Agenda Participation

Archive for July, 2010

I saved a few bucks by ordering the Windows software through Amazon and loading it on my new laptop myself rather than paying for it when the manufacturer built the machine. It was easy to do and took no time.
Remington Portable Travel Bowl

In all my life, I have read hundreds of books, and few were so enjoyable as this book, Artemis Fowl.

The book is set in our current time and begins with a 12-year-old genius finding a fantastical creature, green and slimy and in pain from alcoholism, and forces it to give him a copy of The Book–the Fairy’s Bible in essence. From here it goes into an exciting, dangerous, and twisty story full of surprises and characters you wouldn’t expect.

The novelty of this book is the fact that it has an entirely new take on fairies. It doesn’t show them as cute little creatures who sprinkle pink sparkly dust all over you. These fairies are heavily-armed, high technology, and completely human-like. They have very human qualities that makes them appealing, but they have (obviously) many things about them that are inherently fairy. They have familiar fairy qualities, but yet Colfer was able to add other elements to the fairies that we’ve never seen before. One of the most unique was the reinvention of the dwarf. Dwarfs have been transformed into tunnelers who consume the dirt and digest it in seconds to tunnel through the ground and cover up their tracks. It seems disgusting when you first read it, but it comes in handy later in the book and in the series.

The fairy technology is one of my favorite parts of the book. Such intricate ideas and designs–truly ingenious. There are too many to list them all, but probably the most dangerous is the Bio-Bomb, or “blue rinse.” It destroys all life in its proximity, yet leaves all other structures intact. This is one of dozens of inventions Colfer’s devious mind has created.

The writing was excellent, and although it was cheesy at some points, there are some witty elements that are going to make you laugh.

A great book all in all. I would call it “required reading!”

If you liked this book, you also might want to try:
Double Life by Dawson Vosburg
The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer (Sequel to Artemis Fowl)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff
Craftsman 9 1755 18

The Defender is a great product and offers a much higher level of protection than any other case I’ve seen, but it’s not foolproof. I have probably dropped my iphone about 20 times since got it in Nov. However, on Christmas eve I had it laying in my lap and stood up. My iphone dropped to the tile floor and when I picked it up the LCD screen was white with blue and red lines running the length of the screen on the right side. I took it to a repair shop and had to have the screen replaced. I too have the oil slick issue but its not a big deal to me. The biggest problem is the reason that I have dropped it so much is that every time I have it in the belt clip and happen to bump the belt clip even with my arm or hand the phone will fall out of the clip. Since the screen replacement and the belt clip issue I just carry it in my pocket. I work construction and have pretty much ruined or broken every phone I’ve had, but thought that this case would maybe help this one survive. Sorry folks but the jury is still out.
Hooked On The Beatles

The iPod Touch 32GB is Great! I bought it for my son’s graduation and the Post Office who lost it after their first try to deliver. Nobody wanted to do anything about it at the Post Office, I was there 3 times and they couldn’t find it. When Tracey, the Amazon Customer Service Representative, step to take care of this problem, it was GREAT. Thank You Tracey!
KitchenAid Khaki Almond set

The gray chain came on my bike stock and it was giving me annoying shifting problems and lots of rubbing on the front derailleur. The quick release link brakes easy and is expensive to replace. Works well for fixing it quickly but I’d rather get a strong chain than a chain that is easy to fix.
Sram PC 9 Speed