Cross over TV shows seem to be the trend. Two or more shows intertwine their casts to produce one long two- or three-hour show. So far, I haven’t seen one cross over that would challenge the writers and producers. Most shows in a crossover use the same writers and/or producers. Here’s my list of cross over TV shows I like to see.
 

1. The Walking Dead and Dancing with the Stars
2. The Biggest Losers and Mike and Molly
3. Bless This Mess and This Old House
4. 2 Broke Girls and Mad Money
5. Hoarders and American Pickers
6. The Bachelor and The Bachelorette
7. Will and Grace and Duck Dynasty
8. Dr. Pimple Popper and American Beauty Star
9. The Price is Right and Let’s Make a Deal
10. The 700 Club, Brooklyn 99, Hawaii 50 and 911 (equals 1760).

​I read with interest some dating apps tips from an internet privacy expert Dalvin Brown on USA Today, Dalvin mentioned not giving out personal information, not switching apps, turning off location setting, etc. His recommendations were not meant to be all-inclusive. Here are some he missed:

1. Don’t send nude pictures on your dating app unless sexting is specially permitted.
2. Don’t confuse your dating app for a revenge porn website.
3. If you want to find a date that is interested in you and not how you look, post an ugly picture. Use something like a picture of Bigfoot.
4. Don’t use a suggestive, fictional names such as Big Richard or Pussy Galore.
5. If you want to be transparent, post a transparent picture of yourself.
6. Don’t discuss your finances, life insurance, etc. if you want to live after your date.
7. Don’t discuss your children or how many kids you’d like to have. This could be a deal breaker.
8. Don’t discuss your gun collection, drinking/drug problems, sex addiction/fantasies, marital status or political views--at least, not at first.
9. Don’t disclose which AA meeting you attend.
10. Don’t disclose how much life insurance you have.

 
I have these tips will make your dating experience a happy one.

My newest novel, A Head for Murder, was published as an e-book on Jan 23, 2020 on Amazon. Please spread the word. Below is a short description of the book.

A Head for Murder
 
The possibility of performing head transplants was considered in the early 1900s. With improved technology and more accurate ability to keep neural tissue perfused, medical professionals are now ready to attempt head transplants; or more accurately, body transplants. Keith Andrew was not the first person to undergo a total body transplant, but he was the only one still alive. Keith’s medical team had a high level of confidence he would survive and live to a ripe old age. He was thankful for whatever more time he could get. His terminal cancer would have killed him in a few more months.
 
A compatible donor was quickly found, and the transplant performed. While still in a coma, Keith had visions that the donor was the victim of a robbery gone wrong. Keith became convinced that he had to solve his murder. It was a case with few clues and no suspects.

​I read with interest an article on my Microsoft News—Insider by Sophia Mitrokostas, “11 Things you Should Never Do in a Grocery Store, According to Former Employees”. The list was not all inclusive. Most of the things she listed concerned consideration for the employees and other customers. Here are some more things you should never do in a grocery store:
 

1. Do not have sex in the store. I would think this should be top of the list. This is just gross. This apply especially to the frozen food section if you’re trying to get pregnant.
2. Don’t have food fights. This should go without saying, but so often people do it, so it must be said.
3. Do not drink from juice or milk bottles and then place them back on the shelves. Again, gross.
4. Do not get into the line for under 15 items if you have 16 or more items. This is one of my pet peeves. People have been shot for less.
5. Do not fart in the store. Go to the restroom to fart. Farting in an empty isle doesn’t work, because your farts linger longer than you think.
6. Do not use deodorant or toothpaste and then place the item back on the shelves. No one want to buy a partially used item.
7. Do not leave your clothes in the restroom if you’re shoplifting. Chances are you will leave your DNA or some other ID.
8. Do not circle back for more free samples more than twice. No one likes a hog.
9. Do not take the shopping carts home. Someone may spot you and report it.
10. Do not yell, “I won!” at the ATM when you withdraw money. No one thinks that’s funny anymore.
11. Do not read an entire newspaper or magazine without purchasing it. Your prints are all over it.
12. Do not race with the grocery carts. You might run over someone.
13. Do not sample the ice cream without purchasing it. No one wants to find bites missing from a new carton of ice cream.
14. Do not set up a table by the exit to sell kisses. Kisses should be free.
15. Do not juggling the fruit or can goods. The fruit gets bruised and the cans dented.

 
If you follow these additional tips, your shopping experience should be enjoyable.

​You don’t really know yourself until you must share yourself with a significant other. Then you learn the truth about you.

1. I’m not affectionate—My wife says I’m not very affectionate. Apparently, there’s a difference between be affectionate and being horny. Who knew?
2. I don’t listen—My wife says I don’t listen to her, or something such nonsense like that.
3. I have anger management issues— This one isn’t true. I don’t have anger management issues. I just have a low tolerance for idiots.
4. I’m a slob—No one knows they’re a slob until they get married. I thought I was a free spirit.
5. I look at other women--I reminded my wife that’s how I found her. I reassured her I would never sleep with another woman; not a wink.
6. I mumble—My wife says I mumble. I think her hearing is going, but I dare not say anything. She would accuse me of mumbling.
7. I have a unique sense of humor. I discovered this when I would laugh at somethings and my wife would not.
8. I’m too aggressive AND too defensive. Apparently, there’s a very narrow zone between being too aggressive and being too defensive. I need to learn how to occupy that space.
9. I’m self-centered. This is another thing I discovered after I got married. As single person, I only worried about myself.
10. I’m not as smart, as good looking, as funny, or as sexy as I think I am. That’s odd because those are the very traits that my wife found attractive when we dated.

What did you discover about yourself after you got married?

There were at least 16 separate security breaches of retailers in 2018. Data breaches are on the rise for both retailers and other businesses. The list includes Macy's, Bloomingdales, Adidas, Sears, Kmart, Delta Airlines, Best Buy, Saks Fifth Ave., Lord & Taylor, Under Armour, Panera Bread, Whole Foods, Arby’s, and the list goes on. In 2020 we’ll see more of the same. Now might be a good time to resolve to make yourself unhackable in 2020. (Okay, unhackable isn’t a word but you know what I mean.) Thieves steal information and use it to charge thousands of dollars on credit cards. I worried about that until I discovered how to become 100% unhackable. Just follow my simple steps and you too will be unhackable:
 1. Stop using computers. I know you're thinking, Duh! Of course. Me too. It's so obvious. If you don't use a computer, you can't be hacked. Years ago, old computers and monitors were used as boat anchors. Now days they are too small for that. Here's an idea – laptops make good serving trays. Why do you need a computer? You can get the news from the TV. You can write to your contacts. You can still use the land line. If you need a document, get out the pen and paper. Need more than one copy? Use carbon paper. (you younger folks can mail {no e-mail please} me and I'll explain what carbon paper is.) Don't pay your bills online, use the post office.

2. Stop using your cellphone. This was a double duh. No one can hack into your cellphone if you don't have one. If you want a selfie, use a Polaroid camera. That way your naughty pictures are safe. If you want to talk to your friends, write them a letter. You do remember how to write, don't you? If you want directions, stop and ask at a gas station or buy a map.

3. Don't throw paper in the trash. This is where thieves get some of the information they need to get credit cards in your good name. Stop it! Buy a shredder and shed your papers. If you can't afford a shredder, burn the paper in your fireplace. If you don't have fireplace, put duct tape on both sides of important documents. Trust me, it works. To be extra safe; put duct tape on your papers, shred them and then burn them in the fireplace then eat the ashes.

4. Don't use credit cards. Again, duh! No credit card–nothing to hack. Just pay cash for everything. You end up paying anyway so what the heck? Take the old credit cards and cut them up. Here's another idea–if you cut out the magnetic strip, old credit cards can be used as luggage tags. If you're good at cutting things, you can use them to make earrings.
5. Don't mail anything in your mailbox. The mailbox is another source of information for thieves. Stop mailing stuff from home or office. Take it to the post office.
6. Don't use banks. If the bank doesn't have your information, when they get hacked--and they will someday--you are still safe. You should insist that your employer pay you in cash and not by direct deposit. Put your money in a safe place like under your mattress.

7. Stop using ATMs. Thieves put special devices in ATMs to steal your credit card and banking information. If you need money, just go to the bank or borrow it from your brother-in-law. If he doesn't have the money, tell him to go to an ATM.​

Wishing you an unhackable new year.

Things that will Baffle Archaeologists in the Year 3030

According to archaeologists, recent excavations at the site of what was in ancient times, New York City have revealed that modern humans used a small handheld device to communicate with other humans Apparently, telepathy was unknown at the time. New York City was abandoned when the sea rose from climate warming and swamped most of the city rending it uninhabitable. At the time, many humans didn’t believe in global warming.

Researchers exploring the sunken city of Miami, Florida have found evidence that modern humans in the early 21st century used small cards made of plastic to trade or make purchases for goods. Many such cards have often been found buried with people, but their purpose has only recently been determined. Oddly enough, the cards have no known value. Most of the burial sites found in what used to be Florida contained the bodies of older adults. It’s believed that Florida was a community burial site until global warming raised the sea and inundated Florida.

A rare drawing of a four wheeled vehicle of some sort has been discovered on a 1,100-year-old paper poster at the site of the ancient city of Baltimore. It’s believed that humans of that period used these vehicles for transportation. Levitation and teletransportation were unknown during that period of ancient history. The drawing is very rare because most paper products molded when Baltimore sank.
​
Researchers believe that modern humans mated using a ritual known as “dating”. It’s theorized that following this ritual, the couple or couples would have sex, another ancient ritual for creating offspring. The art of designing babies in special labs was not developed until the 25th century. Modern humans stopped have sex somewhere around the 26th century, although most humans had forgone sex way before then. The matching of two people was perfected with the use of artificial intelligence sometime in the 22nd century, thus ending the ancient ritual of dating.
 
Archaeologists have determined that modern humans kept certain animals as pets. No one knows why since robot pets are better behaved and never need to be walked or cleaned up after, nor do they consume food. All animal life other than humans and insects became extinct somewhere around the 23rd century.
 
Researchers now believe that modern humans were very violent, often resulting in killing each other. This was a long-held theory that was only recently proven through excavations of ancient cities. It’s believed that violence was finally breed out of existence in the 23rd century. The last recorded war occurred sometime in the 22nd century in the Middle East. The last cyber war was in the 23rd century.
 
 Researchers have concluded that modern humans used to send their children to institutes of higher learning in order to educate them. Knowledge through drugs was in its infancy at the time. It was thought then that children and young adults could learn by attending classes and lectures. This technique is believed to have still been popular as late as the 23rd century.
 
Archaeologists have now found evidence that modern humans continued to work well into the 24th century. The need for work and money ended with the invention of the modern materializers created by artificial intelligence. Sculptures and statues depicting humans working were found underwater in the ruins of what was once Los Angeles, a city in the former state of California. Sometime around the year 2105, the western part of California broke off and submerged in the Pacific Ocean following an earthquake.
 
Scientists have agreed to refer to the period from the year 2100 to 2600 as the First Smog Age. They warn that we must remain vigilant to avoid a second Smog Age.
 
Researchers have recovered two bodies from the last remaining glacier which finally melted completely. The bodies appear to be two miners who died in route to the California Gold Rush of 1848. Previous bodies were mostly skiers or hikers.

​I read with interest an article on my news feed by Rachel Hosie (Insider Health), “The 5 best pieces of gym etiquette advice that fitness aficionados want newbies to know.” She mentioned: 1. Put your weights back when you're done.
2. Put your ego aside and don't lift too heavy.
3. Don't be intimidated.
4. No one is judging you.
5. Don't hog equipment.
 
There are, of course, more than five rules of gym. As a public service, I’ll will now post some more rules:

1. If you bring vodka disguised in a water bottle, bring enough to share.
2. Don’t drop your soap in the shower.
3. When doing reps, don’t start counting at twenty. No one’s fooled by that anymore.
4. Don’t keep looking at your cellphone while lifting. Cute kittens are okay.
5. Don’t secretly take pictures to post on social media.
6. Don’t eat beans before a heavy lifting workout.
7. Use a towel to wipe off your sweat, not your neighbor’s butt.
8. Try not to make ugly faces when lifting. If that’s your real face, then it’s okay.
9. Don’t fall asleep on a bench.
10. Don’t ask the staff if they have valet parking.

I hope these rules make your workout at the gym more fun.

​Start off the new year by resolving to get along with co-workers using these helpful tips:

1. Always use the same drug dealer as your co-workers. Using a different dealer creates suspicion.
2. If you have blackmail worthy information on your boss from the New Year’s party, negotiate a pay raise for everyone not just yourself.
3. It’s considered rude to post pictures of your co-workers on porn sites without their permission.
4. If you use the office coffee pot, be sure to lick the spoon clean after each use.
5. Do not hit on the boss or children of the boss. Set higher standards; hit on the boss’s significant other.
6. If you steal office supplies, never take the last item especially toilet paper.
7. If you play games on your office computer, try to include all your co-workers.
8. If you have sex at the office, try to include all your co-workers.
9. Remember that “casual Fridays” does not mean “clothing optional”.
10. If you’re stealing funds from the company, always pay a percentage to each co-worker.
11. Never report anything to HR with giving your co-worker a chance to pay a bribe.
12. When confronted by reporters, 20/20, the FBI, or CNN always reply, “No comment.”.
13. Never loan money to co-workers for less than 20% interest.
14. Never gossip at the worksite. That’s what social media sites  are for.

If you follow these simple guidelines you should get along with your co-workers.