Category: Reads

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Spurred By New Series: A Watchmen (movie) Rewatch

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Back when the Watchmen movie came out in 2009, I wasn’t really into comics much yet. I grew up on baseball cards, not comics. In college, I got into some of the darker comics from Image and Caliber and such. The Crow, Spawn, etc. Still, when Watchmen came along, I went to the theater to watch it. I even did a midnight showing for this back when they were a thing. I had not read the comic series before seeing the movie. I’m not sure if it was the late night, or the beers with supper before hand, but I … Continue reading Spurred By New Series: A Watchmen (movie) Rewatch

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The Literate Nerd Merit Badge: What Is The Required Reading?

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I finished reading Alan Moore’s Watchmen tonight. I’m finally getting around to reading Frank Herbert’s Dune, listening to the audiobook version of it before watching the new movie. Doing two classics at the same time got me wondering. What are the books every self-professed nerd would be required to read to earn a Boy Scouts-style Literate Nerd Merit Badge? Because I would probably include both of these. Others have published their lists for similar concepts. But I wanted to throw mine out into the multiverse as well. This is the essential, universal list that is required reading for graduation at … Continue reading The Literate Nerd Merit Badge: What Is The Required Reading?

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Book Nook: 12 Practices of a Real Champion

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My wife Sarah and I actually read a fair amount of the same books. We have largely different personalities, but largely overlapping interests. Hey, we make it work. A few months ago, she attended a work-related training with a guest speaker, Steve Thomas. He gave out little books to the attendees. My interest was piqued when she said he was an assistant coach for Sacred Heart Griffin football. Any old sports reporter in my parts is automatically going to know the connotations of success that go with that distinction. Five state titles and four runner-up finishes since 1995 alone. So, … Continue reading Book Nook: 12 Practices of a Real Champion

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Poem: Comfortless

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By Edgar A. Guest As found in Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book I found him underneath a tree“And what is wrong,” quoth I,“That you so solemn seem to beUnder this summer sky?” “The birds above you gayly sing,The wildflowers brightly bloom,What is this awful, horrid thingWhich seeks to seal your doom?” Round the children romp and play,The gentle breezes blow,Sad stranger, tell to me I prayThe burden of your woe. “I do not see the sunbeams dance,Nor hear the birds,” said he.“There’s something faulty with my stance,I can’t get off the tee.” “All day I’ve shanked my mashie shot,My putts … Continue reading Poem: Comfortless

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Book Nook: Legacy of Ashes, The History of the CIA

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I’ve been plugging along with my reading, but it has been a while since I wrote up a quick review of anything I have read. I wanted to do that for this book, because it has been one of the more interesting reads of the year for me, even if it is about 13 years after it came out. Legacy of Ashes was written by Tim Weiner, a veteran reporter for the New York Times. It was published in 2008 and covers the history of the agency, from formation in post WWII through the second Bush administration. This is one … Continue reading Book Nook: Legacy of Ashes, The History of the CIA

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The Pink Press…Almost Didn’t Change My Life

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Flashback time: January 2005. Just over 16 years ago. I’m standing underneath the basket in the North Clay gymnasium, covering an MTC Tournament game. I’m pretty sure Cisne was one of the teams playing at the time. And some creepy dude with a beard approaches me. Wait, what? Where is this going again? Creepy dude says “I own a paper and I need a sportswriter. You interested?” He hands me a card. “Tom Matthews Jr., Wayne County Press.” And the first thought that popped into my mind. “Wayne County Press? Those are the people that put out that stupid pink … Continue reading The Pink Press…Almost Didn’t Change My Life

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Book Nook: Agent 355

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Written by Marie Benedict and released last summer, Agent 355 is a revolutionary war era tale that is essentially a What if Pride and Prejudice was a spycraft story, in short story form. An Audible original, narrated by Emily Ranking, Agent 355 follows the story of Elizabeth Morris, an angsty teen with the misfortune of being born to British loyalist. This does not sit well with her and she does something about it. And that something is taking advantage of the fact men of that era did not take women’s intellect seriously and exploit that fact to become a spy. … Continue reading Book Nook: Agent 355

Politics, ReadsLeave a comment

A New Star Delivers A New Entry In the Poetry Pantheon On Inauguration Day

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Just last week, I went back and re-read Maya Angelou’s And Still I Rise. I can’t remember why. It was referenced in something I was reading or watching or listening to, I just can’t remember what at this point. I even included it in my 2021 reading log. It’s always good to go back and read the great works as a reminder that some things transcend time or events. And as of today, we have a new entry in this pantheon, and I almost missed it. I watched President Joe Biden’s speech, but a good chunk of the day, the … Continue reading A New Star Delivers A New Entry In the Poetry Pantheon On Inauguration Day

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Book Nook: Life Lessons From An Icon

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I have written within this here blog before about my penchant for note take as I read. I don’t do it nearly as much when doing audiobooks. Some of that is because I mostly do fiction and biographies for audiobooks, hard cover for nonfiction or educational books. The majority of my audiobook consumption is done while doing by morning walks. A chapter a day does a pretty good job of occupying that 1.5-mile walk to start a day. Well, I recently did a biography that had me stopping during my walks and typing out quick emails to myself, my version … Continue reading Book Nook: Life Lessons From An Icon