June 1942. East Hartford, Connecticut. United Aircraft plant. "Single-row crankshaft assemblies for Pratt & Whitney airplane engines. The large Eastern plant at which the work is done is producing a steady flow of power installations for the fighting craft of our Army and Navy air forces." 4x5 inch nitrate negative by Andreas Feininger for the […]
My mother sits with her mother on what must have been a chilly day in the Dogwood section of Levittown, New York. They were enjoying the new front porch that my father built out of stones, sand and bricks. The siding behind them was red and white and made of asbestos. On a 2018 drive […]
$1.99 The Last Flight: A Novel
by Gregory P. Liefer (Author)
Last Flight is the heroic story of Gil Connor, a senior Army helicopter pilot and aging Vietnam vet as he struggles with an impending terminal illness and the desire to pull off one last daring rescue. Connor finds himself in a constant battle against his internal demons during his quest to reach the survivors of a remote plane crash deep in the Alaskan mountains–a rescue that perhaps only he can pull off.
The stranded plane’s captain, Scott Sanders, takes charge after the crash, in spite of his injuries and the realization that his dream of flying for a major airline is destroyed. One of the passengers, a retired school teacher, assists him while barely holding herself together. They soon realize that time is not on their side in the Alaskan polar climate.
Connor, who’s haunted by the horrors of war and a turbulent past, is torn between ending his life before the inevitable and saving the marooned crash victims before it’s too late. His underlying intentions are unknown, even to himself, until the very end. Aided by an untested protégée and a mysterious young girl found at the crash site, Connor struggles in a desperate gamble to achieve the near impossible. Amid the turmoil of an approaching storm and almost certain failure, his flying skills and drive for redemption are the only hope.
Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade, Yucca, and Good Books imprints, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in fiction–novels, novellas, political and medical thrillers, comedy, satire, historical fiction, romance, erotic and love stories, mystery, classic literature, folklore and mythology, literary classics including Shakespeare, Dumas, Wilde, Cather, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
About the Author
Gregory Liefer was raised in the small island community of Wrangell in Southeast Alaska. During his military career, he served as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division and as a helicopter pilot/instructor pilot at various overseas and stateside locations, including two tours in Alaska. After retiring from the military he remained in Alaska for another thirteen years, working as a civilian helicopter pilot while writing and researching aviation history. He is the author of the previous non-fiction books Broken Wings and Aviation Mysteries of the North. Liefer currently resides in Idaho with his wife, Liz, where he continues his writing career.
Tamar July has never had a great relationship with certain members of her family. In fact, she’d characterize it as a “hate/hate relationship.” But when her cousin calls her with the news that she’s dying and wants Tamar to plan the funeral, she’s shocked but is willing to drop everything for her.
After a horrendous storm, Gemma finds a young boy and his little sister walking on the side of the road. She takes them in, and quickly falls in love with the orphaned siblings. But when Gemma contacts Social Services to try to become their foster mother, she’s told a white woman cannot foster African-American children.
In the midst of these trials, Jack and Rocky are trying to plan their wedding. The entire town comes together to lend a helping hand.
Though the residents of Henry Adams face seemingly insurmountable obstacles, each of them will discover that family comes in many forms, especially during the most trying of times.
$1.99 The Devil Wears Prada
by Lauren Weisberger
Andrea Sachs, a small-town girl fresh out of college, lands the job “a million girls would die for.” Hired as the assistant to Miranda Priestly, the high-profile, fabulously successful editor of Runway magazine, Andrea finds herself in an office that shouts Prada! Armani! Versace! at every turn, a world populated by impossibly thin, heart-wrenchingly stylish women and beautiful men clad in fine-ribbed turtlenecks and tight leather pants that show off their lifelong dedication to the gym. With breathtaking ease, Miranda can turn each and every one of these hip sophisticates into a scared, whimpering child.
Free Imperfect Rebel (Carolina Magnolia Series Book 2)
by Patricia Rice (Author)
Cleo Alyssum’s plan is simple: stay sober, stay out of trouble, and bite her tongue until Social Services sees she’s pretty close to perfect and returns her little boy. But when an accident on her isolated property forces her to rent a cottage to celebrated cartoonist Jared McCloud, her carefully constructed comfort zone develops cracks.
Jared has a deadline to meet or he’ll forfeit still another lucrative career and be branded for life as the loser in the family. Only, he wasn’t meant to be a hermit, and his cartoon characters aren’t nearly as fascinating as his quirky, enigmatic landlady.
When Jared discovers his island hideaway contains a drug-dealing neighbor’s two neglected, abused teens, he shoves Cleo into the real world that she fears in his effort to save the children.
Risking everything, the pair join forces to find a home for the kids and have their mother’s dangerous boyfriend locked up. In the process, they face a new realization that there’s more to life and love than either of them ever planned or dreamed.
Those are just a few of the family members Oakland P.I. Jeri Howard finds herself investigating in a puzzling missing persons case that sprawls throughout the grittier sections of Northern California. For a woman who told her husband she had no relatives, Renee Foster’s actually well-stocked with them….and doozies at that. The whole family—criminals, abusers, and kindly aunts alike– comes alive in Janet Dawson’s first novel, prompting the New York Times to hail it as “a welcome addition to this tough genre.”
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 19, 2018 is: quail \KWAIL\ verb 1 : to give way : falter 2 : to recoil in dread or terror : cower Examples: "It wasn't so long ago that book publishers and bookstore owners were quailing about the coming of e-books, like movie theatre owners […]
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were United States citizens who spied for the Soviet Union and were tried, convicted, and executed by the United States government. They provided top-secret information about radar, sonar, and jet propulsion engines to the USSR and were accused of transmitting nuclear weapon designs to the Soviet Union; at that time the United States was the only country with nuclear weapons.[1][2][3]
Other convicted co-conspirators were imprisoned, including Ethel’s brother, David Greenglass, who supplied documents from Los Alamos to Julius and who served 10 years of a 15-year sentence; Harry Gold, who identified Greenglass and served 15 years in federal prison as the courier for Greenglass. Klaus Fuchs, a German scientist working in Los Alamos and handled by Gold, provided vastly more important information to the Soviets. He was convicted in Great Britain and served nine years and four months in prison.[4][5]
For decades, the Rosenbergs’ sons Michael and Robert Meeropol and many other defenders maintained that Julius and Ethel were innocent of spying on their country and victims of Cold War paranoia. After the fall of the Soviet Union, much information concerning them was declassified, including a trove of decoded Soviet cables, code-named VENONA, which detailed Julius’s role as a courier and recruiter for the Soviets and Ethel’s role as an accessory. Their sons’ current position is that Julius was legally guilty of the conspiracy charge, though not of atomic spying, while Ethel was only generally aware of his activities. The children say that their father did not deserve the death penalty and that their mother was wrongly convicted. They continue to campaign for Ethel to be posthumously and legally exonerated.[6]
In 2014, five historians who had published on the Rosenberg case wrote that Soviet documents show that Ethel Rosenberg “hid money and espionage paraphernalia for Julius, served as an intermediary for communications with his Soviet intelligence contacts, provided her personal evaluation of individuals Julius considered recruiting, and was present at meetings with his sources.” They also demonstrate that Julius reported to the KGB that Ethel persuaded Ruth Greenglass to travel to New Mexico to recruit David as a spy.[3]
There is a consensus among historians that Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were guilty, but their trial was marred by clear judicial and legal improprieties and they should not have been executed.[1][7] Distilling this consensus, Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz wrote that the Rosenbergs were “guilty – and framed.”[8][9] Read more ->
Webb inherited his father’s shipyard, Webb & Allen, in 1840, renamed it William H. Webb, and turned it into America’s most prolific shipyard, building 133 vessels between 1840 and 1865. Webb designed some of the fastest and most successful sailing packets and clipper ships ever built, and he also built some of the largest and most celebrated steamboats and steamships of his era, including the giant ironclad USS Dunderberg, in its day the world’s longest wooden-hulled ship.
After the American Civil War, the U.S. shipbuilding industry experienced a prolonged slump, and Webb, having already made a considerable fortune, decided to close his shipyard and turn his energies toward philanthropic goals. He chaired an anti-corruption council, became a founding member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, and established the Webb Academy and Home for Shipbuilders, which today is known as the Webb Institute.
The Farm Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and several other organizations have created a series of listening sessions on how to improve rural broadband. Today’s is being held at the Rice County Fairgrounds in Faribault, Minn., and the Farm Foundation promised a live webcast of the session would be available.
However, we’ve just received an email saying that they had discovered that low internet speed in the Faribault area will make a live stream impossible. The Farm Foundation’s Vice President of Communication, Mary Thompson, wrote in the email: “We regret that we are not able to share the live session with you. This complication does, however, emphasize the need to improve broadband connectivity in rural America.” Click here to see a video of the session afterward.
While AirPods offer the most seamless headphone experience for iPhone owners, BeatsX are probably a close second, and you can get a pair for an all-time low $90 today on Amazon. Read more...
You’ll likely make your kids’ whole year when you buy them one of these discounted power wheels from Amazon. They start at just $60 and go all the way up to $300 for this fancy Batmobile-like car. Just note, this sale will only last through the end of the day or until the products sell […]
Earlier this month, we reported that Walt Disney Animation and Pixar CCO John Lasster was finally—finally—stepping down from those two companies, just about seven months after numerous allegations of sexual harassment came out against him (including stories about prolonged hugs, unwanted touching and kissing, and…Read more...
Sam Barsanti on News, shared by Sam Barsanti to The A.V. Club
It’s tempting to view Everything Is Love as the conclusion of a trilogy begun with Lemonade, Beyoncé’s revelatory 2016 exploration of JAY-Z’s infidelity. But that narrative didn’t need a sequel, let alone a trilogy; it was self-contained, resolution and all. Jay told his side of the story on last year’s sober, soulful …Read more...
Clayton Purdom on Music, shared by Clayton Purdom to The A.V. Club
Way back in February, we reported that Oscar-nomianted The Big Sick writers Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon were developing an anthology series about immigrants called Little America for Apple’s then-mysterious streaming platform. Now, Apple has given the show a series order, officially putting Nanjiani and Gordon…Read more...
Sam Barsanti on News, shared by Sam Barsanti to The A.V. Club
The Concourse New Yorker Film Critic Has Reservations About Children’s Movie Because His Boner Kept Blocking The Screen | The Slot Powerlifting Coach on Don Jr.’s Terrible Form and the Dark Trap of Ego: ‘It Gives Powerlifting a Bad Name’ | Very Smart Brothas Stop Pretending You Actually Gave a Shit About…Read more...
Kinja! on Kinja Roundup, shared by Caitlin PenzeyMoog to The A.V. Club
Picture of the day Panoramic view of the Laguna Colorada, located in the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, Bolivia. The shallow salt lake has a surface of 60 km2 (23 sq mi) and is located at 4,278 m (14,035 ft) over the sea level. The red color is caused by red sediments and pigmentation of some algae.
Five Food Finds about the Martini: A classic martini is gin or vodka, a splash of dry vermouth (French-white) and an olive or a lemon twist garnish. Italian immigrant bartender Martini di Arma di Taggia in New York City is said to have invent the drink around World War I.
A hearty soup with all of your favorite vegetables! It’s fresh, it’s warm and it’s so cozy even in the summertime! I know. Soup in the summertime? Have I gone mad? Well, yes, I’m always a little crazy, but I find that there’s something even more cozy about soup in the summertime. You know, […]
I spend an inordinate amount of time deciding which recipes to share. My biggest problem is that there are so many recipes I want to share, things that get me doing the jiggy because it’s so... Read More » The post Request a recipe! appeared first on RecipeTin Eats.
It is an impressively arrogant move to conclude that just because you don’t like something, it is empirically not good.
Tina Fey,
entertainer, writer and producer
When you’ve done something wrong, admit it and be sorry. No one in history has ever choked to death form swallowing his pride.
lessonslearedinlife
If your happiness depends what someone does, I guess you do have a problem.
Richard Bach
Be all in or get out. There is no halfway.
Kushandwizdom
We give advice by the bucket, but take it by the grain.
William Alger
Build someone up. Put their insecurities to sleep. Remind them they’re worthy. Tell them they’re incredible. Be a light in a too often dim world.
Anonymous
I would rather be “annoyingly” positive and optimistic than destructively negative and hateful.
Unknown
Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can only be forgiven, not forgotten.
Unkown
$1.99 Flood
Andrew Vachss
Burke’s newest client is a woman named Flood, who has the face of an angel, the body of a high-priced stripper, and the skills of a professional executioner. She wants Burke to find a monster for her—so she can kill him with her bare hands.
Free Spare Me the Drama: A Novel
by Karen Tomsovic (Author)
Love and Laughter join hands in this tender, funny tale of second chances and family life.
For two decades, Martin Leon and his wife blissfully penned a daytime soap together while growing their large family before real life took a melodramatic turn…
Sexy star Roxanne Hunter parlayed her role on the show into a thriving luxury bedding business and never looked back. Just when she was on the brink of having it all, the universe pulled the rug out from under her, leaving her with a secret heartache…
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 19, 2018 is: quail \KWAIL\ verb 1 : to give way : falter 2 : to recoil in dread or terror : cower Examples: "It wasn't so long ago that book publishers and bookstore owners were quailing about the coming of e-books, like movie theatre owners […]
Selected as an imperial concubine of the Xianfeng Emperor in her adolescence, she gave birth to a son, Zaichun, in 1856. After the Xianfeng Emperor’s death in 1861, the young boy became the Tongzhi Emperor, and she became the Empress Dowager. Cixi ousted a group of regents appointed by the late emperor and assumed regency, which she shared with Empress Dowager Ci’an. Cixi then consolidated control over the dynasty when she installed her nephew as the Guangxu Emperor at the death of the Tongzhi Emperor in 1875, contrary to the traditional rules of succession of the Qing dynasty that had ruled China since 1644.
Although Cixi refused to adopt Western models of government, she supported technological and military reforms and the Self-Strengthening Movement. She agreed with the principles of the Hundred Days’ Reforms of 1898, but feared that sudden implementation, without bureaucratic support, would be disruptive and that the Japanese and other foreign powers would take advantage of any weakness. She placed the Guangxu Emperor, who she thought had tried assassinate her, under virtual house arrest for supporting radical reformers. After the Boxer Uprising led to invasion by Allied armies, Cixi initially backed the Boxer groups as defenders of the dynasty and declared war on all the invaders. The ensuing defeat was a stunning humiliation. When Cixi returned to Beijing from Xi’an, where she had taken the emperor, she became friendly to foreigners in the capital and began to implement fiscal and institutional reforms that began to turn China into a constitutional monarchy. The death of both Cixi and the Guangxu Emperor in 1908 left the court in the hands of Manchu conservatives, a child, Puyi, on the throne, and a restless, rebellious public.
Historians both in China and abroad have debated her reputation. The long time view portrayed her as a ruthless despot whose reactionary policies led to the fall of the Qing dynasty. Revisionists suggested that reformers and revolutionaries succeeded in blaming her for long term problems beyond her control and that she prevented political disorder, was no more ruthless than other rulers of her time, and that she was an effective reformer in the last years of her life.[1]
1900 – Vlasta Vraz, Czech-American relief worker, editor, and fundraiser (d. 1989)
Vlasta Adele Vraz (June 18, 1900 — August 22, 1989) was a Czech American relief worker, editor, and fundraiser. She was director of American Relief for Czechoslovakia, and president of the Czechoslovak National Council of America. In 1949 she was arrested by Czech authorities on espionage charges, but quickly released after pressure from the United States.
Early life
Vlasta Adele Vraz was born in Chicago and raised in Czech California, South Lawndale, Chicago. Her father was Enrique Stanko Vraz (1860-1932), a naturalist and explorer born in Bulgaria to Czech parents.[1] Her mother was also called Vlasta Vraz (1875-1961).[2] Her maternal grandfather August Geringer (1842-1930) published a Czech-language Daily, Svornost, in the United States, starting in 1875.[3]
Career
She lived in Prague as a young woman, from 1919 to 1939, at first helping her father who was lecturing there before he died in 1932. During World War II she returned to the United States with her widowed mother, and was a secretary in Washington, D. C. for the Czech government in exile. In 1945, she was back in Prague, directing American Relief for Czechoslovakia.[4] She was responsible for distributing $4 million in food, medicine, clothing and other supports. She was inducted into the Order of the White Lion by Jan Masaryk in 1946, for her relief work. But in 1949, Vraz was arrested by the Communist authorities, on espionage charges, sparking protests from the United States.[5]
Upon release after a week in custody,[6] Vraz returned to the United States,[7] where she became president of the Czechoslovak National Council of America, and edited two national publications for the Czechoslovak-American community.[3] She was called upon for reactions during the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia.[8]
Personal life
Vlasta Vraz died in 1989, aged 89 years.[3] Her remains were buried in the Bohemian National Cemetery in Chicago, near those of her mother and her brother, Victor E. Vraz, an economics professor at Northwestern University. Some of her papers are in the Geringer Family Papers, archived at the Chicago History Museum.[9] The rest of her papers was bequeathed to the Náprstek Museum in Prague, Czech Republic. The same institution owns extensive personal papers of her father Enrique Stanko Vráz.
The Best Way to Understand Reality – It’s rumored that Nikola Tesla could envision his complex inventions in his mind and then recreate them exactly as he predicted without any drawings to guide him and any mistakes to derail him. In this piece, I talk about what I think is the most effective way to interact with the world (Pocket).
Here is another piece that I wrote:
The Most Important Skill Nobody Taught You– It’s solitude; the art of being alone. A few thoughts here about the perils of connection and why most of us aren’t quite addicted to specific things but more so to a state of anti-boredom (Pocket).
A quote that I’ve been pondering:
“I’m a human being who remained independent, resisted conditioning, never belonged to any religion, political party, organization, nation, race. I’ve been myself, without any adjective. That has given me integrity, individuality, authenticity, and the bliss of fulfillment.” – Osho
A book that I’ve been enjoying:
Models of My Life – This is the autobiography of Herbert Simon, a polymath who made contributions to psychology, artificial intelligence, and information science. Oh, and he also won the Nobel Prize in Economics on the side. A forewarning – the book is fairly expensive. It’s also a little long at times, and not for everyone, but I liked it.
An idea that I’ve been playing with:
Memes (or ideas) survive and replicate in culture just like genes do in bodies; the effective endure. If something has beat the test of time and you can’t see its value, it’s more likely that you are wrong and don’t understand what is at play than the thing in question being useless. The wisdom of nature almost always prevails.
An interesting question to think about:
If you had to live this life again and again for eternity, would you be happy with that?
….
As always, thoughts and criticisms are more than welcome, too. Press reply.
P.S. – If you were forwarded this email, feel free to join the Reader Community.
I have to admit – it’s always been a dream. Not to have a “…mobile command center with a controlled environmental room…”, like the 1972 International Harvester…
While AirPods offer the most seamless headphone experience for iPhone owners, BeatsX are probably a close second, and you can get a pair for an all-time low $90 today on Amazon. Read more...
You’ll likely make your kids’ whole year when you buy them one of these discounted power wheels from Amazon. They start at just $60 and go all the way up to $300 for this fancy Batmobile-like car. Just note, this sale will only last through the end of the day or until the products sell […]
Earlier this month, we reported that Walt Disney Animation and Pixar CCO John Lasster was finally—finally—stepping down from those two companies, just about seven months after numerous allegations of sexual harassment came out against him (including stories about prolonged hugs, unwanted touching and kissing, and…Read more...
Sam Barsanti on News, shared by Sam Barsanti to The A.V. Club
It’s tempting to view Everything Is Love as the conclusion of a trilogy begun with Lemonade, Beyoncé’s revelatory 2016 exploration of JAY-Z’s infidelity. But that narrative didn’t need a sequel, let alone a trilogy; it was self-contained, resolution and all. Jay told his side of the story on last year’s sober, soulful …Read more...
Clayton Purdom on Music, shared by Clayton Purdom to The A.V. Club
Way back in February, we reported that Oscar-nomianted The Big Sick writers Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon were developing an anthology series about immigrants called Little America for Apple’s then-mysterious streaming platform. Now, Apple has given the show a series order, officially putting Nanjiani and Gordon…Read more...
Sam Barsanti on News, shared by Sam Barsanti to The A.V. Club
The Concourse New Yorker Film Critic Has Reservations About Children’s Movie Because His Boner Kept Blocking The Screen | The Slot Powerlifting Coach on Don Jr.’s Terrible Form and the Dark Trap of Ego: ‘It Gives Powerlifting a Bad Name’ | Very Smart Brothas Stop Pretending You Actually Gave a Shit About…Read more...
Kinja! on Kinja Roundup, shared by Caitlin PenzeyMoog to The A.V. Club
Picture of the day Panoramic view of the Laguna Colorada, located in the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, Bolivia. The shallow salt lake has a surface of 60 km2 (23 sq mi) and is located at 4,278 m (14,035 ft) over the sea level. The red color is caused by red sediments and pigmentation of some algae.
Five Food Finds about the Martini: A classic martini is gin or vodka, a splash of dry vermouth (French-white) and an olive or a lemon twist garnish. Italian immigrant bartender Martini di Arma di Taggia in New York City is said to have invent the drink around World War I.
A hearty soup with all of your favorite vegetables! It’s fresh, it’s warm and it’s so cozy even in the summertime! I know. Soup in the summertime? Have I gone mad? Well, yes, I’m always a little crazy, but I find that there’s something even more cozy about soup in the summertime. You know, […]
I spend an inordinate amount of time deciding which recipes to share. My biggest problem is that there are so many recipes I want to share, things that get me doing the jiggy because it’s so... Read More » The post Request a recipe! appeared first on RecipeTin Eats.
With data gathered by Alaska’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development, it is clear that the percentage of Alaskan workers over the age of 55 is growing. Alaska doesn’t have as many senior citizens as other states, but the population of 65-plus is growing faster than any other part of...
Two federal agencies have beefed up their guidelines for wetlands mitigation in Alaska. The announcement comes after a news outlet found only 26 percent of Alaska permittees were required to mitigate wetland damage. Listen now
“The time is now for the White House to end the cruel, tragic separations of families," Murkowski said in a written statement. If the administration doesn't act quickly, she said, Congress must. Sen. Dan Sullivan called the situation complicated and called for a bipartisan solution from Congress. Listen now
*This post is sponsored by Great Alaskan Holidays, Inc., providers of Last Frontier roadtripping adventures for more than 30 years.* Summer is in full swing around here, and our team is gearing up for another weekend of outdoor-themed fun as we motor north to the village of Talkeetna. We’re pretty confident about our Alaska RV […]
Who can say what the future holds? Well, good news, I can! At least as far as next two meetings of the distinguished APDSG are concerned. Our upcoming meeting will be held June 16th. We will have a presentation on hallucinations and delusions in PD from Gail Howshikowa. Gail is a drug company salesperson. She […]
Scarcely two weeks have gone by since I last posted the appearance of a new PD Pundit comic. And now here comes a new one, all shiny and bright! This one is about the necessity of adapting to our new reality, and how to remake your passion in a way that is harmonious with your […]
Fly west from Anchorage across the Bering Straits! The 4.5-hour flight leaves once each week from Anchorage to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, starting next month on July 16. The flight is coordinated by ... The post VISIT KAMCHATKA: Alaska’s Gateway to Asia! appeared first on Alaska Travelgram.
A Christmas Creek Carol by Rachelle Ayala My rating: 5 of 5 stars I loved this story. Christmas and Halloween are my favorite holidays. I enjoy holiday themed books and movies all year around. A Christmas Creek Carol was a perfect read on this hot summer day. As much as I enjoyed the Christmas aspect, […]
Lucky in Laguna by Rachelle Ayala My rating: 5 of 5 stars Wow! Reality show spotlight. I enjoyed this story. If you ever wanted to know how real these shows are, this is the story for you. I don’t want to go into the story so it will be enjoyable for you to read. I […]
Many of us who grew up in rural areas have fond childhood memories of fruit trees. Maybe it was watching the tree bloom each spring, with the sweet scent of blossoms filling the air. Or maybe it was experiencing the annual harvest, with the smallest kids climbing up and gently shaking tree limbs, while family […]
On the last day of November, I went outside after dark for a winter beehive check. I wanted to see if the honey bees were still alive and if they needed more food. This is our first winter with bees, and Alaska beehives don’t have high survival rates for wintering over. Alaska winters are extremely […]
These smooth and creamy Dairy Free Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes are so easy and convenient to prepare. I love being able to throw everything in the Instant Pot bowl and walk away, instead of... Visit Allergy Free Alaska to view the full post!
We came to this land in June of this year, in the midst of a heatwave. We thought we could make a home from the dust but we left after less than two weeks, frustrated. Our plans foiled. Maybe it wasn’t time yet. Maybe we wimped out. And so we left. For two months […]
I don’t like beer, and I don’t do alcohol, but I do like ginger beer. If I close my eyes, I can conjure an image of happily sipping ginger beer in the sun. Sort of like my images of restfully, calmly drinking tea. It’s a symbol.So when Anchorage Community House offered a class on Natural […]
My Third Third has hit a snag.Me.When I am terribly depressed, I still go to social events, fulfill my commitments, wash my hair, and do laundry. I volunteer. I get out of bed.Unfortunately, I do that while dragging grand pianos around on my feet. Everything takes an enormous amount of energy, and I’m oomph-less. Which […]
Roll up some inspiration – Burl Ives http://alaskabush.com/bushradio/wp-content/uploads/Roll-up-some-inspiration-Burl-Ives.mp3 I got stoned and I missed it – Shel Silverstein w/ Dr. Hook http://alaskabush.com/bushradio/wp-content/uploads/got-stoned-and-I-missed-it.mp3 Natural Mystic – Bob Marley http://alaskabush.com/bushradio/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Natural_mystic_bob_marley.mp3 I want to get HIGH – Rita Marley http://alaskabush.com/bushradio/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/I_Want_to_Get_High1.mp3 Henry – New Riders Of The Purple Sage http://alaskabush.com/bushradio/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/henry1.mp3 Sweet Leaf – Storm Orphans http://alaskabush.com/bushradio/wp-content/uploads/Storm_Orphans_-_Sweet_Leaf.mp3
As the 49th state speeds into its short summer on the quick trip to the longer winter, there are growing concerns that history is about to be lost at both ends of […]
While West Coast Americans – Alaskans among them – worry and fret about farmed Atlantic salmon escaping to invade the Pacific Ocean despite decades of failed stocking efforts aimed at helping them do […]
My hybrid creative nonfiction work How Mary, Joseph and Jesus F*cked Up My Love Life is up at The Hunger Journal. It’s an odd piece written in an odd style that merges religion with attitudes about sex, desire, loneliness and the rest of that complex and maddening stuff. Here is a sample: Fact: I rode down… […]
I was in a slump. I returned to Alaska a few weeks ago, everything muddy and brown, the trees bare of leaves, last year’s trash blowing across the streets. I was used to the sun-filled warmth of Tucson, to hot days and balmy nights, to sitting out in the yard and reading and then running… […]
This is the best recipe I've tried in a long time. I found it over on "The Domestic Rebel"....my picky-picky husband is in love with this sweet treat!!!The bottom crust is a deliciously TENDER shortbread, then there is a simple layer of raspberry jam, nuts and more shortbread pieces on top. It couldn't be easier!!! […]
My list of 10 Best Gifts for Cooks and Food Lovers helps last minute shoppers buy great presents for the food obsessed; most of the items on the list I’ve used and loved for years. Most importantly, if you act quickly, there’s still time to order most of my recommended gifts and have them arrive […]
Most of the time, we have enough dandelions in our yard for fried dandelions but not much past that because we really love fried dandelions. This year though has been a banner year for those happy sunshine flowers. I know my yard has not been touched with weed killers or dangerous chemicals in the 16 years we've […]
Construction is progressing on the new Sitka Community Playground project, which is being built on the site of the old Crescent Harbor Playground near the Sitka Sound Science Center. As of Monday, June 18, most of the playground equipment had … Continue reading →
I LOVE my grandmother’s navy bean soup, but it takes forever to make with soaking the beans overnight and then slow cooking the soup all day. I decided to try it in my Instant Pot and it was a success! Not only that, but my kids loved it…score! Ingredients: 1-2 Tbs. olive oil 1 onion, diced 3 […]
The forecast for today had originally been for partly cloudy weather and little or no rain. I had planned to take care of this year’s Breeding Bird Survey, which requires a 2:30am rise time. Yesterday the forecast for today had … Continue reading →
Just one photo today – I was walking home this morning and noticed an introduced ground beetle (Carabus nemoralis) crossing the road. Conditions were a bit breezy at times during the day, with occasional showers and some sunny breaks. Coming … Continue reading →
Arguably herring are the base of the entire food chain in Southeast Alaska. They provide food for whales, salmon, seals, sealions, birds, and halibut with their bodies and with their eggs. For centuries humans have relied on the abundance of herring to provide for their families in the spring. In Hoonah, Alaska the return of […]
At the end of July we took the boat over to Halibut Cove to hike the Saddle Trail with the kids to picnic at Grewingk Glacier Lake. It's a great trail for kids to master themselves, and Riggs hiked the whole way himself. Raina was in the backpack, but more because we wanted to hike […]
Spring has been cool, wet and windy this year. Normally I have my greens planted in my greenhouse sometime between April 1 and May 1, but this year it didn't happen till a warm, sunny day in mid-May woke me out of spring doldrums (and my mother-in-law, who was determined to help me get the […]
Well, 2017 was not a good garden year in my area, even for those of us with greenhouses/high tunnels. I'm sure I didn't help my chances at all; we had a month between returning home from the States and getting the roof on the high tunnel, and I didn't start any seeds or work the […]
Welcome to the Friday Frenzy! We’re off on a little adventure today. I’ll be around this weekend visit the links you leave and getting inspired for the LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR! What I think you should visit this week! it’s the LAST weekend for entering to win an EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLAR prize package–get on it! […]
One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. “Which road do I take?”, she asked. “Where do you want to go?”, was his response. “I don’t know”, Alice answered. “Then”, said the cat, “it doesn’t matter.” ~ Lewis Carroll It is Christmas day, and I […]
I’ll be the first to tell you I’m not a fan of pink, painting my nails, makeup, cutesy knick-knacks, or chick flicks. So when I look at those “best Christmas gifts for women” lists, there really isn’t much on them I’d actually want to receive for Christmas. I’m just not a girly-girl. I’d rather have […]
Bookmark this page for local events and other activities, from neighborhood potlucks and picnics to volunteer opportunities, community meetings and more. June 16 Catholic Social Services’ Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services is seeking volunteers to help spread soil at Grow North Farm — a new urban farming project taking root at 3543 Mountain View Drive. […]
So we go from a few weeks of birds that cannot fly, to birds that can only barely land, the albatrosses. The Black-browed is a medium-sized member of the albatross family, with a wing span of seven to eight feet. This bird lives in the air, landing on the ocean only when the wind dies, […]
I won the road lottery this year, so my folks came together to do the drive with me. They are both freshly retired and it was so fun to have them in Alaska together! While they were here they took advantage of some free train tickets Kelsey had won to ride the Spencer Glacier train. […]
Yakutat Alaska white steamer clams are prepared in a velvety garlic-butter-vodka sauce to create my infamous side or main dish, including adding crispy Texas toast dipping...Servings: 4 as an appetizer or 2 as a main course Prep: 10 Mins.Cook: 20 Mins.INGREDIENTS3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 3 equal pats (divided)3/4 cup finely chopped celery4 […]
So satisfying with a nice cup of tea while dipping these tasty jewels,or coffee, or hot chocolate...it's a win-win! Also, a perfecttiramisu making substitute vs lady fingers...Yields: 3 doz (appx) Prep: 15 Mins.Bake/Stand/Re-bake: Bake 30 Mins/Stand 15 Mins/Re-bake 10 Mins.INGREDIENTSCream Wet2/3 cup granulated sugar6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature2 large eggs1 teaspoon vanilla extractSift […]
Networking. I must do this as a new writer (groan). Learn the ways of the force. Jump into the world of idea and information exchanges. Business card exchanges. Sounds like […] The post NETWORKING? SOUNDS LIKE WORK! appeared first on Lois Paige Simenson.
[from SAFM cookbook] This wonderful recipe comes directly from I Heart Kale and their blog at http://iheartkale.blogspot.com 3 large red waxy potatoes, very thinly sliced 4 tablespoons melted salted butter 10 leaves kale (the curly-edged green or purple kinds are good here), washed, stemmed and finely chopped freshly ground black pepper 5 tablespoons grated parmesan […]
Welcome to the Friday Frenzy, the Best Food and Craft Link Party on the Web. Why is it the best? We’ll be sharing your posts on Facebook on our new Friday Frenzy page, we invite you to follow the page and share the posts When you link your favorite posts to the Friday Frenzy your […]
Our planned two months afloat are coming fast upon us. In less than a month, we plan to be ready to cast off.Less seasoned salts might faint at the prospect of having Galactic ready to go, after she spent a listless winter at the dock and we spent a far-from-listless winter, doing everything except boat […]
Wet your pants with laughter, that's what.At least, that was the reaction that both A. and I had when we read this reflection on a dream well lived, written by our good friend Melissa Beit.Extra credit: explain why these kinds of shenanigans, in the company of children, are a fine idea.If you can't, you're likely […]
My bookclub met here last night. We'd read Steam Laundry. I can't recall a book quite like it. Based on letters and other documents the author found in archives, it tells the story of a woman who, with her two sons, follows her husband to the gold fields of Dawson City in 1898. The story […]
I know logic and consistency don't matter with the Trump administration, but I think about all the NRA folks swatting away any law that might make it harder for some people to get guns, saying, "Criminals will still get guns.'And I say, no matter what Congress does, immigrants will still come. Remember the folks who […]
Today's selection -- from A Brief History of Argentina by Jonathan C. Brown. Juan Domingo Perón was an army officer who served as president of Argentina from 1946 to 1955, when he was ousted in a coup d'etat, then again from 1973 to his death in 1974. He promoted a path between capitalism and communism, […]
Today's selection -- from God Save Texas Lawrence Wright. Houston, Texas, sits in Harris County, which has a larger population than twenty-five states. It will soon pass Chicago to become the country's third largest city: "Houston is the only major city in America without zoning laws. You can build pretty much anything you want anywhere […]
6 June 1944 saw the greatest invasion in the history mankind. While war is horrible, on that day, the Allies invaded against a force that was supporting evil. Any military strategist will tell you that a beach invasion is the most difficult military maneuver to conduct. The Marines perfected it in the Pacific Theater during […]
For want of a nail is a classic proverb in the military. The opposite is also true though. Sometimes what appears to be needless and futile sacrifice can turn out to have huge ramifications and win a battle, even though who sacrifice themselves will never know. That is the story of Torpedo Squadron 8. The […]
A couple of days ago I wrote about the Inspector General’s report on how the FBI handled the Clinton email investigation — the report that Republicans are claiming ‘prove’ the FBI was complicit in a conspiracy to prevent Comrade Trump’s … Continue reading →
Odds are you won’t read the 500+ page report by the DOJ’s Inspector General (and nobody would blame you, because mostly it’s pretty dull and repetitive), but here it is if you want to. I intended to read it, but … Continue reading →
Originally posted on Legends of Windemere: Cover Art by Sean Harrington Took me a while to figure out a worthwhile excerpt from Quest of the Brokenhearted and I decided to show a little of what Kira Grasdon has been up to. I’m hoping I took enough to show the proper context. The full section was too…
happy birthday paul mccartney and thinking back to when i announced in no uncertain terms that my sisters’ choices of favorite bands: the beatles and the doors were stupid bands that would never last and were nowhere near the level of greatness of my favorite band the monkees they really should have listened to me […]
Originally posted on Anxiety, Depression, and Panic Attacks: I wanted to talk more about a statement made in one of my previous posts, however, I wanted to wait until I had been cigarette free for about a month.…
This week Carol is bringing us some delicious ways to prepare Duck… I adore crispy duck and pancakes and cold on a salad.. I know you will enjoy Carol’s expertise and also some alternative sauces to serve with this bird… … Continue reading →
A cowboy rode into a small town in Oklahoma and stopped at a saloon for a beer. What he didn’t know was that the locals had a habit of playing pranks on strangers. When he finished his beer and went outside, he found that his horse had been stolen. He went back into the saloon, flipped […]
At the retreat center I just visited, the automated coffee machine worked on an honor system. It dispensed coffee whenever you pushed the button, but you were expected to put a two-dollar coin into a little nearby box to cover the costs. I didn’t have change, so I put a twenty in on the first […]
Originally posted on Allychat's Blog - a lighter look at life: This is my attempt at micro fiction, let me know what you think. I wrote the long version then tried to get all the points across including plot in under 250 words (I did it in 220). He eased the window open, just…
Tomorrow the Every Day Matters 2019 Diary is officially on sale! Yes, 2019 might feel far away now, but the days fly by quickly and, since the diary has sold out in previous years, I wanted to make sure you had a chance to check it out before it does! The 2019 edition is the […]
Summer Reads 2018Angela Ford & Jennifer ConnerWin your summer read!ENTER HERETime to bring out the flip flops! Whether you head to the beach, the poolside, or your favorite spot to soak up some sun-take a romance with you. How about an Unforgettable Kiss, The Professional Bridesmaid, or off to London with a Dare – Angela & Jennifer’s co-authored romance […]
This past Wednesday I listed 7 Truths About A Writing Career.I thought some more about the subject and came up with...7 More Truths About A Writing Career.1. Never publicly denigrate another author's books.If you're a "real" writer, then you know how hard it is to breathe life into the vision in your brain. Sometimes a […]
Social Media have become a dominating force in our lives over the past decade. Just look at these mind-blowing statistics: The average person has 5 social media accounts The average person spends 1 hour 40 minutes per day on social media Facebook has over 1.4 billion users 50% of all Internet users are on Facebook […]
"My favorite word? Oh, honor. That to me is more than a word. That’s a way of life. I mean, I’d die for honor. That sounds melodramatic maybe, but, that’s how I feel." WASP Shutsy Reynolds Pioneering woman pilot, silversmith, lapidarist, silk screener, airbrush artist and humanitarian Florence Shutsy Reynolds took her last flight on […]
“It seemed to me that there were very clear issues in World War II, and I wanted to be part of it...to tell the truth, I really wanted to be a hero.” WASP Carla Howard Horowitz Carla Howard Horowitz was born May 28, 1922, in Chicago. It was there she […]
Welcome to Episode 48 of the Minstral Show!Good music often provokes thoughts of the past within to bring us back in time to places, faces and atmosphere of moments we hold in our memories…and While our minds are carried away by the music, we also process thoughts and moments to help make sense of where […]
I am looking for a children’s book I had as a child. It had short stories (1-2 pages) per story and they were different stories from around the world. There were a lot of different stories – at least 25 … Continue reading →
This is my last fully updated list until mid-July. I will have one more list next week but it may not have all of the live releases. I will try to update new releases and maybe some big sales from my pre-orders occasionally while I’m away, but will probably not be adding many live releases. […]
June always bursts with weddings and one of the best parts of the celebration is when the bride tosses her bouquet. The tradition began in England when wedding parties got a bit out of hand and single women tore at the bride’s clothing believing the pieces would bring them luck in finding a husband. Eventually […]
Do you remember the first time you fell in love? How about that smile you didn’t want to fill your face when you saw that special someone, fearing they’d think you were nuts? You know that one. The big toothy one with sparkles in your eyes because everything you see is surrounded by rainbows, puppies, […]
We are excited to give away an Amazon Gift Card worth $20 to one of our lucky visitors. We will be doing many more of these in the future. This is the first one we have done in a while. To enter, please follow the instructions on the giveaway app below. Good luck! a Rafflecopter […]
We love introducing Instafreebie readers to great stories and big ideas. Take a chance on new authors and try great stories from old favorites. See it first every day with Instafreebie and be free to discover authors you’ll love. We’re thrilled to share the latest and greatest from our mystery, thriller, and crime genres! Historical Mystery Preview […]
June 1942. East Hartford, Connecticut. United Aircraft plant. "Single-row crankshaft assemblies for Pratt & Whitney airplane engines. The large Eastern plant at which the work is done is producing a steady flow of power installations for the fighting craft of our Army and Navy air forces." 4x5 inch nitrate negative by Andreas Feininger for the […]
When do you start thinking about back-to-school shopping? For a lot of parents, they start thinking about back to school shopping the week before school is scheduled to start. Unfortunately, this is when prices are at an all-time high, whether you are looking for school supplies, clothes, or shoes. Today we will share a few […]
Top 10 Most Comfortable Bathrobes Most Comfortable Bathrobe Buying Guide Bathrobe Materials The most important aspect of a bathrobe is the material it is...
It’s Monday What Are You Reading? is a weekly reading roundup is hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. This is technically a weekly meme but I don’t read fast enough to make that worthwhile so I post it every two or three weeks. Finished in Print This is part of a multi generational family […]
“Flick the Tick is a natural tick repellent made with a custom effective natural oil blend that is DEET-FREE, and smells great! Our special essential oil blend is made to help keep ticks and insects away. Comes in a perfect sized 4oz spray bottle. Active Ingredients: Cedarwood Oil, Citronella Oil, Geranium Oil, Lemongrass Oil & […]
100% organic, non-GMO insect repellent. “The premium natural bug spray that works like a champ!…Reoela mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers and many other biting, stinging insects…Strong enough for tough guys but safe enough for babies…entirely free of all chemicals…contains 7 steam-distilled essential oils and finest non-GMO vegan bases, each of which has added skin benefits and won’t […]
How kids can contribute to the family garden Kids love to be of help. No, really. They do! And if we grown-ups can just guide them (or corral them) in the right direction, why, in no time they’ll be full-fledged contributors to the backyard home garden. Half the battle is understanding how a child thinks. […]
Summer Refreshments Summer gardening season is upon us, and I don’t know about you, but I’ll need a break. Several, actually. I mean, the Florida sun can be brutal and if you’re not able (or willing) to garden at sunrise, the heat can really drain the energy from the body. What better way to reenergize than […]
Learn why you need lye to make soap and how to handle it safely. Our great great grandmothers made soap without having to use a caustic chemical, so why do we? The short answer is that our grandmothers manufactured their own caustic chemical of sorts, called potash, by combining hardwood ashes and water. This created […]
A hearty soup with all of your favorite vegetables! It’s fresh, it’s warm and it’s so cozy even in the summertime! I know. Soup in the summertime? Have I gone mad? Well, yes, I’m always a little crazy, but I find that there’s something even more cozy about soup in the summertime. You know, […]
Five Food Finds about the Martini: A classic martini is gin or vodka, a splash of dry vermouth (French-white) and an olive or a lemon twist garnish. Italian immigrant bartender Martini di Arma di Taggia in New York City is said to have invent the drink around World War I.
I spend an inordinate amount of time deciding which recipes to share. My biggest problem is that there are so many recipes I want to share, things that get me doing the jiggy because it’s so... Read More » The post Request a recipe! appeared first on RecipeTin Eats.
Laura’s Review of Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean Historical romance released by Avon on June 19, 2018 When Wicked Comes Calling . . . When a mysterious stranger finds his way into her bedchamber and offers his help in landing a duke, Lady Felicity Faircloth agrees—on one condition. She’s seen enough of the world […]
Hi friends! I hope you’ve been following along with the Decades series we’ve had every month so far this year. I’m loving it, and have discovered not only many new to me authors, but wonderful stories as well. Today we welcome Wayne Jordan, who came up with this entire wonderful project of these ~connected books. You […]
Yep, more Sunset pictures.It's been quite hot here on the Colorado Front Range this week, leading one to ride when things cool off.There's also several fires going on around the state, the one that made the news being the 416 Fire in the SW portion of the state.It's led to more smoke particulate in the […]
Hi FolksI was notified by SonjaM, one of my faithful readers, that her comments weren't getting published.I checked the "awaiting moderation" section of blogger and sure enough, hers and other folks' comments were sitting there and I had not received the usual email notifications telling me someone had commented.So, apparently it's a "known issue" with […]
Frequently we hear folks of a certain age bemoaning progress and the passage of time. They wish for bygone days when life was simpler. Not me. Especially after reading Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times by Jennifer Worth. The author first gives us a little history of maternal healthcare before […]
Castles of the Mind Seahouses, Northumberland Friday 14th – Sunday 16th September 2018 Do we have ‘castles of the mind’? Traditionally, ancient castles were build where there was trouble… Do we have the equivalent in our minds and emotions? Have … Continue reading →
* … Just then there is a flurry of wings, and squawks and screeches overhead and we turn our attention skyward in time to see an enormous buzzard chasing off two ravens from the precincts of Uffington Castle. “Oh, Don … Continue reading →
Inventing your own product and getting people to back it and buy it isn’t easy, but if you’re determined like Tech Sgt. Tom Burden was, you can make it happen. Read More
Shorpy
