I like the Beatles and James Bond so I dove into John Higgs’s new book on how the group and the spy impacted the British Psyche (and the rest of the world’s psyche, too!). Higgs delivers some facts I was not aware of. I knew Ian Fleming was a “difficult” man but apparently that didn’t scare some women off. Fleming had an affair with Lady O’Neill who wrote him after a liaison in Dublin in 1947: “I loved cooking for you and sleeping beside you and being whipped by you and I don’t think I have ever loved like this before…. I love being hurt by you and kissed afterwards.” (p.23)

Higgs alternates between writing about Fleming and the Beatles and manages to deliver some acute analysis in both cases. “Love Me Do” was the first of 22 Beatle singles. “Written in 1958 when McCartney was sixteen, it was one of the fist songs he had ever written back when he was playing truant from school…. The A-side showcased John Lennon demanding to be loved, while the B-side ‘P.S. I Love You,’ featured Paul promising to love–a template which immediately established the core personality software the Lennon-McCarthney partnership.” (p. 72)

By the time Ian Fleming died in 1964, he had sold over 30 million books and made James Bond a cultural icon. And the James Bond Effect influenced the Beatles. For example, “Five days after the premiere of Goldfinger, McCartney became the proud owner of an Aston Martin, just like Bond’s famous DBS. ‘I’d just seen the first James Bond film and was quite impressed by the car,’ he recalled…. This was the car McCarney was driving when he stared compose the song ‘Hey Jude’… In 2017 McCartney’s Aston Martin was sold at auction for 1,345,500 pounds.” (p. 123)

I highly recommend Love and Let Die to all fans of James Bond and the Beatles! GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction — 1

PART 1: INITIATE COUNTDOWN — 13

1945: There’s nobody to talk to when it’s raining –15

1952: All of his own darkness –22

1956: I would have liked to have seen the boys growing up — 37

1960: A notorious centre for prostitution — 48

1961: Unashamedly, for pleasure and money — 55

1962: Glutted with the overload of stuff — 63

PART 2: DETONATE — 69

1962: Bigger than the Beatles — 71

1962: Sean Connery (1930-2020) — 81

1963: There are truths in that dreaming — 89

1964: Ian Fleming (1908-1964) — 96

1964: A film with four long-haired schnooks — 104

1965: It would take too much else away — 111

1965: Not as good as James Bond — 120

1965: Greater than the sum of their parts — 126

1965: The things I do for England — 130

1967: What did he want to communicate? — 137

1967: Larger than reality — 146

1967: 007 (Shanty Town) — 157

1967: Welles was trying to put a voodoo mind-grip on him — 164

1968: On the banks of the River Ganges — 173

1968: Yoko and Billy — 189

1969: John, Paul and James get married — 200

1969: George Lazenby’s hair — 209

1969: Paul is dead — 219

PART 3: AFTERMATH — 225

1970: Answer: No — 227

1970: Mother/Love — 233

1970: The best — 241

1970: Phil and Allen — 249

1971: To deny that love was desirable — 257

1973: Christopher Lee (1922- 2015) — 263

1973: The problem is Bond — 271

1974: In the material world — 282

1977: Risking their lives for the audience’s entertainment — 297

1980: The no-mark — 306

1980: John Lennon (1950-1980) — 311

1981: For a true artist their life is their art — 324

PART 4: GROW UP, 007 — 333

1983: A symbol of real value to the Free World — 335

1984: Wacky Macca Thumbs Aloft –342

1995: Too much of a good time — 354

1999: Desmond Llewelyn (1914-2001) — 365

2001: George Harrison (1943-2000) — 371

2002: The fate of the pixels — 379

2003: Come on, Mr. Putin! — 388

2008: The death of Strawberry Fields — 401

2012: A golden thread of purpose — 408

2015: What is the new evil in the world? — 421

2021: Time to die — 434

2021: Ringo and Paul — 444

2022: James Bond will return — 453

Bibliography — 467

Notest and Sources — 473

Acknowledgements — 501

Index — 503

Set in New Orleans, Sisters of the Sublime Blood face arson and murder in their midst.

Fortunately, they have Sister Holiday–a chain-smoking, heavily tattooed, queer nun–with a talent for solving mysteries. Whether you will enjoy this book heavily depends on whether you’re engaged by Sister Holiday’s narration of this story.

When Saint Sebastian’s School becomes the target of a shocking arson and a murder, the list of suspects include both faculty and students. Sister Holiday knows all of them which complicates some of her investigation. Naturally, the Police do not appreciate Sister Holiday’s efforts.

The investigation leads Sister Holiday to a series of secrets hidden behind the walls of Saint Sebastian’s School. Someone wants Sister Holiday discredited as clues are planted to frame her for the crimes.

You might experience the sense of skepticism that I had for a hard-boiled nun. But I found Scorched Grace mildly engaging for a first mystery novel. Quirky and different. GRADE: C+

Diane and I have enjoyed watching Ted Lasso on Apple TV+. It’s the story of a U.S. football coach who knows nothing about soccer but who has been hired to coach a mediocre British soccer team. Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) has a kind heart but plenty of problems. His ex-wife is dating their marriage counselor and their son…is strange. The cast is brilliant. Everyone loves Brett Goldstein as the crusty Roy Kent, a veteran player who becomes a coach.

My favorite is Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca Welton, the new owner of AFC Richmond. Welton initially hires Lasso as a ploy to sabotage the team, but now wants Lasso to beat her ex-husband’s highly ranked soccer team.

The first episode sets the stage for the 12-episode final season of Ted Lasso. Lasso’s team is ranked 20th in a league of 20 teams. They are a laughing stock in the soccer community. But Ted can work magic so we’ll have to see how it all comes out. Are you a fan of Ted Lasso? GRADE: Too soon to tell but trending towards an A

When I go down the YouTube Rabbit Hole I alway find new music that I wasn’t aware of. I discovered Morgan James that way. Gifted singer! I didn’t know “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” was written for Nina Simone–I only knew the hit version by The Animals.

And the same with Natalie Cole and Diana Krall singing “Better Than Anything,” a song by David “Buck” Wheat and Bill Loughborough from 1963.

Are you listening to any new singers?

TRACK LIST:

1		I Put A Spell On You Written By – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
2		Little Girl Blue Written By – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
3		Don’t Explain Written By – Arthur Herzog, Jr., Billie Holiday
4		Be My Husband Written By – Andrew Stroud
5		Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood Written By – Bennie Benjamin, Gloria Caldwell, Sol Marcus
6		My Man’s Gone Now Written By – DuBose Heyward, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
7		Funkier Than A Mosquita’s Tweeter Written By – Aillene Bullock
8		My Baby Just Cares For Me Written By – Gus Kahn, Walter Donaldson
9		Tell Me More And Then Some Written By – Billie Holiday
10		Save Me Written By – Aretha Franklin, Carolyn Franklin, Curtis Ousley
11		Trouble In Mind Written By – Richard M. Jones
12		Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out Written By – Jimmie Cox*

Joshua Glenn and Rob Walker collected 50 stories about objects people have lost–and why they still matter. I particularly liked four of these odd stories.

Laura Lippman’s “Labyrinth Game” recounts how she learned to master this odd game and could beat everyone who challenged her. Her ex-husband broke it. “Cleaning, he said, which sounded suspect. It can never be replaced.” So much emotion gets wrapped up in objects that are close to us.

I also enjoyed “Batman Ring.” Leah Hennessy found a Batman ring and started to wear it. “I wore it like a wedding ring, and when people remarked on it, especially people who were boys, I always said, ‘Yes, I’m married to Batman.'” Now it’s missing and Leah still searches for it.

When he was a kid, Seth was a huge Star Trek fan. Despite his complicated relationship with his handy father, Seth asked his father to make him a model of the Enterprise. Surprisingly, Seth’s father constructed a 50-lb. large model of the classic starship–and painted it a golden color for some unknown reason. It brought Seth and his father closer together. “That Enterprise followed me me from closet to box to shed throughout my childhood and teen years, and then, when I went off to art school, it disappeared.” Now in his 30s, Seth misses this symbol from this youth.

Finally, Gary Panter’s “Stack of Comics” strikes me right in the heart. Just like Gary Panter, I lost my comic book collection. I had long runs of The Flash, Green Lantern, Adam Strange, The Justice League, Batman, and Superman. I also had the first issue of THE FANTASTIC FOUR! But when I went away to Summer Camp (which I hated) I returned to find the closet where I kept my comic books clean…and empty. My mother had tossed them out while I was gone. In later years, I would show my mother the value of the comic books she disposed of and would say, “I could have bought you a new car by selling those comic books.”

If you’re in the mood for a quirky, unusual, and unique series of stories, I recommend Lost Objects. GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Lost and found / Debbie Millman — 8

The quiet sense of something lost / Joshua Glenn and Rob Walker — 12

Hunting hat / Stephen O’Connor ; illustrated by Oliver Munday — 18

.22 Revolver / Seth Mnookin ; illustrated by Alex Eben Meyer — 20

Fountain Pens / Nina Katchadourian ; illustration by Lisa Congdon — 22

Sequined Scarf / Miranda Mellis ; illustration by Adam Goldberg — 24

Warhol Can / Ben Greenman ; illustrated by Clara Selina Bach — 26

Bauble / Matthew Sharpe ; illustrated by Glenn Jones — 28

Flower Necklace / Anita Kunz ; illustrated by Anita Kunz — 30

Rocky Horror Novel / Lydia Millet ; illustrated by Berta Vallo — 32

Lucite Carrying Case / Ben Katchor ; illustrated by Ben Kathchor — 34

Cologne / Dan Piepenbring ; illustrated by Josh Neufeld — 36

Peanut-Butter Crackers / Claire Lehmann ; illustrated by Karen Kurycki — 38

Vinyl Skirt / Paola Antonelli ; illustrated by Sophie Calhoun — 40

Silicone Vagina / Susannah Breslin ; illustrated by Jennifer Heuer — 42

Glass Clock / Lisa Takeuchi Cullen ; illustrated by Rose Wong — 44

Baseball Mitt / Jeff Turrentine ; illustrated by Andrew DeGraff — 46

Labyrinth Game / Laura Lippman ; illustrated by Laura Didyk — 48

Moroccan Trinket / Geoff Manaugh ; illustrated by Mariana Pita — 50

Engineer Ring / Jessamyn West ; illustrated by Amanda Clarke — 52

Macrame Art / Joe Yonan ; illustrated by Theo Ellsworth — 54

Desktop Dog / M.R. Sauter ; illustrated by Shayna Piascik — 56

Ceramic Artwork / Heather Kapplow ; illustrated by Mstt Wuerker — 58

Grandfather Photo / Mark Dery ; illustrated by Kelli Anderson — 60

College Newspaper / Alice Boone ; illustrated by Kelli Anderson — 62

Notebook / Chelsey Johnson ; Rubi McGrory — 64

Snake Rattles / Randy Kennedy ; illustrated by Max Temescu — 66

Walking Shoes / Michael Tisserand ; illustrated by Jackie Roche — 68

Batman Ring / Leah Hennessey ; illustrated by Dean Haspiel — 70

General Hustler BMX / Chris Piascik ; illustrated by Chris Piascik — 72

Dodge Dart / Mimi Lipson ; illustrated by Mister Reusch — 74

Prayer Card / Kathryn Davis ; illustrated by Dina Noto — 76

Mullet Wig / Kate Bernheimer ; illustrated by Amy C. Evans — 78

Club Chair / Lucy Sante ; illustrated by Kate Bingamann-Burt — 80

Skeleton Sweater / Becky Stern ; illustrated by Monica Garwood — 82

Enterprise Model / Seth ; illustrated by Seth — 84

Vanilla Bean / Paul Lukas ; illustrated by Allison Bamcat — 86

Road Atlas / Dante Ramos ; illustrated by Joe Alterio — 88

Conker / Dan Fox ; illustrated by Linzie Hunter — 90

Pink Elephants / Mikita Brottman ; illustrated by Sarah Williamson — 92

Orgone Accumulator / Mandy Keifetz ; illustrated by Emory Allen — 94

Finger Puppet / Sara Ryan ; illustrated by Steve Lieber — 96

Dog-Fur Scarf / Amy Thielen ; illustrated by Heather Kasunick — 98

Stratocaster / Doug Dorst ; illustrated by John Holbo — 100

Karma Parka / Alex Gerasev ; illustrated by Alex Gerasev — 102

Stack of Comics / Gary Panter ; illustrated by Gary Panter — 104

Eccentric Book — 106

Glass Poodle / Debbie Millman ; illustrated by Debbie Millman — 108

Autographed Basebll / Nathaniel Rich ; illustrated by Ellen Rose — 110

Track Shoes / Charles Glaubitz ; illustrated by Charles Glaubitz — 112

Shooting Gallery / Alex Balk ; illustrated by John Lowe — 114

Pickled Octopus / Neil LaBute ; illustrated by Disa Wallander — 116

Appendix — 118

Lost in Thought / Towards a Typology of Lost Object-meanings — 122

Towards a Typology of Object-loss — 133

Contributors — 142

I was rooting for Austin Butler to win an Oscar for Elvis…but it didn’t happen. Still, Elvis provided a wonderful movie about a rising star and the manipulation–over 20 years–by his manager. Colonel Tom Parker, portrayed by Tom Hanks under a ton of make-up, comes off an an enigmatic figure who both helped and hurt Elvis in so many ways.

For Elvis music lovers, here are the songs on the Blu-ray (and soundtrack CD). Are you an Elvis fan? GRADE: A

TRACK LIST:

	Elvis Presley–	Suspicious Minds (Vocal Intro)
	Stevie Nicks & Chris Isaak–	Cotton Candy Land
	Doja Cat–	Vegas
	Eminem & Ceelo Green*–	The King And I
	Swae Lee & Diplo–	Tupelo Shuffle
	Austin Butler (2)–	Baby, Let’s Play House
	Elvis Presley–	Craw-Fever
	Yola (4)–	Strange Things Are Happening Every Day
	Austin Butler (2)–	Trouble
	Kacey Musgraves–	Can’t Help Falling In Love
	Lenesha Randolph–	I Got A Feelin’ In My Body
	Jazmine Sullivan–	Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
	Elvis Presley & Tame Impala–	Edge Of Reality (Tame Impala Remix)
	Elvis Presley & Jack White (2)–	Power Of My Love
	Elvis Presley–	Polk Salad Annie (Film Mix)
	Elvis Presley–	Suspicious Minds (Film Edit)
	Elvis Presley–	Burning Love (Film Mix)
	Elvis Presley & Stuart Price–	I Got A Feelin’ In My Body (Stuart Price Remix)
	Elvis Presley & Pnau–	Don’t Fly Away (Pnau Remix)
	Måneskin–	If I Can Dream
	Paravi–	Suspicious Minds
	Elvis Presley Feat. Nardo Wick–	In The Ghetto (World Turns Remix)

I usually do my Federal and State taxes over the Presidents’ Day weekend, but this year the IRA asked that taxpayers delay sending their taxes in for a couple of weeks. So I waited until yesterday and finally installed TURBOTAX 2022 DELUXE on my computer and began the tedious process of data entry. The whole process took about an hour and at the end I owed a bit of money to the Feds and a bit more to New York State.

Do you have your taxes done? Do you do it yourself or do you farm the tax preparation out?

Does anybody really care about the Oscars anymore? Will people tune in just to see if someone gets slapped or punched? I have no special knowledge about these movies. I watched most of them on a streaming service since the movie theater industry–especially Regal–seems to be going bankrupt. Here are my picks. Who do you think will win?

BEST PICTURE: Everything Everywhere All At Once

BEST ACTOR: Austin Butler, Elvis

BEST ACTRESS: Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All At Once

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Ke Huy Yuan, Everything Everywhere All At Once

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS; Kerry Condon, The Banshees of Insherin

BEST DIRECTOR: Daniel Qwan & Daniel Schelnert, Everything Everywhere All At Once

The Mandalorian stars Pedro Pascal as the title character, a bounty hunter traveling to Mandalore to redeem his past transgressions with his companion Grogu (aka, Baby Yoda) in the early episodes of this eight episode season.

This third season of The Mandalorian features Bo-Katan Kryze, once a ruler of Mandalore before the planet was bombed into rubble, who decides to help the Mandalorian and Grogu. Katee Sackhoff, who I really liked in Longmire, brings Bo-Katan Kryze to life with spirit and grit. In the second episode, she saves the Mandalorian’s life not once…but twice!

I’ve enjoyed the first two seasons of The Mandalorian and after watching the first two episodes of Season 3 I’m delighted with the direction the plot is taking. Are you a fan of The Mandalorian? GRADE: (Incomplete…but trending towards an A)