Thursday, April 30, 2009

A Note to Self: Ancient of Days

Ancient of Days by: Michael Bishop
Fiction: sci fi, 409 pages
Book Count: 28

This book is about a Homo habilis (a protohuman species from long before the first Homo Sapiens) that is found in a pecan grove in Georgia (USA one) by a woman. (Yes, I am now only reading books on evolution. . . Just Kidding!) She brings him in and teaches him how to live like a modern human. From there the three parts of the books, each a mini book that could be its own book if a little longer, starts. The first bookette deals with him becoming a modern person, the two people falling in love and the racial/anti-evolution hatred of some of the townsfolk. The second one is a thriller novella dealing more with issues of hatred. The last one is where it gets a bit odd. It deals with religions, the soul and what it means to be a human. Adam (the Homo habilis) has some interesting ideas of religion including a odd combination of Voodoo, an achient form of monotheism, metaphysicism, humanism, Christianity, worship of the dead, nature religions and more.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

A Book in Review: The 10,000 Year Explosion

The 10,000 Year Explosion: How Civilization Accelerated Human Evolution BY: Gregory Cochran & Henry Harpending
Non-Fiction: Science 227 pages
Book Count: 27

See, I told you. The next book was a scientific book full of DNA, genetics, notes, a glossary, a bibliography and an index. No money saving or organic food in sight. There was talk of money lending, and modifying foods. (and Zebus!) Anyway this book is about how humans have been evolving in the past 10,000 years and still do so today. It does contain a lot of facts, figures and charts to back up this idea. It requires a basic understanding on how DNA and genes work to read this book. It was an interesting book to read; however, as it was all about science it didn't do much to deal with the issues that their theories could cause in life. With the main issue being how this idea could be used for racism. If the differences between groups of people are deeper then just skin or hair color then it is easier to say one way is better. In the book it does try to point out how one group of people may have adapted in ways that work better for this situation, but this other group was better at this. For example, having sickle cells in the blood to prevent malaria (the genetically African way to deal with it) is not as good as other ways the body has made (found largely in Asian populations) but overall the way Africans evolved to deal with tropical diseases was much better then other groups that tried to invade there (i.e. Europeans) But, then it points out how the type and length of a groups civilization affects how there brains work, so that they may be unable to change to a different way of civilization easily or without generations of time. For example, African Bushmen have not been able to be taught to herd animals as they will eat them all which these authors believe is do to them not having the brain to be patient and think about the future. While, the Ashkenazi Jews have on average an IQ about 12 points higher then average and excel at math and the sciences. Which, the authors feel is do to centuries of not mixing with other peoples and having jobs in money lending that would favor people with good math skills. Which, as least then would mean if you're one of the crazy people that think that the Jews are controlling the world, and you're white, then it would be your own ancestors fault for only letting them work with money lending, as the other groups of Jews around the world that could hold many different jobs during the Middle Ages are as a whole no better on IQ test then anyone else.

Monday, April 27, 2009

A Note to Self: The Frugal Gardener

The Frugal Gardener: How to Have More Garden for Less Money By: Catriona Tudor Erler
Non-FIction: Gardening 262 pages
Book Count: 26

Yes, we know yet another gardening/ saving money/ green book. (It's on organic gardening) We got a lot of books that libary trip. We are now done with them. The next book will be a long scientific book on DNA and things, OK? Now, It was a good book on the topic with a lot of useful ideas on how to make a beautiful garden that will be that way for years whille spending a little money on things that last. Some of the ideas are using vines and fast growing shrubs to make things look good fast and growing nicer, slowly growing plants along with them, cutting back the faster growers as the plant you like better grows in. Or making your own garden paths with local materials that will be cheaper due to lower shipping costs. And a lot of other good ideas for all types of gardens.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

A Book in Review: One for the Money

One for the Money By: Janet Evanovich
Fiction: Mystery 316 pages 1994
Book Count: 25

This is the first book in a bestselling series. It was a bit slow starting for me as after hearing about how great the books were from multiple people, the book takes some time to really get into the humor and unusual characters. But, once I got into the book it was a fun book. I can see why it is such a popular book. And I look forward to reading the rest of the series soon.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

More Undead Manatees

I was taking to my sister today, the one who's fault it is that all the manatee (Also known as sea cows) searches bring up this blog. (Why are you people looking up manatee mating rituals any way?) Any way, a few of her friends are working on making a screenplay/movie which will include zombie i.e. undeadish manatees. Which leads to the question, what would a zombie manatee want? Human ones always want brains, but as herbivores would a manatee also want that? Would they want seaweeds? As zombies are slower then normal people would a zombie manatee even move?

Happy Earth Day!

Now go out and do something green. Like watch the all day Earth Day programing found on a dozen networks today. Or drive to the store and buy a reusable bag. Then drive home, turn on the A/C its getting warm out. . . finally! (Stupid global warming, it taking waaaaaaaaaay to long.)

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

A Book in Review: Green Living For Dummies

Green Living For Dummies By: Jeffery, Barclay & Grosvenor
Non-Fiction: environment, living 344 pages 2008
Book Count: 24

This book has a number of good tips on how to make small and large changes in your live to help save the environment. However, you do have to cut threw a lot of smug to find them. The majority of the big tips work only for one of two groups of people. First, there are the tips that only work if you life in a large city with a good public trasperation system. Tips like walking to the store, school, and workplace only work if they are a 10-20 min. walk away. And using a bus or train is only practical if there are buses or trains that go near there and that don't require you to spend 3 hours to do so. The other main type of large tips are ones that would work if you were well off and lived in a more country setting. Growing a large organic garden takes space and money. Also does using wind power, creating a underground rainwater cistern, and swicting your house to geothermal heating. The small tips are good, but many of them are ones you already know, based on the 3 R's. Some are ones you may not have heard, like collecting your shower water in the tub and using it to water plants.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Note to Self: Are We Having Fun Yet?

Are We Having Fun Yet? the 16 Secrets of Happy Parenting By: Kay Willis and Maryann Bucknum Brinley
Non-Fiction, parenting 218 pages
Book Count:23

This is a book on parenting advice from a mother of 10 kids and one of 2 kids. It offers broad idea that can be fitted for different parenting styles, lives and kids. As such it is more useful then some other books as there is more flexibility in it.

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Happy Passover!

Note: We are sorry for incorrectly stating that the last post we did was the day before Passover, after double checking the dates for it this year, we saw that it actualy started yesterday evning. Our calender lists the Jewish holidays on their first full day and not the date they start on.

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Shopping Highs!

(and Lows)


Today was a shopping day. Target had vitamin water on sale for $1.00 and I had a $1.00 coupon. Free drink! At Meijer's mustard was on sale for $1.00 and I had a coupon for $.30, which was then doupled, plus at the check out it printed out a coupon "brought to you by French's" for a dollar off the next time I shop. I also got a container of dressing that after coupon was $.17. Yahhhh!!

But, on the down side there was way too much wine on sale. So I got two bottles of MI cherry wines for the next time I see my in laws, as they cann't get cherry wine where they live and mom misses it. Plus, as Passover is tommorow they had all of the Kosher wine on sale, and so I picked up some ones we like.

So, over all I did good on saving money as everything I bought (excluding a couple of neccisities and a container of hair gel) was on sale for a good price and/or I had a coupon making it a good price, I still way over shot my goal for the trip.

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Saving tip:

If you like ham, now is the time to get some. Most, ever grocery store has it on sale for Easter. If you have freezer space it will freeze well.

Monday, April 06, 2009

A Note to Self: Premium Beer Drinker's Guide

Premium Beer Drinker's Guide: The World's Strongest, Boldest and Most Unusual Beers By: Stephen Beaumont
Non-Fiction: food 211 pages
Book Count: 22

This book goes over the history, ingredients, and characteristics of many different styles of beer. It then gives info and reviews of a couple of beers in that style. This information includes the relative price of the beer (As prices differ some by state's laws, taxes, where you buy it, etc.) How easy it is to find it and how long it is good for when stored correctly. I learned that there are some beers that one should age like one would with a wine. I learned about unusual ingredients in some beers and many other things. It introduced me to the beershake. It would be a good book to get for someone that loves beer.

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Today is Palm Sunday

There I posted something today.

Also there is only one week untill Easter. I forgot about posting untill now, so I didn't have time to think up any great post. Sorry.

Saturday, April 04, 2009

A Book in Review: Vampire High

Vampire High By: Douglas Rees
Fiction: juvenile, fantasy 226 pages 2003

Book Count: 21

This is the story of a boy who is upset that his family has moved across the country from California to a small town in Massachusetts. He shows this by flunking all of his classes in his new school. He's dad then decides to change the school he goes to, he can either go to the super strict "Our Lady of Perpetual Homework", or the odd magnet school "Vlad Dracul". He picks Vlad Dracul school, after he is invited to go there as long as he tries out for the water polo team. Once there, he learns that it is a school for vampires and he is only there because they hate water and he is there to help fulfil a water sport requirment of the state. From there his life gets intresting. It was a fun read that I wished was longer.

Friday, April 03, 2009

A Book in Review: It's All Too Much

It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff By: Peter Walsh
Non-fiction: home improvement 228 Pages
Book Count: 20

This book is by one of the people on the show "Clean Sweep". It has lots of useful ideas on how to organize ones house and how to decide what things you should keep and things that you really don't need. I do have a few issues with it thought. Some are small issues like his belief that you need to seat at a dinning room table to talk with your family at dinner. The main one is his belief that one NEEDS an organized space to be creative. That's like saying you can't write or paint a masterpiece unless you're sober. Sure, the millions of artist and writer I could name as working while drunk/high/both weren't falling down drunk at the time, but my point is more that one often has a harder creating in a sterile enverment then in a mess. Sure, given what he does for a living he is most likely one of those people who can't work unlike everything is just so, but that's not everyones ways.

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Update:

In case you didn't guess it, yesterday's "Odd Laws on Undead Manatee Mating Rituals" was compleatly made up. It was only for April Fool's Day. We hope you enjoyed the joke.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Odd Laws on Undead Manatee Mating Rituals

* Necrophilia was not illegal in Florida until 1972.

* In Iceland one is not officially considered dead until a doctor tickles their nose with a feather and gets no response.

* In the Cayman islands it is illegal for any animal to mate within 100 meters of a graveyard.

* Manatees can be inprisoned up to 45 days for mating with a seal in Panama.

* Manatees can legaly eat their dead in Key West.

* In Aruba, Manatees are considered fish.

* Vampires can legaly vote in Wyoming, Utah, Californa, and Alaska.

* In 1837 a manatee was fined $1.25 in Homestead Florida for dancing on a Sunday.






Happy April Fool's Day!!!!!!!!!!

NaBloPoMo blogging

As some of you know NaBloPoMo is a group that is into getting people to post blogs every day during the month. I decided to sign up to be on the list of daily bloggers for this month. I'm not posting on the suggested topic and I don't know if I will be able to do it, but if I'm going to be as bad as I have been at working on my other writngs, I mind as well be doing something. ;P