Hostage Rescue Team agent Web London has had his worst day of his life after seeing his team members brutalized under submachine gun fire in a drug bust operation, while he stood paralyzed behind them. The best member of the force is now under pressure to prove to everybody that he hasn't turned traitor on his former colleagues and uncover what happened during that night in the alley. How did the enemy know about this secret operation? Why did London freeze before springing to action, and who's the boy he met in the alley before the attack and what was he doing there? Last man standing is an enjoyable fast pace Baldacci page turner, great narrative and great characters but this time the story is rather common predictable. 3 out of 5.

Unholy Alliance over Europe 2006
Slayer, In Flames, Lamb Of God, Children Of Bodom
Date: November 05, 2006
Place: Dublin (IRE), The Point

I'm down 55 Euros!!!!!!! but this will ROCK ... COB, Inflames & Slayer ... WOW

National Geographic now has it's own podcast. If you haven't yet hopped on the bpodcasting bandwagon this is a great chance to try out this new internet fad. You'll find the expected National Geographic topics here like travel, geography, wildlife, and Science News.

If you've never read anything by Murakami then Kafka on the shore is a great book to check the author out. If you've read Murakami before then this is more of the same greatness. The story runs in parallel between the life of a runaway fifteen year old Kafka, and the life of an old illiterate Nakata who has experienced a strange traumatic experience in his childhood and somehow is able to talk to cats. Amongst other things there's a mysterious brutal killing which the protagonists seem to be connected to. Like his other books sexuality is prominent this time venturing into more taboo subjects like the Oedipus complex, brother-sister love and elder sex. From this scenario you already start to appreciate that there's something intriguing about the situation, something that keeps you turning pages rapidly.

What I like about Murakami's books is that he creates strange surreal scenarios like people conversing with cats, fish falling from the sky and WWII soliders appearing from forests, which make you question the meaning behind this symbolism, if there is any at all. This was the best book from the other four under review. 4.5 out of 5.

Some Quotes

"Not to boast or anything, but I can't write either," the cat said, licking the pads of his right paw. "I'd say my mind is average, though, so I've never found it inconvenient". (pg 49)

"… Symbolism and meaning are two separate things. I think she found the right words by bypassing procedures like meaning and logic. She captured words in a dream, like delicately catching hold of a butterfly's wings as it flutters around. Artists are those who can evade the verbose. (pg. 262)

"Listen every object's in flux. The earth, time concepts, love, life, faith, justice, evil – they're all fluid and in transition. They don't stay in one form or in one place for ever. The whole universe is like some big FedEx box." (Pg 309)

"Perhaps most people in the world aren't trying to be free, Kafka. They just think they are. It's all an illusion. If they really were set free, most people would be in a real pickle. You'd better remember that. People actually prefer not being free". (pg 339)

"Things outside you are a projection of what's inside you, and what's inside you is a projection of what's outside." (pg 379)

"Why does loving somebody mean you have to hurt them as much? I mean, if that's the way it goes, what's the point of loving someone? Why the hell does it have to be like that?" (pg. 432)

Hello people of the world, I know you were missing me but I have returned. Like all good things the New Zealand holiday came to an end. I had a good, no, a great fantastic, wonderful, awesome time and everything went according to plan (how could it have been otherwise? I didn't have a real plan). Now I'm back to work severely jetlagged with a totally screwed up sleeping and eating schedule. I'm writing this at 6am. As usual after the holiday I'm left with more holiday work, I've got the sort out the video, and this time also the photos. This time I'm not going to bother with a complete travelogue but hopefully will write some notes on the places I've been to.