A large corporation is paying off the town council, a local resident has been murdered and a family member has gone missing. Now David Harwood, a local journalist investigating the corporation is the main suspect in the crimes and is faced with the challenge of protecting his family, staying alive and clearing his name. Linwood Barclay has written a gripping thriller that will keep you hooked from beginning to end.
Ironically I read this in one afternoon while installing Norton Anti-Virus on 3 separate computers. What better time to be reading about meditation and relaxation. It is a very easy and informative book about Buddhist meditation. It explains 6 different types of meditation in very simple and easy to understand language without forcing Buddhist beliefs on the reader. Its’ main goal is to teach simple meditation techniques, period. It also came with a companion CD which I have not listened to yet nor have I practiced any of the techniques. But there is always tomorrow.
This is a very dry and unentertaining collection of cases. While it may be of interest to students of forensic anthropology, it does little to create interest or excitement for a lay person in search of a good story or mystery. Most chapters read like a field report and are laden down with scientific fact. If your are interested in the world of “Bones” as well as some entertainment value, I would recommend reading Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach instead.
I know this should be really titled “New Year Blah, Blah, Blahs” because no one really believes you will succeed in keeping your annual resolutions but I can’t just give up on believing that I can improve myself.
So with that said here is a recap of my 2009 resolutions:
1. Blog more – 50/50 success. I actually blogged less as far as my usual ramblings but I did add 2 new sub-blogs. Terry’s World: Book Page and Terry’s World: Reviews. Check them out if you are really bored.
2. Get healthier – I didn’t set any specific goals but I guess I did ok. I didn’t really lose weight but on the other hand I didn’t gain either. I sort of went up and down in the same 10-15 pound range. I improved my cholesterol levels as well as increased my vitamin D levels. That’s good enough for me.
3. Be more connected to others. – Another 50/50 situation. I gained more Facebook friends and reconnected with some high school friends as well as some great friends that I hadn’t talked to in years. But I also turned off my Facebook chat and MSN Messenger for extended periods of time. I tended to crave more “alone” time this year so I feel I became more withdrawn. I really need to work on this in 2010.
4. Continue to read. – Success. I didn’t set a specific number of items to read in 2009, I just decided to read at my own pace. To my surprise, I actually read 23 books over the last year. For a list, go to Books I Read In 2009.
5. Expand my artistic horizons. – Succeeded. I took a photography class in February and managed to take a few weekend trips for photo shoots. Check out my work at http://tgford.shutterfly.com/.
As for 2010 I intend to keep the goals I listed above but I have boiled them down into the following slogan:
BE POSITIVE – BE HEALTHY – BE ACTIVE
I know it’s a little vague and kitschy but it encompasses a lot of different ideas and goals and is open to interpretation. Feel free to use it if you like.
Currently Playing: "Ba Bump" from "Monkey Business" by Black Eyed Peas
