Well, it's that time of year again; the time when we begin a new year.
What will the new year hold? Do you think much about that?
What about resolutions? Do you do those?
What about New Year's Day? Do you have any particular traditions in that area?
Hubby's favorite thing is all the football games. Soon the superbowl will be here, and he'll be football-less until about August of the coming year.
Me, my main traditions have been watching the rose bowl parade on tv, and eating sauerkraut and sausage and black-eyed peas, on New Year's Day. To prosper in the new year, so my mom said on the food. I've now figured out a way to microwave single servings of it. No muss, no fuss, no dishes to wash. (:-)
Hope you and yours have had a good 2015, had a great Christmas, and hope you will have a wonderful new year.
My first answer would be that you need to have a gift for writing; that's the first thing.
Next, would come an idea for a book; no idea, no book.
But let's assume you are a writer, you have that innate yen to express yourself in the written word; and you have an idea for a book. Then what? What's next, after that? Where do you go from this point?
Well, for one thing, you write. You open up a word processing file, and start writing. Write when you can, whether it be for a few seconds or an hour or so. How long you write for is up to you; it depends on your schedule and routine.
As to the software you use, I like Microsoft Word; but if you don't have word on your computer, don't despair. There's some good free software out there available to download. One that I have heard my other author friends say they use, is Open Office. Also, there is documents on Google Drive, accessible through your google log in; same one you use for youtube or google plus or gmail.
So now you're all set up to write.
But what else? What else should you be doing?
Is there something else you should be doing in addition to writing your book?
Yes, there is something else that you could be doing. You could be building your online presence, and getting your name out there; prepping for when you have a book to market. Here are some additional things that you could be doing:
website, you can get a free one via wix.com
author page on facebook, get it set up and start posting and getting likes
twitter account
newsletter via mailchimp
street team group
join author group on facebook, and read and learn
Those are just a few other things you can do while you're writing that first book.
Hey all,
This is an update on my upgrade to windows 10. I upgraded from windows 7, in case anyone wants to know. And if you want more info on that, -- click here --
Now, here's some notes about windows 10 after I've been using it a bit.
To begin with, don't try to start your upgrade through the windows updates that you may be used to using for updates. Yes, your windows 10 update will show there, saying it's ready to install; but if you try to begin the upgrade from there, it will fail. You need to click on the little windows 10 update app icon, which you'll find in your taskbar, on the far right, over where your clock is. It will be a rectangle shape of 4 rectangles. Start your upgrade there. That will tell you when you're ready to upgrade.
I had to reinstall my printer software. This wasn't too big a surprise to me. I was sort of expecting this one. In fact, my computer didn't even recognize that my printer was hooked up to it at all. But this wasn't too bad though. Found the spot on the HP site where I needed to download the software from and got that done.
First thing I learned was how to change the color of the start menu and the taskbar. That can be found under settings, link is on the start menu, under personalization.
I enabled cortana, which I'm still learning about.
My sound coming through my speakers is different now. I've tweaked on it some, but it still sounded different, but I got it better sounding. I'm still wasn't completely satisfied with it, and kept tweaking on it. The thing that seemed to finally fix it was resetting the settings to default, then tweaking a tiny bit.
I'm slowly but surely finding stuff and learning stuff about windows 10. The settings is neat, in that it has a search function, which the old control panel didn't have. And my old control panel is still there. Found it and pinned it to my start menu.
I really like the new start menu. You can pin about anything that you want to the start menu. If you go to a link in edge, it has a menu option that will let you pin that link to your start menu. I pinned a link for microsoft support to my start menu.
What I don't like is that the tops of the windows are all white, no color; and no way to change that right now. I figure these are things that, in the coming months, as Microsoft gets feedback from users, may get tweaked. At least I hope so. But I'm getting used to the white.
The new browser, Edge, has 2 colors, light grey or black. Hopefully they will expand that in the future. But so far, I like edge.
I kept having trouble with the pins in the quick access being frozen and not being able to rearrange them. I searched and searched for an answer, to no luck. Finally, I hit upon the answer all by my widdle self. I had moved the pin for my J's Library to the top of the list. I had been unpinning some unimportant stuff, wondering maybe if there were too many there. Then, I went to my library and unpinned it, because I had changed the icon to a neat tree symbol. Then I repinned it. Suddenly, I could move the pins. I played around with this several times, doing things that froze and unfroze the pins. Never did find anything online anywhere about it. But now I know what caused it to freeze up.
I learned just now that what I call the files window, is actually called file explorer, and always has been. Another little note on this - all the file icons are set to details, and I like it on large icons ...... so ....... every time I go to a folder for the first time, I am having to reset the icon to what I like. Once I've been there once, it seems to stay. But, it is a bit tedious.
I've been exploring the various free apps in the windows store. Just recently I found an NFL one that I downloaded. Also found a couple of pinball game apps that I downloaded, along with a couple of match 3 type games. All in all, I'm loving the new apps feature.
In conclusion, I'm really glad I upgraded to windows 10. I love it. I thought I liked windows 7, but windows 10 is head and hands above 7.
Now my computer is like my baby.
So when I first heard about the free windows 10 upgrade, I said 'no, no thanks, I'm happy with 7'.
But then, some events took place to change my mind.
During a bad thunderstorm, lightning ran in through our phone line and toasted hubby's computer. He's having to use our old XP computer in order to have something to get online with. Here's the link to an event I created about that: https://www.facebook.com/events/1151459831537335/
Watching him scour around checking on what he could and couldn't upgrade on that computer, that's what settled me on upgrading to 10. I didn't want to get there with 7, on my baby. So I clicked the button and reserved my upgrade and set back and waited.
Today, I was on my computer doing my usual stuff, when it froze up on me for a moment. I've come to recognize that as meaning that it has some updates to install. Baby is hinky that way. So I checked updates, and low and behold, the windows 10 box said it was ready to install. That's when I checked the windows 10 app, and it said it was still downloading, so I waited till it said it was ready to go.
This screen below is where you want to get your info from, and it's where you'll start when the download is ready to go.
**********************************************
Windows 10 rolling out in 190 countries as a Free upgrade from today, Download ISO files hereDownload it from here: http://goo.gl/90asUr
Posted by Windows 10 on Wednesday, July 29, 2015
**********************************************
So, when it was ready, I followed the instructions. Here are a couple of screenshots of when it was upgrading. It took all of about 2-1/2 hours to do, from start to finish. As you can tell from the photos, it has some really nice graphics that let you know what it's doing.
It has the big circle graphic in the center that gives a total percentage of how it's progressing. At the top, below the upgrading windows, it says: "Your PC will restart several times. Sit back and relax."
At the bottom, there are three word groups:
- Copying files
- Installing features and drivers - Configuring settings
They start out as all grey colored. The one that is being worked on will be white, with a percentage of how far along it is. When the first one reaches 100 percent, it will restart; then start working on the next one. Just remember: grey means it hasn't been done yet, white means it's being done, and blue means it's finished.
When it got done, I didn't have much of any trouble finding stuff and getting going. My desktop and taskbar looked a lot the same, but it was the start menu where I noticed the changes. Here's a peek at my desktop and the start menu:
The main issue I had afterwards was with my HP printer. It wasn't recognizing it at all. But, I solved the problem by going to the HP website and downloading the software for my printer. That took close to an hour itself. But, the printer is all installed now and working fine.
Everything has a different look to it, but the print and pictures seem sharper, and my computer is just as fast as ever. There's a lot I have to learn about it, but I'm liking it a lot, and am glad I upgraded.
Just wanted to share this info with everyone. Take care.
-- jd --
Great points made in the above video. Wish more people on facebook would put into practice what this video says. Unless it's illegal or severely insulting, let others choose to take it or leave it.
For the first time in my life, I truly do miss another time period. I miss the 1980s. The world was a simpler, kinder place back then. The seeds planted in the 1960s had taken root and were flourishing. I miss the peace that existed in the world back then.
Computers were just beginning come into their own, and the internet was still in it's fetus stage. When I graduated business college in the mid 1980s, they were just beginning to teach desktop computers. I learned computers on a big IBM system 34.
People were nicer then. Television was much better then. Yeah, we have more channels, but there's not a lot on them sometimes. There's way too much reality t.v. today. I was much slimmer then, and in much better shape, both physically and financially.
It was at the tail end of the 1980s that I met my hubby. I took karate in the 80s, and got in probably what was the best shape of my whole life. I think the 80s were my golden decade, in a way. Life held such great promise back then.
With the 1990s, came a lot of changes, both for me and the world. That's where it all started. Some of the changes have been good, and some have been bad. There's not really much of anything about the 90s that I miss; it was not a good decade for me nor my hubby. The only redeeming thing about the 90s is that I married my husband and moved out of my parents' home, and finally began to truly discover myself. Instead of trying to fit into the mold that my mother constantly laid out for me.
Having been in a situation where I was told by someone else, who they thought I should be, how I should act, what I should do - I have sympathy for those in the same situation.
A bad thing that the 90s held for hubby and me was the beginning of a financial downslide that we still haven't recovered from yet.
It's getting late, and I'm getting tired. So I'll continue this another time.
There are lots of articles for writers, about various things, various how to topics. But how about getting reviews? More specifically, about how to contact reviewers? What to say? What they'll expect? Should you pay for a review?
What would you say to a series of articles, for writers, written by a book reviewer, on how to get reviewers and contact reviewers. Well, that's what I'm planning to do. I'd also like to know what questions you have? What is it that you would specifically like to know?
Share your questions with me either as a comment to this post, or use my contact form:
Just had to blog about this one. I'm a big Conway Twitty fan from way back when. So when I run across a young singer who can totally nail one of their songs, like Scotty McCreery does, I have to give him his props.
Just sit back and enjoy the video.
You know, there's an awesome story behind that song. Maybe one day I'll write it, and dedicate the book to Conway and Scotty.
--jd--
So, I ran across where you can email in blog posts, and I just have to try it out. So here goes, this is a test, it is only a test.
HAPPY FACE ME! This so totally worked!
You can even set it where it will automatically post it too!
Yay!
If you want to do this yourself, go to your blog overview.
Then click on settings.
Then click on mobile and email.
Then under email, just under mobile, which is at the top, . . .
find - post using email -
Next, choose your secret word, then copy down your post by email address.
Then choose from save as draft or publish immediately.
Don't choose disabled, or it won't work. AND BE SURE AND CLICK THE 'SAVE SETTINGS' BUTTON,
or else, your efforts will be for naught.
Then kick back and relax, and enjoy being able to email in posts to your blog.
So hey there, all you writers out there.
Yeah, you folks pecking away at the keyboard, or scribbling away in that notebook,
writing your novel.
While you're writing, just what else are you doing?
If you're asking, 'I'm supposed to be doing something else?'
then you're definitely missing it.
Writing that book, that's only 1 part of the self-publishing process. And even if you plan on submitting it to a publisher, writing is still only part of the process. While you're writing that book, you need to be busy promoting
*you the author*.
The cover, you can hire someone to do that, maybe even work out a exchange of services deal with some artist for the cover work. Same goes for formatting. It's the promoting that's the thing --
and if you wait till the book is published to start promoting,
**** you've waited too long. ****
You, the author are a product, a brand, if you will, that you are going to endeavor to sell. For example, there's the big brand name of Kraft, and they make a lot of different products. They promote the big brand of Kraft, and also promote the different products too. When they come out with a new product, they automatically have a ready audience of Kraft users who will be interested; but only because they actively promote Kraft.
While you're writing that book, you need to be hard at work at promoting you, the author. Then, when the book is published, hopefully you will have some people already interested in reading what *you the author* have published. Think of yourself as Kraft, and your books as the products that Kraft makes. While you're writing, be busy telling the world who you, the author, are. It's all part of how the world, and publishing, works today. It's a social world, and readers want to connect online with the authors whose work they read.
Here's a list of some of the things you should do while you're writing your book:
establish a facebook page, and post there daily;
establish a google plus page and post there occasionally;
set up a website, which you can do for free on sites like wix.com;
start a street team group and post there occasionally;
start a personal blog, to blog about what you're writing or whatever;
start a writer's newsletter via mailchimp and send it out monthly.
And that's just a start. That's stuff you do while you're writing, in prep for when the book is finished. When it's finished, then you head out into another, completely different to do list, to promote your new book.
-- jd --
Next year will be a somewhat dubious anniversary for hubby and me.
Twenty years ago next year, in the summer of 1996, a church in far western Kentucky fired my husband as their pastor. They had no valid reason, other than that they were tired of him, and that his preaching was hitting too close to their secret sins and consciences. They were tired of leaving church feeling bad, so their solution was to fire him as pastor. Rather than change themselves, they changed who they would listen to on Sunday.
My husband had been a good pastor to their church; visiting, and going to the hospital, going to association meetings, all the things a good pastor does. But he faithfully preached the word, and his sermons stepped on their conscience. So they fired him.
What made this so devastating was that it was a full time church, and we lived in their parsonage. So we lost not only the home we lived in, but our only income as well. About 2-3 years prior, something had made an audible shotgun-like pop in my back; and it ended thoughts of me ever working.
We tried so very hard to find him another church, but another minister had been working behind his back, and had ruined him as a minister; telling lies about him, and telling people not to use him, or recommend him. So he couldn't get another church. And this church was a 2 hour drive away from our home area of Owensboro. So not only were we jobless and homeless, but we were a 2 hour drive away from home. We ended up moving back, into a rental house, with no job. We had a hard time finding anyone who would rent to us, because hubby didn't have a job.
Well, hubby did find a job, but our out-go was more than our income. We used our credit cards to help make ends meet, believing that before we maxed out our credit cards, that something would turn up. That our income would go up, that a miracle would occur, and that we would be able to pay off our debts. But that didn't happen. We believed in miracles and Christians too much, to our utter downfall.
During this time, church-wise, we didn't fare much better. My husband only filled in at churches, and supplied, not being particularly interested in pastoring another church at that time. Finally, he was enticed to pastor a church, a part-time church. Our brief time there was somewhat pleasant, until they wanted him to ask a family to leave the church because they didn't dress well enough to suit some of the rulers of the church. We left the same day that family did.
So my husband went back to filling in and supplying, determined not to pastor again. But once again, he was enticed to pastor a church he had been supplying at. This would be the last church that my husband would ever pastor, and the last one we would ever attend regularly.
By the time hubby did get a job that covered our out-go, we had defaulted on our credit cards, and had a huge debt. We wanted to pay the debts off, we really did; but we wouldn't be able to. It was while we were pastoring this last church, that we got the idea to send out letters to our 'brothers and sisters in Christ', seeking their help with our financial dilemma. That would be the final nail in my husband's ministry.
We knew the church was unable to help us, and the local church association couldn't either. We didn't think there was anything wrong with it. According to what the Bible said Christians were supposed to be like, it should have worked; it should have erased our debt. But this action angered the head of the local church association. On Sunday, we were there in the church, one of them. On Monday, the head of the local church association contacted the church leaders and instructed them to fire my husband or they would be kicked out of the local church association. On Tuesday, the church leaders met at the church. On Wednesday, they asked my husband to meet them at the church at 6 pm, before the regular 7 pm church business meeting. They fired him on the spot. They gave him a small severance check, and had us leave before the business meeting. We both walked out of the church in tears, our hearts totally broken by their coldness. They didn't even allow my husband to come back the next Sunday and preach a farewell sermon. We don't know what they told the congregation.
I remember the date that they fired him. It is forever etched in my memory.
The date was . . . . . August 1st, 2001 A little over a month later, the world trade center towers would fall to an enemy attack on our home soil.
2001 was not a good year for either us, nor our nation. He never pastored again. He never preached again. We haven't been a part of a church since then.
Finally, one of our creditors started garnishing my hubby's paychecks, and that was the last straw. We filed for bankruptcy. There was nothing else to do. We had no other choice, no other options. We dearly hated to do it, but had no other choice.
We went on; the bankruptcy cleared out our huge debt. But the work that my husband had done had began taking a toll on his knees. In 2010, my husband would have to go to working part-time because his knees bothered him so bad. He desperately needed to file for disability, but couldn't quit working, as my chronic bad back wouldn't allow me to work. I tried filing for disability, twice, but was turned down flat. I didn't have the mountain of stuff you needed to be able to get it.
The real game changer would happen in 2011. In February of 2011, my husband was fired from his job. March would find him in the hospital, diagnosed with cancer. We had to cash in his 401K from work, just to make it and have money to live on. I think that was the most difficult year of my life so far. I was at home in Hartford, he was in the hospital in Owensboro, and I didn't dare go visit him for fear of catching something and getting sick. I was on my own, and couldn't afford to get sick.
Hubby got disability, but the payments wouldn't start until October of that year. Our credit, barely better after our last bankruptcy, would take a devastating hit. We barely survived the year financially, and we've struggled ever since.
Yes, I've tried all those charities that are supposed to help people. You name it and I've probably tried it at one point or another in this 20 year journey. And still we struggle.
So when we ring in our dubious 20 year anniversary next year, I have no doubt that our financial situation will be no better than it has been over the last 20 years. I would love to be surprised, but I doubt that I will be.
So that is where this post finds us - out of ideas, out of answers, and barely making it from month to month. Like everyone else, we've had dreams, hopes, and wishes; and so many of them, we've had to lay aside and give up on. I think the one that makes me the saddest is my husband's wish to visit the Gettysburg civil war battle site. With both of our physical condition now, even if we had the money and the vehicle, we couldn't do it.
Did you know that he worked his way through college and seminary? His desire was to serve God faithfully, preach the word, and pastor full-time churches. He's a good man, and deserves much better than he's gotten in life. As for me, I've always had bad luck, must have been born under an unlucky star or something. I'm tired and worn out, and all out of ideas of what to do to improve our situation. All I want is for us to have plenty of money for whatever we want or need, and for me to be able to just sit down and quit; to not have to continually try to figure a way out of whatever catastrophe or trouble has befallen us.
If you've continued to read this far, and would like to help us, please follow the link below:
Do you know what 'moral compass' means?
Well, here's a definition for you:
-- Moral compass --
Used in reference to a person's ability to judge what is right and wrong and act accordingly. An inner sense which distinguishes what is right from what is wrong, functioning as a guide (like the needle of a compass) for morally appropriate behavior.
Do you have a moral compass? And what do you define as right and wrong?
Here's a few from my right and wrong list:
right - helping out someone who is in need
wrong - teasing, bullying, or generally making fun of someone
wrong - murder
wrong - theft
right - being nice
right - holding the door open for someone else
wrong - holding violent protests about something you don't like
wrong - looting and vandalism
right - admitting when you have done wrong, and making things right
I think you begin to get the idea.
There are certain basic concepts of right and wrong that surpass one's religion or upbringing. But I fear that our society today is totally losing any moral compass at all. People are consumed with vanity and vain considerations: white, perfect teeth; perfect skin, the right car, the right clothes, the right shoes, etc.
Once again, I think you get the idea. Leastways I hope you are.
Few people accept responsibility for their actions now days. They want to start whining and making excuses, when called about it. The worst thing to happen to society is 'politically correct'. When we start bending over backwards to not offend, we stop standing for anything.
Do you stand for something? Or do you allow anything?
I think I'll close with this video:
So, what do you stand for? Or do you fall for anything?
I have an ancestor that fought in the revolutionary war. I have 3 that fought in the civil war - 2 on the side of the north, and 1 on the side of the south.
One was with Sherman on his march through the south. He was shot in the wrist, and it was treated with pouring whiskey over it and wrapping it in brown paper. One time, I saw an old tintype photo of him, and you could see the damaged wrist. Down in Georgia somewhere, he was captured and spent the rest of the war in Andersenville Prison. He survived that, and was put on the Sultana, headed home; but the boiler exploded and the ship sunk. The Mississippi was full, but he swan and got in a tree top, and they found him there the next day. He had 3 wives, and has many descendants.
The one with the south, he was working down south when the war broke out. After the war, he sent word home by someone else that he had survived the war and was heading west.
That's the stock I come from. People who had a moral compass, people who stood for something, people who helped build this nation. I despise some of the things that this nation and this world are becoming.
I don't coddle people, and I'm an forthright person. I won't flatter your tender sensibilities. I have certain standards I hold myself to, and I hold others to as well.
If you don't have a moral compass, you need to grow one.
If you're politically correct, you need to stop that.
If you're worried about being what's trendy, then you need to find out who you are and simply be that.
But don't be a willow in the wind, blowing every which way.
I want to tell you a story, the story of a minister, a good man, and an excellent preacher. It's one I've never really told online before.
There was once this Baptist minister, who had worked his way through college and seminary; and he was a good man and an excellent preacher, who followed his calling faithfully. Then one day, totally unaware of it, he angered a director of missions of a local Baptist association (still to this day, he doesn't know what set him off); who set about ruining this minister's reputation as a pastor. Being unaware of this, the man went about his calling and his ministry. By the time the minister became aware of it, it was too late. His ministry was ruined. This caused him great financial hardship, and he eventually quit trying to pastor altogether. The secular jobs he took ruined his knees, and today he is disabled, and hasn't been to church in years.
That minister is my husband.
In 2016, it will be 20 years since one man's lies about my husband started us on this downward financial spiral, that we haven't been able to stop yet. Flash forward to 2015, and the same thing is now happening to me.
Unlike other people, who have no qualms about slandering others, I won't stoop to their level. I could give you details, and names, and copies of emails; but I won't. That's not my style. I don't do that.
But I'm feeling very low right now. I'm not sure how we're going to make it from month to month; and there's just no help out there for us. I'm about ready to cry.
There's one person out there who knows who is slandering me and speaking against me, and she won't tell me who my accusers are. I know from my husband's experience that there is nothing I can do. Once those lies are out there, you're simply screwed.
People will believe the lies,
they will repeat the lies,
they won't tell you what was said or who said it.
And your reputation will be destroyed, maybe even your ability to make a living for yourself and your loved ones.
Know that this can happen to anyone, and there's nothing you can do about it.
Because society will always believe the liars, and protect them; and you will be left out in the cold. They tell their lie, their slander about you, with no regard as to how it will affect you or your life. Then they go merrily on their way and live their life, having sent forth words that will destroy yours.
Yes, this post is about the book and movie, Fifty Shades of Grey.
No, I haven't read the book.
No, I haven't watched the movie.
First, let me state, I am not against erotica. I like good erotica, well written erotica. I am against erotica that glamorizes abusive behavior.
Do I plan to read the book?
After reading the summary of what the book is about, at this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifty_Shades_of_Grey
no, I have no interest in reading the book. In fact, if I knew nothing about the book or the author, and received a request via my book review blog to review this book, based on the description at the link above, I would say no and decline to review it. And I would note, the book blurb on Amazon and what the above links says, paint two very different pictures of the book's content.
From what I'm learning, I would say the above link paints a very accurate picture of the book's content.
Do I plan to watch the movie?
Nope, no way. From what I've heard, the movie is a watered down version of the book, and I'm not interested in either.
What concerns me about all this:
I'm concerned by how big a deal this book has become. I'm concerned by the influence it may have on our society at large and on individuals. I'm concerned with the message it seems to send.
It's fiction, yes, but it's dangerous fiction. Cases of people imitating fiction are not new. Remember the old saying, 'A case of life imitating art'. Well, this is one book that no one should strive to imitate. If anything, it should be a warning to naive young women to beware of men like Christian Grey.
Abuse of any kind is not okay!
Of course, there may be an outcry from the BDSM community, directed towards those criticizing this book or the movie. Now I've personally edited books that include BDSM elements. I've read those books. I think what is depicted in this book is more abuse than BDSM.
So let's move on to a breakdown of the reviews for this book:
The following is copied from the Amazon website, by me, today, February 15, 2015
Note the following breakdown by me, of the reviews:
5 star - 13,541
4 star - 3,283
13541+3283=16824
3 star - 2,707
2 star - 2,497
1 star - 7,188
2497+7188=9685
So this book has almost as many bad reviews as it does good ones. That should tell people something. Because no, it's not normal for a book to have that many bad reviews. A truly good book won't have that many negative reviews. The good reviews will far outweigh the bad reviews.
The following video was shared by a friend on a facebook post that I made. Here's a bit from the info about it, on youtube:
Published on Feb 12, 2015 What do readers of Fifty Shades of Grey have in common? A recent study showed strong correlations between health risks in women's lives - including violence victimization - and consumption of Fifty Shades of Grey material. Stefan Molyneux speaks with Dr. Amy Bonomi about the study's findings and what can be learned from the popularity of Fifty Shades of Grey. Dr. Amy Bonomi is Professor and Chair of the Human Development and Family Studies Department at Michigan State University. Dr. Bonomi’s research focuses on the long-term health effects of domestic violence, dating violence, and child abuse, and the intimacy dynamics/processes that keep violent relationships intact.
Books can be great things. Fifty Shades of Grey is not one of those books. This author seems to be making her writing career just on this series of books. Yeah, she's grinning all the way to the bank.
I would not recommend this book or the movie either.
If you want to read erotica, check out the following authors, who I can recommend wholeheartedly:
Books should be fun, books should be entertaining, books should be informative. But when books influence people in a negative way, or glamorize a particularly destructive type of behavior, then books can become a bad influence.
Why this book has become such a runaway hit is beyond me. From what I've read, the writing isn't that great. So it must be the subject matter? And if it is the subject matter, then that doesn't say much about us as a society, now does it.
A subject for another day:
The sad state of the moral fiber of our world today,
and the total lack of manners and etiquette and tact in our world today.
There's an old saying that has been floating around for ages:
cheaters never win
But that saying isn't true anymore. Cheaters do win, and they win big. Last night's superbowl proved that.
It's a truly sad comment on our times today, and the state of our world's moral compass.
Now I'm a writer, and stuff like this, it just moves me to write about it. This blog, it's my own personal me blog space, to write on whatever topic I want. Now notice the pic above. This is the logo that I'll be using for future posts of this nature.
But back to last night's 'superbowl'. I think it should be called the 'lame-ass cheaters bowl' actually. In my opinion (and after all, that's what this blog is all about - my opinion), the patriots shouldn't have been playing in the game at all. Everyone wants to seem to dance around it, but they flat out cheated by using underinflated balls; and what's more, they got caught at it. This has been discussed and discussed, but there's no if - ands - or buts about it, they cheated!
What's more, this isn't the first time that the New England Patriots have been caught cheating! But you know what the patriots have learned from their cheating episodes? They've learned that cheating pays off. It's worth it. The pluses they gain far outweigh the minuses. And what's worse, the NFL doesn't really give a rat's ass that they cheated!
They want to put on a good show, make money, etc.
I personally find the whole thing disgusting! And I find it disturbing and concerning.
Cheaters won the superbowl, and today, nobody gives a damn. They just want to celebrate. Well I won't be celebrating. I still have a moral compass, and it screams at me that this is wrong. If yours doesn't, then there's something wrong with you.
But then, we shouldn't be surprised. The NFL seems to have no moral compass at all now days. Their players torture animals, beat women and children, and even murder people. And sooner or later, these bastards end up back on tv, playing football.
Morals are more important than games and money, and the NFL and the New England Cheatriots need to learn that.
