Recent media that I have ingested

Since it's been a while for posting my ramblings, I have continued to read, watch TV and movies.  So without further adu, let's start with books.

First up I recently finished They Call Me Baba Booey by Gary Dell'Abate.  Baba Booey is the nickname that the author was given on the Howard Stern show over 20 years ago.  The book is an autobiography.  As with most people, there are triumphs and tragedies, people who anchor you, and people who drive you crazy.  This book is no different.  While a lot of people know Gary from the Stern show, his personal life is a lot different (as most people in the media usually are) and this is no different.  It's interesting how his family his relationship with his crazy Mother helped to actually strengthen his personality on when dealing with the public.  Overall the book is good, not great.  I would give it 3 1/2 stars out of 5.

Next up on the hit parade, The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values by Sam Harris.  In this explosive new book, Sam Harris tears down the wall between scientific facts and human values, arguing that most people are simply mistaken about the relationship between morality and the rest of human knowledge. Harris urges us to think about morality in terms of human and animal well-being, viewing the experiences of conscious creatures as peaks and valleys on a "moral landscape". Because there are definite facts to be known about where we fall on this landscape, Harris foresees a time when science will no longer limit itself to merely describing what people do in the name of "morality"; in principle, science should be able to tell us what we ought to do to live the best lives possible. 

It was difficult to listen to at times as Harris described the atrocities that religion forces on various societies.  But he has to point of the atrocities to make his case of how terrible organized religion treats everyday people.  I agree with the premise of the book, and after reading this book, it only reaffirmed what I had felt before.  I would give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

A break from the books.  I saw Thor a last week, and I was impressed!  I was never a comicbook kid.  The only way I knew of the various superheros was from Saturday morning cartoons.  So when these vaious comicbook movies come out, I like the background story that a lot of them provide.  What I don't like is when they are a 'hit' and then go back and make  pre-quil.  Start at the begining and take it from there.  I think Marvel is kind of doing that with these movies that are leading up to The Avengers movie in 2012, essentially building a grand story from all of these individuals.
Anyway, the story is really good and I give it 4 our of 5 stars.



I'll add updates as I read and watch more.