HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

Book Review

Movie Review

Mott's CD review

Sophon Cable TV Schedule

Book Review: Bones of Contention

by Lang Reid

The book, the Bones of Contention sports the subheading on the cover - The Fossil that Shook Science (ISBN 0-7195-6059-4) and is written by Paul Chambers and published in paperback this year.

Since I have always been fascinated by the Dinosaur era and just how did the dominant species just disappear off the face of the earth, I was interested in this book from the outset. Quite frankly, I have always wondered just how do we find dinosaur footprints, when all my mud footprints seem to disappear after the first shower of rain. My size 8’s will not be around to be discovered in the next 260 million years or so. In fact, 260 minutes seems to be closer to the average life span!

This is a book in which you should read the preface first, as it sets the tone for the pages to come. Author Chambers, himself a micropalaentologist, states that the fossil of Archaeopteryx has ruined careers, bankrupted rich people and made highly esteemed organizations look stupid. Not bad for a 150 million year old fossil found over 150 years ago.

150 years ago was also when the Darwinian theory was the hot topic of discussion in scientific circles and Chambers takes you directly into these, with a reportage style giving the impression that the author was really there. Clever writing indeed.

The significance of Archaeopteryx came about because it seemed to be a crossover between reptiles and birds, and the Darwinian group immediately saw this a fossilized proof that species could undergo a change. The anti-Darwinian group had then to either deny its existence, decry it as a hoax or otherwise deal with the problem that had arisen.

Chambers does also look in detail at another bird-slash-dinosaur, that was called Archaeoraptor. This beast was hailed as the final link to show that dinosaurs became birds, but unfortunately was found to be as elaborate a hoax as the Piltdown man. The interesting part of the tale was finally found to be the tail, which came from another animal entirely, and whilst some researchers could be pardoned for being excited at the find, they cannot be pardoned for being somewhat sparing with the truth. The money that comes from media exposure can blind even the most erudite scholars. The scientific community is also subject to bias, and with the evolution process, personal bias very soon sways objective thought, forcing conclusions that may be incorrect, but yet for all the ‘right’ reasons.

The review copy was made available by Bookazine and it has an RRP of 450 baht. I found it totally readable, and as author Chambers desired, it is not at all overly scientific textbook in style. In many ways it is a detective story, but using real life (or real dead) evidence. If you are interested in dinosaurs, you will like this Jurassic lark (sorry, I couldn’t help myself).

Footnote: The above ‘detective story’ reminds me that there is a new website on the net for fans of Christopher G Moore’s Vinnie Calvino series. Go to www.vincent calvino.com and see how the slightly seedy PI is doing!

Movie Review: Underworld

By Poppy

These adventure / sci-fi movies are my favourites, as they have great special effects. A lot like the Matrix, this movie continues on a feud, this one being ‘The Howling VI vs The Freaks’. There are vampires, werewolves and all manner of freaky characters that have been fighting each other for centuries.

Kate Beckinsale is Selene, a vampire known as a “death dealer”. She is specially trained to kill the (lycan), werewolves, a bit like ‘Buffy the vampire slayer’. The former powerful leader of the werewolves Lucian (Michael Sheen) is dead, or is he?

Everyone is looking for one very special person; this is Michael (Scott Speedman) who is a descendant of a man who is supposed to have the blood of werewolves and vampires in his veins. Selena saves his life but what is he, man or beast?

Viktor (Bill Nighy) is about to become the new leader of the vampires, when he wakes up after his very long sleep, much to the chagrin of Kraven (Shane Brolly) the current leader.

I was disappointed at the amount of fancy armoury the vampires and werewolves use. I never thought they needed weapons, as they are supposed to be monsters with their own defence and attack methods, aren’t they?

The dark creepy scenes, special effects and the fantastic werewolves are well worth seeing.

Directed by Len Wiseman
Cast:
Kate Beckinsale ... Selene
Scott Speedman ... Michael Corvin
Shane Brolly ... Kraven
Michael Sheen ... Lucian
Bill Nighy ... Viktor
Erwin Leder ... Singe
Sophia Myles ... Erika
Rest of cast listed alphabetically
Richard Cetrone ... Pierce
Robby Gee ... Kahn
Zita G๖r๖g
Kevin Grevioux ... Raze
Ildiko Kovacs ... Michael’s girlfriend
Danny McBride ... Mason
Scott McElroy ... Soren
Wentworth Miller ... Dr. Adam Lockwood
Mike Mukatis ... Taylor
Todd Schneider ... Trix
Brian Steele ... Werewolf

  Mott’s CD review: flow - roots

by Mott the Dog 
re-mastered By Ella Crew

4 1/2 Stars

First, I am sure you noticed, this dog usually gets his capital letters in the right places. However, those young pups from flow do not like to use capital letters in their name and CD titles, and who am I to argue? After all, the Beatles couldn’t spell. flow’s second album in their trilogy (seeds, roots, and flowers), roots comes two years after the first album and confirms flow as one of Thailand’s leading rock bands, although only Mit Witchitwatee was born in Thailand; the rest of the band has made Thailand their home.

In all departments of their trade, flow has come on in leaps and bounds. Out the front, when flow takes to the live stage, is Rick Montembeault. As well as being the sole songwriter in the band, he also possesses one of the most unique and emotive voices in Rock ‘n’ Roll. Rick’s collection of songs flow beautifully throughout the album. Opening with the introductory ‘flow river flow’, which builds from a quiet beginning allowing each member of the band to slowly integrate themselves into the song. Straight away it is thrust into your ears. The regular gigs all over Thailand have made the band tighter and their confidence is infectious.

The rhythm section of Peter Fleischhaker with Mit Witchitwatee fair punch each song, Peter playing his bass guitar in the more modern style, like a lead instrument, rather than traditionally as a rhythm instrument to underpin the song (especially on the rocky ‘easier to be gone’). Mit Witchitwatee’s drumming is also pushed right to the front of the mix. If his funky drumming was a feature of seeds, then he excels himself on roots, cementing his place as Thailand’s drummer’s drummer.

On lead guitar and star of the live set is the man with more nicknames than he can remember, Roland Fleischhacker, a.k.a. ‘The Character’, or to most of his friends ‘Breez’. Breez’s (see, Mott the Dog’s a friend) guitar playing throughout is exemplary and is the only lead guitarist that flow could ever have, as he manages to play in all the different styles that Rick Montembeault’s songs demand. You are never going to get bored listening to a flow album. Even through this one Breez’s playing leaves you in no doubt that you are listening to a collection of flow songs. One of my small gripes about this set is that Breez is only once allowed to blow up into a hurricane with his axe playing (during ‘hey old man’). For two and a half minutes Breez rips through his strings bringing the song to a roaring climax. I hope on the final piece of the trilogy Breez is given a little more rope to let it all hang out. It certainly would add so much more excitement to proceedings.

Unfortunately third song in ‘non-song’ is exactly as the title suggests, and perhaps could of been left on the cutting room floor. It sounds a bit like an outtake from seventies spoof band Alberto Y Los Trios Paranois, thereby incurring the loss of half a star. But this is more than made up for by what follows in ‘the money song’, ‘then there’s me’ and the amazing ‘wooden indian’. They are the central songs of the set and are by far the best songs ever to come from the pen of Rick Montembeault. If you had to pick one song it would have to be ‘wooden indian’ with its Led Zeppelin influences flying high. Hey, everybody has influences; best to get them from the top. ‘wooden indian’ is a tribute to native North Americans. It is hard to think of a better crafted song in the world of rock music and is worth the price of the CD on its own.

To add to the splendor the talents of ‘Life After Nine’ (whose debut album ‘Stomp’ is a must for any lover of good time music) violinist Steve Cipolline have been used on the song, giving flow’s sound a whole new dimension. Showing complete unity with Thailand’s musicians, the multi-talented keyboard player Keith Nolan of ‘Cannonball’ has also gainfully been employed. Now there is an idea, next time flow graces Pattaya or Chang Mai with a concert, perhaps they could bring these two with them. Now that would be something to behold.

‘the money song’ is not only a very fine rocker, it’s also very funny to boot. The glee in Rick Montembeault’s vocals as he sings:

“Money makes the world go round, But why?
It can’t buy happiness, But it’s fun to try,
And you can’t take it with you when you die,
In the end only cockroaches, Keith Richards, and money will survive,
Money is evil, And I should know because I’m poor,
Money is evil, But I’ll need more to be sure.”

Great stuff, Doubloons indeed. Music to tap your foot to and put a smile on your face. Final song ‘the wheel keeps turning’ brings the whole set to a rousing conclusion.

The album comes in a gatefold digi-pack with a separate booklet with lots of photos, all the lyrics and as much information as you are likely to need on the band, all designed by long time flow stalwart Richard Wilson. All in all a very nice package. I look forward to the final chapter of the trilogy - flowers. As flow say, roots - dig in and dig it.

Ed’s Note: flow have booked to play Shenanigans Pattaya on Thursday October 2. Be there, aloha.

Musicians

Rick Motembeault - guitar and lead vocals
Breez - lead guitar and vocals
Mit Witchitwatee - drums and percussion
Peter Fleischhacker - bass guitar and vocals

Songs

flow river flow
easier to be gone
the non-song
the money song
then there’s me
wooden Indian
hey old man
don’t push the river
the wheel keeps turning

To contact Mott the Dog email: [email protected]

News | Business News | Features | Columns | Letters | Sports | Auto Mania
Kid's Corner | Who’s Who | Travel | Our Community | Dining Out & Entertainment
Social Scene | Classifieds | Community Happenings | Books Music Movies
Clubs in Pattaya | Sports Round-Up

E-mail: [email protected]
Pattaya Mail Publishing Co., Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596

Copyright © 2003 Pattaya Mail. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.