Caroline Miniscule's Football (football)

REVIEWED BY: Marguerite Zelle

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK: Caroline Miniscule's Football

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

BLOG DESCRIPTION: I've been a football fan almost as long as I've been a baseball fan. Started out with the Minnesota Vikings during the 80s and 90s. Then moved to Virginia so adopted the Washington Redskins. Now I'm in Wyoming and so the Denver Broncos are my team.

In this blog I cover all football, but with an emphasis on those three teams.

MY REVIEW: Football season doesn't start for a few more months, but of course there's plenty going on with trades, free agencies and so on. If you're a fan of the Vikings, Redskins and Broncos, check out this blog.

Sample post:

Broncos to Buck Off Tim Tebow
Peyton Manning is holding a press conference even as I type. He has decided to play for the Denver Broncos.

Tim Tebow is out of a job. But rather than keeping him - just in case Manning gets injured or is unable to play, they are apparently going to trade him as fast as possible.

And I'm a bit bummed about that.

Yes, I know professional sports are a business...but there's also some emotional attachment there. Just as I couldn't root for my Vikings after they signed the Packer, Brett Favre (the Packer in Purple, I called him), so I don't know if I'll be able to root for the Broncos. Oh, I'll still watch and report on them... but I dunno...this has left a sour taste in my mouth.

You do wonder how the quarterbacks of the teams that were panting after Manning feel now. I'm sure they all think that they are as good as he is (though they probably won't say so...)

A few years ago, when Jay Cutler pitched a fit and demanded to be traded from the Broncos - after they had tried to get Matt Cassell - I was on the Broncos side. I thought Cutler had behaved childishly. "It's just a business and he should know that," I thought.

Well..it's 3 years later and I've changed my opinion. Cutler was treated badly by the Broncos and so is Tim Tebow (and so would have been any quarterback who lost their job to Manning).

I'm not too impressed with Manning over this. I admit I didn't follow his saga, but if my impression is correct, he's the one who called around to six teams and said, "Hey, what will you give me if I play for you?" thereby attempting to steal the job of an already entrenched quarterback.

Well, we'll see how it plays out.

I don't want anything bad to happen to Manning - I want him to enjoy a long and full life with full use of all his limbs - but it would be funny if he got hurt the first game of the season and had to retire, and the Broncos had to go scrambling for another quarterback and ended up with a 0-16 record.

If that happens...I wonder if Manning would return the money they will be paying him for not playing. (OF course, you never know if a player would do that, but is prevented from doing so by the Union...)

RECENT POSTS:
--All these little technicalities
--Sean Payton suspended for a year, Greg WIlliams in...
--Tim Tebow traded to the Jets
--Broncos to Buck Off Tim Tebow
--Chiefs sign former Texans T Eric Winston, Broncos ...
--Manning Should Retire
--Who'd be interested in Tim Tebow if the Broncos la...
--Handicapping the Manning field
--Broncos make their 1st foray into free agency, agr...
--Suspended Broncos players sue NFL
--Broncos roll out the red carpet as Peyton Manning ...

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Reviews published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
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Check out my kindle BOOKS!:
Whose Body, by Dorothy Sayers (the Annotated Edition)
The Coldest Equations (science fiction)
Volcano Seven: Treasure and Treasure Hunters
The Lady and the Tiger...Moth

Caroline Miniscule's Baseball (baseball)

REVIEWED BY: Marguerite Zelle

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK: Caroline Miniscule's Baseball

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

BLOG DESCRIPTION: I have been a baseball fan most of my life.

I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I was 13 years old when Kirby Puckett was called up in May and made his debut with the Twins - going 4 for 5. I saw both World Series' runs the Twins had, and was there when Kirby played his last game.

When I moved to Virginia, I adopted the Orioles and the Nationals. I've always liked the Orioles - even when I lived in Minnesota, because I liked Calvin Ripken, and I live in hope that one day the Orioles will be able to return to their former glory...). And the Nationals...well, I hope that one day they will be able to achieve glory...

Now that I've moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, I've added the Colorado Rockies to my allegiance.

This blog will therefore cover the Twins, Orioles, Nationals and Rockies in detail.

I'm also a fan of individual players on certain teams. And there are teams that I use mind-control in order to make them lose every day - for example the Yankees.

I'm not too fond of the Boston Red Sox after the way they treated Tito Francona, but I do like Jacoby Ellsbury. And as for the Seattle Mariners, it will be interesting to see how Ichiro Suzuki does in the 3-hole instead of his normal lead-off spot.

I'll also be playing MLB's Beat the Streak and if they bring back MLB Survivor, I'll be playing that, too. I'll share my picks on this blog.

So sit back, have some poporn and crackerjacks, and some Pepsi, and enjoy the baseball season along with me.

MY REVIEW: Most sports blogs are told from the male point of view. Caroline Miniscule covers sports from the woman's point of view. Not that there's much difference in reporting - sports are sports.

Check it out.

Sample post:

Rockies Pitcher: Jamie Moyer

I'm really excited to see Jamie Moyer as part of the Rockies staff. I've been a fan of his ever since he was with the Mariners, and was bummed when they let him go. Indeed, one of my favorite baseball advertistments (released in the Mariners' market) was Jamie Moyer having his fast ball measured by a speed gun that measured in kilometers. He takes a look at the speed of it - 140 km, and says, "Ooh la la."

RECENT POSTS:
--Chipper Jones to retire after 2012 season
--What in the world? Soccer?
--It's Raining! In Arizona!
--What happened to Chone Figgins?
--Rockies Spring Training, Sun, 3/18/12 - vs the Mar...
--Rockies Spring Training, Sat, 3/17, 2012
--Moyer had to give big leagues one last try
--Rockies Pitchers: Drew Pomeranz
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Reviews published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
___________________________
Check out my kindle BOOKS!:
Whose Body, by Dorothy Sayers (the Annotated Edition)
The Coldest Equations (science fiction)
Volcano Seven: Treasure and Treasure Hunters
The Lady and the Tiger...Moth

The Diplomat's Dance (politics)

REVIEWED BY: Marguerite Zelle

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK: The Diplomat's Dance

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

BLOG DESCRIPTION: Everyone knows who the President of the United States is. Some might even know who the Vice President is, as well as the Secretary of State.

But who knows the names of our diplomats - our ambassadors to various countries, our envoys, our special representatives?

Who knows the names of the organizations set up under governmental aegis, and what they do (and how much tax money they cost)?

Who knows the names of the organizations set up by the UN - who even knows the UN's charter?

This blog will endeavor to give faces - and names- to the shadow world of diplomacy.

This blog is updated Monday through Friday, and occasionally on the weekends.

MY REVIEW: This is a blog whose time has come. As the description says, we all know the name of our President, Barack Obama, and the VP, Biden, and we all know Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. Who else do we know? Do we even know what they are doing with our tax dollars?

This blog is more information than opinion. It shares the daily schedule of Hilary Clinton and the diplomatic corps, and then gives biographies - albeit from Wikipedia, on what the the various institutions are that are diplomats work with.

I find it fascinating.

Check it out.

RECENT POSTS:
--What is Food for the Hungry?
--What is ACVFA?
--23 Mar 2012, Fri, SoS Clinton and Staff Schedule
--What is the Milennium Challenge Corporation?
--What is World Water Day?
--22 Mar, 2012, Thu, SoS Clinton and Staff Schedule
--21 Mar 2012, Wed, SoS Clinton and Staff Schedule
--What is the United States Foreign Service?
--20 Mar 2012: Tues, SoS Clinton and Staff Schedule
--What is the American Ireland Fund?
--What is the CSIS Trilateral Nuclear Dialog?
--19 Mar 2012, Mon, Sos Clinton and Staff Schedule

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Reviews published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
___________________________
Check out my kindle BOOKS!:
Whose Body, by Dorothy Sayers (the Annotated Edition)
The Coldest Equations (science fiction)
Volcano Seven: Treasure and Treasure Hunters
The Lady and the Tiger...Moth

Pampering Camper (camping, photography, travel)

REVIEWED BY: Marguerite Zelle

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK: Pampering Campers, by Jo Leach

WEB ADDRESS: www.pamperingcampers.com

BLOG DESCRIPTION: Travel, Camping and Work Camping Experiences. Many outdoor pictures of campgrounds and animals that we share the outdoors with. Find links to useful camping, workamping and outdoor recreation services on our website: www.pamperingcampers.com

MY REVIEW: The website to which this blog is attached is an excellent one for campers. The blog is also a lot of fun as the author shares her travel tales, and lots of cool photos of beautiful scenery. Of course the color photos will lose something on the b&w kindle, but then b&W photography has a beauty all its own, too!

Check it out.

Sample post (with the several photos omitted)

Perspective on Showers
I woke up and didn’t hear rain on the roof of our 5th wheel. Yay! Still sore from yesterday’s clearing trees, I couldn’t stand the thought of doing my resistance exercises. A walk on the beach sounded a lot nicer. It’s no wonder that people use weather as a metaphor for the trials of life. After the storm subsides, it’s such a relief to feel the winds calm, the clouds part, and the sun’s warmth.

As I walked back into the campground I saw a camper. I stopped to talk to him for a minute. We talked about where they’ve been travelling (Arizona) and where they live (Oregon), the weather and how nice of a morning it is. I told him I heard the weather is supposed to be this nice through the weekend. He said, “Really? I saw the forecast was “showers” for the next few days.” I reminded him that he is back in Oregon and that “showers” means you’ll see the sun at least part of the day. I think we saw the same forecast but had different perspectives on what “showers” meant. :-)

I guess I’m a “glass-half-full” kind-of-a-gal.

Between sunrise and sunset we cut down trees in Baker Beach and Rock Creek Campgrounds. We started some work in Cape Perpetua but we pooped out after one tree. We headed home (Tillicum Campground). We got back just in time to check the restrooms, check the iron ranger, make pancakes, bacon, eggs and sausage for dinner then go for another walk on the beach at sunset and low tide.

Oh yeah and, I REALLY need a shower!

RECENT POSTS:
--Perspective on Showers
--Widow Makers in Campgrounds
--Canal Creek Rd – Closed for now
--Oregon is Orange
--Spring on the Alsea River

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Reviews published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
___________________________
Check out my kindle BOOKS!:Whose Body, by Dorothy Sayers (the Annotated Edition)
The Coldest Equations (science fiction)
Volcano Seven: Treasure and Treasure Hunters
The Lady and the Tiger...Moth

The first five novels of John Carter of Mars

There are eleven novels in the "Barsoom series" as the John Carter of Mars series is known (Mars is Barsoom in the Martian's language). The books were written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, most famous as the creator of Tarzan. He also created the Pellucidar series (Journey to the Center of the Earth, and so on).

There are plenty of 99 cent versions of the first five novels on offer in the Kindle store, and I decided on one titled John Carter of Mars that had an illustration of a green martian as the cover.

I suppose, because these books are so well-known, at least to a certain segment of the populace, the entity offering these books for sale didn't feel the need to give very much description of them, which is a pity. Only the titles of the five books were listed (and the fact that a glossary of people, places and things is included, but not mentioned, I find puzzling. You're competing with five other rivals - and yes your cover is the best )for all that it doesn't appear when you look at it on the Kindle!) but any other things to differentiate yourself from your competitors would be helpful.

The table of contents is not "hot", so I'll have to read through each book chronologically.

The Barsoom series
1. Princess of Mars February-July 1912, All-Story
2. The Gods of Mars January-May 1913, All-Story
3. The Warlord of Mars December 1913-March 1914, All-Story
4. Thuvia, Maid of Mars April 1916, All-Story Weekly
5. The Chessmen of Mars February-March 1922, Argosy
6. The Master Mind of Mars July 15, 1927, Amazing Stories Annual
7. A Fighting Man of Mars April-September, 1930
8. Swords of Mars November 1934-April 1935
9. Synthetic Men of Mars January-February 1939, Argosy Weekly
10. Llana of Gathol March-October 1941, Amazing Stories
11. John Carter of Mars: John Carter and the Giant of Mars
(by John Coleman Burroughs) January 1941, Amazing Stories

Retro Reivew #37: Hawaii Vacation Blog

REVIEWED BY: Ms. Cairo

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION PAGE: Hawaii Vacation Blog

WEB ADDRESS: www.blogcatalog.com/blog/explore-hawaii

BLOG DESCRIPTION: An adventure blog to guide you to all the hotspots on the islands of Hawaii. Hop onboard and follow the tracks of the Trailblazer Travel Book authors.

OUR REVIEW: Ah, how I’d love to be in Hawaii right now. It’s not in the cards however, so the Hawaii Vacation Blog is a nice substitute. It’s written by people who actually live in and have traveled throughout all the Hawaiian islands. (Just as a point of interest, the Big Island of Hawaii is not actually the one people think about when they think of Hawaii, that’d be Oahu, on which is located Honolulu. Just in case you don't know that!)

RECENT ARTICLES:

• Staying on Oahu
• Guide Me (uninformative title for an entry about the Big Island
• The Once and Present Place to Be – Mauna Lani Resort
• Lyon Arboretum – it’s grrreeat!
• Some enchanted evening article on the Fairmont Orchid Hotel

Retro Review #36: My Hoofprints: A love affair iwth horses

REVIEWED BY: Ann Currie

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION PAGE: My Hoofprints: A Love Affair with Horses

WEB ADDRESS: hoofprints.typepad.com

BLOG DESCRIPTION: Get a horse fix on your Kindle! For horse lovers and horse owners alike. Hoofprints will take you to the real world of horses, their people and their dreams!

MY REVIEW: A blog that covers everything horse related from feeding horses to handling manure to exercising to local politics concerning stables to equine health and more. One of the more interesting features is following the release of the blogger's first book, a teen horse novel, titled, Winning Bet. The blog is interesting, informational, and personal.

It is well written with pictures in most posts. It does suffer from my usual complaint infrequent and inconsistent postings. Sometimes she posts two days in succession, sometimes it will be a week between posts or more. I feel certain her readers would be happy with more.

RECENT ARTICLES:

• Horse operations : Agriculture?
• Fencing Francas - Tips for Sanity
• Clipping your cool
• Stable Land use rules: We're back.
• Manure happens . . . and it's good stuff

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Ann Currie publishes My Life a Bit South of Normalwww.abitsouthofnormal.com/
and also, Silver Pieces: The Strange and Peculiarstrangeandpeculiarsilver.blogspot.com/

Retro Review #35: Full Figure Plus

REVIEWED BY: Ann Currie

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION PAGE: Full Figure Plus

WEB ADDRESS: www.fullfigureplus.com

BLOG DESCRIPTION: Full Figure Plus is dedicated to posting news, links, and relevant information for plus size women and big and tall men.

MY REVIEW: This a full-size blog for the millions of full size women out there. The posts are full of shopping information as well tips on dressing and styles. The posts are updated regularly.

There are some links that cannot be accessed on the Kindle but the entries are not dependent on those links and the valuable content is in the posts. One of the more valuable assets of this blog is its references to and reviews of retailers that offer fashions for this audience. It is refreshing to see a positive fashion blog for the full size woman.

RECENT ARTICLES:

• Full Figured Weekly Question
• Trendy Plus Size Fashion from Elvi
• Charming Shoppes introduces one stop shopping for plus sizes
• 10 steps to reducing your frustration level when shopping
• Plus Size Maxi Dresses Just In Time For Spring
  

Retro Review #34: Ars Technica

REVIEWED BY: Ms. Cairo

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION PAGE: Ars Technica

WEB ADDRESS: http://arstechnica.com/

BLOG'S DESCRIPTION: Ars Technica offers news and reviews, analysis of technology trends, and expert advice on topics ranging from the most fundamental aspects of technology to the many ways technology is helping us enjoy our world.

MY REVIEW: If you're a gamer of any kind, this is the blog for you. Indeed, despite the blog's description on its Amazon webpage, that does seem to be it focus - the technology of gaming on computers, on ipads and Iphones, and so on.

Even if you're not into gaming, the technology covered here is interesting, and stuff that frankly, any member of a technological society needs to know about. Any gaming technology is also technology that will find its way into the real world eventually, from our movies to how our computers operate.

Check this blog out via the Kindle free two-week tryout, and I think you'll continue your subscription after that.

RECENT ARTICLES:
-The A4 and the A8: secrets of the iPad's brain
-They won't see you coming: the XAI Laser Mouse with LCD
-My oil droplet is smarter than your lab mouse
-Weird Science finds marriage can kill
-Week in gaming: Bad Company 2, Mario Galaxy 2, Steam
-Week in tech: we're all so predictable