Traitors of Rome (Eagle #18) by Simon Scarrow

 Another saga in the lives of Cato & Marco. For the most part it is two concurrent stories. The book seems to have taken on the appearance of a diary as far as the actions of Cato is concerned. Marco on the other hand has come more to the forefront, bringing out his finer points. It is almost like introducing a new character and a way of prolonging the series. Marco can now take on a life of his own. 

COVID - 19

 If it had been up to me, we wouldn't have had any lockdown. It would have been masks, social distancing, vitamin D, exercising and hand washing. By now it would be all over.  

Darkest Corners of Texas (An Al Quinn Novel Book 7) by Russ Hall

 I started reading this book and the first three chapters were all about his dog. I felt that the author was having trouble finding a story and was dragging this part out. Reading farther along, I got the impression that everyone carries a gun. In pockets, purses and tucked into their belts. I've been to Dallas and never saw a pistol tucked into anyone's belt. It is not a style of writing that I like so I never finished the book. 

I can't understand why people doing a review have to do a summary. You can find that on the back of the book. Probably it's to make the review appear longer. In a lot of reviews that I have read I have noticed that the actual review might be only one or two sentences. If so, let the review be one or two sentences. It's a waste of time reading the synopsis over and over. A rant, after reading the reviews of all seven books.

Coffee Trees

Climate change is altering temperatures around the globe. That includes California and Florida, where farmers and researchers are looking at growing coffee.

Giant Leap for Mankind

 So far this government has given us Marijuana, Abortions and Euthanasia, what will be our next leap for mankind?

Election in Russia this weekend. 98% voted for Putin. The other 2% spelt his name wrong.

Persecution

 If we are given the same opportunities or excuses as in the time of Hitler, Mussolini or |Communist countries, we would do exactly the same thing. This pandemic proves that. We are willing to fall behind our leaders and persecute a minority, whatever they are. 

Winter Territory (Get Jack Reacher, #2) by Scott Blade

 This is a Reacher story that one could mistake for a young Jack Reacher although he might appear a bit naïve and immature. The series is an attempt to copy the style of Lee Child but falls short. At times the sentences are short and sharp but for the most part they revert to normal information. Parts of the story are inconsistent, the author forgetting former remarks. Some sentences are just plain silly while others are absurd.

Ancestors

 

When you think about all the wars, diseases and tribulations our ancestors have gone through, it is simply mind boggling that we are here.

Sleeve Tattoo

 I see people with sleeve tattoos and it looks like one big smear to me.

Italian TV Shows

Been watching some Italian TV series lately and I'm glad I didn't marry an Italian. Every man seems to have a mistress and every woman seems to be someone's mistress.

When I get up in the morning I smell my face soap to see if I have COVID.

The Double Cross (The Travelers #0.5) by Michael P. King

This is a story of a con man and his student and the training involved for the purpose of taking revenge on his former partners. It looks like the first book in the series but it is actually the fifth book written. I didn't know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. It was non stop action with a bit of violence. Since it is the fifth book and practice makes perfect, I am hoping the first books are just as good. 

Midshipman Bolitho and the Avenger (Richard Bolitho, #2 by Alexander Kent

The second in the Bolitho series. Home on a short leave, Bolitho is suddenly called back to serve on a small ship where his brother happens to be Captain. You would expect rivalry between the two brothers but that doesn't happen. This seems to break away from what usually happens in these kind of stories. This is the only surprise as the story falls into the type that I have seen a dozen times, a routine story with a lack of imagination.

It's pretty sad when the only worthwhile channel on TV is the weather channel

Seen Justin Bieber on TV. Still dresses like an idiot.

Chinese Cultural Revolution 2.0

Have you noticed the blank spots on store shelves? Things are getting scarce. If you are buying for Christmas, you should do it now. Things are really going to get scarce. China has started the Cultural Revolution #2. Years back the country was destitute, everyone starving and poor. At that point they decided to let in Capitalism. We went in and our money built their factories, their infrastructure and their military. Now they are far enough ahead and no longer need us. Time to take on the west. 

They are doing away with all forms of decadence, movie stars, pop stars and some billionaires have disappeared. They have already started closing down factories. And of course they sent us the virus which has yet to come to full bloom.

Our political leaders are really dumb and our Captains of industry are so greedy. The factories are all gone and they can't be built overnight. We can't build a darn thing.

Saw a film yesterday telling us that the U.S. government is offering farmers 1 1/2 times the value of their crops if they destroy them. If they don't, they won't be getting subsidy payments next year. Trying to create a food shortage? Somebody has sold out to somebody. 

The NEWS broadcasters spend most of the TV hours talking about the virus. Telling us every possible combination of patients, one province after the other, hours and hours, determined to scare the shit out of us. Except for forest fires or floods, you don't know one other thing that is going on. Riots in France, protests in England and don't even think about Australia. We are all in deep shit and you are to blame. 

My 9/11

On that day, I was at work at the airport watching the screens in the Security Control Office. My son called me from Florida where he was at work and told me to turn on the TV. Then seeing the twin towers, I called my boss who was head of security and told him to look. A few minutes later the airport was in lockdown and all the planes started arriving. 

The strange thing is that this was my last day at work before my vacation. The next morning I was flying out to Florida to visit my son. I would be at  Newark airport at 09:30. A day earlier and I would have seen the attack. Can you just imagine me among the hundreds trying to rent a car. 

Lie Down With Lions by Ken Follett

 This a love triangle with a background of the Afghan war, further complicated wit the men on opposing sides. It is well written with exceptional work on the lives of women in an Afghan village where our main character uses her wiles to survive. I did get tired with the continual emphasis on breast feeding. This was the least of my problems, when half-way thru the book I thought it had changed to a porn novel. I found this section an unnecessary addition to the book. The story seemed to have lost its purpose. After that wasted section the book was back on track with a great ending. 

The Afgan war is on a respite