The Machines of War

Just as technology has advanced to save lives and make the world a better place, it has also been used to get the better of others, strike fear into the hearts of people and, in some cases, even outright kill.

Here are some instances when technology is abused:

• Theft tools, which make it easier to steal things even in the tightest security.
• Recording gadgets, which can capture others in compromising situations.
• Online fraud and hacking, which abuses the Internet’s many flaws and security issues.
• Machines of war, which range from the smallest guns to the largest battleships.

Everyone knows about the machines of war, showing that man has long evolved from waging wars with swords and shields. It is a very disturbing trend, but it is required – how can you fight against such machines of war without having your own? How can you defend your mother country without resorting to the same technology that the opposing armies utilize?

And, amidst all these wars between armies, amidst all these machines and weapons, are the normal people – families with frantic parents and scared children, trying to keep themselves safe.

In “A Company of Tanks” by Major William Henry Lowe Watson D.S.O. D.C.M., the author takes us along a first-hand account of being in close proximity of one of the most dreaded machines of war – tanks.

The eBook also has detailed illustrations of the steel behemoths, which would have anyone in awe before you realize how frightening it must have been for a soldier to always be around these tanks.

Are these tanks, along with all machines of war, good use of technology? Or are they abuse of it? As always, it depends on how one sees them - as protectors of dreams or as destroyers of lands.

“A Company of Tanks” is is currently available in Kindle format at Amazon.com. Click on the link to preview the book or download your own copy.

Why We Love Heroes

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes – from caped crusaders to little boys, from the pages of comic books to people you come across everyday. We love heroes, both in fiction and in real life, because they inspire us and even possibly allow us to awaken the hero within ourselves.

Here’s why we love heroes.

• Heroes are ordinary. They always start off as “ordinary,” just like each and every one of us. We cheer for heroes because we share roots with them, as normal, run-of-the-mill, average joes.
• Heroes are unexpected. Who becomes a hero is always a surprise. Most often, the people that we expect to be heroes turn out to be the opposite. We never know who will turn out to be the true heroes.
• Heroes fight through adversity. They also have their fears, but heroes face them and fight through them. With each struggle overcome, heroes become immortal and inspiring in front of our eyes.
• Heroes show up in times of need. They know when they are needed the most, and they deliver what needs to be done. Heroes know when we are in the darkest depths of despair and they pull us out of there.
• Heroes fight for others. This is the most important of all – they are selfless, ready to defend and support those that can’t do it for themselves. Heroes always act for the greater good.

These are the reasons why we love heroes, and as more heroes emerge, so does the support that they receive.

In “Echoes of a Shattered Age” by R.J. Terrell, the story revolves around a small group of friends that are pushed into learning how to be heroes while discovering their unique abilities. However, they need to learn fast, as massive hordes of monsters threaten to throw the world into darkness.

“Echoes of a Shattered Age” is the first book of the Legend of Takashaniel Trilogy – a trilogy that chronicles the rise, struggles, and triumph of heroes.

“Echoes of a Shattered Age” is currently available in Kindle format at Amazon.com. Click on the link to preview the book or download your own copy.

Really Dude, a Surfer Terrorist? American Travel Overseas Becomes More and More Dangerous

It is an undeniable fact that Americans are avid travelers.  In the 1800s, the Industrial Revolution virtually led to the formation of the travel industry in the U.S.   If you build it, they will come describes this time period – railroads, hotels, beach resorts and other new destinations sprang up in increasing numbers as American wanted to get away from their everyday lives.  International travel also became an option due to the invention of large ocean liners and then the airplane.  Each decade saw the creation of larger and faster travel options.  Europe could be reached in hours, not weeks.  Feel like a safari in Africa?  Sure, just jump on a plane and go.

Once upon a time, Americans were darlings – welcomed with open arms almost anywhere in the world, free to move and safe doing so.  Sadly, that world is now gone.  The danger to American citizens could no longer be denied after September 11, 2001.  Americans are now specifically targeted by an untold number of violent and extreme groups and stories of kidnappings and murders happen regularly.  Even in so-called friendly countries, the heightened state of alert regarding security means citizens may be mistaken for terrorists, with devastating consequences.

Who is one of the least likely American icons that anyone would think of as a terrorist?  The surfer, whose main objective is to catch the next wave and enjoy the ride.  But as the true story Surf Guns of Morocco illustrates, even the harmless surfer is not immune to violence against Americans overseas.  Catching a wave in Morocco they are forced to flee under a hail of bullets from AK-47s.  Thinking Spain would be safe, they travel there by ferry – only to be mistaken for terrorists and almost shot by the Guardia Civil.  Searching for the perfect wave suddenly also becomes searching for a way to survive.

Surf Guns of Morocco is available in a Kindle ebook edition at Amazon – click here

The Benefits of Home Brewed Beer

Drinking beer is more than just consuming an alcoholic beverage. It’s a social activity that brings good friends together for good times and memorable moments.

Most people don’t know it, but it is possible to make your own home brewed beer. It’s a great conversation starter, with home brewed beer also having several benefits compared to the beer that you purchase from the store.

• Better Quality. Commercial beers sacrifice quality for quantity, whereas in making home brewed beer, the quality of your beer depends on what ingredients you use. If you use the best ingredients, then you’d end up with great tasting beer.
• Reduced Hangovers. Home brewed beer contains large quantities of yeast with vitamin B, which naturally reduces the effects of hangovers. Not only do you get better tasting beer, you also get to drink more of it!
• Social Aspect. The social community of home brewers, whether in real life or online, is a vibrant community of people who are passionate in what they do. You will find no shortage of people who will help you out as you start off in home brewing beer.
• Unlimited Potential. The beer that you make will only be limited by your imagination. You can come up with different mixtures and flavors once you understand the basics. With a little cash, enough time and a creative mind, who knows how far your beer can go?

If you are interested in making home brew beer, you should read “How to Make Beer Like a Pro: Complete Guide to Home Brewing - Even in Small Spaces” by Randy Frank.

This book goes over the complete history and procedures of home brewing beer, preparing you for this challenging but enjoyable hobby. The book contains anything and everything you need to know about home brewed beer – you’ll be a master home brewer in no time!

“How to Make Beer Like a Pro: Complete Guide to Home Brewing- Even in Small Spaces” is currently available in Kindle format at Amazon. 

Dancing the Salsa: Stepping towards the Rhythm

Since the times of antiquity, dancing has been considered as a non-verbal way of communication. Often participatory, its ceremonial flavor has evolved into a more aesthetic and artistic twang. With this in mind, it bestows the dancers a duty to make the art appealing to the audience. But how can this be done? How could they seduce their viewers into a hearty round of applause?

Behind our minds we know the rhetorical answer to this somewhat helpless question. Even though the facts often make us feel like the character played by Sidney Poitier in A Raisin in the Sun where he say “I want to fly!” and then his wife approaches him and says “First eat your eggs.” All we want is to fly, to dance! We care very little about the eggs, the basics.

Just like any other task which involves skill, practice and a firm foundation holds the key to the highest levels of learning, especially in salsa. A dancer should have a secure understanding of the basics like the arm tension, change of weight, and basic footwork. The better a dancer understands these things, the faster will his progress be in improving his dancing. Another important aspect when dancing is measuring your partner, again the basic moves are used to gauge how difficult a routine you can pull off together and adjusting your lead from there.

Never forget that salsa is all about the lady. The image that has to be seared in their minds is that the lady is the ‘picture’ and the man is the ‘frame’. The dance delights the viewers through their elegance, sexiness and lightheartedness. And this along with styling comes once the basic routines has been achieved.

On the internet you will encounter a number of books and tutorials to get you started in learning how to dance. But one that stands out is Salsa Bootcamp – Insiders Secrets to Salsa Dance. It provides you with the secrets on learning how to dance salsa while enjoying the experience at the same time. It provides a quicker learning curve which keeps your enthusiasm always up. Get the most from your lessons and social dancing as you walk through the mysteries of the salsa superstars. Remember that the most important thing is to have fun and this is where salsa begins and ends. Well what are you waiting for, put on those dancing shoes and start to feel the salsa beat! 

http://www.facebook.com/salsabootcamp

http://www.twitter.com/salsacrazy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRsBm4UTmq8

Because Vampire Hunting is All the Rage These Days...

Remember when creatures such as vampires, zombies and aliens invaded your nightmares as grotesque and horrifying creatures? Well, today we have sparkling vampires, zombie boyfriends and protective aliens.

Yes, we do.

"Bob Ross, Vampire Hunter" by Rob Marsh is a satire on this vampire/zombie/alien craze that modern media is currently milking for all its worth. And yes, it features a character that resembles The Joy of Painting host Bob Ross as a vampire hunter - if an ex-president can do it, then so can he.

The main character of the book is Myles Kieffer, a television program director who is pulled into this world of inhuman creatures through an adventure that takes him and a team of public television stars around the country.

"Bob Ross, Vampire Hunter" is an entertaining and creative book that doesn’t make mistakes – just happy accidents. And it would be pretty hard to avoid “accidents” when you’ve got creatures to hunt and weapons to try out.

"Bob Ross, Vampire Hunter" is currently available in Kindle format at Amazon.com. Click on the link to preview the book or download your own copy.

Why Do We Believe in Monsters?

Monsters have always been a part of pop culture. Ranging from the cute, cuddly ones to the downright scary and vicious ones, monsters have been a part of literature, TV shows and movies for as long as we can remember.

The thought of these fantastic creatures sound absurd some of the time. 10-foot-tall giants? Blood-sucking fiends? Elusive sea beasts? Any one in their right mind would dismiss these thoughts as pure fiction. And yet, belief in Big Foot, vampires and the Loch Ness monster still exist today.

If we don’t have an inkling of belief in these monsters, then they would have already been forgotten by now. And yet, here they are, still at the back of the people’s minds. Why do we believe in them?

• Prevalence in media. It’s pretty hard to forget about some things when you see them all the time. And with the recent popularity of vampires and werewolves, among others, it looks like this trend won’t be going away any time soon. Media embeds thoughts of these monsters in you, making sure that they exist – even just in your mind.
• Presence of evidence. People believe that these monsters exist because there has been evidence on them. Pictures, videos, real-life experiences – these do the opposite of dispelling the myths of these monsters. And, of course, the media always gets their hands on these evidences to show to the world.
• Unexplainable events. Sometimes, it is easier to just pin the blame for unexplainable events on monsters. Dead goats? The chupacabra did it. Dead cows? Werewolves did it. Sudden waves in a still lake? It’s the Loch Ness monster.

Monsters will always exist – and people will always believe in them – as long as they are in our heads, whether they are real or not.

“Primal Creatures” by Eric Wilder features a specific type of monster – the rougarou, a kind of werewolf that is popular in Cajun folklore, said to be living in the swamps of Louisiana. People believe in it for the exact reasons stated above, and this book gruesomely brings the legend to life.

“Primal Creatures” is currently available in Kindle format at Amazon.com. 

Amazon Announces Plans to Purchase TenMarks, a Online Instruction Start-up to Help Accelerate development of Educational apps on Kindle

Seattle based Amazon.com, world's leading online retailer has announced plans to acquire California based online education start-up TenMarks in a deal that is expected to be finalized by the end of the year. 

TenMarks touts that it delivers innovative education to students all over the country in form of personalized online mathematics instruction curriculum, that includes practice tests, hints and videos. It claims that the personalized format offers a clear and manageable way to learn mathematics to K-12 students. TenMarks has emphasized individualized engagement in their online instructional system and curriculum design. 

Dave Limp, a Vice President at Amazon stated that Amazon, like TenMarks values student learning highly. By joining hands, the two companies will be able to deliver innovative educational content and applications across multiple platforms. It's obvious that Amazon will be using this addition to the company to bolster educational apps on kindle. 

Amazon has other programs such as "Amazon Student" to attract students to sign up for company's prime program. In the past, it has also offered discounts to students on its Kindle Fire product line.  

"Educational apps are becoming more main stream in K-12 education," says Aarti Chandna, CEO of Foundze, inc. a leading site for Educational apps.  "Effectiveness of an app used in the classroom, is dependent not only on the ease of use but also how well it captures a student’s attention and engages them during a learning process. From a teacher’s perspective, the app should simplify and personalize assignments based on student ability and automate grading. The acquisition of Ten Marks by Amazon further validates that teaching is moving away from the traditional method, as bigger players are showing mote interest in acquiring Educational apps."

Terms of Amazon’s acquisition of TenMarks were not disclosed and are subject to various closing conditions.

HERE IS THE OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE ON THIS PROPOSED TRANSACTION: 

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire TenMarks, a company that is helping teachers and parents deliver innovative mathematics curriculum to students across the country.

“I've used TenMarks for the past two years at Grand View with fourth and fifth grade students to help a diverse group of students achieve in math and take ownership of their own learning”

“Amazon and TenMarks share the same passion for student learning. TenMarks’s award-winning math programs have been used by tens of thousands of schools and Amazon engages with millions of students around the world through our Kindle ecosystem," said Dave Limp, Vice President, Amazon Kindle. “Together, Amazon and TenMarks intend to develop rich educational content and applications, across multiple platforms, that we think teachers, parents and students will love.”

“Amazon and TenMarks share a commitment to developing easy-to-implement solutions for schools and families,” said Rohit Agarwal, TenMarks co-founder. “We currently offer teachers, students and parents access to effective resources to foster the vision of the Common Core curriculum in math, including scalable professional development and tools for connecting with parents. We back this belief with our business model, where teachers can register and access our product for free, while being able to opt in for premium features, if needed. Going forward, we believe Amazon and TenMarks will create significant innovations in the K-12 arena.”

“I've used TenMarks for the past two years at Grand View with fourth and fifth grade students to help a diverse group of students achieve in math and take ownership of their own learning,” said Sujata Bhatt, founder of the Incubator School and a National Board Certified teacher who spent 11 years at Grand View Boulevard Elementary in Los Angeles Unified School District. “As we launch the Incubator School this year, we focus on technology that truly activates learning and self-starting. TenMarks’s products are designed to enable both students and teachers to be in the driver's seat by seeing where they're successful and where they need to revisit. TenMarks is an important part of our math plan this year.”

TenMarks offers personalized online math instruction and practice in a clear, manageable format for K-12 students complete with helpful hints, video lessons, and real-time results. TenMarks’s products are designed to help students be individually motivated, engaged and nurtured.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Subject to various closing conditions, the acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2013.

About Amazon.com

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth’s Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon’s developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon’s own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. Kindle Paperwhite is the world’s best-selling and most advanced e-reader. It features new display technology with higher contrast, the next generation built-in light, a faster processor, the latest touch technology, and exclusive new features designed from the ground up for readers. Kindle, the lightest and smallest Kindle, features improved fonts and faster page turns. The new Kindle Fire HDX features a stunning exclusive 7” or 8.9” HDX display, a quad-core 2.2 GHz processor, 2x more memory, and 11 hours of battery life, as well as exclusive new features of Fire OS 3.0 including X-Ray for Music, Second Screen, Prime Instant Video downloads, and the revolutionary new Mayday button. The all-new Kindle Fire HD includes an HD display, high-performance processor and dual speakers at a breakthrough price.

Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de,www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, www.amazon.cn, www.amazon.it, www.amazon.es,www.amazon.com.br, www.amazon.in, and www.amazon.com.mx. As used herein, “Amazon.com,” “we,” “our” and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

About TenMarks

TenMarks's web-based math programs have been used by students across tens of thousands of schools and thousands of districts. Each day, students across the country use TenMarks to improve their math skills and confidence. TenMarks believes that students learn best when they are individually engaged, nurtured, and motivated.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment and data center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.

Contacts

Amazon.com, Inc.
Media Hotline, 206-266-7180
www.amazon.com/pr

Love and the 5 Year Plan, However Love Is Not Logical

You have worked hard all your life—got into a good university, paid your dues and worked your way up the corporate ladder or in a field in which you are passionate about.  You have supportive family and friends and an active social and dating life.  You are finally at a place where you are building a solid foundation for the life you desire—the husband, wife, home, and kids.

While you are out there in the dating world, you may not be ready for the “happily ever after” yet so you create a 5 year plan to make to pay off your student loans, safe for a down payment on your dream home, and achieve a bit more professional success—then you will be ready for love—the only problem is that love in not logical.

When you meet the person—the one who makes your head spin, your knees weak, and your heart race every time they walk in the room, your sturdy 5 year plan may need to be reworked.  This is a common struggle, especially when our head hasn’t come to terms with the place are heart is in; even more so if the one who has swept you off your feet, is not the one you expected you would end up with.

There is a difference between lust and love, but sometimes you find both in the same person.  While this kind of powerful connection can take you by surprise, its undeniable electricity can’t be ignored.

Whether you like it or not, or it is in your 5 year plan or not, love is not logical and can take you by surprise at a moment’s notice.  When love sneaks up in the most unexpected of places you have to determine whether it is a risk worth taking.  Is it worth letting the electricity you feel for someone pass you by because the “time” is not right?  Or because they aren’t who you “see” yourself with?  Is it better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all?  Will you have regrets if you don’t even try?

These are all difficult questions to answer—all of which are explored in the latest novel by author Ju Ephraime “A Wonderful Pieceof Dark Mahogany”.  In this book tells the tale of Melissa and Craig, two successful individuals who had a plan for the next few years of their lives—that is until their paths crossed taking them down an unexpected path of love, passion, and jealousy.