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We Find Ourselves in the Sea: Review of The Ones We're Meant to Find (Blog Tour)
Blog Tours · Reviews · Uncategorized
May 1, 2021 January 30, 2022 Umairah @ Sereadipity6 Comments
Hello! Today I am so excited to bring my stop on the blog tour for The Ones We're Meant to Find by Joan He as I'm a member of her street team (Hesina's Imperial Court)! For more information check out the launch post here!
Thank you to Roaring Brook Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Book: The Ones We're Meant to Find
*Click here for all the buy links*
Author: Joan He
Summary (click for dropdown)
One of the most twisty, surprising, engaging page-turner YAs you'll read this year—We Were Liars meets Black Mirror, with a dash of Studio Ghibli.
Cee has been trapped on an abandoned island for three years without any recollection of how she arrived, or memories from her life prior. All she knows is that somewhere out there, beyond the horizon, she has a sister named Kay. Determined to find her, Cee devotes her days to building a boat from junk parts scavenged inland, doing everything in her power to survive until the day she gets off the island and reunites with her sister.
In a world apart, 16-year-old STEM prodigy Kasey Mizuhara is also living a life of isolation. The eco-city she calls home is one of eight levitating around the world, built for people who protected the planet―and now need protecting from it. With natural disasters on the rise due to climate change, eco-cities provide clean air, water, and shelter. Their residents, in exchange, must spend at least a third of their time in stasis pods, conducting business virtually whenever possible to reduce their environmental footprint. While Kasey, an introvert and loner, doesn't mind the lifestyle, her sister Celia hated it. Popular and lovable, Celia much preferred the outside world. But no one could have predicted that Celia would take a boat out to sea, never to return.
Now it's been three months since Celia's disappearance, and Kasey has given up hope. Logic says that her sister must be dead. But as the public decries her stance, she starts to second guess herself and decides to retrace Celia's last steps. Where they'll lead her, she does not know. Her sister was full of secrets. But Kasey has a secret of her own.
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Overall: 4.5/5
The Ones We're Meant to Find was an atmospheric and twisty read that brought together science fiction and climate fiction in a dystopian world– with Studio Ghibli vibes for extra spice.
Reading this book was a unique experience that had its ups and downs and at the end I felt a strange mix of awe, poignancy and bewilderment that left me mulling over the story for days afterwards. The Ones We're Meant to Find is something special, the sort of book that stays with you, lingering in the corners of your mind. I don't think I was as emotionally invested as I wanted to be but I appreciated the depth and scope of the story, the nuanced characters and subversion of the usual tropes.
At the beginning of the book I was very, very confused and had no idea what was going on but as I progressed I realised that was how I was supposed to feel. The book is structured in a way that confuses you in the start as you grapple to understand this ravaged dystopian world and the characters' places in it and there is a distinct sense that something is not right but as a reader you lack the necessary information to know what that something is.
As the book progresses you are gradually given the puzzle pieces and there was a point where I had a giant OHH! moment because I finally had enough pieces to make sense of it all. If you don't like books that have convoluted plots and never spell anything out explicitly to the reader then this is definitely not for you. But I would also say if you start reading and feel disheartened because you don't understand what is happening I would advise you to keep going because it all comes together eventually and it does so beautifully.
"Alone is an island. It's an uncrossable sea, being too far from another soul, whereas lonely is being too close, in the same house yet separated by walls because we choose to be"
The story focused on Cee and Kasey and switched between their vastly different perspectives. Cee was passionate, lively and determined and her chapters were full of hope and pain and longing. On the other hand, Kasey was a genius who was logical and very emotionally detached. She often wondered why she was different to everyone else, why she felt less, reacted less, became less attached to others… felt less human.
I loved how He emphasised the contrast between them by writing Cee's perspective in the first person and Kasey's in the third. Cee was likeable in a very conventional way that I think most people would relate to but Kasey's character was refreshing and different to what we normally see in YA fiction. She wasn't what anyone would usually describe as likeable but I think a lot of people will be able too see themselves in her too.
The book was set in an Earth poisoned by humans beyond repair and plagued with extreme weather and devastating natural disasters, the only refuge being eco cities that floated in the sky. The book questioned if humanity deserved to be saved if it had brought its own demise upon itself. If it was more important to live freely or live in a way that preserved our planet. If it was fair that innocent people had to suffer for the destructive, polluting acts of others. It served as a chilling reminder that our greed and unsustainable lifestyles are pushing the planet over the brink.
At a personal level, the book explored the bond between two sisters that not even the ocean or hundreds of years could sever. The relationship between Kasey and her sister was rocky at times and they had very different perspectives on life but I loved how their unconditional love for each other shone through with every decision they made.
There is so much more that I want to say about this book that I can't in this review because it would spoil the most important parts. The best way to go into the book is with absolutely no idea what it's about beyond the little information provided in the summary so that the plot twists and turns have the maximum impact. The Ones We're Meant to Find is a story brimming with profound emotion that spills over the pages, straight into your heart. I definitely recommend it!
Joan He was born and raised in Philadelphia but still will, on occasion, lose her way. At a young age, she received classical instruction in oil painting before discovering that storytelling was her favorite form of expression. She studied Psychology and East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Pennsylvania and currently writes from a desk overlooking the Delaware River. Descendant of the Crane is her debut young adult fantasy. Her next novel, The Ones We're Meant to Find, will be forthcoming from Macmillan on May 4th, 2021.
Tiffany | Sara | Carina | Anthony
Chloe | Avery | Jenni
Lauren | Bella | Charvi
Iza | Shenwei | Ace
Stella | Lexie | Kristi | Finn
Umairah(me!!!) | Justice
Sarah | Fin | Ming
Julith | Cathy | Adrienne | Victoria
Leeann | Isabelle | Asher
Trinity | Jenna | Jasmin
Katie | Sophie | Ceillie
Althea | Lili | Alessa | Paola
What did you think of The Ones We're Meant to Find? What are your favourite climate fiction books? Let me know in the comments!
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Blog Tour: Crowning Soul by Sahira Javaid
Blog Tours · Uncategorized
September 6, 2020 January 30, 2022 Umairah @ Sereadipity1 Comment
Hello booksicles! Today I bring you my stop on the Crowning Soul blog tour (hosted by Qamar Blog Tours) with some information about the book and mood boards!
Title: Crowning Soul
Author: Sahira Javaid
Genre: YA Fantasy
Be swept away in this unique fantasy debut from Sahira Javaid. A spellbinding adventure of belonging, finding hope and where the price of a soul is another soul's fate. Perfect for the fans of InuYasha, Children of Blood and Bone and The Candle and The Flame.
Nezha Zaman considers her gift to control fire a dangerous secret. A secret that unravels when she encounters a vengeful shadow jinni in a maze garden that has been stalking her family, and knows about her power.
Weeks after seeing the demonic being, Nezha is torn from her world through her backyard pond and transported into another dimension which sought out the light inside her heart.
Nezha learns from two unicorns that the dimension is her family's roots, and the light is a fragment of an angel's shattered soul. The three must work together to find the soul's shards in a land teeming with shape-shifting jinn.
If Nezha fails to stop the corrupted Iron Prince, the malevolent jinn at his side will shatter her soul next.
Mood boards:
Here are the mood boards I made inspired by the book! They are based on three of the main characters: Nezha, Sapphire and Thunderbolt.
Sahira Javaid is a YA Fantasy writer and poetess from Ottawa who shares her poems on her Twitter page and her website. Fond of animals, nature and learning, she passes time with reading about the world around her, nature's healing ways, chatting with friends and making others smile and laugh every time she gets. Her poetry book Crack of Dawn is available on Amazon and other online retailers.
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Thank you to Qamar Blog Tours for making this possible!
We Cheat Death: Review of Dangerous Remedy (Blog Tour)
August 18, 2020 January 30, 2022 Umairah @ Sereadipity2 Comments
Thank you to Zephyr for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Book: Dangerous Remedy
The first in a dazzling, commercial, historical adventure series set in the extravagant and deadly world of the French Revolution. A whirlwind of action, science and magic reveals, with a diverse cast of fearless heroines, a band of rebels like no other.
Camille, a revolutionary's daughter, leads a band of outcasts – a runaway girl, a deserter, an aristocrat in hiding. As the Battalion des Mortes they cheat death, saving those about to meet a bloody end at the blade of Madame La Guillotine. But their latest rescue is not what she seems. The girl's no aristocrat, but her dark and disturbing powers means both the Royalists and the Revolutionaries want her. But who and what is she?
In a fast and furious story full of the glamour and excesses, intrigue and deception of these dangerous days, no one can be trusted, everyone is to be feared. As Camille learns the truth, she's forced to choose between loyalty to those she loves and the future.
Author: Kat Dunn
Content Warnings: violence, death, execution, human experimentation
Writing: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Dangerous Remedy was an action packed read best summed up as queer Stranger Things meets Frankenstein during the French Revolution. It was a fun, enjoyable and quick read that I'd definitely recommend although I lacked the emotional investment that might have increased my rating.
I loved the fast pace of the story that still kept the balance between dynamic, dramatic scenes and quieter ones. The tight structure of the book was held together with short chapters ending on cliffhangers that compelled me to keep reading (I was so grateful for the short chapters, the number of books I've read recently with massive chapters is quite honestly draining). The plot twists were exciting although I saw a few coming and I also loved how the ending gave me closure while leaving enough loose ends to make me want to read the next book.
Camille was the protagonist one of the POV characters. Although personally, I didn't find her to be the most likeable character she was still really interesting to read about and had admirable qualities. However, I was confused as to why the other characters in the book were all either in love with or really fond of her… I didn't understand what there was to like. But I think that was the thing about Camille, she had a sense of purpose and drive that drew people in and made them forget about everything else. There were several mentions in the book of her having 'weak lungs' although it didn't go into detail. I haven't seen another book of this genre featuring a character with any sort of health issue before.
As I said, Camille did have admirable qualities. She had a burning desire to bring about justice and 'do the right thing' (even if she didn't always know what that was) and she was a versatile, strong and pragmatic leader not afraid to resort to intimidation or violence to achieve her goals. The main reason I didn't like her was that she had serious communication issues when it came to her personal relationships, I wished she would just sit and talk things out instead of avoiding it.
Ada was the other POV character and she was amazing. She was a smart and curious scientist and I loved to see it. I felt so angry for her not being able to go to university because she was a woman. I liked how she was kind, brave and a surprisingly good actress, making people see only what she wanted them to.
I liked her relationship with Camille and how their soft, romantic moments broke up the action. There were times when I wished Ada would set more boundaries with her but she loved her so much that she excused everything. But on the other hand, no relationship is perfect and the way they always chose each other despite their differences was lovely.
Olympe was a girl with supernatural powers after being subject to human experimentation (slightly similar to Eleven from Stranger Things). She didn't have as much of an active role in the story, there times when I wished I could read a chapter from her perspective. I did like how we see her dealing with her trauma and slowly coming into her own. I also liked Guillaume, the calm, principled and wise big brother figure full of philosophic advice. And Al was a snarky character who pretended to be self serving but I always felt like he secretly cared about everyone the most. I really liked his friendship with Ada, it was unexpected.
In general, the battalion were so lovable, Dunn definitely pulled off the found family trope- I loved their camaraderie and banter! In terms of diversity, both Ada and Guillaume were POC, Camille was bisexual, Ada was lesbian and Al was gay. I loved how they made a group where they accepted each other without question, even if the wider society didn't.
Dangerous Remedy was a high-octane read set to the historical backdrop of the French Revolution that I enjoyed very much and I can't wait to read the next book.
Have you read Dangerous Remedy? Are you planning on reading it? What are your favourite books with the found family trope? Let me know in the comments!
Sereadipity Interviews… Sara B. Larson! (Sisters of Shadow and Light Blog Tour)
Blog Tours · Interviews · Uncategorized
November 9, 2019 February 20, 2020 Umairah @ Sereadipity2 Comments
Hello my booksicles!
It's been a while but I'm finally dragging myself out of my blogging slump starting with this Fantastic Flying Book Club tour for Sisters of Shadow and Light. My stop is a video interview with the author, Sara B. Larson. The scheduled date was November 5th but due to technical difficulties surrounding the video, that date wasn't possible but it's fixed now so without further ado let's get going!
Book: Sisters of Shadow and Light
Author: Sara B. Larson
Release Date: November 5th 2019
From the acclaimed author of DEFY, Sara B. Larson, SISTERS OF SHADOW
AND LIGHT is a timeless and fantastical tale of sisterly love and powerful
"The night my sister was born, the stars died and were reborn in her eyes…".
Zuhra and Inara have grown up in the Citadel of the Paladins, an abandoned fortress
where legendary, magical warriors once lived before disappearing from the
world―including their Paladin father the night Inara was born.
On that same night, a massive, magical hedge grew and imprisoned them within the
citadel. Inara inherited their father's Paladin power; her eyes glow blue and she is
able to make plants grow at unbelievable rates, but she has been trapped in her own
mind because of a "roar" that drowns everything else out―leaving Zuhra virtually
alone with their emotionally broken human mother.
For fifteen years they have lived, trapped in the citadel, with little contact from the
outside world…until the day a stranger passes through the hedge, and everything
changes.
Book links:
Goodreads | Amazon |B&N | Bookdepository (CD) |Kobo
Video interview:
I sent off a few questions about the book and Sara was kind enough to answer them by video! She even got her son involved!
Click here to watch the video interview!
Sara B. Larson is the best-selling and critically acclaimed author of the YA fantasy DEFY trilogy (DEFY, IGNITE, and ENDURE) and the DARK BREAKS THE DAWN duology. Her next YA fantasy, SISTERS OF SHADOW AND LIGHT, comes out November 5th from Tor Teen. She can't remember a time when she didn't write books—although she now uses a computer instead of a Little Mermaid notebook. Sara lives in Utah with her husband, their four children, and their Maltese, Loki. She writes in brief snippets throughout the day and the quiet hours when most people are sleeping. Her husband claims she should have a degree in "the art of multitasking." When she's not mothering or writing, you can often find her at the gym repenting for her sugar addiction.
Goodreads | Website | Twitter |Facebook |Pinterest |Youtube |Instagram
Thank you to the FFBC for choosing me for this tour and thank you so much to Sara Larson for taking the time to answer my questions!
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7 Books About Royalty (Kingdom Cold Blog Tour)
Blog Tours · Discussion Posts · Uncategorized
September 26, 2019 June 24, 2020 Umairah @ Sereadipity4 Comments
Hello my bookish barnacles! Welcome to my second stop on the Kingdom Cold Blog Tour where I talk about seven amazing books about royalty. If there's one thing that Kingdom Cold has a lot of it's kings, queens, princesses and princes so if you like these books, Kingdom Cold is for you!
Title: Kingdom Cold
Author: Brittni Chenelle
Publisher: Self-published
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Attempted murder, that's how sixteen-year-old Princess Charlotte's engagement starts. It seems like the only thing she has in common with Prince Young of Vires is their mutual discontent. When her kingdom's attacked, Charlotte's parents renegotiate her hand in marriage to a handsome stranger with a sinister plan. With the people Charlotte loves dying around her, and her kingdom's future at stake, the only person she can turn to is the prince she betrayed. But, should she save her kingdom or her heart? One must fall.
Amazon |Goodreads
My own quote graphics:
7 Books About Royalty:
(1) The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas:
This series is about a queen trying to take back her kingdom from the people who stole it from her and it's full of royalty. Throughout the series we see both Aelin and also Dorian develop from quite immature, carefree princesses and princes to wise, just queens and kings.
(2) Descendant of the Crane by Joan He:
Descendant of the Crane is a brilliant Chinese-inspired fantasy about a smart and cunning princess called Yan Hesina who embraced her role as queen when her father died so that she could discover his murderer. It is a fantastic read full of mystery and court intrigue! Read my review here.
(3) The Beholder by Anna Bright:
An alternate history novel where Selah, the Seneschal-elect of Potomac, went on a voyage to visit various princes and choose a suitor to marry. It is a light read that I would recommend to romance fans or people who love fairy tales. Read my review here.
(4) We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal:
We Hunt the Flame is set in a world inspired by ancient Arabia and it was about a hunter called Zafira and a prince called Nasir go on a quest to save their world from an ancient evil. It is worth a read for anyone looking for a diverse fantasy. Read my review here.
(5) The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty:
This book is set in 18th century Cairo and it's not about human royalty but djinn royalty who lived in the magical city of Daevabad. Full of scheming, betrayals, and rich world building, The City of Brass was a book about royalty with a fresh twist. Read my review here.
(6) And I Darken by Kiersten White:
And I Darken is one of my favourite books and it is a reimagined historical story based on Vlad the Impaler. Lada Dragwlya did not fit into the stereotype of a princess in her time. She was unapologetically brutal and ruthless and her only goal was exacting her vengeance and reclaiming her homeland, Wallachia, for her own. This book isn't just a book about royalty but a book about a girl trying to make her place in a world where every single person was against her and where she had to fight twice and hard and be twice as cruel to get what she wanted.
(7) The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh:
This was a retelling of the classical One Thousand and One Nights tale where a girl, Shahrzad, had to tell the Caliph of Khorasan, Khalid, stories every night so that he wouldn't kill her by morning. It was a cleverly-crafted story with multi-faceted characters and a gripping plot.
Brittni Chenelle currently lives in Seoul, Korea, which inspires her multicultural fantasy books. Her favourite genres to read and write are young adult fantasy, young adult romance, fairytale retellings, and young adult dystopian novels. She's very passionate about equal representation and makes a point to include characters from different backgrounds and cultures in her fantasy stories. Here are five fun facts about Brittni:
She lives in South Korea. It's true. She does most of her updates in the morning or at night to account for the time difference. She also infuses most of her novels with her observations about Korean culture.
She's a Type 1 Diabetic. She uses an insulin pump for survival and refers to her diabetes as "Beetie" which is what inspired her children's book "Life with Beetie". When she wants something from her parents she tells them, "My Beetie hurts." It's a trick that has never failed her.
She doesn't really BELIEVE in fiction. Despite all the; Dragons, Elves, and Magic present in her novel "Involuted the Tale of the Red Ribbon Tree", Brittni INSISTS that it's a true story.
She's OBSESSED with dark chocolate. She made me put that in and would also like me to inform you (on an unrelated note) that her birthday is in May.
Sorry guys, she's married. If you ask her, she'll tell you her husband saved her life but every time someone asks "how?" she gives a different reason. I've overheard her give about 4 different reasons, but I bet she has more. He must be an amazing guy.
Author website (and newsletter) |Blog |Goodreads |Instagram |Facebook |Twitter
Blog Tour Schedule:
Thank you to Caffeine Book Tours for choosing me to do this tour!
What are your favourite books about royalty? Let me know in the comments!
Sereadipity Interviews… Brittni Chenelle! (Kingdom Cold Blog Tour)
September 26, 2019 February 20, 2020 Umairah @ Sereadipity2 Comments
Hello my bookish butterflies! Welcome to my first stop on the Kingdom Cold Blog Tour where I interview Brittni Chenelle about her book, Kingdom Cold.
What was the initial inspiration behind Kingdom Cold and how did your ideas change and develop whilst writing the book?
I think when I first started I knew I wanted to do an arranged marriage story but I kind of discovered the rest as I went. Luckily by books 2 and 3, I had a clearer idea of where it was going. I remember this one critical moment in the process when I realized I had the perfect opportunity to add a third POV but I was afraid because I planned on having only two. I ended up with 8 by the end of the series and I'm so happy I was brave enough to try it.
Which character to you most relate to and why?
Kingdom Cold is made up of morally gray characters. It's easy to relate to because everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. The characters are the best and worst that humanity has to offer so I'm not sure I can pick just one.
Why do you think it's important for there to be more books with diverse representation?
I don't think it's important, I think it's essential. There are heroes from every culture, customs worth exploring, and other battles worth facing–ones that have yet to see the light of day. At times, the world feels so divided and unfair but fiction can be whatever we want it to be. Why not diverse?
If you had to pick three Kingdom Cold characters to go on a road trip with who would you pick and why?
Merlin, Minseo, and Leon probably. Merlin is the coolest character ever. She's so strong and her magic so beautiful that I'd hardly notice the other two. Minseo because… well… for eye candy and the bard because he seems like the most fun.
Which books and authors do you think have influenced your writing?
Everyone. I read any fantasy I can get my hands on and I always feel so impressed and try to learn as much as possible.
What are your future writing projects and aspirations as an author?
My short term goals are to finish my new Academy Series, called The Fae & The Fallen, by the end of this year, as well as release a Greek Mythology novel that I'm co-writing and a surprise short story for Halloween. Long term I'd like to publish 12 books per year moving forward. Ultimately I'd like to see one of my stories turned into a Netflix movie or show. I think that would be really fun because I'd be partially responsible for improving representation in multiple industries.
Thank you so much to Caffeine Book Tours for choosing me to do this tour!
Review: Smoke and Key | Blog Tour
April 3, 2019 April 3, 2019 Umairah @ Sereadipity3 Comments
Hello bookdragons! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Smoke and Key by Kelsey Sutton hosted by YA Bound Book Tours.
Book: Smoke and Key
Author: Kelsey Sutton
Release Date: April 2nd 2019
Publisher: Entangled Teen
A sound awakens her. There's darkness all around. And then she's falling…
She has no idea who or where she is. Or why she's dead. The only clue to her identity hangs around her neck: a single rusted key. This is how she and the others receive their names—from whatever belongings they had when they fell out of their graves. Under is a place of dirt and secrets, and Key is determined to discover the truth of her past in order to escape it.
She needs help, but who can she trust? Ribbon seems content in Under, uninterested in finding answers. Doll's silence hints at deep sorrow, which could be why she doesn't utter a word. There's Smoke, the boy with a fierceness that rivals even the living. And Journal, who stays apart from everyone else. Key's instincts tell her there is something remarkable about each of them, even if she can't remember why.
Smoke and Key was a creepy yet intriguing novel that captivated me from the very first sentence.
The book was about a girl who was dead but fell down from her grave into a mysterious world called 'Under'. She didn't know why she was there, she didn't have any memories of her life before Under and she couldn't even remember her own name. The only possession she had on her was a key, so she called herself Key. All the other residents of Under were named after the possessions they had when they fell such as Journal, Smoke, Doll, Ribbon and Tintype. All the people were in semi-decomposed states and their skin had a greyish tint as if they had already started to rot before they fell, however, Key was oddly preserved. No one could remember anything, just like Key but then a series of brutal murders started and Key's memories started to return.
Key was a pretty good character and it's interesting how she reacted to the memories that she remembered and the shame she felt even though she was technically the same person she had been before. Her relationship with Smoke was intriguing as we got to see it unravel in the past and in the present even though the romance was probably a bit too forced. I liked how her friendship with Journal developed as well.
The thing I loved the most was how the tension and the sense of mystery were built up throughout the novel as we learnt more about the eerie world of Under and those who lived there. For some reason, I kept imagining all of the characters like ones from a Tim Burton movie! However, even though the tension was gradually rising it still felt like not that much really happened in the book overall and there was probably a bit of filler that could have been taken out
The book was mainly about the extent of the damage that hate and jealousy can cause and how it can easily get out of control. The plot might sound a bit odd but the ideas were very original in the best possible way. There is definitely buckets of imagination behind it. I thought it was a really fun yet macabre read and I think more people should give it a go!
Thank you to Entangled Teen and Kelsey Sutton for providing me with a digital arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Kelsey Sutton is a young adult and middle grade author. She lives in Minnesota, where she received a dual bachelor's degree in English and Creative Writing from Bemidji State University. She will soon have a master's degree from Hamline University. Her work has received an Independent Publisher Book Award, an IndieFab Award, and was selected as a Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of 2013. When not writing, Kelsey can be found watching too much Netflix, ordering a mocha at the nearest coffee shop, or browsing a bookstore. You can visit her online at her website, like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter or Instagram.
Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook
Link to Giveaway
Blog Tour Organized By:
YA Bound Book Tours
Blog tour: All We Can See or Seem & A Dream Within a Dream | Promo Post
March 27, 2019 March 26, 2019 Umairah @ Sereadipity3 Comments
Hello everyone! Today I'm doing a promo post for my stop on a blog tour for a duology of two books called All We Can See or Seem and A Dream Within a Dream.
Book One: All That We See or Seem
Author: Kristina Bahr
Genre: YA Dark Fairy Tale
Release Date: May 2018
Publisher: Uncommon Universes Press LLC
Every night, seventeen-year-old Reeve Lennox finds herself under a noose.
By day she is a lady of Acarsaid's royal house, daydreaming of adventure and love. But every night in sleep
she wanders through a nightmarish city, an invisible witness to the screeches of monsters and the screams of their victims.
Her only consolation is Bran, a battle-torn young man with a selfless heart and eyes that reflect the stars.
Yet while Reeve falls deeper into her dreams, in truth she is engaged to Arden, a mercurial nobleman who has long been cured of his belief in love and breathes fire and flattery like other people breathe air.
Torn between two lives, Reeve struggles to remember what's real, until night and day collide, with a revelation that threatens all of Acarsaid.
Book Two: A Dream Within a Dream
Author: Kristina Mahr
Release Date: March 2019
Invisible to the man she loves, Reeve Lennox fights to reclaim him from a dark world.
As her wedding day nears in Acarsaid, her betrothed Arden offers only his wayward soul and saucy tongue. At
night she desperately tries to reach Bran, the young soldier of nightmarish Tenebris who holds her heart.
However, her king insists that the realms of Tenebris and Acarsaid must remain separate, lest the evil wizard
Rancore brutally conquer all.
But the dark magic of Tenebris defies mere distance. A war is coming, one only Reeve may be able to prevent,
if she can reunite her family on opposing sides.
With two kingdoms at stake, Reeve must discover her strength and her family's legacy before all is lost. Yet
righting the wrongs of the past may require the sacrifice of her truest love.
Kristina Mahr devotes her days to numbers and her nights to words. She works full-time as an accountant in
the suburbs of Chicago, where she lives with her two dogs and two cats, but her true passion is writing. In her
spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and waking up at the crack of dawn
every weekend to watch the Premier League.
Website | Twitter | Instagram
Review: Beware the Night | Blog Tour
Hello everyone! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour of Beware the Night hosted by Xpresso Tours.
Book: Beware the Night
Author: Jessika Fleck
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: March 12th 2019
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
On the island of Bellona, they worship the sun. Seventeen-year-old Veda understands that keeping the sun content ensures plentiful crops, peace and harmony, and a thriving economy. But as a member of the Basso class, she never reaps those benefits.
Life as a Basso is one fraught with back-breaking work and imposing rules. Her close friendship with Nico is Veda's one saving grace in a cruel world where the division between her people and the ruling Dogio is as wide and winding as the canals that snake through their island.
But when Veda's grandfather is chosen as the next sacrificial offering to keep the sun's favor, Veda is forced to see the injustice of her world. Turning away from the sun means she must join the night—and an underground revolution she's been taught to fear all her life.
Find it on Goodreads
Beware the Night was an interesting read about a people fighting for their rights and a girl figuring out her place in the world.
On the island of Bellona their were three groups of people: the Dogio who ruled and lived lavish lives in luxury; the Basso who were oppressed by the Dogio and the Night- a secret organisation who supposedly reaped terror and stole away Basso people to the depths of darkness. As you can tell, the Basso were the worst off in this situation.
The main character, Veda, was a Basso girl who lived with her grandfather (her parents were killed by the Night) and who's best friend was a high ranking Dogio boy called Nico. She also knew another Basso boy called Dorian. She was slowly drawn into joining the Night and realised that all the things she had thought to be true were lies and she had to relearn everything she thought she knew.
Veda was an alright character, I could tell she still wasn't sure of herself and was figuring her life out. Gradually through the book she grew in character and became capable of making her own decisions.
There was a love triangle! *eye roll* I'm not a big fan of those. However, whilst I was reading I just thought that Veda must be lucky that two extremely nice guys were madly in love with her and it was way too good to be true. I really wanted her to make up her mind because it felt like she was stringing them both Nico and Dorian along.
I did like this book and there were some good ideas in it. I think the main reason it was a three star read was because it was incredibly slow paced and at some times the plot twists weren't believable for me. I got lots of Red Queen and The Hunger Games vibes from it so I think people who are big fans of those books would really enjoy Beware the Night.
Thank you to Swoon Reads and Jessika Fleck for providing me with an e-arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Jessika Fleck is an author, unapologetic coffee drinker, and knitter — she sincerely hopes to one day discover a way to do all three at once. Until then, she continues collecting vintage typewriters and hourglasses, dreaming of an Ireland getaway, and convincing her husband they NEED more kittens. Her YA debut, THE CASTAWAYS (Entangled TEEN), is now available. Her next YA novel, BEWARE THE NIGHT (Swoon Reads/Macmillan) releases March 12, 2019.
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Review: Whispers from the Depths | Blog Tour
March 7, 2019 March 7, 2019 Umairah @ SereadipityLeave a comment
Hello and welcome to my stop on the Whispers from the Depths blog tour, hosted by YA Bound Book Tours. Thank you to the publisher and the author for providing me with an e-ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Book: Whispers from the Depths
Author: C. W. Briar
Genre: YA Dark Fantasy
Release Date: February 19th 2019
Uncommon Universes Press
Joyful and blessed are Voice-bearers, for the Heavens have set them apart.
As Whisperers gifted with the Voice, Betka and her people are enslaved. Only they can control the dangerous spirits that haunt the waters, but they are forced to serve under cruel taskmasters. Betka has little hope of freedom from her service or her own bitterness.
They toil for the goodness of others.
A powerful water spirit terrorizes the castle where Betka's sister is serving. Betka is assigned to the crew sailing to face the foe, and she fears for the only family she has left.
Rage is found nowhere in them.
In the beleaguered, flooded castle, a new threat awaits—a magic more powerful and horrifying than anything they have ever seen. Loyalties will be tested, and enemies will become desperate allies.
Betka is their only hope of escape—if she can subdue the wrath that endangers them all.
She who wields the waters for revenge drowns herself tenfold.
Whispers from the Depths was a dark fantasy novel that captivated me throughout. It wasn't a story with a happy ending but it still ended on a note of hope and the promise of better things.
The Whisperers were a group of people gifted with the 'Voice' that allowed them to communicate with the water sprits that resided in rivers, lakes and seas and therefore had the ability to manipulate water. They were not able to harm other people using their power without causing an even greater harm to themselves and their purpose was to share their gift with the world and help people, to always give without ever expecting anything in return. Many years ago, the Whisperers were esteemed and respected but they were invaded by a group of people with different beliefs who enslaved them and treated them abominably.
Betka was a young, enslaved Whisperer who lived in fear and did her best to keep her head down despite her hatred for her captors. She had been taken from her family and enslaved along with her sister Tosna when she was very young and that traumatic event fuelled her bitterness and desire for revenge. However, as she was a Whisperer, even the thought of revenge or causing others pain was enough to cause her discomfort and minor pain. When the castle where Tosna was stationed was under attack from an angry sea-spirit Ylvalas, Betka became determined to go there with the crew sent to deal with the issue to make sure her sister survived.
Briar was brilliant at developing characters because even the most vicious characters felt multi-faceted and it was hard to completely hate them. Rorlen and Denogrid treated Betka and Asi (the other Whisperer who came on the journey) terribly. They physically and verbally abused them. The other crew members like Kuros were more tolerant to them and treated them more humanely. Despite their horrible treatment, Asi was ever forgiving and carried on helping and caring for them as if nothing had ever happened. Betka, however, was full of revenge and throughout the book we experience her conflict between exacting her revenge on them and forgiving and forgetting like Asi.
The way they were trapped in the castle, unable to escape and pursued by an evil water spirit hell-bent on killing them really built up the tension and created an almost cinematic reading experience. Rorlen and the other crew members were forced to overcome their hatred towards Betka and Asi because they were the only ones able to keep them alive. I liked how their grudging acceptance of the two women because it was necessary to survive evolved into a tenuous respect by the end of the book that would hopefully grow and flourish in the future.
The book was generally about the importance of forgiveness, although I didn't think it was fair how the Whisperers were expected to just accept such horrible treatment and forgive those who enslaved them. However, that forgiveness did earn Betka and Asi measure of respect and esteem in the end. I'm not sure what I think about the ending of the book but generally it was an amazing and engaging book that I would definitely recommend to others. I think C. W. Briar is a talented writer and I look forward to reading more of his books in the future.
C. W. Briar writes fantasy that's dark but hopeful, filled with wonder and humor along with suspense and creepiness. His favorite stories are the ones that make him both smile and perch on the edge of his seat. By day, he works as a systems engineer, testing or even riding on trains, airplanes, and helicopters. At night, when not writing, he prepares fancy dinners and shows off his awesome corgis. He's a graduate of Binghamton University and lives in Upstate NY with his wife, three kids, and secret stashes of chocolate.
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Hello! My name is Umairah and I'm from the UK. I've had a love for reading ever since a young age and it has stayed with me over the years. I made this blog to share my passion for books with other people and support authors. I'm always trying to read diversely and I adore fantasy but I would give almost any genre a try.
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August 11, 2011 soundthesirens.comNorthern Ireland Leave a comment
Northern Ireland is coming on in leaps and bounds. New building complexes, new apartment blocks and the first complete term of a new devolved power-sharing Government (since power was first devolved in 1998) have all appeared, as if over-night, in Belfast. However, we are in some ways the same as we always were. We are not still searched when we go into shops in the city center, but nor are the days of violence behind us. We are better, we're just not quite there yet.
The threat of violence in Northern Ireland is still a reality, as the pictures conveyed around the world of the rioting in the Short Strand this year show. However, rioting in Northern Ireland is different to other places. The old joke runs that we have 5 seasons; Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and marching season. Northern Ireland is a nation of people determined to march their 'traditional route' come hell or high-water and other people determined to stop them. This comes to a head in July each year, with the Orange Order parades on the 12th. Some love them, but on the 12th this year I watched as the men marched their 'traditional route' and my heart broke. We are a young country, we are tethered to Britain for better or worse and we struggle on. A fledgling country, which is hit over the head with a hammer every single time someone demands to march. It is not culture, whichever side is marching. It is stubbornness made flesh.
[aesop_image img="https://soundthesirens.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/ni.jpg" credit="Jill Luke's mobile phone" align="center" lightbox="off" caption="Northern Ireland's Castlewellan Forest Park." captionposition="left"]
However, people riot for reasons other than because of the season. For example, there is that old stalwart 'recreational rioting', in which people trash their communities in the name of fun. We must also acknowledge the fact that the rioting this year was in the Short Strand, an area of enormous economic deprivation. Northern Ireland suffers from an almost incredible lack of investment. There are people who live in extreme poverty on our doorsteps. There are no jobs and many can see no future for themselves. Sectarianism plays its part but both frustration and boredom have roles too.
Whilst this is a feature on the Northern Irish calendar, it by no means dominates society. The majority of people here live peacefully. We have an excellent education system and some of the plushest countryside you could wish for. Generally speaking, people are proud to come from 'Norn Iron', albeit in a reserved way. It is also worth mentioning that people from my generation are largely ignorant of the suffering that our country went through.
Between 1969 and 2001, 3,526 people were killed as a result of the Troubles. To a country of approximately 1.5 million people, this is a huge number. People deal with it in different ways. Some want endless inquiries. Others want to draw a line under it. But I have many friends who have no idea of what happened here. Indeed, when a group of Swedish students came to school and asked us in hushed tones about how we would feel about the 'peace walls' coming down, I was standing beside a close friend. He looked at me, I looked at him, and dripping with style he announced "I have never even seen a peace wall [1. For the record, a peace wall is a large wall between a Catholic and Protestant community over which missiles are often thrown, intended to make both communities feel safer. It often does the opposite]." This is often the case, the middle classes in Northern Ireland have a very different understanding of our society than those who live at "inter-face areas", almost all of which are working-class. I have Catholic friends and Protestant friends, we go to gigs together, we go to the cinema, we hang out at each others houses, we keep each other going about our religions and we have never seen each other differently because of it. The same Swedish people informed us that they had been told not to wear green or orange in case they offended someone. This patronizing view of the people here still makes me prick with anger. We are not savages, we are not children. That view of the situation is ridiculous.
Part of why Northern Ireland is moving forward is the political system. My politics class charted the local Assembly elections this year with an enthusiasm bordering on the fanatical. We predicted great things happening in the city, rumors of power changing hands and stagnating parties suffering. And then the election happened. And everything stayed exactly the same. Whilst that is not strictly true, for example the Alliance Party (progressive liberals) made fair gains, things all stayed fairly dormant. Our system is not perfect; we have convicted terrorists, open bigots and a single person from an ethnic minority in Government but we have survived an entire term without anyone storming off. Whilst in a Western Democracy that should be par for the course, in Northern Ireland is was a genuine source of delight. We survived. We passed laws. People shook hands and sat in the same room as one another. Improvement.
Northern Ireland is a beautiful place, but it is a work in progress. There are those here who would drag us back to the dark days of fear and political deadlock. But there are also those whose great passion it is to move us further forward, to bring investment and lasting peace to "our wee country". There is an affection and local pride here that I genuinely think is enough to overcome barriers placed in our way both by our past and present. We have too much to lose by regressing and so much to gain by moving forward.
BESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswy
So come visit! Take a trip round the murals, try some Guinness, we promise you'll have good craic. We are a country of outstanding beauty, peace and friendliness. You'll love it here.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Beautifully Maintained Home recently painted with designer touches. Gourmet Eat In Kitchen with Marble counter tops, custom cabinetry and pantry. The kitchen overlooks a deck to the back of the home. Huge Family room with stairs leading to upper level. The spacious Living Room and Dining Room is ideal for entertaining. The stairway from the foyer leads to a Large Master suite as well as another master suite. Two other bedrooms are oversized and all have ceiling fans. The two car garage has plenty of storage. The front yard landscaping was renovated recently with trees, shrubs and artificial grass. Award winning schools! Close to schools, restaurants, shops and transportation.


A newly-restructured Common Core curriculum is expected to be announced within the next two months, according to Political Science Chair Lowell Barrington, a member of the Core Revision Facilitation Group and the Core Curriculum Review Committee.
"The process so far has been very exciting, particularly because of the very strong participation by many people on campus, from faculty to students to staff," Barrington said in an email.
Fifteen core revision proposals were published on the university's website before spring break. Barrington said the revision process provides an opportunity to connect the core to Marquette's Jesuit mission.
Suggestions include having the credits be anywhere from 28 to 37, more courses focusing on Jesuit and Ignatian values and courses that require immersion outside of the classroom.
Barrington said the Common Core went through an internal and external campus program, with both suggesting changes.
In addition, Provost Daniel Meyers and University President Michael Lovell issued a document saying the core needs to address Marquette's Jesuit mission, involve more integration and be workable for the colleges.
Barrington said the Core Revision Facilitation Group helps guide the revision process by organizing listening sessions, surveys and other events. He said it facilitates "working groups" where 90 individuals produced the 15 proposals.
Marquette is changing its core using similar revision processes utilized by other universities like Notre Dame, Santa Clara and San Diego State.
"What many of my colleagues say they want from a revised core is one that keeps the focus on the students and one that best reflects what it means to be a graduate of Marquette," said Lars Olson, the interim chair of biomedical engineering.
Faculty, staff and administrators worked with facilitators this past fall to create proposals for revising the core. The group looked at a list of learning outcomes generated by a survey of the Marquette community. Many students prioritized communicating in writing, critical thinking and problem solving as learning outcomes ranked high according to the survey.
Su worked with Marquette Student Government to develop student focus groups to improve the proposals. Eleven groups have formed so far, each consisting of six to 10 people.


A full range of electrophysiologic testing is available. Both the Harper University Hospital and Children's Hospital of Michigan EEG Laboratories can perform routine awake and asleep EEGs as well as prolonged (four or eight hour) studies with or without concurrent video monitoring. Adult patients may also have an ambulatory EEG of 24-72 hours long (without video). Standard scalp electrodes can be supplemented with special electrodes, such as sphenoidal electrodes, if indicated.
EEGs performed over a prolonged period of time (1–5 days) with simultaneous video recording (Video EEG) are useful in quantifying seizures, classifying seizure types and evaluating patients for surgery and is used for more advanced diagnostic evaluation. Long term video EEG monitoring is available 24 hours a day in six dedicated beds in the adult Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) located at Harper University Hospital and in four dedicated beds in the pediatric EMU at Children's Hospital of Michigan. These innovative systems combine the most technologically advanced video EEG recording capabilities with continuous online seizure detection software. Specially trained epilepsy nurses and technicians perform neurological testing during seizure events. EEG technologists with special training and expertise monitor the patients in EMU 24 hours a day during their hospital stay. The Epilepsy Monitoring Unit is set up as a therapeutic community. Private rooms are arranged for patient comfort. For purposes of entertainment for patients during their stay, each room includes a TV and free guest WiFi is available for patients and their guests.
In most cases, patients remain in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit until they have had several of their typical seizures, usually two to five days.
At times EEG is recorded using electrodes implanted surgically in or over the surface of the brain to precisely locate the seizure focus prior to its removal.
Functional brain mapping is performed acutely in the operating room and chronically with surgically implanted electrodes. Somatosensory evoked potentials recorded from electrodes applied directly to the cerebral cortex identify sensory cortex. Electrocorticography defines the epileptogenic region by recording EEG activity directly from the cerebral cortex. Direct cortical stimulation establishes the margins of eloquent cortex, allowing epilepsy surgery to be performed with a high margin of functional safety.
As faculty members of one of the most advanced medical centers in the Midwest and the Wayne State University School of Medicine, our epilepsy experts have at their disposal a host of the most technologically advanced imaging modalities currently available to medical science. Such state-of-the-art imaging studies enable our specialists to provide a thorough evaluation of the patient.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology continues to evolve at the Detroit Medical Center. In addition to standard sagittal, axial, and coronal MRI images, high resolution, thin (1.5 mm) section allow exquisite visualization of the medial temporal lobe structures that are often damaged in intractable temporal lobe epilepsy. These images can be transferred to a computer work station for quantitative volumetric analysis which is a powerful tool in detecting hippocampal sclerosis, the most common cause of temporal lobe epilepsy. These high resolution images also allow visualization of other small structural processes such as cryptic vascular malformations or neuronal migration disorders that can cause seizures.
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) allows metabolic imaging of brain structures by the detection of biochemical constituents and biochemical changes in the brain. This technique is available at the Detroit Medical Center and is becoming a powerful clinical tool in the detection of the site of seizure onset.
At the Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University School of Medicine, our physicians and research personnel have access to four 1.5 Tesla MRI scanners and two 3 Tesla scanners.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) detects signal changes in the brain that accompany regional changes in cerebral blood flow related to neuronal activity. This technique is used to localize a particular function, such as, motor control, language processing, etc., to a brain region. This is performed noninvasively and the information obtained can be very useful in surgical planning in case of brain tumor surgery or epilepsy surgery.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) with fiber tracking can visualize brain pathways and connection between various brain regions to help understand brain function in epilepsy and help surgical planning.
Positron emission tomography (PET) scans represent functional images of the brain. Studies performed with radiolabeled glucose assess brain metabolic activity. Epileptogenic cortex correlates with areas of reduced metabolism and relatively decreased uptake on PET scan. New probes such as Flumazenil assess the presence of receptors for neurotransmitters such as those associated with GABA in the brain and are proving to be quite helpful in localizing the site of seizure onset. Brain mapping with PET and [O-15]-labeled water is a powerful means of localizing vital motor and language functions in the brain, so that these can be preserved during surgery.
Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans measure brain blood flow, which is an indirect indicator of cerebral metabolic rate. Interictal SPECT scans tend to show decreased blood flow to the epileptogenic cortex, although this technique has not been sufficiently specific to become a reliable diagnostic tool. However, SPECT scans obtained at the time of a seizure (isotope injected during a seizure, scan obtained later) show excellent sensitivity and specificity for the epileptogenic cortex. Within the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, nurses are trained to deliver the isotope at the time of the seizure. The scan can be obtained within the next several hours in the Nuclear Medicine Department. Ictal SPECT scanning has been incorporated into the protocol for localization of the epileptogenic region.
Intracarotid sodium amytal test commonly known as Wada test is a special test performed to identify language dominance and estimate ability of a single temporal lobe to perform memory tasks. Normally, only one side of the brain (hemisphere) processes language (understanding and speaking), but memory function involves both temporal lobes. In most individual it the left side is dominant with language function.
During Wada test, a small catheter (tube) is introduced into the artery in the groin under local anesthesia and advanced into the artery that supplies blood to one side of the brain. This is done under x-ray guidance by an experienced Neuroradiologist. Then a small dose of sodium amytal is injected. This temporarily puts that side of the brain to sleep, so we can test the functional capacity of the other side. The neurologist and the neuropsychologist ask series of questions to determine how good the language and memory function of the other side of the brain is. After about five minutes, the brain recovers fully. About half an hour later the catheter is moved to the other side and the testing is repeated. Usually, one can expect to return home the same day and have minor pain in the groin at the site of the catheter introduction.


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namespace apache\shindig\common;

/**
 *  Handles verification of gadget security tokens.
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abstract class SecurityTokenDecoder {

  /**
   * Decrypts and verifies a gadget security token to return a gadget token.
   *
   * @param string $tokenString String representation of the token to be created.
   * @return The token representation of the input data.
   * @throws GadgetException If tokenString is not a valid token
   */
  abstract public function createToken($tokenString);
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Dr. Mbiti is on the staff of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Switzerland.
This article appeared in the Christian Century, August 27- September 3, 1980, pp. 817-820. Copyright by The Christian Century Foundation; used by permission. Current articles and subscription information can be found at www.christiancentury.org. This material was prepared for Religion Online by Ted and Winnie Brock.
The missionaries who introduced the gospel to Africa in the past 200 years did not bring God. Instead, God brought them, for the God described in the Bible is none other than the God who was already known in the framework of our traditional African religiosity.
The editor of The Christian Century has given me an undeserved privilege in asking me to contribute some reflections on "How My Mind Has Changed" in the course of the past decade. I wish to apply "change of mind" here to mean theological growth, and not necessarily a rejection of or turnaround from ideas that I may have held ten years ago. Indeed, ten years ago I had no significant theological position. I was like a snail shyly peeping out of its house after a heavy thunderstorm.
I completed my doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge in 1963, the year that Honest to God, by J.A.T. Robinson, came out. That book was followed by a flurry of literature on the so-called "death of God" theology (if "theology" it was, for I would call it "atheology"). Following a period of parish work in England, I went to teach at Makerere University, Uganda, where I remained for ten years until 1974. One read Honest to God and a variety of other works in an effort to understand the hot debate then raging in Europe and America. Some people tried to involve Africa in the debate. But to the disappointment of those theological exporters, this fish was not attracted by the bait. A prominent European New Testament professor visited Makerere University and interviewed me on what I thought about the "death of God" discussion. I simply and honestly answered him that "for us in Africa, God is not dead." That finished the interview. On returning home, the learned professor wrote an article using my brief answer as his title.
At Makerere University I taught New Testament, African religion and other courses. Since I myself had never heard any lectures on African religion, I set out to do research on the subject in order to teach the course adequately. The first and most intriguing topic that immediately engaged my attention was the thinking of African peoples about God. So I read on and on, and conducted field research to learn more and more. My findings were used in teaching, but eventually I put them together in a book, Concepts of God in Africa, published by the British publisher SPCK (1970). The book comprised ideas that I had gathered from 300 African peoples ("tribes" -- a term that today is sometimes used in derogatory ways). The previous year I had published African Religions and Philosophy (Doubleday, 1969).
Some individuals have criticized these books -- and no book is perfect. But whatever the shortcomings of these and my other publications, the materials that went into these two have raised extremely important issues for me that have continued to engage my reflection. At many points I see intriguing parallels between the biblical record and African religiosity. In particular, the concepts about God provide one area of great commonality. There are also other parallels in social, political and cultural areas, just as there are some significant differences. In one case the thinking and experience of the people produced a written record of God's dealings with the Jewish people in particular. In the other case no such written record exists. But God's dealings with the African people are recorded, nevertheless, in living form -- oral communication, rituals, symbols, ceremonies, community faith. "For us in Africa, God is not dead" -- and that applies whether or not there is a written record of his relations with and concern for people.
Since the Bible tells me that God is the Creator of all things, his activities in the world must clearly go beyond what is recorded in the Bible. He must have been active among African peoples as he was among the Jewish people. Did he then reveal himself only in the line of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Samuel and other personalities of the Bible? Didn't our Lord let it be clearly known that "before Abraham was I am" (John 8:58)? Then was he not there in other times and in such places as Mount Fuji and Mount Kenya, as well as Mount Sinai? The decisive word here is "only." The more I peeped into African religious insights about God, the more I felt utterly unable to use the word "only" in this case. In its place there emerged the word "also." This was an extremely liberating word in my theological thinking. With it, one began to explore afresh the realm of God's revelation and other treasures of our faith. I find the traditional Western distinction between "special revelation" and "general revelation" to be inadequate and unfreeing. This is not a biblical distinction. If they are two wavelengths, they make sense only when they move toward a convergence. When this happens, then a passage such as Hebrews 1:1-3 rolls down like mighty waters, full of exciting possibilities of theological reflection.
The God described in the Bible is none other than the God who is already known in the framework of our traditional African religiosity. The missionaries who introduced the gospel to Africa in the past 200 years did not bring God to our continent. Instead, God brought them. They proclaimed the name of Jesus Christ. But they used the names of the God who was and is already known by African peoples -- such as Mungu, Mulungu, Katonda, Ngai, Olodumare, Asis, Ruwa, Ruhanga, Jok, Modimo, Unkulunkulu and thousands more. These were not empty names. They were names of one and the same God, the creator of the world, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. One African theologian, Gabriel Setiloane, has even argued that the concept of God which the missionaries presented to the Sotho-Tswana peoples was a devaluation of the traditional currency of Modimo (God) among the Sotho-Tswana.
No doubt there still remain much research and reflection to be done in order to work out a consistent theological understanding of the issues entailed here. But the basic truth seems to be that God's revelation is not confined to the biblical record. One important task, then, is to see the nature, the method and the implications of God's revelation among African peoples, in the light of the biblical record of the same revelation.
Revelation is given not in a vacuum but within particular historical experiences and reflections. When we identify the God of the Bible as the same God who is known through African religion (whatever its limitations), we must also take it that God has had a historical relationship with African peoples. God is not insensitive to the history of peoples other than Israel. Their history has a theological meaning. My interpretation of Israel's history demands a new look at the history of African peoples, among whom this same God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has indeed been at work. In this case, so-called "salvation history" must widen its outreach in order to embrace the horizons of other peoples' histories. I am not a historian, and I have not done careful thinking in this direction. But I feel that the issue of looking at African history in light of the biblical understanding of history is clearly called for.
My research into and teaching of African religion has led to another important area of development. In Kenya I grew up in home, school and church milieus which held that the African religious and cultural background was demonic and anti-Christian. In this overpowering environment, one simply accepted this stand and looked at the world from its perspectives. Later, my theological studies in America and England did not challenge this position, since that was not a living issue for my professors and fellow students. But upon my return to work in Africa, and upon careful study of the religious background of our people, there emerged gradually the demand to examine this issue and to form my own judgment.
The statistical expansion of the Christian faith in Africa in this century is one of the considerations that led me back to the issue of its relation with African religion. In 1900 there were an estimated 9 million Christians (accounting for about 7 per cent of the population of Africa). This number has since grown rapidly, to the point that in 1980 there are estimated to be 200 million Christians (or about 45 per cent of the population). This massive expansion within a short time is unprecedented in the history of Christianity. What factors are responsible for it?
We can list some obvious and often publicized factors. They include the work of missionaries (of whom there are about 40,000 today, without counting their family members); the work of African Christians in evangelism and pastoral care (their numbers are infinitely greater than those of overseas missionaries, and include men, women and children, both lay and ordained); the role of Christian schools; the translation and distribution of the Bible (which is now available in full or in part in nearly 600 of Africa's 1,000 languages); and the ending of the colonial era during the decades 1960-1980. But I have discovered that there is also the fundamental factor of African religion, without which this phenomenal expansion of Christianity would not be a reality. Of course, behind all these factors is the Holy Spirit working through them.
There is not space here to argue the case for the role played by African religion in the establishment of the Christian faith in Africa. We have already noted that the overseas missionaries did not bring God to Africa. God was not a stranger to African peoples. Spiritual activities like prayer, thanksgiving, and the making of sacrifices were well-established facts of life for the existence and continuation of the community.
It is in this complex of religiosity that the preaching of the gospel makes sense; it is this preparedness that has undergirded the spreading of the gospel like wildfire among African societies which had hitherto followed and practiced traditional religion. Consequently, people are discovering that the biblical faith is not harmful to their religious sensibilities. This is, obviously, a general statement, one which needs detailed elaboration. But in practical terms, there is a Christian Yes to African religiosity. It may be, and needs to be, a qualified and critical Yes. But it is nevertheless a working Yes and one that demands theological understanding. A close geographical correlation exists between the location of African religion and the rapid expansion of the Christian faith. This is not an empty coincidence. It is the southern two-thirds of Africa (including Madagascar) which we can rightly call Christian Africa, as the northern one-third is Muslim Africa.
This rapid spreading of the Christian faith where people have been predominantly followers of African religion provokes interesting questions. That which had been seen as the enemy of the gospel turns out (to me) to be indeed a very welcoming friend. African religion has equipped people to listen to the gospel, to discover meaningful passages in the Bible, and to avoid unhealthy religious conflict.
Theological development in Africa must inevitably grow within this religious setting. For this reason, some African theologians take African religiosity to be one of the sources of theological reflection (besides the Bible, Christian heritage, etc.). A conference of mainly African theologians, held in Ghana in December 1977, said in its final communiqué: "The God of history speaks to all peoples in particular ways. In Africa the traditional religions are a major source for the study of the African experience of God. The beliefs and practices of the traditional religions in Africa can enrich Christian theology and spirituality." These statements await further exploration by African theologians. Currently I am about to complete a book on this question of the encounter between the biblical faith and African religion.
The church is composed largely of people who come out of the African religious background. Their culture, history, world views and spiritual aspirations cannot be taken away from them. These impinge upon their daily life- and experience of the Christian faith. So the church which exists on the African scene bears the marks of its people's backgrounds. No viable theology can grow in Africa without addressing itself to the interreligious phenomenon at work there. I feel deeply the value of biblical studies in this exercise, and the contribution of biblical insights in this development.
I have concentrated these comments on the role of African background in my theological reflection. There are other areas of exploration in which I continue to be engaged. There is no room to describe them, and I can mention only two or three of them briefly. My doctoral studies in New Testament eschatology led me also to the field of Christology. I want to reflect and write on this topic, but somehow it makes me feel frightened. I want to make a pilgrimage into Christ. I want to walk with Jesus of Nazareth on the shores of Lake Galilee and the hillsides of Judea, through the gates of Jerusalem. I want to see his healing hand, to hear his word that exorcises evil spirits.
For six years I worked with the World Council of Churches in Geneva. That experience gave me a face-to-face encounter with the ecumenical movement and left a lasting mark on me. It sensitized my thinking in many areas, one of these being the quest for Christian unity. I have seen the quest more sharply. I cannot claim that I have witnessed much progress in that quest at the organizational level, but perhaps I had expected too much. The council made me aware, perhaps even frightfully so, of the problems of our world. The council's programs in response to these problems are impressive. They constitute an important channel of the church's prophetic witness today. The WCC's very existence as a council of churches is a living hope. But, it has been a sorrowful, disappointment to me to experience the fact that some individuals who exercise great power in the council are not angels: they sometimes practice the exact contrary of those values and goals to which the council is committed. Nevertheless, I am convinced that the World Council of Churches is a great witness of the Christian response to the prayer of our Lord that we may all be one. And this witness deserves one's support through service and prayer.
The concept of the church as the body of Christ in the whole world is another growing development for me. I have been greatly enriched by working at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, 1974-1980. It is here that I have discovered the church in Burma, in the Pacific islands, the house church in China, the basic Christian communities in Latin America, the struggling church in South Africa, plus countless other endeavors of Christians all over the world. I have met here the church not only in its geographical outreach but also in its historical roots -- seeing, for example, the rich traditions of the Orthodox Church, the universality of the Roman Catholic Church (even though it is based in the Vatican), the reconciling positioning of the Anglican Communion, the dynamic vitality of African independent churches, and so on. I have received much in a short period. It will keep me chewing for a long time, and it will most certainly feed my theological development.
I am very excited, for example, by the estimate that in 1987 there will be a statistical balance of Christian population between the north (Europe, Soviet Union and America) and the south (Latin America, Africa, Asia and Oceania). After that date there will be more Christians in the south than in the north. This statistical tilting of Christendom from the north to the south, after 2,000 years, holds tremendous prospects and challenges. Its consequences for theological and ecclesiological developments are yet to be faced. They will certainly be overwhelming, and I feel very excited about them.
The theological horizon continues to expand. I am tantalized by the fact that my vision cannot cope with that horizon. But I am grateful for that one step I may be taking under the light of this vision. So, "Lord, help Thou my unbelief!" Amen.


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StatsBomb Champions League Primer: Napoli vs Barcelona and Chelsea vs Bayern Munich
By Mike Goodman | February 25, 2020	| Champions League
Two more Champions League games to play today, so let's get right to it.
Napoli vs Barcelona
Not all struggles are created equal. Barcelona are having a difficult season. They've changed managers, their major attacking signing, Antoine Griezmann, has failed to settle, their attacking play looks staid and boring. Things just aren't going nearly as well as they could be at Camp Nou.
Yet they're also leading La Liga with 55 points, two ahead of Real Madrid. They've got the best expected goal total per match in Spain at 1.68 and the third-best xG conceded total at 0.79. So, like, there's bad for Barcelona, and there's actual bad, and this season clearly falls into the first category, not the second.
Barcelona are the ultimate rates and levels team. The level of their play has been so high for so long, because Lionel Messi is a supernatural artifact bestowed upon us by technologically advanced soccer-loving aliens, that any drop in form seems like the end of the world. But really, they're still a very very good team. New manager Quique Setien has helped steady the ship. And while he's brought a somewhat unadventurous possession style to the team, the side's attacking play immediately improved, without much in the way of increased defensive problems.
Barcelona's main issue is still that everything runs through Messi. Five years ago their main problem was that everything ran through Messi, and the situation has only gotten more extreme since then. With Luis Suárez out, his combined goals and assists per 90 minutes are almost double anybody else's on the team.
You'd be tempted to say it's unsustainable, but, well, it's Messi.
Napoli's situation is a little more complicated. On the one hand, they're in sixth place with a goal difference of exactly four. That's quite the drop for a team that spent years trailing only Juventus in Serie A. On the other hand, their xG difference of 0.55 is the fourth-best in the league and paints them in a considerably better light than their record and place in the table does.
Put it all together and you have a Napoli team that is definitely worsening in comparison to seasons past, but not nearly as quickly as their drop down the table suggests. Specifically, from last year to this year the defense has eroded and they've gained little attacking input to compensate.
Nothing much has changed under new management. Carlo Ancelotti and his flexible 4-4-2 might have departed for Everton and been replaced by Gennaro Gattuso and a more traditional 4-3-3, but the basic contours of the problem remain exactly the same. Napoli are a pretty good side, but they aren't as good as they used to be, and they certainly aren't getting any better.
Despite their struggles Barcelona are a significantly better side. When you're a team that's getting slowly worse it sure helps to have Lionel Messi.
Chelsea v Bayern Munich
Two months ago a matchup between Chelsea and Bayern Munich might have looked like an opportunity for the English side to pull off a surprising upset. Bayern were in the midst of firing their manager while Chelsea were flying high off surprisingly strong performances from the youth movement who'd finally been given a chance. Then injuries hit Chelsea, Bayern righted the ship and now the task looks monumental for Frank Lampard's men.
Chelsea's attack has tapered off dramatically. With Christian Pulisic out injured and Tammy Abraham injured, but not quite out, the side's xG has really come back to earth since the turn of the year.
But, despite the attacking struggles, it's really defensively where the Blues are likely to get exposed against Bayern. Chelsea are a very aggressive defensive side. They don't know how to sit back and instead want to press from the front and defend in their opponent's half. At their best they create opportunities for their attacking trio by winning the ball high up the pitch. At their worst they end up playing destabilized football, exposing themselves to opponents who are disciplined enough to hold the ball against them.
Bayern are clearly disciplined enough. The side's high-powered midfield often features Joshua Kimmich at the base, and he's simply a machine at moving the ball up the field without losing possession.
The same is true of Thiago, who both advances the ball from deep and moves forward to help orchestrate the attack.
It's possible that a disciplined underdog might cause Bayern problems. Their attacking front line is great, and Robert Lewandowski continues to have an all-timer of a season, smashing goals from the best spots in the world.
But, maybe under the right circumstances, with a little bit of luck and a lot of deep defending an underdog could hold them and exploit the German giants on the counterattack. Chelsea under Lampard simply don't have that club in their bag. In order to win they're going to need Bayern's midfield to crack under the pressure they apply. That seems exceedingly unlikely to happen.
Article by Mike Goodman


Summary: A solution of the conjugation problem of groups of rational points for outer forms of anisotropic groups of type An is given.
Barkova E. A., Zabreiko P. P.
Summary: In this article we prove existence theorems of solutions to nonlocal Cauchy problems for differential equations of fractional order in Banach spaces with Caputo's derivatives. We have also obtained sufficient conditions for uniqueness of solutions of these equations.
Gulo I. N., Yanovich L. A.
Summary: Quadrature formulas of an utmost degree of trigonometric accuracy with determined nodes for stochastic integrals of nonrandom 2p-periodic functions are constructed. Error estimates for constructed quadrature formulas under different approximations of integrable function by trigonometric polynomials are obtained.
Summary: The rational interpolation process for |x| on [-1, 1] and the behavior of their uniform approximations are investigated. Previously in 1989, in the papers by Rovba E. A. similar approximation formulas were already investigated. Later on, in the joint work by Rovba E. A. and Mikulich Y. H. the constants in the asymptotical formula were found in the case of approximation using interpolation functions of odd degree with a fixed number of poles. In the present article we have found exact constants in the approximation formulas in the case of arbitrary degree of interpolation functions and a fixed number of poles. In order to find exact constants in the asymptotical behavior of uniform approximations Laplace's method was used.
Balashchenko V. V., Samsonov A. S.
Summary: In the article the canonical f-structures on arbitrary homogeneous Ф-spaces of order 6 (in other terminology, homogeneous 6-symmetric spaces) are considered in the case of naturally reductive metric. We indicate necessary and sufficient conditions under which these structures belong to the classes in the generalized Hermitian geometry such as nearly Kahler f-structures (NKf) and Hermitian f-structures (Hf). Types of invariant distributions generated by the canonical structures on homogeneous Ф-spaces of order 6 are also characterized.
Summary: We give a bound on the number of times a sum of algebraic numbers occurs in a given neighbourhood of a fixed natural number.
Buganov O. V., Tikhomirov S. A., Shulenkov A. S., Stankevich V. V., Ermolenko M. V., Gaponenko S. V.
Summary: The concept of an ultrafast light modulator for a wavelength of ~ 1.5 mm controlled by the fundamental harmonic of a Ti:Al203 laser has been demonstrated. The possibility of realization of this concept was experimentally confirmed. We have demonstrated a strong spectrally wide nonlinear response in multilayer heterostructures based on GaAs/(AlGa)xOy with the relaxation time of 1-3 ps in the spectral range where both materials have negligible absorption. These short times correspond to the e-h plasma relaxation time.
Zhestkov S. V., Novashinskaya V. S.
Ovsiyuk E. M., Kisel V. V., Red'kov V. M.
Summary: Exact solutions of the quantum-mechanical Dirac equation for a spin S = 1/2 particle in the Riemannian space of constant negative curvature, the hyperbolic Lobachevsky space, in the presence of an external magnetic field, being the analogue of the homogeneous magnetic field in the Minkowski space, are constructed. A generalized formula for energy levels describing the quantization of the particle motion in magnetic field on the background of the Lobachevsky space geometry has been obtained.
Hursky L. I., Grushevskaya H. V., Kalanda N. A.
Summary: Pseudogap anomalies for the state of cuprate high-Tc superconductors have been examined within the framework of a nonadiabatic paramagnetic model. A peculiarity of this model is the presence of dynamic supersymmetry. A Schrodinger equation was used to describe the movement of paired electrons. An equation was established which allows finding a gap energy of offered cuprate pair. It was shown that the nonadiabatic paramagnetic model of pseudogap conforms completely to the experimental data.
Eryomin A. N., Zhavnerko G. K., Yashin К. D., Osipovich V. S., Agabekov V. E.
Summary: Fluorescence of CdSe/ZnS nanoparticles (NP) in reverse micelles of aerosol ОТ (АОТ) is studied depending on the relation of H20/AOT concentration and the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA). It is proved that the NP included in AOT reverse micelles in isooctane. In that case and also in the presence of BSA in micelles, besides fluorescence in the range of 548-556 nanometers, intensive emission of light with maxima at 331, 379, 435-437, 481-490 and 535-537 nm with a Stokes shift of 6-7 nm in relation to the wavelength of exciting light is observed. The character of the spectra remains after transfer of NP from AOT reverse micelles in isooctane to a water solution of sodium chloride, which confirms the fact of the formation of complexes between NP and BSA. It is assumed that the combination of the mechanisms of both light dispersion on the complexes of NP with AOT and BSA and resonant energy transfer from NP on AOT molecules and BSA with its subsequent illumination can be the reason for non-fluorescent emission of light.
Opanasenko O. N., Zhigalova O. L., Krut'ko N. P., Ostrovskaya E. F.
Summary: The joint behaviour of mixes of cathionic surfactants on the basis of di- and polyamines with quarternary ammonium bases salts is investigated. It is established that in the presence of low-molecular spirits the mixes of cathionic surfactants have higher micellizating and solubilizating ability. The revealed laws in the behaviour of the mixes of cathionic surfactants in the presence of low-molecular spirits allow one to adjust their colloid--chemical properties and to increase the efficiency of emulsifying and dispersive actions of the mixes of cathionic surfactants at the oil/water interface.
Sinelyov V. A., Babenko A. S., Gilep I. L., Usanov S. A.
Summary: The present work is aimed at defining associations of +9/-9 polymorphism of BDKRB2 gene, a/b and G894T polymorphisms of NOS3 gene, M235T polymorphism of AGT gene, I/D polymorphism of ACE gene and A1166C polymorphism of AGTR1 gene with human physical performance. 139 qualified swimmers and 164 control subjects were genotyped. Athletes had higher frequencies of the following genotypes: -9/-9 (+9/-9 polymorphism of BDKRB2 gene), GG (G894T polymorphism of NOS3 gene) and AA (A1166C polymorphism of AGTR1 gene) compared to the control group. TT and aa genotypes of NOS3 genes, as well as CC genotype of AGTR1 gene were not identified in the group of swimmers. We demonstrate a difference in the genotype of athletes specialized in different disciplines of swimming. On the basis of the genotypes of swimmers and the control group we identified the optimal genotype for enhanced indexes of physical performance.
Khlebnikova T. S., Piven Yu. A., Lakhvich F. A.
Summary: A new approach to the synthesis of 4'-fluoro-containing isoflavonoids has been developed. The synthesis of 7-hydroxy--4'--fiuoroisofiavone and its chemical transformations are described. The structures of synthesized compounds are verified by spectroscopic data.
Galkovskaya G. A., Kalinovska K., Molotkov D. V., Trifonov O. V.
Summary: The vertical distribution of microzooplankton (Ciliata, Rotifera) was investigated in the oligotrophic stratified lake. On the border of meta- and hypolimnion the crowds of ciliates and rotifers were revealed. This means that on this border there take place small bacterial--detritus particles -- the basic feeding sources for microzooplankton. The quantity of ciliates falls abruptly with increasing the depth of hypolimnion. Rotifers keep a high quantity on the lower horizons of hypolimnion. This can be a result of competition of force out. The revealed processes promote the lake self-cleaning.
Galinousky D. V., Leontiev V. N., Nikitinskaya T. V., Raiski A. P., Khotyleva L. V., Titok V. V.
Summary: We have identified the cellulose synthase genes that are involved in the fiber formation in fiber flax stems. We have compared the HVRII fragments amplified on cDNA matrix that was synthesized on total RNA extracted from fiber flax stems, with the CesA--genes from Arabidopsis thaliana. We have found three cellulose synthase genes -- LusCesA4, LusCesA7 and LusCesA9. We have revealed the existence of the expression of cellulose synthase genes of the CesA4, CesA7 and CesA9 classes in fiber flax stems at the rapid growth phase.
Davidovskii A. I., Veresov V. G.
Summary: The computational docking approach was employed to establish the structural determinants of inhibition of antiapoptotic proteins by anticancer agent TW-37. The results obtained suggest that the inhibition of antiapoptotic proteins of the Bcl-2 family by TW-37 is caused by binding this compound to the hydrophobic grooves of antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and Mcl-1, thus preventing their possible interaction with proapoptotic proteins. It is shown that unlike gossypol, the main contribution to high binding free energy is provided by hydrophobic interactions due to high complementarity of TW-37 to the hydrophobic groove caused by enhanced flexibility of this compound because of extra hinge bonds between phenol rings as compared to gossypol. Unexpectedly, it was found that the signature region NWGR of these proteins does not participate in binding, unlike the binding of gossypol and ABT737.
Konoplia E. F. †, Litvinchuk A. V., Zaiceva O. A., Stashkevich D. G.
Summary: The PCR--analysis of the expression of two oncogenes (bax/bcl-2) in the liver and brain tissues of the animals after being exposed to gamma-rays at doses of 1.0 and 4.0 Gy at remote terms after the action of (30, 60, 90 days) was made. The proofs of start-up of the genetic program of apoptosis of brain and liver cells were obtained. This can be a reason for functional dysfunction of a particular organ and the whole organism.
Bogdan V. G., Zafranskaya M. M., Gain Yu. M., Demidchik Yu. E.
Summary: In the conditions of experiment in vitro, comparative study was for the first time made of the efficiency of co--culturing with adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (adMSC) rats in a three--dimensional gelatinous matrix on different variants of the surgical meshes "Prolene", "Vypro", "Ultrapro", "Vicryl" and "Proceed". It is proved that the three-dimensional gelatinous matrix realistically raises the composition ability of biomatrises to provide adhesion and growth of adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (adMSC). It is established that the gelatinous covering levels the importance of the composition of the surgical meshes for adhesion of adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (adMSC) amongst samples containing nodestruction monothread: "Prolene", "Vypro" and "Ultrapro". Herewith, a realistically greater amount of the hutches on surgical mesh "Vicryl" without polypropylene is saved.
Summary: The model for flow in the Ranque vortex tube based not on thermal interaction but on mechanical interaction between cold and hot streams is proposed. It is demonstrated that for the description of the Ranque-Hilsch effect it is necessary to take into account, in addition to radial flow, the mass sampling or addition and also to ensure a more smooth conjugation of forced and peripheral vortexes, requiring the continuity of not only a tangential velocity component but also that of its first derivative with respect to radius. By using the developed approach the flow in the vortex tube is considered as a system of interacting sinks and sources of vortexes.


So here's the finished Silosaur. I did have a bit more detail on him but Silo crashed (which it does seem to do a bit more than I'm completely comfortable with). As I'm only learning and not trying to use as a finished piece I'm not going to bother adding the detail again.


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"Da Crooner" Inducted into Hall of Fame
November 9, 2019 November 9, 2019 - by Garland Journal
Willis Johnson, veteran broadcaster at KKDA-AM joined 20 people who were inducted into the 2019 Texas Radio Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 2 at the Texas Museum of Broadcasting in Kilgore. "When you take a look at that man's track record, as a Dallas/Fort Worth radio entertainer and more importantly the man's community outreach, it's immeasurable," said Josh Holstead, Texas Radio Hall of Fame owner and operations manager.
"It was a special day for me to be inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame and I am so grateful for my family to be with me as well as Mayor Mike Rawlings, Developer Jack Matthews and Linda/Mitch Hart. It's quite an honor," said Johnson. A native of Gladewater, Johnson started at KKDA in 1975. His show's lineup which included community affairs, politics and music was an instant hit and he became the voice in the community until his retirement.
"Radio is a service that I loved… I did it for 36 years," said Johnson. "I feel we touched communities because radio is a connection to the community it serves." He was program director, executive producer and on-air personality during his career and won numerous broadcast awards including the Silver Beaver Award, the Juanita Craft NAACP Award and the Urban League of Greater Dallas President's Award.
Congratulations and accolades from friends and former listeners continue to flood Johnson's social media.
"Congratulations to a wonderful civic leader," said businessman Pete Schenkel. Others inducted into Hall of Fame include Glenn Hicks and Linda Austin.
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