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Actually, Twilight Sparkle, I'm the main singer tonight (Sleepless in Ponyville)
March 2, 2014 mlp season 3, my little po-mo, my little pony: friendship is magic
I'm running a Kickstarter campaign to fund My Little Po-Mo volume 2 here!
And as long as you have your wallets out, you can help Viga pay for art school (and earn some custom art in the process)!
"Do you know what Freud said about dreams of flying?
It means you're really dreaming about having sex."
"Indeed? Tell me, then, what does it mean when you
dream about having sex?
"Uh… where are we going?"
"We are already here. It has begun."
It's December 8, 2012. Rihanna and her "Diamonds" still top the music charts, while the top movie is Skyfall. In the news, the Syrian civil war continues to worsen, prompting the U.N. to withdraw from the country; the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear two major gay-marriage cases on California's Proposition 8 and the federal government's DOMA; and massive protests against a power-grab by Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi result in him withdrawing the decree expanding his power, but continuing with efforts to revise the country's constitution.
On TV, we have Corey Powell's debut writing effort, "Sleepless in Ponyville," directed by James Wootton. Powell's other two credits, "Just for Sidekicks" and "Rainbow Falls," are respectively mediocre-bordering-on-bad and mediocre-bordering-on-good, and his initial effort splits the difference. The episode contains nothing objectionable, has a few mildly amusing moments, and a fairly interesting interpretation of Luna, but overall, it trudges where it should fly and squawks where it should sing.
At the core of the episode are a series of dream sequences, triggered by Scootaloo's fears of looking vulnerable in front of Rainbow Dash, in which Scootaloo encounters the monsters from Rainbow Dash's campfire stories. While these sequences have some nice touches, such as the return of the fear trees from the series premiere and the relatively subtle appearances of Luna prior to her full reveal at the end of the second dream, they are overall quite pedestrian. They are straightforwardly linear, with none of the surreal imagery or disjointedness of real dreams. To expect otherwise would, of course, be unreasonable in most children's shows, but given that this is a show that has done "Return of Harmony" and "Too Many Pinkie Pies," at least a touch of something odd and out-of-place would seem reasonable. Instead, the dreams are fully coherent, excessively so for dream sequences–even Twilight's imagination spots in "Lesson Zero" were more dreamlike than this!
The revelation of Luna's role as a protector of dreams somewhat salvages them. Luna is not too different from a pony version of the main character of Neil Gaiman's famed Sandman, Dream of the Endless–haughty, mysterious, impulsive and yet bound by complex rules. Gaiman's character is also the Lord of Stories, which fits with Luna's role as the initiator of the series, its first antagonist; in a way, she encompasses all the stories it tells. However, as this episode demonstrates, stories aren't dreams; dreams are disorganized, chaotic things, while stories are products of craft and art, deliberately and consciously constructed. Scootaloo's dreams are too coherently a part of a story, and thus do not feel like dreams at all.
If only the rest of the episode suffered from coherence! Unfortunately, it does not; Scootaloo's fear is of being rejected by Rainbow Dash, but her dreams do not particularly reflect this, which would partially justify their excessive straightforwardness. The first dream, in which she is pursued by "the olden pony" looking for her "rusty horseshoe," comes closest to reflecting that fear. The olden pony, in demanding something of Scootaloo that she does not possess, can, with a stretch, be viewed as signifying Rainbow Dash's unintentional demand that Scootaloo show a fearlessness she does not feel. To a lesser extent, the threat of the Headless Horse, as expressed by Scootaloo in her second dream, is that Scootaloo will "never be heard from again," that is, not die, but be silenced and erased.
But these links are fairly tenuous, and so instead we get Luna spelling out Scootaloo's "real" fear–which again makes no sense. If her fear is not of Rainbow Dash's stories, but that Rainbow Dash will see her fear, where is the fear coming from that she's afraid Rainbow Dash will see? And then she has a third dream, in which the olden pony chases her again, only to be fended off–not by Scootaloo or Luna providing the rusty horseshoe, but by Rainbow Dash. The implication is that it's Rainbow Dash who must provide the thing that Scootaloo lacks and Rainbow Dash wants, which would make total sense if this were a Rainbow Dash-centric episode–but it's not. Except for that one moment, the entirety of the episode and all of its character development (indeed, even the overwhelming majority of individual shots) are focused on Scootaloo.
More inconsistencies abound. How does Rainbow Dash know where to find Scootaloo when she wanders off into the woods? Why has Sweetie Belle suddenly lost the ability to sing? Why is Rarity willing to go camping, and why does she treat Sweetie Belle so callously and cruelly along the way? Even the episode's ending, in which Rainbow Dash agrees to become a surrogate sister for Scootaloo, is never followed up on in their later interactions, and runs counter to Lauren Faust's assertion that Rainbow Dash would be a terrible big sister. (Although, to be fair, the lack of later follow-up itself is consistent with that assertion.)
Basically, this episode is a mess of thematic incoherence and character inconsistency that has been entirely ignored by later episodes despite containing what could have been an extremely significant development in character relationships. At the same time, well, there is much, much worse to be found in Season 3. I've already excoriated one episode from this season, and am likely to be quite harsh regarding a couple more, so the question is, is there a redemptive reading available for this episode?
And there actually is one, suggested by the last major incoherent element: the episode title. "Sleepless in Ponyville" implies, well, Ponyville, yet the episode is set almost entirely in the woods outside Ponyville. How to reconcile that? Well, the complaint about the dreams was that, taken individually and in isolation, they were too coherent, while the episode as a whole in incoherent. But what if the entire episode is a dream? Scootaloo is in Ponyville the entire time, her apparent sleeplessness itself part of a dream she is having in Ponyville, an incoherent working-through of her jealousy of her friends' relationships with their big sisters, her hero-worship of Rainbow Dash, and her fear of not measuring up to Rainbow Dash's standards. In that regard, the ending of the episode, in which Rainbow Dash takes Scootaloo flying, takes on a new and rather bittersweet meaning: it is Scootaloo taking a first step toward acknowledging her disability. She cannot fly, and on some level knows that she will never fly under her own power, yet her hero-worship of Rainbow Dash demands that she dream of flying. Her answer, then, is to dream of her hero carrying her.
The way she dreams her friends is also telling: they are quietly obedient to their sisters, a relationship Scootaloo doesn't really understand. Apple Bloom's normal chatty dominance of every situation she finds herself in is absent, as is Sweetie Belle's flair for performance and dramatics, allowing, just for once, Scootaloo to take center stage. Even the Princess of the Night takes a personal interest in her–and note that it is the princess who was broken, but has been repaired, who appears not the proud, unbending, outwardly flawless one.
This is what Scootaloo dreams of. To be the special one, to have a sister, and in the end, above all, to fly. Isn't that what everyone dreams of?
Next week: Now this is more like it!
← MLP Liveblog Chat Thingy: It Ain't Easy Being Breezies
I think Princess Tutu just became my favorite anime ever… →
0 thoughts on "Actually, Twilight Sparkle, I'm the main singer tonight (Sleepless in Ponyville)"
As much as your dream theory is brilliant the show DOES acknowledge their relationship in the one episode both Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash are in focus. Flight to the Finnish has Rainbow drag the other CMC members from the train back to Scootaloo just to make sure Scootaloo isn't left behind. She comforts her when Scootaloo seems to have lost a sense of hope. She doesn't directly say "we're sisters" but neither would Applejack or Rarity in a similar situation. The unaffiliated coach doesn't go that out of her way, which is why Rainbow didn't do something earlier when she was trying to be "professional".
As for Sweetie Belle and Rarity, Rarity doesn't dislike camping because she doesn't like nature mostly. She dislikes camping because it's a lot of hard work. Sweetie Belle really wanted to go camping and Rarity was willing to go with her if Sweetie Belle did most of the work. The song Sweetie was singing was "100 bottles of Pop on the Wall" a song that's meant to be a terrible time waster, and Sweetie Belle sung it as such.
And Luna being a bit less broken here works for me. She sees Princess Celestia doing her duties constantly with an air of dignity and grace. When she's acting as Princess to her subjects she mimics her older sister's behavior… Like the CMC mimic their older inspirations.
I dunno, that seemed like something Rainbow Dash would do for anypony. She has something of a saving people thing, y'know?
But VERY good point about Luna imitating her older sister. I'm not sure where I suggested she should be "broken," though? We've already seen her starting to adjust in the Nightmare Night episode, which is over a year ago at this point.


Bowen Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Chino Valley can help those who have recently experienced an auto accident and seek help in spinal screenings and chiropractic treatment. Without meeting with a medical professional, it is difficult determine all injuries, which may cause residual pain days after the car accident has happened. Dr. Robert Bowen will be able to assess your injury and create a treatment plan to address your pain.
Insurance companies realize the many advantages of Chiropractic care. Chiropractic treatment is fully covered by most automobile insurance policies, no matter whether you were the driver, a passenger or a pedestrian.
The reason why chiropractic care is so important after a car accident has little to do with you being in pain. Whiplash injuries can wreak havoc on your spine and the associated nerves. You may not be in a lot of pain immediately following the accident, but research indicates that most people will experience a bulk of their symptoms after a few days.
Once you start to feel symptoms, this is a good indicator that that a soft-tissue injury has occurred. You are likely experiencing a sprain/strain kind of injury. Sprain and strain injuries don't sound horrible, but they are really describing tears of various tissues in your body which occur following an accident. The severity of the tear will indicate the type of treatment you should probably consider first. The chiropractor can help make the determination.
A study in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery stated that "…an individual involved in a motor vehicle accident is nearly 7-times more likely to suffer neck degeneration within 7-years of the accident…" than individuals that have not been involved in an auto accident. The goal of chiropractic care is to return the injured joints, muscles and nerves to complete, healthy function thereby reducing this increased risk of degeneration.
Eventually, your body will heal with scar tissue. Scar tissue is more sensitive than the previously uninjured tissue that you had within you before. Once scar tissue sets up (this takes about 3 weeks following the trauma), it will become increasingly difficult to get you back to your pre-accident state. Receiving some chiropractic adjustments to your spine will help assure that your spine is in its best position as that scar tissue begins to form.
Even car crashes at extremely low speeds can cause a serious amount of damage to your body. Studies show that many injuries take place in accidents under 20 miles per hour. Image what could happen if you are involved in a car crash at a high speed! Even if you don't experience immediate pain, it is very wise and highly recommended to visit a chiropractor after a car accident to make sure that you spine hasn't become misaligned and that your body has not sustained any other injuries that are perhaps, at this point in time, unknown to you.
For many, a little bit of stiffness or soreness doesn't seem to warrant a trip to the doctor. If the accident was minor or there was no damage to your vehicle, you might also believe (or convince yourself) that you're fine, too. Going through an auto accident is traumatic enough as it is, and it's perfectly understandable that victims want to move past it as soon as possible. But the biggest mistake we see people make is to neglect to seek treatment immediately following an accident.
Most auto accident policies and worker's compensation insurance cover 100% of the cost of care.
Based upon qualifying insurance, we treat most auto accidents and work injuries with no out of pocket cost. And we will gladly wait for payment from the responsible insurance company or your attorney.
*Not applicable with Medicare & a few other health insurance companies.


Activision VP Dave Stohl says that in order to properly capitalize on opportunities, the publisher has adopted a new development strategy.
The days of developers working on multiple projects are a thing of the past, or at least they are at Activision. Activision Worldwide Studios VP Dave Stohl, who oversees all of Activision's owned developers, says that a studio trying to make two or more games at the same time "doesn't make sense anymore."
"People want the freedom to put all their resources against the big opportunity, and that's what we're trying to do," said Stohl. "[The industry is geared towards] big cross-platform launches in all territories with massive network support on the backend. So the opportunities and projects are just bigger; they're more challenging. And it absolutely takes focus. I mean, it really does."
This isn't a permanent state of affairs for Activision though, and Stohl stays forward planning and predicting new trends is very important: "You can't think only about today ... you have to say, 'What are our three-, four-year plans,' so that you don't make short term mistakes that you're gonna regret in the long term," he said. "You've gotta anticipate things, things like new hardware, hardware transitions, the cycles of it all, that kind of stuff, and then anticipate, and try to be smart about it."
Activision's strategy sounds like a sensible one, especially if it is taking steps to ensure it can still remain flexible should the need arise. Although it's unlikely every single upcoming Activision game is going to be amazing, studios devoting all their time and energy into a single project will hopefully produce some excellent games.


ATS was founded in 1981 and has been serving Christian workers in the field for more than a quarter of a century. Our mission statement is "To provide a quality Bible-based education to preachers, teachers, and counselors of God's word so that they might be able to faithfully proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to disciple Christians in God's word." And we have been fulfilling this mission nationwide and across the globe for over 30 years.
Welcome to Andersonville Theological Seminary, a seminary with a distinguished history and curriculum. I am so glad that you have chosen to become a part of the ATS family, joining a student body of over 3,000 active students and thousands of alumni worldwide.
For over a quarter of a century, I have watched as ATS has grown, beginning from a small unknown Bible school into a seminary with worldwide student body. Over those years, many things have changed at ATS so that our students might have the best opportunities to receive a seminary education while actively serving in the field. Yet, one thing has not changed and will not change, and that is ATS' commitment to teaching God's Word in a verse-by-verse style as frequently as is possible in every ATS program. No filler courses will be found in our curriculum; instead our programs are overflowing with actual Bible exposition and exegesis.
At ATS we are committed to helping people like you who want to be leaders in spreading the Word in their communities.
ATS has developed a program of study that allows pastors, teachers, and counselors to earn their seminary degrees from their own homes while continuing to actively serve in the field.
Students and Alumni can find transcript, graduation and order forms under the Forms tab on this site.


5 Sites similar to PCHGames.com Where You Can Play to Win Cash Prizes. We all know, Publishers Clearing House Online Games Platform but lets take a pick at other cash game websites that have free slots games, casino games, card games and tokens. Playing games is a great way to pass the time, but it's better when you could use it to your financial advantage? You can. There are many other sites out there like PCHGames that will allow players to play games and earn cash at the same time. Here are five other you should consider: Swagbucks ( swagbucks.com )This is a great site to sign up for if you are looking to earn cash. There are many things you can do there and you are paid in a currency called Swagbucks. One you earn enough of them, you can convert them into real money. The best part is that you don't have to pay anything in order to become a member.
PogoGames site is great because every game you play comes with the opportunity to take a jackpot spin. There is a chance that you could win up to $4,999 instantly. While there are paid games on this site, people who play the free games are given the same opportunity.
Instead of sitting around and wondering if all of this is true, you should start signing up with the sites mentioned here. It will give you the opportunity to kill some time, have some fun and make a little cash in the process. Good Luck!
Pch $4999 instance money to have holy. Holy.
There has been many moments I have had dreams of winning $5000 per week forever.Give me my dream and activate my entry so I can fulfill those dreams.
and the activation code would not go through.
I don't think this is fair, on a post card, so everybody can see the number, REALLY!!!!


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UCDS Schools Graduate Program
UCDS Directory
Philosophy & Research
Master of Education Course of Study
CSC Application Instructions
Grad Student Portal
Resident Teacher Program
Thursday Night Workshops
Summer Math Workshop
Math Vitamin
UCDS SPARK Magazine
UCDS Institute Blog
The UCDS Fund is our annual giving campaign. The Fund is essential to our viability, helping to provide operating support, pay for programs like our laboratory classrooms, and—through our Forever Endowment—enables us to provide tuition assistance and keep the best teachers in our classrooms. Every gift makes a difference. Learn more.
UCDS Forever Endowment
In conjunction with the John Neilson Fund, the UCDS Forever Endowment is a sustaining investment in the future of UCDS. The Forever Endowment ensures UCDS programs will remain accessible to teachers and students throughout the educational community. Support for the Forever Endowment enables UCDS to develop innovative educational programming for our teachers, as well as educators outside the school. The Forever Endowment allows our teachers to connect with researchers and thought leaders throughout the globe. Every connection we make grows and expands the vitality of UCDS for generations to come.
Each year, approximately 4% of endowment investment income is released to support tuition assistance and teacher excellence. Of those funds released, 60% are allocated for accessibility and tuition assistance and 40% are directed to the UCDS Institute for professional development. Endowment funds enable UCDS Institute programs to be fully-funded without the use of tuition dollars.
Endowment FAQ
Q: What is an endowment?
A: An endowment is a donation of money or property to a non-profit organization, which uses the resulting investment income for a specific purpose. Most endowments are designed to keep the principal amount intact while using the investment income for charitable efforts.
Q: Why is it important to grow the endowment?
A: The endowment provides a predictable, sustainable revenue source. Growing the endowment is important, as educational expenses continue to rise with each school year. While previous generations of families began the endowment, with your help we remain committed to its unending legacy.
support the ucds institute
The John Neilson Fund
UCDS parent, John Neilson loved ideas; those he found in literature and those he gained through a deep appreciation of world culture, math, science, art, music, philosophy and physical excellence. In 1999, at the age of 38, John lost a hard fought battle against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In honor of John's life, a group of his family, friends and colleagues created the John Neilson Fund. The Neilson Fund supports the UCDS Institute (formerly known as the Teacher Education Center, or TEC).
Honoring Legacies through Art Education
UCDS has had many amazing teachers, but the impact of Diane Chickadel and Lowell Hovis continue to resonate in classrooms. Diane Chickadel and Lowell Hovis understood the impact and importance of the arts in education. The Diane Chickadel FUNd for the Creative Arts and the Lowell Hovis Arts Fund honors these incredible teachers and their passion for the arts.
The Diane Chickadel Fund for the Creative Arts
Throughout Diane Chickadel's 26-year tenure at UCDS, she encouraged students to tackle challenges, take creative risks and inspire others to rise. Above all, Diane's lasting impact on the UCDS community is that learning is exciting and fun. A gift to the Diane Chickadel Fund for the Creative Arts provides opportunities for all teachers to infuse their classrooms with the transformative power of the visual arts.
The Lowell Hovis Arts Fund
Lowell Hovis had a lifelong love of both math and the arts. His first love, however, was teaching, which he did continuously for 50 years. Lowell enriched the UCDS community, sharing his childlike enthusiasm for daily discoveries and the wonder of the world's complexity and beauty. The Hovis Arts Fund honors Lowell's memory by providing Seattle area students with scholarships to attend the Creative Fusion Arts Workshop. Creative Fusion provides students with access to practicing professional artists through a weeklong studio experience.
Fund Impact Stories
DONATE: Your support makes a difference.
Learn about our programs for children at UCDS schools.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Phylogenomics, biogeography, and evolution in the American palm genus Brahea
Craig F. Barrett, Brandon T. Sinn, Loren T. King, Jesus C. Medina, Christine D. Bacon, Sean C. Lahmeyer, Donald R. Hodel
Craig F. Barrett
Department of Biology, West Virginia University, 53 Campus Dr., Morgantown, West Virginia, USA 26506
For correspondence: cfb0001@mail.wvu.edu
Brandon T. Sinn
Loren T. King
Jesus C. Medina
Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, 5151 State University Dr., Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA 90032
Christine D. Bacon
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Carl Skottsbergs gata 22B, P.O. Box 461, SE 405 30, Göteborg, SwedenGothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Box 461, SE-405 30, Göteborg, Sweden
Sean C. Lahmeyer
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California, USA 91108
Donald R. Hodel
University of California Cooperative Extension, 700 West Main Street, Alhambra, California USA 91801
Background and Aims Slow rates of molecular evolution at low taxonomic levels hamper studies of relationships among species, and subsequent biogeographic and evolutionary analyses. An example is the genus Brahea, which is among the most poorly understood lineages of American palms and is characterized by a wide variety of growth forms and intermediate morphological features.
Methods We generated approximately 400 kb of genome-scale data from all three genomes for the 11 currently described species of Brahea to infer phylogenetic relationships, reconstruct ancestral growth form, estimate ancestral geographic ranges, and test for niche equivalency among closely related species with geographic overlap.
Key Results Relationships receive strong support, and conform to previous subgeneric assignments, except for placement of the dwarf species B. moorei within subgenus Erythea. Our robust phylogenetic hypothesis reveals trends in growth form including an overall increase in height in the B. armata clade, and independent evolution of dwarf forms from taller ancestors in the B. pimo and B. dulcis clades. Ancestral range estimation reveals roles of dispersal (e.g. B. edulis on Guadalupe Island) and sympatric speciation in some cases (e.g. in the B. armata clade), but is equivocal in others (e.g. in the B. pimo clade). We find evidence of niche non-equivalency among species within the B. armata clade in northwestern Mexico, and some evidence of niche non-equivalency between B. berlandieri and B. dulcis, the former of which is synonymized under B. dulcis.
Conclusions Our findings have implications for the complex biogeographic history in Central America and Mexico, suggesting that sympatric speciation and dispersal are the predominant processes of species diversification. Future studies should include population-level sampling across the genus, along with morphological and ecological information, to assess distinctness among species and, particularly, levels of gene flow, in an integrative fashion.
Posted November 11, 2018.
You are going to email the following Phylogenomics, biogeography, and evolution in the American palm genus Brahea


So I am unashamedly a DevExpress fanboy. And I have blogged about the impending release of their AgDataGrid Grid for Silverlight. Well now they have made a demo of the AgDataGrid available, go and have a look at it here. It has most of the goodness of their XtraDataGrid suite and a few extras like animation support.


Sleek and modern yet affordable and easy to install, the Triton Kito adds a touch of elegance to any bathroom. With three power settings, multiple spray patterns and a slimmer profile, the Kito is the good choice shower for more discerning users.
The Kito is one of Triton's higher-end models, with a sleek, all-chrome design and a range of convenient features to make showering more pleasurable.
A simple push-button start and stop gets your shower started in seconds whilst the temperature dial makes it simple to find the right water temperature. The dial features a visual guide to let you know which temperature you're choosing.
Three power settings are available with the push of a button: cold, eco and high. And to make showering more luxurious, the Kito offers five spray patterns: jet, spray, blast, rain and drench.
A low pressure LED indicator lets you know when the water pressure falls below the recommended level. Lower pressure will affect performance.
The phased shutdown feature helps prevent limescale and makes the shower safe for the next person to use by flushing out any remaining pre-heated water. This one feature alone can add years of use to your electric shower.
Built with slimline technology, this unit is slimmer and more compact than other models in the Triton lineup. With its compact size, this shower is ideal for smaller bathrooms.
All of the parts and labour are backed by a two-year guarantee, so you can feel safe in knowing that your purchase is protected.
The only gripe we had with this model is that it does not offer an extreme temperature cut-off, which is a nice safety feature. A temperature cut-off feature would turn the hot water off when the temperature reached an unsafe level to prevent scalding. Not all electric showers have this feature, but some mid- to high-end models do.
Despite this slight drawback, the Triton Kito is an excellent choice for bathrooms of all sizes. Sleek, modern and compact, the Kito offers a spa-like shower while helping you save on water and energy each month.


So this is going to be my first build, I already have Core i7-7700 and Samsung 860 EVO 2 TB. I wanted a portable machine for traveling. Found this case online and I liked it a lot, the case is modular so adding a large tophat would allow me to install NZXT Kraken X52.
This is the build I'm thinking of building, planning on putting the cooler at the bottom of the case. I don't have a lot of knowledge about air flow or any super technical stuff since this is my first build, would appreciate opinions and suggestions on anything.
Oh shoot, good point! I just checked and the 2080 I picked is actually too thick, I guess I'll have to go with some 1080 Ti. Thank you!!
Anyone have suggestions on alternative parts that are the same or better but cheaper? I'm hoping this unit can last a 3-4 years. Is this video card over killing it?
Is MSI RTX 2080 Aero, blower style a better alternative? Trying to reduce the budget for GPUs.


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Books & Comics Star Wars
Del Rey Announces Four Additions to the Star Wars Legends Essential Collection Novels
June 24, 2021 October 25, 2021 Kyle Larson #Star Wars, Books & Comics, Del Rey
Del Rey continues to reward longtime Star Wars readers with four new additions to their Essential Legends Collection. With their first round of titles released last week (Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn; Darth Bane: Path of Destruction by Drew Karpyshyn; Shatterpoint by Matthew Stover), Del Rey is wasting no time adding to the collection. Each title features a new cover by artist Tracie Ching and it sounds like this project will be ongoing.
From Del Rey:
Novels set in a galaxy far, far away have enriched the Star Wars experience for fans seeking to continue the adventure beyond the screen. When he created Star Wars, George Lucas built a universe that sparked the imagination, and inspired others to create. He opened up that universe to be a creative space for other people to tell their own tales. This became known as the Expanded Universe, or EU, of novels, comics, videogames, and more.
To this day, the EU remains an inspiration for Star Wars creators and is published under the label Legends. Ideas, characters, story elements, and more from new Star Wars entertainment trace their origins back to material from the Expanded Universe. This Essential Legends Collection curates some of the most treasured stories from that expansive legacy.
On September 7th, the collection expands with a new batch of trade paperback editions: Dark Force Rising by Timothy Zahn, The Last Command by Timothy Zahn, Darth Bane: The Rule of Two by Drew Karpyshyn, and Rogue Squadron by Michael A. Stackpole. Each edition will have a new book cover with original artwork. Tracie Ching is the cover artist of Dark Force Rising and the Last Command, Simon Goinard is the cover artist of The Rule of Two, and Doaly is the cover artist of Rogue Squadron. In addition to the new cover, Rogue Squadron will also receive an all-new unabridged audiobook edition, read by Star Wars narrator Marc Thompson.
Take a look at these covers! I just received the first round of Essential Legends Collection titles and they look fantastic on my bookshelf. This is a great way for Del Rey to honor the special place these stories have for longtime readers, as well as presenting them to a whole new generation of fans who can explore these stories for the first time.
The original Thrawn trilogy by Timothy Zahn will be completed in this release cycle, along with the second novel of Drew Karpyshyn's Darth Bane trilogy. The addition of the first novel in Michael Stackpole's Rogue Squadron suggests this series will be getting some love, too. Rogue Squadron will also be released as a new audiobook, read by Star Wars audiobook veteran Marc Thompson. It's been wonderful to revisit these stories, especially since the binding of the old copies I own is finally starting to go. This art by Tracie Ching is incredible and will surely grab any curious readers who might not be familiar with the Legends titles.
Look for these titles to arrive where books are sold on September 7th. Del Rey also let us know to expect more additions to the Essential Legends Collection in the Spring of 2022. The Force is strong with these Legends novel! I'll politely suggest the Revenge of the Sith novelization by Matthew Stover be included.
Kyle Larson lives in Portland, Oregon. When he's not running trails, he's reading and writing.
https://www.starwarsnewsnet.com/author/kyle
Review - Two Eras of Jedi Meet in Marvel's Star Wars #20
Review - A New Rival Emerges in Marvel's Doctor Aphra #17
Review - Battered and Burned in 'The Fallen Star' by Claudia Gray
Review - Embrace Mindfulness With 'Inner Jedi: A Guided Journal for Training in the Light Side of the Force'
← Review – The Sith Enter the War of the Bounty Hunters in Marvel's Star Wars: Darth Vader #13
'Star Wars: The Bad Batch' Mid-Season Trailer Teases Return Of Fennec Shand →
The Last Jedi Theatrical Poster Revealed!
October 10, 2017 November 27, 2021 John Hoey
Star Wars Twitter Buzz: Is the Episode 7 Teaser Trailer Coming Sooner Than Expected?
November 5, 2014 November 21, 2021 Val Trichkov (Viral Hide)
Marvel Unlimited: This Week's Star Wars Releases
July 21, 2021 October 25, 2021 Alex Newman
omg black cassandra is really racist these trandoshans probably were peace loving hippies just having nice meillorun juice or jamba...
By: Embo and His Pet Anooba
2 hours 29 seconds ago


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                        hasError = true;
                    }

                    if(hasError == false){
                        System.out.println("######################## Image can be uploaded ################");
                        imageEntry.setContentType(upload.getContentType());
                        imageEntry.setImageName(upload.getClientFileName());
                        imageEntry.setImageSize(upload.getSize());
                        if(imageEntry != null){
                            try {
                                save(imageEntry,upload.getInputStream());
                            } catch (IOException e) {
                                e.printStackTrace();
                            }
                        }
                    }else{
                        target.appendJavaScript("$().toastmessage('showNoticeToast','Please select a valid image!!')");
                        System.out.println("#################### Error in image uploading ###################");
                    }
                }else{
                    System.out.println("########################### Image not Selected #####################");
                }

Any help and advices appreciated! Thanks in advance.

A: The FileUploadField is a form component, so you can simply do a
fileUploadField.error("error with file upload");

PS: instead of
if(hasError == false)

do a
if (!hasError)

its nicer :)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Celebrities You Didn't Know Are Cat Lovers
Not everyone loves cat, but not everyone hates them either. Cats are the most popular pet in the world because of their interesting features. The worth of the world's wealthiest cat is $13 million. Many famous actors, comedians, and musicians are cat people. Now, we'll focus on celebrities who love their feline friends. They spend most of their time in sharing photos of their cats. So, here is the list of famous cat lover celebrities. This list might very well surprise you!
The million-dollar-selling country/pop darling is no doubt a proud cat lady. So it's no surprise that she takes her Scottish fold cats, Meredith and Olivia, almost everywhere she goes and posts pics of them on her social media accounts. Fortunate felines!
The leading star of "The vampire diaries," is a softie in real life when it comes to felines. To more of your surprise, Ian Somerhalder was the sexiest cat guy of 2013 as well. He adopted a cat named Sohalia from the shelter when it was labeled as feral. He shared her story on his Instagram account by saying, "looks pretty friendly to me". He seems to be very passionate about cats as he shares swoon-worthy cat posts on his Facebook and Twitter.
The legendary pop singer is also a cat lover. She has a pet cat named Mr. Big, whom she really dotes on like any other cat lover does. In fact, when Mr. Big fell ill, it became global news!
Cher, not surprisingly, posts pictures of Mr. Big on her social media accounts.
This is no surprise — (reclusive) rock stars like Morrisey often like the company of felines more than humans or even other pet animals. Morrissey, an English musician who was titled to be the greatest singer of all time, we cannot put into words how much he is into cats. This legendary rock star whose love for cats is so well known that his entire Tumblr page is devoted to photos of him with cats. Not just that, the former Smiths frontman is a passionate animal advocate and also a PETA spokesperson. He says he has always been fascinated by cats as he finds them "intelligent and very superior."
His love for cats is not restricted to home pets only; in fact, he loves cats everywhere.
The eccentric singer with changing outfits and hair color is also a big cat lover. She has a pet cat named Mr. Peeps, who also has his own Twitter page! Also, she regularly posts about her cat on Facebook and Instagram profiles.
The British comedian likes to spend his free time with Ollie, a Siamese, and also takes several selfies with him. He's unashamedly proud of his blue-eyed feline.
The geeky star, known for playing the lead role of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in the film The Social Network, is a proud feline foster parent. In fact, his small New York apartment becomes even more cramped with lots of cats (and cat litter), but he doesn't mind. Eisenberg said: "My life is basically just feeding and cleaning cats." He is also a vegetarian.
The Desperate Housewives star is a big fan of cats, and that made her a perfect candidate for Sheba's "Feed Your Passion" campaign. Longoria likens cats to women because she thinks that they are "feminine and independent."
The hefty rapper and record producer is also a proud cat owner. His feline is a white Persian named 'Purrfect' who is a rescue cat. With her long, silky snow-white coat and long tail, Purrfect really lives up to her name! She even has her own Twitter account — presumably created by her doting master, who says that Purrfect sends tweets from her "iPawd." How sweet!
The famous burlesque dancer and entertainer is a proud cat momma — and her three gorgeous Devon Rex cats are so lucky to live the high life! She sometimes travels with them with luxury and style using Louis Vuitton carriers.
All-time music sensation, Miley Cyrus is truly an animal lover. She has multiple cats, dogs, and pigs in her home. But when she talks about her favorite pet then undoubtedly, her fluffy cute white kitty takes the top rank. The name of this cute little creature is Shanti Om Bb.
The famous American television personality, model, socialite, and businesswoman is a die-heart fan of her cat, "Charlie". She has adopted a Bengal cat that is quite famous on her human mom's Instagram feed that shows how close and well-loved this Bengal baby is.
Lea Michele, a wonderful actress, singer, and author who also shares on social media, the beautiful clicks of her adorable feline friend named, Sheila. Lea is not afraid of the world to tell that she is in love with her pet so much that she could not stop showing it.
The top successful businesswoman who is the founder of Martha Stewart Living Omni Media, writer and a former model is no less lover of cats. She owns many beautiful dogs and cats, but if we talk about cuteness, her favorite Princess Peony takes the cake. She loves her so much that she calls her Persian crowning glory.
You would be surprised to know that Jon Hamm is a cat lover. He has a lot of affection for these four-legged, whiskered felines but does not own one. However, this does not make his enthusiasm or love for cats any less.
Actress Evan Rachel Wood is often spotted with her beautiful cat cuddling up. She got her pet, Nicodemus in 2008. She is totally obsessed with her and shares adorable snapshots on her Twitter page.
Amanda Seyfried, a foster mom of animals, is always on a hunt for finding forever homes for homeless animals. Currently, she has cute tabby cats, but they are not her long-term pets.
Do you want to know about an unabashed cat lover? So here he is, Robert Downey Jr. who has an adorable little kitten that is extremely cute and innocent but we wonder how she looks like being clutched by Iron man.
Peyton Clark
Peyton Clark, a Disney star, has also proved to be a cat lover as he is seen with his fluffy cat, Cotton all the time.
Summing up this list with our favorite Ed Sheeran who is a self-proclaimed cat lover. He has several beautiful kitties which he rescued over the years. But fluffball comes to number one due to its overloaded cuteness.
If you enjoy reading stories about cats and discovering little-known facts about your favorite celebrities, then you will love reading this book "For The Love Of Cats" by Christina Hamilton – it will take you to a side trip through the affection that celebrities have for their cats.


text:
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text:
ANNOUNCER:
I'm Doug Johnson with PEOPLE IN AMERICA in VOA Special English. Today we tell the story of a musician who led one of the most popular American bands during the nineteen thirties and forties.
His name was Artie Shaw. Listen for a few minutes to one of his many hit songs. This one is called "Frenesi." Artie Shaw plays the clarinet.
On December thirtieth, two thousand four, Artie Shaw died after a long sickness. He was ninety-four years old. He was the last great musician and bandleader of what has been called the "Big Band Era." Some of the others were Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller.
In the nineteen thirties and nineteen forties Artie Shaw was one of the most popular musicians and bandleaders in the United States. Just a few notes from his clarinet could start people dancing. His music sold millions of records.
It still is difficult to listen to an old Artie Shaw recording and not tap your foot in time with the music. Or want to dance. Or sing along with his great sound.
Listen to Shaw on the clarinet and his band play part of a song recorded in Hollywood, California in nineteen forty. It is called "Summit Ridge Drive."
Artie Shaw was born in New York City in nineteen ten. His name was Arthur Arshawsky. His parents were poor immigrants who had come to the United States from Eastern Europe. His family later moved to New Haven, Connecticut.
At the age of fourteen, he began to play the saxophone and then the clarinet. From a very young age, Artie Shaw wanted to play his clarinet better than anyone. He wanted his sound and music to be perfect. He worked at this task much of his life.
He began working as a professional musician when he was fifteen. He left home and began playing in bands across the United States.
In nineteen twenty-seven, young Artie Shaw traveled to Chicago, Illinois to hear the great trumpet player, Louis Armstrong. He immediately understood that Armstrong's great jazz sound was the beginning of something new and exciting. Artie left Chicago with a growing interest in jazz music. Soon after, he moved to New York City.
He got work playing the clarinet for the Columbia Broadcast System radio network. In nineteen thirty-six, he was given a chance to form a small group and play at New York's famous Imperial Theater on Broadway. His group was not the top band in the show. But the crowd loved his music. This proved to a major step in his career.
Artie Shaw was always trying something new, something different. He heard a young black woman sing and hired her for his band. This was the first time that a black woman sang with white musicians. Racial separation was the rule in many states. Artie Shaw did not care.
The young singer was Billie Holiday. She would become very famous within a few years. Listen as Billie Holiday sings with Artie Shaw's band. This recording was made in nineteen thirty-eight. It is called "Any Old Time."
That same year, Artie Shaw and his band recorded what would be one of their most popular songs. It sold millions of records. It still sells several thousand each year. Shaw was surprised that it became so popular. The song is "Begin the Beguine" written by Cole Porter.
Artie Shaw was well known before he recorded "Begin the Beguine." But that record made him extremely famous. He and his band earned as much as sixty thousand dollars each week. That was a huge amount of money then. However, the fame caused problems for Shaw. He could not go anywhere without being recognized. He no longer had a private life.
Artie Shaw was married eight times. Two of his wives were Lana Turner and Ava Gardner. They were the most famous and beautiful Hollywood movie actresses of that time. Those marriages increased his fame and made it even harder to have a private life. The fame may have helped lead to the failure of his marriages.
His attempts to create better music also caused problems for Artie Shaw. Many years later, he said people always wanted to hear the old songs he had recorded. They did not want to hear new music he was writing. He did not like playing the same old songs again and again.
Critics have always said his playing was very special. Sometimes Shaw did not follow the music. He would improvise. This means he would play the music as he felt it. He often took a song that everyone knew and changed it so it sounded very different.
Listen to Artie Shaw improvise with a song called "Stardust." It was recorded in nineteen forty. It was another major hit for Shaw and his band and sold millions of records.
Artie Shaw made his last public appearance as a musician in nineteen fifty-four. He said the struggle with fame and trying to produce a perfect sound was destroying him. He was only forty-four years old. He never played the clarinet again.
Artie Shaw wrote several books in his later years. He wrote stories for magazines. He spoke about music at colleges and universities. But he had very little to do with the world of recording or music. During those years however, he received many awards and honors for his music. These included a Hall of Fame award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
Music experts will tell you that Artie Shaw was one of the best of the big band leaders and musicians. Much of his work from so long ago is still fresh and exciting today.
We leave you with one more Artie Shaw song. He recorded it in nineteen forty. It is called "Blues." Listen as Artie Shaw makes his clarinet fly.
This program was written and produced by Paul Thompson. Bob Doughty was our engineer and I'm Doug Johnson. Listen again next week for another People In America program in VOA Special English.
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text:
"Busy?" he said, his gaze dipping over her. "How have you been? You're looking great."
"So are you," she mumbled, turning as her coffee was handed over. "I've been busy, too. I'm actually running late to see a client." She started to back away. "But it's really good seeing you. We should do dinner sometime." She had absolutely no plans of doing that, but it sounded polite.
Steven's smile spread. "I'd love that. I'm actually engaged now. Would love for you to meet her."
"Oh." Well, shit, was everyone getting married? "That's really nice. Congratulations."
"Thank you," he replied. "You?"
Me? Ah, yes, here comes the awkward moment. "There's…um, no one I'm too serious with." As in no one in general, but he didn't need to know that. "Well, then I'll call you." She was almost to the door. "It's nice seeing you."
Alana ducked out before she had to make any more embarrassingly stilted conversation.
God, she was the most awkward person ever when it came to running into exes. As cruel as it sounded, she was the type of person who, when the relationship was over for her, was done and could live happily ever after if she never ran into him again.
Steven was a blast from the past, a man who'd claimed to love her, and while she'd cared for him deeply, it hadn't worked out. He'd wanted more, a part of her that Alana had never been able to give. That had saddened her, still did. Steven would've made the perfect husband—successful doctor, well traveled with homes on the east and west coast, patient, and alarmingly kind.
But after a few months, Alana had grown restless and had sensed that Steven would continue to push for more from her: a serious commitment, and that wasn't what she wanted. He'd been upset when she broke off the relationship at the beginning of last year, claiming that she was running from him and her feelings.
She was happy to hear he was engaged, though. He was a good man and deserved a rich, happy life.
It didn't take too long to shake off the weirdness from the unexpected meeting, but as she walked back to her office's parking a garage, she shivered. The feeling of…of being watched was so strong, she looked over her shoulder, but all she saw was a sea of unfamiliar faces.
The odd sensation stayed with her until she climbed into her rental car. It could be paranoia or something else, but how could she tell the difference? All she could do was be vigilant.
After about an hour drive to make it out to the senator's home in Alexandria, she discovered the senator half dressed with yet another woman of questionable employment right in his foyer, while his wife was at a charity function.
The man had no impulse control.
It took her an ugly amount of time to explain why fornication with prostitutes shouldn't be high on his to-do list, and then nearly two hours to get back into the city due to a traffic snarl on the beltway. By the time she pulled into the parking garage, all she wanted to do was eat her weight in pie and call it a night. At least it was Friday night. As long as her senator didn't run through his gated community naked, she could grab what she needed from her apartment and head back to the hotel, order room service, and hole up like a sloth.
Chandler hadn't called her back. She could've called him, and she almost did on the way to her apartment. The idea of going there alone gave her the creeps, but she couldn't bring herself to press the numbers into her cell. He'd said he would call her. Calling him seemed… It seemed what? Like she was interested in something other than what she had come to him for?
She rode the elevator up to her floor, chewing on the inside of her cheek. Although she'd been expecting a call from him, it had completely caught her off guard. Well, her reaction to his call was what truly surprised her. The rest of the afternoon and well into the evening, she'd experienced alternating flashes of edgy excitement and then queasy nervousness. It had felt like forever since she'd been attracted to someone or felt like a giddy girl with a secret crush.
And she was far from being a giddy girl.
Walking to her door, she dug her keys out of her bag as her thoughts spun around the possibility that she was actually harboring a godforsaken crush on Chandler Gamble. Of all the eligible men she came into contact with on a daily basis, her body would have to decide it was him it was interested in. He was the worst possible choice, considering his wild reputation. Normally Alana gravitated toward the quiet and safe men, the kind whose good time consisted of movies and takeout. Not whips, handcuffs, and God knows what else Chandler brought to the table, but there was something about him that made her want to let loose and…and get a little wild.
Alana had never been wild. Not once in her entire life, which was amazing given the genes she'd inherited. None of her relationships had ever evoked the nervous rush of excitement or the kind of attraction that had her catching her breath. But it was better like that. Way too many women in her family had fallen prey to lust that flipped into unrequited love that destroyed the potential of their lives.
So caught up in her thoughts, she almost didn't notice that her door was ajar as she reached forward to slide in the key. Her breath caught and the tiny hairs on the back of her neck rose.
Time slowed down as her instincts fired off warnings, telling her to get the hell out of there, to call the police, but she saw her hand, incredibly pale and trembling, push open the door.
What she saw wrenched a horrified cry from deep inside her chest and almost brought her to her knees.
"Chad is such a pansy ass."
Sitting next to his brother on the large sofa, Chandler snorted as he nursed a beer. He and Chase were watching Chad on the big screen, pitching against the Braves. The Nationals were in the fifth inning, likely to win big in the away game.
The camera zoomed in on Chad as he lifted his left leg and reared back, prepared to deliver another wicked fastball. From this angle, it was hard not to notice the fuchsia hanky tucked in the back pocket of his uniform—his Bridget-inspired good luck charm and what, according to Chase, made him a pansy ass.
"Look who's talking," Chandler replied mildly, taking a swig of his beer. "I think you broke the record for how many texts you can send a girlfriend in a hour."
Chase shot him a look. "Whatever. Maddie isn't feeling well, so I'm checking in on her."
Real concern pinched his features as he looked at his brother. Maddie was like a little sister to Chandler and he cared for her deeply. "What's wrong with her?
"I think she's got the flu," he said, his gaze moving from the screen to his phone. "Woke up this morning throwing up like she was on an all-night bender. I told her I'd stay home with her tonight, but she told me to leave or she'd kick my ass."
Chandler's lips twitched into a smile. "You're not going to the clubs tonight, then?"
"Hell no." Chase had taken over their father's business, running and operating several exclusive clubs throughout the tri-state area. "I'm already itching to get back to her, so I'm sure as hell not going to spend half the night away just in case she gets sicker."
"Then you should be home."
Chase glanced at him. "Like I said, she threatened to kick my ass. You know how she gets."
He laughed. Maddie was a tiny thing, but he wouldn't put it past her to make good on her threat. "You should pick her up some ginger ale and crackers."
"Yes, Mom."
Chandler flipped him off as he kicked his leg off the coffee table and leaned back. A foul ball cracked up into the air, then got snatched by the catcher, ending the inning. As it switched to a commercial, his thoughts wandered to the phone call he'd made earlier and a small grin pulled at his lips.
He'd flustered the un-fluster-able and didn't that fill him with a ridiculous amount of smugness? He really shouldn't be messing with her, considering the situation she was in, but he just couldn't help himself.
His own phone sat like a stone on the arm of the sofa. He hadn't expected Alana to call him, even if she'd said that she would. It wasn't like her, but damn if he wasn't seconds away from turning into Chase. He wanted her, and he knew she wasn't going to make it easy, but he needed to proceed with caution. He had a feeling that the more he pushed, the more she'd push back. And while her snappy mouth and fierce personality were a huge part of her allure, he didn't want her to close him out before he even got in.
But maybe…maybe he'd swing by her hotel later, accidentally, of course.
"Did you get fitted for your tux yet?" Chase asked, throwing his arm along the back of the couch. "Please tell me I'm not the only one who hasn't. I'm pretty sure Mitch got it done already."
"No." Chandler laughed. "The wedding's not until June. We have plenty of time—"
A knock on his front door interrupted him. He started to move, but Chase got up, sliding his phone into his pocket. "I'll see who it is."
"Have at it." Chandler leaned back as Chase disappeared from the room.
He wasn't expecting anyone, but it could be Murray or one of the other guys who worked for him. But when his brother returned, rocking one hell of a "what the f**k" expression, he knew it couldn't be one of them.
"You have a guest."
"No shit," Chandler replied drily. "Where is said guest?"
Chase eyed him strangely. "Where I left her—inside the foyer."
Her? Chandler dropped his feet to the floor in surprise. Before Chase even continued, he already had a suspicion of who it could be.
"Do I even want to know why Chad's publicist is here?" Chase demanded in a low voice.
"Ex," he muttered, putting his beer down on the coffee table.
Chase made a face. "Like the fact that she no longer works for Chad matters. What the hell…?"
Whatever else his brother was saying was lost to him. Chandler left him standing in the living room as he made his way through the dining room. Curiosity was riding him hard. Alana had sought him out? Not even calling him, but coming to his house? Fuck yeah. Maybe this wouldn't be as hard as he thought.
His curiosity turned to apprehension the moment he laid eyes on her.
Alana stood with her back plastered to his front door, holding a black purse to her chest in the same manner she'd held the file folder. Tiny strands of raven-colored hair wisped around a face that was way too pale. She was in another boxy, lackluster suit that seemed to swallow her whole. Her eyes were impossibly wide, the look about them wounded and scared.
"Are you okay?" he demanded, his voice harsher than he intended.
She flinched and croaked out, "I'm sorry. I didn't know where else to go."
"Sorry for what?" He made sure his voice was softer this time as he approached her. "What happened?"
Her lower lip trembled as she swallowed hard. "I went home after work to get a few things and discovered that someone had broken into my apartment."
"Shit," he muttered, thrusting a hand through his hair. He would've tailed her ass this evening, but watching Chad on the big screen was tradition. The muscles in the back of his neck tensed. "But you're okay?"
She gave a quick jerk of her chin, but her face was still too pale. "I should've called, but—"
"No. It's okay. Did you call the police?" When she nodded, he cursed again. "Did they just take a report?"
"Yes. I told them about the letters and my car, but there's really nothing they could do at the moment and I couldn't—"
"Go back to the hotel?"
She blinked. "How…how did you…? Of course," she said numbly. "You've been watching me."
"I've been keeping an eye on you. There's a difference."
Several moments passed as she seemed to let that sink in. "I didn't know what to do." She drew in a deep breath that shuddered through her frame. "I don't have anyone else…" She trailed off, clamping her lips tightly together and shaking her head.
"Fuck, Alana. I told you not to stay in your apartment. You could've been home when—"
"I know. I'm sorry, but I didn't want to…"
Admit that there wasn't anyone she could go to. Shaking his head, he looked away for a second. Truth was, she could've just been honest, but she was too damn stubborn for that.
"Are you sure you're okay? No one was there when you showed up?"
She shook her head.
Apprehension flipped to anger in less than a second. Partly due to the fact that someone had been in her apartment again and also partly toward himself. He should've f**king tailed her tonight.
Alana drew in a shallow breath, drawing his stare. "Everything was destroyed, Chandler—my couch, curtains, furniture, and clothes. Food was pulled out of the fridge, emptied all over the floors and my bed." She broke off suddenly, her eyes blinking furiously. "Everything. Looked like someone took a knife to it. I have rental insurance, but to do all that? And the letters—I left them in the file on my desk. They were gone."
At the sight of her valiantly holding back tears, something unhinged in his chest. Alana was strong and stubborn, but through the course of his career, he'd seen people break over less things. Having her home broken into repeatedly and having her personal items destroyed was enough to put anyone in shock, especially someone like Alana, who would try to control the path of a tornado.


text:
Q: Set Build action on file in Visual STudio 2017 I have an error with Unsupported Operation which is caused from what it sounds like is the Build Content of my crystal report file not being set to Content.  I've see several people comment on that but I can't seem to find how to set that in VS 2017.  Any clues?
Here is an article in 2010 that shows just right clicking on the file:
How to set Build Action on a file - Advanced Properties Not Displayed in properties window

A: Looks like I had built a "website" and to change that you have to have a "web application" so looks like I'll be rebuilding the entire program.


I just finished the first draft of Chloe's Sanctuary. Oh my, what a relief. I wanted it to be done by the end of the year and I made it. Now comes the hard part. Edit, edit, edit.
If you don't know Chloe's Sanctuary is the next book in the Stones Creek Series. It begins a couple of months after the other two end. In July 1868. Chloe is the older sister to Pastor Noah Preston who was kidnapped as a ten year old. She'd had a pretty tough life. There's a short story, Chloe's Choice, available on Amazon for Kindle giving you a bit of background of her and her son Duncan. Here's the link.
The release date for Chloe's Sanctuary is some time in February. I'm hoping for mid but it may be late depending on when my editor can get it on the schedule.
There will be a cover reveal and snippets as well as some interviews of the main characters. So stay tuned. If you are a newsletter subscriber you'll hear the news first as well as receive a free story linked to the book.
I'm excited about Chloe's Sanctuary. There are lots of new people living in Stones Creek as well as the ones you already know. Be read for laughter, tears and, of course, a Happily Ever After ending. It's full of God working in the hearts of people as well.
If you've read my novel Redeeming Love which I co-wrote with my friend George McVey you know we share a love for the late 1800's. We also share some character's. His character Nugget Nate is the brother to my character Aggie Cutler. They are definitely a pair of characters.
Well, PG, as we call Pastor George, has begun a new series I'm sure many of you will like. It's a Mail Order Bride series and the first one has been released.
Joshua, the pastor of the town of Sanctuary, Montana, is asked to contact minister friends of his asking for young women who would be willing to come west to become brides to the single men of Sanctuary. The ladies will correspond with the men by letter before they come to town. He's being pressured by the deacons of the church to marry so he decides to write to a lady of his own.
Hattie is in a difficult situation. As an orphan in Chicago she was indentured out as kitchen help to a brothel at age twelve. Now on the verge of turning twenty-one the brothel owner wants her to move upstairs with a change of profession. Something she does not want to do. Through help from her Chicago preacher she is able to travel to Sanctuary.
I don't want to give too much away. The book is good and the story well written. The Amazon release date is January 6 for $3.99 but will be available in early release for .99.
The Pastor's Replacement Bride been released on Amazon for Kindle. It's the first book in a new series. It's also available for Kindle Unlimited reading for free. Always a good thing.
When the daughters, sisters and mothers of several town men approach the Pastor Joshua for his blessing on a church endorsed mail order bride scheme the frazzled Minister see's a way to stop all the advances of the mayor's daughter. He slips his own letter into the packet before it is mailed out to the churches in Richmond, Philadelphia and Chicago seeking his own bride. When the stage arrives with the brides Joshua finds his didn't make the trip. However his heart has chosen another, his intended's best friend. Can he help her overcome her guilt at stealing her friend's beau, or are they destined for heartache? Can he truly prove he loves her and make her The Pastor's Replacement Bride?
In Chicago, Hattie Long is about to end her indentured service as a cook's helper in one of the upscale brothels in Chi town. The gangster who owns the brothel informs her that when her service is up he will take her under his wing and show her how to please his customers and make her his star attraction. At the advice of her pastor's daughter with the same name as her tells her about a group of women going west to become mail order brides including herself. They arrange for her to join them. But on the day of departure Hattie's friend is struck down with scarlet fever. When the brides arrive in Sanctuary her friend's beau, Pastor Joshua Bryce, decides to court her to escape a forced marriage by the deacons. Soon trouble follows and Hattie has to escape her past. Can she finally find her happily ever after as The Pastor's Replacement Bride?
Imagine being in the paradise on a Caribbean Island with your family but all you want to do is end it all. That's what Saige is feeling. She lost her husband to a drunk driver and now is gripped in the throws of depression. Enter Logan who is recovering from betrayal and divorce.
These two come together in a sweet, short story Rescued By Love. Now available on Amazon for .99 or free if you have Kindle Unlimited.
I'd love to hear if you enjoy the book.


This branch of physical therapy focuses on the problems from the muscular skeletal system (muscles, bones, ligaments or tendons). Physical therapy in this area deals with diagnosing, managing and treating injuries and problems from the muscular and skeletal methods and rehabilitating right after orthopedic operations, as well. Orthopedic therapy workers function particularly in treating postoperative joints, acute injuries due to sporting activities, arthritis and amputations. Some from the techniques and approaches involved in orthopedic physical therapy to make recovery faster are strength training, hot/cold packs, joint mobilizations and electrical stimulation. An additional procedure recently utilized is sonogram, particularly in remedies like muscle retraining.
Orthopedic physical therapy is truly essential to restore the patients' activity, strength and motion right after injuries or surgery. Its importance is two folded. 1 the 1 hand, orthopedic patients typically have deficiencies and weaknesses which could be eliminated or at least alleviated via particular targeted workouts and only a specialized physical therapist can show the patient and teach him/her the appropriate workouts designed to restore and enhance functions or, at least minimize the problems.
The ice and heat therapy warm up and cool off muscles and contribute to the stimulation of blood circulation and assist decrease swellings, as well. By utilizing an ultrasound probe, deep tissues are stimulated and warmed while the blood flow will improve. Even though you can find numerous orthopedic problems that could be solved without physical therapy, yet quite frequently really easy workouts might assist expedite the healing procedure, not to mention the complicated situations in which a physical therapist particularly trained for, is really a must.


When a child facing a long hospital stay must be pulled out of school, the experience of being away from friends and classmates can lead to feelings of isolation and sadness. As school rhythms go on normally for others, the missing student may become a "ghost child" — out of sight and out of mind. And even when they're healthy enough to return to school, children who've missed six or more months of school due to illness often don't want to go back, fearing they've fallen too far behind and may no longer fit in.
But thanks to an elegant little robot, Microsoft Azure and the Internet of Things (IoT), sick children now have a way to be "present" at school, interacting in real time with their teachers and classmates.
The robot, from Avatarion Technology, is designed for children ages 4 to 12 and serves as a child's 3-D avatar — a physical presence in the classroom that bears the child's name and sits in the child's place. Using interactive video communication and remotely controlled movements, the robot becomes the sick child's eyes, ears and voice at school.
Miles away, at the hospital, the child uses a tablet computer to communicate, send images and control the robot's movements. The robot's integrated camera, microphone and speakers let the child see and hear what is going on in class and speak with the teacher and classmates. The software interface on the tablet includes buttons the child can use to communicate gestures and body language via the robot, such as nodding, shaking the head, standing or raising the robot's hand. These physical movements enable the child to more actively participate alongside peers and feel included in activities in ways that wouldn't be possible with a simple tablet or computer interface.
The teacher also has a tablet that connects via the robot and can share assignments, images and activity instructions with the child. An optional smart device mounted on the robot's head enables two-way video communication when desired or can display an image, an emoticon that shares the child's reaction to something or a message that indicates the child has gone away for a while. Medical staff at the hospital oversee the child's use of the technology to ensure energy levels and health needs are managed appropriately.
Children in the classroom are naturally drawn to the friendly-looking — and undeniably cool — robot. Familiarity with the use of avatars in video games and the robot's lifelike ambient movements make it even easier for classmates to adapt to seeing the bot as an avatar for their friend. Having the robot present among the absent child's peers helps maintain social bonds while the classmate is away and smooths reintegration when the child returns to school. Having contact via the robot avatar also helps teachers keep the child in mind throughout a long absence and keeps teacher-student communication more natural in the classroom setting.
Behind the scenes, Microsoft Azure IoT Hub ties the whole system together, enabling Avatarion system administrators to connect and remotely maintain, update and manage multiple IoT robots and devices from the cloud. Because of the psychological nature of the robots serving as avatars for children, it's essential that they remain securely up and running and be able to support live HD streaming for up to nine hours a day. IoT Hub telemetry monitors the status of the robots and controllers in the field, and, using Microsoft Stream Analytics along with a Power BI dashboard, the system flags potential issues and sends notifications, such as when a robot's battery will need to be changed.
Avatarion is the brainchild of social entrepreneur Jean Christophe Gostanian, whose team worked with a child psychologist, a Japanese robot-maker and Microsoft's Azure IoT team to create the solution. For the past two years, the robots have served as avatars for sick children in schools throughout Switzerland, and the company has plans to roll out the solution to schools, hospitals and children around the world.
As Gostanian and his team look to the future, they'll continue to explore new ways to incorporate technologies, such as Microsoft HoloLens, to enable even finer control of the robot avatars. His dream is to see robots making lives better for sick children around the world — a dream that can be realized from anywhere, at any scale, thanks to Microsoft IoT.