Tales of Aradia: The Last Witch (Volume 1), L.A. Jones, Amazon Digital Services, 2010
This young adult novel is about your average high school student who really isn't so average.
Aradia is the "new kid" at Salem (Massachusetts) High School. She can't help but notice that a larger-than-normal portion of the students are either incredibly handsome or incredibly beautiful. Those same people are openly staring at Aradia, and not just because of her flaming red hair.
As time goes on, Aradia learns that the school is home to a large number of beings that go under the general name of "hidden." They include werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters, faeries, etc.; the hidden part comes from their greatest law, which is to never, ever reveal anything of their existence to humans. The interest in Aradia is because she has "abilities" of her own. The non-humans at school have never seen, or smelled, anyone like her. Aradia doesn't know what she is, only that she was found in a cave, as a newborn, and officially adopted by Ross and Liza Preston.
The town of Salem is being menaced by the Vampire Murderer. A pair of bodies are found, with puncture marks on their necks, and totally drained of blood. Aradia is assured that the chances of a vampire being the culprit are tiny; someone is trying very hard to frame them. Aradia takes matters into her own hands, and attracts the attention of the real culprit. Does Aradia help bring the murderer to justice?
This one is surprisingly good. The plot may be a little average, but the author does a fine job with it. Teens will enjoy this book; adults will also enjoy it.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Timeliner
Timeliner, Charles Eric Maine, Bantam Books, 1956
This is the story of a man who is traveling through time, in larger and larger jumps.
In 20th Century England, Hugh Macklin is part of a group of scientists working on time travel using atomic power. His marriage to his wife, Lydia, is not going well. One day, during what was supposed to be a low-power test of the system, something goes very wrong. Macklin suddenly finds himself on the Moon, in the body of an asteroid miner named Eddie Rayner. He is also 80 years in the future. Rayner's wife, Valerie, bears a very strong resemblance to Lydia.
After weeks of psychological tests and evaluations back on Earth, everyone is convinced that Rayner is nuts. Just before being committed to an institution, Macklin/Rayner leaps out of a skyscraper window. Next thing he knows, Macklin is in a technocratic human society on Venus, 400 years in the future. In the body of a man named Ernst Tehn, Louana, his wife, also looks a lot like Lydia. Earth is a radioactive wasteland. While on Venus, he inhabits the bodies of three different people (not all at the same time).
Another jump takes Macklin to a triple star system somewhere in the galaxy, and several thousand years in the future. He is part of an early warning system against alien attack. He is now Kane 447, and his wife, Thoa 802, also bears a strong resemblance to Lydia. This society knows about timeliners, and consider him guilty of murdering Kane 447. They are very considerate about it, but they plan to give him a drug that will bring back the "real" Kane, and kill Macklin, once and for all. Is Macklin condemned to make larger and larger jumps into the future, looking for a society with the technology to send him home?
I enjoyed reading this book. Based on a radio play, it's a quick read, and it also has things to say about future humanity. If a copy can be found, it's worth reading.
This is the story of a man who is traveling through time, in larger and larger jumps.
In 20th Century England, Hugh Macklin is part of a group of scientists working on time travel using atomic power. His marriage to his wife, Lydia, is not going well. One day, during what was supposed to be a low-power test of the system, something goes very wrong. Macklin suddenly finds himself on the Moon, in the body of an asteroid miner named Eddie Rayner. He is also 80 years in the future. Rayner's wife, Valerie, bears a very strong resemblance to Lydia.
After weeks of psychological tests and evaluations back on Earth, everyone is convinced that Rayner is nuts. Just before being committed to an institution, Macklin/Rayner leaps out of a skyscraper window. Next thing he knows, Macklin is in a technocratic human society on Venus, 400 years in the future. In the body of a man named Ernst Tehn, Louana, his wife, also looks a lot like Lydia. Earth is a radioactive wasteland. While on Venus, he inhabits the bodies of three different people (not all at the same time).
Another jump takes Macklin to a triple star system somewhere in the galaxy, and several thousand years in the future. He is part of an early warning system against alien attack. He is now Kane 447, and his wife, Thoa 802, also bears a strong resemblance to Lydia. This society knows about timeliners, and consider him guilty of murdering Kane 447. They are very considerate about it, but they plan to give him a drug that will bring back the "real" Kane, and kill Macklin, once and for all. Is Macklin condemned to make larger and larger jumps into the future, looking for a society with the technology to send him home?
I enjoyed reading this book. Based on a radio play, it's a quick read, and it also has things to say about future humanity. If a copy can be found, it's worth reading.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Everything Will Be All Right
Everything Will Be All Right, Douglas Wallace, Amazon Digital Services, Inc., 2012
This is the memoir of a person who was born into extreme poverty, and who never let go of his life-long dream of becoming a lawyer.
The author was born in a ramshackle house in the backwoods of Tennessee. Part of a large family, the children helped out in the garden, or spent their days in the local woods hunting and looking for edible plants. Mom was the rock that held the family together. Dad worked occasionally; the rest of the time he was drunk, abusive or absent. Nearby relatives were a big help.
The family was forced to move every few months, because Dad had no intention of paying rent on whatever run-down house they were occupying. As the "new kid" in school, Wallace attracted the attention of the local bullies in whatever school he was attending. He got a reputation as someone who was not afraid to fight; he knew that "not fighting" was not an option.
As a young boy, one night, he received an overwhelming feeling of total peace and total love, maybe from God. He also received the words "everything will be all right," which has been his mantra ever since. The family spent his high school years in a government-run housing project. All-night drunkenness and violence were common. Wallace was "invited" several times to take part in fights where his physical survival was not a sure thing.
After a couple of detours, he received his GED, and enrolled in the University of Wisconsin. An academic miscalculation caused him to be drafted into the Army. Instead of going to Vietnam, he was a Company Clerk (like MASH's Radar O'Reilly) in Korea. Returning home, he got a decent job with a company that eventually sent him to their Atlanta office. He finished his college education, and found a small law school nearby. Did he hold on to his dream of becoming a lawyer? Does he succeed in becoming a lawyer?
No matter how bad a person's personal situation is, everyone has two choices. The first choice is to wallow in alcohol, violence and dead-end jobs, blaming "the man" for your plight. The second is to get your high school education, get a good job with some sort of future, or go to college, and then get a good job with some sort of future. Many people, including several of the author's siblings, chose the first route. If this book can get just a couple of people to see that there is an alternative to their current situation, it will have done its job. It is highly recommended.
This is the memoir of a person who was born into extreme poverty, and who never let go of his life-long dream of becoming a lawyer.
The author was born in a ramshackle house in the backwoods of Tennessee. Part of a large family, the children helped out in the garden, or spent their days in the local woods hunting and looking for edible plants. Mom was the rock that held the family together. Dad worked occasionally; the rest of the time he was drunk, abusive or absent. Nearby relatives were a big help.
The family was forced to move every few months, because Dad had no intention of paying rent on whatever run-down house they were occupying. As the "new kid" in school, Wallace attracted the attention of the local bullies in whatever school he was attending. He got a reputation as someone who was not afraid to fight; he knew that "not fighting" was not an option.
As a young boy, one night, he received an overwhelming feeling of total peace and total love, maybe from God. He also received the words "everything will be all right," which has been his mantra ever since. The family spent his high school years in a government-run housing project. All-night drunkenness and violence were common. Wallace was "invited" several times to take part in fights where his physical survival was not a sure thing.
After a couple of detours, he received his GED, and enrolled in the University of Wisconsin. An academic miscalculation caused him to be drafted into the Army. Instead of going to Vietnam, he was a Company Clerk (like MASH's Radar O'Reilly) in Korea. Returning home, he got a decent job with a company that eventually sent him to their Atlanta office. He finished his college education, and found a small law school nearby. Did he hold on to his dream of becoming a lawyer? Does he succeed in becoming a lawyer?
No matter how bad a person's personal situation is, everyone has two choices. The first choice is to wallow in alcohol, violence and dead-end jobs, blaming "the man" for your plight. The second is to get your high school education, get a good job with some sort of future, or go to college, and then get a good job with some sort of future. Many people, including several of the author's siblings, chose the first route. If this book can get just a couple of people to see that there is an alternative to their current situation, it will have done its job. It is highly recommended.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Business Plans That Work
Business Plans That Work: Why Some Do and Most Don't, Cynthia Kocialski, 2013, Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Writing a business plan is a necessary part of starting a new business, because all of the how-to-start-a-business books say that it is. Even the best business plan is little more than fiction. There is an alternative.
A concept plan helps to identify the guesses and estimates in the average business plan, and helps to eventually turn them into facts. The idea is to help discover the right business model and right product. Find a way to test your product before actual customers, so that you will have something factual to show to potential investors. If your product, or your whole business idea, neeeds major changes, it's better to find out now, instead of after several years of struggle and money losses.
When it comes to deciding on a purpose or vision for your company, please come up with something better than "the leading supplier of (your product)." What business or consumer problem does your product solve? Do some consumer research to find out what sort of actual problems your product can fix. Are you ready to sell this product, and remain passionate about it, for the next 20 years? What will the product look like? Doing a demo with an actual example of your product will help greatly. Who is your customer? Why should they buy from you, a start-up, instead of an established company? Who are your competitors?
It's never too early to start marketing. How will you make your money? There are many different ways to do it. What is your pricing strategy? How will your product actually be made? If overseas, how will it be shipped from there to here? What about all the other parts of running a business, like accounting, HR and funding?
This book is short, and it is excellent. Written by a Silicon Valley veteran, it is full of information for start-ups of any kind. This easily reaches the level of Must Read for entrepreneurs.
Writing a business plan is a necessary part of starting a new business, because all of the how-to-start-a-business books say that it is. Even the best business plan is little more than fiction. There is an alternative.
A concept plan helps to identify the guesses and estimates in the average business plan, and helps to eventually turn them into facts. The idea is to help discover the right business model and right product. Find a way to test your product before actual customers, so that you will have something factual to show to potential investors. If your product, or your whole business idea, neeeds major changes, it's better to find out now, instead of after several years of struggle and money losses.
When it comes to deciding on a purpose or vision for your company, please come up with something better than "the leading supplier of (your product)." What business or consumer problem does your product solve? Do some consumer research to find out what sort of actual problems your product can fix. Are you ready to sell this product, and remain passionate about it, for the next 20 years? What will the product look like? Doing a demo with an actual example of your product will help greatly. Who is your customer? Why should they buy from you, a start-up, instead of an established company? Who are your competitors?
It's never too early to start marketing. How will you make your money? There are many different ways to do it. What is your pricing strategy? How will your product actually be made? If overseas, how will it be shipped from there to here? What about all the other parts of running a business, like accounting, HR and funding?
This book is short, and it is excellent. Written by a Silicon Valley veteran, it is full of information for start-ups of any kind. This easily reaches the level of Must Read for entrepreneurs.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Conversations on the Bench: Life Lessons From the Wisest Man I Ever Knew
Conversations on the Bench: Life Lessons From the Wisest Man I Ever Knew, Digger Cartwright, Xlibris Corp., 2013
Inspired by actual events, this book is about two men with a bond closer than that of brothers, though they could not be more different.
The author is invited to a high-class country club in South Carolina, to a meeting of Thinking Outside The Boxe (with an "e"). It's a non-partisan think tank with the intention of coming up with real, not "liberal" or "conservative," solutions to America's problems. The two people behind it are Robbie, a serious younger man who is always seen in a black three-piece suit, even while playing billiards at the local sports bar, and Sebastian, a very obese older man who knows everyone, and is the epitome of "larger than life." During a private round of golf, Robbie asks Cartwright to write a book giving Sebastian's view of life, without tellin Sebastian.
The book consists of a number of short stories, with Robbie and Sebastian at their local bar, having dinner, playing billiards and solving the world's problems. If you are not satisfied with the current condition of your life, are you going to do anything about it, or just whine and complain? Don't be upset if you can't be a whatever-you-studied-in-college; the world will always need plumbers and bartenders. Always give your personal best, no matter what; don't fear failure. Some things, and some people, in this world just can't be explained. If you ever find yourself in a position of strength, don't let go; you will never get it back. There will always be negative people in this world; don't let them drag you down. Showing anger toward others is a sign of weakness.Sometimes, it's best to swallow your pride. Never live your life for someone else, no matter who it is, but live it for yourself.
I know what you are thinking: not another self-help/motivation book! This one is different, and is much, much better than the average book. Instead of trying to tell the "right" way to live, Sebastian shows just how to do it. This is extremely highly recommended.
Inspired by actual events, this book is about two men with a bond closer than that of brothers, though they could not be more different.
The author is invited to a high-class country club in South Carolina, to a meeting of Thinking Outside The Boxe (with an "e"). It's a non-partisan think tank with the intention of coming up with real, not "liberal" or "conservative," solutions to America's problems. The two people behind it are Robbie, a serious younger man who is always seen in a black three-piece suit, even while playing billiards at the local sports bar, and Sebastian, a very obese older man who knows everyone, and is the epitome of "larger than life." During a private round of golf, Robbie asks Cartwright to write a book giving Sebastian's view of life, without tellin Sebastian.
The book consists of a number of short stories, with Robbie and Sebastian at their local bar, having dinner, playing billiards and solving the world's problems. If you are not satisfied with the current condition of your life, are you going to do anything about it, or just whine and complain? Don't be upset if you can't be a whatever-you-studied-in-college; the world will always need plumbers and bartenders. Always give your personal best, no matter what; don't fear failure. Some things, and some people, in this world just can't be explained. If you ever find yourself in a position of strength, don't let go; you will never get it back. There will always be negative people in this world; don't let them drag you down. Showing anger toward others is a sign of weakness.Sometimes, it's best to swallow your pride. Never live your life for someone else, no matter who it is, but live it for yourself.
I know what you are thinking: not another self-help/motivation book! This one is different, and is much, much better than the average book. Instead of trying to tell the "right" way to live, Sebastian shows just how to do it. This is extremely highly recommended.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
The Guardian of Genghis Khan's Tomb
The Guardian of Genghis Khan's Tomb, Michael B. Hickland, Amazon Digital Services, Inc., 2013
This novel is about an 800-year-old treasure that comes very close to starting a third World War.
In an isolated bit of Mongolia, Genghis Khan buried the spoils from his years of plundering and pillaging across Asia. Over the centuries, many diligent attempts were made to find the treasure, especially during World War II, but without luck.
Kate Barrows is an English paleontologist leading an expedition in present-day Mongolia looking for dinosaur fossils. One day, she stumbles aceoss a very old child's hunting bow, which, through satellite phone calls, is verified to be Khan's childhood bow (the treasure must be somewhere nearby). Russia and China are listening in on the phone calls, so they both amass troops on Mongolia's borders, along with sending "mining equipment" to the area.
Drew Moss, Kate's financial backer and an ex-Navy SEAL, heads to Mongolia with a group of CIA personnel, to take over security for the camp. Kate does not know about Khan's treasure, until now. Attempts are made by Russian and Chinese Special Forces personnel to infiltrate the camp. It becomes a race to see who can first open the underground storehouse. The Americans unearth the front door; of course, Khan thought to include a few booby traps. Who reaches the treasure first? Is World War III prevented?
This one is really good. It has plenty of action and political intrigue. It's plausible, and it's also short, and easy to read. It is very much recommended.
This novel is about an 800-year-old treasure that comes very close to starting a third World War.
In an isolated bit of Mongolia, Genghis Khan buried the spoils from his years of plundering and pillaging across Asia. Over the centuries, many diligent attempts were made to find the treasure, especially during World War II, but without luck.
Kate Barrows is an English paleontologist leading an expedition in present-day Mongolia looking for dinosaur fossils. One day, she stumbles aceoss a very old child's hunting bow, which, through satellite phone calls, is verified to be Khan's childhood bow (the treasure must be somewhere nearby). Russia and China are listening in on the phone calls, so they both amass troops on Mongolia's borders, along with sending "mining equipment" to the area.
Drew Moss, Kate's financial backer and an ex-Navy SEAL, heads to Mongolia with a group of CIA personnel, to take over security for the camp. Kate does not know about Khan's treasure, until now. Attempts are made by Russian and Chinese Special Forces personnel to infiltrate the camp. It becomes a race to see who can first open the underground storehouse. The Americans unearth the front door; of course, Khan thought to include a few booby traps. Who reaches the treasure first? Is World War III prevented?
This one is really good. It has plenty of action and political intrigue. It's plausible, and it's also short, and easy to read. It is very much recommended.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Hey, Joe (Jamaica Series)
Hey, Joe (Jamaica series), Jerry Beller, Amazon Digital Services, Inc., 2013
This novel is about a man who discovers himself by moving to a different part of the world.
Set in the 1980s, River is a high-level Congressional staffer in Washington. Suddenly, he quits his job and sells his car. He packs up his possessions, and hops a plane to Jamaica. He had visited the island in the past, and fell in love with the scenery.
He intentionally bypasses Kingston, the capital, which is full of tourists. His intention is to stay in Jamaica, longer if possible, while he writes a novel set during the Vietnam War. He finds a place to live near the town of Port Antonio. He does not tell anyone back home where he is living, not wanting to deal with people who invite themselves for a visit. He meets a number of decent, reasonable people in his travels, along with people who are best avoided as much as possible. Like it or not, Jamaica is still a Third World country, with a huge gap between rich and poor. Hurricane Gilbert hit the island a few weeks previously, causing a lot of damage.
River's ultimate intention is to be accepted as a Jamaican, not as some rich white tourist just passing through. He writes for several hours a day, as if the story is just pouring out of him. He spends the rest of each day enjoying the scenery and ocean views. He is very uninterested in several romantic offers from female tourists who make it to that part of the island. One day, in a local park, he spots a young woman who, emotionally, knocks him on his rear end. He has no idea who she is, or where she lives, but he can't get her out of his head. Does River finish his novel? Does he speak to his mystery woman?
Here is a very quiet, but beautifully written novel. The scenery of Jamaica is just as much a character as any of the natives, who speak in actual Jamaican patois. For anyone who has visited, or wants to visit, Jamaica, read this book. You won't be disappointed.
This novel is about a man who discovers himself by moving to a different part of the world.
Set in the 1980s, River is a high-level Congressional staffer in Washington. Suddenly, he quits his job and sells his car. He packs up his possessions, and hops a plane to Jamaica. He had visited the island in the past, and fell in love with the scenery.
He intentionally bypasses Kingston, the capital, which is full of tourists. His intention is to stay in Jamaica, longer if possible, while he writes a novel set during the Vietnam War. He finds a place to live near the town of Port Antonio. He does not tell anyone back home where he is living, not wanting to deal with people who invite themselves for a visit. He meets a number of decent, reasonable people in his travels, along with people who are best avoided as much as possible. Like it or not, Jamaica is still a Third World country, with a huge gap between rich and poor. Hurricane Gilbert hit the island a few weeks previously, causing a lot of damage.
River's ultimate intention is to be accepted as a Jamaican, not as some rich white tourist just passing through. He writes for several hours a day, as if the story is just pouring out of him. He spends the rest of each day enjoying the scenery and ocean views. He is very uninterested in several romantic offers from female tourists who make it to that part of the island. One day, in a local park, he spots a young woman who, emotionally, knocks him on his rear end. He has no idea who she is, or where she lives, but he can't get her out of his head. Does River finish his novel? Does he speak to his mystery woman?
Here is a very quiet, but beautifully written novel. The scenery of Jamaica is just as much a character as any of the natives, who speak in actual Jamaican patois. For anyone who has visited, or wants to visit, Jamaica, read this book. You won't be disappointed.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Daughter of the Sun
Daughter of the Sun, Three Phoenix, Capital Apple Press, 2012
The people of the valley of East Mountain are looked after by Elana, the Daughter of the Sun. Whenever she smiled, the sun would join in and spread happiness and joy over the whole valley. The people thought she was magic.
For unknown reasons, a feeling of unhappiness has come over the people. AhMun, the corn grower, and a couple of his friends decide to visit Elana and ask for her help.
Naturally, getting to Elana is not easy. When they reach her, AhMun receives a beam of sunlight from her, and imagines that the bad feelings in the village have disappeared. He gives a big smile back to Elana, who relays it to her father, the sun. AhMun and friends return to the village and everyone is happy. One day, a thundercloud comes by and learns that Elana has a very different interpretation of her dealings with the villagers than do the villagers.
This book is made to be read to children under 10 years of age. Older children will also enjoy it. Yes, it is worth the time.
The people of the valley of East Mountain are looked after by Elana, the Daughter of the Sun. Whenever she smiled, the sun would join in and spread happiness and joy over the whole valley. The people thought she was magic.
For unknown reasons, a feeling of unhappiness has come over the people. AhMun, the corn grower, and a couple of his friends decide to visit Elana and ask for her help.
Naturally, getting to Elana is not easy. When they reach her, AhMun receives a beam of sunlight from her, and imagines that the bad feelings in the village have disappeared. He gives a big smile back to Elana, who relays it to her father, the sun. AhMun and friends return to the village and everyone is happy. One day, a thundercloud comes by and learns that Elana has a very different interpretation of her dealings with the villagers than do the villagers.
This book is made to be read to children under 10 years of age. Older children will also enjoy it. Yes, it is worth the time.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
GPS Your Best Life
GPS Your Best Life: Charting Your Destination and Getting There in Style, Charmaine Hammond and Debra Kasowski, Bettie Youngs Books, 2012
This book compares the journey through life to going on a trip using your car's GPS system.
When using a GPS, you need to start with entering your present location. The book has a questionnaire to help determine where you are now, emotionally and psychologically. Then you can enter your destination, or your ultimate goal (it can range from losing a few pounds to starting your own business). Your journey will be difficult if your windshield is dirty, or covered with bugs. Make sure your goal is clear and attainable, and regularly evaluate yourself to make sure you are still on course.
How do you get from here to there? Start a vision board to show what your ideal life looks like. Visualize your best life; it will help you focus. Resolve to do five GPS actions every day. It does not matter how small they are; after a week, a month, or a year, you will be that much closer to your destination/goal.
Make sure there is nothing holding you back, like forgetting to release the parking brake. Fear, worries and excuses are like radio stations on your car radio. Just as you can change to another radio station, you can stop listening to the negative internal chatter, and replace it with positive thoughts.
Roadblocks and potholes are a part of life. Are you going to give up on your goal because the road has gotten bumpy, or are you going to find a way around it? Having a backseat driver in your car is never fun. How do you deal with an emotional backseat driver?
When you reach your destination/goal, go right ahead and celebrate. Send yourself an e-card of congratulations, take a picture of the "new" you, take a day off with no cell phone or computer to distract you, look yourself in the mirror and say "Thank you." Now, it is time to start thinking about your next goal.
This is a really good, and really easy to read, piece of writing. It is better than most self-help books in that it explores the journey to an emotional goal in terms that anyone can relate to, using a car's GPS system. It's short, and it's recommended.
This book compares the journey through life to going on a trip using your car's GPS system.
When using a GPS, you need to start with entering your present location. The book has a questionnaire to help determine where you are now, emotionally and psychologically. Then you can enter your destination, or your ultimate goal (it can range from losing a few pounds to starting your own business). Your journey will be difficult if your windshield is dirty, or covered with bugs. Make sure your goal is clear and attainable, and regularly evaluate yourself to make sure you are still on course.
How do you get from here to there? Start a vision board to show what your ideal life looks like. Visualize your best life; it will help you focus. Resolve to do five GPS actions every day. It does not matter how small they are; after a week, a month, or a year, you will be that much closer to your destination/goal.
Make sure there is nothing holding you back, like forgetting to release the parking brake. Fear, worries and excuses are like radio stations on your car radio. Just as you can change to another radio station, you can stop listening to the negative internal chatter, and replace it with positive thoughts.
Roadblocks and potholes are a part of life. Are you going to give up on your goal because the road has gotten bumpy, or are you going to find a way around it? Having a backseat driver in your car is never fun. How do you deal with an emotional backseat driver?
When you reach your destination/goal, go right ahead and celebrate. Send yourself an e-card of congratulations, take a picture of the "new" you, take a day off with no cell phone or computer to distract you, look yourself in the mirror and say "Thank you." Now, it is time to start thinking about your next goal.
This is a really good, and really easy to read, piece of writing. It is better than most self-help books in that it explores the journey to an emotional goal in terms that anyone can relate to, using a car's GPS system. It's short, and it's recommended.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Madam President
Madam President (American Myth Series), Jerry Beller, 2013, Kindle e-book
This novel looks at the presidency of America's first black, female President.
In 2012, things are not going well for Kalinda Resbo. She can't get anything through Congress, mostly because Congressional Republicans have decided to say No to anything she advocates. Congressional Democrats are not much better, being too cowardly to stand with her. Her CIA and FBI Directors, along with her Vice President (they were forced on her by the Democratic leadership), are neo-cons who really want to start a war with Iran over their nuclear program. Because Resbo does not agree, they are actively hostile to her, undermining her whenever possible. In the eyes of some, as an unmarried black woman, she is automatically an America-hating lesbian socialist. With election season here, her poll numbers are not good, mostly due to her abrasive campaign manager.
There are some good people in her administration. Among them is J.B. Wellers, her Chief of Staff, who also ran her first presidential campaign. He is one of those who is not afraid to tell the unvarnished truth, even to her, which is why she values his advice so strongly. She asks him to take over her campaign again, and things start to improve. Resbo makes a bold move by announcing that she is running for re-election as an Independent, and with a new running mate. Unconstrained by party requirements, she makes a series of gutsy proposals for her second term. Among the things she advocates are: replacing the federal income tax with a national sales tax; geting rid of the two-party system; term limits for the Congress and President; campaign finance reform, filibuster reform and closing all foreign military bases. her two opponents, Mitt Romney and Leroy Skittles (her current VP) can't keep up with her and have to rely on the usual political nonsense. Resbo is ahead in the polls, but not enough to keep the election out of the House of Representatives. Meantime, a secret plan is brought forward to make sure that Resbo is a one-term President, using a method that was last used successfully in 1963 in Dallas.
This is not a liberal or conservative story, but it is a really good story. Both parties share the blame for America's current condition, and, if both parties can somehow put America ahead of Party, maybe some of it can get fixed. This is well worth the reader's time.
This novel looks at the presidency of America's first black, female President.
In 2012, things are not going well for Kalinda Resbo. She can't get anything through Congress, mostly because Congressional Republicans have decided to say No to anything she advocates. Congressional Democrats are not much better, being too cowardly to stand with her. Her CIA and FBI Directors, along with her Vice President (they were forced on her by the Democratic leadership), are neo-cons who really want to start a war with Iran over their nuclear program. Because Resbo does not agree, they are actively hostile to her, undermining her whenever possible. In the eyes of some, as an unmarried black woman, she is automatically an America-hating lesbian socialist. With election season here, her poll numbers are not good, mostly due to her abrasive campaign manager.
There are some good people in her administration. Among them is J.B. Wellers, her Chief of Staff, who also ran her first presidential campaign. He is one of those who is not afraid to tell the unvarnished truth, even to her, which is why she values his advice so strongly. She asks him to take over her campaign again, and things start to improve. Resbo makes a bold move by announcing that she is running for re-election as an Independent, and with a new running mate. Unconstrained by party requirements, she makes a series of gutsy proposals for her second term. Among the things she advocates are: replacing the federal income tax with a national sales tax; geting rid of the two-party system; term limits for the Congress and President; campaign finance reform, filibuster reform and closing all foreign military bases. her two opponents, Mitt Romney and Leroy Skittles (her current VP) can't keep up with her and have to rely on the usual political nonsense. Resbo is ahead in the polls, but not enough to keep the election out of the House of Representatives. Meantime, a secret plan is brought forward to make sure that Resbo is a one-term President, using a method that was last used successfully in 1963 in Dallas.
This is not a liberal or conservative story, but it is a really good story. Both parties share the blame for America's current condition, and, if both parties can somehow put America ahead of Party, maybe some of it can get fixed. This is well worth the reader's time.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
The 7-Minute Miracle: The Breakthrough Program to Banish Spot Fat Forever
The 7-Minute Miracle: The Breakthrough Program to Banish Spot Fat Forever, Sheldon Levine MD, Lifeline Press, 2002
This book describes a way to get rid of your body's spot fat, without special diets or joining a gym. All it takes is seven minutes a day.
It looks at the areas of troublesome fat, your arms, belly, hips, butt and thighs. The idea is to get adrenaline (also called epinephrine) to your trouble area, where it will tell an enzyme in fat cells to start the fat-burning process. The book gives pictures of exercises intended for each specific area. General exercising, like aerobics or jogging, might help your body overall, but it will do little, or nothing, for your trouble area.
Here is what you do. For instance, do belly exercise #1 until you can't do anymore. Go right to belly exercise #2, without stopping, and then go right to the third belly exercise, again without stopping. Continue through the cycle until you reach seven minutes, then stop. Do not eat or drink anything, except water, for the next 40 minutes. You don't want to bring the fat-burning process to a screeching halt by eating something filled with carbs or sugar. Then you should have your daily healthy meal. If you exercise in the morning, make breakfast your healthy meal. If you exercise in the late afternoon, make dinner your healthy meal. If it is not possible to follow the menus in the book, the author looks at the kind of foods that are healthy, or unhealthy, to eat.
If you have more than one trouble area, then, for instance, do your belly exercises on one day, your hips exercises the next day, and your butt exercises on the day after that. Don't combine them. If you workout regularly, separate your regular workout and your seven-minute workout by at least three hours, allowing your adrenaline level to return to normal. Simply adding seven minutes to your regular workout is a waste of time.
This fat-loss system seems to be easy enough for everyone. Anyone can spare seven minutes a day, even stay-at-home moms. Best of all, there are no special meals, or exercise gadgets, to buy. This is very much worth reading, for everyone.
This book describes a way to get rid of your body's spot fat, without special diets or joining a gym. All it takes is seven minutes a day.
It looks at the areas of troublesome fat, your arms, belly, hips, butt and thighs. The idea is to get adrenaline (also called epinephrine) to your trouble area, where it will tell an enzyme in fat cells to start the fat-burning process. The book gives pictures of exercises intended for each specific area. General exercising, like aerobics or jogging, might help your body overall, but it will do little, or nothing, for your trouble area.
Here is what you do. For instance, do belly exercise #1 until you can't do anymore. Go right to belly exercise #2, without stopping, and then go right to the third belly exercise, again without stopping. Continue through the cycle until you reach seven minutes, then stop. Do not eat or drink anything, except water, for the next 40 minutes. You don't want to bring the fat-burning process to a screeching halt by eating something filled with carbs or sugar. Then you should have your daily healthy meal. If you exercise in the morning, make breakfast your healthy meal. If you exercise in the late afternoon, make dinner your healthy meal. If it is not possible to follow the menus in the book, the author looks at the kind of foods that are healthy, or unhealthy, to eat.
If you have more than one trouble area, then, for instance, do your belly exercises on one day, your hips exercises the next day, and your butt exercises on the day after that. Don't combine them. If you workout regularly, separate your regular workout and your seven-minute workout by at least three hours, allowing your adrenaline level to return to normal. Simply adding seven minutes to your regular workout is a waste of time.
This fat-loss system seems to be easy enough for everyone. Anyone can spare seven minutes a day, even stay-at-home moms. Best of all, there are no special meals, or exercise gadgets, to buy. This is very much worth reading, for everyone.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Digital Disruption: Unleashing the Next Wave of Innovation
Digital Disruption: Unleashing the Next Wave of Innovation, James McQuivey, Amazon Publishing, 2013
The increasing digitization of our world has turned the business world upside down. In every industry, some companies are getting closer to their customers and undercutting other competitors. This book gives the details.
There are many, many free digital tools available to potential innovators. Next, a digital platform is needed to get it, whatever it is, to the customer as quickly as possible. These are usually very inexpensive. Keep a very close eye on your feedback. For example, if it says that upgrades should move in this direction, instead of that direction, don't wait until next quarter, or even next month, to do the upgrade; start on it today.
"Our company is innovative." "Our customers are totally loyal to us." "Our company is un-disruptable." Can you really afford to take such a chance? Companies no longer sell products or services; they sell total product experiences. It starts when a person visits your company online for the first time, and goesall the way until they get the product home and open it. There are ways to measure just how much time a person spends at your website or Facebook page. A company goal might be to get people to spend more time there, instead of simply increasing sales.
Don't ask "What new thing can we sell?" Instead, you should ask "What is next thing our customer needs? What adjacent need can we fill that our customer does not even know that they have?" It's tempting to fill any new product or service with benefits for the customer, to be all things to all people. Don't do it. Pick just a couple of the biggest benefits, and concentrate on those.
This book is full of examples of how even non-digital experiences like selling shoes can be digitally disrupted. It does a very good job of helping any company to be the disrupter, and not the one being disrupted. It is very much worth reading.
The increasing digitization of our world has turned the business world upside down. In every industry, some companies are getting closer to their customers and undercutting other competitors. This book gives the details.
There are many, many free digital tools available to potential innovators. Next, a digital platform is needed to get it, whatever it is, to the customer as quickly as possible. These are usually very inexpensive. Keep a very close eye on your feedback. For example, if it says that upgrades should move in this direction, instead of that direction, don't wait until next quarter, or even next month, to do the upgrade; start on it today.
"Our company is innovative." "Our customers are totally loyal to us." "Our company is un-disruptable." Can you really afford to take such a chance? Companies no longer sell products or services; they sell total product experiences. It starts when a person visits your company online for the first time, and goesall the way until they get the product home and open it. There are ways to measure just how much time a person spends at your website or Facebook page. A company goal might be to get people to spend more time there, instead of simply increasing sales.
Don't ask "What new thing can we sell?" Instead, you should ask "What is next thing our customer needs? What adjacent need can we fill that our customer does not even know that they have?" It's tempting to fill any new product or service with benefits for the customer, to be all things to all people. Don't do it. Pick just a couple of the biggest benefits, and concentrate on those.
This book is full of examples of how even non-digital experiences like selling shoes can be digitally disrupted. It does a very good job of helping any company to be the disrupter, and not the one being disrupted. It is very much worth reading.
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