Tag Archives: war

2023 Books Read

I think I might have read more books by non-American authors than American this year. Countries represented below: Austria, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Croatia, Ireland, France, Russia, Colombia. I revisited some old favorites, which I will continue to do in … Continue reading

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On This Day: October 25, 1415: “We Few, We Happy Few.”

Happy Anniversary of The Battle of Agincourt Today is the feast day of Saints Crispin and Crispinian, cobblers by trade (and patron saints thereof, although Vatican II nixed them from the calendar), fierce warriors of their faith, martyred in 286. … Continue reading

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Review: A Compassionate Spy (2023)

Steve James’ latest, about the Manhattan Project physicist Ted hall who passed on information about the implosion bomb to Soviet agents: my review of A Compassionate Spy.     Thank you so much for stopping by. If you like what … Continue reading

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Review: Mending the Line (2023)

Fly fishing as metaphor for life is well-trod ground, but Mending the Line homes in specifically on veterans and PTSD, and fly fishing as effective therapy. Brian Cox, Wes Studi, gorgeous scenery. The film has some flaws, but I approve … Continue reading

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On This Day: June 6, 1944: “I really think I’m too young for this.”

Today I honor the memory of the men (and boys, in many cases), who were willing to risk their lives to bring down a tyrannical fascist government, who were willing to lose their lives to protect and restore the liberty … Continue reading

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Remembering, Honoring

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Tiffany Robinson, assigned to 449th Air Expeditionary Group, kneels in front of a battlefield cross following a Memorial Day ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, May 26, 2014. The cross was created with combat gear representing … Continue reading

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R.I.P. Dubravka Ugrešić

I return to her The Museum of Unconditional Surrender again and again. A classic in the canon of books dealing with being forced to live in exile. But there are so many other books: Baba Yaga Laid an Egg, Culture … Continue reading

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“Would not these pointed Rods probably draw the Electrical Fire silently out of a Cloud before it came nigh enough to strike, and thereby secure us from that most sudden and terrible Mischief!” — Benjamin Franklin

A re-post for Benjamin Franklin’s birthday, born in Massachusetts on this day in 1706. My grandmother had a big illustrated copy of Poor Richard’s Almanac, which I had practically memorized by the time I was 6 years old. The illustrations … Continue reading

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December 2022 Viewing Diary

The Whale (2022; d. Darren Aronofsky) I thought it was appalling, and not for the obvious reasons. His body is viewed as literally a movie monster, with all these horror-movie shots of his gigantic ankles, etc.) It felt tired and … Continue reading

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2022 Books Read

Some re-reads this year, but a lot of new-to-me authors as well. New novels written by faves. Been a year of upheaval and transitions. I’ve managed to keep up my regular reading schedule. I just don’t feel right if I’m … Continue reading

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