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Geek Declassified
Blog, Book Reviews, Book Tour, Book Tours, Books, Fantasy, Middle-Grade
Amari and the Night Brothers Review (Blog Tour)
December 9, 2020 December 8, 2020 by Crystina Luna1 Comment on Amari and the Night Brothers Review (Blog Tour)
By B.B. Alston
Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy
Available for pre-order on Amazon and B&N
Special thanks to theWriteReads and Egmont Publishing for providing me with an ARC.
Amari Peters knows three things.
Her big brother Quinton has gone missing.
No one will talk about it.
His mysterious job holds the secret . . .
So when Amari gets an invitation to the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she's certain this is her chance to find Quinton. But first she has to get her head around the new world of the Bureau, where mermaids, aliens and magicians are real, and her roommate is a weredragon.
Amari must compete against kids who've known about the supernatural world their whole lives, and when each trainee is awarded a special supernatural talent, Amari is given an illegal talent – one that the Bureau views as dangerous.
With an evil magician threatening the whole supernatural world, and her own classmates thinking she is the enemy, Amari has never felt more alone. But if she doesn't pass the three tryouts, she may never find out what happened to Quinton . . . (Goodreads)
Amari and the Night Brothers is a charming fantastical middle-grade book that promises to open a new world for its readers. It delivers and then some! Managing to introduce us to a world that is, in some vague ways, reminiscent of the wizarding world, but far larger and dare I say better. For being such a vast world it is well realized, as well as the characters in the story. The relationships between the characters definitely had Percy Jackson-vibes, a fleshed-out realism that makes them all the more relatable and loveable.
For me, this book was often reminiscent of the Men in Black franchise but on a much larger and more magical scale. This is the sort of book I would have been obsessed with when I was in the intended age category, and still intend to follow as an adult. This book manages to pack a large story into a small package and knowing there is more to come and so much more of this world to explore in what makes this book memorable. This is the sort of book you read as a kid and obsess over, convinced that if your nomination was detected that you'd follow in our titular heroine Amari's path.
This book, most importantly, manages to pack in some heavy themes. Tackling issues children today, and children of yesterday, have dealt with. It's a type of story we need more of.
Amari and the Night Brothers is a fun book for everyone, regardless of age. There are lessons to be learned, fun to be had, and so many interesting characters to meet along the way. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to read this book and look forward to future instalments.
Subjective Rating
Objective Rating
Blog, Book Reviews, Book Tour, Book Tours, Books, Contemporary, Fan Art, Young-Adult
Rent a Boyfriend Review, Thoughts, and Fan Art (Book Tour)
November 13, 2020 by Crystina Luna1 Comment on Rent a Boyfriend Review, Thoughts, and Fan Art (Book Tour)
By Gloria Chao
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Avg. Goodreads Rating: 4.0
Available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble
Chloe Wang is nervous to introduce her parents to her boyfriend, because the truth is, she hasn't met him yet either. She hired him from Rent for Your 'Rents, a company specializing in providing fake boyfriends trained to impress even the most traditional Asian parents.
Drew Chan's passion is art, but after his parents cut him off for dropping out of college to pursue his dreams, he became a Rent for Your 'Rents employee to keep a roof over his head. Luckily, learning protocols like "Type C parents prefer quiet, kind, zero-PDA gestures" comes naturally to him.
When Chloe rents Drew, the mission is simple: convince her parents fake Drew is worthy of their approval so they'll stop pressuring her to accept a proposal from Hongbo, the wealthiest (and slimiest) young bachelor in their tight-knit Asian American community.
But when Chloe starts to fall for the real Drew—who, unlike his fake persona, is definitely not 'rent-worthy—her carefully curated life begins to unravel. Can she figure out what she wants before she loses everything? (Goodreads)
Special thanks to Simon Pulse and Hear Our Voices Book Tour for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review and participation in this tour.
An emotional ride through the darker aspects of Asain culture in the United States, and the rift it can create between generations. Rent a Boyfriend follows the lengths a young woman would go to protect herself from a future she doesn't want. In the process of doing so, she learns exactly what she wants, and what she has to do to have. This book is about sacrifice and how in excess it does more harm than good. Illustrating the importance of communication, and the battle to find stable ground among the generations. It's an emotional ride, the ends with a breath of relief.
An absolute highlight of this book is the romance. Young-adult books have a tendency to fall victim to insta-love, and while there was immediate chemistry between the two romantic interest it wasn't insta-love. Their love is visibly flawed and organic, making it a breath of fresh air. You see both of their sides, the feelings and thoughts that dictate their actions and the whole thing just makes sense. You root for them, not only because of their chemistry but because of their realness. The organic nature of the romance is this book is truly one of the best I've ever read.
I often found myself mad reading this book, not at the book itself but at characters within it. Chao does an amazing job showing the rift between Chloe and her family, and how truly detrimental their situation is. All the emotions Chloe goes through you can feel yourself and it seriously hurts. I think it's a universal struggle, wanting your parents to be happy, but what they want for you isn't exactly what you want for yourself. While I come from a culture considerably different, it wasn't hard to find parallels between my experiences and that of Chloe and Drew.
This is a powerful book, that just so happen to have a happy ending. The way there is rocky but worth it. There is so much to be learned from as well, making this book an easy recommendation. This is a must-read.
Thoughts While Reading
I was fascinated by the idea of "Rent for Your 'Rents" and found myself wondering how such a business would work. Especially for female operatives, if there is such a thing.
Hongbo made me utterly angry, I used many choice words in my notes related to him.
The misogyny surprised me, but not that much after I thought about it. I related to it, actually. I really felt Chloe's pain.
I struggled alongside Drew with some of his decisions. The wants to help people and the moral struggle of living a lie.
I learned some things about a culture that's always fascinated me. And I continue to have a deep appreciation for many aspects of it.
I loved the sheep, they're so cute. When I can't sleep I'm going yo start counting sheep.
I took the time to sit and contemplate what I would do if I was in Chloe's place. It actually made me sad what I found out about myself. But at the same time, I'm not surprised.
I lost count of how many times this book gave me flashbacks to similar situations I've found myself in.
Blog, Book Reviews, Book Tour, Book Tours, Books, Fan Art, Fantasy, Middle-Grade
The Barren Grounds Book Tour: Review, 15 Thoughts While Reading, and Fan-Art
October 16, 2020 October 16, 2020 by Crystina Luna1 Comment on The Barren Grounds Book Tour: Review, 15 Thoughts While Reading, and Fan-Art
By David Alexander Robertson
Publisher: Puffin Canada
Avg. Goodreads Rating: 4.25
Available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble (and always be sure to check your local library/Libby)
Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous children forced away from their families and communities, are brought together in a foster home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They each feel disconnected, from their culture and each other, and struggle to fit in at school and at their new home — until they find a secret place, walled off in an unfinished attic bedroom. A portal opens to another reality, Aski, bringing them onto frozen, barren grounds, where they meet Ochek (Fisher). The only hunter supporting his starving community, Misewa, Ochek welcomes the human children, teaching them traditional ways to survive. But as the need for food becomes desperate, they embark on a dangerous mission. Accompanied by Arik, a sassy Squirrel they catch stealing from the trapline, they try to save Misewa before the icy grip of winter freezes everything — including them. (Goodreads)
Special thanks to Puffin Canada and Hear Our Voices Tours for allowing me to participate in this tour.
I don't often read middle-grade for no particular reason. There are a number of books on my TBR that actually happen to be middle-grade but for whatever reason, I've continually put off reading them. The Barren Grounds quickly reminded me how great these books can be, even if they're intended for an audience much younger than myself.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and am going to get the negative out of the way by saying there is none. This is an amazing book, with amazing character development and world-building. It also serves as an introduction to indigenous culture for those who may not as familiar with it. This book had me in tears at one point, and I was so invested in the world. The books does have some similarities to the classic Chronicles of Narnia, but I personally found this much more interesting and engaging.
I learned some new things about indigenous culture from this book that sparked an internet deep-dive into the history of many First Nations people, their beliefs and cultural practices. I found my eyes opened to a culture, that I was aware of but never truly saw. This book opens the readers to a fantasy world, yes, but it also opens a part of our world so often forgotten or overlooked. I want everyone to read this book, be moved by the story, and be inspired to learn more. I recommend reading this book, and then going out and finding out more about the beautiful stories that inspired this one.
15 Thoughts While Reading
I was glad to find that Morgan and Eli seem to have been placed in a truly caring foster home. I understand that that is not always the case, but this particular home has great potential. I also realized how much more meaning this had to me as an adult who is old enough to have children.
I learned about some First Nations dishes, which lead me to research more about the culture, particularly cuisine.
It was easy to draw immediate parallels between The Chronicles of Narnia and The Barren Grounds; which the portal to Misewa being opened through a drawing and one of the portals to Narnia being opened through a painting.
I learned about fishers. Prior to reading this book, I had never heard of such an animal.
I found myself often relating to Morgan in her feelings of disconnection to her heritage and the anger that made her feel.
I found myself contemplating the ethical conundrum that Ochek was faced with when he and the children came across Arik. And wondered what I would do in such a situation.
I noticed the allegory against colonizers in the description of the antagonist. It reminded me how truly wasteful modern society is, and how we take advantage of nature.
Robertson does a good job setting up a mystery surrounding Morgan's origin, as well as Eli's in a sense. I want to know more about how they got in the foster care system, and if it had to do with legitimate concerns or one's based on discrimination and ignorance.
I was very interested in the character of Mahihkan, and wanted to know more about him. Especially whether or not his presence held more weight that I may have noticed.
With the mentions of North and South country, I became more curious about the stories that could be set in this world. So much was set up, with things only mentioned hopefully with the intent to more fully explore.
I was reminded of how beautiful the indigenous languages are with the book's inclusion of Cree words. It makes me want to cry knowing that these languages are in danger of dying out.
Learning one of the stories behind what we call the Big Dipper was a beautiful experience and during this scene in the book, I cried quite a bit.
Morgan truly grew in this book, that was a beautiful thing to see. She and Eli found a home not only in Misewa but in each other.
The way time worked in this story fascinated me, especially in the final conversation between the kids and Arik. Could they have sat there and talked for a literal eternity?
The final poem was so beautiful. I read it more than once.
Portrait of character Arik
Blog, Horror, Lists, Movie, Movie Lists, Streaming
10 Horror Movies to Stream on Netflix US
October 8, 2020 October 8, 2020 by Crystina LunaLeave a Comment on 10 Horror Movies to Stream on Netflix US
Here's yet another list of great films to give you the right amount of spook for October. Some are more extreme then others, but I tried my best to create as well-rounded of a list as I could. Hope you enjoy.
A deaf writer who retreated into the woods to live a solitary life must fight for her life in silence when a masked killer appears in her window.
The Platform (2019)
Two prisoners per floor, wondering how much they'll get to eat that day. One inmate has had enough of not getting enough. It's time to send a message.
When her husband's sex game goes wrong, Jessie– handcuffed to a bed in a remote lake house– faces warped visions, dark secrets and a dire choice.
The Girl with all the Gifts (2016)
As a virulent fungus turns humanity into zombies, a band of survivors flees with a curiously evolved zombie girl who may hold the key to a cure.
Cargo (2018)
Amid a terrifying pandemic, a father searches the wilds of Australia for someone willing to protect and care for his infant daughter.
Would You Rather (2012)
In need of cash to help her sick brother, a young woman agrees to take part in a lethal winner-takes-all parlour game hosted by a sadistic millionaire.
Horns (2013)
Accused of murder, Ig Perish wakes up one day to find he's grown a set of horns– compelling people to confess their sins to him.
The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
A father-son team of small-town coroners performs an autopsy on an unidentified woman with mysterious injuries and a terrifying secret.
The Perfection (2018)
In this twisty horror-thriller, a once-promising music prodigy reconnects with her former mentors, only to find them taken with a talented new pupil.
13 Sins (2013)
A man agrees to appear on a game show with a $6 million prize. But as the challenges become more extreme, he realized he's made a grave mistake.
All descriptions are taken for Netflix US.
Blog, Book Lists, Books, Lists
10 Creepy Books to Read in October
October 1, 2020 September 30, 2020 by Crystina Luna1 Comment on 10 Creepy Books to Read in October
With the spooky season finally here I thought I'd curate a shortlist of creepy books to read during the month of October. Some are adult fiction, some YA, a non-fiction book, and a couple of mystery-thrillers. Whatever tickles your fancy I hope there is an option you enjoy!
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Galaxy "Alex" Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale's freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she's thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world's most elite universities on a full ride. What's the catch, and why her?
Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale's secret societies. These eight windowless "tombs" are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood's biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.
A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food—and each other.
1984 by George Orwell
Among the seminal texts of the 20th century, Nineteen Eighty-Four is a rare work that grows more haunting as its futuristic purgatory becomes more real. Published in 1949, the book offers political satirist George Orwell's nightmarish vision of a totalitarian, bureaucratic world and one poor stiff's attempt to find individuality. The brilliance of the novel is Orwell's prescience of modern life—the ubiquity of television, the distortion of the language—and his ability to construct such a thorough version of hell. Required reading for students since it was published, it ranks among the most terrifying novels ever written.
Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews
It wasn't that she didn't love her children. She did. But there was a fortune at stake—a fortune that would assure their later happiness if she could keep the children a secret from her dying father.
So she and her mother hid her darlings away in an unused attic.
Just for a little while.
But the brutal days swelled into agonizing years. Now Cathy, Chris, and the twins wait in their cramped and helpless world, stirred by adult dreams, adult desires, served a meager sustenance by an angry, superstitious grandmother who knows that the Devil works in dark and devious ways. Sometimes he sends children to do his work—children who—one by one—must be destroyed….
On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne's fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick's clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn't doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife's head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy's fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he's definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?
As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn't do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?
Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Buliosi and Curtis Gentry
Prosecuting attorney in the Manson trial, Vincent Bugliosi held a unique insider's position in one of the most baffling and horrifying cases of the twentieth century: the cold-blooded Tate-LaBianca murders carried out by Charles Manson and four of his followers. What motivated Manson in his seemingly mindless selection of victims, and what was his hold over the young women who obeyed his orders? Here is the gripping story of this famous and haunting crime.
Unwind by Neil Shusterman
Connor, Risa, and Lev are running for their lives.
The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state, is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancy
After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.
Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother-or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.
Girl Gone Mad by Avery Bishop
They say everything is fun and games until someone gets hurt. Well, someone did—and now the game has changed…
Emily Bennett works as a therapist in Pennsylvania, helping children overcome their troubled pasts—even as she struggles to forget her own. Once upon a time, Emily was part of a middle school clique called the Harpies—six popular girls who bullied the new girl to her breaking point.
The Harpies took a blood oath: never tell a soul what they did to Grace Farmer.
Now, fourteen years later, it seems karma has caught up to them when one member of that vicious circle commits suicide. But when a second Harpy is discovered dead shortly after, also from apparent suicide, the deaths start to look suspicious. And when Emily starts seeing a woman who looks a lot like Grace Farmer lurking in the shadows, she's forced to wonder: Is Grace back for revenge? Or is Emily's guilt driving her mad?
Sticks and stones may break your bones, but the Harpies are about to find out just how much words can hurt you.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a "haunting"; Theodora, the lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers—and soon it will choose one of them to make its own.
Please note that all descriptions are taken from the book's respective Goodreads.
Book Tag: Meet the Blogger
September 24, 2020 September 23, 2020 by Crystina LunaLeave a Comment on Book Tag: Meet the Blogger
Geek Declassified has been up for a little more than a couple of months now, and I figured it's about time I sit down and formerly introduce myself. What better way than through a bookish-tag!? I found this tag through Mystery Bookworm Blogs, and it was originally created by one Lauren Bodiford. Be sure to check them out after you give this a read!
My name is Crystina Luna, but I go by C. Luna and CL. I live in California and work full-time as a writer.
That's me! (Pic from March 2020)
I have two beautiful old ladies. There is Mina, who is a pomeranian, and Gidget, who is an Eskimo Dog. I've had Mina for 11 years, and this coming December she will turn 12. We adopted Gidget summer of 2016, and she recently turned twelve herself. They are my darling fur-children.
This is Mina! (Pic from July 2019)
This is Gidget! (Pic from Oct. 2019)
I'd like to also mention Kel, a stray cat who lives in my backyard. While I've never gotten to pet them, or really spend any proper time with them, I do regular feed and provide water for them. Honorarily, I consider them my cat.
What is your favourite thing to drink?
This is a hard question… Do you mean like every day? On special days? Or, like, alcohol? I guess I'll answer all of them: my go-to everyday drink is water, cause adulting; on occasion, I enjoy some nice cold brew with sweet cream and in the evenings a few times of week I enjoy a nice glass of Stella Rose Red blend wine.
What is your favourite season?
Without a doubt, Spring! I love blooming flowers and warm breezes. It's the perfect temperature to be outside. Of course, living in California means Spring only lasts, like, a week.
Do you have any special talents?
Okay, now this is a hard question… Math, maybe? In high school, I went beyond Calculus in maths. Though I don't like doing it, if actually use effort I'm quite good at math. I just rather not.
When and why did you start your blog?
I originally started reviewing books on my personal website (crystinaluna.com). That was where I realized how much I enjoyed doing it. After a while I started to worry though, taking into account my personal website is primarily for my personal writing blog. Separation of the two seemed the most appropriate. So the following year, which would be this year, I created Geek Declassified as my home for all things, well, geeky. Whether it be books, movies, or videogame related content it can go here.
What is something that you wish you knew about blogging when you first started?
To be honest, I find blogging, for the most part, to be quite intuitive, but this is most likely a result of being born at the beginning of the technological age. Also, before creating this website I already had a fair amount of experience with blogs.
What is the hardest part of blogging?
For me, it has to be "advertising." I find it hard to be consistent on social media, which can definitely make it hard to grow an audience for your blog. The fact that I can schedule a tweet to go out along side with the post has been a literal lifesaver. I wish there was an option like that for instagram because that's where I really struggle.
What is the most rewarding part of blogging?
Finding and building a community. I've met so many cool people, as well as had some great opportunities as a result. Also, I love writing. And when I'm not working on my own writing projects, I'm reading and watching films. This blogs is a way for me to share my thoughts with others and start discussions. I also love getting the opportunity to give visibility to up-and-coming authors, filmmakers, and game developers.
Do you write your post ahead of time or write them the day of posting?
Generally, I write my reviews a week or two ahead of time. I like to have a bit of a buffer, in case life gets in the way or I just don't feel like writing a review one day. There are occasions that, for whatever reason, I don't manage to have anything ready for a specific date ahead of time. As a reader, you can tell by the fact that these reviews tend to not come out at my usual 10 am PST.
Who are your top five favourite authors?
What genre do you read the most?
As of this year, Young Adult Fantasy. I've been reading it a lot.
What genre surprised you with how much you love it?
This would, again, be Fantasy. For the longest time, I thought I didn't like fantasy, but something must have changed because now its all I want to read.
What book didn't live up to the hype for you?
I do a pretty good job of not hyping up books for myself, but the only one I can think of is maybe Legend by Marie Lu. I remember everyone reading it when it came out and it just never appealed to me. When I finally got around to reading I struggled to get through it and will likely not be continuing with the series beyond the first book. I still plan on reading more Marie Lu though.
Who are some popular authors you haven't read?
I read a lot in such a wide variety of genres it's really hard to say. Of the top of my head, the first author I can think of is Alice Oseman. Though I've read Heartstopper I haven't read any of her novels. Some others are Jim Butcher, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Robert Jordan. I should mention though, that I have one or more books by all of the authors I've mentioned.
What upcoming releases are you excited to read?
Oh my god! There are so many! But at this very moment, I am really looking forward to A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, and A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas.
Do you listen to music while reading?
The vast majority of the time I actually wear earplugs. I like to be in complete silence because I find the world to just be too loud. There is rare occasion where I listen to ambient nature noises though, but those are considerably rare.
Where else can I find you online?
Oh, I'm everywhere. The easiest way to find me though is through my Linktree! Feel free to check me out wherever you fancy.
Blog, Book Analysis, Book Reviews, Book Tour, Book Tours, Books, Fan Art, Fantasy, LGBT, Young-Adult
Miss Meteor Review, Theme Analysis & TV Recommendations + Fan Art
September 22, 2020 September 22, 2020 by Crystina Luna1 Comment on Miss Meteor Review, Theme Analysis & TV Recommendations + Fan Art
By Tehlor Kay Mejia, Anna-Marie McLemore
Print Length: 320 pg
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, LGBT
Buy this book at Amazon and B&N
Special thanks to HarperTeen and HearOurVoices Tours for providing me with an ARC and allowing me to participate in this book tour.
There hasn't been a winner of the Miss Meteor beauty pageant who looks like Lita Perez or Chicky Quintanilla in all its history. But that's not the only reason Lita wants to enter the contest, or why her ex-best friend Chicky wants to help her. The road to becoming Miss Meteor isn't about being perfect; it's about sharing who you are with the world—and loving the parts of yourself no one else understands. So to pull off the unlikeliest underdog story in pageant history, Lita and Chicky are going to have to forget the past and imagine a future where girls like them are more than enough—they are everything. (Goodreads)
Lita Fanart
Miss Meteor proves to be a top of the line coming-of-age story with plenty of drama and laughs for everyone. Exceptionally inclusive with a hint of magic, we follow a group of friends who learn probably the most important lesson of them all: about being yourself. The book goes to great lengths to illustrate this common lesson in a way that shows the wide variety of acceptance someone can come to, whether it be on there own or with the help of those around them. Miss Meteor is a feel-good read for anyone who has ever felt other, and for me, one of the very few books I felt represented as a queer Latinx woman.
I loved this book and felt truly blessed when I realized this is a five-star read (the second of this month!) I related deeply to a lot of the story and found myself rooting for the characters and crying alongside them. This is one of those books you read when you're not having the best time; cosy up with it under the covers with a cup of warm tea and escape into Meija and McLemore's version of Meteor(ite), New Mexico.
As mentioned above, Miss Meteor is full of a lot of important lessons and themes. I'd like to take a moment to highlight a few of the themes explored in this book. All of which are important, and represented masterfully:
Stand-Up for Others (and Yourself) is one of the smaller themes explored in this book with the character of Cole (who, let's just be honest, is my new book boyfriend). Throughout the book, he stands-up for those being bullied by his sister's boyfriend, but when it comes to himself he stays considerably silent. As the book continues we see him realize that if he's going to stand up for his friends, he also needs to stand up for himself. And, in doing so, he puts the book's bullies in their place in a triumphant scene that had me cheering out loud for him as I read it.
The Value of Friendship is heavily featured in this book, as we see old friends come together, friendships grow stronger, and relationships metamorphosis. The character of Chicky is probably the one who learns the most from this lesson, as she realizes how much she needs her friends and how important they are to her. We watch as she overcomes personal struggles to preserve her friendships as she realizes that her friends are much too important to lose.
Self-acceptance is the explicit theme heavily woven throughout this story. Every character has something holding them back, and as the story progresses we follow them as they come out of their shells and learn one of live's most important lesson. While the focus is mostly on Lita and Chicky, it's hard to miss the personal growth in Cole and Junior as well. This definitely gave the book a sense of depth that I'm truly amazed the authors managed to put in so few pages.
I don't want to let go of this book yet. I could re-read it right now if it wasn't for the fact that I have other things to read. If you share these feelings with me, I hope you enjoy a short list of series I've included below that embody some aspect of this book in some way (in order of least related to most related):
This series is the most different from Miss Meteor, but I wanted to include it because there are definitely parallels in the lessons of this show to that of the book.
Switched follows a depressed and bullied young woman who decides her only option is to commit suicide. After a series of unexpected events she switches bodies with a popular classmate, the young woman is forced to more closely examine the reasons that lead her to want to end her life.
I've reviewed this series in the past, and while it is tonally very different from Miss Meteor, it heavily includes themes of friendship and otherness.
I Am Not Okay With This is a coming of age story following a young woman as she develops telepathic powers.
Ugly Betty shares a lot of themes with Miss Meteor, including those listed above as well as some not mentioned, such as Latinx-culture and queer culture.
Ugly Betty follows a young woman who, despite a chronic lack of style, lands a job at a fashion magazine.
Blog, Book Analysis, Book Tours, Books, Fan Art, Graphic Novel, LGBT, Science Fiction
Always Human Theme Analysis + Fan Art
September 4, 2020 September 4, 2020 by Crystina LunaLeave a Comment on Always Human Theme Analysis + Fan Art
By Ari North
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Genre: Graphic Novel, LGBT, Science Fiction
Available on Amazon and B&N
In the near-future, people use technology to give the illusion of all kinds of body modifications—but some people have "Egan's Syndrome," a highly sensitive immune system that rejects these "mods" and are unable to use them. Those who are affected maintain a "natural" appearance, reliant on cosmetics and hair dye at most to help them play with their looks.
Sunati is attracted to Austen the first time she sees her and is drawn to what she assumes is Austen's bravery and confidence to live life unmodded. When Sunati learns the truth, she's still attracted to Austen and asks her on a date. Gradually, their relationship unfolds as they deal with friends, family, and the emotional conflicts that come with every romance. Together, they will learn and grow in a story that reminds us no matter how technology evolves, we will remain . . . always human.
Rendered in beautiful detail and an extraordinary color palette, Always Human is a sweet love story told in a gentle sci-fi setting by a queer woman cartoonist, Ari North.
Always Human is a fun and light-hearted read, but within it is a plethora of deep themes rarely explored in YA Science Fiction, let alone graphic novels. While reading it is an absolute pleasure, you are absorbing concepts that are for many hard to understand. The author, Ari North, does an exceptional job presenting these themes in a way anyone can understand while not losing the overall tone of the story. I'd like to take some time to look deeper into some of the themes I picked up on while reading Always Human and further discuss their representation and lessons.
Self-Expression is the theme that truly at the forefront of this series. After all, this story takes place in a future where people use technology to enhance their bodies in various ways, including aesthetically. These modifications are implied as being endless and allow the society represented to be much better suited for a wide variety of self-expression. Always Human is unique in that it includes a wide variety of characters with differing sexualities, race, and gender identity. It's implied that such differences no longer hold the weight they do in our current society, as it's much easier for one to alter their physical self to better reflect their feelings and personal views. It's interesting to see how society would view people in a world where you can truly look however you want, and "other" is commonplace.
Invisible Illness (disability) is the second most important theme as it closely pertains to the protagonist, Sunati's, love interest Austen. Austen suffers from the fictional Egan's Syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that makes her unable to use mods, which in many ways leaves her "disabled" in a world where people use mods to help with things such as memorization and illness prevention. Throughout this volume we see not only how this affects her but how people respond and act towards her. North does an exceptional job illustrating life with an invisible illness and how it can often skew other's perception of someone, as well as how it can negatively affect the person's mental health and relationships. It's refreshing to read such an honest representation that manages to stay away from some potentially harmful tropes that often follow characters with a disability. We view Austen's struggle in a very honest way from both her perspective and Sunati's which provides a lot of room for learning to the readers.
Communication is the key to a healthy relationship and is explored at length in this graphic novel. Whether through mistakes and triumph, North presents a realistic representation of communication that is mostly healthy but definitely not perfect. There are things to be learned from the conversations that go well and, of course, lessons to be learned from the ones that don't. Both are in this book and so well written.
Humanity in the technological era is a theme often explored in science fiction, and North definitely takes a more literal approach to this one. We are given a society that is very different from ours in a way that could be seen for the better. The amount of self-expression allotted to individuals in this world has opened up peoples mind to many things otherwise considered "other." At the same time, this leaves some people at a great disadvantage (those with Egan's syndrome). The way disease is handled is different, and the human body becomes, in a way less organic. The book explores what it means to be human is an area of endless possibility.
In addition to my analysis, I was to create fan-art for this comic which was an absolute pleasure. This series is truly worth the read and the publication of it is also for a good cause. I highly recommend looking into it and buying a copy of your own.
Special thanks to Hear Our Voices book tours for allowing me to participate in this tour.
Blog, Book Reflections, Book Tours
Cemetery Boys OwnVoices Reflection
August 28, 2020 August 28, 2020 by Crystina Luna2 Comments on Cemetery Boys OwnVoices Reflection
By Aiden Thomas
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Release Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: Young-Adult Paranormal Romance
As a reviewer, I consume a lot of content, especially books. I'm not very picky and like to diversity my reading with a large variety of genres, authors and subject matters. But even in doing so, I've found it difficult to find books I can see myself in The closest I've ever gotten was Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, which I first read my sophomore year of high school. It was the first time I read a book with queer Latinx characters, and it was the first time I truly related to a character on such a deep cultural level. Ari and Dante will forever hold a special place in my heart, a place I hope they will share with Yadriel and Julian.
When I first heard about Aiden Thomas's Cemetery Boys I was immediately excited at the prospect of reading it. Not only because it will give me an opportunity to enjoy a book that highlights my Latin heritage, but because of it's positive representation of Brujeria.
If my more traditional family members knew me for who I truly am, they'd likely disown me for two reasons: the first being that I am queer; the second being the fact that I spiritually identify as an eclectic witch. In they're very traditional Catholic eyes any form of brujeria is cursed. To see a Latinx novel include it and not have it portray as this horribly bad thing is exceptionally comforting and exciting. And, to be honest, I don't know much about things like Dia de los Muertos, nor traditional brujeria of the Latin world. The chance that I may learn some about those things, even a little, is so invigorating!
What I am mostly looking forward to is the connection this book will provide me with my culture. I am often burdened by it: the sad truth of being a light-skinned Latina is that it puts me in a place of privilege that has often lead to a cultural disconnect caused by colourism. I often find myself not feeling like I'm a true Latina, but at the same time, I'm not (fully) white. I feel like I don't belong anywhere really. Throughout my life, I've been left out of things because of how I look and what I believe. As a result, books like Cemetery Boys are invaluable to me, as they allow me to connect with my culture without barriers and allow me to learn and experience things I've missed out on. These books allow me to feel free and safe as I explore my cultural identity and help me understand what it means to be a member of the Latinx community without fear of being excluded over such stupid things as skin colour and lack of fluency in my native tongue. I've spent too long feeling like I'm on the outside, that I'm somehow "other," but books like this remind me that I'm not alone.
I can't wait to read Cemetery Boys, and am patiently waiting for my pre-ordered copy to arrive. If you are interested in reading this book, it is currently available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Kobo, and Google. And a special thanks to Aiden Thomas for writing this wonderful book, and Hear Our Voices Book Tours for allowing me to participate in this tour.
Blog, Book Tours
Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet Cover Reveal
August 7, 2020 August 28, 2020 by Crystina LunaLeave a Comment on Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet Cover Reveal
As an aspiring pastry chef, Penelope Prado has always dreamed of opening her own pastelería next to her father's restaurant, Nacho's Tacos. But her mom and dad have different plans — leaving Pen to choose between disappointing her traditional Mexican-American parents or following her own path. When she confesses a secret she's been keeping, her world is sent into a tailspin. But then she meets a cute new hire at Nacho's who sees through her hard exterior and asks the questions she's been too afraid to ask herself.
Xander Amaro has been searching for home since he was a little boy. For him, a job at Nacho's is an opportunity for just that — a chance at a normal life, to settle in at his abuelo's, and to find the father who left him behind. But when both the restaurant and Xander's immigrant status are threatened, he will do whatever it takes to protect his new found family and himself.
Together, Pen and Xander must navigate first love and discovering where they belong — both within their families and their fiercely loyal Chicanx community — in order to save the place they all call home. (Goodreads)
Coming in April of 2021 is the beautiful book Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by the sweet Laekan Zea Kemp. This cover is gorgeously designed by the talented Poppy Magda. And let me tell you, I am so excited for this book!
In order to celebrate the cover reveal, I couldn't help but create a food inspired flat-lay. The description of the book describes the struggles of a young woman wanting to become a baker rather than work for her families Taqueria. So, for the flat-lay, I purchased a beautiful Tres Leches cake and cooked a dish I love to have on a hot summer's day– okay, let's just be honest… everyday– Tacos. As a pescatarian, a fish taco to be specific.
The book is currently available for pre-order on LYBR, Indiebound, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Apple, and Google Play.
This cover reveal is in association with Hear Our Voices Book Tours.


text:
Q: Prove the binomial identity Show that for $k = 0, 1, 2, \ldots , n$,  and for $n = 1, 2, 3, \ldots$ we have: $$ {n \choose k} = {{n-1} \choose {k-1}} + {{n-1} \choose k}$$
I know that there are a lot of solutions for the Newton's equal but I'm really sure what to answer.

A: $$LHS={n\choose k}=\frac{n!}{(n-k)!k!}$$
$$RHS={n-1\choose k-1}+{n-1\choose k}=\frac{(n-1)!}{(n-k)!(k-1)!}+\frac{(n-1)!}{(n-k-1)!k!}=\frac{(n-1)!}{(n-k-1)!(k-1)!}\left[\frac{1}{n-k}+\frac1k\right]=\frac{(n-1)!}{(n-k-1)!(k-1)!}\left[\frac{n}{(n-k)k}\right]=\frac{n!}{(n-k)!k!}=LHS$$

A: You have a total of $n$ objects. You have two possible techniques to choose a $k$-set:
Method 1: Choose $k$ elements from the $n$ objects directly.  This gives the count on the LHS.
Method 2: Single out an arbitrary element $a$.  Now there are the $k$-sets containing $a$ (by taking $k-1$ of the remaining $n-1$ elements), and there are the $k$-sets not containing $a$ (by taking $k$ of the remaining $n-1$ elements). This gives the count on the RHS.

A: The formula also reflects
\begin{align*}
(1+x)^n=(1+x)^{n-1}(1+x)
\end{align*}

Indeed, using $[x^n]$ to denote the coefficient of $x^n$ in an expression we obtain
  \begin{align*}
\binom{n}{k}&=[x^k](1+x)^n\\
&=[x^k](1+x)^{n-1}(1+x)\\
&=[x^k](1+x)^{n-1}+[x^k]x(1+x)^{n-1}\\
&=\binom{n-1}{k}+\binom{n-1}{k-1}
\end{align*}

Here we use $[x^k]xA(x)=[x^{k-1}]A(x)$.

A: $\newcommand{\bbx}[1]{\,\bbox[8px,border:1px groove navy]{\displaystyle{#1}}\,}
 \newcommand{\braces}[1]{\left\lbrace\,{#1}\,\right\rbrace}
 \newcommand{\bracks}[1]{\left\lbrack\,{#1}\,\right\rbrack}
 \newcommand{\dd}{\mathrm{d}}
 \newcommand{\ds}[1]{\displaystyle{#1}}
 \newcommand{\expo}[1]{\,\mathrm{e}^{#1}\,}
 \newcommand{\ic}{\mathrm{i}}
 \newcommand{\mc}[1]{\mathcal{#1}}
 \newcommand{\mrm}[1]{\mathrm{#1}}
 \newcommand{\pars}[1]{\left(\,{#1}\,\right)}
 \newcommand{\partiald}[3][]{\frac{\partial^{#1} #2}{\partial #3^{#1}}}
 \newcommand{\root}[2][]{\,\sqrt[#1]{\,{#2}\,}\,}
 \newcommand{\totald}[3][]{\frac{\mathrm{d}^{#1} #2}{\mathrm{d} #3^{#1}}}
 \newcommand{\verts}[1]{\left\vert\,{#1}\,\right\vert}$

An interesting one is given by the $\ds{Binomial\ Integral\ Representation}$
  $$
{a \choose b} = \oint_{\verts{z} = R}{\pars{1 + z}^{a} \over z^{b + 1}}
\,{\dd z \over 2\pi\ic}\,,\qquad b \in \mathbb{Z}
$$
  $\ds{R > 0}$ is chosen such that the $\ds{\pars{1 + z}^{a}}$-expansion, in powers of $\ds{z}$, converges.

Namely,
\begin{align}
{n \choose k} & = \oint_{\verts{z} = R}{\pars{1 + z}^{n} \over z^{k + 1}}\,{\dd z \over 2\pi\ic}
=
\oint_{\verts{z} = R}{\pars{1 + z}^{n - 1}\pars{1 + z} \over z^{k + 1}}\,{\dd z \over 2\pi\ic}
\\[5mm] & =
\oint_{\verts{z} = R}{\pars{1 + z}^{n - 1} \over z^{k + 1}}\,{\dd z \over 2\pi\ic} +
\oint_{\verts{z} = R}{\pars{1 + z}^{n - 1} \over z^{k}}\,{\dd z \over 2\pi\ic} =
\bbx{\ds{{n - 1 \choose k} + {n - 1 \choose k - 1}}}\,,\qquad
\end{align}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Home » organic analysis data sheets (x) » j.c. penney co. --periodicals (x) » botany - japan (x) » wyoming writers -- periodicals (x) » Search results
(200,801 - 200,813 of 200,813)
Sketch of the Blue Water Creek
Relief shown by hachures., "Sen. ex. doc. 76-1. sess. 34 Cong. page 74.", "Sept. 3rd.", From the Corps of Topographical Engineer's Explorations in the Dacota Country in the year 1855. 1..., The linked item is a digital copy of the original.
41.288, 102.041
G 4193 .G3 1855 .W3
Map of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming
Relief shown by hachures., Prime meridians: Greenwich and Washington., The linked item is a digital copy of the original.
(W 117⁰--W 104⁰/N 49⁰--N 41⁰).
G4220 1884 .M3
Map of the route pursued by the late expedition under the command of Col. S.W. Kearny, U.S. 1st Dragoons
United States. Army. Corps of Topographical Engineers.
Relief shown by hachures., "Note: the route from the Platte River to the South Pass, the mountains, the Kansas and its branc..., "W.B. Franklin, lieut., Corps of Top'l Eng's.", From S.W. Kearny's Report of a summer campaign to the Rocky mountains, &c. in 1845, published at ..., "Doc. no. 2, H.R. at page 210, 1st sess. 29th Cong."
(W 110⁰--W 94⁰/N 43⁰--N 37⁰)
G 4050 1845 .F73
Modern Map of Snake River
J. Neilson Barry.
Map of 1814 in red., Hand drawn map with Barry's conjecture of route followed by Lewis and Clark along Snake River, ba..., Compare with Indian map.
W 119⁰--W 110⁰/N 47⁰--N 42⁰
G4242.S6 1900 .B3
Wyoming ; Utah
Relief shown by hachures., Shows 13 counties in Wyoming., From Atlas of the World, p. 63-64., New 11 x 14 map of Wyoming., New 11 x 14 map of Utah.
G4260 1895 .R362
Outline Reduction of the Map of Kansas, Nebraska, and Dakota
Hayden, F. V.
The linked item is a digital copy of the original.
G 4051.C5 1862.W37
Eastern portion of Montana on verso., Relief shown by hachures., Shows 8 counties., 130.
W1110000--W1040000--N0450000--N0410000
G4260 1887 .W9
Geologic and topographic map of the overland route from Omaha, Nebraska, to San Francisco, California
Relief shown by contours and spot heights., Shows route of main line of Union Pacific and Southern Pacific railroads., Includes geologic notes. Some sheets include profile sections., From the USGS' Guidebook of the western United States. Part B. The overland route. Bulletin 612. ...
W 123⁰--W 96⁰/N 42⁰--N 38⁰
G4051.C5 1915 .G4
Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and Dakota
(W 118⁰--W 96⁰/N 49⁰--N 40⁰).
Map of Nebraska
Warren, G. K. (Gouverneur Kemble), 1830-1882.
Relief shown by hachures., From Hayden's Notes explanatory of a map and section illustrating the geological structure of the..., The linked item is a digital copy of the original.
G4051.C5 1857.H39
U.S. Service Map of the Seat of War
Relief shown by hachures., Photocopy of map appearing in Finerty's War-path and bivouac. Popular ed., 1890.
G 4125 1876 .F5
Historic Map Collection
Maps from Special Collections,
Spider Silk Expression in Alfalfa: A Recombinant Report
Lewis, Dr. Randy, Steinkraus, Dr. Holly
Spider silk is one of nature's oldest biomaterials and has long been revered for its strength and..., From - Undergraduate Research Day 2009 - Celebration of Research - Abstracts
weinfeld, tim (121) + -
salicaceae (78) + -
rosaceae (50) + -

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Life in the United Kingdom takes place at a hectic pace and we are always running around in a hurry to get somewhere or to get back from somewhere. Along the way, because we are rushing, some people take a tumble and fall over. It seems like it is just a minor thing but later, aches and pains frequently come up due to the fall. Similarly, if you are a keen sports person or general keep fit type of guy, you are more prone to injury than most people. An x-ray isn't going to show a sprain and your local doctor may prescribe pain killers but that's all the help that is offered.
On the other hand, there are experienced osteopath services in Worthing and these professionals offer the chance of pain relief and a real understanding of what you are going through. Going to see an osteopath offers many benefits and here are some.
Your osteopath treats the body as a whole and while other methods just treat one specific problem, osteopathic medicine concentrates on the relationships between the organs, the bones, the muscles and the overall functions of the body.
Osteopathy takes a lighter approach when it comes to massaging the area and your local osteopath will use manipulation to treat issues with your skeletal disorder that may have occurred due to sports or falls.
Osteopathy has proven itself to be very effective and it is a unique branch of medicine in the UK.
For sports injury or soreness due to falls or general day to day living, give your local osteopath a call and see how they can help.
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A Veteran Owned and Operated Company providing excellent junk removal and hauling services.
JDog Junk Removal & Hauling - Justin and Emily Pollard grew up in Altoona, IA and were high school sweethearts. Both graduated high school. a semester early, in December of 2001 and Justin enlisted in the Army Reserves in January of 2002. During his military career he served 3 tours of duty as a Military Police Officer. 2004-Camp Ashraf, Iraq, 2008-2009-Camp Bucca, Iraq and 2014-Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Justin and Emily married in 2005 and together they have 3 children, Brookelyn -13, Bentlie and Brody -8.
JDog Des Moines is the first JDog Franchise in Iowa and we are excited to have this opportunity to bring the JDog brand to our home state. We are based in Des Moines and currently serve all of Central Iowa. Our goal is to grow the JDog business and provide long term rewarding employment for our military Veterans.
JDog Des Moines looks forward to building long-standing relationships with our customers and business partners in the community. We will uphold the JDog core values of Respect, Integrity, and Trust to provide our customers with the best service in the industry. We appreciate you taking the time to get to know the JDog Des Moines Team. Take a look at the services we offer, items we take and service areas below. We guarantee to be the most affordable service around!
Ensured Hauling & Moving 3.06 mi.
Jermaine's Hauling & Services 1.55 mi.
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DAD BUD – MadCap - For the Imperfect You !
For the biological buddy named, Dad. He is the one who understands you the most and gives you the needed pat on your back or the thump on your head to make sure you are on the right path.


Sallie Mae (SLM) is a corporation located in Australias. It is also called Student Loan Marketing Association. It provides consumer banking services to the people living across Australias.
Sallie Mae came into existence in 1973 and there have been a lot of changes in this corporation since the date of its release in these 34 years.
Its businesses include servicing, collecting and originating education related loans. Other services include planning for college tools and resources and Upromise Rewards business.
According to latest figures released by the corporation, it manages $12.97 billion and employs 1,400 people across the Australias.
Hello Sallie Mae Support and Contact service, welcome to our Center.
We are the Australias leading planning, saving and paying for the education company.
Our services include servicing, collecting and originating education related loans. Other services include planning for college tools and resources and Upromise Rewards business.
We would like to share this information with you that we may keep your call recordings in our database for training purposes, so be precise and short.
Tell us do you have your Customer ID or account number. It is necessary for secure access to your records.


Anmondia consists of a double room with an en suite bathroom. The Living Area has DSTV and a double door opening onto the patio with braai facilities.
A full kitchen with a small washing machine, gashob and fridge with freezer and off street parking makes up the unit.


Blockchain's principal network of computers simplifies and supports the flow of information. This makes it a trusted system that stores information while cutting out the middleman. This is the reason that banks are still working to stay abreast of blockchain--and also why it could completely disrupt the way HR professionals do the job.
If we completely use blockchain's capacities, the technology will make more accurate and effective approaches to virtually everything in HR. From big-picture regions like hiring and taxes to smaller scale tasks such as payroll, there are so many important human resources applications that blockchain will change.
Blockchain is likely to make resumes and LinkedIn obsolete It might seem like an outlandish statement now, but blockchain engineering is completely capable of creating both old-school resumes and career networking sites like LinkedIn obsolete.
Rather than an applicant writing up a description of where they've worked and what they've done, blockchain trades will simply store all their history. That will completely alter the way that companies recruit candidates. There will not be any demand for a lengthy verification process where HR offices call references to confirm employment history.
They could pull up the people blockchain. It's even possible that the blockchain can save performance indicators like whether the employee was promoted or the reason why they abandoned the company.
Having this comprehensive picture available will take a good deal of the subjectivity out of the game. We won't fix our resumes or alter how we introduce ourselves based on the specific job we are applying to. Blockchain can record both our successes and failures, supporting us to embrace those failures and what we've heard from these instead of simply leaving them out. Most importantly, a more comprehensive picture will help businesses make better decisions and allow strong performers to rise to the surface.
If LinkedIn will continue to exist, then its principal value-add is in the kind of a nicer user interface which produces blockchain technology easier to browse. The history and "content," however, will all be pulled out of the people blockchain.
Right now, earnings for contract workers are complex. By write-offs to estimated taxes, the annual tax burden can be a headache for employees and employers alike. Take estimated tax rates for hourly workers in my home country of Australia. Here, they are sometimes extremely inaccurate. For example, let's say I typically make $20 an hour. If I earn $100 an hour on a particular day, my earnings will be taxed as if I'm going to make that higher rate annually. That will put me in the maximum tax bracket, though that payment is still an anomaly. Then, I must wait to record taxes and let the authorities know that I paid too much before I could return my refund.
Additionally, I have to meticulously track my expenses when I want to take deductions, saving receipts for years. The frustration and headaches these causes are exemplified in an episode of Seinfeld called "The Truth" in which Jerry leaves a desperate phone call to a pc shop, trying to find some kind of evidence that he purchased a computer years past.
That is where blockchain can enhance people's lives. It is a reasonable and accountable method where nothing slips through the cracks. Blockchain can track my earnings and my buys, and reset my taxation rates accordingly and in real time based on how much I'm earning. There is no need to wait all year and there is no need to go through the bother of saving every single bit of paper.
Everything from tracking payroll to issuing paychecks to handling contracts is significantly more effective using blockchain. The technology allows businesses to send and receive money instantly and safely anywhere in the world without using a bank for a go-between, and also minus the corresponding fees which apply.
Contracts by implementing smart contracts which can mechanically execute predetermined terms. Both parties are ensured that the other hand would uphold those terms without having to spend too much time ensuring good oversight.
Frequently, even if technology gurus discuss innovation, they often wind up getting a renovation. Rather than coming up with truly novel technology, they just slightly alter and refresh what already exists. Blockchain is different. It's one of the few developments on the market that's real and really new, just like nothing that we've ever noticed before.
That is why blockchain is primed to cause disruption. It is cheaper and it is better than normal timeintensive and people-intensive procedures. This makes people's lives simpler. Now it's just around innovators to help it become a reality.


Where east meets west, that's where Buda meets Pest. Seriously. The once-separate twin cities Buda and Pest lie on either side of the Danube River, right about where rugged eastern Europe collides with the shinier western countries. Buda is on the left bank, Pest on the right, the same way you'd read the city name: Buda-Pest.
A visit to Budapest feels like a marriage of old and new: Renaissance, Gothic, and Baroque architecture surround Turkish thermal baths, and a youthful pep in the city is owed to its bustling financial and technology sectors.
It's perfect for an extended stay, too. Humbling historic tours lead to hours of soaking in the famous public baths, with comforting and hearty Hungarian meals (and wine!) at each interval. It shines in summer, it warms in winter, and it's affordable yet, by comparison to Paris, London, Munich, and Florences. To ensure a fulfilling visit—and a fairly relaxing one at that—here's what to do in Budapest over a long weekend.
Hotel Clark: Four stars. A rare exception to the "stay in Pest" rule. This hip hotel in Buda has remarkable views and is right at the foot of the famous Chain Bridge. That means you're just a short, brisk walk away from everything—and safely central at any hour of the evening. It also puts you close to the Rudas and Gellért thermal baths.
Széchenyi: It's the granddaddy of them all—and the largest in Europe, too. Three giant outdoor pools, 15 indoor, all dripping in Baroque detail.
Gellért: Known for its glass ceiling and pillar-lined pool, Gellért looks like an imperial YMCA—in a very good way.
Rudas: The lavish Turkish pools at Rudas look like a set piece from The Fifth Element, and are only outdone by the rooftop tub with a panorama of the Danube and Pest.
Lukács: Once you're in a thermal-bath routine, you can go to Lukács for practical reasons: to relax without all those damn tourists! It's housed inside a former monastery and you'll get plenty of monk-like R&R.
Kiraly: Kiraly's main bath sits beneath a purposefully punctured dome, so that streams of light shower over you while you soak in the Turkish round.
Buda Castle and Castle Hill: To see how the Hungarian royals lived, walk across the Szechenyi Chain Bridge from Pest into Buda, then up the hill. (You can catch the funicular if you prefer.) The view across the Danube is outstanding as well, but it's up on this hill where you'll spend half a day or more touring Buda's main attractions. This 13th-century castle got a Baroque upgrade in the 1700s, and you can tour its galleries for just a few bucks.
Fisherman's Bastion: These castle walls (also on Castle Hill, of course) were once occupied by the fisherman's guild back in the Middle Ages as they kept an eye out over the waters to guard the castle. Don't miss the view from here, either.
Danube Boat Tour: There's no shortage of boat tours for your stay, but we recommend the Danube—to sight see or enjoy a romantic dinner on a private yacht.
Shoes on the Danube: Follow Zoltan Street all the way to the Danube in Pest, where you'll see this memorial. It's comprised of 60 iron-cast shoes right along the riverbank, commemorating those 3,500 people who were shot into the river by militiamen during World War II.
St. Stephen's Basilica: Have a look inside the country's most revered church. It's believed that the physical right hand of King Stephen (Hungary's first king) is inside this neoclassical marvel.
Hungarian Parliament Building: You don't necessarily need to spend time here, but you should be able to point it out, especially from across the river in Buda. It's photogenic as hell, too.
Sunday Szimpla Farmers' Market: Sample the freshest foods from the Hungarian countryside. You can also sit down to a farmer's breakfast for 4000 HUF each (roughly $15 USD).
Bartók Béla Boulevard: This culture-packed street is lined with cafes, galleries, musical performances, and more. It's named after composer Béla Bartók, one of the greatest composers of the 20th century.
Row the Danube to Romai Beach: Find the nearest canoe rental company and row your way north to relax with a drink and delicious fuel at Fellini. They're open 'til midnight every night, too (though canoeing after dark is ill-advised).
Normafa Park: This is the best place for a hike into the western hills past Buda. You can also take a Libegő (cable car) if you're just in it for the city views.
7th and 8th District Coffee Shops: These are the two "already up and came" spots, though the 7th (Erzsébetváros, the Jewish Quarter) is a beat ahead of the romantically ragtag 8th district (Józsefváros, the Palace District). Stop through for a midday coffee or if you need a chill but bustling place to work for a few hours. Try any of these cafes: Fekete, My Little Melbourne, or Mantra.
Botellón Party on Gellért Hill: Expect random dance parties and outdoor gatherings—Spanish botellón style (just hanging outside with your pals). See if they've got any parties popping up while you're in town.
Brody Studios Events: Check this group's calendar to see if they're hosting any parties or random events while you're in town. You might get a cocktail tasting, stand-up, jam session, or an intellectual talk.
Kispiac Bisztró: Country-traditional, elevated Hungarian food. Translation: Fresh and not too heavy. Just a few tables and a menu that changes with the season.
Mazel Tov: You didn't intend to eat Israeli food in Hungary, but you're going to because this place is so charming and so damn delicious.
Beefbar: Fancy steaks. Expensive steaks. But delicious steaks at that.
Borkonyha: Come for the fois gras and Hungarian wines.
Stand25 Bisztró: Michelin-star goulash and casserole. Book well in advance for lunch or dinner.
Babel: Fresh, fine dining inspired by Transylvania. Dishes often spotlight surprising ingredients plucked from the forest.
Rosenstein: The best for local cuisine. Come here for true comfort food like fish soup, veal, or catfish.
Börze: Traditional Hungarian food, but in a bright, new setting. Get the duck leg.
Hilda: Brightly lit and bustling. Come for a classic breakfast or rotisserie chicken lunch.
Á La Maison Grand: Hungarians don't really do brunch, but if you're craving waffles, coffee, and cocktails, you can find it all at Á La Maison.
Anker't Ruin Pub: You've heard about the numerous ruin pubs around Budapest, that thrive despite their disrepair. However, they're all packed with tourists, and very few locals set foot inside. Word amongst the Budapestians is that Anker't is the best of them all thanks to its fun evening parties and overall atmosphere.
Boutiq'Bar: Cozy cocktail bar with an extensive list, plus custom options. Try the Devil Inside: Jim Beam Devil's Cut with chili bitters and cherry.
Doblo: The coolest, if not the best wine bar, featuring a regional selection plus cheese and meat pairings.
Her Majesty the Rabbit: Ask your concierge or any local friends about getting into HMtR. It's a members-only piano bar, but each member can bring up to three guests. It's hard to get access otherwise.


The Apple announcement to compete with traditional media and streaming services is the latest news coming out of Silicon Valley, but how is that impacting the rest of the tech/consumer community around the country (and here in Chicago). That's what Steve Bertrand and Katherine Davis dove into to kick off the show while also discussing a number of Chicago tech stories. Dr. Kathleen Porreca is explaining the importance of the Regina Dominican High School "Reel Women Film Fest", and Ilyce Glink is teaching us to be weary when investing into name IPO's.


Athens Kids Specialists are pediatric specialists of Athens, Georgia, have been using Time Clock MTS since 2010. Recently they upgraded to the latest version of the software and they were kind enough to send through a review of their experiences with our software. Thanks to Joseph Lopez of Athens Kids Specialists for taking time out of his day to do this.
We started our clinic in 2006 with a nurse, a doctor, and a receptionist in a small, 5 exam room office. Payroll was easy back then — 1 hourly employee. Within the year, we had a doubling of business and expanded to a total of 10 employees in a new office. We had to keep up with overtime, different pay rates, vacation accrual, etc. The hardest part was keeping up with the huge stack of paper punch cards every 2 weeks. Tabulating them in time to authorize a direct deposit cost me my lunch break every other Wednesday.
We have LOVED the Timeclock MTS platform. Its network database means that we never need to have 1 dedicated machine running just the timeclock. We had 5 machines with Timeclock MTS client so there is always a terminal available. The ability to print a punchcard report allows our employees to check for errors themselves. We also have student who report in for University credits. Adding and Removing employees is so quick and easy. Having the ability to set them into a different "Department" makes bookkeeping a breeze since they don't show up in our actual employee punchcard sheets.
Time Clock MTS has been a great value and more than paid for itself with the time and money it has saved us.
The easy to use time clock software with a fully functional 30 day trial.


A premium-quality oil that delivers maximum wear protection for high performance engines in all driving conditions.
Delivers optimal protection in extreme weather, stop-and-go driving and towing heavy loads.
Keeps engine clean by resisting varnish and sludge that can affect performance.
Specially formulated for advanced protection and performance in Passenger Cars and High Performance & Competition Engines.
including both gasoline engines, and alcohol-fueled racing vehicles.
Exceeds oil performance requirements for new cars under warranty.
Outstanding protection for gasoline and cars, SUV's and light trucks in all driving conditions.
Reduces harmful sludge and varnish that can affect performance.


text:
Gareth Watkins on Queer Radio Brisbane
Gareth Watkins is the founder of PrideNZ.com. Ten years before the website launched in 2009, Gareth was interviewed by John Frame on Queer Radio Brisbane about his rainbow audio productions.
At the time, social media hadn't been invented and streaming media via the internet was still in its infancy and very costly. There was one website - freespeech.org - which offered free hosting of streaming content for non-mainstream material. Gareth's work was hosted on this, with material also being sent on compact disc to international rainbow broadcasters - including to John Frame at 4ZZZ Brisbane.
A special thanks to John Frame for recording this interview and allowing it to be shared and archived.
Audio and Text Download mp3 Download HQ mp3
Gareth Watkins
1990s, 4zzzfm (brisbane), assimilation, australia, brisbane, clothing, colin mclean, drag, gay, georgina beyer, homosexual law reform, internal stigma, internalised homophobia, isolation, jacquie grant, john frame, johnny croskery, paranoia, queer, queer bashing, radio, radio new zealand national
Tags (computer generated)
access, activism, apprenticeship, artist, auckland, audience, benefits, broadcasting, christchurch, class, coming up, community, community support, conversation, council, culture, cycling, dancing, discrimination, documentary, drag queen, education, email, events, family, family planning, feelings, free speech, fun, future, gaming, gender, growing up, harassment, heterosexual, homophobia, homosexual, hope, identity, internet, interviewing, job, law, lesbian, lifestyle, mainstream, mayor, media, music, news, nightclub, normal, organised, other, people, profile, programme, queen, queensland, queer nation, race, rainbow, relationships, religion, respect, scene, school, sex, sexual orientation, shame, shopping, speech, straight, stuff, support, television, time, training, transgender, understanding, vigil, visibility, voice, walking, website, wellington, work, world aids day, youth
Record date: 26th July 1999
Interviewer: John Frame
Audio courtesy of: John Frame
Metadata: View metadata
URL: https://www.pridenz.com/gareth_watkins_queer_radio_brisbane.html


Rita is a graduate student working with Dr. Deanna Barch. She received her B.A. in Psychology and Cognitive Science from Northwestern University. After graduating, she worked at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior on a large study broadly investigating environmental influences on child development. She is interested in the influence of early life adversity—particularly as it relates to unpredictable learning environments—on the maturation of brain structures and pathways related to motivation and cognitive control.


text:
2014 Dorne Cup Trentham Memorial Park Upper Hutt Sat 14 Jun
MacDermids make no race of Dorne Cup
"It was a MacDermid one-two, at Saturday's Dorne Cup.
Kara MacDermid, 16, made no race of the open women's event, negotiating the 6km course at Trentham Memorial Park in 22:00. That saw her finish 58 seconds clear of little sister Zia, with local favourite Tina Harris (Wellington Scottish) a further 16 seconds back.
Kara MacDermid, from the Feilding Moa club, was 14th in last year's 3000 metres at the World Youth Championships and is still eligible to race at that level. She already has two New Zealand under-18 3000-metre titles.
Cameron Goldsmid won the 8km men's race, in a trifecta for Wellington Scottish. Club mates Nick Horspool and Luke O'Donnell were second and third."
2014 Dorne Cup Trentham Memorial Park Upper Hutt S...


TSSR BRAN TECH PRIVATE LIMITED is a Private Company limited by Shares. It is registered with Registrar of Companies, Coimbatore on Jun 26, 1996.
Current Status of Tssr Bran Tech Private Limited is Active.
It is a Non-govt company with an Authorized Capital of ₹ 1,00,00,000 (One Crore Indian Rupees) and Paid Up Capital of ₹ 96,00,000 (Ninetysix Lakh Indian Rupees).
There are 2 Directors associated with Tssr Bran Tech Private Limited. They are: Saradha Sekar and Arumugam Gunasekaran.
As per the records of Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Tssr Bran Tech Private Limited's last Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on Sep 28, 2009, and the date of lastest Balance Sheet is Mar 31, 2009.
Corporate Identification Number (CIN) of Tssr Bran Tech Private Limited is U01514TZ1996PTC007299 and its Registration Number is 007299. Its Registered Address and Contact Email are 'S.F NO 214/1PUDU KUYYANUR PIRIVU BANNARI POST SATHYAMANGALAM Erode TN 638401 IN' and roc.pcbe@gmail.com respectively.
Are you the owner or authorized representative of 'TSSR BRAN TECH PRIVATE LIMITED'?
You may link to "Profile Page" of "TSSR BRAN TECH PRIVATE LIMITED" in your websites (or) blogs.


cover artists' views of the great outdoors.
New York Pets, Tender Mysteries, Interiors and New York Stroll.
was dedicated to Milton Glaser, who has been one of my heroes for a long long time.
Milton Glaser Study Center and Archives.


Apologies for our late food waste Friday post this week. I've been hanging around the kitchen waiting for something to write about.
But there's nothing to say!
I decided to learn from last week's food waste. I've been making my own bread for the past three weeks or do to save on plastic food packaging, but we're having to get used to the fact that home made bread doesn't last as long as shop bought.
This week I made two loaves and as soon as they were cool enough I sliced them up and froze half. I felt very Maisie about myself.
We're yet to try any defrosted bread and I'm a little concerned because despite best efforts in the past at freezing the shop bought stuff it's always been a failure.
We've ended up with inedible bricks despite it being frozen in air tight packaging.
I was finding that there would be so much ice inside the bags that the bottom crust would go soggy, yet the inside of the bread would be really hard.
Maybe I was leaving it too long in the freezer and it was old.
Anyway, this afternoon I defrosted half a dozen rolls that I made a fortnight ago. So wish me luck!
And this morning my human Bokashi daughter dutifully munched her way through two hard stale crusts of home baked bread before it went mouldy.
Don't worry, no child neglect took place, Little Miss Green is rather fond of hard, tasteless crusts.
How did you get on with your food waste this week and have any of you managed another 'no spend' week? We got through about two and a half weeks altogether; this week I topped up on cheese, lentils and dried fruit; so it wasn't a big shop!
Remember, if you blog about your food waste, head over to Kristen's 'Frugal Girl' site and tell her how you're doing!
If you're wondering about the photo, as we had no food waste, I though it would be great to show that finding a home grown potato in the soil never loses its magic!
Congrats on a great week! We pull out pieces of bread as we need it, scrape off any ice, and toast it to avoid soggy bottom. We like toasted bread though.
We haven't been spending much at all. We been living off the larder and the garden. I bought milk, oatmeal, and some fruit this week.
Not great – I found half a tub of ancient (bought) watercress soup at the back of my fridge, and am ashamed of that. I think subconsciously I was rebelling as I usually make my own soup.
Usual waste mountain from the kids :(. Today's guest refused to touch her fish fingers, but at least the cats like those.
PS Nice namecheck for you in the latest Abel and Cole newsletter.
I keep all bread sliced, and unsliced, in the freezer top shelf for toast and ordinary use. If ice is inside packs then there must be an entry point for the freezer air or air in the pack. The answer is to keep packs closed tight to exclude space for air. Another possibility is too high a freezer setting. With cooler temperatures recently, mine was turned down from 5, full power, to 4.
Congratulations on a waste free week!
We never landfill food waste; we have two bokashi buckets, a can o'worms wormery, and a big compost bin.
And we meal-plan like crazy.
A lot of our food waste is manky small-child-food. The thigns they do to stuff they don't want to eat… ew.
After the success of ox liver, as part of the local butcher promotion for the website, I am taking a well earned break from it. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Next up is a big slab of ox tripe which might prove more tricky. Slow cooking seems part of the process for it with stewing to remove its elasticity. Maisie has been such a great help in the past. Hopefully, there is a recipe to deal with the challenge though the off-white appearance is ghastly. It has been a staple in the past and an older family member told how she sick after eating it though this may have been done to influence the grandmother, who thereafter gave her soup. I would like to prove for myself that it is edible, given a good recipe. Here's hoping.
@Charity: Hi Charity; oh well we have good weeks and not so good weeks and it's very difficult sometimes when catering for little mouthed guests. At least the cat enjoyed the visit! Can you tell me more about the Abel and Cole newsletter? Would love to hear more about it!
@John Costigane: Thanks John; I'll check the freezer temperature; it could well be too low. I need to defrost is badly, but I'm procrastinating because I can't think of many worse jobs to tackle.
@Melissa @ Mom's Plans: Hi Melissa; welcome to the site and thank you! You had a great week too!
@Ailbhe: That's a really successful system you have going there, Ailbhe – a revelation and inspiration to many.


text:
Books and Messy Buns
"Read the things they say are good for you, and the things they claim are junk. You'll find what you need to find. Just read."
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Review: Little Women
May 3, 2020 May 9, 2020 Leave a comment
Oh, how I'm glad for contextual essays and supporting material!
When I finished reading "Little Women", my first impression was that this might have been a relevant and somewhat disruptive book for its time, but it also conforms with a lot of presently outdated beliefs. By reading the contextual essays which the 150th Anniversary Annotated Edition includes, I was able to realise exactly how much change this tale brought about but also what and how cultural and social forces of the time influenced Alcott's work.
The story of the March family is largely based on the author's own family. Jo can be easily traced back to Louisa herself, while Meg, Beth, and Amy correspond to the author's sisters Anna, Elizabeth, and May. The dreams and aspirations of the beloved characters can be spotted in the lives of these four women who also grew up in a family with fewer means, with a father who was often away from home, and a mother who the daughters idealized as having given her all to the family and the community.
Jo's story, in particular, can be closely tied to that of Louisa Alcott. Standing out from her sisters due to her tomboyish and independent nature, the author too found a safe space in writing and developed literary ambitions early on in her life. This was an uncommon path for women at that time, which meant female authors had to work harder than their male counterparts in order to prove themselves and were often frowned upon even after achieving success. As one of Alcott's neighbours, Nathaniel Hawthorne, "elegantly" puts it: "America is now wholly given over to a damned mob of scribbling women, and I should have no chance at success while the public taste is occupied with their trash – and should be ashamed with myself if I did succeed."
Given the social landscape at the time of publication of "Little Women", it is undeniable the impact that a character such as Jo had in young female readers in the 1800s. Jo unapologetically opens up a path for girls to be less feminine and delicate if they wish to and, to some extent, to follow their ambitions and pursue independence. Note I say "to some extent" here because indeed Jo ends up abandoning her seeking for literary greatness so as to dedicate herself to her marriage and children. This turn of events after Jo had stood her ground and repeatedly refused Laurie's proposals disappointed me significantly. Enter contextual essays and supporting materials: Alcott would probably have chosen for Jo the same faith she chose for herself – that of a successful "literary spinster". But due to pressure from the readers and her publisher to follow the conventions of the time, the author found a compromise in Mr Bhaer. The German character represents Jo's possibility to remain herself, be her partner's intellectual equal and contribute to the household evenly. Some theorise this was also Alcott's way of rebelling against the public's desire to see Jo and Laurie together, instead, marrying her off to a far less attractive character. This example shows perfectly how multi-layered and complex the tale of "Little Women" truly is once we take into account the author's life story.
Throughout the entire book, we notice that Alcott takes her time, bringing the reader close to the characters. She crafts the story in a beautiful manner which results in a sense of familiarity and an emotional investment from the part of the reader. This reaches its zenith in Beth's death scene, an intense episode which is notably based on a real-life experience with the author's sister, Elizabeth. I can only imagine the impact of this chapter on younger readers, as Beth is an adorable character which we grow very fond of throughout the novel. Alcott manages this scene genially, guiding the readers through it in a sheltering manner, allowing them to peer into Beth's last moments and to see their pain replicated in the rest of the family's actions during and after the death. The feeling of proximity to the character and those who cared for her is what makes this scene so brilliant.
However, there is one point in the storyline where it seems that the author almost purposefully rushes a development and risk its realism. After growing up in love with his best friend, being so blinded that he repeatedly asks her for a chance, Laurie only needs a few months to fall out of love with Jo and in love with Amy. Upon Laurie and Amy's return from Europe, the young man is described as acting towards Jo in a brotherly manner which only adds to the contrast of this transition. Having Alcott loyally accompanying the reader throughout the majority of the story, and then rushing through this change of heart, made it hard for me to take the change seriously.
"Little Women" is dotted with moral and religious lessons, clearly attempting to teach young readers what is proper and what is not. Some critics praise Alcott for building a novel where these lessons are presented by a compassionate mother figure, speaking to young readers as someone on the same level as them rather than talking down to them as most works until then did. While I very much agree with this statement, I must also add that, as someone reading the book 150 years after it was published, I felt some of these lessons are significantly outdated and dare say they may have seemed so to Alcott already at the time. The book's supporting material allowed me to learn Alcott did indeed fight her publisher on this topic. She won a discussion on whether the characters should go to Sunday school instead of performing plays at their house on a Sunday morning – this was a risky move as Sunday schools seem to have commanded a lot of sales at the time. It's therefore evident the author's struggle with the need for tradition and her desire for reform.
The mother figure in "Litte Women", Marmee, is one of the strong points of the novel. She dances the line between some of the traditional beliefs and her progressive questioning of part of the status quo. Marmee shines in her one on one talks to her girls. I especially appreciated her honest advice to Jo on how to handle a quick temper, exposing her own flaws and challenges she faced. This scene allows us a glimpse at a more complex character than a first glance at Marmee might have shown.
Lastly, when we hear "Little Women" being talked about, there is a tendency for people to identify with one of the four sisters. "I'm a Meg!" "Oh, I'm most definitely an Amy with a little bit of Jo." I find this oversimplification of the characters slightly problematic. It delineates the tastes, ambitions, and traits of each character and fixes them in place as if almost forever unchangeable. On the other hand, I can recognise that such treatment can be comforting for younger readers, who are often struggling with defining themselves. The use of a widely held idea of a character allows for the creation of a group of people who identify with it. This, in turn, allows each individual to experiment within the group, learn where the similarities and differences lay, and, eventually, learn about themselves.
"Little Women" remains representative of the period it was written in, directly presenting some ideas ahead of its time, and hiding a lot of Alcott's progressive and rebellious messages between the lines.
August TBR
August 1, 2017 July 25, 2017 Leave a comment
Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari
July Wrap Up
Severed Heads & Broken Hearts by Robyn Schneider – ★★★★☆
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne – ★★★★★
Top 5 Books I Want for Christmas
Christmas time is just around the corner! These are the top 5 books I would like to find under my Christmas tree this year, what are yours? Feel free to share in the comment section below! 😉
NUMBER FIVE: DASH AND LILY'S BOOK OF DARES
NUMBER FOUR: A MONSTER CALLS
NUMBER THREE: ILLUMINAE
NUMBER TWO: NOVEMBER 9
NUMBER ONE: OUR MEN DO NOT BELONG TO US
Ramble #34: Airport Bookstores
If I did a bookhaul this month… actually… if I did a bookhaul these last 2 months I would be telling you how I got all my books at an airport bookstore. Frankfurt airport's coolest bookstore (yes, there are several) to be exact.
The first time I was on my way to Tallinn and had a 5 hour layover there. I wandered through the airport, entered a few bookstores (most of them with big German sections) and eventually got to one which was half an English section half a German section. "Well, this is new!" I thought. Here in Portugal I also only have one-shelf-English-section bookstores! So, of course, I spent the next hour and a half within those four walls…
You cannot imagine my happiness when I came face to face with books such as "It Ends With Us" and "Honey and Milk". I just grabbed them all! By the time I was finished looking through every book I had stacked 7 books to bring home with me. OBVIOUSLY that didn't happen! Firstly because money, secondly because airplane rules. My luggage was already exceeding the weigh limit, to add 7 books to it was nuts! So I had to spend more half an hour reading through synopsis and reviews and going to other picky selection criteria in order to get down to 3 books. I did.
Then another trip came, with another layover at Frankfurt. This time I only had 2 hours but I already knew exactly where to go! Again, after stacking more books then I should and having to select only some of them, I came home with some more awesome books.
But why am I telling you this? No, it's not to make you jealous of the super cool bookstore I found (although it could be 😉 ). It's to talk a bit about unlikelihood. I never thought I would find the best bookshop I've entered so far in my life in a German airport (or any airport at all for that matter!). But I did.
So what I took out of this and wanted to share with you guys is: the weirdest places can turn out to be your favorites. So, no matter how unlikely it may seem to you that the place you're in might be of any interest to you, look around, keep an eye open. You might just end up surprised and wishing you could stay there longer! 😉
Ramble #33: Catching up on my reading
So, you guys know that the last time I posted (excluding the last few days) was 6 months ago. This means there's quite a bit to catch up on regarding my reading life! So if you're interested in knowing what I was up to this last months just click play! 😉
Review: The Flame and the Arrow by Emigh Cannaday
Book Rate: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Detailed Rating:
Plot ★★★★☆
Characters ★★★★☆
Writing ★★★★☆
Pacing ★★★★☆
Cover ★★★☆☆
Synopsis (adapted from goodreads):
Annika Brisby thinks she knows where her life is going until she steps through a broken portal that leaves her stranded in a realm of fairies, vampires, and other mythical beings.
Unable to return until it's repaired, she's rescued by wood nymphs who believe her sudden arrival is no accident. After being taken in by a prominent family of elves, Annika finds herself struggling to resist the seductive spell of their youngest son, Talvi. Equal parts arrogant and alluring, the notorious heartbreaker seems like the perfect distraction for her homesickness. But on the journey home she discovers that there's a mountain of secrets that he's not telling her, and Annika can't help wondering who's really in danger.
Publisher: Createspace
Date of Publication: 22nd November 2010
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Source: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Interested in reading more of my reviews? Check out my Reviews page!
ARC Review: Warrior by Heather Todd
June 4, 2016 June 4, 2016 7 Comments
Writing ★★★☆☆
Pacing ★★★☆☆
Cover ★★★★★
Mary Houston didn't expect to come home late at night to see her entire neighborhood in shambles; doors ripped off their hinges, windows smashed, trash on lawns. She's sure her family has been captured by people who call themselves Warriors, who train humans to become a part of The Platform for World War III. And she ends up captured herself as well. Now, in order to save herself from losing herself, she must make them believe that she is one of them.
She meets Xavier, who is set to train her one-on-one at The Shelter where she is staying with hundreds of other trainees. Can she survive while hiding her true self behind this mask, risking her entire life in the process?
Sooooo, I've tried something different this time… Let me know how you feel about it in the comments' section below! *monkey hiding his face with his hands emoji*
Date of Publication: 9th August 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian
May TBR Update #1
Warrior by Heather Todd – read
Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs – 150 pages in
Lost in the Labyrinth of my Mind by K. Morris
A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schawb
Dregs of the Culver Waste by Chris R. Sendrowski
May TBR
May 1, 2016 April 29, 2016 6 Comments
Warrior by Heather Todd
Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs
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text:
What are you breathing in the air of a typical city? Rust, paint, dead skin and more
Friday, October 12, 2012 by: J. D. Heyes
Tags: air pollution, cities, rust
https://www.naturalnews.com/037522_air_pollution_cities_rust.html
(NaturalNews) Are you a big city dweller who can't imagine a rural, less hectic life? Well, while there may be opportunities for you in a city that you can't find in the country, one thing is for certain: The air you breathe in a typical city is far worse than the air quality elsewhere.
In fact, much of the air you breathe in town ranges from dangerous to just downright gross. Like the content of a hot dog, maybe you don't really want to know what's in it. But for your own good, you need to know. So read on.
According to air-quality expert and author Bill Logan, who examined the air New Yorkers breathe, found "a bizarre brew" of bacteria, pollen, clothing fiber, fungus, tire rubber, cooking fat, carbon emissions - and dead skin cells - according to the New York Daily News.
Even a 'hipster sample'
Logan, the paper said, grabbed a "spore sucker" of his own design and joined a reporter for a tour of the city, sampling air as he went. The results were nothing short of surprising.
Of course, some of the results were expected: The pollution in midtown and the South Bronx; pollen and fungus present in neighborhoods where there are lots of trees. But in each breath individual New Yorkers take - estimated at about 33,000 per resident per day - they may also be inhaling spores, microscopic bits of glass, starch, fat and bacteria.
Some residents, when told what they could be breathing, were stunned. But Logan - author of the book, "Air: The Restless Shaper of the World" - said many of the elements he found, such as fat, are pretty normal.
Air samples from midtown, not surprisingly, contained a high number of skin cells from many races, a reflection of the area's vast diversity. Chinatown, meanwhile, had noticeable spikes in starch and fat particles, "probably from the cooking of rice and noodles," Logan estimated.
Indeed, what is found in a particular neighborhood's air sample is like an invisible identifier of its lifestyle, business and even culture, Logan told the paper. That would explain the samples in Williamsburg - elevated levels of blue jeans, nail polish, tire rubber and pollen, which he dubbed "the hipster sample."
Judith Zelikoff, a professor in the department of Environmental Medicine at New York University, told the Daily News she wasn't surprised by the range of aerosols found in the air.
"A lot of things that are in the air are a kind of a signature of what's in that environment," she said.
Lots of everything - but especially exhaust
Regarding the potential danger of any particular aerosol, including that from black latex from tires and carbon, wasn't clear absent a pollen count. "Without concentration," Zelikoff said, "we can't say if it's going to be hazardous. But we can say, 'Yet, it is there.' Or even why it's there and how it got there."
"It's everywhere," added Logan. "We have to wake up to how remarkable this stuff is. The common, everyday stuff."
According to a graphic on the Daily News site, here is what Logan found in certain regions of the city:
-- In the South Bronx, soot and large bits of rubber were contained in the samples, including a few "deflated" pollen grains.
-- In Elmhurst, tire rubber along with plant fungi and bits of glass, perhaps from airplanes, were heavy.
-- In Brooklyn Heights, plant appendages, cotton fibers and fat particles were discovered.
In fact, Logan found the picturesque Brooklyn Heights area contained the most fat particles, probably because of its many restaurants.
And, as expected, Logan's air samples also included "lots of carbon" from bus and automobile exhaust. Go figure.
http://www.nydailynews.com
http://www.brooklynrail.org
http://nyulocal.com
Air pollution at FETCH.news