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Ben’s W.T.F !!

March 30, 2011

Here is Ben’s new play thing in the raw. (and you thought your fixie was original 😉

I called this post Ben’s  what. The . F#@* !! because im pretty sure this is going to be the first thing people say when they see this bike riding by followed but Why.The. F#@* !! then buy can I have a go,. and if your lucky enough to get a ride the first two questions will be answered pretty quickly.

This is the second frame I have built for Ben. The first was a single speed 700cc custom special here is a link to some shots of it

Well Ben Is a very interesting customer he always has something new attached to his bike  or has changed the set up to suit his latest riding style. I like the way Ben thinks about bikes and his style with them, and when it comes to building for him he keeps on my toes.

He Will rock up with some crazy set up bike or a bunch of  sketched drawings of the ideas he wants to put into a bike, I have to then work out what will work and what will get thrown on the cutting room floor.

So when Ben rocked up on his 12″ folding bike with a hand full of drawings and told me he wanted me to build him one I had to get the gray matter working to work out how I was going to make 12″ rear 20″ front wheeled bike fit a 6′.2″ rider and make it ride smoothly and handle properly !

the first hurdle we had was to find a decent rear wheel no small feat let me tell you. Ben spent a lot of  time searching the web to find any thing remotely decent with not much luck. In the end we went with a 16 hole steel pram wheel I then had to get a 32 hole 120mm Miche track hub and lace it every other spoke hole. It was a fairly tricky build but it came out well in the end .

With the wheel  sorted it was time to work out the rest of the build around it, after much to and fro we settled on a 20″ front wheel and the 12″ rear. Ben had been fitted up by Steve Hog from cycle fit the first time I built a frame for him so I used the measurements and adjusted everything to fit the new wheel size. after a few tweaks I  had a design I was happy with , then it was time to start to build  her , she came together very well and quickly. I had a good excuse to use my new tube bender for the stay bridges  on this bike and im very happy with how they came out .

for the forks I had a set of MTB lugged crowns that I thought would be very good for this build after talking with Ben we went with them and the forks you see in the photos were born.

After I had every thing built we decided to  build the bike up for a test run prior to getting her painted. Firstly as we are planing to build a rack on the front forks and I really wanted to see how she would ride , this being such an out there build though I knew the frame would fit Ben I really had no idea how it would ride or handle with such a small rear wheel.

well after prepping and building up the bike it was time to give it its maiden ride. A little bit apprehensively I threw a leg over her and off i went. A quick run around the car park and i had a big smile on my face she felt really nice to ride. With very neutral  handling being  quick and nimble but very stable you really didn’t feel as if you are  on a tiny wheel bike at all.

so now we are working out the carry system for the bike, im designing a front platform rack running of the front forks and then i will be making a trailer for the back.

Ben has kitted the bike out with a nice  build kit,   schlumpf high-speed drive crank set/ Chris king head set/ Thompson post / brooks saddle/ he has not decided on the front wheel build yet but im sure it will be top shelf.

Well all in all I am very happy with this build. It is always nice to have some thing turn out better than you where expecting it to be, and with a very funky color scheme planed for the frame and some cool head badge bling this is going to be a seriously custom build. Keep an eye out for the finished shots.

stay upright Tarn..

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Lecture: Clojure Web Development

Clojure is a JVM-based functional language with special features that achieves the impossible: a practical Lisp, usable by mere mortal developers. In this session we'll first cover some Clojure basics and then show how to efficiently develop web applications using a set of open source libraries.

- About 50mins talk and 10mins code example.
- No detailed lisp knowledge is required.
- We'll cover synchronous web applications built with Ring, Compojure etc.
- This talk is not about asynchronous servers and also not about ClojureScript.

Day: 2012-08-25
Start time: 14:00
Duration: 01:00
Room: C116/Lisp
Track: Lisp
Language: english

Click here to let us know how you liked this event.

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From the Editors

Extreme Ownership: How U.s. Navy Seals Lead and Win

Extreme Ownership

Leif Babin

Go to leadership bootcamp with two former Navy SEALs and become a braver, more decisive mentor than you’ve ever been before. After experiencing the fog of war, these SEALs emerged with a clear view of what makes a leader — and subsequently, their whole team — great.

Scribd Editors

Extreme Ownership


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Shoes. Sheesh.

I normally try to write blog posts that touch on my insights, things I’ve learned, or questions I have about life — not just my life, but life in general. Occasionally, I even mention issues that irk me, but never, as far as I can remember have I talked about something so shallow as shoes.

I do blog about what is on my mind, though, no matter the depth of the topic, and today shoes are on my mind.

I have three pairs of shoes I’ve been wearing — one pair is completely worn out, one hurts the tops of my feet, and one hurts my heels. I still wear them because, well, shoes. Mostly, though, I wear them because I can almost never find shoes to fit. But now that it’s cooler, I need shoes I can wear for walking more than a mile or two, so off I went to hunt the wild shoe.

One store I planned to go to has disappeared, perhaps a victim of the trend toward internet shopping, though how anyone can buy shoes online, I don’t know. There doesn’t seem to be any consistency to size, as this little fable will show.

I was left with two stores: a national shoe store chain and a sporting goods store. At the national chain, I found one pair that seemed comfortable, but I couldn’t figure out where my toe was since the top of the toe seemed to be reinforced. I asked the salesclerk if she could tell where my toe ended. She felt the toe and said there was plenty of room. Yay!

Still, since I was in shoe shopping mode, I stopped by the sporting goods store. The first thing I saw was a pair of hiking shoes on sale for less than half price. They seemed a bit big, but thick hiking socks should make them fit. (Not that I’ve been doing any hiking, but ridiculously, I still think about doing an epic hike.)

Figuring I was on a roll, I tried on various other shoes and ended up buying a couple of pairs that fit as well as any shoe in a store ever fits.

The next day, I decided to try on the first pair of shoes I bought, and after walking around the house for a few minutes, I realized the left shoe was so short, it was cramping my toe. So I packed those shoes back in their box, and tried on another pair. Or tried to. I couldn’t even fit my foot into the shoe. And the third pair was huge.

As if that wasn’t weird enough, each pair of shoes was a different size. (For comparison, my foot measures 7 1/2.) The size 8 shoe was excessively wide. The size 8 1/2 was too short. The size 9 shoe was remarkably small.

Sounds like a fairy tale, doesn’t it? The grim sort. Or maybe a fable, but if it is a fable, I have no idea what the moral could be. I’ve gleaned no insights. Learned nothing.

I returned all the shoes except the hiking shoes, which puts me back at the beginning, with only shoes that hurt or are worn out. So . . . more shopping. Someday.

Shoes. Sheesh.

Pat Bertram is the author of the suspense novels UnfinishedMadame ZeeZee’s Nightmare, Light BringerMore Deaths Than OneA Spark of Heavenly Fireand Daughter Am IBertram is also the author of Grief: The Great Yearning, “an exquisite book, wrenching to read, and at the same time full of profound truths.” Connect with Pat on Google+. Like Pat on Facebook.


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Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments Thirty-Seventh Report

Memorandum by the Lord Chancellor's Department

The Committee considered the above instrument at its meeting on 2nd June 1998 following which the Commons Clerk to the Committee requested the Department to respond to the following point.

Regulation 5(6) states —

'Regulation 15 deals with circumstances in which contributions will be refunded to members who are not transferring members, and regulation 16 makes provision for a former holder of the office of the Lord Chancellor'.

Explain what (if any) legal effect this has and, if it is merely explanatory, why it is included in the Regulations (as distinct from the Explanatory Note).

The Department accepts that regulation 5(6) is explanatory and does not have legal effect. The Department considered it inappropriate to deal with paragraph (6) in isolation in the explanatory note and thought it more helpful to the reader to explain the scheme of the regulations immediately before the operative regulations themselves.

5th June 1998

previous page contents

House of Lords home page Parliament home page House of Commons home page search page enquiries

© Parliamentary copyright 1998
Prepared 29 June 1998


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Sixteen samples of mud and one sample of sand, dredged from the bottom of the North Pacific Ocean, at depths ranging from 276 feet to 13,134 feet, are described, and their mineral constituents determined. Complete chemical analyses of eight samples are given.

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Ashlynn Conner, a pretty ‘All-American’ girl, was driven to suicide by bullies at just 10 years old

The day before she died, Ashlynn came home in tears.

Kids had bullied Ashlynn for years, calling her a “slut,” “fat,” and “ugly,” so that day’s incident seemed relatively minor to [her mother] Stacy: The girls had poked fun at Ashlynn’s initials, “A.C.,” saying it sounded like “air conditioner.”

 Three different teachers at the school had told Ashlynn to “stop tattling” after she reached out for help, the girl told her mother. It was the Thursday before Veterans Day, and Stacy told Ashlynn she should go straight to the principal the following Monday if the bullying continued.

 “But she didn’t want to wait until Monday,” Stacy told The Daily.

 Ashlynn’s older sister found her hanging by her neck from a scarf in a bedroom closet on Friday night. She was pronounced dead before 9 p.m. at a local hospital, another inconceivably young victim of elementary school bullying.


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The truth about what Donald Trump has and hasn’t said about Africans

Quartz africa
Quartz africa

In Africa, Donald Trump is believed to have said that Africans are lazy, that African immigrants in the United States should be deported, and that Africa as a continent should be recolonized. With Trump’s presidential win, these comments, allegedly made over the past two years, have begun to circulate again.

Turns out, most of them are fake, having originated on satirical news sites. Trump did not call all Kenyans “conmen” or say that he would “lock up” longtime leaders Robert Mugabe and Yoweri Museveni. So far, the president-elect has not tried to dispute these false stories. Trump’s media office did not respond to a request for comment.

The Trumpisms about Africa began with Politica, a fake news site registered in Kenya, which reported last year that Trump said, “Some Africans are lazy fools only good at eating, lovemaking and stealing.” According to the site, he was speaking at an event in Indianapolis. Blogs and media in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and elsewhere picked up the story, which then circulated widely on social media. In Kenya, the hashtag #SomeoneTellDonaldTrump started in response to his alleged comments about Africans and Kenyans specifically.

The same purported event was the source of what is the most inflammatory of Trump’s supposed comments about Africa. “In my opinion, most of these African countries ought to be recolonized again for another 100 years because they know nothing about leadership and self governance,” Politica reported Trump as saying. The fact-checking site Snopes found no corroboration of Trump’s comments or any record of his being in Indianapolis that month. Regardless, the claim was circulated on blogs and news sites in Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana.

These stories are readily believed in many African countries in part because they aren’t that far off from comments Trump has made about Muslims, Mexicans, and immigrants in general.

There’s a certain irony in fake news stories about Trump on social media in Africa. Supporters of Hillary Clinton, and some in the media, have blamed Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg for allowing fake news sources to proliferate on the world’s largest social media platform, propelling Trump to victory.

In January, users on Nairaland, a popular Nigerian forum with over 1.6 million members, circulated quotes of Trump promising to deport Nigerians because “they’re everywhere” and take “jobs meant for honest hard working Americans.” Even though the source of the quote was the satirical news website, Fake Nigerian News, it was shared by Africa Independent Television (AIT), one of Nigeria’s major TV networks. A YouTube video sharing this claim has also been viewed over 100,000 times.

So what has Trump said about Africans and Africa? Trump allegedly described laziness as a “trait in blacks,” according to a 1991 book by a former employee of Trump’s, John O’Donnell. Trump has denied that he ever made the comment.

While Trump has said very little about Africa, he did launch his political campaign by claiming the United States president Barrack Obama was born in Kenya.

Just two days before the elections, Trump went to Minnesota and blamed faulty refugee vetting processes for allowing large numbers of Somalis to come to the state. At a rally in Maine back in August, Trump also singled out the immigrant Somali community in the US, saying they were coming from “dangerous territories,” and fraying social safety nets.

He has criticized US aid programs to the continent, describing a $7 billion aid program to help African countries gain better access to electricity, as a “waste.” He’s also said that he sees “tremendous potential” in Africa.

Trump’s appointment of former Brietbart News president Steve Bannon as White House chief strategist also offers little hope of a nuanced view of the continent. In a September article, the far-right news site described the militant group Boko Haram, which operates in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region in western Africa, as keeping “East Africa under a spell of devastation.”

Sign up for the Quartz Africa Weekly Brief — the most important and interesting news from across the continent, in your inbox.

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£ 64,750+VAT

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These race trailers are professional spec with a flexible 2nd floor, can hold up to 4 cars, include a luxury office and are ready-to-use! Only at for model year 2015. We are Europe’s premier supplier of race trailers. At you can rent, buy and sell race trailers.

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Archive for September, 2013

Gabriel & Daniel Cohn-Bendit: Louis Aragon vs the Parisian students of ’68

As the students stood talking they were joined by scores of passers-by, among them Louis Aragon, that venerable bard and prophet of the Communist Party, the man who had sung paeans of praise to OGPU and Stalinism, and who had come to take his place among those who “remind me so movingly of my own youth.” A group of students recognized him and greeted him with cries of “Long live OGPU! Long live Stalin, the father of all the people!”

The Aragon episode, in itself banal and without political importance, nevertheless shows how politically aware the young demonstrators had become. They would have no truck with members of a party whose ofﬁcial organ, L’Humanité, had launched what could only be called a smear campaign against French youth. The revolutionary movement did not deny the importance, and even the necessity, of a dialogue with the rank and ﬁle of the Communist Party, but it did try to unmask the opportunist strategy and counterrevolutionary attitude of its leaders, including Louis Aragon, the poet laureate of the personality cult. He could not make himself heard simply because those participating in the “teach-out” knew that he had nothing in common with them. His bold assertion that he was in the Party “precisely because he was on the side of youth” merely turned him into a laughing stock. By refusing to act honestly for once in his life, and to denounce the machinations of his Party, he threw away his chance to join the student movement, and incidentally saved his leaders a great deal of embarrassment.

= = =

from Gabriel Cohn-Bendit & Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Obsolete Communism: A Left-Wing Alternative (London: Penguin, 1968/1969), pp 61-62.

RADICAL ARCHIVES NOTE: The OGPU were the secret police under Stalin.

Bakunin: the “reactionary” consequences of national liberation movements (1866)

“Today no revolution can succeed in any country if it is not at the same time both a political and a social revolution. Every exclusively political revolution – be it in defense of national independence or for internal change, or even for the establishment of a republic – that does not aim at the immediate and real political and economic emancipation of people will be a false revolution. Its objectives will be unattainable and its consequences reactionary.”

= = =

from Mikhail Bakunin, “National Catechism,” 1866. In Bakunin on Anarchism, edited by Sam Dolgoff (Montreal: Black Rose, 1972/2002), page 99. The entire essay is online here.

RADICAL ARCHIVES NOTE: There are is shortage of workerist anarchists who wish to turn Bakunin and classical anarchism into a bottom-up version of the Marxist-Leninism that many of these workerists are strongly influenced by. One of the more outrageous claims they attempt to marshall evidence for, usually by selective quotations of Bakunin’s work on federalism, is that he supported national liberation movements (eg after his pan-Slavist period). Since Bakunin made explicit denunciations of national liberation struggles that were not also thoroughly and completely radical struggles, these writers are clearly banking on most anarchists’ ignorance of their own tradition.


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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What types of events can be held at the Rankin Gardens & Atrium?
A: Weddings, Vow Renewal Ceremonies, holiday parties, BBQ’s, class reunions, business meetings, luncheons or any type of indoor/outdoor event.

Q: How many people can the Rankin accommodate?
A: We can accommodate up to 175 people.

Q: What about the catering company?
A: The Rankin Gardens & Atrium is pleased to have Classic Fare Catering as our catering partner.

Contact Classic Fare Catering at 706-507-8372

Q: Can we serve alcohol at the Rankin Gardens & Atrium?
A: All alcoholic beverages served at the Rankin Gardens & Atrium must be contracted through Classic Fare Catering, which holds a Georgia liquor license. You are not permitted to bring in your own alcohol.

Q: What about using other non-catering vendors at the Rankin Gardens & Atrium?
A: You may use any other vendors that you choose. If you need help, we have a list of florists, DJ's, bands, cake companies, wedding coordinators, and rental companies that other renters have used when renting our facility.

Q: Where can my guests park?
A: Public parking is available on the street, with a two-hour limit Monday through Friday until 5 PM. After 5 PM and on weekends, there is no time limit. Additional parking can be found in the public parking deck located in the 1000 block on Front Avenue as well as in the parking garage located across the street from the River Center on Broadway.

Q: Can I take a tour of the facility ?
A: Call our Sales & Events Manager at 706-507-8329 or e-mail her at CEevents@ColumbusState.edu to schedule your tour.

Q: Is your facility handicap accessible?
A: Yes, the entire facility is all on one level. Restrooms are also easy to access.

Q: Can we set up a tent in the Gardens area?
A: Yes, we will be happy to assist you in determining the rental company that can supply you with the items you require.

Q: Can we have a live band?
A:Yes! This is a wonderful aspect to any reception!

Q: Does our event need to end by a certain time?
A: Events must end by 11 PM.

Q: What happens after the event?
A: You will be responsible for removing all the items you brought in. If you wish to leave rental items for pick up at a later time, please make prior arrangements with the Sales & Events Manager. Your caterer must remove all food items and trash.


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Go, Games, Strategy and Life: The Big Picture

Radim Řehůřek Go, Machine Learning 8 Comments

Everyone and their dog have shared their opinion on the recent Google AlphaGo commotion of AI beating Fan Hui, a pro player, and its upcoming match against Lee Sedol. As an avid Go player, as well as a machine learning practitioner with a long history of programming game AIs, I have a different perspective on what AlphaGo’s victories ultimately mean and why you should care.

The ultimate Go problem to solve. Image courtesy of the awesome emptytriangle.com.

I don’t intend to rehash the usual points: Go is hard, computers are fast, deep learning cool, SkyNet around the corner, yadda yadda. Mostly true, but only relevant here to the microcosm of one obscure, nerdy game. I love Go, but the honest question is: who really gives a shit about Go computers beating Go humans? It’s been done in countless other games before. How is this a “victory for humanity”?

In this blog post, I want to argue for a different angle that most journalists miss. Go exhibits some unique properties that make it stand apart. And I don’t mean in the usual sense of “Can the particular algorithm from AlphaGo be used to solve other, more immediate business problems?” (it can, approximately to the degree IBM’s DeepBlue and Watson were business successes…).

Rather, I mean more simply and directly: what will be the high-level strategies that AlphaGo discovers in Go? Because to the degree we (humans) can identify and name those strategies and concepts in AlphaGo’s play, they could be immediately transferable to real life situations, outside of Go. It’s not easy to see this connection between an obscure desk game, played with black and white stones on a 19×19 board, and anything “real”, but that’s exactly what I want to argue here.

Getting the theory out of the way

But first, a few basic facts, just to be on the same page:

  1. The game of Go is trivial from the formal perspective. Only two players, perfect information (everyone knows the entire state of the game at any time, nothing hidden, no randomness), discrete play (players take turns), finite state (only a limited number of well defined possibilities where to play next). We know a winning strategy exists (Zermelo’s Theorem): either the first player to move (“black”) can always force a win, or the opponent (“white”) can.

    In a way, Go belongs to the safest, most boring type of formal problems you can define.
  2. Go is a challenging game from the practical perspective. We know a winning strategy must exist (a solution to Go, effectively), we just don’t know what it is. Go therefore counts among unsolved games, along with chess, for example.

    There are simply more possible board positions in Go than there are atoms in the universe (such enormous! much numbers!). By the way, little known fact: both checkers and gomoku (five-in-a-row) have already been solved, despite also exhibiting this exponential growth in their theoretical state space.

    On that note, this disconnect between “knowing a solution exists” vs. “having a practical way of playing” will be immediately familiar to mathematicians (existential vs. constructive proofs) as well as programmers (algorithmic complexity). I’d invite all theoretically minded readers to check out Scott Aaronson’s Why Philosophers Should Care About Computational Complexity essay — an entertaining blend of quantum computing, economics, cryptography, machine learning and philosophy.

  3. Go is my hobby. I love the game, though I’m only about an amateur 1 dan.

    Playing at a Go club in Saigon (left).

    Additionally, I’ve gotten into the machine learning field by means of programming commercial game AIs. Gomoku was the first AI I seriously tackled, and the final program never lost as black. The feeling of losing to one’s own bot is therefore nothing new to me :) Fun fact: my github handle, piskvorky, means simply “five-in-a-row” in Czech.

  4. Google DeepMind’s AlphaGo computer bot beat Fun Hui, a Chinese professional player and the reigning European champion, last October (though they kept it hush hush until their publication in Nature this January).

    AlphaGo’s victories have been covered extensively: see AlphaGo on the front page of Nature; thoughts on the cognitive aspects and hybrid, symbolic systems by Gary Marcus; Miles Brundage on the software and hardware progress of Go AIs; analysis of AlphaGo’s games by a MyungWan Kim, 9 dan Go professional; technical prognosis for the upcoming Lee Sedol match etc etc.

    To put this in a practical perspective: previous Go bots had been winning against worse players (myself included) for some time now; future bots will be beating stronger humans still. Possibly all humans, and possibly quite soon. A showdown between AlphaGo and Lee Sedol, one of the world’s top Go players, is starting next Wednesday, on 9th March 2016. Fun rumour: Google hired Fan Hui, the defeated Euro champ from October, to train AlphaGo for this match.

    Obviously, the world of Go is abuzz, excitement off the scales. Lives of professional and casual players alike are about to change forever.

    The era of snobbish snickering at chess is coming to an end.

    But sensationalist journalism and hurt egos aside, Go AI reaching and surpassing human levels is hardly a surprise to people in the field. As Garry Kasparov put it: “the writing is on the wall”.

So, unfazed by AlphaGo’s victories and without much hope of seeing Go rigorously solved in my lifetime, I am nevertheless super excited about these advances. The reason is a little more subtle though — it’s due to the intrinsic nature of Go as a game.

Go as mirror of life

Games are a simplified reflection of certain aspects of our life. Their evolutionary appeal and ultimate purpose is as simulations: risk-free training for situations that are too expensive to act out in the real world. Go is extraordinary in this respect. It has survived thousands of years, a testament that it captures something rather fundamental to human existence. What insights can we draw from Go?

The earliest surviving recording of a Go game. The Wu prince Sun Ce plays his general, Lü Fan (c. 190 AD).

This is of course not a new insight (which is why I’m surprised I don’t see it mentioned more often in AlphaGo’s press coverage). For example, the U.S. Army’s Strategic Studies Institute has explored this angle thoroughly, in their Learning from the Stones: A Go Approach to Mastering China’s Strategic Concept of Shi:

In this monograph, the author uses the ancient game of Go as a metaphor for the Chinese approach to strategy. He shows that this is very different than the linear method that underlies American strategy. By better understanding Go, he argues, American strategies could better understand Chinese strategy.

How is that for a different angle on AlphaGo victories?

That is the core appeal of Go; it provides strategic insights that made it survive millennia, virtually unchanged. Everything about the game reflects this: from its terminology (life&death problems, influence and initiative, sacrifice, connecting groups, dormant potential) to Go proverbs. To name a few: “your enemy’s key point is your key point”, “a rich man should not pick quarrels“, “make a feint to the east while attacking in the west”, “make a fist before striking“, “urgent before big”, “play away from your own strong positions”, “worse than kill, let your opponents live small” and countless others.

With Go, there’s a remarkably clear connection between these hand-wavy generic adages and their execution. The effects of Go on cultivating the strategic mind have been recognised as one of the basic four virtues of the Chinese scholar.

“When starting, the best strategy is to spread the pieces far apart and stretch them out, to encircle and attack the opponent, and thus win by having the most points vacant. The next best strategy emphasises cutting off the enemy to seek advantage. In that case the outcome is uncertain and calculation is necessary to decide the issue. The worst strategy is to defend the borders and corners, hastily building eyes so as to protect oneself in a small area.”

These are remarkably astute Go (and life) tips, and sound advice even by modern standards. They were written down by one Huan Tan, around 5 BC (!). A fascinating window into the thoughts and strategies of people from around the time of Jesus.
(A blasphemous thought: how much did these words of early Go masters influence the two millennia of Go that came since? Are there other, perhaps superior strategies, along the lines of the unorthodox “black hole” Go opening popularised recently?)

People playing Go, Ming dynasty (15th century).

There are no “special” pieces or funky moves in Go; all stones are exactly the same, with the same intrinsic value. To the extent your stones gain advantage over your opponent’s, they do so by means of their mutual interconnectedness, and not their individual nature.

Go gave us beautiful art, inspired poets, motivated anime, incited modern anarchists, libertarians, communists, religious folk and mystics alike. But I don’t mean to wax lyrical about Go’s beauty and elegance. When pragmatic, explicit analysis clashes with vague hunches and fuzzy intuition, it’s always a victory for the cold hard reality.

And this is precisely what excites me about AlphaGo. I don’t care much if it beats all humans (I agree with Kasparov’s assessment — the writing is on the wall for Go).

I do care though if a new pattern of playing emerges. Shedding human preconceptions and cognitive crutches, like “sente” or “ko”. Something on the level of re-inventing the concept of “sente”, or “corners first”, or “to attack West, lean against East“… only different, more advanced. And by analogy, I’m excited by the prospect of applying these new concepts in other situations, outside of Go, in real life circumstances.

Can AlphaGo deliver?

Advances in computer Go are not about whether bots can play better than humans. That question is about as interesting as whether airplanes can fly faster than birds.

Rather, I’m excited about whether, in the process of surpassing us, computers can teach us something surprising about Go itself. And, by virtue of Go’s remarkable life-mirroring qualities, about our everyday lives.

A wise man once said, “The purpose of computing is insight, not numbers”.

To me, the promise of Go AI is delivering insight, not victories.

Note from Radim: Get my latest machine learning tips & articles delivered straight to your inbox (it's free).

 Unsubscribe anytime, no spamming. Max 2 posts per month, if lucky.

Comments 8

  1. Steven

    Well written & good to see you still play go 🙂
    I also liked the links in “Go gave us beautiful art, inspired poets, motivated anime, incited modern anarchists, libertarians, communists, religious folk and mystics alike.” They are all new and fun to check.

    1. Radim Rehurek Post
  2. chido

    Loved your post and the insight! I have to agree with you in being excited about new ways AlphaGo might discover about the way Go can be played differently – but will it be able to do this if it is training with (and learning from) humans?

    1. Radim Rehurek Post
      Radim Rehurek

      Thanks! And good question 🙂

      My 2 cents: not with the current AlphaGo architecture.

      There is a reinforcement learning component, but it doesn’t seem prominent enough to force that level of creativity. It’s just not possible to “dream up” enough self-plays to overcome the accumulated millennia of human knowledge, in such a short time.

      But if, after this match, DeepMind tweaks AlphaGo’s knobs to be more daring, to ground its training less in historical human matches and more in exploration of Go from first principles… who knows?

        1. Radim Rehurek Post
  3. Piter

    business idea :: books have been written about chess and game of life … have you considered writing about ‘What Go teaches us about Life’ ?

    1. Radim Řehůřek Post
      Radim Řehůřek

      I wish I could live for a thousand years, doing all the things I find fascinating!

      I believe there are people better qualified to write that book, so I’ll focus on other stuff 🙂

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Browsing Collection: Amazing Abstracts by AuroraSkye - Browse all
.... Recollecting Thoughts pearl diver Autumn woods mask Water on Fire Colors. another view found dreams :D ha nd s up 653 Feel Good spiral Happy Birthday Diona vouge Aerial View Funky Blast Organ of ? doodle Color Series Part 3 Abstract thing vines 2 grind Supernova Welcome Phyched! butterfly Crush Got the ART Bug Lively Olives my abstract :D A Woman. Aurum Paint your world Portal What Side Are You? Fractacality! cheakers Hope Geometric effects 2 My Fantasy Delumination Twister! Steel holding it together Art Madness! Distraction Flotation device Whatever it takes It was love at first sight Geometric pattern Data Scramble

A Woman.

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Java Draw   Created Mar 20, 2009   338 x 470px    Unless noted Copyright 2009 Gunnard.

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COMMENTS 17 Post a comment

Unkido  Jul 28, 2012

Really amazing!

ChiLaRa  Jun 20, 2012

absolutely stunning!! 5/5

Whats Her Name  May 31, 2012

omg this is stunning! along with all of your other abstract drawings! and i love the title with it. definitely 5/5 :)

AuroraSkye  May 31, 2012

OMG This is sooooooo GORGEOUS!!! 5/5 Collection!!!

HOMILUIS  May 23, 2012

nice job

Unseen  Apr 04, 2012

unique style, very creative. you should draw more!

Peggy  Jun 29, 2010

I think you do beautiful abstracts. I like the one's that you can really make out the pictures in them. You know, like the woman in this one. It's really gorgeous.....

iamforrestsmom  Mar 21, 2009

WoW! It says so much without speaking a word...You create GreaT ArT! (full hearts & favs...)

mingu  Mar 20, 2009

I love the movement of the colors in this - it's really beautiful! 5 ♥s and fav

Erina  Mar 20, 2009

nice abstract,actually awsome^^5 hearts

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Browsing Collection: Kitty Collection :D by rain162 - Browse all
two little friends Heart Cat cone Oh deary me im stuck up a tree Smile As Sweet As Candy Feral. Kitty ~kitty~vote pls ;) Look up For Sale Meow. Happy Birthday Magdalena Happy Birthday, Tink! Meow! Meow! Meow! merry christmas!  *meow*   :D Nyan Nyan Nyan!! Nyan~ I love RMD Nyan Cat Girl Cool Cat (Summer Edition) Cat Island~ Sweet dreams Just a Cat~ Mouse Hunter! Tiny help mee ! drawn by 4 year old girl cat lol another kitty my kitty waffles macky & toska LARGE CAT ....tiny bug.... Curious Cat :3 Sitting in the morning sun Meow Cat Sketch HappyNewYear from Catlets Hug me Soft White Fluffball Glowing Cat Nyan Catbus! Super Irresistible Sweet One Miku FOR Miku_Hatsune27 Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!! Kitty on a scratching post Ah, It's a wonderful cat life. Kittyyyyyyyyy :P Puss in Boots) Olgasa115/Santa Who wants to be a cat?

Kitty cat and pumpkin

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Flash Draw   Created Oct 28, 2006   470 x 338px    Unless noted Copyright 2006 dorsy69.

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Morning Lake
Jewel Majestic/DorsY69 collab
fantasy planet
Sky on fire
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COMMENTS 10 Post a comment

agottalent  Jul 27, 2010

what's that??????

Izzyartwork3  Sep 20, 2009

Majestic  Oct 12, 2007

Carys7993  Apr 29, 2007

IS IT!!??

Carys7993  Apr 29, 2007

the cat looks like its cryin'!!

No Leonardo here  Oct 29, 2006

Another winner

Sandrock04  Oct 29, 2006

still awesome. But if you do have spare ink, do what KH said. XD I do that, too.

Sandrock04  Oct 29, 2006

That pumpkin looks good enough to eat. XD And don't worry, even if it eats ink, your pictures are -

KH  Oct 29, 2006

in over and over to make sure it gets covered. It don't always show up missing on the screen.

KH  Oct 29, 2006

Very nice Dorsy! I have the same problem sometimes. The solid parts you really need to fill those

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Hey Mister… Are You Jesus?

Jesus holding lady in tears“Are you saved?” “Are you born again?” “Have you accepted Christ as your personal savior?” These are the formulaic ways that fundamentalist and evangelical Christians will ask you if you are “right with God.” But I have to say that I become uncomfortable when someone uses these phrases as a thermometer to gauge my spiritual temperature. Not only does it seem to be very self righteous, but I start to think that what they really mean is that if I haven’t come to God by one of these particular processes, then I might not be a Christian.

Not to mention that usually in today’s America when a conservative Christian approaches you with such phrases, there is much unspoken baggage behind them. Such as: When you are saved or born again, you will want to become a Republican Conservative. You will want to be very patriotic because this is a Christian Nation. You will want to be for the death penalty and against all abortion. You will want to speak out against homosexuality and lesbianism . You will want little or no government intervention in your life. You will loath separation of church and state. And you will go to war if that war is “just,” etc.

But I don’t like it when people put God in a box. I would like them to throw their formulas away.  If I know anything about God I would say that he is very creative and omniscient, and he can bring people to him in many mysterious, joyful and loving ways. It’s like Forrest Gump said when asked if he found Jesus: “I didn’t know I was supposed to be looking for him.”

Alter calls and “witnessing” campaigns are not for me. The early church met at one another’s houses. When the people around them watched them live their daily lives, they said, “See how they love one another?” That’s how we should be. I don’t think there is one perfunctory formula or living arrangement  that we are to pursue to get people to “come to Jesus,” or “get right with God.” As a matter of fact I believe that wherever we are, we “flesh out Jesus.”  We show by our actions that  Christ lives in us. It’s as simple as that. I don’t believe that we are supposed to get a beatific smile on our faces or have our eyes become glazed over.

We don’t have to speak in tongues or have some kind of carnival show. I have known when I am around a Christian. They don’t  have to say anything. They don’t sound like they are on drugs and smile at me like a moron. They don’t keep saying “Praise the Lord!” Praise the Lord! They do praise the Lord by the way they naturally act in love. They are human. They are compassionate. The difference is that they are genuine. You can just tell. I think they have authentic love because they follow Christ and have him and his love living inside of them. They “flesh him out.”

That’s how I would have felt around Martin Luther King. That’s how I would have felt around Gandhi or Mother Teressa. And I’m sure that’s how I would feel if I met Jimmy Carter. There is just something about people who walk in God’s love. You like to be around them. They love you unconditionally and accept you as you are. They don’t judge you.

I think conservative Christians like pat formulas because, in our commercialized world, they have turned Christ into a commodity, something to sell to people. Jesus used various phrases in the Bible to teach people what it’s like to know God or understand his love. He didn’t mean for us to make an idol of them and turn his love into mathematical formula.

There is a story about a business man who was frantically rushing through an airport lobby because he was late for a flight. A little boy was walking along with a puzzle that he had just put together. The businessman smacked into the boy and the pieces of the puzzle, along with the boy, went flying everywhere. The man sat down on the floor beside the boy to see if he was okay. He was going to miss his flight. While he was on the floor with the kid he put the pieces back into their proper places and handed the puzzle fully intact back to the child. The little boy smiled with surprise and said, “Hey Mister. Are you Jesus?”

By Keith Goss, for the Christian Left

3 thoughts on “Hey Mister… Are You Jesus?

  1. Are you saved?
    “I don’t need to be saved from life, death or rebirth.”

    Are you born again?
    “Aren’t we all?”
    (scientifically, the atoms of the universe are reused and reordered countless times to create life)

    Have you accepted Christ as your personal savior?
    “No. I believe that the only true salvation comes from within myself and only I have the power to save myself.”

    This is how I answer the christians and pseudo-christians. LOL! It tends to throw them for a loop!
    It’s not that I have anything particularly against the teaching of the Jesus of Nazareth. He made some good points and seemed to genuinely be trying to help people accept the nature of the universe, but it’s not the be-all, end-all to me, and I feel his teachings have been perverted by his followers in any case (as have many of the other religions of the world, sadly).

    I often find it ironic that the christians fear death and dying so much. Aren’t they supposed to reap the rewards of heaven and it’s supposed to be all wonderful and such if they have accepted Jesus? If that’s the case, why are so many of them still afraid of dying?
    I just never got that. I ascribe to no particular creed or religion, and while I’m not yet ready to die, I also have no particular fear of death and will accept it when it comes.

  2. There is no evidence, outside of the Bible that Jesus actually existed. Myths and fable are what makes up the worlds religions.

    I found this to be more credible as to where the so-called Jesus really came from.

    “Caesars Messiah – The roman Conspiracy to invent Jesus”

  3. Agreed 100% on the myths and fable. But I’m willing to admit it’s possible that these prophets existed (as in Jesus the man, not the son of god) and what wisdoms they left just got… embellished (to put it mildly).

    Interesting video. Probably more like the reality of what actually happened in those times.

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text:
Mint Choc-Chip Mylkshake.

Husband loves all the Summer smoothies and milkshakes that the coffee shops bring out at this time of year, but we’re looking for vegan (and, preferably, lower-calorie and healthier) alternatives this Summer. So I’m making a start with a home-made version of Costa’s Mint Choc Chip Frostino.

  • 2 bananas
  • 150ml plant milk (I used oat)
  • A few mint leaves (or some mint flavoring, but fresh mint tastes really good. We grow some on the windowsill; it’s easy to keep, and you can make fresh mint tea from it too)
  • Drop or two of vanilla (optional)
  • Some vegan chocolate chips or chopped chocolate – something like 15-20g?

Chop the bananas into fairly fine slices and freeze (I leave them overnight). Once frozen, put them in a blender with the milk, mint leaves and vanilla (if using) and blend until you have a thick, smooth milkshake. You’ll need a reasonably good blender for this, the kind that can crush ice. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips.

This makes one large or two more sensibly-sized milkshakes. Naturally, it does have something of a banana flavor alongside the mint and the chocolate. We quite like it and it’s not overpowering, but you could always replace the bananas with a big scoop of vanilla ice-cream if you prefer.

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Sunday, 4 December 2016

Snackmas Day 4- M&S Festive Lunch ft. NEW Recipe Sandwiches

One of the highlights of the season for me is the array of Festive Food On The Go in every supermarket, petrol station and cafe alike - From sandwiches and wraps to the hot options of toasties and panini's, there really is a vast choice with both meat and vegetarian options to keep the entire Christmas choir happy.

Naturally, I gravitate towards the traditional turkey, stuffing, cranberry numbers and usually when in bread but this year I've decided to be a bit wild and go for an entire lunch with some different stars of the show..

It's trusty old Marks & Spencer, supporter of the charity, Shelter, that we turn to today for a Wrap, Scotch Egg and Drink Trio. Much to my dismay, they didn't listen to my groans of last year that their measly 5% of sale donations was abysmal but alas.. At least I have done my bit in buying a sleigh load of their products to bump up the takings, right?

Christmas Turkey Wrap

Roast British turkey breast, Brussel sprout slaw, parsnip mayonnaise, pork, sage and onion stuffing, cranberry chutney, spinach, smoked British bacon and fried onions on a barmarked tortilla wheatflour wrap. RRP £3.

As someone who usually finds wraps fairly uninteresting and akin to chewing cardboard, I can't say the prospect of the two halves thrilled me greatly.. They did look attractive though! Taking a bite, the overwhelming amount of spinach was the first thing to hit which I promptly disposed of and carried on. Soft and squidgy, the wrap itself wasn't as offensive as first anticipated, even if a bit to much for the quantity of filling. Two large chunks of soft turkey, one in each half, were present packing a good amount of flavour with smoky bacon in the background. The slaw provided lots of veggie tones (Maybe from the Parsnip mayo too?) albeit not obviously that of sprouts, and lots of creaminess. This was only complimented by the herby taste of stuffing and mild onion which was never going to disappoint! As for the cranberry chutney.. I can't say I noticed any with zero sweetness or tart edge but I liked it nevertheless! - A 4 out of 5 from me.

Turkey, Pork & Cranberry Runny Scotch Egg

Runny poached egg wrapped in turkey, smoked maple cured bacon and cranberry sausagemeat, in a parsley crumb. RRP £2.

Designed to be eaten hot or cold, I forced this lofty, 120g Scotch Egg on MSW who didn't take to much convincing to get stuck in.. As long as it was warm that is, so I whacked it in a 180ºC Fan oven for the advised 12 minutes.

Well, it was certainly runny.. Just look at that yellow yolk puddle! Crispy on the outside with a contrasting soft, squidgy sausage meat layer, the flavour of pork was definitely at the forefront with a sweet undertone of cranberry from the plump, ruby red chunks. The centre of poached egg was plenty soft and not rubbery in the slightest, delivering just the right amount of richness. It's a 3.5 out of 5.

Pressed Apple, Pear & Winter Berries

Pasteurised apple and pear juices, not from concentrate, with plum, sloe berry, blackberry and elderberry purees. RRP £1.50.

A drink to wash down all the savouries was a must and what could be better than all the winter fruits? Very sweet and refreshing thanks to the fruity flavours and being ice cold, the juice was pure delight. Apple was the main flavour with a hint of pear and a real tang from the berries - Not that I could put my finger on which exactly having never knowingly had sloe berry previously and all the different fruit flavours being blended so well. Delicious and the sort of thing I wouldn't be opposed to drinking hot - A 4.5 out of 5 from me.

Is anyone hungry for more? Suck it up people, it's not Christmas without a NEW Recipe Turkey Feast and Pigs in Blanket Sammie!

Turkey Feast

Roast British turkey breast with pork, sage and onion stuffing, cranberry chutney, smoked British bacon and mayonnaise on malted brown bread. RRP £3.25.

For something with allegedly a new recipe.. The sandwich didn't look all that different to last years offering - It may have been slightly paler in colour but then again, that could just be my lightening! Perfectly soft and squidgy although with some harder nibs in the bread, the packed filling didn't disappoint in flavour. Together the chunks of tender turkey and herby stuffing were as expected, a match made in heaven with an almost absurd amount of slightly salty bacon to compliment. Both the mayo and the cranberry prevented things from becoming dry with the latter adding that traditional hit of sweetness. One thing that I didn't notice was the long list of spices included in the ingredients.. Which I can't say, I was all to upset over! Scrumptious as always, a 4.5 out of 5 from me!

Turkey & Pigs in Blankets

British pork sausages and smoked British bacon, roast British turkey breast, cranberry chutney, spiced mayonnaise and spinach on sage and onion bread. RRP £3.

Once again, the description didn't suggest anything was particularly new about the sandwich.. But it certainly looked greener with a more than generous helping of spinach.. Which I swiftly flung across the table in disgust! Similarly to above, the bacon aspect took a starring role with a good handful of rashers included, delivering smoky tones. This was heightened further by the soft sausages for a real porky flavour, not all that unlike actual Pigs in Blankets. Sadly, the turkey fell into the background slightly given that there was so many other elements going on and probably wasn't helped by the borderline overwhelming taste of spice which I can only assume came from the mayo - As a despiser of cloves, I was close to calling it quits but the chutney saved the day and put things back on an even kiln. Superb bread also! A 4 out of 5 from me.

Overall, it isn't a bad selection of snacks from M&S this year - Definitely not as extensive as last but I don't expect any of us really need umpteen different sandwiches when the classics are covered a long with something for the Gluten Free-ers (Gluten Free Turkey Feast) and Veggies (Scorched Squash Wrap). There's even one for those with more money than sense in the form of the Christmas Club, priced at an extortionate £4.50!

For anyone wondering.. And still reading, today's little lot came to a grand total of £12.75 so that's just shy of 64p going to the folk at Shelter. Seriously, M&S, if you're intent on backing a charity, don't be half-arsed and stingy about it. I can't even.

  1. M&S are such tight bastards xx

    1. They are! Have you written this twice? Me comments seem to have gone up the swanny! :( xx

  2. Can't common on any of the meat stuff as I'm veggie... But hope other people enjoy them! They don't seem to be all that exciting...

    I agree with the 5% business - they're a huge corporation! But, if you're like me, it makes me think a bit more and then I give a donation myself. Do other people do that? Dunno.

    Snackmas hugs x

    1. Ah apologies for not covering a veggie option! :( Tomorrow's review is one you can definitely eat so keep your eyes peeled ;) Ah yes absolutely, I do like how at this time of year, it is more "accessible" to donate to charity - I embrace the people stood outside supermarkets with their buckets! Ha :D. Snackmas snuggles! xx


text:
Infidels of Oil

Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist
248 Pages
Reviewed on 06/12/2017
Buy on Amazon

Author Biography

Ray Palla worked twenty-seven years, from the age of fifteen as a broadcast news reporter for several top-rated Texas radio stations including KVET/KASE in Austin and KIKK AM/FM in Houston. In 2016 Ray was nominated for inclusion in the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.

Palla began programming computer software applications in 1988. In 2001 he founded INSONA Corporation, a consulting firm for the information technology industry. In 2015 INSONA began hosting Palla's creation, INSONA Author Alliance Network, a collaborative platform for authors, editors, cover artists, illustrators, video producers, and publishing professionals in the field of literature self-publishing.

During his journalism career, Ray interviewed astronauts who walked on the moon like Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin and the late Neil A. Armstrong; U.S. Senators, Governors, Lieutenant Governors, and a host of other influential notables including musicians, actors, comedians, sports legends, and everyday people. He also boasts awards for several national advertising campaign jingles for customers that include: Ford, Purina, and Exxon.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Neil A White for Readers' Favorite

H: Infidels of Oil is the latest offering from Ray Palla. And if you enjoy thrillers where the murderous band of antagonists gets their comeuppance from a gaggle of good ‘ole boy roughnecks, then Mr. Palla has a rollicking novel just for you. In a story set predominately in the West Texas red-dirt wastelands, a band of oil company roughnecks heading toward their next job site stumble upon a small group of Islamist terrorists that are bound and determined to bring America to its knees by detonating a number of hydrogen bombs in oil wells across the region. Will the terrorists be foiled in time? Which nation is behind the attacks? Can the Federal government keep the entire operation under wraps? Will the socially-awkward “Pad” find love in the most unexpected of ways? And is the slow-roast brisket ready yet? Mr. Palla’s H: Infidels of Oil will leave you hungry for more.

Set amongst a backdrop of Texas barbecue, cold beer and enough swirling red dirt to keep you squinting for the foreseeable future, Mr. Palla weaves a fascinating tale that also manages to mix in many of the hot button political issues of our time as our protagonists traverse the highways and byways from Midland to Monahans to an explosive showdown in Orla, Texas. Mr. Palla blends a cast of characters that are easily likable and could have been plucked from any honky-tonk between Amarillo to Odessa, though he chooses to keep his terrorists opaque, leaving their origins and personal mindsets in much murkier waters. For how can a Westerner truly penetrate the mind of an individual willing to kill for their faith?

Darryl Greer

The curious title of Ray Palla’s latest novel, H: Infidels of Oil, isn’t so curious once you get into the story. Things heat up early in the narrative as a group of terrorists sets off an H-bomb in a Middle Eastern oilfield. Meanwhile, back in the United States, we are introduced to some colourful characters, their language and their habits. They are roughnecks who stumble upon another group of terrorists, related to their brothers in the Middle East, who are hell bent on igniting not only the local oil fields, but the global war which they hope will follow. Also riding along are some Mexican illegals, including some women hoping to make it to the delights of Las Vegas. It’s an interesting mix. The motley crew of cussin’, cursin’ sun-hardened oilmen decides to take on the terrorists. And the result is explosive.

I had a little difficulty getting into the story. With characters named Foot, Pad, Wichita and Weasel, I wondered if I’d happened upon a nursery rhyme. Then there’s the dialogue. What’s going on? But soon the mist cleared and I could see the road ahead. Of course oilmen would talk like that and they’d all have weird nicknames. Once I settled into the story, it grew on me. A considerable amount of research on many subjects must have been carried out for H: Infidels of Oil. The dialogue, certainly that of the American characters, sounds realistic and Ray Palla paints a picture with his words so it is easy to visualise every scene. However, even with the English speakers, not enough use is made of contractions to make the dialogue sound more realistic. In this era of the Internet and Google, it isn’t necessary to explain in brackets various terms, even technical ones. That, plus an overuse of commas, can give the text a staccato-like effect. The tension in the story might have been beefed up a little to make it more of a page-turner if there were more scenes involving the Middle Eastern characters and less of the mundane day to day conversation of the English speakers. Those peccadilloes aside, the story itself is imaginative, a real Boy’s Own adventure, and well worth a read.

Christian Sia

H: Infidels of Oil by Ray Palla is an unusual terrorist thriller, a story with a conflict that reaches great proportions, with huge social and political implications. The world is facing a terrorist threat like no other and the US stands the risk of being completely decimated. A basic H-bomb has just erupted in a Middle Eastern oil field, triggering a series of events that could escalate into a global war. Now, terrorists have smuggled hydrogen weapons from the Soviet Union to west Texas and they have only one aim: launch an all-out nuclear radiation assault on the American oil fields. Watch as they meet with determined resistance from a group of ruffians who want to protect their city and their world.

Here is a hilarious story that has great potential to entertain readers immensely. Ray Palla’s writing is awesome and the narrative voice is jovial and humorous. Right from the prologue, which is a very unusual one, a repetition of a phrase throughout an entire page, the reader is prepared for something like they have never read anywhere. Enter the boisterous gang of characters — Wichita, Foot, Tweed, Pad, Comanche and others — who are every bit as convincing as they are entertaining. The author has a particular gift for dialogue and readers will love how he uses this gift to enhance the plot, deepen characterization, and explore the themes. H: Infidels of Oil is a rollicking ride with memorable characters. I found it impossible to put this one down. It’s a story with a huge conflict and a satisfying denouement.

Rabia Tanveer

H: Infidels of Oil by Ray Palla is based on a pretty mild topic, but the way it is written makes is too enjoyable to resist. Based in a near future, but focused on current concerns, the story follows a steady stream of characters that are socially and politically invested, yet they have their own agendas. Sometimes, it is every man for himself and sometimes it is one group after another. I despised many characters, but I just loved to hate them. The story is intense and fast paced, yet nothing is rushed at all.

The story is kick started when a hydrogen bomb explodes in the Middle East, and a new type of energy crisis begins. The oil war has begun and now some terrorists are hell bent on destroying the American oil fields and starting a new era of nuclear war. The terrorists have now smuggled hydrogen weapons into Texas and there is nothing that can stop them. Now it is up to a handful of oilmen to take a stand and come up with something that will stop this mayhem. But what can they do when their own lives are at stake?

The narrative is very strong and intense. Author Ray Palla kept a steady narrative that was humorous, encouraging, witty but never insensitive. He kept the pace of the novel and he ensured that the characters were strong enough for the plot line. I particularly liked Sue and Weasel, both of them were very different, yet they were the most relatable. This is a great novel that I really enjoyed! Intense, fulfilling and very entertaining.


text:
PANASONIC 12v 7.2Ah SLA battery for Alarm and Cyclic applications

Ideal replacement battery for alarm systems, this great value and reliable battery will replace all brands of battery

  • Specifications:
  • Model: LC-R127R2P
  • Volts: 12
  • Amps: 7.2
  • Size: 151(L) x 65(W) x 92(H)mm
  • Terminals: F1 tags 4.7mm wide
  • Weight: 2.47Kg
  • SLA Chemistry
  • Data Sheet
  • Applications:  Alarm, Standby or Cyclic Applications
  • Guarantee: 24 Months (12 Months cyclic)

$45 including GST

Shipping & Delivery Information

  • Heavy Duty Grids
  • Long Service Life, Float or Cyclic
  • Low Pressure Venting System
  • Low Self Discharge
  • Maintenance-Free Operation
  • Sealed Construction
  • Stable Quality & High Reliability
Typical cyclic applications
  • Communications
  • Golf trolley
  • Lawn mowers
  • Photovoltaic
  • Wheel chairs
Typical standby applications
  • Alarms
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  • Fire systems
  • Telecom back-up power supplies
  • For UPS applications use LC-R127R2P1
This is a general purpose battery, these are rechargeable, highly efficient, leak proof and maintenance free.
Maintenance-Free Operation
During the expected float service life, there is no need to check the specific gravity of the electrolyte, or add water. In fact, there is no provision for these maintenance functions.

Stable Quality & High Reliability
These batteries are well-known for stable and reliable performance.  The battery can withstand overcharge, over discharge, vibration and shocks.  It is also capable of extended storage.

Sealed Construction
The construction and sealing technique guarantees that no electrolyte leakage can occur from the terminals or case.  These batteries are classified as ＂Non-Spillable＂ and will meet all requirements of the International Air Transport Association.

Why Panasonic?

Not all Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) batteries are the same. Battery life, quality & performance can vary widely between brands due to: design, component selection, quality of materials, production methods, quality control, environmental operation conditions & cycling profile.

When you select Panasonic VRLA batteries, you can be assured that only the best quality materials, components and manufacturing techniques have been used. Panasonic will not sacrifice quality for cost.

Alternative batteries

RT1270Ritar 12v 7Ah battery


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The Black Clouds- Better Days (Album Review)

Better Days (Album Cover)

Bill Gates, legal weed, apathetic punk music, and coffee. What do all these have      in common? I guess it could be a really buzzed out Bill Gates, but the more common answer is his birthplace- Seattle (Washington). “Grunge is dead” a widespread misconception since the face of grunge music, Kurt Cobain, died in 1994. Sure, the Seattle music industry did try and sign a bunch of phony punk rockers in a sort of post-grunge era in a desperate attempt to capitalize on the profits of its predecessors- but those efforts ultimately failed. But is grunge/punk long gone? Here’s a group of D.I.Y. musicians that not only share a similar sound as some of the ‘Seattle Greats’ (Nirvana, Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden), but also a similar sense of passion, urgency, and determination. A four-piece New Jersey punk rock band that is touring proof that ‘grunge is dead’ is only a hipster slogan.

The group is compromised of Dan Matthews (Guitar/Vocals), Rob Blake (Guitar/Vocals), Gary Moses (Bass), and Cory King (Drums). The Black Clouds music is written by these guys, produced and recorded by them, and their tour was entirely self-funded. These dudes are the epitome of D.I.Y. rock n’ rollers. Having played at SXSW in 2010 and with a 25 show US tour around the entire country (in 30 days) under their belt who knows what’s next for The Black Clouds (and I’m just scratching the surface on their accolades here). Their latest artwork entitled “Better Days” was released this past January. Here’s a general overview of what to expect when you press play.

The Sound: As I mentioned in the intro paragraph of this review their influences are definitely noticeable. In terms of vocals and guitar riffs if you listen to the songs “Again” and “I’ll be Gone” I don’t think anyone could disagree that they sound like something off of Nirvana’s debut album ‘Bleach’ (maybe this is Bleach 2.0.). But, ‘Better Days’ isn’t a total copy and paste project. In the songs “Fray” and “Stalemate” the scratchy vocals and screams are definitely a distinct Dan Matthews signature. The guitar and bass work is also pretty different from typical grunge. Where guys like Kurt mostly played power chords, these guys incorporate some hard-hitting-distortion-cranking guitar riffs with massive amounts of palm muting thrown in. That being said, The Black Clouds aren’t always serious throughout the course of ‘Better Days’. A little past mid-album they take a break with the song ‘Blue Blocker’ which is this really easy to digest riff accompanied with lyrics that are just as fun. It’s catchy, it’s neat, it’s different and I don’t think any of us were expecting that.

The Production: For what my opinion is worth, I would say this album is right on point with what the guys where trying to achieve in their artwork. I looked for maybe the one song on Better Days where the guitars or the drums overpower the vocals, but I just couldn’t find it. The drums were tight, and the layering of the vocals was spot on. All in all, this leaves me with little to say about the production aspect of this album except that these guys know what they’re doing.

Stream The Entire Album: Here.

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Red Ice News

The Future is the Past

Ancient Hunter-Gatherers Burned Same Amount of Energy as Modern Life-Style Westerners : Study
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Ancient Hunter-Gatherers Burned Same Amount of Energy as Modern Life-Style Westerners : Study

Lower energy expenditure can’t get all the blame for today’s rising obesity levels, if study of hunter-gatherer population is correct.

Results from a new study* published in the July 25, 2012 issue of PLoS ONE reveal that there is no difference between the energy expenditure of modern hunter-gatherers and Westerners, challenging the widely accepted theory that today’s sedentary lifestyle in Western countries is the reason for rising obesity levels. The findings are also significant for understanding our relationship to our ancient hunter-gatherer past, as the study subjects are members of a modern-day hunter-gatherer population that is believed to closely reflect the way our ancient hunter-gatherer ancestors once lived.

Led by Herman Pontzer of Hunter College in New York City, along with David Raichlen of the University of Arizona and Brian M. Wood of Stanford University, the research team measured the daily energy expenditure (calories) of members of the Hadza, a population of hunter-gatherers who live in the open savannah of northern Tanzania. The Hadza, because of their life-style, are thought by scientists to closely approximate the way ancient hunter-gatherers in Africa may have lived tens of thousands of years ago in what many consider to be a possible ancestral homeland for modern humans. They found that, despite a way of life that involved trekking long distances to forage for wild plants and game, the Hadza actually did not burn more calories each day than modern-day adults in the U.S. and Europe. In their analysis, they tested for effects of body weight, body fat percentage, age, and gender. The study was significant in that it was the first to directly measure energy expenditure in hunter-gatherers; before, scientists had relied primarily upon estimates.

It is surprising because modern sedentary lifestyles characteristic of those living in Western countries are thought to be quite different from those of hunter-gatherers, and by extension our ancient hunter-gatherer ancestors. This fact is raised by many as the cause of the current rise in global obesity. Moreover, it challenges long-held assumptions that our ancient hunter-gatherer ancestors, always "on the go", must have expended more energy than modern populations. It also suggests that metaboloc rates are actually comparatively constant among diverse human populations.

"These results highlight the complexity of energy expenditure," says Pontzer . "It’s not simply a function of physical activity. Our metabolic rates may be more a reflection of our shared evolutionary past than our diverse modern lifestyles."

* Pontzer H, Raichlen DA, Wood BM, Mabulla AZP, Racette SB, et al. (2012) Hunter-Gatherer Energetics and Human Obesity. PLoS ONE 7(7): e40503. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0040503

Article from:

In-Utero Exposure to Magnetic Fields Associated With Increased Risk of Obesity in Childhood

In-utero exposure to relatively high magnetic field levels was associated with a 69 percent increased risk of being obese or overweight during childhood compared to lower in-utero magnetic field levels, according to a Kaiser Permanente study that appears in the current online version of Nature’s Scientific Reports.

Researchers conducted the prospective cohort study, in which participating women in Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region carried a meter measuring magnetic field levels during pregnancy and 733 of their children were followed up to 13 years, to collect clinically recorded information on growth patterns. On average, 33 weight measurements per child were collected.

Researchers noted a dose response relationship with increasing in-utero magnetic field levels being associated with further increased risk of obesity or being overweight. The observed association and supporting evidence provide the first epidemiologic findings that link increasing exposure to environmental magnetic fields, especially in-utero exposure, over the last few decades with the rapid rise in childhood obesity during the corresponding decades, according to the authors.

"Pregnancy is a critical developmental stage that is among the most vulnerable periods to environmental exposures," said De-Kun Li, MD, PhD, a perinatal epidemiologist with the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research in Oakland, Calif., and the lead author of the study. "These findings indicate that electromagnetic fields, from microwave ovens to countless wireless devices, may be contributing to childhood obesity risk. This finding could have implications for possibly reducing childhood obesity and better understanding the obesity epidemic. Like any scientific discoveries, the results need to be replicated by other studies."

After controlling for a child’s age at each weight measurement, child gender, maternal age at delivery, pre-pregnancy BMI, race, education level, smoking during pregnancy and breastfeeding, researchers reported a 50 percent increase of participants being obese or overweight for medium in-utero levels (1.5-2.5 mG), and an 84 percent increased risk for high in-utero levels (more than 2.5mG). An mG, or milligauss, represents a unit of magnetic field level or strength as measured using a gaussmeter.

This study follows previous work from Dr. Li (and others) that showed electromagnetic fields may impact pregnancy outcomes and childhood diseases including asthma. Higher EMF levels have also been associated with diabetes in humans, being overweight and high glucose levels in animals, and ADHD in mice offspring, explained Dr. Li.

In the current study, among those children with longer follow-up time (to the end of the study), the observed association was stronger (2.35 times the risk of childhood obesity/overweight for in-utero MF level > 1.5 mG vs. ≤ 1.5 mG). Similarly, if the study only considered those who were persistently obese/overweight through childhood during the follow-up, the association was also much stronger (almost five-fold increased risk of obesity/overweight for in-utero MF level > 1.5 mG vs. < 1.5 mG).

"EMF exposure during pregnancy could impact the fetal development, including endocrine and metabolic systems, predisposing offspring to higher risk of obesity," Dr. Li said. He added that environmental impacts tend to be amplified during fetal development, both in terms of affecting multiple organ systems and having long-lasting changes to physiology, such as to the endocrine systems and hormone receptors.

Researchers examined maternal factors, prenatal factors, childhood factors, outcome measures and other factors that could be confounders. Among 18 factors examined, only family income and childhood habits of eating fruits and vegetables varied among the three maternal MF exposure groups. However, there was not a consistent pattern of MF exposure with family income: women with either low or high family income had lower MF exposure level than women with medium family income. Children eating more fruits and vegetables tended to have a mother who had higher MF exposure during pregnancy. There was no difference among the three MF exposure groups in the average number of weight measurements per child. The proportion of children who remained in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California integrated care delivery system at the end of the study (11 years and older) was almost identical in all three groups. None of the 18 factors examined could explain the observed association.

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IMDB: 6.3/10DramaFantasy201111 minutes

Hooked tells the story of Jaeseung trying to find an answer to his pain and unhappiness. After reminiscing with his wife over dinner, his world suddenly begins to fall apart as he is reminded of an unforgettable tragedy. Now desperate and in denial he turns to his friend for help who offers him a way out, to forget the sadness. However, it's not the answer that he's seeking and instead he finds himself trapped in a painful cycle.

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Apr 232012

Congratulations to the 2 Region 1 teams advancing to the Global Tournament!

Howland Local A: Assembly Required ML- Middle Level
Niles Middle School D: News to Me ML- Middle Level

The combined scoresheets for the Tournament are available here thanks to the Affiliate Director and Training Director.

Best wishes to all Ohio teams at Knoxville for Globals 2012!


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Loopmasters releases Cinerobotic FX, robotic FX & hydraulic impacts

Loopmasters has launched Cinerobotic FX, a royalty free sample pack featuring over 650MB of robotic sounds for cinematic producers and sound engineers.

Loopmasters Cinerobotic FX

Cinerobotic features over 800 individual sounds to lay down as hits, atmospheres and after effects with a vast combination of high-fidelity drones, glitches and foley recordings to cut through the mix. Included in the collection are Alerts, Calibrations, Movements, Fighting Bots, Footsteps, Frictions, Droid Bleeps, Mechanicals, Hydraulics, Weapons, Impacts, Stutters, Shutdowns, Startups and Transformers – enough sounds to take you from R2D2 to Optimus Prime and every cyborg in between!

Using a range of production techniques, the Loopmasters team have created a monster droid of sounds from huge impacts to delicate mechanics. Expect to hear some of the most twisted and contorted FX hits, using natural sounds, digitally processed with evil outboard FX – in preparation for your incoming robot apocalypse!

This explosive collection of android sounds are perfect for anyone producing TV, Film and Games – in addition to being expert artillery for Dubstep, Neuro Drum and Bass, Future Breaks and other industrial-sounding genres.

The Cinerobotic FX pack is available for £19.95 GBP.

More information: Loopmasters / Cinerobotic FX

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Be Drunk (for Tom Ryan)

Today was the funeral for my friend, Tom Ryan, who died unexpectedly earlier this week. After a week of being on auto-pilot,  my heart feels ripped open tonight. The noises of nightlife down below just add to the sense of loss. How can others be happy and enjoy a cool September evening when others only feel imprisoned by the night’s suggestion that we celebrate?

That’s a question Tom would appreciate. And, as a writer, he’d answer.  He was a gifted and eloquent writer, and a man whose presence I won’t be alone in missing.

For Tom, then, a poem by Charles Baudelaire, a poet he mentioned he was reading a few days before he died.

Be Drunk

You have to be always drunk. That’s all there is to it–it’s the
only way. So as not to feel the horrible burden of time that breaks
your back and bends you to the earth, you have to be continually
But on what?Wine, poetry or virtue, as you wish. But be
And if sometimes, on the steps of a palace or the green grass of
a ditch, in the mournful solitude of your room, you wake again,

drunkenness already diminishing or gone, ask the wind, the wave,
the star, the bird, the clock, everything that is flying, everything
that is groaning, everything that is rolling, everything that is
singing, everything that is speaking. . .ask what time it is and
wind, wave, star, bird, clock will answer you:”It is time to be
drunk! So as not to be the martyred slaves of time, be drunk, be
continually drunk! On wine, on poetry or on virtue as you wish.”

– Charles Baudelaire


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Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Tricked by Jen Calonita

  • Series: Fairy Tale Reform School (Book 3)
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
  • ISBN-10: 1492637955
  • ISBN-13: 978-1492637950
  • Grade Level: 5 - 8

Release Date ~ March 7, 2017!

Things are changing at Fairy Tale Reform School.
At least, that's what Gilly's heard through the Enchantasia rumor mill. Word is, notorious trickster Rumpelstiltskin has taken over management from Headmistress Flora, and he's locked down the school tighter than the Pied Piper's pants. Not that this news concerns Gilly. She's been released from FTRS and is now suffering through attending Jack of All Trades School, where she gets to learn about different kinds of shoe leather and ways to measure feet. Truly riveting stuff.
But when Gilly's little sister Anna gets whisked off to FTRS thanks to her troublemaking new friends, Hansel and Gretel, Gilly knows she's got to get Anna out of there. There's only one thing to do; make some serious trouble and get thrown back into FTRS.
It's time to out-trick a trickster!

Tricked by Jen  Calonita is  the third book in the Fairy Tale Reform School series.  Every once in awhile I come across a middle grade series that I enjoy and this is  definitely one of them!
Tricked is a mix-mash of fairy tale characters. plot twists and turns that will keep you on your toes. Ms. Calonita writes with a good dose of humor yet addresses more subtly the challenges surrounding growing up and coming of age.  All in all, this is a delightful book!

4.5 Stars!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Friday, February 24, 2017

Rise and Fire by Sophie Jordan

  • ISBN-10: 0062377671
  • ISBN-13: 978-0062377678
  • Publisher: HarperTeen (February 7, 2017)
  • Series: Reign of Shadow Series

Luna and Fowler have escaped the kingdom of Relhok, but they haven’t escaped the darkness. When a battle against the dark dwellers mortally injures Fowler, Luna is faced with a choice: put their fate in the hands of mysterious strangers or risk losing Fowler forever.
Desperate to keep the one bright part of her life alive, Luna accepts the help of soldiers from a nearby kingdom. Lagonia’s castle offers reprieve from the dangerous outside world—until the King discovers both Fowler and Luna’s true ties to Relhok and their influence over the throne.
Now pawns in each kingdom’s political game, Luna and Fowler are more determined than ever to escape and build the life they’ve been dreaming of. But their own pasts have a tight hold on their hearts and their destinies. Luna must embrace the darkness and fire within her before she loses not only Fowler but the power she was destined to inherit.

Rise and Fire by Sophie Jordan is the second book in the Reign of Shadow Series.  While this book can be read as a stand alone, I recommend it be read as a part of the whole series. Why? You truly won't want to miss a thing of this fantastic series!

Rise and Fire begins exactly where Reign of Shadows left off. This story is chock full of action, adventure, suspense and mystery. There are twists and turns in the plot that are amazing and secrets abound around every corner. It also has romance, friendship and so, so much more!

I truly enjoyed reading Rise of Fire and found it to be a well written, wonderful book in it's own right. How often can you say that the second book in a series is as good as the first?

My hat goes off to Ms. Jordan for the superb job she has done with Rise and Fire. I encourage you all to read this delightfully addicting series.

5 Stars!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to HarperTeen and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

The Young Wives Club by Julie Pennell

  • ISBN-10: 1501136461
  • ISBN-13: 978-1501136467
  • Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books/Alloy Entertainment
  • Release Date ~ February 14, 2017

In Toulouse, Louisiana finding your one true love happens sometime around high school. If you’re lucky, he might be the man you thought he was. But as four friends are about to find out, not every girl has luck on her side in this charming debut novel perfect for fans of The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and Desperate Housewives.

Laura Landry’s quarterback husband was her ticket out of Toulouse. But when a devastating football injury sidelines him, they’re forced to move back to the small town she was so desperate to leave. As Brian starts drinking instead of rehabbing his knee, Laura must reevaluate what her future looks like…and if it includes her husband.

For years, Madison Blanchette has been waiting for bad-boy musician Cash Romero to commit to her. When wealthy George Dubois asks her out, she figures she may as well wait in style. Life with George means weekend trips to New Orleans, gourmet meals, and expensive gifts. At first she loves how George’s affection sparks Cash’s jealousy, but when George proposes to Madison, she finds herself torn between two men…

All Claire Thibodeaux wants is to be the perfect wife and mother. If she can do everything right she won’t end up like her mom, a divorced, single parent trying to make ends meet. But when Claire’s husband Gavin, a well-respected local pastor, starts spending late nights at work and less time in their bed, she can’t help but fear that history is about to repeat itself…

Gabrielle Vaughn never thought she’d end up with someone like her fiancé. The son of a prominent congressman, Tony Ford is completely out of her league—which is why she lied to him about everything from having a college degree to the dark truth about her family. She knows she has to come clean, but how do you tell the love of your life that your entire relationship is a lie?

As these young wives come together to help each other through life, love, and heartbreak, they discover that there are no easy answers when it comes to matters of the heart.

The Young Wives Club by Julie Pennell is funny, enjoyable and a truly delightful read!

Ms. Pennell really did a wonderful job in writing this heart warming  story. It's engaging, creative, funny and sad all at the same time. The characters are realistic, resilient and lovable. I laughed, cried, cheered and smiled my way through this delightful book.

I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of reading The Young Wives Club. If you like reading Women's Fiction ~ this book will definitely hit the mark!

4.5 Stars

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.  Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books/Alloy Entertainment and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Long May She Reign by Rhiannon Thomas

Isn't this cover just gorgeous?!

  • ISBN-10: 0062418688
  • ISBN-13: 978-0062418685
  • Publisher: HarperTeen (February 21, 2017)

Freya was never meant to be queen. Twenty-third in line to the throne, she never dreamed of a life in the palace, and would much rather research in her laboratory than participate in the intrigues of the court. However, when an extravagant banquet turns deadly and the king and those closest to him are poisoned, Freya suddenly finds herself on the throne.
She may have escaped the massacre, but she is far from safe. The nobles don’t respect her, her councilors want to control her, and with the mystery of who killed the king still unsolved, she knows that a single mistake could cost her the kingdom—and her life.
Freya is determined to survive, and that means uncovering the murderers herself. Until then, she can’t trust anyone. Not her advisers. Not the king’s dashing and enigmatic illegitimate son. Not even her own father, who always wanted the best for her but also wanted more power for himself.
As Freya’s enemies close in and her loyalties are tested, she must decide if she is ready to rule and, if so, how far she is willing to go to keep the crown.

I fell in love with this book's gorgeous cover but after reading  Long May She Reign  by Rhiannon Thomas, I can honestly say this book is even better than it's cover!

Ms. Thomas created a uniquely intriguing, suspenseful fantasy that had me engaged from start to finish. While Freya was my favorite heroine, this story is filled with believable characters and a wonderful story-line filled with action, adventure, fantasy and romance.

The twists and turns of the plot were stimulating. At times I was so caught up with the story and Freya's struggles that I was a bit shocked when the true villain was revealed.

All in all, Long May She Reign is a great story, a great read and I highly recommend it!

5 Stars!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to HarperTeen and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Monday, February 20, 2017

The Dressmaker's Dowry: A Novel by Meredith Jaeger

  • ISBN-10: 0062469835
  • ISBN-13: 978-0062469830
  • Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (February 7, 2017)

An exquisite ring, passed down through generations, connects two women who learn that love is a choice, and forgiveness is the key to freedom...
San Francisco: 1876
Immigrant dressmakers Hannelore Schaeffer and Margaret O'Brien struggle to provide food for their siblings, while mending delicate clothing for the city's most affluent ladies. When wealthy Lucas Havensworth enters the shop, Hanna's future is altered forever. With Margaret's encouragement and the power of a borrowed green dress, Hanna dares to see herself as worthy of him. Then Margaret disappears, and Hanna turns to Lucas. Braving the gritty streets of the Barbary Coast and daring to enter the mansions of Nob Hill, Hanna stumbles upon Margaret’s fate, forcing her to make a devastating decision...one that will echo through the generations.
San Francisco: Present Day
In her elegant Marina apartment overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, Sarah Havensworth struggles to complete the novel she quit her job for. Afraid to tell her husband of her writer’s block, Sarah is also hiding a darker secret—one that has haunted her for 14 years. Then a news headline from 1876 sparks inspiration: Missing Dressmakers Believed to be Murdered. Compelled to discover what happened to Hannelore and Margaret, Sarah returns to her roots as a journalist. Will her beautiful heirloom engagement ring uncover a connection to Hanna Schaeffer?

The Dressmaker's Dowry is a really good debut novel  by Meredith Jaeger and is set in San Francisco.  It's a very moving fictional story that alternates between current day and the past that brings generations together to solve an age old mystery.

Ms. Jaeger did a wonderful job of bringing this story to life with a great setting, engaging characters and a well written plot that really pulled me in.  The story's twists and turns were well done and it kept me on the edge of my seat.

I definitely recommend The Dressmaker's Dowry and award it 4.5 stars. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Jaeger's work!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to William Morrow Paperbacks and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Wait for Me by Caroline Leech

  • Hardcover: 384 pages
  • Publisher: HarperTeen (January 31, 2017)
  • ISBN-10: 0062459880
  • ISBN-13: 978-0062459886

It’s 1945, and Lorna Anderson’s life on her father’s farm in Scotland consists of endless chores and rationing, knitting Red Cross scarves, and praying for an Allied victory. So when Paul Vogel, a German prisoner of war, is assigned as the new farmhand, Lorna is appalled. How can she possibly work alongside the enemy when her own brothers are risking their lives for their country?
But as Lorna reluctantly spends time with Paul, she feels herself changing. The more she learns about him—from his time in the war to his life back home in Germany—the more she sees the boy behind the soldier. Soon Lorna is battling her own warring heart. Loving Paul could mean losing her family and the life she’s always known. With tensions rising all around them, Lorna must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice before the end of the war determines their fate.

Reading Wait for Me by Caroline Leech  was the perfect way to spend a relaxing weekend afternoon!

I found the book to be well written with a storyline that flowed well. The characters were engaging and the challenges they  faced realistic and intriguing.
I really enjoyed reading this book.

4 stars!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to HarperTeen and Edelweiss for the opportunity to review this novel.

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Blood of Wonderland by Colleen Oakes

  • Series: Queen of Hearts (Book 2)
  • Publisher: HarperTeen (January 31, 2017)
  • ISBN-10: 006240976X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0062409768

Revolution is rising in Wonderland. Dinah’s battle has begun.
Dinah has been exiled from Wonderland. The vicious father she always feared has framed her for the brutal murder of her brother and turned the kingdom against her.
Now hiding in the lush and mysterious Twisted Wood with only her war steed at her side, Dinah is faced with a choice—to leave Wonderland forever, or stay and fight her father for the throne.
When a chance encounter with one of her father’s long-lost enemies brings Dinah more allies than she ever could have imagined, war starts to feel inevitable. But before Dinah can lead her people into combat, she must confront certain truths about her heart and her destiny—no matter how dark those truths may be.

I found Blood of Wonderland by Colleen Oakes to be well written with characters that are exciting and dynamic. The plot was interesting and full of twists and turns that really surprised me. It was really interesting to delve into Wonderland's history (fable though it is) and begin to understand how Dinah became the  "Queen of Hearts" we know so well in the original story.

Overall, I feel this book has merit and is worth reading. Still, I have to share that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had the first one. The reason is purely personal ... it ended up being a bit too dark and violent for my taste.

I've rated this book a 3.5 Stars because it really is my personal preferences that affected how I responded to book.  I encourage you all to read Blood of Wonderland and find out if it's a winner for you! 😊

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to HarperTeen and Edelweiss for the opportunity to review this novel.