Another flavor of Linux Mint 15, KDE, has been launched and completes the collection of desktop environments for the famous distribution, albeit it's still in development stages. Just like the previous release of Linux Mint, the last flavor to arrive is KDE. It has the same code name, Olivia, and it sh... Reported by Softpedia 2 hours ago.

Patch Framingham, MA --

The following is a press release from the marketing/PR firm hired by Keefe Technical School:

When students make the choice to attend Keefe Regional Technical School in Framingham, for high school, it’s a decision that paves the way to four-year colleges and successful careers.

The common misconception that graduates of a Career and Technical School have fewer options than students graduating from a traditional high school couldn’t be farther from the truth for the Class of 2013 Keefe Tech graduates. Their choice to attend Keefe Tech has highly impacted their success as students, their career paths, and their opportunities for pursuing a four-year college education.

“Our goal is for students to leave Keefe Tech with a realistic plan for success in a careerfocused major,” said Adrienne Schiaroli, Director of Guidance and Admissions at Keefe Tech, in a press release. “Students who come here make a big decision and a commitment to a career program as freshmen. We are so proud that as seniors, they can utilize their high school experience to make thoughtful, educated decisions about their futures."

One of those seniors is Molly Dee of Natick, a Design and Visual Communications student, who will attend Boston University after graduation to pursue a double major in Graphic Design and Advertising Communications. Dee chose to go to Keefe Tech for high school after learning about the school’s Design and Visual Communications program. In addition to her honors level academic classes, her Design and Visual Communications education gave Dee a competitive advantage when applying to college.

“My portfolio of work helped me tremendously with my college interviews. My teachers helped me build my portfolio during my four years at Keefe, and it showcases all of the different elements of my creative process, from inspiration photos to artwork drafts,” said Dee.

In addition to Boston University, Dee was accepted to Northeastern University,
Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and School of Visual Arts in New York City.

“I’ve had enormous opportunities at Keefe Tech with a full high school experience, and I’ve been able to delve into a field that I know I love,” said the 2013 graduate.

According to Schiaroli, one of the benefits of career and technical education is that students gain field-specific knowledge and insight, enabling them to make informed decisions about their career paths and the college programs they are interested in pursuing.

“Our seniors are not just being accepted into college, they are going to schools
that offer amazing majors and choosing programs that lead to careers in growing fields," said said in a press release.

When deciding whether to pursue her four-year degree at University of Massachusetts Amherst and University of Massachusetts Boston, Keefe Tech Health Careers senior Sarah Lundberg of Ashland made her choice based on her interest in Biochemistry.

“Being a student at Keefe means that I was able to get a head start on my career while also getting the academic foundation that I need to be successful in college,” said Lundberg, who decided to attend UMass Amherst’s College of Natural Sciences to pursue a major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Lundberg will begin her freshman year at UMass Amherst with two college laboratory courses already completed at Framingham State University through Keefe Tech’s dual enrollment agreement with the University. She also received her Nursing Assistant Certification in May of 2012, and is certified in First Aid, CPR, and Alzheimer’s Care.

When faced with the task of applying to the right colleges, Lundberg received assistance from Keefe Tech Grade 12 Guidance Counselor Andrea Fisichella.

“Ms. Fisichella helped to give me direction based on my career interests so I could make sure I applied to colleges that had great biology programs,” she added.

“As a guidance counselor, I’m so proud of our seniors’ accomplishments and seeing their hopes and dreams come to fruition. Our students work very hard and are extremely motivated. They are getting into top schools, they are going into great programs, and they are truly interested in their majors,” Fisichella said in a press release.

For Sam Comfort of Hopkinton, finding his true calling didn’t follow the
traditional career technical path at Keefe Tech. A student of the school’s Plumbing career program, Comfort is also a four-year member of the wrestling team, and was named a three-time Tri-Valley All-Star and the 2013 Sectional Champion.

“I chose to come to Keefe was so that I could have a typical high school experience while also seeing the career technical world. They also offered a great, free sports program. At first I wanted to play football,” Comfort explained, who is also a member of the school’s cross-county team. “In my freshman year, my football coach suggested that I try wrestling to improve my football game, and I ended up sticking with wrestling.”

It wasn’t until Comfort was hired as a mentor for Keefe Tech’s Summer Discover program in 2012 that he realized that he wanted to pursue a career that combined his love of athletics with teaching.

“I’d like to become a wrestling coach, a Physical Education teacher, or an Athletic Director,” said Comfort, who will attend Rhode Island College in Providence in the fall, where he will earn a degree in Physical Education and also be a member of the college’s wrestling team. “I’d love to be able to come back and teach or coach at Keefe Tech,” he added.

“As they end their four years at Keefe Tech, our students have choices when it comes to their postsecondary options. Every student at Keefe graduates with a skill set that enables him or her to go straight into the workforce. However, many choose to pursue further education based on what they’ve learned about their aptitudes and interests during their time here. They are able to make informed choices about earning degrees in fields in which they have already excelled,” said Schiaroli.

Many members of the Keefe Regional Technical School Class of 2013 have been
accepted to top colleges and universities in competitive majors and programs. These students include Mackenzie Fairbanks of Hopkinton, an electrical program senior who will attend University of Massachusetts Dartmouth for Electrical Engineering, Carpentry senior Jeff Bruno of Holliston, who will attend Creighton University and will major in Secondary Education-History, Health Careers senior Olivia Morrison of Ashland, who will attend University of New England in Maine on a Physician Assistant track through a major in Medical Biology, Matt Stacey of Natick, an Information Systems technology student attending University of Colorado at Boulder for Computer Engineering, and Carpentry senior Cassius Shearer of Ashland, who will attend Westfield State University to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice.

Additional colleges and universities that members of the Class of 2013 have been accepted to include Assumption College, Butler University, Culinary Institute of America, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Merrimack College, New England Culinary Institute, Roger Williams University, St. Anselm College, State University of New York at Oswego, Suffolk University, University of Maine Farmington and Orono, University of Massachusetts Lowell, University of Connecticut, University of New Hampshire, University of Southern Maine, and University of Tampa.

Joseph P. Keefe Technical School is a four-year, public high school located in
Framingham and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and
Colleges. In addition to 13 career and technical programs, Keefe Tech offers a complete college preparatory program to students from the communities of Ashland, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton and Natick. Reported by Patch 5 days ago.

Patch Vernon, CT --

The senior superlatives at Rockville High School have dubbed Olivia Tani Class Artist. 

It's no exaggeration. 

After graduating on Thursday - and a brief rest from academics - Tani is headed to the prestigious ceramics program at Alfred U Reported by Patch 5 days ago.

 
 
 
  Reported by L.A. Times 5 days ago.

Patch Middletown, CT --

A 22-year-old city woman with a record of shoplifting from area stores was caught eating cookies and milk in a drugstore aisle, then stealing $63 worth of hair, nail and lip goods, according to Middletown Police.

On June 13 at 6:25 p.m., Olivia A. Reported by Patch 5 days ago.

What we have on our nightstands is a very private matter, for some. And when celebrities reveal what they keep at their bedside, the items may be surprising.

Olivia Munn, for example, recently told Marie Claire that on hers, you'll find "Melatonin; The Singularity Is Near by Ray Kurzweil; strawberry lip balm; a 980,000-volt stun gun for protection; Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream."

Here are some other responses to the question "What's on your nightstand," courtesy of HuffPost Celebrity's #nofilter series. Reported by Huffington Post 5 days ago.

Patch Vernon, CT --

The Rockville High School Class of 2013 graduates:

Marzouk Adoyi

Jazmynne Alexander

Saqlain Haider Ali

Amber Olivia Allen

Alex F. Alvarez

Jerell Amaez

Kathryn Leigh Anderson

Kurt Andrew Annelli

Jessi Reported by Patch 4 days ago.

Patch Newton, MA --

**Editor's note: Author James Patterson's ReadKiddoRead Foundation provided this list of great summer books for kids.

***Great Advanced Reads***

* *

*(For tweens and teens, ages 12 and up)*

*The Diviners*

* *

By Libba Bray

For ages 12 and up

A series of occult-based murders in 1920s New York City put Evie O’Neill and her uncle, curator of what’s known as “The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies,” center stage in investigating the crimes. The tightly woven plot and palpable setting combine with supernatural elements, rich themes, and terrific storytelling to make a compelling read.

 

* *

*On the Day I Died*

* *

By Candace Fleming

For ages 11 and up

Scary is always in season, and summer is an especially good time to welcome a shivery chill. On appropriately dark and moonless nights, kids will find themselves scaring friends with the stories in this collection, whether examinations of pure evil, ancient curses, alien encounters, or psychological dramas.

 

* *

*The Fault in Our Stars*

By John Green

For ages 13 and up

Hazel Lancaster, a teen with cancer, dropped out of school at 13 to concentrate on getting well. Now 16, she meets Augustus Waters, a former basketball player who’s lost a leg to cancer. Their connection is instantaneous. Green skillfully uses their lives to ask the big questions: Why me? Why now? Why risk love? What does being alive mean?

 

* *

*Scarlet: Lunar Chronicles, Book Two*

By Marissa Meyer

For ages 12 up

Another fresh view of a classic fairytale—with another stop-you-in-your-tracks cover. Scarlet (Little Red Riding Hood) and her street fighter boyfriend, Wolf, are in search of Scarlet’s grandmother. Their quest runs right into Cinder’s story as the three race to keep ahead of the evil Lunar Queen Levana. 

Or start with the first book in the series: Cinder: Lunar Chronicles, Book One




*The False Prince                                *

By Jennifer A. Nielson

For ages 13 and up

Carthya is on the brink of civil war. Conner, one of the noblemen, has a treacherous plan to install an imposter on the throne. But first he must find just the right young man to play the part: Could Sage win the role? As in any high stakes game, all is not as it seems. Amid layers of deception and manipulation, readers are in for surprises as Sage draws closer to the goal.

 

* *

*Shadow on the Mountain                                                                              
*

By Margi Preus              

For ages 12 up

* *

Espen, a 14-year-old Norwegian boy whose country is occupied by the Nazis, joins the Norwegian resistance with his friends. Margi Preus reveals his story in an engrossing text that combines spy thriller with a teen coming-of-age story, enhanced by photographs, maps and brochures from the time.

 

* *

*Eleanor & Park*

By Rainbow Rowell

For ages 14 and up

* *

In 1980s Omaha, Eleanor, quirky and new to town, and Park, half-Korean, are outsiders in their high school. It’s worse for Eleanor, who has an abusive stepfather and bullying classmates—so bad that she accepts Park’s father’s invitation for her to stay with their family. In small steps, Eleanor and Park’s friendship grows into love. But Park realizes that the solution to Eleanor’s troubles means that she will have to move away.

 

* *

*After Eli*

By Rebecca Rupp

For ages 12 up

Since his older brother was killed in Iraq, Danny Anderson has been keeping a “Book of the Dead” where he chronicles how people from the past have died. It’s his way of understanding loss. But it is not until three years later that Danny begins to pull away from grief: He falls for a girl, finds a new friendship, and works on a farm. A crisis at the end of that summer pushes Danny and his parents toward healing in this moving and emotionally rich novel.

 

* *

*Out of the Easy*

By Ruta Sepetys

For ages 14 and up

* *

“The Big Easy” has been anything but easy on Josie. She’s tried distancing herself from her mother—an addict, prostitute and thief. Josie dreams of escaping Easy altogether, but doesn’t believe she can make that happen—until she meets a tourist who offers her the encouragement she needs. Ruta Sepetys vividly describes the sights, sounds, and smells, as well as the shady underbelly of New Orleans in 1950, and breathes life into her cast of characters. Teens will be pulling for Josie as she moves ahead, learning that some decisions are anything but easy.

 

*The Raven Boys*

* *

By Maggie Stiefvater

For ages 12 and up

* *

For as long as Blue Sargent can remember, she’s been told that if she kisses her true love, he will die. And in her family—one filled with bona fide psychics—predictions are never taken lightly. Now 16, Blue befriends three Raven boys from the posh private school nearby and gets caught up in their quest and adventures. Blue fears that one of them just might be her true love. A compelling story from the outset, Stiefvater’s first installment in a planned four-part cycle will have readers on the edge of their seats.

 

* *

**The Cay  **

By Theodore Taylor

For ages 12 and up

When World War II threatens the Dutch island of Curacao where 11-year-old Philip lives, he and his mother decide to return to the U.S. But on the journey, their boat is torpedoed, and Philip is stranded on a life raft with a cat and Timothy, a black man. Later, when Philip becomes blind, he has no choice but to overcome his prejudices and trust Timothy. Their friendship develops beautifully in this exciting survival story.

 

* *

*5,000 Awesome Facts (About Everything!)*

National Geographic Kids

For ages 11 and up

From 15 peanut butter facts that stick and 50 furry facts about bears, to 100 facts about oceans that will make your head swim, this big, colorful, packed-to-the-brim compendium is sure to fascinate, entertain, and be a source of great conversations for everyone who takes a look. Photographs illustrate the great variety of information, a playful design makes every page inviting, and a ticker at the bottom of each spread counts the facts kids learn as they go through the book. You’ll find your teen dipping in and out of this book all summer long.

 

* *

*EXTRA CREDIT:*

* *

Life of Pi by Yann Martel 

The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann

** **

**Great Pageturners     **

* *

** **

**(For ages 9-12)**

* *

*The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee: An Origami Yoda Book*

By Tom Angleberger

For ages 8 and up 

In the third of the Origami Yoda books, Sara brings a paper fortune teller in the form of Star War’s Chewbacca (a Fortune Wookiee) to school to fill in while Dwight and Origami Yoda are suspended.

Or start with the first book in the series: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda




* *

*Never Say Die*

By Will Hobbs

For ages 8 up

Nick Thrasher, a 15-year-old Inuit hunter, and his older half-brother Ryan, a wildlife photographer, are off in search of caribou. Soon into their travels they are thrown into the frozen Firth River. Back on land, their struggle to survive continues as they are pursued by animals, including a half-grizzly, half-polar bear. An exciting wilderness survival tale set in Canada’s arctic is the perfect read to cool down a hot summer day.

 

* *

*Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)    
*

* *

By Jeff Kinney                                                                                                                                                    For ages 8 and up

This is not the newest in the series, but it might be the right book to begin with since it’s all about summer vacation. The weather’s great, and all the kids are having fun outside. But not Greg Heffley! He’s in his house playing video games and enjoying himself, thank you very much.  But Greg’s mom has other ideas about outdoor activities and “family togetherness.” Whose vision will win out? Will a new addition to the Heffley family change everything?

 

*On the Road to Mr. Mineo’s   *

By Barbara O’Connor  

For ages 8 and up

* *

When we remember summers, there’s often a single event that stands out. For the folks in Meadville, South Carolina, this summer will be recalled as the one when a one-legged pigeon named Sherman flew into town. Where did Sherman come from? Only Mr. Mineo seems to know. For many young readers, this summer may be remembered as the one they met Stella and Amos and Sherman in the pages of this wonderful novel.

 

* *

*Hades: Lord of the Dead: The Olympians, Book 4*

* *

By George O’Connor

For ages 9 and up

* *

Welcome to the Underworld. A mix of action, comedy, superheroes and Greek mythology, this graphic novel introduces Hades and Persephone.  

Or start with the first book in the series: Zues: King of the Gods




* *

*Wonder*

By R.J. Palacio

For ages 9-12

August Pullman, 10, was born with a deformed face. Even though he’s been protected and homeschooled, he’s felt the stares and heard the whispers when the boldest jerks called him Freak or Freddy Krueger. Now his parents have decided that it’s time to enroll Auggie in school. The world he finds doesn’t only test his courage; it also takes the measure of everyone he meets.  A rare book that just might open a closed heart.

 

*Middle School: My Brother is a Big Fat Liar*

* *

and *Middle School: How I Survived Bullies, Broccoli, and Snake Hill*

By James Patterson and Lisa Papademetriou, Illustrated by Neil Swaab

For ages 9-13

Two great new stories in the wildly popular Middle School series. When Georgia Khatchadorian heads off to her first day at Hills Village Middle School, everyone she meets immediately brands Georgia a problem child just like Rafe! When Rafe sneakily signs the band up to play at Georgia's first middle school dance, she's terrified she'll embarrass herself. Will she be able to overcome her fears?

Meanwhile, in How I Survived Bullies, Broccoli, and Snake Hill, Rafe is excited about summer camp—but he’s in for a letdown when he realizes it’s summer school camp. Luckily, Rafe quickly makes friends with members of his “Loserville” cabin. And they need all the help they can get as they battle off against the “Cool” cabin all summer long.

Or start with the first book in the series: Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life

* *

** **

**Where the Red Fern Grows**

By Wilson Rawls

For ages 8 and up

In an informal survey, I asked a bunch of grown-ups which childhood summer read they remembered most. Where the Red Fern Grows was the most frequent answer. Set in the Ozarks, the adventure tale of a boy, Billy, and his two hunting dogs, Little Ann and Old Dan, is recalled not only for the trio’s triumphs, but also for the story’s tenderness. Give your kiddos this classic book this summer.

 

* *

*The Egypt Game*

By Zilpha Keatley Snyder  

For ages 8 and up 

Before role-playing computer games became so popular, Zilpha Keatley Snyder took young readers to an antiques store in California where Melanie and April, and later four other friends, create and play “The Egypt Game.” With costumes, secret codes and elaborate stories, the kids become more and more involved—until strange things start happening. It just might be time to stop playing. Readers, too, will find themselves caught up in the game and in this characterful novel.

* *

*Hokey Pokey*

* *

By Jerry Spinelli

For ages 9 and up

This is an allegorical tale where childhood is not just a stage, it is a place called Hokey Pokey. The readers meet Jack, who, like many of them, is starting to “age out” of Hokey Pokey. Spinelli’s novel is sure to help them celebrate and cope with all that is the past and all that is to come.

 

* *

*Navigating Early*

By Clare Vanderpool

For Ages 9 and up

Jack is adrift after his mother dies, so his dad, just back from WWII, enrolls him in a boarding school in Maine. There he befriends Early Auden, a loner who rarely attends classes and whose brother, a soldier serving in France, is presumed dead. Early believes otherwise and so begins the two boys’ quest along the Appalachian Trail.

 

* *

*Angry Birds Playground: Animals: An Around-the-World Habitat Adventure*

By Jill Esbaum; Illustrated with photographs

For ages 8-11

Those popular Angry Birds are tour guides on this photo-filled exploration of habitats including rainforests, deserts, oceans, grasslands and polar regions. The birds, who are on a worldwide search for their stolen eggs, introduce readers to five major habitats and the animals that thrive in each. With animal vital statistics in sidebars, descriptions in text, and funny asides from the birds on every page, this is the kind of book that gives nonfiction a good name!

 

* *

**Great Beginner Reads**

* *

*(For ages 6-9)*  **

*Cam Jansen and the Graduation Day Mystery #31*

By David A. Adler; Illustrated by Joy Allen

For ages 7-10

Cam Jansen, elementary school detective, is up to her 31st mystery. She’s got to be doing something right! Children making the transition from picture books to chapter books have found Cam Jansen books a great help and motivator. In her latest case, Cam must use her skills and her photographic memory to catch the thief who stole Eric’s father’s graduation present.

 

* *

*The One and Only Ivan*

* *

By Katherine Applegate, Illustrated by Patricia Castelao Costa

For ages 8-10

“The Ape at Exit 8” is Ivan, a mighty silverback gorilla who lives in a circus-themed shopping mall. Based on a true story, this novel tells how Ivan uses his talent for drawing to rescue the other animals. Winner, 2013 Newbery Medal.

 

* *

*Ivy and Bean Make the Rules*

* *

By Annie Barrows; Illustrated by Sophie Blackall

For ages 7-9

Nancy, Bean’s older sister, is going to camp, but Bean can’t go: You have to be eleven to go to camp.  Never one to accept defeat, Bean and her best friend Ivy create a camp of their own.  A triumph of friendship, ingenuity, and fun!

Or start with the first book in the series: Ivy and Bean




* *

*Hello Nebulon!*

* *

By Ray O’Ryan; Illustrated by Colin Jack

For ages 5-8*  *

It’s 2120, and Zack Nelson and his family are leaving Earth to move to the planet Nebulon. Their space-aged house has all kinds of awesome gadgets that Zack will be using every day, but still Zack worries that he and his twin sister won’t have any friends. But then he meets a fellow student and slowly starts to realize that things on Nebulon might just be alright after all. Young readers will zoom through the story to find out what happens to Zack, entertained and delighted along the way!

 

* *

*Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers*

* *

By Dav Pilkey

For ages 7 and up 

* *

For once, the critics agree with what children have been saying for years: USA Today tells us: “Call Pilkey…the savior of the ‘reluctant reader.’” Newsweek says Captain Underpants is “a triumph of irreverence." And young readers say: “They are funny and crazy!”  Now, in the newest book in the series, everything is threatened. Could it be the end for Captain Underpants?

Or start with the first book in the series: The Adventures of Captain Underpants




*Green Eggs and Ham*

* *

*Horton Hatches the Egg*

* *

*Oh, the Places You’ll Go*

* *

By Dr. Seuss

For ages 3-7, 4-8, 4-9

When it comes to new readers, we’ve got two words for you: Dr. Seuss.  His beginner books (like Green Eggs and Ham) are not only comical adventures, but also great confidence-builders as brand new readers master them and can read them on their own.  And what proud reader wouldn’t want to know Sam-I-Am (who definitely, absolutely, never wants green eggs and ham)?

As kids improve their reading skills, they’ll find reward in Seuss’s classic picture books. Yes, the language is often complicated, but it is always silly and fun. Horton Hatches the Egg is a great place to start because there are loving lessons in the values of persistence and kindness in this story of the elephant who is faithful, 100 percent.

If you want to give a child a pat on the back—along with a gentle push to move on—try Oh, the Places You’ll Go! It is wise, optimistic, filled with encouragement, and great fun to read.

 

* *

*Gone Fishing: A Novel in Verse*

By Tamera Will Wissinger; Illustrated by Matthew Cordell

For ages 6-9

Nine-year-old Sam and his dad are going to the lake: “For fishing tomorrow/it’s just us two. Not Mom, not Grandpa/not Lucy…” In a series of engaging poems that narrate the day, they prepare their gear; plans change (Lucy does tag along); fish get caught; siblings get along; and all ends deliciously at dinner. We’re guessing that this delightful excursion will lead lots of kids to try their luck at fishing—and to try their hand at poetry!

 

* *

*Nic Bishop Snakes*

* *

By Nic Bishop; illustrated with photographs

For ages 5 and up

Super-sharp photographs show a great variety of snakes, sometimes at rest but often in action, while equally clear text presents basic facts about each.  The handsome design welcomes curious (and maybe even some fearful) children to get up close and learn more.

 

* *

**Great Illustrated Books*
***

**(For ages 2-6)**

* *

*Llama Llama Time to Share *

* *

By Anna Dewedney

For ages 2-5

While Mama Llama and Nelly Gnu have tea, their two toddlers are left with a boxful of toys to share.  All goes well, until that Gnu girl decides to play with Llama’s treasured Fuzzy Llama doll.  Llama’s not ready for that much sharing.

Or start with the first book in this series: Llama Llama Red Pajama

* *

*Olivia and the Fairy Princesses  *

By Ian Falconer

For ages 3-6

Olivia is one best-selling pig—and with good reason.  Strong-willed, high-spirited and, in this book, in search of her true identity—Olivia’s been keeping young children smiling (and recognizing themselves) for a dozen books now. She’s sure to please.

Or start with the first book in this series: Olivia




* *

*This Moose Belongs to Me*

By Oliver Jeffers 

For ages 4-7

For the “Can I keep him?” would-be pet owner, this story of Wilfred and Marcel the Moose is a great fit. Wilfred and Marcel make a happy pair, but it isn’t long before Wilfred notice little things about the very big moose.  It seems he has some secrets, like the neighbor who greets Marcel as “Rodrigo,” and the fact that he prefers apples to, well…Wilfred. Still their friendship is real, their story is charming, and every page of this picture book is a visual treat. 

* *

** **

**Yes, Let's**

By Galen Goodwin Longstreth; Illustrated by Maris Wicks    

For ages 3-5

Preschoolers will happily follow one family’s day in the country, from the dedication page with its maze-like roads leading three cars through the woods to a stream-side destination, right to the evening return trip with the happily exhausted parents and children barely making it up the stairs to their bedrooms.  The short rhythmic text is simple, fast, and fun to read aloud, while the detail-filled cartoon-like illustrations invite long looks at every spread.

 

* *

*Creepy Carrots!*

* *

By Aaron Reynolds; Illustrated by Peter Brown

For ages 4 and up

Jasper Rabbit loves to eat carrots—especially the ones that grow at Crackenhopper Field…until the day the carrots start following him. This slightly spooky book will please youngest fans of scary tales while it delivers a subtle message about being greedy. 

 

* *

*Pete’s a Pizza Board Book*

* *

By William Steig

For ages 4-8

* *

Pete’s dad turns a rainy day into lots of fun when he makes Pete into a pizza: Pete’s kneaded and tossed; covered with tomatoes (checkers) and cheese (bits of paper), put into the oven (the couch) and soon is ready to slice and be nibbled. But the sun comes out and the pizza runs out to play with his friends. Absolutely silly and great fun! Reported by Patch 1 day ago.

Linux Mint Xfce, a modern, elegant and comfortable operating system based on Ubuntu and Debian, has just reached version 15 RC. The Xfce version of Linux Mint 15 “Olivia” has finally arrived, shortly after the release of its KDE brethren. It's not a stable release, but it's nice to see some movement on the Xfce front. Linux Mint 15 Xfce RC is based on Ubuntu 13.04 (Raring Rintail) and Xfce 4.10. It features a new GTK3 greeter, better Software Sources manag... Reported by Softpedia 22 hours ago.

What we have on our nightstands is a very private matter, for some. And when celebrities reveal what they keep at their bedside, the items may be surprising.

Olivia Munn, for example, recently told Marie Claire that on hers, you'll find "Melatonin; The Singularity Is Near by Ray Kurzweil; strawberry lip balm; a 980,000-volt stun gun for protection; Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream."

Here are some other responses to the question "What's on your nightstand," courtesy of HuffPost Celebrity's #nofilter series. Reported by Huffington Post 6 days ago.

Patch Avon-Avon Lake, OH --

Olivia, 9, and Evan, 7, of Elyria enjoy a day at the beach at Miller Road Park in Avon Lake, a popular summer spot. Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 80s this week. Relief maybe on the way with a thunderstorm on Wednesday or Thursday. Reported by Patch 20 hours ago.

This is Croydon -- A VAN driver arrested after the fatal collision with three-year-old Olivia Langley has been rebailed. More to follow... Reported by This is 20 hours ago.

By Olivia Carville Olivia Carville, 24, is a visiting journalist from The Press, a daily newspaper in Christchurch, New Zealand. During her two-week internship with The Seattle Times she tried to attend a baseball game but mistakenly bought tickets for a soccer match. Friday, on her last day before Reported by Seattle Times 18 hours ago.

Patch Sachem, NY --

Sachem Patch is highlighting the top 10 ranking academic students at both Sachem North and Sachem East. 

Today we salute:


Valedictorian: *Olivia Lattanza; Sachem East*

College Choice: *Boston College*

Hometown: ** Reported by Patch 16 hours ago.

Bad things happen when you drink, kids. And potentially great things too (in moderation, of course).

Let's map out Thursday's new trailer for "Drinking Buddies" together. Jill (Anna Kendrick) is with Luke ("The New Girl's" Jake Johnson). Kate (Olivia Wilde) is with Chris (Ron Livingston). At least that is the plan at the beginning of the Joe Swanberg written and directed, "Drinking Buddies."

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read more Reported by The Wrap 6 hours ago.

This is Scunthorpe --

ANOTHER couple have revealed they are sharing the excitement of the Royal couple about the arrival of a first baby next month.

Daniel Davison and his partner Victoria Vail from Barton-Upon-Humber have been told their son Oliver will be born on Monday, July 29.

And they are hoping their new baby will share the same birth date as the royal heir.

For Daniel, 25, and Victoria, 21, the new baby is extra special.

Victoria, a former care worker, said: "In January 2012, I suffered a miscarriage and we were not sure whether I would be able to conceive again.

"So we are really excited."

Newcastle-born Daniel and Barton-born Victoria have been together for five years, after being introduced on an online chat room.

Daniel, the head chef at the town's Wheatsheaf Hotel, said: "We had planned to call the baby Olivia but made a quick change once we knew the sex."

Earlier this month, the couple moved into a rented two-bedroom terraced house in the town and have already decorated the sleeping quarters ready for the new arrival.

For Daniel's widowed mum Lynne, it will be her second grandchild.

But for Victoria's parents Andrew and Pamela, it will be their first.

Is your first baby expected next month? Let Nick Cole know by contacting 01724 273128 or send an e-mail to nick.cole@gsmg.co.uk Reported by This is 6 hours ago.

This is Scunthorpe --

ANOTHER couple have revealed they are sharing the excitement of the Royal couple about the arrival of a first baby next month.

Daniel Davison and his partner Victoria Vail from Barton-Upon-Humber have been told their son Oliver will be born on Monday, July 29.

And they are hoping their new baby will share the same birth date as the royal heir.

For Daniel, 25, and Victoria, 21, the new baby is extra special.

Victoria, a former care worker, said: "In January 2012, I suffered a miscarriage and we were not sure whether I would be able to conceive again.

"So we are really excited."

Newcastle-born Daniel and Barton-born Victoria have been together for five years, after being introduced on an online chat room.

Daniel, the head chef at the town's Wheatsheaf Hotel, said: "We had planned to call the baby Olivia but made a quick change once we knew the sex."

Earlier this month, the couple moved into a rented two-bedroom terraced house in the town and have already decorated the sleeping quarters ready for the new arrival.

For Daniel's widowed mum Lynne, it will be her second grandchild.

But for Victoria's parents Andrew and Pamela, it will be their first.

Is your first baby expected next month? Let Nick Cole know by contacting 01724 273128 or send an e-mail to nick.cole@gsmg.co.uk Reported by This is 7 hours ago.

This is Sussex --

AFTER a hard year with their heads buried in books, students from two Crawley schools were able to let their hair down on at their proms on Friday night.

Sixth-formers from St Wilfrid's School, Southgate, and from Thomas Bennett Community College, Tilgate, celebrated in style, with talk of potential exam results no doubt kept to a minimum.

St Wilfrid's students wore their snazziest dresses and sharpest suits, with some even sporting top hats and cummerbunds at their ball at Stanhill Court Hotel, Charlwood.

On the same night a graduation ceremony was held for more than 200 Thomas Bennett students was at the Copthorne Hotel Effingham Gatwick.

At the latter, 16-year-old Olivia Bennett sang two songs to an audience of 400, which included parents and friends.

It was particularly poignant for Gill Beeney, who will shortly be standing down as director of Year 11.

Deputy head Julian Grant said: "It was a special day for her – she gave a speech and a group of students gave a speech and presented her with presents and cards. It was an emotional occasion."

About 150 students and 50 staff were then whisked up to London for a memorable prom aboard a Thames riverboat.

Mr Grant said: "It was a beautiful evening on the Thames, from Lambeth Pier down past the O2.

"For many of them it was an experience they'd never had before." Reported by This is 4 hours ago.

John Hodgman is many things, including (but not limited to) a bestselling author, the resident expert and "deranged millionaire" for "The Daily Show," and a judge (at least on his podcast). And now he can add failed doomsday prophet and successful stand-up comedian to that eclectic resume, with his one-hour comedy special called "John Hodgman: Ragnarok," now available only on Netflix.

After developing a host of doomsday theories in his third book "That Is All," Hodgman took his act on the road to warn people about the coming Mayan apocalypse. And on the night of December 21, 2012, he gathered with fans in Brooklyn for one final show to help prepare them for their impending doom, but also to talk about sports and sperm whales.

Luckily though, none of his prophecies came true, and a record of that evening was released as a Netflix Original on June 20. HuffPost TV talked to the comedian about the apocalypse, which TV shows he binge-watched before The End, and how he's been coping with the fact that the world is still here.

*HuffPost TV: Is it a spoiler to say that the world doesn't end in your special?*
*John Hodgman:* I think most people of average intelligence will have put together that the special was filmed on December 21, 2012 in Gowanus, Brooklyn, on what I assumed would be the eve of the Mayan apocalypse. But as it is now June 20, 2013, things did not happen exactly as I predicted.

*How have you been coping with that?*
Well, it has been profoundly depressing to me that the world did not end, obviously. As a former professional expert on all complete world knowledge, I am used to being right, even if I have to invent the knowledge to be right about. But basically, I stared down the universe with my fake predictions for the end of the world, including the omega pulse and the dog storm and blood wave, and the universe did not blink. It just kept staring back. I now know the limits of my power.

*What made you start thinking about the end of the world in the first place?*
The same reason that everyone starts thinking about the end of the world: I turned 40 years old. And consequently, I began to contemplate in a more real way my own mortality. And anyone who contemplates their mortality realizes the terror is not so much that they are going to die as it is that the world will go on without them, and that, with very rare exceptions, we are entirely inconsequential to history, except within the small boundaries of our own families and loved ones.

So that's when a lot of people start either dreaming about apocalypse for the perverse comfort that it offers, which is to say, if I am going to go, then I will take the rest of the world out with me. Or some very sad and tragically disturbed people start planning for it. And I don't mean hoarding mayonnaise and urine in a bunker, that's a perfectly sane thing to do. But start taking pains to make sure that they are remembered beyond their death. And unfortunately it's much easier to be remembered by doing horrible things in the world than by doing great things.

*Had you always planned to turn these feelings into a comedy special?*
No, you know, I wrote a book called "That Is All" that was published in 2012, on the Mayan apocalypse and my own deranged take on the doomsday prophesies that were swirling around in the popular consciousness of the time. And I began, in late 2011, presenting material from the book, essentially as I had always done. I began what can be described as my career as a literary humourist and magazine journalist, and so what performing experience I had, I had standing up reading from a page. But since then, I have come in contact with many actual stand-up comedians, and I work with them and count them happily among my colleagues at "The Daily Show" and elsewhere. So I began sort of stepping away from the podium as it were, and by the beginning of 2012, I was standing on the stage and I was doing comedy, but I wasn't touching the book or any prepared material.

After a while, it was sort of the Turing test of comedy for me. My imitation of stand-up comedy become indistinguishable from stand-up comedy. I had no choice but to describe what I was doing as stand-up comedy. And I never hesitated because I don't like stand-up comedy, I love stand-up comedy. I respect it and its practitioners so much that I never wanted to take that mantle for myself before I had earned it. But after a while, what I was doing, it would be disingenuous to describe it as anything but stand-up comedy. And so, over the course of 2012, I performed as much as I could, going from town to town, warning all about the impending doom that awaited them. And also, you know, making jokes about wine and sports and wealth.

And by the end of the year, last year, I realized that I had essentially a one-man show with a beginning, middle and end that I hoped to record for posterity. Certainly if the world was going to end, I wanted to send it into space, so that alien culture could see what we were like. But even if I was wrong, I would want to maintain a record of my wrongness. And that is what my special is, a documentary record of one strange night in Gowanus, Brooklyn, when I waited for the end of the world with some people that I liked and it didn't happen.

*How'd you get involved with Netflix then?*
I had primarily wanted to make a document of the last show, because I knew so much of the show itself was based around the conceit that the world was going to end on December 21, 2012. And I knew that if perchance I was wrong, I would still face a kind of apocalypse because all of that material would have to go away if I were to continue to perform, because it wouldn't make any sense.

So as December 21 got closer, I realized I wanted to do a show on that night, and to do it at the Bell House in Brooklyn, which is essentially my home venue. It's my favourite venue to perform in, for no small reason that I can walk to it from my home. I spoke to my friend, the great Lance Bangs, who is a director, about directing it and coming in and making a really good document of it with multiple cameras and lighting and everything. And he was on-board, and then my manager Olivia Wingate said, "We should maybe try to let other people see this thing." And I went, "Oh, that's an intriguing idea."

*Are you a binge-watcher when it comes to TV? Did you binge-watch anything on Netflix before the 21st, to get caught up in case the world ended?*
I watched "House of Cards" and I loved it, and "Arrested Development," obviously. But my big guilty pleasure on Netflix is binge-watching the many, many seasons of a British detective show called "Foyle's War" starring Michael Kitchen. It's a detective series set in England during World War II, with a police inspector who would prefer to be fighting in the war but is instead solving crimes at home. It really is one of the most brilliant jobs of acting I've ever seen.

*Starting with your first book "The Areas of My Expertise," you've been working within this fictional world for a long time now. So if not the end of the actual world, this special does seem like an end to a chapter of your world. Is that an exciting prospect for you, or a bittersweet one?*
Your perception is absolutely correct. "The Areas of My Expertise,""More Information Than You Require," and then finally "That Is All" were always planned to be a trilogy of complete world knowledge. Obviously they are, taken together, a massive encyclopedia of fake facts and figures and amazing true history that is all made up by me, in a comedic way. But over time, I ended up describing a fairly consistent alternate universe. And it was wonderful to build that world, and strangely cathartic to destroy it throughout the pages of "That Is All." So even though our real world, the one in which we live, still seems to survive, or at least is ending in the same slow, dumb way it always has been, that world that I created in the pages of those books and the performances and the audio books that I did around them is definitely gone, split in half by the Century Toad and forever forgotten.

And that was on purpose because I felt that I had explored that world as much as I possibly could. But the thing is that when you destroy that world, and when you talk about doomsday, you start to believe it. And I kind of made no creative or professional plans for what would happen after, because I thought, "Oh, well, that's the end of that." So it was always bittersweet. I wouldn't say that it was exciting in January when I realized I wanted to continue to perform comedy and I really had no material left that I could perform and that I would have to start all over again. But then, I did start all over again. And as I began to unlock those hidden rooms in my mind and figure out new things to talk about and new ways to talk about them, it has become very exciting. I have weird confidence that even though the world didn't end, it's not the end of the world.

You can watch "John Hodgman: Ragnarok" on Netflix. Reported by Huffington Post 1 week ago.

Patch Ledyard, CT --

 Olivia Phetteplace has been named to Siena College's Dean's List for the Spring 2013 semester. Phetteplace is an English major from Ledyard.  

To be named to the D Reported by Patch 1 week ago.