Author: Alex Diaz-Granados
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Book Review: ‘Silent Victory: The U.S. Submarine War Against Japan’
One of the deadliest weapons in the Navy’s arsenal for the past 80 years has been the submarine. Stealthy and lethal, today’s Los Angeles, Seawolf and Virginia class nuclear attack subs lurk beneath the waves like the ancient sea monsters feared by sailors in the days before Columbus. With their wire-guided Mk. 48 ADCAP torpedoes…
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Confessions of a ‘Star Wars’ Collector: Gathering the Endor Variants of Luke, Leia, and Han Together (& Other Observations)
Hi there, Dear Reader. It’s late afternoon here in New Hometown, Florida on Friday, April 23, 2021. Currently, the temperature is 82˚F (28˚C) under mostly cloudy skies. With humidity at 50% and the wind blowing from the east-southeast at 11 MPH (18 KM/H), the heat index is 83˚F (28˚C). It’s hotter than the forecast high…
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Book Review: ‘The Civil War: An Illustrated History’
The Civil War: An Illustrated History (1990) Published by: Alfred A. Knopf, New York Genre: American History/Documentary Series Tie-In Written By: Geoffrey C. Ward with Ric Burns and Ken Burns The most important programming public television offers, even in the 2020s, is a diverse range of historical documentaries that are never aired on the other…
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Music Album Review: Runnin’ Wild: Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra Play Glenn Miller
Runnin’ Wild: Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra Play Glenn Miller (1996) Performed by: The Boston Pops Orchestra, Keith Lockhart, conductor Guest Artists: John Pizzarelli and The King’s Singers As Keith Lockhart points out, the Boston Pops is “the ultimate crossover vehicle from the symphonic world.” So what better subject than Glenn Miller for…
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Movie/DVD Review: ‘The Fugitive’
The Fugitive (1993) Written by: Jeb Stuart & David Twohy. Story by: David Twohy Based on: The Fugitive television series created by Roy Huggins Directed by; Andrew Davis Starring: Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Sela Ward, Joe Pantoliano, Jeroen Krabbé, Andreas Katsulas The Fugitive, director Andrew Davis’ (Under Siege) feature film adaptation of the classic…
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Star Wars Collectibles & Toys Review: Hasbro Star Wars The Black Series – Luke Skywalker (Endor) Action Figure
“I’m endangering the mission. I shouldn’t have come.” Utilizing stolen schematics, the Rebel Alliance formulated a plan to destroy the new Death Star. Luke Skywalker joined his friends for this mission to Endor. – Hasbro character blurb on the package, Luke Skywalker (Endor) On April 20, 2020, Hasbro released Star Wars The Black Series: Luke…
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Star Wars Collectibles & Toys Review: Hasbro Star Wars The Black Series – Chewbacca & C-3PO Deluxe Set
I thought that hairy beast would be the end of me. Of course I’ve looked better. – C-3PO, referring to his misadventures with Chewbacca, to R2-D2, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back On December 9, 2019, Hasbro released its exclusive-to-Amazon Deluxe Figures set Star Wars The Black Series Chewbacca & C-3PO, which foreshadowed…
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Musings & Thoughts for Saturday, April 17, 2021, or: The Force is With My Star Wars The Black Series Collection
Hi, there, Dear Reader. It’s early afternoon here in New Hometown, Florida on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Currently, it’s a warm and grayish day shot through with occasional appearances of the sun. The current temperature is 82˚F (28˚C) under mostly cloudy skies. With the wind blowing from the west-southwest at 15 MPH (23 KM/H) and…
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Confessions of a ‘Star Wars’ Collector: The Ones That Got Away & Yes! New Acquisitions
Greetings, Dear Reader. It is late morning on Friday, April 16, 2021 here in New Hometown, Florida, and it is another gray, cloudy spring day. Currently, the temperature is 74˚F (23˚C) under cloudy skies. With humidity at 92% and the wind blowing from the south-southwest at 6 MPH (10 KM/H), the feels-like factor is 73˚F…
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Musings for Tuesday, April 13, 2021: or ‘Hemingway’ and Life in a House with One CATV-Connected Television Set
Hi there, Dear Reader. It’s late morning on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 here in New Hometown, Florida. Currently, the temperature is 77˚F (25˚C) under sunny skies. With the wind blowing from the east-northeast at 2 MPH (4 KM/H) and humidity at 59%, the feels-like temperature is 75˚F (24˚C). Today’s forecast calls for a high of…
A Certain Point of View, Too 