On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer… on ENDEAVOUR!

Even though it snowed last night, Santa hasn’t changed his schedule….but the space shuttle Endeavour flew by NASA JSC today between 11:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. while mounted on a modified Boeing 747 shuttle carrier aircraft. We all were in the parking lot cheering it on! Go Endeavour!!!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Texas Snow! (December 10th) These photos were taken in my front yard.

We don't see this often in Houston!!!!

Pam's Favorite Things

With Christmas right around the corner, many are you are searching for the latest and greatest must have gadget. In the tradition of my favorite Christmas Show "Oprah's Favorite Things," I have compiled a list of a few of my favorite things. The prices of my favorite things range from one buck to about $800.00, because I am practical like that. And of course, just like Oprah, I have one for each of you – just look under your seat (just kidding!)

Amazon Kindle

Being a bonafide technophile, I had been eying the Kindle for quite sometime. I was so afraid that as soon as I purchased it, they were going to come out with a new one, making my obsolete right from the start. However, when Oprah showcased the Kindle on her show and offered a $50.00-off coupon, I had to get it. I love it! I have books, audio books, and music on mine. It is a cool toy and if you are a gadget person, you are going to love it!

Western Digital HD Media Player

I was reading the Sunday paper, and saw this for $99.00. I really want to have a centralize location for all of my digital media, and this seemed like a good way to get me started. I already had an HP media server and a HP portable media drive, so I purchased this in an effort to get the party started. So far, so good – it doesn't steam media, but I really didn't want that anyway. It works great, has a fantastic user interface, and was reasonably prices.

HP Pavilion DV7-1130US 17-Inch Laptop

This is my 4th (and biggest) laptop. I still have my tiny Dell, which is perfect for travel but I wanted something somewhat portable, with a larger display. This machine isn't exactly portable, it is huge. It is also my first round with Windows Vista. Overall, it is a nice machine, not a powerhouse, but perfect for what I need. It was quite inexpensive compared to my Dell, which I still have along with my desktop for the heavy duty code slinging! Here are the specs:

• 17.0-inch Diagonal WXGA plus High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display, 1440 x 900 resolution


• 2.00 Ghz AMD Turion X2 RM-70 Dual-Core Mobile Processor with 1MB L2 Cache


• 4096MB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm),


• 250GB (5400RPM) Hard Drive (SATA),


• ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics RS780M with up to 1918MB total graphics memory


• LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support


• Wireless LAN 802.11a/b/g/n WLAN


• Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium, dims in inches: 15.59 (W) x 11.22" (D) x 1.31 (min H) in approx., 7.57 lbs
  

Coffee – As any self-respected geek, I like BOLD coffee, none of that whippy stuff for me. I have two favorites, one to brew at home, and another to have while I am out.

• At Home: New Orleans Blend Coffee with Chicory from Community Coffee


• Out: Starbucks Africa Kitamu Coffee
  

Bath and Body Works Winter Candle by Slatkin & Co.

This is one of my favorite fragrances! I love the candle, the scented oil, and the plug-ins. But it is only offered during the holiday – so stock up now!

Tony Chachere's The Original Creole Seasoning

It is a well know fact that EVERYTHING taste better with a little Tony Chachere's on it. Nuff' Said!

Louisiana Original Hot Sauce

If you know me, you know I love spicy food, and I LOVE hot sauce. I do experiment with different kinds. But my all time favorite is Louisiana Original.

Reynolds Wrap® Non-Stick Aluminum Foil

If you come to my house there are several things that I always have on hand. I have zip lock bags, wax paper, and all kinds of aluminum foil. But the Reynolds Non-Stick is my favorite.

And last, but not least ... WINE!!!!

• Red Wine - Beaujolais Nouveau
  
At one past midnight on the third Thursday of each November, from little villages and towns like Romanèche-Thorins, over a million cases of Beaujolais Nouveau begin their journey through a sleeping France to Paris for immediate shipment to all parts of the world. Banners proclaim the good news: Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé! "The New Beaujolais has arrived!" One of the most frivolous and animated rituals in the wine world has begun.


• White Wine - Robert Mondavi Pinot Grigio

" When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice" -- Proverbs 29:2

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."
—President-elect Barack Obama, November 4, 2008, Acceptance Speech
There are no words strong enough, wise enough, or elegant enough, to describe how I fell at this moment, or how I felt when it was announced that Barack Obama was going to be our next president.

Of course, I voted for him. I also caucused for him. And I truly believe in him. I wanted him to win with every fiber of my being, but there was always that little doubt in my mind, as to if this could happen in my lifetime.

I prayed for this moment, and I am so thankful that God allowed me the opportunity to be a part of this process. I have come along way from being a young girl in Memphis, TN whose mother brought her along to march with Dr. King during the Sanitation Workers strike in Memphis.

I have lived to see some wondrous and marvelous things in my life. But nothing compares to how I feel right now in this moment in time. Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. In the words of my grandmother "We have come a mighty long ways", let us all support our president, encourage our president, but most importantly pray for our president; for he is going to need us in the days to come.

May the pride of our ancestors adorn him during his presidency, and may the Lord our God, hold him tight and guide his path.

Last Day For Early Voting!

"Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18 )

Today is the last day for early voting in Texas. If you haven't done so, vote early. I think it will be a lot easier (and a lot less mess) if you do. I voted this past Wednesday, no lines at all. My son Kam flew in last week to vote, in his words he wanted to be the first person in our family to vote for a Black man for President. We gladly gave him that honor, but we all quickly followed suite.

If you are a friend of mine, most likely you have voted already, because that is "how we roll"! However, just in case you are in an area that doesn't have early voting, I know that you will do the right thing on Tuesday. But what we have to do is encourage some of our lazy friends, relatives, and co-workers to vote. We need, and are ready for CHANGE!

We have some challenging and stressful days ahead, this election has been one of historical significance. Please continue to pray for Barack Obama, he is going to need both our prayers and support in the days ahead.

If you feel so inclined, please join me as I fast and pray during the lunch hour on Tuesday for our country, our people, and for our next president. Stay strong and go vote!

My Story

I have been off the blog for a while. In addition to dodging hurricanes, I have been a caregiver for my life partner. For those of you who don't know, my husband has been ill for almost a year now. We went to eleven doctors before we found out what was wrong. It was cancer, and I was scared.

Family and friends lifted us up in prayer, and through the grace of God, we made it through this most difficult time. For those of you who are faced with this battle, I am here to testify that God is faithful, and he hears and answers your prayers.

For the past three years I have been a fundraiser for Divas For A Cure, an organization whose sole purpose is to raise funds to fight and prevent cancer. DFAC donates all monies raised to M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Hospital in Houston, TX. Unlike other well-know charities like Susan B. Komen and American Cancer Society, DFAC has no overhead. What this means is you know exactly where you donation is going.

In 2006, DFAC donated $25,000.00 to M.D. Anderson, and in 2007 we donated $50,000.00. The 2008 fundraiser is still in progress, so far we have raised $30,000.00, but we still need help from people like you.

M.D. Anderson has been a great resource for many of my friends who are in the fight of their lives. My friends Margie Pelonero and Alma Alfred are both cancer survivors and both were treated at M.D. Anderson. As I mentioned earlier, this year cancer struck home. My husband was diagnosed with Kidney cancer and there was no question in my mind where he would be going for treatment - M.D. Anderson.

Now, I have a personal testimony for everyone. The people at M.D. Anderson treated us with compassion and professionalism. And by the grace of God, I am proud to let you know that my husband is better, back at work, and on the road to recovery.

But there are many still in the fight. Recently, my friend and co-worker Patti Cauthen was diagnosed with breast cancer. For her, the fight has just begun. I solicit your prayers for Patti and if you want to personally help find a cure for this disease please consider making a donation to Divas For A Cure. Your donation is 100% tax deductable, and you will know exactly where your money is going.

You can make a difference in someone's life.

Here's the Link! http://divasforacure.blogspot.com

Proud Godmother

Many of you may remember my goddaughter Kohl, who while a junior in high school wrote a poem "Your Perception, My Reality" for her school's literary magazine. The poem was about her personal feelings about prejudice. While her creative writing teacher praised the poem, and wanted her to submit it for publication, the faculty sponsor, backed by the principal, would not allow Kohl's poem to be published.

Needless to say, I was pissed! I don't want any one messing with any of my babies!!! At that time, I started a web site for Kohl, where many of you posted your positive comments and she received many accolades from extinguished authors in the African American community. She received world wide recognition for her poem and writing skills including media attention that resulted in the poem being published in many venues.

Since then, Kohl went on to graduate from high school with honors, and has since graduated from Hampton University.

I am proud to share with you that Kohl has been accepted to the Clinton School of Public Service, where she is one of 30 students selected to pursue a masters degree in public service. The Clinton School is a branch of the University of Arkansas.

I am always excited to see our young people do well as they reach for the stars. I am very proud of her, and so happy to share her good news with you.

Here is a little more about Kohl and the Clinton School:

• Kohl Fallin - A native of Huntsville, Ala., Fallin graduated from Hampton University with a degree in Public Relations and Political Science. For the past year, she has served as a staff assistant to Congressman John P. Sarbanes of the U.S. House of Representatives, acting as a constituent services specialist, among other duties. She has also worked with Congressman Bud Cramer of Alabama’s 5th district and been a legal service intern with the Washington, D.C. firm of Friend, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson. She received the Martin Luther King Jr. Profiles in Courage Award from the Huntsville Madison County Democratic Women in 2004.
  

• http://www.clintonschool.uasys.edu/news-events/detail.aspx?id=421

Divas For A Cure 2008

For the 3rd consecutive year I am proud to be a fundraiser and supporter for Divas For A Cure! Last year, we were able to raise $50,000.00 which was donated to M.D. Anderson Cancer Hospital in Houston, TX .

This year the goal is $100,000.00. Won’t you please help?

Please be a part of history in the making! Donate now to support this worthwhile cause. Every little bit helps; no amount is too small or too large.

Thanks So Much!

Pamela Walker Williams
Official Blogger for Divas For A Cure

Tech Talk: My New Gadget (and a couple of cool sites)

I recently had an ergonomic assessment. This is where they tell you everything that you are doing wrong in your work space, lol! Surprisingly, I got good grades. I was told that I had excellent posture (thanks Mama) and that the fact I like my keyboard in my lap turned out to also be a good thing. But what I did get out of the assessment was a semi-ergonomic key board and an Evoluent mouse. (http://www.evoluent.com/vm3.html).

Well, now I have the coolest mouse at NASA! I feel very “space-age, thank-you-very-much! Yeah, yeah it helps your wrist, yada, yada, yada.. but most important it looks good!

www.evoluent.com

Check out these Music Web Site -

Pandora: http://www.pandora.com

Last year one of my friends, Gloria Armstrong, introduced me to Pandora.com. This has got to be one of the coolest websites ever! What Pandora does is lets you create your own radio station(s). You select either your favorite genres or artist, and like magic you have your own radio station… and it is free!

imeen: http://www.imeem.com/

I am not really that big on social networks. I set up MySpace when it first started, and lost my userid and password, and never found them… oh well. I have never even seen a face book site, and I am still not sure about Linkin. However, I do like blogging basically because I have a record of really cool things I have done, or really cool things I have seen.

imeen is a really cool site and although it is also a social network, I just think the tools it provides are fantastic. It allows users to discover interact and express themselves
with media, including music, video and photos, and form connections based on shared tastes and interests. But what I like about it most is that it allows you to create online playlist. I am not an expert yet, but so far, I really like what I have seen.

Girl’s Trip 2008

"Friendships multiply joys, and divide griefs." --Henry George Bohn

Girl’s Trip 2008 is officially over, and I am worn out to prove it! This past weekend 12 phenomenal women convened in San Antonio, Texas for a weekend of fun, food, and most importantly friendship.

Girl’s Trip 2008 Participants

Anita (Atlanta)
Camille (Kansas City)
Dallas (Tampa,)
Debra (Houston)
Deon (Detroit)
Donsia (Greenbay)
Eddgra (Huntsville)
Keath (Atlanta)
Kim (Memphis)
Marshalle (Tampa)
Pam (Houston)
Paula (Houston)

Day One: Thursday, May 29th

I arrived in San Antonio early Thursday morning and was picked up by my good friend Nina and her lovely daughters. Nina was gracious enough to host a cocktail party that evening for our group, so she and I had a fun day plan with the preparation. Also, that day was her daughter’s Sydney’s birthday, so Nina, Sydney, Kai, and I went to TGI Friday’s to eat lunch and of course have the waiters sing an embarrassing birthday son to Sydney, LOL!

Nina then took me to the hotel (which is fabulous) to check in. Our group stayed at the fabulous Westin La Cantera Resort (http://www.westinlacantera.com/). The resort has magnificent views and fabulous beds!

Each room had a beautiful floral arrangement that was sent to us by Paula’s husband Ron. We also had a scented candle for the room, and we each had a gift bag full of goodies that included a beautiful cashmere scarf from Afghanistan. That was a pleasant surprise and the beginning of what was to be a wonderful trip.

After I checked in the hotel, I returned to Nina’s house to start cooking!

The “No Men, Amen” Menu

White Cranberry Martinis
White and Red Wines
Jalapeño Cheese Ball and Cajun Fire Crackers
Memphis Spaghetti Casserole
Jamaican Jerk Chicken
Cuban Style Broccoli and Squash
Garlic Bread
Jack Daniels Cake

Cocktails and Conversations with Best-selling author Nina Foxx -

At 7 o’clock that evening the other 11 lovely ladies traveled to Nina’s house for “Cocktails and Conversations to discuss her latest book “No Girl Needs Husband Seven Days a Week.” (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0061335274/thegoodbookclubt)

Paula was this year’s organizer and she welcomed everyone to San Antonio and thanked Nina for hosting us. Each lady was given a hand painted martini glass that had a charm with her name on it. We drank cocktails, ate dinner and then of course discussed Nina’s book. The book discussion was stimulating and thought provoking. It was a wonderful evening and a good time was had by all.

Hey…. but night was not over! We left Nina’s house and went to the midnight debut showing of “Sex in the City” at San Antonio’s Palladium Theater (http://www.santikos.com/palladium.html) For those of you who know me well, you know that 10 PM is my official bedtime. But in the spirit of sisterhood, I hung in there, and we all laughed through the movie! Of course in the car ride back was where everyone gave their official movie review and commentary on the lives of “Carrie and Big”, LOL!

Day Two – Friday, May 30th

Thank God we were able to sleep in, because I am definitely not used to staying up until 4:00 AM!!!

Our first stop for the day was La Margarita Restaurant and Oyster Bar (http://www.lamargarita.com/) , located in El Mercado a.k.a. Market Square. La Margarita is well-known for being the first American restaurant to serve sizzling fajitas. It is also famous for its margaritas, of which we tested quite a few! The manager even gave us a free round of our choice of margarita or a shot of tequila.

After a wonderful meal (and drinks) we decided to split up into two groups. This was some of the ladies first trip to San Antonio, and it would not have been complete without a trip to the Alamo! So, group one went to Alamo Plaza, while group two headed to San Marcos for the outlet mall shopping experience. We agreed to all meet in San Marcos in a couple of hours.

And shop they did! Much like the energizer bunny, they kept going and going and going! It was two darn hot for me. I opted for a nice spot in the shade while the marathon and well seasoned shoppers did there thing.

Eventually, everyone got tired… except for Paula, Camille, and Dallas who I am sure turned off the lights at the mall.

We all met back up at the beautiful River Walk. We drove around looking for a place to park, and poor Marshall was completely confused as to whereabouts of the river. We explained to here that it was at ground level, but below. Her look was priceless. Then she asked “how do you see down there?” We all cracked up!!!! Someone said there are lights, LOL! Well we finally parked, and made our way down to the River Walk, where I think Marshall enjoyed it most of all.

Our group took the boat ride/tour upon arrival, and eventually the marathon shopping group joined us and several of them took the tour as well. We finally made our way to Pesca on the River http://www.watermarkhotel.com/restaurant/ where we enjoyed our fellowship, a fabulous meal, and lots and lots of laughs.

Day Three – Saturday, May 31st

By now, my body just doesn’t know what the hell is going on! I stayed up past 3:00 AM two nights in a row. Completely zombie-fied my roommate Eddgra and I decided to order room service and eat breakfast in bed! We watched the heated Democratic National Committee rules panel's decision, and I listed to Eddgra fuss at Kohl for opting to get her hair done (which turned out fabulous by the way) in lieu of being present at the DNC. Eddgra and my commentaries were much more colorful that any that aired on TV.

This day was a free day. Many of the ladies had spa treatments, and some lay out by the pool. I was honored to be able to participate in Syndey’s (Nina’s daughter) Rites of Passage Celebration, which took place at another great San Antonio restaurant name Silo Elevated Cuisine - 1604 http://www.siloelevatedcuisine.com/ . Nina picked me up, and I was also happy to see her sister Lynda, her niece Brandi, along with the honoree. The luncheon was great, and I am thankful that I was able to participate in this wonderful time in her life.

I came back to the hotel, changed and searched for all my sisters. They were everywhere! I finally caught up with Keath and Eddgra at the poolside hotel, and we chatted and enjoyed a glass of VERY expensive wine.

After a short break, we all ventured to the hospitality suite for our final night of fun. We had cocktails, Italian Food (from Bravos), and games!!! We played Glamour Pot luck, which involved each of us bring 10 items (new or slightly used) to exchange in a fight to the finish. We also were given “pole dance” lessons, and learned all of Beyonce’s moves.

But most importantly we shared. We shared some of our innermost thoughts, struggles, and triumphs. We ended in prayer for everyone’s safe journey home, lots of hugs and lots of kisses.

Day Four – Sunday, June 1st

I had an early flight so I caught a taxi with Marshall and Dallas back to the airport. However, the remaining members of our happy crew headed over to another friend, Tracey’s home for a lovely brunch. I could tell by the pictures that they had a great time.

To my sisters:

Anita – I admire your freedom. You have more self-confidence than anyone I have every met.

Camille – You have always been a class act! How lucky are all your patients to have a physician as caring (and yes as crazy) as you!

Dallas - What a beautiful lady you are! I enjoyed meeting you and look forward to seeing you again (however it will not be at an outlet mall because you would wear me out!)

Debra – A lady of such grace. Thanks for sharing the words that the spirit told you to share with us. You were a true blessing.

Deon – You will always be my sister, I am thankful God put you in my life as a lifetime friend. Your family is my family, and vice-versa. Love you much!

Donsia – The disco queen, who knows all the latest moves! Congratulations on making partner continue to make us proud as you pave the way to justice.

Eddgra – Girl you know you crazy! I guess that’s why I love you so much. Whenever we are together it is as if no time has past. You are forever my sister-friend.

Keath – I have known you longer than I have known any of these ladies (since you were in the 4th grade) but it took this trip for me to know Keath the women. You are definitely your mother’s daughter, and I always admired your mom.

Kim - My little sister whose smile can light up a room. Your excitement is contagious, you are a true gem.

Marshalle – Who would think someone as beautiful as you could be such a nut! You are so much fun to be around, and I feel as if I have known you all my life. Thanks for your friendship.

Paula – Last but not least… Thank you for organizing this wonderful trip! You are another little sister. Be carful as you journey back to Afghanistan. Know that we all are praying for you while you are there.

Ladies you are my sisters. May the Lord continue to bless and keep you until we meet again.

Tech Talk – The Helio Ocean

I finally got myself a new cell phone to replace my T-mobile Sidekick II. I now am the proud owner of a new Helio Ocean Smart Phone. I really loved my Sidekick, so I really wanted to replace it with one of the newer ones. However, my son has the new one and he hates it, armed with that knowledge, I began my search for a “mo-better” device, lol!

I really like the iPhone (my friend Nina has one) but, I don’t like the touch screen, I am a push-button type of girl. I am a big Cnet.com fan, so I turned to them for reviews of several different smart phones. CNET gave the Ocean – 8.3 out of 10, which is an excellent review.




Pros: This phone does everything I need. First it is a good phone, second it is very easy to text, send and receive e-mail; and last the web feature is great. In addition to being able to use the Helio mail, you can use your POP mail, or multiple other providers (Yahoo, EarthLink, Windows Live, and Gmail). For those who are into MySpace and YouTube, these features are integrated very seamlessly into the interface.

There is an expansion slot where you can add 2 GB of memory, which you will need if you plan to play music and videos via your phone. The device came with a nice set of headphones, and the music actually sounded pretty good when listening through them. There is some free software available via the Helio web site that will allow you to add drivers to you PC so that it will recognize the device as a hard drive.

Cons: It is large, but not as large as the Sidekick, so I am use to that. I don’t like the QWERTY keypad as well as I liked the one of the Sidekick (the buttons are a little closer together) but I think I will eventually get use to it. It is not a great camera (neither, was the Sidekick) but it does do Video, which my Sidekick did not.

We got the family plan (Ruffus has a Helio Fin now ) and the price was about the same as we paid at T-mobile.

So far, so good… I will keep you updated on how I like the phone in the long term.

Be Blessed

Bishop Paul S. Morton - Be Blessed



Be Blessed my brother, Be blessed my sister, be blessed wherever this life leads you, let me encourage you, let me speak life to you, You can depend on God to see you through, You can depend on me to pray for you

-You might be hurting, you might be crying, you might be worrying and frustrated to, let me encourage you let me speak life to you you can can depend on God to see you through, you can depend on me to pray for you

-Pray im gonna keep on prayin, Pray im gonna keep on prayin for you, Pray im gonna keep on prayin, Pray im gonna keep on prayin for you you can depend on God to see you thru, you can depend on me to pray for you

Bridge: I see you in the future. and you look better, I see you walking in favor and prosperity too, let me encourage you, let me speak life to you, you can depend on God to see you through, you can depend on me to pray for you

-I pray for you, you pray for me, and watch God change things, Repeat 1x

-I pray for you, you pray for me and watch God change things Repeat 6x

What’s on my Night Stand/iPod

It’s been awhile since I last reviewed the books that I have either been reading or listening, or in some cases both. Here is a quick recap:

Book: Duma Key: A Novel

• ISBN: 1416552510
• Author: Stephen King
• Rating: 5 Stilettos
• Review: He’s back! Yes the Stephen King that was worth the long wait in line at the book stores just to get a first edition hardback copy is alive and well. I was kind of worried about my old pal Stephen because his last couple of books were both duds. I listened to the audio version of Duma Key in my car, and I couldn’t wait to get it the car each day to continue the story. He was a really good listen.
  
  Listen to Stephen King talk about Duma Key

Book: The 4-Hour Work Week

• ISBN: 0307353133
• Author: Timothy Ferriss
• Rating: 4 Stilettos
• Review: I first listened to this book on audio, and thought it was interesting enough to purchase a hardcopy of the book. You have to take the advise with a grain of salt, but there really were some great resources given, that I needed to see in print (or else I would have to keep rewinding so I could write everything down.)

Book: Magic Street

• ISBN: 0345416902
• Author: Orson Scott Card
• Rating: 1 old beat up tennis shoe
• Review: I purchased this book when it was first released back in 2005. Being an Orson Scott Card fan, I couldn’t wait to read his new book. I found it really interesting that this book took place in an African American neighborhood. Why the book had a few interesting parts, it wasn’t enough to keep my interest so I put the book down (for a couple of years.) I subscribe to http://www.audible.com/ , and as a legacy member I get two audio book downloads each month. One month I was having a hard time finding two books, so I said what the hell, let me try Magic Street on audio. I normally can listen to anything while driving. The results were the same. I got a little further, but decided it really was worth my time. This was disappointing to me, because I loved all of the books in the Ender series. I guess this was Mr. Card’s “experimental” writing. As my friend Trisha says he needs to continue to “write what you know.”

Book: The New Earth

• ISBN: 0452289963
• Author: Eckhart Tolle
• Rating: Barefoot (Unrated)
• Review: This is still a work in progress. I purchased this book in paperback and downloaded the audio version from http://www.audible.com/. The original plan was my friend Wanda and I were going to go through the Oprah on-line class. Well, life happened. I got through the first chapter/class and my husband became ill. All of my energies focused on his healing so I got off-track. Well, he is doing better now, and my plan is to pick up where I left off. Luckily, Oprah has the classes available for download, so I will still be able to go through the classes as I read through the book.
  
  

Total Recall 2070

Somehow or another there actually was a sci-fi television series that slipped by me. Total Recall 2070 is very loosely based on two works by the author Philip K. Dick: his short story "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale," which was adapted into the film Total Recall, and his novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, which was adapted into the film Blade Runner,

There are 22 episodes on hulu.com, if you are a sci-fi fan, you should check it out!

Tech Talk – Great Sites for TV Junkies

I am a self-confessed television junkie, I always have been. I love watching TV. I am great at multitasking, meaning the TV can be on while I read, work on my PC, or clean my house. I would even sleep with it on if my husband would let me. I love my Tivo (the real thing), we also have one of those crappy Comcast DVRs, and I have a Windows Media Center TV. So, I am always prepared to watch my favorite shows on one of multiple devices.

Both the Tivo and Windows media center can concert TV shows or movies for me to watch on my iPod. Technology is good.

Every once in a while Technology gets better. I was really thrilled when the major networks start streaming some of their TV shows online. This made catching up on shows I had missed during the season quite convenient. But it has gotten better.

Enter Internet TV- Online Video on Demand, first came Joost (www.joost.com); next Veoh (www.veoh.com); and now there is Hulu(www.hulu.com). All provide high quality online television programming, and get this… THEY ARE ALL FREE! (and you know I love a bargain).

I found the Joost interface quite intrusive, so eventually I removed it from my PC. But I really like the Veoh interface (and it will play Hulu programs). Both Hulu and Veoh will allow you to watch shows from their web sites. However, some full length movies on Veoh require you view them through their player (which is quite nice.)

If you have tried Veoh or Hulu, be sure to check them out. If you know of some other cool high quality Video on Demand Sites, please post a comment on my blog (pwsquare.blogspot.com).

Congratulations Alex!

I just want to share the fantastic news that one of my former dance students, Alexandra Lewis, just won Miss Lafayette!!!! She will compete for Miss Louisiana in November. Alex was a student at my dance studio Hip Bones In Motion, and also she was also a Bay Area Baptist Church Praise Dancer!

Alex is the daughter of Raymond and Pat (my friend, AKA Soror, & book club member) Lewis!!!

I love to share the news our youth doing great things!!! GO ALEX!!! We are so proud of your !!!!!

News Story: http://www.klfy.com/Global/story.asp?S=7995921

What’s On My iPod - Upstate: A Novel by Kalisha Buckhanon

Buckhanon. One of our sponsors L. Peggy Hicks of Tricom Publicity donated the books to the children for them to read and discuss. I must admit, I wasn’t excited about reading it as I am not a big fan of Urban Fiction so I ordered the audio version so I could at least take part in the discussion. Well, I missed that meeting and never took the time to read or listen to the book. But this past week, I noticed that the book was on my iPod so I decided to listen to it, and I am glad I did.

It is a love story, between Antonio and Natasha, and it grabs you right from the start! The narrators Chadwick Boseman and Heather Simms are outstanding, and this book is a rare audio find! Now I hate I missed the discussion, because I know that this was a treat for our teens.

There is some very strong language and sexual content; however with parental consent I think it is an excellent book for teens. It is a real story that tells it like it is. I highly recommend it.

Movie Bliss

So far I have seen several of the films that are nominated for this year’s academy awards, (2 of which are nominated for best picture.) Here is a quick review of the movies that I have seen so far.

Atonement - this movie has been nominated for 7 academy awards including best picture and honestly I just don’t get it. I think the acting was good, Saoirse Ronan did a great job in her role and I can understand her nomination for best supporting actress (which really should be best actress) but the story was about as boring as they come (my two cents). I don’t even remember the music, so that is how good the score was to me. Over all I give the move 3 stilettos.

Juno – I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I found the movie to be quite entertaining. It tackled a serious subject, teen pregnancy, in a sensitive manner while still having moments of humor. It is nominated for 4 academy awards (Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role ,Achievement in Directing, Best Motion Picture of the Year, and Original Screenplay) Ellen Page did a great job in her leading role, I give this movie 5 stilettos.

American Gangster – was nominated for two academy awards (Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role and Achievement in Art Direction). Where I love any movie that stars Denzel Washington, I still hate to see him play a “bad guy.” I enjoyed this movie as much as I can enjoy seeing a life of crime and violence. And I am glad to see actress Ruby Dee get her much overdue acknowledgment, for her role in this movie. I love you Ms. Ruby, and I give this movie 5 stilettos.

The Bourne Ultimatum – If you know me you know that this is my kind of movie! Action, More Action, and Even More Action!!! The movie is nominated for three academy awards (Achievement in Film Editing, Achievement in Sound Editing, and Achievement in Sound Mixing.) I really have no idea what the criteria for judging is in any of these categories, I can just say I enjoyed the film, and I hope they win something!

3:10 to Yuma – Talking about surprises, I really was surprised when I liked this movie! I normally “don’t do” westerns, but in a effort of world peace (watching a movie with my husband) ... I said "uncle." However, I really enjoyed this move (my husband on the other hand went to sleep.) It was nominated for two academy awards (Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score) and Achievement in Sound Mixing.) Again, I don’t remember the score (it ain’t no Shaft), but I did enjoy the movie.

Ratatouille – I hate mice, rats and most rodents. But this movie managed to make them tolerable (but not adorable like Alvin and the Chipmunks.) It is a cute movie for kids with some sprinklings of adult humor. It was nominated for 5 academy awards (Best Animated Feature Film of the Year, Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score), Achievement in Sound Editing, Achievement in Sound Mixing, and Original Screenplay.)

Transformers – I know you are thinking to yourself, she will watch any damn thing (my husband mumbles that to himself all the time.) Well, my son was a big Transformers fan in the mid 80’s (he even dressed up like one for Halloween one year.) So once it came to video, I said “what the hell.” It kept me entertained , although the premise t it was kind of silly. It was nominated for three academy awards (Achievement in Sound Editing, Achievement in Sound Mixing, Achievement in Visual Effects)

I plan to try to knock-out a few more nominated films before the show which airs soon. I don’t want to be totally out-of-the-loop like I was last night watching the Grammy awards - I just didn’t have a clue about most of those songs. Hey now …. that’s another blog.

Tech Talk: Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program

After February 17, 2009, all TV stations must cease analog broadcasting and transition to exclusively broadcasting in a digital format, also known at DTV.

If you subscribe to cable or satellite, your access to broadcast channels should not change. However, if you currently rely on over-the-air signals via an analog television and an antenna ("rabbit ears"), you will need to act to continue to receive television.

You must either:

• Purchase a low-cost converter box to use with your existing analog television
• Purchase a digital television that can receive DTV signals
• Subscribe to cable or satellite

The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has launched the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program (Coupon Program), as authorized in the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005. Starting January 1, 2008, all U.S. households will be eligible to request up to two coupons, worth $40 each, to be used toward the purchase of up to two, digital-to-analog converter boxes.

To Get Coupons - go to: https://www.dtv2009.gov/

You Got to Love the French...

I have a few friends who are quite the wine connoisseurs. I won't mention any names (Wanda, Nina, Pat, Belinda, and Deon) but wouldn't we love one of these cool USB devices? (Click the Arrow to Start.)

Happy New Year and Tech Talk...

I truly believe there is nothing like a cheap DVD player.


Cheap DVD Players will play any darn thing, unlike those fancy models. I had an APEX that I wore completely out, I loved it because there was no limit to what it was willing to play, lol! Well after a little searching, I finally found a pretty good replacement.


I purchased a "Philips DVP3960 Multiformat 1080i Upscaling DVD Player with DivX, MP3, Windows Media Support" from Amazon.com, and I really like it. It is not high def or blue ray, but it has a great picture and will play all type of movie formats.

I created a data DVD that has 6 DivX Movies on it, and I was able to navigate the folders to play the selected movies. So far, I am really pleased. I paid $69.99 for it, but I had some Amazon.com money (much like Monopoly Money), so it ended up costing me about $15.00 bucks.

This week Circuit City has a similar model on sale for $39.00.







Philips DVD/DivX Player - Model #: PHL DVP3140


Besides DivX, this DVD player also plays DVD, DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW, MP3, WMA, JPEG and SVCD formatshttp://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Philips-DVD-DivX-Player-DVP3140-37/sem/rpsm/oid/174777/catOid/-12872/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

So if you are looking for a inexpensive 'play-any-damn-thing' type of DVD player you might want to check this one out!