Author Archives: williamjcobb

The Summer of the Bears, Hungry & Marauding

So in my corner of Colorado there was a bit of snow drought (March was dry), which caused the bears to come out of hibernation early, before there was food for them. Now there are roving gangs of hungry bears … Continue reading

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HBO's Film of "Too Big to Fail" a Great Cast

So last year I was trying to read Andrew Ross Sorkin’s Too Big to Fail, which I admire much, although I did find it ‘too long to read,’ essentially because my schedule is too busy. It’s all about the financial … Continue reading

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S.C. Gwynne’s "Empire of the Summer Moon"—Great Comanche History

So if you’re interested in Native American history, S.C. Gwynne’s Empire of the Summer Moon (Scribner 2010) is a great read. Most of it concerns the Comanches, who essentially ruled and terrorized the Great Plains of Texas/Oklahoma areas during the … Continue reading

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The End of the World, Yawn—Or a Stupidity Gauge

So last night I’m watching ABC News (which I do just to keep an eye on what idiocy is in the mainstream media—answer: plenty) and they actually interviewed some craggy old nutcase who is apparently the “prophet” behind today’s Rapture … Continue reading

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Christo's "Over the River" Project, Art in My Back Yard

So there’s a piece in the NY Times today about Christo’s latest art installation project, Over the River, which is (figuratively speaking) in my Colorado back yard: It will be located, if it happens, in the Bighorn Canyon between Salida … Continue reading

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Neros Fiddling While the World Burns, Sooner Than You Think: the National Research Council's Report on Climate Change

So I’ve been (mildly) obsessed with Climate Change for a decade or more now, and am thoroughly disgusted at the anti-science, anti-education, pro-stupidity behavior of most of the Republican Party (i.e. Texas hick rep Joe Barton), or more accurately known … Continue reading

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Sony CyberShot, Guilty Gadget Pleasures

So much as I deplore how we’ve devolved in this Gadget Age, I’m as bad as anyone with a new toy. For my birthday my wife gave me a Sony Cybershot—small and light, 16 megapixel pics, easy and quick to … Continue reading

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Review of Lori Roy's "Bent Road," Text Version

Now that the Dallas Morning News is charging to view their content I realize when I post a book review here you can’t read it unless you pay, so since it’s a few days old, I’ll post the text here. … Continue reading

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Review of Lori Roy's debut novel, "Bent Road"

My review of Lori Roy’s debut novel, Bent Road, appears in today’s Dallas Morning News here: http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/books/20110506-book-review-bent-road-by-lori-roy.ece I call it Kansas Gothic, which I think is kind of a fun/gruesome idea. There’s a braided pattern of badness and the ramifications … Continue reading

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Werner Herzog Goes Caveman: "Cave of Forgotten Dreams"

So I caught Werner Herzog’s new documentary, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, at a theater in St. Louis today, and it’s one of the best docs I’ve seen in a while. It’s all about his visit to the Chauvet cave in … Continue reading

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