Bicycle Design (biking, sport)

REVIEWED BY: Marguerite Zelle

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK: Bicycle Design, by James Thomas

WEB ADDRESS: http://bicycledesign.net/

BLOG DESCRIPTION: Thoughts and discussion about industrial design in the bicycle industry

MY REVIEW: Well, it's a boring one-sentence description of this blog, and not strictly accurate. The author is of course a bicyclist, and has traveled to various bike riding meccas, and written about them, as well as talking about bike design.

Even casual bicyclists will find this blog of interest, I think. Serious bikeriders will love it. At only 99 cents a month, you can't go wrong.

Sample post:

Another Bike Bus
My recent post about the City Cycle “pedal-powered pub” generated a couple of comments pointing out similar vehicles. AJ mentioned that pedal powered buses like the “bierfiets” are already very popular in Holland. Like the City Cycle, the bierfiets looks like a lot of fun, but we all know that human powered buses can be more than just mobile pubs.

Jos sent me a couple pictures of a similar vehicle targeted to a different group of riders.This bicycle bus for children, made in the Netherlands by De Café Racer (the same company that produces the bierfiets) is just such a vehicle. Sure you could just give a bunch of kids a ride to school in a large bakfiets, but I love the idea of letting them pedal their way as a group. I can’t imagine seeing one of these in action here in the U.S., but maybe someday. I know that my kids would get pretty excited about riding one of these…and the same is probably true with most kids. It is only adults who sometimes forget the joy of getting around under their own power. It’s hard to see a vehicle like this though, and not be reminded of that feeling.

RECENT POSTS:
--Matthew Busche’s Radio Shack Trek
--The fastest bike at the US Pro time trial
--Dave and Rob’s custom trike
--DuoCycle trike
--Neil Pryde Bikes design competition finalists
--BTWD and a couple of cargo bikes

_______________
Reviews published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
_______________________
Check out the following blogs:
Seaborn: Oceanography Blog
Star Trek Report: Space Sciences
Volcano Seven: Treasure and Treasure Hunters
Rush Limbaugh Report

Two blogs not to subscribe to

In my never ending attempts to bring blogs of interest to my readers, I subscribe to a lot of them - and at least a third of them, if not more, turn out to be "unsuitable" - either the author has stopped posting in them or complete posts aren't downloaded.

Usually when this happens I just ignore 'em, but since I want my dedicated readers to know that I am looking out for their interests, I'll share two of them below.

(I used to review all blogs and give a "yes" or "no" recommendation. I no longer do that. It's always "yes". I do this just to get a word out about a blog, even if I think it's poorly written. But I no longer share reviews of "unsuitable" blogs. Except of course today. ; )

Two blogs not to bother with.

BetweenHearts75 - a poetry and photo blog, inactive since May 10.

Daily Actor - not suited to the Kindle. Each post gives you only a paragraph, and instructions to visit the website itself. I don't think this is accidental, either, I think they are deliberately trying to force people to go to their website. Well, in that case, don't put it on the Kindle to begin with!

Ebook: The Coldest Equations, by Caroline Miniscule

My latest book published for the Kindle is now available for purchase. (And within a couple of days, should be available for Barnes&Nobles Nook as well.)

It's science fiction.

Tracy Karlovassi, actress, is the star of the science fiction TV series The Coldest Equations, in which she plays Miranda Rainbird, security team leader for a corporation that deals in space travel. It is the near future, and these civilian corporations devoted to space travel have become little worlds of their own, with security agents protecting their own engineers and scientists from kidnap or spying, while at the same time spying on other corporations and attempting to kidnap their scientists and engineers.

Whenever a TV series on our earth is committed to celluloid, it is immediately created as an alternate earth, that exists just as much as our own does. And there are watchers -out there- who have devised a way to transport the actors from the TV series to their real life counterparts on the alternate earth, and vice versa.

In the TV series (and on the alternate earth) Miranda Rainbird has been framed for a crime she did not commit, and is on the run from both friend and foe. If it *were* Miranda Rainbird on the run, she could doubtless solve all her problems, skilled agent that she is. But Tracy Karlovassi has been transferred into her body...and what can a mere actress do?

It's fun, it's suspenseful, if you like classic science fiction TV and books, you'll like it. And best of all, it's only $2.99!

Available now. Go to the Kindle store via your kindle and search for The Coldest Equations, or follow this link:

http://www.amazon.com/Coldest-Equations-People-There-ebook/dp/B0052NSRKK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1306369228&sr=1-1

Kevin Lee Allen Design Blog (Arts and entertainment)

REVIEWED BY: Marguerite Zelle

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK: Kevin Lee Allen Design Blog , by Kevin Lee Allen & Kathleen McDonough

WEB ADDRESS: http://klad.com/blog/

BLOG DESCRIPTION: Our take on the world of design and the world

MY REVIEW: This is an enjoyable blog, and worth it for only 99 cents a month. The posts are frequent. They aren't very long, for the most part - a single photo shared and some comments on it. But the authors do have interesting things to say about design, so check it out!

Sample post:

Bus Stops as Art and Architectural Folly

Bus Stops are ubiquitous and often under designed, to say the very least. There is one near us that is designed, using the term loosely, but without sense of scale or context; faux (read bad) Victorian set in a faux (read well done in the early 20th Century) Tudor shopping village.

Every once and awhile some interesting bus stops show up on the Internets. The one at left is simple, fun and green. OK, it is yellow, but it is environmentally sound as it reuses bits of retired school buses. Context and placement would be key to this design being ultimately successful.

We’re not all matchy-matchy. Eclectic neighborhoods are more fun than over the top thematic installations. Nonetheless this structure will stand out everywhere, but it has to be placed properly in order to stand out properly. It would clash violently in the Tudor Shopping district. On the other hand, this would be fun near a plaground or a park.

Architectural Follies are a great way to inject set design into everyday life. We love these bus stops as accents. Even commuters deserve a smile. And not a back-lit advert to be seen.

Plus, what fun to create and use in a film or television commercial?

RECENT POSTS:
--Bus Stops as Art and Architectural Folly
--Lovely Lighting
--They did that with cardboard?
--Moder[n]ism in the Movies
--Shiny is good



_______________
Reviews published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
_______________________
Check out the following blogs:
Seaborn: Oceanography Blog
Star Trek Report: Space Sciences
Volcano Seven: Treasure and Treasure Hunters
Rush Limbaugh Report

Time goes by fast

Wow...4 days without a new review!

Apologies. Truth to tell I've been writing a book, and I was so close to having it done that I just could not stop. Finished it completely yesterday - now I have to let it sit for about a week so I can go to it fresh and proof read it.

So now I'm back to the kindle blog report, and within a couple of hours there will be a few new reviews here!

thanks for your patience!

Recreational Ghost Hunting (lifestyle and culture

REVIEWED BY: Marguerite Zelle

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK: Recreational Ghost GUnting

WEB ADDRESS: http://recreationalghosthunting.blogspot.com/

BLOG DESCRIPTION: Wherever you go around the world, you will hear ghost stories. This blog records famous ghosts, giving tips on travelling to find ghostly spots, as well as providing information on non-fiction books that cover the supernatural. Updated 3 times a week.

MY REVIEW: If you're interested in the supernatural at all, you'll find this blog of interest. It prpvides news articles on "ghost hunters" (typically those stars of reality TV shows) in the US and England, and non-fiction books that cover not only ghost hunting but also the spiritual world as well - mediumship, ghost hunting, etc.

RECENT POSTS:
--Booklist: Unfinished Business, by James Van Praagh...
--BOSF 2011: S.F. Ghost Society Investigates the Par...
--UK: Haunted Merseyside Takes Skiddle along to inve...
--Missouri: Go Bump in the Night at Haunted Morse Mi...
--Ghost hunting at The Sheffield Fire & Police Museu...
--Spirit Faces, by Mark Macy
--Yesteryear lives on at 8 elegant hotels
--CBS47 Special Report: Uncovering Paranormal Activi...
--Landmarks Haunted by Debt Consult the Spirit World...
--UK: Hunt is on for Ghosts

_______________
Reviews published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
_______________________
Check out the following blogs:
Seaborn: Oceanography Blog
Star Trek Report: Space Sciences
Volcano Seven: Treasure and Treasure Hunters
Rush Limbaugh Report

Weight Loss Without Tears (health and fitness)

REVIEWED BY: Marguerite Zelle

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK: Weight Loss Without Tears

WEB ADDRESS: http://thesolitarycyclistweightmanagementpro.blogspot.com/

BLOG DESCRIPTION: There's no mystery to weight loss. Consume less calories than you burn away, and you will lose weight. Eat the right number of calories, and you'll maintain your weight. The problem is people have such a hard time controlling their appetite - for a variety of reasons. If that's your problem - if you're healthy enough for exercise, and have no dietary restrictions because of diabetes or similar diseases, Weight Loss Without Tears can help you.

MY REVIEW: If you've been trying to lose weight for a while, but just "don't have the willpower," this blog is for you. It explains that weight loss is permanent if you lose the weight gradually, and don't obsess over it.

The blog first started out as a prosletyzer for biycling, hence the title.

Recommended.

RECENT POSTS:
--Have You Had Your 6-Month Checkup Lately?
--Organize for Success
--Breaking Bad Habits Continued
--Is Jenny Craig - or Weight Watchers - Better than ...
--Don't Shop While Hungry
--How Varied Is Your Menu? And can you make a habit ...
--Live "Purpose-Driven" Days
--Are You Honest in Your Record Keeping?
--A couple of weird old tips...
--Beware Email Warnings or Requests For Charity
--There are no "weird old tricks" or "secrets your d...

_______________
Reviews published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
_______________________
Check out the following blogs:
Seaborn: Oceanography Blog
Star Trek Report: Space Sciences
Volcano Seven: Treasure and Treasure Hunters
Rush Limbaugh Report

A Good Beer Blog (lifestyle and culture)

REVIEWED BY: Marguerite Zelle

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK: A Good Beer Blog, Alan McLeod

WEB ADDRESS: http://beerblog.genx40.com/

BLOG DESCRIPTION: The most popular beer blog on the planet (which must also make #1 in the universe), A Good Beer Blog has been slowing productivity levels since 2003... or so.

MY REVIEW: I have a lot of hobbies and a lot of interests...but beer isn't one of them. However, if beer - the different kindsin different countries, the brewings, the tastes, and everything else you can think of - is your cup of tea, then this blog is for you.

Check it out.

Sample post

Canada's Dirty Secret: Buying Beer In Another Province
Posted by Alan McLeod on Friday, May 13, 2011 in Newfoundland, Canada, Quebec,
Beer and Law - 8 comments
Of all the reasons to call in the cops, buying beer in one province and taking to another has to be one of the most important, as this story shows:

"Our intelligence gathering revealed that we believe there was a large quantity of alcohol being brought in to the province from other provinces, and obviously that's a loss of revenue for the province," he said. In Fermont, a case of 24 bottles of beer costs about $29. In Labrador City, the same case is almost $45. The liquor corporation said it's working with the police on the problem. Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officers will patrol the highway to stop offenders. "Liquor or beer can be confiscated, as well as the vehicle," said Cst. Bill Fitzgerald.

Imagine being the cop detailed to confiscate a rural neighbour's vehicle over a 16 buck difference in the cost of beer. I have actually experienced this. When I lived in Canada's oddest province, Prince Edward Island, a pal visiting was stopped after crossing the bridge and his car got searched. After counting heads of passengers and beers, they were told to go on as they were fine. Police and government officials even ran ads about "smuggling" that mystified me before this event until I realized it was referring to shopping in another nearby part of the same country. Craziest of all, there is no mechanism by which you can pay at the "border" when you cross from one province to another.

This sort of thing makes me embarrassed to be Canadian.

RECENT POSTS:
-Rhode Island: That Sample of SUmmer Ale, Narragansett
-Pittsburg Pirates Demand Loser Pride From Fans
-Mr. Gillman on APA, SN PA, Liberty, Ballentines and Stuff
-Canada's Dirty Secret: Buying Beer in Another Province
-Heritage as Brand as Heritage as Foundation as Brand
-Where There is Beer there is Peace Revisted
-The US Secret Service needs Good Cellarpersons

_______________
Reviews published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
_______________________
Check out the following blogs:
Seaborn: Oceanography Blog
Star Trek Report: Space Sciences
Volcano Seven: Treasure and Treasure Hunters
Rush Limbaugh Report

Teaching Will (Shakespeare, theatre arts)

REVIEWED BY: Marguerite Zelle

MY RECOMMENDATION: Yea, verily!

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK: Teaching Will, by Mel Ryane

WEB ADDRESS: http://www.teachingwill.com/

BLOG DESCRIPTION: As a volunteer, I created The Shakespeare Club, an after-school program for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. Together we grapple with the Bard, life and each other. These are the tales.

MY REVIEW: I enjoyed this blog a great deal, and I heartily recommend it. If you're in to Shakespeare, in to theatre, or just trying to teach kids how to do anything, this blog will appeal.

The author is a professional writer, and her stories are funny, illuminating, and at times inspirational.

You'll learn about history, you'll learn about theatre, you'll learn about Shakespeare, you'll even learn about kids.

Subscribe!

Sample post:

MIA
What do you want?"

I get a blank, brown-eyed look for an answer.

"Really, I'll give you anything you want....What do you want?"

This can be a startling question coming out of the blue. Especially coming from an adult and you're a fifth-grader.

"Because here's what it looks like you don't want: It looks like you don't want to be in Shakespeare Club anymore. It looks like you don't want to play Oberon, and if that's the case, then you got it. Let's get you off the hook, my friend."

Dominick and I are sitting alone at the back of the auditorium during lunch. I'd located him on the field, crooked my finger,walked away, and he'd followed.

I ushered Dominick into a seat and planted myself across the row. In the distance we could hear squeals and shouts of kids roughhousing, but inside the cavernous hall it was quiet. I didn't say anything. For a while Dominick didn't say anything, then:

"What?" He shrugged his shoulders.

"Right. That's my question. What?"

"I'm sorry."

"For?"

"For skipping Shakespeare Club yesterday."

And that's when I offered him the world. Whatever you want, Dominick.

"It's just that I hit my head—"

"You know what?" I cut him off. "We're not even going there because I know you went to baseball practice."

Hmmm.

And I knew this after hearing from other kids that Dominick had left school, and after searching the grounds for him, and after writing his dad and finding out Dominick had convinced his caretaker to take him home, and after hearing Dominick ended up playing baseball....Well, he had two strikes with me.

"Are you mad at me, Dominick?"

"No."

He said this with a world-weary shake of his head. It was an adult reaction. His face looked so exhausted he could only be sharing the truth.

I knew then whatever was going on with Dominick had nothing to do with me, or playing Oberon, or Shakespeare Club.

"Okay, do you want to be in Shakespeare Club? Do you want to play Oberon?"

"Yes, I do....I do, Ms. Ryane."

"Then no more missing. I don't care if you're throwing up, cut and bleeding. No more missing because you're letting down your team and you're wasting my time. Do not mess with me, Dominick. Do not."

He gave me serious nod.

"I think you'll be great as Oberon, but you have to do the work. You have to show up. I don't want thirty percent of you, or sixty-five percent....I want one hundred and fifty percent of you, every week."

From the time he was a baby, Dominick was moved home to home, house to house, pretend-family to pretend-family over and over again in the foster-care system.

He and his little sister have been adopted and are now in a stable situation, but the family is about to relocate to another city and it looks like Dominick might be having a reaction. He wants to run.

I do too, some days, but we're going to stay put, me and Dominick. We're going to stay in the dream.

RECENT POSTS:
--Jolly Old King Nutbar
--447
--Bottom's Up: Sam
--M.I.A.
--Recess: Ah, the Cuts
--Literally? Literally.

_______________
Reviews published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
_______________________
Check out the following blogs:
Seaborn: Oceanography Blog
Star Trek Report: Space Sciences
Volcano Seven: Treasure and Treasure Hunters
Rush Limbaugh Report

The KBR Index of Blogs Reviewed Will Be Ready Soon

I have really let the index of this blog (which is at a separate website) slide...haven't updated it for months. And it wasn't designed very nicely to begin with, and was cumbersome to use.

Well, I'm going to change that in a couple more days! I've been working on a new version of the index which I believe will make it easier for people to find the blogs they are looking for - which will help them, and the bloggers concerned.

I'll post the URL of that in a couple of days.

Meantime, the schedule of new blog reviews will be posted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

I'm going to hold off on retro reviews for a while - especially since with this new index they might not be necessary any more - I'll see how many hits the index gets through the course of a day...

No, you're not losing your mind!

If there were posts here yesterday that you read, which are not here today, it's because...they're not here.

Blogger.com, the platform that hosts this blog, was down for much of yesterday afternoon and all night...just coming up now (11 am mountain time.) And all posts made yesterday have disappeared.

Supposedly, those posts will be restored. I'll give them a day to do so, and if not, will re-post them tomorrow.

Sorry for the inconvenience!

Florida Foreclosure Defense Lawyers Blog

REVIEWED BY: Marguerite Zelle

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK: Florida Foreclosure Defense Lawyers Blog , by David Golman

WEB ADDRESS: http://www.floridaforeclosuredefenselawyersblog.com/

BLOG DESCRIPTION: Covers Foreclosure defense, scams, and cases involved in Florida foreclosures and around the country

MY REVIEW: There are two schools of thought on the mortgage crisis that has pretty much ruined the American economy for the last three or four years. There are those who think that it was the fault of the government, for forcing lenders to make housing loans to people who clearly would never be able to pay their mortgages, and the fault of the individuals themselves who bought homes when they had neither the knowledge or the income to be able to afford one.

The other side of the coin is that these marginal home owners were actually victimized by the lenders themselves, and are continuing to be victimized by the banks, some of whom are forging documents in order to go into foreclosure, or are misrepresenting the amount owed on a mortgage.

It's all a big mess and its incredible to me that things were allowed to get into this state!

In any event, if you live in Florida and are in danger of losing your house, you might find this blog of interest. Or, if you are just interested in the legal ramifications of this foreclosure debacle, you'll also find this blog of interest.

This blog is run by a lawyer...and I'm not advocating him - or anyone - to help you. All I've done is read his blog. If you do need help, be very careful whom you approach. There are quite a few scams going on, with inexperienced people or plain out and out crooks forming companies where they say they'll renegotiate your mortgage for you and help you save your house, in return demanding an up front payment from you. Do NOT hire these people. If they can't save your house, why should you have to pay them? And if you can afford to pay them the fees they ask, it'd be better to spend that money on your mortgage!

RECENT POSTS:
--FREE Florida Foreclosure Defense Webinar Next Week
--Federal Judge sanctions LPS for fraud on the court
--Deutsche Bank sued by United States for Mortgage fraud
--ACLU files a challenge to Lee Circuit Court's Foreclosure Proceedings

_______________
Reviews published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
_______________________
Check out the following blogs:
Seaborn: Oceanography Blog
Star Trek Report: Space Sciences
Volcano Seven: Treasure and Treasure Hunters
Rush Limbaugh Report

Fencing.net (Foil, sabre, epee fencing)

REVIEWED BY: Marguerite Zelle

MY RECOMMENDATION: Yes

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK: Fencing.net

WEB ADDRESS: http://fencing.net

BLOG DESCRIPTION: Discover, Enjoy, and Progress in the Olympic sport of fencing with our up to date news and training tips columns.

MY REVIEW: Every time a movie comes out with a lot of fencing - the first Pirates of the Caribbean, for example, or the first Star Wars, interest in fencing peaks briefly in the US. But because real fencing is not quite like its movie counterpart, the interest doesnt' last too long.

Which is a pity, because participants in fencing matches have fun, and its a great sport for increasing your fitness.

But it's an esoteric sport and I wonder how many Kindle readers are interested in fencing? Well...because you get a two week free subscription, why not subscribe and take a look at the blog, and indeed, at the sport itself.

Sample post

World Cup Season Kicks into High Gear
The fencing World Cup season kicks into high gear this weekend as the world cups now count for 2012 Olympic qualification.

Foil fencing for both men and women will commence in Shanghai. Traditionally Japan hosts a men’s foil grand prix event, but the event was moved to Shanghai following the earthquake and tsunami that hit Fukushima. (You can still donate to the relief efforts through the Red Cross.)

Here’s a brief rundown of the events:

Women’s Foil (Team and Individual): Shanghai, China
Men’s Foil (Individual): Shanghai, China
Women’s Epee (Team and Individual): Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Women’s Sabre (Team and Individual): Bologne, Italy
Who to watch? Mariel Zagunis will be fencing to keep at the top of the FIE world rankings and her teammates will be fencing to improve their rankings to try to secure another qualification spot for the US. Women’s Foil will be working to keep ahead of all others in the North American zone for the team qualification and men’s foil will see Miles Chamley-Watson fence to improve on his #3 world ranking and 2011 NCAA Champion Ariel DeSmet enters the field.

The Women’s Epee team heads down to 2016 Olympic host city Rio to take part in a “home zone” event. 12 athletes from the USA will compete in the individual event and the team event will feature some of our most seasoned athletes as the Hurley sisters (Kelley and Courtney), Maya Lawrence, and Lindsay Campbell will be the Team USA entry in the team event.

RECENT POSTS:
--World cup season kicks into high gear
--The COmprehensive guide to fencing shoes
--Szilagyi wins Acropolis cup
--US epee silvers in Heidenhelm
--Epee: You make the call

_______________
Reviews published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
_______________________
Check out the following blogs:
Seaborn: Oceanography Blog
Star Trek Report: Space Sciences
Volcano Seven: Treasure and Treasure Hunters
Rush Limbaugh Report

Book Brouhaha (arts and entertainment)

REVIEWED BY: Marguerite Zelle

MY RECOMMENDATION: Yes

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK: Book Brouhaha, by Alain Gomez

WEB ADDRESS: http://bookbrouhaha.blogspot.com/

BLOG DESCRIPTION: The articles in this blog cover various topics that are intended to highlight the short story genre. Guest short story authors are frequently featured.

This blog also provides reviews for works that are 10,000 words or less only. This is a somewhat unique feature as most blog reviewers focus primarily on novels.

MY REVIEW: Book Brouhaha seems to be a misnomer, since this blog focuses on the short story rather than the book. But that's a mere quibble. This is an excellent blog for those folks who are interested in short stories - and I have to admit in today's busy world it's a lot easier to find the time to read short stories rather than novels.

The short story is a distinct form from the novel - believe it or not its much harder to right a short story, as one has fewer words in which to accomplish the story...no padding allowed, which you can get by with in a novel.

Author interviews, short stories, short story reviews.

Highly recommended.

RECENT POSTS:
--The Short Story Project
I was introduced to the short story genre in high school and simply fell in love. It's completely different from reading a novel. A novel ...
--Review of "Against Her Fading Hour" by Isaac Sweeney
Summary: Three heart-wrenching short stories. In "Handi-Cure," Elisa is a widow looking for acceptance in the world. She tries to find it...
--Guest article by Jennifer Conner from e-publishing company Books to Go Now
People aren’t reading less, in fact I feel people are reading more than ever. Readers want to escape if even for a short time for romance, a...
--Author interview: James Everington
How did you become interested in short stories? By reading great ones; the first book of short stories I remember really impressing me was ...
--Author interview: Isaac Sweeney
How did you become interested in short stories? In school, the assignments were always to write short stories or poetry in the creative writ...

_______________
Reviews published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
_______________________
Check out the following blogs:
Seaborn: Oceanography Blog
Star Trek Report: Space Sciences
Volcano Seven: Treasure and Treasure Hunters
Rush Limbaugh Report

Live Once, Juicy (health, weight loss)

REVIEWED BY: Marguerite Zelle

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK: Live Once, Juicy, by Shaunta Grimes

WEB ADDRESS: http://liveoncejuicy.com/

BLOG DESCRIPTION: Shaunta Grimes blogs at Live Once, Juicy about body acceptance and athleticism at every size.

At its heart, Live Once, Juicy is about giving yourself permission to live exactly how you want to, right now. Shaunta hosts a weekly self-portrait project called the Rad Fatties Project, keeps a list of defiant athletes on the web, and writes an ongoing series debunking fat myths and commentary on news about the war on obesity.

Readers are encouraged to rethink what they thought they knew about health, the social context of fat and body politics.

MY REVIEW: This blog is a breath of fresh air, and I highly recommend it to those women (and men as well) who are "large", and sick to death of people telling them to lose weight. If you're healthy, if you're athletic, why should you worry if you're five to fifty pounds overweight? It's your life, live it the way you want to!

Which isn't to say this blog gives you permission to be a couch potato. Be a "defiant" athlete, exercising and working out not to lose weight, but to be healthy and strong.

I heartily recommend this blog.

RECENT POSTS:
--Really?
--Fat NYC: An uncharacteristically fluffy picture post
--I Wore A Dress (Bonus DIY Leggings Vid)
--Sometimes the Progress is Between My Ears
--“I Have Dreams When I’m Awake, When I’m Asleep”

_______________
Reviews published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
_______________________
Check out the following blogs:
Seaborn: Oceanography Blog
Star Trek Report: Space Sciences
Volcano Seven: Treasure and Treasure Hunters
Rush Limbaugh Report

The Playgoer (arts and entertainment, theatre)

REVIEWED BY: Marguerite Zelle

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK: The Playgoer, by Garrett Eisler

WEB ADDRESS: http://playgoer.blogspot.com/

BLOG DESCRIPTION: Theater critic Garrett Eisler weighs in on all things dramaturgical, Broadway and beyond. Includes links to theater news stories from all over the web and the world.

MY REVIEW: I love the theatre, and if you do too, this is the blog for you. (Theater = movie theaters, theatre = the stage. That's how I differentiate 'em!)

Truth to tell, I find the stage our most tragic art. An actor - or a whole company - can give the performance of their lives one night...and only a handful of people will see it...and will they be able to remember anything (except the emotion of pleasure) about it ten years later?

I've seen many plays in my life - the Guthrie Theater season of 1985 is a particular favorite... and I'd give almost anything to be able to see those productions again - but of course that's just not possible.

This blog has recently been focusing on theater awards - the Tonys and the Lortels, but there's plenty of theatre info and reviews here, so check it out.

Sample Review

Intiman Updates
Seattle Times critic Misha Berson follows up with the big picture on last week's surprise announcement of Seattle's Intiman Theatre suspending all operations.

Also, Artistic Director Kate Whoriskey (who was in the middle of her first season there) has officially resigned rather than wait out the uncertainty. Indeed, better than waiting around to be laid off after already having your paychecks stopped. Talk about adding insult to injury...

As an earlier commenter suggested, this may all have more to do with the local Seattle scene than the state of our nonprofit companies nationally. Still, I can't think of any other theatre as large (budget-wise) and as prominent (prestige-wise) going under in recent years. Can you?

RECENT POSTS:
--Tony Noms, 2010-2011
--2010-2011 Lortels (Off Broadway)
--Axeman Cometh
--The Archives of the Future
--Regional Awards Roundup: DC
--"Normal Heart:" Update
--Intiman Updates

_______________
Reviews published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
_______________________
Check out the following blogs:
Seaborn: Oceanography Blog
Star Trek Report: Space Sciences
Volcano Seven: Treasure and Treasure Hunters
Rush Limbaugh Report

Geektress: Powered by Science (arts and entertainment)

REVIEWED BY: Marguerite Zelle

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK: Geektress: Powered by Science, by Brenda Kirk

WEB ADDRESS: http://www.geektress.com/

BLOG DESCRIPTION: Geektress is a website aimed at science fiction / fantasy / comic-book loving nerds everywhere. It's a news, reviews, and opinions blog written exclusively by women who love geeky stuff, and aren't afraid to share.

MY REVIEW: If you're a science fiction or fantasy fan, man or woman, I urge you to subscribe to this blog. The author writes well and with entusiasm, and covres a variety of media - TV, books, movies. THere's recaps and reviews of TV series and comics...just about everything. Check it out.

Sample post:

Game of Thrones Read-Along, Week 1
(It's a long post, I share only a few paragrpahs. It is also illustrated with photos from the TV series. Check it out online)
In Shakespeare’s tragedies, there’s always this major turning point where someone has killed someone else and then events have to play themselves out, usually with everyone dead at the end. The turning point of A Game of Thrones happens before the book even starts. Jon Arryn, Hand of the King, dies, and as Eddard Stark comes to find out, his death was really murder.

The first 200 pages of A Game of Thrones sets this murder theory up. We also get a lot of introductions and character development in these pages. A lot of what happens in these first pages shape the characters into who they become several books down the line.

Lots of plot threads start here. Members of the Night’s Watch encounter White Walkers – ghostly zombie type creatures bent on murder and destruction. Eddard Stark learns of Jon Arryn’s death and King Robert comes to Winterfell to ask him to take the dead man’s place as Hand of the King. Jon Snow, Eddard’s bastard son joins the Night Watch on the wall and Tyrion Lannister, dwarf and brother to Queen Cersei accompanies him. We also meet Daenerys Targaryan, the last Princess of the Dragon as her brother sells her into marriage with Khal Drogo, a barbarian horse lord.

There is tons of back story that goes along with these events, that make these events more than simple plot points. The most important bit of back story involves Robert’s Rebellion. We learn that 17 years ago, Robert usurps the throne from Mad King Aerys II – Daenerys’ father. Robert also murders Rhaegar, King Aerys’ heir and Daenerys’ oldest brother, for kidnapping his betrothed and raping her a million times, which eventually results in her death. Robert’s betrothed is Lyanna Stark – Eddard Stark’s sister. So, Robert, Eddard, and Jon Arryn storm The Trident and take down the mad king. King Aerys II had also done a whole lot of other awful things, including murder Eddard Stark’s father and older brother and a bunch of other people just because he felt like it. Robert murders Rhaegar and his wife and their newborn baby. King Aerys’ queen manages to escape with her younger son Viserys and Daenerys, who is still in the womb. Robert becomes King and everyone lives not so happily ever after.

The horror of those events drive most of our characters throughout the series. Maybe Robert’s Rebellion was the turning point. Robert disrupted several generations of crazy inbred Targaryan rule. Perhaps the universe is not happy with this. Aerys was a psychopath, but he was the trueborn Targaryan heir. This might sound silly, but in many real life cultures, a king is god’s own avatar on earth. Kill that avatar and all hell breaks loose.

Anyway… Martin gives us eight different character perspectives in this first book and we get all eight of them in the first 200 pages. In my mind, the most prominent POV is that of Eddard (Ned) Stark. Out of all the batshit crazy characters you will meet in this series, Eddard stands out as a rock of reason. He can be harsh at times but is also compassionate when he needs to be. He loves his wife and children and is a hard but fair Warden of the North. Ned is an Everyman. He is the easiest to relate to even though sometimes his noble actions make you want to do a facepalm because you know they’ll bite him in the ass later. Ned is too trusting and too willing to think everyone else is like him – putting honor and duty above personal gain.

Part of what makes Ned such a likeable character is that we also see him from the POV of several of his children – Jon, Sansa, Arya, and Bran. They all love and respect him. Through his children we see that he is a good father as well as a good Warden. We also see Ned through is wife Catelyn’s eyes. Catelyn had been betrothed to Ned’s older brother Brandon before he was murdered by Aerys. As honor and duty demanded, Ned took his brother’s place and married his brother’s bride. Catelyn came to love Ned over the years and she is devoted to him, giving him five children and hoping for more. Through Catelyn, we see that Ned is also a good husband.

I have one note on Catelyn as a character. I don’t like her. Everything she does throughout the series is forever colored by her interaction with Jon – Ned’s bastard – in Bran’s sick room. In a major plot point, where we see for the first time that no character is safe from death or destruction, Jaime Lannister shoves Bran out a multistory window after the boy witnesses him and his twin sister, Queen Cersei, having their affair.

(Continued at the blog)

RECENT POSTS:
--Smallville: And don't forget the magic rocks!
--GoT Read-along, Week 2
--I like big links and I can not lie
--Next Quarter's Shirtless Beheadings Flick Looks Good
--Wish List Wednesday: The Galaxy Far Away Edition
--Battle Bands: Squishy And Bossy
--Game Of Thrones Read-Along: Week 1




_______________
Reviews published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

_______________________
Check out the following blogs:
Seaborn: Oceanography Blog
Star Trek Report: Space Sciences
Volcano Seven: Treasure and Treasure Hunters
Rush Limbaugh Report