![]() ![]() Kolbert does a great job documenting how the understanding of human impacts on extinctions of organisms has greatly expanded in recent decades from human impact on megafauna at the end of the Ice Age to devastation of Amazon rainforests in recent times. She explores the whole concept of humans learning to accept the idea that species had existed previously and gone extinct, and this understanding was key to development of the whole concept of evolution and natural selection. While somewhat depressing, I think we all recognized that Elizabeth Kolbert is an excellent science writer and did a great job discussing the history of extinction and development of human understanding of the concept of extinction. ![]() All of us had our ways to relate to this book. Raye discussed the ecological changes caused in the Great Lakes due to shipping. Mark talked about all the different beetles going extinct and many maintaining full biomes in individual trees. Larry said he really liked it, and he mentioned that the Field Museum in Chicago is now recognizing the concept of a 6 th extinction. Mark agreed it was depressing in part, but felt it was very informative and very good writing. Generally we liked the book but at times felt it was somewhat a downer. Several of us met at the Rivers Eatery on March 2 to discuss The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert. ![]()
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![]() ![]() I prefer to approach each New Year with a set of goals to aim for that is realistically achievable but won’t be the end of the world if they are not attained. I don’t like to fail and they feel like an invitation to do so. They hate you and laugh at your gullibility. You are being raped to make the rich richer. Please, please, open your eyes before it is too late. They control you by making out that left leaning parties and politicians are evil and dedicated to making you worse off. This is down to bad weather affecting crops claim the Tories and the Brexiteers. Supermarkets are limiting the amount customers can buy to avoid further shortages. While we’re on Brexit, fresh fruit and vegetables are in short supply in England. Why are we paying 3 to 4 times more than the rest of Europe then you twats? Brexiteers blame the war for the shit storm they have caused. It’s because of the war say the government. Fuel prices in the UK are crippling, people are dying because they can’t afford to heat their homes. Tory politicians take the opportunity to blame all their failures on the war. Sadly, the only winners are defence companies who are seeing their profits and order books swell. Cities and homes have been decimated and families ripped asunder. Hundreds and thousands of lives have been lost. This week has seen the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine. I think we’ve only had snow once on Walney Island. We’ve had another mild winter in the North West thus far. Well, it’s March and Spring is on the way. ![]() ![]() ![]() If you die, there's going to be one of those cheesy Princess Diana memorials at school," prays Mia's friend Kim. Mia's singular perspective (which will recall Alice Sebold's adult novel, The Lovely Bones) also allows for powerful portraits of her friends and family as they cope: "Please don't die. Via Mia's thoughts and flashbacks, Forman (Sisters in Sanity) expertly explores the teenager's life, her passion for classical music and her strong relationships with her family, friends and boyfriend, Adam. As she ponders her state ("Am I dead? I actually have to ask myself this"), Mia is whisked away to a hospital, where, her body in a coma, she reflects on the past and tries to decide whether to fight to live. Then she is standing outside her body beside their mangled Buick and her parents' corpses, watching herself and her little brother being tended by paramedics. ![]() The last normal moment that Mia, a talented cellist, can remember is being in the car with her family. ![]() ![]() ![]() Rudy constantly asks Liesel to kiss him, but she always refuses. ![]() She meets a boy named Rudy Steiner who idolizes the athlete Jesse Owens, and they become best friends. ![]() Liesel has nightmares of her dead brother nightly, but Hans sits with her and comforts her. Rosa is loud and insulting, but Hans wins Liesel's trust through his gentleness and support. Liesel's mother drops her off in Molching, where Liesel moves in with foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann. At the funeral Liesel finds a book called The Grave Digger's Handbook in the snow, but she doesn't know how to read. Werner dies and Liesel and her mother disembark to bury him. Part 10: The End of the World (Part II)ĭeath introduces himself as the narrator and describes the three times he saw "the book thief." The story begins with Liesel, her mother, and her brother Werner riding on a train.Part 10: Ilsa Hermann's Little Black Book.Part 9: One Toolbox, One Bleeder, One Bear.Part 8: The Anarchist's Suit Collection.Part 5: Three Acts of Stupidity by Rudy Steiner.Part 5: The Gambler (A Seven-Sided Die).Part 4: A Short History of the Jewish Fist Fighter.Part 4: The Accordionist (The Secret Life of Hans Hubermann). ![]() Part 1: The Heavyweight Champion of the School-Yard.Part 1: The Kiss (A Childhood Decision Maker). ![]() ![]() ![]() In another sweet story you learn about a lion cub and a piglet living on an African wildlife preserve who became instant friends, playing and cuddling with one another. ![]() After a big flood a frog was caught giving a ride to a little mouse, helping the little critter find a safe place to be. There is also the story of a mouse and a frog. In fact he came back 10 nights in a row to play with that dog, then mysteriously disappeared (the bear, not the dog). ![]() The photographer who was on site thought for sure the polar bear would gobble up some of the sled dogs that were tied up outside. Take for example the polar bear who made his way into a camp located in the frozen tundra of Manitoba, Canada. I found the stories inside the book very touching and sweet. This would make a wonderful bedtime story that a parent can read to a child. The book is geared towards children ages 4-8 (reading level) but even younger children can enjoy these true stories of friendship. This is a quick book to read at only 32 pages. ![]() Catherine has written other books including Team Moon, Madam President, Girls Think of Everything, The Skys the Limit and Lucy Long Ago.Ĭatherine’s new book, Friends: True Stories of Extraordinary Animal Friendships, features brief stories about unlikely friendships in the animal kingdom along with poems related to friendship. It’s called Friends: True Stories of Extraordinary Animal Friendships. I just finished reading the sweetest storybook. ![]() ![]() ![]() King is a nine time solo Grammy Award winning musician who started his career in 1947. KIng Blues Club & Grill in Times Square on Apin New York City. King performs his 10,000th concert at B.B. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) 2RIGHT: NEW YORK - APRIL 18: Blues Legend B.B. The incident remains under investigation. 31, 2015, unresponsive in a bathtub by her husband and a friend and taken to an Atlanta-area hospital. The daughter of late singer and entertainer Whitney Houston was found Saturday, Jan. 16, 2012 file photo, Bobbi Kristina Brown, right, and Nick Gordon attend the Los Angeles premiere of "Sparkle" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. ![]() (Photo by CBS via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Leonard Nimoy CENTER: FILE - In this Aug. Spock in the STAR TREK episode, "Charlie X." Season 1, episode, 2. (AP Photo/Mario Torrisi, file) 2LEFT: 1LOS ANGELES - SEPTEMBER 15: Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Ekberg's lawyer Patrizia Ubaldi confirmed her death Sunday, Jan. Anita Ekberg, the Swedish-born actress and sex-symbol of the 1950s and '60s who was immortalized bathing in the Trevi fountain in "La Dolce Vita," has died. ![]() 29, 1960 file photo, Swedish actress Anita Ekberg poses on the terrace of her hotel in Maratea, southern Italy. ![]() ![]() ![]() Also, Jess and Sarah make plans to take their dream vacation together."Īsked how McMahon would be exiting the show, executive producer David Hudgins said to Deadline: "The episode is a combination of two things. The synopsis for the actor's last episode reads: "The team pursues an abusive man on the war path to find his ex-girlfriend, who is trying to escape him for good. We will miss him and we wish him the best in his next chapter." His portrayal of agent Jess LaCroix has been a key factor in the success of FBI: Most Wanted. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to play Jess he is a good man."įBI: Most Wanted creator Dick Wolf, meanwhile, reacted to the news by releasing his own statement reading: "We are saddened to see Julian leave. ![]() He added: "I wish the show, and its cast & crew, the greatest success in the future. ![]() These ongoing conversations have given us an opportunity to orchestrate a seamless and productive way for me to leave the show." In a statement, the actor said: "Over the past few months, the producers of FBI: Most Wanted and I have had discussions about my departure from the show in favor of additional creative pursuits and the transition of my character Jess LaCroix. ![]() Julian McMahon as Jess LaCroix in "FBI: Most Wanted." The actor is exiting the show after three seasons. ![]() ![]() ![]() “The spells in this text are as relevant today as they were 1,500 years ago when they were written. The Magic of the Sword of Moses is the first book to show in detail, exactly how a magician can use the Sword-how to do the purification ritual, adjure the angels, and pronounce and use the divine names for each spell. This work was first translated by Moses Gaster in 1896, but he removed many of the spells, making the text unusable for magic. The spells, 137 in all, have a wide variety of uses, including healing, harm, love, sex, exorcising demons, divination, and more. These angels in turn give the magician the power to control the Sword through a series of divine names that work as magical spells. ![]() The rite involves a short period of purification and then the adjuring of four sets of angels, each higher than the last. The Sword of Moses is one of the earliest Jewish magic books, which describes a rite for adjuring angels to assist in controlling and wielding the "Sword of Moses" for magical purposes. ![]() A practical guide to the famed medieval book of pre-kabbalistic Jewish magic, freshly interpreted and revealed for the first time with instructions on how to use the spells. ![]() ![]() ![]() I received no monetary compensation for this post. For the second daughter of an ambitious Chinese mother, its suffering and. Any opinions expressed are my honest opinions and were not impacted by my receipt of the free book. ĭisclosure: I was sent the copy of All the Flowers in Shanghai gratis. Evocative, sweeping, yet intimate historical fiction. ![]() & lt a href=””& gt You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway& lt /a& gt. novels of Lisa See will be captivated by Duncan Jepsons marvelous debut, All the Flowers in Shanghai. If you are here by direct link the ‘copter is waiting! ![]() Just click “read more” and jump on the Rafflecopter. You don’t see that much anymore and it really adds to the overall look of the finished book.Īll the Flowers in Shanghai is available at The pages have a very old world feel to them. I do have to add that the book is bound beautifully. A lawyer by profession, he lives in Hong Kong. He was the editor of the Asia-based fashion magazine West East and is a founder and managing editor of the Asia Literary Review. He has also produced documentaries for Discovery Channel Asia and National Geographic Channel. Both a sweeping historical novel and an intimate portrait of one woman’s struggle against tradition, All the Flowers in Shanghai marks the debut of a sensitive and revelatory writer.ĭuncan Jepson is the award-winning director and producer of five feature films. ![]() ![]() The second timeline reveals her incredible role with the Maquis in southern France as a British Special Operations Executive where she is known as Madam André, code name Hélène, and leads a Resistance force of thousands during the last months of World War II. The first, beginning in 1936, focuses on her life in Paris as a journalist, as a newlywed, and as a people and document smuggler known as Lucienne Carlier, which earns her the moniker of ‘The White Mouse’ with a bounty of five million francs in her head. The story unfolds from Nancy’s first person perspective over two timelines. Read: March 2020 courtesy Simon & Schuster AustraliaĬode Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon is an exciting and absorbing novel of historical fiction based on the extraordinary wartime experiences of Nancy Wake. ![]() Published: March 31st 2020, Simon & Schuster Australia ![]() |