This is a guest article by John Cherry, author of two books about Paul McCartney. – Simon MAY 23, 2013 FRANK ERWIN CENTER-AUSTIN, TX Oh, what a difference one night can make on a concert tour. In Austin, TX for the second of two shows, Paul was greeted by a much more enthusiastic crowd at [...]

The latest episode of the “Consider This!” podcast is out. Conservative commentary in 10 minutes or less. The root of the issue with IRS scandal is the size of government. Yes, this happens under any administration, because the government is too big, and things can go on without the proper people being aware of it. Yes, man is sinful [...]

Consulting: Call a locksmith or a police officer for some basic tips on home security. Community programs in which law enforcement inspects a property is a cost-effective way to secure your home. Signage: Use “Beware of Dog” signs—one for the front door and one for the back door. And “This House is Alarmed” signs are [...]

I’ve intended to write about crowdfunding website Kickstarter for some time. With all the recent attention on the Veronica Mars and Zach Braff movies, I wanted to keep people focused on Kickstarter’s true raison d’etre. To my mind, crowdfunding’s purpose in its purest form is to bring something into being that was not there before [...]

Ashton Kutcher took a breather from his work from the small screen to present his A-Grade investment firm with partner Guy Oseary at the TechCrunch Disrupt NY event. The two took to the stage with TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington to quickly affirm rumors of his company raising a $100 million valuation for future investments. “Yeah, [...]

This is a guest article by John Cherry, author of two books about Paul McCartney. – Simon MAY 22, 2013 Making his first visit to Austin, TX, it was Paul in pink, as he strode onto the stage at the Frank Erwin Center a bit late at 8:45 on Wednesday night. The pink jacket he [...]

Like death and taxes, credit card disputes are inevitable. The good news is, whenever there is a credit card dispute that results from a billing error, the credit card company often takes the side of the cardholder until getting a counter argument from the merchant. The better news is that all this is laid out [...]

At this point, everyone knows the Oklahoma City area was slammed by a massive tornado—maybe one of, if not the worst, in history. News reports say dozens of people were killed and hundreds of others injured. The catastrophic event demolished buildings to their foundations. CNN reports, “Insurance claims will likely top $1 billion, Kelly Collins [...]

mCommerce (or M-commerce) is using a mobile phone to make purchases. Like credit card transactions, your card/device can be either present or not present. In other words, “present” might mean your mobile is equipped with an application that you use to make a purchase in person, such as to buy a cup of coffee or [...]

It’s springtime. You put an ad on Craigslist to get rid of some things, clean out your garage and make a few bucks while you are at it. Maybe you have an old diamond ring to sell. Or that truck you are driving isn’t what it used to be, so you decide it’s time to [...]

  In the forward  to Jay Riedel’s new book “Memories of a Fighter Pilot,” General Charles “Chuck” Horner, USAF (ret.) writes, “No fighter pilot is ordinary, but Jay’s story is extraordinary. “  Extraordinary?  With all due respect to the good general, I would say that Riedel’s story goes beyond extraordinary, by a large measure.  Consider [...]

Major banks and retailers are now pushing very hard to make EMV the new standard in the United States. Visa announced plans “to accelerate the migration to contact chip and contactless EMV chip technology in the U.S. The adoption of dual-interface chip technology will help prepare the U.S. payment infrastructure for the arrival of Near [...]

Professor Carl Burns starts the fall semester at Hartley Norman College preparing again to teach the sophomore level course on American Lit. While he has a few jitters regarding the start of the new semester he is very much dreading the upcoming Edward Street Seminar as their most famous alumni, Edward Street, returns to the [...]

Traveling for business or pleasure can be hectic, unnerving, and often draining. It’s not uncommon to hear somebody say I need a vacation after returning from theirvacation. When traveling, the last thing you need to worry about ishaving your critical possessions ripped off.So here are some things to consider: Airplanes: Always keep your mobile device with [...]

This is a guest article by John Cherry, author of two books about Paul McCartney. – Simon ORLANDO, FL-MAY 19, 2013 AMWAY CENTER As might be expected with any artist doing back to back shows, especially those lasting nearly three hours, the second show is usually less energetic than the first one. Such was the [...]

This is a guest article by John Cherry, author of two books about Paul McCartney. – Simon May 18, 2013 Amway Center-Orlando, FL An energetic, playful and appreciative Paul McCartney opened the U.S. portion of his “Out There” tour at the Amway Center on May 18th. A packed house of enthusiastic fans enjoyed another outstanding [...]

May 1875 finds Texas Ranger Josiah Wolfe back in Austin, Texas and very much in career limbo. Wolfe is still is a Texas Ranger despite the recent events and the media backlash. But, he has been told to stay in Austin and await the arrival of Captain Leander McNelly who will decide one more time [...]

Cash may be king—but not if you like free coffee and sandwiches from Starbucks. Today, if you want rewards, points, discounts or anything free, mobile payment is the way to go. My dad is a perfect example of how and why this is. Here’s a guy who held out on using a smartphone until 2013. [...]

Usually author interviews are done with the idea of civility and respect.  The same old questions can always be found in nearly every interview. Then there is this book and how Lauren Baratz-Logsted (LBL) does them. The Disrespectful Interviewer: Thirteen Interviews with Authors features interviews with a sarcastic tone along with plenty of references to [...]

The latest breakthrough in stem cell research turns skin cells into stem cells just as useful as embryonic stem cells, without the ethical issues. Adult stem cells and induced stem cells, while still able to become many other types of cells, still had some limitations. Researchers are saying, however, that stem cells using this new [...]

(This article originally appeared at www.ichabodscranium.com) There is a Town. It has Happy People. It has Unhappy People. What do the Happy People do? They feel good about themselves, count their blessings, self-transcend, help others, approach life optimistically, seek out opportunity, are productive, and enjoy seeing others succeed. The Happy Person asks, “How can I….?” [...]

Social media is the fifth form of mainstream media. It encompasses all media, making it the king of all media. At this point, most people know how to use social media and how to navigate the various websites. But many employers are still on the fence. Hootsuites’ CEO says, “The world’s top brands—like Pepsi, Virgin, NHL and [...]

The sales industry is fascinating. When it’s done well, you receive great value and both parties leave the transaction feeling happy. But the tactics some merchants use are downright manipulative and often veer into illegal territory. For example, you might see an infomercial on TV for vitamins. The ad targets the elderly and promises something [...]

Recently I became aware that many if not most home Wi-Fi routers are very easy to hack by cyber criminals.  I thought, my mom has Wi-Fi, and so probably does your mom. So here is a letter you can share with your loved ones be they tech-savvy or not, to protect them from the hidden [...]

Many of us are told that, when were attacked, we should let it happen so that the situation doesn’t get any worse. In some cases that may be your only option. But some studies have shown that fighting back is a better option. Showing resistance and making it difficult for your attacker to do their [...]

When your brother is a sales conference speaker, you get pretty sick of hearing about sales techniques. My poor brother has to hear my sales training tips all day long, and he loves to complain about it. But, what he rarely complains about is how they make him a lot of money. Just the other [...]

Alexandra Sokoloff is the Thriller Award-winning and Bram Stoker, Anthony, and Black Quill award-nominated author of the supernatural thrillers THE HARROWING, THE PRICE, THE UNSEEN, BOOK OF SHADOWS, THE SHIFTERS, and THE SPACE BETWEEN, and the Top Ten Amazon bestselling Huntress/FBI thriller series (HUNTRESS MOON, BLOOD MOON), which has also been nominated for a Thriller [...]

Last week a jury came back with a guilty verdict of first degree murder against Jodi Arias after she was on trial for murdering her 30 year old boyfriend, Travis Alexander in 2008. His body was found slumped over in the shower five years ago in Phoenix, Arizona. Alexander had been stabbed 27 times, his [...]

It was some five years ago that Geoffrey Gluckman hit my radar when he released his first novel Deadly Exchange. You can read my review here. Word reached me that he had just published a new novel Murder Of Sex, I just had to read it! I don’t know the author, but I surmised that [...]

It’s no question that gamers are a competitive bunch. All you have to do is spend a couple minutes on Call of Duty online or listen in on a WOW raid to see how much some people are determined to be the very best at their personal addiction. That’s why it’s interesting that so many [...]