17 Ways To Get Free Books

Every once in a while you stumble upon a website that has interesting and helpful information in a easy to read package. I think The Frugal Panda is one of those sites. What first caught my attention was their headline advertisement (see my headline above) . It has all the basic components of piquing curiosity:

• everyone stops at the word "free". It doesn't have to be at the front of the sentence. You still see it and stop.
• men like lists, and "17 ways" incites list curiosity.
• the word "books" shows that it's not just a tease to attract me to the site. If I like books, I am interested, if I don't, I move on. You could change the word to "furniture" or anything else and the people interested will continue. But, "17 Ways to Free . . ." doesn't work for me because it is not specific enough, especially for internet advertising.
  

But as important as the headline, the site delivered as promised. At first glance and in the detail. Here's the link:

17-ways-to-get-free-books

What do you think?

Taquiero San Antonio

On the western side of Camp Bowie Boulevard is an old Taco Bell or some-such that has been converted into a pretty good Mexican restaurant.

We had lunch there yesterday, and if it weren't for the fact that I live on the exact opposite side of town I would go again. Order-at-the-counter and limited seating, but good tacos, with beans and rice at a very reasonable price. If you're looking for made-at-your-table guacamole or unlimited chips, salsa and pico de gallo, go elsewhere. Taquiero San Antonio reminds me of the restaurant you pull into when traveling in mainland Mexico -- good, homemade, inexpensive food and friendly service.

Just as we were leaving I noticed what most people were ordering to go: piping hot, home made tamales. They looked very good.

The menu is as expected: tacos, enchiladas, quesidillas, tamales, with your choice of 5 or 6 meats. They all looked fresh. The tortillas weren't the best I have had at like restaurants but good enough. Chips and salsa are extra and probably not worth it, the salsa is the chili-sauce and not great for dipping tortilla chips. Again, stick to what they do well.

Try them next time you are on the west side of Fort Worth. I will go back for the tamales, especially.

Taqueria San Antonio
7905 W. Camp Bowie Blvd.
Fort Worth
817-560-8000

The image is unrelated except that it is Christmas season; it is The Adoration of the Shepherds, by Caravaggio. You can see a larger and clearer image at http://www.artbible.info/art/large/433.html

I Used to Eat Dirt . . . and other food trends.

If you were born between the years 1950 and 1960 it is altogether possible that you, at some time or other, took a taste of your front yard. Why kids before then and kids after then didn't, I don't know, but my scientific inquiries into the matter have led me to conclude that the 50's was the period of children eating dirt. I was one of them.

Now we find that those 50's kids were cutting edge food enthusiasts. According to many reports of health and food trends, pro-biotics is considered at the top of the hip food list http://bit.ly/eeVWJU. For those not in the know, pro-biotics research suggests that bacteria found in healthy soil is an important element to a healthy stomach and intestine, which are critical to overall health. Want to meet girls in the pro-biotics world? Use the phrase, Gut Flora, it gets them every time.

Yet another food trend is salt. Not the Morton's blue cylinder box. The kind from the Himalaya's or the Dead Sea or some other far off place. Central Market in Keller has dozens of choices including many colors and textures. I'm just glad I can eat salt again of any kind. But I would like to meet the marketing guys who decide where their salt is going to come from and what story to tell of its healing properties.

Water is a trend, although a downhill one -- actually, not the water but its bottle. The landfills are filled with them, making drinking a bottle of Fiji Water in Austin as dangerous as wearing mink in New York. Soccer mom beware, you may be spray-painted mid-sip by a crazed (and thirsty, no doubt) eco-terrorist. Then again, if you acquire status from drinking a $2 bottle of water you probably deserve it.

Anyway, the next time you see your child eating something from the front yard go easy on him, who knows, worms may wriggle their way to a food trend yet.