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Bookreporter.com Newsletter February 21, 2014
Quick Links to Features on Bookreporter.com
Reviews, Features, Bookreporter.com Bets On, Word of Mouth
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Lacking Pioneer Woman Skills
Looking at the weather forecast for today and tomorrow, I am seeing numbers with 5s in them. Two 5s as in 55! I like double 5s better than single 5s. It's been a brutal lesson in math this winter, where days were measured in single digits while snowfalls were captured with double digits. The New York area does very poorly at passing for a ski area; there are no gondolas or lifts at the curbs! Yesterday I drove down the street to my parking garage near the office, and it was closed for plowing. Nice to see them doing this extra-special cleanup two days after the storm and a day before it warmed up. Right now, bets are on about how long the snow sticks around here. April 1st is the over/under date.
Last weekend, I got a fun photo from Melanie Benjamin, the author of THE AVIATOR'S WIFE, who was in Savannah for the Savannah Book Festival. Leopold's Ice Cream, a Savannah institution, re-names their ice cream flavors in honor of all the authors featured during the week of the Savannah Book Festival! Melanie's was "The Aviator's Vanilla." You can see Melanie with her ice cream container above. I try to ration my own ice cream eating, and thus try to do "just a tablespoon" or a small Dixie cup-sized flavor. Last weekend, I tried Dulce de Leche, which was caramel-infused and just fabulous. It's a nice way to get to try many different flavors as opposed to the time I bought a half gallon of peppermint in December and still was looking at it in August!
Speaking of sampling, I came across a trailer for Unbroken, the film that Angelina Jolie is adapting from the mega-bestselling book by Laura Hillenbrand. It will be in theaters at Christmas, and given that Louis Zamperini, the main character, was an Olympic athlete, it makes sense that this debuted during the Olympics. My friend T.K. has told me again and again that this is his favorite book of all time --- and everyone that he has shared it with has loved it the same way. He gave the trailer a thumbs up.
While we are not as glued to the Olympics as usual this year, they are playing in the background. Last night, I watched the skating and realized that after all these years I still have no idea what a salchow or a triple loop really is...or a lutz, no matter how much the announcers are torquing themselves up with glee about them. I will say that that young Russian skater's spinning is amazing...spinning is something I understand!
Tom and Greg love to watch curling, which to me seems about as exciting as watching golf. Greg is taking part in a curling demonstration at a curling club in New Jersey tomorrow. If he likes it, he may take lessons. I am sure that there is a spike in traffic at the curling club every four years, much the same as we see on ski slopes and skating rinks. Greg is very practical about this. The way he sees it, he is too old to medal in skiing or skating, but in curling, he could have a chance given the ages of the competitors. I love the way he thinks! My husband would have wanted to race skeleton as he used to head down hills on his sled head first as a kid. Whenever I headed down headfirst, all I could think of was knocking out my teeth like the unfortunate child whom we all always heard about when we went sledding. Now I am not sure if this ever happened to any child, but our mothers had us so terrified with that image that none of us sled headfirst as that vision was racing in our heads. We also were told that other reckless sledders would go into trees and break limbs. We were not being groomed to luge!
As I am not Olympics bound, I have been reading. Wait, perhaps my sport is juggling books as I typically am reading two at the same time --- and I can keep the plots straight. The first is THE COLD SONG by Linn Ullmann. I was a guest at a luncheon this week where Linn and her book were introduced, and I started reading it that night. Set on the coast of Norway, it revolves around a couple with two children. She is a chef and restaurateur, while her husband is a famous novelist with writer's block. One summer, a young girl named Milla is hired to babysit their children. One day, Milla disappears and her body is found years later. I am not far enough in to know much more, except that I want to keep reading; I am enjoying Linn's storytelling.
The other book is THE IDEA OF HIM by Holly Peterson, who wrote THE MANNY, a book I still remember fondly. THE IDEA OF HIM is a brisk page-turner about Allie Crawford, a public relations exec who aspires to be a screenwriter. She finds her husband in a compromising position at a party at her home, but so far it's not what she thinks…it's something more dangerous. Allie is a harried mother who for some reason reminds me a lot of Alicia Florrick on "The Good Wife," a show that I love.
In news this week, I am really happy to share that our Sneak Peek: An Early Look at an Upcoming Book feature is back with our latest title, THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR by Joel Dicker, a debut novel that I talked about in the February 7th newsletter. This is the book that kept me from doing much else while I was reading it! I kept saying 10 more pages. It's a literary thriller about the disappearance of a 15-year-old New Hampshire girl and, 33 years later, a young American writer's determination to clear his mentor's name --- and find the inspiration for his next bestseller. The book doesn't release until May 27th, but we have 50 advance copies to give away to readers who can commit to previewing it and sharing their comments on it by April 30th. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, March 6th at noon ET.
For our Sneak Peek program, your commitment to participate is critical, so please only enter this contest if you truly will have time to read THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR and give us your feedback before our April 30th deadline. We take these project deadlines seriously. If not, don't worry…we will have more opportunities like this in the future!
Alice Hoffman's latest book, THE MUSEUM OF EXTRAORDINARY THINGS, released this week, and we have our review to share with you. Coralie Sardie is the daughter of the sinister impresario behind The Museum of Extraordinary Things, a Coney Island boardwalk freak show that thrills the masses. One night, Coralie stumbles upon a striking young man taking pictures of moonlit trees. When Eddie Cohen photographs the devastation on the streets of New York following the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, he becomes embroiled in the suspicious mystery behind a young woman's disappearance and ignites the heart of Coralie. Reviewer Kate Ayers proclaims the novel to be "an extraordinary book. Alice Hoffman's pacing is spot on, starting slowly and building steadily to a grand finale. Her characters are so fully realized that you will lose yourself in their lives, ache for their heartbreak, and cry for their miseries."
EVENING STARS, the latest installment in Susan Mallery's series of books set on Blackberry Island, is the newest title in our Women's Fiction Author Spotlight. Small-town nurse Nina Wentworth has made a career out of being a caretaker. More "Mom" than their mother ever was, she sacrificed medical school --- and her first love --- so her sister could break free. Which is why she isn't exactly thrilled to see Averil back on Blackberry Island, especially when Nina's life has suddenly become…complicated. We have 25 advance copies of the book, which releases on February 25th, to give away to readers who would like to read and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Tuesday, March 4th at noon ET.
This week we launched our Spring Preview Feature, which gives us an opportunity to spotlight a number of new books releasing in the spring that we are looking forward to and that you will want to consider adding to your reading list. We're hosting a series of 24-hour contests for these books, so you'll have to check the site each day to see which title is being given away --- or you can sign up for our Spring Preview newsletter to be notified when contests go live. We kicked it all off with THE SIGNATURE OF ALL THINGS by Elizabeth Gilbert. Next week's prize books will be FAR GONE by Laura Griffin and THE KRAKEN PROJECT by Douglas Preston. Besides entering the contests, we recommend you look at the entire list of titles here.
Speaking of contests, we wanted to point out a couple of exciting ones happening right now on two of our other sites, both spotlighting anniversaries for some beloved children's titles. We are betting you will remember either reading these yourself or reading them with a child. We purposely structured these contests so you can enjoy these celebrations as well by entering them!
On 20SomethingReads.com, we are celebrating multiple Shel Silverstein anniversaries, including the 50th of THE GIVING TREE and the 40th of WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS, with a contest that will be running from now until Tuesday, March 18th at noon ET. To enter, readers will submit a short poem (a maximum of five lines) for a chance to win an outstanding grand prize, which includes a copy of each of the following: the 40th anniversary edition of WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS, and 50th anniversary editions of THE GIVING TREE, DON'T BUMP THE GLUMP!, A GIRAFFE AND A HALF, and LAFCADIO, THE LION WHO SHOT BACK. The runner-up will receive the anniversary editions of THE GIVING TREE and WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS. We'll post the top two poems plus our 10 favorites on the site.
We're also hosting a contest in honor of the 50th anniversary of HARRIET THE SPY. Five readers will be awarded a copy of a special 50th anniversary edition of the book, which includes not just the original story but also a map of Harriet's New York City neighborhood and spy route, tributes by such authors as Judy Blume and Lois Lowry, and copies of letters between the editor and author. To enter, we pose a fun question: Which literary character would you spy on, and why? Click here for details on how both you and the kids in your life can enter to win over at Kidsreads.com!
I am pleased to announce that THE INNOCENT SLEEP by Karen Perry and RUNNER by Patrick Lee are my latest Bookreporter.com Bets On selections.
THE INNOCENT SLEEP finds Harry and Robin settling into a new kind of life five years after the presumed death of their son, Dillon. However, when Harry gets a glimpse of Dillon on the crowded streets of Dublin, the past comes rushing back at both of them. Has Dillon been alive all these years? Or was what Harry saw just a figment of his guilt-ridden imagination? Jamie Layton has our review and calls the book "a haunting, tragic debut novel that on the surface seems like the straightforward story of a couple who struggles to move on years after the loss of their child. As the storyline becomes more convoluted, however, it proves that sometimes what you think you see is actually very different from what is." Click here to see why I'm betting you'll love this book.
RUNNER is the start of Patrick Lee's thriller series starring retired special forces agent Sam Dryden, who in this first installment encounters a young girl who is running from a group of heavily armed men intent on killing her. He learns that the 11-year-old has been kept in a secret prison by forces within the government. She only remembers the past two months of her life and that she has a skill that makes her very dangerous to these men. Dryden agrees to help her try to unravel her own past and make sense of it, to protect her from the people who are moving heaven and earth to find them both. According to reviewer Joe Hartlaub, "I spent most of the novel waiting for a net to drop over Dryden and Rachel. It does, for a moment or two, but Lee is just getting started. By book's end, your heart will be in your mouth or on the floor --- everywhere it's not supposed to be." Well said, Joe! Click here to see why I'm betting you'll love this book.
We've updated our Young Adult Books You Want to Read feature, reviews that we've posted recently on our Teenreads.com site. This month's selections are CONQUEST: The Chronicles of the Invaders, Book 1 by John Connolly and Jennifer Ridyard and GRANDMASTER by David Klass. Click here to see more YA books we recommend you read.
In our poll this week, we ask which of our sites in The Book Report Network you visit. Do you only look at Bookreporter.com? Or do you explore other sites? Click here to let us know! Answers to questions like this help us with future programming.
Our previous poll asked: When you're reading nonfiction about history, do you prefer that the book reads more like a novel or more like an academic work (i.e., a more straightforward account of events)? 71% of you chose the former, while only 9% selected the latter. Meanwhile, 12% of you have no preference, and 9% typically don't read nonfiction books about history.
We have a new Word of Mouth contest this week. Let us know what books you're reading, and you'll have the opportunity to win these three books: A CIRCLE OF WIVES by Alice LaPlante, THE TROOP: A Novel of Terror by Nick Cutter, and TROUBLE IN MIND: The Collected Stories, Volume 3 by Jeffery Deaver. Please fill out the form on this page by Friday, March 7th at noon ET.
The finalists for the 34th annual L.A. Times Book Prizes were announced this week. Among the nominees are SYCAMORE ROW by John Grisham (Mystery/Thriller), A TALE FOR THE TIME BEING by Ruth Ozeki (Fiction) and FIVE DAYS AT MEMORIAL: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital, by Sheri Fink (Current Interest). Click here for all the nominees. The winners will be announced on April 11th, the evening before the L.A. Times Festival of Books, taking place on April 12th and 13th.
Also this week, we found out the finalists for the Audie Awards, the only awards program in the US devoted entirely to honoring spoken word entertainment. Among the nominees are THE HIT by David Baldacci (Thriller/Suspense), THE LONGEST RIDE by Nicholas Sparks (Romance) and ONE SUMMER: 1927 by Bill Bryson (History). Click here for the complete list of nominees. The winners will be announced at the Audies Gala on May 29th at the New York Academy of Medicine.
WHEW…you never would know it was a short week for our team. Thanks to the many of you who sent much-deserved birthday wishes to our Editorial Director, Tom Donadio, last week. I loved hearing that he heard from so many of you.
Quiet weekend on tap here. My goal: try to unearth some firewood. We have not seen the ground since December, and my lack of pioneer woman skills kept me from stacking up wood on the ring on the front porch back in October and November, or else we would have had enough wood. Three days of 50-degree weather MAY help me find the wood pile. I have my tall snow boots ready to go. I think I remember where the wood pile was.
I finished knitting a scarf last weekend, and four other knitting projects each have one inch done on them. The other night, I met Tom for dinner at a restaurant and asked him to bring me the blue sweater so I could continue working on it. He has been married to me long enough to know there are variations on blue and which is which. Here's to a great week ahead. Read on….
Now in Stores: THE MUSEUM OF EXTRAORDINARY THINGS by Alice Hoffman
THE MUSEUM OF EXTRAORDINARY THINGS by Alice Hoffman (Historical Romance/Mystery)
Coralie Sardie is the daughter of the sinister impresario behind The Museum of Extraordinary Things, a Coney Island boardwalk freak show that thrills the masses. One night, Coralie stumbles upon a striking young man taking pictures of moonlit trees. When Eddie Cohen photographs the devastation on the streets of New York following the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, he becomes embroiled in the suspicious mystery behind a young woman's disappearance and ignites the heart of Coralie. Reviewed by Kate Ayers.
-Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read a review.
Now in Stores: CONCEALED IN DEATH by J. D. Robb
CONCEALED IN DEATH by J. D. Robb (Mystery)
In a decrepit, long-empty New York building, Lieutenant Eve Dallas's husband begins the demolition process by swinging a sledgehammer into a wall. When the dust clears, there are two skeletons wrapped in plastic behind it. He summons his wife immediately --- and by the time she's done with the crime scene, there are 12 murders to be solved. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
Sneak Peek: An Early Look at an Upcoming Book --- Our Latest Featured Title: THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR by Joël Dicker
At Bookreporter.com, we have the opportunity to read many great books well in advance of their release dates. With our Sneak Peek Feature and Contest, we offer our readers the chance to preview select early picks --- and share feedback on them. We know that readers champion books that they love, and we want you to be part of the excitement of upcoming releases as early as possible.
Our latest Sneak Peek Feature spotlights THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR by Joël Dicker, an ingenious book within a book about the disappearance of a 15-year-old New Hampshire girl and, 33 years later, a young American writer's determination to clear his mentor's name --- and find the inspiration for his next bestseller. The book doesn't release until May 27th, but we have 50 advance copies to give away to readers who can commit to previewing it and sharing their comments on it by April 30th. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, March 6th at noon ET.
For our Sneak Peek program, your commitment to participate is critical, so please only enter this contest if you truly will have time to read THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR and give us your feedback before our April 30th deadline. We take these project deadlines seriously. If not, don't worry…we will have more opportunities like this in the future.
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR by Joël Dicker (Literary Thriller)
August 30, 1975: the day 15-year-old Nola Kellergan is glimpsed fleeing through the woods before she disappears; the day Somerset, New Hampshire, lost its innocence.
Thirty-three years later, Marcus Goldman, a successful young novelist, visits Somerset to see his mentor, Harry Quebert, one of America's most respected writers, and to find a cure for his writer's block as his publisher's deadline looms. But Marcus's plans are violently upended when Harry is suddenly and sensationally implicated in the cold-case murder of Nola Kellergan --- whom, he admits, he had an affair with.
As the national media convicts Harry, Marcus launches his own investigation, following a trail of clues through his mentor's books, the backwoods and isolated beaches of New Hampshire, and the hidden history of Somerset's citizens and the man they hold most dear. To save Harry, his writing career, and eventually even himself, Marcus must answer three questions, all of which are mysteriously connected: Who killed Nola Kellergan? What happened one misty morning in Somerset in the summer of 1975? And how do you write a successful and true novel?
-Click here to read Joël Dicker's bio.
-Click here to visit Joël Dicker's official website.
-Click here to connect with Joël Dicker on Twitter.
Click here to read more in our Sneak Peek Feature and enter the contest.
New Women's Fiction Author Spotlight & Contest: EVENING STARS by Susan Mallery
We have 25 advance copies of EVENING STARS: A Blackberry Island Novel by Susan Mallery, which releases on February 25th, to give away to readers who would like to read the book and comment on it. To enter, please fill out this form by Tuesday, March 4th at noon ET.
EVENING STARS: A Blackberry Island Novel by Susan Mallery (Fiction)
Small-town nurse Nina Wentworth has made a career out of being a caretaker. More "Mom" than their mother ever was, she sacrificed medical school --- and her first love --- so her sister could break free. Which is why she isn't exactly thrilled to see Averil back on Blackberry Island, especially when Nina's life has suddenly become…complicated.
Nina unexpectedly finds herself juggling two men --- her high school sweetheart and a younger maverick pilot who also wants to claim her heart. But as fun as all this romance is, Nina has real life to deal with. Averil doesn't seem to want the great guy she's married to, and doesn't seem to be making headway writing her first book; their mom is living life just as recklessly as she always has; and Nina's starting to realize that the control she once had is slipping out of her fingers. Her hopes of getting off the island seem to be stretching further away…until her mother makes a discovery that could change everything forever.
But before Nina and Averil can reach for the stars, they have to decide what they want. Will Averil stay? Will Nina leave? And what about the men who claim to love them? Does love heal, or will finding their happy ending mean giving up all they've ever wanted?
Download a copy of the EVENING STARS book club kit here! Inside you'll find a letter from Susan, a Blackberry Island map, a special author Q&A, recipes and more to make your book club a success!
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here for the reading group guide.
-Click here to read Susan Mallery's bio.
-Click here to visit Susan Mallery's official website.
-Connect with Susan Mallery on Facebook and Twitter.
-Click here to visit the Blackberry Island series website.
Click here to read more in our Women's Fiction Author Spotlight and enter the contest.
Bookreporter.com Bets On: THE INNOCENT SLEEP by Karen Perry and RUNNER by Patrick Lee
THE INNOCENT SLEEP by Karen Perry (Thriller)
THE INNOCENT SLEEP is by Karen Perry, which is the pen name of the Dublin-based writers Paul Perry and Karen Gillece. This is their first novel together (they are married but not to each other --- just friends). It opens in Tangiers where Harry and Robin are living with their son, Dillon. Harry is home with Dillon making Robin a special birthday dinner when he realizes he has forgotten her present. Dillon is asleep and makes a quick decision to race over to their friend's home to pick up the gift. While he is gone, an earthquake occurs. The building where Dillon was sleeping is destroyed, but his body is never found.
Flash forward, and Harry and Robin are back in Dublin, their native home, putting the pieces of their lives back together when one day Harry is sure that he has seen Dillon. Who has he seen?
-Click here to read more of Carol's thoughts on the book.
-Click here to read a review.
RUNNER by Patrick Lee (Thriller)
Last April, I read RUNNER by Patrick Lee in manuscript and still remember being breathless when I read it. Thrillers that give you many "aha" moments are the ones you don't forget --- and RUNNER certainly has many of those!
Sam Dryden is a retired Ranger special forces agent who once was part of a team that ran a lot of his operations off the grid. Now he has rebuilt his life in a small Southern California town. He's a loner, having lost both his wife and young daughter in an accident. As an aside here, I knew someone who was a special agent for the FBI, and we talked one night about how one adjusts after having lived that kind of an adrenaline-filled life. How does one go from missions at Ruby Ridge, Waco and Yemen, to carpooling, grocery shopping and normal life? He told me that between the memories and the change in the pace of your life, it's a real challenge. For years, he was the guy coaching baseball who might get a call in the middle of a game. It would not be that his wife needed milk, but rather he was wheels up on an assignment in two hours.
Click here for more books we're betting you'll love.
Bookreporter.com's Spring Preview Contests and Feature
Spring is in the air (or will be in a few weeks)! We've already caught the fever --- and it's being fueled by a list of great upcoming books! Here are some picks that we know people will be talking about over the next few months. We will be hosting a number of 24-hour contests for these titles on select days through March 20th. You will need to check the site to see the featured book and enter to win. We also will be sending a special newsletter to announce each title, which you can sign up for here.
Our next prize book will be announced on Tuesday, February 25th at noon ET.
This year's featured titles include the following:
THE COLD SONG by Linn Ullmann
THE COTTAGE ON JUNIPER RIDGE: Life in Icicle Falls by Sheila Roberts
FAR GONE by Laura Griffin
A HUNDRED SUMMERS by Beatriz Williams
THE KRAKEN PROJECT by Douglas Preston
LOVERS AT THE CHAMELEON CLUB, PARIS 1932 by Francine Prose
THE OTHER TYPIST by Suzanne Rindell
THE SHELF: From LEQ to LES: Adventures in Extreme Reading by Phyllis Rose
THE SIGNATURE OF ALL THINGS by Elizabeth Gilbert
THE SNOW QUEEN by Michael Cunningham
TOMORROW THERE WILL BE APRICOTS by Jessica Soffer
WHIRLWIND by Rick Mofina
Click here to see our Spring Preview feature and sign up for our special newsletter.
Now in Stores: THE WINTER PEOPLE by Jennifer McMahon
THE WINTER PEOPLE by Jennifer McMahon (Literary Thriller)
In 1908, Sara Harrison Shea was found dead in the field behind her house just months after the tragic death of her daughter, Gertie. Now, in present day, 19-year-old Ruthie lives in Sara's farmhouse with her mother, Alice, and her younger sister, Fawn. Alice has always insisted that they live off the grid, a decision that suddenly proves perilous when Ruthie wakes up one morning to find that Alice has vanished without a trace. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
Now in Stores: A BURNABLE BOOK by Bruce Holsinger
A BURNABLE BOOK by Bruce Holsinger (Historical Thriller)
London, 1385. A book of poems prophesying the death of English kings, including the newly crowned King Richard II, is all anyone can talk about. John Gower --- a poet himself, but more importantly, a man with connections --- must find the book to save his friend, the poet Geoffrey Chaucer. What he doesn't know or understand are his personal connections to the book that could also get him killed. Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski.
Historical Fiction Author Spotlight: CITY OF JASMINE by Deanna Raybourn
CITY OF JASMINE by Deanna Raybourn (Historical Fiction)
Famed aviatrix Evangeline Starke never expected to see her husband, adventurer Gabriel Starke, ever again. They had been a golden couple, enjoying a whirlwind courtship amid the backdrop of a glittering social set in prewar London until his sudden death with the sinking of the Lusitania.
Five years later, beginning to embrace life again, Evie embarks upon a flight around the world, collecting fame and admirers along the way. In the midst of her triumphant tour, she is shocked to receive a mysterious --- and recent --- photograph of Gabriel, which brings her ambitious stunt to a screeching halt.
CITY OF JASMINE releases on February 25th.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Deanna Raybourn's bio.
-Visit Deanna Raybourn's official website and blog.
-Connect with Deanna Raybourn on Facebook and Twitter.
Click here to read more in our Historical Fiction Author Spotlight.
Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight: WHEN SHADOWS FALL by J.T. Ellison
WHEN SHADOWS FALL: A Samantha Owens Novel by J.T. Ellison (Thriller)
Forensic pathologist Dr. Samantha Owens thought life was finally returning to normal after she suffered a terrible personal loss. Settling into her new job at Georgetown University, the illusion is shattered when she receives a disturbing letter from a dead man imploring her to solve his murder.
There's only one catch. Timothy Savage's death was so obviously the suicide of a demented individual that the case has been closed. When Sam learns Savage left a will requesting she autopsy his body, she feels compelled to look into the case. Sam's own postmortem discovers clear signs that Savage was indeed murdered. And she finds DNA from a child who went missing years earlier and has nl-a-sever been found.
WHEN SHADOWS FALL releases on February 25th.
-Click here to read J.T. Ellison's bio.
-Click here to visit J.T. Ellison's official website.
-Connect with J.T. Ellison on Facebook and Twitter.
Click here to read more in our Suspense/Thriller Author Spotlight.
More Reviews This Week
THE ADVENTURES OF HENRY THOREAU: A Young Man's Unlikely Path to Walden Pond by Michael Sims (Biography)
THE ADVENTURES OF HENRY THOREAU --- chronicling the 10 years in his life beginning with Harvard in 1837 and ending as he walked away from Walden Pond after living in his long dreamed-of cabin for only two years --- tells the dramatic (and at times heartbreaking) story of how a troubled young man found a meaningful life in a tempestuous era. Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott.
I FORGOT TO REMEMBER: A Memoir of Amnesia by Su Meck with Daniel de Vise (Memoir)
In 1988, Su Meck suffered a traumatic brain injury that erased all her memories of her life up to that point. Although her body healed rapidly, her memories never returned. Yet after just three weeks in the hospital, Su was released and once again charged with the care of two toddlers and a busy household. Nearly 20 years would pass before a series of personally devastating events shattered the "normal" life she had worked so hard to build, and she realized that she would have to grow up all over again. Reviewed by Pauline Finch.
CAUGHT by Lisa Moore (Literary Adventure)
David Slaney has escaped from prison, where he was locked up on charges of marijuana possession. A trucker who is a friend of his sister transports him to a strip bar, where he survives his first night of freedom. But Slaney intends to track down his old partner, Hearn, and get back into the drug business. Along the way, Slaney's fugitive journey across Canada rushes vibrantly to life as he visits an old flame and adopts numerous guises to outpace authorities. Reviewed by Norah Piehl.
DARK INVASION: 1915: Germany's Secret War and the Hunt for the First Terrorist Cell in America by Howard Blum (History)
When a "neutral" United States becomes a trading partner for the Allies early in World War I, the Germans implement a secret plan to strike back. A team of saboteurs devise a series of "mysterious accidents" using explosives and biological weapons to bring down vital targets. New York Police Inspector Tom Tunney, head of the department's Bomb Squad, is assigned the difficult mission of stopping them. Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman.
MY NAME IS RESOLUTE by Nancy E. Turner (Historical Fiction)
The year is 1729, and Resolute Talbot and her siblings are captured by pirates, taken from their family in Jamaica, and brought to the New World. Resolute and her sister are sold into slavery in New England and taught the trade of spinning and weaving. She struggles to find her way in a society that is quick to judge a young woman without a family. As the seeds of rebellion against England grow, Resolute is torn between following the rules and breaking free. Reviewed by Roz Shea.
TIME OF ATTACK by Marc Cameron (Thriller)
People in a small Utah town are contracting a horrific disease with alarming plague-like symptoms, and outbreaks are already being reported in China, Japan and England. Evidence suggests this is not a new strain of superbug, but an act of war. Special agent Jericho Quinn, hellbent on finding the sniper who attacked his family, steps into an even bigger --- and deadlier --- conspiracy: a secret cabal of elite assassins embedded throughout the globe. Reviewed by Ray Palen.
ROMANCE IS MY DAY JOB: A Memoir of Finding Love at Last by Patience Bloom (Memoir)
As a teen, Patience Bloom fell in love with Harlequin novels and imagined her life would turn out just like the heroines' on the page. Years later, she moved to New York and found her dream job: editing romances for Harlequin. Bloom became an expert when it came to fictional love stories, but her dating life remained uninspired. Then one day, a real-life chance at romance made her wonder if what she'd been writing and editing all those years might be true. Reviewed by Frederick Lloyd.
LION PLAYS ROUGH: A Leo Maxwell Mystery by Lachlan Smith (Mystery)
In LION PLAYS ROUGH, the second in Lachlan Smith's acclaimed Leo Maxwell series, Leo is tasked by a mysterious woman to defend her wrongfully accused brother, only to find himself accused of a heinous crime that only he can solve. Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub.
Young Adult Books You Want to Read
Our company, The Book Report Network, has a number of websites about books and authors in addition to Bookreporter.com. Throughout the year, Bookreporter.com features adult books on Teenreads.com, our site for young adult readers, that we think will have definite appeal to a teen audience. In the spirit of sharing, we spotlight a selection of titles each month from Teenreads.com that we believe are great reads that you might enjoy.
Here are our latest featured titles:
CONQUEST: The Chronicles of the Invaders, Book 1 by John Connolly and Jennifer Ridyard (Science Fiction/Adventure)
The first installment in John Connolly and Jennifer Ridyard's new science fiction trilogy, The Chronicles of the Invaders, CONQUEST introduces a world where humanity has been conquered by a powerful alien rulership --- unless a group of young rebels can unlock their powers and help rescue humankind from its terrible fate.
GRANDMASTER by David Klass (Fiction)
As a teen, Daniel Pratzer's father was one of the most promising chess players in America. But the pressures of the game pushed him too far, and he gave up chess. Now, 30 years later, Mr. Pratzer returns to the game to face down an old competitor and old demons. Daniel was looking for acceptance --- but his father's secrets will force him to make some surprising moves himself.
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A new farmers market is open each Sunday in Lancaster from late May to early October, featuring locally-sourced organic produce, honey, baked goods, ready-to-eat food and a full event calendar of family-oriented activities and live music each week. Lancaster East Side Market runs May 25 to October 26, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Musser Park, at the corner of East Chestnut and North Shippen streets.
Each week, in addition to the core vendors, the market features a guest vendor and a local chef or food truck on site. The aroma of ready-to-eat fare (including vegan and vegetarian options) and live music drifts through the park. The family fun includes skill shares or workshops offered on topics such as organic farming, bicycle repair, art and craft projects, yoga and even live alpacas.
The market is run by a group of women with a passion for providing the freshest of field to table fare and family-friendly fun. The board is comprised of five vendors, EmmaKate Martin, Caitlin Brady, Lori Stahl, Emily Keller and Rachel DeVitry. They are former vendors, along with volunteer Cheryl Alvarez, of the former Eastern Market, located on East King Street which closed at the end of last summer.
Above and banner photo credit: Michelle Johnsen.
According to Cheryl Alvarez, the new Lancaster East Side Market master, "After Eastern Market closed, we were able to work with the city of Lancaster to agree to house this new market at Musser Park and are letting people know that this market is a fresh start for us--a new venture--offering fresh ideas and events for families. The market is successful as people come out each week; vendors find it worth their time, as we support small businesses and as more people find out about us and want to come because it is so much fun."
EmmaKate Martin, farmer, agrees, saying, "Our mission is to make market a weekly destination for families and community, to be a place to meet your farmer, beekeeper, baker and be able to have personal interaction to learn how our market fare is grown, made and prepared."
Vendor Caitlin Brady, adds, "It is great for families as there is open green space to spend some time here, to experience skill shares and workshops-—free events as well as specific kids' days and festivals. I think the families that usually come to the park can also come around and have their children learn about organic farming. It's important because parents are always involving their children to learn new things, and we offer that local connection. I work hard to provide the healthiest produce possible. To have people enjoy it, that brings me joy."
Lori Stahl, beekeeper, says "I rate success in smiles, of the children and families each week."
East Side Market - Lancaster from Ian Falcone Productions on Vimeo.
Cash and checks are accepted now, with plans to take credit cards and EBT cards soon. Alcohol is not allowed in the park. The list of vendors, food, musicians and event schedule each week is available at the East Side Market website and on Facebook.


text:
Officials: Houma woman dies in accidental mobile home fire traced back to cigarette
10 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago Tuesday, March 16 2021 Mar 16, 2021 March 16, 2021 7:32 AM March 16, 2021 in News
Source: WBRZ
Terrebonne Parish - Officials say a woman with disabilities was killed in a Terrebonne Parish mobile home fire last Thursday (March 12).
According to deputies with the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal (SFM), the fire broke out around 11:15 p.m. within the 100 block of Darcey Trailer Court and took the life of 39-year-old Lisa Ann Dobson, a bedridden resident of the home.
When personnel with the Houma Fire Department arrived at the scene of the fire, first responders say they spoke with three occupants of the home who'd escaped the fire and were standing outside, they told firefighters that one occupant was still inside.
This occupant, Dobson, was later found deceased in one of the home's bedrooms.
Deputies say their investigation revealed that the mobile home fire originated on a mattress where two of the occupants were sleeping.
Evidence, supported by witness statements, indicated one of the occupants fell asleep while smoking and a cigarette was the cause of the blaze.
Officials are classifying the tragic fire as accidental.
Family asks for community's help in cheering...
Hundreds line up to get their records...
Crews shutting down I-12 East in Baton...
As mobile sports betting goes live, LSU...
As mobile sports betting goes live, LSU looks to cash with email blasted to many, including some students
Man released after nearly 20 years in...
Man released after nearly 20 years in prison due to twin confessing to murder

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


CAS2: Brief Complete Kit KIT Jack A. Naglieri+ J. P. Das+ Sam Goldstein : LinguiSystems, Inc.
The CAS2: Brief is a norm-referenced measure of cognitive ability based on the well-researched cognitive/neuropsychological theory called PASS (Planning, Attention, Simultaneous, and Successive). PASS abilities are evaluated using four subtests (Planned Codes, Simultaneous Matrices, Expressive Attention, and Successive Digits) which are combined to yield a Total Score. The sum of index scores can be converted into a percentile rank and composite index score with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15.
The CAS2: Brief provides practitioners with a brief but valid and reliable tool to examine children and adolescent's strengths and weaknesses in important areas of cognitive processing. The CAS2: Brief was designed to be used whenever a fast, reliable, research-based measure is needed to evaluate PASS cognitive abilities. This would include initial testing to measure overall ability and examination of variability in PASS scores to determine possible implications for intervention.
Examiner's Manual. This manual provides general information, specific instructions for administering and scoring the subtests, norms tables, and interpretive tables.
Stimulus Book. The Stimulus Book provides the stimulus items for the Simultaneous Matrices and Expressive Attention subtests.
Student Response Book. The Student Response Booklet is used for examinees to record responses to the Planned Codes subtest.
Scoring Templates. A spiral-bound booklet with six scoring templates offers examiners a convenient aid for ease and accuracy in scoring the Planned Codes subtest.
Examiner Record Form. The Examiner Record Form provides space for recording responses for each subtest, as well as a summary of the scoring and permanent documentation of test results.
Red pencils. Two red pencils are included for the student to use when taking the Planned Codes subtest.
The CAS2: Brief was standardized using a group of 1,417 children and adolescents that closely represent the population of the U.S. Extensive reliability and validity information is reported in the Examiner's Manual. Full Scale reliability is .94; subtest reliabilities range from .86 to .93. Validity studies compare CAS2: Brief results with both the CAS2 and CAS2: Rating Scale, as well as a variety of tests of intelligence and achievement.


text:
Q: C++ std::chrono giving wrong output in its own example So I have been using a time profiler class (see bellow). It was working flawlessly untill some point (by not working I mean I suspected it was outputing weird values). I then created a new blank project from scratch and basically copy pasted the example from here: http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/chrono/duration/duration_cast. Instead, it now prints 1014 when its clearly supposed to be 1000, just like its been doibg untill yesterday! Once again, the same example from the link above used to work untill yesterday. I have no idea what happened. I restarted my machine but it did not work still.
Here's the time profiler class:
#pragma once

#include <stdio.h>
#include <time.h>
#include <chrono> // C++11
#include <thread>
#include <string>

namespace profiler
{
// The time profiling class
class Time
{
public:
    Time(const std::string& str)
        : m_str(str), m_start(std::chrono::system_clock::now()) { }

    virtual ~Time()
    {
        auto end = std::chrono::system_clock::now();
        auto duration = std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::milliseconds>(end - m_start).count();

        printf("%s took %lli milliseconds\n", m_str.empty() ? "Block" : m_str.c_str(), duration);
    }

private:
    std::string m_str;
    std::chrono::system_clock::time_point m_start;
};
}

#ifdef _DEBUG
// Profile only if debugging. This profiles the time spent to process the block that this macro was called within
#ifndef TIME
#define TIME(str) profiler::Time timer__(str)
#endif // TIME
#else
// If not debugging, do nothing
#ifndef TIME
#define TIME(str) do { } while(0) // This avoids empty statements
#endif // TIME
#endif // _DEBUG

#ifndef SLEEP
#define SLEEP(ms) std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(ms));
#endif

// A working example of this profiler. Call EXAMPLE() and it should print 16 milliseconds
#ifndef EXAMPLE
#define EXAMPLE() \
    profiler::Time timer__("Example that takes 16 milliseconds (value should match)"); \
    std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(1)); \
    std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(2)); \
    std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(3)); \
    std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(10));
#endif

Here's the usage code:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <chrono>
#include <thread>

int main()
{
    auto start = std::chrono::system_clock::now();

    std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::seconds(1));

    auto end = std::chrono::system_clock::now();
    auto duration = std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::milliseconds>(end - start).count();

    printf("Block took %lli milliseconds\n", duration);

    return getchar();
}

I'm using Visual Studio Ultimate 2012 on Windows 7 Professional 64 bits, if that helps.

A: std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::seconds(1)); is in no way guaranteed to sleep for exactly 1 second.
Using 1.014 seconds, including the second call to now(), must be considered good enough.

A: In all likelihood its another app calling timeBeginPeriod which is messing with your measurements. Heres an example:
Heres an app which measures 1000ms sleeping, then spawns another app which calls timeBeingPeriod(1) and timeEndPeriod(1). Note how a second app calling timeBeginPeriod affects this apps measurement of time:
#include <Windows.h>
#include <chrono>
#include <iostream>

int main(int nArgs, char**args)
{
    if (nArgs <= 1)
    {
        // if we're spawned normally measure sleeping for 1000ms 30 times
        for (int i = 0; i < 30; ++i)
        {
            auto timeBegin = std::chrono::system_clock::now();
            Sleep(1000);
            auto timeEnd = std::chrono::system_clock::now();
            auto duration = std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::milliseconds>(timeEnd - timeBegin);
            std::cout << "Iteration " << i << ", sleeping for 1000ms took " << duration.count() << "ms..." << std::endl;
            // On the 10th iteration spawn a bad app which calls timeBeginPeriod(1)
            if (i == 10)
            {
                std::cout << "Spawning bad process" << std::endl;
                PROCESS_INFORMATION pi = {};
                STARTUPINFOA si = { sizeof(STARTUPINFOA) };
                CreateProcessA("..\\Debug\\Timer.exe", "be a bad process", nullptr, nullptr, FALSE, 0, nullptr, nullptr, &si, &pi);
            }
        }
    }
    else
    {
        // If we're spawned with some arguments pretend to be a bad app that calls timeBeginPeriod(1)
        std::cout << "Bad process calling timeBeginPeriod(1)" << std::endl;
        timeBeginPeriod(1);
        Sleep(10 * 1000);
        std::cout << "Bad process calling timeEndPeriod(1)" << std::endl;
        timeEndPeriod(1);
    }

}

Gives:
Iteration 0, sleeping for 1000ms took 1015ms...
Iteration 1, sleeping for 1000ms took 1015ms...
Iteration 2, sleeping for 1000ms took 1015ms...
Iteration 3, sleeping for 1000ms took 1015ms...
Iteration 4, sleeping for 1000ms took 1015ms...
Iteration 5, sleeping for 1000ms took 1015ms...
Iteration 6, sleeping for 1000ms took 1015ms...
Iteration 7, sleeping for 1000ms took 1015ms...
Iteration 8, sleeping for 1000ms took 1015ms...
Iteration 9, sleeping for 1000ms took 1015ms...
Iteration 10, sleeping for 1000ms took 1015ms...
Spawning bad process
Bad process calling timeBeginPeriod(1)
Iteration 11, sleeping for 1000ms took 1011ms...
Iteration 12, sleeping for 1000ms took 1001ms...
Iteration 13, sleeping for 1000ms took 1001ms...
Iteration 14, sleeping for 1000ms took 1001ms...
Iteration 15, sleeping for 1000ms took 1000ms...
Iteration 16, sleeping for 1000ms took 1000ms...
Iteration 17, sleeping for 1000ms took 1001ms...
Iteration 18, sleeping for 1000ms took 1001ms...
Iteration 19, sleeping for 1000ms took 1001ms...
Bad process calling timeEndPeriod(1)
Iteration 20, sleeping for 1000ms took 1008ms...
Iteration 21, sleeping for 1000ms took 1011ms...
Iteration 22, sleeping for 1000ms took 1015ms...
Iteration 23, sleeping for 1000ms took 1015ms...
Iteration 24, sleeping for 1000ms took 1016ms...
Iteration 25, sleeping for 1000ms took 1015ms...
Iteration 26, sleeping for 1000ms took 1015ms...
Iteration 27, sleeping for 1000ms took 1015ms...
Iteration 28, sleeping for 1000ms took 1015ms...
Iteration 29, sleeping for 1000ms took 1015ms...

Note in the general case we measure 15ms too long, but whilst the 'bad' app is running we're a lot more accurate.
You should use a more accurate clock to measure time. QueryPerformanceCounter/QueryPerformanceFrequency or GetSystemTimeAsFileTimePrecise or std::chrono::high_resolution_clock ONLY ON VS2015 will work. std::chrono::high_resolution_clock on vs2013 is a bit rubbish and still has this issue.
However, this only explains what you are seeing, in the general case sleep(xxx) will sleep for xxx and some extra - it'll only start up again when there's a spare CPU core to run it on or its next scheduled. Please do not user timeBeginPeriod yourself as its bad, just write your logic to handle the fact you're not running on a real time system so any measurement will have some error.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Larry Bock, Founder of USA Science and Engineering Festival, Dies at 56
By Liana Loewus — July 15, 2016 1 min read
Larry Bock, the biotech entrepreneur who founded the USA Science and Engineering Festival, a celebration of STEM learning held annually in Washington, died of pancreatic cancer earlier this month. He was 56 years old.
Through Science Spark, a nonprofit he founded, Bock launched the San Diego Science Festival in 2009. That event became a model for the larger USA Science and Engineering Festival, which drew more than 350,000 attendees this year.
Bock, who began his career studying infectious diseases at Genentech, Inc., was a serial entrepreneur, founding, co-founding, and financing the growth of 40 companies, according to a memorial statement from Marc Schulman, the executive director of the Festival.
"Larry will be remembered as a brilliant entrepreneur, passionate philanthropist, and dedicated family man," wrote Schulman. "The festival legacy will continue in honor of the work Larry inspired."
For more news and information on reading, math, and STEM instruction:
And sign up here to get alerts in your email inbox when stories are published on Curriculum Matters.
Liana Loewus
Liana Loewus was an assistant managing editor for Education Week who oversees news coverage of teaching and learning.
A version of this news article first appeared in the Curriculum Matters blog.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week and Victor Grow/iStock
Science Catching Up Native American Students in Science
Sarah D. Sparks, November 23, 2021
Science Whitepaper Social and Emotional Skills in 3-D Science
Content provided by Carolina Biological
Science Whitepaper The Same Storm in Different Ships
Content provided by CloudLabs


Independent sellers benefit as more consumers gain access to computers.
As computers become more accessible in rural parts of Latin America, shoppers in that part of the world are increasingly going online to buy the items they want, according to a new study.
E-commerce exploded in Latin America last year, increasing by nearly 40 percent, with sales reaching $21.7 billion, reports AmericaEconomia Intelligence, the organization that conducted the study. Shipments from the United States increased 18 percent.
There are still several challenges facing online sellers looking to expand into Latin America—for instance many people in Latin America have yet to open bank accounts, and some postal services offer less-than-stellar delivery. Despite these obstacles, e-commerce in the region could increase by 27 percent this year, the study suggests.
The main benefactors of last year's growth were airlines and large retailers like Wal-Mart, but small and mid-sized sellers also reaped the benefits, the report notes. For instance, buyers clamored to sites like Amazon.com to buy electronics such as iPads, computers and mobile phones, which tend to be more expensive in Latin America.
"When the iPhone came out in 2007, we received an enormous amount of orders for the new device from Latin America," reports Paul Gartland, CEO of SkyBox, a service that helps international buyers export items from the U.S.
Buyers expected to shop the Web for necessities but opt for lower-priced generics.
Second-quarter spending grew 9% from a year ago, but optimism is restrained.
Company launches country-specific e-commerce sites.
$10 billion market for online sellers located outside Oz.


text:
Syrian and Turkish flags flutter at the Turkish-Syrian border, as seen from the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli, Syria September 9, 2022. REUTERS
Kurds fear 'everything will change' if Syria, Turkey reconcile
A decade into their experiment in self-rule, Syria's Kurds fear an apparent rapprochement between Damascus and their foe the Turkish government could cost them their hard-won way of life.
Before Syria's conflict broke out, the country's roughly two million Kurds were not permitted to learn the Kurdish language in school or celebrate their cultural occasions.
A year after Syria's uprising began in 2011, government forces withdrew from swathes of the north – paving the way for a Kurdish-led "autonomous administration" to run its own institutions, including schools where Kurdish was taught.
But many in the so-called autonomous administration say they could lose their newfound rights if Syria's government reconciles with Turkey – which backed rebels against President Bashar al-Assad since 2011 and has attacked Kurdish-run Syrian regions, which Ankara considers a national security threat.
"If we assume that this agreement happens, it will be the final blow to the autonomous administration that was built on a system of equality, democracy, and freedom," said Suleiman Abu Bakr, a 55-year-old resident of the autonomous zone.
The fears arise from an apparent thaw in relations between Damascus and Ankara that is being encouraged by Moscow, four sources told Reuters last week. Any normalisation between Ankara and Damascus would reshape the decade-long Syrian war.
Turkey's intelligence chief has held secretive talks in Damascus this month, its foreign minister has encouraged reconciliation between rebel fighters and the government, and President Tayyip Erdogan said he would have liked to meet Assad had the latter attended a summit last week in Samarkand.
'MOTHER TONGUE' AT RISK
Any discussions between Turkey and Syria would likely be about the 3.6 million Syrian refugees still residing in Turkey, which Erdogan would like to see begin to head home before he is up for re-election next year, but could also include agreements on security and governance in the north.
For schoolteacher Dalal Mohammad, 45, the Kurdish language could be the first on the chopping block as both Ankara and Damascus are opposed to it being taught in schools.
"We're afraid the rapprochement between Turkey and Syria (could lead to) the oppression of some demographics in this region, including erasing the Kurdish culture and mother tongue after everything we accomplished the last ten years," she said.
While Turkey is an avowed enemy of the autonomous administration, Syria's Kurds had engaged in a tense dialogue with Damascus while maintaining good ties with Moscow and the U.S.-led coalition fighting jihadists in Syria.
But even Russia may have turned against the Kurds now, said Saleh Muslim, the co-chairman of the Democratic Union Party, the main party in the autonomous zone.
"This is all coming at an invitation from Russia, which is encouraging this rapprochement," Muslim said.
For shopkeeper Dilvin, an agreement between the two rivals would mean her daughter wouldn't enjoy the short-lived autonomy that she experienced in the northern Syrian town of Kobane.
"It would get rid of the autonomous administration and in this case, everything will change for us," she told Reuters.
"The way we work, the language we've been teaching our kids, the currency. We see all of Turkey's efforts as being aimed at getting rid of the autonomous administration – nothing more, nothing less."
Türkiye Will Not Withdraw Forces from Syria
Al-Rukban camp | Four new families flee dire living conditions for regime-held areas
Will Damascus Undermine Tehran's Mediterranean Dream?
Syria denies OPCW's findings on chemical weapon attack in 2018
Mother of Canadian man detained in Syria 'thrilled' with Ottawa's decision to…
Switzerland demands justice for Syrian chemical attack


text:
Monkey business lands in court, again
By Jia-Rui Chong
Nothing, it seems, gets between David Grigorian and his marmoset monkey.
On Wednesday, the 43-year-old Van Nuys resident found himself in court once again for harboring an undocumented primate.
Grigorian has told authorities that he considers Cheeta to be a member of his family, but state Department of Fish and Game officials say the animal has got to go.
In January, police arrested Grigorian for allegedly shouting criminal threats in front of a house in Van Nuys. As police took Grigorian into custody, they discovered the 7-year-old black-and-white male marmoset, who shares the same name as Tarzan's chimp sidekick.
Further investigation revealed another problem -- Grigorian lacked a monkey permit.
In California, people must obtain a special permit to possess marmoset monkeys, because they are nonnative species, according to Troy Swauger, a spokesman for the Department of Fish and Game. Only those who use the animals for educational or professional purposes, such as filming, can get permits.
After his arrest, Grigorian pleaded guilty to a charge of illegal animal possession and promised to give up Cheeta, according to Lisa Van Eyk, assistant supervising attorney at the Los Angeles city attorney's office in Van Nuys.
In a somewhat complicated plan, Grigorian agreed to surrender Cheeta to Fish and Game officers, who would transfer the animal to a courier who would then take him to Nevada. Grigorian told officials he would pick up Cheeta in Nevada and take him to a caretaker in Arizona.
Months later, however, Cheeta was back in town. On May 23, Burbank police stopped Grigorian for a traffic violation and spotted a monkey in the car, Van Eyk said.
Fish and Game officials said they understand that pet owners such as Grigorian love their animals, but the law is the law. Swauger said the department might try to place Cheeta in a zoo or with a private owner out of state so Grigorian could visit him.
The last resort, officials said, would be to kill the animal.
On Wednesday, Grigorian had a court date to prove the monkey was gone.
Grigorian told court Commissioner Thomas E. Grodin that the monkey was in Mexico. As proof, he displayed a photograph of Cheeta beside a recently dated Mexican newspaper. Red, white and green decorations filled the background.
Grodin was skeptical, Van Eyk said. Grigorian hedged for a while, then admitted the monkey was in downtown Los Angeles, Van Eyk said.
"They'd had it in the family for years, and it was a pet and he wasn't going to give it up," she said. Grigorian pleaded with the judge, saying that his kids had grown up with the monkey.
Grodin ordered bailiffs to put Grigorian in handcuffs until he agreed to give up Cheeta. The man was in tears as he went into a courthouse lock-up, Van Eyk said.
Grigorian returned to the courtroom later in the day and agreed to hand over Cheeta to the Fish and Game Department.
He was told to come back next week with actual proof.
jia-rui.chong@latimes.com


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With the weather a bit dark and gloomy, and cold and rainy if you have London-like January weather, it's very tempting to reach for a heavy and hearty breakfast. I've definitely been chowing down on full English breakfasts over the past few months (maybe a few too many…), but after all of the Christmas parties and holiday eating, I'm finding myself longing more and more for simple, fresh and light breakfast options: like fruit and yogurt!
I've always preferred savory over sweet food in the morning (and in general tbh), so those smoothie bowls and fruit muffins just don't do it for me. Poached eggs and avocado toast are my typical go-to for a weekday brekkie, but sometimes that gets old and sometimes it's hard to get avocados with any flavor (first world problems…).
When I got back to London after Christmas, I a) couldn't fathom the idea of another full English breakfast and b) didn't have any food in my fridge anyway, even if did want one. I am cursed blessed with a pretty big Asda grocery store right downstairs my apartment, so I grabbed my reusable Monoprix shopping bag (because who uses plastic bags anymore?) and headed downstairs to stock up my fridge. Instead of heading straight for the turkey bacon (okay, I did buy some, but for a different recipe) I grabbed some Greek yogurt pots and blueberries.
In about five minutes, I whipped up this light, fresh and healthy breakfast snack, that didn't send my taste buds into a sugary sweet tailspin. If you're like me, looking for a quick and easy breakfast without all the sugar, then give this a try – hopefully you'll like it as much as I did! Greek yogurt is a great option because it is higher in protein than regular yogurt, and has less lactose. It's also thicker and creamier, which I definitely prefer.
Anyone else see a bird's face on my spoon in this shot…?
Add your blueberries and cashews to the yogurt, and drizzle a bit of honey on top. I had a small piece of cheddar on the side, and this made for a very filling and slightly sweet breakfast that kept me going until lunch.


God has given limited power to the Devil. In this Presentation we focus on how to identify the Devil's influence over us, our families, and our society AND what to do about it.
Jesus has triumphed over the Devil. His triumph came through His Passion, Death, and Resurrection, But it isn't over...at least not for us. We must do our part in fulfilling God's Will on this earth, and part of that is doing battle against the Devil.
This presentation can be geared toward Young Adults through Clergy.
This Presentation goes well with "Weapons of Mass Destruction" and/or "Endgame".


Hickory Creek Farms is a REAL FARM with a REAL FARM atmosphere! They have a 6-acre corn maze, pumpkins on the vine, Pumpkin Playground, Rubber Duckie Races, Critter Corral, Live Pig Races, Barrel Train Rides, Punkin Chunkin, and hayrides – all for just $8 admission (kids under 2 are free). Bring the whole family! We're open the last weekend of September – October, Saturday and Sunday.


One bedroom, first floor apartment at Bellaluz with a central plaza and large community pool. Free wifi.
Well located within La Manga Club Resort, the Bellaluz apartments are built around a central plaza with shops, restaurants and bars. Residents can enjoy the large children's pool and a 25 metre swimming pool, set in community gardens and terraces with a poolside bar which is open during the summer months.
This one bedroom apartment is on the first floor overlooking a square and has a terrace with outdoor dining facilities. Free wifi internet access.
The apartment is on the first floor and accessed via 7 steps, with an open plan air conditioned living and dining room, which has satellite TV, DVD Player, CD player and a telephone for free internal calls within the Resort. Patio doors open to a terrace with outdoor dining facilities overlooking La Plaza. The kitchen is equipped with washing machine, oven, hob, extractor fan, microwave and fridge freezer.
The large bedroom has a twin beds which can be made into a double bed if preferred and patio doors to a small balcony. There is a separate full bathroom.
In La Manga Club Resort and conveniently located near restaurants, bars, cafes and shops. Full air conditioning is included in the prices for all seasons. m>Walled terrace with barbecue and outdoor dining facilities. Use of large community pool and gardens.


text:
CJEU - C 279/09 / Judgment
CJEU - C 279/09 / Judgment DEB Deutsche Energie- und Beratungsgesellschaft mbH v Germany
European Court of Justice (Second Chamber)
Article 47 - Right to an effective remedy and to a fair trial
Article 51 - Field of application
ECHR Article(s) referenced:
Article 6 - Right to a fair trial
A German undertaking seeking reparation from Germany for delay in the transposition of Directive 98/30/EC is claiming that, due to the suffered lack of income caused by the delay, it is unable to make the necessary advance payment of court costs and, therefore, applied for legal aid. Whereas the court of first instance denied that application, on the basis of national provisions, the appeals court decided to refer to CJ.
The principle of effective judicial protection, as enshrined in Article 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, must be interpreted as meaning that it is not impossible for legal persons to rely on that principle and that aid granted pursuant to that principle may cover, inter alia, dispensation from advance payment of the costs of proceedings and/or the assistance of a lawyer.
In that connection, it is for the national court to ascertain whether the conditions for granting legal aid constitute a limitation on the right of access to the courts which undermines the very core of that right; whether they pursue a legitimate aim; and whether there is a reasonable relationship of proportionality between the means employed and the legitimate aim which it is sought to achieve.
In making that assessment, the national court must take into consideration the subject‑matter of the litigation; whether the applicant has a reasonable prospect of success; the importance of what is at stake for the applicant in the proceedings; the complexity of the relevant law and procedure; and the applicant's capacity to represent himself effectively. In order to assess the proportionality, the national court may also take account of the amount of the costs of the proceedings in respect of which advance payment must be made and whether or not those costs might represent an insurmountable obstacle to access to the courts.
With regard more specifically to legal persons, the national court may take account of their situation. The court may therefore take into consideration, inter alia, the form of the legal person in question and whether it is profit-making or non-profit-making; the financial capacity of the partners or shareholders; and the ability of those partners or shareholders to obtain the sums necessary to institute legal proceedings.


They exist all around us. We make eye contact, and we do not even realize it. The instant we enter a store of any kind, they line the shelves. They are present on the very laptop I am typing on right now. In fact, we are surrounded by them throughout our daily lives. They are trademarks.
Trademarks, as defined by the Lanham Act, are "any word, name, symbol, or device…. to identify and distinguish [a manufacturer's] goods…from those manufactured or sold by others and to indicate the sources of the goods…" In other words, it identifies the source from which the product originated. It is a way which allows a person to know that the product they are using comes from a specific competitor in the marketplace. This allows consumers to return to the same competitor for the product, if they happen to want more. Trademarks are made with the purpose of guaranteeing the quality of the goods with the mark, and helps establish and maintain a brand for the company and their products.
While patents protect new and useful inventions, and copyrights cover original, expressive works in a tangible medium, the scope of trademarks covers a great deal more. In fact, trademarks cover and protect a wide variety of things. These include: names, symbols, slogans, designs, sounds, colors, smells, and recently, domains. There is more to trademarks than meets the eye. There exist three subcategories in the realm of marks: trade name, trademark, and service mark. A trade name identifies a company or business; whereas a trademark identifies the goods of a company. A service mark identifies the services of a company.
In order to be an effective and protected mark, the mark must be distinctive – capable of identifying the source from which it comes. The more unique the mark is, the stronger it is. Distinctiveness is measured on a spectrum which contains five levels: Generic, Descriptive, Suggestive, Arbitrary, and Fanciful.
Generic – This term is normal, and an everyday name of a type of good or service. Names such as carwash, pizza, and toothpaste fall under this category. Generic terms are in fact the exact opposite of trademarks, since they are incapable of serving as an identifier for its source. There is a process known as "genericide", wherein a well-established trademark can lose its distinctiveness, and become the new generic term for a product. These types of marks are no longer entitled to any form of protection. Former trademarks that have suffered at the hands of genericide include bleach, cola, escalator, thermos, and zipper.
Descriptive – Descriptive marks are those that immediately bring to mind the characteristics, features, and qualities of the product and/or service, such as its composition, functions, ingredients, purpose, and/or use. These kinds of marks are often eligible for a form of limited protection. One example is Vision Center™, where the word "vision" brings eye care services to the mind.
Suggestive – Suggestive marks are words that arouse an attribute or a characteristic of the products or services it represents, but does not describe the products or services themselves. As opposed to a mere descriptive mark, suggestive marks require the consumer to apply their creative ability, in order to associate the word with the product. Coppertone® implies a "copper tone" for consumers with their tanning products, and Microsoft® signifies software.
Arbitrary – Arbitrary marks are words which have no logical relationship to the product. Even generic terms applied to unrelated products and services are considered Arbitrary. Some examples are Apple®, which makes computers and electronics, and Penguin®, which publishes books.
Fanciful – Fanciful marks are the strongest and most unique marks of all. These words are completely new and invented for the sole purpose of being used as a brand and a trademark for the company. We see these quite often in corporate giants, such as Clorox®, Exxon®, Google®, and Starbucks®.
Similar to copyrights, trademark rights are acquired at the moment it is first used. Whoever is the first to use or the first to file an application is the party that will possess the superior rights. When establishing your right to a trademark, it is recommended that you note the date of "first use" in your records, in the event your rights are being contested by another claiming to have used it first. Registration is a secure and reliable way, in order to guarantee trademark rights with the mark, as well as providing a bundle of benefits in doing so. Besides serving as excellent evidence of the validity of your ownership over the trademark, it also gives you the ability to sue in federal court. "Incontestability" or immunity in other words, is granted after 5 years of proven, continuous use, as well as the greater recovery of damages including attorneys' fees and statutory damages. Furthermore, protection is provided for the brand, and ensures future opportunities for growth and expansion.
Screening and Clearing – The first step of the process should begin before the application is even filed. One should determine and research whether or not their trademark is infringing on the rights of anyone else, in order to avoid lawsuits and/or future problems with competitors.
Application is filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office, with a fee of $325-$375 per class.
Application is strictly scrutinized, while checking for potential infringement.
Application is approved and registered for 10 years. Trademarks can be renewed indefinitely, as long as they are continuously used in commerce, and/or become "generic".
Despite successfully being registered and approved, managing trademarks is still essential to the preservation and protection of one's trademark rights. Companies must still manage trademark renewals, police the marketplace, in search of possible infringement, or suffer the consequences.
If you manage a business and would like to discuss the creation and/or filing of a trademark, please contact Smith Reed & Armstrong, PLLC here.


Built as a compact version of its big brother the Glock 17, the Glock 19 Gen. 3 has won over fans worldwide for its iconic design, and reliability. Now, built as an officially licensed semi-auto BB slinger, load up a single CO2 cartridge to send 16 BBs downrange at speeds up to 410 fps! Your tactical training sessions just became a lot more affordable thanks to a switch away from the 9x19 rounds used by the real steel.
Named after the supreme, ancient and angry Slavic God of wind, the Stribog is an aluminum frames semi-auto sold in Europe as a sub gun with a shoulder stock. Here in the US you can purchase an adapter for a pistol brace (or stock, with your relevant SBR tax stamp) for what promises to be a serious contender to the CZ Scorpion. Shipping with a threaded barrel, rails galore, M-LOK accessory mounts, steel flip-up sights and a 20-round magazine, this promises to be a lot of fun at the range and a viable home defense piece. Grand Power was founded in 2002 by Jaroslav Kuracina and is one of the up-and-coming firearms brands worldwide, winning awards at IPSC and proving its worth on the battlefield. Ed.
The 10 round version just released today. Interesting pistol with sight protecting slide cap that, once removed, allows for the attachment of your reflex optic. MSRP: $1,049/Street: $899. This from their site: the FN 509® Tactical, an extension of the FN 509 family, is based on FN's submission pistol that the U.S. Army tested for its Modular Handgun Trials, but includes the significant improvements to the design that were implemented in the FN 509. The pistol features the company's patent-pending Low-Profile Optics Mounting System™ that enables the platform to accept more than ten commercially-available miniature red dot (MRD) optics that co-witness with the suppressor-height night sights and remain adaptable to future optics releases with no requirement of direct milling of the slide. The slide cap, for use when not shooting with an optic, has raised sight wings that protect iron sight alignment if the pistol is dropped or jostled, and provides a textured ramp for racking the slide against a belt loop, pant pocket or boot. An FN-signature 4.5-inch, cold hammer-forged, stainless-steel barrel with target crown, ½" x 28 threads that accept the bulk of 9mm suppressors available and thread cap with integrated O-ring to prevent loosening during use complete the top end. Lastly, the 24-round magazines, nearly identical in length to the pistol's slide, maximize ammunition capacity without impacting carry convenience.
Dive into full-auto tactical action with the Crosman DPMS SBR! This officially licensed and stamped DPMS SBR (Short Barrel Rifle) spits out blistering semi and full-auto repeating BB shots, fueled by two 12-gram CO2 cartridges housed in the 25rd magazine. A short barrel version of the modern warfighter rifle, the DPMS SBR transforms everything they love about the M4 to the airgun platform. Adjust your SBR to your preference with a 6-point adjustable rear stock and get a steady support from the moveable hand rest on the forend. The SBR's quad-Weaver/Picatinny rails give you endless opportunities for mounting laser sights, flashlights, and pistol grips. Each package includes removable pop-up sights for a rifle ready to shoot out of the box, and the rear sight is adjustable. The fire-mode selector lets you choose between semi or fully-automatic shots sent flying at 430 fps. If you want to mow down targets and shred paper and tin cans alike, grab the DPMS SBR and enter the action!
Kit includes Crosman DPMS SBR Full-Auto BB Air Rifle and CenterPoint 1x30mm Large Battle Enclosed Reflex Sight with 3 MOA Red Dot and Picatinny Mounts.


Any ladies here with large abdominal scars?
I am trying to conceive → Pregnancy and Babies → Any ladies here with large abdominal scars?
Topic: Any ladies here with large abdominal scars?
With the possibility of the TWW wait being over and pregnancy a real possibility (beta today - results tomorrow, so we shall see!), I started thinking about about my large, vertical abdominal scar. The scar that runs from right between my breasts, down to my navel, around my navel, and then down about 4 more inches. It's about 1/4" in width. It's huge. And, as a result, I have a ton of scar tissue built up.
Does anyone here have large abdominal scars? If so, how did the pregnancy expansion go? A few years ago I brought it up with my PCP and she thought that pregnancy would be very painful because scar tissue doesn't stretch and a growing belly would have to tear though the tissue to grow outward. Anyone here with experience?
Re: Any ladies here with large abdominal scars?
How deep is the scar? Is it just skin tissue? Muscle tissue as well? If it is a shallow scar it should have no complications, except maybe extra stretch marks around that area. If it is a deep scar then it might have some additiona complications as no, scar tissue does not stretch as well as surrounding muscle tissue, but I'm not sure it would have to tear!
It's a deep scar. I had pancreatic cancer is 2008 and they had to remove a 5 lb mass, half my pancreas, and all of my spleen! I'll be prepared for the worst and hope for the best I suppose!
I'm concerned about this as well. I'm hoping that the fact the area has already stretched while scar tissue was forming will help me out! I have a 10 inch vertical scar that starts around 4 inches above my navel, curves around, and then goes all the way to my bikini line. I had a laparotomy to remove a soccer ball sized cyst when I was 18 weeks pregnant. I wore a binder afterwards until I was around 30 weeks pregnant. Then I really started to stretch out my scar. I was worried about adhesions and herniations for a while. I guess I'll just have to test this out. We are hoping to try for another in October.
I'm not sure who said that scar tissue doesn't stretch...I've seen many patients with abdominal scars that have stretched from different reasons.
I'm not sure if it's the type of scar, skin, age, whatever, but I wouldn't make the blanket statement that a scar won't stretch.
I care for cancer patients, many of whom have had an abdominal surgery of some sort. Many times, late in a disease process they develop ascities which is accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Many of these patients will take on abdominal girths similar to full term pregnancy...and over a few weeks vs a few months and I have NEVER seen anyone with a scar have complications related to this.
Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad it hasn't been a problem for others. It gives me great comfort. I wasn't told to avoid pregnancy, just that the scar tissue may cause a lot of pain as it will likely gets tiny rips in order to expand. The scar tissue already causes a lot pain just in day to day life. I do stretches every morning and go to Pilates regularly to help. That seems to keep the pain away most of the time.
I had abdominal surgery in March and started using dermalmd scar serum as soon as my doctor told me I could (I think two weeks after surgery). I used it twice a day on five small incisions for over six months and never had to purchase a second bottle. My scars already look like they are years old. They have faded way more than I ever expected them to. Would definitely use again and highly recommend!


text:
L'Avvocato generale degli Stati Uniti è la quarta carica maggiore nel Dipartimento della giustizia degli Stati Uniti d'America. La carica è ricoperta da Elizabeth Prelogar, entrata in carica il 28 ottobre 2021.

L'Avvocato generale degli Stati Uniti rappresenta il Governo federale davanti alla Corte suprema. Egli determina la posizione giuridica che gli Stati Uniti assumono presso la Suprema Corte.

Oltre a sovrintendere e condurre le vertenze nelle le quali il governo è parte in causa, l'ufficio dell'Avvocatura generale registra anche comunicazioni scritte amicus curiae nelle quali il governo abbia qualche interesse significativo.

L'ufficio dell'Avvocato Generale patrocina per conto del governo virtualmente in ogni caso in cui gli Stati Uniti sono parte in causa, e anche nella maggior parte dei casi in cui il governo ha ricevuto una comunicazione amicus. Nelle corti federali di appello l'Ufficio dell'Avvocato generale riesamina i casi in cui si è deciso contro gli Stati Uniti e decide se il governo deve appellarsi alla Corte Suprema. Esso riesamina anche i casi decisi contro gli Stati Uniti nelle corti federali di distretto e approva ogni caso nel quale il governo interpone appello.

Composizione dell'Ufficio dell'Avvocato generale

Il capo dell'Avvocatura generale (Solicitor General) è assistito da quattro vice avvocati generali (Deputy Solicitors General) e da diciassette assistenti (Assistants to the Solicitor General). Tre dei vice avvocati generali sono avvocati in carriera presso il Dipartimento della giustizia degli Stati Uniti d'America. Gli altri vice sono noti come "Vice principali" (Principal Deputy) detti talvolta "vice politici" (political deputy) e come l'Avvocato generale lasciano l'incarico al termine di un'amministrazione.

L'avvocato generale o uno dei suoi vice tratta i casi più importanti presso la Suprema Corte. Altri casi possono essere trattati da uno degli assistenti o da un altro avvocato governativo. L'Avvocato generale tende a trattare da 6 a 9 casi presso la Suprema Corte, mentre i suoi vice ne trattano 4 o 5 e gli assistenti 2 o 3 caduno.

Importanza
L'Avvocato generale, che ha i suoi uffici nel Palazzo della Corte suprema degli Stati Uniti d'America, come il quartier generale del Dipartimento della Giustizia, è stato chiamato "il decimo giudice" per la stretta relazione tra i giudici e l'avvocatura generale (e i loro rispettivi collaboratori). Come avvocato che più frequentemente sta di fronte alla Corte, l'Ufficio dell'Avvocatura generale discute dozzine di volte ogni sessione. Per di più, quando l'Ufficio dell'Avvocatura generale accoglie un'istanza per certiorari, la revisione è frequentemente concessa, il che è notevole dato che a solo da 75 a 125 sulle oltre 7500 istanze proposte è concessa la revisione da parte della Corte.

Oltre ai giudici stessi, l'Avvocato generale è tra i membri più influenti e conosciuti della comunità giuridica rispetto alle vertenze presso la Suprema Corte. Sei Avvocati generali sono passati successivamente alla Corte Suprema: William Howard Taft (che è poi diventato il 27º Presidente degli Stati Uniti prima di diventare Presidente della Corte suprema), Stanley Forman Reed, Robert H. Jackson, Thurgood Marshall ed Elena Kagan. Alcuni che hanno occupato altre cariche nell'Ufficio dell'Avvocatura generale sono poi stati nominati alla Suprema Corte. Ad esempio, John Roberts, Presidente della Corte suprema, fu il principale vice avvocato generale durante l'amministrazione di George H. W. Bush e l'associato Samuel Alito fu un Assistente dell'Avvocato generale. L'ultimo ex Avvocato generale a essere nominato alla Corte fu Elena Kagan. Solo un ex Avvocato generale non riuscì a essere nominato alla Corte Suprema: Robert Bork. Comunque a nessun Avvocato generale in carica è stato negato questo incarico. Otto altri Avvocati generali hanno prestato servizio nelle Corti di Appello degli Stati Uniti.

Nel Dipartimento della Giustizia l'Avvocato generale esercita una significativa influenza su tutti i ricorsi presentati dal dipartimento. L'Avvocato generale è l'unico funzionario degli Stati Uniti per il quale è richiesta obbligatoriamente una "preparazione giuridica" Ogniqualvolta il DOJ (Departement of Justice = Dipartimento della Giustizia) vince in un processo di prima istanza e la parte soccombente ricorre in appello, la divisione competente del DOJ interviene automaticamente in difesa della sentenza nel processo di appello. Comunque, se il DOJ è la parte soccombente nel processo, il ricorso in appello può essere promosso solo con il consenso dell'Avvocatura generale.

Richiesta di parere all'Avvocatura generale
Nella determinazione se garantire o meno certiorari nel caso in cui il governo federale non sia parte in causa, la Corte richiede talvolta all'Avvocato generale di intervenire con la propria autorità, una procedura chiamata "Richiesta di parere all'Avvocatura generale" (Call for the Views of the Solicitor General (CVSG)). In risposta al CVSG, l'Avvocato generale emette un breve parere sul fatto che la richiesta debba essere soddisfatta e, normalmente, quale delle parti debba prevalere.

Sebbene la CVSG sia tecnicamente un invito, l'ufficio dell'Avvocato generale la tratta come equivalente a un ordine. Philip Elman, che fu il principale autore delle lettere del governo federale nella vertenza Brown v. Board of Education, ha scritto:

La Corte tipicamente emette un CVSG quando la giustizia ritiene che la petizione sia importante e può considerare di concederla, ma desidera un parere legale prima di prendere una decisione. Esempi sono quando vi è coinvolto un interesse federale; quando c'è una nuova istanza per la quale non vi sono precedenti o quando l'istanza si è evoluta, magari diventando più complessa o coinvolgendo altre istanze.

Sebbene non vi sia normalmente un termine temporale entro il quale l'Avvocato generale debba rispondere a un CVSG, le lettere di risposta avvengono generalmente tre volte l'anno: nel tardo mese di maggio, consentendo una risposta prima delle vacanze estive; in agosto, consentendo che la richiesta entri nell'"elenco estivo", in modo da essere presa in considerazione alla fine della vacanze; a dicembre, consentendo che il caso sia discusso nella sessione successiva della Corte Suprema.

Tradizioni
Numerose tradizioni si sono stabilite da quando l'Ufficio dell'Avvocatura generale fu fondato nel 1870. Durante le sedute per discussioni orali davanti alla Corte, l'Avvocato generale e i suoi (o le sue) vice compaiono vestiti in tight, sebbene Elena Kagan, la sola donna che ha occupato tale carica, abbia deciso di evitare tale pratica.

Durante le udienze orali i membri della Corte si rivolgono all'Avvocato generale con l'appellativo "Generale". Alcuni commentatori giuridici hanno manifestato il loro disaccordo con questa abitudine, osservando che "generale" è un aggettivo "enclitico" (che modifica il sostantivo solicitor) e non è un titolo a sé stante.

Un'altra tradizione, probabilmente unica negli Stati Uniti, è la pratica di confession of error. Se il governo ha vinto nel tribunale di livello inferiore ma l'Avvocato generale non è d'accordo con l'esito del procedimento, lui (o lei) può "confessare l'errore", dopo di che la Corte Suprema casserà la sentenza e rimanderà il caso al livello giudiziario inferiore affinché esso venga riconsiderato.

Elenco degli Avvocato generali

 Nota: Alcuni periodi si sovrappongono poiché il precedente rimase in carica dopo la nomina del suo successore. La carica è stata vacante quando si era in attesa della nomina o conferma del successore.

Elenco dei principali vice Avvocato Generale
Paul M. Bator – 1982 a 1983
Donald B. Ayer – giugno 1986 a dicembre 1988
John Roberts – ottobre 1989–gennaio 1993 (divenuto Chief Justice)
Paul Bender – 1993–1996
Seth Waxman – 1996–1997
Barbara Underwood – marzo 1997 a gennaio 2001 (attivo come SG da gennaio a giugno 2001)
Paul D. Clement – 2001 a luglio 2004 (divenuto attivo SG)
Gregory G. Garre – settembre 2005 - 19 giugno 2008 (divenuto attivo SG)
Neal Katyal – gennaio 2009 a maggio 2010 (divenuto attivo SG)
Leondra Kruger – attivo principale SG nominato in agosto 2010
Sri Srinivasan – agosto 2011 a maggio 2013
Ian Gershengorn – settembre 2013 a giugno 2016 (divenuto attivo SG)
Noel Francisco – gennaio 2017 a marzo 2017 (divenuto SG)

Note

Bibliografia

Collegamenti esterni
 Sito ufficiale

Istituzioni degli Stati Uniti d'America

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Frisbie calls for county clerk's office audit
Jennifer Bowman
MARSHALL — Calhoun County Board of Commissioners Vice Chairman Steve Frisbie has called for a forensic audit into the clerk's office amid controversy over public-records requests into technology fund expenses.
"When claims of misfeasance and inappropriate use of funds are leveled, every party accused should have the protection of due process to explain their actions," Frisbie read from a prepared statement toward the end of the county board meeting Thursday night.
Frisbie's request for an audit comes after the county in October hired a Lansing-based law firm in response to Freedom of Information Act requests regarding the clerk's spending. Matt Davis, a Marshall Realtor who filed the requests, has raised concerns over how the office was using its automation fund, which is meant to pay for technology updates "with priority given to upgrading search capabilities," according to statute.
Davis also has taken issue with what he called "high-dollar contracts," alleging they were not properly bid out and were granted to vendors who contributed to Clerk and Register of Deeds Anne Norlander's previous political campaigns.
County Administrator Kelli Scott told the Enquirer pn Friday that there has not been a request by the full board to seek an audit. There is, however, an internal investigation under way based on county policy after an employee complaint was filed over some automation fund expenses, she said. The complaint was made after the FOIA requests were filed.
"Depending if there's anything that needs external review, I would certainly do that and report to the board as appropriate," Scott said.
Neither Davis nor Norlander attended the meeting Thursday. But they did speak to the county board two weeks ago at its Nov. 19 meeting, when Davis said the office has "cost the county taxpayers countless thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars in lost savings."
Norlander, who has maintained the FOIA requests are "a politically driven fishing expedition," hit back at what she said were "ridiculous allegations." She said she has been harassed, stalked and embarrassed on social media over the issue.
Expert: Mental health of man accused in PV murders diminishing
She also pointed to her office's technology updates over the years, including conversion of indexing systems, becoming the first county department to have a website, electronic filing of death certificates, computerized campaign finance and election records and electronic transfers of property.
"For someone to question my leadership really smacks to me of political vendettas," Norlander said at the Nov. 19 meeting. "And I'm here in front of you to tell you I will be back again when the time is right to let you know what exactly has been going on behind the scenes for almost one year now. There's an attempt by many — at least one sitting in this room — to not have me run for office again."
"I look forward to the audit," she added.
Frisbie said Thursday that he had concerns over some automation fund expenses, including $200 to transport a brass table to Kalamazoo; a $500 payment to consultant Bill Schroer for leadership training and assistance in Norlander's effort to seek a W.K. Kellogg Foundation fellowship; and bottled water purchases.
"There are multiple uses of the fund that cause, at minimum, ethical concerns," he said.
He said the audit could be completed by the state treasurer's office or through an internal review, but should be concluded "quickly and without bias."
Frisbie said depending on an audit's findings, the county should consider changes to conflict of interest policies.
Norlander, a Republican, has been county clerk since 1998. Frisbie and Davis also are Republicans. She has been county clerk since 1998, and plans to seek re-election one last time in 2016.
The county hired the Miller Canfield law firm in October in response to requests filed by Davis. The firm is charging the county a $315 "reduced" hourly rate, and was hired because Norlander expressed concerns over the friendship between Davis and Richard Lindsey, the county's corporation counsel and FOIA officer.
County commissioners meet again at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17.
Contact Jennifer Bowman at 269-966-0589 or jbowman@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow her on Twitter: @jenn_bowman


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Mater Lakes Academy's Principal is Named Top Principal by Florida TaxWatch
Miami, FL, Monday, April 23, 2018 – Principal, Rene F. Rovirosa of Mater Lakes Academy was named one of the top nine principals in the State of Florida, by Florida TaxWatch, and one of the top three in the high school division in August. On Thursday, April 19th, Florida Tax Watch held their Principal Leadership Award dinner, and amongst the three nominees in the high school category he was awarded the top principal.
Florida TaxWatch is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute. According to their website, "Its research recommends productivity enhancements and explains the statewide impact of fiscal and economic policies and practices on citizens and businesses."
Florida TaxWatch established their Principal Leadership Awards Program in 2014. The criteria used to name the top 3 principals per grade division (elementary, middle, and high school) is not done through a nomination basis, but it is data driven. Florida TaxWatch basis their criteria on data received from the Florida Department of Education, using assessment scores, their learning gains, and the percentage of students that are ELL, SPED, and economically disadvantaged and their progress. Mater Lakes Academy has 4% learning gain in English and Language Arts and a 14% learning gain in Mathematics. Mater Lakes Academy exceeded both the state and district percentage of proficiency at 71%.
"I am honored, there are no other words to describe it, but just that I am honored," said Principal Rene F. Rovirosa. "I truly feel that they key to a better community is quality education, and that is what we are providing because this award is not just mine but all of Mater Lakes." Earlier in the school year, Mr. Rovirosa was also awarded the 2017 Charter School Champion Leader Award by the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools.
Mater Lakes Academy is a Miami-Dade County Public Charter School, with students enrolled in 6th – 12th grade. Mater Lakes Academy has been open since the 2006-2007 academic school year, and is currently in its 12th year under the direction of Principal Rene F. Rovirosa, and is an A school for both the middle school and the high school. For more information, visit the school's website at www.materlakes.org.
Mrs. Alice Martinez
Mater Lakes Academy
amartinez@materlakes.org
www.materlakes.org
Principal, Rene F. Rovirosa of Mater Lakes Academy
FLORIDA TAX WATCH / Principal, Rene F. Rovirosa of Mater Lakes Academy