Blogs

Well, It's 2013, and the planet still appears to be in one piece. Time for a new blog entry!

Many people will tell you that good things (and bad luck) come in threes. Speculative fiction stories frequently do; the genre has a strong predilection for trilogies.  But many authors don't even stop there-- there are SF series and sagas that run to double-digits and represent decades of writing.  Some writers don't even finish their story arc within their lifetimes (ahem, Robert Jordan), leaving devoted readers to hope for a worthy successor (and copious notes left by the original author) to finish out the series.

JANUARY"S WEBSITE

Pandora Radio

Pandora is a free online radio station that you customize to your own taste.  It also offers a great selection of music for kids.  Start out at www.pandora.com to create a free account with a valid email address and password.  Browse a list of popular stations or search using a music genre or artist's name.  Once you have made your selection, Pandora will begin playing songs within your chosen genre or artist and others like it.  Don't like what they have selected?  Just fast forward to the next song.  Do you love what they have selected?  You can name and save your station for future listening.  Most lyrics and artist's biograpies are included.  Some suggested playlists to try are:

Fiction

 The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. by Nicole Bernier

Locked On by Tom Clancy

Black Box by Michael Connelly

The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin

Poseidon's Arrow by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler

The Round House by Louise Erdrich

Both Flesh and Not by David Foster Wallace

Victory at Yorktown by Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen

City of Women by David R. Gilham

The Ugly Duchess by Eloise James

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

Fireproof by Alex Kava

Heartsong by Deborah Macomber

Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan

The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis

An Outlaw's Christmas by Linda Lael Miller

The Wrath of Shiva by Susan Oleksiw

Private Berlin by James Patterson

BCD Banville
     Ancient Light by John Banville.  Read by Robin Sachs.  8 discs.  9+ hours.

BCD Barclay
     Trust Your Eyes by Linwood Barclay.  Read by Ken Marks and Rick Holmes.  12 discs.  14 hours.

BCD Boyle
     San Miguel by T. Coraghessan Boyle. Read by Barbara Caruso. 14 discs.  16 hours.

BCD Brewer
     First Kill by Heather Brewer.  Read by Alexander Cenese.  6 discs.  6 hours.

BCD Buehlman
     Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman.  Read by Steve West.  12 discs.  14+ hours.

BCD Clancy
     Threat Vector by Tom Clancy and Mark Greaney.  Read by Lou Diamond Phillips.  16 discs.  18+ hours.

BCD Connelly
     The Black Box by Michael Connelly.  Read by Michael McConnohie.  9  discs.  10+ hours.

The overindulgent holiday feasting is finally over and the New Year projects the familiar resolutions we’ve come to know every year in regard to our health and fitness.  Where we recently were enticed by the seductive sweets that surrounded us during the holiday gluttony without any guilt, we must now discipline ourselves to withdrawn from this temptation.  After stepping on the scale to see the damage, there will be no delay in cutting out the homemade cookies, banana breads, chocolates, and apple pie that are all sitting in the kitchen within reach.  It is certainly the right time to go back to eating smaller portions to whip us into shape. The bounty of nourishing healthy recipes provides variety and interests.  Never a dull selection.  Although correcting our eating habits to maintain a healthier diet is not easy, there are many sources to help us support a healthy lifestyle eating.