Diane and I traveled to Shea’s Performing Art Center to watch this holiday production. ‘Twas the Night Before… is Cirque du Soleil’s first Christmas show, based on the classic poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore.

We enjoyed the blend of thrilling acrobatics, lovable characters, and a soundtrack including holiday classics re-invented by Cirque du Soleil. Jugglers, dancers, inventive acrobatics, vibrant costumes, and semi-disco music garnered a lot of applause from the sold-out crowd. If you’re looking for a different kind of holiday event, ‘Twas the Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil fits the bill. GRADE: B

Based on a popular video game, Fallout on AMAZON PRIME Video is a wacky series about post-nuclear holocaust America (you can read my review of Season One here). In Season Two, the odd couple team-up between Lucy (Ella Purnell) and the Ghoul (Walton Goggins) continues as they pursue the discredited Hank (Kyle MacLachlan), last seen heading toward Vegas in chunky power armor to enact some awful, unspecified scheme.

“Future episodes see attention-grabbing guest roles for Kumail Nanjiani and Macaulay Culkin; Nanjiani, in particular, seems to relish the chance to play a cocky heavy. But the most notable addition to the cast is Justin Theroux as the immaculately mustachioed Robert House, a reclusive Howard Hughes-esque founder of a robotics empire and would-be shaper of the future.”

 Fallout, Season 2 will have eight episodes, with one episode released each week from December 16, 2025, through the finale on February 4, 2026.  Mildly entertaining!

If you’re in the mood for a snarky critique of Capitalism, Leigh Claire La Berge’s Fake Work will tickle your Funny Bone. La Berge writes about her time working for a consulting company where the work was “fake”–like producing spreadsheets that were sent to the company archives never to be seen again. After La Berge gets a promotion, she finds herself jet-setting on the firm’s dime to thirty-minute lunch meetings in Johannesburg.

My favorite story in Fake Work was when La Berge gave impromptu lectures to Japanese executives about limiting liability at the end of the world. The end of the work world As We Know It is approaching as Artificial Intelligence is causing massive layoffs of white collar workers. I feel sorry for College Students now attempting to find work in a world where AI will be performing the tasks of an entry level worker.

Is Capitalism a joke? We’re about to find out in the next couple of years as the impact of technology transforms the workplace. I was reading about the current projects to convert New York City office space into luxury apartments because so many workers in NYC now work from home. I’m afraid “Fake Work” will soon become “No Work.” GRADE: B+

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Prologue: The Almost End of the World — vii

Phase I: Taking Inventory — 1

Chapter 1: Millennial Transitions — 3

Chapter 2: Quality Assurance — 16

Chapter 3: “Il n’y a pas de hors-texte” — 28

Chapter 4: Write What You Know — 43

Chapter 5: Teamwork — 58

Phase II: Media and Mediations — 75

Chapter 6: My Putative Promotion — 77

Chapter 7: A Total Bitch and an Absolute Fraud — 94

Chapter 8: A Tepid Marxist and a Bubble Popped — 108

Chapter 9: My Joke of a Promotion — 123

Phase III: Contingency Planning — 143

Chapter 10: Continental Comportment — 145

Chapter 11: Frequent Fliers — 160

Chapter 12: Floods and Fires — 179

Chapter 13: The End of the End — 191

Afterward: Weeks and Decades — 203

Acknowledgements –209

NOTES — 211

The 3-11 Cleveland Browns have been eliminated from Playoff contention so they may not be motivated much in this game. Meanwhile, the 10-4 Buffalo Bills can clinch a Playoff berth with a win over the Browns this afternoon. The Bills are favored by 8 1/2 points.

How will your favorite NFL team fare today?

My Impulse Control was weak when I was at our local liquor store picking up some wine for the Holidays. I spied an end cap with Christian Brothers Egg Nog and Evan Williams Egg Nog on SALE. I’d never tasted either of them so I gave in and bought a bottle of each.

After drinking the Christian Brothers Egg Nog and Evan William Egg Nog reinforced my long standing preference for non-alcoholic Egg Nog. The first thing I tasted with the Evan Williams Egg Nog was alcohol. It overpowered the eggy flavor I enjoy. Disappointing.

The Christian Brothers Egg Nog was a travesty! It was watery and bland. Another buying mistake! Yuck!

To rectify my Egg Nog mistakes, I went to Wegmans and bought my tried and true Egg Nog favorites: Hood Golden Egg Nog and Turkey Hill Egg Nog. You can’t go wrong with either one! Are you a fan of Egg Nog? What’s your favorite brand?

Paul Doherty has written over a 100 mysteries and I have a couple dozen of them on my shelves. I thought it would be a Good Idea to read one. I chose The Death of a King (1985), Doherty’s first published novel.

Edmund Beche, a Chancery Clerk, finds himself summoned to the Royal Court where King Edward III orders Beche to investigate the death of his father, Edward II. Beche is puzzled why the King would want him to look into Edward II’s death…sixteen years ago.

As Beche begins his investigation, he quickly learns that there are a number of questionable circumstances related to the death of Edward II. Edward II was a despised king. He had male lovers and dubious politics. Edward II surrounded his Royal Court with the sinister, greedy Despensers: Hugh the Elder and Hugh the Younger.

And Queen Isabella, King Edward II’s wife, grew so disgusted with her husband that she led a revolt against the king, assisted by the equally greedy Roger Mortimer.  Beche finds his investigation attracts danger. Beche is almost killed SIX TIMES! Yes, Beche is one lucky guy!

As Beche finds more and more information about Edward II, deadly forces follow him to France and Italy. Unravelling the sinister Past brings danger to the Chancery Clerk. If you’re a fan of Medieval mysteries and the treachery of King Edward III, The Death of a King makes compelling reading. GRADE: B+

Diane and I have seen Loreena McKennitt in concert twice–both times very memorable. McKennitt is a Canadian singer and songwriter. I started listening to Loreena McKennitt’s music by listening to the Canadian radio stations back in the 1980s. Then I bought McKennitt’s albums and still listen to them regularly. My favorites are all from the 1990s: The Visit (1991), The Mask and the Mirror (1994), and The Book of Secrets (1997).

The music on A Midwinter’s Dream blends traditional Christmas music like “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” with new, original Christmas songs. You will delight in listening to McKennitt’s refined and clear soprano vocals.

In a comment on my review of Enya’s And Winter Came (you can read my review here), Jeff Smith recommended Loreena McKennit’s A Midwinter’s Dream–which I had already scheduled for today. Great minds think alike! GRADE: A

TRACK LIST:

I’ve been reading Brandon Sanderson’s fantasy novels–some of them 1000+ pages!–for years. Tailored Realities (2025) presents a generous display of Sanderson’s styles and story-telling. Sanderson has published over 70 books so far–when does this guy sleep?–and he loves to blend genres. Take “Snapshot” for example. It’s a blend of police procedural and simulated Realty.

Games play a big role in many of Sanderson’s works. In “Dreamer” where a group of dead gamers continue playing their games by possessing the bodies of living people.

If you have a Brandon Sanderson fan on your Gift List, this new collection would be ideal! If you’re interested in one of the most prolific–and popular–fantasy writers in the fantasy genre today, Tailored Realities would be a good entry point to sample Sanderson’s wares. GRADE: B+

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Snapshot — 1

Snapshot A non-cosmere (the cosmere is a fictional shared universe where many of Brandon Sanderson’s books take place) novella by Brandon Sanderson, a detective thriller about two detectives, Anthony Davis and Chaz, who investigate crimes in a simulated, recreated version of a past day.

Brain Dump — 69

Brain Dump A non-cosmere novella by Brandon Sanderson that came from a single prompt: Designer Brains.

I Hate Dragons — 81

I Hate Dragons A short story written by Brandon Sanderson as part of a dialogue exercise. He wrote the story using only dialogue, although admittedly, he did use large caps and occasionally very descriptive conversation. Some time later, Brandon expanded the short story, putting in descriptions, and added more chapters.

Dreamer — 91

Dreamer A non-cosmere short horror story by Brandon Sanderson that first appeared in the Games Creatures Play anthology, edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni Kelner. It is set on Earth and told from the first person perspective of the eponymous character, who is part of a group of dead gamers, poltergeists that must possess the bodies of living people. They use their abilities to play extreme, real-life versions of games like “capture the flag” and “cops and robbers,” showing little regard for collateral damage among the living.

Perfect State — 105

Perfect State A non-cosmere novella by Brandon Sanderson. Its excerpt can be found on Brandon’s website

Probability Approaching Zero — 157

Probability Approaching Zero Brandon Sanderson’s first attempt at flash fiction, about a human who is uplifted to greater intelligence by aliens.

Defending Elysium — 163

Defending Elysium A non-cosmere short story written by Brandon Sanderson published on his website. It is set in the same universe as the Skyward series, taking place centuries beforehand.

Firstborn — 205

Firstborn A non-cosmere short story written by Brandon Sanderson published by Tor on their website.^[7]

Mitosis — 243

Mitosis A novelette written by Brandon Sanderson that is part of The Reckoners series. It takes place between Steelheart and Firefight. It is published by Delacorte Press.

Moment Zero — 271

Moment Zero A non-cosmere novella by Brandon Sanderson.

I’ve been entertained by Ryan Johnson’s two previous Knives Out mysteries. This new one, Wake Up Dead Man, gives Johnson the opportunity to have his quirky detective, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), deliver a lecture about impossible crimes and locked room mysteries.

Young Father Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) finds himself a suspect in an impossible murder. But Benoit Blanc shows up and starts to unravel the tricky murder. The list of other suspects includes devout Catholic Martha Delacroix (Glenn Close), local doctor Nat Sharp (Jeremy Renner), struggling writer Lee Ross (Andrew Scott), disabled concert cellist Simone Vivane (Cailee Spaeny), the Dravens–lawyer Vera (Kerry Washington) and aspiring politico Cy (Daryl McCormack)–and the reclusive church groundskeeper Samson Holt (Thomas Hayden Church).

If you enjoyed Knives Out (2019) and Glass Onion (2022), you’ll find Wake Up Dead Man just as suspenseful and clever. GRADE: B+

When I was teaching General Motors workers about the history of the Automobile Industry, one of my favorite characters was William Durant. “Durant was the founder of General Motors and co-founder of Chevrolet. He created a system in which a company held multiple brands – each seemingly independent, with different automobile lines – bound under a unified corporate holding company. He also founded Frigidaire.” Durant was a polymath.

You wouldn’t think the guy that founded successful companies and was a millionaire several times over would show up in Andrew Ross Sorkin’s 1929 but here’s Durant’s fate: “Durant kept up appearances until 1936 when at the age of seventy-four, he declared bankruptcy. He put his net income that year at $5,438.” (p. 425)

How in the world did Durant–and thousands of rich people–go from wealthy to broke? That is just part of the story Sorkin tells in 1929.

Greed. Having millions of dollars and lavish mansions were not enough for some of the industrial and banking leaders of the U.S. back in 1929–and small investors, too. They thought the Stock Market was just going to go up, up, up (kind of like Today). The other Big Problem was that the rules back then allowed people to buy stocks “on margin.” For as little as 10% in cash, you could buy thousands of shares of stock. The problem–that few considered–was that if the price of the stocks fell, you had to come up with the balance…in cash.

And on October 29, 1929 (aka,”Black Tuesday“) 16.4 million shares of stock were traded. Around $14 billion of stock value was lost, wiping out thousands of investors. The panic selling reached its peak with some stocks having no buyers at any price. The Dow lost an additional 30.57 points, or 11.73%, for a total drop of 68.90 points, or 23.05% in two days. The Stock Market crashed and the Great Depression began.

Andrew Ross Sorkin tells the story of 1929 in a novelistic fashion with dozens of characters–who should have known better–betting on the Market in an orgy of speculation and greed. Sorkin hints the same inclinations are active in today’s Stock Market. Worth pondering… GRADE: A