Friday, September 4, 2015

In My Library: James Michener - Alaska



"To the north lies Alaska, the vast, untamed land that master storyteller James Michener now reveals in all its awesome, sweeping majesty. The native peoples of Alaska have spent millions of lifetimes confronting the most fearsome elements of destruction-- the bitter winds of Mother Nature, the unlimited might of the great armies of the world. Here are the men and women who tried to tame the land, seize its bounty, and lay claim to the elusive spirit that holds native and visitor alike.'

'In a novel that ranges from the near-forgotten past to the highly technological present, from self-defense to self determination, here is Alaska's emotional, and at time violent, history. It is a stirring portrait of a human community living on the edge of the world, claiming a bold heritage of survival against all odds."









The reason I'm a Michener fan is because I get to learn a lot about a history of a place I never knew existed, or an event I never that happened. The challenge is to identify fact and fiction, but he interweaves the two seamlessly. What I'll never forget from this book is the story of the gritty men and women during the gold rush. I also get to learn that in the distant past, there were prehistoric animals called mastodons. I thought there were only dinosaurs.

This is the fourth Michener book I've read, and  this is not going to be my last.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Demonetized Philippine Bank Notes in My Collection


Currency: One Peso.
This paper bill was used as the medium of exchange during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines between 1942-1945.It features the Rizal monument in the Luneta Park, now Rizal Park.
Year: 1943

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Don't Step on the Ducks

Three women asked St. Peter at the the Pearly Gates for entry, but got a surprise condition: Don't step on the ducks.

"What have we got to loose?" the three agreed. So they signed the consent form-- and the gates opened. The place was more than they expected. Eye has not seen nor ear heard the joys that the Lord prepares for those who loved him.

There were also ducks all over. A week later, one lady got careless and trampled on a duck. In a split second, St. Peter appeared. Without word, he handcuffed the erring lady to the ugliest man they've seen and left.

Three days later, the second lady squashed a duck. In a split second, the same drilled happened. Only this time, the other end of the handcuff was uglier. 

The third woman became very careful. Months passed without incident. Suddenly, St. Peter appeared with a strikingly handsome man.

"Is this a reward?" the woman cooed.

"I don't know about you lady," the man said. "But I stepped on a duck."