A few people in New York talked about the earthquake after evacuating their office buildings. One woman said she thought she was going to pass out, and another guy said it shook his computer monitor and the lights in his office.  A seismologist from U.C. Berkley named Richard Allen was on Fox News yesterday, and explained that the earthquake in Japan back in March was more than 1,000 times stronger than the one on the East Coast. (more…)

Kate Winslet is being hailed as a hero by one of the richest men in the world.  On Richard Branson’s private island in the Virgin Islands, she helped rescue his 90-year-old mother when the house they were in got struck by lightning and caught fire.  No one was injured. (more…)

Perez Hilton says that Kim Kardashian raked in nearly $18 million dollars for her wedding with Kris Humpries. She’s expected to pull in anywhere between $12 million to $15 million for her E! special “Kim’s Fairytale Wedding: A Kardashian Event”, which will air in October.  Between selling her exclusive wedding pics to People magazine, bridal shower pics to OK! mag and her exclusive bachelorette party at Tao Las Vegas, Kim could retire for life!  He says her wedding was practically paid for so she and Kris will be able to pocket almost all of that money. (more…)

Debbie, from Fancy to Fantasy, stopped by to feed our live audience with some amazing breakfast burritos. We had our choice of eggs, bacon, lean chorizo and so much more.  Fancy to Fantasy supplies full service catering for both corporate and social events.  They also have home delivery services.  For more information on Fancy to Fantasy, visit www.fancytofantasy.com.

“Smokey and the Bandit” star Burt Reynolds, 75, reportedly faces losing his Florida home after failing to make mortgage payments.  According to ABC News Reynolds hasn’t made a mortgage payment on his 4-acre Hobe Sound, Florida, estate since Sept. 1, 2010.  He owes $1.2 million on the house.  Reynolds, in a statement, says this all comes as a surprise to him saying he thought his career and life could not be any better.  Reynolds says there a lot of people out there worse off than he is and he’ll hold his head up and ” continue to move on down the road.”

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Quick, what’s the smartest insect in the world? And how are they able to do things that even our best computers have to sweat over?

And if you didn’t know it yet, astronomers are discovering planets at an astonishing rate. In just a matter of years we’ve gone from only knowing about our own little solar system’s 8 (formerly 9), to cataloging hundreds and hundreds. They’re out there…and now a new one is causing a lot of head scratching. (FYI, the picture above is Yours Truly at the world-famous Keck Observatory in Hawaii)

Plus, what’s very similar to a tattoo, but could end up saving your life?

The answer, along with the rest of these stories and more, can be found down this path right here. C’mon, it’s time to get your nerd on.

Oscar-nominated actor, Gérard Depardieu, had to go to the bathroom just as the Air France flight from Paris to Dublin was about to take off on Tuesday.  Flight attendants asked him to wait just 15 minutes until the plane was in the air.  Instead, Depardieu, 62, urinated right on the floor.  The plane was forced to return to the terminal where the actor and his travel partners were kicked off the plane.  No arrests were made. (more…)

Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds hooked up … for a friendly hike in the Wyoming wilderness — along with Sandy’s adorable son Louis Bardo.  Ryan carried Louis in a backpack during the nature walk through Grand Teton National Park last weekend.   The trio is vacationing in Jackson Hole with a few other friends, but we gotta ask … (more…)

Say goodbye to “Kate Plus 8″….TLC is calling it quits on the entire franchise that ran for 8 years, (originally Jon and Kate Plus 8).  The show filmed 150 episodes and will continue to check in with the family from time to time with specials in the future. (more…)

Rules of Prey

By John Sandford

Reviewed by Dom

When John Sandford (a Minneapolis journalist whose real name is John Camp) first published this mystery/thriller twenty years ago, he introduced us to an interesting police detective who drives a Porsche and designs games. No, not video games, but role-playing games, including combat re-enactment stuff. In other words, not your typical tough-talking cop.

He also created a serial killer who is brutal, but is portrayed as intelligent and cunning. This killer, who goes by the tag “maddog,” leaves behind notes that contain his rules for a successful murder. For instance, one might say “never kill anyone you know.” Another insists “never carry a weapon after it has been used.” Our hero, Lieutenant Detect Lucas Davenport, is assigned the case, and everyone is breathing down his neck. The mayor is taking heat, the police chief is taking heat, along with everyone on the force. The media - painted by Sandford as conniving, cut-throat, morally-bankrupt snakes - are inflaming the fears of the good citizens of Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Of course, with any good crime/mystery/thriller, you’re watching to see if the bad guy makes a mistake, and if the detective is sharp enough to pounce. Rules of Prey offers loads of action, plenty of close calls, and a bad guy evil enough to keep you wishing for his demise.

A couple of things to note. If you’re bothered by gruesome crime details, this might not be for you. If you’re bothered by extremely sexist womanizing on the part of your protagonist, then you might not like Davenport. Impregnating one woman doesn’t stop him from sleeping with others.

The technology changes in the last two decades since the book was written make for a chuckle now and then. I loved it when Davenport had to find a pay phone, and when the killer uses his VCR.

There’s a reason that Sandford has sold a gazillion books. He’s around twenty or so Prey novels now, and they continue to do well. This story is very quick, the suspense is well-crafted, and the characters (although often slimy) are at least believable. I found myself wondering what happens to our soon-to-be-father detective by the end of this tale.

Rules of Prey is a good summer read, and a worthy addition to the Dom and Jane Book Club.