* A portion of each sale from Amazon.com directly supports our blogs ** Many of these books may be available from your local library. Check it out! † Books available at the LA Public Library
* A portion of each sale from Amazon.com directly supports our blogs ** Many of these books may be available from your local library. Check it out! † Books available at the LA Public Library
An amazingly interesting piece of history. Linotype machines changed every part of the modern publishing world, but they were eventually supplanted by photographic and computerized typesetting methods. There is something visceral about the physical nature of these machines — turning keyboard input into hot metal type with real molten lead.
Yes, this is perhaps a bit geeky for the average viewer, but I love stories about technology and history and Linotype is certainly one of the most important pieces of technology ever to appear.
I watched Linotype using the free Kanopy service via my local library. You may be able to do that, too. Their website and apps are well produced and function well, including Chromecast and Airplay support for viewing on your TV.
* A portion of each sale from Amazon.com directly supports our blogs ** Many of these books may be available from your local library. Check it out! † Available from the LA Public Library
Another in a long line of mystery shows I love, The Doctor Blake Mysteries comes from Australia. The show follows the life of Dr. Lucian Blake, recently returned to Australia after living — and working in intelligence in Shanghai during World War II. His life there was thrown into turmoil when he was captured by the Japanese and imprisoned, losing touch with this his Chinese wife and young daughter.
Dr. Blake is a bit unconventional for the small, Gold Rush town of Ballarat in the 1950s. He works as a police surgeon for the local force, but find himself often in conflict with his coworkers and townspeople. The stories, acting, writing, and production are top-notch.
Season 5 of the series (its last) is currently airing in Australia, but Seasons 1-3 are available via Netflix and 1-4 available for sale on Amazon. The Dr. Blake Mysteries also airs on many public television stations in the US.
I enjoyed Midnight Diner immensely and I recommend it to anyone I know who subscribes to Netflix. It’s in Japanese, with English subtitles, so you can’t just have it on in the background, but each 30 minute episode is worth the time focusing on it and immersing yourself in this tiny little Japanese world. I am eagerly awaiting the next season. Check it out! — Douglas
Terrace House has become Netflix Japan’s breakout international hit — and with good reason — but for my money it runs second place to another of the streaming service’s Japanese shows. Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories follows the owner and clientele of a tiny Tokyo restaurant, telling short, touching stories of family, friendship, and humanity in the heart of urban sprawl.
I make time to watch Gardeners’ Word from the BBC any time I get the chance. They just started their 50th Season this week. One great segment they’ve added for this season is an interview with a major influence in gardening each episode. Garderners’ World is my brief respite from the “real world” each week. — Douglas
I’ve been a big fan of the Miss Fisher’s Mysteries series out of Australia and watched and re-watched all three seasons. (You can see them all on Netflix). I love mysteries a lot — from Poirot to Maigret to Midsomer to Foyle — and Miss Fisher ticks all of my mystery lover boxes. I think it could be very interesting to see a game with the characters. Series 4 of the Miss Fisher’s Mysteries might not happen — although there has been some talk of a reduced series of longer movies to carry on the story. I certainly hope it returns — Douglas
