I'm an analog kinda guy: notebook and pen in my pocket and a paperback book tucked into my stretchy belt. However, carry on travel is all about streamlining your gear, and what's more streamlined than digital?
Migrating your life to the cloud can be confusing – even scary – but fear not. Below I outline a few simple solutions to common stumbling blocks you'll face on your first trip abroad with your "digital backpack." Hopefully it'll help you shed your fear and permanently embrace a lighter bag than you ever thought possible.
Smartphones are part of the travel landscape, and rightly so. These pocket-sized computers replace dozens of gadgets and connect travelers in ways we are still grappling with. But how do you get the most out of your phone? How do you navigate all the SIM cards and roaming fees. Simple: you ignore them with T-Mobile's Simple International Choice Plan.
For just $50/month you get unlimited data in over 120 countries. Better yet, no contract. Seriously. Just use the phone you have, and away you go. No SIM cards. No roaming fees. You'll never wander the streets looking for wifi again.
It's worth noting that the coverage isn't perfect and the data plan slows down after 1GB used…so stop watching YouTube and go outside you weirdo! Plus you won't mind a slowly loading map when you're lost on the outskirts of a town in Guatemala at 2 a.m. Trust me.
Dropbox is the gold standard of cloud storage but in 2015 they got a new competitor – a little upstart company you might have heard of. Namely: Google.
A Dropbox Basic free account includes 2GB of storage. Free storage is great, but 2GB ain't what it used to be. That's about 1,000 iPhone 5 quality pictures OR 20 mins of video (720p at 10 MB/minute). Doesn't sound like much, does it?
Upgrading to Dropbox Pro ($10/month) gets you 1TB of storage, which is awesome, but it's frustrating that there's no middle option between 2GB and 1TB. Now there is.
In March 2015 Google launched an affordable long-term digital storage service aimed at large corporations/law firms that are legally required to maintain records for large amounts of old data – known as "Cold Data." Since companies don't need cold data on a regular basis it's stored in servers offline and takes a few hours to retrieve.
Google Nearline Cloud Storage only costs $0.01 per GB/month. For everyone. All the time.
Google Nearline lets you scale your storage as you grow, which means if you store 10,000 photos (20GB worth) in the cloud you only pay $0.20/month. Less than a quarter. If you somehow chew through more storage (photographers and videographers) and make it to a 1TB, it's still the same price as Dropbox ($10).
AirBnB: I host here in NYC, and I use it when I travel. It's seamless, streamlined, and everywhere. I never have to worry about where I'll stay next.
Magic Seaweed: The.Best.Surf.Forecast.Ever. Current reports, break profiles, wind, swell, tidal info, etc. – this app has everything. Plus, the peer reviews of spots give you a human sense of things so you know before you go. I basically used it like Google Maps on my six month surf trip from Mexico to Peru.
Google Translate: It's far from perfect and you'll sound like Borat if you cut and paste it into a text, but used in concert with Duolingo practice and the right motivation *cough* Tinder, you can actually get a decent command of a foreign language in a matter of weeks. Get cracking!
XE Currency Converter: A solid staple for country jumping. Input all your destinations and watch the value of the dollar rise and fall. It's all the thrill of gambling without the betting.
Free Books & Project Gutenberg: These two sites feature over 40,000 public domain and creative commons works of literature available for offline reading. I discovered one of my favorite authors, Cory Doctorow, on this site. Two thumbs up.
The map will be available for 30 days offline before it's deleted, but if that's not long enough, just snap a few screenshots of the map at different zoom resolutions. That should get you from A to B if all else fails.
My final tip is about digitizing your finances. Gone are the days of travelers checks and exchanging currency at the airport. All you need now is a debit card.
Most banks have reciprocal relationships with foreign institutions – Bank of America customers can use Deutsche Bank ATMs for free, for instance – but there's one debit card to rule them all that will reimburse you every month for any atm fee, no matter where you are (even in the US).
Open a Charles Schwab free checking account and enjoy the dual freedom of no minimum balance or fees with monthly ATM reimbursement. That means you can keep your money safer by only withdrawing small amounts of money at a time, and avoid leftover currency and exchange fees if you miscalculated your expenses.
I have Schwab and it's pretty awesome.
Pro tip: Load $100 into your Paypal account before you go. This digital piggy bank has saved me multiple times.
You can pack lighter than ever if you let the cloud do the heavy lifting. Digitize everything from maps to your money.


An exhibition at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology spans 250 years of garment history to illustrate how designers play with new technologies to create adventurous styles.
NEW YORK -- Fashion and innovation certainly go hand in hand, and not just because the two words practically rhyme. By definition, fashion is about newness and timeliness, two qualities that likewise tend to define innovative products in general. Often, advances in manufacturing, textile production -- or even computing -- have affected how designers create and sell their clothes.
An exhibition at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in Manhattan, bluntly titled "Fashion and Technology," serves to make this point very clear. It's a small but engaging show that spans 250 years via 100 objects from FIT's extensive archives, and is on view through May 8 at FIT's Fashion and Textile History Gallery.
If you're familiar with runway trends of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the show features the innovative designers you'd expect to see included.
The late, great Alexander McQueen is represented, with a video of his iconic 1999 catwalk presentation that featured robots spewing paint on the supermodel Shalom Harlow. Miuccia Prada, is as well, by some colorful computer animations used in a marketing campaign for her eponymous Prada label. So is Hussein Chalayan, known for his dramatic, sculpture-like silhouettes.
There are lesser-known designers represented, some who even work far from the world of fashion.
For instance, the show presents an early example of 3D-printed clothing and accessories dating to 2005 (picture above), designed by Freedom of Creation, which is an Amsterdam-based product design company. On view is a slinky plastic dress and a purse that resembles chain mail. That it dates back eight years illustrates how fashion can often be ahead of the technology curve: only now, in 2013, is 3D printing really reaching mainstream consciousness.
The trend of fashion serving as a vital arena for innovation isn't new, either, as the show makes clear.
The curators present a wide range of examples of clothing designers' experiments with new materials and manufacturing techniques in the 19th century. These include a hair ornament from 1887 that was made from one of the first synthetic plastics, celluloid, but resembles tortoise shell.
And of course the curators have included an early sewing machine from 1882, which obviously sped up the time needed to assemble garments previously stitched by hand.
The display texts remind viewers just how effective fashion innovation can be on a very large scale. In other words, designers' breakthroughs eventually prove that in many ways, they do not only serve the elite.
For instance, when clothing designers first incorporated zippers in 1913, they reduced the time it took most people to dress in the morning. No longer did they have to waste minutes buttoning buttons on trousers or dresses. Or consider Norma Kamali's chic adaptation of puffy down jackets in 1977, turning the outdoorsy garment into a more wearable and warm winter staple for non-jocks. It paved the way for mass-market versions later. The examples go on and on, making the case that fashion, when it incorporates the use of new machinery and material inventions, is not just decorative. It can actually improve people's lives.
That's especially true when one considers what I consider a parallel timeline, or underlying theme, to this exhibition: tracing how women's lives have changed in the last two and a half centuries. To be specific, how they have changed in the United States, Europe, and other so-called developed economies within the last two centuries -- and how fashion has evolved to reflect new "freedoms."
For instance, a bicycle ensemble from 1888 features what looks like a formal skirt, but is actually a set of very wide trouser legs, allowing women to get out into the world and ride a bike easily. Or a girdle from 1915, made with a type of rubber thread new to that era, which allowed for much more comfort than a traditional corset. Or even a beautiful digital "clutch," actually a small laptop that's easy to fit in a handbag, designed by Vivienne Tam in 2007 for PC maker Hewlett-Packard.
All of these examples illustrate how fashion designers have addressed women's needs as they became more active outside of the home, in society and eventually in the workplace.
The examples of fashion meeting technology from the late 2000s and early 2010s presented here rightly illustrate new uses of holograms and wearable computing.
For instance, a video of a 2011 Burberry runway show, featuring spectacular holographic images that made it seem as if models instantly changed clothes, is striking to watch. And the curators' surprising inclusion of the Arduino Lily Pad micro-controller board (above), which can be sewn into e-textiles, is very smart. This device allows designers to program clothes to do such things as play music or monitor the wearer's heartbeat. Both of these examples show that experimenting with new tech never goes out of style.
Still, there are some purely beautiful clothes on view here that convey what I believe is the strongest point of the exhibition.
There's the gloriously beaded dress from 1924, which is just as eye-catching as another Art Deco-era masterpiece: the Chrysler Building in Manhattan. There are geometric, neon-hued dresses from Pierre Cardin (above), designed in the psychedelic 1960s. There are intricately pleated dresses with bizarre silhouettes like no other by Issey Miyake from the late 1990s.
These examples show us that perhaps the most exciting innovations to come from fashion designers are those that marry adventurous aesthetics and cultural trends, and which simply make use of new technologies to deliver them.


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Celebrities tweet solidarity in the wake of the #AltonSterling and #PhilandoCastile shootings
More than just hashtags.
By Martha Tesema on July 7, 2016
Philando Castile, left, and Alton Sterling, right. Credit: via Twitter
Social media tributes and outrage continue to pour out in the wake of the killings of two black men at the hands of police officers.
Over the past 48 hours, the nation has been shaken by the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. Sterling was killed outside a mini-mart in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, while selling DVDs. Castile was killed after being pulled over at a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. Both incidents were filmed and shared widely online.
As has happened in the aftermath of other similar killings, Sterling and Castile's names have become hashtagged symbols of injustice in an ongoing roll call of tragedy.
Notable celebrities joined the collective grieving ritual on social media. Some simply mourned, while others called for action.
SEE ALSO: Aftermath of apparent police shooting broadcast on Facebook Live
Chance the Rapper processed the events by asking his followers how they felt as humans with a conscience.
Rapper Vic Mensa penned a call to action on Instagram, writing:
Does this face scare you? Would you cross the street if he asked if you wanted to buy a DVD? Would you even answer the question? We need to reprogram. Our nations past bleeds into our present by raising us to think black is something to fear. The police officer that killed him was so scared of the idea of a black man with a gun that it didn't matter if he was reaching for it or threatening at all. That fear took a father, a son, and a brother off of the earth all at the same time. If you're reading this and wondering if he deserved to die I want you to look yourself in the eye. Tell yourself that he was a human being with a family. A family that will never be the same. Tell yourself that you don't need to fear a man just because of the color of his skin. Tell yourself that his blood bleeds red just like yours. Tell yourself he feels fear just like you do. Tell yourself that he feels love just like you do. Tell yourself that you love him. Then go and tell your friends the same. We have to REPROGRAM. "Once you change your philosophy, you change your thought pattern. Once you change your thought pattern, you change your attitude. Once you change your attitude, it changes your behavior pattern and then you go on into some action." - MALCOLM X We have to change. And it starts with each of us.
On Instagram, Solange sang lyrics from "Black Maybe," a 1972 song(Opens in a new window) by Motown artist Syreeta, for comfort. "But what is comfort when the images of slain black bodies left to bleed are sketched into your being....over and over again," she wrote. She also highlighted the importance of recognizing the trauma inflicted upon children. Castile's daughter witnessed the shooting of her father.
Actress and social activist Amandla Stenberg posted a reminder of the humanity of black men.
Drake posted an open letter on Instagram, poignantly stating that "no one begins their life as a hashtag, yet the threat of being reduced to one continues."
John Legend added an important element to the conversation, and challenged the National Rifle Association to protect those with concealed-carry permits. Castile was legally armed with a concealed-carry permit at the time of his death.
Parks and Recreation actress and comedian Retta expressed her frustration on Twitter, alongside celebrities like Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Gabrielle Union.
Snoop Dogg took a more visual approach to express his thoughts on the shooting. The rapper reposted over a dozen images from across the internet that painted a picture of his frustrations.
More in Black Lives Matter

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


At Pine Brook Pointe we Employ RN's, CNA's, RA's, Dietary Aides, and Housekeepers to ensure our Residents receive the best care available. If you have a passion for lending a helping hand to anyone in need, then come join our team. We have full and part time positions, covering 1st, 2nd, and 3rd shifts. We offer competitive pay, shift differentials, holiday pay, vacation and sick time.


Purchases of new homes in the U.S. unexpectedly declined in March for a third month, reflecting the weakest pace of demand in the West since July 2014.
Sales of new single-family houses in March 2016 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 511,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 1.5 percent below the revised February rate of 519,000, but is 5.4 percent above the March 2015 estimate of 485,000.
Purchases rose in two regions last month, indicating uneven demand at the start of the busiest time of the year for builders and real-estate agents. While new construction has been showing limited upside, cheap borrowing costs and solid hiring will help ensure residential real estate continues to expand.
Sales in the West slumped 23.6 percent in March after surging 21.7 percent the previous month. In the South, purchases climbed 5 percent to a 314,000 pace in March, the strongest in 13 months. Sales in the Midwest advanced 18.5 percent, the first gain in three months, and were unchanged in the Northeast.
The median sales price decreased 1.8 percent from March 2015 to $288,000.
There were 246,000 new houses on the market at the end of March, the most since September 2009. The supply of homes at the current sales rate rose to 5.8 months, the highest since September, from 5.6 months in the prior period.


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The Teatro Massimo Bellini is an opera house located on Piazza Vincenzo Bellini in Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. Named after the local-born composer Vincenzo Bellini, it was inaugurated on 31 May 1890 with a performance of the composer's masterwork, Norma. It seats 1,200.

History

The creation of what was to finally become the Teatro Massimo Bellini took almost two hundred years, beginning with discussions following the disastrous 1693 earthquake which completely destroyed Catania.  The construction of a public theatre was discussed, and a foundation stone was finally laid in 1812.

Architect Salvatore Zahra Buda began to prepare a plan for a theatre in the Piazza Nuovaluce, in front of the Santa Maria di Nuovaluce monastery, the location of the present-day theatre.  It was decided that a "Great Municipal Theatre" worthy of an expanding city should be created; the plan of the "Teatro Nuovaluce" (New Light Theatre) was a grandiose one in all respects, and was conceived to create one of the most innovative works in Italy.

Due to funding problems, work had to stop for some years.  Meanwhile, a smaller theatre - the "Provisional Municipal Theatre" – was built instead, and it opened in 1822 (but was destroyed during the Second World War). Meanwhile, the Teatro Nuovaluce, after being partially completed and converted into a multi-purpose hall, was devoted mainly to summer use until 1865 when it was sold privately to finance the construction of a new theatre.

In 1870, the theatre architect Carlo Sada was appointed to find a suitable site for the new theatre. Many location options were considered for the long desired "Massimo" theatre.  One location was chosen only to be turned down with the original site being brought back into the picture.  This time it was to be the location for a large, multi-purpose hall.  Again, funding problems arose, and the plan was taken over by the Municipality. A Municipal committee then decided that the structure should be made into a single-purpose opera house.  Finally, work proceeded well, and the theatre was completed in seven years, opening in May 1890.

The style of the Catania theater is inspired by the French eclecticism of the second empire imposed on Paris by Charles Garnier with the Paris Opera. Its marble foyer, the "Ridotto", is ornate and stuccoed, and a statue of Bellini is located between the central arches.  The beautiful red-plush interior includes the main floor seating and four tiers of boxes.  Surrounding them, on the upper level, are unusual arched arcades.  The painted ceiling by Ernesto Bellandi depicts scenes from four of Bellini's most well-known operas.

Opera

Throughout its history, the opera house has performed almost all of Bellini's work.  From its beginnings, a wide variety of operas have been performed by some highly renowned singers.  In 1951, to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Bellini, Maria Callas sang Norma, repeating her success in 1952 and 1953.

In recent years, there has been an infusion of about $2 million, leading to the celebration of the Bellini bicentennial during the 2001 season and to a major renovation of the house.

The theater also operates the nearby smaller Teatro Sangiorgi, used for recitals, operetta, cinema, and drama.

References
Giraldi, Juliet, "Postcard From Catania", Opera Now, September/October 2001.  An account of the bicentennial season.

External links
 Official website

Theatres in Sicily
Buildings and structures in Catania
Massimo Bellini
Music venues completed in 1890
Baroque architecture in Catania
Theatres completed in 1890
1890 establishments in Italy
19th-century architecture in Italy

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Tag: Briggs-King Books
Sound of Us by A.M. Arthur
Title: Sound of Us
Series: Us 02
Author: A.M. Arthur
Publisher: Briggs-King Books (April 21, 2017)
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts
Blurb: Jake Bowden didn't expect to be settling into a strong, loving relationship with another guy at only twenty-three years old—never mind with two. His chemistry with Cris is as strong as ever, while things with Charles are more like a simmer than a heavy boil. Charles says he's perfectly content to go at Jake's pace, but Jake isn't sure slow is what he wants anymore. And when Jake wants something, he isn't shy about going after it.
Cris Sable is head-over-heels in love with the two men in his life, and he's vowed to do everything he can to protect the fragile, three-way relationship they're cultivating—even if it means lying about his past. A dark past that resurfaces in an unexpected way and forces Cris to make the difficult choice between shielding Jake and Charles from it, or trusting them enough to help him face it head-on.
Charles Greenwood had forgotten what it felt like to be loved, until a feisty go-go boy and an ex-porn star fell into his bed, and then stole his heart away. He loves both men equally, but differently, slowly stoking the fire of the chemistry he shares with Jake, while passionately pursuing Cris—both in and out of bed. Their lives are entwining in the very best way…until Cris starts to pull away, distancing himself from the loving support of their triad. And after Cris disappears one night on a drunken bender, Charles vows to do whatever it takes to prove to Cris that he can trust them with anything—mind, body and spirit.
Three separate hearts will finally beat as one.
Note: This is the continuation of an m/m/m romance begun in Here For Us and is best read in order to fully enjoy the character and story development. The book also contains mild BDSM elements, including spanking.
ISBN: B06XZC9VCF
Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK
Reviewer: Shorty
Review: The trio Cris, Chet and Jake are settled but not. Secrets are still surrounding them as Jake still struggles with his insecurities and Cris with his past. I loved how they were there for each other when one was in need. They seemed so good together if only they resolved the problems they were going through.
Emotional and endearing this story will pull at the heartstrings. These men deserve some happiness instead of struggling against their own demons. I am honestly hoping for a resolution for these guys as I prefer a different couple each time I read a book as I get bored with just one couple in book after book.
Never the less it was a great read.
Posted on June 16, 2019 June 15, 2019 by ShortyPosted in Book Review, MM Book Review, MM Romance Book Review, Reviews, Self PublishedTagged A. M. Arthur, Briggs-King Books, Gay Contemporary Romance, Gay Ménage Romance, GLBT Contemporary Romance, GLBT Ménage Romance, GLBT Self Published, Us series. Leave a comment
Here For Us by A.M. Arthur
Title: Here For Us
Genre: Contemporary, Ménage
Length: Novella (381pgs)
Publisher: Briggs-King Books (March 17, 2017)
Blurb: Cris Sable doesn't walk into popular gay bar Big Dick's expecting to find more than a casual hookup, so he's surprised by his instant attraction and intense chemistry with go-go dancer Jake. Jake's sexy as hell and a firecracker in bed. The sparks between them are undeniable, and what starts as a hookup evolves into something deeper, possibly permanent—until Jake dumps Cris flat on his ass for no good reason.
Angry and confused, Cris finds comfort with his longtime friend and employer Charles "Chet" Greenwood. Cris's emotional state stirs up Charles's long-buried feelings for Cris. Feelings he's denied for eight years, because Cris is his employee and therefore off limits—not to mention two decades younger than Charles. Cris admits he has feelings for Charles, too, but he's still getting over Jake and both men agree nothing can happen between them while Charles is still Cris's boss.
Jake Bowden knows he doesn't have anything to offer a guy. He's a go-go dancer with no degree and no real career aspirations. He's also used to everyone who loves him leaving, so it makes sense to cut Cris loose before things get too serious. Cris is kind, passionate and totally deserves a guy like Charles—wealthy, owns a home, successful businessman. Jake can't compete so why bother? They're better off together. But when Jake has a serious personal crisis, Cris and Charles unite to pull him back together, and the three men discover it's possible—maybe even inevitable—to fall in love with more than one person at a time.
"Here For Us" is the first in a brand-new m/m/m menage romance series that explores the March/May/September relationship of three very different men.
ISBN: B06X156VN3
Review: Three men with baggage gravitate toward one another as feelings long buried come to light. Insecurities send one man, Jake, to question himself after having been with Cris. Devastated Cris turns to his friend and boss Chet for comfort. The two admit they have feelings for one another.
This was a drama filled book with a lot of emotions happening between the characters and themselves. There were a lot of secondary characters introduced that at times overwhelmed me. But I figured they were introduced for a reason as in they were in the rest of the series.
It was a complicated yet sweet beginning to an interesting menage story.
Great read.
Feel by A.M. Arthur
Title: Feel
Series: Breaking Free 06
Genre: Alternative Universe, Omegaverse, MPreg
Publisher: Briggs-King Books (August 30, 2018)
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: Single omegin Brogan Dale is jealous of the loving, stable relationships his omega friends have with their alpha mates. For years, he's longed to find his own bondmate and create a family, but that hasn't been in the cards. Just when he's determined to take the first alpha who'll provide for himself and his young son Peyton, Brogan scents him across a crowded coffee shop. Too bad his bondmate is the unstable alpha who nearly killed Brogan's best friend last year.
Mikel Tovey is taking it one day at a time, adjusting to life on his own, away from the oppression and abuse of his cruel sire. All he wants is to complete his probation, make sure his omegin and brothers are safe, and find a way to live with all the mistakes he's made. When he scents his omega bondmate, Mikel is initially terrified of the older omegin and his adorable toddler. But Brogan is handsome, kind, and Mikel is completely enamored of little Peyton.
With his bondmate in his sights, Brogan does everything in his power to prove Mikel can be a good alpha, a good mate, and a fantastic father to Peyton. But when Brogan's past comes roaring into his present and puts Peyton's future at risk, Mikel's resolve is shaken. He wants to love and support his omega during this crisis, but he doesn't know how. With Brogan surrounded by friends and chosen family who love him, he doesn't need Mikel's insecurities weighing him down, too—but Brogan has found his mate, and he isn't letting Mikel walk away without a fight.
This time, Brogan has too much to lose…
NOTE: This is a non-shifter Omegaverse story with alpha/omega/beta dynamics, heats, knotting, and mpreg. In this world, omegas are second-class citizens with few civil rights and almost no protections under the law—although times are changing for the better. Trigger warnings for physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. This series is best read in numerical order.
ISBN: B07GTVVKZH
Review: This is Brogan and Mikhail's story. I liked that the roles were reversed in this addition. We see an alpha who was abused and is unsure of himself after his past actions. Brogan is an omega who survived the fight ring and is the aggressor in this one. Mikhail does everything he can to atone for his mistakes as Brogan add his support and understanding.
It's not easy for these two as the story progresses but by being there for each other they persevere. More is done about taking down more members of the fight club so that no other omega is taken and abused for the amusement of others.
I really enjoyed the entire book.
Fantastic read and addition.
Posted on April 18, 2019 April 18, 2019 by ShortyPosted in Book Review, MM Book Review, MM Romance Book Review, Reviews, Self PublishedTagged A. M. Arthur, Breaking Free series, Briggs-King Books, Gay Alternative Universe, Gay Human Alpha/Omega, Gay Non-Shifter, Gay Omegaverse, Gay Self Published, GLBT Alternative Universe, GLBT Human Alpha/Omega, GLBT Non-Shifter, GLBT Omegaverse, GLBT Self Published, M-preg, Shorty's Reviews. Leave a comment
Stronger by A.M. Arthur
Title: Stronger
Series: Breaking Free 03.5
Genre: Alternative Universe, Omegaverse
Publisher: Briggs-King Books (January 20, 2018)
Blurb: Learning to trust can bring a lifetime of joy.
As happily-married beta couple Serge and Dex Freel await the birth of their first child, Serge can't help but think back to the rocky start of his and Dex's relationship. After a party introduction from a mutual friend, a tentative friendship blooms into something much stronger. Marred by misunderstandings, personal prejudices, and Serge's own inability to trust, they nearly go their separate ways more than once—and almost lose their chance at the beautiful life they'll build together.
But Dex's alpha-like stubbornness and Serge's desperate need to care for others brings them back together over and over, until both men realize they're truly stronger together than apart. But their happily-ever-after is hard-won and other friendships are tested, before Serge finally takes a chance on giving his heart to Dex and trusting the other man not to break it into unfixable pieces—and trust is not something Serge gives easily.
See how two fan-favorite characters from the Breaking Free Omegaverse series meet in this 42k word novella. The story is best enjoyed after reading Heard (BF #3), because the current timeline events occur during Heard's epilogue, but it can also be easily read after Found (BF #4). Content warnings for previous books in the series apply.
ISBN: B0796K8S5C
Review: Serge and Dex are betas that have been in the series from the beginning so it was a must to get this couples back story and how they met. Both have been through some horrific events in their lives and Serge does not want to be with anyone.
But Dex is persistent. I love these two together. They helped each other grow and Dex showed Serge that not all are out to hurt others.
They had a few bumps along the way but are the stronger for them once the dust settled.
Posted on March 19, 2019 March 19, 2019 by ShortyPosted in Book Review, MM Book Review, MM Romance Book Review, Reviews, Self PublishedTagged A. M. Arthur, Breaking Free series, Briggs-King Books, Gay Alternative Universe, Gay Human Alpha/Omega, Gay Non-Shifter, Gay Omegaverse, Gay Self Published, GLBT Alternative Universe, GLBT Human Alpha/Omega, GLBT Non-Shifter, GLBT Omegaverse, GLBT Self Published, M-preg, Shorty's Reviews. Leave a comment
Whole by A.M. Arthur
Title: Whole
Publisher: Briggs-King Books (May 9, 2018)
Blurb: Two broken hearts…one perfect fit.
Alpha Morris Danvers likes his quiet life as a paralegal and as the uncle to his beta brother Morgan's infant son Aeron. Raised by an abusive sire, Morris and Morgan have relied on each other for years, and Morris doesn't trust himself to do right by an omega mate. When a tragic accident leaves Morris alone to raise a baby, he reaches out to his boss Ronin Cross for help—and gets more help than he ever imagined from Ronin's mate and their friends. But Morris can't take bereavement leave forever and Aeron needs a caregiver.
After surviving an abduction and months of torture, all omega Jaysan Rowe wanted was to give away the baby he never asked for and move on. But after months of acting out, Jaysan finally hits rock bottom on the one-year anniversary of his child's birth. Desperate to get his act together, he meets with an alpha who needs full-time daycare for his infant nephew. But the instant Jaysan sets his sights on little Aeron he knows: Aeron is his biological child. Even Morris's nose can tell the pair belongs to each other. His nose also tells him something even more shocking: Jaysan is his bondmate.
Both men feel the bond, but neither is ready to mate, period, so they come to a business arrangement. Jaysan wants a relationship with Aeron, and Morris needs a sitter. It should have been perfect, except for that pesky mating bond. A bond that draws them together, over and over, no matter how hard each man fights it. Jaysan swore long ago he'd never mate or let another alpha touch him during heat—except everything about Morris makes him feel safe. Wanted. Whole. But Morris deserves an unsoiled mate, not someone as dirty and used as Jaysan, and Jaysan will do anything to prove it to the stubborn alpha…even if it means giving up his son a second time.
NOTE: This is a non-shifter Omegaverse story with alpha/omega/beta dynamics, heats, knotting, and mpreg. In this world, omegas are second-class citizens with few civil rights and almost no protections under the law. Trigger warnings for physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. This series is best read in numerical order.
ISBN: B07CZSVV6X
Review: Morris loses his older brother to a car accident and finds he is the guardian of their son Aeron. Jaysan has mourned the fact that he gave his child up for adoption the day he was born. Kell tells Jaysan about someone needing a sitter so Jaysan goes to the interview. When he arrives he meets Morris and feels a bond. But more importantly he finds his son.
Jayson and Morris fight the bond between them every step of the way. I was flabbergasted at the lengths Jaysan went to make Morris see he was not interested but understood his reasoning. I love this story about two broken men who find light at the end of a tunnel in each other.
There was many ups and downs for these two along the way. Their friends help them out along the journey to finding happiness. I am in awe of this series. The only problem I've seen so far is couple of spelling errors in each book. Other than it's wonderful.
I can see several more books in this series with certain characters coupled up.
Fantastic addition.
Found by A.M. Arthur
Title: Found
Blurb: A widowed alpha finds something unexpected with a rescued, pregnant omega…
Two years after his longtime mate passed away, Senior Constable Isa Higgs lives for his work solving crimes and protecting the citizens of Sansbury Province—and he won't admit to anyone that he's lonely. His three beta sons barely speak to him, he has no real friends to speak of, and his home feels too empty most nights. When he helps free five omega prisoners from a life of torture and abuse, Isa is unexpectedly drawn to one in particular—an omega six months pregnant with another alpha's child.
Liam Haley lost everything in one single tragedy—his family, his freedom, and his ability to make choices. And then he's whisked out of hell by an alpha constable twice his age who should terrify Liam, but instead, the man makes him feel safe. Protected. Wanted. But Liam is carrying a child he isn't sure he wants to keep, and the last thing he needs is to get attached to a widowed alpha who can't possibly want him back…right?
With Liam pregnant and Isa previously mated, neither man is sure exactly what they're feeling—only the more time they spend together, the closer they become. And Liam is still sorting through the trauma of his kidnapping, so friendship is their only recourse—until someone from Liam's past shows up to claim what he believes is his. Now Isa has to choose between letting Liam go, or fighting like hell for the damaged, young omega he's unexpectedly fallen in love with.
NOTE: This is a non-shifter Omegaverse story with alpha/omega/beta dynamics, heats, knotting, and mpreg. In this world, omegas are second-class citizens with few civil rights and almost no protections under the law. Trigger warnings for physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
ISBN: B0796JS58D
Review: Liam is rescued along with other pregnant omegas from a fight ring. He does not trust anyone except for Higgs. Scared and uncertain of what the future holds in store for him he turns to Higgs for comfort. Higgs is unsure of what he feels for Liam and considering the age difference he is not sure it's a good idea to act on his feelings.
Higgs has three children, all in school. He lost his mate a few years ago and has been lonely so he buries himself in his work. The problem is he's pushed his kids away. With Liam comes a new understanding of his children.
When an alpha makes a claim on Liam, Higgs will do anything to make sure Liam never suffers abuse again. I loved these two together. I also liked the fact that none of the couples just fall into bed after the first meeting like most books. Each has suffered didn't indignities. The omegas need time to adjust an find themselves after the horrific events of their pasts.
I loved that the alpha mates gave these omegas time, patience and understanding given their circumstances. Another great addition to an ongoing series that ties all the characters together in a well written emotional saga.
Heard by A.M. Arthur
Title: Heard
Genre: Paranormal, Omegaverse
Publisher: Briggs-King Books (November 12, 2017)
Blurb: An omega who can't speak meets an alpha who won't listen….
Karter Jenks is a first-year constable who's still trying to prove himself to his superiors, so he isn't looking for a mate right now. Soon, sure, but he also knows he has work to do to change his alphahole tendencies around omega rights. The Kell Iverson trial opened his eyes to how cruelly some omegas are treated, and Karter doesn't want to follow in his authoritarian father's footsteps when he finds his mate. And he absolutely does not expect a homeless omega vagrant and burglary suspect to be his bondmate.
Jax Orris escaped a life of captivity and pain to save himself and his infant son. Living as vagrants isn't ideal, but it's better than trusting the authorities who landed Jax in hell to begin with. When their hiding place is discovered, Jax is shocked to feel the mating bond with the young alpha who's been tracking him—and even more shocked when the constable doesn't immediately arrest him for his crimes. It helps him trust Karter enough to accept his help in keeping himself and his son safe from the men Jax escaped.
Jax's story horrifies Karter, and he vows to protect his omega from further harm—but first he has to get his stubborn, angry omega to trust him. Trust is no longer in Jax's nature, but he can't deny his connection to the young alpha eager to please him. Jax never thought he'd want another alpha to touch him, much less mate with him, but Karter's gentle patience breaks down the walls Jax erected around his heart after the death of his first mate. As Jax's next heat approaches, the investigation into his captivity uncovers surprising connections to several previous cases, and the danger to everyone involved increases. Can he trust Karter to protect him, or will Jax's past destroy their chance for a happily ever after?
NOTE: This is a non-shifter Omegaverse story with alpha/omega/beta dynamics, heats, knotting, and mpreg. In this world, omegas are second-class citizens with few civil rights and almost no protections under the law. Trigger warnings for physical, emotional, and sexual abuse
ISBN: B077DC63R2
Review: Jax is an omega who escapes the omega fight ring while pregnant. He is caught by Constable Jenks after he breaks into two houses for baby supplies. Jenks immediately takes the man and his child somewhere safe. Jax cannot speak due to the doctor who works for the fight ring cutting his vocal cords completely.
I loved that despite being young Karter protects Jax from all the evil that he has been through. With the help of friends he didn't know he had the two manage to get closer to each other. The baby is adorable and Karter falls hard for the two of them.
There is danger all around as an investigation is under way to find the culprits. I loved how the omegas from previous books as well as omegas from different cases all rally together to fight for each other as well as their rights. Their support was rock solid and whole. The unwavering support of the alphas who believe in being good to omegas was awesome.
Posted on March 8, 2019 March 7, 2019 by ShortyPosted in Book Review, MM Book Review, MM Romance Book Review, Reviews, Self PublishedTagged A. M. Arthur, Breaking Free series, Briggs-King Books, Gay Alternative Universe, Gay Human Alpha/Omega, Gay Non-Shifter, Gay Omegaverse, Gay Self Published, GLBT Alternative Universe, GLBT Human Alpha/Omega, GLBT Non-Shifter, GLBT Omegaverse, GLBT Self Published, M-preg, Shorty's Reviews. Leave a comment
Seen by A.M. Arthur
Title: Seen
Publisher: Briggs-King Books (September 26, 2017)
Blurb: Hell is a six-by-six jail cell and no hope for the future.
Kell Iverson has never raised his hand against another person in his entire life—and yet somehow he's been arrested and charged with the murder of his alpha mate Krause. Sure, Krause brutalized him on a daily basis, and Kell hated his mate, but he never wanted the man dead. Not fighting the charge and accepting his fate is the easiest path—except Kell doesn't think he'll survive a week in prison, and he doesn't want to disappoint his younger brother Braun by giving up. He also doesn't expect to recognize the lawyer who shows up to defend him.
Ronin Cross was barely eighteen when he felt the mating bond with then-fourteen-year-old Kell, but his family moved away before Ronin could decide what to do. For the last ten years, he hasn't forgotten teenage Kell, hasn't mated, and now he's in Sansbury Province to defend adult Kell from a capital murder charge. The mating bond is still there, but now isn't the time to pursue anything with his fragile, battered, emotionally-damaged client.
For Kell, the term "kind alpha" is a contradiction, because he's never known one. He went from abusive father to abusive mate, and for twenty-four years, he's simply done what he's told. But Ronin asks Kell what he wants. What he likes. Ronin sees him, and it's both confusing and delightful. But Kell is facing prison time at best, execution at worst, and as his trial date looms, he can't indulge in a fantasy that will never come true…or can he?
ISBN: B075TD6PRF
Review: Kell is in jail awaiting trial for murder. His lawyer is a man from his childhood, Ronan cross. Ronan is protective of Kell given that he is Ronan's mate. Years ago these two were separated when Ronan's family moved away all of a sudden. Jumping at the chance to be around Kell again, Ronan springs into action doing what he does best.
The trial was heartbreaking and the details of the abuse Kell suffered by his husband horrific. Braun, Kell's brother, is a rock for the young man in his time of need. As the trial drags on Ronan and Kell grow closer.
I loved these two as a couple. Kell, despite all he's suffered is strong. Though it does take him time to come to grips with all he's suffered throughout his life.
An emotional and amazing addition to the series as new evidence is brought to light as well as new leads to other cases.
Saved by A.M. Arthur
Title: Saved
Blurb: He didn't want an alpha to save him, but fate had other ideas…
Braun Etting was raised to know his place as an omega by his alpha father's cruel words and fast fists, and he expects nothing but violence from the alpha who may one day mate him. His older brother Kell mated a cruel alpha who abuses him daily, and Braun is terrified of that seemingly inevitable future. When Braun's father dies in a car crash, leaving Braun an orphan, he's sent to a halfway house for omegas. But on his fourth night there, he witnesses a horrifying crime that sends him fleeing to the streets alone—and edging into his first heat.
Tarek Bloom is settled in his workaholic, single lifestyle, even if it is somewhat embarrassing to be a twenty-eight year-old unmated alpha. He enjoys his job as a constable, helping people and solving problems, so he isn't prepared for his life to flip upside-down when he walks into his beta friend Dex's apartment to help with "a problem."
The problem turns out to be an unmated, nearly in-heat omega orphan who Dex and his husband rescued off the street last night. The even bigger problem is that Tarek feels the mating bond for this terrified omega immediately—and he's pretty sure the omega feels it, too. But Braun hates alphas as a general rule, and no way is he giving in to the bond. All mating leads to is violence and suffering, so no thank you. But Tarek's gentle kindness slips under Braun's emotional shields, and Braun begins to want. To dream. All Braun has ever known is violent alphas, but Tarek is determined to make Braun trust him—and to trust in the idea of their happily ever after.
NOTE: This is a non-shifter Omegaverse story with alpha/omega/beta dynamics, heats, knotting, and mpreg. In this world, omegas are second-class citizens with few civil rights and almost no protections under the law. Trigger warnings for physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. 67,000 words.
ISBN: B074N5S8LZ
Review: I loved this story. Braun, an omega, has lost his abusive father to a car accident. Braun and his brother Kell have not had the easiest lives. They have been abused and made to feel like they do not matter simply because they are omegas. To make matters worse the laws in their province provide no protection for omegas what so ever. This made me mad as hell. My heart broke for all the injustices these two have been through not to mention what other omegas have been made to suffer.
This is an intense and emotional story about an omega who wants all omegas to be heard and treated with respect by all instead of second class citizens with no rights. Tarek is a constable who recognizes Braun as his mate when he meets him. Through patience and understanding he lets Braun get to know him. There was a lot of cases popping up in this story. I hope we get to see the conclusion of the ones that happened near the beginning as I want to know who kidnapped all those teens and what the man running the halfway house knew about the omegas going missing and where the omegas went.
The saddest part about the entire story is Kell, Braun's brother. He's mated to an evil abuser alpha. At the end of this book Kell is in jail for the murder of his mate. I honestly wouldn't shed a tear if the man did kill him as the things he put that man through for years was despicable. Not to mention giving Kell's baby away because it was not an alpha.
The funniest thing in the book was what the mean narrow-minded alphas are called: Alphahole. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series about Kell.
Posted on March 1, 2019 February 28, 2019 by ShortyPosted in Book Review, MM Book Review, MM Romance Book Review, Reviews, Self PublishedTagged A. M. Arthur, Breaking Free series, Briggs-King Books, Gay Alternative Universe, Gay Human Alpha/Omega, Gay Non-Shifter, Gay Omegaverse, Gay Self Published, GLBT Alternative Universe, GLBT Human Alpha/Omega, GLBT Non-Shifter, GLBT Omegaverse, GLBT Self Published, M-preg, Shorty's Reviews. Leave a comment
Chosen by A.M. Arthur
Title: Chosen
Series: Prodigal 03
Genre: Paranormal
Length: Novella (99pgs)
Publisher: Briggs-King Books; 1 edition (March 21, 2018)
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Blurb: Grayson "Gray" Jones has spent his entire adult life trying not to be seen, not to be noticed, and simply existing day to day. Trying to ignore the fact that he can't remember anything about his life prior to turning fifteen. All he knows is survival. The day before his thirtieth birthday, Gray wakes up to find his brown eyes unexpectedly a vivid blue—and tiny flashes of memory start to return. He grew up in a now-abandoned Pennsylvania town called Chosenone, and that town is calling him home.
Ravaged by an underground fire, no one lives in Chosenone anymore, and during Gray's explorations of the old buildings, he's shocked to run into his childhood friend Ian. He and Ian shared everything growing up, even their birthdays. But while Gray's life post-Chosenone was one of inexplicable hell, Ian grew up to become a decorated police officer. And Gray hates cops. But some force drew them home to finish a ritual that began fifteen years ago, and this time, Gray wants to finish it once and for all—even if it costs him his own life in the end.
ISBN: B07BBYRW5W
Review: Another intense and interesting addition to an already amazing series. Gray is drawn back to Chosenone after being gone for so long. Upon arrival flashbacks begin to happen as snippets of that time so long ago come back with a vengeance. Ian the only man Gray has ever loved is also drawn back to the ravaged town and what they uncover will test the both of them.
I loved this story. The fact that this place actually exist is a plus. The accounts of the fire burning under the town is true and added an awe inspiring feel to the story. The paranormal aspect was mind blowing in it's intensity not to mention the reason for it happening to begin with.
I loved this story as well as the first two in the series. I am hoping there will be more or some like it in the future.
Fantastic read and highly recommended.
Posted on July 17, 2018 July 17, 2018 by ShortyPosted in Book Review, MM Book Review, MM Romance Book Review, Reviews, Self PublishedTagged A. M. Arthur, Briggs-King Books, Gay Horror, Gay Paranormal Romance, GLBT Horror, GLBT Paranormal romance, Prodigal series, Shorty's Reviews. Leave a comment
Frozen by A.M. Arthur (2nd Edition)
Title: Frozen (2nd Edition)
Blurb: Best friends Lee Mitchell and Roman Carmichael have been inseparable since childhood, and at fifteen, realize they mean so much more to each other. But not everyone in their small, upstate New York town is happy about their fledgling romance, and during a spring canoe trip, Roman goes missing during a supposed accident Lee can't remember. Heartbroken by the loss, Lee spends the next ten years rooted in place, building a life around the river that took his heart away, and obstinately searching for any sign of his lost love.
During a winter snowstorm, Lee sees a stranger on the side of the road in board shorts and a t-shirt, and he risks bringing the man home. But beneath the shaggy hair and beard is Roman. His Roman. Ten years older, but alive and well, and in Lee's house. Roman's reappearance, however, has a time limit, and as Lee works to recover all the memories he lost, one thing becomes frighteningly clear: as scary as the supernatural might be, sometimes human beings are the most horrifying villains of all.
Note: This story was previously published under the same title. No significant changes have been made.
ISBN: B07BBVF9RX
Review: Lee has been searching for Roman for ten years since he disappeared during a canoe trip. One day he see's a man walking along the road when it starts snowing. He picks him up after contemplating the pros and cons and discovers it is Roman. Now after ten long, lonely years the boy he loved is back.
Roman is secretive about where he has been these past ten years but the two's love never died. Revelations slowly come out about that fateful night that separated the two. My heart broke for both Roman and Lee. I was amazed at the story and how everything came to pass. The ending was the real shocker to me as everything unfolded to a climatic ending.
Fantastic, heart gripping story of sacrifice, and a love that never dies. Highly recommended.
Prodigal by A.M. Arthur
Title: Prodigal
Genre: Paranormal, Horror
Publisher: Briggs-King Books (2nd edition) (March 14, 2018)
Blurb: At eighteen, Ethan Wilde left his stifling, rural hometown of Kingston, North Carolina, and he never looked back. But something has always been missing from his life, he isn't sure what—or who. Twelve years later, an article about the bizarre murder of a childhood friend lands in his inbox, and an instinct deep inside of Ethan insists he return to Kingston. He only plans to stay in town for a few hours, but at the funeral, he runs into a man he never expected to see again: his former-best-friend and lover Jesse.
Rooted in Kingston by forces he can't explain, Jesse couldn't leave with Ethan twelve years ago, but he doesn't regret it. Ethan is free to live his life, while Jesse remains behind, protecting a terrible secret—a secret that began when he and five others were only nine years old. They were taken into the woods, and no one knows what happened. And only Ethan has ever left Kingston—but now he's back, and Kingston isn't letting Ethan leave a second time.
After twenty dormant years, the evil that wanted them is back and it's collecting the souls who defeated it once before. Ethan and Jesse's love is as powerful as it ever was, but are they strong enough to save each other a second time?
Note: This book was previously published under the same title. No significant changes have been made.
ISBN: B07BBXSTQ3
Review: After leaving Kingston, n.c. years ago Ethan gets an email about a friend death. He returns for the funeral only to be thrust into a mystery and nightmare that started when he was nine years old. Jesse his best friend never left Kingston and upon Ethan's return sets out to protect the man and to renew the bond they felt for another.
I absolutely loved this story. It's spine-tingling and edge of your seat, page after page of memories rediscovered, a love that never died and an evil that laid in wait. I loved how close Jesse and Ethan were. I felt bad for their other four friends in the story.
The paranormal aspect of the story was gruesome in it's intentions. But also added a dangerous appeal to an already amazing story.
Posted on July 9, 2018 July 17, 2018 by ShortyPosted in Book Review, MM Book Review, MM Romance Book Review, Reviews, Self PublishedTagged A. M. Arthur, Briggs-King Books, Gay Horror, Gay Paranormal Romance, GLBT Horror, GLBT Paranormal romance, Prodigal series, Shorty's Reviews. Leave a comment
Saved by A.M. Arthur Release Blast, Excerpt & Giveaway!
Hi guys, we have A.M. Arthur popping in today with her new release Saved, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~
(Breaking Free 01)
A.M. Arthur
He didn't want an alpha to save him, but fate had other ideas…
Continue reading "Saved by A.M. Arthur Release Blast, Excerpt & Giveaway!" →
Posted on September 12, 2017 by pixiemmgoodbookreviewsPosted in Author Giveaway, Book Blast, Excerpt, New Releases, Self PublishedTagged A. M. Arthur, Breaking Free series, Briggs-King Books, Gay Alternative Universe, Gay Non-Shifter, Gay Omegaverse, Gay Self Published, GLBT Alternative Universe, GLBT Non-Shifter, GLBT Omegaverse, GLBT Self Published, M-preg. Leave a comment
Here For Us by A.M. Arthur Release Blast, Excerpt & Giveaway!
Hi guys, we have A.M. Arthur popping in today with her new release Here For Us, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and click that giveaway link! <3 ~Pixie~
Here For Us
(Us 01)
Cris Sable doesn't walk into popular gay bar Big Dick's expecting to find more than a casual hookup, so he's surprised by his instant attraction and intense chemistry with go-go dancer Jake. Jake's sexy as hell and a firecracker in bed. The sparks between them are undeniable, and what starts as a hookup evolves into something deeper, possibly permanent—until Jake dumps Cris flat on his ass for no good reason.
Continue reading "Here For Us by A.M. Arthur Release Blast, Excerpt & Giveaway!" →
Posted on March 17, 2017 by pixiemmgoodbookreviewsPosted in Author Giveaway, Book Blast, Excerpt, New Releases, Self-publishedTagged A. M. Arthur, Briggs-King Books, Gay Contemporary Romance, Gay Ménage Romance, GLBT Contemporary Romance, GLBT Ménage Romance, GLBT Self Published, Us series. Leave a comment


Which is really why this blog started. When I come to think about it. The prospect of adventure. One that sustained for five years in the Outpost and culminated in two years of chaos where change, with some irony, became our constant. Another huge change looms now, a new adventure. I hope it will bring calm.
I need to drive south to find it.
The last of my three children left yesterday to go back to her English University.
I walk into her room as soon as I return from the airport. Where I can still smell her. She wears Chloe and is such an aficionado of body spray that I feel anxiously certain she must be personally responsible for that hole in the ozone layer.
Last weekend I punished myself similarly by walking into her brother and her sister's rooms just after they'd gone, and gathering discarded clothes from the floor, noticing rumpled sheets from their last night at home.
And I am struck by the familiar, tangible ache that accompanies my children's departures: it sits somewhere between my heart and my navel. A sinking. A gap. A lump in your throat that's got dislodged.
Arms full of clothes, heavy with the scent of children, I leave the room and close the door.
They'll be home, I tell myself, even if I don't know what that home looks like yet.


text:
CyberOne: Law in the Court of Public Opinion
Just another Weblogs at Harvard Law School weblog
RIAA v. Joel Tenenbaum
Update (1/6/2009): Prof. Nesson and his students are going down to Rhode Island federal court today to protect Joel's mother and father from having to surrender their personal computer (and the private information on it) from the RIAA's hired guns. Learn more about it by reading our press release and following us on Twitter. More information as we get it!
Prof. Nesson and a crack team of CyberOne students is in the process of defending Joel Tenenbaum, a digital native, from the RIAA.
The below is excerpted from their defense of their counterclaim against the RIAA and the music companies that back it, and gives a pretty good idea of the stakes involved, and what Joel is up against.
We are in the process of building out the docket from the case for public scrutiny. View the motion to add the RIAA as a defendant in our counterclaim here, and the amendment to the counterclaim itself here.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is in the process of bringing to bear upon the defendant, Joel Tenenbaum, the full might of its lobbying influence and litigating power. Joel Tenenbaum was a teenager at the time of the alleged copyright infringements, in every way representative of his born-digital generation. The plaintiffs and the RIAA are seeking to punish him beyond any rational measure of the damage he allegedly caused. They do this, not for the purpose of recovering compensation for actual damage caused by Joel's individual action, nor for the primary purpose of deterring him from further copyright infringement, but for the ulterior purpose of creating an urban legend so frightening to children using computers, and so frightening to parents and teachers of students using computers, that they will somehow reverse the tide of the digital future.
The plaintiffs in the suit and the RIAA are abusing law and this court's civil process. Because Joel Tenenbaum allegedly downloaded seven songs from a file-sharing network comprised of millions of his peers doing likewise, the plaintiffs have already imposed upon him process filling a docket sheet running back over years. Representing himself pro se with help from his mother he has responded with constitutional defenses and a counterclaim against the plaintiffs and against the RIAA for their abuse of law and this court's civil process.
Joel challenges the constitutionality of the process and statute being wielded against him. The "Digital Theft Deterrence Act of 1999" is essentially a criminal statute, punitively deterrent in its every substantive aspect.
Joel seeks damages to compensate for the actual damage RIAA has done to him and his family. He claims the right to trial by jury including the right to offer proof and argument to the jury about what is right and what is wrong on both sides of this case. In the face of the onslaught the plaintiffs have imposed and are continuing to impose upon him he seeks justice from both judge and jury. At core his defenses and counterclaim raise a profoundly conceptual question: Is the law just the grind of a statutory machine to be carried out by judge and jury as cogs in the machine, or do judge and jury claim the right and duty and power of constitution and conscience to do justice.
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