Review: The Yellow Birds

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From The Yellow Birds: A Novel, by Kevin Powers:

We were not destined to survive. The fact is, we were not destined at all. The war would take what it could get. It was patient. It didn't care about objectives, or boundaries, whether you were loved by many or not at all. While I slept that summer, the war came to me in my dreams and showed me its sole purpose: to go on, only to go on. And I knew the war would have its way."

After the jump, my review.

Review: Here's the Deal

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From Here's the Deal, by David Leonhardt:

Eventually, the country will have to confront the deficit we have, rather than the deficit we imagine. The one we imagine is a deficit caused by waste, fraud, abuse, foreign aid, oil industry subsidies and vague out-of-control spending. The one we have is caused by the world's highest health costs (by far), the world's largest military (by far), a Social Security program built when most people died by age 75 -- and, to pay for it all, the lowest tax rates in decades. The recent string of budget deadlines and crises may be manufactured. The problem is not."

After the jump, my review.

S2L77: Taj Mahal

Agra, India
March 6, 1977

We toured the Taj Mahal by day, then returned at night to see it by the light of a full moon. I think I could have sat there all night and never gotten tired of the sight.

Source: Personal travel notes.

From 1977 03 02 India

Remember that waxing moon I commented on while in Nepal? Well, by the time I reached Agra it was full. Perfect timing for a nighttime visit to the Taj Mahal. It's sometimes called the most beautiful building in the world. That won't get an argument from me.

More photos after the jump.

Hopes Sky High for Tearing Down Central

Source: www.us75mobility.com.

Just kidding. If you believe that, I have some land in Frisco to sell you that I promise is no more than a fifteen minute drive from downtown Dallas. Instead of instilling high hopes, TxDOT came to Richardson Monday night to brief the city council on a study TxDOT has initiated for the US 75 corridor from I-635 to SH 121. The study is expected to be complete by September, 2015.

After the jump, what TxDOT says, what I say, and what Richardson council member Scott Dunn says.

Review: Norwegian Wood

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From Norwegian Wood, by Haruki Murakami:

'The problem was that that kind of thing couldn't go on forever,' said Naoku. 'Such perfect little circles are impossible to maintain. Kizuki knew it, I knew it, and so did you. Am I right?' I nodded."

After the jump, my review.