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Aviatyrannis jurassica ("tyrannernas mormoder från jura") är en art av dinosaurier som tillhör släktet Aviatyrannis, en tyrannosaurid från yngre jura (kimmeridgianskedet för 155-150 miljoner år sedan) i det som idag är Guimarota–gruvan i Portugal. Typarten, Aviatyrannis jurassica, beskrevs år 2003 av Oliver Rauhut. Den är en av de äldsta tyrannosaurierna som någonsin hittats. Den äldsta tyrannosaurien är Guanlong från Kina, eller möjligen Iliosuchus om det ens är en tyrannosauroid.

Beskrivning
Aviatyrannus var släkt med den berömda Tyrannosaurus rex, som var ett enormt rovdjur som levde under slutet av kritaperioden, men likt andra tidiga tyrannosaurier var Aviatyrannis tämligen liten. Till exempel är holotypens tarmben enbart 90 millimeter långt. Utöver rester av bäckenbenet har man också hittat sju tänder (som beskrevs av Zinke 1998) efter arten i Alobaca–formationen i Portugal.

Möjlig synonym med Stokesosaurus?
Aviatyrannis var kanske samtida med en annan tyrannosaurie, det vill säga den amerikanske Stokesosaurus från Morrison-formationen. Aviatyrannis tarmben tillskrevs ursprungligen släktet Stokesosaurus av Foster och Chure år 2000, och eftersom man enbart har funnit fragmentariska rester efter Aviatyrannis är frågan om de båda släktena är synonymer med varandra öppen.

 Referenser
 Oliver W. M. Rauhut. (2003). "A tyrannosauroid dinosaur from the Upper Jurassic of Portugal". Palaeontology 46': 903-910.

Källor
 Engelskspråkiga Wikipedia
 Tyskspråkiga Wikipedia
 DinoData (inloggning krävs).

Externa länkar
 Teckning av tarmbenet.
 Dinosaurier-Web

Tyrannosauroider
Coelurosauria
Dinosaurier från Europa
Dinosaurier från juraperioden
Aviatyrannis


Our daughter's away at respite. The months are winding down and soon she will be too old to go to the centre she's been to every month for the last couple of years. It's for young adults only. The time is nearing for more assessments, reviews, wrangling; more looking for another placement when in reality we know there's very little – if anything – around for her. We've planned to tackle the paperwork this weekend. What we really want to do is catch up on sleep, walk, drink coffee and relax. We'll try to do at at least some of these things. We need a week, not a weekend.
I peer into her room. It's bright and sunny, colourful – a reflection of her at her best. Books are piled at the foot of her bed, her beanbag is plumped up, fluffy dressing gown hanging on the side of her wardrobe waiting to be worn against the cold evenings to come. Her cd player is switched off, discs carefully tucked away at the back of her dresser out of harm's way. They can be very biteable in the middle of the night. Her latest thing is dancing in front of the big mirror we'd bought for her room at the residential care home she moved into in 2016.
It's two years now since she was summarily evicted from there by care providers who didn't even have the decency to tell us so directly. Instead we were given the news by her funders, on the phone initially. Just four weeks notice to leave. No transition, no discussion. No follow up by home manager or key worker, both we discovered with no previous experience of working in a care home for people with complex needs. The last review meeting we'd had at the home had in fact been positive and we'd been given no inkling that this bombshell was to come.
Being cast in the role of "too involved parents" – the principle reason for eviction – was, and still is, hard to deal with. We've heard similar stories from parents like us who only want the best for their vulnerable children and adults, and firmly believe in partnership working.
We try not to think of that period, of the weeks and months that followed. It was painful, traumatic, devastating for all of us and the recovery was long. Our formal complaint, eventually escalated to the highest level, resulted in a brief apology for only some of what had happened and left a very bitter taste. Building trust again has been challenging and it's taken time to get together a solid team of excellent and bright PAs who are keen to work with us to ensure our daughter has a good life.
Now we are back to looking at the future, albeit only for respite. Once again our daughter is to be evaluated in terms of her needs, the risks her disabilities and health issues pose to her and others – and ultimately the financial cost to whoever funds her. The process makes us extremely anxious. She's in such a great place at the moment. Why rock the boat?


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Sub-$10,000 SANs become a reality
Storage startup iQstor is offering a serial ATA-based Fibre Channel SAN for a price one expert calls "impossible to argue with."
Kevin Komiega
Storage startup iQstor Networks, Newbury Park, Calif., has set the bar for low-cost Fibre Channel SANs with the debut of its iQ1200, a self-contained serial ATA (SATA) storage array that features embedded software usually found in high-end systems. The cost? Pricing for a 1 TB configuration starts at less than $10,000.
Aimed at small and medium-sized users, the iQ1200 is a 2G-bit/sec storage system equipped with up to 15,250 GB SATA disk drives. The system scales up to 3.75 TB. The iQ1200 provides four front-end Fibre Channel ports and up to 4 GB of cache memory. Each system comes with embedded management features including virtualization, snapshots, policy-based management, remote replication and volume copy services. However, each feature requires a license key to be activated.
Estimated end user pricing starts from $9,995 for an entry level 1.2 TB configuration with virtualization software. A nearline configuration with 3.75 TB and virtualization software is priced at $16,576. A configuration with 3.75 TB, SAN Manager and data services software suite is priced at $33,572.
"They really are the first example of a low-cost, intelligent array," said Marc Staimer, founder of Dragon Slayer Consulting. "Even though they charge [license fees] for the software, it is still inexpensive."
Staimer expects top-name storage vendors like LSI Logic Storage Systems Inc., IBM, Storage Technology Corp., Silicon Graphics Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co. and EMC Corp. to follow suit with their own low-cost, intelligent arrays within the next 12 to 18 months.
All of the iQ1200's components, including the storage processors, disk drives, power supplies and cooling modules, are hot-swappable and redundant. The iQ1200 features dual active SP120 storage processor modules with transparent fail-over support and integrated RAID levels 0, 1, 3, 5, 1+0.
"IQstor is trying to crack the panacea of the SAN -- building a high-value, high-function SAN with an impossible-to-argue-with entry cost," said Enterprise Storage Group technology analyst Brian Babineau. "They then want to provide all the high-end software function the big guys offer, at a fraction of the cost -- and make it all manageable by anyone on the staff. A very noble goal, but very hard to do."
Albert Saraie, director of marketing at iQstor Networks, said, "We built this array for small and medium-sized business and enterprise users who want to spend between $15,000 and $150,000 on a storage system. We can provide a storage solution for the guys who are beginning to think about SANs and are saying, 'I can get a terabyte for about $10,000, and I'll have a SAN in place that I can grow over time.'"
Low-cost storage, standards take shape
New player enters the low-cost SAN game
Emulex predicts sub-$500 Fibre Channel HBAs
FalconStor enhances VMware backups
Two iSCSI SAN vendors drop prices to snare Dell EqualLogic users
iQstor bulks up its rack-mounted SAN storage system
By: Todd Erickson
iQstor claims highest-density full-function storage array
Two iSCSI SAN vendors drop prices to snare Dell ... – SearchStorage
iQstor bulks up its rack-mounted SAN storage system – SearchStorage
Quick Takes: FalconStor soars on Maxxan's hardware – SearchStorage

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Keystone visitor commits suicide after eating marijuana candies
Local | March 27, 2015
Elise Reuter
Summit Daily News
Luke Goodman
Facebook photo |
A Tulsa, Oklahoma man visiting Keystone committed suicide after consuming a large amount of edible marijuana candies, according to a Summit County Coroner's report.
Summit County Coroner Regan Wood said the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head. Luke Gregory Goodman, 22, was staying in Keystone with his cousin at the time of the incident, and was taken to Summit Medical Center Saturday night. Later, he was flown to St. Anthony's Lakewood Hospital, where he was kept on life support for two days until he died Tuesday morning.
Goodman's cousin reported he and Goodman had consumed edibles earlier Saturday.
A CBS4 Denver report says Goodman bought $78 of edible marijuana with his cousin, Caleb Fowler, in Silverthorne. Goodman consumed two peach tart candies, then two more when he did not feel the effects. He then ate another, for a total of five, each containing 10 mg of the active ingredient in marijuana, the recommended dose for an adult. The back of the package said the candies were supposed to take 1-2 hours take effect.
"It was 100 percent the drugs," she said. "It was completely because of the drugs — he had consumed so much of it."Kim GoodmanLuke's mother
According to CBS4, Fowler said that several hours later, Goodman became "jittery" then incoherent and talking nonsensically.
"He would make eye contact with us but didn't see us, didn't recognize our presence almost. He had never got close to this point, I had never seen him like this," Fowler said.
Later, when his family left the condo, Goodman refused to join them. According to the report, Goodman may have used a handgun he normally carried for protection.
Taneil Ilano, a Public Information Officer with the Summit County Sheriff's Department, said a witness reported that Goodman consumed about four marijuana edibles that day, described as gummy bears. She added that police were dispatched around 10 p.m. on Saturday.
Luke Goodman's mother, Kim Goodman, told CBS4 that her son had no signs of depression or suicidal thoughts, and believed the overdose of edibles triggered his death.
"It was 100 percent the drugs," she said. "It was completely because of the drugs — he had consumed so much of it."
After the incident, several of Goodman's friends shared about his joy, faith and love for adventure on Facebook.
"He was full of joy and his big smile seriously lit up the room. I loved how Luke was always up for an adventure and would urge you to join him," one friend wrote.
Another added, "Luke was one of the most humble, funny, and loving guys I've known. He always made time to hear out his friends and he enjoyed the greatest adventures God made available on this earth."
Goodman's family is currently planning a memorial service on Friday in Tulsa, Okla. His toxicology results are pending and will take about three weeks to be finalized.
"I would love to see edibles taken off the market," Kim Goodman told CBS4. "I think edibles are so much more dangerous."
Goodman's death is the second in Colorado since marijuana was legalized for recreational use. In March of 2014, Wyoming college student Levy Thamba jumped from the balcony of a Denver hotel after consuming 65 milligrams of THC in a marijuana cookie, more than six times the recommended amount.
A report by the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center shows that the number of marijuana-related calls to the center increased 74 percent between 2013 and 2014, when recreational marijuana was legalized. Of all 221 marijuana-related calls to the center in 2014, 23 of them were from individuals ages 18 to 24.
Goodman was a graduate of Oral Roberts University, and co-owned a concessions business called Break Time Vending, according to his LinkedIn account.
Roaring Fork School District
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Talks with Teachers
A weekly Education and K-12 podcast
Episodes of Talks
Kathy Keyes — Episode #98
Oct 2nd, 201941m 22s
Kathy Keyes taught English for 36 years—at a rural high school, at an urban university, and at a college preparatory Catholic high school. A graduate of Purdue and Indiana University, Kathy recently stepped out of the teaching profession for a
Erik Powell — Episode #97
Sep 1st, 201944m 4s
This fall, Erik begins his 26th year of teaching, most of them at Ferris High School in Spokane. He loves working with passionate, intelligent, and innovative colleagues who are committed to helping students each day. Erik teaches English 10 an
Brandon Abdon — Episode #96
Aug 28th, 201940m 19s
Originally from Greenup, Kentucky - a small town in Appalachia - Brandon now lives in Cincinnati with Angela, his wife, and their 2 sons, Hilton (9) and Dorian (6). After high school, he attended Ashland Community College as a nursing major be
Roy Smith — Episode #95
Roy F. Smith is the English Department Chair at Round Rock High School and teaches AP English Literature and Dual-Credit English. Roy is an AP English Literature College Board Consultant. He is also a consultant for the National Math and Scien
Donna Carpenter — Episode #94
Donna Carpenter is committed to lifelong learning and student-centered teaching. She earned her Bachelors from Gettysburg College and her Masters from University of Pennsylvania. Following a successful career in publishing, Donna returned to th
Elizabeth Matheny — Episode #93
Elizabeth Matheny has taught for Maryland Public Schools for thirteen years. She currently teaches English 9 and AP Language and Composition. When she's not teaching, she's usually hiking or exploring independent bookstores with her husband and
Megan Neville — Episode #92
Megan is an English Teacher and Department Coordinator at Cuyahoga Heights High School. She has been teaching English language arts to high school students near Cleveland, Ohio since 2004, earning her master's degree from Kent State Universit
Dave Stuart Jr. — Episode #91
Dave Stuart Jr. is a husband and dad who teaches high schoolers in a small town. He is animated by a simple belief: all students and teachers should flourish. Every article he write, every lesson he teaches, and book he reads is driven by the c
Alex Kajitani: Episode #90
Fifteen years ago, Alex Kajitani was a struggling new teacher in one of California's poorest neighborhoods. He'd left a potentially lucrative career in restaurant management to pursue his teaching dream, and now his inner-city middle school stu
#89 Jim Burke of the English Companion
Jim Burke is the author of numerous bestselling books, including the English Teacher's Companion and What's the Big Idea? The question he's always tried to answer is "How can we teach our students better?" He seeks these answers daily through h
Shanna Peeples: 2015 National Teacher of the Year
Shanna Peeples, is now a graduate student at the Harvard School of Education. She was a high school English teacher from Amarillo, Texas, and was named the 2015 National Teacher of the Year. Peeples taught AP English at Palo Duro High School,
David Miller: AP Literature Chief Reader
David Miller -- Episode #87 An insightful thinker, an incredible scholar and well-respected English teacher at Mississippi College for more than two decades, David Miller received accolades as MC's Distinguished Professor of the Year in 2013. M
Chris Bronke
Episode #86 Christopher Bronke has been teaching English for 13 years and is in his 5th year as English Department Chair at Downers Grove North. In this role he teaches 9th-grade honors, evaluates teachers, oversees the literacy coaching progra
Monica Burns: Class Tech Tips (Episode #85)
Dr. Monica Burns is a Curriculum and EdTech Consultant, Apple Distinguished Educator and Founder of ClassTechTips.com. As an educator, Monica was part of her school's Federal Magnet Funding leadership team and was a vocal advocate for bringing
Mentor Texts with Allison Marchetti and Rebekah O'Dell
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#83 Sean Gaillard and Natalie Krayenvenger
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Les Burns: Responsive Teaching
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Episode #81 — Jodi Rice
Jodi Rice teaches AP Language and Composition, a social science course online, administers the online courses at The Bishop Strachan School. She also works on the AP Language and Composition Test Development Committee and coaches the Public S
Episode #80 with Anita Jordan
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#79 Dan Tricarico — The Zen Teacher
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#78 Sarah Donovan of Ethical ELA
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In this week's podcast episode I talk about something I believe will help English develop amazing experiences for their students, The Best Lesson Series: Literature. The book contains 15 extraordinary lessons from great teachers. The lessons an
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About Us - A-1 Production, Inc.
A-1 Production, Inc. is a family owned and operated custom machining facility located in Kendallville, Indiana. Founded in 1949 by Dr. Lawrence Shinabery with a steadfast belief that he could not only provide a superior product, but he could do it on time and be competitive while still providing adequate compensation to his workforce and giving back to the community. We are a company that was founded, in essence, on the principals of being customer driven and a responsible corporate citizen long before it was popular. We are now in our fourth generation of leadership, and these values continue to guide our course.
Our original market was custom sized hardened and ground bushings for construction equipment, a market we still service, but we have also grown and become more diverse. We are ISO 9001:2008 certified, and have been continuously certified since 1998. We take quality very seriously, not just in the aspect of meeting customer specifications, but in the quality of workmanship, the pride in making something that is beyond requirements of both form and function.
We are a lean shop, using ideas like SMED, work cells, and value stream mapping to keep custom from turning into costly. Those good habits have also transferred to our office, providing quick processing, lower overhead, and clear communication. The concepts of lean and 5S have been very natural fits for us, and we find they help us to be a better supplier by keeping our focus where it should be, on you.


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Corps announces public comment and webinar on planned deviation from Lake O Regulation Schedule to reduce risk from Harmful Algal Blooms
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District
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Sunset over Lake Okeechobee
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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District, announces public comment on the Draft Revised Supplemental Environmental Assessment (EA) and Proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the planned deviation from the water control plan for Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades Agricultural Area, also known as the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule (LORS 2008) in order to reduce risk from Harmful Algal Blooms. A webinar to provide information regarding the proposed planned deviation is planned for 1 p.m. on July 21. Public comments are due July 30.
The Corps is proposing a planned deviation from LORS 2008 in anticipation of and following freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), to help reduce the risk of potential concerns associated with algal blooms in Lake Okeechobee, the St. Lucie, and Caloosahatchee estuaries while maintaining other project purposes. This Draft Revised Supplemental EA is being prepared to address comments received in response to the 2019 LORS Planned Deviation Draft EA provided to the public on August 6, 2019 and to supplement the LORS 2008 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. The proposed action occurs in Glades, Hendry, Martin, Okeechobee, and Palm Beach counties, Florida.
"This planned deviation is an important tool which provides flexibility to hold back releases when Harmful Algal Blooms are most prevalent in favor of releasing more water from Lake Okeechobee when conditions are more favorable", said Col. Andrew Kelly, Jacksonville District Commander. "The intent is to have no net change in release volumes between the current regulation schedule and the deviation -- it's just a matter of timing. Our goal is to be as prepared as we can be to reduce the risks associated with Harmful Algal Blooms."
It is important to note that there are many species of algae, and some species do not produce toxins. Even the species that sometimes produce toxins do not produce them all the time, and not all algal blooms produce toxins. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection tests water bodies for toxins when algal blooms are reported. If a bloom produces toxins at a certain level, it is considered to be a Harmful Algal Bloom. An algal bloom does not need to have toxins to be considered a harmful algal bloom. An algal bloom that is negatively impacting tourism, recreation or the environment in a significant way can be considered a harmful algal bloom.
The proposed planned deviation would allow the flexibility to make advanced releases from the lake to the estuaries to the east and west, larger than what LORS 2008 Part D calls for, and to make releases south, when LORS Part C does not recommend releases within the Beneficial Use Sub-band, Base Flow Sub-band, Low Sub-band, and the Intermediate Sub-band to the Water Conservation Areas (WCAs).
These advanced releases, done when the risk of HABs is low, would allow greater flexibility to reduce releases during times when HABs are present in the lake or estuaries. The cumulative volume of water released under the planned deviation would be tracked against the volume held back that would have been released under LORS 2008. The objective would be to reach a net zero balance, such that the total volume released across the annual deviation time period, between February 1 and December 1, is unchanged from the releases that would have taken place under the existing schedule. February is chosen as the earliest point to begin any advanced releases to ensure conditions at the Everglades Snail Kite nest initiation period remain unchanged under the proposed deviation.
Due to the nature of the proposed planned deviation, the Corps may not take water management action immediately upon approval of the deviation. The operational strategy in this Draft Revised Supplemental EA describes the conditions and the coordination necessary for water management action to be taken. Based on current conditions within Lake Okeechobee, it is unlikely that action will be taken immediately. When a decision is made to take action, or there are changes to any water management decision, it will be communicated to stakeholders and the public via news releases and web and social media posts, in the same manner that operational changes have been communicated over the past several years. The Corps will evaluate the performance of the deviation, identify outcomes, challenges, and conclusions in a memo to the South Atlantic Division Commander, and may request changes to or an extension of the deviation based on that analysis. The Jacksonville District may apply for subsequent extensions until LORS 2008 is replaced by a new water control plan (the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM), anticipated in 2022. The Corps may also terminate the deviation at any time.
The Draft Revised Supplemental Environmental Assessment (EA) and Proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the planned deviation from the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule (LORS 2008), in order to reduce risk from Harmful Algal Blooms is available for review and comment at: www.saj.usace.army.mil/Deviations. (note: large files may take a few minutes to download).
The Corps requests that comments on the Draft Revised Supplemental Environmental Assessment (EA) and proposed FONSI be submitted to 2020LORSHABEAComments@usace.army.mil, at your earliest convenience, and not later than July 30, 2020. Please include "2020 LORS HAB EA Deviation Comments" in the subject line of emailed comments.
The Corps will host a webinar to explain the deviation to the public and allow for public comment on July 21 2020 at 1 pm. In order to improve the flow of the webinar and the experience for all attendees, we will follow these guidelines:
Webinar: 2020 LORS HAB Planned Deviation Draft Revised Supplemental EA
July 21, 2020 at 1 p.m.
https://usace.webex.com/usace/j.php?MTID=m9751821f3019d69abd065a1e8614961c
Access Code: 167 972 7
Security Code: 1300
All lines except those who are scheduled to speak will be muted during the webinar.
During the public comment period at the end of the presentation, users will receive instructions from the facilitator on how to be added to the queue to participate.
Those who cannot attend the online meeting but wish to provide a comment may provide comments by email to: 2020LORSHABEAComments@usace.army.mil.
The Corps appreciates the ongoing efforts of the public to stay informed and remain engaged in our projects. The feedback that we receive from stakeholders and members of the public provides important local knowledge that informs our decision-making process.
Erica Skolte
561-801-5734 (cell)
Erica.A.Skolte@usace.army.mil
Release no. 20-055
USACE
Jacksonville District
Harmful Algae Blooms
planned deviation
Lake O
Caloosahatchee


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I'd be okay abandoning my efforts to meditate and resting in the fact that Oprah and I are basically twins. It's just that I know I'm happier when I'm present, living in-the-mo', and going with the flow, yo. Like most folks, I'm at my best when I'm focused -- either on one task or on the people around me. I'm enjoying my time here on earth when I'm doing one thing at a time. It doesn't matter what that thing is. I'm even happy to make my kids' stupid school lunches if I'm not thinking about what else I could be doing that would be more fun (a lot, mind you).
So how does one achieve presence if Ohm-ing's not their thing?
I find if I remind myself to experience something with senses -- the way almond butter* smells or how my hand feels cutting the bread -- I can actually enjoy focusing on making a sandwich.
*no peanut butter allowed at my kids' school. For some reason, almonds are fine but in Los Angeles, sending kids to school with peanut butter is akin to sending them with a kilo of coke.
Whether at home playing legos or outside sniffing foliage, kids and animals seem to know what's up. They don't get stuck thinking about what they need to do next. They just do. Sometimes I'll catch myself acting control-y with my kids ("hey, weren't we supposed to be building a castle, not an airport?") but when I just let go and let them make the choices while we play, I don't have to think at all. Watch an animal for a while -- it's mesmerizing and kind of inspiring.
If you don't have kids or pets, see if you can babysit or dog-sit. I'm sure there's someone you know who'd be happy for the break. Or get a fish!
It's not always easy to put aside the voice that says you're supposed to be doing something else, or things are supposed to be different, or your kids will end up as psychopaths if you don't step in right now! But I find when I can accept, feel (and yes, breathe), life is more fun and I actually like myself better. Even if I have to wait a little longer for that damn makeup bag.
Marian Belgray's an L.A.-based comedian and actor-writer-producer who's contributed to HBO, Cinemax, Nickmom, Funny or Die, and performed at clubs around Los Angeles, including El Cid, The Comedy Store, The Upright Citizens Brigade, and The Improv. Marian produces and hosts her own monthly comedy show "C.U.FirstTuesday" and the annual fundraiser For The Children (But Not Suitable For Children) Comedy Night, and shares thoughts about comedy and motherhood on her blog, "2 C-Sections and a Microphone" and in daily videos as she walks around L.A. (#WalkingInLA) on Instastories.
Marian's got a husband and two kids, all of whom she's raising adequately. They live in the L.A. neighborhood Silverlake, where children and coffee compete with dogs and juice for real estate.
Her mission: to enjoy her life and help others do the same.


In these empty arms, I hold all the great love you gave to me.
More than I even realized.
Only to ache so hard.
And time blurs into days.
You're no longer here with me.
You shone so beautiful baby girl.
You brought so much joy.
Your smile changed this world.
That I'm sure. That I know.
And onto that I hold.
Just gone. Just like that.
How can life be this short?
We were so excited for you.
Of your new home in heaven.
Be the sparkle of joy a million times over.
No longer in our world.
Tell them how you loved me.
Tell them mommy needs you close.
Daddy does too. We all do.
Just right where you are.
For she is shining like you were still here.
I think one of your angels hugged her close.
We miss you and need their help.
As you fly with them tonight.
Tell Mommy it's okay to cry.
To miss you so much.
Because love does things like that.
You also hurt so deep.


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Participants will gain understanding about regulatory framework for product governance arrangements under current Cyprus legal framework and additional reference guidance. Second part of the seminar will provide understanding on regulatory framework for PRIIPs (3 levels) and how the two legislations are interconnected.
Executive Directors, Product development, Marketing & Sales, Compliance officers, Internal Auditors.


Nick Tucker puts his money where his 'fro is in this edition of Skate Or Dice!
After a long year of blood, sweat and tears the official trailer for Mountain Dew Green Label Films and Brain Farm has gone live.
A little hump bounce from down low will make you believe you can fly. A bump and a bench are truly the best of both worlds.
Since Tampa Pro is this weekend, here's a little reminder of what the Bones Swiss Ams did.
Can't stop the Santa Cruz and Creature Ams! Watch them shut down Pecos Park!


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Category Archives: nature
book reviews, comics, faith, history, humor, literature, nature, poetry, politics, science
February 17, 2017 andrewlzellCarrie Oeding, Elizabeth Kolbert, Elizabeth Kostova, Gilbert Hernandez, Isabel Wilkerson, Jeff Chu, Jillian Tamaki, Lauren Redniss, Louise Erdrich, Mariko Tamaki, Matthew Desmond, Octavia E. Butler, Peter Enns, Sarah Vowell, Toni Morrison, Virginia Woolf Leave a comment
It's hard to narrow down a year's worth of reading to a manageable list of the cream of the crop, but I'll try. From the books I read in 2016, here are the fifteen books I would most recommend. First are the top three essential books that I would most enthusiastically recommend to anyone. The other twelve were also great, and I recommend them heartily, too. If you want to check out last year's list, click here. Like last year, I'm putting them in the order that I read them. Unlike last year, I'm including longer excerpts from my reviews to give a fuller recommendation. But if you'd like even more, click on the title of the book for the complete review. Now to the books!
The Top Three
Evicted (Matthew Desmond)
"an essential book. Please, please, read it. Desmond makes the convincing case that there is a serious lack of affordable housing that exacerbates, and is a root cause of, the hardships the poor face. The book follows the lives of a small number of tenants in Milwaukee and their landlords through their evictions and searches for shelter. […] If you have any interest in understanding poverty, please read this book. It is uniformly excellent. I can hardly recommend it enough."
Kindred (Octavia Butler)
"a visceral novel about slavery in America. It's 1976, and the narrator Dana, an African American, is somehow transported back to antebellum Maryland where she is confronted with a drowning white child. She travels back and forth, seemingly at whim, until she realizes that she is connected to the child. […] The story takes the jumps in time as a given. One of the strengths of this device is that it puts our modern sensibilities back into the past so that we can better imagine what life was like for slaves and their owners. It's so easy for me as a white person today to think that I would have of course been an abolitionist if I had lived back then. But what if I had lived in the south where slavery was an institution interwoven into the fabric of everyday life? What if my own family had owned slaves? Would I have really held beliefs that would be to the detriment of my own welfare? It's a tough question. The book makes us consider that it was the times that made the person. In describing the slave owner, Dana says this, "He wasn't a monster at all. Just an ordinary man who sometimes did the monstrous things his society said were legal and proper" (134). And she describes many monstrous things that he does. It's enough to make us weep."
The Warmth of Other Suns (Isabel Wilkerson)
"an essential work of history. Wilkerson tells the story of the internal migration of millions of black Americans from the rural South to the urban North and West during the 20th century. Actually, she focuses her attention on three individuals as representatives of those millions. […] Throughout these three stories, Wilkerson weaves in all the appropriate context so that we as readers can see the big picture, too. It's really a marvelous narrative history that illuminates so much of the 20th century and today. I can hardly say enough good about it. Everyone should read it."
And all the other great ones
Mrs. Dalloway (Virginia Woolf)
"It starts with one of the famous lines of literature: "Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself." From there, we follow Clarissa Dalloway (and other characters) through all the preparations for a party that evening at her residence. […] The narration floats and glides from character to character, in and out of minds, seamlessly transitioning from one to the next, like a butterfly flitting here and there. It can be disorienting, but it is also so fluid. We get to experience life through so many eyes and minds. It's exquisite."
Our List of Solutions (Carrie Oeding)
"a collection of poetry full of longing and insight and barbecues. One thing I noticed is that this collection works as a cohesive book and not merely a random selection of poems by one author. Characters and objects and themes recur throughout the book, filling out the neighborhood feel to the proceedings."
Sula (Toni Morrison)
"a really great novel. It tells the story of two friends, Sula and Nel, who grow up in a small, segregated Ohio town. In brief chapters the story flows as the two girls share life together and then separate when Sula leaves town to live freely. Nel stays and settles down until the day Sula comes back and shakes things up again. […] I began the book worried that it would be too "literary," which by itself is not a fault and which I often love about books. I love many difficult literary books. But I've found that it's harder for me to give those kinds of books the attention and concentration required these last few years now that I have kids. I'm more easily distracted. So I loved that I could follow the story in Sula, and it was still a deep and rich book even if not as difficult as I expected. An impressive achievement."
The Sixth Extinction (Elizabeth Kolbert)
"There have been five major extinction events in Earth's history, and we are currently living during the sixth. Previous extinction events have been caused by catastrophes like asteroid impacts. Not so for the sixth extinction, which we are currently witnessing. Human behavior, whether greedy or careless, has caused the extinction of untold numbers of species."
This One Summer (Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki)
"a touching graphic novel about growing up. It's the story of Rose, a girl on the cusp of becoming a teenager. Every summer she and her parents travel to a cabin on a lake for vacation. The routines are established: swimming in the lake, bonfires on the beach, reading in her room, and playing with Windy, another girl a year or two younger whose family also comes to the lake every summer. […] The art is a real strength, too. At times cartoony, and other times more detailed and realistic, it's in total harmony with the story."
Inspiration and Incarnation (Peter Enns)
"I feel like it is a book that was written for me, a book that helps me make sense of the Bible and modern scholarship at a time when I'm full of questions and doubts. The main thesis of the book is that there is an incarnational analogy between the Bible and Jesus where both are fully divine and fully human. […] I would highly recommend this book to any Christian, especially anyone with an evangelical background who finds themselves asking how modern scholarship on the Old Testament can be reconciled with believing that the Bible is still God's word."
The Historian (Elizabeth Kostova)
"a thoroughly engrossing literary thriller. Playing with the historical Vlad the Impaler and Bram Stoker's character Dracula, the novel follows the investigations of an unnamed narrator, her father, his mentor, and other historians as they try to unravel the mystery of what exactly happened to Dracula and where he is buried. It all starts when the narrator finds a letter in her father's library, tucked away in a strange book. The letter starts, "My dear and unfortunate successor…" and the book is an ancient volume with totally blank pages except for a woodcut image of a dragon at the very center of the book."
Does Jesus Really Love Me? (Jeff Chu)
"a fascinating series of snapshots of the American church and how it is currently dealing with LGBTQ issues. Chu spends a year talking to Christians–some gay, some not–all over the country to find out about their experiences. When I first heard about this book, I thought it was going to be mostly a memoir about Chu's own life. While he does give some autobiography, almost the whole book is given over to other people's stories. He talks to people with views and experiences all across the spectrum. What I really appreciated is that Chu allows people to talk and give their opinions, really seeing them as individuals, even when he disagrees with them. […] I think any Christian, no matter where they stand on the issue, would profit from hearing the stories of these individuals."
Thunder & Lightning (Lauren Redniss)
"an extraordinary art book about the science and stories of weather. Melding her skills as an artist with her ability to present research in an interesting way, Redniss has created a unique and fascinating book. Chapters range from the history of lighthouses and fog off Cape Spear in Newfoundland to the shipping of ice from New England to warmer climes all over the world to forest fires in Australia and the American West to the science of weather prognostication especially as practiced by the Old Farmer's Almanac."
Love Medicine (Louise Erdrich)
"a beautiful novel spanning several generations of two families on and off the reservation in North Dakota. Through a series of interconnected stories that span at least 50 years, Erdrich introduces the reader to marvelous characters who remain alive long after closing the book."
The Wordy Shipmates (Sarah Vowell)
"a terrifically fun history lesson on Puritan New England. While not a historian, Vowell has done the research in primary documents to get the story right. […] She loves America and its history, but she's also willing to looks at its faults and how it has failed to live up to its ideals. I would highly recommend this take on the Puritans. It's made me want to read more on them in a way no other previous encounter in a history textbook has."
Julio's Day (Gilbert Hernandez)
"a fascinating look at one man's life and the life of a century in a graphic novel that is exactly 100 pages long. Julio himself lives to be 100, born in 1900 and dying in 2000. The story of the century is also there, but the focus is on Julio and his family and friends."
I mentioned in my last set of reviews for 2016 that I don't plan on doing my monthly roundup of mini book reviews anymore. However, I'll still do a best books of the year feature of the books I liked and would most recommend. I'm already working on that list. I hope I find as many good ones as this year.
book reviews, comics, faith, history, nature, parenting, politics, science
Selected Book Reviews, October – December 2016
February 13, 2017 andrewlzellabortion, Alan Kazdin, behavior, climate change, discrimination, Doreen Green, Elizabeth Kolbert, environmentalism, Erica Henderson, evangelical, evolution, global warming, Great Migration, homosexuality, housing, Isabel Wilkerson, Jim Crow, Jonathan Dudley, Mahalia Jackson, memoir, parenting, psychology, Ryan North, Sonia Sotomayor, Squirrel Girl, Supreme Court 2 Comments
This batch of book reviews round out last year's reading. I got behind in writing them for reasons that I can't even recall, but it nagged at me that I hadn't finished them. These will probably be the last set of book reviews I do in this format. In the future, I may do a deep dive into a particularly insightful or powerful book. Or I may do a roundup of a few books on one topic. I'm not entirely sure yet. But I'm not planning on doing monthly reviews anymore. However, I think I'll still make a list of the best books I read in a given year to recommend. Speaking of which, I'll put up a year in review of the best books I read in 2016 shortly.
Broken Words: The Abuse of Science and Faith in American Politics by Jonathan Dudley is a careful critique of evangelicalism by someone who grew up in that world. It reads as a succinct summary of some of my own changes in thinking on these topics. Dudley's book can be summarized well with two quotes. First, his thesis: "Evangelicalism has defined itself by weakly supported boundary markers, which are justified by a flawed understanding of biblical interpretation and maintained by suppressing those who disagree" (24). The four boundary markers dealt with in the book are abortion, homosexuality, environmentalism, and evolution. Basically the hot button topics in the culture wars. If one takes the wrong view on any of these issues, one cannot be in the evangelical club anymore. The second quote concerns the justification from the Bible part of the thesis: "Biases and prior beliefs are not something that get in the way of interpretation, something that must be brushed aside; rather, biases and prior beliefs are behind every interpretation" (108-9). Everyone approaches the Bible with prior beliefs and biases. Even the straightforward plain interpretation that we think is objective is certainly a matter of the lens we use when we read. An easy example from the book is that Christians were not all that concerned when Darwin first published his theory of evolution in 1859. It wasn't until decades later that fundamentalists and evangelicals felt that they had to reject evolution and believe in a young earth. Christians approached the same text with different prior beliefs at different points in time and came to vastly different conclusions. Besides this major point about interpretation, Dudley also wants to make a point about the Christian use of science. He notes how Christian pro-lifers claim that science shows that a fetus is a person from the moment of conception (an argument Dudley doesn't accept). But when it comes to other matters of science, such as the widespread scientific evidence for evolution or global warming, evangelical Christians often find themselves dismissing science. Evangelicals only like science when it seemingly agrees with their political beliefs. Dudley grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, home to several evangelical colleges and publishing houses. He attended Calvin College, then studied religion at seminary, and then began medical school, while finishing this book. I don't have the same educational path, but I can relate to his intellectual and faith journey and some of his conclusions. I would definitely recommend this book.
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol. 1: Squirrel Power by Ryan North and Erica Henderson is an incredibly fun comic book. It's light-hearted and funny. I find it hard to decide which I like more, the writing or the artwork. North has fun with Doreen Green and her supporting cast of friends and squirrels, as well as the villains, but he gives them all a lot of heart and personality. Henderson does a great job balancing cartoony action and characters, but never exploits or sexualizes the characters, a problem all too rampant in comics. Doreen looks like the college student she is, not an unrealistic supermodel in a swimsuit trying to fight crime. She's someone I'd want to be friends with if I had a friend who could talk to squirrels. She eats nuts and kicks butts. Even if you think you don't like superhero comics, you might like this one. I'm really looking forward to reading more of this series.
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson is an essential work of history. Wilkerson tells the story of the internal migration of millions of black Americans from the rural South to the urban North and West during the 20th century. Actually, she focuses her attention on three individuals as representatives of those millions. Through the story of Ida Mae we learn how tenuous was the position of sharecroppers in Mississippi, how hard the work was picking cotton and how little they got paid, if at all. So much depended on the whims of the white landowners. After Ida Mae's husband's cousin Joe Lee, who lived a few shacks down from them, was falsely accused of stealing turkeys and subsequently half beaten to death, Ida Mae and her family packed up and left for Milwaukee, ending up on the South Side of Chicago before long. There they face housing discrimination; all the black families moving in are forced into strict geographical boundaries, and any time they try to move into a new neighborhood, the white neighbors first try to fight their arrival, and if that failed then they all moved out. If you want to know why cities are like they are, this book is illuminating. Even the world famous gospel singer Mahalia Jackson faced housing discrimination when she bought a house in a nice neighborhood. She received death threats in the middle of the night before she moved in, and after she did, bullets shattered some of her windows. Police had to keep guard around her house for nearly a year to prevent violence. No one was immune from discrimination. Despite the hardships in the North, Ida Mae experienced some measure of true freedom. She was able to vote for the first time. The family was eventually able to buy a house, but soon after they did, the whites in the neighborhood took flight. The two other individuals the book focuses on, Dr. Robert Foster and George Starling, provide more glimpses into life in the Jim Crow South and how they tried to make a better life in L.A. and New York, respectively. Dr. Foster left a life in rural Louisiana where the highest he could have risen was to a country doctor making house calls to black families with no admitting privileges at the local hospital. He wanted fame and fortune and a good life. George Starling picked fruit in the groves of Florida, chafing at the unfair labor practices, before he headed North. He worked for the railroad on a line that traveled up and down the east coast, so he got to see the changes from North to South for decades. Throughout these three stories, Wilkerson weaves in all the appropriate context so that we as readers can see the big picture, too. It's really a marvelous narrative history that illuminates so much of the 20th century and today. I can hardly say enough good about it. Everyone should read it.
Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change by Elizabeth Kolbert is a short and excellent primer on climate change (I read it in a day). The book is based on a series of articles Kolbert wrote for The New Yorker magazine, where she is a staff writer, in order "to convey, as vividly as possible, the reality of global warming" (2). By traveling to locations across the globe, Kolbert tells how things are changing: glaciers are shrinking, permafrost is melting, oceans are warming and becoming more acidic, animal migrations are shifting towards the warming poles, and plants are earlier than usual. A small island community in Alaska has to move because of the rising ocean level. While telling the stories of various changes worldwide, Kolbert also explains the science to a lay audience without getting too technical. The only downside to this well written little book is that it is already a bit out of date. It was published in 2006, but since then we have had still warmer years, and the trend continues upward. Despite that one drawback, I would highly recommend it. [Note: there is a newer revised and expanded edition, so forget what I said. Read that one instead.]
The Everyday Parenting Toolkit by Alan E. Kazdin with Carlo Rotella is a very helpful book for parents. Kazdin draws on the available social science on children's behavior and his experience working at the Yale Parenting Center to give useful guidelines for how to change problematic behavior in kids. The key is the focus on behavior. Parents, me included, want our kids to be kind and generous, resilient and motivated, and not selfish jerks. But how do these qualities get cultivated? It starts with behavior. Kazdin explains his ABC method, which is backed up by research and with examples of how it works. He describes his techniques as tools in the toolbox. They are adaptable depending on the situation; some will be used more than others. The first thing to think about when considering children's behavior is the Antecedent of the behavior. How can parents set up the situation for the behavior they wish to see? The goal is to make the choice for the child as likely as possible. Asking in a calm voice one time helps. Giving a choice also helps. Children like to have at least a small measure of autonomy. The next consideration is the Behavior itself. Sometimes this is clear like when I want my kids to clear their places by putting their dishes into the sink after a meal or brush their teeth before bed. But often I want them to stop an irritating or dangerous behavior. It's not very effective to merely say don't do that. What kids need is positive reinforcement for the behavior I do want to see. In order to make that happen, I have to think of the positive opposite of undesirable behavior. This isn't always easy to do, but it's crucial. So for example, my 3 year old throws screaming tantrums sometimes. I can't change the fact that he gets upset by things, but I do want him to deal with his upset feelings with a different strategy than by screaming. So I will praise him for any approximation that gets us closer to the desired behavior. This is called shaping the behavior. If he never has done the desired behavior, then we can practice a simulation so he can try to do it when he does actually get upset. The third part is the area of Consequences, which is where a lot of people want to start. For Kazdin, consequences are positive reinforcement for the desired behavior. Mostly this means praise from parents that is immediate, effusive, and specific, with some sort of affection added. Sometimes other methods can help, too, like a point chart, but praise from parents is the best reinforcer. Kazdin has a lot more to explain and tons of examples (as well as another book for the tough cases of especially defiant children), but this is the outline. Some of it is definitely counter-intuitive. But I can see that barking at my children to stop doing something rarely works and it often escalates. When I've been able to implement the Kazdin ABCs I've had much more success in changing unwanted behavior. I'd really recommend this to any and all parents.
My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor is a revealing and instructive memoir from one of our Supreme Court Justices. She details her life with precision and insight up until her appointment as a District Court judge in 1992; the rest of her life and career will presumably have to wait until her retirement. I was especially interested in finding out more about her life because my kids attend a Spanish immersion elementary school named after her. There are many interesting details to her early life growing up poor in a housing project in the Bronx. Her alcoholic father died when she was young, so she and her brother had to assume a lot of responsibility in their household with only their mother to raise them. Especially humanizing is her diagnosis of type 1 diabetes at age seven that she has had to manage for the rest of her life. That diagnosis led her to give up dreams of growing up and becoming a detective and instead focus on training to be a lawyer. She knew from an early age what she wanted to do in life. One of the overriding themes of her memoir is that of empathy. In a pivotal passage, Sotomayor explains how she understood the importance of empathy through two events and by reading Lord of the Flies. In the classic book, a group of boys have to fend for themselves on an island by themselves. Their survival is precarious, and they must work together in order to make it through. Sotomayor notices the same precariousness in her own life. She notices a police officer extorting a street fruit vendor for two bags of fruit. She also witnesses her own aunt making prank calls to random women, pretending that she was having affairs with their husbands. Putting it all together, she declares, "I was fifteen years old when I understood how it is that things break down: people can't imagine someone else's point of view" (123). Her story continues as she details how hard she worked to make it through Princeton and Yale Law School, despite "limits of class and cultural background" (171). It's an inspiring book, and she doesn't refrain from talking about mistakes she has made such as her brief marriage to her high school sweetheart. This is a memoir I'd recommend reading.
book reviews, literature, nature, politics
Book Reviews, September 2016
October 1, 2016 andrewlzellAppalachian Trail, Bill Bryson, Citizens United, Gilbert Hernandez, hiking, Jane Mayer, John Muir Trail, Koch brothers, Pacific Crest Trail 1 Comment
My September book reviews offer three different vantage points of America, from the rich and powerful and their political interests to the recently repatriated reconnecting with the American landscape on the fabled Appalachian Trail to the rural poor Latino figuring out his place in the world.
Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires behind the Rise of the Radical Right by Jane Mayer is a good book about an important subject—money in politics—but I couldn't help feeling depressed as I read it. Mayer has done the research and followed the money trail. She meticulously shows how rich men (especially Charles and David Koch, but also many others such as Richard Mellon Scaife) have used their fortunes to fund and influence the political conversation towards their preferred policies. A lot it comes down to tax avoidance. Scaife, for instance, and his sister received their large inheritances from their father in the form of two trusts of $50 million apiece. The money sat in the trusts for 20 years accruing interest. The interest had to be spent on charitable nonprofits, but after the 20 years were up, the children would get the entire $50 million tax free. The Koch brothers received a similar arrangement from their parents. Scaife and the Kochs used the interest from the trusts to fund nonprofits that aligned with their political views. One way they did this was to give to new, more ideological think tanks in the 1970s. Before this, research think tanks had been driven by social science research for the general public interest. The new think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation and Cato Institute had a much more ideological bent. It didn't stop at think tanks. Then the Kochs and like minded rich philanthropists started funding programs in higher education in order to compete with the liberal agenda they saw in academia. Most of these billionaires were in the energy sector, whether oil, coal, or natural gas. They were most determined to fight any research that conflicted with their bottom line. Mayer details the political fights of the Obama presidency, showing how the influence of the money and operations of the Kochs and other billionaires has stymied progress. The total opposition to Obama began as soon as he took office, not in reaction to anything he did, but the very fact that he had won the election. The Koch brothers' group Americans for Prosperity and another group FreedomWorks, funded by other billionaires and companies like Philip Morris, helped organize and promote the Tea Party. It wasn't a grassroots uprising. The sea change in thought on climate change was especially profound and evidence of the power of monied interests. John McCain in 2008 actually ran on a platform of acknowledging climate change and advocating for a cap and trade bill, a relatively conservative solution to curbing green house gases based on free markets. A year later when Obama supported a cap and trade bill that passed the House, the opposition in the Senate became intense. It was never even brought up for a vote because it wouldn't have passed. By 2012, Mitt Romney had to reverse his previous position of acknowledging human caused climate change in order to be acceptable to the conservative side of the Republican party. It was no longer acceptable to the big donors who funded the party. The Koch brothers believe that they are fighting for their libertarian free market principles when they fund attacks on regulations of the fossil fuel industry. It just so happens that all of the issues that they fight the hardest for and put their money towards would also help them avoid taxes or responsibility when accidents happen. The amount of money involved is truly astounding, made more so by the recent Supreme Court decision Citizens United which breaks down barriers to pour even more money into politics. It's depressing that those with the most money have so much power and influence on our political system and even political opinion. Mayer focuses her attention on what she calls the "radical right," but the problem of money in the system goes both ways. It is especially evident on the right at the moment. She does point out at various times some of the liberal billionaires who have attempted to use their money in a similar fashion, but it is mostly a reaction to the efforts of the Kochs and their like minded billionaires, and not nearly as well coordinated or funded. The book is solid research, but I would only recommend it to someone who can stomach it.
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson is a fun travel memoir about friendship and nature. After spending roughly half his life in Britain, Bryson embarks on a hiking trip with an old friend from his hometown who he hadn't really kept up with. Neither of them has much experience with hiking and the wilderness, though Bryson has done a lot of research for the endeavor. Bryson's narrative is very funny and compelling as he relates how they eat the same meals over and over, encounter a bear one night, and face the difficulty of carrying everything on their backs mile after mile in spite of being out of shape and overweight when they begin. I especially liked the parts where Bryson gave the history of the AT and the challenges of nature conservation. It's true that Bryson didn't complete the whole trail. I don't hold that against him, though he could have been more up front about his plans. Sixteen years ago, fresh out of college, I joined an experienced friend to hike the John Muir Trail in California (itself a part of the Pacific Crest Trail). Unfortunately, we had to quit the trail before we had even exited Yosemite National Park because my friend was experiencing knee pain. Those three days on the trail were one of the hardest things I've ever done physically. It took real effort to continue putting one foot in front of the other. We probably would have hit our stride in a few days, and it would have become easier. I often wish I had gone back to do the JMT in full. I would like to read Cheryl Strayed's Wild, her account of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail as a comparison and contrast to Bryson's tale. Some of the crudity of Bryson's friend Stephen Katz is presented as "boys will be boys," which was distracting in parts. It's another reason I'd like to read Strayed to get a different hiking experience. But overall I enjoyed Bryson's travelogue.
Julio's Day by Gilbert Hernandez is a fascinating look at one man's life and the life of a century in a graphic novel that is exactly 100 pages long. Julio himself lives to be 100, born in 1900 and dying in 2000. The story of the century is also there, but the focus is on Julio and his family and friends. It begins in blackness, and then we see Julio's open crying mouth; it ends in the same open mouth and blackness when he dies. The artwork, done in black and white, is somewhat cartoony, but it's never simplistic. The approach is spare and clean. Julio grows up in a poor rural area of the country that is never specified (my guess is California). He is closeted and complex, not really acknowledging the love of his life, his childhood friend Tommy. He never marries and lives with his mother. But the story continues along various paths, tracing the history of his family and community: his evil uncle, his friend Araceli who goes off to nurse soldiers in multiple wars, his sister's family, including her grandson Julio Juan. Julio Juan is an interesting contrast to Julio, as he is also gay, but since he came of age in a different era, he can live freely. There are multiple stories and characters, so sometimes Julio drifts to the background of his own story, but he and his life ground it all. It's a rewarding read that I would definitely recommend. [Read an excerpt here at NPR.]
book reviews, comics, history, literature, nature, science
Book Reviews, June 2016
June 30, 2016 andrewlzellabolition, African Americans, J. H. Williams III, Lauren Redniss, Louise Erdrich, Native Americans, Neil Gaiman, Octavia E. Butler, prequel, reservation, Sandman, slavery, weather 1 Comment
June was a good month of reading. I read four fantastic and varied books. I'd recommend all of them highly! Check them out!
Thunder & Lightning: Weather Past, Present, Future by Lauren Redniss is an extraordinary art book about the science and stories of weather. Melding her skills as an artist with her ability to present research in an interesting way, Redniss has created a unique and fascinating book. Chapters range from the history of lighthouses and fog off Cape Spear in Newfoundland to the shipping of ice from New England to warmer climes all over the world to forest fires in Australia and the American West to the science of weather prognostication especially as practiced by the Old Farmer's Almanac. Redniss does it all: she created her own font for the text. The prints that accompanied the stories and interviews were made either by copper plate photogravure or photopolymer process. The art is impressive and draws attention before even reading the words. It's hard to categorize a book as beautiful and interesting as this one. It's not merely a science book, though it is that, too. In the chapter on wind, there's the story of Diana Nyad, an endurance swimmer attempting to swim from Cuba to Florida but needing a period with little wind so the waves wouldn't be too large. Interspersed in her story are pages with types of winds or mythology and an interlude on the attempt to introduce wind at Mecca during the hajj when millions of Muslims gather for pilgrimage because the site has been so built up to accommodate all of the visitors and cuts off the natural flow of wind. It's a one of a kind book. I'd highly recommend it.
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler is a visceral novel about slavery in America. It's 1976, and the narrator Dana, an African American, is somehow transported back to antebellum Maryland where she is confronted with a drowning white child. She travels back and forth, seemingly at whim, until she realizes that she is connected to the child. It's dangerous for her when she is in 1800s, even though she is herself not a slave, she has no rights that anyone needs to uphold. Her education and knowledge of history is a two-edged sword: sometimes she can use it to her advantage and other times it makes the whites of the time, and the slaves too, fearful of her. While it is a science fiction story because of the time travel element, it doesn't focus on the particulars of how it is happening. The story takes the jumps in time as a given. One of the strengths of this device is that it puts our modern sensibilities back into the past so that we can better imagine what life was like for slaves and their owners. It's so easy for me as a white person today to think that I would have of course been an abolitionist if I had lived back then. But what if I had lived in the south where slavery was an institution interwoven into the fabric of everyday life? What if my own family had owned slaves? Would I have really held beliefs that would be to the detriment of my own welfare? It's a tough question. The book makes us consider that it was the times that made the person. In describing the slave owner, Dana says this, "He wasn't a monster at all. Just an ordinary man who sometimes did the monstrous things his society said were legal and proper" (134). And she describes many monstrous things that he does. It's enough to make us weep. It's an extremely powerful book and I highly recommend it.
The Sandman: Overture, written by Neil Gaiman with art by J.H. Williams III, is a lovely prequel to an essential comics story. First, let me say, that prequels are tricky and often doomed to fail. When a story begins in the middle of events, it can be difficult to go back and tell the earlier backstory in a compelling way. But Gaiman has done it beautifully. When the original Sandman story began, he is imprisoned by a secret society for 72 years after being weakened by some adventure. Overture tells the story of that adventure when Morpheus (the embodiment of Dream) travels across the universe in order to save it from destruction that he himself inadvertently caused. Throughout the story, Gaiman weaves elements and characters from the original story in new and interesting ways that add to the mythos instead of merely explaining origins or anything mundane as that. I was enjoying the story for the first few issues, happy to be back in the world of Sandman, but I wasn't astounded either. But upon finishing it, I can say that Gaiman sticks the landing and elevates the entire story, making it a truly worthy prequel. Though it takes place chronologically before the main Sandman story, I think it still best to read it afterwards. This was a deluxe edition, so it included a lot of supplementary material in the back. Remarkably, I found it pretty illuminating, at least more than I usually do with material like this. The artist, colorist, and letterer all explain their craft and artistic decision making process in a way that helped me understand better the collaborative process of making a comic. J.H. Williams III's artwork in particular is gorgeous and makes the book stunning. If you like Sandman, definitely check this out. If you haven't read the original ten collected volumes of Sandman, get on it!
Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich is a beautiful novel spanning several generations of two families on and off the reservation in North Dakota. Through a series of interconnected stories that span at least 50 years, Erdrich introduces the reader to marvelous characters who remain alive long after closing the book. A few of the stories are told by a third person narrator, but most of them are narrated by the characters themselves, so we get to see how they see events, often the same events from multiple perspectives. It's a wonderful way to show the intricate nature of perspective. One of the voices is Lipsha Morrissey, a young boy taken in by the Kashpaws, possibly his relatives, though the mystery of his ancestry is one that he tries to untangle. His is a humorous and earnest voice. He describes another woman who his grandfather had a love affair with: "There was this one time that Lulu Lamartine's little blue tweety bird, a paraclete, I guess you'd call it, flown up inside her dress and got lost within there" (243). The unwitting joke is that instead of naming the bird he has used the Greek word for advocate, usually meaning the Holy Spirit in Christian theology. Earlier in his story, he had described his grandmother's memory as "like them video games that don't forget your score. One reason she remembers so many details about the trouble I gave her in early life is so she can flash back her total when she needs to" (240). Lipsha is only one of the many fully realized people that we empathize with and come to understand. Many others love, grieve, connive, cope, and live. It's a world of characters that Erdrich returned to for a number of other books, but this is the first. In fact, it's her first novel, which is amazing. It's such a great book. I read the 1993 expanded edition, which includes more stories than either the 1984 original or the more recent 2009 revision. But it's hard to see how one can go wrong with any version of the book (one of the stories taken out of the 2009 version appears in the backmatter, so it isn't wholly lost).
Book Reviews, April 2016
April 30, 2016 andrewlzellafterlife, Bram Stoker, Dracula, Egypt, Elizabeth Kostova, extinction, Gene Luen Yang, ghosts, imagination, library, Mary Roach, mediums, origin story, Peter Schouten, sixth extinction, Sonny Liew, souls, superhero, Tim Flannery, Vlad the Impaler, Zilpha Keatley Snyder 1 Comment
I bought a stack of books at the annual library sale and got started on reading some of them in April. I couldn't help rereading an old favorite in the hopes that I would find it just as enthralling again. (Spoiler alert: I did.) I also read another funny science book by Mary Roach and a more serious picture book of extinct species. To round out the month, I read a superhero origin story and a Newbery Honor winning kids' classic.
Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife by Mary Roach is a funny and interesting book on what happens after we die. Years ago I read and enjoyed her first book Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, but I hesitated in reading the follow-up on the afterlife because I wasn't all that interested in the topic, or at least what I had assumed would be her take on it. I needn't have worried. Roach makes almost anything interesting with her lively and humorous writing. I rediscovered her last year when I read her book on the digestive system, and I then decided that I would happily read any of her books. I especially liked the early chapter on souls and the hunt for them in the body. I also learned about the dubious study that supposedly found that the soul weighs 21 grams. There were many other good bits: the hunt for reincarnated souls, testing the effectiveness of mediums, and the search for ghosts. One particular story involved a farmer, with the help of his father's ghost, finding a new will that changed the entire family's inheritance. I won't give away what Roach's investigation into the matter finds. Overall it was a very enjoyable read, but I would probably recommend one of Roach's other books first.
The Shadow Hero, written by Gene Luen Yang and illustrated by Sonny Liew, is a fun origin story about a mysterious and short-lived Golden Age superhero named the Green Turtle. As explained in an afterword, the original Green Turtle only lasted five issues in 1944. He fought in China against the Japanese, but curiously it wasn't ever known if he himself was Chinese or not (rumor was that his creator Chu Hing wanted him to be Chinese). His face was never shown; he was mostly drawn from the back or when he was in profile or was facing the reader, he had his face covered in some way (i.e. with his arm or obscured by another character). In fact, the publisher had him colored a garish pink, possibly to accentuate his Caucasian skin as a Chinese superhero might not sell. Another recurring element to those stories was that Green Turtle was always on the verge of telling Burma Boy, his sidekick, his secret origins, but never gets around to it as he is always interrupted. So in steps Yang, 70 years later, to write an origin for Green Turtle, possibly the first Asian American superhero. The story takes place in Chinatown in a stand in for the Bay area, where gangs thrive. Young Hank helps his father tend the grocery store while his mother wishes better things for all of them. After she is saved by a superhero, she pushes Hank to become a superhero, too, even though he doesn't have superpowers. It's a fun tale about identity and heritage that plays on many of the conventions of the superhero origin. A brief warning for younger readers: the story includes stereotyped language about Asian Americans to place it into historical context. It doesn't condone the language, but rather shows how the stereotypes are wrong. If you like superhero origin stories, definitely check this one out.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova is a thoroughly engrossing literary thriller. Playing with the historical Vlad the Impaler and Bram Stoker's character Dracula, the novel follows the investigations of an unnamed narrator, her father, his mentor, and other historians as they try to unravel the mystery of what exactly happened to Dracula and where he is buried. It all starts when the narrator finds a letter in her father's library, tucked away in a strange book. The letter starts, "My dear and unfortunate successor…" and the book is an ancient volume with totally blank pages except for a woodcut image of a dragon at the very center of the book. I think I loved this book because much of the action takes place in libraries as the characters conduct research with old documents and letters. Much of the story is related in letters, an obvious homage to Bram Stoker's famous novel. It's not a particularly deep novel, and the characters are not fully formed, but for a suspenseful thriller, I can hardly imagine a more successful novel. I read the book over ten years ago when it first came out and I really liked it then. I forgot much of the action since then, so I picked it up again hoping to have a similar experience. Part of me worried it wouldn't hold up. I needn't have fretted. I loved it all over again.
A Gap in Nature: Discovering the World's Extinct Animals with text by Tim Flannery and illustrations by Peter Schouten is a sobering look at the effects of humanity on the animal kingdom. The book includes 103 species (mammal, bird, or reptile) that have gone extinct since the year 1500, most of them in the past 150 years. Peter Schouten's illustrations are beautiful and naturalistic. I was reminded of the Audubon calendars we had in our house growing up. It was rather haunting to see animal after animal that is gone forever. Some of the species are familiar, even famous for their extinction: the gigantic moas of New Zealand, the Dodo of Mauritius, the Great Auk in the North Atlantic, the Passenger Pigeon of North America, and the Thylacine (aka the Tasmanian Tiger). I didn't know about Steller's Sea Cow, a gigantic relative of dugongs and manatees. It was the largest mammal (besides whales) to live in modern times, at up to 30 feet long and weighing approximately 10 tons. They were all hunted until there were none left by 1768. The text by Tim Flannery, an introduction and commentary on each species to accompany the artwork, is informative on what was known about each species and its demise. Sometimes a bird would be hunted for food by humans. Such was the fate of the Rail (a kind of bird) on Wake Island during World War II—during hostilities between the Japanese and American forces, the Japanese soldiers faced starvation and ate the birds to survive. More often the reason for extinction was the introduction of some other invasive species that disrupted the life cycle. Black rats might eat the eggs, for example, of some other island bird. The rats came to shore from aboard the ships that explored the South Pacific and other faraway once diverse habitats. Sometimes people destroyed the habitat for these animals, usually for agricultural reasons. Flannery also notes that a few species went extinct when naturalists gathered the last few remaining specimens for natural history museums. Our knowledge of the species came at the expense of their extinction, a truly bittersweet result. This book is a good complement to Elizabeth Kolbert's The Sixth Extinction, showing example after example of humanity's devastation of the natural world.
The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder is another classic of kids' lit that I managed to miss when I was growing up. I thought maybe I had read it because I have some vague memory of a book I randomly picked up at the library that had to do with kids and some Egyptian mystery, but then I forgot the title and could never find the book again when I went to look for it. I don't think it was the same book, but regardless, The Egypt Game is a good book for elementary age kids to read. It has a lot to say about friendships, imagination, and figuring out how to deal with disappointment. The initial main characters are April and Melanie. April has recently moved in with her grandmother, who herself has recently moved into a new two bedroom apartment so she would have enough room for April and herself. Melanie lives one floor down from April, and they become friends because of a shared interest in Egyptian history. They start to imagine that they themselves are living in ancient Egypt with its gods and ceremonies, priests/priestesses and pharaohs. The game is a secret they play in a fenced storage lot behind a junk shop, but they eventually end up inviting others to join them. I'm looking forward to the day my kids are old enough to read it so I can talk to them about their own Egypt games.


MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Kremlin called the Russian nationwide group heroes and also happy football followers praised their underdog host group after the side shed on fines to Croatia, bringing an end to its World Cup obstacle at the quarter-finals.
Throughout Russia, hand-wringing followers had actually held their breath with added time, really hoping the group can manage one more trouble. Russia went into the World Cup as the most affordable ranking side, yet got to the quarter finals versus the chances.
The dissatisfaction of loss late on Saturday quickly merged praise as followers toasted a nationwide side that had actually repetitively resisted assumptions. Followers spilling from bars shouted "Russia," dance in the road and also vocal singing along as songs blasted.
" Our young boys, they actually did terrific. Significant thanks to them for this event. Exactly what we accomplished, that was so amazing," Andrey, an attorney, claimed alongside a road edge display that had actually revealed the suit.
Head Of State Vladimir Putin did not participate in the video game, yet enjoyed from another location, claiming the gamers were heroes in spite of the nation and also the loss took pride in them, Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov was mentioned as stating by Interfax.
They are still terrific individuals for us, they are heroes. They were passing away on the pitch, we are honored with them," Peskov was priced quote as claiming.
Regardless of the outcome, road celebrations burst out in main Moscow in scenes evocative the parties complying with Russia's shock success over Spain on Sunday. The Kremlin compared those celebrations to photos of parties after triumph in World War Two.
"It was a terrific suit. Well done to our individuals, they attempted really hard … I'm actually pleased that we made it to the quarters for the very first time in background," stated Artyom Osadchy, a student.
Russians listened throughout the nation, from soldiers at their barracks in Rostov-on-Don to ballerinas in Saint Petersburg back phase. Wild pet tamers at a circus in Moscow bent round a phone streaming the video game.
Russia and also Croatia were linked 1-1 after a strained ninety mins. Croatia went an objective up in added time, yet Russia handled to claw back in the last mins, adjusting to earn it 2-2.
Throughout the charge shootout, taxis stopped with their risk lights on and also paid attention on the radio.
"It was simply that the live roulette wheel was not in our support today," claimed Andrey the attorney after Russia shed 4-3 in the shootout.
Various other followers sought to the future on the heels of Russia's finest World Cup efficiency because the collapse of the Soviet Union.
It's the initial time we're in the quarter finals in an extremely lengthy time. It was a really sensible video game," Evgenia, 36, a psycho therapist, stated.