Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Book Reviews: The First Two Crossfire Books by Sylvia Day

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As the Wall Street Journal said:  There is finally someone sexier than Christian Grey...His name is Gideon Cross and he is, of course, a hunka  hunk of burning love.  When Bared to You came out, it sold 80,000 paperbacks in the UK in the first week alone.  More than Fifty Shades did.  And when Reflected in You came out, it sold 82,000 copies in the UK. On Goodreads, BTU has 71,4111 ratings and RIU, 35,075. Amazon reviewers give BTU an average 4.7 stars, RIU, the same.  So why all of the fuss about this Crossfire Series?  There are some similarities to Fifty Shades of Grey. Read more...

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Book Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Genre:  Teen romance grades 7+

Author:  Ally Condie

It seems like the trilogy genre is on fire.  I know the first trilogy I read was The Lord of the Rings.  Now we have the Twilight series, The Hunger Games, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series and of course, the grand mamma of them all, Fifty Shades of Grey etc.  As a reviewer it is awfully hard to go from reading a Fifty Shades of Grey series, the adult dominance and submissive stuff, to reading a trilogy written for teens.  Truth be told, I thoroughly enjoyed the first in Ally Condie's trilogy, Matched.  Condie  has the middle book, Crossed,  as well as the concluding book,  Reached, now at a book seller near you or on an e book site.  Read more...

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

If You Like Vodka...

I have been a vodka aficionado for a while.  I've tasted quite a few through out my travels especially while in Russia.  But, I've come across a USA distilled vodka that I love.  It's Tito's Vodka made in Austin, Texas.  I was telling a friend of mine about Tito's and we decided to do our own little tasting of vodkas.  We had Tito's, Ketel One, Grey Goose and Crystal Head vodka (the one made by Dan Aykroyd).  Tito's won hands down.  Not only is it smooth in taste but the price is smooth. Crystal Head is anywhere from $45.00-$50 for 750ml .  Ketel One and Grey Goose $38-40.00 for 750ml.  Tito's is around $28-30!  The magazine, Wine Enthusiast, out of 100 points gave Tito's 95 points, Ketel One 89 and Grey Goose 84.  If you doubt my love of vodka, just read my blog about my adventure of trying to get some vodka on Borneo:  http://satisfyingmycuriousity.blogspot.com/2010/05/its-been-while-since-i-last-posted-but.html.Read more...

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Giving "Back": I See Rotten Tomatoes Coming My Way

I'm going to approach this subject two ways.  The first will certainly be considered a "humbug" approach.  The second will probably have mixed reviews.  First, the "humbug" approach or how I let a phrase like "giving back" totally irritate the heck out of me.  But why?  Because, often, when people feel they have some extra time in their lives and want to do something for their community, they say they want to "give back".  Well, here's my point.  Give what back to whom and why?  I guess you could say I take the phrase literally and not figuratively.  Give back...let's see, the path I've taken in life has, at times, been rocky.  Have I faced a fiscal cliff or two in my life time?  You betcha.  But I have never had to, luckily, rely on the auspices of the government (taxpayers) nor private nor public charities to help me out.  I've never been on welfare nor food stamps nor medicaid.  I've not had to eat in a soup kitchen or ask for charitable help.  If I had to do any of these things, and then I found myself with the ability and where with all to "give something back" to those who have given to me, then I would with an open heart. rotten tomatoes photo: Rotten tomatoes rottentomatoes.jpg  Read more...

Monday, November 26, 2012

If You Want to Go to London, Read This...

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I've got two pieces of advice for you if you're going to London:  either go on an expense account or go on an all inclusive tour.  I don't like tours.  I'm not into the pack your bag every day and be with 30 strangers, some of which can either be really obnoxious or are repeatedly late or are chronic complainers.  But London is so expensive, I'd give it a shot.  London isn't the most expensive city in the world.  That honor, according to CNN, is Oslo, Norway.  New York ranks 6th.  But when the equivalent of 1 GBP (British Pound) costs $1.60 US, you're losing money like crazy.  That's why it's so expensive for travelers who use US dollars.  We got a discount at a JW Marriott, The Grosvenor House, which included breakfast.  I'm not going to say how much but it was reasonable enough not to figure into the overall expensiveness of the city.  We didn't eat at overly expensive restaurants but still ended up, for 3 people, with restaurant  tabs of $250 or more (includes tip).  And we're not big wine or mixed drink drinkers.  By the way.  I do like my martinis, vodka thank you.  They pour ONE ounce!  Sometimes at 10 GBP or $16 US.  We did eat at some great restaurants though.  One fun one was Bone Daddies on Peter Street in SoHo.  They specialize in ramen noodle dishes.  We had three bowls of ramen soup at 10 GBP each or $16 US.  The soup was delicious and I would highly recommend the place.  It's hard to find.  Peter street is a very short street and most people don't know where it is. I had to laugh.  It was like a phone commercial.  I walk up to five people standing in front of a bar.  No, this is not the beginning of a joke. I asked them if they know where Peter Street is and Bone Daddies.  Two of them, at the same time, say, let's race and begin to frantically look on their phones to see who can find my info the fasted.  We were at the restaurant 5 minutes later.  Read more:

Monday, November 12, 2012

Books to Give for the Holidays


It’s been a very good year, in my opinion, for the publishing world. It was buoyed by The Fifty Shades Trilogy.  Some authors seemed on auto pilot while others tried a different tack.  And as usual, we have many old characters back:  Jack Reacher, Harry Bosch, and John Corey, just to name a few.  The *-***** stars are provided by Amazon.com readers. I'll also designate TR, to read, or otherwise assume I read it.  

So here’s a list of books I have either read or I will read.    Read more...

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Will I Always Remember Christian and Ana? Depends...

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Hah!  Suckered you in!  This is a blog on memory.  Although I must say that I will probably always remember Fifty Shades Fifty Shades of Grey as well as I remember reading my first "adult" fiction at the tender age of 13. And I do remember it, The Golden Hawk by Frank Yerby.  It was one of those bodice rippers with the hunky sea captain thing going on.  Forward (didn't I just see that word used in some campaign? How soon we forget.) then to the topic.   On Feb. 22 of this year, I wrote a blog entitled: Every memory soon becomes fiction. It's a quote from Ernest Hemingway.   I found this article in the Huffington Post and I thought I'd pass it on because so many of us baby boomers are worried about Alzheimer's.  We'll walk from one room to the next with a purpose to do so and by the time we get to the other room...realize we have forgotten that purpose.  Not to worry.  There's a reason for it and many of the other worrisome memory lapses we might have.  Hopefully this will relieve you of some of your anxiety.    Read more...

Monday, November 5, 2012

AAMOI: TAFS (Translation Below)

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As a matter of interest: texting acronyms for seniors.  :-X.

I bought this little flip book, Texting Dictionary of Acronyms.  I'm not into this stuff like the kids of today are.  Mostly I use the LOL or LMAO with a smattering of :)) or :((.  But apparently there is a whole new world of language out there that scares me.  Scares me because I love the English language and all of its nuances.  Here's a lovely texted nuance: EPADY.  Want to guess what it stands for?  Eat poop and die you. Very nuanced.  I'm convinced that as our world evolves all our progeny will have on their hands are little thumbs to type on tiny keys.  Since my readers are mostly, not all, but mostly a little older, this little handbook does have texting acronyms for seniors.  So here goes TWS (texting while senior):   Read more...

Sunday, October 28, 2012

My First Time Was with Tricky Dicky

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Tricky Dicky?  Well, for those of you who are too young to remember, Tricky Dicky was one of the nicknames for President Richard Milhouse Nixon. My other choice was Hubert Humphrey.  When you ask people about their "first" time, normally they say it was horrible, not worth it, should have waited, what's all the fuss about.  With my choices of Nixon and Humphrey, for the "first" time, I would have had to use some of those adjectives   I suppose that if I were to compare myself with Lena Dunham, the young woman behind the ad recently approved by the Obama campaign, I'd have to say I lost "it" to Tricky Dicky.  Sexual innuendos and voting.  "O" my.  What next?  Fifty Shades of voting? I could really go somewhere with this 50 Shades analogy but I have some sense and sensibility and won't go there.  This is how outrageous this campaign has become.  The last few weeks have been taken up with arguments over Big Bird, binders and now the "lost" virginity. So I guess we shouldn't be thinking about the the unemployment rate, the high number of people on disability, the number of people on food stamps, the number of unemployed women, our debt to the Chinese,and we certainly shouldn't be concerned with the resurgence of Al Qaeda and the death of a US ambassador and 3 other Americans.  Nope.  Big Bird come here.   If you haven't seen the "virginity" ad, here's the dialog. (By the way, the Lilly Ledbetter act was signed by Obama in 2009.  It's an equal pay bill.)  Read more...

Sunday, October 14, 2012

What the Heck is a Zwickelbier or Schwarzbier?

Spoetzl Brewery is located about 9 miles from my home town smack in the middle of Texas' German/Czech territory. Spoetzl Brewery is located in Shiner, Texas.  The area's towns have  populations of 900-2000 people. Shiner beer was very popular in the '60's with the hippies because it was one of the first organic beers. The brewery used to have tables and chairs in the tasting rooms but that had to stop because too many local people came in, plopped themselves down and had a few cold ones. Back in the '60's when we were drinking beer (and not old enough I might add...I am NOT advocating underage drinking here), the thing to do was send a car to Colorado to bring back a trunk full of Coors.  Shiner beer?  You've got to be kidding me. Yuck.  Today Shiner is quite the boutique brewery.  The brewery is so popular that they have a huge Bocktoberfest, held in October, of course. It's a big party with nationally renowned bands, bike-a-thons from Austin and of course, plenty of German /Czech food and BEER!
  Read more...

Friday, October 5, 2012

A Dessert For Christian and Ana: Fifty Shades of Grey Sex Bars


A girlfriend of mine made these for a party I recently had.  She called them Better Than Sex Bars.  I'll call them Fifty Shades of Grey Sex Bars in honor of Christian and Ana.  Knowing Christian's penchant for kinky f*ckery, he may do a few things kinky with whatever left over peanut butter or butter or other ingredients he may have.  I don't believe either of them would agree with my girlfriend's premise that these are better than sex.  But they certainly are decadent with a touch of eroticism in them.  I can just see Christian with his torn jeans hanging on his hips with a ripped tee shirt on and making these for Ana.  Oh my... Read more...

Saturday, September 15, 2012

When Spousal Preferences Don't Align

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A heady topic that could lead to just about anywhere.  But here's what I'm talking about.  There's an article in every Saturday Wall Street Journal by Dan Ariely.  He tries to find answers to peoples "dilemmas". One of the questions asked of Dan was, "My husband and I are childless...each day he comes home and says 'What do you want to do tonight?' We've tried every restaurant within a 5 mile radius.  Neither of us enjoys shopping or watching movies at a theater.  His hobby is aviation and I don't fly...we usually end up watching TV and we don't even like TV.  Can you shed some light on our problem?" 

Dan's answer was basically something my husband and I did with a group of friends many years ago.  We had a core of 3 couples.  Each time someone asked, well, what are we doing this weekend?  No one could agree on what to do.  Inevitably someone would say, I don't want to do that.  Here's what Dan recommended to the couple and then I'll follow with what we did as the three couples. Read more...

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Artemis Fowl: Review on the 1st book in a series (For kids)

Genre: Children's books ages 10+ Fantasy




I was getting my afternoon pick me up, the Very Berry Hibiscus at Starbucks, and they were offering quite a few iTune downloads.  One was for their book pick of the week, Artemis Fowl: Book One.  Since I know that there are other readers out there besides the Fifty Shades fanatics, I thought it was time to review a kid's book.  So I read Artemis Fowl: Book One by Eoin Colfer.  Here's the premise of the story.  12 year old Artemis Fowl, who lives on the family estate in Ireland,  is left virtually an orphan when his father, a nefarious criminal of unsavory means, is killed.  This throws Arty's mother into a tail spin.  She stays in her own room with all the curtains closed, she is paranoid, sees creatures, and stuffs her husband's wedding tuxedo to emulate her deceased husband.  This leaves Artemis, who is a genius, in a void. Read more...

Monday, September 3, 2012

Perfect Timing: When's the Best Time To...

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Occasionally I'll pick up the magazine Mental Floss (at six bucks an issue it had better be interesting).  I'll have to admit that a great deal of it goes beyond satisfying my curiosity.  But if you want some trivia for the Mensa group, it might be for you.  In their Sept. edition they had a feature article on time.  And part of that feature was the importance of doing things at the right time of day.  For example, it's 6pm EST where I am and I should have just finished exercising because?  Find out why with "Want to make your days happier, healthier, and more lucrative?"  Well then, "just follow this schedule" (I've added some personal commentary):  Read more...

Thursday, August 30, 2012

2016: Obama's America; Review

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Yesterday we went to see this documentary.  It is on its way to being one of the most successful documentaries of the year.  Why? Because even though President Obama has been in the White House for almost 4 years, he is still an enigma to many millions of Americans.  So Dinesh D'Souza, noted conservative author and lecturer, decided to investigate "who" Obama really is.  I'm going to let a local CBS affiliate reporter as well as a community college teacher from CHICAGO give his "take" on the documentary.  Like Paulsen, I was surprised at the direction D'Souza takes and he makes a very compelling argument.  I've heard the left call this documentary "propaganda".  Well, we can all call something we don't like propaganda. Read more...

Monday, August 27, 2012

A Nut Case and a Cold Cucumber: Book Reviews

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Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir)

Talk about varied reading habits...I'd like to say I savored them like a good dry martini but these two were quick and easy like downing a shot. 

Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson
 Read more...

Sunday, August 19, 2012

For You Golfers Out There...

This is a terrific article by John Paul Newport who writes golf articles for the Saturday Wall Street Journal.  I was unaware that different countries have different handicap systems.  Interesting.  Enjoy:  Read more...

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Fifty Shades of Grey and Trickle Down Economics

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 think Ronald Reagan is turning over in his grave.  The Fifty Shades Trilogy has caused an explosion (oh my) in a very niche industry.  It's as if the readers are submissives being led into the cavernous maw of capitalism and to the ever intrepid entrepreneur.  Many individuals and businesses are finding ways to lubricate their pockets with money by cashing in on the phenomena of the Fifty Shades trilogy.  The trilogy has made $20 million in the US and $31 million worldwide. E. L. James books  Read more...

Saturday, August 4, 2012

U3 and U6: The REAL Umemployment Numbers

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 probably should stick to the Fifty Shades of Gray stuff because that is what everybody wants to read about these days.  The last thing they probably want to do is read about U3 and U6.  Life right now is tough enough with high gas prices, food prices going up, local municipalities trying to raise sales taxes, and we're in re-runs on TV.  Thank goodness for the Olympics!  Ok.  Gird your girders.  This blog is about the unemployment rate.  Please don't run! Don't run away from the lion because the lion, in this case, the truth, will bite you in the butt.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

A Mixed Bag of Book Reviews

I'm going to do reviews for 2 books:  Toltec by Alex Walker  Product Details a local writer, by the way.
The Long Shadows by Andrew Erlich Product Details


Talk about different subject matters:  A first time novelist creates a wonderful world of adventure, with mystery and thrills galore and then a novel about the tortured (?) life of an 8 foot 6 inch "giant". 
 
Let's start with great adventure with Toltec.  Here's what the publisher's had to say about the novel: Read more...