a brilliant scientist, a skilled martial artist - and a modern-day vampire. With the aid of a mysterious and ancient book, he preys on other martial artists and drains them of their chi - the vital energy that flows through their bodies. Mia finds herself drawn to his dark genius. But when he targets Nick as his next victim, she is forced to choose between the two men. Soon it becomes a fight to the death in which love is both the greatest weakness - and the greatest prize.
Labels: Books in the Mail, Glen Cook, Peter F. Hamilton
The Devil's Eye Reviewed, Gaiman-Batman, and Me
Jack McDevitt, through the fine publishing imprint Ace Books, just released a new book a couple of weeks ago. I read it, reviewed it, and posted said review to SFFWorld yesterday. I went through a spate of McDevitt's novels a few years back and enjoyed them quite a bit, so was happy to tackle this latest one for SFFWorld. Reading The Devil's Eye reminded me how much I enjoy McDevitt's books and that I've got some catching up to do. As if I don't have enough to read.
Here's a snapshot of my review:
The action starts when Vicki Greene, a popular horror writer of the era pleads for Benedict to help her, leaving only a cryptic message as his primary clue: "God help me, they are all dead." Alex is intrigued, though he is relatively unfamiliar with Greene's work, his partner Chase is and they take the job. With very few clues by which to guide them, Alex and Chase embark on a mystery that spans the galaxy and whose roots have dire ramifications for a planet with both humans and Ashyyur.
McDevitt unravels, or rather the fact that he deftly weaves a number of plot elements together keeps his skilled hand hidden, multiple plot strands throughout the novel rather seamlessly. As such, The Devil's Eye works on many levels – mystery, conspiracy story, galactic travelogue, alien/human relations, adventure novel, horror novel, character study. Dramatic tension and sense of wonder played off each other quite well. In fact, each element serves the other in the novel very effectively, much like familiar people/characters effectively play off of each other's personalities.
Neil Gaiman showed off some of the cool Batman stuff for his Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader storyline – an Alex Ross cover (!) and an Andy Kubert (!!) cover sketch. Newsarama posted some images, too. (!!!)
Speaking of British Comic Book writers, happy birthday to Alan Moore!
Lastly, I did something over the weekend I'd been bugging myself to do for a while. I joined the Online Writing Workshop for SF, Fantasy & Horror (formerly hosted/sponsored by Del Rey) and submitted the first couple chapters of the novel I've been working on for the past couple of years. Some respected and popular authors have come out of the workshop: Joshua Palmatier (The Skewed Throne); Sarah Prineas (The Magic Thief); Chris Evans (A Darkness Forged in Fire); Elizabeth Bear and a personal favorite of mine (R.) Scott Bakker so I fell like I'm on the right track by joining the workshop.
Labels: Alan Moore, Batman, book reviews, Elizabeth Bear, Jack McDevitt, Joshua Palmatier, me, Neil Gaiman, OWW, R. Scott Bakker, SFFWorld, writing
Here's the latest batch of arrivals…
1942 by Robert Conroy (Ballantine Trade Paperback 3/24/2009)– What if Japan had taken over Hawai'i? That is the general premise of this Alternate History novel. All three of Conroy's previous novels were alternate history, so he's had some practice at it. This is the first of two Alternate History novels that arrived on my porch this week.
Catopolis edited by Martin H. Greenberg and Janet Deaver-Pack (Daw Mass Market Paperback 12/2/2008) – Another month, another themed anthology from Daw and Martin H. Greenberg. This time, the stories are all the hidden city of cats. I'm not big on cats, they don't like me and I don't like them, although this anthology is noteworthy for one reason – it contains a story by Matthew Woodring Stover, plus many of the same writers I've seen in other recent Greenberg-edited anthologies.
Shadowrealm Book 3 of The Twilight War by Paul S. Kemp (Wizards of the Coast, Mass Market Paperback 12/15/2008) – I read Kemp's excellent Erevis Cale Trilogy last year and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the novels and thought they were good examples of not just tie-in fiction, but sword-and-sorcery with a very heavy dose of magic. I've had the first two books for a while and have been waiting for the third to come out before I jumped into them, so I'm ready now. Tie-in fiction gets a looked down upon too often, but like everything there is good and bad. Kemp's an example of the better stuff.
Dragon Strike (Age of Fire book #4) by E.E. Knight (Roc Trade Paperback 12/2/2008) – I read the first in this series, Dragon Champion three years ago and I'm impressed (and surprised) how fast this series has been coming out, especially considering Knight's been churning out Vampire Earth novels (which I thoroughly enjoy) as well. All of this reminds me that I really need to catch up with what Mr. Knight's been publishing.
Moving Targets and Other Tales of Valdemar edited by Mercedes Lackey (Ace Mass Market Paperback 12/2/2008) – Lackey has written a lot of books set in the Valdemar world, just take a look at what I received in September.
Dead Reign (Marla Mason Book #3) by T.A. Pratt (Bantam Spectra Mass Market Paperback 10/28/2008) – I bought this one because I enjoyed the first two books in the series so much, Blood Engines and Poison Sleep. These Urban Fantasy novels concern Chief Sorrceress of Felport, Marla Mason, and her efforts to protect her town. My high concept take on this is Dresden meets Sopranos meets Lovecraft meets Buffy.
Peacekeeper (An Ariane Kedros novel) by Laura A. Reeve (Roc Mass Market Paperback 12/2/2008) –This debut could be promising, even though the cover does continue the trend of hot-chick-with-a-gun-wearing-a-tanktop.
Fifteen years ago, Ariane Kedros piloted a ship on a mission that obliterated an entire solar system. Branded a war criminal, she was given a new identity and a new life in order to protect her from retribution. But now, twelve of Ariane's wartime colleagues are dead- assassinated by someone who has uncovered their true identities. And her superiors in the Autonomist army have placed her directly in the assassin's line of fire on a peacekeeping mission that will decide the fate of all humanity.
The United States of Atlantis by Harry Turtledove (Roc Hardcover 12/2/2008) – The second Alternative History novel I received this week is also the second in a series, the sequel to Turtledove's Opening Atlantis. I actually read a story set in this milieu, Audobon in Atlantis in the Jonathan Strahan edited Best Short Novels 2006. As long as I've been reading in the genre and as much as Turtledove has published (seemingly 10 books a year), I've never read one of his novels.
The Flaxen Femme Fatale (A Zachary Nixon Johnson "Hair Color" seriesby John Zakour (DAW Mass Market Paperback 12/2/2008) - This is the sixth of a pulp-SF-Private Eye novel that originally was a trilogy. Regardless, the book and series looks like a fun read.
The last freelance P.I. on earth, Zach Johnson has been hired to track down a young beauty who happens to be a deadly secret weapon for the World Council. Figuring girls just want to have fun, he follows Natasha to various vacation destinations, but she eludes him, leaving a trail of destruction in her wake.
Zach, however, isn't surprised to discover that things aren't what they seem, and to save the world, he's going to have to find a way to team up with the woman he's supposed to destroy...
Labels: Books in the Mail, E.E. Knight, Matthew Stover, T.A. Pratt
New 'Watchmen' Trailer Goes Online; Check Out A Gallery Of Our Favorite Images!
A Game of Thrones - HBO Greenlights Production
From the Man himself:
HBO has given the production order.
They will be filming the pilot episode of A GAME OF THRONES.
ComingSoon.net
Mania.com
I first saw this while browsing Grasping for the Wind, so thanks to John for being on top of it!
Labels: A Song of Ice and Fire, George. R.R. Martin
Shadow's Edge, January Dancer, & Pyr
The second book in Brent Weeks' Night Angel Trilogy, Shadow's Edge, published last week and this week, I'm posting my review. Here's a snippet:
Much of Shadow's Edge concerns itself with Kylar finding himself. He yearns for a life of normalcy with Elene, the woman he loves. He hates the killer/assassin aspect of himself but can't fight it either. His conflict spills over quite a bit of the novel and he vacillates between fighting his instincts and being the good man he thinks Elene wants. Of course, Elene doesn't help matters. Their relationship was a frustrating aspect of the novel only in that Elene came across as a two-dimensional nag for a good portion of the novel. She and Kylar shared the same bed, but never really in the carnal sense. Their thoughts about consummating their love for each other was often at odds. Elene wanted to wait until they were married, but when she was finally ready to share the experience with Kylar, he felt unworthy of it and went on one of his nightly patrols.
I also posted my review of Michael Flynn's The January Dancer, which didn't work quite as well for me. I like parts of it, but didn't feel those parts came together as congruously into a whole as I would have liked. Here's a sampler of my review:
Michael Flynn's space opera The January Dancer is many things, part caper, part future myth, part mosaic novel; all of which come together in a very interesting stew of a novel. The object from which the book's title is derived is a pre-human artifact first discovered by Captain Amos January on a relatively routine archaeological expedition. Human expansion is very widespread throughout the galaxy and the future is far enough beyond our time that the characters refer to Earth as Old Earth and speak of it in nigh-mythological terms.
Pyr just released their Spring/Summer 2009 catalogue with details on some really interesting books, including all three volumes of Mark Chadbourn's Age of Misrule trilogy. I know the covers by John Picacio have been posted elsewhere, but they are terrific so here they are again:
Other books include:
James Enge, Blood of Ambrose - Behind the King's life stands the menacing Protector, and beyond him lies the Protector's Shadow... Against this evil, Morlock Ambrosius--stateless person, master of all magical makers, deadly swordsman, and hopeless drunk.
Matthew Sturges, Midwinter - Mauritaine once heroic Captain in the Seelie Army, now accused of treason and sentenced to life without parole, is offered one last chance to redeem himself, an opportunity to regain his freedom and his honor in the secrete service of Queen Titania.
Ian McDonald, Desolation Road - It all began 30 years ago on Mars, with a greenperson. But by the time it all finished, the town of Desolation Road had experienced every conceivable abnormality
Labels: book p0rn, book reviews, brent weeks, SFFWorld
Ace sent out their late November books this past week, with a few interesting titles in the mix. Let's see what I got this past week…
The Knights of the Cornerstone by James P. Blaylock (Ace Hardcover 11/25/2008)– My experience with Blaylock is somewhat limited to a few short stories, but this looks pretty interesting.
Calvin Bryson has hidden himself away from the world, losing himself in his work and his collection of rare and quirky books. He never meant to let so much time go by without visiting his aunt and uncle in the tiny town of New Cyprus, California. When he gets there, he'll discover the town's strange secrets and a mysterious group dedicated to preserving and protecting holy relics—a modernday incarnation of the legendary Knights Templar…
Princeps' Fury (Book 5 of the Codex Alera) by Jim Butcher (Ace Hardcover 11/25/2008) – This is Jim Butcher's other series, which has been chugging along at better than a book a year since Furies of Calderon published in 2004. I'm a big fan of his Dresden novels but haven't caught up with this one yet. This series is set in a world similar to Rome where the majority of the populace has control over elemental powers – the Furies of the title I suppose. I may jump into this without having read the other 4 sooner than later, either way, I'll be catching up with the series at some point. Here's the synopsis:
Tavi of Calderon, now recognized as Princeps Gaius Octavian and heir to the crown, has achieved a fragile alliance with Alera's oldest foes, the savage Canim. But when Tavi and his legions guide the Canim safely to their lands, his worst fears are realized.
The dreaded Vord—the enemy of Aleran and Cane alike—have spent the last three years laying waste to the Canim homeland. And when the Alerans are cut off from their ships, they find themselves with no choice but to fight shoulder to shoulder if they are to survive. For a thousand years, Alera and her furies have withstood every enemy, and survived every foe. The thousand years are over...
The Crown: Book 2 of The Pearls and the Crown by Deborah Chester (Ace, Mass Market Paperback 11/25/2008) – There isn't much on the publisher's Web site about this book, but digging through Chester's Web site I found this:
The Pearls and The Crown (2008) are a two-book set dealing with Lea, the younger sister of the protagonist in The Ruby Throne trilogy that I wrote several years ago. They are not strictly sequels to that old trilogy, although I tied up a dangling plot question that got overlooked in the original books.
The short of it is this The Crown is the second half of a duology that is a 'sort-of-sequel' to an earlier trilogy.
New Tricks by John Levitt (Ace Mass Market Paperback 11/25/2008) – Whether or not this is a series, time will tell, but at the least, this book is a sequel to Levitt's first novel, Dog Days. Ostensibly, these Urban Fantasies are about a man and his dog. The man in this case, Mason, makes sure magic users are not breaking the magical law. He does this with the help of his 'familiar' Louie, which looks to be a Jack Russell Terrier based on the cover.
Former enforcer Mason would normally be concerned with finding ghosts and vampires stalking the Castro section of San Francisco. Fortunately, Halloween provides the perfect explanation for the abundance of ghouls. But someone is trying to possess his old flame, Sarah. Now, with the help of his magical dog Louie, Mason must uncover the black magician responsible..
Unusual Suspects:Stories of Mystery and Fantasy by Dana Stabenow (Ace Trade Paperback 11/25/2009) –The subtitle of this anthology should say it all – mysteries with a supernatural element.
I'll probably check this out, some of the authors in here will be new to me and I've wanted to at least try their work for a while. The list of authors include: Charlaine Harris, Simon R. Green, Carole Nelson Douglass, John Straley, Sharon Shinn, Laura Anne Gilman, and Laurie R. King.
The Collected Stories of Robert Silverberg, Volume Four (1972-1976) by Robert Silverberg (Subterranean Press Hardcover 5/31/2009) - This is the fourth of projected 8 volumes covering the entire short story output of Silverberg's immensely prolific career.
The stories here, all of them written between March of 1972 and November of 1973, mark a critical turning point in my career. Those who know the three earlier volumes have traced my evolution from a capable journeyman, very young and as much concerned with paying the rent as he was to advancing the state of the art, into a serious, dedicated craftsman now seeking to leave his mark on science fiction in some significant way. Throughout the decade of the 1960s I had attempted to grow and evolve within the field of writing I loved--building on the best that went before me, the work of Theodore Sturgeon and James Blish and Cyril Kornbluth and Jack Vance and Philip K. Dick and half a dozen others whose great stories had been beacons beckoning me onward—and then, as I reached my own maturity, now trying to bring science fiction along with me into a new realm of development, hauling it along even farther out of its pulp-magazine origins toward what I regarded as a more resonant and evocative kind of visionary storytelling.
--Robert Silverberg, from his introduction
Succubus Takes Manhattan by Nina Harper (Del Rey Mass Market Paperback 11/25/2008) – This a sequel to Succubus Takes the City about succubus who works for Satan living in New York City. Very little about this book or the author is available on the internet.
Labels: Books in the Mail, Jim Butcher
VOTE, plus The Way of Shadows reviewed by Yours Truly
If you live in the U.S., vote today.
Brent Weeks has a new trilogy 2/3 of the way on the shelves at this point, I've read two and last night I posted my review of his first book The Way of Shadows. I was impressed and to be honest, a bit surprised by how much I enjoyed the book. I realize I might be a bit late in posting my review, but here it is. Weeks and his work are also generating some interesting buzz in the SFFWorld Forums. Next week I'll post my review of the second installment, Shadow's Edge.
On the one hand the book's design and physical feel reminded me of another recent book which I didn't enjoy so much. On the other, the story was engaging, entertaining and hit all the right buttons for me. The story itself is the somewhat clichéd coming-of-age story of the "assassin-with-the-heart-of-gold" with a liberal dash of "hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold," but Weeks made everything work.
I'm all for new and interesting things to read that might be out of the mold of typical (Mieville, VanderMeer), but like a fine, dependable recipe which produces a delicious meal every time you create it, I think Weeks's The Way of Shadows is a highly enjoyable 'meal' that delivers very well on its preconceived expectations. I'll also say that the book is most assuredly not a Young Adult novel, despite a youthful protagonist.
I found Mighty God King's awesomely Photoshopped literal titles of fantasy novels via SF Signal at , plus part 2 and part 3:.
Lastly, if you live in the US, go out and vote. Although I'm happy to be voting for a change in which I believe, I'll be happy when this thing is finally over.
Labels: bloggy stuff, book reviews, brent weeks, SFFWorld
Another week, another slew of books, with varied results this week::
Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card (Tor Hardcvover 11/11/2008)– Who hasn't read Card's landmark Ender novels? I went through a phase over a couple of years where I was devouring most of Card's back catalogue zipping through the Enderverse. I made it through a few of the Bean sequels before stopping. I liked Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead very much and they still stand pretty high in my mind. Of course many people will say Card is milking the Ender franchise for everything he can. Either way, this will be interesting to read to see how I've changed as a reader since reading those books.
Swallowing Darkness: (Meredith Gentry Series #7) by Laurell K. Hamilton (Ballantine, Hardcover 11/04/2008) – This is the published book of what I received the last week of September. The Meredith Gentry novels follow the titular faerie princess private investigator in a world where faeries are part of the populace and have profound impacts on history.
The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard (Del Rey, Trade Paperback 11/11/2008)- This is the final version of the ARC I received back in August?
The collection includes Howard's masterpiece "Pigeons from Hell," which Stephen King calls "one of the finest horror stories of [the twentieth] century," a tale of two travelers who stumble upon the ruins of a Southern plantation–and into the maw of its fatal secret. In "Black Canaan" even the best warrior has little chance of taking down the evil voodoo man with unholy powers–and none at all against his wily mistress, the diabolical High Priestess of Damballah. In these and other lavishly illustrated classics, such as the revenge nightmare "Worms of the Earth" and "The Cairn on the Headland," Howard spins tales of unrelenting terror, the legacy of one of the world's great masters of the macabre.
Fools' Experiments by Edward M. Lerner (Tor Hardcover 11/11/2009)– This is a near future SF thriller from the co-author of the last two Ringworld novels. We are not alone, and it's our own damn fault.
Something demonic is stalking the brightest men and women in the computer industry. It attacks without warning or mercy, leaving its prey insane, comatose — or dead.
Something far nastier than any virus, worm, or Trojan horse program is being evolved in laboratory confinement by well-intentioned but misguided researchers. When their artificial life-form escapes onto the Internet, no conventional defense against malicious software can begin to compete. As disasters multiply, computer scientist Doug Carey knows that unconventional measures may be civilization's last hope.
And that any artificial life-form learns very fast .... .
Dragonheart (Dragonriders of Pern) by Todd McCaffrey (Del Rey Hardcover 11/11/2009) – Another year anotherPern novel, this things come out like clockwork, which is great for Pern/McCaffrey's legion of fans.
The grim specter of sickness looms over the Weyrs of Pern, felling fire-lizards and posing a potentially devastating threat to their dragon cousins, Pern's sole defense against the deadly phenomenon that is Thread. Fiona, the youngest and only surviving daughter of Lord Bemin, is just coming of age, and about to assume the duties of a Weyrwoman, when word spreads that dragons have indeed begun succumbing to the new contagion. With the next season of Threadfall quickly approaching, and the already diminished ranks of the dragons once more under siege, every Weyr across Pern is in crisis mode. It is hardly the time for disturbing distractions–such as the strange voice Fiona suddenly hears in her mind at the darkest and most urgent moments.
Circumstances and the mood of the weyrfolk worsen when advance patrols relay the dreaded news that black dust–the unmistakable herald of falling Thread–has been sighted. As more dragons sicken and die, leaving only a new generation of weyrlings too young to succeed them, Weyrleader B'Nik and queen rider Lorana arrive from Benden Weyr to comb Fort Weyr's archives in a desperate search for clues from the past that may hold the solution to theplague.
But could the actual past itself prove the pathway to salvation for Pern's stricken dragons and the entire imperiled planet? Guided by a mysterious ally from a wholly unexpected place, and trusting in the unique dragon gift for transcending time, Fiona will join a risky expedition with far-reaching consequences for both Pern's future and her personal destiny.
The Accidental Sorcerer by K.E. Mills (Orbit Paperback 1/1/2009) - It's pretty much an open secret that K.E. Mills is Karen Miller. Considering how I felt about the last book I read by Miller, chances are low that I'll read this one. Here's the dirt: Gerald Dunwoody is a wizard. Just not a particularly good one. He's blown up a factory, lost his job, and there's a chance that he's not really a Third Grade wizard after all. So it's off to New Ottosland to be the new Court Wizard for King Lional.
It's a shame that King Lional isn't the vain, self-centered young man he appeared to be. With a Princess in danger, a talking bird who can't stay out of trouble, and a kingdom to save, Gerald soon suspects that he might be out of his depth. And if he can't keep this job, how will he ever become the wizard he was destined to be...
THE ACCIDENTAL SORCERER is the first novel in the Rogue Agent trilogy, from one of fantasy's newest stars.
Gears of War - Aspho Fields by Karen Traviss (Del Rey Trade Paperback 10/28/2008) – Karen Traviss jumps from one media tie-in to another blockbuster tie-in property:
Here's the brief description: As kids, the three of them were inseparable; as soldiers, they were torn apart. Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago fought alongside Dom's elder brother Carlos at Aspho Fields in the epic battle that changed the course of the Pendulum Wars. There's a new war to fight now, a war for mankind's very survival. But while the last human stronghold on Sera braces itself for another onslaught from the Locust Horde, ghosts come back to haunt Marcus and Dom. For Marcus–decorated war hero, convicted traitor–the return of an old comrade threatens to dredge up an agonizing secret he's sworn to keep.
As the beleaguered Gears of the Coalition of Ordered Governments take a last stand to save mankind from extermination, the harrowing decisions made at Aspho Fields have to be re-lived and made again. Marcus and Dom can take anything the Locust Horde throws at them–but will their friendship survive the truth about Carlos Santiago?
Labels: Books in the Mail, Orson Scott Card, Robert E. Howard
Anthologies Co-Edited
by Joe Hill
Share book reviews and ratings with Rob, and even join a book club on Goodreads.
Tweets by @RobHBedford
Blogs & Assorted Links
A Dribble of Ink
Andy's Corner Bar
Angry Robot Books
Bastard Books
Beauty in the Ruins
Bleeding Cool (Rich Johnston)
Chris's Invicible Super-Blog
Fantasy Book Critic
Far Beyond Reality (Stefan Raets)
Forged Forest
Good Show Sir!
Graeme's SFF
Jim C. Hines
John Scalzi's Whatever
Jonathan Strahan
Lou Anders
Mad Hatter's Bookshelf & Book Review
Mike Sterling's Progressive Ruin
N.E. White (tmso)
Nerds of a Feather, Flock Together
Nethspace
No Cloaks Allowed (Gav)
OF Blog (Larry)
Only the Best SFF
Orbit Books
Pornokitsch
SFFMetta
SFSignal
Seak's Stamp of Approval
Speculative Scotsman
Staffer's Book Review (and occasional musings)
Suvudu
The Tattered Scroll (FKA Genre Reader)
Ubiquitous Absence
Westeros Forums
What's Alan Watching
A Wiki of Ice and Fire
DC Database Project
Dresden Files Wiki
Fringepedia
Lexicanum - Warhammer 40K
Lostpedia
Malazan Wiki
Science Fiction Encyclopedia
TV Tropes & Idioms
The Dark Tower Wiki
Wheel of Time Wiki
New 'Watchmen' Trailer Goes Online; Check Out A Ga...
#FridayReads (1) #ReadHachette (2) #Torbit (2) 100-Page Friday (1) 2008 (1) 2011 (3) 2012 (13) 2012 Book Review (38) 2012 Book Reviews (8) 2013 (2) 2013 Book (4) 2013 Book Review (9) 2013 Books (48) 2013 Films (1) 2014 Book Review (1) 2014 Books (18) 2015 Books (34) 2016 (1) 2016 Books (16) 2016 Monthly (3) 2017 Book (1) 2018 Book Review (1) 4-star review (1) 4400 (1) 47North (18) A Crown of Swords (1) A Dance with Dragons (4) A Memory of Light (4) A Song of Ice and Fire (23) A.G. Riddle (2) Aaron Johnston (1) Abaddon (5) Acacia (4) Ace (91) Adam Christopher (3) Adrian Tchaikovsky (6) Aftermath (1) Aidan Moher (3) AJ Smith (1) Alan Dean Foster (1) Alan Moore (3) Alan Smale (1) Alastair Reynolds (12) Alex Bledsoe (1) Alex Marshall (1) Alexander Freed (2) Aliette de Bodard (3) Alison Goodman (1) All Hallows Read (4) Amalie Howard (1) Amanda Downum (1) AmazonCrossing (2) Anchor Books (1) Andy Remic (1) Angry Robot (35) Ania Ahlborn (1) Ann (1) Ann Leckie (4) Anne Bishop (1) Anne Leonard (1) Anne Lyle (1) Anne McCaffrey (1) Anthology (1) Anthony Huso (1) Anthony Ryan (9) Anton Strout (1) Ari Marmell (11) Arkham Horror (1) Arrow (1) Art Bangs's Review (6) Arthur C. Clarke (2) Audio Book (5) Authors of the Roundtable (2) Avatar (2) Award (3) Awesome Omnibus (5) B.V. Larson (1) bacon (1) Baen (14) Bantam Spectra (44) Bantam UK (1) Barbara Hambly (1) baseball (15) Batman (17) Batman Begins (1) Battlestar Galactica (13) BBC America (2) BEA (1) Beach Haus (1) beer (23) Beer Review (1) Ben Aaronovitch (2) Benedict Jacka (1) Benjamin Tate (2) Best of (21) Best Served Cold (1) Beth Cato (2) Big Bang Theory (1) Bil Flippin (1) Bioshock (1) BITM (35) BITM 2014 (1) BITM 2015 (48) BITM 2016 (16) BITM Intro (8) Bla (1) Black Library (46) Blake Charlton (1) Blake Crouch (2) bloggy stuff (29) Blue Remembered Earth (1) Bob Reiss (1) Bobby Dollar Series (5) Book Country (1) book p0rn (17) book reviews (255) Book Signings (1) books (49) Books in the Mai (1) Books in the Mail (398) BookStore-BookBlogger Connection (1) BOOM! (2) Bowling (4) Bradley Beaulieu (4) Bradley P. Beaulieu (5) Brandon Sanderson (42) Breaking Bad (1) Brenda Cooper (1) brent weeks (12) Brian Evenson (2) Brian Herbert (1) Brian K. Vaughan (1) Brian Lumley (1) Brian McClellan (14) Brian Ruckley (1) Brian Staveley (8) Bride Roman Review (4) Broadway Books (1) Brom (1) Bruce Dickinson (1) Bucklepunk (1) Bujold (3) C.A. Higgins (3) C.J. Cherryh (3) C.S. Friedman (10) Caine (10) Caitlín R. Kiernan (2) Caprica (1) Career (1) Carlos Ruiz Zafón (3) Carol Berg (8) Carolyn Ives Gilman (2) Carrie Patel (1) Carrie Vaughn (4) Carton Brewing (1) Cassandra Rose Clarke (1) Catching up with the Classics (10) Catherynne M. Valente (2) Cecilia Holland (1) Cesar Torres (1) Charlaine Harris (1) Charles E. Gannon (2) Charles Gannon (1) Charles Stross (7) Charlie Huston (2) Charlie Jane Anders (1) Chathrand Voyage (1) Cherie Priest (6) chili (1) China Miéville (19) Chris A. Jackson (1) Chris Roberson (10) Chris Wooding (9) Christie Golden (1) Christmas (6) Christopher Farnsworth (1) Christopher Golden (2) Christopher Rice (1) Chronicle (1) Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne (1) Chuck Wendig (18) Chung Kuo (3) Cinder Spires (1) Cindy Dees (1) Cixin Liu (2) Classic SF (3) Claudia Gray (1) Clay and Susan Griffith (1) Clive Barker (1) Clone Club (1) Clones (3) cloverfield (2) Codex Alera (1) Col Buchanan (1) comics (41) Completist (1) Conan (3) Conclave Brewing (1) Connie Willis (2) Coraline (1) Cormac McCarthy (1) Corvus Books (1) Cory Doctorow (8) Cover Reveal (1) Craig Cormick (1) Crime Fiction (1) Crown of Stars (3) Crown Publishing (5) CTEIN (1) Cthulhu (4) D:el Rey (1) Dag Rambruat (1) Dan Abnett (12) Dan Bieger's Review (9) Dan Krokos (1) Dan Simmons (5) Dance with Dragons (2) Daniel Abraham (30) Daniel Handler (2) Daniel José Older (1) Daniel Kraus (2) Daniel Polansky (2) Dark Circle Comics (1) Dark Fantasy (1) Dark Knight (1) Dark Knight Rises (1) Dark Tower (5) Daryl Gregory (3) Dave Bara (5) Dave Gross (3) Dave Vs. The Monsters (1) David Annandale (2) David Anthony Durham (9) David Brin (4) David Dalglish (4) David Drake (1) David Forbes (2) David Gemmell (3) David Hair (3) David J. Sullivan (1) David J. Williams (1) David Louis Edelman (11) David Morell (1) David Weber (17) David Wingrove (2) DAW (98) Debut (2) Debut Novels (30) Defiance (1) Del Rey (142) Delilah S. Dawson (8) Demon Cycle (4) Destroyermen (3) Dimebag Darrel (2) District 9 (1) Diversion Books (1) DJ Molles (3) Django Wexler (12) Doctor Who (3) Dominic Harman (2) Doubleday (1) Douglas Clegg (3) Douglas Hulick (3) Douglas Lain (1) Dracula (2) Dragon Page (1) DragonLance (1) Dresden Files (7) Drew Karpyshyn (1) Drood (3) Dunk and Egg (1) Dutton (1) Dynamite Entertainment (1) E.E. Knight (15) Eclipse Phase (1) Editing (1) Edward Lazellari (1) Elizabeth Bear (15) Elizabeth Bonesteel (2) Elizabeth Haydon (2) Elizabeth Moon (25) Elizbeth Bear (1) Elric (1) Emily Bestler Books (1) Emily St. John Mandel (3) Emma Newman (4) Empire of Man (1) EOS (2) Epic Fantasy (7) Eric Brown (13) Eric Christensen (1) Erica Whiting (1) Erin Hoffman (2) Erin Lindsey (4) EUReKA (1) F. Paul Wilson (2) fables (2) family guy (2) Fantasy Filght Games (3) Fantasy Masterworks (1) farscape (5) Ferrett Steinmetz (1) Festivus (1) First Second (1) Flying Dog (1) food (1) Foreigner (1) Forgotten Realms (2) Fran Wilde (3) Francis Knight (5) Frank Herbert (1) Frankenstein (1) Fred Chappell (1) Fred Kiesche (1) Freya Robertson (3) Friday Round-Up (15) Fringe (3) Functional Nerds (1) G.T. Almasi (2) Gabriel Rodriguez (5) Gail Carriger (1) Game of Thrones (6) Gardner Dozois (2) Gareth L. Powell (3) Gary Gibson (2) Gary Kloster (1) Gary Wassner (5) Gary Whitta (1) Gav Thorpe (1) geekery (52) Gene Wolfe (8) Generation V (2) Genevieve Valentine (2) Genre (9) Geoff Johns (1) George. R.R. Martin (58) Girl Genius (1) Glen Cook (16) Glenda Larke (2) God of War (1) godsmack (4) Godzilla (3) Godzilla 2014 (2) Gollancz Books (7) Goodbye (1) Gordon R. Dickson (1) Grady Hendrix (2) Graham Edwards (2) Graham Joyce (1) Graham McNeill (8) Grant Morrison (3) Graphic Novels (2) Great Covers (3) Green Lantern (3) Greg Bear (2) Greg Keyes (17) Greg van Eekhout (2) Gregory Frost (1) GRRM (1) Guest Post (2) Guy Gavriel Kay (6) Gwenda Bond (5) H.P. Lovecraft (3) Half-Marathon (1) Hallowe'en (9) Halloween (3) Halo (1) Hannu Rajaniemi (3) Harper Collins Voyager (1) Harper Voyager US (19) Harry Potter (1) Harry Turtledove (4) HBO (1) Head of Zeus (2) Heartstrikers (2) heavy metal (9) Helen Lowe (4) Hellblazer (1) Hellboy (1) Heroes (2) High Fantasy (2) hockey (6) HODOR (1) Holiday Beer (1) Horror (7) Horus Heresy (3) House (1) House of Mystery (1) How I Met Your Mother (2) Howard Andrew Jones (4) Hugh Howey (3) Hugo Awards (6) Hulk (1) Hunter Prey (1) Hyperion (1) I Robot (1) Iain M. Banks (7) Ian Cameron Esslemont (5) Ian Tregillis (7) Ian Whates (2) IDW (3) Ilana C. Meyer (3) Indiana Jones (2) IndieGoGo (1) Indra Das (1) interview (29) iPod (3) Iron Man (1) Isaac Asimov (1) IT (1) J.A. Pitts (3) J.J. Abrams (3) J.V.Jones (1) Jacey Bedford (1) Jack Campbell (15) Jack McDevitt (6) Jack Vance (1) Jack Williamson (1) Jacqueline Carey (1) Jacqueline Koyanagi (3) James Aquilone (1) James Barclay (15) James Cambias (2) James Cameron (1) James Enge (3) James Gunn (2) James K. Decker (8) James Knapp (4) James L. Sutter (2) James Lovegrove (8) James P. Hogan (1) James Rollins (1) James S.A. Corey (23) Jana Nyman (1) Jason Denzel (1) Jason Hough (2) Jason M. Hough (6) Jay Allan (3) Jay Lake (1) Jay Posey (2) Jaye Wells (1) Jaym Gates (3) JC Comics (1) Jeff Salyards (7) Jeff Somers (1) Jeff VanderMeer (12) Jeff Wheeler (3) Jeffrey Ford (9) Jennifer Brozek (1) Jennifer Fallon (1) Jess Bullington (2) Jill Archer (1) Jim Butcher (29) Jim C. Hines (14) Jo Anderton (1) Jo Fletcher Books (9) Jo Walton (12) Jo Zebedee (1) Joanne Harris (2) Joe Abercrombie (20) Joe Hill (17) Joe Ledger (1) Joe Monti (1) Joe Schreiber (2) Joe Sherry (2) Joel Shepherd (2) Joey/Erfael's Review (3) John Birmingham (3) John C. Wright (1) John Gwynne (2) John Joseph Adams (7) John Love (1) John Marco (13) John Picacio (2) John R. Fultz (2) John Ringo (1) John Sandford (1) John Scalzi (30) John Shirley (1) John Steakley (1) John Twelve Hawks (4) John Varley (1) Jon Sprunk (1) Jonah Sutton-Morse (2) Jonathan Maberry (2) Jonathan Strahan (13) Joseph D'Lacey (5) Josh Noel (1) Josh Vogt (1) Joshua Palmatier (12) Julia Knight (1) Julian May (1) Julie E. Czerneda (4) Juliet McKenna (1) Justin Cronin (5) K.V. Johansen (2) K.W. Jeter (1) Kage Baker (1) Kameron Hurley (6) Kane Brewing (1) Karen Lord (2) Karen Traviss (6) Karin Lowachee (1) Kate Elliott (10) Kate Elliott; Black Library (1) Kate Griffin (2) Kate Heartfield (1) Katherine Addison (2) Kathryn A. Ryan Review (8) Kay Kenyon (4) Ken Liu (7) Ken Scholes (3) Kenny Soward (1) Kerfuffle (1) Kevin Hearne (16) Kevin J. Anderson (1) Kevin Smith (3) Kharkanas Trilogy (1) Kickstarter (1) Kim Harrison (2) Kim Newman (3) Kim Stanley Robinson (2) Kindle (3) Kingkiller Chronicles (2) Kirsten Porter (1) KKay Kenyon (1) Kristen Britain (1) Kristin Centorcelli (3) L.E. Modesitt (4) Larry Correia (7) Larry Niven (1) Laura Ann Gilman (1) Lavie Tidhar (2) Lev Grossman (4) Liane Merciel (4) Library (1) Licia Troisi (1) Lila Bowen (2) Lilith Saintcrow (3) Linda Naga (1) Linda Nagata (3) Linkdump (1) Lisa Rodgers (1) Little Brother (5) Liz de Jager (1) Liz Williams (7) Locke & Key (8) Locke & Key Reread (5) Lord of Chaos (2) Lost (19) Lou Anders (6) M.C. Planck (2) M.L. Brennan (4) M.R. James (1) Madeline Howard (1) Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (1) Malazan (13) Marc Turner (1) Margaret Fortune (1) Maria Dahvana Headley (1) Marianne De Pierres (3) Marie Brennan (2) Marion Deeds (1) Mark C. Newton (9) Mark Chadbourn (12) Mark Chitty (4) Mark Hodder (1) Mark L. Van Name (6) Mark Lawrence (15) Mark Waid (1) Mark Yon Review (15) Mark Yon's Review (134) Markus Heitz (1) Marla Mason (1) Marshall Ryan Maresca (4) Marvel (1) Marvel Film Universe (1) Mary Doria Russell (1) Mary Robinette Kowal (1) Mary Weber (1) Masque Books (1) Matthew Hughes (2) Matthew Stover (34) Matthew Sturges (3) Maureen Johnson (1) Max Gladston (1) Max Gladstone (9) Max Landis (1) Mazarkis Williams (2) MD Waters (1) me (37) Megan E. O'Keefe (2) Melanie Rawn (2) Melinda Snodgrass (1) Melville House (1) meme (22) Mercedes M. Yardley (1) Mhairi Simpson (1) Michael Cobley (3) Michael J. Martinez (3) Michael J. Sullivan (20) Michael McDowell (1) Michael Moorcock (12) Michael R. Fletcher (1) Michael R. Underwood (3) Michael Stackpole (2) Michael Swanwick (1) Michael Whelan (1) Mickey Zucker Reichert (1) midgets (1) Mike Resnick (8) Mike Shevdon (3) Miles Cameron (4) Military Fantasy (5) Military SF (15) Milk Stout (1) Mind Meld (22) Mind Meld; SF Signal; The Completist (1) Minister Faust (1) Mira Grant (12) Miracleman/Marvelman (1) mistborn (5) Mitchell Hogan (3) Modesitt (3) Monster Blood Tattoo (1) Monster Hunters (1) Monthly Wrap Up (3) Morgaine Saga (1) Mount Toberead (1) movies (30) Mulholland Books (3) music (12) Myke Cole (26) N.K. Jemisin (5) Name of the Wind (2) Nancy Springer (1) Naomi Novik (16) Natasha Mostert (1) Neal Asher (4) Neal Stephenson (3) Neil Gaiman (45) Nerds of Feather (1) New York Comic Con (5) Newsflesh Trilogy (4) Nicholas Eames (2) Nick Mamatas (1) Nightmare (1) Nights of Villjamur (2) NightShadeBooks (54) Nila White's Review (22) NJ (1) NJ Devils (6) Nnedi Okorafor (2) No BITM (8) Norman Partridge (1) NYCC (2) NYCC2014 (3) NYCC2015 (1) Octavia Butler (2) Olaf Stapledon (1) Oliver Pötzsch (1) Omnibus (11) Open Road Integrated Media (2) Open Road Media (1) Opie and Anthony (2) Opinion (1) Orbit (51) Orbit Books (99) Orbit UK (2) Orphan Black (8) Orphan Black Rewatch (6) Orphan Black Season 2 (2) Orson Scott Card (7) oshock (1) Otto Penzler (1) Overlook Press (1) Owen Jones Review (1) OWW (2) Paizo (2) Paksenarrion (1) Pantera (1) Pantheon (3) Paolo Bacigalup (1) Paradox Series (2) Pat Doherty (1) Pathfinder (27) Patricia McKillip (1) Patrick Hemstreet (1) Patrick Hester (2) Patrick Rothfuss (18) Patrick Swenson (1) Paul Hoffman (1) Paul Kearney (1) Paul Malmont (1) Paul Pope (1) Paul S. Kemp (15) Paul Tremblay (2) Paul Weimer (4) Paul Weimer Review (1) Pedantic Posts (1) Peter David (7) Peter F. Hamilton (17) Peter Higgins (1) Peter McLean (1) Peter Orullian (9) Peter Straub (1) Peter V. Brett (21) Peter Watts (1) PeterWilliam's Review (2) Philip Jose Farmer (1) Philip Palmer (2) Phillipa Ballantine (1) photos (1) Pierce Brown (1) pirate (7) PJ Manney (1) plays (2) Podcast (5) Podcasts (2) Poll (6) Post-Apocalyptic Fiction (1) Posthuman Studios (1) Poul Anderson (1) Prime Books (2) Prince of Thorns (1) Priscilla Spencer (1) PS2 (1) Psalms of Isaak (2) Publishers (2) Publishing (1) Putnam (1) Pyr (100) R. Scott Bakker (15) R.M. Meluch (2) R.S. Belcher (2) R.T. Kaelin (4) Rachel Aaron (17) Rachel Bach (11) Rachel Dunne (1) Ramez Naam (1) Randy Henderson (1) Rant (2) Raymond Swanland (1) RC Bray (1) Re-Read (1) Reading Habits (6) Reaper (1) Recluce (1) Red Country (3) Renay (1) Retro Review (3) Richard Auffrey (1) Richard Ellis Preston Jr (1) Richard Farr (1) Richard Morgan (7) Rick Yancey (2) Riyria Revelations (3) Rjurik Davidson (1) Rob Ziegler (1) Robert A. Heinlein (6) Robert Buettner (11) Robert Charles Wilson (9) Robert E. Howard (9) Robert J. Sawyer (5) Robert Jackson Bennett (20) Robert Jordan (30) Robert R. McCammon (2) Robert Silverberg (2) Robert V.S. Redick (8) Robin Hobb (12) Roc (84) Rocket Talk (2) Roger Zelazny (1) RPG (1) Running (1) Rutgers (9) S. Andrew Swann (10) S.G. Redling (1) Sacramento/San Francisco Book Review (8) Safehold (3) Saga Press (9) Saladin Ahmed (6) Sam Sykes (2) Samit Basu (1) Sandy (3) Sandy Collora (1) Sarah Chorn (2) Sarah Fine (1) Sarah Olsen (1) Sarah Pinborough (3) Science Fiction (2) Scott Lynch (14) Scott Sigler (8) Scott Westerfeld (5) Sean Williams (10) Seanan McGuire (7) Series Launch (4) Serrano (1) Seth Dickinson (1) Seth Fishman (1) Seth Grahame-Smith (1) SF (2) SF Signal (46) SFF Masterworks (6) SFFWorld (337) SFFWorld Blog (7) SFFWorld Book Clubs (2) SFFWorld Guest Post (2) SFSignal (3) Shadow OPS (1) Shadowdance (1) Shannara (1) Sherlock Holmes (1) short fiction (24) Silk Road Fantasy (1) Simon & Schuster (2) Skyscape (2) Snorri Kristjansson (2) Solaris Books (18) South Park (1) Space Opera (8) Spin (1) Split Worlds (1) SPOTLIGHT (7) Star Wars (56) Stardust (1) Starfinder (1) Stark's War (1) Starman (1) Starship Troopers (1) Steampunk (6) Steelheart (1) Stefan Raets (1) Stella Gemmell (1) Stephen Baxter (4) Stephen Colbert (1) Stephen King (21) Stephen Leigh (1) Stephen R. Boyett (1) Stephen R. Donaldson (6) Steve Perry (1) Steven Brust (8) Steven Erikson (23) Steven L. Kent (2) Steven R. Boyett (2) Stina Leicht (2) Stormlight Archive (1) Stout (1) Strange Chemistry (7) Subterranean Press (17) Sully (16) superman (1) Susan J. Morris (1) Susan Klaus (1) Suzanne Collins (1) Sword and Sorcery (6) Sword of Sorcery (1) SyFy (1) Sylvain Neuvel (2) Sylvia Izzo Hunter (5) T.A. Pratt (8) T.C. McCarthy (8) Tachyon (1) Tad Williams (28) Talisman (4) Tanya Huff (2) Tatiana Maslany (1) Taylor Anderson (9) Teresa Edgerton (2) Teresa Frohock (2) Teresea Frohock (1) Terminator (2) Terry Brooks (13) Terry Goodkind (2) The Book Trader (4) The Broken Empire (1) The Broken Kingdom (1) The Bronze Knight Chronicles (4) The Chathrand Voyage (1) The Clone Rebellion (1) The Completist (19) The Culture (1) The Dagger and the Coin (4) The Dark Tower (4) The Daylight War (1) The Demon Cycle (1) The Divine Cities (1) The Dragon Reborn (1) The Expanse (5) The Eye of the World (4) The First 100 (3) The Flash (2) The Gathering Storm (2) The Graveyard Book (4) The Great Hunt (2) The Hangman's Duaghter (1) The Hobbit (1) The Hunger Games (1) The Incredibles (1) The Inheritance Trilogy (1) The Last King of Osten Ard (1) The Lays of Anuskaya (1) The Long Price Quartet (6) The Lost Fleet (3) The Lost Stars (1) The Magicians (2) The Office (2) The Passage (4) The Path of Daggers (1) The Powder Mage Trilogy (5) The Princess Bride (1) The Red Wolf Conspiracy (1) The Road (1) the strange things in life (1) The Warded Man (3) The Weird (2) Thomas Dunne Books (1) Thomas Nelson Books (1) Thomas Olde Heuvelt (1) Three Hoarsemen (1) Three Investigators (4) Three-Body Problem (1) Throne of Amenkor (1) Thrones and Bones (1) Tim Akers (2) Tim Lebbon (2) Tim Marquitz (2) Tim Powers (2) Tim Pratt (4) Timothy Zahn (1) Tina Connolly (1) Titan Books (7) Tobias Buckell (10) Todd Lockwood (1) Tolkien (2) Tom Doyle (2) Tom Sniegowski (1) Tor (196) Tor UK (1) Tor.com (32) Tor.com Imprint (2) Towers of Midnight (1) Trailers (1) Translated (1) Triumph over Tragedy (4) Trudi Canavan (2) True Blood (4) TV (22) Twin Elephant Brewing (1) twitter (2) Ty Franck (1) Un-Reviews (3) Under the Dome (2) Urban Fantasy (27) Used Books (3) V.E. Schwab (6) Vampire (8) Vampire Earth (1) Vampires (8) Vatta's War (1) Vernor Vinge (1) Victor Milán (1) Video Games (1) Viking (1) Violette Malan (1) Vlad Taltos (1) W.C. Bauers (1) Wall●E (2) Walter Mosley (1) Warbreaker (1) Warhammer (27) Warriors (2) Wars to End All Wars (1) Watchmen (10) Wayne Batson (5) Welcome to Night Vale (1) Werewolves (1) Wes Chu (1) Wheel of Time (30) Widdershins (1) Wild Cards (3) Will McIntosh (4) William King (1) William Morrow Books (3) Wise Man's Fear (2) Wizards of the Coast (2) Wonder Woman (1) Worldbreaker Saga (1) WOT Re-Read (13) writing (15) Yankees (15) Young Adult (5) Yuengling (1) Zen Cho (1) zombie (7) zombies (10)


text:
Daily Dose of iQ: Is Fairphone Fair or Foul?
by Allan Pulga on Sep. 25, 2015 in Mobile Industry Retail Marketing Wireless Trends
We came across this new concept product today, called the "Fairphone" (www.fairphone.com), which appears to be the smartphone equivalent of fair trade coffee -- particularly in its "ethical" sourcing of rare metals and minerals used in its manufacturing. The makers of Fairphone are in the midst of accepting preorders to make the concept a reality (their goal is 5,000 units by June 13).
The Fairphone website features a promotional video explaining the motivation behind the device and what makes it different from conventional smartphones in today's marketplace.
I sat down with three of my colleagues (Tony Burbage, Collin Prior and Chris Nicol) to get their take on this interesting new concept and phone.
1. At first glance, this looks more like marketing than the "real thing," hey? But a more important question is: What is the objective of this company and why might it resonate with consumers?
TB: The objectives of the company seem to center on creating a product manufacturing ecosystem that is both fair to people, and the environment. This is of course a fantastic mission, but it leads to a number of questions that demand answers (for examples, see the responses to Question #2). Right now it just seems like an idea. If they can convince consumers it's really "fair," then people will really get behind a product like this.
If Fairphone can substantiate its claims to "fairness," people will get behind the product.
CN: I agree. The objective is to combat the corporate greed that drives conventional smartphone manufacturing, which occurs largely at the expense of people and the environment. Fairphone is looking to raise awareness of these realities, while producing a device that demonstrates an ethical alternative to phones currently on the market.
CP: This looks a lot like marketing to me. I think the product may appeal to customers who want to feel like they are doing good in the world. If the company hopes to make a phone that is competitive, however, they will inevitably need to rely on existing (many of which would be deemed "unethical") sources. For example, they state on their site that they chose to locate in China because the whole supply chain was in Asia."
2. What questions still need to be answered for such a device to actually be "fair"? How can this company demonstrate that it is sufficiently "more fair" than established phone manufacturers?
TB: How could Fairphone foster a system of fair employment around the world and affect change among existing manufacturers? How will they use materials and production techniques that are proven to be environmentally friendly? Who's to hold them accountable to their claims? How could they do all this and be sure they have a competitively priced product? How will they navigate the continuum between being an a) altruistic or b) profit-oriented company?
Bigger question: Is it possible to be both altruistic and for-profit?
CP: A number of things jump out at me: Replacable battery (Do you need it? Don't lots of phones have that feature? Even if you need to replace it, does it have to be user replaceable?); E-waste Program (Most companies have that already, re: Cell Phone Trade-in Programs); Dual SIM (Have you been to Asia? Again, lots of existing phones have this, if it's required). Rootable Operating System (Hello Android); Worker Welfare (Again, most companies are striving for this and can put much more pressure on their suppliers than a small company); Conflict Free Tin and Tantalum (This kind of depends on the concept of "conflict" and "fair trade." China and the Congo are not exactly unequivocably fair labour/environmentally-friendly markets.
3. Fair trade products have carved out a niche for themselves in certain industries (e.g. food, coffee, cosmetics) but is there a place for them in high-tech manufacturing? Can you think of any other 'fair tech' examples or success stories?
CN: Absolutely there is a place for them in high-tech, any time that people are being paid unfair wages to keep products cheap for consumers, or working conditions are ignored to increase production, there is a place for "fair." The problem becomes measuring what is fair versus unfair. It's taken many years for the current fair trade products to create industry standards, auditing procedures and credibility so that consumers can recognize a difference. It will take a long time with tech too, but someone has to start somewhere. It won't be perfect, but taking a different approach and shedding light on the topic is the only way to start.
TB: The Body Shop built an entire company around this idea. But I'm not sure I'm aware of any high-tech companies have built their entire model around this. It should be interesting to see what happens. I certainly hope it succeeds, and is not just a marketing idea, as it would be an amazing game changer for the good.
Imagine the marketing potential if Fairphone partnered with HTC or Google to create a fair and ecological device.
CP: I frankly think fair trade is probably more of a statement than an actuality. In general people like feeling connected to a product's creators rather than having people in the middle. There is an idea that things cannot be fair if a large publicly-traded corporation is involved. While this might be true, I am not sure it always is. I am interested as to why an organization like Fairphone chose to go it themselves rather then trying to partner with an existing company to create change. Maybe they did and failed? Imagine the marketing potential if, say, the Fairphone initiative partnered with HTC or Google to create and somehow certify a fair and ecological device. I don't see these phones becoming mainstream; I'm not sure they can keep up technologically with existing devices. Phones are not yet like coffee beans or apples, which are roughly the same no matter who grows them. I have a feeling that people are generally more attached to the features on their phone than to the ethics behind them.


text:
Silver Surfers: Internet Usage Among Older Generations
Race to the Top: Finding the Best Accredited Online Colleges
Phone vs. Text vs. Email
How To Get A Free Education
How Tablets are Changing the Face of Education
Everlasting Lessons of Mister Rogers
accredited-online-college.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
Accredited Online Masters Degree Programs – Overview
The Everlasting Lessons of Mr. Rogers
Fake Schools, Fake Degrees: Avoiding Diploma Mills
Understanding Accreditation
Accredited Online Program Rankings
20 Accredited Colleges Which Offer Laptops
25 Easiest, Accredited Online College Programs of 2020 For Undergrads
Fastest Accredited Online Graduate Colleges
The Top 20 Easy Accredited Online PhD Programs
The Top 20 Easy Accredited Online Masters Degrees
The 15 Most Affordable, Accredited Online Assocate Degree Programs of 2020
The Top 12 Accredited Online Colleges With Low Tuiton
The 10 Best Nationally Accredited Online Colleges
The Top 15 Accredited Online Accounting College Degree Programs
The 15 Most Affordable Online Business Bachelor's Degrees
The 15 Best Accredited Online Graduate Schools For 2020
Top 15 Accredited Online Colleges For 2020
Top 15 Accredited Online Colleges Without An Application Fee
Accreditation Resources
Accreditation List
List of American Psychological Association (APA) Accredited Programs in Alabama
Accredited Online Bible College Programs
The Different Online Learning Modes For Online Degree Programs
Accredited Online Degrees
The Importance of Online Accreditation
The Difference Between Regional and National Accreditation
The Advantages to Accredited Online Degree Programs
An Overview of Accredited Online Associate Degree Programs
An Overview of Accredited Online Bachelor Degree Programs
An Overview of Accredited Online Master Degree Programs
An Overview of Accredited Online Doctoral Degree Programs
Engineering Degree Basics
What is Online College Accreditation?
How Does Accreditation Affect Financial Aid?
Where Can I Find The Easiest Accredited Online College Programs?
Do the Easiest, Accredited Online Colleges Provide A Good Education?
How Do I Find Accredited Online Colleges With No Application Fee and Low Tuition?
Online Graduates Vs. Traditional Graduates: Do Employers Really See Them Equally?
Why Are Colleges Dropping (or Entirely Eliminating) Application Fees?
Are There Easy, Accredited Online College Programs Where I Can Get My Master's Degree?
Are There Easy, Accredited Online College Programs Where I Can Get My PhD?
What Are The Cheapest And Easiest Accredited Online College Programs For Graduate Degrees?
What Are The Most Affordable, Accredited Online Associate Degree Programs?
Students enter graduate studies for a diverse number of reasons. Many want to earn a master's degree as a way to continue learning, and others choose to continue their education for job advancement or a change in career. No matter what the reason, most graduate candidate hopefuls feel that online degree programs are best suited to meet their educational and professional goals. Since most students must manage work and family responsibilities in addition to academics, many find that participating in accredited online master degree programs is the best way to maximize the efficiency of their time and financial investments. Plus completing a master degree leads to a number of possibilities both while attending courses and after graduation.
What A Master's Degree Is
Most people respect the importance of education, and earning an undergraduate degree is an investment that often opens doors of opportunity. The master's degree is the next step up the ladder of academic credentials after a bachelor's degree. An online master degree is the same as one earned on campus, except that students do not sit in a campus classroom and have a virtual learning experience compliments of technology and the internet. A master's degree may increase opportunities, but experts recommend that students consider the cost of spending at least another year in study in addition to the price of enrollment. The U.S. News and World Report asked business executives for opinions about the value of getting a master's degree as a way to achieve success in the business world. Responses reflected mixed opinions, with some favoring it while others valued experience more highly. Earning a master's degree usually requires at least one year of study after graduation from undergraduate school. Students in graduate school focus on a special area of interest, usually the major field in which they earned an undergraduate degree.
Many graduate programs combine studying with work experiences as an option that some executives recommend as a practical approach. Combining a master's degree with on the job experience is a potential way to impress future employers, according to an executive recruiter who was interviewed by the magazine. An advanced degree that is enhanced by work experience or internships may show that a job candidate has practical as well as theoretical knowledge.
Availability of Online Master Degree Programs
Nearly one thousand schools offer online master's degree programs, and many of them provide hundreds of fields of interest. Millions of students are currently enrolled in online master's degree programs, allowing them the opportunity to continue working while studying on evenings and weekends. The National Center for Educational Statistics reports that master's degrees in these fields are the most popular:
Courses offer instruction in marketing, finance, business law and statistics for aspiring administrators, supervisors and managers.
Teachers who want to advance can take courses in assessment, evaluation, curriculum development and leadership skills.
Advanced training is available for public health workers that include program coordinators, administrators and consultants.
Offering instruction in urban planning, finance, strategic planning, quantitative math, budgeting and personnel management, the degree is a choice of many in the public sector.
Many sub-fields in engineering are featured in online master's programs, including civil engineering that focuses on viability and environmental aspects of capital projects.
Advancement in the mental health field includes knowledge of psychological assessment methods, cognitive influences, ethical issues and behavioral studies.
A career in crime investigation and prevention is aided with courses in forensic science, law enforcement, terrorism and administration.
The study of information technology includes software and hardware development, networking, security requirements and business information processes.
Advancing in the nursing field requires coursework that includes ethics and policy matters, finance and research in healthcare.
Careers in community health require training in developing welfare policy as well as learning about clinical operations.
Opportunities to earn a master's degree online are readily available to college graduates who have access to a computer. In combination with work experience, the degree may open doors to advancement for aspiring job applicants since courses provide the refined skills and educational background necessary to propel personal, educational, and professional goals.
Copyright © 2021 www.accredited-online-college.org
RankingsFeaturesFrequently Asked QuestionsMethodology
Sitemap (html | xml)


text:
Бандза () — село в Грузії.

За даними перепису населення 2014 року в селі проживає 1099 особи.

Примітки

Села Грузії
Населені пункти Самегрело-Земо-Сванеті

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
4 Jobs - Missouri, United States
Browse For Jobs In Missouri, United States. Find The Job Of Your Dreams On HealthProfessionsJobsPlus Today!
Surgeons: General, Pediatrics, Spine, Research, Sports, Total Joints, Upper Extremity
Missouri Orthopaedic Institute
The University of Missouri Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, a thriving and expanding Midwestern academic practice affiliated with a Level 1 trauma center, is seeking surgeons in the following specialties: General, Pediatrics, Spine, Research, Sports, Total Joints, and Upper Extremity. We have seve...
The University of Missouri Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, a thriving and expanding Midwestern academic practice affiliated with a Level 1...
Seeking Pediatric Hepatologist/Gastroenterologist
Seeking pediatric hepatologist/gastroenterologist: Saint Louis University is seeking faculty to join a busy academic group, with a special interest in individuals with special training and interest in hepatology. The Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology consists of 6 pediatric gastr...
Seeking pediatric hepatologist/gastroenterologist: Saint Louis University is seeking faculty to join a busy academic group, with a special...
Full-Time Instructor/Assistant Professor (Clinician Educator) - Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University School of Medicine
The Division of Gastroenterology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, seeks a full-time Instructor or Assistant Professor (Clinician Educator) to provide direct patient care and patient-related services focusing on general luminal gastroenterology. Duties will include teaching medical st...
The Division of Gastroenterology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, seeks a full-time Instructor or Assistant Professor (Clinician...
Chief, Division of Clinical and Translational Research - Washington University in St. Louis
Chief, Division of Clinical and Translational Research Department of AnesthesiologyWashington University School of Medicine The Department of Anesthesiology at Washington University School of Medicine seeks applications from internationally recognized leaders in anesthesiology-related research to ...
Chief, Division of Clinical and Translational Research Department of AnesthesiologyWashington University School of Medicine The Department of...
Anatomic And Clinical Pathologist


Under the Bridge at Chelsea Football Club hosted the 10th edition of the Optajoe quiz last night (13th November), featuring a full house of 150 contestants from 30 teams.
The OptaJoe quiz is now a well-established event in the football media calendar, attracting regulars such as The Guardian, The Times, BBC Sport and the FA. Last night, we also welcomed debutants including The Totally Football Show and DAZN.
In a tightly contested affair, Sky Sports Stats just pipped Premier League Productions - who performed admirably on the night - to once again emerge victorious and regain the crown from bitter rivals BT Sport Stats, who finished in third place. This now means that Sky Sports Stats have won the trophy on an incredible five occasions.
A huge thank you must go to all those who took part and to those who followed all the action live on Twitter and Instagram. Check out our Live Blog from last night here.
You can access the questions and the answers from last night's OptaJoe quiz following the these links.
You can also check out our video review of the 10th OptaJoe quiz as Sky Sports Stats took home the trophy for a record fifth time.


Sensationally Smithed Stainless Steel with Eye Catching Sheen.
Timeless Form & Function in Every Decorative, yet Durable Piece.
Thanks to Megan Russell's step by step process, in her hands, stainless steel becomes unique works of art for the home, office and garden that stand the test of time, cold formed and thus as strong as the impression they make. With an idea in mind, she cuts and polishes the metal she intends to use, some heated to achieve a hint of color and all 60% recycled. Then she hammers and bends these scraps to bring her vision to life.
Each handmade piece is individual, but imbued with Megan's characteristic style. Whether it is a kitchen or desk accessory or planter for outdoors, Megan's work is uniquely beautiful and functional, the mark of a true craft. The polish on her metals creates surface texture that is almost shiny, but fully reflective of thoughtful effort. That's what first caught my attention. She obtains a sheen I've rarely seen. The waves and curves she creates also standout for the movement they convey despite the durable material that took lots of strength to reshape. For this artist, dedication to her art is partly about honoring the tradition of metalsmithing and partly about making it all her own, bending it to her will.


He has however managed to remain relevant in that field and has added other things up to his acting career over the years. As the actor celebrates another milestone today, February 3, 2019, YEN.com.gh would throw more light on his life and achievements as he turns 35.
1. Actor Dumelo first received his big break as a seven-year-old in 1991 when the producers of GAMA films wanted children who would be suitable for roles in their film 'Baby Thief.He appeared on several Ghanaian television programs including but his popularity reached a higher level when he made the transition from the small screen to the big screen. He has managed to stay relevant all these years. He has won several awards to that effect.
2. Politician During the 2016 electioneering period, John Dumelo made his love for politics known as he openly declared his support for the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He campaigned massively for the NDC during that period. Fast-forward t 2018, he declared his intention to contest for the Ayawaso West Wuogon parliamentary seat when the Member of Parliament for that constituency died. He however pulled out of the race in order to pursue another seat in Ho come 2020.
3. Farmer Agriculture, they say is the grass-root of of the economy. Not only does John Dumelo involve himself in politics, but has decided to go into farming. He is a strong advocate for farming because he believes in eating what we row as a nation.
4. Clothing line The actor has gotten himself a clothing line where he produces caps, tee shirts and hoodies. His clothing line is called 'jmelo' clothing.The name of his clothing line is blended from both his first and last names.
5. Parenthood Late 2018, John Dumelo welcomed the birth of his first child with a lot of joy. Some people would definitely count children as part of their lifetime achievement. John Dumelo was not left out as he welcomed his son, as he shared a photo of himself with passionate message on his social media platforms.
6. Marriage There comes a time in a man's life when he has to hang his player boots and take the responsibility or duty of coaching his own team. That is exactly what actor John Dumelo did. He decided to get married early 2018 in a very private ceremony in Accra. YEN.com earlier found out that he married the lady because she was a few months pregnant with his child. All the same the actor did a honorable thing by getting married to her. He has however achieved something alot of people find difficult to do.


Note: All writing and content is provided by you with some exceptions. I can write basic blogs and content if you provide some basic information for me to work from. I can also find pictures as needed based on the style of your website and the content we are uploading.


Want it on Friday, 26th April? Place your order within 20 hrs 15 mins and select Next Day Delivery at the checkout.
Candy Cottage is a delightful, brightly coloured dolls house which quickly slots together, and is supplied fully decorated inside and out.


text:
Updated 4/12/2019 12:37 PM
Campton Hills woman died from baseball bat attack, investigation ongoing
Harry Hitzeman
Follow @DH_HHitzeman
Campton Hills police have turned over results of the investigation into the March 24 death of Mary Summerwill to the Kane County state's attorney's office.
The 53-year-old woman died after being struck "multiple" times with a baseball bat, according to the Kane County coroner.
Campton Hills Police Chief Steve Millar said officials presented representatives from the state's attorney's office on April 1 with evidence collected in the homicide investigation.
Prosecutors declined to comment on the case, other than to say this week that it is "still under investigation."
Millar also declined to comment on the case, but stressed there is no danger to the community.
"It's an isolated incident. Nobody is in any danger," he said. "It's up to the state's attorney as to what they're going to decide the charges are going to be."
Summerwill died the morning of March 24 after a family member called authorities to her house on the 40W600 block of Willowbrook Drive.
Paramedics took her to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital, where she died.
Coroner Rob Russell said Summerwill died of cranial injuries and had no other injuries.
"She died from blunt-force injuries, definitely consistent with a baseball bat," Russell said, adding she was struck "multiple" times.
Toxicology results from Summerwill are pending, Russell said.
Police have said they have not previously responded or been called to any domestic disturbance calls at the house.
Neighbors said Summerwill lived at the house with her husband and the couple had two college-aged children.
Prosecutors: Son's actions in fatal baseball bat beating of mom were 'intentional'
Carpentersville man caught with 6 pounds of heroin sent to prison for 16 years
Campton Hills
Campton Township
Click here to sign up for the Suburban Crime	Newsletter


text:
DOCUMENT: Florida, Sports, Crime
Cops Flag Youth Football Coach For Ref Assault
Convicted felon adds to his 33-page rap sheet
Football Coach Attacks
http://thesmokinggun.com/file/football-coach-attacks
OCTOBER 16--A youth football coach whose rap sheet dates back 25 years and includes 20 arrests is locked up after he allegedly slugged a referee Saturday during a game in south Florida.
As seen above, the attack was filmed by a spectator at the West Park Saints-Miramar Patriots contest.
Dion Robinson, 43, can be seen on the video making a speed rush to clock Andrew Keigans, the 41-year-old referee. Pictured in the adjacent mug shot, Robinson is an assistant coach of the West Park squad.
According to a Broward County Sheriff's Office report, Keigans said that the confrontation began after he called an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty when Robinson made a "derogatory comment from the sidelines."
Incensed by the call, Robinson "barged the field and confronted the referee, all along being held back by the head coach Antonio Lane." At this point, the head referee ended the game, deputies reported.
Robinson--simultaneously limping and pulling his sagging shorts up--chased after Keigans, smacking the ref in the face with a roundhouse left, which knocked him to the turf. The coach of the Miramar team, Patrick Manuel, videotaped the assault and provided cops with his footage.
When investigators contacted Lane, he refused to identify the member of his coaching staff who had slugged Keigans.
Robinson was subsequently identified and arrested for battery on a sports official, a felony. He is being held in lieu of $1000 bond at the Broward County jail.
Robinson's rap sheet, obtained from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, runs 33 pages and includes a variety of felony convictions, including robbery and cocaine distribution. He has also been collared for cocaine possession; aggravated battery; resisting arrest; battery on a law enforcement officer; indecent exposure; and aggravated assault with a firearm. (3 pages)
Football, assault, viral video
Man Battered Boyfriend Over Musical Taste
World's First Mug Shot of A Male Dominatrix?


An unusually personal four-pages long letter, dated June 30 1913 and written by Sigmund Freud on his personal stationery from his home in Vienna, goes on auction this week at Nate D. Sanders' auction house in Los Angeles. The opening bid for the set of letters and envelopes is $25,000.
According to the auction website, the autographed letter contains Freud's notes on his Jewish heritage and ancestry, the development of psychoanalysis and the "intense rejection" it had endured, his marriage and children, and his professional writings and honorary degree.
"After a brief stay in Leipzig, I arrived in Vienna at age 4, completed the Gymnasium, came to the university in 1873 and, after much toiling, became a student of the physiologist [Ernst Wilhelm Ritter von] Brucke who, because of my impoverished state, advised me to take up a practical field. I then turned to neuropathology, became an intern doctor at the hospital, and an adjunct professor in 1885 (doctorate, Dr. med., in 1882). In the fall of 1885, I received a travel grant and went to Paris to work and study with Prof. [Jean-Martin] Charcot. I then translated his lectures. In the spring of 1886, I set up my medical practice in Vienna, and in September of that year, I married Martha Bernays, the granddaughter of the Hakham [Chief Rabbi] Isaac B. of Hamburg, niece of Jacob and Michel B. We have brought up 6 children; two of the girls are already married now.
Freud then lists the journals he had published: "In 1902, I was granted the title of Prof. extraord. in Vienna. In no way was this meant to constitute recognition of my work. That was the case, however, regarding a call to the Clark University in Worcester, Mass., USA where, after I had given several lectures, an honorary doctorate, L.L.C., was bestowed on me.