Blue Latitudes

Now here's a better travel book. A person who is reverental enough to the history he is investigating to give it good research, but in the end, more interested in the now and in the people he comes across. Horwitz, like the Cook he describes, goes out to investigate people and find out who they are, how they live and most importantly, what they think about Captain Cook. Turns out, most of the world is not so fond of Cook anymore, except in the dreary land of England from which he hailed. In Horwitz's view this is not due to the man or voyage itself, but because of other causes, in Australia its the ships full of prisoners who followed in Cook's wake. In Hawaii, its the recently independent missionaries from America who set the sour tone. Mostly Horwitz likes Cook, but he also likes the people he meets and the lands he visits, but he likes them with the humor of a good observer. The book is about history, but more then anything its about travel. Its worth picking up, especially if you've ever been anywhere in the Pacific.

Jump Boys

This is not a good film, but if you love me you will see it anyway. Why? because low and behold, this film is about a bunch of little boys learning to do gymnastics in no other place than Ilan county, Loudong city, Justice elementary school. Now if the reason why you should see it is still unclear to you, you should remember that I live in Loudong just a few blocks away from Justice El. and my housemate will be teaching English there come Tuesday. Whoda thunk. The film is made by a younger brother filming his older brother, a former gymnast and current gymnastics coach for 6-8 year olds. The filmmaker asks the boys questions, films them crying and follows them to class to talk to their teachers. In other words, there's not much of a plot, but you will see my life (minus the gymnastics part) up close and personal.