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Tag Archives: Saturday book review
Book Review Saturday – 'The Magic Thief'
I actually read 'The Magic Thief' a little while ago, but I'm currently enjoying its sequel so the story-world is on my mind and fresh in my memory. Here, have a look. Isn't it pretty?
Image: bellaonbooks.wordpress.com
One of the many things I loved about this book (because I'm a tactile creature) is the way it feels. It's a wonderful shape, slightly more square than an 'average' paperback – not that you can tell from the image above – and wonderfully thick. It's also stuffed full of illustrations, coded messages, letters and diary entries, which sit alongside the text and are as much as part of the story as the words themselves. It's a beautiful object.
The story introduces us to Connwaer (referred to as Conn), a pick-pocket who lives by his wits in the streets of the city of Wellmet. The city is divided in half – one side is referred to as the Twilight, where Conn lives, and is slightly more down-at-heel than the other side, the Sunrise – and a wide river runs through it, upon which are several small islets. A map is helpfully included at the beginning, which I always love. As far as I understood, the city being referred to as 'the Twilight' and 'the Sunrise' didn't have anything to do with their relative levels of darkness and light – they were just names. I did find that a bit confusing, as in I expected the Twilight to be constantly dark and the Sunrise to be constantly bright, but that's probably just me being silly and over-literal.
In any case, one evening Conn decides to pick the pocket of a deceptively frail-looking old man, and gets far more than he'd bargained for. This old man is Nevery Flinglas, a hugely powerful wizard who has returned (unofficially) from exile in order to figure out why Wellmet's reserves of magic have been dwindling, and how to fix it. Wellmet runs on magic, and everything – from its power to its economy – relies upon it. So, when Conn picks Nevery's pocket, he ends up stealing his locus magicalicus, or the stone he uses to focus his magic (also called a 'locus stone'.) It is akin to a wizard's soul, perhaps – the core of his power, the most sacred part of his being, and his most treasured possession. More importantly, touching Nevery's locus magicalicus should have killed Conn.
But it doesn't.
Intrigued, Nevery takes the boy in, and decides to train him as an apprentice in an attempt to get to the bottom of his mysterious survival. They return to Nevery's house, Heartsease, which remains in a state of disrepair since his forced departure twenty years before; it has a huge hole blown right through its centre after a botched magical experiment, and has never been repaired. Conn – for the first time in his life warm, and fed, and a focus of interest – decides to stay with Nevery and his manservant Benet, and gradually it becomes clear that he is far more than a 'mere' thief. Despite being illiterate and unschooled, he manages to understand, on a very deep level, the spells that Nevery teaches him, and he only needs to hear the words of a spell once before they are imprinted upon his memory. Clearly, Conn is more than he appears to be.
Nevery enrolls him in the Academicos, a school for wizards (and no – it's nothing like Harry Potter. I was surprised to see so many reviews on Goodreads slam this book for being a 'Harry Potter ripoff', simply because it features magic and magical students. Not every book which features magic is a ripoff of Potter. Magic, magical schools and students of magic existed in literature before Potter, and – with any luck – will continue to exist in our post-Potter world. The Academicos is its own thing, and it is not a second-rate version of Hogwarts. Rant over.) Conn isn't accepted there, to say the least, not only because of his origins but because he doesn't have his own locus magicalicus. You're not a real wizard without your own locus stone, it seems, and so he sets off on a quest to find it.
This, of course, won't be easy.
And, as well as that, there's the question of Wellmet's disappearing magic to worry about. Where is it going? What's happening to it? And – vitally – what will happen to Wellmet when all the magic vanishes?
An illustration typical of the book, showing Nevery's diary, Conn, Nevery and Benet on a backdrop of the map of Wellmet
Image: sarah-prineas.com
Artist: Antonio Javier Caparo
Conn is sure that the received wisdom regarding magic is wrong, and he develops his own ideas about how magic works, and a possible explanation as to what's happening to it. Of course, because he's not a hairy-bearded wizard with seventy years' experience, nobody listens to what he has to say. Despite his obvious talent, Nevery keeps telling him to knuckle down with his apprenticeship and leave the thinking to him, and with his fellow students (and their masters) trying to nobble him at every turn, Conn does the only thing he can: try to solve the mystery on his own.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved Conn, and I enjoyed his relationship with Nevery. I really liked the character of Benet, who – as well as being handy with his fists in a crisis, is also an accomplished knitter and baker – and I liked Rowan, Conn's only friend in the Academicos. I admired Prineas' world-building in this book and how things are lightly, but sufficiently, sketched. I thought the writing was good, if very slightly guilty of 'telling, not showing' at times, and I was intrigued by Wellmet, its governance and structure, and the nature of magic itself.
In short, highly recommended!
A locus magicalicus… don't touch it!
(Artist: Antonio Javier Caparo)
Image: fr.levoleurdemagie.wikia.com
This entry was posted in Book Reviews and tagged Academicos, Benet, book review, book review Saturday, Connwaer, good MG reads, Harry Potter, Hogwarts, magic, magic in children's books, magical academy, magical children's books, magical mystery, MG reads, Nevery Flinglas, Rowan, Sarah Prineas, Saturday book review, The Magic Thief, the Sunrise, the Twilight, Wellmet on March 8, 2014 by Sinéad O'Hart.
Book Review Saturday – 'Quantum Drop'
Just before we begin, a little note to update you all on my publications: yesterday, I learned one of my stories, 'Hello Kitty,' placed third in a competition judged by William Nicholson, who is – among other things – the screenwriter of the award-winning movie 'Gladiator'. You can check it out here! And now – back to our regular programming.
This week's book review will focus on Saci Lloyd's action-packed thriller, 'Quantum Drop.'
Image: hachettechildrens.co.uk
A short, fast-paced novel, 'Quantum Drop' introduces us to a young man who goes by the name Anthony Griffin. Early in the novel he tells us that this is not his real name – he's chosen it in order to tell his story, but he can't tell us who he really is. Anthony lives in the Debtbelt, a place which sounds a lot like a rundown suburb of a large city, perhaps London, with his mother and younger sister Stella. Stella is eleven, highly intelligent, an expert on crow behaviour and a person with Asperger's, and I loved her – she's one of the most interesting characters I've come across in a long time. Anthony's father is absent, but we learn a little about what happened to him as the book progresses, and we discover that Anthony finds it very difficult. His grandfather – who appears to be his paternal grandfather – is still a huge part of his life and gives him guidance, even if sometimes he chooses not to listen to it.
There is a group of people in Anthony's world known as the 'Bettas', who appear to be like a gang; they have initiations, they are involved in crime, they are significantly better off financially than the other people who scratch out a living in the Debtbelt, and they are – on the whole – bad news. Anthony's best friend is Ali, who has become wrapped up in the Bettas, for what he says are economic reasons. His loyalty appears to remain with Anthony, but the fact remains that Ali is a Betta – perhaps the word rhymes with 'Better' – and this causes conflict between the boys.
The existence of the Bettas, and the grinding reality of the Debtbelt, are not the only notable things about Anthony's world. There also exists something called the Drop, into which certain people can connect themselves through their handheld computers (I imagined them like smartphones, but with far more capability); skilled users can make their living through manipulating the Drop, and Anthony's friend Lola does just this. Another person who was an adept at using the Drop was Anthony's girlfriend Tais; at the book's outset, however, we learn that she has been grievously wounded, and that she is in a coma in hospital. Anthony's grief and rage at this terrible situation blight the rest of his life – he flunks out of his school exams, and seems to be heading down a difficult road. Then, he is approached by a mysterious figure known only as 'the Teller', who seems to know the truth about what happened to Tais…
The book moves quickly through the reality of Anthony's world: he finds out that there is a connection between the Bettas and Tais, and he enlists the help of his friends to get him into the Drop to get to the bottom of it. Anthony is not as skilled at using the Drop as his friends are, and this leaves him at a disadvantage – as well, of course, as endangering everyone else. Lloyd creates a disturbingly real and believable connection between Tais' fate and the realities of 'big banking', economic collapse and massive scale financial fraud as we know them in our world – the scenarios she describes are cleverly constructed and extremely easy to picture. What is not so easy to picture, however, is pretty much everything else in the novel.
I am all for books dropping the reader straight into the heart of the action. I love stories that begin 'in medias res', and I love to be thrown into a story, having to figure out things as I go. I have no problem with trying to work out terminology, concepts, and the 'technology' of a fictional world, like a detective putting clues together. I love that challenge, being truthful. However, in order to do this effectively, a reader needs something upon which to base their imaginings. The Drop (i.e. the 'Quantum Drop' of the book's title) is never properly explained, or described – it seems to be like a 'virtual reality', or a Second Life type scenario, where people exist in 'reality', wearing headsets which connect them to a second existence inside a computer. Inside the program, they can change their appearance, even creating a whole new identity for themselves which can fool everyone but the most adept of users. Injuries they suffer in the Drop appear on their physical bodies; if they die in the Drop, we're led to believe they die in reality, too. Dodgy dealings are done in the Drop, and users who get involved with crime – helping criminals hide their ill-gotten gains, and so on – are the ones who earn the most money from it.
I have to be honest, though, and say that I found the Drop really hard to envision. My mind kept going to The Matrix, and how the characters in that movie 'jack in' to the other reality in which they live, one that can be controlled and affected by skilled programmers. I guess this was the idea Saci Lloyd was aiming for – but I think the Matrix did it a bit better. In that story, at least, there was a solid reason for the existence of the Matrix: in 'Quantum Drop', it's just there. We don't know why, or what it's used for besides crime. It's not properly described, and there's no payoff for the reader in expending all their mental energy trying to imagine it. We don't get to find out whether what we've imagined is 'right'. I found that frustrating.
Neo (Keanu Reeves) loading himself into the system. Image: ign.com
Having said all that, the plot is tight and fast and exciting, and the mystery at the heart of Tais' fate is gripping. The characterisation is excellent throughout – each character is unique and distinct, and they are all interesting. I found myself emotionally invested in the story and interested to see how it would resolve; I particularly loved Stella's role in the final showdown. My favourite aspect of 'Quantum Drop', however, is the thing which made me buy the book in the first place – the voice. Anthony Griffin's voice is excellent. Lloyd has created a fantastic character in her protagonist, and I loved having him as a guide through the confusing and strange world in which he lives. The characters were more rewarding and 'real' than the world, I thought, but I really cared about Anthony and his family and friends, and their story was great even if the setting was sketchy and hard to envision. Saci Lloyd's writing is poetic and imaginative, and she definitely spares no blushes in her handling of the harsher realities of life.
I would recommend this book, but I do think it would have benefited from slightly more clarity, and a little more in the way of concrete detail regarding the eponymous 'Drop'. Besides that, it's a great, fast-paced read.
Happy Saturn's Day, my loves. Go! Read!
This entry was posted in Book Reviews and tagged Ali, Anthony Griffin, book review, book reviews, children's books, fast-paced YA, Lola, Quantum Drop, Saci Lloyd, Saturday book review, second life, SF, SF-themed children's books, Tais, technology in novels, The Teller, virtual reality, YA books on September 14, 2013 by Sinéad O'Hart.
Book Review Saturday – 'Red Ink'
One of the main reasons behind my purchase of 'Red Ink' was the fact that it is published by Hot Key Books. I've only recently become aware of this publisher, but I already know how high their standards are; all the books I've picked up from Hot Key have been very good indeed, and this one is no different. They're well-written, and edgy, and fresh, and slightly off-beat, in all the best possible ways.
Image: forbookssake.net
'Red Ink' tells the story of a fifteen-year-old girl coming to terms with awful loss, and trying to rebuild her life, and herself. It takes us from London to Crete and back again, describing the differing landscapes with such precise and poetic language that we can feel the streets under our feet, see the sparkling blue sea, hear the passing traffic, smell the warm dust in the air. The writing in this book is a living thing. It is the voice of our narrator; for the duration of the novel, we are her. It absorbed me completely.
Our narrator has to live under the heavy burden of a name she despises, and this is the point at which we're first introduced to her. We learn her name is Melon Fouraki, and we learn that her mother is dead. At the beginning of the novel, Melon is living with her late mother's partner, Paul, who – wonderfully – is portrayed throughout as a good, kind, compassionate and caring man, who wishes to look after Melon and keep her safe. He loves her, and he loved her mother, and his grief is as real and as raw as Melon's, though we experience it at a remove. Throughout the novel, people raise eyebrows over Melon and Paul's relationship, projecting sordid and distasteful things onto it; this serves to make their bond seem even more precious, and it was one of the things about the novel I enjoyed the most. Of course, Paul's guardianship over Melon causes her irritation at first, and she rails against his efforts to show her the parental love which, in many ways, she has always lacked, but one thing she always has for him is respect. He is a great character, and I loved what Mayhew did with him.
Melon herself is a wonder. Funny, abrasive, full-colour, so real you can nearly hear her voice narrating her story to you, I absolutely loved her. She's one of the most convincing characters I've ever met, and this is largely because Mayhew tackles the concept of grief so well. Melon obviously loved her eccentric, slightly batty mother, and she is devastated by her sudden and tragic death, but at the book's outset she is consumed with anger, and doesn't even realise it. Her mother's death is 'no big deal'; she doesn't have any feelings on the matter, besides the fact that she feels like there's a brick lodged in her ribcage. As the story goes on, the reality of her loss begins to hit home and we walk by her side as she processes the stages of her grief. Every step of it is utterly believable. She finds herself feeling normal at times, then feeling guilty for feeling normal, as if it's a betrayal of her mother's memory to spend the occasional day unbowed by grief; she makes jokes to cover her own awkwardness and that of other people in discussing loss, and death, and sorrow. It's one of the most touching, and true, expositions of grieving that I've ever read.
Alongside Melon's present-day journey, we also have 'The Story' – the story that Melon's mother has told her all her life, her 'origin myth'. It is the story of her father, and how Melon was conceived in Crete, and the heartbreaking romance of her parents' separation. Everything about Melon's life, from her strange name to her father's absence, are explained away in beautiful terms by 'The Story', which Melon has heard so often that she can recite it by heart. It is, in real terms, the only thing her mother left her. It is her legacy. In an attempt to find out more about herself and her family and to see the real landscape behind the story, Melon traces her mother's life back to where it began – in Crete. The results of this search go to the foundation of Melon's own life. She learns the truth behind 'The Story', and it begins to be retold.
There is a lot to like in this book. Besides the characterisation, I enjoyed the structure, which flips back and forth in time. Some chapters describe Melon's life before her mother's death, some after, which builds up a gradual picture of their relationship. The language is pitch-perfect, the settings are fantastic, the depictions of family life are excellent. It is full of love and loss and truth, and it tells a strong story. There was one aspect of the book that I didn't like so much, but I'm not going to give it away here, of course; one aspect of the conclusion of Melon's story felt unnecessary to me, and a little too 'pat'. If you've read it, you probably know what I mean, and if you haven't, I hope you'll read it in an attempt to find out.
Read this book. Even if it's only to have images like this created in your mind!
Image: finestgreece.gr
Happy weekend, and happy reading. I'd love to know what's currently on your Bookish Radar. Feel free to share in the comments!
This entry was posted in Book Reviews and tagged book review, Crete, excellent debut novel, excellent reads, fifteen-year-old narrator, first-person narration, grief, Julie Mayhew, Melon Fouraki, process of grief, reading, Red Ink, Saturday book review on August 17, 2013 by Sinéad O'Hart.
Book Review Saturday – 'Dark Warning'
I came upon this book while searching for new reads by Irish authors. Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, a writer based in Co Wicklow, fit the bill perfectly; 'Dark Warning' was my first introduction to her work. Since reading it I have also purchased 'Hagwitch', another of her books, and I'm on the lookout for 'Timecatcher', which I believe is her first novel.
So, you might be able to guess that I've become a fan.
Image: marielouisefitzpatrick.com
I was intrigued by the premise of this book, which takes place in Georgian Dublin. It's not a setting I've often come across in fiction, and I was immediately interested. The novel is steeped in the language, slang and geography of that period, including places and streetnames (like the wonderful Thundercut Alley and Smithfield Market) and is extremely well written from that point of view. This is helped by the fact that Ms. Fitzpatrick chooses to take a real-life Dublin character of that time, 'Billy-the-Bowl,' as a major character in her story, weaving events from his life through the tale of her protagonist, young Taney Tyrell. If you're going to read this story, and you don't already know the legend of 'Billy-the-Bowl' (sometimes 'Billy-in-the-Bowl'), then don't Google him beforehand and spoil the surprise for yourself. Let the story unfold as it should, is my advice.
Taney lives in Smithfield, in the city centre, with her Da, her stepmother Mary Kate, and her (extremely cute-sounding) little brother Jon Jon. Her mother died when Taney was a child, but despite this she is a living, breathing presence throughout the story. Her mother's life, and aspects of her character, live on in Taney; she resembles her, and shares some of her otherworldly talents. From our first meeting with Taney, we realise that she has gifts which transcend the 'norm' – she can see things before they happen, and has the potential to read fortunes, though this is a talent we see her develop as the book goes on. Most frighteningly, she sometimes loses control of her 'spirit', drifting away from her body with a sense of tempting freedom, and must struggle hard to control this. Taney is often told how dangerous her gifts are, and is told only that they 'destroyed' her mother – she isn't told why or how. Also, she must keep them secret, though this proves difficult. Ella's fate is darkly hinted at throughout, though Taney doesn't find out exactly what happened to her mother, and how it's connected to their shared gifts, until the end of the story.
Taney meets Billy by the shores of the river Liffey one day after a particularly bad spell of bullying by the other children in her locality. He saves her from their mistreatment, and they become close friends. I got the impression that Taney develops a crush on Billy, though she never says anything to that effect – he is described (in accordance with the historical record of him) as being remarkably handsome and personable, as well as extremely charming and friendly, and well known by all. Billy is noteworthy also because has been born without legs, and manages to get around in his 'bowl' – or, a half-barrel, made specially for him by the coopers in Jameson's Whiskey Distillery. He uses this bowl, together with two 'clubs', to speed around the cobbled streets he calls home. Rejected by his mother at birth, Billy was raised by nuns, and is constantly on the run from inspectors from the House of Industry, who want to take him in. Billy knows this will spell his doom – he'll be condemned to a life of hard labour and grim living conditions, for such is what was done with the differently abled in previous eras – and he wishes to avoid this at all costs. So, he and Taney become a team. He protects her from bullies, and she keeps him from his violent, self-destructive depressions, and from harm.
Where this takes a turn for the dark is when Billy discovers Taney's talents. He begins to make use of her for his own ends, asking her to help him in his gambling exploits. Soon, they amass a healthy fortune, and Taney dreams of escaping to London, to start anew in a city where neither she, nor her talents, are known. Then, her stepmother starts to bring her to work with her in an attempt to take her mind off her 'dreaming' – i.e. her gifts – and so her life as a charwoman begins, working in a 'big house' for a wealthy family. Billy runs into some difficulty, and she gives him her savings in order to help him out of it, hoping to earn it back and keep her dreams on track. However, she later finds out that Billy is in bigger trouble than she thought, and begins to distance herself from him.
As Taney tries to build her future, and her friendship with Billy starts to fade into her past, talk of a dangerous individual known as the 'Stoneybatter Strangler' starts to zip around the streets of Dublin. Taney finds it harder to keep her talents under wraps as she begins to have visions of the women being targeted by the Strangler, including the most unfortunate of the lot, who dies as a result of his attack. She cannot see his face in her visions, but she is torn between wanting her visions to tell her more (so that she might help to apprehend the Strangler) and less (because the visions frighten her, and she worries that they put her in danger, too). When she has a vision of the Strangler attacking a woman she knows and is fond of, Taney cannot control herself any longer, and rushes to intercept him – thereby coming face to face with her own greatest fear.
I was gripped by 'Dark Warning' from the first page to the last – it is very well written, and the voice is engaging and fresh. Taney is a wonderful character, and I particularly loved that the book is told in her first-person perspective, so we learn along with her about her talents and their uses, and about the identity of the fearsome Strangler. I found her to be believable, warm, and realistic, no doubt helped by the setting and my own familiarity with Dublin city, but also because of Ms. Fitzpatrick's use of language and dialogue to describe her, and bring Taney and her family to life. 'Dark Warning' is a historical novel which wears its history lightly, a supernatural novel which doesn't overdo the paranormal aspects, and primarily a story about a young girl finding her way in the world and learning to come out from under her mother's shadow. It's a great book, and I hope you check it out.
Happy Saturday! Get out there and read!
This entry was posted in Musings and tagged Billy-in-the-Bowl, Billy-the-Bowl, book, book review, books, children's books, children's literature, children's literature by Irish authors, Dark Warning, Georgian Dublin, historical children's books, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, paranormal children's books, Saturday book review, second sight, Smithfield, Stoneybatter, Taney Tyrell, Thundercut Alley on July 27, 2013 by Sinéad O'Hart.
Continuing Tradition – Review of 'A Face Like Glass' by Frances Hardinge
Regular readers, you'll know what to expect…
Image: franceshardinge.com
Yup. It's a book review. This week, it's the turn of 'A Face Like Glass', by Frances Hardinge.
I have to admit, right at the start, that I'm a huge Frances Hardinge fan. She's an amazing writer, who knows how to use words and who's not afraid to make them work hard, a writer who doesn't shy away from language just because she chooses to write for younger readers. Coming to her work was, for me, a revelation. It showed me just how good and how exciting children's books could be.
'A Face Like Glass' is an excellent book, in keeping with its shelfmates 'Fly By Night', 'Twilight Robbery' and 'Gullstruck Island' (I have yet to acquire 'Verdigris Deep', but I will do, just as soon as funds allow!) It's a book filled with such leaps of imagination that reading it can leave you feeling breathless and incredulous, wondering how on earth one brain could possibly hold so much wonder. It tells the story of a vast (and notoriously unmappable) underground city named Caverna, which houses a collection of eclectic and unusual inhabitants. As well as Cheesemaster Grandible, with whom our heroine Neverfell makes her home after she mysteriously turns up in one of his vats, we meet the powerful Childersin family, who are hiding an immense secret, and Madame Appeline, the famous Facesmith.
A Facesmith? What on earth is that? Well… it's hard to explain.
Caverna needs Facesmiths because it is a world in which people are born without the ability to form facial expressions. This doesn't mean they don't have feelings – they are just rendered unable to show them to others. Everyone in this world is taught, from a young age, the basic expressions, but of course there are those for whom this limited repertoire is insufficient. Facesmiths, then, design expressions, and bring out 'ranges', like fashion collections, of trademarked (and viciously guarded) Faces. They employ Putty Girls, young women with particularly pliable facial muscles, in order to display their wares to potential clients. People 'of quality', with plenty of money, can afford to buy several hundred Faces, whereas those of lower classes are taught the bare minimum of expressions as children – ones which will serve their station in life, expressing their acquiescence and their eagerness to obey orders.
If all this sounds rather strange, then think of this: how can you tell if a person is lying or telling the truth, if their face is a static mask which betrays no emotion? How can you gauge how another is feeling, if their expression doesn't give it away? How – as Hardinge explores at the end of the book – can people feel part of a shared community if everyone wears the same neutral expression, if nobody can look at their neighbour with sympathy, understanding, love, or even compassion? If your feelings are constantly locked up inside you, with no way to be expressed? She takes the idea of Faces and makes it so important, so vital to understanding what it means to be a human being, that I was left staggered by her worldbuilding.
Caverna is underground, and the people who live there have a profound fear of Outside. They live in terror of the sun, which burns off people's skin and leaves them blind (so they have been told), but Neverfell – the deliciously, lovably eccentric protagonist of this tale – has memories, or flashes, of things she can't explain, things like the wind, and the feeling of being beneath nothing but the sky, and birdsong. Nobody can explain how she ended up falling into Cheesemaster Grandible's life, but he takes her in and makes her his apprentice, and pretty soon she's as accomplished a cheesemaker as anyone could be. She has to turn her back on this quiet, but safe, life, however, when she gets herself mixed up with Madame Appeline. This intriguing figure has made her name as a Facesmith with her Tragedy Range, a collection of Faces so heartrending that every lady of quality has to own it; Neverfell feels an inexplicable connection to this grand lady which she must uncover. In the process of trying to do this, she manages to inveigle herself in the affairs of the Childersin family, who are favourites at the court of the Grand Steward, the notoriously unstable leader of this underground world.
The most amazing thing about Neverfell, though, is this: she has a face which isn't constrained by Caverna's strange lack of expression. She has, as the title says, a face like glass – a face so clear and honest that you can look straight through it to her heart, and her emotions are displayed for all to see. Grandible has kept her masked all her life, until she's about thirteen or so, and because of this Neverfell believes herself to be grotesquely ugly. The real reason, of course, is that Grandible can't bear to look upon her because her face is natural and free, and not constrained by any of the official Faces. Neverfell cannot lie, and that's something the people of Caverna can't understand – and it makes her both dangerous and desirable. At court, she is completely natural, too, which means she blunders her way through proceedings, offending all around her, and creating ructions in the delicate structures of etiquette and protocol, to which she's oblivious. She puts the Childersins in danger, and has to escape in order to save her own life.
But, in an underground city, how far can you run?
This book is, like all of Hardinge's novels, big and meaty and wordy and complicated, and so full of imagery and description and language that I wish I could have read it as a teenager. It would have given me an even deeper love for words than that which I already have. It tackles a complicated Court structure – imagine pre-Revolutionary France, but even more unhinged – as well as social class, the oppression of the poor, the absurd privilege and entitlement accorded to those who can afford it, notions of humanity and identity and freedom, questions about mental health and delusion, how treating people like objects leads to terror. It introduces us to the most endearing and unique heroine I've ever come across in children's fiction, a young girl who has courage, intelligence and self-belief, and who – once she discovers what is wrong with the heart of her world – has the conviction to do something about it. It's deftly plotted, expertly written, and handled so well that the reader never feels lost, or confused, or has to wonder what's going on. This is a story which sucks you in and spits you out when it's done with you; you'll be a changed person, but you'll be glad of it.
In short, it's marvellous.
It's a children's book, but at nearly 500 pages, it's a story for everyone masquerading as a children's book. I hope you try it. I challenge you not to be astounded.
Happy weekend – may you read widely and well!
This entry was posted in Musings and tagged A Face Like Glass, book recommendations, book review, books which are a joy to read, books which are expertly plotted, brilliant children's books, children's books, Frances Hardinge, Saturday book review, tradition, wonderful books on May 11, 2013 by Sinéad O'Hart.


Introduction: People carelessly use the word "hell" as a curse word. Others laugh saying that in hell they will enjoy a beer with their friends. Little do they know how dreadful hell really will be.
Transition: This morning I want to show you three important Bible facts about hell that God wants you to understand.
2) Sheol described the place of the soul of the dead.
3) The souls of both righteous and wicked people went to Sheol when they died.
4) It appears that Sheol was divided into two compartments, Paradise and Torment (Hell).
a) The righteous went to Paradise (Abraham's Bosom). There they were comforted until the resurrection.
b) The unrighteous went to Torment (Hell).
2) In the OT, 42 verses contain the word "grave" or "graves" that are not Sheol. These verses clearly speak of the hole in the ground where the body lies. Sheol is a different word and it refers to the place of the soul of the dead, not to the grave. It cannot just be the grave as the Watchtower Witnesses and other cults insist.
3) Hades: This word describes the nether world, the realm of the dead. It is the Greek word for Sheol. The KJV translates it hell 10 times and grave once.
a) Jesus contrasted it with heaven. (Luke 10:15) "And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell." (Also Mt 11:23).
Before this judgment, all true Christians will have already been resurrected and given immortal bodies. They will not be judged here. They are part of the "first resurrection" (Re 20:9) which has four phases. 1) Christ's resurrection & OT saints, 2) Raptured saints resurrection, 3) Tribulation converts resurrected, 4) Millennium converts resurrected not described for us.
3) God will judge every unbeliever according to His books.
b) Another book will be opened which is the book of life (God's record of all who repented and trusted Christ).
1) There is nothing in Revelation 20, or in the entire Bible, that suggests that God will offer a second chance to be saved at the Great White Throne Judgment. Now is the day of salvation. Look at the passage carefully. God will sentence all who did not trust God's salvation in this life.
2) Based on David's testimony (2Sam 12:23), I believe God will have mercy on little children and mentally disabled.
3) All whose names are missing in God's Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Re 20:15). The Lake of Fire is NOT annihilation. It is eternal suffering (Re 20:10).
4) God is not too harsh! No! God is always just! If we received what we deserve, we would all go to the Lake of Fire. Christ graciously provided a way of salvation. He will save all who repent and believe. If you are not saved, He is calling for you.
5) Now is the day of salvation. Not later. If you die without Christ, you will never escape the Lake of Fire.
Conclusion: Jesus spoke much about hell because it is a terrible place that He does not want anyone to enter. Do not be deceived by false teachers that say hell is the grave or that God would never torment a person eternally for rejecting Christ. That is a lie. Jesus said, (Matthew 10:28) "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Romans 10:13) "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Let's spread the good news!


How do we know it was really a pug and not a Remoolian named Frank?
NEVER buy a pug over eBay. Don't ask me how I know.
Why was the dog expected to pay taxes in the first place?
Who on earth would buy a family named Pug ?
It was sold to the former host of "The Price is Right", Bob Barker.
Was it worth a pug nickel?
The pug was bought by an animal training and rescue organization to be used to teach other dogs the danger of chasing parked cars.


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Algeria's Birth of a New Democracy
Constitutional amendments and recent reforms in intelligence and security in Algeria are indeed substantial, if not revolutionary.
Sasha Toperich, Contributor
Senior Fellow, Center for Transatlantic Relations, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
02/19/2016 10:54am EST | Updated February 19, 2017
Algiers the capital city of Algeria, Northern Africa
Co-authored by Samy Boukaila, Visiting Scholar, Center for Transatlantic Relations SAIS
International media outlets substantially covered news on the recently-endorsed constitutional amendments in Algeria. Think tank groups, analysts, and political experts provided various opinions as to what the impact of recent reforms and constitution amendments will be. The opposition to the ruling FLN (Front de Libération Nationale) party stated that "imminent change is doubtful." But the fact is, constitutional amendments and recent reforms in intelligence and security in Algeria are indeed substantial, if not revolutionary.
Arguments by some political analysts that changes are meant to reinforce the "same old" and to strengthen those military elites around the Presidency (or according to some, around Said Bouteflika, the president's influential brother who supposedly created new oligarchs in the country) are weak, simply because the changes made are inevitably going to change Algeria with a new political class of post-independence leaders.
They will potentially emerge before the end of President Bouteflika's term as he wished for, already in 2014, in his famous speech in Setif. They are equally good for all political parties, and for the people of Algeria. For example, parity in employment between men and women is now guaranteed by the State; freedom of speech, freedom of gatherings, and legally-mandated TV and radio time for political parties to support pluralism, including financial support for political parties by the State according to parliamentary representation. In addition, the right to peaceful demonstrations is guaranteed as is press freedom without any censorship within the limits of human dignity and liberty for all.
Respecting religious, moral, and ethical values are but a few milestone achievements setting a solid foundation for improved democracy and equal rights in Algeria.
Religious freedom and freedom to practice other religions save Islam is also guaranteed. Tamazight, the root language of natives of Algeria prior to the Arab invasion, became the second official language of the country.
Changes were also made in the election process of the president. The presidential term is set for five years with the possibility of a single re-election. Presidential candidates can be only citizen of Algeria - no Algerian with dual citizenship can run for the office. This prevents most diaspora Algerians from standing. The new Article 51 is considered highly controversial, as it also bans Algerians with dual nationality from running for any higher political office. (Following the diaspora's protest, Bouteflika has ordered clarification of the amendment and to outline, through legislation, which of the higher political offices are too sensitive for those Algerians with dual nationals.)
Changing Business Environment
Constitutional amendments also addressed the fight against corruption and need for any publicly exposed person (political and military) to fully disclose his or her property prior to and after taking office. Freedom of investment and trade is guaranteed by the law as well, with the government in charge to regulate the market and protect consumers and forbidding monopolies and unfair competition.
The State also encourages women to take on high level responsibility jobs either in government or in the business sector. Privacy of life of the citizens is guaranteed and no incursion or violation is admissible unless strictly through legal authority. The implementation and interpretation of the law will still be a challenge, along with forming a justice system truly independent from political or military influence or pressure, in order to ensure impartial justice for all citizens regardless of their position, status, or role in society.
A vote on the constitutional amendments was called by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika at the end of January. The changes were approved with 499 members of parliament in favor, two opposed, and 16 abstained. Amendments were publicly announced on January 5th by Ahmed Ouyahia, the president's chief of staff.
Major Reform of Intelligence Department Bouteflika's recent dismissal of intelligence chief General Mohamed "Toufik" Mediene, who held the post for 25 years, marked the beginning of a well prepared and well executed reform in the powerful security and intelligence offices in the country. Although - and quite rightly so - various branches of the intelligence community in Algeria will remain very powerful, powers of the office of the president grew proportionally with these changes.
The long-established Department of Intelligence and Security (DRS), also known as the State Intelligence Agency, had been dissolved and replaced by three departments under the direct supervision of the president: the General Directorate of Internal Security, General Directorate of External Security and Documentation, and General Directorate of Technical Information. The Technical Information Service will deal with cyber warfare and other technical issues related to advanced intelligence and military technologies.
Algeria has placed over 75,000 soldiers along its border, which is still far from well protected. ISIS and other terrorist groups' infiltration into Algeria are a daily occurrence. The strong military and intelligence apparatus is repelling threats successfully.
Nobody argues that with oil prices so low, Algeria - heavily dependent on oil and gas export - needs to diversify its economy and enhance education. Awareness of this is growing day by day in Algeria. But people tend to forget that this nation, after a long struggle to become an independent country from colonial French rule, just after proclaiming independence on July 5th 1962 had but only several hundred university students.
What a daunting task to build a new country that was thirty years later ravaged by a civil war. It is much easier to criticize then to praise and there is plenty of room for (constructive) criticism on Algeria. But we should applaud recent reforms and encourage Algerians to continue developing international cooperation and transatlantic relations.
A testament to that: in December last year, Algeria's ambassador to the United States Madjid Bouguerra and the Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Anne W. Patterson, signed an agreement to create an American International School in Algiers. That brings yet another new bright dawn emerging on Algeria's horizon.
algeriaMaghreboildiaspora

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


For over 1400 years the Holy Qur'an has been preserved immaculately, but how exactly did this happen?
1. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, Izala-e-Auham, Ruhani Khaza'in, Vol. 3, 381-382.
Among the ancient books available today, scholars agree that the New Testament is the well-attested book. What that means is that there are more manuscripts of the New Testament than any other book from antiquity. There are thousands of manuscripts – partial or full – both in the original Greek language in which they were written, and in the form of translations in Latin, Ethiopic, Slavic and Armenian. As a leading New Testament scholar, Dr Bruce Metzger, proudly puts it, the book which is the runner-up to the New Testament in terms of manuscript testimony is Homer's Iliad, with fewer than 650 Greek manuscripts1. However, when it comes to the preservation of ancient texts, scholars have pointed out differences between the numerous manuscripts available which makes it difficult to know without a shadow of doubt what the original words were.
Comparatively, the Holy Qur'an is the only ancient book which has been immaculately preserved for 1400 years. This fact can be ascertained from evidence and by taking a closer look at both how the Qur'an was originally revealed and how it has been preserved since the time of the Prophet Muhammadsa. Critics of Islam have made many objections to the claim by Muslims that the Qur'an is perfectly preserved. This debate has become even more heated nowadays, because the preservation of other holy texts, such as the Bible, have also been brought under close scrutiny for the last two to three hundred years. It is alleged, for instance, that there are different 'versions' of the Qur'an and doubts are expressed regarding the motives of Hazrat Uthmanra (the third caliph after the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa) when he burned certain manuscripts of the Qur'an in favour of the official one. In light of this, it is important to first understand what methods were used to preserve the Qur'an.
An image of the Birmingham Qur'an manuscript. These pages, discovered in 2015, were carbon-dated to approximately 568CE to 645CE, which leaves open the possibility that this manuscript is from the time of the Holy Prophet(sa). As they are identical with present-day copies of the Qur'an, this is further evidence that the Qur'an has been preserved in its original words.
1. God ensured that such people will exist who are able to memorise the Qur'an from beginning to end.
2. The language of the Qur'an is very simple and attractive, enabling anyone to memorise it – fully or in parts – without difficulty.
3. The recitation of the Qur'an was made obligatory in salat – the five daily prayers – helping to preserve it.
4. God created love in the hearts of the people so that they would recite it regularly.
5. God ensured that the Holy Qur'an would spread throughout the world right after its revelation, making it impossible for any group or government to make changes or amendments to the text.
6. In the Islamic world, the study of a variety of academic fields has been traditionally based on the Qur'an, causing the Qur'an to be quoted in all kinds of books related to different fields of study. Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra says that if the quoted verses of the Qur'an from all these books are collected and compiled, that the whole of the Qur'an could be compiled from just those references.
7. The academic form of Arabic never changed and can be understood even today with ease. This helped preserve the original language of the Qur'an, in turn supporting the preservation of the Qur'an itself.
Adding to the 8th point, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra notes that in this day and age, when irreligiousness has reached its climax, God has sent the Promised Messiahas, who has purified the Qur'an from all incorrect interpretations and commentaries and presented it to the world in its purest form. Hence, in this manner, God has ensured that the Qur'an is preserved both in its script and in its true meanings and message.
This fact is corroborated by history as it is known that the Qur'an was revealed over a period of twenty-three years, which ensured safe delivery of the message from God to the Holy Prophetsa and from him to his companionsra. This prevented it from being forgotten as there was plenty of time to memorise and revise the Qur'an in small, manageable portions. Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra, a son of the Promised Messiahas and scholar of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, has calculated that the Holy Prophetsa spent 7970 days as a Prophet, while the number of verses in the Qur'an are 6236 and the number of words in the Qur'an are 77,934. This means that on average, every verse of the Qur'an has 12 words, while the average daily revelation of the Qur'an is only 9 words6. In other words, the Qur'an was revealed so slowly that on average, even a full verse was not revealed on a daily basis.
This means that the Holy Prophetsa had several scribes available to him. Quoting from Fathul Bari, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra gives a list of 15 scribes11, the most important of whom was Hazrat Zaidra bin Thabit.
Maulana Ahsanullah Danish, a scholar of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at, who consulted various historical books that contain the names of the scribes, concludes that there were 28 companionsra who wrote down the Qur'an during the time of the Holy Prophetsa, and he has also noted that some researchers have placed the number as high as 40 companionsra.12 What all of this research shows is that those of his companionsra who were literate and could write were eager to preserve the verses of the Holy Qur'an by noting them down. In addition, this was their practice from the very beginning, and it was common for the companionsra to have some written portions of the Qur'an with them.
Based on these two narrations, it can be determined that from the tribe of Hazrat Anasra alone there were four people from the Ansar who had written down the Qur'an in its entirety during the lifetime of the Holy Prophetsa.
Contrary to the way critics wish to portray this narration, it actually shows the extent to which the companionsra strove to preserve the purity of the Qur'anic text. Prior to the time of the narration, the Qur'an had already been written down in its entirety by several companionsra. It had been memorised in its entirety by several companionsra, and it was being recited, memorised, studied, discussed and quoted frequently. On top of all this, the companionsra still wished to go a step further and have the Qur'an put together into a single volume. What remarkable, sincere service to the Qur'an! Is it still possible to assume that the Qur'an was corrupted in light of such evidence to the contrary? Furthermore, the reason why this single-volume manuscript could not be prepared during the time of the Holy Prophetsa is because the Qur'an was being revealed to him constantly and it was not possible to know if the revelation of the Qur'an had ended. However, when the Holy Prophetsa had passed away, it was understood that the Qur'anic revelation has come to an end and the Qur'an could now be collected into a single book form.
Based on these numerous narrations, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra writes that for every single verse of the Qur'an, both the memory of that verse and a written format of that verse were asked for before it was included in the single volume compiled by Hazrat Abu Bakrra. In addition, for most of the Qur'anic verses, there were dozens or even hundreds of witnesses who said that they had learnt the verse from the Holy Prophetsa directly. Many verses even had thousands of witnesses.22 The final volume that was produced out of this monumental exercise is called Mushaf-e-Umm (Master Copy) and no companionsra laid any objection to the accuracy of this manuscript of the Qur'an.
During the time of Hazrat Uthmanra, the third Khalifah (Caliph) of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa, copies of this Mushaf-e-Umm were made and distributed to different Muslim lands as official, standardised copies of the Qur'an. This was because he started receiving complaints that different tribes enunciated or pronounced words of the Qur'an in distinctive ways and so Hazrat Uthmanra forbade all variations of enunciation of even vowel points and sent a standard copy to be recited in the standard way. This standard form of recitation or pronunciation of words was based on the dialect of the Holy Prophetsa, or the dialect of the Quraish of Makkah. In Arabic, this is called Qira'ah and the closest analogy for English speakers to understand the difference between Qira'at (the plural of Qira'ah) is to think of the difference between American English and British English in terms of pronunciation. Since Arabic is a much more diverse language as compared to English, this difference in dialects becomes much more profound and distinctive among Arabic speakers. Hence, Hazrat Uthmanra responded to this challenge of differences in pronunciation by standardising the written copy of the Qur'an along with its mode of recitation. As an added precaution, he ordered the burning of all other written manuscripts of the Qur'an – whether they were complete, or only had portions of the Qur'an written on them. Since a colossal effort had already been made to prepare the Mushaf-e-Umm, there was no need to keep any other manuscripts of any other shape or form. One fear of allowing such manuscripts to exist was that some companionsra took personal notes on their manuscripts and it could have led to confusion for later peoples as they may have wondered which part is the Qur'an and which part is a footnote or a side note.
The Promised Messiahas is explaining here that no matter what the case, the status of Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas'udra is not so high that we should consider him immune from errors in judgement. His words and statements do not have the same status as the words of the Holy Prophetsa regarding whom it is clearly stated in the Qur'an that what he said for religious guidance was pure revelation from God. At the same time, there is absolutely no doubt that Abdullah bin Mas'udra was a great teacher of the Holy Qur'an and one of the most revered companions and among the earliest converts to Islam, and it behoves every Muslim to respect him. A simple error in judgment about three of the chapters of the Holy Qur'an does not diminish his high status in the eyes of any Muslim. Our prayer for him has always been and continues to be: Radhi-Allahu 'anho (may Allah be pleased with him!).
Second, the narrations themselves clearly refute the error of Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas'udra as Hazrat Abdullah bin Ubayyra – another revered teacher of the Qur'an – is reported to have checked with the Holy Prophetsa about the Mu'awwidhatain and he told him that they were part of the Qur'an. Similar to this narration, there are many other well-authenticated Ahadith (traditions) that quote the Holy Prophetsa as clearly stating that Surah Al-Fatihah and the Mu'awwidhatain are part of the Holy Qur'an and not separate from it. An interesting point is that other narrations state that Ibn Mas'udra did not include the Mu'awwidhatain in his manuscript, or that they were missing from his manuscript, but they do not record him saying that they are not a part of the book of Allah. This is a subtle difference which means that there is some confusion as to the real reason why Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas'udra did not include these two chapters in his manuscript. It may have been the opinion of Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas'udra or it may have been the opinion of the person narrating this about him. In either case, these are just their opinions, which are clearly refuted in these narrations as well as many other narrations from authentic sources. As Maulana Ahsanullah Danish puts it, on the one hand, we have the opinion of the companionsra of the Holy Prophetsa supported by historical evidence, the united opinion of the entire ummah, the united opinion of the huffaz (those who have memorised the Qur'an by heart) of the Qur'an, and on the other hand, there is the opinion of the person narrating this from Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas'udra or perhaps the opinion of Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas'udra himself. What does our rational mind tell us? Accept the doubt of one or two people or the clear-cut statements of the Holy Prophetsa that plainly state that both Surah Al-Fatihah and the Mu'awwidhatain are part of the revealed Holy Qur'an.
The evidence for the excellent preservation of the text of the Holy Qur'an is quite extensive. A recent discovery of a manuscript of the Qur'an gives further evidence for this. It was found in the University of Birmingham and scholars have said that it is perhaps the oldest manuscript of the Qur'an in the world. It dates from the period of 568 CE to 645 CE which makes it a possible manuscript from the time of the Holy Prophetsa himself.29 It contains parts of chapters 18 to 20 of the Holy Qur'an and a comparison with a present-day copy of the Qur'an reveals that they are identical, without any differences. Despite all of this evidence, if some critics object to the idea that the Holy Qur'an has been preserved perfectly, it can only be due to bias. An honest researcher in this field has no option but to affirm that the prediction of the Qur'an regarding its perfect preservation has indeed been fulfilled.
About the Author: Imam Farhan Iqbal is a missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He received his degree in Islamic Theology and Comparative Religions in July 2010 from Jamia Ahmadiyya Canada (The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community's training seminary for missionaries.). He has served as an Imam for the Baitul Islam Mosque in Vaughan, Canada, for 5 years. He is currently serving as Imam of the Baitun Naseer Mosque, Ottawa, Canada. Imam Farhan has represented the Community in various interfaith events, radio programs discussing various matters of faith, and is co-host of the podcast The Conviction Project. He has also hosted several live and recorded programs on MTA (Muslim Television Ahmadiyya). He has co-authored 2 books, namely, With Love to Muhammadsa, the Seal of the Prophets and Understanding Islam: Dispelling Myths about Jihad, Oppression and Violence in Islam.
1. Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ (Michigan: Zondervan, 1998), 78.
2. Hazrat Mirza Bashir-Ud-Din Mahmud Ahmadra, At-Tafsir Al-Kabir, Volume 4, 17.
3. For a detailed discussion of all the points for the preservation of the Qur'an, see pages 17-20 of At-Tafsir Al-Kabir (Volume 4).
4. Ahsanullah Danish, Az-Zikrul Mahfuz (Qadian: Fazle Umar Printing Press, 2007), 12.
5. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, Haqiqatul Wahi, Ruhani Khaza'in, Volume 22, 357.
6. Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Musnad Ashratul Mubashareen bil-jannati, Musnad Uthman bin Affan.
7. Hazrat Mirza Bashir-Ud-Din Mahmud Ahmadra, Introduction to the Study of the Holy Qur'an (Surrey: Islam International Publications Ltd., 1996), 356.
8. Ahsanullah Danish, Az-Zikrul Mahfuz (Qadian: Fazle Umar Printing Press, 2007), 23.
9. Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Fadha'il-ul-Qur'an, Babul Qurra min Ashabin-Nabisa.
11. Ahsanullah Danish, Az-Zikrul Mahfuz (Qadian: Fazle Umar Printing Press, 2007), 77.
12. Hazrat Mirza Bashir-Ud-Din Mahmud Ahmadra, Introduction to the Study of the Holy Qur'an (Surrey: Islam International Publications Ltd., 1996), 362.
13. Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Fadha'il-ul-Qur'an, Bab Jam'ul Qur'an.
14. Hazrat Mirza Bashir-Ud-Din Mahmud Ahmadra, Fadha'ilul Qur'an, 25-26.
15. Al-Itqan fi ulumil Qur'an [An-Nau' Ath-thamin 'Ashar, fi jam'ihi wa tartibihi] (Lebanon: Resalah Publishers, 2008), 131.
17. Hazrat Mirza Bashir-Ud-Din Mahmud Ahmadra, At-Tafsir Al-Kabir, Volume 10, 84-85.
18. Al-Masnad lil-Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, Masnadul Ansar, Hadith Zir bin Hubaish 'an Ubayy bin Ka'b, Hadith no. 21087, Volume 15 (Cairo: Darul Hadith, 1995), 441.
19. Translation of the original by author.
20. Sahih Bukhari, Kitabut Tafsir, Book 65, Hadith 4977, retrieved from http://sunnah.com/urn/46560.
21. The Holy Qur'an, 53:5.
22. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, Ruhani Khaza'in, Volume 3, 421-422.
23. Ahsanullah Danish, Az-Zikrul Mahfuz (Qadian: Fazle Umar Printing Press, 2007), 276.
24. Sean Coughlan, "Birmingham's ancient Koran history revealed," BBC, accessed April 5, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35151643.


Kind K5 XL1000 LED Grow Journal – 1.3 lb Harvest!
I transplanted these two plants from soil to hydro and they are taking, glad to see I'm able to transplant clones from soil to dirt and switching nutes, baby steps but I got there!
Next step is building my reservoir system, slowly getting there!!!!
And it begins! Starting to set up an RDWC system to recirculate water between the reservoirs. Eventually I will move the plants in here.
Finally got the RDWC working and set up, going to get the same push pump for inside the res but I love it, hope the ladies like this better.
Redid the lids over the weekend and did more folding on the bubblegum, she seems like the one to scrog over the train wreck but both are looking pretty good, about to trim the Bubble Gum.
Week two of flowering. Gave them a transition recipe to bloom last week. This change gave her the rippening recipe. Looking forward to this flowering with the new nutes, can't wait to see the difference.
1st pic is train wreck and pic 2 is of the bubblegum. Such a great transplant from soil to hydro. Just extremely pleased.
Tops tops tops tops tops tops tops everywhere!
Been slacking. Just drop the net in her but now its all her 🙂 decided to leave the outer ring on her just reposition them to light so they are not left out. My first scrog. Already thinking about the next run and how I can improve on training them.
Power went out the other day and a row of LEDs went out. Kind is allowing us to finish this grow out to replace it 🙂 So we threw the lil K3 L450 in there with her.
Ok it's getting exciting!!!! I'm so amped to show y'all how they are doing.
Finally chopped em down after 12 days of flush, just beauties.
Bubble gum left and Train Wreck right.
After drying, it's time to jar them up.
I think this is at least two times better then the Bubble Gum.
This wasn't a high-yielding plant but the quality is awesome. They both smoke good but I think the t.w. won in my book.
The Kind K5 XL1000 LED is very nice and slick with a built-in timer and fans. It's not big and bulky and it doesn't put out extreme heat. I feel the penetration is good, they are pricey but honestly you save so much on your power bill it basically pays for itself within the first year!


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Alex Perry's satin crepe 'Harlyn' gown is designed with thin straps and a v-neckline. Tailored with a fitted bodice, its full-length skirt is detailed with a thigh-high slit and pleated details along the front.


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Home International Cambodian Opposition Chief Found Guilty Over Facebook Claim
Cambodian Opposition Chief Found Guilty Over Facebook Claim
De facto leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) Kem Sokha (left) seen here with exiled leader Sam Rainsy in 2012 in Manila, Philippines. Photo: VOA / Wikimedia Commons
PHNOM PENH — A Cambodian court has found the country's exiled opposition leader guilty of defamation for alleging that a senior government official sought to inflate Prime Minister Hun Sen's online popularity by buying "likes" for his Facebook page.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday found Sam Rainsy, president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, guilty and ordered him to pay a fine of 10 million riel ($2,500) in addition to 15 million riel ($3,750) in compensation to Sam Soeun, a senior official assigned to oversee Hun Sen's Facebook page.
There has been a flurry of cases against opposition members in Cambodia's courts, widely believed to be under the influence of Hun Sen's government, with the intention of disrupting their organizing efforts ahead of local elections in June.
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Man United & England Defender, Coach, Pundit & Businessman
Business Management Leadership
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Gary Neville: Biography highlights
Prolific defender Gary Neville is England's most capped right-back having achieved 85 senior caps before retiring from International duty in 2007.
Full biography of Gary Neville
Gary Neville's Background
Former Manchester United captain, Neville made 400 appearances for his only club having risen through the youth ranks. A member of the famous youth team that included David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Neville's brother Phil, Gary has ensured life after professional football is still fruitful by becoming part of the England Senior squad coaching staff as well as undertaking a punditry role with Sky Sports.
As well as his prior engagements, Gary Neville has forged a reputation as a popular after dinner speaker and football speaker at a range of events.
A real work horse, Neville is renowned for giving 100% into everything he does; a one club man he has displayed his honourable qualities and is passionate for what he loves and believes in: perfect attributes for a sports speaker. A favourite football speaker for many, Gary Neville's commitment and dedication to his sport has seen him win a multitude of accolades with Manchester United including 8 Premier League titles and 2 Champions League trophies.
An intellectual individual who has the ability to encapsulate his career and experiences expertly as a sports speaker, it is undoubtable the Gary Neville's attendance at your event or occasion as an after dinner speaker will ensure it lives long in the memory.
Cited as one of the best pundits currently on television, Gary Neville has enjoyed real success with Sky Sports as part of their MNF: Monday Night Football coverage. Joining forces with old adversary Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville's analysis of football is impeccable; his ability to pick and examine aspects of football is phenomenal, a skill which reinforces his superiority as a football speaker.
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OBSERVATIONS: Tour Type Modifieds – World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing Night No. 2
By ladybug388 on February 10, 2021 • ( 1 Comment )
By: Ashley McCubbin
The modifieds have always put on great racing across the country, and they are not disappointing thus far in 2021 as they put on a show for the second straight day at New Smyrna Speedway.
It wasn't one of those races where it came down to a battle right at the flag, but it got dicey on a late-race restart that almost turned ugly with three laps to go. Coming to the green, both Patrick Emerling and Eric Goodale got sideways on the front row, with the left side more visible than the nose until they both were facing back the right direction. They managed to keep their wits about them, and hold serve ahead of the field as Emerling took the win ahead of Goodale.
Seeing the pair perform at the front of the field is a perfect redemption after witnessing them run into trouble the night before together. Battling inside the top-five, Goodale would get into Emerling and spin him as Jimmy Blewitt slowed in front of them on Monday. Now on Tuesday, they get to celebrate on the podium together.
The race could also serve a good confidence boost for Emerling, too. He spent the majority of the event on Monday at the front of the field, but never seemed to be able to gain ground on the restarts. There was a couple he jumped and had to give it back, where others he lost track position. In contrast, the final restarts on Tuesday showcased why he won the championship in the ROC Modifieds the past two years. He utilized the first one to go from fourth to second, and the following edition to take over the top spot.
Without a doubt, he's made himself someone to consider as a threat for the big open-wheel races yet to come for the Modifieds this week.
The performance by Emerling was simply the icing on the cake to the event, though. The entire 35-lap affair was action-packed from the front of the field to the tale, with battles taking place at all times. Whether keeping an eye on the top-four, or scanning to the back half of the top-10, determination was written on the wall. It was unpredictable at times, as you'd see a couple guys with an advantage and expect them to move forward, only for their competitors to figure out how to best them.
Doug Coby described the aggressive nature best – "a bunch of animals just trying to win everything we can in a short feature." Though the second half of his words played true as well, in saying, "nobody lifts for nobody when you have asphalt modifieds with no rules and no consequences."
Aggressive driving can be fun to watch in seeing how far everybody pushes the envelope, but the wrecks that can produce as a result sting even more. Seeing Coby's No. 10 Modified torn up, alongside a series of others on the frontstretch could bring a tear to any fan's eyes.
It's easy to point fingers in watching two big wrecks in a pair of nights for the open-wheel stars, but when you have more than 30 cars starting in a field, a big wreck is bound to happen. Any time you put a whole bunch of people in a tight bull all fighting for the same real estate, contact happens and that escalates eventually into collecting a whole bunch of others.
It wasn't like the incident on Tuesday was done purposely, either. Ryan Preece tried to make a move, despite having a tight handling car, and got sideways – Coby checked up, but Blewitt did not get the memo and one bump turns into another, and the wreck begins.
Everybody will understand the frustration as Marcello Rufrano displayed in his comments saying, "I guess the guys don't know that the pedal in the middle is to slow up, and not push the guy through." However, things happen quickly – matter of mere seconds, which makes it hard to stall up as fast as you need to. Even if you get on the brakes right away, you're carrying so much speed that you don't stop immediately, either.
Again, it's a racing incident and sadly a product of packing more than 30 cars onto one track at a time.
That said, it is worth noting Preece was part of the cause in both big incidents that have occurred. It could simply be a product of coincidence, or a product of trying to be over-aggressive. After all, he spoke about wanting to prove he could win in getting back in the mod with the shortened Cup schedule. Is that the contributing factor?
Oh, and let's not forget the frustration shown by Matt Hirschman after his second straight podium performance. He took aim at the current motor situation in saying, "They need to split the class into two groups with the motors here, and I'm leading a different class. I'm driving my A-S-S off through the corners, and watching the guys drive away from me on the straightaways."
Hirschman pulled a good challenge on Craig Lutz just a night ago, and both placed inside the top-five on Tuesday with finishes of third and fifth, respectively. He also had a good run on McKennedy at the beginning, as well as Goodale afterwards, only slipping back in the late stages as Emerling took charge.
Considering he has won a lot of big races, including at New Smyrna in the past, you have to wonder if the comments are a product of his frustration. Given how fast the No. 60 has been, he could still easily visit victory lane before the week is over – and then we should ask him about his comments once again.
Categories: Commentary, NASCAR Roots, Observations
Tagged as: ashley mccubbin, doug coby, eric goodale, featured, matt hirschman, nascar, NASCAR Roots, new smyrna speedweeks, patrick emerling, ryan preece
OBSERATIONS: Busch Clash at Daytona International Speedway
NASCAR accelerates into spotlight, seeking authenticity with Netflix's "The Crew"
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Will Klatte shares a poem with Nelson councillors at the start of their meeting Monday.
Apr. 9, 2013 3:00 p.m.
A couple local poets shared their work at a Nelson City Council meeting Monday. Will Klatte and Jane Byers were invited to open the meeting as part of the Mayor's Poetry Challenge, a national initiative started by the mayor of Regina last year. Thirty other municipalities across Canada also invited poets to their council meetings last year and more are expected to take part this year.


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Футбольний клуб «Колос» Лазірки — український аматорський футбольний клуб із села Лазірки Оржицького району Полтавської області, заснований у 1956 році. Виступає у Чемпіонаті та Кубку Полтавської області. Домашні матчі приймає на однойменному стадіоні.

Заснований у 1956 році як «Колгоспник». У 1969 році перейменований на «Колос».

Досягнення
 Чемпіонат Полтавської області
 Срібний призер: 2016, 2017, 2018

Посилання
 «Колос» (Лазірки) на amateur.footboom.com
 «Колос», с. Лазорки

Футбольні клуби Полтавської області
Футбольні клуби, засновані 1956
Оржицький район

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Advance scientific, engineering, and technical knowledge in the fields of interest.


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Gatti, Milkovich hope voters miss their warts
The final grades are in, with two northwest Louisiana state senators hoping that voters will more likely see them as beauties rather than as beasts.
With elections approaching in the fall, legislative scorecards become a tool for incumbents to defend their records but also mechanisms by which challengers may criticize them. Two statewide interest groups, the Louisiana Association for Business and Industry which evaluates economics-related measures, and the Louisiana Family Forum which grades on social issues, recently released their 2019 versions.
In southern Caddo Parish and northern De Soto, Democrat state Sen. John Milkovich hopes voters will pay attention to one but not the other. In northern Bossier Parish and others parishes to the east, Republican state Sen. Ryan Gatti hopes for the same.
Posted by Jeff Sadow at 15:55 0 comments
LA must prohibit needle exchange programs
In the past couple of years, Louisiana's largest municipalities have adopted syringe exchange programs. Research now shows they committed a mistake that needs reversing.
In 2017 New Orleans and Baton Rouge launched such programs, and in 2018 Shreveport followed suit. These allow users to exchange used needles for unused ones, on the theory that addicts won't stop using just through denial of syringes and instead they will seek out dirty ones that then spread infectious, if not deadly, diseases. Collecting agencies ask no questions even though their distributions could lead to drug use, with the potential consequences of overdose and death. Additionally, this arrangement might encourage users not to leave used needles everywhere that not only create an eyesore but also could puncture unsuspecting members of the public and infect them.
Critics noted that this destigmatized, if not legitimized, drug use and of particularly harmful kinds that would cause abuse to grow. Proponents believed this would curtail disease, and a recent comprehensive survey revealed the latter were correct in that such programs reduced the incidence of HIV by 18 percent.
Thanks to LA policy-makers, hoot up legally
What time is it, Louisiana? It's hooting up time, and legally courtesy of ill-conceived and half-baked measures put into law and regulation by state policy-makers.
This week the first batch of medical marijuana should become ready for physicians to write "recommendations" (since any marijuana use runs contrary to federal law, a formal prescription puts a doctor's medical license at risk) for prospective patients. And thanks to policy laxness, it's primed for abuse.
The comedy of errors began in 2015, when the Legislature first rehashed laws on the books that permitted the presence of medical marijuana, but didn't put in place a mechanism for its distribution. It provided such a vehicle, along with an initial short list of eligible conditions, and specified use could occur through any means except inhalation.
Edwards grip on expansion narrative slipping
Medicaid expansion in Louisiana has proven itself a net negative. But it also may have become a net negative campaign issue for Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards with a straw that may break the camel's back.
Since Edwards unilaterally expanded Medicaid just after entering office, his Administration has waged a relentless propaganda campaign designed to convince the public that its benefits outweigh its costs. It has tried doing so on three fronts: (1) it's better for the public's health, (2) it saves the state money, and (3) it creates economic benefits.
All three propositions have been debunked, repeatedly. The first is the most nebulous, since we can't go back in time and create an experiment where we compare health outcomes for those eligible who did and didn't participate in it among Louisianans.
Edwards can't help alienating base or others
Current events have dragged Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards back into an uncomfortable spotlight pitting his base voters for reelection against swing voters.
As the 2020 election season for the presidency ramps up with dozens of Democrats jockeying for their party's nomination, simultaneously Edwards conducts his 2019 reelection attempt. His national-level counterparts have done him no favors by articulating an extreme leftist agenda anathema to a Louisiana majority. As a result, he does his best to ignore their existence.
Yett only miles from his residence occurred an incident that he cannot shy away from. Last month, an unidentified West Baton Rouge Parish deputy shot and killed a black man. Ostensibly in a raid of the place looking for illegal drugs according to the search warrant, an autopsy showed the bullet entered through the back of the neck, and the only eyewitness (although a potential accomplice in the drug crime, which could affect the veracity of her testimony) claims the shot came within seconds of law enforcement's entrance.


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Inside Zac Efron's Near-Death Experience
Joe Seer/Shutterstock
By Sandra Mardenfeld/Nov. 2, 2021 4:23 pm EST
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are more common than you might think. According to research conducted by Dr. Bruce Greyson — co-founder of the International Association from Near-Death Studies (IANDS) — about 5% of the population has had one (via The New York Post). These episodes happen when a person is proclaimed clinically dead, is close to death, or survives a crisis situation, said the IANDS website. There is even a condition called near-death-like experiences (NDLE), where people who are grief-stricken or engaged in intense exercise or meditation experience similar stirrings as those who have NDEs — intense bliss, peace, and other sensations.
Actor Zac Efron ("The Greatest Showman," "Baywatch") lived through two NDE incidents already, and he is only in his mid-30s. The first happened when he biked alongside "Greatest Showman" co-star Hugh Jackman, reported People. "I cycled with him in London, but I'm not one to ride a bike early in the morning in traffic, so it turned out to be quite dangerous," Efron said on the "Graham Norton Show" in 2017. "I followed Hugh around a few cars, and suddenly there was a double-decker bus right in front of me. I slammed on the brakes, went under the front tire, and narrowly missed death." Afterward, Jackman simply asked him if he was all right, and then they continued bike riding. Efron's second NDE, though, wasn't such a quick recovery — it required medical treatment.
Almost Killing Zac Efron
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
When Zac Efron shot the documentary series "Killing Zac Efron" in Papua New Guinea in 2019, it nearly did him in. The Daily Mail reported that the star needed to take a "life-or-death flight" to Brisbane, Australia after he experienced an infection described as a type of typhoid or bacterial illness. He spent several days recovering, and the actor described the process on his Instagram: "Very thankful to everyone who has reached out. I did get sick in Papua New Guinea, but I bounced back quick and finished an amazing three weeks in P.N.G. I'm home for the holidays with my friends and family."
The series was slated for the now-defunct mobile streaming service Quibi. "I tend to thrive under extreme circumstances and seek out opportunities that challenge me on every level," Efron said of filming the series in a statement quoted by Good Morning America. "I am excited to explore any uncharted territory and discover what unexpected adventure awaits." Hopefully, the rest of his upcoming journeys are free of those NDEs.


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Wins Deadline Alert: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $50,000 In Wins Finance Holdings, Inc. To Contact The Firm
By: NewMediaWire
NEW YORK - (NewMediaWire) - August 11, 2020 - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, reminds investors in Wins Finance Holdings, Inc. ("Wins" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:WINS) of the September 23, 2020 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.
If you invested in Wins stock or options between October 31, 2018 and July 6, 2020 and would like to discuss your legal rights, click here: www.faruqilaw.com/WINS. There is no cost or obligation to you.
You can also contact us by calling Richard Gonnello toll free at 877-247-4292 or at 212-983-9330 or by sending an e-mail to rgonnello@faruqilaw.com.
FARUQI & FARUQI, LLP
Attn: Richard Gonnello, Esq.
rgonnello@faruqilaw.com
The lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of all those who purchased Wins securities between October 31, 2018 and July 6, 2020 (the "Class Period"). The case, Kamau v. Wins Finance Holdings Inc. et al., No. 2:20-cv-06656 was filed on July 24, 2020.
The lawsuit focuses on whether the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) the ultimate repayment of a RMB 580 million loan to Guohong Asset Management Co., Ltd. ("Guohong Loan") was highly uncertain; (2) nonpayment of the Guohong Loan would have a significant impact on the Company's financial and operating condition; (3) weaknesses in Wins's internal control over its financial reporting persisted despite the Company's repeated assurances to investors that it was taking steps to remediate these weaknesses; (4) the foregoing issues, among others, made the resignation of Wins's independent auditor foreseeably likely; and (5) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
First, on October 31, 2019, Wins filed a notification of inability to timely file Form 20-F on Form NT 20-F with the SEC.
On this news, the Company's stock price fell from $11.90 per share on October 31, 2019 to $11.20 per share on November 1, 2019: a $0.70 or 5.88% drop.
On this news, the Company's stock price fell from $7.81 per share on May 26, 2020 to $7.20 per share on May 27, 2020: a $0.61 or 7.71% drop.
The Company's undisclosed ongoing financial difficulties—including nonrepayment of the Guohong Loan—and material control weaknesses came to a head on June 30, 2020, when CZD resigned as the Company's independent auditor after less than three years in that role. On July 6, 2020, Wins issued a press release announcing CZD's resignation in which it stated, in relevant part:
CZD expressed an adverse opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2017 and 2018 because of material weaknesses. During the Company's years ended June 30, 2017 and 2018 and through June 30, 2020, except with respect to the material weaknesses described below, there were no "reportable events" (defined below) requiring disclosure pursuant to Item 16F(a)(1)(iv) of Form 20-F. As used herein, the term "reportable event" means any of the items listed in paragraphs (a)(1)(v)(A)- (D) of Item 16F of Form 20-F. The following material weaknesses have been identified and included in management's assessment: lack of sufficient accounting personnel qualified in US GAAP, and SEC reporting; and insufficient accounting staff, which results in a failure to segregate duties sufficiently to ensure a timely and proper preparation and review of the financial statements.
On this news, the Company's stock price fell from $33.76 per share on July 6, 2020 to $31.70 per share on July 7, 2020: a $2.06 or 6.10% drop.
The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Wins's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.
Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.
Wins Finance Holdings Inc


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After a summer of protests, Seattle cuts police department budget by nearly 17%
Mayor Jenny Durkan said these "thoughtful reductions" will help "scale up alternatives to policing."
Seattle council votes to shrink police department budget by 18 percent
Nov. 24, 202001:53
By David K. Li
The Seattle City Council on Monday cut its police department budget by nearly 17 percent in a shift that grew out of this past summer's national protests against systemic racism.
The panel's 2021 spending plan called for $340 million to be allocated to the Seattle Police Department, down from $409 million this year, representatives of the council and mayor said Tuesday.
While some Seattle activists had demanded a 50-percent police budget deduction, Mayor Jenny Durkan said she backs these lesser cuts, calling them "thoughtful and deliberate" and saying the city will prioritize "what services we need from the Seattle Police Department and how we can scale up alternatives to policing."
"I believe we are laying the groundwork to make systemic and lasting changes to policing," Durkan said in a statement. "We have rightly put forward a plan that seeks to ensure SPD has enough officers to meet 911 response and investigative needs throughout the city, while acknowledging and addressing the disproportionate impacts policing has had on communities of color, particularly Black communities."
Durkan is expected to formally sign the 2021 budget into law next week, a City Hall spokeswoman said Tuesday.
Police follow protesters during a protest on Nov. 3, 2020, in Seattle.David Ryder / Getty Images
Council member Teresa Mosqueda, who heads the the budget committee, said it was a top priority to "downsize the SPD's budget" and move money to other social programs that will "invest in community alternatives that produce healthy outcomes for" minority communities.
She cited the police slayings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville as key moments that moved Seattle residents.
"We have much more work to do, and we must get to work on those next steps now," Mosqueda said.
The union representing Seattle officers decried the budget cutbacks and claimed that law enforcement services across the board would be hampered.
"You're going to see longer, if not hardly any follow-up investigations relative to secondary piece of a 911 call for help," Seattle Police Officers Guild President Mike Sloan said.
The tense, ongoing talks to slash the department budget led to the resignation of Carmen Best, who had been Seattle's first Black police chief.
Under the new spending plan, dozens of department vacancies will not be filled, overtime will be slashed and 911 dispatching and parking enforcement will be moved away from SPD control.


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Badesi ist eine Gemeinde in der Provinz Nord-Est Sardegna in der italienischen Region Sardinien mit  Einwohnern (Stand ).

Geographie
Badesi liegt an einem Berghang über dem breiten Schwemmtal des Coghinas-Flusses, etwa 2 Kilometer vom Meer entfernt. Zum Ort gehört ein großer Teil des 14 Kilometer langen Sandstrandes, der die Schwemmebene vom Meer trennt.

Die Nachbargemeinden sind Trinità d'Agultu e Vignola, Valledoria und Viddalba.

Weblinks

Einzelnachweise

Ort auf Sardinien
Weinbauort in Italien


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Mohsin Razi (b. May 26, 1955 in Karachi) is a career diplomat from Pakistan. He has served as Ambassador to Philippines since October 2009.

Earlier he served as the Consul General of Pakistan in New York, and was the former Director General National Authority & Disarmament Cell in Islamabad, Pakistan from 2004 to 2006. He has previously served in the Pakistani Embassies in Germany, Iraq and The Netherlands. He speaks English, Urdu, Punjabi, German, and Arabic.

Education
Razi holds a master's degree in Political Science, from the University of Punjab, and has attended the National Institute of Public Administration, Lahore.

Career
Razi joined the foreign service in 1982, and has served on several desks in Islamabad, such as Director Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma & Sri Lanka (NBBS). He was also Director General Europe.

Consul General
Mr. Mohsin Razi is currently the Consul General in New York for Pakistan. He is also accredited to Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Vermont.

References

External links
Institute of International Education Panelist
 Presentation given on Enhancing International Linkages in Higher Education with Pakistan
On Return of Buddha to Pakistan
Press Release OPCW
Lawyers Rally at N.Y. Courthouse to Support Pakistan's Attorneys
On Immigration Treatment of Edhi

Living people
1955 births
Ambassadors of Pakistan to the Philippines
University of the Punjab alumni