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State-of-the-Art Metrology Equipment
In-House Optical Assembly Testing
Over 50 Employees in Quality Control Functions
Testing and Certification Reports Available Upon Request
Edmund Optics® employs a wide variety of metrology equipment to ensure the quality of the optical components and assemblies manufactured in our 5 global manufacturing facilities. We also conduct in-house testing of imaging performance and environmental testing for temperature, humidity, and shock and vibration. EO has a proven track record of tailored testing for custom optical assemblies. Product testing and certification reports are also available upon request. Our metrology equipment, including interferometers, profilometers, spectrophotometers, and coordinate measurement machines (CMMs), is one component of EO's strict global quality program – to learn more about the program, please visit our Quality webpage.
Optical Metrology Capabilities
Interferometers, Profilometers, Coordinate Measurement Machines (CMM), and a host of Optical and Mechanical Metrology
Radiometrics: Straylight, Veiling Glare, and more
Semi-Automated MTF Measurement Equipment
UV/VIS/NIR Coating Characterization through Varian and PerkinElmer Spectrophotometers
Environmental Testing Equipment such as Vibration, Humidity, and Immersion
Over 50 Employees in Quality Control Functions Across the Company
Product Testing and Certification Reports Available Upon Request
Stray Light
Telecentricity
Wavefront Distortion
Mechanical Profilometry
State-of-the-Art Equipment
QED ASI™ Aspheric Stitching InterferometersInterferometers are instruments used to measure small displacements, refractive index changes, and surface irregularities. They split light from a single source into two separate beams that travel different optical paths before recombining. Interference fringes are then formed, which provides information on the difference in optical path length between the two paths. Interferometers are often used to measure the surface accuracy of optics.
Xonox InterferometersInterferometers are instruments used to measure small displacements, refractive index changes, and surface irregularities. They split light from a single source into two separate beams that travel different optical paths before recombining. Interference fringes are then formed, which provides information on the difference in optical path length between the two paths. Interferometers are often used to measure the surface accuracy of optics.
TRIOPTICS Opticentric® Centration Measurement MachinesCentration Measurement Machines are used to measure the misalignment between the mechanical and optical axes of lenses.
Talysurf PGI 1240 ProfilometersProfilometers are instruments used to measure the surface topography of optics, which provides information on curvature, flatness, and irregularity
Zygo® NewView™ Optical Profiler
OptiPro UltraSurf 4X 100 Metrology Systems
OGP Smartscopes
Nikon AutocollimatorsAutocollimators are optical instruments used to make non-contact measurements of angles. They are often used to measure the accuracy of prism angles.
Park Systems XE-100 Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) Atomic force microscopes (AFM) measure a sample's surface topography with atomic resolution by scanning an extremely small and sharp tip across the surface. This 3D reconstruction of the surface is used to quantify surface roughness.
Shack-Hartmann Wavefront Sensors (SHWFS) Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensors (SHWFS) use an array of microlenses to measure the transmitted and reflected wavefront error of an optical component or system with high dynamic range and accuracy.
Cavity Ring Down Spectrometers (CRDS) Cavity Ring Down Spectrometers (CRDS) make high sensitivity loss measurements for both reflective and transmissive optics by measuring the decay of a laser pulse sent into a resonant cavity bounded by two highly reflective mirrors.
Zygo® VeriFire™ High Resolution Interferometer
Meet Pat McKenna: Metrology Master
Meet Pat McKenna, Optical Engineer and EO's Metrology Master. Pat is prepared to help you measure your optic with the utmost precision, no matter the size or tolerance. When you need accuracy down to the wavelength – what can we measure for you? Contact us today!
Laser Damage Threshold Testing
Optical Flats
Understanding Optical Specifications
Understanding Surface Quality Specifications based on U.S. Standard MIL-PRF-13830B
Links to technical articles appearing in industry publications authored by Edmund Optics® or featuring contributions from EO's engineering team and key management.
The Long and Short of It: Techniques for Measuring Aspheres


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Review: A NIGHT LIKE THIS by Julia Quinn
Abandon disbelief, all ye who enter here.
Anne Wynter-with-a-Y is a governess to some Smythe-Smiths, and is roped into playing the piano at one of their infamous musicales. Daniel Smythe-Smith, the Earl of Winstead, recently returned from abroad, sees her from across the room and decides he HAS to have her. So he chases her down after the musicale, sticks his tongue down her throat, and voilá! Anne and Daniel are in love. But since they're both on the run from nefarious no-good-doers, will these two crazy kids ever get together?
Before I start this review, I should probably mention that I have a habit of being indifferent about the Julia Quinn novels everyone else seems to love, and really liking the Quinn novels other people hate. Notice I said indifferent and like, not love and hate--her fluffy romance has always been a little too fluffy for my tastes; but she does write charming historical romance really well. Or she used to--I hadn't read any of her novels since Mr. Cavendish, I Presume; but a few of my favorite bloggers assured me that A Night Like This was enjoyable, so I was interested in checking it out.
I didn't hate A Night Like This, but I had some problems with it. First and foremost, there was no chemistry between Daniel and Anne at all. The only things they seemed to see in each other were 1. physical attraction--Daniel likes Anne because she's pretty; and 2. on Anne's part, Daniel's an earl and rich. Actually I have no idea what Anne felt about Daniel because Quinn never bothers to explain or demonstrate Anne's feelings on the subject until page 306 when she declares she loves him. He sexually accosts her in a hallway before they're even introduced and her reaction is, "Eh." And this woman's life was supposed to have been destroyed by a man who took advantage of her? Seems like an unrealistically mild response on Anna's part. Daniel then proceeds to be a total creeper and forces her to live under his roof, which should at the very least annoy her. Or maybe she could be like, "Hooray, I can finally get my claws into that rich bloke and quit teaching these brats!" But no. No reaction at all. Like, hellooooooo? *knock knock* Anyone in there? She could seriously be a talking sex doll and evince as much personality.
I also had a problem with the Smythe-Smiths. They were gimmicky joke that was starting to get old in the Bridgerton series (the family with two last names that's tone deaf but insists on holding yearly musicales, laff laff), and now they have a whole series all to themselves? Scraping the bottom of the barrel, are we? I wouldn't mind so much if they had ANYTHING else going on other than the fact that they're terrible at music, but they don't. Seriously, that is THE ONLY THING going on with this family, and there are four incredibly long conversations in this novel about how the whole family is bad at musical instruments. We get it already!
I did enjoy parts of A Night Like This--the parts that had nothing to do with the romance. I especially liked the chapter where Anne's charges put on a very imaginative play titled "The Strange, Sad Tragedy of Lord Finstead," and made Daniel play the lead role. That play sounded really fun and interesting, and I wish A Night Like This had half of that imagination. Alas, it really felt phoned in, and the parts that were fun to read weren't enough to make up for the complete suspension of disbelief required to swallow the plot, or the lack of romantic tension.
Thank you to TLC Booktours and the publishers for sending me this book to review!
Tagged: historical, julia quinn, review, romance
Review: BEHEMOTH and GOLIATH by Scott Westerfeld
Despite my problems with Leviathan (review here), I still felt compelled to go to my library and immediately pick up Behemoth and Goliath. What can I say, I really wanted to know how Alek and Deryn's relationship was going to shake out. So basically I read this entire series in under a month, which for me is quite a glomfest.
If you don't know what the Leviathan series is about, it takes place in an alternate WWI, where the Axis powers' technology is machine-based and the Allies use genetically modified animals for their technology. In Behemoth, Alek, a runaway Austrian prince, and Deryn, a girl serving in the British Air Service, are on board the Darwinist airship Leviathan and headed for Constantinople. Alek needs to escape both the Darwinists and the Germans, but Istanbul is under German control, and both he and the Leviathan are in danger. How will they escape? And will Deryn EVER tell Alek she's a girl?
Shortly after starting Behemoth, I had a revelation: this series is kind of like a steampunk version of Battlestar Galactica! Alek is Apollo, Deryn is Starbuck, Count Volger is Adama, and Dr. Barlow is... Six? Okay, maybe it's not really that much like BSG, but in both cases the only thing I care about is the romance between the two main characters. And as long as Deryn and Alek were together, Behemoth was much more interesting than Leviathan. I loved the interactions between Alek and Deryn, and the scene where Alek confesses he loves the Leviathan may be one of my favorite YA scenes ever.
Another thing that made Behemoth more interesting to me than Leviathan was that there were more women in it! Yay Team Vagina! There were two new female characters: a young woman named Lilit, and her grandmother, Nene. Nene is in charge of a group of Istanbul revolutionaries, and Lilit pilots a walker, fights in her family's revolutionary army, and publishes pamphlets about women's rights. There was definitely some subversion of gender stereotypes in this book--at least as far as the stereotypes the characters have, including Alek, who can't believe a girl would be capable of fighting or piloting a walker.
Even beyond that, though, women are just more visible in the street scenes and society of Istanbul than they were in Germany or England. I feel like the setting itself is more feminized than that of Western Europe and that's at least part of the reason. Both Germany and Britain are attempting to court Istanbul, whose Sultan behaves with remarkable passivity. Even the Istanbul technology, a mix of Darwinist aesthetics and Clanker mechanics, seems like a compromising, gentle version of the two extremes.
Although there were scenes that went on a little too long, and the story definitely lagged in the middle while Deryn and Alek were separated, for the most part I think Behemoth is the best book in the entire series. There's tons of action, and the world building Scott Westerfeld set up in Leviathan starts to really pay off.
In Goliath, Alek and Deryn are headed to Japan on board the Leviathan when a message from the kaiser of Russia (the book's terminology, not mine) reaches them asking for help in a rescue mission. The man they pick up, Nikola Tesla, claims his weapon of mass destruction, the Goliath, will stop WWI. Shades of the atomic bomb! Naturally the British want their hands on this weapon, and soon the Leviathan is sailing over America on its way to London, where the only action the characters are in danger of facing is that which is shouted by a director from behind the lens of a motion picture camera.
Honestly, I was a little disappointed in Goliath. This book is different from the previous two in that the Leviathan is largely removed from the European theater and instead spends at least half the novel in America. Tesla wants to use Alek's notoriety as the lost Hapsburg prince to generate publicity and investors for the Goliath, and as a result the only challenges Alek seems to face have to do with newspaper reporters and cameras.
The fact that I just used the words publicity and investors in the same sentence should tell you all you need to know about this book.
As for Deryn, she wasn't given a lot to do in Goliath. She loses a lot of her swagger and literally spends a good portion of the book in her room, whining over how everyone is going to find out she's Team Vagina. I also felt like her autonomy was undermined in this novel--subtly, but it's still there, especially in the use of cameras. The camera has often been connected to the "male gaze," and when Alek first encounters them he's very uncomfortable about being exposed. Yet soon he's watching--along with a bunch of other men--a woman on the screen in Perils of Pauline, and when Deryn is captured on film it presages the fact that she's about to be exposed as a female.
As far as the threat of Tesla's superweapon was concerned, I thought was a little lame. I was never entirely sure how the Goliath worked, what it was supposed to do, or why I should care. It was quite snooze-worthy, and I couldn't help but wish the Leviathan had headed west instead of east.
I do still love the world of this series as a whole, and a part of me even wishes there were more books about the Leviathan to read, but I think the highpoint of the series was definitely Behemoth.
Tagged: review, scott westerfeld, steampunk, YA
TSS--Where to Find Edgy Books
A few weeks ago I was on twitter and over-"heard" a conversation about who is to blame for the homogeneity in current romance fiction: authors, readers, or publishing companies. To sum up part of the argument, authors can now self-publish, and potentially make more money doing so than they would with publishing companies; so if authors WANTED to write different types of stories, one would expect to see them self-published as eBooks, no? Yet the majority of self-published books follow the current trend in traditional publishing; ipso facto, homogeneity cannot be entirely (or even mostly) the publisher's fault. Either people aren't buying other types of romances, or authors aren't writing them.
To me this conversation reflects the age-old push and pull between the market and artistic expression. On the one hand, you want to make money. On the other hand, you have a vision for what you want to do with your work. Is it really reasonable to expect self-published authors to answer holes in the publishing market? Here are some of my thoughts:
I'm not super-familiar with self-published works out there, but I do know there's a lot of them. Any person browsing for cheap eBooks on Amazon sees maybe 1% of what's been self-published, and most of what appears in the top 100 is by authors who are already established by traditional publishing. So judging how authors are pushing the boundaries of the genre through that lens may not be entirely fair. There are undoubtedly TONS of books that would never traditionally be published on Smashwords, Amazon, and B&N right now; but they're are hard to find because the authors don't show up at the top of the buy lists.
Any writer worth their salt writes for an audience, but what is the audience for self-published work looking for? This is largely unclear, especially to writers just starting out. Publishing houses have marketing departments that not only find out what's selling, but tell people what to buy. An author by themselves has twitter, facebook, and their words. This reminds me of a post I wrote earlier this year about how publishing resembles the beginnings of modern art (post here). In that post, I mentioned the Salon des Refusés and how the artists who participated and become scions of modern art actually wanted to be part of the establishment. It took a generation after that Salon for artists to begin to identify and paint for an audience looking for independent alternatives to the Academy. I do think this idea of self-publishing being the place for pushing boundaries of a genre or experimenting comes from modern art. But if we look to self-publishing for the creative energy to drive literature, will traditional publishing become dinosaurs in the same way the Academies did?
One of the things my students often come into class thinking, and which I try to disabuse them of, is that art is about self-expression. That may be true in our current society, but in fact most artists in history created art for other people. The Pope didn't tell Michelangelo he wanted him to express himself, he said, "Paint me a ceiling about the Bible, bitch." (Maybe not in those exact words, of course...) Michelangelo still managed to express himself in spite of what the market--which in this case was the Church--demanded. Innovation and self-expression usually happens in spite of the market, not because of it.
I don't really have a point here, but based on what I know of history, I think publishers DO deserve the majority of the blame for what's in the traditional market. Writers will write for the market, and if a publisher says they want to publish X, they will get submissions for it. Also, there is a market for everything--the internet and self-publishing proves that. It just may not be a large enough market for the Big 6 to put time and energy into it.
Tagged: books, opinion, sunday salon
Review: A SPY IN THE HOUSE by YS Lee (The Agency No. 1)
Mary Quinn is a young woman with an uncertain future. An orphan, she grew up in Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls; but now at the end of her education, she's not sure what she should do. When she turns to the Academy's headmistresses for career advice, they reveal that the Academy is actually a somewhat creepy training ground from which they cull new recruits for their secret organization of all-female investigators! Mary jumps right in and is soon posing as the paid companion of a completely dreadful brat in the home of a merchant, trying to find hidden Indian* treasure.
I really enjoyed the first part of A Spy In the House, which Anachronist from Books as Portable Pieces of Thought was kind of enough to send me. The Academy had a fun Men In Black feel to it--except they're women--and I'm a sucker for plots revolving around stolen pieces of art. But once Mary goes to the Thorolds' house, things started to unravel.
First of all, the person who's the big baddie--if you can call them that--is obvious from the beginning. All of Mary's investigations are simply an excuse for her to be rescued by James, the love interest who is a completely unappealing and unpleasant jerk, as is every other single character in this book. What makes it even worse is that Mary excuses all their behavior toward her.
The point at which A Spy In the House lost me, however, was the "plot twist" in the middle where it's revealed Mary is not entirely Irish. Race should never be used as a plot twist. That is my personal opinion. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with the fact that Mary is not white, or that it was necessarily revealed in the middle of the book. More that it was played with a tone of, "Surpriiiiise, the main character isn't white! Doesn't that change your assumptions about her?" Um, not really, and I don't quite understand why it would, from a contemporary OR historic perspective. Didn't 19th century English people consider the Irish not-white and the lowest of the low anyway?
The rest of book was okay. There was a lot of infodumping, unbelievable coincidences, and awkward scenes, but what really got to me was that I disliked every single one of these characters, especially James. What an arse. I'd like to read more about The Agency, which I think is a great concept, but I'm not sure I want to spend more time with Mary Quinn. I take it the other books still focus on her character?
*The sub-continent, not the American Indians.
Tagged: historical, mystery, review, YA, YS Lee
Review: SO WHAT ARE GOING TO DO WITH THAT? by Susan Basalla and Maggie Debelius
A PhD is traditionally seen as training for a life of teaching or doing research in academia. But there are thousands of people who get PhDs every year, and only a relatively small number of tenured positions. Where do all those PhDs go? There are tons of reasons why someone with an advanced degree might want a career outside of academia--money, geography, temperament, or maybe they just need a change. Susan Basalla and Maggie Debelius propose to help these lost PhDs find homes outside the Ivory Tower.
I've been trying to find a career outside of academia for about a year now, so when I chanced upon So What Are You Going To Do with That? at the library while searching for something completely unrelated (I think it was the Mad Men cocktail book), you can imagine that I gots all excited. After reading it and trying some of the things Basalla and Debelius suggested (there are a lot exercises to do), my feelings on the book are a little torn. On one hand, none of the things I tried were very helpful. On the other hand, I do think there's a lot of valuable information here, and it did inspire me to keep on searching.
What I personally didn't know until I went through grad school is that it seriously rewires your brain. This is a great thing if you find, or want to find, a job in academics; but if you want to transition into the real world, things that are obvious to most people can be completely obscure to an academic. For example: did you know that most people get information from talking to other people, not from books? It's weird but apparently true. Therefore Basalla and Debelius suggest talking to other people instead of looking at books for tips on how to find a new career (ironic, all things considered, but at least they know their audience). I.e., the dreaded NETWORKING. Gah. Basalla and Debelius make networking in the real world slightly more approachable by basically breaking it down into a research project. Research! Academics know how to do that! They suggest informational interviews, sending someone you admire a gracious note, or e-mailing people who work in a field you're interested in to see if you can ask them a few questions.
Another hurdle is turning a CV into a resume. Curriculum vitaes are über-detailed histories of your academic career. Apparently I've been failing utterly at turning my CV into a working resume, and the chapter on resumes was very illuminating for me.
That being said, I still feel like a lot of the stuff in here didn't apply to me. The books says it's for people with either a master's or doctorate, but everyone Basalla and Debelius talk to are either PhDs or ABD (all-but-dissertation); and many of the jobs people got were more by chance than design.
Still, it would be impossible for any book, especially one like So What Are You Going To Do with That?, to cover every specific problem a person might face. The book is quite general, but it's also very encouraging. More than anything else I think Basalla and Debelius' goal is to assure academics that their degrees and skills are valued outside academia, and there's no reason not to look for a job in the real world other than the fear of failing. They definitely succeed--I was on the verge of giving up, but So What Are You Going To Do with That? gave me renewed energy and optimism in my job search. For that reason I think this is a valuable resource for anyone who wishes they could do something new but feels constrained by their degree and experience.
Tagged: jobs, nonfiction, review
Review: LEVIATHAN by Scott Westerfeld
Look, it's a pretty decent book trailer!
In 1914, Europe teeters on the edge of an all-encompassing war. Alek, a Hapsburg prince, is a "Clanker"--the term for people whose technology is reliant on machines. Deryn, a girl just inducted into the British Air Service, is a Darwinist--those who develop animals into their technology (clearly they're the good guys). Alek and Deryn probably would never meet under normal circumstances, but with a war going on anything can happen.
I normally steer clear of novels with the premise of Leviathan, but when I read Lusty Reader's great review of Goliath, I decided to give it a try, since I know we tend to love the same books. First of all, I have to say that as a physical object Leviathan is gorgeous--great, tactile cover, lovely thick paper, and lots of illustrations (have I ever mentioned I LOVE books with illustrations?). On top of that, it tells an awesome story. Yes, there were some battle scenes that started to feel a bit long-ish, but for the most part this is the type of novel that feels like it's going by really fast. I'm not sure I would say it was unputdownable, but it was pretty engaging.
That being said, I feel like I enjoyed Leviathan despite my better judgment, because it's kind of sexist. I already touched on this a bit in Fun with Gender Stereotypes (post here), but that was really just the tip of the iceberg with this novel. In this entire book there are only two women. TWO WOMEN. IN THE ENTIRE WORLD of this story.
That. Is ridiculous.
Now, one might say that since the book is set during WWI and takes place largely on an airship, this makes sense. But that is such a cop-out response. Firstly, this is a fantasy version of WWI, so Scott Westerfeld could write women into the armed forces if he wanted; other steampunk authors have done so. Secondly, in real life there were thousands of women involved in WWI, so including them would actually be more historically accurate than not. And thirdly, although much of the book does take place in a military setting, there are a few civilian scenes, and there are no women there, either! When Alek visits the German village, all the people he takes note of or interacts with--even just to buy a paper--are men. The same is true when Deryn is in Regent's Park--aside from the lady boffin, the other female character in Leviathan, all the people doing anything worthy of description are men.
So, as far as the reader is concerned, the only two females who are physically present in the world of this book are Deryn and Dr. Barlow (both Deryn's and Alek's mothers are mentioned, in that they have mothers--obvs. But Deryn's mother is mentioned in passing, exists only off-page, and exerts zero influence on the narrative; the same is true for Alek, whose mother is killed before the book even starts. Compare that to both of the main characters' fathers, who exert a very strong influence on their decisions in the story and, while existing off-page, are both more fully realized characters). Once again I have to say: two whole women in the entire continent of Europe, really?! And let's take a look at these women.
First and foremost, we have Deryn, who is pretending to be a boy named Dylan so she can serve in the British Air Service. The BAS doesn't allow women, apparently. While I understand that Westerfeld might have wanted to give her a secret for narrative purposes, it doesn't feel fully realized. Deryn doesn't stew over inequality based solely on gender, has no qualms over how she's going to hide things like her menstrual cycle, or considers alternative where she doesn't have to lie and pretend to be a boy. And while she fits in with the crew with astonishing ease, there are still broad statements about gender that seem pretty sexist. For example, the only thing Deryn dislikes about hanging with boys 24/7 is that they're super-competitive. Really? Because girls aren't competitive? How many women did you spend time with back in Scotland, Deryn?
Thirdly, Deryn's status as a strong female character derives entirely from the fact that she's pretending to be a male. She wouldn't even BE in this book if she wasn't pretending to be a boy. The reason why we think of her as a "strong female" is basically because she looks and acts like a boy. So basically erase every speck of femininity you can and you'll be a strong woman? Nice one.
Secondly, there's Dr. Barlow. While Dr. Barlow makes no secret of the fact that she's a woman, Deryn makes a big deal out of noting how unusual it is for a woman to hold Dr. Barlow's position as a prominent boffin, or scientist. And how did Dr. Barlow come by such a career? Why is she so well-respected? Is it because she's intelligent, has worked her ass off for years and demands people's respect? Is it because she sacrificed a personal life and family for her career? NOPE IT'S BECAUSE SHE'S RELATED TO A FAMOUS MAN. Seriously, that is the only backstory we're given--or apparently need to know--about the only other woman in Leviathan.
The sum being that our two female characters have gotten where they are in life--which is to say, worthy of the notice of a story--by hitching a ride on the penis train: either by being more or less male, or by virtue of their fathers. Nice. Sorry if you have a vagina, kids, better luck next time! Just resign yourselves to a completely powerless existence without any autonomy now and make it easier on yourselves. I suppose technically Leviathan passes the Bechdel Test, because Dr. Barlow and Deryn do discuss beasties and not men on a few occasions; but I'm not sure it counts if, as far as Dr. Barlow is concerned, Deryn's a male.
Obviously I'm not the target audience for this novel--that would be teenage boys, to state the glaringly obvious--but I was a little taken aback by some of the sexiest assumptions running through Leviathan. So even though I did enjoy the story, and want to find out how Deryn and Alek are going to get together, I can't help but feel ambivalent about it.
Tagged: gender, review, scott westerfeld, steampunk, YA
Review(ish): BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE by Lisa Kleypas
Five reasons why you should read this awesome historical romance:
"The theatre, the theatre, whatever happened to the theatre." I LOVE the setting of Because You're Mine, which is a London theater called the Capital. Madeline, the heroine, runs away from school and heads straight for the Capital, where she wants to get a job. Not as an actress, but as a general assistant. I'm quite partial to books set in theaters, and Lisa Kleypas turns the Capital into its own little world, filling it with well-research details about theatrical production in the early 19th century. You all know I love research.
Secondary characters Naturally, if you set a novel in a theater, you need eccentric characters to fill it! I loved the secondary in Because You're Mine, from the supporting actors Arlyss Barry and Stephen Maitland, to Madeline's landlady, Mrs. Florence, who used to be an actress herself. They're all full of personality and make the story fun as well as bringing it to life.
Logan One of Kleypas' strengths is creating great romantic heroes, and Logan Scott, the director and lead actor at the Capital, is no exception. When we first meet him, Logan is hilariously grumbly, yet inspires loyalty and admiration in the entire company because he's fair and honorable. He expects a lot from other people, but he expects more from himself. He reminded me of a pirate captain, and the Capital definitely has the atmosphere of a ship that's a world unto itself and under his command, and for that reason alone he's a fascinating character.
Madeline By far my favorite character in Because You're Mine is Madeline. She's young and sweet, and she's anything but a "kick-ass heroine." I would argue she's a strong woman. Personally, I'm sick of encountering heroines who have no emotions and/or are total bitches, and somehow this is supposed to translate into a strong female character. Sorry, but I can't connect to characters like that. Maddy is guileless and extremely innocent, but she goes after what she wants and follows her dreams even when it's scary or the stakes are high, which to me is more evidence of a strong character than biting someone's head off. She's also no shrinking violet: she's the sexual aggressor in her relationship with Logan and is up-front about desiring him. How many female characters can you think of who do that and aren't villains?
Feminism I'm not about to say this book is a feminist treatise, but it does pass the Bechdel Test. AND IN A ROMANCE NOVEL, NO LESS! For those of you who aren't familiar, the Bechdel Test is a litmus test for fully-realized female characters and gender equality, mainly applied to TV shows and movies, but also books. It consists of three criteria: The story has 1. a female character who 2. talks to another female character about 3. something other than a dude. (For more about this, you should check out the excellent post, "A Question About the Bechdel Test," at Jenny's Books.) Think about the last few books you read and ask yourself if they pass the Bechdel Test; you'll be surprised at how many don't. Because You're Mine, however, does: Madeline gets Mrs. Florence to tell her stories about her family and working as an actress, and talks about pregnancy and party planning with her friend and Logan's business partner, Julia. Just to reiterate: this is a romance novel. If there's any type of book where it might be expected for two female characters to meet for the sole purpose of talking about the hero, it would be a romance. But Because You're Mine isn't just a romance, it's an adventure that centers around a woman. As good as Kleypas is about writing male characters, it's Madeline's story.
Because You're Mine isn't one of Kleypas' best novels--they are a few too many convenient plot devices and sometimes Logan's decisions don't make sense--but it is one of her (many) keepers.
Tagged: historical, lisa kleypas, reread, review, romance
Review: THE FLOWER BOWL SPELL by Olivia Boler
Memphis Zhang is a journalist/dog walker living in San Francisco who can see fairies and do magick--even though she chooses not to. When she meets the older brother of a long-deceased friend, however, Memphis' past starts coming back to haunt her in a big way. First a woman she knew passingly when they were both children drops her kids off for indefinite babysitting, and then the older brother--who just happens to be an attractive rock star, win--invites her to go on tour with him. It's only after Memphis agrees that she begins to suspect some rotten magick is afoot.
I am a sucker for books about witches. A book about a witch set in San Francisco, with a rock star to boot? I'm all over that. While I did like a lot of individual elements in The Flower Bowl Spell, it didn't quite come together for me.
For the most part, this is due entirely to the way the story is told--I felt like this book might have had a great story arc, but the plot doesn't get going until you're halfway through the novel, and before that it seems like every five pages more backstory pops up, which slowed The Flower Bowl Spell down considerably. When major plot developments do happen, it's difficult to tell if they're important or not because the pacing of the novel is pretty much set at one speed. It could--and probably should--have been edited down by about a fourth.
Even with the slow pacing, though, I have to say that, thanks to the writing style, I wasn't bored--just impatient. Once Memphis goes on tour with the rock star's band, things pick up. Admittedly, this might be because the rock star--whose name is Tyson--was the only thing I cared about in this novel. Memphis' regular boyfriend, Cooper, is a creeper. You can tell because he used to be her high school French teacher. Not to mention that Tyson is a ROCK STAR! I loved every minute he was on the page, even when what was going on made zero sense to me.
There's more to this novel than Tyson, though--a lot more, and while it's interesting and not formulaic, sometimes it doesn't seem to lead anywhere. I can't help but compare The Flower Bowl Spell to A Discovery of Witches (review here), another novel I read recently about a witch trying to lead a normal life. Both books have similar problems, but I think I prefer the writing style in The Flower Bowl Spell. I also like the main character of The Flower Bowl Spell, Memphis, and find her more believable and mature than the heroine of Discovery.
The Flower Bowl Spell isn't perfect, but it is unique. Where else are you going to find a novel that has fairies, witches, French restaurants, rock stars, and a Chinese-American heroine? In a lot of ways I think think The Flower Bowl Spell is an ideal candidate for self-publishing, because it doesn't easily fit into any genre but is definitely worth checking out.
Thank you to the author and ABG Reads Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book for review!
If you would like to win a copy of The Flower Bowl Spell, please fill out the form below or go here. Contest runs from June 11th-15th and is for eBook copies only.
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Tagged: fairies, olivia boler, review, witches
Fun With Gender Stereotypes
I'm currently reading Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, where one of the main characters is a girl pretending to be a boy so she can join the Royal Air Whatever (Brigade?). Fortunately she has a brother to show her the ropes. His major tip on not giving her status as a vagina away?
Last night Jasper had demonstrated how a proper boy checked his fingernails--looking at his palm, fingers bent, whereas girls looked at the back of their hands, fingers splayed.
Um, yeah. That's the way to prove your manliness--checking your fingernails! Where do people get this stuff?
The weird thing is, I've come across this before. It was in an MG mystery I read when I was about eight or so. The detective knew the male criminal was disguising himself as a female because he checked his nails palm-in. So women are wired to check their nails a certain way? Give me a fucking break.
First of all, it's totally untrue. Google image search "checking nails" if you don't believe me. In fact, here is a photo of model Vena Cava backstage, with long nails and a manicure, checking her nails the "manly" way:
But whether it's true or not (it isn't, so stop staying it) isn't the real reason why statements like this bother me: it's because people assume they're true, and then those ideas became justifications for notions of gender essentalism. Men behave one way, women behave another--ergo, if you act the latter way, you MUST be a man, or vice versa (see detective story, above).
And yes, this goes for stupid and inconsequential things like checking nails, too. Maybe even more so, because no one bothers to question the implications of nail-checking stereotypes, does one? Yet eventually assumptions like this are repeated as fact by such lovely organizations as Choosing the Best, an abstinence-only sex education program in the US known for its gender bias (Legal Momentum).
Here's an idea: maybe we could not fall back on these archaic notions of what men and women "are" and how they behave and instead just treat people like people? I know, I'm wasting my breath. But hopefully at the very least we can stop repeating this nail checking ridiculousness.
Tagged: gender, opinion
Armchair BEA: Introduction
Armchair BEA has managed to drag me back from my unofficial blogging break and got to me to start posting again. Today we're being asked to interview ourselves.
Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging? Who am I? I would ask SIRI but I don't have an iPhone. I've been blogging since 2005. My first blog was on Xanga--one of my friends from middle school told me I should start blogging because I would love it! After a few years on Xanga I decided I wanted to focus on book reviews, which is when I started this blog in 2009-ish. I also started two other blogs just this year: Liquid Persuasion and Project Gutenberg Project.
What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012? As I write this I'm reading Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld; but by the time Monday rolls around I'll have finished it. And I have no idea what I'll be reading then. So my favorite book of the year... probably The Man in Lower Ten by Mary Roberts Rinehart. But I also really enjoyed rereading Because You're Mine by Lisa Kleypas. And both of those books are pretty old.
Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you. I have a doppelgänger. Not the nasty spirit kind (as far as I know...), just someone who looks like me. All through high school people would mistake me for her. We also have similar names, so it was very confusing. People would walk up to me and start random conversations, then be like, "Oh, wait, are you...?" The weird thing is, I've personally never seen her. I know you're thinking I probably just use this story to explain why I don't recognize people from high school, but I don't because no one would believe me.
What literary location would you most like to visit? Why? Hm, that's a tricky one. If we're sticking to strictly the real world, I'd love to visit Tintagel Castle because it's part of the Arthurian legends--actually, I'd like to visit all the Arthurian sites, but for some reason I latched onto Tintagel when I was a kid.
What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? Is there anything that you would like to see change in the coming years? I love knowing there are people out there who enjoy reading and obsess over books as much as I do! As for changes, I'd like to see more cooperation between blogs that specialize in different genres (i.e., romance and classic, literary fiction and mystery, etc.).
Tagged: armchair bea, interview
Review: A SPY IN THE HOUSE by YS Lee (The Agency N...
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Click to copyhttps://apnews.com/Youthsports
Edmunds: Best cars for today's youth sports families
By DAN FRIOJune 26, 2019
Young athletes today compete year-round in a variety of clubs and travel to tournaments, usually with staggering amounts of equipment. Vehicle support is often key, and to that end, Edmunds has...
Vermont bridge named for WWII Marine Corps veteran
DERBY LINE, Vt. (AP) — A Vermont bridge has been named for a local World War II Marine Corps veteran.
The Caledonian Record reports that family, friends, neighbors, veterans and state and...
Detroit Police Athletic League celebrating 50th anniversary
By SHAWN D. LEWISMay 26, 2019
DETROIT (AP) — Colleena Bryant honed her basketball skills in first grade.
But she really upped her game when she made a youth sports team at age 6, a moment of acceptance she says impacted...
Detroit-area Catholics curbing organized sports on Sundays
DETROIT (AP) — The Roman Catholic Church in southeastern Michigan plans to stop its youth sports activities on Sundays in an effort to focus on rest and worship.
Sioux City approves nearly $15M contract for new expo center
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Sioux City officials have approved nearly $15 million for a new expo center with 80,000 square feet of exposition space that they hope will attract events to the city,...
Hockey families get creative in solving time, cost concerns
By STEPHEN WHYNOMarch 15, 2019
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Megan Lincoln couldn't put her son into hockey right away when he wanted to play.
She didn't have the time to take off from work to shuttle him to practice or the money...
Brothers break ground on Nampa youth sports complex
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Four brothers who grew up in an Idaho community are building a youth sports complex in their hometown.
The Idaho Statesman reports the $3 million center in Nampa, to be...
Department mourns off-duty death of veteran firefighter
NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts fire department is in mourning after the unexpected death of a firefighter while clearing snow.
Restraining orders dropped by fighting parents
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — A couple and a third parent cited for fighting at a youth wrestling tournament in the Fox Valley have agreed to drop their restraining orders against each...
How many Kyler Murrays are out there in specialization era?
By CLIFF BRUNTFebruary 12, 2019
Kyler Murray has chosen football over baseball, at least for now. It is anyone's guess when the world will see another athlete with the skills and opportunity to have such a choice.
The Oakland Athletics selected Murray ninth overall in the Major League Baseball draft last June. He then went out and won the Heisman Trophy in his only year as Oklahoma's starting quarterback, declared for the NFL draft last month and picked the NFL over MLB on Monday.
Ex-city councilor begins prison sentence for embezzlement
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A former Providence city councilor who pleaded no contest to misusing campaign funds and embezzling from a youth sports organization has started his prison term.
Woman pleads guilty to stealing from youth sports group
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut woman has pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $500,000 combined from her employer and the youth lacrosse organization where she served as treasurer.
Coaching website tries to shift conversation about sex abuse
By EDDIE PELLSDecember 19, 2018
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — It's one task to compile a list of banned coaches, quite another to identify all the good ones.
While Olympic overseers struggle to compile a comprehensive list of bad actors in the wake of a wide-ranging sex-abuse crisis, an entrepreneur with a passion for youth sports is embarking on what could prove to be an even more meaningful task: helping families discover which coaches are not only certified, but best qualified to work with their kids.
Coach accused of giving underage boys alcohol pleads guilty
GRETNA, La. (AP) — A Louisiana youth sports coach accused of plying underage boys with alcohol and joining them in bed has pleaded guilty to three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
The Advocate reports that 46-year-old Allen Joseph entered his plea in Gretna on Nov. 14. He was given a six-month suspended sentence and will be under house arrest and active probation for two years.
Police: Ex-NFL player brandished sword during argument
ABERDEEN, N.J. (AP) — Police in New Jersey say a former NFL player threatened someone with a sword during an argument at a youth sports event.
John "Charlie" Rogers Jr. turned himself in to Aberdeen police Monday and was charged with making terroristic threats, stalking and weapons offenses. The Asbury Park Press reports that Rogers was released.
Preschool employee sentenced for sexually assaulting boys
RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A Box Elder man who worked at a preschool and in youth sports has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for sexually assaulting two boys.
Twenty-eight-year-old Trevor Lone Hill was sentenced Wednesday in Seventh Judicial Circuit Court. Judge Craig Pfeifle said Lone Hill caught the boys in his "evil web" by purposely seeking them out and grooming them.
Coach Kobe: Bryant shares philosophies on how to reach kids
By BEN NUCKOLSOctober 16, 2018
WASHINGTON (AP) — Call him Coach Kobe.
Kobe Bryant sounded just as passionate about coaching his daughter's middle-school basketball team as he was about playing for the Los Angeles Lakers under Phil Jackson as he held court about his coaching philosophies and the state of youth sports on Tuesday.
AP's Member Network:
The Spokesman-ReviewYouth sports notebook: Spokane Expos 19U wins Wood Bat Classic titleJuly 12, 2019
Moulton autistic teen living his dream coaching youth sports
By DEANGELO MCDANIELSeptember 30, 2018
MOULTON, Ala. (AP) — When Jody Waldrop showed up for his first practice as a youth football coach in August, one of the first things he demanded was a coaches-only meeting.
"He had a binder with six coaching tips," said Chris Smith, who is head coach of the Moulton midget league football team for ages 8-10. "He wanted to tell us how to treat the kids, and the first thing on his list of coaching tips was keep God first in everything we do."
Column: Oklahoma ref leads effort to stem abuse of officials
By PAUL NEWBERRYSeptember 7, 2018
The referee is the most convenient scapegoat on the field.
When things don't go your child's way, just blame whoever is wearing the striped shirt.
It's so much easier than accepting that your kid may not be the next Michael Jordan, or Lionel Messi, or Tom Brady. It feels so much better to yell at someone else than fess up to your own failings as a parent, as an athlete, as a human being.
Spearfish man sentenced for embezzling from youth sports
DEADWOOD, S.D. (AP) — A Spearfish man has been sentenced for embezzling from youth sports programs.
Forth-three-year-old Nicholas Hoffman pleaded guilty in July to grand theft by embezzlement in a deal with prosecutors in which the Queen City Futbol Club, the Spearfish Youth Wrestling Club and the Spearfish Rams Football group will get about $14,500 in restitution.
Youth photographer pleads guilty to child porn charge
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — A New York man who once worked as a photographer at a summer camp for children with disabilities and as a youth sports photographer has pleaded guilty to child pornography charges in Massachusetts.
Federal prosecutors say 27-year-old Emil Kaufman, of Yorktown Heights, New York, pleaded guilty Wednesday to possession of child pornography.
Group: Youth sports must eliminate win-at-all-costs culture
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A nonprofit group is launching an effort in Tennessee youth sports to change the culture of winning at all costs.
The InSideOut Initiative addresses redefining the role of sports for students and communities. The group says in a news release millions of children lose out on the potential for life-changing growth if winning is the sole value of youth sports.
Spearfish man pleads guilty to youth sports embezzlement
DEADWOOD, S.D. (AP) — A Spearfish man accused of embezzling from youth sports programs has pleaded guilty in a deal with prosecutors.
Player-coach bond may have saved lives in Thai cave ordeal
By EDDIE PELLSJuly 12, 2018
The day-to-day pearls of wisdom imparted by coaches to players — from youth sports, to high school, to college and even the pros — are well-known: Try your hardest, don't lose focus, support your teammates, keep your chin up.
Sometimes, heeding that advice can lead to winning a game or a championship.
In the case of the 12 youth soccer players trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand, it may have helped save their lives.
Youth sports waits get more interesting in Kansas City area
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Taking children to sports practice is getting more fun for some parents in the Kansas City area.
Where's Melania? First lady not seen in public for 3 weeks
By DARLENE SUPERVILLEMay 31, 2018
WASHINGTON (AP) — After nearly three weeks out of sight, Melania Trump tried to put to rest speculation about her health and even her whereabouts as she continues to recover from medical treatment for a kidney condition. It didn't completely work.
Mrs. Trump tweeted Wednesday that she's "feeling great" and is at the White House working hard for children and American families. But she still didn't make a public appearance, leaving some skeptics still wondering about her condition and plenty more.
NewMediaWireSports Venues of Florida, Inc., Announces Its Plans for the Immediate FutureJuly 15, 2019
Business WireDentalPlans.com Encouraging Parents to Enforce Mouth GuardsJuly 15, 2019
Trump tells young athletes to play to win, have a good life
By KEN THOMASMay 30, 2018
WASHINGTON (AP) — Taking his turn in the batting cage and swinging a golf club, President Donald Trump joined a group of famous athletes for a field day with kids at the White House on Wednesday as he kicked off an effort to increase youth participation in sports.
"Work hard, get in the game, play to win and, most of all, have a good time," the president told the youngsters. He later told them to "have a great life."
Trump Urges Youngsters To Play Sports
Trump to hold a sports field day at the White House
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump wants to reverse a trend of fewer children participating in sports and make youth sports more accessible to economically disadvantaged students.
The White House is promoting the goals of the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition on Wednesday and will hold a field day with the president on the South Lawn. Trump is expected to join athletes at stations that will include flag football, baseball, volleyball, golf, soccer and track and field.
Legally blind boy gets approval to use yellow baseball
By TRESA BALDASMay 13, 2018
DETROIT (AP) — For five years, Ryan Huizdos played Little League baseball with the help of a bright yellow ball.
He's legally blind because of albinism, so he used an easier-to-see, optic-yellow ball.
No one complained. Not the coaches. Not the players. Not the parents.
Spearfish man accused of embezzling from sports programs
DEADWOOD, S.D. (AP) — A Spearfish man is accused of embezzling from youth sports programs.
The Black Hills Pioneer Press reports that 44-year-old Nicholas Edward Hoffman was charged April 18 with three counts of grand theft by embezzlement.
Black Hills Pioneer
Spearfish man indicted for embezzlement from three youth sport clubs
Pioneer staff reportsApril 27, 2018
DEADWOOD — A Spearfish man stands accused of three counts of grand theft by embezzlement, each involving a different local youth sports program.
A Lawrence County grand jury indicted Nicholas Edward Hoffman, 44, April 18, charging him with grand theft by embezzlement from Queen City Futbol Club, Spearfish Youth Wrestling Club, and Spearfish Rams Football.
Youth baseball director: No player ever in danger
DURHAM, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire youth sports organization investigating a man's allegations that two baseball coaches talked about a plan to hurt his 11-year-old-daughter, the only girl on her team, to force her to quit says no player was ever in danger, but a coach has been dismissed.
Never-ending winter throws curve ball at youth sport schedules — and the hits keep coming
By Michael O'Connor World-Herald staff writerApril 15, 2018
This year's seemingly never- ending winter has thrown curveballs at moms like Killeen Rodgers.
She keeps track of the sports calendar for her four kids, and the weather this spring has meant postponed games and more adjustments than usual to the Omaha family's schedule.
"We just go with it," she said.
Many families are facing that same need for flexibility as Mother Nature has served up snow, rain and cold temperatures affecting sports like baseball and tennis.
Parent: Baseball coaches discussed plan to hurt my daughter
DURHAM, N.H. (AP) — A youth sports organization is investigating a man's allegations that two baseball coaches talked about a plan to hurt his 11-year-old daughter, the only girl on her team, to force her to quit the program.
Dan Klein alleges the coaches said they'd instruct a player to strike his daughter in the head with a baseball during practice, Foster's Daily Democrat reported .
Youth sports volunteer charged with corruption of minor
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Authorities have announced the arrest of a youth sports volunteer accused of sexually explicit social media conversations with a 12-year-old boy.
Twenty-one-year-old Kevin Barron of Horsham is charged with corruption of a minor.
Montgomery County prosecutors say the boy's mother contacted Hatboro police Jan. 29 about someone having sexually explicit conversations with her son via Snapchat and Instagram.
The Daily Journal
Youth basketball tournament in Joliet looking for teams
Mason SchweizerMarch 31, 2018
North American Youth Sports still has openings in their annual spring youth basketball tournament, which will be held at the Pat Sullivan Center in Joliet from April 13-15.
There will be 12 different brackets in the tournament, with separate boys and girls tournament for each age group: fourth and fifth grade; sixth grade; seventh grade; eighth grade; freshman and sophomores; juniors and seniors.
Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice
Memorial Service Planned For Local Pastor
By Bob KalinowskiMarch 28, 2018
A memorial service has been planned for a local pastor who also served as a longtime youth sports coach and teacher on the West Side.
The Rev. Louis Falcone died in January following a lengthy illness. He was 84.
Friends and family will gather for a memorial service on April 14 at 11 a.m. at Camp Orchard Hill, 640 Orange Road, Dallas.
The Herald-Dispatch
Tri-State hoopsters converge on CMHS
The Herald-DispatchMarch 26, 2018
ONA — On a cold, snowy day that postponed or canceled baseball and softball games throughout the Tri-State, youth sports still were played.
From West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky, 42 basketball teams converged on Cabell Midland High School on Saturday to participate in the North American Youth Sports Tournament.
The basketball event featured boys and girls players in fifth through 12th grades and was headed by Cabell Midland girls coach Matt Adkins.
Parents spooked by abuse in youth sports set more limits
By SALLY HOFebruary 27, 2018
SEATTLE (AP) — With Olympic prodigies having just dazzled audiences worldwide, parents in the U.S. are reconciling the thrill of the gold with their fears from recent sexual abuse scandals in elite youth sports.
Shannon Stabbert said her 6-year-old daughter wants to be a gymnast, but the Seattle mother decided to put her in a martial-arts program instead.
The Times-Tribune
COLLINS: Support, Encourage Participation In Sports
BY DONNIE COLLINSFebruary 25, 2018
A little less than four years ago, a study was released that should frighten and anger us for more than a few reasons.
The report indicated about 71 percent of Americans between the ages of 17 and 24 would not meet standards for military service because of physical, behavioral or educational deficiencies. The reasons include obesity and lack of a requisite high school education.
Who conducted that study? The United States Pentagon.
COLLINS: Youth Athletics Losing Focus
Support, Encourage Participation In Sports
A little less than four years ago, a study was released that should frighten and anger us for more than a few reasons. The report indicated about 71 percent of Americans between the ages of 17 and 24 would not meet standards for military service because of physical, behavioral or educational deficiencies. The reasons include obesity and lack of a requisite high school education. Who conducted that study? The United States Pentagon. The Positive Coaching Alliance and National Sporting Goods...
Man accused of sex assault volunteered with youth sports
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Arrest documents indicate a Fort Collins man accused of sexually assaulting multiple children volunteered with youth hockey programs to gain the trust of his victims.
Appeal-Democrat
Youth tackling ban proposal is taking hits
By Joshua Gutierrez/jgutierrez@appealdemocrat.comFebruary 21, 2018
Local coaches and parents are joining the statewide outcry against proposed legislation banning tackle football until high school.
The "Safe Youth Football Act," announced by Assembly members Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, and Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, D-San Diego, would eliminate tackling from youth football with the intention of protecting children from brain injuries related to concussions.
Students test their skills at Youth Sports Combine
The Herald-DispatchFebruary 12, 2018
HUNTINGTON - Student-ath-letes, ages 6 to 19, had the chance to test their power, speed, agility and quickness Sunday during the annual Youth Sports Combine at the Chris Cline Complex Field.
Organizers said the purpose of the combine is not only to test each athlete's individual skills level but also to see how they stack up against others their own age.
During the combine, each athlete is judged on a number of drills, including vertical jump, 40-yard sprint and 300-yard repeat shuttle.
HUNTINGTON — Student-athletes, ages 6 to 19, had the chance to test their power, speed, agility and quickness Sunday during the annual Youth Sports Combine at the Chris Cline Complex Field.
Nevada youth sports leader accused of past sexual misconduct
RENO, Nev. (AP) — The founder of a youth basketball program in Nevada has placed himself on administrative leave from a national youth sports organization pending an investigation into allegations he had sex with a former player nearly two decades ago.


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A total of five head coaches were fired this season, with Gary Kubiak being the sixth to exit the ranks after retiring Monday. It's a vicious cycle in the NFL, but success is necessary in order to remain employed, and that's not going to change any time soon.
The guys who survived this season are just the next ones up in the hot seat, so it's never too early to take a look at some of the names who will be there in 2017.
This one might be a bit of a surprise, seeing as Caldwell has led the Lions to the playoffs twice in three years and has them headed in the right direction. He's not an overzealous coach with strict discipline guidelines, and players appear to love playing for him. However, the Lions haven't won a division title since 1993 and patience could be wearing thin.
Caldwell could be the odd man out if the Lions take a step backward in 2017, regardless of whether it's his fault. At some point, Detroit has to make a deep run into the playoffs with Matthew Stafford at the helm, and that's not likely to happen this season. Keep in mind, too, that Caldwell predated current GM Bob Quinn, who might eventually decide he wants his own hire in place.
It was reported earlier this week that the Texans and O'Brien may part ways if Houston loses its first playoff game. Now, that's just one report, but it signifies a bit of unrest among the Texans organization. He's changed quarterbacks almost as often as the weather, and has also reportedly gotten into it with both Brock Osweiler and his coaching staff.
There appears to be some tension in Houston, and a letdown in 2017 would bring more upon O'Brien and the Texans' front office.
Payton has been linked to the Rams in recent weeks with Jeff Fisher out of town, but let's pump the brakes on that a bit. It would likely require a trade for draft picks, which the Rams don't have many of due to last season's Jared Goff swap. However, it is conceivable to see Payton on a different sideline in 2018.
He's been in New Orleans since 2006, and though he's had success there in the past his recent track record isn't great. The Saints have endured three straight 7-9 seasons, and Drew Brees isn't getting any younger. If Brees were to retire or move on to a new team, Payton could do the same. He needs to rebound and at least make the playoffs in 2017.
Yes, Harbaugh has a Super Bowl ring. And yes, he's a good coach. But since winning it all in 2012, the Ravens are 31-33. They've made the playoffs just once in the past four years, and the roster isn't getting any better. Joe Flacco has struggled with the team's boring play calling, there's a serious lack of a running game and Steve Smith is retiring.
Harbaugh needs to bounce back from a second consecutive sub-.500 season with a playoff berth, if not a division title, in 2017. He's not going to be squarely on the hot seat next season, but the Ravens may look to make a change if he falters again.
Lewis is the second-longest-tenured head coach in the league; only Bill Belichick has been with his team longer. Yet, despite his lengthy tenure with the Bengals, Lewis has yet to win a single playoff game. Furthermore, his team regressed drastically this season after winning the AFC North in 2015.
His name popped up a handful of times this season when it came to coaches on the hot seat, and he'll almost certainly find himself in the same discussions next season. If the Bengals don't compete for a division title in 2017, they could opt to make a change and shake things up. He has only one year left on his contract.
Let's make this clear: The Browns were smart to keep Jackson for another year. It shouldn't have even been a question. However, patience will wear thin in Cleveland if the Browns start the year, say, 0-8 again. They need to get off to a good start in 2017 to show promise, and you can bet Jackson will do everything he can to make that happen.
Unfortunately for Jackson, he needs time to rebuild and mold this team. The Browns had more than 10 rookies make the active roster in 2016, and with the litany of picks they have this year, there are sure to be more young additions in 2017.
Fox got a vote of confidence from the higher-ups in Chicago after a disappointing 3-13 season in his second year as the Bears' head coach. Injuries and an overall lack of talent played a role in Chicago's struggles, but some of the blame has to be put on Fox, who's just 9-23 with the Bears.
Fox might not be expected to take the Bears from 3-13 to the playoffs in one year, but they have to at least come close to finishing at or above .500. Finding a quarterback will be key, of course, as will hitting on their first-round pick, but they have to perform better on the field – and that begins with Fox.
There were rumblings that the Colts would move on from both Chuck Pagano and GM Ryan Grigson after this season, but that hasn't happened (yet). Instead, it appears the Colts are inclined to give Pagano another shot, just as they should. Next season could be his last, though. After missing the playoffs in back-to-back years, all the pressure will be on Pagano to make the postseason in 2017.
If he can't at least net the Colts a wild-card berth next year, his tenure in Indianapolis will be over. A team with Andrew Luck and T.Y. Hilton can't afford to miss the playoffs in three straight years, especially in the always-weak AFC South.
Bowles was on the hot seat toward the end of this season, so you can bet he'll remain there in 2017. The Jets are a mess with overpriced veterans across the roster and instability at quarterback, so next season isn't likely to be much better – regardless of whether that's Bowles' fault.
Year 3 will be telling of his ability to be a head coach rather than just a defensive coordinator. And with the way New York gobbles up coaches and spits them out, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Bowles gone by Week 12 if the Jets struggle.


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Home » Entertainment » Yellowstone Season 4, Episode 5: Newcomers in Town Attract John Interest, While Jamie Examines His Biological Father's Past
Yellowstone Season 4, Episode 5: Newcomers in Town Attract John Interest, While Jamie Examines His Biological Father's Past
In Yellowstone Season 4 Episode 5, Jamie will be looking into the past of his biological father. John and Kayce will be dealing with some newcomers to the town. John suspects Jamie's loyalty in the last episode. Kayce asked John to convince Jamie to pull out a file about Riggins, who was responsible for the attack on Duttons.
Jamie was surprised by what he found in Riggin's prison file. Jamie's father may have been involved in the Dutton attack. Jamie will continue to search for clues in the next episode. Keep reading for all details regarding the fifth episode.
Yellowstone Season 4, Episode 5 Preview: What's Next?
Here's a quick recap!
Yellowstone Season 4, Episode 5: Airing Date
Where to stream the next episode online?
Yellowstone Season 4 Episode 5 has been titled "Under the Blanket Red." In the next episode, some newcomers will be visiting the town. These intruders will be dealt with by John and Kayce. Llyod will be in the doghouse alongside Rip. Yellowstone Season 4 Episode 5 will be his last episode. Jamie will be pursuing the truth about his biological dad's identity in the upcoming episode. He will seek answers after discovering that Riggins was his cellmate in prison.
See also Inside Job Season 2 Renewed By Netflix? When Will It Return? Challenges For Reagan & More
John was uncertain about Jamie's loyalty towards the Duttons in the previous episode. He took Kayce to his favorite spot at the Ranch and gave him the task of finding the truth about Jamie. Kayce was told by Riggins that the attack on their family was an organized multi-squad hit.
Rainwater and Mo obtained the Riggins information to John. Kayce was to ask Jamie about Riggin's prison records. John assumed that Jamie would ignore the request or delay his response, and that something was wrong.
Kayce also visited Jamie, and asked him to release Riggins' files. Jamie agreed to release the prison file. When he got the file, he was stunned to discover that Jamie's biological dad, Garret Randall, was an ex-convict. Riggin was Riggin's cellmate in Yellowstone Season 4 episode 4.
The fifth episode in Season 4 of Yellowstone will air on November 28, 2021. Paramount+ broadcasts every new episode on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET. The runtime is approximately 45 minutes. The fourth season will include ten episodes.
Paramount's official website has the episode available for streaming. Season 4 can be viewed on YouTube TV and Hulu+Live. Don't miss the next episode, and don't forget to come back for more exciting episode previews.
See also Doctor Who Season 13 Episodes Release Date, What can you expect from this season??
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15 anime like Acchi Kocchi that you need to watch today
Red Notice 2: Release Date, and All We Have Up To Now! !


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What is Mediterranean food? More than you probably think | Well+Good
Healthy Eating Plans
Why a Dietitian Wants More People to Expand the Way They Think About the Mediterranean Diet
Photo: Stocksy/Ellie Baygulov; Graphic: W+G Creative
At this point, the Mediterranean diet has dominated so many headlines that even people with a minimal interest in eating healthy know the gist of it. Ask a random person what the staples of the eating plan are and they're sure to rattle off things like olive oil, fish, and whole grains.
Watch the video below to see why the Mediterranean diet is so good for you:
While that's definitely not wrong—so gorgeous Greek or Italian spreads can live on in your mind—registered dietitian Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN says Mediterranean food is more expansive than many assume. "The Mediterranean diet, the way that we talk about it in the US, we're really referring to the Mediterranean as Italy. However, we know that the Mediterranean expands to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa," Feller said at a recent Well+Good event.
Feller pointed out that in reality, there are 21 countries that actually are part of the Mediterranean region. When adhering to a specific eating plan, it's easy to get stuck in a rut of having the same handful of meals on repeat. By keeping in mind just how far the region extends, it opens up new types of cuisine that otherwise wouldn't be considered.
"The Mediterranean diet refers to the patterns of eating that are rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and monounsaturated fatty acids," Feller said, adding that filling your plate with these foods and nutrients is linked to myriad health benefits. "I think we need to reframe the Mediterranean diet to include all of those regions because in Lebanon, for example, there's tons of delicious food that's incredibly wonderful, like legumes, ancient grains rich in nutrients, and spices."
Feller emphasized that the key to reaping the benefits of the Mediterranean diet isn't eating Italian food every night; it's filling your plate with the aforementioned staple foods while getting creative with how you cook and eat them.
Yes, a salad made with greens, avocado, salmon, and avocado is a Med diet-approved meal, but so is a Moroccan meal made with legumes, couscous, and taktouka (a mixture of tomatoes, smoked green peppers, garlic, and spices). Varying your meals in this way not only provides a wider arrange of nutrients, it also ups the likelihood of sticking to the eating plan because there's less chance of getting bored with what you're eating.
With 21 countries to choose from, the question of what's for dinner just got more interesting.
Another region garnering attention in the healthy food world: West Africa. And if you want to follow the Mediterranean diet without eating fish, here's how to do it.
Tags: Food and Nutrition, Healthy Eating Plans, Healthy Eating Tips


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Home > About JNCC > Who we are > Board of Directors > Board Meetings > 2005 papers > March 2005 > Minutes
2019 Papers
Intersessional papers
CONFIRMED MINUTES OF THE FIRST MEETING OF THE JNCC SUPPORT CO. BOARD HELD WEDNESDAY 23 MARCH 2005 AT MONKSTONE HOUSE, CITY ROAD, PETERBOROUGH, PE1 1JY
Apologies:
Original members and Directors
Professor Doyle
Dr Faulkner
Professor Ingram
Mr Lloyd-Jones
Dr Markland
Dr Moser
Mr Adrian Darby
Members and Directors appointed under item 4
Dr Andrews
Dr Blakiston-Houston
Professor Pentreath
Sir Martin Doughty
Directors appointed under item 4
Dr Vincent
Mr Yeo
Mr Steer
In attendance
Mr Burton
Mrs McQueen
Mrs Quince
Decision papers
1. Chairman's opening remarks.
2. Appointment of meeting Chairman and Board Chairman.
3. Conduct of the meetings (BD05P03).
4. Actions required at the first Board meeting of the JNCC Support Co. (BD05P01).
5. Delegations within the JNCC Support Co. (BD05P02).
Information papers
6. Summary of the financial arrangements of the JNCC Support Co. (BD05N01).
1. Chairman's Opening Remarks
1.1 Professor Ingram welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the Board and explained that the Company was incorporated on 2 March. David Burton has been appointed Company Secretary and will be present at all relevant meetings. Copies of the Memorandum and Articles of Association had been sent to all Joint Committee members and Support Unit Directors with their Board papers. The Board would be presented with a forward programme of business and various reports (financial/performance, Executive Management Board, Company Secretary and Audit and Risk Management Committee) at its next meeting in June.
2. Appointment of meeting Chairman and Board Chairman
2.1 The Board appointed Mr Darby as Chairman of the Company in accordance with Article 41, and appointed Professor Ingram as Chairman of the meeting and acting Chairman in Mr Darby's absence.
3. Conduct of the meeting (BD05P03)
3.1 Mrs McQueen introduced the paper which proposed that Board meetings be conducted in a similar way to Joint Committee meetings.
3.2 The Board unanimously agreed to endorse the proposals on the conduct of meetings subject to the recognition that some business items would need to be treated as confidential.
4. Actions required at the first Board meeting of the JNCC Support Co. (BD05P01)
4.1 Mr Burton introduced the paper which invited the Board to make a number of appointments and to confirm the accounting reference date. It was noted that Dr Faulkner had been omitted from section 1.1 of the paper but was an original member and director of the Company.
4.2 The Board agreed:
i. that Dr Andrews, Dr Blakiston-Houston, Sir Martin Doughty and Professor Pentreath become additional members of the Company with immediate effect, and that Professor Sprent become a member from 1 April 2005;
ii. that Dr Andrews, Dr Blakiston-Houston, Sir Martin Doughty, Professor Pentreath, Mr Steer, Dr Vincent and Mr Yeo become additional directors of the Company with immediate effect, and that Professor Sprent become a director from 1 April 2005;
iii. the accounting reference date as 31 March.
4.3 Mr Burton explained that the companies invited to bid for external audit had declined to do so because of the requirement to let the contract on a year on year basis associated with the presumption that NAO would audit the Company once it was legally competent to do so. NAO were establishing whether one of their out-sourced companies could be used to provide the service to the Company.
4.4 The Board agreed that it was content with this approach and gave delegated authority to the Chairman to appoint an external auditor on its behalf.
4.5 The Board agreed the appointment of Lloyds TSB as bankers for the Company.
4.6 With the composition of the Board complete the Board reconfirmed the decisions made under items 2 and 3.
5. Delegations within the JNCC Support Co. (BD05P02)
5.1 Mrs McQueen introduced the paper which presented a proposed schedule of delegations and proposals for two sub-committees of the Board (the Audit and Risk Management Committee (ARMC) and Executive Management Board). Two amendments would be made to the schedules following comments received from English Nature, namely in Annex 2 to restrict the signing of accounts to the Managing Director and in Annex 3 to assign responsibility for returns to the Inland Revenue to the Head of Personnel. The amended document would be re-circulated.
5.2 The Board:
i. formally accepted the responsibilities delegated to the Company from 1 April 2005 by the Joint Committee as set out in Annex 1, including agreement to take over the conduct of, and all rights and interests in, the JNCC's accounts;
ii. endorsed Annex 2, subject to amendments to reserved matters to increase the Board's role in financial and performance monitoring;
iii. formally delegated to the ARMC, the Executive Management Board and the Company Secretary the responsibilities outlined in Annex 2, subject to the amendments noted in 5.2.2;
iv. noted Annex 3;
v. endorsed Annexes 4 and 5, subject to an amendment to clarify the ARMC's responsibility for overseeing JNCC's arrangements for the attainment of value for money, regularity and propriety; and
vi. formally appointed the ARMC and Executive Management Board in accordance with Annexes 4 and 5, subject to the amendment noted in 5.2.5.
6. JNCC Support Co. financial arrangements (BD05N01)
6.1 Mr Burton introduced the paper which set out the financial arrangements in place for the operation of the company. The Board noted the paper.
The Board thanked Mrs McQueen, Mr Yeo, Dr Vincent and other staff involved for their hard work in bringing the company into being.


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Q: Xcode 5 & IOS 7 localization fallback language I basically have functioning localization (whithout base), but I'm curious with regards to a specific case.
IOS stores the latest used languages on a device, but what if:
my application supports both Dutch and English and the app is also available in non-Dutch or English speaking countries. If a user has never used English or Dutch as a device language, what language will be on display in my app?
I naturally prefer to have the English language to be displayed.
Thanks in advance!

A: iOS will pick the one which is placed higher in the list of languages under:
Settings > General > International > Languages
For example consider the devices with language lists:
Device A

*

*French

*Italian

*English

*Dutch

*Turkish

Device A (currently set to French) will display your app in English. Because English is placed higher than Dutch.
Device B

*

*Japanese

*German

*French

*Dutch

*Turkish

*English

Device B (currently set to Japanese) will display your app in Dutch. Because Dutch is placed higher than English.
If user never changed language settings, default order of these languages depends on the targeted market of the device.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


As of now my portfolio page is done (yaiiii \o/) I will be updating this as I do more games but for now enjoy browsing the current projects.
Hello there and how nice of you to drop by and give me visit.
of the first week of September.


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A R package with a collection of useful functions for modeling and plotting. For instance, there are functions for calculating the standard error of the mean, plotting ellipses, creating design matrices, and determining the minimum and maximum boundaries for plots.

## Getting started

### Prerequisites

The program R ( version >= 3.0 )

### Installation

To easily install the 'utilityf' package, you'll need the 'devtools' package:
```
install.packages("devtools")
library(devtools)
```

The 'utilityf' package can then be installed via the following command:
```
install_github("rettopnivek/utilityf")
```

## Using the package

To load the package:
```
library(utilityf)
```

To list the available functions:
```
ls(pos = "package:utilityf")
```

Details and examples for a specific function can be obtained via `help( "function" )` substituting the appropriate function name for "function".

## Authors

Kevin Potter

## License

MIT


One thing for sure is that Google can never be accused of not thinking outside the box. The search mogul has just unveiled its new project – a discussion space facilitating innovation, breakthroughs and brainstorming called Solve For X. The Solve For X conference will gather minds from across a variety of fields, encouraging the development of technological solutions and radical methods that stretch limits. Never forgetting its motto to 'do no evil', Google is setting out to do its utmost good through the conference, which could also rise to be great competition for TED talks.
In other words, Solve For X was formed to solve everything.
The Solve For X project is a product of the Google X labs, a secretive lab of Willy Wonka-like proportions rumoured to be working on driver-less cars and Internet connected appliances. Solve For X has also devised what they call 'moonshot' thinking, a perspective that views no problem as being too big to tackle, and no method being too 'out there' to implement. It intends to create new ideas and make them happen through cutting-edge technological innovations, with the goal to make a significant difference.
For Solve For X, their definition of 'radical' involves what is currently deemed as science fiction, into reality, in order to unravel serious global issues, as explained in their landing video. Some of the problems mentioned include long-term plagues such as cancer, famine and poverty.
The conference is to be viewed as a lecture series, where attendees or viewers can login to through their website. Richard DeVaul, a member of the "[X] Rapid Evaluation team", hints on his Google+ profile that the videos would be launching today. Devaul, a former prototype scientist at Apple, has also mentioned that the Solve For X conference videos will be shared publicly on YouTube for all to view.


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6:30AM - Website down.
Our website is down. Something is wrong at my webhost. It appears as though the website went down about midnite. I have sent an email to my webhost asking for an explanation.
We will continue to publish our blog, in hopes that this trouble will be fixed soon.
7AM - A bit cloudy at sunrise.
Most of us on The Team love every single day. However, Mr. Sunny is not content unless his solar panels are getting a lot of power from the sun. Right now, only 2.2 amps are coming thru. Mr. Sunny believes that he should be getting twice as much.
Our camp shortly after sunrise.
10AM - In the Pueblo of El Rosario.
MsTioga and The Team have arrived in the Pueblo of El Rosario. We have made a Day Camp behind the propane station, which is around the corner from Mama Espinoza's Restaurante.
Speaking about Mama Espinoza's, we are going over there for breakfast. Want to go with us? Hmmmm?
Jorge at Mama Espinoza's for breakfast.
11:30AM - Website still down.
On returning from Mama Espinoza's, we found that our website was still down. We phoned son Joseph and asked him to call 1&1 (our webhost) to find out what was wrong. It costs $1.40 per minute to phone them from Mexico, so we asked Joseph to do this.
1&1 told Joseph that our HTTP webserver was not working. They expect the problem to be resolved today, but did not specify a time. In the meanwhile, we are able to continue to publish our blog, only thing is that you cannot tune-in until this webserver problem is resolved.
1PM - Drinking water, washing water and gasoline.
We are low on drinking water, which we keep in five gallon and two liter bottles. We are also a bit low on washing water too, which is kept in MsTioga's fresh water tank. And, we need to fill up at the Pemex with gasoline for the long haul thru the desert where there are no Pemex stations until close to Guerrero Negro.
It is interesting that here in Mexico sources for water are easier to find than in the USA. Every Pemex that we have seen has a hose bibb that we are permitted to use to fill MsTioga's fresh water tank. Also, because the people of Mexico drink purified water, there are little stores for this water everywhere.
By the way, when MsTioga filled her gas tank and checked her mileage, she was getting 9.09 miles per gallon. Could it be that her mileage increased because of the recent tune-up? Before we were getting somewhere in the 7 miles per gallon range.
3PM - The Nolan family comes to call.
You know that we love to meet our readers. And today we met such a nice family! While driving thru El Rosario, the Nolan's saw MsTioga camped just off the highway and stopped to say, "Hi."
Lily, Melody, Greg, Juniper & Heather (L-R)
3:30PM - Our website is back online!
Mr. Chips was a bit worried when he was unable to get online since late last nite. But wise MsTioga consoled him, saying, "Things like this usually work themselves out, so don't worry Mr. Chips."
Sure enough, things did work out. And we are soooooo happy to be with you again!
8PM – Sounds of El Rosario.
We began to hear music being played across the highway from our Camp. There were sounds of a party. We had to see what was going on, and went over there.
It was a fiesta for Halloween. There was a fire going with a bunch of chairs around it and a few adults warming by that fire. Perhaps fifty or more kids, many of them teenagers, some younger, were playing a musical chairs game. The music for this game was pretty loud. A man running the game, called out when somebody lost his chair. The kids were having soooooo much fun.
Posted by Tioga George at 10/31/2006 10:23:00 AM