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X. Doudan

Everything without tells the individual that he is nothing; everything within persuades him that he is everything.

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X. Doudan

March 27, 2015

This week, we updated all the desktops and the server in our office for the first time in about five years; we were way, way overdue. At the same time, we also changed email servers, which meant that the 40,000 pieces of email that I had logged needed to migrate from one server to the next. One reason I delayed this project was because it’s such a big production since there are so many details to keep in mind. I LOVED the company we worked with on this as they clearly grasped all the details.

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March 27, 2015

John Hargrove on How One Amazing Killer Whale Saved His Life

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By John Hargrove
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Over the course of two decades, John Hargrove worked with 20 different whales on two continents and at two of SeaWorld's U.S. facilities. In 2012 he resigned his position with SeaWorld, and currently contributes his expertise to an advocacy movement that is convincing legislators to prohibit keeping killer whales in captivity. Hargrove appeared in the controversial 2013 documentary "Blackfish," and his book, BENEATH THE SURFACE: Killer Whales, SeaWorld, and the Truth Beyond Blackfish, is now available. In it, he paints a compelling portrait of killer whales as highly intelligent and social creatures, and argues that SeaWorld's popular programs are both detrimental to the whales and unsafe for trainers. Here, Hargrove shares his experience with one orca, Takara, with whom he formed a true bond --- and the fascinating story of how she saved his life.

John Hargrove

John Hargrove has 14 years' experience as a killer whale trainer. His experience spans both SeaWorld of California and SeaWorld of Texas where he was promoted to the highest ranking Senior Trainer. John also has an international reputation, having been a Supervisor with MarineLand in the south of France. He is the author of BENEATH THE SURFACE. He resigned his position with SeaWorld in August 2012 and currently resides in New York City.

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March 2015

With Easter Sunday just days away, we at FaithfulReader.com are pondering the return of warmer weather (it was 38 degrees last night!) and the beautiful plants and flowers that come with it. As we enjoy the physical rebirth and rejuvenation occurring around us, we prepare for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. In anticipation of this solemn holiday, we are delighted to continue sharing with you our roundup of Easter-themed books. With titles pulled from a variety of authors and genres, this list is sure to enrich your Easter celebrations as well as your relationships with God and those around you.

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Interview: Katherine Center, author of Happiness for Beginners

Mar 27, 2015

Katherine Center is the author of four novels about love and family, and her writing has appeared in multiple publications and anthologies. Her latest book, HAPPINESS FOR BEGINNERS, follows newly divorced Helen Carpenter as she embarks on a wilderness survival course and discovers that sometimes you have to leave things behind in order to find yourself. In this interview with The Book Report Network’s Alexis Burling, Center shares her own experience taking a wilderness survival course in her 20s and what it taught her about the way people grow. And it’s not only Center’s endings that are happy: She talks about why she’s more interested in resilience than defeat, and the lovely way she uses others’ wisdom to inspire her kids every day.

Late March newsletter

Hello, Teenreaders!



A couple of weekends ago, I celebrated the advent of spring by going to a semi-amazing rummage sale at a thrift store in Brooklyn. The premise was simple: pay $20 at the door and then cram a bag with whatever articles of clothing you want (which weren’t neatly hanging on racks, mind you --- they were all thrown into a giant heap on the floor). While the atmosphere was a little scary --- hordes of people clawing through heaps of dresses and wrinkled scarves of questionable quality --- the thrill was unparalleled. There’s something so much more exciting about getting something used than something new --- your outfit is layered with a sense of history and meaning. It doesn’t just feel purchased, it feels earned.



Anyway, maybe it was the sale, but this vintage sensibility has recently seeped into my literary ponderings, too. 

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Mademoiselle Chanel by C. W. Gortner

March 2015

I started my career at a fashion magazine, so Chanel was a name I came to know well as an iconic brand, but I knew little about the woman when I worked there. A few years ago, I watched Coco Before Chanel and learned a tad more about Coco Chanel and her legendary career, but there still were holes. Thus I scooped up an advance copy of C. W. Gortner’s MADEMOISELLE CHANEL as soon as it was available and happily found it to be a wonderfully enjoyable book that rounded out my Chanel experience.

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Charles F. Kettering

Keep on going, and the chances are that you will stumble on something, perhaps when you are least expecting it. I never heard of anyone ever stumbling on something sitting down.

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Charles F. Kettering

Books for a Better Life Awards 2014

The New York City – Southern New York Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has announced the winners of the 19th Annual Books for a Better Life Awards during a ceremony at The TimesCenter in Manhattan.

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