Paul’s DVD Reviews

“Good evening, Mr. Hunt. Thirty-six hours ago, there was a breach in our military’s communication network. Now, an emerging terror organization known as The Syndicate has control of our entire drone fleet. Their targets unknown. Your mission, should you choose to accept it… ” — Recorded voice in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol Rise of the […]

Air-Minded: the One-Oh-Wonder

Time for another Air-Minded diary?  Sure it is.  This time let’s take a look at a Century Series fighter from the 1950s, the McDonnell F-101 Voodoo.  There were three distinct variations of the Voodoo — a fighter-bomber, a tactical reconnaissance aircraft, and an air defense interceptor — but I’m going to concentrate on the interceptor, […]

You Can’t Read That! Banned Book Review: Gossip Girl

You Can’t Read That! is a periodic post featuring banned book reviews and news roundups. Arizona: Here’s a good summary of the prejudices and fears behind Arizona’s ethnic studies ban and the removal of certain books from Tucson high school classes. Elsewhere: “I know up on top you are seeing great sights, but down here […]

Beware the Bees of Sunday

I am “kind and broad-minded.”  So says the fortune cookie that came with last night’s Thai takeout.  The provenance is shaky at best (Thai food & fortune cookies?), and it’s not really a fortune, but I’ll take the compliment and answer, “Thank you, I try to be.” I’m expecting a call from the Ducati dealer […]

Paul’s Bag o’ Wednesday

What does that title even mean?  Is the cat named Wednesday?  Sure, why not?  Let’s go with that. My son can’t believe I haven’t said anything about the F-22’s oxygen problems, or about the two whistleblower Raptor pilots who appeared on 60 Minutes last weekend. My first excuse comes easy: I know very little about […]

Paul’s Book Reviews: Fiction, Non-fiction, Essays, Novelized History

“I dreamt about Jews every night for years and years. Fortunately I have never met one….” — Umberto Eco, The Prague Cemetery Red Plenty by Francis Spufford Not exactly a historical novel, more a novelized approach to writing history. The distinction is a real one. The history in question is that of the Soviet Union […]