How to Make Pho!

current mood: Cracking Up!

This is too funny! Turn your speakers on and Click Here so you can learn how to make Pho...

No offense intended of course... just thought you might laugh!

Ricky Martin - I Don't Care

current mood: Dancing!

Ricky Martin - I Don't Care

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Check it out...

There is no such thing as a "free lunch!"

current mood: Feeling Smart...

So you love to use Google... So do I! Its a great search engine and as a bonus, you can get a host of "free" applications such as Picasa, Google Toolbar, Google Desktop, and even Blogger which is used here to publish this blog. Some of you may even find it great that Google gives you a huge mail account (2GBs) in its GMail service, but lets stop and think for a minute. Free does not mean that you don't have to "sign-up" to use any of these applications. Sure you can just install Picasa and Google Toolbar and Google Desktop with out having to sign into any Google accounts, but that is still an opportunity for Google to track your goings on the WWW. But for those applications that you have to sign into, especially GMail... that is giving Google a lot of private information to use...

I know, I know... Microsoft and Yahoo! both have a lot of the same types of information, right? Yes they do, but the reason I bring all of this up is because Microsoft and Yahoo! have a much better privacy statements... Google... not so much:

New Google privacy policy gives some details
By Anick Jesdanun, Associated Press
NEW YORK — Google is now disclosing more details on how it collects and uses data obtained from users, but it is remaining silent on several key questions that concern privacy advocates.

The company's new privacy policy, though little changed in substance from one issued 15 months ago, is easier to read and reflects Google's expansion beyond its core search engine business.

It also describes in greater detail what Google is doing to protect against abuses.

But it remains silent on how long information is kept. That's an area of growing concern as Google offers more and more services that potentially collect and store a wealth of personal data, making the company's servers a prime target for abuse by overzealous law enforcers and criminals alike.

read more here...

Don't get me wrong... I really do love all of the free applications that Google develops, but I just want a more defined privacy statement! What do you think?

More Damien Rice - Delicate

current mood: Feeling Cool...

Damien Rice - Delicate

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'Lost' Actor, Wife Robbed at Gunpoint

current mood: Feeling Concerned...

'Lost' Actor Josh Holloway, Wife Robbed at Gunpoint in Their Honolulu Home

HONOLULU Oct 13, 2005 — Josh Holloway and his wife reportedly were robbed at gunpoint in their home. There was no indication that the robber recognized the 36-year-old actor, who plays hunky con man Sawyer on the ABC castaway drama "Lost," television station KHON reported.

The robber rousted the couple from bed early Wednesday, took cash and credit cards and drove off in Holloway's Mercedes-Benz, which was found abandoned a short time later, the station said.

Honolulu police would not release any information on the robbery.

Holloway's agent did not immediately return a call to her Los Angeles office.

Now I am going to ask a dumb question... why do you steal a car on an island? Where can you go? Now a boat I can understand, but a car...??!?!?

Review of "The Historian"

current mood: Feeling Smart...

I don't usually let anyone else write here, but since Richard wanted to talk about this book he read, I am gonna let him...

I just finished reading "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova. It has been on the Best Seller list since it was first published, and although it is a definitely worthy of these numbers, it fell far short of my expectations. With the premise of revisiting the Dracula mythology and surrounding it with true historical facts of the real Vlad Tepeş, one would think that this book keep its reader turning the pages. However, Ms. Kostova, although keeping the facts interesting, does not mix in enough mystery and intrigue (much less action) to keep those facts relevant to the story.

I will admit that as the book neared the ending, the crescendo started and the reading became easier. However the climax of the story was over so quick, one had to go back and read it again to make sure something important was not missed. The villains of the story are and should be vampires, but they hardly make any appearances leaving this reader slightly perplexed as to what I was reading.

I do like Ms. Kostova’s use of first person narratives in the form of letters and stories told to the main character, who is cleverly never named through-out the entire novel. Speculation will abound as to if this original literary device will follow over to the movie of which will be made by a yet as unnamed movie studio; how do you make a movie in which the lead character never has her name called out?

Overall, this novel can be called "3.5 Stars out of 5, Good" in the sense that each "letter" is a mini story in itself. As this is Elizabeth Kostova’s, I think she will only improve on her next effort.

Ok, so there you have it... Richard’s review of "The Historian". Please keep in mind that all blockquote items are the opinions of the quoted and do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of this beagle…

Cheers!

The Photo Albums Page is back!!! - hosted by Flickr

current mood: Feeling Cool...

Well its been a while, but I have finally brought back the Photo Album Page, but in a much easier fashion for me (less coding on my part) since it is hosted by Flickr. Enjoy...

The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice

current mood: Feeling Smart...


I love this song...

Damien Rice - The Blower's Daughter

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What do you think?