http://www.jrwz.net/news/ 2026-04-27T21:42:05-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/ http://www.jrwz.net/news/lib/tpl/dokuwiki-jrwznews/images/favicon.ico text/html 2013-10-22T18:06:43-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:calulating_god?rev=1382479603&do=diff Calculating God Title: Calculating God Rating: 4 Author: Robert J. Sawyer ISBN: 0-812-58035-4 Pages: 335 Format: paperback Started: 2012-11-04 Finished: 2012-11-07 Interesting science fiction novel that contemplates the existence of God, his, her, or its nature, and whether or not we humans are even capable of truly understanding morality. And it even manages to be an entertaining read! text/html 2013-10-22T18:05:50-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:cryptonomicon?rev=1382479550&do=diff Cryptonomicon Title: Cryptonomicon Rating: 4 Author: Neal Stephenson ISBN: 0-06-05-1280-6 Pages: 1152 Format: paperback Started: 2012-11-25 Finished: 2013-02-10 Wow, a long book but worth the time. It's an interesting weave of past and present threads, that eventually converge. And it's got some interesting tidbits for computer and cryptography geeks! text/html 2013-10-22T18:03:36-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:daemon?rev=1382479416&do=diff Daemon Title: Daemon Rating: 5 Author: Daniel Suarez ISBN: 978-0-14-314444-1 CDs: 13 Format: audiobook on CD Started: 2013-03 Finished: 2013-03 A fantastic read! The most realistic “Computer” science-fiction that I have ever read (listened to, actually, it was an audio book). I highly recommend it to anyone into both computers and sci-fi! text/html 2013-10-22T18:13:22-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:driven_to_distraction_recognizing_and_coping_with_attention_deficit_disorder_from_childhood_through_adulthood?rev=1382480002&do=diff Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood through Adulthood Title: Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood through Adulthood Rating: 5 Author: Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., and John J. Ratey, M.D. ISBN: 0-684-80128-0 Pages: 319 Format: paperback Started: 2012-02-22 Finished: 2012-03-05 I've been recently diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), and found th… text/html 2013-10-22T18:17:40-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:el_sueno_de_america?rev=1382480260&do=diff El sueño de América Title: El sueño de América Rating: Author: Esmeralda Santiago ISBN: 978-0-06-092828-5 Pages: 344 Format: paperback Started: 2012-01-07 Finished: text/html 2013-10-22T18:16:24-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:empire?rev=1382480184&do=diff Empire Title: Empire Rating: 5 Author: Orson Scott Card ISBN: 978-0-765-31611-0 Pages: 351 Format: hardcover Started: 2012-01-09 Finished: 2012-01-10 Frighteningly realistic! A good lesson in political moderation. text/html 2013-10-22T18:19:44-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:ender_in_exile?rev=1382480384&do=diff Ender in Exile Title: Ender in Exile Rating: 4 Author: Orson Scott Card ISBN: 0-7653-0496-1 Pages: 377 Format: Started: 2011-12-17 Finished: 2011-12-20 So far in the Ender series, I've read “Ender's Game”, “Speaker for the Dead”, “Xenocide”, and this book. I've thoroughly enjoyed them all. text/html 2013-10-22T17:58:31-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:exit_to_eden?rev=1382479111&do=diff Exit to Eden Title: Exit to Eden Rating: 3 Author: Anne Rice (as Ann Rampling) ISBN: Pages: Format: Audible audiobook Started: 2013-06-04 Finished: 2013-06-07 Being a fan of the X-Files, I picked it up because it is read by Gillian Anderson. To my surprise, it turned out to be quite the saucy tale. I expected something a little more along the lines of Interview with a Vampire, but it was actually very different! text/html 2013-10-22T18:15:54-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:face_of_betrayal?rev=1382480154&do=diff Face of Betrayal Title: Face of Betrayal Rating: 4 Author: Lis Wiehl ISBN: 978-1-59554-705-7 Pages: 284 Format: Started: 2012-01-20 Finished: 2012-01-23 Another great mystery by this author. I have to see if she's written others! I really enjoy the realistic portrayal of people's various spiritual outlooks on life without being proselytizing. text/html 2013-10-22T18:04:06-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:fingerprints_of_god?rev=1382479446&do=diff Fingerprints of God Title: Fingerprints of God Rating: 4 Author Barbara Bradley Hagerty ISBN: 978-1-59448-877-1 Pages: 323 Format: hardcover Started: 2013-03 Finished: 2013-03 An interesting and informative book about the author's look at the science of faith and spirituality. Although it is an account of her spiritual evolution, it is also a review of the current status of the scientific study of human spirituality, including the biology and genetics of faith and belief, and r… text/html 2013-10-22T18:01:05-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:freedom?rev=1382479265&do=diff Freedom Title: Freedom Rating: 5 Author: Daniel Suarez ISBN: 978-0-525-95157-5 Pages: 402 Format: paperback Started: 2013-05 Finished: 2013-05 The sequel to Daemon. Although not quite so believable as the first book, it's still and excellent read. Again, I recommend it to anyone interested in computers and sci-fi! text/html 2013-10-22T18:18:02-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:hand_of_fate?rev=1382480282&do=diff Hand of Fate Title: Hand of Fate Rating: 4 Author: Lis Wiehl ISBN: 978-1-59554-706-4 Pages: 311 Format: print Started: 2012-01-01 Finished: 2012-01-05 Fun, quick mystery! I loved the twists! text/html 2013-10-22T18:07:56-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:how_to_talk_so_teens_wll_listen_listen_so_teens_will_talk?rev=1382479676&do=diff How to Talk So Teens Will Listen & Listen So Teens Will Talk Title: How to Talk So Teens Will Listen & Listen So Teens Will Talk Rating: Author: Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish ISBN: 978-0-06-074126-6 Pages: 203 Format paperback Started: 2012-11-04 Finished: text/html 2013-10-22T18:14:22-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:jenkins--the_definitive_guide?rev=1382480062&do=diff Jenkins--The Definitive Guide Title: Jenkins--The Definitive Guide Rating: Author: John Ferguson Smart ISBN: Pages: 446 Format: e-book Started: 2012-02-18 Finished: text/html 2013-10-22T18:20:51-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:knights_of_the_black_and_white?rev=1382480451&do=diff Knights of the Black and White Title: Knights of the Black and White Rating: 4 Author: Jack Whyte ISBN: 0-399-15396-9 Pages: 548 Format: hardcover Started: 2011-12-14 Finished: 2011-12-31 Starts out slow, then picks up into a very interesting read in a currently popular genre (Mystic Religious Secrets). The first of what looks to be an enjoyable series. It recounts the beginning of the Knights Templar and their doings in Jerusalem. text/html 2013-10-22T18:01:57-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:loop?rev=1382479317&do=diff Loop Title: Loop Rating: 3 Author: Koji Suzuki ISBN: 978-1-93-223425-1 Pages: 283 Format: paperback Started: 2013-04 Finished: 2013-04 It's the third of a trilogy, but it is a good read by itself, the previous two are not needed for it to make sense. I enjoyed the “story within a story” aspect of it, but the ending was somewhat flat. text/html 2013-10-22T18:20:03-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:marsbound?rev=1382480403&do=diff Marsbound Title: Marsbound Rating: 4 Author: Joe Haldeman ISBN: 978-0-441-01595-5 Pages: 296 Format: Started: 2011-12-19 Finished: 2011-12-19 I liked the different spin it puts on science fiction: The narrator is a teenage girl. text/html 2013-10-22T18:01:35-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:mistress_of_the_art_of_death?rev=1382479295&do=diff Mistress of the Art of Death Title: Mistress of the Art of Death Rating: 4 Author: Ariana Franklin ISBN: 978-0-14-314188-4 CDs: 11 Format: audiobook on CD Started: 2013-04 Finished: 2013-05 A mystery set in medieval Cambridge, involving a serial murderer of children, and the hunt to find him by a Jewish detective, a woman forensic doctor (I kid you not!), and her Moorish eunuch guardian. All in all, it makes for some entertaining listening, somewhat fantastic, but entertaining. text/html 2013-08-14T09:47:08-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:new_blog_software?rev=1376488028&do=diff New Blog Software I decided that blosxom just wasn't quite doing it for me as far as blogging software goes. I wanted something that would provide the following features: * Timestamped entries (blosxom does this) * Easier formatting than HTML (blosxom doesn't do this :-() * Easier, web-based editing (blosxom is command-line text-based) * Easy linking to other posts and to website (blosxom does this, but using HTML :-() * Tagged entries (blosxom doesn't do this) * Perusal by tags (… text/html 2013-10-22T17:59:44-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:obedience?rev=1382479184&do=diff Obedience Title: Obedience Rating: 4 Author: Will Lavender ISBN: 978-0-307-39610-5 Pages: 287 Format: hardcover Started: 2013-06-02 Finished: 2013-06-02 A mystery set in a private college, it follows the actions and thoughts of three students as they attend classes for Logic and Reasoning 204, taught in a very unusual fashion by a quite mysterious Professor Williams. I found it very intriguing, with a totally unexpected plot twist ending. text/html 2013-10-22T18:02:25-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:shades_of_grey?rev=1382479345&do=diff Shades of Grey Title: Shades of Grey Rating: 4 Author: Jasper Fforde ISBN: 978-0-14-314326-0 CDs: Format: audiobook on CD Started: 2013-04 Finished: 2013-04 An very entertaining post-apocalyptic tale, it takes place well after “the Thing that Happened”. Set in a world where colour-perception determines social status, it follows one young man's journey as he learns what his society is really about. text/html 2013-10-22T18:12:09-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:standard_of_honor?rev=1382479929&do=diff Standard of Honor Title: Standard of Honor Rating: 4 Author: Jack Whyte ISBN: 978-0-399-15429-4 Pages: 614 Format: hardcover Started: 2012-03-19 Finished: 2012-03-25 The second of a “trilogy-in-the-making”. I enjoyed this one as much as the first. Not as much of a mystery, this one builds on the main character and his ideas of honour and how they are challenged throughout his life. text/html 2013-10-22T18:02:58-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:stiff_the_curious_lives_of_human_cadavers?rev=1382479378&do=diff Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers Title: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers Rating: 4 Author: Mary Roach ISBN: 978-0-393-32482-2 Pages: 303 Format: paperback Started: 2013-04 Finished: 2013-04 An unusual and sometimes humourous look at how cadavers have been used currently and throughout history. If you've ever wondered about what happens if you donate your body to science after you die, this is the book to read. text/html 2013-10-22T18:12:35-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:taking_charge_of_adult_adhd?rev=1382479955&do=diff Taking Charge of Adult ADHD Title: Taking Charge of Adult ADHD Rating: 5 Author: Russell A. Barkley, PhD with Christine M. Benton ISBN: 978-1-60623-338-2 Pages: 294 Format: paperback Started: 2012-03-06 Finished: 2012-03-13 This book takes a very pragmatic approach, and has lots of helpful information. I plan on buying a copy, because it's more of a long-term workbook approach, covering different facets of life and how ADHD affects them and how to work with each. text/html 2013-10-22T18:09:31-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:the_case_for_a_creator?rev=1382479771&do=diff The Case for a Creator Title: The Case for a Creator Rating: Author: Lee Strobel ISBN: 978-0-310-24209-3 Pages: 411 Format: paperback Started: 2012-04-14 Finished: text/html 2013-10-22T18:20:30-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:the_case_for_christ?rev=1382480430&do=diff The Case for Christ Title: The Case for Christ Rating: 4 Author: Lee Strobel ISBN: 0-310-22646-5 Format: paperback Pages: 297 Started: 2011-12-18 Finished: 2012-01-08 This book covers the evidence in support of the historical accuracy of the New Testament Documents regarding the life and teachings of Jesus. text/html 2013-10-22T18:17:15-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:the_case_for_faith?rev=1382480235&do=diff The Case for Faith Title: The Case for Faith Rating: 5 Author: Lee Strobel ISBN: 0-310-22015-7 Pages: 300 Format: paperback Started: 2012-01-08 Finished: 2012-01-09 This book covers faith based on biblical Christianity, and relies heavily on “The Case for Christ” as a foundational premise. The chapter I found most helpful was “Objection #8: I Still Have Doubts, So I Can't Be a Christian”. text/html 2013-10-22T18:21:13-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:the_complete_wizard_of_oz_collection?rev=1382480473&do=diff The Complete Wizard of Oz Collection Title: The Complete Wizard of Oz Collection Rating: Author: L. Frank Baum ISBN: ?? Pages: 1304 Format: e-book Started: 2011-11-15 Finished: Most folks don't realise that there is a series of “Wizard of Oz” books. I read many of them as a child, and I'm re-reading them again as an adult, to see what an adult perspective does to them. Besides, it was one of those free e-books. :-) text/html 2013-10-22T18:04:32-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:the_day_of_the_jackal?rev=1382479472&do=diff The Day of the Jackal Title: The Day of the Jackal Rating: 4 Author: Frederick Forsyth ISBN: 978-0-965-01830-2 Pages: 380 Format: hardcover Started: 2013-03 Finished: 2013-03 An old-style, spy novel, type of mystery based around a fictitious assassination attempt an Charles de Gaulle. Although the first half of the book was a bit dry, once the chase to catch the assassin before he can carry out his plan begins, the pace picks up and the story draws you right in. text/html 2013-10-22T18:15:18-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:the_eight?rev=1382480118&do=diff The Eight Title: The Eight Rating: 3 Author: Katherine Neville ISBN: Pages: 550 Format: Started: 2012-01-30 Finished: 2012-02-08 Interesting read. The plot divides into two mirroring veins that intertwine real historical persons with fictional characters. Entertaining, but all in all not quite believable, especially toward the end. Oddly enough, I can see this being a better movie than the book that it is. text/html 2013-10-22T18:12:59-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:the_everything_health_guide_to_adult_add_adhd?rev=1382479979&do=diff The Everything Health Guide to Adult ADD/ADHD Title: The Everything Health Guide to Adult ADD/ADHD Rating: 5 Author: Carole Jacobs and Isadore Wendel, PhD, MSCP ISBN: 978-1-60550-999-0 Pages: 288 Format: Paperback Started: 2012-03-01 Finished: 2012-03-09 Another book with helpful information about ADHD. This one has more details about learning to successfully adapt to having ADHD and treating it (also it's more recently published, so it covers some treatment advances). I like … text/html 2013-10-22T18:18:46-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:the_girl_who_kicked_the_hornets_nest?rev=1382480326&do=diff The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest Title: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest Rating: 4 Author: Stieg Larsson Pages: 563 Format: paperback ISBN: 978-0-307-26999-7 Started: 2011-12-21 Finished: 2011-12-24 The first two of this series (“The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo”, and “The Girl Who Played with Fire”) were much more intense than this one, and were impossible to put down. This one was very slow for the first half of the book. And it had a rather anticlimactic ending. I ra… text/html 2013-10-22T18:05:14-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:the_green_blue_book?rev=1382479514&do=diff the green blue book Title: the green blue book Rating: 3 Author: Thomas M. Kostigen ISBN: 978-1-60529-471-1 Pages: 210 Format: paperback Started: 2013-02-11 Finished: 2013-02-13 A quick read, it has some helpful advice on how to avoid wasting water. text/html 2013-10-22T18:08:42-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:the_hunger_games_trilogy?rev=1382479722&do=diff The Hunger Games Trilogy Title: The Hunger Games Trilogy Rating: 3 Author: Suzanne Collins ISBN: 978-0-545-38720-0 Pages: 656 Format: e-book Started: 2012-10-22 Finished: 2012-10-31 Now I've seen what all the bluster was about. A good read, but nothing all that impressive sticks out about it. Good for a relaxing break from the world around, but nothing I'd read twice. text/html 2013-10-22T18:10:52-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:the_sign_and_the_seal?rev=1382479852&do=diff The Sign and the Seal Title: The Sign and the Seal Rating: 3 Author: Graham Hancock ISBN: 0-517-57813-1 Pages: 600 Format: hardcover Started: 2012-03-03 Finished: 2012-04-14 This book was an interesting bit of non-fiction. In short, it detailed the author's search for the lost Ark of the Covenent. In its own way it tied in quite nicely with the “Knights of the Black and White” that I read a while ago, as it tells of clues left by the Templars as to where the ark can be found t… text/html 2013-10-22T17:59:11-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:the_source?rev=1382479151&do=diff The Source Title: The Source Rating: 1 Author: Art Bell & Brad Steiger ISBN: 1-879706-50-4 Pages: 267 Format: hardcover Started: 2013-06-03 Finished: 2013-06-03 A bunch of new-age, ufologist, pre-millenial prophecy hogwash. It seemed like an interesting title at a used book sale, so I picked it up. Man am I glad I only spent a $1.50 on it! text/html 2013-10-22T18:14:51-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:the_truth_about_muhammad?rev=1382480091&do=diff The Truth About Muhammad Title: The Truth About Muhammad Rating: 5 Author: ISBN: 1-59698-028-1 Pages: 214 Format: Started: 2012-02-08 Finished: 2012-02-16 Well-documented and disturbing eye-opener. Reveals a very real and dark side to Islam. text/html 2013-10-22T18:00:33-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:world_war_z_an_oral_history_of_the_zombie_war?rev=1382479233&do=diff World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War Title: World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War Rating: 3 Author: Max Brooks ISBN: 978-0-7704-3741-1 Pages: 342 Format: paperback Started: 2013-05 Finished: 2013-06-01 Having seen trailers for the movie, I saw this book and figured it was the basis for the movie. Although it may be (I guess I won't know unless I go see the movie), I usually enjoy books more than movies based on them. So I picked it up. I'm not really into t… text/html 2013-10-22T18:11:40-04:00 http://www.jrwz.net/news/news.php/blog:2013-08-14:you_mean_i_m_not_lazy_stupid_or_crazy?rev=1382479900&do=diff You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?! Title: You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?! Rating: 5 Author: Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo ISBN: 978-0-743-28894-1 Pages: 336 Format: paperback Started: 2012-03-21 Finished: 2012-04-08 Another book about ADD/ADHD. This one is chock full of information, all directed towards living successfully with ADD. The more I learn about this, the more I understand how lucky I am to have learned successful coping mechanisms early on in life, an…