Russell Atkinson's Blog, page 112
May 22, 2015
Creole Belles
Here’s a nice video for you.
May 19, 2015
Shore Scenes
We spent the weekend in the Santa Cruz area. Here’s a short (1 minute) video of a few scenes from our sojourn.
May 18, 2015
Natural Selection
The process of natural selection seems to be especially vigorous this week:
Two base jumpers plunge to their death
Nine bikers killed in riot
Man killed walking on tracks
I could go on, but I won’t.
May 14, 2015
Anagrams on the News
NEXT POTUS = SEXPOT? NUT?
BUSH BUNGLE = BLUSH BEGUN
HILLARY ALONE = IN A ROYAL HELL
May 11, 2015
Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton
Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This rollicking tale is chock full of blackguards, privateers, seamen, whores, villainous Spaniards, kraken, betrayal, hurricanes, cannibals, and more. The plot is strictly B movie, but it’s full of swashbuckling action. The squeamish reader need not apply, but the brutality and death, though prodigious in quantity, are relatively civilized by today’s standard. This novel was discovered among Crichton’s effects after his untimely death. It’s not among his best work, but it’s a fun read if you’re in the mood for a lighthearted and gory pirate story.
View all my reviews
May 5, 2015
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This novel, set in World War II Europe, features a blind French girl and a small, brilliant, German boy-soldier as the main protagonists, although one might also characterize the Sea of Flames, a spectacular blue diamond with a red center, as a co-equal. The book is a huge best seller because it is a compelling story. The writing is elegant without being pretentious. The plot is rather far-fetched, but no more so than most novels that have stood the test of time. I can’t rank it among the very best I’ve read, but it was certainly enjoyable throughout, even riveting at times.
I felt the protracted ending detracted from the story rather than finishing it, but it didn’t spoil the book. It followed the convention of our day in hopping back and forth in time, a practice I do not like. It seems to pervade every medium – movies, television, books. However, it wasn’t particularly difficult to follow. I listened to it on CD’s. The reader was quite good, although not outstanding.
View all my reviews
Anagrams on the News
MASS DROWNING = SWIM, GRANDSON!
CARLY FIORINA = I FAIL. CARRY ON.
May 2, 2015
Switzerland
Q: What’s the best thing about living in Switzerland?
A: I don’t know, but the flag is a big plus.
Swiss Flag
May 1, 2015
Cow Cow Boogie played in fingerstyle guitar
My mother used to play this on the piano and sing it. She sang and played beautifully. I’ve always liked the song but I’ve never seen a fingerstyle guitar arrangement, so I worked this out myself. I probably had the piano music at one time, but I have no idea where it is now. I don’t have tab. I like the lyrics, too, and since I can’t sing on key, I’ve captioned them in. There are a number of versions out there and the lyrics vary. Ella Fitzgerald and The Judds seem to be the best known based on Internet searches, but I like Ella Mae Morse’s version the best.
Credits: Songwriters: RAYE, DON / CARTER, BENNY / DE PAUL, GENE
© Universal Music Publishing Group, WINOGRADSKY/SOBEL, THE HUB MUSIC COMPANY
April 27, 2015
Anagrams on the News
ANTI-COP RIOT = PATRIOTIC? NO!
NEPAL TEMBLORS = ALPS TREMBLE ON
