tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60170195867248016122024-03-13T23:37:05.051-07:00Satisfying My CuriosityA blog that will try to create curiosity, satisfy your curiosity, on culture, news, books, movies, travel. I'll try to pique your interest in things you might not have tried or haven't known how to try. Hopefully it will be a satisfying visit.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger188125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-50469944884435374172014-03-25T18:30:00.000-07:002014-03-25T18:55:16.652-07:00A New Site For Satisfying My CuriosityI finally took the plunge and am now a .com-er. <b><i>Satisfying My Curiosity</i></b> has moved to www.satisfyingmycuriosity.com. You'll still get the great articles you are used to (book reviews, music reviews, travel articles, cultural commentary, etc) but you will also get snippets about things that have piqued my curiosity throughout the week. So bookmark the page, become a follower, pin an article, share on Face Book, tweet the link, like on Google + and comment. I hope you will find the new format pleasing to the eye. And I hope that when you read the content it will enlighten you, challenge you, surprise you, make you laugh or, perhaps, all of these things. <br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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Satisfying My Curiosity's staff of one <div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-21456947440439358142014-03-11T17:42:00.000-07:002014-03-11T17:44:07.310-07:00Children's Books You May Want to Re-read...You Might Learn a Few Things<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
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I just found an article in Business Insider about adults re-reading books they read as children. As kids, our understanding of the world was very superficial. We read primarily for the story. As adults, we can now read these books and better understand the depth and the nuances written into these great books. You may find that you would like to introduce them to your kids, grand kids and great grand kids. I grew up in a small town, 900 people, and honestly, I don't remember reading anything until I went to school. Famous books in the fifties included books by Dr. Seuss, Charlotte's Web, Pippi Longstocking and The Chronicles of Narnia. I guess I was out climbing hay bails or something. <b><i>Business Insider</i></b> and The New York Public Library put out a list of 23 books. I'll not bore you with the entire list. If you wish to see it, please go to: http://www.businessinsider.com/kids-books-adults-should-read-2014-2?op=1<br />
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Here are ten with a short description of each. I'm going to try and read them all.<br />
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<b><u>Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day</u></b> by Judith Viorst: Illustrated by Ray Cruz, this book tells kids that even after the worst day imaginable, tomorrow will be better-a lesson even adults need to remind themselves of once in a while. Being made into a movie. <img alt=""Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" by Judith Viorst" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/530e4551eab8ea0053042c93-1200/alexander-and-the-terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad-day-by-judith-viorst.jpg" height="153" width="200" /><br />
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<b><u>All-of-a-Kind-Family</u></b> by Sydney Taylor: Starring five young sisters in early 20th century New York City, young and old readers alike will learn about classic Jewish traditions as well as some interesting New York history.<br />
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<b><u>Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs</u></b> by Judi Barrett: Who isn't enchanted by a story of food raining from the sky? Cloudy is a magical tale that requires a little suspended disbelief, and a darker sense of humor. <img alt=""Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" by Judi Barrett" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/530e5290ecad04dd6a042c81-1200/cloudy-with-a-chance-of-meatballs-by-judi-barrett.jpg" height="149" width="200" /><br />
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<b><u>The Giver</u></b> by Lois Lowry: Before <b><u>The Hunger Games</u></b> and <b><u>Divergent</u></b>, <b><u>The Giver</u></b> was a very young adult's introduction into the world of dystopian fiction novels. It follows Jonas, a 12 year old boy chosen to receive all of the world's memories, both good and bad, to take the burden off of his community from having to know them.<br />
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<b><u>The Great Gilly Hopkins</u></b> by Katherine Paterson: Sometimes it feels like characters in children's books are too likable, but not Gilly Hopkins in Paterson's short novel. Bouncing from foster home to foster home has given her a mean spirit, but she's also sympathetic.<br />
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<b><u>Harriet the Spy</u></b> by Louise Fitzhugh: Already a bit of an outsider, after Harriet's spy notebook gets into the hands of her classmates-who she's been bashing on the pages for months-they decide to make her life hell by humiliating and excluding her at school. <img alt=""Harriet the Spy" by Louise Fitzhugh" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/530e5d0d6bb3f71d4b049cd6-1200/harriet-the-spy-by-louise-fitzhugh.jpg" height="150" width="200" /><br />
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<b><u>Hatchet</u></b> by Gary Paulsen: The gripping tale of 13 year old Brian lost in the back country of Canada with nothing but a small ax, Hatchet details the skills Brian learns in order to survive.<br />
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<b><u>The Monster at the End of this Book</u></b> by Jon Stone: With the colorful, fourth wall-breaking illustrations by Mike Smollin, the book also has a surprisingly powerful theme: that we shouldn't be afraid of things before we understand them, as they may not be so terrifying after all. There is an app for this book on smart phones with additional activities for kids (or adults) to enjoy.<br />
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<b><u>The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales</u></b> by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith: The authors spin off the classic runaway food tale of <b><u>The Gingerbread Man</u></b> with a snarky, humorous twist in The Stinky Cheese Man. It may be the first time kids are exposed to this type of parodying sense of humor. <img alt=""The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales" by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/530e69156da8111704569edc-1200/the-stinky-cheese-man-and-other-fairly-stupid-tales-by-jon-scieszka-and-lane-smith.jpg" height="150" width="200" /><br />
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<b><u>A Wrinkle in Time</u></b> by Madeleine L'Engle: This novel has a unique mix of magic and science in the story about Meg, a girl whose scientist father mysteriously disappears. With the help of her genius brother and classmate, she embarks on a quest to find out what happened, and meets some puzzling characters along the way.<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-52544962526543249122014-02-13T10:56:00.000-08:002014-03-04T09:04:49.029-08:00Book Review: Jack London, An American LifeOver the years I've read snippets about the life of Jack London. Everything I read led me to believe he had been an interesting man. So when a new biography came out, <b><u>Jack London: An American Life</u></b> written by Earle Labor, I had enough interest to buy it. I am very happy that I did. The life that Jack London lived was an amazing one. Amazing because he packed so much adventure, so much love for writing, so much love for animals, so much love for his wife into such a short life. He was born in 1876 and died at the age of 40 in 1916. What a life. This may sound like hyperbole but what a man. From the beginning, London longed to succeed. He had a lot going for him physically. He was handsome, he was strong from all of the hard labor he did and even though he was shy, he never allowed himself to be bullied. For him, to lose was not acceptable. He was not afraid to break the law in order to survive. But during the time he was growing up, in order to survive, you did what you had to do. Many of the situations he found himself in were places where human cruelty was the norm. By the age of 22 he had worked as a child laborer in a factory, he was a professional oyster pirate, served time in prison for something he didn't do, ridden the rails as a hobo, worked as a sailor on a seal hunting schooner bound for Japan , marched as a soldier in an army of the unemployed for the betterment of the working man, and searched for gold in the Klondike. He also became an alcoholic. <img alt="Front Cover" src="http://bks4.books.google.com/books?id=5wlOAgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&img=1&zoom=1&edge=curl&imgtk=AFLRE71Dl2vu_eLIIB7PE9Ql6V9rYGkMx20RZHXv4DyEfEsbtqtcBl38VNY9A9X8bDRZwOh8z_WWsEy5yoWZu1ynxHnRyVrSu3QhVzDjgwNiRDAm20Ia65KMqHfWPDkfHY2g1zwZxhWE" /><br />
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As varied as his life was one thing was a constant. That constant was his love of reading and writing. When he was a teenager, he entered a writing contest and won first prize, $25. From then on he continued to write. At first, he was a failure with rejection notice after rejection notice. He even went back to high school to hone his writing skills. He wrote for the school news paper and was on the debating team. But once he began writing about his experiences and those of the other Klondike veterans, his literary career took off. He vowed that every day he would write a minimum of 1000 words. Even though he might be abysmally ill from some tropical disease, he wrote. His work ethic was astounding. He wrote <b><u>The Call of the Wild</u></b>, <b><u>The Sea -Wolf</u></b>, <b><u>Martin Eden</u></b> and the non-fiction <b><u>The People of the Abyss</u></b>. London lived life fully which meant he spent a great deal of money. The more money he spent, the more he wrote. Not necessarily classics but "potboiler" stories that he sold to mass publications. With this penchant for earning money, he was living a contradiction. He was a proud socialist. That's why he marched with the army of the unemployed and lived for a year in London's notorious East End. He wanted to showcase the plight of the poor. <img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/12/29/books/review/29GIARDINA/29GIARDINA-articleInline.jpg" /> But the older he got the less he believed that socialism was the answer to the world's ills.<br />
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London was married twice. His first wife gave him two daughters. His second wife, Charmain Kittredge, became the love of his life as well as a match intellectually and physically. She even had boxing matches with him. During his marriage to Charmain, he went on one of the biggest adventures of his life. They had a boat built, The Snark, and sailed to Hawaii and then the South Seas. This trip was one of idyllic wanderings as well as terrifying circumstances. He returned from this trip as one of the most famous writers in America. He also returned with a myriad of tropical diseases. Between these diseases and his alcoholism, his health began to fail which then led to his untimely death.<br />
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The author, Earle Labor, says this of Jack London, "few writers mirror so clearly the American Dream of success and the corollary idea of the Self-Made Man". I would say he was more like the title of a Tom Wolfe novel, <b><u>A Man in Full</u></b>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-3861473895864649042014-02-11T17:44:00.000-08:002014-02-11T20:47:31.889-08:00Women of a Certain Age Drool Over Sting and Sing Along With Paul Simon<div style="background-color: white; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.333332061767578px;">
My sister had sent me a YouTube clip of Robert Downey Jr. singing along with Sting. I didn't know Downey could sing. But my focus was on Sting. I looked at that video and asked myself how could I possibly be a woman of a certain age and not have seen Sting in concert. Sting? How about The Police? I'm into this "why not" phase of my life. So I called my sister, who is always ready for some excitement, and said, hey, guess what sis? Sting is doing a series of concerts with Paul Simon and opening night is in your city, which was Houston. Book'em Danno! Now the seats were not inexpensive because we WERE seeing two legends. Off to the concert we go. I had told my sister that after seeing the marathon concerts with Billy Joel and Elton John that the concert probably would last a while. It did. 2 hours and 45 minutes. They could have kept on keeping on. They have an accumulated music history of almost 90 years. Since this was opening night, you could tell they were still working on timing and vocals. Plus putting their two bands together, 15 musicians in all, must have been a fun undertaking. The band included Paul's horn and percussion sections and Sting's great group of guitarists and backup singers. There were definitely times when these musicians were the stars on the stage. <img alt="Paul Simon and Sting kicked off their 'On Stage Together' tour at the Toyota Center on February 8, 2014 in Houston, Texas." src="http://www.billboard.com/files/styles/promo_650/public/media/sting-paul-simon-houston-650-430.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></div>
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Sting is 62 and you can tell that Tantric yoga works well for him. He had on a grey long, sleeve tee shirt with a silver jacket. When he took the jacket off in his first full set, well, the ladies in the audience let out an audible sigh. The tee shirt looked like it had been painted on. He may now clip his hair short but none of us cared. His voice is as strong and powerful as ever. He didn't jump around the stage but did do some reggae moves which the audience, meaning women, appreciated. On the other hand, Paul is pushing 75. As with most aging singers, his range is getting very limited. His band would start a song, one that most of us have heard tons of times, but couldn't recognize because the key was so much lower. I mean how can you not know <strong>Me and Julio Down by the School Yard</strong>? At first, the rendition they performed was not recognizable. The fact is it didn't matter. Paul was engaging with the audience and genuinely seemed to be having a great time. Plus Paul is a true poet. Some of the best lyrics in music have been penned by him. What we liked was Sting would sing a Simon song, like <strong>Bridge Over Troubled Waters</strong>, a cappella I might add, and then Paul would sing <strong>Every Breath You Take</strong>, and then they'd sing together. Awesome. It sure brought back those days of slow dancing and first loves. Ahhhh, those were the days.</div>
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Of course the crowd was older but there were many 30 somethings and 40 somethings there. I would surmise more for Sting than Paul. In a way they are both losing their fan base to an audience that listens to Eminem and Macklemore. The baby boomers, their bread and butter, are moving on, so to speak. To exemplify this theory of lost fan base, here is an anecdote: While waiting on the phone with a customer service rep, I said I was going to go see Sting in concert. She asked, who? I started to sing <b>Roxanne</b>, and she said, OK, I got it. I don't think she did. My sister and I were compelled to see this show not only to see these musical icons but also before we get to that stage when we ask, Sting who?</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-32837205823483393352014-01-13T19:31:00.000-08:002014-01-23T08:22:09.694-08:00Reviews on Three Books for ChicksSorry guys but this review is geared toward the ladies. And ladies when I say "chick lit", I'm not talking 50 Shades of Grey chick lit. I'm simply going to review three books about women and their relationships with men. The first is by the popular author of <b><u>The Joy Luck Club</u></b>, Amy Tan. Her books are always about the troubling relationships between daughters and mothers ...and men. Her latest, <b><u>The Valley of Amazement</u></b>, is no different. This time it's about an American girl living during the early 1900's who travels from San Francisco to Shanghai and then becomes the most popular madam of the most popular "courtesan" house in that jaded city. Lulu Mimi, as she is known, has a daughter that she names Violet. And Violet turns into one very precocious child. She has a ferocious pet cat that terrorizes everyone and she surreptitiously watches as the courtesans ply their trade with both Western and Eastern clients. Of course this being a Tan book, the plot twists and turns, Lulu Mimi is tricked into leaving Violet behind while Lulu Mimi intends for both of them to go to San Francisco, and that is when the story of Violet takes over. Read more...<a name='more'></a> I don't want to give away major plot moves but let's just say that Violet is forced into a similar position as her mother was when she was young. It is just the beginning of a long and arduous journey that covers four decades moving from Shanghai to New York to San Francisco and into rural China. The journey involves three generations of women that explores their private lives and their private pain. The Valley of Amazement is a picture that Violet's father had painted for her mother, Lulu Mimi. Each person that views the painting, based upon their own history, finds a different message in that "golden vale". The only part I found boring was the LENGTHY tutorial that Violet's tutor puts her through in learning the art of making love to a man. As the reviewer for the New York Times said, " It's an array of colorful multi-layered stories given further depth by Tan's affecting depictions of mothers and daughters as strong women struggling to survive." <img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" 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" style="margin: 0px;" title="http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Valley_of_Amazement.html?id=YlSpq64f7F0C" width="106" /><br />
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And then we move on to Sydney and Liane Moriarty's <b><u>The Husband's Secret</u></b>. Moriarty's novel is about secrecy, temptation, guilt, human frailty, obsession and marital malaise. Wow. That's a lot to cover in one novel but Moriarty does it very cleverly. You've got the main couple, Cecilia and John-Paul, whose marriage is, at best, on life support. Then you have Tess whose husband has fallen in love with their business partner and Tess' best friend/first cousin. Whew. Tess moves back to her home town with her son and soon runs into a hunky ex boyfriend who just happens to be the main suspect in the murder of his 17 year old girl friend back in 1984. The girl's mother, Rachel, is obsessed with finding her daughter's killer. As Cecilia confronts her husband's past, Tess deals with her marital tribulations with a quick affair and Rachel, well, she can't move on without doing something that will cause the fates of all of the characters to collide. Sometimes the plot is a little too pat and you may feel the ending is ambiguous. But it is edgy and provocative and bold. I think you'll like it as a "cold winter" day book. <img alt="DOWN UNDER DAMES Author Liane Moriarty's follow-up to 2010's What Alice Forgot is a chick-lit novel you won't want to keep a secret." src="http://img2-2.timeinc.net/ew/i/2013/07/23/The-Husbands-Secret.jpg" height="200" width="131" />Moriarty also wrote<b><u> What Alice Forgot</u></b>. <br />
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We shall now move to the southern half of the United States brought to you by the inimitable big-hearted story telling of Fannie Flagg with <b><u>The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion</u></b>. For me, she will never top <b><u>Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe</u></b>. But I keep reading her novels because I always know she has a story to tell. This time it's about Mrs. Sookie Poole who is entering her golden years with her husband, Earle. She lives in Point Clear, Alabama, has three daughters, a son and a domineering mother that lives WAY too close by. Sookie anticipated settling down, taking a cruise and spending more time with the love of her life, her husband. But as she says, "If you want to make God laugh, make plans." As she's making plans for her son's wedding, she receives a letter from the Texas Board of Health. And her life then goes topsy turvey. Here is where Flagg's great story telling comes in. As Sookie learns more and more about her mother's and father's secret past, she is also learning about hers. What she turns up is something long forgotten in America's past. And that is the contribution of women during WWII who were trained and used as pilots to ferry planes from point A to point B so that the men could then fly them onto battle ships and then on into battle. As usual, Flagg creates a cadre of unforgettable characters. As the story alternates between Sookie's discoveries and the adventures and heartaches of the women pilots of the 1940's, you might find yourself sitting in a comfortable chair and saying to yourself, I wish I knew these ladies... <img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" /> <br />
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Other chick lit to contemplate: Jojo Moyes' <b><u>The Girl You Left Behind</u></b> and the American version, or so they say, of Bridgette Jones, Maria Murnane's <b><u>Perfect on Paper: the (Mis)Adventures of Waverly Bryson</u></b>. <br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-81520684105941567062013-12-23T15:40:00.000-08:002014-04-24T17:55:17.182-07:00Review: Gran Melia Golf Resort, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico<b><i>My blog has moved to www.satisfyingmycuriosity.com. If you've enjoyed this blog, please check my new site out for other interesting comments on culture, book reviews, and music.</i></b><br />
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It has been years since I've been to Puerto Rico. And then it was always for a night or two before embarking on a cruise. My brother in law and sister in law go there all of the time for the shows and to gamble. We're not into that but we are into golf. And Puerto Rico has some very nice golf courses. The weather outside has been frightful so we decided to take a little trip to San Juan to play golf. After doing some research, I came upon the Gran Melia Golf Resort. Since we're talking off season there, the prices were astonishingly good. We got a junior suite, king bed, ocean view for $199.00 plus taxes. Taxes ended up being $158.00. This included a cocktail greeting, private check in, full breakfast buffet daily and a wine/champagne/appetizer party every evening. You also have free use of the internet as well as the use of a private pool area with great Bali cabanas. There is also butler service. All of this is called their Red Level Service. It is well worth paying a few extra bucks to get this because the buffet breakfast alone is $22 per person. Read more...<br />
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We paid the hotel to have a van come pick us up. It was $72 for both of us one way. The hotel prides itself in being close to the airport. It is but it depends on traffic. Getting there took about 45 minutes but going back was a short 30 minutes (Thursday mid morning). The property itself is 400 acres on the north eastern coast and is owned by a wealthy Puerto Rican. The hotel is owned by the Melia hotel chain which is headquartered in Spain. The hotel has 450 rooms and is really spread out so they have golf carts that circle the complex picking up and dropping you off at whatever destination you wish. You can call for one if you wish. Our room was only a 5 minute walk from the main building so we walked. Here is the view from our ocean "view" room:<br />
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As far as golf? Well, the best laid plans of mice and men....Puerto Rico and the Caribbean as a whole experienced a calmer than normal hurricane season. Good for them. Unfortunately for us, the rains decided to come in what is normally a dry season, except for the occasional afternoon 15 minute downpour. It had been pouring every night for two weeks and the courses...unplayable. Now they would still let you go out and my husband and I gamely gave it the good old college try but there wasn't even a place to find a good lie. The water and mud almost sucked my shoes off of my feet. I had only brought one pair of shoes...designed for dry weather and not water proof. The pro shop cancelled our 2nd 9 as well as our next day tee time at no cost to us. Sometimes these resort courses will offer you a voucher. Since the cost was $160-210 per person per round, we were very thankful for that. So what did we do? Well, we'd been to Old San Juan many times and my husband isn't into outdoorsy type of activities, except golf of course :)) We spent our time lounging in the Bali cabanas and read. Not bad, not bad. The resort has 4 nine hole courses 2 of which are TPC, Tournament Players Course, for a PGA event. The TPC course is a Trump International. It simply has his name attached for the "name" identity. What we saw of the course was beautiful. Unfortunately for us, we didn't play the portions that were on the ocean. Bummer. After 9 holes of slogging through water, we should have stayed in the cart and driven the course. It's a shame we did not. Rumor has it that these wet conditions have occurred during the PGA event and the owner of the course had his private helicopters hover a few feet off of the ground to disperse the water. Rumor has it :))<br />
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Here are our thoughts and some facts:<br />
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*The resort is very nice but the rooms lack the polish of an upscale resort. We never did have a pot for the coffee maker (we didn't bother to call) and the trim along the baseboards in the bathrooms hadn't been cleaned in awhile (dusty). But otherwise everything seemed very clean.<br />
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* There are three main restaurants: A Japanese sushi tappanyaki restaurant, an Italian/Steak House and a Puerto Rican/Caribbean themed restaurant. They were mediocre. The breakfast was very good as well as the food out at the pool. I had one of the best Greek salads I've ever had at the pool restaurant. We did not leave the hotel to eat because being 30 minutes outside San Juan, we just didn't want to mess with it.<br />
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* The spa is OK. Again, there were small things that needed looking after but hadn't been fixed i.e. light bulbs out, peeling paint etc. I had a hot stone massage for 75 minutes for $200+ including tip. I liked it. My husband said his massage was tepid at best.<br />
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* There is a casino but my husband and I didn't step into it.<br />
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* There is very little beach but a HUGE pool area. If you want swimming in the ocean, there are warning signs about undertows. So, pool it better be...And there is that private Red Level pool where children under 9 are NOT allowed :))<br />
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* The staff was very friendly and accommodating. That is not always the case at Caribbean resorts. Sometimes it was difficult to get someone to answer the phone, but all in all, we were very pleased with the resort and would go back.<br />
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For you golfers, here are some facts: The slope/rating/length for the gold tees are 75/134/6984 yards, the whites 75.9/135/6026 yards, green 71/9/122/5345 yards. There are also 5 other golf courses within a 30 minute drive from the resort. <br />
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Here are some optional activities in case you get caught with no playable lies:<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-64119938527155483582013-12-15T12:05:00.000-08:002014-01-23T08:23:46.283-08:00Book Review: Wonder by R. J. Palacio<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I always
read the Friday and Saturday Wall Street Journal editions because they include
numerous cultural opinion pieces as well as travel advice and recipes from renowned
chefs. In this one edition there was a
two page article on <b><i>See Grown-ups Read.</i></b> It
concerned the new phenomenon of adults reading books targeted to pre-teens and
teens i.e. The Twilight series as well as Hunger Games. One of the books mentioned was <b><i><u>Wonder</u></i></b>
which was published in Feb. of 2012. So
I decided to “satisfy my curiosity” by reading the book. It was meant to be read by 8-12 year
olds. No matter. This book is so well written it can give an
adult leaky eyes. The novel is centered around
10 year old August Pullman, an ordinary boy, according to August (Auggie). He plays X-box, rides a bike, eats ice cream
and has a wonderfully loving family. The
thing is Auggie is not an ordinary boy.
Auggie has a horrible facial disfigurement and has undergone 27
reconstructive surgeries. He tells us
that, “I won’t describe what I look like.
Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.” The author does tell us about Auggie’s craniofacial
abnormalities via his sister, Via, and his other schoolmates. He has “a mushed up face”, he “eats like a
tortoise”, and he has cheeks “that looked punched in”. Read more...</span><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Auggie has
been home schooled until one day his Mom proposes he go to a private middle
school close to their home. Naturally,
at first, he doesn't want to go. He has experienced
too many insensitive people talking behind their hands or staring in shock. He says, “I wish every day could be
Halloween. We could all wear masks all
of the time. Then we could walk around
and get to know each other before we got to see what we looked like under the
masks.” What Palacio does is make Auggie a wonderfully
strong and enduring character. He’s
smart, he’s funny and courageous. Even
though his father believes that Auggie’s going to school will be like “a lamb
to the slaughter”, Auggie perseveres.
Like many kids, he is bullied. There
are many injustices perpetuated against Auggie by older, bigger students. But he
eventually is surrounded by a cadre of students that watch out for his
well being. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The story is
told from a variety of points of view.
Other than Auggie’s chapters, pay attention to those of his sister,
Via. Via loves her brother. But as she gets older, she realizes that her
brother is the sun and the rest of the family orbits around him, “We circle
around him like he’s still the baby he used to be.” She wrestles with her resentment, guilt and
concern. She doesn’t want the kids at
her new high school to know Auggie is her brother because she wants to be known
as Via and not as the sister to ET. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This is the
kind of book you can read aloud with your kids.
Do a mini book club with them. They
will learn a great deal about kindness.
As a teacher in the novel says, “Be kinder than is necessary. Because it’s not enough to be kind. One should be kinder than needed.” We all could use a refresher course on that
item. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Other books
recommended for the 8-80 crowd…<b><i><u>Flora and Ulysses</u></i></b> by Kate
DiCamillo, <b><i><u>Navigating Early</u></i></b> by Clare Vanderpool, <b><i><u>Counting
by 7’s</u></i></b> by Holly Goldberg Sloan, and <b><i><u>Out of My</u></i></b> <b><i><u>Mind</u></i></b>
by Sharon Draper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-5644910471084466692013-11-28T18:26:00.000-08:002014-01-23T08:25:49.316-08:00Holiday Travel...Does Your Inner Scrooge Emerge?<br />
I remember a while back I heard Bill Cosby telling a story about a child on an intercontinental flight he was on. I believe he called him Jeffrey and Jeffrey was 5 or so. Jeffrey and his mom were seated behind Bill in first class. On the 6 hour plus flight Jeffrey banged on the back of Bill's seat. He'd run up and down the aisles. He'd cry. He'd scream. His mother had no control over Jeffrey at all. As the plane's gangway was hooking up to the plane, Bill looked at the mother and said, "Jeffrey should really be a model." The mother beamed. Really? she inquires...Yes, Bill says. He should be a poster boy for birth control...<img align="middle" alt="" border="0" class="th imgthumb19" height="119" name="imgthumb19" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBwgHBgkIBwgKCgkLDRYPDQwMDRsUFRAWIB0iIiAdHx8kKDQsJCYxJx8fLT0tMTU3Ojo6Iys/RD84QzQ5OjcBCgoKDQwNGg8PGjclHyU3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3N//AABEIAHcAUAMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAbAAACAgMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAFBgMEAAIHAf/EADgQAAIBAwIDBAYJBQEBAAAAAAECAwAEEQUhEjFBBhMiYVFxgZGhwRQVIzJCUrHh8AczQ3LR0iT/xAAZAQADAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAwQFAQD/xAAhEQACAgIDAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAQIRAyEEEkEiMVEyE//aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8AUYR9kn+oqwgNRxDCL6hU6iqURskUZqVRWirUeo30Wm23fSgsScKg5saO6OVZdjGRXjXNsjBHuIlc8lLgGk27v9Vv4uIziOM/44jjHt/egz2kiZLKKS88b0PWBtHTxg/dIPqNala5dG7RvmNmRgfwnGKdOyOsyXzGxvH4pgvFHIebjqD50UclsF46DDqagbOaIPDvULQ0YDQNUEYFToDXmN/bUqCgOtEsa0B1dPrDVVtyT3duN/8AY8/himOMZqjpMAmvLiU7kyN086n5eRxhr0q4eJTybIo9MVI14VO3T0VDcaZxIRt5U2uipBthcc2NDGPFxMscgQfiYc/PyrHuSdm48cKo53qFg0UhOOu4FU43mtZkljJSRcMjA03arxZkKoAQNqDaXbxTzhrtyIFYcRO/qq/FlfS2ZeXF90jodjKt9p9vdLj7WMMcenqPfXrR1mgxhbFoVjCJG3gAGMg75q6Yt60Mc+8VJEWXG4ScX4LnU+upEGa0HM+upUrgBZiG9CrPU57G6us2XFEszZfIBG/md6KxA1U1NFilMvdhhcIFkPVQv5T0yCQfSKn5MU4W/Criyccmghdy/WVlDdhWMbDPADjirbUra6NvbvFcQqTFxMqkMFOccJwc59hHnU+lxNc6RDIY8JxHxA/ACtI5beGZlltJXRcZbi338qx+zTZv9bSdgDV4i1sJViCqPvD0UGsIImlKkhVfPiPQ42Pvpm16W2kjUWLsS48SHcUsInDHNEw/Cabib60R56U7GzQZfo+p/VzzCRmgyOhGDyI6czTAyAZpI7G2N5N2itxYwd6VDs4JwFThwST05j24FPrIDyrU40l062ZvITc3KhLB8R9dSxnfflUHF4jW8bb02yai9Gd6i1a3knsy0K8Top8H5h1x57V7HnIxuasxMQedcklNdWHBuLtArRdavntzYWrxRqMkMx5HHQemmBBHHE0cXFPIObHkT6SaAanpqQT/AE+CGNxxAvGV6/8AKOWF3cX0KlAioq/dVcACsjNDo6Nzi5P+i2wffxtHHI1wkYOAVZNsnIoM0XeX0iQqSWYKAP0on2ilx3MbOSwOSvo609/047ImyA1jVY//AKn3giYbxg/iPmfh6+XMcbE8maToO9iezkXZ7RWa5VVu514p2P4B0X2frS52il47mSXTY+EHOS+wY+mmHtNqZZvoVuScby8J9w+dLQlMjd1bASP1bHhFVWuy6+EqTabl6IK4aZU4sFyeHzxzxVhrd0jZwxLKTsBsds71LEuntawqzv8ATzMGjC8gud8nHoz8KOxaTbTanLZWlws7Pbd6VDDCnbbb1/ClZc2TtSKcPHwqFy2BraR7a/iOOOGTw781z1qS2k4lOSGKnhJHU1HrcH1Q+jyy8NwVcSSIDzVdt/f8K2vZ4pLuOe0YLDOQO7xz9LDH82ruDLJTXb09yMUXjah5sugo6FHGVYYI9IqnHaXFkFEN3GsOeFeNSW36YHOtzIsSM7sAqjJJ6UDhv7nWNatLa2XBaYCFfPPM+oAmrM8YNfSIMU5Rfyx77Idi7n61bU9aKuI5GMKc+PB2c+XUD1U86zqn1fZPKMGQ+GMfmY8qtWBkNjD36d3KFAZc8sftST2z1AvqK21uRmHwrvyc7k+wYHlvWb0bl+j+1vYPlnkmne2DktjiuZDzGamt5GGIbQFI+hUbmh+nQfSS0MZbuAS80h5yt/z5UxQiK2x3a+LGMqeQqlfOj3+hJ0uwtVuJZYJnmiJ+zkdeEg48Ww5b7eyprgTJnuZHjmAI7yNirEdRkUv2WpLZeAk8LSHmNh7aNi4FwF4dm678xUuZSU7ZoceUJYkkLt8rWhfCsUPXntW+kK7wwOOLuoyzBiMZJzRtdG1LV3ZNPtmnCZ7zBAHtzQrSrLU4NTn082U6Rw5LiReERn1n0/zaqePFOnIi5LcW1Eq9pr0xxR2yMQzHib1dKYf6PWKvqk2oyrkxDu4iejHcn3Y99I+um5+s5Vu4+7kTw8Pl0rqn9MoBaaLATjjmzIfadvhij5M/mxGGO9jzNdm1e7unP2EEA2PItkn/AM++uYvLLd3ctxK5Aw3iO3mzfL2029udS7m1jsYj9o+GbHUk4X5+4Uo3PdQvIXYmNfDw+lV+97WY4pOGOrCkX4bx0ght0+zMqliAOS9PlRe28CpxDG2Bk86D6TZzuzX96uJZd0jbYRr0Hrourxlhlgd+dNrZ1PRymKQ9+BjJ4vnVx0urYGe2njEHeAHjcL3eT1B6Z9H6VRt+E3Y3/FUt6YzkOFLYzgnnTZxT/SeE3F2jov8AT7tTDFZ3tvJCz8LK6yp91mIwV3wenn18s3Lq9kvLh5ZSC5OeEDYdPl/NqRezRkRlt1wve+NANz0zTYEdxHDE2FY4Z/Z+1C3UVHxDYvs3J/pT1TT7DWMx3MfeMiHEq7GMeXw55rNA1aLTysU7cCwLgBtuWw/7RqK2SCMiNV5YPXNLXabQpNVWOW3k7ubPDIzHChfP5Uqce+hifTaNrnVBqVwNQmJEbyGVc/lUYX9BWulwfSALy7yIyA6qepO+feaBnvra7g0qcMCI2jVmXAcEjp02pyiRQBgrw88nkBTEuq0KX0zZ7lO5XhPhH3s9d/3rewzNIk5ACKRwA+n0mq0tu11IiQrww5yS4xmt7u6KXtrZwbkzIhwMDmOVeQTZzW3/AL+/5jVqNO8fAUFWOM/OsrKcyVF3TNQUay1vGD/awvljH89lOen3CtB48hozknn/ADnWVlBJKh2NhBJC0jRDOVGSarWNwt5dXEn+C2bgA/M+ASfYDt5k1lZS6GNgzWNIgVZ57ccUiMsuXPUsAB5DGffXlreQtIEeLEy+Bh0yPhXtZRLaBepaCbu8cTPL4cDOBvVXQLb6VrEd5J/bSVVRT6cisrK5H+hS/h//2Q==" style="margin: -1px 0px 0px;" title="http://www.nndb.com/people/674/000022608/" width="80" />Read more...<a name='more'></a><br />
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I think Bill encapsulates the perils of flying very well. As one blogger on the Huffington Post pointed out, we Americans really do travel at the worst of times. We tend to travel during July and August, Christmas and Easter breaks and on weekends. When everybody else is traveling. And since we're in the holiday season... What do we see? All of the family trudging through a vast airport with the little ones all pulling their very own roller bag and each one with their own smart phone not paying any attention to where they are going. Everyone carrying bulky sweaters and jackets or toys, all to fill the very precious overhead bins to the brim. And all with tons of GERMS. Let the fun at grandma's begin!<br />
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Cheapflights.com did a survey of 1081 American fliers that focused on the good, the bad, and the ugly of flying. What particular behavior sets off your inner scrooge? Here is a break down of the most annoying traveler behavior. Mine is not listed.<br />
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* Kick your seat (19.33%) Particularly kids or 6 ft. 6 guys in coach.<br />
* Talk loudly or incessantly (17.58%) And the FAA wants passengers to be able to use their phones? Just shoot me now.<br />
* Let children misbehave (17.11%)<br />
* Put feet on your armrest/tray table/into your leg space (8.14%)<br />
* Carry excessive amounts onto the plane/over sized luggage (6.48%) Have you ever been to Miami Intl and see what people try to take on to the airplane?<br />
* Recline his or her seat (6.01%) I did this on a commuter plane ONCE and the guy behind me said, pardon me, but we don't recline our seats on these types of planes. Ok then...<br />
* Yank on your seat back (5.27%) You're sound asleep and the person in back of you uses your seat back to hoist themselves up. Thanks a pant load...<br />
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So, what is the bad behavior that would be my # 1? A few years ago my husband and I were flying back from visiting relatives in Jersey. My husband had an aisle seat and I was right next to him. The guy across from my husband, in an aisle seat, let out three very messy, spit laden sneezes that probably managed to hit at least everyone with in a 5 foot circle and I'm certain hit the ventilation system for all to breathe. Three to four days later, my husband and I both were sick with upper respiratory infections. Nice going, Mister Sneezster. Now, after every flight, I wash out my sinuses with Neil Med saline solution. I don't if it helps but so far so good. So, if you're sick, please do everyone, I mean everyone, a favor. Stay the hell at home. Or at least, for Christ's sake, have a wad of Kleenex or handkerchiefs in case of an on coming sneeze or cough. And USE HAND SANITIZER, you dummkoph.<br />
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It seems, though, at least through this survey, that we take these annoyances in stride. Almost 70% of the respondents said they'd do nothing if someone exhibited one of the above behaviors. 30% said they would confront the passenger directly. I'm usually the grin and bear it type. <br />
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What about you? What is the most annoying behavior for you? <br />
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src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" 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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-28499940415939778452013-11-09T18:55:00.000-08:002014-01-30T11:44:58.296-08:00Books for Gifts For Your Reader Family/FriendsLots of great books came out this year. I've already written a blog on my favorite,<u> <b><i>And the Mountains Echoed </i></b></u>by Khalid Hosseini. Second would be <b><i><u>Me Before You</u> </i></b>by Jojo Moyes (review below). Here are a few that I think you would enjoy reading or giving as a gift. I've marked the <br />
one's I've read with an *. <img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBwgHBgkIBwgKCgkLDRYPDQwMDRsUFRAWIB0iIiAdHx8kKDQsJCYxJx8fLT0tMTU3Ojo6Iys/RD84QzQ5OjcBCgoKDQwNGg8PGjclHyU3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3N//AABEIAKAAagMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAcAAACAwEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAFBgMEBwIBAAj/xAA+EAABAwIFAwIFAwEHAQkBAAABAgMEBREABhIhMRNBUSJhBxQycYEjkaFSFSQzQrHR8BY0U2JygpKiweEl/8QAGQEAAwEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDBAAF/8QAJxEAAgICAgIBAgcAAAAAAAAAAAECEQMSIUETMVFCYQQiMlKBkeH/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AMwU8CPJ744JGx4SeMFH6TrlEUdp+oRk7B4WJUee3sP/AM805UWTrWn5F1so2UgIJKD7+MBUPsQlywte5x71Qdr2OCMTL5VGamyJ0dMYmyyglRQf6eLar9r4sM5bdbYW88W9Sh6UlxJCR2KrG4/Nh74D1CsiQFuvV6RfFoQpanQ2qOtCz/X6bc83tbg84ZqflqQYjSngiIjqakrAs+5ccJtx7Xubb7YkkZOqMmEsSalrdV6g0u9tXbUrlRtcX/2wm0fkLzCiy31HyylyxHdKSsn7BPOG5VOrSYLEhmlRRJNlBLSrLbOw9QVcEbXIBGKMnLdVhvNyUR0qS06hakQiEgpFibXOoqwxHOFOSEFAkgFYS6VsKSGrmx1G2A5dx5J5ZOXrk7pdBbcAm1kCRNJsRp0oaI7JHf7m/bF2BR4lPK3Y7ADikkE8KUCb2J5/nF5KgsAoIKSLgjuMddsTc2ZZSYm5tdjvsriuPtIejhKggNXCib2QV9jx/thKsSohII9icat8nIXOkLkKaVEcCdKDyLc9vOAqcjwSAXpUhStR3SQNjxz4xVOJbDn0VMQb49w4ZpyyxFpiZFPTpMcfq6lbuDz9x/p9sJ2DVmvHlU1aNrotOdpoKZshuQtIVo6bWkICiDb3O37W/Np1bd1HSLq5sPq++LSo6lc74pzYssNWhqQl3UN3EkjTffa4x5fm2dsk4MW6w2D/AHIsPNR1rSpHQYbBSrYen3vfnfk+MUmMsSlyW5BkKYaKgtcdSiv1A31bG179hbtzhyTFcA9SlKUeScBswynaZ8mGzZT7+g3F7ICSpR/AGNOPPt+WJPxybpF9mO2hZdUtTrp21q7DwLbAf83xKUi9rb4rxW5mpyTNX0mbXSyUp9AtypXn24HvgG3mBTmWzNEpn52Q7ojN6RcAr0gKTzxuf4wySkBYZMYlIuNxtgJV6ZUJHXaivRflnkALZfaJ38gpPsPscHqjIZpVNdlPhTxaQpWkbFVhcn2HnA6XVnGIdEJbT8xUXW0LGn6QRdRA9rjHQfaBHFP2AGHq/l+moTMgMy4sdNi4y8dYSPItvYYKvZgpzDbbrroSy4z1UuXBB/8ADYb6va2CuYZYp0ALbCOq84hhsL4uo239gLn8YXqhRKHToUmvNMx5LIaJbSUDS45qskgD02/G/OHWsuWMse1Ng6qZzKkNopUZQS4rQJUpOhu/sf8AW+C9Dqpk0FVQqCm2+iVpdWn6DpPI9sEajBjPx4lJntlQnBQSlKUp6Skp1XFuLcd8K0rINYaiKixKwlxgm/RdK0IJ82BI/jFEotUBwjXwUTMj5krAkVOQ3GpTCum0045pLp58/Yn8DF1zJUNxxS2p+ltRJSkb2HYX74HM/DyrqJ678Jnb02Wpd/8A4i2E+UGYkl6M+gdVlam16UAi4NjY4rSfpncP9LP00honEoaT3Ax9Up0el02TPkD9KO2XFhNrkDxfvjlFXjmipq2kojFgP/qWBCCL3PjbHjeOzfwdFnb6cAKvl1yq1ll2Ro/s9uM60prWdSlLFibWtxtzgzT67Fl0IVqS38nDU11Qp9QuEeSBx9vfEiZji2xKVCW3D0FZWtYC0pte5Rbi2/Nx47CkYODtBVIUo9ArYytOpEyRGeeUhTMZ9Sjct8DXtzb7/wAY4eyxP6GXYjLjPytOWlySlSzdxabWKfT51eOcOkt9tiIiQiz4dKUspaIu6VfSEnjfzxbfFFVScj1SLT5sB1tyWVdB1pXUb9IudRsNJ47b3xTbIvRwuVbLsyrU2Z84hhNQeBQ0pLylIZR4HpHPfbf8C3j1KqDdWpctoR32YMYtdN1wpOsixWCEntYfvhik1GSGn34NNVJjxyoOLLwbK9JIV0xY6rEHkpBPGKMzM8VjK7OYm4bzsR21m7pQvdWkbHnfx2wVLJ6oTV9Al6FW50ikvzUwkqhyVvOoacVZXIRb09gcWKpT5VSgIjPojNNolod6SCSlTSDcJOw3JtfsPfF6oVSZDZYefoTobeebaJakJUpBWQASB2uQPzjmo1Mxa/GordPcefkpUtpwOpCNIG5PccEYZORNwn0RuRESKuzVJFy8y0ptpsKulGo7q4Fydhid1alYo5jrUfL9QjR57DgakcSEkFKNwCVDkDf+DiWsuTIKoqYsESzJeDQ/XCLEgnwewJxSL9GeWPI/Z9IW6llamG0uOgXShS9IUfF7G2MLq8CU/VprzjCmluSHFKb0g6SVE2v7Y2mp1IwqmqnoirefERUr0q20p5B73228+2MckVioSZDsgyFAurKyEpFhc3224xqw20SjjlH2bD8VpjrdAap8dSuvPfS2lCRusDt+5T++Oc/OVOn5RMBPySG3S1EbS3q1W22323At+cGK9QpFTr1HqKZLYYpzmsx1pJ17g3v2IsLbY5zVQ5dcqNJdRJaaiwpCX3GlpJLhBB+3Yj84wwlFar+T0VJKkAsxR1MzMo5WRq+R1JW7Y7udOxsfbk/n2wy5+qxp+Uai8k6XHUdFsk917fwLn8Y+rlIM+REnRloaqEFalR3VpKk+oWUlQuNiPG/H2xVeo7tabjf9UCM6mM4XEx4usNlXAKidzt22G55x20XTfQFO6Zy1l96sZBokMSZEGdEYZeYc31NuBFhcc2sT7jEmS6/VzVpWXczIQqoxmg83Ib+l1BNt7C19xY2F99hbE4jzo9amVKNUEuIktoR8pIB0I0jYpIO3ft3xxLpTk1Ep9VScjVCSGkGRGRYNNtrKghIJ4uTck7/bbHbJppv/AAOwErQr+QXXJ1OcTPoDkhTrsZxu6o2o3NjyBubHi/I3ue/iQpyqP5botO/TM17rAKFgAkC2oDsLk29sMjrMufHMOqSIzkVVg6GWVIU8AQbG6iAD3AH2IwPqFCky81R68maxqitFuOwthZSi97q2WN/Ufbjxhlkjdv2NHIuw3Rm6g/GeVW246HhIUG22TdAQk2SRfe5te/8AphaorZqnxLrU4ai1To6YaFHYazur87K/fBiEzVhUnZlRqbD6QyW2GGoxQhtRIJUbqJUdrc+bYrZTor2X2Kikz0SX5j6nw6tkjSsj/N6txfft3wtpWwLIueTiv0JOYIeYEFIUvpoYj3OwW2krB/8Ac4QftivkaoIzLApDi1odfgxlF8XGpLhPTQogcXSFn84P5fjzoENxuoyY8l1bq3A4w0UX1KKje6j3O1rbYgolChUFdTdph0OT3eqrWAUt+EgC3pBJNr98DeNOP9AlONUxWyeXKj8QcxTSerGZ/uoUe1iAAPP0n98YhXD0K3UGWAG2m5LiUITwlIUQAMfo7LND/wCmqe/EZfL6XXi+pwo0kqIAPc7WAxh2Ycp1Nyv1JbLV2lS3Sg37azbGrFJNujPlkpS4P0Rcje2PVOeRiyGxbe2K0l+O250i62HSnUEahqI828Y8jyLo2UjhbqQOLnA2dPbZaWt1YSlPJPbEcqaADpv+2EWu1Iyn1BKyW0cC+1++HgnkYHUVYdqFcf6aBDjSf1ACFqaNrHi3m+IP+oZKVKKWHyELIOtHAA3Bt3B/jAunZhXCaQ2IiVhPSBJXY+hxax2POu34xxGqqWIDsNEMdFby3UjWBo1NlFrBIFgCeABxxbG9YoJGdzbGmDXVhSWpsOU24ohsKKLXc22tb3G3O+GFl9tZUoJc09vb74QvmZPUYd/s9QWxKbk31DcKCAlJ9N7EoHe2/G18E2M1yIrim/kghQ6iVpLlwNSirYae1/4GJTwr2mOn9hx0lR9KFW447450n3GBMbNYlLSpbSUOBV9JULcW8YnRUdayTYXN7Xxlm3APjsI3I84H1+oP0uhz57DAdcjMLdCVGwNhffFlqYg84QvjLWP/AORBprKyPmHS46kH6koGwP8A6iD+MLiyOWRRoSeKlYxZKzBKruX0TZzAbdLi0HpAhKwLWIv/AM2wYKmyf8I/thR+Dk6cihORJ8QiChRciyFHdeom6QO4BBN/fGhdaP4/jFcn4hY5uNElik1YiyMwynD6VEDwDjOodXkIz89UOm9NdSVoCQd9Nina+1h/zfFteaoDKCrrJUQbWSL3wsoqUJmsrmw3XGElwEbbBP8AnFjzft4xfFgatNGvIla5NUenifQ5Tkh3ozCpJaZvY6dtQNtj9Xn/ACnEbEGkvICnUtpcGiyOooJVdDZNyVbeorHbg8WwsN5vpSj6jxiIZ6pge0lhwt/1AYMFkjwognCPchzfpFJKVoiuNBS0r0OLeJ0WKQCRcb/V/sRuCKaTl3qqcYWhQL1whbhAS2U372NwQf4wlxs50FxRC1lva/qSf2xbOcMutN6xICri9gDf9sB5sq+gHhj+4MR6fTm4SXHm0LcDDg0hR1FwqFjztseLdid+MXGaTSm5SUSHWkxzJdBKXQSG9HoOyv6vb89sLIz5lwNqUVuXHCembq+22A874jwikiJTnlKB9OtYSP8AnOAp5pfQK4xXZoIj0lDzP6kcJASFanTa+hd77/1BP8Y+p5hrQEvPsp/VXut2xKdJ099hfk23vyO+PSM9VZ1ZLKIzKeyQ3e37nnFJeaa2u95yhfnShI/+sV8M37oG66NzkrpRj3jym1OltJOtzhe1wBfe/wCft3GaZiYdzPXlt0x1taYcfSpxblkark6QfP8AsfGEeTOmS1BUiU8s8epZx7EnzYX/AGSU6z3shVhhlgp2vZzlapmyZOriXaUIi2xFfgBLDjaiLCwFiPvg6iuRlJChNY3F91DH59RKkpccWl9wLc+s6vq++O/nZX/frxCf4JSldlIzaVUUMfXx8RjzHomQ9vj6+PsWqbT5NTmNxITKnn3DZKE+O5PgAbk9scArWOJuogxAz0EBwOFfWudRFvpte1u/F8P8zK8CJDyyqAhE5Sm5c2ZIaQpwPIb029JA9N0qAFrG/vi/GplHczDSVtRorlJlNO1p6MlAJbbDX+ETa9g4lwab2sR4x1hozxU+OpSlJpcRN3CsAFZABTbT9XAO/wB/bEcmQ2+gJTEZZUCkam732Ta35O/3ODeYocRqmUd9SgKtKbdemtIbCA2CuzY0jYGwO3i3tg7LZ6WXcuJiwoH9qVpbjaf7qghDOzKBuL6iolWrm+99sCx1GlZn6WyTYYk6KvY40+t0mA6iqCkxEpcl1diixbxkANBsHqLQdzvYXVzucB88oQzU5DMKKuPAEhbaEriIaupolHoUBqUkghRJ7q42wjbRSNMSkMHfULY7Ebbcfzi4E3PGPtJviezHogQyNNiMedJPgYskWF8Q3GBZwNIxJGiPy30MRWXHnl7IbaQVKV9gOcWExzgpQG1MVVmWnUPlErk+k2J6aSq1/cgD84ruK4IBqiuofLC23EvBWktqQQrV4tzf2xcixKlGn/Lx2ZrUw7dNpC0u2IvwN7EY3eiRabTM8VKtPqZXIegCc2EDV0mAw3rc9ipdwPYKxn9VabifDuLVOqlU2uT3lyXL3c6aLjpE/wBOoBRH28YZuiaVik0irodMVBqIeaSUqjpLmpCdrgpG4HHtxjuHFqTClOxmJzRbV0lONIcT01X+kkcG/b3xqTDFPoVYL7DjT0yiZXJlO6woKkmyUpPfYEjyAU4RqXHU7DpNMkOKSipzvmJRUo3Uyj0g87j/ABzf29sIxk/gDmn1F6UuOIEx2URqWjoLU7vbci1+/OOmqVVpLjaWYNQcURqQEsOKuPKdvYceBh9nS2qvlY5xW9pqaI7lJdbGxUpZ9CwfZpa/2HjA2UpaciN1OW4pc6o1FCGlkW6bEZGkAeAFeMCkFNig4l1pSkPFxtSVFKkLJBSe4I7HEiY8hbZe6bqmwDdekkDfzxycPGX47cWPXqhNkMu1c02TJeS60sqZK/SPVbTqUVm+9xxbnAebETGydQ4rQJnVeauSEW30p/Rb/cqJH3OBQ2yAiKdMVIbjJiSDIdAU2z0la1g8EC1yNseIhSnStLUR9akK0KSlokhXiw7+2HZUmLUqPPmIW2l3KkhwxQRsuMUFLQ97OoT9gT5xRpMVpNMeolWjyqRXaLGenQZyDYaSNely3F+yh9udidQbiS6sAHfFIui/OPJD17gbYqajgxhYJSSD5QEjfEsea9ES82xI6QkI0OpFvWnwfbDBkhh+Rm+lx42m7shKXNTSXB0r3XsoEfSDvg3nKv1CBmWuRstiLGpsNTbS0NwY5Sk7C51IJ+skYRK1Y8nzQoUuu1amodFMqLzKX0BtzSQoLSBpA3B2A2xFBq82mtuMQ5q2UOEFbYIIKgLA2N7Htcb4dURo/wAQc6LlBsRKbGhtuT30AJ2Sn1G3Yk3SPZN/bAJzNEhEoopSW4lHCwEQENJKVtAj6yoEqUoDcne+CD7UBojz8R0yI7zjbqrhS9W6r83vzfvfFmPVKhHmqksy3ESCjplYIvptbT4tba2GjKzEWq/ExpqhsdKlKeJDShf9BCe+rf1ED39X3wMzLNNSzNKjQQ2G0TVMxGG20pCbK0pAsPYYV3VnJq6AyFqUFAuEpcUFqTf6lC9j9/Uf3OLbtWnIRGSZ7oTHUCwnqbNkcFPjDlniE+7mamZVpIbU58u0h6yEgLeNypaiB/SAT/pgJm5xOW6o9Q6M4tpMZCUSZIGl2Q4pIKvVyEi9gBYc884FNDKSYtLq9Qb+aU1OfHzV/mClw/rc/V574pitzmXIykT30LigiOeqQWQf6fH4wz1OkOzsgNZoXdUhE5Ud5w2HUatZKvdQV6b82+18EKLLkUP4Rz6ikLEqdUkx4DiU3KLAXKdtvpWL99sUUWJKSozxyQ5IU86panFOG7q73uSb7n3OO5Vcqb8P5ORUpTsfVq6Tj6lC/wCT7YZVZxr0SDWqRXnX31Tooa6b4ALKiUqCrdvQT73tg1GqlSoHwcbnIkrRKn1DoRHQPUwwkXISSNgShXHnDJCuVdGVrNxcYjxotDjSc8ZUzEuqu9eXRmESIskoBdt6yptRAuoEJ2vexxnmn3GKEZO2bB8Kw3Ers+syT/d6VTnX12vzb7eAvFGdmioZkpgoiocVMubUusVMMpRqB4CiOSCd1eBvj6mZlmUqmyadHhU5yNLTokB1lRLo4sSFjsTxiFrMkiGzJbgUqjxFyGlMrfZjL6qUKFjpUVm22Mqmqo2yxvZug/kvpsfCvOD7LqESS4Wi4lW5RoRpA9iVLt98IEGE/PkoixGy48oEhI7AC5J8ADvi1TKhJpSnflumWn2+m+w4jU08j+lSfA7dx2OLbWZpcFmQzSYsKnIkNqadLDRU4tCuQVrKlW+1sNaYurTYx/CR5qlxsx5ldF0U+EEtki91Kuq339CRb3x18LaxWa7nlhuVNBQlpciQExmhrCbAC4TcepQ3v2wrRc51CnZffoUeFSzBf/xQuOpSnDYeonXudh+3bFfLGdKjlVRXSY9PLy0lCnn2Cpakk3sSFDbj9sMmuBJJ8j/keqMVP4y1OTKS2VuGQmOTvYoKUDT76En+cZtWprk+rT5V3FrkSnFpCt1G6zYfe1hiq7VZH9qKqMQNw5HU6qDFBQlpXlIubfb74JKzO/1RKbp1Kbn6+p86iL+pq51BJJQFX3vp537YDpnJNMbfiC/FomTKHk2KHPn0FEuc2k6tK1JJ0n3Kl3AHgeRi7nSt1bIdDyZSqa98s41G68xoAHWr0kggji5X/wAGMxiVJ9iqCoLKJMkOdQqlAual86jc7m/fBytZ5qtZlplVSHR5TyE6UqdgJXYePUT5vhlJCuL4ANbVMrdTeqnTKnKpNd6Ld7qUoqGwHj1BI+3th5+NryKdByzlhhCWUQoQecbTewUr0jn/AMqv3wnVHNdTmVSn1F5MNDtPQlEVpqMlLTYSSRZHGxP8DFuq/EatVZ9D9Rj0iTIbRoS+9TWlrAvcbqB7k4ohJ32ONCrLWTvgo+VvBupVpx0xW0ka9JsjX5AASd/t5xj2vFqp1ObVpRlVGS5IeKQnUs8JHAA4AHgbYp4JM//Z" /> So, here we go...<br />
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Non-fiction:<br />
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<b><i><u>Furious Cool, Richard Pryor and the World That Made Him</u></i></b> by David and Joe Henry- If you like Richard Pryor and want to know what made the guy tick, then this book will enlighten you. I've seen Pryor live in concert and have also wondered what warped that mind.. This book gives you great insight into what did.* <img alt="Furious Cool by David Henry" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1377632648m/17871514.jpg" /> Read more...<br />
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<b><i><u>Johnny Carson</u></i></b> by Henry Bushkin. Yes, the great Bushkin, Carson's lawyer finally writes a tell all about his life with Johnny. Mainly about their building a financial empire but also about Johnny's great love/hate relationship with his mother, what an SOB he could be and also what a charitable man he could be. Not well written but a good insight into Johnny's world.*<br />
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<b><i><u>Still Foolin'em; Where I've Been, Where I'm Going and Where the Hell Are My Keys</u></i></b> by Billy Crystal. An autobiography which moves between the life of Billy Crystal growing up and into the now but these chapters are sandwiched between Billy's funny rantings. Very, very funny. *<img alt="15902792" height="200" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1369568990l/15902792.jpg" width="131" /><br />
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<b><i><u>A House in the Sky</u></i></b> by Amanda Lindhout. The hubris of the young. Lindhout begins traveling the world in her early 20's. She mainly backpacks with friends or by herself. She travels to some very dangerous locations simply because she wants to go there, places like India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. She gets it in her mind that she could become a war correspondent. Lindhout is from Canada and she meets a fellow traveler, Neil, who is from Australia. She talks Neil into going into worn torn Somalia to try to get some war torn footage. Big mistake. She and Neil are captured by radical Muslim Somali war lords and held captive in and around Mogadishu for 18 months. She and Neil go through a very harrowing ordeal at the hands of their very young guards. Because Amanda is a woman she, in particular, is the victim of the majority of the abuse. <img alt="518YrPJhpFL._SL500 (1)" src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/391a6206c691b6f50090a70cf43d3d110e49ed35/c=0-30-330-470&r=537&c=0-0-534-712/local/-/media/USATODAY/BookReview/2013/09/06/1378505639000-518YrPJhpFL-SL500-1-.jpg" height="200" width="150" /> A story that won't easily leave your mind.*<br />
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Other non fiction I have yet to read: Charles Krauthammer's <b><i><u>Things That Matter</u></i></b>, Tim Conway's <b><i><u>What's So Funny</u></i></b>, Malcolm Gladwell's <b><i><u>David and Goliath</u>,</i></b> Bill Bryson's <b style="font-style: italic;"><u>One Summer America, 1927 </u></b>and<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>Charles Duhigg's <b><i><u>The Power of Habit</u></i></b><b><i>.</i></b><br />
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Fiction:<br />
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<b><i><u>Me Before You</u></i></b> by Jojo Moyes. Louisa, a girl with an ordinary life with an ordinary family and an ordinary boyfriend, takes a much needed job as a care giver to a Master of the Universe type. Will Traynor, who has always lived life to the extreme, extreme in sports, extreme in work and extreme in love, he is now a quadriplegic living the rest of his life in a wheelchair barely capable of moving. Will has plans that only his family know about. But they hire Louisa to try and help him understand that life, even his kind of life, is worth living. Don't read this book if you're at a bad time in your life. Read Billy Crystal's if you are. But it is a book that makes you question what is life and does it ever happen that it is no longer worth living. * (My daughter asked me what I was doing reading "chick lit"? To my friends and I, well, we dismissed the love aspect of it, our age I guess, and focused on the "right to die" part.)<br />
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<b><i><u>Sycamore Row</u></i></b> by John Grisham. I swear every time I see he has a new book out that I won't buy it. No! No! No! I buy it and, at least for the last 10 books, I should have saved my money. I knew where this one of going almost immediately and that's no fun. A lawyer in a small Mississippi town (surprise) is mailed the will of a person he does not know. The person sends a hand written will leaving 90% of his money to his black house keeper because of something he and his brother saw when they were little. The mystery is why? * (OK, so I don't like John Grisham anymore but he is #1 on the best seller list. You decide.) (Update 1/22/14...this book was selected as one of the best books in 2013 and my husband liked it. Go figure...)<br />
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<b><i><u>Cuzco</u> </i></b>by Alex Walker. The sequel to <b><i><u>Toltec</u></i></b>, Cuzco takes us on another wild filled ride with the cousins Simon and Elijah 15 years after the American Civil War. They are once again dispatched by the US government on a top secret mission. This time to South America and the Andes and...Cuzco. We are again merging the old "west" with space travel. The guys are chased by blood thirsty Indians, wild chases with ruthless Frenchmen at their heels and have the inevidible meeting with the space aliens. You might shake your head a little about the concept but it's always fun to watch the old world collide with the future. Mr. Walker is a master of detail and you'll have fun time with his <b><i>Cuzco</i></b>.*<img src="http://alexwalkerauthor.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/cuzco_cover_kindle.jpg" height="200" width="131" /><br />
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<b><i><u>The Police</u></i></b> by Jo Nesbo. If you're a fan of Scandinavian murder mystery writers, then you'll love Jo Nesbo. His protagonist/antagonist is the very damaged Harry Hole who was shot in the head in <b><i>The <u>Phantom</u></i></b>. The important question to Harry Hole fans is...is Harry really dead? Once again you've got a great cat and mouse game going on. The minor players now stand out and toward the end, we do learn Harry's fate. Gritty and violent, dark snowy nights with drug dealers and murderers as well as scheming policemen...what more could you want?*<br />
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Other's to read: Amy Tan's <b><i><u>The Valley of Amazement</u></i></b>, Fannie Flagg's <b><i><u>The All Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion</u>, </i></b>Scott Turow's<b><i> <u>Identical</u></i></b> and Donna Tartt's <b><i><u>The Goldfinch</u></i></b>.<br />
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Enjoy your holiday season with a great book in front of the fire, on a white sandy beach or waiting for the slow foursome at some great golf course. Happy Holidays!<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-77349041111847510672013-11-07T11:30:00.001-08:002014-01-23T08:30:44.774-08:00Tanzania: Useful Information for Your TripJust a few final thoughts, ruminations and odd ball stuff...<br />
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My Kenya Air flight was delayed out of Joburg (for those of us in the know, it's called Joburg) by an hour and 45 minutes. The flight from Joburg to Nairobi is about 4 hours. My connection was going to be very tight. I was impressed with Kenya Air. We were on a new 737. What surprised me was that they offered unlimited free alcohol in coach. And this was on a 10am flight. As we were taking off one man kept calling out to several other men the kinds of planes he was seeing as well as their tail numbers. One guy was furiously writing them down. One guy even had a spread sheet on his computer with all of this plane info. When we landed I just had to ask "what are you guys doing?" They were a group of airplane enthusiasts that travel the world tracking planes. Yep. I guess that's one way to keep the hubby out of the house. When we landed in Nairobi, I had 15 minutes to catch my flight to Kilimanjaro. In all of the years that I have been flying, I have never had this happen. Kenya Air had a bus waiting to take the transiting passengers directly to their airplane! I soon found out why. All of the people that were transiting were on the same flight...my flight! They wouldn't have any passengers on that plane if they hadn't bussed us in. Read more...<a name='more'></a><br />
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I enjoy "bush" flights. 1000's of these small plane flights occur everyday in Africa. Some are as short as 20 minutes, going from one camp to another, or they be up to a couple of hours, like us flying from Lobo in Northeastern Tanzania to Arusha. They mostly (not all) are Cessna Caravan planes that seat from 6-20 people. The pilots are typically young but very experienced. We've had pilots from South Africa, New Zealand, Australia etc. On this last trip something happened that had never happened before. The runways are all dirt and gravel. Part of the landscape. As we're landing we see a small herd of wildebeest right in the middle of the run way. They did scatter very quickly. The flight are very efficient and almost always on time.<br />
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One more thing about the flights. When the tour operator tells you only soft sided bags and gives you a weight limitation for your bags, listen to them. They WILL make you take things out of your bag or make you switch to a duffle that they provide. I was a little over this year but my sister was under, so we came out OK. As far as thinking "your kidding, right? Only 30 pounds total including camera equipment etc?" Yep. Keep in mind that each of the lodges has laundry service included (once you're on safari). So you only take things that can be washed and hung out to dry. African Travel suggests you take only enough cloths for 4 days. A great place to buy safari clothes, particularly cotton capris, is Chico's. I also bought plain Land's End tee shirts and Sketchers Go Walk Walking Sneakers. The Sketchers sneakers are exceptionally light weight and easy to get on and off.<br />
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And finally, if you find, like me, that you need to stay a night in Joburg, the City Lodge is a fine place to say and reasonable in price. There is no need to go into the city unless you have a driver. It's only for your safety. It's located on top of the parking garages, a 5 minute walk. I know people like to stay at the Intercontinental, which is right out the front of the airport, but it's $300+ a night whereas the City Lodge is around $150. They do have day rooms available from 12 noon until 6pm. I paid $80 and it was perfect for my 8 hour layover. <img alt="City Lodge OR Tambo Airport Johannesburg" id="hpimagesrc" src="http://res3.hoteltravel.com/south_africa/johannesburg/hotels_resorts/city_lodge_or_tambo_airport_hotel.jpg" title="City Lodge OR Tambo Airport Johannesburg" /><br />
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Jambo (hello). Asante sana (thanks a lot). Hakuna matata (no worries). Karibu (You're welcome). The only words I learned in Swahili...<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-66122765454046162912013-11-05T17:47:00.000-08:002014-02-10T08:52:04.266-08:00Where Should I go on My First Safari?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club" src="http://cdn.everyonesanoriginal.com/userfiles/images/property-images/hi_ken_24429942_ken-v-081.jpg;w=467;h=291;mode=crop" height="198" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Kenya Safari Club</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.elewanacollection.com/images/phocagallery/smc/thumbs/phoca_thumb_l_view%20over%20bedroom%20.jpg" height="180" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Migration Camp, Serengeti, Tanzania</td></tr>
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I think that most people that want to go to Africa do so for a few specific reasons. Either they watch a great deal of the National Geographic channel and want to see things in the "raw" or they want to go for charitable reasons. Or perhaps they are big animal lovers and wish to contribute to the cause or are the antithesis of that and want to go big game hunting. For me, it has always been wanting to see nature "as is" as well as helping the cause. And what I mean by that is that today many of the monies that you spend on the safari itself goes to aid animal conservation and/ or the local villages. For three of our safaris as well as our trip to Egypt, my husband and I have used African Travel Inc., (800) 421-8907. They have consistently been extremely knowledgeable, offer great customer service, and if something goes bump in the night (well let's hope it really is nothing that goes bump in the night), they have quickly resolved the situation. So, here's my safari history. Read more...<br />
<a name='more'></a> My first trip was to Kenya in 1981 (my driver/guide on my Tanzanian trip was born in 1990). I was teaching high school at the time and found a program called The American Institute For Foreign Study. The more people I got to go on the trip with me the less I paid. So after doing 3 trips to Europe, I decided Africa was were I wanted to go. Because of my affiliation with TAIFS, all I had to do was pay for airfare. We spent 12 days in Kenya and saw just about all you needed to see and stayed at some very nice properties such as the Mount Kenya Safari Club and Treetops. I came back with the feeling that even though we had seen lions and cheetahs and elephants etc the safari experience in Kenya was not an intimate one. If we saw a cheetah, well, so did about another 10 vehicles. Hard to get a picture of the animal with all of those trucks around. Then in 2001 my husband and I went to Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. In 2011 we went to Namibia and Zambia and I just returned from 9 days in Tanzania. So I've covered just about all of Eastern and Southern Africa.<br />
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Traveling from the US, no matter the destination you choose in Africa, it's a long haul of a trip. On my first trip I flew over Paris, on my three subsequent trips I took the Delta direct flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg, South Africa and spent the night Not a bad idea really. Kind of gets you acclimated. Let me break this down into three parts: the accommodations, the animals/game drives and topography. Accommodations: Some of the best accommodations in the world are located in Africa. If you read Travel and Leisure or Conde Nast Traveler, lodges in Africa are always listed as some of the best. You typically have three cost choices, luxury, deluxe and budget. Don't go below deluxe. Trust me. Depending on the country a budget accommodation can be a cinder blocks with no fans. Most of the luxury/deluxe accommodations are tented with mahogany floors, king beds, clawed tubs and fans or air conditioning (most are not air conditioned). My husband and I as well as when I went with my sister, we went luxury. I've never encountered bad service. Also, particularly in Botswana, you will be flown from camp to camp. That is a $ adder. Pick a price point and discuss the accommodations and how you will travel from camp to camp with your Africa travel expert. Next up game viewing and game drives. There are huge differences between game viewing in the Serengeti as opposed to Botswana or Zambia. During peak season in the Ngorogoro Crater, there can be as many as 450 vehicles in the park at one time. The game viewing in Botswana as well as in Zimbabwe and Zambia is a far more intimate experience. When in Botswana and Zambia we would, at times, be the only Land Rover out and about and might see another vehicle only<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iPCdbKW6ynw/Unl9FsmKELI/AAAAAAAAA9M/4IwurpQPcaw/s1600/IMG_5381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iPCdbKW6ynw/Unl9FsmKELI/AAAAAAAAA9M/4IwurpQPcaw/s320/IMG_5381.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serengeti Plains</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hJX7gAomp5Q/UnmWcnCVZcI/AAAAAAAAA9k/k2me7LGTaxU/s1600/IMG_2904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hJX7gAomp5Q/UnmWcnCVZcI/AAAAAAAAA9k/k2me7LGTaxU/s320/IMG_2904.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Namib desert Namibia</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jGPW71znNPk/UvkBj7TROpI/AAAAAAAABHQ/A9L5zYN4u9c/s1600/photo+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jGPW71znNPk/UvkBj7TROpI/AAAAAAAABHQ/A9L5zYN4u9c/s1600/photo+(6).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water safaris in the Okavango Delta</td></tr>
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because the drivers do radio each other if they've seen something. So there is little or no jockeying around for position to take a picture. Sure we'd see all there was to see as far as leopard, lions, zebra, wildebeest, elephants, giraffe's etc. BUT, and it's a big BUT, in Tanzania and depending on the time you go, you can see massive herds of wildebeest, zebra, elephants, large prides of lions. The other thing is the length of time out on a game run. When we were in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, the game drives were 3-4 hours in the morning and then broken up by a mid-day siesta, then out for a 3-4 hour game drive and sun downer. In Tanzania we were out 8-10 hours. Those are long days on very bad dirt roads with lots of pot holes. The park system does a great job with potty stops and picnic areas. You don't have potty stops with a bathroom in Botswana. Behind a big ant hill will do, thank you very much. And finally, topography. You couldn't ask for more diverse topography than Namibia, Botswana and Tanzania. You can tell by the pictures what each safari has to offer topography wise. Botswana did have the greatest diversity. We went from a dry plain, then being on the river Kwai, to actually being in the Delta itself with canoe safaris. The decision you have to make is which experience do you want? The vast plains of the Serengeti with the teaming wild life or would a more intimate experience with shorter game drives be better for you?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8QZky9o6Ro/UnmVCqyRLqI/AAAAAAAAA9c/k_vMI8FcvRs/s1600/IMG_5202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8QZky9o6Ro/UnmVCqyRLqI/AAAAAAAAA9c/k_vMI8FcvRs/s320/IMG_5202.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The plains of the Serengeti</td></tr>
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A couple of other things to consider. When traveling to Africa, you do need to protect yourself from malaria and other possible ailments. You can go to your local county health department to get some of your shots, some grocery stores now offer vaccinations but you still need a prescription, or you can go to a travel health clinic which can prove to be very expensive and harrowing. Harrowing because even though they recommend certain shots they tell you the shots can cause kidney failure, liver failure, facial deformity, flatulence, growing extra toes...you get the picture. You will need malaria pills, you most likely will need a yellow fever shot (check about this if you are over 60), and the others are optional...Hep A, Hep B, tetanus etc. <br />
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And last but not least...Are you susceptible to mosquito bites? Then concern yourself, really concern yourself with traveling to Tanzania. During the heat of the day and when we were traveling through acacia tree groves (which are everywhere), the TSETSE fly comes out to drink your blood! No da*n joke. They like the color black so our poor drivers were eaten alive by these things. Me...I heard each and every one of them saying to me, "I want to suck your blood." They bite through your clothing and even your tennis shoes. I used 99% Deet and it still didn't keep them at bay. I had over 45 bites that after three weeks are still there but, thank God, no longer itching. My sister? O...N...E...B...I...T...E! <img align="middle" alt="" border="0" class="th imgthumb13" height="77" name="imgthumb13" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBwgHBgkIBwgKCgkLDRYPDQwMDRsUFRAWIB0iIiAdHx8kKDQsJCYxJx8fLT0tMTU3Ojo6Iys/RD84QzQ5OjcBCgoKDQwNGg8PGjclHyU3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3N//AABEIAFAAiQMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAaAAACAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADBAECBQYA/8QAOhAAAgECBAQDBQcDAwUAAAAAAQIDABEEEiExBRNBUSJhcTKBkaGxFEJSwdHh8AYjchUz8RYkRFOS/8QAGQEAAwEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQF/8QAIBEAAgICAwEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAECERIhAzFRQROBYf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8A3wulSF8qKEoix1JsgGSpCXNMCO9J4vEmOTlQJnKi8j9FF9R2vbqdB57Um67Gk29BcnlUZfKh4fFPLGxERcrY6ArdSLgi++nUaXBqhxwW+eMpYXJylwPXLr8qlySK/OQzkFtqjJS0OMmkzWWIEEjKyldR6miLi+YDkVWZfaCXcW73sOxoUkwcJILlqQulKzcVwWHUHGyfZifZ5oy5/wDG+/uqJOOcLi/8rP2yRsQfQ2sadoWMvBwLXrWrMT+pOFSG0crsevhH60ZON8NY6zlP8kP5Xp5IWEvB61DeNWO3S1UXiXDn0XHYf3yAfWmAFlTNEyuvdDmHyosKYm+FBGgpObAA/drZykbivFQelAWctPw4a2BFLfYJO5rrnw6ONqD9iHakNMesBvS3E+HvxCGP7PjcRg54nzxSwnS9tmXZl8jTKsG8TEBelSJEBujAjqBTFixBcViYP7XEURJ1F1miBKS27DodtPP3VhcbxYgl4VgcCshbF4qQ4jU6ESWtbra7dtQDuBXScalgPCp1bKz6ZF6hr2B9xrmePYebCyYKMRpDiFRhHMpI5twoa99mBA186w5JUzq4IZHTf6is2PXALEc2GwjJK8DDxSXF0B6WKn3mlZsFBHh1Sd58IN7xy+Jv8u5v51iYSLE8Liy8yQzkM8rxZWIudfp8hVuH8VniuMXM0yu91JQhlH4SR9Kz/TZt+Pg+7QZefjRimxJLNFIQQHj2DHp+5rx4pGY8mJikIuFZsZC0QKaEAEG5FwdD8qYgx/D4+dM74iI5bx8zM2RjcXW3s2F9P4U24g8kUcL4QPiAlrvKhLi9gcxXUHuCRp2pudUSuNsyOKw/bZlAwiRYbKWW2ua53B1Hla+lj1oEHBmMkqriZTGgWzxpmtfYaE2PvrTjTFTMYMJDGGQZpeZJdIfIkdfQUSPCRjDpiIJ0ym4kKrmynsCTe2o86Mk9FqBkS8GxMSuUhlnZQSRI4vb0/K5ocHDMVMh5sHKiK6WRw/wtat7DKf8AuZPtcaxRRGQ5olzObjQb1XAwTYvEO5xDuqalQDovfypNtD/M5qbg05QrhBi3J3LRhfkT+tUj4VxiKxRZIj1zafOtXFRcRWDGSxTqzg3gQJra+l7jW+1dVwJsBjMFHOmFwyTKo5yhQSjW13ua0hK9GHIlHZzPCv8AqgSIq4kSR7HOc4HvO3xrswCRc715XzRqLgKAKjnRnRWF61Wjnlb6R61W0r2ZbXzCozp+IU7IpmHKZOWFLmxOoFzbzrySxRiwxBJYGyK183uFaMcceUMNDI3hub2F+/7VaWIKoRVDs5ByldzrXl2/T2deGJiZkBDTKqhTmN21uAdaUMkWNxf2nEsXdlsM5/20Gvx6nz0rZxHC4pozmZI7G7uR06j6fA0jLw1Wzck2zJYkbFfTf39vXQ2aLD52LSY1bo6vZ+pNLRYmCGSVkZI7vnyrYqvce/fyqk/A5ZAeWGVbi+WlZP6dxSi0Ra7d9RaqVelYxHmnMytHhJ+adnvZFUb66k/PXtVZuDwEZ8bxSWaZhmcREKg0tfqTWa/AZ731iNrFrkr+o+dJYrC8TjnLy5nOxGbetF/jJws6fDtwiTCthTxCeKJNWSNbK3kTbrVcUk+ACLCY3jxMSSWj2IsQD67+6kuAYbD8QnGHdXijjHNxDMPZQbmncZxIS8UGKjHLVXTIv4EAsF9wJp39ZWG8YgoZW5ygNkAQjNf2dN6ehlkw0EksTFJMQCvhHhK37eevwpDFqMPiZIfubqbEXU7H4V4YhWiy3IjBvvawFCdDnHJaG+IYxo444kCx4hVZ2mL2DggWUfDTuWG1MYaJMEXmU3lceJwunurmsRipOJSTtwuDnJhcrzygZo4QNFHmSfp5VrcNmlxalTZXUgFR1qeTJUzn41Bto2TmaMKGbUfKpVbJoTv1qIozElyNTuSdhV73AKowY7E6i1ZOT9LpHgvjyltO96LyD+I0KQjKyhbP37UDmN/7D8aWTDBG7HDkiw5KkgqG7BtOnarNa1gpLW8Pl9b0YQpHFELEhVHjPU+nxo/LOQK2Tvp1p1szyRjRQYua7YpkjjRrBISba9SdyfLSjNAiMUW51uzjQabgXPxp/FBITmWz3Fgtt70KNEjJVlORhvbr/PrRQsgIQM4Nh4DqR6dR76ho4le27AWAynS//H70xFErKpChSb9e9+tUeSMS5YR/cIsyrt8tutAXsWePQgrmYaAZdSPOgy8OhZCLBmAzMxGlhv76fWBkYM7f3HGUELqf5aplQIlowUI1GuvxooeT+GTPw+OPhs+GiAAxVjiGGpZNwvprc/vWHiP6Z5ZH2V5CWHcgX7DvpY1v4JBJw1eYfFlIFz8CevT0rTMaJEMisGHiOfr3qrZUeRw6ON/0rEvw4YbETFzF/tSr7cYJ1U916+XxoM39L5yIZ5pJVa3hLaHf9DXaYjDI6lySCtuuw9KzXl+wYlEnicJJZeZq2TtcdulxoLgU8n/SlyP4ZOG/pPDQhowJY4wwbKsmjG2hsf5vWlheE4PCtngzZ7WNze/retRYgzve6kdO+nbpQyxCIOWJHuQrd6ltvszvwBZnbltcj71x08ql0RUBU63sL9aqMUWYhQjE7hBbL+lWiUSLmOpIO3TXoRr9KkdgksufNYsW0Deg37UPkN+GP4UzGqKjDwi5N2PTzr1/JqVF2bGbUCQFgNvKiKxsAWyaXVr3qryEyeAJp7Q3oMkmhSI5mINzbYVs0cqJvznGS2aMlcxN7edS5MC2YgsL62uTR44+RDZTYdLfnQpV/tOVJGvt3v7qHEdkQxkhA9hGdfMVDRIraKLKb3vrrReZdWyeJbXBJ1NQrCQDMvsnwk7XpUugtlJUQQsQblTe5ve1emB0bLa4Fso3q9yAxvcbWttVYjkQNIwJyAiy/KnQWZfB5IY3xOEmyK8LZgL/AHDqD/O1PrKr3IysQbWYW+J0pebCRnGR41lUMBk10Yg7/WjoBm0X71rW1t11pUW67JjLmMJIUV1O/UdtT9aFOkMdjkz2OYqdb9xfrpRRoSqDN96x0NqI65lHZDZWLfK1LEX0CeXCzZl0vp4v5elcTG8k415ZtsdLn186PhjePxPaygbD+CvP4RdBrGdSw6ddffSGKZCqlsvsX0UWtYbj1qqh1jSJSgFrE7aj8/2prGOvsRE3Yhbb6ddfS+lQApTMCq9QLX1/OhjjpCk4TmhIgSC2pO9t/Oi8sd1/+jURr49PCFGxN73OvrQMz/hf4NU4su0j/9k=" style="margin: 0px -40px 0px 0px;" title="http://www.britannica.com/list/4/9/9-tsetse-fly" width="132" /><br />
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Bottom line...what is your bottom line? The prices for Africa keep going up every year. Yes, they say their lead in price is $6000 without international airfare but that is for off season. There's a reason for that. Less viewing of the animals. The trip my sister and I took this year will be $4000 more PER PERSON next year. So, if you're going, go quickly. <br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-74256643564633044272013-10-31T13:11:00.000-07:002014-01-23T08:36:50.665-08:00Traveling Tanzania and the MaasaiWhen I told my sister that we would see Maasai, I thought she was going to cry. She really wanted to see them. She asked, do you think we can trade with them? I remember when I went to a Maasai village in 1983 in Kenya, the inhabitants wanted our film canisters to make ear rings. The village was not "sanitized" (I'll explain that later). This village was the real deal. Cow dung all over, flies every where, and poverty. I explained to my sister that what she should expect is to pay them money to take their pictures. And that we did have to do. The Maasai believe that if their picture is taken, you, as the photographer, have already taken their blood. Yes, that may be but they've also decided that by charging for pictures, it's a great money maker. But the modern Maasai have also decided that they are tired of business entities using their name so "they" (that's the real problem. Who is "they"?) are looking into trademarking the name "Maasai". There are already major brands using the name "Maasai" as part of their product lines i.e. Land Rover using the name for accessories for their vehicles, a running shoe carries the name as well as a line from Louie Vuitton. If the Maasai are successful, it would be the largest cultural brand in the world. I would equate this to the US government allowing Indian reservations to have casinos and sell tax free cigarettes. A windfall for the Maasai. <img align="middle" alt="" border="0" class="th imgthumb5" height="90" name="imgthumb5" 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Our first camp, Tarangire Treetops, is a member of the Elewana collection. Read more...<a name='more'></a> They have 8 lodges/camps throughout Tanzania, Kenya and Zanzibar. We stayed in 4. Treetops is located in the heart of the Maasai territory. So while driving in we see their herds, primarily goats and cattle. At one point we did see a child, about 5 or 6 with a small stick in his hand, herding baby goats. Would have loved to take a picture but not allowed. An iconic picture would have been of a tall Maasai wrapped in a scarlet blanket standing against a baobab tree. No picture. A little while later a young herder, about 14 or 15, runs toward our Land Rover and stops us to ask for a bottle of water. No picture. The lodge of Treetops has negotiated with the Maasai to allow the camp to exist in their territory and the lodge will then hire the Maasai for work around the lodge. We had an excellent bar-b-q within a boma (what we call a corral but made with limbs and brush) and the Maasai performed a wonderful dance and song for us. Pictures allowed. As well as video...which, of course, I have. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ngorogoro Crater</td></tr>
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We then moved on to our second camp, The Manor, which is located inside of an active coffee plantation. This "hotel" has more of an East Africa English Colonial feel. We had our own beautiful suite with a clawed tub, siting area and fireplace. The next day we head to the Ngorogoro Crater. The Ngorogoro Crater is actually the caldera of an ancient volcano. It means the center of the volcano collapsed surrounded by the rim. The crater is a UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site. It is an amazing site. After we leave the Crater, we are scheduled for a visit to a Maasai Village. This is the sanitized visit I had warned my sister about. In order for us to visit, our tour company had to pay the Maasai for our visit. At this point, you were free to take pictures because you were paying for them. Everything was clean and scrubbed. The villagers did a perfunctory dance and song for us but, hey, at this point, we got the picture (pun intended). Instead of wanting film canisters, they wanted us to buy their very expensive trinkets. And they are very good negotiators. Or, shall I say, they don't negotiate. You want? You pay our price. I did have a fun moment doing a dance with a lady using their beautiful necklaces. And she took my hand and sang me a very nice song...of course I have no idea what she was singing. On the way back to our we saw a group of men with an old bathtub. Now what were they going to do with that? Well, they drug it to the top of a big hole and inside the hole were young men who had dug deep enough to find water. They then would hand the buckets full of water to the older men who would then put it in the tub for the cattle to drink. My sister of I were tired of this no picture thing. This was too good to pass up. I have a flip video camera, which is quite small, and from inside the Land Rover began filming. My sister on the other hand, stands up, looks out of the roof and snaps a picture. The Maasai began yelling at our driver. She donated some money to the Maasai fund to assuage her guilt. </div>
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As I wrote earlier, the Treetops Lodge hires the Maasai for odd jobs. One of these jobs is security such as walking the guests back to their rooms after dinner. So off we go with two young Maasai men, I guess 15 or 16 years old. They each have a walkie talkie. Me, being me, asked the age old question of, "what would you do if we encountered a lion?" Without skipping a beat, one of the young men grabs the walkie talkie and says, "I'd call for help." My sister and I almost died laughing. </div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-79884509635623256952013-10-27T13:25:00.000-07:002014-01-23T08:38:35.987-08:00Americans Don't Like to TravelWe're at our first lodge in Tanzania, the Tarangire Treetops Lodge. We are preparing for my sister to have her first ever "sun downer". An event where you have a butler or guide take you to a lovely spot overlooking a watering hole or vast savanna to watch the beautiful African sun set. Before your "sun downer", you are normally asked what would be your drink of choice. And you are then served this drink/s along with some great snacks. After the "sun downer" we were to go on a night drive to see what we could see. It's normally a time you see all of the nocturnal animals scurrying about. Let's get back to the "sun downer". <img src="http://elewanacollection.com/images/phocagallery/ttt/thumbs/phoca_thumb_l_bed%20room.jpg" height="133" width="200" /> Read more...<a name='more'></a><br />
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We were joined by a young Chinese couple and a couple from London. The Chinese couple spoke very little English so that left us to talk to the Brits. We introduced ourselves and immediately the guy says, "well, Americans. I can't believe it. Americans don't travel." I've heard this before and bristled. I proceeded to say, as calmly as I could, that there are a number of reasons as to why Americans don't travel "abroad". Mainly it has to do with the availability of great travel within our own sphere. We not only have Canada but we also have the Caribbean, Mexico, Costa Rica, and the entire 50 states to see. My sister was ready for a brawl when the guy's wife interjects because she sees I'm not happy about his statement. She then proceeds to tell me what a wonderful country we have and they've visited the states many times. I look at her husband and said, "well, your own wife says we have a great country so why should we leave it with so many sightseeing opportunities?" The fact is that the people I know, admittedly most of us are retired, travel and they travel a lot, 120 day cruises around the world, safaris, river cruises in Europe, cruises down the Amazon, lots of worldwide golf trips. This was my 4th safari in Africa. The key is that Americans do travel just not so much "abroad". I recently saw an article on CNN.com about why most Americans don't travel "abroad". Only 30% of our 61.5 million people have passports. That 30% includes the spike when the Western Hemisphere Initiative was adopted. It requires Americans and Canadians to present documents showing citizenship when entering the US. <br />
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Here are the reasons CNN gives as to why Americans don't travel abroad: </div>
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<b><i>Cultural and geographical diversity-</i></b> We have it all here. "From the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans, with white foam..." Beaches rim the gulf coast, the Rockies for hiking and skiing, Arizona for golf and desert vistas, and our big cities brimming with cultural diversity, what more do you need?</div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Skepticism and ignorance- </i>My trip to Tanzania was about 2 months after the fire was set to burn down the Nairobi airport and then a month later, the terrorist attack at the Westgate Mall also in Nairobi. I was connecting through Nairobi. My friends were concerned. I understood. But if you've traveled at all you realize that no matter where you go, the Boston marathon for example, there is always an opportunity for calamity. The news doesn't help. If I listened to all of the warnings aimed at us just by listening to the news, I'd curl up in a ball and wouldn't leave my backyard. Bruce Bommariot, EVP and COO for the US travel Association says this about why US travelers should expand their travel experiences: "One of the true benefits of travel to a foreign country is probably the greatest form of diplomacy. Strange ideas go away and you realize that we're all similar, just different cultures."</div>
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<b><i>Cost and logistics</i></b>- Now this is a biggy. It took my sister 24 hours to fly from Houston to Kilimanjaro and 24 hours to get back. It took me 3 days to get to Kilimanjaro because I wanted to use a specific airline, Delta. And then it took me 22 hours with an 8 hour layover in Johannesburg to get back to Atlanta. Can you say "duty free shopping" time? If you live in Europe, it's a 9 hour jump from most European cities to Eastern or Southern Africa. That's like us flying to Paris or Madrid from the East coast. In addition, it is expensive to travel to Africa. The lodges are top notch, there's the cost of the "bush" flights, and your international airfare to consider. The trip we took is going up by $4000 per person for next year. That's a lot of scratch. It's very easy for an American to hop on a cruise ship out of Galveston or LA or Charleston and sail from 3-14 days for as little as $100 a day. Or hop in the car and do a cross country driving trip. </div>
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By the way, you know how you can always come up with a pithy comeback AFTER the fact? My sister said that I should have told the Brit, "apparently Brits don't do dentists..." </div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-31451066060333854802013-10-26T17:54:00.000-07:002014-01-23T08:45:36.649-08:00Big Game Hunting In Namibia: Thanks for P*ssing Me Off I just spent 9 days in Tanzania the purpose of which was a photographic safari. We wanted to see cheetah, lion, rhino, elephant, leopard and miles and miles of zebra, wildebeest, and water buffalo. We saw all of this. The high lights were the sightings of two cheetah and we were lucky enough to see 6 leopard. My first safari was in Kenya in 1983. Even then we wanted to see leopard. We did not. On my second trip, we did see 2 and on our third, none. There are anywhere from 400,000-700,000 leopards in Sub Saharan Africa. The exact number is not known because the leopard is so reclusive therefore difficult to count. So seeing 6 on one trip is amazing. We were ecstatic, euphoric, and high fiving. Fast forward to my return trip from Johannesburg, South Africa. I'm standing in line waiting to go through the final piece of security. There is an American couple in front of me. I started up a chat. Where are you from, where did you go in Africa, what did you do...and this is where I was dumbfounded, flummoxed for words, and almost beside myself. So much so, I almost, involuntarily, spit my water on them. Well, maybe not so involuntarily. They calmly told me that they had gone to Namibia to hunt. "And what were you hunting," I queried.? "Leopard", they responded. I asked, "and were you successful?" "Yes, we were," the husband says. And added, "my wife killed all kinds of animals." I said, "really. I didn't realize that hunting leopard was that easily available." The wife chirps in, "Oh they're a menace to the farmers." I then realized that I was among people who liked to kill animals for the pure pleasure of killing. I don't care if they are from my home state. Killing animals for the sheer thrill of it makes me want to knock them upside the head. So I said to them, "do you mind if we don't discuss this any further?" The husband says, "no, I understand." The wife huffs off and proceeds to tell her husband, rather loudly, that apparently "there are more of THEM than she thinks." I guess she means those of us that don't believe in killing an animal for the thrill of it. I hope you're happy back in your cozy house telling all of your friends about how you got the leopard in your sights and there he is, stuffed, for all to see. You're standing by it proudly for all to take your picture. This encounter clouded my entire trip home. This got me to thinking about all of the people that I know that hunt. One friend went on a deer hunting trip to Montana and came back empty handed. Why? Not because there wasn't anything to shoot. It was because what they kill, they eat. And the deer they saw would not amount to a plate full. So, they killed nothing. Some people detest hunting, period. But the meat, chicken, fish we get in the store was once alive. And they died somehow. I've seen the "somehow" and trust me, you don't want to see that. <img align="middle" alt="" border="0" class="th imgthumb1" height="125" name="imgthumb1" 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" style="margin: 0px -9px 0px -5px;" title="http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/leopard/" width="167" /> Read more...<a name='more'></a><br />
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" /><br />
<br />
So, out of curiosity, I went online to see how much this dufus paid for his "pleasure". It ain't cheap. The government of Namibia knows that there are those willing to pay a "pleasure" tax. So I calculate that this guy and his wife probably paid close to $10,000 just for the privilege of shooting those animals and having, whatever, stuffed and shipped back to the states. I've been home about 4 days and I'm still p*ssed at these people and the government of Namibia. The thing that gets me is that the parks in Namibia are FENCED. FENCED! Therefore, the animals have nowhere to go and nowhere to hide. Doesn't sound like a sporting chance to me...Update 1/22/14...The Dallas Safari Club auctioned off a license to kill a Rhino in Namibia. It went for $350,000. They tried to justify the kill by saying the animal was old, no longer breeding and was keeping the younger male Rhinos from the females. As one animal rights activist said: Shooting a Rhino is like shooting at a bus...<img align="middle" alt="" border="0" class="th imgthumb1" height="128" name="imgthumb1" 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" 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Here is a list of the costs associated with big game hunting in Namibia. I'm not just picking on Namibia because there are other countries in Africa that also allow big game hunting. But since I have come into contact with "those" that wish to kill for pleasure and they did so in Namibia, you get the bulk of the blame:<br />
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<h1 style="color: #974824; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px;">
PRICE LIST for 2013 Season</h1>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tb_txt" style="color: #22211b; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" colspan="3" valign="top" width="100%"><b>USD</b></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Hunter 1:1 </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 350.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Hunters 2:1 </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 280.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Non Hunters / Observers (per person)</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 150.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Rest days/ Travelling days</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 150.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%"> </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="center" valign="top" width="40%"> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" colspan="3" valign="top" width="100%"> <b>ADDITIONAL FEES</b> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%"> Transfer Fee to and from Airport per vehicle</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">$ 400</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%"> Hunting License Fee Plains game</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">$ 30</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Hunting License Fee Cheetah/ Leopard</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">$ 800</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%"> Rifle rent</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">$ 45 per day plus ammo</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%"> </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="center" valign="top" width="40%"> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" colspan="3" valign="top" width="100%"><b>TROPHY FEES</b> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Baboon (Free, if not exported)</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 100.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Bird Hunting (per day fee) </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 150.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Blesbuck </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 600.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Blesbuck (white) </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 800.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Caracal (Opportunity) </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 1000.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Cheetah (Opportunity) </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 3800.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Damara Dik-Dik (Available on request) </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 1700.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Duiker (Grey) </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 300.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Eland (Cape) </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 2000.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Gemsbuck/ Oryx </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 600.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Giraffe </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 2500.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Impala (blackfaced) </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 2500.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Impala (common) </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 600.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Jackal (Free, if not exported)</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 100.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top">Klipspringer</td><td align="center" valign="top"></td><td align="left" valign="top"> $ 1100.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Kudu </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 1500.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Leopard</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 4000.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Ostrich </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 400.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Red Hartebeest </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 600.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Springbuck </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 450.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Springbuck (black) </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 1100.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Springbuck (white) </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 1300.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Steenbuck </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 300.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Tsessebe </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 3500.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Warthog </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 400.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Waterbuck </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 2500.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Wildebeest (black) </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 1300.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Wildebeest (blue) </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 1100.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Zebra (Burchell) </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 1200.00</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Zebra (Hartmann’s) </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"></td><td align="left" valign="top" width="40%"> $ 1200.00<br />
<br /><br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-19693188375781311872013-10-10T17:16:00.000-07:002014-04-24T17:55:49.856-07:00Hobby, Stuff, Cr*p, Possessions or Memories<b><i>My blog has moved to www.satisfyingmycuriosity.com. If you've enjoyed this blog, please check my new site out for other interesting comments on culture, book reviews, and music.</i></b><br />
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I have a good friend who likes to collect jewelry, big, honking piles of diamonds piled on diamonds. We're talking tens of thousands of dollars worth. When seeing her mother's latest purchase, the daughter of said friend said, "well, that's going into the estate sale." Why does my friend do this? I think it has to do with her poor background and now that she can afford it, well, it's her hobby, her stuff, her possessions and according to her daughter, headed for the estate sale. Not everyone has a parent that can afford piles of diamonds nor a parent that collects Picasso's. But this is what crosses my mind when I see the match book collection, the Gone with the Wind collection, the velvet Elvis collection... who will we leave this stuff to and if we do, will they want it? All that care you took to put together this collection and all your progeny thinks is that it is stuff, cr*p and headed for the garage sale. Read more...<br />
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<img alt="Still Foolin' 'Em: Where I've Been, Where I'm Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys?" src="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780805098204_p0_v2_s260x420.JPG" height="320" width="210" /><br />
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I just finished reading Billy Crystal's new auto bio/rant on life book, <b style="font-style: italic;"> Still Foolin' 'Em: Where I've Been, Where I'm Going and Where the Hell Are My Keys? </b> It's, at times, poignant, at times very funny but frustrating as well because I consider myself to be conservative and Billy, well, he's Jewish and from New York and LIBERAL. Hey, he's the first to say he's Jewish. Oy. He does a riff on the use of the word? "oy". He does say that he now comes down on the side of the death penalty. But that's his only conservative leaning. But I am digressing because this is not a review of his book but of a concept within the book. He says in the book that by the time you are 65, which he has just recently turned, "all of us have accumulated what Janice (his wife) calls cr*p. Cr*p we don't know where we got it from, cr*p we know where we got it from but don't remember why. We're all one Hummel figurine away from being on <i>Hoarders</i>." <br />
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0FbhpF27pPnp9EMup6u7mg93xeZ+Sg5jUlzWNvHD56AefoCraizhaANh+FMaeOXuF9RLCwdCkgknRMSaU4lNlBAYRQlFADUUwOTlUuFKUkFIClU3akfu2/1H1Y76gK5XHF4L2zTT3OnQjQqsllYJi8PJ5xhWlrz1IWzyfElsXWXx2FdTeWuEObY/cHcdVPwGKskZoeg0buq0VaZHP8lZ7MMJUpkOFnNILXDmNP8ACn5PjtPVXNdjajYIkFC+fJbPh9HmmKq1A+tUqMLv3VUiq9we8funABunDJI0A8VhMofFRw2cOAx/MdfAgHwXsmNy4s0u0/kFec9p8i9i51WkIafiaP0nmByPJPw1PqNRmIy0nprdAoXCXQ7Yx58lyp4dzRIT21jUBMe+OUkujU94XbBYiRB1HqsLIuPQxVOMuxrH82meit8DXiPccB/TIv3SudGgD9CFa4N7WiHOjbl1WG7I/HC7ZMwNZ8xToVHf6WtHTUhDGVKogCkQZmJYfkVbZfWkWNlZUqA1i/VRuSJaR57nrqwAc6mGyTYGfSLKRkbrFz7QD4yPzyWnzzgDDxDi8Fl61ZrGw3l1HnyVlLdHArNYlkficcZN9j3GB9wVUsqcVTi/hgf6jYDyn0UfHYrRo1OgHVS8PR4RTbuXy7v4T/ZMaeK3oWvk9j/hLz2PYmYmGx3yNFO7P0i5ggTHLouWKySpXaIhoEEl0zrsP8LbZPl7KFMNaLAX69Sn9RrY1tqPLOfptDKyKc+EcMuydwcHu0M7b8vUqzxVXhbZS6FYx0UTWoJ74+S4ttsrJbpM7FdUa1tiuDph2ezZLtSJKhuxETUdvZg+qkZhUDiGzbU9Y2VVjqsm+mgjYbqK4OySiu2FlihFyfSGNqnimfenUczb88Ve4XGh1ib89Afss208vBEUHEzIjvII7uq9JHSQjWofB5qWrnKxz+fBrklTYDHFvuuJI2sTprBhW7XzcJO2qVb5Haro2LgMoJSisjYSSMpIIOSeCmJAqpceimyi29lJB2w9AvMDxOwHVQ+02NZQoua2HEg8R9o6m4jk0tMhS81xwoUiym5hqRJBdBJ5BeO5zm1Sq93ETrBB1EbdLym6qkuWJW2uTwiY7NmOdq8Sf1u4w3oHQDw9/NWFF8LEl60eU40ObBPvD5bFK6yn/tf6OaO5r2P/AA1eXYyIWtwOI6rz/CvgrTZVitiVzOjpdmirtDhB3VBjsCCC1wkGR0IV3QqSnYugC3qhryXi/B4NnOXnC13MFgPeYd+E3HlBHgmVKJn2jY97UAiZ5xyvrzWk/aVQIq03bFrhPVrgYP8AuWXbXLSwi2o0mzhGm66kPfTlnNl7LsItsBWAE+iu8NTDrnodlkG1eB8HTUH5aLTYbE+6DoJ9Fz51tPg6ELVjk02EpgRE9ykYjE8Lbm8bLNnOwPidcTAHdr6+qqcT2hm5O225JiT0gEqFU2TK9LosM2zziDiP0j5GL+qymOxxd1J0AUTF4kvdbxU3JcsNR49eg6LfaorIvulN4RIybL3VHTEu9Atll+VtEGJdzPrHJOwmFbTYA0QrXDU/osJTbN1FRWCVQoxHculWuIjRc/bxZRa9ZZNliQcyDRC5jG34jYxZVmJrtGsTy+6q8ZjQJJOm/wBAFMYOT4Ic1Fcmgbjmgk6k2H3USpVDjM20+57ln8Pii94DZjU9ybmuPcAGtJ4R7rjubXv4XXc0Oidb9SXZw9drVYvTiXeGxPFIBhpiCZsdu+dFY4OqR7kFrpBBIJJmPhO1yNlT0qQFNrSCXEAtaIMDmP4Y5nWVY+14gQATJHuCeCw3dq7QfYLpPk5fRLxIYBBcC/UgS4gyYPu7yLjSFIp5gWkQxwaBJLg0AiLwGmR4qHh7ac+4DuXRtj4zZQ4JrDIU3F5RoGvkSNDdEKJlh9yORPgDf6lSlyJx2yaO1XLdFSHwkkElUsc0U1FVLhldsG6CXfwgnx0HqQuKbi6nBQqHnwj5k/RaVrMkjO2WINnm/a3Gl9Ymd/w9N1mcW4vPFqfOYU/MakuJ+aq6pvyPougc6JxmV3wtYsdxN1CjuMGTv5HqE8FVazwzZPHJssHiA9ocND89wr7LHysb2cJJqCbNZxeTmj/2WrymrfquFqavTng7Wns3wyanBvKs3VPdVfhRIC7PYdNfksExhNHm37TcRL6TBye75NHyKxlW7AtZ+0kf8xT/AO3f/e5ZOow8AjT7f5XY00ftI5Wol90NOpxNg7eYPQ7LvTr1BYOBH8wuqsvLHeYP54qW2rulJxcZYHK5Kcc+SQ+lUN5bff8At+aLh/wR/U63RTaFW3RCvU2CruZb04kZrA3QLU9kKYhzt5jyA+6y/AtV2RFj3/QKlnReCwzRexMzCm0akjuXTBsmx1XarTZ3FLNmnZBxL+SqsTVfMCyscWS3RUGY48/C23M7wr01ysltiZ3WRrjukRsZX4Aee51VJmOLL4703G4q4Am55rjh6PHVDRsR/dd+jSwq65fycK7VTs74XwXeA/d05iXOsO4xfw+qlQBPELw33SBYtNi4A+9IOm87KJi8QCRwfE2zZHw2IBjeYJ8QrHCUAIJ133HWOV08c588nbCU3EXAaD69/wBlZ0jEAc5ChtfsP8eClMMfkqSCXKLXjmontpkNnr9ZK60m89eW3ggqy4yc/EO5WJaq3J/1Hu+qs1ytT+xnX0v6kIIohJLjBxlFBJQWHKB2lcRhTAk8TjG8ADT1SSW9H5mGo/A8ixNSSotQJJJ4SicwPXZNbY28jt/ZFJQaI1fYljS+uHOj/l39/wAbLDxgK+yrCGZ5JJLja/8AYdfQ/rNfglYRzSSScRhnkP7SqkYoAR/0gYI/nesiMY6RMcIIJAA8eqSS7VC+2jl3fmwZhSubk3sY1BuDO9lEo1YsUUlW6KayWpm0+CVTrcPcpbcSCkkkWjpIHtAtZ2UPuA9T80klSfRJucsYHKficGIuPn9EkkrI0Rmc5oloMEjvv5LE43ERJ537vNJJdX6Ul7mcr6o37UU1I8Ti7krLKiGNfUN/0t6lJJdiJyZknCSXFz97np0Vrh32vcGb6pJLRGDJlOSYAv6DvUqlR53P5bpukkpIJjGcOgj/AAuYdueZSSQirL3Jm+4TzPyQzHOaNBwbVfwlwJAhxkN1Nh1CSS5FvNjO1QsVx/hU1O3+XtJacRBBII9lWsRY/oRSSVMGh//Z" 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He says that there are things that he has that might seem like mere objects (a.k.a cr*p) to anyone else but to him they have layer upon layer of emotional context. I can see what he means. I am in my play "office" and I am surrounded by things that mean something only to me...my collection of monies from around the world that are, mostly, now valueless, due to the EU, my golf trophies (very few but precious because<i><b> I</b></i> won them) and lots of bric a brac from many of the places I've visited. I also have some jewelry that I purchased on some of these trips. And I have been known to buy champagne glasses from around the world. But a collector? No. That's not in my DNA. Which brings me to what Billy Crystal says about stuff he will NOT give away. His cherished door from his childhood bedroom, his tassel from high school graduation etc. Why? Because he say, "keeping things like this also happens to be a way to collect something really valuable and not easily come by these days: smiles." He also adds that by keeping these "things" when you hit a certain age, these things do something else...they prompt memories. So, like Billy, I will not give these things away. "What are we supposed to do, give away our memories?" My tchotchkes are staying. Because I remember clearly where I bought the piece of gold jewelry with a friend when we were in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul or the figurine I bought in Kota Kinabalu on my sisters' trip or my first safari hat I wore for my trip to Kenya in 1983. I am a "hoarder of memories." And<b> that</b> no one can give away...<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-62571685411005058322013-09-30T14:42:00.000-07:002014-04-24T17:56:22.062-07:00Book Review on Stephen King's New Book: Doctor Sleep<b><i>My blog has moved to www.satisfyingmycuriosity.com. If you've enjoyed this blog, please check my new site out for other interesting comments on culture, book reviews, and music.</i></b><br />
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I don't think anyone writes "gross" as well as Stephen King. He just has this ability to get you to visualize a scene. I'll get to the scene in a moment. In <i style="font-weight: bold;">Doctor Sleep, </i>he brings back the character of Danny Torrence, the little boy in <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Shining. </i>In interviews King says that when fans ask about the fate of specific characters (the one's that actually live through the horror), he's been more interested in the those that question the fate of Danny. I think most people who have seen the movie remember the cute little boy on a tricycle with a bowl haircut racing down the empty corridors of The Overlook Hotel. Later to run from a mad "white knuckle alcoholic" who was his father. <img align="middle" alt="" border="0" class="th imgthumb16" height="186" name="imgthumb16" 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" style="margin: 0px;" title="http://google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=The Shining" width="124" /> Read more...<br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Doctor Sleep </i>is, in my opinion, semi autobiographical. Like <b><i>Duma Key</i></b>, which deals with the aftermath of a man who is in a horrendous accident (like King in real life),<i style="font-weight: bold;"> Doctor Sleep </i>deals with the reality of a recovering alcoholic. I didn't know King was an alcoholic, but he has been in recovery for over twenty years. So he knows the depths to which one can plunge as well as the difficulties in trying to remain sober. In <i style="font-weight: bold;">Doctor Sleep</i>, Danny is an alcoholic like his father and a chain smoker like his mother (who, in the novel, has died of lung cancer). When writing the book, King's son, Owen, told him that the "plunge" he had given Danny, now Dan, was not far enough to equal the plunge Dan's father, Jack, had taken. So, if you don't want gross, speed read ahead. Dan, after having picked up a girl, gotten in a fight, spends all of his paycheck on cocaine, wakes up still drunk and has to go to the bathroom. "Another lurch from his unhappy gut...That released all of the puke triggers: the vinegar smell of hard cooked eggs in a big glass jar, the taste of barbecue-flavored pork rinds, the sight of french fries drowning in a ketchup nosebleed. All of that crammed into his mouth last night between shots. He was going to spew..." And that he does in spectacular fashion. But that leads to the main reason for the scene...Dan's plunge. As he's leaving the bathroom, out of another room comes a toddler with a baggy nappie full of everything a baby discards, sees the coke on the table, runs to it crying, "canny, mama, canny!" Danny keeps him from getting the "canny" and the little boy falls asleep with his drunk mother. Danny notices bruises on the little boy's body. While the mom is passed out, he goes through her wallet taking all of her money. Justifying this by saying she'd been the one who made him spend his paycheck on coke. The taking of the money haunts Dan. And the bruises on the little boy haunt Dan. This, to me, is the real crux of this novel...the demons of a past life Dan can not seem to be rid of... his murderous, alcoholic father, the dead but not dead people from The Overlook who visit him leaving behind pieces of their rotting, putrefying bodies and the mother with her bruised baby boy. Dan discovers "that memories are the real ghosts" and that, "you take yourself with you, wherever you go." <br />
<img alt="Doctor Sleep" src="http://www.stephenking.com/images/books/doctor_sleep/doctor_sleep_property_embed.jpg" height="320" width="210" /><br />
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Of course in every King novel there has to be some type of supernatural forces causing havoc. In this novel, we finally learn what "the shining" really is. It's the ability to read other people's minds, or move objects, or project out of one's self. Dan has it and so does a young teenage girl named Abra. And they have to battle a bunch of centuries old serial killers, the True Knot, disguised as RV driving pensioners who literally feed off the pain of others. They only feed on those with "the shining", and they make their deaths particularly brutal. Makes for better "steam". They get a big kick out of 9/11 and other tragedies. The leader of this group, a woman named Rose, has a tusk. <br />
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In <i style="font-weight: bold;">Doctor Sleep</i>, Dan fights his past with much greater dread and sense of terror than he does the woman with the tusk. Dan does, through AA, "come to know a new freedom and new happiness." He also comes to realize that he "will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it." On a scale of 1-5, 5 being terrific, I would give it a 4 based solely on Danny/Dan's story.<br />
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<b><i><u>Post script:</u></i></b> I knew something smelled familiar with the red mist and the steam in this novel that I had seen before ...It's in<b><i> The Green Mile</i></b> when John Coffey is trying to heal someone. As he is taking in the "disease" or whatever, he inhales the disease as if it were a horde of insects and then exhales the disease as the insects. Very clever Stephen...In <i style="font-weight: bold;"> Doctor Sleep, </i>cloud, mist, it is only death.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-45439048205824861412013-09-05T18:39:00.000-07:002014-01-23T08:56:46.710-08:00Book Review of Thomas Keneally's The Daughters of MarsBecause I "enjoyed" reading <strong><u>Schindler's List</u></strong>, that is if you can say you "enjoyed" reading it (well at least I didn't neck while watching the movie like Seinfeld did), I decided to read Keneally's newest historical novel, <strong>The Daughters of Mars</strong>. This is a novel I believe, foremost, to be about sisterhood. Secondly, it's about the nurses of The Great War, WWI. And thirdly, it's about WWI. It's a semi-long book, 517 pages and at times it does ramble, but the majority of the time you are captivated by the lives of the two main characters, the Durance sisters, Naomi and Sally. They are from "the bush" country of Australia. Naomi leaves the country farm to be a nurse in Sydney and Sally , also a nurse, stays at home to take care of their mother, who is dying of cervical cancer. She saves up a lethal dose of morphine to put her mother out of her misery. One day her sister Naomi comes to stay, and while Sally is asleep and Naomi is at her mother's bedside, their mother dies. Sally finds that her stash of morphine has disappeared and believes that Naomi has done the merciful thing, something she's ashamed to say that she wished she had the mental strength to do. This secret has a toll on their relationship but becomes a catalyst for a bond they never thought they could achieve. Read more...<a name='more'></a> Naomi decides there is more to life than living and working in Sydney and signs up to become a volunteer nurse to minister to wounded Australian soldiers serving in Africa, Asia and Europe. Sally, unbeknownst to Naomi, does the same thing. As the narrative of the sisters proceeds, there is, of course, some "history" in the novel regarding the battles of WWI. The battle that christens the sisters into the misery of war is that of Gallipoli. Gallipoli is a big deal in Australia and is commemorated on April 25 of each year. It should be. Australia lost 8,700 men at Gallipoli. The sisters see the war action up close and personal. They see human bodies savaged by shells, bullets, shrapnel, trench foot, gangrene, mustard gas, typhoid, shell shock and influenza. "On a cot before them lay a man whose wound once unbandaged showed a face that was half steak and no eyes. The lack of features made his age impossible to guess."<br />
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<img alt="The Daughters of Mars" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9781476734613_p0_v7_s260x420.JPG" /><br />
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<img 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" 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The sisters start out in Cairo and then are moved to a hospital "black ship" (a black out of all lights etc and the red cross gone) meaning it will be a hospital vessel once again once it drops troops at Gallipoli. But on their way there, the ship is torpedoed. This is a harrowing account. The ship is sinking and the girls as well as soldiers and fellow nurses cling to the remaining life boats. They hear "huge metal shrieks and thumps... within the ship and the unearthly lament of mules and ponies went on...A horse with bulging eyes came swimming up, the sort they might use to pull a canon." Keneally vividly describes the sinking ship: "Men still on the ship were now reduced to jumping from the stern or sliding down its curves. She saw two land in the churning propeller which cut them in sections and threw their blood about in a terrible mist so instant you could doubt it had happened." He also vividly describes the complacent air of those that simply moaned and let go of the raft to drift to the bottom of the sea.<br />
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The girls are sent to the Greek island of Lemnos and are treated not as Florence Nightingales but as sub par medical cleaning ladies and to sexual harassment and subjugation. As Naomi says, "They'll never be able to print the story of the sinking ship because we weren't hysterical enough." Even with the larger picture of the war looming, Keneally does offer a picture into the private lives of our sisters and their fellow nurses. He tries to show that even in these trying times there is a need for humanity and love. There are furtive kisses and fumbling, love gained and in war, love lost.<br />
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Keneally's primary sources for the novel were the wartime journals of the Australian nurses, unearthed in state archives. He also tried to add authenticity to his writing by writing in a style reminiscent of the time. He says in his Author's Note, "The punctuation used in this narrative might seem occasionally eccentric, but is designed to honor that of the forgotten private journals of the Great War, written by men and women who frequently favored dashed rather than commas." It does take awhile to get used to but once you're into the story, it becomes a part of the narrative. Everything in this novel, as the reveiwer from NPR says, "lives and breathes with marvelous intensity". As Naomi takes her sister by the chin and commands Sally, she says, "There are only two choices, you know. Either die or live well. We live on behalf of thousands who don't. Millions. So let's not mope about it, eh?" <img align="middle" alt="" border="0" class="th imgthumb1" height="257" name="imgthumb1" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="margin: 0px -1px 0px 0px;" title="http://sp.stmarysannapolis.org/highschool/jkeenan/The%20WikiTSAR%20Library/Nurses%20of%20WWI--Women%20on%20the%20Frontlines.aspx" width="320" /><br />
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Keneally plays with few literary effects except for the final chapter. There he offers us alternate postwar futures for the sisters. That I didn't like. For such a straightforward book about the bonds of sisterhood, the carnage of war, the simple determination to live or die just didn't seem right to me. The only thing I can think of is that wars are full of ambiguities and vagaries. What allowed some to live and others die?<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-39467537018692171892013-09-01T18:02:00.000-07:002014-04-24T17:56:51.034-07:00Review of a Bruno Mars Concert by a Woman of a Certain Age<b><i>My blog has moved to www.satisfyingmycuriosity.com. If you've enjoyed this blog, please check my new site out for other interesting comments on culture, book reviews, and music.</i></b><br />
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I wonder if Bruno has any inkling about how much Spanx is in his audience each performance. Now keep this in mind. Not only women with sagging body parts wear Spanx but so do many of the young women today. I read an article in my favorite newspaper, The Wall Street Journal, that Spanx actually is causing consternation within the pick up world. Girl looks great in skin tight dress or skinny jeans, hot guy at bar wants to take her home. Oops, sorry got to go to the little girl's room...to remove my Spanx! And those little imperfections just pop out. What's a girl to do?<br />
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But I digress. I was writing about Bruno Mars. My sister and I love concerts but actually haven't been to one, at least at a huge arena, in a long time. Our first big concert together was to see Prince, yes, Prince, in his 1999 and Little Red Corvette days. <img align="middle" alt="" border="0" class="th imgthumb12" height="125" name="imgthumb12" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="margin: 0px;" title="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-singers-of-all-time-19691231/prince-20101202" width="125" /> Sheila E had the percussion gig. My husband, to this day, can not fathom that my sister and I believe that was the sexiest concert we had ever seen. He says, "that little twerp"? Oh yes baby. That little twerp. You don't have to be 6 foot 6 to be sexy dear. So off we go to see another little twerp, well, he's 5' 7", sorry Bruno (one reviewer called him diminutive). Read more...<br />
<a name='more'></a> All of the concerts I've attended at this venue were in concert, pardon the pun, with a corporate suite. We had special parking passes etc etc. Another free Chardonnay? Why yes, thank you Jeeves. But that era of my life is long gone and I had to prepare myself like the ordinary person and buy the tickets online, drive to the venue, and drive back. I'm going to rant here. I went online at 12:01 a.m. 12:01! The only seats I could get were with a limited view. Are you kidding me?! At 12:01?! What a frigging deal these big ticket buyers have and then if you want those center stage tickets, they're $350. I took the limited view for $90 a ticket. Then I began to think about driving into down town and all of the traffic. Bruno's concerts are one of the few acts out there this year that is actually packing the house so I knew traffic would be bad. I live 40 minutes outside of the city. On to hotels.com to find a hotel within walking range. Low and behold a hotel not only within walking range but connected to the venue. Yee hi! I couldn't believe the price was only $157. Luckily it wasn't convention season. We saw many many people at the hotel that also were from this city but also lived 40 minutes or so away and opted to stay at the hotel rather than drive. Plus there's no problem if you decide to have a few toddies before, during and after the concert. And you can trust me here, there were many doing all three. In the bar after, a woman of a certain age shows up with shorts on that read across the butt Bruno Mars. Over her jeans. Acting like she was on the cat walk. No lady no. That just ain't the look.<br />
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OK the concert. I hear that Bruno is temperamental and I have seen him throw hissy fits when he doesn't win a Grammy. This night he would not let local media photographers take pictures plus when you wanted to buy a bottle of water, the concession staff said they couldn't sell the water in the bottles because someone was afraid they'd get thrown at the stage. So for $5 I got a Dasani in a big cup. Now I don't understand this water bottle throwing thing. Bruno's audience is not that of Altamont (do I date myself?) but his audience is made up a wide range of age groups and a big portion of that is women. From the teenager to the medicare crowd, the women were there to see a great singer who sings the romantic to R and B breakdown, a great dancer (both he and his musicians), a great musician (he played guitar, drums) and a great showman. Bruno knows how to show people a fantastic time. As far as the women in the audience, he knows how to please them. Even women of a certain age enjoyed the hip thrusting and floor pounding. What energy these guys have. The band, except for a couple of solos by Bruno and then the pianist, these guys never, ever quite moving. All of the requisite hits were played. Keep in mind, he doesn't have that large a repertoire so the show lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes (I've been to the Elton John/ Billy Joel marathons). But Bruno is young and if he can stay out of trouble and keep a clear head, this young "twerp" is going far far far...My sister and I, women of a certain age, say that if we were, oh, 20 years younger, we'd have lasered in on Bruno, Spanx and all. And he wouldn't have had a chance ;))<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-25742808953714937042013-08-17T13:09:00.001-07:002014-04-24T17:57:17.362-07:00Book Review...Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson by Jeff Guinn<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
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<img alt=""Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson" by Jeff Guinn" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1410809.1374971616!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/image-1-1410809.jpg" height="320" width="211" /><img src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/120405021952-charles-manson-mugshot-1-2011-story-top.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></div>
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Take yourself back, if you were alive at the time, to the 1960's. What do you remember of it? For me, living in a small, rural South Texas town, it was about a few of our boys going off to Vietnam, Saturday night dances at the VFW Hall, getting an older person to buy us a six pack of Lone Star or Pearl beer, driving endlessly around town looking for boys from other towns, going swimming in a cow "tank", Saturday morning bible study, basketball games, and giggling about who might have "put out" over the weekend. Oh, we watched Walter Cronkite's evening news and saw what was happening in Vietnam and the rest of the country. We were shocked by the assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy as well as Martin Luther King. But ours was really an insular existence. At the same time I was living this bucolic life, there existed an alternate universe to ours. And that alternate universe was the cultural crucible brewing in the state of California. The reason I bring up my background is that in an interview, the author said he wanted to write about Charlie because, " he wanted to find out how WE grew such a monster." We? I had no part of it, thank you very much. Read more...<br />
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The new biography about Charles Manson brought the '60's back to me. It was a nasty decade full of violence, hatred, war. There was the "summer of love" with Woodstock but that was far overshadowed by the bad. The Black Panthers were organized as well as the Weather Underground. Both ready to commit violence in the name of their beliefs. And rising from this national angst was Charles Manson. The author of the new bio, Jeff Guinn, says of his writings that "he wants to write about an era in American history, and to get readers interested I usually pick an iconic event. History doesn't happen in a vacuum." If you don't remember or don't even know who Charles Manson is here is the story in a nutshell. Charlie, as he is known to his cult, "the family", manipulates them into committing 7 horrendous murders. It's Los Angeles Aug. 9, 1969. Members of the family break into the house of the actress Sharon Tate, the wife of Roman Polanski, and brutally murder and mutilate the very pregnant Tate as well as 4 others in the house. The next night, they commit the same atrocities on an older couple who just happen to live in a house that Charlie had been in, the La Bianca's. Charlie had them do this to try to get one of his followers, accused of murder, out of jail, by making these look like copy cat murders. He tried to make them look as if the murders were done by the Black Panthers. Charlie loved the Beatles White Album and took from their "lead" that the "cut" Helter Skelter" was the name for the uprising of the blacks in America who would then kill all of the whites while Charlie and his family would be in a "bottomless pit" to later arise to take over the world and show the blacks (who have screwed everything up) how it is done.<br />
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So, you just told me the story. Then why do I need to read the book? Guinn's approach is three pronged: there's the rise and fall of Manson; a thorough look at the 1960's music industry; and the bizarre maelstrom of the 60's...Berkeley, Haight Ashbury, drugs, sex, and the disenfranchisement of the decade's youth. For the first time, a biographer of Charlie's has spoken to his school mates, teachers, and his half sister and cousin to try to piece together what made Charles Manson the master manipulator, pathological liar, and psychopath that he became. It seems all of this began very early in his life. Guinn does an admiral job in trying to piece this part of Manson's life together. As Charlie got older, and spent more and more time in reform schools and prison, he actually hung out with pimps to try to learn from them how to choose women for prostitution, the ones with self esteem or image problems or Daddy problems who'd buy into a smooth talker. He also studied Dale Carnegie and L. Ron Hubbard to better hone his manipulation skills. Much is made of Charlie's collaboration with the Beach Boy Dennis Wilson and Charlie's trying to be a musician bigger than The Beatles. As far as "the family"? Guinn does a good job of trying to help us understand how these people were so easily manipulated. Charlie had them garbage diving for food, stealing, "creepy-crawling" into people's homes at night and, of course, murder. As the queen of non-fiction murder mysteries, Ann Rule, puts it: The bio "stands as a definitive work: important for students of criminology, human behavior, popular culture, music, psychopathology and sociopathology, and compulsively readable for anyone who relishes nonfiction." <img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/08/18/books/review/18RULE/18RULE-articleInline.jpg" />I don't know if I'd go that far. I do have one question of the author though. He stated that he wanted to find out how "WE" grew such a monster. Again I ask... we? I believe in inherent evil. What about you?<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-52681644084014911032013-08-08T18:27:00.000-07:002014-01-23T09:09:55.273-08:00One More Thing to Feel Guilty About...You're not going to believe where this is going. Ready? Do you have a guilt complex about...not finishing a book? This is a big deal in the publishing business. The publishing industry wants to know more about what people are reading and how they read. Do they put a book down and then pick it back up or do they just abandon books willy nilly or do people, on the whole, pick up a book and read it in its entirety? They're getting the majority of their data from e-readers. Each time you sync your Kindle,<img height="200" id="plarhs1" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="border-image: none; border: currentColor; margin: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="200" /> Nook or whatever, the provider is able to "see" what you've been doing with a book. How long does it take you to say, nah, that's enough time spent on this bomb? 25 pages, a 100 pages? Read more...<a name='more'></a> There is actually some psychology behind those who stick with a book till the very end and those who just call it quits if they don't like it. A Dr. Wilhelm, in a WSJ article speculated that, " a person with a type A personality might be more likely to abandon a book because they tend to be motivated by reward and punishment, and if there are no consequence or public recognition, why finish?" He says, "more laid back, type B personalities, may never start a book they know they won't finish. The more important motivator for finishing a book is social pressure, like a book club." It could be true but from my perspective it's this way: my husband, type A personality, very seldom picks out a book. Either a friend gives him an author they think he might like or I do the picking for him. Therefore, if he doesn't like a book, he can easily put it down because he has no time invested in discovering and buying/downloading the book. The only pressure he may feel to finish is if a friend gave him the book and then he feels he owes it to the other guy to finish it and give him his opinion. Me, on the other hand, the type B personality, will read reviews, look at lists of new books, get emails from Barnes and Nobles and Amazon on new books out, what are the prize winners for this year, recommendations from friends, book club selections, New York Times book reviews and their ads, NPR interviews...Whew! Just tired myself out. So for me, I'm more likely to finish a book because I have invested so much time and effort into picking the damned thing out! Sorry. Another reason for people abandoning books is timing. If you want to read <strong><em>Wolf Hall </em></strong><img align="middle" alt="" border="0" class="th imgthumb15" height="160" name="imgthumb15" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="margin: 0px;" title="http://books.google.com/books/about/Wolf_Hall.html?id=S8SgLul3n7gC" width="104" /> but you don't have a peaceful, easy feeling going on in your life, the book won't connect and you'll put it down. It's time to read <b><i>Insane City</i></b> by Dave Barry. Or if you're in that stage of life were love might be looming, <b><i>Anna Karenina</i></b> might sweep you away with her passion. But later in life, after a few kids etc, Anna may come across as selfish and irresponsible<br />
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. <img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" /><br />
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E-readers are definitely making it easier to put down a book or put it down (or iCloud it) for further future (is that redundant?) reading. Sara Nelson, editorial director of books and Kindle at Amazon sees book abandonment frequently among Kindle readers. She believes that e-readers "have given the consumer not so much license to stop, but to dip in and out of books, depending on their moods. I'll go along with that. Goodreads.com allows it's 18 million members to rank the most initiated but unfinished books of all time: 7300 members have voted. Top of the list: <b><i>Catch 22</i></b> by Joseph Heller was #1 and <b><i>The Lord of the Rings</i></b> Trilogy a close #2 (now THAT I don't understand). According to <img alt="Goodreads: Book reviews, recommendations, and discussion" src="http://s.gr-assets.com/assets/home/header_logo-3f5d8ff19a5e6328b50920b92b4e0abd.png" /> about 20% of the books read by their members are left unfinished. Here are the books reported to have been dropped midstream this year:<br />
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#1 <b><i>The Casual Vacancy</i></b> by J. K. Rowling (I never even bought it); #2 <b><i>Fifty Shades of Grey</i></b> by E.L. James (I'm a fan but I can see how this would turn people off); #3 <b><i>Eat, Pray, Love</i></b> by Elizabeth Gilbert (I despised this book but finished it, sort of, skipped all of India, just to see what all of the fuss was about); #4 <b><i>The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo</i></b> by Stieg Larson (I got a lot of people to finish this book simply by telling them to read until he gets to the cabin in the woods. Nothing good ever happens in a murder mystery when there's a cabin in the woods); #5 <b><i>Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West</i></b> by Gregory Maguire (hadn't even considered it). <img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" 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Right now I'm reading a new biography of Charles Manson, <b><i>Manson</i></b>, by Jeff Guinn. I will finish it, even though I know the ending, because Guinn has done what Erik Larson does so well. That is encapsulate the life of Manson into the time in which he was raised and fermented, the 50's, 60's and 70's. My time of fermenting...A book I'm going back to? Don't laugh,<b><i> The Telling Room: A Tale of Love, Betrayal, Revenge and the World's Greatest Piece of Cheese</i></b> by Michael Paterniti. Go ahead. Smile... <img alt="telling room" src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/0c9109c71ea0524d9fe840f91fabd67bb94a26a9/r=537&c=0-0-534-712/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/05/24/1369440398000-XXX-MORRISSEY-ROOM-BOOKS--1-1305242009_3_4.jpg" height="200" width="150" /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-30335527488774066212013-07-30T17:09:00.000-07:002014-01-23T09:20:21.086-08:00Dust Yourself Off. Time Heals All WoundsI know you've all heard the platitudes...dust yourself off, time heals all wounds; you're gonna wash that man right out of your hair; you're better off without him/her, yada yada yada. Which brings me to the theme of my blog...There have been two seminal events in my life which lead to an identity crisis. Both were actually of my own doing but I still went through a difficult time because of the decisions I chose to make. The first event was when I finally came to the decision to divorce the man I had been married to for 13 years and had known since I was 14. He was the only man I had ever dated. He was a musician and my life revolved around his life. Until I began to change and came to the realization that I wanted a different life for myself. He wasn't going to change for me. What's the old saying? If you can't "change" the people around you, then "change" the people around you. He wanted to go to marriage counseling. I said OK. I went in to talk to the counselor and basically said, this marriage is over. Read more...<a name='more'></a> Please help him understand this. <span class="thumb-container"><img alt="Relationship counseling -" border="0" class="thumb-hover" src="http://ec.l.thumbs.canstockphoto.com/canstock3303670.jpg" /></span> At the time, I was working at a large travel agency as their director of leisure travel. I got a job offer in Los Angeles to be the west coast leisure director for a national travel consortium. I remember relaying this info to my dad. I was very excited about the opportunity. He looks at me and asks, are you sure you want to leave your family and friends, move half way across the country, knowing no one, when you've just had the biggest upheaval in your life? I didn't make the move. He was right. I needed some continuity in my life. I later met my current husband and have never been happier. The other event happened when I decided to leave a company I loved, but didn't so much love the job. It was a company that allowed me to travel a lot, at a greatly reduced rate, had a sales staff that I adored, but the job was keeping me away, more and more, from my husband. People would ask me, what do you do for a living? I'd tell them and they'd always say, that must be so much fun! You must get to travel a lot. Yes and yes. But which is more important -the job or the time with the husband? The time with the husband won out. At first I was euphoric. Then I began to have an identity crisis. So much of my identity was tied to this great company. I went through at least 6 months of something akin to depression. I hadn't planned very well for this "early" retirement. If you read my blog on "retirement and husbands", it really is the same way for women. <br />
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What brings me to all of this reminiscing? An article in the Wall Street Journal about loss...loss of a job, loss of a spouse (divorcing, in my opinion, is similar to a death of a spouse) etc. In the article experts say that most people should give themselves a good two years to recover from an emotional trauma. I know it took me that long to get over my divorce and I was the one who wanted it. If you are blindsided by the event-your spouse leaving abruptly or getting fired unexpectedly, it can take longer. You may become depressed, anxious, and distracted-in other words, an emotional mess. Experts say that it doesn't help to hurry the process or deny its existence, say, by moving across country or starting a new relationship. As the therapist Dr. Gourguechon says, "The whole sweep of your life has to be reassessed and rewoven." I can attest to that as well as attest to the fact that counseling does help. Counseling can help you set a path that will structure your life so that you can get through this period. It can also help you understand, in the event of a divorce, what happened. The Dr. says that you shouldn't make any permanent changes, if you can help it, such as moving to another city and certainly don't start a new relationship. <strong><em>Recover and rebuild</em></strong> are the two key words to think about during this period. Recovery from grief and the restructuring of your life.<br />
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I wrote a blog a few years back on, "if there's a fork in the road, take it." Sometimes you're forced to take the fork in the road. A "fork" you don't want to take and would never take, if you had your druthers. Just keep in mind that when that fork abruptly rears its head, it will you take time to adjust to that new direction in life... to recover and rebuild. <br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-1981320699236582182013-07-11T17:57:00.000-07:002014-04-24T17:57:40.342-07:00To Pee or not to Pee...That is the Question.<b><i>My blog has moved to www.satisfyingmycuriosity.com. If you've enjoyed this blog, please check my new site out for other interesting comments on culture, book reviews, and music.</i></b><br />
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I think it was over Memorial Day weekend Sirius /XM Radio decided to have a station dedicated to the comedy of Richard Pryor. For my international or youthful readers, Richard Pryor was a black comedian popular primarily during the 1970's and early '80's. Pryor was a man with demons. He almost killed himself when he caught himself on fire from smoking crack. He later went on to do a very funny act about that episode. He grew up in a house of prostitution where his grandmother was the madame and his mother a prostitute. So he was the comedian that told it like it was...raw and vulgarity laden. But people loved him and the natural way in which he portrayed race, drug use, love, marriage etc. I did get to see him live in Austin, TX back in the late '70's. I laughed until I almost peed in my pants. He did an hysterical routine on the different ways in which men and women pee. If you're interested in the monologue, go to You Tube. It is very, very funny. So on that Sirius weekend, I ended up hearing this monologue again. Men like to write their name in the snow when they urinate, he said, (of course he didn't use that word) but women just seem to have a difficult time doing their business in the great out doors. The lady in the monologue (Richard's voice, of course) says she'll just wait until they get back to the car. "What?! You're going to wait and then pee in MY CAR?!" <img alt="Richard Pryor (1986) (cropped).jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Richard_Pryor_%281986%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-Richard_Pryor_%281986%29_%28cropped%29.jpg" height="200" width="162" /> Read more...<br />
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This monologue reminded me of a trip my husband and I took to French Polynesia. We were on a Windstar cruise (they're back doing that destination and I highly recommend their cruises) and decided to do a 4 hour cruise in a motor boat around the island of Huahine. We were to snorkel with reef sharks and see ancient temples dedicated to human sacrifice. While on the cruise, they fed us the most wonderfully freshly cut pineapple, diet cokes, and other fresh fruits. After about a couple of hours I was really starting to REALLY need a bathroom. When we were snorkeling, I said, OK, now's the time. But not with all these people around! No way! They'll know what I'm doing. So, I held it. We're bouncing along in this motor boat and by now I am in EXTREME discomfort. My husband, being the man so ever attuned to caring for my well being says, here, sit on this towel and pee on it. I love you, too, dear. We finally, after about three hours, stop at a national park, where the so called human sacrifice temples are to be. I asked our guide if perhaps there was a bathroom in the park. Now understand this. Our guide was a Frenchman. From France. Imagine a French accent here. <i>You want to go to the BATHROOM?</i>! <i>Well then go in the LAGOON! </i>I looked at him like he had two heads. GO IN THE LAGOON?! WITH EVERYONE KNOWING WHAT I'M DOING?! No way! <i>You are ruuuuuiiinnning my tour! </i>He revs up the motor and proceeds to go lickety split, as fast as he possibly can, back to the port. Now the boat is hitting the waves hard and I'm practically screaming. Once we reach the port, I was like George Costanza at the kid's birthday party. Old people, children, get out of my way! I ran so fast I actually went into the men's room not realizing it. After I come out, I'm applauded by the other passengers because they, too, had to go. Thanks a pant load for your support with "you are ruining my tour" Pierre. <img src="http://alpineactivities.org/Huahine.jpg" height="212" width="320" /><br />
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There was one part of the tour that was one of the most memorable of all my travels. Pierre said that he had seen a mother humpback whale and her calf the day before. Perhaps we might find her.. Well, we did. Pierre said to take off our flippers and quietly slip into the water. And there was...something. We couldn't make out what it was. Until we realized it was her dorsal fin. It looked like a reef. And then we saw the baby. Right on top of her. She took one glance at us with this eye the size of a hub cap, made once big swish with her tail, and she was gone. Just for your FYI, a full grown humpback can reach 46 ft. long. On Papeete we stayed at the Radison Hotel which had an infinity pool. From there, we could watch the whales and their calves frolicking in the ocean. Skip Papeete. It is no longer what Captain Cook saw. I loved Bora Bora and Moorea. Lots of out door things to do...biking, hiking, sailing, snorkeling, diving, old WWII landmarks. These islands are like Hawaii in the mid to late 1990's. <br />
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When I went to Borneo with my sister, there was a danger every time you wished to pee in the "wild". Can you spell leeches and pythons? I'd like to hear Richard Pryor do a monologue on that scenario. There is a new product out on the market for women to "pee" standing up. It's called "Go Girl". Their motto is "don't take life sitting down." Cute. <img alt="GoGirl Product" src="http://www.go-girl.com/img/goGirl_prodShot3_hp.png" />Still won't get rid of those pesky leeches, pythons, or lurking peeping Toms.<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-78191304821036861912013-05-25T12:37:00.000-07:002014-04-24T17:58:11.217-07:00Book Review: And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini<b><i>My blog has moved to www.satisfyingmycuriosity.com. If you've enjoyed this blog, please check my new site out for other interesting comments on culture, book reviews, and music.</i></b><br />
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I loved both <b><i>The Kite Runner</i></b> and <b><i>A Thousand Splendid Suns</i></b>. In both of these novels, emotions come charging at you and continue like a thread throughout the narrative. Sometimes it hits you on top of the head. Whack! <b><i> And the Mountains Echoed </i></b><img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" />starts out this way. But the rest of the novel creeps into the crevices of your mind and ensnares you. Here's how it begins: A poor Afghan farmer tells his two children, Abdullah and Pari, a story of an evil monster that forces a family to give up one of their children or the monster will kill them all. The family decides to make it a random choice and the one selected is their favorite. The father is beyond grief for his son believing, surely, that the monster has eaten his son. The father makes a pilgrimage to the castle of the monster only to find the son alive and well and thriving. He decides to leave the son rather than to bring him back to intense poverty. As the poor Afghan farmer tells this tale to his children, he says, "A finger had to be cut to save the hand." Read more...<br />
<a name='more'></a> I've read a few reviews on the book and I have yet to come across the meaning of the title. Hosseini said he got it from a William Blake line, "And all the hills echoed." He changed "hills" to mountains to represent Afghanistan's imposing terrain. I look at it this way. When one person who is in the mountains yells, it echoes from mountain top to mountain top. This is the way this novel is arranged. With the one act of the poor farmer to cut off the finger to save the hand, the farmer sets into motion a series of events that will bounce from one character to the next . Hosseini says, "I followed the ripples from that first story, and that became like the trunk of the tree and then all of the other branches sprouted from that." There are 8 different story lines. Some may find the narrative confusing because of this (a different narrator for each chapter). Hosseini moves from one chapter to another using different points of view and a different style. Plus, with all of the Afghan names, it can be a little trouble trying to keep everybody straight. <img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" /><br />
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The main characters:<br />
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<b><i> Abdullah</i></b>, although he only appears in the beginning and the end. Wraps up the novel's narrative and it will bring tears to your eyes. <br />
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<b><i>Pari</i></b>: Abdullah's sister. She is the catalyst for the narrative. She also helps bring things full circle.<br />
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<b><i>Mr. Wahdati</i></b>: A gay, rich man who marries Nila, a wealthy "disgraced" woman unable to have children.<br />
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<b><i>Nabi</i></b>: Mr. Wahdati's butler and chauffeur. He is also Abdullah and Pari's step uncle.<br />
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<b><i>Dr. Varvaris</i></b>: A plastic surgeon who moves to Kabul to do reconstructive surgery on children. He eventually lives in Mr. Wahdati's house and learns the secret about Pari and Abdullah.<br />
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There are a number of other interesting characters that help Mr. Hosseini round out his theme, " Life just doesn't care about our aspirations, or sadness. It's often random, and it's often stupid and it's often completely unexpected and the closures and the epiphanies and revelations we end up receiving from life, begrudgingly, rarely turn out to be the ones we thought (we'd have)." The Washington Post reviewer said this of the novel, "Over and over again, he takes complicated characters and roasts them slowly, forcing us to revise our judgments about them and to recognize the good in the bad and vice versa." We may see Nila in chapter two being greedy and selfish. Then in another chapter we see her as a tragic poet and a devoted mother. Then in another chapter, we see her as an alcoholic narcissist. Two characters that I thoroughly enjoyed because I felt I began to know them were Dr. Varvaris' mother, Odie, and his lifelong friend, Thalia. Neither has anything to do with Pari or Abdullah but they really exemplify Hosseini's theme. <img alt="Khaled Hosseini was born in Afghanistan and moved to the U.S. as a teenager. He was a physician before he published his first novel, The Kite Runner." src="http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/05/15/khaled-hosseini-c-2013-by-elena-seibert_custom-d470b97a4fbf2d44d80f59ab4033a1502c8fdc97-s3.jpg" height="200" width="170" /><br />
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The writing is terrific. This one hit home since I'm a woman of a certain age: Pari sees herself in a shop window, "She catches herself off guard, vulnerable to reality undistorted by self-delusion. She sees a middle aged woman in a drab floppy blouse and a beach skirt that doesn't quite conceal enough of the saggy folds of skin over her kneecaps. The sun picks out her gray hair...she has a face now that a passerby's gaze will engage and then bounce from, as it would a street sign or a mailbox number..." Or, Nila doing an interview for a Paris magazine: " I felt lost. I've read...that if an avalanche buries you and you're lying there underneath all that snow, you can't tell which way is up or down. You want to dig yourself out but pick the wrong way, and you dig yourself to your own demise. That was how I felt, disoriented, suspended in confusion, stripped of my compass." There are many many beautifully written passages like these in<b><i> And the Mountains Echoed</i></b>. <br />
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I'm sorry I can't give you a better idea of the plot. I'll let the reviewer from the Washington Post sum it up, "It's hard to do justice to a novel this rich in a short review- about the rhyming pairs of characters, the echoing situations, the varied takes on honesty, loneliness, beauty and poverty, the transformation of emotions into physical ailments." I would also add loss and abandonment. This is going straight up the best seller list...<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-63871733405731776952013-05-23T11:21:00.001-07:002014-01-23T14:33:03.576-08:00There's a Fungus Amongus...This is going to gross people out. But I'll gross you out anyway. While trying to satisfy my curiosity, I came upon this story posted online at Newser.com. I'm going to tell you a story to set up the article. If you've ever been on a mass market cruise line, then you'll know that on days at sea varying types of entertainment is set up for the passengers. One such entertainment is the Newly Wed Game. The cruise director will usually ask a very newly wed couple to come on stage, then another couple, say, married ten years, then maybe 30 years and then ask for the longest married couple to also come on stage. Then the cruise director begins to ask them stupid questions. It was at one of these events where the cruise director asks, "What is the one thing that you didn't know about your spouse when you married him/her and later found out about, that really grossed you out?" Ready? This "bride" said it was when she caught her husband biting his toenails...with his teeth...If he had read the article below, would he have still nipped his pinkies with his teeth? And now for the article: Read more...<br />
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<img src="http://img2-cdn.newser.com/image/934799-6-20130523101326.jpeg" /><br />
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<b><i style="background-color: white;"><span class="source" style="color: #666666; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">(NEWSER) </span>– If you always thought feet were kind of gross, you were right: There are almost 200 different types of fungi living on them, a new study finds. In fact, though fungi live all over your skin, they most like to congregate on the heel (home to 80 different types), between toes (60), and underneath toenails (40), the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22622689" style="color: #003399; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">BBC</a> reports. The US government study is the first to catalog the fungi that hang out on our body, sequencing the DNA of fungi from 10 adults. Fungi are typically harmless, and some are even beneficial, but some can cause disease (and they also "help to make your feet stinky," says a researcher).</i></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><i>Other popular locations for fungi: palm, forearm, inner elbow (18-32 different types each). Fungi were also found in or around nostrils, ears, scalps, hands, and—though these were not-so-hot spots—the head and trunk. Researchers wanted to get establish a "baseline" for healthy adults, and they hope the study will help combat athlete's foot and other fungal skin problems. Why are feet so popular with fungi? It probably has something to do with temperature, <a href="http://bodyodd.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/22/18424340-fungus-found-in-your-nose-in-the-goop-between-your-toes?lite" style="color: #003399; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">NBC News</a> reports. The bottom line? "Wear your flip-flops in locker rooms," says the lead researcher</i></b>.</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017019586724801612.post-19657696409286143922013-05-18T18:45:00.000-07:002014-04-24T17:58:44.454-07:00Dan Brown's Latest: An Italian Travel Guide AKA "Inferno"<b><i>My blog has moved to www.satisfyingmycuriosity.com. If you've enjoyed this blog, please check my new site out for other interesting comments on culture, book reviews, and music.</i></b><br />
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I was so looking forward to this book. I loved his three other books,<b style="font-style: italic;"> Angels and Demons, The Da Vinci Code</b> and<b style="font-style: italic;"> The Lost Symbol. </b>So as soon as it was available for Kindle, I downloaded it and began to read. Oh gentle readers, I was so disappointed. As I lay out the structure and plot, you'll get a better idea of why I say I was disappointed but then again, you may say, horse hockey. Sounds like a fine read to me. In my humble opinion, this book is 1/2 art history, 1/4 travelogue and 1/4 plot. Let's start with plot. Robert Langdon, Harvard professor extraordinaire, specialist in iconography or as he calls it, symbology. Langdon wakes up in a hospital in Florence, purportedly having been shot at, and in an amnesiac state. Read more...<br />
<a name='more'></a> A beautiful British doctor, Sienna (of course) is taking care of him...But wait...all of a sudden a muscular, spike haired woman breaks into the hospital with the sole purpose of killing Langdon. The doctor whisks him away to her apartment. While there he finds, or she finds, a bio hazard container in his Harris Tweed jacket. Inside of this container is a small encrypted (of course) vessel which turns out to be a small projector that shows Botticelli's "Map of Hell", which depicts Dante's "Inferno." Being a huge fan of Dante, he knows the poem backwards, forwards, upside and down and he realizes that the 9 circles of hell have been shuffled. So, we begin the hunt for Langdon's memory, for what the mysterious shuffling of <b><i>The Inferno</i></b> means, what is the meaning of the writing inside of Dante's death mask, where do all of these clues dropped by a mysterious man lead and who the heck is chasing Langdon? The US government, a mysterious stealth organization located on a huge yacht or the World Health Organization and who the heck is Sienna? <img alt="Cover" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/bb/Inferno-cover.jpg/200px-Inferno-cover.jpg" height="200" width="134" /><br />
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Whew! Car chases ensue, motor cycle chases, chases down long stairways, through churches, across cat walks, across continents, black vans with military like personal and a mysterious woman with long silver hair. And WHY can't Langdon remember anything? A hint about where the plot is going...without giving it away. It regards Transhumanism and over population. Transhumanism involves genetically changing humans. Over population, well, the mysterious evil man who is trying to change the world believes overpopulation will be the end of the world. So he tries to do something about it. His mantra is: "the darkest places of hell being reserved for those who maintain neutrality in moral crisis." Which is actually a quote from JFK. Another mantra: "self sacrifice for the human good."<br />
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That's 1/4 of the book. The rest is travelogue and art history. I'm telling you that if you want to know about Italian art history before going to Florence and Venice and then want to throw in the city of Istanbul and the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sofia for good measure, then this is the book for you. Not only do you become familiar with Dante's Inferno,<img src="http://dabrownstein.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/botticellis-ms-map-of-dantes-hell.jpg" height="141" width="200" /> you also hear about almost all of the major and not so major statues, paintings,canvases, squares, and architecture in these three cities. Brown obviously loves history and art. He does know his stuff. But these art history lessons are to the detriment of the pacing of the story. As the reviewer from the Washington Post says, "Unfortunately, at other times the book's musty passageways seem to be not so much holding history up as sagging under its weight. Narration appears lifted from a Fodor's guide, as when Langdon pauses in the middle of a life and death escape to remember the history of the bridge:" "Today the vendors are mostly goldsmiths and jewelers, but that has not always been the case. Originally the bridge had been home to Florence's vast, open air market, but the butchers were banished in 1593."" It's like trying to solve a mystery while one of those self guided tour headsets is dangling from your ears. (Step over this prone body and press 32 to learn about the velvet box containing Dante's death mask in the Palazzo Vecchio.) <img src="http://library.princeton.edu/libraries/firestone/rbsc/aids/C0770/ex89.jpg" height="200" width="142" /><br />
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A couple of other nit picky things: Langdon, who hasn't slept or eaten very much in a couple of days as well being chased around a good deal is racing along with a paramilitary type (his name is Bruder, who happens to be in excellent condition) to the under ground cisterns in Istanbul. "Bruder arrived breathless beside Langdon." Really? A paramilitary type is breathless and a Harvard professor is not? Forgot. Langdon has strong legs from swimming. Also, Langdon and the head of the WHO are frantically looking for a way (I'm not telling)...to save the world and all that...and Langdon, "Chuckled as their guide directed..." Chuckled? Really? <img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSC5GeEKW1OdSxHXmqmBRAfJENz9LihtX8-lhYbWjSXAPhfYuYfNA9UWGlT" /><br />
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Feast upon the beauty of the arts but do not manifest thyself in the sparse plot...<br />
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The 9 circles of hell: limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud, treachery.<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/society/politics/conservative/</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1