Review of Total Control by David Baldacci?

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total-controlFor a long time I ignored David Baldacci’s novels although the author produces stories in my favourite thriller genre. Maybe that was because the usual white background covers that appear on the paperback shelves in the UK didn’t appeal to me. Eventually I turned to one of his novels when I couldn’t find anything else that I wanted to read and became totally hooked on books written by this author.

David’s novels are complex tales involving FBI agents, US government, big business and all manner of criminals. So complex that I’m sure that I would lose the plot if I tried to write them, but even in their complexity I don’t lose the plot as a reader. I have plowed my way through most of David Baldacci’s current 17 novels and been gripped by the storylines of all of them.

Total Control is one of David’s early novels, first published at the beginning of 1997. The two main characters are lawyer Sydney Archer and veteran FBI agent Lee Sawyer. Sydney’s husband Jason works for the worlds leading technology conglomerate Triton Global and it is clear from the outset that he is involved in something that looks dodgy.

Sydney is the lawyer heading up a massive deal for her husbands company Triton Global, which is owned by the rich and nasty Nathan Gamble and his computer genius partner Quentin Rowe.

One morning Jason sets off to fly to LA, initially telling his wife that he is going there on business for his company. When he discovers that she is heading for a meeting with his bosses he changes his story and tells Sydney that he is actually going to Los Angeles for a job interview that would pay enough to enable Sydney to become the full time mother that she yearns for their 2 year old daughter Amy.

When Jason arrives at Dulles International airport he switches tickets in the toilets with a man who looks and dresses like him and flies to Seattle whilst the other man takes his place on the flight to LA. Part way through the flight the aeroplane goes down killing everybody, including the man who had taken Jason Archer’s place.

When FBI agent Lee Sawyer is called in to be the main investigator he quickly discovers that the plane was sabotaged. When proof is presented to Lee that Jason Archer was alive in Seattle after the plane crash Jason becomes the main suspect of the bombing, selling secrets of his company’s deal to a competitor and stealing millions of dollars from Triton Global.

Initially the FBI agent is unsure of whether or not Sydney is involved with her husband’s dodgy dealings. Sydney believing herself to be a widow holds back evidence because of the uncertainty about the man she loves, and from the fear that she will be accused of complicity and end up in jail instead of raising their daughter.

That is just a very small part of a massive plot with many twists and turns. The character of Sydney was built well; she is believable, likeable and very gutsy. I could feel an empathy with her sorrow at her believed loss, her fears for her daughter’s future and her need to find out for herself just what had happened.
Our initial encounter with Lee Sawyer is at the scene of the plane crash and his sorrow at the tragedy is apparent in every word written about it. His character is exactly what we would all like to see in law enforcement officers. Dogged, determined, honest, likeable and reliable but you wouldn’t want to oppose this no BS FBI agent.

I found Total Control to be a well-crafted thriller that held my attention right up until the end. As with all of David Baldacci’s novels there are lots of clues on the way but even if you think that you know the outcome he leaves little twists for the ending. I really enjoyed reading this book and unusual for me found myself on the edge of my seat during the last few chapters.

A great read that I highly recommend, Total Control is available in paperback, hard cover and audio cassette in book shops and on the Internet.

Patricia Jones writes reviews for The Creative Writer and owns Cashwrite.info where you can find lots of advice about making money from writing and a huge bundle of free writers tools.

Over 40? Check out the new fun Over 40s Club

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What Did Those Limeys Ever do For Us? The Yanks Ask?

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What did those Limeys ever do for us? Well quite a lot really?

Let’s pass over our previous blessings and start just before World War Two?

We gave you the Magnetron: the Greatest gift ever given by one nation to another at precisely the time you needed it most, in other words RADAR before Pearl Harbor (You really should spell that Harbour).

Yes, before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor the British gave the Yanks a RADAR system and the Japanese planes were spotted a good distance out from Pearl Harbor. The RADAR operators even rang higher ranking officers to tell them about the planes, but unfortunately they were ignored.

historybritainThe Yanks, didn’t ignore RADAR after that, it became the decisive weapon of World War two, especially in the Pacific Ocean.

The Legendary Mustang P51?

Surely, that was American? We’ll the before it was a legend it was all American with an Allison engine, and the British trialled it. They weren’t impressed, it had a ceiling of 16,000 feet: the engine was rubbish. However, the airframe was good so the British had a Merlin engine put in the Mustang: the result was a top class fighter with a ceiling of 32,000+ feet. The Mustang saved many American bomber crews lives when it was used as a fighter escort to Germany and back. Rolls Royce allowed (they used to be really fussy) Packard in the US to build the Merlin engine for the Mustangs.

The Brits cracked the Enigma code (German Code) which saved many thousands of American and allied lives.

The Jet Engine?

In World War Two plans of the jet engine were given to GE in America so that they could build their own US jet engine, just in case Adolf and the Reich started to get lucky.

In the sixties?

One RAF officer a Vulcan Pilot (British V wing Bomber), knew that the American RADAR of the day was inadequate and in visits to US bases he proved it?

The first base he flew to on the US mainland was approached at a very low altitude. He radioed the base that he was a few kilometres away: they couldn’t see him on their Radar. Again, he radioed as he got closer: they still couldn’t see him. In repeated radio calls the military radar operators never saw the Vulcan. He then few over the base: this had the desired effect, the base command then realised their radar was not good enough.

The RAF Officer then flew to Hawaii and news of his tricks reached the US Base there: they were going to keep a good eye out for this Guy’s Vulcan.

This time the RAF Officer decided to come in high and I mean 70,000+ feet high. The officer radioed in that he was above the base: which was a surprise to the military radar operators because they couldn’t see him.

A couple of US jets were scrambled to meet him. The jets got to 40,000 feet and they couldn’t see the Vulcan. The RAF Officer then radioed them and told them he was above them, the jets climbed to 50,000 feet and still they couldn’t see the Vulcan. The RAF Officer then radioed them again and told them to climb still more, eventually the scrambled jets climbed high enough to see a pin prick in the sky above them.

The end result was the US bases got the message about their Radar Systems and Britain sold lots of Radar Systems to the US in the next few years.

DNA?

Where would CSI be without DNA? It would just be a lot of fancy equipment and no convictions. The bad guys would still be laughing: but with the advent of the British DNA forensic techniques the bad guys know it’s probably a matter of time (10 to 20 in the slammer).

Remember Yankees, Times may be tough, but your allies are Tougher.

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http://www.NuevoMoney.com All the Best.


Fall Out Boy – A Brief Biography

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foile-a-duex
Fall Out Boy is an American alternative rock group that burst on the scene in 2005 with their major label release “From Under the Cork Tree.” Their follow up albums “Infinity on High” (released in 2007) and “Foile A Duex” (released in 2008) have been popular with fans and critics alike.

Fall Out Boy (FOB) takes their name from the television show The Simpsons. In a similar fashion, many of the titles of Fall Out Boy songs reference pop culture. They’ve been one of the first bands to widely use websites, social networking and other Internet technologies to spread information about their music and connect with fans. The release of their fifth studio album was preceded by a viral marketing campaign spread across several websites.

Fall Out Boy’s signature sound is an eclectic mix of styles. Wentz writes the majority of the lyrics for the songs while Stump handles the arrangement of the music. Stump has been tapped to help produce records and singles for many other bands and artists such as T.I, Gym Class Heroes, Cobra Starship, The Hush Sound, Lupe Fiasco The Roots.

Fall Out Boy members use personal blogs, You Tube and the social networking site FriendsorEnemies.com to stay connected with fans. Fall Out Boy pictures and videos are frequently posted to these sites keeping fans involved in the band and the music.

The band was started by bassist Pete Wentz and guitarist Joe Trohman in 2001 when both were just teenagers in Chicago. Patrick Stump, who originally auditioned to be the drummer, became the lead singer and rhythm guitarist. They were joined by a drummer and additional guitar player and the mini-LP “Fall Out Boy’s Evening Out with Your Girlfriend” was released in 2003.

After the LP, two of the members left the band. Drummer Andrew Hurley joined Wentz, Trohman and Stump to create the current line-up. The band relied heavily on their punk rock roots, but combined the sound with pop and emo influences. Their first full length record “Take This to Your Grave” was released in May 2003.

Their first major label release was in 2005 with “From Under the Cork Tree.” The single “Sugar, We’re Goin Down” shot up to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The Fall Out Boy video for the song was honored with a 2005 MTV Video Music Award, which increased sales of the album. Fall Out Boy was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2006 Grammys.

“Infinity on High” was their major label follow up and was released in 2007. The album sold 260,000 copies in its first week and reached number one on the Billboard 200. The single “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race” reached number two in the U.S. and the U.K. The musical style is this album distanced the band from their punk roots with its heavily pop influenced sound. Although some long time fans rejected the new direction the band was taking, the album had widespread appeal. “Thanks Fr the Mmrs”, “Carpel Tunnel of Love”, “Take Over the Breaks Lawyer” and “I’m Like a Lawyer” were all major hits due to the accompanying Fall Out Boy Videos.

Author Bio: Do you like to watch music videos online? Come check out the largest collection of music videos online featuring all of the most popular artists and bands including; Fall Out Boy music videos, Linkin Park and Eminem

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David Beckham – One of the Best Athletes Ever

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david_beckham_nov_11_2007David Beckham started to show his special athletic abilities even as a kid. Born and raised in Leytonstone, England, he actively participated in soccer and managed to receive the Bobby Charlton Soccer Skills award at the young age of 11. Five years later, when Beckham turned 16, he was designated as a trainee for United. After a year of training for the team, he was finally able to play as a substitute for Andrei Kanchelskis. That time when he substituted to play against Brighton marked his first game as a player for United. Beckham showed his talent even more by being able to win the 1992 FA Youth Cup and also managing to be a runner-up the following year. This convinced United to officially make him a professional player of their team. In January 1993, Beckham at age 18 played in his first ever game in the Champions League and put a significant contribution to his new team’ overall win.

The existence of his talent have been obvious for everyone but because there are still a sufficient number of veterans and more experienced players, Beckham was only able to make his full debut in 1995. Following his full debut, David Beckham continued to impress football fans and other players as well by winning the Cup and Charity Shield and the FA Premier League. This, he has done in a single year while he was playing as a right midfielder for United. This was also the same year when he had his first international game when he played against Moldova.

Beckham next feat was the 1998 World Cup. On the summer of this year, he was able to kick his first international goal playing against Colombia. This achievement may have been great but due to Beckham’s display of inappropriate behavior, he was regarded as a violent player. Because of a foul done to him, he kicked Simeone in the back of the leg. Though the kick was done lightly, his fans did not appreciate it.

Winning another FA Cup in 1999 and a Champions League title was not enough to retrieve the love of his English fans. Because of his continuous display of bad temper during games, Beckham received a lot of criticisms. He was only able to redeem his reputation when during the game against Argentina at the 2002 World Cup. Beckham successfully converted a penalty kick, making his home country the winner of the Cup. Because of this victory, his English fans finally managed to forgive his inappropriate behavior and regard him as the greatest athlete in their country.

Beckham’s great success in football is not only the reason why his popularity is so immense. His popularity also increased when he married famous Posh Spice, Victoria Beckham. Their lifestyle is the envy not only to most English folks but also to people around the world.

David Beckham is currently playing for L.A.’s Galaxy and would be continuing until the end of 2009 season. Rumors say that he will be playing for Milan after his contract with Galaxy ends.

Author Bio: Looking for information on David Beckham?? Come learn interesting information about David Beckham that you can’t find anywhere else at http://www.hunkymalestars.com/

Zac Efron – Everything You Need to Know!

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Zac Efron was born Zachary David Alexander Efron on October 18, 1987 in San Luis Obispo, California to parents David Efron, a power plant engineer, and Starla Baskett Efron, a former secretary. Zac is best known for his role in the Disney original movie High School Musical. He has also starred in the TV series Summerland as well as the film version of Hairspray. He has been touted to be the biggest teen star in the US as of 2006. He has been featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine which declared him to be the “poster boy for tweenyboppers.”

zac_efron_2007Zac Efron has always considered his childhood to be normal. He was born to a middle class family and has a younger brother named Dylan. He is an agnostic, but is of Jewish ancestry. In school, Zac was very studious, always aiming to get straight A’s. He was also considered to be the class clown. When he was eleven, Zac’s father encouraged him to act and take up singing lessons. He then performed at their local theater in plays such as Peter Pan, Gypsy, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Music Man. His drama teacher then recommended him to an agent in Los Angeles who later signed Zac on to the Creative Artists Agency.

In 2002, Zac Efron started making guest appearances on television shows such as ER, The Guardian, and Firefly. He had his first recurring role as Cameron Bale on Summerland, which he starred in along with actors Lori Loughlin and Jesse McCartney. He continued with guest roles on several TV shows such as The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, The Replacements, and CSI-Miami. In 2003, Efron was nominated for Best Supporting Actor Performance in a TV Movie at the Young Artist Awards for his role as one of two autistic twins in the drama Miracle Run. Efron got his biggest break in 2006, when he starred as Troy Bolton in the Disney Channel original movie High School Musical alongside girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens. This role garnered Efron several awards including Teen Choice Awards’ Breakout Star and the Choice Chemistry award with Vanessa Hudgens. The songs Getcha Head in the Game and Breaking Free from High School Musical sung by Efron and Hudgens debuted at the Billboard Hot 100 shortly after the TV movie’s release. After High School Musical, Efron appeared in Vanessa Hudgens’ music video “Say OK” as well as on an episode of Punk’d. He also went on to star in the big screen adaptation of the Broadway musical Hairspray, which received positive reviews. In 2007, High School Musical 2 was released again as a TV movie which set a new record in US history with over 18 million viewers watching its premiere. High School Musical 3 was then released in 2008 in theaters. Zac Efron will be starring in upcoming films such as 17 Again, Me and Orson Welles, as well as the remake of Footloose. I hope this article has helped you with obtaining valuable information on Zac Efron and I wish you the best of luck!

Author Bio: Looking for information on Zac Efron?? Come learn interesting information about Zac Efron that you can’t find anywhere else at http://www.hunkymalestars.com/

Leonardo DiCaprio – One of the Most Famous Male Celebrities

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leonardo_dicaprioLeonardo DiCaprio, born Leonardo Wilhelm Dicaprio, was born on November 11, 1974 in Los Angeles, California to parents Irmelin Inderberken, a former legal secretary, and to George DiCaprio, an underground comic artist as well as comic book distributor. Leo is best known for his choice of great roles which he has won several awards for. His most notable roles include his breakthrough performance in This Boy’s Life, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Titanic, Romeo + Juliet, Blood Diamond, The Aviator, Gangs of New York, The Departed, and his most recent film, Revolutionary Road. He has been nominated in all the major award giving bodies such as BAFTA, SAG, and the Academy Awards.

Leonardo DiCaprio has always been known to be full of zest and spirit. He was named after the great Leonardo Da Vinci after he kicked his mother while still in her womb when she admired a Da Vinci painting in the Uffizi. Leo was an only child, and unfortunately his parents divorced when he was only a year old. He is half-German and half-Italian, both backgrounds influencing his upbringing greatly. He was also very much interested in visiting museums, and collecting baseball cards and comic books. He then went on to study at the Seeds Elementary School, Center for Enriched Studies as well as at the John Marshall High School in Los Angeles.

Back in school, he was always known to be more interested in entertaining his classmates than concentrating on his school work. By the age of five years old, Leo got his acting debut for the TV show Romper Room. Unfortunately, because of his uncontrollable behavior on set, he was let go from the show. Trying to get into acting at such a young age became hard for Leo as he got rejected from one audition to another. At the age of ten, he was even more discouraged when agents tried to change the way he looked as well as his name, wanting to change it to Lenny Williams. Finally, he was signed on when he was 14 years old and starred in obscure advertisements as well as in educational movies. After doing some guest appearances on several television shows, he finally got his big break when he got the role of Tobias Wolff in the film This Boy’s Life.

The rest as they say is history. Leonardo Di Caprio has always been known to be very picky with his roles, but he does pick those roles very well. He has turned down popular roles such as Robin in Batman Forever, but chose to do grittier and darker roles such as his characters in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and Basketball Diaries. He proceeded to work on more electrifying roles and work with seasoned actors and critically-acclaimed directors in films such as Romeo + Juliet, Marvin’s Room, The Man in the Iron Mask, The Beach, Catch Me If You Can, Gangs of New York, and The Departed, among many others. He gained his superstar status when he took on the role of Jack Dawson in James Cameron’s Titanic which also starred Kate Winslet, with whom he would work with again ten years later in Sam Mendes’ Revolutionary Road.

Author Bio: Looking for information on Leonardo DiCaprio?? Come learn interesting information about Leonardo DiCaprio that you can’t find anywhere else at http://www.hunkymalestars.com/

Top Fishing Destinations

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If you’re a fishing enthusiast, you know there’s more to the sport than simply standing in or near a body of water and waiting for the fish.  Fishing is an experience that brings you closer to nature and clears your mind, body, and soul of the pressures in daily life.  The sport also allows you to visit new terrain and, if you’re adventurous enough, see the world while engaging in a fun, free-spirited activity.  If you’re unsure where to plan your next excursion, check out the locations on the following list.  They include some of the best acclaimed spots sure to leave you with a line full of fish and a lifetime of memories.

fishing-boat-in-hawaii” Florida: Florida is a popular fishing destination because it accommodates all genres of fishing.  It has an extensive saltwater coastline for deep sea fishing and saltwater shore fishing and over 7,500 freshwater lakes saturated with fish just waiting to bite into your line.  The pros?  Because Florida is such a popular fishing destination, you don’t have to travel with a lot of equipment.  Everything you’ll need is generally close-by wherever you choose to fish, and often available for rent.  The cons?  Because Florida is such a popular fishing destination, it tends to gear towards social activities.  Places can get crowded quickly, especially during high season, so you’ll need to make reservations in advance.  Also, don’t plan on enjoying too much peace and quiet.

” Arkansas: This overlooked state has over 9,000 miles of water, and it’s less populated than fishing-heavy states like Florida riddled with tourism.  This means cleaner water, more fish, better privacy, and a true-blue fishing experience.  Many of the fishing spots contain multiple types of fish and accommodate several methods of fishing, so you can fish with a varied group.  Enjoy superb trout fishing at Bull Shoals Lake, White River, and the little Red River.  However, if you prefer catfish, you’ll have better luck at Buffalo River or Lake DeGray.  If you’re a traditional bass angler, try a cast at Greers Ferry Lake, the Arkansas River, or the Caddo River.  For those of you who enjoy fishing for all species, Lake Ouachita has large populations of different sporting fish varieties, even Rainbow Trout.  Arkansas boasts crystal clear waters, plentiful schools of unusual fish, and breathtaking scenery.

” Alaska: For most, this may be a seasonal destination, but during that season Alaska offers incredible fishing.  The diverse landscape allows for every method of fishing imaginable, including some less traditional forms like ice fishing.  The Alagnak River has the best trout fishing in the state during high season, and if you want the fishing experience of a lifetime, go salmon fishing on the Alaskan Peninsula while the Salmon swim upstream to spawn.  It’s an absolutely incredible spectacle and you’ll catch a boatload of fresh salmon.  The best part about Alaskan fishing?  It’s a complete experience.  Many lodges have fishing guides that take you to great spots and even offer instruction, so you can test your skills with another type of fishing.  You’ll also see more natural wildlife than you’ve ever encountered.

” Around the World: Canada is a surprising fishing destination for rarer sporting fish.  Our neighbors to the north boast over 70,000 bodies of fresh water, some of the fiercest pike in the world in Manitoba, and the rare native brook trout in Labrador.  If you want to visit Europe, the Test and Itchen Rivers in England are located just an hour outside of London (perfect for a quick trip if you’re traveling on business or with family).  Brimming with various fish varieties, including Atlantic Salmon and trout in the same river, these two destinations have incredible variety that accommodates all types of fishing.  Finally, one of the best fishing destinations is also about as far out of the way as a fishing destination can get.  Seychelles, off the eastern coast of Africa in the Indian Sea, is an archipelago of tropical islands teeming with trophy fish like bonefish, triggerfish, and giant trevally that pose a challenge even to expert anglers.  Seychelles is not for the faint of heart or weekend fisherman; this is an expedition with serious fishing that will offer an incredible challenge and some of the best experiences of your life.

The next time you’re planning a fishing excursion, visit one of these places to experience breathtaking scenery, crystal clear water, and nature at its best.  If you don’t plan on buying or renting equipment on site (or if you can’t) be sure to stock up on quality equipment from a trusted dealer.  When you take the time out of your busy life to visit one of these places, it’s important to have the very best and most specialized equipment possible you can get the most out of your fishing experience.  You won’t be disappointed.

Mike Galambos has been a sport fisherman since 1982. He is always on the hunt for new and improved fishing rods, fishing reels and fishing tackle for improved success.

The World of Funny and Strange Awards

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Top Movie Downloads Everyone loves to win an award but sometimes you want to be careful of what you wish for because you may just get it. Winning an award is always fun and it is nice to be recognized.

Everyone loves to win an award but sometimes you want to be careful of what you wish for because you may just get it. Winning an award is always fun and it is nice to be recognized. Maybe you won employee of the month at work or perhaps your civic work caused your community to recognize you with an outstanding citizen award. But not every award is one you want to put on your mantle and show off to your family and friends. There is a company in Upstate New York that has a bowling tournament every year. First place is a lovely golden bowling pin for the winner to proudly display. Last prize, and there is a last prize, is an old bowling shoe referred to as the Smelly Shoe Award. An old smelly bowling shoe is not what you want sitting on the mantle at home. Of course it is all in fun but some awards and recognitions can be a little critical and sometimes downright mean.

Mr. Blackwell was a well-known fashion critic who released two lists every year that were highly anticipated. The first was the best-dressed celebrity list and to make it on that list meant a whole new level of recognition from the media and possible opportunities in show business. The other list was the top ten worst dressed celebrities and that was a list that usually meant you would find a rather unattractive picture of yourself in a national tabloid magazine. So Mr. Blackwell’s worst dressed celebrity is definitely not an award you want to win. But that pales in comparison to what the movie industry has to offer.

Few industries have as many awards as the movie industry. Between the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, and the People’s Choice Awards there are hundreds of award winners every year in Hollywood and that does not count things like the Kids Choice Movie Awards or the MTV Movie Awards either. But as good as Hollywood can be at patting itself on the back there are always Hollywood outsiders who are willing to let Hollywood know that not every movie is an award winner. The desire to keep Hollywood in its place has spawned some funny trophies and award shows and the top funny Hollywood award show of them all is the Razzies.

The Razzies is short for the Golden Raspberry Award and it is given every year for the worst actors and worst movies Hollywood put out for the previous year. The trophy is a large golden raspberry and, needless to say, very few Hollywood celebrities show up to the ceremony each year to collect their award. In recent years Hollywood has been continually accused of having no worthwhile movies coming out and that has caused an increase in the media exposure of the Razzies and its accompanying ceremony every year. Many Oscar winning movies are awarded Razzies and it looks like the Razzies will be around for a very long time.

Author Bio: For more information on funny trophies, visit http://www.gagtrophies.com.