Just a heads up, at this point I plan on taking a break from blogging for the month of October. It is now (at the writing of this) almost a third into September and I have 20 books read that I have not reviewed yet. I have the five P90X 1 on 1 reviews to write. I am just finishing my next Apple certification at work and really need to get going on my VMWare View Administrator Course. I have a number of authors I need to follow up with for the Author Profile Series. Dealing with loss and more. Also life with three kids 5 and under is much busier than 2 kids 4 and under.

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What is the purpose of literary prizes and how do we determine the excellence of a book? Those two questions have been cropping up a lot lately, from discussion of the National Book Award in the U.S.

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We’re pretty sure that Mitzi Gaynor has finished washing that man right outta her hair by now, but she’s going to show up next week in Ojai and relive all the glory that was “South Pacific” anyway.

Gaynor and the 1958 film will jump-start next week’s Ojai Film Festival, and why not? Gaynor’s memorable turn as Ensign Nellie Forbush is her signature role, one in which she had the chops to sing “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair,” among other things.

A newly restored version of “South Pacific” will be the opening night film at the 12th annual festival, which begins Thursday and runs through Oct.

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That last meal will be a celebratory steak-house dinner he refers to as “the last supper.” Which is an interesting choice of words considering that Cannata, a 42-year-old with mutton-chop sideburns and not nearly the belt size you’d expect for someone with his hobby, is a Presbyterian minister.

Here’s the back story in fast-forward. Cannata, who grew up in New York, says he got the calling from God while in college, later attended the seminary at Princeton University and then set out for a career in the ministry. Within a decade, he was pastor of a thriving suburban New Jersey church with 300 dedicated parishioners and working on his doctorate degree. It was a success story. The downside, he said, was the dullness. Then, C

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Trucks Around The City
Lego City
Scholastic
ISBN 9780545356299

Every time I think they cannot come up with something new, the Scholastic Lego City books do. This book has 7 double page spreads, each with a pull-out page flap. The vehicles are photos of actual Lego vehicles and everything but the ground and background can be constructed from Lego kits. They are:
Tractor Trailer
Roller
Dump Truck
Cement Mixer
Garbage Truck
Tanker
Tow Truck
Fire Truck
It is another great book in a great series. It will inspire the imagination in many new ways.