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Category Archives: Science/Religion
What pedants might require
January 8, 2011 ~ spesaeterna
When the Scripture uses anthropomorphic terms with reference to God and his actions, we must interpret accordingly and not predicate of God the limitations which belong to men. When Scripture conveys truth to us by the mode of apocalyptic vision, we cannot find the truth signified in the details of the vision literalised. If Scripture uses the language of common usage and experience or observation, we are not to accuse it of error because it does not use the language of a particular science, language which few could understand and which becomes with the passing phases of scientific advancement. The Scripture does not make itself ridiculous by conforming to what pedants might require.
John Murray, The Collected Writings: Claims of Truth v. 1, p.14
Apologetics Quotes Science/Religion 0
Origins debate: Evolution
November 26, 2010 ~ spesaeterna
I find that when a debate spans more than one generation, it often becomes difficult to follow – especially for newcomers. The Origins debate (often unthinkingly called "Creation/Evolution debate") definitely qualifies. But despite their entertainment value, misunderstandings from both sides (including yours) don't help anyone get anywhere. And that defies the point of a debate, right, Mr/Ms Militant ________ist?
So the Microscope, being of a biological inclination, will do what it always tries to do: help us see better. Whether it suceeds is up to the viewers to decide. And I think its fair to start with an overview of evolution theory. Why? Well, no Darwin, no debate.
By the way, I won't bother with references etc. This is meant to be (relatively) quick and painless.
So, this is how current evolution theory goes:
Life begins with abiogenesis – rudimentary biomolecules (primitive amino acids or primitive genetic material) arise from inorganic, "non-living" molecules. Cement's been poured in the foundations. Now, strictly speaking, this is not "evolution" yet since we can't speak of "natural selection" without genes. Big mistake, made by many. As far as evolution goes, how life began is a bit beyond its purview.
Back to the pond: Due to external/environmental factors and what can only be described as chance, these proto-biomolecules combine in different ways, giving rise to complexity. But remember: mere complexity doesn't ensure survival (if anything, quite the opposite). Still, we're all here, which means that something must've clicked. But exactly how that could have happened is still a red-hot item of debate.
So, now we have something like an amino acid – or a nucleotide. Building blocks that can combine a bit more easily under the current conditions. And they do – the rise of peptides or genetic material. More complex macromolecules are here. And some of them "survive" while the others perish – the usual. This process then repeats itself, randomly or semi-randomly, meaning that it's probably fuelled/energised by external factors (temperature, pH, energy zaps, the presence or absence of other elements/molecules), which also act as a selective force, allowing some complexity to "survive" and "killing" off the rest.
Remember: in mainstream evolution theory, nothing is born because it's objectively functional. It just happens to be in the right place at the right time.
Given enough time, complexity increases and is "favoured" by the selective conditions as compared to other complexity that might have arisen. As molecular complexity increases, information also increases. Entropy wants to break down everything to the simplest forms. For a macromolecule (peptide, RNA, polysaccharide – take your pick) to come about – let alone go against the grain and "survive" – it has to rely on more than mere chance. Like any system, its structure contains information, and if that information is going to increase as complexity increases (we're obviously not just peptides anymore), it needs a way to pass on from "generation to generation" efficiently and relatively stably.
Enter the gene. Somewhere down the line, a coding system has developed (will develop? Who knows?). Simple molecules, the nucleotides, can string three together to "represent" what has become the building block of complex organisms, an amino acid. This new method is relatively more accurate than just trying to put amino acids together to make proteins. It's a template. A design of some sort that is not as vulnerable to chance as waiting for something as complex as a protein to just arise out of primeval goo.
The gene is the bee's knees. Compared to anything else out there, it's simple, efficient and ensures the relatively accurate passage of information through time. But it's not perfect. To build even a basic cell, it needs a fairly complex molecular machinery; something to "translate" three nucleotides into an amino acid. What all this means is that the gene system is prone to alterations. It'll make mistakes every now and then, and we call those mistakes, mutations.
Mutations are interesting. Most of them stop everything dead in its tracks. But every now and then, they cause just enough change to survive into the next generation. Give it enough time and mutations accumulate. Some accumulations make it, so don't. But give it enough time, and you just might end up with a whole new trait. And maybe that new trait actually increases the survival chances of the particular organism over all its other friends, because they didn't get the upgrade.
Of course, all this depends on the conditions out there. Where and when you're alive. It's all relative. Black colour won't help you hide if you live in a white, snowy tundra. Better colour perception is not as good as improved hearing if you're nocturnal. And so forth.
And that's evolution in a nutshell (a coconut shell, actually): Mutations, chance, and survival conditions – a process we call natural selection. All you really need is a genepool, resources and time.
You get the idea – and really, you didn't need me to tell you. It's not like there's a scarcity of information on evolution out there. But as I have often expressed my own doubts about the mainstream Origins dogma in this blog, I thought I'd demonstrate that I actually understand it first – and hopefully help others digest it.
After all, if you don't evolve, you'll get eaten.
Origins debate Science/Religion 0
Review: "Why Us? How science rediscovered the mystery of ourselves" by James Le Fanu
May 4, 2010 ~ spesaeterna
Books like this are not written every day; actually, they're hardly ever written. In Why us? How science rediscovered the mystery of ourselves, medical doctor James Le Fanu sets out to demonstrate how two indisputably phenomenal achievements of science – the mapping of the human genome and the deeper understanding of the human brain's workings – are impossible to reconcile with the worldview of absolute materialism adamantly held and preached ad nauseam by scientists today. And it goes without saying that his criticism immediately targets Darwin's theory of evolution and common descent, though it extends well beyond that.
Le Fanu's central thesis is that the model of common descent via random mutation and natural selection cannot even begin to explain a) the surprising similarity between genomes of completely different species and b) the non-material nature of the human mind (as opposed to the brain), which does however exert very material effects (you reading this review is a good example).
Chapters overview
Science triumphant, almost
An overview of the history of scientific achievement, culminating in the recent mapping of the human genome and the findings of the Decade of the Brain. However, both have failed to reveal how life can be organised by mere genetic "chemicals" or how the human mind can function by mere "electrical firing" in the brain.
The ramifications of the seemingly disappointing outcomes of the New Genetics and the Decade of the Brain are clearly prodigious, suggesting that we are on the brink of some tectonic shift in our understanding of ourselves.
The Ascent of Man: A riddle in two parts
The art, social life and intellectual achievements of the earliest civilisation of Homo sapiens, dated around 30,000 BC, challenge the notion of human evolution.
…how and why twenty or more distinct species of hominid should, over a period of several million years, have undergone that wholescale anatomical transformation required for standing upright, and then followed it up with acquiring that prodigiously sized brain whose potential to comprehend the workings of the universe appears so disproportionate to the needs of a hunter gatherer.
The limits of science 1: The quixotic universe
Isaac Newton's landmark discovery of the law of gravity gave us a Grand Unifying Theory of the universe, but left us with the question of how mass exerts its gravitational force over mind-boggling distances without any physical medium (e.g. planets in space). It is an example of the limitations of science and an absolutely materialistic worldview.
Thus, ironically, this most scientific of theories, grounded in the observation of the movements of the planets expressed in mathematical form, subverts the scientific or materialist view which holds that everything must ultimately be explicable in terms of its material properties alone.
The (evolutionary) 'Reason for Everything': Certainty
The history of Charles Darwin's "On the origins of species" and the way it was received as the Grand Unifying Theory of life, despite contemporary and later scientific criticism. The mostly non-Darwinian fossil record and the mysterious Cambrian explosion have presented with the problem of "transitional species" (aka "missing links"), i.e. the conspicuous absence of the multitude of intermediate organisms demanded by gradualistic evolution.
…there are dangers in supposing the wonder and diversity of the natural world to be so much more rapidly explicable than it really is… Darwin's evolutionary theory readily short-circuited serious intellectual enquiry as it could, in an instant, produce a reasons for (literally), everything.
The (evolutionary) 'Reason for Everything': Doubt
The experiments of Gregor Mendel introduced the concept of the gene. Although his own notion of genetic "fixity" seemed to contradict Darwin's theory, the discovery of gene mutations provided a biological way by which speciation could occur via natural selection – except that random mutations are rare and almost invariably disadvantageous. Mathematical models attempted to solve this dilemma by shifting the locus of evolution from the individual to the species as a whole, but failed to actually provide a consistent answer. Furthermore, the fossil record failed to answer the problem of "perfection" of organs and organisms as well as the conundrum of limb homology.
Thus, as of the early 1980s, science no longer had an adequate materialist explanation for the history of life. The surprise perhaps is how readily refutable Darwin's theory turns out to be, as if it must contain some hidden flaw that invalidates its scientific credentials – as indeed it does.
The limits of science 2: The impenetrable helix
The discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA led to a progressive understanding of the genetic code, culminating in the mapping of the entire human genome in 2001. In light of this, genetic information could no longer be thought of as a chain, but rather as an intricately complex network between genes. This further minimised the impact of a single random mutation in driving evolutionary diversity. Further, vastly different species share hosts of identical genes, often in relatively similar numbers. Finally, identical control ("master") genes produce entirely different variations of an organ (such as the Pax 6 gene for the eye), further compounding the problem. The gap from genetic material to genetic information cannot be bridged by strictly materialistic means.
The Double Helix fails the further test of scientific knowability because, like Newton's gravitational force, it imposes the order of 'form' on life without there being any evidence of some scientifically measurable objective means by which it might do so.
The Fall of Man: A tragedy in two acts
In The descent of Man (1871), Darwin explained away the human mind by evolutionary means. The ripple effect of his theory had virtually unavoidable consequences on the way humans viewed themselves, setting the stage for racism, eugenics and other reprehensible forms of "genetic oppression". Further, this "sociobiology" brought about the new discipline of evolutionary psychology that sought to "naturalise" human virtues like altruism.
We need, in short, a fuller, more rounded view that acknowledges the core reality of the human experience which sets us apart – the sense of the autonomous, independent 'self' not as some shadowy, elusive entity, but something real and tangible that explains the force of character and the personality that is within each of us.
The limits of science 2: The unfathomable brain
The human mind is obviously non-material, and yet it exerts material effects. The history of brain research has given us many tremendous insights into how our brains interact with the outside world. However, the purely scientific approach has left us with five seemingly insurmountable mysteries: subjective awareness; free will; the richness and accessibility of memory; human reason and imagination; and the Self.
Might neuroscientists discover how the electrical activity of the neuronal circuits of the brain gives rise to the non-material mind, and confirm as 'mere illusion' our perception of ourselves as free autonomous beings? The answer… must be 'no'.
An evaluation of the role of science in understanding the dual nature of reality (material and non-material). Some history of philosophy, looking at the way materialistic thinking overtook religious worldviews during the Enlightenment and the rise of modern science. However, the scientific inaccessibility of the genetic code and the human mind demand an alternative approach in defining the world and decisively challenges the claim of science as the absolute means of knowledge.
We can no longer be certain, as we might have been till recently… 'that is all there is to it', because we cannot, by definition, comprehend the nature of that potent non-material realm with its power to conjure the wonders of life from the bare material bones of scientific knowledge.
Restoring Man to his pedestal
Looking to the future, we realise that we have reached a tipping point for science. We realise that the long-held theory of evolution fails spectacularly to fit the evidence, and a worldview of materialistic reductionism is no longer sustainable. Instead, the author calls for a new paradigm of science; one that can accommodate notions of extraneous (or even intelligent) design in nature and the non-material dimension of the human mind. In particular, the exceptionality of the latter must drive us to an understanding of man that goes against Darwin's Descent. Just as Marx and Freud failed to provide a "Theory of Everything" for history and human behaviour respectively, so does Darwin ultimately fail to provide an overarching explanation of life.
It now seems deeply irrational for materialist science to deny the exceptionality of the human mind and to insist that the sense of self and free will are no more than illusions generated by the workings of the brain. It is certainly irrational to assert the truth of the evolutionary doctrine ('the mystery of our existence is a mystery no longer because Darwin solved it') in the face of all the scientific evidence that would contradict it.
There isn't really much left to say after the above. As a scientist, I think this is a powerful book and an inspiring call for science to do what it does best: self-correct – in this case, before it's too late.
The fact that Le Fanu does not have an obvious religious context behind him (at least as far as I can see) means that, for once, a strong critique of Darwin might actually be taken seriously by the scientific community. Having said that, we cannot overlook that he does utilise many arguments (fossil record, comparative anatomy and irreducible complexity, to name a few) that have been previously posited by openly religious writers who, in turn, have been largely ignored or dismissed as 'the crazies'. What that says about the scientific world, we leave the reader to decide.
The strength of Le Fanu's arguments lies especially in the fact that they are up-to-date. His research is solid, both from a literary and scientific point of view. The writing flows and never becomes bogged down with the technical language that often plagues this genre ('public communication of science'). His ability to clarify and simplify complex concepts is enviable, and certainly makes the book accessible to a wide audience (I particularly enjoyed his two-page description of gene coding).
Of course, the very nature of the book calls for a non-scientific evaluation. For people of religious conviction this will leave a few gaps. Despite his call for a non-materialist approach to knowledge, Le Fanu is careful not to lend ammunition to those who would accuse him of being a 'creationist', whatever that means anymore. He certainly gives scientific credence to the Design hypothesis, but with qualifications:
There is, of course, nothing in the new paradigm that can be interpreted as direct evidence for a Creator, or that would resolve the insuperable difficulty for many of conceiving of his existence and purpose. But while it is hard to imagine him hard at work designing several thousand species of beetle, there is vastly greater evidence for 'design' – for those who would wish to interpret it as such – than the supposition that the vast panoply of nature should be the incidental consequence of those numerous genetic mutations that the genome projects have so unequivocally failed to identify.
Overall, this is an important book in more than one ways. Its purpose is to raise awareness on the shortcomings of Darwin's evolutionary theory, which has further stagnated in light of recent scientific discovery. But where the book really succeeds is in opening a bold way in which religion and science can find a realistic common ground. For those of a religious persuasion and especially Christians, who have been particularly shunned and berated by scientific materialism, this can only be good news.
Why Us? calls for scientists to free themselves from the bonds of Darwinism or risk corrupting the very essence of science itself. In my opinion, the book does this persuasively, though it is certain that the more vocal members of the evolutionary camp will proceed (and already have) with the usual accusations of "bad science" and "quote-mining", followed by nit-picking that misses the big picture.
Of course, this will do nothing more than prove Le Fanu's point: Adhering to (macro)evolution is no longer rational, but demands virtually religious faith. Ironically, the evidence leads us further and further away from Darwin; the problem is that science is desperately clinging on instead of looking for a new direction. But what that direction may be lies beyond its current materialistic borders.
Atheism Origins debate Reviews Science/Religion 0
How to approach the "Creation/Evolution" debate
March 18, 2009 ~ spesaeterna
In the past few weeks, I've dived headlong into the ongoing Creation/Evolution debate (note: even though I find that particular terminology misleading, I will use it here to keep us all on the same page). It's inevitable, especially when you are a Christian and a scientist locked in the same body and mind.
Now, from the outset, I have to warn that I am not about to roll off an amazing list of amazing arguments that will forthwith eradicate the theory of evolution from the face of Young or Old Earth. I have no such delusions, particularly because I still consider myself a student of the debate, and I haven't yet heard every angle. Not to mention that the last thing this debate needs is another PhD making authoritative propositions that he or she hasn't thought through carefully – and this I say to BOTH sides of the table.
Also, please don't make any rash assumptions about where I stand on this huge debate. Stay your hand before you cast me into your particular fire and damn me either as an apostate or a fanatic.
So, if I'm not going to rattle off a bunch of arguments about dinosaurs walking next to men and Lucy being a monkey, what am I going to contribute to the debate?
Well, how about some ground rules? Seriously. I'm not pretending to be a referee here, but as I'm researching the topic I find that if the following three rules were applied consistently those involved in the Creation/Evolution debate, much time, energy and misunderstanding could be spared – and things would move a bit faster and a bit smoother.
OK, enough vague generalisations – vague because so far I'm addressing EVERYONE who comes near this debate. But the following instructions are aimed in particular to those who are arguing from (and for) a Christian standpoint:
In other words, don't dismiss the debate and hope it will just go away. It won't. Since 1859, when Darwin first published his Origin of Species, the idea that we got here by way of genetic mutation, adaptation, natural selection and a bit of luck has caught on like wildfire, and has understandingly spilled over into the philosophical realm. Worldviews and regimes have stood on it. Gigantic policies with far-reaching implications for all mankind are influenced by it. It is at the root and core of today's aggressive western secularisation. Schools teach it. Legal courts validate it. Eminent scientists build their careers by work on it. It supersedes the Humanities, the social sciences, philosophy, morality, codes of ethics and ways of life because it affects the presuppositions of each one of them. It's not some sinister conspiracy promoted by evil men in white coats; it is a foundational and integral part of the modern scientific edifice. And in one form or another, it constantly confronts us as Christians in our evangelistic and apologetic mandate, whether we are ready for it or not.
So, we've seen that we will have to get involved at some level. But how? Isn't it best to leave it to Christians who are formally trained scientists and trained theologians?
Well, yes and no. It is true that the Creation/Evolution debate requires a good understanding of the scientific process, and reading a few Wikipedia pages just won't cut it (having said that, scientists constantly turn to Wikipedia for reference). But on the other hand, Science is no longer the province of an elite group – we live in an exciting time of unprecedented openness and publicising of the scientific domain (if I said "stem cells" ten years ago would I have made the front pages?). For example, here's an excerpt from a Nature editorial this week: "…there is no shortage of scientific information on the web. Witness the way that research funding agencies use the web to inform the public about everything from planetary missions to public health. In principle, anyone with an Internet connection now has access to more, and better, scientific coverage than ever before."
And even though that often comes at a cost (LHC doomsayers anyone?), it also means that there is an organised effort to help the uninitiated comprehend as much as possible from the realm of scientific discovery. What does that mean? Quite simply, you don't need a PhD in the life sciences to get a firm enough grasp of what's currently going on in the world of evolutionary biology, because scientists will fall head over heels to explain it to you – and rightly so. There are resources out there – books, websites, videos, seminars, webinars – that can educate most people to an above-average level. And if it's relatively easy to get valid resources, then there is no excuse for some of the abysmal argumentation that more often than not characterises the Christian camp to the mocking glee of the "other side"; it seems that some decades-old arguments are perpetually regurgitated despite having been challenged or even refuted. Or even worse, they reveal and/or lead to mortifyingly embarrassing misunderstandings of evolutionary theory (I really won't mention that video again).
But having said all that, I feel compelled to propose that the frontline apologetic should be the burden of Christians who are formally trained in the sciences and those who are trained in biblical theology and apologetics. As philosopher Alvin Plantinga points out: "The scientists among us don't ordinarily have a sufficient grasp of the relevant philosophy and theology; the philosophers and theologians don't know enough science; consequently, hardly anyone is qualified to speak here with real authority. This must be one of those areas where fools rush in and angels fear to tread."
3. Reject/Refine/Re-establish
It's the way science is done: We observe something. Based on that observation, we make a hypothesis. We then test the hypothesis by testing its falsifiability. If the data from our test (aka "experiment") falsify our hypothesis, we go back to it and either refine it or reject it completely. If the data don't falsify our hypothesis, we re-establish it. Simple?
I still remember the first time I became aware that there was a debate going on. I wasn't even a Christian yet, when at my church's bookstore I picked up a little booklet that opened with something along the lines of: "When you wake up in the morning and look at yourself in the mirror, do you say 'I am made in the image of the most High God' or do you just see an ape?" And shockingly, that line of argumentation still thrives today among certain people who pretend to represent an apologetic against evolution (I really won't mention who, don't bother asking).
But do a simple search on the Web and you will find hundreds of arguments challenging the theory of evolution. Then go over to a website like talkorigins.org and you will find some reasonable, well-researched and conscientious rebuttals to virtually every single one of them. And that seems to be the end of it. Where is the response of Christian scientists? Where is the refinement of the first argument or hypothesis? Why can't we close ranks too and form a cohesive apologetic that keeps up with the times? The Creation/Evolution debate might really be a battle of a priori naturalism vs a priori biblical theism, but in the down and dirty it feeds and runs on the interpretation of scientific data – and that didn't stop in the 19th century. If we want to get to a point where we can truly and validly reconcile science with the Bible on the issue of origins (which cannot be impossible), we won't do it by arguing about errors that Darwin made– science has moved on since his time and so must we.
So, in closing, we want to be honest as Christians and honest as scientists. We don't want to violate the authority of Scripture and we also don't want to divorce our God from the realm of reason, especially when the Bible itself teaches that natural observation and reason bears witness of Him:
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. – Rom. 1:19-23
Apologetics Science/Religion 1
Thoughts on Nature's essay: "We cannot live by scepticism alone"
March 5, 2009 ~ spesaeterna
In this week's issue of Nature, Professor Harry Collins, Director of the of Centre for the Study of Knowledge Expertise Science at Cardiff University publishes an essay entitled: "We cannot live by scepticism alone".
In a refreshing way, Prof Collins gives a background to the way that social sciences have perceived the scientific world: First by regarding Science as the ultimate form of knowledge, and secondly with skepticism. He then moves on to propose a new model of understanding the impact of Science on today's societies – a model which he calls "elective modernism", as opposed to the current trend of POST-modernism that influences much of Western thinking today.
He writes: "We must choose, or 'elect', to put the values that underpin scientific thinking back in the centre of our world; we must replace post-modernism with 'elective modernism'. To support this, social scientists must work out what is right about science, not just what is wrong — we cannot live by scepticism alone. Natural scientists, too, have a part to play: they must reflect on and recognize the limits of their practice and their understanding. Together, we must choose to live in a society that recognizes the value of experience and expertise."
The primary drive of this proposal seems to be a growing misunderstanding of the limitations of Science, especially by scientists who virtually deny that those limitations actually exist because of their a priori postulation that the natural world is all that there is.
Writing about the Big War between scientists and social constructivists in the 1990's, Collins writes: "The conclusions of most of us were moderate: science could not deliver the absolute certainties of religion or morality, and scientists were not priests but rather skilful artisans, reaching towards universal truths but inevitably falling short. Far from being anti-science, we were trying to safeguard science against the danger of claiming more than it could deliver. If science presents itself as revealed truth it will inevitably disappoint, inviting a dangerous reaction; even the most talented craftsmen have their off-days, whereas a god must never fail." (my emphasis).
Prof Collins' point is to encourage scientists to take and promote the fact the science is, by definition, limited. He wants scientists to be realistic and "teach fallibility" to a society that increasingly bestows upon them the role of moral leadership because it is also increasingly discarding and relativising its own ethical and moral standards.
Another quote: "If we are to choose the values that underpin scientific thinking to underpin society, scientists must think of themselves as moral leaders. But they must teach fallibility, not absolute truth. Whenever a scientist, acting in the name of science, cheats, cynically manipulates, claims to speak with the voice of capitalism, the voice of a god, or even the voice of a doctrinaire atheist, it diminishes not only science but the whole of our society."
But, sadly, that's as far as Prof Collins will go: Science is uncertain, but it might be all we have. We can't be skeptical about it every time it doesn't flow with Popper's falsifiability standard (e.g.Joseph Weber's gravitational waves in the 1960's) but in the same time, we can't grant it powers of divine and absolute revelation. Still, we must encourage it to take the reins of modern society – but always under the shield of open debate.
Towards the end, Prof Collins praises scientific discovery over "religion's revealed truths" and claims that it is better grounding for the structural basis of society – so long as Science does not propagate delusions of certainty.
Reading this essay, I think it's obvious that Prof Collins is not religious in any way. I would also dare to disagree with his proposition of a purely scientific society on the grounds that a) given his admitted uncertainty of science, it would ultimately produce a narrow and jelly-like foundation that, in the possibility of overturn would leave only destructive anarchy behind it with nothing to fall back on; b) it would illogically and unnecessarily close off the exploration of non-scientific dimensions, and c) it would turn scientific expertise from a noble goal into an unprecedented and unchallenged global political power-play with far-reaching repercussions.
Having said that, I do applaud Prof Collins for bringing the issue of scientific uncertainty into such sharp relief. And those of us who are Christians should take note, especially in an increasingly secularised world that wants the Christian worldview out of the public forum ASAP on the grounds that it has no validity in light of contemporary scientific progress. Strange, considering that it was that Christian worldview in the first place that, at least in the West, gave birth and sustenance to the scientific process.
Apologetics Philosophy Reviews Science/Religion 0


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Inside each of us, there is an island dream. It is cast in quiet images of sunny, unspoiled beaches, caressed by crystal waters and deep blue skies. Vivid green is the color of its tropical mindscape and calm is the color of its fragrant refreshing air. The adventures it invites us to find ... if only the dream were real. The island we love to imagine could well be beautiful Kosrae, pleasure calls in the smiles of its gracious people, in the lure of its sea for fishing and play, and most of all in its restful, scenic way of life. Rich in historical sites and ruins, this jewel of Micronesia was a favorite haven of pirate Bully Hayes. Now it can be yours. The Dream is real, Breakaway to Kosrae…..
Visit Kosrae…
Kosrae is a unique eco-tourist's delight. White sand beaches and mangrove forests surround the shoreline looking out to fringing reefs where coral gardens are home to a diverse variety of marine life and vast schools of vibrant tropical fish. Above the water, the jungle and the mangroves offer a diversity of life that will delight birdwatchers and biologists alike. Local hunters or fisherman rarely disturbs these rich ecosystems. The people of Kosrae are considered to be one of the most peaceful and gracious people on the planet. Traditionally a spiritual people, they embraced the beliefs of the early Christian missionaries who followed closely in the wake of the decadence and disease brought by pirate and whaling ships in the 1800s. The traditional skills of fine weaving from hibiscus, pandanus and coconut palm have not been lost and are handed down through the generations. Wood carving, traditional canoe and cottage construction, fishing, farming and cooking skills are also regularly practiced as they have been for hundreds of years. Kosrae's attractions are varied and numerous, focusing on history, culture, and the environment. It is one of the places in the world that has true ecotourism. Trekking through jungles and mountains, quietly canoeing in the mangrove channels, marveling at Neolithic ruins, or diving pristine reefs and sunken ships are just some of the many activities awaiting the traveler. Or you may wish to simply do nothing at all and unwind from the hectic pace of today's world. Be forewarned: It's contagious!
Visa and Entry Formalities
Entry and Exit Formalities: Entry requirement for Kosrae are same as most places. You will be required to fill out an immigration form and a customs form. A US$15 departure tax is collected at the airport before departure. US citizens must show proof of citizenship and nationals of other countries must have a valid passport. A 30-day tourist permit may be obtained upon entry from immigration officials. All visitors must have a return or onward ticket. Customs checks are performed upon arrival entry to Kosrae. Visitors are allowed to bring one carton of cigarette, one pound of tobacco (about 20 cigars), and 52 fluid ounces of alcohol. An import tax in excess of these products will be levied. Under $200 value of each of following – cosmetics, toiletries, perfumes, non-alcoholic beverages, foodstuff, citrus fruits, and soap are permitted without tax. Fruits and vegetables, flowers, and other plant life as well as livestock, poultry, and meat products are either prohibited or restricted. FSM Division of Customs: (691) 370-3347.
How to Get to Kosrae?
Getting to Kosrae is near the equator in the central Pacific (5 degrees North and 163 degrees East) Kosrae is on the United Airlines Island Hopper route (flight UA172 from Guam and flight UA153 from Honolulu) which travels 4 times a week between Hawaii and Guam.
Where to Stay in Kosrae?
Accommodation and Properties
There are six hotels dotted around the island, with a total of 60 rooms. These hotels offer pleasant but rustic accommodations. Reservations are encouraged, given the limited number of rooms.
In the communal spirit, a few of the hotels offer get-togethers during the week. This is a great way to meet fellow travelers and residents.
Most hotels have restaurants that serve a variety of Western, Asian, and local delicacies. The local fare – primarily fish, taro, breadfruit, bananas and pigs during special occasions – is highly recommended. There are also a couple of restaurants sprinkled in Tofol. Prices are reasonable and the service is good. Tipping is optional but welcomed. Major credit cards are accepted at most establishments.
Kosrae Nautilus Resort
Address: P O Box 135, Kosrae
Email: doug@kosraenautilis.com
Website: www.kosraenautilus.com
At Kosrae Nautilus Resort, your own private beach is our front yard. Our intimate 16-room grounds are located in tropical gardens, staffed by friendly faces ready to attend to your every comfort. Rest easy in our air-conditioned rooms, all with two double beds, 22-channel cable TV, minibar, and tea/coffee making facilities - with daily room service to boot. Venture out from your room into our full restaurant and bar, and take a dip in our swimming pool.
Kosrae Village Ecolodge
Address: Box 399, Kosrae
Email: info@kosraevillage.com
Website: www.kosraevillage.com
Kosrae Village Ecolodge & Dive Resort has 9 Traditional cottages along the oceanfront. It is a 5-star PADI dive center. Dive, snorkel, hike, climb, canoe and kayak, exploring the incredible Pacific island ecosystems found on Kosrae, Micronesia. The owners are Katrina Adams, Bruce Brandt, and Madison Nena.
Pacific Tree Lodge
Address: PO Box 637, Kosrae
Email: info@kosraetreelodge.com
Website: www.kosraetreelodge.com
Six beachside cottages, where you can rest and relax in the shade and arresting beauty of the incredible mangrove trees. Our cottages have two queen beds, air conditioning, a refrigerator, cable TV, private direct phone line, WiFi and internet connection, and maid service. Located just a few minutes walking from the famous Lelu ruins, we offer a full range of ocean and mountain activities. Package deals with car rental are available. We are just five minutes drive from Tofol city center and administrative offices. Our restaurant, furnished with a projector, is available for business meeting and conference. Rest, relax and sleep in cool, clean comfort, in cottages perched on the edge of the mangroves. The mangrove channels are rife with fish and crab. And enjoy a stroll down the mangrove walkway to get good eats, when the Bully's restaurant opens daily for business
DJ's Apartment
Address: Wiya, Tafunsak
Email:andysrental@mail.fm
Tradewind Motel
Address: Lelu island
Te;: (691) 370-3991
Email: tradewindmotel@yahoo.com or siba@mail.fm
8 rooms, there is TV (cable); telephone, hot/cold water; bathroom, parking space.
How to Get Around in Kosrae?
The legal speed limit of Kosrae is generally 25 miles per hour (40 km/h) unless otherwise specified. Exercise caution when driving during the rainy season. Kosrae's roads are made of coral and asphalt, and when water is added, an oily residue is created. This makes tire contact with the road slippery.
Some facts about driving in Kosrae:
In Kosrae, we drive on the right side of the road
The national speed limit is 25 mph (40 km/h)
Use of foreign driver's licenses (all types accepted)
The legal age for driving is 18 years
Kosrae's roads are made of coral and asphalt
Things to watch out for while driving in Kosrae include dogs, chicken, people, street humps
In some of the more remote areas, exercise caution. The Kosrae Visitors Bureau recommends that you inform your hotel's management or place of stay where you plan to go and how long you'll be gone. Do not bring valuables; most sites are free to the public unless otherwise stated. If you find yourself in trouble, dial "911" to contact the Kosrae Police Department.
Taxis - are available on the island every day from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Car Rentals - There are a number of car and motorcycle rental companies in Kosrae.
Rental Cars & Cycles
There are a number of car and motorcycle rental companies in Kosrae. Please contact them directly for their prices and offerings.
Senny's Car Rental
Address: PO Box 653, Tofol, Kosrae 96944
Tel: (691) 370-3288 or (691) 970-3412
Email:sennyent@mail.fm
Hairom Car Rental
Address: PO Box 934, Utwe Kosrae 96944
Email: klivae@hotmail.fm
KNS Car Rental
MGT Car Rental
Email: kosrae@micronesiagrandtour.com or pacifictreelodge@mail.fm
Kosrae offers so many Activities and Adventures…
Kosrae's attractions are varied and numerous, focusing on history, culture, and the environment. It is one of the places in the world that has true ecotourism and free access to Museum. Here are some of them: Historical Ruins: Lelu is One of the wonders of the Neolithic world and an archaeologists dream. Menka is a reminder of Kosrae's past: there you will see some basalt walls, chambered living quarters and religious platforms. Hiking Mt.Finkol is for the adventurous, experienced and fit traveler since this is Kosrae's highest peak. Wiya Bird Cave: The bird cave, located in Tafunsak about two miles from the airport and is home to thousands of Island Swiftlets. Oma Hiking Trail: It was once a Japanese command post during the Second World War. Sipyen Waterfall is a refreshing 30-foot cascade of mountain waters that bathers and photographers alike will enjoy. Kosrae Museum: Ancient artifacts and restored photos of Kosraean history and culture are kept here free access. Giant Clam Farm: This is a national project where protected giant clams can reach up to 3 feet and weigh 500lbs! YELA Ka Forest: An Endemic Species Tour: View the last and only Terminalia Carolinses stand in the world.
Kosrae's Time Zone:
12 GMT
at the Capital
Current Population:
Tofol
Official Currency:
U.S. Dollar (US$)
Official Languages:
English and Kosraen
Political Status:
Democratic Constitutional Government
Travel Time / Distances
13 hours from East is the US and 6 hours from the west is Japan.
Kosrae's official bird is the Dusky white eye.
Kosrae is well known for its citrus fruits. Oranges, limes, mandarins, tangerines and other citrus are available from numerous fruit stands, such as the one shown in the picture. Whether staying on the island for a stay or just passing through the airport, citrus – especially the seedless and juicy tangerines – are always available to the traveler that is lucky enough to sample the famous citrus of Kosrae.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Алмаз-Т (Ресурс-Р, индекс ГУКОС: 11Ф668) — космический комплекс радиолокационного дистанционного зондирования Земли (ДЗЗ) с использованием первой в СССР орбитальной станции с бортовым локатором с синтезированной апертурой высокого разрешения. Был предназначен для проведения комплексных (в различных диапазонах волн) съемок поверхности Земли и Мирового океана с целью выполнения программ научного и экономического назначения, международного сотрудничества, а также в интересах Министерства обороны.

Основу КС составляет автоматический вариант орбитальных пилотируемых станций военной программы «Алмаз» (ОПС) («Салют-2», «Салют-3» и «Салют-5»), с учётом специфики решаемых задач модифицированный по бортовым служебным и обеспечивающим системам и оснащённый соответствующим оборудованием. Комплекс создан НПО Машиностроения. В рамках программы было создано 3 космических аппарата: «Космос-1870», «Алмаз-1А», «Алмаз-1В». «Алмаз-1В» так и не была запущена и находится в музее НПО Машиностроения.

29 ноября 1986 года была предпринята попытка запуска первой станции Алмаз-Т, оказавшаяся неудачной из-за отказа системы управления РН «Протон».

25 июля 1987 года состоялся удачный запуск автоматического варианта ОПС «Алмаз», который получил обозначение «Космос-1870». Высококачественные радиолокационные изображения земной поверхности, полученные со спутника, были использованы в интересах обороны и экономики СССР.

31 марта 1991 года модифицированный автоматический вариант ОПС со значительно улучшенными характеристиками бортовой аппаратуры был выведен на орбиту под названием «Алмаз-1А».

Автоматическая ОПС «Алмаз-1В» с дальнейшей модификацией бортовой аппаратуры на орбиту не была выведена ввиду тяжёлого состояния экономики после распада СССР и остановки работ.

Ссылки

 НПО Машиностроение

Советские орбитальные станции
Космонавтика СССР

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Release Blitz: River James by MJ Fields
Title: River James
Series: Rockers of Steel #3
Author: MJ Fields
When he fell in love, he fell hard. When he lost her, he lost his will.Drugs, sex, and rock and roll—in that order—became his life.
River James, the drummer for Steel Total Destruction, loved the brotherhood he formed with his unlikely best friend and his band mates, and the family he found in his label until one tragic accident takes it all away in the blink of an eye. Twisted metal, shattered bones, crushed dreams, and torn wreckage causes deep, dark secrets to be revealed and he quickly turns to the sure things in life: drugs and women. Will he find himself in the wreckage or will he lose his way in the smoke and debris?
The first person in her family to graduate from high school and college, Keanna Sutton is flying high on her accomplishments. She has the career and man of her dreams…or so she thought. While recovering from a break-up she has a chance run-in with a tall, handsome, silver-tongued drummer who tests her strength and ability to hold her own tongue. She desperately tries to ignore the implausible attraction to River – a man she knows will be no good for her. When she finally throws caution to the wind, she finds herself getting rocked the only way a badass like River can: hard and nasty. Will the hottest night of her life end there? Or will she lose herself in a man whose only promise is that a lady always comes first?
USA Today bestselling author M.J. Field's love of writing was in full swing by age eight. Together with her cousins, she wrote a newsletter and sold it for ten cents to family members.
She self-published her first New Adult romance in January 2013. Today she has completed six self-published series, The Love Series, The Wrapped Series, The Burning Souls Series, The Men of Steel Series, Ties of Steel Series, and The Norfolk series.
MJ is a hybrid author who publishes an Indie book almost every month, and is signed with a traditional publisher, Loveswept, Penguin Random House, for her co-written series The Caldwell Brothers. Hendrix is available now, Morrison was released on December 22nd, 2015.
There is always something in the works, and she has three, yes, three, new series coming out this summer, and fall.
MJ lives in central New York, surrounded by family and friends. Her house is full of pets, friends, and noise ninety percent of the time, and she would have it no other way.
Cover Reveal: Absolution by LP Lovell & Stevie J. Cole
Title: Absolution
Authors: LP Lovell & Stevie J. Cole
Cover Design: Ikonic Imagery
Photographer: Wander Aguiar
Model: Garrick Murdie
EvelynI pray to be forgiven for my sins, but the prayers of someone like me won't dare breach the edge of heaven.
Sins. All sins are equal in the eyes of God, but I'm not God. Some sins are far more wretched than others. And those sinners should pay, Evelyn. One sinner made me his sin, and I can't let men like him live. They must face their judgement, Evelyn. I want to kill them. Every. Last. One.
Ezra James is no different, and I wanted to kill him, I needed to kill him, I'm was going to kill him…And then I found myself fascinated by him, obsessed and possessed in the most reverent of ways. I became his sinner, and he became my sin, but the wages of sin is death, so I must kill him.
The son of a whore, raised by gangsters, moulded into a key player in a corrupt world ruled by money and completely without morals.
This world can break a person. I've seen it time and time again. I never gave a shit, until the night I watched a man drop dead at the feet of a woman so broken she made even me feel whole. My little killer called to my depravity and everything in me demanded that I take her, possess her, own her.
Some monsters hide behind the faces of angels, where others stand in plain sight.
Damned. Broken. Irredeemable.
Through blood, absolution shall be found.
Lauren Lovell is an indie author from England. She suffers from a total lack of brain to mouth filter and is the friend you have to explain before you introduce her to anyone, and apologise for afterwards.
She's a self-confessed shameless pervert, who may be suffering from slight peen envy.
LiteralPleasure | The Threesome Edition
Welcome to Obsessed With Myshelf's Smut & Sex Toy Pairing Guide:
What Am I Pairing?
3D Body Sex Doll
Retails around $80 (list price is $359)
Nikki Sloane's Three Dirty Secrets
See my review HERE
Why Am I Pairing It?
Nikki Sloane writes about threesomes – in case you didn't know – and she writes about them in a way that is sexy and sensual. I never feel that the two main characters' relationship is being tested or that it's been disturbed due to a threesome and that's probably why I fucking love her books.
In Three Dirty Secrets, Silas and Regan have a full out threesome with Tara. It's controlled but wild; contained but electric – it's motherfucking out of this world insanely hot.
That leads us to Tara Torso. Yes, my husband and I named her; No, I don't think that's weird. My husband has been hinting at a threesome for almost the entirety of our ten years together. And by hinting I mean he tells me that he thinks it would be really hot if we had a threesome. He's so…direct.
He even added this sex doll to our Amazon shopping cart six months ago, in that not-so passive aggressive way of his, in an attempt to convince me that if we brought a silicone torso into our bedroom that I might be up for the real thing (before you think he's being a dick, clearly my husband an I are open about our sexuality. No, he would never do that without me. Yes, we openly discuss our fantasies). Honestly, I'm not entirely opposed to the idea of a threesome, I just prefer that the third have a cock, so thus, we're at an impasse. But I digress.
However, once I finished Three Dirty Secrets I knew that I had to be The Best Wife Ever and order Tara Torso. I then rationalized it by knowing I could write this post. See? It's a total win/win.
Are threesomes hot? I don't know. I can't answer that question because I had sex with my husband and Tara Torso: a silicone doll that has no head, arms or legs.
Was sex with my husband and a sex doll fun? Actually, yes.
Surprisingly, yes.
The first question that we both had when she arrived was 'how big is she?' The FAQs on Amazon's page just weren't very helpful: Q: How long will it last? A: "Mine lasted 2 yrs., but I abused it with a thick tool. If you are gentle with it… maybe 5 yrs."
Well. Ok then, Amazon. I have been instilled with consumer confidence.
But, back to Tara. She's bigger than I thought. I was thinking she'd be a Fleshlight with boobs; my husband was hoping for a life size sex doll; her actual dimensions are somewhere in the middle, appeasing us both. She's 15″ long and her actual measurements are 16x14x23. She's made out of silicone and is extremely bendy. There's actually a spine down the back to sort of hold her together.
The first order of business was naming her – I mean, my hubs was a manwhore B.H. (Before Heather), but he's always been respectful and claims that he at least knew their names. At the time. Thus, we had to name her. Welcome, Tara Torso! After that pesky task was accomplished, we cleaned her. It was a little bit awkward holding her under the sink but it was manageable.
After drying her and then laying her down on a towel on the bed (she still had sort of an oily sheen to her) we basically manhandled her for a little bit, comparing the feel of her boobs to mine and shoving our fingers in every hole to sort of test out the goods – I mean, what else did you expect? We're curious people.
Her boobs are pretty similar feeling, albeit smaller than mine. *fist pump* This doll has two holes – the vag and ass – and I was wondering how it would feel to my husband. Would it be the same in both holes? Would it feel like me? When you shove your fingers/fist up her (please, she's inanimate), the vagina actually feels like a vagina inside. I mean, the parts that you would feel are there. I was pretty damn impressed. Despite the fact that her lips look like they were filleted and she doesn't actually have a clit, the insides felt pretty similar to my own. However, the asshole is not like my asshole. It's ribbed – I imagine for his pleasure. My asshole is not ribbed. Nope. It's not.
Spoiler alert: hubs says that both entrances on the doll felt the same.
We then got down to business. It was sort of exciting at first. I was pretending that it was a real person (I HAD TO) and I imagine that hubs was as well. However, truth time: I was sort of bored watching him have sex with the doll. I tried to get involved by licking her and his cock while he was fucking her; but honestly it didn't really do it for me – probably because she couldn't exactly reciprocate. All I was tasting was silicone and the occasional penis, and my husband couldn't really reach me because Tara Torso has to be on her back at the edge of the bed to really get the right angle so I was forced to try to help myself along and that's frankly, a lot of work.
However, let's not count her out yet. When he moved over to me and it was my turn to sort of play with her while being the main event, she wasn't so bad. Sure, she still tasted like silicone, but the visual turned my husband on more than I was expecting, which then, turned me on more than I was expecting.
Like any sex toy, this is not a replacement for the real thing. Am I running out to find a threesome partner now? No. Is my husband? Probably. 😉 I was informed that my parts are still superior to any doll, and while that's expected, it's also still nice to know.
The overall report is that Tara seems pretty quality for her price point, doesn't seem easily tearable, and is a decent size. She really needs a head, and arms, and, most specifically, a tongue to hit it out of the park for me (so basically, she needs to be a real person), but as a sex doll, she's a decent addition to our collection. Definitely a repeat player, but not one I'm jumping to every time. 3.75 out of 5 stars!
SIDE BOOB
Cover Reveal: Some Sort of Love by Melanie Harlow
Title: Some Sort of Love
Series: Happy Crazy Love #3
Author: Melanie Harlow
Cover Design: Jenn Watson, Social Butterfly PR
Cover Photo: Love N. Books
Cover Model: Franggy Yanez
On the surface, I have it all—a career I adore, a loving family, the Nixon metabolism but not the Nixon ears, and a salary that supports my lavish taste in designer shoes, fine wine, and lacy lingerie…but I have no one to share it with.Until the day I run into him—my one night stand from college with the cocky smile, let's-get-out-of-here eyes, and dirty, dirty mouth.
Levi Brooks is six feet four inches of hot bearded fantasy. A sexy single dad with broad shoulders, strong hands, and a fantastically big…heart. (I mean, it's massive. And generous. And it pumps so hard… um. Sorry. Lost my place.)
But he lives for his son, and he's keeping me at a distance because he thinks I deserve someone better—a man who can give me more time, more attention, more of himself. He doesn't believe he could ever be enough.
But he's wrong.
He's everything.
"So." I glanced out the windows to the patio. "You want to go back out there?""Not really," she said.
"You want to get out of here?"
She grinned. "Yeah. I do."
I watched her rush up the stairs to get her things, and as soon as she was out of sight, I adjusted myself in my pants. My dick had jumped to life the second she said yeah, I do, as if the question had been you want to get naked and fuck? rather than something much less suggestive. Not that I didn't want to get naked and fuck—hopefully I'd last a little longer than I had in the broom closet eleven years ago—but I didn't want to make her feel like that's what I expected. She wasn't a horny nineteen-year-old college student anymore; she was a doctor, for fuck's sake. She was beautiful and smart and mature and sophisticated, and a woman like her did not want some Neanderthal who probably needed a haircut and a new pair of shoes to throw her up against a wall for a five-minute fuck.
A woman like that deserved attention all night long. She deserved someone who would undress her slowly and delight in each new inch of her skin as it was revealed. Someone who would run his hands all over her body and find out where she liked to be touched, how she liked to be touched, what she wanted to hear whispered to her in the dark. Someone who would wrap those gloriously long legs around his neck and use his tongue until she begged for his cock, then use his cock until she begged for mercy.
Fuck. I could be that guy.
Except I couldn't be. Not tonight. Because I wasn't a horny college student anymore either—I was just a horny single dad who didn't have the luxury of taking a woman home and lavishing all my time and attention on her the way I wanted to.
As soon as I had the thought, I felt guilty. Scotty was the love of my life and always would be, and whenever I felt the slightest bit resentful about something I couldn't do because of him, that resentment was immediately crushed by shame. He didn't ask to be born wired differently, into a terrible relationship, to a mother who would decide she couldn't handle being a parent, to a father who wasn't prepared for any of it. He was completely innocent, and he needed me to be a better man.
Running a hand through my hair, I exhaled and wondered if I should ask Jillian for a raincheck on a night when Scotty's usual sitter could be there. If he woke up again and I wasn't home yet, he might never get back to sleep. We'd be up all night, tomorrow would be miserable, and the whole start to the week would be off.
But she was so beautiful. And I hadn't been this attracted to someone in so long.
"Fuck," I muttered, checking my watch. What was the right thing to do? If she were a different sort of woman, if her brother-in-law weren't my friend and client, if we lived three states apart…if any number of circumstances were changed, I'd grab her hand, drag her out to my car, and spend the next thirty minutes fucking her brains out in the back seat. It would feel so good to take control that way, to lose control that way, to release some of this fucking tension. But was that fair to her?
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
"He's up again." Monica's voice was strained, and in the background I heard the familiar keening of a nighttime meltdown. My chest hurt, the way it always did when Scotty was upset.
"Shit. OK, I'm on my way. Twenty minutes, OK? Thirty at the most."
"Tell him he can play on his iPad."
"That'll just rile him up more. He's tired. He needs to go to sleep."
I clenched my fist. "Just do it, OK? It will help calm him until I get there."
As I ended the call, I heard footsteps above, and then Jillian appeared at the top of the stairs carrying a small suitcase. I watched her descend, the tightness in my chest growing. Also the tightness in my pants. "Hey."
"Hey," she said, her face concerned as she reached the ground and saw my expression. She set down the suitcase. "What's up?"
Sighing, I put my phone back in my pocket. "I have to get home. Scotty woke up and he's upset."
"Oh." She tried to hide it, but I saw the disappointment in her eyes.
"I'm really sorry. I'll make it up to you, I promise."
"That's OK. I understand."
"Can I call you?"
"Of course." She smiled, and her lips looked so soft and inviting, I took a step closer.
If you kiss her, it will be that much harder to leave.
I knew it was the truth, but I couldn't help myself. One kiss. Just one. And then I'll go. I moved even closer and took her head in my hands.
The curve of her smile deepened. "What are you doing?"
"I'm thinking about kissing you."
"Stop thinking."
I lowered my lips to hers and let them rest there, fully intending the kiss to be short and sweet, just a goodnight.
But I couldn't break it off. I wanted more—I wanted to taste her. Slanting my head, I changed the angle of the kiss, teasing her mouth open with mine, slipping my tongue between her lips. A little sigh escaped her, and my dick jumped to life again.
You have to go, you have to go, you have to go.
But her hands were moving up my chest and my fingers were sliding into her soft brown hair and I could smell something sweet and citrusy on her skin and it mingled with the taste of whiskey on my tongue and oh God, I wanted my tongue everywhere on her body. I wanted make her come with it just so I could hear that little sigh again and again and again. And I wanted to feel my hands in her hair just like this while she got on her knees and took my cock between her lips, looking up at me with those big blue eyes…
Groaning, I forced myself to take my lips off her before I completely lost my senses. "God, I wish I could stay," I said, resting my forehead against hers. "I wish a lot of things."
"I know." She played with my tie again. "I wish I was taking this tie off you, not straightening it."
"What a coincidence, that's one of my wishes too."
She laughed and kissed me quickly. "Another time, maybe. You better go."
Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she's not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like VEEP, Game of Thrones, House of Cards, and Homeland. She occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.
Melanie is the author of the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, and the sexy historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.
Cover Reveal: Roomhate by Penelope Ward
Cover designer: Letitia Hasser, r.b.a designs
Add RoomHate to your TBR list on Goodreads! http://bit.ly/1ZQFxtz
Pre-order your copy on iBooks HERE:
http://apple.co/1PgsvE7
Sign up for Penelope's mailing list now dnbe the first one notified of releases: http://eepurl.com/MnXoH
From New York Times Bestselling Author, Penelope Ward, comes a new standalone novel.
Sharing a summer house with a hot-as-hell roommate should be a dream come true, right?
Not when it's Justin…the only person I'd ever loved…who now hates me.
When my grandmother died and left me half of the house on Aquidneck Island, there was a catch: the other half would go to the boy she helped raise.
The same boy who turned into the teenager whose heart I broke years ago.
The same teenager who's now a man with a hard body and a hardass personality to match.
I hadn't seen him in years, and now we're living together because neither one of us is willing to give up the house.
The worst part? He didn't come alone.
I'd soon realize there's a thin line between love and hate. I could see through that smug smile. Beneath it all…the boy is still there. So is our connection.
The problem is…now that I can't have Justin, I've never wanted him more.
Author's note – RoomHate is a full-length standalone novel. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.
Meet Penelope Ward
Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 11-year-old girl with autism and a 9-year-old boy. Penelope and her family reside in Rhode Island.
Stalk Her: Facebook | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | Private Fan Group
Cover Reveal: Hardball by CD Reiss
Now Available for Pre-order!
Amazon US – http://amzn.to/1MkP9W6
Amazon UK – http://amzn.to/1SKC9Bc
Barnes & Noble – http://bit.ly/1OZ6eXX
iBooks – http://apple.co/20dqYmZ
Kobo – http://bit.ly/1NL2fBG
Release Date: March 29th
Perfect ass.
Perfect arms.
Perfect swagger.
They call Dash Wallace the Diamond King.
He's the hottest commodity in baseball and in the bedroom.
When he runs the bases, every woman's eyes are glued to his stunning body and a smile that puts the night lights to shame.
I'm no queen. I'm a regular girl with a regular job. I just watch him on TV and from the bleachers, season after season.
Girls like me grab a guy like that one in a million times.
My number just came up, and he is as spectacular in bed as he is on the field.
But there's not a woman in the world who can distract Dash Wallace from the game. Not for a moment. Not even me.
Until the night I do. And everything changes.
CD Reiss is a USA Today and Amazon bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn't pick up, she's at the well, hauling buckets.
Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master's degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere, but it did embed TV story structure in her head well enough for her to take a big risk on a TV series structured erotic series called Songs of Submission. It's about a kinky billionaire hung up on his ex-wife, an ingenue singer with a wisecracking mouth; art, music and sin in the city of Los Angeles.
Critics have dubbed the books "poetic," "literary," and "hauntingly atmospheric," which is flattering enough for her to put it in a bio, but embarrassing enough for her not to tell her husband, or he might think she's some sort of braggart who's too good to give the toilets a once-over every couple of weeks or chop a cord of wood.
If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.
Stalk Her: Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram
Release Day: Lennox by Dallas Cole
Title: Lennox
Series: Ride or Die
Author: Dallas Cole
"He's an outcast. A rebel–with blood on his hands. But maybe I can save us both…"Lennox knows he's a dead man walking. He's done his time and paid for his crimes, but the crew never forgets.
Elena Drazic was raised with grease under her nails. She's no stranger to the ride or die mentality. So when Lennox arrives back in town after an accident that tore her crew apart, she knows nothing good can come from his freedom.
But she can't forget how he makes her feel. And when she's with him, she can't remember why she's supposed to stay away.
Dallas Cole is a bad ass girl, married to a former marine, who's pretty bad ass himself. Sassy with a dirty mind, she creates her own naughty work out gear with quotes from her favorite books. She enjoys spending time with her hot husband taking in car shows together, and finding the spiciest kim chi on the planet.
Blog Tour & Excerpt: Punished by Samantha Stone
by Samantha Stone
Genres: Dark Fantasy, Romance
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
Mary just wants to get away from her boss, but quitting her job would leave her and her sister homeless. Raphael is a criminal living with the never-ending guilt of the crimes he committed centuries ago. Punished brings them together in a romance filled with lore, laugher, and love. Samantha Stone is pleased to present Book 1 of her new paranormal romance series, Crescent City Creatures.
Raphael Saar is an exiled werewolf, a convict on the direct path to a death sentence—for a crime he didn't commit. He doesn't care, so long as he can end the human trafficking ring kidnapping women across New Orleans.
Recovering from a horrific tragedy, one particularly bad day for Mary Newman has stretched into months. A nanny for a wealthy family in New Orleans, she can't understand why she's being constantly humiliated by her boss until the night she learns that he's not human—and neither is she.
Only Raphael can save her from the monster feeding from her misery, but will Mary be able to stop his execution?
Punished teams up werewolves, banshees, a wompus cat and a haint in order to rid New Orleans of a group of immortals determined to hurt the city's women and kill Raphael's pack.
Content Notes: Spicy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Suspense, Shifters, Wolves, Other Weres, Magic, Ghosts
Samantha Stone is a twenty-something graduate student studying speech-language pathology in Alabama. She's proficient in French and Signing Exact English, and considers New Orleans the home of her heart. Most days you can find her doing speech- related research, chasing her creatures around New Orleans (in her head), or curled up with a good book. She drinks hot chocolate year-round.
Excerpt Reveal: Bait & Switch by Kendall Ryan
Love is a trap, a trick only other people fall for. Former Navy SEAL Nolan has no such illusions. The only things real in his life are his beloved bulldog and the two women in his life. One is soft and innocent, someone he could build a real future with. But the other is dark and gives him all of the wicked things he craves behind closed doors. What starts out as casual quickly becomes complicated. Can he walk away from a sure thing for something that's foreign territory?
Nolan thinks we met by chance. We didn't. I sought him out, seduced him, and in return got the sanctuary I needed to survive. But now, impossibly, I've fallen in love with him. I don't care that he has another lover, because when he finds out who I am, it's going to ruin any chance I ever had with him anyway. She's the least of my worries.
Bait & Switch is Book 1 in the new contemporary romance series Alphas Undone, which will each feature a new couple.This is a standalone full-length novel. It does not contain cheating.
Amazon ➙ Amazon UK ➙ B&N ➙ iBooks ➙ Kobo
She hooked one leg over mine, and I rocked my hips into her pelvis to let her feel what she'd done to me. Lacey groaned. "I take it you liked the massage."
"What gave me away?" I asked, breathing hard against her neck.
"A certain wayward southern appendage." She ground into me again, her hips moving against mine.
I almost chuckled. Almost called her out for being too prissy to say the word cock . . . until her hand slid down to my jeans to unbutton me.
"Maybe he needs some attention too," she rasped against my throat.
I hadn't come here for this and wouldn't have pressed her, but I also wasn't going to turn her away. We would take things at whatever pace she wanted.
Tugging down the zipper to her shorts, I was desperate to touch her and bring her pleasure. I pushed my hand inside her shorts, fumbling when she reached down to grip my denim-covered erection. Christ.
My fingers soon found what they were looking for. She gasped as I rubbed in slow circles through her panties. Even with the cotton barrier, I could feel the firm bud of her swollen clit. I sucked in a breath when she tightened her fist, kneading my hard cock.
"Together," was all she said. But I understood. Only a little impatiently, I waited until she had unzipped my jeans before slipping my fingers under her panties.
I gave a soft groan at the feel of her hot, slick folds. "God, baby, you're so wet already."
"All for you," she murmured huskily. "Touch me, please."
I obeyed in a heartbeat, echoing her moan when she pulled my cock free and started stroking up and down with whisper-soft strokes.
She's a sassy, yet polite Midwestern girl with a deep love of books, and a slight addiction to lipgloss. She lives in Minneapolis with her adorable husband and two baby sons, and enjoys hiking, being active, and reading.
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Blog Tour: Reckless by Kimberly Kincaid
Print Copy of RECKLESS
Rescue Squad #1
Kimberly Kincaid
Releasing on January 26, 2016
Someone's Bound To
Get Burned…
Zoe Westin may be a fire captain's daughter, but feeding
the people in her hometown of Fairview is her number one priority. Running a
soup kitchen is also the perfect way to prove to her dad that helping people
doesn't always mean risking life and limb. But when she's saddled with a
gorgeous firefighter doing community service after yet another daredevil stunt,
the kitchen has never been so hot.
Alex Donovan thrives on adrenaline, and stirring a pot of
soup doesn't exactly qualify. He's not an expert at following the rules either,
not even when they come from the stubborn, sexy daughter of the man who's not
only his boss, but his mentor. Determined to show Zoe that not every risk ends
in catastrophe, Alex challenges her both in the kitchen and out. One reckless
step leads to another, but will falling for each other be a risk worth taking,
or will it just get them burned?
Amazon | B & N | Google
Play | iTunes | Kobo
Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance
that splits the difference between sexy and sweet. When she's not sitting
crosslegged in an ancient desk chair known as "The Pleather Bomber," she can be
found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas
to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a
2011 RWA Golden Heart® finalist who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food
is love. She resides in northern Virginia with her wildly patient husband and
their three daughters.


Today, the main features of the capitalist system are increasing. In this work, the artist could be talking to us the privatization of common goods and nature. It seems as if everything were mediated by money. This system and its objectives have increased the development of many patents on things as incredible as the human genome, medical uses of certain plants, plant or animal varieties, press the mouse button, artistic performances, etc.


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HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 40 Pairs of Passes to 'The Boss' With Melissa McCarthy
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on April 2, 2016 - 10:49am
Adam Fendelman
HollywoodChicago.com Content
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film
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CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 40 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the new comedy "The Boss" starring Melissa McCarthy!
"The Boss," which opens on April 8, 2016 and is rated "R," also stars Kristen Bell, Kathy Bates, Peter Dinklage, Dave Bautista, Kristen Schaal, Margo Martindale and Tyler Labine from writer and director Ben Falcone. Note: You must be 17+ to win and attend this "R"-rated screening.
To win your free passes to "The Boss" courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our social media widget below. That's it! This screening is on Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the more points you score and the higher yours odds of winning! Completing these social actions only increases your odds of winning; this doesn't intensify your competition!
Preferably, use your computer to enter rather than your smartphone.
If you must enter on your smartphone, click "Go to Full Site" at the bottom of the page.
If viewing this page on your computer, make sure you allow pop-ups.
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Here is the synopsis for "The Boss":
Academy Award-nominated star Melissa McCarthy ("Bridesmaids," "The Heat," "Tammy," "Spy") headlines "The Boss" as a titan of industry who is sent to prison after she's caught for insider trading. When she emerges ready to rebrand herself as America's latest sweetheart, not everyone she screwed over is so quick to forgive and forget.
McCarthy is joined in "The Boss" by an all-star cast led by Kristen Bell, Peter Dinklage and Kathy Bates. Directed by Ben Falcone ("Tammy"), the comedy is based on an original character created by McCarthy and written by McCarthy and Falcone alongside their Groundlings collaborator Steve Mallory. The film is produced by McCarthy and Falcone through their On the Day productions and Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy through their Gary Sanchez Productions.
The movie poster for "The Boss" starring Melissa McCarthy.
Image credit: Universal Pictures
This HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is simple! Just get interactive in our social media widget above. We will award 40 admit-two movie tickets based on social entry numbers and/or randomly via e-mail for our "The Boss" Hookup. Good luck!
HollywoodChicago.com works hard to coordinate our giveaways for you with the movie studios. If you enter to win and are fortunate enough to be awarded, we expect you to attend. If you reply saying you can't attend – or don't show up at all without notifying us – that opportunity goes to waste and another lucky HollywoodChicago.com winner misses out on enjoying what you would have. We use various forms of tracking technologies to know whether or not you attended. When you win and don't attend, reputation points will be counted against you and you'll win less frequently. If you enter to win, please make sure you can attend if you do win. Thank you.
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HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 Pairs of 6-Packs to 2014 Chicago Critics Film Festival at Music Box Theatre
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 15 4-Pack Movie Tickets, 5 Blu-ray Combo Packs to Broadway's 'Shrek the Musical'
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Archaeology, Politics and Islamicate Cultural Heritage in Europe - David Govantes-Edwards
8. Manurqa: Islamic Medieval Archaeology in the Balearic Island of Menorca, Spain: Is it condemned to damnatio memoriae?
Amalia Perez-Juez [+-]
Amalia Pérez-Juez holds a PhD in Archaeology having studied in Spain, United States and France. She is currently the director of Boston University Study Abroad programs in Spain, and Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of History at Boston University. Her research interests and publications relate to the Archaeology and History of Spain as well as Heritage Management. She has participated or directed excavations ranging from prehistory to the 20th century and has been a co-director for the BU field school in Menorca for the past 15 years. She is a member of the Institut Menorquí d'Estudis.
Elena Sintes [+-]
Elena Sintes Olives holds an MA in History and Archaeology from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and is now working on her doctoral dissertation in physical anthropology. Her research interests focus on the Archeology of the Balearic Islands as well as Education and Public Outreach. She is a member of the Institut Menorquí d'Estudis, where she plays an active role in the research, public outreach and education of the History of Menorca. Her book Guide to Talayotic Menorca has been translated to five languages.
Archaeology, Politics and Islamicate Cultural Heritage in Europe responds to the wishes of specialists in the history and archaeology of Islamicate societies in Europe to explore the integration of these societies into historical narratives. In order to deal with the multiple implications and wide ramifications of the subject matter, the book offers a collection of papers that cover a broad range of topics, including historiography, gender and family studies, material culture, historical and contemporary identities, historical heritage management, and archaeological theory, while paying attention to the peculiarities of the record in European regions in which Islamicate societies have played a major historical role (and others in which this role may not be quite so obvious, such as Scandinavia). These wide-ranging subjects find their commonality in the book's aim of challenging the dominant simplifying narratives and their stress on interruption and exception. The impact of historical narratives in national and social identities is reflected in a wide range of issues, including school curricula, heritage management, the organisation of academic departments, the presentation of Islamicate history and archaeology in the media and the politics of identity of majority and minority groups. The volume does not avoid these questions, but tackles them head-on, challenging the unwillingness of some academics to engage in potentially disruptive political issues.
Perez-Juez, Amalia; Sintes, Elena. 8. Manurqa: Islamic Medieval Archaeology in the Balearic Island of Menorca, Spain: Is it condemned to damnatio memoriae?. Archaeology, Politics and Islamicate Cultural Heritage in Europe. Equinox eBooks Publishing, United Kingdom. p. Nov 2021. ISBN 9781781797884. https://www.equinoxpub.com/home/view-chapter/?id=38089. Date accessed: 18 Jan 2020 doi: 10.1558/equinox.38089. Nov 2021


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– jeden z bogów w japońskiej religii shintō.

Uważany za najważniejsze obok Amaterasu bóstwo, jej męża i współrządcę świata.

Zgodnie z wiarą należał do pierwszego trojga istot, jakie się pojawiły na świecie; wyłonił się z przedwiecznego chaosu zaraz po Amenominakanushim. Uważany był za bóstwo opiekuńcze rodu cesarskiego, elementy jego kultu były obecne w wielu ceremoniach dworskich. Modły do Takamimusubiego miały zapewnić cesarzowi długie i pomyślne rządy.

Przypisy

Bibliografia
Sokyo Ono, Shinto - The Kami Way, Charles E.Tuttle Company, Tokyo 1992

Bóstwa japońskie
Shintō


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Emily Ratajkowski wore a halter top that can best be described as a giant silk scarf hanging from a rope 19/ 10/ 2018
Where most of couture silk made in Italy 17/ 10/ 2018
How the Hermès Scarf Remains an A-List Accessory: By Being Stubbornly French 10/ 10/ 2018
Hermès' silk scarf: how the timeless beauty is made 10/ 10/ 2018
Not So Square: The Hermès Carré Club Invites You To Discover Silk Like Never Before 10/ 10/ 2018
The 90's bandana trend coming back 02/ 10/ 2018
Biggest markets for Silk in the world 29/ 09/ 2018
Emily Ratajkowski wore a halter top that can best be described as a giant silk scarf hanging from a rope
Đăng ngày 19/ 47/ 2018 bởi CÔNG TY CỔ PHẦN SLIMMER STYLE
Emily Ratajkowski accessorized with an $825 purse. Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images On Tuesday, Emily Ratajkowski attended the launch of Moët & Chandon's new limited-edition bottles of Champagne, made in collaboration with designer Virgil Abloh. At the event, Ratajkowski wore a black halter top that can best be described as a giant silk scarf hanging from a long white rope. The sleeveless number, a piece from Monse's Spring/Summer...
Where most of couture silk made in Italy
" I was looking for a scarf for my partner, I knew I wanted something truly special, I knew I didn't just want to buy Chanel or Hermes because you can get that anywhere right? " + LA STORIA Como Silks is a high fashion luxury accessories brand that designs pure silk scarves at our offices in the mountains of Lugano Switzerland and produces...
How the Hermès Scarf Remains an A-List Accessory: By Being Stubbornly French
The world's sleekest square of silk, sold every 25 seconds In the fashion world there are scarves, and then there is the scarf. Queen Elizabeth II wore one for her postage-stamp portrait. Jackie Kennedy kept the Nantucket rain off her hair with hers. And when Grace Kelly broke her arm in 1956, she memorably knotted her scarf into a sling. With some squares priced over $2000,...
Hermès' silk scarf: how the timeless beauty is made
What's the secret behind Hermes' silk scarves? We uncover little-known facts about the material and the design Exposition scénographiée par Hilton McConnico - Once upon a silk - Hong Kong Since the very first silk square was produced in 1937, Hermès' 90cm x 90cm carré has become an iconic item and a work of art, with more than 1,500 versions created up...
Not So Square: The Hermès Carré Club Invites You To Discover Silk Like Never Before
From a photobooth and cafe to "Carré-ok" and disco, the pop-up brings three days of fun and creativity, dedicated to the iconic Hermès scarf Mark your calendars: the Hermès Carré Club is finally coming to town. After successful runs in New York and Toronto, the pop-up exhibit will launch in Singapore for three days only, from October 19 to 21—so we...
The 90's bandana trend coming back
Christina Aguilera, the Olsen twins, Aaliyah, Sarah Jessica Parker, Justin Timberlake, Dionne from Clueless; all celebrities (real and fictional) known for spotting one particular trend in the '90s and early aughts. Bandanas styled over, around, and tied over the head were all the rage. Whether you're stoked or not, they're making an official comeback after appearing all over the runways this...