Dragonfly: NASA and the Crisis Aboard Mir

  A standard joke going around is that you don't have to be a rocket scientist to be a rocket scientist these days. Judging from this fascinating book on the troubles aboard Mir that is true. The Russians and Americans both come across as confused. The Americans don't know why they are on Mir and the Russians are keeping it going for pride and jobs. A fascinating study of the psychology of old bureaucracies who's glory days are well behind them.

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Clark County Public Library

The Clark County Nevada Public Library offers a free book hold system. The entire catalog for all the library branches is on line. When I read a review of a new book I search the catalog and put it on hold. It is brought to my local branch at no charge. A very good deal.

New York City Subway OK, people are going to think I'm nuts but I like the New York City Subway. They have done a lot of work to clean it up and they reciently introduced an unlimited weekly pass for only $17. Considering that the pass works in the subway and on the buses, it is probably the best public transit deal in the U.S. I've taken the subway around New York and found it fast and reliable. Sure there is always the chance of crime but as more and more normal people ride the subway the less likely that criminals will feel safe to commit crimes.

The Truman Show I liked the Truman Show very much. It is the story of Genesis. In the end, Truman rejects paradise and chooses knowledge. I think Laura Linney was particularly good as the stressed out actress playing Truman's wife.

Rent Of the Broadway musicals I've seen I liked two best, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Rent. Only Rent is still playing. I stood in line for the few $20 seats they sell at the theatre every day. When I arrived at the line the others said I was too late, the line was already too long for the number of tickets available. I am a gambler and decided to bet a little time versus a cheap ticket. When the person in front of me, a local addict, wandered off in search of her favorite chemical I was in. The ladies behind me had a hard choice as they could only get one ticket for the five of them. The show is about artistic AIDS infected losers from Alphabet City in the East Village. After seeing Rent I wanted to cash in an live "La Vie Bohem" but that would mean leaving the middle class work hard all your life in an office and then die track I have gotten so good at.

Too Much is Never Enough  by Morris Lapidus I liked this autobiography by the architect of the Eden Roc Hotel. He admits his career is a combination of talent and taking full advantage of lucky breaks that came his way. He also admits, in a hilarious passage, how he went nuts during a discussion over fees with a client and had to be restrained. I bet a lot of architects wish they could take a wack at a client.

Lists

The agents of the Secret Police have discovered the Emperor's current list of favorite motion pictures, books and  musical recordings. To thwart potential blackmail schemes based on this information it is published below.

Movies 2001: A Space Odyssey Monty Python and the Holly Grail Water Citizen Kane Dr. Strangelove The Truman Show How To Succeed at Business Without Really Trying Brazil Network Lawrence of Arabia The Big Clock Bugsy Requium for a Dream

Books Atlas Shrugged Ayn Rand Dune Frank Herbert Ringworld City of Golden Shadow - River of Blue Fire Mountain of Black Glass Tad Williams Sky Coyote Kage Baker Ender's Game The Reality Disfunction Series Semi-Numerical Algorithims - Knuth Red Storm Rising Tom Clancy Dragonfly: NASA and the Chrisis Abord Mir Bryan Burrough

Music Rent Broadway Cast Album Chess  London Cast Album Flood They Mighnt Be Giants Fever Kyle Minogue The Capitol Years Dean Martin Best of Petula Clark Stunt Bare Naked Ladies Live Through This Hole She's So Unusual Cyndi Lauper Parallel Lines Blondie Goodby Yellow Brick Road Elton John

Favorite Hotels Hotel Boulderado  Boulder, Colorado Courtyard Mariott  Woburn, Massachusetts Eden Roc  Miami Beach, Florida