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Songwriter's Market: Where & How to Market Your Songs: 2016
Book
THE MOST TRUSTED GUIDE TO SONGWRITING SUCCESS For nearly 40 years, Songwriter's Market has provided...
Sewing Women: Immigrants and the New York City Garment Industry
Book
Many Latino and Chinese women who immigrated to New York City over the past several decades found...
Jacqueline Stewart recommended Fieldwork Footage (1928) in Movies (curated)
What Is It All but Luminous: Notes from an Underground Man
Book
From the golden-haired, curly-headed half of Simon & Garfunkel--a memoir (of sorts): artful, moving,...
Music biography
Let The Bad Times Rolls by The Offspring
Album
The Offspring is a punk rock band from Garden Grove, California, formed in 1984. The band's current...
Sex Positions: Kamasutra Sex Guide & Adult Game 01
Catalogs
App
#1 Catalog app in USA, Russia, France, Germany, UAE, Mexico, India, Columbia, Costa Rica, Italy,...
Merissa (13822 KP) rated Captivated by Dominik (The Ralston Brothers) in Books
Jan 27, 2026
CAPTIVATED BY DOMINIK is the first book in The Ralson Brothers series, and features Dominik (obviously) and Sienna. Dominik is a hawk beastmaster, while Sienna works for the FIO (First Intelligence Office) as a diplomat.
Sienna has quite a strong gift, but the downside of that is that she has been contracted every year for a 12-month "marriage". She is on a dual mission to New Columbia, where the Royal Governor has taken a bit of a slimy shine to her, so she needs Dominik to help with that, as well as their other mission. It doesn't help that her boss is on the dodgy side, too! Poor Sienna.
Their relationship worked perfectly! It was both hot and slow-burn. Dominik was understandably p!ssed about how Sienna had been treated in the past, both by her boss and by her so-called husbands. I loved how he gave her the control and never once pushed her beyond what she was comfortable with.
If I had one niggle, it would be that the informant was never named. We know it's a 'he', but that's it, and that just about killed me. The only male that sprang to mind was her stylist, but I'm really hoping it wasn't him. I would love to know who it actually was!
This series promises delights with the Ralston clan. I love how we see the siblings interact, and I can't wait for more. Of course, some of the Ralston clan have already found their mates, but there is so much more to come. And, of course, I do hope Markus and Bella show up occasionally too!
One final comment - have you seen that cover? It's absolutely gorgeous, reflects the book, and look how wonderful Alstair is! A great read that I thoroughly enjoyed and HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 27, 2026
Sienna has quite a strong gift, but the downside of that is that she has been contracted every year for a 12-month "marriage". She is on a dual mission to New Columbia, where the Royal Governor has taken a bit of a slimy shine to her, so she needs Dominik to help with that, as well as their other mission. It doesn't help that her boss is on the dodgy side, too! Poor Sienna.
Their relationship worked perfectly! It was both hot and slow-burn. Dominik was understandably p!ssed about how Sienna had been treated in the past, both by her boss and by her so-called husbands. I loved how he gave her the control and never once pushed her beyond what she was comfortable with.
If I had one niggle, it would be that the informant was never named. We know it's a 'he', but that's it, and that just about killed me. The only male that sprang to mind was her stylist, but I'm really hoping it wasn't him. I would love to know who it actually was!
This series promises delights with the Ralston clan. I love how we see the siblings interact, and I can't wait for more. Of course, some of the Ralston clan have already found their mates, but there is so much more to come. And, of course, I do hope Markus and Bella show up occasionally too!
One final comment - have you seen that cover? It's absolutely gorgeous, reflects the book, and look how wonderful Alstair is! A great read that I thoroughly enjoyed and HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 27, 2026
D.B. and Me
Book
In the gripping tale of D.B. and Me, the enigmatic hijacker, D.B. Cooper, parachutes into the...
Contemporary MM Romance True Crime Suspense Mystery
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018) in Movies
Jul 8, 2019
The U.S.-Mexico border been a hum for human and drug trafficking, but when the cartels begin trafficking terrorist across the border the Pentagon decides enough is enough. It is time to try a different tactic. That is when agent Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) is brought in. Graver has been around the border before but also has been successful in the Middle East. He is brought in to start a war between the cartels. Graver knows that they only way to fight the cartels is to fight dirty. He knows what has worked before and he knows it will work here. He plans a daring daytime kidnapping of Isabel Reyes (Isabela Moner). She is the youngest daughter of the head of the Reyes Cartel, which Graver found out was responsible for helping certain terrorist get across the border. These particular terrorist eventually blew up a store in Kansas City. Graver flies to Columbia and enlists the help of a sicario, or assassin, Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro) and together they set out to execute the kidnapping and kick of a war of cartels. But as they soon find out even the best laid plans can go wrong south of the border.
The follow up to the critically acclaimed 2015 film Sicario, this movie is an intense action thriller. The cast is good but Del Toro is outstanding. This character really suits him. Italian director Stefano Sollima (Suburra) does a great job taking over for Denis Villeneuve (Sicario, Arrival). The story is really well done. Writer Taylor Sheridan (Sicario, Hell or High Water, Wind River) really put together a film that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The pace was good and the sound really added to the intense mood. I thought it flowed well with the first film, having the same writer helps, and it is a credit to Sollima. There were a few parts that went a little far in believability but overall it felt realistic.
Overall, the film was fast paced and as I mentioned before intense. There are a few twists and turns that keep you guess as to how it will all end. The movie earns it R rating with violence and a decent amount of blood. I enjoyed the first film and my expectations were high for this film. The story is similar enough that you feel like it connects to the first film but it stands on its own.
The follow up to the critically acclaimed 2015 film Sicario, this movie is an intense action thriller. The cast is good but Del Toro is outstanding. This character really suits him. Italian director Stefano Sollima (Suburra) does a great job taking over for Denis Villeneuve (Sicario, Arrival). The story is really well done. Writer Taylor Sheridan (Sicario, Hell or High Water, Wind River) really put together a film that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The pace was good and the sound really added to the intense mood. I thought it flowed well with the first film, having the same writer helps, and it is a credit to Sollima. There were a few parts that went a little far in believability but overall it felt realistic.
Overall, the film was fast paced and as I mentioned before intense. There are a few twists and turns that keep you guess as to how it will all end. The movie earns it R rating with violence and a decent amount of blood. I enjoyed the first film and my expectations were high for this film. The story is similar enough that you feel like it connects to the first film but it stands on its own.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The Angry Birds Movie (2016) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
The new kids’ movie Angry Birds is a joint venture between Columbia Pictures and Rovio Animation.
I did not hold high hopes for this movie when I went to screen it, and really only went because I knew my 7 year old son would want to see it.
It has a wide range of actors and actresses voicing the characters: Jason Sudeikis as Red, Josh Gad as Chuck, Danny McBride as Bomb, Maya Rudolph as Matilda, Bill Hader as Leonard, Peter Dinklage as Mighty Eagle, Sean Penn as Terence, and Blake Shelton as Earl Pig.
If you have ever played the game by the same name, you will recognize the characters, as well as the soundtrack music.
It was a decent (kids) story, and the movie is certainly colorful and fast paced. In my opinion, the 3-D aspect helped.
We follow the main character, Red, as he tried to fit into a happy, steady society, that frowns upon and even penalizes outburst of bad temper, whether they are warranted or not.
He blows up at a customer, and has to go to court, where he is sentenced to anger management classes. The instructor, Matilda, has a hard time getting through to him and gets frustrated with his inability to control his anger responses.
In the middle of Red’s classes, the Pigs show up, bearing “gifts” and acting as if they are the Birds best friends. Red is suspicious and tries to both investigate to find out more, as well as warn the other birds that the pigs are after more than being “best friends”, but is shut down time after time as his warnings fall on deaf ears.
In the end, Red is right, and must organize a rescue. Ironically, he must encourage the other Birds to harness their anger in order to use it to help rescue their eggs.
I thought the movie was cute, and fun for a family afternoon out. I probably would not take very very young kids to it, more in the age group of 6 or 7 and up, but for my son it was just fine, and it was fun for him because he recognized the characters both from the game as well as the cartoon shorts that are on the internet.
For a family movie, I would give Angry Birds 2.75 out of 5 stars.
I did not hold high hopes for this movie when I went to screen it, and really only went because I knew my 7 year old son would want to see it.
It has a wide range of actors and actresses voicing the characters: Jason Sudeikis as Red, Josh Gad as Chuck, Danny McBride as Bomb, Maya Rudolph as Matilda, Bill Hader as Leonard, Peter Dinklage as Mighty Eagle, Sean Penn as Terence, and Blake Shelton as Earl Pig.
If you have ever played the game by the same name, you will recognize the characters, as well as the soundtrack music.
It was a decent (kids) story, and the movie is certainly colorful and fast paced. In my opinion, the 3-D aspect helped.
We follow the main character, Red, as he tried to fit into a happy, steady society, that frowns upon and even penalizes outburst of bad temper, whether they are warranted or not.
He blows up at a customer, and has to go to court, where he is sentenced to anger management classes. The instructor, Matilda, has a hard time getting through to him and gets frustrated with his inability to control his anger responses.
In the middle of Red’s classes, the Pigs show up, bearing “gifts” and acting as if they are the Birds best friends. Red is suspicious and tries to both investigate to find out more, as well as warn the other birds that the pigs are after more than being “best friends”, but is shut down time after time as his warnings fall on deaf ears.
In the end, Red is right, and must organize a rescue. Ironically, he must encourage the other Birds to harness their anger in order to use it to help rescue their eggs.
I thought the movie was cute, and fun for a family afternoon out. I probably would not take very very young kids to it, more in the age group of 6 or 7 and up, but for my son it was just fine, and it was fun for him because he recognized the characters both from the game as well as the cartoon shorts that are on the internet.
For a family movie, I would give Angry Birds 2.75 out of 5 stars.