POTD: Blue Mountains

From 2018 03 27 Sydney

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, west of Sydney. Beautiful country. The Blue Mountains are part of Australia's Great Dividing Range, which separates the well-watered, populated coast of Australia from its dry, unpopulated Outback. In pioneer days, the range posed a barrier to settlement of the interior, like how the Appalachian Mountains did in America. But whereas American pioneers were drawn to the bountiful continent on the other side, Australian pioneers found the dry Outback desert, keeping settlement of the interior of the continent minimal to this day.

Bonus photos after the jump.

POTD: Fortune of War

From 2018 03 27 Sydney

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Sydney, Australia. It's evidence that "rock, paper, scissors" is universal, as are dad jokes.

A Private War (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes

A Private War (2018): Like a "moth to a bloody flame," Marie Colvin is a journalist addicted to war. The war scenes are violent, bloody and heartbreaking. But the scenes of Colvin's PTSD and alcoholism are just as raw here. I left feeling helpless and depressed. A-

POTD: Sydney Skyline

From 2018 03 27 Sydney

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Sydney Harbour in Sydney, Australia. It's one of the world's great harbors. The view is spectacular.

Review: A Gentleman in Moscow

Amazon

From A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles:

For years now, with a bit of a smile, the Count had remarked that this or that was behind him—like his days of poetry or travel or romance. But in so doing, he had never really believed it. In his heart of hearts, he had imagined that, even if unattended to these aspects of his life were lingering somewhere on the periphery, waiting to be recalled. But looking at the bottle in his hand, the Count was struck by the realization that, in fact, it was all behind him. Because the Bolsheviks, who were so intent upon recasting the future from a mold of their own making, would not rest until every last vestige of his Russia had been uprooted, shattered, or erased."

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I was lucky enough to visit Moscow this summer. I was also lucky that another American I met there recommended reading A Gentleman in Moscow. I had never heard of it, but upon walking past the grand old Metropol Hotel, where the novel is set, I made a mental note to add the novel to my reading list. I am glad I did.