Book Review: Killer History: Why do they leave all the fun stuff out of the history books (Volume 1)

Title: Killer History: Why do they leave all the fun stuff out of the history books (Volume 1)
Author: Marek McKenna
Publication Date: May 4, 2012


Book Description:
Killer History provides a funny and irreverent look at the past. We explore the more human side of the historical events and history makers. Killer history examines how excessive presidential drinking nearly caused Work War III, a mass murder’s trial that was too obscene for Jesus, the scandals of the Grant Administration, the baby daddy scandal that did not sink a US presidential election.

Review
5 out of 5 stars
I must agree with a previous reviewer that he really needed someone to proof-read this book. There are spelling errors that spell-check wouldn't have found, every story seems to be in a different font, none of the photos show up.

But, if you can look past that, it is a great book. I love history. I love learning about things I hadn't heard about before, and this book is perfect. I loved the little snippets of info on people I hadn't heard about before.

I even came on Amazon looking for more works by this author, because I would love to hear more stories.

Granted I didn't pay the $10 for the kindle copy, or I probably would have been quite aggravated by the typos, grammatical errors, and problems stated at the beginning. But the enjoyment I'm getting aside from that makes it a good read. It doesn't tie you in for hours, you can read a few quick stories at a time, even though I do get sucked in and wind up reading 6 before I realized it. :)


Disclosure: I received this book from Amazon.com. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and this review is unsolicited.

Stupid is as Stupid Does: Kristen Stewart Backlash

There was an article on The Huffington Post about the backlash that Kristen Stewart has received since publicly cheating on Robert Pattinson. You can read that article here. I, frankly, believe that this article is a load of crap. She is not being picked on because she's a woman. Kristen Stewart is being picked on because she cheated on Robert Pattinson. The same way we all hate Kobe Bryant, Anthony Weiner, Tiger Woods, we don't like cheaters. Maybe Rupert isn't getting picked on as badly because no one knows who the hell he is. But I bet in his inner circle, he's getting plenty of blame. Yes, she's 22, but she's not a baby, she's not naive to show business, she wasn't preyed on by her boss. She was a grown woman, who at any point could have said no. And the fact that MONTHS after shooting the movie was over, when he had no "boss" ties to her, she was STILL climbing in cars and making out with him. She's also a serial cheater. She cheated on her boyfriend of like 7 years with Robert Pattinson. I had no grand illusions that their relationship would make it past the release of Breaking Dawn 2, but really... sleeping with everyone you make a movie with? And, she's not an idiot. She's followed everywhere. Did she really think making out in PUBLIC in a car wasn't going to get caught. After what happened, can you really blame the production company from wanting her nowhere near the franchise? All people will talk about is "I wonder who she'll sleep with on this set." And the author talks about Chris Brown getting off scot-free after beating Rhianna. Does anyone really believe that? He's booed, people have refused to work with him. He'll never live that down, nor should he. We're not teaching girls that they can't be themselves, that they can't chose the lifestyle they want to. This is reaction to a grown woman having an affair with a married man, and cheating on her boyfriend at the same time. The boyfriend who has shown nothing but class all the way through this. He's been trotted out to every reporter in the world to promote a movie that has nothing to do Kristen Stewart, and she cheats on him publicly two weeks before. There'a that huge elephant in the room that he has to battle at every interview. And has he called her a trampire? Trashed her name? No, he's been a gentleman and kept it private. One of the comments, by tbrookside, on this article I think summed things up perfectly. "The problem with this post is that the abuse directed at Stewart CAN'T be the result of a patriarchal war on women...because men don't give a shit. You know who's mad at Stewart? Pattinson's contingent of middle-aged onanist housewives. They love Pattinson, and are outraged that Stewart "hurt him". And their outrage is doubled because Stewart cheated with a middle-aged married man. That's it. Nothing else is at play here. Men either don't care, or are pro-Stewart. Every last man over the age of 30 who hears this story LIKES STEWART MORE after they hear it, on the principle, "Hey, if she'll hook up with that 40is director it strongly implies that I'VE got a shot." The problem here isn't patriarchy. It's women who feel sexually threatened by a younger woman who doesn't respect their territorial claims.'

Book Review: The Matchmaker's Mark by Regan Black

Title: The Matchmaker's Mark Author: Regan Black Publication Date: September 7, 2011 Book Description: When you're 'more' than human, finding your soulmate isn't as easy as answering a few questions online. It's best to track down Campbell Consulting, a.k.a. the Matchmaker. In Charleston, South Carolina half-elf Lily has a birthmark her elders vow is a mystical promise of true love. So far she's yet to encounter Mr. Right in either the elf or human realms. Dare, a wood elf, has led the Matchmaker's security team for years. In town on a simple errand, when the Matchmaker disappears his future is turned inside out. And Amy Campbell is a completely human English professor about to discover the true magic of the family business... Review: 4 out of 5 stars This book has been on my TBR list for awhile now, and I finally couldn't resist it anymore. The story deals with a visiting resident, Amy Campbell, who suddenly gets thrown into the family business of matchmaking. The story takes you through Amy's realization of her new role in life, and the implications of this new role, how she grows into her role, and a match she makes along the way. I really enjoyed this story, I really just breezed through it in the chances I had to read. I loved the character of Lily and Dare and how feelings of not being good enough impact the way you see life. And just how hard it is to let go of long-held beliefs. I also enjoyed modern-day woman Amy, fighting with Dare, her protection elf, on not hiding herself away, and wanting to try to live a normal life. Even, when in the end, she discovers the truth. I loved the characters, and the basic story line. I do, however, feel that this story should have been at least two different stories. One of Lily and Dare, and one of Amy. The first half of the story dealt all about Amy and her new role, throwing in new plot lines, that never get answered in the book. The second half, deals with Lily and Dare and their growing love for each other. I felt sort of cheated by the end, because the book never addresses some of the major plot points of Amy's side: Where her grandmother is, and what happens to the werewolf who was marked? It also skimmed over Lily and Dare's story too much. I would have liked to have known more about the childhood wish Lily made. How Dare saw it. And a better explanation of her "banishment" into the human world. The brief talk with her father didn't really answer any questions for me. The two major plot-lines were so big, I felt it was sort of a mistake to try to tackle BOTH in a 250 page book. Hopefully Ms. Black will explore some of Amy's story further in another novel, or do a sequel where we learn about the werewolf. While there were some disappointments as far as character back story, I did greatly enjoy this book. There wasn't the simple "fall in line" tack that some writers rely on. The characters had their own personality and I truly could imagine the conversations taking place. It had me riveted. I can't wait to read another of Ms. Black's books. Disclosure: I received this book from a contest on the author's website. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and this review is unsolicited.

NSFW: Nuvaring

An update... Back in December and March I talked about how I was getting these bad cramps, burning, discharge, etc. After $1600 in out of pocket medical expenses (which I cannot pay and will take forever to pay them off), I think I've come up with the solution. Nuvaring. Back in May 2010, I went to the doctor because my body was going nuts. My period would skip months, bleed 2 weeks in a row, etc. My doctor said I should go on birth control. I told him I couldn't do birth control, because the pill makes me bleed every two weeks and I have near constant morning sickness. He gave me the Nuvaring. I thought it was great, it fixed my cycle and no morning sickness. In December, I started with this foul smell, discharge, burning when I went to the bathroom, and really bad cramps. In March, after it started back up again, I decided to see about it. Then came tests upon tests, doctor upon doctor, all to be told that there was no infection, nothing wrong with my bladder, they had no idea. In between switching insurances, I wound up having to take a month off of the ring. I had no problems (except being extra fertile). The next month, I went back on the ring. Noticed the burning, discharge, and smell came back. Then one day I was reading a blog about side-effects of the Nuvaring. "Wetness" - What they call wetness is a near constant discharge that requires wearing a pad 24/7. "change in Sex Drive" - For me and most women taking Nuvaring, is a complete elimination of sex drive. There is no desire whatsoever for sex. Anxiety and Depression - I've realized that this is the cause of my problems for the last year. The fear of doing something wrong to the point of being afraid to do anything. Being depressed and lacking the motivation to do anything. People have complained about being on the verge of tears at all times, I have experienced this as well. I've also noticed that I have zero patience for anything, that I'm angry all the time. Cloudy-headed - In the month I was off Nuvaring I discovered that I haven't been feeling "right" for some time now. My brain seems muddled, I can't concentrate, I get overwhelmed easily. People have complained that they have been unable to function normally since being on Nuvaring. Hair loss - I have always been suffering hair loss, so I didn't really attribute it to the ring. But I do have above average hair loss, that usually Biotin would help, and hasn't, so I think it is because of the ring. I decided to go off the ring, to see what happens. I've only been off it for a month, but I can see Jenn coming back to life. The smell, discharge, cramps are gone. The anxiety isn't as great, the depression seems to be getting better, even if not fully under control. Cloudy-headedness, I'm not as bad, but I still feel a bit foggy. Not quite me, but it's not as bad as when I was on it. Sex drive, while not where it should be, I am beginning to get one back again. The side effects say the hormones could take at least 2 months to clear my system. So I'm hoping that since I'm one month in, I won't have long to go before Jenn is Jenn again. Here's hoping. Not everyone reacts to medications the same, so I can't say it would be bad for you, but in doing research on Nuvaring and comparing side effects I've been having to their stated side effects, these were clearly happening before I knew about them, it does cause problems. Think long and hard about going on Nuvaring.