Based on Jake Adelstein’s book about his experience as an American working for a Japanese newspaper 20 years ago, Michael Mann’s Tokyo Vice shows a whole different view of a country where murder and crime details are suppressed by the Police. Jake Adelstein (played by Ansel Elgort) learns in the first episode that the Police determine whether a murder is a murder…and control the information the Press is allowed to report. Not quite the peaceful cherry-blossom society Japan likes to project.

This eight-episode series on HBO Max starts with a focus on Jake by using a kind of origin-story montage that shows his intensive study of Japanese language, economics and meteorology; taking an aikido class; teaching an ESL class; and eventually entering a racist newsroom—where the pejorative “gaijin” (outsider) is heard often enough. Jake is caught completely off guard by the harsh working environment and the strict guidelines on reporting “the truth.”

John Anderson, the excellent TV reviewer for the Wall Street Journal provides some casting insight into the choices made in Tokyo Vice. I’m quoting a key paragraph below:

“A film adaptation of Mr. Adelstein’s 2009 book, “Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan,” was reportedly going to star Daniel Radcliffe back in 2013. The dynamics between that version and this would have been strikingly different. The role of Tony in “West Side Story” is one that eats careers, and Mr. Elgort was nearly consumed by it in his recent run-in with the Steven Spielberg adaptation. But what didn’t work there works here—his exceptional good looks and his height (he towers over most Japanese) make believable in Jake a sense of privilege: He is utterly plausible as a young man who takes on a seemingly impossible task—penetrating Japanese journalism—with the full expectation of making it happen, of being able, if nothing else, to charm his way to success. Likewise, his bold approach to the Tokyo underworld and the stories no one else wants to tell. Mr. Radcliffe, by comparison, would have blended into the densely packed Tokyo street traffic.”

New episodes are released on Thursdays. I’ve only watched the first episode, but I’m impressed by the story of the disconnect between the projected image of Japanese life and the dark side hidden by the Police and the newspapers. I found Tokyo Vice fascinating and can’t wait for more episodes! Don’t miss this one! GRADE: (a provisional A)

The latest Stark House Al Wheeler omnibus features The Wanton (1959), The Dame (1960), and The Desired (1960). They are volumes 16, 17, and 18 in the Wheeler series.

I read these books back in the early 1960s. Rereading them this week showed that these mysteries hold up well after 60 years! The Wanton begins with the discovery of a young girl hung from the limb of a tree and branded with a W on her back. The girl’s wealthy family wants the crime resolved quickly to preserve its social status. Al Wheeler has to use some trickery to solve the murder and capture the killer. GRADE: B+

The Dame opens with a report that a famous actress has been murdered. But when Al Wheeler arrives at the crime scene, he finds a corpse…but not the corpse of the actress. The secretary to the actress has been stabbed to death. Wheeler has to investigate the past in order to determine the motive for the murder and to cut through the wall of lies the suspects build around the crime. GRADE: B

When Al Wheeler is almost hit when a car careens off the road and crashes things get worse. Wheeler finds a body in the trunk of the crashed car. It’s the treasurer of a large labor union…shot in the back of his head. The driver of the crumpled car is Bella Woods, sexy daughter of the President of the labor union, Tom Woods. Woods is scheduled for a hearing before a Government panel and Wheeler suspects that meeting triggered the murder. As Wheeler’s investigation progresses, more bodies pile up. Once again, Wheeler has to use a clever ruse to flush out the killer. GRADE: B+

Brian Greene’s Introduction provides some new insights into Carter Brown and Al Wheeler. This volume includes a comprehensive Alan Geoffrey Yates (aka, “Carter Brown”) Bibliography. The Al Wheeler mystery series is one of the best projects of its kind!

I was in the mood to listen to the music of The Band so I started with their third album, Stage Fright. Stage Fright peaked at number 5 on the Billboard albums chart, surpassing the group’s first two albums, which reached numbers 30 and 9, respectively. It was one of three albums by the group, including The Band and Rock of Ages, to be certified gold (more than 500,000 albums sold).

But many critics didn’t like Stage Fright much. One reason why is that at least three of The Band’s members were using heroin during the recording of this album.

Listening to The Best of the Band brought back a lot of memories of the late 1960s and early 1970s. While The Band was linked with Bob Dylan, they managed to create their own sound and style. Are you a fan of The Band? Any favorites on Stage Fright or The Best of the Band?

01		Strawberry WineWritten-By – Robertson*, Helm*Written-By – Robertson*, Helm*	2:36
02		SleepingWritten-By – Robertson*, Manuel*Written-By – Robertson*, Manuel*	3:17
03		Time To Kill	3:28
04		Just Another Whistle StopWritten-By – Robertson*, Manuel*Written-By – Robertson*, Manuel*	3:55
05		All La Glory	3:35
06		The Shape I’m In	4:01
07		The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show	3:00
08		Daniel And The Sacred Harp	4:14
09		Stage Fright	3:44
10		The Rumor	4:16
		Bonus Tracks:
11		Daniel And The Sacred Harp (Alternate Take)	5:02
12		Time To Kill (Alternate Mix)	3:26
13		The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show (Alternate Mix)	3:05
14		Radio Commercial	1:05

		Up On Cripple Creek	4:29
		The Shape I’m In	3:58
		The Weight	4:40
		It Makes No Difference	6:30
		Life Is A Carnival	3:55
		Twilight	3:15
		Don’t Do It	4:20
		Tears Of Rage	5:16
		Stage Fright	3:40
		Ophelia	3:29
		The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down	3:30

Matthew Hughes is one of my favorite writers. Hughes just collected his Baldemar stories in a nice collection with a great cover. Baldemar starts out as a young boy and grows into an effective effective wizard’s henchman.

“Ten Half-Pennies” starts with young Baldemar roughed up by some older boys outside of school. They also take Baldemar’s lunch money. Baldemar refuses to accept this situation as many of his classmates do. Baldemar hires the moneylender’s “muscle,” a man called Vunt, to solve his problem.

Over a series of stories, Vunt becomes an important figure. He trains Baldemar to run errands…and how to defend himself. These skills are keys to Baldemar becoming a henchman for a local wizard.

My favorite story in Baldemar is “The Plot Against Fantucco’s Armor.” The story puts Baldemar in danger and forces him to solve a cunning mystery.

If you’re looking for a fantasy series with mysteries and adventure and secrets, you’ll enjoy Baldemar. GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

INTRODUCTION — v

1. Ten Half-Pennies — 1
2. The Prognosticant –27
3. Jewel of the Heart — 72
4. Argent and Sable — 147
5. The Plot Against Fantucco’s Armor — 196
6. A Geas of the Purple School — 244
7. Air of the Overworld — 300
8. The Sword of Destiny — 340
9. The Glooms — 376
10. The Cat and the Merrythought — 424

Aaron Sorkin’s To Kill a Mockingbird starts its road tour in Buffalo with a talented cast and sell-out performances. Richard Thomas (aka, John Boy Walton) shines in his performance of Atticus Finch, a country lawyer who defends an African-American man accused of raping a white woman. Sorkin “tweaks” Harper Lee’s version of To Kill a Mockingbird. Sorkin skips Harper Lee’s depictions of daily life in Maycomb, Alabama during the Depression, which take up the first half of her novel, and focuses on the trial.

Sorkin fiddles with Harper Lee’s narrator, too. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee tells her story as seen through the eyes six-year-old Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. Scout’s age doubles to 12 and the narration is shared by Scout (played by Melanie Moore), her older brother Jim (Justin Mark), and their friend Dill Harris (Steven Lee Johnson). Mary Badham, who was Oscar nominated for playing Scout in the 1962 film, now plays the Finch’s nasty neighbor, Mrs. Henry Debose.

Sorkin’s version of To Kill a Mockingbird gives greater range to African-American characters than in the novel or the film. Jacqueline Williams dazzles as Calpurnia, the Finch’s housekeeper and cook. She serves as a comic foil to Atticus and becomes his most severe critic. Yaegel T. Welch brings both dignity and strength to his role of Tom Robinson, the innocent man accused of a heinous crime.

Yes, To Kill a Mockingbird is long. Our performance took three hours. But, it didn’t feel like three hours. I think Sorkin could have shortened the action after the trial to make the conclusion more powerful. If To Kill a Mockingbird shows up in your neighborhood, don’t miss it! GRADE: A

With the Inflation rate soaring, gas prices at historic high levels, food prices going up, and the value of the U.S. dollar shrinking James Otteson’s book arrives at a  propitious time to bring understanding of the economic mess we’re in.

It all goes back to Supply and Demand. Otteson notes that when Supply is low and Demand is high, prices rise. We’re seeing that phenomenon with housing. The U.S. needs to build 2 million more houses to meet Demand. But, until then, people will show up with hundreds of thousands in cash (where are they getting it?) and buying houses while those potential buyers with contingencies lose out. There are plenty of bidding wars for houses. All the houses on our street sell within a couple of days, usually for more than the Asking Price.

Of course this state of affairs extends to rental properties, business properties , and government properties. Prices are going up there, too.

Biden’s releasing a million barrels a day from the U.S. Strategic Oil Reserve might affect gas prices slightly. But the U.S. uses 20 million barrels a day so that’s just a drop in the bucket. A decade ago it would have been smart to invest in alternative energy sources…but we didn’t do that much.

The problems with the Supply Chain only exacerbated the Inflation problem. People accumulated a lot of cash during the Pandemic so when restrictions and mandates were lifted, they wanted to spend the money. Only, many of the items they wanted were in short supply. Prices went up.

How are you dealing with the economic crisis? GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Preface xi

Introduction: Why Care About Economics? 1

Why Trust Economics? 3

Plan of the Work 8

1. Wealth Is Positive-Sum 14

Introduction 14

Be Positive 15

Be Moral 19

Cui Bono? 21

The Story of Humanity’s Wealth 28

The Rich and the Poor 31

Hoarding 37

The Labor Theory of Value 43

Trickling Down? 50

Who Benefits Most? 57

Conclusion 61

2. Good Is Not Good Enough 63

Introduction 63

Be Rational 67

The Broken Window 72

Public Works 76

Be Local 78

Medicine on Mars 88

Tradeoffs 93

Conclusion 95

3. There Is No Great Mind 98

Introduction 98

Experts and Expert Knowledge 100

Planning 111

Motorcycles and Rationality 116

Conclusion 119

4. Progress Is Not Inevitable 121

Introduction 121

Culture, then Institutions 123

Moral Attitudes and Culture 129

The Undead Great Mind 137

Conclusion 144

5. Economics and/or Morality 146

Introduction 146

People Over Profit 148

Selfishness and Cooperation 160

Interdependence, Not Dependence 166

From Enemies to Opportunities 170

The Morality of Economics 178

Conclusion 184

6. Equality of What? 187

Introduction 187

Equality of Wealth? 188

Leveling 193

Be Yourself 196

An Equality Worth Defending 203

Conclusion 206

7. Markets Are Not Perfect 208

Introduction 208

Collective Action Problems 211

Inequality Redux 220

Exploitation 226

Conclusion 240

Conclusion: The World and I 242

Introduction 242

Your Right to Say No 245

You’re Right to Say No 253

Be Private 255

A Fallacy? 263

Value Pluralism 264

Conclusion 267

Postscript 270

References and Further Reading 273

Acknowledgments 295

Index 297

Slow Horses on Apple TV+ is based on Mick Herron’s spy novel, Slow Horses. You can read my review of Herron’s novel here. This six-episode series follows a group of dysfunctional spies who MI5 has exiled to Slough House (aka, Slow Horses). One of the spies in the Slough House purgatory is River Cartwright (who is blamed for a botched training exercise at a British Airport). Cartwright is frustrated by the make-work and drudgery of Slough House and launches his own investigation of a right-wing journalist.

Events accelerate when a right-wing terrorist group kidnaps a British student and threatens to behead him in 24 hours.

Although I’ve only seen the two episodes made available by Apple TV+ (additional episodes will be released each Friday), I’m impressed by the quality of the actors. Gary Oldman plays the head of Slough House (mostly by drinking and farting) until he senses something strange is happening over at MI5’s Regent’s Park headquarters.

Jack Lowden is impressive as the bitter River Cartwright who resents his punishment at Slough House and wants back into the real spy game. Kristin Scott Thomas excels as the glacial head of MI5 who is not above double-dealing. I love Olivia Cooke as “Sid” Baker who is a lot more than she appears to be. If you’re in the mood for a sophisticated spy series, I highly recommend Slow Horses! GRADE: A (so far)

Cast:

• Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb
• Jack Lowden as River Cartwright
• Kristin Scott Thomas as Diana Taverner
• Jonathan Pryce as David Cartwright
• Olivia Cooke as Sidonie “Sid” Baker
• Saskia Reeves as Catherine Standish
• Dustin Demri-Burns as Min Harper
• Rosalind Eleazar as Louisa Guy
• Paul Higgins as Struan Loy
• Christopher Chung as Roddy Ho
• Antonio Aakeel as Hassan Ahmed
• Chris Reilly as Nick Duffy
• Freddie Fox as Spider Webb
• Brian Vernel as Curley
• Sam Hazeldine as Moe
• Joey Ansah as Agent Pierce

Diana Krall arrived at the State University of New York at Buffalo’s Center for the Arts for a concert with Anthony Wilson on guitar, Dennis Crouch on bass, and Karriem Riggins on drums. Krall told the audience this was the second concert she’s done since November 2019.

While Diana Krall and her band performed well, the audience did not. Cell phones went off constantly, some people arrived a half hour late and crawled over other people in their row to get to their seats, and there was a random parade of audience members ceaselessly marching up and down the aisles during Diana Krall’s 100 minute performance. Dreadful!

We had to show Picture ID and Proof of Vaccination to get into the Center for the Arts. But once Diane and I were admitted, we found we were about the only ones wearing masks (although signs encouraged mask wearing).

Diana Krall thanked the audience for coming out on such a cold night to hear her play her piano and sing with her breathless voice. In return, 10% of the audience got up to leave between the end of the concert and the Encore. Rude and disrespectful!

DIANA KRALL CONCERT GRADE: B+

AUDIENCE: F

SET LIST:

1.  Love Being Here With You
2. All or Nothing at All
3. Let’s Fall in Love
4. Let’s Face the Music and Dance
5. I Was Doing All Right
6. Abandoned Masquerade
7. Moonglow
8. ‘Deed I Do
9. To Ramona
10. Simple Twist of Fate
11. I Don’t Know Enough About You
12. Encore
13. The Look of Love
14. ‘S Wonderful

I spent about 40 years teaching so naturally my favorite story in The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction, Series 16 is Lloyd Biggle, Jr.’s “And Madly Teach.” There was a big push in the Sixties (and later in the Seventies) to replace teachers with technology. If you’re of a certain age, you’ll remember your teachers using overhead projectors, movie projectors, and slide projectors. Later, TV in the classroom turned into another failure. “And Madly Teach” extrapolates this trend to its logical conclusion. However, ZOOM is not mentioned.

The most famous story in this anthology is Philip K. Dick’s “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale,” first published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction in April 1966. Dick creates a melding of reality, false memory, and real memory into an ominous mix. “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” was adapted into the 1990 film Total Recall with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Edward L. Ferman includes several “forgotten” writers: Gilbert Thomas, Joan Patricia Basch, Mose Mallet, John Shepley and Robert M. Green, Jr. But well known writers like Isaac Asimov, John Christopher, Ron Goulart, Kenneth Bummer, Norman Spinrad, and Roger Zelazny are represented, too. Ferman delivers another solid anthology with The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction, Series 16. GRADE: B+

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• 1 • Introduction (The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: 16) • (1967) • essay by Edward L. Ferman
• 9 • Luana • (1966) • short story by Gilbert Thomas
• 19 • And Madly Teach • (1966) • novelette by Lloyd Biggle, Jr.
• 52 • Matog • (1966) • short story by Joan Patricia Basch
• 67 • The Key • [Wendell Urth] • (1966) • novelette by Isaac Asimov
• 100 • The Seven Wonders of the Universe • (1966) • short story by Mose Mallette
• 115 • A Few Kindred Spirits • (1965) • short story by John Christopher
• 126 • We Can Remember It for You Wholesale • (1966) • novelette by Philip K. Dick
• 150 • Three for Carnival • (1966) • short story by John Shepley
• 158 • Experiment in Autobiography • [Jose Silvera] • (1966) • short story by Ron Goulart
• 169 • The Adjusted • (1966) • short story by Kenneth Bulmer
• 178 • The Age of Invention • (1966) • short story by Norman Spinrad
• 184 • Apology to Inky • (1966) • novelette by Robert M. Green, Jr.
• 220 • This Moment of the Storm • (1966) • novelette by Roger Zelazny

70 Ounces of Gold was a series of song compilation CDs that offered value for the price. I found 70 Ounces of Gold: Classic Gold in a thrift store recently. When I played the CD I heard songs I hadn’t heard in over 50 years! Do you remember “I Love How You Love Me” by The Paris Sisters? Or “Love Letters” by Ketty Lester?

Of the 27 songs on this CD, I’d categorize nearly half of them “obscure.” But, once I heard them again, I remembered those songs from the late 1950s to early 1960s. I wouldn’t call these songs “Classic Gold” but the rarities on this CD triggered a wave of nostalgia! How many of these songs do you remember? GRADE: A-

TRACK LIST:

		1	Hey! Baby Bruce Channel / Margaret Cobb	Bruce Channel	02:20
		2	I Love How You Love Me Larry Kolber / Barry Mann	The Paris Sisters	02:04
		3	He Will Break Your Heart Jerry Butler / Calvin Carter / Curtis Mayfield	Jerry Butler	02:45
		4	Make Me Your Baby Roger Atkins / Helen Miller	Barbara Lewis	02:28
		5	Hey Little One Dorsey Burnette / Barry De Vorzon	Dorsey Burnette	02:18
		6	All I Have to Do Is Dream Boudleaux Bryant / Felice Bryant	The Everly Brothers	02:20
		7	Mission Bell William Michael	Donnie Brooks	02:22
		8	She’d Rather Be With Me Garry Bonner / Alan Gordon	The Turtles	02:20
		9	Hey Paula Hildebrand / Ray Hildebrand	Paul & Paula	02:28
		10	Love Letters Edward Heyman / Victor Young	Ketty Lester	02:41
		11	Raindrops Dee Clark / Johnny Otis	Dee Clark	02:51
		12	I Gotcha Joe Tex	Joe Tex	02:28
		13	Memphis Chuck Berry	Lonnie Mack	02:27
		14	Liar, Liar Denny Craswell / James Donna / Jim Donna	The Castaways	01:51
		15	Walkin’ After Midnight Alan Block / Don Hecht	Patsy Cline	02:33
		16	Stay in My Corner Wade Flemons / Bobby Miller	The Dells	02:54
		17	You Turn Me On (Turn on Song) Ian Whitcomb	Ian Whitcomb	02:39
		18	Magic Town Barry Mann / Cynthia Weil	The Vogues	03:03
		19	I Know (You Don’t Love Me No More) Barbara George	Barbara George	02:19
		20	Tequila Chuck Rio	The Champs	02:13
		21	Let It Be Me Gilbert Bécaud / Manny Curtis / Pierre Delanoë	Betty Everett	02:49
		22	Diamonds and Pearls West Tyler / P. D. Winn	The Paradons	02:25
		23	I’m Doin’ Fine Now Thom Bell / Sherman Marshall	New York City	02:46
		24	Chanson d’Amour Wayne Shanklin	Art & Dotty Todd	02:30
		25	Donna Bob Marley / Ritchie Valens	Ritchie Valens	02:53
		26	Baby Talk Melvin Schwartz	Jan & Dean	02:25
		27	Just a Dream	Jimmy Clanton	02:30