Wrath of the Titans

I saw Wrath of the Titans today. Actually, I was a bit disappointed. The beginning 3/4ths of the movie was rather slow, the dialogue rather mundane, and I swear everyone was mumbling. The last 1/4th was good, but overall, it wasn't even a billionth as good as the original in my opinion. I should've waited for it to come out on DVD instead. Oh well.

Collectibles tidbit...Antique Tiffany Tiles and Mid-Century Modern 1950s Dunbar Furniture

Antique tidbit for the day. In the 1950s some of the tables and lamps produced by Dunbar, designed by Edward Wormley, came inlaid with genuine antique Louis Comfort Tiffany Favrille glass tiles, which were produced in the early 1900s and often used around fireplaces and mantlepieces. Where and when the Dunbar Furniture Company managed to get such an abundance of such antique tiles is something I am still researching, although legend has it that Edward Wormley bought a large lot of them in an auction early in the 1950s.

Don't forget to check out my book!

http://www.amazon.com/Ebay-Beyond-Antiques-Collectibles-ebook/dp/B006O44G0Q/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_5

I Love Proving my Mom Wrong...

So I had a garage sale with my Mom today. Prior to this, it had been established that I was going to sell a couple of larger antique/vintage furniture pieces since most people on Ebay won't buy stuff like that since shipping prices are too high right now.

She assured me that, "No one was going to buy those ugly, clunky things." I assured her they would. Both were mid-century pieces (A large starburst topped table with 4 watermelon colored chairs) and a black and turquoise telephone table/stand) and, having written a book on antiques and collectibles and knowing exactly what is hot and what is not, I knew what was in demand.

So, I said, "Okay, whatever mom", and put them up for sale anyway. The FIRST buyer we had today? She bought both of them.

Ah...I love it when I'm right. :)

http://www.amazon.com/Ebay-Beyond-Antiques-Collectibles-ebook/dp/B006O44G0Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333128552&sr=8-1

The Adventures of Tintin Animated Feature

I rented this on Blu-Ray yesterday and all I have to say is...wow. It was, hands down, the best computer generated animation I have ever seen. The humans were SO realistic. They just keep getting better and better. One day, I'm sure we won't even be able to tell the difference between real and computer generated. As a side note, the story was actually quite good! A little drawn out at times, and the movie was probably a little longer than I had wanted it to be, but overall...a rather good film. It gets better as time goes on, so don't give up on it once you start watching it!

The Hunger Games

I never read the book series, but I saw the movie yesterday. I've got to say...hearing that youngsters were offing one another was much easier to hear about than to see. I thought I could handle the older of the teens doing it, but when young 12 year olds and such were getting killed, I quickly realized how horrible stuff like that was and how much of a pacifist I am. Honestly, if you're going to take someone to see this, be fully aware that kids who look even YOUNGER than 12 (Which was supposed to be the minimum age for "tribute" from what I can recall) are getting slaughtered, so make sure you know they can handle it and that it won't affect them. If I had kids, I definitely would NOT take them to see this. Sorry, but I just wouldn't.

Video Book Summaries for my Ebooks now on Youtube

I decided to make a video blog of my books in order to better explain the reasoning behind each of them. Sorry about the contrast issues. I swear I'm not a vampire!

https://www.youtube.com/user/brighteyes6u?feature=mhee

Relationships - Searching for a mate - STOP TRYING TO UPGRADE !!!

I find it really interesting how people are always trying to upgrade when looking for a mate. What I mean is that we have a society filled with people constantly trying to get better (In their opinion, at least) than what they happen to be physically.

Even if a woman is, as an example, a mere 5 foot, they somehow instinctively think that they need a much taller man, and sometimes even way over the American average in height. Or, if a woman or a man happens to be plain, somewhat cute, or not even cute at all, that they think they actually have a shot at people who looked like they stepped off a runway, or out of a swimsuit magazine or off of a calendar.

It boggles the mind. The reason for my rant is simple, and it all has to do with a recent profile I read from a woman who was a mere 5 ft 2 and she stated that she would not even respond to anyone who was under 5 ft 11. Was I a bit unnerved by that? As a man who is only 5 ft 8, of course I was. However, it went deeper than that because even the average American male after the age of 20 is only 5 ft 9 1/2. (5 ft 10 for those Americans between the age of 20-29)

The height thing always made me wonder, actually, because it's self-defeating to the human race to want people who keep getting taller and taller and taller. Most people who make it to one hundred plus actually are on the shorter side, and it's not all due to shrinkage. (Which only accounts for an average of 1-2 inches by the time someone is old)

Basically, if you have the same engine in a compact car and a stretched limo, which engine do you think is going to have to do more work and, in turn, conk out earlier? Something to think about, especially for women, since they live an average of 5 years longer than men in this country and, even then, shorter guys live longer than taller ones on average to begin with.

Anyway, whatever the case, I just keep seeing this pattern of people wanting to physically upgrade (In their opinion, at least, but not always mine) on singles sites over and over and over again. People want something above and beyond the ordinary, even if THEY are not that extraordinary.

I'm sorry, but if you don't look like a supermodel, don't think you can get one. If you're a female, for heaven's sakes give guys closer to your own height a shot. Or if you're a male OR a female, if you're pudgy, give pudgy people a shot, if you're thin, give thin people a shot, if you're plain, give plain people a shot, if you're cute, stick with cute people but don't go for gorgeous, and so on and so forth.

Although I realize that we are biologically engineered to always try to go after the strongest and the most muscular and the most fertile and so on and so forth to supposedly make the species stronger, in effect, while it might make it stronger and more powerful and of taller stature, that does not mean it'll help it to live longer or BE better.

In today's society, we strive for relationships, and those that will LAST for as long as humanly possible. So don't be so freaking picky, and stop trying to upgrade. Sometimes what you think is actually an upgrade may, in fact, be a downgrade when it comes to overall life and QUALITY of life as well. Therefore, give other types closer to your own type a shot. You may be quite surprised at what they can really give you.

PS--For you statistics hounds who want to dispute the height theory, read the following…

http://books.google.com/books?id=PCU0RwDI6c4C&pg=PA102&lpg=PA102&dq=average+height+of+centenarians&source=bl&ots=syWH-qE8Rg&sig=FtyaBeuefFFYXTCnZgor3odNXvQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DZhtT6vEC82asgKmj_WDBg&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=average%20height%20of%20centenarians&f=false

Writing - Why I do what I do

I'll admit, people either love me or hate me. They either read what I have to say in my ebooks and everything clicks and a light bulb goes on over their heads, or they end up thinking I'm a complete ass. Generally speaking, that's how it typically goes.

Most people who don't understand me, quite frankly, were usually just raised in a completely different manner. Sometimes their ways are just different and that's perfectly fine. However, if they're different BUT those things are holding them back, maybe those people need to seriously let go of the past and their prior methods and try something different for a change.

What really gets me are the people who know they have a problem, but refuse to try something different or do anything about it to correct it. For example, if you can't figure out why your relationship partner is frustrated with you every time you're in a relationship, maybe you shouldn't always put the blame on them. Maybe YOU are actually doing something to make them that way. In addition, maybe it's not just something that would bother THOSE people you've been with, but maybe it would bother EVERY person.

Or if it's something more personal. Like, say, you're overweight, and instead of truly doing something about it, you try to convince yourself that you're just fine like you are and get ticked off when people try to help you.

If there's one thing I know about overweight people, they're generally pretty unhappy with the way they look. In 9 times out of 10, they hate it actually, and instead of doing something about it, they have a tendency to try to force themselves to be okay with it, even though that's a cover and not really how they're feeling or what they want.

So, basically, if you complain about something or have major self doubts about yourself, you have NO right to feel that way or to complain if you don't try to do something about it. People who are truly OKAY with themselves do NOT have a bad self image, NOR do they complain about something.

This is why I write a lot of self-help books. I've learned that, if people want to make things better or try something different, only those who are ready and willing to make things better will actively seek out new ways to do it.

I've tried in the past to help people who actually asked, but when asked I go full steam in trying to help them, and most people just aren't ready to take that kind of help yet. However, when they are willing to spend a little money to find help, you know they're really at the level to be helped. But before then? Not usually.

Therefore, writing helps me help people when they truly are looking and ready to find some fixes to some simple problems. Is my advice for everyone? No. Is everyone going to understand it or even agree with all of it? Again, no. But will at least some of my ideas help some people? Yes. Each and every one of us has some kind of knowledge that could help some people some of the time. That, to me...having actual chances to help some people, is worth it.

To be a writer of anything, whether it's how-to-guides, self-help guides, novels, or even reference books, a person has to have PASSION in what they're doing. They usually want to mentally touch other people and make them happy in one way or another. Writing is a tough business and it doesn't usually make loads of money for most people. It just doesn't. But it doesn't matter to us because touching the minds of others is what fuels us.

It's not about selfishness. It's not about making money. It's about being expressive and opening up someone else's eyes really wide, making them expand their minds to accept interesting and unique ideas and to take them to places they've never been before. It doesn't have to be Oz or Narnia. Not all of the time. Sometimes it could simply be as close as someone's bathroom mirror.

That's why I write. Because we all have at least some chances to make some people see things in ways that they may not have thought about. I'm smart enough to know that I'm not going to help all people all of the time, but I do know that I will probably help some people some of the time, and that's definitely good enough for me. Knowing that, even in subtle ways, I'll help some people and actually make a difference.

After all, isn't that what everyone really wants? To somehow make a difference?

Author Pages:

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Jonathon-Jones/e/B006PE7K8U/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/jonathon-jones

Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/brighteyes71

Lulu:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?type=&keyWords=jonathon+jones&x=0&y=0&sitesearch=lulu.com&q=

Apple: (Not all titles are listed yet)

http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jonathon-jones/id400208973?mt=11

Offering Help to People...A disclaimer.

Have you ever encountered someone in a relationship who had a really low self-image? And then you offered to help them improve it, and you tried, but then later when the relationship went belly-up they tried to say you were hurting them because you weren't accepting them just as they were?

Maybe it's just me, but isn't it a bit whackadoo to give someone permission to help them, but then turn around later and say that their help was hurting them? Isn't it, in fact, THEIR fault for not just saying, from the beginning, "I just don't want help and I like myself just like I am" if they were truly more comfortable with that?

I mean, when someone tries to help you be better in some way, they're doing it because they care, NOT because they're trying to hurt you. But if it does hurt you by them even trying to help you, isn't it YOUR responsibility to grow a backbone, stand up to them, and tell them how you really feel BEFORE your feelings escalate out of control and go in a downwards spiral?

I just don't get some people.

-If you don't want help, DON'T accept it.
-Communicate
-And don't chew the hand off of someone in the end if that hand never knew it was doing something wrong because you never told it that it was, and ESPECIALLY if you asked for it in the first place. Believe me, in nine times out of ten it was just trying to help.

Sheesh. Some people need a serious wake-up call. Folks, if someone tries to help you and you don't want it, you either let them know that asap or you accept it, but you don't just put up with it if that's not what you want. Because THEN it becomes YOUR fault for not speaking up and holding your ground.

What Women Really Want: An Online Dating Guide for Men

New book! I had written it a while back when I wrote the version for women, but never released this one. I decided to go ahead...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007M03I78

New vintage toy book now available on Amazon!

Toys, Games, and Action Figure Collectibles of the 1970s: Volume II: Grizzly Adams to Play-Doh is now available for purchase on Amazon.com at:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007KN1N2E

For those of you who do not have a Kindle reading device, you really don't need one as long as you have a computer. You can download a Kindle reading program for the PC here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_pc_mkt_lnd?docId=1000426311

and a Kindle reading program for the MAC here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_mac_mkt_lnd?docId=1000464931

Thanks! It was fun writing, so I hope you enjoy it!

Toys, Games, and Action Figure Collectibles of the 1970s: Grizzly Adams to Play-Doh now on Barnes and Noble

says Amazon is still in the processing stage, but if you happen to have a Barnes and Noble Nook device, here's the link...

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/toys-games-and-action-figure-collectibles-of-the-1970s-jonathon-jones/1108608704?ean=2940014310826&itm=1&usri=toys+action+figures

Toys, Games, and Action Figure Collectibles of the 1970s: Volume II: Grizzly Adams to Play-Doh

After a long, extremely exhausting night of FINALLY finishing this up, I have finished Volume 2 of my 1970s toy book. It's entitled "Toys, Games, and Action Figure Collectibles of the 1970s: Volume II: Grizzly Adams to Play-Doh" and will be featured on Amazon and Barnes and Noble within 12 hours, with Apple probably in a month once it processes. I decided to skip Smashwords since it has a 5 meg file size limit and this book is almost 20 megs. And the pictures truly help to bring you the whole experience.
It covers 75 categories and has 286 pictures. So...for those of you who read the last one and liked it, enjoy! I'll post the links to Amazon and B&N once it's processed through their systems.
Volume 3: Coming soon...but it might be a couple of months before it's completed.

Toys, Games, and Action Figure Collectibles of the 1970s: Volume II: Grizzly Adams to Play-Doh

Still working on Volume 2, folks. I, unfortunately, completely and utterly miscalculated how long it was going to take to finish the second one. I don't think I realized what I was getting myself into when I started this series. However, I WILL finish them. It should be about 1 more week before Volume 2 is finally released. Don't hold your breath on how long it will take for Volume 3, though, since that will contain the World's Greatest Superheroes by Mego, and that section alone is going to take FOREVER.

Well....

I met someone who I kind of like. She's from St. Augustine. However, it doesn't seem like she's completely over her ex, which was also the case with the LAST girl I tried to date. Why is it, in one way or another, I keep meeting people who aren't ready for a real relationship? Sheesh. Don't even get ON dating sites unless you're truly ready, people!

Enough said.

Ebook Sales Report

After doing a sales summary, I've found that my top 5 sellers are as follows, in this order:


1. What Men Really Want: An Online Dating Guide for Women
2. Ebay and Beyond: What's Hot and What's Not in Antiques and Collectibles
3. Toys, Games, and Action Figure Collectibles of the 1970s: Volume 1
4. Making Love, Not Porn
5. Dating Isn't for Dummies: For Men

Thank you for your support!

http://www.amazon.com/Jonathon-Jones/e/B006PE7K8U/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Book for Nook

Re: 50 Ways to Strengthen a Relationship book

It's now on Barnes and Noble as well, for those who have a Nook Reading Device

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/50-ways-to-strengthen-a-relationship-jonathon-jones/1109364508?ean=2940013937291

New book on Amazon now!

My new book is on Amazon now! Here's the link!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007I6K9H8

New Book: 50 Ways to Strengthen a Relationship

I just published a new book entitled 50 Ways to Strengthen a Relationship. This item will be on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple very soon. It is currently available for download on Smashwords.com. Sorry for the delay on Volume 2 of the 70s Toy Book. With that having Legos, Hot Wheels, and Matchbox cars listings, it's rather intensive. Anyway, here's the Smashwords link to my new book:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/139618

Summary:

No matter what your gender, sexual orientation, or age, and regardless of whether you've been with someone sixty seconds, sixty years, or even if you're still single, this book can be an essential guide for everyone who wants to know how to keep a relationship running smoothly.
Based on careful research, both written and verbal, from literally hundreds of couples as well as my own personal experience, this manual covers fifty time and true methods that can be utilized in order to help strengthen relationships, as well as prepare single people who are not in one for what it truly takes to make them work.

Book Reports

I just wanted to keep my readers posted on my books.

1. I'm still working on Volume 2 of my Toys, Games, and Action Figure Collectibles of the 1970s book series. Due to the fact that this one contains listing of both Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars that were produced during the 1970s, this one is a little more time consuming than the last one.

2. Volume 1 of that series has just moved up to #15 in the Antiques and Collectibles/Toys category on Amazon

3. My book entitled Ebay and Beyond: What's Hot and What's Not In Antiques and Collectibles : The Picture Edition has now moved up to #20 in the general reference section of Antiques/Collectibles on Amazon, which is quite a feat considering how many books are listed in that category.

4. I'm still having trouble getting the picture versions of my toy book and my Ebay Antiques guide on to Apple. The text version is on Apple, but due to file size limitations on Smashwords, the only way I can get them sent to Apple in their full picture-capable versions is by submitting them through Lulu which, I might add, has been a chore in itself. Their formatting requirements are the most particular I've ever encountered, and every time you make a correction, it takes them a week before they get back to you to tell you that you have to correct something else. It's extremely ridiculous.

5. I also have some other book ideas I am working on concurrently along with Volume 2 of my toy guide. Once the titles are released, I'll let you know what they are.

Amazon Author Page:

http://www.amazon.com/Jonathon-Jones/e/B006PE7K8U/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Dating Games People Play Online

I never really understood these ridiculous dating games people play. Let's start with the physical, since that's always the most obvious. I mean, why is it women press together and lift their boobs up to the sky nowadays within the confines of their bras/tops and always have a tendency to make sure the twins are fully showing or, worse, bend over or lean forward in dating profiles…but then get offended if we ever mention these things, like somehow they don't realize what they're trying to show off?

If we strapped on a pair of tight underwear, lifted ourselves up, and pressed THAT into the camera lens, you're telling me you wouldn't want to comment on it? We wouldn't get offended because we would be fully aware of what we were trying to show, so why are YOU offended if a guy mentions it? I don't get it. You KNOW what you're doing or wearing. Give me a break! My suggestion? And this goes for EVERYTHING in life. DON'T DO IT UNLESS YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IT. Period.

Or how about women who show bikini shots or men shots with their shirts off who actually get surprised that the majority of people who write them either try to get sex or trick them into getting sex? Why are you surprised? If you show that much skin to begin with, what else do you think they're going to have on their minds? Walk into a room with a bunch of friendly dogs, and they're going to be friendly. But walk into a room with a bunch of friendly dogs with a bunch of steaks strapped to your body, and they're going to be ALL OVER YOU. Right? It's the same thing with humans. Even the nicest of us will have our minds go to another place if you show things that makes our biological instincts take over.

Then there's the people who use word games. Isn't it funny how a lot of people try to tell you they're just on a dating site to have fun or just looking for friends? What a bunch of bull. How stupid do you think we are? We all know that's a dating ploy people use to try to either make people not get into a rush when they meet them, or to make others think they're somehow above the longing that EVERY SINGLE HUMAN BEING has, that being the yearning to find "the one." Why can't people be honest? It's much more admirable to say, "I'm hoping to find the love of my life." There. Is that so hard?

Or how about people that try to make themselves seem like they're always doing something new and exciting to try to build themselves up as being somehow important. Unless you're a spoiled rich kid, you and I both know that you're not that busy. Most people work 8 hours a day, sleep 8 hours a day, eat, commute to work, do dishes, laundry, clean, and so on and so forth. Truthfully, that doesn't leave a lot of free time, except on your days off. So, you're not fooling us. You may list things that you like to do, but we all know, point blank, that you're not always doing them.

I don't know…I mean…how many times do I have to say DUH?!?!?!?! Just stop with the games, okay?

So, anyway...what did we learn today, boys and girls? 1. Don't do something or show something unless you can talk about it. 2. If you show skin, don't be shocked if the dogs turn into wolves. 3. Admit why you're actually on a dating site and don't make some ridiculous excuse. 4. Don't make yourself seem more important or more busy than you actually are. Make yourself seem more real, and the people who are more real will find you. It's as simple as that.

Amazon Author Page:

http://www.amazon.com/Jonathon-Jones/e/B006PE7K8U/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1