Happy birthday, Antonio Vivaldi!

Antonio Vivaldi, born March 4, 1678 in Venice, Italy, was one of the most beloved and greatest Baroque composers ever. He was also a virtuoso violinist. He composed over fifty operas and The Four Seasons, considered his most famous work. 

Vivaldi wrote more than 500 concertos.  

My favorite is his Gloria in D, which I've had the honor to perform.

Vivaldi passed away in July 1741.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Ernest Childers, first Creek to win Medal of Honor

Ernest Childers, born February 1, 1918 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, is the first Creek (Muscogee) to win the Medal of Honor for his actions during WWII.  

He joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard in 1937 and was assigned to the 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division.  In September 1943 in Italy, he single-handedly killed two enemy snipers, attacked two machine gun nests, and captured an artillery observer.  For these actions he was awarded the Medal of Honor in April 1944.  

He attained the rank of lieutenant colonel before retiring from the US Army.  He passed away in March 2005.

Sting wins two Primetime Emmys 2002

Sting won two Primetime Emmys for his A&E in Concert special: Sting in Tuscany...All This Time at the 54th award ceremony September 22, 2002.  His performance won Outstanding Individual Performance in A Variety or Music Program and Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special. Okay, maybe that last one didn't go to Sting but it does give his special more awards.  

He received four more nominations:  Outstanding Lighting Direction, Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program, Outstanding Technical Direction  Direction, Camerawork, Video for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special, and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety or Music Series or Special.

Happy birthday, ESA astronaut Maurizio Cheli!

Maurizio Cheli, born May 4, 1959 in Zocca, Italy, was an astronaut for the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency.  He went into space aboard Columbia (STS-75) as mission specialist in February-March 1996. He spent almost 16 days in space.

Happy birthday, Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti!

Samantha Cristoforetti, born April 26, 1977 in Milan, Itlay, has been in space once. She is the first Italian woman in space, and currently holds th erecord for the longest uninterrupted spaceflight for a European astronaut, at 199 days and 16 hours.

She went into space aboard Soyuz TMA-15M as flight engineer to the International Space Station in November 2014.  She remained aboard for more than 199 days, returning to Earth in June 2015.  She participated in Expeditions 42 and 43.

Happy birthday, Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli!

Paolo Nespoli, born April 6, 1957 in Milan, Italy, is a veteran of three trips into space.

His first trip was aboard Discovery (STS-120) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in October-November 2007.  He conducted science research as part of his mission for the European Space Agency.

His second mission was aboard Soyuz TMA-20 in December 2010 to the ISS where he participated in Expeditions 26 and 27.  He returned to Earth in May 2011.

His third trip was aboard Soyuz MS-05 in July 2017 to the ISS where he participated in Expeditions 52 and 53.  He returned to Earth in December 2017. 

He has spent over 313 days in space.  He retired in 2019.

Book review - "The Mosaic Crimes" by Giulio Leoni

I’m not sure how to review this novel.  It was very well-written and its subject matter – historical mysteries – is a favorite of mine.  However, Giulio Leoni’s novel The Mosaic Crimes focuses a bit more on philosophical discussions than the murder investigation.

The main character in this novel is Dante Alighieri, who will eventually write The Inferno.  He is poet and prior of Florence, Italy in which the novel is set.  The year is 1300 and a mosaicist is found murdered in front of his work, constructing a mosaic in the stadium.  Dante meets seven scholars who have a keen interest in the stadium and all of them knew the murdered man. 

Here is where the novel veers off into intellectual discussion and philosophy.  Also, Leoni introduces other aspects of early fourteenth century Florence, such as a riot during the climax of the story.  Maybe I wasn’t following along as diligently as I should have but it was not an easy read. 

If one has an interest in or is knowledgeable in Italian history, perhaps this would be a more enjoyable took to read.

Book review - "Dressed for Death" by Donna Leon

I really enjoyed Donna Leon’s Dressed for Death, which I picked up years ago in Puerto Vallarta.  Of the past few books I’ve read, this is one series I might continue to read.

Set in Venice, Commissario Guido Brunetti is called to investigate a body of a man found in Maghera, a short distance from Venice.  The murder is particularly gruesome since the victim’s face has been bashed in so viciously, he cannot be identified.  Also, he is dressed in women’s clothing and wearing make-up. Hence the title.

At first, Brunetti suspects he is one of the male prostitutes who frequent some of the less-reputable areas of Venice, but the victim is older and not as fit as the young men who ply that trade. His investigation is frustrated by lack of leads and an upcoming vacation with his family.  He must complete the investigation before he can join his family. 

Then another body is discovered.

The book was published in 1994 so computer technology was not as advanced as today, so it was interesting to be reminded how much technology has come in the past twenty years.  But attitudes in the novel seem to be before their time.  Brunetti and most of his fellow officers seem open-minded toward homosexuality and transvestites.  Don’t misunderstand me.  Late twentieth-century Italy has its share of homophobia but it was not a major issue in the story, considering the subject matter.

I look forward to reading more of Leon’s work.

4 ₤ out of 5 

Happy birthday, Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori!

Roberto Vittori, born October 15, 1964 in Viterbo, Lazio, Italy, is an astronaut with the European Space Agency and a veteran of three space flights.

His first mission into space was aboard Soyuz TM-34, launched in April 2002 as flight engineer to the International Space Station.  He returned to Earth about two weeks later on Soyuz TM-33.

His second trip into space was aboard Soyuz TMA-6, launched in April 2005 as flight engineer to the ISS.  He returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TMA-5 later that month.  He became the first European astronaut to visit the ISS twice.

His third flight was aboard Endeavour (STS-134) May-June 2011 as mission specialist to the ISS, the next to last flight of the space shuttle project.  Vittori was the last non-American to fly on a space shuttle.

Happy birthday, Italian astronaut Franco Malerba!

Franco Malerba, born October 10, 1945, went into space aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-46) as payload specialist in July-August 1992.  He is the first Italian citizen in space.  He was part of the Tethered Satellite System project, which was a joint effort between NASA and the Italian Space Agency.  However the satellite could not be deployed due to a tangled tether line and the project was scrubbed until STS-75 in 1996.

Happy birthday, Umberto Guidoni, first European aboard the ISS!

Umberto Guidoni, born August 18, 1954 in Rome, Italy, is the veteran of two space shuttle flights and has the distinction as being the first European aboard the International Space Station.  Dr. Guidoni worked for the Italian Space Agency and the European  Space Agency.  His first mission into space was aboard Columbia (STS-75) in early 1996.

He flew on Endeavour in 2001 (STS-100) with a Canadian, a Russian and four Americans to the International Space Station.  Its primary objective was the installation of the Canadarm2 robotic arm onto the ISS.

Soyuz MS-05 is fixin’ to blast off tomorrow

Soyuz MS-05 crew (L-R): Paolo Nespoli, Sergey Ryazansky, Randy Bresnik

The 134^th flight of the Soyuz program will launch tomorrow (July 28, 2017) from Baikonur, Kazakhstan 10:30am-ish for us in the Baltimore Daylight Time Zone. This will be Expedition 52 to the International Space Station.  Its crew consists of Commander Sergey Ryazansky (Russian), Flight Engineer Paolo Nespoli (Italian) and Flight Engineer Randy Bresnik (Kentuckian).  They will spend five months living, working and conducting scientific experiments. 

Nespoli has been to the ISS twice before already.  He flew on the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-120) back in 2007 and went back in December 2010 – May 2011 as part of the Soyuz TMA-20.

Ryazansky flew on Soyuz TMA-10M to the ISS (Expedition 37) and stayed from September 2013 March 2014.  It was his first spaceflight.

Bresnik (a Virgo like me) traveled on the Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-129) in November 2009.  He only spent 11 days on the ISS, but performed 2 EVAs and had a baby while in orbit. Like Ryazansky, he’s been to the ISS once and it was his first spaceflight.

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/International_Space_Station/Vita_mission_live

Review of "The Venus Throw" by Steven Saylor

For the life of me, I cannot understand or find the link between the title of this book and its plot.  According to the author, the Venus throw is a certain results from the roll of the die (or the equivalent of dice in ancient Rome).  This appears in only one scene while Gordianus is sitting in a bar and is interrupted by someone playing a game at a nearby table shouts “The Venus Throw!”

Saylor’s fourth book in his Gordianus the Finder series centers around the murder of Dio, an Egyptian ambassador from Alexandria on a diplomatic mission to Rome.  Dio turns up unexpectedly at Gordianus’ door, dressed as a woman.  He remembers tutoring a young Gordianus many years before when the Finder was traveling the world and gaining wisdom.  It is also when and where Gordianus met and bought the beautiful slave Bethesda. 

Dio begs Gordianus for help, since he is convinced people want him dead, his mission to Rome to fail.  He started out from Alexandria with a retinue of fifteen diplomats and after several assassination attempts, he is the only one left.

Gordianus feels he must refuse his old mentor, lest he bring the violence to his own home and family.  Which has a ring of irony in the end.

No surprise to the reader, Dio is murdered and Gordianus is compelled to find out who killed him.  Then he is contacted by Clodia, a wealthy, beautiful, and amoral widow.  She is convinced the handsome Marcus Caelius (known by Gordanius) is the murderer and is will to pay anything for him to prove Caelius is guilty.  But is Clodia only out for revenge as a woman scorned?  With her, nothing is as it seems and Gordianus doubts she is out for justice.

As with previous novels, Saylor’s story can get bogged down as he tends to enter entire speeches from history records but this time he limits it to only one.  I like the details Saylor gives of life in ancient Rome, its culture, geography, attitude, etc.  The Venus Throw did not drag with as many speeches as before and Saylor does provide a surprise ending. 

3 ½ Jupiter’s lightning bolts.

Jester Leaps In by Alan Gordon

Jester Leaps In is the second installment of Alan Gordon’s medieval series involving the mysterious Fool’s Guild. This concept of jesters and fools belonging to a secret organization that infiltrates and manipulates European politics in the early thirteen century is both ingenious and intriguing. The fools in Gordon’s world are very well-educated in different languages, know all manners of songs and physically adept for tumbling, juggling and many other acrobatic feats. They must maintain their abilities while subtly influencing the minds and opinions of the powers that be to keep the rules of Europe from assassinating each other or plunging the continent into war.

Feste is now married to the Duchess Viola, whose ducal responsibilities have ended. She is more than happy to be with him and learn the trade. Feste is recovering from the wound he received when an arrow pierced him through the thigh in Thirteenth Night, the previous and first novel in the series.

Feste and Viola are sent to Constantinople to investigate the disappearance of six fools, who haven’t been heard from in months. Political intrigue surrounds the Byzantine throne. The current Emperor has imprisoned and blinded his brother, the previous emperor. His nephew has escaped his clutches and fled to the protection of his sister in Germany.

Feste is reluctant to bring Viola into such potential danger, but she is adamant to stay with him. However as a safety precaution, Feste insists she disguise as a man and continue her training. Viola is not happy with those conditions but understands the needs for the ruse, since it allows her to do some prying while Feste entertains the masses.

Gordon’s choice of a fool for a sleuth/spy is interesting but it makes sense. As he portrays in this story, emperors and empresses enjoy the company of fools or jesters because of their entertainment. During these happy moments, rules let their guard down, voicing plans and opinions that otherwise would not be so freely given. A fool can influence decisions with jokes or quips, or hear about plots that others would pay dearly to learn.

The Guild in this series is intent upon keeping the peace and in Jester Leaps In, Feste and Viola prevent an assassination that could spark a vicious war for control of the Byzantine throne.

The plot is intriguing and very easy to follow with Gordon’s ability to help the reader visualize the environs of Constantinople in the year 1202.

Jester Leaps In has some good surprises if not many twists but it is an exciting page turner for all medieval mystery enthusiasts.

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose, a medieval mystery set in an Italian monastery, is a difficult read but rich in history. Eco fills his story with vivid and detailed descriptions of the culture, lifestyle and issues facing monks in the early thirteen hundreds. Eco even provides a map of the monastery, its grounds and a layout of the labyrinth of the library, which becomes central to the mystery.

Brother William of Baskerville, a Franciscan, arrives with his scribe and novice Adso at the very rich abbey just after a young monk has died from a tall from one of the towers. Was he pushed or did he jump?

Soon Brother William and Adso are confronted with two more murders. Instead of help from the resident, monks, William and Adso are hindered in their efforts by secretive scripts, underlying plots by disgruntled brothers and a library that is fiercely guarded by the librarian.

William and Adso manage to find their way into the forbidden library and promptly get lost in its labyrinthine corridors and rooms. Adso discovers one of the snares set by the librarian the hard way. Painstakingly, they map the layout, which reveals even more secrets kept from most of the brethren. The body count rises and they are faced with an impatient abbot, ready for them to leave.

Eco’s plot is borne of religious ideals and opinions of the time period. But the mystery is only a secondary story as Eco adds many additional stories that confuse and overwhelm the reader. He takes great lengths to illustrate both sides of the debate on what constitutes heresy. A good portion is given to Adso’s unexpected tryst with a beautiful peasant girl who delivers her body to the monks in exchange for food.. A meeting to reconcile certain religious differences between Pope John XXII and the Emperor last a good chunk of the book.

Eco impresses the reader with an extensive knowledge of medieval literature and the religious climate but if one is not on equal footing as the author, the story seems to ramble.

The Name of the Rose is well-written but definitely not a cozy read. Perhaps a good knowledge of medieval religious societies would make it more enjoyable for the reader. It certainly warrants a second look since the reader will not have to be reintroduced to the main characters and can focus more on the story.