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Book review: 'Doctor Who: The American Adventures' provides out-of-this-world adventure
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"Doctor Who, The American Adventures" brings the popular time-traveling alien to the United States market. - photo by Sharon Haddock
"DOCTOR WHO: THE AMERICAN ADVENTURES" by Justin Richards, Penguin Group UK, $14.99, 180 pages (f)

Doctor Who comes to America from the United Kingdom, where he makes out-of-this-world visits to mankind with his handy sonic screwdriver. "Doctor Who: The American Adventures" by Justin Richards is a collection of short stories that are easy to read, mysterious and different from the usual fare. It's easy to see why the British television series based on this visiting alien are popular with the young and the old alike.

The stories always feature Doctor Who first noticing something out of place or slightly odd and then setting out to figure out what's up. He doesn't wear a cape or wield a sword or have any unusual powers, but he does travel through time. He's unobtrusive at the same time that he's effective. He solves the mystery, rights the wrong and goes on about his way.

In one of the stories, though, he doesn't explain who he is or why he's on Earth; he sorts out why people are losing energy on an amusement park roller coaster. In another, he puts a wagon train back on track and he gets spooky ghosts out of the way of subway rail construction. In others, he learns how to deal with alien robots made of spare wood, leather and scraps of metal, he battles people who are profiting from war and he stops an assassin.

Doctor Who is smart, bold and quite literally ahead of his time in these stories. He's a true hero in that he doesn't want any credit, money or reward. He simply comes in, saves the day and heads out to the next question.

For young readers who want a little adventure and sci-fi without gore and nightmares, these simple but engaging stories are it.

There's no swearing, violence or sex in these stories.
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Have You Seen This? Street musician slays with clarinet
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Better than almost every face-melting guitar or drum solo. - photo by Facebook video screenshot

THE BIG EASY — Yeah, yeah, we all know that New Orleans is stuffed to the gills will incredible musicians.

But knowing that fact and then hearing that fact are two different things. You can step into any number of jazz clubs on any given night on Bourbon Street, and you’ll probably be impressed with virtually every act. Or you can sit at home on your comfy couch and watch this featured video.

In the video, you’ll see a woman who is in the groove. She is swinging hard, and wailing on her clarinet with a practiced expertise that makes it sounds so easy.

From note one you’ll be drawn in; your appreciation will grow with every second, and then your face will melt off when you realize how incredible she really is.

If you’ve never played a woodwind or a brass, you may not know everything that comes with a performance like this. Lung capacity and breath control are huge factors in keeping your notes clear and loud, and hitting those high notes is especially difficult.

So when this woman hits that high note and holds it for several seconds, you know you’re dealing with an exceptional musician. It means she has worked hard for years to develop skill on top of her natural talent, and we get to benefit.

It kinda makes you wonder how we let people get away with mumble rap and autotune when talent like this exists in the world.

I wish this video were longer, and I wish I had more information about this woman, but as it is, we’ll just have to appreciate the little flavor of New Orleans jazz posted by the Facebook group Clarinet Life.

Street musician killing it on clarinet

She must have lungs of iron! Its inspiring hearing the upper registers being played so well.

Posted by Clarinet Life on Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Martha Ostergar is a writer who delights in the ridiculous that internet serves up, which means she's more than grateful that she gets to cruise the web for amazing videos to highlight for your viewing pleasure.
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