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University of South Dakota presidential finalists to be announced
Finalists will come to campus later this month
University of South Dakota presidential finalists to be announced Finalists will come to campus later this month Check out this story on argusleader.com: http://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2018/04/17/university-south-dakota-presidential-finalists-announced/525879002/
, jonellis@argusleader.com Published 3:51 p.m. CT April 17, 2018
Mike Rush
The South Dakota Board of Regents will announce the finalists who are competing to be the next president of the University of South Dakota.
Mike Rush, the executive director of the Board of Regents, said the finalists will be announced Friday.
"Obviously, we've done our airport interviews and narrowed the ones we want to invite to campus," Rush said.
Rush would not say how many finalists will be announced because he said they aren't sure how many will want to participate in the final process.
The finalists will be invited to the university on April 24 – 25. Besides interviews, they will have an opportunity to meet with faculty and other university constituent groups.
The Board of Regents has been looking for a replacement for current USD President Jim Abbott, who has been president since 1997. Abbott announced in September that he would retire in June.
Read or Share this story: http://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2018/04/17/university-south-dakota-presidential-finalists-announced/525879002/
'Red flag law' proposal would let S.D. police seize firearms from certain people

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Sister Speaks Out After Brother Was Called N-Word And Told To 'Get On His Knees' In Viral Video
She responds to the support her family received.
Source: Deysha Adriana/Facebook
One teenager became the victim of racist insults after his one tiny mistake of littering. After the incident went viral, his sister is speaking out about the support they've received.
According to 10 News, 14-year-old Barry Henry was called the N-word by a woman when he threw his gum wrapper on the ground. The incident went down when he was walking from church with his grandmother and cousin on Sunday in Florida.
"I thought she was going to attack us," he said. "The lady was telling me, 'Just pick it up,' real loud and just yelling and everything, crazy."
The whole incident was recorded and posted to Facebook where the woman can be heard yelling, "Nuh uh, don't even act like that. Pick it up. Find it. Get down on your knees and find it. Get down on your knees and find it."
At one point the woman calls the teen a "ni**er" and continues, "That's how you are. All y'all (unintelligible) f**king ni**ers. Walking around here acting like something."
The footage was initially posted to Facebook on Sunday by Henry's sister Deysha Adriana. She wrote:
"Actual footage of a woman talking to my 14 year old brother and cousin in this manner, near Williams Park in St. Pete today, because he dropped a gum wrapper on the ground, he was going to pick it up until she started calling him out of his name. Almost 2020 and we still are dealing with being spoken to in this manner over what exactly? A gum wrapper. Tasteless."
The video received over 233,000 views and over 5,000 shares. A St. Petersburg City Council member, Steve Kornell, even shared the video asking to help identify the teen so he can be honored at this week's council meeting. The mayor of St. Petersburg, Rick Kriseman, also called the woman's actions "deeply disappointing and disturbing, a wholly unacceptable verbal attack that I would hate to witness anywhere, but especially here in our Sunshine City."
After the backlash against the woman and after Deysha and her brother received massive support, Deysha posted an update:
"My family would like to first thank those who have expressed their genuine concern towards my younger brother in regards to the below video. The point of this post is/was to continue to raise awareness regarding inappropriate behavior, and racism in our city, country, and world. Please note that we are not a confrontational family, and we are not looking for vengeance towards this woman, nor are we looking to fight racism, with racism."
Meanwhile, the teen's mother, Tykeshia Henry-Burch, said that even though she was "shocked" and "mad," they will continue to pray for the racist woman and "hope that she gets the help that she needs because she does need help."
Penn State Slams Racist Fan Who Sent Star Player 'Disgusting' Dreadlocks Letter
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Not Today, Satan: Black Twitter Slams Dallas Police For Trying To Lynch Joshua Brown In Death
Barry Henry	, N-Word	, Racism	, Racist	, viral content	, Viral News	, viral video


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Ukraine files lawsuit against Russia over the Kerch Strait incident
Earlier Friday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister signed the memorandum, and before that, by order of President Vladimir Zelensky, Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Yenin and Ambassador to the Netherlands were tasked with representing Ukraine in the UN intэl court and international courts of arbitration in cases against Russia
© Alla Dmitriyeva/TASS
KIEV, May 22. /TASS/. Ukraine has filed a memorandum into an international court of arbitration, seeking to receive compensation from Russia over the Kerch Strait incident, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry announced in its Twitter Friday.
"Today, Ukraine has filed its memorandum on Ukraine vs. Russia case concerning apprehension of military ships and their crews in November 2018," the message says.
Earlier Friday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister signed the memorandum, and before that, by order of President Vladimir Zelensky, Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Yenin and Ukrainian Ambassador to the Netherlands were tasked with representing Ukraine in the UN international court and international courts of arbitration in cases against Russia.
Multi-million lawsuit
In his May 18 interview for Radio Liberty, Yenin announced that Kiev will file a lawsuit against Russia to an international court of arbitration over the Kerch Strait incident. Later, he explained that the bulk of the lawsuit is "justification of material and moral damage to the Ukrainian sailors, who were illegally held captive in Russia for nine months."
Besides, the lawsuit speaks about "compensation to the Ukrainian Navy for damages inflicted to the Ukrainian ships during their capture, and for losses due to Russia's barbaric treatment of the mentioned property," as well as "compensation for losses, sustained because the Ukrainian Navy was unable to use the three ships for a while."
The Deputy Foreign Minister noted that the compensation amounts to several millions of dollars, but did not name a specific sum.
According to Yenin, after the filing of the memorandum, Russia will have until August 22 to convey its preliminary objections regarding the court jurisdiction. The ruling on jurisdiction could be made in fall 2021, the substantial hearings may begin in a year after that, and the ruling is to be expected by mid-2023, Deputy Foreign Minister says.
On November 25, 2018, three Ukrainian Navy's ships violated the procedure of entering Russian territorial waters for military ships during their march from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov. The ships were apprehended and their 24 sailors were arrested. The sailors returned home after an exchange of the detained citizens between Russia and Ukraine which took place on September 7, 2019.
KERCH STRAIT PROVOCATION
Situation in US to require aggressive rhetoric against Russia from Biden — expert
Washington's foreign policy priorities will also be completely subordinated to the tasks of domestic policy, the expert said


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Neuroanatomy, Locus Ceruleus
Navneet Khroud
Vamsi Reddy
Abdolreza Saadabadi
Neuroanatomy, Locus Ceruleus CME
The locus coeruleus (LC) is one component of the reticular activating system (RAS). The RAS is composed of the reticular formation, raphe nuclei, and locus coeruleus. It is involved in many important functions; normally, the RAS mediates consciousness, wakefulness, and attentiveness. The loss of muscle tone during REM sleep is influenced by the caudal third of the locus coeruleus, although the locus coeruleus appears to be mostly inactive during REM sleep in some studies. The locus coeruleus primarily functions through the transmission of norepinephrine via a g protein-coupled receptor pathway. Arousal, sleep-wake cycle, memory, emotions, and stress are all influenced by the locus coeruleus.[1][2][3]
The locus coeruleus is a nucleus in the lateral floor of the fourth ventricle and upper dorsolateral pons. Norepinephrine, also called noradrenaline, is a neurotransmitter predominantly released from the locus coeruleus. Norepinephrine helps promote the formation of memories and strengthens memories, especially those created in stressful situations. Noradrenaline released from the locus coeruleus can act on adrenergic receptors (alpha and beta receptors) present on neurons and glial cells (oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, ependymal cells, Schwann cells, microglia, and satellite cells) via adenylyl cyclase and phospholipase C pathways. Adenylyl cyclase converts ATP to cAMP; cAMP then phosphorylates protein kinase A (PKA), which in turn has many functions within the central nervous system. Phospholipase C (PLC) is an enzyme that cleaves phospholipids resulting in the formation of diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) that contribute to signal transduction pathways. Noradrenaline can also activate glycogen metabolism and calcium signaling in astrocytes as well as regulate blood flow and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability.[4]
Studies on the embryologic development of the locus coeruleus within humans are limited. As the neural tube forms during embryonic development, it divides into segments called rhombomeres in the region of the hindbrain. In studies performed on mice, researchers discovered that the locus coeruleus to originate from the dorsal alar rhombomere 1 (R1). The dorsal subcoeruleus (SubC) also predominantly arises from dorsal alar R1 (Oliveira et al., 2017). Brain development requires regulation via homeobox genes. A homeobox contains a DNA sequence that regulates embryological development and is involved in the segmental organization of the embryo. Engrailed (En) 1 is a homeobox gene that, when expressed, allows the migration of locus coeruleus and SubC to move from ventrocaudal to the basolateral position, placing the structures close to the fourth ventricle.
Blood Supply and Lymphatics
Some studies suggest that activation of the locus coeruleus may lead to increased cerebral blood flow to certain areas of the brain. Norepinephrine (NE) released from the locus coeruleus helps maintain the blood-brain barrier; it leads to vasoconstriction of vessels and may have a role in redistributing blood flow to more active areas of the brain. The brain receives blood supply from arteries that branch from the circle of Willis. The circle of Willis is comprised of anastomoses of arteries located at the base of the brain. The internal carotid artery and basilar artery are two vessels that are part of the circle of Willis. Branches of the internal carotid artery (anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral arteries) supply most of the brain except for the cerebellum, brainstem, and medial occipital lobe, which are supplied by the basilar artery. There has been a long-held belief that the brain does not have lymphatic vasculature. Recently research has determined that the central nervous system undergoes immune regulation that may take place within the meninges. The discovery of lymphatic vessels or structures within the brain is limited; therefore, further research is necessary.
The neurons of the locus coeruleus are mostly branched and not myelinated. Some of the areas that provide input to the LC are the medial prefrontal cortex, hypothalamus, paragigantocellularis, and nucleus prepositus. The locus coeruleus provides output to the hippocampus, spinal cord, hypothalamus, and amygdala. The noradrenergic neurons that innervate areas of the brain that help maintain functions such as memory, attention, and the sleep-wake cycle.[5][6][7]
Rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep) occurs in about 90-minute intervals and is predominantly a parasympathetic state. REM sleep is also known as paradoxical sleep because beta waves appear on an electroencephalogram (EEG). Beta waves are also seen on EEG when an individual is awake. Normally during REM, there is a loss of muscle tone (atonia or tonic muscular inhibition). There is a theory that tonic muscular inhibition is under the control of the caudal part of the locus coeruleus. This decreased muscle tone may protect an individual from inadvertently harming themselves by preventing them from "acting out" their dreams. Lesions of the locus coeruleus and subcoeruleus have been theorized to be one possible cause of REM sleep behavior disorder. REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) occurs due to the loss of tonic muscular inhibition during REM, leading an individual to "act out" dreams. Depending on the area of the lesion, symptoms can range anywhere from simple limb twitches to complex behaviors such as screaming, laughing, punching, kicking, or running.
Physiologic Variants
Abnormalities of the locus coeruleus have implications as contributing to neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative processes. Individuals suffering from neuropsychiatric processes may be affected due to abnormal norepinephrine regulation leading to the formation of clinical depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic attacks, and anxiety. When norepinephrine becomes elevated, there is an increase in anxiety and mania. Depression may be apparent when norepinephrine decreases. The degeneration of neurons in the locus coeruleus has been postulated as contributing to Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease. In studies performed on mice, researchers induced the degeneration of locus coeruleus neurons, which resulted in increased deposits of amyloid-beta protein in the brain. Amyloid-beta protein is a component of amyloid plaques. Amyloid plaques are involved in the pathology of Alzheimer disease.
Surgical Considerations
Benefits and risks always merit consideration when contemplating neurosurgery. The locus coeruleus may be damaged in the process of neurosurgery. The tectum is a region of the brainstem (midbrain) that consists of the inferior and superior colliculi. The superior colliculus functions to process visual information and control eye movement. The inferior colliculus functions to process auditory information. Benign tumors may form in the tectal region of the brain. Neurosurgery for the removal of tumors found in the tectal region is challenging and may contribute to iatrogenic lesions of the locus coeruleus. Damage to the locus coeruleus may result in depression, REM sleep disorder, cognitive difficulties, and more.[8]
Locus coeruleus involvement is implicated in processes such as depression, anxiety, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, and even opiate withdrawal. Medications such as norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NRI), norepinephrine dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRI), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), and alpha-2 agonists act on neurons in the locus coeruleus. Understanding the locus coeruleus can help in finding the best treatment option for many neurological disorders. Bipolar depression is one of many psychiatric illnesses that are difficult to treat. One study observed that when fluoxetine (an SSRI) was administered independently, the LC decreased firing. Administering olanzapine (an atypical antipsychotic) with fluoxetine increased the firing of the locus coeruleus and the levels of norepinephrine release, which helped reduce the overall symptoms of bipolar depression. Increased LC activation has implications in the process of opiate withdrawal. Clonidine is an alpha-2 agonist that acts on receptors within the LC and decreases the activity of noradrenergic neurons. This decrease in activation of the LC can help ameliorate the symptoms of withdrawal. Other neural mechanisms may be involved in opioid withdrawal; however, more research is necessary. There have been many strides towards the advancement in medicine and understanding neural mechanisms. Medicine is a continually evolving field, and further research is required to gain an understanding of LC involvement in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Understanding the structure and function of the LC helps determine the best treatment of many neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases that afflict the general population.
The use of MRIs allows non-invasive imaging of the human brain; however, neuroanatomy is quite complex. Many studies to understand pathological processes and the effects of medication are performed using mice or other animals. The mouse brain is similar to that of a human. However, mice may show different physiologic responses in a study. Mice may not experience certain side effects of a medication that a human would and vice versa.
The Hind-Brain or Rhombencephalon, Rhomboid Fossa, Corpora Quadrigemina, Colliculus Facialis, Ala Cinerea Superior Peduncle, Nucleus Dentatus, Frenulum veli, Trochlear nerve, Funiculus separans, Area postrema, Obex, Clava, Taenia pontis
Neocortex, thalamus, brainstem, Pons presenting the locus cruleus.
Contributed by John A Beal, PhD Dep't. of Cellular Biology & Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport (Public Domain)
[1] Giorgi FS,Ryskalin L,Ruffoli R,Biagioni F,Limanaqi F,Ferrucci M,Busceti CL,Bonuccelli U,Fornai F, The Neuroanatomy of the Reticular Nucleus Locus Coeruleus in Alzheimer's Disease. Frontiers in neuroanatomy. 2017; [PubMed PMID: 28974926]
[2] Sobanski T,Wagner G, Functional neuroanatomy in panic disorder: Status quo of the research. World journal of psychiatry. 2017 Mar 22; [PubMed PMID: 28401046]
[3] Clément O,Valencia Garcia S,Libourel PA,Arthaud S,Fort P,Luppi PH, The inhibition of the dorsal paragigantocellular reticular nucleus induces waking and the activation of all adrenergic and noradrenergic neurons: a combined pharmacological and functional neuroanatomical study. PloS one. 2014; [PubMed PMID: 24811249]
[4] Ferrucci M,Giorgi FS,Bartalucci A,Busceti CL,Fornai F, The effects of locus coeruleus and norepinephrine in methamphetamine toxicity. Current neuropharmacology. 2013 Jan; [PubMed PMID: 23814540]
[5] Del Tredici K,Braak H, Dysfunction of the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine system and related circuitry in Parkinson's disease-related dementia. Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry. 2013 Jul; [PubMed PMID: 23064099]
[6] van Dijk KD,Berendse HW,Drukarch B,Fratantoni SA,Pham TV,Piersma SR,Huisman E,Brevé JJ,Groenewegen HJ,Jimenez CR,van de Berg WD, The proteome of the locus ceruleus in Parkinson's disease: relevance to pathogenesis. Brain pathology (Zurich, Switzerland). 2012 Jul; [PubMed PMID: 21988495]
[7] Samuels ER,Szabadi E, Functional neuroanatomy of the noradrenergic locus coeruleus: its roles in the regulation of arousal and autonomic function part II: physiological and pharmacological manipulations and pathological alterations of locus coeruleus activity in humans. Current neuropharmacology. 2008 Sep; [PubMed PMID: 19506724]
[8] Dandekar MP,Fenoy AJ,Carvalho AF,Soares JC,Quevedo J, Deep brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression: an integrative review of preclinical and clinical findings and translational implications. Molecular psychiatry. 2018 May; [PubMed PMID: 29483673]


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Hong Kong activists on trial for pioneering the 'Umbrella' protests
November 19, 2018 Admin0
Image copyright EPA
Image caption The nine were met by more than a hundred supporters outside the court
Nine pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have pleaded not guilty in a trial seen as a test of judicial independence from Beijing.
They have been charged with "public nuisance" over the 2014 "Umbrella" movement that demanded Hong Kong choose its own leader.
Three of those accused founded the civil disobedience movement before student groups joined in.
At its peak, thousands of protesters paralysed parts of the city for months.
The charges carry jail terms of up to seven years.
The trial has been described as "politically motivated prosecution" amounting to "an attack on free speech and peaceful assembly" by rights group Amnesty International.
The other six accused include lawmakers and students.
Image caption The 2014 umbrella protests paralysed central Hong Kong for almost three months
Accused of 'injury to the public'
Among the nine accused are sociology professor Chan Kin-man, 59, law professor Benny Tai, 54, and Baptist minister Chu Yiu-ming, 74, who founded the "Occupy Central" movement in 2013.
It was in reaction to a decision made by China that it would allow direct elections in 2017, but only from a list of candidates pre-approved by Beijing.
Many people in Hong Kong believe they should have the right to elect their own leader.
A year later, the three activists' call for non-violent civil disobedience joined with student-led protests and snowballed into the massive demonstrations.
Hong Kong's courts have already convicted three students of unlawful assembly over the protests.
The prosecution in this trial argued these demonstrations caused "common injury done to the public", by locking down parts of the city-centre
Image copyright AFP
Image caption Chu Yiu-ming, Benny Tai and Chan Kin-man (left to right) had called for civil disobedience
The protests became known as the Umbrella movement after people used umbrellas to shield themselves from tear gas fired by police to disperse the crowd.
China and Hong Kong have a "one country, two system" agreement, with freedom of speech and press freedom among the key liberties that set Hong Kong apart from the mainland.
'We will become stronger'
The accused were met on their way into court by supporters shouting slogans like "Peaceful resistance! I wanted real universal suffrage!" in support.
A verdict is expected in around 20 days.
Last week, Professor Chan had given an emotional farewell lecture at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, announcing his early retirement.
"So long as we are not crushed by imprisonment and trial and do not become overly frustrated and angry, then we will become stronger and we can inspire many more people," he told the audience.
At the heart of the protests is a growing concern in Hong Kong about what is perceived to be China's increasing influence in the city.
Beijing is highly sensitive about Hong Kong's status and any calls for more autonomy from China.
The former British colony was handed back in 1997 on condition it would retain "a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs" for 50 years.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-46257578
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Press Release: Live Cinema screening of "La Traviata" (Royal Opera) – March 10
The 2019 Live Cinema Series continues at Gesa Power House Theatre with a screening of the current Royal Opera House production of La Traviata on Sunday, March 10 at 2:00 p.m. This production is filmed live in London and rebroadcast internationally to select screens.
Richard Eyre's beautiful production provides the perfect setting for Giuseppe Verdi's opera about a courtesan who sacrifices all for love – from the thrill of unexpected romance to a heartbreaking reconciliation that comes too late.
Alfredo falls in love in with the courtesan Violetta in glamorous Paris society, but underneath the surface run darker undercurrents, leading to a tragic ending. The opera's wealth of melodies includes the famous Brindisi and the exuberant "Sempre libera" – both showing the lyricism of Italian opera at its most immediately appealing.
Richard Eyre's production of La Traviata for The Royal Opera brings out all the emotional color, from the giddy discovery of love, through painful confrontation to the inevitable conclusion. Lavish period sets and costumes enhance the reality of a moving story based on true life.
The cast of this production includes Ermonela Jaho as Violetta, Charles Castronovo as Alfredo Germont, and Plácido Domingo as Giorgio Germont.
Filmed during a live event, the Live Cinema Series broadcasts offer audiences an equivalent to the best seat in the house, with incredibly detailed close-ups of the performers. This screening runs approximately 3 hours 35 minutes including an onscreen introduction and two intermissions.
La Traviata is performed in Italian with English surtitles. Beer, wine, popcorn, and snacks will be available for purchase, and may be taken into the theater.
The 2019 Live Cinema Series is supported by Shakespeare Walla Walla, a local nonprofit organization that aims to make Shakespeare and other performing arts approachable, entertaining, and accessible to students in eastern Washington and Oregon.
Reserved seating tickets ($15 Adults, $10 Students) are available online or by calling the box office at 509-529-6500.


text:
#ifndef __TAGS_H__
#define __TAGS_H__

#include "fixed_types.h"

#include <string>
#include <map>

namespace config
{
   class Config;
}

// Tags
//
//   An object (String) can have a number of tags (String) associated with it. Additionally, each tag can be assigned
// a value (UInt64). The goal of this tagging system is to allow for informal communication between different components.
// Initial tags are set via init() from the configuration file.
//
//  [tags]
//  objname/tagname=1,0,1,0
//
struct Tag {
   String tag;
   UInt64 value;

   Tag(String tag, UInt64 value) : tag(tag), value(value) {}

   bool operator<(const Tag & rhs) const
   {
      if (tag == rhs.tag)
      {
         return value < rhs.value;
      }
      else
      {
         return tag < rhs.tag;
      }
   }

   bool operator==(const Tag & rhs) const
   {
      return ((this->tag == rhs.tag) && (this->value == rhs.value));
   }
};

class TagsManager
{
public:
   TagsManager(config::Config *config);

   void addTag(String objname, UInt64 id, String tag, UInt64 value = 1)
   {
      m_tags[objname][Tag(tag,id)] = value;
   }

   void updateTag(String objname, UInt64 id, String tag, UInt64 value = 1)
   {
      addTag(objname,id,tag,value);
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   bool hasTag(String objname, UInt64 id, String tag)
   {
      return (m_tags[objname].count(Tag(tag,id)) == 1);
   }

   UInt64 getTag(String objname, UInt64 id, String tag)
   {
      return m_tags[objname][Tag(tag,id)];
   }

   void deleteTag(String objname, UInt64 id, String tag)
   {
      m_tags[objname].erase(Tag(tag,id));
   }

private:
   // FIXME: An unordered_map should be faster than a map
   std::map<String, std::map<Tag,UInt64> > m_tags;
};

#endif /* __TAGS_H__ */

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Book Blast for Much Ado About a Widow by Jenna Jaxon (GIVEAWAY)
A woman trying to live the life she wants finds herself counting on her brother's friend in an exhilarating rollercoaster ride to freedom that shows the two of them to be a formidable pairing. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Much Ado About a Widow by Jenna Jaxon, and discover even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour, then add this historical romance to your bookshelf. In honor of this fourth installment in The Widows' Club series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $25 bookstore GC too!
Lady Georgina Kirkpatrick defied her family, jilted her fiancé, and married the man she loved. But when her husband died at Waterloo, she was delivered right back into her father's power...
Victory is sweet—but England's triumph was Georgie's rout. Now that she's widowed, the loathsome marriage her father first arranged has simply been renegotiated. With neither money nor rights, and nowhere to flee, all she can do is cherish her last weeks of freedom...Until a band of ruffians overtake her carriage and kidnap her. When she escapes in seaside Brighton and encounters her brother's rather wild friend, Lord St. Just—whom she suspects aspires to be a pirate—she's prepared to entertain more of his adventurous suggestions than usual....
St. Just knows his mind and his duty, and he loves a challenge. Helping a fair lady make her farewells to hoodlums suits his talents well. Within the hour he has Georgie, her lady's maid—and her little dog too—sailing for his castle in Cornwall. Meanwhile, the lady's entire family, her kidnappers, and her scheming intended are in pursuit. But as he and the indomitable Georgie grow closer, he begins to suspect that together they will prove a match for them all....
A key grated in the lock. Lulu growled and stalked toward it, the fur on her back rising straight up.
"Not yet, Lulu." Georgie gathered the leash. "Don't bite him quite yet."
Her dog stopped advancing on the door; however, the growling did not abate. Better be safe. She gathered Lulu into her arms. "I'll give you the signal."
The cabin door swung open, revealing Lord St. Just, an impossibly broad grin on his face. "Wait until I tell you what my men and I just did."
"You don't have to tell me, my lord. I already know." Georgie glared at him and held Lulu tighter. The little animal was shaking, and Georgie was sure if she loosened her grip Lulu would launch herself at the unwary marquess. Serve him right too.
"You do?" He frowned and cocked his head, which made him look like a puzzled puppy. Lulu looked just like that whenever she was unhappy. But what did he have to be unhappy about? He was the one who had kidnapped her.
"You have set sail, my lord, with me and my maid aboard against our wills. Many sensible people call that kidnapping."
She'd always known this man was a pirate. In fact, she'd told her brother so. She handed Lulu to Clara before the dog could leap out of her arms and tear at his lordship's throat. If anyone was going to attack the marquess, it would be Georgie herself. Plant him a facer and see how he liked being set upon.
"Oh." The impossible man was all smiles again. "Yes, we had to put out or miss the evening tide." His grin had returned, showing many straight, white teeth. "But we did manage to steal your trunks, Lady Georgina. If you will consider yourself abducted again, at least rejoice in the fact that you will have clean linen throughout the ordeal."
Jenna Jaxon is a multi-published author of historical and contemporary romance. She has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager. A romantic herself, she has always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise. She tries to incorporate all of these elements into her own stories. She lives in Virginia with her family and a small menagerie of pets. When not reading or writing, she indulges her passion for the theatre, working with local theatres as a director. She often feels she is directing her characters on their own private stage.
She has equated her writing to an addiction to chocolate because once she starts she just can't stop.
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Labels: book, giveaway, historical, promo post, Regency, widow
Book Cover Reveal for Firecracker by Kelly Jamieson
A woman who once had everything finds herself struggling and returning to the safety of home, after the death of her husband, in this tale of starting over....with the unexpected help of her brother's one-time teenaged best friend. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Firecracker by Kelly Jamieson, along with its drool-worthy cover, then add it to your bookshelf when it releases on January 28th!
Arden Lennox's charmed life may be in pieces, but she'd sooner get her hoohaw bleached than move back in with her parents. She's no longer the prom-queen princess married to the football star. She's a broke, penniless widow, and it's time she stood on her own two feet.
An under-construction unit in a quaint Chicago brownstone is cheap (free), but it comes with an unexpected surprise. Tyler Ramirez, her brother's gawky high school best friend, is now a smoking hot firefighter who spends most of his spare time in her unit hammering, drilling, and screwing. Usually with his shirt off—a temptation she has no intention of indulging.
Tyler can't believe his high school crush is living right across the hall, or how fast his fierce lust for her comes blazing back. She's still gorgeous—a little sadder, a little quieter, but still with the amazing smile and sweet body that fueled his awkward teenage fantasies.
Despite her best intentions, Arden can't resist grown up Tyler but the sparks between them send her into full retreat. And by the time she realizes the heat between them could last a lifetime, it could be too late to tell him…
PRE-ORDER LINKS: AMAZON | iBOOKS | BN | KOBO | UNIVERSAL
Labels: book, brothers best friend, contemporary, cover reveal, promo post, starting over, teenage crush, widow
Book Spotlight on The Way Back to You by Sharon Sala (GIVEAWAY)
Young loves are given a second chance in this small town romance dealing with family and emotions from the past. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of The Way Back to You by Sharon Sala, then add it to your bookshelf when it releases on December 31st. In honor of this ninth installment in the Blessings, Georgia series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win 1 of 3 copies of the previous book in this series too!
What do you do when your whole life is turned upside down?
Sully Raines sets out to find his birth mother, and ends up in Blessings, Georgia. A new surprise awaits him here, but of the best kind—his childhood sweetheart, whom he hasn't seen since she moved away when they were teens, is living in Blessings now. He's not sure she's as happy to see him as he is to see her, but it's been a lot of years, and a lot of water under the bridge.
Sully's heartfelt search for answers about his past might just turn out to be the key to his future...
Sully drove straight to the flower shop. A bell rang as he walked in, and an older woman in a colorful floral smock appeared from the back.
"Hello. I'm Myra. How can I help you?"
"I want to get a bouquet of flowers. Do you have some made up?"
"Yes. Here in the cooler behind this stand of stuffed toys. But if you don't see what you want, I can easily make something else while you wait."
"Okay, thanks," Sully said. "Let me check these out first."
"Seeing as how fall is upon us, we have several different sizes of fall bouquets, and with different kinds of flowers. And, of course, the roses," Myra said.
He pointed to a bouquet of red roses in a crystal vase with a ruby-colored base. "Those, in that vase with the ruby-colored base. How much are those?"
"Well, it's a dozen American Beauties, and the vase is crystal, which makes it a bit pricier than others. It's one hundred and ten dollars."
"I'll take it," Sully said.
Myra beamed. Her husband, Harold, had fussed at her nonstop because she'd used a vase that expensive, and now she could say "I told you so."
"Wonderful," she said, as she removed the bouquet from the cooler and carried it to the register. "Will this be cash or credit card?"
"Card," Sully said as he pulled it out of his wallet.
"If you want to sign a card to go with the flowers, you can pick from these," Myra said, pointing to the little rack on the counter.
"No card, I'm handing them to her in person."
Myra pulled up a new screen on the computer. "Your name, sir?"
"Sully Raines."
Myra gasped. "You're the man who saved Melissa Dean's life, aren't you?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"This is wonderful. I'm glad to meet you. Everybody loves Melissa."
Sully smiled. "I'm finding that out, but I'm not surprised. She was a sweetheart when we were kids, and she's only gotten better with age."
"You knew each other! Wow. Then you must have been really frantic when you were trying to get her out of the burning car."
"I'd only arrived in town about an hour before it happened. I didn't know anybody here, and I sure didn't know it was her until we were in the ER. The last time we'd seen each other, we were thirteen." "Oh my! What an amazing story. If these are for her, please give her our best."
"Yes, ma'am," Sully said, and then they finished the purchase.
He made the drive back to Melissa's house slowly and carefully, and he was happy to see her car in the driveway when he arrived. He got out carrying the vase, and then instead of using the key she'd given him, he rang the doorbell.
When Melissa opened the door, her eyes widened in delight.
"Delivery for the prettiest woman in Blessings," he said.
She laughed. "I think you must have the wrong house."
"Nope. I know exactly where I am, and these are for you. Where do you want me to put them?" he asked.
"I think here on this table in the foyer. That way I'll see them all the time, coming and going."
He set them on the table, then turned around and hugged her.
"Does this mean Elliot gave you good news?" Melissa asked.
"He gave me news," Sully said, and felt the knowing of meant to be when he kissed her.
Melissa's heart fluttered from the gentleness of the kiss, but she was dying for information.
"But what news? Did he know where she was?"
"That man talks around a subject more than anyone I've ever met. He told me my birth father's name, thinking I already knew."
"Oh my gosh! What is it?"
"Marc Adamos. I never found the name on any papers, but now I know."
"And your mom? What did he say?"
"He told me not to leave Blessings."
Melissa frowned. "But what does that mean, exactly? That she's here? Then where?" "He just kept repeating, 'Don't leave Blessings,' so I'm not leaving."
Melissa laughed and hugged him. "Don't expect me to be sad about that."
"He also said you were my soul mate and wished us a long and happy life together." She gasped. "Did he really say that?"
Sully nodded.
Melissa sighed. "Well, it took us long enough to find each other again. Maybe that is why it was so easy to fall back into this."
"Works for me," Sully said, then kissed her again until he heard her moan. "The feeling is mutual." Melissa felt like her whole body was humming—like someone had turned up the energy in the room. Sully saw her shiver. "Are you afraid. Don't be afraid. This is not anything to act on until we're ready."
"Afraid? Of you? No, Sully. I just don't know what to do with what I feel."
"Then don't do anything. When the time is right, there won't be any confusion. That I can promise."
He wrapped his arms around her. "It's all good, love. It's going to be all right."
"I feel like a forty-something idiot. This should not be so hard," she muttered.
He chuckled, and when he did, she started to push away, then felt his heartbeat. Without moving, she put her other hand on her own. Their heartbeats were in rhythm.
"What's wrong?" Sully said.
She reached for his hand and put it over his own heart, and then put his other hand on hers.
"Feel that?" she asked.
"Feel what... Oh, wow! We're in sync." Then he laughed. "I love this."
"I know," she said. "It's pretty amazing. I adore the roses, and I adore you, too, Sully Raines."
"Is this where I sweep you off your feet and take you to bed, or is this where we go eat pie?"
Melissa burst into laughter, and once the joy bubbled up, more kept coming, and she laughed until there were tears in her eyes.
Sully grinned and then put his arm around her and led her to the kitchen.
"I think it's pie."
"Just because you went to see a psychic doesn't mean you're turning into one." He stopped in the middle of the kitchen floor. "Are you saying it's not pie?" "Not pie. Cake!"
"You and your sass," Sully said, and kissed the laugh right off her face.
SHARON SALA has over one hundred books in print and has published in five different genres. She is an eight-time RITA finalist, five-time Career Achievement winner from RT Book Reviews, and five-time winner of the National Reader's Choice Award. She lives in Norman, Oklahoma.
Labels: book, contemporary, giveaway, promo post, second chance, small town, spotlight, young love
Book Tour for Love By Chance by Kacy Cross (GIVEAWAY)
A woman struggling to keep her business afloat finds unexpected attraction to a man of wealth courtesy of her mother's meddling. When the truth is revealed hurt feelings are the result in this Hallmark-fueled contemporary romance. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Love By Chance by Kacy Cross, then be sure to add it to your bookshelf, while you make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $25 Amazon GC too!
She thinks meeting him must've been fate. It wasn't.
Claire, a pastry chef struggling to make her restaurant succeed, is too busy to pursue romance. That doesn't stop her loving but meddling mother, Helen, from setting her up on dates. Even after Helen promises to stop her matchmaking efforts, she can't help herself. She convinces Eric, a pediatrician, to meet Claire at a gallery event.
Eric and Claire feel an immediate connection, and their meeting becomes a magical first date. But the longer Eric and Claire see each other, the less comfortable Eric feels about hiding the fact that Claire's mom set them up. Meanwhile, Claire loves to talk about how she trusts Eric, and how they met by chance. How will she react to the truth?
**This witty, sweet romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Claire's Coconut Lime Tarts.
The genteel gallery crowd wandered through the maze of stark-white walls viewing the artwork, their conversation muted and indiscern-ible. Claire didn't have to hear their comments about the paintings. The only thing she cared about was whether they liked her desserts, and judging by the low inventory on every tray, they did.
The gallery director, a high-strung woman by the name of Brenda Chang, jetted over, her straight dark hair swinging wildly. She surveyed the table as if try-ing to gauge whether there were enough to last—and there were, thank you, because the caterer knew how to do her job—then nodded at Claire.
"I wish the event was as big a hit as your desserts. I'll gain five pounds if I don't watch myself," Brenda said.
Claire smiled at the compliment. "Well, I'm glad you like them. I also have a restaurant downto—"
"Hold that thought."
Brenda darted after one of the patrons, an elderly lady encrusted with diamonds. Too bad Brenda hadn't motioned the woman in this direction. Claire's bakery could use a wealthy fan or two.
She glanced past Brenda, her gaze landing on the man behind her. A sudden jolt rocked her spine. The same jolt she'd gotten before, but this time she knew she recognized him.
Time slid to a stop, and the people, the artwork, the chatter, all of it, faded as he walked toward her, his gaze similarly fastened on her. There was practically music playing in her head. Okay, well, there really was music piping from the sound system, but somehow he made it a whole other kind of moment, one full of magic and fairytale glitter.
"Hi," he murmured, and his voice...
Oh, yes, his voice was amazing and deep and it thrilled through her, raising goosebumps in its wake.
How she got that out around the huge, sudden lump in her throat, she'd never know.
It's the guy. The one from Crate and Barrel.
And here he was in the flesh, talking to her and even better-looking in the low gallery light in a crisp suit that looked amazing on him. She might have to find a way to surreptitiously fan herself, because wow.
"So, how's your night going?" he asked.
"Good." Fabulous, she wasn't squeaking out her answers like a squirrel with stage fright.
He held out a hand. "I'm Eric."
"Claire."
She shook his hand, and everything inside her collided in a mess of destiny, squishy-girl feelings that only happened when you met someone worth squish- ing over, and a giddy sense of wonder. Providence had finally smiled down on her. This was a moment she'd remember for a long time.
To wrap everything up in a big, solid bow, he seemed to have come to the fundraiser alone and didn't seem to be in any hurry to go elsewhere.
"Are you an art aficionado?" he asked with a nod toward the wall behind that held a very ugly Robachaux painting from what appeared to be the artist's messy finger-paint period, inexplicably titled "Eggplant with No Fur."
"Do I lose points if I say the jury is still out?"
Eric's smile came slowly but it was worth it, like waiting for the sun to break out from behind the clouds. The intensity of it washed over her. She'd always been a rain girl—had to be, to live in this town—but all at once, she became a huge fan of Eric's warm rays.
"Actually, I've been glancing around and I gotta say..." He leaned in, wafting her with a heavy dose of masculinity she couldn't help but react to, and murmured, "You're wise to withhold judgement until you've seen all of it. Want to walk around with me and let's decide together?"
She couldn't help it. She shivered. The good kind, the kind full of anticipation, like when you knew the wrapped box in front of you held the present you'd longed for, but you hadn't opened it yet because want- ing it was too much fun.
Unfortunately, she wasn't a guest. "I can't. I'm the caterer, so I'm kind of stuck here. I can circulate with trays, but my time is limited."
Which was exactly the way she wanted it. The tiny ping of disappointment had no place in the middle of a gig that had bought her and Marco a new oven.
His intense gaze never wavered from hers. "I'll wait."
Really? Like, how long? Until the event was done? "That might be a while. At least until all of the des- serts are gone."
"Well. That sounds like a challenge."
BUY LINKS: AMAZON | BN | TARGET
"I write romance novels starring swoon-worthy heroes that you can share with your daughter, the ladies at church, and your grandmother. I live in Texas, where I'm raising two mini-ninjas alongside the love of my life who cooks while I write, which is my definition of a true hero. Come for the romance, stay for the happily ever after. My books will make you laugh, cry and swoon–cross my heart."
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Labels: book, contemporary, family intervention, giveaway, matchmaker, opposites attract, promo post, small town
Book Spotlight on A Cowboy Never Quits by Cindi Madsen (GIVEAWAY)
Sparks fly when a single mom and a modern-day cowboy work to keep a therapeutic ranch open despite the odds and while their instant attraction seems to be getting in the way. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of A Cowboy Never Quits by Cindi Madsen, then add this to your bookshelf when it releases of December 31st. In honor of this first installment in the Turn Around Ranch series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win 1 of 3 copies of this book too!
These hardworking cowboys give everyone a second chance...
When single mom Jessica Cook is at the end of her rope, she takes her 16-year- old daughter to Turn Around Ranch. The ranch has a great reputation for teen therapy, and Jessica prays there's room there for her and Chloe.
Wade Dawson's first priority is to keep the ranch afloat to help teens and their families. But he can't seem to keep his boundaries when it comes to Jessica—she's talked her way into a job on the ranch so she can stay near her
daughter and her tenacity and courage are truly impressive. Not to mention she's a natural beauty and sparks fly whenever he's in her vicinity.
But as one crisis after another befalls the ranch, Wade is going to have to decide whether he can afford to let a woman get under his skin...
A hint of sympathy flickered through Gruff-and-Grumpy's eyes, but then the firmness crept back in. He reached up and readjusted his cowboy hat, which set off some kind of wave that made the other two brothers do the same.
Seriously, why do they have to look like they belong on the cover of Ride a Cowboy Weekly?
Wait. That sounded dirtier than she meant it. Not that she'd exactly take it back.
They practically dripped masculinity, their bodies speaking to hours of manual labor, and the effect kept hijacking her jumbled thoughts. It'd been so long since she'd more than half-heartedly checked out a guy that apparently now she couldn't even handle being in the presence of handsome men.
Back when she was in her early twenties—before guys discovered she came with baggage and a five-year-old—she used to be fairly decent at flirting her way into getting a guy to help her out with things like clearing that late fee or giving her a few more weeks on the rent. Once she'd even talked her disgruntled landlord into mowing the overgrown lawn he was harping on and on about. Clearly, she'd lost it, because the expressions aimed her way were immovable ones that conveyed disbelief in exceptions or wiggle room. Or the charity she'd shed her pride to ask for.
A spinster failure-of-a-mom at thirty-one. Well, it took fifteen years, but Mom was right. Just when she'd been so cocky about how much she'd accomplished. Now she wanted to Frisbee the employee-of-the month plaque she'd received from her boss last week, for all the good it did her.
"We're sorry you drove all the way here only to have to turn back," Mrs. Dawson said, tucking behind her ear the sandy-brown and gray strands of hair that'd fallen from her bun. The woman had a frail sense about her, her skinniness and the dark circles under her eyes speaking to a recent—or possibly even current—health issue. "I can give you some referrals, and I'll see if my contacts know of a good counselor in your area."
In a daze, Jess blinked at the woman, defeat weighing against her chest and tugging down her shoulders. She truly had failed. And curse her DNA for passing on traits she wished it would've held back. In a lot of ways, her daughter was too much like her: stubborn to a fault, blind when it came to guys, spurred on by the words no and can't, and turning the word guideline into loose suggestion.
If they simply returned home, it'd be harder and harder to keep Chloe from bad influences. This past year she'd struggled to fit in at school, and her solution had been to find the worst possible group of "friends." Friends who ditched and smoked pot and encouraged Chloe to sneak out at night so she could go meet a guy like Tyler. He was two years older and a whole mess of bad influences on his own. Rebellious, disrespectful, and mysterious—the same things Jessica had been attracted to at Chloe's age.
Not that her daughter was blameless. Chloe had made plenty of bad choices. She'd dived fully into the party lifestyle, snuck out yet again, and gone on the joyride in the stolen car while under the influence. It was a slippery slope, which was why Jess wanted her at the best place in the state.
Even the others were out of her price range. A counselor might be as well. Maybe they'd just move to a different state entirely. Leave it all behind and eat...ramen. Get a nice box hut under a bridge. Really live out the scenarios people had thrown at her when she'd refused to give her baby up for adoption.
Feeling both levels of failure, Jess shakily stood. "Thank you for your time."
"I'll walk you out," Gruff-and-Grumpy said, and she wanted to shout that she didn't want chivalry. She wanted her daughter enrolled in their program and a way to pay for it.
"It's fine. I've got it. Unless you're scared I'll just drive away without my kid, and then you'll have to take her."
"Well, I am now." An almost-smile crossed his face.
She almost returned it, but her lungs constricted more and more as she walked toward the door.
There in the corner, she caught sight of a wall of flyers on a corkboard. Along with a schedule that outlined class time, equine therapy time, and a few other events she couldn't quite make out, she saw a neon-yellow paper with the words HELP WANTED across the top. Even better, it was for a job here at Turn Around Ranch.
"You guys are looking for a cook?" It was as if she'd stepped out of her body and someone else had taken control—someone crazy and reckless, personality traits she'd tried very hard to suppress through the years. When you had a kid who depended on you, impulsiveness went out the window, and recklessness wasn't an option. Still, even as she told her mouth to hold up before it landed her in trouble, the next words were pushing from her lips. "You're in luck. I just so happen to be one."
Those dark eyebrows lowered again, only visible under the brim of his cowboy hat when he was giving the signature scowl he'd given her from the moment she'd stepped inside the office. "You're a cook?"
"Oh, we've been looking for a cook for forever and a day," Mrs. Dawson said, scooting to the edge of her chair.
Hope edged in desperation bobbed up inside Jess. She'd told her boss she needed some time off, and he'd been super understanding. He might not be as cool about her taking...a month? Two? Whatever. This was her daughter. Jobs came and went, but if she lost Chloe, she'd regret it forever. "Perhaps we could help each other out. If you let my daughter into your program, I'll stay and cook while she's here. The only other thing I need is a bed to sleep in. I'm not even picky as to where that bed is."
"Under the stars, then?" the looming cowboy next to her said.
"Okay, I'd prefer a roof over my head. Like a lean-to, at least."
That almost-smile quivered his lips, but he tamped it down. Why was he so determined to keep.up the steely front? Or maybe it wasn't a front. Right now, she didn't care, and since she clearly wasn't going to get anywhere with him, she turned to Mrs. Dawson. "I can have a list of references to you within a matter of hours. My bosses all love me." At least that was true. At one point she hadn't known how to balance books or create databases, but she'd learned. Cooking had never been high on her priority list, but she could learn to do that as well. There were Google and the Food Network, and she could make a box of mac and cheese like nobody's business. How hard could it be?
PRE-ORDER LINKS: AMAZON | BN | iBOOKS | KOBO | INDIEBOUND | BaM
Cindi Madsen is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance and young adult novels. She sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she'd be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they're sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.
**********GIVEAWAY*********
Labels: book, contemporary, giveaway, promo post, single mom, spotlight, western
Book Spotlight on Pathfinder by Anna Schmidt (GIVEAWAY)
A man longing for days past finds himself attracted to a woman looking towards the future in this sensual western romance. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Pathfinder by Anna Schmidt, then start counting down the days until this book releases on December 31st. In honor of this third installment in the Cowboys & Harvey Girls series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win 1 of 3 sets of the first two books in this series too!
Return to a time when the West was Wild...
Captain Max Winslow was once a pathfinder for the Army, blazing trails and keeping his brothers-in-arms safe. Now he's the star of a Wild West show, reminding curious audiences of days long gone. The world around him may be changing, but that doesn't mean he has to accept it—not when there are frontiers yet to be explored.
When Max first sets eyes on no-nonsense Harvey Girl Emma Elliot, he knows that anything between them would be impossible. She's a realist embracing what the future holds, while he's a dreamer, determined to preserve the West he once knew. And yet something about Emma's strength of will calls to him. It isn't long before Max must decide: is there room in his dream for love, or will his resolve to hang on to the past jeopardize their future?
Having practically counted the ticks of the large clock in the lobby, marking time until the supper shift ended, Emma changed out of her uniform, released her hair from the bonds of its chignon, and fastened it with a barrette at the nape of her neck. George had mentioned a surprise, but she wasn't sure what she should do. Wait in her room? Wait outside the kitchen door where he had come before? Of course, the surprise might be tomorrow or next week for all she knew.
In the end, she settled on a compromise. She would sit in one of the rocking chairs on the hotel veranda. It was not at all unusual for her to do that before retiring for the night. No one would think it odd. Yes, that was the right choice. She carried along a basket of knitting. She could form stitches even in the dark if necessary, although there was always light coming from the lobby windows.
Knit one, purl one, repeat.
As she worked, she kept an eye out for Diablo. The stallion would be the clearest sign of Max's arrival. As the minutes clicked away, she counted out the pattern, nodding politely to guests returning to the hotel for the night while she waited. She was about to pack up her yarn and needles when from behind her, she heard the unmistakable sound of dishes rattling on a metal tray.
She turned and saw Max struggling to keep two glass ice cream dishes plus spoons and napkins at an even keel.
"This is harder than it looks," he grumbled.
Emma set her knitting aside and relieved him of the tray. "What on earth?"
"I promised you ice cream."
"That you did," she said, setting the tray on a small side table.
"I can't take full credit. I had help. George is responsible for the whipped cream and the cherries. He insisted. Truth is, he was so set on getting it all perfect, I figured you'd be long gone by the time I got here."
"How did you know where to find me?"
Max chuckled. "Folks tend to keep an eye on you, Emmie. One of the waitresses came through the kitchen while George was fussing with the sundaes, and I reckon she just assumed this was all for you. She reminded George vanilla is your favorite and then told me you were out here." He handed her a cloth napkin and spoon, waited for her to drape the napkin over her lap, and then presented the stemmed glass bowl brimming with the sundae.
"Thank you. It looks delicious."
"It's not for admiring, Emmie. Take a bite before the whole thing melts." As if to demonstrate, he filled his spoon with a heaping bite of his chocolate ice cream and savored it. "Mm-mm."
Emma took a much smaller bite and relished the cold sweetness that filled her mouth. "Oh, that's so good," she murmured and quickly took another bite.
"If you think that's good, try this," he said, offering her a bite of his.
The gesture seemed far too intimate to be proper, and yet it was hard to resist his enthusiasm. She opened her mouth, and he slid the spoon between her parted lips. The chocolate was rich, almost decadent. She closed her eyes. Slowly, Max withdrew the spoon. When she opened her eyes, he was watching her, the spoon still suspended between them.
"Do you really prefer vanilla?" he asked, his voice husky.
"I prefer variety," she replied and, to prove her point, took a bite of her ice cream.
"You could share."
This was getting out of hand. She was not immune to the game he was playing, but really, they were
seated in a public place where they might easily be observed by anyone. Instead of filling her spoon and feeding him, she handed him her dish. "Help yourself."
He set his dish on the tray and accepted hers, filling his spoon not once but twice before she objected.
"I didn't say take it all," she protested with a laugh. When she reached for her dish, he turned away, protecting it. "Very well," she announced. "Two can play this game." She picked up his dessert. Caught up in the silliness of their contest, she ate three small bites of his chocolate sundae in quick succession, then closed her eyes as the cold went straight to her head, giving her a sudden headache.
Max set the dish he was holding aside and took hers from her, then clasped her hand. "Are you okay?"
She nodded and smiled as she shook off the headache. "One forgets ice cream is to be savored, not gobbled like a last meal." She leaned back in her chair as did he. She noticed he did not let go of her hand. They set the rockers in motion.
After a moment, he said, "You gonna eat that last cherry?"
She laughed. "It's all yours." She watched him pop the fruit in his mouth. "How did the first show go?" "I think we were a hit, as they say in this business. Folks were definitely on their feet cheering." "Someone mentioned they could hear the roar of the crowd all the way in town."
Max chuckled. "I kind of doubt that, but it's nice to think about. You should have seen Reba in that blouse you fixed up for her."
"You didn't tell her I did the work, did you?"
"No, but why shouldn't I?"
"I just think Pearl should have the credit."
She heard him let out a long breath. He sounded exhausted, and it occurred to her that if she thought her day had been long and hard, his had begun well before dawn and included not just the parade and the show but also the emergency of Reba's costume. And that was just what she knew. Yet he'd made time to come to meet her.
She stood and set the dishes and her napkin on the tray. "Thank you, Max, for this lovely treat." "You're leaving me here alone?"
She couldn't help laughing. "Tomorrow is another day. I have four trainloads of people to serve, and you have two performances to deliver. I think we could both use some rest."
"Are we still going to meet your friends a week from Sunday?"
"Are you sure you have time?"
"Show's up and running, and we don't perform on Sundays, so the answer is I'm looking forward to it."
"Me too," she admitted.
"I'll rent a buggy if that suits."
"That would be fine." The playfulness they'd shared while eating their ice cream had disappeared.
Emma wondered if there would ever come a time when they could be completely at ease in each other's company.
Max took a step toward the back of the hotel.
"There's no need to see me to the door," Emma protested.
The lamplight from the lobby caught Max's smile. "Now what kind of gentleman allows a lady to walk home alone?"
"It's no more than a few steps," she reminded him.
"You'd be surprised what can happen in just a few steps," he replied.
They walked along the path that led around the side of the hotel and on to the kitchen entrance. Emma balanced the tray with their dishes while Max reached for the door.
"Well, here I am, safe and sound," she said, wishing there were more time. "Good night. Thank you for the ice cream."
"Emmie?"
She looked back at him with a questioning smile. Gently, he relieved her of the tray, setting it just inside the door, then took hold of her shoulders and turned her so their faces were only inches apart. He was wearing his hat, and his face was in shadow, and yet she knew what he wanted—what she wanted.
As if driven by outside forces, she placed her hand on the back of his neck and raised herself to her toes. "Yes," she whispered, although he had not asked, at least not in words.
She felt the warmth of his breath and then the fullness of his lips meeting hers. She felt as if she could stand in that place all night.
Award-winning author ANNA SCHMIDT delights in creating stories where her characters must wrestle with the challenges of their times. Critics have consistently praised Schmidt for the reality of her characters—exposing their flaws as well as their strengths as she delivers strong tales of hope and love in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. She resides in Wisconsin and Florida.
Labels: book, giveaway, historical, opposites attract, promo post, western
Book Release Blitz for Trouble After Dark by Marie Force
Two people who've lost their way find comfort in each other's arms in this small town summer romance perfect for the holidays. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Trouble After Dark by Marie Force, then add this 21st installment in the Gansett Island series to your bookshelf!
The last place in the world he wants to be is on Gansett Island...
Deacon Taylor stepped up for a friend and got himself thrown in jail, and when he's given a choice of felony charges or leaving town with his police chief brother Blaine, he chooses the latter, consigning himself to a summer under his annoying older brother's supervision.
Julia Lawry used the last of her resources to come to Gansett for her sister Katie's wedding and has no idea how she's going to get back to Texas to clean up the mess she left behind. Another relationship has ended in dramatic fashion, and she's put herself on a "dick diet," swearing off men who use and discard her.
When Deacon talks Julia into taking off with him during her sister's wedding, neither of them can know how that wild ride on his motorcycle will be the start of the most important journey either of them will ever take.
Another summer on Gansett Island is heating up, and love is in the air!
BUY LINKS: AMAZON | iBOOKS | BN | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY
BUY PRINT COPIES FROM MS. FORCE here.
Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, historical romance and erotic romance. Her series include the indie-published Gansett Island, Treading Water, Butler, Vermont and Quantum Series as well as the Fatal Series from Harlequin Books.
Her books have sold more than 9 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list 30 times. She is also a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller, a Speigel bestseller in Germany, a frequent speaker and publishing workshop presenter.
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | NEWSLETTER | GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE | READER GROUP
Labels: book, contemporary, promo post, small town
Book Tour for A Scot's Pledge by Sky Purington (GIVEAWAY)
Readers will find themselves drawn to this time travel romance of a couple who defy the rules to keep their family safe while going against the odds to find HEA. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of A Scot's Pledge by Sky Purington, then add it to your bookshelf. In honor of this first installment in The MacLomain Series: End of an Era make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $25 Amazon GC too!
Accustomed to watching over things for Clan MacLomain and their Viking ancestors, Julie had given up hope of traveling back in time for love like those before her. Until the day an old friend turned crush shows up on her doorstep in New Hampshire claiming he needs help in fourteenth century Scotland.
Having pledged to help his clan, Laird Tiernan MacLomain searches for his destined Broun in the twenty-first century. Yet he only wants the woman he's secretly loved for years. So he breaks the rules and brings Julie back to the medieval period with him. She might lack the bloodline needed to harness the power of the Claddagh, but he won't leave her behind.
Together, they embark on a whirlwind quest to protect King David II against Edward Balliol and his disenfranchised nobles, the 'disinherited.' They also face a dark threat nobody foresaw. Will Tiernan and Julie defeat it without the power of predestined love? Or will breaking the rules be their ultimate downfall and Scotland's ruin? Find out in A Scot's Pledge, an emotional and passionate journey into the turbulent onset of the Second War of Scottish Independence.
He had her figured out. But of course, he did. He was her best friend. "How did you get that out of everything I just said?"
"Actually, I've sensed it for quite some time now." He remained perfectly blunt. "When you opened the door tonight, I knew you felt just as strongly as me."
"You don't know that."
"But I do."
"Your heart for starters." His eyes twinkled. "'Twas about pounding out of your chest." "Maybe I'd been dancing..." yeah, right, so weak, "with my friends."
The corner of his mouth shot up. "To Christmas music?" "It can be upbeat."
"You hate dancing."
"I hate sucking at dancing."
"You dinnae suck at dancing."
"Oh, but I do."
"You just havenae had the right partner."
"We're talking about upbeat dancing," she reminded.
"Nay, we're talking about you trying to do what you think is the right thing," he replied.
"Pushing me away when all you really want to do is find out what it would be like...at last." He was way too on to her. Yet what precisely was he referring to? It sounded like theY might be off the topic of dancing and on to something else.
"Being cryptic like your father again, I see."
"You know what I'm talking about."
Definitely not dancing. Right?
"No clue." But she could imagine so very, very well.
"You want to know what it would feel like to dance with me." His tone dropped to a sexy octave that about curled her toes. "Then, mayhap more."
"Definitely not interested in dancing," she lied then grabbed at anything she could.
"Okay, I'm just gonna give it to you straight." She thought fast and came up with the perfect argument. "I think your magic going all wonky has you struggling for normalcy, something dependable, and that's always been me. So you're latching on to what makes you feel like you still have control over things."
"Latching on?" he murmured, his gaze all smoldering-bedroom-eyes now. "Good idea." His magic wasn't so wonky that he couldn't flick a wrist and turn the music up. Before she darted away, he reeled her close. "You're right. Latching on to you does make me feel better." His eyes met hers. "In control, as you say."
This was so not a good idea. Stay strong. Step away. Think of Scotland. All the lives depending on him. You're his voice of reason. Yet, just like it had when he embraced her earlier, all logic fled the moment she was in his arms. Her inner self-coach threw in the towel at the feel of his hard body. At the look in his gorgeous eyes.
She was in way over her head here.
Scratch that. She'd already drowned.
"You are not entirely right, though, Jules," he murmured, tilting her chin until her eyes didn't stray from his. As if they ever would. "This doesnae feel normal in the least."
Had she mentioned normal at some point? Because she agreed, this felt anything but. She felt electrified, on fire, like the room—no, the whole house—was fading away. All that existed was him. His hot as hell face, his eyes, lips, the tiny braids in his hair, the plaid wrapped over his broad shoulder...
"Oh, no," she exclaimed, realizing too late he'd pulled her right into his web. The room was really gone.
Sky Purington is the bestselling author of over fifty novels and novellas. A New Englander born and bred who recently moved to Virginia, Purington married her hero, has an amazing son who inspires her daily and two ultra-lovable husky shepherd mixes. Passionate for variety, Sky's vivid imagination spans several romance genres, including historical, time travel, paranormal, and fantasy. Expect steamy stories teeming with protective alpha heroes and strong-minded heroines.
Purington loves to hear from readers and can be contacted at Sky@SkyPurington.com. Interested in keeping up with Sky's latest news and releases? Either visit Sky's website, www.SkyPurington.com, join her quarterly newsletter (https://bit.ly/2Mw0yyO), or sign up for personalized text message alerts. Text 'skypurington' (no quotes, one word, all lowercase) to 74121 or visit Sky's sign-up page (https://mobile-text- alerts.com/subscribe/skypurington). Texts will ONLY be sent when there is a new book release. Readers can easily opt out at any time.
WEBSITE | GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE | BOOKBUB | BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | NEWSLETTER | NEW RELEASE TEXT ALERTS
Labels: book, contemporary, friends to lovers, giveaway, highlanders, historical, medieval, promo post, suspense, time travel
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text:
Sliced White Winter Truffle
Mpc: M74 | GTIN:
The White Winter Truffle, also called "Alba Truffle," is known as the "King of the Truffles." Renowned for a powerfully pungent earthy aroma and flavor that some describe as garlicky and slightly floral, it is the most valuable mushroom species in the world.
Our Sliced White Winter Truffles are preserved in our proprietary white truffle oil
Variously sized slices
Made from what are often considered the best white truffles in the world
Try stuffing a few slices of truffle under the skin of a chicken and allowing it sit for a few hours before roasting-the flavor will permeate the bird
Chop and fold into room-temperature butter to make a delicious topping for steak, pasta or a baked potato
Infuse into creamy sauces for pasta, poultry or fish
Scatter on top of creamy scrambled eggs
Chop and add to aioli for a rich, flavorful condiment for vegetables, fish, French fries and hamburgers
Place a few slices in a small amount of honey and allow to infuse, then drizzle the truffle honey over cheese on a cheese plate
Virgin Olive Oil, Tuber Magnatum Pico and Truffle Aroma.
The White Winter Truffle (Tuber magnatum pico), also called "Alba Truffle," is known as the "King of the Truffles." It comes from the Langhe and Montferrat areas of the Piedmont region in Northern Italy, and often found in the hills surrounding the cities of Alba and Asti. Renowned for a powerfully pungent earthy aroma and flavor that some describe as garlicky and slightly floral, White Winter Truffles are typically harvested from late October to mid-December. It is the most valuable mushroom species in the world, commanding astronomical prices in the marketplace due to its short growing season, regionality and scarcity.
White Winter Truffles grow underground in a symbiotic relationship with the roots of oak, hazelnut, poplar and beech trees. They were traditionally (and in some areas, still are) hunted using female pigs, who would mistake the truffles' aroma for the mating hormone of male pigs. Unfortunately, since pigs are rather indiscriminate eaters, this led to the pigs consuming nearly as many truffles as were successfully harvested. Now, truffle hunters typically use trained dogs.
White Winter Truffles are irregularly shaped and warty-molded by the stones that surround them in the soil-with a smooth, light brown or cream-colored exterior that resembles a baking potato. Inside, the flesh is creamy to light brown with white marbling. They range in size from that of a walnut to that of a fist, but most are on the smaller side.
The powerful aroma and flavor of a White Winter Truffle is famously difficult to describe, but it is extremely powerful and bears notes of garlic, wild mushroom, autumn leaves and hazelnut. It is extremely umami, and lends an assertive flavor that quickly takes center stage in any dish. Hence, it is best to serve truffles with relatively neutral ingredients such as eggs, cheese, cream, potatoes, pasta and rice, which will allow the truffles to shine. Fats can capture and enhance the aroma of truffles, so they are favored partners. Our Sliced White Winter Truffles can be infused into sauces or chopped and added to dishes to add depth. They should not be overcooked, however, as this compromises their flavor.
Truffle-Salmon Quiche
Green Salad with Truffle-Walnut Vinaigrette


Notes: Similar to Mammoth Plate photograph "Panorama from Cross Hill (No. 3), New Almaden" but from a somewhat lower vantage point.
1547 Shasta Peak from near the Summit, Siskiyou Co., Cal.
1549 Shasta Peak from near the Summit, Siskiyou Co., Cal.
1553 Glacier on Mt. Shasta, Siskiyou Co., Cal.
1554 Glacier on Mt. Shasta, Siskiyou Co., Cal.
1557 View in Shasta Valley Siskiyou Co., Cal.
1573 The Devil's Cañon, Geysers, View looking down the Cañon, Napa Co., Cal.
1576 Group at Witches Cauldron, Geysers, Sonoma Co., Cal.
Notes: The title states the location is Sonoma County, however another copy lists the location as Napa County. Thanks to Robert Smith for pointing out the discrepancy.
1578 The Devil's Tea-Kettle, Geysers, Sonoma Co., Cal.
1582 Steambath, Geysers, Sonoma Co., Cal.
1585 The Devil's Cañon, Geysers, view looking up, Sonoma County, Cal.
1587 The Devil's Tea-Kettle from the road, Geysers, Napa Co., Cal.
Notes: On Watkins mount. Same as JG Brayton 'Devil's Tea Kettle From Geyser Road.' but with slight difference in geyser steam.
1588 Calistoga. View near the Calistoga Hotel, Sonoma Co., Cal.
Notes: Calistoga is located in Napa County. The title incorrectly states Sonoma County.


Together with Democrats.com, we're trying to address an interesting – but extremely sensitive – issue. How can the important organizations with large lists of progressives work together to influence the outcome of local races of importance? Specifically, the kinds of races that often fall in the cracks: local, primaries, recalls, non-Federal, but in a context where the outcome can have national significance.
Examples abound: The New York City mayoral primary and the Colorado recall races against John Morse and Angela Giron come to mind for this September. Because of the importance of these local races, it is likely that groups we know and love with large national lists will weigh in – perhaps fundraising, perhaps volunteer opportunities, but for sure with endorsements and calls to help get out the vote.
And yet, more could be done.
Imagine a scenario where different progressive groups combine their names into a single CRM. Some black box mechanism that assures everyone that no one is stealing their names, no one is going to spam folks uncontrollably, but that coordinates the messaging. Imagine further that the names and emails on this shared list are matched with the voter file, so that even smaller chunks can be messaged for campaigners working in smaller geographic units, or that emails can be written 'from' someone who is close by. Imagine that this shared list is run through a social media matching service (like Attentive.ly) to figure out who the best prospects are for high touch engagement.
I bet such an effort increases turnout for everyone in that shared list. In a low turnout race, that can make a big difference. More importantly, I think that the combined effort would boost overall turnout AND get national press, particularly if this kind of cooperation was trumpeted as a news story. It's widely known in our circles that simply emailing people might not improve GOTV, but working a list in this fashion, early and carefully with an experienced local staff person taking charge, does not constitute a program of simply emailing to boost GOTV.
Privacy issues and 'can't pass on emails to other organizations.' There are solutions to this. First of all, a combined effort of multiple organizations working in close partnership doesn't constitute 'giving emails to another entity.' It's entirely possible to work with a CRM that keeps track of every email address' source, and for that CRM to be formally owned/managed by a consortium of partners.
Lack of staff time in the national orgs for such a small fraction of members. Well that's the whole point. We can't really expect the managers of national lists to be focused on a local race, which is why having a local person take charge of the process makes so much sense. Imagine what your list could do if it was worked in the most efficient manner for a specific race for a limited amount of time?
List members might complain. But isn't that always true? This exercise isn't about building a list or raising money for the large org, it's about winning an election. And we can't trust candidates and their campaigns to do it on their own, particularly in small races that might not have access to the staffing and talents of a statewide or national race. More importantly – our progressive list members want to be effective, want to be informed of how they can make a real difference. That doesn't always happen in local races.
If you think this is worth doing – please say so and let's be in touch. If you can identify obstacles or hurdles, even ones you think are insurmountable – please post or email them. Sometimes, what looks like a problem from far away is an opportunity when a talented group examine it close up.


text:
Christ Church, North Adelaide is an Anglican church on Acre 745 which lays between Jeffcott Street and 36-40 Palmer Place, , South Australia, Australia. The foundation stone was laid on 1 June 1848 by Augustus Short, the first Bishop of Adelaide; and the church was consecrated in 1849. Christ Church was the pro-cathedral until 1877 when St Peter's Cathedral opened.

In 1850 a parsonage was built on the southern half of Acre 745. It became the deanery for Dean Marryat in 1887, then a rectory from 1906.

In 1868 a site on Jeffcott Street opposite the church was purchased for a schoolroom. The foundation stone was laid on 26 September.

The building
The church building is in the Romanesque Revival architectural style and was built under the direction of architects Henry Stuckey and William Weir. It is built of local limestone mined from Palmer Place, with slate roof tiles from Willunga. In 1855 the nave was extended on the western side by some .

The church, rectory and hall are all heritage listed with the former two appearing on the South Australian Heritage Register and the latter appearing on a 'local' list maintained by the City of Adelaide.

Organ
The church's first instrument was a harmonium, replaced in 1854 by the pipe organ from J. B. Graham's mansion Prospect House ("Graham's Castle"), and opened by George Bennett, one of his last performances. The new acquisition was heavily criticised, then refurbished and greatly enlarged the following year. It still had faults: it was so badly affected by weather that in winter it took six kerosene lamps burning for an hour before it would play.
A new organ was purchased from Augustus Gurm of London and the old one bought by organist James Shakespeare.
It was later installed in the Norwood Baptist Church where it served until replaced by J. E. Dodd in 1884.

Liturgy
Worship in the church follows the Book of Common Prayer.

People
Priests:
John Woodcock (1849–1868)
Charles Marryat (1868–1906)
George Jose (1907–1933)
Charles Murray (1933–1938)
Arthur Leslie Bulbeck (1938–1957)
George Benjamin McWilliams (1957–1965)
Richard Mellon Southey (1966–1973)
Alexander Russell Cameron (1973–1990)
John Paul Collas (1991–2002)
Simon Bailey (2003–2007)
Lyndon Brad Sulzberger (2007–2012)
Keith Patrick Brice (2013-2020)
Stephen James Bloor (2021-)

Others
James Pollitt
Henry Sparks
W. A. Hughes
Canon Wise (curate 1895–1897)

See also

 List of Anglican churches in South Australia
 Australian non-residential architectural styles

References

External links

Churches in Adelaide
Romanesque Revival church buildings in Australia
Anglican churches in South Australia
19th-century Anglican church buildings
South Australian Heritage Register
North Adelaide
1849 establishments in Australia
Churches completed in 1849
Limestone churches

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Samya Rose Stumo was one of 157 people who died in the plane crash on March 10.
The parents of a Massachusetts woman who died in the Ethiopian Airlines crash earlier this month are planning a reception to honor their daughter.
Nadia Milleron and Mike Stumo say "everyone who cared about our daughter'' is invited to the gathering scheduled for Saturday afternoon at the family's Sheffield farm.
Their daughter, 24-year-old Samya Rose Stumo, was one of 157 people who died in the crash on March 10.


I've never had the 2 working together- not sure if they pair up well or not.
I thought a rip would buzz but not stop all sound?
Took the magnet off the cone and it seems like the coils are ok?
Just wondering A) if there is a good place to get a replacement cone for this black widow, (if it work work well with this amp head) and B) if there is an inexpensive alternative I could source to replace it?
Can anyone give me tips on how to determine if the choice coil is working? Maybe something I can check with a multi meter re the wires?
And if there is a rip in the speaker cone, is it likely that it would make zero sound? I was assuming it would still make some sound but would sound crappy?
A rip in the cone shouldn't stop all sound, unless the cone is completely detached from the coil. It will likely sound bad, especially at higher volumes.
You should be able to measure the coil with an ohm meter, though it won't necessarily measure out at the ohm rating of the speaker. It should show something in the low ohms range if the coil is intact but a very high or infinite value if the coil is broken.
I'm guessing the 1502-DT was a replacement to the original speaker.Never heard of Ashdown using Peavey speakers.
If that's what or if you need to replace then Peavey gear is through the Rock Shop.... or at least used to be.
There is a number of outlets that supply speakers. If you can tell me what type of Ashdown cabinet you have I may be able to figure out what they used.


text:
Q: No index only scan with date conversion in index I create the following table and indexes:
CREATE TABLE test
(
 id bigint,
 d timestamp without time zone
);

CREATE INDEX f_date4
  ON public.test
  USING btree
  (date(d), id);

CREATE INDEX f_date5
  ON public.test
  USING btree
  (id, date(d));

I fill the table with data and use the following query:
SELECT id, date(d)
FROM test
WHERE date(d) > '2019-09-20'::date;

EXPLAIN shows that f_date4 index is being used on condition d > '2019-09-20'::date, but i can't get INDEX ONLY SCAN. What are the possible reasons, why this happens and how to avoid this?
Execution plan:
Index Scan using f_date4 on test  (cost=0.06..0.07 rows=1 width=12) (actual time=0.005..0.005 rows=0 loops=1)
Index Cond: (date(d) > '2019-01-20'::date)
Buffers: shared hit=2
Planning time: 0.131 ms
Execution time: 0.025 ms

I use postgresql 10.6
Thanks in advance!

A: An index on the complete timestamp can serve the same purposes as one the truncated timestamp.

CREATE TABLE test
(
 id bigserial PRIMARY KEY,
 d timestamp without time zone NOT NULL
);

INSERT INTO test(d)
select gs FROM generate_series('2019-01-01'::timestamp,'2020-01-01'::timestamp,'4 hour':: interval) gs
        ;

CREATE INDEX f_date4
  ON test
  USING btree (d, id);

CREATE INDEX f_date5
  ON test
  USING btree (id, d);

VACUUM ANALYZE test;

EXPLAIN ANALYZE
SELECT id, d::date
FROM test
WHERE d >= '2019-09-21' -- NOTE: slightly changed condition
        ;

CREATE TABLE
INSERT 0 2191
CREATE INDEX
CREATE INDEX
VACUUM

Resulting query plan:

                                                       QUERY PLAN
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Index Only Scan using f_date4 on test  (cost=0.28..17.32 rows=612 width=12) (actual time=0.025..0.160 rows=613 loops=1)
   Index Cond: (d >= '2019-09-21 00:00:00'::timestamp without time zone)
   Heap Fetches: 0
 Planning Time: 0.285 ms
 Execution Time: 0.218 ms
(5 rows)

A: As the docs say:

However, PostgreSQL's planner is currently not very smart about such cases.

The summary is that one part of the planner thinks it needs "d" to compute date(d) even though another part realizes it already has date(d).  Getting those two parts to communicate is not easy.
You can build the index (date(d), id,d) to get around this.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Виртуозност () је научнофантастични филм из 1995. који је режирао Брет Леонард. У главним улогама су: Дензел Вошингтон и Расел Кроу.

Радња

Програмер Дарел Линдермајер креира програм СИД 6.7 (; СИД - садистички, интелигентан, опасан), који комбинује особине понашања 183 криминалца, серијских убица, диктатора и лудака. Програм је дизајниран да обучи полицајце који морају да га користе да науче како да ухвате криминалце у виртуелној стварности. Током тестирања на затвореницима, један од њих умире, а други је повређен. Елизабет Дин (Кели Линч), која надгледа пројекат, захтева да се он затвори. Линдермајер обавештава своју креацију о томе, а Сид предлаже излаз: преварити Клајда Рајлија, Линдермајеровог колегу, да пренесе Сидову личност на андроид. Рајли постаје Сидова прва жртва, која успева да побегне у стварни свет.

Бивши полицајац Паркер Барнс добија прилику да га ухвати. Једном је једна од Сидових личности, терориста Метју Грајмс, убила Барнсову жену и ћерку, а сам Барнс је отишао у затвор након што је његова неуспела операција спасавања довела до људских жртава.

Улоге

|-
| Дензел Вошингтон || поручник Паркер Барнс
|-
| Кели Линч || др Медисон Картер
|-
| Расел Кроу || SID 6.7
|-
| Стивен Спинела || др. Дарел Линденмајер
|-
| Вилијам Форсајт || Вилијам Кокран
|-
| Луиза Флечер || Полицијски комесар Елизабет Дин
|-
| Вилијам Фикнер || Вилијам Волас
|-
| Костас Мандилор || Џон Донован
|-
| Кевин Џејмс О'Конор || Клајд Рајли
|-
| Кејли Куоко || Карин
|-
| Кристофер Мари || Метју Грајмс
|-
| Џони Ким || лабораторијски техничар
|-
| Хајди Шанц || Шила 3.2
|-
| Трејси Лордс || певачица у Медија зони
|-
| Гордон Џенисон Нојс || Биг Ред
|}

Зарада
Филм је у САД зарадио 24.047.675 $.
 Зарада у иностранству - $
 Зарада у свету - $

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Филмови на енглеском језику
Филмови 1995.
Филмови студија Paramount Pictures