Sheldon Brown's Journal
May-June 2003
Current
| Books | Films | Music | Plays | Travels |
|---|
May-June 2003
| Books | Films | Music | Plays | Travels |
|---|
Shave And A Haircut!
On May 5, 2003 I shaved for the first time since 1968. I didn't just do the chin, I went for the full Sinead O'Connor!
Summer's coming, my long hair and beard were getting cumbersome, so I decided to try a new look.
Nobody recognizes me until I open my mouth. Neither my wife nor my children had ever seen my chin before.
I've been having a lot of fun with it, but I plan to grow the beard back, though probably not as full as before. My face is certainly more expressive without it, but I think I look better with something to relieve the roundness of my face.
In addition, I don't want to face next winter without some chin insulation!
May 16, 2003
Film: (DVD) The Thin Man
Classic '30s detective comedy, slow paced by modern standards, but lots of fun for those (like me) who like this sort of thing.May 17, 2003
Film: (DVD) A Fish Called Wanda
I've seen this before, but it's worth another look or two, hilariously funny.May 18, 2003
Steve Grimes Memorial Service
This was a very nice event, held at Northeastern University's Henderson House in Weston. Quite a good turnout, probably 49-50 people. Several people shared their memories, myself among them.May 20, 2003
Harriet off to Nebraska for one of her research projects.May 21, 2003
Revels Pub Sing at Doyle's
George and I went to Doyle's in Jamaica Plain for a Revels Pub Sing, first one of these we've been to. It was great fun. I soloed in Barret's Privateers and The Man That Waters the Workers' Beer.May 22, 2003
Film: (DVD) The World of Henry Orient
May 23, 2003
A visit from my brother, always a treat. Harriet was out of town, so it was just Richard, George and me.May 24, 2003
Opera: (DVD) Les Huguenots Meyerbeer
I liked the Australian National Opera's DVD of Die Meistersinger so much I thought I'd give this one a try, though the actual opera isn't too highly regarded. It was a fine production, and was definitely worth seeing. Dame Joan Sutherland appears in her swan song as Margaret of Navarre.It's a grim tale based on the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in 1572.
May 25, 2003
Film: (DVD) Mr Deeds Goes To TownFrank Capra, 1939
May 26, 2003
eBook: War and Peace Leo Tolstoy
I was first exposed to this work via the Hollywood movie, which I enjoyed, but it was far too short to do justice to a 1500 page book. What really hooked me was the British TV version starring Anthony Hopkins as Pierre. (This also turned me into a major Hopkins fan, just wish he'd stop doing those crappy horror films, they're not worthy of his talents.)In the late 1970s, the late Bill Caveness read the whole thing on WGBH radio in daily half-hour segments, and I was able to hear the whole book.
I finally actually read it sometime in the 1980s, in the two volume Maude translation, and enjoyed it very much.
In early January, I downloaded a different translation in Palm DOC format, and have been re-reading it with much enjoyment.
Aside from Pierre and Natasha, I think my favorite character is General Kutuzov. This fat, old half-crippled one-eyed general is a man of the 18th century "age of reason" surrounded by fire-breathing young romantic glory seekers. He alone understands the balance of forces engaged, and his young officers consider him a fool and a coward as he keeps moving back from Bonaparte's advancing juggernaut. Kutuzov knows that he can't beat the Corsican Tyrant's forces in open combat, but that if he can preserve the Russian army long enough, geography and winter weather will decimate the invaders by attrition to the point that the hardy Russian troops will be able to expel them. This, indeed turned out to be the winning strategy in the long run.
Toynbee said "Those who do not remember history are condemned to repeat it" and there is no better example of this than Hitler's invasion 130 years later, which the Russians opposed with identical tactics, with identical results.
Much of the novel is devoted to Tolstoy's thesis that wars are not caused nor controlled by leaders, but are the results of the accumulated pressures of the actions of hundreds of thousands or millions of ordinary people, and that the "leaders" are mereley figureheads expressing the national will. He derides the "great man" theory of history rather convincingly, heaping particular scorn on the supposed "genius" of Napoleon. He goes into considerable detail about a number of battles, explaining how the "leaders" gave detailed orders as to which detachment should move where--when, in the event, none of the detachments on either side ever made it to their assigned posts!
He believes that the morale of the individual soldier on the front line who says either "Let's go guys, we've got 'em on the run!" or "Run for your lives, there's no stopping them!" who makes the difference, to a much greater extent than anything the commmander in chief or general staff can do.
May 28, 2003
Film: (DVD) Rabbit Proof Fence
Quite a fine, rather unusual film. Set in Western Australia in 1931, 3 half-Aboriginal sisters, 8 to 14 are taken from their mother to be raised in a special, rather Dickensian facility, due to racist laws that prevailed at the time. They run away and try to return to their home 1200 miles across the Outback, while evading pursuers. No subtlety at all, but an inspiring film. Kenneth Branagh is the well-meaning but terminally racist Protector of Aborigines.May 30, 2003
Film: (DVD) The Producers Mel Brooks, 1968
I had forgotten what a hoot this is, especially the first half with Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder redefinig "over the top." Unfortunately, it degenerates into rather dated hippy-bashing toward the middle of the film, but it remains a masterpiece, even though flawed.May 31, 2003
Film: (DVD) Monsoon Wedding
This was reccommended by Harriet's cousin Rennie, and a great tip it was. An absolutely delightful film about an upper-middle class wedding in present-day India. Very highly recommended.June 1, 2003
eBook: (DVD) Worlds of Honor David Weber and others
This is a collection of prequel novellas to the Honor Harrington Series. They mostly deal with the relations between Sphinxian treecats and humans. Quite enjoyable for HH fans.June 2, 2003
Film: (DVD) Kolya
A lovely Czech film about a curmudgeonly 'cellist who becomes saddled with a 5 year old Russian boy just as the Velvet Revolution is going down in 1988-89. Higly recommended.June 3, 2003
Film: (DVD) 28 Days
This is a sporadically funny but largely predictable paen to 12 step programs. So-so.June 6, 2003
Film: (DVD) Dark Blue World.
I liked Kolya so much I sought out more films by ****, and this is what I found. This is rather gloomier than Kolya, dealing with Czech Air Force pilots who escape to England after the Anschluss, and join the R.A.F. Those of them who live through WW2 and go home find that they're not in good odor politically with the Soviet occupiers, and they get chucked into the gulag.June 7, 2003
Film: (DVD) Ice Age
This prehistoric cartoon was rather disappointing. Although the animation quality was pretty good, the story was basically on the intellectual level of a Roadrunner cartoon.June 8, 2003
Took George to the airport, he's off to Duluth for the summer to do abstruse math. We'll miss him!June 14, 2003
All day rehearsal for the Midsummer Revels. First time doing the whole mummers' play in the costume. The head needs more work, 'cause it fell off when I died.June 15, 2003
Music Two Siberians
I found this disc left behind by George in one of our CD players, electric violin & electric guitar. All instrumental, and just wonderful! George does have excellent taste, don't know where he found this..Harriet and I commemorated our empty-nest Fathers' Day with a 25 mile ride on our fixed-gear tandem. I can't remember the last time we rode tandem together. It was a very nice ride, down through Dover and back.
It is quite noticeable that my wrist problems have greatly diminished since losing 40 pounds.
Film: A Mighty Wind
This was great fun, a folkie equivalent of This is Spinal Tap. Highly recommended for those old enough to remember The New Christy Minstrels, Ian & Sylvia and the Kingston Trio.eBook: Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
This marvelous book is well worth a second reading. Marvelously engrossing story, written with élan and humor. Very, very highly recommended!June 20, 2003
The Midsummer Revels
This was a departure for Revels, a single free outdoor performance at Museum Wharf, co-sponsored by the Children's Museum. It was a celebration of the Summer Solstice, also featuring Chinese dancers, a pipe band, several Morris sides and a steel drum band.In addition to being in the chorus, I had my highest-profile role so far as the front of the 4 person dragon in the mummers' play. I also did some dancing, and actually enjoyed it...having lost 40 odd pounds made a big differnce!
There was a capacity audience, good weather and the whole thing was a great success. It is hoped that this will become the seed of a new Boston tradition, perhaps expanding into a major festival on the Common.
June 21, 2003
Film: (DVD) Mississippi Masala Mira Nair
We liked Monsoon Wedding so much that I ordered a couple of other Mira Nair DVDs from Netflix. This one is mostly set in 1990 Mississippi, with flashbacks to 1972 and earlier in Uganda. The central character is an ethnic Indian woman, born like her parents, in Uganda, and expelled by Idi Amin's ethnic cleansing of 1972.She falls in love with a young black man who has a small carpet-cleaning business. Due to the racism of their respective families, both of their lives are turned upside down. It's quite a good film, though rather sad.
June 22, 2003
eBook More Than Honor David Weber et. al.
This is a collection of 3 novellas and a major appenidx relating to the Honor Harrington series.A Beautiful Friendship (David Weber) deals with the First Contact between Sphinxian Treecats and human settlers, specifically, 11 year old Stephanie Harrington (Honor's grandmother.) A Grand Tour (David Drake) set close to the beginning of the Havenite war, involves a Manticoran Earl on an archaeological expedition, who becomes caught up in hostilities with Haven. A Whiff of Grapeshot (S. M. Stirling) details the Levellers revolt on Haven, when Admiral Esther McQueen saves the Pierre regime from ruin. The Universe of Honor Harrington (David Weber) is a collection of essays explaining some of the background detail of the series, including details of space ship drive characteristics, planetological details and historical/political background information.
I quite enjoyed the first two novellas, the rest of the book rather less so.
June 23, 2003
Film: (DVD) Kama Sutra Mira Nair
June 24, 2003
Installed GB Randonneur bars and Veloce Ergo shifters/rear derailer on my Hetchins. Really a considerable improvement in the ergonomics and comfort of the bike.June 25, 2003
Film: (DVD) The World According to Muriel
This is the first Argentinian film I've ever seen. Technically crude, it tells the story of a single mother and her daughter and their adventures in the Argentine boondocks. All men are pigs seems to be the central message.June 26, 2003
Film: (DVD) Truly, Madly, Deeply 1991
A sad comedy, about a Londoner who is haunted by the ghost of her late lover. Enjoyable all in all.June 27, 2003
Film: (DVD) About a Boy Chris Weitz 2002
Hugh Grant as a playboy batchelor who pretends to be a single father as a way of meeting women. A pleasant comedy, not side-splittingly funny though.June 28, 2003
eBook Lt. Leary, Commanding David Drake, 2000
David Weber's Honor Harrington series was created by transplanting C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower formula into a distant space-opera future. David Drake appears to be trying to do the same thing with Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series.Daniel Leary is the Aubrey analogue, a valiant and skillful naval officer, estranged from his politician father. Adele Mundy fills Maturin's slot, a genius at communication and codebreaking, but rather a bumbler at spacefaring life. Her entire family, including her 10 year old sister, has been massacred as the result of an unsuccessful coup attempt, and she's pretty much alone in the world.
The universe of this series features space ships that make use of an altered space time called "The Matrix" for FTL travel. Navigation within The Matrix is by sails, which have to be manhandled and rigged in much the way the sails of a traditional sailing ship do, with space-suited "riggers" climbing the masts and yards.
It's a good tale for those with a taste for military SF.
| Books reviewed on this page: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Lt. Leary, Commanding | David Drake | 6/28/03 |
| Cryptonomicon | Neal Stephenson | 6/15/03 |
| War and Peace | Leo Tolstoy | 5/26/03 |
| More than Honor | David Weber et. al. | 6/22/03 |
| Worlds of Honor | David Weber et. al. | 6/1/03 |
| Films reviewed on this page: |
|---|
Music: Date Performers Works
March 8, 2003 B.S.O., Bernard Haitink Beethoven, Harbison
March 7, 2003 Arlo Guthrie Northeastern University
February 21-March 1, 2003 Gilbert & Sullivan: Patience Sudbury Savoyards
January 18, 2003 B.S.O., Ton Koopman, Andreas Scholl Bach, Haydn
December 7, 2002 B.S.O., Marek Janowski Bartok, Strauss
November 29, 2002 New York Philharmonic, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Pierre Laurent-Aimard Janacek: Cappriccio; R.Strauss: Burleske; Brahms: Sym. #2
November 2, 2002 B.S.O., Marek Janowski Bartok, Strauss
September 22, 2002 Boston Folk Festival Barachois, Bill Staines, Cheryl Wheeler, Richard Thompson
July 21, 2002 London Philharmonic, Rostropovich Shostakovich, Lady MacBeth of Mtsensk
July 3, 2002 Stan Rogers Folk Festival Oysterband, Fairport Convention, others.
May 3, 2002 The Australian Opera Wagner, Die Meistersinger
April 18, 2002 B.S.O., Seiji Ozawa Mahler, Sym. # 9
April 13, 2002 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert & Sullivan, The Gondoliers
March 7, 2002 B.S.O., Hans Graf, M. Piccinini, A.Häfliger Colgrass, Schubert
February 21, 2002 B.S.O., James Levine Dvorak, Wuoronen, Mozart, Ligeti,Schumann
January 10, 2002 B.S.O., Bernard Haitink Bruckner: Symphony #7
December 9, 2001 Brandeis University Symphony Orchestra Beethoven: Piano Concerto #3; Dvorak: Symphony #6
December 8, 2001 Brandeis University Early Music Society Various works
November 17, 2001 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert & Sullivan, H.M.S. Pinafore
November 3, 2001 B.S.O., Federico Cortese Ives: Ragtime Dances, Mozart Pf Conc #9 k271, Kurtäg: Grabstein für Stephan; Schubert, Sym. #4
Novembr 2, 2001 Blue Man Group, Seiji Ozawa Brahms: Symphony #1
October 6, 2001 B.S.O., Seiji Ozawa Brahms: Symphony #1
May 3-6, 2001 M.I.Tl G & S Players Gilbert & Sullivan: The Grand Duke
April 13, 2001 Harvard-Radcliffe G & S Gilbert & Sullivan: Utopia, Limited
March 4, 2001 Newton North High School Chorus
and Orchestra Haydn: Missa in Tempore Belli; Symphony #49 "La Pasione"
March 3, 2001 B.S.O., David Robertson Janácek Sinfonietta,
February 18, 2001 Theatre de Chatelet (DVD) Janácek, The Cunning Little Vixen
February 4, 2001 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Rowe
& Sullivan, The Zoo
February 3, 2001 B.S.O., James Levine Mahler Symphony #3
February 3, 2001 George and his band at
Harvey Finstein School of Music
December 27, 2000 The Christmas Revels,
Cambridge Appalchian/African-American Revels
December 23, 2000 San Carlo Opera
(DVD) Wagner, Tannhäuser
November 18,
2000 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert & Sullivan, The Sorceror
November 16, 2000 Harvestfest, Newton North High
School
November 2, 2000 B.S.O., Christoph Eschenbach Mozart: Piano
Concerto #23; Mahler Symphony #5
October 24, 2000 Leon
Rosselson Johnny D's
October 7, 2000 The
Savoy-Aires Gilbert & Sullivan: The Mikado
June 18, 2000 George and his band at Harvey Finstein School of Music
May 21, 2000 Small Ensemble
Concert--Newton North
April 29, 2000 Spring Revels
April 22, 2000 B.S.O., André Previn, Pamela
Frank Previn: Diversions; Barber: Violin Concerto; Mozart: Symphony
#39
March 10, 2000 Revels, Inc/Shakespeare & Co. The Mysteries
February 26, 2000 B.S.O.,Seiji Ozawa, Christine Goerke, Ian
Bostridge, Thomas Quasthoff Britten: War Requiem
February 19, 2000 B.S.O., Bernard Haitink Mahler: Symphony
#7
February 12, 2000 George and his band at
Harvey Finstein School of Music
January 29, 2000 B.S.O., Sir Simon Rattle
Peter Donohoe,
PianoDvorák: The Golden Spinning Wheel,
Bartók:
Piano Concerto #1, Brahms: Symphony #2
January 8, 2000 George on
Trombone N.E. Regional Senior District Festival
December 19, 1999 The Christmas Revels,
Cambridge Italian Renaissance Revels
December 12, 1999 Pierre Boulez, Met
Opera (video) Wagner: Siegfried
November 19, 1999 Matapat, Lexington
November 18, 1999 Harvestfest, Newton
North High School St. Sæns Danse Macabre
November 7, 1999 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert &
Sullivan, Iolanthe
November 4, 1999 George and his band at
Ryles, Cambridge
October 2, 1999 B.S.O., Seiji Ozawa
Florence Quivar, Mezzo;
Paula Delligatti, Sop.Mahler, Symphony #2
September 29, 1999 B.S.O., Seiji Ozawa,
Hildegarde Behrens,
SopranoWagner: Tannhäuser, Götterdämmerung
excerpts;
Strauss: Electra excerpt.
August 14,
1999 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert & Sullivan, Crichton
July 24, 1999 David Mallett
June 19, 1999 The
Publick Theatre Gilbert & Sullivan The Yeomen of the Guard
April 13, 1999 Harvey Finstein School of Music
student groups George and Tova at Watch City
Brewery
March 7, 1999 Newton North High School Chorus
and Orchestra Mozart: Requiem, Symphony #38 ("Prague").
March 5, 1999 Harvey Finstein School of Music student
groups George and Tova in Jazz recital at Newton Congregational Church.
March 4, 1999 Newton North High School various
groups.
February 6, 1999 B.S.O.,Seiji Ozawa,
Jacques Zoon
(flute)Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande "Symphony"
Mozart: Flute
Concerto #1 in G, K.313
Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps.
January 30, 1999 B.S.O., Robert Spano,
Andreas Haefliger
(piano)Lindberg: Arena
Beethoven: Piano Concerto #2
Sibelius: The Swan of
Tuonela, Symphony #3
January 16, 1999 B.S.O., Sir Simon Rattle,
Dawn Upshaw
(sop.)Knussen Flourish with Fireworks
Weir Natural History
Mahler Symphony
#4
Schumann Piano Concerto
December 23,
1998 The
Christmas Revels, Sanders Theatre, Cambridge
December 12, 1998 Caroling with Nym
Cooke, Hardwick, Mass.
November 28,
1998 B.S.O., Roberto Abbado,
Lief
Ove Andsnes (piano)Mahler Symphony #1
Schumann Piano Concerto
November 8, 1998 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert &
Sullivan, The Mikado
Plays:
November 29, 2002 Lorraine Bracco The Graduate
November 23, 2001 Helen Mirren, Ian McKelln The Dance of Death-August Strindberg
September 30, 2000 Tova/Black Box Theatre, Cornell
University The Maids-Jean Genet
May 30,
2000 Kelsey Grammer/Colonial Theatre Macbeth
May 26, 2000 The Huntington Theatre Co. King
Hedley II
September 3, 1999 The Publick
Theatre Nine
August 21, 1999 Orange
Tree Theatre, Ithaca, N.Y. Sonata
August 13,
1999 Firehouse Theatre, Ithaca, N.Y. Sister Mary Ignatius Explains it All For
You
May 22-29 Newton South/North High
Schools Richard III
December 18,
1998 Newton North High School The Bone Violin, May Flies
November 12, 1998 Newton North High School To
Kill a Mockingbird
052999
Travels:
November 27-30, 2002 New York, N.Y.
October 8-13, 2002 Evanston, Illinois
October 4-8, 2002 Las Vegas, Nevada
July 3-9, 2002 Canso, Nova Scotia
May 24-27, 2002 Long Island, New York
November 21-24, 2001 New York City
October 16-19, 2001 Cape Cod, Massachusetts
September 29-October 3, 2001 Las Vegas, Nevada (Interbike Show)
June 16-23, 2001 Nags Head, North Carolina
October 5-14, 2000 Evanston, Illinois
September 30-October 2, 2000 Ithaca, New York
June 22-25, 2000 Urbanna, Virginia
October 7-13, 1999 Chicago/Evanston,
Illinois
August 19-28, 1999 Ithaca, New
York
August 12-13, 1999 Ithaca, New York
July 23-25, 1999 Bridgeton, Maine
November 25-28, 1998 Fort Lauderdale,
Florida
1988-89 France, England
1980 Yucatan, Mexico
1975 England,
Belgium, Yugoslavia, Turkey
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