text:
package com.microsoft.azure.management;

import com.microsoft.azure.management.network.PublicIPAddress;
import com.microsoft.azure.management.network.PublicIPAddresses;
import com.microsoft.azure.management.resources.ResourceGroup;
import com.microsoft.azure.management.resources.fluentcore.arm.Region;
import com.microsoft.azure.management.resources.fluentcore.utils.SdkContext;
import com.microsoft.azure.management.trafficmanager.EndpointType;
import com.microsoft.azure.management.trafficmanager.TargetAzureResourceType;
import com.microsoft.azure.management.trafficmanager.TrafficManagerAzureEndpoint;
import com.microsoft.azure.management.trafficmanager.TrafficManagerExternalEndpoint;
import com.microsoft.azure.management.trafficmanager.TrafficManagerNestedProfileEndpoint;
import com.microsoft.azure.management.trafficmanager.TrafficManagerProfile;
import com.microsoft.azure.management.trafficmanager.TrafficManagerProfiles;
import org.junit.Assert;

import java.util.Map;

/**
 * Test of traffic manager management.
 */
public class TestTrafficManager extends TestTemplate<TrafficManagerProfile, TrafficManagerProfiles> {

    private final PublicIPAddresses publicIPAddresses;

    private final String externalEndpointName21 = "external-ep-1";
    private final String externalEndpointName22 = "external-ep-2";
    private final String externalEndpointName23 = "external-ep-3";

    private final String externalFqdn21 = "www.azure.microsoft.com";
    private final String externalFqdn22 = "www.bing.com";
    private final String externalFqdn23 = "www.github.com";

    private final String azureEndpointName = "azure-ep-1";
    private final String nestedProfileEndpointName = "nested-profile-ep-1";

    public TestTrafficManager(PublicIPAddresses publicIPAddresses) {
        this.publicIPAddresses = publicIPAddresses;
    }

    @Override
    public TrafficManagerProfile createResource(TrafficManagerProfiles profiles) throws Exception {
        final Region region = Region.US_EAST;
        final String groupName = "rg" + this.testId;

        final String pipName = "pip" + this.testId;
        final String pipDnsLabel = SdkContext.randomResourceName("contoso", 15);

        final String tmProfileName = "tm" + this.testId;
        final String nestedTmProfileName = "nested" + tmProfileName;

        final String tmProfileDnsLabel = SdkContext.randomResourceName("tmdns", 15);
        final String nestedTmProfileDnsLabel = "nested" + tmProfileDnsLabel;

        ResourceGroup.DefinitionStages.WithCreate rgCreatable = profiles.manager().resourceManager().resourceGroups().define(groupName)
                .withRegion(region);

        // Creates a TM profile that will be used as a nested profile endpoint in parent TM profile
        //
        TrafficManagerProfile nestedProfile = profiles.define(nestedTmProfileName)
                .withNewResourceGroup(rgCreatable)
                .withLeafDomainLabel(nestedTmProfileDnsLabel)
                .withPriorityBasedRouting()
                .defineExternalTargetEndpoint("external-ep-1")
                    .toFqdn("www.gitbook.com")
                    .fromRegion(Region.INDIA_CENTRAL)
                    .attach()
                .withHttpsMonitoring()
                .withTimeToLive(500)
                .create();

        Assert.assertTrue(nestedProfile.isEnabled());
        Assert.assertNotNull(nestedProfile.monitorStatus());
        Assert.assertEquals(nestedProfile.monitoringPort(), 443);
        Assert.assertEquals(nestedProfile.monitoringPath(), "/");
        Assert.assertEquals(nestedProfile.azureEndpoints().size(), 0);
        Assert.assertEquals(nestedProfile.nestedProfileEndpoints().size(), 0);
        Assert.assertEquals(nestedProfile.externalEndpoints().size(), 1);
        Assert.assertEquals(nestedProfile.fqdn(), nestedTmProfileDnsLabel + ".trafficmanager.net");
        Assert.assertEquals(nestedProfile.timeToLive(), 500);

        // Creates a public ip to be used as an Azure endpoint
        //
        PublicIPAddress publicIPAddress = this.publicIPAddresses.define(pipName)
                .withRegion(region)
                .withNewResourceGroup(rgCreatable)
                .withLeafDomainLabel(pipDnsLabel)
                .create();

        Assert.assertNotNull(publicIPAddress.fqdn());
        // Creates a TM profile
        //

        TrafficManagerProfile profile = profiles.define(tmProfileName)
                .withNewResourceGroup(rgCreatable)
                .withLeafDomainLabel(tmProfileDnsLabel)
                .withWeightBasedRouting()
                .defineExternalTargetEndpoint(externalEndpointName21)
                    .toFqdn(externalFqdn21)
                    .fromRegion(Region.US_EAST)
                    .withRoutingPriority(1)
                    .withRoutingWeight(1)
                    .attach()
                .defineExternalTargetEndpoint(externalEndpointName22)
                    .toFqdn(externalFqdn22)
                    .fromRegion(Region.US_EAST2)
                    .withRoutingPriority(2)
                    .withRoutingWeight(1)
                    .withTrafficDisabled()
                    .attach()
                .defineAzureTargetEndpoint(azureEndpointName)
                    .toResourceId(publicIPAddress.id())
                    .withRoutingPriority(3)
                    .attach()
                .defineNestedTargetEndpoint(nestedProfileEndpointName)
                    .toProfile(nestedProfile)
                    .fromRegion(Region.INDIA_CENTRAL)
                    .withMinimumEndpointsToEnableTraffic(1)
                    .withRoutingPriority(4)
                .attach()
                .withHttpMonitoring()
                .create();

        Assert.assertTrue(profile.isEnabled());
        Assert.assertNotNull(profile.monitorStatus());
        Assert.assertEquals(profile.monitoringPort(), 80);
        Assert.assertEquals(profile.monitoringPath(), "/");
        Assert.assertEquals(profile.azureEndpoints().size(), 1);
        Assert.assertEquals(profile.nestedProfileEndpoints().size(), 1);
        Assert.assertEquals(profile.externalEndpoints().size(), 2);
        Assert.assertEquals(profile.fqdn(), tmProfileDnsLabel + ".trafficmanager.net");
        Assert.assertEquals(profile.timeToLive(), 300); // Default

        profile = profile.refresh();
        Assert.assertEquals(profile.azureEndpoints().size(), 1);
        Assert.assertEquals(profile.nestedProfileEndpoints().size(), 1);
        Assert.assertEquals(profile.externalEndpoints().size(), 2);

        int c = 0;
        for (TrafficManagerExternalEndpoint endpoint : profile.externalEndpoints().values()) {
            Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.endpointType(), EndpointType.EXTERNAL);
            if (endpoint.name().equalsIgnoreCase(externalEndpointName21)) {
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.routingPriority(), 1);
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.fqdn(), externalFqdn21);
                Assert.assertNotNull(endpoint.monitorStatus());
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.sourceTrafficLocation(), Region.US_EAST);
                c++;
            } else if (endpoint.name().equalsIgnoreCase(externalEndpointName22)) {
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.routingPriority(), 2);
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.fqdn(), externalFqdn22);
                Assert.assertNotNull(endpoint.monitorStatus());
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.sourceTrafficLocation(), Region.US_EAST2);
                c++;
            }
        }
        Assert.assertEquals(c, 2);

        c = 0;
        for (TrafficManagerAzureEndpoint endpoint : profile.azureEndpoints().values()) {
            Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.endpointType(), EndpointType.AZURE);
            if (endpoint.name().equalsIgnoreCase(azureEndpointName)) {
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.routingPriority(), 3);
                Assert.assertNotNull(endpoint.monitorStatus());
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.targetAzureResourceId(), publicIPAddress.id());
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.targetResourceType(), TargetAzureResourceType.PUBLICIP);
                c++;
            }
        }
        Assert.assertEquals(c, 1);

        c = 0;
        for (TrafficManagerNestedProfileEndpoint endpoint : profile.nestedProfileEndpoints().values()) {
            Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.endpointType(), EndpointType.NESTED_PROFILE);
            if (endpoint.name().equalsIgnoreCase(nestedProfileEndpointName)) {
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.routingPriority(), 4);
                Assert.assertNotNull(endpoint.monitorStatus());
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.minimumChildEndpointCount(), 1);
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.nestedProfileId(), nestedProfile.id());
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.sourceTrafficLocation(), Region.INDIA_CENTRAL);
                c++;
            }
        }
        Assert.assertEquals(c, 1);
        return profile;
    }

    @Override
    public TrafficManagerProfile updateResource(TrafficManagerProfile profile) throws Exception {
        // Remove an endpoint, update two endpoints and add new one
        //
        profile.update()
                .withTimeToLive(600)
                .withHttpMonitoring(8080, "/")
                .withPerformanceBasedRouting()
                .withoutEndpoint(externalEndpointName21)
                .updateAzureTargetEndpoint(azureEndpointName)
                    .withRoutingPriority(5)
                    .withRoutingWeight(2)
                    .parent()
                .updateNestedProfileTargetEndpoint(nestedProfileEndpointName)
                    .withTrafficDisabled()
                    .parent()
                .defineExternalTargetEndpoint(externalEndpointName23)
                    .toFqdn(externalFqdn23)
                    .fromRegion(Region.US_CENTRAL)
                    .withRoutingPriority(6)
                    .attach()
                .apply();

        Assert.assertEquals(profile.monitoringPort(), 8080);
        Assert.assertEquals(profile.monitoringPath(), "/");
        Assert.assertEquals(profile.azureEndpoints().size(), 1);
        Assert.assertEquals(profile.nestedProfileEndpoints().size(), 1);
        Assert.assertEquals(profile.externalEndpoints().size(), 2);
        Assert.assertEquals(profile.timeToLive(), 600);

        int c = 0;
        for (TrafficManagerExternalEndpoint endpoint : profile.externalEndpoints().values()) {
            Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.endpointType(), EndpointType.EXTERNAL);
             if (endpoint.name().equalsIgnoreCase(externalEndpointName22)) {
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.routingPriority(), 2);
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.fqdn(), externalFqdn22);
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.sourceTrafficLocation(), Region.US_EAST2);
                Assert.assertNotNull(endpoint.monitorStatus());
                c++;
            } else if (endpoint.name().equalsIgnoreCase(externalEndpointName23)) {
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.routingPriority(), 6);
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.fqdn(), externalFqdn23);
                Assert.assertNotNull(endpoint.monitorStatus());
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.sourceTrafficLocation(), Region.US_CENTRAL);
                c++;
            } else {
                c++;
            }
        }
        Assert.assertEquals(c, 2);

        c = 0;
        for (TrafficManagerAzureEndpoint endpoint : profile.azureEndpoints().values()) {
            Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.endpointType(), EndpointType.AZURE);
            if (endpoint.name().equalsIgnoreCase(azureEndpointName)) {
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.routingPriority(), 5);
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.routingWeight(), 2);
                Assert.assertEquals(endpoint.targetResourceType(), TargetAzureResourceType.PUBLICIP);
                c++;
            }
        }
        Assert.assertEquals(c, 1);
        return profile;
    }

    @Override
    public void print(TrafficManagerProfile profile) {
        StringBuilder info = new StringBuilder();
        info.append("Traffic Manager Profile: ").append(profile.id())
                .append("\n\tName: ").append(profile.name())
                .append("\n\tResource group: ").append(profile.resourceGroupName())
                .append("\n\tRegion: ").append(profile.regionName())
                .append("\n\tTags: ").append(profile.tags())
                .append("\n\tDNSLabel: ").append(profile.dnsLabel())
                .append("\n\tFQDN: ").append(profile.fqdn())
                .append("\n\tTTL: ").append(profile.timeToLive())
                .append("\n\tEnabled: ").append(profile.isEnabled())
                .append("\n\tRoutingMethod: ").append(profile.trafficRoutingMethod())
                .append("\n\tMonitor status: ").append(profile.monitorStatus())
                .append("\n\tMonitoring port: ").append(profile.monitoringPort())
                .append("\n\tMonitoring path: ").append(profile.monitoringPath());

        Map<String, TrafficManagerAzureEndpoint> azureEndpoints = profile.azureEndpoints();
        if (!azureEndpoints.isEmpty()) {
            info.append("\n\tAzure endpoints:");
            int idx = 1;
            for (TrafficManagerAzureEndpoint endpoint : azureEndpoints.values()) {
                info.append("\n\t\tAzure endpoint: #").append(idx++)
                        .append("\n\t\t\tId: ").append(endpoint.id())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tType: ").append(endpoint.endpointType())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tTarget resourceId: ").append(endpoint.targetAzureResourceId())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tTarget resourceType: ").append(endpoint.targetResourceType())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tMonitor status: ").append(endpoint.monitorStatus())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tEnabled: ").append(endpoint.isEnabled())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tRouting priority: ").append(endpoint.routingPriority())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tRouting weight: ").append(endpoint.routingWeight());
            }
        }

        Map<String, TrafficManagerExternalEndpoint> externalEndpoints = profile.externalEndpoints();
        if (!externalEndpoints.isEmpty()) {
            info.append("\n\tExternal endpoints:");
            int idx = 1;
            for (TrafficManagerExternalEndpoint endpoint : externalEndpoints.values()) {
                info.append("\n\t\tExternal endpoint: #").append(idx++)
                        .append("\n\t\t\tId: ").append(endpoint.id())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tType: ").append(endpoint.endpointType())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tFQDN: ").append(endpoint.fqdn())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tSource Traffic Location: ").append(endpoint.sourceTrafficLocation())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tMonitor status: ").append(endpoint.monitorStatus())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tEnabled: ").append(endpoint.isEnabled())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tRouting priority: ").append(endpoint.routingPriority())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tRouting weight: ").append(endpoint.routingWeight());
            }
        }

        Map<String, TrafficManagerNestedProfileEndpoint> nestedProfileEndpoints = profile.nestedProfileEndpoints();
        if (!nestedProfileEndpoints.isEmpty()) {
            info.append("\n\tNested profile endpoints:");
            int idx = 1;
            for (TrafficManagerNestedProfileEndpoint endpoint : nestedProfileEndpoints.values()) {
                info.append("\n\t\tNested profile endpoint: #").append(idx++)
                        .append("\n\t\t\tId: ").append(endpoint.id())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tType: ").append(endpoint.endpointType())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tNested profileId: ").append(endpoint.nestedProfileId())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tMinimum child threshold: ").append(endpoint.minimumChildEndpointCount())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tSource Traffic Location: ").append(endpoint.sourceTrafficLocation())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tMonitor status: ").append(endpoint.monitorStatus())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tEnabled: ").append(endpoint.isEnabled())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tRouting priority: ").append(endpoint.routingPriority())
                        .append("\n\t\t\tRouting weight: ").append(endpoint.routingWeight());
            }
        }
        System.out.println(info.toString());
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
The Cape Cod Chronicle
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Harwich News
Orleans News
Focus on...
There are several ways to search through back editions of The Cape Cod Chronicle.
To search a free archive of select recent stories, use the search box in the menu bar at the top of this page. Electronic edition subscribers can search for any item in editions from the last three month by clicking here and clicking "search archive" on the menu bar on the far right.
For stories from 2001 to the present, visit NewsLibrary. The database can be searched and stories downloaded for a fee.
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Original paper editions of most newspapers are available, for a fee. Call 508-945-2220 to inquire.
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By: William F. Galvin
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HARWICH — The town's pet burial grounds to be located on Queen Anne Road are beginning to take shape and could be open in the month of October, providing a tranquil sanctuary for deceased animal companions. The cemetery commission sought and was granted the use of the 2.5-acre parcel of town-owned land to establish the pet burial grounds in town meeting a little more than a year ago. In recent months the lot w...
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HARWICH — With cease and desist orders issued by the building department a couple of months ago for mining and other commercial uses taking place on land in the Six Pond Special District, the appeals board had their hands full last week sifting through the details. Clifford DaLuze told the board he and his family own the property in question. He said his father has owned that land since the 1940s and after his...
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HARWICH ─ When you've got nothing to lose as the end of the Cape League season nears, it's good to have a little fun, which is just what the Harwich Mariners did this past weekend, though the team member having the most fun was probably Nick Dalesandro who started Sunday's game on the mound, and won it at the plate. Dalesandro, who spent the majority of his summer behind the catcher's mask for the Mariners, ...
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New Monomoy Football Coach Says He Plans To Stick Around August 2, 2017
HARWICH ─ Brandon Perry has a message to his Monomoy players, football fans, and families: he's not going anywhere except onto the sidelines of the field with his team. "I'd love to be here for the next 10 or 20 years," Perry said. "One of my main goals was to become a head coach. Now that I've gotten that I'm really looking to stick it out, to build on it, and to build the program, and to build the relation...
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By: Jennifer Sexton-Riley
There's something about the outside of a horse that's good for the inside of a person, as the variously attributed saying goes. A visit to Emerald Hollow Therapeutic Riding Center in Brewster goes a long way to proving exactly that. The mission of Emerald Hollow Therapeutic Riding Center is to enrich the lives of children and adults on Cape Cod with special needs through individualized equine assisted activities ...
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By: Joan Aucoin
Monomoy Theater Company under Francesca James' engaging direction sizzles in delightful, harmonious musicality retelling Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones' fetching tale, "110 in the Shade". Gonna be another hot day in a grassy, Western prairie town, home to the Curry family. The drought has set in on the plains while impacting more than a few hearts. H.C. Curry is deeply worried for his unmarried daughter Lizzie...
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Local Residents Prepare For Pan-Mass Challenge August 2, 2017
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This year, the annual Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) will take place on Aug. 5 and 6, and local riders are getting in shape for the event. Cyclists from across the country will be participating in the bike-a-thon, which ranges from 25 to 192 miles, depending on the route. Among those riding this year are Chatham residents Paul Potash and Al Etre and Harwich residents Jennifer Hastings, Melissa Morse and Steven Conne...
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By: Ed Maroney
ORLEANS — A baseball story is more than a play-by-play and a box score. It's a summertime ritual that enfolds more stories than you can imagine. Take last week's Cape Cod Baseball League game at Eldredge Park between the circuit's top two teams, the Orleans Firebirds and the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. With just a week to go until the last regular-season contest on Aug. 3 (the Firebirds are in Chatham tonight t...
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ORLEANS — Creating housing options that match the town's changing demographics is not impossible, a consultant told the planning board and affordable housing committee last week. Karen Sunnarborg, who's been working on a detailed housing study for Orleans, presented a clutch of short- and longer-term strategies at a public hearing July 25. "So much of this came out of the lively discussions and terrific conver...
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CHATHAM — The Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office has confirmed the discovery of a decomposed human body inside the rescue boat on display on the lawn of Coast Guard Station Chatham. Shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday, Coast Guard personnel notified police that they had discovered what appeared to be a decomposed body in a closed compartment of the boat. "Preliminary investigation has not revealed any ev...
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
As the first ray of sunlight shone on the jujube forest, Zhang Xiaohua opened his eyes and sparkling lights seem to appear in the black of his pupils.
Zhang Xiaohua did not get up immediately like he usually would, but continued to lay on the platform and closed his eyes again. After being slapped until it was swollen, his face did not have the tingling burning sensation of yesterday, and the mouth which was hurt until it was too painful to speak was also feeling fine. While his exterior injuries healed slowly, when would his inner trauma heal?
Zhang Xiaohua's thoughts automatically returned to the events that had happened in the last yesterday afternoon. His father was not in the wrong when he tried to stop his eldest brother from entering into the fray. One should avoid situations that are out of ones' own waters. His eldest brother was also not in the wrong for trying to help, meeting lady Liu could be counted as a fated encounter, and even if she was a total stranger, if one were to standby aside while watching someone else being bullied, then his conscience would suffer an irreversible blow.
Thinking of the surrounding spectators, there were so many people, their faces were either wooden with disinterest, excited over someone else's misfortune, or just sympathy, yet did they ever thought of joining in to help?
Then he thought back to the two short fat men and the pack of dog-like manservants being arrogant and overbearing, while blatantly committing a crime in daylight.
Then, he thought back to the scene where his father and two elder brothers were being trampled upon by the goons, being hit mercilessly by flurries of kicks and punches. Perhaps those goons were not after their lives, but were assaulting them out of pleasure, because seeing fresh blood would raise their excitement, but what if those goons were after their lives? Would his family be able to avoid them?
Then he thought back to Wen Wenhai and his junior sister descending from the sky, defeating those goons as casually as if they were flipping their palms over. They did not even bother to share their names to that Zhao Quansheng person, and with just a few strokes and a plaque, they shut him up and forced the evil doers to repent.
A thought shot like electricity through his mind, martial arts!
I need strength, I need martial arts.
This time, if they did not meet Wen Wenhai and his junior sister, if they had not chosen to intervene, then his own family would have been subjected to more beatings and may even lose their lives. Relying on an external help was akin to relying on air, one had to rely on oneself. Only after one had sufficient power would he be able to protect his loved ones, while protecting others.
Zhang Xiaohua felt as though the knot in his chest which appeared since yesterday has finally loosened. Similar to how he reclaimed that plot of field, with a goal in mind, anything can be done. He does not lack the ability, was not afraid of pain or difficulties, but rather needed directions on how to achieve his goal.
After deciding on the direction of his life, Zhang Xiaohua no longer wanted to stay in bed, he picked himself up and walked out of his grandmother's room to the welcoming sunlight.
However, the excited Zhang Xiaohua was still naively unaware of how difficult the road of a martial artist was. Background, talent, perseverance, opportunity… These were the necessary requirements, but how many youths could reach their goal so easily? Every youth have their own goals, whether or not they succeed or fail, they would have acted on an impulse and would have suffered some setbacks. Everyone has their own road, and only by walking on it would they know if their ideals were right. Zhang Xiaohua was no different!
As Zhang Xiaohua walked out of the room, he saw his grandmother at the doorsteps, and walked over "Grandmother, the day is still early, and there is some cold wind blowing outside. Go back into the house, and when it is close to noon, you can come out again to enjoy the sun."
Hearing her grandson's voice, his grandmother replied tenderly, "Xiaohua, grandmother wants to enjoy more of the air outside. I am already living day by day, and do not want to spend my time cooped indoors. What about you, does your body still hurt? You should go back and sleep a little longer."
Zhang Xiaohua said joyfully, "Grandmother, I have already recovered fully. Here, feel my face, it is no longer swollen."
Zhang Xiaohua took his grandmother's rough hands and placed them on his face, while his grandmother carefully felt while smiling, "Good, good. As long as you are fine…" After saying so, she used her sleeves to dab off the tears in her eyes, her love for her youngest grandson was apparent for anyone to see.
At the courtyard, Guo Sufei was at the stove which was supported by some simple beams making breakfast, while Liu Qing and Liu Yue were aside assisting her, seemingly happy. However, Liu Qing seemed to be feeling slightly shy, in fact, Zhang Xiaohua rubbed his eyes when he thought he saw a tinge of flush on Liu Qing's face. Strange, what is going on?
Zhang Xiaohua would not have known that Liu Qing and Liu Yueyue have awoken before daybreak, because they were not feeling comfortable sleeping over at another place out of their homes, and in order not to awake Guo Sufei, they cuddled closely together and whispered in low voices to discuss yesterday's happenings. Liu Qing was feeling especially grateful to Zhang Xiaolong, because if not for his timely intervention, she would have been dragged into the alleys where her fate would be much worse. Furthermore, Zhang Xialong had fractured his own arm while saving the two ladies, and despite being trample upon and being severely injured, his determination to rescue the ladies was so evident on his face that is was etched deeply into her heart.
Not long after, Guo Sufei woke up and eavesdropped on the ladies. Seeing that the sun was about to rise, she coughed a few times and sat up, while the two ladies tensed up immediately. Last night, she was too preoccupied with her family's injuries and did not get the chance to look carefully at the ladies. Now that her family's injuries have somewhat stabilized, she realized that ladies were very pretty, and their figures were not bad as well. Even though their heights were different, but there are many different types of beautiful flowers as well. But of course, if they were not attractive, how could they have piqued the interest of those bullies? Next, Zhang Xialong's mother inquired about family circumstances of the two ladies, and she learnt that Liu Qing came from a family of three, her father and elder brother being the other two, and her mother had passed away years ago from an illness. Liu Qing's father was a scholarly teacher, while her elder brother was also pursuing the academia, so their household does not own any farmland and relies on teaching students for a living, and thus has a high reputation in the village. Liu Yueyue is Liu Qing's cousin, and her father is a butcher, being Liu Qing's father's brother, and they lived together in the same village. Liu Yueyue is the only child in her family of three. Yesterday, Liu Qing's family was hosting some visitors, while Liu Yueyue's father was opening his shop as usual, thus there was no men to accompany them to town, which resulted in the events yesterday. The three ladies started chatting more comfortably, and Guo Sufei even asked if the two ladies have any engagement to which both said no. Although Liu Yueyue was unaffected, Liu Qin's face turned red, which made Guo Sufei overjoyed beyond words.
When the sun was up, Guo Sufei started making breakfast, and the two ladies offered to help. Liu Qing's face was still flushed from the conversation, which was why Zhang Xiaohua could pick it up.
Zhang Xiaohua walked over to the stove and greeted, "Good morning elder sisters."
Even though it was a normal greeting, when Liu Qing picked up the word "elder sister", she felt as if the young boy before her could read her mind, and her face flushed redder. Liu Yueyue happily replied, "Morning little brother."
Zhang Xiaohua asked after his father and elder brothers, and Guo Sufei replied that she had already taken a look and there were not much changes, their external wounds have recovered to some extent, but they have not fully recovered their energy and it will be some time before they do.
As they were talking, Zhang Cai walked out of the house, his holds being supported by a wooden clutch, as he limped step by step while his right leg was evidently still hurting. Guo Sufei and Zhang Xiaohua went over to support him, Zhang Xiaohua brought his father a chair and put it at the courtyard. Zhang Cai stretched a little, and he could still feel his waist hurting.
Liu Qing and Liu Yueyue went over to give their morning greetings, which Zhang Cai said was unnecessary, "You two ladies did not return home last night, I am sure that your family is worried. The men in our family are still injured, and we cannot let Zhang Xiaohua accompany you by himself. Why don't I get Xiaohua and some of the villagers to send a letter to your family to get them to fetch you? Would that be okay?"
Liu Qing and Liu Yueyue exchanged glances at nodded in agreement.
Then, Zhang Cai followed Zhang Xiaohua to the village to find an adult, and the two people went to Bali Gou to deliver the letter to Liu Qing and Liu Yueyue's families.
Bali Gou was at the southwest of Guo village, and the distance between the two places was not small. By the time Zhang Xiao reached Bali Gou, it was already midday. Bali Gou as located in a ravine, and one could see from afar that it is very big, about four to five times the size of Guo village. There were many more villagers, so when Zhang Xiaohua reached the village entrance, there was already someone who saw him arrive and asked who he was looking for. Zhang Xiaohua replied that he was looking for teacher Liu which made the man cautious, but seeing that Zhang Xiaohua was not very well dressed and was accompanied by an honest-looking famer, he asked, "Where are you from? Why are you looking for teacher Liu?"
Zhang Xiaohua replied, "We are from Guo village, to pass some news of elder sisters Liu Qing and Liu Yueyue to him."
The person was overjoyed and he replied, "Great, quickly follow me."
Then, he led Zhang Xiaohua and the other man through a small path to a tidy courtyard, and before walking through the door, he shouted, "Teacher Liu, butcher Liu, news of your daughters have arrived."
Then, a loud voice resounded from the house, "Ah, the kidnappers have sent a letter. I am just going to see which fellow is responsible for this." Following the voice, a large sturdy man who was at least two heads taller than Zhang Xiaohua walked out, and grabbed Zhang Xiaohua by his collar, saying, "Talk. Which bandit group are you from, talk." Zhang Xiaohua was lifted in the air and he was unable to catch his breath, much less answer. Then, another person walked out of the house and said, "Second brother, you cannot be so impolite. Look at this boy, his posture, his attire, do they look like they belong to a bandit? Even if he was one, you would still need to allow him to talk."
The strong man smiled and loosened his hands, "Big brother, I am just too anxious about our daughters. Aren't you feeling anxious too?"
Zhang Xiaohua gulped down some air, and his face gradually turned less blue. Looking at the two man, he knew that the large man was Liu Yueyue's father, butcher Liu and the calm man was Li Qing's father, teacher Liu.
Thanks for the quadruple release 🙂
Jang says:
Ai… strangling the rescuers.
shrykos says:


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The man who was attacked alleged that he was stopped by the New Jersey officers and pushed up against a wall. An officer began to pat him down at which point the K-9 officer reportedly dragged the suspect to the ground. Another officer arrived on the scene and the officer performing the pat down claimed that the man had attacked the police dog. Both officers reportedly beat the claimant with a baton, and they also allowed the dog to bite him in what they claimed was an attempt to subdue him.
The man admitted to harming the animal, but said it was an act of self-defense. The man's injuries were severe and some were permanent. A civil trial was scheduled to begin earlier this month. The parties involved arrived at a settlement in the amount of $462,500 before the trial began.
K-9 units can be a valuable component of a police force. Like any other weapon at a policeman's disposal in New Jersey, they must be used responsibly. Failure to properly control the animal in dangerous situations can have dire consequences that may result in a dangerous animal bite. Police and K-9 officers are not above the law.


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text:
2022, Chapter One: In which our heroine accepts a challenge!
End of the story first: I just finished reading my second book of 2022, Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion. I'm not sure when a book last gave me actual chills – not hyperbolic chills but goosebumps, hair standing on end.
Holy hell.
This comes immediately on the heels of the book I finished the first week of January, a collection of short stories and nonfiction pieces by Shirley Jackson titled Let Me Tell You. In contrast to Didion, Jackson's book was uneven. In contrast to Didion, I don't see anything else measuring up until I've calmed down from the high of THAT NOVEL. But it's unfair comparing a posthumous compilation of early and uncollected pieces the author may never have consented to publishing with a critically-acclaimed stunner of a novel that slaps you across the face, drags you up the road a piece, then leaves you for dead.
I should not have connected with Play It As It Lays. Set in Hollywood, Las Vegas, and the Mojave Desert, if I were trying to come up with three places I'm less interested in it would take a minute. Fortunately, the book's not about places. It's a study of a woman living with the consequences of her choices in 1960s America. Maria Wyeth is an actress who plays the Hollywood game. She sleeps around, throws herself haphazardly into life, literally drives long distances for days with no direction. Already unstable, the inevitable choice to have an abortion upends her world, sending her spiralling. Without sympathy, unmoored, she cracks.
Didion (1934 – 2021) was an admirer of Hemingway, to put her style in context. She was a journalist-novelist: sparing and precise. While learning her craft, she copied out long passages of Hemingway's writings. I'm not positive the student didn't surpass the master.
Shirley Jackson (1916 – 1965), of course, is known primarily as the author of the macabre short story "The Lottery," as well as her two most popular novels: We Have Always Lived in the Castle and The Haunting of Hill House, the latter adapted into a Netflix series. Her themes are supernatural, modern American gothics. Her nonfiction can be charming and witty, as I learned from Let Me Tell You. Though some of the stories did let me down, the pieces compelled enough I pulled out the bio of Jackson, A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin.
Both modern American writers, I haven't put enough thought into their similarities to pull out the ways they mesh. I'm sure those exist but I didn't juxtapose these two with an intention to dive in deeply. What brings them together is my list of 12 books I plan to read in 2022, books I've had on my shelves over a year and not yet read. Organized by Adam Burgess of the blog Roof Beam Reader, the specifics of the project are explained on his site.
There's no conscious intent behind the books I chose, though interconnections are everywhere, no matter what you initially believe. As I read more by and about Jackson and Didion – which I'd like to do, having whetted my appetite with my first two reads of the year – I will find elements that resonate with the both of them. I've given up not assuming a universal law of attraction. Nothing supernatural, just an acknowledgment of interconnectivity in all things.
Superficially glancing through their respective Wikipedia articles, both these American women writers were born in California, their lives overlapping by some 30-some years (I hate math). Did they meet, I don't know. Were they aware of each other, certainly Didion would have known of Jackson, though she hadn't published much before Jackson's death so it's not too likely the other way around. Any similarities between a modern gothic writer and a journalist? I'm sure Jackson's work extends beyond her most popular pieces. Maybe?
Speaking of resonating with gothic horror, welcome to 2022. It's only the 10th and I've finished two books. Not leaving without a fight, 2021 ended with my first Covid test of the pandemic – negative, thank the gods.
My year went mostly well, everyone I love made it through, and I'm trying not to get over-confident 2022 will hold anything grand or I'll just let myself down, won't I.
Let's focus on these beauties:
2022 TBR Challenge Reads – The List
The challenge is to choose 12 books – one for each month – plus two alternates, should any of the 12 prove impossible or just plain too long to finish.
1. The Great Believers – Rebecca Makkai
2. My Autobiography of Carson McCullers – Jenn Shapland
3. Willa Cather: Double Lives by Hermione Lee
4. Soul of the White Heat: Inspiration, Obsession, and the Writing Life – JC Oates
5. The Facts: A Novelist's Autobiography – Philip Roth
6. In Cold Blood – Truman Capote
7. Play It As It Lays – Joan Didion – finished
8. Hill – Jean Giono
9. Blindness – Henry Green
10. Let Me Tell You: New Stories, Essays, and Other Writings – Shirley Jackson – finished
11. Lucy Gayheart – Willa Cather
12. On Being Ill – Virginia Woolf
Alternates:
Aiding and Abetting – Muriel Spark
The Fire Next Time – James Baldwin
I've cut down social media – save Instagram – to free up more time for reading and apparently that helped. I'll be reading other books but these twelve I've hand-selected for this specific project.
Welcome to 2022.
Allons-y, y'all.
02-03-12 05-12-15 / Lisa Guidarini	/ 2 Comments
"Our pride must be strong, for we know the value of the human mind and soul. We must teach our children. We must sacrifice so that they may earn the dignity of study and wisdom. For the time will come. The time will come when the riches in us will not be held in scorn and contempt. The time will come when we will be allowed to serve. When we will labor and our labor will not be wasted. And our mission is to await this time with strength and faith."
– The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
Finished reading The Heart is a Lonely Hunter a few days ago. Have you read it? What a gut wrencher. It starts out so deceptively simple but as it progresses so does the complexity.
One of the main characters is John Singer, a Christ-like deaf-mute everyone in this small, southern town instinctively trusts, without quite understanding why. They're drawn to him by a force stronger than themselves. Though he can't hear, he can read lips and perhaps that's why they trust their secrets will go no further. It's comparable to praying to an almighty figure, one assumed to be listening with undivided attention, never giving a direct, verbal answer but absolving all. But who is he, save a man willing to sit still as long as they need to vent? And what relieves their minds, aside from expressing their pain?
What the other characters reveal about themselves is their sadness, heartbreak and desperate yearning for the one thing that's their passion. They feel free to express themselves without reservation, pouring out the most intimate of details, all because something in his eyes is almost hypnotizing, how he gazes with absolute compassion. Like gazing into a mirror reflecting another mirror into infinity, his eyes see into their souls.
John Singer lives in a boarding house owned by the family of a young, budding adolescent tom boyish girl named Mick Kelly. Passionately moved by music, Mick hopes to become a famous composer, brushing off the dirt of this small Georgia town, moving away to New York – mecca of opportunity for dreamers. She comes to sit in Mr. Singer's room, perched on a chair next to his radio with her ear to the speaker, absorbing symponies into her soul.
"This was her, Mick Kelly, walking in the daytime and by herself at night. In the hot sun and in the dark with all the plans and feelings. This music was her—the real plain her…This music did not take a long time or a short time. It did not have anything to do with time going by at all. She sat with her arms around her legs, biting her salty knee very hard. The whole world was this symphony, and there was not enough of her to listen… Now that it was over there was only her heart beating like a rabbit and this terrible hurt."
Another character, Biff Brannon, is the proprietor of the New York Café. Brannon is a sort of enigma. Married to a shrew, he's manipulated by her will, considering small things like holding onto 20 years-worth of old papers, documenting the history of this small town, as brave rebellion. Like John Singer he stands back and sees all. Unlike Singer others find him an isolating person.
His feelings about Mick baffle me, though. He treads the line between a possibly carnal lust and the desire to be a fatherly figure to her, his thoughts discomfiting. There's a sense, though, that he legitimately cares for her deeply. Honestly, I can't say what's behind his character. He's complex and I couldn't get to the heart of him.
Then there's Jake Blount, a drunkard who wanders into town one day and just never leaves. Obnoxious and abrasive, at heart he's possessed by politics, or the theory behind politics. In curious opposition to another character, Benedict Mady Copeland – an African American doctor dying of a tuberculosis-like disease – the two approach each other like boxers in the ring, carefully circling. Though some of their beliefs seem compatible, neither can stand the other.
Copeland's dream is to advance the lives of black people, to grab what he thinks rightfully theirs, shaking off oppression. His great sorrow is his children. Named after rebellious figures such as Karl Marx, his intense insistence they take up his cause drives them away. He feels they're failures and they know his disappointment. But no matter how he tries he cannot hold off lecturing whenever he sees them, driving the wedge more and more deeply though his love for them is limitless.
The only character John Singer himself feels deeply about is another deaf-mute, Spiros Antonapoulos, his roommate and closest companion early in the book. The other man loses his sanity, following an unnamed illness, carted off to an asylum by his cousin, where he remains for the rest of the novel.
Why the deep kinship formed between Singer and the less-enamored Antonapoulos puzzles me. The shared disability and life on the outskirts of society could certainly act to pull them together but Antonapoulos is a grasping character, described as obese, oily and smelly. McCullers makes him as unlikeable as possible, yet Singer never loses his deep love for his "friend," even when Antonapoulos's mind slips away, becoming completely self-involved and oblivious to his friend's generosity and the purity of his love. Though John Singer is kind and welcoming to everyone who crosses his threshold, it's as if his life is dependent upon Spiros, the one person who cares least about him. The one person he's unable to save.
As a whole, the book is a treasure, a masterpiece. I could read it over and over and still not unravel all the nuances. What makes it more impressive is this was McCullers's first novel, written at age 23 and now ranked by the Modern Library as one of the Top 100 Books of the 20th Century.
Clearly, the author's own passion was writing her heart out in the short time she had, dying at 50 after a life plagued by illness. And this book, the only of her novels I've yet read, has waltzed itself into one of my favorite books of all time.
For more on the author:
Carson McCullers Project
"I live with the people I create and it has always made my essential loneliness less keen."
– Carson McCullers
Bleak House, Various and sundry.
My hands were itching to talk books with you all week but my wishes were thwarted due to a Typepad glitch. Seems the goodly blogging platform had quite a taste for all things Bluestalking. Not only would it not let me save new posts, it ate the last two I wrote as well and of course I hadn't backed them up because nothing like this has happened in forever. And I hope it had galloping indigestion to match my level of irritation.
Appealing to them via Twitter did me no good, a tactic that's served me well in the resolution of other consumer complaints, most recently in the replacement of a brand new sofa with a mangled underside. If there's one thing you never want it's a mangled underside and I was certainly having no part of that, especially when it's literally just been brought through the door. The store refused to replace it, offering instead to "fix" it. Unacceptable. Telling over a thousand followers of my woes got immediate attention. The store tweeted me within minutes and I had a phone call to schedule a re-delivery/switch the next business day. Now that is customer service, even if I had to lean on them to get it. Let them push me around? I think not.
That explains, in more detail than you needed, my relative internet silence over the past few days. But today I'm having another go, cautiously optimistic my computer won't blow up or my underside become mangled. If it does, I'm relying on all of you to Tweet it to the world.
Bleak House by Charles Dickens
Yes, yes I was supposed to have finished it for last Wednesday's book discussion but that didn't happen. It was nearly impossible reading Dickens at the galumphing pace required, but luck was with me and no one else save our brave facilitator had finished, either. In fact, I'd gotten the furthest of us all, save the one person who finished but was unable to attend. Victory! Well, of sorts.
Consensus was the book was very, very long. A wise conclusion considering how much paper is between the covers. As to the story itself, opinion was a bit more mixed. Keeping all gazillion characters and plotlines straight proved a difficulty not worth the effort for some, roughly half I would say. One gentleman, after reading only the first few pages, saw fit to pick up the Cliff Notes instead, eschewing the original for the shortcut. What's discouraging is he seemed to have as good a grip on things as I did, having finished roughly 85%. Then again, he wasn't obliged to read the vast quantity of words with which I grappled. So there.
We spent an awful lot of time asking each other, "What was the name of the _____ family's friend's servant?" and trying to untangle everyone with a similar name to another character. Partly because of this, if you haven't read Bleak House (or have but still aren't sure exactly what was happening) it's almost impossible spoiling the plot for you. The question would be, which plot are you even talking about, since there are so many. Of course they all funnel into the main plot regarding Esther Summerson (and cousins Richard and Ada), Lady Dedlock and the ongoing court case Jarndyce v. Jarndyce, in one way or other. It's always baffling how Dickens will manage to bring it all together by the end, yet always he does, minus a few characters who wander off but in some ways that's for the best, for the sanity of the reader.
So, what does BH say about Dickens and the Victorians? Jarndyce v. Jarndyce illustrates opinion about lawyers and court cases hasn't changed at all since the Victorians. Lawyers are generally nasty, self-serving creatures and court cases convoluted and dull. Shock horror!
As for the innocents, they so often suffer, sometimes losing their lives in unjust and unnecessary circumstances. Innocents include those with mental disabilities, children and those from the lower social order in general. BH is particularly sharp in the anger it directs at do-gooders, Mrs. Jellyby being a prime example, the woman so concerned with a village in Africa she doesn't notice anything happening in her own home. And I do mean anything. And Mr. Jellyby! If there's a better example of deep clinical depression in all of Victorian fiction I haven't read it.
Poor Mr. Jellyby, forever sitting with his head against a wall.
So, what of charity, to Dickens? Certainly not much of merit, extending past temporarily alleviating the suffering of those at hand. But even in that case, using Jo and his illness as an example, charity can backfire, leaving the best-intentioned permanently blemished. Going out of your way to help take care of your fellow wo/man doesn't fare well at all in BH.
Dickens has been called out before re: his depiction of women as either saints or whores. BH is filled with examples of saints – the "angels" in the house – with only one true "whore" in Lady Dedlock. She pays the price of her transgressions, in cruel ways. To be fair, so does the man who was the other half of that relationship, but he's largely shrouded in mystery. We know how he dies – destitute and alone – and there's a suggestion it was intentional, but Dickens shows us every bit of Lady Dedlock's agony.
The saint above all saints in BH is Esther Summerson, a character who may – I'm warning you – drive you barking mad by mid-book. She's exaggeratedly kind (and I really don't think it's intented ironically). Her interaction with Ada made me feel vaguely nauseous. There's friendship, then there's over the top and saccharine. But even the saints don't escape some very steep trials.
Did Dickens hate women? Oh, I don't know. There's lots written about it. I can tell you he treated his wife with callous indifference and almost surely had an affair with a beautiful actress. He also had a sort of crush on his dead sister-in-law, practically throwing himself in her grave when she died. Not sure what all that proves, if anything.
Ask me more later in the year. I'll know better by then.
Gillian Anderson as Lady Dedlock, BBC – 2005
Dickens at 200
Serendipitous Bleak House was the January read in our classics book group, considering the Inimitable's 200th birthday is coming up February 7th.
Martin Chuzzlewit is next up for me, in my personal celebration of all things Dickens. MC and the recent Claire Tomalin bio. This will be my first foray into MC and I know nothing about it – one reason I'm looking forward to the experience.
After MC I honestly can't say I'll have the luxury to fit in another Dickens novel in 2012, since I am attacking Ulysses starting Bloomsday this year (June 6). I'm allowing the rest of the year to read that one properly, relying heavily on true Irishman Frank Delaney and his podcasts on Ulysses to minimize my inevitable confusion.
To celebrate properly I'd need to take a trip to Dublin. I'm cheating myself by not doing so and I think I'll put that on my official Bucket List. There's a pub out there, somewhere, that has a stool with my name on it, and a few barrels of Guinness to get together a good drinking game to go along with a public reading of the book. One swallow for every swear should have me under the table in less than two hours. Change that to every sentence longer than a page and I'll be out in half that time. Of course it's likely I'd wake up with a shamrock – or worse – drawn on my forehead and my hair matted in who knows what.
Yes, onto the Bucket List it goes.
From an article in The Guardian
A Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry
Heartrendingly gorgeous and I'm in no hurry to finish, as Sebastian Barry hasn't written all that many novels. I do so love his writing and this in no way involves a massive crush of an adolescent nature, mixed with a great appreciation of his lyricism and unfailingly gorgeous writing.
I'm further along but reluctantly so. It's difficult reading about the horrors of war and I've grown so fond of Willie Dunne it's hard seeing inhumane events through his eyes. Right now I'm just past the point at which he realizes his last letter offended his father, though he's not positive why. And as for the lovely Gretta… I just don't trust that one. Great looking or not, I have a feeling Willie could have chosen better than herself with the green eyes.
Author Sam Savage
Glass by Sam Savage – Currently reading for review.
I have loved Sam Savage's writing since his first novel, Firmin:
"Savage's sentimental debut concerns the coming-of-age of a well-read rat in 1960s Boston. In the basement of Pembroke Books, a bookstore on Scollay Square, Firmin is the runt of the litter born to Mama Flo, who makes confetti of Moby-Dick and Don Quixote for her offspring's cradle."
I interviewed him following the publication of that novel, now that I think of it. Such a dear man.
Glass is about a widow asked to write a new introduction for the re-issue of her late husband's book but actually more about her life, memories and adjustment to being alone. What's sweetly poignant is there's a rat in this novel, as well, though the standard mammal who isn't able to read and express himself in words. Loads more than this is poignant but it was the rat that really got to me.
Between Firmin and Glass there was The Cry of the Sloth:
"Living on a diet of fried Spam, vodka, sardines, cupcakes, and Southern Comfort, Andrew Whittaker is slowly being sucked into the morass of middle age. A negligent landlord, small-time literary journal editor, and aspiring novelist, he is—quite literally— authoring his own downfall. From his letters, diary entries, and fragments of fiction, to grocery lists and posted signs, this novel is a collection of everything Whittaker commits to paper over the course of four critical months."
– from Amazon.com
I love books that rip out my heart, dice it to bits and toss it onto a plate. Even better are those with a wicked dark sense of humor involving books, readers and/or writers. Sam Savage manages to hit my soft spots in every, single book he writes. He's not nearly as well known as he should be.
Read him. Do.
Restoring Grace by Katie Fforde – Reading for librarian group.
Nope, I'm not one for conventional romance and my last reading round up covered the reasons I chose this when forced to read outside my genre comfort zone: British, ancient home and single women living together, making a go of it sans men. Oh, and the Irishman, coming to woo the owner of the ancient home…
Shush.
Losing It: In Which An Aging Professor Laments His Shrinking Brain by William Ian Miller
From the good people at Yale U.P. and it's basically about what it says. It makes a good NF read to pick up while the rest of the family's watching t.v. I can read NF with noise going on around me but not fiction. Not without a rise in blood pressure that's not worth it, I should say.
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers – next read for classics group.
Love this book, can't wait to re-read, so you know it must be a heart-ripper. Also planning to squeeze in McCullers's unfinished autobiography, an Amazon purchase I allowed myself last week, though my fondness for the Amazon Daily Deal eBook has me well on my way toward addiction. Funny how I managed to side-step making an actual resolution about book buying this year. Or, not so much funny as frightening.
In between reads for BookBrowse, LibraryJournal and Booklist. Then there are the various and sundry review books, otherwise known as The Great Horde, including Barry Unsworth's latest The Quality of Mercy.
Also checked out from the library: How it All Began by Penelope Lively and Secrets of the Sea by Nicholas Shakespeare. Re: the latter, right now I can't recall what it's about or why I ordered it. Must have had some good reason. Funny, the ILL books that wind up on my desk are usually of this ilk. I either can't remember requesting them or why.
As usual, I'm obviously bereft of great reading material. All my time is wasted on breathing, eating and sleeping until such time as I can find my way back to reading. They say Americans are reading less and less every year, though whether that includes Tweets and McDonald's game pieces I don't know.
I smell another government study that needs funding! Perhaps I'll drop past Twitter and mention it.


The smell of slow-smoked meats and tangy barbecue sauce fills the large and bustling space that is The Tennessee Grill & Bar every night, creating a mouth-watering wait on especially busy nights, like Wednesdays, when tender, smoked chicken wings are on special, and Fridays, when the all-you-can-eat fish fry draws locals in droves for hand-carved and battered fish.
This neighborhood breakfast and barbecue joint serves some of the best food in Anthem, and some of the best barbecue in the Valley. The ambiance is open and airy, with lots of big windows, and welcoming, with flat-screen TVs hanging throughout the restaurant showing various sports.
The aforementioned slow-smoked chicken wings are just the start, slathered in "hot sauce" that was not really hot – at least not by the standards of someone who enjoys raw jalapeños and Tabasco sauce on almost everything. But those thighs and wings were toothsome and juicy, with smoky overtones that sat well on the palate until washed down by whiskey – or beer. There are several of each on The Tennessee Grill menu.
Fried pickles pack just the right amount of flavorful crunch in circular, ridged chips that yield juicy, warm interiors. The onion rings are also a nice starter, or better yet a crispy side to accompany Bob's Bitchin' Burger, named after Tennesse Grill owner Bob Adler. This burger is serious – two plump patties of hand-pressed hamburger made from freshly ground brisket and chuck, grilled to order and served on a bun that can't hold up to the bulging, juicy beef. But the weak bread is the only weak thing about this burger, which bursts with beefy flavor.
Sandwich seekers will find a variety of equally fresh and tasty options, from a crunchy turkey bacon club wrap to a plump po' boy bulging with shrimp on a French roll, piled with coleslaw and tomato slices and drizzled with roumelade sauce.
Ribs steal the show – tender and easily sliced off the bone, they possess a charred, chewy exterior bursting with flavor from the meat rubs and smoker. Tennessee Grill's house-made sauces are a nice complement, especially the smoky and tangy Smoky Mountain Zinger BBQ Sauce. The Smoky Mountain Bourbon BBQ Sauce also adds a nice kick to the palate, but lovers of truly spicy food will be disappointed – there's nothing truly incendiary, or even mildly hot, among the condiments.
Pulled pork is perfectly tender and delightfully chewy, full of flavor and moist from the barbecue sauce, and it's among some of the best of its kind around. Brisket is thick and tender, slathered in sauce and hard to share despite its generous proportions.
All dishes are served with grilled and lightly buttered dinner rolls. Some sides are stars in their own rights. Potato salad – mayonnaise-dominant, as opposed to some more mustard-y varieties – is creamy and tasty. Tater tots are crispy and hot, and the baked beans are deliciously spiked with green chili.
Platters with various combinations are available for diners who can't decide on just one meat.
But wait, there's more. While Tennessee Grill lacks a bona fide happy hour, its drinks are always reasonably priced ($7.50 for a 22-ounce draft beer) and they offer an impressive menu of fruit smoothies and specialty coffees.
With its proximity to shopping malls, the I-17 and Discount Tire (customers frequently while away their wait for new wheels at the bar), Tennessee Grill has become a popular stop for travelers and shoppers, in addition to its longstanding status as a neighborhood favorite in Anthem.
Those sublime smoky barbecue smells are enough to draw us back.


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Posted: March 31, 2020 in Community , Resources , and Other
Cultivating Community in Our New Reality: Staying Connected, Inside and Out
One of the fundamental teachings of iRest reminds us that we are all inherently connected—both to ourselves and to others. Previously on the blog, we've reflected on this concept and offered related meditations here. At a time when many of us have been ordered to "shelter in place" and are physically disconnected from the wider world, we long to manifest that connectivity. In one recent sangha session the question arose: How do we foster community while living in isolation?
In response, we at iRest Institute would like to share a few favorite ways to stay connected to the world around us. These ideas are meant to complement a practice of connecting with yourself—through an iRest meditation or another path. Do you have other ideas to add? Feel free to drop them in the comments!
Reach Out. Every day, make a call or send a text. Let someone know you care.
Get Neighborly. Download the NextDoor app, which connects you to your neighbors. You'll find moral support, goods for swap or sale, safety information, and more.
Volunteer. Many nonprofits are now seeking helping hands to safely deliver groceries and supplies to seniors and other populations in need. It's an ideal time to offer your services. Not in a position to venture out on the town? It's still possible to lend support through at-home programs like Love for the Elderly, which invites you to write letters to seniors.
Adopt a Pet. We don't need to explain why pets can be great company! Faced with the prospect of an isolating quarantine, reports USA Today, "Americans are rushing" to adopt furry friends.
Take a class. Learn a new skill—whether cooking or language or technology. While some classes are held as one-way webcasts, others are interactive and allow for the expansion of your social network. Interested in academic pursuits? Check out this list of 450 free online Ivy League classes. Want to learn more practical skills? Browse this lively list of how-to crash-courses.
Dance! Any type of movement is bound to ward off depression in these times. Join a class from this aggregated list of live-streamed dance classes. Don't be shy!
Wine & Dine. Set up your own virtual dinner party via Zoom. Swap recipes, share wines, and raise a glass to the day that we can all share a feast in person again!
Try Something Completely Different. Quarantine Chat is an app made just for these strange times. It will pair you by phone with other quarantined strangers around the world in a range of scenarios. Read more about it.
Get Your Culture On. Art has the power to reveal what is universal, ephemeral, making us feel profoundly connected. This vast compendium of free online arts opportunities includes performances of Broadway plays; a nightly opera stream from The Met; online tours of international art museums; and The Social Distancing Festival, a directory of arts and community in the pandemic era.
Join Us at iRest. We now offer free, twice-weekly sangha sessions hosted by Richard Miller and Stephanie Lopez. As well, we're producing a series of six webinars to guide you and your meditation practice during these times. Sign up for the sangha here and the webinars here .
Together, connected, we will navigate through this challenging time in our world.
Yoga Therapists
Peace and Well-Being


Do you develop hives after eating a certain food? Do you find it difficult to breathe after eating a certain food? If you do, you may be suffering from a food allergy. Unfortunately, for some individuals it isn't so easy to tell if they are. This is most commonly the case when symptoms are not severe. For more information to help you determine if you do have a food allergy, please continue reading on.
One of the best ways to determine if you are suffering from a food allergy is to visit your healthcare provider. Many develop tests or trails to determine which food or foods you are allergic to, if any. It is also a good idea to visit a doctor if you suspect that you may have a food allergy, as they may be able to provide you with information and tips on making a lifestyle change, which may include eliminating the food or foods that are causing your problems. Medication may also be given.
As previously stated, hives are a good indication that you may be suffering from a food allergy. In fact, hives are one of the most common symptoms experienced by those who do have a food allergy. Hives are easy to notice and spot. If you develop hives, they can be treated with use of oatmeal. A great home remedy involves taking a cup of bowling water and pouring it over oatmeal. After a few minutes strain, then let cool some more and dab on the hives with a cotton ball or cloth. While this home remedy will help with your hives, it is still important to determine which foods are causing them.
Swelling of the tongue and throat are two more common symptoms of a food allergy. These symptoms can, unfortunately, lead to difficult breathing. If you ever experience these symptoms, you will want to seek medical attention right away. This is important if you have not officially been diagnosed as having a food allergy, as you may not have helpful medication on hand.
Those who suffering from food allergies who have a reaction may also feel light headed or experience a loss of conscious. If this happens to you, it is important that medical attention is sought right away. In fact, death can be the results if improper medical attention and care. That is why it is important to seek medical attention the moment that you suspect you may have a food allergy. As previously stated, hives are a good sign that you may. You should seek the advice of a professional in the medical field before your symptoms are able escalate.
Once you have officially been diagnosed as having a food allergy, it is important that you let those around you know of your diagnosis. This is particularly important if you regularly eat dinner at the homes of your friends or relatives. Those individuals will need to know what not to include in their meals or they can make alternative arrangements for you. This notification is also important in case you have a reaction. As previously stated, those that are around you need to know the proper way to react, whether it be administering medication or calling for an ambulance.
As stated above, it is important that you seek medical attention if you suspect that you have an allergy to food.


He rode a much used black bike and his unruly dreadlocks strained against the dirty green bandanna tied tightly on his head.
I could have let him pass. He didn't notice me standing at the top of the church steps. He could've just kept going his way, and so could I.
I had work to do. I was the keynote speaker at this conference. I had to go over my notes. There were any number of things I needed to be doing. I was here to teach people how to love people. I was going to explain that evangelism is not something you do, it's something you live.
I was going to explain to them that they need to be the hand to help others up.
So yeah, I was busy.
Dreadlocks would pass in a second and be just a soon forgotten memory.
What difference did I think I could really make anyway?
I was surrounded by hundreds if not thousands of down and outers.
As Dreadlocks almost reached the point of no return, something burst out of my mouth.
What was that? Did I just say something? Dreadlocks looked right at me and hit the brakes.
At least, I think I did. Maybe it was God using my voice to reach one of his children.
I met Dreadlocks at the curb. I shook his stained hand.
He immediately refused the coffee and donuts but started quoting scripture and preaching to me. Not as a drunk or drug addict. He was more familiar with the Bible than most Christians I know.
He shared with me how he had been robbed and beaten. He turned out his cheek to show me the injury to the inside of his mouth. They stole his clothes, his phone and a little piece of him. He told me he was homeless.
Suddenly I did not see some homeless guy but a proud grandfather.
"Why are you in Denver?" I continued to pry.
He said to his shame, he had come to smoke the legal marijuana.
At one time he had had a good life.
He told me he was 46 years old and had been in the carpenter's union back in Missouri for over 20 years.
"If you go back to Missoui, will you be homeless?
As we continued to talk, he explained that he had tried heroin three months ago and died. Paramedics brought him back. He came to with them standing over him.
"Why not just go home?" I dared to ask.
He said he couldn't because he did not have the money.
I asked him how much a bus ticket cost and, he said $160.
I told him if he came back at 2 PM when I was speaking, I would get him a ticket home. He was overcome. He just could not believe it was true.
I didn't know but assured them we would work it out.
David showed up at 1 PM. He sat in the back of the church and cried. He told those around him he was overwhelmed by the feeling of God's love for him, through us.
We drove David to the bus station in Denver. I purchased the ticket, and we gave him $60.00 to eat on the trip. We prayed with him. We hugged.
"Would you keep a dreadlock if I gave it to you?" he asked.
But I won't need a dreadlock to remember David.
I told him to go to detox, get his job back and be the best father and grandfather he could be.
He promised he would. He was not going to waste a second chance.
I could have stood silently on the steps. I could have let the homeless guy with the crazy head full of dreadlocks just pass by.
What difference could I make? There are so many like him.
For David, I made all the difference in the world. I gave David back his daughters and his precious granddaughters. And I gave two daughters and two granddaughters their father and grandfather back.
I sent the prodigal son and father home. God sent me on a 14 hour round trip to let David know he loved him, and I was almost too busy with the work of Christ to be the Hands of Christ.
The experienced changed me as much if not more than it did David.
I pray I never get too busy to be Jesus. I pray you never do either.
Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:1-2).
Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you visited me' (Matthew 25:34-36).
Thanks for the dreadlock David.


For what its worth, I believe effective project management is one of the most important aspects of any successful business. Seeing a project through from beginning to end and recruiting the right people for the job are crucial to project success. Project Management is a skill that many people gain through experience and but can now be enhanced through education and qualifications.


Obituary for Brittney Fleming | Loudon Park Funeral Home, Inc.
Brittney Fleming, 24, of Baltimore, MD passed away suddenly on April 5, 2019. Brittney's gifts of perseverance and joyfulness became evident when she was young and inspired many throughout her life. After losing her birth parents as a small child, Brittney was raised by her devoted extended family. Brittney will be remembered as a child who enjoyed laughing and playing with her many cousins and friends. Brittney studied at North County High School and dreamed of careers in the fashion industry or photography.
After high school, Brittney was the queen of Charles Village & Station North. Known by her mother, Myshay Lee, as both hard headed and big hearted, she was a beacon of light to the large and connected community she built, putting smiles on everyone's faces regardless of race, religion, gender, or creed. Brittney was generous and quick to help others around her. She was passionate about the needs of transgender youth, homeless people, and people battling addiction. Brittney was particularly kind to those that needed a listening ear and more than once, offered support to other youth who credit Brittney with saving their lives. Brittney was a rock and a source of inspiration to all who knew her.
Brittney now joins her beloved sister, London, to watch over us, and is survived by her mother Myshay Lee; godfather Toronto; step father Joshua Smith; sisters Dayior Gray, Kamiya Taylor, Da'Nisha Brooks, Emani Lee, Jaydin D'oir, Crystal Jones, Alex, Shannyn Garland, Mykia Lassiter, Mya, and Ivey; brothers Mussani Taylor, Qea Love, Cody Banks, and Derick; and mentor Ava Pipitone. Brittney is also survived by her great aunt Juanita Taylor and her aunt Danita Taylor and many other loving relatives. She will be truly missed forever.
A visitation will be held on Friday, April 19 from 10am-12pm at the locally-owned Loudon Park Funeral Home, Inc. 3620 Wilkens Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21229. The funeral service will be held in the funeral home and begin at 12 noon. Interment Loudon Park Cemetery.


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Australia Council for the Arts
Australia Council Outlines 2015-16 Budget Impact
Art Blog Story from Australia. Published by anonymous on Thursday 21 May 2015.
The 2015-16 budget measures will have a significant impact and the Australia Council will be working closely with the Ministry for the Arts and Creative Partnerships Australia to avoid duplication and offer support to the sector that is complementary.
The Australia Council's new appropriation for 2015-16 is $184.5M. As part of this appropriation the Australia Council will continue to deliver the Major Performing Arts framework, Visual Arts and Crafts Strategy, Playing Australia, Contemporary Touring Initiative and Contemporary Music Touring Program, on behalf of the Australian Government.
These government directed programs make up 66% of the Council's 2015-16 appropriations. The Council's remaining funds are $62M, which is $23M less than expected. These funds support the Australia Council's grants model, current Key Organisations, national and international development activities, capacity building, research and operations.
To manage the transition to the new funding framework the Council needs to take the following actions:
the Australia Council June grant round, including government programs, will not proceed
existing applications can be assessed within the September round, which will include multi-year project support for individual artists and arts organisations
the six-year funding for organisations program is suspended
the Australia Council will honour the current contracts of multi-year funded organisations until their conclusion at the end of 2016
the ArtStart, Creative Communities Partnerships Initiative and Artists in Residence programs will not be offered in the future.
Working within budget constraints the Australia Council will continue to deliver national and international development activity, dedicated support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, research, evaluation and capacity building. The Council will maintain its strong connections with the sector and provide ongoing updates related to these changes.
$110M will be redirected over four years from the Australia Council's appropriation to support the establishment of the National Programme for Excellence in the Arts, run by the Ministry for the Arts. This redirected funding will also support the Creative Partnerships Australia matched funding program and the transfer of the Visions of Australia and Festivals of Australia programs and the Major Festivals Initiative to the Ministry for the Arts.
As the Australian Government's funding and advisory body the Council is committed to working with all stakeholders.
The March grant round of the Australia Council grants program is unaffected and the outcomes will be announced publicly in June.
Over the coming months the Council will review its strategic plan and revise activities within the new budget, and in the context of further detail about the Government's new National Programme.
Australia Council Chief Executive Tony Grybowski said that following the reforms of the past two years the Council was a more dynamic and responsive organisation.
"This puts us in the best possible position to respond to the unexpected budget measures announced last week, and to make the most strategic use of our funding and expertise," Mr Grybowski said.
The Australia Council is committed to supporting a vibrant and sustainable ecology which includes artists at all stages of their careers, arts organisations of all sizes, and strategic investment to develop global markets and audiences.
Mr Grybowski said the Council remains uniquely positioned to be a strong advocate for Australian arts, drawing on the rich arts expertise of its staff and a deep knowledge base developed over almost half a century of supporting the arts in this country.
http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/news/media-centre/media-releases/australia-council-outlines-2015-16-budget-impact/


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Home / Stories / 'Hard for me."
'Hard for me."
I was casually enjoying a coffee with a friend in a cafe near my house. We were giggling and spilling the tea like gays do. To our surprise, a straight couple came and sat right on our side, even though the place was almost empty. They seemed to be on their first date. The awkwardness was so visible, but so cute at the same time. They didn't know what to talk about so the bad weather was the most frequent topic.
The girl was occasionally crossing her legs and flipping her hair, in an attempt to show how sexy she could be, while the guy was trying to keep his masculine figure up straight. His legs were open, like men do, and his hands were stuck into his thighs, trying to avoid any kind of theatricality that could harm his masculinity and repel the female. His face was very well groomed for such an a-male type of guy.
But his posture and his beard were not the focus of my attention. His huge bulge was. From the moment he entered the room and passed by in front of us, that bulge got my attention. Incredibly meaty. In exciting ways. If he was gay I would think that he got silicone on it. But on a closer look, you could understand that it was that big that he didn't know how to position it inside his denim. The light grey colour of the pants was also highlighting the thickness and the girth of it.
I couldn't take my eyes off of it. How could he live with such a big dick? I have never seen such a meaty bulge in my whole life before. And I have been to the right parties, you know. At some point he got up and went to the toilet. Maybe he was hard because he wanted to pee, I thought. During his visit to the toilet, the girl checked her phone, pushed her bra in order to pump up the boobs, and slightly lifted her shirt. And I thought, you go girl!
The gifted stud came back and my eyes were pinned on his package. I followed him walking all these 3 meters and I wished my vision could work on slow motion. It was still overwhelmingly big. And then the stud noticed me. But I didn't care, I had questions that needed to be answered.
The couple continued their (kind of boring) date. The guy kept his legs wide open, thankfully. Even though he was aware that I was starring at him. He was occasionally turning his heads towards me, like assuring me that he knew what I was into. I didn't stop. It felt like he was enjoying the idea.
Then it was the girl's time to visit the toilet. She made a very sensual walk through the room and got the guy to stare at her while she was walking away. And when she was passed the door, the guy turned his head and looked me in the eyes.
With his legs still wide open, his hand slipped and grabbed his bulge. Grabbed it sensually. Grabbed it like inviting me to a night full of cum. Grabbed it like telling me he was willing to let me suck it if I was up for it. Grabbed it like he was hard for me. He was playing with it. He was getting even harder and bigger. He was that big that when the girl came back he had to cross his legs in order to hide it.
My heart was beating so fast. I could feel my head being red. I was feeling exposed. Exposed like having sex in a room full of people starring at me. Such a pervert thought, and I knew that I would be jerking off to that later.
Their date was over and they were leaving. He winked at me and grabbed his meaty bulge one last time, as a goodbye gesture. The girl's skirt was that high up that you could see her underwear, and the only thing I could think of was how lucky that bitch was. And if she knew about poppers.
My eyes followed them walking away and wished them the best. My friend finally realised and said "oh that's why you were so spaced out."
D, Athens


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This refers to the entire court area, not just the courts. It is essential to CARRY INDOOR COURT SHOES into the club so that we do not track in sand and dirt from outside, which will damage the wooden floors. There are shoes in both locker rooms for people to borrow if needed.
COURT ETIQUETTE and acceptable attire.
Members and guests are asked to wear proper badminton attire. No caps on court ( the club has head bands for sale). Please do not walk behind the courts when play is happening wait for the rally to end. Ensure children are supervised at all times.
This includes family members. Cards are for the exclusive use of the member. Members will be warned once, and risk having their entry card revoked for a second infraction.
Members are responsible to ensure that guests have signed into the guest book and to put the drop-in fee into the box. This is to ensure that payment has been made and to reduce conflict on whether fees have been paid. If a guest is not signed in, they will not be covered by our insurance. *If a visitor is not accompanied by a member and you allow them in, you become responsible for their visit. You must sign the visitor in to the guest book and ensure that they pay the drop-in fee prior to play. They must leave when you leave – unless another member is willing to take responsibility for them at that time. There must be a member on site at all times when non members are playing.
PROTECTIVE EYE-WEAR must be worn by anyone UNDER THE AGE OF 19.
This is mandatory for our insurance and all members are expected to enforce this rule. If you bring in a junior to play, you are responsible to ensure they are wearing protective eye-wear. There are glasses available for purchase from an executive member. These are sold to members below cost. We encourage all members regardless of age to wear protective eye wear.
Please avoid using cell phones while in the play area. This includes turning the phone off, unless emergency calls are expected.
FAILURE TO ADHERE TO THESE RULES MAY RESULT IN THE LOSS OF MEMBER PRIVILEGES.