Whatever may be the true content of 'rule of law', and the jurists differ greatly, the minimum is that a country is to be governed in accordance with law and the people should have access to the court for enforcement of their rights. If there is no effective way of enforcement, a law is merely a paper product not even worth the value of the paper on which it is written. There may be a set of laws defining rights of the people, but if the common man cannot seek enforcement of the rights, those rights merely embellish the paper on which they have been described and have no significance in real life. In the present day a common man is suffering not for the dearth of law, but for the lack of enforcement of it. It has become imperative to assess how far the administration of justice in our country is effective in enforcing the laws of the land.
In examining the worth of the existing state of the administration of justice, it is necessary first of all to examine how it was in the past and then to evaluate how it is in the present. Kazi Ebadul Hoque J, who had been long associated with the administration of justice of this country both as a lawyer and as a Judge of the highest tribunal, has gone to the history starting from the Mughal times and has presented a total picture of the administration of justice as of today in his book. The author directed his attention to the deficiencies for which the present-day administration of justice is failing to achieve the purpose for which it exists. He is explicit in stating the effect of the shortcomings in important spheres of life. He has exposed the evil consequences which are looming large, about which we are complacent. The author emphasised the necessity of efficient and honest judges and rightly commented, "If the judges of a country are not honest, independent, dutiful and efficient, the people of that country are deprived of the benefits of even good laws of the country." (p. 252). The author has spent a considerable space in suggesting measures for improvement of the administration of justice so that it can properly function to uphold the rule of law and create an atmosphere where the ordinary people may have access to justice. He has included some important statistics in the appendices which clearly demonstrate the urgent necessity of reform of the administration of justice.
There has been a continuing debate as regards measures to be adopted to improve the administration of justice. The Government has taken up a project of 'Judicial Capacity Building'. One may not agree with some of the proposal made by the author or may opine that the proposals are inadequate, but no one can gainsay the importance of the proposals which have been timely made and require serious consideration by all interested in the efficacy of the administration of justice.
In Chapter VI, the author has catalogued important decision handed down by the two Divisions of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. Coming from an experienced lawyer and Judge, some critical comments about the trend of the decisions would have been very useful and welcome.
The printing of the book is neat. The cover design is attractive and the price is moderate.
Mahmudul Islam, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court, Former Attorney General for Bangladesh.


text:
To Everything There Is A Season
Publisher's and Teams I Review For
Seagrass Pier Book Review
In a secluded corner of Hope Beach, one woman must decipher a stranger's memories . . . before they cost her everything.
Elin Summerall was one of the lucky ones. Not only did she get a heart transplant, but the donor was a perfect fit. A miraculously perfect fit.
But when Elin begins having violent flashbacks--and vivid dreams of being strangled--she realizes that she has been the recipient of more than just a new heart . . . Elin is remembering her donor's murder.
Her strange affliction has attracted some unwanted attention: from the press, from the authorities . . . and from the killer himself. Now, living alone with her young daughter and aging mother, Elin is being stalked--by a man she's only met in her nightmares.
The police are dubious of her story, but one off-duty FBI agent agrees to help her: Agent Marc Everton.
Now, in a remote cottage on Hope Island, Elin and Marc must probe the secrets buried in her borrowed heart. And there's no time to waste. One man is desperate to silence her--before she remembers too much.
Colleen Coble has sold over two million novels worldwide. "Seagrass Pier," the third installment in her acclaimed Hope Beach series, marks a new highpoint for emotion and complexity in Coble's addictive brand of romantic suspense. (Goodreads)
I am a big fan of the Hope Beach novels. I had to buy the first one after I read the second just because I knew it would be good. I've read a lot of books by Colleen and I really think her suspense/mystery books are the best. While there is tons of romance, it's not the main focus of the story and the intrigue adds so much. That being said I do think the first two books are better but this book is great! Taking you back to Hope Beach we get wrapped up in another murder only this one is being remembered by someone who has the heart of the woman murdered. Talk about creepy. I don't know if it's possible for someone to have a transplant heart and then start acting like the previous owner of that heart. But in any case it makes for a great story line. This one has the same feel as the other two books but is still unique in it's own way with different characters. I loved getting wrapped up in Elin's life and her sweet daughter and mom. Elin takes care of her mother in this book and I really liked that part and relationship.
I think this book is very well written and had me on the edge of my seat.
You don't need to have read the previous books, they are all pretty separate. But I would read them because I love them all!
"I received this book from Litfuse for free in exchange for an honest review."
Don't miss Colleen Coble's latest release in the Hope Beach series, Seagrass Pier. The book releases July 1st, and Colleen's publisher is offering the ebook at a special pre-order price of just $4.99 between now and 6/30 everywhere ebooks are sold.
PLUS . . . between 6/9 – 6/30 Colleen will be hosting a Kindle giveaway.
One winner will receive:
A brand new Kindle Fire HDX
Seagrass Pier and the rest of the Hope Beach series by Colleen Coble
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 30th. Winner will be announced on Colleen's blog on July 1st.
Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning and be sure to stop by Colleen's blog on July 1st to see if you won!
at June 30, 2014 1 comment:
Labels: book review, Colleen Coble, Litfuse, Thomas Nelson
Four Weddings and a Kiss Book Review
In 1885 five western preachers sit around a campfire talking about unlikely couples they've seen God bring together.
"Spitfire Sweetheart" by Mary Connealy
Maizy Place is an unruly tomboy. When she causes an accident, injuring neighbor Rylan Carstens, she becomes his unlikely caregiver. Rylan has never noticed how pretty his infuriating neighbor is, and he never expected to fall in love.
"Love Letter to the Editor" by Robin Lee Hatcher
Molly Everton is the outspoken daughter of the town newspaper's owner. When her father brings in an outsider to be editor, she tries to drive him out of town. But Jack Ludgrove is not intimidated. He's resolved to change Molly's mind about him—as an editor and as a man.
"A Cowboy for Katie" by Debra Clopton
Katie Pearl is uninterested in men and love. But she needs help on her ranch and hires Thad Rayburn, a wandering cowboy looking to make a buck. Will Thad change Katie's mind?
"Saving Grace" by Margaret Brownley
Grace Davenport is either the unluckiest woman alive—or a killer. When her third husband is found dead, Grace is arrested. Attorney Brock Daniels isn't interested in the case—until he meets Grace. Only a miracle will prove her innocence, but the joining of two lonely hearts may be their saving grace. (Goodreads)
In Spitfire Sweetheart by Mary Connealy I liked the male character more so than Maizy. The story was cute and rather humorous. The only thing I didn't like is the beginning of the book when the two meet unexpectedly. There is a grizzly bear involved and I found that to be rather silly for the location but it did add humor.
In Love Letter to the Editor by Robin Lee Hatcher I loved it all! The storyline, the setting ( I love reading about newspapers and working on one) and the characters. There was a bit of mystery within the two main characters and a bit of humor. It was well written and out of all the stories this one was my favorite.
"Saving Grace" by Margaret Brownley reminded me a lot of a Dr. Quinn episode of trying to figure out who is guilty. The mystery continues but I wasn't really on the edge of my seat. I felt like I had read this before but it was an alright story.
"A Cowboy for Katie" by Debra Clopton was a really cute story about a strong woman who needs some help. I liked how it was written and the characters were fun to read. While this story is not new I thought the author brought her own uniqueness to characters.
This set of books is really one of the best I've read.
If you like this type of book Four Weddings and a Kiss is a must read.
Four best-selling romance novelists bring tales of feisty heroines, stubborn heroes, and unlikely love in the Wild West in Four Weddings and a Kiss. Don't miss the latest from the Western Brides Collection from Margaret Brownley, Robin Lee Hatcher, Mary Connealy, and Debra Clopton.
The authors are celebrating with a "Sweet on Love" iPad Mini Giveaway and rip-roarin' Facebook party.
An iPad Mini
A Bride for All Seasons and Four Weddings and a Kiss
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 8th. Winner will be announced at the Four Weddings and a Kiss Facebook Author Chat Party. Connect with Western Brides Collection authors Margaret Brownley, Robin Lee Hatcher, Mary Connealy, and Debra Clopton for an evening of fun book chat, western-themed trivia, and prizes. The authors will also be answering audience questions and giving an exclusive look at the next book in the collection!
So grab your copy of Four Weddings and a Kiss and join the authors on the evening of July 8th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)
Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 8th!
at June 27, 2014 No comments:
Labels: book review, Debra Clopton, Litfuse, Margaret Brownley, Mary Connealy, Robin Lee Hatcher
Yikes Book Review
In an effort to find the last of the fuel ingredients for their time pod, 23rd-century goofballs Tuna and Herby transport themselves to Africa. Unfortunately, they also transport TJ Finkelstein and half of her 7th-grade science class, including TV star Hesper Breakahart and dreamy Chad Steel. In the jungle, the Time Stumblers' usual mayhem jumps to a new level as Herby is adopted by a mother gorilla, Tuna is transformed into an ostrich chick, and the students are taken in by an African tribe. When Hesper tries to escape by leaping into a raging river, TJ finds that it's time to begin showing the leadership qualities that Tuna and Herby claim she'll have someday as a world leader. Thanks to her, everyone makes it home safely, and the Time Stumblers fuel up their time pod, leaving with laughter, tears . . . and one last zany surprise for TJ. (Goodreads)
What a fun book that takes you to Africa! TJ thinks she is just going on another science field trip when her friends from the 23rd century show up. Of course Hesper Breakahart happens to be in the class and so very annoying to read about. Her character adds a point to the book but sometimes I think the author makes her too annoying. They end up in the jungle of Africa and encounter all it's dangers, including animals.
Hesper drives everyone crazy but in this book TJ learns to be a real leader even with annoying people.
I really enjoyed this book in the Time Stumblers Series!
Young adults (or older!) will enjoy!
Labels: Bill Myers, book review, tyndale publishing
Switched Book Review
Still on their quest to teach TJ Finkelstein the life lessons she'll need to be a great world leader, 23rd-century goofballs Tuna and Herby are brewing up even more trouble for the new kid in Malibu. As the boys try to repair their futuristic gadgets, a little glitch in their Thought Broadcaster Pen lands TJ in the body of her nemesis, TV star Hesper Breakahart . . . and vice versa. And the plot thickens when Tuna and Herby decide to put TJ's new look and superstar power to use. The time stumblers set up a concert for "Hesper" as a diversion while they sneak aboard a nuclear submarine and borrow a plutonium power pack--one of the items needed to fuel their time pod and get them out of TJ's life. Meanwhile, Tuna and Herby are hounded by their own nemesis, Bruce Bruiseabone, who's having a little trouble with forgiveness . . . a lesson that TJ realizes she might also need to learn as she walks a mile in Hesper's shoes--and body! (Goodreads)
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did the other's I have read. I did enjoy the overall storyline and the meaning behind it. TJ gets to know Hepser Breakahart's life a little better when they end up switching bodies. Hesper has been the popular mean girl and now TJ gets a look behind the scenes. With help from the 23rd century everyone starts switching places and did I mention TJ is now bald? People are not always as they seem and there is usually more to their life than meets the eye.
This is a good book just not my favorite. Young adults will enjoy.
Ho-Ho-Nooo! Book Review
"Ho-Ho-NOOO!" is all about TJ Finkelstein learning the real meaning of Christmas as she prepares for her future as a world leader with a little help from her 23rd-century goofball friends, Tuna and Herby. In a competition with her middle sister, TJ races to earn money so she can give it to her father as a Christmas present; he's lost his job and the family is preparing to spend their first Christmas without their mom. Thanks to Tuna and Herby's help at her job interview, where their futuristic gadgets expose the true motivation of each candidate, TJ lands a job at the mall--making kids smile for Santa and eventually playing (a much smaller) Santa herself. That job turns into a nanny gig for pop star Lady Goo-Goo's spoiled and unattended kids. She also takes on a delivery job to help with dreamy Chad Steel's plan to provide a hearty meal for the homeless on Christmas Eve . . . only to find herself delivering caviar cream puffs on the whim of TV star and classmate Hesper Breakahart. Despite all her work, her efforts to get money for Christmas backfire, but in the end TJ realizes Christmas is really about being with those she loves and sharing the love God has given through Christ. (Goodreads)
I really enjoyed this book (even though it obviously is not Christmas time). This book takes you into the life of TJ a week before Christmas and she has no gift for her father who has just lost his job. She feels like she needs a better gift that what her sister is giving him so she sets out to find a job. She becomes Santa's helper (with the help of the 23rd-century) and ends up running around taking care of kids and getting lots of opportunities to make money. Meanwhile everyone around her keeps telling her spend more, it is California after all.
While this book is meant for young adults there is some humor in here that had me cracking up. There are some underlying comments that really add to the story and make it all the better.
In the end TJ realizes that the money doesn't work like she thinks it will and realizes Christmas means a lot more.
This is a great book I highly recommend!
Veil of Secrets Book Review
"Knowing that one of the authors is a life coach with a counseling degree who portrays the experience realistically, may make readers who are considering a step in that direction feel more comfortable making that choice." --"Romantic Times"
Can a woman face--and forgive--her own painful past before her house of cards crumbles . . . and before her own daughter makes the same mistakes?
Melanie and Will Connors are the perfect power couple. Will is the chief campaign strategist for a rising presidential candidate; Melanie is a prominent advocate for protecting children in an over-sexualized culture. Their devotion to one another is admired, even envied.
But their marriage isn't what it appears to be.
Will maintains an apartment in Washington DC, and over the years his visits home have grown fewer and farther between. The long-distance marriage has enabled Melanie to avoid intimacy--and has only increased her shame about her secretive past. But then Will issues this ultimatum: We work on the marriage . . . or we work on the divorce.
The Connors commit to marriage counseling in the most brutal of environments--snowy New Hampshire, a tiny state that is 'first in the nation' for presidential primaries and a prize to be won at any cost . . . and the price of victory keeps rising.
As Melanie sifts through the debris of her secretive past, she obsesses over the fear that she hasn't done enough to protect her teenaged daughter. When she sees her facing some of the same temptations she knows she must intervene . . . but how can a woman with so many veiled secrets guide a daughter honestly?
While the country struggles with threats to its integrity and security, Melanie can no longer ignore the dangers looming in her own world. She can never undo the mistakes of her youth, but perhaps she can still save her marriage and family--if she can surrender her guilt and learn how to open herself to her husband once again. (Goodreads)
This is the first fictional book I have read by Shannon so I wasn't sure what to expect. In typical Ethridge fashion she does not shy away from real life and what happens in a marriage. The first part of the book I was really intrigued and excited to read the book. The story line started right off and I slowly started to understand the characters. Then it started switching between many people. While the marriage between Will and Melanie is the central part of the book and I really enjoyed reading about Carrie who has her own crazy life going on.
I liked the real raw emotions about life and marriage and family. This book is all set during a Presidential Primary season so it's very political and many times I had no idea what was going on. This book reminded me a lot of the TV show Scandal only with a Christian back ground. It still holds all the drama of long lost secrets that happen to be uncovered in order to ruin the other candidate.
This was a decent read, though I probably won't read it again.
I rate it four stars.
Look for this book July 8, 2014!
"I received this book from BookLook for free in exchange for an honest review."
Labels: book review, BookLook, Shannon Ethridge
The Frangrance of Crushed Violets Book Review
The Fragrance of Crushed Violets: Forgiving the Inexcusable
The Fragrance of Crushed Violets: Forgiving the Inexcusable is a companion Bible study booklet on forgiveness written to go along with the spiritual theme of the fifth Miller's Creek novel, A Bridge Unbroken by Cathy Bryant. The book is designed to work for either individual or group study. A women's Bible study group has been formed on Facebook, and will be studying the topic of forgiveness using this book beginning July 1, 2014. We would love to have you join us at LifeSword: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LifeSword/.
What do we do when a loved one, boss, co-worker, friend, or enemy seem determined to bring us down through an attack? How do we handle it when their assault is personal, public, deep, unjust, unfair, and unfounded? Take it one step further. How do we deal with meaningless acts of destruction and death, say in something similar to the Twin Towers incident or a school shooting, especially when the offender shows no remorse? Do we file it in our brains and rack it up to "one more senseless act" and chance to think that God somehow messed up?
In short, how do we move past the hurt and anger to a place of forgiveness?
Join us as we examine relevant scriptures about forgiveness and come away with a scriptural understanding of:
what forgiveness is and what it isn't
God's role in the process of forgiveness
what Jesus did at the cross for each of us
our mandate to forgive as we've been forgiven
what gets in the way of forgiving others
how to truly forgive
Quotes From the Book:
"Ultimate forgiveness can only be found in God, because all sin is ultimately against God."
"Forgiveness isn't natural; it's supernatural."
"…through forgiveness, we reveal to a watching world the perfect illustration of what Christ has done for each of us."
I really enjoyed this Bible study. Cathy has a way of writing that makes sense. I have read her fiction work and I was pleasantly surprised by her study. I thought this book was very strong in holding true to the Bible and what it says. I liked how easy the book is to read while still holding depth. Sometimes Bible studies get a bit dry and this one had the right balance. I found myself asking a lot of personal questions and it really made me actually think, not just gloss over. How do we forgive? Sometimes its easy but other times it's way more difficult and this books talks about what hinders us from forgiving. How God can help you through a difficult time of forgiving how to make it real and not just words.
If you are looking for a fresh study on Forgiveness you really need to read this one!
"I received this book from Cathy for free in exchange for an honest review."
Print Version Purchase Link
Kindle Version Purchase Link
Cathy Bryant writes both Christian fiction and devotional materials. She's written devotions for The Upper Room devotional magazine, two devotional books, and for various online devotional sites including her own website, www.CatBryant.com. The Fragrance of Crushed Violets is her first Bible study booklet.
Cathy's standalone novels are set in the fictional town of Miller's Creek, Texas, where folks are friendly, the iced tea is sweet, and Mama Beth's front porch beckons. Her debut novel, Texas Roads, was a 2009 ACFW Genesis contest finalist and has been on the Amazon Kindle Best-Seller list. Since then she's added four other books to the Miller's Creek novels, the latest one released in Spring 2014. Readers have compared her novels to those of Karen Kingsbury and Nicholas Sparks and have called Miller's Creek the Texas version of Mayberry.
A native Texan, Cathy currently resides in the beautiful Sangre de Cristo mountains of northern New Mexico with her minister husband of over thirty years. When she's writing, you can find her rummaging through thrift stores, hiking through the wilderness, or up to her elbows in yet another home improvement project in the mountain cabin she calls home.
Labels: book review, Cathy Bryant
Oops Book Review
The mishaps never end as TJ's "helpers" from the 23rd century--Tuna and Herby--continue to study TJ as she learns the valuable lessons she'll need to become a future world leader. In "Oops , " TJ learns the importance of speaking and thinking well of people even when they are difficult, thanks to the Thought Broadcaster Pen, which exposes the thoughts of everyone it hits. As usual, Tuna and Herby's attempts to fix the pen only make things worse--now all of TJ's thoughts become reality As she fights not to return meanness to others (and to clean up the disasters her thoughts cause, like turning whiny TV star Hesper Breakahart into a giant baby), TJ learns from her dad a little more about how her mother handled things: She kept reminding herself that each of us is God's creation. And no matter how mean people may be, we all need to be loved. The same message also unfolds through a side story of classmate Chad Steel learning to treat a mean boy better. (Goodreads)
This is a fun book that takes into the mind of a young adult. I enjoy these types of book because they are fun while portraying a lesson. This book adds a lot of color with BOLD words and exaggerated dialogue, but in a good way. This is the first book I've read in this series but now I want to go back and read the first book. I liked how TJ's thoughts became reality and it was rather amusing. The book jumped around a lot which made it hard to follow a couple times but I look forward to reading the rest of this series.
I recommend for you or young adults!
Rival Hearts Book Review
Molly Henderson and Ben Weaver have been rival magazine writers for the same publishing group for years. When both come up for the same promotion, they find themselves in an unexpected competition to win the spot. Molly, editor of Quilter's Heart, and Ben, editor of Outdoor Adventures, must switch roles, each working for the other for one month, then submit an article at the end of their quests.
Can girly-girl Molly survive the outdoor adventures that Ben has planned? Can Ben navigate the perils of the social dynamics of quilting events without destroying a valuable quilt in one short month? More importantly, in this he-said, she-said situation, will Molly and Ben give in to their attraction and fall in love, no matter who wins?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Rival Hearts, go HERE.
This was a cute book to read, while being very predictable it was still fun. The main characters are easy to understand I could be in their place. Molly is great because her personality is much like my own. I loved the competition between a quilter and an outdoor man to fight for a promotion. I thought this gave a unique twist to the story line. In the middle of the book it got a little slow for me but I was excited to know what was going to happen. For a short romantic comedy this is a great read.
"I received this book from CFBA for free in exchange for an honest review."
This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Rival Hearts Abingdon Press (June 17, 2014) by Tara Randel
Tara Randel has enjoyed a lifelong love of books, especially romance and mystery genres, so it didn't come as a surprise when she began writing with the dream of becoming published. After finding Romantic Times magazine in a bookstore many years ago, she found information about writing organizations. Soon after, she joined Romance Writers of America. She located the local RWA chapter and immediately attended her first meeting. There was no stopping her after that!
Through Tampa Area Romance Authors, Tara learned all about the business of publishing, starting with the craft of writing to behind the scenes of publishing. She served as contest coordinator for four years and served as President for one year, enjoying the organization and the lasting friendships made there.
When not writing, Tara owns a business with her husband and stays busy with her two daughters. She lives on the West Coast of Florida, where gorgeous sunsets inspire the creation of heartwarming stories, filled with love, laughter and the occasional mystery. Enjoy!
Labels: book review, CFBA, Tara Randel
Bittersweet Book Review
On scholarship at a prestigious East Coast college, ordinary Mabel Dagmar is surprised to befriend her roommate, the beautiful, blue-blooded Genevra Winslow. Ev invites Mabel to spend the summer at Bittersweet, her cottage on the Vermont estate where her family has been holding court for more than a century; it's the kind of place where swimming boldly is required and the children twirl sparklers across the lawn during cocktail hour. Mabel falls in love with the midnight skinny-dips, the wet dog smell lingering in the air, the moneyed laughter carrying across the still lake, and before she knows it, she has everything she's ever wanted: wealth, friendship, a boyfriend, and, most of all, the sense, for the first time in her life, that she belongs.
But as Mabel becomes an insider, she makes a terrible discovery, which leads to shocking violence and the revelation of the true source of the Winslows' fortune. Mabel must choose: either expose the ugliness surrounding her and face expulsion from paradise, or keep the family's dark secrets and redefine what is good and what is evil, in the interest of what can be hers. (Goodreads)
*Note: this book is not Christian fiction just so my usual readers know.
I picked this book because it looked slightly intriguing. I pictured a setting sort of like the TV show Revenge only a different plot and sadly this book was a major disappointment. The characters have no depth at all. There is really no point to the story line and the ending couldn't come soon enough for me. Every few chapters is a detailed s*x scene between a new guy with the same girl. I'm not against non-Christian books by any means, but why must authors add so much s*x and detailed things that do not add to the story one bit. Nothing is gained in these chapters and the story drags on. So basically the main character, Mabel, stays with her roommate from college for the summer. While Ev is out sleeping with someone Mabel is trying to figure out this "mystery" which is rather predictable and the ending was no surprise. While discovering a boyfriend and nearly getting raped along with a handful of other details this book wraps up with some people dying, murder or suicide is the question. There is also a mystery about art pieces and Nazis.
While I have no doubt in my mind that this story could actually happen I think it could have been written a lot differently to tell the same tale. I am not usually this harsh when it comes to books but I just did not like this book one bit.
I rate one star.
"I received this book from Blogging for Books for free in exchange for an honest review."
Labels: blogging for books, book review
Full Steam Ahead Book Review
When Nicole Renard returns home to Galveston from an eastern finishing school, she's stunned to find her father in ill health. Though she loves him, he's only ever focused on what she's "not." Not male. Not married. Not able to run their family business, Renard Shipping.
Vowing to secure a suitable marriage partner, Nicole sets out with the Renard family's greatest treasure: a dagger personally gifted to Nicole's father by the pirate Jean Lafitte. Many believe the legend that the dagger is the source of all Renard Shipping's good fortune, though Nicole is sure her father's work ethic and honorable business practices are the keys to their success. Before she can board the steamer to New Orleans, Nicole finds her father's rivals—the Jenkins brothers—on either side of the gangplank, ready to grab her and steal the dagger. Quickly, she decides to instead travel north, to Liberty, Texas, where she can decide what to do next.
Darius Thornton needs a secretary—someone to help him get his notes in order. Ever since the boiler explosion aboard the "Louisiana," Darius has been a man obsessed. He will do anything to stop even one more steamship disaster. The pretty young socialite who applies for the job baffles him with her knowledge of mathematics and steamships. He decides to take a risk and hire her, but he's determined her attractive face and fancy clothes won't distract him from his important research.
The job offer comes at exactly the right time for Nicole. With what Darius is paying her, she'll be able to afford passage to New Orleans in mere weeks. But Mr. Thornton is so reclusive, so distant, so unusual. He can create complex scientific equations but can't remember to comb his hair. And his experiments are growing more and more dangerous. Still, there are undeniable sparks of attraction between them. But Nicole is leaving soon, and if she marries, it must be to a man who can manage a shipping empire. Darius certainly doesn't fit that description. And the Jenkins brothers have not given up on kidnapping Nicole and seizing the Lafitte dagger for themselves. (Goodreads)
I enjoy Witemeyer's sweet stories and was really looking forward to this book. This book has a fun twist and the characters are humorous. The science and math parts of the book went way over my head but I liked how the characters were able to work together even while they despised each other. While I enjoyed the characters I did think the book was a bit drawn out very slow moving in many parts. The ending, while predictable, was still good and fans of Witemeyer will love it.
I rate four stars.
"I received this book from Bethany House for free in exchange for an honest review."
Labels: Bethany House, book review, Karen Witemeyer
Hunt for the Devil's Dragon Book Review
If you're brave, follow cousins Beth and Patrick to Libya in the 13th century. The town of Silene is being terrorized by a vicious animal that is eating livestock. The townspeople believe it's a dragon sent by the devil. In order to appease the beast, the people believe they must offer a human sacrifice--a young girl named Sabra. When Beth tries to help Sabra escape, she too is tied up as an offering for the dragon. Meanwhile, Patrick and a new friend named Hazi join Georgius, a Roman knight who is serving in Africa to keep peace. Georgius decides to find the dragon and kill it. Georgius's plans go awry when Beth and Sabra beg him not to kill the dragon. The girls know the true secret of Silene--the dragon isn't its worst enemy. (Goodreads)
This book was not as interesting as others in the series but I'm sure young boys would love it. This adventure takes Patrick and Beth to Libya where is conflict and debate about Christos (Jesus) and panic because of a dragon. The kids end up right in the middle of things as usual and end up coming face to face with the creature that has been harming livestock, no it's not the dragon!
Little do they realize that there really is a dragon who breathes fire and they end up in it's cave with no way out.
This is an action packed adventure tied in with a bit of history. At the end of the book there is a page that talks about the fact that dragons really didn't exist for sure that we know of and didn't breathe fire. Though there were dinosaurs which could have been like a type of dragon.
This is still a fun book just not my favorite out of this series.
Labels: Marianne Hering, tyndale publishing, Wayne Batson
The Redcoats Are Coming Book Review
The first of a three-book story arc about the American Revolution, "The Redcoats Are Coming" follows Patrick and Beth as they assist the revolutionaries by waking up the sleeping citizens of 1775 Concord before the Redcoats come. In this adventure, the cousins meet Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock. They help smuggle musket balls, sound the alarm that the Redcoats are coming, and deliver a secret message to Paul Revere. Along the way they learn that most of the revolutionaries leaned on God's direction and even pastors helped in the cause.Christian parents and teachers will appreciate the historical facts as well as the biblical worldview training their kids and students will absorb. The kids will appreciate the excitement and tension of an America at war with England, and in some ways, with itself. A curriculum for Christian schools and homeschool families will be available. (Goodreads)
Here we go on another adventure with Beth and Patrick on the Imagination Station! I was actually really excited about this book because I love stories about the Revolutionary War era. This book takes the kids right into the thick of conflict and they haul musket balls secretly for the Patriot cause. While learning the secret code between Patriots, Patrick also has a letter for Paul Revere that happens to disappear. Some men start poking around and it comes down to who is the spy for the Loyalists.
This book is so fun while being action packed. This is a great book to get young adults into history, it doesn't have to be boring!
Labels: book review, Marianne Hering, Nancy Sanders, tyndale publishing
Visible Threat Book Review
Officer Brinna Caruso wants perfection--perfect justice and a perfect world. She wants to save and protect all the innocents in the world, no matter the cost.Orphaned and struggling to get by, Ivana and her sister left Bulgaria for America with dreams of a better life. But since they arrived in Long Beach, everything they were promised has turned out to be a lie.After a dead girl is found in the river with a mysterious tattoo on her hip, homicide detective Jack O'Reilly asks for Brinna's help. Unaware of the depths of evil that will be uncovered, Brinna finds herself flung into a dangerous frontier--an organized human trafficking ring. (Goodreads)
I actually liked this book better than the first book in the series. This, being book two, has the same lead character Brinna. I followed her on this book in finding young women who have been imported into a type of slave trade, mainly pleasing men. After a dead body is found a few different stories come together to track down the man behind the scenes. This book is a lot like a few books I've read, the girls, they have tattoos, they have no idea what they are getting into. This book took a different twist when it included a woman who was behind the scenes and wanted to change her situation.
This book is pretty suspenseful, while a bit predictable. I still liked plot line and Brinna is a fun character to read about and I hope to read more about her.
Four Stars.
Labels: book review, Janice Cantore, tyndale publishing
Critical Pursuit Book Review
Officer Brinna Caruso has built a reputation at the precinct as the cop to call when a child goes missing. For Brinna, it's personal because she was once one of them. Brinna and her K-9 search and rescue dog, Hero, will stop at nothing to find a missing child, no matter the stakes.
Detective Jack O'Reilly isn't ready to return to his homicide duties after losing his wife to a drunk driver. He's on the downside of his career, and bent on revenge, when he's assigned as Brinna's partner. While on patrol, Jack struggles between his quest for personal justice and his responsibility to those around him, especially his partner.
Skeptical of Jack's motives, Brinna isn't sure she can rely on her new partner, whose reckless abandon endangers the safety of those around him. But when a man surfaces with an MO similar to the criminal who abducted Brinna twenty years earlier, Brinna and Jack must cast aside previous judgments and combine efforts to catch the kidnapper and finally allow Brinna the peace stolen from her as a child. (Goodreads)
I really enjoyed the start of this book because of Brinna's character. I like her personality and desire to see that kidnappers are caught for their crime. It's sad because while this book is fiction, children disappear every day. Brinna has history and was once abducted so she really understands the situation. The person who abducted her discovers her again once an article goes out about Brinna and her life. This takes the book on a different turn aside from all of Brinna's own cases, she is soon to be apart of her own. She is targeted and the man thinks it's a game. Some of this story reminded me a little of Ted Dekker with the sick mind game that the "bad guy" plays.
To be honest there were a few times when I thought the book was wordy, I had gone five chapters and nothing had really happened. That being said this is still a good book and great if you need a little suspense.
Labels: book review, Janice Cantore Tyndale Publishing
Below the Surface Book Review
Something is wrong with Cooper. He is plagued by a fear he doesn't understand and can t control. Cooper just wants to escape, and a summer vacation aboard the restored cabin cruiser, The Getaway, with best friends Gordy, Hiro, and Lunk seems like the perfect way to do it. Two weeks of fun---with no mysteries or life-and-death danger. That's the plan. But their plans are shattered the very first night when they witness a murder. Or did they? Despite their intentions of leaving the investigation to the police, narrow misses and creepy encounters lure them in. Is there really a body floating in the underwater currents of the lake? The closer they get to the truth, the deeper into danger they get. Too late they see the trap. Now each of them must face their own buried fears . . . just below the surface. (Goodreads)
I requested this book for something new and young adult is really fun to read. This book jumps right in with witty dialogue and suspense as Cooper and his friends think they witness a murder, but do they really? Right when the author has you thinking one thing, something happens and it wraps you into the story line. I haven't read the previous books in this series and I went ahead a read this one because I had read that it could stand alone. While this is true, I wish I had read the two previous books I think I would have understood the characters better.
While this book is full of plot twists and mysteries the characters I didn't connect with as much in this book. For a young adult I was surprised at the detail within the mystery and plot.
Recommended for ages 11-14 (or older of course).
"I received this book from BookLook Bloggers for free in exchange for an honest review."
Labels: book review, BookLook, Tim Shoemaker
When I Fall In Love Book Review
Hawaii was the last place Grace Christiansen ever imagined she'd vacation, much less fall in love. But when her family surprises her with a cooking retreat in paradise, she is pulled—or maybe yanked—away from her predictable, safe life and thrown headfirst into the adventure of a lifetime.
Max Sharpe may make his living on the ice as a pro hockey player, but he feels most at home in the kitchen. Which is why he lives for the three-week culinary vacation he takes each year in Hawaii. Upon being paired with Grace for a cooking competition, Max finds himself drawn to her passion, confidence, and perseverance. But just when Grace dares to dream of a future beyond her hometown, Max pulls away.
Wrestling with personal demons, Max fights against opening his heart to a love he knows he should never hope for. And as his secrets unfold, Grace is torn between the safe path in front of her and what her heart truly desires. If love means sacrificing her ideal happily ever after, Grace's faith will face its toughest test yet. (Goodreads)
I have loved this series from the first page of the first book. I usually am not into contemporary books much as historical but this series is wonderful. While I do think these books can be read separately, please don't! The same characters are in each book and they are so good!
This third book is about Grace who works at the pizza place in Deep Haven. She has dreams but they don't seem to be working out. She ends up going to Hawaii with a hockey player which neither of them wanted.
I love the food and cooking in the book, it adds to the storyline. Grace's character is so easy to relate with I love her story. Max Sharpe is an interesting man and I enjoyed getting to know him. The romance is sweet but there are things under the surface that take a while to be resolved between the two. This book includes the romances from the previous couples and a lot of cooking challenges!
There is a side story in the book about Casper and Owen that had me wrapped up in life at Deep Haven. It didn't distract from the main story and I think it will lead into another book. I love the Christiansen family I just want to jump into the book.
I loved this book and I loved how Warren intertwines the love of God.
Five stars.
If you have read this series you must get this book, it comes out July 1, 2014!
If this is a new book to you start reading the series!
Buy the book.
Labels: book review, Susan May Warren, tyndale publishing
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I'm starting up a new series of articles where I document my journey of moving to Thailand, Pattaya specifically. I'll cover a range of topics from planning, logistics, visas, finding a condo, and all the other bits and pieces that go along with relocating to a different country. Hopefully, these articles will be helpful to others looking to make the same journey.
Before I could pick the best visa for me, I needed to define my goals. It is easy to decide you want to live in Thailand, is another to figure out what you plan on doing for an entire year. More goals were pretty simple. I want to live in Thailand for a full year, but no less than six months. I'd like the freedom to travel around Thailand as well as other countries in South East Asia.
When I first started looking into this the METV or 6-month tourist visa seemed like the best option for my situation. It would allow me to travel around Thailand and exit and reenter the country as often as needed, at least every 60 days so that I could further explore the region. And if you time your last entry right and add on a 30-day visa extension, it could give you 9 months in Thailand.
I meet the requirements, but the one down side is the employment letter. Immigration requires a letter from your company verifying employment. Unless you have a sabbatical or a work from anywhere agreement, what company do they think is going to let their employee take off on vacation for 6 months? It is kind of ridiculous.
This is certainly a sticking point for me and I'm sure many others. I do own my own small business, so I'll need to look into whether or not that will suffice. I wonder if I'll have to write a letter for myself.
This visa is nice if I can get approved. However you can only get it from your home country, so after the initial 6 – 9 month period was up, I'd need to look at other options.
This Thailand tourist visa does what it says on the tin. You can stay in Thailand for up to 60 days, then you need to leave the country. A 30-day extension is available as well from immigration once in the country.
With this visa I could stay for 2 – 3 months, then travel outside Thailand visiting other places like Vietnam, Laos, and the Philippines. I would then need to apply for another 60-day tourist visa in a neighboring country. This isn't too big a deal, and would also work well to me my needs to explore and travel.
The main downside is that it is up to the discretion of the consulate and immigration officials if I will get a new visa each time. This could get harder as I get more visas in my passport and I imagine I'd need four of these to make it through the year.
Add to that, it makes it harder to use Thailand as a base of exploration and get a better deal on renting a condo for a year. Plus, the uncertainty of being able to get back would not make me comfortable leaving things in an apartment rental if I wanted to visit Vietnam for two weeks, as an example.
If I can't rent a long term condo, this could increase my costs.
The education visa was actually the first visa option I looked into when planning to move to Thailand for a year. I liked the idea of being settled in one place and actually living for a while. I thought learning Thai would be difficult but fun. The class load didn't seem too stressful, leaving plenty of time for other activates.
The downsides are same as the upsides. You are stuck in one place for the duration of your classes and you've got to attend a set number of classes/hours every week. Both of these limits the amount of travel you can do in and out of Thailand.
On the plus side, you get to stay in Thailand for 90 days at a time and don't need to leave Thailand to renew your visa. You can get either a 6-month or 1-year visa. The costs aren't bad for studying Thai in Pattaya, averaging 25,000 baht for 1 year. About $750 USD a year, or $62 USD for each month of classes.
I still have some more research to do, as I'd like the ability to possibly relocate to a new location within Thailand after 6 months, Pattaya to Chiang Mai or Bangkok. I also need to know if there is a break between semesters that I could use to travel back to my home country and visit family.
While I'm not completely sure which visa is right for me quite yet, I'm heavily leaning toward the either the 6 Month METV or the Thai education visa. I'll continue to look into it and post more information and updates as things progress.


Divinity Fallen Heroes is a standalone game set in the Divinity Original Sin 2 universe | PowerUp!
Larian Studios and Logic Artists have announced they are collaborating on Divinity Fallen Heroes. A standalone game set in the Divinity Original Sin 2 universe, Divinity Fallen Heroes is a tactical RPG that marries the best of the genre with RPG choices and consequences.
Built using the Divinity Original Sin 2 engine, Divinity Fallen Heroes takes place in Rivellon. Players will need to lead their army on board the Lady Vengeance, explore new places, use new weapons and learn new skills.
Divinity Fallen Heroes also includes two-player co-op in addition to the standard single-player mode.
When players jump into the game, they'll be facing a brand-new threat to Rivellon and will need to jump aboard the Lady Vengeance to recruit new heroes. Heroes Malady, Fane, Ifan, Lohse, Sebille, Red Emperor and Beast will be playable in this tactical RPG.
Like other TRPGs, all of your choices in Divinity Fallen Heroes matter. Your heroes will respond to your choices and actions and the only way forward is to keep everyone's spirits up.
Divinity Fallen Heroes will be released later in 2019 with platforms yet to be announced.


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David Narrett, "Adventurism and Empire" (UNC Press, 2015): In his new book, Adventurism and Empire: The Struggle for Mastery in the Louisiana-Florida Borderlands, 1762-1803 (University of North Carolina Press, 2015), David Narrett explores the international political and diplomatic competition for control of t...
In his new book, Adventurism and Empire: The Struggle for Mastery in the Louisiana-Florida Borderlands, 1762-1803 (University of North Carolina Press, 2015), David Narrett explores the international political and diplomatic competition for control of the Old Southwest. His book begins with the conclusion of the French and Indian War and follows the story until the Louisiana Purchase secured the area for the United States. It superbly illustrates the weak control exerted by Britain, France, and Spain over the Louisiana-Florida borderlands during the last half of the eighteenth century. It also highlights the fragile ties between Anglo-Americans in the region and the newly independent United States. In doing so, Narrett introduces a rogues' gallery of schemers and adventurers who operated below the radar, ready to do whatever it took to further their private ends. He also ably covers the diplomatic machinations of imperial and American officials as they tried to make good their claims to lands between the southern Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River.
George Milne, the host of this podcast is an associate professor of history at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. He specializes in Native American, Colonial, and Atlantic World history. His book Natchez Country, Indians, Colonists, and the Landscapes of Race in French Louisiana was published by the University of Georgia Press in 2015. You can contact him at milne@oakland.edu and follow him on Facebook at George.E.Milne.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Editora: Scribd PodcastsLançado em: Feb 23, 2018ISBN: Formato: podcast_episode
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Explosive new details emerge about the Astros cheating scandal
Mike Oz
February 7, 2020, 7:06 PM ·4 min read
Just when you thought the worst of the Houston Astros cheating scandal had come and gone, new details uncovered by the Wall Street Journal are showing just how widespread the cheating scheme was in Houston's front office.
Not only did Astros players and coaches use a camera, TV screen and garbage can to electronically steal signs and relay them to hitters, but the entire operation was fueled by an Excel spreadsheet developed by a then-intern that used an algorithm to decode opposing team's signs.
Members of the Astros front office called it "Codebreaker," according to documents obtained by the Wall Street Journal, and often referred to their tactics as the "dark arts." The system and the front-office employees that manned it were part of the process of figuring out opposing teams' signs and ultimately getting the information to Astros players to use on the field.
This adds a new layer to one of baseball's biggest scandals, which until this point was characterized as "player-led" by MLB. Instead, this new information suggests a top-down scheme that obtained information and filtered it to players.
The Wall Street Journal's Jared Diamond obtained a letter sent to Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow from MLB commissioner Rob Manfred that outlined results of the league's three-month investigation. The letter was sent about a week and a half before MLB announced its punishment for the Astros, which resulted in year-long suspensions for Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch, a fine and loss of draft picks. Shortly after, Astros owner Jim Crane fired both Hinch and Luhnow. Players weren't punished as part of an immunity deal for their cooperation.
A new story about the Astros cheating scandal focuses on what GM Jeff Luhnow knew. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
This latest story focuses entirely on the Houston front office, and now brings this question back into focus: How much did Luhnow himself know about all this? Luhnow, you'll remember, denied knowing anything about the cheating scheme when he was fired and didn't comment on the Wall Street Journal story.
Among the other details that have come to light:
• The use of Codebreaker continued into 2018 and not just at home games, but also on the road. Until this point, it was assumed that the Astros only used their system at home. This story suggests they used at least some version of it on the road.
• Luhnow, however, told MLB that he thought the use of Codebreaker was only for decoding signs after games, not in real-time.
• The Codebreaker system was developed by Derek Vigoa, then an intern and now the Astros' senior manager for team operations.
• Tom Koch-Weser, the team's director of advance information, plays a central role in this latest story. He told MLB investigators Luhnow would "giggle" at the name "Codebreaker." Koch-Weser said Luhnow would sometimes say, "You guys Codebreaking?" when he came to the Astros video room during road games. Luhnow denied this to the Wall Street Journal.
• Koch-Weser would often call the system the Astros' "dark arts," according to e-mails obtained by MLB. He said once in a team Slack channel, referring to Luhnow: "I know the secrets that made us a championship team, some of which he[']d definitely feel a lot safer if they were kept in-house."
• Another Astros front-office staffer Matt Hogan told MLB investigators that no one tried to hide their actions from Luhnow. "It would have been something to show we were working and get validation of our work," Hogan told investigators.
• Luhnow was updated via e-mail by many in the front office about Codebreaker, the investigation shows, however Luhnow's defense was that he didn't read the full e-mails.
• Regardless of Luhnow's claim he didn't know about any of this, Manfred's letter said, "there is more than sufficient evidence to support a conclusion that you knew—and overwhelming evidence that you should have known—that the Astros maintained a sign-stealing program that violated MLB's rules."
Following the MLB investigation was made public and following his dismissal, Luhnow said in a statement:
I am not a cheater. Anybody who has worked closely with me during my 32-year career inside and outside baseball can attest to my integrity. I did not know rules were being broken. As the Commissioner set out in his statement, I did not personally direct, oversee or engage in any misconduct: The sign-stealing initiative was not planned or directed by baseball management; the trash-can banging was driven and executed by players, and the video decoding of signs originated and was executed by lower-level employees working with the bench coach. I am deeply upset that I wasn't informed of any misconduct because I would have stopped it.
Given the details revealed in the Wall Street Journal story, Luhnow's statement might now be thoroughly re-examined by fans.
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Justin Tucker's first missed FG vs. Bills actually went in - before it didn't
Just how close was Justin Tucker's first missed field goal against the Bills? Take a look.
Who is the greatest quarterback of all time?
5. Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins 1983-1999) Perhaps a controversial pick, given that Dan Marino famously never won a Super Bowl. However, Marino's output was so impressive he cannot be denied from the list. Marino was the first quarterback to pass for 5,000 yards in a season, was a Pro Bowler on nine occasions and won the league MVP award in 1984. Marino was ahead of his time in terms of the numbers he delivered and the style with which he played. A true icon. 4. Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers 2005-present) Aaron Rodgers is often considered the most talented quarterback of all time. He has the special ability to read the field and produce the perfect pass to match whatever situation is thrown at him. Rodgers is a nine-time Pro Bowler as well as winning the league MVP in 2011 and 2014. He is likely to add a third MVP title following this year's showing. The fact that Rodgers has once again been the best player in the entire league, at the age of 37, catapults him into the top five of all time. He has one Super Bowl to his name, he could well have a second in just a few weeks time. 3. Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts 1998-2011, Denver Broncos 2012-15) The longevity of Peyton Manning was truly remarkable. He was voted into the Pro Bowl on 14 occasions and was recognised as the best player in the league five times. Manning's intelligence and ability to change plays at the line of scrimmage was truly unique at the time. He won two Super Bowls and arguably should have won more. The fact that Manning managed to claim his second ring with the Denver Broncos right at the end of his career ensures he makes the top three of all time.
Stephon Gilmore said what every Patriots fan was thinking during Bucs-Saints
We feel you, Stephon.
The Lakers lost? Five reasons the Warriors won the game
The Lakers faltered at the finish Monday night against the Golden State Warriors. Here are five reasons why.
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Jags, Urban Meyer piecing together a new staff: What we know so far
The Jacksonville Jaguars officially named Urban Meyer their head coach last week. He's been hard at work since that moment in trying to get a staff together, which will be a key in his tenure in Jacksonville if he is to be successful. Thanks to many ...
Dodgers Hall of Fame ironman pitcher Don Sutton dies at 75
Don Sutton notched 324 victories and pitched at least 200 innings in 20 of his first 21 seasons, with the strike-shortened 1981 season the only exception.
Chiefs Wire
Latest injury update on Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
Chiefs HC Andy Reid provided a brief update on Mahomes on Monday afternoon.
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Watch: Steph Curry's crafty no-look pass leads to powerful dunk from Kelly Oubre Jr.
During the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers, Steph Curry connected with Kelly Oubre Jr. on a crafty pass that led to a highlight-reel dunk.
Bill Belichick's girlfriend fires back at IG comment about Tom Brady
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick's girlfriend, Linda Holliday, fired back at an Instagram commenter who brought up Belichick "letting Tom Brady go."
"[Being traded was definitely rough on me. Even though you say it's the business of basketball, it never makes it easier."
Devils Illustrated
Duke falls at Pitt, losing second straight in ACC play
Jalen Johnson had a career night, but it wasn't enough for Duke, as Pittsburgh beat the Blue Devils, 79-73.
How are Patriots fans feeling about Tom Brady's success?
Tom Brady didn't leave the Patriots for a division rival but for a team in the other conference. A team that the Patriots play once ever four years. A team that currently is making a Super Bowl run in a season that didn't result in New England qualifying for the playoffs. So what do Patriots [more]
Chancellor Donde Plowman said Pruitt was responsible for overseeing the program. Tennessee has been conducting an internal investigation since a tip Nov. 13 about alleged recruiting violations. ''While the investigation is continuing the information provided to us indicates serious violations of NCAA rules,'' Plowman said.


"Cigars should never be rushed, or puffed absentmindedly while you're doing deals on the phone. The more attention you give them, the more pleasure they will give you, so if you don't have a quiet hour or so, save the cigar until later. The leisurely ceremonial of preparing and smoking one of nature's minor triumphs is worth the investment in time."
Oliver T's walk-in cedar humidor room has many of the finest premium cigars on the market today. Our humidor room is always kept at 70% relative humidity. Not only are our cigars fresh, but you will find our prices extremely competitive. You will find cigars for many different countries that use tobacco from different geographical areas.
Most tobacco from this area is grown from Cuban seed and tended by people trained in Cuba. Although it is not as strong as Cuban tobacco, it is a medium to full flavored tobacco used in creating the filler blends in many cigars. Most of a cigar's complex flavor depends on how the maker blends the different tobaccos.
This area produces several kinds of tobacco, including fillers, shade-grown and sun-grown wrappers. Many of the wrappers are now grown with Connecticut Valley and Sumatra tobacco seeds. This tobacco is a little milder than the original Ecuadorian leaves. These wrappers have a wonderful silky texture with a color in between a light Connecticut and a darker Cameroon wrapper.
These wrapper leaves are full-bodied, with strong, spicy flavors. These countries produce both Cuban seed and Connecticut seed tobaccos.
Most cigars made in Mexico are made with 100% Mexican tobacco. This tobacco is often used as the binder leaf in cigars made in other countries as well. Mexican tobacco wrappers are often used as maduro wrapper leaves. This sun-grown tobacco stands up well to the hot, sweating process that creates a darker or maduro color.
The Connecticut shade grown leaf is one of the finest in the world. This brownish-yellow leaf is used on many of the finest cigars to create a mild to medium bodied smoke. Connecticut also produces a "Broadleaf" tobacco leaf. This is a heavier, very dark, thick-veined leaf, and usually used on a maduro cigar.
This central African tobacco is grown from the Sumatra seed. Its color varies from greenish-brown to dark brown. Its mild characteristics make it ideal for wrapping full-flavored filler tobaccos. Some of the premium brands we carry are: Arturo Fuente, Diamond Crown, Bauza, Montecristo, Don Diego, H. Upman, Macanudo, Cuesta Ray, Te-Amo, Punch, Puros Idios, Dunhill, Royal Jamaican, Excelsior and many more.
We offer an extensive selection flavored with vanilla, rum, cognac and some dipped in honey-molasses to create a sweet taste.
We stock several kinds and sizes of humidors to keep your cigars fresh, from desktops to travel styles. Our best values are the Diamond Crown Humidors. The Cigar Aficionado Magazine rated these fine crafted humidors as an exceptional value. Other humidors are also available.
Other accessories to complement your humidor include several kinds of cigar cutters, beautiful ashtrays, humidistat systems for inside your humidor, premium leather as well as plastic cigar holders including The Cigar Savor, Volcano windproof lighters and much more.
For the cost-conscious customer we offer Oliver T's private label Honduran cigars sold individually or by the bundle. Also in this line are Don Jose and Mexican segunda cigars. Having a baby? We carry several kinds of affordable "It's a girl" or It's a boy" cigars. Send us an e-mail or call us, we will be happy to find the cigars or accessories that you are looking for!


Prior to working my way through the end-to-end ETL solution for Data Vault certain fundamentals must be in place. The reference architecture is one of them and this is largely documented as part of this site and corresponding Wiki. The other main component from an implementation perspective are the requirements for ETL. As all concepts have their place in the reference architecture for good reasons they also have tight relationships and changes to one concept can have implications in another. A good example of this is error and exception handling.
Since we try to stay true to the Data Vault principles we make sure we load all the data and apply business rules later. This also means that concepts such as streamlining datatypes may not lead to errors, Disaster Recovery must be in place and so on. The fundamental ETL requirements support these principles by providing atomicity, decoupling and restartability. In the various upcoming posts these requirements will be referred to often as they are as much part of the architecture as anything else and many concepts depend on them.
Though not necessarily related to Data Vault I like to thing that they properly support the ideal.
1). ETL can always be rerun without the need to manually change settings. This manifests itself in many ways depending on the purpose of the process (i.e. its place in the architecture). An ETL process that truncates a target table to load form another table is the most straightforward example since this will invariably run successfully every time. Another example is the distribution of surrogate keys in the Hub tables since it is checked if keys are already present before they are inserted. This requirement is also be valid for Presentation Layer tables which merge mutations into an aggregate. Not only does this requirement make testing and maintenance easier, it also ensures that no data is corrupted when an ETL process is run by accident.
2). Source data for any ETL can always be related to, or be recovered. This is covered by correctly using the metadata framework and concepts such as the History Area. The metadata model covers the audit trail and its ability to follow data through the Data Warehouse while the History Area enables a new initial load in case of disaster.
3). ETL processes exist in the folder where they pull data to. For instance the ETL that exist in the 200_History_Area folder loads data from the 100_Staging_Area.
4). ETL processes detect whether they should insert records or not, i.e. should not fail on constraints. This is the design decision that ETL handles data integrity (and not the database).
5). The direction of data is always 'up'. The typical process of data is from a source, to staging, integration and ultimately presentation. No regular ETL process should write data back to an earlier layer, or use access this information using a (key) lookup.
6). ETL processes must be able to process multiple intervals (changes) in one run. This is an important criterion for ETL to be able to be run at any point in time and to support real-time processing. It means that ETL should not only be able to load a single snapshot or change for a single business key but to correctly handle multiple changes in a single dataset. For instance if the address of an employee changes multiple times during the day and ETL is run daily, all changes are still captures and correctly processed in a single run of the ETL process. This requirement also prevents ETL to be run many times for catch-up processing.
7). ETL processes should automatically recover when failed. This means that if an error has been detected the ETL automatically repairs the information from the erroneous run and inserts the correct data along with any new information that has been sourced. This is one of the reasons why ETL must be able to process multiple time intervals.
8). ETL processes contain transformation logic for a single specific function or purpose. This design decision follow ETL best practises to create many ETL processes that each address a specific function as opposed to few ETL processes that perform a range of activities. Every ETL process attempts to execute an atomic functionality. Examples of atomic Data Warehouse processes (which therefore are implemented as separate ETL processes) are key distribution, detecting changes and inserting records and end-dating records.
9). Related to the above definition of designing ETL to suit atomic Data Warehouse processes every ETL process can read from one or more sources but only write to a single target.


So this is you.... interesting. Maybe seeing this earlier might have helped me pick a better present for you in my jam entry game... but I hope you enjoy it anyway! Nice entry, it makes me want to try these small worlds you've made, and make some small worlds myself!


Don't tell anyone pooches but on this Good Friday my manservant prepared for me a French Dip on an Onion Roll for supper.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged dogs, Good Friday, Madison Mississippi, Pets, terriers, West Highland White Terriers, Westies. Bookmark the permalink.


Savinelli's "122", is a stout, squarely-proportioned bent Pot that packs a great deal of chamber for its size. Many pipe companies seem to stick with one style and simply stain it different colors and adorn it with various ferrules and whatnot to achieve different results, but Savinelli really thinks a little more deeply about pairing rustication with the other aspects of the pipe. This really shows in the Roma, with a fairly low-profile rustication matched to a minimal accent of brass trim, lending this series a simple beauty.


Student housing spaces require furnishings that are simple, durable, spatially efficient and cost effective. CHI has worked with on-campus and off-campus student housing clients to outfit dormitory spaces including kitchens, bathrooms, common spaces and cafés. In addition to furnishings, we provide window coverings, appliances and accessories.


In the last few months, I've purchased two final sale items that I ended up needing to return.
As many people do, I like to buy things on final sale because they're generally very, very discounted, but one has to be certain she won't change her mind about the item, because the store will not take it back. I always think about these purchases for a while before buying them so I know it's fine if I'm stuck with them!
But recently, I bought two items with which I was not pleased. Being unhappy with a final sale item is worse than being unhappy with a regular item because it wouldn't have been purchased in the first place if it were not an item I really, really wanted. On top of the disappointment, there is the knowledge that I'm stuck with it.
The first item I was unhappy with was a bluetooth keyboard for my phone from Restoration Hardware. I knew it was odd to buy a tech accessory from there, but it was marked down to $19.99, and had good reviews online. Unfortunately, it didn't function correctly, and refused to acknowledge any of the three phones to which I tried to make it connect. After exhausting all possibilities to make it work, I finally contacted Restoration Hardware and explained the situation. I hoped they would at least give me a replacement keyboard that actually worked, but they were sold out, and offered to return the item instead.
The second item was a sweater from J. Crew. I was in need of a chunky cable-knit, super-warm sweater, but needed it to be black for the theatre. All the sources I know that make great sweaters at reasonable prices are very classic companies, so none had a black option. J. Crew came through with just what I needed, and it was final sale, so I was excited about the price. Unfortunately, it began to pill the first day I wore it, and knowing it would only get worse, I decided to ask if J. Crew would return it even though it was final sale. They did, and made the return very easy.
I was so pleased -- what great customer service! Instead of being upset with either company, and likely not buying future items from them, their responses made me happy to be their customer.
While it is unfortunate that I am so surprised by being being treated fairly by customer service, I thought it was worth mentioning my experience with these two items. It's good to know that if a final sale item is defective in some way, some companies will offer a fair return.


text:
Govt funds gig economy platform
The federal government will spend $1.4 million on a platform to push just 80 unemployed young Australians into gig economy work with the likes Uber and Airtasker in a move branded "outrageous" by the Opposition.
The government is providing funding to a range "innovative" programs with the aim of getting students and former students off welfare, including a platform connecting unemployed former students with gig economy work, neuroplasticity training, and a mobile goal setting mobile app.
Announced on Tuesday just as the nation's attention was on marriage equality postal survey results, the funding is through the Department of Social Services' Try, Test and Learn Fund.
Christian Porter: The gig economy trial will provide an evidence base for future work
This $96.1 million fund is focused on "delivering trials of new or innovative approaches to assist some of the most vulnerable in society into stable, sustainable employment".
The latest round of grants includes $1.4 million to a platform to connect unemployed former students with gig economy work, $1.8 million to face-to-face neuroplasticity training for TAFE students and $1.3 million for a mobile goal setting app.
"These initiatives will either support students in meeting their academic and employment aspirations through practical work experience, resilience training, goal setting, and counselling, or assist former students with the transition from study to the workforce," Social Services minister Christian Porter said in a statement.
"Investing in trial initiatives through the Try, Test and Learn Fund will build an evidence base that informs future investment in projects that improve the lives of students at risk of unemployment, and as a consequence give taxpayers value for money."
The government will provide $1.4 million in funding to Y4Y Youth Force, for a two year trial of a digital platform connecting unemployed former students with short-term employment opportunities in the task-based gig economy.
The trial will involve 80 unemployed former students in Melbourne, Perth and Hobart. The initiative is an expansion of a trial currently being run by non-profit social organisation Whitelion.
A government fact sheet said these tasks could include gardening, driving and delivery, catering and hospitality and child mind, while gig economy platforms include the likes of Uber, Deliveroo and Airtasker.
Unions, social groups and opposition politicians have reacted in anger to the schemes, especially plans to encourage unemployed young Australians to participate in the gig economy.
Labor MP Lisa Chesters branded said the initiative was "outrageous", while ACT Unions secretary Alexander White said it was a "disgusting move" that will "further undermine workplace laws and exploit young workers".
"Instead of properly funding TAFE, the Turnbull government is encouraging the expansion of under-regulated gig economy," the Australian Council of Trade Unions tweeted.
The government said work in the gig economy will improve young Australians' chances of finding full-time employment.
"These jobs will help participants build work experience and give them the confidence to take the next step into long-term employment," the fact sheet said.
But a social services department spokesperson said there is no research to back this up.
"The purpose of these initiatives is to test whether an intervention works to reduce long-term reliance on welfare. It is not possible to predict success rates in advance – this is the purpose of testing new approaches," the department spokesperson told InnovationAus.com.
The students involved in the trial will also receive two weeks of "general skills training" and additional sector-specific training by request.
The government said the initiative aims to help the "development of the capacity of participants to engage with the emerging task-based economy".
"This will facilitate the development of work skills and real experience and portfolio development; the result of which is longer-term employment opportunities. It may also stimulate interest in further education," the fact sheet said.
"This initiative will provide evidence on the effectiveness of supporting young people to access short-term work through the task-based economy, as a way to supporting their longer-term engagement at work."
Gig economy companies like Uber, Deliveroo and Airtasker have been surrounded by controversy in terms of workers rights and the exploitation of vulnerable people recently, centring on the classification of workers, lack of insurance and healthcare and conditions of work.
Uber is also currently the subject of a Fair Work Ombudsman investigation. Launched in June, the Ombudsman is looking at whether Uber's driver contracts are in breach of federal workplace laws.
As part of the probe, the Ombudsman will be interviewing Uber drivers, many of whom claim they should be classified as employers as Uber controls most aspects of their work.
The service provider behind Y4Y Youth Force will be responsible for selecting which gig economy startups are including in the trial, the government spokesperson said.
Signing up to gig economy platforms like Uber and Airtasker is free for users on both sides, but the government has allocated $17,500 in funding for each of the 80 former student to be signed up to the digital platform.
The department spokesperson said most of the allocated funding will go towards the accompanying training program for the participants.
"Y4Y Youth Force is designed to help young, disadvantaged people, who face multiple barriers to employment, develop work skills and an employment history through engaging with the gig economy," the spokesperson said.
"Many of these young people require individualised support to help them overcome the barriers they face, so that they can become employable for the long term.
"Much of the funding for this project is earmarked for a range of intensive support, as well as skills training, and developing a digital platform to connect students to job opportunities."
Concerns have been raised about conditions in the gig economy for workers, and the lack of superannuation or other benefits.
A recent report by UTS Future of Work research director Sarah Kaine found that the gig economy will create social classes and divide in Australia, with issues around taxation, working conditions, and the companies operating outside of existing Australian labour laws.
The government said that the service provider behind Y4Y Youth Force will be responsible for providing insurance to the participating young Australians.
"The selected service provider for the Y4Y Youth Force initiative will provide support to participating students, and ensure that they are prepared for work in the gig economy," the spokesperson said.
"The successful provider will also provide insurance and occupational health and safety processes to manage risks."
The spokesperson said that if 20 per cent (17 people) of the participants in the trial move off welfare then that will outweigh the $1.4 million in funding.
Another initiative to receive funding from the government is the "Rewire the Brain", which will be provided $1.8 million for a 18 month trial with 240 young students in Sydney and Brisbane.
The initiative, co-designed by Pathways to Resilience Trust and Stronger Brains, will involve delivering "face-to-face and computer-based training" to improve the "cognitive functioning and social and emotional skills" of TAFE students.
The initiative aims to improve these students' memory, processing speed of their brains, social interaction and resilience skills, according to a government fact sheet.
It is trying to increase attendance and reduce drop-out rates among the participants by "equipping them with the skills to complete their studies".
"This initiative is the first of its kind in Australian social policy and is based on the relatively new understanding that like a muscle, the brain can be trained and improved," the fact sheet said.
The fund also dished out money for the development of a mobile goal setting app to help "strengthen students' resilience".
As part of the $1.3 million trial, 10,000 young students in NSW will use a mobile app and website that encourages them to set individualised short and long-term goals.
Designed by Behavioural Insights Team Australia, the app will send out "nudge text messages" to participants to "assist students to achieve their set goals".
The content of these messages will be based on behavioural insights. The initiative also aims to increase attendance and reduce drop-out rates among the students.
"This trial will be the first of its type in Australia. It will provide evidence on the effectiveness of using behaviorally-informed text messages and technology to improve student participation and engagement in Australia," the government said.
Related: Airtasker | Christian Porter | Department of Social Services | DSS | gig economy | Uber
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I am a member of the Kelvedon & Feering Network & Business Group. This group was founded in 2013 aiming to raise awareness of small businesses based in the two villages by bringing together and promoting trusted businesses. There are so many amazing businesses/suppliers in the local community that many people are not aware of. The Group aim to change that. I can highly recommend all of the companies listed on the website.
In addition to those business listed with the networking group I have also listed below businesses/groups that I can wholeheartedly recommend. Please look them up and try them out!
Laura at Halcyon - a lovely lady!
Mark Woolston - The Karma Bakehouse - their bread is amazing!!
Layer Marney Lamb - their leg of lamb and whole chickens are delicious!