Dad of Divas

Book & DVD Review - The Good Men Project

2009-12-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Recently I was asked to review the book and DVD - The Good Men Project. This project consists of a myriad of essays from men in relationship to topics that we all deal with on a daily basis:

Being a father
Being a son
Being a husband
Being a worker

I was excited and thankful for being asked to review this as it had a lot to do with what I write about and the topics that quite a few of my readers enjoy as well.

When I received the book itselfand started to read the essays/stories of the contributors, I was amazed at some of the things that these men went through in both growing up and struggling with what it means to be a man. I can relate to some of the issues, but I also found myself shaking my head in wonder at some of the stories and saying to myself, I can't believe that they had to deal with this.

The writers were very forthright and open with their stories. The frankness is something that I have not seen in other such non-fiction accounts. As a man, many of the topics and issues that are raised are, as many of the writers reflect, taboo, or issues that should not be raised with other men. That is the amazing thing about this project and this book and DVD, it blows open the veil of secrecy that surrounds the persona,and at times myth, of what it means to be a man in society today.

The DVD also provided the viewer with a similar glance into the lives of those men documented. There was some profanity used, so I wouldn't suggest it for the very young. I would say though that the topics covered in both the DVD and book are ones that teenage young men would and should learn and talk about with their friends or better yet their fathers.

I would recommend both the DVD and book for all men out there. The stories are short and engaging and you will find yourself identifying with some of the issues that some of the men raise, and there will be others that you will not as well, but all are important to reflect on and talk about, as it opens a discourse into what being a man is all about.

If this is the first time you have heard about this project, I encourage you to visit the project's website to learn more.When you finish looking at the website, take a look at the project's Facebook page and at the co-founder's Twitter page.

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Event Chasing Continues

2009-12-04T15:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks to BuckDaddyBlog I was introduced to being an Event Chaser. Over Thanksgiving I (along with 3 others) got the opportunity to chase my second event, going to an Orlando Magic Basketball Game at the Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. I encourage all of you to read about my experience and find out more about this great new web resource.

If you are interested in being an event chaser yourself check out the Event Chaser site. Also, if you are looking for tickets for events, check out RazorGator.com it is an easy way to get everything that you need for the event you wish to attend!

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Book Review - The Amercan Theatre Reader

2009-12-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

In celebration of American Theatre’s twenty-fifth anniversary, the editors of the nation’s leading theater magazine have chosen their best essays and interviews to provide an intimate look at the people, plays, and events that have shaped the American theater over the past quarter-century. Over two hundred artists, critics, and theater professionals are gathered in this one-of-a-kind collection, from the visionaries who conceived of a diverse and thriving national theater community, to the practitioners who have made that dream a reality. The American Theatre Reader captures their wide-ranging stories in a single compelling volume, essential reading for theater professionals and theatergoers alike.

The American Theatre Reader is a compilation of the best essays and interviews from the magazine’s history. It is an intimate look at the people, plays, and events that have shaped American theatre over the past twenty-five years. This one-of-a-kind collection includes more than a hundred artists, critics, and theatre professionals, from the visionaries who conceived of a diverse and thriving national theatre community to the practitioners who have made that dream a reality. The American Theatre Reader captures their wide-ranging stories in a single compelling volume, essential reading for theatre professionals and theatergoers alike.

My Take On This Book

As a theatre major and one who loves everything to do with the theatre, this was a great book, and would be a great gift for anyone who like me appreciates the Theatre. As I do not receive the American Theatre Magazine, this book provided me a window to the profession that I do not get working in Higher Education or in watching the Tony Awards or in watching a great on-stage production.

This book is a huge treasure trove of theatre material that any theatre enthusiast will enjoy. It will keep any reader enthralled for days with over 600 pages of essays directly related to the field/profession itself.

I have to be honest and say that I would not have liked to have been the editor who had to choose which essays were worthy of such a compilation. Yet, the person or people who did put this together did a wonderful job at providing the reader with a cross reference of the profession with conversations and essays with the like of August Wilson, Hal Prince, José Rivera, Sam Shepard, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Miller to name but a few.

So I encourage all of you Theatre lovers to consider this book for yourself or as a gift for someone else this holiday season. The book retails for $24.95 and are exclusively distributed to the book trade by Consortium Book Sales and Distribution. Orders: 800-283-3572. SAN number: 63170X. Individuals may call 212-609-5900 or visit our online bookstore at http://www.tcg.org/. For postage and handling, please add $5.00 for the first book and $.50 for each additional copy. I will also say that I found some other copies at both Amazon and Half.com.

If you are interested in seeing some of the covers of the last 25 years of American Theatre Magazine, the American Theatre Guild has posted them for all to see.

The featured product in this post was provided to me free of charge by the author. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

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New TNT Show - Men of a Certain Age

2009-12-03T15:00:00.000-05:00

John Lennon once wrote, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” For three men entering the second act of their lives, those words are starting to hit home in TNT’s newest original series, Men of a Certain Age.

The show follows three longtime friends - played by Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond) Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap, Star Trek: Enterprise) and Andre Braugher (Homicide: Life on the Street) – as they navigate the changes and challenges of mid-life.

I was given the opportunity to take a sneak peak at this show, and it does look at a myriad of issues that effect aging adult men in today's society. With the line up (especially with Ray Romano being one of the writers) I expected comedy, but to be honest, though there were some snippets of humor, the show tackles some tough topics that all aging men have to deal with in their lives. TNT has put together a great cast which seems to work well together (at least in the preview that I observed). It is hard to say where the show will lead, but I can say that I will definitely check it out on December 7 at 10PM EST to learn more.

If this show sounds interesting to you check out the trailer!

The featured product in this post was provided to me free of charge by the producer. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

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Product Review & Giveaway - EvoraPlus

2009-12-03T06:00:00.006-05:00

Recently I was asked to try a new product on the market that deals with numerous issues that I have had to deal with for a number of years, namely:

1) Whitening my Teeth
2) Fresh Breath

I haven't had problems with gum & tooth health in the past (at least not yet), but this product also used this.

Florida based biopharmaceutical company Oragenics, Inc. states that EvoraPlus™ is a revolutionary new application of probiotics, which have traditionally been used to support digestive and immune health. EvoraPlus™ is the first probiotic mint specifically designed for complete oral care. This all-in-one product supports gum and tooth health and naturally freshens breath while gently whitening teeth.

Within 30 days of using EvoraPlus™ twice daily, the natural healthy oral balance of good bacteria will be greatly restored and you will begin to notice a whiter, brighter smile and long-lasting fresh breath.

How Does It Work

When EvoraPlus™ melts on the tongue, the freeze-dried probiotics activate and attach themselves to the teeth and gum tissue, establishing colonies of live, active beneficial bacteria both on the surface of the teeth and deep beneath the gum line. These colonies compete for both nutrients and space with the harmful oral bacteria that disrupt gum and tooth health, as well as cause bad breath.

In the mouth, the harmful bacteria convert sugar and carbohydrates into lactic acid. Lactic acid is the bacterial by-product which is responsible for a decline in dental health. The Standard American Diet promotes the ongoing conversion to lactic acid by providing a constant source of simple carbohydrates for bacterial cell growth, thus creating a situation for even greater imbalance in oral micro flora.
With daily replenishment, the ProBiora3™ beneficial bacteria used in EvoraPlus™ helps to reestablish the natural microbial balance in the mouth for healthy gums and teeth, fresher breath and whiter teeth.

My Take On This

I have been using the product now for about a week out of a 30 day supply and I must say that at least for now I have been impressed with the results. In taking the mint you notice the minty fresh taste of the small mint. Once the mint desolves, you do notice that the your mouth does have a fresher feeling that lasts for a few hours. Seeing that you take this two times per day, each time that I have taken it I see similar results. I have to say though that I can't wait to see if what the company professes is true and if I can reach the end result they claim.

How would you like to win a 30 day supply? I am giving away 30 day supplies of EvoraPlus to two lucky readers. All you need to do is leave a comment telling me why you would be interested in winning this. The contest will run for one week and will end on December 10, 2009.

Bonus Entries:

Blog about my Giveaway by linking back to this post (1 entries per blog post. Please leave each entry in separate comments with your URL link in order for it to count)
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Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

This contest will run until December 10 at approximately 11:59 pm Eastern.

Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

Open to USA Only

Rules for each entry must be followed to be valid.

The featured product in this post was provided to me free of charge by the author. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

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Brainy Baby Extends Its Promotional Giveaway & Will Give Away 1 Million DVDs in 2009

2009-12-02T06:49:00.001-05:00

Recently I found out about a product that claims to stimulate the mind of young children. As a parent I have heard this before, but I am always interested to see if their claims have merit, so I took them up on their offer to send me free DVD's (as I am always up for free!).

Prior to receiving the DVD's I did a little more research on the company who puts out the product and found out that they were created by a team of early childhood educators who use a time-tested and proven method of introducing and reinforcing preschool concepts, Brainy Baby DVDs have won more than 75 awards and offer a highly effective supplemental tutorial for parents who have children entering kindergarten.

The DVDs depict fun, live action scenes of real kids and objects from everyday life. Brainy Baby DVDs introduce children to basic preschool concepts like the alphabet, numbers, shapes and colors. Brainy Baby encourages parents to watch the DVD's with their children so that concepts and images that are presented can be reviewed together and reinforced through verbal communication.

The Giveaway

To take advantage of the FREE DVD campaign, participants must choose one DVD from a selection of four of Brainy Baby's most popular titles (ABCs, Music, Laugh & Learn or Shapes & Colors). The DVD's are FREE ($17.95 value) until December 31, 2009. Participants only have to pay $6.95 for shipping and handling (residents in the Atlanta area can make arrangements to pick up their free copy at Brainy Baby's office). For additional information and details about the FREE DVD GIVEAWAY, visit www.myfreebrainybaby.com.

About The Brainy Baby Company

For 15 years, The Brainy Baby Company has been a pioneer and leader in DVDs, Books, Games and Toys for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. The award-winning line of videos, CDs, books, games, and toys introduce educational subjects such as letters, shapes, animals, art and music. Brainy Baby videos feature multi-ethnic children, toe-tapping original music, nursery rhymes and instrumental classics. In fact, Brainy Baby DVDs have won over 75 awards including Dr. Toy's Top 100 Best Children's Product, the Dove Foundation's Seal of Approval, Parenting Magazine's Top Videos of the Year, and more. For more information about The Brainy Baby Company, visit www.brainybaby.com

My Take On This

We received two DVD's to review and when they arrived I was anxious to see how Diva-PJ would react to the DVD's in general. Being a child that does not sit around and watch a lot of TV, we came to find that there were parts that definitely drew her attention, especially those scenes with animals within them (as Diva-PJ loves animals). At other points she was content to have it on in the background while she did other things. I plan to try this again with her periodically to see if her interest changes over time as she is only 22 months today and thus her attention is a bit here, there, and everywhere, if you know what I mean.

The featured product in this post was provided to me free of charge by the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

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Book Review - The Cost of Dreams

2009-12-01T07:00:00.002-05:00

I was recently asked to review a new book by author Gary Stelzer entitled: The Cost of Dreams.

This book was Mr. Stelzer's first and thus going into this novel I didn't know anything about the author or the storyline. Thus, while waiting for the novel to arrive I looked at a few sites and found out that the book examined the story of:

Flora, a Mayan teenager, has escaped Talapa, her civil war-torn Central American village where herparents have been slain-and where even being seen in native wear could result in summary execution. Following her dream with nearly superhuman determination, she makes her way to San Diego, and against all odds, becomes a wife, mother and teacher. By hard work and shrewdness, she even obtains legal U.S. status.

But her life takes a horrific turn when she's shot by her drug-dealing brother in-law. As she lays unconscious and bleeding in front of her house, Mexican immigrants traveling on a freight train kidnap and claim her as their daughter, caring for her on a long, grueling cross-country flight.

Nearly a year later, still gravely wounded and disfigured, a freed Flora arrives at the Lake Michigan home of Kate Bowman, an American aide worker who had previously befriended Flora in Talapa. Kate's nephew had vanished on that mission, leaving Kate devastated and overwhelmed with guilt for permitting him to remain in a civil war ravaged Central America while she returned home.

Now Flora, eager to heal her injuries and desperate to restore what remains of her family, reignites in Kate a fire to learn the fate of her long lost nephew. The two women embark on a harrowing journey that takes them to the ancient caves of northwestern Mexico in the Barrancas del Cobre, an exceedingly vast abyss of canyons, in search of a storied Indian healer. The cost of healing borders on the unendurable.

My Take on The Book

Reading the above intrigued me and made me want to read the book when I received it. I found the book to be very engaging and an quick read. As a reader you are drawn into the story and are drawn into the drama which is Flora's life. Flora becomes a character that you can relate to and can root for. I found myself continuously drawn into the story and hoping for the best for the character and I know that you will as well.

As a reader I can say that just when you think that that Flora's life cannot get worse it probably will and when you think that things are getting better there may be a turn.

Also, being that I lived in Wisconsin for three years and visited the green bay and door county areas many times it was nice to see the references to my old home.

I was intrigued by the plot of the story and decided to get a few questions answered about the book itself from the author himself.

1) Where did you get the inspiration for your main character Flora?

Years ago a foreign-born woman appeared at the ER of my small city hospital dreadfully injured by her drug-dealing brother-in-law. She had been shot at her family's home in the southwestern U.S. and her husband had driven her and their two small children to this northern Midwest locale. There I cared for her and directed her protracted rehab. Then the husband abandoned them all.

She drifted away in the years following. But I always recalled how badly I felt for her and her children. Then one day in southwestern New Mexico, I watched as dozens of freight trains passed by and I began asking myself, 'what if...?'"

2) What do you hope your readers will take away from reading this book?

I'd like to think they feel overwhelmed by having lived through an exceedingly interesting wild ride of a tale!! And that they take a measure of the struggle for survival an extremely large number of people on this planet are making to survive to the next day.

3) What are the next steps for you as an author?

To begin the research for the authentication of background and setting in New Orleans for the next novel. And while doing that work, discover the thread of a story to be picked up and fully developed into another emotional high impact wallop for the readership!!

4) Where do you get your inspiration for your writing?

I'd expect where most other authors find it: from living everyday and paying attention to what's going on in the world that really, really interests them as to the makings of a great fine tale. I really wanted to find a good historical perspective, so the story not only "fits" in the times, but also really touches people where it "hurts good!" so that they might need a little bottom shocking to get off their duffs and engage the world usefully!

If this book sounds like one that you would enjoy, check it out on Amazon or Half.com!

The featured product in this post was provided to me free of charge by the author. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

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Wet Ones - A Great Way to Control Germs

2009-11-30T20:31:00.001-05:00

Being a parent we seem to buy stock in wipes like Wet Ones®. Ever since we had kids we also were concerned about all of the germs around them (and thus the wet wipes). I recently heard about a new promtotion that Wet Ones® was working on this season that I thought I would share with all of you.

This flu season, the Wet Ones® brand is asking people to visit http://www.wetones.com/ to pledge to help stop the spread of germs in your community. Using Wet Ones® Antibacterial Wipes are proven to clean hands and kill 99.99% of germs.

The first 100,000 pledges at http://www.wetones.com/ will generate a donation of one Wet Ones® Antibacterial Wipes travel pack to the Kids In Need Foundation, a national organization that provides school supplies to children in thousands of schools across the country. You can post this link for your readers:

Take the Wet Ones Pledge

Upon signing the pledge, you will also receive a downloadable coupon redeemable for $1.50 off a Wet Ones® product purchase, along with valuable information on how to help keep your family healthy this season, including a simple and effective Flu Prevention Plan developed by renowned pediatrician Dr. William Sears, M.D.

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Holes in the floor and naked guys in the bathroom

2009-11-30T06:52:00.000-05:00

After my previous post about moving back to college I started thinking about my fraternity life experience. There are many things that I could talk about in regards to being in a fraternity, the positives, the negatives, and there many funny experiences as well that I could share also.

Let me start by saying that I would have been the last person you would have guessed would have joined a fraternity. I actually entered college saying that I would never join a fraternity, especially with all of the bad flack that they get in the movies and on television. So when I started meeting guys in fraternities (or at least the one I joined - Delta Upsilon) I found them to be down to earth and people that I really liked, and really enjoyed hanging out with overall.

When I decided to join the fraternity I came to find out more and more about my fraternity brothers (some of which was too much information at times), as they become something of a family away from home. There were things you came to enjoy and look forward to about people and then there were the skeletons in the closet as well like in many families.

Then, I moved into to house and you really get to know people in a different light when you are living with them. The house that we lived in was somewhat of a location that I wouldn't live in now if my life depended on it. There were holes in the floor of the second floor bathroom. Some appliances did not work, tiles were crumbling in the basement and of course there were the individual personalities of many different fraternity brothers to deal with as well as their girlfriends (or at least live in friends).

I chock up my experiences in this fraternity house as some of the best times in college, but they also were times that pushed me to grow and learn, about myself and about human nature as well as peer pressure and how well you could stand up for yourself.

While I would not move back into the fraternity house today, I will say that I miss my fraternity brothers and always look forward to our annual gatherings at homecoming as well as the times when we are able to get together.

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Book Review - De-Railed

2009-11-29T22:31:00.003-05:00

Recently I had the opportunity to review De-Railed by Dr.Tim Irwin as part of the Thomas Nelson Reviewing Team.

As a person that teaches and professes leadership development on a daily basis, I am always looking forward to reading more books that can assist my own professional practice.

This book takes a different tact than other books I have read recently, looking at some of the negative examples that are out there to learn and grow from so that history does not repeat itself. Looking at six bigger than life examples (their rise and fall) will change our current bad habits and bring us on the right path for the future.

I never thought of myself as a bad leader, but I did come to find as I read more and more about the six CEO's in question that we all have some innate tendencies that could lead down the path of failure and utter ruin (though I may be getting a bit too overdramatic).

I particularly liked the last third of the book that works to walk the reader through an analysis of where they are the actions that they can take to correct any areas that need to be corrected to help them move their leadership skills in the right direction.

I recommend this book for any manager or person who wishes to move into the management field in the future. It is an easy and important read. While not all of us will reach the pinacle of success of all of these CEO's or the monumental fall from grace either, we can learn and grow from these examples and not make the same mistakes.

If this sounds like a book that sounds interesting to you, read a few pages before you decide to buy. Also, you can find out more at Amazon or at Thomas Nelson.

The featured product in this post was provided to me free of charge by the author. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

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Book Review - Imagia and the Magic Pearls

2009-11-29T07:00:00.001-05:00

I was happy to get the opportunity to review a new children's fantasy entitled Imagia and the Magic Pearls recently. In an era where fantasy books like Harry Potter, Twilight, and other such series' have become so popular, author Monroe Tarver takes an unprecedented step forward to introduce a new character that allows kids to experience an elf princess that represents an ethnicity that is different than my divas.

In reading this book and experiencing the world developed by the author you are transported into a realm where imagination reigns.

In sharing this story with Diva-J, she was intrigued and interested and wanted me to read more and more even when it was time to stop for the night. While we have not read a lot of fantasy to her in the past, she did seem to enjoy it. J-Mom and I have enjoyed fantasy in the past through the Harry Potter and Twilight series (Yes I read the Twilight series - I am a father of girls), and this, while different, was an interesting read and one that does draw the reader into the story itself. As in many fantasy books there are some issues with reading of the character names, but Diva-J was held in suspense and asked me to read the book each night before bed (which is always a good sign).

This story and the princess in specific fits well into society today, especially on the brink of the new Disney release of the Princess and the Frog. The author in interviews states that he is hopeful that this will assist his book, but that he is not sure how the movie will effect books like his. I have to say that I commend him on taking a chance on writing a book that makes cultural strides as this one does. Whether the release of the movie makes a difference on the sale of this book or not I am not for certain, but I can say that this book is a great one for parents and kids alike to read together, sharing and imagining a fantasy world together.

Overall this was a great book and one that would be a very unique and different look at fantasy for your child. If you think that this might be something that you and your child might enjoy you can find it on Amazon.

The featured product in this post was provided to me free of charge by the author. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

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Dad of Divas Takes Black Friday Daddy Style

2009-11-27T23:07:00.000-05:00

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Muppets are Great!

2009-11-27T08:17:00.003-05:00

Book Review & Giveaway - Firsts: Origins of Everyday Things that Changed the World

2009-11-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

I was recently askedto review a new book called:
Firsts: Origins of Everyday Things that Changed the World (October 2009, $12.95, ISBN: 9781592579242, Alpha Books) will trace you through the most unique milestones of human achievement to answer any question you may have about histories firsts.

Written by Wilson Casey, a trivia and FAQ expert, this book is an amazing collection of over 500 firsts on nearly every topic imaginable. From fashion to food, politics to science, entertainment to art, each first entry offers a full explanation of the topic, written in a humorous yet authoritative style.

Some of the entries that I found interesting included things such as:

The first cellular phone call: On April 3, 1973, Martin Cooper, general manager of Motorola’s Communications Systems Division, placed the first call on a cellular phone. Who did he call? His rival, Joel Engel of AT&T’s Bell Labs.
The first Beer: Beer is the first alcoholic beverage known to civilization, with mentions dating to thousands of years ago. Nearly every culture developed its own version of beer, using various grains like millet, maize, cassava, rice, and barley.
The first Brassiere: Around 2500 b.c.e., warrior Minoan women on the Greek isle of Crete began wearing and using a garment resembling a bra. It shoved their bare breasts upward and exposed their breasts from their clothing.
The first Bubble Gum: In 1928, the first marketable bubble gum was invented by 23-year-old Walter E. Diemer, an accountant with the Fleer chewing gum company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

My Take On The Book

I always love books that are filled with off the wall facts. When I received this book I was amazed at the detail and research that the author put into this book. I found myself paging through this book and tucking away the knowledge to share with others. There were many off the wall categories and products that were listed in the book that I found myself saying, "you don't say...that's where that came from?"

I also found myself pulling J-Mom aside saying "you have to read this" and " did you know that this was how ________ started." These type of statements do not always come up with every book that I read, and thus I know that this book was one that challenged my knowledge of different areas as well as adding to my overall knowledge.

I would say that if anyone is interested in trivia or facts about products that shape our lives this book is a great reference for you. It is set up similar to an encyclopedia where you can find topics/products alphabetically.

If this book sounds interesting to any of you, read more about it over at Amazon.
GIVEAWAY:

If this book sounds like something you would be interested in, the publishers of this book have gratiously offered a great giveaway for 5 lucky readers. All you need to do is leave a comment telling me one product or fact that you hope will be listed in this book so that you can become better informed. That's it! The contest will run for one week and will end on November 30, 2009.

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  " @dadofdivas is giving away 5, Firsts Books by Wilson Casey - http://dadofdivas.blogspot.com/" (Then leave the link to your post. One entry per place per day)
- Bookmark this post in Delicious, Digg, StumbleUpon, or whatever social bookmarking site is your favorite. (Leave comment with the info. One entry per site per day)
- Add me to your Technorati Favs list (one entry, leave username in comment)
Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

This contest will run until November 30 at approximately 11:59 pm Eastern.

Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

Open to USA Only

Rules for each entry must be followed to be valid.

The featured product in this post was provided to me free of charge by the author. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

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Bloggers to Use Social Media to Share Black Friday Deals

2009-11-26T17:30:00.000-05:00

November 25, 2009 – Bentonville, AR – Collective Bias, an interactive marketing firm that connects brands with shoppers at the store shelf by facilitating conversation and building relationships, has partnered with Whrrl, a location based mobile application that lets people capture and share the stories of their lives one moment at a time, to create a unique platform that helps shoppers find the best deals on Black Friday.

Twenty bloggers, led by well-known mom bloggers Melissa Garcia, the “money-saving” Consumer Queen, and Courtney Velasquez of Giftfully Simple, will hit stores on Black Friday and upload photos and tips through Whrrl to My Black Friday Deals.

Visitors are encouraged to check the website throughout the days leading up to Black Friday and then all day, Friday November 27th, 2009 to find the best deals at nationwide chains and local stores, and to find the best prices on the biggest shopping day of the year. Visitors can vote for the deals they like the best, and the participating blogger with the most votes on a deal will receive Google Analytics training or tech/design assistance for his or her blog.

“We wanted to integrate a strong social media campaign to show the power that the average person or blogger has to reach so many others,” said John Andrews, Managing Partner of Collective Bias. “By working with bloggers, Whrrl and social media sites, we can effectively spread this idea like wildfire.”

My Black Friday Deals will also be promoted through channels like Flickr, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook to reach a wider audience.

About Collective Bias
The first company of its kind, Collective Bias offers an alternative to the traditional agency model. Formed at the nexus of and Social Media and Shopper Marketing, we addre

Visit Black Friday Deals at:
http://collectivebias.ning.com/groups/group/show?id=3516808%3AGroup%3A9471&xg_source=msg_mes_group

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Book Review - The Snowman's Song

2009-11-26T10:49:00.005-05:00

I was recently given the opportunity to review a book entitled The Snowman's Song.

After reading this book and listening to the CD that was enclosed with the book (With a reading of the story from the author) with Diva-J I was impressed at the storyline as wella s some of the morals that the story instills in the reader. The book itself encourages children to both find their own individual voice and song as well as helping them to see the importance of kindness to others.

The illustrations within the book are wonderful and so vivid. My daughter mentioned that she realy liked the snowman and his mommy and she wanted to know if we could build snowmen like them when we finally get snow (which probably won't be too long).

All-in-all this was a great bok that I would recommend for any family to enjoy. This book also would be a great gift to share with others this holiday season. As I mentioned it has some great messages that are timeless, but truly fit into the holiday season.

One other thing that I liked about this book was that for every book sold, the publishers are giving away one book to an underpriviledged family.

If you are interested in this book, please go and learn more at the book's website.

The featured product in this post was provided to me free of charge by the author. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

A Man in A Women’s World

2009-11-24T08:27:00.000-05:00

Diva-J has joined a local Daisy Girl Scout Troop last week and you guessed it, her father is a co-leader. I am a huge proponent for leadership development in my own professional life and in looking into the Girl Scouts I was impressed at all of the great things that they profess and they instill in the girls that are a part of the program.

I have been getting GS training on being a GS leader and how to work with girls at this age. I find it interesting to be a man in a world dominated by women (AKA Girl Scouts). When I look at the GS Catalog, there are no clothes for men (besides a tie). All of the literature is gender feminine. While I am not complaining and while I knew and expected some of this, it has been an interesting step back in time in a way.

I sometimes feel that I am back in the late 1800’s / early 1900’s and that the tables have been turned, where women are in charge and men are reaching toward that glass ceiling. It is a humbling experience and one that I am glad to have had. I do have to say that the women that I have met are great and have been more than welcoming (we even joked about me wearing a GS scort).

The troop that I am a co-leader of is large with 13 girls and so far we are having a lot of fun. I have to say though that keeping 13 Kindergarten/1st Grade Girls occupied is sometimes a challenge, and is always interesting to say the least (and there is always a lot of talking, screaming, etc).

I look forward to working with the GS and helping to mold the leadership skills of these girls... I'll keep you all informed!

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Why I Don't Enjoy Traveling By Air With Children

2009-11-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

We traveled yesterday on a trip to visit family in Florida. Luckily we traveled by plane, or so I thought....but I am getting ahead of myself.

Let me start by saying that I am the type of person that at times will lose patience with my kids in stressful drawn out situations. I don't try to do this, though it does happen at times (It is something I am continuously working on).

Yesterday we got to the airport in plenty of time, and we found our gate and we thought we had enough time to look around and get some lunch. We started to eat and of course it was at this time that Diva-PJ decided that she did not want to eat lunch. Then we realized that our flight was boarding and we were still eating (and we were sitting in the very back of the plane).

When we finally finished and got over to the gate they were just getting done with our section which was not too bad. We got on the plane but I think I looked like the old picture of Atlas (you know the whole greek god holding up the world - just not scantily clad or without the bulgind muscles). Yes, I was carrying about 20 things and needless to say my nerves were getting a bit stretched thin.

We got to the plan and finally made it back to our seats. I asked Diva-J to hold my drink while I carried a car seat that Diva-PJ was going to sit in. We got to out nosebleed section seats and I started to get the carseat set up. Next thing I know Diva-J had dumped the whole full 22 ounce soda all over me and the two seats that she and J-Mom were going to sit in. The stewardess was not very willing to help. It was like pulling teetch to ask her for something that we could have the two of them sit on for the flight so their bottoms were not soaked by the time we got to Florida. Finally she brought us some nice seat covers and we were on our way. The flight went pretty well...though I have to give J-Mom credit, as she had to sit with both divas and keep them occupied while I sat across the aisle (so I did get a respit)....thanks J-Mom!

I am glad that we made it to Florida and I am just hoping that the rest of the trip is uneventful, fun and stress free (though that may not be completely possible).

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Book Review - Samson's Walls

2009-11-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

I was recently asked to review a new novel by author Jud Nirenberg named Samson's Walls.

In this novel Mr. Nirenberg takes the story of the Samson from the Bible to a new level, letting the story take life much more than I would have thought when I first heard of the novel.

Prior to receiving the novel, I did a bit of research on the story itself and found that the story revolves around the story of Samson. But is also examines the society that he was born in, raised and tempted within.

As the publisher states:

In a Canaan where Philistines and Hebrews vie for dominance, it is important to know one's place. Samson is isolated in his, trapped by unusual rules and expectations. He was promised to his parents by an angel, destined to grow into a great man and make his people strong. Raised with Philistines for playmates, he aches to be a part of their world. At marrying age, he chooses a Philistine wife. When his new family denies him the acceptance he craves, he releases years of frustration and loneliness in blood.

Samson goes into hiding, seeking to make peace with his wife's people. Other young Hebrews soon join him, each with their own reasons for rebellion. Even while longing for peace, Samson leads this growing army. He is trapped by his successes and grows in fame and power, taking enemy territory. He is alone.
He tastes love when he meets Delilah, the unlikely prostitute-queen of a village in no-man's land. She is the opposite of the clannish divisions he hates, with unclear ethnic origins and leading a mixed community. They become intimate as Philistine spies gather around them. Samson and Delilah are ensnared in Samson's fight to fulfill his own heart's need despite his tribe's and God's expectations.

Not to say that I know a lot about the story of Samson and Delilah outside of the basics, but this story explodes the story that I knew wide open. The author does take some leeway in the story by naming Samson's mother, but he states this up front for the reader to understand. He also does base his novel in some fact as well. Thus, it sometimes is hard to determine what is fact and what is fiction, which is the trademark of a good novel.

Once I started reading the novel itself I can honestly say that it was intriguing and it did draw me in, even more that I would have expected. I decided to try and ask the author a few questions to get some more information on his motivation for writing this book as well as a few other questions including:

1) What led you to have an interest in Samson and in writing about his life?

If you find the intersection of theology and history interesting, then Samson’s story is a fascinating section of the Bible. Its themes would have been common in the Mideast of its time but are shocking to readers, especially in the Western world, today. After all, it’s about people mass murder and burning animals and people alive. God encourages tribalism, or at least the people in the story interpret His will that way. Part of the pleasure of planning and writing the book was the research on 13th century B.C. Canaan and part was the exploration of the messages buried within the story.

And not least of all, there’s the matter of psychology. I wanted to make some sense of all the violence and loneliness and to make sense of all the irrational behavior of the Biblical telling of Samson. A man visits a prostitute and she wants to tie him up. He agrees. She calls in his enemies to kill him. He escapes. Then he goes back to her and lets her tie him up again. And again. What’s going on here? Turning the story into something with real people whose motives make sense to us was an exciting challenge.

2) What type of parallels do you see in the society that Samson lived within and in today's society?

People who read Samson’s Walls will be able to relate to someone in the story. The characters live in a very different society from ours but human needs are the same. We want to be loved, to fit somewhere, to trust someone. We can feel torn between the expectations of others – of our culture, our family, of what we believe God wants – and what we deeply wish.

3) What do you hope that your readers will take from this book?

We’re all tied together by our commonalities. War and violence don’t have winners and losers. We’re bound together and share our fates with those who are connected to us, even those connected to us by accident or by animosity. Samson’s story is tragic because he seems fascinated with his enemies but this never leads to a peaceful relationship.

I think the power dynamic between the men and women in the book, and especially between Samson and Delilah ought to get a lot of readers talking.

4) How much of your novel is based on fact and how much is fiction?

A lot of research went into giving the reader a historically coherent picture of the setting, its cultural and political conflicts and the lifestyles. In that sense, it’s aimed at showing fact. As for the story itself, I’d say I aimed for fidelity to an original. I tried to write a novel that is faithful to the Biblical version, building on it without deviating from its shape. This makes Samson’s Walls very different from other novels about the same people. I didn’t just change the plot without respect for the Bible. The last well known novel about Samson inspired a Cecil B. DeMille film that took extreme liberties. Samson’s Walls is an attempt at greater fidelity.

I found it interesting to find out while researching this book that the novel is now in pre-production as an opera, to be initially performed in 2010 in Washington, DC. Music is being composed by Gregg Martin, with Nirenberg consulting on the libretto. See http://www.greggmartin.net/ for more information.

The featured product in this post was provided to me free of charge by the author. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

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Project 365 - A Review Of Where I Have Been

2009-11-20T07:52:00.004-05:00

I have put together a Whrrl story to look back at the 365 project - take a look! Hope you enjoy it!

Overheard the other day....

2009-11-19T08:44:00.002-05:00

Diva-J has been a bit of a slow poke lately when it comes to finishing her meals. The other night at dinner the following was overheard...

Diva-J - Don't worry mom, I'll be done in a gypsy!

J-Mom - You mean you'll be done in a jiffy?

Diva-J - Oh yeah...that's what I meant.

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Project 365 (365/365) - The Divas Take Me Home

2009-11-19T06:12:00.000-05:00

On this last day... I will start as I began with pictures of my divas! It has been a hard but fruitful trip in photography and npw that it is done I do not know what my plan is....

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Squirrel Nests in the Morning

2009-11-18T08:25:00.001-05:00

Sunrise, a light fog hovers across the ground. As I walk toward my work I look up in a tree in the park which sits close to my work and see a large squirrel nest that sits at top of an old oak tree.

As I look at this, I find myself pondering the symmetry and construction that one animal uses to make such a nest. I found myself as a father wishing that I could share this experience with my daughters and talk to them about why animals do such things. It opened my eyes to the amount of things that were out there that can be used as teaching tools.

After I experienced this morning, I began looking around me to see what other teachable moments / experiences / items were around me on a daily basis. As I started identifying these things I started to share these items with Diva-J & J-Mom. I found Diva-J’s eyes being opened daily through what I was sharing and she began asking more and more questions about the things around her. This inquisitiveness was wonderful to see and it allowed me to get pleasure in what I was sharing and what she was learning.

If you haven’t taken time to notice the squirrel nests in your life, you should. It helps you to see your larger place in the world through your children’s eyes.

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Project 365 (364/365) - Corn on The Cob

2009-11-18T06:03:00.002-05:00

Maize always reminds me of fall!

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Book Review - Code 936

2009-11-17T06:20:00.001-05:00

I was recently asked to review a new medical international thriller entitled CODE 936 by Bill Kimbrell, Jr. As an individual who enjoys reading and especially reading action packed thrillers, I was excited to hear about and to read this book.

In waiting for the book to arrive, I examined some of the story line that I received from the publisher. It stated that the book:

...focuses on James Cantrill, hard-working surgical equipment businessman, family man, the guy next door, who watches his career go down the drain when he discovers a conspiracy inside his company to cover up problems with a total hip replacement device that’s in use by over 600,000 people. The story is set in part in Warsaw, IN (the orthopedic capitol of the world, home of "Werner," the evil company in Code 936).

When he tries to find out more information, he’s fired. Things go from bad to worse when he is then kidnapped, hustled onto a corporate jet, and smuggled to Puerto Rico. There he finds himself embroiled in a brutal, global conspiracy, involving Code 936, the obscure IRS tax code which secretly benefits hundreds of huge manufacturers in Puerto Rico. What James knows may get him killed.

Out of her mind with worry, Trish, his partner and wife, struggles to find him. She, his daughters, friends, his trusted lawyer, and, finally, the FBI endeavor to discover his whereabouts while trying to penetrate this airtight cover-up. They soon learn that a number of ruthless people will go to any length to make sure James is never found and the truth is never revealed.

Bill Kimbrell spent 31 years building his own surgical equipment business. Code 936 is his first novel. He grew up in Greenville, Mississippi and graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. . During his career, he was appointed Ethics Chairman for the entire United States for his professional organization, a position he held for over twelve years. Long an advocate for integrity and ethical leadership, Mr. Kimbrell conducted ethics seminars across the country, which resulted in the first certified Code of Ethics in the medical device industry.

After reading more about the book as well as the background of the author, I was intrigued as to what to expect in the book itself!

One of the things that I loved to see in the acknowledgment section was the fact that Mr. Kimbrell was a Rotarian. As a fellow Rotarian, I am always amazed at the breadth an depth of things that Rotarians accomplish, not only in their professional lives but in their Rotary lives as well and it is always great to meet new Rotarians in person or virtually.

Once the book arrived, I dived in and was quickly engrossed in the story. One of the things that jumps out immediately is the fact that with Mr. Kimbrells' background in ethics, he surrounds his main character and the company with many ethical trials that need to addressed. You could even say that there was a true lack of ethical standards with Werner (the company in question).

Mr. Kimbrell's book was vivid with illusion and illustration. The way that he portrays images within his book makes the storyline and the characters jump to life. You start to relate and despise some of the characters. You can picture the scenes in your mind and become one with the story. These are the type of stories that I always love to read as they are ones that you cannot put down.

For his first book, this was a great start, I would have to say that I would love to read more from Mr. Kimbrell and hope that I will see more from him in the near future!

If this book sounds like one that you would also like to get your hands on check it out on Amazon.

The featured product in this post was provided to me free of charge by the author. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

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