'Tis the season to remember the dead!
The end of October brings us a slew of opportunities to honor those who have passed to the other side, including Samhain or Halloween on Oct 31; Dia de los Muertos on Nov 1 & 2; and All Saints or All Souls Day on Nov 1 & 2.
After all, this is the time of year when people say that "the veil is thin," meaning that the invisible barrier between the worlds of the living and the dead is at its most porous.
Astrologically, we are also being supported in our desire to connect with the spirit world: Neptune's long transit through Pisces certainly lends itself to the timelessness of spirit work, while Jupiter's gallivant through Scorpio's underworld urges us all to dig up our roots and tend to them.
One of the simplest and widespread practices that can help you hold space for those who are gone but not forgotten is the creation of an ancestral altar in your home.
Building an ancestral altar is a rewarding and heart-opening practice, and anyone can participate, no matter what you know about your own ancestry. Here are some things to think about when creating and experiencing your home altar.
Look to the West In most European traditions, west is the direction associated with the land of the dead. Position your altar on a westerly wall if possible, or in such a way that you face the west while tending to it.
Get Some Fresh Flowers Traditional flowers at this time of year are marigolds and chrysanthemums, but if you have ancestors who had specific favorites, making an effort to include those flowers will enhance the energetic potency of your altar. If your granny loved roses the most, splurge on them for her!
Gather Your Crystals Traditional stones include carnelian, smoky quartz, and obsidians, but use what you're drawn to.
Light Some Candles Many observant altar-builders leave prayer candles in glass containers burning twenty-four hours a day for the last week of October. It is up to you to decide if this is safe for your particular set-up – just be sure that you have candles that you can light at least once a day.
Collect Family Photographs and Memorabilia Photographs of those who have passed (copies are fine), heirlooms, or small artifacts owned by your ancestors, will help focus your energy.
If you don't have any of these things, you can use items that are symbolically related to your forefathers and foremothers. Want to call on your grandfather, the postman? Old postage stamps might be a lovely addition to your altar. If your great-aunt was a tailor, a pair of nice sewing shears would certainly honor her life and work.
Also, some people include images or veneration of other beloved dead who are not blood-related: friends, mentors, or inspiring people who have crossed over.
Research Heritage References A lot of us don't know exactly who our ancestors are, but don't let that stop you. If you were adopted from China, you may include some beautiful embroidered silk as an altar cloth. If your family emigrated abruptly from Iran and left most belongings behind, you may consider anointing your candles with Damascus rose oil. If you are of blended heritage, make an attempt to honor each aspect of your ancestral lineage – every ancestor you have heard about and each region or country that is included in your known lineage.
Make room for food and spirit offerings. If you know what your departed relative's loved to ingest when they were alive, be sure to include these treats! People often use sweets, tobacco, or alcohol. After all, indulging the dead is good for the living!
Make your altar your own. If you're well-versed in interpreting your own natal chart, you might examine your fourth house for interesting or vital components to your ancestral altar. Also, you can look at which house Scorpio rules and which planets it governs in yout natal chart to understand how best to engage with your ancestors altar.
You can find out which house Scorpio rules here!
Once you have set up your altar, one of the most important things you can do is spend time there.
One way to incorporate your altar into daily rituals is to share a little bit of anything you eat or drink at home with your beloved dead.
Select a small plate and cup which will be used only for your altar, and within which you might share small amounts of your own food and drink with your ancestors. Each time you sit down for a meal, portion out a small amount of your food with which to feed your dead.
If this feels like too much of a time commitment, you can simply take some time each day and sit with your candles burning, in prayer or reflection. This is most significant when done at dawn or dusk. Consider saying specific prayers to your ancestors while lighting your candles.
Don't be afraid to ask your beloved uncle or a more distant, unknown relative to look after you; our ancestors are invested in our wellbeing and success.
The dead have left us with great gifts, and when we build altars to honor them, we are able to receive these gifts fully.


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María Elena Salinas Leaving Univision
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By Chris Ariens on Aug. 3, 2017 - 6:56 PM
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Maria Elena Salinas, the co-anchor of Noticiero Univision, the Spanish-language network's main evening newscast, is departing the network, TVNewser has learned.
Salinas has spent her entire journalism career at Univision, starting in 1981 as an anchor and public affairs host at Los Angeles station KMEX. She moved to the network in 1987 and since 1991 has called Miami home, which is the production hub for Univision News. Salinas is also co-host of the weekend news magazine Aquí y Ahora. She'll depart when her current contract is up at the end of the year.
In 2012, Salinas became the first Latina to receive an Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. In 2014, she won a Peabody award and a Walter Cronkite award for her special about the mass migration of children from Central America to the U.S. And earlier this year, she was inducted into the NAB Hall of Fame.
In a 2009 interview, Salinas told us about the early days of her career, before the explosive growth of the Hispanic community in the U.S. "People who came into the industry always saw Spanish-language media as a stepping-stone to bigger and better things. [Latinos] figured this is where we might learn a little bit about the profession and then move on to, you know, real TV: ABC, CBS, NBC. And what happened is little by little Spanish-language media has grown so much that now it's the other way around."
Salinas has interviewed presidents (Barack Obama) and dictators (Manuel Noriega) and celebrities (Jennifer Lopez). Born in Los Angeles to Mexican immigrant parents, Salinas wrote in her 2009 memoir I Am My Father's Daughter that late in life she learned her father had been a Catholic priest.
In addition to her duties for Univision, Salinas hosts The Real Story on Investigation Discovery.
More: On her show this evening, Salinas said she will continue on as an independent journalist when she leaves Univision. "Now to be direct, as I always have been: I haven't been pushed out, I haven't quit, I'm not retiring. And I'm not leaving to another place to do the same as I do here," she said.
More: Here's a note from Univision CEO Randy Falco to staff announcing the news:
Dear Colleagues:
I am writing to inform you that after an extraordinary career devoted to shining a spotlight on the issues and events that matter most to the Hispanic community, María Elena Salinas has decided to leave her post as anchor of Univision News at the end of 2017.
María Elena has made an indelible mark on American television and for a generation of Hispanics who have come to rely and trust her fearless pursuit of truth. Since her early days at Univision's KMEX in Los Angeles, her keen insight into the issues that affect Latinos has made her a valued and trusted source of news and information in the community. Attached is the external announcement with additional information. In the coming months, we will announce plans for the new anchor who will join Jorge Ramos on our flagship newscast and plans for the co-host who will join Teresa Rodriguez on our weekly newsmagazine show Aqui y Ahora.
When María Elena was named anchor of our national newscast in 1987, she broke new ground on multiple fronts. During her tenure, her work as anchor, her role as co-host of "Aquí y Ahora," multiple news specials and public affairs shows, along with her community outreach to Hispanics, have made her one of the most respected and influential voices in America. Her many interviews of heads of state and other newsmakers, coverage of breaking news and her spotlight on immigrant issues made her a household name among generations of viewers.
Her unforgettable story "Entre el abandono y el rechazo" (Between Abandonment and Rejection) about the arrival of thousands of unaccompanied minors to the U.S. earned her some of journalism's top accolades, including the Peabody, Walter Cronkite, Emmy and Gracie awards. Among many other distinctions, she received the Lifetime Achievement Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and was named to the National Association of Broadcasters 2017 Hall of Fame. She will be inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame on October 17.
I would like to thank María Elena for all she has done for UCI and the community we serve. Please join me in wishing her the best as she prepares to open a new chapter in her professional life.
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MACYS - is offering .99 shipping with clearance purchases with coupon code GOODCENTS through Sunday.
Loft is offering 30% off all their sale items with code SALE30 online and instores (no coupon needed). Lots of new / recent markdowns. I thought I needed this, but my hips don't agree still a gorgeous top!
White House / Black Market is offering 15% off, and free shipping with code 9159 through Sunday.
Double your chances to get a free plus size dress from Fashion to Figure. Veronica, our friend from Everyday Wear has the same giveaway! :-) Post there as well for another shot.


Pollo Del Mar have become the Lon Chaney of instrumental rock- the band with a thousand faces. At any given moment you'll hear a little psychedelia, a little schmaltz, some TV themes, a couple of Zappa tunes, a set of trad surf, some guitar wanking, thrashing and feedback, spaghetti westerns, melodies you can whistle and melodies you can't. Maybe its just a severe case of attention deficit disorder brought on by chronic channel surfing.


Does the Met Store offer live audio downloads?
I don't like what I downloaded. Can I get a refund?
What are the differences between the Met Store and other digital music services like iTunes?
What is the difference between the Met Store and LiveMetallica.com?
When will Metallica play in my city?
What does GA (or General Admission) mean?
May Members of the Fan Club Participate in a Presale?
I Need to Renew My Membership!
What Is The Best Way To Contact Metallica?
What Is The Metallica Club's Mailing Address?


Discussion in 'The War Room' started by Horse Style, Aug 10, 2016.
If only your pick mattered, which person alive now (who is also eligible) would be your ideal choice or close to your ideal choice for President? Explain why.
Whoever runs on the platform of legalized marijuana and nothing else.
For starters, it would be nice to have a president who's not a war criminal.
I don't think it matters who the president is until congress (and the electorate by extension) have a more unified agenda.
Jack V Savage likes this.
j123 and Diamond Jim like this.
i generally just vote against whoever george bush jr supports just to cancel out his vote. this election wont be different.
An alien of extreme intelligence, God, a friendly lizard person.
I am sure I will get ridiculed for this, but I think Oprah Winfrey would do nicely.
- A multi billionaire (real one) who did it on her own. Came from literally less than nothing. Built a fairly classy company and charity that treats customers and employees well and does a lot of good.
- I suspect she would have a left of center platform, but not absurdly so. Right where I am at.
-She knows how to handle herself in front of a camera and audience.
- Very connected already with prominent people and other world leaders.
-She has a HUGE, very loyal support base already. She could easily get elected.
Blackened and ripskater like this.
I think James Mattis would do a good job. He would probably do sone things i disagree with, but he is a very fair person and not corrupt. Also doesnt seem the type to be bought.
I don't need or want a leader so I would vote for myself. I also don't like to follow so there is no way I would listen to a thing I said or did.
Oprah has zero relevant experience, though. I'm kind of gathering that that's the point of the thread--who would you pick who isn't running or likely to run? And Oprah's a fine choice given that, but I doubt she'd be as good as someone like Clinton.
For me, he might have too much baggage, but I'd like to see Gavin Newsom take a shot eventually. Jerry Brown would be good. Among non-politicians, I suppose Buffett would be the best pick that I know of (and if I had to pick a conservative non-politician, it would be Munger).


The 'Trail by Fire' expedition were named as the winners and are the recipients of the £30,000 bursary which will fund their expedition through the South American Andes to study volcanic gases in the region. In the largest expedition of its kind the research will improve the understanding of how volcanic gas emissions contribute to the Earth's atmosphere.
As part of the bursary the expedition team of volcanologists will also have the use of a specially modified Land Rover Defender throughout their 2,5000 mile journey.
The expedition vehicle has been specially modified by Land Rover's SVO team at its Oxford Road facility in the UK. Modifications to the Defender have seen it become the world's first mobile volcano observatory. Key modifications include the installation of a Delta Ray spectrometer, an uprated power supply, a synthetic winch, increased security, LED lighting and a side deployable tent for overnight accommodation.
The researchers, from some of the world's leading universities, participated in extensive training at the home of Land Rover Experience in Eastnor, UK under the guidance of expert instructors to ensure they will be able to cope with the challenging conditions they will encounter.


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Home » In a first, Rajasthan implements 'Right to Sight'; policy to bring down prevalence rate of blindness
In a first, Rajasthan implements 'Right to Sight'; policy to bring down prevalence rate of blindness
Jaipur: Under its campaign of Nirogi Rajasthan, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has implemented the policy for Blindness Control with the objective of 'Right to Sight'. With this, Rajasthan has become the first state to have such a policy.
Policy document for prevention of blindness released
The medical and health department on the directions of the Chief Minister released the policy document for the prevention of blindness on Friday.
The secretary of medical and health department Dr Prithvi said, "This policy has been brought with an aim to bring light in the lives of more than 3 lakh people suffering from visual impairment in the State."
The prevalence rate of blindness in the country was 1.1% in 2020 and the initiatives under the Blindness Control Policy will help to bring it down to 0.3 percent.
State govt to run Keratoplasty Centre and Eye Bank in all medical colleges
Under the policy for Blindness Control, the state government will mandatorily run Keratoplasty Centre and Eye Bank in all the government medical colleges. The government funded private organizations and NGOs that are collecting cornea will have to provide the collected cornea to the government institutions on priority.
State govt to run campaign for eye donation
Efforts to eliminate visual impairment would be made in the districts in collaboration with voluntary organizations, trusts, hospitals and other charitable institutions working in this field. In this regard, the State Government will carry out a campaign for eye donation on an extensive level along with the private institutions. Special training will be imparted to eye experts, eye surgeons, post graduate students, counselors working for eye donation and eye assistants etc.
Dr Prithvi said that public awareness and various technical improvement activities related to curing blindness will be organized under this policy.


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Galapagos Awarded €4.4 M Grant for Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Development
Complete the form below and we will email you a PDF version of "Galapagos Awarded €4.4 M Grant for Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Development"
Galapagos NV has announced that it has been awarded a €4.4 M grant from the Flanders government through the Institute for the Promotion of Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT). The three-year project entitled "Kinases in Inflammation" aims to accelerate Galapagos' rheumatoid arthritis (RA) programs through clinical Proof of Concept in man.
This project builds on the progress of Galapagos' July 2006 IWT funded project, where new biological models were developed to evaluate the effectiveness of small molecules to treat RA.
The new project will apply these biological models to select compounds for clinical studies. The project also aims to develop and validate biomarkers to monitor disease progression and therapeutic response, which will be applied in the early phases of clinical development.
The grant, which will be distributed over a three-year period, will offset preclinical and phase I/phase IIa clinical costs for Galapagos' RA programs. As part of the project, Galapagos will collaborate with the University of Leuven.
"This grant allows us to accelerate our molecules through preclinical and into phase I and phase IIa development, bringing Galapagos a step closer to delivering novel and effective RA drugs to the patient," said Onno van de Stolpe, Chief Executive Officer of Galapagos.


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A trio of success at Wilkin Chapman as three home-grown solicitors qualify.
The future is bright for three talented lawyers, who have qualified as solicitors with the region's largest law firm in Grimsby – and they have nothing but praise for North East Lincolnshire and the opportunities the area presents.
Danielle Sakseide, Bethany Boothby and Amber Aisthorpe, all from the Grimsby area, are celebrating 2019 as a year when they all successfully completed their training with Wilkin Chapman solicitors.
Although all taking different paths to reach their career goals, they are all now confident of a bright future in Grimsby and believe that many opportunities do exist for young people in the local area.
Danielle, 25, of Holton-le-Clay, is a former pupil at Louth's King Edward Grammar and qualified through the traditional route – taking a law degree at Newcastle University and completing her LPC, (Legal Practice Course) at the University of Law in Leeds.
Having undertaken previous work experience at Wilkin Chapman's Grimsby and Louth offices, she successfully applied for her two-year training contract, qualifying as a solicitor in the Wills, Estates, Tax and Trusts department in September.
"The route I took to qualification has taken six years and yes, that may seem like a long time, but it has been broken down into studying and the opportunity to work within different legal disciplines. I am now looking forward to my future at the firm," said Danielle.
Bethany, 26, a former pupil at Tollbar, and Franklin College now living in Holton-le-Clay, successfully completed a law degree at the University of East Anglia in Norwich.
She joined Wilkin Chapman as a legal assistant and undertook CILEx Law School's specialist distance learning route to qualify as a Chartered Legal Executive in 2017. To cross-qualify as a solicitor, Bethany juggled her work with her part-time legal studies on the Legal Practice Course before qualifying in September. As a Chartered Legal Executive, she was exempt from the traditional training contract. She is a member of the firm's Wills, Estates, Tax and Trusts department.
"I always wanted to be a lawyer and could have taken the more traditional route, however when the opportunity came to take up a position at Wilkin Chapman, it was not to be missed. There is a lot to offer both here in the firm and in the wider Northern Lincolnshire area," said Bethany.
For Amber, the chance to join Wilkin Chapman straight after her A-levels was grasped with both hands and at 18 the former Tollbar student joined the firm. Progressing to a Chartered Legal Executive, Amber, 28 from Scartho, also took the CILEx route to qualification and was happy to have done so. She qualified in late summer and continues her career in the Recoveries team.
"I was more than happy to stay in this area and progress here. Yes, the route I took was a different one, but a very good one and just shows there are different opportunities to progress if you choose not to go to university," she said.
And, they all agreed: "If young people are reading this, then we would advise them not to be put off by the time you may think it takes to qualify, and to take your time to look at the different routes you can take. Also, make sure you all open your eyes as to the opportunities around here – it's a good place to be, with an awful lot going on."


French seams are a wonderful way to finish your seams without using a serger or zig zag stitch.
It is great for side seams and shoulder seams. Perfect for Blouses, Dresses and Skirts.
For the Anna Blouse, all seams are finished with French Seams except for the armhole/sleeve seams. French Seams work best if the seam allowance is 1/2" or larger and there is no on-seam pockets.
The Anna Blouse has 5/8" seams which is what this tutorial is based on.
Place your fabric panels wrong sides together matching the raw edges of the seams.
Stitch the seam with a 1/4" seam allowance.
Place the panels right sides together and press the seam flat.
Stitch with a 3/8" seam allowance.
Press the seam towards the back panel.
Yay! Your have a fabulous couture quality seam finish to use in your projects!
How will you wear your Anna Blouse this Spring?


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Home Finance Cannabis prod...
Cannabis producer Cronos Group jumps after agreeing to buy a company that distributes CBD products in the US
Carmen Reinicke, Business Insider US
Cronos announced Friday that it has agreed to buy Redwood Holding Group, a hemp producer which distributes CBD products in the US, for $300 million.
Cronos shares rose on the news.
The deal shows that the Canadian cannabis company is making good on its plan to enter the US CBD market soon.
Watch Cronos trade live on Markets Insider.
Cronos Group shares got a boost Friday from news of an acquisition that would position the company to take advantage of the US CBD market.
Shares of the Canadian cannabis company jumped as much as 5.5% on news that it has agreed to acquire Redwood Holding Group, a retailer of CBD-infused products including bath salts and body lotion. The deal is worth about $300 million and is expected to close in Q3, according to a press release.
Redwood makes and distributes CBD products derived from hemp under the brand name Lord Jones and through US retailers.
"Rob and Cindy have built a differentiated, best-in-class platform with hemp-based CBD formulations that stand for quality and consistency," said Mike Gorenstein, the CEO of Cronos, referring to Redwood founders Robert Rosenheck and Cindy Capobianco.
"Our goal is to preserve the integrity of all Rob and Cindy have created, while also learning from them and leveraging Cronos Group's resources to capitalize on the significant demand for skincare and other consumer products derived from hemp."
The deal shows that Cronos is making good on its plan to enter the US CBD market in the next six to 12 months. The stakes are high for any cannabis company – cannabidiol, or CBD, is currently a $1 billion market in the US. In addition, the potential for growth is vast – analysts think the market could balloon to be as much as $16 billion by 2025.
Cronos has been on a dealmaking spree over the last few months. It recently announced an agreement to purchase a state-of-the-art fermentation and manufacturing facility from Apotex Fermentation in Canada. Cronos also has a partnership with Altria Group, a large tobacco producer and marketer, which will help it source hemp in the US.
Shares of Cronos are up more than 18% year-to-date.
Markets Insider is looking for a panel of millennial investors. If you're active in the markets, CLICK HERE to sign up.
Cronos Group


Between 1810 and 1820 the Spanish painter and printmaker Francisco Goya (1746–1828) created 'The Disasters of War', a series of 82 prints. During this period Goya was first court painter to the Spanish crown and continued to produce portraits of the Spanish and French rulers.
Although deeply affected by the conflicts, he kept his thoughts private and only expressed them in these prints. They were not published until 35 years after his death, in 1863.
This series of prints are a devastingly effective visual protest against the violence of the wars and conflicts that took place between Napoleon's French Empire and Spain between 1808 and 1814, and their aftermath. In these works Goya breaks away from earlier artistic traditions. He rejects the bombastic 'heroics' of most previous Spanish (and other) war art to show the real effects of conflict on individuals.
Many of the works focus on incidents from the war and show the effects of the conflict on individual soldiers and civilians. Others record the effects of the famine that hit Madrid in 1811–12, before the city was liberated from the French. Goya's scenes of atrocities, starvation, degradation and humiliation were from their publication recognised as shockingly new and have been described as the "prodigious flowering of rage" as well as the "work of a memory that knew no forgiveness."
The serial nature in which Goya's prints unfold has led some to see his images as similar in nature to documentary or reportage photography, at that time a newly emerging method of portraying reality in pictures. So new that the first war photographs, of the Mexican-American War (1847), of the Crimea (1853-6), of the Indian Mutiny or India's First War of Independence (1857), the second Opium War in China (1856-60), and the American Civil War (1861-5), were just being created and shown.
Viewed today, Goya's series (finished well before these first photographic records of war were produced) seems to express much of the intimate tragedy and to embody all the intent and achievement of the best photojournalistic projects of war, such as those of the socially aware 20th Century photographers Robert Capa or Don McCullin.
No. 39 – A heroic feat ! With dead men !


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Improving Jewelry Safety In All Markets?
Press release from: SGS
/ PR Agency: Sugarloaf Marketing
Jewelry products can be manufactured from a range of materials such as ceramics, crystals, enamels, glass, leather, metals and metal alloys. Jewelry can also feature paints and other surface coating materials and polymers.
In recent years, the issue of dangerous chemicals in jewelry products has resulted in adverse media coverage, formal investigations and market surveillance activities, as well as legislation. For example, the European Commission's 2015 Rapid Alert System annual report for dangerous non-food products (Rapex) announced an increase in the number of notifications involving chemicals in fashion jewelry. Although fashion jewelry accounted for just 6% of the notifications in 2015, it was the second most notified product category posing a chemical risk.
In Canada, alarming levels of cadmium in children's jewelry came into the spotlight in January 2016. The revelations of a CBC Marketplace investigation included items reported to contain up to 7,000 times the threshold guidelines from Health Canada, plus one jewelry component found to contain almost 100% cadmium.
In Brazil, legislation to regulate the use of lead and cadmium in jewelry came into force in 2016. The law was developed over the three years following the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) 2013 report about the detainment of a shipment of 16 tonnes of cadmium-containing jewelry at the Port of Rio de Janeiro. Legislation and standards for restricted substances in jewelry for international markets can be complex, and manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and retailers must understand the differences between markets and comply with them all. Jewelry is regulated in the European Union (EU), the United States (US), Canada, Brazil and China – although there can be very different specifications for identical restricted substances (or identical products) destined for different markets. In addition, the US and China impose distinct requirements for children's jewelry and adult jewelry.
In the EU, jewelry products must conform to the chemical requirements as mandated by the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), Regulation (EC) 1907/2006.
This is a comprehensive piece of EU-wide legislation for the management of chemicals in all products, and its provisions governing the use of chemicals in jewelry are as follows:
•	Restricted chemicals falling under Annex XVII of REACH include:
o	Cadmium
o	Chromium (VI)
o	Lead
o	Nickel (migration)
o	Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
•	Substances of very high concern (SVHCs) on the Candidate List for the purpose of:
o	Article 7(2) of REACH 'Notification of substances in articles'
o	Article 33 of REACH 'Duty to communicate information on substances in articles'
In addition to EU-wide legislation, jewelry products destined for a particular EU member state must also conform to any specific requirements mandated by the laws of that particular market.
There are two American standards for jewelry: ASTM F2923 'Standard specification for consumer product safety for children's jewelry' (Rhode Island is the first state to adopt this standard) and ASTM F2999 'Standard consumer safety specification for adult jewelry'. Jewelry products intended primarily for children aged 12 and under are also regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA).
Across the nation, a host of jurisdictions regulate adult and/or children's jewelry with unique specifications.
The laws for these jurisdictions are summarized in Table 1.
JURISDICTION	LEGISLATION/CITATION
Federal	Public Law 110-314 (CPSIA)
California	•	Health and Safety Code § 25214.1-25214.4.2 (Metal-containing jewelry law)
•	Proposition 65
Connecticut	Public Act 10-113 'An Act banning cadmium in children's jewelry'
Illinois	•	Public Act 96-1379 'Cadmium-safe kids act'
•	Public Act 87-175 'Lead poisoning prevention act'
Maryland	Environment, §6-1401 through §6-1404 'Cadmium in children's jewelry'
Minnesota	•	§ 3256.389 'Items containing lead prohibited'
•	§ 325E.3891 'Cadmium in children's jewelry'
New York Albany County	Local Law 1 for 2016
New York Suffolk County	•	Chapter 704: Retail Sales; Article VI 'Children's products containing cadmium', § 704-40 to § 704-47
•	Chapter 704: Retail Sales; Article X 'Toxic children's products', § 704-72 to § 704-80
New York Westchester County Chapter 433 'Prohibiting the sale of children's products containing certain chemicals'
Rhode Island Title 23 Health and Safety
Chapter 23-24.11 'Comprehensive children's jewelry safety act'
Washington RCWA 70.240.010 to RCWA 70.240.040 'Children's safe products act (CSPA)'
Health Canada regulates both lead content and migratable lead in jewelry designed to appeal primarily to children under 15 years. Canada has been closely monitoring cadmium levels in children's jewelry since asking the industry in 2010 to stop intentionally using the chemical, and since publishing a proposed regulation for these products in 2011.
The overall framework for product safety is the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA), with specific requirements for jewelry governed by the:
•	Children's Jewelry Regulations
•	Surface Coating Materials Regulations
•	Draft proposal for cadmium guidelines in children's jewelry
Jewelry destined for Brazil is governed by Ordinance No. 43, of January 22, 2016, which restricts the use of cadmium and lead in jewelry and came into effect on January 26, 2016.
Jewelry for China is regulated by two mandatory standards:
•	GB 28480 'Adornment-Provision for limit of baneful elements'
•	GB 11887 'Jewelry-Fineness precious metal alloys and designation'
Jewelry Testing Services
SGS has accredited, state of the art testing laboratories worldwide. This network offers a comprehensive range of physical, chemical and functional testing services for components, materials and finished products. Our technical experts can devise not only a tailored program to demonstrate a product's safety and compliance to regulatory requirements, but also help you to consider its intended destination markets and help to reduce development costs by grouping testing.
HingWo Tsang, Ph.D.
Global Information and Innovation Manager
SGS Hong Kong
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 85,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,800 offices and laboratories around the world.
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More Releases from SGS
Ecuador Issues Revised Draft Technical Regulation on Food Contact Ceramics
Ecuador has announced a revised proposal that, if accepted, will update its technical regulation for food contact ceramics. The latest proposal, designated Ecuadorian Technical Regulation RTE UNEN 010 (2R) – 'Ceramic Tableware Intended to Come into Contact with Food', was circulated attached to World Trade Organization (WTO) document no. 20-4675 on July 8, 2020. It has a new structure and contains several important changes, including: •	Revision to existing definitions and…
SGS puts Consumer Trust at the Heart of its new Brand Awareness Campaign
SGS, the world's leading inspection, testing and certification company, has today launched 'Trusted. Tested.' – a high impact, brand awareness campaign to engage consumers in the vital role of testing, inspection and certification on the everyday products they purchase. With the strapline 'It's only trusted because it's tested', the campaign showcases more than 50 everyday products that typically pass through SGS's testing laboratories – from lipsticks and shoes to mobile phones…
SGS Guides Manufacturers Through Categorization of Medical and Personal Care Pro …
SGS, the world's leading provider of testing, verification and certification services, offers a comprehensive range of services to help manufacturers of products aimed at assisting the elderly ensure they are safe and comply with the relevant regulations. We live in a world with an aging population. Currently there are an estimated 143 million people over 80, but this figure is expected to triple to 426 million by 2050. These…
Multiple Prop 65 Agreements on DINP in Consumer Products Reached in California
In recent months, several California Proposition 65 (Prop 65) settlement agreements and judgements have been reached in relation to the use of diisononyl phthalate (DINP) in various consumer products. Prop 65, the 'Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986', is a unique piece of legislation that passed overwhelmingly by a ballot of Californian residents in November 1986. It is a right-to-know law that requires the state to publish…
More Releases for Jewelry
12-21-2020 | Fashion, Lifestyle, Trends
THE MVEye
Top Jewelry Trends for 2021
But first some thought about what happened in jewelry in 2020. The year saw some real losers in fine jewelry. Sales of rings, especially fashion rings, dropped because of the constant need to wash our hands. Conversely, there was increased demand in necklaces and earrings. Pendants with messages or symbols were the real winners. Spending on fine jewelry, as gift giving and self-purchase, was also up significantly as consumers…
Panjab Jewelry
Panjab Jewelry- A collection of trendy Jewelry
The jewelry trade is amongst the oldest form of businesses that has been prosperous since ages. Panjab Jewelry (PJPL) is a leading Manufacturing house in Amritsar, Punjab. Our aim is to take this industry to prominent heights by organizing this sector and further expanding into exports with a world-class quality product range having a special focus on Asian markets. At present, PJPL has laid their footprint and swept the markets…
QY Market Research Reports
Gems and Jewelry Market Classified into the Following Types: Gold Jewelry, Diamo …
This study researches the market size of Gems and Jewelry in United States, European Union and China, presents the Gems and Jewelry sales, revenue, market share and growth rate by companies, type and application, history breakdown data from 2013 to 2018, and forecast to 2025. For top companies in United States, European Union and China, this report investigates and analyzes the sales, revenue, market share and growth rate for the top…
bbbgem
Rumors of Colored Gemstones jewelry
The colored gemstones includes Morganite,Aquamarine,Sapphire,Ruby,Emerald,Jade etc. There are some sentences are taken by the jewelry lovers as "golden rule." However, those who listen to these words are often cheated. Today BBBGEM will give you some true advice. Rumor one: Colored gemstones all diamonds, not afraid of being bumps. Many people think that precious stones are very hard, not afraid of bumps.However,even diamonds,the hardness of 10 gems, will be broken! In addition, the…
Ash Jewelry – Contemporary Commemorations
Finding a way to remember those that have passed away has taken a new twist in recent years with the introduction of ash jewelry. These small jewelry accessories are crafted to hold a small memento in tribute to a deceased loved one or pet. Co-founder and President of Everlasting Memories, Casey Doran, tracked customer comments over a one year time period and found customers looking for updated, fashion…
Panvisionary Group LLC
Company Revolutionises Jewelry Sale
Furlong, PA 28 September, 2010- A company of international repute and unsullied integrity (Panvisionary Group LLC) is offering jewelry of the highest grade and quality to would-be buyers at prices that are not only affordable but simply unbeatable. For years, the acquisition of jewelry has been considered the exclusive rights of monarchs and the super-rich. Panvisionary Group LLC is out to change all by bringing to buyers of all classes…


The land of West Bengal is filled with every kind of wonder, ranging from natural marvels to historical beauties. Duarsini is one such natural marvel in the state of West Bengal which makes for a perfect weekend getaway from Kolkata.
Covered with lakes, hills, farmlands and forests, the land of Duarsini is one of the richest parts of the state and is inhabited by tribal groups. Would you like to experience the grandeur of Duarsini while exploring its rich corners? From visiting rural areas to spotting wildlife, there are a lot of things to do within the boundaries of Duarsini. Read on to know everything about this wonderful place and what all can be visited and savoured here.
As the climatic conditions remain favourable throughout the year, Duarsini can be visited anytime. However, if you desire to enjoy the beauty of Duarsini at its summit with each and every corner covered with lush green vegetation, then the best time to visit Duarsini is from October until the end of April.
By Air: The nearest airport from Duarsini is situated inKolkata at a distance of about 270 km. From the airport, you can hire a cab to Duarsini.
By Rail: Trains are not available between Duarsini and Kolkata. However, you can catch a train from Kolkata to Ghatshila and then from there you can hire a cab to Duarsini. Ghatshila is located at a distance of around 240 km from Kolkata and 25 km from Duarsini.
By Road: As the roads to Duarsini are in proper conditions, it is easily approachable by road. It takes an average time of 6 hours to reach Duarsini by road.
Route 1 is preferable as it takes an average time of 6 hours to reach Duarsini from Kolkata, which is 1 hour lesser in comparison to other routes. On your way to Duarsini, you can take a break at Jhargram and witness its beauty hidden in palaces and forests.
Jhargram is the perfect place en route to Duarsini from Kolkata as there is a lot to explore within its boundaries. Home to palaces, forts and forests, Jhargram is believed to have been founded during the Mughal Empire and is located at a distance of 172 km from Kolkata and 92 km from Duarsini.
Even though there are not many historical places from the Medieval Period of India, there are certainly historical places which can allure you to visit them again and again. The major historical places in Jhargram include Jhargram Palace, Kurumbera Fort, Umapati Temple and the Temple of Sabitri.
Due to the presence of forests, Jhargram also nurtures several species of wildlife and vegetation. The Deer Park located in the town is the major natural place which is visited by thousands of tourists every year.
Located at an approximate distance of 265 km from Kolkata, Duarsini has become a favourite weekend getaway amongst local tourists due to its close proximity to the major cities in West Bengal and on account of its natural environment filled with country life.
Surrounded by small hills covered with the green carpets, Duarsini also hosts Satgudum, the mountain river, which helps in enhancing the attractiveness of the place. So, are you ready to be on tracks leading to Duarsini to get yourself elevated and turn your surroundings into an atmosphere filled with liveliness?
There are innumerable things to while in Duarsini. As the land is covered with forests and hills, the first and foremost thing to go for is certainly loitering around and exploring its corners. Being a tribal settlement, Duarsini also offers its visitors with the opportunities of experiencing a country life filled with ultimate peace and stillness. The major villages which can be visited in and around the region of Duarsini include Kheriya, Munda and Santhal.
Regarding the wildlife in Duarsini, you can spot several rare and endangered species as well in its forests. Wild bear, hyena, wolf, elephant, and certain species of birds can be found here. If you desire to explore more and stay at Duarsini for a long period of time, then you can also visit Galudih and Bhalo Hills.


Using the İŞKUR system online is clearly explained in the website of agency both in Turkish and English. Our explanations below are for the branches of foreign based companies which having trouble with the site as we witnessed occasionally.
You should first create a new workplace record (system registration) and then employer registration can be made after that.
Turkish Republic Identity Number of an authorized person in your company is necessary to sign in to the system.
- Your membership (new workplace record) will be approved after checked by İŞKUR, this approval may take 2 days.
- After approval of the workplace record by İŞKUR, you can use the Agency's services by signing in to the system with your Turkish Republic Identity Number, password, and İŞKUR number of your workplace and you can fill in labor schedules.
If you are having trouble on accessing or/and registration, you may do it by the help of an accountant or your payroll vendor, if you have any.
* Name/Surname and Turkish Republic Identity Number of an authorized person to be indentified in system.
- Then you may send the Turkish Republic Identity Number, password, and İŞKUR number of your workplace.
- And vendor can upload your labor schedule to the system on behalf of you.


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More Humor
Please Respect My Boundaries
How to Find an Apartment
Concerning Wedding Registries
Credit-Card Perks for Castaways
PHOTOGRAPH BY JIM NEWBERRY / ALAMY
"This American Carnage"
By Riane Konc
This American carnage stops right here and right now. —President Donald J. Trump.
Episode No. 1: Inauguration Day
From WBEZ, in Chicago, it's "This American Carnage," distributed by Public Radio International. I'm Ira Glass. Each week, of course, we choose a theme and invite writers and performers to take a whack at that theme. This week: Inauguration Day. Act One: The Audacity of Grope. Act Two: New Year's Revolutions. Act Three: It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Tweeting). And Act Four: Schindler's Listicle. Earlier today, our producer Sean Cole found the names of everyone here in the office written down with either "Jew," "Gentile," or "Not Sure, Leave a Dreidel on Their Desk and See What Happens" next to them. We'll figure out what that's all about. Stay with us.
Episode No. 14: Going Green
Hey, everybody. Ira here, with "This American Carnage," where, each week, we take a meme, and bring you a variety of stories on that meme. Act One: Frog Out of Water. The newly appointed head of the Religious Science Cabinet (formerly the E.P.A.) has criminalized amphibians, claiming that "choosing to live both on land and in water constitutes gross promiscuity." But what does this mean for working-class white people? Scott Carrier brings us that story. And Act Two: Pepe le Pew-Pew-Pew. New York's reptiles have militarized. Now what? Etgar Keret reads what was originally intended as a short piece of fiction. Stay tuned.
Support for this show comes from the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. The Cancer Treatment Centers of America: You Can't Afford Us Anymore.
Episode No. 26: Kid Gloves (Live Show)
Hi, everybody. I'm speaking to you today from what used to be the Brooklyn Academy of Music, before we got rid of all the boroughs but Staten Island. I'm Ira Glass, and this is our annual "This American Carnage" live show. [One person applauds.] Act One: The SusPence Is Killing Me. David Sedaris reads the story of how he met his wife and how much he enjoys kissing her mouth. Act Two: Alt-Music. We're waterboarding members of OK Go live onstage and recording the screams. Stay with us!
Support for our live show comes from Angie's List. If your public school has closed, try Angie's List—providing crowdsourced reviews for local businesses. You can rest easy knowing that you hired the best plumber to teach your kid to read.
Episode No. 58: The Most Dangerous Game
Hey, radio listeners. Ira here. It's "This American Carnage," brought to you by WBEZ in Élite Zone Two. Let's get right to it. Today's show: The Most Dangerous Game. Act One: Big-League Jew. We all bleed the same red blood of patriots, and today it's Alex Blumberg's turn. And Act Two: There Can Only Be One. Well. It's pledge-drive time, and this year we're trying something a little different. Ira Flatow and I will be marooned on the abandoned island of California, and only one of us will return. Right now, we have a matching grant, so hurry up and place your bets on who makes it back alive.
Episode No. 66: SOS
(Whispering) Well, from the burnt-out shell of the old WBEZ building, it's "This American Carnage." I'm Ira. We don't have a lot of time. Act One: Cur . . . phew. The robo-gators say they're peaceful, but should we believe them? We may not have a choice. Act Two: Do the Reich Thing. We're going to leave "Santaland Diaries" playing for as long as there's power, in the hopes that maybe—just maybe—it reaches someone. And Act Three: Heil, That's No Way to Say Goodbye. Some parting thoughts, and a word from our boss, Mr. Torey Malatia, whom you may have heard earlier when he sprinted by, screaming, "Take only what you can carry. We don't have much time. Run, Ira. Run!"
Riane Konc has contributed to The New Yorker since 2017.
More:Donald TrumpHumorIra GlassPublic RadioSatireThis American Life
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U Up?
By Ethan Kuperberg
Exercise Routines to Help You Lose the "Trump Ten"
By Blythe Roberson


We believe many iOS users have been constantly troubled by the inability to access files and have to resort to download numerous file management programs in hope to resolve this problem. Even with a large Cloud storage, many users are unable to utilize smart phone/tablet to download, and access files due to platform limitations. With the collaboration between ASUS WebStorage and OrganiDoc, users will now be able to easily access/edit/backup files from ASUS WebStorage and OrganiDoc directly on their smart phone/tablet.
How to setup ASUS WebStorage account on OrganiDoc/OrganiDoc HD?
2.To add another ASUS WebStorage account, simply tap on the "+' icon located on the top right corner on the iPhone and bottom left corner for the iPad.
How to download ASUS WebStorage files to OrganiDoc for editing?
How to upload files from OrganiDoc/OrganiDoc HD to ASUS WebStorage?
There are two ways to upload files from OrganiDoc/OrganiDoc HD!
If you wish to learn more about OrganiDoc/OrganiDoc HD, please click on the following link for product details .
Web designers shloud also take not of the ease in navigating their sites. A definite navigation system will help users to undergo the pages from the website. Important links may strategically be placed around the right places and menus might be placed on the best or on the left. For the website to be seen more by others, designers may create links which will point to the web pages from the site. However, they also need to check broken links if you will find any. Information ought to be made accessible on all the pages from the website.
Great idea,thank you for your suggestion.
Is OrganiDoc available for the Transformer Prime, or just toy tablets?
Dear James Parker, OrganiDoc is for iOS users and compatible with iOS only.
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Tips-y Tuesday commences every week here and on social media.
Today's topic discusses the 4 most common reasons why cam models are suspended on Streamate.
Suspensions could simply be avoided by adhering to the Streamate Performer Code of Conduct, which we reference in this video.
Have questions or need advice? Send an email here .
Follow me on social media for daily updates!


I am searching for all retellings of Beauty and the Beast right now, personal research if you will. And this one was recommended to me by a librarian. And it is interesting as it is completely different than I expected. And while I can see the Beauty and the beast aspect, it reads more like a Romeo & Juliet story. But it's fun so far... still a little bit left to read.


After a long approach on August 26, four well-prepared and experienced climbers began to climb the six-pitch Standard "S" Route (IV 5.6) on The Shield, the largest wall in the Sandia Mountains outside of Albuquerque. About 650 feet from the top, the 40-year-old male lead climber had just placed several pieces. Holding onto a small ledge with his left hand and standing on both feet, he was testing a nut by pulling on it to see how it would hold. Without warning the piece popped out and he was thrown off balance, lost his grip on the rock, and fell backward becoming airborne. The cam below him was loaded with the leader fall and failed under the force. He fell directly onto his right posterior lower rib cage on a ledge approximately 15 feet below him and then continued to fall another 10 feet until the belayer was able to arrest the fall. The leader did not lose consciousness and was able to be lowered to the belay ledge. However, he was unable to move because of chest wall and abdominal pain and was short of breath.
help, and he also happens to be an active member of Albuquerque Mountain Rescue. A rescue was initiated which included mutual-aid from the Army National Guard, Air Force Pararescue, and other SAR teams.
A 600-foot rope was used to begin access from the top. A Sked litter was air lifted to the strike team on the face by a Blackhawk helicopter. One of the climbers had led another pitch and the 9mm dynamic rope was tied to the 600- foot static rope in order to access the patient another 50 feet further down.
The patient was complaining of shortness of breath, chest wall pain, abdominal pain, and numbness in his feet. The initial assessment of the patient revealed possible rib fractures, fractured lumbar spine, and retroperitoneal hemorrhage, all of which were later diagnosed in the hospital. A litter hoist could not be effected from the ledge because of how close it would place the helicopter to the rock in moderate and shifty winds. An attempt was made of putting the patient into the Sked and lowering him to a more accessible ledge was unsuccessful because of low light limitations. The patient was brought back up to the initial point of contact and the patient was transferred into a Stokes litter and vacuum splint for the 650-foot-high angle technical raise to the top of the Shield. The paramedics on the strike team started an IV line and morphine was given for pain before the transfer and technical raise.
The top is a narrow 15-foot-wide ridge with 1000-foot exposure on both sides. The haul system included a 90-degree change of direction that went up the ridge to the haul team. During the course of the haul, some carabiners on the change of direction pulley were loaded awkwardly which forced that gates to pop open and place the litter team in some danger. However, a second belay line was already attached if the haul system failed.
Two litter bearers were used in a difficult dihedral loaded with overhangs and lose rock. At the last part of the raise, a rock was accidentally knocked lose by the litter team. The rock crashed down through the dihedral system. "Rock, rock... everyone get close to the wall," was called out on the radio, but one of the other climbers on the climbing team was struck on the thigh, suffering a bruise that would prohibit her from climbing out.


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Series INDYCAR SERIES
Monday, 24th May 2021
Andre Ribiero, An Appreciation
American Honda and Honda Performance Development extends its deepest sympathies to the family, friends and many fans of Andre Ribeiro, Honda's first Indy car race winner, who passed away this weekend in Sao Paulo, Brazil, age 55, following a battle with cancer.
After a race-winning career in his native Brazil and later Europe, Andre Ribeiro da Cunha came to North America with Tasman Motorsports to compete in the 1994 Indy Lights Championship, winning four times and finishing second in the drivers' championship.
Team and driver moved up to Championship Auto Racing Teams [CART] competition in 1995 where, as a rookie, he recorded Honda's first Indy car victory on August 20, winning from the pole in his Tasman Motorsports Reynard Honda.
Two more Honda-powered victories – in his native Brazil at Rio de Janeiro and at Michigan International Speedway – followed in 1996. Ribeiro retired from competition following the 1998 season, then went on to run a network of automobile dealerships in his native Brazil in partnership with Roger Penske.
Published on 24 May 2021 @ 04:00 GMT+0


The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58), signed by President Bush, created a tax deduction for constructing energy efficient buildings. The expiration of this tax deduction was extended to December 31, 2013 by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. The Section 179D tax deduction created is between $0.30 and $1.80 per square foot depending on the type of systems installed.
The full tax deduction is available to owners of both new and existing commercial buildings in which the installation of interior lighting system, HVAC system, building envelope, and service hot water systems reduce the total annual building power and energy costs by 50% or more compared to ASHRAE 90.1-2001 minimum requirements.
A partially qualifying property will be able to receive a portion of the tax deduction as long as one of the systems saves at least 16 2/3% in energy and power costs.
What Tax Deduction is Available?
First it is important to note that this is a tax deduction and not a tax credit. A tax deduction reduces the taxable income for the year while a tax credit is a dollar for dollar reduction in taxes owed. The Section 179D tax deduction available ranges from $0.30 to $1.80 per square foot of improved building. If the property is a fully qualifying property with a 50% energy savings, the available deduction is the cost of the qualifying systems up to $1.80 per square foot.
If the building contains a partially qualifying property for interior lighting, HVAC, or building envelope, the deduction available is the cost of the qualifying system up to $.60 per square foot.
In addition, the interim lighting rule provides a tax deduction if the system provides a 25% (50% for warehouses) reduction in light power density. The tax deduction available is the cost of the qualifying system up to $.60 per square foot on a sliding scale.
Where can I find the IRS Notice 2006-52?
How do I determine if my Property Qualifies?
In order to determine if your property fully or partially qualifies, a qualified individual must conduct a Performance Rating Method (PRM) and then provide a certification for the property. This process includes utilizing a qualified software program as well as a site visit.
According to the IRS, a qualified individual is (1) not related to the taxpayer (within the meaning of Section 45(e)(4), (2) is an engineer or contractor that is properly licensed as a professional engineer or contractor, and (3) has represented in writing to the taxpayer that he has the requisite qualifications.
What do I do with the Report?
The final report will need to be supplied to your accountant so that he/she may include the information on your return. The report will not need to be attached to your return but you must maintain records to prove entitlement to the tax deduction.
CCC has a long history of meeting our clients' needs ranging from Cost Segregation, Construction Audit/Consulting, and Lease Audits. In addition to our engineers and affiliates having the required experience and licenses to perform the certifications, we will provide a free mini energy audit during the site visit of Phase 2. Our professional engineer will review with you some energy saving opportunities that may exist in your building. These savings can be achieved by simply changing a light bulb's wattage to replacing an entire HVAC system.


Follower of Jesus= Letting go of your life and trusting God to lead you.
But how do we hear God's voice?
1.) Have a daily conversation with God. Yes, pray but also listen. Just like you'd talk with anyone else, allow quiet moments during your prayer time to hear what God is saying. I guarantee that He is responding. You may have a thought pop into your mind of something He wants you to do, you may see a picture, you may feel a sense, etc. however you hear Him, just know that God desires to speak to his children.
2.) Study His word and do what it says. That way, when it's time to make a BIG decision you're already accustomed to hearing his voice in the seemingly small areas of life because you've studied His word daily, and are living according to it. Studying and Reading the Bible are two separate things.
* Studying the Bible: involves reflecting and thinking about what you are reading. Asking yourself what the scripture tells you about God. Studying is reading with purpose and gleaning meaning. Many times this involves a commentary.
3.) Read his word daily. Just like you would read a good book. This is the best book you'll ever read…trust me!
1+2+3 = When the time comes for a decision to be made you will be saturated with his presence, and in his word and you'll know what to do. Those scriptures you read and studied will start to overflow out of you and you will know. You'll either have peace with the decision or you won't.
And then… if you're talking with God on the daily and walking with Him. God will still honor you even if you make the wrong turn. He knows you love him and that you're seeking him with your whole heart. God will still be able to accomplish the purposes that he has for your life because you have surrendered to him completely and God honors a surrendered heart. By staying in his word and praying without ceasing we are reminding ourselves to surrender to him everyday and with everything in our lives.
Surrendering our life is not a one time thing…it is a daily decision to follow God in every area of our lives, It's not a one time, alter call thing. As we grow in our faith, the bible will start to change how you walk and how you talk and who you hang out with you will be convicted about things you have never been convicted about before.
* BEING A CHRISTIAN MEANS FOLLOWING CHRIST and accepting his sacrifice which is the only way to be in right relationship with God. But…HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FOLLOW HIM WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT HIS WORD SAYS? FOLLOWER IS AN ACTIVE WORD, YOU DONT JUST FOLLOW ONCE AND THEN GO ABOUT YOUR NORMAL LIFE, IT MEANS SOMETHING CHANGES ON THE INSIDE OF YOU AND YOU CANT LIVE NORMAL ANYMORE, YOU HAVE A CRAVING AND DESIRE, TO KNOW GOD MORE AND LOVE HIM MORE.
I love you and God loves you so much more!
Next"Airplane Ear": Are You Deaf to God's Voice?


Refried Confusion: Texas College Student Expands Definition of "Stupid"
Texas College Student Expands Definition of "Stupid"
A Texas A&M student was arrested, in College Station, for using his cell phone to transmit a bomb threat email to the TAMU Computing Services Office. The incident occurred this past Friday and the campus was evacuated. Mr. Kelly is being held in the Brazos County Jail on $150,000 bond.
The Planned Parenthood Center for Choice in Bryan, Tx has chosen Mr. Kelly for their "Living Advertisement for Birth Control" and his mugshot, depicted above, will be printed on all future packages of condoms.
Law enforcement officials have informed us that Mr. Kelly's higher education will continue in the county jail and the suspect was quickly enrolled in Soap Dropping 101.


One of Latin America's hottest acts is on her way to Benidorm and another is being lined up by the town council.
Also on the cards, with negotiations at an advanced stage, is a performance by Colombian hottie, Shakira. She'll be shaking what she's got in August or September sometime at a venue as yet to be decided.


Our guest rooms are individually furnished and radiate a warm ambience.
Despite the hotel's most unforgettable style, online bookers describe hotel room rates as excellent value for money. Discounts, promotions, and last minute offers are included in hotel room rates of add on Residenz.
With its boutique-character the add on Residenz will offer you one of the best and most unforgettable stays you ever experienced. For online reservation please use booking form and experience the hotel's unique boutique-character.
Burghausen, Raitenhaslach and the wider area invite you to go for strolls amid historical and scenic surroundings. Be sure to visit the popular pilgrim's destination of Altötting, the lake Chiemsee and the city of Salzburg 50 kilometres away.
online bookers describe add on Residenz as one of the most unforgettable hotels of its kind and describe the hotel's boutique-character as outstanding.
This hotel in the heart of Burghausen offers 43 comfortable and stylishly furnished guest rooms. Burghausen lies on the Austrian border, some 90 kilometres from Munich. With a length of 1,043 metres, the town's castle is the longest in Europe, and it perches on top of a mountain ridge overlooking the Old Town.
Reception is occupied at all times. We would be happy to help you plan your excursions during your stay. Please note that our restaurant and meeting facilites are closed at present.


Designed to relax! We have developed a unique material, consisting of a carefully measured blend of bamboo viscose, organic cotton and elastane. The amount of long-stacked cotton fibers provides a longer shelf life. The elastane provides the perfect stretch, while the bamboo viscose gives the products soft, antibacterial and temperature-regulating functions. The ideal material for comfortable clothes. Enjoy it.


I'm currently searching for the perfect ankle boots for fall, which is no easy task. I have a few conditions: they have to be affordable, comfortable (since I walk to and from work), durable (the streets of NYC are not particularly kind to shoes), and versatile. See what I mean? Not so easy! These are a few options that I like so far and I hoping to make it in to the store later this week to try some of these on.
Tell me: What type(s) of shoes are on your fall wish list?


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Available for Pre-Order: The Actors' Crucible: Port Talbot and the Making of Burton, Hopkins, Sheen and All the Others
Pre-Order Now on Amazon UK and Amazon US
The town of Port Talbot has long been seen (quite literally) as synonymous with the steel industry. Yet it also has another claim to fame as the actors' capital of Wales. It has produced a remarkable number of actors since the inter-war years. Richard Burton, Anthony Hopkins and Michael Sheen head the glittering cast but there are many others including early stars such as Ronald Lewis and Ivor Emmanuel, more recent figures like Rob Brydon and Di Botcher as well as a cluster of exciting young actors starting to make their names in the West End and on the big and small screen.
This book suggests explanations for this phenomenon. Its author is a historical biographer who hails from Port Talbot and has done extensive research including numerous interviews. It explores the provision of educational and cultural facilities for young people over the years and demonstrates a commitment to drama that is deeply embedded in the town's history.
It tells in some depth the stories of the super-stars but in a novel way, focusing on how they emerged and on those who nurtured their talent, presenting the actors as part of a tradition that was set in motion even before Richard Burton began to make his mark. It surveys the careers of fifty actors from Port Talbot and it considers what its most famous stars have put back into their community, culminating in the spectacular three-day event of Easter 2011 when Michael Sheen resurrected Port Talbot's pride and hopes through the immersive theatrical experience of The Passion.
Written at a time of mixed fortunes for actors when funding for training is threatened yet opportunities for theatre and film work are expanding within Wales, this book puts centre-stage a town, its actors and those who guide them and so offers a new kind of cultural history. Such an approach also raises wider questions about the importance of the arts and of drama in particular to the wellbeing of communities.
Angela V. John is a Pembrokeshire-based historian and biographer. She was, for many years, Professor of History at the University of Greenwich and is currently an Honorary Professor at Swansea University. Although her earlier books were aimed at an academic audience, she now writes for a wider readership and enjoys speaking at all sorts of events. Forthcoming talks in the next few months include speaking to groups in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion and at Penarth Literature Festival as well as The Tropic cinema in Key West, Florida. She is currently working on her twelfth book, a volume of essays about a bunch of feisty Welsh women of the 19c and 20c. For more information see www.angelavjohn.com and her publisher www.parthianbooks.com
How to be a Tudor: A Dawn-to-Dusk Guide to Everyday Life, by Ruth Goodman
The real Wolf Hall - a time traveller's guide to daily life in Tudor England
The Tudor era encompasses some of the greatest changes in our history. But while we know about the historical dramas of the times - most notably in the court of Henry VIII - what was life really like for a commoner like you or me?
To answer this question, the renowned "method historian" and historical advisor to the BBC Ruth Goodman has slept, washed and cooked as the Tudors did - so you don't have to! She is your expert guide to this fascinating era, drawing on years of practical historical study to show how our ancestors coped with everyday life, from how they slept to how they courted.
Using a vast range of sources, she takes you back to the time when soot was used as toothpaste and the "upper crust" of bread was served to the wealthier members of the house. Exploring how the Tudors learnt, danced and even sat and stood according to the latest fashion, she reveals what it all felt, smelt and tasted like, from morning until night.
'Ruth is the queen of living history, long may she reign!'
- Lucy Worsley
Ruth Goodman is an historian who specialises in the everyday life of the past. She has written and presented numerous acclaimed BBC television series and is a regular presenter on the One Show. As well as her television work, Ruth offers advisory services, lectures and holds practical workshops around the country. As a social historian she works with a whole range of people, institutions and museums such as The Weald and Downland, The Globe Theatre, Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust, the National Trust and the heritage and drama departments of several universities. She is the author of How to be a Victorian, and has co-authored three other books, including Tudor Monastery Farm. Ruth lives with her family in Buckinghamshire UK.
Labels: Tudors
Historical Fiction Spotlight: The Lady Anne (Above all Others; The Lady Anne Book 2) by G. Lawrence
1522, England: Anne Boleyn has lived an adventurous youth in the glittering courts of Europe, now, promised in marriage to a man she knows nothing of, Anne has been called home by her ambitious father.
She will enter the English Court, to find many admirers courting her. Anne finds potential for love in three men, but there is one... more unexpected than all the others, who claims her heart.
The beginning of a love which would change the course of English history, and shake the foundations of the Church...
The courtier's daughter who captured the heart of a King; Anne Boleyn.
The Lady Anne is book two of Above All Others: The Lady Anne by G.Lawrence.
Gemma Lawrence is an independently published author living in Cornwall in the UK. She studied literature at university says, 'I write mainly Historical Fiction, with an emphasis on the Tudor and Medieval periods and have a particular passion for women of history who inspire me'. Her first book in the Elizabeth of England Chronicles series is The Bastard Princess (The Elizabeth of England Chronicles Book 1).Gemma can be found on Wattpad and Twitter @TudorTweep.
Labels: Book Launch, Historical Fiction Spotlight
Blog Tour Guest Post by Renny de Groot, Author of After Paris
Available on Amazon US and Amazon UK
Liesbeth Zwart forges her identity with courage and aptitude while nursing in France during WW1. As Liesbeth Bos, she feels that identity melting away; the skills she needed as a nurse in Paris are of little use to her as a wife and mother in post-war Netherlands.
"Write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know." Ernest Hemingway gave authors this tip and I've always found it useful. Here's my true sentence: Travel changes a person. I had that assertion confirmed many years ago when I was in Nice, France. I stayed in a seedy hotel called Hotel Darcy where I met four other young people – one other girl and three guys – where we were all bunged in together in one room. After getting over that surprise we all became great friends during the week we were there. Then it ended.
It was Debbie's last night in Nice; a night none of us would ever forget, but we didn't know that when we were eating supper together and trying to coax her into staying another day.
I tugged on her sleeve. "Come on Deb. Just one more night."
She shook her head and drained her glass of wine. "I have to go. I have a ticket to Paris."
Debbie stood and looked around the table. "Are you guys walking me to the station or am I going on my own?"
We almost had to pull Dave to his feet. He sat scowling with his arms crossed.
Debbie looked at her watch. "OK guys. Now I have to run otherwise I'll miss the train." Her smile was gentle as she looked at Dave. "I don't want to say good bye either, but we'll keep in touch."
Dave got up finally as Debbie turned and walked away. He hustled then to catch up. The rest of us followed and left them to their private conversation.
The conductor had blown his whistle already by the time we got to the platform.
"Run Debbie." Dave jogged with her to the edge of the platform, nudging her faster.
The squealing of the train drowned out our chorus of 'good-byes' as Debbie put on an extra burst of speed.
Back then, in the 80's, the doors were still open even as the train began to move. Unheard of now – for excellent reasons.
I remember hearing Liam shout over the noise "Good thing she's got the world's smallest backpack." I smiled as I watched Debbie run alongside the moving train. The nylon pack looked more like something you'd send your child off to her first day of school wearing – not travelling around Europe.
Hands reached out from the train to pull her in.
She leaped.
She fell.
And disappeared.
I ran forward and threw myself down on the platform; my head inches away from the rushing train. I shoved my arms down in the space between the train and the platform and pressed Debbie and the world's smallest backpack against the wall and shouted. "You're going to be fine. Don't move. Just don't move." If the pack had been any bigger, it would already have been caught in the speeding wheels and she would have been gone.
Someone must have pulled the emergency cord in the train because it stopped then, halfway out of the station, but past Debbie. A scream of metal on metal.
Whistles and shouts rang out in the silence of the stopped train and I was vaguely aware of blue uniforms and yelling officials running towards me. I could only look down. I let go and pulled back, afraid to turn her. Afraid to see the blood, or worse, where moments before there had flashed a beautiful California grin.
The guys were around me. Dave in tears. For those endless seconds, no one moved.
And then. "Can someone help me up please?"
Debbie rolled back and then an official was there beside her, lifting her. Giving her back to us.
Debbie missed her train that night. After going to the hospital to get checked out (only cuts and bruises) and being shouted at by several different uniformed people about our stupidity and recklessness, Dave and Debbie splashed out for a fancy hotel.
Yes, travel brings change. In my new novel, After Paris, the protagonist; Liesbeth, is changed forever after her experiences as a nurse in France during WW1 - both by the war, and by travel, which results in her tearing the family apart when she leaves her Dutch homeland to search for a new identity in post-war Canada.
Thanks to Tony Riches for giving me this opportunity to guest post! What is your favourite travel adventure? Share your story with us. I'd love to hear about it!
Renny de Groot
Renny deGroot is a first generation Canadian of Dutch parents. Her debut novel, Family Business, was shortlisted for the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize, 2015. She studied English Literature at Trent University. Her strong Dutch roots continue to influence her while the love of her Canadian homeland with its beauty and freedom, flavours all that she does. Renny lives in rural Ontario with her Great Pyrenees and Chocolate Lab. Find out more ar Renny's website http://rennydegroot.com. You can also find her on Facebook.
To enter the After Paris Blog Tour Giveaway please enter via the Gleam form HERE
- 3 winners will receive a copy of Family Business by Renny deGroot (2015 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize Shortlist)
- 3 winners will receive a copy of the CD Macushla by renown Irish Tenor, Jimmy Carton (features songs from the era in which After Paris takes place)
Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on September 30th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open internationally. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
Labels: Blog Tour, Guest post, Historical Fiction Spotlight
Book Launch ~ Newton and Polly: A Novel of Amazing Grace, by Jody Hedlund
New on Amazon US and Amazon UK
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found…
Now remembered as the author of the world's most famous hymn, in the mid-eighteenth century as England and France stand on the brink of war, John Newton is a young sailor wandering aimlessly through life. His only duty is to report to his ship and avoid disgracing his father—until the night he hears Polly Catlett's enchanting voice, caroling. He's immediately smitten and determined to win her affection.
An intense connection quickly forms between the two, but John's reckless spirit and disregard for the Christian life are concerns for the responsible, devout Polly. When an ill-fated stop at a tavern leaves John imprisoned and bound, Polly must choose to either stand by his side or walk out of his life forever. Will she forfeit her future for the man she loves?
Step back through the pages of history, to uncover the true love story behind a song that continues to stir the hearts and ignite the faith of millions around the globe.
Winner of 2016 Christian Book Award for fiction and Christy Award for historical romance, best-selling author Jody Hedlund writes inspirational historical romances for both youth and adults. Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she's learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!). Find out more at Jody's website http://jodyhedlund.com/ and find her on Twitter @JodyHedlund.
Guest Post: Disappearing Down Rabbit Holes - An Infamous Mistress
Available from Pen & Sword Books
and on Amazon UK and Amazon US
Divorced wife, infamous mistress, prisoner during the French Revolution and the reputed mother of the Prince of Wales' child, notorious courtesan Grace Dalrymple Elliott lived an amazing life in eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century London and Paris
We were delighted when Tony approached us and asked if we would like to write a guest blog about researching and writing our latest book, so here we go with our story.
About a decade ago now, we met via an online genealogy forum, exchanged email addresses, then phone numbers and so began our friendship. As we lived at opposite ends of the country meeting face-to-face in real life was not going to be easy, but we spent many hours on the phone discussing the folk we were both researching and, increasingly, shooting off on tangents (we have always been easily distracted by an interesting story).
Our whole adventure into penning not one but two historical biographies for Pen and Sword Books (with more in the pipeline) came about from an innocent enough question that Jo asked Sarah during a telephone conversation which sent us down something of a research 'rabbit hole'.
"Have you ever heard about the ancestor of the queen who married a gypsy girl?" Goodness only knows now what in our conversation prompted that question, but we were instantly hooked. So, putting aside our joint research into long-dead family members, we instead turned to a particular line of the British royal family's ancestry.
Yes, one of Elizabeth II's ancestors had indeed married, as his first wife, a girl with gypsy blood running through her veins. No-one seemed to have looked at the story in depth before, so we decided to take up the challenge.
The Victorian gentleman who had married the gypsy girl, and who shocked his family in the process, was the Reverend Charles Cavendish Bentinck, nephew to the Duke of Portland. The Reverend Cavendish Bentinck's father, Lord Charles Bentinck, also had a story to tell. He had eloped with Charles' mother, a married woman, in 1815 just a few weeks after the Battle of Waterloo. To make matters worse, the lady in question was the niece of the Duke of Wellington. Needless to say, a scandal ensued.
But then we managed to side-track ourselves once again. Lord Charles Bentinck's first wife had been the daughter of an infamous eighteenth-century courtesan, Grace Dalrymple Elliott, and her father was reputedly the Prince of Wales himself, later King George IV. We couldn't help ourselves and off we disappeared down yet another rabbit hole.
And with that, Grace Dalrymple Elliott took over. She led a fascinating life which quickly captivated us. Married young, she was divorced before she was legally an adult and embarked upon a career as a high-class courtesan, the mistress of an earl, a French duke and a British prince. During the years of the French Revolution Grace remained in Paris, exhibiting a great deal of bravery and operating as a form of spy, later recording her experiences of those years (which were published posthumously). However, much about her life remained unknown.
We approach our research as genealogists first and foremost which pays dividends. It was how we managed, for the first time, to uncover Grace's fascinating maternal relatives (and Grace, we found, can only be truly understood when placed in the context of her family). The discoveries continued; family wills and other documents which had lain undisturbed tumbled out of dusty archive offices into our hands, shedding new light on Grace, her family and the two generations of the Cavendish Bentinck family we were interested in.
We dread to think about how many emails have passed between us over the years. It's how we work, constantly batting ideas and information back and forth and questioning everything. The best emails were always those titled with a very excited 'READ ME NOW!!!' when one of us had just stumbled across some amazing titbit. All our research has been done personally by ourselves. We work well together and the fact that we lived so far apart was not a problem; geographically we were well placed to cover archives all over the country between us, and so much is online these days that it was possible to do an awful lot from the comfort of our own homes.
We now had a wealth of information and were bursting to share it with the world. There was no other option but to set to and put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). Neither of us had written anything before that had been widely published and we found that we wrote in vastly different styles. We settled into our writing routine. Between us we produce a detailed timeline with all our research included and then one of us writes and the other edits and critiques as we go along, a system which seems to work very well for us. To work as co-authors also makes the whole experience, which can be a bit of a solitary one, much more fun.
We started a history blog - All Things Georgian - as a way of getting ourselves into the wider marketplace and were contacted by someone commissioning authors for Pen and Sword Books; 'did we have anything we'd like to consider submitting to them?' Did we! Almost before we knew it, we were fully fledged authors.
Chronologically, Grace's story had to come first, and so An Infamous Mistress: The Life, Loves and Family of the Celebrated Grace Dalrymple Elliott was published in the UK in January 2016. A Right Royal Scandal: Two Marriages That Changed History is due to hit the bookshelves at the end of November 2016, documenting the drama surrounding the elopement of Lord Charles Bentinck with the Duke of Wellington's married niece and continuing the family saga into the next generation to detail the life, and loves, of his son, the Reverend Charles Cavendish Bentinck. The book ends by showing how very different Britain's royal family would look today, were it not for a young gypsy girl and her tragic life.
So many wonderful things have happened to us along the road we have travelled to publication, not least getting to know the highly respected author and historian Hallie Rubenhold with whom we share an interest in Grace Dalrymple Elliott (we met for only the second time in real life in London when we arranged to meet Hallie for a coffee and a chat). Although now living in the same county, old habits die hard and we work as we always have. We continue to bat emails back and forth to one another as we write and research, and spend far too long on the phone!
Sarah Murden and Joanne Major
Sarah and Joanne are genealogists and historians who live in Lincolnshire, England and spend the majority of their lives immersed in both the Georgian and Victorian Eras. They describe themselves as 'history detectives' and aim for all posts on their with our blog to have at least one piece of information that is not already in the public domain. You can find Sarah on Twitter
@sarahmurden and Joanne @joannemajor3.
A Right Royal Scandal is due to be published in November 2016 and is available to pre-order from Pen & Sword, Amazon UK and Amazon US and all good bookshops. It.recounts the fascinating history of the irregular love matches contracted by two successive generations of the Cavendish-Bentinck family, ancestors of the British Royal Family. The first part of this intriguing book looks at the scandal that erupted in Regency London, just months after the Battle of Waterloo, when the widowed Lord Charles Bentinck eloped with the Duke of Wellington's married niece. A messy divorce and a swift marriage followed, complicated by an unseemly tug-of-war over Lord Charles' infant daughter from his first union. Over two decades later and while at Oxford University, Lord Charles' eldest son, known to his family as Charley, fell in love with a beautiful gypsy girl, and secretly married her. He kept this union hidden from his family, in particular his uncle, William Henry Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, 4th Duke of Portland, upon whose patronage he relied. When his alliance was discovered, Charley was cast adrift by his family, with devastating consequences.
Myths in Historical Fiction, By Mark Noce, Author of Between Two Fires
Saxon barbarians threaten to destroy medieval Wales. Lady Branwen becomes Wales' last hope to unite their divided kingdoms when her father betroths her to a powerful Welsh warlord, the Hammer King. But this fledgling alliance is fraught with enemies from within and without as Branwen herself becomes the target of assassinations and courtly intrigue. A young woman in a world of fierce warriors, she seeks to assert her own authority and preserve Wales against the barbarians. But when she falls for a young hedge knight named Artagan her world threatens to tear itself apart. Caught between her duty to her people and her love of a man she cannot have, Branwen must choose whether to preserve her royal marriage or to follow her heart. Somehow she must save her people and remain true to herself, before Saxon invaders and a mysterious traitor try to destroy her.
Thanks for having me over here today, Tony! My debut novel with St. Martin's Press, Between Two Fires, uses a lot of legendary influences even though it's a piece of historical fiction. I've found that when writing about a historical "dark age" in which very little reliable text or even artifacts have survived, myths and folktales have sprung up to fill the gap.
Now of course, these tales must be taken with a grain of salt, but I've found that genuine bits of truth can be gleaned from these ancient tales. They display the way medieval people thought, how they approached religion, and even how they thought someone should behave in varying circumstances. All of this is a potential goldmine to an author writing about a "lost" age in early medieval Wales.
My story doesn't have a Holy Grail or flying dragons, but it does have knights and ladies who would look very familiar to a reader of Arthurian literature. Even myths and legends draw inspiration from everyday life. Various historical warlords and queens were often condensed by storytellers and bards into a single character within an Arthurian lay. This is just one of the many fascinating tidbits of the overall human story that can be inferred from this ancient era.
In Between Two Fires, my main protagonist is Branwen, a sixteen-year-old noble woman who is the daughter of one king and soon set to marry another king. She is not the Branwen of the Mabinogion, but she certainly has some of that great heroine's characteristics. In addition, the few medieval texts that do survive this time period reference occasional queens amongst the Welsh and Cornish who ruled as stoutly as any man.
To me, this is a story just begging to be told. An age when despite the hardships men endured, there were courageous women just as willing to stand beside them and determine the fate of their people. In addition, many elements of Celtic culture lasted well into the Christian era, resulting in nation of people who had been influenced by Rome and the Church, but still adhered to folkways and even the more matriarchal leanings they inherited from their Celtic ancestors.
We can see some of these influences in one of the earliest Arthurian legends to survive, the Tale of Culhwch and Olwen. It's full of supernatural elements, but at its core, it's a romantic quest set against the backdrop of the chaotic 6th and 7th centuries of early medieval Wales. We get a sense for the atmosphere of the place in a way that the modern buildings and expressways of the UK cannot.We see the vast wild forests of the era, the sense of danger just across the border with the Saxons, and the ever-present uncertainty of living in that barbaric time.
Yet people still found time for romance, love, adventure, and all the things that make us human. This for me, is the most essential element that comes through these ancient legends. They give us a sense for what people felt and how they lived in a virtually unrecorded age. They provide a small window into that otherwise unknowable world.
Modern historians don't have much to go on from this era in Wales. In fact, we've even lost some of the names of their kings and kingdoms, let alone any extensive recorded data on the common people. So in addition to reaching out to oral tales and legends, I've found that a certain degree of common sense helps fill the void of missing information. For instance, people still had to eat, raise their children, and find inspiration in their daily lives. By asking ourselves how people would hold on to their humanity in an age of chaos and strife, we reach out for the things that make us human – truly human – in any age or setting.
I hope that you enjoy Between Two Fires, as it has a lot of love and thought that has gone into it. It's available online and in bookstores worldwide now! The sequel is already in the publisher's hands, although we don't have a firm release date yet. It's been a long and fruitful journey composing this first series of historical fiction, and I'm looking forward to many more to come. Thanks for reading!
Mark Noce
Mark Noce writes historical fiction with a passion, and eagerly reads everything from fantasy to literature. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, he's an avid traveler and backpacker, particularly in Europe and North America. He earned his BA and MA from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he also met his beautiful wife. By day, he works as a Technical Writer, having spent much of his career at places like Google and Facebook. In addition to writing novels, he also writes short fiction online. When not reading or writing, he's probably listening to U2, sailing his dad's boat, or gardening with his family. Find out more at Mark's website Marknoce.com and find him on
Facebook and Twitter @MarkNoce.
Praise from Bestselling Authors for Between Two Fires
"A spirited ride through a turbulent slice of Welsh history!" – Paula Brackston, NYT Bestselling author of The Witch's Daughter
"A fast-paced read that has a wonderfully visual style and some memorable characters. Mark Noce combines Welsh history with a touch of folkloric magic in this promising debut novel. Lady Branwen is a strong and engaging narrator and the turbulent setting of early medieval Wales makes a fine backdrop for an action-packed story." – Juliet Marillier, Bestselling author of Daughter of the Forest and Wolfskin
Labels: Guest post, Historical Fiction Spotlight
Book Launch Spotlight: Wynfield's Kingdom: A Tale of the London Slums, by M. J. Neary
Welcome to 1830s Bermondsey, London's most notorious slum, a land of gang wars, freak shows, and home to every depravity known to man. Dr. Thomas Grant, a disgraced physician, adopts Wynfield, a ten-year-old thief savagely battered by a gang leader for insubordination.
The boy grows up to be a slender, idealistic opium addict who worships Victor Hugo. By day he steals and resells guns from a weapons factory. By night he amuses filthy crowds with his adolescent girlfriend—a fragile witch with wolfish eyes. Wynfield senses that he has a purpose outside of his rat-infested kingdom, but he never guesses that he had been selected at birth to topple the British aristocracy.
The only child of classical musicians, Marina Julia Neary spent her early years in Eastern Europe and came to the US at the age of thirteen. Her literary career revolves around depicting military and social disasters, from the Charge of the Light Brigade, to the Irish Famine, to the Easter Rising in Dublin, to the nuclear explosion in Chernobyl some thirty miles away from her home town. Notorious for her abrasive personality and politically incorrect views that make her a persona non grata in most polite circles, Neary explores human suffering through the prism of dark humor, believing that tragedy and comedy go hand in hand. Follow Marina on www.facebook.com/marina.j.neary and Twitter @NearyMJ.
Available for Pre-Order: The Actors' Crucible: Por...
How to be a Tudor: A Dawn-to-Dusk Guide to Everyda...
Historical Fiction Spotlight: The Lady Anne (Above...
Blog Tour Guest Post by Renny de Groot, Author of ...
Book Launch ~ Newton and Polly: A Novel of Amazing...
Guest Post: Disappearing Down Rabbit Holes - An I...
Myths in Historical Fiction, By Mark Noce, Author ...
Book Launch Spotlight: Wynfield's Kingdom: A Tale ...