Cats - Brilliant meme

In place of the Quote of the Day today, I give you this brilliantly observed meme (if you have cats, you will know exactly how true this is!) :D

Friday Art & History Feature - Borgias TV Show (a rant)

Today, I'd like to take the opportunity to vent and rant about the cancellation of the Showtime show Borgias.
Yes, I'm very upset. This is the 3rd season of the show, that was originally planned for 4 season, and it's been the strongest season. Why cancel it?

Apparently, politics (what else, isn't it always) of the network is to blame. From what I could gather, the former big boss of Showtime wanted it to continue, but the current big man doesn't. Whatever the politics involved is, I think it is disrespectful and downright rude to the millions of fans who love the show and would like to see it to its conclusion.

Spectacular costumes on some of the Borgia women

What is more upsetting is that the final episode, which was supposed to be the season, not the series, finale seems to be just that. It does not provide, in my humble opinion, a good conclusion, as it doesn't wrap up everything that needs to be to make this a good series finale.

There's a possibility that the show's creator, Neil Jordan, might do a 2-hour movie to conclude the series. I sincerely hope that this in fact happens. There are also petitions going around the Internet signed by fans to force the network to do a 4th season. Sadly, I doubt they will make much of an impact on the final decision of the network executives.

And so, I say a sad and fond farewell to this beautiful show that brought the world of the infamous Borgia family to our screens for the last three years. I especially applaud the amazing performances by the handsome Francois Arnaud, who plays Cesare Borgia, and Holliday Grainger, who plays Lucrezia Borgia, the other half of the incestuous sibling couple, as well as Jeremy Irons - Pope Alexander himself.

Francois Arnaud as Cesare, Holliday Grainger as Lucrezia and Jeremy Irons as Pope Alexander

If you love good period shows and have never watched the Borgias, I would recommend picking up the 1st and 2nd seasons now, and the 3rd season when it comes out on DVDs.

Quote of the Day

Iron is full of impurities that weaken it; through the forging fire, it becomes steel and is transformed into a razor-sharp sword. Human beings develop in the same fashion.

~ Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido

Quote of the Day

Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.

  ~ Winston Churchill

Quote of the Day

Wherever you go, go with all your heart. 

~ Confucius

Cover and Synopsis Reveal - Watermark by Kriss Dallas

Today, we interrupt the usual programming for the exciting reveal of the cover and plot synopsis of Watermark by the wonderful Krissi Dallas!

Watermark, the fourth installment of the YA fantasy Phantom Island series by Krissi Dallas is finally releasing this fall! If you haven’t jumped on board this island adventure full of magic, mystery, and romance, now is your chance. Enter to win an autographed Phantom Island trilogy pack, an autographed copy of Watermark when it releases, a tribal t-shirt, or an autographed copy of The Collector by debut author Victoria Scott! The giveaway will be open for entries until Friday, June 14. See information below.

And now for Watermark… the dramatic conclusion to the first half of the Phantom Island series…

Excerpt:

I stared at her in frustration. “What is with you?!” I exploded. She was not acting like my best friend. Like my Morgan. “You’ve been so different this summer, and I don’t get it!”
“Well, you’ve been different too! People change, you know,” she snapped back.
“If I’ve changed, fine. But at least I’m still honest with you. You, however, have turned into a liar! If we don’t have trust between us, then what do we have, Morgan?”

Plot Synopsis:

Relationships on the White Island are volatile and Whitnee, Morgan, and Caleb aren’t sure who they can trust—even each other. Politicians are lying, history is being rewritten, and motives are questionable. Whitnee sets out with Gabriel and a band of rebel spies to take back the enemy's biggest weapon—Whitnee's father. However, a shocking turn of events proves once again that the Island's secrets have the power to destroy more than just the truth. Separated from her friends, Whitnee battles her own fears in order to survive and protect the ones she loves. But when Morgan's illness finally comes to light, Whitnee faces a decision that could alter her future—and Morgan’s—forever. And whether she ultimately stays on the Island or leaves might not be her choice, after all.

 “…[An] earnest tale of magic and romance that deals with the great distance between pain and recovery.” –Kirkus Reviews (Windchaser, Phantom Island Book 1)

 If you haven't read  the first three books, hurry to pick them up right now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or White Island Shoppe!
  
And for some extra fun, take this quiz to see which tribe you belong to.

Meet the Author:

Krissi Dallas loves pop music, mismatched socks, and fried chicken. She lives in Fort Worth, Texas with her youth minister husband, Sam, and their two wicked Yorkies, Elphie and Luna. Krissi enjoys hanging out with her quirky middle school students and building the dramatic, magical, and mysterious world that makes up the Phantom Island series. Be sure to check out Windchaser, Windfall, and Watercrossing. Krissi loves connecting with teens, as well as readers and writers of all ages! You can stalk her online at www.KrissiDallas.com.

Don't forget to enter! The giveaway is open to US residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Quote of the Day

We shouldn't teach great books; we should teach a love of reading.

 

B. F. Skinner