We've been helping people find the right jobs and helping employers find the right people since 1961.
The reason we've been so successful is simple: we make sure we know our business inside out. Permanent, temporary, or contract positions, private or public sector, we do our utmost to find the right people for the right jobs.
Our commitment has allowed us to build an impressive client list, from major organisations to small businesses, that trust us to find them the very best people.
If you're looking for a job, we have the experience, advice and contacts you need. With over 100 branches throughout the UK, we're never far away.
in over 100 countries, helping them to manage their energy and process in ways that are safe, reliable, efficient and sustainable. From the simplest of switches to complex operational systems, our technology, software and services improve the way our customers manage and automate their operations. Our connected technologies reshape industries, transform cities and enrich lives.
Manufacture and Design - CFG aim to consistently develop and provide bespoke solutions that put us and our clients at the forefront of current design. We will consistently implement better solutions in all that we do and continue to invest in the manufacturing resource vital to bring British designed and manufactured projects to the National and International marketplace.
Supply Chain - CFG value our suppliers and share in the development of exciting products and raw materials that can assist us in providing quality and innovative furniture solutions.
Employees - CFG have built a team that always wants to satisfy our customers, is proud of its success and demonstrates mutual commitment to each other and our company goals.
Customers - CFG have a national sales force developed to generate growing and sustainable relationships with key clients in existing and new markets. CFG will consistently provide all customers with the highest quality design, manufacture and customer service.
Epson has always been ahead of its time. Quite literally. Founded in 1942 as a small watchmaking factory – Daiwa Kogyo Ltd. (later Seiko) – the company went on to become the official timekeeper for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, recording and printing athletes' results.
This process inspired our printers, the first of which was launched in 1968 as the electronic printer (EP). The EP was quickly followed by the EP-101 (our first commercial printer, the world's smallest, and the EP's "son"). Epson was born.
In 1990, Epson Europe BV was established in Amsterdam, and became the European headquarters of Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation. Today, we're proud to operate in 94 countries worldwide, delivering products built on our signature piezoelectric technology, while innovating to enhance the lives of every Epson customer.
Ford Dealers since 1918 then in 2003 the Mazda franchise was added followed in 2004 by the Kia Franchise and in 2005 the Škoda franchise was added giving Furrows customers a wide and varied choice of new cars and light commercials in a range to suit all needs, and finance.
As well as keeping a large stock of the latest new vehicles at Furrows Dealerships we also keep a large selection of quality used cars and light commercial of all makes at competitive prices with a commitment to give the customer the very best in service.
Furrows can look after all your motoring needs with our service, accident repair, parts and tyre departments all backed with Furrows award-winning customer service covering Shropshire and the surrounding area at Shrewsbury, Telford and Oswestry.
Hatchers Solicitors LLP is one of Shropshire''s largest firms of Solicitors.
There are three different offices in Shropshire; the office in Shrewsbury's town centre is where most of their staff are located, there are also offices at 6/7 Harlescott Lane and 45 Green End in Whitchurch.
Is designed to encompass the ethos of providing a service to customers which is defined by them at (or higher than) a standard that they expect.
This vision is encapsulated by the firm's core values which sets the standard of behaviour for each member of staff.
Hatchers loyalty and involvement in the Shropshire community is something they take very seriously and in a business community where professional firms are closing down smaller offices in market towns, their roots are firmly established in Whitchurch and surrounding areas.
Fit Inspiration with Jac offers Clubbercise, Block Fit and (for the under-18s) Popercise classes!
Clubbercise - Glow in the dark dance fitness. Lights are low, tunes are high and set to all of the latest dance chart and club anthems....Routines have been designed to allow you to master the moves, core, strength conditioning with fresh dance moves using glowsticks, adding extra workouts and providing a nightclub setting...... dancing without the heels and alcohol in a fun, friendly class. Clubbercise takes place in a darkened room (or even a dark park) with club anthems from 90s to present day!
Timmy T Events are able to provide all of your event needs... including marquees, catering, entertainment, DJ, PA systems, lighting, stage hire, photography and much, much more!
Please get in touch to discuss your event requirements, you won't be disappointed!
First Aid is one of the most important parts of any organised event. Not only do we turn up on the day, we will also help you plan the medical cover for your event.
Do you know how many first aid boxes you need, how many first aiders and what kind? What's the point in having a first aid box if it's not regularly checked and re-stocked. We can assist with all of this.
Everything from first aid consumables to first aid kits at great prices. We can also source and create custom first aid kits to our customer's specifications and accept purchase orders.
Telford Fitness & Wellbeing GymAt our Telford Fitness & Wellbeing Gym our committed team of clinically trained health experts are on hand to support you every step of the way, ensuring you reach your personal fitness goals.
We bring together a unique blend of fitness experts and state-of-the-art facilities (including swimming pool and spin studio) to make sure your needs are met. On joining our gym you will receive a free 12-Point Health MOT which will shape a programme specific for you.
Why not claim your free day pass for our Telford gym today and kick start your fitness journey?
Our hotel is walking distance to public transportStay in the city centre at the Park Inn by Radisson Telford hotel. Just a 7-minute walk from the nearest train station, it's an ideal location for a business trip, conference or weekend break. Just off the M54, the hotel boasts an easy commute to Telford International Centre.
Each of our 153 stylish rooms include comfortable bedding, free WiFi and Digital TV channels. Take advantage of free access to the Pace Health & Fitness Club and enjoy the heated indoor pool, contemporary gym, steam room and relaxing sauna. Our on-site, the RBG Bar & Grill Restaurant offers healthy and hearty meals, making dining easy. Ideal for weddings or conferences, our spacious meeting facilities accommodate up to 475 guests in 9 rooms.


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Santa Marinha do Zêzere is een plaats (freguesia) in de Portugese gemeente Baião en telt 2 852 inwoners (2001).

Plaats in Portugal

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Katherine Dunn
John Darnielle
Andy Davidson
credit: Crystal O'Leary-Davidson
theandydavidson.com
@theandydavidson
Andy Davidson is the Bram Stoker Award nominated author of In the Valley of the Sun and The Boatman's Daughter, which was listed among NPR's Best Books of 2020, the New York Public Library's Best Adult Books of the Year, and Library Journal's Best Horror of 2020. Born and raised in Arkansas, he makes his home in Georgia with his wife and a bunch of cats.
The Hollow Kind
MCD × FSG, 2022
"Whether you call it historical horror, folk horror, or southern gothic, Andy Davidson's The Hollow Kind is as beautifully written as it is chilling. The combination of dual timelines with a little-explored piece of America's past truly sets this book apart. Every page reverberates with inescapable dread."
—Alma Katsu, author of The Fervor
other titles by
The Boatman's Daughter
Explore the World of The Boatman's Daughter
Text by Andy Davidson
Illustrations by Paige Vickers
all related features

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December 17, 2021 lukeslivingroomLeave a Comment on Review: The Unforgivable (2021)
Review: The Unforgivable (2021)
Yeah, the quality of this movie really was unforgivable.
It does not take a lot of convincing to get me to see a movie starring either Sandra Bullock or Viola Davis. Both women rank high on my list of favourite actresses and I am consistently entertained any time I see either one in a movie or TV show. So when I found out about Netflix's The Unforgivable (2021), a new movie starring both of these fantastic women, I was completely sold on checking it out. How could I not? A family drama starring Bullock AND Davis, both of who have Oscars for dramatic roles? I'm sold! Despite The Unforgivable being a Netflix original I had a surprising amount of hope for this movie going into it. But just like when my mom used to pass off fish sticks as chicken fingers, I was fooled. Turns out even the considerable talent of Bullock and Davis wasn't enough to salvage this movie.
Credit: imdb.com / Netflix
Based on the British miniseries of the same name, The Unforgivable follows Ruth Slater, a woman who is released from prison after serving time for a violent crime. As she struggles to re-enter society, she quickly discovers that those around her are not as quick to forgive her past as she would hope.
Based on the opening five minutes of this movie I immediately had a hunch that the remaining hour and 45 minutes were going to be a pretty unpleasant watch completely devoid of joy. I was absolutely correct. The colours throughout are so muted, drab and grey, a creative choice that transferred to the overall tone and execution of the movie as well. The Unforgivable is bland. The central plot of Ruth trying to reconnect with her estranged sister is compelling but the movie is so bogged down by frequent flashbacks and uninteresting supporting characters that it distracts from the few positive aspects of the movie. There are way too many characters and not a single one of them is as interesting as Ruth.
No one cares about her sister Katie or her piano recital. No one cares about the brothers seeking revenge on Ruth for the murder of their father. No one cares about Blake, Ruth's co-worker who is trying to romance her. Almost all of these characters could have been cut from the final edit in my opinion. In fact, just go ahead and skip over them each time they pop up. All of these characters don't seem to add anything of intrigue or value to the overall story. Every time the movie would cut to one of the aforementioned characters Ruth's story would come to a screeching halt and any interest I had in The Unforgivable would slowly but surely disappear even more. It's not surprising that this movie is based on a miniseries because honestly, there's only about 40 minutes of actual gripping material in this entire movie. This movie could have been condensed into an episode of any given crime procedural. Or a 70 minute Lifetime movie. With some light editing you could totally recut The Unforgivable to be a Lifetime thriller or even a horror movie. It has all the elements! A family that movies into a new house with a dark past, a murderer who returns who is hiding secrets, a kidnapping and a jaw-dropping twist.
Every time I see Davis I am just floored and amazed by how phenomenal an actress she is. Even in the briefest of scenes when her character is doing the bare minimum, she is so talented that she commands attention with everything she does. Unfortunately, The Unforgivable makes the enormous mistake of wasting Davis' talents by largely excluding her from the movie. What a monumental waste! There is an electric three minute scene between Davis and Bullock that is a great showcase of their talents and it's a colossal disappointment that more of the movie doesn't capitalize on these two heavyweight actresses. Bullock is ACTING. She's bringing her A game. Her powerful performance as Ruth is undoubtedly the best part of The Unforgivable. Between this, The Starling (2021) and Red Notice (2021) – check out my review, here – Netflix clearly has no trouble securing A-list talent but has a huge problem with utilizing those talents to the best of their abilities. Why do they keep casting these great actors in terrible movies? Is it because they know they don't have to worry about a box office?
Aside from some pretty decent performances I can think of no reason to recommend The Unforgivable. Dreadfully slow-moving and needlessly convoluted, how about you skip this movie and instead treat yourself to your 15,000th viewing of Home Alone (1990)? By the way, check out my review, here. It's Christmas time you deserve some joy! What you don't deserve is countless scenes of the grueling fish-mongering process.
Have you seen The Unforgivable?
Categories UncategorizedTags JonBernthal, LukesLivingRoom, MovieReviews, Netflix, SandraBullock, TheUnforgivable, VincentD'Onofrio, ViolaDavis
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Learn about our integrative clinic practitioners, faculty, and clinic staff.
Are you in pain from an athletic injury? Acupuncture and TCM may be able to help!
You don't have to be an Olympian to use acupuncture to treat injuries, relieve muscle tightness and pain, or support your athletic performance. Athletes experience a wide variety of strains and stresses during different sports and exercises, but acupuncture can strengthen the body from the inside out, helping maximize athletic potential.
Injury prevention and recovery: Acupuncture can reduce inflammation and swelling in an acute injury, stimulating tissue repair and decreasing recovery time. It can also increase strength and improve range of motion to aid the body's natural healing, as well as increasing flexibility to prevent future injury. Recent studies show that acupuncture effectively treats a wide variety of sports injuries, including but not limited to: aches and pains, strains, sprains, swollen muscles, and shin splints.
Improved performance: Studies have shown acupuncture to increase an athlete's VO2 max. (maximal oxygen uptake) and anaerobic threshold, thereby improving their overall athletic performance. Acupuncture helps the body to balance, restore, or maintain its levels of Qi, or energy, after intense exertion and to build up any weaknesses, thus accelerating recovery time and resulting in less muscle soreness.


I've always loved Autumn. Actually, that's a lie, I didn't always love it. As someone who doesn't like to be cold (and is always cold), Autumn used to mean the end of the hot, sticky weather which I loved. It meant the end of fun outside activities. When I was a kid, it meant the end of summer and sleeping in and playing with friends. Autumn was sad. Cold. Gloomy.
But there were good parts.
Autumn meant Halloween and dressing up and eating candy. It meant my birthday was coming soon. It meant Christmas, my favourite time of year, was just over the horizon. Autumn meant cozy pajamas and piles of blankets and windows closed, all of which ensured a better nights sleep. As a kid, the last three things didn't mean much, but as an adult, I now understand their importance.
I didn't realize it then, but the small comforts that came with the seasonal change were early indicators of placating my anxiety. Now that I understand it more, and I'm learning how to manage it, I've figured out that one of the things that makes me anxious is being exposed. Not, like, in a way that I fear all of my secret sordid affairs will be leaked to the press, more in a physical sense. There's an obvious relief when I leave a crowded space, and a more subtle one when I close a window, put on comfy clothes, or crawl under a blanket.
I now recognize the correlation between this relief and why I was such a freak show about sleepovers when I was a kid. I loved the IDEA of sleepovers–hanging out with my friends, playing games and watching movies–but when bedtime came around, a wave of what I thought was overwhelming homesickness would wash over me, and I would immediately want to go home. Sometimes I would go home. I learned early on though that I didn't want to be the little weirdo who couldn't stay at a sleepover, so I would usually just tough it out: laying awake all night, waiting for it to be over, knowing I would be too tired to do anything fun the next day.
Then one night I slept over at a friend's place and we had to sleep in the basement for some reason. And it was freezing. So, we loaded up the bed with blankets and comforters to stay warm; I think we counted about 15 or 20. And, guess what? I slept like a baby. Except not really like a baby because babies are terrible sleepers. I really don't understand where that phrase comes from. In any case, I slept well. No "homesickness." I was warm and cozy and safe.
It took me years to realize that what I was feeling at the sleepovers wasn't homesickness, it was anxiety. And the reason why I felt so safe under all those blankets was the same reason why weighted blankets work for some people who are anxious. It's the same reason why I sleep much better under cozy comforters today. I'm not exposed. I'm warm and cozy and safe.
Now I look forward to the cooler weather. I look forward to flannel pajamas and burrowing under blankets. I look forward to closing windows and shutting out the noise. I look forward to bundling up, going outside, and enjoying the silence after the newly fallen snow has covered the drum of summer.
Of course, it's not always a delight. I do still have a tendency to lean towards a bit of Seasonal Affectiveness Disorder from time to time. I still hate the cold. I often long for summer and for the colours that it brings. I forget the security and crave a chance to shed my layers and feel the sun on my face and let it soak into my skin.
I'm never really quite content with any season if I'm being honest.
But, at least now I don't dread any of them. I can enjoy walking through colorful Autumn leaves without cursing their existence, grumbling that it's their fault my summer fun is over. I can feel the crispness in the air without being angry that SUMMER WAS ONLY THREE MONTHS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. I can easily convince myself a snow day is warranted while I burrow under my blankets and binge-watch Netflix. It's too cold to go outside anyway, right? It's not like I'm wasting a beautiful, summer day.
Hand over the snacks. Bring on the comfort stews and yummy soups and slow-cooker meals. Pop up some popcorn. Gimme my fat pants; I'm settling in.
Want to read more of my brilliance? Check out my blog here!
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This is EXACTLY how I felt/feel, down to the seasons never really pleasing me 100%. It really helps me gain a better understanding of myself to read posts like this.
Thanks for the reblog! Glad to hear from someone who understands.
Thanks! And thanks so much for the share!


First time in 60 years!!
Per Sal on twitter after a conversation with Coach Monken.
Maybe some respect in 2019.
Here is the list of all the AP Voters.
What are your thoughts about Greg Schiano as our DC??
Wow! We made a few of them.
Top 150 Players This Bowl Season!
Wow! Two in the top 10!


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Most commonly misused words in architecture
Do you know your mullions from your muntins?
by Arrol Gellner |
Homeowners these days are amazingly facile with architectural jargon, thanks no doubt to the gaggle of home-improvement shows on television these days, not to speak of the wealth of information on the Internet. But while lots of folks know their antae from their astragals, as it were, a few stubborn terms are still routinely confused — sometimes even among architects. Here are the usual suspects:
Cement/concrete: Cement refers only to the powder that hardens when you add water. If you add sand and aggregate to the mixture, though, you get concrete. So strictly speaking, a cement mixer should be called a concrete mixer.
Sash/window: The part of a window that moves is called the sash. The whole shebang — sash, jambs, sill and everything else — is called a window.
Mullion/muntin: A mullion is a heavy vertical or horizontal member between adjoining window units. Muntins are the narrow strips of wood that divide the individual panes of glass in traditional sash. In the case of so-called "simulated divided lites," grilles resembling muntins are either sandwiched between double glass panes or else installed over the outer surface of the glass to give a divided look.
Trim/casing: On the outside of a house, the decorative frame around a door or window is called trim, while on the inside, the same thing is called casing. Go figure.
Sliding door/pocket door/bypassing door: The term sliding door refers only to the sliding glass variety that usually leads outside. Those interior doors that disappear into a slot in the wall, on the other hand, are properly called pocket doors. To make things more confusing, the type of paired closet doors that slide past each other aren't called sliding doors either — they're called bypassing doors.
Girder/header/beam: In wood-frame construction, a heavy horizontal member is called a girder if it's below floor level, a header if it's over a door or window, and a beam if it's pretty much anywhere else.
Wall/partition: Structurally speaking, a wall is always bearing, while a partition is always nonbearing. In most houses, the exterior walls and at least one wall running down the middle of the house are bearing, while all the other walls — er, partitions — are nonbearing. Since these two varieties aren't always easy to tell apart, it's prudent to call in an architect or engineer before you go tearing out either one.
Shingle/shake: Wood shingles are sawn by machine and are relatively thin. Wood shakes are larger and thicker than shingles, and are split from a solid block of wood rather than sawn.
Flue/vent: Both of these things stick out of your roof, but a flue exhausts combustion gas from a fireplace, water heater or furnace — anything with a flame — while a vent leads those nasty gases in your plumbing system to the atmosphere.
Banister/Baluster: Banister refers to the entire railing on a staircase. Balusters are the individual uprights in any railing, whether on a stair, a balcony or whatever. So it's fine to slide down the banister, but you probably wouldn't want to slide down the balusters.
What's your opinion? Leave your comments below or send a letter to the editor. To contact the writer, click the byline at the top of the story.


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Ellis & Co client case study: Toots Design
You are here: Home »	News & Views » Ellis & Co client case study: Toots Design
Life can be tricky, but it can also be magical…
Step forward illustrator, author and animator Lorna Gibson owner of Toots Design.
Lorna creates illustrations, stories and animations which aren't afraid to address difficult topics like fear and bereavement alongside the uplifting moments of everyday magic.
Due to the comforting nature in which they are written, Lorna's stories are now being used by bereavement charities including Grief Encounter and 2Wish Upon a Star, as well as mental health workers and ICU departments, something which she is very proud of.
"I started illustrating for my own personal development, posting my work online in 2017 which eventually grew into full time business in 2020" said Lorna.
Lorna's illustrations proved hugely popular and soon enough she was bringing the characters in those illustrations into story books and then finally to life, with her first ever animation – Mr Bear's Christmas.
"That's been the biggest challenge I have set myself so far," said Lorna.
"I made Mr Bear's Christmas last year, it took me six months from story board to completion.
"It was a number of firsts for me, working with a range of software's including Photoshop and Premier Pro (an editing software), as well as building a set, it was a labour of love."
Along with negotiating through unknown software and building a brand new set, the dream of creating the animation would have been costly if Lorna hadn't done it herself.
"Creating the characters in the animation including Mr Bear, Mr Badger and Mouse was going to be expensive, costing over £300 per character," said Lorna.
"During a trip to the Chester Wool Company, one of the team said that I could make the characters myself, of course I laughed as I'd never tried needlefelt work before.
"A few days later I arrived home to a surprise in the post, a needlefelt kit sent by Chester Wool, so I gave it a go!
"I taught myself quite quickly and within a month I had created all my characters and the set.
"I don't think I'd have tried doing it myself without that chance conversation and I'm so pleased I did," she added.
As with the majority of businesses across the globe, Lorna has had challenges to overcomeworking during the pandemic.
But Lorna did admit that lockdown did have its positives, allowing her more time to reflect and also write four new books; The Tales of Mr Bear (three stories within one), Just As You Are (uplifting stories, dealing with emotions), Love Never Dies (a book about dealing with bereavement) and Monsters (a book about not holding in worries and fears).
"I wrote the book Love Never Dies for children dealing with bereavement, but it's been well received with adults too," said Lorna.
"I'm so proud that it's being used by charities and other health care professionals."
Along with other creatives, Lorna doesn't have a 'typical working day', breaking her week down between creative tasks and non-creative tasks including admin and marketing.
"Unfortunately I seem to have less time for the creative side of things than I would like!" said Lorna.
"The most satisfying part of my job is still most definitely being my own boss, which allows me to have an idea and bring it into fruition.
"To see a blank page develop into a finished project is such a lovely feeling."
Not only did Chester Wool Company introduce Lorna to the world of needle felt, but also to new accountants – Ellis & Co Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers.
"I wanted to change to accountants who could help me with Xero, Chester Wool told me about their accountants and how good they were, so I gave them a call," said Lorna.
"The team have been so helpful, it was so nice to have a conversation with people who were incredibly patient.
"It's lovely to be listened to and asked about my needs and to be given correct advice.
"I have already recommended them."
For further information about Toots Design click here.
#tootsdeisgn
#illustrator
#animator
#lornagibson


Harry Connick Jr. singing "Stardust" during "The Birth of Jazz: From Bolden to Armstrong," Jazz at Lincoln Center's 2019 gala concert on April 17.
It was quite a night: Harry Connick, Jr., Jon Batiste, Catherine Russell, Sullivan Fortner, Wynton, Branford and Jason Marsalis, among others, in "The Birth of Jazz: From Bolden to Armstrong" at the annual Jazz at Lincoln Center gala on April 17. My review for DownBeat.com.
…we talked for nearly three hours about his new album, The Questions (Okeh), which he describes as both a reaction to the era of division and vitriol brought on by the Trump Administration, and an attempt to rise above it and consider more cosmic matters. To that end, the album features shattering, modern interpretations of Dylan's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" and Paul Simon's "American Tune;" it also includes lyrics he adapted from favorite poems by Wallace Stevens, Franz Wright, and Rumi, among others. The album, co-produced by Branford Marsalis, is one of my favorite discs of the year. Our discussion appears in the June issue of DownBeat, but you can read it here.


Which album? I hope it's this one she's giving away and I want the vinyl.
This is the equivalent to Marie Antoinette letting them eat cake.
Thanks Madonna considering we can get it for free now, that should take the edge off paying $400 bucks to see the Granny Show.


The C-MAC Video Laryngoscope, manufactured by Karl Storz is the result of uniting various technical disciplines. Strict attention was paid to hygiene, mobility, universality, robustness and system integratability. The system was designed for both routine hospital use in the OR, intensive care in the emergency room and for pre-hospital use in road and air ambulances.
The C-MAC system is lightweight and has a battery life of more than two hours (corresponding to approx. 200 intubations). The system is ready to use within a few seconds. The laryngoscopes are made from stainless steel and feature a well-established ergonomic handle.
The laryngoscopes have been significantly flattened at the proximal end, resulting in major additional ergonomic advantages during use. The blade shape corresponds to the English Macintosh blade size 3 and 4 and thus exhibits a curvature of approx. 60°. The laryngoscope corresponds to the European closed version and thus meets the strictest hygienic demands. The CMOS chip angle of view is approx. 80°. Illumination consists of a high power LED. Its warmth practically prevents fogging of the telescope. The blade tip can always be seen during use for optimal navigation. Freeze-frame images and video sequences from the laryngoscope can be stored.
The monitor is made of impact-resistant ABS plastic and is splash-proof (IP41); the connectors are located on the back side such that they cannot be knocked off and additional accessories can also be attached here. The monitor is characterized by its high speed with a resolution of 800 x 640 pixels. The data are stored on a SD CARD both in JPG and MPEG 4 format. Menus are not required.


The October Photo Challenge has been a real challenge. Long Exposure Photos need more planning and technical skills. But look at the results: its worth the effort.
Now this Photo Challenge is closed and evaluated. The winners have been determined through the voting by our members of fotocommunity.
Congratulations to Piet Ha, first place (7.8)!
Congratulations to Andreas.Brink, second place (7.42)!
Congratulations to Darek Canonfun, third place (6.25)!
Dear photographers, thank you very much for your participation!


Black Country Radio has relocated to a brand new suite of studios at The Waterfront in Brierley Hill.
The new facility doubles studio space for the station's 105 members, giving them two on-air studios and two production spaces, as well as a live performance area, green room and office space.
Alex Totney, the stations CEO (Operations) said: "St John's served us well during the time we were there, both as The Bridge and then as Black Country Radio. We're incredibly grateful to the team there who were very supportive of what we did – we've got so many great memories.
"However, we're also very excited to be moving on to the next chapter and we're ecstatic to be doing that in new studios!
Black Country Radio was left reeling after a burglary at their premises during September, which left them without essential broadcast kit. Alex added: "We were already planning the move at the time of the burglary and, thanks to the support of the local community and hundreds of pounds of generous donations, we were able to continue with those plans.
"We want to say a huge thank you to the public and to all those businesses and schools who supported us during that time. It's your kindness thats meant we didn't have to throw in the towel.
Black Country Radio, formerly known as 102.5 The Bridge, began broadcasting on January 1st 2008 from St John's United Reform Church in Stourbridge.


Join us for our second Government Affairs Speaker Series featuring a conversation with Congresswoman Katherine Clark. Congresswoman Clark has served as the United States Representative for Massachusetts 5th Congressional District since 2013. As of January 3, 2019, she joined the House leadership team as Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, making her the sixth highest ranking Democrat in Congress. Additionally, she serves as a member of the Steering and Policy Committee within the Caucus.


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← Video Verdict: 'Magic Mike,' 'Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter,' 'Seeking a Friend for the End of the World'
Video Verdict: 'Amazing Spider-Man,' 'Arthur Christmas,' 'Your Sister's Sister' →
Video Verdict: 'The Campaign,' 'Safety Not Guaranteed'
Will Ferrell (front) and Zach Galifianakis play dueling politicians in the comedy "The Campaign."
A political comedy starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis anchors this week's crop of home video releases.
Rated R for crude sexual content, language and brief nudity
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray and digital download
As we move closer to one of the most contentious presidential elections in memory, the country is ready to let off some steam and laugh. "The Campaign" not only provides that opportunity, it produces its chuckles while delivering a well-deserved skewering of the American political process.
The film centers on Democratic Congressman Cam Brady (Will Ferrell), a long-term politician who has grown accustomed to running unopposed. Just as Cam is going to claim his fifth consecutive term, he gets caught in a sex scandal. Sensing Cam's weakness, two powerful businessmen (John Lithgow and Dan Aykroyd) decide to back a Republican candidate in hopes of stealing the election. Because they want someone they can manipulate, they settle on Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis), the naïve-but-good-hearted son of a business associate.
Faced with running his first campaign in more than a decade, Cam decides to play dirty and ruin Marty's pristine reputation. At first, Cam's heartless tactics shock Marty, but it doesn't take long for him to get just as nasty. From that point forward, "The Campaign" propels us through an ugly – yet consistently funny – political dogfight.
Perhaps the best thing about the movie is that its jokes are steeped in reality. Although overplayed for the sake of parody, many of the political stunts that Cam and Marty pull seem painfully familiar. The film also has subplots commenting on everything from corporate involvement in the political process to the corrupting influence of absolute power.
Ferrell and Galifianakis do a fine job with their characters, exaggerating them for comic effect yet instilling them with recognizable political traits. The film also has a fine supporting cast, including not only Lithgow and Akyroyd but Bryan Cox, Dylan McDermott and Jason Sudeikis.
Screenwriters Chris Henchy and Shawn Harwell provided director Jay Roach ("Dinner for Schmucks," "Meet the Parents") with a bunch of solid gags, and he makes the most of them, spacing the jokes just far enough apart to keep audiences laughing through the movie's entire 85-minute run.
DVD and Blu-ray extras include a collection of deleted scenes.
Rated R for language including some sexual references
With his first feature film, director Colin Trevorrow has crafted a quirky, independent dramedy that examines deep human issues while avoiding solemnity. The story – written by Derek Connolly – is a simple one. Seattle Magazine reporter Jeff Schwensen (Jake Johnson) discovers a classified advertisement placed by someone claiming to seek a partner for a time-travel adventure. The bizarre nature of the ad, including the disclaimer "safety not guaranteed," convinces Jeff that it could lead to a story. So, he sets off with two magazine interns, Darius (Aubrey Plaza) and Arnau (Karan Soni), in hopes of landing a feature.
The reporters learn that the advertisement was placed by Kenneth Calloway (Mark Duplass), a loveable oddball who swears he has unlocked the secrets of time travel. Darius asks to become his travel partner, without revealing her true identity, and much of the movie centers on the developing relationship between these two characters.
Through multi-layered storytelling, Trevorrow addresses complex issues, such as the role our past plays in determining our future and the natural human desire to return to perceived "golden days." The movie also examines what it means to be a societal outsider.
"Safety Not Guaranteed" has flaws, most notably that Trevorrow and Connolly fail to explore the ramifications of Darius using deception for personal gain. Fortunately, plenty of movies have focused almost entirely on this theme, meaning its avoidance can be interpreted as daring.
A movie like "Safety Not Guaranteed" is largely dependent on tone and character development. That means the cast plays a huge role in the film's success. Plaza, Johnson, Soni and Duplass infuse their characters with just enough nuance to avoid caricature, while simultaneously making their types recognizable and relatable. The upshot is a movie that most anyone can identify with and enjoy.
DVD and Blu-ray extras include a making-of feature.
"Rosemary's Baby": Director Roman Polanski's 1968 horror film, about a pregnant woman (Mia Farrow) who becomes increasingly concerned about the child growing within her, is a genre classic. The Criterion Collection is delivering this high-definition restoration just a day before Halloween, making it a perfect choice for holiday parties.
"Americano": Mathieu Demy wrote, directed and stars in this drama about a man surprised by what he finds when he travels from Europe to Los Angeles to settle the estate of his deceased mother. Salma Hayek also stars.
"The Carol Burnett Show" – The Ultimate Collection: In September, Time Life released a variety of two-disc DVD sets loaded with episodes of the Carol Burnett comedy show. Now, the distributor is trotting out the 22-disc Ultimate Collection. It features 50 episodes that that were hand picked by Burnett. It also has more than 20 hours of extras and a 20-page book, making it a nice Christmas gift for the true fan. Time Life is only selling this massive set online at http://www.carolondvd.com.
"Copper": First 10 episodes of the BBC drama about a police officer working the streets of New York City during the American Civil War. Tom Weston-Jones, Kyle Schmid, Anastasia Griffith and Franka Potente star.
"Metalocalypse – Season IV": Twelve episodes of the animated series about a heavy metal band called Dethklok. The voice cast includes show creators Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha, and the fourth season features guest appearances by Dweezil Zappa, Jon Hamm, Werner Herzog and others.
"Chuck" – The Complete Series: This espionage dramedy was constantly in danger of cancellation during its run on NBC. Still, it lasted five seasons, each one of them outstanding. Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski, Joshua Gomez and Adam Baldwin star.
"The Streets of San Francisco" – Season 5, Volumes 1 & 2: Paramount brings the final 24 episodes of this 1970s police drama to video with two separate sets, each one containing 12 episodes. Karl Malden stars as detective Mike Stone and Richard Hatch plays his partner, Dan Robbins.
– Forrest Hartman is an independent film critic whose byline has appeared in some of the nation's largest publications. For more of his work visit http://www.ForrestHartman.com. E-mail him at forrest@forresthartman.com.
Tagged as Aubrey Plaza, Bryan Cox, Colin Trevorrow, Dan Aykroyd, Derek Connolly, Dylan McDermott, Jake Johnson, Jason Sudeikis, Jay Roach, John Lithgow, Karan Soni, Mark Duplass, Safety not guaranteed, The campaign, Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis


A limited scuba apparatus was developed by Frenchmen Benoit Rouquayrol and Auguste Denayrouse in 1865. They patented an apparatus for underwater breathing that consisted of a horizontal steel tank of compressed air on a diver's back, connected to a valve arranged to a mouthpiece. The volume of the tank is 8 litres and the pressure 30 bars (450 psi): the scuba diver is autonomous under water. With this apparatus the diver was tethered to the surface by a hose that pumped fresh air into the low-pressure tank, but he was able to disconnect the tether and dive with just the tank on his back for a few minutes.
Jules Verne was aware of this invention and incorporated it into his 1870 novel, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. Although the actual Rouquayrol-Denayrouse invention could only function as a true scuba (i.e. untethered) for a few minutes at a time, Verne extended this to several hours in his novel. Inside the submarine Nautilus, just prior to long underwater hike using the scuba apparatus, Captain Nemo explains how it works to Professor Aronnax, a French naturalist (and the novel's narrator).
"You know as well as I do, Professor, that man can live under water, providing he carries with him a sufficient supply of breathable air. In submarine works, the workman, clad in impervious dress, with his head in a metal helmet, receives air from above by means of forcing pumps and regulators."
"This is a diving apparatus," said I.
"Just so, but under these conditions the man is not at liberty, he is attached to the pump which sends him air through an India-rubber tube, and if we were obliged to be thus held to the Nautilus, we could not go far."
"And the means of getting free?"
"It is to use the Rouquayrol apparatus, invented by two of your own countrymen, which I have brought to perfection for my own use, and which will allow you to risk yourself under these new physiological conditions, without any organ whatever suffering. It consists of a reservoir of thick iron plates, in which I store the air under a pressure of fifty atmospheres. This reservoir is fixed on the back by means of braces, like a soldier?s knapsack. Its upper part forms a box in which the air is kept by means of bellows, and therefore cannot escape unless at its normal tension. In the Rouquayrol apparatus such as we use, two India-rubber pipes leave this box and join a sort of tent which holds the nose and mouth; one is to introduce fresh air, the other to let out the foul, and the tongue closes one or the other according to the wants of the respirator. But I, in encountering great pressures at the bottom of the sea, was obliged to shut my head, like that of a diver, in a ball of copper; and it is to this ball of copper that the two pipes, the inspirator and the expirator, open."
"Perfectly, Captain Nemo; but the air that you carry with you must soon be used; when it only contains fifteen per cent of oxygen, it is no longer fit to breathe."
"Right! But I told you, M. Aronnax, that the pumps of Nautilus allow me to store the air under considerable pressure and on these conditions the reservoir of the apparatus can furnish breathable air for nine or ten hours."
"I have no further objections to make," I answered.
Who would object to diving for nine or ten hours with a single tank? I certainly would like to test my physical endurance under water. Might have an ample air supply left but no more energy to kick my legs any more!


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McCain's Auntie Speaks Again
November 4, 2008 in Barack Obama, John McCain, McCain, Obama, Palin, Republican, Sarah Palin | Tags: Election 2008, Election Day, John McCain, McCain, McCain Family, Politics News, Presidential Race, Presiential Election 2008, Roberta McCain | 2 comments
Says McCain's mom no longer cares about election, and that McCain may die, but at least he'll be president.
A grueling and bitter campaign has taken its toll on family morale, John McCain's aunt, Rowena Willis, told The Daily Beast today in an exclusive interview.
According to the 96 year-old Willis, her twin sister, Roberta McCain, the candidate's mother, has become resigned to her son's electoral fate.
"She really doesn't care," Willis said of her 96-year old twin sister, who has campaigned for her son and recorded TV ads with him. "'Let these bastards get in,' she says, 'I don't give a damn anymore. If these people want to buy votes and get their people in office, let them suffer for it in the way of high taxes.'"
"I'm hoping he wins, for the country's sake," McCain's aunt said. "I figure it will kill him, but he's going to die one day anyway, so he might as well do it there."
Willis has done her part for her nephew's campaign, donating the maximum $2,300 to the candidate in June. Today she joined two nieces at 6:30 a.m. to go vote at a precinct on Larchmont Blvd. in Los Angeles, California, where she said turnout was unusually high.
"I waited an hour at least," she said. "I've lived here 65 years and I've never seen lines like this."
She said she had little patience for voters who complained about long lines at early voting stations that were open throughout the week in various states.
"I sat in line more than an hour today and I'm nearly 100. We should have one day of voting and if these people are too weak to vote, too bad," she said.
In an interview earlier this month with The Daily Beast, Willis told me that McCain was losing. McCain's mother told supporters at the time to "pray for a miracle," and Willis said she was still praying for a victory for her beloved nephew, whom she described as "honest" and incorruptible.
"I'm hoping he wins, for the country's sake. I figure it will kill him, but he's going to die one day anyway, so he might as well do it there," she said, "But that man is honest—he has all the money in the world, he could do whatever he wants, even without his wife's money, which he does not have; they keep it separate. He has a good pension from the Navy and my father was very rich."
Sarah Palin also won high praise from Willis: "I think she's marvelous. I don't care how inexperienced she is or anything else—she's been through a lot. She did vote against her party and she has cancelled a lot of those pork barrel requests in Alaska."
As a mother of five, Willis said she was most concerned about how the election would impact the younger generations in her family.
"They will be broke with the Democrats in, with the number of people they will have to pay who have never paid a dollar of income tax in their life," she said. "Our children will suffer."
Source: The Daily Beast
Obama takes campaign battle to GOP territory
November 2, 2008 in Barack Obama, Bush, Clinton, democrats, Joe Biden, John McCain, McCain, Obama, Palin, Republican, Sarah Palin | Tags: anl, Biden, Bill, campaign donations, Cindy, Clinton, CNN, Colorado, Democratic presidential, Dick Cheney, Election 2008, Election Day, Electoral Map, endorsement Mccain, Hillary, Joe, John King, McCain, michelle, Missouri, Nevada, Obama, Plumber, political news, politics, Polls, president, President Bush, rally, rights, Saturday Night Live, suppression, Virginia, voters | Leave a comment
WASHINGTON – In the final weekend of a long race for the White House, Barack Obama promised to heal America's political divisions while rival John McCain fought to hold on to Republican-leaning states and pledged to score an upset.
For Obama, buoyed by record campaign donations and encouraging poll numbers, it was a time for soaring rhetoric and forays into Republican territory. "We have a righteous wind at our back," the Democrat said Saturday.
McCain saw the weekend as a final opportunity to persuade voters to prove the polls and pundits wrong and sweep him into office.
"We're a few points down but we're coming back," he told supporters in Virginia.
Obama campaigned Saturday in Nevada, Colorado and Missouri, all states that voted for President Bush four years ago, while McCain struggled to keep Virginia from voting for a Democratic presidential candidate for the first time since 1964.
McCain also made a quick sidetrip to New York City and an appearance on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" where he joked about his campaign and his latest plan to win over voters.
"I thought I might try a strategy called the reverse maverick. That's where I'd do whatever anybody tells me," McCain said. If that failed, he quipped, "I'd go to the double maverick. I'd just go totally berserk and freak everybody out."
Both men appealed to supporters to turn out on Election Day, saying the stakes could scarcely be higher.
"If you give me your vote on Tuesday, we won't just win this election — together, we will change this country and change the world," Obama said in a nationwide Democratic radio address.
Vice President Dick Cheney endorsed McCain, saying Americans "cannot afford the high tax liberalism of Barack Obama and Joe Biden."
Obama, campaigning in Colorado, pounced on the remark, saying McCain had earned the endorsement through supporting the Bush administration's failed social and economic policies.
"Bush and Cheney have dug a deep hole," Obama said. "Now they're trying to hand the shovel to McCain."
An Associated Press-Yahoo News national poll of likely voters showed Obama ahead, 51 to 43, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. McCain's campaign says its internal polling shows the gap closing.
Gov. Palin In Hotwater Again: New Ethics Complaint / Travel Expenses
October 29, 2008 in John McCain, McCain, Palin, Republican, Sarah Palin | Tags: Alaskan Governor, Election 2008, Palin Family, Palin Scandal, Palin Scrutiny, Politics News, Sarah Palin, Travel Expenses | 1 comment
Alaska Governor and Republican Vice President hopeful Sarah Palin may be facing another round of scrutiny, this time for charging the state for her children to travel with her while conducing official state business.
CBS News has obtained a copy of the complaint that Frank Gwartney, a retired lineman in Anchorage filed last Friday, with Alaska's Attorney General, Talis Colber in Juneau. "Palin ran on the platform of ethics, transparency and anti-corruption. I'm tired of the hypocrisy that exists in Government and people need to know the truth," said Gwartney.
The complaint against Governor Palin, alleges Misuse of Official Position: "Gov. Palin attempted to and in fact did use her official position for personal gain by securing unwarranted benefits for her daughters…" All the allegations contained in the complaint are related to state reimbursed travel.
In Alaska, ethics complaints filed against the Governor are confidential. "We can neither confirm nor refute that a complaint has been filed against Governor Sarah Palin. Any complaint remains confidential unless the person being charged waives confidentiality or if the complaint progresses to the state of probable cause," Assistant District Attorney, Dave Jones told CBS News.
Bristol, Piper and Willow, Palin's daughters, accrued $32,629 in travel expenses while Palin's husband Todd raked up $22,174 – all billed to the state for a total of $54,803.00.
"The Governor's office has expended $54,803.00 in Alaska state dollars for family travel since December 2006," according to the Governor's Administrative Services Director, Linda Perez. "The documentation related to family travel has changed and you have to keep in mind that the governor and her family are very popular," added Perez. […]
Obama Ad: Don't Let Up ~ Nov. 4th (Video)
October 28, 2008 in Barack Obama, democrats, Obama, Voters Rights | Tags: 2008, barack, Confidence, day, Democratic, Election, Election 2008, November 4th, Obama, president, volunteer | Leave a comment
We can't afford to slip up in the final days. Volunteer this weekend and into Election Day, November 4th, 2008. http://www.barackobama.com/
New Voters 'Banned From Ballot Box' @ Republican Voter Registrar (Video)
October 25, 2008 in Republican, Voters Rights | Tags: ballot, Ballot Box, Banned, democracy, Election 2008, fraud, Harris County, New Voters, Obama, registration, Rep. Tom Davis, Republican, Republican Party, texas, voter, Voter Registrar, Voter Rights, Voter Suppression, voting | Leave a comment
You might want to view this next video – it shows Republicans openly joking about preventing new voters from getting to the polls
Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia was asked whether the Republican Party had any strategy for trying "to keep those new voters who might be voting for Obama from in fact continuing on down the ballot."
McCain Secretly Met With Chilean Dictator Pinochet When Democracy Was Being Suppressed
October 24, 2008 in John McCain, McCain, Republican | Tags: Admiral Jose Toribio Merino, Chile, Chile's ambassador, Chilean, Cindy McCain, corruption, Del Valle, democratic opposition, dictators, Edward Kennedy, Election 2008, General Augusto Pinochet, Hernan Felipe Errazuriz, human rights abuse, John McCain, Marco Cariola, Mark Schneider, McCain 2008, McCain campaign, McCain Chile, McCain Dictators, Mccain Foreign Policy, McCain Human Rights, McCain Meeting Dictators, McCain Pinochet, McCain South America, military junta, Off The Bus News, Orlando Letelier, Pinochet, Richard Lugar, Senator Edward Kennedy, UDI party | 3 comments
Gen. Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, the brutal dictator who repressed and reshaped Chile for nearly two decades and became a notorious symbol of human rights abuse and corruption.
Unclassified doc. detailing meeting took place here pdf.
John McCain, who has harshly criticized the idea of sitting down with dictators without pre-conditions, appears to have done just that. In 1985, McCain traveled to Chile for a friendly meeting with Chile's military ruler, General Augusto Pinochet, one of the world's most notorious violators of human rights credited with killing more than 3,000 civilians and jailing tens of thousands of others.
The private meeting between McCain and dictator Pinochet has gone previously un-reported anywhere.
According to a declassified U.S. Embassy cable about the meeting secured by The Huffington Post, McCain described the meeting with Pinochet "as friendly and at times warm, but noted that Pinochet does seem obsessed with the threat of communism." McCain, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee at the time, made no public or private statements critical of the dictatorship, nor did he meet with members of the democratic opposition, as far as could be determined from a thorough check of U.S. and Chilean newspaper records and interviews with top opposition leaders.
At the time of the meeting, in the late afternoon of December 30, the U.S. Justice Department was seeking the extradition of two close Pinochet associates for an act of terrorism in Washington DC, the 1976 assassination of former ambassador to the US and former Foreign Minister Orlando Letelier. The car bombing on Sheridan Circle in the U.S. capital was widely described at the time as the most egregious act of international terrorism perpetrated on U.S. soil by a foreign power.
McCain's visit with Pinochet took place at a moment when the Chilean strongman held virtually unrestricted dictatorial power and those involved in public, democratic opposition were exposed to great risk.
At the time of McCain's meeting with Pinochet, Chile's democratic opposition was desperately seeking support from democratic leaders around the world in an attempt to pressure Pinochet to allow a return to democracy and force a peaceful end to the dictatorship, already in its 12th year. Other U.S. congressional leaders who visited Chile made public statements against the dictatorship and in support of a return to democracy, at times becoming the target of violent pro-Pinochet demonstrations.
Senator Edward Kennedy arrived only 12 days after McCain in a highly public show of support for democracy. Demonstrators pelted his entourage with eggs and blocked the road from the airport, so that the Senator had to be transported by helicopter to the city, where he met with Catholic church and human rights leaders and large groups of opposition activists.
Mark Schneider, a foreign policy aide and former State Department human rights official who organized Kennedy's trip, said he had no idea McCain had been there only days before. "It would be very surprising and disappointing if Senator McCain went to Chile to meet with a dictator and did not forcefully demand a return to democracy and then to publicly call for a return to democracy," Schneider said.
Senator Edward Kennedy arrived only 12 days after McCain in a highly public show of support for democracy. Demonstrators pelted his entourage with eggs and blocked the road from the airport
McCain's presence in Chile was apparently kept as quiet as possible. He and his wife Cindy arrived December 27 and traveled immediately to the scenic Puyehue area of southern Chile to spend several days as the guest of a prominent Pinochet backer, Marco Cariola, who later was elected senator for the conservative UDI party.
The trip was arranged by Chile's ambassador to the United States, Hernan Felipe Errazuriz. According to a contemporary government document obtained from Chile, Errazuriz arranged for a special government liaison to help McCain while in Chile for the "strictly private" visit, and described him as "one of the conservative congressmen who is closest to our embassy."
Errazuriz also arranged the invitation for the McCains to stay at the farm of his wealthy friend, Marco Cariola, according to Cariola, who did not know McCain previously. The McCains spent the three and a half days fishing for salmon and trout and riding horses. The area is one of Chile's most beautiful tourist attractions, with dozens of crystal clear lakes and rivers surrounded by luxurious estates such as the Cariola farm where the McCains were staying.
On December 30, McCain traveled back to Santiago for a 5 pm meeting with dictator Pinochet, followed by a meeting with Admiral Jose Toribio Merino, a member of the country's ruling military junta.
Obama Rally Supporters' Tires Slashed
October 20, 2008 in Barack Obama, John McCain, McCain, Obama, Republican | Tags: Barack Obama, Democrat, Election 2008, Election Day, Obama Rally, Obama Supporters, Politics News, Presidential Election 2008, Presidential Race, rally, Slashed Tires | 1 comment
Still more ugliness and hostility on the campaign trail, courtesy of North Carolina's Fayetville Observer:
Someone slashed the tires of at least 30 vehicles parked outside the Crown Coliseum on Sunday during a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, authorities said.
Sheriff's deputies are investigating. The tires were cut while people were inside the Crown Coliseum listening to speeches, said Maj. E. Wright of the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office…
Sarah Revis, who lives on Wilkes Road, said the slashed tires left several women, including a single mother and a toddler, stranded and upset. At least four tow trucks were sent to move the vehicles from the Crown, Revis said.
"This is an embarrassment to this city and to me as a citizen," Revis said. "I've seen women out here crying and men cussing. This is a crying shame."
It would require a pretty extensive effort to slash the tires of more than 30 vehicles.
Where's McCain's Gambling Winnings and Losses on His Tax Returns
October 5, 2008 in Debates, John McCain, McCain, Republican | Tags: Election 2008, Federal Income Tax, Gambling, Irs, John McCain, McCain, McCain Gambling, Off The Bus News, tax returns, Taxes | Leave a comment
McCain we hear is more that partial to a game of craps – but where's the gambling man's winnings and losses – accounted for on his tax returns? Is McCain being dishonest? Has McCain acted legally?
Senator John McCain is a gambler. If I'd known that right away I would have immediately seen what was wrong with his tax returns.
I am a tax attorney, so a tax return means more to me than it would to most. I reviewed McCain's tax returns as a basic check on the candidates. You can look at McCain's 2006 and 2007 tax returns for yourself. The tax returns are below a lot of verbiage about his charitable activities.
According to a New York Times article of September 27, 2008 "For McCain and Team, a Host of Ties to Gambling," reported by Jo Becker and Don VanNatta Jr., McCain gambled at the MGM Grand in May 2007.
Apparently McCain is a habitual gambler; he usually plays craps. He even says, "I am a gambling man."
Gambling has tax implications. According to IRS Publication 17, "Your Federal Income Tax", 2007 edition, page 89 "Gambling Winnings. You must include your gambling winnings in income on Form 1040, line 21. If you itemize your deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040), you can deduct gambling losses you had during the year, but only up to the amount of your winnings." In other words, you can't subtract your losses from your winnings and just not report. You have to report the winnings, and then claim the losses.
But McCain's tax returns say nothing about gambling winnings or losses.
As a casino gambler, McCain is likely to have lost more than he won. But by not reporting his winnings, the different percentage calculations built into the tax calculation are thrown off, and if he gambled much at all, he has underpaid his tax. The amount of understatement of tax may be minimal, but that's not the point.
The real purpose of preparing his tax return and omitting the gambling winnings is so that people would not know how much he gambled. If he won $200,000 playing craps in Las Vegas, it would make a difference in the way voters viewed his suitability as a presidential candidate.
There are circumstances under which the tax returns could be correct, such as McCain gambled once in 2007, not at all in 2006, and lost everything the one time he gambled. Such an explanation is unlikely in light of McCain's alleged long history of gambling.
I think we are looking at tax returns calculated to hide an aspect of the candidate. My 35 years of experience in taxes tells me these tax returns are wrong, and we do not know the true scope of McCain's gambling or of his potential obligations to gambling enterprises.
Comedy: Sarah Palin Vlog #4: The Big Day (Video)
October 2, 2008 in Debates, Palin, Sarah Palin | Tags: bailout, Biden Palin debate, Diana Saez, Dina Heath-Bar Sarah Palin, Economy, Election 2008, Jo Biden, Joe Biden, Joe Biden Sarah Palin, Katie Couric, Palin bailout debate, Palin economy debate, Palin Interview, Palin Interview Video, Sara Benincasa, Sarah economy Palin, Sarah Palen, Sarah Palin blog, Sarah Palin video blog, Sarah Palin vlog, Sarah Palin Vlog #4, wall street main street | 2 comments
Down to the wire now. Sarah and Dina are up early cramming and jamming for tonight's big face-off. They're finding Sarah's weak spots and plugging holes. If Mr. Joe Biden tries to slap Sarah's face with her own rape kit, she'll be ready.
Comedy: A Completely Unbiased Look at Team McCain
October 1, 2008 in Uncategorized | Tags: Dr. Evil, Election 2008, John McCain, John McCain advisers, John McCain cabinet, John McCain cabinet choices, John McCain campaign, Karl Rove, McCain team, Sarah Palin, Team McCain | 1 comment
Comedy: Sarah Palin Vlog: Cramming for the Economics Debate (Video)
October 1, 2008 in Biden, Comedy, Debates, Joe Biden, McCain, Palin, Sarah Palin | Tags: bailout, Biden Palin debate, Economy, Election 2008, Jo Biden, Joe Biden, Joe Biden Sarah Palin, Katie Couric, Palin bailout debate, Palin economy debate, Palin Interview, Palin Interview Video, Sara Benincasa, Sarah economy Palin, Sarah Palen, Sarah Palin, Sarah Palin blog, Sarah Palin video blog, Sarah Palin vlog, wall street main street | 1 comment
Sarah Palin Vlog #1: Katie Couric Interview
Sarah Palin Vlog #2: Debate Prep
Sarah Palin Vlog #3: Cramming for the Economics Debate


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Hannah is a personable, engaging broadcast and corporate TV presenter and an award-winning radio presenter.
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Hannah is smart and warm, with a natural on-screen flair and an instinct for what's needed to produce great content, as well as the ability to deliver it.
An engaging and experienced presenter with a video presenter CV that includes fronting a factual series for ITV1 produced by Woodcut Media (Taste of the South, Flying Winemakers, Cathedral Cities and By Royal Appointment), celebrity interviews for BBC1's Heaven and Earth S...
An engaging and experienced presenter with a video presenter CV that includes fronting a factual series for ITV1 produced by Woodcut Media (Taste of the South, Flying Winemakers, Cathedral Cities and By Royal Appointment), celebrity interviews for BBC1's Heaven and Earth Show, a decade selling holidays on TV channels including Thomson TV, Travel Deals Direct and Cruise 1st TV, CPD for The Accountancy Channel (Einstein Network) and in-house training, over many years, for sales teams at one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. She's recently fronted a Christmas Crafts DVD, in the 'How to….' series from Stitchcombe Productions with Woodcut Media. She's known for her professionalism and friendliness, and particularly for putting interviewees at ease, enabling them to be relaxed and effective in what can seem like an unfamiliar, sometimes even alien, environment!
In our day to day world of tight production deadlines, it is always great to work with experienced broadcasters such as Hannah, whose skilled approach helps to make our day successful and enjoyable.
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As a radio presenter Hannah started her career on BBC Three Counties, in the seat for first the Breakfast Show, then Drivetime. In 2014/15 she presented weekly the interview show Travellers Tales on Premier Christian Radio, winning the Jerusalem Award for Best Radio Strand in October 2015 and a Sandford St Martin Award in the Interview of the Year category in June 2016. Hannah has been a BBC continuity announcer since 1997, first on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Choice, then as a freelancer, 4 years as BBC Four's announcer. Since 2006 she's been heard globally as sole announcer for the TV channel BBC World News.
Equipped with a home studio, Hannah provides voiceovers for a range of corporate and commercial clients, both in the UK and around the world. She's been the voice of 118 118, and Clearblue Pregnancy tests, the MOD, British Gas and JLL Property, amongst many others. Hannah is also one of our Great British Voices!
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From courts to cameras: after ten years of forensic advocacy as a criminal defence and family law...
Simon P
Simon is a widely traveled foreign correspondent, broadcast journalist and adventure travel writer for the Telegraph, Lonely Planet,...


"Few teams can cope with the loss of senior players and the absence of three for Sri Lanka is surely too many"
West Indies captain Jason Holder has demanded his players be more consistent. Fair enough. But this team are a work in progress and with a 1-0 lead in the series with one to play they are going in the right direction.
Of course bowlers and batsmen could be poked to reach for better returns after the frustrating draw in St Lucia but the hosts had the better of that contest. They were in charge after bowling out for Sri Lanka for 253. That they couldn't keep the foot on the throat is testament to an inexperienced group.
They at least showed nerve to hold on for the stalemate. Chasing an irrelevant 296, West Indies could have been in a spot of bother at 64 for four. But Kraigg Brathwaite, the human anchor, guided them to safety.
Shannon Gabriel took eight wickets in that first-innings and his form has been the major fillip for West Indies. He is a terrific bowler and one which is a throwback to the good old days of Holding and Roberts etcetera.
West Indies may chuck 20-year-old pacer Keemo Paul into the XI in place of Miguel Cummins.
Sri Lanka are having a disastrous time. They smashed the self-destruct button in St Lucia with Dinesh Chandimal, the skipper, accused of ball-tampering.
Chandimal has been banned from this match. His experience and skill will surely be sorely missed by a team which is also without Angelo Mathews, who returned home before game two because of personal issues. To make matters worst their best bowler, Rangana Herath, is injured.
Not that we should feel sorry for them. They cheated in St Lucia and then walked off the pitch costing them overs which they needed when trying to bowl out West Indies.
The tourists had already made four changes after defeat in the first Test so further upheaval is unwanted. Suranga Lakmal will lead while Kusal Perera could either be dropped or relieved of opening duty. Danushka Gunathilaka comes in for Chandimal.
Lahiru Kumara, their slippery pacer, is their one hope. He could do damage with the pink ball in an evening session.
There have been three Tests in the last five years at Kensington Oval. The first-innings scores read (most recent first): 312-257-293. In all innings only once has 350 been busted as the surface has assisted seam bowlers. Last May Pakistan were razed for 81 batting last when going after 188. That man Gabriel claimed five wickets. It could be wise to lay 300 or more in first dig.
We can get ourselves in a bit of a muddle with day-night Tests. Is it better to bat first or second? Tricky because the significant factor is the evening session when the ball zips around more. Over the course of five days it is difficult to predict who will, or won't, get most opportunities at dusk.
What we do know is there has yet to be a draw in a day-nighter, although the study sample is small at nine matches. With no rain around and cloud cover expected, we can probably swerve a gamble on another draw at [5.8].
Not surprisingly we are keen to get with the Windies at [2.14]. We thought they would be shorter following Sri Lanka's roster issues. They look far more likely to take 20 wickets than the tourists, who are [2.74].
Few teams can cope with the loss of senior players and the absence of three for Sri Lanka is surely too many.
Roston Chase and Shai Hope have ground form here. Chase notched 131 against Pakistan in the first dig in 2017 and Hope made 91 in the second. They go off at [4.1] and [3.75] respectively. Brathwaite is also [3.75].
In the absence of Chandimal, Mathews and (probably) Perera, who scores Sri Lanka's runs? Kusal Mendis. In the last three years he actually outscores the latter two. And with a half-century in St Lucia it's easy to make a case for him at [3.5]. Look out for a price on Dhanajaya De Silva. His numbers are projected to be almost as good as Chandimal's.


The Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) said on Friday it had cancelled a meeting that was to be held in Chengdu, Sichuan this week, said the South China Morning Post.
The reason for canceling was not given but US Vice-President Mike Pence said Beijing had refused to grant a visa to the Venezuelan representative designated by opposition leader Juan Guaido.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the proposed change of the Venezuelan representative by the Washington-based IADB "damaged the atmosphere" of the meeting and "disturbed preparations," said Reuters.
Geng added that Guaido lacked legitimacy and that Beijing "had difficulty allowing" his representative to attend.


text:
Hoping for the best at the show known as Collin B's
By Rebecca Chastenet dé Gery, Fri., May 31, 2002
Prosciutto-wrapped Texas quail with truffled mushrooms (Photo By John Anderson)
Collin B's Bistro and Wine Room
35th & Jefferson, Second Floor, 454-0004
Lunch: Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-2pm;
Dinner: Tuesday-Saturday, 5-10pm;
Saturday brunch, 10am-2pm
As I'm sure my fellow restaurant critics (and most enthusiastic diners) would agree, expectation has a lot to do with how you define your initial dining experience at a restaurant. Food, after all, has become entertainment, and creating audience anticipation is a key ingredient in a successful "show." Chefs and restaurateurs are all too aware of this, of course. Many place print and radio ads, and commission glossy press kits and publicity campaigns promoting their "original recipes" with the gusto and verve of a charismatic used car salesman. And creating this buzz, more often than not, works. It lets people know there's a new show in town. It piques diners' curiosity and, ultimately, it fills the restaurant's tables.
I was eager to visit Collin B's Bistro and Wine Room from the first radio ad I heard touting the chef's signature cappellini crabcake. "How do you incorporate cappellini into a crabcake?" I'd ask myself as each spot ended, imagining bits of angel hair pasta mingled with crab in place of the standard breadcrumbs, or a tangle of the cappellini pan-fried into a dainty cake and topped with fresh claw meat and herbs. Then came the postcard in my mailbox exclaiming "Collin B's Bistro and Wine Room: Where the food looks so good you won't know whether to eat it or frame it!" Finally, there was the word around town that Michael McGovern, the supremely knowledgeable wine steward and affable general manager of Emilia's, had moved across town to manage Collin B's wine room. I was there!
My first step inside Collin B's kept my expectations soaring. The restaurant's interior is tasteful, inviting, and a little bit mysterious, with black banquettes and dark-stained bistro chairs abutting black-clothed tables, each one adorned with a bud vase of magnificent flowers (orange roses and magenta daisies on the night I was there). Jewel-toned paintings of gardens, seascapes, and lush fountains seem to jump off the cocoa-brown walls, and flickering candles and backlit window sheers keep the ambience rarified. Scarlet curtains set off two dramatic red alcoves adjoining the dining room, and etched glass doors give the spaces a modern touch.
Waitstaff at Collin B's are numerous, and they discreetly stand guard in the restaurant's dark retreats off the dining room. A busboy kept our water glasses brimming, another gentleman kept the bread plates full, and our waiter displayed the perfect combination of solicitude, familiarity with the menu and wine list, and gracious restraint. He recommended an excellent bottle of Australian Coldstream Hills Pinot Noir, and was off, returning within minutes with an amuse-bouche and a welcoming tasting-sized glass of crisp, white Frog's Leap. A trio of breads -- a jalapeño corn muffin, an onion roll, and a round slice of rye -- were set out simultaneously, and the show officially began, foreshadowing what was to follow.
Both the amuse-bouche and bread plate were created with an eye for distinguished appearances. The varied bread selection was a departure from the norm and the amuse-bouche, a miniature garlic crostini slathered with goat cheese and topped with a ripple of zucchini, was intended to welcome, impress, and whet the appetite. Beauty worth celebrating, however, runs more than skin deep. The restaurant's attention to detail ended with appearances, it seemed, with little of it paid to the quality of the ingredients in the pretty, pre-dinner dishes. The garlic on the little crostini had the unmistakable bite of the powdered or dehydrated variety, and the bread selection, while undeniably generous, was a little tired and dry. But we were enjoying the wine. The crostini's goat cheese was creamy, soft, and reassuring. And the restaurant's swanky atmosphere and attentive service felt promising.
The arrival of our appetizers buoyed the meal. Although my husband's selection sounded impossibly rich to me -- Prince Edward Island mussels stuffed with foie gras and tarragon custard and laced with truffle oil ($11.95) -- the combination worked and turned out to be the highlight of the meal. The dish seesawed between decadence and herbal refreshment, the plump, pate- and truffle oil-enhanced mollusks kept in balance by a surprisingly light, bright-tasting tarragon custard. My baby spinach salad topped with duck confit ($6.75) in sherry vinaigrette was far less racy, but still a solid choice, its bracingly tart vinaigrette the perfect mate for the earthy spinach and rustic confit.
Dinner took a downward turn with the arrival of the entrées, however. The prosciutto-wrapped Texas quail with truffled mushrooms and an aged Balsamic Misson fig essence ($14.95) fell far short of expectations. To begin with, there was no prosciutto in sight. (I'm a literal gal, and regard menu descriptions in a what-you-read-is-what-you-get way unless told of the evening's substitution by a waiter.) The salt-cured slab of country ham that curled thickly atop the tiny quail came as a bit of a surprise. I like country ham, but it was agonizingly out of place here, leeching rather than preserving the quail's moisture. The mushrooms tucked under the split, partially deboned bird were indeed dressed up with the unmistakable aroma of truffle oil. The mushrooms were delicious, as were the three little figs and the sweet balsamic reduction that framed the plate, but, to my liking, the quail was dry.
The entrée's ultimate shortcoming came in the form of "red rice." Although described by our waiter as a Himalayan red rice -- which it might well have been -- the dense mound that created the plate's foundation was so fiery that it overwhelmed the entire meal, even the potent truffle oil, and left us speculating that Paul Prudhomme's Cajun "dirty rice" seasoning may have found its way into Collin B's kitchen. An entrée of Valencia orange and ginger-cured pork tenderloin with an ancho-chili glaze ($16.95) suffered from the same "dirty rice" problem as the quail, making it impossible to discern even a hint of ginger or orange, and again, the meat was overcooked in my estimation. A dessert of berries and crème fraiche somewhat righted the meal, but we left Collin B's disappointed.
I had hopes that lunch at Collin B's the following week would alter my opinion of the restaurant. Like the dinner that had preceded it, we were warmly greeted when we arrived, and found the restaurant's daytime atmosphere as pleasant as it is by night, though the restaurant is more breezy-feeling and bright during the day. Again, flowers topped all the tables, and the wait team stood at attention in the dark corridor leading to the kitchen. Several tables were filled with business lunchers while pairs of senior "ladies who lunch" shared others. The stage was well set for a leisurely midday meal.
As at dinner, the bread service came first, but it, too, suffered from an unappetizing day-old texture, and the butter swirl that accompanied it had separated, oil pooling around the plate. Things started looking up with the arrival of the much-awaited cappellini crabcake appetizer with garlic spinach in a sun-dried tomato beurre blanc ($6.25). The dish was as big on looks as its promotional material had promised. It resembled a whimsical, upside-down, many-legged octopus marooned on a mound of green seaweed awash in a red-flecked foamy sea. It made us smile, and we dared each other to be the first to dig into the crabcake, which was contained within the "octopus' body" pocketed inside the twist of its fried cappellini "legs." The dish's flavor was fine, and the spinach served with it was a great touch, but the sun-dried tomato beurre blanc was anemic, revealing none of the characteristic punch of sun-dried tomato.
Another appetizer, the portobello and polenta fries with gorgonzola cream dip ($3.95), had sounded sensational to us -- the celebrated trio of polenta, mushrooms, and bleu cheese innovatively revisited. We asked about the preparation of these newfangled "fries," and our waiter explained that strips of polenta and portobello were tempura battered and fried, served with the bleu cheese as a dipping sauce. But yet again, Collin B's struck out on the execution. The tempura batter's residual grease dominated the flavor, and the gorgonzola cream dip was so short on cheese and so thin that we actually had to look back at the menu to be certain that it was indeed a bleu cheese dip we were supposed to have been eating. Finally, a shared Chicken saltimbocca sandwich with prosciutto and fontina and a green peppercorn aioli on toasted ciabatta ($8.75) failed to save the day. The bread's toasting marks were on the black side, and the prosciutto suspiciously resembled ham again, this time a thinner, sandwich-style slice. The peppercorn aioli was too spare to elevate the chicken to upscale sandwich status, so we asked for the check and again left Collin B's unimpressed.
Now, some of you readers may think that we restaurant critics relish the opportunity to lambaste a restaurant, but nothing could be further from the truth. We're in this job because we love food and all the wonderful possibilities that exist for making it memorable. In many ways, a restaurant critic is a chef's best audience, generally enthusiastic and always eager to taste. Which brings me back to the role expectation plays in the overall dining experience. Perhaps I set my hopes for Collin B's too high. Then again, with all the promotion I'd read and heard surrounding the restaurant, probably not. Regardless, I left the restaurant each time feeling like I'd been cheated out of what might have been an encore performance. The food at Collin B's looked good, yes, and so did the setting in which it was presented. But in my opinion, there is room for improvement in the taste department, something that, once it's achieved, just might land the restaurant, with its good service and memorable décor, a rousing ovation.
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More by Rebecca Chastenet dé Gery
On French Fries, Grey Poupon, and Good Old American Apple Pie
Rebecca Chastenet de Géry reflects on Americans eating their words, and Wes Marshall drinks wine with Davy Crockett
Cafe Mundi
Two Austin Cafes that seem more like hideaways
KEYWORDS FOR THIS STORY
Collin B's Bistro and Wine Room, Michael McGovern, Emilia's, cappellini crabcake
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adapted from "The Deaths of Sybil Bolton" by Dennis P. McAullife, Jr.
Fresh off his TATE-awarded script for last season's The Light Fantastic, HTC Playwright in Residence David Blakely is back to recount a shocking true-life piece of Oklahoma history: the Osage Oil Murders. Based on Dennis P. McAuliffe, Jr.'s 1990 nonfiction book "The Deaths of Sybil Bolton," Blakely's "Four Ways to Die" depicts a journalist uncovering lies, cover-ups, and murder on his quest for the truth: what exactly happened to his grandmother during the systematic reign of terror that killed an estimated 60-plus wealthy, full-blood Osage Native Americans in the 1920s?
Starting and ending with plates being joyously smashed, "Going out of Business" is a comedy about secrets, survival and the potential for mayhem in the work-a-day world. University of Tulsa's Director of Creative Writing Program and longtime playwright Michael Wright brings his reliably sharp characterizations and witty repartee to the story of a restaurant's closure and the ripple effect it has on the now-former employees. From a creative, revenge-seeking chef to a mysterious intruder, all is not as it seems — it's funnier!
Guardian angels are real, and they're assigned to watch over and protect each one of us, and to intervene in case of an accident. Unfortunately for Alex, his guardian angel is MIA and a minor fall ends up costing him his life. When Samael, Archangel of Death, shows up to solve the confusion, things just get weirder! Stillwater's Archer Williams brings the zany wit and manic energy that made his "Best in Shorts"-winning short play an audience favorite and critical success to even more absurd and hilarious heights. Alex may be dead, but his story will give you life!
Performances will be held April 6, 7, 13, and 14 at 7:30 PM at Nightingale Theater, 1416 E 4th St. Tickets will go on sale at hellertheatreco.com/tickets on Feb. 16 at 8:00AM.
Plays may contain mature content and adult language. For more information, visit www.hellertheatreco.com or check out Heller Theatre Company on Facebook and Twitter.
Two O'clock Four O'clock Productions and The Nightingale Theater are proud to announce "Young Sheldon On Ice", an evening of sketch comedy written by infamous comedian and "Cowboy" playwright Jack Allen.
This evening of all-new, all-original hilarity features a local star-studded cast, fancy multimedia stuff if we can get that working, and music from The Young Sheldon Orchestra. The show is directed by Quinn Blakely.


text:
Penguin Random House Publishing
The Crayons' Book of Numbers
The Day You Begin
The Snowy Day
The Crayons' Book of Colors
Freedom, We Sing
Preschool, Here I Come!
Richard Scarry's Busytown Seek and Find!
The World Needs More Purple People
Counting is as easy as 1… 2… purple?… in this charming book of numbers from the creators of the #1 New York Times Best Sellers, The Day the Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons Came Home.
Poor Duncan can't catch a break! First, his crayons go on strike. Then, they come back home. Now his favorite colors are missing once again! Can you count up all the crayons that are missing from his box?
From the creative minds behind the The Day the Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons Came Home comes a colorful board book introducing young readers to numbers.
Regular price $ 18.99 Earn 0 points! Sale/Exclusive items are excluded from earning points
Jacqueline Woodson is the 2018-2019 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature
A #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson and two-time Pura Belpré Illustrator Award winner Rafael López have teamed up to create a poignant, yet heartening book about finding courage to connect, even when you feel scared and alone.
There will be times when you walk into a room
and no one there is quite like you.
There are many reasons to feel different. Maybe it's how you look or talk, or where you're from; maybe it's what you eat, or something just as random. It's not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it.
Jacqueline Woodson's lyrical text and Rafael López's dazzling art reminds us that we all feel like outsiders sometimes-and how brave it is that we go forth anyway. And that sometimes, when we reach out and begin to share our stories, others will be happy to meet us halfway.
32 Pages | 9 x 10-1/2
ABOUT DREAMERS
We are resilience. We are hope. We are dreamers.
Yuyi Morales brought her hopes, her passion, her strength, and her stories with her, when she came to the United States in 1994 with her infant son. She left behind nearly everything she owned, but she didn't come empty-handed.
Dreamers is a celebration of making your home with the things you always carry: your resilience, your dreams, your hopes and history. It's the story of finding your way in a new place, of navigating an unfamiliar world and finding the best parts of it. In dark times, it's a promise that you can make better tomorrows.
This lovingly-illustrated picture book memoir looks at the myriad gifts migrantes bring with them when they leave their homes. It's a story about family. And it's a story to remind us that we are all dreamers, bringing our own strengths wherever we roam. Beautiful and powerful at any time but given particular urgency as the status of our own Dreamers becomes uncertain, this is a story that is both topical and timeless.
The lyrical text is complemented by sumptuously detailed illustrations, rich in symbolism. Also included are a brief autobiographical essay about Yuyi's own experience, a list of books that inspired her (and still do), and a description of the beautiful images, textures, and mementos she used to create this book.
Age 4 yrs+
ABOUT ALL ARE WELCOME
Join the call for a better world with this New York Times bestselling picture book about a school where diversity and inclusion are celebrated.
Discover a school where—no matter what—young children have a place, have a space, and are loved and appreciated.
Follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcomed with open arms. A school where students from all backgrounds learn from and celebrate each other's traditions. A school that shows the world as we will make it to be.
ABOUT THE SNOWY DAY
Winner of the 1963 Caldecott Medal!
No book has captured the magic and sense of possibility of the first snowfall better than The Snowy Day. Universal in its appeal, the story has become a favorite of millions, as it reveals a child's wonder at a new world, and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever.
The adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day.
ABOUT LOVE FROM THE CRAYONS
Ring in Valentine's Day–and love–with the New York Times Best-Selling Crayons! This charming new title featuring everyone's favorite coloring crew is the perfect gift for that special someone on Valentine's Day–or any day of the year.
Love is yellow and orange. Because love is sunny and warm.
Love is purple. Because it's okay to love outside the lines.
This special gift book, featuring all the The Crayons from The Day the Crayons Quit, explores the bright colors and subtle shades of love. This is a must-have for fans of The Crayons, and the perfect gift for that special someone.
Winner of the 2016 Newbery Medal
A 2016 Caldecott Honor Book
A 2016 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book
A New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of 2015
A Wall Street Journal Best Children's Book of 2015
Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don't own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn't he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around them.
This energetic ride through a bustling city highlights the wonderful perspective only grandparent and grandchild can share, and comes to life through Matt de la Pena's vibrant text and Christian Robinson's radiant illustrations.
Age: 3 yr+
Hardcover 32 Pages | 8-1/2 x 10-1/2
ABOUT HAIR LOVE
"I love that Hair Love is highlighting the relationship between a Black father and daughter. Matthew leads the ranks of new creatives who are telling unique stories of the Black experience. We need this."
– Jordan Peele, Actor & Filmmaker
It's up to Daddy to give his daughter an extra-special hair style in this ode to self-confidence and the love between fathers and daughters, from Academy-Award winning director and former NFL wide receiver Matthew A. Cherry and New York Times bestselling illustrator Vashti Harrison.
Zuri's hair has a mind of its own. It kinks, coils, and curls every which way. Zuri knows it's beautiful. When Daddy steps in to style it for an extra special occasion, he has a lot to learn. But he LOVES his Zuri, and he'll do anything to make her — and her hair — happy.
Tender and empowering, Hair Love is an ode to loving your natural hair — and a celebration of daddies and daughters everywhere
ABOUT THE DAY THE CRAYONS CAME HOME
The companion to the #1 blockbuster bestseller, The Day the Crayons Quit!
A Wall Street Journal Best Children's Book of 2015 / A TIME Magazine Top 10 Children's Book of 2015
"Highly anticipated (yes, even for adults)" —Entertainment Weekly
I'm not sure what it is about this kid Duncan, but his crayons sure are a colorful bunch of characters! Having soothed the hurt feelings of one group who threatened to quit, Duncan now faces a whole new group of crayons asking to be rescued. From Maroon Crayon, who was lost beneath the sofa cushions and then broken in two after Dad sat on him; to poor Turquoise, whose head is now stuck to one of Duncan's stinky socks after they both ended up in the dryer together; to Pea Green, who knows darn well that no kid likes peas and who ran away—each and every crayon has a woeful tale to tell and a plea to be brought home to the crayon box.
Look for a special glow-in-the-dark picture [Note: make sure to "charge" it under a light first].
The crayons are back and brighter than ever in this board book of colors from the creators of the #1 New York Times Best Sellers, The Day the Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons Came Home.
It's Duncan's birthday, and all the crayons want to make him a card! With their fun and quirky illustrations of firetrucks, dragons, and (dare we say?) wheat, these creative crayons each have something different to contribute. When they come together, they can make something truly spectacular to celebrate Duncan's birthday!
From the creative minds behind the The Day the Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons Came Home, comes a fun board book introducing young readers to colors.
ABOUT THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT
The hilarious, colorful #1 New York Times bestselling phenomenon that every kid wants! Gift a copy to someone you love today.
Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: His crayons have had enough! They quit! Beige Crayon is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown Crayon. Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. Blue needs a break from coloring all those bodies of water. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking—each believes he is the true color of the sun.
What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best?
Kids will be imagining their own humorous conversations with crayons and coloring a blue streak after sharing laughs with Drew Daywalt and New York Times bestseller Oliver Jeffers. This story is perfect as a back-to-school gift, for all budding artists, for fans of humorous books such as Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Sciezka and Lane Smith, and for fans of Oliver Jeffers' Stuck, The Incredible Book Eating Boy, Lost and Found, and This Moose Belongs to Me.
Age: b3-7 yrs
"I wonder, then, what freedom is. Is it a place? Is it a thought? Can it be stolen? Can it be bought?"
As powerful as it is beautiful, Freedom, We Sing is a lyrical picture book designed to inspire and give hope to readers around the world. Molly Mendoza's immersive, lush illustrations invite kids to ponder singer/songwriter Amyra León's poem about what it means to be free. It's the perfect book for parents who want a way to gently start the conversation with their kids about finding hope in these very tense times we are living in.
A book for all preschoolers-to-be from the author of Kindergarten, Here I Come! Now includes a sheet of stickers!
From saying goodbye to parents on the very first day of school to watching butterflies hatch in spring, D. J. Steinberg celebrates all the landmark moments of preschool. Because the year is full of so many firsts, this collection of funny, joyful poems is a must-have for all small scholars in the making.


Corporate earnings for the second quarter will hit the market starting next week.
When companies begin reporting second-quarter results this week, investors will look for signs that profits can keep the bull market going once the Federal Reserve steps aside.
The prognosis is not good. Companies in the S&P 500 are expected to report overall earnings growth of less than 1%, according to FactSet.
Exclude the financial services industry, with projected profit growth of 17%, FactSet is forecasting an overall earnings decline of 2.4%.
In another troubling sign, a record number of companies have already issued negative guidance for the quarter.
Out of the 108 companies that have released forecasts, 87 have projected earnings below consensus estimates, according to FactSet. That's the highest number since the data provider started keeping records in 2006.
Alcoa (AA) gets the ball rolling Monday. The aluminum producer is expected to report a profit, but revenue is projected to fall 1%, according to analysts polled by Thomson Reuters.
Revenue growth is expected to be weak for other companies too.
After a tepid 1.1% rise in the first quarter, sales for S&P 500 companies are expected to fall 0.3% in the second quarter, according to S&P Capital IQ.
That would mark the first time revenue fell for the group since the second quarter of 2009, when sales dropped nearly 12%, said Christine Short, a senior manager at the firm.
The expected decline is almost entirely due to a 15% revenue drop for companies in the energy sector. Makers of consumer staples, meanwhile, are expected to report revenue growth of 13%.
The mixed outlook for corporate results adds another layer of complexity for investors as they grapple with ongoing concerns about the Federal Reserve's stimulus policies.
That will make it harder to ignore the weakness in revenue growth, said Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial.
She said investors have been willing to overlook sluggish revenue growth as long as they believed the Fed would continue to support the economy. But that may no longer be the case now that the Fed has signaled it could slow the pace of its $85 billion-per-month bond buying program this year.
"Companies are doing a very good job of managing the bottom line, but investors want to see where future demand is coming from," said Krosby.
Ideally, that future demand will come from a stronger U.S. economy, but that's still an open question.
While growth in the first quarter was weaker than previously estimated, investors have been encouraged by more recent reports on durable goods orders, home sales and consumer confidence.
"The market can probably handle some disappointing earnings news as long as macro backdrop is improving," said Brent Schutte, market strategist at BMO Private Bank.