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OpEd: SOPA/PIPA and Copyright Law
The world has been up in arms over the SOPA/PIPA bills introduced into the House and Senate. I am against both, and was happy to see them pulled and the support people showed for those opposing it. However, I don’t know how many people noticed that while that was in the forefront of our minds, the Supreme Court was determining the fate of copyright laws and many works already in the public domain. The Supreme Court decided they should allow works by foreign artists to move out of the public domain and back under copyright protection. Now as a blogger, I feel that given the results of the Golan v. Holder case, I now have to make sure that what I quote or use in my posts that was in the public domain remains in the public domain. Otherwise, I am faced with legal action and/or fines that even small companies cannot afford, so how could I afford them?
How did this happen? Well in part because those for this adjustment of copyright law were backed by those that are also backing SOPA and PIPA. The music industry, the movie industry, and large corporations are all pushing to protect their money. I’m fine with copyright as it existed before this decision. I understand copyright and agree with it. If I create something and someone uses it without my permission to make a profit, then yes, by all means I will enforce my rights as the owner of said property. But when something that has been under public domain for years past the original copyright time frame suddenly goes from being public domain back to being protected, that is something I do not agree with.
Education in this country is appalling at best and through Google, libraries, and the Gutenberg Project, many of those works that would not otherwise be available to students of all ages, are now readily available. Changing the availability of these works so that more people can experience and enjoy them increases our populations cultural capital. Why should we let that be taken away? We are up in arms over the Internet being monitored and controlled, but we are letting the smaller issues slide by without so much as a second thought.
If the people have their rights taken away in a big way, people notice immediately and cause an uproar, but when it’s taken piece by piece over time, do we notice? What can we do about it then when we become use to the things as they are? It’s only a little thing we lost right? People will say it doesn’t matter. But in the end, if we aren’t aware of these little things and fight them with as much vehemence as we fight larger things like SOPA/PIPA we will all end up losing more in the end.
Whole Life Wednesday — 3
This has been an interesting week. I broke my ‘diet’ a couple of times. Once it resulted in a migraine, and I haven’t had one in a while. I can’t scientifically say it was something food related, but given the lack of them since I started this plan and the sudden occurrence that night after eating quite a bit that wasn’t in my diet since I started, I am going to say that was the cause. It was awful, but I learned my lesson. It seems the first and second week were really easy to stay on top of things, but this past week has been kind of torturous. I have craved more things than I have the other two weeks.
I went to a CrossFit workout to try it out, and while I think if I get motivated enough to commit to a workout, this would be the way to go, I don’t think I’m quite there yet. I was so sore for three-four days afterwards. I think if I just keep walking more and get back to riding my bike I’ll be good to go.
Classes are in full swing, and so far I like my teachers. I am definitely going to be busy this semester, but I am looking forward to the challenge. The classes are hybrids which means I only have to go to class one day a week per class, but it also means there is more work to be done outside of class. I managed to get my desktop pc working to the point where it will run Photoshop and hopefully when life slows down it’ll also run the Sims 3 as I’d like to play that some as well someday.
In other news, the BookExpo is accepting registrations for the upcoming June event. I signed up for that and expect to be able to get my spot at the Book Blogger Con shortly as well. BlogWorld is going to be there at the same time again this year, so it’s looking like another whirlwind week in NYC.
And finally, I had a checkup with the doctor and since my last weigh in 5 weeks ago put me in at 249. This week, I was down to 238. 11 lbs in 5 weeks! This is by far the best result of my changes, and people are starting to notice. I started to notice myself when pants I couldn’t wear anymore have now started fitting. If nothing else is good motivation, this certainly is it. I plan to get my butt in gear and really work at this.
Review: The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man by Mark Hodder
Title: The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man (Amazon, Goodreads)
Author: Mark Hodder (Amazon, Goodreads)
Series: Burton and Swinburne
Publisher: Pyr
Genre: Science Fiction
Format: Paperback
Source: Received review copy from publisher.
Synopsis:
It is 1862, though not the 1862 it should be…
Time has been altered, and Sir Richard Francis Burton, the king’s agent, is one of the few people who know that the world is now careening along a very different course from that which Destiny intended.
When a clockwork-powered man of brass is found abandoned in Trafalgar Square, Burton and his assistant, the wayward poet Algernon Swinburne, find themselves on the trail of the stolen Garnier Collection—black diamonds rumored to be fragments of the Lemurian Eye of Naga, a meteorite that fell to Earth in prehistoric times.
His investigation leads to involvement with the media sensation of the age: the Tichborne Claimant, a man who insists that he’s the long lost heir to the cursed Tichborne estate. Monstrous, bloated, and monosyllabic, he’s not the aristocratic Sir Roger Tichborne known to everyone, yet the working classes come out in force to support him. They are soon rioting through the streets of London, as mysterious steam wraiths incite all-out class warfare.
From a haunted mansion to the Bedlam madhouse, from South America to Australia, from séances to a secret labyrinth, Burton struggles with shadowy opponents and his own inner demons, meeting along the way the philosopher Herbert Spencer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Florence Nightingale, and Charles Doyle (father of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle).
Can the king’s agent expose a plot that threatens to rip the British Empire apart, leading to an international conflict the like of which the world has never seen? And what part does the clockwork man have to play?
Burton and Swinburne’s second adventure—The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man—is filled with eccentric steam-driven technology, grotesque characters, and a deepening mystery that pushes forward the three-volume story arc begun in The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack.
Synopsis:
Hodder recently won the Phillip K. Dick Award for the first in this series, The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack, and it is no wonder that this is a worthy follow-up to the first book. The story continues the tale of Sir Francis Burton, and his pals, as they become involved in the mysterious missing diamonds. The title character, one Clockwork Man, starts off this adventure, but other than a bit part, he doesn’t play too heavily into the story. This is something I would have liked to see change. However, Hodder’s skill at drawing a reader in to the story allows you to quickly forget that this isn’t the story you thought it was going to be. It is all the better for that.
The events of the first book have changed things in Burton’s England when this story picks up and Hodder delicately weaves the two together into one wonderful story. I can only hope the third in the series, which recently arrived on my doorstep, will round out this threesome into a wonderfully intriguing tale. Reminiscent of a Wilkie Collins mystery or a good Sherlock Holmes story, even if you are not a huge fan of steam punk, these are books worth reading. Hodder brings the world of Burton and Swinburne to life through the use of illuminating descriptions, and famous and infamous names from history, which only draw you deeper and deeper into his world.
Hodder leaves the second book at the perfect point. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the third in the series, and I believe that Hodder’s ability to weave the three independent stories together so that they are at once their own book, and part of a whole makes this series one of the best I’ve read in a while.
Review: The Restoration Game by Ken MacLeod
Title: The Restoration Game (Amazon, Goodreads)
Author: Ken MacLeod (Amazon, Goodreads, Website)
Series: None
Publisher: Pyr
Genre: Science Fiction
Format: Paperback
Source: Received review copy from Publisher.
Synopsis:
There is no such place as Krassnia. Lucy Stone should know — she was born there. In that tiny, troubled region of the former Soviet Union, revolution is brewing. Its organisers need a safe place to meet, and where better than the virtual spaces of an online game? Lucy, who works for a start-up games company in Edinburgh, has a project that almost seems made for the job: its original inspiration came from The Krassniad — an epic tale, based on Krassnian folklore, concocted by Lucy’s mother who studied there in the 1980s. As Lucy digs up details about her birthplace to slot into the game, she finds her interest in the open secrets of her family’s past — and the darker secrets of Krassnia’s — has not gone unnoticed. When a Russian — Georgian border war breaks out, Lucy has to move fast — and return to Krassnia herself, to the heart of the mountain that holds Krassnia’s darkest and oldest secret. But nothing Lucy has discovered can possibly prepare her for the crucial role she is destined to play in The Restoration Game …
Review:
I’ve heard many good things about MacLeod, and so I was interested in this book before I really knew what it was about. When it arrived, it was put on the pile, and eventually I pulled it out to read. I can honestly say it was interesting, but not in the least what I was expecting. Marketed as a science fiction book, but for the 5% (and that’s being generous) that is lite science fiction, I don’t think it should be considered as such. It’s more of a political thriller and focuses on the personal journey of the main character, Lucy. She is taken from her safe world working for a computer gaming company and thrown into the world of intrigue her mother and possible fathers are involved in. The possible fathers sub-plot is thrown in there, I think, to add some depth to the story, but mostly I found it confusing in a is he or isn’t he kind of way.
I think this story would have held more interest for me if it had focused more on the science fiction points that are brought up towards the end. MacLeod delivers some serious ides to mull over in your head awhile and perhaps even to analyze over a cup of coffee with your more ‘what if’ analytical friends, but they are thrown in almost as an after thought. With a little more development of those ideas, and a little less political this and that, this story could have been a great story. As it is though, I find it hard to recommend it to anyone who is not already a fan of MacLeod. This will not stop me from trying another of his books, but until I read another, I don’t want to possibly turn people from him if this is not a good example of his abilities.
Sunday Budgeting
Another week gone, and yet it doesn’t feel like it’s been seven days. This week has been pretty good as far as expenses go. It felt like I spent a ton, but that’s mostly because I paid bills this week.
In addition to the regular bills, here’s what I spent:
Gas: $40; $20 in each car
Dining: $24 at Kerbey Lane, and $22 at Alamo Drafthouse
Entertainment: $24 at Alamo Drafthouse
Grocery: $33
Textbooks: $23
Coffee: $5.25 (yes, I had a mocha, but only one this week and that seems like a good thing to me.)
With classes starting on Tuesday, I had already purchased (although I didn’t budget for them either) the required texts. Then I received the syllabus for my Graphic Design course, and low and behold, it has required reading/questions in the text. So I had to spend the last of my camera fund (which was depleted from the first round of textbook purchases) to get my last textbook. Thankfully though I only had to spend $23 of my bank account to cover what the Amazon gift card balance didn’t.
So the camera fund is back to $0.
BUT the good news is, Amazon is finally sending me my seller account funds, so that will go into the camera fund.
Things coming up that are not in the budget: supplies for the Graphic Design course.
This week I also accomplished some of my goals for the year. In a previous post I outlined them as:
1. Pay off student loan $400
2. Pay off car $3100 (if I can put a little extra towards it each month above my monthly payment, I should be able to pay it off before December.)
3. Pay off doctor bills $800 DONE! WOO HOO!
4. Pay off Avenue Credit Card $200 DONE! WOO HOO!
5. Pay of Amex $2000
I think I need to revamp my budget a bit, but so far, I’m staying within my guidelines and I’ve crossed two of the five goals for the year off. C and I went out for a movie/dinner date to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie and I’m glad my entertainment budget went towards that this week. It’s been a long time since we went out to a movie.
Review: The Thirteen Hallows by Michael Scott and Colette Freedman
Title: The Thirteen Hallows (Amazon, Goodreads, Website)
Authors: Michael Scott (Amazon, Goodreads, Website)
Colette Freedman (Amazon, Goodreads, Website)
Series: The Hallows Saga
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Thriller, Horror, Fantasy
Format: Hardcover
Source: JKS Communications (publicist)
Synopsis:
The Hallows. Ancient artifacts imbued with a primal and deadly power. But are they protectors of this world, or the keys to its destruction?
A gruesome murder in London reveals a sinister plot to uncover a two-thousand-year-old secret.
For decades, the Keepers guarded these Hallows, keeping them safe and hidden and apart from each other. But now the Keepers are being brutally murdered, their prizes stolen, the ancient objects bathed in their blood. Now, only a few remain.
With her dying breath, one of the Keepers convinces Sarah Miller, a practical stranger, to deliver her Hallow—a broken sword with devastating powers—to her American nephew, Owen.
The duo quickly become suspects in a series of murders as they are chased by both the police and the sadistic Dark Man and his nubile mistress.As Sarah and Owen search for the surviving Keepers, they unravel the deadly secret the Keepers were charged to protect. The mystery leads Sarah and Owen on a cat-and-mouse chase through England and Wales, and history itself, as they discover that the sword may be the only thing standing between the world… and a horror beyond imagining.
The Thirteen Hallows is the beginning of a spellbinding new saga, a thrilling tale of ancient magic and modern times by a New York Times bestselling author and an award-winning playwright.
Review:
Let me start off by saying, if you read the 13 Tidbits about The Thirteen Hallows and didn’t run out to buy it, why not? Hmm? This is one that you will not only crave more, but you will want to share it with your friends as well. I know the perfect person who will be getting this for their birthday if they haven’t already read it.
If you saw someone being attached, would you step in and help or turn the other way? A chilling thriller, the story starts off with a young woman helping an elderly woman when she is attacked by two thugs. Unbeknownst to her, she is now at the heart of a centuries old struggle to protect the Hallows of Britain. Filled with beautiful details of the Hallows, and mixed in with some blood and gore, this has a bit of everything. Those trying to gather the Hallows together are ruthless, and will stop at nothing to see their mission accomplished. Yes, there is plenty to send shivers down your spine, but for an adult thriller, I don’t think the bloodshed is overdone.
Scott’s work may be better known for his young adult Alchemist series, but he’s going to have a large adult following as this series takes off. As for Freedman, I haven’t read/seen any of her works yet, but she’s on my list of authors to get to know.
I highly recommend this book to any adult, and older teens. This is a series that adults who loved Harry Potter will embrace for its fantasy and mystery elements and one you will want everyone you know to read as well.
The Thirteen Hallows
In honor of Friday the 13th, I bring you 13 tidbits on The Thirteen Hallows by Michael Scott and Colette Freedman. Hopefully these will whet your appetite and urge you to leave a comment to enter for a chance to win your very own copy. See #13 for details.
1. Check out that cover of The Thirteen Hallows
2. What’s The Thirteen Hallows all about? Here’s a synopsis:
A new adult novel from Michael Scott and Colette Freedman…
The Hallows. Ancient artifacts imbued with a primal and deadly power. But are they protectors of this world, or the keys to its destruction?
A gruesome murder in London reveals a sinister plot to uncover a two-thousand-year-old secret.
For decades, the Keepers guarded these Hallows, keeping them safe and hidden and apart from each other. But now the Keepers are being brutally murdered, their prizes stolen, the ancient objects bathed in their blood.
Now, only a few remain.
With her dying breath, one of the Keepers convinces Sarah Miller, a practical stranger, to deliver her Hallow—a broken sword with devastating powers—to her American nephew, Owen.
The duo quickly become suspects in a series of murders as they are chased by both the police and the sadistic Dark Man and his nubile mistress.As Sarah and Owen search for the surviving Keepers, they unravel the deadly secret the Keepers were charged to protect. The mystery leads Sarah and Owen on a cat-and-mouse chase through England and Wales, and history itself, as they discover that the sword may be the only thing standing between the world… nd a horror beyond imagining.The Thirteen Hallows is the beginning of a spellbinding new saga, a thrilling tale of ancient magic and modern times by a New York Times bestselling author and an award-winning playwright.
3. Michael Scott sound familiar? No, not the one from The Office. You’ve heard of him — the author of the New York Times bestselling series The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. That’s right. The popular YA writer has gifted us with his newest novel for adults, The Thirteen Hallows. Michael is an authority on mythology and folklore who lives in Dublin, Ireland. Here’s his website: http://www.dillonscott.com/
4. Colette Feedman is an award-winning, internationally produced playwright with over 15 produced plays. She was voted “One of 50 to Watch” by The Dramatist’s Guild. Her play Sister Cities was the hit of the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe and earned five star reviews: It has been produced around the country and internationally, including Paris (Une Ville, Une Soeur) and Rome (Le Quattro Sorelle). She has co-written, with International bestselling novelist Jackie Collins, the play Jackie Collins Hollywood Lies, which is gearing up for a National Tour. And we’re lucky she collaborated with Michael Scott for The Thirteen Hallows. More about Colette on her website: http://colettefreedman.com/
5. Have a read of the first 13 lines of The Thirteen Hallows:
A woman died.
She was sixty-six years old, in good health, active, a non-smoker who rarely drank. She had simply gone to sleep and never woken up. Her family and friends mourned, a funeral was arranged, flowers were ordered, a service organized.
Viola Jillian was thrilled.
She had never met the woman, never even known of her existence until she had heard of her death. But she was glad she’d died. Viola was vaguely embarrassed by the emotion but selfi sh enough not to be too embarrassed. After all, the woman’s death presented her with an amazing opportunity. And opportunity, as she kept reminding herself, didn’t come calling too often, and when it did, you had to grasp it with both hands. This was her opportunity. The buxom brunette with the Elizabeth Taylor eyes had spent the last few weeks in the ensemble cast of Drury Lane’s reprisal of Oliver! The woman who had died was the lead’s mother, and now the producers had informed Viola that she was going to play Nancy the following evening.
6. Want more? Take a sneak peek on the publisher’s website - http://us.macmillan.com/book.aspx?isbn=9780765328526 — of a longer printed excerpt, plus a clip from the chilling audiobook version.
7. Or how about the killer book trailer?
8. Follow the authors on Twitter. Michael @flamelauthor and Colette @ColetteFreedman
9. Find the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Thirteen-Hallows-Michael–Scott/dp/0765328526
Kindle version: http://www.amazon.com/The-Thirteen-Hallows–ebook/dp/B005HWLP1O/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322760926&sr=1–1
10. Talk about the book on Goodreads. Hardcover: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10740844-thirteen-hallows
Kindle version: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12833620-the–thirteen-hallows
11. Maybe LibraryThing is your “thing” - http://www.librarything.com/work/11562310
12. Browse some of the other new science fiction and fantasy novels from Macmillan: http://us.macmillan.com/MacmillanSite/categories/General/ScienceFictionandFantasy
13. Sign up for the giveaway on Urban Bachelorette! Leave a comment below and you’re entered to win a copy of the book sent directly from the publisher! Entries close at 10 pm CST Tuesday, January 24th.
Review: Fry’s Price Match? Not Really.
Let me start off by saying, Fry’s is a great store if you need a computer part. Their staff is usually helpful and knowledgeable, and their prices are competitive. I’ve shopped there on several occasions, and recently purchased some new memory for my computer. If they carried my video card, I would buy it there. That is until a recent trip to the store changed my mind about Fry’s way of doing business.
A week or so ago, C and I went to Fry’s to buy some items. They weren’t big-ticket items, but as we were standing in line, we noticed they offered price matching. I pulled out my trusty iPhone, booted up RedLaser and found that all three of the items we wanted to buy were cheaper elsewhere. We stepped up to the counter to checkout, but no go. To get the price match you had to go the department for each item and have them print you a page to get the price match. Ok, we had time, so we wandered back to the departments, and spoke with their Customer Service person. Instead of matching the price though, and they clearly don’t tell you this, we stood there for 20 minutes while they went to every site RedLaser showed, found the product, checked the price, and then found out how much it would cost with shipping. Now had we bought all three from Amazon at the same time, at their prices, not only would we have gotten a better deal, but we would also get free shipping. But Fry’s in their attempt to get out of real price matching, won’t put them all in the cart and check out. It’s based on each item plus shipping. Not really price matching is it? It’s price and shipping matching.
I’ve shopped at Best Buy several times and used their price matching. They look at the screen, see the price, and enter it into the computer along with the name of the place the price was matched. Simple, and it’s done at the checkout.
Back to Fry’s, after the 20 minutes, with no luck finding any of the items at a lower price if it includes shipping, we walked out the door without purchasing anything. For big-ticket items, this might be a good deal, but not for everyday purchases. And with their lack of clear signage, you can waste time standing in line, and then going to each department to try to get the price matched, only to have to go stand in the checkout line again if you do choose to buy these items.
My biggest complaint is no one seemed to have any information on the price matching. It wasn’t clear where you needed to go to get the price match, and given all the extra work the staff went through to try and match the price + shipping, not just the price, I find this to be an attempt to draw business under false pretenses. They don’t actually match the price, but they can waste your time while they pretend they are trying to get you the best deal.
I was so happy to find a Fry’s in Austin when I moved here as I wasn’t near one before, however, given this incredible waste of time and lack of actual ‘price’ matching, I will now do my shopping elsewhere. Have you encountered some shady ‘price’ matching tactics at other stores? Did you end up buying the item or walking out?
Whole Life Wednesday — 2
Can you believe we’re almost halfway through January? How fast time flies. I’m still eating according to the Whole 30 plan and I’m doing great. I did break down and have a mocha last Saturday, but that was clearly a mistake. I was up until 4 am from the caffeine/sugar. It’s amazing how quickly your body forgets. I have avoided the scale as much as I can, although that is one thing I have stepped on a few times since this started. My clothes are fitting better, so I was sure I was losing some weight and the scale confirms that. I won’t be sharing numbers until the month is over, but it’s looking good.
I know I still need to work exercise into my routine since I’m well on the road to eating better. I stopped by a crossfit gym which is nearby and within biking distance, and really liked what I saw/heard. I am going to try to get up tomorrow morning for their 6 am class as they offer the first class free to see if you’ll like the workout, the trainers, etc. I think I will, and while it’s a quite a bit more expensive than traditional gyms, I think in the end it will be worth it. Only tomorrow will tell.
I received some emails from professors that the syllabus for my three hybrid classes has been posted, so I checked out what the workload for this semester. I’m definitely going to be keeping busy. I ordered the required textbooks today and should have them on Friday so I can get a jump-start on some of the work since classes are in full swing on Tuesday.
I’ve gotten my budget figured out as my Sunday posts have detailed. I’m feeling pretty good about them, so I think it’s going to help me a lot in the long run. Unfortunately, I didn’t plan any extra for my textbooks, so that had to come out of my camera fund. It’s down quite a bit, but I’m expectant that future paychecks will help bring it back up. I did manage to get some overtime last week, so all the money from that will be going to my camera.
How are you doing on your resolutions/goals for the year?
Review: Twilight Tales by J.T. Holden
Title: Twilight Tales: A Collection of Chilling Poems (Goodreads)
Author: J. T. Holden (Goodreads)
Series: None
Publisher: Kuro Books
Genre: Poetry
Format: Paperback
Source: Review copy provided by publisher.
Synopsis:
From the critically acclaimed author of “Alice in Verse: The Lost Rhymes of Wonderland” comes a chilling collection of rhyming poetry perfect for Halloween…or any other dark and spooky night. From the creepy jingles of Shadows in Nursery and the eerie angst of The Darkening ‘Tweens to the malevolently poetic odes of Medieval Maladies and the sweeping chillers of The Epic Tales, J.T. Holden’s “Twilight Tales” offers a deliciously wicked mix of frightening fare!
Review:
I was so excited to learn about this book after reading Alice in Verse. I contacted the publisher and they were kind enough to send along a copy to review. When it arrived, I immediately read through it and then read it again. Holden does another great job with some unique poems. These are all very Halloween-ish and I really wish it had been out in time for Halloween. However, I know this is one that I will re-read again around that time of year.
I’m not usually a fan of poetry, but Holden’s I will continue to read and I look forward to any more he has to offer.
Bonus: Here is the video trailer for the book. If this doesn’t encourage you to buy this, I don’t know what will.
Sunday Budgeting
Wow it’s Sunday already. Where has the week gone? I’ve done so-so on my budget for the year so far. It’s still a work in progress, so I know it’ll get a little tweaking here and there as I go along, but so far I’ve been pretty good.
I’ve taken my known expenses i.e. rent, car payment, insurance, utilities, etc. and figured out how much I need to set aside in each paycheck to cover all of these. I created a spreadsheet which outlines the total payments for a year and then divided that total by 26 as that’s how many paychecks I get each year. This has given me a solid idea of how much I need to set aside each paycheck for these known costs. In addition to that, I set aside a little bit for fun stuff, and a portion for savings, and the rest I am tracking what I’m spending it on. So far this has been food, gas, and dog related supplies.
Hopefully after this month, I’ll have a better idea of what I’m spending as far as food and miscellaneous so that come February, I can figure out just how much I need for these and max out the rest to savings.
My goal of completing the Whole 30 has also helped in keeping my savings growing as I haven’t been eating out as much, and I’ve cut out the almost daily Starbucks run.
So let’s run down what I’ve spent this week:
$15 at the Climbing Gym for a day pass (friend’s birthday)
$20 at Fuddrucker’s
$5 at Starbucks (I broke the Whole 30 for a mocha yesterday and clearly not going to do that again as it kept me up till 4 am.)
$100 on groceries
$50 on dog food and chew bones
$75 towards my camera
All in all I haven’t spent much this week. I did set aside the amount needed to cover half of my known expenses, and it feels good to know that while I have some savings, I also don’t have to worry about all my big expenses coming from one paycheck. It gives me a little more breathing room even if there isn’t actually more money.
I’ve also set up a spreadsheet to track categories for each expense. That way I’ll know a rough idea of how much I spend on entertainment or dining out or gas, etc. That should allow me to get a better idea so I can budget that as well.
This year I plan to get my finances in check.
These are the things I want to accomplish this year:
1. Pay off student loan $400
2. Pay off car $3100 (if I can put a little extra towards it each month above my monthly payment, I should be able to pay it off before December.)
3. Pay off doctor bills $800
4. Pay off Avenue Credit Card $200
5. Pay of Amex $2000
I know that these are big goals, and they will take time, but between some side jobs and if I can get my spending in check and stick to my budget, I don’t see why I can’t get 3 of 5 completed and come close to the other two. I expect I can do a good job on all of them.
As I am already close to saving enough for my camera, my reward for completing 3 of the 5 will be to take a trip. I’m thinking Seattle, but it may just be a trip to see my family in December for the holidays. We shall see.
Review: The Night Eternal by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan
Title: The Eternal Night (Amazon, Goodreads)
Author: Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan (Amazon, Goodreads)
Series: The Strain Trilogy
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Format: Hardcover
Source: Christmas Gift 2011
Synopsis:
From the authors of the instant New York Times bestsellers The Strain and The Fall comes the final volume in one of the most electrifying thriller series in years
It’s been two years since the vampiric virus was unleashed in The Strain, and the entire world now lies on the brink of annihilation. There is only night as nuclear winter blankets the land, the sun filtering through the poisoned atmosphere for two hours each day—the perfect environment for the propagation of vampires.
There has been a mass extermination of humans, the best and the brightest, the wealthy and the influential, orchestrated by the Master—an ancient vampire possessed of unparalleled powers—who selects survivors based on compliance. Those humans who remain are entirely subjugated, interred in camps, and separated by status: those who breed more humans, and those who are bled for the sustenance of the Master’s vast army.
The future of humankind lies in the hands of a ragtag band of freedom fighters—Dr. Eph Goodweather, former head of the Centers for Disease Control’s biological threats team; Dr. Nora Martinez, a fellow doctor with a talent for dispatching the undead; Vasiliy Fet, the colorful Russian exterminator; and Mr. Quinlan, the half-breed offspring of the Master who is bent on revenge. It’s their job to rescue Eph’s son, Zack, and overturn this devastating new world order. But good and evil are malleable terms now, and the Master is most skilled at preying on the weaknesses of humans.
Now, at this critical hour, there is evidence of a traitor in their midst.… And only one man holds the answer to the Master’s demise, but is he one who can be trusted with the fate of the world? And who among them will pay the ultimate sacrifice—so that others may be saved?
Review:
This was a perfect conclusion to The Strain trilogy. Yes, the ending was somewhat predictable, even from the conclusion of The Fall and through this book the conclusion was alluded to enough that you could figure it out. However, even with that in mind, this was a fantastic book.
Yes, you should read the other two books leading up to the conclusion to get the back story and the motivation for the main characters, but they too are worth your time. The others don’t move quite as fast, but this one certainly picks up the pace and draws you into the story until the very last page.
The vampires have taken over the world, and the humans are now the fodder for the masses. These are not the vampires portrayed in the Twilight Series who sparkle in the sunlight, nor are they the upper crust of vampires from Anne Rice’s novels. These vampires are one of the worst you will encounter. In appearance, I would liken them to the ‘vampires’ encountered in the movie version of I Am Legend. But even worse than the vampires are the humans who have aligned themselves with the vampires. They spy and snitch on those that don’t follow the strict rules set out by the vampires, and on those few humans still resisting.
The characters introduced in the beginning as well as some new ones make an appearance as the final confrontation between Ephraim and the Master comes together. Some will die and some will survive, but it’s all up to Ephraim and his dwindling resistance to rescue his son and hopefully conquer the Master once and for all.
While some scenes are somewhat graphic and gruesome, you have to remember this is a horror story about horrific creatures hell-bent on taking over the world and farming humans.
This is one to read and as I’ve highly recommended the first two, I cannot do anything other than highly recommend this book as well. This is a refreshing series to be included in the cannon of good vampire books.
Review: Up by Jawbone
I purchased the Up back in December and have used it off and on for a while now. After the initial new gadget happiness wore off, it wasn’t much what I expected of it. It’s basically a glorified step tracker. It doesn’t really tell you how good your sleep is, but it does tell you how long you slept. Not sure I really need a device to do that. The interface on the iPhone isn’t that great either. When you take a picture of your meal, it doesn’t save it should you eat the same thing again later, you have to take a new photo. Kind of ridiculous.
While I haven’t had the issues that so many people have had with their bracelet, it doesn’t surprise me that Jawbone has since stopped making them while they work out the bugs.
I’ve heard better things about the FitBit and if I decided to invest in another device, I would probably give that a shot.
But aside from these negatives, I do have to say that the bracelet idea is really a nice touch. I didn’t have to find it, figure out where it fell off my clothes, etc. And while it is a little bulky, it doesn’t interfere with day-to-day tasks, it is water-resistant to 1 m and overall works quite well in that regard.
Whole Life Wednesdays
Wow, it’s been 3 days since I started my lifestyle makeover and I’m still going strong.
I’ve been eating according to the Whole 30 plan and while I know I could get a little more variety into my meals, I’m not craving the pasta or sugar that before constituted the majority of my diet. I’ve eaten a ton of carrot-apple salad which I make with some added raisin and craisins for differing texture. I’ve also cut the mayo down to just a 1⁄4 cup which for the 2 lbs of carrots and 1 lb of apples, doesn’t really make much difference except for a little extra flavoring. I’ve also made some turkey breast, chicken breast, and picked up some mahi-mahi for dinner another night. Tonight I topped slices of zucchini with sun-dried tomatoes, and a side of avocado. Tasty! I picked up some artichoke bruschetta topping too so that will make a nice addition to some zucchini or cucumber slices another night.
I do miss my mocha though. That’s probably the one thing that was cut out that I will miss the most. I just can’t drink black coffee, and since dairy and added sugar are out, including chocolate, mochas are on the no-no list for now. Perhaps down the road they will make a comeback, but for now, if that’s the only thing I’m missing, I’m not too worried.
Classes are starting up in two weeks, and I am super excited about them. I can’t wait to get back to classes and learning. I didn’t realize just how much I enjoyed learning and classes in general until I went back last fall. I also found out that I got a solid A for the class, so my current record is 4.0. WOO HOO!
Exercise definitely hasn’t been at the top of my list this week, but I blame that on myself. I somehow pinched something in my hip so I have pain shooting down my left leg, especially when I first get up in the morning making it painful to walk, never mind exercise. I’m starting to not feel as bad and I think a change to my sleeping position may help that so I can get on track the end of this week.
I haven’t done much toward my blogging goals, but I did sit down today and work on my budget. More of that on Sunday’s budget post. Do you have a budget? What are some of the ways you stick to it? How did you start? I’ve read some interesting ideas to help with the savings part and I’m mulling over which of those I might incorporate into my plan.
The camera savings haven’t been added to, but that’s because my funds from some sales on Amazon haven’t been deposited yet. By the time they come through, hopefully I’ll have sold a few more things and then I’ll have a good $100 to put towards the camera. Slowly but surely I’m getting there.
Did you make any changes in the new year? How are you doing after a few days of them?
In other news, I found out today that my work load is going to increase as they feel I can handle more responsibility. I am so happy this has come down the road, and I feel that this is going to increase my skills and make me more valuable to the company and my boss.
Review: The Confession by Charles Todd
Title: The Confession (Amazon, Goodreads)
Author: Charles Todd (Amazon, Goodreads, Website)
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: William Morrow
Series: Inspector Ian Rutledge Series
Format: Hardcover
Source: Received review copy from publisher.
Synopsis:
Scotland Yard’s best detective, Inspector Ian Rutledge, must solve a dangerous case that reaches far into the past in this superb mystery in the acclaimed series
Declaring he needs to clear his conscience, a dying man walks into Scotland Yard and confesses that he killed his cousin five years earlier during the Great War. When Inspector Ian Rutledge presses for details, the man evades his questions, revealing only that he hails from a village east of London. With little information and no body to open an official inquiry, Rutledge begins to look into the case on his own.
Less than two weeks later, the alleged killer’s body is found floating in the Thames, a bullet in the back of his head. Searching for answers, Rutledge discovers that the dead man was not who he claimed to be. What was his real name—and who put a bullet in his head? Were the “confession” and his own death related? Or was there something else in the victim’s past that led to his murder?
The inspector’s only clue is a gold locket, found around the dead man’s neck, that leads back to Essex and an insular village whose occupants will do anything to protect themselves from notoriety. For notoriety brings the curious, and with the curious come change and an unwelcome spotlight on a centuries-old act of evil that even now can damn them all.
Review:
I love a good mystery and when I started this, I likened him to a good Wilkie Collins story, however, by the time I was finished, I couldn’t wait to put the book down and in some ways forget I ever read it. I know that maybe if I was a fan of the series or had read some of the other books, this may have been different, but what started out as a good potential story, it faltered and failed.
Ian Rutledge is the epitome of a Scotland Yard detective. He’s smart, polite, always a gentleman, discrete, a professional, and gets the job done. At the start, I thought this might be like the TV series Jericho with Robert Lindsay, and in some ways it was. Jericho only lasted four episodes and it clearly needed to continue to really delve into who Jericho was and his past, which is something I felt was needed with Rutledge as well. Perhaps with the others in the series, there would have been a slow progression of character development, but I cannot speak to that not having read any others.
Rutledge is also haunted by his fallen friend, Hammish, who I feel is meant to add to the story, but mostly distracted the reader since his Scottish dialect is sometimes not easy to decipher. I’m sure there is probably more background as well on Rutledge in the earlier books, but coming into the series midway, the reader finds themselves encountering a semi-developed character that doesn’t really grow or change any through the entire book.
The story has some good elements, a town with many secrets, a family with many skeletons in their closet, and a murder mystery to kick it all off. From the first though this story takes these good elements and drags out the events to the point where you’re almost bored to tears. After the mid-point in the story, it seems as though Rutledge spends all his time in the car going from London to the coastal town and back and forth and back and forth.
Until the last few chapters, you know exactly what Rutledge knows allowing you to come to your own conclusion as to what is going on and who the murderer is, that is until he gets really close to figuring it out, then the authors decide that all that openness with the reader needs to stop so they can spend a little more time building up to the big finale which in the end, isn’t worth all the build up.
The other major issue with this book is the characters are much to easy to confuse. The names are very similar, and while you never actually meet more than half a dozen of the characters the murder mystery revolves around, that makes it all the harder to keep them straight.
All in all, if you’re a fan of the series, you may enjoy this book. If you’re not, I would suggest giving another in the series a shot as this one felt very undeveloped and the others may be better. As for me, I doubt I will read another book by Todd.
Review: The Demi-Monde:Winter by Rod Rees
Title: The Demi-Monde: Winter (Amazon, Goodreads, Website)
Author: Rod Rees (Amazon, Goodreads, Website)
Genre: Fiction (Elements of Science Fiction, SteamPunk, Thriller, Historical Fiction, and other genres intermixed.)
Publisher: William Morrow
Series: The Demi-Monde Saga
Format: Hardcover
Source: Received from William Morrow for review.
The Demi-Monde:
1. A subclass of society whose members embrace a decadent lifestyle and evince loose morals.
2. A shadow world where the norms of civilized behavior have been abandoned.
3. A massive multiple-player simulation technology that re-creates in a wholly realistic cyber-milieu the threat-ambiance and no-warning aspects of a hi-intensity, deep-density, urban Asymmetric Warfare Environment.
4. Hell.
Welcome to the Demi-Monde, the ultimate in virtual reality—a military training ground and vivid, simulated world of cruelty and chaos run by psychopaths, madmen and fanatics.
If you die here, you die in the Real World …
In the year 2018, the Demi-Monde is the most sophisticated, complex and unpredictable computer simulation ever created, devised specifically to train soldiers for the nightmarish reality of urban warfare. A virtual world of eternal civil conflict, its thirty million inhabitants—“Dupes”—are ruled by cyber-duplicates of some of history’s cruelest tyrants: the fanatical Nazi butcher Reinhard Heydrich; Stalin’s arch executioner Lavrentii Beria; the torture-loving Grand Inquisitor Tomás de Torquemada; the Reign of Terror’s bloodthirsty mastermind Maximilien Robespierre.
But something has gone horribly wrong inside the Demi-Monde, and the U.S. president’s daughter, Norma, has been lured into this terrifying shadow world, only to be trapped there. Her last hope of rescue is Ella Thomas, an eighteen-year-old jazz singer and very reluctant heroine. But when Ella infiltrates the Demi-Monde and begins her hunt for Norma, she soon discovers the walls containing the evils of this simulated environment are dissolving—and the Real World is in far more danger than anyone knows. With the help of resistors determined to understand their world, Ella must race to save Norma and stop an apocalypse … but the clock is ticking.
Blending fact and fantasy, history and religion, military and existential themes, epic adventure and dark wit, dystopia and steampunk in a wholly original and driving narrative stream, The Demi-Monde: Winter is inventive fiction at its finest.
Review:
Two days, and I want more. I read this book in two days flat and I cannot wait to get my hands on Spring. Left at an excellent stopping point, both in keeping you wanting more, but not in that frustrating way where someone is on the edge of a cliff about to jump off and leaving you at a point where the story will certainly take a turn. Don’t get me wrong, this is not an easy read, nor at 500+ pages is it a short book. But it will drag you into Rees’ well-thought out and impressive world that is The Demi-Monde. The program envelops the soldier, utterly and completely, and Rees draws the reader in until she becomes part of the Demi-Monde herself.
Rees has created an interesting if not the least bit terrifying virtual reality. As described in the Product Description Manual (a copy is available for viewing on the book’s website) the world of the Demi-Monde is an heuristic alternate reality populated with duplicates “Dupes” of real world people alive in our world today. Some of the more prominent ‘dupes’ have no real world counterpart alive today, but they are well-known figures from our most horrific events. The first dupe Ella and the reader are introduced to is Reinhard Heydrich, engineer of the Nazi’s “Final Solution” and it certainly will chill you to the bone to see how accurate Rees has portrayed these villains of our past.
I could write a whole post on just the workings of the Demi-Monde and how well-thought out it is, especially after reading the PDM referenced above. There are varying cultures, conflicting political agendas, isolationist religions, and many more stressors that have shaped our history each expressed throughout sections or the whole of the Demi-Monde creating a unique world always in upheaval and on the brink of war. Clearly Rees spent significant time developing his world, and I can see why the series is in four parts, if Rees expects to cover half of what I think he will as the series progresses. Thankfully, there is a wonderful website (linked at the top of this post) that will make you want to read the book if you haven’t, or increase your craving for the second book if you have.
As characters are revealed, you cannot help but spend some time Googling the names that pop up or the references to events. I’m not history buff, but this definitely made me wonder just what the character had done in real life to warrant a doppelgänger in the Demi-Monde. Many of these characters are very well-known while others are lesser known, but Rees weaves them all together into a very interesting cast of characters. Aside from the random villainous singularities like Heydrich and Aleister Crowley, Shaka Zulu, and Empress Wu, there are the main protagonists: Ella, Norma, the president’s daughter, and Trixie Dashwood. These three women are the focus of the first book in the Demi-Monde Saga.
Ella is brought in as part of “Operation Offbeat” to rescue Norma. Somehow, unknown to the scientists and military men who created the Demi-Monde, Norma was brought into the Demi-Monde and has since been trapped. Heydrich and the other singularities have gotten out of control, and the plan is to pull the plug, shutting the whole thing down despite the loss of life for a few soldiers still caught in the program, but they cannot do that until Norma is out. As we have seen in our real world, the life of a soldier isn’t worth anything, but the life of the president’s daughter is worth more than 17 of them. Rees really hits it on the head with some of his observations such as this one. Another good example of this is how Ella, who is a smart, extremely attractive African-American woman, is able to distract even the toughest white supremacists out to capture her with her good looks and feminine whiles. Yes, they should hate her so much that she cannot fool them, but there are plenty that while they claim to hate all African-Americans they can still be swayed by a pretty woman despite her skin color. There are many examples of this through the book, and sometimes perhaps Rees uses Ella’s good looks to get her out of a situation that Rees wrote her into, but couldn’t figure out a more valid way to get her out. However, that is a small detractor in what is otherwise a phenomenal book. I look forward to seeing what the Demi-Monde has in store for Ella in Spring.
Norma is the president’s daughter who starts all of the trouble that has brings Ella, Norma, and Trixie together. Norma is in the Demi-Monde, no one knows how or why, although they do allude to it a bit later in the book, and found out to be a Daemon. She is captured and being held by Heydrich’s men and then taken to Trixie’s house in the hopes that Norma and Trixie will befriend each other allowing Trixie to get at the Daemon’s secrets. Norma as expected turns out to be a holier than thou, whiny, emo, bitch. I think I would have preferred her to be more like Ella and Trixie as strong female leads, but perhaps it would have been too crowded with three of them. Thankfully for the most part, Norma, although the story revolves around rescuing her, doesn’t play much of a role throughout the book, only popping up here and there to let the reader into what is happening when she isn’t with Ella or Trixie. Given the cliffhanger, I am curious to see how her character plays out in Spring.
Trixie Dashwood is quite a mutable character. In the beginning she is a head-strong RaTionalist girl who is on the brink of being a huge trouble to her father. She thinks for herself, and is always curious about the barrier that surrounds the Demi-Monde, how to get through it and what’s on the other side. Admirable ambitions in a character, but once Trixie feels that all is lost, thinking her father dead, and doing all she can to revenge her father’s death, she becomes, as Ella notes, more like Heydrich. Trixie goes from being a head-strong independent girl to a military leader out for blood. It is an interesting transition, but Rees manages to show just enough of what drives Trixie to see how this change happens as she rises to become a leader and revenge becomes her main focus.
As these three characters grow and evolve, there is a host of supporting characters that add to the greatness of this book. I hope that they continue on in the future books, as I would love to see how Rees develops them and their storylines.
As I indicated earlier, I could go on and on about this book. There is so much to say about it, that a few paragraphs, even a few pages are not enough. It is a tome, and at over 500 pages, it is not a light read, but it is a read that is well worth your time. The plotlines tie together seamlessly, and it is a satisfying original read.
2012 Kick Off
I did a lot of reading this past week in my week off from blogging and work. I enjoyed the books, and I know there will be some interesting reviews going up this month. I didn’t get the work on the blog done that I wanted to, but I now have a schedule of sorts so at least part of what I wanted to accomplish was done. One of my biggest concerns from 2011 was the lack of consistent posting. This is all going to change in 2012. I’ve set up a nice workable schedule for posts as well as throwing in some more personal items instead of all my posts on book reviews.
So what happened in 2011? I had over 4000 visitors to my site. I know in some circles that isn’t a high number, but for me that’s respectable and I’m happy that so many of you decided to stop by and check out what I have to say. I also added 161 new posts which is almost 3 posts a week on average. Pretty good considering there were a few weeks in there where I didn’t post anything. The blog is growing and my dedication to it continues to grow as well. If you’d asked me when I started this blog on Blogger in 2009, I didn’t think it’d still be going strong almost 3 years later.
Outside of the blogging world, there were a lot of changes in 2011. I changed jobs and am now happy to be working from home. It was quite a transition, but I enjoy the freedom and flexibility it provides and it’s forced me to work on my time management skills. I’ve even found time to go back to school and am working on my Technical Writing degree. After I finish the Associates program at the local community college, I am planning to transfer to Arizona State’s online Bachelor’s program to complete my undergraduate degree. From there who knows where I’ll end up, but there are a few good graduate programs in tech writing to consider as well. This next semester starts in just a few weeks and I’m excited for my classes as they will also fuel my blogging passion as I learn.
Despite a few health issues, my two dogs have made it through another year, and I look forward to another fun-filled year with them in and around Austin.
And without my love, C, I couldn’t have had such an amazing and fantastic year. I can’t wait to see what kind of mischief and mayhem we can get into in 2012. I forced myself out of the house today to write a few posts for the week, and he encouraged me to do so as well. Without him, I fear the blogging may have fallen by the wayside. Thanks for all the encouragement and support.
But enough about 2011, what’s in store for 2012.
I’ve thought long and hard about what I wanted to accomplish this year both inside the realm of blogging and outside.
Blogging:
1. Post at least 5 days a week — now I have 7 days a week planned for the month of January, so hopefully I can stick with this and succeed.
2. Learn Photoshop — I’m taking a digital imaging class which will focus on PS and this will allow me to make some changes to the site.
3. Transition the blog to the new domain — I have maybe 50% of this done, and I want this one to be completed before BEA this year.
4. Comment and develop my network more — I am a lurker and I’m not ashamed to admit it, but I have met some wonderful bloggers both in Austin and other areas, and I would like to make a few more friends and not be so much of a lurker.
As for non-blog goals:
1. Start and finish the Whole 30 2012 Challenge - I have looked into the paleo lifestyle and it fits with a lot of my current feelings/thoughts of what’s healthy and good for you. Starting Jan. 2nd through the 31st, I will be challenging myself to stick with this and get on track to a healthier me.
2. Exercise — this is a big one for me. I was doing well riding my bike last spring and early summer, but have fallen away from that. This is going to change in 2012 and since the weather is now lovely I think I’m going to start this one today with an afternoon bike ride.
3. Save up and buy the Olympus PEN E-P3 — I have wanted a new camera for a while since my current Olympus is showing its wear and tear after 10 years of hard work. I picked this out as it is a step up from my current model and will give me more flexibility to expand my photographic skills. I have $385 saved and each paycheck I plan to put at least $50 towards it so that I can get it soon.
4. Add to my pups training — they know some basics, but I want to get them up to where they should be considering I used to train dogs for a living.
For 2012 I think those are reasonable goals for both blogging and life. As a weekly check up, each Wednesday is now going to be Whole Life Wednesday, and I am going to update here the status of these both to keep me accountable, and to track my progress. Sunday’s will be dedicated to my new interest in making a budget and sticking with it. Starting next week, I will have a set of budgetary goals to add to this group.
What about you? What are your goals?
Time for a Hiatus
I’ve decided that while I’m always going to be reading, I’m not going to post anything here as far as reviews, photos, weekly events, etc. until after the first of the year. I’m going to take this time to do some housekeeping and maintenance on the site as well as work on a schedule so that posting isn’t so sporadic in the new year.
I hope you all have wonderful holidays and maybe some snow if you’re in the right area for it. We’ll see each other in the new year!
Holidays are fast approaching
It’s that time of year. Christmas is fast approaching and for the first time in many years, I am not even close to being done with the shopping. I bought a total of two items online and now due to my procrastinating, the rest will have to be done in a store. How did it come to this? Thankfully I don’t have many people left to buy for, but I dread going to a mall or store during the holiday rush. Alas, I will get it done if not today, maybe tomorrow. And if all else fails, Saturday!
One thing I haven’t done in a long time as well is put up a Christmas tree. C and I went and cut one ourselves in Elgin at the Christmas Tree Farm and I decorated it. It’s mostly an armadillo tree since I have two ornaments and our tree topper is my large metal armadillo. This is what happens when you don’t have many items to go on them.
So I’ve done two things I haven’t done in many years, one good and one somewhat frustrating, but it will all work out in the end.
Have you gotten your holiday shopping done? Are you ready for it this year?
And We’re Back
I’ve considered taking a break from blogging, but then decided, nah, I’d miss it. Then I upgraded my WordPress files and due to a small bug, I was unable to post anything. So in a way, I took an unplanned break from posting.
Today, the wonderful plugin HotFix updated, and now the issue is fixed. I’m now back to posting. It was a nice little break, but I’m glad it didn’t last long.
