It's happened again. Can't think of a damn thing to write. I haven't bought too many things recently, but I have lost of bunch of stuff. When my hand knocked the glass of water off a table the other week, I lost 2 of my favourite books.

The casualties:



*Sigh!*
*Double Sigh!*
F#@&

I miss this book terribly. I used to refer to it almost daily. Now it's gone. It was one of my favourite books. Sadly, the pages were stuck together when I finally discovered the damage. And it had begun to get mouldy. And it smelt. Can you believe it?



Well. I ask you. I had only read this one once or twice and it gets mangled when I'm halfway through reading it. Hmmphf.

I mean, really. Couldn't my copy of Dean Koontz "Midnight" been waterlogged? Or perhaps that Womens Weekly cook book? But noooooooooooooooooooo. It had to be my yoga book and my Patricia Cornwell book. Oy veh.

To cheer myself up I bought "The Last Precinct" on Ebay for $10.95, which included $4.50 of postage, which is reasonable. So far it's the best one yet.



I think the most outstanding books so far in the Kay Scarpetta series are:

• Postmortem - Wait for the scary bit. You'll know.
  
  
• The Body Farm - Scary $h!t when you find out what's really happening
  
  
• Point of Origin - Yikes!! That's all I need to say. Emotionally draining and freakish. But whatever you do, don't read this one before the other ones.
  
  
• From Potter's Field - It's dark, exciting, I like it.
  
  
• Cause of Death - Spooky
  
  
• The Last Precinct (even though I haven't even finished reading it)

Clearly, I love all the Kay Scarpetta books but the ones I have just described have that extra special "something". That's what I think anyway. Feel free to comment on your favourite ones, or am I the only Patricia Cornwell / Kay Scarpetta fan in the world?

P.S. I haven't read "Trace" or "Predator" as yet.

Technorati Tags: Patricia Cornwell Kay Scarpetta Waterlogged Book Damage

On its associated blog, Fusedeals, states quite simply that the purpose of their site is to "share information about deals and bargains from other websites".
















(click to enlarge) The site layout conjures up images of no-nonsense tech sites and ye-olde Bulletin Board Services. While perhaps seeming a little intimidating for first-time users, the layout is entirely appropriate to the purpose of the site. No pretty pictures, just deals in plain text, with mouse-over boxes containing enlarged details.














How It Works:

The site features a number of feeds from various discount shopping deal sites. The idea is very simple, yet infinitely functional - the latest deals on one single page, automatically updated throughout the day so you can snag the deals.

The deals feature anything from Laptop computers and HD connect cables to sets of dumbbells and cutlery. You simply click on the deal and end up at the site where you can purchase almost immediately. For some of these external sites you will need to register and sign in before adding items to your cart.

Here's an example of the site in action:

If you were to click on the following deal featuring a Toshiba HD-DVD Player:










You would then be transported to the featured ad on Gottadeal, one of the sites providing feeds for Fusedeals. When you click on the item you will be transported to the original sales site, in this case - Amazon.com where you can buy the product.

Daily Deals frequently update throughout the day and the sheer coverage of shopping sites makes this a powerful tool for finding the best deal. Make sure you check out the external online stores before buying "blind". A little bit of research will give you peace of mind when purchasing goods online.

Suggestions:
I would love to see a search engine of some sort included on the site. I understand that this may be difficult or impossible using feeds. Also, it would be great to see deals grouped into categories instead of grouping by the deal websites. But these suggestions may possibly overcomplicate a simple and effective concept.


Important Note: This has been a paid review. This does not mean I am paid to have an opinion that pleases others. My review contains my own observations about the subject matter - both positive and negative. The review may contain criticism, suggestions and comments of my own choosing. See disclosure policy for more details.

Technorati Tags: Fusedeals Daily Deals Feeds Bargain Shopping

I have been tagged by Kilroy, who is running "Kilroy's Education Meme", plus if you check out the post, you can participate in the carnival as well.

Here goes...

-----(-)-> What was the name of the teacher that was most influential in your life from grades K through 6?

My answer: Er.. I didn't have grade K or 6, I went to a Community School. What's that, you ask? It's a long story. My most influential teacher was Phil (yes, we called them by their first names!) - Phil taught maths and philosophy and general ethics and how to mess with the man. Valuable lessons.

-----(-)-> What subject did you favor in high school?

My answer: English Literature. That's why I can talk good.


-----(-)-> Did you attend a university and if so did you attain a degree?

My answer: Bachelor of Education from Melbourne University (4 years). I am qualified to teach Drama and Psychology. P.S. I hate teaching and decided not to pursue it at all. I prefer writing about stuff and drawing funny pictures.


-----(-)-> Do you learn best through books, by watching or hands-on?

My answer: It depends what it is you are learning. Eg. I learned a lot from reading a chapter in a book about how to do a golf swing. Then I learned from watching, then from hands-on. All three, then.


-----(-)-> Has education been an ongoing process for you? How do you feel about that?

My answer: Yes. I like to learn new things every day. Sometimes I annoy myself by reading obsessively about a subject that has no apparent bearing on my life. How do I feel? Um, ask Dr Phil.


----(-)-> What seven people are you tagging to do this?

My answer: 7 people!!! I don't know 7 people.
Hehehe. How about 3?
Saboma from Maryannaville
Arvind Iyer from arvind iyer
Bhalla saab from The Fun Hunt