D

Yesterday I posted on the 3 different things that I could do that day. I of course forgot about option D: spend all day driving 640 miles. Which is the one I ended up doing. :(

It Depents:

Today I will either spend time writing on a story of mine, or reading to book I was planning to read this weekend. You can soon find out which I did, depending on when I write on the book. Unless, I spend all the time on the DS instead!

A Girly Post:

We at W.N.B.N.I. do not usually post on such things, but we have a new sparkily!! Yah!!! With chocolate diamonds, yumm! Pretty, pretty, pretty.

Its Black Friday:

So either you are not reading this because you are out shopping, or you are because you are one of the people that refuse to shop today.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Enjoy your turkey!!

Alice’s Restaurant Massacree

There are only a few Thanksgiving day songs. The most well known as a Thanksgiving song is probley this one. For a factiod on the song click here.

And here is the song.

Get Ready for Black Friday:

Here is a link to a page that connects with a lot of different stores and on-line Black Friday sales info. Click Here!

A Book in Review: The Journal of Professor Abraham Van Helsing

The Journal of Professor Abraham Van Helsing By: Allen C. Kupfer
Fiction: paranormal 204 pages
Book Count: 71

First an odd thing about this book. I found this book in the non-fiction section of the library. I think that it was in the literature section, that would make some since, but I don't remember for sure. This is odd because the book itself is written as a non-fiction book, being an actual journal that they author found in a box of his grandmother's belongings.

Now about the book. As you can guess by the name this book is about vampires in the time of the Dracula book. It is written from the prospective of the great vampire hunter Van Helsing. It also has notes from his best friend and the author of the book. It doesn't detail the events of Dracula, but only talks of them in passing. It is mainly about how he first learns of vampires and how he is then tormented by them.

Remember:

Now is the time to start working on what you will cook when for Thanksgiving, you don't want this to happen to you.


see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Thanksgiving Fact:

Although Ben Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird, no major league sports team in America has ever had the turkey as a mascot.

Today is World Hello Day & World TV Day

So, say hello to your TV or something.

A Book in Review: The Tales of Beedle the Bard

The Tales of Beedle the Bard By: J.K. Rowling
fiction: children, fantasy 111 pages
Book count: 70

Finally J.K. Rowling has made a book that is shorter then "War and Peace", and I wish it was longer. (Yes, I know most to all of her books were shorter, but you know what I mean.) This book is a collection of wizard fairy tales. One is the story of the three brothers who cheated Death that is also in the Harry Potter books. There is also notes from Dumbledore after each one on the meaning and/or history of the story. Like I said before I wish this book was longer, it is fun to read fairy tales where the witch is the good guy in the story. Also, buying this book gives money to a charity for children.

A Book in Review: Made to Stick

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die By: Chip Heath & Dan Heath
Non-fiction: business, physiology, 252 pages
Book Count: 69

This book is all about why some ideas stick with us and some do not. It is written by two brothers that were both working on the same general idea, but from different angles. Some of this information is common sense, but a lot of it is things that you would never think about. It also is a fun read for being a non-fiction informational book. For example, when talking about why urban legends stick with you they pointed out that ". . . our friends' friends have much more interesting lives than our friends themselves?" Referring to the fact that the stories always happen to a friend of a friend. It talks about six main things that make something stick as well as things that do not work and ways that using the thing does not work. For example, something unexpected helps people remember an ad; however, if the unexpected thing is not related to the product people will remember the ad with no idea what the ad was really for. For examples of the different ideas you also learn about a lot of interesting back stories for everything from how Jared became a spokesperson for Subway to how "Don't Mess with Texas" got started. (Interesting enough, Subway didn't plan on the Jared ads being national and the people first messing with Texas were the people you would think of as stereotypical Texans.)

And Now More on Free Books

In yesterday's post I talked about the book I got on Monday. And I said I would have more to say on free books later. It's later. So the other day I was looking on the info from Sitemeter to see from where people were looking at my blog. It tells you the city and state or country for most people that look at my blog and I like to see if people from cities I have friends and family at are looking at it. As I then assume that at least my friends and family are reading this and not only people into undead manatees laws see link . Anyway, I saw one viewing that was from a city I have family in. I clicked on the more info button to see how long they were reading it and I noticed that they didn't just start looking at the main page but here. And they didn't just look at a day's post or scroll down the page they went here. Which at the time seamed odd and unlike the person that I thought was reading this, as it was not that days post and they don't read a lot of young adult fiction. Then a few days it hit me, the author of the books live in the same city! It was most likely him that was reading this. After I read the first book the publisher of the book contacted me and asked if I would be interested in reviewing other books. And book two was one of the books. (Yes, I know in January I will have to let you know when I get free books, but its not like I was hiding it this time, where else do you get books before they are out?) Anyway, that was all, just an excuse for me to write about how I feel like a real writer/reviewer. Yeah!!

Why is it?

Why is it when you are expecting a package everything sounds like a delivery truck? As my facebook friends know I ordered a package last week. At the time I did a little rant on Facebook about the shipping as if I just got the mints that I difently wanted to order the shipping cost like $6 on a $2.50 thing. But as I got the big 37lbs box of things the mints were no extra shipping charge. Anyway on Monday I thought that the box may come as although it was shipping ground from Washington state UPS is usually faster then expected. Anyway, I heard a sound during nap time, but as I didn't need to sign for it and the squires are running into the house or something as I kept hearing sounds of something hitting the house and look outside to see a bunch of squires playing near the house I didn't bother looking. Until I heard the screen door open, as there is no way the box would fit in the door. I looked out and there was the FedEx man leaving after delivering a book that was sent from the publisher that I wasn't even thinking about as it was only a few days ago that I requested it. (I will write on that book in a little while, I'm saving it to read over Thanksgiving. More on free books later.) Anyway, so I decided to look online for where my box was with the tracking number. It said that it was in Ohio, but that it was set to be delivered Monday. I found it odd, but still I spend all day expecting to get the package. I didn't get it. It turned out it hadn't left until 10 pm, so it was arriving Tuesday. So spent another day thinking I was hearing a truck when there was none. When it did come, as happens most of the time I knew it was the truck as it doesn't sound anything like all the pickup trucks, vans, SUVs and poorly tuned cars that I was looking out the window for before.

A Book in Review: Undead and Unpopular

Undead and Unpopular by: Mary Janice Davidson
fiction: paranormal 257 pages
Book count: 68

This book is about a half a dozen books into the series, but as you can tell from the fact that yesterday's post was also a book, (although, I had planed to post it on Sunday, see headache post.) that even without all of the back story it was a quick and also fun read. This story is about the birthday/deathday of Betsy Taylor the queen of the vampires. Besides being 31! (Or 1 depending on how you look at it.) She is also planning her wedding, dealing with some old European vampires, giving up blood, and there is a zombie in the attic and those are just the issues that we learn about in the beginning of the book, more pop up along the way. There are a lot of funny parts in the story to balance out the drama. Like the time her grandfather tries escaping from he nursing home, in a wheelchair in the dead of winter in Minnesota. Over all it was a fun read.

A Book in Review: Sense and Sensiblity and Sea Monsters

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters By: Jane Austen and Ben H. Winters
fiction: classic, scifi 343 pages
Book count: 67

As we stated earlier this book is not as fast moving as the other Jane Austen, Quirk Classic we read this year. But, as the story moved on it was a bit more interesting. The real issue is its more about killer fish then sea monsters. The questions in the end were good.

This is a Post

As you can see I am trying to post every day this month. See side bar
<------ This is a post. I have a headach and this is the extent of my posting ablities. Have a nice day.

Today is World Diabetes Day:

In honer of this day we would like to let you know the things to look for if you think to may be diabetic, and of course, talk to your doctor if you are experiencing these symptoms or any other medical issues.

- increased thirst
- constantly drinking (liquids in general, constantly drinking alcohol is a completely different problem.)
- frequent urination
- unexplained weight loss
- mental fatigue
- blurred vision

The first three are the most common ones that people notice before getting diagnosed. There are more symptoms that the average person is less likely to notice or requires testing or is a common symptom for many things. These symptoms are largely for type 1 diabetes which is the less common form of diabetes and in the past was known as juvenile or childhood-onset diabetes as it is most often diagnosed while one is a child.

Friday the 13th facts:

- There is between 1 and 3 Friday the 13ths in a year.
- This year there was 3, the next time that will happen is 2015.
- Paraskevidekatriaphobia is the fear of Friday the 13th.

This is not a Book in Review:

Today I was planing on writing up a Book in Review for "Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters", but even with Sea Monsters it is taking forever to read this book. It is in no way as fast a read as the Jane Austen novel with the zombies and ninjas. So instead to have something to write today I will talk about the turkey I cooked yesterday. Yes, I know that there is 2 weeks until Thanksgiving, but it was on sale for only 40 cents a pounds. And why not have turkey more then once or twice a year. Anyway, first I apparently have the worlds coldest fridge. I put it in to thaw on Saturday afternoon. On Wednesday morning when I opened it up there was still chunks of ice on it. I had to thaw it in a low oven. Then, when it was thawed out and I went to remove the giblets and neck it had two necks in it. It was a mutant bird! Anyway even with all that it turned out well. And we can eat turkey for the next week. (Or freeze some for later.)

Famous Veterans:

Here are some people who you make be suprised to hear are veterans.

- Ice T - Army
- Al Gore - Army
- Mel Brooks - Army
- James Earl Jones - Army
- Alan Alda - Army
- Charlton Heston - Army (I know not a suprise)
- Tony Bennett - Army
- Andy Rooney - Army
- Charles Schultz - Army
- Charles Bronson - Army
- Pat Sajak - Army
- George Steinbrenner - Air Force
- Clark Gable - Air Force
- Bill Cosby - Navy
- Humphrey Bogart - Navy
- Drew Carey - Marine
- Shaggy - Marine
- Captain Kangaroo - Marine
- Bea Arthur - Marine

Happy Veterans Day

Also called Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other countries.
Interesting note: according to the US government the holiday is Veterans Day and not Veteran's Day or Veterans' Day.

Today in American History

Today is the aniversery of the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. For the story we wrote on it a few years ago click here

Quotes from the Wright Brothers

Note quotes labled O are from Orville and ones labled W are from Wilbur.

- I confess that in 1901 I said to my brother Orville that man would not fly for fifty years. -W
- If we all worked on the assumption that what is accepted as true is really true, there would be little hope of advance. -O
- Men become wise just as they become rich, more by what they save than by what they receive. -W
- No flying machine will ever fly from New York to Paris. -O
- The fact that the great scientist believed in flying machines was the one thing that encouraged us to begin our studies. -W
- With all the knowledge and skill acquired in thousands of flights in the last ten years, I would hardly think today of making my first flight on a strange machine in a twenty-seven mile wind, even if I knew that the machine had already been flown and was safe. -O
- I am an enthusiast, but not a crank in the sense that I have some pet theories as to the proper construction of a flying machine. I wish to avail myself of all that is already known and then, if possible, add my mite to help on the future worker who will attain final success. -W
- The airplane stays up because it doesn't have the time to fall. -O

Quotes from Thomas Edison:

- Anything that won't sell, I don't want to invent. Its sale is proof of utility, and utility is success.
- If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.
- Great ideas originate in the muscles.
- Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless.
- I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
- Hell, there are no rules here - we're trying to accomplish something.
- Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
- The value of an idea lies in the using of it.
- I know this world is ruled by infinite intelligence. Everything that surrounds us- everything that exists - proves that there are infinite laws behind it. There can be no denying this fact. It is mathematical in its precision.
- To have a great idea, have a lot of them.
- To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.

A Book in Review: Death in Lacquer Red

Death in Lacquer Red By: Jeanne M. Dams
fiction: mystery 225 pages
Book Count: 66

This book takes place in the 1900's in South Bend Indiana and features Hilda Johnansson as the main character. She is a reasont immigrant and works in the biggest house in town. This book appears to be well researched. The mystery itself is about the death of a member of the town's judge who just came back from being a missionary in China. It deals a lot with the corruption and biases of that time, but not in a way that distracts from the story. And the ending is surprising with out making you feel if the author was hiding things to make it so.

Famous People Descended from Mayflower Passangers

Politicians:

John Adams - John Quincy Adams
Zachary Taylor
Ulysses S. Grant
James A. Garfield
Franklin D. Roosevelt
George H. W. Bush - George W. Bush
Sarah Palin - who is descended from 5 seperate Mayflower families
Dan Quayle

Artists, Actors and Writers:

Grandma Moses
Bing Crosby
Richard Gere
Humphrey Bogart
Clint Eastwood
Orson Welles
Marilyn Monroe
The Baldwin Brothers
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Some Other Famous People:

Joseph Smith
Hugh Hefner

Names of Mayflower Passengers

Here is some interesting information on the names of passengers of the Mayflower during it's historic trip to America.

- 15 people were named John +
- 6 were named Mary *
- 8 were named William +
- 3 were named Elizabeth *
- 6 were named Edward +

And there was one each of: Remember, Love, Humility, Constance, and Resolved.



* Some of the women were only listed as Mrs. and their last name so the numbers of the name may be higher.
+ Some of the children were only listed as the number of kids a family had, so the number of the name may be higher.

Holiday giving

A couple of years ago we told you about goodsearch. To see that post click here. We would just like to remind you as the holiday shopping starts that if you are ordering things on-line many stores give a percent of the money you spend to your favorite charity when you access their site threw the goodsearch page.

Recipe: Cranberry Sauce with a Bite

1 C. Water
1 C. Sugar
3 C. Cranberries
1/2 t. grated Ginger
1/4 t. Black Pepper
Dash Cayenne Pepper

Combine all ingredients in a small sauce pan. Heat until boiling and all the cranberries pop. Remove from heat and let cool. Transfer to serving bowl and cool in fridge until set.

Recipe: Cran-pineapple Buckle

Note: in cooking a buckle is a cobbler using cake.

2 C. Cranberries
2 C. Pineapple
1/2 C. Water
1/2 C. Sugar
Lemon cake mix
Eggs
Pineapple juice
Oil
1/2 C. Oatmeal

Combine cranberries, pineapple water and sugar in a small sauce pan. Heat until cranberries pop and the mixture is boiling. Set aside. Pre-heat oven to 350. Make cake mix following the directions on the box except replacing water with pineapple juice. Grease a 9 X 13 pan. Add 1/2 of the cran-pineapple mixture. Cover with the cake mix. Spoon remaining cran-pineapple mixture on top. Sprinkle Oatmeal on top. Bake for 35-40 mins until cake is done. Place under broiler until oatmeal is browned, about 2-3 mins.

Today is All Soul's Day

Also called: Defuncts' Day, Day of the Dead, Commemoration of the Faithful Departed and the Feast of All Souls.

Holidays in November

1 All Saint’s Day
1 Daylight Savings time ends
2 All Soul’s Day
2 Day of the Dead
9 Inventor's Day
9 World Freedom Day
11 Veteran’s Day
13 Friday the 13th
14 Pickle Appreciation Day
14 World Diabetes Day
16 International Day for Tolerance
17 International Students' Day
20 Universal Children's Day
21 World Hello Day
21 World Television Day
23 Feast of Qawl
25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
26 Thanksgving
27 Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
27 Eid ul-Ada
27 Black Friday
27 Buy Nothing Day
29 Advent Starts

Quotes from Saints

Today is All Saints Day, and this year we desided to celebrate it here at WNBNI by copying some random quotes from saints again this year. Enjoy.

* Do not measure your loss by itself; if you do, it will seem intolerable; but if you will take all human affairs into account you will find that some comfort is to be derived from them. - St. Basil

* Nothing is more like a wise man than a fool who holds his tongue. - St. Francis de Sales
* Nothing is so strong as gentleness. Nothing so gentle as real strength. - St. Francis de Sales

* It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching. - St. Francis of Assisi
* All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle. - St. Francis of Assisi

* The friendship that can cease has never been real. - St. Jerome
* Never look a gift horse in the mouth. - St. Jerome

* For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God. - St. Teresa of Avila

* Beware the man of one book. - St. Thomas Aquinas
* He who is dying of hunger must be fed rather than taught. - St. Thomas Aquinas