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

Speed, Grace, and Reckless Courage

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Al

I’ve always been a voracious consumer of magazines. During medical school in the 70s, while gone on a ski trip, my housemates were astounded by the number of magazines which piled up for me in the mail – 15 during … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews: Books, Movies, Music, TV, Triathlon Central | Comments Off on Speed, Grace, and Reckless Courage

Super Bowl Ads

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Al

Is it just me, or did several of the Super Bowl XLVI ads seem to be surreptitious Obama reelection ads? Chrysler and GE featured emotion laden pitches touting the comeback of American industry. Clint Eastwood’s stealth appearance at half time … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews: Books, Movies, Music, TV | Comments Off on Super Bowl Ads

Hell on Wheels

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Al

I’d give this 4/5 stars: Not Deadwood, but a far sight better than most westerns on film or TV these days. Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews: Books, Movies, Music, TV | Comments Off on Hell on Wheels

The Art of Fielding

Posted on December 26, 2011 by Al

The journey, not the resolution, is what gives this book its depth. Clever plotting, respect for his characters, their background and future, and a robust sense of place – an inland seashore – are what make this make well worth attention to all of its 520 pages. Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews: Books, Movies, Music, TV | Comments Off on The Art of Fielding

The Call

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Al

As summer bleeds into fall, the prosaic calls, and the vet’s musings as he responds, quickly sketch the character of this quirky rural community. Dorothy has a sheep, Alice, who lives in the house and goes everywhere with her. Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews: Books, Movies, Music, TV | Comments Off on The Call

Walking Dead

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Al

If you’ve enjoyed Mad Men, or The Sopranos, or The Wire, or Deadwood, you might just want to take a chance on this little gem. I know I’m hooked. Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews: Books, Movies, Music, TV | Comments Off on Walking Dead

It’s July Already!

Posted on July 10, 2011 by Al

Without the exercise, my brain just goes into some kind of hibernation mode, characterized by a trend towards sloth and depression. So for the past 4 days, I’ve been spending a lot of time watching the Tour de France on TV. Continue reading →

Posted in Injuries and Recovery, Reviews: Books, Movies, Music, TV, Training Diary | Comments Off on It’s July Already!

The Big Man

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Al

Clarence Clemons suffered a stroke at age 69 and died two weeks ago….If you haven’t listened for a while to this mini opera, “Jungleland”, in a while (or ever), it’s worth spending 99¢ to download the song from iTunes, or call it up from your own disc or vinyl, and show some respect for those three minutes of Clarence’s sax solo from heaven… Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews: Books, Movies, Music, TV | Comments Off on The Big Man

Faithful Place

Posted on March 13, 2011 by Al

Family, character, language, and place are where Tana French shows her skill, wrapping these key elements of a novel with a gripping and page-turning tale of murder, both cold-case and immediate. Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews: Books, Movies, Music, TV | 2 Comments

True Grit

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Al

Minimum of 3 Oscars for this film. Could sweep supporting actor categories, or at least swamp the nominations. Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews: Books, Movies, Music, TV | 1 Comment