Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

On By Michel McDonaldIn Books, eBook, Nook, TVLeave a comment

One of the books that I bought for my new Nook is the first Sookie Stackhouse novel, Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris.

I wasn’t going to start reading it until today because I got my Nook late at night, after 8pm, and it usually takes me awhile to read a chapter and I didn’t want to read it until I had a fresh start early in the day. However, I was impatient so I started reading it.

One of the reasons I wanted to read it is because it’s the first True Blood novel. I knew that it would be different from the actual show because people keep telling me that it has more detail and that’s almost always the case with books. A friend of mine told me that they are nothing like the show and that it has nothing to do with True Blood.

I’m a little confused why she told me that because as I was reading half of the first chapter last night, it seemed to me that not only was this exactly like True Blood but it was almost the first episode verbatim. In fact, it was the first episode verbatim.

The end of the chapter didn’t give me a cliffhanger like the first episode did, Bill fed Sookie and she got better after being beat up by the “Rat’s” and he confessed to her that he killed them. In the show, at the end of the first episode, she’s getting beat up and they go to credits then the 2nd episode he saves her.

I’m very happy that this first novel is turning out to be exactly what I had hoped it would be but I’ve only read chapter 1 so far. While I’m reading it I had the actual voices and accents of the characters from the tv show playing out each scene in my head with visuals.

When I’m reading I try to give the characters voices that I would imagine that they sound like but sometimes if I can’t imagine it then it’s just my own voice in my head. But I do try to picture the characters and their surroundings as I’m reading because it gives me a better idea of what I’m reading so I understand it better.

Sometimes I can’t and it confuses me and I tend to take longer reading but it seems that since I already have a visual from True Blood on HBO I tend to be able to read faster.

One of the things I do hate about reading and is why it took me 35 years to start reading is that books have big words and it seems like you would need a college education to understand what you are reading. What I like about these books are that I have not come across this issue. Although, now that I have a Nook if I do come across a word like that then I can look it up and get the definition then continue reading.

Obviously this is not a book review and who the hell am I to give one, I’m just saying I’m reading it now and I’m very happy with it and happy I have it on my Nook.

Los Angeles Times for Nook

On By Michel McDonaldIn eBook, News, NookLeave a comment

One of the reasons I wanted to buy the Nook is so that I could get Darrin a subscription to the Los Angeles times. A monthly subscription is only $10 but he buys it every day despite him having a subscription to the Bakersfield Californian. He reads BOTH! If he got the Nook subscription he would save $20 per month because they cost $1 per day and $2 on Sundays.

I was looking at the customer reviews on the Barnes and Noble website for the Los Angeles Times for Nook and because customers had given them such a bad review I decided that I wouldn’t get it.

Although, now that I have my Nook I still wanted to see what it would look like so I bought todays paper for .75¢.

You know it’s not that bad. The customer reviews said that they don’t have chapters but they do. The chapters are the different sections of the newspaper like Calendar, Sports etc.

The front page shows what I assume to be the main article that you see on the front of the actual newspaper, the headliner. It’s not the entire article, it’s a picture then a title and the first paragraph from the article. If you want to read it you can push the little button on the touchscreen for opening a book, although in this case it’s opening an article or you just push the buttons on the side to turn the page for more articles which have the same deal. You aren’t forced to read any article you don’t want, just turn the page until you find the one you want to read then click it to read.

I read a few articles already and it actually reads very well. I’m glad that I was persistent enough to actually buy an article before giving up on the whole idea.

Although, Darrin still doesn’t want it. He much prefers to read the actual paper. But that’s good for the Los Angeles times because they are still making money off him with the $8 a week he spends on the paper.

And they say print is dead, HA it’s alive and kicking in this household.

Barnes and Noble Nook

On By Michel McDonaldIn Books, eBook, NookLeave a comment

Well I did it. I bought my Barnes & Noble Nook tonight. I bought the Nook WiFi for $149 because I really don’t want to pay $50 more just for the convenience of having 3G.

I haven’t read anything on it yet as I just bought it but I’ve been playing around with it while it has been charging. The guy at the store told me I should charge it for a few hours before using it but it’s charging very fast. The last time I looked it was at 88% and it’s only been plugged in for 30 minutes. I think they give you a 70% charge because it didn’t start off with 0%.

I didn’t do an “unboxing” video because how many of those are there on YouTube? Hundreds, I don’t want to add to it with more of the same exact thing.

It’s a lot heavier than I was expecting but it isn’t that heavy that it will cause an issue for me.

When I signed into my account and registered my new Nook I went to my library and was surprised to see that all the books in my account were already downloaded into the Nook. I didn’t have to wait at all.

People are always complaining about how long it takes to turn the page in these things, it’s really very fast. The time it takes to change to a new page is the same exact amount of time it takes for me to turn the page in a real book so I don’t see an issue. Also one of the videos I saw on YouTube said that when you change the font size it could take up to 20 or 30 seconds to do that because it has to refresh the entire e-book but that isn’t so with mine, it took the same amount of time as turning a page.

It finally charged to 100% so I plugged the USB cable into my hard drive and it installed the driver immediately. It even popped up the explorer window so I could add my own files to it. I have a few books that I’d like to add to it from Rainbow eBooks and it’s only taken a few seconds to do that. I’m also going to add some 4×6 images for the screen saver. Although they have to be 6×4.

I did the tutorial when it came up and it showed how to do things and one of the things I like was that when you turn the page you could either use those buttons on the right and left or you could just swipe the touchscreen with your finger. Yeah, swiping doesn’t work… That would’ve been cool but it doesn’t work for me.

I loaded a PDF file, that James Potter e-book… yeah… pdf files suck. I’m gonna have to figure out a way to convert that to .epub format so it’s readable. The only way I know how is to use calibre but that has issues but I will figure it out because I really want to read those.

It’s too late at night for me to start reading a new book so I’m going to just wait until I get up in the morning and start reading Dead Until Dark, the first Sookie Stackhouse novel.

Internet Bully or Internet Coward?

On By Michel McDonaldIn PeopleLeave a comment

This is not a new trend by any means but it seems that there are a lot of bold people out there. I’m sure in the real world they aren’t as mean but when they get online they can turn into real bastards.

Take for example, this guy named Brock Baker. He is a YouTube sensation and yet people rip on him calling him stupid and saying that he has no talent. Let’s see you do what he does and see how much talent you have. Brock Baker has more talent than any of you pansy a-holes who sit behind the safety of your desk leaving nasty comments.

Brock has turned something negative into something positive because he posts certain negative comments on Facebook and his true fans laugh at the nasty comments. Sometimes his fans go to that YouTubers page and leave nasty comments in return.

That I don’t condone only because they call those people “fags” and that is the only part that does piss me off. That’s not necessary, call him a douche or a dick but don’t call him a fag. You wouldn’t call a person of color the N-word so why call them a fag?

Two rights don’t make a wrong but at least those people aren’t leaving comments incognito.

What I’m referring to is YouSayToo. I have noticed that you don’t have to be logged into the website to leave a comment on someones post. Anyone can comment and those “guests” usually leave nasty comments.

I wrote a post some time in the middle of July called Candwich about a product that hasn’t even hit the market yet which is a sandwich in a can. It’s basically a roll with a packet (like ketchup packets) of peanut butter and a packet of strawberry (or grape) jelly. You squeeze them out and onto the bread then enjoy.

Take a look at all the comments… 3 guests all leaving nasty comments, 1 actual name but no image and that wasn’t a nasty comment.

So it seems to me that if you leave a good comment you are bold enough to sign into the website but when you feel like being a total dick that day you sign out then leave a dickish comment. What’s the deal?

Look, I don’t pay any attention to negative comments on that website. If you are bold enough to leave the nasty comment, be bold enough to actually log in to the website first so I can see who you are.

My response to those douchebags is that peanut butter and jelly are NOT bad for you ok? High fructose corn syrup is not fattening, it’s just liquid sugar made out of corn. We all have it in our diets in 1 way or another so don’t tell me that you would never eat it because I know you have. As Judge Judy says, “don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining.”

The only way you are not getting high fructose corn syrup is if you are a vegetarian who eats only vegetables (not canned) and only water to drink. If you drink soda then you are a hypocrite for leaving those nasty comments because I have news for you. Soda has high fructose corn syrup in it you moron.

You can hide behind your computer saying nasty shit to people with no consequences but let’s see you say it to my face and see what happens.

Dancing Merengue Dog

On By Michel McDonaldIn Amplify, Daily BlogLeave a comment

This is awesome. Don’t say that this dog doesn’t earn her keep because she earned every one of those kibbles, even the bits.

Amplify’d from www.youtube.com

Dancing Merengue Dog

Dancing Dog Doing The Merengue. Smartest dog ever!

Read more at www.youtube.com

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/9k62

Exclusive: The Truth Behind Teresa Giudice’s Nephew on ‘Housewives’ Reunion

On By Michel McDonaldIn Amplify, TVLeave a comment

Did anyone watch the reunion of the New Jersey Housewives last night on Bravo? I watched it twice.

You know I have a strange relationship with these housewives shows. I hate them but I love them lol. I love to hate them lol.

My favorite of all the housewives shows is New Jersey. I didn’t watch the first season for some strange reason and this is the only season that I’ve watched and boy have I been watching it too, sometimes twice. I really love Caroline Manzo. I think she has a good head on her shoulders. She kind of reminds me of my mother (looks, not attitude lol) so that right there gives me a reason to like her even more. She is the mother I wish I had if I could do it over.

I don’t really like Danielle very much but on the other hand, she makes really good tv lol.

I have to wait another week for part 2 of this reunion to see how it all went down.

If you missed the Teresa blowup, click the popeater link to watch the video. I don’t know why Amplify didn’t copy it over.

Amplify’d from www.popeater.com

Exclusive: The Truth Behind Teresa Giudice’s Nephew on ‘Housewives’ Reunion

You saw it, the earth-shaking exchange between Danielle Staub and Teresa Giudice on Monday night’s ‘Real Housewives of New Jersey’ reunion special. The F-bomb barrage started with a question from Danielle to Teresa: “Did you acknowledge your nephew? Did you?” Teresa replied, “Yeah, of course I did,” but after pausing for a second, she exploded. EXPLODED!

“Danielle doesn’t intimidate me. I don’t care if she stays on the show or not,” Teresa tells me in an exclusive statement regarding the explosive reunion show.

So, what’s the story behind the “nephew” drama? A friend of Teresa’s reveals that what viewers saw was Danielle accusing her co-star of not visiting a nephew in the hospital at his birth. I’m told Teresa was at the hospital when the child was born last April, and that he’s perfectly fine and beautiful.

Teresa was actually confused as to what Danielle was even talking about. But what set her off was the sudden realization that Danielle was dipping her toes into her private business.

“Danielle is obsessed with Teresa. Digging around her extended family,” a family friend tells me. “Danielle brought up a lie about Teresa not visiting her nephew and then Bravo edited it to look more sudden than it was, of course. The best thing to do is just ignore everything Danielle says. That’s what Teresa does.”

The verbal fight, in which Teresa even shoved host (and Bravo exec) Andy Cohen, shocked more than just the viewers. It also blew away other ‘Housewives’ on the stage. WATCH THE MADNESS >>

“Insanity, complete insanity,” is how Caroline Manzo described the scene to me in an exclusive statement . “We filmed for ten hours and by the end of the day, I was speechless. It took me two days to recover, I seriously could not compose a rational thought for hours.”

Rumors have circulated that Teresa would leave the show if Danielle was invited back for another season. However, friends of our favorite housewife tell me that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“I just talked to her and it’s funny but she actually doesn’t care if Danielle comes back for another season or not,” a friend of Teresa’s tells me. “Teresa’s not intimidated or scared of Danielle. She actually thinks Danielle makes good TV and is amusing. If anything, she feels sorry for her. All she has in her life is this show.”

My insider adds, “Teresa, on the other hand, doesn’t spend one second of her time thinking about Danielle.”

Sources confirm that it is the Manzo family that has made it very clear to Bravo that if Danielle stays, they go. Family member Dina Manzo has already quit the show and made it clear she would not be part of anything that involves Danielle, saying publicly that they are worried about their safety and that of their families when Danielle is around.

However, “Teresa doesn’t feel that Danielle is a threat to her family or happiness at all,” an insider tells me. “She’s much tougher than that!”

Read more at www.popeater.com

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/9ij7

O’Reilly Debates Sharpton on Glenn Beck Rally

On By Michel McDonaldIn Amplify, PoliticalLeave a comment

I am staying out of this debate but I wanted to share this video. Al Sharpton is PISSED at Glenn Beck for having his rally on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and taking the “mall” away from him.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Amplify’d from www.youtube.com

O’Reilly Debates Sharpton on Glenn Beck Rally

See more at www.youtube.com

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/9iij

Who do you think is responsible for childhood obesity?

On By Michel McDonaldIn Amplify, Diet, Exercise, HealthLeave a comment

I just voted in a poll on the SparkPeople website. Who do I think is responsible for childhood obesity. I voted parents because they are the ones who are supposed to teach good eating habits from infant to adult. If you feed your children with the right foods they will learn good eating habits.

I also feel that the reason children are so fat is because they have become so spoiled with the technology of today. I mean don’t get me wrong, I love my computer and video games but children shouldn’t be allowed to be so obsessed. They should be encouraged to go outside and play with their friends. The parents should encourage their kids to get involved in an after school activity like soccer or football or karate.

My parents did not encourage me to play sports but they did allow me to play outside unattended. I would ride my bike through the neighborhood and jump rope and play hopscotch with my sister. We would roller skate up and down the sidewalk. We were constantly playing outside.

That is until I was 11 and was of working age and then I became the handy child for the apartment building. Painting, changing locks, plumbing, fixing electrical outlets, gardening… you name it, I had to do it. But when I was all done with that work I was allowed to play before dinner if there was time. On the days that there wasn’t as much work to do around the apartments I was allowed to do whatever I wanted which was usually playing outside.

So, I don’t blame the schools because despite the burgers, fries, pizzas and whatever else they served me during my childhood, I never gained any weight because that was only 1 meal out of the whole day. During the weekends and school breaks we would eat things like Peanut butter and jelly or Bologna sandwiches for lunch. For breakfast I would usually eat cereal but sometimes oatmeal (or malt-o-meal) and for dinner it was a well-balanced meal with meats, grains and vegetables.

My mother taught me good eating habits but it was up to me to learn them and carry that on after I left the house. Unfortunately for years I let my cravings and laziness get the best of me but once I started to remember the recipes and food groups my mother fed me I started to eat them again and I have started to lose weight and all thanks to my mother may she rest in peace. I have lost 35lbs since the last week of May 2010 because I’m eating right.

I don’t blame schools because it’s only 1 meal a day.

I don’t blame tv & video games because it is the parents obligation to give or taketh away.

I don’t blame fast food because it is the parents who take the children to fast food. They don’t have the money to buy their own happy meals.

I don’t blame communities because how is a community supposed to teach your child good eating habits? That is the parents responsibility.

I don’t blame advertising (commercials) because they are in it for the money. I can sit here and watch pizza commercials all day but I have the good sense to know that pizza is too fattening. Parents should tell their kids that pizza is good for special occasions like when you win that baseball game or when it’s your birthday. Or when Mommy is too sick to get out of bed then we can order a pizza.

And since I took that poll, I see that 16,781 other people agreed with me which is 74% of people who took that poll.

Amplify’d from www.sparkpeople.com

Quick Poll Results

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/9enx

It’s Hard to Convince People

On By Michel McDonaldIn Books, eBook, Gadgets, News, NookLeave a comment

Ever try to convince someone that some “thing” is better than the other? It’s very difficult especially when that person is adamant that they do not want this new thing. They give you an excuse and you have an answer but they give you another excuse and you have an answer for that too. They can’t win this argument lol.

I’m trying to convince Darrin that when I buy my Nook he might get some use out of it too. Not just books but newspapers and magazines as well.

He said that he likes to read a regular newspaper and magazine because he can find things easily but my response was that you can find things much quicker with a Nook. All you have to do is type in a keyword and it will find every instance of that word. Or you can highlight articles that you want to go back to and then go into your highlights to find them.

He said that he likes the feeling of a newspaper or magazine, yet he has trouble letting them go. When he buys a magazine he doesn’t like to toss them afterwards because he paid a lot of money for them. Have you seen the cost of magazines? My god, those things are expensive.

A LA Times newspaper is $1 a day and I think it’s $2+/- on Sundays. Well, if he got a subscription to the LA Times on the Nook, it’s only $10 per month. I don’t know if that includes Sundays though. I checked to see how much home delivery of the LA Times is and it’s about $11.96 per month. You are only saving $1.96 per month but that’s $23.52 per year and you are saving trees at the same time. If you were to recycle all those newspapers you probably wouldn’t get that $1.96 back for a month worth of newspapers since they are thinning out so much these days. Then again I don’t know that for sure, they pay you by weight, not by how many you have.

I was looking at the eMagazines they have and they really aren’t anything that I would be interested in and Darrin never reads what they have available. The only one that would interest me is PC Magazine but I wouldn’t read it that much. He likes magazines like Time, People and Architectural Digest. Those aren’t available for Nook. So since nothing really good is available I won’t even try to convince him on that aspect.

But the key points that I was trying to convince him on is that you can look up articles by keywords, highlighting and making notes. When you write a note in an article you can refer back to your notes and it will bring that particular article up.  He said he could look something up fast in a magazine or newspaper but I bet him anything that I could find it faster on a nook.

He goes to Church, not every Sunday but most Sundays and he loves to bring his own bible that he had his name engraved on. There is no way I can convince him with a Bible for Nook. He saw how one guys bible was weathered and falling apart and all this stuff was highlighted and he made a remark about how he couldn’t wait for his bible to be as used as his was. So that I won’t even try to convince him of. Besides, when he is at Church is the perfect time for me to read and I wouldn’t like it if he had my Nook during those times lol.

There are so many things that make me giddy about electronic toys that he could care less about. Although when I actually get it he might feel differently but until then he couldn’t care less despite how much I try to convince him.

He was impressed when I told him that you could make the text a lot bigger to make it easier to read and the fact that you could visit websites and write emails and I could even blog from the Nook.  Although I don’t know if I would want to because of the touchscreen keyboard but if we were visiting family it would be a lot easier than using the mobile dashboard with my PSP.  I could also type more than I can on the mobile version.

There are some things that you have to see for yourself and when we get to the Barnes & Noble next week he can see how cool they are with the display that they have.  He’ll realize they are a lot better than he wants to give them credit for.  He’ll see.