An Average Joe's Pursuit For Financial Freedom
by Michael Warren Munsey
Publisher: Xlibris US
Pub. Date: April 15, 2014
ISBN: 978-1493177691
ASIN: B00JRW4CTM
Pages: 85
Buy Links: Paperback, Kindle, ExLibris

Info from back of book cover: 

An Average Joe’s Pursuit for Financial Freedom offers a different perspective on money than what is traditionally taught by our parents and in our school systems. The reason there is such a discrepancy between the wealthy and the poor is due to the difference in the way money is perceived. We are not born with the ability to maintain wealth: it is something that is learned. The knowledge of knowing how to make money work to generate passive income is something that anyone can learn as long as they are disciplined. An Average Joe’s Pursuit for Financial Freedom is based on practical concepts and discusses the problems that the majority of us face with our personal finance. The concepts in this book are based on theory by an author that practices what he writes about.

Review:

I don't ever read financial themed books, but considering our economy is still rocky, I thought it wouldn't hurt to read this book.The author uses his own personal experiences to give financial advice instead of depending on simple statistics.

Yes, your first solution to making more money is to get a higher paying job, which might not be an easy thing to do if you don't have a college eduction, but then again a college eduction doesn't guarantee financial freedom. If you don't have a full scholarship, then you're going to have to get financial aid, meaning you'll be making payments for at least ten years. Plus, just because you have a college degree doesn't mean you'll find a high paying job.

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.

There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown... 

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Elizabeth!

Do you like to read books with a theme such as Halloween, Christmas, etc?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.

  

My Answer: 

Yes, I read holiday themed books. Actually, I have a wide variety in my reading likes. I'll read a horror book set around Halloween about a crazed killer and then I'll read an Amish fiction anthology set around Christmas. 

The hit Disney XD animated series Slugterra is getting the big screen treatment on August 2nd with the nationwide release of Slugterra: Return of the Elementals. Shout! Factory, Screenvision and Nerd Corps have teamed up to bring the second Slugterra movie to cinemas all across the United States.

Since its premiere in 2012, Slugterra has become a mega hit with children and adults, airing 39 episodes over three seasons. It has been broadcast in over 150 countries.

Earlier this year, the first movie, Slugterra: Gouls From Beyond, went straight-to-DVD; centering on the series slug-slinging hero, Eli Shane (voiced by Sam Vincent), and his pals, Pronto (voiced by Lee Tockar), Trixie (voiced by Shannon Chan-Kent) and Kord (voiced by Andrew Francis), as they battle Dark Slinger and his Goons. Now, the Shane Gang are accompanied by their new ally, Junjie (voiced by Brian Dobson), a master of the mysterious slugslinging art of Slug Fu and the former Dark Slinger, as they go on their biggest mission ever.

After the slugs all across the 99 Caverns start turning into ghouls, the Shadow Clan give Shane a hologram message left by his father instructing him to find the five Legendary Elemental Slugs (Earth, Air, Energy, Fire, Water). If these five slugs fall into the wrong hands, Slugterra will be destroyed.

Eli and his friends travel to different Caverns in the attempt to gather the five Elementals, but they encounter a slight problem - Dr. Blakk (voiced by Mark Oliver) and his Goons are after the Elementals too. Eli must confront his past in order to stop Dr. Blakk once in for all.;

Do you remember back in our middle school days when you would rather skip Thursday and go straight to Fridays, as that afternoon would kickoff your weekend with no school?

That is the way I feel right now. After literally not sleeping a single minute during the night, I decide to get out of bed at 4 A.M. and get a few things done, well to distract my mind for a few hours. My cat, Fred, went to the vet yesterday and things do not look good for my feline friend. I left at the vet for 24 hours, but I was warned to brace for the worst outcome today. Fred was a starving stray cat that showed up on the deck in 2009. He has been a great pet; always purring and very friendly. My other cat, Gaby, has been quite through the whole ordeal. I feel for her.

While I'm writing this, I'm listening to an Evanescence album, again. It seems anytime I'm stressed the only thing that can calm be down is listening to music, which lately Evanescence is the only music that has been taking away my worries. I only wish the band had more albums out.

It looks like I'm going to get three more packages by UPS today. I keep wondering what my neighbors think of me getting so many packages weekly. They must either think I'm addicted to ordering stuff or I have a lot of money, which neither is true. I very seldom actually order something anymore and if I do, it is normally something I'm saving back as Christmas presents.

2015 Quilting Block & Pattern-A-Day Calendar
by Debby Kratovil and Jean Ann Wright
Publisher: Accord Publishing (a division of Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC)
Pub. Date: July 15, 2014
Retail: $14.99
ASIN: 978-1449453626
Pages: 640
Buy Link: Amazon, Accord Publishing

Review:

Believe it or not, but there are just over five months left of 2014, meaning the department stores are going to be having 2015 calendars for sale. If you live in a small town like I do, then your local stores have a limited supply of calendars, so finding the perfect wall or desk calendar can be a bit of a challenge. Luckily this is the digital age and you can order any calendar you want by simply using your smartphone, iPad, tablet or laptop.

Accord Publishing releases many wall and desk calendars every year, covering about any theme your heart can imagine, from Family Guy to the Farmer's Market. They also publish many craft themed calendars, such as crocheting, knitting, water-coloring and quilting.

The 2015 Quilting Block & Pattern-A-Day Calendar was released last week featuring 68 different projects from Debby Kratovil and Jean Ann Wright. Instructions for each project ( overall dimensions & measurements and fabric specifications) are located on the back of the first page of each quilt design. The block patterns and templates for each project follow after the first design page.

The 68 quilt projects featured in this calendar are:

Damian: Son of Batman Deluxe Edition
by Andy Kubert, Grand Morrison
Publisher: DC Comics
Pub. Date: July 22, 2014
ISBN: 978-1401246426
Pages: 176
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving in comic book stores this Tuesday, July 22, 2014 is the hardback Damian: Son of Batman Deluxe Edition, featuring Issues #1-4 of Damian: Son of Batman and Batman #666.

In the DC Comic Universe, Batman had a son, Damian, with Talia al Ghu. At the young age of ten, Damian took on the identity of Robin, fighting side-by-side with his father and later becoming Redbird, until his death by the hands of the Heretic.

Damian returned last year in the"what if" 4-issue storyline, Damian: Son of Batman, which Damian takes up Dick Grayson's mantel as the Batman in a potential future after Batman dies. Unlike the old Batman, Damian will kill criminals if needed, despite the fact that this upsets his elderly father, Bruce Wayne. Damian decides it is best that he goes by the Batman code and not kill anyone, but his anger always gets the better of him.

In Batman #666, Damien is now adult taking over his father's legacy as the Batman, but he uses more violent approach to stopping criminals, which has upsets Commissioner Barbra Gordon, who condemns Batman's actions. In this version, Damien sold his soul to the Devil in exchange to receive the immortality he needs to protect Gotham.

While last year's Star Trek: Into Darkness was a box-office success, for most fans the film was a complete misfire with dozens of inconsistencies and plotholes, especially when a British actor, Benedict Cumberbatch, took on the role of Khan Noonien Singh.

I have to admit that I did see the film in theaters last year, but besides from a few entertaining action scenes, the movie was downright stupid thanks to a horrible script and a halfwit finale. That being said, I still have fondness for the franchise, as I grow up watching The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, which is the main reason why I gave the graphic novel Star Trek: Khan a try.

The opening takes place towards the end of Star Trek Into Darkness with Khan Noonien Singh standing trial for his crimes. This is where Khan tells his origin story during the Eugenics Wars, his time aboard Botany Bay and of course the events that lead him into the new Trek timeline. 

The X-Files: Conspiracy
by John Stanisci
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Pub. Date: July 15, 2014
ISBN: 978-1613778968
Pages: 152
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

I grew up watching FBI Agents Mulder and Scully investigating the strange and the bizarre on Friday night and then later on Sunday nights over the course of nine seasons. I even watched the short-lived spinoff, The Lone Gunmen and the two X-Files feature films. The franchise seemed to be dead until the official 10th season comic book series arrived last year, picking up where the 2nd feature film left off.

Despite dying in the final season of The X-Files, it is explained in the comic book series that The Lone Gunmen (Byers, Fronhike and Langly) faked their deaths and they are continuing their work to expose conspiracies.

In The X-Files: Conspiracy, The Lone Gunmen are sent internet files from the future, where they learn that a deadly virus will wipe out humanity. Of course the trio turn to Agents Mulder and Scully to help them, but while they are investigating one lead, it is up to the Gunmen to investigate several urban legends that might be the cause of the upcoming outbreak.

This is a crossover with other IDW Publishing titles, so these urban legends involve the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Ghostbusters, the Transformers and the Crow. Between being chased in the sewers by mutants, being scared to death by a ghost and confronting alien-changing robots, the Gunmen have their work cut out for them.

Injustice: Gods Among Us Vol. 2
by Tom Taylor, Mark S. Miller Tom Derenick, Bruno Redondo
Publisher: DC Comics
Pub. Date: July 1, 2014

ISBN: 978-1401246013
Pages: 224
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Do recall the old Mortal Combat games where you battle it out against another warrior? Well, the creators of Mortal Combat took that idea and created the video game Injustice: Gods Among Us, set in the DC Universe. In January 2013, a weekly digital comic book prequel was released, shortly followed by print versions of the issues.

Injustice: Gods Among Us Vol. 2 contains issues 7-12 and the Injustice: Gods Among US Annual #1. The overall plot details Lex Luther becoming the Justice League's new ally, pulling their strings to create his own alternate universe. A world where Lois Lane is dead and Superman takes vengeance into his own hands by killing the Joker. 

Superheroes pick sides -you are either good or evil! Green Arrow, Black Canary, Huntress, Captain Atom, and Catwoman choose to follow Batman. While Wonder Woman, the Flash, Cyborg, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Shazam, and Robin are teaming up with Superman with the idea that lives have to be lost to restore justice to the world.