The Hungry Hungry Writer

It’s late Saturday Night…

The Albama vs UCLA NCAA round 2 game was as close as I thought it would be. But I also thought UCLA’s shot selection was awful going down the wire. If it weren’t for their great defense, this could have been a disaster! And now UCLA is in the Sweet 16! Awesome!

I anticipated the Japan vs Korea WBC semifinal game all day. And both WBC games were great! Cuba vs the Domincan Republic and the night game - Japan vs Korea. I was rooting for Korea - just because they were so strong and exciting to watch. But they didn’t pull it off tonight.

Monday’s championship game will be great. Japan vs Cuba. Big vs Small. Cuba’s win against the Dominican Republic was like “Miracle on Ice” for them. They are the small underdog with young players. The question now is - who is going to defect? All I hope.

In between the Alabama vs UCLA game and the Japan vs Korea WBC semi-final game I read:

The Ways of the Samurai
by Carol Gaskin & Vince Hawkins
My Rating: 7/10

I read it from start to finish in one sitting. There’s only 800 pages. Just kidding. It’s a short 149 pages with glossery of terms. An easy and informative read. If you want to get a taste of Samurai and their culture this is a good start.

I’m not well versed in the Samurai ways but have read a few books; “The Book of Five Rings”, “The Art of War” and now “The Ways of the Samurai”. Of course this book included a brief section on the author of “The Book of Five Rings”, Miyamoto Musashi. And there were other Samurai stories and legends like the story of Yoshitsune. The assination of Yoshitsune was ordered by his very own brother. And one legend claims that Yoshitsune did not die during that assination in 1189, but he escaped to China where he joined the Mongols, changing his name to Genghis Khans. Which gave me an idea for a story!

If you’re interested in Samurai, get started here. Get what you can - as some parts are yawners - but overall informative and quick to read.