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text:
Pro Match Results
Pro Match Results and Discussion
Depressed Federer fans check in here
Thread starter romeo8880
trenzterra
Part of me died inside with the Tsonga (at Wimbly) and Djokovic matches.
I couldn't fathom how Federer could let Djokovic back in, then claw his own way back only to double fault on the most crucial break point ever.
I think it has something to do with mindset. After Djokovic saved the first matchpoint, I could see how he was strangely smiling. To him, and Tsonga, it seemed they had nothing to lose. Afterall, they were in a rut just two sets ago. While Federer, perhaps with memories of recent and last year matches, got a little tight and brain farted.
athiker
It was strange to me. He decides to keep hitting to Djok's backhand so trading backhands instead of forehands as if his backhand was better than Djok's rather than his forehand. Then he would step and hit his forehand inside out, I know he was trying to move Djok over wide, but he seemed like he didn't pull the inside in forehand often enough once the court was open and would make an inside out error or Djok would take his backhand down the line first.
Then Fed was having great success from deuce serving wide and then hitting to open court. Suddenly he stopped doing that like he stopped pulling the trigger on the inside in forehand. He seemed determined to hit an ace up the middle from the deuce side but kept missing. Overall his first serve % went in the toilet late.
To me it looked like Djok got a bit ticked at the crowd cheering so loud for Fed just before than screaming forehand winner return. He was looking like, "Oh yeah...you want him...after all I've done to get to number one...all the dominating tennis I've played...you still want him?...fine...I'm going for broke." Then when he made the shot and played to the crowd...all his tightness and nerves faded away....right across the court over to Fed.
Fedace
Only if that Netcord went over........hey ??
romeo8880
Sigh. Checking in again. Was pretty much in shock for an hour or so after the match and extremely depressed. Finally started snapping out of it after that. Still can't really believe that he blew the match today and I know it's hurting him badly inside. He's not used to losing. He's used to dominating and these coming years are going to be really, really hard for him. It's especially hard that he lost to Djokovic. Losing to Nadal I can deal with because Nadal is an excellent player. Novak is not.
Marius_Hancu
Arias said it was a choke and I have to agree.
Fed better produce.
Poor strategy for sure:
He didn't really S-V at all, to shorten the exchanges.
He thinks he can beat them from anywhere.
That's not valid any more over 5 sets.
He better put Annacone to better use.
Play how these guys want it, suffer the consequences.
Very disappointed in Roger. I really thought he had this one for sure. Just wished if he had lost it would have been in straights or something, not 2 sets to love up. Oh well next year is a new start and hopefully he can bag at least 1 major and hopefully the olympic gold.
Hopefully Novak can get his first US Open title though. All the best to him.
SuperPhong
romeo8880 said:
Don't you hate being wrong all the time...you should retire from the forums because everything you say is just nonsense and everyone on here knows you are blind to the fact that Djoker has been beating up on your heroes all year long
Fed needs to sack annacone and hire peter lundgren. i've been saying this for years. annacone is not a coach that fits to roger. roger is emotional as a person and 'cone is just like sampras - no emotion whatsoever. him and peter fit really well and i'm not quiet sure WHY he fired him in the first place.
Just want to see the fire back in Fed...like in '08 Open when he showed he REALLY wanted it. thats how he was when he won wimby in 03 and 05. he needs to show some more emotion. today's match really lacked it.
SuperPhong said:
You are so delusional and it's sickening that you really believe that Djokovic is as good as you think he is. I love the fact that he has 3 grand slams and has not a shot in hell of reaching double digits. ROGER FEDERER.....16 GRAND SLAMS. DEAL WITH IT. How does it feel that the guy in the prime of his life was just in a dog fight and came soooo close to losing to a player in the twilight of his career? Hahahaha must suck man.
chiruanna
Heartbreaking and frustrating.
I'm wondering if its time to make this thread a sticky.....Hope he snaps out of this mind block.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
Djoko is 6 years younger than Fed and then even if he never matches Fed's records, it doesn't mean he is a bad player. The only thing that mattered was to win that match. Djoko did and Fed didn't. As simple as that. You seem like you just refuse to deal with what's just happened. Get a grip.
chiruanna said:
We just have to deal with the fact that he's well passed his prime now and he's not going to dominate so easily like we were so accustomed to seeing. Just take comfort in the fact that all REAL tennis fans know that Novak Djokovic would never have beaten a prime Federer today. He beat a shell of his former self, and we all know that's all he is capable of beating.
veroniquem said:
You are not a true tennis fan, so there is no use arguing with you. Learn the game.
I was so sad when Fed blew those two match points away.
I've been a tennis fan for 20 years but who cares? That has nothing to do with anything. Djokovic is #1 and you're going around claiming he's not a great player. You won't even give him a bit of respect. That is sad and unfair.
vicnan
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: When you are match points in the fifth set after four hours of play and you hit that forehand winner, you must be a little bit amazed under the circumstances that you hit that shot. You definitely don't expect yourself to come up with it.
Lunaticalm
Extremely disappointing after holding those two match points. Not to mention Caro is being skinned alive right now by Serena so double whammy for me.
He is top 3. He is not a #1 player and never will be. I don't care that the ranking says he is #1. It's the same thing with Wozniacki. Not a #1 player.
Except Woz has won 0 slam, Djoko has won 3 and Djoko has beaten both Fed and Rafa plenty of times. But whatever bro, if that's the only way you have to make yourself feel better, go ahead.
ETA: I am not saying Djoko is BETTER than Fed and Rafa but saying he's not worthy of his current #1 is ridiculous, sorry.
look. he beat federer fair and square. he got a bit lucky, but he still got the W. Fact is, Fed is the only player this year that can trouble him, and the only player that has beaten him in a full match. Other than that, Djokovic has dominated the entire tour, and he definitely deserves the ranking that he has right now. that being said, I DOUBT that he will dominate like this next year, and he will lose the #1 ranking by wimbledon to either Federer or Nadal.
He's having a great year that's for sure. When he gets busted for steroids I'm sure you'll change your tune about him. I'm sure you're one of those people who think he just magically transformed himself so quickly though. Used to be the bigget quitter on the tour, quitting from everything from a stubbed toe to it being too hot outside. Now all of a sudden he's the fittest on tour? Yea ok. Go cry about the heat some more.
Crayola Oblongata
wrong thread.
This I can respect and I admit I am extremely hard on Djokovic b/c I just don't like the guy and I KNOW he is not a better player than Nadal or Federer. That's why it's so hard for me to see him ranked as the #1 player. But yes, he does deserve to be ranked #1 this year....he's just not really the #1 player in the world if that makes any sense. Nadal is the best player in the world because Federer is out of his prime.
i totally agree that his fitness level is unprecedented, but to be honest with you, it only takes a few big wins in matches to make yourself feel fitter. had he lost in the AO, Djoko would NOT have had such a dominant year.
accusing him of steroids and PED's is a little bit far fetched and you have absolutely no proof about it. give credit where it is due, djokovic has had a lucky year but he has earned more or less ALL of that luck. today Federer was on the receiving end of a tough loss but the positive is Federer played well. Look, you can sit here and complain about roger losing and blowing the match points and the two set lead..(which is admittedly what I did in the beginning) or you can just accept that Roger lost today but he is definitely not out of the GS mix because he was UP two sets to love and HAD match points which is something no other player on tour has done to Djokovic this year so far.
TennisandMusic
AM95 said:
Dude...the only reason Murray didn't get match point is because Djokovic wussed out at the finish line. He didn't have any torn muscles or anything, his shoulder just hurt a little, and he was in no danger of making it worse.
Murray beat him in a "full match".
He's having a great year that's for sure. When he gets busted for steroids I'm sure you'll change your tune about him. I'm sure you're one of those people who think he just magically transformed himself so quickly though.
No, I'm just 1 of those people who always thought Djoko was good. Maybe not as good as Fed or Rafa but very good nonetheless and capable of becoming #1.
BULLZ1LLA's alt?
Netspirit said:
I am not depressed. I am disgusted.
Same here. I might need professional therapy to get over this match. It's not just that Federer lost, it's the MANNER in which he lost that's deeply disturbing to me. :sad:
And yet Fred is the only person to have match-points on Nole two times. The #2 doesn't (IIRC).
Not that that makes things any better.
BreakPoint said:
QFT
Dgpsx7
I'm so depressed that the only thing I can think of doing is just get things done on my to do list. I'm deeply upset and I know this will bother me for a little while.
At the same time I know he will be back. I also know that he will win a grand slam (or hopefully more) next season.
nikdom said:
How can he have the game to beat the no 1 if he didn't actually beat the no 1?
The way I see it is this. Prime Fed beats everyone, prime Novak included. The problem is that prime Fed shows up for 2 sets max. Then the latter-day, error-prone Fed comes back. And this version of Fed is beatable. You don't even have to do anything superhuman - just cut back on UE's and wait for Fed to make an error. I guess when Fed was younger, he was more often in his prime form for the entire match. Now that he's older, he finds it more difficult to win because he is used to winning while being in prime form. His arrogance that so many people complain about is nothing more than this stubborn unwillingness to accept the fact that he is his prime form less and less often.
There has been a lot of debate about who the GOAT is. If you define GOAT as the guy who beats anyone else while everyone is in their prime, then Federer is GOAT. That's some consolation for us Federer fans. But it's sad to see him slip away.
Haha funny how you are calling me delusional when all you do is spout nonsense on these forums all day long, it must suck that your hero/ man crush had two match points and couldn't close it out...16 grand slams...? We're we talking about that...NO that's all you've got to hang on to, I give Fed credit he showed more than I thought he would. It must suck for you though...living in the past as for the present and future, I don't see a Grand Slam Title with Fed's name on it .. deal with it...it must suck man...to be you right now... Djoker does have a shot to get to double digits Grand Slams by the way...aren't you the one that said he doesn't have a shot to win today's match...also the match vs. Nadal.. You are just a hater and all your post on here prove my point...
Wow you have really gone to far with your post...now accusing Djoker of using steroids...you are truly pathetic...
dh003i
Federer played a great match overall, serve let him down obviously, but he still did great to -- at 30 years old, an old man who should retire, according to some here -- put himself in a position to beat Djokovic, who has clearly been the best player this year and has had an all-time great year. Federer has been the only player this year who has troubled Djokovic, so lets give the guy credit. He still has plenty of tennis left in him.
Whether or not you see a GS with Federer's name on it is irrelevant. After Nadal won W '08, there was some doubt that Federer would match Sampras' record. Well, he is now at 16 and still putting himself in great positions.
Can Djokovic get to double-digit GS wins? Absolutely. That wouldn't bother me at all. He is a great player. Had Federer not played great against him at the FO, I believe he would now be aiming for he CYGS. I'm glad you are not being arrogant like some Nadal fans, who were (still are?) assuming Nadal will approach 16 GS. Djokovic certainly has a shot at a tier-1 all-time great career, imo. But right now, all I know is he is having an all-time great year.
And of course the point is, it is phenomenal for Federer to still be this competitive, this great. There is no doubt about it, Federer can still play some great great tennis. I know this because he has beaten and almost beaten Djokovic, who has played unreal this year.
namelessone
dh003i said:
Djoko is a shoe in for CYGS next year if he manages to keep up this inhuman level of tennis without hurting himself.
Who is gonna bother him? Rafa is easy as pie because of the matchup issue, Fed is close still but is starting to drift as he ages, Murray has gone backwards and can't cut it against the top 3, Soderling has mono, DelPo isn't finding his game and so on.
To stop a CYGS from Djoko, one of these guys will have to take 3 SETS from this Djokovic. Very very tough to do,
okdude1992
Not really a Fed fan, but still was supporting him today. I can't believe all you guys are being so negative. Yea he totally should have won, and its sad that he lost, but he had the match on his freakin racket. If he keeps this level up, he isn't done. The man just has lost some confidence, and needs to start closing out his damn matches
So you are saying Nadal won't come near 16 slams but Djokovic will? Really? Nadal is already at 10. Djokovic is at 3. Lets not get carried away. The man is having an unbelievable year. But its yet to be seen if he can keep it up
DragonBlaze
Checked in.
Again LOL.
Dgpsx7 said:
I felt like that last night too.
After sleeping on it I can only congratulate Novak as he took his chanes and Fed did not.
Gamewise though, Fed has looked very good this tournament, and this bodes well for him coming into the last few tourneys.
Hopefully he plays davis cup and does well there, it will help him shake this off.
okdude1992 said:
You're looking for insults that aren't there. I have repeatedly said I think Nadal is a tier-1 all time great.
I said I think Djokovic has a shot at tier-1 all time great. For me, that means 10 GS. I'm not getting carried away -- I'm saying Djokovic has a shot at it. If he wins the USO, he'll have 4 and will be almost half-way there.
I don't know if Djokovic will do that. No one does. But I certainly wouldn't bet against it, given how he's been playing. To me, he looks like the next great dominating player.
Sid_Vicious said:
It is going to be tough going forward. I am so upset today that I never wanna watch another tennis match again. I wish I had a time machine so I could go back and make sure that I never started watching tennis or any sport for that matter. :evil:
I am the same. I have slept a few hours, been on a plane, cleaned up my place, done a bit of washing, tried studying and yet there is an emptiness that does not go away
Ok I'm being a bit melodramatic but I still feel like crap. The problem is the looooooong wait till the next major. Redemption will take a while it seems :neutral:.
Fair enough. He has been playing scary good this year. Who knows how long he can keep it up.
There have been some posters here (not you) who are saying Djokovic is unbeatable, is better than Nadal and Federer, will win the CYGS in 2012 ect. Sorry for lumping you with them.
Big_Dangerous
DragonBlaze said:
Yeah that was so deflating watching the end... It was a pretty ****ty feeling I hope to next experience again. I just can't stand Djokovic anymore... He's a great player but good god I just hate him so much now.
chrischris
Fed is outstanding still . He beat the guy who is playing the best season ever in RG and nearly takes him out the 2nd time again. No one can argue he is not up there with the very very best still.
hawk eye
This one had nothing to with 'getting old' whatsoever. Nobody would talk about age when Djokovic wouldn't have made that 40-15 MP return.
Instead everybody would be praising Fed to death, his best match ever, that kind of stuff.
Fact is, he's still as good he was when he won 2-3 slams a year, guess what even better. Like Wilander said, Djoker/Nadal made him a better player.
The other guys just caught up with them and have slight (Djokovic) or larger Edge (Nadal).
Yeah, maybe I'd talk differently if Djoker didnt' make that return.
But fact is, he did.
After that is was just a good old fashioned choke job.
ttbrowne
Guess it happens to all older champions but Fed seems to put all the pressure on himself in the big matches. Great return from Novak but this match should have been in the bag for Fed. He choked...again!
We Fed-fans have a lot of choking moments to endure in the future too. Get ready to suffer.
rafaelnadalfan1234
youre ridiculous
TJfederer16
It must be incredibly frustrating for Roger and us fans that it was all won on one stupidly lucky forehand return, it seems like Fed has just ran out of luck atm, that is what he needs most of all, he's doing almost all the right things and has actually played overall very well this season it just hasn't all fallen into place at the right times, hopefully he'll get some luck in a tournament some time soon.
Hey V, you are back! :wink:
I agree with you completely here. Nobody is saying today's Djokovic is better than prime Fed or Rafa(or at least I don't think so), but to say Djokovic is not the best in the world today after beating Rafa 5 times in a row and Fed two out of the last three times is delusional.
Down_the_line
Checking in.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Mestres ist der Familienname folgender Personen:

 Apel·les Mestres i Oñós (1854–1936), katalanischer Zeichner, Musiker und Schriftsteller
 Francesc Berenguer i Mestres (1866–1914), katalanischer Architekt
 Fulgenci Mestres (* 1965), spanischer Schauspieler, Artist und Zirkusclown
 Josep Maria Mestres i Quadreny (1929–2021), katalanischer Komponist
 Núria Feliu i Mestres (1941–2022), katalanische Sängerin und Schauspielerin

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Why Bill Walton sued the Blazers medical staff
When all is said and done, most Portland reporters agree that Damian Lillard will go down as the greatest Blazer in history, even if he doesn't win a title there. That's how much Dame has meant to the team and the community. Who's in second place? Some may say Clyde Drexler, but I believe the only correct answer is Bill Walton.
One of the best playmaking bigs in history, Walton led the Blazers to their only title in franchise history. But more than win games, Walton did what Dame is doing right now - he connected with Portland. A great love affair between a player and a city ended up in a bitter legal battle.
14 months after celebrating their first NBA title will all of Portland, Bill Walton demanded a trade from the Blazers. The fans were stunned. When they asked questions, there were no answers. At Walton's request, there would be no explanation. As time went on, Walton's reasons for departure became clearer.
After winning the title in '77, the Blazers looked even better the next season. At the All-Star break, the Blazers won 44 consecutive home games and were 40-8. Twelve games later, they were 50-10 and beating the 76ers when Bill Walton went down. Everyone in Portland held their breath as their star player left the court with an apparent left ankle injury.
A week later, Dr. Bob Cook operated on Bill Walton's right foot, and the Blazers announced he would be out "one to three weeks." Walton was actually playing with an injured right foot, and while the left ankle injury only required rest, it was seen as an opportunity to take care of the right foot. Walton going down seemed to have started an avalanche - Lucas, Steele, Twardzik, Gross all went down. Their dream season was falling apart with the Playoffs around the corner.
While his right foot healed as planned, Walton still couldn't walk, let alone run, because of his left foot. With immense pressure for players to get healthy, Bill Walton did something he said he'd never do - take painkillers to play through an injury. After numerous tests, the Blazers medical team cleared him to play.
"On April 18th, 1978, when I had an undiagnosed stress fracture in my foot, they injected me, in my foot and ankle, with a massive amount of painkilling medication. I went out and played in this game. Hadn't been able to play in months. Went out and played, and the undiagnosed stress fracture - the bone in my foot split in half."
As it turned out, the Blazers medical staff was very liberal with the use of all sorts of pain medication. Apart from all the obvious problems with that, it increases the risk of serious injury. Pain is the body's way of letting you know you should slow down, a warning mechanism. Without it, you act as if everything is OK when it's not.
Walton's teammate Bob Gross also had a stress fracture in his left ankle. He played through it on a combination of strong painkillers. When the pills stopped working, they switched to injections. Gross had to be injected before the game, at halftime, and after the game. Gross was so numb that when the bone couldn't take it anymore, he didn't feel a thing.
"I didn't feel anything when the bone fractured. I only heard the noise."
Bob Gross, Sports Illustrated
Fans started to get the picture, and it all became clear when Walton filed a lawsuit against Dr. Bob Cook. At that point, he had been traded to the San Diego Clippers, a new franchise owned by a young businessman named Donald Sterling. Walton had accused Dr. Robert Cook and the Oregon City Orthopedic Clinic of negligence in diagnosing and treating a foot injury suffered by Walton late in the 1977-78 season.
The case was settled, so we never found out all the details, but this is still one of the most dramatic relationships between a franchise legend and the team.
Portland Trail BlazersBill Walton


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text:
Rabid right flocks like buzzards to Liberty U.
Ted Cruz: Another politican monument to mediocrity.
Ted Cruz: Another politician monument to mediocrity.
Perhaps it is fitting that two extremes — religion and politics — came together at Liberty University in Virginia Monday to showcase a side show barker Republican Ted Cruz's announcement of what will be an incredible sleaze-laden run for President in 2016.
As a rule, right-wingers flock to Liberty like buzzards looking for something already dead to devour whenever they team religious fanatics who often misquote God and pathetic politicians together to stage another pantheon to failed principle.
The late Jerry Falwell's monument to religious fundamentalism provided the perfect setting for Cruz's attempts to appear relevant in a society that no longer listens to him and has no use for his shenanigans.
Both Cruz and Liberty are staunch rationales against reason in a society where lunacy lives and reason vanishes into the night.
Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post notes that is Cruz has a hat to throw into the Presidential ring, it needs to be a "Napoleonic bicorn rather than a fedora."
And what better place for a politician known for turning government into a sideshow than Liberty University, where Jerry Falwell turned both education and religion into carnival extravaganzas.
Sadly, such things are common in The Old Dominion, where the rabid right-wing leaves its stain throughout the Commonwealth, be it the currently-convicted former Gov. Bob McDonnell — a Regent University "lawyer" — or former failed attorney general Ken Cuccinelli.
Sometimes, it makes it hard for a Virginian to have pride in our Commonwealth. Odd too that a Texas Senator chose the Old Dominion and one of its two religious figurehead schools as the location to announce his run for President.
1 thought on "Rabid right flocks like buzzards to Liberty U."
Jeff in CO
According to CNN, Sen. Cruz just signed up for Obamacare, despite that the fact that he's one of its loudest opponents:
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/24/politics/ted-cruz-obamacare/index.html
Every circus has its clowns. And Congress has Ted Cruz.


text:
Albert Rudolph Frank (* 25. August 1872 in Staßfurt; † 18. März 1965 in New York City) war ein deutscher Chemiker und Unternehmer.

Leben und Werk
Albert Frank ist der Sohn des Chemikers Adolph Frank und trat in die Fußstapfen seines Vaters. Er studierte Chemie in München und Berlin. Danach war er praktisch für die Chemischen Werke H. & E. Albert in Biebrich tätig. 1898 wurde er an der Technischen Hochschule (Berlin-)Charlottenburg zum Dr. phil. promoviert.

In der Zeit von 1899 bis 1908 leitete er zusammen mit Herman Freudenberg die Cyanidgesellschaft mbH in Berlin. Beide schlugen 1901 das neu entdeckte Calciumcyanamid unter dem Namen Kalkstickstoff als Düngemittel vor.

Er war seit der Gründung der Bayerische Stickstoffwerke AG (BStW) Trostberg im Jahre 1908 in deren Verwaltung tätig, nach dem Tod seines Vaters übernahm er zusammen mit Nikodem Caro die Leitung des Unternehmens als Vorstandsmitglied. Diese hatte er bis zum Jahre 1938 inne. In diesem Jahr musste er auf Grund der nationalsozialistischen Rassengesetze in die USA emigrieren.

Literatur
 Walther Killy, Rudolf Vierhaus (Hrsg.): Deutsche Biographische Enzyklopädie. Band 3, K. G. Saur, München 1996, ISBN 3-598-23163-6, Seite 397.
 Klaus O. T. Beneke: Mitteldeutsche-Stickstoff-Werke AG, Piesteritz, Bez. Halle. Kiel 2006, Band 1 (online als PDF), Seite 8 ff.
 K. Zieke: Albert R. Frank zum 80. Geburtstag. In: Chemie, Ingenieur, Technik, 24. Jahrgang 1952, S. 609 f. doi:10.1002/cite.330241103

Weblinks
 Albert Rudolph Frank, Chemiker und Unternehmer auf geschichte.evonik.de

Einzelnachweise

Chemiker (19. Jahrhundert)
Unternehmer (19. Jahrhundert)
Chemiker (20. Jahrhundert)
Unternehmer (20. Jahrhundert)
Emigrant aus dem Deutschen Reich zur Zeit des Nationalsozialismus
Deutscher
Geboren 1872
Gestorben 1965
Mann


text:
社科网首页|论坛|人文社区|客户端|官方微博|报刊投稿|邮箱 中国社会科学网
您现在的位置: 中国社会科学院欧洲研究所 >> English >> English >> CV >> 正文
CV of Zhang Jun
Author:Zhang Jun From:Site author Update:2019-05-13 18:43:06
ZHANG, JUN
INSTITUE OF EUROPEAN STUDIES
CHINESE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
Jianguomennei Dajie 5, Beijing 100732
Tel (86-10)6472-0587, Fax (86-10)6512-5818
Email: zhang.jun@cass.org.cn
Ph. D in European Politics, Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, July 2005
Exchange Student under the framework of EU-China Higher Education Co-operation Program in University of Heidelberg and University of Mannheim, Germany, 1998-1999
M.A. in Comparative Politics, Renmin University of China, Beijing, July 1997
B.A. in International Relations, Renmin University of China, Beijing, July 1994
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES:
Member of Management Board of European Political Studies Society of Chinese Association of European Studies
Senior Research Fellow, Institute of European Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Research Fellow, Institute of European Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
CONSULTUANCIES AND OTHER EXPERIENCES
Research Team Member of the Project "China as a Donors", funded by Ford Foundation
Research Team Member of the Project "China's Aid Regime", funded by MOFCOM
Research Team Member of the Project "Donors in China", funded by Ford Foundation
Participant of Asian-link Curriculum Development Program, funded by the EU
Research Consultant to the WHO Beijing on "Red Packaging"
Research Team Member of the Project "EU-China Strategic Partnership", funded by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
MAJOR PUBLICATIONS:
1. Donors in China, co-authored, January 2007, Chinese Social Sciences Press
1. "EU as a 'soft power': how the EU exert influence worldwide", in Chinese Journal of European Studies, vol. 25, No. 3, 2007
2. "EU in ASEM: its role in framing inter-regional cooperation with East Asian countries", in Asia-Europe Journal, forthcoming in Dec. 2007
3. "EU as a civilian power: an observation of EU's behavior in the ASEM process", in Chinese Journal of European Studies, vol. 24, No. 1, 2006
4. "The idea of Europe: a historical analysis of territory and identity", in Chinese Journal of European Studies, vol.23, No. 1, 2005
5. "A social historical analysis of 'Red Packaging' in medical services in China", co-authored, in Chinese Journal of Population Sciences, January 2004 (the English version "Analysis of the 'Red Packet' Phenomenon in China's Medical Health Industry", in China & World Economy, vol. 12, No. 3, 2004)
6. "China-EU co-operation under the framework of ASEM", in Zhou, Hong ed. (2004), EU-China Partnerships: Commonalities and Differences, Chinese Social Sciences Press.
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text:
David Nimmer
peer-to-peer sharing
Righthaven
Daniel M. Kowalski
BIA on CIMT, Criminal Copyright Infringement - Matter of Zaragoza-Vaquero, 26 I&N Dec. 814 (BIA 2016)
Matter of Zaragoza-Vaquero, 26 I&N Dec. 814 (BIA 2016) - The offense of criminal copyright infringement in violation of 17 U.S.C. § 506(a)(1)(A)(2012) and 18 U.S.C. § 2319(b)(1) (2012) is a crime involving moral turpitude.
Richard Goldfarb
Contracts and Commercial Law Blog
When to Call the Whole Thing Off
People who aren't intellectual property lawyers often mix up trademark, copyright, patent and trade secret protection. Each provides a different kind of protection for a different kind of property interest, and they generally don't overlap...
LexisNexis Litigation Resource Community Staff
E-Discovery Brief
U.S. Judge Says Plaintiff's Litigation Hold Doesn't Pass Smell Test, Directs It to Pay for Spoliation Probe
Will your litigation hold meet a judge's expectations? And if not, what are the potential consequences? Are you looking at sanctions or millions of dollars' worth of forensic discovery? To get a glimpse of at least one federal court's view...
Corporate and Securities Law Community Staff
Paul McGrady on the Regulations and Risks of Starting an Online Business
On this edition, Paul McGrady of Greenberg Traurig in Chicago and author of the recently published treatise " McGrady on Domain Names " discusses the regulations and risks involved in starting an online business. He talks about copyright challenges...
Peter S. Vogel
Emerging Issues Law Blog
Peter S. Vogel: EU Court Ruling Protects Social Media Site
By Peter S. Vogel The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) refused to order a Social Media site to prevent the unlawful use of copyrighted works. In 2010 SABAM (Société Belge des Auteurs, Compositeurs et Editeurs ), the Belgian...
Legal Technology Blog
Webcast on "Internet Intellectual Property: Copyright/Domain Names/Trademarks and Patents"
On Thursday, April 22, 2010 the TexasBarCLE will present my webcast from 12:30-1:30pm CDT about Internet Intellectual Property (IP) issues. Actually these topics are also found in the syllabus and PowerPoints from my Law of eCommerce class at SMU Dedman...
Melissa Ritti
Practice Area Commentary
Record Companies Reach Multi-Million Dollar Settlement with Lime Wire
NEW YORK - (Mealey's) Cautioning that "theft of the world's greatest music comes with a stiff price," Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Chairman and CEO Mitch Bainwol confirmed May 12 that a settlement has been reached...
Mary LaFrance
Character Copyrights and the Public Domain
When does a still image -- or a series of such images -- embody a "character" for purposes of copyright law? In Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. v. X One X Prods ., 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 13646 (8th Cir. July 5, 2011) [ enhanced version available...
Copyright & Trademark Law Community Staff
Harry Potter Merchandising Empire Could be Damaged by a Misused Font
On Tuesday, P22 Type Foundry, Inc., owner of Cezanne font software , sued Universal Studios, Inc. / NBCUniversal Media, LLC, among other defendants, for copyright infringement. P22 accuses defendants of improperly using font software to create and sell...
Travis Burchart
Second Circuit Dismisses Appeal from New York Court's Decision in Prom Dress Copyright Case
As reported by Law360, the Second Circuit last Monday affirmed the dismissal of Jovani Fashion Ltd.'s copyright case against clothing designer Fiesta Fashions . Jovani Fashion, Ltd. v. Fiesta Fashions, 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 21245 (2d Cir. N.Y. Oct...
Lexis Hub Staff
How Do I....
Understanding Copyright Law
LexisNexis has added the Journal of the Copyright Society of the U.S.A. to its collection of intellectual property law reviews. Each issue includes a combination of theoretical articles, notes and summaries of legislative and administrative developments...
Arina Shulga
Labor and Employment Law Blog
Independent Contractors or Employees: California's "Work For Hire" Contracts
Much has been written (including by me) on the topic of how to distinguish an independent contractor from an employee. I have also written about the importance of "work for hire" or "freelancer" agreements when working with independent...
Family Planning Clinic Infringement Lawsuit Attacks Anti-Abortionist's Use Of Copyrighted Material With Graphic Images - FREE DOWNLOAD
On May 12, Northland Family Planning Clinic, Inc. filed a copyright action against the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform (CBR). Northland provides reproductive health care to women, including abortions. The CBR, a California non-profit, opposes abortions...
Lawsuit Filed Against Distributor Of Video Of Elvis Presley TV Special - FREE DOWNLOAD, Complaint
Some brands you just don't copy - not ever. Elvis Presley "the Brand" is one of those. Ubiquitous, well-known, and very valuable, the unlicensed copying of Elvis is like robbing Fort Knox - it's very bold. Recently, Elvis Presley...
Greenberg Traurig Expands Los Angeles Office With IP Attorney Joseph Geisman
SANTA MONICA, Calif. - The international law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP has announced that Joseph Geisman has joined its Intellectual Property and Technology Practice as of counsel in the firm's Los Angeles office. Before joining Greenberg Traurig...


1) Today's post out on RBN Energy is by the mighty Abudi Zein, discussing how net U.S. crude oil imports remain stubbornly high. The piece highlights how it wasn't only Hurricane Hermine that contributed to last week's humongous draw to crude inventories, but also the Labor Day holiday slowing operations, as well as reduced imports ahead of the ad valorem tax assessment on September 1.
As the chart below illustrates, net imports since February have been up every month versus year-ago levels. Looking ahead, as Middle East producers continue to target the U.S. market, in combination with difficulty of selling U.S. crude overseas, it is more likely that we see a rise in net imports for the rest of the year than a drop.
2) From one fine fellow to another, John Kemp (@JKempEnergy) today has addressed the latest demand data out of India. Despite talk of 'wobbling' Asian demand from IEA earlier this week, gasoline consumption in India has climbed to a new record. Consumption increased nearly 15 percent between June and August on the prior year, averaging 550,000 barrels per day.
While growth is running at a fair old clip, it would be even stronger if consumers were buying more cars. Demand growth is instead being spurred on by motorcycles, which account for the majority of registered vehicles (hark, 133 million compared to cars, jeeps and taxis at 25 million). The vehicle penetration rate remains exceptionally low in India, at 149 motor vehicles per 1000 people, compared to 781 per 1000 in the U.S.).
3) Stat of the day comes from the Wall Street Journal, via a Brookings Institution paper, which concludes that cheaper gasoline prices in the last few years have not really boosted the U.S. economy. This is because the boost to consumer spending was offset by the detrimental impact to the oil and gas industry.
While consumption has been boosted by 0.61 percent due to higher discretionary income (h/t lower gasoline prices), investment has dropped by 0.62 percent due to lower drilling activity.
4) Markets are getting a little bit excited about the prospect of returning flows from both Nigeria and Libya in the coming weeks, we would encourage caution given the recent false starts in recent months (Nigeria) and years (Libya). Nonetheless, a hypothetical return to the same export volumes of early 2013 would mean an additional ~1mn bpd - a mouth-watering prospect for the bears indeed.
5) Finally, on Tuesday we looked at the wacky price moves in UK day-ahead power, which increased to its highest level in over three years...after being negative just two days earlier. Coal prices have been on a similarly wild ride of late, highlighted in the chart below.
Coal imports have been ramping up into China, due to strong demand from the steel industry, in combination with lower domestic output. As China has tried to curb both its overcapacity and pollution, coal output from the leading emerging market has dropped considerably this year.
As highlighted in yesterday's IEA report, China's coal plants ran less then half the time in the first half of this year, due to both overcapacity and slowing growth in electricity demand.
As fundamentals have tightened, a potential short squeeze, as well as supply disruptions in Australia, have encouraged Australian coking coal prices to double in price in short order. While prices are expected to ease again in the coming months as elevated prices spur on a production response, ongoing supply issues - such as a freight train derailment in Queensland in recent days - are likely to support prices in the near-term.


The HS 8130 HD is equipped with a hydraulic clamshell grab.
Dredging contractor Co.Ed.Mar from Chioggia (Italy) is using its self-propelled barge "Wise" to remove the sediment. It is equipped with a brand new Liebherr duty cycle crawler crane type HS 8130 HD with hydraulic clamshell bucket. Thanks to the optimum grab capacity of 6 m³, quicker movements and larger outreaches can be achieved during operation. Co.Ed.Mar attains cycle times of only 45 sec. when dredging material from the seabed and 25 sec. when unloading the vessel. This results in an average turnover of approx. 400 m³ per hour (equal to the barge loading capacity).


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Smíšená topologie () je v informatice označení pro topologie sítě, ve které jsou některé uzly přímo propojeny s více než jedním dalším uzlem v síti. Pro tuto topologii neexistuje v češtině uspokojivý název, používají se názvy jako síťová topologie, obecný graf, mesh topologie. Také u anglického názvu existuje určitá nejednoznačnost, protože někteří autoři považují mesh topology bez přívlastku za síť s topologií každý s každým (úplný graf), jiní za částečně propojený graf.

Charakteristika

Smíšená topologie poskytuje redundanci propojení, takže je možná komunikace i při výpadku některých linek nebo uzlů. Uzly, které jsou pro síť důležitější nebo u který se vyžaduje vyšší odolnost proti výpadku, se navrhují s větším počet připojení do sítě.

Smíšená topologie se často používá u sítí, které mají mít vyšší odolnost proti výpadkům, které se však skládají z tolika uzlů, že je nemožné realizovat propojení každý s každým. Příkladem sítí se smíšenou topologií je Internet, telekomunikační sítě a elektrická přenosová soustava.

V počítačových sítích, ve kterých existuje více cest mezi uzly, musí být alespoň některé uzly schopné nejenom odesílat a přijímat vlastní data, ale i předávat dál data od jiných uzlů. V síti je nutné používat metody, které vybírají vhodnou cestu sítí (směrování), jsou schopny cestu měnit při výpadku některých spojů (dynamické směrování), brání vícenásobnému příjmu dat a zacyklení (IEEE 802.1d Spanning Tree Protocol a 802.1aq Shortest Path Bridging).

Speciálním případem smíšené topologie je hierarchická topologie, ve které se síť skládá z většího množství podsítí několika úrovní, z nichž každá je propojena pouze se sítěmi o úroveň výše a o úroveň níže.

Výhody a nevýhody smíšené topologie

Výhody
 Při selhání linky k uzlu, který má více připojení, lze s uzlem stále komunikovat.
 Neexistuje centrální prvek, jehož selhání by vyřadilo celou síť.
 Není potřeba tolik kabelů jako u plně propojené sítě.
 Síť lze snadno rozšiřovat podle potřeby.

Nevýhody
 Vyžaduje směrování provozu.
 Nutná ochrana proti zacyklení

Související články
 Router
 IEEE 802.1aq

Ostatní topologie
 hvězdicová topologie
 kruhová topologie
 stromová topologie
 sběrnicová topologie

Externí odkazy

Topologie sítí


Lance White is the founder and CEO of PetroCloud LLC. For over 25 years, Mr. White has worked at the intersection of technology and energy, serving in leadership roles at Sun Microsystems, StorageTek, Patagon, and Western Atlas / Baker Hughes. He is also the President of Lancer Petroleum Corporation and Lancer Energy LLC. His career included overseas positions based in China, Singapore, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Mexico. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and speaks fluent Spanish and Portuguese.
Peter Shaper is a founding partner with Genesis Park and also serves as Chairman of Greenwell Energy Solutions. Previously, Peter was CEO of CapRock Communications and grew the company from $30 million in revenues in 2002 to $600 million in revenues in 2011. He was also a founder of the Information Management Group (IMG), which grew to more than $600 million in revenues during his tenure, and held an associate position with McKinsey & Company.
Peter serves on the Board of Directors of ipDatatel, ITC Global, Flo Trend, HMS Income Fund and Hines Global REIT. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Stanford and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University.
Paul Hobby is a founding partner of Genesis Park and also serves as Chairman of Texas Monthly. He has sourced, structured and led a number of successful investments, significant among them are ColumbineJDS, where he carved out a division of Jefferson Pilot and created the largest back office media software firm in the world while serving as Executive Chairman, and Alpheus Communications, where he carved out a telecommunications subsidiary of El Paso Corporation, rebranded and refocused the enterprise to create the largest alternative fiber optic network in Texas, then took the company into data centers and through a successful exit.
Paul has served as the Chairman of the Texas Ethics Commission, the Greater Houston Partnership, the Houston Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, the Texas General Services Commission and the Texas Business Hall of Fame. Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Virginia and a JD from the University of Texas Law School.
Michael K. Pickens is the CEO of Pickens Energy Corporation, an independent Oil and Gas investment firm. Mr. Pickens has been involved in the natural resource and energy industries for 15 years, with a family history in the space for nearly 90 years.
Steve Gibson has the title of Special Partner at Genesis Park. He has 26 years of experience in real estate, industrial and construction market acquisitions and developments and is the President of Western General Holding Company, a real estate company that focuses on urban redevelopment opportunities. From May 2009 until August 2010, Steve was the Chairman of Vivante GMP Solutions, Inc., a biotech firm that was purchased by Lonza Group Ltd. in August 2010. Steve began his career as a lawyer with Fulbright & Jaworski, where he focused on transaction work-outs and real estate.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and a JD from Southern Methodist University.
Doug Hohertz is the Chief Investment Officer at The Mitchell Group, an energy focused investment advisory firm located in Houston, Texas. Doug has been a member of the firm and the investment committee for 17 years where he led the research and portfolio management efforts prior to becoming CIO. Previously he spent 9 years with Western Atlas International, a leading international oilfield services company in a variety of senior financial positions. Mr. Hohertz received his BS in Finance and MSBA from Texas Tech University.
Neville Vere Nicoll is the President of Cornerstone Holdings a single family office. Mr. Vere Nicoll has been involved in the venture capital and private equity business for 30 years, both as an investor and as CEO of venture-backed and public companies.
Jeff Smith is the co-founder of several technology companies, including four businesses in the emerging Internet of Things (SensorLogic, Geomoto, Ublip, and QuantumIOT). He is currently the CTO of Catapult Health, driving the future of preventive care. Previously he was the Chief Technology and Strategy Officer and Board Member at Numerex, a leader in IOT. Jeff has a B.S. in Engineering from Trinity University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is a Distinguished Alumni at UTA, and serves on the President's Development Board.
Joe Spytek has more than 25 years of experience in entrepreneurial leadership and international business. He has spent his career successfully growing small technology concepts into global organizations. Most recently, he served as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer for ITC Global, driving the strategic direction and growth for the organization, which provides end-to-end satellite communications to energy, mining and maritime companies operating in remote and harsh environments.
Joe began his career in the maritime industry with Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, where he spent more than 200 days per year at sea, ultimately becoming the company's youngest certified submersible pilot. Joe holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University.


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Dawson Foundation Repair Earns Esteemed 2013 Angie's List Super Service Award
Dawson Foundation Repair has earned the service industry's coveted Angie's List Super Service Award, reflecting an exemplary year of service provided to members of the consumer review service in 2013.
"Like 2011, 2013 was very busy for our foundation repair crews because it was a year of severe drought," said Martin Dawson, owner of Dawson Foundation Repair. "We are also seeing a growing consumer awareness about the quality of different foundation repair methods. Our Bell Bottom Pier method is the only time-tested, proven, and permanent repair method on the market. So it is very satisfying to offer homeowners a permanent solution to level and stabilize their foundations," he said.
"Only about 5 percent of the companies Dawson Foundation Repair competes with in Houston, Dallas, Plano, and other Texas cities are able to earn our Super Service Award," said Angie's List Founder Angie Hicks. "It's a mark of consistently great customer service."
Angie's List Super Service Award 2013 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include an "A" rating in overall grade, recent grade, and review period grade; the company must be in good standing with Angie's List, have a fully complete profile, pass a background check and abide by Angie's List operational guidelines.
Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie's List. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in areas ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality. Members can find the 2013 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.
"Obviously we are proud to earn this award and we have earned the award in every year we have been actively involved with Angie's List. We are also proud of the 500+ online testimonials on our website also," said Mr. Dawson. "I believe the key to success is to offer the best product or service possible. In this industry, unfortunately, the lure of fat profits often dictates which foundation repair method is offered – and it is not in the best interests of the homeowner," he added.
A more complete discussion of the Bell Bottom Pier foundation repair methods can be found on the company's website at Dawson Foundation Repair.


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Q: Reading data received from firebase I have below firebase data in a variable i want to make that into an array.
 -L4DcN3qCO2_E4_oyDc2:{key: "Newyork", value: "Newyork"}
 -L4DcOOY1O0dZrqEDIx3:{key: "Chicago", value: "Chicago"}
 -L4DcQkNnMyFf8x3H-3i:{key: "Raleigh", value: "Raleigh"}

I want this data into a array like this.
      [{key: "Newyork", value: "Newyork"},
      {key: "Chicago", value: "Chicago"},
      {key: "Raleigh", value: "Raleigh"}]

What is the process to convert it into an array.
Please find the approaches i have tried below.
1st Approach:
  options: {key: string, value: string}[] = [];
 elementData.options.forEach(ss => {
  this.options.push(ss.child('key'),ss.child('value'))
  });

2nd Approach
elementData.on('value', snap =>  {
   var data = [];
   snap.forEach(ss => {
   this.options.push(ss.child('key'),ss.child('value'))
     data.push(ss.child('key').val());
   });
    console.log(data);
  });

I am not able to loop through it as it is [Object] of [Object]
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank you

A: This single line helped me.
Object.keys(elementData.options).map(e=>elementData.options[e])

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Delhi, Jaipur, Ramgarh, Bharatpur, Agra, Rishikesh, and more!
Immerse yourself in India's adventurous wild side on our gay India adventure vacation, including whitewater rafting, hiking, and yoga. Visit exquisite temples, palaces, and landmarks (including the Taj Mahal), experience rich local culture, enjoy exotic cuisine, and ride camels and elephants on a friendly gay group tour!
Biking, Hiking, Rafting... and of Course: the Taj Mahal!
Lots of tour companies visit the vast subcontinent of India to see its many treasures, but only HE Travel immerses you into India's adventurous wild side! Our gay India Adventure tour begins in Delhi where we delve into the local culture and are swept away to another time and place. Delhi, India's modern capital, is also a very ancient city filled with hundreds of historic landmarks.
From Delhi, we start our active adventuring by visiting the local villages and experiencing rural Indian life; this gives us the opportunity to experience the age-old culture and traditions that Indians have followed for centuries. Later we start cycling towards Jaipur and get the opportunity to witness the feudal legacy that lives on in this region. Enjoy elephant trekking combined with hiking between the forts and palaces of this spectacular region.
As we bike through neighboring farming villages, we will provide endless entertainment to local villagers that are intrigued by westerners riding bikes through India! We'll explore the villages by foot and jeeps, and even take a camel safari! From Jaipur to Bharatpur we will enjoy an afternoon exploring Keoladeo Ghana National Park, a small but important bird Sanctuary.
Next, we're off to Agra to tour the famous icon of India, the Taj Mahal. Our HE Travel tour group will not only visit the Taj Mahal itself, but we will take a nature walk through the 9 km of trails which zigzag through the grounds. This allows us to see this monument from several glorious vantage points; the Taj has variations in hue, color, and radiance with respect to time, season and setting.
Our last stop will be Rishikesh, considered by many to be the "Yoga Capital of the World". This is where the real adventure happens, whitewater rafting, hiking, and of course...yoga!
Guests arriving in Delhi will be met and transferred to our lovely hotel. Delhi is made up of seven ancient cities, spanning the 11th to 20th centuries. The region has seen the rise and fall of many emperors who left thousands of monuments commemorating the grandeur and glory of bygone ages. Very few cities in the world can boast such a profusion of architectural styles. Due to late arrivals there are no activities or group meals planned today.
After breakfast this morning, we will walk the streets of Old Delhi with a private guide and be immersed in India's history. Gain a new understanding of the country's ancient cultures while seeing life at the local level. Learn about the impressive design of the city's 'Havelis' (private mansions), discover the significance of historical sites like the Red Fort, and admire handmade crafts sold at the market in Chandni Chowk. By walking the same paths that the locals do, you'll be genuinely immersed in the Old Delhi lifestyle.
Lunch today will be on your own. This afternoon we will visit New Delhi, which was designed and built by the British in the 1920's. It's a city of wide boulevards, impressive government buildings, as well as green parks and gardens. We will also visit a monument from Delhi's past – Humayun's Tomb. This evening we will visit Gurudwara Bangla Sahib; one of the most prominent Sikh temples. Your drive takes you along the ceremonial avenue, Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate and Parliament House. We will dine together this evening at a delicious restaurant in town for our Welcome Dinner.
Today we will head to our hotel in Jaipur; with historic forts, palaces, and gardens. On the way to Jaipur, we'll see the evidence of lucrative trade routes over the Thar Desert: remains of luxurious palaces, temples, and forts built by successive rulers (including Hindu Rajputs and Muslim Mughals). A feudal legacy lives on here, in ornate pleated veils, voluminous turbans, tinkling bells, and mirrored saris – all symbols of an exotic past. This is a great destination for shopping, with outstanding values in textiles, jewelry, metals, and precious stones.
This afternoon, we will explore Galta Ji; a large Hindu temple complex. Enjoy these temples that are home to a large colony of monkeys, which has led to its nickname, the monkey temple.
In the evening we will enjoy a thrilling jeep safari to see the city at night. Take in the views of Albert Hall, Hawa Mahal(Wind Palace) Birla Mandir and Jal Mahal. The drive will continue onto Amber Palace with the breathtaking display of lights on the majestic building. Tonight we'll have the evening to explore and have dinner independently.
This morning we will make our way to Amber Fort, a spectacular fortress that protects a complex of palaces, temples and exquisite marble and mirror halls and apartments. From here we will hike for 2 hours (7km) to Jaigarh Fort and Nahargarh Fort, which overlooks the city of Jaipur. With fantastic views, a beautiful palace complex and a uniquely designed stepwell. As you ascend, you will have beautiful vies of the valley, covered in dense forest and streams.
Later tonight; we will have the option of learning about the Rajasthan's traditional art of block printing. This process flourished since the 12th century when the art received royal patronage from the kings or the era.
Departing through the outlying settlements of Jaipur and with the Amber Fort as our backdrop, we commence the cycling. By noon, we arrive at Ramgarh Lake and enjoy lunch under a huge Banyan tree. After lunch, we explore the village on foot and Jeep. Guests may enjoy an optional camel ride this evening before shuttling back to our Jaipur hotel. Dinner tonight will be on our own.
After breakfast, we will make a morning drive to Bharatpur in order to explore Keoladeo Ghana National Park, a small but important bird sanctuary. Originally a duck-shooting preserve, the wetland is now a world-renowned birding destination. We'll walk or take a cycle along the narrow road to the open wetlands at the end. We'll then make our way to Agra, once the capital of the Moghul Empire, and check in to our hotel. The remainder of the day is free. Feel free to enjoy the grand, Bollywood style live performance "Mohabbat-e-Taj" based on the love story of Taj Mahal.
After breakfast, we will explore Shah Jehan's monument to love. The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor as the final resting place for his favorite Queen, Mumtaz. This perfectly symmetrical monument took 22 years (1630-1652 A.D) of hard labor and 20,000 workers, masons and jewelers to build. It was designed by the Persian architect, Ustad Isa. The verses of the Holy Quran are inscribed on it and at the top of the gate's 22 small domes, signifying the number of years the monument took to build. The elegant dome of the Taj has a diameter of 60 feet, and directly under the dome is the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. Fantastic inlay work, using semi-precious stones, decorates the exterior and interior.
This evening we will gain breathtaking views of the 'Monument of Love'—the Taj Mahal—during a walk around the grounds. This lovely path takes around 45 minutes to complete and traverses a lovely grassland area that showcases native thorny and broad-leaved trees. From elevated grassy mounds, we'll enjoy the beauty of Taj Mahal from different directions, as the colors shift subtly with the changing daylight. We'll enjoy dinner together tonight in Agra.
Join the optional yoga and meditation session before sunset at the lovely hillside overlooking the Taj Mahal.
Today we drive from Delhi to Rishikesh, which calls itself 'Yoga Capital of the World'. The ashram offers all kinds of yoga and meditation classes, surrounded by forested hills, soothing and tranquil for mind expansion. There are opportunities for crystal healing in this gorgeous location, known also as the gateway to treks in the Himalayas.
This morning, the day will begin with a spiritually refreshing yoga and meditation session to start the day off balanced. After breakfast, we will suit up for a morning of whitewater rafting. Before we arrive here, let's stop for a bit at Shivpuri for some rock climbing! Then we will enjoy the light river rapids with our expert guide! We will enjoy lunch together and a little relaxing before we head out for our next activity.
The adventure continues this afternoon, as we head out to hike the Mala Kunti Trek; an enjoyable hike into the mountains. After a full day of adventure; we will enjoy dinner together at a local Rishikesh restaurant.
After breakfast, we will begin our day with a full day trek to Kunjapuri Temple, one of the most revered Hindu shrines. As we trek through green forests we will have spectacular views of the snowcapped mountains of the Himalayas. There are 290 stairs on along the way; so we will take our time and enjoy a day out in nature. From the temple, we will enjoy views of Haridwar, Rishikesh and Doon Valley.
This evening we will make our way to the Ghats of the Ganges River and enjoy the Aarti Ceremony, which is part of the evening puja(prayers). As the Aarti fire ceremonies take place, bells are run and the chanting/singing provides a fascinating, magical and spiritual closure to the day. We will then enjoy our farewell dinner together.
Today we will fly from Rishikesh to Delhi for connecting flights home. In Dehli, a few day rooms are available for a shower or brief rest before your connecting flight. After a tour full of exotic adventure and outdoor activities, we'll all head home with lifetime memories and cameras full of colorful images.
This tour starts and ends in Dehli, India.
During our time in India, we will spend a good portion of each day walking, hiking, or trekking on uneven urban streets and village roads, on trails, and on hilly terrain. We'll ride elephants and bicycles, practice some yoga, and enjoy rock climbing and whitewater rafting in a beautiful and exotic setting. To fully enjoy this tour you should be in good physical shape and able to walk around unevenly paved ancient sites for 1-4 hours each day.
So are most of the people who travel with us. You do not need to pay extra to travel by yourself. Prices are per person, and the single supplement applies only if you'd like a room by yourself.


text:
Artvoice
Mixed Martial Arts Promoters Have Tough Road Despite Passage
It may be bloody and highly controversial, but mixed martial arts will be coming to New York in the not too distant future, and the popular sport will then face the challenge of lining up promoters to meet the requirements contained in the bill passed by the Assembly this week and headed to the governor's desk.
By Tony Farina
Event promoters will be required to provide at least $500,000 in accident insurance coverage for competitions and they would have to provide fighters with a separate insurance benefit of at least $1 million for the treatment of life threatening brain injuries.
Mixed martial arts' contests can be bloody.
But as Assemblyman John Ceretto (D.-Lewiston) said after helping to win support for the measure, "once the legislation is signed into law we will join the rest of the nation and begin to reap the economic benefits by legalizing this popular sport. Professional MMA events will attract tourists, create jobs, and generate millions in economic activity."
Mixed martial arts champion A. J. Verel has been involved in the fight to legalize the sport since 1997 and he sees the legalization as the reward for all the effort that has gone into the fight to educate lawmakers and the public.
"It has been a long battle, but we have finally won," said Verel of South Buffalo who is a former kickboxing champion and inductee into the Pro Martial Arts/MMA Hall of Fame. "The challenge will be now for the New York State Athletic Commission to come up with a set of regulations for professional and amateur competition, a daunting challenge."
The passage by the Assembly lifts a ban on professional MMA that has been in place in New York since 1997, with New York now becoming the last state to legalize the sport that has many opponents who call it a "nasty" spectacle but realize that it enjoys widespread popularity. This year was the first time in seven years the MMA measure has reached the Assembly floor despite winning passage over the last seven years in the State Senate.
Convicted former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver had blocked the Assembly from voting on MMA and supporters were hopeful that with Silver now gone, they had a chance for success. They were right.
TagsTony Farina
Disgusted by the Corruption in Albany, Courageous Black Man Runs for Governor
News • US News
Special Education and VR 504 Become Federal Law By Al Bruno
News • Opinion
Congressman Chris Collins' Unusually Sweet Settlement Deal With the SEC
News and art, national and local. Began as alternative weekly in 1990 in Buffalo, NY. Publishing content online since 1996.
Three Names Proposed For The Buffalo Zoo's Infant Gorilla
Shaky Union Support May Have Delivered Key Blow To Panepinto
TUE APR 7 – Caamp at The Town Ballroom


text:
MSNBC: "Not clear" which side we're on in Venezuela (Narrator: It's 100% clear)
Jazz Shaw May 02, 2019 8:01 AM ET
(Screen capture from YouTube)
If you were watching any cable news yesterday you were likely treated to a number of split-screen moments as the Barr hearing unfolded at the same time that an apparently failed coup attempt was taking place in Venezuela. Most of the networks broke away at one point to cover some remarks by John Bolton on the subject. (More on that in a bit.) But if you happened to be watching MSNBC while all of this was going on, you might have caught one of the more bizarre bits of "analysis" to be broadcast in recent memory.
I didn't happen to catch it myself (I was watching CNN), but the Free Beacon picked up on a segment where MSNBC hosts Brian Williams and Nicole Wallace were discussing the situation in Venezuela. After some of the usual chatter, Wallace suddenly declared (absent any evidence whatsoever) that it wasn't entirely "clear" who the United States was backing in the standoff between dictator Nicolas Maduro and self-declared interim President Juan Guaido. The reason? Trump's supposed collusion with the Russians, of course!
MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace said Wednesday that because of Russia it is "not clear which side we're on" in Venezuela, as a news graphic flashed showing the Trump administration is firmly supporting the government's opposition…
"I think one of the conundrums of the Trump presidency is because there's been such a lack of clarity around foreign policy, around some key American adversaries like Russia, when these crisis come to pass, people are disoriented," Wallace said. "It's not clear which side we're on, not that the side we're on is everything. There are civilians on both sides. These stories are very disorienting for people."
"I think these stories land in a very disorienting way to a country that's been sort of pulled into politics on just about everything," she added
Let's go to the video, just in case this seems unbelievable to you.
This is simply stunning. At that same time that Wallace was saying all of this, the network's chyron was literally declaring, "Venezuela braces for more turmoil as Trump admin supports opposition." But perhaps we shouldn't be too hard on Ms. Wallace. Maybe she doesn't watch MSNBC. Still, the mendacity of that statement was breathtaking.
How much more evidence would anyone need? Their own network had just finished covering the interview with Bolton where he was still suggesting that we might have to send in troops to help eject Maduro. (Side note: I like John Bolton and have interviewed him a couple of times. But President Trump needs to get a leash on that guy once in a while. We don't need another war in South America.) On top of that, the President has been out on social media backing Guaido all through this. In one thread he was threatening Cuba not to meddle in Venezuela's affairs on the side of Maduro.
Trump has repeatedly offered to have a plane standing by to whisk Maduro safely out of the country and create space for a peaceful transition of power. How anyone can interpret this situation as "unclear" (in terms of who we're supporting) is simply bonkers.
The sad part is that I've always liked Nicole Wallace. She was one of the Republicans that MSNBC added to their lineup and I not only cheered on her show as her ratings grew but hoped that her presence might steer the network at least a small bit away from the far left fringe. But for some time now, it's appeared that the opposite effect has set in. Wallace was once the comms director for George W. Bush, but these days she's sounding a lot more like Rachel Maddow. Maybe there's just something in the water cooler over at MSNBC that eventually gets to everyone.
Tags: MSNBC VENEZUELA COUP NICOLAS MADURO SUPPORT BRIAN WILLIAMS


text:
import time
import typing
import uuid

from flaky import flaky
import google.auth
import google.cloud.storage as storage
import pytest

from ..usage_report.usage_reports import disable_usage_export
from ..usage_report.usage_reports import get_usage_export_bucket
from ..usage_report.usage_reports import set_usage_export_bucket

PROJECT = google.auth.default()[1]
BUCKET_NAME = "test" + uuid.uuid4().hex[:10]
TEST_PREFIX = "some-prefix"

@pytest.fixture
def temp_bucket():
    storage_client = storage.Client()
    bucket = storage_client.create_bucket(BUCKET_NAME)
    yield bucket
    bucket.delete(force=True)

@flaky(max_runs=3)
def test_set_usage_export_bucket_default(
    capsys: typing.Any, temp_bucket: storage.Bucket
) -> None:
    set_usage_export_bucket(project_id=PROJECT, bucket_name=temp_bucket.name)
    time.sleep(5)  # To make sure the settings are properly updated
    uel = get_usage_export_bucket(project_id=PROJECT)
    assert uel.bucket_name == temp_bucket.name
    assert uel.report_name_prefix == "usage_gce"
    out, _ = capsys.readouterr()
    assert "default prefix of `usage_gce`." in out

    disable_usage_export(project_id=PROJECT)
    time.sleep(5)  # To make sure the settings are properly updated
    uel = get_usage_export_bucket(project_id=PROJECT)
    assert uel.bucket_name == ""
    assert uel.report_name_prefix == ""

    # Testing setting a custom export bucket. Keeping this in one test function
    # to avoid race conditions, as this is a global setting for the project.
    set_usage_export_bucket(
        project_id=PROJECT, bucket_name=temp_bucket.name, report_name_prefix=TEST_PREFIX
    )
    time.sleep(5)  # To make sure the settings are properly updated
    uel = get_usage_export_bucket(project_id=PROJECT)
    assert uel.bucket_name == temp_bucket.name
    assert uel.report_name_prefix == TEST_PREFIX
    out, _ = capsys.readouterr()
    assert "usage_gce" not in out

    disable_usage_export(project_id=PROJECT)
    time.sleep(5)  # To make sure the settings are properly updated
    uel = get_usage_export_bucket(project_id=PROJECT)
    assert uel.bucket_name == ""
    assert uel.report_name_prefix == ""

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Flog a BookBubber 204: Jon Messenger—the writing sinks this one from the start
Writers, send your prologue/first chapter to FtQ for a "flogging" critique. Email as an attachment.
Next are the first 17 manuscript lines of Chapter 1 of Wolves of the Northern Rift. A poll and the opening page of the first chapter follow. Should this author have hired an editor?
The whirling blades of the zeppelin propellers hummed within the passenger cabin, as the inflated transport drifted over the frozen landscape below. Frost clung to the windows, leaving tendrils of ice crystals reaching toward one another from their respective corners of the panes of glass. Despite the heat within the undercarriage cabin, the cold blanketed the hull of the craft.
Within one of the private rooms of the large cabin, Simon Whitlock drummed his fingers impatiently on his top hat, which rested on the table between him and his associate. Simon looked out the window, though the glass fogged almost immediately from his warm breath. He rubbed it with his suit sleeve, leaving a damp smear over the glass.
Frustrated, he sat back and pulled on the chain that dangled from his waistcoat. The pocket watch on the end of the chain slid from his vest pocket and spun lazily in the air. Simon grabbed the watch delicately and pushed the button on top. It swung open, revealing the timepiece on one side and a royal crest etched into the silver of the other. A photo of a dark-haired woman had been placed over the crest, concealing much of it. He only halfheartedly read the time before clicking the watch closed and replacing it in his pocket. The motion of brushing his suit aside revealed the butt of the silver revolver, tucked firmly in a shoulder holster. Simon hastily pulled his jacket back over the weapon and looked at his partner.
"How much longer is our trip?" Simon asked, interrupting his associate from his studies. (snip)
You can turn the page and read more here. Did this writer need an editor? My notes and a poll follow.
This received 4.1 stars on Amazon. Right from the start you know this narrative will have issues—the first half of the first sentence has propellers whirling INSIDE the passenger cabin. Then there's the overwriting, the description of the minutia of checking the time with his pocket watch. A quick scan of the reviews revealed a number of readers having problems with the quality of writing in this book, and they weren't wrong. Having downloaded this for review, I am now going to delete it from my Kindle. Your thoughts?
Should this author have hired an editor?
My books. You can read sample chapters and learn more about the books here.
Fantasy (satire) The Vampire Kitty-cat Chronicles
April 29, 2019 in BookBubber flogs | Permalink | Comments (0)
Flogometer 1094 for Marlys —are you compelled to turn the page?
Submissions sought. Get fresh eyes on your opening page. Submission directions below.
What's a first page in publishingland? In a properly formatted novel manuscript (double-spaced, 1-inch margins, 12-point type, etc.) there should be about 16 or 17 lines on the first page. Directions for submissions are below—they include a request to post the rest of the chapter, but that's optional.
Before you rip into today's submission, consider this checklist of first-page ingredients from my book, Mastering the Craft of Compelling Storytelling.
Donald Maass,, literary agent and author of many books on writing, says, "Independent editor Ray Rhamey's first-page checklist is an excellent yardstick for measuring what makes openings interesting."
A reminder of what you're after here. This blog is about crafting compelling openings. Not interesting, compelling. Why does it have to meet that hurdle? First, if your work is going to an agent, you're competing with hundreds of submissions. You have to cut through that clutter and competition with powerful storytelling and strong writing. If it's a reader browsing in a bookstore or online, the same goes—there are scores of published books competing with yours. Yeah, you need compelling.
Marlys sends the first chapter for Cinder. The rest of the narrative is after the break.
The elms clattered and cracked in the predawn chill, sunup still about an hour away. The house lay quiet but I could hear the west porch catching the wind and whipping it around the side of the house, whistling and shrill. I gently eased the door open and closed, careful to avoid the screech so often heard in the old house built by my grandfather a hundred years ago. After passing through the screened porch I headed down the walk past the water pump and windmill. The broad iron gate between the dooryard gardens and the gravel motor yard creaked something awful and I briefly debated going through the dense hedge protecting Grandma's roses. The hedge generally protected the dooryard from the depredations of hares, hens and the occasional errant cow but a memory of Gran swearing and screeching when the chickens got in last summer made me quickly discard the idea. The miscreants got served up for supper and I did not care to contemplate the fate of a young grandchild who knew the limits of her grandmother's tolerance when it came to her prize-winning roses.
So in an excess of caution I decided to go through Grandpa's tool shop which always had good oiling on its door hinges. The door gave only a small protest as I slipped out on the barn side of the shed. I hurried across the gravel, the crunch under my boots sounding like grapeshot. The moon had set but the barn stood black against the paling predawn sky to the east. I reached the main barn doors and slid one aside just enough to squeeze through. It (snip)
The writing and voice are good here, and the opening does give a sense of mood and, for sure, place. However . . . check out the checklist. While item #1 is present, engaging us with a character, item #2 is absolutely absent. Nothing is wrong in this person's world, and nothing looks like it will be. There are no consequences to her being caught sneaking out of the house. Until something like that is present, despite the quality of writing there is no story here, and no reason to be compelled to want to know what happens next. In other words, writer, start later. Something needs to impact this girl's life in a way that she MUST respond or suffer consequences. Also, avoid long paragraphs such as the opening one, break them up. Readers need white space. Your thoughts?
Email the following in an attachment (.doc, .docx, or .rtf preferred, no PDFs):
your complete 1st chapter or prologue plus 1st chapter
Note: I'm adding a copyright notice for the writer at the end of the post. I'll use just the first name unless I'm told I can use the full name.
Also, please tell me if it's okay to post the rest of the chapter so people can turn the page.
And, optionally, include your permission to use it as an example in a book on writing craft if that's okay.
If you rewrite while you wait for your turn, it's okay with me to update the submission.
Were I you, I'd examine my first page in the light of the first-page checklist before submitting to the Flogometer.
Flogging the Quill © 2019 Ray Rhamey, excerpt © 2019 by Marlys.
Continue reading "Flogometer 1094 for Marlys —are you compelled to turn the page?" »
April 26, 2019 | Permalink | Comments (3)
Flogometer 1093 for Zach —are you compelled to turn the page?
Zach sends the first chapter for Two Years Gone. The rest of the narrative is after the break.
Mandi knelt on the hill of morning glory with blood dripping from her cheeks. Her eyes, sticky and rimmed with red, saw the world in black and white as the life slipped away from her. Her sacrifice wasn't for naught; the flowers beneath her grew in size and color the closer to death she allowed herself to approach. This is it, she thought. She felt no pain, and the only emotions she experienced were a deep, aching sadness and a dull longing for something beyond the life she knew. I tried my best to finish the mission You gave me. I'm sorry I couldn't manage even that….
Her heartbeat slowed to a rhythmic thud that quickly threatened to pound out of her chest when a raspy, barely masculine voice in front of her spoke: "It's been a long time coming."
She fell back and looked upwards, her breath ragged and the color of the world returning to her vision. Stooped over where she had knelt was a figure tall and thin, cloaked and hooded in black. Its hands were clasped behind its back, its head cocked to the left. In front of its unseen face it wore a white mask whose only features were the holes for the eyes and mouth, which were all widened and filled with the same inky blackness that surrounded whatever demon-spawn this was. At her shocked gaze it spoke again: "Why have you stopped?"
She stared at the blooms that she had caused to grow so bright. "I can't do it…"
"You can and you will," he told her. "How long have we both waited for this moment? Sweet release and the promise of a world much brighter than this one?"
Hmm. This opening does a good job of raising a story question or two—what's going on, who/what is the mysterious figure, will she die? There are some craft issues: a small one is a missing word in "Her heartbeat had slowed . . . etc." And there was a clarity issue: the narrative refers to the inky blackness that surrounded the demon-spawn . . . but no inky blackness has been included in the previous description. Confusing. But those editorial things can be corrected, and it's the story that counts most on the first page. So I'd give it a turn. Your thoughts?
Flogging the Quill © 2019 Ray Rhamey, excerpt © 2019 by Zach.
Continue reading "Flogometer 1093 for Zach —are you compelled to turn the page?" »
Flog a BookBubber 203: D.N. Bryn—strong opening, unique character and world
Next are the first 17 manuscript lines of Chapter 1 of Our Bloody Pearl. A poll and the opening page of the first chapter follow. Should this author have hired an editor?
HUNGER HAUNTS ME like a bull shark. With every roll of the ship, the gunk inside my stagnant tub sloshes against my waist, stinging anew. The tight wooden room's stale air burns my lungs.
Steam whistles in the pipes that run along the walls, their copper gleaming in the dim ceiling light. My wrists throb where the metal cuffs locking me to the tub dig into my silver scales. The gill slits along my neck are clamped shut after a year without seawater and my head fins stick to my scalp like barnacles to rock.
I try to anchor myself with the memory of home, of fine sands and vibrant reefs, but I can barely recall the rush of the warm current or the thrill of the hunt. Even a single wrasse sounds like a feast now. Or a few human fingers.
At least I can still smell the sharp brine of the ocean. When the ship rocks, the small, circular window to my left reveals the sea rolling in an endless stretch of deep blue, begging me to return. The silhouette of an approaching vessel forms a blur on its horizon.
I squint at the hazy shape, but Captain Kian's roar of irritation from an upper deck makes me recoil. My captor's harsh voice is so loud it seems to shudder its way down my spine.
The new vessel leaves my sight as the ship I'm captive on—the Oyster—turns toward it. The steam stacks clatter to life somewhere beneath me. Fabric and metal wings stretch out from (snip)
This received 4.6 stars on Amazon. Strong writing and voice here that introduce a unique character and what appears to be a steam punk world for this fantasy. The character is sympathetic (I wish there were a name and a gender), held captive in most unpleasant ways. The character is alien, but we can connect with him/her because of the obviously terrible trouble she/he is in. The appearance of the ship on the horizon and the captor's reaction raise a new "what's going to happen" story question beyond that of what will happen to this character. If you're into fantasy, this is a promising opening page. I will read further. Your thoughts?
Flog a BookBubber 202: Angela Pepper—voice and character did the trick here
Next are the first 17 manuscript lines of Chapter 1 of Wisteria Witches. A poll and the opening page of the first chapter follow. Should this author have hired an editor?
The real estate agent didn't say anything about the house coming with a ghost. Some people would probably pay extra to get a genuine ghost, but I am not one of those people.
My name is Zara Riddle, and I am a witch. A novice witch, anyway.
I spent the first thirty-two years of my life not knowing why I always felt like such an oddball. It turns out witchcraft runs in the Riddle family. I had no idea—not until I moved across the country to a quaint little town I'd never heard of before: Wisteria.
What's that? You've never heard of Wisteria, either? There's a very good reason for that, too. You'll see.
It was a sunny spring day when my daughter and I arrived at our new home. I stood on the sidewalk in front of the property, looking around my new neighborhood and grinning like a ding-dong. Was I dreaming?
Rising up before me was pure perfection. The house—my house—was a three-story Victorian Gothic, painted a heart-racing shade of red all the way up to the triple lancet windows in the attic. The porch was both breezy and welcoming, with wisteria vines twisting along the eaves. The wisteria was in full bloom, dripping with fragrant pink blossoms.
Sure, the yard was a jungle, and the interior was in need of a few updates, but that was fine. After renting for years, I was eager to finally pour my love and energy into a home I'd never (snip)
This received 4.4 stars on Amazon. The voice is smart and promises fun, and the writing is professional. Rather forthrightly, we are quickly introduced to a likeable character—I felt her pride and joy in having her own home. The narrative teases us with the possibility of a ghost and reasons for the town being unknown . . . but that's about it for story questions. Other than those, there isn't a strong one raised. The character doesn't really have to do anything, and her only desire is to move into her house. So, on a technical basis, there's not a compelliong reason to turn the page. On the other hand, because I enjoy paranormal stories and was entertained by the voice, I will read on to see what happens. Your thoughts?
Flog a BookBubber 201: C.L. Bevill—no hint of story, no tension
Next are the first 17 manuscript lines of Chapter 1 of Sea of Dreams. A poll and the opening page of the first chapter follow. Should this author have hired an editor?
A sea of dreams washed over the entire world, and when it was gone, everything was different. It happened during the night. On one side of the world it was daylight and might have been much more dramatic. In the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, it was sometime between midnight and three a.m. Exactly when it occurred, I've never been able to find out because I've never encountered a survivor who was awake during the exact time. I, like many others, had been asleep.
I was lying in a sleeping bag just off the Pacific Crest Trail next to my father. The day before we'd ascended several thousand feet. It had been our plan to meet up with a larger group of hikers who were going to climb the northernmost mountain of the Three Sisters. When Dad and I had hunkered down ten feet away from the main trail, we'd made a cold camp and eaten freeze-dried foods reconstituted with water. Then just as the sun had fled below the horizon, we'd bundled up into sleeping bags and dropped off into a sleep that was dreamless and overwhelming.
I awoke with the sun chasing shadows across the trees above me. I didn't move at first. My body was stiff from miles of hiking. We'd parked the car in a hiker's parking lot near Santiam Pass and come up the trail at a brisk pace. My father was in better shape than I was and kept hurrying me along. He hadn't wanted to miss the ascent to Charity, the northern sister of the (snip)
This received 4.6 stars on Amazon. It is a YA dystopian novel, but you wouldn't know that from the first page. Just about everyone except teenagers (I assume, didn't read that far) disappears. She's hiking with her dad, and when she wakes up he's gone . . . leaving behind all of the clothes he was wearing still inside his sleeping bag. Electrical things don't work, cars are dead, etc.
But none of that is on the first page. Nothing goes wrong for the character, she doesn't have to deal with anything. In short, no story question. And no page turn. Your thoughts?
Flog a BookBubber 200: Chris Dietzel—just world-building, no story on this page
Next are the first 17 manuscript lines of Chapter 1 of The Green Knight. A poll and the opening page of the first chapter follow. Should this author have hired an editor?
Surrounding the portal, all was black and empty of life. No sound. No movement. Void of everything. Stars, billions of them, twinkled in the distance. But these far-off dots didn't seem like real things near a portal. Portals were pure energy, and everything else—for hundreds of parsecs—was only a glimmering emptiness.
Any traveler approaching a portal from a distance saw its light twinkling like a miniature sun, growing in size until it dwarfed the very vessel approaching it. No matter how large the ship, it looked puny compared to the immense disc of energy. Even flagships, thousands of times larger than a star fighter, seemed small by comparison.
The portals were so large that some scientists wanted them classified as man-made celestial bodies. Entire asteroids could pass through—if detection and prevention systems didn't keep such random objects away. In fact, even the smallest moon of Mego Turkomann could almost fit through.
Close to the portal, different people claimed to see different things in the glowing white light. Some said they saw lines of energy. Others saw swirling waves. Some observed cloud formations. Still others saw outlines of space vessels that had already passed through the portal, transporting spices or rare metals from one solar system to another. Some people even swore they could see the future when they looked into the portal's energy. Others insisted they (snip)
This received 4.1 stars on Amazon. For me, the world-building smothered this opening. I know it's common in science fiction, but this has no hint of story whatsoever. More than that, the nature of this portal doesn't impact what happens at all. Two ships come through the portal safely, one blows up the other one and then leaves. That's it. All this stuff about the portal just doesn't matter. Start with story, build the world as it develops and as needed to make it make sense. Your thoughts?
Flog a BookBubber 199: D.V. Berkon—strong character promises story
Next are the first 17 manuscript lines of Chapter 1 of Silent Crime. A poll and the opening page of the first chapter follow. Should this author have hired an editor?
LEINE BASSO GAVE her clothes the once-over, making sure she was presentable before leaning down to wipe the six-inch blade on the dead man's trousers.
Good. No arterial spatter. If only there was a mirror around when a girl needed one. She made do with the hem of her shirt and wiped her face and neck. The only stain visible belonged to sweat from the intense afternoon heat, which radiated through a pair of partially open, paint-deprived shutters.
The recently deceased thirty-something piece of shit lay on the ground in a pool of his own blood, sightless eyes staring at the fifteen foot-tall plaster ceiling above them. Leine experienced no regret at the loss of his life—not when the person she'd just killed had been responsible for dozens of women and children being sold into the horrors of sex trafficking.
One down, so many more to go.
The trafficker's death was merely a drop in a very large pool of the never-ending sex trafficking trade—clubs and organizations run by criminals that managed to materialize wherever the need arose. And the need arose pretty much everywhere. This time, she'd been sent back to Tripoli to weed out the scumbags trafficking marriageable young women to the terrorist group Izz Al-Din as bonuses for their freedom fighters. As an elite former government assassin, Leine Basso's specialized skill set was in heavy demand, and she was glad to provide it for the (snip)
This received 4.9 stars on Amazon. Mostly strong writing and a tough-woman voice introduce one of those kick-ass women that are fun to read about. We know she's deadly and cold-blooded, and that she sees herself as one of the good guys. There's no jeopardy here, so no story question, but the nature of what she's doing and thinking suggests that a story is just about to open. This one I'd give one more page—but just one—to get the story going. Your thoughts?
Flog a BookBubber 198: WL Knightly—uh-oh, musing alert!
During a sleepless night, Jake stared at the popcorn ceiling above him and thought about all of the shit happening in the world. As if to solidify every opinion he had, his phone rang, reminding him that he was right in the middle of it. He rose up and leaned across the woman beside him, their skin peeling apart like it had been glued together with sweat as he grabbed his cell phone from the bedside table. But he didn't answer it right away. He laid back against his pillow, putting a little space between them so he could cool off.
Jake saw no need to hurry for bad news. It couldn't be anything else. No one called in the middle of the night with good news. No, good news waited until morning.
He had already spent the past the four hours in bed. Two of those were spent fucking the blonde beside him, while the other had been spent trying to clear his head from the pallid stares of death. Those still, lifeless eyes haunted him.
It wasn't as if he could really do anything to stop the evils in the world. Nothing was going to change because of him. Jake had once thought he was really going to make a difference as a cop, but with each dead-eyed stare, it became clear that it was an impossible task.
"Are you going to answer that?" asked the sleepy voice beside him. "At least make it stop ringing."
He could silence it, but he didn't. He took a deep breath and looked at her. She was no (snip)
This received 4.3 stars on Amazon. High-caliber writing here, and a clear voice for a depressing character. If there were an "Almost" choice in the poll, that's what I'd give this. What's my problem? The only thing that happens is that a cop gets a phone call. Sure, I know this is a crime novel and that he will be involved . . . but involved in what? More than that, this opens with one of my non-favorite narrative approaches—musing. We spend our time with his dreary thoughts rather than getting into a crime. Yes, in a way this will likely be about the character's malaise and how he deals with it, but how about having that happen along with a good mystery? I suspect the voice may be enough for some readers, but it wasn't enough for me this morning. Your thoughts?
Flog a BookBubber 197: Angela Holder—lazy opening dies on the vine
Next are the first 17 manuscript lines of Chapter 1 of The Fuller's Apprentice. A poll and the opening page of the first chapter follow. Should this author have hired an editor?
Master Sef stretched the wet woolen cloth to its full extent. He walked his fist, thumb and little finger spread wide, across the fabric from one selvage to the other, measuring its width.
"It's coming along well. Give it another five hundred strokes, lad, then come fetch me." He scowled at Josiah. "And mind you don't go off into one of your dreaming fits. There's a representative of the Wizards' Guild coming to check on their order, and we need to show him our best work—not cloth beat full of holes because a lazy apprentice couldn't keep his mind on his task."
"Yes, Master Sef." Josiah gathered the loose end of the bolt of cloth and returned it to its place, bunched in even folds against the back of the long, low box. When he moved clear, Master Sef scowled at him for a moment, then pulled the lever that set the fulling mill in motion.
With a creaking groan the gears engaged, and the six stocks began to move. The heavy wooden heads crept back and swept down. They slammed into the folds of wet wool, sending spray flying. The mill beat the newly woven cloth rhythmically, binding the loose threads together, shrinking and thickening the web into a dense, warm fabric. With a pointed look at Josiah, Master Sef left the room. Josiah grabbed a bucket and went to the open arch to dip it in the millrace, just below where the great water wheel turned the massive drive shaft. He returned to the box and walked its length, pouring water onto the wool to replace what the pounding (snip)
This received 4.3 stars on Amazon. The writing and voice are fine, but what is this story about? If it's about how wool cloth was made in medieval times, then I'm not interested. There's a hint of conflict with the warning to not "go off into one of your dreaming fits," but that hardly seems ominous. And that's only a warning—there is no actual "something wrong" on this page. Which means I won't be reading the second page. This is epic fantasy, and those books often take their time establishing the world. But there's simply no reason that it can't be established while something resembling a story takes place. Your thoughts?


I've temporarily given up on most things, including Safari Zone. I just don't have the time, and my phone is annoying.
I've been rather busy as of late, and school starts Thursday. Maybe I can post, maybe I can't, I still haven't got all of my things back in order.
Try posting in the Pal Park thread saying something to that effect.
Not a thread, but a post in that thread.
The whole thing is mostly dead but I can't see why not. But I can't update for the next three days, since my baby cousin's arriving tomorrow, ok?
Hey, just a note before someone else comes after you for this - joke pronouns like "soda" aren't allowed, so if you could change that, that'd be great!


Dragon Pharma EQ 300 is presented in a 10-milliliter multidose vial and reportedly contains 300 milligrams of boldenone undecylenate per milliliter according to label and/or packaging. Samples of this product were purchased from a European-based internet source between the dates of August 1, 2016 and September 15, 2016.
The product was identified with an expiration date of May 2019 and a lot number of DPEQ-01.
Label claim: Dragon Pharma EQ 300 has a label claim of 300 mg/ml boldenone undecylenate.
Actual content: Dragon Pharma EQ 300 was determined to have an actual content of 229.9 mg/ml boldenone undecylenate.
Discuss the Dragon Pharma EQ 300 lab test results on the AnabolicLab Forum.