tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71206452024-03-07T20:06:30.757-05:00Thoughts of the sMelMoOOThe Blog of a young man destined to love Neil Diamond and movies for the rest of his lifeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2525125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-77935204446960325062011-12-18T22:53:00.000-05:002011-12-18T22:54:53.673-05:00Survivor South Pacific -- Two Games!Kicking Marc's Ass... Again.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tucker's Nuts</span><br />9. Benjamin "Coach" Wade -- 2ND!!!!<br />1. Keith Tollefson -- OUT<br />2. Christine Shields Markoski -- OUT<br />3. Dawn Meehan -- OUT<br />4. Elyse Umenoto -- OUT<br />5. Stacey Powell -- OUT<br />6. Mikayla Wingle -- OUT<br />7. Edna Ma -- OUT <br />8. Brandon Hantz -- OUT<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Asssshfault!</span><br />6. Sophie Clarke -- <br />7. Albert Destrade -- 3RD<br />9. Oscar “Ozzy” Lusth -- OUT<br />1. Jim Rice -- OUT<br />2. Mark Caruso -- OUT<br />3. John Cochran -- OUT<br />4. Rick Nelson -- OUT<br />5. Semhar Tadesse -- OUT<br />8. Whitney Duncan -- OUT<br /><br />Maniac Meg has joined the world of trying to beat me in Survivor.<br /><br />Here are the teams!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tucker's Nuts</span><br />6. Sophie Clarke -- WINNER!!!!<br />9. Oscar Ozzy Lusth -- OUT<br />1. Mark Anthony Caruso -- OUT<br />2. Semhar Tadesse -- OUT<br />3. Christine Shields Markoski -- OUT<br />4. Dawn Meehan -- OUT<br />5. John Cochran -- OUT<br />7. Elyse Umenoto -- OUT<br />8. Rick Nelson -- OUT<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Maniac Meg</span><br />9. Benjamin "Coach" Wade -- 2ND!!!!<br />7. Albert Destrade -- 3RD<br />1. Keith Tollefson -- OUT<br />2. Edna Ma -- OUT<br />3. Jim Rice -- OUT<br />4. Stacey Powell -- OUT<br />5. Brandon Hantz -- OUT<br />6. Whitney Duncan -- OUT<br />8. Mikayla Wingle -- OUTUnknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-67769921172181292242011-05-17T16:37:00.000-04:002011-05-17T16:38:00.647-04:00Hotmail is Dead<br><div>Getting hacked twice in one week was enough for me.</div><div><br></div><div>Please delete my hotmail address and use this one from now on.</div><div><br></div><div>I apologize for an inconvenience that the other may have caused you.</div> <div><br></div><div>Brian</div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-38704802440482962792011-05-15T23:23:00.001-04:002011-05-15T23:23:00.132-04:00Survivor Competitions UpdateSurvivor 1 in Borneo -- Richard Hatch (No Game)<br />Survivor 2 in Australia -- Tina Wesson (Ashfault!)<br />Survivor 3 in Africa -- Ethan Zohn (Ashfault!)<br />Survivor 4 in Marquesas -- Vecepia Towery (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 5 in Thailand -- Brian Heidik (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 6 in Amazon -- Jenna Morasca (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 7 in Pearl Islands -- Sandra Diaz-Twine (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 8 ALL STARS -- Amber Brkich (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 9 in Vanuatu -- Chris Daugherty (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 10 in Palau -- Tom Westman (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 11 in Guatemala -- Danni Boatwright (Ashfault!)<br />Survivor 12 in Panama (Exile Island) -- Aras Baskauskas (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 13 in the Cook Islands -- Yul Kwon (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 14 in Fiji -- Earl Cole (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 15 in China -- Todd Herzog (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 16 in Micronesia (All Stars-ish) -- Parvati Shallow (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 17 in Gabon -- Bob Crowley (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 18 in Tocantins -- James Thomas, Jr. (Ashfault!)<br />Survivor 19 in Samoa -- Natalie White (Ashfault!)<br />Survivor 20 in Heroes vs. Villians -- Sandra Diaz-Twine (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 21 in Nicaragua -- Judson "Fabio" Birza (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 22 -- Redemption Island -- Rob Mariano (Pork Chop Express)<br /><br /><strong>Overall Totals </strong><br /><br />Pork Chop Express -- 16<br />Assshfault! -- 5<br /><br />Tucker's Nuts -- 2<br />FBT -- ZEROUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-44319493402641835762011-05-15T21:03:00.000-04:002011-05-15T22:27:59.829-04:00Survivor 22 -- Suck It Russhole<span style="font-weight:bold;">Tucker’s Nuts</span><br />Rob Mariano (16) -- WINNER<br />Natalie Tenerelli (1) -- THIRD<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Andrea Boehlke (13) -- Booted Episode 12 - FIFTH PLACE</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Mike Chiesl (12) -- Booted Episode 9 - Ejected Episode 13</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Matt Elrod (4) -- Booted Episode 2 - Booted Episode 8 (again) - Ejected Episode 13</span><br /><strong>David Murphy (5) -- Booted Episode 9 - Ejected Episode 10</strong><br /><strong>Sarita White (8) -- booted Episode 7 - Ejected Episode 8</strong><br /><strong>Krista Klumpp (9) -- Booted Episode 5 - Ejected Episode 6</strong><br /><strong>Francesca Hogi (17)- Booted Episode 1 - Ejected Episode 3</strong><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Asssshfault!</span><br />Phillip Sheppard (7) -- SECOND<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ashley Underwood (2) -- Fourth Place</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Grant Mattos (10) -- Booted Episode 12 -- Ejected Episode 13</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ralph “Rooster” Kiser (6) -- Booted Episode 11 -- Ejected Episode 12</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Steve Wright (14) -- Booted Episode 11 -- Ejected Episode 12</span><br /><strong>Julie Wolfe (15) -- Booted Episode 10 - Ejected Episode 11</strong><br /><strong>Stephanie Valencia (11) -- Booted Episode 6 - Ejected Episode 7</strong><br /><strong>Kristina Kell (3) -- Booted Episode 4 - Ejected Episode 5</strong><br /><strong>Russell Hantz (18) -- Booted Episode 3 - Ejected Episode 4</strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-51958025698646054222010-12-19T23:09:00.000-05:002010-12-19T23:10:10.364-05:00Survivor Competitions UpdateSurvivor 1 in Borneo -- Richard Hatch (No Game)<br />Survivor 2 in Australia -- Tina Wesson (Ashfault!)<br />Survivor 3 in Africa -- Ethan Zohn (Ashfault!)<br />Survivor 4 in Marquesas -- Vecepia Towery (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 5 in Thailand -- Brian Heidik (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 6 in Amazon -- Jenna Morasca (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 7 in Pearl Islands -- Sandra Diaz-Twine (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 8 ALL STARS -- Amber Brkich (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 9 in Vanuatu -- Chris Daugherty (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 10 in Palau -- Tom Westman (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 11 in Guatemala -- Danni Boatwright (Ashfault!)<br />Survivor 12 in Panama (Exile Island) -- Aras Baskauskas (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 13 in the Cook Islands -- Yul Kwon (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 14 in Fiji -- Earl Cole (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 15 in China -- Todd Herzog (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 16 in Micronesia (All Stars-ish) -- Parvati Shallow (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 17 in Gabon -- Bob Crowley (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 18 in Tocantins -- James Thomas, Jr. (Ashfault!)<br />Survivor 19 in Samoa -- Natalie White (Ashfault!)<br />Survivor 20 in Heroes vs. Villians -- Sandra Diaz-Twine (Pork Chop Express)<br />Survivor 21 in Nicaragua -- Judson "Fabio" Birza (Pork Chop Express)<br /><br /><strong>Overall Totals </strong><br /><br />Pork Chop Express -- 15<br />Assshfault! -- 5<br /><br />Tucker's Nuts -- 2<br />FBT -- ZEROUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-48685852198340088162010-12-19T22:06:00.000-05:002010-12-19T22:58:38.384-05:00Survivor -- Geezers vs Tighties... FINALE!!!!!!!!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TJE8hfRES2I/AAAAAAAACaU/-E8Tt_56RyI/s1600/survivor.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 201px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TJE8hfRES2I/AAAAAAAACaU/-E8Tt_56RyI/s320/survivor.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517257564532001634" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tucker's Nuts</span><br />Judson "Jud" Birza (17) -- WINNNNNNEEERRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!<br />Danny Lembo (16) -- Fifth Place<br />Jane Bright (12) -- Booted Week Thirteen<br />Ben Henry (8) -- Booted Week Twelve<br />Brenda Lowe (5) -- Booted Week Ten<br />Alina Wilson (4) -- Booted Week Eight<br />Jill Halmi Behm (9) -- Booted Week Seven<br />Kelly Bruno (1) -- Booted Week Six<br />Jimmy Johnson (20) -- Booted Week Three<br />Shannon Elkins (13) -- Booted Week Two<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Assshfault!</span><br />Chase Rice (6) -- SECOND<br />Matthew "Sash" Lenahan (3) -- THIRD<br />Holly Hoffman (15) -- FOURTH<br />Na 'Onka Mixon (10) -- QUITTER TURD WEEK ELEVEN!!!!<br />Kelly Shinn (14) -- QUITTER WUSS WEEK ELEVEN!!!!<br />Marty Piombo (11) -- WEEK NINE!!!!!!<br />Yve Rojas (7) -- BOOTED WEEK SIX!!!!!!!!!!<br />Tyrone Davis (2) -- BOOTED WEEK FIVE!!!!!!!!!<br />Jimmy Tarantino (18) -- BOOTED WEEK FOUR!!!!!<br />Wendy Jo Desmidt-Kohlhoff (19) -- BOOTED WEEK ONE!!!!!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-71163329664201073132010-09-15T17:33:00.002-04:002010-09-15T17:37:27.580-04:00Survivor Returns!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TJE8hfRES2I/AAAAAAAACaU/-E8Tt_56RyI/s1600/survivor.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 201px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TJE8hfRES2I/AAAAAAAACaU/-E8Tt_56RyI/s320/survivor.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517257564532001634" /></a><br /><br />And so does the game! See below... as we picked our draft picks...<br /><br />This season is old vs. young... so the challenges are not as physical, but rather... intellectualy.<br /><br />Let's root on Tucker's Nuts over that stinky... stinky... stinky... Asssfault!!!!<br /><br />Tucker's Nuts<br />1. Kelly Bruno (1)<br />2. Alina Wilson (4)<br />3. Brenda Lowe (5)<br />4. Ben Henry (8)<br />5. Jill Halmi Behm (9)<br />6. Jane Bright (12)<br />7. Shannon Elkins (13)<br />8. Danny Lembo (16)<br />9. Judson "Jud" Birza (17)<br />10. Jimmy Johnson (20)<br /><br />Assshfault!<br />1. Tyrone Davis (2)<br />2. Matthew "Sash" Lenahan (3)<br />3. Chase Rice (6)<br />4. Yve Rojas (7)<br />5. Na 'Onka Mixon (10)<br />6. Marty Piombo (11)<br />7. Kelly Shinn (14)<br />8. Holly Hoffman (15)<br />9. Jimmy Tarantino (18)<br />10. Wendy Jo Desmidt-Kohlhoff (19)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-11930771366045851722010-08-15T21:48:00.001-04:002010-08-15T21:49:27.491-04:00Inception Movie Going ExperienceAnimal Kingdom <br /><br />Stone <br /><br />Tron Legacy <br /><br />The Social Network <br /><br />Devil <br /><br />Due Date <br /><br />The TownUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-59501540843533362282010-08-15T21:39:00.000-04:002010-08-15T21:39:00.334-04:00Book 39 of 52 -- Kathryn Stockett's The Help<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TFoXBquuEZI/AAAAAAAACaE/DM8di0YXMDI/s1600/help.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TFoXBquuEZI/AAAAAAAACaE/DM8di0YXMDI/s320/help.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501735212204036498" /></a><br /><br />Kathryn Stockett hits a home run with her very first novel THE HELP. This novel is a success on so many different levels and in no way shows signs of a first novel. Ms. Stockett writes with an authoritativeness, honesty and literary ease that equals a writer of the highest caliber who has been writing for years. <br /><br />Fantastic book.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-17755760366232393872010-08-13T21:32:00.003-04:002010-08-13T21:32:00.570-04:00Book 38 of 52 -- Stephen King's The Colorado Kid<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TFoVvPVOYeI/AAAAAAAACZ8/3lN_vLiORWk/s1600/king.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TFoVvPVOYeI/AAAAAAAACZ8/3lN_vLiORWk/s320/king.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501733796100071906" /></a><br /><br />I was very much into the story. I feel it was well written and the characters were very well developed, as is always the case with Stephen King. I was held by the story and actually read through the book extremely quickly as I was "sucked into" the story completely. The only really problem I have is the ending. It seems Mr. King has come to the point in his life where he doesn't mind leaving things untied in his stories. He would chastise me for saying this as someone who doesn't understand or who puts too much stock in the ending instead of the journey getting there. Maybe so, but I still like to have endings a little neater than what we get from this book. I am not going to go into details and provide spoilers for it, but I was disappointed upon reaching the last page with where I was left by this ending.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-88609860220682416852010-08-11T09:28:00.003-04:002010-08-11T09:28:00.728-04:00Book 37 of 52 -- James Patterson's Private<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TFoUcveHg2I/AAAAAAAACZ0/HeVAQQmS9A0/s1600/private.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TFoUcveHg2I/AAAAAAAACZ0/HeVAQQmS9A0/s320/private.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501732378798162786" /></a><br /><br />Just plain boring. <br /><br />I usually don't like his books with other authors and might consider that practice after this. <br /><br />It is not a James Patterson book.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-91051598214166252682010-08-09T21:22:00.003-04:002010-08-09T21:22:00.340-04:00Book 36 of 52 -- Janet Evanovich's Sizzling Sixteen<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TFoS7LPybmI/AAAAAAAACZs/yOJMt6OEjqA/s1600/evanovich.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TFoS7LPybmI/AAAAAAAACZs/yOJMt6OEjqA/s320/evanovich.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501730702627073634" /></a><br /><br />I wouldn't go so far as I didn't like this book, but it was a let down. There seemed to be a serious disconnect between Stephanie and Morrelli. Usually there is more tension between the Morrelli and Ranger vying for Stephanie, and here we barely hear a peep out of Morrelli. Lulu was also figured very promiently, maybe too much so. I would've also like to have seen more interaction between Grandma Mazur and Stephanie's long suffering parents---that's always entertaining. Maybe I expected too much---I'm always thrilled when I hear of a new Plum book coming out---but this one didn't quench my thrist. <br /><br />I'm also wondering if I missed something. The jacket said something about Vinny running up porn charges from Rangers apartment. I didn't see any mention of that. Was it ommitted or did I skip some pages???Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-68715213557850624822010-08-08T09:19:00.000-04:002010-08-08T09:19:00.199-04:00Book 35 of 52 -- Miles Kington's How Shall I Tell the Dog?<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TFoSDwreoLI/AAAAAAAACZk/VLA0cH1AYsQ/s1600/miles.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TFoSDwreoLI/AAAAAAAACZk/VLA0cH1AYsQ/s320/miles.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501729750602653874" /></a><br /><br />Miles Kington writes beautifully about almost nothing, and somehow he makes you laugh out loud. When he found he was dying fast, he kept writing and this is, for me, a hilarious book about the death of my old Oxford friend. After reading it you may never be afraid of dying--though death can be a bit of a downer, for others at least.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-61413022906170312402010-08-06T09:15:00.000-04:002010-08-06T09:15:00.575-04:00Book 34 of 52 -- Steve Harvey's Act Like a Man<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TFoRL5VC28I/AAAAAAAACZc/CGMxfYin0a8/s1600/harvey.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TFoRL5VC28I/AAAAAAAACZc/CGMxfYin0a8/s320/harvey.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501728790851804098" /></a><br /><br />This terribly-written book has Harvey spouting humorless relational philosophy, such as "men are simple creatures." And he proves that point by writing such a simple-minded book that it's a complete waste of time to read it. <br /><br />The book is sexist, stereotyping all men into knuckle-dragging, sports-loving hunters that just need a little sex to keep them happy. The book is addressed to women, telling them to dress better, accept that the guy won't talk much, and give sex more often in order to keep their guy from straying. <br /><br />Most offensive is Harvey's constant references to "the Lord" and Jesus, leading people to believe he upholds spirituality, yet he point blank tells people to have sex after 90 days together and accepts a couple living together without being married. He often mentions going to church--didn't he learn anything there? <br /><br />He also conveniently fails to mention that he has been married three times. The book would lead you to believe he was married once, to a woman he admittedly slept with and cheated on before she threatened to walk out on him. There is also no real mention of his children. A quick check of his bio online will uncover the truth. If you can't trust a guy writing a book about relationships to come clean about his own relationships, then why read the book? <br /><br />There are a couple of valid points, such as the fact that men need respect and loyalty from women. But the lousy writing style and simplistic examples negate any reason to read this book.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-65879665015554706552010-08-04T21:08:00.003-04:002010-08-04T21:15:02.604-04:00Book 33 of 52 -- Linda Castillo's Pray For Silence<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TFoQOYOK5AI/AAAAAAAACZU/EkXp0Y1sJPY/s1600/castillo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TFoQOYOK5AI/AAAAAAAACZU/EkXp0Y1sJPY/s320/castillo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501727733992580098" /></a><br /><br />Pray for Silence is a crime thriller about the investigation of a family massacre on an Amish farm in a small Ohio town. The case is particularly difficult for Police Chief Kate Burkholder, as she grew up Amish and the current case brings up her troubled past. This is strong writing with a good pace, tight plot, well-developed characters, and an interesting setting. The setting is one of the strongest aspects of the novel, as Linda Castillo does a great job of bringing the Amish community to life. <br /><br />I would strongly recommended that you read the previous book, Sworn to Silence, before reading Pray for Silence. If you enjoy the crime/thriller genre (Kathy Reichs, Tess Gerritsen, Harlan Coben, et al), you're going to want to read them both anyway, and they will be much better in proper sequence. The first book, Sworn to Silence, is even better than Pray for Silence as it delves much deeper into Kate Burkholder's past. This background is alluded to in Pray for Silence, but you wont' get the full effect without having read the first book.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-14936498351871262612010-08-01T10:43:00.001-04:002010-08-01T10:45:49.191-04:00The Kids Are All Right Movie Going ExperienceGreat movie, but we really need an intervention for Julianne Moore who just seems to want to be naked all the time.<br /><br /><strong>Previews!!!</strong><br /><br />Nowhere Boy<br /><br />Never Let Me Go <br /><br />Jack Goes Boating <br /><br />The Social Network <br /><br />Catfish <br /><br />The American <br /><br />It's Kind of a Funny StoryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-51785910545869219792010-07-19T22:44:00.001-04:002010-07-19T22:45:15.769-04:00Predators Movie Going ExperiencePreviews... on a Monday Night....<br /><br />Wall Street: Money Never Dies <br /><br />Step Up 3D <br /><br />Lottery Ticket <br /><br />MacheteUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-43055782809081740812010-07-15T21:12:00.003-04:002010-07-15T21:12:00.100-04:00Books 31 and 32 of 52 -- Charlaine Harris' Dead Until Dark and Living Dead in Dallas<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TDKFWXiK2DI/AAAAAAAACZM/bvhFigK6clw/s1600/dallas.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TDKFWXiK2DI/AAAAAAAACZM/bvhFigK6clw/s320/dallas.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490597515039004722" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TDKDXRcHrYI/AAAAAAAACZE/5i04W07u18w/s1600/dark.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TDKDXRcHrYI/AAAAAAAACZE/5i04W07u18w/s320/dark.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490595331559632258" /></a><br /><br />I was lent these two books after watching the HBO show based on this series. I enjoyed this book from the first chapter. Each book is one series in the tv show but there are enough differences that if you have seen "True Blood" you will get more of the background and in depth story telling that makes this series so enticing. <br /><br />I can honestly say each book gets better and better. There is a whirlwind of mystery, suspicious characters and humor to keep you hooked. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to escape with the help of a great book.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-54353502534626837282010-07-14T21:10:00.001-04:002010-07-14T21:10:00.487-04:00Book 30 of 52 -- Jon Katz' Soul of a Dog<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TDKC5cDAT3I/AAAAAAAACY8/_4X9p_nl79Q/s1600/dog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TDKC5cDAT3I/AAAAAAAACY8/_4X9p_nl79Q/s320/dog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490594819011006322" /></a><br /><br />Soul of a Dog was a delightful look into the relationship of the author with his farm animals. Although not scientific in the least, he highlights those traits in our relationship with domestic animals that make our friendship so strong. However, he naively believes that the beef he eats at a restaurant in town is somehow different than the sweet bull that he feeds Snicker Bars to. The book was too long for the subject and while fun to read failed to improve the discussion of animal intelligence a single dot or tittle.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-45110081125911055552010-07-13T21:07:00.003-04:002010-07-13T21:07:00.599-04:00Book 29 of 52 -- Andre Agassi's Open<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TDKCUpVtQ7I/AAAAAAAACY0/ZyVQJzeBqCg/s1600/open.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TDKCUpVtQ7I/AAAAAAAACY0/ZyVQJzeBqCg/s320/open.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490594186923951026" /></a><br /><br />For me, Andre Agassi's book is most memorable because we learn that the "real" Agassi is not the Agassi we thought we knew. The disjunction between public image and private reality is rarely explored in an autobiography, and Agassi (and his ghost-writer) have gone into areas usually untouched by people on the public stage. Agassi was, in many ways, an abused and neglected child. He did not know who he was; he was hardly the "rebel" or "enfant terrible" that the press made him out to be. His wrenching struggles and his personal growth took place despite the efforts of the media to tell a pat story about him, and they occurred away from the tennis court. <br /><br />Agassi's frankness about himself separates this book from most autobiographies. It's not really a book about tennis but a book about how to become a human being. In fact, with a few exceptions, the accounts of Grand Slam matches are not very enlightening to the amateur tennis player on the technical level. But the accounts of Agassi's depression, his self-doubt, and his hatred for tennis are unforgettable. <br /><br />This book could, however, have been 50 to 100 pages shorter without losing its impact.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-30288385455998933662010-07-12T21:04:00.001-04:002010-07-12T21:04:00.406-04:00Book 28 of 52 -- Stephen King's Billy Blockade<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TDKBZbIAt1I/AAAAAAAACYs/aD-JnWoAUIo/s1600/king.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TDKBZbIAt1I/AAAAAAAACYs/aD-JnWoAUIo/s320/king.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490593169496127314" /></a><br /><br />Though I consider this "book" to be a minor addition to Stephen King's vast literary canon, I found myself enjoying it. Some of King's books could be a bit of a slog trying to get through. This novella is definitely not one of those. I enjoyed the descriptions of the old time baseball scenarios. The story centered on the super-talented catcher "Blockade" Billy Blakely, whose name was inexplicably removed from the records book (the constant reader does not learn why until near the end of the story). It is a fairly straightforward baseball fantasy up to the time it arrived to its Stephen King trademark twist ending. I really enjoyed it for the fast reading and the thrills. I also read this story from the standpoint of being a potential movie script. I was able to see this story fitting nicely as a cinematic offering. If handled correctly by the right director and actors, it will be a viewing experience that few will forget.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-51611861114774662402010-07-11T21:01:00.003-04:002010-07-11T21:01:00.520-04:00Book 27 of 52 -- Richard Roeper's Bet the House<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TDKA5ONA7PI/AAAAAAAACYk/zoWSCcjurpg/s1600/bet.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TDKA5ONA7PI/AAAAAAAACYk/zoWSCcjurpg/s320/bet.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490592616271637746" /></a><br /><br />Fun and light read, but the whole book was pointless.<br /><br />I like to gamble too and even I was like... uhhh... what?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-54876050034937649612010-07-11T14:46:00.001-04:002010-07-11T14:47:34.425-04:00Despicable Me Moviegoing Experience<strong>Previews</strong><br /><br />Nanny McPhee Returns <br /><br />Smurf'd <br /><br />Ramona and Beezus <br /><br />Alpha and Omega <br /><br />Megamind <br /><br />Cats and Dogs - The Revenge of Kitty Galore<br /><br />Good movie that started a bit slow and then kicked into gear with the introduction of the kids.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-91274087323100166012010-07-10T20:58:00.003-04:002010-07-10T20:58:00.217-04:00Book 26 of 52 -- Phillip Margolin's Supreme Justice<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TDKAL5dL9MI/AAAAAAAACYc/mzrdXqkaL3Y/s1600/justice.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TDKAL5dL9MI/AAAAAAAACYc/mzrdXqkaL3Y/s320/justice.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490591837608211650" /></a><br /><br />In order to enjoy this book you really do have to suspend belief a bit, because the US Supreme Court is hopefully, no where near as lively and dangerous a place as Margolin portrays it. However, the book is well crafted in the usual Margolin style and weaves several plot lines neatly together to produce a very good summer read, if not the five star effort we have come to expect from this author. <br /><br />This book follows on from Executive Privilege with many of the same characters from that book getting up to their elbows and eyeballs in a piece of intrigue that is very,very dangerous. <br /><br />The connector for the storylines is a petition for a writ of certiorari from a convicted murderer in Oregon to the Supreme Court, the granting of which will unravel some very large misdeeds done by some very important and powerful people who are willing to kill to prevent their misdeeds from being discovered. <br /><br />Telling you more about the plot would do the book a disservice because the story has many unexpected and unforseen twists and turns which are the hallmark of this author. The court is in session....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120645.post-22865692903545950102010-07-09T20:55:00.002-04:002010-07-09T20:55:00.696-04:00Book 25 of 52 -- John Heilemann & Mark Halperin's Game Change<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TDJ_hGrPksI/AAAAAAAACYU/MuTsSyTg7tk/s1600/game.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wmY9uQsCqkk/TDJ_hGrPksI/AAAAAAAACYU/MuTsSyTg7tk/s320/game.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490591102422454978" /></a><br /><br />This is an entertaining look at the 2008 Presidential election from a couple of Washington insiders who viewed some of it up close and personal, and had a lot of connections and sources to fill in the blanks. Since the campaign itself immersed a lot more of the population in process, this is a good look back for a lot of readers. There is a slight Obama slant, but the public gets to see far more of the "warts" of politics at this level, and really, has to wonder why anyone would choose to insert themselves into this crazy process. <br /><br />I tried to ignore the early gossip about the book and the "reveals" and just evaluate it on the face of my own reading experience. <br /><br />Edwards, Palin, McCain and Bill Clinton take the most hits of any other figures in the book. Hilary, while at a loss in the race, comes off as the most believable and heroic of all the figures (and I'm a fan!). There is good support for all the smart moves made by the Obama campaign and realistic introduction of some of the criticsm of his past connections. All in all, a fascinating account, without any particularly laudable skill in the phrasing or historical significance.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0