Environmental Crimes Division: Part 1
Environmental Crimes Division: Part 2
After a long and largely sleepless night, Thrace had a file of information ready for the captain. When he entered the office, she was following him with the information.
"After much research, I have discovered quite a bit of information. First as I was looking for people who had access to Tae or its artifacts. Of course there are the scientists and high level politicians. However, I found a surprising group with access to Tae, garbage collectors."
The captain stopped fixing his coffee and turned to look at her. "Garbage collectors? How did that happen?"
"Fifteen years ago there was a movement to rescue items from Tae. As such they sent in garbage collectors to collect artifacts, elements, and other items from Tae to be used here. The plan was to live on the Space Fort for three months. They would take a ship to various parts of Tae to search for items. They would bring them back and clean them as much as possible. After three months they were to come back and further clean the items and turn them over to the Department of Science. However after three months the mission was considered so successful that they were assigned to the Space Fort for three more months."
"Six months at the Space Fort? I have never heard of anyone being assigned there that long. Three months is longer than most terms up there. What happened to them when they came home?"
"There was only one crew of 7 men. James Ardan, Bruno Blanda, Micheal Cyra, Nolan Gildava, Robert Lagash, George Motya, and Felix Sulci. They all made it back, but since then they have had very different lives. Bruno Blanda was from North Region and returned there. However within 5 years he was dead of an unknown disease. Micheal Cyra was from West Region. For the last 7 years, he has been in a home for the mentally unstable. George Motya was from Central Region. He came back and settled in North Region. He has also been dead from an unknown disease for the past 9 years. Felix Sulci was from South Region and settled back there. He has also been in a home for the mentally unstable for almost 10 years. Nolan Gildava was from the East Region and has settled back there. He has been living happily with his family since his return. James Ardan and Robert Lagash have lived in various regions and had various jobs. They haven't kept a job or a home for longer than 6 months since their return. Neither one of them have any family living. In fact for over two years now, they have not been heard from. I have been able to find no recorded evidence of them for the last two years."
"Is there reason to believe they are dead?"
"No sir. There were no hospital reports of them and their physical reports all say they are healthy with no disease or ailment known."
"So we need to find them."
"Yes sir. And I have an idea about that as well. Upon researching the groups who may be claiming that this yellow moss caused the destruction of Tae. I found one scientific article from 40 years ago written by Dr. Bartholomew Tharros claiming to have found evidence that what he termed Yellow Death Moss contributed to the flammability, poor air quality, and even famine that caused the evacuation of Tae. He never directly came out to say what was the evidence or where he got it. I didn't find any response to it or anyone that seemed to think he was correct in his assumptions. In fact there was no mention of it until about the time of the garbage collection project. They were not connected in anyway that I could find other than the timing. Then about 10 years ago a group was created called Yellow Fever. Their membership rolls are unavailable. Their meeting times and places are secret. The induction requirements are unknown. The only thing that we know is a few public statements made by Gerard Divici who claims to be their voice and nothing more."
"What has he said?"
"He hasn't said anything recently. The most recent statements I could find were from 3 years ago. At that time he claimed that this Yellow Death Moss was not only the destruction of Tae, but would also be the destruction of Geala. I have the full article as well as the other information I have found in this file." She said handing him the folder she had been carrying.
"Good work. I think the next step would be..."
"For me to sleep. I mean the interruption in the most respectful way possible. However in order to get all this information, I have not been home since about this time yesterday. So in order for me to function at my best, I need to go home and sleep for several hours. I'll be back after lunch ready to work."
Captain Jorns glared at her for a few seconds and then relented. He nodded his head and she was free to go. She went up to the roof and took off for home and her very comfortable bed.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Environmental Crimes Division: Part 2
Environmental Crimes Division: Part 1
As the sun rose high in the pale green sky, Sgt. Thrace awoke from her deep and restful summer. She slowly gathered herself and prepared to meet the day. She checked her phone and had a message from Jonathan.
Fi - I've got some results from the samples you dropped off yesterday. Stop by in the morning and we'll talk. I think we're on to something here.
She strapped on her weapon and her evidence tote. She locked the door and took off from her balcony. The morning was beautiful and calm. It was a good day for flying. She landed on the roof of the The Lab and headed down to Jonathan's office. As she walked in, he stood up from his desk and embraced her heartily.
"You have gotten some sleep. Splotchy isn't a good look for you."
"Thanks bro." She said rolling her eyes at her brother. "Now on to more important things. You said you found something for me."
Jonathan focused on business and led her into his lab area. "You brought by two samples yesterday and I've tested them both. The yellow substance you found was fairly easy to identify. It is a type of moss. It is very common and tends to grow in small clusters."
"That doesn't sound like something to be burned away."
"Well, that is debatable. Many believe it is this that caused the destruction of our first planet. The fault in the theory is that the destruction is so complete on that planet that we have trouble proving what we know to be true. We can't even find concrete evidence of cities and societies. I don't know how anyone could know for sure what caused the devastation. We know that something used to live there, but we don't know who or what. I don't see how we can find evidence of such a small thing."
"So we have a conspiracy theorist. Lovely. What's his angle?"
"Hard to say. He could be torching the places he finds this in a misguided effort to protect our planet. Or he could be torching them as a method of proving their danger. Or he could be torching them in an effort to eliminate them and the conspiracy surrounding them. I can't even guess what side he is on."
"And the gel?"
"I ran almost every test I could. The findings are here he said sliding her a file of information. We did run into 2 problems. First, the test I didn't run requires norol. In order to run that test, your captain will need to formally petition the Director of Testing to use it. You know we have a limited amount of norol left from our escape, so it is only used in extreme cases."
"Is the test needed? What could it reveal?"
"There were 3 separate substances that I could not identify in gel. The test I could not run would reveal if any of the unknown substances were from our first planet. Considering his focus on this moss, it is not unreasonable to believe some of his materials would relate to Tae as well."
"Is there a chance that we can run the test?"
"I have only heard of it being used once and that was 25 years ago on the Killer Candy case. So the chances are small and they get even smaller when you consider the second problem."
"Which is?"
"The sample disintegrated."
Thrace's eyes grew two sizes and face took on a particularly angry shade of purple. "It what?!"
Jonathan held up his hands in a position of surrender. "It isn't my fault. The tiny beads that were in the sample were full of nitrogen. They were a slow release capsule to ensure that any of the gel remaining would disintegrate after a period of time. You were lucky to get that sample. So even if you get permission to run the test, you have to find another sample to test."
Thrace sank to the ground feeling very defeated. She sat there quietly for several minutes. Jonathan knowing his sister very well said nothing and went about other business. After some thinking, she stood and left the room quietly. She walked down the stairs and out into the street. She needed to focus on this latest development and not the air space. Although the offices of the ECD were only a few blocks from The Lab, she took the long away around. An hour later she arrived at her office with a plan. Before she could enact her plan, she was called into the Captain's office.
"Sgt. Thrace, where are we on the Arbor Arsonist case. I heard there was some new evidence found yesterday."
"Yes. I just received the report from Dr. Thrace at The Lab." She continued to tell her superior all of the information that she had received in the last few hours.
"Then it seems we are back at the beginning."
"Not exactly, sir. I have been thinking and planning. I think we have a few new areas to explore. If the unidentified elements of the gel are connected to Tae, then we can eliminate several portions of the population. There are only a handful of people who have access to anything from Tae or the ability to go there and get more. Secondly, we know that he or she is focusing on this specific type of moss. That can help us identify the next possible target for the Arbor Arsonist. And if Dr. Thrace is correct that many believe this is the cause of the destruction of Tae, then we could begin looking at some of these groups who either espouse these ideas or those who seek to destroy these ideas. If we can gather a list of their members, then we can compare that to those who would have access to Tae and narrow down our list of suspects considerably."
Captain Jorns sat looking at her for several seconds. "Good work, Sgt. Thrace. I'll expect a report on this tomorrow."
"Tomorrow sir? I'm not sure I can prepare all of that information that quickly."
"I'm sure you can. I'll expect to see you at this time tomorrow."
"Yes, sir." Thrace said as she quietly exited the room. She went to her desk and began the long work of researching all of these leads.
As the sun rose high in the pale green sky, Sgt. Thrace awoke from her deep and restful summer. She slowly gathered herself and prepared to meet the day. She checked her phone and had a message from Jonathan.
Fi - I've got some results from the samples you dropped off yesterday. Stop by in the morning and we'll talk. I think we're on to something here.
She strapped on her weapon and her evidence tote. She locked the door and took off from her balcony. The morning was beautiful and calm. It was a good day for flying. She landed on the roof of the The Lab and headed down to Jonathan's office. As she walked in, he stood up from his desk and embraced her heartily.
"You have gotten some sleep. Splotchy isn't a good look for you."
"Thanks bro." She said rolling her eyes at her brother. "Now on to more important things. You said you found something for me."
Jonathan focused on business and led her into his lab area. "You brought by two samples yesterday and I've tested them both. The yellow substance you found was fairly easy to identify. It is a type of moss. It is very common and tends to grow in small clusters."
"That doesn't sound like something to be burned away."
"Well, that is debatable. Many believe it is this that caused the destruction of our first planet. The fault in the theory is that the destruction is so complete on that planet that we have trouble proving what we know to be true. We can't even find concrete evidence of cities and societies. I don't know how anyone could know for sure what caused the devastation. We know that something used to live there, but we don't know who or what. I don't see how we can find evidence of such a small thing."
"So we have a conspiracy theorist. Lovely. What's his angle?"
"Hard to say. He could be torching the places he finds this in a misguided effort to protect our planet. Or he could be torching them as a method of proving their danger. Or he could be torching them in an effort to eliminate them and the conspiracy surrounding them. I can't even guess what side he is on."
"And the gel?"
"I ran almost every test I could. The findings are here he said sliding her a file of information. We did run into 2 problems. First, the test I didn't run requires norol. In order to run that test, your captain will need to formally petition the Director of Testing to use it. You know we have a limited amount of norol left from our escape, so it is only used in extreme cases."
"Is the test needed? What could it reveal?"
"There were 3 separate substances that I could not identify in gel. The test I could not run would reveal if any of the unknown substances were from our first planet. Considering his focus on this moss, it is not unreasonable to believe some of his materials would relate to Tae as well."
"Is there a chance that we can run the test?"
"I have only heard of it being used once and that was 25 years ago on the Killer Candy case. So the chances are small and they get even smaller when you consider the second problem."
"Which is?"
"The sample disintegrated."
Thrace's eyes grew two sizes and face took on a particularly angry shade of purple. "It what?!"
Jonathan held up his hands in a position of surrender. "It isn't my fault. The tiny beads that were in the sample were full of nitrogen. They were a slow release capsule to ensure that any of the gel remaining would disintegrate after a period of time. You were lucky to get that sample. So even if you get permission to run the test, you have to find another sample to test."
Thrace sank to the ground feeling very defeated. She sat there quietly for several minutes. Jonathan knowing his sister very well said nothing and went about other business. After some thinking, she stood and left the room quietly. She walked down the stairs and out into the street. She needed to focus on this latest development and not the air space. Although the offices of the ECD were only a few blocks from The Lab, she took the long away around. An hour later she arrived at her office with a plan. Before she could enact her plan, she was called into the Captain's office.
"Sgt. Thrace, where are we on the Arbor Arsonist case. I heard there was some new evidence found yesterday."
"Yes. I just received the report from Dr. Thrace at The Lab." She continued to tell her superior all of the information that she had received in the last few hours.
"Then it seems we are back at the beginning."
"Not exactly, sir. I have been thinking and planning. I think we have a few new areas to explore. If the unidentified elements of the gel are connected to Tae, then we can eliminate several portions of the population. There are only a handful of people who have access to anything from Tae or the ability to go there and get more. Secondly, we know that he or she is focusing on this specific type of moss. That can help us identify the next possible target for the Arbor Arsonist. And if Dr. Thrace is correct that many believe this is the cause of the destruction of Tae, then we could begin looking at some of these groups who either espouse these ideas or those who seek to destroy these ideas. If we can gather a list of their members, then we can compare that to those who would have access to Tae and narrow down our list of suspects considerably."
Captain Jorns sat looking at her for several seconds. "Good work, Sgt. Thrace. I'll expect a report on this tomorrow."
"Tomorrow sir? I'm not sure I can prepare all of that information that quickly."
"I'm sure you can. I'll expect to see you at this time tomorrow."
"Yes, sir." Thrace said as she quietly exited the room. She went to her desk and began the long work of researching all of these leads.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Environmental Crimes Division
The water was the perfect temperature, hot enough to make her skin purple. She eased herself into the tub as her stress melted away. Investigating these crimes all day had left Thrace exhausted. This suspect had her flying from one end of the region to the other tracking down leads and crime scenes. Without her permission, her mind drifted back towards today's events.
_________________________________________________________________________________
She had barely walked into the station when the call came in. She was gone again. Flying toward the southern edge of the region to investigate the latest destruction. As she flew toward the crime scene, she saw the news flights as well.
Grr. I wish the wish the no fly law had passed. She thought to herself. You know you are about the only one who is affected by them. It would be a little excessive to have a law just for yourself. The other side of her reasoned.
She flew very far left and then to south. She came upon the scene from the south instead of the north. She flew directly over the destruction before finding a place to land. She saw the acre of land burned black. From the previous crime scenes, she knew it was exactly one acre, no more no less. She also knew she should be flying through smoke as the forest should be smoldering. As was becoming normal in this case, there was no smoke.
Her mind was already reviewing the known facts of the case and adding what she had seen of this crime scene. As she approached the news flight, she dipped down low flew between the trees that were still standing. She arrived at the crime scene unseen by the news flight. She approached the officer on duty.
"Sergeant Fiana Thrace, Enviornmental Crimes Division."
"Sergeant Thrace, thank you for coming so quickly. You saw that we have the hallmarks of The Arbor Arsonist."
"Are there any new pieces of evidence?"
"Yes, ma'am. In a particularly thick clump of trees, we found a gel like substance. We bottled it, but otherwise haven't touched it for fear of contaminating evidence."
"Good work officer. I'll want to see the area later, but for now where is the bottle."
The seasoned officer handed her the bottle. She took it and examined it with the precaution she would an antique shovel. This could explode or disintegrate and be rendered useless. She noted it was colored orange and bore little weight. She strapped it into her evidence tote.
Mental note: Thank Jonathan again for creating this. I couldn't have gotten the promotion without this. She thought as she engaged her protection armor and followed the officer to the crime scene. She walked the perimeter and measured the destruction. It was as she figured, exactly one acre. She indicated she was ready to enter the destruction. She again followed the officer. This time they arrived at the site where the gel was found. She took photos and attempted to measure the unharmed portion as well as the thickness of the foliage on the forest floor. As she was taking measurements she noticed a yellow substance poking out from underneath the remnants of the gel. She grabbed a scalpel from the tools on her armor. She scraped what she could of the uncontaminated yellow substance. Without the use of all of her senses, she had no inkling what this could be. She strapped that into her evidence tote as well. After a bit more looking, she left the crime scene. At a safe distance away, she cleansed and disengaged her protective armor.
"Thank you for your help officer. I'll leave the rest to the technicians who should be here shortly. I will be heading back to The Lab to get these things tested. Good work today. This just might be the break through we need."
"I'm happy to be of assistance and if I may say so, it is my pleasure to serve your case in any way I can. You have been a revolutionary force in this division. Thank you."
She blushed a deep navy color and mentally cursed herself for it. Her words were simple though. "All in a days work."
_________________________________________________________________________________
Now soaking in her tub hours later, that term a day's work had a physical pain to go with it. She had dropped off the materials off at The Lab with Jonathan. She would check on that in the morning. Between now and then, she was going to try to rest.
_________________________________________________________________________________
She had barely walked into the station when the call came in. She was gone again. Flying toward the southern edge of the region to investigate the latest destruction. As she flew toward the crime scene, she saw the news flights as well.
Grr. I wish the wish the no fly law had passed. She thought to herself. You know you are about the only one who is affected by them. It would be a little excessive to have a law just for yourself. The other side of her reasoned.
She flew very far left and then to south. She came upon the scene from the south instead of the north. She flew directly over the destruction before finding a place to land. She saw the acre of land burned black. From the previous crime scenes, she knew it was exactly one acre, no more no less. She also knew she should be flying through smoke as the forest should be smoldering. As was becoming normal in this case, there was no smoke.
Her mind was already reviewing the known facts of the case and adding what she had seen of this crime scene. As she approached the news flight, she dipped down low flew between the trees that were still standing. She arrived at the crime scene unseen by the news flight. She approached the officer on duty.
"Sergeant Fiana Thrace, Enviornmental Crimes Division."
"Sergeant Thrace, thank you for coming so quickly. You saw that we have the hallmarks of The Arbor Arsonist."
"Are there any new pieces of evidence?"
"Yes, ma'am. In a particularly thick clump of trees, we found a gel like substance. We bottled it, but otherwise haven't touched it for fear of contaminating evidence."
"Good work officer. I'll want to see the area later, but for now where is the bottle."
The seasoned officer handed her the bottle. She took it and examined it with the precaution she would an antique shovel. This could explode or disintegrate and be rendered useless. She noted it was colored orange and bore little weight. She strapped it into her evidence tote.
Mental note: Thank Jonathan again for creating this. I couldn't have gotten the promotion without this. She thought as she engaged her protection armor and followed the officer to the crime scene. She walked the perimeter and measured the destruction. It was as she figured, exactly one acre. She indicated she was ready to enter the destruction. She again followed the officer. This time they arrived at the site where the gel was found. She took photos and attempted to measure the unharmed portion as well as the thickness of the foliage on the forest floor. As she was taking measurements she noticed a yellow substance poking out from underneath the remnants of the gel. She grabbed a scalpel from the tools on her armor. She scraped what she could of the uncontaminated yellow substance. Without the use of all of her senses, she had no inkling what this could be. She strapped that into her evidence tote as well. After a bit more looking, she left the crime scene. At a safe distance away, she cleansed and disengaged her protective armor.
"Thank you for your help officer. I'll leave the rest to the technicians who should be here shortly. I will be heading back to The Lab to get these things tested. Good work today. This just might be the break through we need."
"I'm happy to be of assistance and if I may say so, it is my pleasure to serve your case in any way I can. You have been a revolutionary force in this division. Thank you."
She blushed a deep navy color and mentally cursed herself for it. Her words were simple though. "All in a days work."
_________________________________________________________________________________
Now soaking in her tub hours later, that term a day's work had a physical pain to go with it. She had dropped off the materials off at The Lab with Jonathan. She would check on that in the morning. Between now and then, she was going to try to rest.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
The Wild of God: A Review
Story Cartel is a pretty awesome website that gives me free books in exchange for an honest review. I get to read the description and decide which ones I want to review. And I like it that way because I don't have time to review a bunch of books that I don't think I would like.
A few weeks ago I got an email and read the description of this book. I wanted to read it, but I was skeptical about liking it. I was afraid it would be all about how he shared God with these people and they were amazed and blessed and stuff.
I was very pleasantly surprised that the book is focused on his growth and his relationship with God. He sees the beauty and power of God in all of these people and places. He learns from them as much as they learn from him. He is respectful of the places that he is going and what they are going through. He does not try to make them more like him. He simply observes and attempts to help. He goes on some crazy adventures just to see how God will show up. It isn't something that everyone could do, but it is something that everyone can learn from. It isn't a one time event that only rich people with extra time can do. It is something that most anyone can try because the World Race is a mission trip that anyone can go on.
His approach to the entire experience was an attempt to learn. That makes all the difference in the book.
My Amazon Review:
I often forgot I hadn't lived these stories. I found myself wanting to tell others about his experiences as if they were mine!
His story telling is powerful and realistic. His revelations about himself and God are right on target with where I find myself in my walk. His observations about travel and its impact resonated with the things I have learned in my meager travels.
The only negative I could find was that there was a legend he contributed to the Mayans, but I thought it was Aztec. However, that is often the case with those two people groups. Their stories and legends often get mixed up. And even this negative proves the reality of travel, the story you are living is bigger than the facts you thought you knew.
Book Description
Eric Hanson claimed to follow the most remarkable person in history, yet his life was as exciting as sugarless gum. Confronted with a disparity between a promise of abundant life and what he saw in life surrounding him, he left everything behind for a year to travel around the globe through the world’s poorest countries.
Refugees, hermits, prostitutes, mobs, secret police, monks, and a motorcycle gang. A dangerous journey introduces us to a fresh side of faith, God, and a fulfilling life.
“"My eyes were opening to whole new levels of pain and poverty, darkness and despair, I saw new and altogether beautiful things become real to me. The Bible is full of God’s promises of healing and restoration, but those words always seemed plastic and hollow to me. For the first time in my life, I began to see God move and heal—to truly touch people in the midst of unbearable pain. And in that, God’s message of restoration suddenly took on a significant, real-life meaning to me.
As I watched Jose’s transformation, my heart was ripped from my chest and squeezed until my muted soul could hear God whispering that this—real change, real love, not contrite phrases in an old book—was the heart of God for His people.”"
Refugees, hermits, prostitutes, mobs, secret police, monks, and a motorcycle gang. A dangerous journey introduces us to a fresh side of faith, God, and a fulfilling life.
“"My eyes were opening to whole new levels of pain and poverty, darkness and despair, I saw new and altogether beautiful things become real to me. The Bible is full of God’s promises of healing and restoration, but those words always seemed plastic and hollow to me. For the first time in my life, I began to see God move and heal—to truly touch people in the midst of unbearable pain. And in that, God’s message of restoration suddenly took on a significant, real-life meaning to me.
As I watched Jose’s transformation, my heart was ripped from my chest and squeezed until my muted soul could hear God whispering that this—real change, real love, not contrite phrases in an old book—was the heart of God for His people.”"
Product Details
- Paperback: 238 pages
- Publisher: WestBowPress (January 9, 2013)
- Language: English
- Price: $13.41
Disclaimer: I received a free copy (after I requested it) from Story Cartel in exchange for a review. The opinions are my own and are in no way influenced by anything other than the book. And I added the links to Amazon because that is where I reviewed it. I was not asked by Amazon, Story Cartel, or any affiliate to add the links to Amazon.
Friday, April 26, 2013
The Secret Gospel of Ireland: A Review
Photo Credit: AmazonI LOVE learning about history. So when I saw the title of this book, I had to read it. Christianity, Ireland, Politics, and Science! This book has it all. And it is described well. They track the famous thinkers, Augustine, St. Patrick, John Calvin, Martin Luther and the lesser known thinkers, Columbanus and John Scotus Eirugena. I learned so much about ancient philosophy and society. It really helped me to see the world in a much larger scope than simply my life or even the life of my country. And quite honestly it gave me a huge sense of peace that God really is in control and has a plan. So I don't need to stress so much about each decision made by a leader or idea thrown out there by society. God really is in control and he really does work all things for the good.
My Amazon Review:
This book did an amazing job of sharing the important events in state ruled Christianity from its adoption in the Roman Empire to the creation of the United States. The authors profiled the thinkers and how they came to their ideas. They traced the inclusion of those ideas in affairs of state. And eventually those ideas that began with St. Augustine ended with the scientific method and a democracy of the people and for the people.
The history of Christianity was lived out over the geography of the Western Roman Empire, parts of Africa, and Ireland. Therefore all of the thinkers are not from Ireland. However the idea that began in Ireland was lived out in all of the other thinkers. So by tracing the ideas of Ireland you can find democracy and the scientific method.
Who knew there was so much going on in the Dark Ages?
Book Description
As the light of their empire faded into history, the ancient Romans made one last-ditch effort to plant the seed of their civilization in a foreign land—they launched a mission to bring Christianity to Ireland. And there, on a little Emerald Isle that had never been conquered and occupied by Rome, something extraordinary happened. In the process of converting from paganism to Christianity, the ancient Irish developed a remarkable approach to the Christian faith that would one day make science, democracy, and our modern world possible.
In this joyous and illuminating journey through more than ten centuries of history, James and Leo Behan follow the astonishing story of how the holy men of Ireland shepherded the West from antiquity to the modern era. With their powerful brand of “Irish Christianity,” the monks of Ireland transformed Europe and produced the key that would ultimately unlock the awesome potential of the Christian faith.
Sure to intrigue, entertain, transform, and capture the imagination, The Secret Gospel of Ireland lifts the veil that has for so long separated science and democracy from their Christian roots in ancient Ireland. More than a book, it is a revelation in which history, philosophy, and theology come together to show how our civilization floats in a sea of faith that was born on the Emerald Isle centuries ago.
In this joyous and illuminating journey through more than ten centuries of history, James and Leo Behan follow the astonishing story of how the holy men of Ireland shepherded the West from antiquity to the modern era. With their powerful brand of “Irish Christianity,” the monks of Ireland transformed Europe and produced the key that would ultimately unlock the awesome potential of the Christian faith.
Sure to intrigue, entertain, transform, and capture the imagination, The Secret Gospel of Ireland lifts the veil that has for so long separated science and democracy from their Christian roots in ancient Ireland. More than a book, it is a revelation in which history, philosophy, and theology come together to show how our civilization floats in a sea of faith that was born on the Emerald Isle centuries ago.
Product Details
- Paperback: 234 pages
- Publisher: Skywest Publishing (July 1, 2012)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0985458305
- Price: $12.59
Disclaimer: I received a free copy (after I requested it) from NetGalley in exchange for a review. The opinions are my own and are in no way influenced by anything other than the book. And I added the links to Amazon because that is where I reviewed it. I was not asked by Amazon, NetGalley, or any affiliate to add the links to Amazon.
Friday, April 5, 2013
A Mystery and Some Poetry: 3 Book Reviews
| If someone is wine lover, they would probably like this better than I did. There were many very technical wine terms and I got a little lost. The crime wasn't quite what I was expecting, but once again, I'm not a wine lover. So I may not have really gotten the significance. The conclusion seemed rushed. And it was a little jumpy overall. It didn't flow really well. Positives: Most of the characters were described beautifully. There were many settings that were very well done. There were moments of brilliance in the novel. If you are a wine lover, you will probably like this book a lot. If you are not, you might get a little lost. Description Benjamin Cooker is a renowned winemaker and critic turned gentleman detective who sets out to find who is trying to take down the prestigious grand cru Moniales Haut-Brion. Is it negligence or sabotage? Who would want to target this esteemed vintner? Cooker and his assistant Virgile Lanssien search the city and the vineyards for answers, giving readers and inside view of this famous wine region. Treachery in Bordeaux is the first of the 20-book Winemaker Detective series that delves into the underworld of a global luxury industry.
Title: Treachery in Bordeaux
Author: Jean-Pierre Alaux, Noël Balen
Paperback: 103 pages
Publisher: Le French Book (August 6, 2012)
Language: English
Disclaimer: I received a free copy (after I requested it) from NetGalley in exchange for a review. The opinions are my own and are in no way influenced by anything other than the book.
_________________________________________________________________________________ A wide range of places and peoples and times to cover the topic of war. It is brutally honest. It is poignant. It is real. He holds nothing back. These can be read quickly, but should be read often to enjoy them fully. I really don't have enough words to describe my emotions in reading these poems. So know that it was moving and memorable. Go pick up a copy for yourself. Description Set in Iraq, China, and many other places, Bone Fragments reflects the kaleidoscope of life at war, evoking the colors, sounds and sorrows of those in battle, and those left behind. Sharply poignant and touched with sadness, Gabriel Gadfly's poetry encompasses 150 years of conflict and serves as a moving testament to human resilience in the face of tragedy. From the American Civil War to the recent upheavals in the Middle East, this anthology seizes the atmosphere of battle in the smallest of moments -- a soldier pining for a love left behind, the first kill of a new recruit, the loud chattering of teeth in the cold.... Gabriel Gadfly offers an anthology of wartime reading in remembrance of those whose lives have been affected by the many wars fought in human history.
Title: Bone Fragments
Author: Gabriel Gadfly
Paperback: 106 pages
Publisher: 1889 Labs Ltd. (July 26, 2011)
Language: English
Disclaimer: I bought this book and just decided to review it all on my own. _____________________________________________________________________  |
Another volume of honest and poignant poetry. He holds nothing back. The smallest details and mundane rituals have been celebrated as much as the first kiss or the first coupling. There is much here to cause fond memories to resurface. There is also much to cause fears to resurface. Read with caution because your emotions will be engaged.
Description
Love is in the details. In the fingers finding a hand in the dark. In the stretch and curve of a spine. In the goose bumped shoulders and taste of the skin. Gabriel Gadfly's much anticipated second anthology is a vivid and tender tribute to the life cycle of love - the sex, the laughter, the pain, the sweetness, the fear, the vacancy. Filled with yearning, this arresting collection finds beauty in all that love has to offer, from the mundane to the abstract. With Ventricle, Atrium, Gabriel Gadfly explores love at all its junctures, through sickness and health, in good times and in bad, offering sharp and remarkably precise observations on the tiny, all-important details of love.
Title: Ventricle, Atrium
Author: Gabriel Gadfly
Paperback: 98 pages
Publisher: 1889 Labs Ltd. (January 15, 2012)
Language: English
Disclaimer: I received a free copy (after I requested it) from Story Cartel in exchange for a review. The opinions are my own and are in no way influenced by anything other than the book.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Fast Food Vindication: A Review
As this is a blog about stories, it seems like a good idea to add book reviews here. I love reading and you might be interested in what I am reading. And just so we are clear, I'm stealing the layout for this from The Deliberate Reader.
Photo Credit: Amazon
I am probably like many other Americans, busy! Yes in an ideal world I or my husband would go shopping for fresh ingredients for dinner every night. Except there are days when I have meetings until 5 and then he has a meeting at 6 and dinner needs to happen somewhere in there. There are days, like Sunday and Wednesday, when dinner doesn't seem to fit in before church and after church it is too late to cook something. The solution is often fast food. By now, we should all realize that fast food can be very bad for us. Of course, so are most of those recipes on Pinterest that look so amazing!
So what is one to do when you want to be healthier, but you also have lots of places to be? So far the answer has been feel guilty. And that is a bad answer. This book has a better answer!
The fast food industry is not solely to blame for the obesity problem in America. The biggest blame falls on .... AMERICANS! Even our cookbooks have changed their portion sizes to reflect what we now consider 'normal.' (I learned that in the book.) Lisa Tillinger Johansen takes and honest and realistic look at the fast food industry. There are good things about it, smaller portion sizes, healthy side options, and hiring from within. And there are bad things about it, triple cheese burgers, extra large fries, and sodium content. She does not minimize those points. She is neither too positive nor too negative about fast food. She is just honest and realistic. She is also honest and realistic about the sit down food industry and what we are cooking in our homes. If you want to be healthier by taking small steps that will last and will still fit in with your busy schedule, pick up this book!
My Amazon Review:
A realistic look at the chaos that has become the fight over the American diet. She reminds you of what you already know and makes observations that most wouldn't think of. She even includes research most wouldn't hear about. She doesn't demand immediate changes, but suggests small changes all around to become healthier. There are many observations and ideas she shares that I have incorporated into my eating habits and will continue to use for many years.
Publisher's Description:
Photo Credit: AmazonI am probably like many other Americans, busy! Yes in an ideal world I or my husband would go shopping for fresh ingredients for dinner every night. Except there are days when I have meetings until 5 and then he has a meeting at 6 and dinner needs to happen somewhere in there. There are days, like Sunday and Wednesday, when dinner doesn't seem to fit in before church and after church it is too late to cook something. The solution is often fast food. By now, we should all realize that fast food can be very bad for us. Of course, so are most of those recipes on Pinterest that look so amazing!
So what is one to do when you want to be healthier, but you also have lots of places to be? So far the answer has been feel guilty. And that is a bad answer. This book has a better answer!
The fast food industry is not solely to blame for the obesity problem in America. The biggest blame falls on .... AMERICANS! Even our cookbooks have changed their portion sizes to reflect what we now consider 'normal.' (I learned that in the book.) Lisa Tillinger Johansen takes and honest and realistic look at the fast food industry. There are good things about it, smaller portion sizes, healthy side options, and hiring from within. And there are bad things about it, triple cheese burgers, extra large fries, and sodium content. She does not minimize those points. She is neither too positive nor too negative about fast food. She is just honest and realistic. She is also honest and realistic about the sit down food industry and what we are cooking in our homes. If you want to be healthier by taking small steps that will last and will still fit in with your busy schedule, pick up this book!
My Amazon Review:
A realistic look at the chaos that has become the fight over the American diet. She reminds you of what you already know and makes observations that most wouldn't think of. She even includes research most wouldn't hear about. She doesn't demand immediate changes, but suggests small changes all around to become healthier. There are many observations and ideas she shares that I have incorporated into my eating habits and will continue to use for many years.
Publisher's Description:
Description
For years, dozens of books, documentaries, and magazine articles have targeted the fast food industry as the cause for many of society’s ills, ranging from the obesity epidemic to the proliferation of dead-end jobs. Now, hospital dietitian Lisa Johansen makes the bold case that the fast food industry is actually a positive force in society. Johansen takes the reader from the industry’s scrappy, entrepreneurial beginnings to its emergence as a global business generating hundreds of billions of dollars annually. Far from a blight on society, the fast food industry has distinguished itself by providing a product that meets high standards of quality and safety, often healthier than meals served at home and in sit-down restaurants. The myth of the “McJob” is debunked by true-life cases of corporate titans who succeeded by virtue of the fast-food chains’ practice of promoting from within. And, relying on her years of counseling patients at one of the nation’s largest health networks, Johansen shows the reader just how easily fast food can be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle. Lively and informative, FAST FOOD VINDICATION destroys the media myths and paints the true picture of an industry that touches the lives of millions.
Title: Fast Food Vindication
Author: Lisa Tillinger Johansen
Paperback: 244 pages
Publisher: J. Murray Press (October 4, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0578110431
Disclaimer: I received a free copy (after I requested it) from NetGallery in exchange for a review. The opinions are my own and are in no way influenced by anything other than the book.
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