text:
2018 in Review: Best Ongoing
By Multiversity Staff | December 21st, 2018
Posted in Columns | % Comments
Here it is, the granddaddy of them all. The comics industry is built around ongoing series, and our staff thinks these are the best of the year. Let's get to it!
10. Paper Girls (tie)
'80s nostalgia is still in full force in our popular culture. Some of our throwbacks are nominal, like a just look at this thing that takes place in the '80s. Some are rose-tinted love letters to a dreamed-of era, rather than an experienced one. And some are "Paper Girls." In 2018, the Image series from Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang, all but abandoned its original setting, keeping skipping back and forward in time in this wild adventure. But like the stuff we remember best from our early years, it uses its multiple timelines to explore its characters. We have characters who are suddenly starting to discover themselves while their friends have to deal with their preconceived notions about said identity. We have these teenagers confronting their older selves and being forced to deal with the disappointment of adulthood. All this while also exploring a rise of totalitarianism and "for the good of all"-ism. No doubt this book bites off a lot but Vaughan and Chiang's impeccable balance of theme and entertainment, of spectacle and small character moments, of crazy futures and forgotten pasts, make this a title that stands out year after year. – Matt Garcia
10. Sleepless
The story of Poppy and her Sleepless Knight, Cyrenic, feels like a truly fresh idea, even though it uses a lot of familiar fantasy elements. It's a world where magic may not be in the forefront but is lurking just underneath the surface in the fantastical creatures and the mysterious process The Sleepless go through in order to take their vows. Sarah Vaughn and Leila Del Luca have taken some well-trodden fantasy tropes, and put enough new twists on them to create one of the best fantasy stories in the past few years.
Del Luca and colorist Alissa Sallah's artwork is a major part of the book feeling so fresh. The painterly style makes the images feel straight from an illustrated epic, and the color palette feels exotic. It's clear that this is not just another sword and sandals medieval world. The character artwork is especially effective, doing a lot of the world-building just by character designs. You can feel the strain the Sleepless Knights are under, just by the way they are drawn and colored.
"Sleepless" already feels like something special. In less than a year's worth of issues, the world feels vibrant and lived in, and I'm invested completely in the characters' lives. The series is scheduled to end soon, but I can only hope the creators decide to revisit this world again.- Justin Beeson
9. Monstress
People finally caught onto this book, huh?
The winner of five 2018 Eisner Awards (Best Writer, Best Painter/Multimedia Artist, Best Cover Artist, Best Publication for Teens, Best Continuing Series) alongside Hugo and British Fantasy Awards simultaneously feels like it shot out of a cannon this year and still feels underrated. Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda's work only saw six issues this year but it is surely quality over quantity. The pair have created a world that is unlike anything else going right now and this year's arc, 'Haven,' has only turned the heat up.
I've always had a comparison between "Monsterss" and fellow Image book "Lazarus." Both books created vast and interesting worlds in a short amount of time. However, where "Lazarus" sometimes stumbles is that its protagonist feels like it gets in the way of the interesting bits, but "Monstress" in 2018 really saw Maika be a full part of that world while also allowing for a good bit of development. It saw Maika grow and change, influenced by those she travels with. Something that may have contribute is that Liu tweaked what I found a bit of a flaw in the first two arcs: an overreliance on Maika's internal monologue which would borderline on the repetitive.
What else can truly be said about Sana Takeda's artwork for this book? The woman is turning in the work of her career every issue with extremely detailed, and yet wonderfully smooth painted works. Whether depicting the mundane of city streets to the fantastical of the supernatural forces at work in this world, every bit of it has been rendered to polished sheen and she shows little sign of stopping. To put it simply, no other artist can do the things for "Monstress" that Takeda has been doing. Any other would seem a poor imitator. – Ken Godberson III
Continued below
8. Deathstroke
One of the best calls DC made during Rebirth was handing Christopher Priest the reins to "Deathstroke." When it was announced, I was conflicted at first. On one hand, I've got nothing but the highest respect for Priest. He's an amazing comic book writer, his career spanning back to the 1980s. Priest's original creations Quantum and Woody are around to this day and he blessed us with the definitive run on "Black Panther". On a personal note, as a black comic book reader, black writers and artists have always held a special place in my heart.
On the other hand, it seemed like Priest might have gotten the short end of the stick. During the New 52, "Deathstroke" cycled through two ongoings, neither of which grabbed my attention. As great as he is, I thought that Priest wouldn't be able to do much with the character and DC had made a mistake. Well…turns out, the professional comic book publisher may know better than me now and again. The 2017 Eisner Award Nominee is still firing on all cylinders.
The story has always been a compelling read with intriguing characters. In "Deathstroke," Slade Wilson is fully-formed and three-dimensional. He was abused as a child and is an emotionally distant father. He's haunted by the death of his eldest son who followed in his footsteps. He's made an earnest attempt at redemption only for it to all come crashing down this year. This is the man who would rather punch Batman in the face than he admit he admires the Dark Knight. Deathstroke has been dragged through hell and he's such a mess, he's not making it any easier on himself.
Even though the titular character is the focus, "Deathstroke" is a gripping family drama. Wintergreen is Slade's 'Alfred,' willing to manipulate people and play mastermind to try and get Slade back on the right track. There's Joseph and Rose, who have the expected father issues (you'd be a mess too if you were raised by Slade) and more struggles on top of those. Joseph has struggled with substance abuse and his sexuality while Rose has struggled with her racial identity. These can be tricky topics to navigate, but Priest has done so in a way that feels natural.
The artists that have worked on this title with Priest have all done great work. The title has cycled through Diogenes Neves, Carlo Pagulayan and Fernando Pasarin this year but the art has never suffered. The storytelling has continued to be top-notch as well. This year Deathstroke went from mentor and fledgling hero, crashing back down to mercenary and now he's an Arkham Asylum patient. Right now, Slade is in an unsure position but I like it. I have no idea where Priest will take this title in 2019 but I can't wait. – Michael Govan
7. Royal City
It isn't news that Jeff Lemire is doing great things right now, nor is it news that his more personal stuff tends to resonate better with a lot of folks, myself included. That still didn't prepare me for "Royal City," Jeff's relatively brief, but incredibly emotional and moving meditation of family, death, guilt, and moving on. The second year of the series took some real storytelling risks and leaps, and led to one of the most satisfying and earned endings of a series in recent memory.
Though Lemire had originally planned a much longer series, 14 issues proved to be the right length for this story, and the final three issues serve as a masterclass for how to bring a story together for a conclusion, without tying up every single loose end or cutting off the possibility of more down the road. But even if this is the last we ever see of the Pike family, Lemire's lovingly crafted, utterly relatable story will stand as one of the most honest and moving comics in recent memory. – Brian Salvatore
6. Saga
Ever since Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples's "Saga" emerged on the comics scene in 2012, it's remained one of the most consistent and emotional series available. This year's arc provided some of the series' most shocking moments to date. Unfortunately, when the last issue of the arc came out, it was announced that the series will be on hiatus until at least next July, so if you're not reading this series, now is the perfect time to catch up, just be sure to buckle up for one heck of a ride.
Over the years, Brian K. Vaughan has built a strong contingent of diverse and interesting characters for the series and in this year's issues, we see our group of heroes altogether, and, for a brief moment at least, there's hope for them. As we've come to learn with this series, hope is always bittersweet because tragedy is likely to follow and Vaughan continues in this vein to deliver some of the most heartbreaking twists the series has seen.
Fiona Staples continues to present the wild and ever changing landscapes and the creatures that inhabit them with ease. Take the Mustached Kingfish that bursts out of the water in issue #51 for example. Staples blurring of pastel colors on the Kingfish instils it with wonder that we can understand Doff's desperation to chase after it to take a picture. As well as excelling in bringing the fantastical to life, Staples always grounds the book through the distinctly human emotions the characters express, even if some of them are robots. It speaks volumes for an artist when a writer is able to leave the finale of an arc almost without dialogue, like Vaughan does here, and Staples delivers an issue that will leave you shell shocked. Once you recover, you'll be left desperately waiting for the hiatus to be over. – Luke Cornelius
5. The Wild Storm
DC has a handful of titles that are some of the best books on store shelves today, but for my money "The Wild Storm" is the best. This was the year for the series which paid off huge plot threads and retained the excellent creative team of writer Warren Ellis and artist Jon Davis-Hunt. Ellis and Davis-Hunt have been slowly building a new vision for "The Wild Storm" universe and carefully laying in a huge supporting cast while building towards a sci-fi war.
Everything in "The Wild Storm" feels like it is meticulously planned out and detailed. As a result, readers had to give the series a lot of breathing room before the true pay-off came in some of the Thunderbook issues of the series over the past few months. These Thunderbook scenes introducing Jon Lynch contained some of the pulse-pounding action sequences from this year. The creative team's dedication to experimentation in the medium of comics has turned artist Jon Davis-Hunt into one of my favorite new talents working at DC.
Each issue with a Thunderbook plot thread hosted some of the craziest, off-the-wall action sequences modern comics can hope to deliver. Ellis cuts the lion share of the dialogue in these big action moments and allows for Davis-Hunt's art to control the pace of the story. Whenever the dialogue stops, readers anticipate some kind of horrible violent sequence to push the medium of comics forward. Every single month when I pick up the title and see the pacing start to slow down, I anticipate Ellis and Davis-Hunt to deliver a solid 'oh shit' moment.
On top of the wonderful action sequences, Ellis has been building up the forces behind Skywatch and I.O. for a considerable amount of time. This series is about the war between the two factions and the most recent installment teased an impending resolution. Introducing so many characters and paying off previous plot threads is leading me to believe that the upcoming installments in 2019 are going to put this series right back on the 'best of' list come next year.
It seems like a title like this should be an afterthought. There should be a great superhero, sci-fi drama with a huge group of cast members going for a really slow burn, but few titles out there are willing to take such a big risk. Right now "The Wild Storm" is at an all-time peak level of quality and if you haven't caught up, reading the book in a collected format is going to be incredibly satisfying. The scripts in the series are great, but readers owe it to themselves to see the wonderful collaboration Ellis has with Jon Davis-Hunt who is not getting the recognition he deserves for his tremendous talent. – Alexander Jones
4. Justice League
There seems to be two essential ways of looking at the "Justice League" series: either as a way to showcase less-known characters on different lenses, or to reaffirm a core group of heroes in the largest adventures possible. It is then, perhaps, the union of these two approaches that makes the current run on "Justice League" so remarkable. While it surely presents some of the main, most powerful character the DC Universe has to offer, it also serves as the primary connective tissue among that sandbox. For the same entertainment readers obtain from seeing Superman and Batman act truly as the world's finest, it also includes Firestorm, Adam Strange, Starman, among others. At times, it feels like a Mission: Impossible of comics, with individual skills, powers and personalities being pulled in.
Beyond that initial groundwork, Justice League also succeeds due to the opposition of themes and world views among justice and doom, across the power of doing what is right, versus the acceptance of man's ultimate negative influence. Put in the spotlight by focusing on Martian Manhunter (probably the main stalwart of the League) versus Lex Luthor (the seminal super-villain and leader of the Legion of Doom), this battle of wits is at the core of the book. And still, despite this serious undertone, it can still present levity, often feeling like an updated "Challenge of the Superfriends," retold for a modern audience with a modern sensibility.
Scott Snyder, with some contributions on key issues by James Tynion IV, repurposed the "Justice League" to be the central hub of the DC Universe; quite literally when factoring their new Hall of Justice. His scripts are larger than life, fast-paced and inventive, with stakes always at an always time high. With a roster of artists that comprise some of the medium's best (Jim Cheung, Francis Manapul, Jorge Jimenez, Howard Porter), "Justice League" is often mesmerising to look at, unafraid of presenting the depths of the ocean, the dangers of outer space and anything in between. It is an exciting and dangerous time for these heroes… and for their readers alike. – Gustavo Lodi
3. Black Hammer
On the surface "Black Hammer" is a love letter to the Golden Age of Comics. Scratch away at that cover and you quickly realize that it is just a small part of the equation. This series has always been a multi-faceted creative outlet for writer Jeff Lemire to express plethora of characters and ideas he loves to see in comics. Lemire has populated this world with the full gambit of comic book characters and settings. If you are familiar with basically anything from DC or Marvel Comics, an homage or spoof of it has shown up in this series. That being said, don't pick up this book for your kids. Classic superhero and whiz-bang sci-fi serial styles aside, this book tackles adult themes and ideas that are either too mature for little ones or will just go completely unappreciated.
The entire series has been a bit of a mystery from the start with Lemire expanding and rearranging the type of story he is telling, even breaking the rules of this world and even how creators typically write comics, specifically superhero comics. This has been most evident in the current arc from this past year. Titled 'Age of Doom,' there have been huge reveals and true emotion on display in every issue. It is one of the best science fiction stories and character studies hitting shelves right now. This chapter has challenged everything we thought we knew about this series; tearing it down to its foundation and saying, to both the characters and the reader, "Everything you know is wrong. How are you going to deal with it?"
Outstanding writing aside, equally integral to what makes this series a success is Dean Ormston's artwork. Gritty and, at times, really creepy, it blends the styles in which it, somehow, comfortably sits. The worlds of Golden Age Superheroes and 1950s sci-fi/horror. Exceptionally textured and detailed, it his some of his finest work in comics. His work is subtle and some of it can go unnoticed at first glance, but his understated genius is in every panel. His pencils are so gorgeous that they could be published as is and the book would still be an outstanding accomplishment. However, rounding out the dream team is the one and only Dave Stewart. One of the best colorists in the history of this industry, his work on this book is so beautifully layered and represents the blending of eras and styles that make up this series. When the work of these two artists come together the result is nothing short of a stellar gift to comic book readers everywhere.
If you haven't read this series yet, go back to the beginning and buckle up for the ride. In its two short years there have been twenty-two issues in the main series and the world has been expanded into multiple miniseries spin-offs with fifteen issues already released throughout those with many more on the way. Since its debut in 2016 it has been nominated for eight Eisner Awards, winning two in 2017, and it is a crime that it has not won more. While I have never been disappointed by a Jeff Lemire creation, "Black Hammer" is not only one of the best comics on his resume, it is one of the best series currently going right now, and truly one of the most important books out there; specifically in terms of what can be done with this medium in the right hands. That is why it is my choice for Best Ongoing Series of 2018. – Chris Egan
2. Giant Days
It's hard to sell people on John Allison and Max Sarin's "Giant Days" being one of the year's best ongoing comics without having them read it first, to experience it directly. One of the big arcs for the year was Ed and Nina getting together, trying to move on from his crush on Esther, but that seems so small when other comics boast arcs about the end of the world or interplanetary battles—but then the arcs aren't what make "Giant Days" so great. It's not about what happens, but how we feel about what happens—it's about the characters and simply living with them issue after issue. When I'm asked about "Giant Days," there's only one way I can describe it that feels in any way authentic—it's like hanging out with my friends. You'll fall in love with Esther, Susan, and Daisy, and that's what makes it such a great ongoing series. We don't read to watch the latest drama unfold, but rather to experience it alongside them. We become the invisible and silent fourth member of this trio.
In terms of format, "Giant Days" is the perfect ongoing series. Unlike so many ongoings, which are divided into discrete arcs, in "Giant Days" each arc rolls into the next, the division between virtually non-existent. Reading month by month is incredibly easy, with very little momentum lost in the pause between issues. Reading the collections is even easier. (I get swept up, finishing a hardcover and immediately picking up the next.)
Allison and Sarin both have the ability to create something beyond what's literally on the page. This ability is key to bringing such vivid life to "Giant Days." Allison's words evoke voices so clearly and with such precision—Esther's lines are distinctively hers, not Susan's or Daisy's. And Sarin's art evokes movement and sound—she makes us feel the way Susan moves and how different she is from Daisy or Esther. Daisy, who's so eager to stay out of everyone's way, to bend over backwards to keep others happy, always keeps her elbows tucked into her sides, taking up as little space as possible… until emotionally she comes undone in some way and suddenly the elbows fly loose. Like the best comics, there's life conjured in the mind of the reader in the space between panels. It engages the senses beyond just the purely visual. It's why the cast of "Giant Days" feel alive beyond what's on the page. It's why the arcs matter, not because of what happens, but who they're happening to—someone we care about and want to be there for.
Whether it be highs or lows, the good times or the bad, "Giant Days" is a book you'll want to get lost in (and return to again and again) simply to spend time with your comicbook friends. ― Mark Tweedale
1. The Immortal Hulk
It was easy to be skeptical of "Immortal Hulk." I mean sure, Al Ewing writes like red hot fire and Joe Bennett with the roaring green flames of a gamma bomb detonation. But did "Hulk" need a new hook? Was a vague handwavy retcon really going to be the thing that woke the Green Goliath from his sleepy stupor? The answer to those questions ended up being no, but Al Ewing and Joe Bennett still completely refreshed one of Marvel's oldest series. More than that, they did it by looking backwards and making the old feel new again.
Where characters like Spider-Man and the Fantastic 4 felt new and fresh when they debuted in the 60s, the Hulk was more of a throwback. He was a literary throwback to Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde, but he was also a throwback the moralizing horror comics of the 40s. Ewing and Bennett took that format, grabbed some influence from the 1977 TV show, and made something that still felt modern and essential. Every issue Bruce Banner arrives in a new place. Oftentimes he dies. But every night he rises up again as a monster and wreaks terrible vengeance on the deserving.
The "Immortal Hulk" series is often disturbing. It's got some genuinely shocking instances of body horror, and every town Bruce visits is hiding a dark secret. But it also turns superhero storytelling completely on its ear. This isn't the sort of light, quippy team-up you'll see in the MCU. It's not the kind of multi-part sagas you'd find in other Marvel comics. It's a stranger beast than that. It feels literary in a way few superhero comics have felt this year. It feels mythic. But it never loses its easy accessibility.
Compounding this achievement is how deeply drenched in Marvel lore the series is. Where most of Marvel's books are happy to endlessly reboot and jettison story baggage, Al Ewing don't play like that. He finds ways to make the smallest parts of Marvel continuity essential to the story without asking for any prior knowledge. Did you know Alpha Flight hero Sasquatch was Bruce Banner's college roommate? You'll know all about it after issue #5. Do you know about Bruce's abusive childhood and his dad's transformation into the "Devil Hulk?" If not, the series has got you covered. Rather than look at previous issues as an unfortunate challenge to overcome, Ewing writes series as if they are part of a continuous narrative. Can you imagine that?
For all these reasons and more, "Immortal Hulk" is our number one series of 2018. Superhero books have tried to figure out how they relate toe movie and TV properties, how they relate to their own histories, how they relate to each other. "Immortal Hulk" flips the table and smashes the board. Here's a comic book that doesn't care what anyone else is doing, doesn't care what sells. It's bold, fearless, and a little scary, just like its title character. – Jake Hill
Editors' Notes:
Brian: I have never read an issue of "The Immortal Hulk," yet between Jake's write up and the overwhelming victory the book earned here (besting its closest competitors by over 20 points), it looks like I've got some catching up to do. I dig this list's scope, and I think that, in terms of the monthly comics grind, this is fairly representative as to what is going on right now.
Matt: I agree. It's easy to get cynical about the state of the Direct Market but these are some great representations about what makes this area of comics so fun. Of why we keep coming back to it. Of what it can offer as a medium and an art form. From capes to time-jumpers, from far flung galaxies to the backyard, I think these titles are strong representations of what long, multi-arced stories can accomplish. Though I've also never read a single issue of "Immortal Hulk."
In Memoriam: Margot Kidder
My Comics Year: How I Learned to Appreciate European Graphic Novels
2016 in Review: Best Publisher
2018 in Review: Best Original Graphic Novel
//TAGS | 2018 Year in Review
Multiversity Staff
We are the Multiversity Staff, and we love you very much.
Multiversity's New Year's Resolutions for 2019
By Multiversity Staff | Jan 1, 2019 | Columns
2019 is here and, while it is really just a somewhat arbitrary demarcation of time, it is a chance for new starts, the dropping of bad habits, and the start of new projects. We asked our staff what they're going to do differently, comics wise, in 2019. Or, at least what they'll try to do […]
In Memoriam: Celebrating Stan Lee's Finest Work
By Brian Salvatore | Dec 31, 2018 | Columns
Earlier this year, in what can hardly be understated, the comics world changed forever when Stan Lee died. Love him or hate him, Lee was able to change comics forever a few times over, and made himself something akin to the mascot of comics for the outside world. He was the only comics creator most […]
By Liz Farrell | Dec 31, 2018 | Columns
Space. The possibilities are unimaginable. Theoretical physics and pop culture. It seems there is very little, really basically nothing, that joins these two, but there is a man that spent a good part of his life involved in both: Stephen Hawking. Maybe he spent more time with theoretical physics, but bear with me here. To […]


text:
66 reg plate launch: the cars to look out for
Are you in the market for a new car? With the 66 reg plate released on September 1st, you're not alone, as thousands of motorists try to get their hands on the latest models.
To make sure you don't get overwhelmed by the wide choice on offer, here are the three cars which deserve your attention:
In September, say hello to…the Fiat Tipo
Type of car: Family car
Why it's likely to be popular: The whole family will love the Fiat Tipo. Released in September and available as a hatchback and an estate, the Tipo boasts five seats which offers enough space to accommodate a quintet of adults comfortably. There's also five doors for ease of access.
Worried about luggage space? You needn't be anxious, as the hatchback version has 420 litres of boot space and the estate variant boasts 520 litres.
Despite all this space, the 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel engine helps the car deliver in excess of 70mpg.
In October, say hello to…the Ford Ka+
Type of car: City car
Why it's likely to be popular: What can we expect from the Ford Ka+, the third-generation model of the Ford Ka?
One of the first things you'll notice is that it now has five doors — drivers have become accustomed to the Ka only packing three doors as standard.
Don't panic though, as the Ka+ is still compact enough to get around a city centre's tight corners and busy streets with ease.
In fact, by featuring five doors, the Ford Ka+ is able to introduce electric rear windows as standard. There's also stylish specifying alloy wheels and air conditioning as standard.
All of this for a car that will be sold at prices starting at £8,995, though keep an eye on Motorparks' new Ford range hub for unmissable deals as the October release of the Ka+ creeps closer.
In November, say hello to…the Alfa Romeo Giulia
Type of car: Company car
Why it's likely to be popular: The release of the Alfa Romeo Giulia will represent the iconic Italian car manufacturer's return to the executive saloon sector.
Fortunately, there will be plenty to enable the Giulia to prove a worthy rival to the likes of the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Jaguar XE and the Mercedes C-Class.
The car will immediately capture attention with its luxurious design, while in the cabin, drivers will be greeted with a raft of hi-tech equipment.
Tax-free motoring is another appealing aspect of the Giulia, which is made possible by the fact that its 2.2-litre diesel engine will be capable of keeping the car's CO2 emissions to under 100g/km.
Sep 1, 2016 Iain Ronayne
Ford EcoSport Launch
Reminiscing about plate change days gone by
New Ford Focus – official launch
Exchange and Mart 2010 top ten most searched for cars
Plate change mundanity
Plate change madness still continues
The price of car ownership across the globethe 5 major myths of the motorway
The best family cars on the market
3rd best-selling car of all time and best ever selling French car, Renault 4, celebrates 50th anniversary
Iain Ronayne
4 years ago	Blog, Consumer218

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Elaborating on his majestic tiger experience in Ranthambore National Park, Rahul Jain elaborates on his 1 Night 2 Day journey to Rajasthan. He booked his package via TravelTriangle and it included his hotel and transfers all for a cost of INR 4,200. Let us see what he has to share.
Wanting to see the tigers in their full glory – without the cages, my wife and I decided to visit Ranthambore, for we knew it would offer us the wildlife experience we were wishing for.
TravelTriangle was recommended to me by my brother-in-law who had previously booked his honeymoon package through them. So after filling in my requirements and choosing the best quote from 'DeeJohn Holidays India Tour', I was sorted when it came to the package for our trip to Ranthambore.
We boarded our train to Ranthambore from Delhi (Nizamuddin Railway Station) in the morning and reached there by 4 PM. Initially scheduled to reach by 1, we got late because of a 3-hour delay due to the fog. And so after checking into the hotel – 'Ranthambore Heritage Haveli', we decided to relax and stay there since it was too late for any sightseeing.
Our Jungle Safari was planned for 7 in the morning and true to the commitment, we were picked up from the hotel and taken to the magnificent jungle. It was a refreshing experience to ride through the forest in the morning as everything was calm and peaceful. Unfortunately, we could not see the tigers for they were in a different zone at that time.
However, we did not lose hope and booked another 'Jungle Safari' for 2 PM. Meanwhile, we also visited the Ranthambore Fort and it was a good experience if not great – for I had seen better ones during my other journeys.
Our second 'Jungle Safari' from 2-5 PM was the one that was handled by the local guide and driver. They followed a route where tiger sightings had been observed and true to their judgment, we could finally witness the royal beasts. It was an exhilarating moment for us to stand 10 feet away from them without any protection and see them in their full glory. Apart from the tigers, we also saw the Sambar Deer – which was as big as a horse, the common 'Spotted deer', and various monkeys.
Later back to the hotel, after relaxing for a while, we set off for our train back to Delhi.
Ranthambore was a short and enjoyable trip for us. It offered us a great wildlife experience and my wife and I both were ecstatic at having fulfilled our wish to see the tigers. We loved the forest, the wildlife, and the overall Rajasthani ambience.
High Points – Wildlife in Ranthambore forests especially the Tigers and Sambar deer.
Low Points – The website through which we had booked our morning safari had no real time info or suggestions about spotting the tigers.
Tips for future travelers – When going for the jungle safari, it is best to take advice from the local guides and the drivers for they have a real time idea of where the tigers would be.
Have an adventure with tigers! Book your package to Ranthambore and explore wildlife like never before!


text:
Home » Blog » Country Music News » Meet the Music City Cast
Meet the Music City Cast
The cast for CMT's new docu-series Music City, the latest project from The Hills and Laguna Beach founder Adam DiVello, has been announced. The series premiere is March 1 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The show will follow five friends as they enter the next chapter of their lives while navigating their paths to success, fame…
Previous: Country Music Singer Kimberly Yoakum To Perform at Space Coast Seafood & Music Festival
Next: Dierks Bentley: The Drifter Has a Home


Tsai, M.-H., & Lin, Y.-W. (Accepted). The immediate and retained learning effects of child-centered play therapy training with college students in Taiwan on attitude, knowledge, and skills. Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling.
Muro, J. H., Stickley, V. K., Muro, L., Blanco, P. J., & Tsai, M.-H. (2015). Considerations for elementary schools and university collaborations: A guide to implementing counseling research. The Journal of Research Administration, 46(1), 102-117.
Tsai, M.-H. (2016, May). The effect of play therapy training with college counseling students in Taiwan. 2016 4th International Symposium on Education, Psychology, and Social Science, Osaka, Japan.
Su, S-H., & Tsai, M.-H. (2014, October). The Impact of Group Play Therapy on New Immigrant Children Who Exhibiting Interpersonal Relationship Concerns in Taiwan. 31th International Annual Association for Play Therapy conference, Houston, TX, U.S.
Tsai, M.-H. & Ray, D. (2010, March). Children in Therapy: Evaluation of University-Based Play Therapy Clinical Services. 17th Annual Texas Association of Play Therapy Conference, Houston, TX, U.S.
Blanco, P., Tsai, M.-H., & Bratton, S. (2009, October). Applying Research with Children: A Guide to Assist Counselor Educators Conducting Collaborative Research with Children in Schools. International Annual Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, San Diego, CA, U.S.
Ray, D., Holliman, R., Tsai, M.-H., & Blanco, P. (2009, October). Effective Play Therapy Methods for Preadolescents/Adolescents. 26th International Annual Association for Play Therapy conference, Atlanta, GA, U.S.
Tsai, M.-H. (2009, January). Implementing Research in University-Based Counseling Clinic: Counselor Education, Clinical Supervision, and Research Incorporation. Texas Association of Counselor Education and Supervision Mid-Winter Conference, Austin, TX, U.S.
Ray, D., Tsai, M.-H., & Blanco, P. (2008, April). Adapting Play Therapy for Preadolescents. 15th Annual Texas Association of Play Therapy Conference, Dallas, TX, U.S.
Blanco, P., & Tsai, M.-H. (2008, February). Implementing Research in Elementary Schools: A Guide to University and School District Collaboration. Texas Association of Counselor Education and Supervision Mid-Winter Conference, Austin, TX, U.S.
Flahive, M. W., & Tsai, M.-H. (2007, November). Kneeling Down to Children's World: Incorporating Child Development Concepts in Children Counseling. 51stTexas Counseling Association Professional Growth Conference, Corpus Christi, TX, U.S.
Flahive, M. W., & Tsai, M.-H. (2007, March). Understanding and Facilitating Children's Healing Process through Their Play and Art Works. 14th Annual Texas Association of Play Therapy Conference, El Paso, TX, U.S.


text:
Endangered Republicans keeping distance from Trump
May 3, 2020 admin Analysis and Opinions 0
As the president's numbers slip, Republicans are recalibrating their strategy for winning in tough times.
by Josh Kraushaar
At the end of a recent column, I argued that the odds of a Democratic blowout in this November's election were now as likely as a Trump victory. It offered a warning that the political map has dramatically changed since the pandemic began, and that congressional Republicans can't rely on the same assumptions that drove their thinking for the last year.
Here are some staples of the GOP's pre-pandemic thinking:
Republicans should embrace the president at all costs, even in swing states where his job approval is underwater.
It's more important to rally the base than persuade swing suburbanites.
With Republicans defending most of their Senate seats in Trump territory, simply holding the president's voters would be adequate to maintain Mitch McConnell's majority.
Here's what I'm hearing from smart GOP strategists now: Republicans should be talking about their work to help their communities in the wake of the pandemic, and avoid referencing Trump's role in managing the crisis. To win battleground Senate seats that are looking more tenuous, it will be crucial to maintain support from some Trump-skeptical independents. If Trump's political condition doesn't improve by the fall, prepare to talk about keeping the Senate as a check against Democratic power, even if it means acknowledging the presidency is likely lost.
"The Republican argument could pivot: If you don't like Trump, you also don't want to give Democrats the keys to the kingdom. You've got to put a check on Biden," said former Republican congressman Tom Davis. "You can't let them control everything. That's a tenable argument for independent voters."
Driving this subdued pragmatism are Trump's sliding poll numbers across the country, particularly in GOP-leaning states that once looked safely in the president's column. Trump, who is planning to visit Arizona and Ohio as part of his first trip outside Washington since the pandemic hit, is now playing political defense in states he comfortably carried in 2016. Trump won Ohio by eight points in 2016, and the state wasn't considered a leading battleground for 2020. Both parties view Arizona as highly competitive, but the state hasn't voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1996.
A new slate of reputable red-state polls released this week will raise further alarm at the White House, where the president has already been fuming over his declining numbers. A survey commissioned by Georgia House Republicans painted a grim picture across the state for the entire party. Trump only led Biden by one point in the survey, 45 to 44 percent, well within the margin of error. Biden leads Trump by 15 points among independent voters in the state, and by a whopping 43 points among moderates.
Equally worrisome for Republicans are signs that Trump's problems are affecting downballot GOP candidates. Sen. David Perdue only polled at 45 percent in the Georgia survey, leading Democrat Jon Ossoff by a mere six points. Perdue's race has been seen as an afterthought, compared to the state's higher-profile Senate special election in November. In the special election, appointed Sen. Kelly Loeffler holds a dismal 20-47 favorability rating, and is at risk of not making the expected runoff. (The silver lining for Republicans: GOP Rep. Doug Collins is viewed much more favorably, and would start out as the favorite in a runoff.)
In Texas, a state that the president should have locked down, a recent poll conducted for the Texas Tribune shows a surprisingly competitive race. Trump leads Biden by five points, 49 to 44 percent, holding a mere 49 percent job approval rating in a reliably Republican bastion. Trump's saving grace is that Biden looks even less popular in the red state, with a net -16 favorability rating (35-51).
And in North Carolina, poll after poll paints a challenging picture for Republicans. Four separate statewide polls conducted in the last two weeks all show Biden holding leads ranging from three to seven points. This state is the most consequential of all the battlegrounds, since it features a bellwether Senate race that's likely to determine which party controls the upper chamber. Republican strategists tracking the race believe that Trump needs to carry the state for Sen. Thom Tillis to win; they're skeptical that the freshman senator can run ahead of the president.
The question of whether most Republican candidates are capable of running ahead of Trump will soon become more urgent—especially if the president's popularity continues to sag. With Trump's approval remaining rock-solid among Republicans—not to mention Trump's political team warning candidates to stick with the president at all costs—vulnerable members don't have many good options. Damned if they stick with Trump, damned if they don't.
But some campaigns are starting to experiment with a third way, avoiding polarizing national issues in favor of reminders about their constituent services in a time of crisis. Arizona Sen. Martha McSally is out with a new ad touting her personal work to help her state during the crisis, featuring video of her donating blood and volunteering at a local food bank. Tillis is reminding North Carolinians that he voted for the bipartisan coronavirus aid package. McConnell is promoting his experience working with both Republican and Democratic presidents to pass pivotal legislation, branding himself as an effective Washington insider in turbulent times.
Trump isn't mentioned at all in the McSally and Tillis ads and is only seen briefly in the one-minute McConnell spot. The senators' earlier campaign ads made Trump the centerpiece of their campaign messaging.
"The good thing about Senate races is they're big enough to be their own thing. If you work hard enough you can create the circumstances of your own campaign," said Billy Piper, a former chief of staff to McConnell. "Good campaigns can win in bad years. Bad campaigns can lose in good years. It's up to the individual campaign to define their opponent and themselves, regardless of what the overall environment is going to be."
Josh Kraushaar is the political editor for National Journal, and pens the weekly "Against the Grain" column.
A message from President George W. Bush: A Call to Unite
My immigrant parents lost their jobs, but the CARES Act won't help mixed-status families like mine
The Party of the Aggrieved
by Peter Wehner
An important breakthrough for Hispanic voters
by Jennifer Rubin
The G.O.P. Rejects Conservatism


View 205 Project Accountant job vacancies in locations throughout the UK and Europe. See job descriptions and salary details for job vacancies with leading employers, from large international corporations to small and medium sized local businesses.
Project Accountants enjoy the variety involved in working on a project or a number of projects for companies or organisations. The nature of the role means that many Project Accountants work as contractors, although large organisations have in house Project Accountants.
Project Accountants work on project teams and produce the financial accounts for these projects, managing costs to ensure that they stay on budget. Project accountants may also be involved in the implementation of new financial systems and processes.
Providing financial support and advice to project teams and managers.
Preparing regular project management accounts with particular focus on costs.
Analysing and reporting upon project KPIs.
Managing and minimising project risk.
Providing financial information and advice to aid decision making.
Project Accountants must enjoy working in a variety of locations and with a variety of colleagues, including many non financial managers.
Project Accountants are usually part or fully qualified accountants, having studied with one of the major accounting institutions.
£45-50,000 per annum for a qualified (ACA, ACCA, ACMA) Project Accountant working for a global company in the City of London.
£50-55,000 per annum for a Finance Project Manager working for a large services group in Cheltenham.
£250-350 per day for a qualified (ACA, ACCA, ACMA) Project Accountant working on a temporary contract for a telecommunications company in London.
£45-50,000 per annum for a qualified (CCAB) Project Accountant working for a leading national housing agency in London.
Are you a Project Accountant? Would you like to contribute to our "Day in the Life of..." series? Email us at info@topfinancialjobs.co.uk for more details.


Our U16's beat Diss on Thursday 14th March to take them through to the final against Wymondham College.
A group of our Year 12 and Year 13 students took part in the national competition ARTiculation run by The Roche Court Educational Trust. Each student built an insightful research project based on their own artistic interest and gave a presentation on this work to a panel of judges.
This year 14 students travelled with Ms Billin, Mr Seymour and Mr Cole to Italy to enjoy the challenge of skiing and snowboarding. The beginners group took to the slopes like professionals and really put in every effort to progress as fast as they could.
This March saw the third in our Sixth Form and Staff Giant Book Swap events, providing the great gift of some spectacular reading hours for everyone who took part!.
This year saw the launch of the innovative Attleborough Sixth Form volunteering programme, which aims to educate our young people on being part of a society and to show them the importance of 'giving back' to the community of people that make up our wider world.
On Friday 4 January 2019, we had the pleasure of welcoming back our Year 13 2018 cohort to celebrate their great successes during our Annual Sixth Form Presentation Evening.
On Wednesday 5 December, we were honoured to welcome a very special guest, the internationally renowned opera singer Soeun Jeon, to Attleborough Academy's annual Presentation Evening.
On Wednesday 5th December, we celebrated the achievements of Attleborough Academy students with our Annual Presentation Evening. The guest speaker was Robert Jones, a former pupil who is now Chief Superintendent, police Commander for Westminster, Hammersmith, Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea.
Yet again this year, our Sixth Form Presidential Team coordinated another wonderful fundraising effort in aid of the 2018 Children In Need appeal.
Following the recent AAN Parent Academy Council Member election, three nominations have been received and therefore, it will now be necessary to hold a ballot.
Congratulations to the U16 Netball Team and their coach Mrs Sparrow for successfully qualifying for the Regional Final! In the eleven years Mrs Sparrow has taught here, the teams have come close on many occasions but this is the first time that the team has made it to County level.
At the end of the Summer Term, the Sixth Form English A Level students moving from Year 12 to Year 13 in September benefitted from a visit to London's Globe to witness a production of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale.
In September 1993, Attleborough High School welcomed a newly qualified Science teacher - Sam Webb, later to become Sam French - who had just qualified from Bath College.
"The students of Attleborough Academy have participated in key events of remembrance in the community. On October 19th, the Royal British Legion's Commemoration of World War 1 was supported by the Academy's Head Girl, Head Boy, and our House Captains.
Sixth Form Sociology and Psychology students experienced a question and answer session with a visiting politician in order to gain further insight into the workings of our government and responses to key social issues.
At the start of this term, we were privileged to welcome R G Carter in once more to work with our new Year 12 students.
We had the pleasure of welcoming young entrepreneur Kieran Miles to our academy when he came to give a presentation to our Sixth Form students.
This term saw the new team of Sixth Form Presidents taking up their role after a rigorous selection process. This year, the Presidential team is made up of twelve students and is led by Lead Presidents Esther Collier and Kit Neil.
In July, the Sixth Form Class of 2018 celebrated the end of their A-Levels in style at the Sixth Form Formal, organised by the Presidential Team, with great support from Mr Nevard.
Attleborough Academy Year 11 Prom 2018 was an incredible occasion, with students and staff excelling themselves this year in the preparation and delivery of this wonderful evening.
Friday 22nd June 2018 may be "National Bring Your Dog to Work Day" but at Attleborough Academy every day is a 'dog in at work day'. Over the last eighteen months the Academy has had unusual enrolments in terms of students; Jessie, Kesha, Kiera, Rashi and Daisy are all dogs.
In June Maths teacher Mr Needs took four Attleborough Academy students to the UEA for the prestigious annual Year 8 Maths Challenge. This year the competition involved 30 schools from Norfolk.
This term class 7B3 have had a superb opportunity for active learning by spending time in the wonderful Attleborough Academy garden.
Our Year 13 students made sure it was a day to remember when they said goodbye to Attleborough Academy on their last official day of Secondary education.
This year the AAN Netball teams have gone from strength to strength with the Year 9 girls going through to the final of their South Norfolk A League. Sadly the girls had a narrow loss to Wymondham High.
Our Year 7 Girls were the League Winners!!!!
Congratulations to our Year 13 Drama students who gave wonderful performances to enthralled audiences on two occasions this term.
This year a fantastic £175.69 was raised in a day for Sports' Relief. Amid the balloons and stickers provided by Mr Nevard in the Sixth Form block to advertise the event, Sixth Formers fundraised with collections and sales throughout the day.
On Wednesday 21st March we welcomed 25 businesses, colleges and training providers to our annual Careers Fair.
We are always looking to extend our students' knowledge and understanding of workplaces to prepare themselves for future employment. In March 2018 our Sixth Formers were taken on a visit to the new R G Carter site in Attleborough.
The Schools Council and Peer Mentors represented the Academy as Attleborough celebrated Common wealth Day on the 12th March.
We were honoured to receive a donation for £6,000 for our library from the estate of the school's first headteacher, Mr Jeffrey Blagg.
In January we were proud to welcome back all our former Year 13 students for our Annual Sixth Form Presentation Evening.
On the 8th December we held the first Attleborough Academy Sixth Form & Staff Giant Bookswap.
In December we had the pleasure of celebrating another year of outstanding achievement at the Attleborough Academy Annual Presentation Evening. 2017.
This term Attleborough Academy Sixth Form donated a cheque for £580 to the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Fundraising fever hit Attleborough Academy on Friday 17 November as the entire school community joined together to raise money for Children in Need.
Congratulations to Ellis, James, Jacob and Harvey who represented Attleborough Academy at this year's Kids Lit Quiz, an international literature competition for young people aged 10-13 years. The Norfolk heat took place at Dereham Neatherd High School on 16th November.
Many thanks to Mrs. Foker who very kindly donated the entire works of Charles Dickens to the AAN Library. Along with accompanying material, they will provide a wonderful resource for our students.
Attleborough Academy Norfolk students Nathan Talbot and Callum Bonner each created two fantastic dishes, and gained invaluable experience, when they took part the local heat of the Springboard Future Chef competition held at City College Norwich.
On the first day of term, we provided a range of activities to welcome and prepare our new Year 12s for life as a Sixth Form student at our academy.
In November, four of our Sixth Form students attended the launch of the 2017-18 Norfolk Higher Education Scheme at County Hall, accompanied by Mr Nevard.
Part of the alternative provision given by the SEND department is a garden club, which makes great use of the wonderful academy garden behind the David Bartram building. So far this year the SEND garden has been very bountiful. In September we began by picking our runner bean crop.
68% of AAN students achieved a 9-4 in both English and Mathematics compared to the Norfolk average of 62%.
On Saturday the 8th of July, Attleborough Academy celebrated the 50th anniversary of secondary education at the school. Former and current members of staff were invited to afternoon tea and a celebratory fly past.
In June 2017 a group of year 7-9 students travelled to Paris to visit sights they have learned about in their French lessons. The group travelled by coach and ferry and spent 3 days exploring the city and surrounding area.
We were very proud to award our second batch of Pixl Apprentice Level awards this term. The award recognizes achievements in Leadership, Organisation, Resilience, Initiative and Communication and students must achieve credits in all five characteristics to graduate with their Apprentice Level.
Pledge Week 2017 started on a roll with a trip to Eaton & Otley College. Student in year 8 and 9 visited the college for a whole day to experience the range of activities available there.
A huge crowd of well-wishers turned out for the Attleborough Academy Prom to witness the Year 11 students' arrivals onto the red carpet. The evening is a celebration of the students' five years at the Academy and the end of their GCSEs.
Year 11 students at Attleborough celebrated their Leavers' Day on Wednesday 21 June. It was the perfect way to celebrate the end of a long and intense exam season, for which the students had put in lots of revision and hard work.
Professional footballer Danny Wright, who attended Attleborough High School as a student, returned to pay a visit to his educational roots. Danny is currently centre-forward for Cheltenham Town and recently scored the goal that kept them in the Football League.
Attleborough Academy 7EB1 English class were very pleased this month to each receive a personal letter from students from Ambler School in London.
On Tuesday 6th June 2017, two scientists from the University of East Anglia visited some Year 8-10 science lessons in an event, organised by Dr Sophia Elias, entitled Pint of Science: Why Haven't We Cured Cancer Yet?
On their last official day at Attleborough Academy, our 2016-2017 Year 13 students made a tremendous effort dressing up for the occasion and ensured it was a day they would remember for the rest of their lives.
Bringing trained/vetted dogs into schools to act as companions for students to read to is an increasingly popular way of developing a calm and non-judgmental environment in which to promote learning and literacy, as well as positive behaviour and wellbeing.
Much fun was had and money raised for Comic Relief with a number of activities on Red Nose Day 2017.
On 14th March, all year 9 and 10 students took part in our Annual Careers fair. Stands from over 30 local and national businesses were set up in the sports hall and students were given the opportunity to find out more about the careers routes open to them.
On 10th March 45 year7 girls visited Kidzania in London as part of our Careers and IAG provision. The trip was scheduled to recognize International Women's day and inspire the girls to the potential range of future careers they could one day pursue.
A former Attleborough student who is now a full-time athlete with Team GB has become a sporting ambassador, helping to inspire future generations to take part in sport.
To reflect the communal spirit of Attleborough, the schools of the town joined together to witness the Commonwealth flag raising ceremony in Queens Square on Monday 13 March.
On 17 January, ten Year 8 students from Attleborough were given the opportunity to visit Cambridge University and experience what it would be like to learn languages there.
Callum Williams, an officer with Cunard Cruise Line, is currently Reception Manager on RMS Queen Victoria.
On Tuesday 21 February, Year 12 and 13 A Level Biology students visited London Zoo and attended a lecture at the ZSL meeting rooms in the evening as part of their studies on Biodiversity and Conservation.
Ten of Attleborough Academy's science sixth formers (accompanied by Mr Seymour, Mrs Edwards and Dr Elias) went on a visit to UEA to go to a lecture on antibiotics in animals and nature, by Professor Matt Hutchings.
Sainsbury's Active Kids is back.
Attleborough Academy was proud to welcome Attleborough students, parents and staff for the Sixth Form Presentation Evening held to honour the achievement of the 2016 Year 13 group. The students had come from their universities or workplaces from all over the country, to join the celebrations.
Sam Clemmett, star of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, works with Attleborough Academy Year 10 and Year 12 Drama Students.
AAN would like to say thank you to all those parents and carers and members of the local community who have collected Sainsburys Active Kids Vouchers for the Academy.
At Attleborough Academy Norfolk, we are working in partnership with Norfolk Constabulary and Norfolk Children's Services to identify and provide appropriate support to students who have experienced domestic violence in their household; this scheme is called Operation Encompass.
On Friday 18 November 2016, Attleborough Academy joined the rest of the nation in an attempt to raise as much money as possible for Children in Need.
From September we have introduced a completely new course programme for Sixth Form students: the A2A course. This year we have fifteen students who enrolled on this programme, part of which entails a full day a week of work experience throughout the academic year.
In a bid to raise money for Children in Need, on Friday 18 November, AAN Sixth Form staff and students took part in the Mannequin Challenge.
It was with great pleasure that students in Years 10 to 13 and the History department welcomed to the Academy Mrs Janine Webber on 8 November.
This year's GCSE results were up again with results on the new national headline measure of '% of students achieving A*-C in English and Mathematics' at 64%.
Congratulations to all of our students on your A Level and AS results today!
Attleborough Academy Norfolk has been nominated for another National Award! We are one of five schools in the country who have been shortlisted for the Outstanding Progress - Secondary School Award in the 2016 Education Business Awards taking place in London on Wednesday 13 July 2016.
The draft Attleborough Neighbourhood Plan is now complete and available to view.
Come and see the fantastic work produced by this year's A-Level Product Design cohort. It will be located in the Main Hall from 4pm until 7pm.
On Monday 20th of July, the year 11s officially left the Academy after 5 years of study and the completion of their GCSEs. Although many of them will be returning to pursue their sixth form studies, for a few of them it would be a goodbye.
The sun had been booked, the costumes hired, and the mood was that peculiarly subtle blend of anticipation mixed with sadness, nostalgia and excitement. It meant only one thing – 27 May had arrived, the final day that the Year 13s would be students.
The Annual Year 8 Inter-School Maths Quiz was held on 16 June 2016.
Attleborough Academy took part in this Maths quiz, designed for Year 8 students, at the UEA in Norwich. The quiz has been running for 35 years and this year, 19 teams from across Norfolk and North Suffolk took part.
Attleborough Academy Norfolk has been nationally recognised for its exceptional 2015 performance.
It is a big year for English Literature, with the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death being marked this April.
Welcome to the new and improved Attleborough Academy website.
Congratulations to all our talented Product Design students in the Sixth Form who showcased their final year projects at their Product Design Exhibition.
Please find below information provided by the Bus companies for pick up times for the repeat bus services on Thursday.
It has been an incredible results day at Attleborough Academy, with some stellar individual achievements and brilliant all-round performance. We welcomed ITV's Good Morning Britain today to watch as some of our students opened their envelopes.
A huge well done to all of our A Level students on their results. This year shows a significant increase for the Academy in the overall pass rate and increases on all other measures. Congratulations to our Y13 students almost all of whom have secured their first choice University place.
The Summer 2015 issue of Academy Times is out now! This bumper issue for the last term looks back of some of the highlights of what has been a bust year for the Academy.
You can view the magazine below.
This year saw the launch of Community, Volunteering and Charities week, and on Saturday 27 June we opened for a Summer Fete.
The spring 2015 issue of Academy Times is out now. This special edition includes many of the moving tributes paid to Mr Bartram who sadly passed away in October.


Final 2 Days! Fantasy & Science-Fiction Network's Year's BlockBuster Book Sale | Sally Ember, Ed.D.
12/30/2015 by Sally Ember, Ed.D.
Two more days to load gifts into people's ereaders! #Free and 99-cent sci-fi and fantasy stories and entire books available! Celebrate the New Year and cuddle up through winter weather with BOOKS!
Find your favorite writers of Fantasy & Science-Fiction and new authors! Sale includes children's, ebooks, paperbacks, short stories, audio books on sale, all rated G, PG, PG-13!
20% off on the first or any of the three or all three paperbacks in The Spanners Series! Save $3.60 – $11.60!
EBOOK is permafree. Links: http://www.sallyember.com/Spanners Look right; scroll down.
EBOOK is $3.99 Links: http://www.sallyember.com/Spanners Look right; scroll down.
http://www.sallyember.com for book trailers, author interviews, excerpts, blurbs, more!
All from by Sally Ember, Ed.D.
This entry was posted in Indie or Self-Publishing, Marketing, Science Fiction and Fantasy, The Spanners, This Changes Everything, This Changes My Family and My Life Forever, This Is/Is Not the Way I Want Things to Change, Timult Books, Volume I of The Spanners, Volume II of The Spanners, Volume III and tagged books, coupon, CreateSpace, December, Discount, Discount coupon, fantasy, Fantasy & Science-Fiction Network, free, Sale, Sally Ember Ed.D Author, scifi, The Spanners Series, Year's End Blockbuster Sale. Bookmark the permalink.
← Why do I Torment Myself with Sappy Movies in December?


The NFL is finalizing plans to insert custom-made data chips into the game balls used in the 2016 preseason and Thursday night regular-season games, a league source said Sunday night.
The data would be used for research that could spark significant changes in officiating, kicking and other areas as soon as the 2017 season.
The Toronto Sun reported earlier Sunday that the league would use chips in K-balls to help determine the potential impact of narrowing the goalposts sometime in the future.
The data will tell the league how close each kick comes to the uprights and thus help project how many additional kicks would be missed if the uprights were closer together.
The NFL added a level of difficulty to extra points last season, pushing them back to a 33-yard kick, and saw a modest reduction in conversion rates.
Field goals, however, continued to hover at historic levels. In 2015, NFL place-kickers made 84.5 percent of field goal attempts -- the second-best rate in league history.
But the chip program appears to have a larger intent than simply research for kickers.
All 32 NFL teams were recently informed of plans to use a chip-equipped ball for all plays based in part on feedback from a number of veteran quarterbacks. They were asked to ensure that the chip-equipped football felt similar to the traditional football and that it did not act differently in the air.
For years, the NFL has been investigating the possibility of using chips in footballs to help improve the inexact science of ball placement.
Officials put the ball at the spot they believe it hits when the runner is ruled down. A chip could provide a more precise location on plays near the first-down marker. It could also help officials determine when and if the ball crossed the goal line.
Research to this point had suggested that chips were unreliable when the ball is buried in a pile of players.
For the past two years, NFL players and officials have worn RFID chips to track their location and exertion levels, among other data sets.