Tim Horton's

I saw this ad on TV for Tim Horton's. It showed how easy it was to get a hamburger. The guy had a cell phone and on it was the picture of a hamburger. All he did was press a button and a hamburger jumped out. Now I would like to see that. But I may be out of luck there, I don't have a cell phone. 
I was at the Bank not too long ago and the cashier said I could do something with my cell phone. I told her I didn't have one and she almost fainted. Her mouth dropped to the floor and she had trouble speaking. When she finally recovered and asked me why, I asked her why I needed one. All she could say was but, but, but...

"Too Much Time": A Jack Reacher Short Story by Lee Child

Poor Reacher, he can even get in trouble when he is trying to be a good Samaritan, This is a Reacher novella. A great example of his deductive reasoning. 

"Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry

This is a long story, equal to three normal size books. If you are going to read it, be prepared for violence. It describes the life of cowboys, mostly during a cattle drive, where they are confronted by almost every calamity known to man.
It continually emphasizes the weaknesses of the cowboys and their frequent bouts of tears. A bunch of indecision makers concerned about what the others think of them. The women are the strong characters, nothing getting in the way of their goals.
The author has no remorse about the elimination of his characters, seldom dying in bed.

"Breakheart Pass" by Alistair MacLean

After I started this book I was surprised to find out it was a western. I did not expect it from this author. It was a very slow start and the plot was predictable. It was not a bad story but not what you call exciting. Not too many surprises. 

Tower of Babel

We all know that these days you can't believe anything you hear. All the broadcasted news has to have a spin on it. To bring us around to someone's way of thinking, hoping it will influence you next election choice. But this is nothing new, it's been going on forever. The Old Testament is notorious for it. Take for instance the Tower of Babel. There was such a tower and the rocks are now piled outside some city in Syria. In the Bible it says that God changed everyone's language so they couldn't cooperate to build the tower and were scattered. A great story but not true. 
At that time they used to make square pyramids. They were just square buildings. Each square added was smaller than the one before, so that there was space to walk around it. In other words, they were just hire rise office buildings. 
Nebuchadnezzar was the King at this time and he ruled over many lands and many languages. When he wanted a tower built, he would call in workers from all his kingdoms. They would come, speaking different languages, to build the tower. When they were finished, they were scattered, back to their own homeland. The other way makes a better story.

Love & Marriage

When you are young and in love, your loved one is everything. Then you get married and life hits you in the face.

"Badlands (Cassie Dewell, #2)" by C.J. Box

This is a modern western, fast moving with well defined characters. It has the background of cold whether in a North Dakota boom town rampant with drugs. Suspense builds at a good pace throughout the book and I had trouble putting it down. 
Cassie Dewell is a determined police woman who wants results even to the point of breaking the law. It wouldn't take much for her to slip to the dark side to get her desired results. She doesn't realize that she may have a kindred soul in her new superior. He knows her background and she may be just the kind of investigator he is looking for. 
Although in another state, she has not given up on the capture of The Lizard king, setting a trap in her spare time. 

T.V. Dinner

Food delivered to your door. The modern version of the T.V. dinner run rampant.

Roman Downfall

I can only read about the fall of the Roman empire, but I can watch it day by day as it happens in the U.S. I wonder if the Romans knew it was coming?

Movies

Speaking of time machines, which was yesterday, I doubt very much that man will go back in time. What we will have is the next best thing. And I'm talking about movies. We make movies now about history using actors and we get a glimpse of what history may have been like. I expect that in the future they will have computer programs, capturing all possible information about people and events and make a movie as close to reality as possible, without actors. It would be like watching the actual event unfold. Of course this will have to depend on the integrity of the producer. Hopefully the truth will be told.

Egyptian Mummy

I was reading an archaeology magazine the other day and came across an interesting article about the first Egyptian mummy taken to Ireland. It was in 1835. A young woman, 22 yrs. old, the daughter of a priest. Her name was Takabuti. There were a few peculiarities about her, such as an extra tooth and an extra vertebrae. When they did a DNA scan (recent of course) she was a closer match to Europeans than Egyptians. She died young because she was murdered, stabbed in the back. What would a time machine tell us?

Kijiji

Busy lately cleaning out the shed, putting stuff on Kijiji and throwing out some stuff. In the last three weeks I've sold 6 items and given away 2, for a sum of $140. Two more items going to day, if they show up. I think there are people who have the hobby of promising to show up but never do. Usually 3 or 4 people do this. When people say they are coming, I don't even open the shed until they are here. The two coming today are women, so I expect them. It is usually men that are the assholes. 

Obituaries

When you see an obituary in the newspaper, there are always three important parts. The date of birth, the date of death and the dash in between. The dates of birth and death are really unimportant. What is important is the dash in between. It is what you do between those two dates that makes all the difference for you and for others.

Greed

If your country has greed as its God, COVID-19 has to take a back seat.

History

The present recedes, recollections diminish, memories fade to become only words in a history book.

"Valdez Is Coming" by Elmore Leonard

This is a simple story and doesn't take too long to read. A western story that is a bit far fetched, winning when the odds are 19 to 1 and all the adversities are expert gunmen. It is well written but doesn't seem to have an ending. I guess we have to make up our own mind as to how it is supposed to end. 

Cell Phones

They need self driving cars so people can talk on their cell phones.

Ramage & the Guillotine (The Lord Ramage Novels, #6) by Dudley Pope

This is a naval story without cannon balls or battles. Although touted as naval, it is actually a spy novel but a bit boring. As usual, it has long drawn out descriptions and conversations. I noticed that the author installed in the character a dislike of the Catholic Church whether this is personal or a sign of that time we will never know. 

Languages

From "Ancient Origins" magazine I found out about the language of the Vikings. It was called Elfdarian. That sounds mystic doesn't it? At the present time, only about 3000 people can speak it and that is in one village in Sweden.
Speakers of Swedish, Danish and Norwegian can carry on a simple conversation with each other but none can understand Elfdarian. 
As a final point. From the beginning of time, there has been about 30,000 different languages. 

Police State

In a book I am reading, there is a part that concerns the French Revolution. It describes neighbors informing on neighbors and the consequences for the neighbor. It brings to mind the conditions the exist here at the present time. People who inform on those not wearing masks, not social distancing, or not standing on the right spot or in the right line in supermarkets. I've heard of women walking around stores to see if they can confront someone and feeling so righteous. Easy to see how life happened in East Germany or other Communist states. Just this far away from a police state and we would then wonder how it was possible.

Don't Know Jack (Hunt for Jack Reacher, #1) bu Diane Capri

This book is written close to the style of Lee Child. Jack Reacher, who never appears in the book, is used as a come on to attract his readers. The story is fast paced with an FBI agent who seems unable to control her emotions or her life. With a car or plane she races from scene to scene. Where would the story be without Reacher?

Green Bin

Yesterday I heard a heck of a racket outside. Went to have a look and there was a string of cars  going by, all blowing their horn. I think it is the new reality of a birthday party. 
The other noise was my neighbors green bin being cleaned. They hook it up to the back of a truck, tip it and power wash it. Talked to the guy. He liked his job. I clean my own bin with my own power washer. Then I put a brown bag inside, so it doesn't really get too dirty. I also have a compose bin in the back yard which takes care of a lot of stuff. 

Age and Consequences

                                                                       The older I get, the less people there are that are my age. 

True Grit

Read an interesting article in "True West" magazine about "True Grit" the movie with John Wayne. Jay Silverheels AKA Tonto was in that movie but without a speaking part. At the beginning of the movie they were hanging three Indians, he was one of them. I guess a payday is a payday. No residuals though because he didn't say anything.
Glen Campbell was a co-star, his first movie. It was supposed to have been Elvis but his manager, Col. Parker said that Elvis would require top billing, his name above John Wayne. Out the door with Elvis. John Wayne won an Academy Award, his one and only.

"The Fourth Man" (Jack Reacher, #23.5) - by Lee Child

A short story. Short and to the point. A fast and satisfying read.  

"Mr Majestyk" by Elmore Leonard.

A well written book, easy to read. A plausible story with our Rambo like hero. Lots of action.

Light Bulbs in Japan

From "The Economist" magazine I learned that Japan has both 50 & 60 Cycle generators. This came about because at the time of installation, some of the parts were bought in the U.S and the rest in Germany. It is also the only place that has 100 volt power, not 110 or 220. Japan has ten electric companies and they don't cooperate which makes it hard for any moderation to be done.

"The Way to Dusty Death" by Alistair MacLean

Behind the scenes Formula 1 racing. A background of criminal activities, rather than about the racing. Lots of mystery until we finally figure it out. An arrogant hero and a leading lady who acts like someone from "The Perils of Pauline".Their conversations are like those from a Sat. afternoon serial movie.

"The Highway" (Highway Quartet #2) by C.J.Box

I was surprised at the number of negative reviews of this book. I thought it was a great story with excitement from beginning to end. Maybe these people should switch to Amish stories. One item in the book was a great surprise to me. It certainly changed the direction of the story and any books in the future. 

Deadwood

Read in "True West" magazine that "Deadwood" is coming back as a movie. Although it is based on fact, it's a shame that a lot of it is untrue. It gives the audience a warped picture of history. Honest men are sometimes pictured as a villain. An example from "Deadwood' would be Randolph Hearst. Although cast as the villain, in real life, he and his wife were much loved and did a lot of good. The least they could do is change his name.
And the swear words? Most of them were unknown at that time.
I watch German shows with English subtitles. The 'F' is always used but in German there is no such word. There big swear word is "shit" (scheisse).
I've read a lot of history and when I watch a show I want it close to the truth as possible. I don't need them to add crap just to make it exciting.