Number of books read: 7
Pages read: 1940
Average number of days to read a book: 4
Average number of pages read in a day: 63
Number of more books to read to reach goal: 13
Friday, October 31, 2008
A Holiday Book in Review – The Mummy
Book Count: 87
Holiday(s): Halloween
The Mummy or Ramses the Damned by: Anne Rice
Fiction- fantasy, romance, historic 398 pages 1989
This is a story where Ramses the Great didn’t really die, but became an immortal and faked his death. A British archeologist finds where he was sleeping since the death of Cleopatra (his lover) and accidentally wakes him up. From there the story gets interesting. It was a hard to put down book. It also was made into a comic book.
Holiday(s): Halloween
The Mummy or Ramses the Damned by: Anne Rice
Fiction- fantasy, romance, historic 398 pages 1989
This is a story where Ramses the Great didn’t really die, but became an immortal and faked his death. A British archeologist finds where he was sleeping since the death of Cleopatra (his lover) and accidentally wakes him up. From there the story gets interesting. It was a hard to put down book. It also was made into a comic book.
Today in History – October 31st
In 1517 the 95 theses of Martin Luther was posted.
In 1892 “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” was published.
In 1941 Mount Rushmore was completed.
In 1961 Stalin’s body is taken out of Lenin’s Tomb.
Birthday today:
John Keats
Dan Rather
Michael Landon
John Candy
Jane Pauley
Adam Horovitz
Vanilla Ice
Last Day:
Joseph Hooker
Harry Houdini
Indira Gandhi
River Phoenix
In 1892 “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” was published.
In 1941 Mount Rushmore was completed.
In 1961 Stalin’s body is taken out of Lenin’s Tomb.
Birthday today:
John Keats
Dan Rather
Michael Landon
John Candy
Jane Pauley
Adam Horovitz
Vanilla Ice
Last Day:
Joseph Hooker
Harry Houdini
Indira Gandhi
River Phoenix
Sunday, October 26, 2008
A Holiday Book in Reveiw : Nightmares
Book count : 86
Holiday(s): Halloween
Nightmares by: Patrick McNamara
Non- fiction: science, physiology 150 pgs 2008
This book was nothing like I thought it would be. It was very dry & slow reading. I also disagree with the author's premise that nightmares are not fakeable. As they are undisaprovable they are easily faked. Also the book is almost entirely about nightmares about where an outsider is trying to takeover the dreamer's idenity . Nightmares about physical attacks are menchioned , but as they don't fit the author's thery they are largely left out.He also states '` As scientists we have to assume that demons do not exist '' when talking about dreams with demon attacks. Although it is logical to point out the lack of evidence of demons to say that a scientist must assume anything not scientificlay proven seems odd.
Holiday(s): Halloween
Nightmares by: Patrick McNamara
Non- fiction: science, physiology 150 pgs 2008
This book was nothing like I thought it would be. It was very dry & slow reading. I also disagree with the author's premise that nightmares are not fakeable. As they are undisaprovable they are easily faked. Also the book is almost entirely about nightmares about where an outsider is trying to takeover the dreamer's idenity . Nightmares about physical attacks are menchioned , but as they don't fit the author's thery they are largely left out.He also states '` As scientists we have to assume that demons do not exist '' when talking about dreams with demon attacks. Although it is logical to point out the lack of evidence of demons to say that a scientist must assume anything not scientificlay proven seems odd.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
A Holiday Book in Review –Haunts of the Upper Great Lakes
Book Count: 85
Holiday(s): Halloween
Haunts of the Upper Great Lakes By: Dixie Franklin
Non-fiction 108 pages 1997
Its book is a book of ghost stories that are not scary. They are all about real haunted places in the Michigan and Wisconsin area. The stories are the history of a haunted place and what is said to happen there. Most of the ones are about people who really loved a place in life and came back to it afterwards. They weren’t killed there and many had a long happy life. The hauntings are by in large only scary because something isn’t normal (i.e. seeing a ghost, hearing footsteps, things moved around.) A number of haunted places have people living and/or working there that don’t mind the ghosts at all. A few are about scary events and haunting, but are told in a way that makes them not that scary to read about.
Holiday(s): Halloween
Haunts of the Upper Great Lakes By: Dixie Franklin
Non-fiction 108 pages 1997
Its book is a book of ghost stories that are not scary. They are all about real haunted places in the Michigan and Wisconsin area. The stories are the history of a haunted place and what is said to happen there. Most of the ones are about people who really loved a place in life and came back to it afterwards. They weren’t killed there and many had a long happy life. The hauntings are by in large only scary because something isn’t normal (i.e. seeing a ghost, hearing footsteps, things moved around.) A number of haunted places have people living and/or working there that don’t mind the ghosts at all. A few are about scary events and haunting, but are told in a way that makes them not that scary to read about.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Things for Sale on E-bay Right Now!
+ “THE CASKET'S NEW ANATOMICAL PLATES” 1923 Edition
+ Silver necklace of a hearse
+ Key ring from LA county coroner’s shop
+ 1954 picture of desisted in casket
+ “ Embalmers Monthly” from July 1933
+ Brass urn for small pets
+ Bottles of embalming fluid
+ Casket lock key
+ Body bags
+ Shrunken head
+ Dead frog
+ Silver necklace of a hearse
+ Key ring from LA county coroner’s shop
+ 1954 picture of desisted in casket
+ “ Embalmers Monthly” from July 1933
+ Brass urn for small pets
+ Bottles of embalming fluid
+ Casket lock key
+ Body bags
+ Shrunken head
+ Dead frog
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Today in History- October 23rd
There are 69 days left in the year.
In 4004 BC the world was made according to Archbishop James Ussher
In 1930 the 1st mini golf tournament ends.
In 1958 “The Smurfs” appear for the first time, in a comic.
In 2001 the iPod is released.
Birthday for:
Johnny Carson
Pelé
Michael Crichton
Dwight Yoakam
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Grant Imahara
Last Day for:
Zane Grey
Christian Dior
Robert Lansing
In 4004 BC the world was made according to Archbishop James Ussher
In 1930 the 1st mini golf tournament ends.
In 1958 “The Smurfs” appear for the first time, in a comic.
In 2001 the iPod is released.
Birthday for:
Johnny Carson
Pelé
Michael Crichton
Dwight Yoakam
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Grant Imahara
Last Day for:
Zane Grey
Christian Dior
Robert Lansing
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Today in History- October 22nd
In 1844 according to the Millerites the world was to end today.
In 1976 Red Dye #4 is banned in the US.
Birthday for:
Daniel Boone
Curly Howard
Bobby Seale
Christopher Lloyd
Annette Funicello
Brian Boitano
Toby Mac
Shaggy
Last Day for:
Paul Cezanne
Pretty Boy Floyd
In 1976 Red Dye #4 is banned in the US.
Birthday for:
Daniel Boone
Curly Howard
Bobby Seale
Christopher Lloyd
Annette Funicello
Brian Boitano
Toby Mac
Shaggy
Last Day for:
Paul Cezanne
Pretty Boy Floyd
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
A Holiday Book in Review – The Host
Book Count: 84
Holiday(s): Halloween
The Host, By: Stephanie Meyer
Fiction: sci-fi 619 pages 2008
This book is the story of an alien called Wanderer whose species goes around the universe taking over planets by fussing themselves with the body of intelligence creatures on the planet. She has been on many planets and is sent to earth and put in the body of a woman named Melanie to find out about humans that resisted being hosts for the aliens. There is only one problem, although the aliens are use to having all of the memories of their host body, the personality of the person is gone, but Melanie is still there. This book is the story of how Wanderer and Melanie deal with being two people in one body and how others deal with it. It was a very fun read that left me wanting to read more, but not for the book to be longer. As it is I wished that this book was the first two books in a series, as there were many sections where I thought, “This is nice, but not completely necessary, did it need to be put in a 600 page long book? It’s the size of ‘War and Peace.’ Cut something!”
Holiday(s): Halloween
The Host, By: Stephanie Meyer
Fiction: sci-fi 619 pages 2008
This book is the story of an alien called Wanderer whose species goes around the universe taking over planets by fussing themselves with the body of intelligence creatures on the planet. She has been on many planets and is sent to earth and put in the body of a woman named Melanie to find out about humans that resisted being hosts for the aliens. There is only one problem, although the aliens are use to having all of the memories of their host body, the personality of the person is gone, but Melanie is still there. This book is the story of how Wanderer and Melanie deal with being two people in one body and how others deal with it. It was a very fun read that left me wanting to read more, but not for the book to be longer. As it is I wished that this book was the first two books in a series, as there were many sections where I thought, “This is nice, but not completely necessary, did it need to be put in a 600 page long book? It’s the size of ‘War and Peace.’ Cut something!”
Friday, October 17, 2008
Famous Last Words
The following is a list of what various famous people have said on their deathbeds.
“I am ready” Woodrow Wilson
“Go away. I'm all right.” H. G. Wells
“Don't let it end like this. Tell them I said something.” Pancho Villa
“Woe is me. Me thinks I'm turning into a god.” Emperor Vespasian
“Moose . . . Indian . . .” Henry David Thoreau
“Put out the light.” Theodore Roosevelt
“Lord help my poor soul.” Edgar Allan Poe
“Get my swan costume ready.” Anna Pavlova
“Why do you weep. Did you think I was immortal?” King Louis XIV
“Let us cross over the river and sit in the shade of the trees.” General Thomas “ Stonewall” Jackson (mistakenly killed by own men in battle)
“Oh, do not cry - be good children and we will all meet in heaven.” Andrew Jackson
“All is lost. Monks, monks, monks!” King Henry VIII
“It is very beautiful over there.” Thomas Alva Edison
“That was the best ice-cream soda I ever tasted.” Lou Costello
“I'm bored with it all.” Winston Churchill
“I am still alive!” Emperor Gaius Caligula
“Die? I should say not, dear fellow. No Barrymore would allow such a conventional thing to happen to him.” John Barrymore
“I can't sleep.” James M. Barrie
“I am ready” Woodrow Wilson
“Go away. I'm all right.” H. G. Wells
“Don't let it end like this. Tell them I said something.” Pancho Villa
“Woe is me. Me thinks I'm turning into a god.” Emperor Vespasian
“Moose . . . Indian . . .” Henry David Thoreau
“Put out the light.” Theodore Roosevelt
“Lord help my poor soul.” Edgar Allan Poe
“Get my swan costume ready.” Anna Pavlova
“Why do you weep. Did you think I was immortal?” King Louis XIV
“Let us cross over the river and sit in the shade of the trees.” General Thomas “ Stonewall” Jackson (mistakenly killed by own men in battle)
“Oh, do not cry - be good children and we will all meet in heaven.” Andrew Jackson
“All is lost. Monks, monks, monks!” King Henry VIII
“It is very beautiful over there.” Thomas Alva Edison
“That was the best ice-cream soda I ever tasted.” Lou Costello
“I'm bored with it all.” Winston Churchill
“I am still alive!” Emperor Gaius Caligula
“Die? I should say not, dear fellow. No Barrymore would allow such a conventional thing to happen to him.” John Barrymore
“I can't sleep.” James M. Barrie
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Reading not Writing
We at Weird News B.N.I. would just like to apologize for the lack of Super Holiday Specials this month. We know we missed like 4 Jewish holidays already this month. That is the problem with the 100 books in a year thing, one isn’t writing when they are busy reading. Which is why we want to remind you that we have 2 earlier years worth of October blogs you could look at if you need more Super Holidayness. Sure you might have read them before, but it’s been at least a year. And next year, my resolution will be too write more, so stay tuned for January!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
A Holiday Book in Review – Death Warmed Over
Book Count: 83
Holiday(s): Halloween, All Souls’ Day, Day of the Dead, etc.
Death Warmed Over: Funeral Food, Rituals, and Customs from Around the World By: Lisa Rogak
Non-fiction: cooking, holidays/customs 151 pages 2004
This book has a short listing of many different peoples funeral and/or death customs along with a recipe either of a food eaten during funerals or relating to the custom. It starts with African Americans and ends with Zoroastrianism. Along the way it talks about many groups including: the Amish, Buddhist, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gypsy, Haiti, Iceland, India, Italy, Japan, Judaism, Lutheranism, Mexico, Mormon, New Orleans, Poland, Scotland and Tibet to name a few. This gives you an idea of all different people from all over the world and many religions way of dealing with death. It also causes the author to have to generalize customs. For example, the section on Protestant funerals (American) it talked about the funeral dinner being boring food and mostly serving baloney and cheese sandwiches on Wonder Bread. And having attended a fair number of them it seams that the sandwich has changed to mostly being ham or turkey and cheese on white or maybe wheat bread; except in Dutch churches where it is ham on hamburger buns. (No, comment on the excitement of the rest of the food.) This book also that small bit throughout the book with quotes, interesting information and jokes relating to death and funerals. All and all it was interesting to read.
Holiday(s): Halloween, All Souls’ Day, Day of the Dead, etc.
Death Warmed Over: Funeral Food, Rituals, and Customs from Around the World By: Lisa Rogak
Non-fiction: cooking, holidays/customs 151 pages 2004
This book has a short listing of many different peoples funeral and/or death customs along with a recipe either of a food eaten during funerals or relating to the custom. It starts with African Americans and ends with Zoroastrianism. Along the way it talks about many groups including: the Amish, Buddhist, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gypsy, Haiti, Iceland, India, Italy, Japan, Judaism, Lutheranism, Mexico, Mormon, New Orleans, Poland, Scotland and Tibet to name a few. This gives you an idea of all different people from all over the world and many religions way of dealing with death. It also causes the author to have to generalize customs. For example, the section on Protestant funerals (American) it talked about the funeral dinner being boring food and mostly serving baloney and cheese sandwiches on Wonder Bread. And having attended a fair number of them it seams that the sandwich has changed to mostly being ham or turkey and cheese on white or maybe wheat bread; except in Dutch churches where it is ham on hamburger buns. (No, comment on the excitement of the rest of the food.) This book also that small bit throughout the book with quotes, interesting information and jokes relating to death and funerals. All and all it was interesting to read.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Thursday, October 09, 2008
A Holiday Book in Reveiw: The Road to Assisi
Book count: 82
Holiday(s):Feast of St. Francis, all Saint's Day
The Road to Assisi by Paul Sabatier edited by: Jon M. Sweeney
Non fiction: Biography 169 pages
1st, yes this book is like a week late, but we were busy with our normal 1/2 a dozen things going on during the first week of October. Plus we had to read the last book then or not at all.
This book was written about 100 years ago by a French Protestant minister and was the first modern book on St.Francis. As such it was widely read and controversel in it's day. And it also causes it to be popular today. It reads much like a book written today. It notes some of the miracles connected to the saint ,but it is mostly about non miracle things he did and what he though and felt about different things. this version also has sidebars with extra information from other writers.
Holiday(s):Feast of St. Francis, all Saint's Day
The Road to Assisi by Paul Sabatier edited by: Jon M. Sweeney
Non fiction: Biography 169 pages
1st, yes this book is like a week late, but we were busy with our normal 1/2 a dozen things going on during the first week of October. Plus we had to read the last book then or not at all.
This book was written about 100 years ago by a French Protestant minister and was the first modern book on St.Francis. As such it was widely read and controversel in it's day. And it also causes it to be popular today. It reads much like a book written today. It notes some of the miracles connected to the saint ,but it is mostly about non miracle things he did and what he though and felt about different things. this version also has sidebars with extra information from other writers.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Halloween Costumes List: Part III
According to the National Retail Foundation these were the top costume chooses for last year for pets.
1. Devil
2. Pumpkin/ Jack o’ Lantern
3. Witch
4. Princess
5. Angel
6. Pirate
7. Hot Dog
8. Bat
9. Black Cat
10. Clown
1. Devil
2. Pumpkin/ Jack o’ Lantern
3. Witch
4. Princess
5. Angel
6. Pirate
7. Hot Dog
8. Bat
9. Black Cat
10. Clown
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Halloween Costumes List: Part II
According to the National Retail Foundation these were the top costume chooses for last year for adults.
1. Witch
2. Pirate
3. Vampire
4. Cat
5. Princess
6. Fairy
7. Wench
8. Clown
9. Angel
10. Nurse
11. Devil
12. Monster
13. Ghost
14. “Star Wars” character
15. Zombie
1. Witch
2. Pirate
3. Vampire
4. Cat
5. Princess
6. Fairy
7. Wench
8. Clown
9. Angel
10. Nurse
11. Devil
12. Monster
13. Ghost
14. “Star Wars” character
15. Zombie
Monday, October 06, 2008
Halloween Costumes List: Part I
According to the National Retail Foundation these were the top costume chooses for last year for children.
1. Princess
2. Spider-Man
3. Pirate
4. Witch
5. Fairy
6. Disney Princess
7. “Star Wars” character
8. Pumpkin/ Jack o’ Lantern
9. Ghost
10. Power Ranger
11. Monster
12. Ninja
13. Vampire
14. Sports figure
15. Batman
1. Princess
2. Spider-Man
3. Pirate
4. Witch
5. Fairy
6. Disney Princess
7. “Star Wars” character
8. Pumpkin/ Jack o’ Lantern
9. Ghost
10. Power Ranger
11. Monster
12. Ninja
13. Vampire
14. Sports figure
15. Batman
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Today in Holidays:
Today is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi; he is the patron saint of animals and ecology. It is also World Animals Day.
Famous Quotes: Saint Francis of Assisi
= It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.
= All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.
= If God can work through me, he can work through anyone.
= Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace!
Where there is hatred let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console:
To be understood,
As to understand,
To be loved as to love:
For it is in giving
That we receive,
It is in pardoning
That we are pardoned,
And it is dying
That we are born to eternal life.
= All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.
= If God can work through me, he can work through anyone.
= Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace!
Where there is hatred let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console:
To be understood,
As to understand,
To be loved as to love:
For it is in giving
That we receive,
It is in pardoning
That we are pardoned,
And it is dying
That we are born to eternal life.
Friday, October 03, 2008
A Holiday Book in Review – TCIGT Pirates
Book Count: 81
Holiday(s): Halloween
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Pirates By: Gail Selinger and W. Thomas Smith Jr.
Non-Fiction: history 345 pages 2006
This book is about pirates. It covers from the first ones to modern ones (sea faring only), but it mostly deals with the golden age of piracy and the time following it. It does have small sections on Chinese and Barbary Coast pirates and I learned that at one time the Knights of Malta where in effect pirates. (Although, today it’s all charity work and funny ceremonially outfits) Anyway it does include info on all the best known pirates; Blackbeard, Calico Jack, Captain Kidd, the Barbarossas, Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Lai Sho Sz’en a.k.a. the Dragon Lady, and the actually dreaded pirate Roberts to name a few. It also has tons of information on what life was really like for pirates and the how and whys of becoming one.
Holiday(s): Halloween
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Pirates By: Gail Selinger and W. Thomas Smith Jr.
Non-Fiction: history 345 pages 2006
This book is about pirates. It covers from the first ones to modern ones (sea faring only), but it mostly deals with the golden age of piracy and the time following it. It does have small sections on Chinese and Barbary Coast pirates and I learned that at one time the Knights of Malta where in effect pirates. (Although, today it’s all charity work and funny ceremonially outfits) Anyway it does include info on all the best known pirates; Blackbeard, Calico Jack, Captain Kidd, the Barbarossas, Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Lai Sho Sz’en a.k.a. the Dragon Lady, and the actually dreaded pirate Roberts to name a few. It also has tons of information on what life was really like for pirates and the how and whys of becoming one.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Movie Quotes: The Princess Bride
- “When I was your age, television was called, "books."”
- “Probably some local fisherman out for a pleasure cruise, at night, through eel-infested waters.”
- “Inconceivable!”
- “You keep using that word. I do not think it means, what you think it means.”
- “You fell victim to one of the classic blunders. The most famous is: "Never get involved in a land war in Asia." But, only slightly less well known is this: "Never go in against a Sicilian, when death is on the line!"”
- “It's not that bad . . . well, I'm not saying I'd like to build a summer home here, but the trees are actually quite lovely.”
- “Have fun storming the castle!”
- “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
“As you wish.”
- “Probably some local fisherman out for a pleasure cruise, at night, through eel-infested waters.”
- “Inconceivable!”
- “You keep using that word. I do not think it means, what you think it means.”
- “You fell victim to one of the classic blunders. The most famous is: "Never get involved in a land war in Asia." But, only slightly less well known is this: "Never go in against a Sicilian, when death is on the line!"”
- “It's not that bad . . . well, I'm not saying I'd like to build a summer home here, but the trees are actually quite lovely.”
- “Have fun storming the castle!”
- “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
“As you wish.”
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Super Holiday Specials!!
It’s that time again. It’s the start of October and that means that it is time for the super holiday specials, that special time of the year when we celebrate with non stop holidays until next year. This year we have the return of holiday book reports, Halloween fun, Thanksgivingness, Christmas, Christmas, Christmas and other fun winter holidays!!! YAAAHHHHHH!!!!! HOLIDAYS!!!!!! (Ok, we have it out of our systems now.)
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