Fitness Routines to Keep the Body in Shape: Exercises are the best way to keep one fit and healthy. It depends on one’s agenda for doing exercises if, doing for weight loss or to reach a fitness goal or just for fun, whatever the case might be, the exercises will definitely bring change in the health of various organs of our body.
We all are very well aware that staying physically active is essential for a long, healthy, productive life, but we don’t often understand exactly what’s happening with our organs of the body.
The experts after the depth study on these aspects have revealed the fact about the effect of exercises on the health of various organs of the body from head to toe.

 Read more: How to Keep Good Health and Fitness

I had a lot of fun with these. I'm a fan of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and I love that not everyone has to be an Avenger or the superest of superheroes, you know what I mean? Four out of five of these protagonists don't even have powers. I love that they used characters from the television series and cemented the way the comics and MCU play off each other. 

 

Here are the five issues that are part of the 50th Anniversary: 

 

1. Agent Carter: S.H.I.E.L.D. 50th Anniversary #1 - Kathryn Immonen,Rich Ellis,Declan Shalvey Also had her own television show for two seasons. Loved it. Her characters has always been awesome but the interaction with Lady Sif just put me over. Makes me little feminist heart flutter. 
2. Fury: S.H.I.E.L.D. 50th Anniversary #1 - David Walker,Lee Ferguson,Mike Deodato  Still fluttering. It's really the timeline thing here and figuring out the mark. It was kind of awesome, even if your not a fan of the target. The timing of the issue was great because it came out in the midst of contemporary social justice issues flaring up. 
3. Mockingbird: S.H.I.E.L.D. 50th Anniversary #1 - Chelsea Cain,Joëlle Jones,Paul Renaud  I had thought that making her a scientist was a part of the tv show, so it was nice to see how the dynamic between her science and abilities as an operative played against each other in the comic as well.
4. Quake: S.H.I.E.L.D. 50th Anniversary #1 - Matthew Rosenberg,Patrick Kindlon,Daniel Johnson,David Nakayama  As a fan of the show, I thought it was great to see Quake get the audition to upgrade and the respect from Cap. It really showcased the ever-changing nature of the Avengers team, and the way it's more like a rotating watch so no single hero gets all burned out. 
5. The Cavalry: S.H.I.E.L.D. 50th Anniversary #1 - Jody Houser,Luke Ross,Dale Keown  I love me some Melinda May, I have since I first saw her on the show. I had no idea that it consisted of so many established characters. Melinda May is exactly the same on the show too. She comes off as an ice queen to those around her, she's a badass, and she cares more than most. This was a great story and I loved the way it highlighted her nickname as "the Cavalry". 

 

Has anyone else read these? 

If I had to sum up DRAW AND PAINT FANTASY FEMALES with one passage, it would be this:

"When it comes to adding armor to your female figures, my advice would be to go sparingly. The armour should be more implied than anything, as if you cover up her entire body with a thick suit of armour she will no longer have the necessary 'fantasy' appeal. Depending on the character, metal plated bras, wrist and shin protectors, and supplementary items such as shields are all that are required." --section titled "Less is More"

I love how there's not even a hint of irony to found here.

To call the oversexualized mid-to-late 00s' shiny-but-pulpy style of comic book art problematic is an understatement, to the point that Tom Fleming's how-to book is dated with a vengeance. Published during the height of the era of 80s-inspired softcore sleaze in comics, every page is filled with exaggerated pouts, shapely bodies, and enough skimpy outfits to make a stripper blush. Body diversity is nonexistent, and the author even points out from the very beginning that fantasy women are now liberated, powerful, dangerous... but always sensual. You better believe that Fleming delivers on the sensual part.

Despite of all that, it's a genuinely decent art book.

One of Fleming's clear advantages is that he's a fantastic (no pun intended) artist, and so he offers many legitimately great tips and techniques throughout the book, especially in regards to using reference photos. He also gives the reader a grounded history of "fantasy females" and how their image has changed over the last century, and thus he provides good explanations for the stylistic choices that permeate his art. There's a clear sense of sincerity and beauty in the book that's sometimes absent in the work of Fleming's contemporaries in the comicbook industry. The only real complaint I could make about the presentation of the book is that it frequently glosses over how to draw all the intricate details that Fleming excels at.

At any rate, it serves as a good reminder of why this type of faux-pulp artwork grew popular to begin with. When drawn correctly with the right amount of talent, the result is breathtaking.

I bought the book on an impulse six years ago with low expectations, but it's easily become of the most-used references in my collection, even when I'm not drawing sexy ladies. Recommended to any artist that doesn't mind putting their warriors and ninjas in bikini battle armor every now and then.

There are a bunch of hashtags out there for wishlists – agents have their manuscript wishlists, and my brain is currently freezing so I can’t remember what the hashtag for reader wishlists was, but that exists too. Lately I found myself thinking about some of the characters I’d like to see in more YA novels. Consider this the first of many posts on the kinds of characters I wish populated more YA novels. (I’m sure I’ll think of more characters in the future!)

 

1. Badass Females Who Aren’t Badass B/C of Traditionally Masculine Things

Think of your favorite or at least the most popular SFF “strong female characters.” (I feel like people use badass to describe their friends or SFF characters; for some reason I can’t picture with contemporary??? Does anyone feel this way?). How many of them have power because they’re considered ruthless or they’re given a weapon? (It’s usually the weapon thing that bugs me – as if the only way to power is to have some fighting skill). I’d really like to see some magic system or just a character whose compassion, sensitivity, and conscientiousness is what gives her power. Like Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore. Bitterblue knows how to defend herself because she’s a queen, but that doesn’t much enter the equation. Her power stems more from being a compassionate queen – her compassion helps her country heal from the wrongs inflicted by her psychopathic father (who was the former king).

2. The Girl in the Arranged Marriage Actually Accepts Or Change Her Background a Bit?

Okay, so if you’re going to have the arranged marriage trope, I’d like some girls to be a.) actually happy or accepting (if my parents wanted to set me up on a blind date, I would accept, but I’ve also been raised by Lebanese immigrants. I think that American culture is so individualistic, it doesn’t want to accept the very idea of arranged marriages despite the fact that there is a huge precedent in history and this is *actually* happening in places today) or b.) making the most of the situation like Elisa in The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson or c.) accepts the marriage because arranged marriages were historically ways that women could get more power, and the woman wants to be more empowered. I’d also like to see more books that shake up that character more! So, I’m excited to read Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst because the character ends up falling in love with someone else too, so there’s a conflict between duty and love. I’d love to see an arranged marriage that makes homonormativity the default in the way C.S. Pacat’s Captive Prince series does. Also, why do so many arranged marriages end up focusing on teen girls? They weren’t the only ones either forced or asked to marry other people. Put more diversity in these arranged marriages! Use them to challenge concepts of privilege and racism and so much more.

3. The Chosen One Who’s Not Actually the Chosen One:

Okay, so actually there is a fantasy series out there right now that deals with the concept of the person who is raised as the Chosen One not actually being the Chosen One. I won’t say what that book is because that’d be a spoiler, but I want more characters like this and fewer actual Chosen Ones. I think that fantasy reflects reality with different symbols, so I’m going to talk about a personal story. In high school, I was at the top of my class. I was used to things feeling easy if I put in some work. When I got to college, I was no longer special; I was in a group of really intelligent people who thrived on challenges, and I needed to get on board and try harder. I see this as sort of relating to this “you think you’re special, but you’re not *that* special” and I think that how people react to that situation is interesting and shows a lot of their character. So if you have a character that’s been raised to think one way, and the carpet is swept out from under their feet – what happens to them? Do they become a villain? Do they fade into nothing? Etc. It's like imagining Neville if he'd actually known about the prophecy.

4. Villains!

Stories with villains at the forefront (e.g. The Young Elites)! Complex, complicated villains who aren’t only evil for evil’s sake but who are fully fledged characters are ALWAYS! Appreciated.

(And of course more diverse characters ALL AROUND will always be welcome with me too. I was considering including that on the list but then I don't know that I want to encourage non #ownvoices people to be writing some of the character types, etc.)

So that’s the first of many “reader character wishlists.”

Would you like to read any books with these kinds of characters? What characters would you like to see more of?

 

Wow! This woman, Ms. Kresley Cole, can write anything. I began reading her action packed-under and above the covers- Immortals After Dark series many years ago. I read quite a few, then put her books on hold for a while. I came back last year and have nearly completed IAD. As we Geminis love to do, we read at least five books at one time (depending upon our mood). In doing this, I thought I would try Ms. Cole's earlier works after having recently completed her new-amazing-contemporary erotica series, The Game Makers. Knowing how great she handled Contemporary in addition to Paranormal Romance, I had faith that her earlier works-The MacCarrik Brothers trilogy- would be fantastic. Well, I can honestly say that I placed my faith in good hands because this series, so far, is really wonderful. For those who like non-paranormal romance, don't mind period pieces with minimal historical details, and more detailed erotic scenes with brawny, sensual, loving, alpha-males who happen to be Kilt wearers, then this is your series. This book of three, is well written, has a good story line, is erotic but tasteful, and is an easy read! I highly recommend it. There is just a special way that Ms. Cole, and only Ms. Cole, writes sex scenes that are the most unique and erotic in general romance. I have never read anyone else that writes them like she does. It's strange because the scenes are so normal and vanilla, but they make you puddle on the floor every time. And oh yeah, did I mention there's an actual plot that takes up most of the book! I know, right?! Amazing how now we can get a two-for-one deal in today's literature. This book is indeed a "kilt lifter" not a " bodice ripper." Just to clarify ;) But not a cheesy Harlequin; one of few genres I detest vehemently. Yes, there is a clear distinction. So, check this first book out via Overdrive, it's free! You can't go wrong with that, especially if you are new to her works. Enjoy what's under the kilt, I mean cover ;)