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Six Famous Artists Houses (Where You Can Stay, Too)
Artists gravitate toward places that inspire them creatively, so you can often find artists houses among splendid scenery or in rural isolation.
Famous artists could often afford large houses, and some have since been transformed into inns and bed and breakfasts.
Artists Houses As Inns
Now every New England state has a house that an artist once lived in, but functions as an inn or an artists retreat.
At two of the artists houses described below you can actually practice your art in the same places Fairfield and Eliot Porter and Norman Rockwell found their inspiration.
So here we bring you six artists houses, one in each state (admittedly, we include an engraver and an architect as artists – but we think they'd agree). If you know of any artists houses where people can stay, please include them in the comments section.
Abel Buell Home
The Abel Buell Home
Abel Buell, apprenticed to a silversmith as a boy, learned his craft perhaps too well.
As a young man, he used his skill at engraving to alter the plates for five-pound notes to plates for larger denominations. Then he printed them. He got caught, and authorities cut off the tip of his ear as punishment.
An uncommonly ingenious mapmaker, he designed the first map of the United States in 1784 and colored it by hand. The map involves enough artistry that we're putting his house on our list of artists homes.
The first map, by Abel Buell.
He was born in 1742 in Clinton, Conn., when it was called Killingworth. Today his home is a bed and breakfast called the Abel Buell House By The Shore. You can stay in one of two rooms, one with a queen-size bed, one with a twin.
33 Commerce St., Clinton, Conn.
Great Spruce Head Island
Great Spruce Head Island in Penobscot Bay (thanks, Google Maps!)
Fairfield Porter, born in 1907 in Winnetka, Ill., bucked the Abstract Expressionist trend during the middle of the 20th century. He stuck to a representational style despite criticism from other artists. In his paintings, he made ordinary landscapes and interiors seem extraordinary.
Under the Elms by Fairfield Porter
His brother Eliot was a biochemical researcher at Harvard who took up photography as a hobby. Fairfield introduced Eliot to Alfred Stieglitz, who encouraged him to work harder. Eliot began to exhibit in Stieglitz's gallery, and eventually he quit his job and pursued photography full time. The Sierra Club published a book of his photographs with quotations from Henry David Thoreau, and it did quite well. Eliot Porter published more books, and is considered the pioneer of the coffee-table book of nature photography.
When the boys were young, their father bought Great Spruce Head Island in Penobscot Bay and built a 12-bedroom summer cottage. The brothers and their three siblings spent summers on the island. Today, the Porters' niece, Anina Porter Fuller, invites a dozen artists to spend a week on the island working independently in late June or early July. (Here's her painting of the house.)
Great Spruce Head Island, Deer Isle, Maine
Fidelia Bridges Guest House
The Fidelia Bridges Guest House (thanks again, Google Maps)
Fidelia Bridges created exquisite images of nature in the 19th century, though people have largely forgotten her. Except, at least, for those who stay at one of the most interesting artists houses, the Fidelia Bridges Guest House.
May, by Fidelia Bridges
She was born in 1834 in Salem, Mass., to Eliza Chadwick Bridges and Henry Gardiner Bridges. Her father died in China when Fidelia was 15, and her mother died three hours before the news of her husband's death reached Salem. Fidelia's sister auctioned off the family furniture and sold the house.
Eventually Fidelia got a job as a mother's helper in New York, where she would later run a school and her own studio. She also worked as a governess to Mark Twain's three children.
All the while she drew and painted, limiting her subjects to birds and plants.
She moved to Canaan, Conn., and lived quietly, drawing and painting for the rest of her days.
The Fidelia Bridges Guest House belongs to the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, Mass.
18 Washington Square West, Salem, Mass.
Inn at Whitefield
Interior at the Mountains, by Emil Otto Grundmann
Emil Otto Grundmann was a German art professor and artist who came to the United States. He got a job as director of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, where he founded the Boston School of art. He taught such artists as Frank Weston Benton, Charles Henry Turner and Edmund C. Tarbell.
Grundmann visited a friend in Whitefield, N.H., in 1879 to paint the White Mountains. He painted the lovely Interior at the Mountains, a view of the silhouette of the Franconia range through the window of his friend's bay window. The interior includes 'accessories of genteel tourism,' according to Robert L. McGrath: a map of Europe, sculptures, prints of Roman monuments and wicker furniture.
Today you can be your own genteel tourist at the house, now the Inn at Whitefield.
381 Lancaster Rd., Whitefield, N.H.
Architect's Inn Guesthouse
The Archietect's Inn
George Champlin Mason designed a number of palatial homes in Newport, R.I., including one for himself.
Mason spent his early career trying to make a living as a landscape painter. He published a collection of engravings of Newport landscapes that promoted the city to tourists and vacationers.
Mason switched careers several times, first as a newspaper editor and finally as an architect. He began designing houses in 1858, eventually designing many of the summer mansions in Newport. He also helped found the Newport Historical Society.
After his death in 1894, Belmonts and Vanderbilts lived in his house. Today it's an inn, known as the Architect's Inn Guesthouse, decorated with period furnishings and offering fully interactive Murder Mystery weekends.
2 Sunnyside Pl #1, Newport, R.I.
Norman Rockwell Inn & Studio
The Norman Rockwell Inn & Studio
Before Norman Rockwell moved to Stockbridge, Mass., he lived in Arlington, Vt. There he adopted the themes of Americana that have endeared him to millions of his fans.
Rockwell was 49 when he bought a farmhouse in Arlington, Vt., in the fall of 1943. The move to the house, built in 1792, gave him a much-needed restart for his art.
He was more interested in diners, doctors' offices and schoolhouses than in the landscape.
Today you can enjoy the Green Mountain scenery or the diners and schoolhouses at the Norman Rockwell Inn & Studio. You can even stay in his studio – or his barn. The inn also offers Rockwell Seminars during which acclaimed painters and illustrators give one-on-one instruction in Rockwell's actual studio.
3587 River Road Arlington, Vt.
Images of artists houses: Emil Grundmann, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil_Otto_Grundmann#/media/File:Emil_Otto_Grundmann00.jpg; Under the Elms, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10887039
This story about artists houses was updated in 2019.
Related Items:arlington, art, artists, birds, books, Boston, children, commerce, Deer Isle, diners, England, Fairfield, furniture, gardiner, Harvard, Henry David Thoreau, historical society, houses, inns, Maine, maps, Mark Twain, monuments, mountains, murder, museum, nature, Newport, painting, paintings, Penobscot, photography, punishment, Salem, six, Thoreau, tourism, turner, white mountains, York
The Kettle Holes of New England (12 Other States Have Them Too)
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text:
HomeENTERTAINMENTPrince Harry's memoir could be 'positive' after Jubilee visit: Expert
Prince Harry's memoir could be 'positive' after Jubilee visit: Expert
Prince Harry's highly-anticipated memoir could turn out to be 'positive' for the royal family after all, a royal expert has said.
Harry's memoir, touted as an 'intimate and heartfelt' look into the Duke of Sussex's life as a royal, reportedly set alarm bells ringing in the royal family with fears that he would expose even more negative things about the family.
However, Express UK quoted royal expert Kinsey Schofield as saying that Harry's memoir might as well turn out to be positive, given that he scored himself an invite to the UK by the monarch.
Commenting on Prince Harry's imminent return to his home, Schofield said: "I am certainly surprised by the decision and it makes me feel like Prince Harry's book isn't the scathing tell-all we feared."
She added: "Perhaps it's just a book about a man who learned to live and love after the death of his mother. I've always hoped that it was more of a motivational book than a hit piece."
Meanwhile, talking about his book, Prince Harry himself said: "I'm writing this not as the prince I was born but as the man I have become."
"I've worn many hats over the years, both literally and figuratively, and my hope is that in telling my story – the highs and lows, the mistakes, the lessons learned – I can help show that no matter where we come from, we have more in common than we think," he added.
Will Smith's slap brought Chris Rock's 'hearing back'
Britons react to Prince William getting booed at FA Cup: 'Disgusting'

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Geologists Solve Mystery of Nepal's "Earthquake Gap"
One of Nepal's major faults appeared worrisomely silent—but new evidence suggests otherwise
By Lucas Joel on May 1, 2019
Aftermath of the 2015 Nepal earthquake in Sankhu. Credit: Turjoy Chowdhury Getty Images
Like a slow-motion car crash, the Indian subcontinent is colliding with Eurasia. This impact, along a fault known as the Main Himalayan Thrust, is the force driving the rise of the Himalayas. In April 2015 it triggered Nepal's magnitude 7.8 Gorkha earthquake, which destroyed villages and parts of Kathmandu, killing thousands.
Nepal is no stranger to such temblors—but in the western part of the country, no significant earthquakes have been recorded since 1505. Such a "seismic gap" could be bad news: if the region's faults are not releasing their pent-up stress every so often, one or more very large and potentially catastrophic earthquakes could result. "With more than 500 years of waiting, the stored energy due to the convergence of India [and Eurasia] could be considerable," says Zakaria Ghazoui, a geologist at the Institute of Earth Sciences in Grenoble, France. The sudden release of this energy could devastate nearby places such as Pokhara, one of Nepal's largest cities.
Credit: Mapping Specialists; Source: "Bimodal Seismicity in the Himalaya Controlled by Fault Friction and Geometry," by Luca Dal Zilio et al., in Nature Communications, Vol. 10, No. 48; January 3, 2019
To determine whether this seismic gap actually exists, Ghazoui and a team of researchers ventured onto Rara Lake in western Nepal's Himalayas and retrieved cores of sedimentary layers from the bottom. They suspected the cores might contain records of when any past earthquakes occurred because quakes can cause underwater avalanches that leave behind layers of what Ghazoui calls "disorganized" sediment.
The team found evidence of at least eight avalanches since 1505, corresponding to moderate to large quakes. "We were hoping to find the trace of the 1505 earthquake, but the discovery of the other earthquake-triggered avalanches was a real surprise," he says. This means that the area's faults may not be storing as much stress as has been thought. But it also highlights the "almost permanent risk" that the area faces when it comes to earthquake hazards in general, explains Ghazoui, who led the new research, which was published in May in Nature Communications.*
This is the first time that researchers have used lake sediment records to peer into the Himalayas' earthquake history, according to Roger Bilham, a seismologist at the University of Colorado Boulder, who was not involved in the research—which, he says, "is just a teaser of what can be done."
*Editor's Note (5/22/19): This story has been updated to include the month of the study's publication and the journal it appeared in.
This article was originally published with the title "Missing Earthquakes Found" in Scientific American 320, 5, 18-19 (May 2019)
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0519-18b
Recent Articles by Lucas Joel
How the Sahara Was Born
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Prescopodene is a diet pill produced by JC Arnica Nutraceauticals. The company is based in Panama, but the pills are marketed worldwide via a number of regional-specific websites. However great care is to be advised before ordering any of the company's products because the ScamBook website contains a growing number of complaints about the company, including one from an Australian customer who spent AUD$ 299.60 on some of the company's products, was unhappy with the results, and has been unable to secure a refund via the promised guarantee.
Prescopodene has been designed to trigger thermogenic fat burning. This is process that causes a slight rise in body temperature and encourages the body to begin burning stored body fat. If the capsules can successfully achieve this the calories released during the fat burning process will become available for the body to use for extra energy.
Some of the ingredients used are very good, but others, such as ascorbic acid and magnesium, are unlikely to offer much benefit at all. Green tea stands out as being a worthwhile inclusion. Its fat burning prowess has resulted in it becoming one of the most popular diet pill ingredients in the world.
Cocoa extract provides theobromine and epicathicin (natural metabolism boosters), and yerba mate is often believed to be a fat burner, but if these ingredients are in the minority their powers could be dwarfed by less worthy inclusions (magnesium, ascorbic acid) and results will not be forthcoming. The pills may work. They may not. Without any inclusion rates to go by further speculation is pointless.
Two capsules are required each day and should be taken with 250ml of water. The first capsule of the day should be taken before breakfast or morning exercise. The second capsule should be taken during the afternoon. However, in order to assess for tolerance issues, new users are advised to take just one capsule per day for the first week. Capsules should never be taken in the evening and four capsules should never be exceeded in any 24 hour period.
The official website dedicates a full page to customer testimonials, many of which are quite in-depth. One man claims to have lost 36kg in a month, and another states he lost 15kg in 13 weeks. There is even a testimonial attributed to a middle-aged diabetic lady who lost 19kg in 6 months. Most of the stories are quite convincing, as are the accompanying photographs, but testimonials from a less biased source would provide a more reliable insight into how the pills are likely to perform.
The manufacturers state no side effects have been reported, but warn the formulation is not suitable for pregnant or nursing mothers. People who are taking medications should seek a doctor's advice before commencing supplementation. The same advice is offered to anyone who has existing health issues or concerns.
Capsules can only be purchased via the Prescopodene website. A single bottle of pills contains a month's supply and costs AUD$ 59.95. Shipping costs add another AUD$ 8.97 to the bill. Shipping insurance is optional and adds a further AUD$ 2.95. That's a grand total of AUD$ 71.95, so attempting to lose weight the Prescopodene way is far from being a cheap option.
Buying two bottles together does not secure any discounts at all, but customers who purchase three bottles of Prescopodene on a single order (costs AUD$ 179.95) will get a free bottle of pills and a copy of the "Secrets to Successful Weight Loss" ebook.
A 90-day money back guarantee is offered, but the ScamBook website contains numerous complaints from JC Arnica Nutraceauticals customers who have been unable to get their money back.
In all fairness there is nothing to say Prescopodene will not assist weight loss, but there are certainly better options available. Some of the ingredients have potential, but results are dependent on a sufficient inclusion rate and the inclusion rates here are unknown, so it's all a bit of a gamble. The presence of a money back guarantee should make such a gamble less of an issue by ensuring the customer has nothing to lose, but numerous complains suggest the guarantee may not be honoured, so caution is to be advised.
There are many consumer diet products to choose over this one – we have compiled our list of preferred products.


When discussing objectives with clients as part of their financial planning, a word keeps coming up – 'Stable'. We want financial stability. We want stable investments with stable income. So let's have a look at 10 simple rules for achieving stability.
DON'T: take on excess debt, ever (well, except for the cases discussed in point 2).
Debt is the cocaine of personal finance. Debt that you take on as an individual, like personal loans or, worst of all – credit card debt – has very high interest rates and fines for late payments that can make small shortfalls balloon into massive overhangs. Even individuals who have reasonable incomes can wreck their finances by going into debt, while others who have very low wages can stay safe as long as they don't get into it in the first place. Fortunately, by now, many people have understood the risks of personal debt. But if you're still tempted not to pay off your credit card in full at the end of the month, chop it up and throw it out now.
DO: only (and I repeat – only) take on debt to make investments which provide returns higher than the interest rate on the debt.
Student loans, business loans and mortgages are all types of debt which can make sense in certain situations. What do they have in common? In all cases you are using the money to make an investment which will yield a return. If you take out a student loan to get an MBA which increases your wages so that the increment you can pay off the debt and interest in a few years, that is good. If you take out a mortgage at a 2% interest rate in order to buy a property with a 4% rental yield, that is good too. But always make sure you have considered various scenarios and have your numbers straight. If necessary, talk to an independent advisor first. Even good debt can be risky.
DO: save as much of your income as you can.
We're often asked how much is an 'ideal' savings rate. In practice, though, the exact rate isn't even that important, because most people don't save nearly enough. Even if they do save now, they might not have saved enough in the past, or might not be able to save enough in the future. Even if they do save 'too much', there are hardly any downsides. All it means is that they will have a bigger war-chest for future expenses and will be able to afford to retire earlier, or at a higher standard of living. If in doubt, save!
DON'T: leave your money idle.
Some people 'nail' the savings part, but then simply leave their cash sitting in a bank account. Interest rates are at all-time lows, which means that low-risk investments such as bank accounts will grow very slowly, and if inflation is taken into account, may even shrink! So make sure you actually put that money to work, whether in investment funds, property or even a side business.
DO: plan your finances and retirement.
It's hard to get anywhere if you don't know where you are going. Desiring 'financial stability', in abstract, is a good start. But having a numeric target of net worth and financial income, against which you can measure how you are doing, is much better.
DON'T: get yourself into deals from which you can't walk away.
Donald Trump, the controversial real-estate billionaire running for the American presidency, often touts this maxim. Regardless of his politics, this advice does have merit, not least because it is very broad and reinforces some of the previous points. In practice it translates to always having enough savings that you can survive losing your job (or even quitting yourself if you feel things aren't right). It means not getting trapped underneath a pile of debt. It means not investing in assets you won't be able to sell.
DO: have adequate life and health insurance.
All the previous points are true. But what if you are simply at a moment in life when you haven't managed to build up your assets yet? Maybe you're just starting your career, are newly married and have had a child. What if, on top of that, something very bad happens? Say you get seriously ill or even pass away? What happens to your loved ones? Insurance is ready-to-go financial stability for bad situations, and you should have plenty unless you already have more than enough assets to keep your family safe in those cases.
DON'T: be a cash-cow for banks, pension managers and the taxman.
As the saying goes, if you're at a poker table and don't know who the sucker is – it's you. Banks and managers are out to make a profit, and the government is keen on its revenues too. So if you don't actively protect yourself, they will take more money from you. When your bank manager calls you up trying to sell a new product, you can bet it has a great margin for them. So always do your own research and seek independent advice on how to organize your finances in your own best interest.
DO: build stable, passive, income.
Passive income is income you earn while sleeping or sipping drinks on the beach. It includes interest on investments, rents on property and profits from businesses that don't depend on your work. With enough stable passive income, you could quit your job and do anything you wanted to, every single day. So focus on building it. Keep your eyes open for opportunities and be clear about how much of that income is a result of your time and work vs. how much is truly passive.
DO: have a professional financial advisor.
Personal finances aren't rocket science, and with a little research you can certainly be in a position to manage your money quite sensibly. But, as we've covered in detail in a separate article, professional advisors really do make a difference. (link to new article on 'why you need a financial advisor').
To conclude, you may have noticed our list actually has more Dos than Don'ts. That's intentional. Financial stability is something that you have to actively work towards – you have to 'Do'. Business-as-usual and just avoiding mistakes is not enough. It requires effort, but is incredibly rewarding.


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Q: How do I place an image centered in a DIV and text to the right? Overflow problems I have a div container where I want to put in a centered image and a small description to the right. The specifications are:

*

*The image should have a bottom margin of 35px.

*The image should always show fully on the screen, so it resizes when the screen does. It should have the biggest size possible, but never be cropped and never use scrollbars.

*The image should be centered with respect to the container, with the text showing on the right margin.

*The text should be left-aligned horizontally, center-aligned vertically and have a 30px separation from the image.

I've tried using a table in the container and using divs, but I can't find a clean solution. I can show you the non-working code I've tried on request.

A: This one was a tricky one.  The actual tags used don't really matter, just the number of elements and how they are nested.
The vertical centering of the text is done via Flexbox, which has limited support (Chrome, IE10, Opera, Safari, most mobile browsers).  Firefox (with 2009 Flexbox properties) would normally be lumped in here, but it has a bug that prevents Flexbox from working if it is applied to an absolutely positioned element.
http://cssdeck.com/labs/iu0gx2wk
Markup:

My image title

CSS:
.gallery {
  padding: 0 230px;
  text-align: center;
}

article {
  display: inline-block;
  max-width: 100%;
  position: relative;
}

img {
  max-width: 100%;
  vertical-align: text-bottom;
}

h1 {
  position: absolute;
  text-align: left;
  right: -230px;
  top: 0;
  bottom: 0;
  width: 200px;
  margin: 0;
  display: -webkit-box;
  display: -ms-flexbox;
  display: -webkit-flex;
  display: flex;
  -webkit-box-align: center;
  -ms-flex-align: center;
  -webkit-align-items: center;
  align-items: center;
}

Alternately, you could add one extra element and use the table/table-cell display properties to get your vertical centering.
http://cssdeck.com/labs/lqgjgghw
Markup

My image title

CSS
.gallery {
  padding: 0 230px;
  text-align: center;
}

article {
  display: inline-block;
  max-width: 100%;
  position: relative;
}

img {
  max-width: 100%;
  vertical-align: text-bottom;
}

h1 {
  position: absolute;
  text-align: left;
  right: -230px;
  top: 0;
  bottom: 0;
  width: 200px;
  margin: 0;
  display: table;
}

h1 span {
  display: table-cell;
  vertical-align: middle;
}

* note that the demos have their padding/positioning off by a little bit, the code listed here is correct.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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package com.google.cloud.dataform.v1beta1;

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   * Required. The compilation result's name.
   *

   *
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   *
   *
   * @return The name.
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   *
   *
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   * Required. The compilation result's name.
   *

   *
   *
   * string name = 1 [(.google.api.field_behavior) = REQUIRED, (.google.api.resource_reference) = { ... }
   *
   *
   * @return The bytes for name.
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  com.google.protobuf.ByteString getNameBytes();
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Tag: #audiobookreview
Review: Hello Lovelies! by Hayley DeRoche
Publisher: Audible Studios
Narrator: Emily Bauer
Genre: Women's Fiction
For fans of Sophie Kinsella and Kevin Kwan comes a laugh-out-loud debut that takes listeners inside the cutthroat world of mommy blogging.
Ruthie St. James – formerly a political communications strategist, currently a stay-at-home mom, and all of a sudden friendless after her daughter's peanut butter cookie sends another toddler to the hospital – needs a break. And when she wins an all-expenses paid cruise vacation with her idol, the superstar mommy blogger Jesca Pine, she can't wait to connect with other moms IRL. But the cruise is not the Instagram-worthy getaway Ruthie had in mind: firstly, the other bloggers aren't here to make friends – they're here to impress a major talent agent who's been spotted on the ship, and they'll do just about anything to get her attention. On top of that, someone aboard keeps leaking scandalous (and off-brand) stories to an unforgiving gossip site, and Jesca's losing her followers as quickly as her sanity. All this leaves Ruthie walking on eggshells, and after a scandal of her own, she only has one more chance to salvage her vacation: using her political savvy to negotiate with the team of ruthless saboteurs behind Jesca Pine's demise…Jesca's own teenage daughters.
Hello Lovelies! is a joyous, irreverent debut about friendship, motherhood, and what it takes to survive and thrive in today's digital world.
I know that we have all heard of a beach read but what about a beach listen? I've never really thought about any particular audiobooks being perfect for vacation but while I was listening to this one I kept thinking that this would be ideal! It was the perfect blend of humor and lighthearted fun to make this is an incredibly easy listen and one that I enjoyed immensely.
I'm no stranger to online mommy drama, I'm not sure there is any way to avoid it if you're raising young children today so that's what initially caught my eye with this one. Throw in a cruise with influential mommy bloggers and my drama radar is beeping loud and clear! This poked fun at the mommy wars in a snarky way that seriously made me cackle. It's over the top dramatic in the best and most fun way, I can't even tell you how many times I was dying laughing.
The narration was fantastic, there were lots of excerpts from blog posts, podcasts and various social media sites and there were many fitting sound effects included to help keep things straight. It was a fun added touch that I appreciated and definitely helped to keep things from being confusing.
Overall I really, really liked this one and would most definitely read another book from the author, it was super fun and a really great listen!
Hello Lovelies! in three words: Snarky, Witty and Hilarious
Audiobook Review: The Nowhere Child by Christian White
March 4, 2019 March 3, 2019 1 Comment
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Narrator: Katherine Littrell
Kimberly Leamy is a photography teacher in Melbourne, Australia. Twenty-six years earlier, Sammy Went, a two-year old girl vanished from her home in Manson, Kentucky. An American accountant who contacts Kim is convinced she was that child, kidnapped just after her birthday. She cannot believe the woman who raised her, a loving social worker who died of cancer four years ago, crossed international lines to steal a toddler.
On April 3rd, 1990, Jack and Molly Went's daughter Sammy disappeared from the inside their Kentucky home. Already estranged since the girl's birth, the couple drifted further apart as time passed. Jack did his best to raise and protect his other daughter and son while Molly found solace in her faith. The Church of the Light Within, a Pentecostal fundamentalist group who handle poisonous snakes as part of their worship, provided that faith. Without Sammy, the Wents eventually fell apart.
Now, with proof that she and Sammy are in fact the same person, Kim travels to America to reunite with a family she never knew she had. And to solve the mystery of her abduction—a mystery that will take her deep into the dark heart of religious fanaticism where she must fight for her life against those determined to save her soul…
There are a rare handful of books that when listened to in audio format are taken to the next level and The Nowhere Child is most certainly one of those books. The combination of an incredibly well thought out mystery and top notch narration made this one a must listen.
While the premise itself doesn't sound all that original I can say that I've never seen it handled in the way the author did. This flips back and forth between past and present; in the present Kim learns that her mom may have actually been a kidnapper, and what's worse is that she's been dead for years so answers are not easy to come by and in the past you follow the Wendt family in the days leading up to Sammy's disappearance and after she's gone. Both past and present were equally enthralling, I found myself riveted no matter what chapter I was listening to. You know just from the blurb that Kim was indeed kidnapped, so there's no surprise as to the what, but the fun lies in the who and the why. Throw in a crazy, cult like church which never fails to intrigue me and you have a great recipe for a highly original mystery.
The narrator is Australian and I'm a sucker for an accent, but she also pulled off a really well done American drawl without sounding contrived. She was just excellent and like I said earlier, she raised the stakes with impeccable delivery and a smooth voice that was hypnotic. Highly recommended for audio fans!
The Nowhere Child in three words: Nuanced, Seamless and Tense.
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
Audiobook Review: Red Alert by James Patterson and Marshall Karp
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Narrator: Edoaurdo Ballerini
The richest of New York's rich gather at The Pierre's Cotillion Room to raise money for those less fortunate. A fatal blast rocks the room, stirring up horrifying memories of 9/11. Is the explosion an act or terrorism–or a homicide?
A big-name female filmmaker is the next to die, in a desolate corner of New York City. Detectives Zach Jordan and Kylie MacDonald investigate. But the crimes keep escalating as a shadowy killer masterfully plays out his vendetta–and threatens to take down NYPD Red in the bargain.
Though I've been a very long time fan of Patterson's books, both his standalones and his many series (Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, Lindsey Boxer, I've read them all) I made the switch from reading his physical books to listening solely on audio a couple of years ago. It kind of happened by accident, I was browsing Overdrive for a new listen and grabbed the latest Women's Murder Club installment and realized what an amazing narrator January LaVoy is. All of that to say, having now listened to several of Patterson's books I have to tell you guys that he has THE best narrators I've come across, and Ballerini is no exception. I say that because I know many people don't enjoy audiobooks for various reasons but if you ever wanna give one a try just grab any Patterson one and I don't think you'll be disappointed.
The Red series follows partners Zack and Kylie who work as part of the NYPD and their unique task force is assigned cases pertaining to the rich and famous. These two have a history that always seems to come in play at some point even though their past was several years ago, you never quite know what's going on between them at any given moment. They have an undeniable chemistry and their banter is on point, it's snappy and funny and lightens the mood in an endearing way.
Per his usual style the author(s) have included several subplots that keep things moving at a rapid pace. There's a bombing at a high profile event, the murder of a controversial filmmaker and a robbery at a high stakes poker game among other things, plenty to keep you on your toes, I can't say I was ever bored for one minute.
Again, Ballerini is an incredibly talented narrator, I don't know if I would be enjoying this series as much as I have been if I was reading myself, he has an engaging voice that also demands to be heard, it's fantastic!
Red Alert in three words: Explosive, Interesting and Exciting.
Audiobook Review: The Surrogate by Louise Jensen @Fab_fiction @bookouture
February 14, 2018 February 14, 2018 11 Comments
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Narrator: Alex Tregear
You know that feeling? When you want something so badly, you almost feel you'd kill for it?'
Kat and her husband Nick have tried everything to become parents, and are on the point of giving up. Then a chance encounter with Kat's childhood friend Lisa gives Kat and Nick one last chance to achieve their dream.
But Kat and Lisa's history hides dark secrets.
And there is more to Lisa than meets the eye.
As dangerous cracks start to appear in Kat's perfect picture of happily-ever-after, she realises that she must face her fear of the past to save her family…
I've been a huge fan of Louise Jensen and have read all of her books and loved them, but I think The Surrogate is my new favorite! I've also not had the pleasure of listening to one of her books before either and I absolutely adored the way this was brought to life by the fabulous narrator, Alex Tregear. It made the whole thing feel more real and was so much more sinister than just reading it myself, she's amazing and has one of those voices you could listen to for hours.
This flips between the past and present steadily building tension and intrigue as you read further along. Kat was easy for me to warm to, all she wants is a child and though I never had to endure fertility treatments in order to have my kids, I can clearly remember how one month can seem like a year when you're desperately wanting a baby. Lisa was a tricky one, I so wanted to believe that she had good intentions and wanted to help her old friend, but it's a Louise Jensen book and you just know there's way more than meets the eye. Oh man is there SO much more!
I'm not delving into the plot, it was deliciously twisty, dark and thrilling though and if you haven't read one of Jensen's books, can I recommend that you start here?! It has all the high marks of a superb psychological thriller, unreliability, shocks, complex plotting and an onslaught of twists that will leave your head spinning.
The Surrogate in three words: Multifaceted, Ominous and Wicked.
Audiobook Review: Meeting Lydia by Linda MacDonald @LindaMac1
January 31, 2018 January 31, 2018 2 Comments
Publisher: Essential Music
Narrator: Harriet Carmichael
"Edward Harvey. Even thinking his name made her tingle with half-remembered childlike giddiness. Edward Harvey, the only one from Brocklebank to whom she might write if she found him."
When Marianne comes home from work one day to find her husband talking to a glamorous woman in the kitchen, insecurities resurface from a time when she was bullied at school. Jealousy rears its head and her marriage begins to fall apart. Desperate for a solution, she finds herself trying to track down her first schoolgirl crush: Edward Harvey. Even thinking his name made her tingle with half-remembered childlike giddiness. Edward Harvey, the only one from Brocklebank to whom she might write if she found him.
Meeting Lydia is a book about childhood bullying, midlife crises, obsession, jealousy and the ever-growing trend of Internet relationships. It will appeal to fans of adult fiction and those interested in the dynamics and psychology of relationships.
I'm delighted to be the stop on the blog tour for Meeting Lydia today!
This was a fascinating read, the type that explores relationships and human behavior and the reasons for our behavior. A number of things lead Marianne to try and contact her childhood friend, Edward including insecurity after her husband begins to show an interest in a younger coworker and basic conflicting (and all too common) midlife feelings and emotions. The appeal of connecting online is also a factor, she likes the anonymity that the internet provides and craves something she can call her own beyond motherhood and being a wife. I think women at any age could find something about Marianne's journey they could relate to and MacDonald explores her issues in an interesting way.
Carmichael is a lovely narrator, she has a melodic and soothing voice but manages to hold your interest as well. I really like listening to audiobooks narrated by someone with an accent, I think it holds my attention better and there's something charming about an English accent. I found myself caught up in Marianne's life and was invested in the outcome and while it wasn't the neat, tidy ending I usually prefer, I respect the way things were left and understand the authors intention.
About the Narrator:
About the Narrator: Harriet Carmichael
I've always loved doing voices. I grew up with Radio 4 being on constantly in the background. Somehow the voices and accents broadcast over the years soaked in. And now I do voices. Or if you ask my agent, I'm a "voice artist".
For the last seven years I've spent most of my days in front of a microphone: as myself; as seven-year-old boys; talking baboons; angsty teenagers (usually American); androgynous talking cats; Glaswegian Grannies; the cast of The Archers…
After university I trained at The Oxford School of Drama and then acted mainly with touring theatre companies – some brilliant, some not so… I had a lot of fun, but once I started doing voiceovers in warm studios with good coffee, being on the road lost some of its appeal.
And the voice can do much more than people think. Tone, timing, pitch and accent can all vary depending on the job. From commercials and corporates to cartoons, computer games and audiobooks, it's a brilliant job and, really, I owe it all to Radio 4.
#Audiobook Review: The First One to Die by Victoria Jenkins @vicwritescrime @bookouture
Narrator: Katie Villa
Four friends. A house full of secrets. And a killer picking them off one by one…
She tried to break her fall, twisting desperately, but there was nothing to catch hold of, nothing with which she could stop herself. Her single scream cut through the night air.
Keira North falls to her death at a party. It initially seems like an accident, but Detectives Alex King and Chloe Lane suspect foul play: they are convinced they are dealing with a murder.
When the detectives start to investigate, they soon find that all of Keira's closest friends have secrets that someone might kill to keep.
And as Alex and Chloe are fighting their own demons and struggling to stay on top of the case, Keira's killer is circling the group of friends, who one by one find that their lives are in danger…
The First One to Die is a heart-stopping and shocking detective thriller that will have you gripped until the very last page. Perfect for fans of Patricia Gibney, Angela Marsons, and Val McDermid.
This is the second in a series following the dynamic duo of Alex and Chloe, I really enjoyed the first book The Girls in the Water and was eager to catch up with them again. I think one of the things that I love the most about this series is the fact that you have two strong women working as partners, it's unique and I'm all about the girl power! I also enjoyed diving deeper into their personal lives and finding out more about what motivates them and seeing what Alex in particular is dealing with in her personal life was heartbreaking and really helped to explain some of her behavior.
The case they're working is certainly intriguing, a group of friends seem to be harboring plenty of secrets and the further Alex and Chloe investigate, the more darkness they uncover. Though the list of suspects is on the smaller side I still couldn't pin down a culprit, Jenkins definitely plotted this one well and kept me guessing and then second guessing over and over again. I found this to be set at a quicker pace than the previous book and I'm always down for a high speed, exciting story and this surely delivered.
Villa was an amazing narrator, her nuances for expressing various emotions or different characters was outstanding. I'm always enraptured by listening to someone with an accent and I swear Bookouture has the BEST narrators around, every single one of their audiobooks has a fantastic narrator as well as a fantastic story, so if you're a fan of audiobooks I can highly recommend them!
#Audiobook Review: Broken Bones by Angela Marson @writeangie @bookouture
Release date: November 3, 2017
Narrator: Jan Cramer
They thought they were safe. They were wrong.
The murder of a young prostitute and a baby found abandoned on the same winter night signals the start of a disturbing investigation for Detective Kim Stone – one which brings her face to face with someone from her own horrific childhood.
As three more sex workers are murdered in quick succession, each death more violent than the last, Kim and her team realise that the initial killing was no one-off frenzied attack, but a twisted serial killer preying on the vulnerable.
At the same time, the search begins for the desperate woman who left her newborn baby at the station – but what looks like a tragic abandonment turns even more sinister when a case of modern slavery is uncovered.
The two investigations bring the team into a terrifying world of human exploitation and cruelty – and a showdown that puts Kim's life at risk as shocking secrets from her own past come to light.
This book has been out for more than a month now and despite my excitement about a new Kim Stone book, I held off on reading it as soon as I got my hands on it. I know that sounds weird, especially since this is one of my favorite series, but I knew as soon as I finished I would be desperate for the next book anyway so I decided to show some restraint for once in my life. My patience paid off because I ended up having the opportunity to listen to the audio version and it was outstanding, it definitely enhanced my experience, I absolutely loved it.
I think everyone has heard me rave about this series and Marsons talent as a writer several times before, so I'll try and spare you and won't repeat myself too much and just say that these books honestly just get better, sharper, and darker in each installment and are always intricately plotted and shocking.
Two things make this series standout among a hundred other police procedurals for me. First, Marsons always seems to have her finger on the pulse of society and addresses current issues in a compassionate and educational way while still managing to be exciting and fresh. This time Kim and team are dealing with immigration issues, prostitution and even slavery. Using extremely important issues in her novels lends an authenticity that is unmatched, it serves to bring a human connection to an otherwise grim plot. Secondly, she keeps her characters constantly evolving, she reveals new things about their pasts and who they are in each book and oftentimes surprises me with said revelations, which is difficult to do.
Cramer is the perfect narrator for this one, her voice is soothing and so easy to listen to. I know many people say that their mind wanders anytime they try and listen to an audiobook and my attention never strayed throughout this for a minute. Between Marsons riveting story and Cramer's fluid voice I was utterly absorbed. It doesn't hurt that I could listen to an English accent all day long either, but seriously read this book. Even better, listen to this book, I don't think you'll regret it.
Audiobook Review: Let's Just Be Friends by Camilla Isley @camillaisley
November 18, 2017 November 18, 2017 2 Comments
Release date: October 13, 2017 (Audible version)
Narrator: Heidi Baker
Publisher: Pink Bloom Press
Genre: NA Romance
What if the man you've always loved isn't the right one for you?
Rose Atwood has been in love with her best friend for years, and she's tired of keeping her feelings under wraps for fear of getting hurt. Being Tyler's best friend is becoming more difficult with every passing year and every new woman in his life—especially Georgiana Smithson, a snotty, beautiful girl who's in Law School with them.
When Rose, dumped by her long-term boyfriend, moves temporarily into Tyler's apartment, tension spikes. Georgiana wants Rose out of the house. Rose wants Georgiana out of Tyler's life. And Tyler … well, he doesn't really know what he wants.
As an unexpected argument brings Rose and Tyler closer than they've ever been, they must decide if there's more to their relationship than being just friends. And they must do it quickly, as Georgiana is determined to do everything in her power to keep Tyler and Rose apart. After all, all is fair in love and war.
Will Rose make a leap of faith and trust Tyler with her heart? Will Tyler make the right choice, or will he be too late?
Let's Be Just Friends is a fast paced, captivating novel that will keep you glued to the pages with humor, heartbreak, and romance. It's a story about friendship, love, and the choices we make.
This is the first in a series that follows a group of college aged kids as they navigate adulthood, school and love. I actually read the second book, Friend Zone first but reading them out of order wasn't an issue for me, but naturally if you're new to the series I would recommend starting with book one.
This is told via multiple perspectives but you mainly hear from Rose and Tyler with a handful of chapters from Georgiana and her brother Ethan. Rose and Tyler swear they're "just friends" but the only people who truly believe that are them, it's so blatantly obvious they have feelings for each other to everyone else, they're in total denial. Rose is single but Tyler has a girlfriend named Georgiana and she's bound and determined to keep her man away from Rose. There is a whole lotta drama going on between these three and then when Rose meets Ethan things get even more sticky.
I love Isley's style, she writes the type of books that you can get lost in and finish in a few hours, there's nothing complicated, well besides the characters relationships haha! They're not too heavy and the drama makes for some great entertainment which is just what I need from time to time. Heidi Baker was a really great narrator, she had a super warm voice that was engaging and made me feel like I was listening to a friend talk to me about her crazy group of friends. Cute, uncomplicated and flirty would be the perfect description!
Audiobook Review: 16th Seduction by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro @HachetteAudio
Narrator: January LaVoy
Detective Lindsay Boxer faces a heart-stopping threat in the newest Women's Murder Club thriller.Fifteen months ago, Detective Lindsay Boxer's life was perfect–she had a beautiful child and a doting husband, Joe, who helped her catch a criminal who'd brazenly detonated a bomb in downtown San Francisco, killing twenty-five people. But Joe wasn't everything that Lindsay thought he was, and she's still reeling from his betrayal as a wave of mysterious, and possibly unnatural, heart attacks claims seemingly unrelated victims across San Francisco. As if that weren't enough, the bomber she and Joe captured is about to go on trial, and his defense raises damning questions about Lindsay and Joe's investigation. Not knowing whom to trust, and struggling to accept the truth about the man she thought she knew, Lindsay must connect the dots of a deadly conspiracy before a brilliant criminal puts her on trial.
The Women's Murder Club series is one I turn to whenever I want to read a book purely to be entertained as I haven't been let down by Lindsay and her girls yet! This series is highly entertaining and addictive and if you've never read anything by Patterson before, it's a fantastic place to start. Whenever I grab one of these books I feel like I'm catching up with old friends because Lindsay, Yuki, Claire and Cindy are such realistic characters, even if their lives are far more exciting than mine, so it's always fun to see what they're up to now.
After the events in 15th Affair, Joe and Lindsay's marriage is on shaky ground. Things are tenuous at best and when they're next door on a date when a bomb explodes, all hell breaks loose and puts them under even more strain. Simultaneously, there's a crafty killer at large commuting murders in an almost undetectable manner so as always, the stakes are high and Lindsay turns to her friends. All three of them play a pretty active part in this book which always pleases me, I can't get enough of them and miss when they're given a role on the periphery. I feel like this series in general is classic Patterson and I've never really felt the lag in the middle like with some of his other work. Things are kept fresh and exciting with each installment and this was no exception.
January LaVoy is an amazing narrator, I've listened to some of her other work before and she changes her voice on a dime, it's incredible. I think I would be fascinated listening to her read the dictionary, she's that good. I used to read this series myself, but after listening to the last few (all narrated by LaVoy), I'll be following along with the audio versions, she just brings something special to her performance, it's outstanding and highly entertaining.
Audiobook Review: The Futures by Anna Pitoniak @HachetteAudio
Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Narrator: Sarah Mollo-Christensen and Michael Crouch
A heart-wrenching debut novel about a young couple trying to find out what they really want in life–and whether or not that includes each other.Julia and Evan fall in love as undergraduates at Yale. For Evan, who grew up in a small town in Canada, Yale is a whole new world, and Julia–blond, beautiful and rich–is part of his vision for a successful future. After they graduate in 2008, they move together to New York city, where Evan takes a job at a hedge fund–another step forward in the life he imagines for himself.Julia, who has only known a life of privilege, graduates with an art history degree and no plan for her own future. She lands a low paying assistant job at a nonprofit, unsure about what she really wants, and wondering when everyone else figured that out for themselves. With the market crashing and banks failing around him, Evan becomes involved in an increasingly high-stakes deal at work, and begins to realize that the price of privilege may come with dangerous strings attached. Meanwhile, Julia reconnects with someone from her past–someone who offers her a vision of a different kind of life.Told in alternating perspectives, The Futures is a vivid story about love–falling in and out of it–betrayal, and the burning desire to be valued.
Told from both Julia and Evan's point of view, The Futures is a tale of that awkward period in ones life immediately after college where the transition from the carefree days of school to work begins. Both Julia and Evan struggle to adapt to adulthood in different ways and there is an underlying sense of uneasiness and dread throughout as you know something is going to happen to throw them off course.
I liked the setting of NYC in 2008 during the Great Recession as I remember those days clearly. Evan seems to have found his spot in the city when he lands a highly sought after job at a hedge fund. Julia however struggles to find her place and a wedge is quickly driven between the couple. Resentment and hostilities surface and betrayals are committed against each other. Both of them make the typical mistakes that the young and naive so often do and both are also pretty self absorbed and privileged but they're still oddly likable and endearing.
Pitoniak has a strong writing style with a very polished feel that was brought to life by the fantastic narrators. Both did an excellent job at portraying their characters and conveyed the emotional and evocative feel beautifully. The ending was open ended which isn't my favorite thing, but it did work well here.
Thanks to Hachette Audio for my review copy.


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In a continued example of good follow-up reporting, Newsweek details the night that the Duke lacrosse team ran afoul of the fevered mind of one Chrystal Mangum. The magazine, that originally had put the pictures of Reade Seligmann and Collin Finnarty on its cover, has redeemed itself by reporting on the unraveling of this miscarriage of justice.
What emerges in this piece is how tawdry and uneventful the evening in question actually was. Was the entire idea of hiring strippers in poor taste? Of course it was, but if that's an indictable offense than a lot of young men and woman on campuses all over the country should be brought in for booking immediately. From the Newsweek story, the biggest crime committed that night seems to have been the fact that the guys paid the two dancers an $800 fee for five minutes of desultory dancing.
But it's the aftermath that is still inexplicable to us. Having nothing to hide, the 46 members of the team volunteered to come in and talk to the police and take lie detector tests. Nifong turned them down flat. All willingly, unlike the usual Law and Order reluctance on the part of the guilty suspect, provided DNA sample to the police. In spite of all this, Nifong told the world that he had "no doubt" that a sexual assault had taken place.
What happened after this is well chronicled, but the Newsweek example, rushing in with breathless recklessness only to turn around, on reflection, with sober re-evaluation, is one that the NY Times would be wise to follow. It would also make sense for Hillary to speak up on this issue, and demonstrate the kind of good political instincts that got Bill elected. In both cases we're far from sanguine that this will happen.


text:
Халадж-е Мальмір () — село в Ірані, у дегестані Мальмір, у бахші Сарбанд, шагрестані Шазанд остану Марказі. За даними перепису 2006 року, його населення становило 198 осіб, що проживали у складі 57 сімей.

Клімат
Середня річна температура становить 10,94°C, середня максимальна – 30,43°C, а середня мінімальна – -12,14°C. Середня річна кількість опадів – 296 мм.

Примітки

Населені пункти шагрестану Шазанд

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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I decided to include this section on my website because I'm interested in true crime, particularly old cases, and it gave me a good excuse to do some research. I used to teach Criminology and it was always the murderers that most fascinated my students.
While undertaking the research I started to think about what it is about crime, particularly murder, that so fascinates us. Perhaps it is because it is the most extreme of actions, the one with the most far-reaching consequences – not only for the defendant and victim but also for their families and loved ones. What is it that would prompt somebody to take another's life? Money? Jealousy? Revenge?
I've picked out some of the cases that particularly interest me and that also have some legal or developmental point of interest. For example, the case of the Stratton brothers was the first case that used fingerprint evidence in a murder trial, while Bywaters and Thompson is interesting in how much it tells us of of society's view of women at the time.
The notes are only intended as thumb nail sketches, to give a flavour of the cases. There's plenty of material available on the internet if you want to do your own research
The Stratton Brothers
Thomas and Ann Farrow were shopkeepers in south London who lived above the shop. On the 27th March 1905 Thomas was found downstairs bludgeoned to death. Upstairs, Ann had also been bludgeoned but was still alive although unconscious. She died four days later.
Bywaters & Thompson
In the summer of 1921 Edith Thompson, a married woman, began an affair with Fredrick Bywaters a man eight years her junior. Then in late 1922 Edith's husband was attacked and killed bringing the affair to the attention of the police.
Dr William Palmer
William Palmer was a qualified doctor at St Bartholomew's Hospital. He was also a man with a gambling addiction.
As his debts continued to mount an increasing number of people close to him began to die in mysterious circumstances.
©2019 by Alison O'Leary


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Industry News, Concerts and New Music
Darrell Kelley Release Of 3rd Album Making Some Waves
NYCPR, July 10, 2019
Last Known Footage Of Iconic Drummer Buddy Rich Set For Release
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Glass At Arts Garage
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Zac Harmon's Label Debut CD, Mississippi Bar BQ, On July 19
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Pianist and Composer Mavis Pan Releases Sophomore Album 'Set For Love'
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Guitarist Craig Sharmat Releases Gypsy-Jazz Inspired Album "Nouveau" To Smooth Jazz Audiences
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SHOWS / TOURS
Jazz At MOCA Presents Jean P Jam May 31: FREE
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Bass Player Colin Trusedell's New Album – "Quartet of Jazz Death VOL. 2"
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Storm Alert: saxtress Jeanette Harris' soul-splashed "Summer Rain" to hit April 2nd
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CD Release: Mads Tolling, Playing the 60s
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The Jimmy Heath Big Band – TONIGHT Fri, Apr 19 at 8 pm. Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space
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Bob DeVos Organ Quartet CD Release Event Friday October 18 7:30-10:30pm Smalls Jazz Club
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Please send healing thoughts, prayers to our dear Mulgrew Miller.
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CD Release: Mark Gross BLACKSIDE
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George Benson, Rufus Reid Sextet, Trombone Shorty play Indy Jazzfest
New ReleasesNews
CD Release: George Shearing At Home
BillD — July 15, 2013
What more comfortable venue exists for a jazz musician than his or her home? Yet how often does a recording happen there? Some musicians like Chick Corea or Tony Monaco have recording studios in their own homes, but most others are less fortunate. Imagine being a fly on the wall when Dizzy Gillespie may have invited musicians to jam at his home or listening to Thelonious Monk practice at Nica de Koenigswarter's home. Thanks to bassist Don Thompson, we are able to hear George Shearing play his grand piano, backed by Thompson, in front of his fireplace.
Shearing and Thompson were playing as a duo for six weeks in 1983 at a New York club. Eventually, they decided to record their daily practice sessions on Shearing's reel-to-reel tape recording, and George Shearing at Home is the result—31 years later.
Thompson remembered the special circumstances of the recording and finally released it, as it should have been years ago when an independent producer hesitated, causing Shearing to lose interest in its distribution.
What we hear…finally…is further confirmation of Shearing's elegant style and easy command of the piano, as he and Thompson breeze through sweeping versions of several medium-tempo songs like "Skye Boat Song" in three-four or "Out of Nowhere," both of which benefit from the unmistakable Shearing touch.
Shearing gets wistful and Impressionistic with "I Cover the Waterfront," one of four solo performances, as he effortless alters the harmonic underpinnings for beautiful, unhurried effect, as if he were considering at his leisure the song's possibilities for musical personalization and surprise, in spite of its familiarity. On one chorus, his left hand plays melody to treble decorations in the right, or he virtually stops rhythm for cascading elaboration, or he punches staccato notes and chords for an ending veering between major and minor. Shearing's is certainly one of the premier interpretations of "I Cover the Waterfront." "Laura" would seem to be a logical choice for this collection of songs that allow for Shearing's relaxed exploration of re-harmonizations and shifting colors, and sure enough, Shearing applies the shimmer and elegance of classical technique to the haunting chords of the song. However, Thompson prefers Shearing's version of "Beautiful Love," which is performed without accompaniment as a reverie, meditative with pauses for wonder and a key change to heighten the interest. With the suspense created by silence, Shearing uses the musical space as a means of communication, not to mention quietude, a quality made possible by the confines of his own room, rather than accommodating the need to project over the noise within a nightclub.
However, Thompson's modesty and generosity belie the importance of his contribution to the album. His feel for Shearing's music helps him ground it with a deep resonance that enhance the, for example, wit and shifting styles of "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" from hand-clapping jauntiness with the bass notes on the first and third beats to the famous Shearing block chord chorus as Thompson walks four notes to the measure. Their interpretation attains fulfillment when Thompson himself adds his own melodic, agile solo above Shearing's light background. On other tracks, like "SubconsciousLee," Thompson responds with quickness and telepathy to Shearing's phrases, in addition to supplying harmonic lines, before improvisation takes over. As always, Shearing chose a bassist who not only enhances his playing, but also challenges him to a high level of performance.
George Shearing at Home not only provides a valuable addition to the pianist's discography, but represents a unique recording as well—one recorded on Shearing's own piano in his own home.
Year: Recorded in 1983. Issued in 2013
Label: Jazzknight Records
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text:
March 9, 2014 / 11:41 AM / in 5 years
Ukraine PM says he will go to U.S. to discuss Crimea crisis
KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Sunday he would go to the United States this week to discuss the standoff with Russia over Ukraine's southern region of Crimea.
"I am going to the United states to hold top-level meetings on resolving the situation unfolding in our bilateral and multilateral relations," Yatseniuk said at the start of a government meeting in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.
He did not immediately give any dates and provided no other details of the visit. I
Reporting by Natalia Zinets, Editing by Timothy Heritage


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Government and Law Governance
Local finance 3
Local Finance under the Constitution of the Fifth Republic (1980 to 1990)
(1) Supervision over Local Finance
The Constitution of the Fifth Republic did not differ much from the Yushin Constitution in terms of its provisions for overseeing local finance and fiscal policies. The Local Finance Act (LFA), however, underwent a major overhaul in 1988 upon the rise of the Sixth Republic. The amended LFA mitigated the central government's grip on local governments and finance. Under Article 64, for instance, local governments that had been formerly required to seek pre-approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs, mayors, or governors before creating new public safes were now able to create such safes on the condition of reporting them afterward.
In addition, the relationship between national policy and local finance grew stronger. The rates of central government subsidies were defined in separate statutes, and local match-ups for government subsidies were made mandatory (Article 19, LFA of 1986). On December 31, 1986, a new law on the budgeting and management of subsidies was enacted, thus repealing the Grant Management Act (GMA).
(2) Revenue Structure
Major changes in the local fiscal structure included, among other things, the introduction of the tobacco sales tax in the Local Tax Act (LTA) (December 24, 1984) to compensate for the significantly reduced rate of farmland tax. As a result, the tobacco sales tax came to occupy 22 percent of the standard tax assessment in cities, and 55 percent in rural areas, thereby lowering the amount of local taxes in rural areas and raising the revenue of urban and tourist-oriented areas by comparison. The amendment of the Local Subsidy Act (LSA) on April 3, 1982, also revived the legal grant rate system that had been abolished by the August 3 Measures. The amended LSA required that 13.27 percent of the total amount of domestic taxes be spent on local subsidies, thus ensuring greater stability in local finance (KRILA, 1998, 409). As a result of these and other measures, the proportion of local finance in national finance began to rise above 30 percent in the 1980s.
[Table 4-14] Changes in Local Revenue Structure: 1981 to 1990
(Units: KRW 100 million, percentage)
Year Total Local taxes Percentage (%) Non-tax revenue Percentage (%) Local subsidies Percentage (%) Subsidies Percentage (%)
1981 29,640 9,144 30.9 7,308 24.7 7,988 27.0 6,274 21.2
1982 33,767 11,192 33.1 8,319 24.6 7,009 20.8 5,491 16.3
1984 47,595 15,084 31.7 12,591 26.5 10,200 21.4 6,971 14.6
1987 75,717 21,923 29.0 14,501 19.2 16,097 21.3 17,619 23.3
1989 144,946 49,608 34.2 31,362 21.6 21,869 15.1 27,893 19.2
Source: National Statistics Office, KOSIS Fiscal Statistics, each year
[Table 4-15] Comparison of National and Local Finances: 1981 to 1990
(Unit: KRW 100 million)
Year National finance (A) Local finance (B) B/A (%)
Amount Index Amount Index
1981 81,744 100 29,640 100 36.3
1983 107,533 132 40,148 135 37.3
1989 255,909 313 144,946 489 56.6
2. Local Tax System
The local tax system in the Fifth Republic remained more or less the same as the one in the preceding Republic, with the exception of the introduction of the tobacco sales tax at the level of cities and counties in 1984 and the excessive landholding tax in 1986. In anticipation of the dawn of the age of local government in 1986, the number of tax-exempt items were reviewed and reduced, and the tobacco sales tax rate was increased in an effort to raise the additional revenue needed for expanding local governments.
The Sixth Republic came into being in 1988 and accompanied a number of important changes in the local tax system including the introduction of license, property, and excessive landholding taxes (the last of which was later renamed the composite land tax) in Seoul and directly governed cities; and the introduction of the local business tax at the district (gu) level.
3. Local Finance Adjustment System
(1) Local Subsidies
A National Assembly session in 1981 saw its members debating whether the August 3 Measures should be maintained intact. The session ended with the submission of a bill for the Abolition of the Emergency Measures Regarding the Stability and Growth of the Economy. The bill subsequently led to the amendment of the LSA in 1982; it also fixed the local subsidy rate at 13.27 percent of the total amount of domestic taxes collected. Although the new rate fell far behind the 17.6 percent of domestic taxes that had been proposed for local subsidies in 1968, it nonetheless helped to secure a stable source of revenue for local governments. The amendment of the LSA in 1988 exempted self-governed districts (gu) from their obligation to pay local subsidy taxes.
[Table 4-16] Changes in Local Tax Items: 1983~89
Year Taxes in the provinces, Seoul, and metropolitan cities Taxes in cities, counties, and districts (gu)
General Earmarked General Earmarked
1983 Taxes on property acquisition, registration, and licenses
* Additional tax items for Seoul and metropolitan cities: taxes on resident, property, automobile, farmland, cattle slaughter, and horseraces Taxes on urban planning, public facility, and business location (except for provinces) Taxes on residents, properties, automobiles, farmland, cattle slaughter, and horseraces Taxes on urban planning, public facility, and business location (except for provinces)
1984 Same as above Same as above Taxes on residents, properties, automobiles, farmland, cattle slaughter, horseraces, and tobacco sales Same as above
* Additional tax items for Seoul and metropolitan cities: taxes on resident, property, automobile, farmland, cattle slaughter, horseraces, and excessive landholding Same as above Taxes on residents, properties, automobiles, farmland, cattle slaughter, horseraces, tobacco sales, and excessive landholding Same as above
1988 -Provincial taxes on property acquisition, registration, licenses, and horseraces
-Additional tax items for Seoul and metropolitan cities: taxes on property acquisition, registration, residents, automobiles, farmland, cattle slaughter, horseraces, and tobacco sales -Seoul and metropolitan city taxes on urban planning and public facilities -City and county taxes on residents, property, excessive landholding, automobiles, farmland, cattle slaughter, and tobacco sales
-District (gu) taxes on licenses, properties, and excessive landholding -City and county taxes on urban planning, public facilities, and business locations
-District (gu) tax on business locations
1989 Same as above Same as above -City and county taxes on residents, property, excessive landholding, automobiles, farmland, cattle slaughter, and tobacco sales
-District (gu) taxes on licenses, properties, and composite land Same as above
Source: LTA, amended each year
(2) Government Subsidies
The proportion of government subsidies in local revenue continued to dwindle in the 1980s, especially in comparison to the 1970s. Furthermore, government subsidies claimed 51 percent of local spending, which in effect imposed a heavy financial burden on local governments.
[Table 4-17] Local Subsidies in the 1980s
Sources of revenue 13.27% of domestic taxes combined (except defense and education taxes). Increases allowed to account for unforeseen increases in demand and subject to central government approval Same as 1982 Same as 1988, except for the exclusion of excessive landholding tax from domestic taxes Same as 1989, except for the exclusion of local grants from domestic taxes
General taxes 10/11 of general taxes Same as 1982 Same as 1982 Same as 1982
Earmarked taxes 1/11 of earmarked taxes Same as 1982 Same as 1982 Same as 1982
Mode of distributing general taxes When reference financial revenue falls short of reference financial demand Same as 1982, but self-governed districts now exempt Same as 1988 Same as 1988
Mode of distributing earmarked taxes Special financial demand: emergency situations or sudden drops in local revenue; creation, restoration, expansion, or renovation of local government buildings or public facilities
-To be distributed either upon request or by the directive of the Ministry of Home Affairs Same as 1982 Same as 1982 Same as 1982
Sources: LSA, amended each year; Enforcement Ordinance for the LSA, amended each year


PARACHUTE, Colorado – The news that benzene has been found in the sodden soil near a hydrocarbon leak known as the Parachute plume site has stirred little activity among state and federal regulators.
Work crews and others employed by Williams Midstream, a natural-gas pipeline and storage company, have been working around the clock since March 8 at a site about four miles up Parachute Creek, where a plume of liquid hydrocarbons was discovered near a Williams Midstream natural-gas processing plant.
Samples of water taken from monitoring wells showed extremely high levels of benzene, a liquid hydrocarbon associated with oil and gas drilling, which is a known carcinogen linked with leukemia and birth defects.
The leak is estimated to have soaked a patch of ground 120-feet by 70-feet around and some 14 feet deep, with more than 6,000 gallons of oil-like fluid and nearly 180,000 gallons of contaminated water polluting ground water supplies nearby.
But there is still no indication that Parachute Creek itself has been contaminated by the plume or the tainted ground water, according to Williams and state officials monitoring the situation.
"We're being, sort of, kept advised of the situation by the COGCC [Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission]," said Mark Salley, director of communications for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), on Friday.
He said the CDPHE typically does not get involved with spills linked to oil and gas drilling activities, unless there is evidence of a threat to human health or the environment.
The reason, Salley said, is that the COGCC is the state agency charged with overseeing gas and oil development in Colorado.
"Generally, after a spill occurs, it's a cleanup operation or an assessment of any environmental impact," he continued, explaining that such assessments and operations are the purview of the COGCC.
"There is a responsible agency that is investigating it, and is on top of it," Salley said.
"There is no evidence of the material getting into the creek," he added.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also has adopted a wait-and-see posture, letting the COGCC take the lead in the investigation.
The agency has "concurred with an air sampling plan that is in place and designed to ensure that workers are protected," Mylott wrote.
An official with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said on Friday that his agency, too, is awaiting further information before possibly getting involved in the situation in Parachute.
Todd Sentner, assistant area director for OSHA in Dallas, Texas, said his agency has not received any complaints or reports that workers have had any trouble concerning fumes at the site.


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text:
The Presidential Debates: Round 1. Our Analysis
October 4, 2012 by Peter 4 Comments
by Peter Watts and Gavin McMahon
The showdown in Denver. To our right, in the red corner, wearing a red tie and US flag pin, Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. To our left, in the blue corner, wearing a blue tie and US flag pin, President Barack Obama. If you are looking for insightful political analysis, if you (still) need to decide who you're voting for, you're in the wrong place. Go to CNN for that. If you believe that watching smart, well-prepared, talented people debate issues in the race for the highest office in the land can teach you a thing or two — how to present, pitch for business, sell. Then read on.
The Run-up
Medialand, Punditville and the Twitterverse have been buzzing with expectation. According to polling, the majority of the country has decided, leaving only 4% undecided. Each candidate had similar goals in last night's debate: Appeal to the undecideds (especially in the battleground states) and motivate the already decided to get up and vote. Two conversations with the American public matter: the one that frames or reframes the way voters see the world, and the one that moves them to action. Obama, carrying a lead, had the goal of doing no harm. Conventional wisdom dictated that Romney had not only do no harm, but to also gain momentum for swinging the race to his favor.
For each candidate, we'll take an example of the elegant, the obvious, and the ugly.
The Elegant
Gavin on Obama
Obama's best turf, I thought, was healthcare. But I will single out a particular exchange, on social security and entitlement reform, where the President had his strongest moment. He summarised by looking directly to camera, speaking, and engaging the audience. "If you're 54 or 55, you might want to listen." He went on to make a very clear statement, in plain language. "I don't think vouchers are the right way to go…" contrasting his view of medicare with his opponent's proposals. He then summed up with a little verbal seasoning, "I have become fond of this term, Obamacare." That line, and the way he delivered it, drew a little laugh from the moderator and showed his human side. It was content free, but charming and disarming, a little verbal jiu-jitsu on a word that is often used by his opposition as an insult. The lesson for all of us? Always remember who the audience is. Engage them. Be Real.
Peter on Romney
Interestingly, I thought Romney also had his finest moment on healthcare. He also had his worst, which we'll come to later.
For health care it was Romney's turn to have the first say. He started with speaking about real people whom he had met and who were suffering. It's an effective technique, and both candidates used it. Romney's people however, most always seemed to be living in swing states. He clearly had his audience in mind. From here he moved into what became a signature Romney technique throughout the debate, listing his points. Points 1, 2, 3, and 4. It was point four that brought him squarely to, Small Businesses. This seemed to be Romney's key talking point, and in most exchanges he logically segued to it. My third reason for picking out this moment was that he then linked across to all the other things the President could have focussed on during his first year in the White House, and by doing so diminished the achievement represented by ObamaCare.
Finally however, the reason Romney gets full points, was that he ended with talking about his pride in how he created the Massachusetts health care program while he was that state's Governor, and strongly framed it as being an example of cascading more power to the states.
The Romney team had identified "RomneyCare" as being an achilles heel Obama would go for, and through framing it as States Rights, Romney took the sting out of some of Obama's best lines.
That was the elegant. How about some examples of the obvious?
Most of the Obama side of the debate was workmanlike. He answered questions, and then segued swiftly if not elegantly to his talking points. He explained more than connected. A typical moment was his summary of the first segment on taxes.
I've mentioned Romney's habit of listing-off his talking points. Those talking points create a logical path of stepping stones, leading to point 4, which normally had something to do with small business. Like all techniques, it shouldn't be overdone or it becomes obvious, and eventually annoying.
And finally, the ugly, where there was no answer to the question, but a brazen attempt to answer their own question rather than the one that was asked.
Obama started the night poorly answering the jobs question. Prior to the debate, Obama's strong point on the issue was who would handle taxes better. He moved the jobs question quickly to a discussion on taxes, and then lost me and I am sure thousands of others in an unclear explanatory monologue of numbers and percentages. In that, he got professorial, and went in to a back and forth he said she said about Romney's $5 Trillion tax cut. 78% of adults in the U.S* don't know the difference between a billion and a trillion. It's just a big number. The lesson to be learned here — When you're talking numbers, you have to make them relevant. He got close saying that his opponents bill would add $2,000 to every middle class voter. But pound it home by saying that's a vacation you can afford. A down-payment on a new car. Putting of fixing up the kitchen for another year.
*Actually it isn't true! In fact, it's completely made up. But it seems right. It's just a big number with lots of zeros. I know one is bigger than the other, but after that, I go into math class mode, and my brain quietly shuts down. Audiences do exactly the same thing.
For the ugly with Romney, it's back to health care and an example of seizing defeat from the jaws of victory. There was a noticeable moment when the President, de-fanged by Romney's unexpected embrace of the Massachusetts health plan, suddenly had the wind in his sails.
Romney made the mistake of moving the frame to portray the President as having been non-bipartisan during the health care debates, by contrast to the Massachusetts debates. As Romney attempted to represent the Republican-led Congress as being the nice people seeking consensus however, Obama smiled. He was back into his old form. Romney had pushed the frame too far and lost credibility. The secret to good framing is that there needs to be at least a basis of logic in there somewhere, and this frame didn't!
Our concluding comments
Obama was in ugly mode for most of the debate. When he spoke directly to camera, summed up and concluded, he was good. Unfortunately for him, that was rare. Mostly he took on the role of explaining.
Romney however, had a great evening. He appeared calm, in control, and from his first answer, fully in command of the facts and the frame.
On the downside, he came across as being aggressive at times. When there is a debate with rules about timing, one should really stick to them.
The TwitterVerse certainly had it's say last night. What did you think to the debate? Post a comment and come join the conversation.
Gavin is a founding partner at fassforward consulting group. He blogs about PowerPoint, Presenting, Communication and Message Discipline at makeapowerfulpoint.com. You can follow him on twitter @powerfulpoint.
Peter is a writer, trainer, and speaker on all aspects of Presenting. He coaches business executives in how to be at their best when on their feet. His bi-weekly blog, The Presenters' Blog, examines core disciplines of public speaking and looks at how those disciplines are being illustrated by new stories around the world. You can follow his Twitter feed on @speak2all
A Note about bias. Neither of us can or will be voting in the US elections, but, like all humans, we have biases. We will try to look at the debates purely from a point of view of speaking, messaging and presenting, to see what the rest of us -— those that will never run for President, can learn.
Filed Under: election 2012, Tips From The Top Tagged With: Barack Obama, current-events, debating, election 2012, Obama, politics, presentation, presentation skills, presenting, presidential debate, presidential hopeful mitt romney, public speaking, rhetoric, Romney
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G. Emmanuel Zeyoe says:
Thanks Gavin and Peter, I'm learning a lot from you too, as every child's dream is to somewhat be a leader, so am I, hopefully planning to lead my people in the future and with these knowledge and the natural ones, I'm being convinced I will make a good leader. Nothing like Obama or Romney but like Emmanuel.
Keeping in touch Peter.
Hi Emmanuel. How great to hear from you. Leadership is a fine art, and having met you in the training room, I can tell that it's an art you have. Public speaking and debating are a crucial skill, but not the entire picture. I'd like to recommend you another blog to follow (as well as mine and Gavin's of course!) It's a blog called Fool With A Plan and hosted by a friend called Broc Edwards. You'll find it listed on my blogroll. Lots of great ideas about leadership. Keep well Emmanuel, and thanks for the comment!
Thanks for replying and it was certainly an honor, sitting under the feet of one of the world's great presenter. Thanks for the recommendation, I will follow it.
Laura M Camacho, PhD (@lauramcamacho) says:
Thanks, Peter! I forgot (seriously!) to watch the debate and it was nice to get your take on it.


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HomeImmigrationICE has flown more than 450 migrants to the interior of Mexico since December
ICE has flown more than 450 migrants to the interior of Mexico since December
February 1, 2020 Immigration
The United States has flown more than 450 undocumented migrants to the interior of Mexico under a recently resumed repatriation program that flies some migrants back rather than return them at land ports on the southern border.
The resumption of the repatriation program comes as the U.S. has seen an uptick in illegal immigration from Mexico and as the U.S. has sought increasing cooperation from the Mexican government to block migrants from Central America and other countries from reaching the U.S. border.
The repatriation flights resumed in December.
Since then, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has flown more than 450 undocumented immigrants to Guadalajara, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a post on Twitter.
ICE has not released data on the total number of undocumented migrants flown to Mexico.
Guadalajara is about 1,100 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border and is Mexico's second largest city in the western state of Jalisco.
The migrants flown to Guadalajara were apprehended by the Border Patrol, part of CBP, and transferred to ICE custody.
The repatriation program, which is being implemented with cooperation from Mexico's Ministry of the Interior, is intended to discourage undocumented immigrants caught by the Border Patrol from returning to the U.S. after their repatriation.
Typically undocumented immigrants from Mexico caught by the Border Patrol are sent back at border crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border.
"The Interior Repatriation Initiative reflects our commitment and ongoing bilateral effort with the government of Mexico to ensure strong, humane, and effective enforcement of both nations' immigration laws," acting ICE Director Matt Albence said in a written statement.
So far, the flights have left from airports in Arizona, ICE officials said.
The most recent flight left Jan.24 from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport carrying 106 migrants, including 97 men and 9 women, according to Mary Houtmann, an ICE spokeswoman.
The first flight left Dec. 19 from Tucson International Airport with approximately 150 undocumented immigrants form Mexico, ICE officials said in a statement.
After falling sharply for years, Border Patrol apprehensions of undocumented immigrants from Mexico have increased recently, in part due to growing numbers of migrants fleeing cartel violence and seeking asylum in the U.S.
*story by azcentral.com
German Banks Are Hoarding So Many Euros They Need More Vaults
Maryland General Assembly overrides Gov. Hogan vetoes of 5 bills, including "ban the box" legislation


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Switzerland blocks Yanukovych assets
AFP , Friday 28 Feb 2014
Ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich (Photo: Reuters)
Ukraine authorities regain control of both Crimea airports
Ukraine currency rebounds from record low
Ukraine appeals to US, UK to guarantee sovereignty
Ukraine's interior minister condemns seizure of Crimea airports
Swiss authorities said Friday they have ordered a freeze on the assets of ousted Ukranian leader Viktor Yanukovych and his multi-millionaire son and launched a criminal probe into alleged money-laundering by the pair.
Yanukovych and his coal magnate son Olexandr are on a list of 20 Ukranian officials including former ministers being targeted by the authorities in Switzerland.
Austria also announced a similar move against 18 Ukrainian officials suspected of violating human rights and involvement in corruption but did not identify them.
Yanukovych, 63, is believed to have fled to Russia since being ousted by parliament after the bloody culmination of three months of protests by anti-government demonstrators.
Ukrainians, facing an economy on the brink of default, were shocked by the breathtaking opulence of Yanukovych's vast country estate which was flung open for all to see when he went into hiding on Saturday.
Both Switzerland and Austria are popular havens for the -- sometimes ill-gotten -- fortunes of the rich and powerful.
"The Federal Council wishes to take all measures necessary to avoid the risk of any misappropriation of financial assets of the Ukrainian state," the Swiss government said in a statement.
It is unclear whether Yanukovych himself has funds in Switzerland, but Olexandr opened a branch of his Management Assets Company (MAKO) in Geneva in late 2011.
The 40-year-old dentist and businessman has amassed a personal fortune of around half a billion dollars (some 365 million euros) in the past three years alone, according to a report in the Swiss weekly L'Hebdo.
His Ukrainian conglomerate reportedly controls nearly half of his country's coal output, and around a third of its electricity production and distribution.
The Geneva branch of the business is run by a businessman of Uzbek origin, who also runs a firm called Partefina, listed with the same address.
That company is listed as a so-called "family office" -- a term used for firms specialising in the management of large family fortunes.
According to L'Hebdo, Partefina is owned by Ukrainian billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, a Yanukovych supporter who also has offices in Geneva.
The Swiss government said it was banning the sale or disposal of any assets of Yanukovych and his entourage to prevent them being taken out of Switzerland.
"Should such assets subsequently be proved through criminal proceedings to have been obtained illegally, they can be returned to Ukraine following criminal conviction of the former leaders and their entourage," it said, adding that it was cooperating with the Ukrainian authorities in the process.
The attorney general in Geneva also announced that a prosecutor and the judicial police's financial brigade had launched a raid on Thursday on the offices of a company run by Olexandr as part of a money-laundering probe.
Ukrainians had staged demonstrations in the Swiss capital Bern on Wednesday to demand that Switzerland freeze any Yanukovych assets.
Austria for its part has resisted European efforts to improve transparency in its banking sector, and had been considered in Kiev as a financial safe haven for Yanukovych-linked oligarchs.
Vienna said its asset freeze was decided as a preliminary security measure until targeted sanctions that the European Union agreed to slap on Ukrainians take effect.
The EU on February 20 agreed to a travel ban and asset freeze on Ukrainians with "blood on their hands" amid worsening violence in Kiev, but did not name those affected and said the number would depend on developments.
Viktor Yanukovych


Parenting: How much should the tooth fairy pay?
How much should the tooth fairy pay kids?
IT'S the parenting dilemma every family will face: How much should the tooth fairy pay kids?
What is a tooth worth these days?
The Sunday Mail parenting jury weigh in. Cast your vote in the poll below.
ELISHA CASAGRANDE: I'd say a gold coin. I've heard of parents giving their kids' notes and I think that's a bit much.
DANI WESTPORT: The tooth fairy is a stupid idea. Why do we keep making up additional fictional characters for children?
Kids haven't actually achieved anything by losing a tooth?
Why do they deserve money? They haven't actually achieved anything.
Do we give a kid a prize when they get their first period?
ELISHA: My daughter is just starting to lose her teeth and she doesn't understand or value money enough just yet to know the difference between a gold coin and a note.
If she was given $2 she'd think it was fabulous.
NICOLAS BONASTRE: We never got money from the tooth fairy.
The French tooth fairy brought us gifts.
That's far better because for a young child money isn't exciting. Value is irrelevant.
ELISHA: I know my daughter would love a letter from the tooth fair.
Something very personalised like the letter from Santa idea, she loves that.
DANI: A letter for the first tooth would be nice. Maybe they should plant it with a seed in the garden and then watch it grow.
But again, I still don't think we need to even pretend a tooth fairy exists.
ELISHA: I do personally think it's a bit ridiculous but as it's such a small and insignificant part of their childhood, I'm happy to play along.
Originally published as How much should the tooth fairy pay?


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