UFC 106 looks like a two fight show. But I am really glad Tito is back, so the main event does carry the rest of the fight-card.

Tito Ortiz vs Forrest Griffin

I’m hoping Tito can rock Forrest and move towards a title shot. Even though I still remember that last Tito Machida fight as being brutal. Machida’s way too scared and elusive to be a UFC champion.

Josh Koscheck vs Anthony Johnson

It will be great for Anthony Johnson to win and keep on rising in the 170lb division. Josh can be the 170lb stepping stone for rising stars.

The other fights look OK, but no stand-outs for me to cheer for.

The UFC 105 show was pretty good thanks to alot of under-card fights and impressive Michael Bisping. If Randy Couture would have showed up to actually fight it would have been a great show.

Randy Couture beats Brandon Vera

Maybe Randy is afraid that if he loses a couple more he’ll be forced to retire like Chuck Liddell. Brandon did pretty good for the couple minutes he wasn’t pressed up against the cage.

Mike Swick loses to Dan Hardy

Mike Swick might be stuck at the Chris Leben level now. Like the gatekeeper for younger rising stars to get through before their title shot, but never quite getting his own. Dan Hardy looked OK. GSP has to fight somebody and Dan Hardy is entertaining to watch.

Michael Bisping beats Denis Kang

Definite fight of the night. The kind of fight not usually in the UFC, more like a movie script fight with the big Michael Bisping comeback late in the match after being beaten down a few times. Pretty cool to see.

So overall if only Randy didn’t do boring ineffective wrestling this would have been a great show and not just a pretty good one.

- How to Find Balance in Your Financial Life -

Author: David Cork

Rating: 3/5

Back Cover Snippet: ‘…How will Canadians build and sustain wealth as retirement approaches? What investment strategies actually work?…’

Comments: Maybe some useful tips are hidden in this book, but I didn’t like the overall method of presenting financial advice. It uses a few friends and acquaintances going through the motions of semi-planning out their own financial advice book, without actually doing anything to start their book… and then this book being read abruptly ends. So ‘Bulls, Bears and Pigs’ is sort of a half and half story book and advice book without really being great at either. I’ll probably skip the author’s other books.

- A Guide to the Japanese Honorific Language -

Author: Agnes M. Niyekawa

Rating: 5/5

Summary Snippet: ‘… There has long been a need for a book to put together the bits and pieces of  ”polite expressions” to provide a picture of the whole. …’

Comments: The book is for students with at least three years experience learning Japanese, but I have only a few basic months practice and I still liked it. Eventually, after three years, I plan on re-reading this book to really get the basics of Keigo. Stuff like this just doesn’t seem to be covered on Smart.fm word training lists. As an added bonus I started to enjoy Bleach even more… with knowing how important politeness levels are used throughout that cool tv series.

Overall the fight card looks entertaining and at least has Randy Couture to anchor the main event. Should be OK.

Randy Couture Vs. Brandon Vera

Brandon Vera is a decent opponent, but not quite awesome enough to fight Randy Couture. So I hope Randy whoops him badly. If Randy loses he hurts some of his invincible Captain America status.

Mike Swick Vs. Dan Hardy

Mike Swick better start winning some fights to be a UFC champ contender… he’ll be stuck at the Chris Leben level of fighter. Maybe this fight is more setup for Dan Hardy to win and jump to the next level of opponents.

Michael Bisping Vs. Denis Kang

I’d like to see Michael win a few fights and then go back to beat Dan Henderson.  Of course it would be pretty lame/funny if he fought Dan and got knocked out again by the same punch.

Author: Billy Strean Ph.D.,P.H.D. (Professional Humour Dude)

- Lighten Up and Love Life Laughing -

Rating: 3/5

Summary: ‘… The HoHo Dojo then becomes a place where people practice the humor and laughter ideas that are being taught. …’

Comments: The book is written with a very loose style. Throughout the chapters there are too many plugs of other books, programs, and courses the reader should try and maybe not enough actually stuff in this book you are reading now. The humor practices covered do seem ok, but the overall presentation of the material just isn’t that great.  Maybe overly casual or blog-like. Overall I’m pretty sure I am not going to check out any more books by this author.