Book Log 2015 #14: A Kim Jong-Il Production by Paul Fischer
One of the few things we know (or think we know) about Kim Jong-Il is his love of film. Beyond his personal passion, he saw how movies could serve as both propaganda and as a way to promote North Korea to the wider world.
To that end, a well known South Korean actress and her director ex-husband (both on the tail end of their careers at home) were apparently kidnapped and brought to the north to make movies that would inspire the citizenry and improve the country's reputation globally. And this kind of worked - the duo made a number of films that were well-received, even winning some international rewards. This all came to an end when the pair, allowed to travel abroad as part of their duties, escaped to the West.
This book tells what is a pretty fantastic story, even by the measure of what we hear about life in North Korea. Fischer provides plenty of background about the country and its leaders to flesh out the story (some reviews say too much, I didn't find it so). The most interesting part of the story to me, though, was the theory that the pair actually went to North Korea voluntarily and left because they thought they'd been rehabilitated enough to find film work in the West. I was a little surprised at how widely held this belief was, especially among South Koreans. But I suppose it's no more weird than a pair of kidnappings.
Worth a read if you're interested in North Korea, certainly.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: a book published this year)
23 May 2015
Book Log 2015 #13: Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon
This is the first book I've chosen specifically to meet part of the Popsugar Reading Challenge (I knew Silver Screen Fiend would meet parts of the challenge, but picked it because of the tremendous word of mouth support). I've read Chabon's more recent novels, so I was curious to see how this stacked up. And while I liked it, I did not like it as much as his newer works. I never could build up the requisite sympathy for Grady Tripp, and some of the wackiness seemed like it was included for wackiness' sake.
Another problem is that I could not stop mentally comparing the book to Straight Man, the Richard Russo novel which is very similar in several respects (set in Pennsylvania, features an English professor struggling to write a novel, extramarital romantic conflicts, moody male writing student), and while Russo's book is written based on his experiences as an English professor, the similarities were distracting. It's not fair to ding Wonder Boys for the order in which I read the two books, but it was a problem nonetheless.
All that being said, it's still really good.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: book that became a movie, a book written by an author with your same initials)
This is the first book I've chosen specifically to meet part of the Popsugar Reading Challenge (I knew Silver Screen Fiend would meet parts of the challenge, but picked it because of the tremendous word of mouth support). I've read Chabon's more recent novels, so I was curious to see how this stacked up. And while I liked it, I did not like it as much as his newer works. I never could build up the requisite sympathy for Grady Tripp, and some of the wackiness seemed like it was included for wackiness' sake.
Another problem is that I could not stop mentally comparing the book to Straight Man, the Richard Russo novel which is very similar in several respects (set in Pennsylvania, features an English professor struggling to write a novel, extramarital romantic conflicts, moody male writing student), and while Russo's book is written based on his experiences as an English professor, the similarities were distracting. It's not fair to ding Wonder Boys for the order in which I read the two books, but it was a problem nonetheless.
All that being said, it's still really good.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: book that became a movie, a book written by an author with your same initials)
Book Log 2015 #12 : Silver Screen Fiend by Patton Oswalt
This short but hugely entertaining memoir recounts Oswalt's early days in Hollywood, when he developed a self-described addiction to classic films, seeing as many as possible between comedy gigs. The plan, ostensibly, was to use this compulsion for film as an autodidactic film school leading toward directing. That never quite panned out, but it did help him add writing and performing skills to his comedic skills. Beyond the movies, this book also gives us a look at the alternative comedy scene in LA in the 1990s, as well as insight into Oswalt's progression into TV and film.
I'm mostly familiar with Oswalt through his Twitter account and appearances on talk shows, so this gave me a much better appreciation of how he got to where he is now. I also appreciated the appendices where Oswalt created a month-long festivals of films that never were for the deceased owner of his favorite theater and a complete listing of the films Oswalt saw during the time of the book. It's a quick and entertaining read, very much recommended.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: a memoir, a funny book, a book with a color in the title. It could also be a book you can finish in a day, but where I've already used it I'll stick with the triple.)
This short but hugely entertaining memoir recounts Oswalt's early days in Hollywood, when he developed a self-described addiction to classic films, seeing as many as possible between comedy gigs. The plan, ostensibly, was to use this compulsion for film as an autodidactic film school leading toward directing. That never quite panned out, but it did help him add writing and performing skills to his comedic skills. Beyond the movies, this book also gives us a look at the alternative comedy scene in LA in the 1990s, as well as insight into Oswalt's progression into TV and film.
I'm mostly familiar with Oswalt through his Twitter account and appearances on talk shows, so this gave me a much better appreciation of how he got to where he is now. I also appreciated the appendices where Oswalt created a month-long festivals of films that never were for the deceased owner of his favorite theater and a complete listing of the films Oswalt saw during the time of the book. It's a quick and entertaining read, very much recommended.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: a memoir, a funny book, a book with a color in the title. It could also be a book you can finish in a day, but where I've already used it I'll stick with the triple.)
09 May 2015
Book Log 2015 #11: The Empty Throne by Bernard Cornwell
The future of England is in peril again, but this time the Danes aren't the main problem. Aethelred, ruler of Mercia, is dying, and without a male to succeed him there's a good chance that Wessex will find a way to finally absorb Mercia, either by force or by installing a puppet on the Mercian throne.
Enter Uhtred, champion and occasional lover of Athelflaed, the queen who can't succeed to the throne. Or can she?
It's another solid outing for the Saxon tales, with the additional surprise (spoiler alert) of Uhtred, son of Uhtred, taking over some of the narration duties. The series has been going on for quite a bit, but as we know that the elder Uhtred lives to retake his ancestral home, it'll be interesting to see if the younger Uhtred plays a larger role in future books.
The future of England is in peril again, but this time the Danes aren't the main problem. Aethelred, ruler of Mercia, is dying, and without a male to succeed him there's a good chance that Wessex will find a way to finally absorb Mercia, either by force or by installing a puppet on the Mercian throne.
Enter Uhtred, champion and occasional lover of Athelflaed, the queen who can't succeed to the throne. Or can she?
It's another solid outing for the Saxon tales, with the additional surprise (spoiler alert) of Uhtred, son of Uhtred, taking over some of the narration duties. The series has been going on for quite a bit, but as we know that the elder Uhtred lives to retake his ancestral home, it'll be interesting to see if the younger Uhtred plays a larger role in future books.
Book Log 2015 #10: The American Plate: A History of the United States in 100 Bites by Libby O'Connell
This book should have been right up my alley, but I never quite connected with it. Not sure why, given that it combines American and food history, both of which really interest me. I do have two theories:
1. I was already familiar enough with the "bites" that start the book that I got bored and didn't bother to skip ahead.
2. Overly pedantic expectations about what "bite" meant. Several of the entries aren't bites at all, and there was some repetition (Thanksgiving was covered by at least 2 or 3 bites).
Likely it was parts of both of these. You should give it a shot.
This book should have been right up my alley, but I never quite connected with it. Not sure why, given that it combines American and food history, both of which really interest me. I do have two theories:
1. I was already familiar enough with the "bites" that start the book that I got bored and didn't bother to skip ahead.
2. Overly pedantic expectations about what "bite" meant. Several of the entries aren't bites at all, and there was some repetition (Thanksgiving was covered by at least 2 or 3 bites).
Likely it was parts of both of these. You should give it a shot.
01 April 2015
Book Log 2015 #9: The Interstellar Age by Jim Bell
Space exploration is most often measured in days, occasionally weeks, and in very rare cases years. This puts the 40-plus years of the Voyager mission -which sent two spacecraft past the outer planets of the solar system to become the first man-made objects to (eventually) leave the solar system.
The author tells the story of the mission from both what was actually accomplished - the information learned about the outer planets and interplanetary space - and the people who got the mission off the launch pad, kept the information coming by managing aging technology millions of miles away, and interpreted the data. Many of these people have spent their entire career working on Voyager, and their stories give the book a strong personal element. The science is discussed in a clear manner, even when there's a foray into somewhat more technical material. Definitely recommended.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book based on a true story)
Space exploration is most often measured in days, occasionally weeks, and in very rare cases years. This puts the 40-plus years of the Voyager mission -which sent two spacecraft past the outer planets of the solar system to become the first man-made objects to (eventually) leave the solar system.
The author tells the story of the mission from both what was actually accomplished - the information learned about the outer planets and interplanetary space - and the people who got the mission off the launch pad, kept the information coming by managing aging technology millions of miles away, and interpreted the data. Many of these people have spent their entire career working on Voyager, and their stories give the book a strong personal element. The science is discussed in a clear manner, even when there's a foray into somewhat more technical material. Definitely recommended.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book based on a true story)
20 March 2015
Book Log 2015 #8: What If by Randall Munroe
A scientist by training, Munroe is the mind behind xkcd, described as "A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language." An offshoot of the webcomic is What If?, where readers submit wacky questions that Munroe answers using his knowledge of physics. This book is a compendium of such questions and answers, accompanied by drawings and occasional asides.
It may surprise you (or not, given how the Internet goes) that most questions result in some sort of grievous harm, either to the individual attempting the action in the question or to the planet at large (and in cases where there isn't such harm, Munroe is keen to take the answer to it's most grisly end). But it's all done with tremendous wit and humor, in both the writing and the drawing.
I took this book on vacation, thinking its short entries would make it a perfect book to fill the gaps. It did that in spades, but I found that I usually couldn't read just one or two questions. I finished the book about halfway through the trip. Very enjoyable, with added appeal if you have an interest in science.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book written by someone under 30)
A scientist by training, Munroe is the mind behind xkcd, described as "A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language." An offshoot of the webcomic is What If?, where readers submit wacky questions that Munroe answers using his knowledge of physics. This book is a compendium of such questions and answers, accompanied by drawings and occasional asides.
It may surprise you (or not, given how the Internet goes) that most questions result in some sort of grievous harm, either to the individual attempting the action in the question or to the planet at large (and in cases where there isn't such harm, Munroe is keen to take the answer to it's most grisly end). But it's all done with tremendous wit and humor, in both the writing and the drawing.
I took this book on vacation, thinking its short entries would make it a perfect book to fill the gaps. It did that in spades, but I found that I usually couldn't read just one or two questions. I finished the book about halfway through the trip. Very enjoyable, with added appeal if you have an interest in science.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book written by someone under 30)
18 March 2015
Book Log 2015 #7: Midnight in Europe by Alan Furst
So in juxtaposition to the previous book we have the latest from Alan Furst, who has developed a solid framework on which to build his war novels. In this outing, our protagonist is a Spanish lawyer working in Paris for a firm that often sends him to New York, where he has a regular, if not particularly committed, girlfriend. His comfortable and quiet world changes when he agrees to work for his homeland to acquire weapons for use against the well-supported Nationalist forces who are on the offensive. This leads him down a dangerous path where he puts his life in danger on a long-odds attempt to turn the tide of Europe's slide into fascism.
And then there's the required romantic entanglement, this time in the guise of a woman who claims she is a link to the aristocratic heritage that the lawyer's mother continues to try to prove is her family's right. But there's something not quite right about this new lover, and if it's what he suspects, she's in as much danger as he is.
I tend not to like novels where the author is working off of a well-worn formula, but the quality of the writing in Furst's books helps to get past what problems might arise (though there is a certain level of predictability with the romantic story lines that I'm beginning to find troubling). Anyway, another solid outing worth a read if you like wartime thrillers.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book you can finish in a day. Read quickly.)
So in juxtaposition to the previous book we have the latest from Alan Furst, who has developed a solid framework on which to build his war novels. In this outing, our protagonist is a Spanish lawyer working in Paris for a firm that often sends him to New York, where he has a regular, if not particularly committed, girlfriend. His comfortable and quiet world changes when he agrees to work for his homeland to acquire weapons for use against the well-supported Nationalist forces who are on the offensive. This leads him down a dangerous path where he puts his life in danger on a long-odds attempt to turn the tide of Europe's slide into fascism.
And then there's the required romantic entanglement, this time in the guise of a woman who claims she is a link to the aristocratic heritage that the lawyer's mother continues to try to prove is her family's right. But there's something not quite right about this new lover, and if it's what he suspects, she's in as much danger as he is.
I tend not to like novels where the author is working off of a well-worn formula, but the quality of the writing in Furst's books helps to get past what problems might arise (though there is a certain level of predictability with the romantic story lines that I'm beginning to find troubling). Anyway, another solid outing worth a read if you like wartime thrillers.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book you can finish in a day. Read quickly.)
17 March 2015
Book Log 2015 #6: Warburg in Rome by James Carroll
The Warburg of the title is a Treasury Department lawyer who, mistaken for a member of the more aristocratic branch of the Warburg family, is tapped by the secretary of the treasury to go to Rome and head up a war refugee board whose purpose is to help Jews avoid (or get out of) concentration camps. Once there, he meets an American priest - the right hand man to Cardinal Spellman - who is looking to help his boss get a toehold among the Vatican elite.
The pair find ways to collaborate, but often find themselves at cross-purposes, especially after the war when the Vatican is doing everything it can to cover up some of the less savory aspects of its operations during the war and Warburg has become more involved with finding war criminals, enacting the occasional reprisal, and supporting Zionism. Both men are looking for the same thing - justice for Jews and atonement by those who let the Nazis implement the final solution - but have different impediments towards continued collaboration. Both are also caught up with women - Warburg with a Jewish member of the Italian Red Cross, the priest a nun who helps him get information - who add personal moral dilemmas to the more global ones.
The book is well written, but the story doesn't quite rise to the level of contemporary World War II thrillers written by authors like Alan Furst. I wonder if the book doesn't split its time too much between Warburg and the priest, rather than focusing on Warburg as a main character. So not a bad read, just not one I'd unreservedly recommend.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit.)
The Warburg of the title is a Treasury Department lawyer who, mistaken for a member of the more aristocratic branch of the Warburg family, is tapped by the secretary of the treasury to go to Rome and head up a war refugee board whose purpose is to help Jews avoid (or get out of) concentration camps. Once there, he meets an American priest - the right hand man to Cardinal Spellman - who is looking to help his boss get a toehold among the Vatican elite.
The pair find ways to collaborate, but often find themselves at cross-purposes, especially after the war when the Vatican is doing everything it can to cover up some of the less savory aspects of its operations during the war and Warburg has become more involved with finding war criminals, enacting the occasional reprisal, and supporting Zionism. Both men are looking for the same thing - justice for Jews and atonement by those who let the Nazis implement the final solution - but have different impediments towards continued collaboration. Both are also caught up with women - Warburg with a Jewish member of the Italian Red Cross, the priest a nun who helps him get information - who add personal moral dilemmas to the more global ones.
The book is well written, but the story doesn't quite rise to the level of contemporary World War II thrillers written by authors like Alan Furst. I wonder if the book doesn't split its time too much between Warburg and the priest, rather than focusing on Warburg as a main character. So not a bad read, just not one I'd unreservedly recommend.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit.)
11 February 2015
So the organizing committee behind Boston's 2024 Olympic bid had its first public meeting a while back, and presented materials that were part of its presentation to the USOC. And while the documentation was described as a "proof of concept" rather than a finished plan, it does give a clearer idea of how the organizers are trying to make these a walkable Games.
Venues are planned within a "waterfront" cluster that centers on South Boston and Dorchester, and a "university" cluster which includes facilities at BU, MIT and Harvard. There is then a "midtown" location which would be the location for the main stadium. Lowell would host boxing and the Merrimack River would host various canoe/kayak events. Even so, there are a number of events that seem to fall outside of this arrangement. Here's how it looks sport by sport, and what I think might work better.
Archery - a temporary venue in Killian Court, which is the area in front of the main building at MIT. Great choice for atmosphere between the dome and city views over the Charles. It's only going to seat 1000, which seems small. The venue for London seated 6500. My personal choice here is Fenway Park, as it's a way to include an iconic sports venue at a minimal impact to the venue.
Athletics - centered on the main stadium, which is located on the Widett Circle parcel in South Boston. The committee says they want to acquire the land from the food wholesale co-op that is currently there by sale rather than eminent domain. We'll see how that goes. In any event, this is probably the best location that's available.
The marathon will use a route centered on Boston Common. This appears to be different from the route used in the past when Boston hosted Olympic trials. Which makes sense, as it will finish at the stadium.
Aquatics- This will be a temporary venue at something called Allston Landing, which is part of Harvard's stake in that neighborhood. Seems doable, and at 18500 people the size is right. Not sure how well this will go with Allston residents still sore over Harvard's expansion into Allston. Note that this venue includes swimming, diving and synchronized swimming.,
There's also a marathon swim course in the Charles River, with Magazine Beach being the focal point on land (this is closer to BU than Harvard, but on the Cambridge side of the river). This is not the most accessible location, something farther down the river (maybe by the Hatch Shell) would work better and provide more options for getting there.
Badminton - Agannis Arena at BU. The only event located at BU, which is a little surprising but their other athletic facilities may not be big enough (they all tend to seat under 5000, which looks like the minimum). The Green Line runs right by it, which you think is helpful but it's notoriously slow. I do think that Agannis would be better suited for basketball prelims or handball, with badminton going to the BCEC or Hynes.
Basketball - the final is at TD Garden, but with gymnastics taking up most of the time here the prelims would need to be held elsewhere (Agannis and the Conte Forum would be reasonable local options, while the DCU Center and Dunkin Donuts Center are a little farther out but bigger). All of these venues have reasonable transit options, with Worcester and Providence allowing for more car use.
Boxing - Tsongas Center in Lowell. Lowell has some solid local boxing history (thank Mickey Ward for this, I suppose), and it creates a decent cluster with the various rowing events.
Canoe - temporary venue in Lowell using the Merrimack River. I'm assuming the slalom course will be built in the same area, but it's not mentioned in the plan.
Cycling - the road course is centered on the Boston Common. Track cycling would be in a velodrome crammed into one end of Assembly Square in Somerville. After the Games it would be repurposed into some sort of multi-use facility (the area is redeveloping as a shopping and entertainment district, so probably along those lines). I hate this site, as I think it will be hard to get to. There is a new Orange Line station close by, but it's tight quarters for surface traffic and relying on Route 93 to get anywhere is magical thinking.
Oh, and the BMX track is going to be in Assembly Square, too! Ugh.
A better option would be using either Suffolk Downs or Wonderland. Both have Blue Line and bus access already, and both are in more desperate need of redevelopment than the Assembly Square area.
Equestrian - the horses will take over the William Devine golf course in Franklin Park. Suffolk Downs is available, and you'd think the horse infrastructure there could be used. I'd go there instead, but at least the Franklin Park site is close to the Orange Line.
Fencing - temporary venue on the Alfred Gordon track site at Harvard. There are a lot of temporary venues at Harvard, it would be better to spread some of them around, especially as the area where they're going is not as transit friendly as the plan suggests.
Football - final will be at Gillette, which is a pain in the ass to get to (poor road access and limited rail access), but it is the home to the New England Revolution. No talk about preliminary sites, but I expect they'll be scattered around the northeast (my guess would be using NFL stadiums with temporary turf as needed, though both the Yale Bowl and Rentschler Field are big enough to host as well).
Golf - The Country Club in Brookline. Still think TPC Norton is better choice logistically. Getting there for the Ryder Cup in 1999 was a pain. It'll all be shuttle buses and satellite parking.
Gymnastics - artistic at TD Garden, rhythmic at the Boston Convention and Expo Center (BCEC). Artistic includes trampoline, for which TD Garden seems like overkill. The BCEC gets quite a workout in this plan, which is concerning given how hard it is currently to get out of the Seaport district. There are plans to improve transport (including a rail line running from the BCEC into Back Bay station), though recent events may push money towards fixing existing service.
Handball - There's nothing about handball in the documentation. which is weird. I don't know how your plan can ignore an entire sport. I'm guessing handball will use some of the same venues as basketball, though maybe some of the smaller arenas (like Matthews Arena or the Bright Center) could be used as well.
Hockey - Harvard Stadium, putting more pressure on that part of Cambridge and Allston. London had two areas for hockey, perhaps Nickerson Field or Alumni Stadium could host this as well.
Judo - BCEC, whose use is pretty clearly modeled on how the ExCeL Center was used in London.
Modern Pentathlon - White Stadium in Franklin Park and the aquatics center for the swimming part.
Rowing - also in Lowell on the Merrimack.
Rugby - Gillette Stadium,which I assume can host the entire tournament given that it's modeled after Rugby Sevens, whose events only take a weekend.
Sailing - off of Castle Island in the Boston Harbor. I understand why that's desirable, but getting to and from there is going to be murder. The closest thing to public transit is "anticipated" Silver Line service. It's all surface transport, so this may wind up being a walkable venue by necessity.
Shooting - OK, this is a weird one. A temporary venue seating 7000 will be constructed on Long Island, with access by shuttle bus over the one bridge connecting the island to the mainland (which will be restricted to Olympic traffic) and ferry. I thought 7000 was way too high for shooting, but the London venue was 7500, so maybe it's fine. There's also spectator areas to watch sailing, which is good as this is probably still easier to get to than Castle Island.
Table Tennis - BCEC
Taekwondo - BCEC
Tennis - temporary venue at Harvard on their playing fields. Planned capacity is at 20000, which I assume is mostly center court. So with the planned swimming capacity, you could have almost 40000 people in a fairly small section of Allston if the events aren't timed right. Forget walkable, that would be crawlable at best.
Triathlon - swimming at Magazine Beach, with cycling and running legs in Cambridge (hopefully away from everything else going on at Harvard). I'd move this closer to downtown as with the marathon swim, and the cycling and running can use parts of the courses for the road race and marathon.
Volleyball - beach is on Boston Common, in an attempt to recreate the atmosphere of Horse Guards Parade. I don't think it'll work, and while I don't think it's the worst location it drew most of the criticism at the first open forum. There probably isn't a great downtown location for this.
Indoor volleyball is at the BCEC, I'm assuming in the part of the facility that's proposed for expansion (Olympics or not).
Water Polo - also at Harvard (Allston Landing) in a 5000 seat venue.While it makes sense to have this a the same location as the other aquatic events, but I do think Harvard is overloaded. Not sure where else this could go, though.
Weightlifting- at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion (ne Bank of America Pavilion and Harborlights), good harbor views but it's open to the elements (the stage and most seating is covered). I'm pretty familiar with the venue (my employer holds a graduation ceremony there every summer), and it looks like they're going to build something out into the harbor for athletes to use for warm up, locker rooms, etc. At least I don't recall there being anything there now. Also, another transit issue as the Silver Line is your best non-car option.
Wrestling - BCEC
As a proof of concept I suppose the original plan works, but if there's any hope of actually landing the Games there's work to be done. The waterfront cluster has significant transit issues, while the university cluster is too focused on the least accessible part of Harvard's campus.
Venues are planned within a "waterfront" cluster that centers on South Boston and Dorchester, and a "university" cluster which includes facilities at BU, MIT and Harvard. There is then a "midtown" location which would be the location for the main stadium. Lowell would host boxing and the Merrimack River would host various canoe/kayak events. Even so, there are a number of events that seem to fall outside of this arrangement. Here's how it looks sport by sport, and what I think might work better.
Archery - a temporary venue in Killian Court, which is the area in front of the main building at MIT. Great choice for atmosphere between the dome and city views over the Charles. It's only going to seat 1000, which seems small. The venue for London seated 6500. My personal choice here is Fenway Park, as it's a way to include an iconic sports venue at a minimal impact to the venue.
Athletics - centered on the main stadium, which is located on the Widett Circle parcel in South Boston. The committee says they want to acquire the land from the food wholesale co-op that is currently there by sale rather than eminent domain. We'll see how that goes. In any event, this is probably the best location that's available.
The marathon will use a route centered on Boston Common. This appears to be different from the route used in the past when Boston hosted Olympic trials. Which makes sense, as it will finish at the stadium.
Aquatics- This will be a temporary venue at something called Allston Landing, which is part of Harvard's stake in that neighborhood. Seems doable, and at 18500 people the size is right. Not sure how well this will go with Allston residents still sore over Harvard's expansion into Allston. Note that this venue includes swimming, diving and synchronized swimming.,
There's also a marathon swim course in the Charles River, with Magazine Beach being the focal point on land (this is closer to BU than Harvard, but on the Cambridge side of the river). This is not the most accessible location, something farther down the river (maybe by the Hatch Shell) would work better and provide more options for getting there.
Badminton - Agannis Arena at BU. The only event located at BU, which is a little surprising but their other athletic facilities may not be big enough (they all tend to seat under 5000, which looks like the minimum). The Green Line runs right by it, which you think is helpful but it's notoriously slow. I do think that Agannis would be better suited for basketball prelims or handball, with badminton going to the BCEC or Hynes.
Basketball - the final is at TD Garden, but with gymnastics taking up most of the time here the prelims would need to be held elsewhere (Agannis and the Conte Forum would be reasonable local options, while the DCU Center and Dunkin Donuts Center are a little farther out but bigger). All of these venues have reasonable transit options, with Worcester and Providence allowing for more car use.
Boxing - Tsongas Center in Lowell. Lowell has some solid local boxing history (thank Mickey Ward for this, I suppose), and it creates a decent cluster with the various rowing events.
Canoe - temporary venue in Lowell using the Merrimack River. I'm assuming the slalom course will be built in the same area, but it's not mentioned in the plan.
Cycling - the road course is centered on the Boston Common. Track cycling would be in a velodrome crammed into one end of Assembly Square in Somerville. After the Games it would be repurposed into some sort of multi-use facility (the area is redeveloping as a shopping and entertainment district, so probably along those lines). I hate this site, as I think it will be hard to get to. There is a new Orange Line station close by, but it's tight quarters for surface traffic and relying on Route 93 to get anywhere is magical thinking.
Oh, and the BMX track is going to be in Assembly Square, too! Ugh.
A better option would be using either Suffolk Downs or Wonderland. Both have Blue Line and bus access already, and both are in more desperate need of redevelopment than the Assembly Square area.
Equestrian - the horses will take over the William Devine golf course in Franklin Park. Suffolk Downs is available, and you'd think the horse infrastructure there could be used. I'd go there instead, but at least the Franklin Park site is close to the Orange Line.
Fencing - temporary venue on the Alfred Gordon track site at Harvard. There are a lot of temporary venues at Harvard, it would be better to spread some of them around, especially as the area where they're going is not as transit friendly as the plan suggests.
Football - final will be at Gillette, which is a pain in the ass to get to (poor road access and limited rail access), but it is the home to the New England Revolution. No talk about preliminary sites, but I expect they'll be scattered around the northeast (my guess would be using NFL stadiums with temporary turf as needed, though both the Yale Bowl and Rentschler Field are big enough to host as well).
Golf - The Country Club in Brookline. Still think TPC Norton is better choice logistically. Getting there for the Ryder Cup in 1999 was a pain. It'll all be shuttle buses and satellite parking.
Gymnastics - artistic at TD Garden, rhythmic at the Boston Convention and Expo Center (BCEC). Artistic includes trampoline, for which TD Garden seems like overkill. The BCEC gets quite a workout in this plan, which is concerning given how hard it is currently to get out of the Seaport district. There are plans to improve transport (including a rail line running from the BCEC into Back Bay station), though recent events may push money towards fixing existing service.
Handball - There's nothing about handball in the documentation. which is weird. I don't know how your plan can ignore an entire sport. I'm guessing handball will use some of the same venues as basketball, though maybe some of the smaller arenas (like Matthews Arena or the Bright Center) could be used as well.
Hockey - Harvard Stadium, putting more pressure on that part of Cambridge and Allston. London had two areas for hockey, perhaps Nickerson Field or Alumni Stadium could host this as well.
Judo - BCEC, whose use is pretty clearly modeled on how the ExCeL Center was used in London.
Modern Pentathlon - White Stadium in Franklin Park and the aquatics center for the swimming part.
Rowing - also in Lowell on the Merrimack.
Rugby - Gillette Stadium,which I assume can host the entire tournament given that it's modeled after Rugby Sevens, whose events only take a weekend.
Sailing - off of Castle Island in the Boston Harbor. I understand why that's desirable, but getting to and from there is going to be murder. The closest thing to public transit is "anticipated" Silver Line service. It's all surface transport, so this may wind up being a walkable venue by necessity.
Shooting - OK, this is a weird one. A temporary venue seating 7000 will be constructed on Long Island, with access by shuttle bus over the one bridge connecting the island to the mainland (which will be restricted to Olympic traffic) and ferry. I thought 7000 was way too high for shooting, but the London venue was 7500, so maybe it's fine. There's also spectator areas to watch sailing, which is good as this is probably still easier to get to than Castle Island.
Table Tennis - BCEC
Taekwondo - BCEC
Tennis - temporary venue at Harvard on their playing fields. Planned capacity is at 20000, which I assume is mostly center court. So with the planned swimming capacity, you could have almost 40000 people in a fairly small section of Allston if the events aren't timed right. Forget walkable, that would be crawlable at best.
Triathlon - swimming at Magazine Beach, with cycling and running legs in Cambridge (hopefully away from everything else going on at Harvard). I'd move this closer to downtown as with the marathon swim, and the cycling and running can use parts of the courses for the road race and marathon.
Volleyball - beach is on Boston Common, in an attempt to recreate the atmosphere of Horse Guards Parade. I don't think it'll work, and while I don't think it's the worst location it drew most of the criticism at the first open forum. There probably isn't a great downtown location for this.
Indoor volleyball is at the BCEC, I'm assuming in the part of the facility that's proposed for expansion (Olympics or not).
Water Polo - also at Harvard (Allston Landing) in a 5000 seat venue.While it makes sense to have this a the same location as the other aquatic events, but I do think Harvard is overloaded. Not sure where else this could go, though.
Weightlifting- at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion (ne Bank of America Pavilion and Harborlights), good harbor views but it's open to the elements (the stage and most seating is covered). I'm pretty familiar with the venue (my employer holds a graduation ceremony there every summer), and it looks like they're going to build something out into the harbor for athletes to use for warm up, locker rooms, etc. At least I don't recall there being anything there now. Also, another transit issue as the Silver Line is your best non-car option.
Wrestling - BCEC
As a proof of concept I suppose the original plan works, but if there's any hope of actually landing the Games there's work to be done. The waterfront cluster has significant transit issues, while the university cluster is too focused on the least accessible part of Harvard's campus.
31 January 2015
Book Log 2015 #5: The Anatomy Lesson by Nina Siegal
Set in one day in Amsterdam, this novel tells the story behind The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, one of Rembrandt's best-known works. Each of the characters - Rembrandt, Tulp, the man who became the cadaver, his woman friend (and mother of his unborn child), the man in charge of the corpse, and Rene Descartes - are referred to by an anatomical term (Rembrandt is the hands, for example), and each section is told from that person's point of view. There is also a series of present day observational notes by an art restorer, who uses the examination of the painting and some recently-discovered historical documents to make a significant discovery about it.
While I liked the book overall, I did feel like there was probably one character too many (I'm going with either Descartes or the steward who procured the body). I also found the modern day notes didn't really work with the rest of the book. It should have had a more prominent place in the novel or none at all. Still, if you're interested in art or 17th century Europe, this is well worth reading.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book by a female author)
Set in one day in Amsterdam, this novel tells the story behind The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, one of Rembrandt's best-known works. Each of the characters - Rembrandt, Tulp, the man who became the cadaver, his woman friend (and mother of his unborn child), the man in charge of the corpse, and Rene Descartes - are referred to by an anatomical term (Rembrandt is the hands, for example), and each section is told from that person's point of view. There is also a series of present day observational notes by an art restorer, who uses the examination of the painting and some recently-discovered historical documents to make a significant discovery about it.
While I liked the book overall, I did feel like there was probably one character too many (I'm going with either Descartes or the steward who procured the body). I also found the modern day notes didn't really work with the rest of the book. It should have had a more prominent place in the novel or none at all. Still, if you're interested in art or 17th century Europe, this is well worth reading.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book by a female author)
Book Log 2015 #4: Brick by Brick by David Robertson
Confession time: I picked this book up thinking it was a history of Lego rather than an examination of how the company almost innovated itself out of business and then innovated its way back to the top. I didn't finish the book, and skimmed the more business-heavy sections, but got the general idea that innovation for innovation's sake is bad, while innovating while staying true to your core values and honoring your relationships with customers and retailers is good.
There were significant parts of the book about the company's history and product lines, and these I enjoyed quite a bit. So in the end I did enjoy the book, but it's probably more enjoyable if you're actually interested in the business end of things.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: A non-fiction book)
Confession time: I picked this book up thinking it was a history of Lego rather than an examination of how the company almost innovated itself out of business and then innovated its way back to the top. I didn't finish the book, and skimmed the more business-heavy sections, but got the general idea that innovation for innovation's sake is bad, while innovating while staying true to your core values and honoring your relationships with customers and retailers is good.
There were significant parts of the book about the company's history and product lines, and these I enjoyed quite a bit. So in the end I did enjoy the book, but it's probably more enjoyable if you're actually interested in the business end of things.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: A non-fiction book)
29 January 2015
Book Log 2015 #3: La Place de la Concorde Suisse by John McPhee
Switzerland has followed a policy of neutrality for centuries, but that doesn't mean that they're pacifists. The Swiss have carefully prepared to fight, developing a citizen army and creating an infrastructure where bridges are pre-wired for detonation and mountains contain bunkers for artillery, hangars for jets, and barracks for soldiers and citizens alike. The general staff (who represent the bulk of the Swiss military professionals) are confident that they can use their training, planning, and terrain to successfully defend themselves.
On the other side is a recon battalion whose citizen soldiers are much less optimistic about their chances. They fulfill their service requirement, but when asked about an actual war have little doubt that the enemy (at the time of this writing, likely the Soviets) would be successful. It's this juxtaposition that is so well examined, the way in which the Swiss plan so meticulously but rely on semi-interested conscripts to carry out their plans.
This book was published in 1984, when the assumption was that an invasion would come from the east (be it the Soviets or other Warsaw Pact forces). It'd be interesting to see how (or if) the end of the Cold War has changed Swiss planning. Still, an informative book about an unexpected topic, which is kind of McPhee's thing.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book set in a different country)
Switzerland has followed a policy of neutrality for centuries, but that doesn't mean that they're pacifists. The Swiss have carefully prepared to fight, developing a citizen army and creating an infrastructure where bridges are pre-wired for detonation and mountains contain bunkers for artillery, hangars for jets, and barracks for soldiers and citizens alike. The general staff (who represent the bulk of the Swiss military professionals) are confident that they can use their training, planning, and terrain to successfully defend themselves.
On the other side is a recon battalion whose citizen soldiers are much less optimistic about their chances. They fulfill their service requirement, but when asked about an actual war have little doubt that the enemy (at the time of this writing, likely the Soviets) would be successful. It's this juxtaposition that is so well examined, the way in which the Swiss plan so meticulously but rely on semi-interested conscripts to carry out their plans.
This book was published in 1984, when the assumption was that an invasion would come from the east (be it the Soviets or other Warsaw Pact forces). It'd be interesting to see how (or if) the end of the Cold War has changed Swiss planning. Still, an informative book about an unexpected topic, which is kind of McPhee's thing.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book set in a different country)
Book Log 2015 #2: You Might Remember Me by Mike Thomas
I don't have strong memories of many celebrity deaths, but I can still remember clearly when I heard about the killing of Phil Hartman. I was at work, and got an email from a friend about it. I spent the rest of the afternoon surfing the Web, reading stories and trying to make sense of what happened to one of my favorite actors. I didn't know much about Hartman other than his performances, which I universally enjoyed, and the news didn't fill too many gaps other than those specific to his death.
Filling many of these gaps is this biography, which paints a picture of Phil as someone, from a relatively early age, used humor and a laid back attitude to get attention and forge relationships (in some way, I think, to compensate for parents who were distracted by a large family and financial insecurity). As an adult, he used these talents to work his way into improv, where his work with the Groundlings set the stage for his work on SNL and The Simpsons.
And while Phil didn't have what you could call a dark side, there is the suggestion that he had a kind of a veneer, that what you saw from Phil was a persona cultivated for public use. Whether he used that to keep a distance from others, or to mask insecurities lingering from his past, it seems like there were few, if any, people who could claim to know Phil. There was also the part of this persona that manifested itself in having nice things and keeping the company of beautiful women. You can see where this would lead to his ultimately fatal choice for a third wife.
There are places where I'd have liked more - the section about his time on NewsRadio seemed especially short - but I do feel like I have much more complete understanding of Phil's life and death, and what made him such a unique performer.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book by an author you've never read before)
I don't have strong memories of many celebrity deaths, but I can still remember clearly when I heard about the killing of Phil Hartman. I was at work, and got an email from a friend about it. I spent the rest of the afternoon surfing the Web, reading stories and trying to make sense of what happened to one of my favorite actors. I didn't know much about Hartman other than his performances, which I universally enjoyed, and the news didn't fill too many gaps other than those specific to his death.
Filling many of these gaps is this biography, which paints a picture of Phil as someone, from a relatively early age, used humor and a laid back attitude to get attention and forge relationships (in some way, I think, to compensate for parents who were distracted by a large family and financial insecurity). As an adult, he used these talents to work his way into improv, where his work with the Groundlings set the stage for his work on SNL and The Simpsons.
And while Phil didn't have what you could call a dark side, there is the suggestion that he had a kind of a veneer, that what you saw from Phil was a persona cultivated for public use. Whether he used that to keep a distance from others, or to mask insecurities lingering from his past, it seems like there were few, if any, people who could claim to know Phil. There was also the part of this persona that manifested itself in having nice things and keeping the company of beautiful women. You can see where this would lead to his ultimately fatal choice for a third wife.
There are places where I'd have liked more - the section about his time on NewsRadio seemed especially short - but I do feel like I have much more complete understanding of Phil's life and death, and what made him such a unique performer.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book by an author you've never read before)
25 January 2015
Book Log 2015 #1: Back Channel by Steven L. Carter
A Cornell student is recruited by a professor (who has a mysterious link to her dead father) to escort Bobby Fisher to Bulgaria, ostensibly to cover the tournament he is playing in but really to make contact with a Russian who has information about missiles his country is putting in Cuba. So begins her descent into the world of Cold War espionage in this thriller.
This is the most audacious of Carter's novels that set African-American women at turning points in American history. In this case, the student becomes the US end of a back channel communication line that officially does not exist. putting her very life in danger. She is surrounded by the sort of calculating political and intelligence officers that can make that determination in good conscience and cold blood, which makes her even less sure of who, if anyone she can trust. And on top of all of this, she risks her personal reputation when her meetings with the President to deliver information are disguised as being of a more intimate nature.
For its portrayal of the lengths to which both sides would go and its continued examination of upper class African-Americans in the 20th century, this is a very highly recommended book. It's also recommended as Carter helps to connect some of the characters in this book to his earlier works, from minor characters making a repeat appearance to the supporting character of Jericho Ainsley, who as a disgraced - and retired - CIA director is the focus of the action in Jericho's Fall.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: a mystery or a thriller)
A Cornell student is recruited by a professor (who has a mysterious link to her dead father) to escort Bobby Fisher to Bulgaria, ostensibly to cover the tournament he is playing in but really to make contact with a Russian who has information about missiles his country is putting in Cuba. So begins her descent into the world of Cold War espionage in this thriller.
This is the most audacious of Carter's novels that set African-American women at turning points in American history. In this case, the student becomes the US end of a back channel communication line that officially does not exist. putting her very life in danger. She is surrounded by the sort of calculating political and intelligence officers that can make that determination in good conscience and cold blood, which makes her even less sure of who, if anyone she can trust. And on top of all of this, she risks her personal reputation when her meetings with the President to deliver information are disguised as being of a more intimate nature.
For its portrayal of the lengths to which both sides would go and its continued examination of upper class African-Americans in the 20th century, this is a very highly recommended book. It's also recommended as Carter helps to connect some of the characters in this book to his earlier works, from minor characters making a repeat appearance to the supporting character of Jericho Ainsley, who as a disgraced - and retired - CIA director is the focus of the action in Jericho's Fall.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge: a mystery or a thriller)
03 January 2015
Book Log 2015: The Popsugar Reading Challenge
So I saw this challenge on a friend's Facebook timeline, and thought it would make a good overlay to my reading this year. The challenge is to read books to meet these categories:
So I saw this challenge on a friend's Facebook timeline, and thought it would make a good overlay to my reading this year. The challenge is to read books to meet these categories:
I'll have to go back and see if it's cheating to have a book complete more than one category.
31 December 2014
Book Log 2014 #40: The Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
So while this is easily the best book of the trilogy - what with the revolution in Panem and its aftermath, it would be hard for it not to be - I still found myself somewhat disappointed with the book. I think what I've found is that the books have all been so focused on Katniss that there's not room for anything else, character or plot line, to develop fully. Everything else feels like a stage set upon which Katniss acts, limiting what could be a much more fulfilling universe. Consider we still know almost nothing about the districts, and what we do see of the capital depicts it a nothing more than another arena for a revolt that doubles as the ultimate Hunger Games.
You also see this in some areas of plot that could be explored more. Katniss is clearly concerned with the propaganda arm of the war, and while that does pop up throughout the book, there's room to explore it more fully. We also hear that there was mutual concern over war because the loss of life could lead to permanent negative population growth. How did that happen? Couldn't Panem institute controlled immigration? Are there still countries from which people could emigrate? Spending a little less time on Katniss would allow for a broader, more interesting universe.
In the end, though, this isn't a bad book, and not even a bad trilogy. It just may not be as adult-friendly as, say, Harry Potter (which is a very high bar where crossover YA fiction is concerned).
So while this is easily the best book of the trilogy - what with the revolution in Panem and its aftermath, it would be hard for it not to be - I still found myself somewhat disappointed with the book. I think what I've found is that the books have all been so focused on Katniss that there's not room for anything else, character or plot line, to develop fully. Everything else feels like a stage set upon which Katniss acts, limiting what could be a much more fulfilling universe. Consider we still know almost nothing about the districts, and what we do see of the capital depicts it a nothing more than another arena for a revolt that doubles as the ultimate Hunger Games.
You also see this in some areas of plot that could be explored more. Katniss is clearly concerned with the propaganda arm of the war, and while that does pop up throughout the book, there's room to explore it more fully. We also hear that there was mutual concern over war because the loss of life could lead to permanent negative population growth. How did that happen? Couldn't Panem institute controlled immigration? Are there still countries from which people could emigrate? Spending a little less time on Katniss would allow for a broader, more interesting universe.
In the end, though, this isn't a bad book, and not even a bad trilogy. It just may not be as adult-friendly as, say, Harry Potter (which is a very high bar where crossover YA fiction is concerned).
Book Log 2014 #39: The Day of Atonement by David Liss
London thief-taker Benjamin Weaver is back, but briefly. Set 20 years after his last appearance, Weaver is the guardian of a young Portuguese boy snuck out of Lisbon after his parents were arrested by the Inquisition. The boy, now going by the Anglicized name Sebastian Foxx, follows in Weaver's footsteps, becoming a thief-taker in his own right.
And once he develops the skills -and the bankroll - that will allow him to return home to avenge the death of his parents and discover the fate of the love of his life, he does so. Young and fueled by a mix of anger and lack of concern for his own well-being, Foxx's plan is to kill the priest who had his parents arrested. But then the plan continues to grow new goals, as Foxx finds new people he needs to help and a few more than he needs to kill. His plan also grows more convoluted as it utilizes English traders working within an organization called The Factory, as well as the priest Foxx intends to kill (Foxx is posing as an English Catholic).
Of course, nothing goes to plan, in large part because Foxx, as sure as he is in his physical abilities and the righteousness of his cause, proves to be a lousy judge of character. The combination of hate and youthful inexperience combine to lead Foxx down the wrong path more than once, adding more immediate needs for atonement to those that were part of the original plan. Things culminate on All Souls Day in 1755, perhaps the most notable date in Lisbon's history.
It's another stupendous outing, with excellent use of the time period and setting, and the development of a character who is worthy of replacing Weaver if we are not to see him as the lead anymore. My only problem is that I read this too soon after release, meaning too long of a wait for the next book with Weaver, or Foxx, or both. Highly recommended unless you've not read the earlier books, in which case you should read those as well.
London thief-taker Benjamin Weaver is back, but briefly. Set 20 years after his last appearance, Weaver is the guardian of a young Portuguese boy snuck out of Lisbon after his parents were arrested by the Inquisition. The boy, now going by the Anglicized name Sebastian Foxx, follows in Weaver's footsteps, becoming a thief-taker in his own right.
And once he develops the skills -and the bankroll - that will allow him to return home to avenge the death of his parents and discover the fate of the love of his life, he does so. Young and fueled by a mix of anger and lack of concern for his own well-being, Foxx's plan is to kill the priest who had his parents arrested. But then the plan continues to grow new goals, as Foxx finds new people he needs to help and a few more than he needs to kill. His plan also grows more convoluted as it utilizes English traders working within an organization called The Factory, as well as the priest Foxx intends to kill (Foxx is posing as an English Catholic).
Of course, nothing goes to plan, in large part because Foxx, as sure as he is in his physical abilities and the righteousness of his cause, proves to be a lousy judge of character. The combination of hate and youthful inexperience combine to lead Foxx down the wrong path more than once, adding more immediate needs for atonement to those that were part of the original plan. Things culminate on All Souls Day in 1755, perhaps the most notable date in Lisbon's history.
It's another stupendous outing, with excellent use of the time period and setting, and the development of a character who is worthy of replacing Weaver if we are not to see him as the lead anymore. My only problem is that I read this too soon after release, meaning too long of a wait for the next book with Weaver, or Foxx, or both. Highly recommended unless you've not read the earlier books, in which case you should read those as well.
Book Log 2014 #38: Two Fronts by Harry Turtledove
World War II drags on, with Germany back to fighting a two front war. The Russian front is clearly the more active of the two, while fighting on the Western front has started again, but with a notable lack of intensity (though the British are now able to bomb Germany in daylight, and the Axis seems to be putting on a push in North Africa).
Japan continues to dominate the Pacific, with the US still working towards a credible response to Japanese aggression. The US homefront continues to feel little direct impact from war, at least on a macro scale.
More things happen in the various plot lines of this entry than the previous one, though it still feels like not enough progress has been made with just one book left. Still, there are some suggestions - German political instability and a reference to Oak Ridge - that suggest how the end may come.
World War II drags on, with Germany back to fighting a two front war. The Russian front is clearly the more active of the two, while fighting on the Western front has started again, but with a notable lack of intensity (though the British are now able to bomb Germany in daylight, and the Axis seems to be putting on a push in North Africa).
Japan continues to dominate the Pacific, with the US still working towards a credible response to Japanese aggression. The US homefront continues to feel little direct impact from war, at least on a macro scale.
More things happen in the various plot lines of this entry than the previous one, though it still feels like not enough progress has been made with just one book left. Still, there are some suggestions - German political instability and a reference to Oak Ridge - that suggest how the end may come.
30 December 2014
Book Log 2014 #37: A Burnable Book by Bruce Holsinger
Richard II has a tenuous hold on the throne of England, and with all of the usual threats to his rule comes a new one - a book of prophecy purported to have foretold the deaths of the kings of England up to Richard, and one final prophecy for Richard himself.
When the book falls into the hands of a prostitute, the high and low worlds of London become entangled, Those that hold the book may have the key to fortune if they can sell it to the right bidder, but also risk being executed for treason if caught with the book. Into this falls poet and intelligencer John Gower, who is charged with finding the book by Geoffrey Chaucer, a bureaucrat in the king's service.
There's a lot to like about this book, it's a good historical and literary thriller. The jacket intimated that Chaucer would be more involved in the book than he was; Chaucer's appearances are important but the main character really is Gower. Not a huge issue.
Richard II has a tenuous hold on the throne of England, and with all of the usual threats to his rule comes a new one - a book of prophecy purported to have foretold the deaths of the kings of England up to Richard, and one final prophecy for Richard himself.
When the book falls into the hands of a prostitute, the high and low worlds of London become entangled, Those that hold the book may have the key to fortune if they can sell it to the right bidder, but also risk being executed for treason if caught with the book. Into this falls poet and intelligencer John Gower, who is charged with finding the book by Geoffrey Chaucer, a bureaucrat in the king's service.
There's a lot to like about this book, it's a good historical and literary thriller. The jacket intimated that Chaucer would be more involved in the book than he was; Chaucer's appearances are important but the main character really is Gower. Not a huge issue.
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