- Hellhole by Brian Herbert & Kevin J Anderson (an all new epic) - Great read. Diadem Michella Duchenet is a ruthless dictator willing to destroy anything and anyone who gets in her way including her own daughter. After being defeated in battle General Tiber Maximillian Adolphus was exiled to Hallholme a barren Deep Zone planet where he and his fellow exiles were expected to die. Especially since Diadem Michella had their supplies sabotaged. Only thru aid from an anonymous benefactor were they able to survive the first year. Now the planet is thriving and Adolphus has plans to unite the Deep Zone planets so they will no longer have to pay crushing tributes to the Diadem's Empire. A mysterious alien race is discovered on Hallholme and the Xayan's pledge their support to General Adolphus after Diadem Michella ruthlessly murders the Xayan Ambassadors.
- Death of Kings by Bernard Cornwell - you can read my review here.
- Slow Gardening by Felder Rushing - chock full of great gardening ideas, I plan to try some of them.
- A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean - couldn't get into it.
- Storm Front by Jim Butcher - Harry is asked to find a missing husband who is into magic, Murphy wants Harry to tell her how magic was used to rip the hearts out of two people. Sounds simple right, but he also has to prove to the White Council that he isn't the killer and Morgan is breathing down his neck just waiting for Harry to slip up. Not to mention the killer wants Harry dead, and has everything he needs to insure Harry dies during the next storm.
- Tender is the storm by Johanna Lindsey - bodice ripping romance, great vacation read. Spoilt New York socialite Sharisse Hammond meets the man of her dreams on a ranch in the Arizona Territory.
- The Myths, Legends, and Lore of Ireland by Ryan Hackney and Amy Hackney Blackwell - rather boring and not at all what I expected very few myths, legends or lore in the book mostly a dry history of Ireland.
- An Angel With Fur by Russell Blake - Very moving story of how Russell adopts Lobo from a shelter, they battle Lobo's cancer and win only to have Lobo die later from complications due to his allergy medicine. You can read more about Lobo @ Russell Blake's website.
- Fool Moon by Jim Butcher - When FBI Agent Denton and his team make a deal to become Hexenwolfs in order to kill the bad guys without getting caught they need fall guys. They have a foolproof plan to blame the killings on the Streetwolves (lycanthropes) to the police and on Loup-garou, Harley MacFinn to the White Council. Unfortunately for Harry Dresden he is the only one that can stop them, but battered and bruised does he have enough magic left to succeed.
- Crashers by Dana Haynes - Great Book. When a Cascade Air Flight crashes the NTSB rushes to find out why. Tommy (pathologist) through a stroke of luck happens to be nearby and is first on the scene. Thanks to his heroic actions key evidence is preserved. Everything seems to be pointing to pilot error. But then FBI agent Ray Calabrese shows up convinced that Irish Terrorist brought the plane down. Unbeknownst to the players the man responsible for the crash has inserted himself on the NTSB team and is tampering with the evidence to make it look like pilot error. When it is apparent that the team has figured out how the plane was crashed he arranges to bring the "swap-out" plane down. The quick thinking of Isaiah Grey who is piloting the "swap-out" plane allows them to land on the Interstate. Realizing they have no time to waste and that another air craft is in danger Ray attempts to contact his superiors only to find that he has been declared a rogue agent by his friend and fellow agent Lucas Bell. Realizing that Lucas Bell can blow Daria's cover at any time and that there is no time to waste if the target aircraft is to be saved, Ray talks the NTSB survivors of the "swap-out" plane's emergency landing into a desperate flight to save the target air craft and the woman he loves. Meanwhile after her cover is blown Daria makes a heroic effort to survive in order to foil the terrorist plot.
- Grave Peril by Jim Butcher - Harry and Michael (Knight of the Cross) have been battling a lot of stirred up ghost, whatever is stirring them up and tormenting them seems to have a grudge against Harry, Michael & Murphy. When Harry and an escort get invited by the Vampire Court in his role as local representative of the White Council to a reception celebrating the elevation of Madame Bianca to margravine of the Red Court of Vampires.his girlfriend Susan Rodriguez insist on going even though Harry warns her of the danger. Unfortunately after having his Godmother Lea (Leanansidhe) try to kill him and losing Michael's sword (Amoracchius) he forgets about Susan's desire to go to the vampire reception. Realizing that Baroness Bianca has something to do with the "ghost" he and Michael attend the reception, unbeknownst to Harry Susan took his invitation and had it replicated so she could get into the party. Thomas (Vampire from the White Court) and his date Justine befriend Harry. Justine pleads with Harry to help her and Thomas escape the reception alive when Thomas is receiving his "gift" from Baroness Bianca. Against his better judgement Harry agrees. Baroness Bianca gifts Harry with a gravestone saying he died "doing the right thing". Then Leanansidhe gifts Baroness Bianca with Amoracchius and she gives it to Mavra to kill Lydia ( a woman Harry promised to protect). If Amoracchius is used to spill innocent blood it will loose it's power. Michael insist that it must be "saved" from being unmade and will do it with or without Harry's help. To their surprise Thomas agrees to help them. They save Lydia (not her real name) but the sword is out of their reach. During their retreat Justine is captured and Baroness Bianca makes a deal with Thomas. Believing himself doomed Harry rains down FIRE and destroys many vampires before Michael is able to get him and Lydia out. Thomas shows up at Harry's apartment with Amoracchius, and begs Harry to help him free Justine and Susan. Harry comes up with a plan to use the Nevernever to get into Baroness Bianca's. Leaving Thomas and Michale in the Nevernever he goes into Baroness Bianca's alone and is promptly captured. He is eventually thrown into the basement with Justine and Susan where he discovers that Susan has been turned into a vampire but that the change isn't complete yet because she hasn't feed. Harry, Justine and Susan escape causing a war between the White Council and the Red Court. Harry ask Susan to marry him but due to her half-vampire status she refuses and leaves town.
Mar 31, 2012
Alasandra's Reading List ~ March
Mar 24, 2012
Sunday @ Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Sunday (March 18th) we went to Torrey Pines after it stopped raining. After the sun came out we were able to drive the convertible with the top down which was fun. It was interesting seeing San Diego after they had a good rain, lots of beautiful wildflowers were blooming and as always the views were breathtaking.
I took this picture for my youngest son who loves rocks.
We hiked the Razor Point Trail to Yucca Point, then took the Beach Trail to the Broken Hill Trail. We choose not to actually go down to the beach as it was windy (sand blew it our eyes at one point, ouch). The Broken Hill Trail (South Fork) is next to the Torrey Pines Golf Course so we saw it.
I would love to know the name of these wildflowers if anyone can identify them.
I really liked the red and yellow flowers growing next to each other.
These pink flowers were pretty too. They look really delicate.
Breathtaking views made the hike a pleasure.
These white flowers were very attractive, the picture doesn't do them justice.
From the Broken Hill Trail we took the Old Highway, which is closed to motor vehicles, back to the parking lot.
Would really like to know the name of this purple wildflower, it was gorgeous and growing all over the place.
I shared more pictures of Torrey Pines here and here.
After all that hiking were were ready for lunch. We ate at the Soup Plantation, it's perfect for a casual lunch and very filling. The creamy broccoli soup and chilli I had with my salad were delicious, and the strawberry lemonade was the perfect thirst quencher.
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| Flower 1 |
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| Flower 2 (yellow) Flower 3 (red) |
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| Flower 4 |
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| Flower 5 |
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| Flower 6 |
After all that hiking were were ready for lunch. We ate at the Soup Plantation, it's perfect for a casual lunch and very filling. The creamy broccoli soup and chilli I had with my salad were delicious, and the strawberry lemonade was the perfect thirst quencher.
Mar 23, 2012
Mary Larson ask an important ? in today's LTE
Who should control a woman’s life?
Last week Maureen Dowd of The New York Times wrote an extraordinarily provocative column titled “Why have men become so hostile toward women?” She wrote of several inane steps that legislators, mostly men, are taking to curb women’s freedoms.
Last week Maureen Dowd of The New York Times wrote an extraordinarily provocative column titled “Why have men become so hostile toward women?” She wrote of several inane steps that legislators, mostly men, are taking to curb women’s freedoms.
In
my lifetime I have seen how Roe v. Wade has affected women’s lives
before, during and now close to after its legality. In the Sound Off
portion of the Sun Herald there have been a few questions raised as to
why women should feel their rights have been diminished. If some of
proposed legislation is passed, we could return to the “good old days”
before Roe.
Women had little control over when they were to be in a family way. Contraceptives were not easily obtained due to stigma and cost, and some refused to use them.
Women had little control over when they were to be in a family way. Contraceptives were not easily obtained due to stigma and cost, and some refused to use them.
Before women would be offered a job, prospective employers asked
about marital status and, if married, whether they were pregnant, which
could be disruptive to work schedules. Businesses could hire men who
would not need to take time away from work. Banks and mortgage companies
also were worried about women losing pay due to maternity leave. They
routinely requested that a man -- husband, father or brother -- sign for
the loan.
There were no legal and safe abortions. Women sought after willing doctors regardless of procedural safety. Those who could not avail of a doctor’s help, helped themselves. Oh yes, women, if prevented from terminating an unwanted pregnancy legally, will find another way. When women are coerced into giving birth for adoptions, they will spend the rest of their lives wondering whether the people they see might be the children they had to give away.
Are we going back to women dying because of unsafe abortions, leaving babies in doorways or even in dumpsters, and more mothers and children being relegated to welfare?
This issue is not about killing babies. I believe it is about controlling women’s lives. Free and available contraception, along with sex education, cuts the need for the procedure. Abortions should be the last resort. Crosses in church yards that represent the number of fetuses aborted indicate the lack of contraception options. As women have fewer choices, more will be forced to choose the old methods of determining when to have children. Control as to when and if women give birth should be theirs.
Remember the movie about the Stepford wives? I recall it presented a chilling message regarding women’s roles. Could we be headed backward?
MARY LARSON
Biloxi
There were no legal and safe abortions. Women sought after willing doctors regardless of procedural safety. Those who could not avail of a doctor’s help, helped themselves. Oh yes, women, if prevented from terminating an unwanted pregnancy legally, will find another way. When women are coerced into giving birth for adoptions, they will spend the rest of their lives wondering whether the people they see might be the children they had to give away.
Are we going back to women dying because of unsafe abortions, leaving babies in doorways or even in dumpsters, and more mothers and children being relegated to welfare?
This issue is not about killing babies. I believe it is about controlling women’s lives. Free and available contraception, along with sex education, cuts the need for the procedure. Abortions should be the last resort. Crosses in church yards that represent the number of fetuses aborted indicate the lack of contraception options. As women have fewer choices, more will be forced to choose the old methods of determining when to have children. Control as to when and if women give birth should be theirs.
Remember the movie about the Stepford wives? I recall it presented a chilling message regarding women’s roles. Could we be headed backward?
MARY LARSON
Biloxi
Letters to the Editor Sun Herald
Media Matters’ Desperate Need to Focus on Rush Limbaugh
According to Erick Erickson's post Media Matters’ Desperate Need to Focus on Rush Limbaugh
Really I thought Conservatives believed in THE BIBLE. one of The Ten Commandments is;
Rush LIED about what Sandra Fluke said, he broke one of The Ten Commandments. He then went on to say vile things about Ms. Fluke and then he suggested that she make sex tapes. And the Conservatives are convinced they should be defending him?
If the conservatives weren't a bunch of hypocritical women haters they would be condemning him. There is absolutely no justification for Rush's crude remarks concerning Ms. Fluke.
That now presents a conundrum for conservatives. We absolutely should
be defending Rush Limbaugh. But in the mean time we should also not let
up on Media Matters and its tax exempt status. The Daily Caller’s
reporting suggests Media Matters should not be tax exempt. Media
Matters’ behavior of late also suggests while they want to shut down
Rush by driving away his advertisers, Media Matters might have its own
problems with its donors
Really I thought Conservatives believed in THE BIBLE. one of The Ten Commandments is;
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Rush LIED about what Sandra Fluke said, he broke one of The Ten Commandments. He then went on to say vile things about Ms. Fluke and then he suggested that she make sex tapes. And the Conservatives are convinced they should be defending him?
If the conservatives weren't a bunch of hypocritical women haters they would be condemning him. There is absolutely no justification for Rush's crude remarks concerning Ms. Fluke.
Mar 21, 2012
No Comparison
If anyone is out of touch with reality it's Newt Gingrich. There is no comparison between De Niro's one time attempt at a joke that was in poor taste at a fund raiser no less and Rush Limbaugh's calling a private citizen a slut on National Television over the course of several days.
Expecting the same amount of outrage over De Niro's inappropriate remark and Rush's attack on a private citizens' character is ludicrous. If Newt doesn't get that he is seriously out of touch with reality.
"What De Niro said last night was inexcusable, and the president should
apologize for him. It was at an Obama fund-raiser. It is exactly wrong;
it divides the country," Gingrich said, according to CNN.
He also drew a comparison to the flap over Rush Limbaugh's remarks, suggesting that those on the left are quick to criticize conservative figures yet do not do so when it comes to liberals.
He also drew a comparison to the flap over Rush Limbaugh's remarks, suggesting that those on the left are quick to criticize conservative figures yet do not do so when it comes to liberals.
Expecting the same amount of outrage over De Niro's inappropriate remark and Rush's attack on a private citizens' character is ludicrous. If Newt doesn't get that he is seriously out of touch with reality.
Mar 9, 2012
It's about more then Birth Control
Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among women,
and it causes more deaths than any other type of female reproductive cancer. Ovarian
cancer is rarely diagnosed in its early stages. It is usually quite advanced by
the time diagnosis is made, but by simply taking an oral contraceptive a woman
can greatly reduce the risk of contracting ovarian cancer.
Oral Contraceptives are also used to treat acne, heavy
periods which can lead to anemia, irregular periods and reduce the symptoms of
PMS. While these issues may seem trivial
to the male population they are not trivial to the women who endure these physical
problems.
More serious medical conditions that are treated with oral
contraceptives are Polycystic Ovary Syndrome which is a common hormonal
disorder among women of reproductive age. Treatment with oral contraceptives
reduces the risk of long-term complications, such as Type 2 Diabetes and Heart
Disease. Since the oral contraceptives prevent cyst from forming a woman also
doesn’t have to worry about facing emergency surgery if a cyst ruptures. Endometriosis is a female health disorder
that occurs when cells from the lining of the womb (uterus) grow in other areas
of the body. This can lead to pain, irregular bleeding, and problems getting
pregnant again one of the treatments is oral contraceptives.
Studies have consistently shown that using oral
contraceptives reduces the risk of ovarian
cancer; studies have also shown oral contraceptive use significantly reduces
the risk of endometrial cancer (National Cancer Institute). So it is unconscionable
that any employer would insist that a woman’s medical insurance deny coverage
of this medication. Thanks to the Affordable
Healthcare Act many more women will now be able to use a medication that will
allow them to live happier, pain free and more productive lives.
Mar 6, 2012
Poor Rush and The Nutcase Who Defends Him
Well according to nutcase Gina Miller I should feel sorry for Rush Limbaugh poor thing the left has declared war on him, Left’s War on Rush is No Fluke as Advertisers Flee. Apparently right wing nutcases should be allowed to make up anything their little hearts desire broadcast it as fact on national TV and accompany with vile invectives and we should all put up with it because it's "free speech" right. Never mind about those pesky little things like slander and libel.
According to Miller
According to Miller
The people of the radical Left in our nation are engaged in an
aggressive, deliberate assault on our freedom of speech, our freedom to
call them out and expose the awful truth of their communist agenda.
They would love nothing more than to silence us, to stop our ability to
shine the light of truth on their evil schemes to rob the American
people of our God-given freedoms, our money, and our way of life, which
is what communism is about.
As part of this war against us, in the past week we have seen members of the radical, communist Left whip themselves into a vicious frenzy at America’s top conservative talk radio commentator, Rush Limbaugh, and it is no accident—no fluke, you might say. By now you have heard the story. Rush called the feminist activist, Sandra Fluke, a slut and a prostitute for the nature of her testimony before a Democrat mock hearing in Washington (apparently her name is not pronounced as it is spelled, but since it supposedly rhymes with “duck,” I’ll just stay safe here on the radio and pronounce it the way it looks). Rush has since apologized to her for his choice of words.
As part of this war against us, in the past week we have seen members of the radical, communist Left whip themselves into a vicious frenzy at America’s top conservative talk radio commentator, Rush Limbaugh, and it is no accident—no fluke, you might say. By now you have heard the story. Rush called the feminist activist, Sandra Fluke, a slut and a prostitute for the nature of her testimony before a Democrat mock hearing in Washington (apparently her name is not pronounced as it is spelled, but since it supposedly rhymes with “duck,” I’ll just stay safe here on the radio and pronounce it the way it looks). Rush has since apologized to her for his choice of words.
Mar 5, 2012
From the Rush Wanna Be..........................
Kipp has blocked the Alawine's from commenting on his Radio Show's Facebook page, he took umbrage at me for explaining that the abbreviation Xmas stands for Christmas and that X is a widely accepted abbreviation for Christ amongst intellectuals. Which sadly Kipp and the majority of his listeners are not.
This is from our former
resident troll Bo Alawine....in an email this morning. I have not, nor
will I respond (not worth my time) however I thought I would share:
Mar 4, 2012
No ProFlowers
as long as they advertise on Rush. Really ProFlowers advertising on a show where the host slanders women is stupid. If any male is dumb enough to order flowers from you I hope the woman he is sending them to tells him where to go....................
Mar 3, 2012
Rush ~ Outdated Views on Contraceptive Use
It is sadly apparent that Rush has no clue how oral contraceptives work. Just like any other prescription medication you must take them the way they are proscribed. Which is ONE pill a day, even if you do NOT HAVE SEX.
He also totally ignores Sandra Fluke's concern for women who are taking oral contraceptives to treat a medical condition like ovarian cyst. His vulgar comments regarding Sandra Fluke just underscores the way most Male Republicans view women. Honestly men should not be in a position to make laws regarding women's health. It is sadly apparent they haven't a clue what the issues are and that they do not have a woman's best interest at heart.
Mar 2, 2012
Police Kill Cat
Not content with shooting our dogs POLICE have now starting discharging their weapons on housecats.
No effort was made to find Haze's owners before he was brutally murdered by Officer Covey.
Please help save other cats, sign the petition here to let Ohio police know that killing our pets is WRONG!!!!!!
On August 20, 2011, a local house cat, Haze, wandered a few blocks from
his home in Lebanon. After a bystander called the police to report Haze
as a stray, Officer Covey of the Lebanon Police Department arrived on
the scene. After arriving on the scene, Officer Covey discharged his
firearm in a residential area and ended Haze's life.
No effort was made to find Haze's owners before he was brutally murdered by Officer Covey.
Please help save other cats, sign the petition here to let Ohio police know that killing our pets is WRONG!!!!!!
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