Quote 5: Twain

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." 

                                               ~Mark Twain

MISCHIEF, by Amanda Quick

MISCHIEF, by Amanda Quick

• Publisher: Bantam 
• March 31, 1997
• Pages: 374

 Rating: 3/5

Synopsis

Imogen Waterstone has always prided herself on being a thoroughly independent young woman, but now she needs a man of implacable will and nerves of iron. That's why she invited Matthias Marshall, infamous Earl of Colchester, to her home in Upper Strickland. Who better than the legendary explorer to help her lay the perfect trap?

Her scheme is simple, really: She plans to let it be known that when she inherited her uncle's collection of antiquities, she also inherited a map to a fabulous ancient treasure. She's sure that her enemy would risk financial ruin in pursuit of the mythical artifact. And to make doubly sure the scoundrel took the bait, she wants Colchester to pretend that he's out to seduce Imogene so that he, too, could get his hands on her map.

Yet in all of her plotting, Imogene never anticipates Colchester's violent reaction to her request or her own electrifying reaction to him. Neither does she expect that a malevolent threat would emerge from the labyrinth of London--sinister enough to endanger her and Colchester's lives.

Review

Amanda Quick is fantastic! She can come up with the most electrifying twists. I'm a bit new to romance, and there are a few instances where my entire body blushed at the detail given - and what detail it was! I'll have to be more careful in choosing in the future.

Another consideration would be the feminism she brings to her stories. Set in a Victorian-style London, Quick makes good note of the differences in acceptable behavior - Imogen, the main character, being fashioned to a woman that would be the norm today, was considered 'immodest,' unladylike and an outcast overall. It is interesting to see the comparisons, and I think, Quick did her homework. 

The only qualm of the book might be the density of the main characters - reading this book was like watching a B-thriller movie. Every five minutes you have an urge to yell out, "Don't go through that door," "he's in the closet," or "look out behind you!!!" The characters dismiss the obvious constantly. Then again, I imagine, as a reader, I have an aerial view, so what might be obvious to me, would not be if I were in the realistic position of the character.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. I think any book that has the ability to surprise me, whether in plot or cleverness or humor, is a success. This book did just that.

Quote 4: If not now, then when?

THE FUTURE OF MANAGEMENT, by Gary Hamel

THE FUTURE OF MANAGEMENT

by Gary Hamel

Publisher: Harvard Business Press

September 2007

Pages: 288 

Rating: 2/5

Synopsis

What fuels long-term business success? Not operational excellence, technology breakthroughs, or new business models, but management innovation-new ways of mobilizing talent, allocating resources, and formulating strategies. Through history, management innovation has enabled companies to cross new performance thresholds and build enduring advantages.

In The Future of Management, Gary Hamel argues that organizations need management innovation now more than ever. Why? The management paradigm of the last century-centered on control and efficiency-no longer suffices in a world where adaptability and creativity drive business success. To thrive in the future, companies must reinvent management.
Practical and profound, The Future of Management features examples from Google, W.L. Gore, Whole Foods, IBM, Samsung, Best Buy, and other blue-ribbon management innovators.

Review

I've never thought of gaining competitive advantage from this perspective. Information is clean, providing clear examples for all the points presented. I think Hamel is on to something here - although, as a manager, it would be hard to implement some of his strategies. Good presentation, but somewhat redundant. Also, totally negating the importance of other innovations (such as financial, operational or otherwise) is a bit too absolute for my views. Still, it is an interesting read, even if to only understand the reason of the success behind companies such as Google. This was given a relatively low rating because despite the fresh look, it was long and dry.

"Miracle" by Story Side B

This song makes me crazy every time I hear it. Although it's been around awhile, it's still fantastic! T_T

Lyrics:
I bide me time, with my guitar
Writing songs alone in the dark
I put our picture on the shelf
Another story book end
Then, you gave me life

A reason to fight
Against the undertow we face the night
My God I need you by my side
All my secrets, trust in you

CHORUS:
A miracle is in my hand
I hope I don't throw it away again
A miracle that won't come again, again, again

So I offer to you, these chains I wear
I reach my hands up in the air
Surrender my hope, my love, my dreams to you
All my secrets, trust in you

CHORUS

I'm burning from the outside
I'm yearning* on the inside
Please don't let me lose sight
I pray to you

CHORUSx2

All I have to give
Is all I live
This I give, to you

New take

I really like these designs...they spurn an automatic double-take because they look...natural. Awesome idea, no matter how you look at it! (Images found at Wallcoo.net)

All for you, Moses!

I made this name tag out of a penny for Moses because I was too cheap (thrifty!!!) to buy one. Now I have to find a way to punch a hole to put it on his collar. Sigh.