• I just stumbled across an intriguing link on Twitter: "Signs of Life Detected on the Moon?"
  
  This is the first time I've heard any suggestion of organic compounds being detected in the lunar regolith since I wondered aloud back on November 14.
  
  Interesting....
  

• Pssst! Don't spill the beans, but I think it's safe to talk about Mom's Christmas gift on this blog because she hasn't figured out it's here, and I know you're not going to tell her. ;)
  
  About two weeks ago, she asked me to search around on the Internet to see if I could find Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series available on audio CDs. Well, a quick search of Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com and I learned that all six books are available in audio format for about $80 EACH. Correction: All 6 books except book #4, The Drums of Autumn, which was almost impossible to find. When I did finally track it down through an unknown book seller, they wanted $200 for the darn thing.
  
  She said she didn't want the collection if she couldn't have book #4, so I almost despaired...until I stumbled across Audible, an Amazon company. They had the entire series available (for a fraction of the price) in a digital format that I could simply download onto my computer then burn onto CDs for her. I was ecstatic!
  
  Have you ever seen one of those little light bulb illustrations suddenly light up over the top of someone's head? Well, that was me when I realized this would make the perfect Christmas gift for Mom! I joined Audible and hurried to download "Drums of Autumn" to see how it would work. The download was a snap, no problem. However, because this book is a monster—over 40 hours long—I did the math and realized I would need nearly 40 blank CDs and HOURS to spend burning onto CDs. Then I would need a HUGE CD case just to hold this ONE book.
  
  CRAZY! I'd have more $$$ invested in blank CDs than I spent on the audio download.
  
  I finally determined it was cheaper to buy a good MP3 player (I purchased a 16 Gig Sansa View) with a docking/charging/speaker system. The player will store the entire series of books with room to spare. Once the MP3 player arrived, it took me thirty seconds to transfer a 40 hour book onto the device. Absolutely amazing!
  
  
  
  I gave the book a listen and the narrator does a wonderful job; I couldn't be happier, and I know Mom is going to be thrilled. So, if you're ever at a loss what to get for that hard-to-buy-for person on your Christmas list, consider an audio book from Audible. They're wonderful to deal with (tech support was very helpful!), and an audio book is a great alternative for someone who has time to listen to a story while they're traveling or working with their hands (Mom's a quilter).
  

• After I wrote about how much I enjoy shopping with Amazon a couple weeks ago, I'm not really surprised to read this article which confirms Amazon is nipping at the heals of marketing mega-giant, Wal-Mart.
  
  While the online retailer isn't large enough (yet!) to take Wal-Mart down, it's nice to know it can at least offer some serious competition.
  

• Lookin' to get your butt kicked? Take this CNN Challenge." I totally bombed. Totally. :/
  

• This morning I discovered one more reason to love Amazon! (To read the text in the photo, you may need to click on the image to view full-size.)
  
  
  

• Just wondering out loud...
  
  NASA's LCROSS Mission has apparently discovered "significant" quantities of water in the polar region of the moon.
  
  You might recall, it wasn't all that long ago that NASA's Phoenix lander was sent to Mars on basically the same mission with one significant difference. Scientists were employing their new strategy, "follow the water," in their search for microbial life on the red planet.
  
  So, my question is, if there was a chance that microbial life may have lived once upon a time on Mars despite its harsh environment, why hasn't NASA mentioned checking for microbes in the newly discovered water ice on the moon? I mean, the moon happens to lie within the "Goldilocks Zone," the habitable region considered the perfect distance from the sun to support life, as does the Earth. Despite its lack of an atmosphere, could the polar lunar soil support primitive life forms?
  
  If they did discover evidence of past or present life forms, would the need to protect them trump any suggestion of using the water on the moon to support the future space colony NASA has proposed?
  
  Just wondering out loud....

• Just a little reminder that the Leonids Meteor Shower is set to peak in the small hours of the morning on Tuesday, November 17. Set your alarm. Best viewing for Northern Michigan should be between 3:30 and 5:30 AM EST.
  
  Barring cloud cover, this should be a decent show thanks to the new moon.
  
  For more information visit Space.com.

• I figure yesterday was just about perfect.
  
  First of all, it was my day off, which kicks it up to a seven out of a possible ten by default. Then I spent the entire day shopping with Mom, including stores in Gaylord, Petoskey, Indian River and Cheboygan. Because I hate shopping, I have to deduct 5 points, but any time spent with Mom adds a 7 point bonus.
  
  We had lunch at Applebee's in Gaylord and watched their dining room FILL with Veterans and active duty service men who turned out to collect their complimentary meal. We were nearly moved to tears by the number of older, retired Vets who arrived in full dress uniform, which made my day a perfect 10. :)
  

• I'm sitting here watching Episode 8 of Cosmos on The Science Channel. Although I probably know them by heart, I'm not sure how I managed to miss the first 7 episodes this time around. Honestly, I could listen to Carl Sagan talk all day... which is kinda weird considering the way he talked drove most people crazy.
  
  Also, considering the series is over 25 years old, his science is a little out of date as well.
  
  So, he talks weird about stuff that may or may not be accurate.
  
  What's not to love?! :)
  

• Since I worked this morning and then ran errands in Petoskey all afternoon, Dan gave me the night off from the kitchen. We went to the lounge at Audie's to have a bite to eat while we lingered over tall, cold pilsner glasses of AmberBock.
  
  We love the lounge because it's the perfect setting to visit with friends and neighbors in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. You also have a choice from three different menus: The Family Room, The Chippewa Room and The Welcome Lounge menu.
  
  
  My first course was the incredible Baked Swiss Onion Soup. This soup always reminds me of a trip I took to the "old" Montréal when I was in high school. I never thought to again have onion soup like I found in a French restaurant there until I tried Edgar's recipe that you see here.
  
  Although it's actually a dead-ringer for classic French Onion Soup, since Edgar is a Swiss chef, I guess he figures all the best recipes must be "Swiss" by default as well. ;)
  
  Nonetheless, c'est magnifique!
  
  
  Dan and I shared the "main course"— a heaping tray of "Nibbles and Bits," which is actually from the Chippewa Room appetizer menu but works perfectly as a stand-alone meal for two.
  
  There is a selection of fresh fruits, including honey dew, cantaloupe and watermelons, pineapple, grapes, apples and oranges, and also chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, deep-fried mushrooms, shrimp cocktail and Oysters Rockerfeller.
  
  It was a feast for the eyes and the tummy. Best of all... I didn't have to wash the dishes!
  
  Life is good.
  

• In results published on CNBC, a recent FutureBrand survey of 3,000 business owners and leisure travelers from nine countries, the US ranked as the number one place people would choose to visit or do business with. This survey bumped Australia, which had previously held the no. 1 slot for three years, to third place, and Canada came in at number two. Tim Riches, CEO FutureBrand Singapore attributes "the revitalisation of Brand USA" to the "Obama Effect."
  
  The "Country Brand Index" includes 102 countries.
  
  Here are the top ten in this year's survey:
  
  1. United States
  2. Canada
  3. Australia
  4. New Zealand
  5. France
  6. Italy
  7. Japan
  8. Britain
  9. Germany
  10. Spain
  
  

• Ooooooh! I just remembered, I DO have news. A half-dozen sales reps were at the restaurant today. They came bearing COFFEE! Katie invited me to participate in a blind coffee "tasting," and I must have impressed them with my prowess because they gave me a large box loaded with free samples... uhmm, probably because Katie has decided to give a gourmet roast bean a trial-run in the Family Room based on my "considered opinion." :D
  

• Sorry I haven't been very attentive to this blog over the past few days. I've been too busy "Twittering." I set up a new Twitter "list" tonight. Trying to corral all of my Northern Michigan friends and neighbors is practically a full-time job.
  

• Nice Review!
  
  "Audie's Chippewa Room in a Word: 'Excellent'"
  

• I've been busy working out in the kitchen this afternoon, cooking up something special for dinner tonight. Check it out tomorrow morning on Grandiose Verbosity!
  
  Right now, I've got a baseball game to watch. ;)