The Dairy of a Young Girl by Anne Frank: Book Review

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I have to be honest; I almost gave up on this book a couple of times. It’s going to sound ignorant but I had no idea what Anna Frank’s story was really about and no, I’ve never seen any of movies based on the book either. I always thought it was based on a diary of a young Jewish girl who was in a Nazi Concentration Camp during WWII. Instead it’s about her life with her family and another family who go into hiding in Amsterdam during the German occupation in the Netherlands.

Frank was 13 years old when she started her dairy. For the most part it deals with her teenage angst as she goes through puberty. She’s the typical teenager who thinks her Mom is an idiot who doesn’t understand her and a Father who loves her but is emotionally unavailable.

Frank writes about the daily mundane life in hiding, co-existing in cramped quarters with others, the lack of privacy, the fear of being discovered, the food etc. But it’s her on target descriptions of what it’s like to be a very intelligent teenager trying to grasp the world, the politics of the time and most of all her puberty. She may be only 15 years old but her insights are as mature or maybe more so than the adults she’s in hiding with.

At first I said to myself this book is for chicks, for teenage girls and for Mothers but as I got deeper into it had a lot to say about the feelings and frustrations of young girls dealing with the fury of puberty. It’s a great book for both sexes because if you read and absorb what it’s trying to say it’ll help you as a parent to better deal with that very delicate time in a teenager’s life.

I wish I would have read this book about 15 or 16 years ago, it would have helped me better understand my own teenage Daughter. In most cases women are at least 10 years ahead of men on the maturity scale and this book just craves it in stone.

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Jeff Jacques, a paid Journalist for The Daily Astorian

A few weeks ago I applied to be one of new members of the Board of Contributors for The Daily Astorian and frankly didn’t expect to be picked. Steve Forrester the Publisher emailed me back today to say they wanted me to be one of the 9 contributors. It's hard to believe he chose me. I’ve been very critical of the paper’s editorial pieces and in particular Forrester’s editorials. I have to give him some credit, he’s the biggest Liberal you’d ever want to meet but if he’s willing to let me have a forum in his paper I have to show him a measure of respect.

Supposedly I’ll get to contribute one 750 word article of my choice that will be published in the Astorian over the next year. In the email I received Steve Forrester said it was possible that they may ask for more than one, so I may get to submit another. He also said that he wanted a head shot of me so when the article is published they can attach my photo to it.

The coolest part of the whole deal is that I’ll be paid $50 per article published. I know it isn’t much money but it’s the principle that matters. Getting paid to write an opinion is awesome. Jeff Jacques, the Conservative Bubba from Wyoming is now a paid Journalist, who’d of thunk it? I’m definitely going to have my wife review my articles for grammar, spelling and punctuation errors. The content of what I write I believe is good I just need to get help with editing.

It’s ironic and funny what each new day brings, this was the last thing I ever expected to happen to me, so I’ll accept it and do the best writing I can.

War by Sebastian Junger: Book Review

War by Sebastian Junger

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


At first I thought War was going to be a political hit piece on the War and Peace mission in Afghanistan.

Instead it's a thoughtful, insightful and brilliantly written book about a reporter that was embedded with an American Army Platoon in the most dangerous outpost in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley.

Sebastian Junger the author of The Perfect Storm gives on excellent account of what the war in Afghanistan was like for the young brave men who patroled and held their position at an outpost called Fort Restrepo.

I recommend this book. It's really details what modern warfare looks, feels and sounds like. Junger was in the region off and on for a 15 month period. His personal observations about the men and the country give the reader an excellent view of how difficult a job the military forces challenges were and still are there.

After you've read the book watch Restrepo the documentary on Netflix, it gives you a small visual of the men and their daily lives at the Fort.

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Seahawks Slaughter the Broncos in PSG #2

Not to sound like a broken record but why is the NFL still thinking 4 preseason games are a good idea? Derek Wolfe, one the most promising young Defense Linemen the Broncos have is out with that scary head shot, Wes Welker and Champ Bailey got banged up and then on one pass play Peyton Manning gets body slammed to the turf like a rag doll in the 1st half and for what? A meaningless preseason game?

The NFL will tell you the primary reason they play them is to evaluate back ups and Rookies and get the veterans some scrimmage time in a game setting prior to opening day. The truth is the reason they play them is based on greed. They’re a useless sideshow to generate more money for the NFL and for the owners who have to pay all there super stars their out of this world salaries. Honestly how much money is enough?

Don’t you think Manning would take a pay cut to avoid playing 2 preseason games or better yet none at all to avoid getting a serious injury in games that don’t count? I believe he would, he certainly wouldn’t be extending his career or his career earnings by receiving a serious injury would he?

I’m for getting rid of them altogether. Maybe the NFL should change the rules to allow the team rosters to be expanded to 63 instead of 53. Let the new players make the team on the practice field at camp, those that can’t make the new 63 man roster who have potential could still make the practice squad. As for the practice squad why not increase the number of players they can have on that roster?

Bottom line, something needs to change, greed is a horrible reason to play 4 meaningless games.

Hillman fumbles a sure 6 points.

Hillman Fumble in the Endzone... GAME OVER!

The Seahawks game confirmed the Broncos running game is in no way ready for the start of the regular season. I didn’t like the draft pick of Ronnie Hillman last year and still don’t. He only has 2 assets in his skill set, speed to get to the outside and he can catch a ball. He needs more skills in his toolbox to be a difference maker in the NFL. The reason they drafted him is because they thought he could become a Darren Sproles prototype.

Hillman doesn’t even come close physically from a strength prospective to Sproles. Below the waist even for his small size Sproles legs are twice the size of Hillman’s.  In the open field Sproles has great speed, can make guys miss and has enough power in his small frame to break tackles and finish runs. Hillman as I see it never will. Hillman between the tackles or in short yardage or goal line situations will never improve either.

One large disadvantage to being small in a big man’s game is something some don’t mention often but it’s important and boy, did it manifest itself in the Seahawks game. Hands… small RB’s have small hands and with small hands it becomes much harder to hold onto a football, especially when a defender is trying to tear it away. Hillman had to 2 fumbles and one was very costly, it amounted to a 12 point swing. The shot he took in the end zone was not a big one; clearly his hand size and hand strength came into play.  

I know big hands can’t always prevent a fumble from occurring but you have to believe that size matters and in most cases that big hands possess the ball better than small ones. After losing C.J. Anderson to a knee injury the pool of RB’s becomes smaller and it puts a lot more pressure on Montee Ball to emerge quickly as the primary RB. Hillman and Knowshon Moreno are nothing more than role players at best.

The one good drive capped by the Wes Welker TD was the only positive on offense for the whole game. I was impressed again by the play of TE Julius Thomas despite the fumble. He’s a big man with good hands and I think he’ll give Joel Dreessen  and Jacob Tamme a run for playing time since neither guy brings much to the table.

The reality is for games that don’t count they still… don’t count but the Seahawks did a great job of exposing the weaknesses of the Broncos. Next week the starters will most likely play the whole 1st half against the Rams. The 3rd game of the preseason is really the biggest test for the first team O and D because the following week they won’t get any playing time. Let’s hope for a positive rebound and no more serious injuries.

Von Miller’s 6 Game Suspension

This is really going to hurt the Broncos Defense and the team as a whole. Nate Irving doesn’t have Miller’s skill set. Without him they lose their best pass rusher and tackling LB. You combine this with the Broncos questionable running game and you have to wonder just how deep the Broncos will go into the playoffs. I’m really disappointed with Miller; somehow I thought he was a far more intelligent person. The show must go on without him however and let's hope good coaching by John Fox and Jack Del Rio can make up for the deficiency.

Game 1 of the Scrimmage Season

It’s always a joy to write about the first Denver Broncos game of the season but to say there was any joy in the game itself would be another matter. Some of you may want to skip to the bottom of the page where I discuss the game because the first part of this blog is dedicated to my contempt of preseason games.

THE ANNUAL PRESEASON RANT

After watching this one about the only thing that can be said and repeated over and over is: Preseason games for the most part are worthless and should be brought down to 2 per year with the NFL going to an 18 game regular schedule. It may not be a bad idea to drop them altogether and let Rookies and Free Agents make the team on the practice field.

This was no game guys; it was a nothing more than a very poorly played scrimmage by both teams. Frankly, I think if the NFL is going to insist continuing with this type of schedule for the preseason they should charge a minimal fee to attend or better yet let them be free. Minimal as in say $10 per adult and $5 per child because generally what you get in return in most instances in these games and especially in this one, is a 3 hour yawning festival. Granted some preseason games are better than others but not enough to pay big bucks to see.

Then there’s the whole fear of the injury issue to key starters (Manning) which by itself is a good enough reason to cut down or completely eliminate these meaningless games. Manning shouldn’t take a single snap in preseason, he has nothing to prove and he’s good enough he can get the kinks and rust out of his game on the practice field.  

If I’m a paid fan at this one I’d of asked for my money back even if the ticket had cost $10 because it was a sloppy horribly played and executed game by both teams. Today even ticket prices to these meaningless games are too expensive for most average fans. If yours is a football family and you’re all fans of the team and say you have a wife and 2 kids there’s no possible way you could justify going to a game like this one. You’d have to take out a second mortgage to pay for it and then once you got home listen to your wife rag you about how she would have liked a spa day or weekend trip out of town instead.

I always have to air this out after watching the 1st preseason game of the season. Then I can try to move on and gather what intelligence I can glean from the 4 games and how the team might improve with the new additions. Personally I enjoy the bad preseason games because I’m trying to study each part of the game as a whole. But I completely understand those who don’t care about breaking down what they saw and just want a good competitive football game to watch.

THE GAME

Could C.J Anderson be the answer at RB? Maybe...

The Ying was the Broncos Defense forced four 49ers turnovers and scored a defensive TD but the Yang was the Offensive didn’t come close to capitalizing on their mistakes. The Broncos had 220 yards of total offense and got inside the 20 yard line twice and couldn’t score a TD. Why?

Because in most cases no risks are taken in the first game and all the grunts trying to make the team are on the field. The most glaringly bad moments of the game came from the Broncos backup Offense Line which was horrible in pass protection and not much better in run blocking. Brock Osweiler spent most of the game running for his life and when he did throw he threw short and not long.

Yes, you have to admit the Broncos D did what they were suppose to do but the backups on the 49ers Offensive Line were even worse.

The part of the game I was most interested in was the Broncos running game because it may be what makes or breaks the Broncos in a playoff run this year. I was hoping to see Rookie Montee Ball have at least one break out carry but it never happened due in large part to the poor blocking by the OL. Ronnie Hillman didn’t provide any spark either and neither did Lance Ball for the same reason.

As for Knowshon Moreno the OL didn’t do much for him either but he looked like the same RB he was when he couldn’t pick up a single yard for the bad Josh McDaniels era teams. He has no speed, no cut back ability, doesn’t make the first guy miss, can’t break tackles and is at his worst running between the tackles. I’m still confused why they didn’t try to trade him in the off season or during the draft because I just don’t believe he’s ever going to be a quality starting RB in the NFL.

  

The one shining star in the game was Rookie RB C.J. Anderson. He had 15 carries for 69 yards; one was for a 17 yard gain. He was impressive up the middle, showing more strength and smash mouth ability than any of the other Broncos RB’s. He like the rest of the RB’s had to deal with subpar blocking but he was able to make yards after the first contact. The Broncos must have a go to guy in short yardage and goal line situations, maybe Anderson can become that guy.

You can’t really get any kind of feel for how good the Broncos can be after watching this game. The conventional wisdom says the Broncos will score points like a pin ball machine this season in the passing game; maybe so but without a good running game I question how far they can go if they can't control the clock and the ball late in the season and into the playoffs. Every unit on the defensive side of the ball is not set in stone either.

So we’ll all go through the preseason grind with the team and hope the Broncos get better in their weak spots and became the unstoppable power house almost everyone is predicting they will be this season. We’ll see when they count.