Software Review: Legacy 7.4 (Genealogy)

Legacy Family Tree

For the past few months, I have been reviewing the genealogy software Legacy version 7.4. I was quite impressed by how much this software can accomplish... and it only less than $30 for the standard edition ($60 for the deluxe edition)

I have been using other software (Family Tree Maker and Roots Magic) to keep my genealogy. I used both products because between both I could do what I wanted with my genealogy research. I was hesitant to try another genealogy software but I gave this one a try. To my surprise, Legacy does what the other two software packages do and much more. I was able to import my genealogy using the GEDCOM import feature. The upload was mostly correct, only a few things flagged (like the "from date to date" approximations).

The website lists an incredible 85 features for this software. Among some good (in my opinion) features:

• Mapping– Use Microsoft Virtual Earth to automatically pinpoint and plot important locations in ancestors’ lives from within Legacy. See 3-D, satellite and bird’s eye images of where your ancestors lived. Now it is easy to track your ancestor’s migration
• SourceWriter – makes it simple for you to select the correct input screen so that you enter all the pieces needed to correctly cite any source of information in the thousands of formats that exist for them. The information you enter is correctly and precisely formatted to match the genealogy industry standards for source citations when printing footnotes, endnotes, and bibliographies. Multiple citations for an event can be combined into one paragraph, thus avoiding a long string of superscripted numbers within the report body.
• Relationship Calculator – See how any two people are connected, not only through direct blood relationships but also by marriage. A person might be the "great-grandfather of the wife of your 2nd great-grandnephew.
• DNA – lets you record DNA marker test results from several different companies.

Another great feature is its printing capabilities. It has a great report (for your book) and very nice charting tools. Overall I will be using Legacy as my genealogy tool.

Link to Legacy Home Page - http://bit.ly/legacyhomepage
Link to Deluxe Download Version - http://bit.ly/legacydownloadversion
Link to Free Download/Comparison - http://bit.ly/legacydownloadcompare
Link to Legacy Blog - http://bit.ly/legacyblog
Link to Legacy Charting - http://bit.ly/legacycharting

Book Giveaway - The Body Shop By Paul Solotaroff

Parties, Pills, and Pumping Iron -- Or, My Life in the Age of Muscle

As a scrawny college freshman in the mid-1970s, just before Arnold Schwarzenegger became a hero to boys everywhere and Pumping Iron became a cult hit, Paul Solotaroff discovered weights and steroids. In a matter of months, he grew from a dorky beanpole into a hulking behemoth, showing off his rock hard muscles first on the streets of New York City and then alongside his colorful gym-rat friends in strip clubs and in the homes of the gotham elite. It was a swinging time, when "Would you like to dance?" turned into "Your place or mine?" and the guys with the muscles had all the ladies--until their bodies, like Solotaroff''s, completely shut down.

But this isn't the gloom-and-doom addiction one might expect--Solotaroff looks back at even his lowest points with a wicked sense of humor, and he sends up the disco era and its excess with all the kaleidoscopic detail of Boogie Nights or Saturday Night Fever.

Written with candor and sarcasm, THE BODY SHOP is a memoir with all the elements of great fiction and dazzlingly displays Paul Solotaroff's celebrated writing talent.

About the Author
Paul Solotaroff is a contributing editor at Men's Journal and Rolling Stone. He has written features for Vanity Fair, GQ, Vogue, and the New York Times Magazine, and he was nominated for a National Magazine Award in 2004. His work has been included in Best American Sports Writing. The author of two books, Group and The House of Purple Hearts, he lives in New York City.

Book Giveaway - The Glamour Of Grammar By Roy Peter Clark

A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English

Early in the history of English, the words "grammar" and "glamour" meant the same thing: the power to charm. Roy Peter Clark, author of Writing Tools, aims to put the glamour back in grammar with this fun, engaging alternative to stuffy instructionals. In this practical guide, readers will learn everything from the different parts of speech to why effective writers prefer concrete nouns and active verbs. THE GLAMOUR OF GRAMMAR gives readers all the tools they need to"live inside the language"--to take advantage of grammar to perfect their use of English, to instill meaning, and to charm through their writing.

About the Author
Roy Peter Clark is vice president and senior scholar at The Poynter Institute, one of the most prestigious schools for journalists in the world. He has taught writing at every level--to schoolchildren and Pulitzer Prize-winning authors--for more than thirty years, and has spoken about the writer's craft on The Oprah Winfrey Show, NPR, and The Today Show; at conferences from Singapore to Brazil; and at news organizations from the New York Times to The Sowetan in South Africa. A writer who teaches and a teacher who writes, he has authored or edited fifteen books about writing and journalism, including his most recent, Writing Tools.

Book Giveaway - The Link By Colin Tudge

Uncovering Our Earliest Ancestor

For more than a century, scientists have raced to unravel the human family tree and have grappled with its complications. Now, with an astonishing new discovery, everything we thought we knew about primate origins could change. Lying inside a high-security vault, deep within the heart of one of the world's leading natural history museums, is the scientific find of a lifetime - a perfectly fossilized early primate, older than the previously most famous primate fossil, Lucy, by forty-four million years.

About the Author

Colin Tudge is a biologist by education and a writer by inclination--on biology, food and agriculture, and the philosophy of science. His books include The Tree, Feeding People Is Easy, Consider the Birds, and The Time Before History. For more information about the author, go to www.colintudge.com.

Book Giveaway - Get Positively Beautiful By Carmindy

The Ultimate Guide to Looking and Feeling Gorgeous

According to a recent study, only 2% of women describe themselves as 'beautiful.' (Dove Global Study 'The Real Truth About Beauty: A Global Report', 2004) The media instructs women how to 'look ten years younger,' 'cover up wrinkles,' or 'get fuller, plumper lips.' And even makeup products play off women's insecurities, promising to conceal perceived flaws, define cheekbones, or make eyelashes fuller and longer. The underlying message? That there's something inherently wrong with the way women look and that they have to spend time, money, and energy keeping up with all the ways they should 'fix' themselves.

In GET POSITIVELY BEAUTIFUL, makeup artist Carmindy from TLC's hit program What Not to Wear shows you how to change your mindset from negative fault-finding to a positive beauty philosophy. You learn how to find and focus on your best features and how to combat negative thoughts about your appearance. Carmindy demonstrates easy makeup techniques for eyes, brows, lashes, lips, cheeks, and skin, and how to adapt looks to different weather conditions and 'beauty moods.'

ENDED Book Giveaway - Fit for Life - By Harvey Diamond, Marilyn Diamond

It's the program that shatters all the myths: FIT FOR LIFE the international bestseller that explains how to change both your figure and your life. Nutritional specialist Harvey and Marilyn Diamond explain how you can eat more kinds of food than you ever ate before without counting calories...and still lose weight! The natural body cycles, permanent weight-loss plan that proves it's not only what you eat, but also when and how, FIT FOR LIFE is the perfect solution for those who want to look and feel their best. Join the millions of Americans who are FIT FOR LIFE and begin your transformation with:

• The vital principles that bring you permanent weight loss and high energy
• The FIT FOR LIFE secrets of timing and food combining that work with your natural body cycles
• A 4-week meal plan, menus, shopping tips, and exercise
• Delicious recipes and more.

About the Author

Harvey and Marilyn Diamond are also the authors of the bestselling Fit For Life 2. And, Marilyn also penned The American Vegetarian Cookbook and A New Way of Eating. She is co-author with Dr. Donald Schnell of Fitonics. Marilyn Diamond lives in Beverly Hills, CA. Havery Dimond lives in Florida.

Thanks to Hachette for this giveaway.

Giveaway Rules:

• One entry only - Please comment on why you want this book
• Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers - you must have a public profile and listed e-mail to find you
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter
• Please NO PO Boxes!!!
• The drawing will last till September 17
• I will post the winners here on September 18
• Random number generator will be used - 3 copies to give away
• Winners have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected
• Extra entry - Become a follower

WINNERS - ceevegnashville, kerri69, higgs.rachel

ENDED Book Giveaway - The Vixen Manual by Karrine Steffans

Since she exploded on the scene with her two juicy and impossible-to-put-down tell-alls, readers have wanted to know even more about what makes Karrine Steffans tick. How was she able to meet all the high profile politicians, movie stars, and other celebrities that are her close acquaintances? What skills does she possess to keep men wanting more? Finally, Karrine lays it all out and explains exactly what a woman must do to win over the man of her dreams. With chapters like "Never Let Him See You Sweat,""Flirting,""Encouraging His Manhood," and "Give Him What He Wants," this hot and sexy manual is a must-have for every woman's bookshelf.

About the Author

Karrine Steffans became a New York Times best selling author after releasing her debut tell-all book Confessions of a Video Vixen in June of 2005. Since the success of her books, Karrine speaks at universities and celebrity panels. She has also established The Karrine Steffans Girls Club, The Karrine Steffans Book Club , and The Steffans Commentary on MySpace. Check out Karrine's website at www.karrine.com.

Thanks to Hachette for this giveaway.

Giveaway Rules:

• One entry only - Please comment on why you want this book
• Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers - you must have a public profile and listed e-mail to find you
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter
• Please NO PO Boxes!!!
• The drawing will last till September 3
• I will post the winners here on September 4
• Random number generator will be used - 3 copies to give away
• Winners have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected
• Extra entry - Become a follower

WINNERS - twoofakind12, dftrew,  tanyainjville

ENDED Book Giveaway - Ah-Choo! by Jennifer Ackerman

Some colds are like mice, timid and annoying; others like dragons, accompanied by body aches and deep misery. In AH-CHOO!, Jennifer Ackerman explains what, exactly, a cold is, how it works, and whether it's really possible to "fight one off." Scientists call this the Golden Age of the Common Cold because Americans suffer up to a billion colds each year, resulting in 40 million days of missed work and school and 100 million doctor visits. They've also learned over the past decade much more about what cold viruses are, what they do to the human body, and how symptoms can be addressed. In this ode to the odious cold, Ackerman sifts through the chatter about treatments-what works, what doesn't, and what can't hurt. She dispels myths, such as susceptibility to colds reflects a weakened immune system. And she tracks current research, including work at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, a world-renowned center of cold research studies, where the search for a cure continues.

About the Author

Jennifer Ackerman's most recent book is Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream: ADay in the Life of Your Body. Her previous books include Chance in the House of Fate: A Natural History of Heredity, and Notes from the Shore. A contributor to National Geographic, The New York Times, and many other publications, her articles and essays have been included in several anthologies, among them Best American Science Writing, The Nature Reader, and Best Nature Writing. Jennifer lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Thanks to Hachette for this giveaway.

Giveaway Rules:

• One entry only - Please comment on why you want this book
• Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers - you must have a public profile and listed e-mail to find you
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter
• Please NO PO Boxes!!!
• The drawing will last till August 28
• I will post the winners here on August 29
• Random number generator will be used - 3 copies to give away
• Winners have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected
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WINNERS - unforgetable_dreamer_always, tiredwkids, dlodden

ENDED Audio Book Giveaway - The Island by Elin Hilderbrand

From New York Times bestseller Elin Hilderbrand, a new novel set on Tuckernuck, a tiny island off the coast of Nantucket.

Four women-a mother, her sister, two grown daughters-head to Tuckernuck for a retreat, hoping to escape their troubles. Intead, they find only drama, secrets, and life-changing revelations.

Praise for A Summer Affair:

"Hilderbrand's seventh is voyeuristic fun."-People

"A star-crossed love affair; a former rock star; a high-stakes benefit gala; plenty of steam."-Redbook ("7 Great Summer Reads" - June 2008)

"Claire's a great character."-Entertainment Weekly

"This story of one woman's midlife crisis is an emotional and heartfelt journey. It's a captivating tale of heartache, happiness, confusion and love."-Romantic Times BOOKclub magazine

"A gem of a summer read with a glamorous location, elite lifestyle, and Hilderbrand's appealing take on the constant stress that fills the lives of women everywhere."-Booklist

"Claire's walk on the dark side is pure voyeuristic fun...A perfect summer cocktail of sex, sun and scandal."-Kirkus Reviews

"Characters are as complex and fragile as glassblowing artist Claire's creations in Hilderbrand's latest Nantucket tale....this mom-lit novel stand(s) out from the pack."-Library Journal

About Author

Elin Hilderbrand lives on Nantucket with her husband and their three young children. She grew up in Collegeville, PA, and traveled extensively before settling on Nantucket, which has been the setting for her eight previous novels. Hilderbrand is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the graduate fiction workshop at the University of Iowa.

Thanks to Hachette for this giveaway.

Giveaway Rules:

• One entry only - Please comment on why you want this book
• Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers - you must have a public profile and listed e-mail to find you
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter
• Please NO PO Boxes!!!
• The drawing will last till August 27
• I will post the winners here on August 28
• Random number generator will be used - 3 copies to give away
• Winners have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected
• Extra entry - Become a follower

WINNERS - ordinarywonderland, susansmoaks,  barracudaron

ENDED Book Giveaway - The Disappearing Spoon By Sam Kean

And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

The Periodic Table is one of man's crowning scientific achievements. But it's also a treasure trove of stories of passion, adventure, betrayal, and obsession. The infectious tales and astounding details in THE DISAPPEARING SPOON follow carbon, neon, silicon, and gold as they play out their parts in human history, finance, mythology, war, the arts, poison, and the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them.

We learn that Marie Curie used to provoke jealousy in colleagues' wives when she'd invite them into closets to see her glow-in-the-dark experiments. And that Lewis and Clark swallowed mercury capsules across the country and their campsites are still detectable by the poison in the ground. Why did Gandhi hate iodine? Why did the Japanese kill Godzilla with missiles made of cadmium? And why did tellurium lead to the most bizarre gold rush in history?

From the Big Bang to the end of time, it's all in THE DISAPPEARING SPOON.

About the Author

Sam Kean is a writer in Washington, D.C. His work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Mental Floss, Slate, The Believer, Air & Space, Science, and The New Scientist. He is currently working as a reporter at Science magazine and as a 2009 Middlebury Environmental Journalism fellow.

Thanks to Hachette for this giveaway.

Giveaway Rules:

• One entry only - Please comment on why you want this book
• Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers - you must have a public profile and listed e-mail to find you
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter
• Please NO PO Boxes!!!
• The drawing will last till August 7
• Random number generator will be used - 2 copies to give away
• I will post the winners here on August 8
• Winners have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected
• Extra entry - Become a follower

WINNERS - auriette, kdbstb

ENDED Book Giveaway - THE I HATE TO COOK BOOK By Peg Bracken

50th Anniversary Edition

"There are two kinds of people in this world: the ones who don't cook out of and have NEVER cooked out of THE I HATE TO COOK BOOK, and the other kind...The I HATE TO COOK people consist mainly of those who find other things more interesting and less fattening, and so they do it as seldom as possible. Today there is an Annual Culinary Olympics, with hundreds of cooks from many countries ardently competing. But we who hate to cook have had our own Olympics for years, seeing who can get out of the kitchen the fastest and stay out the longest."

- Peg Bracken

Philosopher's Chowder. Skinny Meatloaf. Fat Man's Shrimp. Immediate Fudge Cake. These are just a few of the beloved recipes from Peg Bracken's classic I HATE TO COOK BOOK. Written in a time when women were expected to have full, delicious meals on the table for their families every night, Peg Bracken offered women who didn't revel in this obligation an alternative: quick, simple meals that took minimal effort but would still satisfy.

50 years later, times have certainly changed - but the appeal of THE I HATE TO COOK BOOK hasn't.

This book is for everyone, men and women alike, who wants to get from cooking hour to cocktail hour in as little time as possible.

Spread the word about the I Hate to Cook Book Facebook Page

Read an Excerpt

Meet Peg's daughter, Jo Bracken, by visiting her blog. 

Thanks to Hachette for this giveaway.

Giveaway Rules:

• One entry only - Please comment on why you want this book
• Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers - you must have a public profile and listed e-mail to find you
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter
• Please NO PO Boxes!!!
• The drawing will last till August 6
• Random number generator will be used - 2 copies to give away
• I will post the winners here on August 7
• Winners have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected
• Extra entry - Become a follower

WINNERS - adriegirl2, emdq

ENDED Audio Book Giveaway - The Lion By Nelson DeMille

John Corey, former NYPD Homicide detective and special agent for the Anti-Terrorist Task Force, is back on the trail of Asad Khalil, the notorious Libyan terrorist known as 'The Lion'. Corey and his partner, agent Kate Mayfield, tracked Khalil across the US after his threats to wipe out the US in a horrific wave of terrorism. But after methodically eliminating his victims one by one, Khalil disappeared without a trace. Now, years later, Khalil has returned to America to take care of unfinished business. 'The Lion' is a killing machine on a mission of revenge, and John Corey will not stop until he rids the earth of this tyrant once and for all.

About the Author

Nelson DeMille is the author of 15 previous novels. He lives on Long Island, New York.

Thanks to Hachette for this giveaway.

Giveaway Rules:

• One entry only - Please comment on why you want this book
• Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers - you must have a public profile and listed e-mail to find you
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter
• Please NO PO Boxes!!!
• Random number generator will be used - 3 copies to give away
• The drawing will last till July 31
• I will post the winners here on August 1
• Winners have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected
• Extra entry - Become a follower

WINNERS - chrystaljns, mom1248,  fatally_flayed

ENDED Audio Book Giveaway - Private By James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

The police can't help you

Former CIA agent Jack Morgan runs Private, a renowned investigation company with branches around the globe. It is where you go when you need maximum force and maximum discretion. The secrets of the most influential men and women on the planet come to Jack daily--and his staff of investigators uses the world's most advanced forensic tools to make and break their cases.

The press will destroy you

Jack is already deep into the investigation of a multi-million dollar NFL gambling scandal and the unsolved slayings of 18 schoolgirls when he learns of a horrific murder close to home: his best friend's wife, Jack's former lover, has been killed. It nearly pushes him over the edge. Instead, Jack pushes back and devotes all of Private's resources to tracking down her killer.

Only one place to turn: Private

But Jack doesn't have to play by the rules. As he closes in on the killer and chooses between revenge and justice, Morgan has to navigate a workplace love affair that threatens to blow the roof off his plans. With a plot that moves at death-defying speeds, Private is James Patterson sleekest, most exciting thriller ever. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

James Patterson has had more New York Times bestsellers than any other writer, ever, according to Guinness World Records. Since his first novel won the Edgar Award in 1976, James Patterson's books have sold more than 170 million copies. He is the author of the Alex Cross novels, the most popular detective series of the past twenty-five years, including Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider.

Mr. Patterson also writes the bestselling Women's Murder Club novels, set in San Francisco, and the top-selling New York detective series of all time, featuring Detective Michael Bennett. He writes full-time and lives in Florida with his family.

Maxine Paetro is the author of three novels, two works of nonfiction, and the coauthor of seven books with James Patterson. She lives in New York with her husband.

Thanks to Hachette for this giveaway.

Giveaway Rules:

• One entry only - Please comment on why you want this book
• Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers - you must have a public profile and listed e-mail to find you
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter
• Please NO PO Boxes!!!
• Random number generator will be used - 3 copies to give away
• The drawing will last till July 30
• I will post the winners here on July 31
• Winners have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected
• Extra entry - Become a follower

WINNERS - willitara, petsandthepeople, Luvdaylilies

ENDED Audio Book Giveaway - Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Bourne Objective by Eric Van Lustbader

After Bourne is ambushed and nearly killed while in Indonesia, he fakes his death to take on a new identity and mission- to find out who is trying to assassinate him. In the process, Bourne begins to question who he really is and what he would become if he no longer carried the Bourne identity. Across the globe, an American passenger airliner is shot down over Egypt-apparently by an Iranian missile-leaving the world wondering if it was an accident or an act of aggression. A massive global team lead by Soraya Moore is assembled to investigate the attack before the situation escalates.

When Bourne's search for his would-be assassin intersects with Soraya's search for the group behind the airplane bombing, Bourne is thrust into a race to prevent a new world war. But it may already be too late.

About the Author

ROBERT LUDLUM was the author of twenty-one novels, each one a New York Times bestseller. There are more than 210 million of his books in print, and they have been translated into thirty-two languages. He is the author of The Scarlatti Inheritance, The Chancellor Manuscript, and the Jason Bourne series--The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum--among others. Mr. Ludlum passed away in March, 2001. http://www.ludlumbooks.com/

ERIC VAN LUSTBADER is most widely known as the New York Times bestselling author of twenty international bestselling thrillers including Ninja and Black Heart. He is also the author of two successful and highly regarded series of fantasy novels, The Sunset Warrior Cycle and The Pearl Saga. His novels have been translated into over twenty languages. http://www.ericvanlustbader.com/

Thanks to Hachette for this giveaway.

Giveaway Rules:

• One entry only - Please comment on why you want this book
• Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers - you must have a public profile and listed e-mail to find you
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter
• Please NO PO Boxes!!!
• Random number generator will be used - 3 copies to give away
• The drawing will last till July 24
• I will post the winners here on July 25
• Winners have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected
• Extra entry - Become a follower

WINNERS - sallstun, mrs.newbill, megalon22

ENDED Audio Book Giveaway - The Broom of the System By David Foster Wallace

The "dazzling, exhilarating" (San Francisco Chronicle) debut novel from the bestselling author of Infinite Jest, available for the first time as an audiobook.

At the center of The Broom of the System is the betwitching (and also bewildered) heroine, Lenore Stonecipher Beadsman. The year is 1990 and the place is a slightly altered Cleveland, Ohio, which sits on the edge of a suburban wasteland-the Great Ohio Desert. Lenore works as a switchboard attendant at a publishing firm, and in addition to her mind-numbing job, she has a few other problems. Her great-grandmother, a one-time student of Wittgenstein, has disappeared with twenty-five other inmates of the Shaker Heights Nursing Home. Her beau (and boss), editor-in-chief Rick Vigorous, is insanely jealous. And her cockatiel, Vlad the Impaler, has suddenly started spouting a mixture of psychobabble, Auden, and the King James Bible, which may propel him to stardom on a Christian fundamentalist television program.

Fiercely intelligent and entertaining, this debut novel from one of the most innovative writers of our generation explores the paradoxes of language, storytelling, and reality.

About the Author

David Foster Wallace is the award-winning author of several short story and essay collections as well as two novels. Most recently, he is the author of the biography Everything and More: A Compact History of Infinity.

Thanks to Hachette for this giveaway.

Giveaway Rules:

• One entry only - Please comment on why you want this book
• Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers - you must have a public profile and listed e-mail to find you
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter
• Please NO PO Boxes!!!
• Random number generator will be used - 3 copies to give away
• The drawing will last till July 23
• I will post the winners here on July 24
• Winners have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected
• Extra entry - Become a follower

WINNERS - lunabutterfly79, slawoszewski, EEscripts

ENDED Audio Book Giveaway - Hitch-22 By Christopher Hitchens

Over the course of his 60 years, Christopher Hitchens has been a citizen of both the United States and the United Kingdom. He has been both a socialist opposed to the war in Vietnam and a supporter of the U.S. war against Islamic extremism in Iraq. He has been both a foreign correspondent in some of the world's most dangerous places and a legendary bon vivant with an unquenchable thirst for alcohol and literature. He is a fervent atheist, raised as a Christian, by a mother whose Jewish heritage was not revealed to him until her suicide.

In other words, Christopher Hitchens contains multitudes. He sees all sides of an argument. And he believes the personal is political.

About the Author

Christopher Hitchens is a contributing editor to Vanity Fair and a visiting professor of liberal studies at the New School. He is the author of numerous books, including works on Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, George Orwell, Mother Teresa, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Henry Kissinger, and his #1 New York Times bestseller and National Book Award nominee, God Is Not Great.

Thanks to Hachette for this giveaway.

Giveaway Rules:

• One entry only - Please comment on why you want this book
• Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers - you must have a public profile and listed e-mail to find you
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter
• Please NO PO Boxes!!!
• Random number generator will be used - 3 copies to give away
• The drawing will last till July 17
• I will post the winners here on July 18
• Winners have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected
• Extra entry - Become a follower

WINNERS - kakihararocks, jsutton.colorado , jason

ENDED Audio Book Giveaway - When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead By Jerry Weintraub, Rich Cohen

Here is the story of Jerry Weintraub: the self-made, Brooklyn-born, Bronx-raised impresario, Hollywood producer, legendary deal maker, and friend of politicians and stars. No matter where nature has placed him--the club rooms of Brooklyn, the Mafia dives of New York's Lower East Side, the wilds of Alaska, or the hills of Hollywood--he has found a way to put on a show and sell tickets at the door. "All life was a theater and I wanted to put it up on a stage," he writes. "I wanted to set the world under a marquee that read: 'Jerry Weintraub Presents.'"

In WHEN I STOP TALKING, YOU'LL KNOW I'M DEAD, we follow Weintraub from his first great success at age twenty-six with Elvis Presley, whom he took on the road with the help of Colonel Tom Parker; to the immortal days with Sinatra and Rat Pack glory; to his crowning hits as a movie producer, starting with Robert Altman and Nashville, continuing with Oh, God!, The Karate Kid movies, and Diner, among others, and summiting with Steven Soderbergh and Ocean's Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen.

Along the way, we'll watch as Jerry moves from the poker tables of Palm Springs (the games went on for days), to the power rooms of Hollywood, to the halls of the White House, to Red Square in Moscow and the Great Palace in Beijing-all the while counseling potentates, poets, and kings, with clients and confidants like George Clooney, Bruce Willis, George H. W. Bush, Armand Hammer, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, John Denver, Bobby Fischer ... well, the list goes on forever.

And of course, the story is not yet over . . .as the old-timers say, "The best is yet to come."

As Weintraub says, "When I stop talking, you'll know I'm dead."

With wit, wisdom, and the cool confidence that has colored his remarkable career, Jerry chronicles a quintessentially American journey, one marked by luck, love, and improvisation. The stories he tells and the lessons we learn are essential, not just for those who love movies and music, but for businessmen, entrepreneurs, artists . . . everyone.

About the Author
Jerry Weintraub has spent more than five decades in show business, in the process earning a reputation as one of the savviest negotiators, smartest producers, and shrewdest film investors of our time. He has been praised and honored for his philanthropic work and, as UNICEF's Man of the Year, was presented the organization's Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award.

Rich Cohen, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone, is the author of five books, including the bestsellers Tough Jews, The Avengers, and Israel Is Real. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, his dog, and many masculine children.

Thanks to Hachette for this giveaway.

Giveaway Rules:

• One entry only - Please comment on why you want this book
• Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers - you must have a public profile and listed e-mail to find you
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter
• Please NO PO Boxes!!!
• Random number generator will be used - 3 copies to give away
• The drawing will last till July 16
• I will post the winners here on July 17
• Winners have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected
• Extra entry - Become a follower

WINNERS - trippyjanet, teechbiz, cdmarteny

ENDED Book Giveaway - Wrong By David H. Freedman

Why experts* keep failing us--and how to know when not to trust them *Scientists, finance wizards, doctors, relationship gurus, celebrity CEOs, high-powered consultants, health officials and more

Our investments are devastated, obesity is epidemic, test scores are in decline, blue-chip companies circle the drain, and popular medications turn out to be ineffective and even dangerous. What happened? Didn't we listen to the scientists, economists and other experts who promised us that if we followed their advice all would be well?

Actually, those experts are a big reason we're in this mess. And, according to acclaimed business and science writer David H. Freedman, such expert counsel usually turns out to be wrong--often wildly so. Wrong reveals the dangerously distorted ways experts come up with their advice, and why the most heavily flawed conclusions end up getting the most attention-all the more so in the online era. But there's hope: Wrong spells out the means by which every individual and organization can do a better job of unearthing the crucial bits of right within a vast avalanche of misleading pronouncements.

About the Author

David H. Freedman is a contributing editor and columnist at Inc. magazine. He is a contributor to Newsweek, and has written on science, technology, and business for The Atlantic Monthly, New York Times, Science, The Harvard Business Review, Wired, and many other publications. He was the co-author of A Perfect Mess (Little, Brown, 2006). Freedman lives in Massachusetts.

Thanks to Hachette for this giveaway.

Giveaway Rules:

• One entry only - Please comment on why you want this book
• Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers - you must have a public profile and listed e-mail to find you
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter
• Please NO PO Boxes!!!
• Random number generator will be used - 3 copies to give away
• The drawing will last till July 10
• I will post the winners here on July 11
• Winners have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected
• Extra entry - Become a follower

WINNERS - twoofakind12, vidomich, nfmgirl

ENDED Book Giveaway - Delivering Happiness By Tony Hsieh

A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose

The visionary CEO of Zappos explains how an emphasis on corporate culture can lead to unprecedented success.

Pay new employees $2000 to quit. Make customer service the entire company, not just a department. Focus on company culture as the #1 priority. Apply research from the science of happiness to running a business. Help employees grow both personally and professionally. Seek to change the world. Oh, and make money too.

Sound crazy? It's all standard operating procedure at Zappos.com, the online retailer that's doing over $1 billion in gross merchandise sales every year.

In 1999, Tony Hsieh (pronounced Shay) sold LinkExchange, the company he co-founded, to Microsoft for $265 million. He then joined Zappos as an adviser and investor, and eventually became CEO.

In 2009, Zappos was listed as one of Fortune magazine's top 25 companies to work for, and was acquired by Amazon later that year in a deal valued at over $1.2 billion on the day of closing.

In his first book, Tony shares the different business lessons he learned in life, from a lemonade stand and pizza business through LinkExchange, Zappos, and more. Ultimately, he shows how using happiness as a framework can produce profits, passion, and purpose both in business and in life. (edited by author)

About the Author

Tony Hsieh became involved with Zappos as an advisor and investor in 1999, about two months after the company was founded. He eventually joined Zappos full time in 2000.

Under his leadership, Zappos has grown gross merchandise sales from $1.6M in 2000 to over $1 billion in 2008 by focusing relentlessly on customer service.

Thanks to Hachette for this giveaway.

Giveaway Rules:

• One entry only - Please comment on why you want this book
• Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers - you must have a public profile and listed e-mail to find you
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter
• Please NO PO Boxes!!!
• Random number generator will be used - 3 copies to give away
• The drawing will last till July 9
• I will post the winners here on July 10
• Winners have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected
• Extra entry - Become a follower

WINNERS - susansmoaks,  mtakala1, TBD

ENDED Book Giveaway - Oil By Tom Bower

Money, Politics, and Power in the 21st Century

A groundbreaking, in-depth, and authoritative twenty-year history of the hunt and speculation for our most vital natural resource.

OIL

Money, Politics, and Power in the 21st Century

Twenty years ago oil cost about $7 a barrel. In 2008 the price soared to $148 and then fell to below $40. In the midst of this extraordinary volatility, the major oil conglomerates still spent over a trillion dollars in an increasingly frantic search for more.

The story of oil is a story of high stakes and extreme risk. It is the story of the crushing rivalries between men and women exploring for oil five miles beneath the sea, battling for control of the world's biggest corporations, and gambling billions of dollars twenty-four hours every day on oil's prices. It is the story of corporate chieftains in Dallas and London, traders in New York, oil-oligarchs in Moscow, and globe-trotting politicians-all maneuvering for power.

With the world as his canvas, acclaimed investigative reporter Tom Bower gathers unprecedented firsthand information from hundreds of sources to give readers the definitive, untold modern history of oil . . . the ultimate story of arrogance, intrigue, and greed.

About the Author
Tom Bower has a distinguished reputation as an investigative historian, broadcaster and journalist, and is the author of several ground-breaking books about tycoons, politicians, intelligence and post-war Europe.

Thanks to Hachette for this giveaway.

Giveaway Rules:

• One entry only - Please comment on why you want this book
• Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers - you must have a public profile and listed e-mail to find you
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter
• Please NO PO Boxes!!!
• Random number generator will be used - 3 copies to give away
• The drawing will last till July 4
• I will post the winners here on July 5
• Winners have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected
• Extra entry - Become a follower

WINNERS - Annerszz101, mochfly, mycosyco

ENDED Book Giveaway - The Age of the Unthinkable By Joshua Cooper Ramo

Why the New World Disorder Constantly Surprises Us And What We Can Do About It

Today the very ideas that made America great imperil its future. Our plans go awry and policies fail. History's grandest war against terrorism creates more terrorists. Global capitalism, intended to improve lives, increases the gap between rich and poor. Decisions made to stem a financial crisis guarantee its worsening. Environmental strategies to protect species lead to their extinction.

The traditional physics of power has been replaced by something radically different. In The Age of the Unthinkable, Joshua Cooper Ramo puts forth a revelatory new model for understanding our dangerously unpredictable world. Drawing upon history, economics, complexity theory, psychology, immunology, and the science of networks, he describes a new landscape of inherent unpredictability--and remarkable, wonderful possibility.

About the Author
Joshua Cooper Ramo is Managing Director and a partner at Kissinger Associates, one of the world's leading strategic advisory firms. Prior to joining Kissinger Associates, he was Assistant Managing Editor of Time and worked in the advisory and banking business in China.

Thanks to Hachette for this giveaway.

Giveaway Rules:

• One entry only - Please comment on why you want this book
• Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers - you must have a public profile and listed e-mail to find you
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter
• Please NO PO Boxes!!!
• Random number generator will be used - 3 copies to give away
• The drawing will last till July 3
• I will post the winners here on July 4
• Winners have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected
• Extra entry - Become a follower

WINNERS - ky2here, kangabunnie, jayfr

ENDED Software Giveaway - COREL Paint It!

I received the COREL Paint It! software and could not wait to try it. According to the box: COREL Paint It! takes your favorite photo memories and magically transforms them into unique paintings, right before your eye! Simply choose a painting style and press start. Then add fun effects to make it truly yours. Save, print, frame or share your art creations.

I first installed in on a 64-bit Windows 7 machine. It did install but it did not work, it kept giving me an error upon execution. I uninstalled the software and proceeded to install it on a 32-bit laptop running also Windows 7. It worked perfectly in that environment. Make sure to check which version you have before installing the software.


This software is well suited for scrapbookers, photography enthusiasts, families and creative minds of all ages (including children -- especially small children), Paint it! features art tools and painting presets that are both simple and intuitive. This makes it easier than ever for anyone to use theirown  photos to create unique digital art photos that are perfect for framing or sharing.

I picked a picture of my family and tried all the preset painting styles. I really liked using the software, it was very easy and the results speak for themselves. See below for some samples. The painting styles included are:

• Oil - Transforms an image using a combination of short dabs and longer brushstrokes to simulate the color and texture of oil paint
• Impressionist - Transforms an image by applying short and distinct brushstrokes to create the illusion of movement and light.
• Modern - Transforms an image using vibrant colors and bold brushstrokes to produce an
  
  abstract-looking painting
• Illustration - Transforms an image using a variety of brushstrokes to produce an illustration-style painting
• Watercolor Sketch - Transforms an image by combining drawn lines and watercolor brushstrokes to
  
  

  produce a painting with added depth, texture, and contrast
• Detailed Watercolor - Transforms an image by applying a translucent wash to produce the smooth, soft effect of watercolor paint
• Colored Pencil - Transforms an image so that it looks as if it was hand-drawn using fine-tipped colored pencils

• Pencil Drawing - Transforms an image so that it looks as if it was hand-drawn using a graphite pencil Pen and Ink - Produces a sketch of the image that looks as if it was handdrawn using a pen and black ink
• Pastel - Transforms an image so that it looks as if it was hand-drawn using colored pastels

It has several brushes that you can use to customize your painting:

• Pencil (lets you draw lines on your painting or photo)
• Felt Pen (has a rounded tip that lets you apply realistic, flowing pen strokes)
• Sponge (lets you add color and texture to your painting or photo by using short dabs or long strokes)
• Airbrush (lets you apply a fine stream of color to your painting or photo)
• Spray Paint (lets you apply a wide spray of color to your painting or photo)
• Smudge (lets you blend areas of adjacent color)
• Furry Brush (lets you add a fun, furry effect to your painting or photo)
• Fire Brush (lets you add flames to your painting or photo)
• Fairy Dust (lets you apply a whimsical effect or border to your painting or photo)
• Neon Pen (lets you create the illusion of glowing brushstrokes)
• Leaf Brush (lets you add a series of leaf images to your painting or photo)
• Distortion Brush (lets you distort an area of your photo to achieve a dramatic effect)
• Pattern Pen (lets you add a patterned stroke to your painting or photo)
• Wave Brush (lets you distort an area of your photo to produce a ripple effect)
• Dissolver Brush (lets you blur or soften the details of your photo).

System Requirements:

• Windows XP®, Windows Vista® or Windows® 7 (with latest Service Pack)
• Pentium® IV, 700 MHz or greater
• 1 GB of RAM
• 24-bit color display
• 1024 × 768 screen resolution
• 140 MB of hard disk space for installation
• Mouse 

For a free trial, click on this link.


Giveaway Rules:

• One entry only - Please comment on why you want this software
• Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers - you must have a public profile and listed e-mail to find you
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter
• Please NO PO Boxes!!!
• Random number generator will be used - 1 copy to give away
• The drawing will last till July 1
• I will post the winners here on July 2
• Winners have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected
• Extra entry - Become a follower

WINNER - emdk

ENDED Audio Book Giveaway - Live Long, Finish Strong By Gloria Copeland

In LIVE LONG, FINISH STRONG, Gloria Copeland presents a scripturally sound program to help readers claim the Bible promise of a long and blessed life . . . and a glorious death by "divine appointment." Gloria believes the Bible teaches that God desires for every Christian to live healthily beyond 100. In this book, Gloria reveals that the secret to finding this "Bible-based fountain of youth" is in daily receiving by faith and obedience the life-giving Word of God and allowing it to energize and renew our bodies.

About Author

Gloria Copeland is an internationally known Bible teacher and bestselling author. She holds an honorary doctorate from Oral Roberts University. Gloria and her husband, Kenneth, are the founders of Kenneth Copeland Ministries in Fort Worth, Texas (www.kcm.org).

Thanks to Hachette for this giveaway.

Giveaway Rules:

• One entry only - Please comment on why you want this book
• Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers - you must have a public profile and listed e-mail to find you
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter
• Please NO PO Boxes!!!
• Random number generator will be used - 3 copies to give away
• The drawing will last till June 30
• I will post the winners here on July 1
• Winners have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected
• Extra entry - Become a follower

WINNERS - mrsjohnson1982, desertrose5173, susansmoaks

ENDED Audio Book Giveaway - Moment of Glory By John Feinstein

In 2003, after winning six of the twelve majors from 2000 to 2002, Tiger Woods struggled with his swing, leaving him lagging behind the field at both the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship. With Woods out of the picture, the stage was set for a newcomer to claim the top position. Nobody expected that four virtually unknown players would rise to become first-time champions.

In his debut appearance in a major, Ben Curtis became the only player since Francis Ouimet in 1913 to prevail on his first time out. Mike Weir--who was considered a good player but not a great one--triumphed in The Masters, becoming the first Canadian to win a major. In the U.S. Open, Jim Furyk was victorious, and the PGA Championship was claimed by the unknown Shawn Micheel.

But after each player's history-making season, the four have had little further success. 2008 is the first year since that unexpected year, when it will be possible for the four golfers to qualify for the tour. In MOMENT OF GLORY, John Feinstein returns to the unlikely year of 2003 and chronicle the personal and professional struggles of these four players. With great affection for the underdog and extraordinary access to the players, he then looks to the 2008 season, giving readers an insider's look into to how winning (and losing) major championships changes players' lives.

About Author

John Feinstein is the bestselling author of Let Me Tell You a Story, Caddy for Life, Open, The Punch, The Last Amateurs, The Majors, A Good Walk Spoiled, A Civil War, A Season on the Brink, Play Ball, Hard Courts, and two novels. He writes for Inside Sports, Golf, Tennis Magazine, and Basketball America and commentates on NPR and CBS. John Feinstein lives in Potomac, MD, and Shelter Island, NY.

Thanks to Hachette for this giveaway.

Giveaway Rules:

• One entry only - Please comment on why you want this book
• Be sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blogger ID. Bloggers - you must have a public profile and listed e-mail to find you
• Only residents of the US and Canada may enter
• Please NO PO Boxes!!!
• Random number generator will be used - 3 copies to give away
• The drawing will last till June 29
• I will post the winners here on June 30
• Winners have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be selected
• Extra entry - Become a follower

WINNERS - sgibbs58, shundelt, mryward