Tuesday, November 25, 2014

The Book of Kells:

The Book of Kells: An Illustrated Introduction to the Manuscript in Trinity College Dublin by: Bernard Meehan
Non-fiction: History, Art,  89 pages
Book Count: 61

This book is a short introduction on the Book of Kells, a well know group of manuscripts from Ireland containing parts of the Bible, art and other religious text.  This book has a lot of pictures to show all of the art that they discuss in this book.  It also includes what history we know about it and things that scholars think might be true about it and why they thing that.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Salt Sugar Fat:

Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us By: Michael Moss
Non-Fiction: Food, Science 347 pages
Book Count: 60

You might wonder why I read a book against Fat and Salt when they are two of the things that I make sure that I get enough to eat in my diet, it was because some one on one of my diet/ WOE (way of eating) groups recommended it.  Having read the book I have to say they must have been one of the clean eating people that also hang out in the Paleo groups and do a low fat diet.  This book does a good job of showing how processes foods have tons of added salt, sugar and fat and how that makes you want to eat more or makes your body not understand how much you are really taking in.  But it lacks much in the science of how foods make you fat, using mainly the government guidelines and the guidelines of a couple of organizations for the bench marks of how much of each thing you should have.  It is also very not self aware of it's blind following of these guidelines.  In the fat section it notes a study that found that you can eat over a pound of red meat a week with no increase in the cancer they were studying, but any processed meat increased the cancer risk, and there answer was because of the saturated fat in processed meat (as if the un-processed red meat didn't also have saturated fat.)  They also talked to many people that are in or were in the food industry and note that they are healthy because they avoid processed foods, but not that their diets besides that are diverse, and not necessarily following the guidelines that the author was using for what you should eat.  So over all it was an interesting look into the ways that processed foods are made and the science that the food engineers use to make it so additive, but as far as health it has noting new to say, just the well known fact that these foods aren't good for you.

Tuesday, November 04, 2014

How to Speak Brit:

How to Speak Brit: The Quintessential Guide to the King's English, Cockney Slang, and Other Flummoxing British Phrases By: Christopher J. Moore
Non-Fiction:  116 pages
Book Count: 59

I requested this from the library when looking to see what books they have by a similar named author. (see a couple of days below.) Anyway it looked interesting, and it was OK, but the title greatly over promised. The book was a small selection of words and phrases that are British, with a short entry of the word/phrases origin and how it is used in England, sometimes also where in England the word it from.  The majority of the words are known in America but not necessary the history of the word, or that it was British.

Monday, November 03, 2014

Boozy Brunch:

Boozy Brunch By: Peter Joseph
Non-fiction: Food/Cooking 163 pages
Book Count: 58

This book starts with a short introduction to the history of brunch and why there should be more drink options then Bloody Marys and Mimosas for brunch.  It then has a collection of drinks that are fruit, coffee, tea, milk, champagne (and other sparkling wine), and tomato based.  As well as some brunch food recipes and ideas for which drinks would go well with them.  And it also ends with a selection of drinks thought to be hang over cures.  Along with the recipes are some histories of drinks and tips.

Sunday, November 02, 2014

Wreck The Halls:

Wreck The Halls By: Jen Yates
Non-fiction: Humor, Holidays, 220 pages
Book Count: 57

This book is a collection of "festive" cake wrecks, which are cakes for sale, which shouldn't be.  This book includes the various misspellings that you would expect, really poorly drawn holiday characters, and   indescribable horrors (which might have been accidentally summoned by the Hanukkah pentagrams.)  Also there is a chapter of sci-fi cakes, just because.    

Saturday, November 01, 2014

Holidays in November:

(As usual in no particle order beside date.)

Month long:
National Novel Writing Month (Actually international at this point.)
National Blog Posting Month
Native American Heritage Month
Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
American Diabetes Month
Crohn's & Ulcerative Colitis Awareness Month
Epilepsy Awareness Month
No Shave November/Movember
National Adoption Awareness Month

Holidays:

November 1st
                All Saints’ Day
                Day of the Innocents - Day of the Dead
                World Vegan Day
November 2nd
                All Souls’ Day
                Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos)
November 4th
                Election Day
November 5th
                Guy Fawkes Night
November 8th
                World Urbanism Day
November 9th
                Dedication of the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
                World Freedom Day
November 11th
                Veterans Day/ Remembrance Day/Armistice Day
                St. Martin's Day
                Pocky Day
November 12th
                Birth of Bahá'u'lláh
November 13th
                World Kindness Day
                Feast of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
                Feast of St. John Chrysostom
November 14th
                World Diabetes Day
November 15th
                Feast of Albert the Great
                The beginning of Winter Lent
                Shichi-Go-San
November 16th
                International Day for Tolerance
                Feast of St. Gertrude the Great
                Feast of St. Matthew the Evangelist
November 17th
                International Students' Day
                Feast of St. Elisabeth of Hungary (oddly also celebrated tomorrow and the next day as well                          depending on which branch of Christianity is celebrating it.)
November 19th
                International Men's Day
                Day of Repentance and Prayer
                Discovery of Puerto Rico
                World Toilet Day
November 20th
                Transgender Day of Remembrance
                Universal Children's Day
November 21st
                National Adoption Day
                Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
                No Music Day
                World Hello Day
                World Television Day
November 22nd
                National Survivors of Suicide Day
                Saint George's Day
November 23rd
                Feast of Christ the King
                International Day to End Impunity
November 24th
                Feast of St. Andrew Dung-Lac and other Vietnamese Martyrs
November 25th
                International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
November 26th
                Day of the Covenant
November 27th
                Thanksgiving
                Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
November 28th
                Black Friday
                Buy Nothing Day
November 30th
                Start of Advent
                St. Andrew's Day

                Cities for Life Day