Last Seen Blogs
delightfulstarfishnut6790
Untitled
luflaer
Wonderful Girls
ossielv
Ossiel V
gildead
MONOCHROME.
wingingitonwheels
Winging it on Wheels
Text
I’M A TRUSTED TRAVELER. Global Entry Membership got renewed.
WHAT IS GLOBAL ENTRY?
Global Entry is a United States Customs and Border Protection program that grants pre-approved, low-risk travelers expedited clearance when arriving in the United States. It is one of the Department of Homeland Security’s Trusted Traveler Programs and applies to travel by land, air, and sea. Global Entry also includes TSA PreCheck as part of its enrollment.
All Global Entry applicants must go through a background check and in-person interview before enrollment. Once accepted, membership lasts 5 years.
U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and citizens of eligible countries may apply for Global Entry membership. Canadian citizens and residents are eligible for Global Entry benefits through membership in the NEXUS program.
Travelers must be pre-approved for the Global Entry program. All applicants undergo a rigorous background check and in-person interview before enrollment.
Those approved for Global Entry will enjoy the following benefits:
* Access to fast entry into other countries
* Eligibility for TSA Pre✓®
* No paperwork
* Limited or no processing lines
* Participation at major United States airports
0 notes
Text
FURIES OF CALDERON,
Book 1 Codex of Alera
A Book Review
By Jim Butcher
Furies of Calderon is a high fantasy novel which is the first book in the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher. To begin with, the story is too long. Butcher presents a different approach about elemental magics in this series. He introduced the magic system called Furycrafting. Furycrafters can control the elementals of earth, air, fire, wood, water, and metal. While the plot wasn't anything special, Butcher did a really good job of making the execution pretty entertaining to read. It is action-packed and will keep you turning pages Though it took a while for me to get comfortable with all the different major characters and plot lines, it was sufficient enough for me to get hooked since I mainly read for entertainment. However, if you're looking for something that'll blow your mind, I'm afraid this first book won't do it.
One of the most fascinating things about Codex Alera is that the main hero, a fifteen-year-old orphan from the remote Calderon Valley named Tavi, is not someone with great powers that make him unique. He is the only one who doesn't possess any powers. He has to rely on his wit more than anything else. Sometimes he behaves like a naive child, some others like a mature adult. And there is not a chance that he will not charm you. I expected Tavi to finally gain his furycrafting powers in a big way at some point in the book, but he never did.
What I didn't like about the book was the mediocrity of the world-building. The readers were never given an introduction to any of the new concepts so much as thrown in the deep end of the world-building pool. Also, there were too much unnecessary details in the narrative that made it far-stretched. Butcher over explained everything too many times and yet, he didn't elaborate on the Furies magic system and limitation. Hopefully it will be explained in the next installments. Finally, I prefer that the book focuses more on the characterizations first rather than the actions. For me, the characterizations are more important. Well-written action scenes are pointless to me if I can't bring myself to care about the characters' fate, and that's exactly what I felt about this book.
I would recommend this series for people who are fantasy enthusiasts and maybe want to dip a toe in without committing to the intricate web of characters and intense lore that can sometimes be associated with the genre. The magic system and mythology of this world are interesting, but there isn't so much going on that you can't keep it straight.
1 note
·
View note
Text
THE JUDGE’S LIST
By John Grisham
A Book Review
THE JUDGE’S LIST is a sleek suspense novel by John Grisham about the hunt for a serial killer who is also a sitting judge. Although this is no courtroom drama like so many of his other bestsellers, this is a fast-paced ride to the end. The novel features Lacy Stoltz, an attorney and investigator for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct who first appeared in the previous Grisham novel entitled, The Whistler. Though this novel may be a continuation of the The Whistler, it can definitely be read as a stand-alone book. Lacy gets a mysterious phone call from Jeri Crosby who accuses a sitting Florida judge of murder. Jeri is a college professor whose her father, a retired law professor, was killed some twenty years ago. The case remains unsolved because law enforcement has been unable to secure any solid evidence. But Jeri has done her own investigation and found murders committed in several southern states using nearly similar methods. All of these victims share one common individual in their life histories: the sociopath Judge Ross Bannick. He has a list, with the names of his victims and targets, all unsuspecting people unlucky enough to have crossed his path and wronged him in some way. Being a cold-blooded killer, Bannick takes the battle to his accuser, Jeri. It is then that the suspense culminates with the lives of both Jeri and Lacy on the line.
“The Judge’s List” is a good read and I guess no more details should be revealed so as not to spoil potential readers. However, there is one flaw that I noticed in the novel. I know this is fiction, but I just find it unbelievable that the FBI drags its feet on the cases insisting there is no evidence while an ordinary person like Jeri has found pieces of evidence and connected Bannick to eight victims of whom she is aware. In addition, she proves beyond doubt the murders stretching across several states are the work of one person. On the other hand, what I like about the novel is that Grisham never overwhelms his readers, especially the non-lawyers, with pointless details and laws, carefully curating what the readers need to know for the purposes of the story. Though I am not much satisfied with the denouement of the story, because that’s not how I want Bannick’s character to end, I can still say that the plotting is excellent. Grisham drives the story relentlessly forward, keeping the readers hooked and flipping pages until the very end. This book is highly recommended. I finished it in one sitting.
0 notes
Text
"𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑛𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑡. 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑠𝑢𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑦𝑒𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑢𝑝, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔."
This novel proves that John Grisham is truly a master of legal thriller. This is my favorite novel of him so far. The plotting is superb, the characters are engaging, and the twists and turns plentiful and truly shocking. Grisham's storytelling, when at its peak, is one of the most proficient (in my opinion) in the whole of the literary sphere. A thought-provoking book that will stick with you long after the last page is turned.
The book features Cullen Post, a lawyer and a former priest, who works for an organization called Guardian Ministries that tries to free people they believe to be wrongfully convicted by getting a retrial. The story is impeccably structured and extensively researched. The author starts the suspense immediately and continues to build it throughout the story. It is entertaining as well as informative and it is a quick easy read. If you enjoy legal-based thrillers, then this book is for you. Highly recommended!
0 notes
Text
Dip your toes in the tide and feel the peace swell around you… Aloha, family and friends!🌺🤙
0 notes
Text
“You don’t get into something to test the waters. You go into things to make waves…” Aloha Tuesday, family and friends!🤙🌺
0 notes
Text
The Sunflowers, despite knowing they won’t be here for long, still choose to live their brightest lives. Let’s be like the Sunflowers - bright, happy, and positive. Throwing shakas and Aloha to everyone! 😃🌻🌺🤙
#Hawaii #Waimanalo #Sunflowers #SunflowerFarm #Aloha #Summer #AlohaSundayBlessings
0 notes
Text
THE HEAVENLY OCEAN. Lanikai Beach is not only considered as the most beautiful beach on Oahu but also ranks as one of the best beaches in the world. Powdery sand, pristine blue waters, and the Mokulua Islands in the distance make for a stunning backdrop. This is by far my most favorite among the beaches that I’ve been to here in Hawaii. Aloha, family and friends!🌺🤙
#Hawaii #Lanikai #Beach #Paradise #Aloha #SJA95 #Josephian
0 notes
Text
Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Happy Aloha Friday, Family and Friends! 🏔🌺🤙
0 notes
Text
Even the most beautiful days eventually have their sunsets. 🌺🤙
0 notes
Text
BLUES & GREENS. We have a choice to make during our brief visit to this beautiful blue and green living planet: to hurt it or to help it. Happy Hump Day, folks! 🌺🤙
0 notes
Text
Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Friday night fireworks display is back after two years of not having it due to the pandemic. 🌺🤙
0 notes
Text
SILHOUETTE. Behind me was the Hilton Hawaiian Village’s “Rainbow Mural” in Waikiki, Hawaii. It is known as the World's Tallest Mosaic which was designed by the iconic Millard Sheets. The Murals adorn the sides of the HHV’s 31-story Rainbow Tower and measure 286 feet high by 26 feet wide. They originally consisted of more than 16,000 hand-painted ceramic tiles. The focal point of the mural is 2.5 miles away, which on the ocean side provides a warm welcome for visitors flying to Oahu.
📍Waikiki, Hawaii
1 note
·
View note
Text
A PEACEFUL REFUGE. This garden in Windward O’ahu features plantings from major tropical regions around the world (including the Philippines) grouped geographically. Beautiful and tranquil indeed.
📍Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden, Kāneʻohe
0 notes