Book review time? Book review time! I recently got suckered into buying a short novel called Gothic Violence by author Mike Ma. I initially assumed the last name "Ma" was asian but apparently it's not. Or it's a nom-de-plum (sp?) or some such. 

Gothic Violence has been the subject of some kind of viral marketing campaign on various "anonymous online message forums" and features a decidedly-edgy cover, which I will not be posting here. Supposedly it's an even better novel than Ma's first book, Harassment Architecture. Ma certinaly deserves credit for interesting book titles and covers. But I digress.

What is the plot of Gothic Violence, you ask? Not much. The tagline is something about "a gang of jihadist surfers (?) take down the power grid using insider trading profits (?) and capture the state of Florida amidst the panic." That sounds interesting, I suppose, until you read the book and realize the plot is secondary to a bunch of random, pseudo-self-improvement rants the author goes on chapter-by-chapter in lieu of a proper narrative.

To me, Gothic Violence reads like a young novelist's attempt at some sort of Fight Club meets Glamorama style edgy thriller. Celebrities are name-dropped early and often. The surfer gang's mission is vaguely defined. And the middle of the novel is basically Ma ranting about stuff.

Then the book ends around 200 pages or so. There's even a mention to deceased internet icon Zyzz along the way.

Gothic Violence certainly isn't a bad novel but it's clearly written by someone in his 20s who is still developing as a writer. Thumbs decidedly in the middle for this one. I wish the plot was more fleshed-out.

I was recently left with a busted up refrigerator and needed to find the best appliance repair Keller has to offer. Even though I don't live in Keller at the moment, just to clarify. Enter my buddy Ed  over at his namesake company. I contacted Ed's Appliance because they were running a 20% off special for new customers. Sweet, right? Anyway, I explained the situation - that my refrigerator was not refrigerating things properly, for lack of a better description - and Ed sent over one of his technicians to diagnose the problem. Turns out I needed some coolant. Hey, it could have been worse.

I paid what I think was a pretty reasonable price to get my refrigerator repaired. I am certainly not an expert on appliance repair but these guys did a great job and as part of our business haggling they said they would greatly appreciate a shout out on this blog that no one reads. So here it is, fellas.

If you need quality appliance repair in DFW look no further than Ed's over in Keller. They have branched out and created a separate company called Lucky 7 which also does quality work. Either way, you can't go wrong. These guys know their appliances and will give you a fair price on whatever you need. This includes ovens and other stuff in your kitchen that you don't want to work on yourself. Check them out.

I picked up a pair of Seavees Hermosa Plimsoll shoes for summer because I was looking for a Vans-type shoe that wasn't actually a pair of Vans. Sadly my skateboarding skills ain't what they used to be and I'm old :(

Anyway, since this is apparently turning into a shoe review blog, I felt compelled to write about these great minimalist old school style sneakers.

I love these shoes. I want a second pair as a matter of fact. The thing I really appreciate about them is that they haven't given my feet any blisters despite wearing them barefoot in a variety of conditions. They are comfortable as hell from day 1 and only seem to get better with age.

The material is some kind of canvas top, not unlike a pair of old Keds if I had to make a comparison. Sole is comfy and durable and I've already gotten some compliments that I think were sincere? So that's good.

If you're looking for a quality pair of classic everyday walking shoes that won't break the bank, look no further. Highly recommended casual summer shoes that will always look good.

​Task lighting provides a direct beam of light to areas above kitchen sinks and to food preparation and cleanup centers. Lighting is equally important in a bathroom setting. Install the task fixtures in front of where you will be working to avoid shadows. Many types of fixtures, including recessed down lights, track lights, hanging pendent lights, and under-cabinet strip lights, provide excellent task lighting. It's best to have the lighting for each work center controlled by its own separate wall switch.

How much task lighting do you need during a kitchen or bathroom remodel? Each work center should be illuminated with either 100 to 150 watts of incandescent light or 40 to 50 watts of fluorescent light. What about under cabinet light? To light countertops that have cabinets overhead, strip lighting is needed. These fixtures have a thin profile and are almost hidden. As a general rule, a fluorescent tube should extend along approximately two-thirds of the counter it is illuminating and provide about 8 watts of power per foot of counter space.

Natural lighting - Maximizing the available natural light is a critical element in most kitchen and bathroom design plans.  Consider adding windows or French doors or perhaps a skylight. If you are the primary cook and spend many hours preparing meals, you might enjoy a large, cheery window above the sink. Windows also provide fresh air, which eliminate heat from the area.

There are ways to increase natural lighting even if you don't have additional wall space to dedicate to windows. Consider replacing existing windows with taller units or add an additional fixed, arch-top window over an existing window. Remember though, that additional lighting can also mean more heat in summer, especially in Texas!

I got me a fancy little Nike gift card for Christmas and decided to invest it in a pair of, wait for it, shoes. Yes, shoes! And not just any new shoes. NIKES. And not just any NIKES, but the swanky new Flyknit Racers that many marathoners and actual runners swear by.

This is a phenomenal shoe. And I am by no means an expert, but the Flyknit Racer might be the lightest shoe I've ever worn. The fit is also fantastic - Nikes tend to run a little small and narrow but I had no problems ordering at Nike.com. If fit is a concern, however, it would be wise to go to a Nike outlet and get a proper measurement.

The cushion on these things is also fantastic, especially relative to how almost-non-existent the weight is. Again, the real "game changer" here is the weight of these great running shoes. Easily worth trying on if you have any interest in running. How they hold up under extreme conditions is anyone's guess. But out of the box? An amazing and durable shoe.

A few new projects I'll be working on includes branding for:

A1 Soapstone Countertops - owned by my associate Aloys, they specialize in what their name suggests. 

Little Elm Tree Trimming - owner Geoff G. is starting a new tree and landscaping company that handles the far north Texas area.

These are three new referrals that will hopefully be expanded out in the coming months.

My lawyer friend let me know about some interesting advice that I figured I would pass along to fellow Texas residents. Crowdfunding is coming to the Lone Star State...

Huh?

That was my response, too. Then I did some digging and it made sense.

So what is crowdfunding, exactly? I'll try to explain in layman's terms....

As best described by one business portal that is set to help with the process, new rules have allowed any average joe investor to get in on funding startups and other business ideas.

As an example, a restaurant wants to sell a 10% equity in their company to raise money to buy new patio furniture. Previously, this would be a very convoluted process (involving well-connected heavy hitting investors only, in most cases) that most people wouldn't have a chance to get involved in.

New crowdfunding rules change that. Much in the same way a band can raise money via Kickstarter to buy a new van for their tour, people will be able to invest in new business ideas and other investments.

This is interesting for a number of reasons and should open up a wave of new business opportunities that were not possible up until now. It allows the common man to become a "VC" or "angel investor" in a way. Again - terms that were not possible for 98% of the population until recently.

Basically, via a business portal such as the afore-mentioned Lone Star Crowdfunding - investors connect with entrepreneurs selling stock in their ideas. If my understanding is correct.

Are there limits? Yes, but they aren't restrictive. New businesses can raise up to $1 million a year from the public. Not too shabby.

I've probably butchered it a little but that's the general gist. It's an exciting new era for business development in Texas, thanks to new regulations that will come into play in 2015.

My friend (and fellow fantasy football player) owns Rakestraw Fence and Rustic Furniture - a niche business in the North Dallas area - and after months of putting it off, I finally got around to commissioning him to build me something custom for my living room.

I've known the owner for well over a decade now and he's always been handy and creative. His business started out as a fence repair site in his neighborhood but his flair for building quality furniture took on a life of its own and that soon became his main focus.

Anyway, I'll be adding pics shortly but the wine rack he created for me, complete with Texas flag branding, looks amazing and I've already gotten compliments on Facebook. It holds 6 bottles of wine, takes up minimal space and even has a slot to hold wine glasses. How cool is that? Very!

I try to support local businesses whenever possible and this is a keeper for sure. If you are looking for something cool to give your spouse or family this Christmas, check them out and see what they can do for you. You'd be surprised at what they can build and you are limited only by your imagination. Happy holidays!

I was referred to personal injury lawyer Michael M. Guerra recently to help him with his new propane explosion website. Mr. Guerra is busy as it is in the McAllen, TX and San Antonio areas, handling all manner of injury claims, and wanted to focus on helping victims of faulty propane tanks in their RVs.

I know what you're thinking, and I had no idea either - how many people get hurt each year in a propane explosion? Apparently, thousands. Michael is one of the leading experts on the subject in America and has written extensively about the dangers of faulty propane tanks in RVs and campers.

While this is definitely a niche area of law, if thousands of people are hurt each year in these type of accidents, there's definitely a need for a qualified injury lawyer to help. That's where Michael comes in. He knows the courts and handles cases nationwide. 

I will be doing consulting on his website over the next year and look forward to working with him. Since this is a nationwide campaign, I plan to employ a variety of methods to assist him.

The adidas Energy Boost 2.0 is probably the most comfortable shoe I've ever worn. They will run you $160+ but you get what you pay for. Also, consider you're either in bed or in a pair of shoes 90% of your life, so it's not a bad idea to invest in a good pair of running shoes.