Bond On A Budget

James Bond 007. He’s the greatest movie hero of all time: a fighter, a lover, a raconteur, a sportsman, a connoisseur of the finer things in life, and a style icon. Women want to be with him, men want to be him, and villains want to watch him die in ludicrous fashion. And he does it all on Her Majesty’s Service, which means the taxpayer foots the bill.

All of Bond’s: Martinis,  crashes and explosions, damage to government property and no doubt many paternity suits will probably add up, over the course of the fifty-odd years he’s been saving the world on our behalf, to Britain’s annual GDP. We might like to imagine ourselves living his life, but few of us could actually afford it even if the opportunity presented itself.

But for those of us who will always toss their hat onto the stand from a distance when they walk into a room, make a point of flirting with the boss’s secretary, or wish sometimes their car had an ejector seat when their passenger is irksome, it is possible to experience the defining parts of Bond’s lifestyle on a budget. Here are a few ideas:

Book Tour: 'Saving Mars' by Cidney Swanson

It looks like we're going to have to extend our virtual coffee and tea area (and perhaps add a few extra tables and chairs while we're at it) as we are hosting another book tour today (yep, that's two in one day, I know). We believe you guys will also love this one as it's for a  Sci-Fi novel: 'Saving Mars' by Cidney Swanson.

Of course, like in every book tour we're hosting, there are bits of info about the book and its author, but in this one there is also a guest post written by Cidney especially for LoupDargent.info, and it's about... yes... that's right... Science Fiction! Cool, isn't it?

Enjoy!

Loup Dargent

US spy chief warns of cyber danger, N.Korea threat

US spy chief warns of cyber danger, N.Korea threat (via AFP)

Jewel Samad/AFPDirector of National Intelligence James Clapper testifies before the Senate in Washington, DC, on March 12, 2013. Clapper on Tuesday warned that America faced a growing threat of a crippling cyber attack and voiced alarm over North Korea's recent "belligerent" rhetoric.Spy chief James…

Book Tour: Time Killer [Giveaway Included]

Once again, LoupDargent.info is hosting a Book Tour for the day, cool! 

This time, it's for 'Time Killer' by Todd M. Thiede... and it's a detective story. Yeaaah! We do love a good detective stories here at LDi. They do help make our little grey cells work and all, don't they? 

Today's Book Tour should please most of you (as long as you like books and detective stories, of course) as, not only we learn a bit more about the book and its author, but it also includes a Guest Post by Todd M. Thiede himself and, (yes, that's right!) a Giveaway giving  our readers the chance to win an autographed copy of Time Killer, by Todd Thiede AND one $10 Amazon gift card as first price. Not too shabby, is it?

All you have to do to participate to the Giveaway is go to the end of this post and follow the easy instructions there... Worth the effort, surely?

(Oh, and yes, the virtual tea and coffee area is opened as usual.)

Enjoy!

Loup Dargent

Dramatic Changes In American Life [Infographic]

American life has changed dramatically in just 30 years. The U.S. population has grown by more than 80 million people. The male population has increased by more than 40 million, while the female population has grown by 38 million. Women still have a slight population edge over men with an additional five million members.

The average sales price for a home in 1983 was $89,000. In 2013, the average home sales price slightly more than $272,000. The average American's income has increased a great deal since 1983. The average person earned a salary of just $21,000 in 1983. In 2013, the average American earns a yearly salary of $49,000.

The political landscape has changed dramatically. In 1983, only 24 women held an elected position. The current number of elected women in office is 97. In 1983, Republican candidate Ronald Reagan won the election with just more than 50 percent of the vote. In contrast, Democratic President Obama was re-elected with 51 percent of the popular vote.

The Human Side of Healthcare Is More Important Now Than Ever [Infographic]

Changes are taking place in the way healthcare professionals are being taught to connect with their patients. A human connection with a patient is what the patient sees. When a patient feels the warmth of human kindness from the people helping them, it gives them hope about the future.

Healthcare facilities are now more often called to task for how their patients feel about the care they have received. When the patient is able to experience the human side of their caregivers, there is a marked increase in the satisfaction a patient feels. That satisfaction and connection result in higher HCAHPS scores. These satisfaction surveys are an important part of changes taking place in the American healthcare system.

The closer a patient feels, because of the human side of healthcare, to their caregivers, the less stress and worry they have. This results in less time calling for help, which provides more time for caregivers to show their human side to more patients.

The reason for these changes is to make sure that every patient receives the best possible care. The goal is to stress the CARE in healthcare.

Upcoming Release of YA Fantasy Novel 'To Eris - Human' by Ann Snizek

"Eris Payton believes she's going insane when she meets Nelson -- a lucent -- a being that has always been invisible and silent to humans -- until Eris.  Lucents have innate abilities to manipulate living energy.  When his brother falls ill, Nelson brings Eris news of her estranged dad, the acclaimed geneticist Dr. Payton.  What makes Eris so special?  What will she find?  Will she be able to cope with the largest upheaval her life has ever seen?"

Virginia author, Ann Snizek, is about to release the first novel of her new series: To Eris - Human (Payton Chronicles Book 1) in both eBook and print through Snow Flower Publishing.

Let's find out more about this novel (and its author) in today's post...

Loup Dargent

Lesbian frontrunner in New York mayor race

Lesbian frontrunner in New York mayor race (via AFP)

Brad Barket/Getty Images/AFP/FileSpeaker of the New York City Council Christine Quinn attends the 2013 Greater New York Human Rights Campaign Gala on February 2, 2013 in New York City. Quinn threw her hat into the ring Sunday to become New York's next mayor, in a race that could see her become the…

Adopt a cardinal or place your bets for papal conclave

Adopt a cardinal or place your bets for papal conclave (via AFP)

Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/FileCardinal Angelo Scola celebrates a mass on February 12, 2013 in Milan's Duomo cathedral. As the Catholic Church prepares to elect a pope, some irreverent souls are betting on the outcome while more religious-minded ones are "adopting" individual cardinals on a website to pray…

How Music Unites: Examples Of How Music Influences Social Change

Music is a universal way of connecting people. If you put the right sound with the right beat you have yourself a hit - but it seems that the musicians that created this work do not stop at an auditory influence. Some have gone on to change the world using not just their tunes but also their talent of bringing a crowd together for a common purpose. Usually that purpose is dancing or rocking out but occasionally it can create a real social change. Here we will look at some of the most powerful ways that songwriters and bands have used their fame.

The Mysterious Lifespan of a Decision [Infographic]

The brain works in ways that scientists and doctors are still trying to figure out. For example, scientists believe they can use an MRI to determine somebody’s decision seconds before he or she is aware of it themselves. A problem is posed to consumers when they are examining the choices on the shelves before them. While consumers love to have choices, they also want to make a decision with ease. This is where slick marketing comes in to play.

Some experts believe that offering fewer choices is actually much better than offering more. It would appear that some people are more apt to make a purchase when there are few options available; they might be overwhelmed. In the end, all this information is used by companies to tailor their marketing tactics even more personally. Shoppers who use store loyalty cards are being analyzed each time they shop. Ultimately, each choice a shopper makes lives on long after it has been made.

Discover The World Of Alan Partridge

This summer will see the return of one of British broadcasting’s most beloved and admired figures, the man known to potentially billions of people thanks to the World Wide Web as Alan Partridge. Following the success of his Mid-Morning Matters show on the North Norfolk Digital station, and the release of his highly-regarded autobiography, movie producers have finally seen the potential of Partridge and given him the big screen debut that fans have been calling for for years.

Having begun his stellar career on hospital radio, Alan moved swiftly on to the heady heights of BBC radio, where his unambiguous talent was discovered and nurtured, leading to his now legendary chat-show. A series of unfortunate incidents led to his downfall however, and he spent several months in the entertainment wilderness before mounting his successful counter-attack, first with a well-regarded show called Skirmish on cable channel UK Conquest, and then his triumphant return to local Norfolk radio.

Partridge’s erudite delivery, easy charm and piercing interview techniques have earned him a loyal fanbase the world over. His connections to the county of Norfolk, where he was born and raised and continues to live, are well-known. If you’d like to get to know the real Alan, the man behind the fame, here are some must-visit spots: