A Retro Review: Digital Fortress

I know lots of people are Dan Brown fans. My mother is one of those people. I have a nook and lots of time, right now, so I figured I would give it a try. Sort of one of those "Mom reads these books and she doesn't read a whole lot, so it should be okay, right?" Plus, I wanted to read his few books in order (not succession, that is far too large for Mr. Brown) which took me to his first: Digital Fortress.

Published in 1998, Dan Brown's first novel takes place in Seville, Spain and in DC at the NSA's headquarters. The two main characters, Susan Fletcher and David Becker, are working two sides of a problem that include computer algorithms and encoded rings. The story starts simply enough: Becker, a linguist, gets called to pick up a passkey from someone in Spain. Meanwhile, Fletcher does what she does best and attempts to break a code that has the NSA's main computer - TRANSLTR - stuck in an endless loop typical of a virus. Why no one had checked the encryption key it was processing for mutation strings sooner is beyond me, but that is the way the story rolls.

Anyway... there are car/bus/Vespa chases, a fight, murders left and right, a hit man, and a Catholic church in this book. Of course, our hero tag team saves the day, the second in command goes crazy and stuff, everything fits at the last second.... blah blah.

Personally, I couldn't get into this book. It should not have taken me this long to read the almost 300 pages of ridiculously simplistic text. The fact that they are all supposed to be the best in the country at what they do leads me to question where they are recruiting from. I have never see this level of conversation for the degree of scholastic achievement they have. Not to say that people from a certain scholarly level are held to a higher standard than most. Not at all. I just expect them to be able to communicate to each other in a more proficient way. The conversations on Dawson's Creek were far more intellectually stimulating. Also, weak plot twists and super predictability left me a bit saddened. I have read teen books with more umph. Fear Street, anyone?

I was hoping to get something out of this and was left looking at a last page wondering if that was the rough draft.

Sadly, I will continue to read his books and hope that this was just a bad first book. I look forward to my next book: Angels and Demons. I hear it's pretty good!

Gardens Galore!

I have been very busy in my recovery lately, but one thing more that most has occupied my time: the gardens. I enjoy working on them, sitting in them, watching and just being in them.... I will just show you.

Art or Something Like It

The poster for part 2 of the event

Steve Rockstein is one of the most amazingly talented people I know and I am honored that he has allowed me to participate in what is sure to be an outstanding event in our community. His photography exhibition— aptly titled STEVE ROCKSTEIN: PHOTOGRAPHY 1971-2011— is his life’s work in every sense of the expression.

The exhibit will showcase more than 100 of Steve’s photos and covers every type of photography from photo-journalism to nature photography to portraits… whatever genre you want to put it in, the fact is it is all truly artistic. He cuts right to the core of the subject matter and really brings out the essence of what the subject (or his rendition of the subject) is attempting to portray. Steve’s shots all have a rawness and almost candid feel to them. He has an unapologetic take on photography that I would love to call “refreshing” amongst all the scores of people with expensive digital cameras and auto-focus that have websites and consider themselves photographers, but I can’t. It is just who he is.

He has taken pictures this way for far too long for me to call his take “refreshing:” it is simply genuine. It is provocative. It is introspective. You are sure to find a piece that will make you smile, make you wonder, make you reminisce, make you turn away, make you sad. His images invoke such an array of emotions every time I am fortunate enough to look at them. I am duly honored that I can even consider such a talent a friend as well. Luckily I know his awesome wife or she may wonder at my praises. It’s the artist in me: I can’t help it.

One of the most nerve binding views and he captured it perfectly.

Part One of the exhibit is at Oceana in French Town and Part Two will be at Seven Minus Seven in Subbase. Both parts take place on March 18th from 5-8pm and 9pm-midnight, respectively. I am honored that my band UncovereD will set the musical backdrop for a show that is not to be missed. If you can’t make it for the opening, the show hangs until April 15th.

A Mode of Transportation

I finally got one. I am so excited. Honestly, I didn't want to spend quite so much, but I did and I am glad that I did.

This week I did something I never thought I would do on my own. I bought a used car and got financing. A 2008. Yes, dear friends, Mimi bought a car that was built within 10 years of her driving it and it wasn't a beater that cost less than $2000. That never happens. It is just what I need, too: good gas mileage, four wheel drive, room for gear, working windows, no leaky roof, great price and functioning seats. The seat thing is a long story but let us just say that my passengers usually got a great core work out or a good nap in while riding with me.

The whole reason I have been carless was the topic of much controversy as of late. All one really needs to know is my beloved Beast is dead. It died the week I accepted a second job that takes place in the wee hours of the morning on the top of the mountain on the other side of the island. Yeah. Awesome. So now I must wake up to be at the station at 5:45 am, leave there by 9 - 9:15 to be at work usually between 10 - 12 to then put in my eight hours. Fantastic. Especially when you do not have a reliable mode of transportation. Trust me. There are not too many friends who will help you out for a ride at five something in the morning.

Fig. 1 Yes, I bought the blue one

I managed, though, and asked around and looked at beaters and even rented a car and then, when I was dead to the world yesterday, I insisted on car shopping. Then I found it. The price was right. My bank was awesome. Now I have keys.

There is something to be said for having an enclosed vehicle with good ground clearance. Being dry while it is raining is a luxury I was okay without, but rolling up my windows and not having my car leak on me yesterday made me realize that I was okay with that luxury, too. Oh, and I don't have to worry about my music equipment getting wet, and I can lock the doors, and give people rides without apologizing for the wildlife that made it's home in my open to the elements car. This could be good.