Book Reviews and More: January 2008

Saturday, 26 January 2008

Inner Geek - On My Way

Well I am on my way, I did a condensed school program and in 4 months did a 2 year college degree. I have now written all my certs for that and then some. I am focusing on CompTIA and Microsoft certifications at the moment.
In the last 15 days I wrote:

MCTS Deploying & Maintaining Vista Client Office System - Exam 070-624
MCITP Desktop Support Consumer Support - 070-623
CompTIA Network+ 2007 - JK0-012 JK0-010
MCTS Windows Vista Client Configuaration - Exam 072-620 & 070-622
MCITP Desktop Support - Exam 072-622
CompTIA A+ Depot Technician - Exam 220-602
CompTIA A+ Remote Support Technician - Exam 220-603
CompTIA A+ IT Technician - Exam JK0-601 220-602
CompTIA A+ Essentials - Exam JK0-601

And last summer I did all 5 Microsoft Office Specialist exams. These exams give me a number of designations outlined in this post "Inner Geek Validated" which was a continuation of "Unleashing the Inner Geek" and "Microsoft Office Specialist" I plan on doing the following through self-study 1 course a month for the next year and a bit.

70-624
70-29070-291
70-292 - Completes MCSA
70-293
70-294 - Completes MCSE
SY0-101 - Security+
MOE Excell
MOE Word (Will Give me Microsoft Office Master/Master Instructor With Registration)
70-298
70-299
XK0-002 Linux+
70-284
70-431

Should be a fun ride. After that I want to do the intro MAC Hardware and Software Certs just for fun. This is a picture of the schedule I have set up.

So just to let you know a lot of the books being reviewed over the next year will be geek speak!

Peace and Strength!
Yours, learning to be
Steven R. McEvoy

http://mcevoysmusings.ca My Homepage
http://bookreviewsandmore.ca My Blog

CompTIA IT PRO, A+ ITT, A+ DT, A+ RST, Network+,
Microsoft MCP, MCTS Vista Configuration, MCITP Enterprise Support, MCITP
Customer Support, MOS,

"The only reason for being a professional writer is that you can't help it."
- Leo Rosten
Articles in this Series:

Unleashing the Inner Geek
MOS Microsoft Office Specialist
Playing with Multi-OS's
Inner Geek - Validated
Inner Geek - On My Way
Inner Geek - Validated February 2008
Inner Geek - Validated September 2008
The Changing face of BRAM
Inner Geek - Updated February 2009
Windows 7 Beta Review
Inner Geek - Updated April 2009
Inner Geek - Updated July 2009
Inner Geek - Updated November 2009

Inner Geek - Updated December 2010Mac VS PC an It Guys Perspective
Inner Geek - Updated June 2011
Inner Geek - Updated December 2011
Inner Geek - Updated December 2012

Friday, 25 January 2008

Inner Geek - Validated.

Earlier I wrote about having an inner geek, and working on some certifications, specifically the Microsoft Office Specialist, and about playing with multi OS's. Well that combined with some recient schooling has produced a score of computer certifications. Below are the different logo's representing the specific certifications. The Logo's are in the order that I earned the right to use them.

And my next post will outline the schedule of certification s I plan to write over the next year and a bit.

Articles in this Series:

Inner Geek - Updated December 2010

Mac VS PC an It Guys Perspective
Inner Geek - Updated June 2011
Inner Geek - Updated December 2011

Friday, 18 January 2008

Fit for Eternal Life: A Christian Approach to Working Out, Eating Right, and Building the Virtues of Fitness in Your Soul by: Dr. Kevin Vost

Fit for Eternal Life:
A Christian Approach to Working Out,
Eating Right, and Building the Virtues
of Fitness in Your Soul
Dr. Kevin Vost
Sophia Institute Press
ISBN 9781933184319
January 2008

Though I love reading and books dearly, few books capture a spirit or goal in my own life as closely as this book does. For years now I have been struggling to achieve an inner and outer balance in my life - balance between mind, body and spirit. In attempting to do so, I have tried various tools, and methods, and strategies. Yet inevitably I find myself off kilter. Now this book seems to be a resource that will help to achieve that balance.

The main reason for that is the person that Dr. Kevin Vost is. He has been a lifelong enthusiast of both academic learning and of physical fitness. He has written and published extensively in the realm of physical fitness and in cognitive and memory mechanics. Dr. Vost does not just write about these topics he also practices them, which makes him an authority not just theoretically but also practically. Dr. Vost has done graduate work and post- graduate work academically and he also has competed in power lifting.

The book flows nicely from topic to topic. It is designed to help you find balance in your life - to be neither a gym rat, nor a book worm, but to have the best of both worlds. It combines wisdom from classical authors down to current competitive athletes. He states: "Intensity and duration of effort, you see, are inversely proportional. How's that? A well-known saying in HIT circles is that 'you can train hard, or you can train long, but you can't do both.' The more demanding the exercise, the shorter the time you're able to sustain it. The harder you work, the sooner you must stop. We all know this from experience. And the kind of exercise that maximizes physical strength is not only intense but also brief." He will teach you to get more results from less time in the gym, and thus have more time for family, friends, leisure and your favorite 'books'.

Each chapter begins with a set of quotes - one spiritual and the other from the classics. Dr. Vost draws from a very wide range of sources to support his arguments, with examples from Pope Pius XII, Aristotle, Seneca, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hesiod, Mike Mentzer and many more. These motivational and inspirational quotes help to draw you into the material. Robert Wolff in his book Bodybuilding 101 states: "There is nothing so constant as change. Meet it. Embrace it. Enjoy it. Learn from it. The one thing you can be absolutely sure of in your life is change. It's the only thing that never changes. The law of nature is that you either grow or you die; there's no in-between. So, what have you chosen so far? Are you growing in every area of your life? Hey, it's not enough to be growing and looking great just because you work out. That's only a small part of your life. What about your emotions, spiritual life, family, friends, career, hobbies? Are they growing as your body does? Become a complete person and not an in-shape and great-looking version of an incomplete person. There's way more to life than just working out. Go with the flow and embrace changes in all areas of your life. The change will do you good." This book will help you to achieve that lasting change and growth. It will help you develop physically, and through that, develop all areas of your life. Or as a different philosopher Montaigne declared: "To strengthen the mind you must harden the muscles." Vost will give you the tools to work both. He will teach you how to Pump Iron and to Pump Ions!(First published in Imprint 2008-02-15)

Books by Dr. Kevin Vost:
Full Range of Motive (2001)
Memorize the Faith! (2006)
Fit For Eternal Life (2007)
From Atheism to Catholicism (2010)
Unearthing Your Ten Talents (2010)
St. Albert the Great (2011)
Tending the Temple (2011)
Three Irish Saints (2012)
Memorize the Reasons! (2013)
One-Minute Aquinas (2014)
Hounds of the Lord (2015)
Seven Deadly Sins (2015)
Memorize the Mass! (2016)
Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit (2016)
The Porch and the Cross (2016)
The Catholic Guide to Loneliness (2017)
The Four Friendships (2018)
How to Think Like Aquinas (2018)
Memorize the Latin Mass! (2018)
12 Life Lessons from St. Thomas Aquinas (2019)
Aquinas on the Four Last Things (2021)

20 Answers St Thomas Aquinas (2022)
What is God? (2022)
…

Books Contributed to:
Man Up! (2014)
…

Author profile interview with Dr. Kevin Vost.

Other Fitness Articles:Fall 2011 Programs
Workout program March 2012
My Gear February 2012
Fitness My Retrospective

TRX Articles:TRX an Introduction
TRX Force
TRX Force Tactical
TRX Essential Flexibility

My P90X Series:Phase I, Phase II, Gear, Phase III, Fitness Options, P90X at 120 Days OutHealth & Fitness Book Reviews:The Primal Blueprint 21 Day Total Body Transformation - Mark Sisson
The Ten Commandments Of Lifting Weights - Jared Zimmerer
Toadally Primal Smoothies - Todd Dosenberry
Caveman Resurection - Jeff Pickett
40 Days to Optimal Health - Dr. Scott Morris
Eat Stop Eat - Brad Pilon
The Primal Blueprint - Mark Sisson
The New Rules of Lifting - Lou Schuler and Alwyn CosgroveBench Press by: Sven Lindqvist
Sly Moves by: Sylvester Stallone
Fit for Eternal Life: A Christian Approach to Working Out, Eating Right, and Building the Virtues of Fitness in Your Soul by: Dr. Kevin Vost
Body for Life 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strenght by: Bill Phillips Lose Fat Not Faith by Jeremy R. Likeness
Living The Good Life: Your Guide to Health and Success by: David Patchell-Evans
Dump your Trainer by: Ashley Marriott and Marc L. Paulsen

Friday, 11 January 2008

Memorize the Faith: And Most Anything ELse by: Dr. Kevin Vost

Memorize the Faith:
And Most Anything Else
Dr. Kevin Vost
Sophia Institute Press
ISBN 9781933184173
October 2006

Some books are great because of the quality of the writing. Some books are great because of the content or message they convey. Some books are great because of the reputation they garner, and over time, come to be considered classics. Dr. Kevin Vost has written a book that fits the first two categories and only time will tell about the third. The author, who has done both graduate work and doctorate work on memory, has written this book as a tool to help Catholics memorize their faith. However, it is also so much more than that. It can be a tool used by any serious academic to help them memorize, learn to think more creatively, plan and execute research and papers. If you read the book for the techniques taught alone, it will be an invaluable asset to any intentional student.

Dr. Vost states "The text and illustrations have been structured in such a way that, if you read slowly and carefully, look at the pictures, and follow the instructions, by the time you finish, you'll be able to remember and name the Ten Commandments, the seven capital sins, the seven virtues, the nine Beatitudes, the seven sacraments, the twenty mysteries of the Rosary, and yes, if you are ambitious enough, even the names of the forty-six books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. And all of these in order, both forward and backward!" Through the processes, he uses a method of memorization that traces its roots and origins to the ancient Greek poet Simonides and the philosopher Aristotle, and to Marcus Tullius Cicero. These techniques were then taught and practiced by the Doctors of the Catholic Church, St. Albert the Great (the "Universal Doctor") and St. Thomas Aquinas. These techniques are collectively known as mnemonics.

Through the progression of learning the memorization skills you will develop greater abilities and strengths in these areas: organization, imagination and concentration. There is so much we still do not understand about the human brain, but we do know from much research, including some of Dr. Vost's, that the more we use the brain, the more we can use it. It can be retrained after injury. Studies that have been done on surgery patients, Alzheimer's patients and others all show that working the brain can help fight diseases. Vost's techniques will help the reader to learn to organize thoughts and thought processes more clearly, use the imagination to stretch the brain and work it out in new and different ways. Then the concentration involved in the first two activities, combined with repetition, can lead to memory skills that will serve you for a lifetime.

Vost writes in a fun and engaging manner. This book is written with many target groups in mind. He writes for the practitioner of the Catholic Faith that wants to be able to answer the lists he gives above, and many, many more. He writes for a younger audience who wish to understand their faith. He writes for all students who need the skills presented in this book to help them learn to be better students and scholars.

The greatest strength of this book is Dr. Vost's background in research, and practice in implementing these systems in the field of Psychology, and his love for his religious tradition. The weakness of the book is the memorization techniques. Tips and tricks are so great you will have to study Catholicism to learn them. An added bonus is that at the end of each chapter is a toolbox called 'Memory Master Tips and Facts'. These boxes help you apply the material in an easier fashion.

Therefore I would declare that this is a great book, for the old and for the young in the faith. It is also a good resource for any academic or lifelong learner. This is a great book - plain and simple.

(First Published in Imprint 2008-01-11.)

Books by Dr. Kevin Vost:
Full Range of Motive (2001)
Memorize the Faith! (2006)
Fit For Eternal Life (2007)
From Atheism to Catholicism (2010)
Unearthing Your Ten Talents (2010)
St. Albert the Great (2011)
Tending the Temple (2011)
Three Irish Saints (2012)
Memorize the Reasons! (2013)
One-Minute Aquinas (2014)
Hounds of the Lord (2015)
Seven Deadly Sins (2015)
Memorize the Mass! (2016)
Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit (2016)
The Porch and the Cross (2016)
The Catholic Guide to Loneliness (2017)
The Four Friendships (2018)
How to Think Like Aquinas (2018)
Memorize the Latin Mass! (2018)
12 Life Lessons from St. Thomas Aquinas (2019)
Aquinas on the Four Last Things (2021)

20 Answers St Thomas Aquinas (2022)
What is God? (2022)
…

Books Contributed to:
Man Up! (2014)
…

Author profile interview with Dr. Kevin Vost.

Tuesday, 8 January 2008

Meme Booked by 3 - January 2008 - Best of 2007

Meme Booked by 3 - January From Shelly's Bookshelf!

1. List up to 3 books you read in 2007 that you loved.

Searching for and Maintaining Peace: A Small Treatise on Peace of Heart - Fr. Jacques Philippe
Twisted - Laurie Halse Anderson
Sherman Oak and the Magic Potato - S. William Shaw

2. List up to 3 books you read in 2007 that were disappointments.

Their Kingdom Come: Inside The Secret World of Opus Dei - Robert Hutchison
You Suck: A Love Story - Christopher Moore
The Sea Within: Waves and the Meaning of All Things - Peter Kreeft

3. List up to 3 authors you discovered in 2007 you definitely will put on your Must Read list.

S. William Shaw
Dr. Kevin Vost
Fr. Jacques Philippe

Answer in the comments or leave a link to your answers, please. I'm looking forward to seeing what you list. You can also see my complete list of books read by year here, favorite books each year here and favorite authors here.

Sunday, 6 January 2008

Catholic Books Read 2008

Friday, 4 January 2008

List of Favorite Movies 2008

Favorite Movies and TV Shows 2008

Babylon
5





































































                  - Lost Tales

Battlestar
Galactica





































































                  - Razor

Dexter





































































                  - Season 1, 2, 3

The





































































                  Spiderwick Chronicles

                  IT Crowd - Season 1, 2, 3

I started keeping track of the books I finished reading in October of 1995, and movies watched in January of 1996. I have lists for:
All Books Read by Year
Favorite Books By Year
All Movies and TV Series Watched by Year
Favorite Movies and TV Series by Year

I also do a Top Ten List of books each quarter and for the year. They can be found here. I was also asked to pick a Top Ten Catholic Books I have read, you can find that list here (and occasionally I add a note when I come across something exceptional.)

Thursday, 3 January 2008

List of Movies Watched 2008

Movies and TV Shows Watched 2008

Babylon
                            5 - Lost Tales


                        Babylon 5 - Lost Tales


                        Absolute Power


                        Rambo I, II, III, IV


                        Battlestar Galactica -
                            Razor


                        Babylon 5 - The Legend of
                            the Rangers 


                        Pirates of the Caribbean 3


                        Firefly - Somplete Series


                        Serenity


                        Into the Wild


                        Annapolis


                        Cloverfield


                        Die Hard


                        Casino Royale


                        Dark Fury


                        Chronicles of Riddick


                        Batman Begins


                        Hellboy II The Golden Army


                        Batman Begins


                        Fast & The Furious II


                        Fast & The Furious III
                            Tokyo Drift


                        Batman


                        Serenity


                        Dark Knight


                        Silverrado


                        Fist Full Of Dollars


                        Road House


                        Equilibrum


                        Momma Mia!


                        War Games 2 -  The
                            Dead Code


                        Death Race


                        The Matador


                        The Dead Pool


                        Battlestar Galactica -
                            Razor


                        Dexter - Season 1


                        The Replacements


                        Constantine


                        Youngblood


                        The Cutting Edge


                        Dirty Harry


                        The Dead Pool


                        Wanted


                        Wanted


                        The Spiderwick Chronicles


                        Wanted


                        The Spiderwick Chronicles

                            V for Vendetta

                            The Dark Knight

                            The Dark Knight

                            The Dark Knight

                            American President

                            Dexter - Season 2

                            The Dark Knight

                            Quantum of Solance

                            What Women Want

                            The Dark Knight

                            Quantum of Solace

                            The Hustler

                            Dexter - Season 3

                            Dexter - Season 1

                            Dexter - Season 2

                            Dexter - Season 3

                            Bangkok Dangerous

                            IT Crowd - Season 1

                            IT Crowd - Season 2

                            IT Crowd - Season 3

                            Deathrace

                          IT Crowd -
                            Season 1

                            IT Crowd - Season 2

                            IT Crowd - Season 3

Wednesday, 2 January 2008

New Year's Resolutions 2008

New Year's Resolutions 2008

As I stated last year in my post on new year's resolutions, it is not a tradition I have been in the habit of keeping. I do however want to reflect on the last year or few years. It has been a strange ride over the last 2 and a half years. In quick summary format:

Just over 2 and a half years ago I took a construction job to make more money over the summer to try and finish my schooling faster. After about 3 months I tore my rotator cuff. And spend more than 2 year recovering and looking for work I could do around my injury. For more than a year after the injury I went to physiotherapy 5 days a week. It helped keep the pain at bay and treated the symptoms but because of the location of the tear did not promote the healing that was needed. Then I had surgery, 6 weeks after my daughter Abby was born. I spent the next 10 weeks in a sling, not even able to hold my daughter except when she slept. After a year of physiotherapy 3 days a week, since the surgery they decided it was as good as it was going to get.
During this whole time I prayed and prayed for a job. I applied for over a hundred jobs, without a single interview. Last summer I started retaining through WSIB, I did my Microsoft Office Specialist Certifications for word, excel, access, powerpoint and outlook. I also took a course in business communications, Then in the fall I started my Network Specialist training, which comprised a number of certifications through both Microsoft and CompTIA.

I did have the privledge of donating bone marrow this year and writing a series of articles to promote the Unrelated Bone Marrow Donor Registry. Then in December it all started coming together, I have a job now I love. I am currently on contract which should roll into a fulltime position in March. We received a settlement for the injury. And tomorrow we are having a c-section and I will meet my son.

What does all of that have to do with New Year's Resolutions you might ask. A lot, in the last year I stopped journaling, and practically stopped praying. Even when I interviewed for this job I found it hard to pray for it because of all the disappointment over the last few years. My goals for this year are simpler then some in the past. I want to start journaling again. I wish to work out consistently again. I desire to drop the extra pounds I have gained since the injury. I want to be a person of prayer and hope again. During this past year I stopped using my accountability sheets I have been using for years. I have revamped it for this year and hope to use it to help find balance between body, mind and spirit. I want this to be a year of action and progress. Of real change!

"The Future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is."
C.S. Lewis

"Observe always that everything is the result of change, and get used to thinking that there is nothing Nature loves so well as to change existing forms and make new ones like them."
Marcus Aurelius

"Mere change is not growth. Growth is the synthesis of change and continuity, and where there is no continuity there is no growth."
C.S. Lewis