(Article by Monica Showalter republished from AmericanThinker.com)
WASHINGTON (AP) — For colleges and libraries seeking a boldfaced name for a guest lecturer, few come bigger than Sonia Sotomayor, the Supreme Court justice who rose from poverty in the Bronx to the nation's highest court.
She has benefited, too — from schools' purchases of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of the books she has written over the years.
Sotomayor's staff has often prodded public institutions that have hosted the justice to buy her memoir or children's books, works that have earned her at least $3.7 million since she joined the court in 2009. Details of those events, largely out of public view, were obtained by The Associated Press through more than 100 open records requests to public institutions. The resulting tens of thousands of pages of documents offer a rare look at Sotomayor and her fellow justices beyond their official duties.
In her case, the documents reveal repeated examples of taxpayer-funded court staff performing tasks for the justice's book ventures, which workers in other branches of government are barred from doing.
In other words, she and her personal henchwoman, Anh Le, who lives off the public dime, spend an enormous amount of time on shaking down colleges and other venues for book purchases. The AP laid out the raw emails, where nothing was couched in delicate terms, leaving it pretty clear that Sotomayor has a pay-to-play operation going, muscling universities into having her speak and meet and greet their denizens — in exchange for absurdly high numbers of book purchases they aren't shy about demanding. It has made her a pretty penny.
Let's take a look at some of these numbers available on Amazon:
In other words, these aren't serious books about legal reasonings or legal history, which seem natural topics for Supreme Court justices. These are ego trips — Sotomayor casting herself as the hero on the identity politics train, and then getting paid for it.
Any questions as to why it got out that the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg considered Sotomayor the dumbest member of the Court?
These are very dumb books, books that take no challenge to read and offer little more than Sotomayor's biography and trite advice to kids as money-making fodder. These are phone-it-in books, and it says something that Sotomayor needed a professional writer to serve as co-author in the kids' fare. Sotomayor doesn't even have kids, so it's odd that she should be so focused on writing children's books. That rather suggests that these books are vehicles for raking in the dough.
Some of these books sport really low rankings these days, suggesting that they aren't terribly interesting to the book-buying public. They are tripe. That suggests that were it not for the Sotomayor team's musclings of universities, there wouldn't be any sales at all.
These aren't books anyone would buy unless he had to. Sotomayor's right-hand woman made sure a lot of educational institutions had to.
Look at how tough she was, demanding universities cough up. Here is one passage, and the story contained many others:
"For an event with 1,000 people and they have to have a copy of Just Ask to get into the line, 250 books is definitely not enough," the aide, Anh Le, wrote staffers at the Multnomah County Library. "Families purchase multiples and people will be upset if they are unable to get in line because the book required is sold out."
It was not an isolated push. As Sotomayor prepared for commencement weekend at the University of California, Davis law school, her staff pitched officials there on buying copies of signed books in connection with the event. Before a visit to the University of Wisconsin, the staff suggested a book signing.
At Clemson University in South Carolina, school officials offered to buy 60 signed copies before a 2017 appearance; Sotomayor's staff noted that most schools order around 400. Michigan State University asked Sotomayor to come to campus and in 2018 spent more than $100,000 on copies of her memoir, "My Beloved World," to distribute to incoming first-year students. The books were shipped to the Supreme Court, where copies were taken to her chambers by court workers and signed by her before being sent to the school.
The Sotomayor team had a cow when an event was offered with free tickets and the public declined to buy her book to get it signed.
"Can you please show me the screen where people can purchase books?" Le wrote library staffers as they prepared to make the tickets available. "Are you just placing Just Ask … on the portal or all of the Justice's books."
When the free tickets were quickly snapped up, she asked library officials to publicize that those who could not get tickets could still meet the justice if they purchased a book.
"Please also let them know that they can attend the signing line to meet the Justice even if they are not able to attend the event," Le wrote in an Aug. 26, 2019, email.
A day later, she followed with another email, concerned that not enough of the people who got tickets had also purchased a book. Records indicate that the roughly 550 free tickets made available to the public (the rest were reserved for VIP guests) resulted in the advance purchase of only 28 books.
"Is there a reminder going out that people need to purchase a book at the event or bring a book to get into the signing line?" Le wrote. "Most of the registrants did not purchase books."
Still, when she found out event organizers had only purchased 250 copies of Sotomayor's book, she sent an email telling library officials that the quantity was "definitely not enough."
What's more, it was obvious the universities didn't want these tripe-filled books. When Sotomayor broke her shoulder in 2018 and had to cancel her event at Michigan State, the university asked for a $110,000 refund on the 11,000 books it had been forced to buy. The Sotomayor team tried to talk them out of that, but the university insisted. They didn't want that crap on their hands — nobody was going to buy them, and since Sotomayor didn't deliver on her end in this quid pro quo, they wanted their money back.
What can anyone call this other than disguised bribery or else the marketing and branding of Sotomayor as some kind of consumer durable on the identity politics model?
Either one of these possibilities is repellent in the extreme. If a justice wants to write a book and makes money on it because it's a good book, more power to him. But Sotomayor doesn't write books; she issues money vehicles for her own benefit. What kind of sorry picture is this?
Read more at: AmericanThinker.com


PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE ELKO AREA
Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS)
Foster/Adoptive Parent Training Sessions - March 6, 7, 8
The Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) will hold their next foster/adoptive parent training on March 6th, 7th, and 8th in Elko from 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Training sessions will be held at Great Basin College, 1500 College Parkway, DCIT Bldg., Room 208 in Elko.
California Trail Interpretive Center
Saturday March 7th, 11:00 a.m.:
Needle Felting - Spring Flowers: Learn how to needle felt, and create your own colorful, felted spring flower. Deb McFarlane will provide an introduction to needle felting. All materials provided.
Saturday March 7th, 2:00 p.m.:
Art of the Needle - Embroidery: Embroidery is complex, intricate and beautiful. Fiber artists will be on hand to show different types of embroidery, including crewel, cross stitch, needle point, black work, white work, Ukrainian embroidery, Belgian lace, Japanese Sashiko embroidery and more. Artists will also provide embroidery demonstrations.
Sunday March 8th, 2:00 p.m.:
For the kids - Bear Track on My Bed: What do bear tracks, turkey tracks and log cabins have in common? They are represented on quilts. Learn about pioneers by the patterns they left behind. Join Ranger Rose and create your own paper quilt block that represents life on the Trail.
Elko County Library
March Teen Book Club - 2nd Monday of each Month (March 9th)
Young Adults ages 12 and up are invited to join the Elko County Library's Teen Book Club which meets the 2nd Monday of each month at 4:30 p.m. in the YA area of the Library. The Reading Selection for the March 9th meeting is "Kira-Kira" by Cynthia Kadohata. Join them for a lively discussion, socializing and snacks.
Game Time on Thursdays
The Library also offers an afternoon game time for youth every Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Youth can play chess, checkers, board games, card games and more. A library card is required to "check out" the games for use in the Library.
For more information, contact the Library at 738-3066 or visit their website at www.elkocountylibrary.org.
Elko Institute For Academic Achievement
Elko County Science Fair - March 9th - 12th
Public Viewing will be from 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Wednesday March 11th, and Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Thursday March 12th, with the award ceremony on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
Live Rude Girls
Lucky Charms Event, Saturday, March 14th from 6-10pm
This event will take place at the Elko Junction Shopping Center, featuring new Budweiser beers, Live local bands, and a Lucky Charms Scavenger hunt with a rainbow of prizes. Proceeds to benefit LOCAL cancer patients and families; a service program of the Live Rude Girls ltd. in Elko. Entrance to Lucky Charms 18 years+ event is $10, Entrance to Lucky Charms & Beer area 21 years+ is $25.
For more information follow Live Rude Girls Elko on facebook, email
or call 777-3203.
Northeastern Nevada Museum
March 14th - Dr. Seuss Birthday
Join the Northeastern Nevada Museum March 14th from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. for their monthly Second Saturday Activity, Dr. Seuss Birthday.
Boys & Girls Club
"It Just Takes One" Annual Campaign - Thru 3-15-15
The Boys & Girls Club, along with Club volunteers and generous community members have embarked on this years "It Just Takes One" Annual Support Fundraising Campaign. The Campaign focuses on the impact one person can make on a child's life by donating to the Club. It takes the Club $1,200 per child annually to provide these services with children only paying $15 per year to be a member.
If you would like to make a contribution or donation to the "It Just Takes One" Campaign and help the Club and our youth, please contact the Boys and Girls Club of Elko at 775-738-2759 or visit the website at www.bgcelko.org.
Elko County Library
2014 Tax forms at the Library
Major income tax forms for the 2014 tax season are available at the Elko County Library. Due to Federal budget cuts, tax publications such as instruction books will not be in stock at the library this year. However, a reference copy will be available for patrons to consult or copy. Library staff will offer to print any forms not found at the library. Tax filers may download forms and publications themselves from the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov.Forms-&-Pubs. Filers can also request forms and instruction books to be sent by mail from the IRS website, or by calling toll-free at 1-800-3676.
For more information, call the Elko County Library at 738-3066.
Family Resource Center
Free teen health programs
The Family Resource Center hosts two lively, interactive, evidence-based teen health programs proven effective in reducing the risk of STD's and teen pregnancy. The programs incorporate medically accurate information, identifying and handling peer pressure, and utilizing negotiation skills. Both programs are FREE, and graduates receive a backpack filled with school supplies! Advance registration is required.
For more information, call 775-753-7352.


Journal of Clinical Oncology publishes all articles on JCO.org in advance of print publication. This policy provides subscribers with the latest clinical research several weeks before it appears in print. All articles have been reviewed, copyedited, and typeset, and appear in the final form in which they will appear in the print journal. Once an article appears in print, it will be removed from the Early Release page and grouped with the other contents of the issue in which it appears. All articles below are citable by using the Digital Object Identifier (DOI), a unique number given to every article, and the posting date.


For Research Europe, EUA’s Vinciane Gaillard and Stephane Berghmans weigh in on recent efforts to rebalance research assessment and look at how it could bring about a much-needed transformation of publishing and scholarly communication.
Faced with the current disconnect between core academic values and the way research and researchers are assessed, the research community has launched the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) to reclaim ownership of research assessment.
In this article, Vinciane and Stephane reflect on this burgeoning movement, and elaborate on the benefits and lessons that it offers the academic community towards realigning scholarly communication and publishing and advancing open science. This piece also draws on EUA’s Open Science Agenda 2025, outlining how these developments can help to achieve the Agenda’s vision of a system that is transparent, diverse, economically affordable and sustainable, technically interoperable, and steered by the research community.
The full article is available on Research Professional News: Evaluation and communication are two sides of the same coin.
“Expert Voices” is an online platform featuring original commentary and analysis on the higher education and research sector in Europe. It offers EUA experts, members and partners the opportunity to share their expertise and perspectives in an interactive and flexible exchange on key topics in the field.
All views expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of EUA.


This is a retro review.
"Old Man's War" by John Scalzi is a science fiction novel that has garnered considerable praise for its engaging storytelling, thought-provoking concepts, and memorable characters.
The story revolves around a future where humanity has expanded into space and faces conflicts with various alien species. In this setting, elderly individuals on Earth can join the Colonial Defense Forces (CDF), a military organization that recruits senior citizens and transfers their consciousness into genetically enhanced bodies. The protagonist, John Perry, decides to enlist and finds himself thrust into a universe filled with new challenges, alien encounters, and moral dilemmas.
One of the strengths of "Old Man's War" lies in Scalzi's ability to blend action, humor, and emotional depth. The book delivers thrilling, fast-paced military science fiction with well-described battles and intriguing technology. Scalzi's writing style is accessible and laced with wit, making the story entertaining and engaging throughout.
The characters in the novel are another highlight. John Perry, the main protagonist, is a relatable and likable figure whose personal journey and growth form the story's heart. The camaraderie among the members of Perry's unit and the interactions with other soldiers and alien species add depth and humanity to the narrative. The book explores themes of identity, mortality, sacrifice, and the ethics of war, provoking thought and reflection amidst the action.
Scalzi's world-building in "Old Man's War" is also commendable. He introduces a fascinating and expansive universe with various alien species, each with unique traits and characteristics. This future society's political and social dynamics are integrated into the narrative, providing a backdrop for the conflicts and dilemmas the characters face.
While some critics have noted that the book follows certain genre conventions and may lack some originality, Scalzi's execution and the strength of the characters and writing make up for any familiar elements. "Old Man's War" is a captivating and accessible read that appeals to both hardcore science fiction fans and those new to the genre.
In conclusion, "Old Man's War" is a delightful and thought-provoking science fiction novel. Its compelling characters, thrilling action, and engaging exploration of moral quandaries have earned its reputation as a standout work in the genre. If you're a fan of military science fiction or looking for an entertaining and contemplative read, this book is worth picking up.


126. Cheater by Michael Laser
This was all right. If anything, however, it taught me how easy it can be to cheat. The characters weren't that wonderful and it was more a "let's read this as fast as I can because I want to get it over with" book. And I really didn't get the point of the illness in the book except as a deus ex machina.
127. The Truth about Forever by Sarah Dessen
The fact that I can't really remember this book only a few weeks later is probably not the best sign. After going back and skimming through random pages, I remember what it was about. And while I was reading it, I did enjoy it. But unlike Dreamland or Along for the Ride or any of Dessen's other books, this one just didn't stick with me. Macy is a sweet character and Dessen is good at creating believeable characters. But I still fail to see why everyone seems to love Dessen so much. *shrugs* I will continue to read her books and maybe someday I will see.
128. Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs
Decent. There were a few loose ends, and I had already guessed the big secret at the end of the book early on. But it was sweet and I liked it. I'm thinking there will be sequels, because of the way it ended, and I think I'd like to read them.
129. Secrets of my Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita
Amusing. I really have a soft spot for these kinds of books. I have a feeling that it's the first in a series, so I might start looking for the others. Even if it isn't, I liked how the book was wrapped up. You could pretty much guess what was going to happen, but it was still done in an interesting way.
130. Comedy Writing Secrets by Mel Helitzer with Mark Shatz
Meh. I really didn't find this one too amusing. Some of the jokes were funny, but this wasn't very informative in my opinion.
131. The Animator's Survival Kit by Richard Williams
Man, I wish I could draw halfway decently. This was an interesting book to read. I just have no talent in that way, which kind of sucks. Still I liked the hints and I don't think I'll ever look at animated movies the same.
132. The Cinderella Pact by Sarah Strohmeyer
Cute. It actually had some pretty interesting twists in it. I liked the main character, though I found the ending a bit flat. Still a sweet book, though.
133. Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
An okay book. It wasn't brilliant, but I did enjoy reading it. It struck me as semi-similar to her other books. I like the tone she uses to write in, but maybe it wasn't the character that struck me this time? I don't know - in any case, I didn't care for it as much as some of her other books.
134. Legal Legacy by Linda Fairstein
The latest in the Alexandra Cooper series and a good read. Though I felt the blurb didn't really fit the book and that the actual mystery was a bit rushed. I did like learning about the New York library system, though.
135. Singing the Dogstar Blues by Allison Goodman
This was sci-fi, which is something I usually don't read. But I did end up enjoying this one. I actually debated not finishing this book, because it kind of drug on. But then I decided to go for it and was pleasantly surprised by the end.
136. Peace, Love and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle
Cute, but not brilliant. Carly just didn't really strike me as anything special. None of the characters did. It's your typical YA novel, I suppose, which would explain why I was so meh about it.
137. The Boyfriend List by E. Lockheart
This is the prequel to The Boy Book, so I was already familiar with the characters. I felt bad for Ruby, knowing exactly what was going to happen. And I continued to despise Kim, because she had no excuse to act that way.
138. The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly
Excellent. It brought back Rachel the FBI agent and Jack from The Poet. I was a bit confused at the very end from a comment Jack made. But I really liked this book and I want to see what happens to Jack next.
139. The Year of the Hangman by Gary Blackwood
This was an alternate reality book about what might have happened had Washington been captured at the beginning of the Revolutionary war. It was actually very interesting. I liked the main character quite a lot, along with the supporting cast. The ending was unsuspected and all in all, it was a really interesting book.
140. Sleeping Arrangments by Madeleine Wickham
This is Sophie Kinsella writing under her real name. It was all right, but it lacked the humor I love in her other novels. This was better than most romance novels I've read, but it wasn't that great either.
141. The Key to the Golden Firebird by Maureen Johnson
This was all right. That's about all I can say about it, to be honest. It wasn't great, it wasn't bad. I read a lot of YA, and nothing really stood out to me about this one.
142. Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Awesome. I love the Alice books. I'm counting this one because I honestly don't remember if I've read it or not. I have a feeling it's one that I started and never finished. I started this series when I was eleven, and even though I am now older than Alice, they are till favorites of mine. Truly wonderful books.
143. Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Welde
Cute. The whole "trapped in a video game" idea was well done and interesting. I liked how it took her awhile to succeed in the game. I liked the twist at the end, who Nigel turned out to be. It was a sweet YA fantasy.
144. Something to Blog About by Shana Norris
This was cute. I liked the characters and even the villain was a bit sympathetic by the end. It was a quick read, but a nice one.
145. Absolute Brightness by James Lecesne
I would have never picked up this book by myself, to be honest. But I met a girl at the library and she recommended this too me. And I was quite impressed with it. The boy is so stereotypical gay that at first that kind of turned me off, but the narrator makes you like her, even when she's done enough wrong herself. And I liked the element of mystery to it.
146. The Shamer's Daughter by Lene Kaaberbol
First book in the series, another recommendation, and excellent. The concept of someone who, by looking into someone's eyes, can read their shame is very interesting. It also begs the question -- what happens if someone does not feel shame? This very question is asked and answered in the first book of the series.
147. Dragon's Bait by Vivian Vande Welde
The Dragon/Alice romance was the interesting part of this book, even though it's just touched upon. There was a lesson at the end of this book, about revenge and moving on. But to be honest, I wasn't that enthralled with the book. I like other books of VVW's better.
148. Ruler of the Realm by Herbie Brennan
I read the first two in the series several years ago and finally remembered to seek this one out. Awesome book. The details came back to me quickly and the characters were very engaging. There are several plot twists and really just a great book.
149. Faerie Lord by Herbie Brennan
An awesome book, what can I say. I really hope the series doesn't end here, because it was great. The twists were complicated and interesting and I'm as huge fan of Henry/Blue and the end of the book was sad, but touching and also happy. I loved the inclusion of the cat.
150. Rhymes with Witches by Lauren Myracle
Weird. The main character is so obsessed on being popular and then, once she's joined the Bitches, realizes that there's more behind them than she originally believed. It mixes the occult with YA, but in a sudden, out-of-the-blue way that really isn't very believeable. And the main character was so shallow, I really don't think she learned very much at the end. This is the second book of Lauren Myracle's that I've read this summer, and so far, her books are pretty superficial.
151. Companions of the Night by Vivian Vande Welde
To be honest, not that great. I already knew that the boy she rescued was a vampire. It was better than some vampire books I've read, but the book itself I didn't find very amazing. Just...decent.
152. Uglies by Scott Westerfield
I've heard a lot about these books and I finally got around to reading it. This book was good. I didn't think it was that amazing, but I still liked it. And I was interested enough to pick up the sequel.
153. Pretties by Scott Westerfield
I read this immediately after Uglies. But I could feel my interest dwindling by the end of the book. I can't explain why. I just didn't like this book very much. And by the time I finished it, I only started Specials because I felt like I had to. I couldn't finish Specials, though. To be honest, I felt as if I wasted the several hours it took me to fight my way through two-thirds of the book.
154. The Shamer's Signet by Lene Kaaberbold
The sequel to The Shamer's Daughter. I liked how Dina and her brother played a role in this plot. The minor characters played a larger role. I wasn't as into the mystery this time, but I liked the characterization a lot.
155. To Be Mona by Kelly Easton
Sage does come from a difficult family. But she focuses on being just like the popular Mona that she ends up losing herself. Her next door neighbor and best friend has a crush on her, but she ignores him to go after the popular guy, who turns out to be a "tad" on the abusive side. In the end, we also find out a bit about Mona and Sage learns that it's better to be yourself. I was pretty ambivialent about this book. I didn't mind it, but I didn't love it. Sage frustrated me at times, because she was so obsessed on being popular, and I guess I could never relate.
156. Dragon's Milk by Susan Fletcher
I liked this all right. It's the first of a series, but I really didn't feel that obligated to pick up the rest of them. It was fine as a stand-alone. The characters were interesting and it was pretty typical Children's Fantasy.
157. Almost Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Wonderful. I just so adore these books. Alice is so normal and that's what I really like about her. While she has the occasional problem, she keeps real. This book is no exception and the ending is great -- I can't wait to get my hands on the next one.
158. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
This was all right. I read a review of this several months ago, so I knew the background. I'm not sure if that's what cheapened it for me, or if the style itself I didn't find that intriguing. But I read another book of Laurie Halse Anderson before and enjoyed it, so I really can't place what turned me off of this book. I think the subject was handled well, I just... I don't know.
159. Beyond the Moon by Sarah Dessen
An okay Dessen. Wasn't too impressed with this book. Yes, a lesson was learned in the end and there was a bit of romance, but I didn't really connect to any of the characters.
160. Perfect by Natasha Friend
Once again, a character that many consider perfect turns out to be not so perfect, and a character that yearns to be perfect learns that being perfect isn't so wonderful after all. Maybe it's the fact that I'm reading a lot of YA -- but this plot really could use a rest, imo. This did have an interesting aspect to it -- namely eating disorders and how to deal with them.
161. Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti
This book was so "meh" that I can barely remember it. Not a good sign. Marisa wants to date Mr. Popular, but he's got a girlfriend. Her next door neighbor is secretly in love with her. Her friend has a Should I mention that the fover the internet. Should I mention that the friend is fifteen and the guys she's going after are all adults? Jeesh, she should be in therapy. Of course, except for a few comments, the fact that the friend is under the age of consent is completely ignored.
162. True Confessions of a Heartless Girl by Martha Brooks
This book was surprisingly good. It deals with some more mature subject matter and it doesn't talk so flippantly about it. There is an allusion to a happy end, and I really like how in this book the characters stay so human. Great book.
163. Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor.
Addie, the main character, is twelve years old and left alone for days at a time by her mother. Her ex-step-father is very close to her, but as he gets a new girlfriend, she slowly feels as if she doesn't belong. This is a coming-of-age story and one I ended up really enjoying. Addie does the best she can while her mother goes off and finds boyfriends who will "take care of her", while essentially forgetting about her daughter. She's still a little girl, though, and it's obvious. I really liked this book -- more than I expected, actually.
164. Fake Boyfriend by Kate Brian
This book was amusing in a "how in the world could they possibly think this is going to work?" way. I think it's a requisite of YA novels to have some message at the end, but all in all, this was a light read that didn't try to be something it's not. And I liked the way things worked out in the end, with the pairings.
165. Killer by Sara Shepard
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. And what a twist at the end! I love this series, I can't wait for the next one to come out. What can I say?
166. Thonk by Joan Bauer
Meh. I liked the idea of cupid, and things worked out in the end. But I found the main character to be a bit selfish. Why do most YA MCs have to be so selfish and self-centered? Don't tell me it's normal, because I don't think it is.
167. Cesar's Way by Cesar Millan with Melissa Jo Peltier
Interesting book. My mom's a huge fan of the Dog Whisperer on National Geographic, so when I saw the book at the library, I grabbed it. I liked learning about Cesar's history, like the fact he was an illegal alien. Kind of unexpected. And there was a lot about the dogs he has worked with and how to deal with them. Interesting read.
168. The Devil in the Junior League by Linda Francis Lee
I liked this. Definitely one of those "summer reads", but it's not like I was expecting anything else of it. The main character was interesting, the history between the main character and two of the supporting characters was great and the "villain" got his due at the end.
169. Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson
Cute. I never had an imaginary friend, but I liked the way he dealt with the topic and merged a children's book and an adult romance into one book. I didn't cry at the end, but I still enjoyed this book very much.
170. The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffery Deaver
Great. I love Deaver. I love the twists at the end. This book was no exception and to the very last pages, there is always something being discussed and revealed. I generally find it a bit more challenging to get into his stand-alone novels, but once I'm in, I can't put them down.
171. Frozen Fire by Tim Bowler
It's hard to explain this book, because the ending is left open. I did enjoy it and it was thrilling from the get go. It's hailed science fiction, but I really don't know what to describe it as. I'm not sure if there is a sequel, but I sort of hope that there is, because so much was unexplained by the end.
172. Pen Pals by Olivia Goldsmith
Amusing. A woman gets sent to prison when she takes the fall for her boss, who promises her a fortune if she does this for him. Of course, he and her lawyer (who turns out to be her fiance) are liars and she's stuck in prison. Entering the prison, she is still rather stuck-up and feels that she did nothing wrong. By the end she realizes that she has broken the law and that this is her penance. She makes friends at the prison and learns that the prison is about to be taken over by a private company -- and so she attempts to do something about it. It was light reading, but I also really enjoyed the characters.
173. Zorro by Isabel Allende
I loved Zorro as a kid, watching the reruns of the series in black-and-white on the Disney channel. I thought this book would be a telling of the various legends, but it turned out to be a history of how Zorro came to be. It was a bit hard to get into at first, because it was not what I expected. But I actually found it very interesting and enjoyed reading it.
174. Life in the Fast Lane by Karen Quinn
This was all right. The main character is a bit superficial, but the children actually make the book decent. And while the "plot twists" were pretty obvious from the get go, I did enjoy it.
175. Roadside Crosses by Jeffery Deaver
I'm beginning to enjoy Kathryn Dance more and more. Lincoln Rhyme (and Amelia) is still my favorite character/series of his. But I like her a lot too. The mystery was also very twisted -- as expected. I figured out one of the plot twists pretty early on, but the actual reason for everything was hidden from me until the very end. I also like the love triangle that's hinted at in the end. A great book.
176. The Forest of Hands and Feet by Carrie Ryan
This book has been at the library in the small town where my mother lives for months and I first encountered it in March. But I never had any real desire to read it until I saw it in the Santa Monica public library and once I got back to my mom's town, I figured that if I kept seeing it at libraries, then I should read it.
As for the book -- I'm not a fan of zombie literature. To be honest, it took me until the book was over and I was reading the blurb about the author that I realized that's what the Unconcerated were. At first I thought they were vampires or something completely new and different.
Mary, the main character, is selfish. No two ways about it. And there was something about the prose that both bothered me, but also interested me. On one hand, I did feel badly for Mary. On the other, she seemed so driven to get to the dang ocean that I probably would have left her behind and to the Unconcecrated, had the opportunity arose. I don't want to say that this is a bad book, because it wasn't. And I enjoyed the hints about how it 1) took place on earth and 2) was set in the future. But apparently this is the first in the series and I honestly can't say whether I'll read the sequels.
177. The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson
I have this as an audio book, but fell asleep during the first chapter. I thought that a print version might catch my attention better. This book was okay, but I didn't love it.
178. Daniel X: Watch the Skies by James Patterson
I got this out from the library first, so I felt like I should at least read it while I have it out. It was okay. We learn a bit more about Daniel and the alien bad guy is definitely very bad. But I don't know... I just wasn't too into this book.
179. Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
I've read the two adult thrillers that have Max in them, though it's been years. I'm not sure how much this relates to them -- apparently not at all, if you believe the author. I could not get into this book until the very end. I still haven't picked up the sequels, several weeks later, and to be honest, that doesn't bode too well...
180. Charley's Web by Joy Fielding
Awesome. It seems very simple at first and you think you know how it's going to end. By the last chapter, everything is completely turned around. I really enjoyed this book.
181. The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen
Very nice. I'm not too into historical fiction, but I liked the way it meshed with the plot in this century. I thought it would resemble Mary Higgins Clark's On the Street Where You Live, but it was very different. A great book.
182. The Truth about Dogs by Stephen Budiansky
I read this before the Dog Whisperer book, but was too lazy to look up the author until now. While it does discuss the behavior of dogs, there is little overlap with the Dog Whisperer. This book is more genetics and history and biology, while the Dog Whisperer focuses on psychology. It's an interesting book if you want to learn why dogs behave a certain way, but not really for training dogs/getting tips like the Dog Whisperer book.
183. Prey by Michael Chriton
I love virology and I considered going into Bioinformatics as a field, so this book did interest me. I'd say it's pretty typical of its genre: someone stupidly creates a plague/virus/machine that starts to evolve from what it was supposed to and goes after humans. A bit creepy with the whole taking over bodies thing, but it was enjoyable. I haven't read many of Chriton's books, but I should read more.
184. Faithless by Karin Slaughter
I started this book in April on an international flight and didn't go back to it until now. I had about half to read, but I still remembered the basics. This was good, but it obviously wasn't great enough to catch my attention and keep it through the last four months. I like Karin Slaughter's books well enough, but when compared to the other mysteries I've read lately, this wasn't anything too special. I almost wished that the "cult" played more of a role. I have a soft spot for thrillers/mysteries with religious cults doing evil things, but this just didn't quite get there for me.
185. Look Again by Lisa Scottoline
There's something about this book that I can't put a finger on, but it doesn't make it as good as other books of hers. Sarah was such a huge bitch -- and it pretty much came out of nowhere. On one hand I liked the ending, but on the other hand, I felt that it worked out too well. And none of the characters except for the main character seemed real to me. I liked the premise, but I definitely feel as if more depth could have been reached.
186. Singer by Jean Thesman
I felt lost reading this book. That's really the only way I can describe it. This book jumped in in the middle of the story and I never felt that it explained enough background. It was based heavily on the King of Lir legend, something that I'm not really familiar with, and the fairies weren't explained well at all. Perhaps if I knew the legend beforehand, I'd like this book better. As it was, I was disappointed with the book.
187. Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
I've heard of this book and it's been on my list of books to check out for awhile now. It's a sweet book with an interesting take on death. I think I'm going to search out the Anne Sebold book now that has, if I recall correctly, a similar story line. In any case, I enjoyed the book. Liz was a character that got to you. I also enjoyed the sudden arrival of Emily and how everything with Oliver worked out.
188. The Debutante Divorcee by Plum Sykes
Not very substantial, but still a nice book. I started this nearly two years ago at a bookstore in Berlin and was rather surprised to find it in large print in Small Town, Nebraska. I liked the narrator, even though she didn't seem to have much substance, to be honest. And the ending was sweet, including Lauren's fate.
189. Now You See Them... by Vivian Vande Welde
Cute. Typical fantasy from her. I enjoyed it. What I didn't particularly care for in the beginning was the griping about glasses and how horrible her vision is without them. But I guess enough people think that way, so... And the rest of the book was interesting. The particular relationship between Tiffani and Justin was actually very unexpected and I would have liked to know more about that.
190. Trail of Secrets by Eileen Goudge
I am not too into the jockey life. And the ending was a bit too happy though I did like it that way. It just -- I can't really place what bothered me. Maybe it was too predictable? While this has a similar premise to the Scottoline book I read, this is still very different. It's a good book and I think I'll read more from the author.
191. Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell.
I adored the Scarpetta series until Blow Fly, when things started to get weird. Blow Fly was okay, but the following books just got weirder and weirder. I am pleased to say that this book goes back to the origins and reminds me of the old style. It's an interesting mystery that makes sense and the killer is unexpected. It took me a week to read this book because I was only reading a chapter or so at a time. Oddly, it wasn't because I dsliked the book. My faith in the series had been restored and I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
192. Storm Cycle by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen.
I stopped reading Iris Johansen awhile ago. Her stories -- well the characters -- got to be too far-fetched for my tastes. But since this isn't part of her main series and her son co-authored, I thought I would give it a chance. Not to mention I have a weak spot for thrillers involving archaeological finds that will change the face of mankind.
That part was interesting. It was the characters themselves that I didn't care too much for. The main character, Rachel, was too much of a Mary Sue and just happened to have an invalid sister. It felt like the sister's illness (while it did play a part in the plot) was to make Rachel not so perfect -- but it didn't work. All of Iris Johansen's books seem to involve extremely rich, powerful, brilliant men who just so happen to fall in love with the female lead. Basically, while I thought the plot was interesting, I didn't like the characters. And even the plot wasn't as good as other's I've read with the same idea.
193. Carved in Bone by Jefferson Bass
I grabbed this book and its two sequels at a garage sale a week ago. One of the authors is a forensic anthropologist who founded the Body Farm. This was similiar to the Kathy Reichs books, except not as complicated forenscially, I'd say. The mystery also wasn't as complex. Don't get me wrong, I loved this book. It was just a different feel from the Reichs books, which I think is a good thing. There were also a couple of nods to Patricia Cornwell, which I loved. Great book, made me want to go into Anthropology again, am planning on reading the sequels.
194. Intervention by Robin Cook
This is a book in a similar vein to the Johansen book, except much better. I have never managed to read the Cook books in any kind of order, so I was surprised that Jack and Laurie had married and they had an infant son. The son has cancer and Laurie stays at home to care for him. Jack throws himself into researching the perils of alternative medicine to take his mind off of his son's illness, when he is contacted by an old college friend who happens to be the archdioese of New York. On the other side of the world, another college friend of Jack's is an archaeologist and happens to come across a letter that may change things in the Catholic church... I love religious archaeological mysteries (I was ready to go into the field myself until I realized that there are few jobs) and having it combined with Jack and Laurie made it even better.
195. 16 Reasons Why My Life Sucks by Sara Walker
I started this several weeks ago, read a little less than half of it at once and then didn't pick it up again until today. It's... okay. The main character, Katie, is kind of dense at times, but I get that. The older sister seems like a total pain but redeems herself at the end. All in all, it's decent.
196. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
I have heard wonderful things about this book. I started this book in February, before I heard anything about it, didn't get too far into it and then since then it's been on my "must finish" list but something I never actually finished... It's a great book. The ending is touching.
197. Lost Lake by Phillip Margolin
Most of his books I adore. This book didn't really hold my interest. Ami was all right as a character, but I didn't like the whole government conspiracy plot. I just didn't like the way it was handled here, for some reason. It was rather boring.
198. Still Life by Joy Fielding
I didn't even know this was out when I saw it at the library yesterday and grabbed it immediately. WONDERFUL book. Casey is in a hit-and-run and ends up in a coma with locked-in syndrome. Actually, the one thing I found odd was the fact that the syndrome wasn't actually named in the book -- otherwise the book was great and I liked how the book ended.
199. Cross My Heart by Carly Phillips
Cute. Not very substantial, but it was just what I expected -- a short, cute romance novel with a tad of mystery.
200. The Rest of Her Life by Laura Moriarty
Great. It reminded me of Jodi Picoult (who also was quoted on the cover) except that Jodi Picoult always has a twist at the end in my experience, and this one didn't. It was touching and dealt with a sensitive subject and everyone was wonderfully characterized. I'm glad it was my 200th book.
201. The Cabinet of Curiosities by Denis Preston and Lincoln Child
I read one of the later books when it came out four years ago and was pretty lost. But when I saw the newest one at the library, I decided that I should start at the beginning. Couldn't find the first one, but this was the earliest they had. Great book. It's not a book you can read quickly, which is why it took me so long to read. I love the characters and this was the first meeting between Nora and Pendergast, so it was early enough that I didn't feel lost like in the other one I read. The mystery was great, the identity of the killer was surprising and I really liked the ending and the supernatural element. Great book and I plan on reading the rest of the series.
202. Still Live with Crows by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Adored it. I really liked Corrie, Pendergast was great as usual and the plot was intriguing. And the very end is just freaky when you learn why the murders were committed. This book really treads a fine line between horror and not being horror, and I loved it.
203. Sacrificial Lamb by Karin Hofland.
I read a ton of mystery books. And to be honest, while I liked it, it did take me awhile to get into it and I wasn't that impressed. This was an ARC I got from my grandmother because the author is my aunt. I've been hearing about this book for probably eight years now, and heard about what the publishers initially said and stuff. To be honest, I went into it thinking that it would be much worse than it was. I was pleasantly surprised, but not that surprised. Yes, I will read more (I know that she has written at least two more), but it's really only because of the whole relative thing.
204. Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark
Great. I found that this book felt different than her other books and I really enjoyed it. Also, I was surprised at the identity of the murderer at the end, which is not that common for me and MHC's books.
205. Brimstone by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Great. I loved the occult/devil angle. I loved the ending. I loved the beginning when D'Agosta and Pendergast meet up. I really liked this book.
206. If Looks Could Kill by Katie White
Eh... I will read the two others my library has, but I wasn't that impressed.
207. Cemetary Dance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Wonderful. I so adore this series.
208. Dance of Death by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Same as above. This is the book I read originally and reading it after reading the prequels makes such a difference. I adored this book the second time around, and I'm counting it because I felt that the first time I read it didn't really count because I was so lost. I didn't realize the full potential of the book at the time, but now I so do.
209. The Wheel of Death by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
The ending was shocking. I wasn't as in love with the "murderer" in this book as I was in the others, but I still really enjoyed it. And the casino scene was terribly amusing. I adore Pendergast and Constance is really growing on me.
210. The 8th by James Patterson
Good...but not great. I still enjoy the series, but I'm not as into it as I was at the beginning.
211. Critical by Robin Cook
All right. I found the mystery a bit confusing, but it's Robin Cook and I like Jack and Laurie, so I didn't mind as much.
212. This Side of Heaven by Karen Kingsbury
I read this book in like 30 min. I thought it would be like a Jodi Picoult book, but it wasn't at all. I'm Christian, but I'm not into the whole Christian literature thing, so that kind of grated on me while reading the book. Also the characters seemed superficial at times and this book wasn't deep at all. Not a fan.
213. The Book of Death by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Awesome. I just adored this book. I can't wait to see what happens next in the series. I'm disappointed that Smithback died, but I really loved the twists in the plots. I like how the mysteries aren't really over until the very end. And the end! What a cliff hanger.
214. Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson
I liked Tyler a lot. I found that the book was a bit triggering, to be honest, but I still enjoyed it. Tyler really grew on me as a character. And the ending was pretty open.
215. Pretty Face by Mary Hogan
Eh. Another book that I blazed through. Typical YA. Set in my hometown for about half of the book. Set in Italy for the rest. A bit too "perfect", the parts in Italy imo. And I really didn't feel like this book had much substance. The ending just kind of...ended. But it wasn't bad.
216. The Day I Killed James by Catherine Ryan Hyde
It was pretty clear to me from the get-go that James' death was not the character's fault. I'm kind of mad at the adults in her life for not telling her that -- that James had to have been depressed and majorly so for seeing his not-girlfriend kiss another guy. But other than that gaping hole, I did like this book.
217. The Secrets of Boys by Hailey Abbot
Cute. It ended realistically and the characters seemed pretty real as well. And again, another book that takes place in the area of my home town, so I liked that aspect as well.
218. Sweethears by Sara Zarr
I really liked learning about Cam and what he had been through. Jenna's reaction was pretty normal and basically, it felt very real. It was sweet and I'm not sure if I was disappointed or glad that Cam and Jenna didn't get together. And I felt bad that he went back to his family, but also understood his reasons.
219. Once was Lost by Sara Zarr
I didn't like this one as much. I did have to laugh because 1) my step-father is a pastor and 2) he's a pastor in a tiny little town. I worried about Jody, but I couldn't really connect to Sam, even though she's the one character I should have.
220. Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
Randomly chose to read this book and oh was it good! I was surprised at how fast it moved. I really liked the characters (though I figured out Kelley's secret pretty fast) and the ending was great. The second one is due out in a few weeks and I'm already looking forwards to it.
221. Kindred in Death by JD Robb
Another In Death book. Excellent as usual. And I loved seeing Jamie again. I noticed that this book focused primarily on the mystery. IIRC, the last several books (and most of the series) have more character development/background in them. I like finding out about Eve's past, or about interactions with the other characters. But the wedding at the end was a nice touch, even though that was really the only place where there was any non-mystery going on. And I loved the scene at the end with Roarke, Charles and Eve. Charles certainly got a surprise.
222. Finger-Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich
I adore this series. This was an audio book so it took me several months to get through. This book was just as funny as any other and I liked how Joe and Stephanie got together again. I missed seeing Bob, though. And Luella was a crack-up as usual.
223. Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
I really liked this book. Unfortunately, I am always comparing it to the Alex Rider series and keep crossing them over in my mind. Halfway through the book I convinced myself that Zach was Alex posing and, er, yeah. Bad fan fic oriented mind, bad! Especially in the middle of Nano. *coughs* This was an audio book which always takes me awhile to get into. It also prolongs the story. But by chapter... thirteen or so I was wearing the mp3 player around the apartment instead of just on journeys to and from Uni. Heck, I actually cleaned my bedroom today just so I could finish the book! It's great. I like seeing Cammy a bit more...I don't know, less confident. Because all in all, the girls are just that -- teenage girls and not fully blown operatives. For the first time they were really dealing with an issue of security and it was a huge eye opener. And the twist at the end -- I was sort of expecting it, but still not sure. So I enjoyed that. I also loved finding out more about Zach -- or, more that we found out NOTHING about Zach, so I spent the time wondering about him
224. Impossible by Nancy Werlin
I enjoyed this book. This was an audio book, so it took me longer to get through it and I found myself playing endless games of Mindsweeper or even cleaning so that I could listen.
I read a review of this book about a year ago, and since then have wanted to read it. I read the first chapter in a bookstore last winter, and then downloaded the audio book in September. I liked the book a lot more than I thought I would. That said, there are some faults. For one thing, the curse (which really is a fantastic idea) was a bit too literal for my tastes. From the beginning, I considered the curse a riddle and as the book went on, I desperately hoped that there would be some other meaning for it. But there wasn't and while I guess it made it hard to figure out how to complete the tasks, I still wished there was some other meaning behind it. Also, the Elvin Knight was too powerful. He did admit that he couldn't interfere with the tasks directly in the end, but even that didn't seem to make much sense, because he did interfere in some points directly. I also wondered why none of the other girls had the chance to love him. You would think that he would give them a choice like he ended up giving Lucy, but it was clear that she was the only one who received the option -- and that was only at the very end. The review I read talked about the book being too black and white, and perhaps it was, though that didn't bother me as much. Yes, the love between Lucy and Zach wasn't terribly realistic. Yes, Padraig was SO evil. Yes, Lucy was SO good. And the lesson was tacked on at the end -- the whole "true love conquerers all". But all in all, I did really enjoy the book. I both liked and disliked listening to it: on one h
and, it drew out the book so it lasted longer. On the other hand, I really wanted to know the end! This book took me nearly a week to finish, whereas if I had been reading it in print form I would have been done in an hour.
225. Crocodile Tears by Anthony Horowitz
Don't get me wrong, I adore the series and I loved the book. It's probably fan fiction, however, that has slightly dulled this book for me. There was no K-Unit, there was no Yassen. At the very end during the standoff, I kept on flashing back to Damien Cray and hoping that Yassen would somehow appear and save Alex (since the next book is titled "Yassen", I don't think it's too far off to think that he survived). It didn't happen, of course. Brilliant lead-in if it had, though. Anyways, this was just a straight save-the-world book. It lacked the history from Snakehead, though, which kind of disappointed me... I really love the backstory. I did laugh at Jack's comment about Alex's grandfather, though. Anyways, loved the book, can't wait for the next.
226. After by Amy Efaw
It is very hard to describe what I feel about this book, because I do not really know. Devon gives birth to a baby and sticks it into a trash can. You would think that the act is horrendous -- but the author really makes you feel badly for Devon. I also liked the look into the juvenile detention system. My mother volunteers and when I'm at home, so do I, at the local state rehab facility, so I recognized a lot of the processes. At the end Devon decides to take responsibility for her actions. It's a good book, and I did enjoy reading it, but it wasn't an easy read in that it was an emotional book.
227. Don't Look Behind You by Lois Duncan
Quick read, read it during Uni. Very teenage-y, which makes sense, I guess. Decent, but not brilliant.
228. Tuff by Paul Beatty
Oh gosh, hated it. Took me 50 minutes to read 259 pages because I was so desperate to finish it. Full of cliches and stereotypes. I get that it was supposed to be a satire, but the book didn't interest me at all.
229. The Lost by JD Robb
Decent. Typical JD Robb fare, and since it was a mini novel, it involved a slight supernatural/way-futuristic element. This one was less supernatural and more "...whoa, hello Sci-fi!", which was a twist from ghosts and vampires. It was well done, though, and intriguing.
230. Flesh and Bone and by Jefferson Bass
Great. I knew one of the huge twists at the end because I accidentally started the sequel, which gives it away. But it still didn't ruin the book. There was a lot of other stuff going on, which I really enjoyed and appreciated. I think this is a great book and I'm definitely planning on reading the sequels.
231. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
Her books are slowly growing on me. Still so typical YA, but they do seem to have a bit more depth than other YA books. And I did enjoy this book.
232. Deadly Little Secrets by Laurie Farie Stolarz
Meh. Reminded me of Twilight a little too much, to be honest. Though I liked the "gift" the male MC had... and the fact that I can't remember his name after a month is never a good sign, imo.
233. My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent
I really liked this. The only thing that bothered me was why the male MC was named "Nash". It seemed to clash with all the other character names. The plot was great, though, and it kept me interested throughout the entire thing. And the twist at the end wasn't really something I expected. I think this is the first in a series and I plan on reading the others in the series once they come out.
234. Solace on the Road by Siobhan Dowd
Meh. There were some good points in this book, but for most of it I wasn't that interested.
235. Quicksand by Nella Larsen
Oh, Lord. Another book I had to read for class. *shudders* So did not like this book. The only good thing was that it was short (ca. 130 pages) and it took me a twenty minute train ride to read it.
236. 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs
Great book. The villains were pretty obvious, in my opinion, but I still really liked it. It's very different, actually, than the Jefferson Bass series which I like.
237. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I heard a lot of good things about this book. And I do think it is good. But it wasn't amazing like I was hoping. Good writing, an interesting world, a bit brutal to be honest (though that's more the concept than the writing itself, and I understand the point). I liked the characters too. Yet, and I'm not sure why, this book wasn't an "oh my God, must read, must finish, must find next book!" book. Yes, I will read the second one. Actually, I'm halfway into it and so far it is reminiscent of the first, at least in regards of how I feel about it.
238. A Brief HIstory of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper
Meh. Another disappointment. There were a couple of points where I thought this would get interesting, but it never did. I suppose this book was about growing up and life in general, but I never got that sense from it, really. It was just about a year in the life of the MC and her family and while yes, stuff happened, I felt that there could have been more meaning or detail or something.
239. Chasing Fire by Suzanne Collins
Decent. Yes, I will read the last book in the trilogy. And the book actually started out more promising than I felt it ended. I really didn't like that she brought back the Hunger Games again. I would have preferred more a focus on the rebels behind the scenes. Also, what are people going to do/say when they find out that she was never pregnant? Or are they going to hush that up? Make her get pregnant? I can see why it was added in, but I felt that it raised a lot more questions.
240. The Mercedes Coffin by Faye Kellerman
Good book. I love this series and this book was no exception. I liked the way things played out -- there were a couple of twists I wasn't expecting -- and I liked the interaction between Decker and his family. I'm looking forwards to the next one.
241. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
Well... This book wasn't great. It wasn't bad either. I adored the DaVinci Code, even though I know most of it's completely false. But I still enjoyed the hunt and the mystery and the way things were revealed a little at a time. This book lacked that, in my opinion. I've been enamored with symbolism since before I read the DaVinci Code, and that aspect of the book was interesting. I like codes as well. But I think maybe the lack of the bibical aspect is what I didn't like? I always find the religious stuff the most interesting and that wasn't in this book at all, really. And without that to keep my interest, I was able to realize how, well, Dan Brown sucks as a writer.


Publications - Canada
Information on this page is maintained by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). CCOHS is the CIS National Centre for Canada.
Agencies' collections of occupational safety and health (OSH) publications are accessible from this section. Most agencies have the full text of some or all of their publications available on their web sites. The publications' intended audience is usually the workforce within the agency's jurisdiction.
- The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) provides access to a variety of publications in print and electronic form.
- Safety Guides - a series of pocket-sized guides containing practical information related to specific work issues and environments.
References - a collection of bibliographic databases that abstract
the world literature in occupational health and safety.
- Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada


City government and library system commit to diversity
Jeffrey Trzeciak, executive director of the Dayton Metro Library, said the library system is committed to increasing the diversity of its workforce to be more representative of the communities it serves.
The population of the city of Dayton is approximately 56% white and 38% black.
The library hired an external consultant to perform a “fairness audit” which led to six priority recommendations, library staff said.
One recommendation was to hire a director focused on equity, diversity and inclusion. Other recommendations called for improved training, new HR software, and the creation of a new method to track progress in this area.
The library has also conducted an audit of its collections and says it will diversify its material to include more material in foreign languages ââand more authors of color and different ethnicities.
The library also says it will purchase more titles from âboutiqueâ vendors to meet these goals.
âWe’re already making some changes, both internally and in the way we deal with our community on the outside,â Trzeciak said.
The City of Dayton is seeking a Consultant to teach and train its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Committee, which is made up of approximately 25 city employees.
City leadership believes diversity, equity and inclusion training can have a positive impact and increase employee engagement and satisfaction while improving organizational and individual performance, said Lamonte Hall, Deputy City Manager.
âThe main goal is to create a long-term strategic plan that will define the vision, mission, values ââand goals to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace,â he said.
About 73% of the city’s workers are white, while about 24% are black, according to city data. A small number of employees are Hispanic, Asian, Native American, or of two or more races.
Community members who have been involved in Dayton’s police reform efforts said the city’s workforce does not reflect the community, citing a specific need to dramatically increase the diversity of public safety forces .


by Steve Allen Mashburn
Mashburn is a family of the southeast United States where the majority of its members can still be found (1940 Federal Census).
Despite several sources citing the meaning of the name as “he who dwells on the marsh stream,” the true meaning of the name is “the stream where the water arum grows.”
The name “Misseburne” first appeared in 1407 as the name of a river in Buckinghamshire, England. It derives from the Old English roots mysse (the water arum, a form of water lily) and bourne (an intermittent stream that flows over porous chalk (Oxford Dictionary of English Place Names).
The nearby villages of Great Missendene and Little Missendene (denu is the Old English names for valley) were listed in the 1086 Doomsday Book. In 1300 the title of the manor of Great Missendene was awarded to one Thomas who took the last name Missendene but there is no evidence that the Mashburns were descended from that landed gentry.
More likely, the family migrated to Brackley, Northampshire County (30 miles north) in the early 1500’s and became known as the “people from the Misbourne.”
In the 1400’s, the Brackley parish books show the surname spelled as Mishborne but Mashborne was in regular use a century later. The evolution of the spelling of surname is explained by the Great Vowel Shift. This shift, which is still not completely understood by scholars, was a series of changes in the pronunciation of English words that took place between 1400 and 1700.
Several Mashburns served as mayors and councilmen in Brackley. A son of Matthew Mashborne, Samuel Mashborne, a student at Oxford, was killed in 1666 when lightning struck his boat while on a outing with his college friends. He was the first person to received a brain autopsy which was done late at night to avoid the ire of the public.
The Mashburn surname disappeared from England during the 1800’s but flourished in America though the descendants of Edward Mashborne who was born in 1676 in St. Giles-in-the-fields, London. He was the son of Edward Mashborne, Sr. and Sarah Sindery but was raised by his stepmother Elizabeth Nash Mashburn who may have been a dame school mistress on Dogwell Court in Whitefriars. In 1698, Edward migrated to North Carolina where he became the colony’s second known schoolmaster (Letterbooks of the SPGFP).
The two events may not be connected, but shortly before or after his move to America, his step-mother Elizabeth married Edward Lloyd, the owner of a coffee-house that was frequented by insurance brokers. The establishment later became the famous Lloyd’s of London (British National Dictionary).
Edward’s American descendants adapted the current spelling, “Mashburn.” They may be divided into two main groups: (1) the Western Branch who travelled across North Carolina and on into north Georgia and the other southern states, and (2) the Onslow County Branch who settled on the coast of North Carolina and then to south Georgia and then into the other southern states. Some of the family that remained in Onslow County began using the “Marshburn” spelling in the 1800’s probably as result of local dialect (Federal Census Records).
One of the oldest family reunions in America is held by the Florida descendants of the Onslow Branch who commemorate the return of Richard B. Mashburn from the hands of Union soldiers who imprisoned him in 1864 (recognized in the 1988 Congressional Record).
Other notable Mashburns include:
- Joseph Marshburn – professor of English, University of Oklahoma, expert in the English Renaissance and witchcraft.
- Joe Mashburn – Dean of the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture at the University of Houston.
- Thomas Marshburn – American physician and NASA astronaut.
- Sid Mashburn – nationally famous clothier in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Harold Mashburn – Major General, Marine Corps.
- Brian Mashburn – guitarist and vocalist in the ska band Save Ferris.
- Deborah Mashburn – timpanist with Dallas Opera, Ft. Worth Symphony.
- John B. Mashburn – named as one of the nation’s top 50 School Band Directors.
- Jack Mashburn – State Representative who desegregated Florida’s beaches in 1953.
- John Mashburn – policy director for Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
- Bob Mashburn – heavy-weight boxer, won 8 (KO 5) + lost 11 (KO 7) + drawn 2.
- Jamal Mashburn – American professional basketball player and son of Bob Mashburn.
- Gary Mashburn – world record skier.
- Jesse Mashburn – winner of gold medal in 4×400 meter relay at the 1956 Summer Olympics.
- Many teachers and ministers.
Copyright 2020 by Steve Allen Mashburn.


“I am on my mountain in a tree home that people have passed without ever knowing that I am here. The house is a hemlock tree six feet in diameter, and must be as old as the mountain itself. I came upon it last summer and dug and burned it out until I made a snug cave in the tree that I now call home.”
Sam Gribley is tired of living in a crowded New York City apartment, so he runs away to the Catskill Mountain wilderness to forge a life of his own. No one takes his plans seriously – except Sam himself. With only a penknife, a ball of cord, forty dollars, and some flint and steel, he must rely on his own ingenuity and on the resources of the land to survive. And survive he does. Alone in the mountains, Sam learns about courage, danger, and the true meaning of companionship, and captures it all in his journal. My Side of the Mountain is the vivid and engrossing account of the year that changes Sam’s life.
Review By Berean Daughter
Continue reading the review here.
Amazon source My Side of the Mountain
This is a book I remembered from my childhood and was eager to share it with the kids. Lots of interesting animal and plant trivia woven throughout.
The linked review was written by my oldest daughter. Haven’t quite figured out how to post her reviews without linking to them.
WARNING – This by no means gives the author a blanket pass. Do not let your children read Julie of The Wolves.


VI ANNUAL EDITION OF THE PEACE AWARDS
Symposium: THE THREE GREAT MONOTHEISMS AND THE CHALLENGES OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
Recipients of the Award:
CARD. PAUL POUPARD
ACHINOAM NINI (NOA)
CARD. CARLO MARIA MARTINI (in memory)
The World actually is afflicted by problems of great importance and dramatic nature, compounded by a profound crisis of values and ethics.
The unsolved problem of hunger in the world, the severe effects of the global economic and environmental, as well as the growing manifestations of anger and intolerance against the rulers, are just some examples of problems on which today nobody can absolve himself to wonder about.
It’s therefore essential today a serious reflection on the state of moral confusion that plagues our times and that greatly complicates the identification of new and more sustainable ways of managing and co-existence.
In consideration of his authority that makes him protagonist among main Muslim intellectuals intent to create a solid bridge between Islam and Christianity, and in particular for his intellectual and philosophical work to underline the rational arguments for a reading of sacred texts of Islam, away from the closures of fundamentalism, the Ducci Foundation has decided to award the Peace Prize 2013 to Moustapha Cherif.
In consideration of his several initiatives related to a common path of peace in the context of inter-mediation, for his efforts in the creation of a new world, in the name of justice and peace, truth and freedom, the path to the common social objectives which give a soul and human face to the global. society, the Ducci Foundation has decided to award the Peace Prize 2013 to Paul Poupard for the unique contribution made in the management of his high mandate.
Named “Goodwill Ambassador”, “Knight of the Star of Italy”, “Dove of Peace” for his extraordinary ability to play in music and lyrics the essential dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians, the Ducci Foundation awards the Peace Prize 2013 to Achinoam Nini for his admirable commitment to provide his art to service and improve the research for peace and mutual understanding between two communities.
In consideration of the exemplary dedication demonstrated in dialogue with everyone, believers and agnostics, for his love for knowledge and study without barriers, both in ecumenical dialogue with other religions, especially with Judaism and with Islam, which led him to become one of the most admired and respected personality of the Catholic Church, Ducci Foundation awards the Peace Prize 2013 in memory of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini.
Receives the award the sister of Cardinal Martini, Prof. Maria Martini Facchini.
2012: V ANNUAL EDITION OF THE PEACE AWARDS
Symposium: CHRISTIANITY, JUDAISM, ISLAM: PROSPECTS AND COMMON ORIGIN.
The events of the Arab Spring have undoubtedly changed the traditional patterns of approach to the Arab world and the Middle East, initiating an indirect search of models for the peaceful coexistence of peoples and cultures of the area. However, despite the recent events, there are several conflicts in the world fomented by religious or cultural reasons that require a rapid and effective response.
Which are the ways to a solution and, therefore, for a lasting peace?
In consideration of his sensitive commitment, first through the creation of the “Identity and Dialogue” characterized from the beginning for his valuable work to promote dialogue and mutual understanding among peoples with a particular reference to the Palestinian context, as well as the significant role as Chairman of the “Foundation Lindth Anna”, the Ducci Foundation has decided to award the Peace Prize 2012 to SE Andre Azoulay.
In consideration of the significant contribution made on international level as a promoter of interreligious and intercultural dialogue within the International Commission for Peace Research, whose member is in the Executive Committee, and of the World Council of Religions for Peace), Ducci Foundation has decided to award the Peace Prize to the Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mustafa Ceric.
In consideration of his deep knowledge of the history of religions, especially the Roman Catholic Church, as well as his activities as a journalist and writer on the subject of seeking dialogue between cultures and religions, and especially for his role as Chairman of the Community of Sant ‘Egidio one of the institutions involved more concretely in the world for the affirmation of peace between peoples, the Ducci Foundation has decided to award the Peace Prize 2012 to Prof. Marco Impagliazzo.
2011: IV ANNUAL EDITION OF THE PEACE AWARDS
Symposium: CHRISTIANITY, JUDAISM, ISLAM: FROM COEXISTENCE TO COMPARISON.
TULLIA ZEVI (in memory)
CARD. ROGER ETCHEGARAY
In consideration of his authority that makes him the protagonist among main Muslim intellectuals, and in particular for his work as intellectual and philosophical, to underscore the rational arguments for a reading of the sacred texts of Islam, away from the closures of fundamentalism, the Foundation Ducci has resolved to award the Peace Prize 2011 to Mohamed Talbi.
In Consideration of his role as a diplomat of the Holy See, which has led him over the years to treat highly sensitive international issues, we remember his meetings in Cuba with Fidel Castro, Saddam Hussein in Baghdad and in Rwanda in the middle of genocide, and for its efforts to support the reasons for dialogue and to defend the reasons for peaceful coexistence of peoples, the Ducci Foundation confers the PeacePrize 2011 to Eminence Cardinal Roger Etchegaray.
In consideration of his commitment as Jewish intellectual and prominent figure of Italian and international Jewry, Ducci Foundation awards the Peace Prize 2011 to the memory of Tullia Zevi.
2010: III ANNUAL EDITION OF THE PEACE AWARDS
Symposium: COMPARISON BETWEEN THE THREE MONOTHEISTIC RELIGIONS (CHRISTIANITY, JUDAISM, ISLAM): PERSON AND SOCIETY.
MOHAMMED AL SAMMAK
SHLOMO BEN AMI
How does the message of the three great monotheistic religions represent now an added value and not an obstacle to dialogue and mutual understanding between cultures and therefore between individuals?
How to dispel generalizations and clichés that tend to identify conflicts of a political nature as real clash of civilizations?
The Chairman of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Gianfranco Ravasi, the former Israeli foreign minister Shlomo Ben Ami and the secretary of the Muslim Christian Dialogue Committee Mohammed Al Sammak, took part in the debate, moderated by Lucio Caracciolo, director of Limes and by the commentator Paul Branca. At the opening session participated the Vice Chairman of the Chamber Hon. Rocco Buttiglione.
2009: II ANNUAL EDITION OF THE PEACE AWARDS
Symposium: MIDDLE EAST: A POSSIBLE PEACE
TAHAR BEN JELLOUN
Always engaged in the study of international politics and in promoting dialogue between different cultures, the Ducci Foundation offers a chance to study on the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis in the Middle East.
The invitation is open to two great personalities of international culture, Tahar Ben Jelloun and David Grossman, both staunchest supporters, not least through their works, the absolute necessity of a constant dialogue between two cultures and religions that would allow a peaceful living together of two states, one next to the other.
2006: I ANNUAL EDITION OF THE PEACE AWARDS
Symposium: EUROPE – ISLAM: AN ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
RICCARDO DI SEGNI
Within the initiatives to enhance the dialogue between cultures, the Ducci Foundation organized an event dedicated to one of the most topical issues not only, but also of great significance for the world balance present and future: the relationship between Europe and Islam.
The meeting was attended by the Hon. Umberto Ranieri, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commission of Chamber of Deputies, Senator Giuseppe Pisanu, former Minister of the Internal Affairs, the Hon. Gianni De Michelis, Chairman IPALMO, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Renzo Guolo, a professor at the University of Padova, Amb. Mario Scialoja, Chairman of the Muslim World League in Italy, Abdellah Redouane, general secretary of the cultural, Islamic Center of Italy, the Hon. Khaled Fouad Allam, a columnist of the “Republic”, Eric Jozsef, a columnist for the “Libération”.
The moderator was Lucio Caracciolo, director of LIMES.
In this context, the Ducci Foundation organized the ceremony of the “Peace Prize” to representatives of both Jewish and Muslim Communities in Italy, the chief rabbi, Riccardo Di Segni, and the General Secretary of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Italy, Abdellah Redouane, who showed with their visit to the Islamic Center of Rome, such as peaceful coexistence and dialogue between the two peoples is possible, making a symbolic but important step on the road to relaxation.


It was land in one of the last counties in the state to be settled and organized â€“ Henry County - and part of an expanse once known as the Northwest Territory as ceded by Virginia in 1787. Named in honor of the famous patriot, Patrick Henry, the county was formally organized in 1837 and, a few years later, in 1843 an eastern capitalist named Charles Atkinson arrived in the county.
He acquired some plots of land from the area's earliest settlers and visualized a town of one square mile, a vision that later materialized as Atkinson, so named in 1856. But only after Mr. Atkinson had used his influence and ownership interest in the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad to make sure it would run through his new town. In 1867, Atkinson was incorporated.
A Proud Heritage While its earliest settlers were from a variety of countries, Atkinson saw large numbers of immigrants from Belgium and Holland begin to arrive in the 1860s, bringing with them solid clad values like hard work and thriftiness, a game called rolle bolle, and other ethnic/ cultural icons that are woven into the fabric pf modern-day Atkinson.
The Atkinson Museum, for example, showcases pictures, family histories, personal belongings and letters, and numerous artifacts representing contributions to the community that these later immigrants made. Local phonebooks are liberally sprinkled with names brought to Atkinson and the surrounding area from Belgium and Holland.
The on-going quest for a better life and the thirst for knowledge that came with these men and women still shows its influence in community amenities such as today's centrally-located Atkinson Public Library, home to an array of books, periodicals and other materials, plus children's programs to feed the minds of the town's littlest residents.


Reviewed by Lisa Brown-Gilbert
At once engaging and cleverly creative, Ricardo Alexanders' Bollywood Invasion enrapts readers with a fun and fantastical coming of age story, set in a well posed merging of reality and fiction which surpasses the reaches of time and continents.
Instantly the story draws you in, as initially, we meet John Palmieri living in modern times in Brooklyn; he's a nerd and Beatles lover in high school and unsatisfied with his lower middle class existence. Things start with him in the throes of a dream, once again being bested by his arch-enemy Frank Castellano. He loathes Frank, who seems to have so much more than John; smarter mouth, bigger house, more friends, better stuff, including, the attention of the girl he secretly loves -Samantha.
The real adventure begins when fate crashes into his life, via an accident, knocking John unconscious. When John awakes, he finds himself in a parallel existence, where he has been transported back in time to late 1950's, India. He wakes up as eighteen year old Raj Scindia, a prince in the Indian royal family. Naturally, he's initially confused by his sudden transportation to a completely foreign life and culture with many humorous moments ensuing as he tries to wrap his head around what has happened to him.
Meanwhile, as John acclimates to his new life, he realizes he suddenly has the life he has always dreamed of, a life which now includes money, wealth, eager women and extensive privileges. However, as well as being rich and privileged, the prince whose life John has taken over, also includes several unexpected issues such as being engaged to a young lady through pre-arranged marriage, having the reputation of being a spoiled, adulterous scamp, as well as being a second year student in a mechanical engineering college. Ultimately, deciding to make the best of his new circumstances, John plays his privileged new life to the hilt; he fakes being psychic and parties not really taking his new life too seriously until he meets the best friend of his promised fiance, Ankita and falls instantly head over heels for her which within his new culture gives rise to many issues. While looking for ways to win her over, John forays into the world of music by joining a local band and uses his extensive knowledge of Beatles songs to propel his group "The Beetos" to "Beatles" status making him and his group rock stars, thusly creating a parallel universe with the Bollywood version of the Beatles. Consequently, their new found fame comes with unexpected repercussions, as the story progresses with scenarios that parallel events that really happened with the famed Beatles.
Definitively, Bollywood Invasion proffers readers a compelling read that entertains the imagination with a unforgettable journey into adulthood. This was a winning combination with its twisted melding of Beatlemania, romance, drama, humor, fantasy elements, and intriguing characters, especially Raj/John who seems to a loosely posed reincarnation of John Lennon. This would make a worthwhile read for fans of fantasy or YA reads.


S. BLUSH 'AMERICAN HARDCORE: Second Edition' - Book
Regular priceSale price
The second edition of the "definitive work on one of rock's most important eras" (Juxtapoz) has over 100 new pieces of artwork, hundreds of new band bios and a radically expanded discography. The first edition, which became the Sony Classics-released documentary of the same name, was 328 pages; the new edition clocks in at 408 pages.
408 pages, Softcover, English Edition, 18 x 26 cm, FERAL HOUSE, 2010.


25 Apr Review: Rolex Submariner Story HD App for iPhone & iPad
Just when you think you know, you might be in for a reversed surprise. My wish for Christmas 2012 – a digital format of The Submariner Story for sure. Maybe in time…
2nd April 2013 marks the official launch of The Submariner Story HD app on iTunes store by Mondani Editore. The wait is finally over! The Mondani team is setting the standards for the future of vintage Rolex references, with every release of a digitalized version of their printed titles. Both the Rolex Gallery HD app and 100 years of Rolex app have been a pleasure to browse on the iPhone & iPad, as I immerse myself into the world of Rolex on the go – be it at waiting lines, daily commute or flight transits.
In this golden age of technology, Apps of Apple iOS or Andriod OS platforms have transformed our old habits into new ones inevitably. As much as I enjoy physical touch-feel-flip with traditional printed pages, digital books on a single smart device is the dawn of a new era for passionate readers, and collectors alike. In this first ever review of a vintage Rolex reference on VintageHour.com, I will present an analysis of the Rolex Submariner Story HD App for iOS devices from an end-user’s perspective.
Mondani Editore’s Rolex Submariner Story ranks at the No. 1 spot – attributed by a large sized print format, categorization techniques, information flow, content relevance, and watch photography.
My collection of reference books comprises of: Vintage Rolex Sports Models by Martin Skeet and Nick Urul, The Best of Time: Rolex Wristwatches by James A. Dowling and Jeffrey P. Hess, 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger and Rolex Submariner Story by Mondani Editore – all of which are exemplary documentation of vintage Rolex watches written by researchers in the field. Of all, Mondani Editore’s Rolex Submariner Story takes the coveted number one spot – attributed by the unique large size print format, categorization techniques, information flow, content relevance, and watch photography.
Visual Impact of Rolex Submariner Story Book & App
When I first encountered the Rolex Submariner Story back in 2010, I was astonished by the sheer size of this Italian publication. Flipping through the pages, I gradually understood why Guido Mondani has decisively chosen to print on a larger format. Think about it. In order to study a watch optically, one usually use a loupe to observe the dial, hands, rehaut distance etc. If a visual reference book was printed according to industry standards, will a collector need a loupe to carry out the same observation? Book size is the key differentiating factor that seperates Mondani Editore’s publication from the rest of the publishers. This large format foundation on which Guido Mondani has laid down for print will eventually be responsible for taking off his “digital dreams” of Apps on iTunes.
The Submariner Story HD App, for any collector, is a complementary extension that offers mobility yet provides the identical rich content that is present in the print version. The integration of a content icon (as seen below) which lists the Rolex model references, allows an App user to choose a particular reference model of his or her desire simply with a touch of finger. This instantaneous gratification of information is closely associated to this smartphone era powered by Apps – where the motion of the finger swipes command the content on the screen. Although a collector can google for images, the search engine is not as smart (due to filtering techniques in which some images are tagged with wrong references etc.) as to what this Submariner Story App is capable of providing accurate visual and on-demand description.
The above three (3) points are selected based on the importance on the UX/UI of The Submariner Story HD App for iPhone & iPad. (UX = User Experience, UI= User Interface)
In recent years, consumers have been cyclically conditioned by super-mini-sizing culture. Think back to the first time you ever converted printed pages into PDFs for viewing on a display monitor. Recent tech reports have reported that smart devices will overtake traditional computing devices sooner than expected. iTunes took the world by storm with the integration of AppStore. The rest is what we are soaking up right now by social networks that connect millions around the world. Information is being shared and distributed more rapidly than before. Organization of information is the next re-invention of the wheel – the Digital Wheel. As fast as we are consuming information, the capability to learn a new skill, trade or hobby has the curve drawn exponential. Swiping actions by our fingers on screens of smart devices are like a mini-dance event happening on a global scale. Every rythmn that empowers the user to click on decorated square-shape Apps, and enjoy the activity as it was meant to be. The Rolex Submariner Story App appeals to me as a collector, as my thirst for vintage Rolex Submariner knowledge is instantaneously quenched.
The Submariner Story Book & App is a blessed union in this infotech driven world: visual and referencing communication is now a digital reality with Apple & Andriod smartphone OS.
The single most important appeal of such apps for vintage Rolex collectors is strongly correlated to: portability. As much as I love printed book copies, I can’t help not having these apps on my iPad, iPhone or Andriod smart devices. Best of both worlds is how I view the compliment of print & digital. The Submariner Story Book & App is a blessed union in this infotech driven world. The substitute of our iPads for books have already begun years before. Favourite classic titles of which are embedded in sleak portable machines stimulating our consciousness on-the-go. With increased frequencies of meet-ups and GTGs (get togethers) celebrating the united passion for vintage Rolex watches, the Rolex Submariner Story App can enhance any discussions in session between collectors. The App user is able to identify a specification of a Rolex model, with special attention to year, markings, case shapes etc. and exchange these documented knowledge at length with his or her intended audience.
2. Content & Images
Fact: Content is King. No matter how engaging visual images of Rolex watches are initially, content is the key enabling a collector to acquire knowledge – about a specific model at a moment in time. The pursuit of a vintage Rolex watch is strongly correlated to the collector’s desire in ownership – with visual recognition of refined dial, case and movement details responsible for a purchase or not. Whether you are a new or seasoned collector, the documented articles and images from the Rolex Submariner Story App will bring about a new understanding on these collectible watches. Allow me to reiterate on this point.
I recently recieved an email on a possible restoration project of an early Submariner ref. 5513 COMEX dated back to the early 1970’s. Bearing in mind that Submariners COMEX sightings are significantly rare compared to regular production 5513’s, as these watches are issued by Rolex SA to the renowned French diving company COMEX. Aside from the helium valve (HE), and the caseback engraving of CROWN-ROLEX-COMEX that distinguishes a regular 5513 from a COMEX 5513, the dial is identical to that of a regular production 5513 in the same time period. (pictured below) A search on the Submariner Story App took less than 15 seconds on the iPad via the navigation panel, to locate the specific COMEX 5513 relevant to the watch mentioned in the email. Cross referencing the serial numbers, caseback engravings, case and dial properties of both watches reaffirmed that they belong to the same time period. If I had to flip through my hardcopy of the Submariner Story, the time taken would have stretched much longer. The advantages of digital referencing experienced first hand, and I am impressed by the convenience and speed of what the Submariner Story App has to offer.
In case if you are wondering if there are sufficient content on this Submariner Story App, let me reassure you that Modani Editore has the experience of categorizing information in the watch field for over 20 years. The depth of knowledge within the Rolex Submariner Story is a work in continuum for Guido Mondani and his collaborators – with regular updates offered periodically to their clienteles. In the illustrated example below, a collector can immediately identify the different variations or marks (denoted by MK) of a Rolex Submariner ref. 1680 Red, how they differ from MK to MK based on side by side comparisons.
With the Submariner Story Book retailing at USD $ 805, and the HD App at USD $ 119.99, the difference is significant. Bearing in mind that the Submariner Story Book is a limited edition print with less than 1600 copies in circulation, there is a possibility of value increment in the future. Apps, on the other hand, are still being tested in this growing market. At a price of USD $ 119.99, will you as a watch collector indulge in a digital reference App in an effort to learn more about vintage Rolex watches? Personally, I am confident Mondani Editore will attract new collectors by pricing their Submariner Story app below $ 100.
Depending on how a collector strongly feels for the going digital, value is in the eyes of the purchaser. Personally, I do not forsee my printed copy to be anywhere as mobile as the Submariner Story HD App. With the inclusion of Sea-Dweller ref 1665 models, and Submariners ref. 16610LV (as seen below), the integration of both vintage and modern spectrum makes this Submariner Story Book by far the most comprehensive reference guide in the market.
Text Size Issues with iPhone
Viewing on the iPhone: While the images are acceptable, the text are excruciatingly small at maximal zoom. On the contrary, there is no such issues with the Submariner Story App on the iPad. My recommendation for Mondani Editore is to research into an updated version of this App for the iPhone with improvements made to the clarity of the text. Like most apps which have been affected by the longer iPhone 5, there are empty spaces at the top and bottom of the screen when the Submariner Story App is opened.
Where’s the Price Guide?
One of the most enjoyable section of Mondani Editore’s publications is their price guide of estimates on featured Rolex models. I was rather disappointed in the fact that the price guide included with the printed book, is missing from the Submariner Story App. I certainly hope that Mondani Editore will supplement their App readers with a price guide in a digital format, so as to aid collectors in understanding the valuation market estimates – either from a purchaser’s or seller’s perspective.
Collecting watches is a voyage that begins with a progressive interest in details of a horological kind. Any medium or platform that accelerates a collector’s knowledge is empowering. This is no different in the world of vintage Rolex watches. In fact, these accumulated knowledge gained will enable a collector to make decisive actions in the vintage Rolex market place.
The Submariner Story HD App is a definitive visual guide specific to the Submariner watch model reference. With every featured Submariner illustrated alongside detailed information, a reader is presented with differences between models, in their respective year of production.
The emergence of vintage Rolex references in digital format is still trickling out into the market; as publishers strive to maintain a balance between traditional and future communication tools for their readers. I certainly hope that Mondani Editore will keep releasing more Apps, for this immersion experience has been a most pleasurable one.
Additional Preview Images from the Submariner Story HD App


Al Diwan’s 1,000+ Arabic stories are now available without log-in throughout March
Ibtikar, a subsidiary of our education division, in cooperation with United Educational Publishing (UEP), a UAE-based Educational Press, has announced that 1,000+ Arabic stories on our reading platform, Al Diwan powered by Akadimi, is now available for access without log-in during the UAE Month of Reading this month.
By enabling open access to our Al Diwan digital reading platform for the first time, we aim to encourage Arabic reading and re-ignite the passion for lifelong learning among public and private school students and UAE readers as a whole.
As a subsidiary of Nebras Education Holding, Ibtikar’s initiative is aligned with our Group’s mission to invest in opportunities in the education sector, which make a valuable contribution to the economic development of the country.
This initiative is also aligned with the UAE’s national strategic vision for reading to be “a way of life in the UAE by 2026”, creating accessible and engaging opportunities to motivate the community to develop a reading habit and drive the growth narrative of the UAE.
Al Diwan powered by Akadimi is one of Ibtikar’s many progressive solutions in response to the evolution of EdTech. A comprehensive digital library that houses 6,000+ books in 4 languages, it supports major book formats such as PDF and EPUB3, all of which can be accessed online or downloaded for offline reading, and read on all electronic devices.
Al Diwan is innovatively designed using digital reading technologies with a focus on education for the purpose of increasing efficiency and engagement in learning. It uses videos, interactive images, and widgets to engage and support student participation.
Al Diwan is accessibility-ready, combining unlimited 24/7 access to books with the flexibility of self-paced learning to provide an alternative learning experience. Its fully customisable features also make it an ideal reading solution for people of determination.
Readers may access the Al Diwan powered digital reading platform at https://reader.uepuae.ae during the month of March.