June '09

[asterravos]

June '09: 14 - 20

June 14;

TV Show: In Plain Sight Episode: 2.08 - A Frond in Need Goal: 153/400 (38.25% Complete) About: When a series of murders seem to follow a new ex-con witness, including stabbing Mary's friend, she and Marshall have to figure out if he's the killer in time to save his next victim.

The sound made by the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe is so loud that it can be heard 40 miles away.

June 15;

A man named Charles Osborne had the hiccups for approximately sixty-nine years.

June 16;

TV Show: CSI Episode: 9.12 - Disarmed and Dangerous Goal: 154/400 (38.5% Complete) About: The CSIs are called in when an undercover FBI agent is found brutally murdered. The CSIs must help the victim's parter find the killer. Quote: "They acknowledged our jurisdiction, that's refreshing." -Catherine

People of Ancient China believed that swinging your arms could cure a headache.

June 17;

Title: Wolfsbane and Mistletoe Author: Charlaine Harris, Donna Andrews, Simon R. Green, Dana Cameron, Kat Richardson, Alan Gordan, Carrie Vaughn, Dana Stabenow, Keri Arthur, J.A. Konrath, Patricia Briggs, Nancy Pickard, Karen Chance, Rob Thurman, Toni L.P. Kelner Rating: Goal: 28/60 (46 2/3% Complete) Pages: 340 Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance/Horror About: New York Times bestselling authors Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, Keri Arthur, and Carrie Vaughn—along with eleven other masters of the genre—offer all-new stories on werewolves and the holidays, a fresh variation on the concept that worked so well with birthdays and vampires in Many Bloody Returns. The holidays can bring out the beast in anyone. They are particularly hard for lycanthropes. Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner have harvested the scariest, funniest and saddest werewolf tales by an outstanding pack of authors, best read by the light of a full moon with a silver bullet close at hand. Whether wolfing down a holiday feast (use your imagination) or craving some hair of the dog on New Year’s morning, the werewolves in these frighteningly original stories will surprise, delight, amuse, and scare the pants off readers who love a little wolfsbane with their mistletoe. My Thoughts: Gift Wrap (Charlaine Harris) - Goddammit. Who writes a short story for an anthology and fills it with spoilers? I liked the story though, very interesting plot. The Haire of the Beast (Donna Andrews) - Loved it. The plot was wonderful and I enjoyed Andrews' writing style, too bad the rest of her work doesn't look all that interesting. Lucy, at Christmastime (Simon R. Green) - Really powerful and wonderfully written. I will definitely be checking out something else he's written in the future. The Night Things Changed (Dana Cameron) - Her versions of vamps and weres were very...different. I actually like her versions but they're hard to adjust to and would have worked better in a novel than a short story. The Werewolf Before Christmas (Kat Richardson) - Really dark and really intriguing. I loved this story. I really wish more of an explanation had been given, but that didn't dampen my enjoyment. Fresh Meat (Alan Gordan) - This one was okay. I didn't really like the who werewolf to dog telepath thing; it seemed too out there even for supernatural. Il Est Ne (Carrie Vaughn) - This takes place after book two in her series, which I haven't read. I really like Kitty, so this series will definitely be on my to read list for this year. I hope I didn't read too many spoilers though... The Perfect Gift (Dana Stabenow) - Too vague and confusing. Christmas Past (Keri Arthur) - A perfect mix of action, mystery and romance; loved it. SA (J.A. Konrath) - Was he on crack when he wrote this? It's clearly meant to be funny, but it's not. The Star of David (Patricia Briggs) - Yayayay! Great story. I wish it had been a Mercy Thompson one but I enjoyed this one too. You'd Better Not Pyout (Nancy Pickard) - I didn't care for this story. It was weird. Rogue Elements (Karen Chance) - Really good. A lot goes on so that it could have easily made a novel, but I thought Chance did a good job condensing the plot without making it confusing. Milk and Cookies (Rob Thurman) - Uhh what? I really liked his writing style but the story wasn't my cup of tea. Keeping Watch Over His Flock (Toni L.P. Kelner) - Sweet story, the narrator grated on my nerves though.

Medical research has found substances in mistletoe that can slow down tumor growth.

June 18;

TV Show: Burn Notice Episode: 3.03 - End Run Goal: 155/400 (38.75% Complete) About: Black market dealer Brennen kidnaps Michael's brother Nate in order to use Michael for a job, while Michael still has to deal with Detective Paxson's investigations. Quote: "I wanna know everything. I wanna know who his buyer is, where he's got Nate, what brand of orange juice he drinks in the morning." -Michael

Between 12%-15% of the population is left-handed.

June 19;

In the United States, 8.5 million cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures were done in the year 2001.

June 20;

Movie: The International Rating: Goal: 23/50 (46% Complete) Genre: Thriller; Crime & Espionage Thrillers About: Interpol agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) and New York Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) team up to expose a global financial institution's money laundering, arms dealing and other illegal rackets. But as the pair race from New York to Milan and beyond to pursue their case, they soon discover that the ruthless bank will stop at nothing to continue its profitable activities. Tom Tykwer directs this tense thriller. Quote: "Sometimes the hardest thing in life is to know which bridge to cross and which to burn... I'm the one you burn." -Louis Salinger My Thoughts: The beginning of the movie was too slow and dense for my tastes but the second half of the movie was spectacular (more action and things started actually playing out). And then the credits rolled totally ruining the entire movie. I don't want to ruin it for anyone but sitting through a two hour movie only to have the ending blow that hard, wasn't all that fun.

Only one out of every three people wash their hands when leaving a public bathroom.