Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Postcard Killers - James Patterson Final Review Update

Finished Postcard Killers during lets say a feet relaxation session. The ending was predictable as far as bad people are caught and two lead characters who are lovers unite back in New York.  The last few chapters seem to gather all the unknowns rather quickly compared to the first 100 chapters of build up. All in all its a riveting book that makes one think what's next and how will the murderous couple get caught.  I would rate it 4 stars out of 5 and one of Patterson's need to read or in my case listen to books.  On the audio side there are six CD's and listening time is approximately 8-10 hours or two 5 mile walks, a round tripper from DFW to Philly and one hour in to a two hour pedicure.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Postcard Killers - James Patterson Update

About 75% through book now and boy did it take a turn. What was thought to be two lovers performing the killings of vacationing couples has now turned out to be a brother and sister team and appears to be incestuous. They are also now identified and brought in only to be let go by the Swedish Interpol Police. What is unfolding is two twisted brother and sister that have cleverly stage a brilliant string of murders while covering their tracks and playing the Interpol force. The main characters Jacob (NY Detective) and Desi (Swedish newspaper writer also Bi) have a steaming encounter Chapter 87 to 89. (better get ready for cold shower).  Looking forward to remaining chapters hopefully in next few days during morning walks.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Travel Alert on Bed Bugs

Bed Bugs an epidemic? How to get rid of them
 I have on some occasions stayed at hotels that I get paranoid to a point that I wake up several times at night scratching and immediately jump up and pull the covers back looking for bugs.  These are not sleaze bag hotels either.  I cringe at the knowledge of what bacteria is floating around in hotel rooms. Every hotel visit I try and do a quick check and have been known to switch rooms.  The news and Internet are now noticing an outbreak of bed bugs and Cincinnati is deemed the capital. Guess I will be carrying a flashlight on trips now and checking the beds closer prior to jumping in them for some sleep.

Happy 60th to a Friend                 Balloon Celebration: Happy 60th Birthday Balloon Lunch Napkins 16ct
A man of sixty has spent twenty years in bed and over three years in eating.
Arnold Bennett

I wanted to show I had balls at age 60. Just because society says I'm old, doesn't mean that I am. I'm pursuing happiness, even if it makes the people around me unhappy.
Sylvester Stallone
The best birthdays of all are those that haven't arrived yet.
Robert Orben
Men are like wine. Some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age.
C.E.M. Joad
Let us respect gray hairs, especially our own.
J. P. Sears

You've heard of the three ages of man - youth, middle age, and "you're looking wonderful".
Francis Cardinal Spellman
Enjoy your day my friend and many more to come.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Postcard Killers - James Patterson

Half way through and its good reading and in my case good listening. LOL.  About a couple going around murdering young couples they persuade to invite them back to hotel or villa.  They drug them and pose them as famous art portraits.  The lead detective is from NY and traveling Europe hunting them down. His motive for finding them is his daughter and boyfriend were victims. Takes place in Sweden and Jacob - NY detective teams up with  a female newspaper writer who's ex is a female detective from Interpool also assigned to the case. 

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Thumbs up for Customer Service and Food

Located throughout the DFW area

Earlier tonight I paid a visit to this local establishment to get a pickup order for dinner.  While there I saw and old friend Bill W. from a large development company and he was giving them hell for trying to charge for water, which was actually for the cup.  He was willing to pay for the cup but was upset they would do such a thing, which was understandable. He was doing a big name drop scene citing knowing the owner for long time and on and on.  Knowing Bill W. all was probably true.  Well any way I was standing at counter waiting to pay for my takeout LMAO inside due to its usually me playing Bill W part.  Long story short they finally realized they had forgotten about me and apologized and told the meals on the house.  Now that is making a wrong in to a right and insuring my return.  By the way the food taste great!
Don't know about Bill W's return he was still at it when I left. LOL

Downloads of Audio book on CD's to iPhone

Spent morning walk doing two things
1. Getting wet AGAIN
2. Having to select next Chapter of Audio book during walk.

After researching and reloading I found a YouTube segment that clearly explain the fix.  For some reason iTunes does not allow audio books from CD's to load in to correct Audio book folder in iTunes(go figure). The fix is to load it like you would songs and then create a play list with the CD audio book contents.  Wa La done.  Now I can listen to my books continuously without having to manually select next Chapter.

Woman dumps cat in garbage, becomes Internet villain



Not a big feline person although I have recently become accustomed to them by way of "Stina"  rescueing a pregnant cat. This is just wrong though and hope they prosecute.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

The 1st Annual Maya Indie Film Series is coming to the Magnolia - Dallas Indie movie

The 1st Annual Maya Indie Film Series is coming to the Magnolia - Dallas Indie movie

Mosque at "Ground Zero".. Not the smartest decision!



Good article by Mr. Morici and think he hit the nail on the head.  Freedom of Speech is not a given by indications of rulings regarding prayers in schools and other court battles. The President should be wiser when picking his battles as this writer has suggested. 

Sink Holes - Interesting

The Story of Sinkholes
http://hot.aol.com/2010/08/24/the-story-of-sinkholes/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-n%7Cdl10%7Csec1_lnk3%7C165811
Looks like Tiger's SUV???

Sinkholes can be caused by rock erosion, commonly limestone, or seepage from an above-ground stream or pipe.

This week's sinkhole in Georgia swallowed a Sonic restaurant and led many people to wonder why there have been so many sinkholes lately. One theory is that as people build in previously untouched areas, new sinkholes are uncovered. Heavy rains and drought can also lead to sinkholes, most of which are small and harmless.

Find out more about these destructive holes, from where you can scuba dive in a sinkhole to how to fix and fill one.

Facebook security measures

Link to Article and steps to prevent identity disclosure

http://www.switched.com/2010/08/23/how-to-disable-facebook-places-and-protect-your-location/
How to Disable Facebook Places and Protect Your Location


08-23-2010
Share When Facebook launched its Places feature, it was, for some, just another chink in their online privacy armor. The world's most popular social network is quickly creeping into everything we do and turning our lives into easily digestible status updates. Understandably, there are some who would very much prefer that their personal information, especially their location at any given moment, remain private. If you aren't excited about alerting the Web to the fact that your home is empty, or prefer that your friends and family not be able to track your daily travels, read on for how to turn off Facebook's new location-based functions.

Edit 'People Here Now'

Sadly, Places can't be turned off with one simple action. Instead, it requires that several different options be altered and updated. (This includes prohibiting others from tagging you, a la Foursquare.) Most of the necessary settings can be found by opening "Privacy Settings" from the "Account" drop-down menu in the upper right-hand corner of your Facebook home page. At the bottom of the privacy options, you'll see a "Customize settings" choice. Click it, and, under the first set of options, you'll see "Things I share." Uncheck the box next to "Include me in 'People Here Now' after I check in." Then, from the drop-down next to "Places I check in to," select "Customize," and choose "Make this visible to only me." Back at the "Customize settings" page, under "Things others share," there's an entry for "Friends can check me in to Places." Use the drop-down to select "disable."

Adjust 'Info accessible through your friends'

Changing those settings will protect your location from being visible to users, and will keep friends and family from adding you to Places. But there's still one very important setting to tweak. Back at the main "Privacy Settings" page, head to "Applications and websites" at the bottom-left of the page. Click "Edit your settings," and, next to "Info accessible through your friends," click "Edit Settings." A window of options will pop up. Uncheck the box by "Places I check in to." This will keep applications that you haven't explicitly allowed to use your location from monitoring you.

Fine-tune Location Sharing With Your Friends

Turn off as many of these options as you'd like, but we highly recommend disabling Places under "Info accessible through your friends" if you wish to make limited use of the new feature. Places will actually let you specify the individuals with whom you want to share your location, so you can choose to keep certain folks in the loop. Thankfully, though, by following the above steps, you can stop all of Facebook from stalking you -- a much-appreciated feature.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Parents wait until 1st day for required shots

Dallas students, parents endure heat for back-to-school shots
http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/shots-101310834.html

Each year parents wait until the day of school to get required shots for their kids.  Last week the projection was as high as 5000.  The new reported about 800+ in Dallas and 800+ in Fort Worth that missed school awaiting shots. Nice parenting people!

Book over Audio Book

While traveling via truck on long trips I found audio books to be quite enjoyable and makes the trip go faster. Have never been a book reader since I prefer to stay busy rather than plunk down somewhere and flip pages.  I do though sit in front of a PC a lot researching issues or topics and read world and local news most days. Well enough said about that.  Today at Walmart standing in line a book caught my eye so I flipped through it and found it worth a read while traveling via East coast this week. Hope its good! Still looking for Patterson's new release on audio as backup.

Celiac Disease - News to me.

In the span of two weeks I have learned that a relative and old childhood friend who have been in and out of doctors offices for past year were recently diagnosed as being allergic to Gluten. Gluten is a special type of protein that is commonly found in rye, wheat, and barley. Therefore, it is found in most types of cereals and in many types of bread. Not all foods from the grain family, however, contain gluten. Examples of grains that do not have gluten include wild rice, corn, buckwheat, millet, amaranth, quinoa, teff, oats, soybeans, and sunflower seeds. There was also a segment on Today this morning regarding it being gluten free as the next Hollywood diet.

Gluten-free makes an appearance this morning on the Today Show - Colorado Springs gluten-free foods

From WebMD

What is Gluten?

Sunday, August 22, 2010

BOWLING FOLLOW UP - Trophy Presentation

As blogged yesterday C and Ex BF?? who may be current BF and I went bowling on Friday night.  After dinner and smack talk by Ex BF?? about beating me I went on to bowl some of my worst games and still beat him all three games. Upon checking out of hotel C called and wanted to meet me before I left Padre.  We met and I was instructed to close my eyes and put my hands out.  I was presented this Trophy by Ex BF?? which gave us all a chuckle.  Note name plate... asked him not to call me sir all the time so now he call me "Sir Majesty".  Guess he was trying to suck up for all the smack talk. LOL Good gesture and lots of fun bowling.  Closing Note; Hell, C beat him two of the three.

Dinner at the KBar & Grill

After a day of yard work in 100 plus temperatures nothing better than a good meal. Grilled Catfish with side of broccoli, carrots and asparagus.  Yum!

Milton singing "The Man Song" by Sean Morey

Hope they finish prior to high tide

Hawaii Sea Restaurant

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Hall of Fame Canton OH 2010

Went to Hall of Fame Enshrinement ceremonies last night and had a great time.  The crowd was 75% percent Dallas fan which shocked me but seeing that Emmitt Smith being inducted made sense.  I have been through the Hall of Fame a number of times and watched the induction on TV a few times too.  Last year Michael Irvin's speech was very moving and this year Emmitt Smith's speech matched or exceeded it.  I have seen Emmitt as a sports commentator a few times and speaking was not exactly his strong suit.  Let me tell you he has learned to speak.  No script was used just words from the heart and strong messages about God, family and friends. If you can catch replay on ESPN its something to watch.  Floyd Little who I heard of but did not follow much also gave a strong and powerful message pertaining to how to live your life.  His delivery gave you the feeling you were in church listening to a preacher on Sunday.  Very strong and powerful voice.  Tonight is the Hall of Fame game with Cowboys against Cincinnati and Terrell Owens.  Go Cowboys!