Microsoft buys their way into the e-reader market.

Microsoft buys their way into the e-reader market.

Review: Unlocking the Poet's Realm

Unlocking the Poet's Realm by Matt Wiebusch is a great children's book that will be thoroughly enjoyed by all ages. The book is full of adventures that will keep you entrenched in the story while also teaching life lessons, such as, self-confidence and standing up to bullies. The story begins with our heroine Minnie, a typical 12-year-old, dealing with some with some of the same situations that plague many children today. She is bullied at school, feels neglected by parents that are constantly fighting and lack of friends her own age. One day in at a particular low-point when she is running from her two tormentors, Billy and Ethan, Minnie runs to her neighbor's yard where she hides in a box in the tool shed. The box transports her, ala 'The Lion, Witch and Wardrobe' to a new land where her life is about to change and for the better. When Minnie, nicknamed Catty, wakes up she finds that she is not in the box anymore. She crawls out of what turns out to be cigarette pack and finds herself in a strange world. The first creature she encounters in this new place is a bee that to her surprise can talk. The bee, Bandy, explains to her alittle bit about where she is and gives her a poem that will give her clues as to why she has been brought to this land. The first part of the poem speaks of the poet and how she can find him. When she does finally meet the poet he turns out be a monkey named Tappoc, Minnie nicknames him Con, he explains to her that he brought her to this future time to save their world from the evil Straiyn. He teaches her about this new futuristic land, Bavul, and what she will need to know to survive as she carries out the adventures that she is about to embark on. Finally the time come that Con figures Catty is ready and sends her on her way. On her own now Catty must decipher the poem and figure out what she must do before she can finally get back to her own time. The second part of the poem tells her that she is to rescue another person that will help her carry out the rest of her adventures. The path to accomplish this task is filled with perils that she must use her intellect to figure out how to escape. When she gets to her destination the rescue mission is a challenging task that in the end sets Jonah free from the cave where he has been held captive. The two of them head off to complete the mission and facing many challenges and meeting several creatures along the way. When they finally find the Straiyn's cave they must destroy the toxins that are polluting the the waters below. Once they manage to carry out that part of the mission they still face the Straiyn's army to make their escape. With the help of their new found allies the colossacray and the spirit warriors they manage their escape. Even though they have thwarted the Straiyn their adventures are long from over. The two heroes must still get to the place where they will both be transported back to Catty's time and find the person Jonah must bring back to Buval. Once they do manage to get back to Catty's time she finds the courage inside of her to stand up to the bullies that once tormented her. She also figures out that through the friendships that she has formed in Buval that she can do the same in her world.

Starting your garden

It is that time of the year again when the weather starts getting warm and thoughts turn to planting their gardens. You make all sorts of plans to grow all kinds of vegetables and flowers. Before you start though their are still a few questions that must be answered. Which Flowers and vegetables are best to grow grow in the area that I live in? This is always a good question since many people will just go out and start buying seeds or plants without considering if those will survive. There are several books, such as, Sunset that are a good start or websites, such as, that will tell you the planting zone and the best types of plants. Ok, now I know what plants for the zone I live but what is the best location in my garden? If your buying plants that have already been started they will often have the optimal growing conditions listed on their tags but if they aren't listed then you might try a gardening book since many of them will break down plants by growing conditions, such as, shade, sunlight, dry areas and what time of day the sun hits that area. Now that I have what I am going to plant and where to plant but how much space will I need? These are both great questions to consider. How much space you will need depends on how big the plant will get when it is fully grow. If you are buying plants that have already been started or seed packets they will usually give you a range on how big a plant will get and how far apart you should plant them. So, using that information you should be able to determine just how much space you will need in your garden. How should I arrange my plants in the garden? It is always a good rule to arrange your plants by their height putting tall plants in the back or in the center if you have a garden that can be reached on all sides. An example would be that if your garden area is in an open area that gives you access to all sides and you are growing a tomato plant and some marigolds you would put the tomato in the center and the marigolds around the edges of the garden.