Wishing you all a wonderful 2010
Cheers!
Bob Out
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Resolutions - Schmezolutions!
This is not me. It's a picture of a slim, young lady using the same piece of equipment that sits in my bedroom, gathering dust. The same one I assured my husband I would use. "It's easy on the knees; low impact and will allow me to also exercise my upper body. It's perfect!Yeah, right. Perfect. The first time I used it, I threw out my chronically bad hip. So, it sits. Gathering dust. Oh, I said that already, didn't I?
That was three years ago and hubby's mind has, mercifully, forgotten my previous declaration of vigorous, never-ending exercise and weight loss, and happily bought into my new sure-fire, motivational gimmick, er-uh...stroke of genius! Besides, he had no clue what to get me for Christmas, so...problem solved.
Wii Fit! How could I miss? Yoga, strength training, aerobics, balance exercises. It's perfect and I can do it in the comfort of my own home! We got it a few days before Christmas and loaded it into our existing Wii program. Before I can start playing, however, I have to set up my profile: Age, height, weight...WEIGHT???? This isn't good. Hubby is sitting on the sofa, watching my progress.
I make him hide his eyes while this stupid little animated Wii board shows me I'm overweight! Don't think for a minute you're going to find out the details if I won't even tell him! Let's just say if I weighed what they suggest, I'd be a walking, talking skeleton.
Anyhoo, hope everyone has a great 2010, and please, leave a comment with the resolutions you enjoy breaking the most! Gotta go. I'm making chocolate fudge and snickerdoodles!
Happy New Year!
Mary Cunningham is the author of the award-winning 'Tween fantasy/mystery series, Cynthia’s Attic. She is proud to announce book four, "The Magician's Castle," is due for release in December, 2009. Her children's mystery series was inspired by a recurring dream about a mysterious attic. After realizing that the dream took place in the home of her childhood friend, Cynthia, the dreams stopped and the writing began.
She is also co-writer of the humor-filled, women's lifestyle book, "Women Only Over Fifty (WOOF)," along with published stories, "Ghost Light" and "Christmas Daisy," a Cynthia's Attic short story.
Mary Cunningham Books
Cynthia's Attic Blog
Amazon
Kindle
Fictionwise
Quake/Echelon Press
Happy New Year :D
Good Lord, I’m stuffed.
At the beginning it was planned we’d go out and have dinner, but since the restaurant we were planning on visiting unfortunately was closed today we had to come up with some new plans. So mami came up with the solution to make smörgåstårta (= like a sandwich layer cake), which eventually ended up in a three course meal, haha. It was really good but also very fat, haha.
At the beginning it was planned we’d go out and have dinner, but since the restaurant we were planning on visiting unfortunately was closed today we had to come up with some new plans. So mami came up with the solution to make smörgåstårta (= like a sandwich layer cake), which eventually ended up in a three course meal, haha. It was really good but also very fat, haha.
Appetizer: kavring with Parma ham & cucumber; with skagen & prawn
Main course: smörgåstårta
Dessert: Panna cotta with chocolate for me; with blackberries & raspberries for mami and sis (these mami didn’t make though, haha)
Oh, soon it’s time for the toast with champagne, so I’ll wish you all a Happy New Year and the next time I’ll be back is in 2010...
Daily Thoughts 12/31/2009
Edward Burne-Jones (left) and William Morris (right) in the garden of Burne-Jones's home the Grange, Fulham, 1890. Scanned from Waggoner, Diane, The Beauty of Life: William Morris & the Art of Design, Thames and Hudson, 2003, ISBN 0-500-28434-2. The image is c1890. Found on Wikimedia Daily Thoughts 12/31/2009
Tonight will be New Years eve. It is snowing outside right now, so I am not planning on going anywhere. I am reading book III in the Vulcan's Soul trilogy, Epiphany right now.
Took a break and read some of Publishers Weekly online. There is a nice article on Turning Classics Into Comics. http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6712404.html
I finished reading the Vulcan's Soul trilogy. It was nice light and fluffy entertainment. My favorite character in Star Trek is Spock. He is the most interesting character in the show. "Live long and prosper." I do like watching the show sometimes. It is a chance to escape away from the mundane.
Strawberries and champagne
I know that this probably will sound a bit weird, but I can’t stop sniffing at myself. Haha…I’ve always been the “touchy” girl, but afer using Victoria Secret’s Strawberries and Champagne body lotion (great combo, huh?) I can’t resist sniffing on my skin. I smell so good, haha! :D
However, that’s just good from my point of view. Smelling delicious is a top priority on New Year’s Eve, haha…
Reading During Holidays
Christmas Eve just wouldn't seem right if I didn't read Twas the Night Before Christmas to children - just after dinner and before we open gifts. My grandgirls (7&10) know it so well, they read along with me. I truly think the adults listening enjoy it as much as the children.
My daughter surprised me on Christmas morning with a copy of U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton, my favorite author. I plan to take it with me to the KY Book Fair in April, where I bet she will be signing her newest book for fans like me. (Sue is from Louisville.)
Books make great Christmas gifts for young and old alike. Choose them well before Christmas and inscribe them with a Merry Christmas from --- inside the cover. I love to buy books from authors at bookfairs and have them signed for gifts, storing them away until the birthday or Christmas season arrives. It thrills the children to take books to school that are signed and have the teacher read them to the class. The teacher ususally talks about the author - and seeing the autograph makes the book more special.
My hubby received two nature books from our son for Christmas, and he's already planning a trip to see the California Redwoods again. Books stir the imagination and make us want to see far and distant places. I wanted to see Pompeii ever since I read a book about it when I was in high school. I wasn't disappointed when I finally got to walk along those ancient streets in 2007.
The dreary months of January and February are a perfect time to catch up on reading. I just finished Half-Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls and loved it. Now I'm reading Grave Secrets by Charlene Harris.
Happy New Year Everyone!
Marlis Day
Margo Brown Mysteries
The Secret of Bailey's Chase, 2008
Back to Bailey's Chase, 2010
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Hunk Day Hunk(Paul Walker)
This is the last Hump Day Hunk of 2009 so I had to make it extra special. Paul Walker is just the MAN for the year end hunk. He is one of my all time favorites. SO SEXY! Just look at those eyes. I could so get lost in those. Sit back, relax and enjoy!
Those eyes, Those eyes...DAYUM
and that smile...
The End! And what a nice end it is!
Bob Out
Those eyes, Those eyes...DAYUM
and that smile...
The End! And what a nice end it is!
Bob Out
Red Alert
Red Alert is developed by the game studio Westwood and published by Electronic Arts in 1996, a year after C&C was released. EA released the game again in 2008 as freeware to promote Red Alert 3. Two expansion packs have been released for this game, The Aftermath and Counterstrike, but I won't be reviewing those expansions.
The Allied-campaign begins with a lot of setbacks: Eastern Europe has been taken over by the USSR and so have large parts of Germany; and Einstein has been imprisoned. With the help of Tanya Adams, you rescue Einstein. Einstein gives the allies all sorts of useful information about the Soviets super weapon. An Iron Curtain and submarine production base are destroyed by you and finally a turning point in the war is insight. But then a horrible discovery is made: the Russians developed a new super weapon: the nuclear bomb. Oh yes, because the WWII never occurred the USA never developed the thing. Russia had all the time in the world to develop the weapon of mass destruction. But the end of the allies is not insight because they rush towards Moscow. In the aftermath of the battle that followed, when searching the roubles of Moscow Stalin was found. But, a general of the Allies, Stavros, convinced the soldier who found him to behave like nothing had happened. They put a clot in his mouth and leave him to die.
The story of Red Alert begins with a small intro when you first start the game. In this intro you see a man travelling back in time to kill Hitler. This man is Albert Einstein, though it’s being kept a secret to you at the beginning. Einstein wanted to prevent the bloodshed and the huge loss of life. So with Hitler out of the way, the WWII never occurred. But one thing didn’t disappear: the USSR. It still remained a superpower. War breaks out when Stalin dreams of weird visions: the liberation of Europe from corrupt governments. Stalin invades Eastern Europe and the threatened countries of Europe form an alliance to counter the Soviets.
In the Soviet-campaign you battle your way from Eastern Europe to the rest of the continent. You will discover a conspiracy within the military. Gradenko, a field marshal, can’t be trusted anymore because he left information of the Soviets super weapon, the Iron Curtain, on the battlefield. Eventually he will be killed for that by drinking poisoned tea. Stalin will await the same fate after Europe has been ‘liberated’.
The Allied-campaign begins with a lot of setbacks: Eastern Europe has been taken over by the USSR and so have large parts of Germany; and Einstein has been imprisoned. With the help of Tanya Adams, you rescue Einstein. Einstein gives the allies all sorts of useful information about the Soviets super weapon. An Iron Curtain and submarine production base are destroyed by you and finally a turning point in the war is insight. But then a horrible discovery is made: the Russians developed a new super weapon: the nuclear bomb. Oh yes, because the WWII never occurred the USA never developed the thing. Russia had all the time in the world to develop the weapon of mass destruction. But the end of the allies is not insight because they rush towards Moscow. In the aftermath of the battle that followed, when searching the roubles of Moscow Stalin was found. But, a general of the Allies, Stavros, convinced the soldier who found him to behave like nothing had happened. They put a clot in his mouth and leave him to die.
So far the story of the game itself. The graphics in Red Alert look almost similar to those of C&C, but slightly better, but only slightly. It looks somewhat rougher, it gives a sensation that the camera is put very close the battlefield. The awesome sound of infantry dying has been modified a bit, but still something to enjoy. The units of the Soviets have a somewhat Russian accent that’s hilarious. Explosions of buildings are awesome, you get the feeling that the entire building went up in flames.
You don’t gather Tiberium in this game but you harvest finite recourses, consisting of gold and crystals, but in some levels there are pits that spit out gold. You’d normally get some special resources that look like gems, that give twice the amount of credits. Base building isn’t like C&C but more like Tiberium Sun. You start from a central Construction Yard but you don’t have to connect your buildings to the Yard. The allies have special buildings that are used as fakes and are fast and cheap to build.
Both factions have different units, but all come together to a single concept. Light tanks, heavy tanks, aircraft, naval units and of course, infantry. The Russians have the almost almighty Mammoth tank. The allies don't really have a special tank, that comes with the expansions.
In the end, I had lots of fun playing this game. The graphics aren’t that bad, effects like explosions are great to hear and to see and the different campaigns shows you two sides of the game. So if you want this game, try to dig it up somewhere or buy The First Decade.
Daily Thoughts 12/30/2009
Portrait of a bibliophile, half-length, seated in a library with a folio, a seal in his left hand; oil on canvas; 43¼ x 58 in. (109.7 x 147.3 cm)English School, 17th Century Daily Thoughts 12/30/2009
I finished reading Vulcan's Soul part 1 last night. It was lighthearted fun. The formula worked for me. I like to think of Star Trek as uboats in space, one step up from Buck Rogers which is the Lone Ranger in space. I am going to give a spoiler. Chekov disappears in a transporter malfunction. Of course, this gives the opportunity for the characters to mourn Chekov. But, is he really dead? It is like Sherlock Holmes and Reichenbach falls; a way to die which allows the character to possibly be brought back at a later date. This is one of my favorite author tricks. Of course Star Trek fans can't take a May 4 trip to Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland to commemorate the death of their favorite character like the International Sherlock Holmes Society.
I've been weeding in the 800s and the storage fiction. I am looking at copies with zero circulation from fiction. A lot of them are classics like Sir Walter Scott's Waverly Novels which absolutely cannot be deaccessioned. There are also some older quality fiction like Dalkey Archive press books, and some local authors which we should keep.
I had a chance to take a last look at the Kirkus Reviews a little bit ago. Our representative came today and dropped off the latest calendars from Baker and Taylor. We currently have forty boxes of books which we requested to be expedited from back orders. We are trying to get our orders in before the new fiscal year is in place.
Finally, our contract has been ratified after three years. We had been without a union contract for many years and now we have one. Needless to say, it means a nice year end sum for me and many people where I work.
A bunch of books are here for me to read, Finch by Jeff Vandermeer, In The First Circle The First Uncensored Edition by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn which is a story of imprisonment of scientists and intellectuals, The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood-- a kind of a sequel to Oryx and Crake, Tours of the Black Clock by Steve Erickson -- Steve Erickson edits a literary noire magazine called Black Clock which is supposed to be quite good, Retro Pulp Tales Edited by Joe Lansdale-- For a while Joe Lansdale wrote western horror, he wrote several stories for the comic Jonah Hex, and finally E.C. Segar's Popeye, Plunder Island printed by Fantagraphics. This is a lot of early Popeye newspaper strips both in color and black and white printed in a coffee table size book.
An article from Wired Magazine, Study: Rumors of Written Word Death Greatly Exaggerated http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/12/reading-expands-study/ I rather like the idea that reading is not just about books. We read on the internet, on computers, in newspapers, in magazines, and even on signage around the street. We are reading more, not less. The less may be in terms of books. But, even video games have written content in them now. I think we read all the time to do everyday actions and sometimes it makes people less interested in long form books. People are losing their sense of attention with so many words everywhere.
While I was on Twitter, I occassionally find books that are worth reading. Today, I found Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School. I often find things that authors want to promote on their own.
On the way home, I finished reading book II of Star Trek Vulcan's Soul Exiles. The authors use another device in this series, a coronet which records beings memories. The story includes the recorded memories of Karatek, a Vulcan on a generation ship exploring the stars as they sought a new home far from war torn Vulcan. These Vulcans would eventually become the Romulans. The use of an object to create memories is a fairly common literary device. You could compare it to the ring in the Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, or the Silmaril (elven jewel) in the Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien which is used to describe the creation and history of middle earth.
Lots to do
My first look out the window this morning...Oh dear, there is so much that needs to be done today considering the fact that it’s New Year’s Eve tomorrow. First of all I have to give myself a facial, followed by a full body treatment and then I’ll try to do something about my nails…I know I sound very shallow, but who doesn’t want to look and feel at her/his top when it’s New Year’s Eve? - I know I want to at least.
Then we have New Year’s resolutions to write and hopefully (if I have time) a lipstick to buy from Helena Rubinstein. They have 50% off on her stuff at Kicks! :D OK, got to get cracking. I have no time to lose.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Fat, Broke & Failing?
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by Pam Ripling
Resolutions are about resolving things, right? Do you know what the top resolutions are, every year? I’ll bet you could guess. Number one: LOSE WEIGHT! Yep, there’s a reason why all the health clubs, gyms and weight loss centers advertise so heavily in January. Turning that December calendar page is magic, doncha know? Now, now that it’s finally January (the month you’ve been waiting for all year while you stuffed your face), you can finally STOP EATING! Magic. I tell you.
Number two: MONEY PROBLEMS. Make more, spend less, get out of debt! This, just as those December holiday credit card bills are starting to land in everyone’s mail boxes! Or when you realize you’ve just spent your entire year’s allowance and next year’s too! Yeah, that makes sense.
Number three: Get a better job ~ or ~ do better at school! It’s January. Why not. December is over, when you get all the bonuses from bosses and treats from teachers. January offers nothing to distract you, so it’s nose to the grindstone, matey!
You get the picture. Me? My last resolution was a few years ago, and I’m managed to stick to it just fine: Do not make resolutions! How easy was that? FURGEDDABOUTIT!
But if you must, if you simply cannot let a New Years go by without resolving to fix something, let it be the kindness you show others. It doesn’t cost anything, you won’t starve or break the bank!
Pam Ripling is the author of middle-grade mystery, LOCKER SHOCK! Buy it at Quake, Fictionwise or Amazon today! E-book version now available for your Kindle! Visit Pam at www.BeaconStreetBooks.com.
Think Again Why Good Leaders Make Bad Decisions and How To Keep It From Happening To You by Sidney Finkelstein, Jo Whitehead, and Andrew Campbell
Think Again Why Good Leaders Make Bad Decisions and How To Keep It From Happening To You by Sidney Finkelstein, Jo Whitehead, and Andrew Campbell
This book is about decisionmaking. It describes many examples of how and why leaders fail. The focus is on recent discoveries about neuroscience. There are many descriptions on why past experience and emotional attachments are central to decisionmaking. Often experience and feelings can be misleading and it is very hard for an individual to think differently. Safeguards outside of a person in a leadership role are often needed.
This book describes how past experience by leaders often led to disastrous mistakes. Some examples are hurricane Katrina, Admiral Yamamoto's loss at Midway during World War II, and Samsung corporations failed foray into automobile manufacturing. These and other examples are analyzed from the viewpoint of creating checks outside the leader to prevent mistakes.What is described here in detail is how people fail. Appendix I The Database of Cases is all examples of how people failed because of misleading experience, prejudgments, excessive self interest, and inappropriate attachments.
All of the solutions are presented in the second appendix in hypothetical form. I have a bit of a hard time accepting that the solutions given will work. The authors would have done better to also include some case studies of how things go right. It is very hard to know if the solutions presented will work.
If you want to learn why people fail because of excessive reliance on past experience or emotional attachments this book is excellent. This really is the main focus on the book. It will help a person catch their mistakes and maybe, it might help create safeguards against disaster.
This book is about decisionmaking. It describes many examples of how and why leaders fail. The focus is on recent discoveries about neuroscience. There are many descriptions on why past experience and emotional attachments are central to decisionmaking. Often experience and feelings can be misleading and it is very hard for an individual to think differently. Safeguards outside of a person in a leadership role are often needed.
This book describes how past experience by leaders often led to disastrous mistakes. Some examples are hurricane Katrina, Admiral Yamamoto's loss at Midway during World War II, and Samsung corporations failed foray into automobile manufacturing. These and other examples are analyzed from the viewpoint of creating checks outside the leader to prevent mistakes.What is described here in detail is how people fail. Appendix I The Database of Cases is all examples of how people failed because of misleading experience, prejudgments, excessive self interest, and inappropriate attachments.
All of the solutions are presented in the second appendix in hypothetical form. I have a bit of a hard time accepting that the solutions given will work. The authors would have done better to also include some case studies of how things go right. It is very hard to know if the solutions presented will work.
If you want to learn why people fail because of excessive reliance on past experience or emotional attachments this book is excellent. This really is the main focus on the book. It will help a person catch their mistakes and maybe, it might help create safeguards against disaster.
New Uses for Everyday Things
I saw this article in REAL SIMPLE magazine and thought I would pass along the info. This is some great stuff!
New uses for everyday things...
LEMON
1. Sanitize a chopping block. Run a slice of lemon over the surface to disinfect.
2. Eliminate the browning that occurs when food sits out too long. Sprinkle apple or pear slices with lemon juice before serving, or squeeze a bit into guacamole and give it a stir.
3. Remove tough food stains from plastic and light-colored wooden cutting boards. Slice a lemon in half, squeeze the juice onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with water.
4. Fade tea stains on cloth. Dilute lemon juice with an equal amount of water. Use an eyedropper or a Q-tip to make sure the juice targets the stain. Thoroughly flush with cool water.
5. Decorate on the cheap. Fill a glass bowl with lemons for a sunny centerpiece. Or display a row of them along a windowsill.
6. Relieve a sore throat. Cut a lemon in half. Skewer one half over a medium flame on a gas stove or an electric burner set on high and roast until the peel turns golden brown. Let cool slightly, then mix the juice with 1 teaspoon of honey. Swallow the mixture.
7. Whiten fingernails. Rub a wedge on the surface of your nails.
8. Shine the interior of copper cookware. Sprinkle a lemon wedge with salt, then scrub.
9. Brighten laundry whites. Add 1/2 cup lemon juice to the wash cycle of a normal-size load.
10. Remove soft cheese or other sticky foods from a grater. Rub both sides of the grater with the pulp side of a cut lemon.
NEWSPAPER
1. Deodorize food containers. Stuff a balled-up piece of newspaper into a lunch box or thermos, seal it, and let sit overnight.
2. Ripen tomatoes. Wrap them individually and leave them out at room temperature.
3. Pack delicate items.Wrap frames and figurines with several pieces of newspaper, then crumple the remaining sections to fill extra space in the box.
4. Wipe away tough streaks on glass. Use newspaper with cleaning fluid to clean mirrors and windows.
5. Preserve antique glass. Some older frames have finishes on the glass that can be damaged by cleaning solutions. Remove smudges by rubbing with newspaper dipped in a solution of one part white vinegar and one part warm water. Let air-dry.
6. Dry shoes. Place crumpled paper in them overnight.
7. Wrap gifts. Use the comics to wrap a child’s birthday gift, or try the wedding announcements for an engagement gift.
8. Create a home for slushy snow boots. During the winter, keep a pile of newspaper near the entryway. When your little snowmen and -women come home, they can toss their winter wear onto the newspaper instead of creating puddles on the floor.
9. Prepare a garden. In the fall, mow a patch of lawn to make room for a dedicated bed. Cover it with four layers of newspaper, then a four-inch layer of shredded leaves or bark mulch. Hose it down. Come spring, the compost blanket will have smothered the grass roots, and the bed will be primed for planting.
10. Keep the refrigerator vegetable drawer dry and free of smells. Line the bottom with newspaper.
OLIVE OIL
1. Shave. Olive oil can provide a closer shave when used in place of shaving cream.
2. Shine stainless steel. Many cleaning standbys, such as ammonia, can dull and even corrode chrome and stainless steel. Olive oil, however, is a safe and effective shining agent.
3. Remove eye makeup. Dab a little under the eyes and rinse off with a washcloth.
4. Prevent wax from sticking to a candle holder. Rub a thin coat on the base of the holder before inserting a candle. Dripped wax should peel away easily.
5. Care for your pet. Add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon to your cat’s food to help prevent hair balls.
6. Moisturize cuticles. Apply a small amount of olive oil to the nail beds.
7. Treat dry skin. Rub a thin layer over the skin after a shower or a waxing.
8. Unstick a zipper. Using a Q-tip, apply a drop to lubricate the teeth. (Avoid touching the fabric.) The zipper should move up and down freely.
9. Dust wooden furniture. Apply a bit of oil to a cloth and wipe.
10. Silence squeaky doors. Lubricate hinges by applying a small dab to a cloth, then wiping the top of the hinges so that the oil runs down the sides.
DRYER SHEETS
1. Freshen smelly shoes. Insert a dryer sheet into the offending pair and let sit overnight.
2. Remove static from clothing, hair, TV screens, and computer monitors. Wipe the surface with a sheet.
3. Clean pet hair from the floor or furniture. Rub a dryer sheet over the spot where Fluffy left her fur.
4. Replace a sachet. Keep a dresser drawer smelling fresh and clean by placing a dryer sheet on the bottom of it.
5. Loosen caked-on food from a pan. Place a fresh sheet in the bottom of a dirty pan, fill with lukewarm tap water, and let sit in the sink overnight. The pan will be easier to clean in the morning.
6. Tackle suitcase and gym-bag odors. Place a dryer sheet in your suitcase or gym bag so your clean clothes won’t take on the odors of the dirty ones.
7. Prevent old books from smelling musty when in storage. Stick a dryer sheet between the pages of your beloved copy of Pride and Prejudice.
8. Wipe up sawdust after working in the garage. Rub a dryer sheet over the fine wood particles.
9. Prevent thread from tangling when sewing. Run a threaded needle through a dryer sheet right before you begin your handiwork.
10. Dust venetian blinds. Close the blinds, then wipe up and down with a dryer sheet.
COFFEE FILTERS
1. Diffuse the flash on a camera. When you’re taking a close-up, soften the brightness by placing a coffee filter over the flash.
2. Strain wine from a bottle with a broken cork. Place the filter over a pitcher or a carafe and slowly pour the wine into it.
3. Serve popcorn or other snacks. The filters act as disposable bowls, so there’s no dishwashing.
4. Make yogurt dip. Use a rubber band to secure a paper coffee filter over the mouth of a deep cup or jar. Slowly pour 8 ounces of plain yogurt onto the filter. Let drain for one hour. In a bowl, mix the thickened yogurt with 1 small minced garlic clove, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with crackers.
5. Heat up leftovers in the microwave. Use a filter as the protective covering over a bowl or a plate.
6. Prevent soil from draining out of flowerpots. When repotting, place a filter at the bottom, over the drainage hole, then add the soil.
7. Prevent scuffs and scratches on fine china. Use flattened coffee filters as spacers when you stack your dishes.
8. Protect hands from Popsicle drippage. Slide the wooden stick of an ice pop through a coffee filter so your hands stay mess-free.
9. Serve pita sandwiches. A circular filter is the perfect size for carrying a sandwich on the go.
10. Clean windows and glass when you’re out of paper towels. Coffee filters leave no lint or other residue.
VINEGAR
1. Pinch-hit for lemon in a savory recipe. Use 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar in place of 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
2. Remove coffee or tea stains from the bottom of a cup. Swish 2 tablespoons of vinegar around in the cup, then wash as usual.
3. Treat oily hair. Vinegar is a good degreaser for oily hair because it helps adjust pH levels. Shampoo your hair as usual, rinse, then pour 1/4 cup over it and rinse again.
4. Wipe salt stains off boots. Dip a cloth or an old T-shirt into vinegar, then wipe away the white residue.
5. Make wool sweaters fluffier. Drop in a couple of capfuls of vinegar during the rinse cycle for an extra-soft feel.
6. Deodorize a garbage disposal. Make vinegar ice cubes and feed them down the disposal. After grinding, run cold water through the drain.
7. Clean a teakettle or a coffeemaker. Boil a mixture of water and vinegar in a teakettle, then wipe away the grime. Fill the reservoir of a coffeemaker with a mixture of vinegar and water and run it through a brewing cycle. Follow this with several cycles of water to rinse thoroughly.
8. Clean a dishwasher. Once a month, with the machine empty, run a cup of vinegar through an entire cycle to reduce soap buildup on the inner mechanisms and glassware.
9. Remove stubborn price tags or stickers. Paint them with several coats of vinegar, let the liquid soak in for five minutes, then wipe away the residue.
10. Kill weeds between cracks in paving stones and sidewalks. Fill a spray bottle with straight vinegar and spray multiple times. (Be careful not to get any on the surrounding grass, as it will kill that too.)
BAKING SODA
1. Exfoliate skin. Wash your face, then apply a soft paste made of three parts baking soda and one part water. Massage gently with a circular motion, avoiding the eye area; rinse clean.
2. Erase crayon, pencil, ink, and furniture scuffs from painted surfaces. Sprinkle soda on a damp sponge, rub clean, and rinse.
3. Unclog a drain. Pour 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, then slowly pour 1/2 to 1 cup of white vinegar after it. Let sit for five minutes (covered, if possible). Follow with a gallon of boiling water.
4. Remove tough stains from enameled cast iron and stainless steel. Scrub enameled cast iron with a soft nylon brush and a thick paste of baking soda and water. Clean stainless steel with a soft cloth and 4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of water. Wipe dry with a clean cloth.
5. Scrub pans. Sprinkle soda on crusted casseroles and roasting pans and let sit for five minutes. Lightly scrub and rinse.
6. Brush teeth. Use a paste of baking soda and water.
7. Fight class-B fires (flammable liquids, such as gasoline, oil, and grease). Baking soda can be used to smother only a small flame.
8. Deodorize. Dust baking soda under your arms to absorb body odor.
9. Clean up minor oil and grease spills on a garage floor or driveway. Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and scrub with a wet brush.
10. Settle a stomach during occasional indigestion. Stir 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda into 1/2 cup of water and drink for a safe and effective antacid.
ZIPLOC BAGS
1. Knead dough. Place dough in a Ziploc bag so your fingers don’t get sticky. Or slip your hand into the bag and wear it like a glove.
2. Store panty hose. Nude, Tan, Nearly Naked―they look the same out of the package. Tear off the corner of the package listing the brand, size, and color, then slip it into a bag. Store each pair in its own bag to keep hose organized and prevent snags.
3. Remove chewing gum or candle wax from a tablecloth, a couch, or carpeting. Gently rub gum or wax with a Ziploc bag filled with ice cubes until the substance hardens. Shatter gum with a blunt object, then vacuum up the chips. Carefully peel off frozen wax with a plastic spatula.
4. Pipe frosting. Snip off a tiny corner to use a Ziploc as a pastry bag.
5. Store homemade soup. Fill up bags, then lay them flat in the freezer. When the bags of soup freeze flat, you’ll be able to pile them up like stacked books for easy, space-saving storage.
6. Protect precious cargo. No bubble wrap? Slip a straw into the top of a nearly closed Ziploc bag and inflate. Remove the straw and seal to make a cushion. (Heirlooms, however, should wait for that bubble wrap.)
7. Break up graham crackers or vanilla wafers to make a piecrust. Fill a bag with the cookies, then roll a rolling pin over it.
8. Prevent a handbag from turning into a snow globe. Store pressed powder and other compacts in Ziploc bags.
9. Gather herbs from the garden. Before winter frost sets in, wash, pat dry, and freeze the herbs in Ziploc bags.
10. Ice an injury. Fill a bag with ice cubes to create a cold compress.
SALT
1. Make eggs or cream whip up faster and higher. Add a pinch of salt before beating.
2. De-ice sidewalks. In a pinch, it can be used as a substitute for rock salt.
3. Keep chicken or turkey moist. Rub salt in the cavity of the bird before cooking.
4. Prevent sautés made with eggplant or zucchini from getting watery. Sprinkle salt on these vegetables before cooking.
5. Eliminate sticky residue from an iron. Run the hot iron (no steam) over plain paper sprinkled with salt.
6. Clean drains. Pour a hot, strong solution (1/2 cup salt for every quart of water) down the drain.
7. Remove dirt from leafy vegetables, such as spinach. Wash the vegetables in a bath of salt water.
8. Prevent frost from accumulating inside car windows. Rub the glass with a solution of 2 teaspoons of salt in 1 gallon of hot water. Wipe dry.
9. Remove sangria and red-wine stains from your washables. Stretch the fabric over a bowl, cover the stain with salt, and carefully pour boiling water over it.
10. Keep shells from cracking when boiling eggs. Add a few pinches of salt to the water.
11. Chill a bottle of bubbly―fast. Place ice around its base in an ice bucket; sprinkle with a few tablespoons of salt. Layer salt and ice until they reach the neck. Fill with water. Wait 10 minutes; serve.
Bob Out
New uses for everyday things...
LEMON
1. Sanitize a chopping block. Run a slice of lemon over the surface to disinfect.
2. Eliminate the browning that occurs when food sits out too long. Sprinkle apple or pear slices with lemon juice before serving, or squeeze a bit into guacamole and give it a stir.
3. Remove tough food stains from plastic and light-colored wooden cutting boards. Slice a lemon in half, squeeze the juice onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with water.
4. Fade tea stains on cloth. Dilute lemon juice with an equal amount of water. Use an eyedropper or a Q-tip to make sure the juice targets the stain. Thoroughly flush with cool water.
5. Decorate on the cheap. Fill a glass bowl with lemons for a sunny centerpiece. Or display a row of them along a windowsill.
6. Relieve a sore throat. Cut a lemon in half. Skewer one half over a medium flame on a gas stove or an electric burner set on high and roast until the peel turns golden brown. Let cool slightly, then mix the juice with 1 teaspoon of honey. Swallow the mixture.
7. Whiten fingernails. Rub a wedge on the surface of your nails.
8. Shine the interior of copper cookware. Sprinkle a lemon wedge with salt, then scrub.
9. Brighten laundry whites. Add 1/2 cup lemon juice to the wash cycle of a normal-size load.
10. Remove soft cheese or other sticky foods from a grater. Rub both sides of the grater with the pulp side of a cut lemon.
NEWSPAPER
1. Deodorize food containers. Stuff a balled-up piece of newspaper into a lunch box or thermos, seal it, and let sit overnight.
2. Ripen tomatoes. Wrap them individually and leave them out at room temperature.
3. Pack delicate items.Wrap frames and figurines with several pieces of newspaper, then crumple the remaining sections to fill extra space in the box.
4. Wipe away tough streaks on glass. Use newspaper with cleaning fluid to clean mirrors and windows.
5. Preserve antique glass. Some older frames have finishes on the glass that can be damaged by cleaning solutions. Remove smudges by rubbing with newspaper dipped in a solution of one part white vinegar and one part warm water. Let air-dry.
6. Dry shoes. Place crumpled paper in them overnight.
7. Wrap gifts. Use the comics to wrap a child’s birthday gift, or try the wedding announcements for an engagement gift.
8. Create a home for slushy snow boots. During the winter, keep a pile of newspaper near the entryway. When your little snowmen and -women come home, they can toss their winter wear onto the newspaper instead of creating puddles on the floor.
9. Prepare a garden. In the fall, mow a patch of lawn to make room for a dedicated bed. Cover it with four layers of newspaper, then a four-inch layer of shredded leaves or bark mulch. Hose it down. Come spring, the compost blanket will have smothered the grass roots, and the bed will be primed for planting.
10. Keep the refrigerator vegetable drawer dry and free of smells. Line the bottom with newspaper.
OLIVE OIL
1. Shave. Olive oil can provide a closer shave when used in place of shaving cream.
2. Shine stainless steel. Many cleaning standbys, such as ammonia, can dull and even corrode chrome and stainless steel. Olive oil, however, is a safe and effective shining agent.
3. Remove eye makeup. Dab a little under the eyes and rinse off with a washcloth.
4. Prevent wax from sticking to a candle holder. Rub a thin coat on the base of the holder before inserting a candle. Dripped wax should peel away easily.
5. Care for your pet. Add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon to your cat’s food to help prevent hair balls.
6. Moisturize cuticles. Apply a small amount of olive oil to the nail beds.
7. Treat dry skin. Rub a thin layer over the skin after a shower or a waxing.
8. Unstick a zipper. Using a Q-tip, apply a drop to lubricate the teeth. (Avoid touching the fabric.) The zipper should move up and down freely.
9. Dust wooden furniture. Apply a bit of oil to a cloth and wipe.
10. Silence squeaky doors. Lubricate hinges by applying a small dab to a cloth, then wiping the top of the hinges so that the oil runs down the sides.
DRYER SHEETS
1. Freshen smelly shoes. Insert a dryer sheet into the offending pair and let sit overnight.
2. Remove static from clothing, hair, TV screens, and computer monitors. Wipe the surface with a sheet.
3. Clean pet hair from the floor or furniture. Rub a dryer sheet over the spot where Fluffy left her fur.
4. Replace a sachet. Keep a dresser drawer smelling fresh and clean by placing a dryer sheet on the bottom of it.
5. Loosen caked-on food from a pan. Place a fresh sheet in the bottom of a dirty pan, fill with lukewarm tap water, and let sit in the sink overnight. The pan will be easier to clean in the morning.
6. Tackle suitcase and gym-bag odors. Place a dryer sheet in your suitcase or gym bag so your clean clothes won’t take on the odors of the dirty ones.
7. Prevent old books from smelling musty when in storage. Stick a dryer sheet between the pages of your beloved copy of Pride and Prejudice.
8. Wipe up sawdust after working in the garage. Rub a dryer sheet over the fine wood particles.
9. Prevent thread from tangling when sewing. Run a threaded needle through a dryer sheet right before you begin your handiwork.
10. Dust venetian blinds. Close the blinds, then wipe up and down with a dryer sheet.
COFFEE FILTERS
1. Diffuse the flash on a camera. When you’re taking a close-up, soften the brightness by placing a coffee filter over the flash.
2. Strain wine from a bottle with a broken cork. Place the filter over a pitcher or a carafe and slowly pour the wine into it.
3. Serve popcorn or other snacks. The filters act as disposable bowls, so there’s no dishwashing.
4. Make yogurt dip. Use a rubber band to secure a paper coffee filter over the mouth of a deep cup or jar. Slowly pour 8 ounces of plain yogurt onto the filter. Let drain for one hour. In a bowl, mix the thickened yogurt with 1 small minced garlic clove, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with crackers.
5. Heat up leftovers in the microwave. Use a filter as the protective covering over a bowl or a plate.
6. Prevent soil from draining out of flowerpots. When repotting, place a filter at the bottom, over the drainage hole, then add the soil.
7. Prevent scuffs and scratches on fine china. Use flattened coffee filters as spacers when you stack your dishes.
8. Protect hands from Popsicle drippage. Slide the wooden stick of an ice pop through a coffee filter so your hands stay mess-free.
9. Serve pita sandwiches. A circular filter is the perfect size for carrying a sandwich on the go.
10. Clean windows and glass when you’re out of paper towels. Coffee filters leave no lint or other residue.
VINEGAR
1. Pinch-hit for lemon in a savory recipe. Use 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar in place of 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
2. Remove coffee or tea stains from the bottom of a cup. Swish 2 tablespoons of vinegar around in the cup, then wash as usual.
3. Treat oily hair. Vinegar is a good degreaser for oily hair because it helps adjust pH levels. Shampoo your hair as usual, rinse, then pour 1/4 cup over it and rinse again.
4. Wipe salt stains off boots. Dip a cloth or an old T-shirt into vinegar, then wipe away the white residue.
5. Make wool sweaters fluffier. Drop in a couple of capfuls of vinegar during the rinse cycle for an extra-soft feel.
6. Deodorize a garbage disposal. Make vinegar ice cubes and feed them down the disposal. After grinding, run cold water through the drain.
7. Clean a teakettle or a coffeemaker. Boil a mixture of water and vinegar in a teakettle, then wipe away the grime. Fill the reservoir of a coffeemaker with a mixture of vinegar and water and run it through a brewing cycle. Follow this with several cycles of water to rinse thoroughly.
8. Clean a dishwasher. Once a month, with the machine empty, run a cup of vinegar through an entire cycle to reduce soap buildup on the inner mechanisms and glassware.
9. Remove stubborn price tags or stickers. Paint them with several coats of vinegar, let the liquid soak in for five minutes, then wipe away the residue.
10. Kill weeds between cracks in paving stones and sidewalks. Fill a spray bottle with straight vinegar and spray multiple times. (Be careful not to get any on the surrounding grass, as it will kill that too.)
BAKING SODA
1. Exfoliate skin. Wash your face, then apply a soft paste made of three parts baking soda and one part water. Massage gently with a circular motion, avoiding the eye area; rinse clean.
2. Erase crayon, pencil, ink, and furniture scuffs from painted surfaces. Sprinkle soda on a damp sponge, rub clean, and rinse.
3. Unclog a drain. Pour 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, then slowly pour 1/2 to 1 cup of white vinegar after it. Let sit for five minutes (covered, if possible). Follow with a gallon of boiling water.
4. Remove tough stains from enameled cast iron and stainless steel. Scrub enameled cast iron with a soft nylon brush and a thick paste of baking soda and water. Clean stainless steel with a soft cloth and 4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of water. Wipe dry with a clean cloth.
5. Scrub pans. Sprinkle soda on crusted casseroles and roasting pans and let sit for five minutes. Lightly scrub and rinse.
6. Brush teeth. Use a paste of baking soda and water.
7. Fight class-B fires (flammable liquids, such as gasoline, oil, and grease). Baking soda can be used to smother only a small flame.
8. Deodorize. Dust baking soda under your arms to absorb body odor.
9. Clean up minor oil and grease spills on a garage floor or driveway. Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and scrub with a wet brush.
10. Settle a stomach during occasional indigestion. Stir 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda into 1/2 cup of water and drink for a safe and effective antacid.
ZIPLOC BAGS
1. Knead dough. Place dough in a Ziploc bag so your fingers don’t get sticky. Or slip your hand into the bag and wear it like a glove.
2. Store panty hose. Nude, Tan, Nearly Naked―they look the same out of the package. Tear off the corner of the package listing the brand, size, and color, then slip it into a bag. Store each pair in its own bag to keep hose organized and prevent snags.
3. Remove chewing gum or candle wax from a tablecloth, a couch, or carpeting. Gently rub gum or wax with a Ziploc bag filled with ice cubes until the substance hardens. Shatter gum with a blunt object, then vacuum up the chips. Carefully peel off frozen wax with a plastic spatula.
4. Pipe frosting. Snip off a tiny corner to use a Ziploc as a pastry bag.
5. Store homemade soup. Fill up bags, then lay them flat in the freezer. When the bags of soup freeze flat, you’ll be able to pile them up like stacked books for easy, space-saving storage.
6. Protect precious cargo. No bubble wrap? Slip a straw into the top of a nearly closed Ziploc bag and inflate. Remove the straw and seal to make a cushion. (Heirlooms, however, should wait for that bubble wrap.)
7. Break up graham crackers or vanilla wafers to make a piecrust. Fill a bag with the cookies, then roll a rolling pin over it.
8. Prevent a handbag from turning into a snow globe. Store pressed powder and other compacts in Ziploc bags.
9. Gather herbs from the garden. Before winter frost sets in, wash, pat dry, and freeze the herbs in Ziploc bags.
10. Ice an injury. Fill a bag with ice cubes to create a cold compress.
SALT
1. Make eggs or cream whip up faster and higher. Add a pinch of salt before beating.
2. De-ice sidewalks. In a pinch, it can be used as a substitute for rock salt.
3. Keep chicken or turkey moist. Rub salt in the cavity of the bird before cooking.
4. Prevent sautés made with eggplant or zucchini from getting watery. Sprinkle salt on these vegetables before cooking.
5. Eliminate sticky residue from an iron. Run the hot iron (no steam) over plain paper sprinkled with salt.
6. Clean drains. Pour a hot, strong solution (1/2 cup salt for every quart of water) down the drain.
7. Remove dirt from leafy vegetables, such as spinach. Wash the vegetables in a bath of salt water.
8. Prevent frost from accumulating inside car windows. Rub the glass with a solution of 2 teaspoons of salt in 1 gallon of hot water. Wipe dry.
9. Remove sangria and red-wine stains from your washables. Stretch the fabric over a bowl, cover the stain with salt, and carefully pour boiling water over it.
10. Keep shells from cracking when boiling eggs. Add a few pinches of salt to the water.
11. Chill a bottle of bubbly―fast. Place ice around its base in an ice bucket; sprinkle with a few tablespoons of salt. Layer salt and ice until they reach the neck. Fill with water. Wait 10 minutes; serve.
Bob Out
Tuesday
Today, I haven’t done very much. It has been -11°C so I didn’t feel like going outside at all. Instead I’ve been sitting inside with a cup of tea reading Eclipse. Yes, that’s right. I’m on book three now, which I started yesterday :D Well well, it’s soon 8.00 p.m. which means Ugly Betty time!
Hope you’ll have a great evening…=)
Hope you’ll have a great evening…=)
Shadow Dance
Every now and then, one has a favourite painting which replaces the previous favourite painting!
This one was taken from a pic posted on Dana Marie's Inspiration all Around Us blog - she really takes the most amazing photographs and I would encourage everyone to have a look!
There was something so peaceful about this photo and the colours were so appealing. Hope you like it.
Have a fabulous 2010 everyone! Winter Olympics in Canada, FIFA World Cup in South Africa - should be a funfilled year!
Daily Thoughts 12/29/2009
Calliope, Muse of Epic Poetry
Daily Thoughts 12/29/2009
New and Creative Leniency for Overdue Library Books, article from New York Times. http://bit.ly/72KGbt Our library did a Food For Fines drive where we collected can goods in exchange for library fines which we donated to local food pantries. It is an excellent way to both help the hungry and generate positive publicity.
If a person checks out five dvds at a maximum and has a $2.00 a day late fee per dvd if they are returned late, it can very quickly add up to a considerable amount of money after a few late days. Sometimes people can forget very easily. With more expensive items like video games and even preloaded thumb drives, the fine amounts tend to be higher than books.
Where it can get difficult is with teenagers who are absent minded with videos or video games from the library. They can easily add up very high fines which are difficult for them to pay back. Sometimes libraries do "Read Away Your Fines" programs where they reduce a persons fines for every hour they spend reading in the library. Ths program is especially good for children and teenagers.
There is also the option of doing an amnesty for fines for books and materials. Some of the dvds and oversize books can be quite expensive. It is nice to just have the books back sometimes.
I was looking through Locus Magazine and decided to put The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart by Jesse Bullington on hold. I also saw a book which looked interesting on Linked In,
Choosing civility : the twenty-five rules of considerate conduct by P.M. Forni.
I had a chance to walk up to my local library. It was very cold out. I still try and walk a little bit every single day as a form of exercise. I picked up a trilogy of paperbacks, Star Trek Vulcan's Soul, Volumes 1, 2, and 3 by Josepha Sherman and Susan Shwartz. Josepha Sherman and Susan Shwartz wrote two other novels based on Vulcan, Vulcan's Forge, and Vulcan's Heart. They have been writing for the paperback series for a very long time and have the formula down pat. This story features Ambassador Spock.
Reso-what?
I'm making a resolution this New Year to not make any resolutions! I could plan on working out—but talk about booooring. If they made jogging in one place entertaining, I might change my mind. (Wii fit might work—but heck, the kids wouldn't let me near that thing. Why bother?)
And why in the world would I want to give up chocolate?
No thank you, I'll pass. Instead, I'm going to celebrate the New Year like any sane person would. Yummy dips and chips. Staying up late watching movies. Calling all the relatives as the clock strikes midnight (you've been warned! ;) ) Then I'll sleep in and make a wonderful brunch the next day.
There isn't any resolution I couldn't make today that I could make for the New Year. If I'm gonna do a thing, why wait? Right? Besides, that way, I get to celebrate reaching my goals all year round!
Warmly,
J.R. Turner
J.R. Turner is the author of the Extreme Hauntings series. The first book, DFF: Dead Friends Forever is available at Amazon.com, Kindle, Fictionwise, and Echelon Press.com
Monday, December 28, 2009
Daily Thoughts 12/28/2009
This was the Picture of the Day for December 28, 2009. It is also a featured picture on Wikimedia. It is of Oscar Wilde. Daily Thoughts 12/28/2009
I requested the 2010 Baker and Taylor cat calendars from Baker and Taylor. Baker and Taylor uses two cats as its mascots, Baker and Taylor. Found it on our representatives blog. I am also updating my subscriptions to their review magazines.
Looking at Libriloop which is a closed loop recycler for libraries. It takes discarded library and publisher stock and turns them into different products which it is attempting to sell back to libraries. The objective is to take discarded stock from a specific type of company and recycle it back into the company where it came from. http://02ee0e2.netsolstores.com/about-us.aspx
Took some time to look at Suvudu which is a blog for Bantam Spectra. They are reviewing childrens graphic novels this week. Today, they have an article on Babymouse whihc is one of the better childrens comics. It is lighthearted fun. http://suvudu.com/
If you want to see an interesting set of alternative comics by Jordan Crane, they are available for free at whatthingsdo.com . These can be a bit ironic. There is some mature content, but the quality is very good.
Sometimes, you find things that seem interesting but don't really have a particular place. I saw an event on March 16, 2010 called The Future of Publishing. It looks like one of those things where they are creating something new and random and are not quite sure what will happen. http://www.iirusa.com/futureofpublishingsummit/future-of-publishing.xml?utm_source=FutureofPublishingPostToolsChangePublishingLIGroup&utm_medium=Traffic122209&utm_campaign=Traffic
Today has been a day for wandering on the web. This is an interesting article called Books You Can Live Without from the New York Times. Maybe it is time to cull my personal library again. I don't keep a huge amount of books. Only things with practical value. http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/27/books-you-can-live-without/
10 for 2010
I don't like making New Year's resolutions but I do like setting goals for myself. So I thought it would be cool to do a list of 10 things I would like to accomplish in 2010. Throughout the year I will republish the list and give updates on each goal.
So here goes...My 10 for 2010...
1) Lose 30 pounds. I have gotten so sloppy with my eating/exercise habits. I feel gross and need to get this extra weight off. I would love to lose more but I will set the bar low so as not to get overwhelmed.
2) Visit Tallulah Gorge. This is a state park in Georgia. It is less than an hour from my house and I have passed it 100 times but never stopped. Did you know part of the movie, "Deliverance" was filmed at Tallulah Gorge? "I bet you can squeal like a pig. Weeeeeeee!"
3)Spend less time on Facebook. Hello, my name is Bob and I'm addicted to Facebook. I may need an intervention. I love the site so I don't want to give it up. I just want to limit the time I spend on it.
4)Spend a lot more time looking for a new job/career. I need a new job...badly. I work for a travel agency and they are becoming extinct. We've had pay cuts and layoffs but I'm still hanging on. I have tried to look for a new job but I haven't truly invested a lot of time doing it. I need to make it a top priority.
5)Step all the way out of the closet. This was one of my goals for 2009. As you guys probably know from earlier post, I still haven't told my mom. There is still a few days left so maybe this will happen in 2009.
6) Try different restaurants. I eat at the same places over and over again. Next year I want to venture out and try new restaurants and different cuisines. A friend introduced me to a local pizza place and it was fantastic. They had squeeze bottles filled with honey on the tables. Let me tell you ...that is the BEST. IDEA. EVER. You eat your pizza down to the crust and then squeeze the honey on the crust...DELICIOUS. Although I can't do it often(see goal # 1).
7)Volunteer more. I see people average people doing extraordinary things for others and it makes me sad that I don't put more effort into helping the less fortunate. If there is one thing I have learned, WE ARE BLESSED! I may not be rich but I have a lot. It's time I show how Thankful I am. I'm not sure in what capacity but I will figure it out. Stay Tuned :)
8) Look for Mr. Right and not Mr. Right now. I need a man! A good man! Not just a F*ck buddy. I think because I have stayed in the closet so long my love life has been a series of F*ck buddies. A lot of them have been long term but it's not a REAL relationship. I've fooled myself a long time into thinking I would be happy with that...but I'm not. I really would love to experience love in the right way. So if you know anyone, send them my way :)
9)Have more new adventures. This year I went Kayaking for the first time. If you would like to read about it, click here. It turned out to be a lot of fun. I am definitely doing it again this year. I want to try more new things in 2010.
10) Be a better blogger. I have really enjoyed blogging this year. I just started at the end of August. It was a little slow going at first but It's really turned out to be something I love doing. It's been great getting to know the people that have been checking out my blog. I checked Google analytics this morning at is says I've had 248 unique visitors since I started. WOW, that's awesome! I really appreciate you guys stopping by and leaving your comments. I'm not a great writer and I stress over spelling and grammar errors but it's still been fun. I want to really try to refine the blog and make it better.
Well, I think that's it...my 10 for 2010. Stay tuned and I'll keep you updated on my progress. Have a GREAT week!
Bob Out
So here goes...My 10 for 2010...
1) Lose 30 pounds. I have gotten so sloppy with my eating/exercise habits. I feel gross and need to get this extra weight off. I would love to lose more but I will set the bar low so as not to get overwhelmed.
2) Visit Tallulah Gorge. This is a state park in Georgia. It is less than an hour from my house and I have passed it 100 times but never stopped. Did you know part of the movie, "Deliverance" was filmed at Tallulah Gorge? "I bet you can squeal like a pig. Weeeeeeee!"
3)Spend less time on Facebook. Hello, my name is Bob and I'm addicted to Facebook. I may need an intervention. I love the site so I don't want to give it up. I just want to limit the time I spend on it.
4)Spend a lot more time looking for a new job/career. I need a new job...badly. I work for a travel agency and they are becoming extinct. We've had pay cuts and layoffs but I'm still hanging on. I have tried to look for a new job but I haven't truly invested a lot of time doing it. I need to make it a top priority.
5)Step all the way out of the closet. This was one of my goals for 2009. As you guys probably know from earlier post, I still haven't told my mom. There is still a few days left so maybe this will happen in 2009.
6) Try different restaurants. I eat at the same places over and over again. Next year I want to venture out and try new restaurants and different cuisines. A friend introduced me to a local pizza place and it was fantastic. They had squeeze bottles filled with honey on the tables. Let me tell you ...that is the BEST. IDEA. EVER. You eat your pizza down to the crust and then squeeze the honey on the crust...DELICIOUS. Although I can't do it often(see goal # 1).
7)Volunteer more. I see people average people doing extraordinary things for others and it makes me sad that I don't put more effort into helping the less fortunate. If there is one thing I have learned, WE ARE BLESSED! I may not be rich but I have a lot. It's time I show how Thankful I am. I'm not sure in what capacity but I will figure it out. Stay Tuned :)
8) Look for Mr. Right and not Mr. Right now. I need a man! A good man! Not just a F*ck buddy. I think because I have stayed in the closet so long my love life has been a series of F*ck buddies. A lot of them have been long term but it's not a REAL relationship. I've fooled myself a long time into thinking I would be happy with that...but I'm not. I really would love to experience love in the right way. So if you know anyone, send them my way :)
9)Have more new adventures. This year I went Kayaking for the first time. If you would like to read about it, click here. It turned out to be a lot of fun. I am definitely doing it again this year. I want to try more new things in 2010.
10) Be a better blogger. I have really enjoyed blogging this year. I just started at the end of August. It was a little slow going at first but It's really turned out to be something I love doing. It's been great getting to know the people that have been checking out my blog. I checked Google analytics this morning at is says I've had 248 unique visitors since I started. WOW, that's awesome! I really appreciate you guys stopping by and leaving your comments. I'm not a great writer and I stress over spelling and grammar errors but it's still been fun. I want to really try to refine the blog and make it better.
Well, I think that's it...my 10 for 2010. Stay tuned and I'll keep you updated on my progress. Have a GREAT week!
Bob Out
In my shopping bags ;D
The reason why I love sales is simple. Lots of stuff. Lots of savings. Here is what slipped into my shopping bags the past two days...
The biggest saving was the tweed jacket from Vero Moda...SEK 400 (!!!) I saved for that one.
This übercute skirt is from H&M makes me longing for spring time.
Last but not least I bought a set of three pairs of panties from Sonia Rykiel (blue/black/pink), and a pair of "msiadollish" ones from Gina Tricot. :)Altogether I saved SEK 678.50 to be precise, so see why I just looooove sales! :D
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Poor feet
Finally I am finished with Gränby Centrum. I can't say that I am over and done with the "after Christmas sale" (come on, I haven't even been down to town yet), but it truly has its effects on my poor feet. Lucky for them I got to sit down for a while when having coffee with my godfather and his wife this afternoon. That was pretty nice actually, haha. They are both going back to Budapest tomorrow, so they just thought that they would come by before they left. Even though we didn't sit there very long, he did mention that they were planning on moving to another apartment there, so that when we go there again, we will live somewhere else...Hmm, that sounds kind of promising huh? Haha...
I mean, I didn't love Budapest, but I don't mind going there again (with hopes of the temperature being close to 30 °C and not freaking 10 °C!)
Daily Thoughts 12/27/2009
Portrait of Emily Bronte by her brother Branwell Bronte Daily Thoughts 12/27/2009
I was at Barnes and Nobles near my house. I bought a copy of the childrens book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See by Eric Carle. Eric Carle is a wonderful childrens author. His illustrations are full of color and his message is very simple.
I looked at the science fiction and fantasy section, but did not see anything which I wanted to get this time. A lot of the books are about demons and vampires with a touch of noire. Occassionally I don't mind fantasy noire, but most of the time I like my fantasy to be a little more lighthearted with princes and elves and such. I also like original military science fiction. Most of the stuff I am seeing coming out is long winded series. The Charlaine Harris section in the fantasy area is huge. She is very much a writer about vampires.
I took a look at the sample section of Baen Books yesterday and read the first few chapters of Live Free or Die by John Ringo. It reads a little bit like Heinlein, more so than his other military science fiction novels. http://www.webscription.net/chapters/1439133328/1439133328.htm?blurb There is more of a plot line with intrigue and trickery than his other books. The book is coming out in February of 2010. If they have an Electronic ARC, I will probably get it.
I had a chance to briefly look at the graphic novels section as well. Something I saw which looked really excellent was an oversize book called The Art of Osama Tezuka by Helen McCarthy. It is a big, beautifully illustrated book.
I read some more of Think Again while having a quiet day. I like to read on the couch. The book has a lot on how we make mistakes based on our past experience, prejudgements, self- interest, and in general how we tend to confirm our own biases at our own expense. It demonstrates lots of examples of this kind of behavior. I can easily see it in all kinds of situations.
I just learned that Year of the Flood is a sequel to the novel Oryx and Crake which means that I must read it. This surprises me a little bit, maybe Margaret Atwood will write a science fiction trilogy.
Her writing is literary enough that some people don't consider it science fiction. They like to call it "speculative fiction". This is the nice term for fiction that plays with reality. You can throw in William S. Burroughs, Doris Lessing, George Orwell, Lewis Carroll, Jorge Luis Borges, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez in speculative fiction. It speculates about reality. Magical realism speculates about reality. Of course Robert Heinlein and Neil Gaiman are here as well. The joy and semantics of fantasy literature.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
2009's Christmas gifts
Yesterday I had no time for blogging so I didn't put up anything of what I got for Christmas, but now I am here and this was 2009's Christmas gifts pour moi...
I wished for one sort of chocolate from Lindt (the smallest package) but mami obviously wants me fat and bought me three! Haha...I still know that there are quite many gifts even though I wrote earlier that I wouldn't get as much this year. Instead I would get money so I could shop whatever I wanted after Christmas. But in our family we are quite generous when it comes to gifts so...hehe.
Well well, I am off to bed early tonight. Deadly tired somehow. So good night little blog and little readers out there!
The Punisher
The Punisher is a game made by Volition Inc. The game was released by THQ. It was released in 2005. The game is a third-person shooter, featuring Frank Castle aka The Punisher.For the people that don't know the storyline already, it's the same as the comic. Frank Castle's family gets slaughtered by the mob. Frank Castle goes on a revenge mission and turns himself into the Punisher, focused on tracking down and killing every criminal and people that were involved in the murders. He uses any method to do so.
In The Punisher you simply kill a lot of people, using various methods which gives you points, and by acquiring enough points you gain a medal ranging from bronze to gold. Each medal grants you various extras in the game, such as challenges, concept-art and images. You can also acquire several comic-book fragments, by interrogating your victims in a non-conventional way, for example by using an oven and many other things, since Frank Castle is quite creative with his methods. It's also possible to kill your enemies using "Special Kills" these are designated spots throughout the levels, marked by a golden skull (Special Interrogation Spots are marked with a silver skull). Some of the things you can do on these Special Kill Spots are throwing someone in a coffin and throw a grenade in it as well and other things as well. You can pick up various weapons throughout the levels such as bottles, crowbars and baseball-bats. The Punisher also carries various fire-arms which can be upgraded. The Punisher can also enter a rage mode in which he's practically immortal and can kill at a rapid rate using his two knives. The Punisher is an easy game, it can be picked up by anyone, through the upgrades it becomes even easier, by using the rage-mode you gain your health back giving you pretty much an endless supply of health.
The AI isn't particularly smart, it's easy to grab them and use them as shields since they won't try to get away from you. And their buddies will still shoot you even if their friend is in front of their target. Most of the enemies can be described as cannon-fodder, they'll even stand close to certain objects making killing even easier. And it's also easy to use quick kills on them, since they have no way of blocking that. Throughout this game, you'll encounter various bosses, each has its own method of being killed, but they're never really hard to deal with.
The levels are nicely done, they're quite big and the scenery changes every level. For example, there is a Zoo level, a Crack house level, a modern complex and a bar. Throughout these levels you can also encounter civilians, which you can't kill. Sometimes they'll give you something, but most of the time they don't, you are however required to save them.
The graphics in this game are rather nice, they hold up to the other games from that year, which can be expected since Volition always delivers quality products, unlike ValuSoft. There are many details in this game, from the design of weapons to the design of the characters. But the game isn't really a gorefest when it comes to killing, if you're looking for that, I recommend Dead Space.
So all-in-all, I recommend buying this game if you ever find it. I happened to buy it for €2.50, which was a bargain, but don't be afraid to pay a little more for it, since it's really worth your money.
Daily Thoughts 12/26/2009
Miniature books, including Pushkin and Eugene Onegin Daily Thoughts 12/26/2009
Right now, I am reading Think Again Why Good Leaders Make Bad Decisions and How to Keep It from Happening to You by Sidney Finkelstein, Jo Whitehead, and Andrew Campbell. The book opens with the decision making process that led to the disaster at Hurricane Katrina. So far the focus has been on pattern recognition and emotions in the decision making process. The examples are quite good; Operation Market Garden during World War II, and Quaker's acquisition of Snapple are two interesting cases they cover. In addition to strategy it also covers the neuroscience of decisionmaking.I put Retro Pulp, edited by Joe Lansdale on hold for me to read later.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Daily Thoughts 12/25/2009
Houghton Mifflin and Company’s Holiday Books for MDCCCXCVArmstrong & Co, Boston, 1895 Daily Thoughts 12/25/2009
My First Resolutions for the year:
1) While I am not officially going to put together a challenge, I will ask those who follow this blog to do what I plan to do during the next year, read and review 52 books, a book week during the next year. Or at least keep track and read a bit every single week.
2) Attend every single New York Librarians Meetup for the year.
3) Attend the following conferences, Book Expo America, New York Comic Con, New York Is Book Country, and Westchester Library Asssociation at a minimum.
4) Take time to relax and spend time with friends and family.
5) Exercise at least three times a week, cut out candy, soda, and snack foods.
6) Learn more about investing, specifically stocks focusing on alternative energy and clean technology, and keeping a personal budget.
7) Continue working on my blog and social networks.
8) Enjoy life and try to keep inner calm.
I like to think that I am making resolutions that I can follow that are specific and doable. The more specific the better.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Jane Austen and Ben H. Winters
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Jane
Austen and Ben H. Winters.
This novel lampoons Jane Austen by adding extra
chapters and content on sea monsters; death lobsters,
leviathans, man eating clams, minnows,giant octopi, and
Submersible cities abound. Every creature of the
sea is turned homicidally against humanity.
It is better done than the first novel because
it draws from other literature. You can recognize
the influence of Daniel Defoe, H.P. Lovecraft,
Robert Louis Stevenson, and Jules Verne in this
novel. This makes it better than Pride and Prejudice
and Zombies which drew heavily from John Romero films.
This is an article from Slate Magazine about how
Ben H. Winters used classic novels to create the
backdrop for Jane Austen's novel. http://www.slate.com/id/2228262/pagenum/all/
The original novel still fits in very well with
the story. It is a story of the Dashwood Sisters
who have a very small inheritance and are seeking
husbands. Because there is very little background
scenery and Jane Austen is almost focused completely
on the families courting, it is easy to change
the setting of the story. Even the characters
can take on changed physical characteristics like
the hideously tentacle faced Captain Brandon.
Everything becomes monsterized.
Because the mashup is much more seemless, it is much
funnier and sillier than Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
In addition to the use of Victorian adventure literature,
there are small puns thrown in; Pierre the Orangutan
is a reference to Pierre Boulle's Planet of the Apes and
the tentacle faced Captain Brandon looks like Davy Jones
from Pirates of the Caribbean.
This novel may be a bit offensive to some people. Some of
the scenes have wild touches added to them; island tiki dances,
rum, and pirates break up some of the more serious scenes.
I liked the novel, but it clearly will make some
people uncomfortable reading it.
The book includes some 20 black and white illustrations
which mostly add to the story.
Austen and Ben H. Winters.
This novel lampoons Jane Austen by adding extra
chapters and content on sea monsters; death lobsters,
leviathans, man eating clams, minnows,giant octopi, and
Submersible cities abound. Every creature of the
sea is turned homicidally against humanity.
It is better done than the first novel because
it draws from other literature. You can recognize
the influence of Daniel Defoe, H.P. Lovecraft,
Robert Louis Stevenson, and Jules Verne in this
novel. This makes it better than Pride and Prejudice
and Zombies which drew heavily from John Romero films.
This is an article from Slate Magazine about how
Ben H. Winters used classic novels to create the
backdrop for Jane Austen's novel. http://www.slate.com/id/2228262/pagenum/all/
The original novel still fits in very well with
the story. It is a story of the Dashwood Sisters
who have a very small inheritance and are seeking
husbands. Because there is very little background
scenery and Jane Austen is almost focused completely
on the families courting, it is easy to change
the setting of the story. Even the characters
can take on changed physical characteristics like
the hideously tentacle faced Captain Brandon.
Everything becomes monsterized.
Because the mashup is much more seemless, it is much
funnier and sillier than Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
In addition to the use of Victorian adventure literature,
there are small puns thrown in; Pierre the Orangutan
is a reference to Pierre Boulle's Planet of the Apes and
the tentacle faced Captain Brandon looks like Davy Jones
from Pirates of the Caribbean.
This novel may be a bit offensive to some people. Some of
the scenes have wild touches added to them; island tiki dances,
rum, and pirates break up some of the more serious scenes.
I liked the novel, but it clearly will make some
people uncomfortable reading it.
The book includes some 20 black and white illustrations
which mostly add to the story.
Time for Christmas presents
Evening already. But the night is long and that implies that it is time for opening Christmas presents. Weeee! Haha...However, mami said that we were going to go light on them this year. Not because of the economic crisis, but because it's so much more fun to get money and then go and shop till you drop on the "after Christmas" SALE. If I remember I will put up some pictures of what I got tomorrow sometime, but until then hasta la vista, baby :DThe Sound of My Heart
It's christmas today! Hmmm...actually I told myself not to post anything today...but my heart keeps paining from the moment i got my results till now...although I got quite a good result...but I don't even know the reasons why I am feeling like that...don't know whether I should laugh or cry...while listening to some kind of slow songs...make me feel even bad...but I think I will feel better after i write it down here...Does a good result really mean so much to me? I am confused...Don't I study from Form 1 til now is only for PMR? Now the result is in my hand...although it shows straight A's...but I don't feel happy at all...what does all this mean? I can still remember the night before I collect my result...a few words to describe...scare...nervous...anxious...but at last I could sleep well also...Now I think I can get a conclusion...YOU WILL ONLY BE HAPPY WHEN YOU DID SOMETHING WHOLE-HEARTEDLY...know the reasons why I said so? Because I didn't put much effort on my exams...I didn't try my best to face the exams...but I know I have to satisfied what I have now...
So what i want to say is 'Thank You' to my beloved parents...although they always busy with their works...but at least they cared about me...they wished me good luck before I went to the school and started a war...this is more than enough for me^^ Especially my mum...sorry for being so unfilial...sorry for making her worried for my exams...you know what...I scare that I will get a bad result as I never study hard...so I keep reminding her not to have high expectation...I think she must be very sad at the moment as for this whole year, she has sacrificed a lot of her times for sending me to tuition center...spent a lot of money on my education fees and even she knew that my body is quite weak...so she spent lots of her times to bring me to the doctor and bought some enzymes or medicine to make my body healthier...and there is something more important!! My mum has high blood pressure...so that morning before I go to school and collect my result...my mum said she felt a bit numb on her left arm...and so she checked the pressure herself(we have a machine for checking pressure)...wow her pressure went up until 145...then she was very nervous and of course if you were in that condition...you will be terribly scare...I don't know what to do...the only thing that i could do is prayed to the God...I told the God to bless my mum...You can cut down a few A's...I don't need those A's...I just want my mum to be healthy!!! Without wasting anytime, my mum called me to do some massage on her arm and called my younger sister to pack some shirts in case she need to stay in the hospital...at last my father sent her to the Columbia Hospital...you know what the doctor told my mum? "There is nothing that you need to worry about. Just relax and go for a holiday with your husband." but my mum still hesitating...she wanted the doctor to do medical check-up for her...but the doctor said no need...my mum just need to rest more...that's all...puffff...we finally can put down the big stone on our heart...haha...we sighed with relief...with light-heartedly, my father drove us toward my school...aww...can I skip that part?? I am very lazy to type so much of things la...some more my stomach is very hungry now...so my fingers have no more energy to move over the keyboard...hehe....my mum told me that one of the reasons she was feeling so was because of my results...she couldn't sleep well the day before...
Besides that, I also have to thank my teachers for being so caring and put their hearts and soul into us...if they are not there, I won't be getting such a good results...maybe you will feel that it is so lame, but to me...I feel very grateful...and to all my friends( Chai Bao, Kai Qin, Ru Yen, Siau Ying, Ah Loh, Ah Miow, Win Fatt, Yi Zhang, Yee Seng, Andrew, Yoke Yee, Cheet Qing) oh too many to write...thanks for being there always...whenever I don't understand something, you all will volunteer to teach me...I will keep that in my heart whenever I go..Last but not least...to my family...my sisters, brother and aunt...thanks for giving me support and advice...thanks for waking me up whenever I don't want to...thanks for using so much ways like kicking me or whatever to prevent me not to sleep again...(although after I woke up you will surely get scolding from me)...
Wow...after a long long speech...until my saliva is completely dried...I really appreciate for what you have done for me...this is what we called LOVE...AN INVISIBLE LOVE~
ImageChef.com Poetry Blender
So what i want to say is 'Thank You' to my beloved parents...although they always busy with their works...but at least they cared about me...they wished me good luck before I went to the school and started a war...this is more than enough for me^^ Especially my mum...sorry for being so unfilial...sorry for making her worried for my exams...you know what...I scare that I will get a bad result as I never study hard...so I keep reminding her not to have high expectation...I think she must be very sad at the moment as for this whole year, she has sacrificed a lot of her times for sending me to tuition center...spent a lot of money on my education fees and even she knew that my body is quite weak...so she spent lots of her times to bring me to the doctor and bought some enzymes or medicine to make my body healthier...and there is something more important!! My mum has high blood pressure...so that morning before I go to school and collect my result...my mum said she felt a bit numb on her left arm...and so she checked the pressure herself(we have a machine for checking pressure)...wow her pressure went up until 145...then she was very nervous and of course if you were in that condition...you will be terribly scare...I don't know what to do...the only thing that i could do is prayed to the God...I told the God to bless my mum...You can cut down a few A's...I don't need those A's...I just want my mum to be healthy!!! Without wasting anytime, my mum called me to do some massage on her arm and called my younger sister to pack some shirts in case she need to stay in the hospital...at last my father sent her to the Columbia Hospital...you know what the doctor told my mum? "There is nothing that you need to worry about. Just relax and go for a holiday with your husband." but my mum still hesitating...she wanted the doctor to do medical check-up for her...but the doctor said no need...my mum just need to rest more...that's all...puffff...we finally can put down the big stone on our heart...haha...we sighed with relief...with light-heartedly, my father drove us toward my school...aww...can I skip that part?? I am very lazy to type so much of things la...some more my stomach is very hungry now...so my fingers have no more energy to move over the keyboard...hehe....my mum told me that one of the reasons she was feeling so was because of my results...she couldn't sleep well the day before...
Besides that, I also have to thank my teachers for being so caring and put their hearts and soul into us...if they are not there, I won't be getting such a good results...maybe you will feel that it is so lame, but to me...I feel very grateful...and to all my friends( Chai Bao, Kai Qin, Ru Yen, Siau Ying, Ah Loh, Ah Miow, Win Fatt, Yi Zhang, Yee Seng, Andrew, Yoke Yee, Cheet Qing) oh too many to write...thanks for being there always...whenever I don't understand something, you all will volunteer to teach me...I will keep that in my heart whenever I go..Last but not least...to my family...my sisters, brother and aunt...thanks for giving me support and advice...thanks for waking me up whenever I don't want to...thanks for using so much ways like kicking me or whatever to prevent me not to sleep again...(although after I woke up you will surely get scolding from me)...
Wow...after a long long speech...until my saliva is completely dried...I really appreciate for what you have done for me...this is what we called LOVE...AN INVISIBLE LOVE~
ImageChef.com Poetry Blender
Diablo
The story of Diablo is based on the premise of a war between Heaven and Hell. The town of Tristram is under attack by demons, and you must save the town. As the player delves into the underworld, he discovers more about the demon Diablo, through large tomes that are found throughout the levels. Eventually, you'll reach the lair of Diablo and must kill him.
Diablo, an incredibly powerful demon, is the Lord of Terror and one of the Three Prime Evils of Hell, who had been imprisoned in a Soulstone and buried in caverns deep beneath the town of Tristram. Though his imprisonment was meant to be eternal, the power of the Soulstone weakened over centuries, eventually allowing Diablo to awaken from his forced slumber. He telepathically turns a nearby human, the Archbishop Lazarus, into his loyal puppet. In order for Diablo to actually leave the Soulstone, Diablo needs the stone to be shattered. He possesses Lazarus, and has him break the stone. Diablo then tries to gain control of King Leoric, the local ruler, but Diablo, in his weakened state, is unable to overpower Leoric. Since Diablo is too weak to possess the king, he abandons the idea. This leaves the monarch's mind numb and his soul corrupted. He then gets Lazarus to kidnap King Leoric's son, Prince Albrecht, so that Diablo can possess and warp him, thereby attaining material form and strength. At the moment of the boy's possession, his terror is so great that the boundaries between the realms are broken and parts of Hell seep into the mortal world and take root in the subterranean labyrinth beneath Tristram.
Diablo may have a body now, but he is far from his full power, so he bides his time and summons countless hordes of demons and infests the whole underground complex, claiming the new region of Hell as his own personal lair. Soon afterwards the maddened Leoric is slain by his own lieutenants. Demons appear in the countryside as the Lord of Terror regains his strength in the heart of the labyrinth and prepares for the time when he would once again emerge to seek his brothers - Baal and Mephisto - and free them as well. It seemed to be a matter of time until the Prime Evils gained dominion over the entire mortal realm. This is where you come in. As you fight your way through sixteen levels to face Diablo, you'll encounter various monsters, quests, tomes, scrolls, weapons, and other miscellaneous items.
In the beginning of the game you can choose from three combat classes: Warrior, Archer and Sorcerer. After you've chosen your class you'll begin your adventure in Tristram, a little town with a few inhabitants. They tell you that most of the townsfolk had been kidnapped and then slaughtered in the old church. In this church lies the labyrinth of 16 levels filled with enemies. At first your enemies are zombies and skeletons, but the closer you get to level 16, the more they'll look like demons. At first you don't know anything of your enemies, but as you kill more and more of them you will get more information about that specific enemy. They also drop weapons, potions and scrolls which aid you in your quests. The stronger your armor is, the more you'll look like a knight in shining armor. However, almost all weapons have a durability rate, and when the durability rate drops to zero your weapon will break and then you can't use it anymore. So make sure you repair it at the Blacksmith before it drops to zero.
Each time you level up you get five points which you can spend on your attributes: Strength, Magic, Dexterity and Vitality. Most weapons can only be worn when you have a certain amount of Strength and Dexterity. All spells need a certain amount of magic points, mana. Throughout the game you'll find Magic Books, which you can read in order to learn a new spell or upgrade an spell that you've already learned.
The graphics of this game are great for a game from 1996. At least the graphics look better than Fallout and that game is from 1997. The sound is nice too, it really improves the horror aspect.
The most remarkable thing is that all the levels of the labyrinth are random generated levels, so when you completed the game for the first time you can't memorize it for the second play-through, and you have to complete the game at least two times in order to complete all the quests.
Diablo is a fine game, I really liked playing this game. It is a classic RPG and a difficult one too. Everyone that is an RPG-fan should have played this game.
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