Al Nye The Lawyer Guy

Book Reviews: No Mercy; When the Game Was Ours; Last Words

Often times, I read books that I don't write a full review about but still think that they're worth mentioning. These are just a few of the books I've read this year that fall into that category.

 

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No Mercy

By Lori Armstrong

Touchstone

$25.00, hard cover, 307 pages, 978-1-4165-9095-8 (2010)

 

            On medical leave from Iraq, former army sniper Mercy Gunderson returns to her home in South Dakota shortly after the death of her father. She must decide what to do with the family ranch, but before she can take action, a young Indian boy is found dead on her land. When the new sheriff doesn't seem to be doing much to find out what happened to the boy, Mercy reluctantly begins her own investigation.

 

            Armstrong is a wonderful writer and she describes ranch life and Mercy with grace and simplicity.

 

The sun seared my skin. As I gazed across the flat, open area between the halting house and the half-dozen of buildings -- metal, wood, antique, and new -- I reconnected with my eighteen-year-old self and the realization I'd been trapped in a life I hadn't chosen.

So how was it I'd traveled to all those exotic locales of my youthful daydreams only to find myself back here on the ranch? Facing responsibilities I didn't want, with a sinking feeling I'd gone no place at all?

A mourning dove cooed. Another answered. I lifted my face to the blazing sky, wishing for a draft of cool air to carry earthy scents of freshly mowed hay. But with the dry conditions all I caught was another nose full of dust.

 

            This is an engrossing mystery and Mercy isn't the typical investigator who either knows it all or else never loses her way. She is realistically portrayed with plenty of faults that mar her many admirable qualities. Although the identity of the killer wasn't a surprise, getting there was worth the ride. 

 

Purchase it on Amazon here.

 

 

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When the Game Was Ours

By Larry Bird and Ervin Magic Johnson

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

$26.00, hard cover, 340 pages, 978-0-547-22547-0 (2009)

 

            I had high hopes for this book. After all, I was going to law school in Boston when Larry Bird was leading the Celtics. After they'd beat up on the Lakers, I'd sometimes go to Harvard Square to pick up a copy of the L.A. Times just to hear the Lakers whine. (This was before the Internet made newspapers passé.)

 

            I vividly remember stories of Bird talking trash to the other players. Like the time he walked into the first NBA three point shoot out, eyeing the other players in the All-Star locker room, and boastfully asked, "Man, who's comin' in second?" He then went out and won it.

 

            I wanted to read about the Birdman that was at the top of his game and didn't hesitate to tell the whole world about it. Like the time in the playoffs in 1985 with the Philadelphia 76er when Philly had just beaten Boston, and the teams were scheduled to go back to Boston for the next game and return to Philly again if the Celtics lost at home. A Sixers' fan yelled to Larry that he'd see him back in the Spectrum again for game six.  Larry replied, "You've got a better chance of seeing God."

 

            Unfortunately, this is the calm, professional Larry Bird and Magic Johnson looking back after many years and coloring their memories with respect and admiration for the other player. I wanted bravado – instead I got civility. Boring.

 

Purchase it on Amazon here.

 

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Last Words

By George Carlin (with Tony Hendra)

Free Press

$26.99, hard cover, 297 pages, 978-1-4391-7295-7 (2009)

 

            All I can say is, don't read this book thinking that you'll be getting any insight into George Carlin's comedy. Although Carlin had died prior to the publication of this book, it reads like an autobiography. That's not to say that there isn't any humor in the book.

 

            In 1983, George Carlin asked Tony Hendra to help him write his autobiography. For nearly 15 years, they had numerous conversations (often recorded) until Carlin died in 2008 at the age of 71. Hendra then assembled the conversations into this book.

 

            This book is filled with the honesty that you would expect from George Carlin. It depicts both good times and bad – and everything in between. For anyone interested in the real George Carlin, and not just his standup routines, this book's for you.

 

Purchase it on Amazon here.

Chantix and Lisa's Story ... again, and again, and again

First of all, I assume the drug company that makes Chantix, Pfizer, has “more money than God” as my mother used to say. I write this because Pfizer has been taking out a full page ad in the Portland Press Herald every day for the last month. Or at least it seems that way, every morning when I open the paper — Lisa seems to be there staring back at me.

In addition, I can’t watch tv for more than 15 minutes on one of the main stations without seeing Lisa tell me how Chantix helped her to quit smoking. And yes-sir-re, she got rid of those cigs she found in her purse after quitting. “You’re not my crutch, I don’t need a crutch.”

Test markets results must have determined that Lisa sells Chantix here in Maine better than Herb (with his yellow teeth), Dan, Kathy, or any of the other nice folks featured on their website. And I mean that — the folks I’ve seen in the ads seem to be decent folks.

But I don’t smoke cigaretts and I’m sick of seeing all the commercials and that full page ad in the paper every day.

Enough already — you’ve saturated this market. Move on for a bit, would you Pfizer?

It’s getting so bad that I’d rather see another Cialis commercial (even if I don’t understand how Cialis helps a couple holding hands in their own separate bathtubs — on the beach no less — brings them closer.)

President's Speech to Congress Marred by GOP Hecklers

What has happened to our leaders in Washington? Have they lost all sense of decorum, all ability to be civil, all respect for the President, their colleagues or even themeselves?

As reported in the Washington Post, during last nights address by President Obama to a joint session of Congress, the president said that his health-care reform proposals would not provide benefits to illegal immigrants. Then, on national television, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) shouted at the president from his seat. "You lie!" he yelled.

Rep. Wilson, have you no shame?

Were I a citizen of South Carolina, I would do everything in my power to see that you never win another election. Your boorish, ill-mannered, disrespectful conduct degrades your fellow congressmen, brings dishonor to the President, and is an embarrassment to yourself.

Partsian politics does not trump all things, Mr. Wilson. And your conduct was appalling. Whether you agree with the President or not, there is a certain amount of dignity that the president should be afforded when he is speaking to Congress on national television.

The Washington Post noted that Mr. Wilson was rebuked by non other than the GOP 2008 presidential candidate. "Totally disrespectful. No place for it, and he should apologize," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

Your flagrant display of improper conduct, Mr. Wilson, was the exact thing the president was talking about when he said: “when we can no longer even engage in a civil conversation with each other over the things that truly matter, we don't merely lose our capacity to solve big challenges. We lose something essential about ourselves."

The Post article goes on to describe the other outbursts by GOP and Democrats alike. I believe I echo the feelings of most Americans when I say “Enough.” Partisian politics where party loyalty means more than getting things accomplished must end.

When Sen. Kennedy died, nearly all the tributes for him by members of congress spoke to his ability to get legislation enacted by reaching across the aisle and dealing with Democrats and Republicans alike. Before all this party bitterness, that used to be how things got done — it used to be the norm! Now everyone seems so focused on doing what the party wants, on winning the next election, on appealing to their more strident constitutents, that getting things done for the county takes a distant back seat.

Perhaps that’s why Senators Snowe and Collins are so popular in Maine. They’re moderate Republicans who see the value in compromise and working with their colleagues regardless of party affiliation. I think that if they were moderate Democrats with the same outlook, they’d be just a popular in this state.

The president can only call for “civil conversation” and be rebuffed so many times. It was no different for President Bush. During his first election he promised to work with Democrats to help the country. He soon saw that political divisions made it next to impossible. President Obama promised the same thing and is trying to offer an olive branch to Republicans.

At one point in his speech, President Obama said "I still believe we can replace acrimony with civility and gridlock with progress."

Naive? Perhaps. But at least he’s trying.

 

Obama criticism over speaking to students: politics at its worst

The controvesy over President Obama’s remarks today to school children was all about politics, pure and simple.

Conservatives were all up in arms that the President was going to foster his liberal ideas on the minds of children.

As reported in the Washington Post, it got so bad that some parents threatened to keep their children out of school to avoid hearing the speech. Of course, this was before any of these conservative Republicans knew even one word about what was in the speech.

Basically, they didn’t want a Democratic President speaking directly to their children. Do you think that if Obama was a Republican that they’d have a problem with the President addressing children in school? Of course not. I never heard this outrage in when former President Regan or the first Pres. Bush addressed children directly.

No — this is the typical one-sided, mean spirited, uncompromising politics as usual. And it stinks.

So now that the While House has given out an advanced text of the speech, what is the reaction?

But after reading the advance text, the Florida GOP chairman who last week accused the president of trying to "indoctrinate America's children to his socialist agenda," said he has no problem with letting his children watch.

Well I’ll be. AFTER getting the facts about what President Obama plans to actually say to students, suddenly there is no problem.

"It's a good speech," the official, Jim Greer, said Monday. "It encourages kids to stay in school and the importance of education, and I think that's what a president should do."

Even former first lady Laura Bush said she has no problem with President Obama speaking directly to students.

Partisan politics makes me sick to my stomach.

PSA Texting While Driving - UK

This horrific Public Service Announcement in the UK shows the danger of texting while driving. Watch it and never text while driving again.

 

Britains Got Talent ... listen to Susan Boyle!

To heck with American Idol — have you seen this sensation in Britain?  Just take a few minutes to watch Susan Boyle singing in Britains Got Talent.

 

Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent

She’s never been married, and never been kissed.  But that lady can sure sing her heart out….

UPDATE: After posting this yesterday, CBS News ran a feature on Susan Boyle.  See it here.

Here’s her CBS Early show clip.  Enjoy!

 

She made it a tribute to her mother!

Tags: American+Idol,+Britains+Got+Talent,+Susan+Boyle

Jon Stewart vs. Jim Cramer

Stewart scores a slam dunk.

 

Amazon Video On Demand With Roku Digital Video Player

Amazon is now selling the Roku Digital Video Player which will allow users to watch over 40,000 movies and TV shows with Amazon’s Video on Damand service. 

So for $99, you can watch videos on the day that they are released on DVD.  I just checked on Amazon the the 24–hour rental for Australia, for example, was $3.99.

The Roku player works with any TV and is compatible with the Netflix “Watch Instantly” service.  My understanding is that Netflix now offers over 12,000 movies and TV shows available for instant viewing.

I haven’t gotten a Roku Digital Video Player yet, but I’m thinking about it.  For those of you who have one, what is your experience with it?

 

Digital TV Time Should NOT Have Been Extended

I wrote a week ago that I was pleased that the switch to digital tv was not postponed by Congress.

Oops. 

I spoke too soon.

Now they have decided to extend the digital conversion deadline from February 17^th to June 12th.

Why?  Because despite spending about $1 billion in public service ads and handing out millions of free coupons for converter boxes, over 6 million households aren’t ready for the switch.

Do you really think all these folks will be ready in 4 months?  Yeah, me neither.

Know what I say to those folks who haven’t switched despite the ad nauseam number of ads that have been running for well over a year?

Tough luck.

I hope all the tv stations that are ready to convert on February 17^th do it anyway.  For those that aren’t ready — do something else besides watch tv.  Hey, maybe you could even read a book!

The Super Bowl XLIII Was Super

Yeah, it was a great game.  Having the Cardinals come back from 13 down and score with 3 minutes left and take the lead was exciting enough — but to then have Pittsburg score with just 35 seconds left was a thriller.  It was a great 27–23 win for the Steelers and Arizona played their hearts out.

Course iif you’re a dedicated New England Patriots fan, like I am, it was hard to get all that worked up about the game.  Truthfully, I just didn’t care that much who won.

But football is like sex: sometimes it’s better than other times, but it’s almost always pretty darned good.