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Category Archives: science fiction
I really should know better… Last week I was celebrating the fact that I'd not had a Long Covid relapse since November – and from Wednesday through to Friday I was back in bed, again. The good news is that it wasn't longer and although I felt a bit washed out yesterday, I wasn't shaky and sick – which is a good result.
It's been another tough week, what with one thing and another – but the light shining in amongst the dark is that my son and his girlfriend have just moved from L.A. to Germany, which is so much closer to us here in the UK. And the reason why is that Zoe, having had a fabulous season playing with the Texas Longhorn's volleyball team that came top of their league, has now signed up with Munster and played her first professional match against Aachen last night. I don't know how that went, as I'm writing this on Saturday morning – but my thoughts are with her.
We are just emerging from over a fortnight of freezing nights and bitterly cold days – though at least the rain finally stopped. It's now slowly warming up – it's been a treat not to have to thaw out the car before leaping in to ferry the grandsons to various places, as the taxicab of Gran and Papa is in great demand. If only we could charge them – that would set up our pensions into our old age!!
Last week, I got more reading done, particularly audiobooks as lying in bed and listening was all I was fit for. You'll notice that apart from one Netgalley read, all the books I turned to were by trusted, favourite authors – I wanted the comfort of a solidly written, escapist read and they all delivered, bless them. Thank goodness for books – I'd have gone raving into the night years ago if it wasn't for my love of reading!
Cast Adrift – Book 1 of the Cast Adrift series by Christopher G. Nuttall
Five hundred years ago, the human race discovered it was not alone in the universe when Earth was invaded and forcibly integrated by the Alphan Empire. Over the years, humans have grown used to their position within the empire, serving as soldiers and spacers for alien masters as well as building a place in the universe for themselves. But now, in the aftermath of a violent interstellar war that shattered the power of the Alphans, humanity has rediscovered its pride. Humanity wants to be free.
Facing a war they will lose even if they win, the Alphans give humanity its independence once again. Humanity stands alone in a hostile universe, facing alien threats that regard humans as nothing more than servants – or weaklings, easy meat for armed conquest. And if the human race cannot learn to stand on its own two feet, without its masters, it will rapidly discover that it has traded one set of masters for another …
… And if they lose the coming war, all hope of independence will die with it.
Nuttall is one of my favourite authors. I loved his School of Magic series, as he is clearly a history buff and likes to explore possibilities based on real historical incidents and the progression of the series is smart and inventive. This is a classic alien invasion story – with a bit of a twist. Thoroughly enjoyable and I'm looking forward to tucking into the next one. 8/10
AUDIOBOOK – Hidden Truth – Book 2 of the Truth series by Dawn Cook
Alissa never believed in magic. But then she went to the Hold, a legendary fortress where human Keepers once learned magic from enigmatic Masters. Under the tutelage of the last surviving Master, Alissa discovered that she had inherited her father's magical ability.
But the Hold is ruled by Bailic, the renegade Keeper who seized the First Truth, a book of magic he will use to harness the might of the city of the dead and wreak a war of total devastation. The book has thwarted Bailic's every attempt to access it, while it continually calls to Alissa—who must summon all her will to resist it. For if she gives in to the First Truth's ultimate power and knowledge, she will be utterly changed—and the man she loves could be lost to her forever.
This is a series I discovered on Audible before I realised that Dawn Cook is also the pen name of urban fantasy author Kim Harrison – and it shows in the smart character progression and magnificently nasty villain. I've thoroughly enjoyed this book, though I do find the simpering, ringleted female on the cover rather annoying, given it's supposed to be Alissa, who isn't remotely like that. That said, I'm looking forward to tucking into the next book in the series as I can't wait to discover what happens next. 9/10
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Fairies – Book 1 of the Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett
Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world's first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party–or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other people.
So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily's research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.
But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones–the most elusive of all faeries–lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she'll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all–her own heart.
This book is essentially Emily's journal as she undertakes a field trip in order to discover more about the mysterious Hidden Ones in order to complete her encyclopaedia. I love her ongoing grumpiness and her narrow focus on her studies – as well as her regular rants about Wendell. While aspects of this plot are entirely predictable, I wasn't sure some of the major characters were actually going to survive. Review to follow.
AUDIOBOOK – Diplomatic Immunity – Book 13 of the Miles Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold
A rich Komarran merchant fleet has been impounded at Graf Station, in distant Quaddiespace, after a bloody incident on the station docks involving a security officer from the convoy's Barrayaran military escort. Lord Miles Vorkosigan of Barrayar and his wife, Lady Ekaterin, have other things on their minds, such as getting home in time to attend the long-awaited births of their first children. But when duty calls in the voice of Barrayar's Emperor Gregor, Miles, Gregor's youngest Imperial Auditor (a special high-level troubleshooter) has no choice but to answer.
Waiting on Graf Station are diplomatic snarls, tangled loyalties, old friends, new enemies, racial tensions, lies and deceptions, mysterious disappearances, and a lethal secret with wider consequences than even Miles anticipates: a race with time for life against death in horrifying new forms. The downside of being a troubleshooter comes when trouble starts shooting back…
I read the whole series longer ago than I care to recall – but do remember that while I always enjoyed Miles and his madcap adventures, it was the later books after his Admiral Naismith days that I particularly loved. So picked this one up on a bit of a whim – and found it utterly gripping. I'd forgotten enough of the twisting plot that I once more was engrossed – as well as being impressed all over again by the sheer quality of the writing. I'll be listening to more of this series, which has certainly stood the test of time and reminds me why this author has won so many awards for her writing. 10/10
Range of Ghosts – Book 1 of the Eternal Sky series by Elizabeth Bear
Temur, grandson of the Great Khan, is walking away from a battlefield where he was left for dead. All around lie the fallen armies of his cousin and his brother, who made war to rule the Khaganate. Temur is now the legitimate heir by blood to his grandfather's throne, but he is not the strongest. Going into exile is the only way to survive his ruthless cousin.
Once-Princess Samarkar is climbing the thousand steps of the Citadel of the Wizards of Tsarepheth. She was heir to the Rasan Empire until her father got a son on a new wife. Then she was sent to be the wife of a Prince in Song, but that marriage ended in battle and blood. Now she has renounced her worldly power to seek the magical power of the wizards. These two will come together to stand against the hidden cult that has so carefully brought all the empires of the Celadon Highway to strife and civil war through guile and deceit and sorcerous power.
Bear is another favourite author – and this stunning first book in this epic fantasy series is a gem that deserves to be better known. I was immediately swept up in the savage aftermath of a terrible battle and couldn't put this one down until the final scene, as the vivid writing and charismatic characters held me throughout. 9/10
AUDIOBOOK – The Princess Paradigm by Lindsay Buroker
Then a fearsome warrior from the human empire arrives, a supposed diplomat. Mrothgar is tattooed, muscled, and looks like he'd rather slay elves than befriend them, but he takes an interest in Hysithea. He invites her to accompany him back to his land to visit its great libraries.
As an academic and a historian, Hysithea is tantalized by the offer, but she's studied his language and overhears his true intent:
Mrothgar is there to gather intelligence on the elves as his emperor prepares an invasion force to conquer them. Hysithea has no choice but to join him, hoping to spy and find a way to sabotage the invasion. Her people need her, and this is her chance to atone for the past.
But Mrothgar is smarter than she realized, and those muscles and tattoos are more intriguing than they should be. Against her wishes, Hysithea finds herself drawn to him. And that's a problem. She can't save her people if she falls in love with the man who wants to conquer them.
The Princess Paradigm is set after the events of The Elf Tangent, and brings in a few familiar characters, but it is a complete stand-alone fantasy romance novel (no cliffhangers!) and can be read on its own.
I'll be honest – if I had to judge this one by its blurb alone, then I probably wouldn't have picked it up. But… it's Lindsay Buroker, people! And besides, I've already listened to the wonderfully entertaining The Elf Tangent, so I knew how much romance versus fantasy adventure I was getting. And it didn't disappoint. I love the world with its interesting backstory about the Elvish curse so recently lifted and how that is affecting the humans and their own complex politics. This was often funny, yet also poignant and I loved that Epilogue. I do hope Buroker revisits this beguiling world, as I want more. 9/10
Sunday Post – 22nd January, 2023
As you can see, it wasn't a good week for blogging, or much else – come to think of it. Hoping this week will be a better one and wishing you all a happy, healthy week😊.
Filed under adventure, alien encounter, audio book, blogging and reading roundup, blogging community, Caffeinated Reviewer, colony world, demons, epic fantasy, fae, family life, humour, Long Covid, mages, magic, monster, outstanding books, Personal reading habits, romance, S.J. Higbee, science fiction, space opera, Sunday Post, troubled hero and tagged audiobook, blogging and reading roundup, Blogging community, Caffeinated Reviewer, Cast Adrift, Cast Adrift series, Christopher G. Nuttall, Dawn Cook, Diplomatic Immunity, Elizabeth Bear, elves, Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Fairies, epic fantasy, fae, family life, fantasy adventure, feisty heroine, ghosts, Heather Fawcett, Hidden Truth, Indie author, Lindsay Buroker, Lois McMaster Bujold, Long Covid, Range of Ghosts, S.J. Higbee, science fiction adventure, space opera, space station adventure, Sunday Post, the Emily Wilde, the Eternal Sky series, the Miles Vorksigan series, The Princess Paradigm, the Truth series | 5 Comments
I was blown away by Children of Time – see my review, which I think is one of the best terraforming adventures I've ever read. So I was especially keen to read Children of Ruin, which I didn't think was so successful, though that was partly because it was extremely ambitious – see my review. It goes without saying that Children of Memory is one of my must-reads of the year – for starters, I was intrigued to see where Tchaikovsky was going with this story and how many of his highly unusual cast in this series would appear.
BLURB: Earth is failing. In a desperate bid to escape, the spaceship Enkidu and its captain, Heorest Holt, carry its precious human cargo to a potential new Eden. Generations later, this fragile colony has managed to survive, eking out a hardy existence. Yet life is tough, and much technological knowledge has been lost.
Then Liff, Holt's granddaughter, hears whispers that the strangers in town aren't from neighbouring farmland. That they possess unparalleled technology – and that they've arrived from another world. But not all questions are so easily answered, and their price may be the colony itself.
REVIEW: I loved the early section of the book which quickly drew me in. Liff is a delightful and sympathetic character, who is just at the age when questioning the status quo is what she should be doing. Unfortunately, this isn't a society where any form of dissent is welcomed, particularly where her uncle is concerned. Sometimes, this merely causes a bit of family tension, other times her questions are met with blows and punishment. Time is highly mutable in this tale and we revisit key events with very different outcomes.
I enjoyed once more meeting Kern, Portia, Paul and Miranda in their current iterations as they grapple with the puzzle that lies at the heart of the colony. But about of the third of the way through, the pace stuttered. Obviously in a book dealing with time loops, there is a degree of repetition. But I did feel that there were just too many dialogues between the ravens that essentially ended up with them being stumped. And while their back and forth was initially amusing, by the final section I frankly hoped that someone in the colony would shoot the wretched birds and save me from yet another conversation between them.
Fortunately, Liff's predicament and Miranda's quirky character kept me turning the pages, along with the examination of memory, guilt and the role of outsiders within a closed society, all of which were nested within the story. The pace once more picked up again in the final section as Tchaikovsky drew all the elements together. I thoroughly enjoyed the ending, which left me moved. I don't recommend you tuck into this one if you haven't read at least one of the previous books in the series. Besides, Children of Time is definitely a treat if you haven't yet had the pleasure. And while in my opinion, neither of the subsequent books in the series quite reach the same heights, both are interesting and thought-provoking reads. While I obtained an arc of Children of Memory from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
Filed under adventure, alien encounter, Book review, book series, colony world, coming-of-age, feisty heroine, netgalley, new release special, S.J. Higbee, science fiction, space opera, Time travel and tagged Adrian Tchaikovsky, alien encounter, book review, Children of Memory, Children of Time series, colony planet adventure, feisty heroine, Netgalley arc, new release special, S.J. Higbee, science fiction | 10 Comments
I read and reviewed the first book in the series, In the Shadow of Deimos, and thoroughly enjoyed it – see my review. So when I saw this offering on Netgalley, I was delighted to be given an opportunity to scoop up the arc.
BLURB: Return to the Red Planet as the saga of Terraforming Mars continues, in a sweeping science fiction thriller of planetary progress, set in the universe of the award-winning boardgame
In the 26th century, Mars is thriving: the huge crater made by the crashed moon of Deimos is now a vast domed city, buzzing with industry and a burgeoning Martian-born and immigrant workforce. Ecoline scientist Mel Erdan is at the forefront of vital research to feed and maintain Mars' increasing population. But when her viral enhancer transforms lush green plants into a blackened swathe of dead crops, it triggers a wave of violent unrest across Deimos City, and Mel is accused of deliberately sabotaging Mars' fragile viability. With resources rapidly dwindling, conspiracy theories flying, and criminal gangs rioting, Mel must prove her innocence, uncover the truth, and revitalise Mars' harvest before it's too late – for everyone.
REVIEW: As mentioned in the blurb, this book series is based on the popular boardgame Terraforming Mars – a fact that I hadn't realised until I came to review the first book. And if I hadn't told you, you wouldn't know on reading the book, so please don't give it a thought, unless you're a particular fan of the game and want to spend more time in the world.
As you might think from a spin-off, the world is well established with a strong backstory and believable history, with a nicely detailed social and political landscape that collide as tensions grow and food supplies dwindle. I really like Mel, whose dedication and sense of duty drives her to try and put right the horrible error that creates the virus. However, this time around there is a sub-plot around a group of young workers who are deeply unhappy with the status quo and want Mars to have more freedom from Earth. In the earlier stages of the story, I found it difficult to fully sympathise with their actions – although I'm well aware that the stunts they pull are all too realistic.
I guessed who the main villain was behind the troubles well before the denouement, although that didn't particularly impede my enjoyment as by that stage the story is rocketing along at a fair lick. While this story doesn't have quite the tension and finesse of the previous book, it still provides plenty of excitement and page-turning action that had me sorry when it all came to an end. While I obtained an arc of Edge of Catastrophe from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
Filed under adventure, Book review, book series, colony world, feisty heroine, netgalley, new release special, S.J. Higbee, science fiction, space opera and tagged book review, Edge of Catastrophe: A Terraforming Mars novel, feisty heroine, Jane Killick, Mars adventure, Netgalley arc, new release special, S.J. Higbee, science fiction adventure, space colony adventure, space opera, the Terraforming Mars series | 1 Comment
Posted on November 24, 2022 by sjhigbee
I'm always a sucker for a cracking good space opera thriller – and the cover and the blurb had me looking forward to this offering. Would it deliver?
BLURB: Refugee, criminal and linguist Sean Wren is made an offer he knows he can't refuse: life in prison, "voluntary" military service – or salvaging data in a long-dead language from an abandoned ship filled with traps and monsters, just days before it's destroyed in a supernova. Data connected to the Philosopher's Stone experiments, into unlocking the secrets of immortality.
And he's not the only one looking for the derelict ship. The Ministers, mysterious undying aliens that have ruled over humanity for centuries, want the data – as does The Republic, humanity's last free government. And time is running out. In the bowels of the derelict ship, surrounded by horrors and dead men, Sean slowly uncovers the truth of what happened on the ship, in its final days… and the terrible secret it's hiding.
REVIEW: I'll be honest – when I finally got around to reading this one, I wasn't really in the mood for a creepy deserted space ship, which I'll own is my problem rather than anything wrong with the writing. So it's a testament to the author's skill that by the time I was a quarter of the way into this one, I was thoroughly hooked.
The reason why I found myself so wrapped up in this adventure is that I became thoroughly invested in Sean. The main protagonist is masterfully handled by Hunt. In the early stages of the book, I found him hard work. His 'cheeky chappie' façade started to wear thin very quickly – and by their reactions, I realised the other crew of Viper felt much the same way. But as the book wore on, I began to appreciate that Sean's wisecracking, irreverent attitude hides a deep belief in the sanctity of life. And a strong sense that the dumb stroke of luck that allowed him to survive the massacre of his family, friends and neighbours has left him with a need to pass it on whenever he finds someone wanting help. Hunt does a really good job in conveying this belief without portraying Sean as some futuristic Pollyanna.
I also got thoroughly caught up in learning more about the two other characters Sean finds himself sharing his terrifying adventures with – initially, they both seem utterly horrible and extremely dangerous. In fact, they remain extremely dangerous throughout, which provides some interesting plot twists along the way. I'm aware that I've only really discussed the characters – but this is principally an action adventure novel, brimful of action set on a derelict space ship on the brink of catastrophic disaster. And it provides plenty of tension and nasty surprises along the way, which makes for an engrossing page-turner I found hard to put down.
A completely unexpected twist right at the end has me keen to read the next book in this series and it comes very highly recommended for fans of tension-filled space opera adventure with memorable, excellently portrayed characters. While I obtained an audiobook arc of The Immortality Thief from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
Filed under adventure, alien encounter, Book review, book series, netgalley, outstanding books, S.J. Higbee, science fiction, space opera, troubled hero and tagged alien encounter, book review, derelict space ship, Netgalley arc, outstanding read, S.J. Higbee, science fiction thriller, space opera adventure, Taran Hunt, The Immortality Thief, The Kystrom Chronicles, troubled hero | 12 Comments
It's been a rather torrid fortnight… Firstly, the good stuff. The celebration meal with my parents was wonderful – it was lovely to see them again. And the pics above are of us with them. My lovely parents are in the middle, the boys are on either side of them in the left photo, while in the right photo my sister is on the left and I'm on the right. It helped that the weather was warm, if a tad cloudy and the food at the Arun View was great. We are now in the tail-end of half term week, which has been a welcome break in amongst the daily routine of school runs and pickups from the station for college. We managed to spend a lovely afternoon at the Wetland and Wildfowl Trust during another amazingly warm October afternoon. And those are the pics below…
But in amongst all of that, my sister needed to go to A & E with terrifically high blood pressure – I've never seen a machine flash red warning lights and bleep before… We got to the hospital at 4 pm and finally returned home at 3 am, so it was a real marathon. She was actually seen really quickly, but needed blood tests, a thorough examination and then a brain scan to check for microbleeds. And of course we had to wait for the results. I cannot praise the staff highly enough. Everyone was professional, unfailingly patient and kind. There was also a great vibe amongst the people in our corner of the waiting room, where people were also patient and good humoured, despite a number being in pain and worried about their condition. I felt proud of being a Brit and deeply grateful for our hard-pressed NHS. It turns out my sister is suffering from severe stress and has since seen a doctor and is signed off work for a fortnight – I'm not surprised. Her pharmacy is hugely busy and they have lost 2 part-time and one full-time staff member and only replaced the full-timer. I am shocked at the level of abuse she has to endure on a daily basis by people waiting for prescriptions and underwhelmed by the support she gets from the management. Small wonder that she is ill, having worked flat out through the pandemic and still finding there is no let-up.
Unfortunately, I spent the next two days in bed with exhaustion. I was back on my feet just in time for my covid booster jab, which once more floored me… And Himself was also feeling dreadful with the effects of the jab – fortunately he was on a long weekend, otherwise he would have had to go sick. The good news is that apparently, the fact we felt so ill means that we will have produced a nice lot of antibodies to that strain of covid, which should provide good protection if we fall ill with it.
Poor Oscar has been nursing a shoulder strain, so wasn't able to go the gym for the last fortnight, which he really missed. But this week he was able to resume his training schedule and also went back to football practice, which he is also enjoying. And Ethan managed to hand in his college assignment for the term with no problems and has been busy revising for his Maths exams, which he goes back to this coming week as he starts his second term at college.
This last week I read:-
Mindwalker by Kate Dylan
Eighteen-year-old Sil Sarrah is determined to die a legend. In the ten years she's been rescuing imperilled field agents for the Syntex Corporation—by commandeering their minds from afar and leading them to safety—Sil hasn't lost a single life. And she's not about to start now.
She's got twelve months left on the clock before the supercomputer grafted to her brain kills her, and she's hell-bent on using that time to cement her legacy. Sil's going to be the only Mindwalker to ever pitch a perfect game—even despite the debilitating glitches she's experiencing. But when a critical mission goes south, Sil is forced to flee the very company she once called home. Desperate to prove she's no traitor, Sil infiltrates the Analog Army, an activist faction working to bring Syntex down. Her plan is to win back her employer's trust by destroying the group from within. Instead, she and the Army's reckless leader, Ryder, uncover a horrifying truth that threatens to undo all the good Sil's ever done. With her tech rapidly degrading and her new ally keeping dangerous secrets of his own, Sil must find a way to stop Syntex in order to save her friends, her reputation—and maybe even herself.
I really liked the sound of Sil having to race against her upcoming death at the ripe old age of 19. The whole cybertech part of the book was well handled and I really bonded with the gutsy protagonist. Being a YA read meant the emotion and romance featured heavily, but it certainly didn't overshadow the main narrative arc. Enjoyable read. 8/10
The Deep End – Book 1 of The Country Club Murders series by Julie Mulhern
Swimming into the lifeless body of her husband's mistress tends to ruin a woman's day, but becoming a murder suspect can ruin her whole life.
It's 1974 and Ellison Russell's life revolves around her daughter and her art. She's long since stopped caring about her cheating husband, Henry, and the women with whom he entertains himself. That is, until she becomes a suspect in Madeline Harper's death. The murder forces Ellison to confront her husband's proclivities and his crimes—kinky sex, petty cruelties and blackmail.
As the body count approaches par on the seventh hole, Ellison knows she has to catch a killer. But with an interfering mother, an adoring father, a teenage daughter, and a cadre of well-meaning friends demanding her attention, can Ellison find the killer before he finds her?
Laura at Through Raspberry Colored Glasses was talking about this series and I liked the sound of it sufficiently to look out the first book. And then, because I was in the mood, I then read it and thoroughly enjoyed the 1970's vibe and lovely dry humour. The plotting was also nicely twisty, with a satisfyingly long list of possible suspects – no wonder the series is still going strong with such a successful start. 9/10
The Green Man's Gift – Book 5 of The Green Man series by Juliet E. McKenna
A teenage boy has turned up in Snowdonia, barely conscious and babbling about beautiful women and fairy feasts. The authorities blame magic mushrooms. The wise women say different and they want dryad's son, Daniel Mackmain, to investigate. He needs to watch his step in the mountains. Those who live in the hollow hills mask their secrets and intentions with sly half-truths.
Far from the woods he knows, Dan needs help from the allies he has made in past adventures. But he's a loner at heart. As the true power of his adversary becomes clear, he must decide if he's willing to see those he cares for put themselves in danger.
Himself saw this one and immediately bought it – quite right too. This series is one of our favourites and this particular adventure, set in the Welsh hills, didn't disappoint. As ever, McKenna's strong descriptive writing, clever pacing and charismatic and entirely believable protagonist meant the pages simply turned themselves until I reached the end with that familiar sense of happiness and sorrow that only comes when completing a thumping good read. 10/10
AUDIOBOOK – Chosen For Power – Book 4 of the Dragon's Gate series by Lindsay Buroker – REREAD
Jak and his allies venture through the portal in search of the longevity plant their king demands, but all Jak wants is to find the elder dragons. Some say they're extinct. Some say they're in hiding.
If he can't locate them, there won't be anyone to teach his hatchling how to fly. Or to protect the dragon eggs preserved within a glacier on another world. Or to help him free his people from the tyrannical rule of the wizards. Jak has no choice. He must find the dragons. But some ancient secrets were buried for a reason. What he discovers may jeopardize not only Jak and his allies—the survival of the entire species of dragons may be at stake.
I decided to reread this slice of this entertaining epic fantasy adventure as I've recently got hold of the next audiobook in the series and I wanted to ensure that I didn't miss any of the plot points. It was a solid pleasure to follow Jak and his intrepid mother again as they once more are forced to risk their lives to follow King Uthari's whims. I'm loving this adventure, which confirms Buroker as one of my all-time favourite authors. 9/10
Blood Will Tell – Book 6 of the Kate Shugak series by Dana Stabenow
At the request of her grandmother, a matriarch of her Aleut clan, Kate Shugak travels to Anchorage to investigate the mysterious deaths of several Council members just before a crucial meeting to determine the fate of some disputed tribal lands.
I completed Breakup before realising that I'd somehow missed reading this one in the right order. As ever, the politics raging over the beautiful, fragile Alaskan eco-system is brilliantly depicted without turning into a moralistic rant. Shugak is a riveting heroine and I found the ending of this one immensely powerful and moving. 10/10
Review of NETGALLEY arc Unraveller by Frances Hardinge
Can't-Wait-Wednesday featuring AUDIOBOOK Orbs of Wisdom – Book 6 of the Dragon Gate series by Lindsay Buroker
Wishing you all a happy, health week😊.
Filed under adventure, audio book, blogging and reading roundup, blogging community, Caffeinated Reviewer, cosy mystery, crime, cyborg, dragons, epic fantasy, fae, family life, feisty heroine, historical, magic, murder mystery, romance, S.J. Higbee, science fiction, Sunday Post, troubled hero and tagged Alaskan murder mystery, audiobook, blogging and reading roundup, Blogging community, Blood Will Tell, British fae, Caffeinated Reviewer, Chosen for Power, crime, cyberpunk, Dana Stabenow, dragons, dystopian science fiction adventure, epic fantasy adventure, family life, historical murder mystery, Julie Mulhern, Juliet E. McKenna, Kate Dylan, Lindsay Buroker, Mindwalker, Sunday Post, The Deep End, the Dragon's Gate series, The Green Man series, The Green Man's Gift, the Kate Shugak series, YA | 12 Comments
This week's Can't-Wait offering – Children of Memory – Book 2 of the Children of Time series by Adrian Tchaikovsky – release date – 24th November, 2022
#science fiction #colonisation adventure
The first book in this series, Children of Time, is one of my all-time favourite colonisation adventures – I just loved those spiders… While the second book, Children of Ruin wasn't quite as successful, nonetheless I'm delighted to have got hold of this third book in the series – especially as the premise is so intriguing.
Filed under adventure, blogging community, book series, Can't-Wait Wednesday, colony world, S.J. Higbee, science fiction, upcoming releases, Wishful Endings and tagged Adrian Tchaikovsky, Blogging community, Can't-Wait Wednesday, Children of Memory, Children of Time series, colony world, S.J. Higbee, science fiction, upcoming releases, Wishful Endings | 20 Comments
This week's Can't-Wait offering – Edge of Catastophe: A Terraforming Mars novel – Book 2 of the Terraforming Mars series by Jane Killick – release date – 22nd November, 2022
#science fiction #Mars colonisation #crime thriller
BLURB: In the 26th century, Mars is thriving: the huge crater made by the crashed moon of Deimos is now a vast domed city, buzzing with industry and a burgeoning Martian-born and immigrant workforce. Ecoline scientist Mel Erdan is at the forefront of vital research to feed and maintain Mars' increasing population. But when her viral enhancer transforms lush green plants into a blackened swathe of dead crops, it triggers a wave of violent unrest across Deimos City, and Mel is accused of deliberately sabotaging Mars' fragile viability. With resources rapidly dwindling, conspiracy theories flying, and criminal gangs rioting, Mel must prove her innocence, uncover the truth, and revitalise Mars' harvest before it's too late – for everyone.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series – see my review of In the Shadow of Deimos – so when I saw the sequel, I was delighted to get hold of a copy. Apparently, the book series is based on a board game, Terraforming Mars, but don't let that worry you. I was blissfully unaware of that fact after I'd finished the first book. As I haven't read much science fiction recently, I'm really looking forward to tucking into this one.
Filed under adventure, blogging community, book series, Can't-Wait Wednesday, colony world, crime, Mars adventure, S.J. Higbee, science fiction, upcoming releases, Wishful Endings and tagged Blogging community, Can't-Wait Wednesday, crime thriller, Edge of Catastrophe: A Terraforming Mars novel, Jane Killick, Mars adventure, S.J. Higbee, science fiction, the Terraforming Mars series, upcoming releases, Wishful Endings | 12 Comments
My all-time favourite genre when it's done well is science fiction – not that you'd know it if you've been reading my book reviews during the last two years. And that's because I've been going through a really tough time – and a lot of sci fi is on the grim side. Not so the books of Janet Edwards, so I was delighted when she asked me if I would like a review copy of the latest offering in her enjoyable Drago Tell Dramis series. I'm a solid fan of her writing, see my reviews of of Earth Girl, Earth Star, Earth Flight, Earth and Air, Frontier and her short story collection Earth Prime which are all books set in her Earth Girl series, as well as Telepath, Defender, Hurricane and Borderline in the Hive Mind series, and Scavenger Alliance and Scavenger Blood in the Scavenger Exodus series, which is a spinoff prequel series set in the Earth Girl world. This series featuring disaster magnet Draco Tell Dramis is also set before the Earth Girl books in the same world – but only a few years before we get to meet young Jarra. This series featuring disaster magnet Draco Tell Dramis is also set before the Earth Girl books in the same world – but only a few years before we get to meet young Jarra. I've also reviewed Hestia 2781 and Array 2781 in this series, as well as the short story 'Hera 2781', which kicks everything off.
BLURB: Major Drago Tell Dramis is celebrating the fact that the saboteur has been caught, and the Earth solar arrays will be safe now. The arrest of a member of the main board of Hospital Earth has consequences though. As Drago hits orbital levels of fury, and declares his own personal war against Hospital Earth, he's hit by even more unexpected problems.
There's a joke that says one birth member of the Tell clan attracts trouble, two birth members of the Tell clan invite minor disasters, while three is the critical mass that triggers cataclysmic events. As the danger mounts, the question is whether Drago and his two cousins, Jaxon and Gemelle, can prove an alternative theory. Are three members of the Tell clan really the critical mass that resolves cataclysmic events?
REVIEW: Firstly, if you encounter this book without having read any of the other offerings in the Drago Tell Dramis series – my firm advice would be to track down the first book, which is a novelette. 'Hera 2781' gives you an ideal opportunity to work out whether you'll enjoy Edwards' writing style and the storyline without having to invest a huge amount of time and money.
As for me – I'll happily hoover up anything she writes. There is an energy and positivity in Edwards' writing that I always thoroughly enjoy and is well matched with the young protagonists she portrays. That doesn't mean they have an easy time of it – far from it. Drago Tell Dramis might come from a high-profile family, with the good looks and advantageous connections that goes with such a background – but Edwards also gives us a clear insight into some of the major snags of being instantly recognisable wherever he goes. Sometimes the consequent scrapes are dangerous, while at other times they are simply hilarious – so long as your name isn't Drago… It doesn't help that Drago is also a first-class disaster magnet, particularly when paired up with his cousin, Jaxon. Though Jaxon has problems of his own, given that he is battling with a terrible decision he made years ago, when he was too young to realise the consequences.
The premise could so easily have turned this book into a dark exploration of two conflicted, doom-ridden heroes. In Edwards' hands, however, there is an optimistic vibe to the writing that gives the story an energy that impels me to keep turning the pages. And though there are tough times and even heartbreak – I always finish one of Edwards' books feeling uplifted and more cheerful. This time around was no exception, apart from the sense of loss when you get to the end of a series featuring an engaging and enjoyable protagonist. Highly recommended for sci fi fans who appreciate regular dollops of humour alongside their futuristic action.
Filed under adventure, Book review, book series, family relationships, humour, Indie ebook, Kindle edition, S.J. Higbee, science fiction, space opera, troubled hero and tagged book review, Indie Ebook, Janet Edwards, new release special, S.J. Higbee, science fiction adventure, Sol 2781, space opera, the Drago Tell Dramis series, troubled hero | 4 Comments
A great deal seems to have happened since I last took part in the Sunday Post. The boys have both started back at school and college respectively. And both have gone down with a nasty viral illness, which saw Oscar unable to resume school last week after the late Queen's funeral. It definitely wasn't covid, but was nevertheless very unpleasant. My sister, who works in a pharmacy, says it's one of the latest infections zapping our rather flappy immune systems. In addition, Ethan needed a course of antibiotics for a nasty cough which he picked up during the summer and hadn't managed to shift. I hate it when the children aren't well, so I also found it quite stressful. Thankfully both are recovering – though Ethan still hasn't shifted the cough as much as I would like.
And of course we had the death of Queen Elizabeth II, which was a terrible shock. If I had been physically stronger, I'd have travelled to London and joined the queues to attend the lying-in state, as Himself and I had attended the Queen Mother's and it was a wonderful, uplifting experience. My sister joined me on Monday and we watched the funeral together, both weeping at times for the end of an era and the loss of a wonderful leader full of goodness and integrity, who had prevented me from getting too jaded and cynical about those In Charge. It will seem very strange when new stamps, coins and currency start to appear without Queen Elizabeth's head on them.
Other than that, I keep taking each day as it comes and while I'm often very tired by the end of the day as I'm still horribly unfit – it isn't the bone-aching, mind-sapping exhaustion that was a feature of the Long Covid I'd endured. If I get to the end of the month without suffering any kind of relapse, I will be applying to our local leisure centre for the offered 12 free sessions for those who have suffered from Long Covid. So fingers crossed!
Sol 2781 – Book 4 of the Drago Tell Dramis series by Janet Edwards
Major Drago Tell Dramis is celebrating the fact that the saboteur has been caught, and the Earth solar arrays will be safe now. The arrest of a member of the main board of Hospital Earth has consequences though. As Drago hits orbital levels of fury, and declares his own personal war against Hospital Earth, he's hit by even more unexpected problems.
I always enjoy Janet Edwards writing – and this one is no exception. She has the knack of writing eventful, vivid and well-depicted space opera adventures with an upbeat vibe, even when her protagonists are going through a really tough time. Review to follow.
AUDIOBOOK – False Value – Book 8 of the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch
Peter Grant is facing fatherhood, and an uncertain future, with equal amounts of panic and enthusiasm. Rather than sit around, he takes a job with émigré Silicon Valley tech genius Terrence Skinner's brand new London start up – the Serious Cybernetics Company.
Drawn into the orbit of Old Street's famous 'silicon roundabout', Peter must learn how to blend in with people who are both civilians and geekier than he is. Compared to his last job, Peter thinks it should be a doddle. But magic is not finished with Mama Grant's favourite son.
Because Terrence Skinner has a secret hidden in the bowels of the SCC. A technology that stretches back to Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, and forward to the future of artificial intelligence. A secret that is just as magical as it technological – and just as dangerous.
This book takes us into different territory, as Peter has struck out into pastures new and is now working as Security in a high-profile tech firm. I loved his wry depiction of modern working practices, along with yet another well-plotted adventure mystery. I also enjoyed the tenderness portrayed in the relationship between heavily pregnant Beverley and Peter. 9/10
Making It Write – Book 3 of A Writer For Hire Mystery Series by Betty Hechtman
As a writer for hire, Veronica Blackstone puts her keyboard to use to help others. That includes writing advertising copy for local businesses or love letters for those with romantic troubles, or helping people publish their memoirs. Maeve Winslow needs the latter.
Maeve is the wife of a famous artist nominated for a prestigious award, and the memoir is to be released ahead of the ceremony. All of Maeve's notes are given to Veronica but for the final few pages. There's a huge surprise within those last pages, but Maeve won't reveal it yet.
When Maeve is found dead at the foot of her stairs it looks like an accident, but Veronica isn't convinced. Was the scene staged? Was Maeve murdered to keep her silent? Could clues to the surprise, and the identity of the murderer, be hidden within the notes? It's up to Veronica to figure it out and write the real story.
This was the first time I'd had the pleasure of reading a book in this cosy murder mystery series – but I certainly hope it won't be the last. I grew to really like Veronica and enjoyed the growing sense of wrongness about Maeve's death. 8/10
AUDIOBOOK – Deceiver – Book 11 (Sequence 4, Book 2) of the Foreigner series by C.J. Cherryh
The civil war among the alien Atevi has ended. Tabini-aiji, powerful ruler of the Western Association, along with Cajeiri, his son and heir, has returned to the Bujavid, his seat of power. But factions that remain loyal to the opposition are still present, and the danger these rebels pose is far from over.
I am loving listening to this highly detailed and tension-filled adventure set on an alien planet, where humanity is in the minority and Bren Cameron, as the sole human representative living among the Atevi, gets sucked into their turbulent politics. 9/10
The Firstborn by Quenby Olson
Sophia has sacrificed everything for her younger sister, Lucy. She has removed them from the only home they ever knew, taken on the care of Lucy's illegitimate son, George, and even assumed the role of a widow and mother in order to erase all hint of scandal from the boy's birth. But rumor continues to follow them like the darkest of clouds, and Sophia must adapt to her new existence as a false widow with no prospects beyond the doors of her small cottage.
Lord Finnian Haughton will stop at nothing to prevent the slightest hint of scandal from tainting his family's name. When he learns of his younger brother's latest indiscretion-one that leaves a bastard child in his wake-Haughton rushes across the country to offer the boy's mother a comfortable living in exchange for her silence about the child's true parentage. But he arrives only to have his generous offer thrown back in his face by Sophia Brixton, a sharp-tongued and sharper-witted woman who proceeds to toss him out of her house. But just because he is banished from her home does not mean he is so easily banished from her life.
I have thoroughly enjoyed Olson's historical fantasy stories. Indeed, her gripping book about a woman with a talent she'd rather not have, The Half Killed, is one of my standout of reads of the year so far. This enjoyable Regency romance may not have the heft and physicality of that offering, but nevertheless is highly enjoyable. 8/10
AUDIOBOOK – Death Among the Diamonds – Book 1 of the Cressida Fawcett Mystery series by Fliss Chester
Everyone in 1920s London knows the Honourable Cressida Fawcett: fiercely independent (though never apart from her little pug Ruby), lover of martinis and interior designer extraordinaire. She's solved many crimes of fashion… so how about murder?
Cressida Fawcett is heading to the English countryside for a weekend of cocktails and partying at her friend's glamorous mansion, the location of a recent diamond heist. But just hours after her arrival, Cressida is woken by an almighty scream. Rushing to the landing, she looks down into the great hall to find a trembling maid standing next to the body of Harry, the friendly young chandelier cleaner.
Everyone believes Harry's death was an accident. But as Cressida examines the opulent hall and the beautiful grounds, she thinks something darker is afoot. Why clean a chandelier in the early hours of the morning? And who overheard Harry boasting about coming into unexpected wealth? A small piece of torn silk found near the body has Cressida looking at the guests' elegant clothes with fresh eyes…
I was delighted to get hold of a Netgalley audiobook arc for this entertaining whodunit and was thoroughly looking forward to tucking into this offering. Initially I was a tad disappointed, as I had realised exactly where the diamonds had been hidden – until it turned out they hadn't… Cressida is suitably headstrong and plucky, while ably assisted by her endearing little dog, Ruby. A thoroughly enjoyable listen! Review to follow.
*NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of NETGALLEY AUDIOBOOK The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
Can't-Wait-Wednesday featuring The Immortality Thief – Book 1 of The Kystrom Chronicles by Taran Hunt
Review of NETGALLEY arc Making It Write – Book 3 of A Writer For Hire Mystery series by Betty Hechtman
Filed under adventure, alien encounter, audio book, blogging and reading roundup, Caffeinated Reviewer, cosy mystery, crime, daily life, family life, fantasy, feisty heroine, historical adventure, humour, magic, murder mystery, romance, S.J. Higbee, science fiction, Sunday Post, troubled hero and tagged A Writer For Hire Mystery series, alien encounter, audiobook, Ben Aaronovitch, Betty Hechtman, blogging and reading roundup, Blogging community, C.J. Cherryh, Caffeinated Reviewer, contemporary murder mystery, country house murder mystery, Death Among the Diamonds, False Value, family life, Fliss Chester, historical whodunit, Janet Edwards, Making It Write, Quenby Olson, Regency romance, Rivers of London series, science fiction adventure, So 2781, space opera adventure, Sunday Post, the Cressida Fawcett Mystery series, the Drago Tell Dramis series, The Firstborn, the Foreigner series, troubled young hero, undercover adventure, urban fantasy | 20 Comments
This week's Can't-Wait offering – The Immortality Thief – Book 1 of The Kystrom Chronicles by Taran Hunt – release date – 11th October, 2022
#science fiction #space opera #thriller
And he's not the only one looking for the derelict ship. The Ministers, mysterious undying aliens that have ruled over humanity for centuries, want the data – as does The Republic, humanity's last free government. And time is running out.
In the bowels of the derelict ship, surrounded by horrors and dead men, Sean slowly uncovers the truth of what happened on the ship, in its final days… and the terrible secret it's hiding.
It was the title that caught my eye – and then the premise. While I find it difficult to cope with creepy stuff here on Earth – once it's safely out in space, I find it thoroughly enjoyable. Particularly as the extremely hostile conditions of deep space always make it much harder to simply run awaaay – which is often what I'm urging protagonists who insist on visiting deserted houses with dubious histories… isolated wilderness spots with dodgy characters… or simply getting out of bed to confront the strange noises in the night – who does that??? Anyway, back to this offering – it sounds like there are all sorts of nasties lingering in the shadows and I'm looking forward to tucking into it😊.
Filed under adventure, alien encounter, blogging community, book series, Can't-Wait Wednesday, horror, S.J. Higbee, science fiction, space opera, troubled hero, upcoming releases, Wishful Endings and tagged Blogging community, Can't-Wait Wednesday, horror, S.J. Higbee, science fiction adventure, space opera, Taran Hunt, The Immortality Thief, The Kystrom Chronicles, troubled hero, upcoming releases, Wishful Endings | 8 Comments


Hi guys, just the other day I decide to pull apart my Sony BOXGTRLED subwoofer so I could put it in my ute behind the back seat. Unfortunately it didnt fit and I forgot how to wire back up the led lights that are part of the sub enclosure. Does anyone have any ideas? Its only three wires too.
Brand new JL 12'' sub not working properly?


Looking to sample the culinary delights of Spain, Chile, Italy, Argentina or France? How about you stay a little more local and give Washington State a try? Thanks to Omni Hotels & Resorts you can now taste all that Washington State has to offer just by visiting an Omni location.
Each year Omni Hotels & Resorts introduces a new "Flavors of the World" chapter created to provide guests an authentic culinary experience. "Flavors of the World" is back again this spring with a spotlight on the wines of Washington State. "Taste Washington" features many of Washington State's best wines in Omni bars and restaurants across the U.S., accompanied by a food pairing menu of Washington-inspired cuisine. The program runs from March 1 through May 31, 2014 so hurry up and get going!
I had the chance to check out the dishes Omni chefs will be serving up and I can say with confidence that you won't be disappointed.
How can you say no to Handmade Washington Cheeses served with fig jam, honey and olives? These were some delicious Washington State cheeses spanning the entire palate.
Dungeness Crab Fritters were served with a smoked tomato and bacon mayo. These were delicious. You could really taste the crab and they certainly weren't overly fried. The smoked tomato and bacon mayo had just the right hint of bacon so it didn't completely overpower the taste of the fritters.
The Roasted Salmon didn't disappoint either. I watched the chef cook these up and he did so with perfect precision. It had a delicious seared and slightly crispy outside with a hint of salt. Delicious.
The Cider Braised Short Rib was melt-in-your-mouth good. This chunk of beef melted away from my fork when I tried to cut into it.
Sorry to say this mom, but the Granny Apple Crisp may give you a run for your money! This apple pie is close to the best I've ever had. The apples were thinly sliced, allowing them to become soft and mushy – something that many apple pies don't do. Topped with a cinnamon/sugar crust, this apple pie had me on a sugar high.
All of these dishes were incredibly flavorful and cooked to perfection. I don't have any trips on the horizon, but I may just need to stop by the Omni Hotel here in New York City to order up some more!
For more information about Taste Washington, visit http://tastewashington.org.


Most working scientists hold fast to the concept of 'realism'—a viewpoint according to which an external reality exists independent of observation. But quantum physics has shattered some of our cornerstone beliefs. According to Bell's theorem, any theory that is based on the joint assumption of realism and locality (meaning that local events cannot be affected by actions in space-like separated regions) is at variance with certain quantum predictions. Experiments with entangled pairs of particles have amply confirmed these quantum predictions, thus rendering local realistic theories untenable. Maintaining realism as a fundamental concept would therefore necessitate the introduction of 'spooky' actions that defy locality. Here we show by both theory and experiment that a broad and rather reasonable class of such non-local realistic theories is incompatible with experimentally observable quantum correlations. In the experiment, we measure previously untested correlations between two entangled photons, and show that these correlations violate an inequality proposed by Leggett for non-local realistic theories. Our result suggests that giving up the concept of locality is not sufficient to be consistent with quantum experiments, unless certain intuitive features of realism are abandoned.
Thankfully, we remain macroscopic entities. Though hardly unentangled.


John Warth Hunter of the Department of St. Gallen.
Johanes Warth Jaeger von der Abteilung St. Gallen.
This entry was posted in 1792, 1793, 1794, 18th Century, Military, Switzerland and tagged Canton of St. Gallen, Costumes militaires des cantons de la Suisse on 6/14/14 by world4.
Gallery: Swiss national costumes from 1896.
Gallery: Costume nationale suisse des 22 cantons 1865. Dessiné par Louis Lassalle, illustrator. S. Morel; Imprimerie Lemercier, Geneve; Paris, 1865.
This entry was posted in 1860, 19th Century, Switzerland, Traditional and tagged Canton of Grisons, Canton of St. Gallen, Traditional Switzerland costumes on 9/1/13 by world4.
Couple with child. Costumes from the Canton of St. Gallen.
Costumes from the Canton of St. Gallen.
Couple with child from the Canton of St. Gallen. Switzerland national costumes.
This entry was posted in 1865, Switzerland, Traditional and tagged Canton of St. Gallen, Traditional Switzerland costumes on 8/23/13 by world4.
Woman from St. Gallen in the costume of the former princely land.
Woman from St. Gallen of the former princely land.
This entry was posted in 1896, 19th Century, Switzerland, Traditional and tagged Canton of St. Gallen, Traditional Switzerland costumes on 8/17/13 by world4.
Woman from St. Gallen from the former princely land.
This entry was posted in 1897, 19th Century, Switzerland, Traditional and tagged Canton of St. Gallen, Traditional Switzerland costumes on 8/17/13 by world4.


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text:
The Colorado River winds along the West Rim of the Grand Canyon in the Hualapai Indian Reservation near Peach Springs, Ariz.
Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Grand Canyon Mining a Divide in Arizona Senate Race? (Corrected)
By Renee Schoof and Chuck McCutcheon
Nov. 25, 2019, 11:56 AM; Updated: Nov. 25, 2019, 3:26 PM
Uranium mining in the Grand Canyon could be a tricky issue for Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) to navigate as she seeks to keep her seat next year, Tiffany Stecker reports.
The House passed a bill (H.R. 1373) last month to ban uranium mining and geothermal exploration in the Grand Canyon, but McSally hasn't publicly said where she stands on the issue in her state. "The Grand Canyon is about as sacred as you can get out here," said Chuck Coughlin, president and CEO of HighGround Public Affairs Consultants in Phoenix and former chief of staff to Arizona...
Renee Schoof
Reporter/Editor
Chuck McCutcheon

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Isarun agog as Oleyelogun bids mother farewell
in Featured, Features
From left: Representative of Nigeria's Vice President, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, daughter of the deceased, Mrs Christianah Adebowale, wife of ODHA Speaker, Julianah, her husband and son of the deceased, Mr Bamidele Oleyelogun, Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa and State Acting Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola at the event
By Josephine Oguntoyinbo
Isarun in lfedore Local government area of Ondo State, the home town of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Bamidele Oleyelogun was agog at the weekend as notable people from all walks of life trooped to the community to bid his late mother, Chief (Mrs) Mary Asake Oleyelogun farewell.
Mary Asake Oleyelogun died at the age of 102 years.
Cross section of Ondo lawmakers Photos: Suberu Ayodele
It was indeed a celebration of life as people from different political divides set aside political differences to honour the Speaker. At the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was represented by Senator Femi Ojudu, while the Governor of the State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa led members of the State Executive Council and other political appointees to pay their last respect to the late matriarch.
Members of the All Progressives Congress as well, accompanied the State Chairman, Ade Adetimehin to the well attended event while present and past Speakers and lawmakers across the country, the state Acting Chief Judge and past Chief Judges, traditional rulers, religious leaders, chairmen of Local Governments among other dignitaries were not left behind.
In his sermon at CAC Oke-Aanu, Pastor Emmanuel Arowolo, who is the Ifedore Zonal Superintendent spoke on a topic: "You can't live forever", saying we are from the dust and dust we shall return, stressing that anyone who believes he would live forever is only deceiving him or herself irrespective of the post they hold.
"There are people who occupied offices but they are no longer there, either you like it or not, your seat will be vacant one day therefore, in anything you do, always remember this".
The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo congratulated the Speaker and his sibling for succeeding their mother in good health.
Represented by Senator Femi Ojudu,the Vice President prayed for the children and families to also live to their prime age in success.
Governor Akeredolu described late Mrs Oleyelogun as a lucky mother who witnessed the progress and success of her children in her lifetime.
"I congratulate you for surviving your aged mother who had enjoyed the rare grace of living for a century and two years. To live up to 102 is a rare privilege. Nevertheless, there is always a sense of pain associated with loss, especially of one's mother. The reality that we will never see them again until the resurrection morning is heartbreaking and depressing".
"Nevertheless, your mother deserves to be celebrated not mourned. She did not only live long but lived a fulfilled life. In her lifetime, she witnessed as you climbed the political ladders and emerged the Speaker of our dear State House of Assembly. She felt the great joy of motherhood and died a fulfilled woman".
Governor Akeredolu also described Mrs Asake as a woman who was devoted to the service of God and humanity.
The Asarun of Isarun, Oba Joseph Adebobola said late Mrs Asake impacted in her children's lives and others in the community and her demise will be greatly felt.
The monarch therefore urged the Speaker and his family to take solace in God.
Also, the Ifedore Local Government Chairman, Alex Oladimeji noted that Late Mrs Asake was known to be a philanthropist, very considerate of others, wonderful and caring to all and sundry and lived a meaningful life.
Mrs. Christianah Adebowale, who is the first born of the deceased noted that her mother was an example to women in the society on how she lived a faithful life and served the Lord wholeheartedly.
"Despite the fact that she had no formal education, she was a disciplinarian, not in terms of beating but firm in guiding her children through the word of God and other areas based on her experience".
The Speaker in his reaction, appreciated the Governor and his cabinet members and other guests who came to celebrate his mother with him, adding that death is inevitable as everyone will all embark on the eternal journey one day.
Oleyelogun added that no words could adequately quantify how magnificent his mother's existence was and would always keep her in his heart.
Dignitaries who spoke at separate interviews said they were celebrating the exit of the late matriarch and not mourning as she lived a fulfilled life.
Guests were later entertained at St. Luke's Anglican Primary School field, Isarun.
Deaconess Mary Asake was born on July 21, 1920 to the family of Pa Michael Ajilu of Ojumu Compound, ldasa Street, her mother was madam Aina Olamilotan from Adeyebi (Ojeere-Ewa) both parents were from lgbara -Odo ,Ekiti State. She was the second born of her parents' four children.
She was married to late Mr Joseph Oyiyo and later married to Chief Oleyelogun Abifawaye from Isarun after the demise of her first husband in Igbara-Odo in Ekiti State.She was a devoted Christian who got baptised in 1981after she gave her life to Christ in 1972. She was ordained a deaconess years back and she was the Matron of CAC Oke-Aanu, lsarun district Choir.
A successful trader, she was survived by children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and in-laws and died on December 10, 2022.
Buhari signs N21.83trn budget 2023 into law
2023 'll be a better, eventful year – Gov assures
2023 'll be a better, eventful year - Gov assures
Experts offer solutions to forex scarcity


text:
BTS Winning four crowns at the BMA
By Yang Yeo-sub | 기사입력 2021/05/27 [10:10]
By Yang Yeo-sub | 입력 : 2021/05/27 [10:10]
Korean boy band group BTS won four crowns at the Billboard Music Awards (BMA). The main ceremony was aired from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on May 23rd. Billboard Music Awards is one of the three major music awards in the United States with the American Music Awards and Grammy Awards.
BTS entered the Billboard Music Awards for the first time in 2017, receiving an award in the Top Social Artist category based on its social media influence. This year was the first time that BTS has received awards in other categories.
BTS shared their impressions of the award in Seoul. Leader RM said in English, "It is a great honor to be the winner of this meaningful title. We are going through difficult times so we want to share fresh energy with everyone through our song, and I think we have achieved this." He also described "Dynamite" as being "made of positive vibes, energy, hope, love, and purity."
BTS has secured three trophies in three categories: 'Top Duo/Group,' 'Top Song Sales Artist,' and Top Social Artist.' In the 'Top Duo/Group' category, BTS competed with legendary rock band AC/DC, indie pop trio AJR, country duo Dan and Shay, and pop band Maroon 5. In the 'Top Song Sales Artist' category, the artist competed with prominent artists such as Justin Bieber, Morgan Wallen, and Weekend. In the 'Top Social Artist' category, which reflects online influence, the group has competed with Black Pink, Philippine boy group SB19, and pop star Ariana Grande.
BTS thanked and shared its joy with ARMY fans around the world. J-Hope said, "I have been a top social artist for five years in a row since 2017, and I am grateful to ARMY and BBMA for giving me this incredible title."
In the midst of this, the music video for BTS' new song 'Butter' was released on May 21st, surpassed 100 million views in 21 hours after the release, and advanced the record of their previous song 'Dynamite' by three hours.
By Yang Yeo-sub의 다른기사보기
Sports&Culture 많이 본 기사


A local problem, a global perspective and new strategies to tackle it. This is the story of Venessa Padayachee, a South African human rights advocate.
Defending human rights is not an easy task. Defenders around the world have to deal with a hostile environment, sensitive issues and controversial cases. Sharing their experiences with peers can not only be heartwarming but also encouraging in their difficult pursuit of justice. Sometimes that sharing of experiences can be transformational. This is the story of Venessa Padayachee, a South African human rights advocate, and how a visit to Mexico shifted her mindset.
Venessa Padayachee is committed to the defense of human rights. She is the Advocacy and Lobbying Manager of the National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders (NICRO) in South Africa. She participated in a Learning Alliance under the ELLA Programme, a UK Aid funded south-south knowledge initiative that mixes research, exchange and learning to inspire evidence-based policies and practices. Together with FUNDAR, a Mexican think tank, Practical Action Consulting Latin America managed a Learning Alliance on Human Rights in which Venessa and peers from Latin America, Africa and Asia, discussed legal frameworks to protect and defend human rights; collective and ethnic minority rights; how to integrate a Rights Based Approach into budgeting and public policy; and the role of strategic litigation.
This knowledge opened up new possibilities for Venessa. She enriched her view which helped her to think about her work more strategically. Venessa considers that what she learned gave her a more comprehensive overview of human rights and its framework at an international level, and how to use different advocacy strategies, mechanisms and tools: "It really empowered me to be more robust in discussions around what my strategies are", said Venessa in a recent interview.
The experience encouraged her to assist in leading a strategic litigation project on overcrowding at Pollsmoor, a maximum security prison in Cape Town where some of South Africa's most dangerous criminals are held. It is very well-known that Pollsmoor's capacity has been seriously exceeded and overcrowding not only generates the conditions for gross human rights violations but it also makes rehabilitation more difficult and increases violence rates as conflict breaks out easily. NICRO has brought the issue of overcrowding to parliament and to other forums over a number of years. Progress has been slow and the results insufficient. So they are now trying, led by the Sonke Gender Justice and the Detention Justice Forum, a strategic litigation approach, as other avenues have failed. The case is in the High Court of South Africa – Western Cape division. NICRO's role was to provide an affidavit of the psychological effects of overcrowding and incarceration on the human psyche.
Crime levels in both Mexico and South Africa are very high. One particular consequence is that families, of both the victim and the offender, often find themselves embroiled in extensive litigation and other complications. Both countries have made efforts to guarantee the human rights and fair processes for those involved. But where South Africa has faced challenges in harmonizing its domestic law and implementation with international and regional treaties, Mexico is a good example of domestic harmonization with international laws, which in turn has led to the enactment of further supportive laws and institutional reforms.
Venessa was one of twelve participants from the Learning Alliance who travelled to Mexico in 2012 to see firsthand what she had been learning about online. What she grasped from experiences in Mexico City and Oaxaca shifted her thinking. Going beyond traditional advocacy work, she started thinking about how to mobilize victims themselves. This was inspired by the fact that Mexico has a separate specific piece of legislation for victims, while in South Africa victim rights are scattered across different pieces of legislations: "…learning that other countries have this [a separate victim legislation] helped us in our thinking, so I forwarded it to the campaign people", said Venessa. Venessa looked at this legislation and explored how victims are mobilized in Mexico (e.g. where girls went missing and their parents became advocates, taking up their cause) and she thought about how she could help NICRO's replicate this model to the benefit of those they work with: "Our advocacy work has been done by social workers and me. And we didn't realize that we actually have this huge beneficiary base; our beneficiaries themselves are the very people that can have a voice on these issues (…) The experience in Mexico has clearly shifted my mindset around how to broaden the scope of what we can do and the potential of people mobilization". Four years after that visit to Mexico, Venessa says that for some cases and when conditions are favorable, she tries to encourage families and community leaders to organize themselves to have a voice on the issues that affect them. Currently she is working with a female leader to mobilize parents of juveniles who are in vulnerable situations. She has assigned a life coach to her, to help her work on how to go about her leadership.
Discussions between Venessa and her peers in the Learning Alliance led to the conclusions that the strategies shared might be applicable in very different settings. This was the case with another issue: budgeting and human rights. One of these conclusions was that a right-based approach to budgeting and policy making can be crucial to help embed a human rights culture in the public administration and improve respect for social, economic and cultural rights. Venessa was able to see how this was put in practice in Mexico and when she came back to South Africa she was wondering about how to do it there. She came across the Budget and Expenditure Monitoring Forum where she is currently an active participant advocating on budget to tackle gender-based violence. The rights-based budget approach gave her new tools to be a better advocate in South Africa. Again, looking outside her context opens Venessa up to new approaches: "You get so caught up in the day to day, so I really enjoyed that experience (the visit to Mexico) to reflect and think that there is something I can go back and try. It's funny, sometimes you have to go out of your own country to gain perspective".
Stories like Venessa's and her role as human rights defender in South Africa show that south-south exchange can contribute to change when there are windows of opportunity, and where programmes work with committed, capable individuals able to deploy the knowledge they picked up when the opportunity develops.
In the ELLA programme UK Aid bet on the benefits of south-south learning. Venessa's story is just one case among the many registered by the programme. Knowledge exchange between regions of the ´global south' can work, even where countries are very different, when sufficient attention is paid to identifying and understanding context. In this case, Venessa has used ELLA knowledge to broaden her view, for improving her organisation current impact strategies and to find new ways of working with beneficiaries.
 According to Venessa Padayachee, in late 2015, NICRO was asked to assess South Africa's performance in relation to and compliance with international standards on inmate management, offender rehabilitation and inmate monitoring of conditions of incarceration. So they used the UN principle of treatment of prisoners and consulted from other documents, but they basically shown how the country was failing when it comes to meeting those standards .
This article has been written by Alicia Quezada, Manager of Practical Action Consulting Latin America, and is based on interviews with Venessa Padayachee (8 March 2016) and programme reports, including a report on the ELLA Learning Alliance on Human Rights "Module 2: Promoting and guaranteeing Human Rights", and the ELLA Guide "Human Rights in Latin America".


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Ohmigod that is HILARIOUS!! It looks like you guys had so much fun. And it really made me want to crimp my hair. 🙂 Everyone looked FABULOUS especially the bride-to-be!
And by the way that is my FAVE Duran Duran song.
hehe – glad you liked them – we had a blast! My feet were killing me after the walk home though – high heels are not for the uninitiated!!
Jay looked fab, she did so well with her costume, she certainly had more practice in heels than me!
My first time using iMovie – its so easy to knock something together quickly – have loads more 80's stuff copying over from CD and downloading now – its very addictive!


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Home » Comparisons » Entertainment » Movies
60s Movies vs Today's Movies: Then and Now
Difference between 60s Movies and Today's Movies
The production of movies has grown to be one of the biggest industries in the world. When comparing two decades between one another when it comes to the movies that were produced, there are none that are more different that the movies that were produced in the sixties, and those that are produced now. The main differences include the special effects in these movies, the length of these films, and the content of these movies.
Photo by twak
Photo by Hot Rod Homepage
Effects in Movies
During the sixties movies had come a long way when compared to past generations. They were filled with more action sequences. However, when compared the sixties generation to now, more of the movies in the sixties had people doing their own stunts. Which means that those incredible feats that people witness were actually performed by the actors or by their stunt doubles. With movies nowadays, those incredible action sequences are either done by the stunt doubles or they are digital, meaning that they have the technology to make them look even neater and more real life though they are usually filmed against a green screen.
Length of these Movies
In the sixties, movies were on average an hour and a half long, sometimes pushing as long as two hours. This was due to the high cost of actually shooting these films, while also taking into consideration that these movies were shot without having so many re-shoot times as movies today. Today, movies are usually well over two hours long, sometimes as long as three or four, if the producers want people to know an in-depth story line. With all the advances that they have in technology, it makes it relatively easier to produce a film in much shorter time.
Content of these Movies
Despite the free thinking that was dominant in the sixties, the movies were still censored to some extent. There were not as many graphic scenes as there are in movies today. For example, many graphic scenes were basically not shown, but they could be thought to have happened by those that are watching it. Though there are still some restrictions today in movies, the rating system has allowed for producers and directors to put in some scenes that would have been too risqué in the past. Whether this is an improvement or not, really depends on the person that you ask.
Though all movies are meant to be enjoyed by those that are watching these, there are several differences between the movies that were from the sixties decade and those that are made today:
In the sixties movies, most of the stunts were done by a real live person.
Today, stunts are usually done with the help of computer and performed against a green screen in order to minimize risk to actors.
The movies in the sixties were not as graphic as those that are today.
With the help of digital graphics, movies today can be as bloody and so forth as ever, putting shame to the rubber and plastic props that were used in the sixties.
The movies in the sixties were relatively shorter and they took longer to make.
Today movies can be as long as four hours and be produced in short periods of time thanks to new technology.
Destiny wrote on May 2012
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Jason wrote on November 2013
There is more nudity these days. And it's very pleasing to watch 20-something babes of today showcasing their bodies to 87 year old viewers like me.
sha naenae wrote on September 2015
same^^
sharkisha wrote on September 2015
makalah wrote on June 2016
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Configurational entropy of polar glass formers and the effect of electric field on glass transition
Dmitry Matyushov
CLAS-NS: Biological Physics, Center for
A model of low-temperature polar liquids is constructed that accounts for the configurational heat capacity, entropy, and the effect of a strong electric field on the glass transition. The model is based on the Padé-truncated perturbation expansions of the liquid state theory. Depending on parameters, it accommodates an ideal glass transition of vanishing configurational entropy and its avoidance, with a square-root divergent enumeration function at the point of its termination. A composite density-temperature parameter ργ/T, often used to represent combined pressure and temperature data, follows from the model. The theory is in good agreement with the experimental data for excess (over the crystal state) thermodynamics of molecular glass formers. We suggest that the Kauzmann entropy crisis might be a signature of vanishing configurational entropy of a subset of degrees of freedom, multipolar rotations in our model. This scenario has observable consequences: (i) a dynamical crossover of the relaxation time and (ii) the fragility index defined by the ratio of the excess heat capacity and excess entropy at the glass transition. The Kauzmann temperature of vanishing configurational entropy and the corresponding glass transition temperature shift upward when the electric field is applied. The temperature shift scales quadratically with the field strength.
Journal of Chemical Physics
Dive into the research topics of 'Configurational entropy of polar glass formers and the effect of electric field on glass transition'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Glass Transition Chemical Compounds 100%
Electric Field Chemical Compounds 83%
Entropy Chemical Compounds 76%
entropy Physics & Astronomy 68%
Glass Chemical Compounds 64%
electric fields Physics & Astronomy 54%
glass Physics & Astronomy 54%
Heat Capacity Chemical Compounds 31%
Matyushov, D. (2016). Configurational entropy of polar glass formers and the effect of electric field on glass transition. Journal of Chemical Physics, 145(3), [034504]. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4959035
Configurational entropy of polar glass formers and the effect of electric field on glass transition. / Matyushov, Dmitry.
In: Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 145, No. 3, 034504, 21.07.2016.
Matyushov, D 2016, 'Configurational entropy of polar glass formers and the effect of electric field on glass transition', Journal of Chemical Physics, vol. 145, no. 3, 034504. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4959035
Matyushov D. Configurational entropy of polar glass formers and the effect of electric field on glass transition. Journal of Chemical Physics. 2016 Jul 21;145(3). 034504. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4959035
Matyushov, Dmitry. / Configurational entropy of polar glass formers and the effect of electric field on glass transition. In: Journal of Chemical Physics. 2016 ; Vol. 145, No. 3.
@article{23ebdc0dcf95430a86effff4c41cb4d8,
title = "Configurational entropy of polar glass formers and the effect of electric field on glass transition",
abstract = "A model of low-temperature polar liquids is constructed that accounts for the configurational heat capacity, entropy, and the effect of a strong electric field on the glass transition. The model is based on the Pad{\'e}-truncated perturbation expansions of the liquid state theory. Depending on parameters, it accommodates an ideal glass transition of vanishing configurational entropy and its avoidance, with a square-root divergent enumeration function at the point of its termination. A composite density-temperature parameter ργ/T, often used to represent combined pressure and temperature data, follows from the model. The theory is in good agreement with the experimental data for excess (over the crystal state) thermodynamics of molecular glass formers. We suggest that the Kauzmann entropy crisis might be a signature of vanishing configurational entropy of a subset of degrees of freedom, multipolar rotations in our model. This scenario has observable consequences: (i) a dynamical crossover of the relaxation time and (ii) the fragility index defined by the ratio of the excess heat capacity and excess entropy at the glass transition. The Kauzmann temperature of vanishing configurational entropy and the corresponding glass transition temperature shift upward when the electric field is applied. The temperature shift scales quadratically with the field strength.",
author = "Dmitry Matyushov",
note = "Funding Information: This research was supported by the National Science Foundation (Grant No. CHE-1464810). Discussions with Ranko Richert and Austen Angell are gratefully acknowledged. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2016 Author(s).",
journal = "Journal of Chemical Physics",
T1 - Configurational entropy of polar glass formers and the effect of electric field on glass transition
N1 - Funding Information: This research was supported by the National Science Foundation (Grant No. CHE-1464810). Discussions with Ranko Richert and Austen Angell are gratefully acknowledged. Publisher Copyright: © 2016 Author(s).
N2 - A model of low-temperature polar liquids is constructed that accounts for the configurational heat capacity, entropy, and the effect of a strong electric field on the glass transition. The model is based on the Padé-truncated perturbation expansions of the liquid state theory. Depending on parameters, it accommodates an ideal glass transition of vanishing configurational entropy and its avoidance, with a square-root divergent enumeration function at the point of its termination. A composite density-temperature parameter ργ/T, often used to represent combined pressure and temperature data, follows from the model. The theory is in good agreement with the experimental data for excess (over the crystal state) thermodynamics of molecular glass formers. We suggest that the Kauzmann entropy crisis might be a signature of vanishing configurational entropy of a subset of degrees of freedom, multipolar rotations in our model. This scenario has observable consequences: (i) a dynamical crossover of the relaxation time and (ii) the fragility index defined by the ratio of the excess heat capacity and excess entropy at the glass transition. The Kauzmann temperature of vanishing configurational entropy and the corresponding glass transition temperature shift upward when the electric field is applied. The temperature shift scales quadratically with the field strength.
AB - A model of low-temperature polar liquids is constructed that accounts for the configurational heat capacity, entropy, and the effect of a strong electric field on the glass transition. The model is based on the Padé-truncated perturbation expansions of the liquid state theory. Depending on parameters, it accommodates an ideal glass transition of vanishing configurational entropy and its avoidance, with a square-root divergent enumeration function at the point of its termination. A composite density-temperature parameter ργ/T, often used to represent combined pressure and temperature data, follows from the model. The theory is in good agreement with the experimental data for excess (over the crystal state) thermodynamics of molecular glass formers. We suggest that the Kauzmann entropy crisis might be a signature of vanishing configurational entropy of a subset of degrees of freedom, multipolar rotations in our model. This scenario has observable consequences: (i) a dynamical crossover of the relaxation time and (ii) the fragility index defined by the ratio of the excess heat capacity and excess entropy at the glass transition. The Kauzmann temperature of vanishing configurational entropy and the corresponding glass transition temperature shift upward when the electric field is applied. The temperature shift scales quadratically with the field strength.
JO - Journal of Chemical Physics
JF - Journal of Chemical Physics


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The "Progressive Prosecutor" Movement Spreads, But Unevenly
by Rory Fleming August 19, 2020
It is hard for prosecutors to let go of the prosecutorial identity, as seen by the numerous US politicians and pundits who use the refrain "as a former prosecutor" to lend themselves a veneer of additional authority, especially in an era where President Trump has seen many of his associates head to federal prison. But what happens when a city lets go of its prosecutor and her legacy? That prosecutor becomes a kind of ghost.
Earlier this month, Jonathan Mosher was defeated by Laura Conover in the Democratic primary race to become top prosecutor in Pima County (Tucson), Arizona. With no Republican opponent, the job is Conover's.
The significance of Mosher is that he was the protege of long-term Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall, who is retiring. It looks like LaWall, a once-defining local personality, will become another historical footnote of a Tucson that is getting much more liberal and diverse.
In 1996, when LaWall became the first woman DA in county history, it was also only the second time in modern political history that Pima County voted for a Democratic presidential candidate (Bill Clinton). The political change ended up sticking, and today the area is known for progressive stars like Raúl Grijalva, who endorsed Bernie Sanders for President in 2016. But criminal justice was a different story, with LaWall proudly bringing a frontier-style harshness to the job.
During Mosher's campaign, he told audiences he was a "progressive," but this failed to square with his serving as LaWall's second in command. Neither did some of his former media statements, like comparing drunk driving to shooting a rifle into a crowd of people, help.
The way Mosher campaigned seemed to be a clever appropriation of the rhetoric popularized in big liberal cities by people like Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner. More voters than ever want to hear about how prosecutor candidates will take a more holistic approach, addressing issues like root causes of crime with measured compassion, not performative lock-'em-up bravado. However, candidates' eagerness to oblige makes it harder for voters to tell who is legitimately supportive of criminal justice reform concepts like lowering incarceration rates.
Likely coming as a shock to many local political insiders, Conover, a relatively unknown federal public defender, took the seat with 57 percent of the vote. Mosher received an embarrassing 37 percent. Conover campaigned on ending mass incarceration in the region while keeping residents safe—and educating voters about how the LaWall administration charged drug offenses as felonies more often than any other offense.
Conover joins a new cast of forward-thinking prosecutors in sizable districts this year.
Unlike many other reform-minded prosecutor candidates who have won in recent years, Conover was also victorious without relying on big outside money from George Soros-affiliated Super PACs.
Conover's election represents a sea change in criminal justice mores for the county, but could also have major implications for legislation in the eighth most incarcerated state in the country. Outgoing Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall often threw her political muscle around in Arizona's capital, particularly to sound exaggerated alarm bells whenever a proposal to reduce criminalization and incarceration reached the debate floor.
She sided, for example, with conservative Republican Bill Montgomery, formerly Maricopa County Attorney and now an Arizona Supreme Court Justice, to demonize a ballot initiative that could have legalized marijuana use for adults in 2016. And she even threatened a lawsuit against the ACLU for merely discussing how she lobbied in favor of new mandatory minimum prison sentences for nonviolent drug offenses.
With LaWall out, Conover has a real chance to be a similarly effective legislative advocate, but in the opposite direction.
Conover joins a new cast of forward-thinking prosecutors in sizable districts this year. Both Multnomah County (Portland), Oregon and Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor), Michigan have elected new prosecutors—Mike Schmidt and Eli Savit, respectively—who campaigned on making their local justice systems less retributive and more humane. In Chicago and St. Louis, reform prosecutors Kim Foxx and Kimberly Gardner were able to retain their seats, despite a deluge of critical local press and racist ire. And Monique Worrell, who previously served as the Chief Legal Officer of the REFORM Alliance, will succeed Orlando State Attorney Aramis Ayala, building on rather than tearing down her predecessor's bold, reform-minded legacy.
However, residents of Hawaii, where the absence of national funding interests was sorely felt, were not so lucky. In the top-two primary held on August 8, Honolulu County voters selected Steve Alm and Megan Kau, two conservative career prosecutors, over assistant public defender Jacquie Esser, who ran in the Krasnerian mold.
That is a shame, because Honolulu has one of the most squalid justice systems in the United States. The former police chief, Louis Kealoha, awaits sentencing for corruption crimes, and recently-removed top prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro has been under federal investigation for over a year. A large portion of Hawaii's prisoners are sent to the Arizona desert thousands of miles from home and family, due to extreme overcrowding in the state's prisons.
Similarly, voters in Miami, Florida squandered a chance for a new top prosecutor on August 18, after 27 years of Katherine Fernandez Rundle as State Attorney. Melba Pearson, a former deputy in Rundle's office who went on to become the Deputy Director of the ACLU of Florida, focused on criminal justice reform and a lack of law enforcement accountability during Rundle's tenure. Local politicos speculated, with good reason, that Rundle benefited from the "open" status of the primary, whereby Republicans and Independents, not just registered Democratic voters, were able to weigh in on the prosecutor election in this liberal district.
Image via PublicDomainPictures.net/Public Domain
Rory Fleming
Rory is a writer and licensed attorney. Previously, he ran Foglight Strategies, a campaign research services firm for forward-thinking prosecutors, and worked for the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Harvard Law School Fair Punishment Project and the National Network for Safe Communications at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He lives in Philadelphia.
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