Book Review: The Scarlet Lion

Sequel to The Greatest Knight (see link)

The year is 1197, and William Marshal is riding high. Having taken in marriage the wealthy and formidable (not to mention beautiful) Irish countess Isabelle de Clare, Marshal has four delightful children in his life (6 more would come in later years) and enjoys the position of of one of King Richard the Lionheart's most trusted and competent commanders. 

However, his life would soon take a dramatic downturn. After Richard's death, his unscrupulous and power-hungry brother John inherits the throne. As different from Richard as can be imagined, John slowly pick's apart William and Isabelle's lives bit by bit, even demanding their eldest sons as hostages to endure their "good faith". William remains loyal to John through it all, but it takes ever more demeaning displays of prostration to retain even a modicum of royal favor.

The situation takes a toll not only on William's standing within the court and realm, but on his marriage and relationship with his heir. Pressured from more directions than ever before, William and Isabelle are tested to the limits, and failing that test could mean disaster for the entire kingdom.

Although author Elizabeth Chadwick states that The Scarlet Lion can be read independently of its prequel (see The Greatest Knight), I believe it would be much easier to read the books in order, since the first volume contains so much backstory of the main characters. In any case, Chadwick has done an excellent job chronicling the second half of the life of one of England's most extraordinary heroes.  

101 Dalmatians 1961 Trailer

by Justin Stenzler

Why has it been so warm lately?

Since November, we have been seeing more warmer weather than usual. High temperatures, reaching the 60s and even touching 70. There have been days that have been little cold. But more days that have been much warmer. There are number of reasons why we have be warm of late. But they require a knowledge of meteorology (study of weather), to to better understand them all. So I will just explain the top reason why it hasn't gotten very cold here yet. As simply as I can.

Our weather during the late fall and winter seasons, is often influenced by a weather pattern  called the North Atlantic Oscilation (NAO).  There are two phases of the NAO. The first phase is negative. The second phase is positive. Each phase has a different influence on weather.

The negative phase of the NAO, is when there a large high pressure system near Greenland, causing the jetstream to dive over the Eastern United States. This results in more colder days and snowstorms for the New York city area. This phase is also called the Greenland Block. Which you might hear the weathermen on tv talk about, sometimes.

The positive phase of the NAO, is when there is large low pressure system over the North Atlantic, that causing the jetstream to run further north over the Northern United States. This keeps the cold air up in Canada, resulting in more warmer days and rainstorms for the NYC area.

You may of guessed it. But we are have been the positive NAO phase! So how long will this continue?  I don't know yet. So in the meantime, enjoy the warmer weather!

Images courtesy of media.mgbg.com