2008 Baseball - Homerun Derby Sweetness

Last night was the 2008 Major League Baseball Homerun Derby and it was a stunner. Josh Hamilton did a magnificent job and his story is one for the legends book. I was excited to see history take place for this special event in Yankee stadium. It was the perfect backdrop for another great night in baseball.

I am a big fan of Minnesota Twins baseball as well. Justin Morneau won the homerun derby and in his honor I would like to feature an author that writes about the "best" of baseball, author John Nemo and his book "The King's Game".

Some of the reviews of his book are:

PRAISE FOR THE KING'S GAME
"It's Game 7 of the World Series, and John Nemo provides a pitch-by-pitch narrative that not only showcases his baseball knowledge, but also shows a deft writing skill. Cody King, a tortured soul, relives his life while trying to keep runners off the bases. So much pain, brief moments of happiness and misguided faith: Will King be saved? The answer to that is a powerful metaphor."
- Tampa Tribune

"A compelling, play-by-play story ... As a fatherless son, Cody King grips tightly to his game, desperate to stave off further rejection and running away from his heavenly Father. With the feeling of being at the game, readers will watch Cody's life - with its shocking revelations, tragic losses and career struggles - unfold before their eyes. Finally, he must face the most important decision of his life - before it's too late. The King's Game ... offers the message of salvation loud and clear."
- Christian Retailing

"The King's Game is definitely more than just a simple book about baseball. It's clearly written with a warm perspective on life, too. It's easy to put yourself in the story, which is the objective of any good tale."
- Associated Press

"At its start, The King's Game makes you wonder if a 'real' pitcher could engage in that many - and that interesting - reveries. By its end, John Nemo makes you positive nothing could be more real. This may just be the only time a baseball game moves too quickly."
- SportsIllustrated.com

"A rich, well-told, thought-provoking tale about the precious moments we have on this earth and the role baseball can play in shaping our lives."
- The Tennessean

"The King's Game is a very interesting elaboration of Michael Shaara's For Love of the Game, and, for my money, Nemo's knowledge of baseball beats even Shaara's."
- Tim Morris, Guide to Baseball Fiction

“John Nemo hits a first-pitch home run with The King's Game. Richly sprinkled with characters I felt I had known all my life and scenes I could easily envision.”
– The Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News



Watch the video and let me know your thoughts of Major League Baseball. I know it has a lot of issues but last night is what the game of baseball is all about - a kid on comeback with a second chance at a game he loves - PRICELESS!

Gas for $2.00 a Gallon in 30 days!

This morning I received an email from Northwest Airlines talking about how we can have Congress lower gas to $2.00 a gallon in 30 days. I have read articles from previous economists and saw 1 article on the Drudgereport that came from Bloomberg regarding this issue. I have not seen any media ever discuss it so I thought this did not have any merit.

Now I have received an email from Northwest Airlines to ALL their frequent flyer members about how we can demand Congress to change the system. Saudi Arabia has acknowledged that oil prices are higher than what they should be due to oil speculation. This speculation has increased because of the devaluation of the U.S. dollar. When inflation increases the speculators begin to buy more commodities such as Gold and Oil. Currently the price of crude oil is over 50 times more than what the current supply and demand should be which is at roughly $60 per barrel according to Saudia Arabia.

They have increased production and have met demands of the world consumption. However, because crude oil is a commodity and the U.S. dollar has decreased the speculators have driven up the price of the barrel which is affecting everyone. Congress can stop this by capping speculation of commodities to no more than 7 times the value of a commodity. This would apply to gold, oil, corn and many other commodities. In doing so the price of crude oil would decrease to $60 per barrel and gas prices would be at $2.00 per gallon which is what they should be.

To make a difference please go to www.StopOilSpeculationNow.com and fill out the easy form to email your senators and congressman. They have the power to cap the speculation markets and therefore restore gas prices to current supply and demand levels. Please tell everyone and we CAN make a difference.

Thank you!

Letter from Northwest Airlines:

Dear John Marino,
An Open letter to All Airline Customers:
Our country is facing a possible sharp economic downturn because of skyrocketing oil and fuel prices, but by pulling together, we can all do something to help now. Visit www.StopOilSpeculationNow.com.
For airlines, ultra-expensive fuel means thousands of lost jobs and severe reductions in air service to both large and small communities. To the broader economy, oil prices mean slower activity and widespread economic pain. This pain can be alleviated, and that is why we are taking the extraordinary step of writing this joint letter to our customers.
Since high oil prices are partly a response to normal market forces, the nation needs to focus on increased energy supplies and conservation. However, there is another side to this story because normal market forces are being dangerously amplified by poorly regulated market speculation.
Twenty years ago, 21 percent of oil contracts were purchased by speculators who trade oil on paper with no intention of ever taking delivery. Today, oil speculators purchase 66 percent of all oil futures contracts, and that reflects just the transactions that are known. Speculators buy up large amounts of oil and then sell it to each other again and again. A barrel of oil may trade 20-plus times before it is delivered and used; the price goes up with each trade and consumers pick up the final tab. Some market experts estimate that current prices reflect as much as $30 to $60 per barrel in unnecessary speculative costs.
Over seventy years ago, Congress established regulations to control excessive, largely unchecked market speculation and manipulation. However, over the past two decades, these regulatory limits have been weakened or removed. We believe that restoring and enforcing these limits, along with several other modest measures, will provide more disclosure, transparency and sound market oversight. Together, these reforms will help cool the over-heated oil market and permit the economy to prosper.
The nation needs to pull together to reform the oil markets and solve this growing problem. We need your help. Get more information and contact Congress by visiting www.StopOilSpeculationNow.com.
Robert Fornaro
Chairman, President and CEO
AirTran Airways

Bill Ayer
Chairman, President and CEO
Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Gerard J. Arpey
Chairman, President and CEO
American Airlines, Inc.

Lawrence W. Kellner
Chairman and CEO
Continental Airlines, Inc.

Richard Anderson
CEO
Delta Air Lines, Inc.

Mark B. Dunkerley
President and CEO
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc.

Dave Barger
CEO
JetBlue Airways Corporation

Timothy E. Hoeksema
Chairman, President and CEO
Midwest Airlines

Douglas M. Steenland
President and CEO
Northwest Airlines, Inc.

Gary Kelly
Chairman and CEO
Southwest Airlines Co.

Glenn F. Tilton
Chairman, President and CEO
United Airlines, Inc.

Douglas Parker
Chairman and CEO
US Airways Group, Inc.

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
It’s decision time for Bella.
Does she want to go to college, will she choose Edward or Jacob, and will she live or die? Eclipse begins with Edward and Bella back from Italy. Bella is grounded for leaving home without telling her father. The trip to Italy was a necessity to save Edward’s life, but Bella’s father does not realize this because he does not know that Edward is a 90-year-old vampire.
Bella does not want to go to college but Edward insists on helping her send out applications to the University of Alaska and Dartmouth-locations with minimal sun and ample forest. Edward wants Bella to stay human, but Bella does not want any part of that. She wants to be with Edward forever and has a desperate fear of aging. Being with Edward forever entails being bitten by him and turning into a vampire.
However, the plot of Eclipse goes deeper than this debate. Bella’s best friend, Jacob Black, is a werewolf. He and his clan of wolves have a deep hate of the vampires but he does not want to lose Bella as a friend because of Edward. The situation becomes more intense when Jacob reveals he loves Bella. This sets up a compelling love triangle as well as a battle between two mythical groups that harbor a lifetime of hate for each other.

Eclipse is about choices. Bella must decide what she wants. As an 18-year-old high school graduate, she is faced with making choices that not only affect her current situation, but her life for hundreds of years. Her choices will affect the lives of her friends and family, but Bella does not want to lose Edward.
In addition to Bella’s story, the reader finally learns more about Edward’s brothers and sisters. Rosalie reveals why she seems to hate Bella and Jasper tells about his past in wartime battles.

Stephenie on YouTube:


Stephenie Meyer’s third book in her Twilight series contains complex relationships, harsh choices, and a fierce battle. The reader will doubt Bella’s loyalty toward Edward. In fact, when she makes her choice, one is not sure she is being honest. Will she keep her promise? Will she stay with Edward? Will Jacob come to terms with his relationship with Bella? All these questions will be answered in the final installment of Twilight. Breaking Dawn is set to release on Saturday, August 2. The release is marked by a unique event featuring Justin Furstenfeld of Blue October. He and Stephenie Meyer will appear in Los Angeles on August 1, Chicago on August 5, New York on August 7, and Seattle on August 12. The events will include story and song to celebrate Twilight.

Guest Blog Review of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Hi BRIO Book Club readers. My name is Sara and every week I will contribute reviews on the BRIO Book Club blog about the latest bestsellers. In anticipation of the upcoming release of Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer, I chose to review Twilight. This is the first in a series of four books by the prolific author. Check back next week for New Moon-the sequel to Twilight.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
It has spent months on the New York Times Bestseller list, Amazon declared it the best Book of the Decade, and Publisher’s Weekly called it the Best Book of the Year.
This unassuming young adult book about young love has captivated the world. It is a phenomenon not seen since a young woman in a London coffee shop penned a story about a boy named Harry.
The story takes place in rainy, dreary Forks, Washington. Isabella Swan is moving to Forks to live with her father. Bella does not like Forks: she bemoans the lack of sun, the landscape being “too green,” and the fact that everyone seems to be staring at her. She is bored. But Bella’s life is about to become much more exciting when a boy named Edward takes an instant dislike to her. Bella is confused yet intrigued.
The emotion Bella construes as hate is actually passion. Edward does not hate Bella. He desires her; but it is not a passionate love but a passionate desire to taste her. The desire is so great; Edward forces himself to stay away from Bella. But for reasons he does not understand, Edward saves Bella’s life when he stops a runaway truck with his bare hands. Bella is fascinated. She does not know what Edward is but she is determined to find out. Bella Swan’s life becomes a journey to discover the truth about a boy who has superhuman strength and seems to desire nothing but to taste her blood.
Twilight takes the reader on a young girl’s journey to find true love and come to terms with a secret that may make her question everything she holds dear.
What follows is a rip-roaring, suspenseful page-turner guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Readers will not be disappointed. In fact, with fan sites blogging about the characters, two sequels on the market and a fourth book due out August 2; Twilight fans are never at a loss for news.
So welcome to Forks. Prepare for the ride of your life.

The author discussing the book on YouTube:



Talking about her making of the movie at my home town place - the Mall of America in Minnesota:

Military Mother Patti Patton-Bader is a True Angel

I have had the pleasure of helping Patti Patton-Bader publish her book "May No Soldier Go Unloved Book 1" which chronicles the history of Soldiers' Angels, an organization dedicated to support the brave men and women that serve our country. The book talks about how this mother along with other military moms send care packages to the troops that show support. She started the organization in 2003 and now is a network of over 200,000 members in all 50 states.

An excerpt from her website about the book:

As you read this book, you will learn how Soldiers' Angels adopted its motto and how its members strive every day to honor the men and women who they support. Their mission.....

May No Soldier Go Unloved
May No Soldier Walk Alone
May No Soldier Be Forgotten
'Til They ALL Come Home

We encourage you to read this book. It is both incredible and inspiring and we will welcome you to come and join our members at Soldiers' Angels in our vital mission of supporting the men and women who ensure that our nation remains free, secure and safe for all of us so that we can go about our daily lives.

Patti was featured on the Today show on NBC during mother's appreciation week and won America's Favorite Mother. Her hard work and dedication has received recognition from Microsoft and Telefloral


Watch her YouTube video



Get involved by supporting her troops through her Soldiers' Angels organization

And watch her on MSNBC



Rachel Ray & Dunkin Donuts helping the Soldiers' Angels organization as well.



Thank you to the wonderful mothers out there that support their family, our troops and our nation for which they protect and serve. God bless!

Talk About Curing Autism Spokesperson Jenny McCarthy

Autism is a growing epidemic with 1 in 100 children being diagnosed with Autism. I am a new parent and am always interested in learning more about it and how to be a better informed parent. The leading organization regarding Autism is Talk About Curing Autism TACA and their spokesperson is Jenny McCarthy. As many know, her son Evan is diagnosed with Autism and has been leading the controversial charge regarding shots.

In this YouTube video she gives an open invitation from TACA to learn more.



Also, she wrote a book "Louder Than Words" that discusses how she found out, the disease itself and how she and others are dealing with similar circumstances with a child with Autism. Below is the video of her on Oprah to discuss her book, her story and the joys and frustrations of living with an Autistic child.



To learn more please check out TACA or you can find her book on Amazon. If you would like to leave your comments please feel free to share.

Thank you.

Author Karen Sinclair's New Children's Book "Little Polka Sock"

Author Karen Sinclair has just released her third book and her first children's book called "Little Polka Sock". She came to BRIO to have our company help her publish this book and we are as excited as she is to share it with others. There are lots of cute illustrations with vibrant colors to help engage the child about the story of the polka sock.

The story is about Jellyann who puts on these fun socks and has a great adventure in her new pair of socks. I was excited to find a book to help teach my 2 year old son about matching socks, wearing shoes and the importance of putting them on so he doesn't ruin his feet. I also liked the song at the end of the book to help him learn right and left feet as well as the coloring section.

Karen Sinclair has a winner that I highly recommend for everyone to run out and buy -- or click here to find out more. If anyone else has some recommendations on books that they enjoy reading to their children as well please let me know.

Thank you and Happy Reading!!

Last Summer's Favorite - John Grisham's "The Partner"

I was married on July 20th, 2007. We went to Cabo for our honeymoon and I picked up a book that I knew I would like, John Grisham's "The Partner". His style of writing is consistent and I enjoy the twists and turns in his books.

This book is about Patrick Lanigan who is a partner in a law firm in Biloxi, Mississippi. Lanigan was killed in a fiery car crash. He is burned beyond recognition, and his remains are cremated and then buried. But when several weeks later, 90 million dollars goes missing from his law firm, Patrick becomes the chief suspect. Four and a half years later, Patrick is discovered living in Brazil, and is captured and tortured by some disreputable characters who are working on behalf of the companies that were bilked of their millions, including two insurance companies. Patrick does have the money, although he doesn't know the exact location of it. But he also knows a terribly powerful secret that can bring many people crashing down if the information was to be made public. The Partner becomes a literary game of chess as Patrick uses this information while bargaining with the FBI, the Justice Department and Harrison County Law Enforcement.

"The Partner" is a great read and I enjoy them because he can see the movie while reading it. The book comes to life and the twists and turns were just right. This is a great summer read because it doesn't require lots of thought, just pure entertainment.

Let me know if you have read this book and what you think.

Cheers

Business Book I Recommend - "Mastering the Rockefeller Habits" by Verne Harnish

There are many business books with all sorts of great information. Topics include sales, human resources, profitability, managing a team, and many other specific niche books. I have had the pleasure of meeting Verne Harnish over a year ago and he has changed the way our company does business. At BRIO, we help others who want to self publish.

As he was speaking that day he mentioned that every business owner should write a book. It helps establish them as an industry expert, builds credibility, and you will be referred to as an author for life. When I heard this I thought I could help everyone in the room make this happen. We work with great writers every day and people are always very busy. They are either too busy or not a great writer or both.

Now we offer ghostwriting at BRIO and can help anyone fulfill their dreams of becoming an author. In Verne's book "Mastering the Rockefeller Habits" he also talks about many other small differences people can do in their business to build a better, more profitable company. His tips have helped our company grow 20% in one year and build a brand instead of "just another company" competing for the same services.

There are many great books with lots of great tips/advice on how to become better but what I have found is that it comes down to one thing - implementation. The discipline to implement these useful ideas and making them a reality is what makes the difference from a company that is good to take it to the next level of being known as a "great" company.

Please feel free to share other great business books you have read and/or leave comments about this one.

Cheers!

Hawaiian Children's Book Author Paul Kramer - "Is it Dumb to Suck Your Thumb?"

As many of you know I have a two year old son who is constantly challenging me as a parent. My wife and I read lots of books to him (huge book fans, obviously) and are always looking for new ones. I came across "Is It Dumb To Suck Your Thumb?" by Paul Kramer and instantly enjoyed reading it to my son. The illustrations are beautiful and the moral of the story is exactly what we are looking for.

Kramer uses humor and rhyming so the reader will not forget the moral of the story - not to suck your thumb. It is a nasty habit once children are weening off of the nook and trying to fill the gap. As parents we do our best to keep our children healthy and clean, which isn't easy, and I am relieved to have this book into our rotation at home.

If you like Paul Kramer's book then check out other titles that include "Poetry for All the People" and "The Bullies Learn Their Lesson". If you are looking to find out more check out Aloha Publishers website.

Thank you and feel free to leave comments regarding this post and/or recommend other books.

Cheers!