Morality vs. Punishment

Heads up, this post contains sports, but is more about morality.

Pete Rose is one of the All-Time greatest baseball players, leading the league in Hits, Games Played, At-bats and Outs. Add to that 3 World Series and batting titles, plus an MVP Award, 2 Gold Gloves and Rookie of the Year Awards, and 17 All-Star Games, his stats are hard to beat.

But for those that don't know him, their is a catch.

Pete Rose is not in the Hall of Fame. And if the league has their way, he never will be.

He is banned because he gambled on the game of baseball, including 52 games that he played in, in 1987, with minimum bets between 2K and 10K per day.

In a recent interview, Mr. Rose made a valid point, saying:

I made mistakes. I can't whine about it. I'm the one that messed up and I'm paying the consequences. And to be honest, I picked the wrong vice. I should have picked alcohol. I should have picked drugs or I should have picked up beating up my wife or girlfriend because if you do those three, you get a second chance.

He is 100% right.

He did an act that was wrong. And they didn't give him a second chance for it.

Others have done things even worse, and miss 7- 50- or 100- games, and then come back and continue playing.

The times have come to open the doors of Cooperstown for the great Charlie Hustle.

Mr. Selig, your last season as commissioner of Major Leage Baseball is next year, 2014. As a final act, grant Pete Rose admission into the Hall of Fame, which would be well deserved, as his outstanding stats were clearly not influenced by his actions.

Be The Best At What You Can Achieve

I went to Home Depot the other day looking for a particular light bulb.

It wasn't a typical bulb for an inside light, but rather a specialized outdoor bulb, that I needed in a specific wattage.

So while I am looking on the shelves for the bulb, I see a sales associate, so I ask him for help, showing him what I was looking for (I had the box with me).

So he takes the box from me and without saying anything just walks away down the aisle.

I pause for a second, and then follow him down the aisle, figuring he is taking me there.

He stops in front of a few bulbs, looks at the wattage on mine, and then starts searching in the shelves. Me standing next to him, see that they don't have in the wattage that I need.

He turns back to me, and just shakes his head to me, before handing back the box, and walking away.

As I was leaving I went to customer service, to find out if another Home Depot had the bulb I was looking for, so I could drive by and pick one up.

She said they didn't (after looking it up in the system), but then said I should ask the Head of the Lighting Department if he has any such bulbs hidden away somewhere.

She turns, and points me to the man who had helped me earlier, saying that he is the Head of the Department.

"Oh", she says, "by the way, he's deaf, but he'll help you find what you need."

And right then, the clarity hit me.

This man, who can't hear a thing, is in charge of the thing he does have full control over.

Sight. Light. And Darkness.

The lesson learned is that even if you can't do some things, find the things you can do, and do them to the best of your abilities.

Starbucks Baristas

Starbucks Baristas.

They control your life.

Your drink, if its messed up, can ruin your day. On the flip side, when made correctly, can warrant in a tip.

Why however do they question things?

I happen to always ask for my drinks "Extra Hot", since they are using cold milk, and that can leave the drink cold if not heated up enough.

The other reason I ask for "Extra Hot" is that I may not drink it for 20 minutes, and like this it is still hot when I get to it.

So when it was 90 degrees outside, I heard one Barista say to the other "Who gets their drink extra hot in this weather?"

$20's says she drinks Iced Coffee during a blizzard and doesn't think twice about it.

Car Shopping Dos and Donts

So I bought a car recently, and wanted to share some of the things I learned while buying and shopping for a car.

• Choose what you need instead of what you want. What you want will cost you thousands more, but when it ultimately comes down to it, what do you really need.
• The most classic example of that first point, is the seats. Do you really need leather seats? Or would the material seats be good enough? Personally, I went with material, because if you go on long drives, the leather gets to be really annoying after a short while.
• Air Conditioner - Yeah, seems like a given, but the options on this are pretty ranged these days. Some cars just have air conditioning vents in the front row, others give vents and/or even controls to the people in the rear row(s). I got mine with front row vents, and soon came to realize, that it gets very hot in the rear row, when the front row can be cold.
• Moonroof/Sunroof. Yes, their are two words for it. Yes, their is a difference. No, I won't get into that here. But I digress. While to many it seems like something they will never use, I got one, and actually quite enjoy it. It gives me the option (on the highway, where having the windows all the way down both is annoying (wind whipping you) and counter-productive (as the wind slows you down, using up more gas)) to crack open my windows a little, and open the giant hole in my roof fully, and get a wonderful breeze while the car is in motion. Because of this, I have actually used my air conditioning less this summer than I should have.
• A lot of cars these days have an "Auto-Park" feature. Don't bother spending the money on it.
• But one thing you NEED to have? Rear View Camera. While you wonder why I insist you get one, let me explain. I have been able to park, while using it, in spots about an inch larger than my car, without playing bumper cars. I also am able to do this, in one move, that's right - one, just backing in, straigtening out, and turning the car off, thanks to the help of the camera.
• 2WD/RWD/AWD - This is usually one of the major factors when deciding on a car. And quite frankly, if you an afford the increase in price, go for the All-Wheel Drive. Because the day of that first heavy snowfall, you'll get in the car, and the car will just power itself right out, where your old little RWD would've been struggling.

At the moment, I can't think of other pressing issues, but any car shoppers with questions, can feel free to ask them.

In my search for a car, I don't think there was a feature I didn't look into, or decide why I did (or didn't) want it, or need it.

Talk about thorough...but it is a monster purchase.

Yes, I'm ranting, but I gotta go now, the mail just came...holy cow, look at this car payment bill?!?!

MTV VMAs

Yeah, I will be watching the MTV Video Music Awards tonight.

And do you want to know why?

Nope, I'll bet you don't, but I'll say it anyways.

Because they are going to be awesome.

Where else will you see performances by Justin Timberlake and Katy Perry (plus tons more)?

But how many people remember when Britney stole the show in 2000?

For those that do, relive it below...for those that don't, pretend that you did and watch it! :)

TV at 5AM

I watch TV daily at 5AM.

And there is absolutely nothing on.

I've seen more infomercials for hoses then I need to. There are at least 3 different ones, that can all shrink to nothing and fit in your pocket. Not that I need another hose in my pocket.

So I tend to flip channels, trying to find something.

My two hopes at that time are Fox Sports Live or MTV.

With MTV, sometimes it is music videos, which work nicely if I know the song and the captions are in-sync.

The other one that I love is called "Ridiculousness". For those that haven't seen it, it's basically a hardcore version of America's Funniest Home Videos.

I have a basic cable that I watch it on (based off of Direct TV, but with the channels rerouted slightly), so if anyone knows of something good to watch at 5AM, I'm all ears.

Except not Law & Order or NCIS...I need to stay awake at 5AM.

Driving in NYC

A recent study found that men experience road rage 3X more frequently than woman do.

But as a driver in New York City, I experience it daily.

It's one of the things that makes people scared to drive here.

Everything from bikes in the third lane, to pedicabs going half the speed limit. And don't even start on the taxis.

If they have a fare, they will cut you off to get where they have to go. But have you ever been behind one that's looking for a fare? They couldn't be driving slower, and more annoyingly.

Almost as bad as the old people in the left lane on the highway.

Now, this may sound like a rant, but it really isn't.

I had a point to this post.

It's simple, you need to get over that fear.

Get out there and drive, do it safely, and keep your eyes on the road.

There is no more dangerous city in the world to be looking at a cell phone while driving. It takes just two seconds of a distraction to get in an accident in a regular city. Takes less than that here.

If you can't deal with it, don't get all the way into a side line, because the cabs will suddenly cut in front of you, to pick up/drop off fares.

Stick to a middle lane, and tread carefully.

Good luck people. And if you are in my way. I will honk you, because that's the worse I can legally do.

Dream Jobs and Bringing You Down

I am lucky to have landed in my dream job.

By dream job, I mean the one that when I started college I wanted to get, and through time and hard work have moved up to do.

And I am happy to say, I do my job fairly well.

However, there's one guy at work, who is a constant downer.

None of us know why he is so miserable.

It could be because he is no longer the youngest person to have risen through the ranks and do this position (I’m now the holder of that title), or it may be because he can’t move up anymore, since he’s clashed with the heads of those positions one too many times.

But last week, after a week of filling in for someone else, I was in a great mood, as I had done my job perfectly all week.

(Let me just throw it out there, that my work is seen by a lot of people, so if screw ups happen, which they do, they are often commented on, so with the amount of training I’ve had (still in the early stages), I am always happy when I can go long stretches, mistake free.)

And then he walked into the room, and decided to pick on something that was slightly off. And by slightly off, that should be read as “It was perfect, and not done wrong, just not done the exact way he would have done it”.

Man, it really brought me off my high.

But I stood up to him, and told him that he shouldn’t worry about it, and then walked away from it, not letting him get the upper hand on me.

And do you know why?

Because I’m an adult :)

Shabbos With Friends

This has become a theme in the “real world” of hosting people for Friday night Shabbos meals.

Oh, and by real world, I don’t mean “not in the blogosphere”.

I mean, with real people, like Natalie Portman.

Yup, you missed the chance, but you could’ve had Friday night dinner with her.

All you had to do was answer the following questions:

1.) Do you think it's a good idea for thousands of young Jews to come together in isolated areas every summer? If so, which camp did you attend?

2.) Seth Cohen: greatest Jew to be a main character on a teenage drama? Only Jew to be a main character on a teenage drama? Still socially acceptable to reference?

3.) Is your Bubbie the one who makes the world's best matzo ball soup? What is her recipe? Have you called her lately?

4.) How do you contribute to your community? Do you:

a.) Volunteer at soup kitchens

b.) Foster puppies

c.) Tutor children

d.) Assist old ladies crossing the street

e.) Dress up like a superhero and rescue your neighbors

5.) What was the theme of your Bar Mitzvah? To support this statement, please submit pictures of yourself from said event. Bonus points for Pepsi-7Up action shots and/or dancing with a girl at least a head taller with enough distance between you to leave room for the Lord.

I have seen a few organizations that do organize meals for random people, with an even amount of single guys and girls, in the hopes that someone might meet their match at the Friday night Shabbos table.

For more details on Natalie’s adventure, check the Huffington Post article.

Oh, and while I’m on her, how hardcore of a girl is she?

For those that haven’t seen her on Saturday Night Live, should take a look at this, but be forewarned, it's for Adult Audiences only.

She’ll never be the same Padmé Amidala again.

Jewish Dating Sites - Part 1

I have been on these for many, many months and years.

Signed up and paid for some of them, while others I just made the free account.

From YU Connects, to JWed and JDate, to ZivugZone and HareiAt.

But they all have one thing in common.

They are completely useless.

Girls make a profile, and never fill it in. Or make a full profile, yet don’t put a picture. Or worse, make a profile and never look at it again.

So you find one you like, and send it a message.

Sometimes they sit there for months, unread. Other times they are read within the first 24 hours (yes, some of the systems tell you when it is read), but never responded to.

Where is the courtesy? If you are not interested, yet someone took the time to write a message longer than “Hi, wanna date?”, couldn't you just respond “No thank you, I am not interested” or something along those lines, just so they know where you stand?

And if you are going to never use the account again, then click the “Inactive” button, so that guys don’t have to crawl through your profile, with a faint glimmer of hope, that maybe this girl will respond.

That’s right. The hope isn’t “Maybe she’ll go out with me” or “Maybe she’s the one”. The hope is that the girls will actually respond for once.

So sick and tired of this, but in a world where shidduch dating is full of lies (as no one can truly tell a shadchin what they really are, as its hard enough admitting it to yourselves), dating sites are the one fall back when you just want a shred of hope in your search.

On that note, I had a girl call me on Friday, who I had sent my number too in September of 2012. She started with "Hi, it's ____ from JWed"...yes, because I remember exactly who you are...been waiting beside my phone for you to call! Not.




Yeah...it doesn't fit exactly. But I still used it!

Opening Up

Over the course of the 19+ months I have had this blogger account, I have had conversations with a few of my fellow bloggers, some of whom I follow, they follow me, or no connection at all.

It has given me the ability to see what people are truly like, especially in this environment, where people are open, since they are veiled.

And then I have met others on here, who have opened up to me, and I to them, about our real selves and personalities, and what we really want in life, or what we actually are like.

Part of the change in the style of this blog was that it needed a sense of direction. (BTW, background picture, taken by the Minds themselves. I think it's pretty cool.)

Last week I was talking to Cymbaline (from Obscured By Clouds), and she asked me what I thought was the reason I went back and read other blogs, and kept returning to them. And when I realized what that is, I would be able to blog better myself.

Well, whilst I was unable to answer that question, one of the things about the other blogs I read, is that they are all personal feelings, and one writer.

So that led me to get rid of the others, making this blog be more about me.

And to write more about myself, and my thoughts, than just posting for the sake of posting.

We'll see if it works out :)

Except Altie I guess...since I was all talk and no blog to begin with!

Changing Our Minds

Since the Minds were pried open last April, the look and feel has been the same (minus a 20 minute change once upon a time...which was a flop...and also had removed some fun Easter Eggs, thanks Jewish Gal for noticing that one).

But after a month of posting daily, the Minds are heading into surgery.

Over the weekend (and hopefully done by then) the look of the blog will change slightly.

Plans include getting rid of the dark undertones (AKA: The background), and contributing writers (The Cautious Couple will hopefully find their own way, and The Shomer Toucher, has long since left the blog-o-sphere), and hopefully turning this blog into a great focal point for conversation and thoughts.

Thanks to the 17,000 views before now, and for the next 17,000 views as well.

Have in mind this weekend Wondering Minds b. Tziporah Bloggah, and see y'all on the flip side!

Waze, No Waze.

Israeli start-up company Waze, recently bought by Google, is a GPS/Maps app, that uses user input for the best trip.

Drivers are able to input accidents, traffic, or the favorite, "Cop Location", among other things.

Mark down speed traps and other cop hideouts, when you spot them, and the people behind you will forever be grateful.

But what I don't understand: Why don't the cops use this too?

If they are hiding out somewhere, and see themselves show up on Waze, wouldn't they want to change locations?

Isn't this a feature that can help both ways?

Britain's New Censorship Laws - Soon Coming to Canada?

The UK has been pushing laws to censor the internet, from a new angle.

Instead of putting censors on your computer, or having to call the cable provider to block the things you don't want, they are approaching it the opposite way.

All cable providers will now block pornography, and the likes, automatically, unless you call them up and specifically request access to it.

And now, Joy Smith, a Canadian politician, is pushing for these laws to come to Canada.

Personally, I think it is a great idea to protect kids this way, by not allowing the stuff into the house, unless specifically requested...

But everyone knows that Daddy is going to get that added into the plan, the first week that Mommy goes away for business...and once its in the house, we are back to square one.

Daddy's excuse?

"I have no idea how that got there."

CC - Looking For A Place To Live

One of the hardest things we had to do, as we led up to our wedding and the months afterwards, was finding a place to live.

For starters, we both had different needs in what we were looking for.

CG - I wanted a nice porch (enclosed) so that we can sit outside on a nice evening, and not get bit by mosquitoes.

MA - And I wanted an office space within the house, both to keep my stapler (Office Space reference), and a place to do work as needed.

CG - We both wanted a nice size kitchen, bedroom and living area.

We have both been lucky in life, both in lineage and careers, and whilst money is not flowing, it is there when needed to make purchases, especially from the savings accounts.

So we started off after our wedding in a small apartment in The Bronx, NY, while we continued to look around for a place to start a family.

And in May, two months after our wedding, we found the house we had wanted, within the budget we had set aside for it.

But those two months were not easy. From looking at homes that had no upkeep on them, to houses that just wouldn't hold up if you put a nail in the wall, it's a tough thing to do.

CG - For those wondering, we did get the wants of both of us, and then some other things too.

So for those of you out there looking for a place, don't give up on what you are looking for! It's all about getting lucky on the right day!

Brooklyn Judaism Has Hit Britain

Many years ago in Brooklyn, at a ShopRite located on the border of Flatbush and Boro Park, a controversy arose.

For those that don't know Flatbush and Boro Park are big Jewish communities, that help make up Brooklyn, NY, the largest Jewish community outside of Israel.

The controversy was simple:

The Jewish people that came to the ShopRite didn't want to see the covers of the smutty magazines that were being sold there.

Now, this wasn't just about Playboy and Hustler, this included People and Newsweek.

So ShopRite complied and put black partitions in front of the magazine covers, so that just the titles stuck out, for those looking for the magazine.

In my opinion, this isn't fair to the Magazines, as the way they sell, is on impulse, based on the main story, generally featured on the front page.

And now, Britain has instituted it as well.

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/modesty-please-cover-those-sexy-magazine-covers-6C10783170

Seems like the rest of the world is catching up on modesty!

Tune in Wednesday when I discuss the new Porn rules there as well.

Hanukkah and Thanksgiving: A once in eternity overlap

This year features an anomaly for American Jews – The first day of Hanukkah coincides with Thanksgiving, on 11/28/2013.

It turns out that it has never happened before...and it will never happen again.

Thanksgiving is set as the fourth Thursday in November, meaning the latest it can be is 11/28. 11/28 is also the earliest Hanukkah can be. The Jewish calendar repeats on a 19 year cycle, and Thanksgiving repeats on a 7 year cycle. You would therefore expect them to coincide roughly every 19x7 = 133 years. Looking back, this is approximately correct – the last time it would have happened is 1861. However, Thanksgiving was only formally established by President Lincoln in 1863. So, it has never happened before. Why won't it ever happen again?

The reason is because the Jewish calendar is very slowly getting out of sync with the solar calendar, at a rate of 4 days per 1000 years (not bad for a many centuries old calendar!) This means that while presently Hanukkah can be as early as 11/28, over the years the calendar will drift forward, such that the earliest Hanukkah can be is 11/29. The last time Hanukkah falls on 11/28 is 2146 (which happens to be a Monday). Therefore, 2013 is the only time Hanukkah will ever overlap with Thanksgiving.

Of course, if the Jewish calendar is never modified in any way, then it will slowly move forward through the Gregorian calendar, until it loops all the way back to where it is now. So, Hanukkah will again fall on Thursday, 11/28...in the year 79,811.

Written by Lena Lieb, of the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC - Houston, Texas

Good Will Hunting

16 years since this movie, and it is still an amazing specimen.

Think about the first time you saw this movie.

For me, it was at least 7 years ago, and rewatching it now, I can't believe my parents let me see it then. With every third word being "fuck".
I mentioned this to a close friend, and they said they had sat down to watch it with their mother...who couldn't believe she had watched it with her own mother, with the language in the movie.

But in the bigger picture, it was the start of great careers for two of the greatest actors of the Modern Day.

Whilst Ben Affleck and Matt Damon had been in a few movies before this, this was to be the moment they revealed themselves to the world.

Two nobody kids, writing a movie, and casting themselves as the lead. All the while pulling in Robin Williams and Stellan Skarsgård.

The movie took in $138 million (by inflation standards, that is almost $200 million today).

And now, they are two of the biggest names out there.

If that movie came out today, it would bring in their total numbers, in the opening weekend...but it would cost 10X as much to make, as their own cuts would have to be larger.

"If the Professor calls about that job, just tell him, sorry, I had to go see about a girl."

...where is my Stanford?...

Most Popular Food In America

I heard a statistic recently that surprised me.

Did you know what the most popular food in America is?

The answer: The Burger.

The statistic showed that on average, a person eats a burger once every 9 days.

Now, obviously not all of us do that, but that's why it's an Average.

The cool thing about burgers is they can contain so many different types of meats, toppings and spices.

My favorite is a Beef Burger with Hot Pastrami on top.

How about you? Beef? Lamb? Chicken? Turkey? Something else entirely? What's your burger of choice?

CC - Cooking For Her

MA here. And yes, you read the title correctly.

I cook for my wife.

We usually split it half-half, with her doing Shabbos day and half the weekdays, and me doing Friday nights and the other half.

But the biggest challenge for me is figuring out what to cook.

Meat? Dairy? Frying? Baking? Grilling?

If I could just figure out what to make, it is as simple as going to the store and picking out the ingredients and putting them all together.

But I lack the creativity to pick a different item each night.

Which is why we will be having a pasta-based dish again tonight...

CG - When I entered this relationship, I assumed I would be doing the woman's duties of cooking and baking. And then I got the pleasant surprise that he could cook.

But honey, please leave the baking to me :) I don't like raw flour in my pastries!

Don't Do Me Any Favors

Whilst I sit here boredly writing this post, I think about what you said to me today.

"We didn't want to ask for your help, because we didn't want to bother you."

Well that's nice of you.

But now I am sitting here bored, as usual.

I don't mind if you ask for my help doing something every day.

And you should know that by now.

And probably do now that by now.

But don't want to make a habit out of it.

So instead I sit here bored.

So please, don't do me any favors by not taking advantage of me.

Failed Logic of College Students

College students are pretty stupid.

And I have proof.

When I was in college, I suggested something to my classmates, to which no one else thought was a good idea.

I'll start with the premise: The Professor grades on a curve. So the highest score becomes an A, and everyone else is graded accordingly.

Well, what if everyone gets a 0 on the test? Wouldn't that mean that everyone deserves the A, since they are all the highest score?

Now, before you say that this is a crazy idea, and their is no way it can ever work, I present to you, a real life case, of 56 students, in 3 classes, with 1 professor, that did it, and it was allowed.

The article is in the August issue of Wired (found halfway down this page), and states:

For the past seven years, Peter Fröhlich, a computer science professor at Johns Hopkins University, has given the highest score on big exams an A, adjusting everyone else’s results accordingly. Fair enough—unless all the students in three of his programming classes sign a pact, as they did last fall, promising they’d skip the exam, thus guaranteeing A’s for everyone. Here’s how the crafty buggers pulled it off. 

Now, if you ask me, that's an honest Professor right there. The syllabus is a binding agreement to the class, by which the Professor states his rules and regulations for the class. And Peter Frohlich stuck to it.

Now if only there were more honest Professors out there...and more students willing to read the rules, and use them to their advantage!

It's not pun-ny.

- Apparently Neil Armstrong used to tell unfunny jokes about the Moon, and follow them up with, oh well, I guess you had to be there.

- I've been seeing a weather girl, thought it'd make a change to date a woman that wasn't always right.

- Facebook is a lot like ancient Egypt. People writing on walls and worshiping cats.

- If Bill Gates had a penny for every time I had to reboot my computer....oh wait, he does.

- My new favorite band is Dog Whistle, you haven't heard them.

- Never hit a man with glasses. Hit him with a baseball bat.

- I was going to get a power-gate for my driveway entrance, but with gate power comes gate responsibility.

- School children shouldn't be separated according to academic ability, it'll only end in tiers.

- I've just bought a new Prince Charles commemorative teapot, it never reigns, but it pours.

- Dyslexic IT technicians wait ages for a USB, then three come along at once.

- Everything is edible, some things though, are only edible once.

- A good sermon should be like a woman's skirt: Short enough to rouse the interest, but long enough to cover the essentials.

- Money can't buy happiness. But it's more comfortable to cry in a Benz than it is on a bike.

- My friends horse will only come out when it gets dark. It's becoming a night mare.

- I wrote a song about a tortilla. It's actually more of a wrap.

- I was once bit by a German Shepard. Then he apologized and even introduced me to his dog.

- I got an e-mail saying: "At Google Earth we can read maps backwards!". I thought to myself: That's just Spam.

- What do you call kids with lisps, born in whorehouses? Brothel sprouts.

- I tried sniffing Coke once, but the ice cubes got stuck in my nose.

- I just found out my new toaster isn't waterproof. I was shocked.

CC - Caught In The Act

MA                                                                ***

She caught me yesterday.

The girl walked by, she had nice legs under a mini skirt, and my head turned as she walked by.

And CG saw me do it.

There is nothing that could be said at that point.

I felt like the dog caught going to the bathroom on the rug, and knows he was supposed to do it outside.

She calmly asked: "Really?"

To which I could have said: "What are you talking about?"

But I knew. And she knew that I knew. And I knew that she knew that I knew.

So I didn't even play the gender card, you know which one I mean: "Come on honey, I'm a guy. I couldn't help myself!"

Instead I did the manly thing.

I turned to the closest smoothie stand, and bought her the largest Strawberry Mango Smoothie they had.

Actions are truly louder than words.

                                                                      ***                                                                      ***
                                                                      ***                                                                      ***

CG                                                                ***

*Sigh.* He needs to be trained.

I know he's going to look at other girls, especially when they wear clothes that I can't wear.

But does he really have to do it when I'm STANDING. RIGHT. THERE?!

But with all that said and done...it really was a good smoothie :) Thanks hun!

Books To Look Out For

Over the last decade (give or take a few years), we have seen a few great series that have catapulted to the top of the Best-Seller lists.

Now some of you may or may not like some of these books, but facts are facts.

J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter.
Suzanne Collins and The Hunger Games.
Stephenie Meyer and Twilight.
E.L. James and 50 Shades of Grey.
Stieg Larsson and The Millennium Series.

But now that it is August 1st, it's time to look out for the next big series, that is set to debut this month.

What's that? If it hasn't even put out one book yet, how can it be the next big thing?

Well, simple. All the experts say that it is. And we know that they can't be wrong!

The author is Samantha Shannon.

18 years old from London, England, and the writer of The Bone Season.

This seven part series, of which, the first books movie rights have already been bought, will come out over the next few years, with the first book due out August 20th.

For a brief summary, let's turn to Forbes Magazine:

This book will be the first installment in what will eventually be a seven-part series about clairvoyants in a dystopian future struggling against a totalitarian government and its supernatural overlords.

All I can say is, it sounds awesome to me!

Hope the rest of you feel the same.