KOLKATA: Bengal CPI (M) secretary Biman Basu released at the Muzaffar Ahmad Bhavan, late in the afternoon of 1 march a book on delimitation. The books deals with a brief history of delimitation in Bengal and delineates the changes that the recent amendments had wrought in the shape, size, and population pools of the different Assembly and Lok Sabha segments and units.
State committee member of the CPI (M) and an associate of the Delimitation Commission, Rabin Deb wrote and compiled the book. Biman Basu wrote the all-important political introduction to the 75-page, soft cover document published by the National Book Agency (NBA), and priced at Rs 20.
Introducing Rabin’s book while releasing it to the media, Biman Basu said that the effort merited equal importance with the Prannoy Roy-edited India Decides and Dilip Banerjee’s Election Recorder. Certainly, Rabin’s book is the first of its comprehensive kind for Bengal, and the data used has been brought up-to-date to mid-February of 2009. ‘I have not seen such a detailed work of this kind in the past,’ confessed Biman while praising the smart style of writing, analysis, and compilation of the material that had been marshalled with help from both NBA and the daily Ganashakti.
Te book dwells at some detail on how the 294 Assembly segments and the 42 Lok Sabha seats have been reconstituted by the Delimitation Commission chaired by Justice Kuldip Singh. Bima Basu pointed to the principal contents of the book, which looked like this:
Delimitation—an exercise after 33 years
Population based effects
Reserved seats and changes
The shape and size of the Bengal Assembly 1952-2006
Demographic and other features of each Assembly and Lok Sabha seat
Results of the 13th and 14th Lok Sabha polls
Gazette notifications of the Delimitation Commission and of the Election Commission
A multi-coloured map delineating the delimitation results
Biman Basu pointed to the acts of commission indulged in by the Bengal opposition, especially by the Trinamul Congress during the public hearings that the Commission organised at Siliguri, Durgapur, and in Kolkata. The then CEO as well as the chairman of the Delimitation Commission were physically heckled. Work of the Commission was hampered. Unprintable words were thrown at the members of the Commission who were dubbed as ‘stooges of Alimuddin Street,’ and yet the work could be completed thanks to the LF members of the Commission present, which backed the Commission’s work to the hilt.
Later, answering questions on the fact of the lessening of the population profile of Kolkata, that saw Kolkata lose one Lok Sabha seat of three, Biman Basu offered four tentative reasons:
Tenants often went to the suburbs in the houses/flats that they had built and/or purchased
Jobs took people and their families away from the metropolis
Dilapidated houses were sold off and families moved to the suburbia
Those working abroad, and originally khas Kolkatans, now preferred to return to pricey and luxurious flats/condominiums they have come to own in the high-rises that increasingly dot the outer reaches of the city.


Maana and The History of Christmas, Historia ya Christmas, Meaning of Christimas,History of Christmas The history of Christmas dates back to ancient times, with various traditions and customs evolving over the centuries. The celebration of Christmas as we know it today has been shaped by a combination of religious, cultural, and historical influences.
Pagan Origins The origins of Christmas can be traced back to pagan winter festivals such as Saturnalia in Rome and Yule in Scandinavia. These festivals were celebrated around the time of the winter solstice and involved feasting, gift-giving, and the lighting of candles or fires to symbolize the return of light and warmth.
Christian Adoption The Christian celebration of Christmas began to take shape in the 4th century when Pope Julius I chose December 25th as the date to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. This date coincided with existing pagan festivals, allowing for an easier transition to the new Christian holiday.
Medieval Celebrations During the Middle Ages, Christmas evolved into a time of great festivity and merrymaking. Feasting, caroling, and the exchange of gifts became integral parts of the holiday tradition. The nativity scene also gained prominence during this period.
Reformation and Puritan Influence The Protestant Reformation brought about changes in the celebration of Christmas. In some regions, particularly among Puritans in England and New England, Christmas was downplayed or even banned due to its perceived pagan roots and excessive revelry.
Victorian Era Revival The 19th century saw a revival of Christmas traditions, particularly in England. Queen Victoria’s marriage to Prince Albert, who introduced many German Christmas customs such as the decorated Christmas tree, helped popularize these traditions throughout the English-speaking world.
Modern Traditions In modern times, Christmas has become a widely celebrated holiday across different cultures and religions. It is characterized by customs such as decorating Christmas trees, exchanging gifts, attending church services, and enjoying festive meals with family and friends.
Overall, the history of Christmas is a rich tapestry woven from diverse cultural influences, religious significance, and historical developments that have shaped it into the beloved holiday it is today.


See also textbooks.
Compressed sensing resources
These are well established internet sites on sparse approximation and compressed sensing
- Compressive sensing resources at Rice University. They maintain a nearly comprehensive list; you can email them and they will probably add your paper/solver to the list.
- Nuit Blanche is a blog by Igor Carron that is quite popular. He also maintains a more static webpage called The Big Picture in Compressive Sensing (which has a list of sparse recovery solvers). He also edits the Matrix Factorization Jungle page that features an up-to-date collection of matrix factorization implementations (low rank, NMF, randomized algorithms,....). Actual hardware implementation of compressive sensing can be found embedded in this list of compressive sensing sensors.
- An Introduction to Compressive Sensing online course at connexions. Written by Hedge, Laska, Duarte, Davenport, Sheikh, Baraniuk and Yin.
Lists of solvers
- Arvind Ganesh/Yi Ma's list on matrix completion
- list at OptSpace.
- Igor Carron has a comprehensive and up-to-date list of Sparse Recovery Solvers and a list of diverse Advanced Matrix Factorization implementations.
- There's a list at CS resources at Rice if you scroll to the very bottom of the page (and see the "Compressive Sensing Recovery Algorithms" section too).
- Allen Yang has a list and comparison of l1 solvers
- There's also a list of solvers developed at Rice University (e.g. FPC, YALL1).
Smaller and/or personal websites
please feel free to add your own website
Curated Technical Pages
- Curated Technical Pages
- Sparse Recovery
- Compressive Sensing Resources at Rice University
- The Big Picture in Compressive Sensing
- Phase Transitions of the Regular Polytopes and Cone at University of Edinburgh maintained by Jared Tanner.
- The Donoho-Tanner Phase transition for sparse recovery page by Igor Carron
- 1-bit compressive sensing at Rice University
- The LASSO page by Rob Tibshirani
- Count-Min Sketch and its application by Muthu Muthukrishnan and Andrew McGregor
- Low Rank
- Sparse Recovery
- RecSysWiki is about everything related to recommender systems (as in the Netflix prize).
- Nuit Blanche (Matrix Factorization , Compressive Sensing) by Igor Carron
- What's New by Terry Tao(Compressive Sensing)
- Rich Baraniuk
- Pursuit in the Null Space by Bob Sturm
- Zhilin Scientific Journey by Zhilin Zhang
- My Slice of Pizza by Muthu Muthukrishnan (Sketching, streaming)
- Polylog Blog by Andrew McGregor
- Tianyi Zhou Research Blog by Tianyi Zhou
- Regularize by Dirk Lorenz
- Large Scale Machine Learning and Other Animals by Danny Bickson
- La vertu d'un La by Laurent Duval
- Le Petit Chercheur Illustré by Laurent Jacques
- Espace Vide by Eric Tramel
- Discussion groups on LinkedIn (you need to join LinkedIn to be member of these groups]
Other Technical Pages
- NEOS wiki hosted at U. Wisconsin is probably the definitive online reference.
- Decision Tree for optimization software, by Mittelman and Spellucci, with emphasis on noncommercial software. Includes much explanation!
- Guide to available mathematical software (GAMS), run by NIST, similar to the Mittelman site but with less discussion. You browse by taxonomy.
- Optimization online pre-print server; also has email list. Many people post both here and to the very popular arXiv.
- MetaOptimize looks interesting; haven't yet explored it in detail
- wikimization, a "repository and resource for all things Optimization", in wiki style. Has wiki articles on some optimization subjects, and also short bios of researchers, and some computer code examples.
- EE364b: Convex Optimization II Stanford class by Stephen Boyd. The webpage has lecture notes and links to more resources. A very nice resource.
- EE236C - Optimization Methods for Large-Scale Systems UCLA class by Lieven Vandenberghe. The webpage has very good lecture notes.
- Christoph Helmberg's website has information on optimization (IPM, survey papers, matrix recovery, polynomial optimization, etc.)
- The help files at YALMIP can be quite useful.


So once upon a time in the land that was my middle school, I attempted to read the first LotR book, Fellowship of the Ring. I got to the last chapter in a couple days then stopped. My little A.D.D. mind could not get through the rest. So I just accepted watching the movies, like every other lame-o I know.
Years later, I picked up the book again. I was, quite literally, 26 pages from the end when I had stopped the first time. So I did what any other self-proclaimed bookworm would do and started from the beginning. This time, though, I finished it, thanks to my boring job that consists of sitting around for hours!
I must say, it was a better read this time around. Tolkien’s creativity is mind blowing when you think of all the insane amount of detail he put into creating Middle Earth. He didn’t just write four books on it! He has histories of Middle Earth, of elves, and of wars! I could only dream to be half as creative as he is.
These might sound like words from a book report, but he truly is a literary genius. Unlike many books I’ve read that have either been in first person or third with focus on only the main character(s), Tolkien focuses on thoughts and feelings from all his characters. I really enjoy this since I’m constantly wondering what other characters think.
I would also like to mention that people who don’t read the books have no idea what they are missing! If you haven’t read them, you’ve never meet Tom Bombadil or seen the scary barrow-wights! Reading these books are like putting on glasses for the first time after years of blurry vision! So read it! If my non-reading friend can get through all the books, you can too!
So pick up the Fellowship, people. Even if its reading a chapter a night, you will feel accomplished at the end.


A Biographical Look at Florence Nightingale, the Woman who Turned Nursing into a Science
Florence Nightingale was a British nurse who had a lasting impact on the field of nursing. Nightingale had a significant impact on the development of nursing as a profession. She is considered to be the founder of modern nursing, and she established the first school for nurses in 1860.
Nightingale was born into an aristocratic family and married in 1837. It was not until 1863 that her husband died and Nightingale inherited his estate which allowed her to pursue her work more fully. Florence Nightingale was determined to make England adopt better practices for healthcare, especially for military personnel. She remained involved with nursing until her death in 1910, and wrote several books about her experiences during that time.
Where was she Born? What were her Family Background?
In the 18th century, after some time of fighting and a few wars, British people finally took over the world. By the late 1700s, they had expanded their borders to cover all of North America, South America and Europe. With that being said, we can conclude that it was during this time that she was born in Britain.
Florence Nightingale is well-known for being a leader that inspires people and stands out in the midst of the chaos. She is known to have an incredible leadership skill that is rare, yet powerful – she was able to lead her team members during extreme conditions.
Comfortability with ambiguity
She Wasn’t Just a Nurse (keyword: nursing leader, nurse tracker, professionals) – Madam was a Nursing Leader in Many Other Ways
The book is about a prestigious nursing leader, Madam, who is also an author and a professor. She was set to be the next nurse president when she falls ill. The story chronicles her struggle with illness and the fight for control of her own future.
At the hospital, they were all too familiar with the sight of nurses in their white uniforms dozing in corners or flitting back and forth from patients to desks. They knew that what these nurses needed was better tracking so they could help them to get more work done – fewer mistakes made and more time spent on patient care. But instead, Madam would be tracked like a criminal – every move she made monitored by a nurse tracker who followed her everywhere she went.
She Played an Important Role in the Education of Nurses (keyword: education for nurses) – A Revolutionizing Influence on Healthcare Reforms
She Played an Important Role in the Education of Nurses (keyword: education for nurses) – A Revolutionizing Influence on Heal
On May 16, 1859, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to receive a medical degree. More importantly, she was the first woman to be granted a medical license by a state government. Not only did she have an influence on medicine and public health throughout the world, but her legacy in education for nurses remains today as well. Her work has given rise to some significant changes within nursing schools and hospitals.
Elizabeth Blackwell’s impact on nursing education is undeniable. She was one of the first female pharmacists in America, and what started as a medical practice soon became her passion when she decided that women should be doctors too. After graduating from Geneva Medical College
She Organized and Led the Wounded Soldiers Movement (keyword movement leader
This essay will focus on a woman named Clara Barton. She is known as the “Angel of the Battlefield” because she organized and led the wounded soldiers movement during the American Civil War.
Clara Barton was born in Massachusetts in 1821 to parents who were poor and could not afford her education. When she was only 16 years old, her father died unexpectedly, leaving her family without any means or resources to survive. With no other options, Barton took up work as a nurse, which allowed her to acquire some knowledge about medicine but still did not provide enough money for them. However, Barton soon found an opportunity that would change her life forever; she came across a position for head nurse at Union Hospital during the Civil War and then became its superintendent after accepting it. It was here that she began


This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of a streetcar named desire summary plot overview an auto-parts supply man of polish descent named. A streetcar named desire scene 4 summary & analysis from litcharts | the creators of sparknotes detailed summary & analysis a streetcar named desire scene 4. Play summary about a streetcar named desire play summary how once she was married to a young boy whom she later discovered with an older man later that.
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“Contemplative activity at the service of the Church is the definite pattern set by St. Dominic for the Nuns of the Order, for he founded them ten years before the Brethren to offer their prayers and penances for all ‘preachers of the word.’ From the very beginning of the Order, St. Dominic associated us with ‘the holy preaching,’ through a life of contemplation, liturgical prayer, work, and sacrifice. He founded the nuns before the friars, knowing that the success of his preaching depended upon and was linked intimately with the intercession of his daughters.
Our life is apostolic and universal in scope, consisting, according to the Dominican ideal, in giving to others the fruits of contemplation: ‘contemplata aliis tradere.’ Yet, the ultimate end of the Dominican contemplative nun is to live by God alone and for God alone. While it embraces our personal sanctification and the apostolate, nevertheless transcends them both. It is transformation into Christ through Love.”


Information law – often named “computer law”, “multimedia law”, “Internet law” or “IT-Law” – deals with the reactions of jurisprudence on the developments of modern information technology. This concerns, for example, the introduction of electronic signatures in law, the establishment of digital access to governmental information or the development of a system to deal with crimes in the digital arena. Information law is therefore a true cross-sectional matter that combines areas of civial law, public law, and criminal law.
Transnational cybercrime leads to new challenges
In the area of criminal law Dr. Brunst conducts research especially on the phenomea of transnational cybercrime and the national as well as international means to fight them. In several publications he focuses on the legal answers to these challenges. He explored the international difficulties mainly in the areas of the terrorist use of the Internet and cyberterrorism.
The legal thesis “anonymity on the Internet” deals with the interdependencies of law and technology and the close relation between questions of criminal law and data protection law. The book concerns the relationship between anonymity on the Internet and chances for an effective prosecution of Internet-related crime.


If ever you wanted to learn about a fascinating African tradition, the African Animality is your best bet. There is a story behind each and every single one of us and it is our bounden duty to relay the true African story to our children. From our African ancestors to our African descendants, there are so many tales of African culture that need to be told. Through our books, television programs, and other forms of media that tell our African story, we can teach them how important it is to tell these stories and how they should not miss out on the great things the African people did in their past. The African heritage is rich; it is time to let them know.
With some African American cartoon characters, it is easy for children to identify with the different kinds of African people from their own story. For example, the African lion who rescues a black bear is just like our African friends. They talk the same language, practice the same religion, and even have similar legends. Here are just a few African cartoons you can look up:
o King Krule – This animated cartoon series is part of Disney’s African American heroes series. You can easily relate to the story as King Krule is an African king who has problems with his subjects and his kingdom. The animation is very creative and a good watch especially for kids. If you do not want to spend too much time watching the show, try to search for it on the internet so you can also see how the animation is done.
O Finding Nemo – This cartoon is loved by children of all ages. It tells the story of a clownfish who likes to join water sports and wants to find his own home. It is a very positive and uplifting cartoon especially for little children. What’s more, you can look for the full version on the internet so you can watch the movie any time you want. The voice of the clownfish is quite impressive as well.
o Finding Fuzzy – This cartoon is another great choice for little kids. It tells the story of a cute, lovable, and happy penguin who has trouble doing things right and getting along with people. There are different kinds of penguins around and each one wants to be at the top. Besides, there are hundreds of other interesting things going on in the film. If you happen to love this movie, you can always check it out from a DVD or from the internet.
O The Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man – Are you a child? If so, then these three films for preschoolers are very recommended. Kids learn about prejudice while watching this movie and they are able to relate to it better. Even adults will like the humor and the lessons that are being imparted in these movies.
In The Book of Life – This is another African-themed cartoon movie that is suitable for little children. It tells the story of a young boy who is very sad because he has lost his parents. He vows to find them again and that is why he goes to an animal shelter where he meets his new friend, a swan.
These are only a few of the African-themed cartoons and children’s movies that are available from African-inspired producers and directors. Find one today and watch it with your children. You will be glad that you did. After all, watching a good African-inspired cartoon is worth it.


Doing a search for "Saginaw Forest" on the University of Michigan Library's DeepBlue server came up with several university documents about the property, including this one from 1961 that discusses the history and the plantings in the property:
A Guide to Saginaw Forest (1961)
A pdf is available for public download at that site. The document also contains a map of the three near-Ann Arbor properties managed by SNRE (Saginaw Forest, Newcomb Tract, and Stinchfield Woods) as well as an original plantings map of Saginaw Forest.
Use of the Forest
Public use of Saginaw Forest is encouraged. Rules for the public's use include (but are not limited to):
- No parking in front of the access gate.
- Public use hours are from 6am to 6pm only; no camping on the site!
- No vehicles or bicycles are permitted on the site except those for approved research and teaching use (bike parking available at the main gate).
- Dogs with owners are welcome to visit, but they must be on a leash. (Also see here.)
- Dog owners must carry out all pet waste; please bring your own doggie bag to do so.
- No cutting or collecting of plant material; no hunting or harming vertebrates (this includes no fishing).
- No smoking.


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Monday, November 3, 2008
About Albanians or Skipetarians !!
RESEARCHES INTO THE PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MANKIND
By: James Cowles Prichard, M.D., F.R.S., M.R.I.A.
Third Edition Vol. III, a copy of 1841
Researches into the History of the European Nations.
Section 5. Further inquires into the history of the Thracian and Illyrian races. Of the nations who are supposed to be descended from them, namely, the Wallachs and the Albanians or Skipetares:
Paragraph 3. – Of the Albanians or Skipetarians.
The people generally known in Europe by the name of Albanians, by the Turks called Arnauts, and by themselves Skipetares, which means in their language “mountaineers” or “dwellers on rocks,” inhabit a greater part of ancient Illyricum and Epirus. They are hardy and warlike people, and they pay only a nominal obedience to the Ottoman Porte. They have a peculiar language, and constitute, as we have observed, a particular race, which is very distinct from the Slavonian inhabitants of the country which borders on them towards the north, as well as from their Turkish and Greek neighbors, and they are now generally supposed to be the descendants of the Ancient Illyrians and Epirots. The ancient writers, as we have already observed, distinguished the nations thus named from each other, and have left us no intimation that they were in any way connected. But the Albanians who inhabit both Illyricum and Epirus are one people, whose language is only varied by slight modifications of dialect. We must either suppose that the ancient were ignorant of the relation between the Epirots and the Illyrians, and that the nations so termed were one race, - which is very unlikely, since the first would probably have been known to Scylax, and Strabo, and Pausians, - or that the Illyrians, who were the most considerable nation, have swallowed up the Epirots, and have extinguished their language. The Illyrians appear to have been pressed southwards by Slavonian hordes, who settled in Dalmatia, forming a part of the Illyrian territory; and they hence extended themselves towards the south, where they now inhabit many districts which never belonged to them in the ancient times. The eastern coast of the Adriatic, from the gulf of Drino to the bay of Arta, is the extent of proper Albania from north to south; but the Albanian people are speread much further. They reach not only all over Epirus, but through the northern provinces of Greece, Thessaly, Aetolia, Boetia, and Attica, and are found in many of the Grecian islands; likewise in in Romelia, Servia, and to the very gates of Constantinople. There are also very considerable colonies of the Albanian race on the coast of Calabria and in Sicily, whither they have fled from the arms of the Turks when the latter conquered the Albanian coast, and where they preserve their proper language and religion, which is that of the Greek church.
Ptolemy is the earliest writer in whose works the name of the Albanians has been distinctly recognized (Pliny mentions a people termed Albonenses among the fourteen petty tribes of the Liburni). This writer mentions a tribe termed Albani, and a city of Albanopolis, in the region lying to the eastward of the Ionian Sea; and from the names of places with which Albanopolis is connected, it appears clearly that to have been in the southern part of the Illyrian territory, and in the modern Albania. How the name of this obscure tribe came to be extended to so considerable a nation, we have no means of even forming a conjecture.
The Albanians are mentioned under the name of Albani and Albanites by some of the late Byzantine historians (Anna Comnena). Malte-Burn has cited passages from the life of Michael Paleologus by Pachymerus, and from Cantacazenus, in which they are describes as a wild and independent people, living in mountains to the northward of Acarnania and to the borders of Thessaly.
Though the name of the Albanians was formerly confined to a comparatively small part of Illyricum, it cannot be supposed that the people who spoke the Albanian language were, at the period referred to, so restricted in their extent. This language is spread through all the country from Arta to Scutari. It is the idiom of all the oldest cities of Albania, and is spoken at Scutari, the ancient Scodra, which was a principal town of Illyricum in the time of Livy, and is still, by the Albanians, called by its ancient name; at Dulcigno, the Olchinum of Pliny; at Dibria, Corona, Durazzo, Chimera, and Dremas, and in Pelagonia, several of which places, as Masci has indicated, were known by the name to Strabo, and the writer immediately following his age.
The Skipetarian race is divided into four principal stems, distinguished by differences of dialect. They are the following: 1. The Guegues and Mirdites, two tribes who speak one dialect, and must be accounted for one branch of the nation. The Guegues inhabit the country of Budua, on the border of Cataro (Kotor), and from Montenero (Montenegro) to the limits of Herzegovina and the Antivari on the Adriatic: The Mierdites (Al. Mirditasit), who are a brave people, and adhere to the Roman Catholic religion, live in the Paschalik of Croia. 2. The Toxides (Gr. for Tosks – Al. Toskët) inhabit the country to the southward of Guegaria (Al. Gegëria), on the right bank of the Genussus. 3. The Jagys (Al. Labët) in the district of Berat and Delvino. 4. The Chumis (Chams – Al. Çamët), on the banks of Acheron, to whom the Souliotes (Al. Suliotët) and Parginotes (Al. Pargjinotët) belong. All the four dialects have the same origin, but each has a character of its own, and is distinguished by particular words and peculiar a sound. This language is said to resemble the French in sound, but not in words.
The history of the Albanian language has long been a subject of curious inquiry among philologers. A collection of Albanian words was made by Leibnitz. In 1635, Bianchi published at Rome a meager vocabulary of his language, entitled “Dictionarium Latino-Epiroticum; and in 1716 a grammar of the same idiom by Da Lecce appeared, which Professor Vater republished in 1822 in his “Vergleichungstafeln der europäischen Stamm-Sprachen.” These, and a vocabulary of 1200 words by Kawallioti, were all the sources of information that were accessible to Thunmann, whose “Untersuchungen über die Geschichte der östlichen europäischen Völker” opened the way to a series of curious researches, which have been pursued by ethnological students of later times. Thunmann was, I believe, the first who advanced the opinion, already adverted to, that the Albanians are the descendants of the ancient Epirots and Illyrians. The same hypothesis was supported by Masci, and by Malte-Brun, who translated the memoir of Masci on the Albanian race. The subject has been further elucidated, and the principal facts have been finally established on a firm basis, by a recent author, F Ritter von Xylander, whose work entitled “Die Sprache der Albanesen oder Schkipetaren,” published in 1835, has put us in possession of the most important information of this subject.
Note: F. Ritter von Xylander’s work contains a complete grammar of Albanian language, with a copious vocabulary of Albanian and German, and of German and Albanian words, together with a translation of considerable portions of the New Testament into the Albanian language, and some fragments of national songs. To these are added several parallels between the language and various other European idioms, calculated to illustrate their mutual relations. It is from these data that the conclusions stated in the text result. We may observe that many parts of the grammatical inflexion are strikingly Indo-European, and the personal pronouns, and the declensions of nouns. We find “s” the sign of the genitive, “n” of the accusative; “era”, “er”, “ora”, the plural endings, like the “er”, “ar”, “or” of the Northern German. In the genitive and dative pl. “abet”, “ebet”, and “ibet”, come near to the “abhyus” of the Sanskrit, and “abus” of the Latin dative. The following are some particular words corresponding in Sanskrit and Albanian: S. nri, nara, A. nieri, “man”; S. mahat, A. madh, “great”; S. gau, A. kau, “ox”; S. krimi, A. krimpi (or krimi, krimbi depending on dialect), “worm”; S. asthi, A. eshtë, “bones”; S. druh, A. dru (spoken the same way: drou or druh), “tree”; S. pa, A. pi, “drink”; S. para, A. parë, para, “first”; S. mala, A. mali, “hill”; S. stira, A. sterë, “land”; S. purusha, A. purrë, “man”. (V. Xylander, 298.)
I shall not attempt to review the opinions of former writers on the Albanian language and its relations. Suffice it to say that the work of Xylander appears to have demonstrated certain positions in regard to it, which may briefly be stated as follows:
1. That the language of the Albanians is not, as it was once supposed to be, a mere jargon, compounded of elements derived from a variety of different sources, namely from a mixture of the idioms of surrounding nations, but that it is a peculiar and distinct language, having regular grammatical forms, and an essential character of its own.
2. That it is proved by the evidence of its grammatical inflexion, as well as by the structure and derivation of its vocabulary, to belong to the class of Indo-European languages.
3. That it does not belong to any particular group of these languages. It is neither German nor a Slavonian idiom, nor does it bear any very close and peculiar resemblance to the Greek or Italic dialects.
4. This refutes, as far as it concers the Illyrian race, the opinion of those who, with the learned author of the Mithridates, suppose all the idioms of nations to the southward of the Danube to belong to one group of languages, including Illyrian, Thracian, Pelasgian, and Phrygian dialects, and regard all the tribes who spoke these dialects as branches of one stock, which may be termed indifferently Thracian or Pelasgian. The bordering nations on the northern frontier of Greece, if we may for an estimate from the Albanian language of the idioms of the Epirotic nations and Illyrians, were not related by any ties of near consanguinity with the Greeks. The Illyrian and the Greek are kindred languages, but are not more closely allied than are the Greek and Slavonic, or the German and Celtic dialects.
It must be observed, that this observation does not apply with full force to the Thracians and their language, since we have no proofs that the languages of the Thracians and Illyrians were connected. We have already adverted to come considerations which render it probable that the Thracians were more nearly allied to the Hellenic race.
Just for kicks. The opening of the first paragraph “Of the Hellenic Race” states:
Paragraph I. – Of the country and people of Greece.
A line drawn from the Ambracian to the Maliac gulf, separates the primitive land of the Greeks from the countries immediately to the northward of it, namely, from Epirus and Macedonia.
That just confined Greece to where it should be confined, and not favored with post-Ottoman Albanian land for being Christian.
(the Ambracian gulf is the gulf of Arta, where Çamëria borders Greece)


People are now reading e-books instead of solely rely in on the traditional print. You no longer have to wait for the book to arrive as is the case with contemporary books. You don’t have to struggle with traffic jams or waiting in the queue like is the case with contemporary books.
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E books don’t consume space. You can be able to access a variety of books and store them on your computer or flash disk without hassles. People move around with thousands of these materials without any burden as they don’t have any weight.
These materials have websites links which connect readers to sites where readers can get additional information. E books can contain audios or videos which explain further the information you are reading. You eliminate expenses that are involved in the transportation of contemporary books.
E books can be printed with ease and thus enable different people to read the way they feel comfortable. You can resize the font of your e-book to fit what you want. You can use particular applications to transform the written words into voice. You can sell the e-book with ease, and it reaches all the ends of the earth without much effort.
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So Long Ray Bradbury
Well this is a little delayed but when Ray Bradbury died I asked Erwin to make a wallpaper to commemorate the passing of someone who had such a profound effect on culture and the literary world. Erwin went above and beyond producing two gorgeous wallpapers. Granted they don’t have much to with this comic but really can’t complain with such artworks. I remember reading Bradbury’s works every day after school at the library. His books were one of the great joys of my childhood even if the stories themselves were a bit depressing. Farewell Bradbury, may the afterlife be somewhat better than you imagined it.
Click to download the large version


During the summer of 1917, Frances Griffiths, who was then 9 years-old, returned to England from South Africa to stay with her aunt, Polly Wright, Polly’s husband Arthur, and their 16 year-old daughter, Elsie. In a country gripped by war, and all the fear and uncertainty that accompanied it, the two young girls sought to escape into the glorious countryside which surrounded the Wright’s home in the Yorkshire village of Cottingley. The youngsters having persuaded Arthur Wright to let them use his camera, returned one day to excitedly boast that they had seen, and taken images of themselves with, the mystical beings that inhabited Cottingley Beck; an idyllic spot, where enchantment seemed to hang in the air. The two photographs, one of Frances with a ring of four fairies, the other showing Elsie, sitting by a gnome, were quickly dismissed by Elsie’s father as nothing more than a childish trick. Little did he suspect that the pictures would go on to deceive one of the most esteemed and distinguished writers in Britain.
Were it not for Elsie’s mother, the photographs might never have been seen beyond the Wright and Griffiths families. More amenable to the possibility of supernatural phenomena than her husband. In 1919, Polly attended a meeting of the Theosophical Society in Bradford. She took with her the two photographs, which were then put on display at the society’s annual conference in Harrogate. Brought to the attention of Edward Gardner, one of the society’s most prominent members, the photographs were sent by him to Harold Snelling, an expert who declared them to be genuine.
After they were mentioned in the Spiritualist publication, Light, the images were brought to the notice of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; himself a long-term advocate for and believer in Spiritualism, a faith which had only been reinforced by the horrors of the Great War. Conan Doyle’s son, Kingsley had been wounded during the Battle of the Somme, before contracting pneumonia and dying in October 1917. The War also claimed the lives of Doyle’s brother, Innes, and two of his nephews. Struggling to accept his loss, Doyle turned to Spiritualism to reassure himself that there was indeed life after death, and even reported to have spoken with his son from beyond the grave.
Above: Interview with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1930)
The Strand magazine, where Conan Doyle’s most famous creation Sherlock Holmes had first been published, had commissioned the author to write a piece on fairies, and the Cottingley case naturally drew his curiosity. In June 1920, Conan Doyle wrote to both Elsie and her father to ask for permission to use the photographs in his article, telling Arthur Wright, ‘I have seen the very interesting photos which your little girl took. They are certainly amazing. I was writing a little article for The Strand upon the evidence for the existence of fairies, so that I was very much interested.’ To Elsie, he wrote, ‘I have seen the wonderful pictures of the fairies which you and your cousin Frances have taken and I have not been so interested for a long time. I will send you tomorrow one of my little books for I am sure you are not too old to enjoy adventures.’ Flattered that such a prominent figure had taken an interest in his family, Arthur Wright agreed.
As he was leaving for a lecture tour of Australia, Conan Doyle sent Gardner to meet the Wright family, and it was reported that they were respectable people, not given to dishonesty or flights of fancy. This seemed to be the proof Conan Doyle needed, and he wrote to Gardner from Melbourne, ‘The human race does not deserve fresh evidence, since it has not troubled, as a rule, to examine that which already exists. However, our friends beyond are very long-suffering and more charitable than I, for I will confess that my soul is filled with a cold contempt for the muddle-headed indifference and the moral cowardice which I see around me.’ Before publication, Gardner and Conan Doyle approached Kodak to independently verify the photographs, and whilst it was concluded that they were not fakes, no concrete evidence they were authentic could be provided either; nevertheless, Conan Doyle decided to include them in his article.
“The Evidence for Fairies,” appeared in the December 1920 issue of The Strand and featured both the 1917 images, although the names of the girls and their families were changed to protect their privacy. Despite his attempts at impartiality, Doyle could not hide his conviction that the photographs were legitimate, and professed his hopes that ‘These little folk who appear to be our neighbours, with only some small difference of vibration to separate us, will become familiar. The thought of them, even when unseen, will add charm to every brook and valley and give romantic interest to every country walk.’ The following year, Conan Doyle wrote another article about fairies for The Strand, this time including three further images, apparently taken by the girls in 1920.
Both articles formed the basis for Conan Doyle’s 1922 book, The Coming of the Fairies, in which he claimed, ‘I have analysed some of the criticism which we have had to meet. I have given the reader the opportunity of judging the evidence for a considerable number of alleged cases, collected before and after the Cottingley incident. Finally, I have placed before him the general theory of the place in creation of such creatures, as defined by the only system of thought which has found room for them.’ The book met with a great deal of scepticism, notably from Major Hall-Edwards, the famous authority upon radium, who wrote in the Birmingham Weekly Post, ‘It is well to point out that the elder of the two girls has been described by her mother as a most imaginative child, who has been in the habit of drawing fairies for years, and who for a time was apprenticed to a firm of photographers. In addition to this she has access to some of the most beautiful dales and valleys, where the imagination of a young person is easily quickened.’
By 1922, interest in the Cottingley Fairies had already begun to evaporate, and the two girls went on to marry and have children of their own, leaving behind the brief celebrity of their youth. Every once in a while, however, public interest in the case would flare up, with Elsie and Frances approached to give comment. It was only in 1983 in the magazine The Unexplained that the two finally confessed to having faked the photographs, with Elsie adding, ‘The joke was only meant to last two hours…it lasted 70 years.’ In fact, Elsie had drawn the fairies herself, copying the illustrations from a 1914 children’s book, Princess Mary’s Gift Book, the cut out figures had then been positioned and supported with hatpins. Yet Frances maintained that the final image they took, known as “Fairies and Their Sun-Bath,” and in which neither of the girls appeared, was real. In a 1985 television interview, Elsie revealed that they had gone along with the deception because they were simply too embarrassed to admit lying to and duping ‘a brilliant man like Conan Doyle – well, we could only keep quiet.’ Frances died in 1986 and Elsie in 1988.
Above: Interview with Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths (1985)
To the modern eye it seems incredible, that anyone would have countenanced the authenticity of the fairy photographs, with their obvious two-dimensionality, let alone the implausibility that elemental beings might also have adopted the latest fashions and hairstyles. But it must be remembered that those who supposed them to be true, inhabited a world as far removed from our own as any fairy realm. Sights had been seen, and experiences lived, that only a few short years previously would have been as utterly unthinkable, as the presence of the ethereal creatures Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths purported to have captured on film. In the last years before his death in 1930, at the age of 71, Conan Doyle would often sit outside his home in the New Forest, with plaster gnomes dotted around the grounds, listening to his gramophone, and with a camera by his side in case one of the fairies he wrote of appeared to him. Whether real or imagined, there are those for whom other worlds are more yielding than a dream, and who are never too old to enjoy adventures.


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Francis Bacon is the essential British painter of the twentieth century. From the end of the Second World War until his death in 1992, he created an extraordinary body of intense and uncompromising figure paintings and portraits. Drawing on diverse influences including Picasso, Velasquez’s portrait of Pope Innocent X, the photographs of Eadweard Muybridge and Sergei Eisenstein’s film Battleship Potemkin, Bacon undertook a pitiless analysis in paint of himself and his friends, of the human body, and of our place in a godless universe.
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Profiler for the library bullets physics ported to Android.
Engine code is stored in google code, so you can check it out.
*1.22 Replaced comment system.
*1.21 Dashboard with average fps by model/animated/quantity of sprites/test type
*1.11 Solved some issues
*1.1 Added help and feedback
Bullet JNI Profiler is a free software application from the Components & Libraries subcategory, part of the Development category.
The app is currently available in English and it was last updated on 2010-08-19. The program can be installed on Android.
Bullet JNI Profiler (version 1.23) has a file size of 456.70 KB and is available for download from our website.
Just click the green Download button above to start. Until now the program was downloaded 54 times.
We already checked that the download link to be safe, however for your own protection we recommend that you scan the downloaded software with your antivirus.


The witch horror books Diaries
The witch horror books Diaries
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Witches, with their enigmatic powers and dark allure, have very long been a staple of horror literature. During the gripping tale of "Beyond the Veil," author [Insert Name] weaves a chilling narrative that follows three teenage ladies—Gal, Jane, and Sue—since they embark with a perilous journey into the guts of darkness. From haunted mansions to deserted islands infested with zombies, audience are drawn right into a world in which the line involving actuality and nightmare blurs, along with the real character of evil is unveiled.
The Lure of Darkness:
From the moment They're lured into the clutches of the malevolent witch, Ms. Hassan, the lives of Gal, Jane, and Sue are forever improved. Entrapped by claims of satisfying their deepest wants, the women obtain them selves entangled in an internet of deceit and Threat, in which each and every stage forward provides them nearer into the abyss.
The life of 3 teenage women, Gal, Jane, and Sue, take a terrifying turn when they're lured in the clutches of the malevolent witch, Ms. Hassan. The witch duties them with retrieving three powerful amulets distribute throughout distinctive Proportions in Trade for their deepest desires.
As the women navigate by means of haunted mansions, deserted islands infested with zombies, and eerie cornfields haunted by sinister entities, they must confront their fears and function collectively to overcome the worries thrown their way.
Together the journey, they face surprising allies and unearth dark secrets about Ms. Hassan's evil spouse and children.
With sacrifices designed and alliances examined, the girls finally deal with off in opposition to Ms. Hassan inside a final showdown to circumvent her from getting greatest power. As being the dust settles and daily life returns to standard, Gal, Jane, and their newfound ally Jacob embark on a completely new experience with each other, ready to examine the supernatural planet and hunt down witches.
A Multidimensional Odyssey:
Since they traverse by means of dimensions fraught with peril, our protagonists are examined in methods they hardly ever imagined. From confronting their deepest fears to forging not likely alliances, Gal, Jane, and Sue will have to depend upon each other's strengths to navigate the treacherous landscapes of haunted mansions, zombie-infested islands, and eerie cornfields haunted by sinister entities.
Unraveling Dim Strategies:
Along their journey, the women unearth unsettling truths about Ms. Hassan's malevolent lineage, plunging deeper right into a Net of intrigue and betrayal. Given that the stakes escalate and sacrifices are made, the legitimate extent of Ms. Hassan's sinister agenda gets horrifyingly distinct, placing the phase for a closing confrontation which will identify the fate of all associated.
A Battle for Survival:
Inside of a gripping showdown in opposition to the forces of darkness, Gal, Jane, and Sue will have to summon each individual ounce of bravery and resourcefulness to thwart Ms. Hassan's insidious ideas. With alliances analyzed and sacrifices created, the destiny of the entire world hangs during the stability as the women confront their best obstacle but.
A New Starting:
As the dust witch horror books settles along with the echoes of battle fade, Gal, Jane, and their newfound ally, Jacob, arise in the shadows, wanting to embark on a brand new chapter inside their lives. Together with the supernatural world laid bare in advance of them, they set out to check out the mysteries that lie beyond the veil, established to seek out witches and uncover the secrets and techniques that lurk inside the darkness.
In "Beyond the Veil," visitors are taken with a gripping journey into the heart of witch horror, the place Risk lurks about every single corner and the correct mother nature of evil is unveiled. With its blend of chilling suspense, pulse-pounding action, and unforgettable figures, this tale is certain to leave visitors spellbound until eventually the very last webpage. So, buckle up and put together to journey into the unidentified, for the earth of witch horror awaits Those people brave ample to undertaking beyond the veil.


As part of the National Book Development Board's Little Lit Fest, singer-songwriter-advocate Noel Cabangon enumerates how one becomes a good Filipino in the book Ako'y Isang Mabuting Pilipino (I Am A Good Filipino), produce by Lampara Books.
Ako'y Isang Mabuting Pilipino became a significant song during the last national elections as it challenged Filipinos to choose to fulfill their duties as good citizens of the country. The song lists the various good deeds and values that need to be cultivated within every individual to become a truly good Filipino. The words are perfectly captured through images by award winning illustrator-writer Jomike Tejido.
Over the years, Cabangon has established himself as a staunch supporter of various advocacies. In fact, he was recently named Peace Ambassador of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. He also supports various organizations that promote development and understanding in the society. As a recording artist and a concert performer, on the other hand, Cabangon has released more than ten (10) albums and performed all over the world --France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Brazil, Kenya, Thailand and Hong Kong.
Tejido, on the other hand, list among his works Si Dindo Pundido (Golden Book Award 2002), Ang Pambihirang Sombrero, The Foldabots Toy Books and Tagu-Taguan (2010 Best Reads). He has held exhibits in Manila and Singapore where he established himself as one of the premiere artists specializing in acrylic painting on hand-woven mats (banig). His artworks in this book also comprise his seventh solo exhibition.
Ako'y Isang Mabuting Pilipino is available in major bookstores nationwide.
This book-signing event is brought to you by Lampara Publishing, Inc. with the support of the NBDB, Museo Pambata and Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA).


A few more books we have read recently...
An Island to Oneself by Tom Neale - This is the story of a New Zealander who spent several years living on a tiny island in the south Pacific. The author does a good job of describing his motivations for doing so, how his life in the surrounding islands had prepared him for this, and how he goes about arranging things on his island to make living feasible. I was struck by how capable the man was, yet how difficult it really is to do something like this entirely on one's own. The island he lived on is Suvarow, now a New Zealand national park, which we will visit in a couple of weeks.
"Where Men Win Glory" by Jon Krakauer - The tragic true story of Pat Tillman, an NFL football player who left his career and signed up for military duty after September 11th. I have read Krakauer's other books and this one seems most similar to "Into the Wild". It is a thoroughly researched piece of investigative journalism that follows Tillman's life through his unlikely rise to NFL stardom and on to his enlistment, deployment, and death in Afghanistan. This is both an exploration of an extraordinary man and an investigation into the circumstances around his death. The book also sheds (unfavourable) light on how Tillman's death was used by US politicians during the time leading up to the presidential election.
"The Prince" by Nicollo Machiavelli - Like many of the classics we have on board, I have been meaning to read this for a long time. This short book is a treatise on how to rule. Apparently, many such books had been written prior to Machiavelli's work. However, he was the first to write about the gritty reality of how to attain and keep power as opposed to how things should be done in theory. I was struck by how his advice and techniques are used to this day by both democracies and dictatorships. We have not moved as far from the 16th century as we like to think. E.g., the US still has a prince (the President) advised by a council of influential people. With a few changes of terminology, this book could also be made over into a business management guide for the aspiring CEO.
"The Glassblower of Murano" - An historical novel/romance set in Venice. This follows the life of a famous Renaissance glass blower and his descendent who returns to Venice to explore her roots and escape a messy divorce. Venice once maintained a monopoly on fine glass making (e.g., the production of large mirrors) and the plot is rife with intrigue, betrayal, and ruthlessness needed to maintain this monopoly. Notable are loving descriptions of Venice and of the art of glass making; the author has deep experience with both.


Dark matter is a hypothetical form of matter that is thought to make up a significant portion of the total mass in the universe. It does not interact with light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation, which is why it is called "dark." Its existence is inferred from its gravitational effects on visible matter and the large-scale structure of the universe.
The concept of dark matter emerged as a solution to several astronomical observations that could not be explained by the known forms of matter. For example, the rotational speeds of galaxies and the motion of galaxies within clusters suggest the presence of additional mass that cannot be accounted for by visible matter like stars, gas, and dust. The gravitational influence of this invisible matter is necessary to explain the observed dynamics.
The exact nature of dark matter is still unknown, and it remains a subject of intense research and speculation in astrophysics and particle physics. Various theories propose different types of particles that could constitute dark matter, such as weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), axions, or sterile neutrinos. However, despite extensive experimental efforts, direct detection of dark matter particles has not yet been achieved.
Understanding dark matter is crucial because it plays a crucial role in the formation and evolution of galaxies and the large-scale structure of the universe. It provides the gravitational scaffolding that allows galaxies to form and holds them together. Despite its elusive nature, dark matter's effects on the visible universe continue to shape our understanding of cosmology and fundamental physics.
Are there any books on Dark Matter?
Here are a few books that explore the concept of dark matter and its implications:
"Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs: The Astounding Interconnectedness of the Universe" by Lisa Randall: In this book, physicist Lisa Randall discusses the relationship between dark matter and the extinction of dinosaurs. She explores the current understanding of dark matter and its potential impact on the evolution of the universe.
"The Dark Side of the Universe: A Scientist Explores the Mysteries of the Cosmos" by James Trefil: James Trefil, a physicist, takes readers on a journey through the mysteries of the universe, including dark matter. He explains the evidence for dark matter and how it influences the structure and behaviour of the cosmos.
"The Particle at the End of the Universe: How the Hunt for the Higgs Boson Leads Us to the Edge of a New World" by Sean Carroll: While this book primarily focuses on the search for the Higgs boson, it also delves into the nature of dark matter. Sean Carroll, a theoretical physicist, explores the scientific discoveries that have led to the existence of dark matter and the ongoing efforts to understand its properties.
"The 4 Percent Universe: Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Race to Discover the Rest of Reality" by Richard Panek: Richard Panek provides an engaging account of the race to uncover the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. He highlights the scientific rivalry and the groundbreaking discoveries that have shaped our understanding of the universe.
"The Little Book of Black Holes" by Steven S. Gubser: While this book primarily focuses on black holes, it also touches upon the subject of dark matter. Steven S. Gubser, a theoretical physicist, explains the concepts of black holes and their connection to dark matter, offering insights into the intriguing nature of both phenomena.
These books provide a mix of scientific explanations, historical context, and personal narratives that can deepen your understanding of dark matter and its significance in our understanding of the universe.
So, what is Astrophysics?
Astrophysics is a branch of physics that focuses on the study of celestial objects, their properties, and the physical processes that govern them. It combines principles and methods from physics with observations and data gathered from astronomical observations.
Astrophysicists seek to understand the fundamental nature of the universe, its origins, and how it has evolved over time. They investigate a wide range of celestial objects, including stars, galaxies, black holes, nebulae, and clusters of galaxies. They also explore various phenomena such as supernovae, cosmic microwave background radiation, gravitational waves, and the structure of the universe itself.
Astrophysics encompasses several sub-disciplines, including stellar astrophysics, galactic astrophysics, extragalactic astrophysics, and cosmology. Stellar astrophysics focuses on the properties, evolution, and behaviour of individual stars, while galactic astrophysics examines the structure, dynamics, and properties of galaxies. Extragalactic astrophysics extends the study to objects beyond galaxies, such as quasars and active galactic nuclei. Cosmology deals with the large-scale structure of the universe, its expansion, and the formation of galaxies and other cosmic structures.
Astrophysicists use a variety of observational and theoretical tools to investigate the universe. Observational techniques include telescopes that detect different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, such as visible light, radio waves, X-rays, and gamma rays. They also make use of space-based observatories and ground-based facilities. Theoretical models and computer simulations are developed to interpret observations, test hypotheses, and gain insights into the underlying physical processes at work in the universe.
Astrophysics plays a crucial role in expanding our understanding of the cosmos, from the intimate details of stars to the large-scale structure and evolution of the universe. It bridges the gap between physics and astronomy, providing insights into the fundamental laws of nature and the intricate workings of celestial objects.
Famous scientists studying dark matter
Several notable scientists have made significant contributions to the study of dark matter. Here are a few prominent names:
Vera Rubin: Vera Rubin was an American astronomer who provided compelling evidence for the existence of dark matter through her pioneering work on galaxy rotation curves in the 1960s and 1970s. Her observations showed that galaxies were rotating too quickly to be explained by the visible matter alone, suggesting the presence of unseen mass, or dark matter.
Fritz Zwicky: Fritz Zwicky was a Swiss astronomer and physicist who is often considered one of the founding fathers of the field of dark matter research. In the 1930s, he studied the motion of galaxies within galaxy clusters and proposed the existence of "dunkle Materie" (dark matter) to explain the observed dynamics.
James Peebles: James Peebles is an American-Canadian physicist who made significant contributions to our understanding of the universe, including the study of dark matter. He played a pivotal role in developing the theoretical framework for the large-scale structure of the universe and the formation of cosmic microwave background radiation. Peebles was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2019 for his contributions to cosmology.
George Smoot: George Smoot is an American astrophysicist who shared the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite. COBE detected temperature fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background radiation, providing strong evidence for the existence of dark matter and supporting the theory of the Big Bang.
Lisa Randall: Lisa Randall is a theoretical physicist known for her work on particle physics and cosmology. She has made significant contributions to the study of dark matter and has proposed alternative theories to explain its nature. Randall has written popular science books and continues to be actively involved in research and public outreach.
These scientists, among many others, have made important strides in advancing our understanding of dark matter, uncovering its mysteries, and shaping the field of astrophysics.


Sunday, December 20, 2009
Books Read In 2009
A great way to get away from the stresses of daily traffic is to pick up a good book. I have read quite a few books in 2009, and decided for the first time to keep track of what I read. I'm going to list them here, and then at the end give you my top 5 picks and why I chose them.
OK, here we go:
1) The Road by Cormac McCarthy
2) The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule
3) Pandora by Anne Rice
4) The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
5) Obsessed by Ted Dekker
6) Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
7) Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton
8) Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
9) From a Buick 8 by Stephen King
10) The Divide by Nicholas Evans
11) Interred with Their Bones by Jennifer Lee Carrell
12) River's End by Nora Roberts
13) Blood and Gold by Anne Rice
14) The Laughing Corpse by Laurell K. Hamilton
15) New Moon by Stephanie Meyer
16) Voodoo in New Orleans by Robert Tallant
17) The Skystone by Jack Whyte
18) Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
19) False Memory by Dean Koontz
20) The Sleeping Beauty Proposal by Sarah Strohmeyer
21) Sea Glass by Anita Shreve
22) Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews
23) Julie and Julia by Julie Powell
24) Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi
25) Circus of the Damned by Laurell K. Hamilton
26) Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
27) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
28) The Voice of Knowledge by Don Miguel Ruiz
29) The Lunatic Cafe by Laurell K. Hamilton
And last but not least, is a book that I'm currently trying to finish up before the year's end...
30) Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Now, for my Top 5 Picks (in no particular order):
1) The Road. The book is simply incredible. It's a dark and enthralling story of survival that leaves the reader with an unexpected hope in the end that brought me to tears. The writing style is unique and symbolic in the way that there is limited punctuation, almost as a representation of the apocalypse taking away rules and boundaries. Smart. It is a powerful story, and though the movie looks good, there's no way that it'll do it justice.
2) The Stranger Beside Me. My poor husband (long-distance boyfriend at the time) got to hear me on the phone at night going on and on about how scared I was to sleep in my own house out of fear that Ted Bundy's ghost was going to come get me. This story terrified me in a way no other has--because it was all real. Ann Rule's personal friendship with the man and not knowing he was a serial killer (who would've gone after me, being the age and sex he went after) made the story an absolute must read.
3) From a Buick 8. Classic bizarre Stephen King story. I didn't expect this book to be all that great, but I was surprised by how much I really enjoyed it. King has a way of writing strange tales that shock and disturb, but with multi-dimensional characters and unexpected bits of wisdom. This is one of those stories.
4) Helter Skelter. Holy crap, this book is a whopper. I had to read it in spurts. Manson crawled inside my head and wouldn't let me sleep, and I obsessively watched youtube videos and read articles and found pictures of him and his girls, trying to wrap my mind around how twisted the whole ordeal was. Like the Bundy tale, it grabbed me by the gut because it's a true story. It's also a great look into the 1960's and all the culture of that time.
5) False Memory. Dean Koontz is one of my favorite writers because of his characters and unique plots. This is a book with a great villain you're sure to hate and heroes you're sure to root for. Koontz delves into the psychological power of the mind and the dangers of hypnosis in the wrong hands. But he also pulls at the heartstrings in this book, which is indeed scary, but is also a great tale of love and overcoming our fears and self-destructive behaviors.
I hope this list gave you some good ideas of stories to read next! If you'd like to know what I thought about some of the others, just ask and I'll give you a brief review.
Posted by C.J. at 1:02 PM


The Margret McBride Literary Agency has been in business for over 30 years and has successfully placed over 300 books with major New York publishers. We are always looking for new and interesting projects to get excited about. For information on how to submit your work to us for consideration, please see our Submission Guidelines page.
Margret McBride began a career that served her love of books in New York, working at Random House in New York. Her office was next door to the editor of the Doctor Seuss books. As postcards and missives from the author came to the editor, the editor would share them with her. The picture over his desk, the view of La Jolla from Ted Geisel’s studio was a clue to her future. In 1980, she was living in La Jolla, and opening her literary agency and having fun times with Ted and his wife Audrey. In her “New York Years” in publishing she worked in the marketing departments of Random House and Ballantine Books, and as the Director of Publicity at Warner Books, and Director of Publicity, Promotions and Advertising for Pinnacle Books. Knowing what the media wants and readers love to read set the stage for her immediate success as an agent.
In 1981, year later, she sold a small book to William Morrow (Harper Collins) by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson MD, called THE ONE MINUTE MANAGER. Thirty years and millions of copies later, the 30th Anniversary Edition THE NEW ONE MINUTE MANAGER was published. Two other bestselling parables followed years later: Stephen Lundin, Harry Paul and John Christensen (Hachette Books) will next year celebrate their the 20th Anniversary of FISH! A Remarkable Way To Boost Morale and Improve Results. Bob Burg and John Mann have just passed their tenth anniversary with Portfolio, their hugely successful, GO-GIVER A Little Story About A Powerful Business Idea.
She is a member of the Association of Authors Representatives (AAR) and the Author’s Guild. She is past-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the board of The La Jolla Playhouse located on the campus of the University of California at San Diego. La Jolla Playhouse is internationally renowned for creating some of the most exciting and adventurous work in American Theater, over 101 world premieres, 52 new works, 37 productions to Broadway—among them JERSEY BOYS, MEMPHIS, THE WHO’S TOMMY, Billy Crystal’s 700 SUNDAYS, I AM MY OWN WIFE, and JUNK.
Margret previously served on the Library Board of the University of California at San Diego and under her five-year direction, the UCSD Writers Conference attracted a distinguished faculty of publishers, editors and agents, as well as international participants.
Margret is interested in a wide range of commercial and literary fiction and nonfiction, historical fiction, medical suspense, legal thrillers, and stories featuring strong female protagonists.
Her nonfiction interests include biographies and memoirs, history, psychology, health, self-improvement and business, especially entrepreneurship, management, and finance. She also has had a weakness for perfectly executed, mind-blowing business parables.
Associate Agent and Assistant to Margret McBride
Faye handles correspondence between publishers, authors and the agency, and provides liaison, continuity and logistics for Ms. McBride. She handles the flow of manuscripts inside the office and with the publisher. She has a BA in Fine Arts from San Diego State University. If you have a question, from submissions within the office to working with the publisher after the sale, Faye will find your answer.
Faye is interested in in both commercial and niche fiction and nonfiction. Fiction interests include YA, speculative fiction, commercial fantasy, women’s fiction, historical fiction, sci-fi, paranormal, unconventional westerns, and anything with unique, well-drawn characters and a dark or offbeat sense of humor.
Her nonfiction interests include pop-culture, music, history, health, inspirational (but not spiritual), and extremely well-written narrative nonfiction.


1922 – 2010
Charlie Harper is smiling as his beloved wife joins him. The rest of us are saddened by the news of her death.
From the Harper’s Studio:
Edith Riley McKee was an only child born in 1922 in Kansas City, Kansas. A dreamy child, she moved with her parents to Liberty, Missouri, when her father chose to open a short-order restaurant. On trips to see relatives on their farms and small ranches in the Sand Hills of Nebraska, she developed a lifelong love for animals and the vast, lonely expanses of the Middle West.
The family moved again, to Cincinnati, in the 1930s when Edie’s father landed a position with Procter & Gamble. They lived in an apartment on Springfield Pike while Edie attended Wyoming High School (graduating in 1939), all the while creating art at a level beyond her actual years. The desire for formal art training burned in her heart. So in 1940 the respected Art Academy of Cincinnati welcomed Edie as one of its most eager new admissions.
On the first day of the program, on the steps of the administration building, Edie met an equally earnest young man from West Virginia, Charley Harper. In classes and conversations, she learned that he shared her admiration of painters such as Miro and Klee. They studied printmaking with the Stampers and were fortunate enough to spend a semester with legendary Josef Albers, visiting to teach his Color Theory course. For several years afterwards Albers sent Edie his hand-screened Christmas cards.
When Charley was drafted for service in World War II, Edie interrupted her classes to aid the war effort in a civilian capacity. She photographed hydro dams and cement test samples and processed the film in the lab for the Corps of Engineers. Later, she would receive critical acclaim for the black and white photographs she took with her 8 x 10 camera employing her own imaginative subject matter. This resulted in an exhibition at the Cincinnati Contemporary Art Center.
Soon after the war, Edie and Charley resumed their studies at the Academy. Following graduation in 1947, they embarked on a six-month camping honeymoon throughout America. Edie kept an illustrated journal. Every day they sketched and painted, occasionally the same natural setting, and compared the results.
Upon their return from the honeymoon, Edie and Charley maintained separate studios in the basement of Edie’s parents’ home in Roselawn. The young couple helped care for Edie’s father, who had multiple sclerosis, and were able to save Charley’s earnings from his day job at Schaten Studio. In 1953 Edie gave birth to their son, Brett, named after California photographer Brett Weston. Throughout the 1950s Edie continued painting, supplemented by a rich output of jewelry, contemporary photography, enameling, sculpture, and silkscreen prints.
In the 1960s Edie added weaving to the roster of media she had mastered. During this decade she converted to acrylic paint and completed a series of grid-centric images. Toward the end of the 1960s, Edie returned to explore an early, just-hinted-at interest in the design possibilities provided by stories from the Bible.
Thompson Hall Jordan Funeral Home will be handling details. Reverend Sharon K. Dittmar of First Unitarian Church will preside over the service. Wednesday January 27, 2010


Lorraine V. Murray (the "V" stands for "Viscardi") writes a column called "Grace Notes" for the
Living - Faith and Values
section of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. She also writes columns and reviews
for the Georgia Bulletin, and has written for other Catholic publications.
Lorraine's latest work of fiction is "Death Dons a Mask," a wild and wacky romp
through a small Georgia parish that is perpetually plagued by crimes and misdemeanors.
This is the third book in the laugh-out-loud Francesca Bibbo series, which also includes
"Death in the Choir" and "Death of a Liturgist." Her most recent nonfiction is a biography
of Flannery O'Connor, which is titled "The Abbess of Andalusia." Lorraine has written about
her conversion story in "Confessions of an Ex-Feminist."
You can contact Lorraine by clicking


At Particle Analytical we are about to finalise a booklet about determination of particle sizes, primarily with focus on the considerations in relation to method development.
Our customers have in general showed a large interest for an introduction to this area from a down-to-earth and practical perspective. The intended readers of this booklet are pharmacists and technicians working with determination of particles sizes. This booklet is not meant as a thorough introduction into theory behind determination of particle sizes, and only a limited number of references will be given: The booklet is primarily based on our own experiences and is a practical introduction to the area with a brief introduction to “why” and “how” in determination of particle sizes.
If you want to buy the booklet it can be purchased from Amazon.


1/20/17 ~ Wakulla County BOCC Seeking 2 Volunteers for Library Advisory Board
The Wakulla County Board of County Commissioners is Seeking Two Volunteers to Serve on the Library Advisory Board
Are you a resident of Wakulla County and have an interest in library services and facilities? If so, the Board of County Commissioners is seeking two volunteers to fill the Library Advisory Board’s Citizen At Large appointment.
This Board meets monthly and their primary responsibilities are to advise and make recommendations to the BOCC in respect to all matters pertaining to the public library and their cultural activities including the existing library facilities and services, and the future needs.
Interested citizens must submit a written statement of interest by February 6, 2017. Statements of interest can be emailed to Robyn Drummond, Library Services Director at [email protected] or by fax to 926-4513. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, 850-926-7415.


The History of Lake Wallenpaupack
The History of Lake Wallenpaupack
When it comes to life in the Poconos, living in Lake Wallenpaupack has an incredible amount to offer. Whether you're looking for a primary, vacation home or any kind of Pocono Real Estate take a minute to learn about the rich history of the Pocono mountains. CENTURY 21 Select Group is ready to answer all your questions and show you Pocono homes for sale that will allow you and your family to enjoy a fantastic quality of life or vacation memories that will last a lifetime.
Wallenpaupack is an area in the Poconos, Pa that encompasses parts of Wayne and Pike Counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Today a major tourist attraction for both winter and summer activities, Wallenpaupack is located approximately 115 miles from New York City. It is an area rich in history, having been settled prior to the American Revolution by a group of Connecticut families.
The name Wallenpaupack is over two hundred years old. It is derived from the Lenape Indians of the Delaware Nation who inhabited the region and called the stream running through the land "Walinkpapeek" or "Wallinkpaupeek" . The Indians' description of the creek translated into "waters, sometimes slow, sometimes swift", though translated from Walinkpapeek, the word means deep and dead water.
Today the stream of swift and slow waters in which Indian times provided the boundary between Wayne and Pike Counties has become one of the largest and economically productive man-made lakes in the world! Built in 1926 by Pennsylvania Power and Light Company and designed for recreation as well as for electrical power, Lake Wallenpaupack, also known as the "Big Lake", boasts a shore line of fifty-two miles and is some thirteen miles long. It is a center of attraction in the Poconos for sports of all kinds from boating and water skiing in summer to golfing on the ice and fishing through the ice in the winter.
The earliest white settlers were, of course, farmers. But there were numerous other occupations, too. Lumbering in the great virgin forests, small factories powered by the abundance of streams, quarrying of bluestone, the building and operation of the Delaware and Hudson Canal as well as the Erie Railroad brought thousands of people to the Wallenpaupack Area. But the building of the hydroelectric dam at the site of the ancient Lenape "Wallinkpaupeek" River caused a growth spurt in the area which continues to this day.
It is in this setting that the Wallenpaupack Area School District evolved. With the passing of the Free School Act by the Pennsylvania State Legislature in 1834, many schools were built in Wayne and Pike Counties which included the Wallenpaupack Area. In those days each town or township had its own school district. Prior to 1850 there were at least nine different schools in Lackawaxen Township which at that time included Blooming Grove Township. The original school at Lackawaxen was built of stone, but lasted only a few years. A second school was constructed in 1856.
As early as 1822 James Wheeling opened a private school in a log house in what would become the village of Hawley. There were twelve students in the school, three of them qualifying as "paupers" which meant that their parents were unable to pay for their education and that the County would pay for it. This, of course, was before the Free School Act of 1834. After the Free School Act passed this became the first Public School in Hawley.
After the 1850's schools sprang up everywhere in the Wallenpaupack Area. There was the Marble Hill School which was attended by children who along with their families worked for the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. Because many of the children also worked on the Canal, school was open only between December 1 and March 31 when the Canal was shut down for the winter.
By 1869 Palmyra Township had eight schools and Paupack Township had six schools. It was about this time that a new school at White Mills School was built for less than $1000. There was also a school at Wilsonville which would later become submerged under Lake Wallenpaupack. Greene Township also had about a dozen schools in the 1800's. By 1892 there were approximately 56 schools in the boundaries of what now roughly composes Wallenpaupack Area School District with about 1175 students.
It is interesting to note that although people referred to little red schoolhouses most of them never knew any red paint--they were only weather beaten.


Written by Dena Burnett
We too often forget the impact that Canadian creators have made in comics. It could possibly be our quiet and humble nature as Canadians, but it could also be that these impacts are so subtle and so broad that we never really took time to notice. It just kind of happened.
Canadians were trailblazers in the Golden Age of Superheroes. Ontario-born Joe Shuster defined a genre with his co-creation of the mild-mannered reporter—really an alien from Krypton—who saved the world numerous times by running faster than a speeding bullet and leaping tall buildings in a single bound. Superman truly is super; but we all too often overlook our other early Canadian superheroes.
Pre-dating the more popular Wonder Woman by a few months, Adrian Dingle’s Nelvana of the Northern Lights—the powerful protector of the North, presented Canadians with a superhero to call their own. Soon to follow were Brok Windsor, Johnny Canuck, Fleur de Lys, and Captain Canuck; each uniquely representing our strong, adventurous, generous, and persevering spirit. These characters and their stories continue to influence comics today.
Canadians didn’t just make an impact in creating heroes to call our own, but also through American publishing companies. Notable Canadian creators include John Byrne, Darwyn Cooke, Todd McFarlane, Jeff Lemire, Fiona Staples, Tom Grummett, Ed Brisson and Camilla d’Errico, (just to name a few) many achieving national and international recognition for their creative works.
Although comic books are thought of as ‘super hero stories’ and Canadians definitely put their thumbprints on these tales and characters, there’s so, so much more to comics and sequential art as a story-telling medium. Dave Sim and his long-running Cerebus series defined the genre of alternative comics, leading the way for many independent creators to come. It also re-introduced comics as a medium to illustrate the need for social and political change, as a reflection and interpretation of art imitating life, and life finding its place in art.
In this genre there’s something for everyone. Stories in comics are as diverse and spanning as the stories we see played out for us on the stage and screen: thrillers, romance, crime dramas, horror, history, science fiction, fantasy, family dramas, comedy, and coming-of-age stories. There is a story for everyone, including everyone from your toddler niece who’s just learning to read to the wizened grandparent rediscovering new adventures.
At the Saskatoon Entertainment Expo, we have expert Creator Guests who dig in and help us in critically consuming comics: anthology editors, comic historians, and podcasters. If you don’t know where to start—finding new stories can sometimes be overwhelming—these are the folks who can help you find and digest an adventure that’s just right for you.
It’s been 79 years since the iconic Action Comics #1 cover that introduced the world to a new story-telling medium. We’ve come a long ways from the newsstand or the basement comic store. Comics are more accessible now than ever; chances are pretty good that you could take your newest findings to read on your phone while waiting in line for that Celebrity Guest autograph. The Saskatoon Entertainment Expo is the perfect place to discover some new Canadian stories.
Featured image credit: www.comicbookdaily.com


by Camy Tang
220 pages. 288 pages (Larger Print version).
Genre: Suspense, Romance, Inspirational
Series: Sonoma #6, Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
As a skip tracer in training, Joslyn Dimalanta knows she has the skills to track down her missing friend. As long as her friend’s startlingly handsome brother, Clay Ashton, doesn’t distract her. But then his sister’s house detonates—almost killing Clay and Joslyn. Now they realize the harsh reality: they must either find the person after Clay’s sister or face deadly consequences. And the closer they get to exposing the source of the crimes, the more explosive surprises they discover. With every obstacle they overcome, Joslyn finds herself relying on Clay more and more. Still, the peril they face scares her less than the idea of trusting Clay with her wounded heart.
First Sentence: The man had danger written all over him.
I initially had no interest in reading this book. My stepmother gave me this book as a hand-me-down after cleaning out her own library. I smiled as I accepted it, but as I looked on the back and noticed it was a Harlequin novel, I cringed.
1. Romance novels have never been my cup of tea. Well, to be fair, I had never actually read a romance novel until this one. I just assumed I would hate them from random little excerpts I’d hear read on television.
2. To make it even more of a turnoff, it was an “inspirational” romance. My stepmother is a hardcore Christian, so I wasn’t surprised. Not being a religious person myself, I just couldn’t see myself enjoying it.
3. It was book #6 of a series. I don’t typically enjoy starting in the middle of a series.
I kept the book on my shelf for a couple of years, not sure what to do with it. Donate it? Sell it at a yard sale? Then the idea hit me one day while I was rearranging my bookshelf and stumbled upon it: Why not just read the first chapter and then go from there?
I must say, I was pleasantly surprised at the fact that I enjoyed this story, but I struggled with how many stars to give it. Should it be 2 or 3? Was it just okay? Or did I like it enough to read more of the series? Well, let us break it all down:
My problems with the book:
The first sentence was too cheesy for my taste. “The man had danger written all over him.” The rest of the first page then goes on to start describing this perfect hunk of a man in poetic detail. It just seemed to confirm I was reading the typical stereotype of a romance novel and that irked me.
Fiona sends a postcard to Joslyn, an old college friend she has lost touch with, saying she needs help. Fiona also calls her half-brother, Clay (whom she has also lost touch with) with a vague and short message that she was in trouble. It takes both Joslyn and Clay three weeks to track down where Fiona now lives so they can check on her. Joslyn finds her through her skip tracing skills and Clay finds her through a PI. In some crazy twist of convenient irony (perhaps it was God’s plan?), Joslyn and Clay show up at Fiona’s house at exactly the same time. And as luck would have it, they are both strongly attracted to each other within hours of meeting. It’s just too… perfect.
I was surprised to see that it wasn’t a typical romance novel in that it didn’t have any hot and steamy scenes of passion, but I shouldn’t have been surprised. It is, after all, an inspirational novel as well, which makes it clean and wholesome.
The inspirational parts of the book are brought up seemingly out of nowhere. At one point, both Joslyn and Clay are being shot by the two thugs that chase them throughout the story and Joslyn makes a comment about praying. She doesn’t like the expression on Clays face after she says it (I personally can’t see a guy wearing a pleasant expression when he’s being chased and shot at) and then seemingly forgets about the fact that they are both in danger so she can spend a paragraph thinking about whether or not Clay was offended by her being a Christian.
Of all the times the Christian faith is brought up in the book, only one of them fits within the context of the story. The rest of the references just seem painfully out of place.
What I liked:
As I said, I only found that one of the several references to religion seemed to fit in this story, which is crucial as it is, in the end, the central theme of the book. At the very beginning of the book, there is a biblical verse which reads: Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. – 1 Peter 4:8.
This verse is used by one of the characters later in the story and it fits very nicely. The overall theme of the book is that no matter how bad your past may be, there is always a chance for redemption as long as you have love.
You have Joslyn, who is trying to move on with her life after escaping an abusive boyfriend and you have Clay, who is stuck in self-hatred and doubt after spending time in prison for being a mafia thug. It seems similar to the parable of The Prodigal Son. Clay feels he doesn’t belong anywhere, nor does he deserve the love of others because of his past, but he finds with Joslyn and her crew that he can be loved and accepted. His past does not define him.
Surprisingly, I do not feel that the romance of this Harlequin novel was over dramatized. The story focused more on the suspense of being chased and pursued. Lots of car chases, explosions, shootouts, and being on the run. There was an element of mystery in trying to find out what happened to Fiona and who it is that is after Joslyn and Clay. For all my complaints and biases, it is because of this constant suspense, that I enjoyed Gone Missing.
In all, even if this isn’t my typical choice of book genre, I would say that if I were to ever come across the other novels in this series (The Sonoma series), I would probably read them. There were many references to the previous book that peaked my interest. It sounds as though there will be just as much suspense in book #5 as there was in book #6.
The writing itself is simple and straightforward, making for a quick read. It’s a nice book to read when trying to wind down at the end of the day.
The memories, more bitter than medicine, burned his tongue and throat, and he swallowed to get them out of his system.
“Your past has shaped who you are, but it’s not what defines you.”


Definition / Define
- Qs Letter
- The seventeenth letter of the English alphabet, called cue and written in the Latin script.
- Qs Number
- The ordinal number seventeenth, derived from this letter of the English alphabet, called cue and written in the Latin script.
- Qs Abbreviation
- Question or questions.
- Q and A.
- The supposed common source of the Gospels of Mark and Luke (from German Quelle, source).
- The Q factor in electronics.
- American Library Association Abbreviation for quarto, book size (25-30cm).
- Qs Proper noun
- The pseudonym of Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch.


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