We wish to pursue the truth no matter where it leads. But to find the truth, we need imagination and skepticism both. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Broaden The Circle |
The Phone Keeps Ringing | |
2020 | Stay Gentle |
2019 | Immoral #45 |
2018 | From My Soapbox |
2017 | The Single Most Effective Thing For Health |
2016 | A Trumpet Solo |
2015 | Potential Is A Heavy Burden |
2014 | Fear Not, Weep Not |
2013 | Half Way There |
2012 | Sacrificed Any Lately? |
2011 | The Value Of One’s Character |
2010 | Intervals |
On Being Human | |
Non-predictive Emergence | |
Events | |
Bodily Functions | |
Standing Thoughts | |
Sent Home Is Better Than Fixed | |
Archive for June, 2022
We Need Both
Posted in Economics, Environment, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Carl Sagan, Imagination, Philosophy, Quotes, Skepticism, Truth on June 30, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Except To You
Posted in Education, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Carlos Casteneda, Philosophy, Quotes, What Matters on June 29, 2022| 2 Comments »
Do everything as if it was the only thing in the world that mattered while all the time knowing that it doesn’t matter at all. | |
— Carlos Casteneda | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Best To Be Trained And Educated |
The Great Relief | |
2020 | Diversity And Uniqueness |
2019 | Ebb And Flow |
2018 | America: Paging #45 |
2017 | Near By |
2016 | Maybe Someday |
2015 | How’s The Cow? |
2014 | Mind Made Up |
2013 | On Purpose |
2012 | The Dream |
2011 | What Could Be More Comfortable? |
Classic Kane
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged Agnes Moorehead, Charles Foster Kane, Citizen Kane - movie review, Dorothy Comingore, Emily Monroe Norton Kane, Everett Sloane, George Coulouris, Highly Recommended Movie, Jedediah Leland, Joseph Cotton, Mary Kane, Movie Review, Movies, Mr. Bernstein, Orson Welles, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Rosebud, Ruth Warrick, Susan Alexander Kane, The Inquirer, Vudu, Walter Parks Thatcher, Xanadu on June 28, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Today’s movie review is for “Citizen Kane” (1941). This is a long review of a classic movie which routinely rates as one of the best movies of all time. There are spoilers in this review. (You’ve been warned…) | |
Background: | |
I first saw this movie when I was in my mid-20’s and my roommate was trying to get me interested in classic movies (dramas, westerns and musicals). He mostly succeeded in piquing my interest, but this was before video tapes, let alone DVDs, so a neophyte couldn’t re-watch a movie to their heart’s content. We were pretty much limited to whatever was showing up on TV or as very limited re-releases at the local theater. The bottom line is I saw this once and was under-whelmed. | |
I guess about five years ago, my daughter bought me a copy of the film for X-mas after we had a discussion about “must-see” classic films. I don’t think I’ve ever watched that version. She did. Anyway, I recently picked up a copy on my VUDU account and decided to enjoy a classic. | |
Cast: | |
The movie stars Orson Welles as Charles Foster Kane the owner of “The Inquirer” newspaper syndicate; Joseph Cotten as Jedediah Leland, Kane’s best friend and a “society” reporter for Kane’s newspaper; Dorothy Comingore as Susan Alexander Kane, Kane’s mistress and second wife; Agnes Moorehead as Mary Kane, Kane’s mother; Ruth Warrick as Emily Monroe Norton Kane, Kane’s first wife; Everett Sloane as Mr. Bernstein, Kane’s friend and employee at the paper; and, George Coulouris as Walter Parks Thatcher, a banker who becomes Kane’s legal guardian. | |
Plot Summary: | |
The movie starts with an old man dying in what seems to be almost a castle. He has a snow-globe in his hand and as he dies, his last word is: “Rosebud”. The movie then jumps to a several minute intro about how wealthy (and wasteful) the old guy was… | |
The basic plot is a reporter is told to find out who this guy really is and what was “Rosebud”. The reporter then proceeds to recount a number of interviews with the old guy’s friends / family / colleagues… | |
A young boy becomes wealthy after the discovery of gold on his recently deceased father’s property and his mother ships him off East to be educated and looked after in a series of boarding schools. The boy does badly and goes through a series of schools and colleges, but his wealth continues to grow until he is one of the five wealthiest men in the world at the age of twenty-five. Kane returns from Europe with his long-time friend (Leland) and they set about running a “yellow-sheet” newspaper and turning it into a nation-wide paper and radio syndicate. Although losing money, his other interests continue to grow his wealth under the supervision of Thatcher. When the Great Depression hits, Kane is wiped out and his business interests are bought at pennies on the dollar by Thatcher. | |
Without any explanation, Kane is suddenly wealthy again and back in the publishing business. Kane tries to leverage this into a Governorship of New York State, but loses the election when his opponent publicizes Kane’s “affair” with a clerk / part-time singer. Kane’s first wife divorces him. He marries the singer and proceeds to make her life miserable by trying to turn her into an opera singer – although she lacks the ability or desire. She fails and attempts suicide to avoid further public humiliation. Kane begins building a famed estate “Xanadu” where they retreat to. Kane’s second wife leaves him (mostly for mental abuse). Kane has a fit and then after some unspecified time fades and dies. His last word is: “Rosebud”. | |
The final scene of the movie is a pre-cursor to the ending of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” warehouse scene… Kane’s possessions are being catalogued and those items deemed “worthless” are thrown into the Xanadu furnace. One of the items is a sled with the manufacture’s name: “Rosebud”. | |
Review: | |
So, is it any good? How’s the acting? Is it “really” a classic? First off, please recall the film is now eighty(80) years old… Within that specific constraint: YES, GREAT and YES!!! | |
Is it good – the movie is no surprise. We are told the ending up front and then the story evolves through the series of interlocking / overlapping flashbacks. Little to nothing occurs in “real time” – our time as a viewer. The only twist is the actual final furnace scene where WE learn the implied meaning of Rosebud as a profound effect on a young boy’s life. But is it ANY good? As stated, it is widely considered one of the greatest movies EVER. It was up for multiple Oscars (but only won one). There are multiple books written about the movie and Welles is considered to be one of the greatest directors in film history – although he “directed” only a dozen films in his lifetime. | |
How’s the acting – it’s actually pretty good. Obviously the special effects used for aging characters back then is nowhere near what were used to seeing in modern cinema, it holds its own. I personally am not enamored with Welles role, but I liked all of the other characters / actors – particularly Cotton and Comingore. The former made a terrific jilted / disabused friend and the latter a terrific naive young lady. | |
Is it a classic – DUH!! In preparation for this review, I read the Wikipedia article on the movie. The initial criticism is there is little to nothing (film making technique) new here. The response: maybe, but it was the first movie to tie a whole bunch of things previously (rarely) done together and have the sum be much greater than any of the individual techniques in prior movies. It’s effects have been both profound, pervasive and long lasting. | |
Final recommendation: This IS a classic movie and a must see film if you are at all interested in film history. ‘Nuff said… | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Are You Rotating Crops? |
Wrong Block, Dummy | |
2020 | I Choose Justice And Mercy |
2019 | Close, Sustained, Careful, Daily |
2018 | One Brick At A Time |
2017 | Order The Rope, #DumbDonald |
2016 | Chains Of Habit |
2015 | That You Shall Remain |
Did You See That? | |
2014 | True, Vibrant And Open |
2013 | Remembering, Yet Again |
2012 | Something Of Value |
2011 | Sleep All Day |
Planned, Promised And Promoted
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged FBI, Jan 6th Riot, Nancy Gibbs, Philosophy, Politics, QAnon, Quotes, TheView Essay: America's Moral Vaccum, Time Magazine, U.S. Capitol Riot, Zignal Labs on June 28, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Like our pandemic response, the U.S. Capitol riot is the latest cataclysm to be blamed on a failure of imagination. Who could imagine a virus that crashes the entire global operating system, or an attack that narrowly fails to decapitate the U.S. government? | |
And the obvious answer? Anyone who was paying attention. | |
Just as epidemiologists long warned of a pandemic, the insurrectionists helpfully advertised their violent intentions all over social media. The phrase storm the Capitol, unleashing countless QAnon furies, appeared 100,000 times in the month before the attack, according to Zignal Labs. The President clashed his cymbals and stoked the lie; party leaders largely ignored or pampered him. The day before the attack, an FBI office shared the warnings from online: “Be ready to fight. Congress needs to hear glass breaking, doors being kicked in … Get violent. Stop calling this a march, or rally, or a protest. Go there ready for war.” | |
Which means that it should have required no imagination to foresee an uprising that was planned, promised and promoted in plain sight. | |
… | |
But until we find our way back to a shared reality, lack of moral imagination will remain a national-security threat. Lack of moral leadership at a moment like this imperils democracy itself. In our schools and sanctuaries and clubs and communities, in our dealings with alienated friends and family, the vital work of replacing toxic fantasies with hard realities falls to each of us. | |
— Nancy Gibbs | |
From her op-ed: “TheView Essay: America’s Moral Vaccum“ | |
Appearing in: Time Magazine; 1 / 8 February 2021 | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Are You Rotating Crops? |
Wrong Block, Dummy | |
2020 | I Choose Justice And Mercy |
2019 | Close, Sustained, Careful, Daily |
2018 | One Brick At A Time |
2017 | Order The Rope, #DumbDonald |
2016 | Chains Of Habit |
2015 | That You Shall Remain |
Did You See That? | |
2014 | True, Vibrant And Open |
2013 | Remembering, Yet Again |
2012 | Something Of Value |
2011 | Sleep All Day |
Sort Of
Posted in Education, Health, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Carl Sagan, Food, Growth, Health, Learning, Nutritional Triage, Philosophy, Quotes, Stupidity, Survival on June 27, 2022| Leave a Comment »
When there isn’t enough food, the body has to make a decision on how to invest the limited foodstuff available to it. Survival comes first, growth comes second. And in this kind of nutritional triage, the body seems obliged to rank learning, last. It sort of it’s better to be stupid and alive, than smart and dead. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Life Finds A Way |
In The Palm Of My Hand | |
2020 | I’m Not Worried |
2019 | Forgiving The Chasm |
2018 | A Sure Sign Of Age |
Before The Fall – Cheat | |
2017 | Distant Goal |
2016 | More Lives |
2015 | Go Shopping More |
2014 | Say What? |
2013 | Accepting Beauty |
2012 | Transitional Choice To Ride The Wave |
2011 | Freedom Isn’t Always Perfect |
Just That Simple | |
Stuck Feeling Rich
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Charity, Croesus, Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, Miserly, Philosophy, Quotes on June 26, 2022| Leave a Comment »
A poor, charitable person can sometimes feel rich, a miserly Croesus never. | |
— Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Choose Strength |
Release Your Fears | |
2020 | No Fear |
2019 | Propaganda vs. Art |
2018 | What Did You Bring Up? |
2017 | Waiting For My First Strike |
2016 | Mostly Just Masticating |
2015 | Don’t Mess With Mosa |
How Long Is This Run? | |
2014 | The Importance Of Being Forgetful |
2013 | Anyway |
2012 | Habit Forming |
2011 | And In The Other Hand(ful) |
In Love With Words | |
Boundless Naïveté | |
Who Did You Say Signed Off On This Treason, Pat? | |
I’ll Drink To That
Posted in Faith, Faith Family and Friends, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Acts, Country, Do Good, Philosophy, Quotes, Religion, The Rights Of Man, Thomas Paine on June 25, 2022| Leave a Comment »
My country is the world, and my religion is to do good. | |
– Thomas Paine | |
From: “The Rights of Man“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | A Quest |
I’m Still Wondering | |
2020 | Time For Bed |
2019 | With Proper Guidance |
2018 | MAGA? |
2017 | Neutral |
Family Over Ego | |
2016 | Hard Learners |
2015 | Goals |
2014 | Switch To Dogs… |
2013 | Times Change |
2012 | Ashes Not Dust |
2011 | A Handful From Saudi |
None Of This Happened | |
Take Responsibility | |
Which May Be Less Frustrating, Too
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Anaïs Nin, Love, Philosophy, Quotes, Saving Others on June 24, 2022| 4 Comments »
You cannot save people, you can only love them. | |
– Anaïs Nin | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | A Sovereign Good |
Some Tenderness Survives | |
2020 | At Least Until The Rainbow Comes |
2019 | And/Or A Great Soulmate |
Austen Stalking | |
2018 | Dead Red |
You Ain’t Done Yet | |
2017 | Just Because |
2016 | As Close As They Can Get |
2015 | And So I Blog |
2014 | Take Flight |
2013 | Contributing Joy |
2012 | More Than A Race |
2011 | Institutionalized Leadership |
5 In 6
Posted in Disclaimer, General Comments, tagged Disclaimer, Games, General Comments, Highly Recommended Game, New York Times, Wordle on June 23, 2022| Leave a Comment »
About a month and a half ago I started playing a daily word / search / complete game: “Wordle“. It is a once a day game hosted on the New York Times news website. Basically, you have six chances to figure out the five letter word of the day. Incorrect letters appear as grey; correct letters in the wrong location as yellow; and, correct in the right location, as green. | |
As of today, I have only missed twice. I have found it EXTREMELY addictive and also a great vocabulary refresher. Highly recommended! | |
Here’s the link to the NYT site’s version: Wordle – The New York Times (nytimes.com) | |
[Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with the New York Times or the producers of the Wordle game. I am merely offering this link / game as a suggestion of something I’ve enjoyed playing. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | The Principal Difference |
Picture Perfect | |
2020 | So Sad, Faux Crowd |
The Spirit Is Willing | |
2019 | And The Same For Blogs And Posts |
2018 | The End Of Asgard (For Now) |
I Learn The Hard Way Every Time | |
2017 | For Some |
2016 | Fragile And Explosive, Provocation And Privacy |
2015 | Bound Up |
2014 | Economic Engines |
2013 | Weren’t You Supposed To Be Reading? |
Absent Friends | |
Where I Stand | |
2012 | Hangin’ With His P’s |
Help Save | |
2011 | Six Facets Of Good Leadership |
“Tends To” Is Not Always
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged 15 Questions Interview, Art, Belinda Luscombe, Eyes, Jasper Johns, Meaning, Philosophy, Quotes, Time Magazine, Understanding on June 22, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I don’t know that art can be understood in any final way, but a search for understanding tends to open one’s eyes rather than close them. | |
— Jasper Johns | |
From the interview: “15 Questions“ | |
Written by: Belinda Luscombe | |
Appearing in: Time Magazine; dtd: 11/18 Oct. 2021 | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | The Beauty Of Life |
Seeds | |
2020 | Better Sooner Than Later |
2019 | Possibilities And Challenges |
And Miles To Go Before She Sleeps | |
2018 | What I Tell You Three Times Is True |
2017 | And So On |
2016 | Kept |
2015 | Envy * 2 |
2014 | Destiny For The Talented |
2013 | I Do Not Fear It |
2012 | Until Found |
2011 | Reducing Goods To Data |
The Fog Of Civilization Building | |
Is Normal Just Routine?
Posted in Health, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Choice, COVID-19, Did I Point My Kids To The Wrong North Star?, Faith, Health, Hope, Nicole Chung, Parenting, Philosophy, Quarantines, Quotes, The New Normal, The View Essay, Time Magazine on June 21, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I would say that I don’t know how we got through that first shaky week of this third pandemic-impacted school year, hugging our kids and checking to make sure their masks were secure before they left each morning, except that I do know: We had no choice. We still don’t. Though we’re grateful to their teachers and glad that our kids are once again learning alongside their peers, the worry persists, an undercurrent to which we’ve been forced to adapt as we settle into routines both familiar and new. | |
Each week brings more pediatric infections, more student quarantines. Each day, I’m conscious of the fact that I’m allowing my children to assume a risk from which I, working at home, am protected, and this feels hopelessly backward. I read every update to the school COVID-19 guidelines so I know what to expect after the inevitable exposure, but I can’t tell my kids what they have long wanted to know: When will things go back to the way they remember? | |
… | |
Over the past 18 months, a common refrain has been that this pandemic should compel all of us to recognize our interdependence, the inescapable fact that we will not address this or any of the other grave threats we’re facing without collective action. This is a lesson that I expect many of our children are also learning, though the cost and the danger to them feels too high. I know I don’t want my kids to conclude that they are or forever will be powerless, or that there is no one who will fight with and for them. There are many things I still have to hope for to get through each day, and while our children’s survival and health top the list, I also want them to retain their faith in themselves and in their ability to look forward to something better than this — to find, as they so often do, their own reasons to hope. | |
— Nicole Chung | |
From: “The View Essay: Parenting – Did I point my kids to the wrong North Star?” Appearing in: Time Magazine; 11/18 Oct 2021 |
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Also online at: https://time.com/6102019/covid-19-hope-for-kids/ | |
The online version appears as: “There’s No End in Sight for COVID-19. What Do We Tell Our Kids Now?“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | The Rush Is On |
Another Rerun | |
2020 | It Is Still About Sharing And Cheering |
2019 | Sounds Like #LyingDonald |
2018 | Start Building |
2017 | Woof! Woof! |
2016 | Cast Out |
2015 | Small Pieces |
Happy Father’s Day! | |
2014 | Uncertain Work |
2013 | Unpatriotic And Servile |
2012 | What Price Freedom? |
2011 | Particular Importance |
Three From Bette… | |
But Don’t Be A Rocking Horse
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Complaining, Doing, Idleness, Philosophy, Quotes, Rocking Horses, Thomas Jefferson, Time on June 20, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing. | |
― Thomas Jefferson | |
[A rocking horse provides a lot of activity and can be a lot of fun, but riding it never gets you anywhere different from where you were when you first got in the saddle. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Be Interesting |
Wonder What Is Wrong With Me | |
2020 | To Our #IdiotInChief: Wear A Mask! |
2019 | Silent Purpose |
2018 | Just Bake The Cake, Man |
2017 | Visible Proof |
2016 | Poor Enough Means |
2015 | Still Standing |
Follow Your Heart | |
2014 | Just Reminded |
2013 | A Fine Balance |
2012 | One Measure |
2011 | Seeking The Common Ground |
In Brightest Day… | |
It Worked For Me
Posted in Disclaimer, Health, tagged Aikido, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Disclaimer, Health, Images, Repetitive Stress Injury, RSI, Tennis Elbow, Weights, Wrist Exercises on June 19, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Back in the 1980’s I developed a “repetitive stress injury” to my wrist(s) – mainly my right wrist, as I am right handed. It happened due to overuse of a mouse while working on computers. Back then it was more “popularly” starting to be called Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Of course, back then, there was no significant use of either term in the general populace. The closest we (the public) came to it was “tennis elbow” and its cousin “golfer’s elbow / wrist”. | |
I was lucky and mostly got over it (RSI) by playing Aikido for a few years – where you do a number of wrist flexing exercises during warm-ups / before practice. When I stopped Aikido, the symptoms began coming back and I went to a sports doctor (specialist) who gave me a sheet with wrist exercises to do several times a day. He said it is more important to do a few repetitions several times during the day than it is to do a massive number in one long session. He said he normally suggests using 1lb to 3lbs weights, but as I was muscular (back then), I should use 5lbs weights. He added if a weight is not available, just use a book. I’m in the process of going through some of the stuff I used to have in my work cubicle and found the exercise sheet so I’m offering the image of the exercise instructions to anyone who may have similar wrist issues. (Click on the image for a larger and more readable version.) | |
[Disclaimer: Please remember I am NOT a medical professional and the “tips” in this post are based on my positive anecdotal result(s) from a therapy recommended by a certified physician. Consult your personal physician before starting any diet or exercise regime. | |
I recently drove by the location of his storefront office and it is no longer there. He was older than me, so he’s probably long retired. As such, I have removed his office information from the image. I did a quick browse around the web to see if there were similar instructions / exercises available from a website I could provide attribution to. I was not able to locate anything similar. I am making no claim to ownership of the image and I am merely offering it up to help others in need. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | It Doesn’t Stop |
I Feel Like I’m Winning | |
2020 | #45: 14.81 Lies Per Day |
2019 | Less Miserable Now |
So Near And Yet So Far | |
2018 | I Doubt #45 Is Listening? |
2017 | Life’s Oddity |
2016 | Just Asking… |
2015 | Two Thoughts On Thinking |
2014 | From The Top, Please… |
2013 | You Are The Stars |
2012 | Just One?? |
2011 | Anything But |
Goals / Test
Posted in Education, Guitar, Music, tagged Arpeggios, Chords, Fretboard, Guitar, Guitar Test, Music, Practice, Progressions, Scales, Time Signatures, Tones on June 18, 2022| Leave a Comment »
The following is my “goal” for learning / playing guitar for the remainder of this year (2022). (It will be quite a stretch-goal for me. LoL!) | |
Guitar Test |
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1.) | How much do you practice — # of Day (6) / week (52); # of Hours (1) |
2.) | How well do you know the fretboard |
3.) | Knowledge of major & minor scale for natural notes |
4.) | Knowledge of major & minor chords — open & barred |
5.) | Perform three: Maj7, Min7 & Dom7 chords |
6.) | Playing & modifying a chord progression |
7.) | Perform three different Arpeggios — anywhere on the fretboard |
8.) | Build A Major scale (at least 3) — demonstrate a knowledge of scale formulas (along 1 string) |
9.) | Name the tones of four major key signatures |
10.) | Name & explain three time signatures — count, beat, stresses & accents |
11.) | Explain note duration — whole, half, 1/4th, 1/8th, & 1/16th |
Of course the object of “learning” these things is not the inherent value of knowledge. It is the ability to put the knowledge into use why playing the guitar. Some of the items on the list are things I already “know”. They are just (still) not yet under my fingertips. That will come with time and practice… Inshalla | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Waiting For The Sting |
Right From The Start | |
2020 | Reward Truth In November |
2019 | Prepare For The 2020 Election |
2018 | Why #45 Is Uncivil And Sinking |
Ole! … Ole, Ole, Ole | |
Is This Still The United States Of America? | |
2017 | Go Where? |
2016 | Returning To The Same Box |
2015 | The Hunter’s Music |
2014 | Dedication |
2013 | Unhappy Alternatives |
2012 | Implications |
2011 | Never Let Us Down |
The End Of Time
Posted in Family History, General Comments, Reading, tagged Big Bands, Family History, General Comments, Germany, Great Men Of Music, LIFE Magazine, Liverpool, Military Service, Newsweek Magazine, Reading, Time / Life Books, Time / Life Reading Program, Time Magazine, U.S. News and World Report Magazine on June 29, 2022| Leave a Comment »
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