The Movie Lovers Tour of Texas by Veva Vonler

Originally I picked up this book because I am a movie freak. And, of course, I live in the state that is the subject of the book. It's surprising just how many movies were made in Texas, some of which weren't even set in Texas, but used the state's varying topography as a substitute for other locations. (Courage Under Fire and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade to name a couple.)

The book works as an overview of movies as well as a travelogue if one cares to take a tour of the state to see the sites displayed in the movies mentioned. Although entertaining in its trivia and the information given to direct you on your tour, the writing is a bit stilted and kind of boring at times. Still, if you love movies and/or love Texas, it will serve as an insight for the nation's second biggest state, and arguably the best site for filming movies.

I rate this one 5½ stars.

5 People Who Died During Sex by Karl Shaw

True to it's subtitle this book contains many tasteless lists that are sure to satisfy the trivia lover's most prurient interests. Going into detail on such things as the top ten graverobbing events, or the most notorious drunks of history, the book is highly entertaining.

It is not a book for the squeamish, though, so be forewarned. The author goes into some intricate detail on some pretty disgusting events, such as the fact that one queen on her deathbed, evacuated her bowels in an extremely explosive manner.

Rate this one 7 stars.

The Spychips Threat by Katherine Albrecht & Liz McIntyre

Don't let the subtitle "Why Christians Should Resist..." divert you from reading this book. It is not a diatribe designed to save your soul from eternal damnation, but a serious look at the dangers that could derive from the implementation of RFID technology. The few mentions directed toward the Christian community are just that, so you need not worry about any hellfire and brimstone sermons here.

The authors do an outstanding job here, and Stephen King has nothing that will scare you near as much as the reality posed here. If you believe in privacy and the right to live your life ithout any intervention from either marketers or government, then this book is a call to arms.

RFID (radio frequency identification) is the technology of using small implants that have the capability of radioing information to a reciever about how and where the spychipped item is being used. But this is only the beginning. The authors will introduce you to a nightmare future possibility, in which everyone is tracked via GPS through implants under the skin. Think Big Brother from he classic George Orwell novel 1984 come to real fruition.

Of course, if you are of the Chritian faith, this book is very important, given that the authors occasionally relate how significant these developments are in relationship to end times prophecy. Don't miss out on this one.

I give this one 9 stars.

Liberal Fascism by Jonah Goldberg

As far as political agenda, I can safely say this book is probably well on the mark. I wouldn't know for sure, though, because the author's style leaves much to be desired. The only chapter I managed to get through, before giving up, was the first chapter. The author jumps around so much in his telling of the history, that it left me breathless.

I can't justify rating this book since I didn't complete reading it. Suffice to say, it probably would have been a low one. Not on subject matter, but on style.

Apocalypse 2012 by Lawrence E. Joseph

"The sky is falling ! The sky is falling!"

Chicken Little couldn't have it anymore correct, if this author is to be believed. Everything from mass extinction from an asteriod striking the planet, to sunburn from Hell due to global warming and declining, eroding protection from the sun's harmful rays are the subject of this book. Taking it possibility by possibility, ranging from the Mayan prediction of upheaval, to the deteriorating magnetic field, and a few other things, all of them verging on the apocalptic year of 2012, in essence, the Earth is pretty much toast.

If a supervolcano in Yellowstone, pretty much overdue for erupting again in it's umpteen million year cycle, doesn't send you running for the bomb shelter, perhaps various groups of religious zealots bent on forcing the coming of the predicted Armageddon, or end of this age war in their respective religions will cause you to finally build that rocketship to take you off the planet. Either way, you'll have plenty of opportunities to get a new pair of pants after you soil the ones you're wearing when you read this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, even if the author failed to convince me there is any more reason to panic this year, than say, oh, about 4 years in the future.

Rating for this one. 6 stars.

What On Earth Have I Done? by Robert Fulghum

Inspirational literature can be tedious if you are the sort of pessimist that fits into the same mold as I do. Ordinarilly I would turn and run from that kind of sentimental pap. Fulghum, on the other hand, is interesting, not because he takes a different tack on the medium, but because he is so funny when he writes it. And humor is the way to get me to read your stuff.

Giving insight to how he approaches life and those around him in three different locales he calls home is the subject here (Seattle, rural Utah, and the island of Crete in Europe) The funniest entries are when he tells of how he made a fool of himself upon his first time in the village where he lives while on Crete, and the one about how he tests the waters of conversation by making seemingly offbeat comments, looking for players in the game.

Maybe I'm more sentimental than I want to admit. I rate this one 7½ stars.