BIA-2021 (to be held June 2-4, 2022) is organized and sponsored by the Technical University of Varna and technically supported by IEEE and IEEE Bulgaria CAS/SSC Joint Chapter.
Indexing: Accepted papers will be submitted for inclusion into IEEE Xplore. All conference papers included in IEEE Xplore will be indexed in the SCOPUS database.
- Full Paper Submission: March 1, 2022, March 21, 2022
- Acceptance Notification: April 15, 2022, May 1, 2022
- Camera-ready paper: April 30, 2022, May 13, 2022
- Registration of Accepted papers: May 13, 2022
Paper Submission: We invite authors to submit original work of up to 4 pages. All submissions should be in the English language. At least two reviewers will review each submission. Each author can appear in more than one paper.
The submission of papers is handled through the Easy Chair conference management system.
- Each submission should present original work on a BIA-related topic.
- A plagiarism check will be performed before inclusion in the IEEE Xplore Digital Library.
Each paper has to be presented by one of the authors.


Quite some years ago I undertook some postgraduate research at The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. As anyone who has done this (or even known someone) would be aware, most research thesis are carefully bound into a book, examined, then buried in the bowels of some university's library never to be seen again! In the hope that it will provide a useful resource to anyone pursuing similar endeavours, I have exhumed and "published" here an edited version of my MSc Thesis on Echelle spectroscopy.
A prototype fiber-fed echelle spectrograph was constructed and proved the viability of extending the capabilities of modest sized telescope systems through the inclusion of more advanced instrumentation. An overview of the rationale can be found in the following conference paper on "Spectroscopy On Small Telescopes..." [Open as PDF]. If that wets you appetite then a "trimmed and updated" version of the original thesis may be found on the "Echelle" pages.
A summary of the characteristics and operation of CCD detectors is also included.


Brief History of the Sisters of Nazareth
Victoire Larmenier Mother St. Basil
Foundress and 1st Superior General
Early Life Victoire Larmenier, the foundress of the Sisters of Nazareth, was born on 21st July 1827 at Liffré, near Rennes, the capital of Brittany, in France. Her father was a marine carpenter and wood trader, and the family lived comfortably in a small hamlet on the fringe of the Liffré state forest. She was educated at the village school until her early teens. After the death of her father in 1838, and the re-marriage of her mother a few years later, she was sent as a boarder to the Ursuline convent at Vitré. There she received a sound secondary education with some emphasis on commercial subjects. After leaving school she worked in Liffré at her step-father’s tailoring business as a secretary and book-keeper. Working in Rennes In 1845 Victoire left home and set up a small haberdashery business in Rennes. Her shop was located in the parish of Toussaints in the poorest part of the town. It was here that her religious vocation developed under the influence of Father Gandon, one of the curates.
The Little Sisters of the Poor had recently established a house for the care of the elderly poor in Rennes, and Victoire became acquainted with them and their work. Saint Jeanne Jugan, their foundress, was in Rennes during this time and worshipped at Toussaints. Victoire was much influenced by the commitment to the poor of the Toussaints clergy and the Rennes Little Sisters of the Poor. With Fr. Gandon’s encouragement, Victoire gave up her successful little business, and entered the Paris novitiate of the Little Sisters of the Poor in February 1851.
After a few months in the novitiate, Sister Basile Marie Larmenier was sent from Rennes among a small party of four Sisters to make a foundation in London. This was in response to a request from the London branch of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, strongly supported by Cardinal Wiseman, first Archbishop of Westminster. Within a few months she was appointed Superior. The little foundation community, despite its lack of resources, gradually gathered poor old people into its care.
First Nazareth House
After several moves in central and west London, the Sisters eventually managed to build the first Nazareth House at Hammersmith, which opened in October 1857. By this time, the Sisters were also caring for poor and infirm children, greatly supported by Father Claude Bernin, a former Marist, who was their ecclesiastical superior during these years.
Sisters of Nazareth
In 1861, after protracted and difficult negotiations, the Holy See allowed the Hammersmith community to separate from the Little Sisters of the Poor as an independent pious society of laywomen. After a further three years the London sisters were recognised by the Roman authorities as a diocesan religious community under the title Sisters of Nazareth. Victoire Larmenier, now with the religious name Sister St. Basil, was among the first group to make their profession in April 1864. Before she died in June 1878, Victoire Larmenier had founded eight other Nazareth Houses in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, one of which remained with the Little Sisters of the Poor in 1861.


What to do with unwanted books? I believe that books should be read, re-read and loved. it's a great idea to give them a new home. It seems these days that Libraries & Charities don't want them. My recommendation? Secondlifebooks.net
They provide free pickup of books; they donate books to youth centres, homeless shelters and correctional facilities across the GTA; and they resell books on Amazon. This is a fantastic service that gives books a new home, gives back to the community and provides an eco-friendly way of giving books a new home. I am a fan.


Find Inspiration in Your Next Project.
If you’re in a design rut, we’ve got your back! Discover all kinds of cool caps, stylish sweatshirts, and totally terrific t-shirts that are sure to spark your creativity and keep you moving in the right direction. Search by apparel, holiday, or season depending on your needs to see what inspires you! Who knows, maybe you’ll fall in love with something you see and decide to make just that- luckily all the cut files from here are available in the Design Library for you to use to your heart’s content!


Germany - Guest of Honor, 2017
Germany was represented at the Warsaw National Stadium by more than 60 publishing houses and institutions, as well as by 15 German speaking authors, including Nobel Prize in Literature winner, Herta Müller.
The Federal President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier chaired the opening of the stand. The Scheßl/Weismüller design concept involved a variety of urban elements to create an experimental space with different functional and participatory areas that was very well received by the audience.
„Literatürme“ – Literature Towers
The visitors were invited to complete quotes of contemporary writers on postcards and stick them to the „Literatürme“ (literature towers). That way, the booth kept evolving and transforming from day to day through this interactive concept and portrayed a personalized peek into the exhibited literature.
Refer also to: Complete the Quotes – Interaction Book Fairs
Numerous cultural and political events took place at the booth’s center stage. The events, organized by the Goethe Institute Warsaw, represented the vital heart of the stand appeal.
The stand hosted more than 60 publishing houses featuring their books on book shelves. Their representatives were able to invite their customers to a dedicated working space at the pavilion, thus meeting the required business aspect. In addition, appealing book tables animated the visitors to browse through an eclectic mix of the newest books from Germany.
- Name: Warsaw Book Fair, Germany – Guest of Honor
- Year: 2017
- Location: Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland
- Size: 220 m²
- Client: Frankfurt Book Fair
- Project Scope: Exhibition Design, Corporate Design and Stand Building


The recently published book, Medical Apartheid, details a fascinating story of forced medical experimentation by establishment doctors of the 19th and 20th centuries on young black men and women.
While the subject matter is not directly related to the issues addressed here, the author, Harriet Washington, draws a strong connection with the spreading of these practices from the United States of the last two centuries to Africa of the 21st century.
While she does not speak specifically of circumcision, she talks a great deal about the drafting of economically disadvantaged populations into medical studies with the promises of payment and other favors, which she postulates is a form of coercion. Clearly, an impoverished populace is far less equipped to resist the temptation to risk one’s health for some alleged betterment of medicine when he’s poorly informed and in material need.
The horrific studies of which she speaks are reminiscent of the Nazi doctors. Obviously, such experimentation has dissipated in North America. But she reminds us in vivid detail that it continues elsewhere under the cover of Western aid and medical missions.
Critics of the HIV/circumcision studies have frequently spoken of the apparent racism in promoting circumcision primarily in Africa where HIV rates are out of control. The primary point is that the West promises much and delivers little in the way of established HIV prevention strategies. So, it has no business getting into the messy business of promoting a difficult and culturally sensitive procedure supported only by controversial studies that are flawed with unaccounted for confounding factors.
On circumcision, the rhetoric treats the problem as a colonial endeavor to assist the natives who allegedly can’t help themselves. Harriet Washington shines a spotlight on the broader issue from the perspective of African Americans to that of Sub-Saharan Africans.
She was interviewed on Democracy Now! on Friday.
Harriet Washington is a medical writer and editor. She is a visiting Scholar at DePaul University School of Law. Previously she was a Fellow in Medical Ethics at Harvard Medical School and at Stanford University.
Goodman, Amy and Gonzalez, Juan. Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present [segment title]. Democracy Now! January 19, 2007.


The history of Valentine’s Day–and the story of its patron saint–is shrouded in mystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition.
The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius 2 decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Still others insist that it was Saint Valentine of Terni, a bishop, who was the true namesake of the holiday. He, too, was beheaded by Claudius 2 outside Rome.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl–possibly his jailor’s daughter–who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and–most importantly–romantic figure. By the Middle Ages, perhaps thanks to this reputation, Valentine would become one of the most popular saints in England and France.
When Did These Celebrations Start???
Having a particular Valentine’s Day is a very old tradition, thought to have originated from a Roman festival. The Romans had a festival called Lupercalia in the middle of February – officially the start of their springtime. It is thought that as part of the celebrations, boys drew names of girls from a box. They’d be boyfriend and girlfriend during the festival and sometimes they’d get married.
Later on, the church wanted to turn this festival into a Christian celebration and decided to use it to remember St Valentine too. Gradually, St Valentine’s name started to be used by people to express their feelings to those they loved.


Sue Maxey, age 81, of Longview, WA, passed away on December 23, 2021 in Vancouver, WA from complications following a stroke and seizures.
Sue was born in Malta, Montana on December 8, 1940, the first child of Daniel and Maxine Maxey. The family moved to Longview in 1944 and then to Carrolls in 1947 where Sue attended Carrolls School through 8th grade. She graduated from Kelso High School in 1958 and attended the University of Washington where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in 1962. She continued on to the University of Pittsburg where she received a Master of Library Science degree. Her first professional library job was as Children’s Librarian at Gary Public Library in Indiana. In 1969 she returned to Longview to work in the Longview Public Library until her retirement in 1999. Sue especially enjoyed her work in the Longview Room at the library and was a co-author of Longview (an Images of America book). She contributed much to the community through her participation in the Soroptimist Club, volunteering for the Cowlitz County Museum and through St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. Another group that gave her much pleasure is the 1958 Class Alumni of Kelso High School. Sue remained active in the Friends of the Longview library and served on the board of the Cowlitz County Museum.
Sue enjoyed travel and visited six of the seven continents. She took many extended trips and cruises with her good friend Mary Jane Brown.
Sue is preceded in death by her parents, Dan and Max. She is survived by her brother, Burke Maxey (Karen) of Burnsville MN and sister, Kit White of Tacoma. She is also survived by her niece: Kama Duggan (Pete) and their daughter, Elliana of Apple Valley MN, nephew: Brendan Maxey and his son, Rowan of Pine City MN, and nephews: Derek White of Longview WA and Nick White of Tacoma WA. Sue is also survived by two local cousins, Chuck (Linda) Setzer of Rainier OR and Sharon (Russ) Eyer of Castle Rock WA, their families, and other cousins across the country.
The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks to the staff of the Canterbury Park and the Canterbury Inn, Beacon Hill Rehabilitation, Peace Health St. John’s Hospital, Providence St. Vincent’s Hospital, Doctors at Kaiser Clinic and Sharmel Senior Care Home, Vancouver, WA. In this difficult time of covid, Sue and the family were treated with unfailing courtesy, support and excellent care.
A private graveside service will be held for the family, and a public memorial service is planned for April 9, 2022 at 2:00 pm at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. In keeping with Sue’s generous nature please send memorial donations to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church or a charity of your choice.


OsteoPearl VBA System:
Where Nature Meets Technology
Ovine Animal Study Histology and Micro CT Images Over Time
Why OsteoPearl is Different
The OsteoPearl VBA System is the first and only fully biological solution for treating VCFs.
•100% cortical bone introduces structure to combat the effects of osteoporosis
•Eliminates the risk of embolisms associated with cement³
•Holistic, natural, long term health option for patients and physicians
•Biologic Technology: Viable, research-proven healing solution
- Müller ME, M Allgöwer, R Schneider, H Willenegger. Manual of Internal Fixation.
3rd ed. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer. 1991.
- Rüedi TP, RE Buckley, CG Moran. AO Principles of Fracture Management. 2nd ed.
Stuttgart, New York: Thieme. 2007.
- Douglas P. Beall, MD, M. R. Chambers, MD, Sam Thomas, John Amburgy, MD. Prospective and Multicenter Evaluation of Outcomes for Quality of Life and Activities of Daily Living for Balloon Kyphoplasty in the Treatment of Vertebral Compression Fractures: The EVOLVE Trial


The Musical Odyssey of Azam Ali: A Journey of Sound and Soul
In the realm where melodies intertwine with emotions, where rhythm transcends boundaries, there exists a luminary whose voice echoes through the corridors of time. Azam Ali, born on October 3, 1970, is not merely a vocalist; she is a storyteller, a weaver of dreams, and a guardian of ancient traditions.
Origins of a Melodic Soul:
Azam Ali's musical journey began in the ancient city of Tehran, Iran, where she was enveloped in the rich tapestry of Persian culture and its mesmerizing musical heritage. From the haunting echoes of traditional Persian melodies to the pulsating rhythms of Sufi mysticism, Ali's formative years were steeped in a deep reverence for the transformative power of music.
A Fusion of Cultures:
As fate would have it, Ali's journey led her far beyond the borders of her homeland, across oceans and continents, where she discovered new lands, new languages, and new rhythms. Settling in Los Angeles, California, she found herself at the crossroads of diverse cultures, each offering its own unique blend of sounds and stories.
The Birth of Vas:
In 1995, Ali co-founded the groundbreaking musical group Vas, a collaboration that would redefine the boundaries of world music and captivate audiences around the globe. With its ethereal melodies, hypnotic rhythms, and Ali's haunting vocals, Vas forged a path into uncharted territory, blending elements of Persian, Indian, and Western music to create a sound that was truly transcendent.
A Solo Journey:
Following the dissolution of Vas, Azam Ali embarked on a solo career, carving out a distinct musical identity that reflects her multicultural upbringing and her deep spiritual connection to the world around her. Through a series of critically acclaimed albums, including "Portals of Grace" and "Elysium for the Brave," she continued to push the boundaries of artistic expression, seamlessly weaving together influences from across the globe to create a tapestry of sound that is both timeless and evocative.
A Voice for the Voiceless:
Beyond her musical endeavors, Azam Ali has emerged as a vocal advocate for social justice and human rights, using her platform to shed light on issues of inequality and oppression. Through her music and her activism, she strives to amplify the voices of those who have been silenced, speaking out against injustice and offering a message of hope and unity in a world fraught with division.
The Legacy Continues:
As Azam Ali's musical odyssey continues, her voice remains a beacon of light in a world shrouded in darkness. With each note she sings, each word she utters, she carries forward the ancient traditions of her ancestors, weaving together the threads of past and present to create a tapestry of sound that resonates with the soul.
Azam Ali's journey is not merely a musical odyssey; it is a testament to the power of music to transcend boundaries, bridge cultures, and unite humanity in a shared experience of beauty and wonder. Through her artistry and her activism, she reminds us that we are all connected, bound together by the universal language of music and the timeless rhythms of the human heart.


Matilda Tristram studied animation at the Royal College of Art and has worked as a children’s writer, illustrator and filmmaker.
She was an in-house writer at Ragdoll Productions for two shows for Cbeebies: THE ADVENTURES OF ABNEY AND TEAL and DIPDAP. DIPDAP won a BAFTA in the short form category. She is also on the writing team SARAH & DUCK (Karrot/Cbeebies) and TOLIBOBS (Beakus/Cbeebies).
Matilda has written a graphic novel for grown-ups, PROBABLY NOTHING, which is published by Penguin, and she has co-written two children’s book with Tom Duxbury, SANTA’S BEARD and REINDEER’S NOSE which are both published by Walker Books. Her short films have screened at over 30 festivals internationally.


The Delta Blues: A Coloring Book Not Just for Kids!
Who was the "Father" of the Delta Blues? What was extra-ordinary about Howlin' Wolf? How did Robert Johnson learn to play the Blues? Why did B.B. King sing in fine suits? From Mississippi cotton fields to plantation dances and juke joints, the Delta Blues was raised up by men and women who shared the pain and beauty of life in song. Their blues gave birth to jazz and rock and roll.
With captivating artwork by Delta-born folk artist, Frank D. Robinson, Jr., The Delta Blues is a quick, fun music lesson for the young and old, and is a collector's item for all Blues fans. Herein is a collection of ten brief biographies and illustrations of the following celebrated Blues Legends: Charlie Patton, Howlin' Wolf, Son House, Bukka White, Jessie Mae Hemphill, Robert Johnson, Memphis Minnie, John Lee Hooker, R.L. Burnside and Muddy Waters.
Presently, this book is sold in several gift shops, including the B.B. King Blues Museum, the Delta Blues Museum, Cat Head Gift Shops in Clarksdale, Strange Cargo on Beale Street and the Center for Southern Folklore—and it can also be purchased on Amazon.com for just $5.99.
This book is published by Museum Creations, a thriving new company run by Alice Faye Duncan that seeks to enlighten and entertain children through its custom-developed publications for museums and schools across the nation. To learn more—or to order books in bulk for retail sale or educational distribution—visit MuseumCreations.com.


Brickwalls. Who has never felt that they have reached the end of the line in the research of a family branch because there is no more evident documentation, because it is damaged, because the information previously found is incomplete or not completely accurate? Despite the many years of research, even today I feel very bitter that, for example, there are no parish books from Camarate, Loures, before the 19th century.
I have, therefore, put together three suggestions that even though they can be much more laborious than the usual resources (the wonderful parish records!), can help circumvent or even tear down a brickwall. Not all of these resources are available online. Some can be very difficult to read, especially for someone who doesn't speak Portuguese. And they are often scattered and not indexed. But they are invaluable.
Personally, in research, these three are just part of a group of essential sources to uncover more details about the life of our research subjects. Let’s go.
1. Notary records, or Livros de Notas dos Cartórios Notariais
These are the records written by local notaries and in them you can find the most varied traces of our ancestors' activities: wills, purchase and sale deeds, dowries, and powers of attorney. They are generally organized in the archives of the respective districts, except for notaries in the Lisbon area which are found in the Arquivo Nacional Torre do Tombo. Wills, like property inventories, are excellent ways of checking who the heirs of a given ancestor were and what there was to inherit. The dowry deeds make it possible to check the approximate date of a union, the age of the bride and groom and their addresses, as well as obtain some more information about the close circle of the intervening parties. In conjunction with other resources, such as habilitações and inquirições, this method can even take the place of more straightforward sources such as parish records.
Depending on each district, this resource might be available in a span of a few centuries up to the middle of the 20th century.
2. Autos de justificação do Conselho da Fazenda
For anyone researching individuals with potential links to wealthier strata, this is one of the most wonderful resources.
The Conselho da Fazenda was the body that managed the income of the Portuguese treasury, comprising traffic and commercial expenses of maritime exploration and navigation. From 1761, it got to control the awarding of property and rents. These justification processes were precisely the petitions in which an individual or family requested the right to succession of property. These could be salaries of deceased family members, entails, remuneration, or pensions owed by the Crown. But what makes this instrument fascinating is that, usually, they contain a description of the candidates' genealogy, often with transcripts of parish records, income, ancestors' occupations and possessions. The ones that are catalogued on the Arquivo Nacional Torre do Tombo can often be located with a simple keyword search. You can browse Autos in Conselho da Fazenda up to 1832.
3. Inquirições de genere
Like the nobility justification processes, inquirições de genere were the processes in which the origins of the candidate were investigated several generations back, and, for the most part, they also come with transcripts of original vital records. However, these were intended for admission into ecclesiastical life and/or obtaining benefits, for which the candidate had to guarantee “purity of blood” according to the Catholic Church. That is, there was no trace of Jewish or Moorish ancestry and they were cristãos-velhos (old Christian).
You will hardly find an inquiry for a direct ancestor as these were intended for the clergy. However, it is possible to find brothers, uncles, or nephews of ancestors who have joined the church.
Although certain series of inquirições de genere concerning distant bishoprics can be found in the Arquivo Nacional Torre do Tombo, these documents are generally grouped by the diocese series of the respective district and can go up to the early 1900s.
The GenealogiaFB project does an extraordinary job in indexing records from the Archbishopric of Braga, which brings together processes concerning various municipalities in the north of Portugal.
Finally, it is important to mention that many of these series of documents have not yet been scanned, catalogued, or described in the archives, so in-person consultation is inevitable. Through CRAV (Consulta Real em Ambiente Virtual), you can request copies of documents that you find in Portuguese archives but that are not yet in digital format.


A video of the session is available on the Skills Matter website:
The whole session is on GitHub at
Here are a collection of links that get mentioned:
- The basics of the web and browsers:
- Other examples of programatically creating a document (but HTML allows us to easily send code to be executed on the client):
- A good description of the components of a URL: anatomy of an HTTP URL.
- An overview introduction to web development, with 3 separate sections: client-side vs server-side, persistent storage, frontend dev.
- To do MVC
- Client-side vs server-side rendering


Take a rare look at one of John James Audubon's original "Birds of America" book in the Cornell University library.
Video: A rare look at Audubon's 'Birds of America' book
Held up as a masterpiece of artistic and scientific merit, John James Audubon's "double elephant" folio, 'Birds of America', illustrates more than 500 species hand-painted in detailed, life-size forms. It is estimated that about 200 first-editions of the book were produced over an 11-year period from 1827 to 1838. Today, only about 120 editions are known to exist.
Artist Todd McGrain was granted access to a rare edition of the book in Cornell University's library as part of his research for The Lost Bird Project.
Audubon spent several decades observing and collecting specimen to make his drawing that show details of the birds and their habitat. Named for it's size - about 3 1/2 feet in length - the "double elephant" folio was made from engraved copper plates based on Audubon's original watercolors.
A first edition of the book was purchased at auction for $7.9 million in January 2012. Another complete first edition sold in London in December 2010 for $11.5 million, a record for the most expensive printed book sold at auction.
The National Audubon Society has a website with detailed images of the book here.
You can see more clips from The Lost Bird Project and learn more about the extinct species on our Explore page.


The book for February was Two Gardeners. This is the first time I participated in the book club and I am afraid to say how I honestly felt about this book. I don't want to hurt any feelings, but I think this was right up there with Vonnegut's Intruder in the Dust.
This book has very little to do with gardening. I really didn't learn anything about gardening. I did read extensively about spine surgery and dermatitis. Less than halfway into this book, Katharine White's letters to her southern friend Elizabeth Lawrence became more of a list of her current ailments and reasons why she had not written- than anything else.
It seems I liked Elizabeth Lawrence more. I was more familiar with the plants she grew and it seemed to me that she was a real gardener and a designer.
This opinion points out to me several things about myself. I am not very academic. I don't enjoy reading chit chat from 1960, I don't care who the author is!
I have read my Ruth Stout books over and over and they are from the '60s. I love these books and read them often. It is instructional and down to earth. But these ladies, they are for the more academically mature garden reader, I think. I became bored with the letters and they even became depressing as the book wore on. The letters tell of aches and pains and friends dying off and the inability to do physical work. Every night, I would put the book down on my nightstand and wonder why anyone would write about all that.
It turns out those ladies met. Once. (Don't you know the Southern lady finally came North-even though the Northern lady went right by the Southern lady twice a year on her way to Florida...)
After they met face to face, something happened. They did not write each other for a long time. Something must have happened during that luncheon in New York. The reader never discovers what the problem was, but it was really disturbing to me. What could have possibly bothered Elizabeth Lawrence enough that she would not write to Katharine White for almost a year? Up until then, she was the more loyal letter writer.
Another thing I learned was that I don't read for pleasure. I read to learn. Perhaps that is why I didn't enjoy the book as much as the others in the club did.
One good thing did come out of this reading. I discovered some really good design principle books suggested by another blogger! Right now, I am in the middle of planning the potager garden out back and am reading alot about the potager. Colleen has a list of books she is reading on her site. I have really become a big fan of Mrs. Greenthumbs and Cottage garden books!
I did get the next two books for the book club. I am excited to read them.
You know, I did learn one thing from this book. I will be planting species tulips in the fall. Lots and lots of them.


The weeks before Halloween, we packed our schedule full of fun activities. Emme and I went to a few different library halloween events around the valley, Spookapalooza, Gardner Village, Discovery Gateway, and Boo at the zoo. It was fun to have so many free, kid-friendly activities available before it got cold!
On halloween, we went to a special trick-or-treat event at our library. They had games & crafts, halloween stories and trick or treating at all of the circulation desks. It was very fun and Emme did much better during story time than she did last time. :) We even ran into about 6 other families from our ward there. What a party!
All I have to do is hold up my bucket, and they fill it with candy!! It was fun to see everyone from Chris's old ward, and of course all of Emme's cousins & grandma Spencer.
We also visited Grandma Pace to do a little trick or treating and show her Emme's costume before we hit the neighborhood.
Emme was pretty excited about her full size candybar that was now in her bucket. :)
Then later that night, we went around a few streets in our neighborhood with Sawyer & Graham. It was so fun to visit while the kiddos were running door to door. Emme had trouble saying "trick or treat" but she got the hang of yelling "Happy 'ween!" as she ran away from each door. It was pretty cute.
What a fun time we had this year! We can't wait for next. :)


In a world awash with irrationality, as our world seems to be, we are prone to suffer at least some degree of psychological damage. Starting in our formative years and continuing into adulthood, we can be pulled down into the quicksand of inexplicable emotional reactions, fear of failure, self-doubt, anxiety, debilitating anger, and other psychological downslides. Dr. Packer's work provides a lifeline to the solid ground of reason, self-esteem, values, and the pursuit of happiness, where human life thrives.
One of Dr. Packer's many insights that I found to be extremely helpful is her identification of "happiness skills," i.e., her therapeutic techniques for helping a patient to overcome his fears, to think for himself, to identify his values, and then to take action toward achieving them.
Another breakthrough concept is the way in which Dr. Packer demystifies emotions. She explains how emotions are not causeless, and how they can be traced back to past evaluations we've made. This puts our emotions within our cognitive control to understand, to evaluate, and, if necessary, to change.
All of her methods put us in control of our lives in a fundamental way and help us to achieve self-confidence and happiness.
In giving us the psychological tools to create a healthy mental state, Dr. Packer also gives us the necessary foundation of a healthy political state and society. She shows how to become the kind of person that is suited to living in a free society---a person who is self-sufficient, able to take responsibility for his own life, and supremely eager, confident, and happy to be the master of his own fate.
This is a book that applies and integrates the philosophy of reason to the field of psychology. In doing so, it is a pivotal work in our journey toward a new Age of Enlightenment, i.e., toward a rebirth of the ideas of reason, individualism, and freedom. For a free society to exist, we not only have to have rational philosophical, political, and economic ideas. We also have to have healthy individuals who possess the mental resources to live by reason, to be self-reliant, to take care of themselves, and to prosper and thrive in a free society. Such individuals embrace their freedom and wouldn't have it any other way. "Lectures on Psychology" paves the way toward this brighter future for the individual and for society.


A labor of love by authors President and Creative Director Burkey Belser, and Principal Donna Greenfield, the book is a chronicle of the legal industry. We hope it makes for interest reading, while offering you insight into the strategy of Greenfield/Belser’s designs and the history of legal marketing in general.
If you ever care to speak with Burkey for your coverage of branding or marketing, or have questions about Greenfield/Belser’s work, please contact Rachael Loper at 202-775-0333.
For your reference, in 1997, Burkey was awarded a Presidential Design Award by President Bill Clinton for his design of Nutrition Facts, the food labeling initiative that now appears on billions of food packages worldwide. Burkey has won hundreds of awards major field of graphic design: publication, illustration, trademark and collateral. His work has been honored by every major national and international design competition, and every major legal competition including over 30 LMA Your Honor Awards. He has been listed in Who’s Who since 1989 and has been included in 2000 Artists and Designers of the Twentieth Century. Most recently, he was featured in Who’s Really Who, a new compendium by the dean of information design, Richard Saul Wurman, that includes “1000 succinct bios of the most interesting and creative individuals living in the U.S.”
Thank you for your time. Happy reading!


Only 3 weeks!
There is still time to register for "It's a New Day in Diabetes" Conference and Expo, to be held from July 18-22, 2001 at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Join Olympic Gold Medalist Gary Hall, Jr. in opening the Exhibit Hall in the Coronado Ballroom on Wednesday evening from 5:30 - 9:00 pm. Gary will meet the kids individually (yes, and the parents, too), pose for photos, and hand out autographed posters.
Come to the conference and try a pump!
Animas, Disetronic and MiniMed will be offering a great opportunity for potential would-be pumpers to try a pump with saline. Reservations are required, however. Contacts are:
Animas: Maura Emory, CDE, at 1-877-YES Pump, extension 164.
Disetronic: Meredith Rivers at (800) 915-3698 ext. 5705
MiniMed: Lisa Martinez at 800-933-3322, Extention 5046.
Families from 36 states and 13 countries are currently registered. Curious where the families are traveling from? Check out the map!
- Interested in an insulin pump? See Matthew Polk's Getting Started page.
- Join us for a Virtual Support Group: Type 2 Diabetes chat, hosted by Betty Brackenridge and Kris Swenson, on Wednesday, June 27th at 9pm Eastern in the Virtual Support Room.
- Read the transcripts from the chats we held last week:
- Virtual Supprt Group: Type 1 Diabetes, held on June 20th.
- 2001 Conference Preview held on June 22nd.
- Injected Insulin Fails to Prevent Type 1 Diabetes.
- New Data Presented At American Diabetes Association Meeting Suggests Promising Role For Glucowatch® Biographer In Pediatric Care.
- Study Released At American Diabetes Association Meeting Documents Glucowatch® Biographer's Role In Detection Of Postprandial Hyperglycemia.
- Several G.O.P. Senators Back Money for Stem Cell Research.
- Population mixing and childhood diabetes.
- Diabetes in America, 2nd Edition, is a 733-page compilation and assessment of epidemiologic, public health, and clinical data on diabetes and its complications in the United States. While somewhat dated, the book has some good reference material. The full text of the book is online, including:
- Summary, which offers a 14-page overview of the entire book.
- Prevalence and Incidence of Insulin-Dependent Diabetes.
- Risk Factors for Insulin-Dependent Diabetes.
- Acute Metabolic Complications in Diabetes.
- Health Insurance and Diabetes.
- Improving Quality Improvement Using Achievable Benchmarks For Physician Feedback: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
- Culture can complicate treatment of diabetes.
- The JDRF Children's Congress will be held in Washington, D.C. from June 24 to 27 to urge lawmakers to increase funding for diabetes research. Many local papers featured stories about kids going to the Congress, including:
- Kids fight for diabetes cure.
- Local children to be part of special lobbying effort for diabetes research.
- Children coping with diabetes.
- Washington trip sweet for diabetes delegate.
- Illinois goes to Washington.
- Brothers off to D.C. to promote diabetes research.
- Local family joins group seeking more funds for diabetes research.
- Attentiveness, quick thinking of girl, 12, save mom's life.
- Imus Belittles Insulin Pump Wearers; Listeners Respond.
- Cullinan Williams is the American Diabetes Association's new youth advocate.
- Schnauzer helps South Hill woman manage diabetes.
- Children, adults suffering from type 1 diabetes live with constant monitoring - and their fingers crossed.
- Last week's poll asked readers if they've ever had a microalbumin test. This week's poll asks readers if this web site has helped them.
- The Featured Book of the Week is The Sun, The Rain, and The Insulin: Growing Up With Diabetes by Joan MacCracken, M.D.
- What You Need to Know about Type 2 Diabetes in Children is Worth a Look.
Watch for the indicator throughout the web site. You'll know you found something that's new to these pages. You can also click on it to return to this page.
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Last Updated: Thursday January 22, 2015 14:28:36
This Internet site provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other health care professional.
This site is published by T-1 Today, Inc. (d/b/a Children with Diabetes), a 501c3 not-for-profit organization, which is responsible for its contents. Our mission is to provide education and support to families living with type 1 diabetes.
© Children with Diabetes, Inc. 1995-2018. Comments and Feedback.


Tumkur University Contact Phone Number, Student Care Email Id & Office Address
Tumkur University is the best and largest university of South India. This university was started in the year of 2004. which is housed at TuKur in the state of Karnataka and it was carved out of Bangalore University to accommodate the needs of the students from Tumkur district.
Read Also- Assam University Student Care Number
Tumkur University provide 12 postgraduate departments, 2 constituent colleges and 94 affiliated colleges. This is the best university and its also provide many facilities like research, Library, Academic collaboration, University Art Collage, University Science Collage, University Library and many more. Many student take admission n this university. The academic structure is divided into four faculties like Faculty of Science and Technology, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Commerce and Management, Faculty of Education. A number of students come to the University to pursue their dream of higher education in the realms of Management and Technology.


New Mexico Arts and Carlsbad MainStreet presented the fourth annual TIME – Temporary Installations Made for the Environment in Carlsbad in fall 2008. New Mexican artists from throughout the state were invited to create temporary environmental artworks based on the theme cielo. Nine artworks were exhibited in downtown Carlsbad at Halagueno Arts Park (Carlsbad Museum and Art Center and Carlsbad Public Library) and at the Eddy County Courthouse. The artworks were displayed for approximately six weeks, and at the end of the exhibition were disassembled and removed leaving no trace of ever having existed.
Participating TIME artists included Cecilia Stanford, Donna Barnitz and Colleen Konetzni, Linda Brewer, Lisa Rubin, Cordelia Rose, Michael Orgel and Arthur Rosenberg, Paula Castillo, Zoe Wolfe and Steven Shelendich, and Becky Holtzman.
Heaven on Earth - Cecilia Stanford
The work was a physical statement on the concept of Heaven and Earth. The piece was comprised of pavers covered with a mirrored mosaic laid on the ground in a meandering path. The pavers clustered into cloud-like shapes that reflected the sky.
Untitled – Donna Branitz/Colleen Konetzni
The piece featured an installation of painted flags with features similar to a wind chime. The flags included images of the New Mexico sky and the Guadalupe Mountains visible from Carlsbad. The chimes added another sensory layer to the installation.
Stargazer Op – Linda Brewer
Major constellations visible from Carlsbad in November were the focal point of the installation. The mixed-media work created a star map to indentify the stars, planets, and constellations over Carlsbad. The interactive map was large enough to stand in. The goal of the work was to make astronomy accessible to everyone and celebrate the beauty of the New Mexico’s sky.
Star Walk – Lisa Rubin
The work created a physical walkway through a constellation. Participants had the opportunity to interact with astronomy. The piece served as a star map by day and mirror to the nighttime sky. The work included a series of solar lamps placed in the pattern of constellations visible in Carlsbad during the autumn.
Sky Labyrinth – Cordelia Rose
The work reflected the night sky on the ground in a labyrinth made of interlocking spirals of rock, clay bricks, and ropes of LED lights. Viewers entered the labyrinth oriented at the meridian of the Southern Cross constellation and exited at the North Star Polaris. The piece encouraged visitors to walk the path and enjoy the visual beauty.
Untitled – Micheal Orgel and Arthur Rosenberg
A pyramid was fabricated from multiple layers of twine-tied bamboo, with a carved marble crescent representing the moon suspended from the apex. The pyramid structure drew the viewer’s eye to the sky. All materials used were from the natural world and the work was tied together without nails, screws, or glue.
Blue Firmament – Paula Castillo
The work was an audio composition of digital recordings from a random selection of sounds. The sounds were enhanced and edited to create an artwork of projected sounds activated by sensors to encourage public involvement.
Under the Rainbow – Zoe Wolfe and Steven Shelendich
The work consisted of a rainbow spectrum of seven arches; each arch, a solid color of nylon fabric. The arches were arranged in a curve referencing the arch of rainbows. Viewers were able to walk through the arches and experience the color first-hand above and around them.
No Blue Without Orange – Becky Holtzman
Several connected organically created orange hoops, were strung among low tree branches. The hoops were placed on branches with clear views to the sky. The sky provided the contrast to the orange circles as they swayed in the trees. The work was made from branches and twigs, covered with bright vermillion papier mâché varnished with clear shellac, and connected with monofilament.


Someone who likes to read books has been reported to have a higher level of creativity than people who do not or are less fond of reading. By reading books, we can share experiences with other people about various things, which we can later make as a consideration to be able to decide something. Aside from that, don’t forget to also pay a visit to the Library of Daniel Ballerini Connecticut near you.
It Can Improve Social Relations
Activities like reading this book also affect aspects of human social life, where he can get to know various kinds of characteristics, culture, and social life of a society. So if one day he visits the place, he already knows how to behave to respect their customs and culture.
It Can Help Prevent Decreased Cognitive Functions
Based on a study conducted by Rush University Medical Center states that someone who spends their time to do creative or intellectual activities such as reading has a cognitive decline rate of up to 32% than those who do not read later. Reading books can make the brain work more efficiently by changing the structure of age-related neuropathologies.
It Can Increase Someone’s Empathy
According to research conducted by New York University, reading books can improve our ability to better understand the feelings of others. So that it can improve the quality of a better relationship with the people around us.
It Can Encourage Someone’s Life Purpose
According to research conducted by Ohio State University states that reading books can help a person to get motivation in overcoming various kinds of obstacles so that later can help in achieving his life goals. When a person can better identify characters, experiences, and various events that seem to be happening to them, the more likely they are to take action.
It Can Help Us To Connect With The Outside World
A psychologist from the University of Buffalo stated that when someone is reading a book, it can help him to identify the characters in the book he reads. He will experience a type of real-life relationship that can increase the sense of inclusion. In other words, reading can increase friendship with the outside world.


Cheerful Weather For The Wedding: A Classic Novella by Julia Strachey
If you are looking for a witty and charming read that captures the essence of a British country wedding in the 1930s, you might want to download Cheerful Weather For The Wedding by Julia Strachey. This novella, first published in 1932 by the Hogarth Press, is a sardonic and intriguing portrait of a bride, her groom, and their guests on a rainy day.
The story revolves around Dolly Thatcham, who is about to marry the Hon Owen Bingham, a dull but respectable man. Dolly is not very enthusiastic about her wedding, and spends most of the time in her room, drinking rum and reminiscing about her past love affair with Joseph Patten, a handsome but penniless young man who is also present at the wedding. Joseph hopes to persuade Dolly to elope with him, but he is constantly thwarted by the interference of Dolly's mother, Mrs Thatcham, who is determined to see her daughter married off to a suitable match.
The novella is full of humorous and poignant details that reveal the characters' personalities and emotions. Strachey's style is crisp and elegant, and her dialogue is witty and realistic. She creates a vivid picture of the social and cultural atmosphere of the period, as well as the psychological tensions and conflicts that underlie the seemingly trivial events of the day.
Cheerful Weather For The Wedding is a classic example of modernist literature that explores the themes of love, marriage, class, and identity. It has been praised by critics and readers alike for its originality, subtlety, and charm. It was adapted into a film in 2012, starring Felicity Jones, Luke Treadaway, and Elizabeth McGovern.
If you want to download Cheerful Weather For The Wedding by Julia Strachey, you can find it online at various platforms such as Amazon[^1^], Archive[^2^], or Goodreads[^3^]. You can also read reviews and ratings from other readers who have enjoyed this delightful novella.
Cheerful Weather For The Wedding is not only a delightful novella, but also a valuable piece of literary history. Julia Strachey (1901-1979) was the niece of Lytton Strachey, one of the founders of the Bloomsbury Group, a circle of influential writers and artists in early 20th century London. She was well-known in Bloomsbury circles, and was friends with Virginia Woolf, who wrote the introduction to the first edition of Cheerful Weather For The Wedding. Woolf praised Strachey's talent and originality, and compared her to Jane Austen and Katherine Mansfield.
Strachey wrote several other works of fiction and non-fiction, but none of them achieved the same success and recognition as Cheerful Weather For The Wedding. She also worked as a model, a painter, and a translator. She had a turbulent personal life, marked by several marriages and affairs. She died in 1979, leaving behind a legacy of witty and elegant prose that deserves to be rediscovered by modern readers.
If you are looking for a short but satisfying read that will make you laugh and think, download Cheerful Weather For The Wedding by Julia Strachey today. You will not regret it. aa16f39245


Cybersecurity Interview Questions: The Essential Guide to Getting the Job You Want
This is a comprehensive book designed to arm you with the in-depth knowledge needed to ace your cybersecurity interview. The book features a broad range of real-world interview questions, expertly designed to challenge and prepare aspiring cybersecurity professionals.
It closely examines a plethora of topics cloud security, penetration testing, network and application security, cryptography, Linux, Web application, among others. Each question is complemented by detailed, easy-to-understand answers that not only solidify your understanding, but also provide practical insights into the current cybersecurity landscape.
Whether you’re a newbie in the field or an experienced professional, this essential guide will boost your confidence and equip you with the required knowledge base to secure that coveted cybersecurity position. A valuable addition to your toolkit, this book could just be your ticket to landing your dream cybersecurity job.


I Love You More by Laura Duksta Board Book
With a simple, touching story, rhyme and rhythm, and vibrant child-like illustrations, this book will be treasured by anyone who has ever said "I love you" and heard the best response in the world: "I LOVE YOU MORE."
Book flips over to tell the story from either the parent's or the child's perspective.
A First Bible Story Book$12.99 Add to Cart
Bunnies By The Bay Camp Cricket Book$14.99 Add to Cart
Bunnies By The Bay Who's A Pretty Girl Book$14.99 Add to Cart
Camp Acorn Photo Album$19.99 Add to Cart
Finger Puppet Books$6.99 Add to Cart
Good Night Charleston Book$9.95 Add to Cart
Indestructible Books$5.95 Add to Cart


Olive T. Read, Bea A Reeter and Rita Book came to OES to kick off the 2nd annual March Madness Reading Challenge. They are funny teachers who challenge readers to set a school-wide goal. Last year, the goal was 15,000 books and OES students surpassed that goal by reading 19,732 books. This year the teachers raised the bar! They challenged students at OES to read 25,000 books in exchange for sliming the principal.
When we began online learning on March 17th, we were worried that they would not be able to make their goal, but OES students not only met the challenge of 25,000 books- they surpassed that!
OES readers were probably encouraged when Olive, Bea, and Rita promised to add some additional staff to slime if the students could make it to 30,000 books. They beat that goal by reading 30,130 books/chapters!
Mrs. Hallenbeck’s class and Mrs. Marsh’s class were the top readers in the challenge with the most books read, so their teachers agreed to get slimed along with Mr. Francisco and a special guest.
Enjoy the video readers! Congratulations!


These inspirational and challenging Christian quotes are extracted from books and sermons by godly believers that we hope will challenge and encourage you as you run this race for the Lord Jesus. (For sharing the quotes that are in the image format, you can download them by clicking on the image.)
Throughout the long history of the Christian church one of Satan’s most successful tactics has been the use of extremes. This is especially true regarding the work of the Holy Spirit. No sooner has one branch of professing Christendom been led into an extreme, unbiblical, or even fanatical position regarding the work of the Holy Spirit, than another branch reacts with an equally extreme and unbiblical opposing position.


From Leicester International Institute
The collection of excellent study notes from Leicester International Institute (DLI) students has been carried out in an orderly manner, and the first batch of study notes have been bound and collected recently for the students of relevant majors to study. The notes were shared by 17 students from three grades majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Chemistry, with a total of 26 volumes.
Recently, Prof. Zhan Jingjing, the Dean of DLI, presented students who shared their study notes with specially customized notebooks as rewards. Prof. Zhan shared his experience of studying in the U.S. and his thoughts on the value of taking and sharing study notes. He spoke highly of the students' notes and encouraged them to take notes persistently and be introspective while practising and being steadfast and ambitious.
Under the initiative of Prof. Zhan, the activity aims to cultivate students' spirit and temperament of independent thinking, truth-seeking, innovation and win-win. With the active promotion and encouragement of student advisors of all grades in DLI, students enthusiastically participate in this activity. Even though DLIers could not return to campus due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic in spring semester 2020, 17 students shared the study notes of their major courses in different ways.
Moreover, they could share any versions they want, such as the original version, the photocopied version or the digital version. The original notes will be stored in their original form and will be mailed to the students when they need to retrieve them someday. The photocopied notes are based on the version provided by the student, and they will be stored with DLI logo on the covers. As for the digital version, the notes will be collected in the computers at the Resource Room.
The students who share their notes will fill in their names, grades, majors, course names, and feelings on cards in memory of this activity. They will also get notebooks customized by DLI as rewards. Study notes are a collection of all the ideas and understandings we have about what we have learned. They are the most colorful and warm records of the university life, and DLI uses each notebook to keep and share the beautiful four years of students.
Editor: Li Xiang


Weekends are a great time to do franchise research. It used to be that you had to go to your local library, and pour through several different books, magazines, and other assorted publications to get the information you needed. Not anymore. (Libraries are still pretty cool places.)
Online research is here, now. I’m guessing that 95% of the people that are seriously looking at becoming franchise owners have PC’s at their homes, and use them for researching everything. It’s certainly become the norm.
Of course doing the right kind of research….
If you’ve been looking into franchise ownership for awhile, or even if you’re just starting out, I recently did a webinar for the University of Northern Iowa, that’s chock full of great franchise research tips, and techniques. And, UNI has made it available for you!
You’ll learn how to;
- Determine how far to go in your research
- Great questions to ask the current crop of franchisees
- Why you need to have a camera
- How to find out how much money you’re really going to make
And much, much more.
The webinar lasts about an hour, and it will be time well spent.
I reveal even more research tips and tricks in my upcoming Franchise Book.


An assemblage of twelve original paintings by the artist representing the names of the Tribes of Israel as they were incised in the gemstones of the golden Khoshen or breastplate of the High Priest. Each painting reveals a unique style and color palette, inspired by teachings from the Midrash and Kabbalah.
More information at
The original paintings from which the images of this poster are derived as well as copies of individual Tribes are available.
Please contact the artist.
December 31st, 2013
Viewed 1,790 Times - Last Visitor from Ann Arbor, MI on 02/18/2024 at 6:53 PM


Local Things to Do
HOBBS RETAIL: Since Hobbs is the county seat of New Mexico, there is a lot of retail nearby such as a Walmart Supercenter, a Home Depot and a Lowes which all give you an idea of the size of Hobbs (over 40,000). There are grocery stores such as Albertsons Market, Thriftway, and in Seminole there is a smaller Walmart, and a United Marketplace.
HOBBS ENTERTAINMENT: Hobbs has the Eagle 9 movie theater, the CORE recreation center (complete with indoor water park and swimming) and also see Hobbs community events.
LOCAL RESTAURANTS: TripAdvisor has some recommendations for local eats… Hobbs, NM and Seminole, TX.
READING: Hobbs has a public library, if you’re a history buff, here are some links to get you started about the local area of Hobbs, NM.
For the Seminole direction, there is the Gaines County Library System and a bit of history about Seminole, TX.


Classics With a Twist
Elementary, Library, Family Audiences
Classics is a tribute and celebration of poetry, story and song. It’s a 45 to 60 minute program that emphasizes the enjoyment and importance of reading, writing and listening. The interactive presentation uses adults & children on stage as readers and actors, with no rehearsal required.
Classics can be a collaboration between Scot and the presenter. Together they select readings from Scots repertoire or from the sponsors reading list. Scot uses mime, music and dialogue during the show, and along with his quick wit and flexibility, Scot responds to all the unrehearsed situations that occur throughout the performance.
Scot removes his make up towards the end of the show to help the audience understand how important literature was to him growing up with a severe speech problem.


From the back cover, a blurb on this book written by William R. Fortschen: “A story in which one man struggles to save his family and his small North Carolina town after America loses a war that sends our nation back to the Dark Ages. A war lost because of a terrifying weapon, an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP)…that may already be in the hands of our enemies. Months before publication [it was published in 2009], One Second After has already been cited on the floor of Congress as a book all Americans should read. It has been discussed in the corridors of the Pentagon as realistic look at EMPs and their awesome ability to send catastrophic shockwaves throughout the United States, literally within seconds. EMPs are a weapon that The Wall Street Journal warned could shatter our nation. In the tradition of On the Beach, Fail-Safe, and Testament, this book, set in a typical American town, is a dire warning of what might be our future…and our end.”
Think of an EMP as a “continental time machine that would move us back to the nineteenth century.” It is a chilling read, folks, so if you are fearful, avoid it because you will have trouble sleeping at night. Indeed, I had a difficult time getting through it precisely because it was so real and so believable. And yes, I too think everyone should read it because I agree with Gen. Eugene Habiger, USAF (Ret) Former Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Strategic Command, that “It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when.”
What amazes me is that Congress has done next to nothing about it (although I’d be willing to bet they’re all secretly stockpiling at their homes). There has been no hardening of the nation’s electrical power infrastructure or the civilian and military critical electronic infrastructures whose collapse would trigger catastrophic consequences and cause the permanent collapse of our society. And the public for the most part is clueless, although thanks to the Internet the word is spreading. Nat Geo did a special and a good site to visit is EMPact America. The more people who prepare, the better off we’ll be. Although to be honest, I don’t know that I’d want to be a witness, to live long enough to see what people who are hungry and trying to survive will do to each other.


Enslavement in Southampton, County Virginia
Readers' Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the "Best Websites for Authors" and "Honoring Excellence" awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies.
Reviewed by Sheena Monnin for Readers' Favorite
The Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes: Enslavement in Southampton County, Virginia by David J. Mason tells the story of the author’s great-grandfather, Parson Sykes, and his journey to freedom during the Civil War. The author does a remarkable job of setting up the details of the era for the reader from the very beginning, giving a comprehensive overview of the political and military movements of the time and how these impacted those forced into slavery in the United States. The story starts with Parson thinking about liberation and making plans over many months to remove himself from the wrongful, cruel, and unjust slavery forced upon him on the farm of Jacob Williams. He escapes in 1864 and joins the military, serving honorably and helping to end the horrendous enslavement of people in this country.
The Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes by David J. Mason was riveting from start to ﬁnish. The methodical way the author presents the bigger picture of the political and cultural issues of the nation while providing fascinating details about Parson Sykes’ life and mindset allowed the reader to feel connected to the story and to understand the incredibly huge risks Parson took in his liberation. The author writes with authenticity, attention to detail, and care on subjects that are sensitive to many people, presenting the facts as they are. Readers will feel connected to Parson Sykes as they read this book and will be fascinated to learn the historical details the author provides as he takes them on the admirable journey toward freedom that his great-grandfather bravely undertook.
Reviewed by Astrid Iustulin for Readers' Favorite
The Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes by David J. Mason is a novel based on the true story of his great-grandfather. Parson Sykes lived in the 19th century in Southampton Country, Virginia, and was born into slavery. Yet, he had a clear vision of his future and what he wanted to achieve in his life - freedom. In 1864, during the Civil War, Parson decided to act and run away with his brothers. The Sykes enrolled in the Union Army, where they discovered that there, too, they had to face prejudice and discrimination against Black soldiers. Mason tells the story of his ancestor in detail and, in addition to giving information about him, offers the reader a detailed historical reconstruction of his time.
The Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes is a splendid novel that, in many ways, comes very close to a historical study. David J. Mason offers the reader a detailed story and a lot of food for thought. Above all, he highlighted his great-grandfather's thirst for freedom very well, making him an outstanding, charismatic character. Moreover, Mason depicts a precise picture of people and events. He represents very well the mentality of Parson's owner, Jacob Williams, and sheds light on the contribution of the Black soldiers to the war. I am convinced that this book will appeal to all readers who love history and are particularly interested in the Civil War and the abolition of slavery. This story will allow them to retrace some of those events following the protagonist's journey to freedom.
Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers' Favorite
The American Civil War period was a turning point for interracial relationships in American history. It set in motion the emancipation of slaves and the beginning of the subsequent struggle for equal rights for all Americans, irrespective of skin color. Parson Sykes, a slave resident in Southampton County, Virginia, at the time, uses his self-taught survival skills coupled with the lessons learned from previous slave rebellions and escape attempts, both successful and unsuccessful, to plan his escape from his ruthless owner, Jacob Williams. The Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes by David J. Mason is an intimate story of the factors he had to consider in his daring escape plan and the contingencies he set up in the event of capture and almost certain death during those dangerous years.
The Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes is a work of historical fiction. The Civil War era theme is fascinating as a lot of information concerning the lives of the enslaved and the slave owners is readily available but I daresay not quite like this one. The attention to detail is impressive and following Parson Sykes as he plans his great escape is riveting. David J. Mason did a thorough job on the backstory for the primary character while dove-tailing it smoothly into key historic moments. There is some repetition of details as you read and in one instance it felt like deja vu but it did not affect my understanding of the story. The author does a marvelous job with The Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes, a historical fiction masterpiece that students of history can learn a lot.
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Enslavement in Southampton County, Virginia is a work of ﬁction in the historical subgenre and is the ﬁrst installment in the Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes trilogy. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by author David J. Mason. The book covers the closing months of the American Civil War, during which time Jacob Williams’ farm run with slaves is attacked by insurgents. Parson Sykes had made plans to escape the farm for the safety of the Union, where the opportunity to serve in the Union army awaited with the formation of the Union Army XXV Corps.
The history of slavery in the United States is long, complicated, and emotionally charged, and this is especially true for the battle for liberty for those in bondage. Taking a complex and painful period of history and grounding it in the experiences of a single character with a unique position to teach us about it was a brilliant decision, and author David J. Mason’s painstaking research into the era has stunning life breathed into it by his gifted prose. Parson Sykes himself is a particular highlight of the work, a nuanced and engaging lead character whose understanding of the social and political world in which he lives allows him to gift the reader with an often diﬃcult-to-grasp context for slavery and the civil war. Overall, Enslavement in Southampton County, Virginia: The Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes is an essential read for fans of historical ﬁction, taking a point of view on the Civil War that could easily have been diﬃcult to relate to and creating a compelling and epic drama around a grounded and likable protagonist.
Reviewed by Margie Peterson for Reedsy Discovery
The prologue recounts Nat Turner’s rebellion and how it affected the community of Southhampton County, Virginia during the American Civil War. The slave owners kept closer control and watch over their slaves. They hired patrols to hunt them down and return them. The rail lines were closely watched by the Union, the Confederacy, the bounty hunters, and the slaves who sought freedom. The laws concerning runaway slaves were different in each state. If a slave was caught, they and their family were punished. Not just with beatings, but by being sold and separated.
The chronological description of important military leaders and battles resulted in legislative laws that made it easier for fugitive slaves to seek liberation and be able to fight for freedom in the Union Army. Each state had different laws regarding slaves’ personal liberty. Each chapter accomplishes two things. The first section describes the conditions on the ground and the key events that affected the war. The second section describes the details of Parson Sykes' work life in Cross Keys, Virginia. He and his family were monitored constantly. For some reason, his owner taught Parson to read. When he was sent to work at the Boykins Depot near the railroad, he was able to gather the information that helped him plan his escape.
The second story reveals the actions and thoughts of Parson Sykes during the year he prepared to escape toward Union lines from the slave state of Virginia. He kept his ability to read a secret. He kept the Haven a secret. He kept his plans for liberation a secret. Parts of Sykes’ escape with his two brothers come from the family’s oral history. How they traveled over 40 miles from Cross Keys to Camp Bowers Hill in Norfolk County remains their mystery. They got caught more than once but kept going anyway.
The repetition of what self-liberation entails is there for a reason. Soldiers are debriefed when they come back from a war zone. It was essential that Parson Sykes prepare himself before the escape because he needed mental toughness to push through unknown territory. Before reading this book, I knew nothing about the black regiments that became the XXIV and XXV, or their military victories. I did not understand that each battle resulted in a change in federal laws. One example is the “Contraband Decision.” I had never heard of the journalist Thomas Morris Chester.
It details the historical context of how black soldiers got their commissions and describes their moments of valor despite ongoing segregation. Told from a soldier’s perspective it makes for dry reading, but that’s the point. For information to be trustworthy, it can’t be embellished. Lives depend on it.


Mayor Al Foeckler, who was appointed by the Common Council following the death of Dick Bolender, said all along he supported moving the city hall and the library to the former Delphi site. But he wasn’t sure what he would do if the council was split.
On Tuesday, with the council divided 3-3, we found out our answer.
“With great respect for Mayor Bolender, Mayor Bolender’s vision for the Delphi site and the thousands of residents that voted Mayor Bolender to three terms as mayor of Oak Creek, I vote aye,” Foeckler said in casting the deciding vote to move forward plans to relocate the city hall and library to the corner of Drexel and Howell avenues.
Voting in favor of the plan were Aldermen Tom Michalski, Ken Gehl and Dan Jakubcyzk.
Aldermen Steve Scaffidi, Michael Toman and Dan Bukiewicz were opposed, saying they needed more questions answered, specifically from the Oak Creek-Franklin School District.
Read more at: Oakcreek.Patch.com


Mauritius in Literature: Paul et Virginie
Set in Mauritius and written on the eve of the French Revolution, Paul et Virginie is a novel by Jacque-Henri Bernadin de Saint-Pierre which became an instant bestseller when first published in 1788. The French writer and thinker was also a botanist, natural historian and committed vegetarian, who travelled to Mauritius to study plants in the late 1760s, later becoming manager of the famous Jardin des Plantes botanical garden in Paris.
His novel remains the best known story in Mauritian folklore – the stated favourite of Napoleon though now largely forgotten in the wider world. It tells of the love between two children who are raised on the island, after both their mothers flee France when one is widowed and the other abandoned by her lover. The girl and boy grow up in a tropical paradise free from any corrupting influences and entirely according to the laws of nature. But just as they reach adolescence and begin to fall in love, Virginie is lured back to France by a rich aunt who promises to educate her and make her an heir to a large fortune.
On her return from overseas – in a twist inspired by the wreck of the St Géran which sank off the northeast coast – Virginie’s ship begins to flounder just off the shore. Though Paul swims out to rescue her, Virginie’s new found modesty prevents her from removing her weighty European clothes in front of a male sailor and she perishes at sea. Overcome with sadness, Paul subsequently dies of a broken heart.
Inspiring modern culture
In the modern era, the story of Paul et Virginie has inspired various paintings and other works of art, as well as the cult 1980 movie The Blue Lagoon starring Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins, and a hit single by Celine Dion. And of course, in Mauritius itself, the tale still conjures images of carefree innocence and a tropical idyll, so it’s little wonder the name ‘Paul et Virginie’ graces several different venues across the island.
On the trail of Paul et Virginie today
Up at Poudre d’Or on the northeast coast – where the navy fleet vessel St. Géran met its watery grave – a monument is dedicated to the 149 sailors, 13 passengers and 30 slaves who lost their lives in the disaster, although its immortalisation in Bernadin de Saint Pierre’s novel means it is more commonly known as the “Paul et Virginie” monument. And over in Curepipe, a bronze copy of Prosper d'Épinay's statue of the young lovers stands near the town hall, with the original marble statue on display in the Blue Penny Musuem in Port Louis.
Photos: Avenue Paul & Virginie, statue of Paul and Virginie in Mahebourg.


“You heard the man no mortal weapons can kill the creature.”
“Then we’ll have to find some immortal one.”
“There goes that ‘we’ again.”
We all have those movies in our lives that we count as classic and cherished family memories. In my family we have several but one that is oddly very near and dear to us is The Mummy from 1999. I was eleven and a half years old. I remember going to see this in the theaters. It was my first “scary” movie in the theaters. My youngest brother would not be born for another few weeks when this was released. He is actually the reason why this movie holds so many good memories for all of us because as he got a little older he would watch The Mummy on repeat almost every single day! He got into The Mummy when he was around two because of The Mummy Returns. He had all the toys that came out for the second movie. My entire family teases my brother to this day (he will be sixteen soon!) about his love of the movie and how he would watch it constantly.
In a cheesy sentimental way I am dedicating this write up of The Mummy to my brother… and I am doing so because he will never read this!
The story begins back in Ancient Egyptian times. A high priest named Imhotep is caught messing around with the queen Anck Su Namun. For his treachery Imhotep is condemned to the worst punishment: he has his eyes and tongue ripped out and then buried alive. Imhotep and his priests are placed in Hamunaptra for all eternity.
Thousands of years later in the 1930s the French Foreign Legion is fighting an Egyptian force called the Medjai for control of the ancient desert site of Hamunaptra. Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) is an American fighting for the French Legion. He gets far into the ancient. He is standing in one particular spot when all the sudden he hears a voice speaking in Egyptian and then the sand kicks up around him as if on the attack. Rick runs away and a face is revealed in the sand.
In the city of Cairo is the Cairo Museum of Antiquities. A young scholarly English woman named Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz) work as a librarian. She desperately wants to join a professional group of scholars but keeps getting rejected despite the fact that her father was a very famous explorer. Her brother Jonathan (Jon Hannah) comes to the library one day to show her an object that he supposedly found on a dig. Evelyn reads the ancient Egyptian text on the object and says he may have found something. She presses a button a piece of papyrus comes out. She believes it is the location to Hamunaptra. When they take it to her boss he dismisses Hamunaptra as a legend to amuse tourists and burns off a part of the map. Jonathan then reveals to his sister that he lied and stole it off a guy who is in jail.
The guy stole the object from turns out to be Rick O’Connell. When Evelyn and Jonathan go to the jail to see Rick, they find out he is about to be hanged for some kind of crime. Rick is a mess of a man and very rude. He tells Evelyn that he knows the location of Hamunaptra by heart since he was fighting for it and if she wants to go there he has to get her out. Evelyn manages to bribe the jailer and Rick is set free.
On the same boat as Rick, Evelyn, and Jonathan is a group of American men who are also traveling to Hamunaptra. While Evelyn wants to go to the ancient city for scholarly reasons the Americans want to go purely to find treasure to become rich off of. Rick knows there is only one other person who knows the location of Hamunaptra and that person is a little weasel of a man named Beni that he had fought with in the French Legion. That night the boat is burned up by the Medjai who are trying to keep both groups from continuing on to the ancient city.
Despite the setback on the boat both groups manage to make it to Hamunaptra. They almost kill each other fighting for spaces to explore and dig. Evelyn finds another place to go further under the ground. In their exploration Evelyn, Rick and Jonathan find the sarcophagus of Imhotep. They see he was alive when he was buried from the scratch marks inside the coffin and Evelyn reads that he suffered the worst of all ancient Egyptian curses. The Americans, in the meantime, have found The Book of the Dead and canopic jars with ancient body parts inside. That night Rick steals The Book of the Dead from the Americans. She reads on the surface under the night sky while below under the sand in his tomb the mummy of Imhotep comes back to life.
Now Imhotep’s mummy is looking for the canopic jars the Americans stole and taking their lives in order to regenerate. It is now up to Rick, Evelyn, and Jonathan to stop Imhotep from gaining power and destroying Egypt.
I fucking love The Mummy so much! It is so cheesy and silly and I love it the more I watch it. When I was little I was totally obsessed with Ancient Egypt. I was that weird kid that loved history with an insane passion and Ancient Egypt was where that insane passion went towards. The Mummy was like my dream. I wanted to be like Evelyn Carnahan who was an awesome female Ancient Egyptian Scholar and I still would love to be like her! My history loving heart will never fade I have a degree in Art History and museum studies for crying out loud! The story and adventure is also a lot of fun and entertaining. There are so many great scenes and lines I cannot even say what my favorite scenes and lines are. As I mentioned, I have great memories attached to The Mummy from going to see it in theaters when it was released to watching it all the time with my little brother. Maybe he will read this review one day and appreciate how happy the memories of him watching The Mummy over and over again when he was small makes me feel. That would be nice.
If you have not seen The Mummy… what have you been doing with your life for the past fourteen years?! It is like one of those movies you have to watch. It is such a silly entertaining movie you will have so much fun watching.


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In an ever-changing world, the pursuit of knowledge and intelligence is an endeavor many seek to conquer. While there are various ways to enhance one’s cognitive abilities, the power of books remains unrivaled. If you’re on a quest to boost your intelligence, we’ve compiled a list of 15 books that are guaranteed to expand your mind and improve your intellect.
1. “Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman
Why it’s a must-read: Dive into the intricacies of human thinking and decision-making, as Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman explores the two systems that drive the way we think. This book is a fascinating journey through the psychology of thought.
2. “The Brain that Changes Itself” by Norman Doidge
Why it’s a must-read: Discover the incredible plasticity of the human brain and how it can adapt and change throughout life. Norman Doidge’s work sheds light on the power of neuroplasticity and its implications for personal growth.
For more information on neuroplasticity and the brain’s ability to change, you can explore this resource: Neuroplasticity: How to Rewire Your Brain
3. “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari
Why it’s a must-read: Yuval Noah Harari takes readers on a thought-provoking journey through the history of Homo sapiens. This book offers profound insights into human evolution and the forces shaping our world.
To delve deeper into the concepts of human evolution and history, you can refer to this resource: National Geographic – Human Evolution
4. “The Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg
Why it’s a must-read: Dive into the science of habits and learn how they shape our lives. Charles Duhigg’s exploration of habits, their formation, and their transformation can lead to personal growth and intelligence enhancement.
5. “Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid” by Douglas Hofstadter
Why it’s a must-read: This Pulitzer Prize-winning book delves into the world of mathematics, art, and music. It challenges your thinking and connects seemingly unrelated concepts, making it a must-read for those who want to expand their intellectual horizons.
6. “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot
Why it’s a must-read: Delve into the intersection of science, ethics, and race through the true story of Henrietta Lacks. This book sheds light on the use of Lacks’ cells in scientific research and the ethical implications of this discovery.
7. “The Selfish Gene” by Richard Dawkins
Why it’s a must-read: Explore the theory of evolution and natural selection through the lens of genes. Richard Dawkins’ work challenges traditional views on evolution and offers a deeper understanding of life.
8. “Blink” by Malcolm Gladwell
Why it’s a must-read: Malcolm Gladwell takes readers on a journey into the subconscious mind, exploring the power of rapid cognition. Gain insights into the art of making quick, informed decisions.
9. “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell
Why it’s a must-read: Delve into the factors that contribute to exceptional success. Gladwell explores the stories of individuals who have achieved greatness and uncovers the hidden patterns behind their achievements.
10. “The Code Book” by Simon Singh
Why it’s a must-read: Unravel the fascinating history of codes and code-breaking in this book. Simon Singh’s work explores the world of cryptography and its impact on history, science, and intelligence.
11. “Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me)” by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson
Why it’s a must-read: Dive into the psychology of self-justification and cognitive dissonance. This book sheds light on why we make mistakes and how to improve decision-making.
12. “Superforecasting” by Philip E. Tetlock and Dan M. Gardner
Why it’s a must-read: Explore the world of prediction and decision-making. This book introduces the concept of superforecasters, individuals who excel in making accurate predictions, and how their techniques can be applied to improve your own thinking.
13. “The Talent Code” by Daniel Coyle
Why it’s a must-read: Discover the secrets of skill development and talent acquisition. Daniel Coyle explores the neurology of skill acquisition, offering insights on how to unlock your potential.
14. “The Emperor of All Maladies” by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Why it’s a must-read: Dive into the history of cancer and its treatment. Siddhartha Mukherjee’s work provides a comprehensive look at the disease, its challenges, and the scientific advancements that have been made in the field of oncology.
15. “The Innovators” by Walter Isaacson
Why it’s a must-read: Explore the history of the digital revolution through the stories of the innovators who shaped our modern world. Walter Isaacson’s book highlights the power of collaboration, innovation, and the impact of technology on our lives.
Reading these books can significantly increase your intelligence and broaden your horizons. Each one offers a unique perspective and valuable insights into the world of science, history, psychology, and more. Make a commitment to explore these titles, and you’ll find yourself on a path to greater knowledge and intelligence.
In conclusion, books have the power to transform our minds, and these 15 titles are exceptional tools for enhancing your intelligence. With the knowledge gained from these pages, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the complexities of the world and contribute to a brighter future.
Remember, the journey to increased intelligence begins with a single page. Happy reading!