FFB Review: "The Troubleshooter" by Austin S. Camacho
Friday and that means Friday’s Forgotten Books hosted by the always wonderful Patti Abbott at her blog found at http://pattinase.blogspot.com/ If you are not reading her blog on a daily basis, you are making a serious mistake. So, go look after you read my review of The Troubleshooter by Austin S. Camacho which is my selection for Friday’s Forgotten Books this week.
*************************************************
While third in the series featuring Hannibal Jones, the events depicted in The Troubleshooter predate the novels Blood And Bone and Collateral Damage. As such, it serves as a perfect introduction to the series for new readers and for those fans familiar with the series, explains how it all began.
Displaced by a fire in his apartment complex, Hannibal needs a new home, at least temporarily. With his new struggling business open less than six months and all records destroyed in the fire along with everything else he owns, Hannibal is devastated and contemplating a bleak future. Thanks to Cindy Santiago, daughter of his friend, Ray Santiago, he may get a new place fast.
Cindy works in a small law firm and one of the partners, Mr. Dan Baylor, has recently branched out into real estate as a developer. Cindy is sure that she can set up a meeting and Mr. Baylor will help Hannibal get a new place. They do meet and after Baylor checks with his staff, he informs Hannibal that nothing is currently available. The only possible exception and one that he is very reluctant to reveal, is in a building across the river in Anacostia. Infested with squatters and drug dealers, Mr. Baylor has been unable to get them out of his building despite repeated requests to the Police. The property, which he bought from the government and is intended to be developed for low-income housing, is costing Baylor serious money every month and thanks to the squatters and drug dealers, he can't recoup his investment.
A deal is struck for Hannibal to clean out the building and provide security so that repair crews can go to work. Former government agent and now "troubleshooter" Hannibal Jones figures he has the bases covered and can have the building emptied permanently in less than a week. But, he is very wrong and quickly puts himself and those he cares about in great danger as the war for control between a neighborhood and the mob heats up.
Unlike the earlier two novels of the series, this novel is more of a character study and less a mystery. Little detective work is actually done since the dealers and other bad guys are quickly identified. As such, this novel shifts more into a vigilante style of justice work with Hannibal forced to repeatedly do battle at considerable cost to clear the building. Over the course of the siege, not only do we see how Hannibal came into being through insights into his character but we also see the beginnings of the romance between himself and Cindy Santiago. Several other recurring characters from the other novels make their introduction as well, explaining the tight bonds that exist.
Like the others in this series, this very enjoyable novel features tight writing, plenty of action, and intriguing characters. However, in so doing, some reviewers have mistakenly compared this author with Tom Clancy. Please do not be misled as this book and the others in the series have nothing in common with Tom Clancy novels. Both authors are writing books that do not share connections of style, character development, plotting, pacing, or anything else in common other than the fact they both release books printed on paper. Since Tom Clancy writes detailed techno thrillers making such comparisons meaningless and absurd, a better comparison might be made between Hannibal Jones to the "Lucas Davenport" character in the early books of the Prey series by John Sandford if comparisons must be made. Much like Lucas, Hannibal is an intense loner by his very nature and is very selective in his personal entanglements, romantic or otherwise. Much like Lucas, Hannibal does not tolerate evil in its many forms and is often conflicted as to the results and consequences regarding such confrontations. Much like Lucas, Hannibal is often pitted against forces that devalue human life at great personal cost.
Hannibal is fast becoming an old friend that this reader regularly looks forward to every time a new novel is released. This author and his three mystery novels to date are well worth the read and worthy of a place on your bookshelf.
Book Facts:
The Troubleshooter
Austin S. Camacho
http://www.ascamacho.com
Intrigue Books
August 2004
ISBN # 1-890158-63-1
Large Trade Hardback
Kevin R. Tipple © 2012, 2004
Kevin R. Tipple at 5:00 AM
As seen reviews http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com please look at more stuff and if you can help please check out a chip it to pay cancer and apt bill for next month please help thanks
Friday, May 11, 2012
Big news on my mom
Sandi’s Thyroid---Here We Go Again
Back last Friday I was very happy to report that Sandi was declared by her cancer doctor to be in remission. I said then there were some issues that needed to be looked at and some more tests would need to be done. Over the course of this nightmare that started back last November, I have learned that when the doctors and hospital staff expedite things there is serious concern no matter how much they tell you not to worry. The faster they move the more you need to worry.
We knew the cancer doctor had some concern about several things and one of the issues was/is Sandi’s thyroid. The last PET SCAN back in February showed three nodules on the right side and it was believed to be no cancer activity. The latest PET SCAN still showed those nodules and also showed some activity so he wanted her seen by an endocrinologist at the hospital.
That was last Friday. By Monday at noon she already had doctor appointments and the first was with the endocrinologist. That happened yesterday morning with Sandi suddenly being the first patient of the day. By noon Sandi suddenly had another thyroid ultrasound scheduled for tomorrow morning.
As we understand it from the endocrinologist, her right thyroid is definitely very active. The chemo did not kill it as expected and believed back in February. The endocrinologist believes the thyroid was the starting point for both of the two types of Non- Hodgkin’s Lymphomas she developed that did their damn level best to kill her. The fact that it has reactivated itself and seems to be building strength is not a good sign. His concern is that some patients during chemo can have those cancers killed and then have the thyroid develop a new totally different type of cancer that runs rampant very quickly because of the chemo and its aftereffects.
In short, she could be in remission from what they were treating for and rapidly become ill with a totally new and very different cancer.
So, tomorrow morning she will have an ultrasound of her thyroid. The plan, as we understand it and the information has been a bit conflicting from the hospital today, is that there will be a surgeon on standby to do a needle biopsy of her thyroid if necessary. That biopsy will be done only if the doctor thinks it is a necessary risk based on what he sees on the ultrasound tomorrow morning.
Theoretically everything is okay and most patients don’t have this sort of nightmare scenario develop but everything that has happened with Sandi on this has not fit the expected pattern at all.
If that wasn’t enough tomorrow, Sandi will be seen by the skin cancer doctor tomorrow afternoon. Not only has a mole suddenly gone very strange looking but she has developed one for sure and maybe a couple more very strange spots on her face. In each case it is a dark circle, almost the size of what a black magic marker would make and black. They look like what you would get if you through a marker at somebody and it hit the person straight on in the side of the face. What they are we have no idea and neither did the cancer doc who thought that whatever they were they needed to be checked immediately.
Apparently another possible wonderful side effect of the chemo is that some patients develop melanomas because of the destruction of the immune system. While the chemo cured one of her cataract she had since birth it may have also set the stage for skin cancer. The theory here is that whatever these strange skin marks are they can’t be too extensive or extend any distance at all downwards into her skin tissue or the PET SCAN would have showed that and it didn’t.
At this point we have not heard from the staff of the cardiologist about scheduling another echo cardiogram to check and see how much, if any, damage the chemo did to her heart. With Sandi’s cardiac history we knew there was major risk to her heart to have any chemo done. But, as Sandi put it at the time, it wasn’t like she had any choice at all. It was chemo and hope ….or certain death. So, you roll the dice and hope the stuff works and doesn’t kill you in the bargain.
One hopes it did not damage her heart. We are pretty sure it has made her diabetes worse and for now she is still able to control that to a certain point. What that will mean in the months to come we don’t know just yet. Sandi remains convinced that everything is fine and she will be back at work this summer. As I write this she is out with Karl taking a short after dinner walk as she works to get her strength back up. She still tires very easily, her blood pressure still swings wildly at times, and the headaches come that worry me because of her history of strokes.
But, she believes all is fine and she is still here. More than anything that is what matters.
Kevin
Seen on http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com
Back last Friday I was very happy to report that Sandi was declared by her cancer doctor to be in remission. I said then there were some issues that needed to be looked at and some more tests would need to be done. Over the course of this nightmare that started back last November, I have learned that when the doctors and hospital staff expedite things there is serious concern no matter how much they tell you not to worry. The faster they move the more you need to worry.
We knew the cancer doctor had some concern about several things and one of the issues was/is Sandi’s thyroid. The last PET SCAN back in February showed three nodules on the right side and it was believed to be no cancer activity. The latest PET SCAN still showed those nodules and also showed some activity so he wanted her seen by an endocrinologist at the hospital.
That was last Friday. By Monday at noon she already had doctor appointments and the first was with the endocrinologist. That happened yesterday morning with Sandi suddenly being the first patient of the day. By noon Sandi suddenly had another thyroid ultrasound scheduled for tomorrow morning.
As we understand it from the endocrinologist, her right thyroid is definitely very active. The chemo did not kill it as expected and believed back in February. The endocrinologist believes the thyroid was the starting point for both of the two types of Non- Hodgkin’s Lymphomas she developed that did their damn level best to kill her. The fact that it has reactivated itself and seems to be building strength is not a good sign. His concern is that some patients during chemo can have those cancers killed and then have the thyroid develop a new totally different type of cancer that runs rampant very quickly because of the chemo and its aftereffects.
In short, she could be in remission from what they were treating for and rapidly become ill with a totally new and very different cancer.
So, tomorrow morning she will have an ultrasound of her thyroid. The plan, as we understand it and the information has been a bit conflicting from the hospital today, is that there will be a surgeon on standby to do a needle biopsy of her thyroid if necessary. That biopsy will be done only if the doctor thinks it is a necessary risk based on what he sees on the ultrasound tomorrow morning.
Theoretically everything is okay and most patients don’t have this sort of nightmare scenario develop but everything that has happened with Sandi on this has not fit the expected pattern at all.
If that wasn’t enough tomorrow, Sandi will be seen by the skin cancer doctor tomorrow afternoon. Not only has a mole suddenly gone very strange looking but she has developed one for sure and maybe a couple more very strange spots on her face. In each case it is a dark circle, almost the size of what a black magic marker would make and black. They look like what you would get if you through a marker at somebody and it hit the person straight on in the side of the face. What they are we have no idea and neither did the cancer doc who thought that whatever they were they needed to be checked immediately.
Apparently another possible wonderful side effect of the chemo is that some patients develop melanomas because of the destruction of the immune system. While the chemo cured one of her cataract she had since birth it may have also set the stage for skin cancer. The theory here is that whatever these strange skin marks are they can’t be too extensive or extend any distance at all downwards into her skin tissue or the PET SCAN would have showed that and it didn’t.
At this point we have not heard from the staff of the cardiologist about scheduling another echo cardiogram to check and see how much, if any, damage the chemo did to her heart. With Sandi’s cardiac history we knew there was major risk to her heart to have any chemo done. But, as Sandi put it at the time, it wasn’t like she had any choice at all. It was chemo and hope ….or certain death. So, you roll the dice and hope the stuff works and doesn’t kill you in the bargain.
One hopes it did not damage her heart. We are pretty sure it has made her diabetes worse and for now she is still able to control that to a certain point. What that will mean in the months to come we don’t know just yet. Sandi remains convinced that everything is fine and she will be back at work this summer. As I write this she is out with Karl taking a short after dinner walk as she works to get her strength back up. She still tires very easily, her blood pressure still swings wildly at times, and the headaches come that worry me because of her history of strokes.
But, she believes all is fine and she is still here. More than anything that is what matters.
Kevin
Seen on http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com
God morning 5/11/12
Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
God Friday 5/11/12
Timothy I 6:6-10 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
T-Mobile adds 187,000 subscribers in Q1
T-Mobile today announced its first-quarter 2012 earnings, adding 187,000 net subscribers in the first three months of the year, compared to a loss of 99,000 a year ago. Money-wise, TMoUS saw operating income rise $7.2 percent to $1.27 billion, and average revenue per user jump a couple bucks to $58. The big talk from T-Mobile this week at CTIA, however, is life after the failed AT&T acquisition. And to that end, it's continuing to upgrade its network with an announced $4 billion modernization plan that will pave the way for LTE service in 2013.
Total customers now stand at 33.4 million -- up a couple hundred thousand from the end of 2011, but still 200,000 below Q1 2011.
More: T-Mobile
Hype, expectation and the Samsung Galaxy S III
It’s been a week or so since I first laid eyes on Samsung’s new flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S III. On the night in London, the barrage of information was relentless -- brand new hardware, a new design language, a redesigned TouchWiz and countless other software additions. And over the past few days, all of us in the tech world have slowly been able to form some opinion on the latest high-end smartphone from the Korean electronics giant.
But this article isn’t just a reaction to the Galaxy S III -- we’ve presented plenty of coverage on that (maybe more than enough) already. Instead it’s more a dissection of how we came to know the S III, and how that in itself has colored popular opinion of the device. We’ll also take a look at some common criticisms of the phone, and see just how valid they are. Join us after the break as we examine the world of hype and expectation surrounding the Samsung Galaxy S III.
Verizon LTE spreading to more cities on the eastern seaboard
Verizon has pushed out a handful of press releases about LTE expansion, and if you live or play along the eastern seaboard of the U.S. you'll like the news. The LTE network is being expanded up and down the coast, from North Carolina to Cape Cod, and it's coming just in time for Memorial Day. Here's the new cities and dates:
Maryland (in service)
- Ocean City (from Fenwick Island to South Ocean City)
- Queen Anne’s
- Kent
- Talbot County
- Chestertown
- Queenstown
- Easton
New York (in service)
- Nassau County
- Huntington
- Suffolk County (eastern end)
Virginia (in service)
- Virginia Beach (from Fort Story to Sandbridge)
Delaware (May 17)
- Rehoboth Beach
- Bethany Beach
- Lewes
- Seaford
Pennsylvania (May 17)
- Lancaster
- York
New Jersey (May 17)
- Sea Bright
- Monmouth Beach
- Belmar
- Point Pleasant
- Toms River
- Atlantic City
- Cape May County
Massachusetts (May 17)
- Barnstable
- Bourne
- Dennis
- Falmouth
- Mashpee
- Sandwich
- Yarmouth
North Carolina (coming by Memorial Day)
- The Outer Banks (from Corolla to Hatteras)
It certainly looks to be fun in the sun for Verizon LTE subscribers. Keep your Android phones dry!
Source: Verizon
Leaked Samsung device possibly headed to Sprint
Here we see an image of what is claimed to be the Samsung SPH-L300 which, based on its product code, appears to be destined for Sprint in the near future and the folks over at BriefMobile got the first look at this rumored device. If it hadn't already struck you as looking familiar with it's big silver chin, the HTC Nexus One comes to mind for us but the internals are a definite departure from that original Nexus phone.
Rumored to sport a Qualcomm MSM8960 processor (the Snapdragon S4 chip) which is the same unit as in the LTE enabled HTC One X and Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE, this phone should pack quite the punch should it come to fruition. Other features and specs this device is reported to have include 1 GB of RAM along with 4 GB of ROM, 4G LTE, NFC, and Bluetooth 4.0 all underneath Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. However, the display resolution is quite disappointing at only 480x800. With all that hardware inside, we'd hope to see a 720p resolution display or at least a qHD display, but keep in mind this is still an unconfirmed device and that means things are subject to change. We'll bring you more info on this as it rolls in.
Source: BriefMobile
God 5-10-12
Romans 3:20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
God night 2 5-9-12
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will.
God night 5/9/12
Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
cancer help
here just some there is take a look at this place handmake
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Famed hair stylist Vidal Sassoon dead at 84
Famed hair stylist Vidal Sassoon dead at 84
The Los Angeles Times: Famed hair stylist and fashion icon Vidal Sassoon was found dead at his home in Los Angeles, California, authorities say. Law enforcement sources say Sassoon died after an unspecified illness and that family were by his side. He was 84.
Photo: Phase 4 Films via latimes.com
The Legend of Zelda japanese logo and intro screen.
The Legend of Zelda japanese logo and intro screen.
GOD 5/9/12
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
God didn't save us to condemn us. No, he saved us so we could come home to him and enjoy his gracious presence for eternity. God wants us in his presence; that's what salvation is all about! He is not about to let anything keep us from that presence when our hearts belong to him!
My Prayer...
Loving Father, thank you for the confidence I have in Jesus! I know that whether I live till Jesus comes or if I were to die this day, I can have confidence that my future is with you because it is tied to Jesus' victory over death. Thank you for giving me a home with you as my ultimate future. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
AT&T Mobility CEO: Family data plan coming soon (scoop)
The head of AT&T's mobility, Ralph de la Vega, at the CTIA conference two years ago.
(Credit: Marguerite Reardon/CNET)
NEW ORLEANS--AT&T's version of the family data plan may be coming sooner than you think.
The company has a firm hold on what type of plan it will offer and intends to offer one soon, said Ralph de la Vega, CEO of AT&T's mobile business, in an interview with CNET here yesterday. A family data plan would allow consumers to buy one bucket of data, which can be used by multiple devices, a move industry observers believe could spur the sale of non-traditional cellular devices like connected tablets.
"I'm very comfortable with the plan that will be offered to our customers," de la Vega said on the sidelines of his company's home security and automation event at the CTIA Wireless trade show.
The comments mark a reversal of de la Vega's uncertainty over the implementation of family data plans just a few months ago. At the time, he told CNET that the company had run into complications over IT and billing issues. Other complications include how the carrier would subsidize devices and get a decent return despite the shared data bucket.
"We want to make sure we get it right," he said in January.
But de la Vega was far more confident yesterday. He said the company knows how the plan would be structured. He, however, declined to provide any specific details on timing, and wouldn't comment on whether it would be out in the next few months or if AT&T would beat Verizon Wireless to the punch.
Recall alfalfa sprouts
FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and safety alerts from states as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA is not responsible for the content of these notices.
Cleveland Beansprouts Co. of Cleveland, OH is recalling all alfalfa sprouts because they
may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
CLEVELAND, Ohio (May 4, 2012) - Cleveland Beansprouts Co. of Cleveland, OH is recalling all alfalfa sprouts because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections to individuals with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
All alfalfa sprouts produced by Cleveland Beansprouts are being recalled. There are no lot codes or any other identifier on the product. The alfalfa sprouts were only distributed in Ohio.
The contamination was discovered by the Ohio Department of Agriculture while collecting and testing samples under the United States Department of Agriculture’s Microbiological Data Program. No illnesses have been reported to date.
Consumers who have purchased alfalfa sprouts produced by Cleveland Beansprout should discard them.
Photo: Product Labels
Recalled Product Photos Are Also Available on FDA's Flickr Photostream.
Page Last Updated: 05/08/2012
Nazis at the Center of the Earth (2011)
Synopsis Of Nazis At The Center Of The Earth
An Antarctic research mission goes horribly awry when a team of scientists stumble into a secret Nazi base in the core of the planet. Miles beneath the icy surface of Antarctica, Dr. Josef Mengele (Christopher Karl Johnson) and his army of undead zombies are biding their time in anticipation of the day they will rise up to reclaim the Earth. After decades of planning, that time has finally come. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 90 mins
- Director(s):
- Joseph Lawson
- Writer(s):
- Paul Bales
- Producer(s):
- Paul Bales, David Rimawi, David Michael Latt
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Graphic Violence, Nudity, Gore, Profanity)
Warning: This product is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain violence, sexual content, drug abuse and/or strong language. You must be 17 or older to purchase it. By ordering this item you are certifying that you are at least 17 years of age.
- Looking for special editions of Nazis at the Center of the Earth?
- See All Versions
- Subtitles:
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- not wroth it gets 1 out of 5 very bad movie and so cheap
Zombie Lake (1980)
Synopsis Of Zombie Lake
Cult filmmaker Jean Rollin hit rock bottom with this soggy horror tale of drowned Nazis rising from their watery graves as hungry zombies. Howard Vernon leads a cast familiar to any fans of the prolific Jesus Franco, who was slated to direct this film before his bosses at Eurocine gave the assignment to Rollin. It mattered not, because Franco was able to take his own crack at the Nazi-zombie subgenre with the equally wretched Oasis of the Zombies. Bad cinema buffs are free to take their pick, while those looking for a better treatment of the same plot should consider Ken Wiederhorn's Shock Waves instead. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 83 mins
Complete Cast Of Zombie Lake
- Director(s):
- Jean Rollin
- Writer(s):
- A.L. Mariaux
- Looking for special editions of Zombie Lake?
- See All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
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- Check All Versions
- gets a 1 out of 5 so bad not wroth your time
Wreckage (2010)
Synopsis Of Wreckage
Young drag racers Jared, Rick, Kate and Jessica fight a killer in a wreckage yard after their car breaks down. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Complete Cast Of Wreckage
- Director(s):
- John Mallory Asher
- Writer(s):
- Danny Frigerio
- Looking for special editions of Wreckage?
- See All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- great movie a most see gets 4 out of 5 gotta love this one small horror
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