The Venus Throw: A Mystery of Ancient Rome (Novels of Ancient Rome)

Book Description

On a chill January evening in 56 B.C. , two strange visitors to Rome-an Egyptian ambassador and a eunuch priest-seek out Gordianus the Finder whose specialty is solving murders. But the ambassador, a philosopher named Dio, has come to ask for something Gordianus cannot give-help in staying alive. Before the night is out, he will be murdered.Now Gordianus begins his most dangerous case. Hired to investigate Dio's death by a beautiful woman with a scandalous reputation, he will follow a trail of political intrigue into the highest circles of power and the city's most hidden arenas of debauchery. There Gordianus will learn nothing is as it seems-not the damning evidence he uncovers, not the suspect he sends to trial, not even the real truth behind Dio's death which lies in secrets-not of state, but of the heart.

Customer Reviews:

out of time and place.......2007-04-07

It appears from some study I did after reading this novel
that the Roman morals portrayed are one to two centuries ahead of the actual
decay that did happen.
The Dio mentioned is probably roughly based on Dio Chrysostom of the first century AD
not the first century BC. The incipient decadence of the Roman Empire had it's origin in this era
of the Republic , but wasn't as strongly manifested as this novel portrays.
In later life Cicero was a stoic convert of the Diodotus school
which was diametrically opposed to the Epicurean traits portrayed here.
As the moral turpitude of the Egyptian philosopher is one of the major plot devices
the issue is important to the credibility of the plot.
In a stoic dominated era where the leaders were short haired and clean shaven,
this novel justs fails to be historically accurate.
During the Republic the morals portrayed would
have sentenced the people involved to capital punishment
by a magistrate. The Romans were actually a very conservative heterosexual
society at this time and even allowed only one marriage as the Caesar Cleopatra affair
has written clearly in history.
It was the effects of the bread and circuses of the Empire
that led to the later laxness in morality.
A Study Of History (Abridgement of Vols. 1-10, 2-vol. set)

One of the best historical mystery writers out there!.......2007-01-27

There are only a handful of historical mystery writers who have the knack of putting their readers right into the time and place that they are creating. I would count Steven Saylor as one of those. Others that come to mind are Ellis Peters and her Brother Cadfael series, Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes, Lindsey Davis and her Falco and Saylor with his Gordianus. He is such a good writer that I forgot that we were in 56 B.C. and was following the story like we follow lurid headlines on today's news. In this book Gordianus stays in Rome, but he gets involved in a family feud that snares him and his family. He also gets thrown into Roman and Egyptian politics, where he really doesn't want to be. They're all here - all the historical names we know - Caesar, Pompey, Cicero, and many others, and I truly enjoyed watching Gordianus find his way among these great historcial people. This was a brilliant book, and this is a truly brilliant series. I have no higher praise to give it.

Fourth Book in the Series.......2006-12-21

Steven Saylor's fascination with Ancient Rome began at an early age. A history graduate and former newspaper and magazine editor, he lives in Berkeley, California. His series of books about Ancient Rome and featuring Gordianus the Finder are extremely popular both here in England and also in America. Anyone who is a fan of Lindsey Davis will love these books too. Steven Saylor brings Ancient Rome to life, so much so that the reader can lose himself in the sights and sounds of the ancient city.

Gordianus the Finder, the investigator of crimes, a man whose skill and integrity have made him much sought after by some of the most important men in Rome. Men who may need a secret to be kept, men who need to know that when Gordianus is working for them he will be discreet and not susceptible to bribery.

The Sub Rosa series is very quickly growing in popularity and it is easy to see why. The main character Gordianus the Finder is both a likeable and believable character and the author's descriptive talents bring the sights and sounds of Ancient Rome leaping off the pages. In this novel set in the period 50 BC Gordianus is hired to investigate a murder and he must follow a trail of intrigue to places that no one in their right mind would go, into the realms of political power. Nobody is more devious than the men who rule Rome. Men who, on the surface are the height of respectability, but rub the surface . . .

Easy read, interesting plot.......2006-11-03

Saylor has a knack for producing gripping plots. He also knows Rome--its topography, archaeology, and culture--thoroughly. Nevertheless, the story is anachronistic. For instance, he builds up Clodia as a protofeminist at the expense of the poet Catullus, who is portrayed as a disturbed stalker.

Another good one by Saylor.......2005-12-30

I read Saylor to go back to Rome. In this one he takes us inside the Clodii family, a clan worthy of its own non-fiction book (different members have them, but a full popularly written history would be ideal). This novel introduces us to the sister of the cross dresser who inspired Caesar's line about requiring a wife above suspicion.

Like the two other Saylor's that I've read, there is a lot of scholarship behind the story. Here, Rome's criminal justice system is put on display as is a description of the oratorical style that built Cicero's career. There is something on the role of women, you learn more (Arms of Nemesis does a better job) of the role of slaves and you visit different places in the Palantine neighborhood, traveling by foot and liter.

The Venus Throw: a Mystery of Ancient Rome

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The Venus Throw: a Mystery of Ancient Rome
Steven W. Saylor
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTS4LO

Book Description

Learn to Design High Performance Switches and Routers for Today's Ever Growing Internet Traffic

As Internet traffic continues to grow, and demands for quality of service become more stringent, researchers and engineers can turn to High Performance Switches and Routers for tested and proven solutions. This text presents the latest developments in high performance switches and routers, coupled with step-by-step design guidance.

More than 550 figures and examples enable readers to grasp all the theories and algorithms used for design and implementation.

The authors begin with an examination of the architecture of the Internet, as it is now and as it will be in the future. Then, they examine router architectures and their building blocks, and the challenging issues involved in designing high performance, high-speed routers. Examples of commercial high-end routers are provided.

Next, the authors discuss the main functions of the line cards of a core router, including route lookup, packet classification, and traffic management for quality of service control. The bulk of the text is then dedicated to packet switching designs. Coverage includes the various available architectures, algorithms, and technologies. Among the topics covered, readers will find detailed discussions of the latest innovations in electrical and optical packet switching. The final chapter discusses state-of-the-science commercial chipsets used to build routers. Readers learn their architecture and functions, using the theories and conceptual designs presented in the previous chapters as a foundation.

Although implementation techniques for switches and routers will continue to evolve, the fundamental theories and principles of this text will serve readers for years to come. In addition to bringing researchers and engineers up to date with the latest designs, this text, with its focus on illustrations and examples, is an ideal graduate-level textbook.

Customer Reviews:

comprehensive, but has little on IPv6.......2007-06-25

The authors describe the current Internet and its main routing methods. From this follows the basic ideas of current switches and routers. Potential bottlenecks in scaling are explained. Like the common occurrence of bursty traffic.

There is a classification scheme for switches, that can be used to understand any current switch in the marketplace. Based on switching techniques, we get time division switching and space division switching. With finer categories in each.

Overall, the book's treatment appears well-nigh exhaustive. The authors strive to give comprehensive coverage of most switches and routers. The only questionable point is the scant coverage given to IPv6. It is not discussed in any detail. Perhaps this is because current methods used for IPv4 are considered adequate for v6?

Average customer rating:

Not as good as 1st two
Good, but uneven
Okay, but not the best of the series
Sad news folks...
When's the next one coming out?

Chaos Mode (The Mode Series)
Piers Anthony
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0441001327

Book Description

Accompanied by a king from another planet, a telepathic horse, and a strange, tentacled alien, Colene is heading home to Earth to reunite with her estranged parents--and to put aside her troubled past once and for all.

Customer Reviews:

Not as good as 1st two.......2006-03-02

This is the third book in the "Virtual Mode" series and although I loved the first two, I really didn't like this one as much. Others might though.

Good, but uneven.......2004-04-27

I just finished reading this book last night. I love the Xanth series and I enjoyed the first two books in this series. However, this book is not as good in my mind as the first two. The author spends quite a bit of time repeating what happened in the first two books. It is a series, it would be expected that people would have read them in order and know what was going on. Perhaps there was a long time between the 2nd and 3rd? I didn't check on this so am not sure. There were some very good parts and I did enjoy the interactions between the characters but it did get annoying to keep seeing Colene referred to as a "vessel of dolor". At least use different words once in a while. And it seemed like Colene's parents gave in to her relationship with Darius very easily. I know they were afraid of losing her again and Seqiro helped mentally, but she is only 14 and he is much older. All in all, it was good but seemed rushed. I would still recommend the series and am eagerly waiting to see what happens in DoOon Mode.

Okay, but not the best of the series.......2002-10-04

Anthony spends too much time in this book setting up scenery and action and although the characters interact, I don't get the sense that they care too much either way. Colene's science teacher introduction was good, but I can't understand why AFTER she was [forced to make love] she got a crush and started flirting with the teacher. And it was INCREDIBLY convenient that the one thing she remembers in biology has to do with Burgess. An ok read, but didn't make me jump out of my seat.

Sad news folks..........2002-08-29

I have a version of Chaos Mode in which Mr. Anthony describes his reasons for discontinuing the mode series. Apparently, he got a lot of letters of complaint from parents stating that the relationship between Colene and Darius was innapropriate and too graphic. This may have caused the publisher to decide not to continue the series or maybe (and from the letter it sounds this way) Mr. Anthony was offended by all the criticism and decided to discontinue his work as a result of it. In any case, if you're interested I can scan and post the letter somewhere. Just thought you all might like to know.

When's the next one coming out?.......2000-12-29

This series has been so good. Anyone who has ever been through hell as a teenager can identify with Colene. But when is Piers Anthony going to come out with the next book? He's left us hanging for far too long. I love the Xanth series, but it's time for a new Mode book!

Broadband Packet Switching Technologies: A Practical Guide to ATM Switches and IP Routers

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Broadband Packet Switching Technologies: A Practical Guide to ATM Switches and IP Routers
H. Jonathan Chao , Cheuk H. Lam , and Eiji Oki
Manufacturer: Wiley-Interscience
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Computers & Internet | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Engineering | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

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All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

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Professional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

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ASIN: 0471004545

Book Description

The effective design of high-speed, reliable switching systems is essential for moving the huge volumes of traffic and multimedia over modern communications networks. This book explains all the main packet-switching architectures, including all theoretical and practical topics relevant to the design and management of high-speed networks. Delivering the most systematic coverage available of the subject, the authors interweave fundamental concepts with real-world applications and include engineering case studies from wireless and fiber-optic communications.
Market: Hardware and Software Engineers in the telecommunication industry, System Engineers, and Technicians.

Average customer rating:

Chaos Mode
Piers Anthony
Manufacturer: Ace/Putnam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NZU3F4

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Chaos Mode
Piers Anthony
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000S9J464

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Chaos Mode
Piers Anthony
Manufacturer: Harper Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Acceptance of electronic tax filing: A study of taxpayer intentions [An article from: Information & Management]

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Acceptance of electronic tax filing: A study of taxpayer intentions [An article from: Information & Management]
J.R. Fu , C.K. Farn , and W.P. Chao
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Elsevier | By Publisher | e-Docs | Formats | Books
ASIN: B000RR6N98

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Information & Management, published by Elsevier in . The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
Government today has benefited from information technology in many ways. The importance of understanding and influencing citizens' acceptance of e-government services is critical, given the investment in technology and the potential for cost saving. Using the filing of personal income tax in Taiwan as an example of e-government services, this study integrated two important theories (TAM and TPB), and discussed the factors affecting the taxpayers' intention to adopt a particular tax-filing method (from manual, two-dimensional barcode, or Internet) based on empirical data gathered from a large-scale nationwide survey. The demographic characteristics and perceptions of the taxpayers were also explored in order to identify potential determinants. Results indicated that taxpayers tend to concentrate on the usefulness of a tax-filing method and may be fairly pragmatic in developing general attitudes towards using the method. Interestingly, the effects of perceived ease of use, subjective norms, and self-efficacy on behavioral intention were different for manual and electronic tax-filers. Understanding these factors can extend our knowledge of taxpayers' decision making and lead to better planning and implementation of e-government services.

Development of a dual-mode demand control ventilation strategy for indoor air quality control and energy saving [An article from: Building and Environment]

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Development of a dual-mode demand control ventilation strategy for indoor air quality control and energy saving [An article from: Building and Environment]
C.Y.H. Chao , and J.S. Hu
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Elsevier | By Publisher | e-Docs | Formats | Books
ASIN: B000RQYXLY

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Building and Environment, published by Elsevier in 2004. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
A dual-mode demand control ventilation strategy was established targeting at use in buildings where the number of occupants varies frequently. The first contaminant chosen for sensor control is CO"2 and the second is a non-occupant-related indoor pollutant which indicates the demand of fresh air to dilute the non-occupant-related indoor contaminants. Experiments were conducted to verify the performance of this control strategy. The experimental results showed that an acceptable indoor air quality could be obtained. More than 90% of the occupants thought that the indoor air quality was acceptable. Comparing with the original fixed-rate ventilation control strategy, about 8.3-28.3% of the daily electrical energy could be saved.

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Chaos Mode
Anthony Piers
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Chaos Mode
Piers Anthony
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000PJBUM8

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Nebula Award Stories 6
Clifford D. (edited by) Simak
Manufacturer: Panther Science Fiction
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OHEZXM

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Nebula Award Stories no 6
Clifford Simak
Manufacturer: Gollancz
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JWM84U

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Nebula Award Stories: 6

Manufacturer: Bantam Books (Mm)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 9997376536

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delicious recipes!

Love it

Excellent book for great meals

Excellent Handbook for Kitchen Newbies. Highly Recommended

FANTASTIC!!!!!!!! WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!!!!!!

Kitchen Life : Real Food for Real Families--Even Yours!
Art Smith
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Quick & Easy | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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Back to the Table: The Reunion of Food and Family

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At Home with Magnolia: Classic American Recipes from the Owner of Magnolia Bakery

ASIN: B000ESSSG6

Amazon.com

Who better than Oprah's personal chef, Art Smith, to deliver an empowering cookbook? His Kitchen Life aims to "hand readers the keys to the cooking kingdom so that preparing a meal is never a chore, but is instead a pleasure." To do so, he offers self-help and 130-plus recipes meant to fit the lives of the busy cooks with hungry families. The book's formula involves, for example, offering letters from "real people" whose kitchen distress Smith feels and then "relieves" via suggestions like "cooking at home takes a little planning but doesn't have to take much effort." But he also provides solid strategies and insights, notably in sections called "My Best Supermarket Tips" (know how produce is priced to avoid ever-creeping expense, he advises); "Eating Right" (for healthy eating, home portion control is basic); and "Different Ways of Cooking" (identify cooking methods like sautéing or roasting with which you're most comfortable). Smith also offers thoroughly useful recipes, such as Barbecued Ribs and Slaw Sandwiches; Tuna Casserole with Bow Ties, Mushrooms, and Parmesan; and Apple Cranberry Pudding, all scaled to what the average busy cook can deliver. His formulas will also help cooks to establish an everyday repertoire while encouraging more confident cooking to come. With color photos and sample menus to further assist everyday meal planning. --Arthur Boehm

Book Description

Who better than Oprah's personal chef, Art Smith, to deliver an empowering cookbook? His Kitchen Life aims to "hand readers the keys to the cooking kingdom so that preparing a meal is never a chore, but is instead a pleasure." To do so, he offers self-help and 130-plus recipes meant to fit the lives of the busy cooks with hungry families. The book's formula involves, for example, offering letters from "real people" whose kitchen distress Smith feels and then "relieves" via suggestions like "cooking at home takes a little planning but doesn't have to take much effort." But he also provides solid strategies and insights, notably in sections called "My Best Supermarket Tips" (know how produce is priced to avoid ever-creeping expense, he advises); "Eating Right" (for healthy eating, home portion control is basic); and "Different Ways of Cooking" (identify cooking methods like saut+ing or roasting with which you're most comfortable). Smith also offers thoroughly useful recipes, such as Barbecued Ribs and Slaw Sandwiches; Tuna Casserole with Bow Ties, Mushrooms, and Parmesan; and Apple Cranberry Pudding, all scaled to what the average busy cook can deliver. His formulas will also help cooks to establish an everyday repertoire while encouraging more confident cooking to come. With color photos and sample menus to further assist everyday meal planning.--Arthur Boehm

Customer Reviews:

delicious recipes!.......2006-10-16

I love this cookbook. I found the recipes interesting, yet not so esoteric that I didn't have easy access to most ingredients. I loved the finished recipes - they were fun, and have received rave reviews from my friends and family. Love it! I count this among my top 3 favorite cookbooks. Highly reccomended.

Love it.......2005-12-26

I've made cauliflower and penne gratin, and I also made it with broccoli instead of cauliflower. I made tuna noodle casserole and balsalmic vinaigrette dressing. I love each one. I am going to check out his other book, too.

Excellent book for great meals.......2005-01-26

This is a fantastic book for learning more about cooking, the kitchen and great recipes in general.

The best thing about this book is that there is a lot of extra knowledge that is very helpful, like tips on when to use regular garlic or garlic powder and other hints on what you should and should not do.

I've been cooking seriously for only about a year and I have to say that this book is teaching me a lot and I really enjoy it. Get a copy for yourself!

Excellent Handbook for Kitchen Newbies. Highly Recommended.......2004-12-09

`Kitchen Life' is personal chef Art Smith's second book, having won a James Beard award for his first, `Back to the Table'. The most important feature of this book is that it is about much more than just recipes. It would not be at all inappropriate to call this `Knowing Your Kitchen for Dummies', as it touches a bit on just about every aspect of ingredients, kitchen management, cooking equipment, pantries, techniques, and recipes. An experienced cook may easily find much in this book a little too basic, but for the average person who wants to improve their return their investment in refrigerator, oven, range, sink, and tableware in their kitchen, this is the book for them!

A paragraph on this book in a `New York Times' article on new cookbooks attracted me to the work in that it said the author wrote that you really don't need dumbed down recipes for cooking with kids. I had just finished reviewing some books on cooking with kids where I was put off by the cutsey tone adapted to appeal to kids. So, I suspected that Art Smith had something to say to me.

It turns out that people with a lot of culinary experience will probably find little that is new in this book, but a newbie in the kitchen will find a whole lot to orient them to what is essential and what is fluff. I can find no statements in this book with which I would argue; although there are several small differences in opinion which should have no impact on the value of the book to its best audience. For example, Smith does the novice a great service by providing a lot of very useful top five lists for pantry items. A symptom of how good these lists are is the fact that I have almost all these items in my pantry. Their biggest weakness is that his lists violate one of his best principles, which is to always shop with a shopping list based on recipes you will actually cook that week. For small households, there is a lot of potential waste in stocking up on things like bell peppers, fresh thyme, frozen shrimp, sweet potatoes, chocolate chips, and ice cream. Bell peppers are a really common ingredient but if they languish for a week in the crisper, you may end up with slime. I really find the cost of fresh thyme to be not worth the money, as dried thyme is an excellent product with a very long shelf life. As I buy a new bottle of dried thyme every three months, I have no problems with the herb's loosing its potency. And so on with the rest of these ingredients. Smith is not suggesting we run out and buy all these ingredients, but he is not warning against it either.

On kitchen equipment, the same rule should apply. Don't buy anything, no matter how strongly recommended, unless you actually plan to use the stuff. To those who will benefit from this book, I would amend Smith's recommendations with the recommendation to get BIG pots and pans. It is less of a problem to have a cook pot that is too big than to have one which is too small. Where Smith recommends both a skillet and a saute pan, I would trade in the skillet for an 8-quart Dutch oven and use sure to get the 10 or 12 inch saute pan. Get an 8-inch saute pan only if you definitely plan to make omelets or crepes.

On almost every point, I believe Smith is on the side of the angels. He warns against buying sets of pans, recommends washing prewashed produce, and makes excellent suggestions on when to use and when not to use the microwave oven. If I were to suggest any one thing he should be including would be a primer on knife skills. I believe good knife skills and a $100 premium quality knife will outperform a $300 food processor for every operation that uses a knife. And, it is so incredibly easier to clean a knife than to clean a food processor.

Smith's very best and most unusual suggestion is to keep a journal for menus, recipes, running shopping lists, and references to interesting cooking tidbits. While most of the audience for this book may be hard pressed to just bring their family together for a meal, let alone have the time to write things down, I really think this is a good idea, especially if it can be done on a laptop. Tying this into access to recipes from Internet sources creates a great synergy. The local newspaper simply cannot compete with the 50,000 recipes available from web sites such as foodnetwork.com and epicurious.com. Another good but uncommon suggestion is to simply label one's pantry shelves, so it is easier to see what you need and where your bottles and cans go when you get home from the grocery.

Until I saw the blurb in the `New York Times', I avoided Smith's books for the same reason I avoid books by Patty LaBelle, Al Roker, and Pat Conroy. I am sure these folks are all devoted foodies, but I prefer getting my expert advice from people who are culinary experts, not literary or TV celebrities. The fact is that Art Smith is a culinary expert who is actually paid to cook well and he has been doing it for quite a long time. So, there should be no surprise that he has a lot of very good ideas for a successful life in the kitchen.

This book does not cover everything, but it is the very best kitchen orientation I have seen for those who would like a basic roadmap for what to do in the kitchen.

FANTASTIC!!!!!!!! WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!!!!!!.......2004-11-24

Art you did it again! The book is an interesting and quick read. Loved the recipes for picky eaters. I made the cauliflower and penne gratin at the private boarding school where i am the cook. The kids loved it. I am your #1 fan.

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