Brain Maker: Book Review

7/10

Eat more kimchi and you will live forever. If only this was true! ;)

I literally just finished this audio book as I was pulling into my driveway with an immunologist (my wife) in the passenger seat...what a coincidence!

The major reason I don't give this book a higher rating is because I can't verify all of the scientific assertions and conclusions. Listening to this audio book as a non-scientist, it all sounds legitimate since he lists scientific papers and such.

Another reason is that the author makes it sound like his diet suggestions are a cure-all for almost any ailment or disease you may encounter - even going so far as suggest altering your gut microbiome can cure ADHD and even very serious diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

BUT, this is an amazing book nonetheless and I think everyone should read it. He does go into the detailed science, but not far enough to lose the layman. I know for a fact there is TONS of current research on this subject and that fecal matter transplants (FMT) have been proven to be successful.

It's time to add several pro gut bacteria foods to my diet! And apparently filter my tap water for chlorine and avoid antibiotics at all costs.

Relevant article:
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/02/24/696272090/cultured-a-look-at-how-foods-can-help-the-microbes-inside-us-thrive

Epistory - Typing Chronicles: Video Game Review

Dork score: 9/10

This is a beautiful and extremely unique adventure game. You progress through a somewhat elusive story line entirely by typing out letters and words to defeat monsters.

This game doesn't teach you how to type, but will exercise your typing ability and force you type faster in order to progress through the game.

I thought I was pretty good at typing, but I did die several times for failing to type fast enough. You will also need to multitask by switching your spell casting to defeat different types of monsters. I was happy to see this game pose quite a challenge.

I do wish the story was a bit more fleshed out, but overall I was not disappointed. What a gem!

http://store.steampowered.com/app/398850/Epistory__Typing_Chronicles/

Walden & Civil Disobedience: Book Review

Dork score: 6/10

I liked it, but I have mixed feelings. 

To describe it briefly, this was a poetic, beautifully written snooze fest with some interesting ideas about how to live simply. He can seem very condescending, especially when he spouts his Latin expressions, but I don't think he means to be.

I 'read' this as an audio book, so I may have missed some of the finer points, so I may re-read a physical copy of this in the future - but probably not. 

Confessions of a Surgeon: Book Review

Dork score: 6/10

This was an interesting inside view of the life of a surgeon. It had its interesting points and funny and/or heartfelt stories, but the writing style leaves something to be desired.

One glaring flaw is how repetitive the stories are and points he's trying to make. Still, I enjoyed it.

'Massholes' and Road Rage

Massholes: assholes who live in Massachusetts - automobile drivers in particular. They're real. There are asshole drivers in every state, every town; however, since many areas in Massachusetts are overpopulated cluster fucks (pardon my french), you encounter the assholes much more frequently. Not to mention the awkwardly designed streets.

Having lived in eastern MA for the last several months, I've had a chance to acclimate to the madness - but just when I thought I've seen it all, I encounter the biggest Masshole of them all. I was at an intersection at a green light behind a car that was turning left. We did not have an arrow, so the car in front of me had to wait for the oncoming traffic before making the turn.

I hear this obnoxious beeping behind me and I glance into my rear-view mirror. Some irritated middle-aged fellow making hand gestures and mouthing, "go, go!".  He was alone. He certainly wasn't driving anyone pregnant to the hospital. Maybe he had to shit? We had to wait a good 15 seconds before the driver in front of me look his left turn. Sadly there wasn't room on the right for us to pass.

So we finally are able to proceed. I speed up to about 5-10 MPH above the speed limit. I had given him the benefit of the doubt - perhaps he didn't see the car in front of me at the intersection. Meanwhile he's on my ass, continuing his beeping, hand gestures, and mouthing. There's no way he could have missed the car in front of me take the left - so he must be a MASSHOLE (or so I assumed).

I got particularly aggravated because the previous day at work wasn't particularly a good one. Feeling the need to teach this ass a lesson, I first pumped my brakes slightly in an attempt to communicate to him to maintain his distance. Since that didn't work, I slammed on my brakes HARD, almost coming to a complete stop, stuck my left arm out of the window and flipped him the bird. I then sped off. I could hear him shouting something out of the window and his horn blaring.

By the way - this is NEVER a good idea. He pulls along side me at the next stop light and we have a quick, stupid conversation. I start - "YOU IN A RUSH?". He had a silly, 'artsy' kangol hat on and had a slight Boston accent. Masshole - "It doesn't matter! There's a SPEED LIMIT", "NEVER do that again. You now have the cops looking for you." He then sped off. Really, he called cops on ME? In the words of Jerry Lundegaard from Fargo, "What the Christ!".

I would have prefered to continue the conversation since what he said made absolutely no sense. I was actually traveling over the speed limit. Also, the rules of the road clearly state a safe following distance. He was so close, I couldn't even see this his headlights in my rear-view. I spent the rest of the day trying to justify my actions and understand the idiot's behavior. I just couldn't let it go.

Later that night, I felt like an idiot. I shouldn't have slammed on my brakes. 1. it was dangerous. He could have actually hit me - and that wouldn't have been pretty. 2. Did I really think I could teach him a lesson? All it did was anger him. Sadly, there is no easy solution to fixing this type of behavior. If anything, I made the situation worse and perpetuated Masshole Monster.

I should have calmly pulled over and let him pass. Besides, even though this is unlikely, it is possible he was actually in an emergency situation. You never really know, so it is always best to play it SAFE. NEVER think you can teach someone a lesson on the road. It won't happen.

This leads me to another conversation - why are there so many people in a rush? Why is it that just because you're in vehicle, you think this permits you to endanger people's lives? There are likely a variety of explanations - but I think the big reason is that lots of folks are UNHAPPY. I normally wouldn't have reacted the way I did - but because I was slightly on edge because of my bad day at work, I acted like an aggressive idiot.

Instead of asking the Masshole, "In a rush?" - perhaps the more appropriate question would have been, "having a bad life?". But really, you shouldn't say or do ANYTHING that puts your safety in jeopardy. Don't let someone else's bad life ruin your day. Don't let yourself become another asshole in Massachusetts.
/End rant.

p.s. I never saw or heard from the cops.

Symptoms of Being Human: Book Review

Dork score: 6/10

Not quite what I was expecting. It has a bit of a slow start, but kept my interest. Reads like a non-fiction memoir / coming of age story for a gender-fluid high school student.

Alone: Orphaned on the Ocean: Book Review

Dork score: 6/10

Interesting true story of a traumatic survival experience and the lasting effects.