text:
Vermont Introduces Constitutional Amendment to Prohibit Murder
April 13, 2019 The Winooski Montpelier 0
MONTPELIER – The Vermont Senate will vote on a constitutional amendment that will explicitly prohibit the murdering of other humans. The amendment cleared committee this week with unanimous approval. This proposed change to the state's constitution comes right on the heels of another proposed amendment that would change the existing language around slavery.
The current constitutional language does prohibit slavery, but includes language that could be interpreted as allowing slaves that are under the age of 21. Some, especially Vermont's African-American community, have argued that this new amendment is necessary to ensure support and freedom for all citizens, while others, especially white residents claiming to be "extra woke," continue to suggest that it is an unnecessary change.
The newest amendment against murder was introduced by Sen. Olive Smatter of Franklin County, who claims it has nothing to do with the amendment on slavery. Instead she insists that without a specific prohibition on murder in the constitution, laws could be changed in the future that would allow someone to take her life without her consent.
"This has nothing to do with slavery," Smatter told the press, "but if they get to change something, I should too. And slavery's already in there actually. But the word murder doesn't even appear in the document at all. That should terrify all of you. Do you want to be murdered? Because they will murder you."
Smatter would not elaborate on who "they" are that she referenced eleven times during her press conference, but did say that if this clears all the hurdles and becomes an actual ratified amendment, she hopes to pen further amendments to clarify Vermont's constitution. Other topics she referenced that may need amendments include nine additional commandments, which lives matter, and the definition of "organic."
Riot Breaks Out at City Market During Yoga Rush Hour
Syrup & Cows #097 – 4/14/19 – Geo Bee


When it comes to boat motors, a good outboard is hard to beat! Outboard motors are the go-to choice for most boat owners and it's not hard to see why: with their easily-accessible mounting position these motors are easy to move, easy to store, easy to replace as well as service. They come in a variety of horsepowers and are ideal for all kinds of boats, be it for fishing or recreational purposes.
Here at Waves Overseas we offer a fine selection of outboards, including Mercury outboards and Minn Kota outboards. These two brands are the biggest manufacturers of electric outboards in the world today, so you can be sure of their utmost quality and durability. We have over 35 motors on display ranging from 2.5 up to 50 horsepower models. We also have reduced prices on several of our items, giving you the same high performance at a lower price. You won't find better value for outboards anywhere else!
Take a look at our range of outboards now, or give us a call on 02 9745 5555 if you have any questions or need a quick motor guide to help you select the best motor for you.


text:
Gay UMC pastor to conduct same-sex weddings against church laws
An openly gay pastor in the United Methodist Church said he will conduct same-sex weddings despite the denomination's recent vote to maintain its view that homosexuality runs counter to the Gospel and will enforce tougher punishments for violating church discipline.
Pastor Mark Thompson, a 61-year-old father of three, is a pastor at Central United Methodist Church in Lansing, Michigan, who has lived openly as a homosexual for the past 10 years, according to WKAR.
Since the UMC Book of Discipline considers homosexuality "incompatible with Christian teaching," Thompson said it has been hard for him to stay celibate and ignore his desire to be in a same-sex relationship.
Although he will continue to refrain from being in a romantic relationship, Thompson doesn't believe that other Christians who are same-sex attracted should be required to live celibate lives.
Thompson said he will now perform same-sex wedding ceremonies despite the passing of the "Traditional Plan" at the special session of the UMC General Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, last week.
Vatican Declares: The Catholic Church Is Above The Bible
Ellen White's Alternative to Drug Medication
Marriage And Courtship: Doing It God's Way
City living was not God's plan – Remember Garden of Eden
Over 100 Conservative Leaders Urge Trump to Sign Religious Freedom Executive Order
Did the apostles believe in the Trinity?
North Carolina Governor tells schools to ignore Obama's directive on bathrooms
Netanyahu Voices Support For Gay Rights On Knesset LGBT Day
What are the Biblical guidelines for dating relationships?
Churches in SA denounce Pastor Lethebo Rabalago who sprays doom on people
Turkish Teens Run Over And Killed By Truck While Lying On The Road Taking Selfies
Secret Murderous History Of The Roman Catholic Church
Pope: No One Should Work on Sunday
Catholics say Adventists 'agree' with many Catholic doctrines, including the Trinity
'Defenders' of Roman Catholicism – Knights of Columbus Supreme Convention held in Philadelphia (August 2015)
Pope Francis admits he sometimes falls asleep while praying

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Inspired by JK Rowling – How Do Generation Y Writers Make Big Money?
It starts off with a book, an adventure, and then as a young person you want to read more and more adventures, be it Harry Potter or any other kind of fantasy, sci-fi, young-adult, urban and so on. But for many young people, and older folk for that matter, reading doesn't turn into writing and the inspiration just doesn't come. However, new young writers, inspired by the success of the Harry Potter stories are now turning to write their own original works based on their own imaginations and experiences -and make a stash money in the process! Cassandra Clare's City of Glass for example is selling like hot cakes.
So where and how does one start to write like the professionals?
New and emerging writers are blooming but there are many who simply don't know where to start when it comes to writing the perfect novel. How does one do it? As J.K. Rowling said, "The most important thing is to read as much as you can, like I did. It will give you an understanding of what makes good writing and your vocabulary will improve – and it's a lot of fun! Stick to writing about things you know – your own experiences, your own feelings; that's what I do – and never give up!"
Write from your imagination, but write well
Importantly, however, it's not just a cool imagination that brings a story to fruition, but basic essentials of spelling, pronunciation and good grammar. I know this may sound boring, but a publisher may find it hard to sense the great imagination in the story if encountering bad sentence structure, fragmented plots and unbelievable characters.
It's a time-consuming task; delving through endless 'How to Write' books just to learn the basics on how to write great fiction. There are a lot of these books out there, fat, intellectual and muddy -enough to bog you down before you get off to a good writing start.
Don't get bogged down in 'right writing'
I've flicked through a few 'How to Write Great Fiction' books recently in my quest to write a better novel yet I got stuck in the terminology – stuff I really didn't need to know as a new-born writer; such as 'diphthong', 'intransitive', 'preposition', 'subjunctive' and so on. Sure, many know these terms but the understanding of each could be a lengthy paper in
themselves. It's enough to stifle, even kill off, a young fertile imagination – or a mature aspiring writer for that matter.
Simplicity and the essentials is called for but hard to find. Some guides, like Harry Potter Writer, provide compact essential information to help break a new writer into the joys of writing for any genre, with lots of fun thrown in – that's what it's about. Even older writers like myself can appreciate the essentials that serve to inspire me to better writing, without the guff that strangles a good imagination. Guides like this, designed for any kind of fiction, not just Harry Potter fan fiction writers, are few and far between.
It took me a long time to realize that some simple good writing skills, aimed at the young and old alike, go well with a fertile imagination and balances out a novel to come across as a natural piece of writing, not an awkward attempt at being correct to satisfy the literary stalwarts in the critics' arena. If you want to write fresh and write right, look how the new generation of writers are doing it but most importantly, be honest with yourself and your heart and read like there's no sodding tomorrow. Your heart will unleash your own imagination and with a simple guidance your next story could well be your next big money-earner.
Karin Gottschalk is a highly regarded copywriter, author, photographer and literary agent who promotes the works of ghost writers and artists. She is also the creative force behind Black & White Magazine and writer for the recent film festival documentary 'My Asian Heart'. She has been involved with many in the creative field, helping them achieve their dreams. Her life at school was filled with 'grammatical bullying' – as she would put it – stuffy teachers stifling young imaginations. Her teachers knew nothing of how to instill the hidden imagination in all of us to create believable worlds and the characters to populate them. She is grateful now for the information available to young writers that she never had as a child.
Freelance Writing for Agriculture Trade Publications and Websites
Learn how to write for agriculture and farming trade publications and websites from a freelance writer who has been doing it for more than 12 years.
Freelance Writing Opportunities in Writing for the Trade Press
Trade publications attract writers from two primary sources. Trade editors actively seek out tradesmen and women and turn them into writers; and/or editors...
The Many Paths to Plotting
As a writer, I can't help but see the similarity between my experience as a reading teacher and what writers go through with plotting. You can read six books...
Should You Quit Your Job for a Freelance Career?
Between writing articles, researching new assignments and invoicing for completed work, it will be well past midnight before you can even think of going to...


My 10.5 month old son and "almost" 2 year old daughter LOVE this puppy!!! It is so cute! And very good sized too! My daughter will sit and play with it – pushing on the ear, hands, feet, stomache and nose… making it talk and sing. My son just likes to dance away while the puppy sings (teehee)! We all have a good time with it!
It says many different things – to many to list here. My daughters favorites are to hear it say (when pushing on the nose), "Achoooo" (sneezing sound), or "You got my nose" (she gets a kick out of that everytime)! She also loves that it 'sings', "The itsy bitsy spider" (her favorite song)!
Terrific buy and lots of fun!!!!!!
We have this and Hug & Learn Baby Tad, and we prefer this puppy because it has a lot of variety. It has two modes – learning and musical, which are selected by pressing the button on its foot. The other foot, both hands, an ear, tummy and nose play sounds or songs when pressed. The puppy identifies body parts, colors and sings fun songs. It is very colorful, has a flashing bone on his shirt and volume control through a velcro seam on its back. My young son finds it very easy to push the buttons. Some reviewers have said that the ear broke, but we have not had any such problem and we've used it every day for four months.
This little pup is a very awesome baby toy!! For (or less–we got ours for free during a 2-1 Fisher Price special), he is very interactive and elaborate.
While he may not always have a light-up bone (as in Amazon's description) he counts, names body parts and colors, has funny sayings, and sings many songs (ENTIRE songs). He's funnier, more educational (and cuter) than "Tickle-Me-Elmo"–minus the annoying voice.
A few of folks have been rating him poorly because his songs cut off early. This is possibly a misunderstanding resulting from the pup not being taken out of "demo" mode. You have to pull a plastic tab out of his back in order for him to fully function (otherwise his songs cut short). Unfortuantely the directions are not clear on the box and the tab doesn't stand out so it is easy to mistake him for a "bad musical toy"… However, once he's out of demo mode the songs aren't just longer but more plentiful too. He (or she) has a nonstop sweet voice.
The TWR Track Adapter Pack is a gret addition to any track layout. My nephew loved it. I think I need to get him another one…..
Push on cab to raise scoop. As featured in "New Friends for Thomas" video.
My 2.5 year old son was so excited to get Jack, it was all he talked about for weeks. While the toy is cute and durable like all of the Thomas Friends, we were both very disappointed to discover the scoop is a solid piece instead of a hollow working scoop. He still plays with Jack all the time but comments from time to time that Jack's scoop is "broken".
My son has dozens of both the die-cast metal characters from the Thomas series, as well as the wooden ones.
This new character travels on the wooden railway, and when you depress the top, his scoop goes up.
My 6 year old enjoys pretending that Jack is helping a train that has wrecked, and often pairs him up with Alfie for "rescue and repair missions".
Very solid construction, and a very nice addition to the Thomas line!
We got to see Jack for the first time on "New Friends for Thomas." If you're not familiar with the story, Jack is a front loader that was brought into the island of Sodor to help with the construction of new train lines. He's very anxious to help and sometimes has to be reminded of his place, but he's a very cheerful and helpful fellow. He proves himself to be a very good friend and worker and gets to stay on the island.
Well, we just had to get Jack after seeing this video. He's been a very valuable purchase in our house – role playing abounds! It's a little weird that they made his shovel solid – it should have been open so that he could scoop up things. Bet this will be a redesigned piece! Anyway, this is a great addition to the train series and he even goes on the track! Highly recommend!
My First Toolbox grows with baby from fill n spill to imaginative role play. Soft accessories are full of textures and sounds for baby to explore. Pretend play inspires imagination. Includes busy beaver, squeaky hammer, and crinkly saw.
Bought this for my little girl who's now 7 months old and she loves this. The toolbox itself, the saw, and the beaver's tail make a crinkle noise like cellophane, the hammer makes a squeaky noise when hit. Great fun!


A theme park to rival Disneyland Paris is being built in the Thames Estuary opposite Grays.
The new development by Hollywood-based Paramount Pictures will transform an 872-acre brownfield site in the Swanscombe Peninsula in Kent (pictured) into one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe, the consortium behind the project claimed.
"We are at the start of a long journey, but have been encouraged by the support and buy-in we have had to date.
"Our timetable for delivery, including the planning application process and construction timetable, is geared towards completion and opening in 2018."


text:
News EPL
'We'll try to score ourselves' - Vertonghen on the UCL 2nd leg Spurs vs Man City
Attention now turns back to the Champions League for Spurs after their brilliant 4-0 win over Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon.
Having secured a vital 1-0 victory over Man City last Tuesday evening, Mauricio Pochettino's side go to the Etihad Stadium with a crucial lead for a place in the last four of Europe's elite competition.
The fact that City didn't manage to score an away goal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium could also prove crucial during the second leg tie, as a goal for Spurs on the night would mean the hosts would need to score three goals to progress.
While many teams would decide to sit back and try and defend their lead, Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen has stated that his side won't be doing that come Wednesday evening.
"We're not a team that can sit back and play for the clean sheet [against City]. We'll try to score ourselves," said the Belgian (via The Independent).
"They know they have to go and attack. They have home advantage and know they have to score at least one to beat us. Hopefully that little cushion we have, we can take advantage of it.
"It's a big opportunity for us. It was a big result at home. We need as good a performance on Wednesday to proceed."
The winner of the tie will play either Ajax or Juventus for a place in the final in Madrid at the start of June.
The tie remains level at 1-1 going into the second leg with David Neres cancelling out Cristiano Ronaldo's first-half header.
Related: Tottenham HotspurManchester CityJ. Vertonghen


text:
/*
 * service_registration_test.cpp
 *
 *  \date       Feb 8, 2013
 *  \author     Apache Celix Project Team
 *  \copyright  Apache License, Version 2.0
 */
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>

#include "CppUTest/TestHarness.h"
#include "CppUTest/TestHarness_c.h"
#include "CppUTest/CommandLineTestRunner.h"
#include "CppUTestExt/MockSupport.h"

extern "C" {
#include "service_registration_private.h"
#include "celix_log.h"

framework_logger_pt logger = (framework_logger_pt) 0x42;
}

int main(int argc, char** argv) {
	return RUN_ALL_TESTS(argc, argv);
}

TEST_GROUP(service_registration) {
	void setup(void) {
	}

	void teardown() {
		mock().checkExpectations();
		mock().clear();
	}
};

TEST(service_registration, create) {
	bundle_pt bundle = (bundle_pt) 0x20;
	std::string serviceName = "service";
	long serviceId = 1l;
	void *service = (void *) 0x30;
	properties_pt properties = (properties_pt) 0x40;

	mock().expectOneCall("properties_create")
		.andReturnValue(properties);
	mock().expectOneCall("properties_set")
		.withParameter("properties", properties)
		.withParameter("key", "service.id")
		.withParameter("value", "1")
		.andReturnValue((char *) NULL);
	mock().expectOneCall("properties_set")
		.withParameter("properties", properties)
		.withParameter("key", "objectClass")
		.withParameter("value", "service")
		.andReturnValue((char *) NULL);

	registry_callback_t callback;
	service_registration_pt registration = serviceRegistration_create(callback, bundle, (char *) serviceName.c_str(), serviceId, service, NULL);

	STRCMP_EQUAL("service", registration->className);
	POINTERS_EQUAL(bundle, registration->bundle);
	POINTERS_EQUAL(properties, registration->properties);
	POINTERS_EQUAL(service, registration->svcObj);
	LONGS_EQUAL(serviceId, registration->serviceId);
//	CHECK(registration->mutex);
	LONGS_EQUAL(0, registration->isUnregistering);
	LONGS_EQUAL(0, registration->isServiceFactory);
	POINTERS_EQUAL(NULL, registration->serviceFactory);
	POINTERS_EQUAL(NULL, registration->services);
	LONGS_EQUAL(0, registration->nrOfServices);
}

TEST(service_registration, createServiceFactory) {
	bundle_pt bundle = (bundle_pt) 0x20;
	std::string serviceName = "service";
	long serviceId = 1l;
	void *service = (void *) 0x30;
	properties_pt properties = (properties_pt) 0x40;

	mock().expectOneCall("properties_create")
		.andReturnValue(properties);
	mock().expectOneCall("properties_set")
		.withParameter("properties", properties)
		.withParameter("key", "service.id")
		.withParameter("value", "1")
		.andReturnValue((char *) NULL);
	mock().expectOneCall("properties_set")
		.withParameter("properties", properties)
		.withParameter("key", "objectClass")
		.withParameter("value", "service")
		.andReturnValue((char *) NULL);

    registry_callback_t callback;
	service_registration_pt registration = serviceRegistration_createServiceFactory(callback, bundle, (char *) serviceName.c_str(), serviceId, service, NULL);

	STRCMP_EQUAL("service", registration->className);
	POINTERS_EQUAL(bundle, registration->bundle);
	POINTERS_EQUAL(properties, registration->properties);
	POINTERS_EQUAL(service, registration->svcObj);
	LONGS_EQUAL(serviceId, registration->serviceId);
//	CHECK(registration->mutex);
	LONGS_EQUAL(0, registration->isUnregistering);
	LONGS_EQUAL(1, registration->isServiceFactory);
	POINTERS_EQUAL(service, registration->serviceFactory);
	POINTERS_EQUAL(NULL, registration->services);
	LONGS_EQUAL(0, registration->nrOfServices);
}

TEST(service_registration, isValidTrue) {
	service_registration_pt registration = (service_registration_pt) malloc(sizeof(*registration));
	void *service = (void *) 0x30;
	registration->svcObj = service;

	bool valid = serviceRegistration_isValid(registration);

	LONGS_EQUAL(1, valid);
}

TEST(service_registration, isValidFalse) {
	service_registration_pt registration = (service_registration_pt) malloc(sizeof(*registration));
	registration->svcObj = NULL;

	bool valid = serviceRegistration_isValid(registration);

	LONGS_EQUAL(0, valid);
}

TEST(service_registration, invalidate) {
	service_registration_pt registration = (service_registration_pt) malloc(sizeof(*registration));
    celixThreadRwlock_create(&registration->lock, NULL);
	void *service = (void *) 0x30;
	registration->svcObj = service;

	serviceRegistration_invalidate(registration);

	POINTERS_EQUAL(NULL, registration->svcObj);
}

TEST(service_registration, unregisterValid) {
	service_registry_pt registry = (service_registry_pt) 0x10;
	bundle_pt bundle = (bundle_pt) 0x20;
	service_registration_pt registration = (service_registration_pt) malloc(sizeof(*registration));
	registration->bundle = bundle;
    celixThreadRwlock_create(&registration->lock, NULL);
	void *service = (void *) 0x30;
	registration->svcObj = service;

	mock().expectOneCall("serviceRegistry_unregisterService")
		.withParameter("registry", registry)
		.withParameter("bundle", bundle)
		.withParameter("registration", registration);

	celix_status_t status = serviceRegistration_unregister(registration);

	LONGS_EQUAL(CELIX_SUCCESS, status);
	LONGS_EQUAL(1, registration->isUnregistering);
}

TEST(service_registration, unregisterInvalid) {
	bundle_pt bundle = (bundle_pt) 0x20;
	service_registration_pt registration = (service_registration_pt) malloc(sizeof(*registration));
	registration->bundle = bundle;
    celixThreadRwlock_create(&registration->lock, NULL);
	registration->svcObj = NULL;

	celix_status_t status = serviceRegistration_unregister(registration);
	LONGS_EQUAL(CELIX_ILLEGAL_STATE, status);
}

TEST(service_registration, getService) {
	service_registration_pt registration = (service_registration_pt) malloc(sizeof(*registration));
	bundle_pt bundle = (bundle_pt) 0x10;
	registration->bundle = bundle;
	void *service = (void *) 0x20;
	registration->svcObj = service;
	registration->isServiceFactory = false;

	void *actual = NULL;
	celix_status_t status = serviceRegistration_getService(registration, bundle, &actual);
	LONGS_EQUAL(CELIX_SUCCESS, status);
	POINTERS_EQUAL(service, actual);
}

celix_status_t serviceRegistrationTest_getService(void *factory, bundle_pt bundle, service_registration_pt registration, void **service) {
	*service = (void *) 0x20;
	return CELIX_SUCCESS;
}

TEST(service_registration, getServiceFromFactory) {
	service_registration_pt registration = (service_registration_pt) malloc(sizeof(*registration));
	bundle_pt bundle = (bundle_pt) 0x10;
	registration->bundle = bundle;
	service_factory_pt factory = (service_factory_pt) malloc(sizeof(*factory));
	factory->getService = serviceRegistrationTest_getService;
	registration->svcObj = factory;
	registration->serviceFactory = factory;
	registration->isServiceFactory = true;

	void *actual = NULL;
	celix_status_t status = serviceRegistration_getService(registration, bundle, &actual);
	LONGS_EQUAL(CELIX_SUCCESS, status);
	POINTERS_EQUAL(0x20, actual);
}

TEST(service_registration, getProperties) {
	service_registration_pt registration = (service_registration_pt) malloc(sizeof(*registration));
	properties_pt properties = (properties_pt) 0x10;
	registration->properties = properties;

	properties_pt actual = NULL;
	celix_status_t status = serviceRegistration_getProperties(registration, &actual);
	LONGS_EQUAL(CELIX_SUCCESS, status);
	POINTERS_EQUAL(properties, actual);
}

TEST(service_registration, getPropertiesIllegalArgument) {
	service_registration_pt registration = (service_registration_pt) malloc(sizeof(*registration));
	registration->properties = NULL;

	properties_pt actual = (properties_pt) 0x01;
	celix_status_t status = serviceRegistration_getProperties(registration, &actual);
	LONGS_EQUAL(CELIX_ILLEGAL_ARGUMENT, status);
}

TEST(service_registration, getServiceName) {
	service_registration_pt registration = (service_registration_pt) malloc(sizeof(*registration));
	std::string serviceName = "service";
	registration->className = (char *) serviceName.c_str();

	char *actual = NULL;
	celix_status_t status = serviceRegistration_getServiceName(registration, &actual);
	LONGS_EQUAL(CELIX_SUCCESS, status);
	STRCMP_EQUAL("service", actual);
}

TEST(service_registration, getServiceNameIllegalArgument) {
	service_registration_pt registration = (service_registration_pt) malloc(sizeof(*registration));
	registration->className = NULL;

	char *actual = (char *) 0x01;
	celix_status_t status = serviceRegistration_getServiceName(registration, &actual);
	LONGS_EQUAL(CELIX_ILLEGAL_ARGUMENT, status);
}

TEST(service_registration, getBundle) {
	service_registration_pt registration = (service_registration_pt) malloc(sizeof(*registration));
	bundle_pt bundle = (bundle_pt) 0x10;
	registration->bundle = bundle;

	bundle_pt actual = NULL;
	celix_status_t status = serviceRegistration_getBundle(registration, &actual);
	LONGS_EQUAL(CELIX_SUCCESS, status);
	POINTERS_EQUAL(bundle, actual);
}

TEST(service_registration, getBundleIllegalArgument) {
	service_registration_pt registration = (service_registration_pt) malloc(sizeof(*registration));
	registration->bundle = NULL;

	bundle_pt actual = (bundle_pt) 0x01;
	celix_status_t status = serviceRegistration_getBundle(registration, &actual);
	LONGS_EQUAL(CELIX_ILLEGAL_ARGUMENT, status);
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Detroit Metro Airport - North Terminal Redevelopment - Ann Arbor Ceiling & Partition, LLC.
AACP was contracted to furnish and install the specialty wall systems in the North terminal. There were three distinct types of wall systems made of glass, plastic laminate, and fiberglass reinforced plastic. In addition, we provided many stainless steel finishes including over 1 mile of stainless steel base, column covers, baggage enclosures, and trims.
Copyright © 2019 Ann Arbor Ceiling & Partition, LLC. All Rights Reserved.


text:
Ciao! Miami – Fawzy Zablah :: a review by dom schwab
dom schwab
Self-published under the moniker Little Havana Press in 2006, Fawzy Zablah's collection of stories, Ciao! Miami, is a thrilling, inspiring book, one which explodes passionately from page one with a zeal for life. Regardless of length, each story unfolds its complexities at stiltedly strange but intuitively correct intervals. The resulting narrative structures, perhaps best described as smoothly stilted, is one which belongs wholly to Zablah, who proves himself to be a natural-born fiction writer. Each of the main characters in Ciao! Miami's nine stories develop intriguing complexities throughout the telling of their tale. Zablah has carefully crafted these characters, similar to the way in which one crafts an origami tiger out of a printed image of a tiger in the jungle. This careful crafting is a sign of Zablah's writerly talent at observing and recording who people are and how they behave; furthermore, his precise storytelling is equally factored into why reading Zablah's fiction is both enjoyable and fulfilling. The stories of Ciao! Miami are so masterfully written with passion and intensity that, like true inspiration, the reader experiences in Fawzy Zablah the desire, the urge, to write one's own story, inspired by good art to likewise create good art. Individually, each story is a compact ball of energy, crackling with life, with Zablah's labor and love; however, even if a character fizzles out, the story itself succeeds, bursting brightly and memorably in the reader's consciousness. But taken as a whole, Fawzy Zablah's deeply talented Ciao! Miami, a kaleidoscopic fireworks performance, explodes remarkably and vibrantly through Zablah's talented writing, through his various and varying characters, storylines, narrative voices, subject matters, and word craftsmanship.
In the beginning of Fawzy Zablah's collection, there is "Eve in a Blue Robe," a story which unfolds as delicately and intentionally as the petals of a blooming rose. The titular robe, which conjures illusions to David Lynch's Blue Velvet, matches the color of the soiled couch upon which Eve languidly awaits the arrival of a gentleman caller, Mr. Luis Capote, who was informed of Eve's attractive "ho"-ness by his cousin, Tony, who had previously visited Eve's apartment in an attempt to clean the aforementioned soiled couch. Tony's attempt at cleaning the couch is in vain, representing the less than true intentions of his passing along Eve's number to Luis, for Eve, while watching TV before the start of her date, seems depressed, as though she may suspect something ingenuous is afoot. But it is after Eve's friend Lisa arrives to help Eve prepare for the date when the reader first witnesses Zablah's masterful craftsmanship, interweaving character backgrounds, conversations, confessions, revelations, and secrets. In less than ten pages, Zablah develops Eve into a strikingly real person by utilizing a staccato narrative style and by whittling sentences into precise and emotional artifacts. When slimy Tony meets Eve and immediately sizes her up as a suitable sexual candidate for his equally slimy cousin, he doesn't just leer at the woman in her blue robe; rather, Tony "flirted with Eve as if walking at the edge of a pool with no intent of jumping in" (p. 1). Though the two male cousins are inarguably lecherous, Eve is far from naïve: observant and perceptive, Eve knows who Tony is when he arrives and knows of his wealthy cousin and, when offered a date with Luis, she also knows that this might be her one shot at financial security. This complexing of the story and the characters is the well-crafted result of Zablah's distinctive knack for producing extremely seductive fiction.
Each of Ciao! Miami's nine stories portray three-dimensional characters, each of whom is steeped within ambiguous complexity, which is Zablah's distinctive quality of nobly asking the reading audience to actively engage with the stories. One story which is a prime example of this delicious character complexity is "Post-Bug Billy Flint," a story concerning the wayward, titular young man just before and after he contracts HIV, commonly known as "the bug." Billy, since coming into his own during puberty, has always possessed the goal of sleeping with many woman, but, after contracting "the bug" from a brief relationship, Billy plummets into depression and despair, believing, essentially, that his life is over since his goal could no longer be fulfilled. Added to this, most of the people he had known abandon him, but Larissa, an old high school acquaintance who had a crush on Billy, immediately came to his aid when he broke down in her arms during a chance meeting in a drug store. At Larissa's house, she introduces him to her obesely bed-bound mother, a scene reminiscent of a gentleman caller meeting for the first time his date's parents for approval, and brings him to her room for some awkward conversation, all of which serve to make Billy feel "like a walking regret;" however, Billy "would rather die in an instant than be a walking regret" (p. 13). With mounting momentum, the story's plot crescendos to a climax, leaving Billy, Larissa, and her mother in a limbo that the reader must decipher and interpret. Perhaps even more intriguing, however, is Fawzy Zablah's acute attention to detail in "Post-Bug Billy Flint," as well as many of the other stories, particularly with regard to the Latin-American/Hispanic melting pot which is Miami, FL; for example, when the two young people later sneak into the mother's room, she awakens and sleepily identifies Billy as "Cuauhtémoc" (the last ruler of the Aztecs, whose subsequent defeat has come to be historically symbolic of the loss of the Aztec's entire civilization and culture). In this case of mistaken signification, Zablah is signaling something important when the religious-minded mother identifies an HIV+ member of the next generation as the famed fallen leader of the legendary Aztecs.
Even in stories where little of this "meta"-quality exists, such as "Juanito Valenzuela's Crack Rock" and "We are all Covered with Isa," Fawzy Zablah still manages to create within the reader an emotional response or recognition-of-self for the character(s) of the story. In "Juanito Valenzuela's Crack Rocks," a story delightfully more dialogue than not, the main character, Benny, converses and reflects with other characters on the recent misfortune of the titular character. Juanito's absence looms over Benny and the other characters like an ominous presence, a foreboding warning which is just beginning to enter the edges of Benny's peripheral consciousness. By the end of this story, as Benny slips into and then rises out of a night-long drug-addled meditation session on Juanito (p. 21), Benny's drug habits have lulled him into a false comfort, a belief which, considering Juanito's fate, increasingly seems to be false both for Benny and his friends. Likewise, in "We are all Covered with Isa," the titular main character of the collection's final story also puts himself into situations and performs actions which create the illusion of comfort, but are sadly lacking in truly fulfilling the emotional and mental need of finding and experiencing comfort. Isa's story is structurally affixed as the final story, which is appropriate because Zablah's narrative pacing parallels the emotional journey of Isa's mindset: it fizzles away broodingly like a bomb's lit fuse. While Isa seeks human interaction and love by dishonest means, he becomes increasingly withdrawn within his thoughts, ironically contemplating what he would do if, by contracting a sexual disease, he were to lose the ability to experience love or connection with another human being. Isa fantasizes that, if this were to happen, his bitterness and anger toward everyone would grow into a bomb which would eventually explode, scattering Isa's depression "all over the city of Miami" (p. 97). Alienated and already living a life devoid of his longed-for love or human connection, Isa's fantasy may be closer to reality than he thinks, as evidenced by his lackluster response to helping his injured father, who is his only relative in Miami.
Zablah's longest story in Ciao! Miami is "The Women's Army," a uniquely structured sprawling epic which touches on dozens of topics and themes, from friendship to isolation, from religion, nationality, and philosophy to mental stability, the police state, and action. The two main characters of "The Women's Army" are Sally and Jack, two strangers brought together either by chance or fate, two individuals spurned into action by the loneliness of experiencing pain. For Sally, living in the victim position of an abusive marriage, she reaches out in desperation to Miami society at large by placing a personal advert in a newspaper, seeking advice and companionship from a strong, yet compassionate male; for Jack, it is the advent of a nervous breakdown, during which he gestates away from society for nine months before receiving a revelation from God/St. Michael the Archangel and, now aware of life's mechanisms and meanings, he responds to Sally's plea for help. Jack, as can be surmised, is probably not in a right state of mind, which can happen when one suffers a nervous breakdown without seeking help and is self-isolated from society for such a long amount of time: 9 months, which is the same length of time as human pregnancy, a detail which is unlikely to be an accident, given Fawzy Zablah's close attention to detail. At any rate, it is quite probable that Jack will have regarded this amount of time as a sign, one which proves that he has, indeed, been visited by God/Archangel Michael. With this knowledge, as well as the information these visions bestowed upon him, Jack responds to Sally's request for help and meets with her, believing this to be the quest and purpose he was prescribed by the visions. Structurally, "The Women's Army" is unique amongst Zablah's stories, for it begins, not with description, but with Sally's personal ad before jumping radically, exquisitely into the middle of Jack and Sally's conversation during their first meeting in a restaurant. Shortly thereafter, Jack solves Sally's spousal abuse problem and, from prison, writes four letters to Sally, which is the second structural joy of this story: the reader is not explicitly "shown" Jack's time in prison, but told about Jack's time in prison via Jack himself in the form of these four letters. It is during these letters that the reader learns of Jack's hostile cellmate ("Easy Robinson" [letter 1, p. 24]), of Jack's continued delusions, and of Jack's claim that, though he was sexually assaulted and mocked for his beliefs, Archangel Michael provided Jack the knowledge of his ultimate purpose and the fate of humanity: "a radiant golden figure rose up from the ground. It was the Archangel Michael! He…gave me a revelation!" (letter 3, p. 26).
After Jack's four letters to Sally, which offer an intriguing, candid glimpse into Jack's psyche and perspective, the remainder of "The Women's Army" structurally jumps back and forth in narrative between Jack, who manages to escape prison, and Sally, who is worried about Jack and what he might do. She seeks comfort from her friend, Madame Erika, particularly when they see on the news that Jack has escaped. For Jack's part, as we have learned from his letters, his ordained mission is to find a Cuban refugee boy in Miami and kill him, since Jack's Archangel Michael told him that this boy is the anti-Christ and will raise an army of women in Miami to bring about Armageddon, the end of the world. Sally, knowing these plans from the letters, arms herself along with Madame Erika and the two of them seek out the boy's home to protect him from Jack; there, they join a vigil outside of the house where the boy is staying with family. This storyline of the Cuban refugee boy is not merely a subplot or the end-goal of Jack; rather, this is an example of Fawzy Zablah's intelligent writing and attention to detail because, in case it is unknown or forgotten, this subplot is based on a real-life event. For the past several decades, there was a general rule of law that, those fleeing Cuba to seek asylum in the United States could do so if they had arrived on shore, but if they were caught by the Cuban government or the United States' government in the ocean between the two nations, those individuals would be returned to Cuba. Considering this general rule of law, in 1999, a woman (Elizabeth Brotons Rodríguez), her boyfriend, and her son (Elián González) attempted the uncertain journey by raft between Cuba and Florida. The mother died at sea, but Elián survived and was initially placed with maternal relatives living in Miami; however, his father, who was divorced from Rodríguez, petitioned to have his son returned to Cuba. This controversy resulted in numerous American court hearings, polarized the public and political figures, and ended in Elián being extracted by Border Patrol agents who raided the house where Elián was staying on Easter Eve while those who supported his staying in America held a vigil outside of the house. These events, as well as the legal, moral, and national implications surrounding these events, are difficult to contemplate or find an easy solution to, but Fawzy Zablah does not shy away from difficult situations, conversations, and real-life implications, instead being a contemplative author of the true and important. Although the use of this true-life, city-defining event in Miami is seamlessly woven into the fabric of "The Women's Army" and serves as the story's climax, some of the story's most intriguing and chilling scenes occur during Jack's journey to and throughout Miami. During this Florida-odyssey, Jack encounters a convenience store clerk, a young woman recently graduated from college, a drug-addicted prostitute named Jessica whom Jack had been involved with before his mental breakdown, two of her gay friends at a Miami club on the night before Easter, and a drag queen named Rhonda inside the club. While the two main characters of this story are Jack and Sally, the emotional and consciousness-changing journey in "The Women's Army" belongs to Jack, who writes in a fifth, story-closing letter that he desires to "bring hope into the lives of people with no hope" (letter 5, p. 53). And if it seems as though too much information has been given away, be assured that that is far from the truth: most of the pleasure in reading "The Women's Army" comes during the latter half, where the reader witnesses both Jack and the story evolve in Zablah's skilled hands.
Perhaps no story in Ciao! Miami is as entertaining to come across as the structurally centered "The Last Club on Earth," which is narrated from the perspective of Rhonda, a seven-foot drag queen wearing loud wigs and louder clothing. In several of the stories leading up to "The Last Club on Earth," Rhonda has either been mentioned in conversation or has herself made a brief appearance. Original and fascinating, Rhonda's first appearance in Zablah's collection is during a conversation between Eve and Lisa in "Eve in a Blue Robe;" later, Rhonda makes an appearance as the aforementioned drag queen from the club scene in "The Women's Army," during which she speaks amusedly with Jack about God, life, reality, and the struggle for the soul. Having seen Rhonda in previous stories, it is therefore exciting to find that Rhonda finally gets a story of her own, and the reader is not disappointed. While "The Last Club on Earth" is not about Rhonda per se, the story is told from her perspective, through which Rhonda is able to paint a deeper portrait of who she is and what she believes about reality than how she has heretofore been portrayed in previous stories. In Rhonda's story, Rhonda and some friends party through the city on what seems to be a crazy but typical night fueled by drugs and alcohol, as well as raising hell, being kicked out of bars, and tricking old, horny drunks into discovering Rhonda's secret genitals. Bumping into a glum drag queen friend named Mary and partying with her for a while, they finally ask what's wrong; Mary, in turn, explains her boyfriend, Jesus, won't wake up, so the girls pile into a cab and get to Mary and Jesus', where they find Jesus' body. Mary is in denial, apparently deeply in love with Jesus, and weeps the way Rhonda has "always wanted to cry. Sometimes, I want to fill oceans with my tears" (p. 58). Despite the beautiful similes, Fawzy Zablah manages to craft two distinct but three-dimensional characters in "The Last Club on Earth"—Mary and Rhonda. Mary is emotional and loving, dependent on the need to love and be loved, and latches onto the first, scummy guys who come along and woo her with a bit of attention. Rhonda diagnoses: Mary "always fell hard in love like she will never love again. She has that desperate love" (p. 59). Conversely, Rhonda, evidenced from previous stories and now learning of her mode of thought from her own story, is too tough and level-headed to waste time being sensitive and affectionate because she's been through shit and, as a result, refuses to take shit from anyone, strangers and lovers alike. However, after the incident with Mary and Jesus and witnessing the aftermath, Rhonda admits to disliking change, perhaps because she has witnessed enough atrocities throughout her own life. But by the end of "The Last Club on Earth," everything is changing for Rhonda and her perspective of Miami, and her confession is a fitting final sentiment for her story, since it is the structural center of Ciao! Miami and, throughout the remaining stories of Zablah's realistically heightened book, Rhonda is no longer present, standing tall and proud as a peripheral character to comfort and guide the reader.
Yet Rhonda is far from the only distinct character throughout Fawzy Zablah's collection; indeed, every main character throughout these nine stories is distinct and crafted with the skilled passion of a true artist. Each story serves, among the aforementioned functions, as a character study of an intriguing individual. Zablah's character-craftsmanship is noticeably evidenced in both of the desperate characters of the short stories following Rhonda's: "The Existence of Nabil" and "People Clash in Pre-Smoking Ban Florida." In the first of these stories, the titular character, Nabil, is a busboy immigrant from Egypt, having traveled to Miami a couple of months before 9/11 to study civil engineering at the Florida International University; however, his role as a busboy takes precedence, within both the story and Nabil's mind. Intelligently, Zablah wrote Nabil's story in the third-person limited narrative voice. This choice is stylistically correct for Nabil's story because, as the reader learns about him, his past, and his life's ambitions, Nabil's main protagonist is his own self-consciousness with regard to whether he is viewed by the restaurant's patrons and employees as an individual human being or merely an object from a foreign (and possibly hostile) culture. Nabil's Keffiyeh becomes a focal point for his increasingly paranoid suspicion, an obsession which eventually erodes Nabil's human identity. His self-consciousness regarding his appearance in post-9/11 American society increases and fixates upon his cultural garment: "Is my Kafiyyeh showing Nabil asked [of] himself again. You should run and hide and dispose of your Kafiyyeh! I do not want to run or hide my Kafiyyeh, but I should" (p. 62). Dogged by rude coworkers and treated like a suspicious servant by patrons, Nabil's perception of the patrons' perceptions of himself force Nabil into cognitive self-defense such that, during a mental breakdown in the dining room, Nabil identifies, not with himself, but with the culturally symbolic Keffiyeh. In the next story, "People Clash in Pre-Smoking Ban Florida," we find out that one of Nabil's coworkers is Sarah, a timid young woman who has run away from a past of neglect and poor treatment. Sarah's story takes place, presumably, before Nabil's, but the restaurant is the same: filled with rash employees and presumptuous patrons. Two of the patrons Sarah must wait on are a young woman with a baby carrier and the young woman's mother, both of whom smoke cigarettes, which Sarah and her coworkers find inappropriate, given the smoke's proximity to the sleeping baby. Encouraged by her coworkers, Sarah musters just enough gall to ask the women questions, hoping to find a tactful way to address this issue, but in so doing, she discovers that the baby, coincidentally, is also named Sarah. When Sarah does try to inform the women that their habit is, you know, probably not a good thing for Baby Sarah, the mother of Baby Sarah's mother responds, "go see if the rest of our food is ready…That ain't your child, so run along" (p. 70). Sarah, upset from the situation's confrontation, which recalls to her mind memories of her negligent mother and her grade school bully, snaps into action, deciding to do what she can to help Baby Sarah. It is a moment eerily reminiscent of the increasingly paranoid momentum which led to Nabil's breakdown, such that both stories are told with such raw truth and mounting chaos that it would be hard to believe if Zablah himself has never had first-hand experience working within the food industry.
The second longest story in Fawzy Zablah's Ciao! Miami is "Darling, It Was an Uphill Battle Loving You," which is a dark and gritty study of two codependent individuals: a dirt-poor, divorcee narrator named John and the equally dirt-poor, crack-addict prostitute he falls in love with named Soledad. Zablah's attention to detail never falters in a single story, a fact which remains true here because those two names were not picked by chance. John, though seeming generic at first, is also the term for a hooker's customer, which is how John and Soledad meet, while Soledad's name, she explains to John when he asks, is Spanish for "solitude," a fateful fact with increasing significance as Zablah's dark romance evolves. Furthermore, John is traditionally considered to be the author of the New Testament's last canonical gospel, who is also often referred to as John the Evangelist, given the thematic and stylistic nature of his gospel; additionally, John is also the traditional name given to the author of the New Testament's final book, the Book of Revelation. John's name is well-bestowed, given that "Darling, It Was an Uphill Battle Loving You" is John's testimony to the new life he lived post-divorce, the new life he gained upon relocating to Miami. For Soledad, she has lived a difficult, lonely life, one which has deposited her within a crack house, addicted to drugs and turning to prostitution whenever she needs money to buy more drugs. After the two have sex and smoke a bit of crack, John, like the Evangelist, falls in love with Soledad and decides to save her after experiencing for the first time in his life true compassion and love for another human being, but: "The first idea that popped into my mind after that very free verse moment was that I couldn't possibly save this girl until I had some cash money" (p. 75). Fawzy Zablah's craftsmanship with regard to character and style is very highly skilled, especially in "Darling, It Was an Uphill Battle Loving You," wherein John's distinctive voice is, perhaps, matched only by Rhonda's. And it is during this chance or fateful encounter between the two characters that John's quest begins, not only to save Soledad, but to slowly pick up the pieces of himself, for it must be remembered throughout Zablah's gritty love affair that John, too, is broken, both for lacking full compassion or love for other people, including his ex-wife and his children, and for having lost everything in the aforementioned divorce which brought him to Miami to begin anew. Yet it simply isn't as easy as snapping one's fingers, and Zablah gives the reader a realistic climb out of darkness by showing how John must work hard for little pay at a car wash while his home-life doesn't fare so well, either. Soledad's climb upward out of her darkness is equally arduous, since she continues to use, often buying crack instead of food with the grocery money John gives her, and when money is lacking, she begs, pleads, yells, or fucks (either John or other johns) for more money for more crack. On those occasions when she does go out to sell her body for money to fuel her habit, acquaintances will inform John of her actions, telling him he should give up on her, that a woman like Soledad is and always will be a crack whore, that there is no saving her. "They told me about her eyes and how they wouldn't recognize love ever and how I was wasting my time" (p. 77). More than a beautiful passage of desperation and realization, Zablah's details in this story rely heavily upon eye imagery to reveal something deeper within a character than John's mere telling of his tale. In this instance, Soledad's eyes are empty pool drains through which her spirit has swirled away which, when coupled with the knowledge of the meaning of Soledad's name, produces an epiphany for John: "I just didn't listen. I didn't listen" (p. 77).
Like early life's struggling fight for a lasting foothold, John and Soledad's relationship, as stated above, is difficult, harsh, and brutish; nevertheless, within a few months' time, John manages to save enough money to move them out of the crack house and into an apartment, befriends a coworker with whom he spends a good chunk of time each week, and climbs the career ladder to become the manager of the car wash. It is during this time that John receives a piece of candy from an actual evangelical which promotes salvation from drugs via rehab, which John decides may be the next step to saving Soledad from her addictions. Over time and despite a few wagon-falling episodes, Soledad slowly works hard at completing the church's rehab program with great personal effort and encouragement from John. The head of this church and its rehab is Reverend Houston Carter Johnson III, in whose name appears another "John," although, in this instance, the Reverend's "John" is obscured and, therefore, his intentions in helping people break addition is less pure than the intention behind narrator-John's, which is defined by love and compassion. This fact may be helpful to keep in mind, since a possible symptom of this less-than-honorable approach may be the fact that, during her slow progress toward finishing this rehab program, Soledad begins a job at a cheap, grungy strip club, which John interprets as a positive step forward for Soledad and doesn't seem to begrudge her for working as a stripper so long as she does so free of drugs. Shortly thereafter, Soledad graduates rehab and begins working at a noticeably nicer strip club than the first; however, a new character enters their lives, Octavios, the owner of this second strip club and employer of Soledad. One night when John arrives at the club to pick up Soledad, he and Octavios accidentally bump into each other, resulting in an intense stare-down between the two men. Octavios finally smirks and walks off, flashing a gun to show his superiority, but the hostility between them lingers, bubbling up from time to time as Octavios seeks to insert himself forcefully into Soledad's life, shamelessly flirting with her in front of John in order to further assert his superior power over John. Octavios' introduction into the story threatens the relationship between John and Soledad, but there is another moment which signals the tolling of doom. Shortly after the men bump heads, John and Soledad make love, but it's description is made to sound forced and routine, while the melancholy sounds of an ending television show signify the end of something else. Afterward, John, who fell in love with Soledad while looking into her eyes, now uses another sense: he listens to her heartbeat, which sounds to John "like a boat sinking and waves crashing" (p. 82). This is the final time John and Soledad are to be intimate together in a truly intimate way, pure and in love. While there is still plenty of story to tell in Ciao! Miami's second longest story, perhaps the most intriguing aspect of "Darling, It Was an Uphill Battle Loving You" is the ending, which showcases Fawzy Zablah's mastery of ambiguity. Throughout John's story is the development of a human being, who falls in love for the first time in his life, experiences the trials and tribulations of that love, and comes to question who he is both to himself and to others; in other words, after the ominous love-making, John experiences his first (perhaps his only) 'dark night of the soul' in the latter half of the story. The outcome of the ménage à trois is a supremely violent rush, but pales in comparison to the story's breathtaking last act, wherein John and Soledad share a final, candid conversation and symbolic act before Soledad returns to work the room and the stripper pole with a show-stopping finale. It is a tender, startling, ambiguous scene which lingers in the mind, raising more questions for the reader to ponder than any of the other stories in Zablah's fascinating collection.
In Ciao! Miami, Fawzy Zablah distinguishes himself as a master storyteller and an author working skillfully with several literary tools at his disposal. First, of course, is the types of stories Zablah fashions: each story is unique, fresh, and seductive, warmly inviting the reader into the world of the story with ease and purity, which can be the hardest feat to achieve as a fiction writer. Second, his character craftsmanship succeeds at constructing individuals who are distinct and relatable; the reader cares for Zablah's characters, cheers them on when the going gets tough, and feels the pangs of defeat when they are trampled by circumstance. Whether Rhonda or Billy Flint, Jack or Eve, every character in these stories is vibrant and alive. Another skill Zablah possesses is the wise use of differing narrative voices for different stories and characters, which is a calculated accomplishment; whether using the first-person for "Darling, It Was an Uphill Battle Loving You" or third-person limited in "The Existence of Nabil," Zablah intuitively knows which narrative voice best suits which character and story. Another deeply rewarding aspect of Ciao! Miami is Zablah's careful attention to detail, such as the incorporation of history, literature, recent events, and/or pop culture, which helps to develop the characters into relatable individuals and the stories into enriching experiences. Lastly, of course, is Zablah's passion for writing, the great labor and love he has woven into each tale; it is a passion which runs throughout and exudes from each of the nine stories comprising this remarkable collection. Thus, when these aspects coalesce into a unified whole, the rewards are deep, for Zablah proves his adept storytelling time and again, thereby richly expanding the reader's consciousness. To delve into the world of Fawzy Zablah's Ciao! Miami is, therefore, a worthwhile experience, one which will leave a blazing, unforgettable impression upon the mind of any lucky soul who reads a copy of this fascinating book.
AUTHOR BIO:: dom schwab is a reader/writer of poetry/prose. dom is gay, GQ w/ no pronoun preference, a vegetarian, and lives in Chicago. dom's most recent work has appeared in Zoomoozophone Review's female/non-gender-conforming Issue 5, Boscombe Revolution Issue 3: Revolution & Gender, and JunkYard Kool, an anthology presented by Kool Kids Press.
::LITERATURE::


text:
by Victoria Wasylak
Photography by Kyle Sipple
Pop-punk is in the midst of a full-fledged renaissance, and The New Low will be the first to point it out. Jamming out to the new Blink-182 album—one that so many people thought would never come—while trekking from stop to stop on Warped Tour is proof enough, but their debut album Continuance remains the true testament to the genre's resurgence.
The 10-track album unleashes the hyper rage and thou-shalt-persevere themed lyricism traditionally found in scene tunes, although there are much harsher musical elements underneath the frenetic melodies. "My Own Way" carves out its own space on the album as a heavy-hitter metal track, and "Continuance" has its own elements of screamo. Yet "Start Over" proves to be a gentle juxtaposition to the title track, acoustic and electric guitar licks paired in pacific harmony.
Bassist Fletcher Howell chatted with the Buzz about their time at Warped Tour and the reception of Continuance.
What are your feelings about playing Warped Tour? Have any of you been before and what were your experiences like?
Fletcher Howell: We've all been going to Warped Tour since we were old enough to go. This tour definitely got us into punk music. It's amazing to finally be a part of it.
Which bands are you most excited to share the Warped Tour bill with?
FH: Literally all of them. Such an insane lineup this year.
Which song from Continuance are you most excited to share?
FH: Right now, we're pretty excited about "Not Afraid." It's the most fun to play live.
You just debuted the video for "My Own Way." How long did it take for you to shoot the video, and how did you pick the setting?
FH: It took a couple hours. We knew we wanted to make that video really scaled back and raw. So, our rehearsal space in Phoenix was an easy choice.
On a scale of one (low) to 10 (high), how nervous are you about the release of Continuance and why?
FH: Probably about a seven. We've put so much into this debut record and have waited for so long. It's scary to actually think it's gonna be out there now. It's been really well received. We're stoked people are loving it.
What's your desert island band (aka, the one band you wish you could listen to over and over again if you were stuck on a deserted island)?
FH: Right now, Blink 182. We listen to them a lot on this tour.
Catch The New Low on tour here and hear Continuance here.


Ask Leah: Leah Continues to Answer Your Questions!
How do you write a resume without a lot of experience?
Don't let the lack of experience stop you from applying to positions! Experience is a great asset to gain, however it is not needed to write a resume. Here are some pointers on how to set up a Functional Resume that doesn't include specific employment history. This resume format is great for those who do not have a lot of experience or who have older experiences. Rather than listing positions with different tasks underneath, a functional resume conveys skills and gives examples of those skills in bullet points.
First, start with your name and personal contact information at the very top, bold and center. Next, create a section for a qualifications summary. This bullet list will state the specific skills of qualities you can bring to the company. If you are having trouble thinking up some skills, look at the job description for the qualities the employer is seeking and include them into your resume. After that section, state your highest level of education. You may also want to include any educational related achievements in this section, or specific courses of interest. Now, instead of listing off our employment history, we will group skills and experiences into sections. For example, you could have research skills, time management skills, administrative and planning skills, communication and interpersonal skills, of leadership skills. Once you have thought of some of your own skills it is time to write how you applied that skill. I strongly recommend using accomplishment statements to clearly state how you demonstrate each skills. Finally, If you do have any work or volunteer experience you can list them off below in chronological order, and viola! Your functional resume is complete!
The key takeaway here is match what you have to what your potential employer is looking for. Think of transferable skills and qualities that would make you a good fit for that company and your resume will be perfectly tailored to what they are looking for! Every experience teaches you some skill that you either newly learned or further developed! Don't be shy to put it down!
How do I find a summer job if I'm going away for the summer?
When you have the intention of going away on vacation during the summer but need a job, it can be difficult to find options. If this is a vacation that you can plan around a job, then that is where you want to start. For example, if this is a vacation that you can take either at the start or end of summer, then consider it. This way you can let an employer know that you will either have a late start or finish early, but still work for a consistent and consecutive amount of time. If this is not a possibility, I know it may be difficult, but be honest and up front with your employer. When you interview for the position, make sure you let them know that you will absent for a vacation that is already planned for the length of time that you will be gone. You need to give your employer a heads up that you can't commit to all of the hours that they potentially need you for. Many times if employers know immediately that you will be away, they won't just dismiss you from the position, and can even work around your availability. You can also think of some alternatives in terms of where you apply. If you have already been at a job for a few summers, it may be easier to return to this job and get the time off that you need, because your employer knows the time that you have already invested into their business. You could also consider positions that you could continue working into the fall. If you go to school away from home, you can even tell the employer that you are interested in transferring to a different city, but keep the job for longer than the summer. This shows your commitment to the position, and lets your employer know that you are interested in more than just making some money over the summer. All of these are some options to get you started so you don't need to sacrifice either your job or vacation over the summer!
← Ask Leah: Leah Answers Your Questions!


1847 Philanthropic — Global Fundraising for Local Impact.
Set expectations and goals for planning and development together with the executive leadership team and input from the donor.
Work alongside the non-profit to implement the gold standard of non-profit systems fundamentals, including succession planning and financial absorption modeling.
Assist and develop distinct action plans to communicate the tactics of fundraising and what the organization will do with the resources to stakeholders including the direct beneficiaries.
Provide strategic fundraising support through careful evaluation of current funding position, fundraising plan development, funder mapping and pipeline development, program design, and grant writing.
Monitor and evaluate framework design and online reporting metrics.


With a large veriety of meds for the same conditions we often have to do some additional research to know what works best for us. "A new blood clotting analysis system designed in Japan makes it easier to determine the effects of taking one or more antithrombotic (anti-clotting) drugs.
Myocardial infarction, arrhythmia (atrial fibrillation), cerebral infarction and economy-class syndrome all have one thing in common: they are all diseases that are caused by a blood clot blocking a blood vessel.
Anti-clotting drugs that thin the blood to make it more difficult to form clots in the blood vessels are taken to prevent and cure those diseases that result from blood clotting. The newest type of these drugs, novel oral anti-coagulants (NOACs), have become very popular in recent years. These breakthrough drugs are highly effective, combine easily with other drugs, and do not come with dietary restrictions.


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Home » Support the Press » Why University Presses
Wayne State University Press is a distinctive urban publisher of exceptional books and journals. The Press is committed to its parent institution's mission, creating and advancing knowledge, preparing a diverse student body to thrive, and positively impacting local and global communities, while expanding the international reputation of the Press and the University. Our distinguished publications—whether print or digital—educate and inspire. We are active promoters of the written word, uncommon voices, and of the arts and culture scene in our community.
Publishing Program
Wayne State University Press is an established mid-sized university press that publishes approximately 40 new books and 11 journals per year.
The Value of University Presses
WSU Press has a staff of professional book marketers, editors, and designers who are passionate about disseminating great scholarship. We know how to shape and refine books, and we understand the business of bookmaking and bookselling. The press shares the knowledge of its staff with WSU students through its internship program, and it provides would-be publishing professionals a place to learn and work by hiring student assistants. The Press's relationships with other university units such as the library system and its book club and the Children's Bridge initiative foster a university-wide scholarly communication system.
University presses publish academics who would not otherwise get published and who would not otherwise receive tenure. Wayne State University Press relies on the university's faculty for editorial advice and oversight. We offer authors and would-be authors peer-review, a process that enables university-trained scholars to critique and advise other university-trained scholars. The peer-review process facilitates teaching and learning. It facilitates the sharing of ideas, an effort that universities encourage and foster.
Cathy Davidson, vice provost of Duke, told ACLS that university presses should be and be seen as an opportunity for their parent institutions. Wayne State University Press is such an opportunity. Through us, the University associates itself with brave scholarship and rich local history, distinguishes itself as the supporter of a leading publisher of Great Lakes books, Judaica, and African American studies, and extends its name into thousands of homes, schools, and libraries in many countries around the globe.
Read more on the value of university presses, compiled by the AUPresses (Association of University Presses.)
The History of University Presses, compiled by the AUPresses.


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What makes a scientific 'genius'? ( 2014.10.1[Wed.])
....The ability to identify insoluble problems within even the most commonsensical and seemingly easily understandable things, and then to make the effort to solve them, is a prerequisite not just in scientific education, but even more so in scientific research as well. In this regard, scientists are stupider than the merely stupid. They need to be simpletons, unable to understand or accept. They need to become true fools.
From "On Science and Scientists," Torahiko Terada, Essays (Iwanami Shoten)
I remember a problem from years ago, that went something like, "If you had to save Darwin, Newton, or Mozart, but could only save one of the three, who would you choose?" (I'm not sure if it was those exact three names). Well, if you think about it, both Darwin and Newton were immediately followed by others doing similar work – Wallace and Leibniz. But who could substitute for Mozart? It defies probability to think that his like will be born again. For this reason, the answer was supposed to be Mozart, and he was supposed to be the sole true 'genius' of the group.
Hmm. If that is the case, then I suppose there are no true geniuses in science. For in science, we need to be able to have others understand our discoveries, which means we can't be so much farther ahead of everyone else that our work is incomprehensible. It doesn't pay to be a 'genius' of that sort. I think that is what Torahiko Terada was referring to in his own essay on this theme (quoted above). No matter how sublime and important a truth, it will not be valued as scientific if others cannot understand it. For Mozart, there was no need to be able to explain to others how he composed his music – only for them to be able to enjoy and admire it. In the arts, we are happy to have geniuses, regardless of whether we can truly understand them. Which is why there are few geniuses (in the artistic sense) among scientists.
At the same time, we hear the word 'genius' bandied about all the time in everyday use, to the point that it has become almost meaningless. For my part, I think we should retain the term only for those insights that come once or twice in a lifetime. Take Alfred Wegener and his 1912 theory of continental drift, as one such example. The story has it that, while he was hospitalized, he spent an entire day in his bed examining a map of the world, and realizing how close the fit between the western coasts of Europe an Africa made with the corresponding eastern seaboards of North and South America. If he had been in a Japanese hospital, the map would likely have placed Japan at the center, making such a discovery even more unlikely.
In any case, based on this observation, Wegener proposed his theory that the continents are moving, but at a time when concepts such as mantle convection remained unknown, his ideas were treated as no better than heresy. The earth's history, however, sided with Wegener, and today we are all aware that, eons ago, there was only a single great supercontinent, Pangaea.
But even in such rare cases, it remains very much in doubt whether we could call Wegener a genius. Rather, he had a stupid idea that turned out to be correct. Even Wegener himself did not fathom the geophysical mechanisms underlying continental drift, and it was decades before plate tectonics shoed the truth of his notion. Perhaps then Conrad Waddington, who perceived the true character of development and evolution from observing population genetics phenomena was more of a genius? Maybe we can agree that this is an important criterion, the ability to home in on important incidental observations and follow the skein to true insight. Paul Nurse says his Nobel Prize work began when he noticed something interesting in a dish of fission yeast he was about to discard.
In the 1970 Toei film Japan Sinks (Nihon Chinbotsu), a rogue geophysicist Dr. Tadokoro (played by Keiju Kobayashi), makes a dire forecast about the future of the Japanese archipelago. When asked about a scientist's most important quality, he responds, "Intuition," an answer I respect immensely. In another wonderful scene, Tadokoro tears apart a newspaper and harangues his seniors about the perils of continental drift. If the answer had been something like "continual effort," then I might well have quit science long ago. For a lazy man like me, intuition and serendipity are real assets, which must only be reconciled with the way the world really is. The ability to do so is a true mark of a scientist.
Changing gears, I remember last year being invited to join a research conference in the unlikely venue of a resort area in Mexico. After the closing reception and awards ceremony, a band took the stage and the rather staid meeting was instantaneously transformed into a dance party. I think I may have been the only one there who felt something strange.
I suppose that is because I want scientific meetings to be the sort of places where people tear up newspapers during heated discussions. Learning about new techniques is also important, of course, but there laziness can be an impediment. Somehow, I couldn't help but feel like I was at a welcome party for new staff at a Bubble Era company that has since gone bankrupt, and I ended up leaving early and heading back to my hotel. I can't help but wonder whether I am alone in feeling a sense of being out of place in a scientific world that becomes more like a business all the time...
In summer of 2014, I spent some time in Hongo while giving a lecture, and too the opportunity to visit one of my regular bookshops. I say regular with some hesitation, though, because in recent years I have been so busy that I am only able to go about once per year, if that. But hunting for antiquarian books is a leisurely pastime in any case, so I don't suppose that is such a bad pace all things considered.


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About Hachette Children's Group
Carmelite Prize
Agent Handbook
The information on this site is aimed primarily at parents, educators, reviewers and retailers and you must be over the age of 13 to subscribe to our newsletter
If you'd like to stay-up-to-date with details of the latest books from Hachette Children's Group, simply fill in your details and sign up.
The Find-Outers: The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage
by Enid Blyton
The Find-Outers is a brilliant mystery series from bestselling author Enid Blyton, perfect for fans of The Secret Seven.
Someone has set fire to Mr Hick's cottage, but who could it be? Fatty, Larry, Daisy, Pip, Bets and Buster the dog have their very first case to solve. But it's not easy being detectives with policeman Mr Goon telling them to "clear orf". The Find-Outers are determined – they have to solve the mystery before Mr Goon does!
First published in 1943, this edition is unillustrated.
Genre: Children's, Teenage & Educational / Children's / Teenage Fiction & True Stories / Adventure Stories (children's / Teenage)
On Sale: 6th October 2016
I hope a new generation of readers will discover Blyton, for better or for worse
Bookwitch
It's funny and exciting ... you'll be guessing who did the crime right to the end
The Week Junior
The Find-Outers
© Hodder & Stoughton Limited and The Watts Publishing Group Limited


My science-fiction story, "Gentle Push," is now published and available in print in Volume IX, Issue 3 of Tales of the Talisman, produced by Hadrosaur Productions and edited by David Lee Summers. The issue includes other great stories as well, and is available for $7.00.
Art Director Laura Givens provided this stunning black and white piece to perfectly illustrate the story. Givens has been the Art Director for Tales of the Talisman for a number of years now and examples of her work for it and other venues can be found at her site HERE, including cover pieces and other black and white works.
Please check out the very excellent fiction periodical, Tales of the Talisman, for the rest of the story and other wonderful tales worth reading.
Gallery | This entry was posted in Publication, Romance, Science Fiction and tagged Hadrosaur Productions. Bookmark the permalink.
Thank you very much! I like this story, too, and I was really happy when Tales of the Talisman agreed to pick it up.


INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge has tossed a lawsuit brought by former Northern Illinois University running back Akeem Daniels against two daily fantasy sports sites that he accused of unlawfully using his name to generate millions of dollars in revenue.
Judge Tanya Pratt in the U.S. District Court for Southern Indiana threw out the suit in a Friday ruling on a motion to dismiss. She cited, among other things, that their references fell under an exception that allows such uses of names if they are considered newsworthy.
Daniels sued Boston-based DraftKings and New York-based FanDuel and sought class-action status to represent all college players.
The lawsuit mentions other players who appeared in games on the sites.
Several states have said that they consider such sites illegal.


Deadlines for the Dewey Winburne Community Service Awards and the SXSW Community Grant have been extended through Sunday, July 24 at 11:59pm CT. SXSW recognizes the power of community and feels that promoting good is one of many ways of helping foster creative innovation. Learn more about nominating a community member or applying for a community grant below.
The SXSW Community Grant recognizes good work being done within local communities and helps to further that work by funding a project or program. Does your nonprofit 501(c)(3) fit in one of the above grant categories? If so, you can apply for a SXSW Community Grant now through July 24, 2016.
Take this opportunity to win a grant of $10,000 to fund your program as well as two passes to the SXSW event in March. Further your contacts and learning in the SXSW festival industry most suited to your work and spread the news about your hands-on method of making your community a better place to live.
Read our spotlights on 2016 Community Grant recipients Swan Songs, Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, Reel Grrls, and Skillpoint Alliance.
Know someone doing amazing work to help others in their community? Nominate them for a Dewey Winburne Community Service Award by July 24, 2016. Chosen honorees will receive a $1,000 grant for their favorite 501(c)(3) or equivalent charitable organization and will get a chance to share their story at SXSW in 2017. (The Dewey Awards honors individuals, for grants for organizations see the SXSW Community Fund Grants.
Read out stories from 2016 Dewey Awards winners Robi Damelin, Richard Bbaale, and Maria Rose Belding.
Dewey Winburne Community Service Awards 2016 winners. Photo by Rob Santos.
The post Dewey Awards and Community Grant Deadlines Extended Through Sunday, July 24 appeared first on SXSW.


Hi! I'm Nicque! I am an independent singer-songwriter, actress, dancer and writer.
Glad you stumbled upon my page, and I hope you are interested in being a patron!
Being an independent artist can be hard financially, but it definitely pays off when you have the freedom to create and to follow your imagination!
- travel to events I hold out of town like high school dance camps, concerts, etc.
Basically, you will be helping me expand my brand and reach other people through my art! Any amount is appreciated, and I will make sure that you, as a patron, will know exactly where your donations are going every month.
Thanks for checking me out! I hope you believe in me enough to become a patron!
Every little bit helps! Bronze patrons will receive a monthly update on the projects I'm working on!
- a monthly online private concert for Platinum and Vibranium patrons ONLY!
- an awesome gift basket consisting of a merch item of your choice, a signed copy of my book, and a signed copy of my demo CD!
When I reach $1000 per month, I will release a new EP!


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BNP Paribas mobilises emergency support plan in South Africa in response to the global health crisis
Press Release, 30th April 2020
South Africa is one of over 30 countries to receive assistance from BNP Paribas' 50 million EUR emergency support plan
The emergency support plan is aimed at providing local support for hospitals, vulnerable populations and young people globally
R 6.5 million committed to South Africa's Solidarity Fund and number of local NGOs
BNP Paribas and its subsidiaries around the world have, from the outset of the global health crisis, mobilised to support hospital systems, medical research and institutions that help the most vulnerable and disadvantaged young people. Actions in aid of communities are the priority of the emergency support plan, especially when deployed in the field, in support of medical professionals, NGOs and social services support associations that are at the forefront of seeking solutions to this healthcare and social crisis.
In South Africa, BNP Paribas and wholly owned subsidiary RCS have committed R 6.5 million to help with the national healthcare and social crisis caused by COVID-19, through the assistance of the BNP Paribas 50 million EUR emergency support plan. The contribution will be directed to the South African Solidarity Fund, recently established by President Ramaphosa, in addition to a number of NGOs such as the Haven Night Shelter network and Afrika Tikkun.
Speaking about local support, Vikas Khandelwal, Head of Territory for BNP Paribas commented: "In April, BNP Paribas launched a 50 million EUR plan to help hospitals and vulnerable populations across more than 30 countries globally, in the context of the current global pandemic. As part of this plan, we are proud to mobilise funding in South Africa to assist those most affected by the crisis, help flatten the curve and support those whose lives have been substantially disrupted by the pandemic."
Regan Adams, CEO RCS explained: "In addition to our commitment to South Africa's Solidarity Fund, we also plan to assist NGOs such as the Haven Night Shelter and Afrika Tikkun, who are both providing support to local communities impacted by the pandemic. The Haven Night Shelter, a network of 15 homeless centres across the Western Cape, provides shelter and social welfare services to those in need, while Afrika Tikkun is distributing emergency relief supplies directly to some of the most vulnerable communities in South Africa including Alexandra, Diepsloot, Braamfontein, and Mfuleni'.
With a strong local presence globally, BNP Paribas teams have already been able to provide support, in the form of, grants to numerous local NGOs in Europe, Asia and Africa, various bank solidarity and insurance funds, and research via the Institut Pasteur in France.


We have "visitors" in our room! They have come to our classroom for the month of December because they've heard about how much the children in room 166 enjoy being kind and doing good deeds.
They sent us a letter asking us if we would be interested in joining their team... and, of course, everyone was!
They arrived December 1st and each day send us out on a "kindness mission".
We made lots of grown-ups smile and laugh today!
Can't wait to see what's next .


When you stop, the freezer won't be calling your name. You won't finish the box of cookies when you told yourself 'just one'. You won't feel that food controls you, you'll feel in control.
You're an emotional eater but you can be helped!
Binge eating is commonly attributed to young women, but older women, men and boys also suffer ~ and not all binge eaters are overweight.
You may be thin and toned, well-groomed or disheveled. You can live in the city or in a rural area, be employed, be educated or not. Binge eating affects people from all walks of life. Anyone can be a binge eater, but the common link between of of them is guilt.
Many Bingers eat normally, or go on diets. They can feel very confident for awhile, but then, often for no apparent reason, they have an overwhelming urge to consume uncontrollably.
Binging can be a cycle ~ eat normally, then binge ~ and then they feel very guilty, telling themselves that it's the 'last time'.
If you feel guilty and upset with yourself and you're determined to stop binge eating, change is possible.
Binge eating is considered emotional eating because when you're not eating because you're hungry. Binging is a misdirected attempt to satisfy an emotional need -- such as anger, or an escape from stress or boredom. This is about feelings, and when you binge on food, what you're doing is escaping your feelings.
There are many reasons for eating. The obvious one is that we need to eat to survive, but from our earliest years, we've learned that we can get attention by eating, not eating, having particular preferences etc.We can have a love/hate relationship with food. Our relationship with food can be have many meanings.
Memories -- smells & tastes can bring you back in time.
Escape – We can eat and escape from reality – just like an alcoholic, a gambler or any other addiction. When you binge, or are a compulsive over eater, you get into a zone – and now you're not thinking of the problem at all – until you stop binge eating.
Then you're too stuffed or sick to think about it. So essentially binging is a dysfunctional way of coping with situations or thoughts that you'd prefer to avoid.
Obviously, it's not simple to just to stop binge eating. Binging becomes a habit and there are many triggers that set you on the roller-coaster.
Ask Yourself– are you really hungry, bored, what's going on???
Look at Yourself. Are you sitting down at the table or raiding the pantry?
Triggers Notice when you're eating. Are you tired, or are you bored?
Being mindful and understanding your rituals around food is imperative because binge eating can be a compulsive behavior.
To stop binge eating, the first thing you must do is to be observant -- catch yourself doing it. Ask yourself what's really going on. Maybe you're tired, or lonely. If those are your answers, go to sleep,so you can change, reach out to friends or be resolved to make new ones.
Binge eating won't solve your problems, it will make more.
When was the last time you promised yourself to do it 'tomorrow'?
All these are on top of the list. Binge eaters crave unhealthy choices – high fat and carbs.
I have never heard of a binge eater devouring a 10 lb bag of carrots. The cravings are always about eating high calorie foods – eating them quickly, while staring at the TV or computer, standing at the kitchen sink or at the fridge door ~ Never sitting down respectably at the table.
And that's another key. Emotional eaters have little respect for the food they're eating. There is a real love/hate relationship.
When you eat fast, the brain cannot signal that you're full. You become stuffed and you may have put away a huge amount of calories.
Emotional eaters eat quickly and mindlessly.
Although binge eating and all addictive behavior gives you a short-term escape, it does not bring long term relief. On the contrary ~ after you stop, you will feel even worse.
Binge eaters, escape their emotions by stuffing themselves. For a short time, all feelings disappear. Just like a gambler stuffing yourself puts you in a 'zone'. For a short time, you think about nothing ~ till you stop. Then there's no dealing with anything. You feel down and depressed. You feel angry with yourself and guilty for your actions ~ and once again you promise yourself not to do this again...and again...and again.
Binging eating is a compulsive behavior, but you can be helped.
There are 12 step groups like Overeaters Anonymous, that can support you. But if you're an emotional eater remember, it's not about dieting. You know all too well what you should or should not eat. Every diet will work as long as you're on the diet. So what's going on with the binge?
This is not about food. You're on an emotional roller-coaster.
When you've untwisted your thinking, everything will come together ~ no diet necessary. You'll make the right choices -- guilt free. You won't sabotage yourself by binging. When you free yourself from emotional eating, it won't be a struggle. You'll allow yourself and be the person your want to be.


You care for a cause! Now share it with others. The Blue Ribbon Gift Certificate is a perfect way to raise awareness about your cause while promoting your business! The certificate features a blue ribbon against a blue background and room for your custom image.
Take some time to check out all of the great gift certificates available on TicketPrinting.com.