How To Be A Self-Published Author

Journaling through His Midlife Crisis

How to Survive Your Husband's Midlife Crisis

True Stories of Adultery

Teen Mom - A Journal

Visa Notice

I just got this email from “VISA” regarding my VISA card: More »

The Invoice That Isn’t

Every year I get  Directory Listing Order Form “invoices” in the mail that, if I was working in a large corporation’s accounting office, might get paid if I didn’t take the time to read the fine print. The mailings appear to be billings for my current yellow pages listing. They are frauds or what I term “spam scams”. More »

Model Evolution

Virtual Weight Loss – Photoshop Tutorial

The Toyota Recall

The announcement by Toyota that they would stop selling and building eight of their models because of accelerator pedal problems is not something that Toyota owners should ignore. The recall affects 2.3 million vehicles that have been sold but it is too late for the 18 people who have died and 275 crashes because of “sudden, uncontrollable acceleration in Toyotas since 1999″ which have been identifed by a private firm. The latest notice comes after their November 25, 2009 advisory regarding floor mat problems on certain Toyota and Lexus models.

Here’s the notice from Toyota’s website: Latest News About Toyota’s Safety Recall Campaign. Models include Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix, RAV4, Sequoia, and Tundra. According to this notice on Toyota’s website, “No Lexus Division or Scion vehicles are affected by these actions. Also not affected are Toyota P5rius, Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Highlander hybrids and Camry hybrids, which will remain for sale.” More »

The Perfect Lie

Losing the Frown Lines

The December issue of O Magazine contained a full page ad for Dysport, a prescription only “injection to temporarily improve the look of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines) in adults less than 65 years of age.” One half of the entire page shows the almost life-size, flawlessly unlined, face of a young blonde model (whose photo may or may not have been enhanced by photo editing — a common practice in the advertising world). 

The ad also has two 1-1/4 inch x 3/4 inch before and after photos of a “Maximum Frown” — not of the same model since the eyes and brows are different. The “after” photo shows the subject’s attempt to frown on “Day 14″ after “50 units” have been injected into the frown area (I would be curious how she looks on days 1-13 and as the injection begins losing effect). It appears the woman couldn’t have frowned if her life depended on it, and from the wording in the four pages of fine print that accompany the ad, in some cases, it could. More »

Email from Lady Ruth Davies

Let’s see… she is dying, bedridden, and has scheming family members monitoring her every move yet she is able to send me a lengthy email and stay in daily contact with her lawyer, the man I should immediately contact and develop a “confidential and Cordial relationship” with? Sounds legitimate to me!

Dearly Beloved,

I am Lady Ruth Davies suffering from cancerous ailment. I am married to Sir William Davies,a shipping tycoon notable for his great wealth, influential extended family, and charitable activities all his life before his death. Our life together as man and wife lasted for three decades without child. My husband died after a protracted illness in April 17, 2007. More »