Dead in the Water

It has been a while since I published a new post.  Part of the reason for the gap is due to the fact that I have been working on my new mystery novel,  Dead in the Water. It is the first in a series of novels featuring Lieutenant Mario Morales, a retired LAPD homicide detective who is now the head of security aboard a Caribbean cruise ship. Lieutenant Morales is sort of an Hispanic version of Columbo. If you enjoyed watching Lieutenant Columbo  at work solving crimes in his own inimitable way, you will love Lieutenant Morales in this exciting new book, Dead in the Water.

I will keep you posted when it is available, so please check back here every once in a while. And let me know if you would like a copy once it is published.

By the way, if you are already a Columbo fan or would like to become one, the entire collection of Columbo DVDs is available on Amazon at the following link. I recently bought the set for my wife and myself and it is extraordinary to see Peter Falk in his most famous role.

The Blood Moon

I don' t know about you, but early this morning, I was up and out of bed to try and see the "blood moon" that astronomers and newscasters had promised would be visible overnight. So, a little after two a.m., I opened the front door and went outside.  I scanned the sky for the moon and finally found it between my house and the next door neighbor's house. The moon was full, but partially covered on one side by a crescent-shaped shadow that looked like a chunk of the moon had been eaten by a hungry mouse, thinking the moon was a wheel of cheddar cheese.

What I was seeing was the beginning of a total lunar eclipse. That type of eclipse only occurs when the sun, the moon and the Earth line up just so.  The eclipse is caused by the shadow from the Earth. Apparently, it is called a "blood moon" because as the eclipse progresses, the moon takes on a bloody reddish brown color caused by the refraction of sunlight in the Earth's atmosphere.

Fascinating stuff and beautiful to see.  If you missed this one, rhe next one w on't occur until October 8, 2014. So, Mark your calendars!

The Prairie Home Companion

I have been a fan of Garrison Keillor  and his public radio show, The Prairie Home Companion, for as long as I can remember. Set in the fictional Minnesota town of Lake Wobegone, it is probably the last true variety show in America. And undoubtedly the best.
The show features Keillor, who writes the scripts for the show, in just about every role. Backed by an extremely talented supporting cast, a supurb orchestra and crew, the show (which airs from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Eastern time zone on Saturdays, but not every week, so check the schedule) just flies by. It is filled with equal doses of humor, pathos and beautiful music, all orchestrated by the multi talented Keillor. Keillor sings, does a little dance shuffle, and tells a number of jokes, mostly good-natured ones about the quirks of Minnesota residents.
One recent Saturday night, my wife and I had the good fortune to have tickets to the show at the Fitzgerald Theatre in downtown St. Paul. The theatre is named after the author of The Great Gatsby,F Scott Fitzgerald, who was born in St. Paul. Our seats were on the very edge of the first balcony, where we had a birds-eye view of the show as it was broadcast live across America and the world via Armed Forces Radio. The show began with Keillor walking down the center aisle singing a welcoming song. And the show ended with Keillor  and the other performances singing This Little Light of Mine. In between were comedy skits,  including Guy Noir and Keillor's famous Lake Woebegone monologue as well as performances by the Steele sisters and Willie Watson on the banjo. All the performers received a standing ovation at the end of the show and deservedly so.
If you get the chance, but all means take in a performance.

Saving Your Money at the Grocery Store

http://www.today.com/money/consumer-reports-rates-55-supermarket-chains-2D79445826 

The link above is to a segment on the Today Show that includes an interview with a representative of Consumer Reports rating the best and worst supermarkets.  Number 5 on the list is Costco. For a discussion of how you can save money on groceries and other products at Costco and other stores, please see my new EBook, Getting the Lowest Price on Practically Everything.

Fast Exercise: The Very Latest on High Intensity Interval Training

Dr. Michael Mosley appeared today on ABC's Good Morning America to discuss his book, "Fast Exercise." He discussed and demonstrated his high intensity interval training (HIIT)program that I have written about on numerous occasions in this blog. Weight Watchers Endorses High Intensity Training for Weight Loss, October 6, 2013.
The program involves just one minute of high intensity exercise three times a week. The exercise program is said to result in weight loss as well as better overall health. Specifically, Dr. Mosley says that it can reduce the likelihood of developing diabetes.
I have followed this program on several occasions and I believe in it. If your doctor permits you, give it a try and let me know your results.

Second Generic Lipitor Recall

In case you missed it, Ranbaxy Laboratories has recalled its generic version of the Pfizer drug Lipitor.
The generic name is Atorvastatin. So please discard or return the drug to where you purchased it.
The recall was prompted by a mislabeling of the sizes of the pills. Certain bottles labeled 10 milligrams actually contained 20 milligram tablets.

New EBook on Saving Your Money

I just published my second eBook in a series designed to help you, the consumer, to get your best deal and best service wherever you shop.  My first eBook, "The Best Habits of Highly Skilled Negotiators:How to Get the Best Deal Every Time," provided both general and specific advice on negotiating the best deal. It is available on Amazon Kindle for just $.99. It is a general help book that will undoubtedly save you money whenever you shop. My latest book (entitled "Getting the Best Price on Practically Everything") in the series entitled "Saving Your Money"," while intended primarily for men, gives specific information on how you can get the lowest price on groceries, items in department stores and just about anything else. It is subtitled "The Only Buying Guide You Will Ever Need"because it so comprehensive that you will save money from just one quick read. It is a light-hearted, but very informative book that I know you will enjoy reading and profiting from.  It is available at Amazon for the Kindle for $2.99.
Www.amazon.com

If you decide to purchase either book, please let me know what you think. Thanks.