text stringlengths 13 81.7k |
|---|
The boy knows he is in danger. |
Awakening on the sand, he shakes off his confusion to escape the waves that threaten to engulf him, the birds that loom menacingly overhead and worst of all, the voice in his head that he quickly dubs the bully. |
"No one is coming," it whispers. "You know I’m right. No one is coming." |
Austinite Samantha M. Clark’s "The Boy, the Boat and the Beast" (Simon & Schuster, $17.99) is a middle-grade odyssey that follows this unnamed boy as he hunts for answers as to how he ended up alone on the shore — and how he will find his way back home again. |
He has many obstacles in his path, although what’s real and what in his imagination isn’t always clear as he tries his best to figure out how to attract attention from the rescuers he suspects are already looking for him. He hikes along a giant wall until the path disappears, helps a crab and an owl escape danger and s... |
He also grapples with flickers of memories that fuel him — flashes of a stocked refrigerator, a metal bar providing a hand-hold in pink tiles, a treehouse with carved initials. |
Clark, who is the regional advisor for the Austin chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and will be at BookPeople July 28, unspools her story with a steady hand, letting her readers feel the roller-coaster of fear and hope that envelops her young protagonist. |
She does a particularly astute job of setting mood through her word choice, taking what could be a routine observation of the passage of time and layering it with menace: "Silence and darkness bore down on him" in the middle of the night; as he munches on those sea grapes, "he watched the sun drown." |
The mystery behind the boy’s melancholy adventure eventually is revealed, although it would spoil the story to reveal more of how Clark resolves his plight. |
Austin’s Jennifer Ziegler first introduced the smart and spunky Brewster triplets in "Revenge of the Flower Girls" (Scholastic, 2014), which found Darby, Delaney and Dawn taking a break from their U.S. presidential studies to derail their older sister’s wedding (after all, they couldn’t let Lily marry someone so dull a... |
The final volume in her series centers on a place where the triplets should shine — school. But as Ziegler shows us in "Revenge of the Teacher’s Pets" (Scholastic, $16.99), the sisters have a knack for mischief regardless of setting. What shines in "Pets" is the girls themselves, full of the contradictions inherent in ... |
When the triplets were younger, they were probably a lot like Lucy. |
Lucy sees a red string and — of course! — gives it a tug. Her irrepressible curiosity fuels more pulling and yanking, until she finds out what’s at the end, which turns out to be a rather unhappy bear (you’d be unhappy too, if your outerwear just got unraveled). |
Austinite Vanessa Roeder’s debut picture book "Lucy and the String" (Dial/Penguin, $17.99) celebrates the power of imagination driving the friendship between gap-toothed Lucy and her ursine companion. Roeder, a former muralist whose work has appeared in Highlights Magazine, uses a palette of black, white and red to und... |
Cubans are to be allowed unrestricted access to mobile phones for the first time, in the latest reform announced under new President Raul Castro. |
In a statement in official newspaper Granma, state telecom monopoly ETECSA said it would offer mobile services to the public in the next few days. |
Some Cubans already own mobile phones, but they have had to acquire them via a third party, often foreigners. |
Cuba's rate of cell phone usage remains among the lowest in Latin America. |
Now Cubans will be able to subscribe to pre-paid mobile services under their own names, instead of going through foreigners or in some cases their work places. |
However, the new service must be paid for in foreign currency, which will restrict access to wealthier Cubans. |
ETECSA says the revenues will be used to fund telecommunications development in Cuba. |
Two weeks ago, a ban on a wide range of consumer electrical appliances was lifted, after Raul Castro said in his inaugural speech as president that he would act to ease some of the restrictions on Cubans' daily lives. |
Tight restrictions remain in place on internet access in homes and on foreign travel. |
Raul, 76, was selected as president in February, after the retirement of his ailing older brother, Fidel. |
The eagerly awaited 'Kingsman 3' is on the lookout for two new stars. |
'Kingsman 3' is reportedly set to start filming in January and is on the lookout for two new stars. |
The Matthew Vaughn-directed franchise is seeking a teen by the name of Conrad, who is the charming son of a British Duke, and an older lead male, with Ralph Fiennes said to be in the frame for the role. |
'Kingsman 3' will start filming in the UK and the latest movie in the franchise could be used by Vaughn to introduce characters that will also feature in the 'Kingsman: The Great Game' film, according to That Hashtag Show. |
Meanwhile, Taron Egerton - who stars as Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin in the 'Kingsman' franchise - previously revealed he relished the experience of working with Colin Firth on the first two movies. |
The 28-year-old actor said the Oscar-winning star is as "affable and pleasant and kind as he seems". |
He shared: "I think even if I tried to pretend that I don't like Colin, I wouldn't get very far. I've seen so many shots of me looking like I want to marry him. |
"He's just every bit as affable and pleasant and kind as he seems." |
Taron explained that Colin's real-life self might come as a surprise to some people. |
The Hollywood star added: "He has this persona of being a landed gentry type, but he's very down-to-earth and sweet and cool. He's just a dad, a family man who occasionally pretends to be a super-spy." |
U.S. regulators have approved use of a powerful Johnson & Johnson antibiotic to treat plague, an extremely rare, sometimes-deadly bacterial infection. |
The Food and Drug Administration also approved Levaquin, known generically as levofloxacin, to reduce risk of people getting plague after exposure to the bacteria that cause it. Called Yersinia pestis, the bacteria are considered a potential bioterrorism agent. |
Waywood Place is a residential neighborhood in the heart of Palm Coast—near where Pine Lakes Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway intersect. Late Friday night, a shooting shattered the neighborhood’s quiet and left a family fearing for its life: The shot, or shots, were fired into the house at 3 Waywood Place, where a 5-yea... |
The alleged shooter outside was the children’s father: Christopher Avellar, 30, who’s now at the Flagler County jail on $20,000 bond, facing several charges: aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence battery, and six counts of shooting or throwing a deadly missile. |
Avellar, judging by his Facebook page, is a gun enthusiast: the profile picture on his page featured an assault rifle next to a handgun. The photo collection on the page is divided between images of weaponry, shot-up targets, ammunition and, in one case, the Arabic lettering on a weapon (next to an imprint of the Ameri... |
A deputy would later observe bruising on Booher’s right wrist, several small lacerations on the top of her knuckles on her right wrist, and a 2 to 4 inch bruise on her left hip. She left the house with the two young children and went to her in-laws on Waywood, Lucy and David Avellar. |
At 10 p.m., Chris Avellar arrived at his parents’ house and “began to violently bang on the front door, and he was yelling and screaming,” according to police reports. Booher told police she knew he was armed, because, she said, he always is. “She became afraid for her and the children’s safety,” a report states. She t... |
Avellar’s father David went outside to speak with his son. The two argued over what had taken place earlier in the evening on Riding Place. Then, according to the report, a neighbor saw Chris Avellar take something out of a vehicle, walk to his parents’ house and point the object in that direction. A gunshot was heard,... |
Deputies arrived on scene, but the sequence of events between that moment and when additional deputies arrived is unclear. At one point, both Avellar men were on the ground, at gunpoint, under the guard of two deputies, before they were both removed to deputies’ cruisers. But only Chris Avellar was arrested and charged... |
A .45-caliber casing was found in the road, and a bullet that had gone through the garage door and a cabinet was found resting on a child’s toy inside the cabinet, according to the report. Avellar’s weapon was a Springfield Armory XDS semi-automatic handgun loaded with a full magazine of .45-caliber hydro shot rounds. ... |
Avellar has a long history of traffic infractions in Flagler County, with some 17 traffic cases over the past 10 years. A felony robbery charge against him was dropped in 2002, and adjudication was withheld on forgery charges the same year. |
Thumbnails from Chris Avellar’s Facebook page. Click on the image for larger view. |
I recognize this guy, the tattoo on his neck is a dead give away. Scary to think that $2,000 bail money and this guy and his arsenal are back on the streets. |
Long track record, in the revolving door of justice. |
Takes a big man to scare and abuse women and children, he should have been held without bail, with the type of guns he has. |
When are the police and State Attorney’s office in this county going to stop giving these repeat violators a low bail and a slap on the wrist and sending them out to repeat and repeat? |
hope his family gets help to relocate out of the area, so they do not have to have this happen again. |
You are right on Jack. I don’t know why they don’t have this guy on attempted murder. Suppose one of those children were behind that garage door, then what? Just keep letting them out, that really solves the problem doesn’t it. |
Jethro needs an “attitude adjustment” ! Now take his his “Peashooter” away and give him a felony record so he can NEVER again have possession on a gun. Yee Haa !!!!!! |
Many blindly accept the myth that there is “help” out there for those who want, need or seek it. Time for a news flash. |
His right to carry guns will not be revoked UNTIL after he is convicted. In the meantime, full access to his weapons will be his right. This is why victims end up hurt, scared, or worse, dead. Oddly enough, as soon as you are arrested for a DUI, your license is revoked until you go to court. I truly believe, that if yo... |
He still has to turn them over until the court case is resolved one way or the other. Right to own is one thing, possessing guns is another. The felon gun law act is bogus anyway. If a felon wants a gun or wants to commit a crime with a gun he’s going to get one whether the gun is legal or not. That law was meant to al... |
The article dealing with the start of the 1986 Summer Jobs for Youth Campaign [ ''Summer Jobs Effort Begins 5th Season,'' March 16 ] contained some inaccuracies that need to be corrected. |
First, this Summer Jobs effort is a coordinated project between Westchester and Yonkers as an equal partnership, but there are differences in the operation. For instance, the Yonkers Private Industry Council provides its own funds and staff as part of the coordinated effort with Westchester. |
Second, while Westchester serves youth up to 150 percent of poverty level, jobs generated in Yonkers are exclusively for youth which meet poverty-level standards established by the New York State Department of Labor. |
The Yonkers Private Industry Council, in this regard, differs with Westchester because we believe that our focus should be on the disadvantaged, who far outnumber the jobs that are created. |
Finally, the breakfast at the Marriott marks the kick-off of the Westchester Private Industry Council portion of the effort. The Yonkers Private Industry Council will be holding a similar event in Yonkers. |
There is no question that the overriding consideration in this project should be and is to help youth and that Westchester and Yonkers staff will be working side by side to achieve this end. |
However, in all fairness to the people in Yonkers who tirelessly work on this effort, it has to be reiterated that we are not part of but, rather, in equal partnership with the Westchester Private Industry Council in this campaign.JOHN R. ZAKIAN Executive Director Yonkers Private Industry Council The Times welcomes let... |
A man has been taken to Scarborough Hospital following a collision between a motorcycle and a car in Bridlington. |
The incident occurred at 6.55am this morning (Friday 29 January) when the motorcycle collided with a car on Fortyfoot in Bridlington. |
A man has been taken to hospital via ambulance with leg injuries. |
The road was temporarily closed by police but it is now open in both directions. |
A Home Office task force will be sent to Bedfordshire Police HQ to learn more about the force’s financial problems, it has been announced. |
Following a resounding ‘no’ in the council tax referendum last month, police and crime commissioner Olly Martins has renewed his pleas for extra government funding. |
MP and policing minister Mike Penning. |
As things stand Beds Police needs to find £17.5m in savings annually by 2019/20. |
In response to the appeals Mike Penning, Hemel MP and police minister, has pledged to send Home Office staff to the constabulary on a “fact finding exercise”. |
Mr Martins said: “I’m glad the Home Office is making the effort to find out what is really happening here. |
He added: “In fact they fund us as though we’re a small rural force when in fact we face some distinctly urban challenges such as this high level of serious acquisitive crime, organised crime and extremism. |
In the aftermath of the referendum South West Beds MP Andrew Selous aksed Mr Penning to hold meeting with all of the county’s MPs, to discuss the force’s financial mire. |
The police minister has said that this is not necessary prior to the Home Office visit. |
Mr Penning said: “Until the visit and follow up report has been completed, I do not think there will be any benefit for us meeting. |
When I worked in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington in the 1990s, I was part of the team pursuing the corruption prosecution of Illinois Rep. Dan Rostenkowski. Rostenkowski was chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, one of the most powerful Democrats on Capitol Hill and a key political ally in advancing ... |
I'm pretty sure most of us on that team were Democrats or at least leaned Democrat. I know that Rostenkowski was indicted, convicted and sent to jail under the leadership of U.S. Attorney Eric H. Holder Jr. and Attorney General Janet Reno — both Democrats. |
I can't be certain about the political views of my former fellow prosecutors because the topic simply never came up. It was completely irrelevant to our work. The Rostenkowski investigation began under a Republican administration, and when a Democratic administration was elected in 1992, we soldiered on as though nothi... |
I'm reminded of this experience when I hear the current attacks on special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's team of prosecutors and FBI agents. Critics on the right charge that Mueller's investigation is politically biased or worse. Some of the attacks are particularly vitriolic. Sean Hannity has called Mueller a "disgr... |
These types of attacks are not entirely new. Every public-corruption investigation has some political overtones, and the targets often accuse prosecutors of being engaged in a partisan "witch hunt." Democrats were critical of independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr during the Whitewater investigation. But the intensity of... |
One way they are unprecedented — for the most part, the attacks are not based on anything Mueller has actually done. His investigation and the criminal charges he has brought so far appear solid and do not suggest any partisan bias. Rather, critics have seized on issues such as an FBI official who sent anti-Trump text ... |
Such criticisms betray a profound misunderstanding of the way professional prosecutors and FBI agents do their jobs. Prosecutors and agents are human. They are allowed to have political views, belong to political parties and support political candidates. It is not a conflict of interest if a prosecutor who belongs to o... |
We live in a hypercharged environment, where almost every move is seen through a partisan political lens. Many people don't believe that a prosecutor such as Mueller could simply follow the facts and the law. But that's exactly what happens. Prosecutors and agents set aside their personal politics when they work on inv... |
No human system is without bad actors, and law enforcement is no exception. But it's ridiculous to suggest that an FBI agent who holds strong political views or a prosecutor who has supported Democrats in the past somehow taint Mueller's entire investigation. Prosecutors deserve to have their actions scrutinized, but t... |
The mounting attacks on Mueller are misguided and dangerous. Those who would seek to undermine this cornerstone of our justice system based on such flimsy evidence should think twice about what they are doing. Norms and institutions are fragile things not easily restored once the public loses confidence in them. Destro... |
If attacks like those being levied at Mueller's team become routine, we are effectively saying we are no better than a third-world dictatorship where people are jailed over political differences. (Of course, it doesn't help when President Trump, who is ultimately responsible for enforcing the nation's laws, routinely l... |
It's easy to predict the responses this column will receive. Many will accuse me of being hopelessly naive to believe that criminal investigators can act without political motives. I can only respond that I've done it, I've seen many others do it, and it has always been the expected standard within the Justice Departme... |
MANY believe Manchester City need a miracle to reach the semi-finals of this season's Champions League. |
Pep Guardiola's men trail 3-0 in their two-legged tie after they were ripped to shreds by a rampant Liverpool in the first-half of the game at Anfield last week. |
The lack of away goal for City could prove decisive, with one Reds goal meaning the hosts would need five of their own to progress. |
However, Guardiola will need to tell his squad all is not lost yet, after all, there have been some incredible comebacks in the Champions League down the years. |
A TRULY remarkable second-leg of a record-breaking tie... Barcelona stunned the globe to progress to the quarter-finals last season. |
After losing the first-leg 4-0 away to PSG, no-one gave Barca a chance of progressing. |
The Spaniards went 3-0 up after 50 minutes and suddenly the dream was alive... until Edinson Cavani left Barcelona needing another three goals with his 62nd-minute goal. |
It remained 3-1 until the 88th-minute... before Barca went ballistic, scoring three times - including twice in stoppage time to win 6-1... 6-5 on aggregate. |
Sergi Robero was the man to score with the final kick of the game in a truly remarkable turnaround, following Neymar's late brace. |
CHELSEA looked dead-and-buried in their last-16 clash in 2012, after slipping to a 3-1 deficit after the first-leg in Italy. |
However, they won 3-1 at Stamford Bridge to take the game into extra-time. |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.