Category Archives: Reviews: Books, Movies, Music, TV

Exercised

Early humans – the ones who walked 6 miles a day to find roots and animals to eat – did not exercise. That is, they did not set aside an hour here or there to “get in shape” for hunting … Continue reading

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The Monk of Mokha

Within the space of 8 months in 1991/2, Dave Eggers lost both his mother and father to cancer. At the time, they were in their 50s, he was 21, and he had a younger brother, Christopher, who was 8. His … Continue reading

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Icarus

This weekend, Netflix debuted  the documentary, “Icarus”. For those who haven’t yet heard of this accidental expose, it began as a sort of “Super-Size Me” meets cycling PEDs. Bryan Fogel was an amateur cyclist who was also an aspiring filmamaker … Continue reading

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Mary’s Dress Waves

“So, Al, is he your favorite singer?” I hesitated. Stammered, really. “Uh, uh, th-that’s kinda…I mean, there so many different types of music, you know.” Cheryl had no hesitation. “Yeah, he is.” We’d just picked up Michael and Julana, at … Continue reading

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One After 909

Cheryl (muted, from the bathroom): “What time is it?” Me (looking at my watch with the giant digits): “Nine-oh-nine. [Pause a beat] You know what song that always makes me think of?” Cheryl: “Uh, lemme see… mmm … [lowering and … Continue reading

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Star Wars – A Reminiscence

Four decades ago, in a city far, far away, I started seeing intriguing billboards all over Venice and West LA: Most of us thought this was some type of Star Trek rip-off – “Wars” and “Trek” each having four letters, … Continue reading

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Leviathan: Movie Review

“Leviathan” reverberates in western Judeo-Christian canon first in Job, then in John Hobbes’ early enlightenment tome. The 2014 Russian eponymous movie allows for either connection. Near its end, the Old Testament story is explicitly referenced. But for the first two … Continue reading

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The Boys In The Boat

The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown I’m a sucker for a good athletic success story, no matter what the sport. I’ve devoured and drooled over accounts of Seabiscuit’s exploits, the travails along the Iditarod dog sled race, … Continue reading

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Reamde

Pigeonholing Neal Stephenson might take as long as one of his recent novels. Starting with 1999’s Cryptonomicon, his most recent seven novels have averaged about 900 pages each. And we’re not talking large type versions. His debut effort, the sophomoric … Continue reading

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Ghost Boy

Martin Pistorius was 12 when a mysterious neurodegenerative disorder slowly unwound his body, and eventually shut his mind. By the time he was 16, he was immobile and in a coma. His parents never lost hope in his recovery, but … Continue reading

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