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Just Because I Enjoy It

java janie
4 hours ago
2 comments

I like to read, but I don't. I feel guilty sitting down and reading when there is always something to do around here. So I've decided I'm going to work hard, but I'm going to find some time to actually read. I've started with one of the books that Steve gave me for Christmas...

Brave New World

Aldous Huxley

So far, it's mostly disturbing and very intriguing. I'm only a chapter and a half in. I'm also surprised it was written in 1932. According to Steve, it's a classic, but I had honestly never heard of it before I opened it on Christmas morning. It might take me a month to finish it, but I'm going to read it. I think each day I'll also sneak a page of the book I bought Steve for Christmas...

A Year with C. S. Lewis: Daily Readings from His Classic Works

C. S. Lewis

And I'm sure I can find a couple of hours to devour this book that Kelly let me borrow...

The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins

I keep hearing such good things about it. I'll keep this one in the van with me to read during those 3 hour long basketball practices down at the school.

So this year, I'm just going to read for me. I'm going to read because I love it.

moo gadget test 2

osde8info
10 hours ago
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mmm

moo gadget test 1

osde8info
10 hours ago
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mmm

And it was completed in just FOUR year!!!

xmangerm
Yesterday
2 comments

In just 4 years....

This is some amazing news. Are the Chinese the trend setters from now on? Do they set the pace were others merely follow? You can imagine a story of this magnitude has generated many comments and one of them I will paste to inform you how I tend to feel. For the full story click here.

As it's Chinese, maybe it will fall to pieces just outside its warranty period. As for Eurotunnel, Britain had very little or nothing to do with the train technology because we don't make engines anymore (except steam replicas).

- Howard, Commune de London, EUSSR., 26/12/2009 17:08

No wonder you got red arrowed. I would hazard a guess that you are within 1 foot of an excellent product mad in China as you typed your comment! Try turning your keyboard over!

Having used the trains in China I can tell you that they put the UK to shame. The fast trains are clean, run on time and are cheap. No multi price ticket deals, simply 1st or 2nd class. Each ticket is lettered/numbered. The letter tells you where to stand on the platform and the number is for your seat (yep, you GET a seat!). The train arrives on time an leaves on time.

The MagLev from Pudong airport into Shanghai hits 430kph. A road journey time of 45 mins is reduced to the first 2 tracks of Dark Side of the Moon!

- Pete, No Snow Cyprus, 27/12/2009 7:45

A new years meal

xmangerm
Yesterday
6 comments

My Mother-in-law cooked a very nice meal and thus makes this a very nice start in 2010. I didn't have any dessert because I am planning on consuming it later. I was told to stop by the bakery around the corner and I will just do that:))) life is good!

Sunday's dining in at the in-laws

Fluffy and I getting our exercise

xmangerm
2 days ago
4 comments

Fluffy and I getting our exercise

One more day in history and what a nice one at that. How was yours?

2010, The Year I Don't Procrastinate

java janie
2 days ago
5 comments

Or at least, that was my plan. I was going to blog or at least post a picture to my blog every day. Yeah, didn't happen. But today is a palindrome. And that makes me really happy. Happy enough not to worry about starting a bunch of sentences with conjunctions. Although, I like to blog like I'm just kinda talking and I start a lot of sentences with conjunctions when I am talking, so I've decided I'm not going to worry about it.

I do plan on reading more. Kelly brought me another stack of books which look very good, but I'll probably watch The Omen first. She and Sam joined us for New Year's Eve. I'm so glad she came. I'd like to think it's because she likes hanging out with me, but it may have been Gary's steaks. We played Tori's "New Moon" board game while waiting for the rest of the guests to arrive. It was ridiculously good fun. The rules were complicated and confusing, but that ended up being part of the fun.

Sam, the cutest dog ever

I had quite a houseful for New Year's Eve. Nicole, her family and her best friend/good family friend, Tammy stayed with us in addition to Kelly and Sam. 3 of Steve's brothers and their families were here too. What a blessing to be surrounded by such a large group of friends and family, just laughing and enjoying ourselves. I really am blessed to be so loved. I am thankful for God's grace of a house that although small, was able to accommodate all of us. I'm still hoping to be able to turn half the garage into a bedroom for Alex that can double as a guest room by this time next year. We pretty much use the garage for storage any way. Never have had the room to park a car since we moved in.

So Happy New Year to you all. Take the time to enjoy the many graces that God gives to us. May it be filled with the love and laughter of your family and friends, like mine has been so far.

Gotta love these marketing techniques

xmangerm
2 days ago
2 comments

Gotta love these marketing techniques

The mighty Media Markt is advertising in today's newspaper Shopping For Nothing!. All one has to do is be the lucky every 10th buyer from today until 9 January. And to find out the winning number one must visit their website mediamarkt.de
everyday at 22:30 or call their toll free number. This is some clever bring them into the store techniques that will likely move a lot of those overpriced pre-Christmas stuff out the door. With that written, I think that a super sale would work better than an every 10th buy is for free gimmick. Any thoughts?

Better technology is the clear winner

xmangerm
2 days ago
4 comments

Better technology is the clear winner

This video show the differences in a Crash test: ’59 Chevy vs. ’09 Chevy

My take on this is: The good old days, it turns out, weren’t so good.

In sum, Better technology is the clear winner.

A New Years resolution that many might want to ponder!

xmangerm
3 days ago
6 comments

$ € ¥ $ € ¥ $ € ¥ $ € ¥ $ € ¥

I was reading this story today and I feel that all my fellow Voxers should have a chance to read such very useful knowledge. It starts off like this-----

A Life Without Debt: The Art of Appreciation

Some would say that we live a life of deprivation. We don’t indulge ourselves very often and we rarely buy things without giving them careful consideration. This is a deliberate choice on our part, born not from a lack of money, but from a desire to retain our ability to appreciate everything.

When you are overloaded with stuff or experiences, nothing is special anymore. Have you ever watched someone who gets everything they want? They get the item that they wanted, or maybe two or three things that they wanted, all at the same time. Bonanza! They are enthralled with the new thing for a short time but the high wears off pretty quickly. Then, within minutes, hours, or days they are planning and anticipating the next new thing. When it comes, the cycle repeats. They end up with a house full of stuff, experiences they can’t remember, and likely a load of debt, but they appreciate nothing. Everything just becomes one more item on a long list of items. Nothing stands out, nothing is special, nothing is savored.

For the full story click here.