Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Early music review from 1/05

People found this review helpful , maybe the musical side of the brain is more open to my style of review. I made some fat cash off of this one and print it without permission from Amazon since they purchased "full rights" but you know I have developed callous's on my nose from thumbing my nose at "the man". JW




Sackcloth 'n' Ashes ~ 16 Horsepower
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

Bandoneon?, January 16, 2005
I think I'd have to look up the spelling which I wont since this is a music review and not a written' review. Anyway a Band0neon is like an accordian but different in ways I dont understand, they feature this instument on a number of cuts with very haunting results.The lyrics are haunting as well, its a Flannery O'Connor mood crossed with all the greats of bluegrass ghosts, it creates a unique sound you would be a fool not to enjoy. It reminds me of the times as a child we visited old man Ritz's house deep in the woods behind our house, Mr. Ritz worked for Nasa and seldom visited his family farm getaway, so we ran amok on his property,never at ease mind you, but amok we ran. He was a scary figure who we never met and never expected to meet until one day I landed a job picking up rocks in a freshly plowed field, we would ride on a trailer behind a tractor and every so often the tractor would stop and we would hop off and pick up the rocks and throw them on the trailer. I suggested to Uncle Leon (the farmer who farmed Mr Ritz's property for him) that we just paint all the rocks red and have the migrant workers pick them up thinking they were tomatoes, he didnt think to much of this suggestion so we continued with our work. The next day we were picken' up rocks when a man walks up to Leon and told him we should paint the rocks red and tell the migrant workers they was tomatoes...This album reminds me of my first and only meeting with old man Ritz.Buy the album.



Sunday, August 28, 2005

Lord of the Rings Book Review


I dont understand why so many people found this review unhelpful. I fear Lord of the Rings fans are out to get me. Let them I'm ready, you can be darn sure of that, I didnt grow up on the means streets of the Beagly Dump road without picking up a few street fighting tricks.


The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Edition: Hardcover
Price: $50.40
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6 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

Need I say more, January 7, 2005
First read this when I was but a wee lad, great books a must read, why it reminds me of when I was a wee wee lad and my brother Charles Chadwick told me that he thought Smedley (a bona fide little person who live up the road from us) had some firecrackers and maybe we should pay him a visit and maybe get to light some off! Well we hopped on the tractor and drove down to his house,farm country if you must know.We saw him from a distance shooting hoops on his makeshift gravel court we drove up and he of course had a puzzled look on his face since we had never visited him before, we just rode the same school bus. Well as an ice breaker we played a game of horse, he won. Then he challenged us to a game, which hardly seemed fair since he was a little person like the Dwarf in "Lord of The Rings" , we took him up on it and were soundly trounced, he had an amazing hook shot. Well my brother Charles Chadwick decided to broach the subject of firecrackers and Smedley didn't know what he was talking about, we followed him around abit and he showed us a 5 gallon bucket of grease for the tractors, we had never seen such a quantity of grease in our lives, pretty cool. As we were looking at the grease my brother Charles Chadwick told Smedley that he had dropped a quarter in the grease and he could have it if he dug it out, without hesitation Smedley reached elbow deep into the grease and then my brother Charles Chadwick laughed and said he didn't really, we all laughed, some more than others and thats about all I remember about that visit. But I digress, Lord of the Rings all the way! I found the Silmarillion a little difficult but you cant go wrong with the trilogy.

Saturday, August 27, 2005

Longitude

This book was written by a woman, if women had the equal status that they have today this book would not have been possible. Who needs a map or a chronometer when all you have to do is ask directions?


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Longitude : The True Story Lone Genius Who Solved Greatest Scientific Problem his Time by Dava Sobel
Edition: Paperback
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Best book for those who like things like history and learning the origins of history., August 28, 2005
Dava Sobel wrote a book that taught me about , the origins of the chronometer. I am still amazed how John Harrison's clocks started out as huge Multi Stone devises and evolved over his years of labor (40) into accurate hand held device's. Not really a challenge unless you consider the reality of the task, for instance a clock has to work accurately in all temperatures and humidity during a tempest, for his method to work. Different metals expand and contract at different temperatures...Read the book it is an easy read and will make you appreciate and understand navigation better than you had expected.

Visit http://rubens.anu.edu.au/student.projects97/naval/defin.html for the straight dope.

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Why wont they pay me?

You know I sometimes have to do things a little unsavory to support my sea monkeys.You buy them on a lark as a child but if you don't kill them by not caring for them properly,they will actually grow into full grown primates with appetites for exotic foods to match. Who ever met a monkey that demands freshly fertilized caviar? Do you know how much this stuff costs? LOTS! So at times I write book reviews (sometimes before I read the book)but you know I do a good job so is anyone hurt? It's all for my sea minkee's. Here is an example of a recent review which I have not received payment for, I spent a good deal of time selling this book and how am I rewarded? Nothing! I gave my life to my art but now I have dependents and I am torn, do I continue the book revue business or do I go into politics?
THE REVIEW:

Victorian People and Ideas: A Companion for the Modern Reader of Victorian Literature by Richard Daniel Altick
Edition: Paperback
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36 used from $3.75

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

Top of the line!, August 2, 2005
I am a professional critic so I have a few gripes. One the binding bent to easily when I threw the book against the wall. OK, so I have a problem with big words, the book uses big words when little words would suffice. Call me crazy but do not call me if you plan to read this p...I am told I will love the book and given time (and some time on the rack) I suppose I would, but at this point I will have to reserve judgement until I read the dang thang. Please do not hold your breath....Best book I have ever...Go read now!">

Monday, August 22, 2005

KY Derby winner's bed pee'd in by me!

I am not one to brag but ...Ok I do have a few things that set me apart from the "norms" the "pedestrians" the .. the I'll continue.
Back around 1968 I was visiting my grandparents in North Carolina which was what I did back then, it was either that or watch my folks go completely insane with me and my bro's company for an entire summer, we were delightful children. This trip to NC my mom came down to join us for a trip to Florida to visit my Grandpa Oscars sister. Oscar did not go on this trip because he was tied up doing anything but traveling in a car to Florida with a bunch of kids.
So it was me my Mum, Grammie, Kelly (my favorite uncle), my bro Chuck and I think thats the cast.(Lot of odd things happened on this trip but for now its all about me)
Cast? Now I am talking about a cast!
OK my aunt we visited lived next to Ron Turcotte the famous jockey, he was out of town but left his house open for my aunts relatives to use. Me being around four was awarded the champions chambers, I remember the oil painting of a fine race horse above his bed and the looks my elders exchanged when they realized the following morning I had pissed in the neighbors bed... I dont know the rest of the story but I figure they cleaned the sheets and kept their mouths shut about my ultra hydration problem. Next to that guy who rode Sea Biscuit I don't know much about Jockeys other than when they leave town they should not offer their beds to strangers. JW


Ron Turcotte

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Ron Turcott and Secretariat at the 1973 Belmont Stakes finish line
Enlarge
Ron Turcott and Secretariat at the 1973 Belmont Stakes finish line

Ron Joseph Morel Turcotte (born July 22, 1941 in Drummond, New Brunswick, Canada) is a Hall of Fame thoroughbred race horse jockey.

Turcotte began his career in Toronto, Ontario as a hot walker for E. P. Taylor's Windfields Farm in 1959 but he was soon wearing the silks and winning races. As an apprentice jockey he rode Windfields' great Northern Dancer to his first victory. In 1965, he gained prominence with his victory aboard Tom Rolfe in the Preakness Stakes. Turcotte soon found himself working with trainer Lucien Laurin at the racetrack in Laurel, Maryland. In 1972 he rode Riva Ridge to victory in the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.

Ron Turcotte became internationally famous in 1973 when he rode Secretariat to the first Triple Crown win in 25 years. He was North America's leading stakes-winning jockey in 1972 and 1973.

He was voted the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award that honors a rider whose career and personal conduct exemplifies the very best example of participants in the sport of thoroughbred racing.

His career ended in 1978 following a tumble from his horse during a race at Belmont Park that left him a paraplegic. Ron Turcotte was immediately inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1979. He was voted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame and in 1980 was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

Ron Turcotte's Riding Career from 1961-1978:

  • Number of Mounts: 20,281
  • Number of Winners: 3,032
  • Winning Percentage: 14.9%

Sunday, August 21, 2005

Syvia II






I just visited my folks in Moorehead City/Beaufort North Carolina. I had just read "When The Water Smokes" by Bob Simpson a local writer. I enjoyed the book based on Bob and his wife Susan's life on Peltier creek, their resurrection of the Sylvia II and their trips on the classic Carolina work boat. I was very pleased to find out that my folks boat was docked on Peltier creek and took this photo of the Sylvia II on our way out onto Bogue Sound to hunt sharks with our bare hands. Our trip of eminent peril
would be titled "When the water boils".
JW

Friday, August 19, 2005

Pictures somtimes paint more than 1000 words...

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Bed of Boneheads




I have to apologize for the quality of this photograph. It was taken through the windshield of my Jeep while in traffic at 86th and Meridian during rush hour. I also had in the back of my mind if your stupid enough to ride on the side of a pick up bed talking on your cell phone while smoking a cigarette with one foot dangling over the edge of the bed, you and your breather-en might be of the breed that likes to attempt to kick ones arse who is documenting a day in the life of a fool. How does it go? A murder of crows, a flock of doves, school of fish and a bed of boneheads...

Monday, August 15, 2005

Birth of an entepremanure


As you well know I admire the self motivated, the go getter, the person willing to take risks to get ahead. On a recent trip to the Czech Republic I was visiting a really, really old church and like a gift from the almighty himself, I was to witness a perfect example of an entrepreneur.To see this guy dipping into this pond to retrieve change cast in by believers or respecter's, then retreat into the shade and wait for more booty to collect and then breaks over, back to work! I was touched and moved...I moved back down from the churc/Castle on the hill to a great little pub and after a few Pilsner Urquells, I realized I could never work this hard, I am just to dang lazy also I can not take the heat like I used to and to wear a black leather jacket on a 85 degree day would make me swoon. JW

Saturday, August 13, 2005

Truth in advertising restaurant...


"I want a sausage biscuit with some hash browns and could you please provide a photo essay of how my meal evolved from animal to my tasty biscuit"?... I am very curious about food service, I guess you could say I heart learning about my food and the origin of my food. I hate to think I have been masticating all these years for nothing. JW

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

The Rum


I do my best thinking in the shower. There is nothing like clean armpits and a hearty pull of the rum to clear your mind.

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Inspirational Book Review

I only posted this review because my good friend Susan told me that my book reviews were even better than my alphabet, well Susan my alphabet was a book review. I don't review books just for myself but the mass's and this reprinted review first published 2/12/05 was not met with much acclaim, however as time moved on it has gained a following. Now I am just guessing but I dusted off the old slide rule and abacus the other day and did some educated guessing and I came up with the figure that at least 1.2 people visit my site every 38 seconds of the day 24/7. Not bad when you consider I have not sold out (notice the advertising void) and only started my site just 60ish days ago, thank you all for your support and more later. J Williams



How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
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11 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

Say that smart thing you said again., February 12, 2005
Dale Carnegie wrote this incredible book almost seventy years ago. What he said still rings true today.

The secret of success is to enlist the willing help of others. You can't do it alone.

Dale Carnegie knew that. And he shows you how to attract and motivate others, with short truisms such as:

"give honest and sincere appreciation"
"show respect for the other person's opinion"
"talk in terms of the other person's interest"
"when you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically"

Simple? Yes. Corny? perhaps.


This seems familiar as if it had already been written, oh well I guess plagiarism is the sincerest form of flattery, this is one heck of a good book and you should read it, then you might not be reading second rate book reviews, you would be out living large with the beautiful people.
You see Dale had a way with words, he could remember your name, which I insist at family gatherings my family wears name badges just to save the embarrassment of forgetting ones immediate relatives names, which reminds me of what I was thinking just the other day. Ok here goes all numbers have spellings, example 1 is spelled one, 2 is spelled two and so on but letters have no spelling which always leaves me feeling empty if I want to mention a certain letter to a friend in correspondence, for example:Dear Friend, I was thinking of the L the other day...Ok L? what does that mean? and should it not have a spelling, what has become of our beloved English language? How many letters can you spell? I thought so.Are we lazy English speakers? Why don't we all write someone and complain about needing a proper spelling for every letter of the alphabet other wise we are going to slowly slip into a degree of illiteracy that is just dang stupid. Perhaps one of you people who read this book at my urging come up with a diplomatic way to approach all people who use letters combined into words to come up with some sort of rational way to spell them, I am at a loss. Great book, read it but you will not find the proper spelling for one letter in it nor any book that I know of, get on the stick people before its to late!

Well, I was talking to my collaborator Roscoe and he has prodded me with his help to come up with a compressive guide to the proper spelling of the english alphabet.Stay tuned. Once we get over the hurdle of "A" we should be able to complete and have published within a certain amount of time.
Jonathan Williams
American
The correct spelling of our alphabet...First draft.
By Roscoe L and Jonathan W
Final edit by Jonathan W Roscoe L I am sure will have something to say about this...tough!
Ok I think I have "A" figured out its spelled "hay" except the "h" and "y" are silent.
"B" is "bee".
"C" is "seagh"
"D" is "Dee".
"E" is "see" but remember the "s" is silent.
"F" is "eaf" this may or may not make since I will leave that to the academics.
"G" is "ji". or goua (hard)
"H" is "ache". Confusing? But I am firm on this one.
"I" is "ahyee".
"J" is "jehyea".
"K" is "cay".
"L" is "el". As in diablo.
"M" is "em".
"N" is "en".
"O" is "oh". Easy enough.
"P" is "pee".
"Q" is "kyou". A little complicated but necessary, get out of the boat if you don't like letters.
"R" is "aar". Sounds like a pirate in a hurry.
"S" is "es". As in (Me alphabet "es" su alphabet).
"T" is "tee".
"U" is "you".
"V" is "vee".
"W" is "dubbahyou".
"X" is "eccs".
"Y" is "wyh".
"Z" is "zee".
I believe this is the first step in making the english language easier to understand, if we truly want to preserve our culture then we have to take steps to insure that history is written with letters from our alphabet and they need a spelling . Yes I understand we are going to need a lot more rules to the spelling of our letters so I am open to suggestions,I'm do not dot all my "ahyee's" I'm to busy thinking outside of the box, but please only constructive criticism we can not mire ourselves down with useless debates about progress and the hows and whys. Letters can no longer go on with out proper spellings, why half the world is laughing at us! Especially the illiterate!