| Ragnar's Reviews 2001 |
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Books The Essential Drucker by Peter Drucker 28 DecemberPeter Drucker is perhaps the best known author on the topic of management and economics. He wrote his first book in 1939, and has enough books on the market that people ask "Where do I start reading Drucker? Which of his works are essential?" more. Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser 22 December Had any fast food lately? A quick burger and fries on the road? A taco perhaps, or maybe a pizza? Have you ever thought about what was actually in that meal, or where it came from? Did you ever wonder how fast food came to be such a dominant, visible industry in North America? more. The Free Lunch by Spider Robinson 19 December Another time-traveler's story. Ho hum. At least Robinson isn't recycling the same characters again, but once again the universe is saved, this time by an unusually bright dues ex machina 12 year old. It isn't badly written, but there's still this undercurrent "admire me" that really annoys me. Another Robinson book that won't be joining the rest of them in my library. India Unbound by Gurcharan Das 17 December At one time India was the byword for wealth. Columbus wasn't trying to find North America, he merely blundered into it looking for a shorter route to India. Why then is it so poor now? When will it be rich again? Gurcharan Das explores these questions in a provocative history, weaving together his personal story with the economic changes in post-British India. more I'm a Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson 11 December Bill left America to live in England for 20 years, then returned and wrote a column about his adventures. Some are funnier than others, but all of them are a wry examination of a peculiar society. Being Canadian I realize that some of the observations hit close to home, but there is sufficient distance that most of the time I can point the finger and chuckle out loud. This book is very much worth reading, both for the humour, and the "I never looked at it like that" insight. Harry Potter and the (first three books) by J. K. Rowling 5 December We're thinking about going to see the Harry Potter movie sometime soon, and I thought I'd read the books before I saw the picture. After all, amost every time when you compare a book and a movie, the book is better. One can't help but being contaminated by all the images one gets exposed to, but at least I have my own pictures in my head now. I can see where the books are a great read for kids, and I was pleasantly
surprised by them. Rowling avoids the formula that makes the ending totally
predictable, and that makes them better books. The one character I would
like to learn more about is Snape. I'll chug through the fourth book when
I get it, but none of them are probably going to be added to the library.
So far Rowling has created an interesting universe, but not a fascinating
one. The Great Dragon's Fleas by Tim Ward 30 November Tim travelled extensively throughout India and south-east Asia during the mid-80's looking for God. Didn't find Him of course, but that was to be expected. What you do get is an unvarnished look at a world of poverty almost unknown to Westerner's. I had bought it in paperback at a used bookstore and will probably trade it back in again. Calculating God by Robert Sawyer 20 November . I loved the opening. The aliens land in front of the Royal Ontario Museum, but there is no "take me to your leader". No, they want to see a paleontologist. The plot is intriguing, and Sawyer is a good enough writer to keep things moving along. The cheap shots at the Harris government (much as Harris deserves them and much more) are going to date the book in a few years, and distract the reader. I won't spoil it for you, but I was disappointed in the ending. There ought to have been a couple more chapters there. By and large it's a good read and I don't regret buying it in paperback. The Wooden Sea by Jonathan Carroll 15 November . I didn't know where this book was going, where it was coming from, and often, even what it was doing at the moment right there in front of me. This is a rare thing in a book, and much to be appreciated. more Slide Rule, The Autobiography of an Engineer, by Nevil Shute, 7 November I've only ever read one book by Nevil Shute (On the Beach) but had known him more for working in the pre-WWII British aircraft industry. I had not known he was involved in building R-100, and had flown to Canada in it. This book is a behind the scenes look at the early aviation era from someone that was intimately involved. I was disappointed that it ended in 1938 with him retired from the industry, and able to live on his savings for 10 years. It is very well written, as one might expect from a famous author. I bought it used in hardcover. Wheels, Clocks, and Rockets by Donald Cardwell 5 November This is a fascinating book, but it isn't a simple read. Cardwell covers the history of technology from antiquity to yesterday, and what's even more impressive, shows how the past and present are tied together, and how many different fields interact with one another. There is much here for the interested reader, and even a casual reader will find it interesting to browse through. more. The Arts & Crafts Home by Kitty Turgeon and Robert Rust. 30 October . A beautiful oversize paperback full of gorgeous photographs and an overall look at the movement. more Rich Kid Smart Kid by Robert Kiyosaki with Sharon Lechter 21 September Money. Most people have problems with money. The authors posit that our society does a terrible job of teaching children about handling money, and teaches sub-optimal strategies for earning it. I think their most important point is that if you say "I can't afford it", you never will. The authors want you to ask "How can I afford it?" The book presents practical advice on dealing with money matters, and although it was also written to promote a game that teaches money management, it's still worth reading. The Efficient society - Why Canada is as close to Utopia as it gets. by Joseph Heath 16 Sept Efficient isn't normally a word that one thinks of about a country. A thought provoking book, much better that Rebick's Imagine Democracy. more Why Things Bite Back, Technology and the revenge of Unintended Consequences, by Edward Tenner. Aug 4, . A short review in my mono column. Bad News by Donald Westlake June 28, Another Dortmunder novel, and for those in the know, nothing more needs to be said. more. Some quickies for June 10, The Millionaire Mind by Thomas Stanley. A light read, but interesting. The truly rich are not as they are often portrayed. Stanley proposes that the rich have many habits and traits in common, but they aren't what you would think. Easily worth getting out of the library. Imagine Democracy by Judy Rebick. The Deltoid Pumpkin Seed by John McPhee Kim by Rudyard Kipling I read this a month ago, but am only now posting a review. A delightful visit to a time and place very foreign to us. more. Stalking the Elephant by James Laxer April 29, In some ways, Canadians are both fascinated and horrified by America. Laxer talks about the attractions and dangers. Very readable. more Oscar Peterson by Gene Lees April 12, Is there anybody who doesn't know that Oscar Peterson is one of the best piano players alive? Here's a look behind the piano at both the man and the scene. more. The Great Arc by John Keay March 3, Here's a book that brings life to mapping, India, British Colonial history, and spatial trigonometry. more Farther Shores by Yvonne Kason MD. January 17, Interested in life after death, or near death experiences? more Simplicity Marketing by Steven Cristol and Peter Sealey January 12, Advice on how marketers can use consumer's desire to simplify their lives to see more products. Interesting to know what tactics will be used against us, but I didn't finish the book because of the unnecessary detail and dry writing. Simon & Shuster ISBN 0-684-85918-1 Callahan's Key by Spider Robinson January 1, I enjoyed only one part in the book; the first description of a shuttle launch. The rest was tedious page turning. I kept hoping that it was going to get better. It wasn't actually hard to read, or dreadful enough to throw across the room. more Three quickies for Dec 30, 2000 Archimedes' Bathtub by David Perkins W W Norton & Company ISBN 0-393-04795-4 Superficial. Repetitive. Not much new. Offers simple (and old) quizzes to help people break through their mental blocks. It was disappointing for me. I got it from library, and wouldn't get it again. Valhalla by Tom Holt Orbit ISBN1 85723 983 0 This was supposed to be a comedy about life after death. Holt interprets Valhalla to be a place where everyone gets exactly what they want after death, only more of it and in spades. Odin appears as a cross between an amusement park director and a torturing demon. Not funny, unless you like peculiar British humour. A confusing cast of characters, many of them stumbling around pointlessly. I never did understand the escape artist bit. I got this from the library, and wouldn't get it again. The Great Dying by Kenneth J. Hsu Harcourt Brace Jovanovich ISBN
0-15-136904-6 Fairly scholarly work about how we know what happened to
the dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous. Discusses the fossil evidence
in more detail than I needed, but managed to stay interesting throughout
most of it. Again, this is a library book. I wouldn't buy it, but only
because I'm not that interested in the specific topic. Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K. Hamilton Dec 26, 2000 Imagine a world where President Jefferson invited the Faeries to come live in the US, and the Queen gives periodic press conferences. Imagine a Faerie Princess trying to figure out why the aunt and Queen that has been trying to kill her, now wants her to come home. more The Sea Road by Margaret Elphinstone Dec 26, 2000 This could well be called Gudrid's Saga. If you've enjoyed other Icelandic Sagas you will probably like The Sea Road. More Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer December 10, 2000 Krakauer's account of the disastrous 1996 climbing season on Mount Everest is compelling reading. Small things going wrong added up to 12 people dying, and one of the most astonishing tales of survival I've ever read. More Building Big by David Macaulay November 25, 2000 What do bridges, tunnels, dams, domes, and skyscrapers have in common? In association with a PBS series, Macaulay has brought his particular drawing style to each. More
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Movies The Fellowship of the Ring 24 DecemberThis movie has been hyped six ways from Sunday, and yet doesn't disappoint. For once the trailers do not show or give away the whole film. There is not the least trace of schlock or camp. The special effects are perfectly matched to setting, and the actors well suited to the characters. There are flaws for the nit-pickers to pick, but all films are flawed. It's too early to tell for sure, but this will certainly make the top 10 movies of the year list, and could well be a contender for all-time top 10 movies list. more Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 9 December The movie Harry Potter doesn't interest me much at all, while the book Harry was at least somewhat interesting. However, the movie Hermione was just perfect. Most of the other movie characters are good portrayals of the book characters, and the scenery and set work are all that could be desired. But somehow, the movie just isn't as alive as the books, and I don't know why. I enjoyed the movie, and didn't even mind seeing it in the theatre surrounded by kids, but essentially it was only one layer, while the books are on several levels. Even in a simple morality play I like a little more complexity. Cats & Dogs 2 December A fun film worth watching on two levels. The first is the high tech war between cats and dogs. There is all sorts of cool spy-spoof gadgetry, and more than enough laughs to make it worth watching. The second level is watching the live action, computer graphic work, and puppetry all mixed seamlessly together. By half way through the movie you'll accept seeing the creatures lips move in time with their words. Sometimes it's hard to know what you are watching. I was a little disappointed by the few extras on the DVD. The "making of" clip was interesting, and the only other extra was to watch the movie again with comments from the people that made it. No deleted scenes and no previews. I wouldn't be surprised to see a sequel. Unbreakable 25 November After much hype I finally rented this on DVD. It was ok, but I'm glad I didn't buy it. There is not nearly enough material for two discs. The movie was pleasant, moving along in a methodical way to a predictable ending. In one way it's almost a mood piece; somber and restrained. You could almost use the sound track as the background music for a very serious meeting. Unbreakable is by the same director as The Sixth Sense, but he did a much better job on Sixth Sense. I simply didn't buy Elijah's line of reasoning, that if he broke so easily
there had to be someone who didn't break, so he went looking. In Philidelphia.
That person, if they existed at all, could well have lived in Tibet. Willis
is suitably reluctant to take on the role that Elijah has for him, and
Elijah seems almost indecently hasty about accepting the role that puts
him in. Chocolat September 15 This was a nice entertaining movie by the same director that did The Cider House Rules. It all played out much as you would expect it to, but it was done with more charm than most movies. The people involved were not the carboard cutouts so common in Hollywood movies. We very much enjoyed watching it. There are lots of extras on the DVD. Snatch July 15, Written and directed by the same person who did Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, and it shows. It's a good movie, providing you don't mind not understanding a good chunk of the dialogue (deliberately done so), and knowing up front a first time viewer doesn't stand a hope of following the plot, such as it is. Wonderful to watch, in an off-beat, stylish sort of way. I saw it on DVD, which includes trailers for a bunch of movies, a short-short on the making of, and some deleted scenes. Well worth renting if you're looking for something different. Tomb Raider June 16, Seen in a theatre yet! Good clean summer movie fun. Check your brain at the ticket counter and enjoy the ride. The Mummy (1999) June 15, I rented this on a rainy day for a bit of a lark. Given that my expectations were so low, I actually ended up mostly enjoying myself. I think they meant it to be campy, with somewhat cheesy dialogue. As is to be expected now, the effects were well done. If anything, we've come to recognize a special effect by it being perfect, and so real that it's somewhat unreal. The DVD has a ton of bonus material; so much so that I haven't yet watched it all. I suppose that's why 7 day rentals were invented. Wonder Boys April 14, We saw this on video with our friends Gord and Gail, and really enjoyed it. Delicately paced, passing up obvious plot turns based on a dead dog, a pregnant mistress, a horny roomer, and more, it's a subtle movie that leaves you wondering how everything is going to end up. I'll be watching this again, probably on DVD to see if there are any extras. Topsy-Turvy April 13, We aren't really Gilbert and Sullivan fans, but we mostly enjoyed the movie. Or rather, the movie about the making of the Mikado. Sumptious, wonderful costumes, but I probably wouldn't rent it again. The DVD extras weren't much to speak of. Aliens April 13, I really enjoyed this when I first saw it in the theatre, and it held up on several subsequent video viewings. However, the special edition DVD is a disappointment. The added material slows down the movie, and the special features are a waste of time. I'm glad I didn't buy it. Red Mars March 31, About all I can say is that it could have been much worse. There are still lots of nits to be picked, since there are no shortage of scientific flaws. It would be a great movie for a group of friends to watch and race each other to see who can name the errors first. The deleted scenes weren't worth watching. The characters are 100% recycled cardboard. Red Sun, March 3, . This is an old movie, made about 1971, redone on DVD, starring Toshiro Mifune, Charles Bronsen, and Usula Andress. It was better than I thought it would be, with some lovely scenery. Where the Money is, March 3, I just loved watching Paul Newman. Here's a master at his craft. The plot isn't much. About the most that can be said for it is that it's thoroughly predictable, but the actors make the most of it. I just hope I look as good as Paul does at 75, when I retire, let alone if I reach that age. Die Harder Feb 18. I spent much of the movie incredulous with disbelief. Not impressed. Die Hard February 3, OK, but I could never forget I was watching a Hollywood movie, and this is not a compliment. No suspense, just set work and lots of people milling around. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon January 28, What an astonishingly beautiful movie! Cider House Rules January 20, Worth watching once. The Green Mile January 13, Wonderful! The Sixth Sense January 12, Spoiler warning included for the last part of the review. Pitch-Black January 7, Dreadful. Poor plot. Cheesy special effects. Bad science. Stupid humans. 13th Warrior January 7, Disappointed! Very disappointed! This could have been so much better, since an Arab scholar really did visit the Vikings and write about them. Go see the trailer and you'll have seen all the good bits. The Whole Nine Yards January 6, Offbeat fun. X-Men December 30, 2000 This was a whole lot better than I thought it would be. |
Miscellaneous Romeo and Juliet at Dr. E. P. Scarlett High School 12 DecemberBravo! Those who know us will wonder why we were attending a play at a high school, when we don't have any children. However, our dear friends Gord and Gail have a daughter that age and Georgina asked them to invite us. We were not quite sure what to expect, but we got a competent reading of the play with a very lively performance by the cast. More. Jesse Cook and Natalie McMaster at the Jubilee Auditorium October 23, Natalie started the show with a high energy performance that thoroughly
charmed me. This was the first time I had ever knowingly heard her play
and quite enjoyed it. Jesse finished the show with an odd performance.
He played as well as he always does, but his performing style conflicts
with Natalies. I thought the instruments sounded a little odd, and that
some of the solos went on just a little long, but that's what live performances
are all about. The unplugged version of Fall at Your Feet was the
best part of the whole show. The lighting was intrusive and at times made
it difficult to see the performers. Jesse is soon going to be running
into difficulties with live performances. As the halls get larger, the
music gets louder and somehow loses some of the remarkable artistry Jesse
brings to the guitar. Overall I enjoyed the show, but I don't think it
was the best show Jesse has done in Calgary. Ain't Gonna Hush! by Saffire, the Uppity Blues Women. Aug 4, If you like rocking blues go buy this album. In fact, go buy all their albums. more Galaxie Diner June 3, Here's a place that almost too good to share. more Whitecourt May 25, A surprising little town. more. Souvlaki Time March 31, Westbrook Mall isn't much of a mall. It's only redeeming feature is that you can buy the best Souvlaki in Calgary there. Frank runs a small shop in what might pass for a food court if you'd never been to another mall. It's barely big enough for him and the food, but what wonderful food he turns out! Each meal is custom cooked to your liking, and is very reasonably priced. Six dollars will get you some change, and quite a filling lunch of rice pita, chicken, beef, or pork, Greek or Cesar salad, with lots of Tzaziki sauce on arborio rice. Cooked with skill and care, his ingredients are the best, making for a great meal. It's well worth the visit. Go, you won't regret it. Leigh Clarke crosses the Empty Quarter January 24, (Please note that link didn't work as of today.) The 1st Priddis Scout troop enjoyed listening to Leigh Clarke as he showed slides from his famous trip across the Empty Quarter of of the Saudi Peninsula. Clarke gave an excellent talk to the kids, explaining some of the aspects of the trip in terms they would understand, but without condescending. But don't think the adults were bored. The photos are wonderful, and his wry humour brings the story to life. Somehow it hadn't occurred to me that insects like beetles or ticks would be a problem in the desert. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but have not the least desire to try it for myself. Temperatures of +50°C is much more than what I'm willing to put up with. If you get a chance to see Clarke's slide show, make the time. Salvatore's Restaurant 9140 Macleod Tr S January 5, Jeff de Boer Art December 2, 2000. Jesse Cook Rules! November 30, 2000 You can find more information about Jesse Cook at his web site, or Narada Records. His four albums are called Gravity, Vertigo, Tempest, and Free Fall. Go buy them.
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