So... it's been a while since I posted any reviews, although I've finished several books and a movie. So here goes.
First up is Tomahawk by David Poyer. I'm a big fan of the whole "techno-thriller" genre... Tom Clancy, Steven Coonts, etc. and I think I may have a new favorite. If you look at my review of The Teeth of the Tiger by Clancy, you'll see that I want more from this genre than the good guys whacking the bad guys without a second thought. Tomahawk delivers. There are so many layers to this story that, for once in a thriller, you feel like the protagonist is an actual person. In fact this story focuses more on the internal conflicts that Dan Lenson has with working on a nuclear program and working in the military at all. How much force is too much force? Is violence ever justifiable? Is there a moral difference between nuclear weapons and conventional? These are just a few of the questions that are wrestled with in this book. And while the character answers some of them for himself, it is obvious that the author doesn't intend the book to answer them for the reader. 8 of 10
Next up is The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. This book was chosen as part of the One Book, One Chicago program.The style is very interesting. It starts off with a documentation of the physical items that soldiers in the Vietnam War carried with them, and progresses to the things they carried with them emotionally. Later it spreads to the stories of why they carried these emotional artifacts. Finally the book progesses to the things that the veterans carry with them to this day. The book reads like memories. Short stories that connect, but jump around a bit and seemingly random changes of train of thought, but along a recognizable path. One of the most interesting aspects of this book is the examination of truth that it uses. It asks "What makes a story true?" This turned out to be a faster read than expected. 7 of 10.
Finally, a movie. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. Yup, finally went and saw it yesterday. What can I say... it was good. Very good. It's the kind of movie I might see more than once in a theater, and I almost never go to movie theaters. Visually stunning, emotionally powerful, long. And good. I'm not a rabid Tolkien fan, so while I realize that important aspects of the book were left out of the movie, I didn't miss them. If I want every aspect of the book, I'll read the book (again). I'm looking forward to The Hobbit when Peter Jackson does that one. I'll buy the DVD's eventually. 8 of 10.

Tonight was a good night. My wife and I went over to friends' for dinner. We made some very good potato and corn soup, hand some fresh bread and some mulled wine for desert. We relaxed, talked, laughed, ate, drank and made merry. There's really nothing more that you can ask for from an evening. I think that we sometimes forget how truly simple it is to have a good time and feel satisfied. Tonight, we were reminded. If you get the chance to spend an evening with friends, take it. Don't worry about making huge preperations and plans. Just do what you would normally do, but with a few more people and you'll be amazed at how fullfilled you'll feel at the end of the eveing.

It's time once again for the Friday Five:
(all of these are in no particular order)
1. List your five favorite beverages.

First to be reviewed is Shakey: Neil Young's Biography by Jimmy McDonough. As far as biographies go, this is one of the best I've read. Written by an author who clearly cares deeply about his subject, to the point of being a fan, Shakey manages to not be a book about how great Neil Young is. If anything it's the opposite. But you also get the feeling that Young definately wanted it that way. They guy's lead a rough life, and a lot of his decisions he, himself, would classify as mistakes. But they are part of who he is. He feels bad for the mistakes he's made, but doesn't seem to feel that he would take any of them back. The format is very interesting. You read the author's information he derived in interviews with people around Young, and then a response from Young. If you have any interest in Neil Young, I'd recommend this book. It was also interesting to discover that Neil Young owns the Lionel Trains company. 8 out of 10.
Next on the review list is 8 mile with Eminem. I can only say that I'm impressed. There are so many things this movie could have been that it's not. It wasn't a celebrity ego-fest. I don't think it would've been much difference if no one had ever heard of Eminem before. There were also about 100 times it could've turned into a bad After-School Special, but instead of making some cheesy moment become a focus, they let it slide into the background. Teen pregnancy, sex, guns... they were all there, but they were not focused on. If you like rap at all, or like well made movies, you should see this one. 8 out of 10.

Okay. I've been reading about the whole head-scarf deal in France. Apparently the French government sees the wearing of head-scarves by Muslim women as a threat to their National Identity. Obeying the tenents of your faith is apparently an un-French thing to do. You can't be French and Faithful it seems. At least they're equal opportunity idiots. Yarmulkes and "oversized" crosses are also to be banned. Crosses are no big deal to me, because, as far as I know, there is now sect of Christianity that requires the wearing of crosses as a fundamental way of practicing your faith. But for a Muslim woman or a Jewish man to appear in public with thier head uncoverd is an offense to them on par with telling a Catholic that they can never take communion. Try passing that law in France and you'd have riots in the streets. The French government seems to be so concerned with keeping their country "pure" that they seem to forget what happened the last time someone tried to make France "pure." Looks like they're going after some of the same people too. Heil Chirac!

My brother posted the following on his site:

Words are so immensly powerful, do you think their effect is at all comparable with that of chemicals? Basically- does the power of words and language rival that of drugs?

So I thought I'd respond.
I believe that words are much more powerful than chemicals. Chemicals are much harder to distribute, their effects are generally short term, and the process for creating them is limited. However, your average two year old has access to several hundred words, and can use them to affect not only himself, but those around him. Very few chemicals can influence the will of people with any reliablity, yet words affect people constantly. How much influence has beer had on your life? Weed? Nicotine? Caffiene? Most people would say at least one of these has affected their life in some way. But how much effect does the Constitution had on your life? The Declaration of Independence? Even the Magna Carta, or Hamurabi's Code of Laws still affect us every day, in nearly everything we do. Hitler didn't have to drug people to get them to follow his twisted vision, he used words. Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Ghandi, and so many other great people are known for the power of their words. Dow and Pfiser can't begin to touch that kind of power. The power of words is a lasting power. Chemicals are not. That's why I write these things. That's why you read them.

So... Thursday was probably the worst day of work I've had in at least a year. I was very close te turning in my two-weeks notice. Anyway, I.m over it now.
But, my boss is the coolest boss in the world. Today when I got to work, she had left me a gift bag with Doritos, Flamin' Hot Cheetos, cashews, Reeses Pieces, Skittles, Root Beer, a Tom Clancy book, and some Altoids. Freakin' Sweet. Just when it seems like there's no respect left in the "work" world, something reminds you that most people really are great inside. I smiled the rest of the day (and snacked too.)