TEDDY!

Progress report on “The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt”:

I’m up to Chapter 18, pp 470, and still loving it! I'll probably finish volume I this week, and take a couple of weeks break before starting volume II.

BULLY!

BIRDING LKNWR

I birded the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge yesterday.

FYI: the LKNWR was the first Waterfowl Refuge created in the U.S.; it was created by Theodore Roosevelt at the turn of the Twentieth Century!

It was a “fair” day of birding; not all the winter migrants have shown up yet. However, the Bald Eagles are increasing in number every week that goes by. I received an email this morning from a fellow birder that claims to have seen twenty Bald Eagles yesterday in the same spot that I found ten.

Following are my significant finding for the day:American Kestrel (1), Red Tailed Hawk (16), Coyote (1), Canada Geese (∞), Great Blue Heron (2), Coots (∞), Buffel Head (∞), Harrier F (6), Tundra Swans (∞), Northern Shovelers (∞), Mallard (12), Rough Legged Hawk (12), Crow/Raven (∞), Bald Eagle (10).

Teddy:

Well, I’ve gotten a good start, four chapters completed, at pp 115. However: compared to Teddy himself, a trifle.

Teddy has so far advanced through child hood with various and sundry physical ailments which he seems to overcome in good spirit and a determination to be stronger and fitter than normal. He has and continues to suffer from: coughs, colds, nausea, fevers, Cholera Morbus, and Asthma; as well as being small of frame and physical stature.

In spite of all his ailments and physical weakness’ he has at age twenty two: survived childhood. As a child accompanied his family on a four month Grand Tour of Europe. Again, as an adolescent accompanied his family on another one year plus Grand Tour of Europe, The Levant, and Egypt. Came home and developed himself into an extraordinary physical specimen. He then studied for his preparation and qualifications to enter Harvard University. He entered Harvard University, was inducted into the Porcellian Club, and graduated as a B.A. (magna cum laude). All of the above was accomplished whilst courting and marrying Boston Brahmin, Alice Hathaway Lee. And, additionally: he was expert in the following hobbies: Ornithology, Natural History, Taxidermy, Horseback Riding, Hiking, Writing, and runner-up in the Harvard Boxing Championship.

Whew! I think I’m too old to have a Hero such as this, I should have read this biography about fifty years ago. And just think: there are approximately fifteen hundred pages yet to go!

The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt & Theodore Rex, by Edmund Morris

Tonight I embark upon the formidable task of reading Edmund Morris’ two volume epic biography of my most favorite political personality: Theodore Roosevelt. Thus far I have completed the twenty-one page prologue. I expect it will take me several months to complete both volumes.

My fascination with TR began in High School history classes and was solidified by my reading of Nathan Miller’s biography of him some five or six years ago.

I’m in possession of these tomes by virtue of my Son’s birthday gift to me of a Barns & Noble gift card; thank you very much Ron!

MOVIE REVIEW

American Gangster:

I was disappointed.

My expectations may have been too high, thinking that each succeeding film must be better than the previous ones: Man on Fire and Training Day.

This one is a distant third on this list, and a distant sixth on the list of my all time favorite gangster films: Goodfellas, The Departed, Training Day, Man on Fire, Usual Suspects, and American Gangster.

In fact now that I think of it, the one about the bank robbery, I can’t recall the title, was better than AG.

And in case you are wondering: did he forget, The Godfather, no I didn’t, it’s not on my favorite list!

OBTW: Serpico and The French Connection would be ahead of AG too.

MOVIE REVIEW

Lions for Lambs:

Go figure. Everyone is panning this film and staying away from the Box Office in droves. I actually liked it! It’s not the greatest film I have ever seen but it was OK, maybe a 4 out of 5.

I actually thought it was fairly balanced from a L/R, Red/Blue, or Donkey/Elephant point of view. I thought it was thought provoking and left the viewer to draw their own conclusions to the issues presented.