My Movies of 2020

I’m wrapping my end-of-year lists of cultural artifacts that were important to me this year. The pandemic of course had a devastating effect on the film world this year. I had a chance to see a couple of movies in theaters early in the year and then…nothing. Somehow, though, filmmakers continued to create and release incredible work. Of course, many of these movies were filmed before the COVID outbreak and it’s unclear what movies will look like in a year, to say nothing of whether the theater industry will be able to survive. These are the movies that I watched at home and that sustained me through this weird year: 1. Never Rarely Sometimes Always - For some thirty years, Hollywood wouldn’t touch the issue of women’s reproductive rights with a barge-pole. Even in indie films such as “Juno,” abortion was barely mentioned, let alone considered. So, it’s really gratifying to see the issue return to the big screen. Eliza Hittman’s film portrays a 17 year-old girl named Autumn living in a post-industrial hellscape in Pennsylvania with parents that don’t give a shit. When she gets pregnant she turns to her cousin to help come with her to NYC to get an abortion. It’s an odyssey that’s equal parts Thelma and Louise and a bleak Romanian art film. It shows just how far we’ve descended in this era of right-wing politics. 2. Da Five Bloods - For decades, Hollywood has deconstructed the Vietnam experience. But it took Spike Lee to frame it through the African-American soldier’s lens. In his characteristically messy style, Spike portrayed four vets returning to Vietnam after forty years to recover some lost treasure. Delroy Lindo is a searing presence throughout. 3. The Trial of the Chicago 7 - For some, Aaron Sorkin’s talky/walky style is exasperating, but I’ve always enjoyed his work. Despite by his own admission knowing nothing about the Chicago 7 case when he embarked on the project, Sorkin’s dense screenwriting is a perfect match for a complex story. And Sorkin’s industry muscle produced an intriguing and star-studded cast including Sacha Baron-Cohen as Abbie Hoffman, Eddie Redmayne as Tom Hayden and an electric performance by Yahya Abdul-Mateen as Bobby Seale. 4. Lovers Rock - Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe” anthology was the most exciting filmmaking of the year, originally shown on the BBC and then exported via Amazon Prime. I had the good fortune to see “Lovers Rock,” one of five short films in the series, at the virtual New York Film Festival in October. It’s essentially an hour-long party scene set in a house party in the Notting Hill neighborhood of London in 1980. There was something about watching a heaving group of people dancing, sweating and hugging each other that was particularly visceral this year. 5. Mank - David Fincher’s biopic of Herman Manciewicz, who, with Orson Welles, made Citizen Kane in 1941, is a love letter to old Hollywood. In a towering performance that should land him his second Oscar, Gary Oldman plays the many crazy moods of Mank. Fincher has crafted a biopic that has more of the bygone glamour - and, yes, sleaze - than anything else out of Hollywood this year. 6. American Utopia - Spike Lee’s concert film of David Byrne’s Broadway show “American Utopia” was almost as iconic as Jonathan Demme’s “Stop Making Sense” some 35 years ago. It’s exactly the kind of optimistic, musical romp that I needed in 2020. 7. Sound of Metal - Riz Ahmed was blistering in Darius Marder’s ambitious debut “Sound of Metal.” When his character Ruben, a drummer in a metal duo, begins to lose his hearing, he fears the worst. But somehow, with the help of his network of friends, he’s able to triumph through the adversity. 8. Zappa - I’ve never been a huge Frank Zappa fan, but I respect his contribution to rock music. Alex Winter’s (yes, “Bill S. Preston” from the Bill and Ted movies) in-depth look at Zappa’s life and turbulent career opened my eyes to his true legacy. 9. The Assistant - The last two years have been full of MeToo narratives, in music, television, on stage and in the cinema. And this is likely to continue; for example, I’m very much looking forward to seeing Emerald Fennell’s “A Promising Young Woman” in the New Year. Yet, few of these narratives have treated the subject of men’s sexual violence with the deftness and humor of Kitty Green’s “The Assistant,” with Julia Garner as a junior assistant in a media company. 10. The Donut King - I’m a huge fan of food documentaries. The most satisfying one for me this year was this story of Ted Ngoy, a legendary Cambodian immigrant who built an empire around donuts. I dare you to watch this and not want to make a midnight run to the local Dunkin’ Donuts. Notable Others: * Banksy and Rise of Outsider Art * Belushi * Crock of Gold * David Crosby - Remember My Name * The Half of It * Mangrove * Totally Under Control * The Wrong Missy Disappointment: The Lovebirds - This romantic comedy with Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae is the biggest disappointment I had with a movie all year. It reminded me a little of the “Out of Towners” (the remake not the original) or the dreadful Steve Carell/Tiny Fey “Date Night.” What should have been an entertaining rom-com spins wildly out of control when they witness a bike messenger get murdered by a hit man who commandeers their car. Instead of a fun night out at the movies with a couple of funny people, it's a dark and dour trudge. So, what have all of you been watching this year - I'd love to hear.

The Last Match of 2020

All the talk in the footie world today is about COVID and a possible shut-down, but for now we've got one last match to watch today and perhaps the promise of more to come on New Year's Day and the following weekend. It's Newcastle v. Liverpool tonight and I'm going to enjoy it like it's the last live football that we'll get for a while. Join me for all the action this afternoon.

Midweek Premiership Bonanza!

Afternoon, chaps - another day, another packed schedule of matches. We start at 1pm with a slate of games, including Brighton v. Arsenal and my beloved Leeds away to relegation favorites WBA. At 3pm, United have another chance to narrow the gap on Liverpool at the top with a home match with Wolves. I'm hoping for wins for all of our sides today. Join me to roar them on!

The Festive Footie Continues!

Another day, another slate of interesting Premier League fixtures. They just keep coming. Palace v. Leicester has already kicked off. That's followed at 1pm by Chelsea v. Villa. Finally, there is the late one between Citeh and Everton. I'll have a Leicester win to start things and then two exciting score draws, please. I'm catching up on some work this morning but should be around for the late one. Happy holidays!

Boxing Day Weekend Continues

Back in the good old days, Boxing Day fixtures were all at 3pm on December 26. These days, they're spread across three days, of course, so I'm up with the chickens to watch my beloved Leeds United. Today we've got a lunchtime kickoff against Burnley. Based on my patented survival rubric, we need all three points against the Clarets. We'll need to be especially wary of our old pal Chris Woods and Burnley's set piece threat. If you're up and around, come on by with a strong cuppa to watch with me. Later on, we've got West Ham v. Brighton, Liverpool v. WBA, and Wolves v. Spurs. Come on, you Whites! #MOT!

Happy Boxing Day!

Jingle bells, ManYoo smells, Tottenham ran away. Oh what fun it is to see Leeds win on Boxing Day-ay! Happy Boxing Day, everyone. I'm settling in for the annual festive feast of footie. It all starts with Leicester v. ManYoo in just a moment or two. Join me for the whole day, won't you?

Merry Christmas, LOBers!

Season's Greetings from The Cottage. We're not dreaming of a White Christmas - we're living it! Pink Kits and I were out shoveling for a couple of hours this morning and we're expected to get two more inches an hour through to Sunday. Looking forward to chatting with all of you during Boxing Day footer tomorrow.

League Cup Quarterfinals Day Two

 

There are two League Cup Quarterfinals today . The first is the Potters vs the Spuds which we as a group decided to forego as it seems less than appealing. Next is the big one for a couple of us as the Toffees host United who need to play like they did on Sunday if they want to advance to the semis. The match from Goodison Park kicks off at 3 PM. Join me if you can

The League Cup Quarter Finals Arrive!

Just when we thought that there was too much holiday football to possibly absorb, here comes the League Cup Quarter Final stage! It all starts today with the Ugly Stepsisters match-up of Brentford v. Newcastle at 12:30pm EST and then the big marquee match-up between Arsenal and Citeh at 3pm. The action is all on ESPN+; I'll be monitoring the early one but settling in to enjoy the big one at 3. See you then!

A Spot of Monday Footer, Anyone?

Anyone for some Monday Premier League action? I'll be honest - neither of these matches fires my imagination, and I've got some Christmas wrapping and some cooking to do this afternoon. So, I'll be in and out of it. But I thought I'd post a thread and we can chip in as we're watching. Happy Monday, everyone!

The War of the Roses, Resumed

I'm waking up this morning like it's Christmas, giddy with anticipation. Manchester United v. Leeds United. It's the kind of fixture that Leeds fans have been waiting 16 years to watch. Of course, my beloved Leeds are likely on a hiding to nothing; Man Utd are 7th (with a match in hand!) and Leeds are 14th for a reason. Yet, with nothing to lose in this one - it's not the kind of match in which we're expected to pick up any points - I'm going to simply sit back and enjoy what should be a cracking affair. Before the big one, we've got Brighton v. Sheffield United and Spurs v. Leicester as the undercard matches. Join me for all of the fireworks, won't you?

Up Early for the Good Stuff

Morning, boys! I'm up early and looking forward to another big day in the Premier League. It all starts with the champions on the road at Selhurst Park. I'll take a Liverpool win in that one. Next up is Soton hosting Citeh. I'll take a Citeh win in that one to knock the Saints off their perch. The most intriguing one of the day is Everton v. Arsenal at 12:30pm on NBC. I'd love to see Arsenal get back on track for the Gooner. At the end of the day, we've got Newcastle v. Fulham. A draw is probably the best result there. Join me for all the action, won't you?

Music of 2020

Continuing the series of posts of the cultural artifacts that helped add meaning to our lives this year, it’s time to take stock of the music scene. This was an odd year of music consumption for me, for obvious reasons. Apart from a few campus events at the beginning of the year, I didn’t see any live music at all. Yet, music was a key therapeutic factor for me during the pandemic quarantine period. There was a vigorous discussion among critics this year regarding what constituted the perfect quarantine soundtrack. As you’ll see from the list below, I don’t think that there was any one particular mood that I needed from music; sometimes I wanted to dance in the kitchen while cooking, while other times, I wanted some soft and quiet while I was reading a book with a cup of tea by my side. So, here is the music that sustained me through this weird year: Margo Price - “That’s How Rumors Get Started:” Margo Price made the most satisfying full album experience for me this year. As she showed on her debut, “Midwest Farmer’s Daughter” and its follow-up, “All American Made,” Price has a knack for melding soul and country into an Americana sound enriched by her tart, witty lyrics. “Stone Me,” which its memorable kiss-off chorus, was one of my favorite songs of the year. Dua Lipa - “Future Nostalgia:” London-based singer Dua Lipa made the disco soundtrack for the pandemic shut-down. This album was wall-to-wall bangers that turned our kitchen into a club. At some point after this is all over, I hope to be able to hear “Levitating” in the venue for which it was intended. Redman, Mehldau, McBride, Blade - “RoundAgain:” “RoundAgain” was the jazz album of the year. I first saw this group live back in the early 90s at the International Jazz Educators Association convention in Boston, when they were just coming to prominence as players. Now, Josh Redman, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride and Brian Blade are all legitimate band leaders in their own right. The last time they recorded was 1994’s “Mood Swing” album; let’s hope it doesn’t take another pandemic to get them back in the studio again. Mandy Moore - “Silver Landings:” I’m far too old to have had any consciousness of Mandy Moore as a 90s pop star, so my main association with her is from the NBC drama “This is Us,” where she plays a mom of three kids who sings as a hobby. I was disturbed to read that she had suffered through an abusive relationship with Ryan Adams. So, this album came as a complete surprise to me, a lovely set of sunny California pop helmed by her Dawes leader Taylor Goldsmith, Moore’s current significant other. If you’re skeptical, check out the lead single “I’d Rather Lose.” Diana Krall - “This Dream of You:” Krall came back with her best album in years in the midst of the pandemic. I’m still waiting for her to release collaboration with husband Elvis Costello, but, while that doesn’t seem to be coming, his influence is all over this album, from the song choices to the use of players in the Costello orbit such as guitarist Marc Ribot. Gone are the syrupy string arrangements and the focus is back on Krall’s Oscar Peterson-influenced piano work. Fleet Foxes - “Shore:” Fleet Foxes are apparently now essentially singer Robin Pecknold and whoever he chooses to record with, reserving the guys who used to be in the band as a touring outfit. While that may sound like a dire situation, Pecknold somehow produced a beautifully moving album of contemporary folk music. “Sunblind,” in particular, is a fitting tribute to some of the musicians, including John Prine, that we’ve lost this year. Phoebe Bridgers - “Punisher:” LA-based singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers has come to my attention in the past few years mainly through her collaborations with Lucy Dacas and Julien Baker in boygenius and Conor Oberst in Better Oblivion Community Center. However, with “Punisher,” her solo career really took off this year. Much of the album is quiet eom-folk; however, “Kyoto” was one of the zingiest indie rock numbers of 2020. Bill Frisell - “Valentine:” I’ve been listening to Bill Frisell for so long, he seems like an old friend at this point. His latest trio album with Thomas Morgan on bass and Rudy Royston on drums was a constant companion during my late semester grading sessions. The set shows off Bill’s spiky, post-modern song crafting style but ends with a lovely version of “We Shall Overcome,” an anthem we all need for 2021. HAIM - Women in Music III:” The Haim sisters have, at this point, crafted an impressive and unique body of indie rock music at a time in which indie rock is in steep decline. “Los Angeles” was the stand-out track for me on this solid third album. Justin Bieber - “Changes:” Yes, Justin Bieber. After a student of mine caught my post-class hip hop routine, she recommended the endless “Yummy” dance routines on YouTube, and I got hooked. Of course, “Yummy” was undeniable, but “Come Around Me” and “Available” were my favorite tracks. Notable Others: Sara Gazarek - “Thirsty Ghost:” Robert Glasper - “Dinner Party:” Laura Marling - “Song for Our Daughter” Sylvan Esso - “Free Love” Waxahatchee - “Saint Cloud” Songs of the Year: Justin Bieber - “Come Around Me” Black Pumas - “Colors” Boy Pablo - “Hey, Girl” Phoebe Bridgers - “Kyoto” Drive-By Truckers - “Thoughts & Prayers” Fantastic Negrito - “How Long?” Michael Franti & Spearhead - “I Got You” Benjamin Gibbard - “Life in Quarantine” HAIM - “Los Angeles” Dua Lipa - “Levitating” Laura Marling - “Strange Girl” Mandy Moore - “I’d Rather Lose” Jason Mraz - “Look for the Good” Margo Price - “Stone Me” Sufjan Stevens - “Video Game” Tennis - “Need Your Love” Waxahatchee - “Can’t Do Much” Lucinda Williams - “Man Without a Soul”

Thursday Afternoon Birthday Footie

We have a  Premier League double header and just like a rock concert , we start with the opening act which is a lackluster claret and sky blue derby with Villa hosting Burnley. It concludes with United at Bramall Lane. United need to put the Evil Blades to the sword as they have only one point from a dozen matches. United need to make sure that the Evil Blades have a point from a baker's dozen matches while being defeated by a cricket score, which would serve them right
 

Happy Birthday, MUR!

Please join me in wishing our LOB friend MUR a very happy birthday today. Let's hope that his beloved Man Utd can hit Sheffield Utd for a ton this afternoon as a birthday treat.

Midweek Premier League Madness!

My morning errands are done and I'm settling in to enjoy the afternoon's Premier League action. The afternoon is chock full of action. Three matches kick off in a few moments, including Arsenal v. Southampton, Leicester v. Everton and my beloved Leeds hosting Newcastle. We need to bounce back from back-to-back losses with a big win over the Magpies. Come on, you Whites! #MOT!

End of Semester Footer!

Wahay! I'm celebrating having finished my Fall 2020 semester grading this morning by settling in to watch the footer. We've got a couple of intriguing Week 13 fixtures on offer. First up is Wolves v. Chelsea. Wolves are 13th and just three points above Leeds, so you know where my allegiance will be this afternoon. Come on, you Blues! After that, it's Citeh v. the Baggies and of course I'm hoping that Citeh's strikers fill their boots and knock WBA to a ton. Join me if you're around this afternoon and fancy some footer, eh?

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 12 Update

Happy Monday, everyone - I hope you all had a great weekend watching the football. We've had a bit of a reshuffle in the tables, with a consequent reshuffle in our own PPP standings. With Everton defeat of Chelsea, the Blues had slipped a spot, with the loss or gain of a point or so. More importantly, many of us picked up three points, with Fulham's drop into the relegation zone as a result of Burnley's win and the Cottagers' draw with Liverpool. Three of the bottom five - Brighton, WBA and Sheffield Utd - lost, which brightened up my weekend. In the Championship, Brentford are back in the playoff spots, which added three more points for many players. At the same time, Bayer Leverkusen's rise to the top of the Bundesliga robbed us all of two points. Shockingly, none of us are getting any points from Europe. That's also true of the Golden Boot (Dominic Calvert-Lewin) and Top Assist (Harry Kane) categories. Only Anfield Warriors picks up two points for the Golden Glove categories for Hugo Lloris. We finally got a result for the First Player to receive a Red Card when Arsenal's Granit Xhaka got himself sent off (What's Up Wheaton Simon was the one in our pool to pick him). All of that means that our current champion MOT the Hoople is back on top of our standings - here they are: 1. Swansong - 25 points 2. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 24 pts 3. MOT the Hoople - 21 pts - Red Devil 1FCK - 21 pts 5. The Saint - 20 pts - United We Stand - 20 pts 7. Teddy Goalsevelt - 19 pts 8. Blue Devil - 18 pts 9. Red Dragon - 17 pts 10. West Ham Rising - 16 pts 11. Anfield Warriors - 15 pts 12. The Bee's Knees - 14 pts 13. Gooner71 - 13 pts - Man Utd Rules - 13 pts 15. Someone Said - 12 pts 16. Pink Kits - 4 pts

Sunday in the Dropzone

Morning, boys! We've got a string of matches featuring the cellar-dwellers today, and I'm hoping that all four lose. I decided to have a lie-in during the first half of the early one, so I'm joining as Soton have taken a lovely 2-0 lead against bottom of the table Sheffield United. I'd like to see some more. That's followed by Fulham hosting champions Liverpool who should hit them for six or more. The dangerous one is Burnley taking on out of sorts Arsenal. I'm hoping the Gunners get back on track today with a nice solid win at the Emirates. Then Leicester need to take care of Brighton and my day will be complete. Join me for any and all of this schadenfreude moment.

The Manc Derby (and some other matches)....

A very good Saturday morning, chaps. I'm up early out of habit more than desire to watch Wolves v. Villa on Peaccok with my cuppa. But everyone knows that today is all about the Manchester Derby - the big one. Even though neither side is in the top four, it's still the biggest game of the season. The other matches today whether on NBC Sports, NBC or Peacock are merely the undercard matches. Join me, wont' you?

Friday Night Thriller!

As luck would have it, I'm celebrating the end of the semester by watching my beloved Leeds United in their clash against West Ham this afternoon. Predictably, it's been an up and down season for us in terms of results, with four wins and five losses, along with useful draws against Premier League powerhouses Arsenal and Citeh, in our eleven matches. But all of that seems somewhat irrelevant. I love watching the Bielsa side; every match is unpredictably thrilling. Based on my patented rubric, this home match against a bottom half side should be a win; however, given that we're eight points ahead of that mark and that David Moyes' side have been in decent form, I'd take a draw and a point tonight. Come on, you Whites! #MOT!

Paul Shaffer Imitates Cher Singing "O Holy Night"

It's an LOB tradition - enjoy!

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 11 Update

A very good Tuesday evening, everyone! I'm into my Finals Week here at Fredonia, so I'm a bit tardy in getting this out to you. Despite all of the sturm and drang this weekend, very little changed. Spurs are still top, Liverpool and Chelsea are still in hot pursuit, and Leicester and Southampton continue to confound the experts (and us!). Burnley, WBA and Sheffield United continue in the relegation zone. And the top of the Championship remains largely the same, with only Brentford replacing Watford in playoff positions. Atletico Madrid, Bayern and AC Milan are top of Europe, so that's only points for Bayern for most of us. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Harry Kane added one goal and one assist to their respective totals. So, our friend Swansong continues at the top, with Simon just behind. Here are the current standings: 1. Swansong - 25 points 2. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 24 pts 3. MOT the Hoople - 21 pts - Red Devil 1FCK - 21 pts 5. The Saint - 20 pts - United We Stand - 20 pts 7. Teddy Goalsevelt - 19 pts 8. Blue Devil - 18 pts 9. Red Dragon - 17 pts 10. West Ham Rising - 16 pts 11. Anfield Warriors - 15 pts 12. The Nee's Knees - 14 pts 13. Gooner71 - 13 pts - Man Utd Rules - 13 pts 15. Someone Said - 12 pts 16. Pink Kits - 4pts

The Derby on Sunday

After the footer feast yesterday and a late night last night, I decided to have a lie in. So, I'm happy to wake up to the news that Palace did the business against hapless WBA 1-5. Sheffield United are currently holding Leicester 1-1 at Bramall Lane, but I'm hoping that the Foxes will do the business in the second half and that my beloved Leeds won't lose any ground this weekend. Of course, the biggie today is the North London Derby at Shite Fart Lane. This is a particularly intriguing match, with Spurs flying at the moment and Arsenal faltering. But anything can happen on the day. I'm really looking forward to that one. Join me from 11:30am EST on Peacock.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like the Premier League

A very good Saturday morning, everyone! It's footer time. We've got a cornucopia on board today - and it's all on the regular telly stations, with nary a Peacock in site. It all starts with an Everton site that has faltered of late traveling to play relegation-threatened Burnley. I'm hoping that the Toffees hit them for six. Same again for Citeh who host hapless Fulham at 10am on the channel. The lunch-time kick off is an intriguing on with West Ham hosting Man Utd. That's all the undercard for the big one for me - my beloved Leeds taking on our old enemy Chelsea and Frankie Lamps at 3pm. What a day! Join me for the lot, eh?

Books of 2020

It's that time again, LOBers! In early December, I always take a moment to take stock of the cultural artifacts that meant most to me, starting with book. Books have been a particular salve for me this year; during the height of the pandemic, I pored through a number of hefty novels. Kate and I also embarked on a project to read some of the classics that we'd neglected to read, including Voltaire's Candide, Sinclair Lewis' Main Street and Thomas Mann's Magic Mountain. Here are the some of the newer books that meant most to me this year: 1. Christina Baker Kline - The Orphan Train: Every once in a while a novel just jumps out at me and holds me rapt for the whole experience. Such was reading this lovely historical novel that Kate gave me for my birthday this year. It has several themes that are particularly relevant to my life right now. It involves the coming together of a young Penobscot Indian from Maine who, in order to avoid juvie, has to do community service hours with a 90-something woman who was part of an East Coast diaspora known as the the Orphan Train after the death of her family in a tenement fire. 2. Nate Chinen - Playing Changes: Nate Chinen’s survey of 21st century jazz is an insightful analysis of the future of the art form. Unlike many critics, Chinen predicts a positive future for a musical form that seemed stalled back in the late 80s, torn between the poles of neo-classicism and avant garde loft jazz. However, he no illusions that jazz is a popular music today - or, for that matter, that it will ever be again. In his exploration of the various elements of today's wide-ranging and fractured jazz scene, he imagines a bright future with brilliant music. 3. Jeanine Cummins - American Dirt: Cummins book engendered a furious Woke Twitter response earlier in the year; however, her heartbreaking story of Lydia Perez and her son Luca's fraught journey across the southern border worked for me. It's both a timely and a timeless story about the dream of a brighter future. 4. Humphrey Carpenter - A Great Silly Grin: As a kid growing up in 1970s Britain, I heard lots of legends of the post-war English humor boom, which challenged much of the orthodoxy of stuffy British society. Hancock’s Half Hour, Beyond the Fringe, the Goon Show, That was the Week that Was. Not only was I too young to have watched Monty Python when the original shows were aired in the late 60s - but these 50s and 60s pioneering influences were a distant but powerful memory on the UK psyche when I showed up with my family in 1972. Carpenter's exhaustive study of the period filled in a lot of the gaps for me. 5. Alexander Starritt - We Germans: I'm not one that usually enjoys war narratives; however, Alexander Starritt's intriguing novella was an exception for me. It focuses on the experience of one German soldier on the Eastern Front, as he details it in a long-form letter to his grandson and spares no gruesome detail of war's insanity along the way. 6. David McCullough - The Pioneers: I’ve enjoyed David McCullough’s work since he appeared in Ken Burns’ Civil War series on PBS years ago. Yes, he’s a mainstream historian; however, the Pulitzer Prize does still carry some cache in my book. His latest traces the early efforts of East Coasters to settle the Ohio Territories in the late 18th century, the precursor to the massive Westward Expansion period of the mid-19th century. McCullough emphasizes the romantic adventure of the these pioneers but he’s not uncritical of their efforts, especially when it comes to relations local indigenous groups. 7. Octavia E. Butler - Parable of the Talents: This intriguing dystopian novel is part of a trilogy of novels about a utopian community built by survivors of an apocalyptic event. It is largely based on the journal entries of the founder of Earthlink. These entries have the unsettling quality of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale or any number of sci-fi, fantasy or horror films. 8. Kate Tempest - The Bricks that Built the Houses: I've enjoyed Kate Tempest's Cockney-accented garage music over the years, so I was delighted to dive into her debut novel, a searing look at comtemporary London life, through the eyes of a number of compelling characters. Kate's amazing skills of observation are littered throughout the novel, as she lays out a noirish tale of a drug caper gone wrong and its consequences for her characters. 9. William Fibkins - The Graveyard of School Reform: Fibkins history of the failure of corporate education reform is a useful resource for educators trying to navigate around the draconian accountability regime. Here's hoping that the incoming Biden administration will learn some of its lessons. 10. Daniel Chapman - 100 Years of Leeds United: To celebrate the return of my beloved Leeds United to the Premier League and to stoke my excitement for the start of the new season, I dived into this exhaustive club history with relish. It filled in a number of gaps in my knowledge of the early history of the club. Notable Others: * Deanna Fei - Girl in Glass * John R. Thelin - The History of Higher Education in the United States Disappointment: * Bill Bryson - The Body: Bill Bryson has been one of my favorite non-fiction authors for some time now. I’ve read just about every scrap that he's written over the years. I absolutely loved his travel writing; however, as he grew bored with that narrow vantage point and started to write more encyclopedic efforts, I’ve tried to make my peace with it; however, this turgid monograph about anatomy didn't hold my interest. Still waiting for you to write a book about your travels around Ireland, Bill!

Wednesday Midweek Champions League Action Match day 5

  It's Match Day 5 of the group stages of the Champions League. United is the only Prem team that has yet to clinch qualification to the groups stages. A draw vs PSG will be enough to qualify for the round of sixteen. Hopefully, Thomas Edison Cavani will show PSG why they were wrong to transfer him. Join me for all the action and more.

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 10 Update

A very good Tuesday morning, LOBers. I'm here as usual with an update of our PPP standings after a wild and woolly weekend in the Premier League. After a crazy start to the season, we're starting to see the league settle a bit, with Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea at the top and some of the early flyers (e.g., Everton, Villa, Palace) beginning to fall away. At the bottom, Burnley have dropped back into the dropzone, as Fulham improbably won away to Leicester yesterday. Norwich and Bournemouth continue to impress in the Championship, while Bayern continue to give us all some points in Europe. Dominic Calvert-Lewin continues at the top of the goalscoring charts with 10 - none of his rivals scored this weekend - and Harry Kane continues as the leader of assists with 9. Chelsea's new keeper Edouard Mendy is now hte keeper with the most clean sheets, with 5 from his first 8 matches with the club. It all means that our standings haven't changed that much this week - here they are: 1. Swansong - 25 points 2. Red Devil 1FCK - 24 pts 3. MOT the Hoople - 21 points - What’s Up Wheaton Simon - 21 pt 5. Red Dragon - 19 pts 6. The Bee’s Knees - 18 pts - Blue Devil - 18 pts - Teddy Goalsevelt - 18 pts 9. The Saint - 17 pts - United We Stand - 17 pts 11. West Ham Rising - 15 pts 12. Someone Said - 14 pts 13. Gooner71 - 13 pts - Man Utd Rules - 13 pts 15. Anfield Warriors - 12 pts 16. Pink Kits - 4 pts