"Happy" New Year Coming? - Fact or Fiction

Christmas is gone for 2007, but not forgotten. The grand kids had a wonderful time playing, running, shouting, grabbing, opening, throwing, and losing many gifts. My oldest got a Wii and is already a rock star with guitar hero. Although his dad has as much fun playing too. Well what does the New Year hold for us? Do we get lost in the new toys and games for a month or two? Do we dread as adults going back to that same old job we've done or had for years? How do we beat the New Year doldrums?

Here are some tips I ran across for a New Year job seeker or changer:

1. Reevaluate yourself.
2. Do your homework.
3. Party, er, network.
4. Sharpen your resume.
5. Be patient.

Life is always filled with opportunities to refresh or refill one's self. I hope this New Year will be your happiest ever!

Happy Holidays - Fact or Fiction

 

Christmas is a time of little time.
How we get there is a mystery.
Racing madly mall-to-mall, we climb
Into fields of sunlit harmony.
Shopping, cooking, clearing walks and yards,
Trimming house and tree while working, too;
Making phone calls, wrapping, writing cards,
As all worn out we do what we must do
So that this day of joy might joy renew.

 

I really hope that all of the readers and  Sunday Saloners' have a very Merry Christmas!

Sunday Salon Readings - something different

After careful study I decided to report on a movie I watched on Sunday morning instead. The Red Rabbit book is still slowly being digested,but after three weeks I needed something different and so did you! So the Bourne Ultimatum was purchased and thoroughly enjoyed.

This is the third in a series of Bourne movies I now own and am a real fan. One of my son-in-law's could pass for Matt Damon's double.

Having read the novel and always seeing how much the movie and book match make for a good look. Of course there is always more detail in the book. But you cannot beat the action I saw today. Full blown motorcycle chases, leaping buildings in a single bound, bustin' heads, killings, deceit, apologies, and confrontations are all part of this fantastic movie.

Matt Damon has already stated that this is the last Bourne movie, but I sure hope not as they are some of my favorites. I relate these with some of the great James Bond movies, but with an upgrade. Robert Ludlum please write another Jason Bourne adventure soon, I looking for some action!

I do hope to read some on Red Rabbit this afternoon, so I will still be answerable to the Sunday Saloner's. Have a great week!

Josef Stalin - Fact or Fiction?

I was reading an interesting post here about Josef Stalin and a new biography written by British author Simon Sebag Montefiore. What piqued my interest is my current read Red Rabbit. Stalin is thought of throughout the novel by the members of the Politburo as they make decisions for the Soviets.

According to the article Stalin used his henchmen to destroy all evidence of his early life in Soviet Georgia. He was known as a bandit and killer at an early age. He and his band hurled bombs at two bank carriages and made off with the equivalent of $3.4 million dollars today.

Women were his forte and being married meant nothing to Stalin. He had several children out of wedlock. His time was spent between revolutionary activities, prison camps or Czarist exile. Much of this I did not know as I haven't read much about this ruthless dictator.

Mr. Goulden who wrote this article says this account of Josef Stalin has the dramatic appeal of a first rate novel. Hmm... you know I only read fiction, should I or shouldn't I?

Sunday Salon Readings - Red Rabbit - 3rd Time

PLEASE HELP ME! I am stuck in between the covers of this Tom Clancy book and I can't get out!

Reading these past two weeks seem almost impossible. I have managed to read three more chapters of Red Rabbit, which is a very small amount for me. Well here is the current scheme.

Comrade Yuriy Andropov has sent a encrypted message to the KGB station chief in Rome, a certain Colonel Goderenko. The Colonel replies to the message recommending that the Chairman forget his plans of physical action against the Pope. The action would mean an end to their opportunities to spy in that area.

After receiving the reply Andropov meets again with Colonel Rozhdestvenskiy and they decide to ferret the action plan through the Bulgarian KGB. Knowing the Bulgarians' were Moscow's little brothers their plan would not be questioned only executed. Executed being the right choice of words.

Meanwhile Comrade Zaitzev the message encrypter is thinking, which the Soviet workers are not supposed to do, kill the Pope, why? His country's morality has surely sunk to a low point. As the comrade is leaving work he spots what he thinks is an American agent and deftly checks his pockets for anything of value. Of course the American, Mr. Tom Foley chooses to act as if he did not feel the hand but muses as to this being a test for a note drop from the Russian.

On to next week and to hopefully the last Red Rabbit review, if not would someone throw me a cracker?

Hope all the Sunday Saloner's are doing well!

Hmm... Did I say I did want a Kindle?

A few weeks ago I said nothing would replace my books, but Santa did I really mean this? Would you still be willing to send me a Kindle?

How many books can I really carry under both arms? Ten, twenty, thirty or maybe a small computer-like object that holds tttwwwwooooo hundred novels! Wow am I strong!

Don't forget Santa I am old but I've been very nice (hah-hah). Look ok I know this new fangled gadget cost a little bit of dough but look at the savings on books, most only cost about $10.00.

Oh yeah I forgot to tell you Kindle has its own way to get me my books and newspapers and magazines, I don't even have to have a computer. What do you say to that, Santa?

Please oh please may I have one?

Your friend, joeB

Thomas Sinfield - Young Entrepreneur

Who is Thomas Sinfield?
Thomas Sinfield is a young entrepreneur from QLD, Australia. He is the founder of website development and marketing company, WebPros, and was previously co-owner and marketing director of Archilads, which is a builders marketing company (he has since sold his share of the business to his brother Mark, but he is still consulted for marketing advice).


Can a young man teach an old man new tricks? You had better believe this is true! Finding Thomas' newly redesigned site at http://www.thomassinfield.com/, I was amazed at the fresh and exciting ways he addressed the marketing community.


His most popular blogs include "Stop Making Excuses. Anyone Can Blog Successfully!, 101 Tips For Staying Motivated!, and 5 Random Acts Of Kindness That Will Surprise Your Fellow Bloggers! These all contain tips and ideas anyone can use in their own blog.


ThomasSinfield.com has a look and feel on his new site that makes you want to stop and read what this young entrepreneur has to say about making money on the web. Of course in all reality I would love to win the Wordpress theme that he is giving away. Like to start a new blog myself, so maybe Hhmmm... an old dog can learn some new tricks!


Really admire all the young men and women and their computer prowess who have the guts to step out on their own and really make a splash on the web. Future is now, baby! Go for the gusto!


Give www.thomassinfield.com a visit for some practical and new ideas!

Sunday Salon Readings - Red Rabbit

First things first, I did not finish Red Rabbit. Have read four more chapters though and of course the Pope must die according to Comrade Chairman Andropov. He calls in his trusted assistant Colonel Rozhdestvenskiy to start the papal assassination plot.

The Americans executives who know about the letter written by the Pope to Warsaw can't makeup their minds as to this growing problem. The President has to be told and they know how he hates the Soviets.

Too many ruffled feathers can cause more alarm as the CIA needs to find out the true ambition of the Soviet mission. Jack Ryan just settling into his new position has much work to be done and will call on all his analytical abilities to stall the threat.

I am enjoying this read, wish for 30 hours in a day!

If you relish good books as much as the Sunday Salon constituents do, join here!

Author of the Month - James Patterson

James Patterson

Awarding winning author James Patterson is my choice for author of the month for December. I hope many of you will give his books as Christmas gifts as they are always spine-tingling thought provoking novels. One of my favorite writers, Mr. Patterson has enjoyed huge success selling over 130 million books worldwide.

As chairman of an advertising company in the 1990s, his novel Along Came a Spider was so smashing, James retired to write. I am so glad he made this decision! He was the first author to have number one new titles on the New York Times bestseller list for both adult and children's books.

Collaborating with other authors has brought new and many refreshing ideas to some his novels. Not many want to share the notoriety, and for this I applaud him.

The best reason for giving James Patterson a qualification above and beyond by my standards is not his writing, but his PageTurner Awards. These awards are given to individuals, companies, schools, and others who find ways of making reading more exciting. Mr. Patterson has given over $600,000 to finance the awards.

Many of his books have been made into movies or TV shows including Kiss the Girls, Along Came a Spider and Women's Murder Club.

Thanks to James Patterson for all you do and please keep writing!