Greg Grandin’s Fordlandia is reported to describe the rise and fall of Henry Ford’s Brazilian rubber plantation. In reality, Fordlandia is another striking example of the destruction and exploitation brought by capitalism.
My Life
How I am Voting on the November 2020 Ballot Questions
Here is how I am voting on the ballot questions I have. I will also explain why I am voting the way I am voting.
Reviewing The Last Trial
Scott Turow’s The Last Trial is billed as the final courtroom battle of 85-year-old defense lawyer Alejandro (Sandy) Stern. As a fan of Turow’s novels and Stern, who has appeared in all of them, I was conflicted as I began the book. While I recognize characters, like real people, must retire and even die, I kept thinking of how Sandy would go out and what would be next for the franchise.
Reviewing Insomnia
I usually like Stephen King’s books. As a person waging a lifelong battle with insomnia, a book involving the insomnia of the main character interested me.
An Update on Shadow
As expected, Shadow did not do well with his test around other dogs. But there is some good news.

Introducing Shadow
Shadow’s Story
For about two years, Mom and I have been walking by Shadow. While our dogs were getting walked, Shadow was tied up on concrete with little room to move and often surrounded by his own crap.
We don’t believe he had regular access to water. He didn’t seem to have enough to eat. We rarely saw him out for a walk. Every time someone went by him, Shadow would bark and growl.
For a couple of months, Mom, while she has been walking Scorpio, has been throwing food to Shadow. Eventually, she started handing him food through the fence.
For a couple of weeks, Mom and a neighbor of ours have been walking Shadow.
Through those experiences, we came to understand the dog we had once named abused could be a wonderful pet. It would never happen for him, though, if he remained tied to concrete by a family that didn’t care about him.
Last Monday, Mom bought Shadow for $50. Now, we are trying to find Shadow the forever home he deserves.
Reviewing Critical
Critical is the seventh book in Robin Cook’s Jack Stapleton & Laurie Montgomery series. I have now read the first seven books in the series. Like the first six, I found Critical both entertaining and somewhat educational.
Personal Updates for September, 20, 2020
This post has updates about my exercise, our search for a new dog, and an update on how I have been feeling.
Personal Updates for September 15, 2020
This post has updates on how I have been feeling lately, my exercise, and our search for a new dog.
Thoughts on the Climate Fires
I know most people refer to the fires raging up and down the West coast as wildfires, but they are actually climate fires. Humans are the reason so much is being destroyed. Humans are the reason so many animals are being killed. Humans are the reason the air is so terrible. Humans are the reason the landscape will never be the same.