Whether you’re lounging in a private cabana or soaking up the sun alongside one of Singapore’s most stunning rooftop hotel pools, we’ve got a perfect page-turner for you. From an Indonesian career girl’s determined online hunt for the perfect man to an Englishman’s precarious quest for a new life in India, these are the best books that pair perfectly with a frozen cocktail and are filled with superb prose guaranteed to draw you in.
Larkin’s debut novel plunges into the complex enigma that is contemporary Bangkok. To three local residents, a plot of land behind a city slum represents a sanctuary, a welcome distraction, and the business deal of a lifetime – but only the slum-dwelling spirits know its darkest secrets.
Violette Toussaint, the caretaker of a cemetery in Bourgogne, is determined to discover who was responsible for the tragic loss of her daughter. A runaway bestseller in Italy and France (it was dubbed Italy’s favourite lockdown novel of 2020), this is a story of love and loss, the poetic in the ordinary, and the value of kindness.
Written by one of Norway’s rising stars and critical sensations, Grown Ups explores sibling rivalry, modern motherhood, and the increasingly debated choice to be child-free. Laced with cringe-worthy comedic moments and biting insight, Aubert’s depiction of the simmering tensions between 40-year-old architect Ida’s dysfunctional family is quintessential contemporary Scandinavian fiction at its sharpest.
Winner of a Betty Trask Award (which recognises writers under the age of 35 for their first novel), Lafarge’s novel follows graduate student Frances, who evades her scandal-stricken past in Paris and volunteers in rural France only to become entangled with Paul, the charismatic and manipulative owner of an eco-farm.
At the end of her tether with her mother’s nagging and the unwelcome prospect of an arranged marriage, independent career woman Ratu turns to Jakarta’s online dating scene and embarks on a tricky mission to find her tall, slim, and handsome dreamboat.
Set on avenging her father’s death, Aida El Masri returns from war-torn London to her family’s estate in Egypt. What Aida does not expect is to fall for the son of the man who she believes betrayed her father – and in the process, rediscovering the homeland she loves.
Against the chaotic backdrop of a movie set festering with accidents, scandals, and perilous schemes, film editor-turned-sleuth Melissa finds herself investigating the real-life murder at the centre of the project. A sprightly, defiantly feminist whodunnit that examines our cultural addiction to true crime stories.
Selected as last year’s Novel of the Year by The Sunday Times, The Mission House traces the path of Englishman Hilary Byrd as he leaves his demons behind in Britain, fleeing to a mission house located in the former British hill station of Ooty in South India. Brewing religious tensions, however, threaten to disrupt the safety of his newfound haven.
For those who prefer an alternative to a conventional novel, this collection of comic strips by visual artist and cartoonist Chiang revisits the strange and surreal times of Singapore’s Circuit Breaker days from April to June 2020, putting a quirky spin on unexpected lockdown-related issues such as forced family time and toilet paper shortages.
And a bonus book for restless little ones…
Consider this the key to getting some uninterrupted poolside time if you’re bringing a little one with you. This splash-proof, squishy book changes colour when it comes into contact with water, revealing friendly sea creatures who’ll keep babies and young ones entertained while you sunbathe.
3 Top Poolside Reading Spots
Private Cabana at Fairmont Singapore
Lounging in the shade of one of Fairmont Singapore’s private cabanas, you’ll find yourself in one of the sweetest spots from which to explore the hotel’s two freeform outdoor pools.
Sunbed at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore
In between dipping into the elegant saltwater relaxation pool, stretch out on a sunbed and gaze up at the hotel’s glass canopy and the lush wall of greenery below it.
Jacuzzi at The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore
Lounge in one of two jacuzzis, dive into the glittering 25-metre rooftop swimming pool and in between pages, take in some seriously panoramic views of Singapore’s skyline.
Whether your favourite poolside accessory is a book or an Aperol Spritz (or both), find your next sunny waterside getaway here.


Web + Graphic Design
Intermediate web & graphic design, plus a side of copy writing!
DeTamble Library Website
From LibGuides to a University Website Page + LibGuides - September 2022 - March 2023
When I arrived at my current position at St. Andrews, the library's web presence consisted of LibGuides (a content management system or CMS specifically for libraries) with a link from the main university website. Rather than duplicate library web content on LibGuides and the college website, I opted to used HTML + CSS to mirror the styling on the main university website.
Library LibGuides, August 2022
Sa.edu, December 2022
In early 2023, I found out that the university was planning to implement a major website redesign. Instead of spending hours of code LibGuides to the resemble the new site new website, I instead opted for a compromise: a bona fide landing page on the main university website (rather than a single link to LibGuides) and a refreshed, minimalist redesign of our LibGuides.
There are some LibGuides features that cannot be replicated or embedded on a Wordpress installation (which sa.edu uses) and yet, I wanted an official presence on the university website. I recreated portions of the library's presence on LibGuides, keeping the original structure but now on the university's Wordpress site. The 'standard' pages, like staff, hours, & services, were transferred to WordPress, while the unique filtering services of LibGuides were retained and linked to sa.edu/library. The Research Guides, a powerful tool for curating info resources by discipline, and the A-Z Database list, a tool for listing and filtering databases by discipline, are strengths of the LibGuides CMS that generic CMS systems cannot rival.
As a former member of this church, I built a new website from scratch pro bono. Using Google Sites, I copied the text from the existing site and added several pages and added an original Welcome page where I explained, in succinct, non-theological language, what the church was like and what it means to be Lutheran.
Since the church had no logo, I created a new logo. After submitting several designs to the church council, the council decided that the logo that incorporates the cross and roof line of the sanctuary was the best one. I also incorporated the red and black color scheme from the website to 'mesh' the logo with the site. I am not a graphic designer, so I simply took an picture of the church, uploaded it to Google Drive and created a rough outline using Google Drawings. Once the outline was complete, I removed the background image and added text. The product was a simple, modern church logo!
Screenshot of Church Sanctuary from Google Maps
Church logo that incorporates roofline of the church, large cross affixed to front of sanctuary.
In the fall of 2021, I embarked on creating a new library website for Simmons College of Kentucky. Previously, the library had a single page on the main college website. The new site, built in LibGuides, with extensive CSS enhancements, was designed to resemble the new college website.
Beginning in late 2022, I began working on a new website for the NC Rural Heritage Center. The site has yet to be launched, but its 99% complete. I made the site in Google Sites, using photos that I took.


Caitlyn wasn't ready for sleep, I guess, when I finished her lullabies and left her room last night. Instead of in bed, under blankets, she was across the room, with her books. After she'd quieted down and fallen asleep, I went in to check on her. She'd made it to her bed and was lying on her tummy, with her head off her mat and on the carpet. Her stuffed black and white "Tinker" cat was tucked under one arm; her other was splayed across If I Ran the Circus, which she had brought to bed.
It's quite possible we have a bookworm on our hands. You are never too young to fall asleep with your books.


The Illustrated Principles of Pool and Billiards
The DVD contains narrated video demonstrations of various pool and
billiards techniques and principles, narrated descriptions of various
illustrations and examples from the book, and super-slow-motion
video clips filmed with a special high-frame-rate video camera.
The DVD helps you learn everything from the fundamentals
(stance, stroke, aiming methods, etc.) to advanced techniques
(english, carom shots, jump and masse shots, etc.).
plays in any DVD player (US compatible) or any computer with a DVD drive
price: $24.95 + $3.50 S&H
For more information, see:
Why purchase the DVD?
excerpts ("trailer") from the DVD:
Purchase a copy
click here for information on other instructional products available from Dr. Dave Billiards


Once upon a time, the Enlightenment Being was born as a fish in a pond in northern India. There were many kinds of fish, big and small, living in the pond with the Bodhisatta.
Just before he died, Alexander convened his generals and told them his last
First is that his coffin SHOULD BE carried on the shoulders and transported by
the best doctors of the time.
One day a young man was standing in the middle of the town proclaiming that he had the most beautiful heart in the whole valley. A large crowd gathered and they all admired his heart for it was perfect. There was not a mark or a flaw in it.
Many, many years ago in North Africa there lived a chief. He was very rich and had many wives and children. But he was not happy. He thought, “I have everything. But that does not make me happy.
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up.
Once there was a small boy named Shankar. He belonged to a poor family. One day, he was crossing through the forest carrying some woods. He saw an old man who was very hungry.
Once upon a time the Enlightenment Being was born as an elephant. He was wonderfully white in color, glowing like polished silver. His feet were as smooth and bright as the finest lacquer.
Once upon a time, the Enlightenment Being was born into a family of vegetable gardeners. After he grew up he cleared a patch of land with his shovel. He grew herbs, pumpkins, melons, cucumbers and other vegetables.
Once upon a time, as happens to all beings, the King of the Tree Spirits died. King Sakka, ruler of the Heaven of 33, appointed a new King of the Tree Spirits. As his first official act,
Once upon a time, King Brahmadatta of Benares had a son. He grew up to be a mean and cruel he-man – the type that’s always trying to prove he’s tougher than everyone else.
Once upon a time there was a world famous teacher and holy man in the city of Takkasila. He had 500 students training under him.
One day these 500 young men went into the forest to gather firewood.
Once upon a time, the Enlightenment Being was born into a rich high-class family in Kasi, in northern India. He grew to young manhood and completed education. Then he gave up ordinary desires and left
Once upon a time, a very rich man was living in Benares, in northern India. He had a daughter who was one of the most beautiful women in the city. Her skin was as soft as rose petals,


English at Robert Wilkinson Primary Academy is delivered to enthuse and inspire all children to read and write naturally, creatively and independently.
Visual literacy in the form of animations, photographs and pictures alongside drama are approaches used to support learning and instill a love of writing across the year groups. Composition, spelling, punctuation, grammar and handwriting are interlinked during sessions. Purpose and audience are integral so that writing is relevant, meaningful and enjoyable.
A lifelong love of reading is actively encouraged through both guided and whole class reading sessions. We endeavour to promote a positive reading culture throughout school in classroom settings, the school library and through book talk. Phonics teaching in FS2 and Key Stage 1 provides children with firm foundations to equip them with the skills necessary to become fluent readers. As children progress through school, they practise a range of comprehension skills using a wide variety of engaging stimulus.
Interesting websites to look at
Once upon a picture
Mr Thorne Phonics – Youtube videos
Teach your monster to read
Various author websites (David Walliams, Roald Dahl, Maz Evans etc)
Literacy Links in our community
Strensall Library (Become a member)
19B The Village Strensall,
York Explore Library
Library Square, York


When you are searching for a new school library furniture supplier, there are some things to keep in mind that can go a long way towards ensuring you find the perfect supplier.
Types of Library Furniture
When looking for school library furniture suppliers, it is important to understand the different types of library furniture. There are three main types of library furniture: shelving, desks, and chairs.
Shelve is the most common type of library furniture, and it is used for students to read and study in the library.
Desks are often used in larger libraries because they are more portable than shelving. Desks come in a variety of sizes and styles, and they can be placed on the floor or on shelves. Desks are usually more expensive than shelving, but they are easier to move around because they are lighter.
Chairs are the most popular type of library furniture because they are comfortable to use when readers want to read books in the library.
How to Choose School Library Furniture suppliers?
When looking to purchase school library furniture, it is important to follow a few guidelines. Here are four tips to help you find great suppliers:
- Do your research. The first step is to do your research. Look online for reviews of suppliers and compare prices.
- Be flexible. School library furniture is often custom-made, so be flexible when negotiating prices. Don’t be afraid to try a few different suppliers until you find one that meets your budget and meets your needs.
- Be knowledgeable about the types of school library furniture available. There are many different types of school library furniture, from tables and chairs to shelving systems and multimedia centers. Make sure you know which type of furniture will work best for your library’s layout and needs.
- Ask for a sample before making a purchase. Before making any major purchases, request a sample from the supplier to test out the furniture in your library setting. This will help you avoid any unpleasant surprises down the road.
- Look for the quality of the materials and construction. You will want to make sure that the materials used in the furniture are durable and will last for years.
When it comes to the reliable and best school library furniture supplier, EVERPRETTY furniture is always your best choice which has 18 years of experience in producing high-quality and customized school library furniture and their school furniture producing lines meet international standards ISO, TUV, SGS, and BV.


Romans 4:1-3What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Genesis 15:5,6And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
The Bible is a collection of writings. These writings were directly inspired by God. The Bible, as a collection, was compiled through inspiration. The original anthologists left out many texts which did not seem to be in agreement with the rest of the writings. The Old Testament is actually the translated Jewish scriptures, which were passed down through the generations. These scriptures remain unchanged thousands of years after being written. It is these scriptures that Paul refers to when he says they are “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”, and “given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16).
The New Testament is simply an extension of the Old, an account of the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning Jesus, the work of the disciples, and a view of the early church. There is no New without the Old, and vice-versa. The New Testament was originally translated from the Textus Receptus, Latin for “received text”, into a variety of Bible versions and languages, including the King James and the original Serbian Bible. More information on this text can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textus_Receptus.
The point I’m trying to make is that the Bible is a collection of texts originating directly from God, written down by His faithful servants, under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The stories of the Bible are historical events which took place in the past, or will take place in the future. Most of these stories hold both a literal and a symbolic meaning. The stories of the Bible are meant to serve as examples for us (see 1 Corinthians 10:1-11). In addition to parables, there are laws, prophecies, songs, prayers, and proverbs. All of these come directly from God and should be treated as such.
One of the main characteristics of the Biblical figures, the good ones at least, seems to be obedience and faith. When God called Abram out of Haran, Abram obeyed the call and left his family. When God called Moses to be the leader of His people, Moses obeyed and faced the most powerful man in the world, even though he was afraid. When God told Gideon that 300 men would be enough to defeat the mighty armies of Midian, Gideon trusted God and went forth in faith. True to His word, God removed the threat.
We see from the Bible that these faithful and obedient men and women are not perfect. In fact, many times, the lives of the patriarchs and prophets could even be considered completely unholy. However, once confronted with truth and the Word of God, they repent of their sinful ways and become paragons of faith and obedience once again. We are meant to look at these examples and use them in order to avoid the pitfalls of sin altogether. Most of the time, this is as futile as attempting to squeeze a camel through the eye of a needle. We are almost unable to resist sin. Of course, God doesn’t allow more than we can handle, but even this seems too much most of the time.
Our only hope is knowing that Jesus paid the price for these sins. We are recompensed, and only need to claim the free gift of eternal life. This does require faith and obedience on our part. God has made it very clear what He requires us to believe. The laws of God have been in place since the foundation of the world, and they are clearly given to Moses on Mount Sinai. These are the precepts that we must aspire to, even though we will most likely fail to keep within their bounds. God wants us to keep trying, but not of our own strength. He knows we cannot do it on our own, which is why we have the Holy Spirit to guide us through the labyrinth of sin. Of note is that we have no claim of righteousness by keeping God’s Law. We must do it because it is right, not because we gain favor with God.
Our only claim to righteousness is through our faith and obedience, yet this faith and obedience comes from God Himself. It is the faith of Jesus, the obedience the precious Son of God showed by allowing His own sacrifice to take place. It’s a circular argument, and we are only bit players in this greatest of controversies, the battle between good and evil. Yet, here we are, and we must soon choose a side. In Revelation 3:14-22, apostle John is given a vision of the church in the last days. We are described as “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Yet God’s only command to this last church is to choose a side, either cold or hot.
Today, I challenge you to choose God over all others. I challenge you to ask God to write His Laws on your heart, in your forehead and in your right hand. This means to feel, think, and do according to God’s will. The time is coming when the choice will be made clear, but until then, practice makes perfect.


Other Side of Sadness:
What the New Science of Bereavement Tells Us About Life After Loss
English | 2009 | ISBN: 0465013600 | 240 pages | PDF | 2,2 MB
We tend to understand grief as a predictable five-stage process of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. But in The Other Side of Sadness, George Bonanno shows that our conventional model discounts our capacity for resilience. In fact, he reveals that we are already hardwired to deal with our losses efficiently not by graduating through static phases. Weaving in explorations of mourning rituals and the universal experiences of the death of a parent or child, Bonanno examines how our inborn emotions anger and denial, but also relief and joy help us deal effectively with loss.
And grieving goes beyond mere sadness: it can deepen interpersonal connections and often involves positive experiences. In the end, mourning is not predictable, but incredibly sophisticated. Combining personal anecdotes and original research, The Other Side of Sadness is a must-read for those going through the death of a loved one, mental health professionals, and readers interested in neuroscience and positive psychology.


Library is the backbone of an educational institution. The college has a well maintained and well stocked library. It has adequate number of books, periodicals, journals, magazines and e-books which the students can access whenever required. The library follows an open access system.
A well developed and well equipped language laboratory has been set up for the linguistic skill development of the learners. Our language laboratory is tool and technology based which is best suited for accent development, phonetics and for the development of inter and intra personal communication. Language laboratory has many audio-visual devices like microphones, LCD Projectors, CD, headphones etc. which are effective tools in language drill


Don’t Get Too Excited is a collection of humorous personal essays by a woman living with OCD, anxiety, and more. Epstein opens the book by discussing her first signs of struggle growing up as a child in the 1980s. She learned how to read later than her peers and struggled with her fine motor skills, such as tying her shoes.
Childhood OCD and A Learning Disability
Because her parents both worked in the mental health field, they immediately noticed her struggles. She went to therapy and testing where she was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder and a learning disability (specifically, perceptual impairment). While her parents were attentive to her struggles, they tended to hyper-focus on them, which made her even more self-conscious about her abilities.
Because Epstein’s father was a psychologist, she was able to chat honestly with him about her irrational fears. Whether she was discussing her fear of electric fences or her uvula falling out, she had informal “sessions” with her father after she moved in with him when her parents divorced.
As a teenager, Epstein went to a high school program in Israel where she enjoyed herself and got English awards. However, after graduating and returning to the states, she felt lost. The essays are packed with self-awareness and insight into Epstein’s own behavior. She is able to look at herself through a humorous microscope.
Despite her struggle transitioning back to the states after high school, Epstein goes on to achieve success. She received a master’s degree in media studies and works as a project manager for a nonfiction media company. She lives in New York City, and one might think she has the dream life if not for her obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Navigating Adulthood with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Panic Attacks
Her compulsive tendencies included tapping, checking, and more. Epstein would tap the burners on her kitchen stove over and over to make sure they were shut off before leaving her apartment. Her routines even made her late for work, and the emotional stress manifested physically into skin rashes and heart palpitations. The physical symptoms of emotional problems are a lot more common than many might think, and I was grateful Epstein touched on that.
One thing that stood out to me was how hard Epstein was on herself. Despite her high level of self-awareness, she writes:
“If I had been smarter, I wouldn’t have chosen to go off my meds. Or I wouldn’t have gone off them cold, but would have weaned myself off them gradually and contacted my psychiatrist before making this decision.”
Who hasn’t stopped taking their medication against the advice of their doctor? It’s less about being smart and more about being frustrated: I am taking the medication prescribed to me. I am still miserable, and now I have all these side effects. Let me just see if stopping the medication will change things even though I know my doctor will not agree…
Stopping a medication cold turkey and/or without supervision is, of course, dangerous. A lot of us have done it, though. Where Epstein chided herself, I saw a stubborn powerful woman who refused to give up.
For example, Epstein views herself as “emotionally fragile,” but she continually pushes herself to improve. She starts therapy, tries different medications, and even goes off to Costa Rica for a ten-day trip despite her high levels of anxiety.
The trip serves as exposure therapy in a way. She almost cancels several times, but she survives the trip, albeit with a questionable level of enjoyment. Her adventures are hilarious, and her ability to look at her struggles in a humorous light was the best part of the book.
The Intersection of Physical and Mental Health Problems
When Epstein begins to discuss life in her thirties as a woman who struggles with intimacy and body image, I was definitely hooked. While the backstory in the beginning of the book is necessary, I enjoyed reading about her life in the present day the most.
Epstein deals with physical health problems in addition to her mental health struggles. After getting surgery for kidney stones, she hired a nutritionist and personal trainer. Although she struggles with contamination OCD, panic attacks, and more, she has good friends and an improving relationship with her mother. Above all, she refuses to give up and continues working on herself.
Throughout the book, Epstein analyzes her behavior through a lens of humor. She writes honestly and hysterically with practical advice through lived experience. Despite the sometimes summary-heavy chapters, her ability to laugh at herself is what kept me reading. It’s a relatable book for anyone with OCD and anxiety.
The author of Don’t Get Too Excited is a neurodivergent writer, activist, and worker bee who lives in New York. Jen Esptein lives with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. She holds a BA in communication arts and an MA in media studies. After 14 years of working in the media industry and doing project management, Epstein is taking a little break to focus on her writing projects and volunteering as a mental health awareness advocate. She’s currently looking to make a career transition into the non-profit sector and world of community organizing. So if you have any leads, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind you dropping her a line.
📖 You can purchase her book at Indie Bound or on Amazon.
About the Author:
Josie Thornhill is a freelance writer and psychology student. She writes nonfiction, poetry, and tinkers with a semi-autobiographical novel. You can read her work at Grief Dialogues, Ang(st) Magazine, Dark Marrow, and more. Stay connected with her on Instagram.


Well I've read 2 more books and they couldn't be on more opposite sides of the spectrum. The books I'm reviewing this week are "Are you there God? It's me, Margaret" by Judy Blume and "Crash" by J.G. Ballard. So if you have no wish to have the plots of these stories explained to you, I suggest you don't read anymore of this entry unless you don't mind knowing the plot. In that case, please feel free to read on.
First off, Judy Blume is an author I've heard of but never actually read anything of hers. What I thought was going to be a book mainly focused on religion due to the title is actually a book that is mostly about the perspective of a young adolescent girl. The story follows young Margaret as she arrives in a new town shortly before starting 6th grade. The plot isn't really focused on any one issue that Margaret eventually encounters but the only 2 themes that are more or less focused from beginning to end of the book are her talking to God and her and her friends' obsession over getting their periods. I was never a young girl, but I am venturing a guess that Blume did a fantastic job of assimilating what young girls talk about and do and fret over. It was an okay book but I probably wouldn't recommend anyone to read it unless they were a young girl worrying about getting their period or having trouble with their relationship with God.
I've read a Ballard book before called "The Day of Creation," which was a good book, but that's not why I picked up this book. I bought this book due to my fascination with books turned into movies. However, I was pretty surprised when I started reading this book to find out it had nothing to do with the Ang Lee film. It starts with the main character explaining how another character he meets later in the book has just died in a car crash in an attempt to kill himself and Elizabeth Taylor. The beginning of the book is set up Tarantino-style where they start with the end of the book and the rest of the book is a prequel to the beginning of the book. The actual chronological story starts with the main character Ballard getting in an auto accident and finding his life opened to the beauty of car crashes and how it opens up his sexuality. Eventually he meets the character who is obsessed with Elizabeth Taylor, Vaughan, and his own obsession with car crashes and sex is taken up to Vaughan's level. After I started reading the book, I ventured to look at the back cover and read that the book was Ballard's critique of technology and how it's taking over our lives. But after reading the book, I don't see how that critique stands unless I missed a major metaphor because the entire book is dedicated to people who have been in car crashes, who purposely get in car crashes solely for sexual pleasure and I didn't see what it had to do with technology unless Ballard assumes that we are all erotically turned on by crashing automobiles. The story was weird and unless you like weird I wouldn't recommend this book either.
That's all for now, not much new to enter into the mess that is my life except for maybe I'm becoming an alcoholic. Okay, not really an alcoholic but my tolerance for beer has risen quite dramatically and it takes quite a bit to get me drunk now-a-days, which isn't horrible but it's definitely not good. Plus on a somewhat unrelated note, I just may start posting some of my writing on here. It's been a while since I've written anything but recently being featured in a friend's blog and seeing a pretty positive response to my stuff, I plan on taking time out to write some new stuff. Otherwise, I hope everyone's year is going well and if not, only 326 more days until 2011 gets here.


111 Years of Deutsche Grammophon, The Collectors' EditionDeutsche Grammophon (28947781677),
Oct 2009 (Download)
Composers: Osvaldo Golijov
Artists: Deutsche Grammophon Artists
Guitar Plus: David Leisner and Friends
works by Beethoven, Diabelli, and contemporary masters Pierre Jalbert and Vivian Fine.
Leclair Concerto in B-flat major for Violin, Strings, and Continuo, Op. 10, No. 1 (1745)
Mozart Concerto in D minor for Piano and Strings, K. 466 (arr. Carl Czerny) (1785)
Bach Concerto in G minor for Keyboard, BWV 975 (after Vivaldi RV 316) (1713-14)
Janáček Concertino for Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Two Violins, Viola, and Piano (1925)
Mackey Micro-Concerto for Solo Percussion, Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano (1999)
Tara Helen O'Connor is a charismatic performer noted for her artistic depth, brilliant technique, and colorful tone spanning every musical era. Winner of an Avery Fisher Career Grant and a two-time Grammy nominee, she is now a season artist of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. A Wm. S. Haynes flute artist, Tara regularly participates in the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Music@Menlo, the Chamber Music Festival of the Bluegrass, Spoleto USA, Chamber Music Northwest, Mainly Mozart Festival, Music from Angel Fire, the Banff Centre, the Great Mountains Music Festival, Chesapeake Music Festival and the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival.
READ FULL BIO


HP DeskJet 3755 All-in-One printer series setup Manual instructions User Guide, Setup guide, Getting Started Guide
|Getting Started Guide||1.32MB|
PDF user guides require the Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing and printing.
Note: Use the most current version of the reader for viewing these PDF user guides by clicking the “Adobe” link below. You will be taken to the Adobe site to download the reader.
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Call for Papers: Satellite Meetings
Knowledge Management Section
"New directions in Knowledge Management"
[Deadline extended to: 28 February 2017]
Friday, 18 August 2017
Wrocław University of Economics, Wrocław, Poland
Knowledge Management is constantly evolving and now encompasses several aspects, business intelligence, analytics and the similar not previously identified with KM. Selected papers will show a variety of ways that information agencies are using to incorporate some of the emerging concepts into their KM work. The new directions of KM will be mixed with the everlasting important aspects of KM such as knowledge sharing. Part of the conference will be devoted to conversations exploring future trends in KM.
Some examples of possible topics:
- Trends in KM and data analytics
- Successes and failures of KM
- Future of KM as an academic discipline and applications of KM in academic environments
- The importance of knowledge sharing in organizations
- The effects of corporate culture on creating the right environment for effective knowledge sharing
- The exit interview to preserve the intellectual capital
- Content, collaboration and communication: the 3Cs of KM
- The role of knowledge managers in the new KM environment
- Competencies and skills of knowledge providers and information professionals
- Teaching, coaching and mentoring knowledge workers
- Intellectual property and copyright in the creation and re-usage of knowledge in organizations
- Innovation and creativity in knowledge management
- The new role of libraries and information / knowledge management centers in the new knowledge age
Librarians, information professionals, knowledge managers, knowledge providers, researchers, analysts and others interested in knowledge management are invited to submit paper proposals on topics pertaining to KM, its prospects and the central theme of the IFLA WLIC conference “Libraries, solidarity, society.”
The KM Section welcomes case studies and theoretical papers from different contexts (e.g., different types of libraries, information and knowledge organizations, cultural institutions, and public and private sector institutions).
Submissions and selection process
If you are interested in submitting a paper proposal, please provide the following in English:
- Name(s) and affiliation(s) of author(s)/presenter(s)
- Proposed title of the paper
- Proposed abstract of the paper (no more than 500 words)
- Brief biographical information of all author(s)/presenter(s)
- Contact information, including email, of all author(s)/presenter(s)
All proposals must be received by
1 February 28 February 2017.
Please email proposals in .docx or .pdf format to the Program Co-Chairs:
Email: firstname.lastname@example.org and
All proposals will be reviewed by the members of the IFLA KM Satellite Conference Organizing Committee. Selection will be based on proposal content and fit to the conference theme. Proposal authors will be notified via email by 15 March 2017.
Authors should submit proposals only if they are able to attend the Satellite Conference. At least one author for each accepted paper MUST attend the Satellite Conference presentation. This requirement ensures that the author(s) of the papers and attendees of the Satellite Conference have the opportunity to engage in thoughtful discussion with colleagues about the presentations and other KM topics, leading to a more robust professional experience.
The deadline for final papers is 1 June 2017. Papers should be original work written in English, not published elsewhere, and should be no longer than 15 double-spaced pages using a standard 12-point font. Authors will be required to present their papers at the IFLA KM Satellite Conference. Presentations should last about 15-20 minutes and time will be allotted afterwards for questions and discussion. Presentations should be engaging, interactive, and designed to elicit thoughtful discussion from the audience. Use of PowerPoint or other visual program is encouraged for the benefit of the entire audience. The official language of the Satellite Conference is English.
21 November 2016
Call for papers proposals begin
28 February 2017
Deadline for submission of paper proposals. No proposals can be accepted after this date!
15 March 2017
Notification to authors by email
1 June 2017
Deadline for submission of final paper. No papers can be accepted after this date!
4 August 2017
Deadline for Satellite Conference: free registration. All presenters and participants are required to register.
18 August 2017
Satellite Conference in Wroclaw, Poland
19 August 2017
Main IFLA Conference begins in Wroclaw, Poland at the Centennial Hall
For questions about the Call for Papers, please contact the Programme Co-chairs:
Email: email@example.com and
Additional information about the IFLA Knowledge Management (KM) Section can be found online via the following:
All expenses are the responsibility of the authors/presenters. No financial support can be provided by IFLA or the IFLA KM Section. The Satellite Conference is free of charge, but registration is still required. Lunch and possibly other refreshments on the day of the Satellite Conference will be provided.
Authors of accepted papers must complete the IFLA Authors’ Permission Form.


Since 2019, Mojang has released a series of official Minecraft books, giving fans the chance to explore new worlds with characters ranging from adventurers to endermen! Most Minecraft books are stories in their own right (although some continue in their own series), so it's easy to jump anywhere in the library of titles.
Most of the books are written for a young audience, so they're perfect for kids' summer reading, and adult Minecraft fans will love the quick, fun, and accessible stories. Dive deeper into Minecraft than ever before with any or all of the Official Minecraft Books!
16Minecraft : Crashes
There is one thing that should be corrected in the Minecraft book and that is Minecraft knowledge! Unfortunately, The Crash contains several scenes that are inaccurate representations of the Minecraft world to advance the story or set certain lines. These scenes effectively distract the reader from the story if they have more than a basic understanding of Minecraft.
Another big problem with this book is its premise. The story begins with a young girl who is in a car accident as she waves a cell phone at her friend's face while crossing an intersection. The book then includes the themes of growing up, acting less irresponsibly, and coping with loss, but really? First, who will? Looks like the local news is going to make it up and call it a "scary teen trend." Even if the hint is ignored, the reader is left with the fact that this character caused the disaster through extreme carelessness, and is only to blame for having a weird Minecraft night coma? Due to Minecraft's inaccuracies and strange plot morality, this is not a good read for Minecraft fans.
Buy Minecraft: The Crash from Bookshop.org or Amazon today!
15 Minecraft: Chronicle of the Wooden Sword
Minecraft: Woodsword Chronicles is Mojang's attempt to write a book in the style of Diary of a Wimpy Kid . It is fully illustrated and has large borders with plenty of room for characters. However, this is one of the few chapters for Mojang early readers.
The storyline is a simple "stuck in the game" scenario where a group of friends use their Minecraft knowledge to get back to the real world. It's entertaining for little ones, but it's hard to imagine it being enjoyed by older viewers because the plot is simple, weak, and without surprises. For the fans who ended up loving this book, there are actually 6 chapters in the entire series, which makes for a lot of reading material!
Buy Minecraft: The Woodsword Chronicles from Bookshop.org or Amazon today!
14 Minecraft: Lost Magazine
Despite a slightly darker premise than many other Minecraft books, Minecraft: The Lost Journals is one of the quickest and easiest books to read. After hearing the sad story of how the two main characters got over the loss, its content is quite light and has very little tension as compared to other novels.
This is an important distinction because while it's not one of the best Minecraft books out there, it's still a good summer reading option for elementary school students. Writing is always hard enough for your target audience, even if the content isn't. On the other hand, the whole story takes place in Minecraft with two villagers!
Buy Minecraft: The Lost Journal from Bookshop.org or Amazon today
13 Minecraft: The Vault Experience
This is another weird Minecraft book where the game isn't as important as what happens outside of the game. The story follows a young girl who has a new school year coming up just after her best friend leaves gone. While there's a lot to love about this story, whose themes revolve around growing up and making new friends, many plot points feel forced and unrealistic.
One thing that makes Minecraft: The Haven Trials different is that it takes place in Nigeria. There aren't many books for children or adults that deal with the daily life of Nigerians and it's always nice to see and hear from an international perspective. Overall, this is a good book for intermediate level children. New Minecraft fans will enjoy it more than most, but older fans may prefer to ignore it altogether.
Buy Minecraft: The Haven Trials from Bookshop.org or Amazon today!
12 Minecraft: Tales from Beyond
Families that play together stay together, and there's something for everyone in Minecraft Stories from the Overworld for families. Tragically short, this collection of graphic novels covers stories ranging from one-page sketches to full-length sketches. As a collection, each story has its own style, its own style, its point of view. This leads to some very interesting stories, some of which are supposed to be comical and some of which are less interesting.
The stories range from average to much better, so it's truly a book that can be passed on between siblings or even between parents. Childless Minecraft fans may not find this volume interesting, although due to its extremely short length and low price, it can be saved by simply adding it to your Minecraft book collection.
Buy Minecraft: Tales from Beyond from Bookshop.org or Amazon today!
11 Minecraft: Shipwreck
Most readers agree that Minecraft: Shipwreck is a great book. Unfortunately, whether this is a good Minecraft book is debatable. The story centers on a boy who has just moved (again) to a new town as he teams up with two unlikely friends to solve a mystery in a community centre. They do this by logging into secret Minecraft servers together and forming friendships.
And that brings us to the core of this book's problem: It's like a mid-level non-Minecraft book. That means it's a great story about coping with change, coping with loss, and appreciating what you have. However, this also means that there are fewer Minecraft scenes than the real thing. Overall, this is a great read for fans of the books, but those looking for a Minecraft saga should probably choose a different story.
Buy Minecraft: The Shipwreck from Bookshop.org or Amazon today!
10 Minecraft: Zombies!
Released last summer , Minecraft: Zombies! is one of the last books published by Mojang, with a sequel to be released in 2023. The story tells of a young girl who is trying to cure her younger brother, who has been bitten by a zombie. Many Minecraft players are familiar with healing zombie villagers, so they know exactly what this mission is like! It's not just up to the villagers; she manages to convince the adventurer to help her save her brother.
Minecraft: Zombies, full of action with lots of comedy! an easy-to-read mid-range book about courage and family ties. Most adults probably won't enjoy it as much as Minecraft's fast-paced adventure, but the target audience of 5th and 6th graders will find plenty to enjoy here.
Buy Minecraft: Zombies! at Bookshop.org or Amazon today!
9Minecraft : Dragons
This book has a very promising premise about an ender dragon who grew up in a village. The main character, Zetta, is a potions master who is just trying to protect his village from mobs when he finds a dragon egg. Of course he should try to hide it, but what will he do when the dragon gets too big to hide it? And will he eat them all instead of protecting them?
This story doesn't really involve a big epic adventure, instead it focuses on the characters dealing with baby dragons. While intermediate readers will appreciate this, many older readers may find that the characters are quiet, which definitely affects the reading experience. However, the main storyline is so strong that Ender Dragon fans should love it again.
Buy Minecraft: Dragons from Bookshop.org or Amazon today!
8 Minecraft: Wither Without You Volume 1
Wither Without You is one of the official Mojang Minecraft comic series and a rare PO title. The story follows two brothers who have to save their mentor with the help of another teenager with strange powers. The art is very detailed but manages to have that interesting element that solidifies it as a graphic novel PO.
Aside from the artistic quality, this comic is also hilarious! The dialogue and visual humor are clearly based on current Minecraft gameplay and the characters have fun dynamics. Apart from these compliments, the humor is a little strange for younger readers. While most Minecraft books are for grades 4-6, Wither Without You is aimed at something closer to grades 7-9 and is sure to appeal to adults as well.
But kids can't have everything, so teenagers and adults alike should take this opportunity to get a very interesting insight into Minecraft comics!
Buy Minecraft: Wither Without You Volume 1 from Bookshop.org or Amazon today!
7 Minecraft Dungeons: Rise of the Archillager
As the name suggests, Rise of the Arch-Illager focuses on Minecraft dungeons rather than the main game. Follow the life of Archie, a villager persecuted and rejected by his tribe as he rises to power and becomes the ultimate villain in Minecraft Dungeons: The Villagers!
Classic hero-villain story. Writer Matt Forbeck does a great job of making Archie likeable despite his evil streak. It's easy to support Archie in the first few pages as he gets bullied by the other villagers. The game sheds light on the village chief's backstory, so this book is perfect for anyone looking for all the details behind this dangerous villain.
Buy Minecraft Dungeons: The Rise of the Arch-Illager from Bookshop.org or Amazon today!
6 Minecraft: The End
For Minecraft fans who also enjoy spooky atmospheres, Minecraft: The End is the perfect book. The story is told from the point of view of 12-year-old enderman twins as their simple lives are turned upside down by the arrival of some adventurers. From there begins a war between endermen and humans, and the twins do not know which side to take.
An incredibly compelling premise, the story is told in exquisite writing that manages to maintain a haunting and macabre tone throughout the book, making the reader sympathize with the protagonists of the Endermen. Perfect for young readers, this book will appeal to anyone who plays Minecraft, especially if they enjoy exploring the End.
Buy Minecraft: The End from Bookshop.org or Amazon today!
5 Minecraft: Journey
Highly acclaimed by many intermediate readers, this book contains one of the best character descriptions of any Minecraft book. The story follows Stax Stonecutter who is forced to give up his solitude and embark on an adventure despite all he wants is to stay home with his cat.
Since this is another novel that focuses on Minecraft characters rather than real people, the descriptions given are specific and more accurate than some of the other Minecraft books. The combination of Minecraft terminology and lore, as well as character development, brings the story to life for the reader.
Even if it is written for the intermediate level, in 300 pages every Minecraft fan can find something interesting in the whole story, be it the characters, the dialogues or the action!
Buy Minecraft: The Voyage from Bookshop.org or Amazon today!
4 Minecraft: Redstone Castle
The latest official Minecraft novel, Castle Redstone , offers readers a classic adventure of lost treasures. Perfect for Minecraft players who also love Indiana Jones or Jules Verne, this story follows a group of adventurers with a map of an unexplored castle underneath that promises to uncover the secrets of a long-forgotten civilization. While the three adventurers aren't the closest people in Minecraft, they have different personalities that work well with each other, creating a chemistry that culminates in humor and drama.
Up until now, Minecraft hasn't devoted many pages to exploring the Underworld, so this story was ahead! The journey will take the three through different biomes full of dangers, supported by a fantastic action scenario. Action-adventure fans of all ages will love this latest entry into the Minecraft book universe.
Buy Minecraft: Castle Redstone from Bookshop.org or Amazon today!
3 Minecraft: Island
The first official Minecraft novel is still considered one of the best so far, which is logical considering that its author is Max Brooks, who also wrote World War Z ! Thoroughly gripping and action-packed, Minecraft: The Island is a great book even for readers unfamiliar with Minecraft. An audio version of the book featuring Jack Black as the narrator is also available to Audible subscribers!
Aimed at youngsters, the story is a little darker than other Minecraft books and focuses on survival in a foreign land. The book begins with the protagonist being transported from our world to the world of Minecraft with no memory of his past life. Although the book is a novel in its own right, there is a sequel titled The Mountain which continues the explorer's journey and adds new characters. The first Minecraft book is undoubtedly the best starting point for readers, with an epic story and an accessible explanation of the world of Minecraft.
Buy Minecraft: Islands from Bookshop.org or Amazon today!
2Minecraft volume 1
This book is one of the official Minecraft graphic novels and one of the best Minecraft games overall. The story really shows what it's like to play online with friends near and far as it follows a boy named Tyler as he tries to run away from everything he knows. The presentation in this graphic novel is also excellent, with several characters who can really be themselves with their friends.
The book is entertaining, with an art style similar to other middle-aged and young graphic novels, paired with stories about the power of powerful groups of friends. This is another quick read with a sequel box set that also includes a free poster!
Buy Minecraft Volume 1 from Bookshop.org or Amazon today!
1 Minecraft: Mafia Corps
After a group of friends living in a Minecraft village, this story is currently one of the best Minecraft books to date. Four other villagers embark on an adventure to protect their town from mobs that threaten their safety, putting them in more danger than ever before! By working together and developing their skills, they will do anything to earn the name: Mafia Squad!
Each character has its own unique charm, making for an incredibly realistic comedy, character combination and dialogue. Written at an intermediate level, the storyline is an entertaining adventure that can challenge children and even entertain adult readers. Additionally, there are two more books in this series: Never Say Nether and Fear the Creeper ! Readers looking for action and adventure in the world of Minecraft look no further than Mob Squad .
Buy Minecraft: Mob Squad from Bookshop.org or Amazon today!
More: Minecraft may be ready for the gaming history books after the release of Legend


Viking rune alphabet and Viking symbols
Aug 25,2022 | Sulludd
In recent years, with the popularity of film and television dramas about Vikings such as "Viking Legends", "Vikings", "Hall of the Spirit" and "Nordic People", Viking culture, art and cultural derivatives have attracted more and more people's attention. Among them, some Viking totem symbols and runes are highly respected by tattoo lovers. The following two pictures are the more common Viking patterns and the pronunciation and English alphabet comparison table of 28 Viking runes.


Help:Visual step-by-step guide to publishing an article on Scholarpedia
- See Help:Contents for all help pages
This document describes the steps to publish an article in Scholarpedia. To work on your article, you will need to have registered and account and be signed in.
|Click on "Propose a new article" on the left panel.
|Fill in the title of your proposed article (Use "sentence-style" capitalization).
|To invite a co-author, click "Invite co-author" on the article dashboard. You will see an invitation link that you can copy and send to those whom you would like to invite.
Submit for peer-review
|Once your article has been sponsored it is reserved for you and your co-authors within Scholarpedia. By default, you have two months to get it Published (i.e., writing and peer-review should be completed within that time period). You can contact an editor in order to ask for an extension of the deadline. Instructions on editing the article can be found here:
|Once you believe that your article is ready for peer-review, click "Invite reviewer" on the article dashboard. You will see a link that you can send to potential reviewers. While any Scholarpedia user can comment on your article, only Scholarpedia Editors and Curators are typically eligible to approve your article for publication.
|The potential reviewer will see the following screen:
After an article has been reviewed and approved by two reviewers, the article will undergo a one week editorial review / cool-off period. After this editorial review period, the "publish" button will be enabled for the authors. One of the authors must go to the article to finalize the publication to perform the actions described below:
The first step is to click on blue "publish article" button in the publication banner (if this is not enabled, the article may not have completed the editorial review period).
The above pop-up should then appear. The author should check the ordering of the authors and then choose the curator from the author list. The curator should be an expert in the topic of the article.
The final step is to click "Submit confirmation".


A Fiction About a Fact
Historical fiction can be the a fantastic way to ingrain history events as long as it doesn’t deviate too far from the dry and dusty demands of factual “truthiness”, and in the vein The Second Seal by Dennis Wheatley is an excellent primer for the dabbler who wants to get started in the area World War I and the Archduke’s assassination in Sarajevo.
Originally published in 1950, hard copies are out of print and hard to come by, but it is available online in both the Kindle Store and Apple books. One of a series of books about the fictional Duke de Richleau, the book combines the fictional, a spy mission that didn’t happen but could have as well as a romance with a non-existent Habsbug Princess; and the factual, the build up to World War I and the assassination of Franz Ferdinand and Sophie in Sarajevo. And, for all that there are liberties taken in the name of a good story, the general outline of real history and a very good explanation of why the events occurred the way they did is woven into the fiction.
In the beginning, the Duke is pulled aside by the fictional Sir Pellinore Gwaine-Cust and a thinly disguised (Mr. Marlborough? REALLY? Not entirely hard to figure out) Winston Churchill for to arrange for a spy mission to Belgrade to figure out what the Serbian Government, and the secret organization of The Black Hand, are up to. Sir Pellinonore and Mr. Marlborough are convinced that the world is headed for a war, and they want Britain to be ready.
The conversation laying out the parameters of the spy mission are a gold-mine of information about how the world got to where it was in April of 1914. The men discuss the assassination of King Aleksander of Serbia and Queen Draga and the Black Hand’s participation. And then they move on to Serbia’s motivations.
Serbia’s dearest ambition was to have free access to the Adriatic. She fought a costly campaign to that end, and with the capture of Scutari won a good port for the direct shipment of Serbian products overseas. But she was not allowed to keep it, or the great hinterland that thousands of her soldiers had died to free from Turkish rule, — Sir Pellinore.
And, later, discussing where a war might break out, the Duke interjects, “I regard it as much more probable that they will instigate fresh trouble in Bosnia…a high percentage of the inhabitants of that province are of Serbian blood, and the arbitrary manner in which Austria acquired it aroused great resentment among other powers.”
The Duke then goes on to Vienna on his way to Belgrade and finds a way to meet furtively with the Habsburg Archduchess Ilona Theresa, a thinly disguised Archduchess Elisabeth Marie. By 1914, the real Archduchess was married and not stricken with tuberculosis, but her fictional counterpart serves to exhibit the nasty behavior that the Imperial Family exhibited toward the Duchess Sophie of Hohenberg, Franz Ferdinand’s wife. In the story Ilona refers to Sophie in the dismissive sneer usually used as an epithet by Austrian nobles as “The Chotek”.
In Belgrade, the Duke encounters all the main players of The Black Hand, where he is conveniently inducted into their secret society (and it is a correct-ish representation of their rituals) and has long conversations about their motivations. It culminates in a fight scene (whose outcome is a foregone conclusion as it happens only halfway through the book) where the Duke manages to escape and race toward Sarajevo to stop the assassination.
And we all know how that ended.
Although the fate of Dragutin Dimitrijević (whose name Sir Pellinore and Mr. Marlborough are completely unable to pronounce) is unclear in the book, in history he was sentenced to death after World War I and executed.
Vojislav Tankosić meets a different end in the book than in real life. In actuality he died during the Serbian Army’s retreat in 1915 and was buried secretly before the Austrians exhumed him and photographed his body to publicly prove that he was dead.
The book is chock full of adventure, of course, as Dennis Wheatley‘s series of novels were one of the inspirational bases for the later 007 series. It makes sense to compare the two, because Wheatley was also involved in World War I and II, and in World War II was a part of creating and coordinating military deception and cover plans.
As his grandson Dominic later wrote about the appeal of Wheatley’s novels, “…his legions of readers who were in that middle ground of fiction, not looking for pure fantasy, nor dry fact, but something exciting, extraordinary, possible, and even probable.”
In The Second Seal, Wheatley’s readers definitely got what they were looking for.
For more book reviews, please click here.
For more on World War I, please click here.


Tuesday, November 20, 2007
For Women Only
I went to a conference for school this week. I was hoping to share some amazing wisdom from the conference but, unfortunately I didn't walk away with anything life changing. However, the fellowship was great and the vendors were in plenty. I walked away with free pens, highlighters, tattoos, paper crowns and more. Nothing like coming home to the kids saying, "I have gifts!" The real jackpot was at the book tables. The book that is all the rage this year is "For Women Only" by Shaunti Feldhahn. I read it this summer and it had a profound impact on me. They also have other versions, "For Men Only", "For Parent's Only", and "For Young Women Only". These books will not disappoint. So, in typical Maureen fashion, let me recommend a book!!
Posted by Maureen Erickson (Mo) at 10:52 PM


This year I'm taking part in the Dog Days of Summer Podcasting Challenge, a fun little project full of interesting people who try to publish a new show every day for 30-ish days. Today is the twenty-ninth episode of the arc, and today I’m going to slightly break form and discuss a phrase that is centuries old and relates to a fictional character that I feel I strongly relate to, Don Quixote.
2015 marks the 400th anniversary of the second volume’s publication. In these tomes we follow the adventures of a hidalgo who reads so many Arthurian romances that he loses his sanity and decides to set out to revive chivalry, undo wrongs, and bring justice to the world, under the pseudonym Don Quixote. There are so many phrases in the English language that come from these two volumes alone that I could have dedicated the entire month of August to examining them, paying tribute to what many consider to be the founding work of modern Western literature. That said, examining how many English phrases come from a Spanish work of literature might have seemed a little odd. To that end, I want to look at a single phrase that was born as a result of an event in the second sally: tilting at windmills.
From here I segue into talking about the horrible, horrible state of software in 2015. Why do we still need to spend so much time looking at a glowing screen? Software engineers should have learned how to best optimise the data that our tools collect in order to pre-populate 90% of the data we need to supply so that we can focus on the customer in front of us, the next task awaiting us, or simply participate in the world around us. Instead, we have digital tools that not only create silos of our information, but put us all into a silo separate from the world. It's beyond stupid ... yet few people seem to care. Clicking through 12 menus and waiting for multiple screen refreshes is considered "just fine".
The little bit of audio quoting the first book of Don Quixote comes from LibriVox, an acoustical liberation of books in the public domain. Check out chapter 8 around the 34-minute mark for the exact quote. And want to contribute to my Patreon page? Doing so will give you priority access to the Dog Days of Podcasting eBook that I will release next month containing the scripts, audio files, and extra materials that went into each episode of the arc.
Have any questions, concerns, comments, or feedback? Come find me as @matigo on App.net, a social network for people with something to say. And, as you know, my puppy Nozomi always has something to say ...


Jonathan Clift began his writing career in the music industry writing lyrics for songs released in many countries of the the world including a number one hit in America. After fifteen years in the music industry he began writing books.
Mike Spencer's investigations often lead him into dangerous places. He becomes a connoisseur of the late, late bars and the night people who never seem to want the sun to rise. Most of the time there is a stunning lady in the background waiting for him on the other side of his bed. His disastrous first marriage leaves him vulnerable and never sure of himself. His life becomes transformed when he employs a secretary called Thelma.
Other books by Jonathan Clift


Showcasing 50 Years of Hamilton Art + Artists
We helped the Hamilton Arts Council build their legacy
Commissioned by the Hamilton Arts Council
and funded through the Ontario Trillium Foundation
; Building Cultural Legacies is a digital storytelling website and platform that aims to build knowledge, spark creativity and deepen connection by engaging citizens and visual artists from diverse communities and generations in the sharing of stories about the history of visual arts in Hamilton between 1950 and 2000.
Through this powerful website + platform, Hamilton’s rich art history is told through archival materials, collection works, short films, educational materials and rich and versatile search-ability.


Exhibition at the International Youth Library
Are you going to be in Germany this autumn? Don't miss this wonderful exhibition at the International Youth Library in Munich.
On the occasion of Axel Scheffler's 65th birthday, the International Youth Library is showing well-known and less well-known works from the illustrator's studio. Originals, sketches and preparatory work provide an insight into the studio of an extraordinarily productive and witty illustrator who is far more than the father of the Gruffalo.
How can I find out more?
International Youth Library, Schloss Blutenberg, Seldweg 15, D-81247 Munich, Germany


1. Matthew Josephson. The Robber Barons, (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1962).
2. John D. Hicks, The Populist Revolt, A History of the Farmers' Alliance and the Peoples Party. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1961) p.57.
3. Lawrence Goodwyn, The Populist Moment, a Short History of the Agrarian Revolt in America, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1978).
4. Everett E. Luoma, The Farmer Takes a Holiday, The Story of the National Farmers Holiday Association and the Farmers' Strike of 1932-33, (New York: Exposition Press, 1967).
5. USDA, History of Agricultural Price Support and Adjustment Programs, 1933-84, Bulletin Number 485, Economic Research Service, Washington, D.C., 1984, pp. 8-9.
6. J. Kloppenberg and Geisler, "The Agricultural Ladder: Agrarian Ideology and the Changing Structure of U.S. Agriculture, Journal of Rural Studies. Vol. 1, 1985.
7. Ibid. USDA, pp. 12-13.
8. USDA, Agricultural Prices Release, Crop Reporting Board of the Statistical Reporting Service, Washington, D.C., January 31. 1986, p.31-32.
9. Representative Harold D. Cooley, A Congressional Expert's View I can see farm bankruptcy' if price supports are removed, U.S. News and World Report. August 30, 1957,p. 89.
10. Trudy Huskamp Peterson, Agricultural Exports, Farm Income, and the Eisenhower Administration, (Lincoln: Univ. of Nebraska Press, 1979) pp. 11-12.
11. USDA, National Financial Summary 1984, Economic Indicators of the Farm Sector, ERS, ECIFS 4-3, Washington, D.C., pp. 11, 21.
12. USDA, Farm Sector Review, 1984, Economic Indicators of the Farm Sector, ERS, ECIFS 4-2, Washington, D.C., pp.4, 16.
13. Ibid., USDA, ECIFS 4-3.
14. James Wessel, Trading the Future, Farm Exports and The Concentration of Economic Power In Our Food System, (San Francisco: Institute for Food and Development Policy. 1983). p. 25.
15. Nebraska Wheat Board, Nebraska Wheat Growers Proposal, Supply Management and Price Stability Program, Developed by Chase Econometrics, (Lincoln: Nebraska Wheat Board, P.O. Box 94912, Lincoln, NE 68509, October 10. 1984). p. 20.
16. Richard Gilmore, Poor Harvest: The Clash of Policies and Interests in the Grain Trade, (New York: Longman, 1982), p 24, as cited in Trading the Future, p.91.
17. Ibid., USDA. ECIFS 4-3. p.11.
18. World Food Trade And U.S. Agriculture, 1960-1984, (Ames, Iowa: The World Food Institute, Iowa State University, 1985). pp. 20-23.
19. The Impact of the Latin American Debt Crisis on the U.S. Economy, A staff study prepared for the use of the Joint Economic Committee, (Washington, D.C.: Congress of the United States, May 10.1986). pp. 13, 14.
20. U.S. Farm Policy and World Hunger, The Deadly Connection, (Minneapolis: League of Rural Voters, 1985.)
21. William H. Meyers, Emerging Trade Policy Issues: The Hard Choices, (Ames: The Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Iowa State University, February, 1986), p.4
22. Ibid. p. 7
23. Jon F. Scheid, Cargill most visible advocate of change, Feedstuffs, January 7, 1985, vol.5 number1, pp.1, 4, 31.
25. Schutz, Mary Neal, editor, Plowing Up a Storm, The History of Midwestern Farm Activism, a booklet to accompany a 90-minute film by the same name (Lincoln: Nebraska Educational Television Network, 1985).


A Journey of Healing
This book is a map, a series of directives helping you find satisfaction, healing, and wholeness despite past or present circumstances. It guides, it dictates, and it teaches insights that help develop personal and professional growth. Through its wonderful truth, you discover that there is hope beyond hurt and calm in a chaotic world. In it, you will find the answers to your lifelong questions.
By using this book’s process of change, based on Christian principles and leading-edge findings in cognitive neuroscience, ordinary people—fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, friends and colleagues—have achieved contentment. You can too!
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
Contentment: A Journey of Healing is a narrative of perseverance and patience. Every so often, a book comes along that redefines how best to overcome the dissatisfaction we all experience. Dr. Black’s model of trace, erase, and replace is the 21st century’s way of addressing the mental health crisis that is ripping the fabric of America’s psychic.
- John Seccafico
License Clinical Social Worker, Toms River, New Jersey.


Malaika meets Rafiki, her guardian angel. She is introduced to the role of her special spiritual friend but also learns how to attune to her feelings, develop and trust her intuition.
Malaika and the Angel is an uplifting collection of spiritual tales inspiring us to rediscover ourselves, others and look at the universe lovingly, with plenty of awe and wonder. The stories give a general sense of spirituality without dogma. The books are not religious and accessible to people of all faiths, beliefs and philosophies. Each book celebrates the values that unite us all: oneness, loving boundlessly, compassion, kindness, gratitude, embracing differences, being an earthcarer and more.
The books are appropriate for children of all ages, 5 to 95. For the younger children, beautiful watercolor illustrations are the gateway to the stories that parents can use to their own imagination.


Mikey & Nicky is available to be streamed for free using your library card through Kanopy.
(Disclaimer: This film contains mature content and adult situations.)
Mikey & Nicky (1976) is one of my favorite films of all time! And my love of the film might have something to do with the fact that one of the main characters shares my name, and happens to be played by John Cassavetes, arguably the most important Greek-American people in all of film history. Cassavetes was a bit of a raw force of nature when it came to his work-ethic, willingness to self-fund his projects, and ability to depict truth.
Nicky’s best friend and counterpart, Mikey is played by Peter Falk, most known for his role as the lovable Detective Colombo from the TV show Colombo. However, before Colombo, Falk was known for playing menacing, quiet, manic villains. Falk demonstrates a bit of both of those kinds of roles as Mikey. Cassavetes on the other hand tended to always play characters that never quite got their act together and were a bit crazy, yet always strangely endearing. I guess you might call the Cassevetes character archetype, the slightly lovable low-life, and that definitely is the case with his performance as Nicky. In addition to Falk and Cassavetes, is Ned Beatty, whose befuddled hitman character, Kinney, adds moments of quiet humor.
Mikey & Nicky is essentially the director Elaine May’s successful attempt at a dark comedy, gangster film with reachable main characters. And the film’s style and rough aesthetic works so well with Cassavetes and Falk’s strengths as actors. Elaine May’s career and accomplishments as a comedian, film director, screen writer, and actress are very impressive and important. May was the third woman to be accepted into the Director’s Guild of America, famous for using huge amounts of film during her projects, and fought very hard to get Mikey & Nicky made. For more unique facts about the film and Elaine May, check out the article 10 Things I learned: Mikey & Nicky.
The other film Mikey & Nicky brings to mind is the locally shot The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973), particularly the diner scenes in both films pictured above. However, the pacing and overall moods vary drastically. Eddie Coyle is much more sleepy and soft, whereas Mikey & Nicky is kinetic and harsh. I would also argue that Mikey & Nicky very much served as a template and foundation for two of my other favorite films, both directed by the Safdie brothers, Good Time (2017) and Uncut Gems (2019). The Safdie brothers actually list five Cassavetes films in their Criterion Top-Ten List. Furthermore, immediately after I finished my first draft of this post, while searching for Mikey & Nicky images, I found this rather interesting National Review article by film critic Armand White, presenting a comparison between the film and Uncut Gems.
I hope you give the film a try, and end up enjoying Mikey & Nicky as much as I do.
Take care and stream on!
Nick, Your Friendly Neighborhood Librarian


"We were very lucky at Mount Margaret. Even though the education department wasn't responsible for the education of Aboriginal children at that time, we had a mission school."
"One of the things they instilled in us was a love for reading, and they had a library there. And every Saturday we would go and change our library books with their stories, like 'Milly Molly Mandy', and stuff like that."
"It was so exciting, learning to read and that's where I realised the power of words and reading and to this day I still love reading."
She had to learn and speak English at the mission school, but never stopped speaking her own language, Wongutha, and in 1992 she published four bi-lingual story books for children on traditional teaching stories.
"I felt that I should write the legends from my dreamtime, the stories that the Grannies told us up in the sand hills around Edjudina sitting around the campfires listening to our stories."
"They were exciting and I thought I needed to spend some time to do the writing."
"I support bilingual education. The kids need to know English, because they are living in an English society."
"In the beginning, we were living in a total Aboriginal society and when we went to the mission we were taught your language and it was exciting, we had two languages, some of us had three."
"At the same time I thought that Aboriginal people must never forget their language and their stories."
May O'Brien's face lights up when she talks about the work of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, and the work it does in giving children books of their own to keep and take home.
"The foundation is giving books out free, so that the kids can have at least one thing that's theirs. It gladdened my soul to see the faces of the kids out there in the desert at Warburton sitting there with these books."
"We in schools must make reading the most exciting subject in the school so that all the kids want to read."
"That's what happened to us, we wanted to read all the time, so when we were supposed to be doing our work, sweeping the dining room floor we'd be looking at our book with the broom in our other hand."
"Reading is exciting and I want to pass that on."


Elizabeth Pike is a gifted writer, whose stories resonate with anyone who has struggled with their identity or felt they did not belong.
Born in Perth in 1927, Betty did not learn of her Aboriginal heritage until she was a teenager. Her Aboriginal mother left when Betty was five years old. It was the Depression era and times were tough. Her father, who was non-Indigenous, lost his job. Work was sporadic and required long periods away, leaving him unable to care for Betty and her two younger siblings. Her brother and sister were sent to live with relatives — sadly, her brother was to die of pneumonia. While living with an aunt in Coolgardie, Betty was taunted at school for her dark features. She witnessed the hardships faced by the town's Aboriginal population, oblivious to the connection she shared with them.
At 13, Betty had an unexpected encounter at the Kalgoorlie train station. Her mother, who she did not recognise, sat beside her and introduced herself. The reunion caused great confusion for Betty. She was not permitted to see her mother, who had remarried illegally. This denial manifested itself in rebellion. Betty was eventually placed in a home for delinquent girls.
Constant questioning about her heritage prompted Betty to visit the Registrar of Births and Marriage. She discovered that her great grandfather had been an Irish convict and her great grandmother an Aboriginal woman of the Minang people near Albany in south-west Western Australia. An uncle on her mother's side, with whom she shared her discovery, sent her away, unwilling to risk involving his family with the harsh welfare laws affecting those of Aboriginal descent. A hurt Betty subsequently hid her Aboriginality for many years.
Left with nowhere else to go, Betty joined the Women's Royal Australian Air Force. She was 16. Working as a flight mechanic, she was posted in Victoria. In 1945, she was discharged in Melbourne and stayed. Lonely and struggling financially, a period of depression followed, until an elderly co-worker at a department store introduced Betty to the church. Through Catholicism, she found strength and direction. Her Aboriginal identity, however, lay dormant — only a gnawing sense of incompleteness betrayed its presence.
Betty met her husband, Aubrey, at a parish dance. They married, had six children, and settled in Geelong. Sadly, she lost Aubrey to cancer in 1989. For years Betty was a full-time mother, although when her children were all of school age she took jobs, including caring for children in orphanages. An early attempt to engage with an Aboriginal group was rejected, leaving Betty hurt and lacking a sense of self.
Shortly before her husband passed away in 1989, Betty befriended an Aboriginal woman named Jacqui Johnston after approaching her in the street. Jacqui was studying at Deakin University's Institute of Koorie Education and encouraged Betty to join her. At 63, Betty enrolled. For the first time, her Aboriginal heritage was formally acknowledged. In 1993, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts.
Betty began working with the Catholic Education Office, encouraging Aboriginal studies in schools. She subsequently found a place for herself in the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, and has been involved there ever since. After writing about an event held to mark the 20th anniversary of the first National Aboriginal Mass celebrated in Melbourne, Betty became the Ministry's writer in residence. She has since become a regular contributor to publications, journals and magazines, including Madonna and Pacifica, writing articles with an Indigenous perspective.
Betty was inspired to write a parable about the Platypus. Within it she wove a message of understanding and hope for those Indigenous Australians of mixed descent who, like her, have struggled to find an identity of their own. The story was published as an illustrated book titled A River Dreaming. It proved popular with young and old alike. Copies appeared in schools and public libraries. In 2011, a bundle of letters arrived from a group of women in a West Australian correctional facility. A copy of Betty's book had found its way to them. The women, many of them Indigenous, were writing to tell her how much it had moved them. It was a moment of great pride for Betty.
In 2011, she launched an anthology called The Power of Story. The same year, she won a National Volunteer Award. She is loved dearly by her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Betty has battled guilt and shame in her search for a sense of self. Through her writing, she is now able to offer support and solidarity to the many like her, while educating people about a group so often overlooked in wider discussions. A believer in the power of a story, hers can inspire hope in all of us.


Homepage › Forums › Ideas for New Forums › Paleo paleontology › Reply To: Paleo paleontology
February 3, 2017 at 12:40 pm #18517
@michelle-barboza, @joyce-drakeford, lcone, @lmccall, @msmith, @rodney-wise, @hunter-thurmond Here in Cincinnati we have had many locally and nationally famous paleontologists. These have been thoroughly researched and bios published in the book, “Sea Without Fish” by David Meyer and Richard Davis. I would direct people interested in these folks to check out this book. It is available on Amazon and from the University of Indiana Press.


Unworking: The Reinvention of the Modern Office
Over the past hundred years, the office has been integral to the development of modern society. It has shaped the architecture of our cities, the behaviour of our organizations and the everyday movements of millions of people. In 2020, however, the global pandemic brought our attendance in the office to an abrupt halt and triggered a complete re-evaluation of the purpose of the workplace. This book offers a panoramic view of the office and explores what happens next. The authors advance a manifesto for ‘unworking’ – unlearning old habits and rituals established for an outdated office and creating new ones fit for an age of digital technology, design innovation and diverse workforces.
‘This book could not be more timely . . . Essential reading for those planning the new office environment – and anyone who’s going to have to live in it.‘ – Rory Cellan-Jones, former BBC News technology correspondent and author of Always On: Hope and Fear in the Social Smartphone Era
‘Brimming with ideas, insights, examples and wisdom, this is the go-to book for everyone interested in the future of the office.‘ – Lynda Gratton, Professor of Management Practice, London Business School, and author of Redesigning Work
‘Myerson and Ross expertly examine the facets reshaping the office landscape with a view into “What’s Next”.’ – Harald Becker, Director of Customer Engagements and Insights, Microsoft
Unworking: The Latest Coverage
Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman
Although readers may already know of Patagonia and some of its business practices the likelihood is that they will be somewhat ignorant of the degree to which Chouinard and his team have gone to ensure that the company and their products conformed to the basic ideas behind the business – the care in why, what and how their products are produced, transported and sold and what then happens after all this is done. This book is a series of essays on world ecology and sustainability but also a refreshing look at how a company as successful as Patagonia has been encouraging a work-life balance since its inception.
“Remember, work has to be fun. We value employees who live rich and rounded lives. We run a flexible workplace, and we have ever since we were a blacksmith shop that shut down whenever the waves were six feet, hot and glassy. Our policy has always allowed employees to work flexible hours, as long as the work gets done with no negative impacts on others. A serious surfer doesn’t plan to go surfing next Tuesday at two o’clock. You go surfing when there are waves and the tide and wind are right.”
Space To Work: New Office Design
This is the first comprehensive analysis of emerging office design practice to support and enhance the performance of knowledge workers. It explains how the office is being reinvented to respond to the imperatives of knowledge work, as well as the changing social imperatives and technology of the new millennium. A wide range of international workplace architecture and interior schemes that are leading the way in this important area is showcased. The book sets its 43 international case studies within a unique conceptual matrix that provides a framework for thinking about new strategies for reinventing office space. It identifies four `realms’ for knowledge work – the learning campus (ACADEMY); the professional cluster (GUILD); the public workplace (AGORA) and the live-work setting (LODGE). The authors argue that only by finding an entirely new equilibrium at work between the opposing forces of family, colleagues, customers and professional peers can knowledge workers in the 21st century achieve the same productivity gains as manual labour in the 20th century.
Life of Work: What Office Design can Learn from the World Around Us
This book sets out a template for the future of the workplace by adopting a series of novel perspectives on how office design can learn from other environments in the world around us. Based on a five-year research project between the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design at the Royal College of Art and Haworth, it takes lessons from the knowledge interactions of the academic library, the emotional landscapes of stage design, flexible temporary events in the city and intensive team environments in air traffic control and emergency medical departments. The book views working life as a combination of process and experience – what we do, and how we feel. By exploring analogous environments, it builds up a whole new picture of the workplace encompassing not only physical settings but also people’s psychological experiences within those spaces. Life of Work offers a framework to escape from the tradition of mechanistic workplaces that are programmed for maximum efficiency without taking into account the human need for comfort and connection.
Spaces for Innovation: The Design and Science of Inspiring Environments
A research-based book about the relationship between the physical design of working environments and levels of creativity and innovation. The conversation around the impact of the physical environment on workplace behavior has grown over the past few years. This has been aided by the changing nature of the way we work and the increasing importance of creativity in many industries. Spaces for Innovation explains the relationship between the physical design of working environments and levels of creativity and innovation. Based on the available evidence, Spaces for Innovation identifies the physical characteristics of workspaces that are associated with high innovation potential and determine why they have an effect. A basic framework for the design of innovative environments, a ‘pattern language’ and a practical tool in this book, can be used in analysing ways to enhance physical space in the pursuit of innovation. The book acts as a pattern guide, providing context, examples, inspiration and direction to help businesses explore and understand organisational challenges.
The Robots are Coming! The Future of Jobs in the Age of Automation
The Robots Are Coming! centers around the issue of jobs and their future in the context of rapid automation and the growth of online products and services. As two of Oppenheimer’s interviewees — both experts in technology and economics from Oxford University — indicate, forty-seven percent of existing jobs are at risk of becoming automated or rendered obsolete by other technological changes in the next twenty years. Oppenheimer examines current changes in several fields, including the food business, legal work, banking, and medicine, speaking with experts in the field, and citing articles and literature on automation in various areas of the workforce. He contrasts the perspectives of “techno-optimists” with those of “techno-negativists” and generally attempts to find a middle ground between an alarmist vision of the future, and one that is too uncritical. A self-described “cautious optimist”, Oppenheimer believes that technology will not create massive unemployment, but rather will drastically change what work looks like.