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Best Travel Rewards Programs
Laura Joszt
With the right travel rewards programs, vacation can become more affordable and provide people with perks to enjoy.
Travel can be incredibly expensive, and, yet, it's something most people crave. However, with the right rewards programs traveling — whether for business or pleasure — can become more affordable and provide people with perks to enjoy.
U.S. News & World Report recently its 2014-15 Best Travel Rewards Programs ranking, which features information on 27 airline and hotel programs. Now, travelers don't have to waver over which loyalty program to join in order to maximize rewards.
"Our goal is to take the guesswork out of choosing a travel rewards program," Miriam Weiner, lead travel editor at U.S. News, said in a statement. "The programs that rank at the top of our lists make it easy to earn free flights or hotel stays while offering benefits that travelers value, such as complimentary upgrades and free checked bags."
The hotel rewards ranking was based on 5 criteria: network size, property diversity, geographic coverage, additional benefits, and ease of earning free nights. Only programs with properties located in the US and that allow members to earn rewards and privileges at affiliated hotels were considered for ranking.
The airline rewards ranking was based on 5 criteria, as well: flight volume, geographic coverage, free flight options, ease of earning a free round-trip flight, and additional benefits the program offered. The program had to be tied to a US-based airline in order to be considered for ranking.
Best hotel rewards programs
5. Starwood Preferred Guest
Overall score: 4.20 (out of 5 stars)
Properties in network: 1,162
The Romanos in Messinia, Greece.
The Starwood program primarily caters to business people traveling in the US, Asia, and Europe, and the group includes 9 brands including Sheraton and St. Regis. Elite members who are also in the Delta SkyMiles program can earn hotel points on Delta flights and miles on hotel stays.
The program's property diversity and additional benefits both received 5 out of 5 stars, and property diversity earned 4 stars. However, geographic coverage only received 3 out of 5 stars.
According to U.S. News, Starwood has fewer budget-friendly hotels than Hilton or Marriott and not all participating hotels can be booked with points online.
4. Club Carlson
Overall score: 4.24 (out of 5)
Properties in network: More than 1,000
The loyalty program of the Carlson Rezidor hotel group includes Radission, Park Plaza, and Country Inns & Suites by Carlson. Rwards can cover future stays; hotel expenses, such as room upgrades and movie rentals; and flights and purchases through partners.
The program's property diversity received 5 out of 5 stars, ease of earning a free night received 4.5 stars, and additional benefits earned 4 stars. However, geographic coverage only received 2 out of 5 stars.
Blackout dates do apply. Also rewards cannot be redeemed for rooms reserved on third-party websites, and member benefits may not be available in all Carlson hotels, according to U.S. News.
3. Best Western Rewards
Chinatown, New York City
There are Best Western hotels in more than 100 countries around the world, plus Best Western is affiliated with airlines like Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines.
The program's property diversity and additional benefits both received 5 out of 5 stars, while ease of earning a free night and geographic coverage both received 4 out of 5 stars.
Points never expire, but free nights at Best Western Premiere hotels require a large number and hotels outside of the US and Canada may be subject to blackout dates, according to U.S. News. Also, members cannot earn both hotel points and airline miles for the same stay.
2. IHG Rewards Club
Brands that are a part of the InterContinental Hotels Group include, Candlewood Suites, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, and InterContinental. The rewards club typically caters business travelers to major cities.
The program's property diversity and geographic coverage both received 5 out of 5 stars, while ease of earning a free night and additional benefits both received 4 out of 5 stars.
However, discounted rooms do not receive points and reward options vary by location, according to U.S. News. Plus, in order to redeem Reward Nights at an all-inclusive resort, extra points are required.
1. Marriott Rewards
Marriott has 18 affiliated brands, including Ritz-Carlton, Courtyard Marriott, and Residence Inn. Plus, rewards can be redeemed for flights with more than 30 airline programs, including United MileagePlus and Delta SkyMiles.
The program's property diversity and additional benefits both received 5 out of 5 stars, and geographic coverage and ease of earning a free night bother received 4 out of 5 stars.
However, top-tier membership is more difficult to reach than the highest levels at Starwood and Hilton, according to U.S. News. Plus, rooms at high category hotels cost a large number of points, and points can expire.
Got to the next page to see the best airline rewards programs.
Best airline rewards programs
5. American Airlines AAdvantage
Number of daily flights: More than 2,000
Fleet size: 631
Travelers based in eastern, central and southern American cities will benefit most from the AAdvantage program, according to U.S. News. Since American Airlines merged with US Airways, AAdvantage elite status members can take advantage of perks on US Airways flights, too.
The program received 5 stars for free flight options and geographic coverage, 4-and-a-half stars for additional benefits, 3-and-a-half stars for airline quality, and just 2 stars for ease of earning a free flight.
Members can only earn miles for one seat per flight, and miles can only be earned for one program per trip, according to U.S. News.
4. United MileagePlus
MileagePlus members earn and use miles on United and its 35-plus airline partners, including Singapore Airlines or Copa Airlines. Members can also earn miles on qualifying cruises, car rentals, and train fares.
The program received 5 stars for geographic coverage, 4-and-a-half stars for additional benefits, 4 stars for ease of earning a free flight, 3 stars for free flight options, and just 2-and-a-half stars for airline quality.
The program rules are complex, according to U.S. News, plus the number of seats available for award travel is limited.
3. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
Number of daily flights: 500 — 1,000
Frequent fliers traveling to and from Alaska and West Coast cities will benefit most from this program. Plus Alaska Airlines is partnered with 14 airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and British Airways.
The program received 5 stars for free flight options, 4-and-a-half stars for both additional benefits and airline quality, 4 stars for geographic coverage, and 3 stars for ease of earning a free flight.
However, blackout dates apply on reward travel, and seating and availability on rewards flights are limited, according to U.S. News.
2. Southwest Rapid Rewards
Fliers in the southwest United States who travel around the US, Mexico, and the Caribbean will benefit the most.
The program earned 5 stars for ease of earning a free flight, 4 stars for geographic coverage, 3-and-a-half stars for airline quality, 3 stars for free flight options, and 2-and-a-half stars for additional benefits.
However, Southwest's only international flights are to Mexico and the Caribbean. Plus, the number of points needed to redeem a free flight varies widely, and points and cash cannot be combined, according to U.S. News.
1. JetBlue TrueBlue
JetBlue best serves travelers based on the East Coast who fly domestic or to the Caribbean. Through the program members earn points on JetBlue flights and JetBlue Getaways vacation packages, as well as Emirates and Hawaiian Airlines.
The program received 5 stars for airline quality, ease of earning a free flight, and free flight options; 3-and-a-half stars for additional benefits; and 3 stars for geographic coverage.
While there are no blackout dates on JetBlue flights, blackout dates may apply on partner airlines. The program also offers just one elite membership tied, according to U.S. News.


It's week 4 of Lilla Roger's Make Art That Sells Home Decor Course. This week is all about designing images for ceramics. This course is life-changing. I can't explain or put it into words all I've learned in the last four weeks. I can tell you I'm not the same artist I was 30 days ago. Each assignment is challenging but things I started out struggling with are no longer struggles: honing a style, creating a cohesive collection, whipping out my Photoshop ninja skills.
Above is the board I submitted for this week's assignment. I have a garden/farm vibe going with some similar motifs from previous weeks and adding in houses, chickens and plaids. One of the things Lilla says is people buy your joy and create products you would want, so each week that's what I do. What would I want in my home or give as a gift.
I had so many icons this week and had two color stories going on, so I separated them into two boards.


ULTRA HIGH PERFORMANCE RADIAL Designed for the demands of the ultra high performance enthusiast. Don't let the quiet ride fool you: the i-Pro will handle those wet roads. This unidirectional summer sport tire features large tread blocks, with four primary tread grooves for effective water dispersion and better wet traction. The center-rib tread design enhances high speed handling stability, while the shoulder design with large blocks and hard bead filler offers excellent cornering and handling characteristics.


Welcome to Comprehensive Health Physical Rehab & Chiropractic Center, where your health and wellness are always the priority. We offer pain relief solutions and total body care designed to treat musculoskeletal injuries and help our patients achieve long term wellness goals. Whether you are experiencing frequent headaches, were injured in a car accident, or you simply wish to improve your overall health, our team is trained and experienced in providing you with the utmost care.
We do not take a one-size-fits-all approach to your health; rather, we customize your care to meet your individual needs. The body is powerful and often capable of healing itself when properly equipped to do so. Instead of using medications and invasive medical procedures to treat our patients, we take a holistic approach designed to eliminate pain and other symptoms at their source.
We believe a healthy spine sets the foundation for a healthy body. Nearly everyone can benefit from chiropractic treatment – including children, teens, adults and seniors. Chiropractic adjustments include gentle manipulation of the spine and joints so as to minimize pressure on the nerves and reduce inflammation. Our chiropractor has many years of experience treating and preventing injuries and helping patients achieve relief from neck pain, back pain, headaches and other chronic conditions.
We are a multi-disciplinary practice utilizing alternative therapies to enhance chiropractic outcomes. This includes the use of Physical and Occupational Therapy for patients who have suffered injuries in the workplace, car accidents, or while playing sports. These disciplines target the body's soft tissues, improving strength, flexibility, and functional ability. Patients who undergo rehabilitation often experience improved posture, restored range of motion and better coordination. In addition, we offer acupuncture as a safe and reliable means of relieving a wide range of chronic health problems. Many of our patients report relief from pain, headaches and symptoms related to other conditions, such as fibromyalgia and allergies.
You will meet with us on your initial visit to discuss your wellness goals and how we can help you achieve them. Depending on your needs, we may recommend any combination of chiropractic, physical rehabilitation and acupuncture. Many of our patients also benefit from our many other services, including nutritional counseling, laser therapy, massage therapy, private and group yoga, and lifestyle advice.
Whether you are currently experiencing symptoms or simply want to find out more about our services, we encourage you to contact our office to schedule a consultation. Our friendly staff is happy to answer any questions you may have and schedule an appointment time that accommodates your schedule. You can request a consultation from our website or give us a call at (732) 243-9890 to speak with one of our team members. Thank you for choosing Comprehensive Health Physical Rehab & Chiropractic Center for your health and wellness needs. We look forward to serving you soon.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with our office, call 732-243-9890 today!
"I tweaked my back while weight lifting and had to cut back my workouts. Within a few short visit to Dr. Mike, I was up and running again...literally!"


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Tag: Motivation
what's your inspirational, motivational motto or slogan? choose one now and use it!
A FEW weeks ago our youngest surprised us in the car on the way to her new school, two days after joining; she burst into a declaration that made us laugh but also got us thinking.
Speaking loudly to herself, she declared, "You are the better than everyone, you can do anything and nothing can stop you!"
I was a little alarmed at what had motivated the outburst but my investigations didn't come to much. The enquiries were brief, however, as my consultations with the other principal stakeholders in the matter arrived at the conclusion that it was healthy for everyone to be driven by a motivational slogan or statement.
In fact, we agreed, we would adopt the practice and daily pump up our souls with motivational slogans as we left home.
This week, while visiting some peri-urban and rural primary schools, I paid keen attention to one of my favourite features of these schools – those slogans that they paste all about the schools. For some reason, it is a feature that appears to exist only in 'those' schools that most of us attended, but not in many of the city schools.
At one school on the shores of Lake Victoria at Katosi, where bilharzia and malaria are a serious problem, the signs I read included, 'Sleep Under A Treated Mosquito Net Every Night', 'Avoid dodging taking bilharzia and other worm tablets', 'Drink Boiled Water Always', 'Sew Your Net When It Has Holes', 'Malaria Causes Poor Marks In Exams', and 'Daddy Please Get Me A Mosquito Net Today'.
The messaging was designed to re-inforce the lessons the children are taught, as well as to cause a behavioural change in their families.
At other schools, we saw signs like, 'Say No To Bad Touches', 'Correct Don't Criticise', 'Keep The Environment Clean', 'Girls Need Education Too', 'Girls Are As Capable As Boys In All Fields', 'Ky'osimbonaanya Ky'olyako Ettoke', and, 'Say No To Premature Sex'.
The signs were all neatly written and prominently displayed distributed all around the school compounds so the children wouldn't miss them. There was even, at one school kitchen in a day school, 'Always Use Energy Saving Cooking Stoves'.
I imagine that the children who spend their days surrounded by these messages, many of which they are made to recite as part of certain lessons, grow up with a clear understanding of why they are important. There should be a study somewhere about the drop in incidents of sexual molestation, or non-use of mosquito nets, or environments being kept dirty in certain places as a result of such messaging.
At the very least, none of the children would have an excuse to fall back on if they were found doing anything contrary to the messages they see on a daily basis.
In corporate offices around the world, inspirational posters and slogans have been used as a tool of management for years on end, and they have worked quite well in many instances. There are people running entire careers developing these simple one-line messages for companies, athletes and politicians…speaking of which:
This presents a challenge and an opportunity for our politicians!
Right now, the most publicly visible messaging in Uganda is the campaign posters that have began to cover the country, and our politicians would do well to take notes from our schoolchildren and their teachers.
Drop those open statements like, 'For Peace and Stability', 'For Development' and 'A Man Of The People', which really mean nothing when one thinks about them for two seconds.
Instead, come up with motivational statements that show us how you will deliver in your political role, that motivate and inspire you and your followers every single day in a way that will aid your campaign or delivery should you be elected.
The key thing, though, is to put it out there so it reminds you to act a certain way and because it is so public, it forces you to do so.
For the first three people who ask, I can ask my daughter to lend you this one: 'I Am Better Than Anyone, I Can Do Anything and Nothing Can Stop Me!' – provided you actually ensure that you ARE better than anyone, you WILL do anything, and that NOTHING stops you keeping the promises you make to the electorate.
By skaheruin Education, Social October 15, 2015 868 WordsLeave a comment
Victor Ochen: let's take him viral for Uganda
Allan Ssenyonga (@ssojo81 on Twitter) is a Ugandan living and working in Rwanda who makes incisive, prolific observations every so often in his weekly newspaper column down south (I don't get that paper in regularly), and more importantly, on Twitter.
A week ago he was angry at the Ugandan media focus on Desire Luzinda, Bad Black and the likes of Zari instead of presumably 'more serious' matters.
"Dear friends," he wrote, "that's how Bad Black/Desire Luzinda find space on page one while you struggle to know when the next LC elections will be held."
"From setting the agenda," he continued, "newspapers now just reflect what is trending on social media…in the process (the papers) have lost their voice."
We applauded him, in between tweets about the just-leaked racy nudes of one Sheebah, a musician.
"Newspapers seem to be struggling to be blogs. Like that 30yr old who still wants to sag his jeans to hangout with campus kids," he went on.
He hit nail after nail on the head with heavy, effective tweets, but of course life went on and the newspapers are probably not following him THAT keenly.
By the time he was tweeting this up, I was popping off a few of my own seeking excitement, on Twitter at least, about 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Victor Ochen, whose appearances on our front pages so far have not been numerous enough by far.
Victor Ochen's popularity amongst the social media crowd is low, of course, because of his severe failure to be photographed in a state of undress or on video while engaged in a sexual act.
The most commonly available photograph of him online has him draping his arm over the shoulder of Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
This amazing young fellow is being lauded (a nomination on its own is serious global applause) for starting and running the African Youth Initiative Network (AYINET) in northern Uganda which has changed the lives of thousands of people.
Without focusing on how young he is in calendar years, Victor Ochen's initiative has provided direct surgical medical rehabilitation to more than 5,000 victims of torture, gunshot wounds, rape and other forms of war-related trauma in northern Uganda.
And while most people prepared to cast votes for the Social Media Awards 2015, he got nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.
And he wasn't nominated by me, or any other Ugandan I know – even though nominating someone isn't complicated at all – the categories of persons and organisations who can nominate people are many and include any Member of Parliament (Victor Ochen's MP must be kicking himself right now, I wrote in my first version of this article; but when he read it on Saturday night – the early edition of the Sunday newspaper – he sent me a Facebook message and we had a good chat about this.
Victor Ochen's Member of Parliament is Moroto County's Benson Obua-Ogwal and he is NOT kicking himself over this.
"I'm not surprised by his nomination, and he deserves it. But you and I know that it is hard to know exactly the criteria for such nominations, going by many past winners. I dare say if the nomination came from me or a fellow African of any rank it probably would not have carried as much weight as the nomination from …(this is revealed a few paragraphs from here)... He has worked very closely with international friends, and we have been in touch. I am proud of his work. I'm praying he wins. It will be my pride and that of the people of Moroto County, Lango and Uganda!!" he told me.
To nominate someone you just send an email to postmaster@nobel.no; but obviously if your airtime has been eaten up by all those WhatsApp messages with photos and videos of Ugandan 'celebs', then you can't send that email.
Without saying that all of us who didn't nominate Victor Ochen for the Nobel consideration were otherwise engaged in soft pornography, guess who nominated him?
The American Friends Service Committee.
No, it is NOT a Ugandan organisation with an American name. The organisation doesn't even list Uganda as one of the countries in which it has operations, so I am not certain or how where they heard of Victor Ochen.
The AFSC itself won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947, and so is high up on the list of organisations allowed to nominate future winners. We have to applaud them for using their valued opportunity on Victor Ochen.
There is no telling exactly how many people have been nominated for the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize, since the organisers, the Nobel Foundation, keep the list of nominations secret for 50 YEARS!
Still, there are people who make their nominations public, and so we know that Victor Ochen is up against Pope Francis, Ban Ki-Moon, Edward Snowden and the World Health Organisation, among around 200 or so others.
At this point, it is not healthy to judge your own friends, or posse, or investment club as you ponder the proverb regarding 'birds of a feather'.
Instead, salute Victor Ochen for getting nominated by way of noble hard work, and say a prayer or cross your fingers that the Ugandan flag will be flown in places such as the location at which the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates are announced and awarded.
And tell your children about Victor Ochen so that they aspire to be like him. Also, if you can take a break from your smart phone, or the bar, or life as usual otherwise, lobby our educationists so that they include the work of Victor Ochen and people like him on the curriculum of our schools.
It is important for our millions of students to get exposed to more of Uganda's Victor Ochen's than all these undressed celebs and their shenanigans.
And maybe for our media to tell us more about the work of AYINET than the last sighting of a photograph of a nude person on the mobile phone of a misguided person.
In fact, YOU get a photo of Victor Ochen and send it round to a couple of people with a few positive comments just in case you can inspire more people to be like him.
The heroic Victor Ochen – photo from http://www.africanyouthinitiative.org/
By skaheruin Africa, Culture, Development, Globalisation, Media, Politics, Social, Uganda March 1, 2015 1,066 Words8 Comments

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Interface Energetics: The Key to Efficient Organic and Perovskite Solar Cells
by Endres, James John, Ph.D. Princeton University. 2019: 278 pages; 13857918.
Platinum group metal oxides for heterogeneous catalysis: Novel synthesis and advanced characterization
by Misch, Lauren M., Ph.D. University of California, Santa Barbara. 2014: 161 pages; 3637453.
Investigating Transition and Rare Earth Metal Oxide Relative Energetics Predictions for Improving Materials Selection Processes in Clean Energy Applications Using First-Principles Methods
by Curnan, Matthew T., Ph.D. Carnegie Mellon University. 2015: 225 pages; 3746532.
Spin-strain coupling in 3-d transition metal oxides
by Narejo, Ghous Bakhsh, Ph.D. Michigan Technological University. 2010: 170 pages; 3439131.
Understanding and engineering two-dimensional electron gases in complex oxides
by Bjaalie, Lars Gunnar Tangen, Ph.D. University of California, Santa Barbara. 2016: 189 pages; 10103606.
Discovery and Study of Single-Phase and Single-Ion Manganese Perovskite Multiferroics
by Chapagain, Kamal, Ph.D. Northern Illinois University. 2019: 158 pages; 10981565.
Design, synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of novel osmium-based B-site ordered double perovskites
by Russell, David D., M.S. California State University, Long Beach. 2016: 88 pages; 10011271.
Solid state chemistry of platinum group and noble metal oxides: Implications for heterogeneous catalysis
by Kurzman, Joshua A., Ph.D. University of California, Santa Barbara. 2011: 263 pages; 3495690.
Large-Scale Atomistic Simulations of Complex and Functional Properties of Ferroic Materials
by Walter, Raymond, Ph.D. University of Arkansas. 2019: 107 pages; 13880277.
A Microscopic Understanding of Solar Cell Materials Using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy
by Yost, Andrew J., Ph.D. University of Wyoming. 2017: 156 pages; 10278345.
Film growth and structure design in the barium oxide-strontium oxide-titanium dioxide system
by Fisher, Patrick J., Ph.D. Carnegie Mellon University. 2008: 201 pages; 3299667.
Recycling Carbon Dioxide into Sustainable Hydrocarbon Fuels: Electrolysis of Carbon Dioxide and Water
by Graves, Christopher Ronald, Ph.D. Columbia University. 2010: 281 pages; 3448327.
Dynamical conductivity of strongly correlated electron systems at oxide interfaces
by Ouellette, Daniel Gerald, Ph.D. University of California, Santa Barbara. 2013: 223 pages; 3602181.
Interface Studies of Organic/Transition Metal Oxide with Organic Semiconductors and the Interfaces in the Perovskite Solar Cell
by Wang, Chenggong, Ph.D. University of Rochester. 2015: 231 pages; 3723336.
Magnetism in Complex Oxides Probed by Magnetocaloric Effect and Transverse Susceptibility
by Bingham, Nicholas S., Ph.D. University of South Florida. 2013: 174 pages; 3559103.
Metal Oxide/Semiconductor Heterojunctions as Carrier-Selective Contacts for Photovoltaic Applications
by Man, Gabriel Jen Shi, Ph.D. Princeton University. 2017: 229 pages; 10265452.
Interface engineered multifunctional oxide thin films with optimized properties
by Collins, Gregory Roy, Ph.D. The University of Texas at San Antonio. 2010: 133 pages; 3433206.
Understanding Stabilization of Noncentrosymmetric Inorganic Phases by Analysis of Static Structures and Dynamic Processes
by Holland, Michael John Edward, Ph.D. Northwestern University. 2016: 173 pages; 10246683.
Toward the Systematic Design of Complex Materials from Structural Motifs
by Smidt, Tess Eleonora, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley. 2018: 200 pages; 10817362.
Local and Average Structures in Ferroelectrics under Perturbing Fields
by Usher, Tedi-Marie, Ph.D. North Carolina State University. 2016: 256 pages; 10585504.
Ternary nanomaterials: Synthesis by alkalide reduction and characterization
by Zivkovic, Olivera, Ph.D. The George Washington University. 2010: 219 pages; 3387313.
High Performance Lead-free Piezoelectric Materials
by Gupta, Shashaank, Ph.D. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. 2013: 223 pages; 10595344.
Ferroelectric and Antiferroelectric Properties of HfO 2-Based Thin Films
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Study of dynamic processes in unique oxide-ion conduction materials via solid state NMR spectroscopy
by Holmes, Lesley, Ph.D. State University of New York at Stony Brook. 2008: 179 pages; 3358204.
A New Generation of High Temperature Oxygen Sensors
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Lanthanide containing apatites: Synthesis and calorimetric studies with focus on materials for solid oxide fuel cells and drug delivery
by Hosseini, Seyedeh Mahboobeh, Ph.D. University of California, Davis. 2013: 96 pages; 3614215.


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Canopy breaks out Canadian operations in new unit, lays off 55
SMITHS FALLS, Ont. — Canopy Growth Corp. says it will be breaking out its Canadian cannabis operations into a stand-alone business unit and laying off 55 staff. Brenna Eller, the Smiths Falls, Ont.
Canadian Press Nov 30, 2022 10:36 AM Nov 30, 2022 11:05 AM
Staff work in a marijuana grow room at Canopy Growth's Tweed facility in Smiths Falls, Ont., Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Canopy Growth Corp. says it will be breaking out its Canadian cannabis operations into a stand-alone business unit and laying off 55 staff. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
SMITHS FALLS, Ont. — Canopy Growth Corp. says it will be breaking out its Canadian cannabis operations into a stand-alone business unit and laying off 55 staff.
Brenna Eller, the Smiths Falls, Ont. pot company's vice-president of communications, says the move is meant to help the company reach profitability.
She did not say what roles the laid off workers had or where they were located.
As part of the changes, Eller says Dave Paterson will now serve as its president of Canadian operations.
Patterson, who most recently served as chief commercial officer of cannabis producer Indiva, is expected to drive greater accountability as the company tries to find sustainable growth.
Eller says Julious Grant, Canopy's chief commercial officer, will also leave the company "to pursue other opportunities."
"Through the changes announced today, our executive structure and operations are now more closely aligned with the areas of greatest opportunity and reflect Canopy Growth's resolute focus on achieving profitability in Canada," she says, in a statement.
"Together with our recently announced strategy for fast tracking entry into the U.S., these adjustments further position Canopy Growth to realize our ambition of North American cannabis market leadership."
Companies in this story: (TSX:WEED)
Group forms to build small modular nuclear reactor in Ontario
TotalEnergies EP Canada ups stake in Fort Hills oilsands project


Last March, in Waukesha County, Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan laid out the GOP budget and tax agenda: repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), cut domestic spending, boost military spending and pass "the lowest tax rates on businesses since the 1920s". The age of mammon, when business tycoons were worshipped. Ryan and Trump found common ground – slash taxes for corporations and the super-rich (already low).
Trump's team laid out a dishonest tax cut plan. Gary Cohn, director, White House Economic Council, said: "The wealthy are not getting a tax cut under our plan". And, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said: "We think there will be $2 trillion of growth. So we think this tax plan will cut down deficits by a trillion dollars." Lies, fairy dust and a Trojan Horse for the budget.
The tax cuts. The Washington Post opined that "Trump's tax plan is a gift to the rich, including himself." The current top federal income rate is 39.6 percent. Trump would cut it to 35 percent. This would reward singles making over $418,400 and married couples above $470,700! And, the Post said the "estate tax goes bye-bye. … (But the) only people who have to pay this tax are those passing on more than $5.49 million. (And, a married couple can inherit nearly $11 million without paying the tax)". It gets worse.
Ryan and Trump have falsely claimed that the estate tax hurts small businesses and farmers. The Post reported that "only 5,500 estates will pay any tax at all in 2017 (out of about 3 million estates). And, of those 5,500 hit with the tax, only 80 (yes, you read that right) are farms or small businesses." Moreover, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimated than in 2016 only "70 estates in Wisconsin (paid) any federal estate tax." There's more.
The New York Times said: "Republicans want to eliminate the alternative minimum tax, which is primarily paid by upper-income families with lots of deductions. This tax accounted for a vast majority of the income tax Mr. Trump paid in 2005, according to a leaked copy of his return." Will Trump ever release his tax returns? What is he hiding?
Finally, the Trump tax plan cuts the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent. However, corporations already pay much lower rates because of tax breaks and loopholes; some corporations pay zero federal income taxes! Moreover, corporations should stop flying the pirate flag and hiding their earnings abroad. More nonsense.
Tax cuts will cost trillions. Despite Treasury Secretary Mnuchin's claims, tax cuts do not pay for themselves. William Niskanen, member of Reagan's Council of Economic Advisers, said: "the Reagan administration never assumed that the tax cuts would pay for themselves." Mnuchin is full of fairy dust. But Ryan has a plan. Last week the GOP-led House passed a budget resolution cutting Medicaid by $1 trillion, turning Medicare into a voucher program, repealing the ACA, boosting military spending, while setting up the process for tax cuts. A Ryan-Trump Trojan Horse.


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Bumpershine.com
Pop Culture Specialist.
E: info@bumpershine.com
Live Music, Tour Dates
The Cure @ Radio City Presale Password
Posted by bumpershine on January 24, 2008
with 65daysofstatic
A very select number of tickets across all price levels TOMORROW Friday, January 25 from 10AM until 10PM before they go on sale to the general public Saturday, January 26 at 10AM. Click here to purchase.
(The Cure are also appearing Friday, June 20 at Madison Square Garden)
PRESALE DATE: Friday, January 25 from 10AM – 10PM
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Hepatitis C in Black Americans
More in Hepatitis
Causes & Diagnosis
Hepatitis A & B
Why African Americans Are Disproportionately Affected
By James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, MD
James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, MD
Dennis Sifris, MD, is an HIV specialist and Medical Director of LifeSense Disease Management. James Myhre is an American journalist and HIV educator.
Medically reviewed by Latesha Elopre, MD, MSPH
Latesha Elopre, MD, is a board-certified internist specializing in HIV and an assistant professor of infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
What Is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C in Black People
Infection Rates
Reversing the Trends
Black people in the United States are not only more likely to get hepatitis C, a viral infection affecting the liver, but also are less likely to access treatment for this now-curable disease. These factors contribute to disproportionately high death rates among Black people with hepatitis compared to all other racial or ethnic groups.
Siri Stafford / Getty Images
This article offers facts and statistics about hepatitis C in the Black community. It explores why infection rates remain high and testing and treatment rates remain low despite increased awareness about the disease. It also looks at what can be done to reverse these trends affecting Black people and other at-risk populations.
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The virus is mainly spread by blood-to-blood exposure among people who share needles and other equipment used for injecting drugs. People who got blood transfusions or organ transplants before 1992—when the first HCV screening test was approved—are also at high risk.
Around 80,000 people in the United States are newly infected with hepatitis C each year. Of these, 1 in 5 will spontaneously clear the virus (have undetectable levels after their body responds to the infection). For the remaining 80%, the infection will become chronic (long-lasting), causing progressive injury to the liver over 20 to 30 years.
Some people with chronic hepatitis C may develop cirrhosis, which causes permanent damage to the liver due to extensive scarring. A small percentage will experience liver failure or liver cancer.
Today, an estimated 3.2 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C in the United States. Most are unaware that they've been infected because symptoms usually do not appear until significant damage has been done. Only a blood test can determine if a person has hepatitis C.
Unlike hepatitis A and hepatitis B, there is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C. But a new class of drugs called direct-acting antivirals (DAA) can cure hepatitis C in many people. Some even offer cure rates of up to 99% with as few as eight weeks of treatment.
How Hepatitis C Is Treated
Facts and Statistics About Hepatitis C in Black People
Anyone can get hepatitis C, but Black people bear a disproportionate burden of the disease in the United States. In nearly every aspect of the disease, Black people remain inexplicably affected—from the higher rates of infection and deaths to the lower rates of viral clearance and cures.
The statistics speak for themselves. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):
Black people are twice as likely to be infected with hepatitis C when compared to the general U.S. population.
While Black people represent only 12% of the U.S. population, they make up around 22% of the 3.2 million people living with chronic hepatitis C.
About 1 in 7 Black men in their 50s is living with chronic hepatitis C.
Black people with hepatitis C are twice as likely to get liver and bile duct cancer than White people with hepatitis C.
Black people are twice as likely to die from hepatitis C than White people.
Hepatitis C today is the single leading cause of death among Black people age 45 to 65.
The causes for these disparities are many. While they reflect the general disparities experienced by people of color in the United States, other biological, social, and cultural factors play a part.
Causes and Risk Factors of Hepatitis C
Infection Rates Among Black People
According to the Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, injecting drug use is the leading cause of new HCV infections today. The high rate of infection in the Black community is explained, at least in part, by the fact more than half of injecting drugs users are Black.
But injecting drug use is not the only cause for the disparity. The majority of infections today occurred before HCV blood screening technologies were introduced in 1992. Of these, most were the result of HCV-contaminated blood transfusions.
Sickle cell disease (SCD), a disease common in the Black community, affects 1 in 12 Black people. Many require blood transfusions to correct anemia (lack of healthy red blood cells) and avoid serious disease complications. People with SCD who received a blood transfusion before 1992 are at high risk of HCV infection. Because of this, SCD is considered an independent risk factor for hepatitis C.
HCV can also be passed from mother to child during pregnancy. Among women with SCD, 86% of whom are Black, the rate of hepatitis C is higher than among women without SCD.
Complications of Chronic Hepatitis C
Social and Cultural Risk Factors
Access to health care in the United States is not equal. This alone contributes to low rates of testing and treatment (and generally poorer health outcomes) in Black people with hepatitis C.
According to 2016 research published in the journal Medicine, Black people are 18% less likely to access hepatitis C treatment than White people. This is due in part to the fact that Black people are 50% less likely to have health insurance and will only access care when a condition is severe or advanced.
In addition, the high cost of DAAs—roughly $75,000 for a 12-week course—can make co-pay or coinsurance costs (expenses not covered by health insurance) unaffordable even for those with insurance. The risk is greater among Black people, 18.8% of whom live below the federal poverty limit compared to 7.3% of White people.
According to a 2022 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), insurance denials and prior authorization problems were two of the main reasons why HCV treatment rates remain low in Black communities.
Structural Racism and Bias
Economics plays only one part in the disparities. Even beyond the cost of therapy, studies show that Black people with hepatitis C are more likely to be deemed ineligible for treatment than any other racial or ethnic group.
In the past, this was due to co-occurring conditions (like diabetes or kidney disease) that made certain older therapies harmful. But those concerns have been largely erased with newer DAAs.
In fact, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (AASLD-IDSA) today recommend HCV treatment for all people with chronic hepatitis C.
Even so, a 2017 study in the Annals of Hepatology reported that Black people were far less likely to access HCV treatment compared to White people with the same risk behaviors, disease characteristics, education status, and employment status.
Some of the barriers start at the governmental level. This includes certain state Medicaid programs that deny HCV treatment to alcohol or drug users until specific abstinence or treatment criteria are met. This is despite the fact that alcohol or drug users are no less able to complete HCV treatment when under the same medical supervision as anyone else.
With that said, Black people are generally less likely to complete HCV therapy than people of other racial or ethnic groups, according to a 2016 study in the journal Medicine. The study, which evaluated 75,655 people with hepatitis C in the United States, reported that Black people were 19% less likely to complete HC treatment than White people.
Socioeconomics was a major factor in the dropout rate. Healthcare bias (providers treating people differently due to race), both perceived and real, also plays a part in how people access or remain in treatment.
Health Disparities: How and Why They Matter
Disease Progression in Black People
As much as health disparities can affect the outcome of any disease, several biological factors contribute to the progression of hepatitis C in Black people.
Black people are less likely to naturally clear HCV (have undetectable virus after responding to the infection) than other groups for reasons not entirely understood.
According to a 2012 study in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, Black people are 32% less likely to experience HCV clearance than White people and 62% less likely than Latinx people. This alone contributes to higher rates of infection in the Black community.
On the other hand, hepatitis C is less likely to progress to cirrhosis in Blacks. However, if it does, it is twice as likely to lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) when compared to White people. Moreover, it will do so faster and with larger and/or multiple tumors, according to a 2021 study in the journal Cancer.
Research suggests that certain gene mutations account for the aggressive progression of hepatitis C in Black people. This includes mutations of the IL28B gene, which appears to increase the risk of both chronic HCV infection and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Racial Inequalities in Liver Cancer Deaths Linked to Hepatitis C Treatment
Response to Hepatitis C Therapy
Another issue affecting Black people with hepatitis C is their response to DAA treatment. Generally speaking, DAAs are equally effective in achieving a cure—defined as a sustained virological response of 12 weeks (SVR12)—despite a person's race or ethnicity. Even so, SVR12 appears somewhat harder to achieve in Black people.
Among the findings of a 2018 study conducted by the Veterans Administration (VA) Services of Los Angeles are:
While other racial or ethnic groups can achieve SVR12 after eight weeks of treatment, Black people typically need 12 weeks.
Around 87.8% of Black people achieved SVR12 after treatment compared to 92.4% of White people even with perfect drug adherence.
Higher rates of advanced liver disease at the time of treatment appear to play a role in this. Research also linked mutations of the aforementioned IL28B gene to the poorer response rates.
How to Find a Hepatitis C Specialist
Reversing the trends negatively impacting Black people with hepatitis C requires a coordinated response. In tandem with governmental and institutional partners, HHS has issued the Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan to combat the disease in at-risk communities.
The strategy aims to prevent new hepatitis infections and improve outcomes for people living with the disease. It is also focused on reducing health disparities related to hepatitis.
Central to the strategy is reducing hepatitis C–related death among Black people in the United States and efforts to curb the transmission of the hepatitis C virus among injecting drug users.
Education plays a key role in the effort. This includes encouraging those at risk of infection to seek testing. According to the Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, this includes:
People born from 1945 to 1965 ("baby boomers")
Recipients of blood transfusions or donated organs before 1992
Recipients of clotting factor before 1987
Current or former injecting drug users
People with signs or symptoms of liver disease
Children with mothers who have hepatitis C and have had hepatitis C while pregnant
People on long-term hemodialysis (treatment that filters waste and extra water from your blood)
People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, around 5% of whom are coinfected with HCV)
People with known exposure to hepatitis C (such as healthcare workers)
The CDC offers the GetTested website to locate free hepatitis C testing sites near you.
Hepatitis C disproportionately affects Black people in the United States. Despite representing only 12% of the population, Black people account for 22% of the 3.2 million people estimated to be living with hepatitis C in the United States today.
While most new infections result from injecting drug use, most infections are due to tainted blood transfusions given before 1992. This includes blood transfusions commonly used to treat sickle cell disease (SCD) common in Black populations.
Black people are also less likely to naturally clear the virus after infection and more likely to die of hepatitis C–related complications than their White counterparts. Certain biological and genetic vulnerabilities are thought to place Black people at an increased risk.
Access to hepatitis C treatment is unequal in the United States, particularly with regard to Black people. In addition to high poverty rates and a lack of access to insurance, structural racism and healthcare bias prevent many Black people from accessing HCV treatments they are fully entitled to.
Efforts are underway to reverse these trends under the federal government's Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan. This includes reducing the mortality rate among Black people with hepatitis C and lowering the rate of new infections among injecting drug users.
How to Prevent Hepatitis C
Being Black increases your risk of hepatitis C, but it doesn't mean that you are destined to get hepatitis C. To reduce your risk, never share needles of any sort, including those used to inject insulin, cosmetic fillers, or anabolic steroids. Only use tattoo parlors and piercing studios licensed by your state's department of health.
If you do have hepatitis C and treatment is denied, seek the assistance of a patient advocate or community-based legal aid services, some of which are available free of charge.
If drug costs are unaffordable, financial aid is available through manufacturer co-pay assistance programs, drug discount cards from the American Liver Foundation (ALF), and nonprofit assistance programs like the Healthwell Foundation and the Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation.
Hepatitis C Support Groups
Forde KA, Tanapanpanit O, Reddy KR. Hepatitis B and C in African Americans: current status and continued challenges. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014 May;12(5):738–48. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2013.06.006
Centers for Disease Control and Pevention. Hepatitis C.
HIV.gov. Addressing hepatitis C disparities in the African American community.
Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy. Viral hepatitis in the African American community.
Aisyah DN, Shallcross L, Hully AJ, O'Brien A, Hayward A. Assessing hepatitis C spontaneous clearance and understanding associated factors-s systematic review and meta-analysis. J Viral Hepat. 2018;25(6):680-98. doi:10.1111/jvh.12866
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis C questions and answers for health professionals.
Asselah T, Marcellin P, Schinazi RF. Treatment of hepatitis C virus infection with direct-acting antiviral agents: 100% cure? Liver Int. 2018;38(Suppl 1):7–13. doi:10.1111/liv.13673
Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy. Facts on African Americans & hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. Hepatitis and African Americans.
Khan MSE, Saleem A, Qazi RA, Khan MA, Ahmad A.. Frequency of hepatitis B and C in patients with sickle cell disease: experience at tertiary care hospital. Ann Pak Inst Med Sci. 2015;11(3):142-5.
Shahraki AD, Zafarbashsh A, Dehkordi AF. Superimposed hepatitis C virus in sickle cell disease pregnant woman. Adv Biomed Res. 2018 Dec;7(1):158. doi:10.4103/abr.abr_181_18
Commonwealth Fund. Achieving racial and ethnic equity in U.S. health care.
Gilead Sciences. Questions about the cost of EPCLUSA.
Census Bureau. Inequalities persist despite decline in poverty for all major race and Hispanic origin groups.
Sims O, Pollio D, Hong B, North C. Racial disparities in hepatitis C treatment eligibility. Ann Hepatol. 2017;16(4):530-7. doi:10.5604/01.3001.0010.0282
American Association for the Study of Liver Disease/Infectious Disease Society of America. When and in whom to initiate HCV therapy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New estimates reveal declines in hepatitis C treatment in the U.S. between 2015 and 2020.
Liao JM, Fischer MA. Restrictions of hepatitis C treatment for substance-using Medicaid patients: cost versus ethics, Am J Public Health. 2017;107(6):893–9. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2017.303748
Vutien P, Hoang J, Brooks L, Nguyen NH, Nguyen MH. Racial disparities in treatment rates for chronic hepatitis C: analysis of a population-based cohort of 73,665 patients in the United States. Medicine. 2016;95(22):e3719. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000003719
Melia, MT, Muir AJ, McCone J, et al. Racial differences in hepatitis C treatment eligibility. Hepatology. 2011;54(1):70–8. doi:10.1002/hep.24358
Mir HM, Stepanova M, Afendy M, Kugelmas M, Younossi AM. African Americans are less likely to have clearance of hepatitis C virus infection: the findings from recent U.S. population data. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2012;46(8):e62-5. doi:10.1097/MCG.0b013e318238352b
Nguyen MH, Whittemore AS, Garcia RT, et al. Role of ethnicity in risk for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C and cirrhosis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2004;2(9):820-4. doi:10.1016/s1542-3565(04)00353-2
Shaltiel T, Zheng Z, Siderides C, et al. Hepatitis C-positive black patients develop hepatocellular carcinoma at earlier stages of liver disease and present with a more aggressive phenotype. Cancer. 2021;127(9):1395-1406. doi:10.1002/cncr.33377
Benhammou JN, Dong TS, May FP, et al. Race affects SVR12 in a large and ethnically diverse hepatitis C‐infected patient population following treatment with direct‐acting antivirals: analysis of a single‐center Department of Veterans Affairs cohort. Pharmacol Res Perspect. 2018;6(2):e00379. doi:10.1002/prp2.379
Echeverría N, Chiodi D, López P, et al. IL28B gene polymorphism rs12979860, but not rs8099917, contributes to the occurrence of chronic HCV infection in Uruguayan patients. Virol J. 2018;15:40. doi:10.1186/s12985-018-0946-2
HHS.gov. Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan overview.
Racial Disparities in Hepatitis C Treatment Eligibility
Symptoms of Hepatitis C in Women
Heavy Drinking and Chronic Hepatitis C
Mavyret (Glecaprevir and Pibrentasvir)—Oral
Hepatitis C Rash: Skin Symptoms and Signs of Progression
HIV and AIDS Symptoms by Stage
Symptoms of Hepatitis C Virus
Breast Cancer Risk: Disparities That Affect Black Women
How Hepatitis C Is Transmitted (and How It Isn't)
Hepatitis B vs. Hepatitis C: What Are the Differences?
Opioid Drugs and the Risk of Hepatitis C
Cancer Statistics and Facts
How Does Type 2 Diabetes Affect People of Color?
Peyronie's Disease Facts and Statistics: What You Need to Know
Epclusa (Sofosbuvir and Velpatasvir) – Oral


On Sunday, November 4th, 2012 USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65) completed her final and 25th cruise of a storied naval service. She was authorized by Congress in 1954 to be the first nuclear powered aircraft carrier and the 8th ship to bear the name USS ENTERPRISE. On January 12th, 1961 USS ENTERPRISE was commissioned into the Fleet. For the next 51 years she would make the distinction of being the 2nd oldest serving ship in the U.S. Navy; the USS CONSTITUTION in Boston Harbor being the oldest.
· In October 1962 she would be part of the blockade of Cuba as part of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
· USS ENTERPRISE provided air support to the Vietnam War and numerous deployments in the South China Sea as hostiles on the Korean Peninsula flared up.
· She would be the first aircraft carrier to operate the Navy's newest fighter, the F-14A Tomcat, during Operation Frequent Wind in 1975 as part of the evacuation of South Vietnam.
· In the 1980's she continued her service to the country being deployed on WESTPAC cruises during which the 1986 movie "Top Gun" was filmed onboard.
· Returning home in the 1990's to Newport News Shipyard in Virginia, she would undergo the largest refit on any naval vessel and to extend her service life. Upon completion she was deployed to numerous cruises in the North Arabian Gulf as part of Operation Southern Watch, the enforcement of the no-fly zone of southern Iraq.
· In October 2001, USS ENTERPRISE was of the first aircraft carriers to launch air strikes into Afghanistan at the start of Operation Enduring Freedom.
With her final cruise over USS ENTERPRISE was inactivated from naval service on December 1st, 2012 and scheduled for decommissioning on March 15th, 2013. At the inactivation ceremony the Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Ray Mabus, announced proudly the third Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier CVN-80 will be the ninth ship bearing the name USS ENTERPRISE, thus carrying on the tradition of the legend "Big E".
Tamiya models has released a 1/350th scale model of the Big E that is fantastically detailed and big. Click on the picture for more details.


text:
City of Eternal Night (Crescent City Series #2)
by Kristen PainterKristen Painter
House of Comarré author Kristen Painter weaves a tale of intrigue and betrayal, as the battle for New Orleans escalates in this second novel of the Crescent City series.
Mardi Gras approaches, bringing with it hordes of tourists eager to see the real-life Faery Queen holding court atop her festival float. When the Queen is kidnapped, it's up to Augustine, the fae-blooded Guardian of the city, to rescue her before time runs out.
But Augustine's mystifying protégée, Harlow, complicates the task by unintentionally aiding the forces of evil, drawing danger closer with each step. The Queen might not be the first to die...
Crescent City Series , #2
Kristen Painter likes to balance her obsessions with shoes and cats by making the lives of her characters miserable and surprising her readers with interesting twists. She currently writes award-winning urban fantasy for Orbit Books. The former college English teacher can often be found on twitter @Kristen_Painter, Facebook at www.facebook.com/KristenPainterAuthor, where she loves to interact with her readers and on her blog, http://kristenpainter.com/blog/.
Painter delivers on her promise of excitement and romance in the second installment of the Crescent City Series (after House of the Rising Sun). Computer whiz Harlow is trying to come to terms with her fae abilities and her attraction to playboy and New Orleans fae Guardian Augustine. Their romance tentatively creeps along in this otherwise stirring installment as they set out to solve the mystery of a young woman's kidnapping from the Mardi Gras Exemplar Ball, the biggest fae event of the year. Possible suspects are cunning witch sisters Zara and Gisselle, who want freedom from fae regulation, and the evil Branzino, Harlow's fae father. But the kidnappers aren't asking for money; they're asking for Augustine's life. Harlow struggles throughout with the emergence of new powers as well as an almost literal emptiness inside her that seems to be expanding: apt metaphors for a young woman finding herself. Painter takes this romp to unexpected places, with many, but not all, of Harlow's family secrets revealed. Agent: Elaine Spencer, Knight Agency. (Dec.)
"Painter creates an intricate, well-crafted plot, along with compelling, distinctive characters and an enthralling twist... this story will definitely have readers turning pages all night!"—RT Book Reviews on City of Eternal Night (Top Pick!)
"Painter delivers on her promise of excitement and romance in the second installment of the Crescent city Series."—Publishers Weekly on City of Eternal Night
"Urban fantasy fans will enjoy entering Painter's vividly drawn world."—Library Journal on City of Eternal Night
"I tore through Painter's new series. Best new urban fantasy out there!"—Kresley Cole, New York Times bestselling author on the Crescent City series
"With the Crescent City series, Painter proves herself a master of Urban Fantasy, creating a darkly gorgeous new world, richly drawn characters, and nonstop action."—Kristen Callihan on the Crescent City series
"[Kristen Painter's] rich, modern storytelling lays out an intricate plot layered with plenty of action and intrigue. Exquisite characters lie at the center of this story... From the first page, House of the Rising Sun is truly a superb and exciting read."—RT Book Reviews (4.5 Stars), Top Pick! on House of the Rising Sun
Harlow and Augustus share the New Orleans home they inherited from Harlow's mother when she died in the series opener, House of the Rising Sun. They are still dealing with their mutual attraction but bigger problems arise, including the kidnapping of the daughter of one of the city's fae elite. It is Augustus's responsibility as Guardian of the city to get her back, even if the demanded ransom is his own corpse. Harlow wants to help, yet when it brings her into conflict with her monstrous father, she learns some startling things about her own powers. VERDICT Building on the strength of the first book, this series blends an irresistible near-future setting with characters who continue to develop. Urban fantasy fans will enjoy entering Painter's vividly drawn world.
City of Eternal Night 4.5 out of 5 based on 0 ratings. 11 reviews.
thedarkoutcast More than 1 year ago
They're BACK! Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, Fae fans of all ages, that's right the dynamic duo of the big easy return for a show you won't soon forget. Then one, the only, the guardian of the haven city himself mister Augustine has his hands full this time around not just with his usual guardian duties but his emotions towards his new house mate and friend Miss Harlow Goodwin. Is this the start of a new romance in the big easy? As if life isn't complicated enough toss in witches and evil fae and you have yourself one sold book from page 1. Read it and find out for yourself cher!
ObsessiveReader More than 1 year ago
This story contains intrigue, mystery, lust, romance, magic and fae, humans, wtiches, voodoo and vampires.. do you really need more? This book was a really good a follow up to the first book in the series. It was fast paced and kept you engaged until the last page. The story picks up wehre it left us, back in New Orleans where everyone has a secret, a love triangle is in the works, and everyone is making a move for control of the city...in the mist of all of this the biggest ball of the year is interfering with a murder investigation which only adds to the stress that plagues Harlow and Augustine as they are trying to sort of their new roles in the eternal city. Harlow and Augustine's story is full of frustration that carries over into this book as they continue to tip-toe around their feelings, but luckly we get glimpses of the bubling attraction that lies just under the surface and at times explodes into some great scenes. I found Harlow's character more likeable in this story, and although I still think the patience the author and the characters show Harlow in this book is frustating, as the saying goes "good things comes to those who wait." Again, Kristen Painter gives us a world full of great villians that will have you root for them and wish them dead all in the same page. Overall, this was a better read than the first book, perhaps because all the back story and world building was behind us, and with all of it's twist and turns, it did not dissapoint.
The second installment in Kristen Painter's Crescent City trilogy did NOT disappoint! As a matter of fact, after reading the novel and enjoying it as much as I did, it prompted me to go back and re-read the first book in the series (House of the Rising Sun) because I distinctly remember being rather 'meh' about the debut novel. The issues I had with the first book were still there, but after reading this installment, it didn't seem to bother me as much because of the deft handling of the characters in City of Eternal Night. We're introduced a little more to the way the city works, including some peeks into the society of Witches, and fae magic is around every corner. We (FINALLY) have some growth from Harlow as a character, and the relationships of all the characters get a little more involved (read convoluted, in a good way). The theme of the second novel seems to be that keeping secrets does more harm than good - whether or not those secrets ever come to light. With on major exception (no spoilers her folks, no worries) - the author does a great job with the internal struggles of both those keeping the secrets and those that have them revealed to her. There is a single point of resolution that I was not happy with how quickly/effortlessly/abruptly it came about (hence the 4.5 rating in the title), but that was a single point of annoyance in what was otherwise an incredibly enjoyable read. I need the third volume right now!
LisaB95 More than 1 year ago
This series is so amazing. It's kind of bittersweet I only have one book left in it. There were so many surprises I would've never dreamed of waiting in the house Harlow and Augustine share. Lally is full of surprises herself. It's 4am and I want to start the last book now but have to sleep. This will for sure keep you up all night. I haven't read the Camarre series but have a few of them and the audiobooks. That's on my list next. This one makes so much sense so if you want to dig into it first you can. However, the Crescent City needs to be read in order. This narrator is one of the best I've listened to. He can do so many voices, male and female. And Augustine is to die for with his accent.
jamie-lee-davis More than 1 year ago
Well worth the wait ,Harlow still makes me want to shake her, but at least she growing a back bone,which makes me want to hug her,my favourite character is still Lally, and in this book you have some of your questions answered ,who would of guess about the Lightning tree and its history wih Lally,in this instalment you learn more about the characters and the world they live in ,the poltic between Al the different fractions,espeacially the witches Giselle and Zara really come into their own and quite power hungry, Augustine is so sexy inside and out , and he become more than you thought he was caperable of. In this part of the story theirs sex , action intrigue,vampires ,Fae,all things supernatural,just pick up a copy, you won't regret it because you won't be able To put it down.
Colleen2000 More than 1 year ago
This book is a fantasy novel and compared to other fantasies I've read It's a good one I loved it. This book is set on the present in Louisiana. The general plot of this book is a continuation from book 1 The House of the Rising Sun which had her father killing her mother and She and Augustine inheriting the house, together they devise plans to hunt down her father and while that's happening this book takes you on a journey with some new and exciting mysteries and plots. In my opinion this series is very well written. The author writes so as to draw you into their world of fae and witches. I loved the little twist the author put in there to set me up to get excited to read the next book. I recommend this author and this series to anyone who loves fantasy novels.
* I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. * Holy Harlow! WTFae?!? This book was an amazing read from start to finish! I didn't want to stop and at times couldn't stop, promising myself just one more page...Kristen Painter has taken Augie, Lally, Fenton, Harlow and all of their other amazing friends (and enemies) to a whole new level with this book. I enjoyed the banter between the characters, the budding romance between Augustine and Harlow and most importantly the Fae and all that I have learned about them through Kristen. She paints an awe-inspiring picture of New Orleans and the world of the fae, vampire, witches and voodoo practicers. It was so easy to get lost in the smoothly written saga of the Guardian and his friends and to immerse myself in all things magic, while still maintaining the integrity of the city. Author Kristen Painter takes the reader on a roller coaster ride through the above ground and under ground world of New Orleans and she leaves no stone unturned in her latest book. Just when the reader thinks they have it all figured out, she takes a whole new direction that no one could have seen coming. Just when you think nothing else can happen - it happens and in a big way! These characters become so much more than characters in a book - they become friends and they are friends that you think about long after the story has ended. Make sure you check this book out and add it to your TBR list, you won't want to miss this ongoing saga - especially with the end of this one - when is book 3 coming out?!?! I need it now!!! Sit back and enjoy this amazing ride!
kiwi_chick_2882 More than 1 year ago
This is a great addition to the Crescent City series. I wont regale you with the plot because the blurb itself is written more eloquently than I could achieve and I try not to give away spoilers. It was super good to be able to read about Augustine again, he is a likable noble character (and my favourite if you can't tell). I must say I wasn't a big fan of Harlow in the last book and I'm happy to say she goes about redeeming herself in some way in this book, although she does fall back in to some bad habits. We learn more about all the characters in this book and its great to see some of the reason they are the way they are. This world is well built and its really nice to see cross overs in this series from Kristen's other House of Comarre series. Betrayal, secrets revealed and a blossoming not quite relationship between Augustine and Harlow makes for addictive reading. I can't help but mention the ball. The costumes that Kristen described is just wonderful, dresses that change to your size as soon as you put them on, you can't help bit wish things like that were available in real life. I am looking forward to reading book three and to discover what Harlow and Augustine will do about the monumental (or so it seems) problems they are both faced with.
Hockeymom44 More than 1 year ago
So excited to finally get this second installment of this amazing tiology!! Kristen Painter has done a great job picking up the story right where we left off with our Hero & Heroine. Harlow is still trying to adjust to her fae side and living in her mother's home and Augustine is still getting used to being the Guardian of the city. Augustine and Harlow find themselves once again in the middle of all kinds of excitement, old secrets being revealed between the two and new ones being kept. The Witches, other fae and of course Harlow's father keep it all very interesting. This is a must have for any Urban Fantasy reader!!
cold blooded by amanda carlson paperback
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The Better Mousetrap
It touches all our lives-our triumphs and tragedies, our proudest achievements, our most traumatic disasters. ...
It touches all our lives-our triumphs and tragedies, our proudest achievements, our most traumatic disasters. Alloyed of love and fear, death and fire, and the inscrutable acts of the gods, insurance is indeed the force that binds the universe together. ...
Blooded: A Jessica McClain Novella
Jessica McClain was born the only female in an all male race. The only problem ...
Jessica McClain was born the only female in an all male race. The only problem is-she's no wolf. Called a curse, a witch and the Daughter of Evil by the superstitious wolves, Jessica decides to fight for her freedom, at ...
Bulls Rush In
John Charming. Ex knight. Current monster hunter. John's past is complicated enough, so he tries ...
John Charming. Ex knight. Current monster hunter. John's past is complicated enough, so he tries to keep life simple: Find monster. Kill Monster. But when he wanders into Vista Verde, a small town with a big secret, he soon discovers ...
Magic, mayhem and madness explode in this third installment in the Jessica McClain series.Jessica McClain ...
Magic, mayhem and madness explode in this third installment in the Jessica McClain series.Jessica McClain is on the run... again.Finally reunited with Rourke, Jessica arrives home to find that her best friend has been kidnapped, her father has vanished, and ...
Cursed Moon
MAGIC IS A DRUG. IT'LL COST MORE THAN YOU CAN PAY. . . When a ...
MAGIC IS A DRUG. IT'LL COST MORE THAN YOU CAN PAY. . . When a rare Blue Moon upsets the magical balance in the city, Detective Kate Prospero and her Magic Enforcement colleagues pitch in to help Babylon PD keep ...
Dark Descent
The second in a line of three exciting new urban fantasy novels where the son ...
The second in a line of three exciting new urban fantasy novels where the son of the Fates must travel to the underworld...Nyx Fortuna, still reeling from Elizabeth's betrayal, has no time to rest. His cousin Claire has gone missing ...
Deadly Spells
Kickass Magical Enforcement Agent Kate Prospero must balance a dangerous Brazilian cartel, her troubled teenage ...
Kickass Magical Enforcement Agent Kate Prospero must balance a dangerous Brazilian cartel, her troubled teenage brother, and a complex chemistry with her partner in this gritty fantasy thriller. After the grisly murder of a dirty magic coven leader, Kate and ...
Dirty Magic (Prospero's War Series #1)
Action-packed police procedural meets dark urban fantasy in a world where cops and wizards are ...
Action-packed police procedural meets dark urban fantasy in a world where cops and wizards are fighting a war over addictive, dangerous, and illegal dirty magic.Magic is a drug. Careful how you use it.The last thing patrol cop Kate Prospero expected ...


text:
Condolences go out to Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Amy), Kelley Earnhardt Miller (L.W.) and all their children for the loss of Mother and Grandmother Brenda Jackson, another victim of Cancer. 65 is far too young to die in this day and age. Everyone here at RFF is sincerely heartbroken at your loss.
I bid you welcome gentle readers, and as always a cordial "Hey Y'all" to our assigned reader of all things NASCAR on this bright and sunny spring day in the hills of North Georgia. This one got passed over by your scribe, for absolutely no reason but carelessness… or failing eyesight. Actually, I presume I was looking for the "Lighter Side of NASCAR" and this one wasn't captioned that way.
The following passages are the result of my search for some truly quotable quotes throughout the years. Some are funny; some are serious; some border on the ridiculous and a couple have been appropriately edited in order that your children might read them. I Hope y'all have as good a time reading these as I did unearthing them. Quotes appear in Italics and my comments, if any, in parentheses.
The first two are from a long-ago meeting of "Winged Warriors":
"I don't think bigger spoilers are the answer… what we need is a rear wing like you saw on the Dodges in the late 60's."
Ricky Rudd, commenting on the early 80's NASCAR cars' handling problems
"Forget that, we're not going back to the Batmobiles!"
NASCAR Top Cop Bill Gazaway, answering Ricky Rudd's comment
(These were the cars with the beaks in front and wings at the back… Dodge Daytona and Plymouth Super-Bird)
Here we have a couple from gentlemen who were lucky to be able to say anything, let alone something witty:
"When I saw the wall coming through the car, I knew I was in trouble."
Mike Harmon, after walking away from a gruesome crash during a Busch Grand National practice session at Bristol.
When I started out on asphalt and wound up on dirt, I knew I was in trouble."
Jimmy Horton, after exiting Talladega the hard way (over the wall and onto a dirt lane outside and well below the track) in 1993
The boys in the booth all claim to be "Trained Broadcast Professionals", but they have their moments, just like the rest of us:
"Richard Childress recently went polar-bear hunting up in the Northwest Territory near Antarctica."
FOX commentator Larry McReynolds
(Larry, you might want to check your atlas.)
"I've always said your legacy is what you leave behind you."
Darrell Waltrip, enlightening Fox TV viewers
(Umm…yep, what he said)
"Lowe's Motor Speedway is one of those tracks where the sun usually sets in the west."
MRN radio commentator Barney Hall
(Maybe there is an exception when there is a full moon?)
Drivers of course, are always articulate, sometimes to a fault. Here's a few from the men behind the wheels:
"The track is so fast, it's not made for racing. It's made for speed."
Ryan Newman, on Texas Motor Speedway
(Ya know, I almost understand that one)
"At this point, I think if I saw someone on the side of the road selling horseshoes, I would stop and buy one."
Bobby Labonte, in the midst of a tough season.
(Been there, felt that way)
"We've got heavy hearts in the backs of our minds."
Kurt Busch, expressing his feelings on owner Jack Roush in the aftermath of Roush's injuries in a plane crash
(Well, you know what he meant)
"I thought maybe he needed a psychologist, first off for owning a race team and secondly for hiring me."
Bill Elliott on Ray Evernham
(We still love ya Bill)
"They're going to have to come in here and bulldoze the place."
Rusty Wallace, complaining about New Hampshire International Speedway.
(All those years and nothing's changed)
"Don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Get out of the racecar if you've got feathers on your legs or butt. Put a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up there and eat your candy a**."
Dale Earnhardt on slowing down races
(He always had a way with words ~ Lord I miss him)
"God created bumpers and… Bumpers were made for bumping!"
Dale Earnhardt
"I taught you everything you know but I didn't teach you everything I know"
(I've seen this one credited to Dale Earnhardt, but I remember Bobby Allison saying it years before that and it probably wasn't new then)
"I keep trying to get Junior to come back to the track and help me. I asked him at Bristol, 'Junior, just come over and stand in the pits with a headset on the wall like you used to.' And he said, 'Boy, you ain't running good enough for me to help you.'"
Darrell Waltrip, when he was owner/driver
(Junior had a way with words as well)
"Money buys speed. How fast do you want to go?"
I've seen this attributed to Smokey Yunick, but I have reason to believe that it originated with Banjo Matthews and was the slogan for "Banjo's Performancenter."
This next bunch is all from the same man; someone I could listen to for days without ever getting tired of listening. Here are just a few from the "Gentle Giant", Buddy Baker:
"Ernie Irvan could go bear hunting with a switch. He ain't never afraid."
On Rick Hendrick and Felix Sabates - "Well I don't know which one has more money but I'll tell you what. Either one could burn a wet mule with hundred dollar bills."
On a newly re-paved Darlington - "The new asphalt is like putting a tuxedo on a rattlesnake."
On being asked to do a TV piece on conserving fuel - "I told them they better get somebody else; that I didn't know anything about saving gas."
"Man, I've hit everything but the lottery."
On the Gibson Guitar Buddy himself won at Nashville - "I was like a pig with a wristwatch"
From Hickory Speedway "Short track racing is by all means a contact sport"
(The man is a classic)
Then, of course, there are always the words of wisdom that emanate from the hierarchy of NASCAR itself:
"Certainly it's not a playoff. No matter what we do, it will not be a playoff format. A playoff implies a lot of things, notably best 2-out-of-3, single elimination. We're not talking about something like that. We're talking about something that still has a big element of consistency."
Brian France
(Uh-huh)
"It is what it is."
Mike Helton
(What can one say when faced with the innate logic of that brilliant statement?)
That's all for today gentle readers, so it's time for our Classic Country Closeout. This week we'll be listening to one of my all-time favorite singers, Hank Thompson. This man literally flooded my teen-age years with song after song, and never one I didn't love. He recorded and sang almost up to the day he left us, November 6, 2007. I have pounds of his albums and play them often. This collection looks to be pretty inclusive of his best. Please enjoy!
Be well gentle readers, and remember to keep smiling. It looks so good on you!
~PattyKay
Email PattyKay
Follow @MamaPKL


text:
#MeToo: Parliament moves to tackle sexual harassment
Today the European Parliament voted for a resolution proposing concrete actions to combat sexual harassment in reaction to a wave of revelations of predatory behaviour and harassment made by millions of women online and disclosures about harassment within the institution itself.
Thousands of women have come forward using the #MeToo hashtag amid growing public calls for tough action on the issue.
MEPs have written to European Parliament President Antonio Tajani calling on him to take urgent steps to clean up his own house, after it emerged that complaints of sexual harassment were being overlooked and indeed tolerated in the Parliament.
MEPs voted today for the establishment of a task force of independent experts with a mandate to examine the situation of sexual harassment and abuse in the Parliament, called for a Directive against violence against women, and called for mandatory training for all staff and Members on respect and dignity at work.
In the debate on this issue, Swedish MEP Malin Björk declared her wholehearted support for the wave of popular mobilisation:
"The #MeToo campaign was an eye opener for many, especially men. But for many of us it's daily life: to constantly have to set limits, to make risk assessments."
"#MeToo is about sisterhood. We will support all those who spoke out. We will support all those who break the silence. We will be there for each other."
"#MeToo is about recognising that there is a structural problem. There are not just a few isolated cases and it is not – as some racists in this house like to believe – only men from a particular culture or religion. It's about all men. It is about the macho culture in our societies."
Björk called on men to assume responsibility for sexual harassment and join efforts to combat it with a zero-tolerance approach:
"#MeToo is about requiring men to take responsibility. You have to take a stand against misogyny and have courage. If you are not part of the solution, by opposing sexism and this macho culture, you are part of the problem."
"#MeToo is a campaign for change. We have to start cleaning our own house. As policy-makers, we need to take action for change and start in this Parliament."
Italian MEP Eleonora Forenza shared her own personal story of harassment in the plenary yesterday:
"When I was 19 years-old, while at university, a professor of about 70 years-old made advances on me. I said 'no'. I will never forget how I struggled to understand what had happened to me on that day. The feeling of shame, of anger. Most of all, I will never forget the woman who helped me overcome that disgust."
"As MEPs we stand together against men's harassment on women. Women should be strength for each other. The Italian network 'Non una di meno' has become a global political movement, a global political force, which will go out in the streets on the 25th of November against men's violence, against exploitation, and against racism."
"Why aren't more women speaking out? Because sexism and complicity is still too strong. We must fight against this misogynist culture," Forenza concluded.


Have you thought of buying a tablet? Well, then, chances are that you'll have been tempted by an iPad. The truth is that however good the rival Android or Windows tablets have been, it's Apple that has been calling the shots with the best-designed tablet around. Until now.
Samsung's new tablet is slim, stylish and powerful. The Galaxy Tab S marks a new start for the company. After all, before now even Amazon's keenly priced Kindle Fire series and the well-specced Google Nexus 7 haven't been able to unseat the iPad Air and iPad mini 2 from their thrones.
The iPad outgunned rivals when it added a Retina display. Samsung and others upped their screen resolutions to compete, only to be outdone again by the super-slim, preposterously light iPad Air. Apple stayed out in front.
The Tab S at last gives the iDevices a serious challenge. The Galaxy Tab S comes in two sizes and both are easily the snazziest tablets Samsung has ever created - a night-and-day improvement over earlier models which had grey plastic as their most dominant style motif.
That's gone, replaced by metallic-style edging and perforated soft-touch back. The result is a high-end premium-feel design, even if they're still plastic rather than aluminium. These are arguably the best-looking tablets anyone's made outside of Cupertino.
The Tab S comes in two screen sizes, 8.4 inches and 10.5 inches. Both, like their Apple rivals, have the same number of pixels on the large screen as the small. And both are lightweight, catwalk-thin gadgets.
Of the two tablets, the 10.5-inch screen is comparable in size to the iPad Air, though the display is almost an inch bigger. Even so, it's lighter (by a whisker) as well as thinner by almost 1mm. So that featherlight, slender quality Apple went for is matched or beaten - not least because plastic is lighter than aluminium.
And unlike the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet which is even thinner and lighter, the Tab S doesn't have a huge bezel round the display, at least not on all four sides. Design-wise, this is a real triumph and anyone wanting a stylish alternative to Apple has found it.
The smaller of the pair, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.4-inch edition, feels great in the hand. The smooth sides and curved corners, combined with the soft, grippy back create a tablet that nestles in the palm and never feels like its going to slip out. While it doesn't have that premium finish and feel you get with an iPad mini, it always feels a bit safer and managed to come away unscathed from a couple of drops.
While the 10-inch version is great for big screen apps and productivity, the smaller Tab S is better put to use watching Netflix, clearer out your Instapaper queue and the like. It's has a more pixel dense display, which is superb and video watching is top notch. If you're more of a media consumer, who's looking for a portable slate the 8.4-inch version is a great choice.
Samsung has designed a range of cover accessories with 'Simple Clickers' attachments. These popper-style plastic fittings take the form of spring-loaded holes on the rear of the Tab S. They're secure and effective though take careful placement to click in.
Like the Samsung Galaxy 5, the Samsung's new tablet also features a fingerprint scanner - it's not as slickly done as on the iPhone 5s but it's a cool way to unlock the screen without a password.
The display - like on the Samsung Galaxy S5 phone - is bright and gorgeous. It's higher-resolution than the iPad Air's Retina display and the Super AMOLED technology makes it stunningly vivid and colourful - sometimes almost too dazzling. But at its best, this is a screen that you can't take your eyes off.
Look no further than the 'Wonder of Nature' video that comes supplied. It looks jaw-droppingly good with punchy, sharp colours. Thankfully the tablet is powerful enough to ensure butter-smooth playback, too.
Its glorious visuals are not quite matched by audio. There are stereo speakers, one on each of the shorter edges, but you could cover them up with your hands if you don't hold the tablet just right. This is annoying, though it's easy to learn how to hold it best.
This being a Samsung tablet, there are plenty of innovations built in, too. Like the fingerprint sensor found on the Samsung Galaxy S5, which offers a simple way to unlock the screen as well as a neat PayPal authorisation method.
The truth is it's just not as enjoyable as Apple's version: to use you have to swipe your finger exactly down the home button rather than just resting your finger or thumb on it as you do on the iPhone 5s. It's good, but not as well-executed as it should be - but this is a welcome addition to a tablet, achieved on the bigger screen before Apple could.
The tablet also has those Samsung staple features imported from Galaxy S phones: the front-facing camera watches your eyes to know if you're reading the screen and turn it off if you're not. An infra-red blaster in the top edge of the tablet means you can use it as a sophisticated TV remote that you really can't lose down the back of the sofa.
You'll also get an 8-megapixel rear camera so that you can take photos, should you really want to.
There's Samsung's dedicated TouchWiz menu which swipes in from the side of the screen to offer quick shortcuts to Contacts, Email, internet and more - though frankly it's almost as quick to tap the apps icon that sits on the bottom of the display.
And there's the Flipboard personal magazine home screen popularised on earlier Galaxy devices (and still bettered on HTC's phones). Like other Samsung tablets, you can display two apps side by side, which adds to the tablet's versatility.
There's no shortage of grunt under the bonnet here, either, making it a fluent, speedy tablet to use. That's down to a Quad-core 1.9 GHz processor matched with 3GB of RAM: more than enough to ensure a whizzy experience that doesn't stutter or slow down however much is going on. The power also means the touchscreen is fast and effective, feeling intimate and responsive.
You needn't run out of storage space, either. Although the tablet only comes in 16GB and 32GB capacity models, there's a memory card slot here so you can add an extra 128GB of space on top. This means that even the highest-capacity iPad can't match what's on offer here if you invest in a reasonably priced card.
Samsung is generous with its included software. As with the Sasmung Galaxy S5, the tablet comes with a bunch of free software - not the bloatware the company was criticised for in the past but genuinely desirable stuff. So there's three months' subscription to Marvel comics and six months of free Deezer among other offers.
These and free games and other apps are found in a widget called Galaxy Gifts, sitting on the home screen just next to the Samsung own-brand offerings such as a video editor, scrapbook, exclusive football app and more. Even here, this feels different from earlier Samsung products because the apps are downloadable rather than stuffed into the gadget already.
Of course, it's still hard to avoid the fact that Android just isn't as advanced app-wise as Apple is on tablets.
Many apps are sophisticated enough to know how to stretch to bigger screens but few are optimised in the way iPad apps are which reformat in radically different ways. This superior way that apps work on the iPad are one of the things that keep Apple out in front and there's not much Samsung can do to address that.
Samsung's Paper Garden is a neatly organised magazine store which tempts you with a wide range of titles (there are some free issues on offer to tempt you more). Some are interactive, with animated covers and effects. All are carefully formatted to fit the 16:9 screen ratio. The pin-sharp screen makes text look as sharp as on paper.
Side Sync is a clever feature. Want to see whatís happening on your phone screen without having to dig into your bag for it, or cross the room to where it's charging? Evens answer calls or texts from your phone on your tablet? Side Sync makes that happen. But it's not as smooth as it should be and can stutter to a stop. You can use it with a PC (though not Mac) as well, but again the concept is better than the execution. For now.
Kids' mode is Samsung's way of limiting what your kids can use your tablet for is brilliant. It's painfully simple to set up and has enough variety and customisation options to suit the most demanding of parents - or kids. Mind you, you might still prefer to buy them a cheap tablet rather than let them get their smeary mitts on yours.
There's no question about it: this is the best tablet Samsung has yet made and it's arguably the slickest, most effective Android tablet available. There are plenty of innovations, from the fingerprint sensor to the click-in covers to protect your hardware. The slim, light styling is a revelation, especially from a company whose design language was limited in its tablets before.
Will it be enough to take a chunk out of iPad sales? Apple's sublime ease of use and better range of optimised apps are tough to beat, but this tablet has the best chance of causing a sea change of any Android machine yet.