Switzerland

As I looked through our travel photos of Switzerland, an inevitable question came to my mind.  "Why did we visit Switzerland only 3 times?  We lived so close [a 3-hour drive], and it was amazingly beautiful."  My wife's response was straight to the point: "because it was unbelievably expensive."  Yes, if I had to sum up Switzerland, it would be "beautiful and expensive."  Our three trips (9/2007, 7/2008, 8/2008) left us- and our bank account- wanting so much more.  The cheapest meal I saw- at McDonald's- was the equivalent of $11, and even cheap meals in better places ran $30 or more for the basic entree.  The general lesson- when visiting, bring your camera and pack a lunch.

Lucerne

One of many quaint Swiss towns nestled in the mountains by a lake.  Regular readers (if I have any) should instantly recognize the Lion of Lucerne monument.

Bern

The Swiss capital, Bern felt busy by the country's standards, but still had its fill of charm.

Lausanne

On Lake Geneva, Lausanne felt like a mix of Mediterranean and Alpine climates . . . I loved it, though the tight passages and steep grades made good viewpoints/pictures difficult away from the lakefront.

Chillon Castle

Also on Lake Geneva, the oft-photographed Chateau Chillon was amazing.

Interlaken

Strategically located, Interlaken is a great base camp from where you can easily explore the surrounding area- especially Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen (covered in the next sections).  We stayed in a tent village- full of a different kind of charm- and enjoyed evening strolls with cows (it gave us some idea of the origin of "till the cows come home").  Note the enormous cowbells . . . poor things.

Grindelwald

Grindelwald is spectacular, and if you ever get there, take the lift up to the mountains between it and Lauterbrunnen.  Most of the photos below are from that particular excursion- amazing views abound.

Lauterbrunnen

Also a great day out, Lauterbrunnen features sheer cliffs and an impressive 'underground' waterfall.

The next pictures are from the underground waterfall- from its beginning to the view at the base.

Conclusion

I hope to visit again some day, if I reach a level of affluence I don't anticipate achieving . . . but Switzerland is worth it, if you can afford it.

UPDATE: We were able to visit here again in the summer of 2019, as summarized here:
First
Mannlichen
Interlaken

Robin Hood: A Mythic Biography (Stephen Knight)

Though I no longer live near he was reputed to roam, the story of Robin Hood is still near and dear to my heart.  In A Mythic Biography, Stephen Knight looks at Robin's story.  Others (like J.C. Holt) have tried to determine if the stories were in fact based on a historical figure; Knight, however, focuses instead on just the tales- from Hood's initial mention in medieval times to present day- and looks at how the myth has evolved over the centuries.

Looking at the stories, it's impressive to see the range of roles and themes Robin's story has assumed.  He's either a festive village fertility figure, outlawed yeoman, forest trickster, gentrified outlaw, naturalist, social reformer (standing against oppression), nationalist, romantic, or some combination thereof.  In the late 1800s, Robin's story transitioned to moralistic children's works, adding another dimension.  In addition, Robin has been "a channel for many varied . . . reflections on gender, race, politics, time, and even the supernatural."  It's clear that "elements of the myth have interested creative minds in different periods in different ways, and each has driven the myth in a new direction- essentially, driven it onward, given it new vigor."  That said, there is a common thread- "he always represents resistance to authority."

Towards the end, Knight steps back and does devote a few pages to consideration of a historical Robin Hood.  He concludes- and I concur- that "it seems highly improbable, or at least unprovable, that a Mr. R. Hood ever existed."  That disappointing reality aside, I still enjoy tales of Robin.  Perhaps it's because "to study Robin Hood is to study over five hundred years of the development of modern concepts of heroism, art, politics, and the self."

Overall, this is a great book.  Many other books try to determine the identity of the real Robin Hood.  Largely ignoring the historical investigation frees Knight to focus on the literary variations and transitions mentioned above, and I found that fascinating.  It's clear that he's well-informed (this is a rather scholarly/academic read), and yet he keeps the book is short (210 pages).  Its brevity is both appreciated and disappointing, though- there were times Knight references authors and other Robin Hood scholars without appropriate elaboration for the amateur enthusiast.  It's probably impossible to strike the perfect balance, though, so he did well overall- and an extensive notes and bibliography section is included for further reading.

Rating: A

The Last American Vampire (Seth Grahame-Smith)

I admit, thus far 2015 has been a 'sputtering' reading year.  I've already put down 5 books before finishing them (which is on pace to double last year's total), and finding books I love has been harder than expected.  When you read as much as I do, this happens from time to time- not every book can enthrall you- but it's still frustrating.  I was starting to get concerned that I was burned out, or had raised my standards so much that I'd seldom find enjoyment in the hobby going forward.  I needed a boost; an easy pick-me-up; a guaranteed page-turner.  Enter Seth Grahame-Smith.

I was introduced to 'SGS' in 2012, when I read Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (review).  I fell in love with his unique, 'mash-up' style, wherein he combined history with the macabre and bizarre.  He did it again with Unholy Night in 2013 (review), which I also loved.  It was thus with great excitement that I saw he was back, his latest work being a sequel to his first book.

The Last American Vampire is the tale of 'good' vampire Henry Sturges, to whom we were introduced in Vampire Hunter.  This time, Henry is on a mission: track down the mysterious "A. Grander VIII," a 'bad' vampire who is intent on destroying the 'good' vampire Union and America.  Since vampires are immortal, Henry starts his search in the late 1800s, but the elusive Grander evades him up through the 1960s.  Along the way, we see flashbacks (to Henry's birth in the 1500s) and vampire involvement in many historical events between Henry's creation and present day.  In that sense, this is a historical survey book- SGS ties in (and puts a vampire-infused spin on) a number of interesting historical events and personalities, including: the Lost Colony of Roanoke, Pocahontas, Bram Stoker, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Jack the Ripper, Mark Twain, Tesla, Rockefeller, Teddy Roosevelt, Rasputin, the Hindenburg explosion, Eliot Ness and the Untouchables, Howard Hughes, WWII, and JFK.

As before, SGS succeeds in spinning an amusing, pseudo-historical yarn.  His alteration of known historical events/personalities was fun, and who doesn't enjoy a touch of macabre now and then?  This is another winner.

Rating: A

Endgame (Clone Wars Vol. 9)

And so we conclude the 9-volume Clone Wars story arc with the following three stories:

Hidden Enemy

Concurrent with Episode III, Quinlan Vos and Luminara Unduli are called to Kashyyyk to assist Yoda as the war draws down.  They're scattered by Order 66, and Vos looks to be lost . . . until help arrives from an unlikely figure from his past.

Rating (art): A-
Rating (story): B

Into the Unknown

Two days after Episode III, Master Hudorra and a padawan have survived the clone's betrayal and make their way back to Coruscant to determine the situation- why did the clones turn?  Elsewhere, Dass Jennir (another Jedi) teams up with former enemies against their now-common foe: the Galactic Empire.

Rating (art): A
Rating (story): A-

Purge

Some remaining Jedi congregate on Kessel to discuss the way forward.  What should be done, now that the Sith has revealed himself to the galaxy?  Their meeting takes a bad turn when one member invites a most unexpected- and unwelcome- guest.

Rating (art): A
Rating (story): A-

Overall

The Clone Wars story arc concludes largely by launching right into the next comic arc- the Dark Times series, which featured Dass Jennir and company.  As such, this volume felt less like a conclusion and more like a transition.  That part was less than satisfying, but the stories were still good, and the series overall is worth a look.

Rating: A-

Harlequin (Bernard Cornwell)

Harlequin, book one of the Grail Quest trilogy by renowned historical fiction author Bernard Cornwell, is the tale of Thomas of Hookton, an English archer who fights in (what would be known later as) the Hundred Years War against the French.  Thomas decided to be a soldier a few years prior, when his father was killed and their town's holy relic stolen by a mysteriously malicious family member.  Now, Thomas is dedicated to obtaining the relic and killing the one who stole it.  Will he succeed?  I don't know, because I stopped after reading 33%.

I like Bernard Cornwell, and the prior four works I read from him were really good.  This one, however, just didn't do it for me.  The tale is very fast-paced, which makes for a quick read, but also results in minimal character development.  The writing itself seemed a little off, too- it appeared as though he was getting taxed for every comma and period used (so sentences ran on, with few breaks).  The historical element seemed accurate, but it was too focused on minor skirmishes to provide the grand, sweeping view of the conflict I was desiring.  I did want to know what happened next, but not enough to read the whole thing- a plot synopsis was sufficient for me.  In short, it wasn't bad; it just wasn't that great.

Rating: B-

The Last Siege, The Final Truth (Clone Wars Vol. 8)

Only two tales in the eighth volume of the Clone Wars comic saga . . .

Trackdown

Six months before Revenge of the Sith, Quinlan Vos (still of questionable loyalty, and obsessed with finding the second Sith behind Dooku) and Master Tholme use different methods to discover that the Separatists are cloning a fierce Nikto warrior caste (called 'Morgukai') and training them with Anzati warriors on Saleucami.  While Tholme is trapped on-planet and committing sabotage in the shadows, Vos leads a siege on the planet to end this new threat once and for all.

Rating (art): A-
Rating (story): B+

Siege of Saleucami

Five months in to the siege of Saleucami, the Republic forces are faltering under a seemingly-impregnable Separatist shield.  Various skirmishes bring Dark Siders Sora Bulq and Skorr against Vos, Tholme, Oppo Rancisis, Aayla Secura, K'kruhk, A'Sharad Hett, and a host of clone troopers.  After a number of casualties, it seems that Vos' true allegiance is finally becoming clear . . . or is it?  Is he for or against Sora Bulq, and will he kill him if necessary?

Rating (art): A-
Rating (story): B+

Overall

The series is winding down; only one more volume to go.  It's still above-average for a Star Wars saga, though it seems to be faltering a bit, losing the grander scope of the war by overly focusing on Quinlan Vos.  It's not bad- it's just not outstanding.

Rating: B+

Disciplined Dreaming (Josh Linkner)

In Disciplined Dreaming, Josh Linkner discusses the increasing need for (and dearth of) innovation in today's world, and proposes a five-step process to "drive breakthrough creativity," as shown below (with relevant highlights for each step):

1. Ask- set clearly defined objectives

What is the problem you are trying to solve?  Can you restate it in a few ways?  What about Reversing it?  Write twenty questions about it.  What is the need for change?  List key observations and assumptions.  How do you define success?  Ask three questions: Why? What if? Why not?  Ask "why?" five times (toddler-style) to get to the heart of the issue.

2. Prepare- prep "your mind, body, and environment to support maximum creative performance"

Some 'warm-up' moves include two minutes of deep breathing (followed by stretching), tossing a beach ball around for 90 seconds, field trips, games, and inspirational quotes.

The seven rules of creative cultures: fuel passion, celebrate ideas, foster autonomy, encourage courage, fail forward, think small, maximize diversity.

Don't forget about the environment- break the 'beige cube farm' mold.

3. Discover- uncover creative ideas and jump-start your imagination

Look through a different lens, capitalize on inflection points (a point where a trend changes trajectory), discover new potential in a borrowed idea, turn a problem upside-down, put patterns to use.

4. Ignite- generate creative sparks

Many ways exist to generate creative 'seeds.'  Things like no-outcome meetings ("Imbizo groups"), hot potato, not starting at the beginning, focusing on the wrong answer, using provocation (a stupid statement to provoke discussion), and dagnabbits (think on what really torques you) can help change perspective and generate ideas.

The eight commandments of "ideation": thou shall not judge, thou shall not comment, thou shall not edit, thou shall not execute [ideas], thou shall not worry, thou shall not look backwards, thou shall not lose focus, thou shall not sap energy.

Some effective exercises: EdgeStorming (take your idea to the extreme), make long lists (100 ideas in one hour), RoleStorming (invite an imaginary Steve Jobs to join your team- or whoever else), "The Opposite" (invert what you're trying to do), Brain Writing (ideas in a hat), and  the SCAMPER technique for ideas: Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Magnify or minimize, Put to other use, Eliminate, Rearrange or reverse.

5. Launch- put creative ideas into action

The execution phase (not much was discussed here).


Overall, the book was pretty good.  The author provides lots of tips, assessments, techniques, and skills of accomplished innovators, which I appreciated.  Perhaps the most value here was found in the ideas presented in step 4 ("ignite").  On the downside, there appears to be a lot of repetition/overlap between suggestions in different sections, which made the book longer than it needed to be.

Rating: B+