text:
Tag: historical fiction
The Awakening Aten envelops the reader in an Egypt of whispers and fears, of webs within webs, deceit upon deceit. Its themes of murder, intrigue, political and religious conflict, corruption, tomb robbing, war and executions are set against a background of fundamental ideological change.
Ancient Egypt is seen through the eyes of two families; one royal, the other commoner. Yuya, whose tomb is in the Valley of the Kings, is a foreigner who rises from slavery to become Regent to an infant Pharaoh and thus, the most powerful man in the world's wealthiest empire. His children and descendants will remain at the very heart of the country's destiny. Kha is a tomb painter and builder who experiences both the despair of imprisonment and the horror of war. As Overseer of the King's Works he restores the Great Sphinx, and inscribes the 'Dream Stela' placed between its paws, still visible today. Through tragic and deathly events his family and that of Yuya become entwined.
This is the fictional tale of real people, whose possessions and artefacts can be seen in museums throughout the world. It gives a voice to those people, inspired by their personal items, buried with them 3,000 years ago.
Publisher: Troubador Publishing (21 May 2019)
I haven't been able to read much fiction set in Ancient Egypt, I tend to stick with nonfiction on this 'subject matter' and I'm pretty passionate about history and for years as a child, I wanted to be an Egyptologist, but that's just me fangirling over Egypt. So, let's get to the heart of the matter.
The Awakening Aten. This is a promising start to a generational saga. Morrissey obviously did his research for this book, I was really impressed by the dedication shown in the history of this book. There are characters that were straight from the pages of history, many real, some purely fictional but all flowed seamlessly together and unless you recalled the list at the start that stated who was 'real' and who was fictional, they all blended together.
Some of you may be familiar with the story of Joseph, a biblical figure who rose from slave to being a respected and powerful man in Egypt. If you read this you'll see similarities between him and Yuya, the man who he could have been based on. [Also a cool DreamWorks film that I really like haha]
Yuya rises from slave to the most powerful man in Egypt but he keeps his own ideology and faith while supporting those of family and friends who worship as most do in Egypt at this time period.
There is a long cast of characters for this, from all walks of life and backgrounds. An older generation their children and grandchildren those surrounded in their world.
Yuya's friend Kha was one of my favorite characters and I really enjoyed his arc and the others as well. Being recalled to a world over 3000 years gone, it doesn't lessen the connection I had with these characters. They were men and women who loved, toiled, and went through tragedies and triumphs no matter if they were Royalty, powerful men risen from their circumstances, or just artists who were passionate for their work.
There is a question of faith whether mono or polytheistic, and it's interesting to see how Morrissey has taken the shift of many gods to one in Egypt's history.
The ending has left me unable to contain my enthusiasm to read book two and I am already waiting for its release.
A rich and in-depth novel on Ancient Egypt and characters who connect to us across the ages.
I'm a huge fan and know I will return to Yuya, Kha, and the others again and again. Thanks to Anne Cater, Aidan K. Morrissey and Troubador publishing for a chance to read and honestly review this as part of the Random Things blog tour.
I am of Irish heritage and was the first member of my immediate family to be born outside of Ireland. My professional life has caused me to travel the world. I am now looking forward to settling in the North East of England, to concentrate on writing.
A graduate in Law from Leicester University, after working for some years in a commercial environment, I qualified as a Solicitor in 1981.
My career developed in an unusual way and I have lived and worked at various times in Italy, Brazil, the United States, India and Germany.
I have always had a love and fascination for history. A holiday in Egypt sparked a particular passion for Ancient Egypt, especially the latter part of the 18th Dynasty. A history, which Pharaoh Horemeb (Djeser-Kheperu-Ra circa 1319-1292 BCE) tried to destroy and which only came to light following the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922.
'The Awakening Aten' is the culmination of many years of research.
I have built up a substantial collection of academic books and novels on Ancient Egypt, its customs, traditions and daily life. I am fortunate to have been able to visit all of the major museums containing artefacts from Egypt throughout the world, as well as spending months in Egypt itself studying the funereal valleys and other sites. All of this supplemented by internet research.
This novel is the first in a plannned five book series, looking at the fictional lives of real people through a period of major political and religious change, spanning approximately 130 years.
My hobbies are reading, which I enjoy as much as I do writing, and taking bracing walks along the North East Coast and in the Northumberland Hills.
Tagged Ancient Egypt, Egypian Mythology, Egyptology, Gods, historical fiction, history, Mythology, Pharaohs, Random Things Blog Tour, Saga, The Awakening Aten
JSS Bach- Blog Tour
July 4, 2019 July 4, 2019 TheCaffeinatedReader4 Comments
SS Bach is the story of three generations of women from either side of Germany's 20th Century horror story – one side, a Jewish family from Vienna, the other linked to a ranking Nazi official at Dachau concentration camp – who suffer the consequences of what men do. Fast forward to 1990s California, and two survivors from the families meet. Rosa is a young Australian musicologist; Otto is a world-famous composer and cellist. Music and history link them. A novel of music, the Holocaust, love, and a dog. The author's writing is a wonderland, captivating and drawing the reader in to the presented world. Time becomes no object as a literary universe unfolds and carries the reader through eighty years, where emotions are real and raw and beautifully given.
Publisher: Wrecking Ball Press; Hardcover edition (4 Mar. 2019)
Where do I start? This holds all the horrors and beauty of mankind. The fact that even when someone isn't good they can still do good. It's a book that shows how the past echoes on in the future, how it really affects people rather than the imprint it just leaves in history books.
Goodman immediately drops you into the story, he doesn't waste time on flowery prose and shows you the heart of the matter, the journey he wants to take you on. It's one that's not for the faint hearted. He also is brilliant at describing history in such a modern and stark way. He shows how ugly things were, how brutal it was, and yet his words are elegant, poignant, guiding you through brutal honesty and lyricism of music.
Three generations of women from the same family have been entangled in Otto's life, whether they know it or not. Katja is the origins of it all and her character is not an easy one to appreciate, but, Goodman does a good job showing you enough about her to at least have some understanding on certain parts of her workings. I can appreciate the struggles she went through though they are justified in many ways.
Her daughter Uwe broke my heart, if there was ever a character that I wanted to reach out and cherish, it's her. The child of two Nazis, and yet just an innocent life herself. She bears the burden of the shame brought on to her by her parents, hated by others for simply being born to them. It's a hard life to live, and really it was a heartbreaking read overall but especially for her, Otto, and Greta. In fact the reason I rated this 4.5 instead of 5 is simply because I wish there would have been more to Uwe's story, and the women in general but this story in reality is about Otto more than anyone else in my opinion.
Otto himself is a character full of turmoil, tragedy, and isolation. Goodman breathes him to life, there's not one moment where his actions are believable, the way he lives his life, the choices he's made. The only thing I struggled to believe was a certain moment that occurs in the book once it's back to 1994, but I won't say it and spoil it, it was quite a small issue, and one though I don't agree with, it makes sense why Goodman put it in. In fact the rest of the story is pretty flawless, I just wanted more because I think it needed more about the women but it's hard to argue with the choices Goodman has made. Otto though, he is the true main character in my humble opinion, and your heart will be gripped by him.
Rosa is Katja's Granddaughter and Uwe's daughter, raised by Katja, she's grown up in a world knowing the stark truth about her grandparents but never knowing her own past entirely, told that her father had died, and not at all knowing who he was. She is tugged by the past onto a path that will eventually lead her to Otto.
And at the heart of everything, the main reason I wanted to read this, is music.
Otto is a brilliant cellist and composer, Katja was a musician until she went deaf (not a spoiler as you find out within the first few pages she is indeed unable to hear), and Rosa is a musicologist. Fun fact, My postgrad is in Musicology, so I was a bit critical of the musical aspects of this, and Goodman certainly did his research, I was pretty impressed and he didn't overreach, it was a perfect balance. Music connects Otto to his family and to Katja, to Rosa later on, and it draws people in and strips them down to the bare bones of their pain and joy, its something that can't be quantified or explained but I loved the way Goodman wrote about it, the sensations it brings in emotions and to our bodies.
As I stated earlier, this book is not for the faint hearted. This shows the brutality and violence of WWII, there are Nazis before and after the war, there are people who are cruel, but it's never needless cruelty or violence in Goodman's writing, it all adds purposefully to the story.
4.5/5 Cups of coffee and I tip my hat to Goodman. This was a brilliant novel that broke my heart in the best ways. Thanks to Anne for letting me be part of this tour and thanks to Goodman for the copy of his book. [I don't typically write this in blog tours but of course my honest opinion was given in exchange]
Martin Goodman was born in Leicester, and has lived and worked in China, Qatar, the USA, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy and France. Travel forms a large part of his writing: both for strictly travel-related books and also for novels and biographies. His first novel ON BENDED KNEES was shortlisted for the Whitbread prize, and his most recent biography SUFFER AND SURVIVE won 1st Prize, Basis of Medicine in the BMA Book Awards 2008. He is the Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Hull. He lives in Hull, London and the French Pyrenees. 'Such narrow, narrow confines we live in. Every so often, one of us primates escapes these dimensions, as Martin Goodman did. All we can do is rattle the bars and look after him as he runs into the hills. We wait for his letters home.'
– The Los Angeles Times
Tagged Anne Cater, Bach, Blog Tour, Book Review, Books, Cello, Composer, healing, historical fiction, history, J SS Bach, Jewish musician, love, Martin Goodman, Music, Musicology, Nazis, Random Things Blog Tour, the past, three generations of women, WWII
Mini Review Day
July 1, 2019 July 1, 2019 TheCaffeinatedReader1 Comment
On April 5th, 1948, Gold met Kennig…
Inspired by the true story of a WWII marine and the love of his life, Christopher M. Struck has crafted a haunting tale of love, devotion, sacrifice…and betrayal.
Daniel Kennig only has one ambition: to be the greatest singer to have ever lived. While headlining at a mid-tier nightclub in Manhattan he meets Cynthia Gold. Smitten with the golden-haired heiress, the young couple begin a romantic rendezvous at the possible expense of his career.
**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC copy, my honest review has been given in exchange below.**
This book was a sweet concept but it fell a little flat for me. I think it was actually Kennig who just didn't seem fleshed out enough for my personal preference but Gold was very intriguing and I did love that Kennig was a male singer and model at one point, something a little different! The book is done in sweet flashbacks and moments in the present. The writing style is easy to read and I really enjoyed reading about their travels and the tour. A nice heartfelt read for those it can appeal to.
To me it just felt on the verge of going deeper but never daring to, and I think that's what slightly disappointed me. Not to mention the part that seemed 'flattest' to me was Gold himself, and I was unsure how to take the advice he gave our Journalist friend who acts as the go between, between present time and the past through the letters he reads.
That is one thing I did enjoy, that it was the Journalist reading letters to reveal the past and Gold himself filling in the necessary blanks when needed.
This does have a bit of a religious undertone just as a warning for those who may not enjoy that, it wasn't the theme of the book nor was it overriding the plot, just part of the story.
"Vivid, gripping and actually riveting as the Red Danger takes a whole new meaning here. Loved it." —The Book Smugglers
It is the waning days of the Russian monarchy. A reckless man rules the land and his dragons rule the sky. Though the Tsar aims his dragons at his enemies—Jews and Bolsheviks—his entire country is catching fire. Conspiracies suffuse the royal court: bureaucrats jostle one another for power, the mad monk Rasputin schemes for the Tsar's ear, and the desperate queen takes drastic measures to protect her family.
Revolution is in the air—and the Red Army is hatching its own weapons.
Discover Russia's October Revolution, reimagined in flight by the acclaimed mother-and-son writing team of the Locus Award-winning novel, Pay the Piper, and the Seelie Wars series.
**I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.**
An interesting take on history and use of metaphors, I did believe though that there was more research needed on the historical and linguistic aspects of the novel. Overall I thought it was creative and intriguing, but of course as a novella there is only so much that can be revealed in such a short time frame. I would say that if you're interested in Russian revolutionary history and don't mind a large reach of creative license, then it is worth the quick read.
I do love that the other dragons were red, thought that was quite clever and got a chuckle out of me.
The novel is allegorical and I enjoyed that part, I would have loved to give this a higher rating but I couldn't knowing that there was quite a bit wrong with the linguistics, and though it is fiction, the note at the back like another review mentioned, forgets to add that one of the daughters of Tsar is entirely fictional in this book and not at all a real person. Most of history reads of the nonfiction variety are Russian Revolution books so I'm a bit of a stickler for this.
The fact that the dragons show the same power just different colors is an important message the authors did deliver pretty well in my opinion. It wasn't a bad read, just that I hoped for more. I think though that this had some really great ideas and I enjoyed Rasputin's chapters the most.
A young man struggling to forge his own path… A priestess forced to conceive an heir… A forbidden love…
Captured in a sweep of beings from Earth to aid planet Remeon's dying society, Jack is plagued by deep ceded deception and mind control from those on the planet who seek to dictate the end of life choices of their citizens.
Sides are chosen as ancient magical powers thought to be long dead align to intervene in the fate of the two young lovers forcing a chain of events in motion that cannot be undone.
Truths will be destroyed. Myths will find life. Whose ultimate power will reign?
Thank you so much the publisher for letting me read this for free via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Garrett has some really interesting ideas, and I love that the time period for our hero was in the time of the building of the Hoover Dam. I felt her writing was strongest during the historical side, and though I loved the ideas she had, I think there maybe too many. A lot of times it felt like a whole jumble of ideas on spin cycle and you weren't sure which one was supposed to be the main one or which was important at all. I think though that there's a lot of promise in Garrett's writing style and the story had some very tender moments which I appreciated. The style of the sci-fi writing was pretty 'classic' and it reminded me a little of 'Dune' in style and ideas but there wasn't the same strength behind it. The ending was done well and it left it open ended enough that you hope she writes another but if she doesn't, you're still left hoping haha.
Unfortunately the love didn't feel tangible to me between the two characters romantically and that was a struggle to read through. It was insta-love and it was badly done insta-love, I could not find it in me to believe they had a relationship at all and it went amazingly fast in terms of pacing. Maybe it's because I'm a slow mover but I was slightly panicked for them! Also they were like 16 year olds deciding to have a child together while practicing magic and one is human and one is not. It's just a lot to take in.
Slightly disappointed the alien's only difference physically was that she had silver hair.
The friendship between Harry and Jack also feels very fabricated though the friendship between Jack and Sam is very genuine and the best part of the story, hands down.
The things i did like were Garrett's time period choice, the basic premise, I mean it's classic, alien abduction, I loved it, and the fact that she went with old school sci-fi. The problems with old school sci-fi though are pretty deep, and Garrett's seemed to be slightly tinged with one its problems, sexism.
Assassin's Creed meets Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in this gripping, epic fantasy romance trilogy.
My heart wasn't part of the deal when I bargained for my life,
But assassins so rarely keep their word.
Exiled Charmer Leena Edenfrell is running out of time. Empty pockets forced her to sell her beloved magical beasts-an offense punishable by death-and now there's a price on her head. With the realm's most talented murderer-for-hire nipping at her heels, Leena makes Noc an offer he can't refuse: powerful mythical creatures in exchange for her life.
Plagued by a curse that kills everyone he loves, Noc agrees to Leena's terms in hopes of finding a cure. Never mind that the dark magic binding the assassin's oath will eventually force him to choose between Leena's continued survival…and his own.
In a game of trust and half-lies, only one thing can be certain: traps capture more than beasts and ensnared hearts are impossible to untangle.
This book was such an unexpected joy to read. Though labeled as sci-fi it did remind me more of steampunk fantasy, and you'll hear no complaints out of me because that's the aspect I loved best! Honestly, the beasts were so interesting and I love the way Martineau describes them, she's got a talent for descriptive writing without overwhelming with details. Leena is a great character and the whole cast is except and somewhat diverse in LGBTQ rep which was really nice. It's not often we get a bisexual male main character like Noc, another great character that is a delighted balance to Leena. The side characters are fleshed out well and I might have enjoyed them more than even Leena and Noc! And don't get me started on the plot, it was great and I cannot wait to see what happens in book 2.
It is a slow burn romance and never loses sight of the plot and really it made it such a great read for me, the pacing was wonderful both in action and romance and the world is lush and creative. Martineau has impressed me and I wish I would have read this sooner! If you like romance of the slow burning variety and fantasy, join me in loving this book lol. Please.
My only qualms was that it as slightly predictable but that's also why I enjoyed it if that makes sense, there's no major twists or surprises but the joy was in the journey and the beasts.
The beasts were also really nicely hashed out, I actually had a really strong urge to go play Pokemon Go after reading this. Going to different locations to capture beasts….I mean…can you blame me? I didn't get as much an 'Assassin's Creed' vibe though, and that's okay, I was just happy enough there were assassins!
Also, the Charmers have the coolest place ever, I want to go visit…and battle like a trainer. Half Jk.
Again. Now to just wait for book 2. Bah, humbug.
Forrest Gump meets Woody Allen in this endearing story about a sea turtle seeking to be reunited with the love of his life.
When Akela is separated from his migrant soulmate, Kalea, he will do anything to be reunited with her. Journey with this charming and neurotic sea turtle as he crosses paths with celebrities, politicians, and other moments in history with unbreakable determination to be reunited with his love.
**I received this book from the Publishers via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.**
If you love introspective fiction and/or sea turtles, this will definitely be something you'll want to pick up.
That's it. That's my review. (jk jk)
On amore serious not, this is a great novel and it's all about Akela's journey to find those he thinks are part of his purpose, in the beginning it's his mother, later on it's his mate, and along the way he meets a variety of people and animals who help/hinder him on his journey. He learns there is more to life than being afraid of the open water and that in order to get what you want, there will work and possibly sacrifice along the way. Most importantly though was Akela's realization of who he was along this journey, what was important to him and what he discovered about himself at the end. I would say the ending really was lovely and the book did make my heart break a little at times but I also smiled and laughed as Uytdewilligen incorporates famous people with Akela who becomes a bit infamous to the humans, he spends time as being accused as part of grand Soviet schemes all the way to becoming the poster child for ocean pollution but I won't give away more than that, you'll have to read it to see how Akela ends up in these situations.
Seriously, Akela meets presidents, that's right, plural. The book played out like a movie in my mind, Uytdewilligen did a great job being descriptive and keeping the pacing pretty decent. There were a couple of slumps but I felt that overall the drive of the story was never lost and sometimes I just wanted to shake Akela and say 'get to it, your woman is out there!' The cast of characters Akela encounters in the way of animals are all brilliant, and I enjoyed them so much more than the fascinating human encounters.
Overall I found this to be a very thoughtful read, it causes a lot of self reflection if you enjoy it and I certainly fell in love with Akela himself. The ending was beautiful and absolutely perfect for this book.
The massive labyrinth was built to protect Zadie Kalvers' isolated desert town. Unfortunately, living in the maze's shadow makes her feel anything but safe. Even without its enchanted deathtraps and illusions, a notorious killer named Dex lurks in its corridors, terrorizing anyone in his path.
But when Zadie's best friend vanishes into the labyrinth-and everyone mysteriously forgets he exists- completing the maze becomes her only hope of saving him. In desperation, Zadie bribes the only person who knows the safe path through-Dex-into forming a tenuous alliance.
Navigating a deadly garden, a lethal blood-filled hourglass, and other traps-with an untrustworthy murderer for her guide-Zadie's one wrong step from certain death. But with time running out before her friend (and secret crush) is lost forever, Zadie must reach the exit and find him. If Dex and the labyrinth don't kill her first.
I'm dystopia trash with absolutely no regrets about it. Saying that, I really felt this was a four cups of coffee read. Tate does a great job to blend in fantasy with sci-fi/dystopia.
Their town is the only one left as their leader tells them. Everything else has died, they are the only ones lucky enough to take part in having protection from the leader and getting the water he provides. However he is one that likes to keep his distance anyone who wants to see him has to go through the Labyrinth. And it doesn't enjoy visitors.
The Labyrinth rests on territory that is still infused with magic and not even the residents of Zadie's town who all have amazing skills, except for Zadie and the others known as 'Blanks,' stand a chance. But more than that, in the labyrinth lives Dex, the monster that everyone knows of, he kidnaps people into the labyrinth and when they come back, they're never the same.
So why does Zadie as a blank venture forth? Her best friend (and secret crush, as stated) is missing and she dares to brave the maze to get him back and help her family because something isn't quite right, the Skilled aren't acting normal and communication to their leader has been cut off.
Tate gives us a story where the one without the skills is rare, and weak. There's no doubt that Zadie knows she's no match for a person with skills, whether it's just one skill or more. But this is kind of a nice approach, she's not special in the sense that she's overpowered, but in that she isn't. So her strength will have to come from somewhere else and it will have to show up along the way or she'll never survive the maze.
The maze itself was so incredibly fun to read about, a bit of Hunger Games meets Alice in Wonderland for how it works and the rest of the world is just as intriguing. All the information that Tate gives us is used well and I have to say I sincerely hope there's another book for this, if not, the ending does satisfy enough, but holy cow the possibilities for what could happen next are endless!
I love Dex, you all can take him from my cold dead fingers.
There we have it, my mini reviews for the day!
Tagged akela, aliens, Book Review, charmes, dystopia, Fantasy, fiction, historical fiction, kennig & gold, kingdom of exiles, martineau, Mini reviews, netgalley, philosophy, remeon's quest, russian revolution, Sci-Fi, self reflection, space, the beast charmer, the last tsar's dragons, the red labyrinth, YA fiction
Finer Things Review
**Thank you to Sandstone Press for sending me a copy of this book, below is my honest review in exchange for receiving the book.**
London: 1963.
The lives of a professional shoplifter and a young art student collide. Delia needs to atone for a terrible mistake; Tess is desperate to convince herself she really is an artist. Elsewhere in London, the Krays are on the rise and a gang war is in the offing.
Tess's relationship with her gay best friend grows unexpectedly complicated, and Delia falls for a man she's been paid to betray.
This was such a creative premise for a novel. I always love a good historical fiction but this grabbed me from the moment I glanced at the cover. But finding out it was basically a 1960s Female centered version with hints of 'Ocean's 11'? Oh I was all in. Disclaimer: This is way better than Ocean's 11, and I refuse to talk about any movies from that after Ocean's 12. They don't exist in my world.
[Funnily enough my husband asked if the model on the cover was Joan from 'Mad Men' and considering that was focused on the 60s I would say they really nailed it with this cover.]
Wharton absolutely brings his A game to his debut novel, his writing is completely engaging and when I think of this book the first thing that comes to mind for me is 'beautiful.'
The characters had so much intrigue to them, and the fact that he kept true to the time period of the 60s without taking away from the integrity of the characters just impressed me.
There was a whimsical air to Delia and I have to say she was my favorite, for being someone so utterly raw and from her roots she was like a changeling with a hint of the old ways in her superstitions.
Tess was complex and I think I would have wanted to see more of her but I was happy enough with how Wharton introduces her to us. She's young, in London and trying to figure out who she is. Her story is also one that really resonates with the times. There was such a love of art and to see her blossom in her concepts of it was really great and her journey with Jimmy was one that I really appreciated at the end for all its difficulties and the heart aching truth of it all.
David Wharton gave a truly brilliant debut novel and I loved it, keep an eye out for this book and his future works. If you like a more 'modern' historical fiction or just a good fiction novel in general, I hope you'll give this book a try.
"David Wharton grew up in Northumberland and lives in Leicester, where he has worked in education for many years. He now divides his time between writing fiction and training English teachers. Finer Things is his first novel."
Tagged 1960s, Arts, book blogger, Book Review, Books, Brilliant fiction, David Wharton, debut novel, fiction, Finer Things, historical fiction, Hoisters, London, Mad Men Vibe, Sandstone Press
The Amber Maze Blog Tour
June 5, 2019 June 6, 2019 TheCaffeinatedReader1 Comment
Hi there, first off I just want to apologize for this post.
I don't know what happened but it appears WordPress deleted it at some point…well..not the title, it kept that. But my nice whole post was empty and I wouldn't have noticed it at all if Christopher Bowden hadn't said something himself!
So please, my apologies on that front!
While staying in a Dorset cottage, Hugh Mullion finds a mysterious key down the side of an antique chair. No one can say how long the key has been there or what it opens.
Hugh's search for answers will unlock the secrets of the troubled life of a talented artist, destined to be hailed a neglected genius fifty years too late. And no secret is darker than that of The Amber Maze, from whose malign influence he never escaped.
The trail takes Hugh from Edwardian Oxfordshire to 1960s Camden Town, where the ghosts of the past are finally laid to rest.
This book was a wonderfully light and delightfully read. Bowden manages to give you a historical tied to today mystery and does it in such a great length. It impresses me when someone writes a shorter book and manages to fit everything necessary without overwhelming the reader or leaving things out, and Bowden impressed me. The Amber Maze was also the perfect read for me after reading such heavy novels in length and content.
The way Hugh gets into these situations is a wonderful part of this character's personality, he has a need to uncover the truth with even something as small as an old plain key.
The story that Bowden writes for us keeps you intrigued the whole time and his knowledge of art is obvious without being overbearing for those who may not know much about art, I actually felt like I came away with more art knowledge and really enjoyed that as someone who loves art!
If you're needing a light read that delivers on some mystery and history, then I highly recommend The Amber Maze.
Thank you to Christopher Bowden for the copy of his book as part of this blog tour, and thanks to Anne Cater for let me take part in the tour!
Christopher Bowden lives in south London. He is the author of six novels, each with a colour theme. The Amber Maze, published in September 2018, is the latest. His previous books have been praised variously by Andrew Marr, Julian Fellowes, Sir Derek Jacobi, and Shena Mackay. Of his third novel, The Red House, Sir Derek said, "Very entertaining, cleverly constructed and expertly paced. I thoroughly enjoyed it."
Tagged Art, Blog Tour, blogging, Book Review, Books, Christopher Bowden, historical fiction, mystery, The Amber Maze
I Will Find You Review
I Will Find You, a tale of mystery and intrigue which starts in wartime Fenland near Ely and then moves halfway across the globe to Australia. John Taylor's story is colourful, poignant and moving as it charts the journey of young Robbie Spalding and his path from a Dr. Barnardos Home in Cambridge to a new life on the other side of the world. Robbie becomes Nick Thorne and this account of his arrival into adulthood is more than a little tragic and filled with unexpected twists and turns.
Touching, funny, sad and filled with drama, I will find you is an authentic and pacey read, gripping and compelling, and will certainly keep the readers' attention until the last page is turned. Expect to shed a tear for the casualties of war.
First off I would like to thank the Author, John M. Taylor for sending me a copy of his book to read and review, this was done so with the intent that I would give an honest review in exchange. And that's what you all will find here, my honest review!
I will say I was intrigued from the description of the book alone and historical fiction especially one based on true stories. Taylor did seven years of research for this and the child migrant stories deeply resonated, the horrible truths of history are at the heart of this novel.
Some may not know but Aboriginal children were once taken by Australia's white and western government, this was done so that they could be better integrated into Western society including the healthcare and education systems which were considered a cut above what was offered from the homes of the children. Of course doing this destroyed families and a cultural system that had been in place long before Western civilization touched Australia.
[And no matter what we do now I'm afraid it will always be a 'too little, too late' scenario…truly heartbreaking.]
This is spoken about in this novel but another issue was that of migrant children who were taken from their homes in say England as the boy in this novel and sent to Australia to be adopted. I would go into it more, gladly but the author does a brilliant job himself and I'm not going to spoil it for you all.
Taylor really sets you up for a story that takes you on quite an emotional ride. It's a story that shoes not only what people did to the natives of Australia but to their own children and how one boy's journey to figure out his history leads him through the lives of others. As said before, Taylor really did his research for this novel and not just with the darker parts of history but he made sure to do justice when writing about Aboriginal villages and ways of life and he never presumes to know more than he does about the culture or to write about things that are too culturally sensitive which is a great relief in this day and age.
The story is really well paced and extremely well written, I mean I barely wanted to put this book down the whole time. I needed to read more about Australia or Robert or find out what was going to happen in the Outback. I would strongly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or even just looking for a book to really tug on the heartstrings.
If you have ever read The Thorn Birds this book spans the same sort of saga/epic story the only difference being this is the story and saga of one boy versus a family though he is not alone, and his journey will bring the story of others as he travels. Robert is on one quest, and that is to find his Mother.
While chatting with the Author and thanking him again, John sent me this great magazine article in relation to his research and his book and I'm sharing it below because I just think it's such a good read and might sway those on the fence about the book.
This was certainly a five star read for me.
Tagged Aboriginals, Australia, Book Review, bookblogging, Books, dark history, epic journey, historical fiction, I Will Find You, migrant children, quest, support authors, The Outback
The House on Rosebank Lane eARC Review
April 12, 2019 April 9, 2019 TheCaffeinatedReader1 Comment
Edinburgh, 1953.
Kirsten Mowat, eighteen years old and with a joyful spring in her step, couldn't be more in love with her sea-faring sweetheart Duncan Armstrong.
But, seven years later – after a hasty wedding, a twist of lies and wrenching loss – Duncan and Kirsten's relationship has faded to tatters. When those closest to her turn their backs, Kirsten – alone, with a young family to care for – must gather all her spirit and strength if they are to survive.
From much-loved Millie Gray, The House on Rosebank Lane is an Edinburgh story of families entwined, of sorrow and hopefulness . . . and of a young mother's love for her children and a transforming quest for happiness.
Millie Gray does a great job giving us a look back at Edinburgh through the 50s toward the 70s, not only that but she gives you a truly heartstring tugging and simultaneously heartwarming tale of not just one woman but the others in her life. At first, I found it difficult to feel sympathy for Kirsten but that soon changed once you saw the radiance of her love as a mother. After that, I may not have approved of everything she did or didn't do, but I gained respect for our main protagonist. I also greatly enjoyed the look back into the pasts of some of the other characters. Kirsten's love for a mother isn't just radiant but it's real, she makes mistakes and deals with lasting consequences but you never once question the fact that she loved her children, and I think that's what really drew me to this story, the heart of it all. You wanted to cheer them on, Kirsten, Dixie, Stella, Eddie, Jane, even Jessie! I was not expecting this to make me tear up, but it did and it was a satisfying read that I really didn't want to put down until I'd finished it.
I would recommend for anyone who reads these sort of heartwarming and tear-inducing tales, Millie Gray has certainly done a brilliant job with it!
The object of this story wasn't the romance but that did fit in nicely [and a good 'slow burn' if I may!] it was about the love of Motherhood, and even a bit of Fatherhood at one part. I can honestly say I don't usually want to read 'mushy' or emotional reads but I wanted to read this one as it was a story located in Edinburgh.
This doesn't drag on, and I think one of my few complaints besides that I didn't always like Kirsten (and I wouldn't say that was a complaint) was that I felt it was unresolved where Stella was concerned but I still greatly enjoyed it. I cried a little, got exasperated, sighed in frustration and smiled at the end. Makes for a pretty great read if you ask me.
Tagged Adult Fiction, B&W Publishing, Books, eARC, Edinburgh, historical fiction, Inspiring, netgalley, Reviews


Chinese New Year -slash- Lunar New Year is less than a week away! Who's excited? Well, I am! Of course, being a female, the Chinese New Year celebration wouldn't be completed without the distinctive makeup for the occasion, right? My friends and I collaborated to present you three makeup tutorials for you, hoping to give you makeup inspirations for this festive occasion.
Starting the fall semester, I came to learn on how to shop online in Korea and as you can guess, I bought like a lot. Korean online shops have so many unexpected discounts which allow me to buy the beauty products in lower price compared to buying at the road shops. But wait, the authenticity? No worries, because it's guaranteed that the products sold are original and authentic products.
Welcoming winter means the weather is getting dry and so does my skin which also means, changes in my skin care routines. Here's my updated skin care routines per your request, though I didn't include some that I've mentioned in my previous skin care routines post.


Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 8-inch square pan with cooking spray.
In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, flour, almond extract and egg until dough forms. Press half of dough into bottom of pan; bake 15 minutes. Spread jam over base. Crumble remaining dough over jam.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 2 hours. For bars, cut into 5 rows by 5 rows.
Try apricot, blackberry or strawberry jam for the raspberry.


This year you have no excuses; it's time to welcome the New Year like you have never done before. From New York to Los Angeles, our Jet Charter Service has come up with some of the most enticing cities from which to usher in the New Year. Out with the old and in with the new; so let's celebrate this season of change the best way we can. Consider Renting one of our Private Jets and heading over to any one of these amazing cities to ring in the New Year.
You know what's in Orlando? Disney World! Don't be surprised, Disney World really knows how to throw a New Year's party that is suitable for both children and adults. Most Disney World New Year's events are food-based; enjoy prix-fixe meals at Monsieur Paul or dine as you watch the fireworks at the California Grill. You will also have the pleasure of experiencing live band performances, dancing parties, or drinks at the Atlantic Dance Hall. If you purchase VIP tickets, however, you will have additional access to a personal dessert bar and an exclusive bar tender. The only downside to Disney World on New Year's is that the queues are extremely long and for this reason, we advise you to purchase FastPass tickets; they may be more expensive than ordinary tickets but they are totally worth it if you want to make the most out of the day.
This is one of the most popular New Year's Eve destinations, not just in the United States, but in the world, and the famous Times Square is where most of the magic happens. This iconic location is where hundreds of thousands of people gather every New Year's Eve to watch the Ball Drop as they count down the last few seconds to the New Year. If you purchase an official party pass you will have access to fancy open bars, where you and your friends can burn some time as you wait for the New Year. Besides Times Square, the city also boasts of over 100,000 different places where you can enjoy a drink as you usher in the New Year. These include the STK Rooftop, which overlooks the Hudson River, the Monarch Rooftop Lounge that has a great view of the Empire State Building, and many more awesome spots. Head over to New York on New Year's Eve, we promise you're going to have a blast.
San Francisco's is located on the bay, which affords the city spectacular New Year's Eve events including epic fireworks shows. Try the Hornblower's Festivities by Boat, which will feature brunch, dinner, and exquisite fireworks cruises. Elsewhere in the city, there will be several New Year's Eve parties including the Black and White Ball hosted by the San Francisco Symphony and the Passport to the World Party that features live music, numerous DJ's, and an open bar. However, if you're into more casual events, you can head over to the mellow Twin Peaks, which is one of the highest points in the city, to watch fireworks brighten the sky at midnight.


text:
Parasaurolophus (na forma aportuguesada, parassaurolofo) é um gênero extinto de dinossauros ornitópodes herbívoros que viveu onde hoje é a América do Norte e a Ásia durante o Cretáceo Superior, cerca de 76.5–73 milhões de anos atrás. Eram herbívoros que andavam tanto bípedes quanto quadrúpedes. Três espécies são reconhecidas universalmente: P. walkeri (a espécie-tipo), P. tubicen e P. cyrtocristatus. Uma quarta espécie, P. jiayensis, foi proposta, mas esta é mais comumente classifica no gênero separado Charonosaurus. Fósseis são conhecidos de Alberta (no Canadá), Novo México e Utah (nos Estados Unidos) e possivelmente Heilongjiang (na China). O gênero foi primeiramente descrito pelo paleontólogo William Parks em 1922 a partir de um crânio e um esqueleto parcial encontrados em Alberta.

Etimologia
A palavra Parasaurolophus foi formado a partir de três termos do grego antigo,  [para] " perto paralelo ",  [saurus] "lagarto" e  [lophos] "crista".

Descrição

Como a maioria dos dinossauros, o esqueleto de Parasaurolophus é incompletamente conhecido. O comprimento do espécime do tipo do P. walkeri é estimado em , e seu peso é estimado em . Seu crânio é cerca de  de comprimento, incluindo a crista, enquanto o tipo de crânio do P. tubicen é cerca de  de comprimento, indicando um animal maior. Seu único membro anterior conhecido era relativamente curto para um hadrosaurídeo, com uma omoplata curta, mas larga. As medidas do fêmur eram  de comprimento no P. walkeri e é robusto para o seu comprimento quando comparado a outros hadrossaurídeos. O braço e os ossos pélvicos também foram fortemente construídos.

Como outros hadrossaurídeos, era capaz de andar em duas pernas ou quatro. Provavelmente preferia procurar comida em quatro patas, mas corria em duas. As espinhas neurais das vértebras eram altas, como era comum em lambeosaurus; mais alto sobre os quadris, eles aumentavam a altura das costas. As impressões cutâneas são conhecidas pelo P. walkeri, mostrando escamas semelhantes a tubérculos, mas sem estruturas maiores.

Crânio

A característica mais notável era a crista craniana, que se projetava da parte posterior da cabeça e era composta pelos ossos da pré-maxila e do nariz. William Parks, que nomeou o gênero, hipotetizou que um ligamento corria da crista para o entalhe para apoiar a cabeça, e citou a presença do entalhe possivelmente patológico como evidência. Embora essa ideia pareça improvável, Parasaurolophus às vezes é restaurado com uma aba de pele da crista ao pescoço. A crista era oca, com tubos distintos levando de cada narina até o final da crista antes de reverter a direção e voltar para a crista e para o crânio. Os tubos eram mais simples no P. walkeri e mais complexos no P. tubicen, onde alguns tubos eram cegos e outros se encontravam e se separavam. Enquanto P. walkeri e P. tubicen tinha cristas longas com apenas ligeira curvatura, P. cyrtocristatus tinha uma crista curta com um perfil mais circular.

Classificação
Como o próprio nome indica, Parasaurolophus foi inicialmente pensado para ser intimamente relacionado com Saurolophus por causa de sua crista superficialmente semelhante. No entanto, foi logo reavaliado como um membro da subfamília dos hadrossaurídeos de lambeossaurino—Saurolophus é um hadrossauro. Costuma-se interpretar como um desdobramento separado dos lambeossaurinos, distinto dos Corythosaurus, Hypacrosaurus e Lambeosaurus. Seu parente conhecido mais próximo parece ser o Charonosaurus, um lambeossaurino com um crânio similar (mas ainda não tem uma crista completa) da região de Amur, no nordeste da China., e os dois podem formar um clado Parasaurolophini. P. cyrtocristatus, com sua crista curta e arredondada, pode ser a mais basal das três espécies conhecidas de Parasaurolophus, ou pode representar espécimes subadultos ou femininos de P. tubicen.

O seguinte cladograma é após a redescrição de 2007 do Lambeosaurus magnicristatus (Evans e Reisz, 2007):

Descoberta e datação

O holótipo 768 do Museu Real de Ontário contém um crânio e um esqueleto parcial ao qual falta uma grande parte da cauda, bem como os membros posteriores abaixo dos joelhos. Foi encontrado por uma equipe da Universidade de Toronto, em 1920, perto de Sand Creek ao longo do rio Red Deer na província canadense de Alberta. Estes sedimentos fazem parte da formação Dinosaur Park, datada da parte média do Campaniano, entre 76 e 74,8 milhões de anos. William Parks deu o nome de P. walkeri a este espécime em homenagem a Byron Edmund Walker. Além deste espécime, os fósseis de Parasaurolophus são raros em Alberta, que tem somente um outro crânio parcial da formação Dinosaur Park, e três outros espécimes sem crânio aparentemente pertencentes ao gênero.

Ver também
 Outros dinossauros
 Taxonomia dos dinossauros

Citações

Ligações externas

Hadrosauridae
Dinossauros do Cretáceo
Dinossauros da América do Norte
Espécies fósseis descritas em 1922

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Philly's First eMagazine Gets Etsy-ized
By Karen Araiza	• Published at 1:55 pm on October 30, 2009
AroundMainLine.com/Vida Carson
Philly's first emagazine, AroundMainLine.com may be at that tingly, exciting place entrepreneurs dream of -- the tipping point. For Sarah Lockard, that would mean even less sleep!
The publisher and CEO of AroundMainLine.com has been crazy busy since launching her online venture last year. Now she's been Etsy-ized, which is a lot like an actor taking home a coveted Academy Award.
Etsy, the online mecca where upscale artisans sell their wares, spotlighted Sarah on their main page this week -- a huge kudos for her emagazine.
Etsy, one of Time Magazine's Top 50 Web sites for 2009, gives small businesses huge exposure, simply because the sheer number of people it reaches everyday. Time describes it as "a crafts-only marketplace oozing with personality...the long-haired, Birkenstocked love child of Amazon and Ebay."
One of Sarah's regular features, Etsy Phavorites, profiles local women who create, find and sell their wares online.
"As a big city with a small town feel, we are fiercely loyal and supportive of each other," Sarah says in the article.
"The streets of Philadelphia are alive with great stories that have yet to be told! It just made sense for me to seek out these fantastic local entrepreneurs and businesswomen who are talented artisans and handcrafters as well."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


nanomsg is a is a socket library that provides several common communication patterns. It aims to make the networking layer fast, scalable, and easy to use. Implemented in C, it works on a wide range of operating systems with no further dependencies.
Garrett has been working on and contributing to open source since 1991 as a student at Berkeley.


text:
"You shall make two cherubim of gold, make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat. "Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends. "The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing one another; the faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the mercy seat.read more.
"Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch. "This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. "You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. Christian Canvas Art
Thus says the Lord, "Go, buy a potter's earthenware flask, and take some of the elders of the people and some of the elders of the priests, and go out to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom at the entry of the Potsherd Gate, and proclaim there the words that I tell you. You shall say, 'Hear the word of the Lord, O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing such disaster upon this place that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. Because the people have forsaken me and have profaned this place by making offerings in it to other gods whom neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have known; and because they have filled this place with the blood of innocents, and have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or decree, nor did it come into my mind— ... Christian Canvas Art
The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him? So now send me a man skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, trained also in engraving, to be with the skilled workers who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.
As a secular, non-sectarian, universal notion of art arose in 19th-century Western Europe, ancient and Medieval Christian art began to be collected for art appreciation rather than worship, while contemporary Christian art was considered marginal. Occasionally, secular artists treated Christian themes (Bouguereau, Manet) — but only rarely was a Christian artist included in the historical canon (such as Rouault or Stanley Spencer). However many modern artists such as Eric Gill, Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Jacob Epstein, Elizabeth Frink and Graham Sutherland have produced well-known works of art for churches.[1] Salvador Dali is an artist who had also produced notable and popular artworks with Christian themes.[2] Contemporary artists such as Makoto Fujimura have had significant influence both in sacred and secular arts. Other notable artists include Larry D. Alexander and John August Swanson. Some writers, such as Gregory Wolfe, see this as part of a rebirth of Christian humanism.[3] Christian Canvas Art
He measured the length of the building along the front of the separate area behind it, with a gallery on each side, a hundred cubits; he also measured the inner nave and the porches of the court. The thresholds, the latticed windows and the galleries round about their three stories, opposite the threshold, were paneled with wood all around, and from the ground to the windows (but the windows were covered), over the entrance, and to the inner house, and on the outside, and on all the wall all around inside and outside, by measurement.read more. Share Your Faith Products
He also made two capitals of molten bronze to set on the tops of the pillars; the height of the one capital was five cubits and the height of the other capital was five cubits. There were nets of network and twisted threads of chainwork for the capitals which were on the top of the pillars; seven for the one capital and seven for the other capital. So he made the pillars, and two rows around on the one network to cover the capitals which were on the top of the pomegranates; and so he did for the other capital. The capitals which were on the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily design, four cubits. There were capitals on the two pillars, even above and close to the rounded projection which was beside the network; and the pomegranates numbered two hundred in rows around both capitals. Thus he set up the pillars at the porch of the nave; and he set up the right pillar and named it Jachin, and he set up the left pillar and named it Boaz. On the top of the pillars was lily design. So the work of the pillars was finished. Christian Gifts
He made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high. Then he made the sea of cast metal. It was round, ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference. Under it were figures of gourds, for ten cubits, compassing the sea all around. The gourds were in two rows, cast with it when it was cast. It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The sea was set on them, and all their rear parts were inward. Its thickness was a handbreadth. And its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily. It held 3,000 baths. ... Share Your Faith Products
In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. And the king said to them, "I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream." Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation." The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, "The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. ... Bible Verse Wall Art
"Now I am sending Huram-abi, a skilled man, endowed with understanding, the son of a Danite woman and a Tyrian father, who knows how to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone and wood, and in purple, violet, linen and crimson fabrics, and who knows how to make all kinds of engravings and to execute any design which may be assigned to him, to work with your skilled men and with those of my lord David your father. Share Your Faith Products
"The house which I am about to build will be great, for greater is our God than all the gods. "But who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except to burn incense before Him? "Now send me a skilled man to work in gold, silver, brass and iron, and in purple, crimson and violet fabrics, and who knows how to make engravings, to work with the skilled men whom I have in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. Bible Verse Wall Art
and in the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood, so as to perform in every inventive work. "He also has put in his heart to teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. "He has filled them with skill to perform every work of an engraver and of a designer and of an embroiderer, in blue and in purple and in scarlet material, and in fine linen, and of a weaver, as performers of every work and makers of designs. Bible Verse Wall Art
He made two cherubim of gold; he made them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat; one cherub at the one end and one cherub at the other end; he made the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at the two ends. The cherubim had their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward each other; the faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat. Christian Canvas Art
It was carved with cherubim and palm trees; and a palm tree was between cherub and cherub, and every cherub had two faces, a man's face toward the palm tree on one side and a young lion's face toward the palm tree on the other side; they were carved on all the house all around. From the ground to above the entrance cherubim and palm trees were carved, as well as on the wall of the nave. The doorposts of the nave were square; as for the front of the sanctuary, the appearance of one doorpost was like that of the other. The altar was of wood, three cubits high and its length two cubits; its corners, its base and its sides were of wood And he said to me, "This is the table that is before the LORD." The nave and the sanctuary each had a double door. Each of the doors had two leaves, two swinging leaves; two leaves for one door and two leaves for the other. Also there were carved on them, on the doors of the nave, cherubim and palm trees like those carved on the walls; and there was a threshold of wood on the front of the porch outside. There were latticed windows and palm trees on one side and on the other, on the sides of the porch; thus were the side chambers of the house and the thresholds. Christian Canvas Art
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com. Cite this page: Editor: Stephen Smith. Publication date: Jun 3, 2019. Publisher: OpenBible.info. Christian Gifts
Early Christian art survives from dates near the origins of Christianity. The oldest Christian sculptures are from sarcophagi, dating to the beginning of the 2nd century. The largest groups of Early Christian paintings come from the tombs in the Catacombs of Rome, and show the evolution of the depiction of Jesus, a process not complete until the 6th century, since when the conventional appearance of Jesus in art has remained remarkably consistent. Bible Verse Wall Art
In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord. The house that King Solomon built for the Lord was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, equal to the width of the house, and ten cubits deep in front of the house. And he made for the house windows with recessed frames. He also built a structure against the wall of the house, running around the walls of the house, both the nave and the inner sanctuary. And he made side chambers all around. ... Bible Verse Wall Art
"Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests—Aaron and Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him for my priesthood. These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests. They shall receive gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. ... Share Your Faith Products
A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. ... Christian Canvas Art
Until the adoption of Christianity by Constantine Christian art derived its style and much of its iconography from popular Roman art, but from this point grand Christian buildings built under imperial patronage brought a need for Christian versions of Roman elite and official art, of which mosaics in churches in Rome are the most prominent surviving examples. Christian art was caught up in, but did not originate, the shift in style from the classical tradition inherited from Ancient Greek art to a less realist and otherworldly hieratic style, the start of gothic art. Bible Verse Wall Art
"Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests—Aaron and Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him for my priesthood. These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests. They shall receive gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. ... Bible Verse Wall Art


text:
The Shepherd Gate Clock () is mounted on the wall outside the gate of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich building in Greenwich, Greater London. The clock, an early example of an electrically connected clock system, was a sympathetic clock mechanism controlled by electric pulses transmitted by a motor clock inside the main building. The network of 'sympathetic clocks' was constructed and installed by Charles Shepherd in 1852. The clock by the gate was probably the first to display Greenwich Mean Time to the public, and is unusual in using the 24-hour analog dial.  Also it originally showed astronomical time which started at 12 noon not midnight.

The gate clock distributed the time publicly; another time signal of the observatory was the time ball, since 1833. The time ball only signalled 1.00pm (13:00), but could be seen from afar. Eventually the idea of distributing time signals via wires led to more and more electrical distribution of time signals by this method. Time signals, besides from their general importance in the affairs of business, were especially important for running ships and trains punctually. The situation was exacerbated by a lack of accuracy in many clocks compared to modern time-keepers.

Summary

The system was first developed for the 1851 Great Exhibition (aka The Crystal Palace Exhibition in London), which led to Airy installing the Shepherd sympathetic system at the observatory. The time comes from the Shepherd Motor Clock inside the observatory. In 1866 the time signals from the Shepherd Motor Clock were sent across the Atlantic via transatlantic cable to America.

Origins

The original idea for the clock network came from the Astronomer Royal, George Airy. With the arrival of the railway network, a single time standard was needed to replace the various incompatible local times then in use across the country. Airy proposed that this standard time would be provided by the Royal Observatory. His idea was to use what he called "galvanism" or electric signalling to transmit time pulses from Greenwich to other clocks throughout the country, and perhaps to Europe and the colonies too. The new undersea cable recently installed between Dover to Calais in 1851 raised the possibility of sending time signals between England and France – this would allow longitude differences to be measured very accurately, for the first time.

Charles Shepherd

In 1849 Charles Shepherd Junior (1830–1905), an engineer and son of a clockmaker, patented a system for controlling a network of sympathetic clocks using electricity (or galvanism, as it was called). Shepherd installed the public clocks for the Great Exhibition which opened in May 1851. In October 1851, Airy wrote to Charles Shepherd asking for proposals and estimates, including a request for the following clocks:

One automatic clock. One clock with large dial to be seen by the Public, near the Observatory entrance, and three smaller clocks, all to be moved sympathetically with the automatic clock.

Airy also wanted the existing Greenwich time ball to be electrically operated, so that its descent at 13:00 was synchronised with the motor clock inside the observatory.

By August 1852 Shepherd had built and installed the network of clocks and cables in the observatory. Costs were considerably higher than the original estimates. Shepherd had estimated £40 for the motor clock and time ball apparatus, and £9 for each sympathetic clock. The total costs included £70 for the motor clock, and £75 for the wall clock by the gate.

Shepherd was later appointed to oversee the construction of a telegraph network for the Indian Government in 1853.

Transmitting Greenwich time
The motor clock, at first called the Normal Clock or Motor Clock, but later known as the Mean Solar Standard Clock, sent pulses every second to sympathetic clocks in the Chronometer Room, the Dwelling House (Flamsteed House), and at the gate (the Gate Clock). A pulse was sent to the time ball at 13:00. The signals were also transmitted along cables from Greenwich to London Bridge. From London Bridge a time signal was distributed at less frequent intervals by telegraph wires to clocks and receivers in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, Belfast and many other cities. From 1866 time signals were also sent to US Harvard University via the new transatlantic submarine cable.

Airy's report to the Observatory's Board of Visitors in 1853 explained the function of the Shepherd motor clock:

This clock keeps in motion a sympathetic galvanic clock in the Chronometer room, which, therefore, is sensibly correct; and thus the chronometers are compared with a clock which requires no numerical correction.

The same Normal Clock maintains in sympathetic movement the large clock at the entrance-gate, two other clocks in the Observatory, and a clock at the London Bridge Terminus of the South-Eastern Railway.

It sends galvanic signals every day along all the principal railways diverging from London. It drops the Greenwich Ball and the Ball on the Offices of the Eastern Telegraph Company in the Strand.

All these various effects are produced without sensible error of time; and I cannot but feel a satisfaction in thinking that the Royal Observatory is thus quietly contributing to the punctuality of business through a large portion of this busy country.

Since installation

The Gate Clock originally indicated astronomical time, in which the counting of the 24 hours of each day starts at noon. The clock was changed in the 20th century to indicate Greenwich Mean Time, in which the counting of the 24 hours of each day starts at midnight. The Gate Clock continues to show Greenwich Mean Time and is not adjusted for summer time. The clock is now controlled by a quartz mechanism inside the main building. The motor clocks are still on display but are not functional.

The Timeball Museum in Deal contains another clock once connected to the Greenwich motor clock.

On 15 October 1940, during the World War II Blitz, the dial was damaged by a bomb, but the mechanism survived. The dial was replaced by an exact replica.

See also
Royal Observatory, Greenwich
Ruth Belville, the 'Greenwich Time lady'

Notes

References

 Howse, Derek (1997) Greenwich Time and the Longitude, Official Millennium ed., London : Philip Wilson, National Maritime Museum,

External links

 National Maritime Museum
 Shepherd screensaver a software emulation running as a Mac OS X screensaver
 Biography Charles Shepherd jun. German language

Individual clocks in England
History of the Royal Borough of Greenwich
Royal Observatory, Greenwich


Now, this is not to say that each of those twenty books has been an all-out winner in my eyes. Granted, none of them are bad novels, but they do not all rank on my favorites list. And that's okay. Not every book an author writes is a universal "winner". Some books happen to hit different people in different ways. My favorite Kallmaker book will not be your favorite Kallmaker book. My least favorite is, I believe, one of Kallmaker's best selling. Heck, it won a Lammy! So, see? It happens. And it's okay that not every book is on my favorites list. Kallmaker is still the Queen of Lesbian Romance.
My Lady Lipstick (published by Bella Books) is Kallmaker's latest offering. Once again, we're presented with a solid, engaging romance, but she combines it with a story of intrigue and deception. While it does not fall on my list of favorites that I will read over and over again, it is one that I will revisit. It's intriguing, there are great characters, and Kallmaker uses her intelligence and wit to great effect.
I enjoyed the nod to mystery and intrigue that Kallmaker wove through this novel. It's full of twists and turns, multiple identities, and really rather believable situations. What I really like is that the resolution is not telegraphed. We know the mystery must be solved. We know the deceptions must be brought into the light. But we don't know how those things will happen until they happen. I like that. I find it so annoying when I can figure out all of that stuff at the half-way point. Not so here. It's all woven together quite nicely. I won't say more. I don't want to give anything away.
Paris Ellison and Diana Beckinsale are two really fascinating character. They each live in worlds of multiple identities and secrets, but they each have different reasons for doing so. They also use their varied identities in ways that suit their purposes in life. Kallmaker has Paris and Diana navigating the fine line of what is ethical and what is not, both individually and together. What's refreshing is that neither walks that line carelessly. They do so with much consideration – of the situation and each other.
There is an entire cast of supporting characters in My Lady Lipstick that deserve mention. From the small bar in Massachusetts to the sprawling estate in England to the hectic streets of New York City, the supporting players all have a purpose in the story. They affect outcomes and perspectives for the two main characters. Kallmaker gives them each a distinct voice and their personalities are, for the most part, charming. And when they are not charming, it's intentional. But they are all delicious!
One thing I've always noticed – and enjoyed – about Kallmaker's writing is how she finds a "hook" to integrate throughout the story. That one thing that grounds the reader in this story. In My Lady Lipstick it's the delightful use of Shakespeare and his wonderful words that keep us in the world that Kallmaker has created for us. She does such a lovely job of working the Shakespearean references and quotes into the story, via dialogue and internal monologue, so that the reader doesn't miss out on the purpose of the reference or quote. Kallmaker shows readers that she has respect for our intelligence, while also recognizing that not everyone knows each and every obscure line from As You Like It. But it's not heavy handed. She hasn't added Shakespeare into her novel for the shake of being able to quote Shakespeare. There is always a reason, and it always makes sense in the situation.
This is the short and the long of it*, I found this to be a very enjoyable novel. No, it's not on my "comfort reading" list, but I will come back to it. In fact, I've already gone back to read some of my favorite sections of the book…just because. For me, it took a little doing to "get into" the book. The first few chapters, while important in providing character background and building the setting of the story, were a bit slow moving, in my opinion. But that could very well be a result of the books I've been reading recently – epic adventures, final books in a series, sports novels. These are all books that jump right into the "action" of the story within the first couple of chapters. My brain is temporarily wired for a quicker jump into the meat of the story. So, I really don't even consider it a criticism. Just an explanation of where my "reading brain" is right now.
That said, I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it. ** My Lady Lipstick is fun and witty, it's intriguing and complex, it's romantic and enjoyable. I recommend you give it a try!


The Overflow Campus Organization (OCO for short) is a committed team of students who are passionate about seeing Overflow's mission brought to our college campuses.
Simply put, our mission at OCO is reach students to help them walk with God.
At OCO we have 3 goals that help us accomplish our mission.
Engage in relationships with students through on-campus activities.
Serve students on campus to demonstrate Christ's love.
Connect students into Christ-centered community by promoting Overflow on campus.
All college aged-students are welcome to be contributing members of this organization!
We have 8 student leaders that organize and facilitate our OCO meetings and events as well as give the vision for the rest of our organization to ENGAGE, SERVE, and CONNECT students on campus. The Overflow staff are active advisors for the organization that help select and equip students to lead OCO.
OCO meetings are Monday's at 5:00 pm in Luetze Room 141 on UNCW's campus. Our ENGAGE, SERVE, and EQUIP events occur all throughout the semester.


text:
Home > 2017 > 11/07 > How the Canucks recalled Reid Boucher with 23 players on roster
How the Canucks recalled Reid Boucher with 23 players on roster
November 7, 2017, 10:45 AM | Ryan Biech
I'm always fascinated by the how and why of transactions in the NHL. Most of the time, they are mean nothing transactions that happen for the reason you think. Sometimes, there is more, and I believe that to be the case with today's move.
Ben Birnell of the Utica Observer Dispatch noticed that forward Reid Boucher was on the Canucks roster this morning:
FWIW: Reid Boucher appears on Canucks roster pic.twitter.com/1kV5fvWCNS
— Ben Birnell (@OD_Birnell) November 7, 2017
The Canucks announced the recall not long afterwards:
#Canucks recall Reid Boucher from @UticaComets. https://t.co/0fFXbf4TqS
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 7, 2017
Which isn't that crazy, as the Canucks likely want another forward with the group as they are about to embark on a road trip. Alternatively, it's possible a player that is currently on the team has a minor ailment. But there is one issue, the Canucks already have 23 players on the roster, according to CapFriendly:
The Canucks have had to have goaltender Thatcher Demko around because Anders Nilsson and his wife are expecting the birth of their child. Carrying three goalies can complicate issues (from a roster standpoint), and this is an example of that. But there is a clause in the NHL/NHLPA CBA that allows the organization to exceed the 23 man roster limit due to reasons that are not injury related:
Based on the wording, the Canucks would've submitted a request to the NHL asking for a roster exception while Nilsson and his wife are together. Given the uncertainty of timelines that happen with childbirth, the organization would need to have Demko around to ensure that they can dress two goalies for the game against the Calgary Flames this evening. This move would deem Nilsson to be a non-roster player, which based on the roster on the Canucks website confirms my thought process here:
I am not privy to if any players are banged up and might not be able to dress, but it's fair to believe that one or two of the current Canucks forwards are battling day-to-day injuries and might be game-time decisions. So the Canucks have recalled Boucher to ensure they have a healthy forward in case someone can't go.
Given the personal situation of Nilsson, and the possibility of someone battling a minor injury, the Canucks are in a position where they have some uncertainty of who will be available for the game tonight. By leveraging 16.12(a) of the CBA, they have made the necessary moves to ensure they will have 12 forwards, six defencemen and two goaltenders available for tonight.
The Canucks don't play again until Thursday, so they will have a couple of days to make changes if needed.
Sorted by Cheers
Buula 2 years ago
Nice little reward for Boucher. Goldy must need more time on the PK before the gets the call.
Thanks for the article Biecher
Doodly Doot 2 years ago
Perhaps Reid for Sam? I can't tell if Gagner is subpar or just mediocre, but he doesn't seem to justify his minutes. Boucher has looked way more dangerous with hardly any minutes in his few games – under Willie! – than Sam by a long way.
Jamie E 2 years ago
Boucher plays left wing and Goldy plays right wing so they are not necessarily interchangeable in terms of being a call-up. I wonder who is banged up on the left side for the Canucks? Not Bartschi I hope.
Forever 1915 2 years ago
Goldobin can play either side, check out his AHL highlights. Probably being kept in Utica to keep refining his defensive and also because he's a huge part of Utica's offence.
PabloP74 2 years ago
Possibly also related to making sure he's absolutely ready for the NHL. I feel like Goldy's next call up will be for good.
Silverback 2 years ago
I would agree…but who would he replace?
Napalm 2 years ago
As I understand, Goldobin doesn't count towards the AHL Veteran Roster Limit. Since they have issues with Veterans anyways, might as well take the one veteran who has earned it the most. That being Boucher.


text:
Q: Why do I keep getting this error code when starting Expo client To run the app, choose one of:
› Scan the QR code above with the Expo app (Android) or the Camera app (iOS).
› Press a for Android emulator, or i for iOS simulator, or w to run on web.
› Press e to send a link to your phone with email.
Press ? to show a list of all available commands.
Logs for your project will appear below. Press Ctrl+C to exit.
Error: EMFILE: too many open files, watch
at FSEvent.FSWatcher._handle.onchange (internal/fs/watchers.js:178:28)
npm ERR! code ELIFECYCLE
npm ERR! errno 1
npm ERR! @ start: expo start
npm ERR! Exit status 1
npm ERR!
npm ERR! Failed at the @ start script.
npm ERR! This is probably not a problem with npm. There is likely additional logging output above.
npm ERR! A complete log of this run can be found in:

A: brew install watchman

running this command solved my exactly same problem. if you look at the error message you are getting, it says:

Error: EMFILE: too many open files, watch at
FSEvent.FSWatcher._handle.onchange.

react native is able to use watchman internally to watch its files. I hope this will work for your as well

A: Oybek's solution did not work for me, but it would work if had Intel based Mac computer.
For those who have Apple M1 Silicon based machine such command may be daysaver:
arch -arm64 brew install watchman

or
arch -arm64 brew reinstall watchman

when you have some bad installation of watchman already done.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


When you don't condemn, criticize, nor judge, when you grow in more awareness of your thoughts, an intense watching of your inner world of thinking, you gradually find the thoughts will gradually lose its randomness. You will be able to see your thoughts. You will be able to see them separately appearing on your mental screen. You will be able to find the gap between two thoughts. As you are able to find the gap between two thoughts, that gap is the silence. That Silence that is there between two thoughts is the deepest Silence of this whole Universe.
Cand nici nu condamni, nici nu critici sau judeci, cand cresti intr-o mai puternica recunoastere a gandurilor tale cu o intensa observatie a lumii reflectiei tale interioare, descoperi treptat ca gandurile isi pierd spiritul aleator. Vei putea sa iti vizualizezi gandurile. Le vei putea vedea separat aparand pe ecranul tau mental. Vei reusi sa gasesti spatiul liber dintre doua ganduri. Pe masura ce recunosti spatiul dintre ganduri, acel spatiu e liniste. Acea Liniste care se afla intre ganduri e cea mai adanca Tacere din intreg universul.
Motto: "How much better is silence; the coffee cup, the table.
solitary sea-bird that opens its wings on the stake.
My spirit cannot touch it.
In the green and darkness.


text:
<?php

namespace yiiunit\framework\db\sqlite;

/**
 * @group db
 * @group sqlite
 * @group validators
 */
class ExistValidatorTest extends \yiiunit\framework\validators\ExistValidatorTest
{
    public $driverName = 'sqlite';
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Deal could turn into an investment down the road.
In a licensing agreement, Forbes has lent its name to a new group managed by payment solutions provider Lotaris. Called Forbes Digital Commerce, the entity will enable payment solutions for the mobile platform.
For Forbes Media, the partnership gives the company a direct line to the mobile commerce market. While the deal is strictly a licensing one, with a royalty arrangement as well, it could expand into an investment opportunity down the road, says Mike Federle, COO of Forbes Media.
"It could have been done as an investment," he says, "and that's not to be ruled out in the future, but initially it's a licensing deal. It has very high potential in terms of an ambitious and large business plan."
For Lotaris, the Swiss company needed a known and trusted brand association as it made headway in the sometimes sensitive arena of mobile transactions. "There is an inherent distrust in any online brand in a transaction," says Robert Tibbs, CEO of Forbes Digital Commerce. "We thought it would be better to be associate with a known brand."
Tibbs says an initial conversation with Miguel Forbes, president of Forbes television and licensing, was continued with Federle, which then ended up as the licensing partnership.
"It occurred to me that we could be associated with a brand that literally means wealth in the minds of most people," adds Tibbs. "It relieves the resistance we'd have to push our brand into the transactional space. It gives us an opportunity to be strong and credible as we enter into partnerships with big companies."
Concurrently, MasterCard announced that Forbes Digital Commerce will be one of the providers that will enable the credit card company's MasterPass in-app payment solution.


Pakistan is cracking down on Afghan refugees.
Steve McCurry, Sharbat Gula, Afghan Girl, Pakistan (1984). Courtesy of artnet Auctions.
Sharbat Gula isn't a household name, but her piercing green eyes captivated the world in Steve McCurry's famed portrait Afghan Girl, which appeared on the June 1985 cover of National Geographic. Now a grown woman, Gula was arrested on October 26 by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Peshawar, Pakistan, for having a forged computerized national identity card, or CNIC, reports Agence France Presse.
The 1984 photograph, taken in a Pakistani refugee camp when she was probably just 12 years old, made Gula an icon. All the same, she remained anonymous until 2002, when she was finally tracked down and interviewed by National Geographic. At the time, Gula was back in her native Afghanistan, but she appears to have once again fled her war-torn country in the years since.
Under the name Sharbat Bibi, Gula, along with her two sons, reportedly applied for and received a CNIC in April 2014. Foreign nationals are not eligible for the document, which is often illegally obtained through bribes and fake papers. Gula's ID photograph was first discovered and published by the press in February 2015, but the card was not seized by authorities until now.
Sharbat Gula's photograph for her illegally-obtained Pakistani ID card.
Shahid Ilyas, an official of the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA), told AFP that Gula could face up to 14 years in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. The FIA is reportedly trying to catch the three NADRA officials who issued Gula the card.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that there are 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan, and that there could be up to a million more who remain undocumented.
Gula's arrest is part of Pakistan's efforts to crack down on these foreign residents, which have so far uncovered 60,675 fraudulent ID cards. The UN reports that 350,000 refugees have returned to Afghanistan so far this year. According to the Guardian, undocumented Afghans in Pakistan have been dealing with harassment, and have had their cell phones and bank accounts shut down.
The country has reportedly announced that unregistered refugees must return to Afghanistan by March 2017. Previously deadlines dating back to 2009 have been extended, but those potentially affected allegedly believe Pakistan is looking to enforce this one.


The CIPD said government initiatives like apprenticeships levies were limiting wage growth.
The "jobs-rich, pay-poor" economy will continue until at least the end of the decade, according to the professional HR body Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Most employees are unlikely to see a boost in real terms to their pay anytime soon, with the CIPD's latest Labour Market Outlook forecasting an average pay rise for employees of 1.7% next year. 1,000 employers responded to the survey.
This marks the second quarter in a row that surveyed employers have predicted a pay rise below the government's official target of 2%.
The CIPD report highlights "low inflation, expanding labour supply, and the lack of productivity growth working in combination to reduce the economic pressure for employers to pay their staff more."
Government-imposed increases in labour costs, such as apprenticeships levies and increases in the National Living Wage are also blamed for low pay boosts.
Despite limited wage growth, there are still jobs out there. The survey notes that 49% of employers have roles that are proving hard to fill.
For now, there's no sign of the economy running out of jobs, or out of people to fill those jobs. However, the UK is now in its eighth year of productivity 'go-slow' which continues to limit the scope for employers to pay more and recruitment and retention problems have so far proved manageable without across-the-board pay rises.
Simply making low-paid labour more expensive is not the answer and the Government shouldn't be surprised if some employers choose easier options, such as reducing hours, chipping away at other benefits or making a less generous pay award the next time pay is reviewed.
The report comes as the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) cut its 2016 economic growth forecast from 2.3% to 2%. It said uncertainty over a possible Brexit in the June 23 referendum was having a "tangible impact" on investment into the UK.
"A dark cloud of uncertainty is looming over global growth, particularly around weakening emerging markets and the outcome of the EU referendum, which is chilling some firms' plans to invest," CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn said.