Those of you that have watched the Bones TV series will recognize Kathy Reichs as a producer of the popular show.  Temperance Brennan is the key character in both the books and the TV series and in essence Reichs is Brennan or Brennan is Reichs. However Brennan in the books is a much different character from the one in the TV series. For instance there is no Agent Booth in the books but there are a few romantic interests and an ex-husband. Rather than being an agnostic like Brennan in the TV series Brennan in the books was raised Catholic.For perspective, here is a short bio on Kathy Reichs from her website.

Dr. Reichs is one of only eighty-two forensic anthropologists ever certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology. She served on the Board of Directors and as Vice President of both the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the American Board of Forensic Anthropology, and is currently a member of the National Police Services Advisory Council in Canada. She is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

This background, and the following, lead to compelling and authentic writing on the subject.  Again from the author’s website.

From teaching FBI agents how to detect and recover human remains, to separating and identifying commingled body parts in her Montreal lab, as a forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs has brought her own dramatic work experience to her mesmerizing forensic thrillers. For years she consulted to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in North Carolina, and continues to do so for the Laboratoire de Sciences Judiciaires et de Médecine Légale for the province of Québec. Dr. Reichs has traveled to Rwanda to testify at the UN Tribunal on Genocide, and helped exhume a mass grave in Guatemala. As part of her work at JPAC (Formerly CILHI) she aided in the identification of war dead from World War II, Korea, and Southeast Asia. Dr. Reichs also assisted with identifying remains found at ground zero of the World Trade Center following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Now to the books. To date I have read five books in the series and am working on number six. For the record I have completed; Spider Bones, Bones Are Forever, Bones to Ashes, Devil Bones and Flash and Bones and am working on Cross Bones, While there is some carry forward in the series reading the books in the order written is not critical. Temperance Brennan in the novels bounces back and forth between North Carolina and Quebec much like the real life Reichs. In one of the series Temperance is in Hawaii working on the identification of recovered bones and resolves an apparent impossibility – someone listed as killed in action turns up floating and newly deceased in Canada many years later. One of the things I really like about these novels is that the main characters are portrayed as imperfect with all of the flaws and foibles that the rest of the human race struggles with.

Obviously given that I am on book number six I like this author’s work and highly recommend that you give it a try. The authenticity that comes from the author being highly skilled in the endeavors of the main character is a real plus.

He was from da Minnesota… And he needed a loan.

So… He walked into a bank in New York City and asked for the loan Officer.

He told the loan officer that he was going to Paris for an International redneck festival for two weeks and needed to borrow $5,000 and that he was not a depositor of the bank. The bank officer told him that the bank would need some form of security for the loan, so the Redneck handed over the keys to a new Ferrari. The car was parked on the street in front of the bank.

The Redneck produced the title and everything checked out. The loan officer agreed to hold the car as collateral for the loan and apologized for having to charge 12% interest.

Later, the bank’s president and its officers all enjoyed a good laugh at the Redneck from ND for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral for a $5,000 loan. An employee of the bank then drove the Ferrari into the bank’s private underground garage and parked it.

Two weeks later, the Redneck returned, repaid the $5,000 and the interest of $23.07. The loan officer said, “Sir, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out on Dunn & Bradstreet and found that you are a Distinguished Alumni from The University of Minnesota, a highly sophisticated investor and Multi-Millionaire with real estate and financial interests all over the world. Your investments include a large number of oil wells around Williston, ND. What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow $5,000?”

The good ‘ole boy replied, “Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $23.07 and expect it to be there when I return?”

His name was Ole… .

Keep an eye on these Minnesota boys!

Just because we talk funny does not mean we are stupid.

Lesson 1 :

A priest offered a Nun a lift. She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg. The priest nearly had an accident. After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg…  The nun said, ‘Father, remember Psalm 129?’  The priest removed his hand. But, changing gears, he let his hand slide up her leg again. The nun once again said, ‘Father, remember Psalm 129?’ The priest apologized ‘Sorry sister but the flesh is weak.’ Arriving at the convent, the nun sighed heavily and went on her way. On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129. It said, ‘Go forth and seek, further up, you will find glory.’

Moral of the story: 
If you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great opportunity.

Lesson 2 :
A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp. They rub it and a Genie comes out. The Genie says, ‘I’ll give each of you just one wish.’  ‘Me first! Me first!’ says the admin clerk.. ‘I want to be in the Bahamas , driving a speedboat, without a care in the world.’ Poof! She’s gone. ‘Me next! Me next!’ says the sales rep. ‘I want to be in Hawaii , relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas, and the love of my life.’ Poof! He’s gone. ‘OK, you’re up,’ the Genie says to the manager. The manager says, ‘I want those two back in the office after lunch.’

Moral of the story: 
Always let your boss have the first say.

Lesson 3
An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing.  A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, ‘Can I also sit like you and do nothing?’ The eagle answered: ‘Sure, why not.’  So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Moral of the story: 
To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.

Lesson 4
A turkey was chatting with a bull. ‘I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree’ sighed the turkey, ‘but I haven’t got the energy.’ ‘Well, why don’t you nibble on some of my droppings?’ replied the bull. It’s full of nutrients.’ The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree. The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch.. Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree. He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree.

Moral of the story: 
Bull Shit might get you to the top, but it won’t keep you there…

Lesson 5 
A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field. While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was. The dung was actually thawing him out! He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.

Moral of the story:

(1) Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy. (2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend. (3) And when you’re in deep shit, it’s best to keep your mouth shut! 

THUS ENDS THE 5-MINUTE MANAGEMENT COURSE.
Send this to five bright people who have enough sense of humor to take it!

Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better. 

Coca-Cola was originally green.

It is impossible to lick your elbow. 

The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska 

The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get this . . .) 

The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%.

The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $16,400

The average number of people airborne over the US in any given hour: 61,000

Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair. 

The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.

The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments. 

Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: 

Spades – King David

Hearts – Charlemagne

Clubs -Alexander, the Great

Diamonds – Julius Caesar

111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321 

If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died because of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.

Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, John Hancock and Charles Thomson.Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn’t added until 5 years later.

Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what? A. Their birthplace.

Q. Most boat owners name their boats.What is the most popular boat name requested?  A. Obsession.

Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter ‘A’? A. One thousand.

Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers have in common? A. All were invented by women. 

Q. What is the only food that doesn’t spoil? A. Honey. 

Q. Which day are there more collect call than any other day of the year?  A. Father’s Day.

In Shakespeare’s time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase . . . ‘Goodnight, sleep tight’.

It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride’s father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.

In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts. So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them ‘Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down.’ It’s where we get the phrase ‘mind your P’s and Q’s’.

Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. ‘Wet your whistle’ is the phrase inspired by this practice. 

At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow! 

A husband reluctantly agreed to play in the couples’ alternate shot tournament at his club. He teed off on the first hole, a par four, and blistered a drive 300 yards down the middle of the fairway. Upon reaching the ball, the husband said to his wife, “Just hit it toward the green, anywhere around there will be fine.” His wife proceeded to shank the ball deep into the woods. Undaunted, the husband said, “That’s OK, Sweetheart” and spent the full five minutes looking for the ball. He found it just in time, but in a horrible position. He played the shot of his life to get the ball within two feet of the hole. He told his wife to knock the ball in. His wife then proceeded to take her putter out and knock the ball off the green and into a bunker. Still maintaining composure, the husband summoned all of his skill and holed the shot from the bunker. He took the ball out of the hole and while walking off the green, put his arm around his wife and calmly said, “Honey, that was a bogey five and that’s OK, but I think we can do better.” To which she replied, “Listen asshole, don’t bitch at me, only 2 of those 5 shots were mine.

1. My husband and I divorced over religious differences. He thought he was God and I didn’t. 


2. I don’t suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it. 


3. Some people are alive only because it’s illegal to kill them. 


4. I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.  


5. Don’t take life too seriously; No one gets out alive.

6. You’re just jealous because the voices only talk to me

7. Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

8. Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.

9. I’m not a complete idiot — Some parts are just missing.

10. Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.

11. NyQuil, the stuffy, sneezy, why-the-heck -is-the-room-spinning medicine.

12. God must love stupid people; He made so many.

13. The gene pool could use a little chlorine.

14. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.

15. Ever stop to think , and forget to start again?

16. Being ‘over the hill’ is much better than being under it!

17. Wrinkled Was Not One of the Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew up.  


18. Procrastinate Now!

19. I Have a Degree in Liberal Arts; Do You Want Fries With That?  


20. A hangover is the wrath of grapes. 


21. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance.  


22. Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!  


23. They call it PMS because Mad Cow Disease was already taken.  


24. He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless DEAD.

25. A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three thousand times the memory.

26. Ham and eggs… A day’s work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig. (how true) 

27. The trouble with life is there’s no back ground music.

28. The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson. 


29. I smile because I don’t know what the heck is going on.

Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!   
Life is too short and friends are too few!

I dialed a number and got the following recording: “I am not available right now, but thank you for caring enough to call. I am making some changes in my life. Please leave a message after the beep. If I do not return your call, you are one of the changes.”

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Man comes home, finds his wife with his friend in bed. He shoots his friend and kills him. Wife says “If you behave like this, you will lose ALL your friends!”

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A small Boy wrote to Santa Claus,” send me a brother.” Santa wrote back, “SEND ME YOUR MOTHER.”

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What is the definition of Mistress? Someone between the Mister and Mattress.
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What’s the difference between stress, tension and panic?

* Stress is when wife is pregnant,

* Tension is when girlfriend is pregnant,

* Panic is when both are pregnant.
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A woman asks man who is traveling with six children, “Are all these kids yours?”*
The man replies, “No, I work in a condom factory and these are customer complaints.”
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A young boy asks his Dad, “What is the difference between confident and confidential?” Dad says, “You are my son, I’m confident about that. Your friend over there, is also my son, that’s confidential.”

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Nominated as the best short joke this year…

A three-year-old boy was examining his testicles while taking a bath.
Mom” he asked, “are these my brains?” “Not yet,” she replied.

I sometimes wonder if those in the travel industry think we are that stupid or that we don’t pay attention. A couple of cases on point from our just concluded Hawaii trip. First rental cars. The Base Rate for our rental car was $475.00 but, are you ready, there were the following extra charges; Veh. reg. Fee &Weight Tax $12.10, Concession Recov Fee $52.77, Rent Tax Surcharge $33.00, Customer Facility Chg $49.50 and finally Sales Tax $22.49 for a total in extras of $169.86 or 36% of the Base Rate. Apart from the sales tax who knows what some of those terms mean but I suspect they are for items like rent. But think about it, when you go to the mall and make a purchase the merchant doesn’t give you price and then add on surcharges for things like rent, utilities or other costs. Why can’t the rental car companies quit the charade and tell us up front what it costs. I didn’t name the company as they are all the same.

Now for the resorts – again I will not name the guilty party as they all do the same things.  First we have the “Resort Fee” of $30.00 per day which included $25.00 per day  for self-parking, yes it cost that amount for you to park your car. I was told that valet parking was $30.00 per day and I inquired if that meant an additional $5.00 above the self-parking fee but was told no, valet parking was an additional $30.00 per day or $55.00 per day to park. Hell, you can park in midtown Manhattan for less than that. And of course the valet’s had the closest parking leaving us paying customers to walk the furthest and in some cases upstairs. Now I just have a systemic problem with the “Resort Fee” concept. It seems to me that the basic items covered by this fee – like parking – should be included in the base room rent.  Once again tell us what it costs and quit thinking that we are too stupid to figure out that things like the “Resort Fee” are just an additional rent. Oh, by the way I am Lifetime Platinum with this entity so did not have to pay it but Internet access was an additional $14.95 per day. No wonder guests were sitting by the Starbucks in the complex – Starbucks had free Wi-Fi access.

So there you have it – someone bitching about having to spend twelve days in Hawaii. No, the golf was great, the weather was perfect and as I write this I am in my normal mild depression – happens every time I leave paradise. So Maybe I am being a little picky if so let me know.

As noted in early posts I am a fan of William Kent Krueger’s writing and his latest offering, Trickster’s Point, is no exception and as a matter of fact it may well be is best yet. This, as all of the Cork O’Connor series have been, is set on the Iron Range in northern Minnesota.  Cork, who is part Ojibway indian and the retired sheriff of Tamarack county, finds himself a suspect in the murder of a friend. Typical of Krueger’s writing one finds a number of interconnections that crisscross each other. Also there are some peeks into Native American culture, not unlike what Tony Hillerman did in his books that were sited in the Four Corners area in the Southwest. By the way if you haven’t read any of Hillerman’s  books do yourself a favor and try one. Hillerman passed away in 2008 but his stories about two Navaho policemen, Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn, make for enjoyable and intriguing reading.

Back to Trickster’s Point. As Krueger weaves his way through the mystery surrounding Jubal Little’s death a number of other suspects pop up and the story generates interest from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension as the victim is a candidate for Governor. And while Jubal Little is part American Indian a number of his proposals are not popular with the Native American population in Tamarack County which in no part produces some of the other suspects. As the story winds to the end and Cork solves the puzzle what transpires has a twisted logic that resonates with the many interconnections but I doubt you will see it coming.  Highly Recommended!!

Thrice married, thrice divorced and noted for pulling his fishing boat along on official business Virgil Flowers comes back in John Sanford’s new book  “Mad River”. Flowers is an investegator for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and is on the trail of a Bonnie and Clyde type young couple on a terror across Minnesota.  Much to his chagrin, he ends up battling the local authorities almost as much as the targets. His boss, fans will recognize the lead character in Sandford’s Prey series of books, Lucas Davenport – the head of the Minnesota BCA, makes a couple of cameo appearances in this story. As is the case with Sandford’s other work, the story line is well written and the character development is top notch. Highly Recommended.

Stone Barrington is up again in Stuart Woods new offering “Severe Clear”.  Those who have enjoyed previous Barrington exploits will find a real home here.  As is often the case, characters from other Woods’ novels make appearances, in this case CIA Assistant Director Holly Baker tags along.  In this episode Barrington and his entourage are confronted with the possible terrorist attack that if successful would make September 11th look like a picnic.  In Woods’ way everything is a little over the top but that makes the reading even more enjoyable.  Recommended

Now for the disappointment   As you know I am a fan of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series. So when I saw “Reacher’s Rules” pop up on Amazon I immediately ordered it.  The book is a distillation of the rules that Reacher lives by and many of the entries are directly from different books.  While those entries worked in the context of the overall story most of them  come up a little hollow here.  Some of the entries are amusing and it is an easy read but my recommendation is that you save your money.

Next up on the reading list is William Kent Krueger’s new book Tricksters Point” so you can look for my take on this one shortly. Also looking forward to a new Harry Bosch novel from Michel Connelly due out November 26th.