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Cable news: meet Donegal, our sweater of the year
As any true Irishman will tell you, there are only but three ways to go about being Irish: #1. Be so lucky as to have been blessed with Irish genes from birth, #2. Pinch someone eating corned beef and hash while holding a leprechaun on March 17th, or #3. Proudly declare the Donegal a women's sweater above the rest and pledge your loyalty to its wear. We chose the latter. Of course, it is best to do all three...as it turns out, harder than one may have originally thought though. In any case, if you haven't already, it is high time you meet our Sweater of the Year: the Donegal!
The yarn:
Our Donegal sweater collection is skillfully crafted using its signature flecked yarn. Donegal yarn has been produced in Ireland for generations and has long been spun in colors inspired by the natural beauty found just beyond the spinning wheel. In fact, spinning Donegal yarn was such a time honored family tradition, that the recipe for doing so remained a strictly verbal one and was regarded as part of an oral (but never written) history until the 1800s when Donegal yarn began being milled and manufactured on a larger scale.
Upon introduction, the world fell in love with the neps, or small bits of tangled wool fibers, that are spun together with the smoother wool to create flecking inspired by the natural hues of Ireland's granite mountains, rolling hills, emerald grasslands, and sun-ripened berries. We devoted ourselves to making that tradition our own by creating custom colorways for our Donegal sweaters that mirror the natural beauty found right here in the Midwest.
The luck:
Ireland is a rugged land steeped in tradition, superstition, and legend. So, it seems only fitting that their clothing would be representative of those very ideas. The Donegal sweater is no exception. It is knit using a uniquely traditional honeycomb Aran cable stitch, which legends say represents Luck and Good Fortune.
Furthermore, a longstanding Irish superstition indicates that should a fisherman see a swarm of bees prior to setting sail, the sea will grant him a plentiful bounty. Not only does the honeycomb Aran cable stitch offer the Donegal sweater a look of unsurpassed dimensional texture, it does so while symbolizing the hard working fishermen, the industrious bees, and the hope of a plentiful harvest hauled in from the sea.
The sweater:
Offering both turtleneck sweaters and pullover sweaters styles gives us so much to love about Donegal sweaters, namely the significance behind their cable knit patterns. O'Donnell, Doherty, Gallagher, O'Neil, and Sweeney ring a bell? Yes, true. Those are all names given to differentiate between the gorgeous knit patterns offered in our Donegal sweaters.
However, did you know that those are also the names of the Clans of Donegal who bravely set their differences aside and selflessly united to stand together in an attempt to fight off the English invaders who threatened to overtake their beloved Ireland? Well, now that kind of shines a whole new light on things, doesn't it? Suddenly, the Donegal isn't just "some sweater". The Donegal sweater is a timeless classic that rises proudly to the top and sets itself apart from the rest, making the Donegal sweater the standard by which all others are measured. Clearly, the accolades are well deserved.


Urine Analysis shows the quantities of the elements that are being flushed out of the body.
Numerous tests show that the organism itself cannot rid the body of the damaging Heavy Metal Toxins deposited in its tissues. The only current possibility to record the levels of these heavy metal deposits is through urine analysis after using a chelating agent.
If a toxic element is found to be over the target value (reference figure) in the analysis, then it will likely be found in these toxic deposits in the bodily tissues, and will be placing "stress" upon the organism. In the follow-up measurements, only the elements with raised levels from the initial analysis will be recorded, until those levels have dropped below the individual load limits (as given by the reference figures). The values of toxic elements initially recorded in urine can rise after a later release with chelating agents (mobilisation).
Tip. Passing urine with chelating agents can cause other essential (vital) elements to become connected and therefore removed. These elements should be supplemented. As the dosage is dependent upon biological rhythms and physiological processes, and nutrition and lifestyle is determined individually, we recommend consulting your doctor.
Which elements will be measured, prices, and a more precise description of hair extraction can be found in the additional links further down the page.


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Axiocerses susanae is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Zimbabwe.

Adults have been recorded in March.

The larvae feed on Peltophorum africanum, Pterolobium stellatum, Julbernardia globiflora and Schotia brachypetala. They are associated with the ant species Pheidole megacephala.

References

Butterflies described in 1996
Axiocerses
Endemic fauna of Zimbabwe
Butterflies of Africa

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


This is an excerpt from Complete Conditioning for Basketball by National Basketball Conditioning Coaches Association.
1. Measure standing reach, in shoes, on the Vertec or wall. Stand with both feet flat on the ground, legs and torso straight. Reach up with a straight arm, wrist, and hand. With your fingers, touch at the highest point.
2. Jump straight up as high as possible and, with a straight arm, tap the Vertec device or mark the wall at the highest point (figure 1.1). No shuffle steps, side steps, drop steps, or gather steps are allowed.
3. Make two attempts. If, on the second attempt, you reach a higher height, a third attempt is awarded.
4. The vertical jump is the difference, in inches, between the standing reach and the jump reach.
1. Measure standing reach, in shoes, on the Vertec or wall. Stand with both feet flat on the ground. Torso and legs are straight. Reach up with a straight arm, wrist, hand, fingers touching at the highest point.
2. Maximum approach distance is measured from the free-throw line extended in a 15-foot (4.6 m) arc to the baseline.
3. Take as many steps toward the Vertec, backboard, or wall as necessary to acquire a maximum vertical jump. Everyone is required to start within the 15-foot arc, and each athlete has the choice of a one- or two-foot takeoff.
4. Make two attempts. If on the second attempt you reach a higher height, a third attempt is rewarded.
5. The vertical jump is the difference, in inches, between the standing reach and the jump reach.
1. Place cones on each of the 4 corners of the lane (figure 1.2).
2. Start at the left-hand corner of the free-throw line facing the baseline. Sprint to the baseline, go past the cone and defensive-shuffle to the right corner of the lane and past the cone, backpedal to the free-throw line past the cone, defensive-shuffle to the left, and touch the change-of-direction line with your left foot. Then change direction back to your right, defensive shuffle to the right past the cone at the right-hand corner of free-throw line, sprint to the baseline past the cone, defensive-shuffle to the left past the cone at the left-hand corner of the lane, and backpedal past the starting position through the finish line.
3. Two attempts are allowed; take the faster time of the two. One foul is allowed without penalty, and you are given the chance to start over. A foul includes moving or knocking down a cone, cutting a corner of the drill, sprinting sideways instead of defensive-shuffling, crossing your feet, not touching the change-of-direction line, or falling down.
4. Timing begins on your first movement.
1. Place 2 cones at the baseline and free-throw lane lines. Place 2 cones at the elbows of the opposite free-throw line (figure 1.3). For safety, place crash pads against the wall at the end of the three-quarter-court sprint.
2. Start with a two-point stance with your front foot behind the edge of the baseline.
3. The timing begins on your first movement. Sprint through the opposite free-throw line.
4. Two attempts are allowed. Take the faster of the two.
This is an excerpt from Complete Conditioning for Basketball.


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The Biodiversity Institute grant programs are funded and managed by the Institute to support basic and applied research, and projects that communicate the scope and value of biodiversity research happening at the University of Wyoming to the public.
The Biodiversity Institute Currently Supports Two Grant Programs
The Biodiversity Institute's Biodiversity Graduate Student Research Enhancement Grants provide financial support to UW graduate students conducting innovative and high-impact research on topics related to biodiversity in departments across the University .
The Biodiversity Institute's Novel Outreach and Education Grant program supports exceptionally innovative approaches to science outreach, engagement and education. The program is designed to fund activities that communicate scientific knowledge of how biodiversity is generated, maintained and restored, and the impacts of biological diversity on human well-being.
The Novel Outreach and Education Grant program has replaced the Biodiversity in Art grant program which was offered for 6 years, between 2013 and 2018, and distributed grants to graduate students and faculty.
Cross Disiplinary Support
Over the life of the Biodiversity Institute's grants programs, the Biodiversity Institute has been the largest internal funder of the arts at the Univerity of Wyoming through communications, creative arts and outreach programs supported by funds from the Novel Outreach and Education grant, and Biodiversity in Arts grant program.
Biodiversity Grants
Successful conservation of biological diversity requires both basic and applied research to better inform current and future policy decisions. Because graduate students are a major engine of biodiversity research at UW, the Biodiversity Institute (BI) provides grants to enhance or expand ongoing graduate student research in any field related to biodiversity.
Successful conservation of biological diversity requires the support of an informed and actively engaged public. Public support for biodiversity and its conservation may be increased by providing compelling and relevant evidence of the impact of biodiversity on ecosystem services and human well-being. Maximum amount of the award is $20,000 for one year. We anticipate funding several proposals.
Native American students who are doing biodiversity research relevant to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho will be prioritized for this funding. Applicants must demonstrate that they have a relationship and approval to do the research with either tribe.
2021 Grant Highlights
Christine Bell - Investigating the Status of Declining Bumble Bees in Wyoming
This generous grant from the Biodiversity Institute will help me continue my PhD research and help close some gaps in knowledge of bee diversity in the…
Christina M. Sluka - Variations in Raccoon Behavior and Morphology Across Urbanization Gradients
After COVID-19 related delays, this generous grant represents a fresh start to my doctoral research on the effect of urbanization on raccoons. I will be…
Janey Fugate - How do ungulates learn to migrate? A Century-Long Case Study with Yellowstone bison
Support from the Biodiversity Institute, specifically through the Richard Baldes grant opportunity, allows me to bridge my research project on bison…
Bridger Huhn - Testing biophysical Mechanisms to Explain and Predict Rare Plant Locations in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
This generous award has made it possible for me to continue my second season of studying the biophysics of rare plants in the Greater Yellowstone…
Christie Wildcat - Engaging the Northern Arapaho Tribal Community in Environmental and Energy Decisions on the Wind River Reservation
Christie, a masters student in the Haub School, will be exploring how decisions that affect natural resources are made on the Wind River Indian…

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


There are quite a few bad things about the "Obamacare" replacement. So many, in fact, that both Democrats and far right Tea Party type Republicans are unhappy.
Two things jump out at me that seem to be really poor decisions.
Republicans hated the mandate, even though Republican Mitt Romney included it in his Massachusettes health care program. So the answer Republicans came up with was to end the requirement for everyone to carry insurance and replace it with the requirement that insurance companies charge 30% more for premiums if an individual's coverage lapses for two months or more. I don't know what they're thinking, but this seems destined to push young people into not reinstating coverage once they drop it. That's not good for young people or insurance companies! If I were young and healthy, I would just avoid having insurance until I actually needed it.
The other huge negative is that the new bill allows insurance companies to charge older customers five times more than younger customers. This will, in all likelihood, make insurance unaffordable for older people that aren't covered by their jobs.
There are lots of other bad things such as huge cuts to Medicaid, big reductions in subsidies for a huge part of the population, and subsidies that are based on age. So while older people will get twice the subsidy as young people they could be charged five times as much. As someone eyeing early retirement, this seems like a huge turnoff to me.
The dislike of this bill by both the far right and Democrats gives me hope Republicans aren't going to be able to get this done. Especially with a weak, lazy, and unfocused President like Republican Donald Trump.
« What Happened To Mexico Paying?


T'Shaka Lee has been added to your bookmarks.
T'Shaka Lee has been removed from your bookmarks.
T'Shaka Lee grew up on Montserrat, an island in the Caribbean. He learned early on from his mother and grandmother that "things" don't make you wealthy. People do. That acts of kindness, giving time, and caring are types of currency. That what you should aspire to is to "be a rainbow in other people's lives." They were lessons reinforced after Hurricane Hugo devastated Montserrat and had T'Shaka bouncing back and forth between the US and the islands.
Now, as a partner, T'Shaka clearly brings that human perspective to his work. Ask him about his role and he'll tell you that a big part of it is "expanding relationships." That he needs to take good care of people. "We are nothing without our people." And that recognizing and leveraging "business chemistry" is vital. "It helps you relate to people who may be quite different from you … so that you can have a quality exchange." T'Shaka has learned to be a people person in an industry that many associate with numbers.
Given that disposition, his first engagement could very well have sent him fleeing.
It was a complicated pre-IPO engagement. The manager and senior manager on the team left Deloitte just as T'Shaka arrived. He seized the opportunity, impressing the client and lead Partner with his critical thinking. "It was difficult, but that first moment where I was given responsibility before I thought I was ready, left a good impression on me." A career that T'Shaka saw little future in originally, now held him fast. He liked the challenge, the work and, you guessed it, the people. After three and a half years in Tri-State, he transferred to Los Angeles.
On the flip side, T'Shaka is happy to have less challenge in his family life. Of his three soccer-playing sons he says, "I couldn't be more fortunate. I think my boys are very easy boys." T'Shaka plays cricket, a nod to growing up in the Caribbean, and is treasurer for the Southern California Cricket Association. He also gives his time and support to charitable causes. It's something that he sees as his responsibility - "a lot of the traditional institutions that form community have broken down." No doubt his grandmother would be proud of the rainbow she helped create.
Audit partner. Sports enthusiast, soccer coach, avid reader, and contrarian personal investor. Fascinated by innovation and creativity.


Posted on April 23rd, 2009 by whinger. Filed under Tech, Web Development, Whinges.
Edit: this is fixed in 5.1.30, so I'm guessing it was fixed a while back – I'm working on a legacy system using 5.0.15.
Clearly I've simplified my code and there are ways around this, but… WTF?
results in the expected "0" value.
doesn't work though – if you're going to believe that -0 is a valid number, you should be able to get +0 out of it.
Tags: -0, -zero, coalesce, mysql, negative zero, null.


Note: Note: If using OneNote Online or OneNote for Windows 10 it is already installed. Check out this article on how to open Learning Tools.
Close OneNote and reopen it. If Learning Tools appears, you're done. Otherwise, try the next solution.
Restart your device and reopen OneNote. Check to make sure Learning Tools appears. If it doesn't, try the next solution.
In the OneNote ribbon, select File, then Options.
If Learning Tools shows up under Inactive Application Add-ins, select Go next to Manage: COM Add-ins.
If Learning Tools still doesn't display, try the next solution.
Press the Start button, or select Start from the task bar, then choose Settings.
Type "Add or remove programs," into the search box, then select it from the list.
Type "Learning Tools," into the search box, then select Learning Tools for OneNote.
If Learning Tools for OneNote isn't listed, follow these instructions to install Learning Tools.
When the repair is complete, reopen OneNote and check for Learning Tools.


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Three generations of rebels
Leave a Comment	/ Stories of Rebels
By Peter Clare
Peter's son and grandchildren
I joined the October 2019 Rebellion in London as a reaction to the existential crisis we face.
Being part of the Rebellion was a joy, it was just like being with family. Knowing this we joined the Manchester Rebellion as a family. John shares our belief in the need for action in the face of the twin crisis. Stan and Rudi came along because we told them they would enjoy it – and they did. The Manchester Rebellion felt even more like being with family. Stan and Rudi were spoiled by all the kind, loving people we mixed with. Rebellion means many things to many people for us it means belonging. Belonging to a diverse non-discriminating community. We listened to talks from Amazonian Indians and conversed and were entertained by fellow Northerners. Rebellion is a taste of what the world could be like, an amazing sense of togetherness.
If you'd like to share your photo and story email web@xrbuddhists.com
"We must take the initiative to repair and protect this world, ensuring a safe-climate future for all people and all species."


"Profit First is a game-changer. I implemented the system into both of my businesses and increased profits by 21%. If you want to turn a profit and grow your business, you need this book."
"Profit First completely transformed how I handle business banking. I hadn't even finished the book before immediately putting a four-account distribution system in place for new income: operating expenses, owner expenses, taxes and profit. Mike's system moved me from break-even to profitable within a month. This book is a must-read for businesses large and small."
"Why are so few businesses actually profitable for their owners? Profit First turns accepted wisdom on its head and shows the real reason business owners struggle with the bottom line. This book shows you how to take home more money almost immediately."


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Jiri Skobla (Checoslovaquia, 6 de abril de 1930-18 de noviembre de 1978) fue un atleta checoslovaco, especializado en la prueba de lanzamiento de peso en la que llegó a ser medallista de bronce olímpico en 1956.

Carrera deportiva
En los JJ. OO. de Melbourne 1956 ganó la medalla de bronce en el lanzamiento de peso, con una marca de 17.65 metros, siendo superado por los estadounidense Parry O'Brien que con 18.57 m batió el récord olímpico, y Bill Nieder (plata).

Referencias

Atletas de Checoslovaquia
Medallistas olímpicos de atletismo
Nacidos en Praga


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Top Ten Tuesday 07
Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme hosted The Broke and the Bookish. There is a new topic for each week and the participating bloggers are invited to post their Top Ten lists on it.
Top Ten Book Turn-Offs
1. Cheating, especially when the author condones it.
2. Love triangles, especially when it is obvious who will be picked eventually.
3. Unrealistic characters - I really hate it when characters turn out to be just stereotypical clichés.
4. Too much violence and cursing - I am not a prude but when there is more swearing and foul language than story, I am definitely not happy with that book.
5. Repetition – sometimes it is just the same phrases used again and again, other times I feel the character repeat the same arguments/discussions/actions without moving forward.
6. Lengthy descriptions of appearance, clothing, make-up. They may be important for the character presentation but when they are too lengthy, they just get boring.
7. When the author uses letters (hidden and then suddenly revealed) to explain a particular situation.
8. When previously unknown siblings/relatives appear out of the blue.
9. When a character has an abrupt and totally unjustified change of heart, usually a bad boy/girl turns good overnight.
10. Bad book cover - this is not exactly part of the story, but a bad cover can really put me off from buying and reading the book.
What are you turn-offs? Leave me a comment and I will stop by your TTT post to check them out!
Review: Friends Without Benefits: An Unrequited Romance by Penny Reid
Title: Friends Without Benefits: An Unrequited Romance (Knitting in the City #2)
Author: Penny Reid
Date of publication: 3 October 2013
Goodreads Blurb
There are three things you need to know about Elizabeth Finney: 1) She suffers from severe sarcastic syndrome, especially when she's unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her like Nico Manganiello, and 3) She knows how to knit.
Elizabeth Finney is almost always right about everything: the musical merits of Boy Bands are undervalued by society, "benefits" with human Ken-dolls are better without friendship, and the sun has set on her once in a lifetime chance for true love. But when Elizabeth's plans for benefits without friendship are disarmed by the irritatingly charismatic and chauvinistic Nico Manganiello- her former nemesis- she finds herself struggling to maintain the electric fence around her heart while avoiding electrocution or, worse, falling in love.
Ms Reid loves big words and she is not afraid to use to them!
If you have read my blog before you have probably come across Ms Reid's first novel in the Knitting in the City series, Neanderthal Seeks Human: A Smart Romance. I read, loved and reviewed the book when it released back in April. I keep recommending it, including it in different lists and rankings. All this took place while waiting patiently/or not for the next instalment in the series.
Friend Without Benefits (FwoB) tells the story of Janie's best friend, Elizabeth and Nico. It was just as good as I expected - funny, smart and a bit serious and in short, a real pleasure to read. I didn't think that anyone can replace Sir Quinn McHotpants from my heart but Nico Manganiello simply stole my heart with the mix tape he prepared for Elizabeth. It is definitely one of the most romantic gestures I have read in while, if ever. Ms Reid has treated us to an amazing soundtrack to her novel. While I totally loved the songs Nico chose for Elizabeth, I totally understand her obsession with boy bands. I have to admit that I find her justification for liking them pretty solid and just because I also love me some boy band music, here my pick for this review (You can't go wrong with One Direction, right. Just ask my 6-year old niece :)))
Now, back to the serious part of this review.
The story was told from Elizabeth's POV and I really enjoyed her voice. She had some of Janie's quirkiness and a lot of her own style/weirdness. Her antics had me laughing, made me teary-eyed a few times and I also wanted to slap her sense into her on numerous occasions.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet Nico, the perfect romantic hero - sexy, smart, successful. And not to forget, totally infuriating :) I feel for Elizabeth trying to resist his twinkling eyes and charming smile all the time - it is not an easy feat.
The story of Elizabeth and Nico was a sort of second-chance-love story. They had an interesting, to say the least, history behind them. They both made mistakes as teenagers and hurt each other but I like how they grew up and evolved and at the present they are more or less grown up. Well, it took Elizabeth a little bit more time and incentive to act like a adult, and she finally did it, it was rather crazy than normal, but it was real and sincere.
We get to see more of the knitting club ladies in this book and to get to know them even better. They are a formidable force and great secondary characters. Speaking of secondary characters, Nico's mother and niece and his family as a whole were just wonderful and had a strong presence in the novel.
I liked that Ms Reid introduced a more serious element in this novel - Nico's niece suffers from a rare disease. It adds another layer to the story making it something more than a fluffy romance.
A weakness in NSH for me was the lack of epilogue and the fact that I found Qunn's voice in the end in complete mismatch with his characters from the rest of the book. I am happy to say that FwoB has an epilogue, a great one and Nico's voice was very much true to his character - sexy, funny and a bit naughty.
I have just one complaint about this book which takes a half star from perfect rating - Nico speaking Italian. As fun and sexy as it was, I didn't understand everything, thus I couldn't fully enjoy it. I am aware that Elizabeth didn't understand Italian and she didn't care to, but still I think it would be better to have an English translation is included in some form.
In short, if you are looking for a funny, smart romance with great and a bit unconventional characters, I strongly recommend The Knitting in the City series. Neanderthal Seeks Human is currently on sale (0.99$ for US and 3.59$ for International buyers) until the release of Friends Without Benefits on 3 Oct. FwoB will be available for free on 8-10 Oct, so don't miss your chance to get it.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Review: Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2) by Katie McGarry
Title: Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2)
Author: Katie McGarry
Date of publication: 28 May 2013
Genre/Themes: Young adult, Romance, Realistic fiction
Facebook / Website / Twitter / Goodreads
If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....
Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.
But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....
This is the second book in the series Pushing the Limits and it tells the story of Beth and Ryan. I absolutely loved book 1, though Beth definitely was not my favourite character. I was curious to read her story and see how Ms McGarry will manage to make her more likeable. And she did make her more likeable, but not as much as Ryan.
Dare You To like Pushing the Limit treats a number of serious issues affecting the life of teenagers. The focus is on the relationship between children and parents in all its complexity - Beth felt obligated to take care of her mother who was an addict, Ryan questioned his father's authority and judgement for the first time and had to stand up for himself. Even the relationship between Beth and Scot fell in the scope of parent-children since he took her under his care.
I liked both the story and the character development in this book. I found Ryan the most appealing and it was invested in all the changes he underwent. Ms McGarry presented in a rather engaging way his struggle to define himself as more than a jock. It was a true coming-of-age story for him. He had to re-evaluate his desires and choices and ultimately to make the best decision for himself. His romantic relationship with Beth was a sort of catalyst for him trying to be himself and not the perfect person everyone saw him to be.
I understood Beth and her attitude but still didn't like her very much. She seemed stuck in the past, always trying to help her mother, not willing to give Scot and the new life he offered her a chance. I also felt bad for the way she treated Isaiah, trying to tell him what he felt or didn't feel.
The relationship between Beth and Ryan was a rather complex one. At times it felt like they were going in circles - him never giving up, her never fully trusting him. I was happy that they overcame the obstacles in the end, still I didn't like how Ryan repeatedly treated the whole situation as a game he had to win. His I-don't-lose attitude with regard to everything, including Beth and her feelings, annoyed me a lot.
I wish the supporting characters, Ryan's friends, his brother Mark, Scot and his wife, were better developed. I think that Scot and Mark were central to the story and deserved more place in it.
I loved seeing Noah and Echo again and I felt really sad for Isaiah. I am really exciting about his book and hope he finally finds the happiness he deserves. His story, Crash into You, comes out on 15 November.
Friday Freebies #6
Here are the books I got for free this week:
Against the Wall (Against the Wall 1) by Julie Prestsater - friends-to-lovers story about high school teachers - sounds like fun read to me - Amazon
Wild Irish Ride (Weldon 1) by Jennifer Saints - second-chance love with a touch of suspense - Amazon
Shocking Heaven (Room 103 1) by D. H. Sidebottom - a rockstar romance, I just can't resist them :) - Amazon
The Texas Millionaire's Runaway Wife by Mary Malcolm - I am not a big fan of stories about millionaires but the blurb of this one really intrigued me - Amazon
In the Moment by Olivia Jake - older hero and heroine romance, it is a rare find and this one is just released and sounds interesting - Amazon
Note: These were the correct prices/free books at the time of the publication of this post. Please, check them again before buying. I am only posting deals valid for international users, since I based in Bulgaria and very often some sales or free books on Amazon US are only available to US residents.
Follow me on Facebook to keep up to date with the latest freebies and sales I come across. Often they last only a short time and by the time a draft my post on Friday, many of them are no longer available.
Review: Near and Far (Lost and Found 2) by Nicole Williams
Title: Near and Far (Lost and Found 2)
Author: Nicole Williams
Genre/Themes: Contemporary Romance, Cowboys
There's optimistic. And there's Jesse Walker.
If he wasn't so charming, his sunny disposition and incessant grin would get old. Fast.
Falling in love with the broken girl who had at first seemed immune to anything resembling love was the best thing to happen to Jesse since the Walkers adopted him when he was five.
As Jesse's life continues at the ranch and Rowen begins making her mark in the Seattle art community, they wonder where the middle ground is. Or if there even is one.
As push comes to shove, they're forced to make choices neither are eager to make, and Jesse and Rowen have to face what their lives might look like without the other.
Can two people with such tragic pasts and different presents expect a promising future together? Whatever the answer, they'll need a lot more than love to make it.
This is the sequel to Lost and Found (my review) and continues the story of Jesse and Rowen. I really enjoyed book 1 and not so much this one. What I found cute and sweet in Lost and Found - the reversed love story of the bad city girl falling for the good country cowboy - here seemed boring and even annoying.
In this book we see god-like, perfect Jesse and troubled, artistic Rowen trying to make their long-distance relationship work. All the tension and miscommunication arising from being apart felt real and for me this was the best part of the book. They lead totally different lives when they are apart, yet they complete each other so fully when they are together. It really made some fairy tale romance.
On the other hand, I was disappointed with the actual conflict in story. It seemed artificial and contrived. Both Jesse and Rowen kept some secrets but the way they reacted when the truth came out appeared way too drastic, even illogical.
I liked the insight we were given into Jesse's past and the abuse he suffered. This just made him more real and lovable. His struggle with the nightmares and the pain were pretty convincing, yet I couldn't understand his conclusion that Rowen cannot rely on him because of that.
I also wasn't thrilled with the "bad" guys - Jax and Jolene, who tried to break the relationship between Jesse and Rowen. They were too cliche and one-dimensiona. Furthermore, I didn't really see the purpose and value of the whole episode with Cillian. Alex and Syd, on the other hand, fitted well into the plot and created a nice mirror image for Jesse and Rowen's relationship.
What or rather who I really enjoyed in this book was Garth Black. His interactions with the rest of the characters, especially with Jesse and Rowen, were quite entertaining and fun to read. He not only successfully played matchmaker but added a touch of black humour and realistic badassness to the story.
Overall, I can say that I expected more of this book, but still enjoyed it. Now I am definitely intrigued for the next instalment of the series, Finders Keepers, featuring Mr. Garth Black himself.
Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Here are the rules:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not the include spoilers!
• Share the title & author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.
I have modified them slightly for my Teasers. It will not be two sentences from a random page but two, usually more, sentences from the pages I have read so far that have struck me as most interesting, original or that I just happen to like a lot.
This week's teaser comes from Friends Without Benefits: An Unrequited Romance (Knitting in the City, #2) by Penny Reid. If you have read my blog before you surely know that I am a big fan of Ms Reid writing and I absolutely loved her first novel, Neanderthal Seeks Human. This is the second book in the series and it is just as fun and hilarious and just a little bit more serious as book one. I just finished an ARC of Friends Without Benefits and you can read my review of it next week. And because Ms Reid writing is rather unique as are her characters, I will share not one but two teasers :)
"... It was one of those moments where my body ceased listening to my brain.
My brain said: Step away from the naughty hottie.
My body said: ... I like cookies."
"He considered me for a moment, trying to suppress a grin. He bit his top lip, obviously to keep from laughing. "I eye-twinkled at the reporter?""
Friends Without Benefits: An Unrequited Romance (Knitting in the City, #2) by Penny Reid
Friends Without Benefits can be read as a standalone, is a full length 120k word novel, and is book #2 in the Knitting in the City Series.
Top Ten Best Sequels Ever
The first five books on my list are sequels in the true sense of the word. They continue the story from the first book. The remaining five entries are also part of series but they tell the story of different characters.
Where She Went (If I Stay #2) by Gayle Forman - It is one of my absolute favourite books. I love the writing style, the story, even the book cover :)
Prodigy (Legend #2) by Marie Lu - I really enjoy this series and can't wait for the final book, Champion, coming on Nov 5.
Shooting Scars (TAT #2) by Karina Halle - This story just gets edgier, darker, sexier, more awesome with every next book.
Second Chance (First Comes Love #2) by Katie Kacvinsky - I loved the first book and the second just made things even better. Unfortunately, there is no info on the final book yet
Fever series by Karen Marie Moning - I have included the whole series since I find it that very next book is better than the previous one and Shadowfever is the perfect ending of the story.
Froi of the Exiles (Lumatere Chronicles #2) by Melina Marchetta - This one continues the story from book one, Finnickin of the Rock, but the focus is on different and new characters and it is just as good as the first and third books.
Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2) by Katie McGarry - I loved Pushing the Limits and finished Dare You To just last week. It is a good sequel which I enjoyed but didn't like it as much as book one.
Facade (Games #2) by Nyrae Dawn - I really think this book was better than book one, Charade. There is a lot of drama and angst and raw emotion and I am really looking forward to the next book in the series, Masquerade, coming in 2014.
Instant Gratification (Wilder #2) by Jill Shalvis - I loved the whole series about the Wilder brothers. It is typical small town romance with likeable characters, witty dialogue and some sexy times.
Faking It (Losing It #2) by Cora Carmack - I loved book one, Faking It and I liked its sequel, Faking It. It is cute and fun, somewhat dramatic and predictable, still it was a nice, enjoyable read.
Have you read any of the books on my list, if so did you enjoy them as much as me? Leave me a comment and I be sure to check out your TTT list :)
Freebies:
In Stereo Where Available by Becky Anderson - It seems like a fun chick-lit romance so I added it to my never-ending TBR list - Amazon
Because of Lucy by Lisa Swallow - a recently released NA. The blurb was interesting it is set in the UK for a change - Amazon
You Belong With Me (Love and Dessert #1) by Shannon Guymon - another chick-lit with great reviews on AMZ - Amazon
Simon's Choice by Charlotte Castle - I have to admit that I am scared to read this but it seems worth it - Amazon
Significance (Significance #1) by Shelly Crane - YA paranormal romance. It has some great reviews and is soon to be made into a movie - Amazon
Review: On Every Street (TAT 0.5) by Karina Halle
Title: On Every Street (The Artists Trilogy #0.5)
Author: Karina Halle
Date of publication: 9 March 2013
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Contemporary
When young con artist Ellie Watt decides to call herself Eden White and go after the drug lord who ruined her as a child, she never expects to fall for one of his henchmen. But Javier Bernal is no ordinary man. Subtly dangerous and overwhelmingly seductive, Eden finds herself passionately in love with Javier, the very person she's set-up to betray. With her body and heart in a heated battle against her deep need for revenge, no one will walk away from this con a winner.
This 50K word (100+ pages) novella takes place six years before Sins & Needles. It can be read before or after Sins & Needles and may also be read as a standalone.
This is a prequel to Sins & Needles and tells the story of Ellie and Javier which happened six years before the events in Sins & Needles. It can be read before or after S&N or even as a standalone. I personally read it after S & N (following the order publication) and I think it works best in this way.
I liked On Every Street a lot but as much as S&N. It was written in the same engaging style and it carried the same vibe of raw emotions. Its focus was on issues of love and lust, revenge and forgiveness. I found it rather New Adult in nature, since both Ellie and Javier were very young and were in process of figuring out / accepting who they were. This was especially true for Ellie who made some very difficult choices trying to come to peace with her past and move on.
On the surface this was Javier's story, yet the book told us a lot about Ellie was well. I didn't particularly like who she was with Javier but I can relate to her desire to be with him, hence her acceptance of his ways. What we saw in this book was a much younger, more naive Ellie, just a young girl searching for her place in the world. Her relationship with Javier ultimately led the final loss of innocence for both of them.
The book did show why Javier acted the way he did in S&N but that still didn't endear him to me. Ellie started her relationship with him for all the wrong reasons and based it on a lie, yet I think what he did to her was unforgivable, there are no excuses for his actions in my mind.
On Every Street is a must read for fans of Sins & Needles since it provides an essential background to the story and shows the Ellie and Javier in a different light, revealing yet another layer of their complex personalities.
PS: Since I am very much Team Camden in this series, one possible reason I didn't enjoy On Every Street as much as S & N is the fact that Camden was not present in it. Just saying :)
This week I went back reading a YA book, something I haven't done in while and I am really enjoying it. My teaser comes from Dare You To by Katie McGarry. I loved her first book in the series, Pushing the Limits, which I read last year. I was hesitant to pick up book 2 which tells the story of Beth, who I really didn't like very much in PtL, but most of GR friends gave glowing reviews of Dare You To, besides I really like Ms McGarry writing, so I decided to give it a try. I can honestly say that now I see Beth in a new light and Ryan is just awesome. Check the blog later this week for my review of Dare You To. Here is the teaser itself:
"I'm Ryan Stone - ballplayer, jock, leader of the team. But Ryan Stone - writer? I chuckle to myself as I pick the paperwork up off the desk. All of it describes in detail how to continue to the next phase of the writing competition, how to win. Not once in my life have I backed down from a challenge."
Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."
"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....
"I dare you..."
But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...
Top Ten Books On My Fall 2013 TBR List
I have included in my list new releases I just cannot wait to read, some ARCs I need to read asap and some really long series I hope to start this fall. This list is more of wishful thinking than set in stone, still I will try to fulfil it as much as possible.
Friends Without Benefits: An Unrequited Romance (Knitting in the City #2) by Penny Reid – I loved the first book in the series, Neanderthal Seeks Human (my review) and can't wait to read this one (release date - 8 Oct).
Bold Tricks (The Artists Trilogy #3) by Karina Halle – I really, really love this series so far (Sins & Needles - my review, One Every Street - review to come tomorrow, Shooting Scars - my review) and I am excited for the upcoming finale (release date - 15 Oct).
Finders Keepers (Lost and Found #3) by Nicole Williams - Same story here. I loved the first two books in the series and I am sure Garth's story will just as good (he is the bad guy after all, how am I not be excited).
Allegiant (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth – It feels like I have been waiting for this one forever, I just NEED to read this asap (release date - 22 Oct)
Just One Year (Just One day #2) by Gayle Forman. I loved Ms Forman's If I Stay and Where She Went. I liked Just One Day but not as much as her first series. Still, I am curious to see how the story will end.
Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick - I have got an ARC and I am definitely reading it this fall. It's going to be my next read, most likely.
Unbound by Cara McKenna - Another ARC. I haven't read anything by Ms McKenna before but I have read some reviews of her work and I am curious about this one. It may be too much on the erotic side for me but I plan on giving it a try.
Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood 1) by J. R. Ward - I have been meaning to try this series for some time now and I hope I will finally do it this fall.
Slave to Sensation (Psy-changling 1) by Nalini Singh. Same as the above. Paranormal romance is not my typical genre, but I like to try new things and there are some great reviews about both these series, so I think it is high time for me to try them and see what all the praise is about.
The Opportunist (Love Me with Lies 1) by Tarryn Fisher - Another series, this time contemporary romance. It was highly recommended to me by my GR friends and I am giving in and reading this, finally :)
I love hearing form you. If you comment with a link to your TTT post, I will make sure to stop by and check it!
Review: Shooting Scars (TAT 2) by Karina Halle
Title: Shooting Scars (The Artists Trilogy #2)
Sometimes the right choice can be the deadliest.
When Ellie Watt made the ultimate sacrifice for Camden McQueen, she never thought it would be easy. But walking away with her ex-lover, Javier Bernal, in order to ensure Camden's safety has brought a whole new set of dangers. With Javier's plans for Ellie growing more secretive by the moment, Ellie must find a way to stay ahead of the game before her past swallows her whole.
Meanwhile, Camden's new life is short-lived. Fueled by revenge and pursued by authorities, he teams up with an unlikely partner in order to save Ellie. But as Camden toes the line between love and retribution, he realizes that in order to get back the woman he loves, he may have to lose himself in the process. He might just turn into the very man he's hunting.
It is the best book in the series so far for me. The story continues right where S&N left us. There were a few unexpected plot twists which kept me on the edge throughout the whole book. There was more action and less romance compared to the other books in the series. Another difference was the dual POV - we got to hear both Ellie's and Camden's voices. And I have to admit that I being Camden's head was an interesting experience.
What I really liked about Shooting Scars was thatMs Halle continued to develop the characters further. They didn't just show different aapects of their personalities, they actually evolved, forced by outside forces and their own sheer will. I found the changes Camden underwent really fascinating and on some level deeply unsettling. His struggle or lack of it to keep the distinction between right and wrong was a treat to read. Ms Halle didn't make her characters any easier to love or hate in this book. She just added another layer of complexity to them, placing them in unpredictable situations and forcing them to make the right decision.
This instalment in the series brought another major player to the scene - Gus. I liked his presence and his relationship/partnership with Camden was crucial for the plot development and for bringing to the fore the new Camden.
I felt really bad for Ellie and even though I understood the reasons behind her actions it was still painful to see the changes in her. A for Javier, let's just say that I feel no love for him, despite everything he had been through. Theirs was a messed-up relationship and I felt that when Ellie was with him she went back to being Eden - naive, insecure, lost, hopeless. She was exactly the opposite to who she was with Camden.
Review: Reckless by Skye Jordan
Title: Reckless (Renegates 1)
Author: Skye Jordan
Genre/themes: Contemporary Romance
Facebook / Goodreads
Goodreads Blrurb
A couture wedding dress designer to the rich and famous, Lexi LaCroix's image means everything. But crossing paths with a sexier-than-sin, bad-boy biker makes Lexi realize how much living she's sacrificed for her success and one touch is all it takes to threaten her carefully choreographed life. When that touch fills far more than just Lexi's physical needs, she finds herself torn between the career she needs and the bad-boy she craves.
Jax Chamberlin gave up the superficial life of acting for the thrill of running his own stunt company years ago. But a recent betrayal proves he's still too close to the limelight to find a woman who doesn't plan to use him as a stepping-stone to success. When the charming and mysterious Lexi offers him a totally anonymous hook-up during an out of town trip, Jax accepts. Only Lexi is more sextacular than charming, and Jax wants more.
But Lexi's got a major hang-up over his renegade lifestyle, and Jax isn't willing to change his ways. Especially not when he discovers who she really is. Because if she finds out his connections could catapult her to the top of her career, he's afraid the fantasy woman he's falling for might just end up like all the other gold-diggers. And this time, it's not just his bad-boy reputation at risk, but his heart, too.
Reckless was a funny, steamy read which I really enjoyed. It is a cute romance set in the flashy world of Hollywood and bridal fashion for millionaires. The love story of Jax and Lexi had its fair share of obstacles, but fortunately lacked too much drama and angst.
The way the affair between Jax and Lexi happened from her getting his number to the scene at the fashion show in the end was rather unrealistic and improbable, yet I would just describe their story as the romance of dreams. For me this is a romance we all dream of - perfect people who gorgeous and smart, super rich and successful, meet and immediately share sizzling-hot chemistry and then fall head-over-heels madly in love. It is the perfect fairytale that doesn't happen in real life, yet one can always dream or read about in romance novels :)
The book has a very nice, light-hearted feel to it. It is quite a steamy read, coupled with funny banter between the characters and reading it just puts you in a feel-good, happy mood. There are some obstacles the characters need to overcome en route to their HEA, but they are nothing major, and ultimately love does conquer all.
My main complaint with this book which defers me from giving it a higher rating is the writing. While I do like short, one-word sentences, they should only be used sparingly, for emphasis. When they are overused, they become distracting and annoying. As a whole the writing style felt simplistic and repetitive and at times it distracted me from the story itself.
Although I love the happy ending for Jax and Lexi, I would have liked to read an epilogue, or chapter of them further along in the future as a more estalished couple.
I am looking forward to the next instalment in the series, hoping that it will be about Wes (and Rubi?). I will also be really happy to see more of Jax and Lexi in the next book.
Friday Freebies and Book Deals 04
Burdern of Breath by Ann Minnett - It sounds like a heavy but ultimately optimistic read and has great reviews - Amazon
Three short stories accompanying the Jason Mott's novel The Returned. They can be a good way to try this author before going for the novel.
The First - Amazon
The Sparrow - Amazon
The Choice - Amazon
Neanderthal Seeks Human: A Smart Romance by Penny Reid - It is on sale for 3.59 (for International buyers) and 0.99 for US until the release of book 2 in the series, Friends Without Benefits, on 8 Oct 2013. It is a great romantic comedy and one of the best books for me this year - Amazon
Note: These were the correct prices/free books at the time of the publication of this post. Please, check them again before buying. I am only posting deals valid for international users, since I am based in Bulgaria and very often some sales or free books on Amazon US are only available to US residents.
Review: Louder Than Love by Jessica Topper
Title: Louder Than Love
Author: Jessica Topper
Genre/themes: Contemporary Romance, Musicians
In this powerful debut novel, a young librarian grieves the loss of her husband...and discovers a love that defies classification.
It's been over three years since a train accident made a widow of Katrina Lewis, sending her and her young daughter Abbey back to the suburban town of her youth...the only place that still makes sense. Lauder Lake is the perfect place to hide and heal.
Recluse rocker Adrian "Digger" Graves survived the implosion of his music career, but his muse has long lain dormant. Until Kat hires him to play at her library—not on the basis of his hard rock credentials but rather, because of the obscure kids' TV jingle he wrote years ago. In a case of mistaken identity, Adrian stumbles into the lives of Kat and her comically lovable daughter.
Using tattoos as a timeline, Adrian unfurls his life for Kat. But as the courtship intensifies, it's unclear whose past looms larger: the widow's or the rocker's. Will their demons ever rest, or will they break these soul mates apart?
I was drawn to this book because it was a story of second chance at love and the hero is just my favourite type - a jaded former rock star. What I got while reading the book was so much more. It is a painfully beautiful story of love and loss, lightened by the innocence and wisdom of a four-year old girl.
Some books start slow for me, but this one was exactly the opposite - it was too quick. I was given too much information in the beginning - on Kat's past, on her present, on all her friends - and I felt rushed to process it all. All the comparisons between her past in city and her present in the suburbs were a little confusing for me as a foreigner, but as I went on reading I began to appreciate them more as something that set Kat and Adrain apart and at the same time, brought them together.
I liked Kat a lot and her daughter, even more, but my favourite character in the book was definitely Adrian. He was such a complex character, a tortured soul with heavy British accent, not really looking for a second chance, but ultimately finding it and totally deserving it. I loved everything about him - his rock music past (and future), his love for Kat and Abbey.
I liked how the relationship between Kat (and Abbey) and Adrian progressed gradually. It felt natural and logical. There was great chemistry between them and find he sex scenes hot and very tastefully done without being explicit.
A plot line which I didn't particularly like in the story was the lives of Kat's friends. They reminded me too much of the Desperate housewives TV series. They provided a background to Kat's present life in the suburbs but their own family dramas were superfluous to the main story. I really didn't like how Liz's behaviour in a certain situation was handled. It felt like the author condoned cheating or something close to it and I strongly disagree with that.
On the surface, the cause for their break-up between Kat and Adrian was just a misunderstanding, but in reality, it was the fact that she had not opened up to him at all. I understood Adrian's doubts and frustration with Kat's unwillingness to share her fears and her pain. I liked how they eventually came to terms with the each other's past and were able to see a future for themselves together.
On this note, I would have loved an epilogue showing us Kat, Abbey and Adrian as a family in the future.
A special mention should be given to all the musical references in this book. I really feel that the fans of rock and metal music will be very happy with this novel. From The Beatles to the bands of the 1990s, music was a main focal point both to the characters and to the story.
The sum it up: This books rocks :))) I strongly recommend it to everybody who loves emotional stories set against the background of the rock music scene.
Faeture
My teaser this week comes from Reckless (Renegades #1) by Skye Jordan. It is a rather hot, fun read where the worlds of movies and fashion collide. It is nothing overly dramtic or angst-filled for a change and I am really enjoying it.
"Her nerves kicked up. She'd felt so capable when she was flirting with Jax. So sexy. So in control. Now, she felt inept. And incompetent. And ... reckless."
Review: Friends Without Benefits: An Unrequited Ro...
Review: Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2) by Kat...
Review: Near and Far (Lost and Found 2) by Nicole ...
Review: Freefall by Tess Oliver
Review: Sins and Needles (The Artists Trilogy #1) ...


text:
Imperfect sex, seamless Fat Janet Hughes
Posted on December 24, 1996 by NZ Books
Carol Sinclair
Hazard Press, $19.95, ISBN 0 908790 89 9
Raewyn Alexander
Penguin, $24.95, ISBN 0 140 26037 4
Sailing Through the Amber
Susan Hancock
Black Pepper, $19.95, ISBN 1 876044 02 0
A first novel reflects not just the talent of the author but also the judgment of the publisher, who has to nourish promise while still delivering to the reading public. We make concessions for inexperience up to a point but in the end we require to be entertained. Leaving and Fat are both first novels by women writers. Each tells the story of a phase in the life of a young woman, filling in her past to account for her present and bringing her to the brink of a critical decision. The similarities are not so remarkable — many first novels explore just this kind of territory; but only a few make it out of the desk drawer and into print. Whether or not they deserve to do so is not just a question of inherent quality because editorial intervention — which we register only if it is inappropriately absent — complicates the issue. The question is not just whether or not a novel would have been better left in the drawer but also whether it has been brought to readiness for publication.
Leaving is yet another story about growing up in a repressive New Zealand environment (Wellington in the 1950s), in a strict religion (Brethren this time — the Catholics get a break) and in a dysfunctional family (a ménage à trois — now that's novel, but it's killed off perfunctorily five pages in, giving way to a very conventional arrangement, orphans living with grandparents). There is nothing wrong with choosing to work within established generic patterns. They afford accumulations of resonance to be exploited by any writer skilful enough to ensure that cliches are reanimated, not just exhumed. Carol Sinclair exhibits a good deal of the requisite skill, most evident in her handling of the ordinary traffic of her young characters' inner lives and her choice of telling detail. The characters are convincing and engage our sympathy; and Wellington in the 1950s comes alive — or half-alive, for that is the point.
Such low-key material, organised with flair and handled with a satirical or an affectionate touch, can sustain a fine novel. But Sinclair too often disdains patient craft and strives sporadically after effect. Consider the opening lines of Leaving:
Perfect sex casts out fear. Lydia learnt this early in life. When she was 7, her father brought his mistress to live with them. This was 1945 — a bad year for middle-class adultery in New Zealand. Especially considering they were Brethren.
Never mind the self-conscious style, which is not sustained, or the utter ambiguity of "a bad year for"; consider instead the expectations this opening arouses. It surely invites us to expect an exploration of sexual obsession and some conflict between the imperatives of desire and religion. (The cover design, incidentally, conspires in this, with a reproduction of THAT Raymond Ching — the half-dressed girl drooping on the far side of a rumpled bed.) Nothing of the sort happens.
Instead, faith accommodates sexual transgression, in the mistress's purpose-built flat, in the back seats of cars, cloaked in duplicitous silence. There is conflict but it cuts right across the lines that have been implicitly drawn. It sets an emotionally satisfying, chaste relationship with a non-Brethren boy against "perfect" sex with the Brethren boyfriend — if you can call sex that is "expert" but emotionally arid perfect. It conquers nothing, least of all Lydia's fear, which is of the world outside the pale of her religion.
The problem is not that the plot should fall out thus but that the writer did not recast the opening once it had become inappropriate. An editor should have suggested such a rewrite and a publisher should not have cleared the book without it. In a similarly incongruous episode, poorly integrated with plot and character, a graphic artist's "perfect" drawing is rejected by the client — on account of its perfection. The worst of it is not the improbability that a 1950s philistine would reject ultra-realism but the ensuing diatribe against the art establishment and modernism. Without "the right cryptography", we're told, "talent, effort, honesty — even genius — were worth nothing". And Picasso's "Guernica" is adduced as proof that the modernist aesthetic is fraudulent. Perhaps it's unkind to speculate whether the writer's being married to Raymond Harris-Ching as he is now known has any bearing on this but there is the cover and something seems to have occluded her literary judgment. What I find inexcusable is the failure of editor and publisher to exercise theirs.
Leaving passed my basic test of readability. I read to the end not because I had to review it but because I wanted to know what happened next. But pleasure and curiosity only just conquered irritation. There are weak spots all through the fabric of the writing, metaphors that don't work, superfluous "quites" and "rathers", over-explicitness and some gauche local colour touches ("It was a Wellington earthquake" — as if we imagined it was an imported one). They are local flaws which could have been fixed very easily and (assuming of course the writer's willingness) they should have been. Giving a new and promising author a break is a laudable purpose but unless the book is thoroughly ready for publication the writer is liable eventually to find it an embarrassment to reputation and wish it had been left in the bottom drawer. In these terms Leaving is often marginal.
By comparison, Raewyn Alexander's Fat is seamless. Editorial changes may have been necessary — we simply can't tell and that's as it should be. It is a singularly accomplished first novel and my only real complaint is the overly cryptic title, the pertinence of which still escapes me.
Fat is narrated by Poppy, an engaging, opinionated, resourceful young solo mother with a sardonic eye, a tart tongue and a huge appetite for life. She says she is a "maid to a hooker"; minder-administrator-accountant to a very expensive prostitute in a very discreet brothel. Cheerfully blunt about the seedier tasks that fall to her, she revels in her job much of the time, using it the way she uses cocaine and diet pills.
I pretend. I say, if I could earn what I do now as a manager of a bar of somewhere or by getting a degree, then I'd do that. But it's not only the money. My life is interesting. Iris [the hooker] is a terrifying doughnut monster. I listen to [the madam's stories], I listen and laugh and gasp with fright… I can do 10 different things at once, I'm an octopus woman with a cellphone and a dragon-hoard… I take a day and shape it according to my wishes. I feel clever…
And then, typically, Poppy's mind spins off on a train of loose associations, some of which incidentally serve the interests of plot and characterisation.
Fat is enclosed in Poppy's psyche, depending for success on the appeal and consistency of the narrative voice. Facile comparisons to the detriment of Leaving would be unfair; I should emphasise that Carol Sinclair set herself a more difficult task than Alexander's, simply because the lower middle class in the 1950s is duller than the 1990s underworld; Wellington during six-o'clock closing can't compete for inherent interest with present-day Ponsonby road. Lydia, repressed and unsure, would make a dreary narrator compared with the streetwise Poppy and Sinclair was wise to choose third-person narration. The rather bland, cautious style of Leaving is as attuned to the ambience it recreates as Poppy's lippy monologue.
That so much of the appeal of Fat inheres in Poppy's quirky voice may of course prove a limitation. You could thoroughly enjoy Leaving without much liking Lydia, but if you didn't warm to Poppy I doubt you'd finish the book. However, this scintillating surface is not the whole substance; beneath it a meticulous craft operates unobtrusively. There is a well-constructed plot in which the sex/drug subculture gets too dangerous even for Poppy — not quite the "ripping thriller" the blurb promises, but it doesn't pretend to be. As Poppy is forced to reconsider her priorities and come down from her permanent high, the skill with which the style has tracked her mood swings and stimulant abuse becomes apparent.
The internal monologue is superficially random, driven by the character's appetite for stimuli and her reactivity. Seemingly accidental associations are pursued until external events interrupt and redirect her thoughts. But along the way significant information is delivered, very strategically. Plot and characters are pieced together jigsaw-fashion, the whole picture gathering intelligibility exponentially. So too is Poppy's past made pertinent, unlike Lydia's, which is delivered in a lump at the beginning of a linear, episodic plot; Fat's intricate time-scheme is articulated effortlessly, beginning confidently in medias res.
Everything in Fat is accomplished through the manipulation of detail and I took much pleasure in the texture and power of the language. Alexander manages to make the narration sound as if it were spoken without sounding gauche, condescending or inept. Poppy does much of her thinking behind the wheel or in cafes and you can readily imagine yourself listening in the passenger seat or across the table. The level of colloquial features is nicely judged, just enough to foster the illusion of spontaneity but never compromising the expressive power of the language.
Her harnessing of this power reflects, I would imagine, Raewyn Alexander's background as a poet. Poppy specialises in vivid figures of speech, often tartly comic: "a frilly silver box like a toad in a negligee" (and we instantly see the box's owner as just that); "bonsaied models in flippy frocks". Sometimes they capture atmosphere: in a cafe, for instance, aromas mix with "chatter and a suspended belief in hurrying". When Poppy is more than usually wired — on cocaine, pills, excitement or fear — the similes get more risky ("I saw the seriousness jump at me like a curse") and the metaphors call for greater leaps. In place of cool, caustic wit we get an impression of imperilled control.
Alexander juggles the interests of plot, character, background, voice and atmosphere with a deftness that suggests a versatile talent. But her achievement in Fat is confined by the limits of a particular ethos (perhaps on its way to becoming a genre) which I'll call streetsmart for lack of a more literary label. It will be interesting to see whether she can subsequently operate outside of this mode, which of itself will be distasteful to some readers; also whether she can create characters as vivid and distinctive as Poppy but quite unlike her. It may be that the narrator of Fat is a projection of herself, to be followed if at all by clones or variants; but looking at the sharply delineated bit characters and especially at the dialogue I suspect otherwise.
The title of Susan Hancock's volume of short stories, Sailing Through the Amber, strucks me as a welcome change from cryptic single words and the opening story bore out its promise of lyricism amply. "Mollie's Windows" is lyrical, lucid and disconcerting. It traces the emotional curve of a day in a woman's life, using light on, in and through windows, as a correlative. There is a complex symbolic traffic between the intensely vivid imagery and the woman's psyche. The light figures as cause and effect, projection and influence, image and medium; her state of mind is reflected and affected, colours and is coloured.
The storyline is exiguous. We learn a little about Mollie's circumstances, watch her wash her windows in a sunny mood, learn a little about an old acquaintance she meets at the pub. There is just enough said and seen to discompose Mollie's humour and worry us. We know enough to fear knowing more, and our understanding is reinforced by the negative transformation the imagery takes as she walks home, and tries to shut out the light of the moon. That is all. It is an exquisitely crafted story, calling often on resources more common in poetry than prose, with a formal elegance at the opposite end of the spectrum from Alexander's also poetic language. The imagery renders elusive permutations of mood concrete and intelligible. The minimal action is thought-provoking and open-ended but not baffling or cryptic.
Most of the stories deploy similar resources in differing proportions: striking visual imagery; fractured relationships; lyricism; fragmentary dialogue; loose or open ends. Many of them can stand proudly in the line traceable back to Mansfield, though few combine the elements quite so lucently and elegantly as "Mollie's Windows". And some left me feeling frustrated or baffled. One such was the title story and the title itself bears upon my irritation.
I misunderstood it. Out of context, I took it to refer to mood, a cruisy sense of moving easily through a benign, enchanted atmosphere like the golden light in the McCahon on the cover. And so often Hancock's imagery colours the very air with projected mood — in "Mollie's Windows" it is sky-blue with heat, good humour and birdsong. But I had it wrong, I discovered when I read the story. It was about traffic lights:
…sailing across the gap between the red and the green … sailing through the amber, I call it, because as you take off, through all the warning signs, the moment you cross the grid you go into freedom. The Greeks call it chiasma, the place of absence at the centre of a crossroad … a dark space in the middle of the night.
And I continued to understand imperfectly, not just because our traffic lights don't show amber before green as Australian ones do. My problem was with the obscure, teasing connection between the metaphor and the fragmentary action. Sometimes Hancock's rich imagery fills the air and colours the light till they are no longer transparent and all that is illuminated is the character's or narrator's mood. Reading these stories felt a bit like navigating something thick and syrupy, warmly glowing but ultimately a hindrance to progress. Amber, perhaps?
Some of these stories I think suffer from an excess of refinement or sophistication; they ask a lot, perhaps a little too much, of the reader. At times they made me think longingly of the way Poppy in Fat projects her subjectivity on to everything but in a way that defines what it bounces off, like radar. The reader doesn't have to feel trapped in her often frankly distorted perception, like an insect in amber. Hancock's stories demand effort from the reader but at least they do not make one feel got at. They maintain a cool distance, where so many short stories resort to tricks to manipulate our sympathy or understanding, by way of compensation, I suppose, for lack of space in which to engage us less forcibly. The effort called for may be too much for some readers but in most instances it is richly rewarded. Even the most challenging stories are elegant examples of the storyteller's art, exhibiting a graceful, distinctive style and an exceptionally sure touch.
Janet Hughes teaches English and writes.
Tagged with: Black Pepper, Carol Sinclair, Hazard Press, Issue 26, Janet Hughes, Penguin, Raewyn Alexander, Susan Hancock, Winter 1996


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Greg Duncan2014 Kenneth Boulding Fellow
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Greg Duncan spent the first 25 years of his career at the University of Michigan working on and ultimately directing the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) data collection project. Since 1968, the PSID has collected economic, demographic, health, behavior, and attainment data from a representative sample of U.S. individuals and the households in which they reside. With these and other data, he has studied the economic mobility of the U.S. population, both within and across generations, with a particular focus on low-income families. More specifically, he has investigated the roles that families, peers, neighborhoods, and public policy play in affecting the life chances of children and adolescents. Duncan's research has highlighted the importance of early childhood as a sensitive period for the damaging influences of economic deprivation as well as for the beneficial impacts of policy-induced income increases for working families. The focus of his more recent research has shifted from these environmental influences to the comparative importance of the skills and behaviors developed during childhood. In particular, Duncan has sought to understand the relative importance of early academic skills, cognitive and emotional self-regulation, and health in promoting children's eventual success in school and the labor market. Currently, he is working to understand the nature of fadeout in human capital interventions directed at children and adolescents.
Duncan was elected president of the Population Association of America for 2008 and president of the Society for Research in Child Development for 2009-2011. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2001 and to the National Academy of Sciences in 2010. In 2013, Duncan was awarded the Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize, and in 2015, he received the Society for Research in Child Development Award for Distinguished Contributions to Public Policy and Practice in Child Development.
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Zoiks! Online - The Very Best in Stand-Up And Music!: MUSIC NEWS: Austin City Limits Presents AMF2013.
MUSIC NEWS: Austin City Limits Presents AMF2013.
Austin City Limits (ACL) goes to Nashville for a special broadcast to capture highlights from performances at the 2013 Americana Honors & Awards. ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival 2013 premieres November 23rd on PBS and delivers an incredible line-up of artists that celebrates the best of Americana music today. Recorded live at The Americana Music Association's 12th Annual Honors & Awards ceremony in September at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, the star-studded program is hosted by Americana stalwart Jim Lauderdale and reflects the breadth of the genre's musical reach.
Performances featured in the broadcast include many of the night's award-winners, collaborations from some of Americana's rising stars, as well as legendary icons who helped define the genre: Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, Shovels & Rope, Dr. John, Stephen Stills, The Milk Carton Kids, Duane Eddy, John Fullbright and Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison. The hour-long program airs as part of "PBS Americana Music Weekend" paired with the documentary Nashville 2.0: The Rise of Americana that premieres November 22nd on PBS. ACL airs weekly on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings for times) and full episodes are made available online at acltv.com immediately following the initial broadcast.
Americana trailblazers Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell—honored as Duo of the Year at this year's awards—kick off the program, celebrating their acclaimed collaboration Old Yellow Moon, named Album of the Year. Americana's newest torchbearers, the husband & wife roots duo Shovels & Rope, give a heartfelt performance of their Song of the Year "Birmingham". String band Old Crow Medicine Show, long-standing members of the Americana music community, perform their classic "Wagon Wheel". Relative newcomers The Milk Carton Kids and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter John Fullbright give captivating performances that look to the future of the genre. The extraordinary Dr. John teams with frequent collaborator The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach and Nashville gospel group The McCrary Sisters for a genre-crossing version of his classic "I Walk on Gilded Splinters". Third-generation musician Holly Williams offers a tribute to her late grandfather Hank Williams Sr., with a touching rendition of his signature "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." Original Buffalo Springfield members Stephen Stills and Richie Furay come together to play the band's iconic song "For What It's Worth", joined by guitar slinger Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
"Americana has been a big part of the mix for Austin City Limits since long before it even had a name - music that's authentic, original and from the heart," says ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. "This is a natural partnership with our friends at the Americana Music Association."
Throughout the broadcast, the performers are backed by the Americana All-Stars house band led by Buddy Miller, and featuring Don Was, Larry Campbell, Marco Giovino, John Deaderick, Jim Hoke and The McCrary Sisters. Jim Lauderdale and Buddy Miller step out of their respective hosting and bandleader duties to perform their own "Train That Carried My Gal From Town" from this year's Buddy & Jim release.
The performance-filled broadcast comes full circle with a moving all-star finale sing-along of Rodney Crowell's co-penned Emmylou Harris hit "Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight" featuring Rosanne Cash, Crowell, Harris, Shovels & Rope's Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent, The Civil Wars' Joy Williams, Tift Merritt, Billy Bragg and Old Crow's Ketch Secor.
"PBS Americana Music Weekend" kicks off with the premiere of Nashville 2.0: The Rise of Americana on November 22 at 9pm ET (check local listings). The hour-long film tells the story, sings the songs, and celebrates the vibrancy of the Americana music scene. Artists appearing in Nashville 2.0 include: Dwight Yoakam, Emmylou Harris, Billy Bragg, Rosanne Cash, The Avett Brothers, The Civil Wars, Jason Isbell and The Mavericks.
Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell | "Chase the Feeling"
Shovels & Rope | "Birmingham"
Old Crow Medicine Show | "Wagon Wheel"
The Milk Carton Kids | "Hope of a Lifetime"
Dr. John f. Dan Auerbach | "I Walk on Gilded Splinters"
Duane Eddy | "Rebel Rouser"
Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale | "Train That Carried My Gal From Town"
Holly Williams | "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"
Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison | "Border Radio"
Stephen Stills f. Richie Furay & Kenny Wayne Shepherd | "For What It's Worth"
All-Star Finale | "Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight"
Credits | Lennon & Maisy Stella "Ho Hey"
Now in its 14th year, this year's festival and conference, presented by Nissan, took place September 18 - 22, 2013. The event brought together fans and music industry executives alike offering four days of celebration through seminars, panels and networking opportunities by day and raw, battery-recharging showcases each evening. The Honors and Awards Show is the featured performance of the festivities taking place at the historic Ryman Auditorium. For more information visit americanamusic.org.
ACL Presents is music programming created by, or in association with, KLRU, the producers of Austin City Limits (ACL). ACL Presents programming includes television specials, live events, web series and recorded music presentations and is made in the spirit and standards of the legendary PBS series Austin City Limits, the longest-running live music series in television history. ACL Presents collaborations have included: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass with KQED and Americana Music Festival with Nashville Public Television (NPT). For more information please visit acltv.com.


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Philip Morris International Welcomes Broad Interest for PMI IMPACT; New Global Initiative to Fight Smuggling and Related Crimes Receives over 200 Project Proposals in First Funding Round
LAUSANNE, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 15, 2016-- Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE/Euronext Paris: PM) announced today that the response to PMI IMPACT, its new global funding initiative for third party projects dedicated to fighting smuggling and related crimes, has exceeded expectations with more than 200 expressions of interest submitted in the first funding round. PMI has pledged USD 100 million for three funding rounds.
"We are delighted to see that PMI IMPACT has been well-received and that a broad range of organizations recognized the need to join forces to eliminate illegal trade in its many forms. With the leadership of the Expert Council, PMI IMPACT will provide resources for the best proposals to bring innovative and lasting solutions," stated Alvise Giustiniani, Vice President Illicit Trade Strategies & Prevention, of PMI.
The Expert Council comprises external independent experts with impeccable credentials in the fields of law, anti-corruption and law enforcement. The experts will evaluate the project proposals that are suitable for funding.
In total, 170 organizations including government agencies, universities and research institutes, NGOs, and private entities have proposed more than 200 projects under three focus areas: research, education and awareness, and action. Submissions come from 42 countries, primarily in Europe and North America.
For its first funding round, PMI IMPACT called for projects that could have an impact on illegal trade and related crimes in the European Union. Organizations based anywhere in the world were invited to apply, as long as they could demonstrate an impact within the EU, including an impact on the illegal tobacco trade.
Expressions of interest will now go through due diligence checks and quality assessment by the Expert Council. Applicants that pass this stage will be invited to submit their full proposals. The selection process will be completed by Q2 2017.
More information on PMI IMPACT is available online at http://www.pmi-impact.com/.
About Philip Morris International Inc. ("PMI")
PMI is the world's leading international tobacco company, with six of the world's top 15 international brands and products sold in more than 180 markets. In addition to the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, including Marlboro, the number one global cigarette brand, and other tobacco products, PMI is engaged in the development and commercialization of Reduced-Risk Products ("RRPs"). RRPs is the term PMI uses to refer to products with the potential to reduce individual risk and population harm in comparison to smoking cigarettes. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities, and industry-leading scientific substantiation, PMI aims to provide an RRP portfolio that meets a broad spectrum of adult smoker preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. For more information, see www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.
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The Road Runners' project was to create a resource guide for newly-arrived immigrants that explains and presents the key customs, services and expectations of the Upstate community that would help ease the integration process. The Road Runners recognized that there were both explicit and implicit challenges integrated into the Upstate culture making it difficult for immigrants to integrate.
The group called RSVP examined the impact of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law on Greenville's school district, especially Title I schools. They discovered that nowhere is it more urgent to achieve the goal of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) than at Title I schools, those schools that serve the highest concentrations of children eligible to receive meals at no cost or for a reduced charge. The most important lesson learned from our study is the recognition of the magnitude of the challenges facing our Title I schools.
Team PASSION (Poverty Awareness – Simulating Struggles in Our Neighborhoods)
More than 46 million Americans live in poverty, and a third are living in low-income. Every day under-resourced families face frightening insecurity characterized by unemployment or under employment, food and shelter insecurity, and a stressful day-to-day existence. Team PASSION first focused its efforts on understanding the impact of limited resources on day-to-day living through their participation in the Missouri Community Action Partnership Poverty Simulation, a live event in which more than 100 participants were challenged to make it through a month while navigating unex
2025 Diversity Road
Members of the 2025 Diversity Road team focused on initiating discussions among elected city and county officials about community relations in terms of diversity. Members used a model community in terms of race, age, and gender. In studying a workforce composition, members found a disparity of minorities in the work force compared to their population percentages. Members also focused on community tensions that might present a problem when looking at population and diversity.
Walking with the Doc
The GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail is a 21-mile multi-use trail that extends from Greenville to Travelers Rest. The beauty of the trail is that it affords all residents – no matter their age, race, or athletic ability – the opportunity to get fit and be active. However, research shows that less than 10% of Swamp Rabbit Trail users are non-white. This is especially troubling given that physical inactivity is a leading cause of chronic diseases like heart disease, which minorities are already at greater risk of developing.
YLO: Youth + Law + Order
The Youth Link program is a partnership between the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands (BGCM), the South Carolina Bar's Young Lawyer Division and the City of Columbia Police Department that seeks to make a more meaningful connection between teens, young lawyers and law enforcement officers through program delivery and relationship-building. Initially, the program will be located at BGCM's Norman Arnold Teen Center in the Rosewood community. The goal of the program is to increase knowledge and understanding of the laws and public policies that govern our daily lives while also creating positive interactions between youth, lawyers and law enforcement officers.


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Thelymitra xanthotricha, commonly called the yellow tufted sun orchid or yellow tufted slender sun orchid, is a species of orchid in the family Orchidaceae and endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single erect, fleshy, channelled, dark green leaf and up to six relatively large dark blue to purplish flowers.

Description
Thelymitra xanthotricha is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single erect, fleshy, channelled, dark green, linear to lance-shaped leaf  long and  wide with a purplish base. Up to six dark blue to purplish flowers,  wide are borne on a flowering stem  tall. The sepals and petals are  long and  wide. The column is pale blue,  long and  wide. The lobe on the top of the anther is dark brown with a yellow tip, tube-shaped and inflated with a notched end. The side lobes curve gently upwards and have toothbrush-like tufts of creamy yellow hairs. The flowers are self-pollinating and open only slowly, even on hot days. Flowering occurs in September and October.

Taxonomy and naming
Thelymitra xanthotricha was first formally described in 2004 by Jeff Jeanes and the description was published in Muelleria. The specific epithet (xanthotricha) means "yellow hair".

Distribution and habitat
The yellow tufted sun orchid grows with shrubs and sedges and is found between Perth and Brookton and between Esperance and Condingup.

Conservation
Thelymitra xanthotricha is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.

References

External links

xanthotricha
Endemic orchids of Australia
Orchids of Western Australia
Plants described in 2004


This course is an in-depth study of physiological aspects of exercise. The physiological adaptations occurring with acute and chronic training, as well as different environmental conditions and disuse will be discussed. Also, a weekly laboratory hour will be assigned to improve students practical knowledge of exercise physiology. Prerequisite: KINE 3300 or equivalent course approved by graduate advisor.


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Our PlaySafe rubber tiles are designed to be used in outdoor playgrounds, providing a softer, safer surface and reducing accidents for children. These tiles can be placed permanently over harder surfaces, with an interlocking design that enables them to be joined together covering larger floor areas.
Each rubber tile measures 90cm x 90cm (approx. 35" square) and features two male and female connection edges.
PlaySafe was tested to standard BS EN 1177-1998 and has a Critical Fall Height of 0.6m. A critical fall height is the biggest height that a child could fall from on play equipment to the ground. The Critical Fall Height will determine how thick the safety matting needs to be to make sure it absorbs the impact and reduces injury.
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Great, immaculate 2 bedroom furnished 2 story condo in highly desirable South Palm Desert. Close to El Paseo,& hiking trails. Steps to pool. Avail NOW for ANNUAL lease. Will consider 6 month lease. One small pet considered with pet deposit. Enclosed patio. Hurry these go fast !!!


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The Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) invites you to register for the Breast Masters Symposium (BMS). This is a great opportunity to enjoy the academic and collaborative atmosphere of this scientific meeting only to be complemented and surpassed by the spectacular beauty of Sydney in spring.
Keynote Speaker is Dr Per Hedén, Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden.


He is fashion designer particularly noted for his....?
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analytics: 40-time, speed score, agility, SPARQ, QBR, college dominator.
The latest stats, facts, news and notes on Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings.
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Ach bhí an mhaitheas a dheineann cumainn spóirt do dhaoine agus do phobail le feiscint go ríshoiléir le linn na seachtaine seo caite agus muintir Ghaeltacht Iarthuaisceart Dhún na nGall fé bhrat bróin agus iad dall ag ochlán i ndiaidh dóibh ceathrar tréanfhear a cailleadh de dheasca tionóisce bóthar. Ba dhiamhair an phúir é, plúr na bhfear óg, gan iad ach sna fichidí luatha de bhlianta, bailithe leo in aon oidhe thubaisteach amháin. B'olc mar thragóid é d'aon phobal, ach ar shlí éigin, ba dhóigh leat go bhfuil sé níos measa i bpobal beag tuaithe.
Agus físeáin de na sochraidí ag teacht chugainn trí bhosca na teilifíse, rith sé liom go raibh an timpeallacht ag cur le huaigneas na hócáide; buaine agus buanseasmhacht na hEaragaile i gcodarsnacht le leochaileacht agus le laige bheatha an duine.
Ó ghiolcadh an gealbhain an mhaidin in éis na tragóide, bhí CLG Chloich Cheann Fhaola ina chrann taca ag muintir na háite agus iad d'iarraidh ciall a bhaint as uafás na hoíche roimhe sin. Osclaíodh an clubtheach chun go mbeadh áit ag daoine teacht le chéile mar phobal le gol. As sin go Déardaoin, nuair a cuireadh na laochra san úir, bhí an Cumann ann dá bpobal féin, agus do na pobail eile a bhí ag caoineadh. B'iadsan a bhí ag maoirsiú na tráchta ag na tórraimh, agus bhí imreoirí agus oifigigh an chumainn ina ngarda onórach agus a mbráithre ar a n-aistear deireanach chun na cille.
Bhí an rud ceannann céanna á dhéanamh ag CLG Ghaoth Dobhair, agus is dubh an croí atá ag an nduine nach mbeadh tocht ina scornach ag féachaint ar imreoirí an chumainn agus coirn acu, ag tionlacan an eileatraim ina raibh cónra a gcara. Níor cheart gur mar sin a bheadh.
Bhí cumainn sacair Ghleann Átha Aontaithe agus Ceiltigh Dhún Lúiche faru; is mó cath a chaitheann comharsana ar a chéile ar pháirc na himeartha, ach bhí na ceithre chumann ina n-éinne amháin an tseachtain seo d'imigh tharainn, agus iad aontaithe ag an ochlán.
Agus é ag scríobh fén dtionchar a bhí ag an mbás ar a chumann féin, Cumann Naomh Seosamh Dúire-Gort Lomán, dúirt Christy O'Connor go mbíonn an bás mar a bheadh bithiúnach nó gadaí a bhriseann isteach inár saol agus a ghoideann rudaí uainn nach bhfaighfear tharnais go deo iad. Nuair a cailleadh duine de shaighdiúirí an chumainn úd, Ger Hoey, deir O'Connor go raibh an cumann ina thearmann, nó ina shanctóir dóibh. Bhí leigheas éigin le fáil ó ghlórtha agus ó phaisean na leanaí agus iad ag imirt agus ag traenáil ar an bhfaiche. Nuair a cailleadh a iníon féin Róisín, níor fhág Christy an tigh ar feadh trí lá, agus ba é an chéad áit a ndeachaigh sé ach ar fhág sé an baile ná síos go dtí a chumann. Bhraith sé nach raibh aon ní i gceart sa tsaol ag an am ach an camán agus an sliotar, agus go bhfuair sé sólás éigin uathu.
Sin barr bua agus an chuid is fearr den spórt, é ag cabhrú agus ag maoirsiú an phobail trí na laethanta is dorcha agus is duairce.
Trócaire sa chré ar Mhícheál Ó Rabhartaigh, Shaun Harkin, Daniel Scott agus John Harley.
Is maith iad uilig a chuidigh i rith na laethanta dorcha a bhí againn an tseachtain seo a chuaigh thart, ár mbuíochas tuillte acu agus curtha i scríbhinn go deas agat.