Will iconic images recorded in the grooves of an ancient vase unite the Holy Land or rip it further apart?

THE VASE

A novel by Mark M. DeRobertis

Muhsin Muhabi is a Palestinian potter, descended from a long line of potters. His business is run from the same shop owned by his ancestors since the day his forebears moved to Nazareth. The region's conflict saw the death of his oldest son, and rogue terrorists are in the process of recruiting his youngest in their plot to assassinate the Pope and Israeli prime minister.

Professor Hiram Weiss is an art historian at Nazareth’s Bethel University. He is also a Shin Bet operative on special assignment. With the help of fellow agent, Captain Benny Mathias, he plans to destroy the gang responsible for the death of his wife and only child. He puts a bomb in the ancient vase he takes on loan from Muhsin’s Pottery Shop.

Mary Levin, the charming assistant to the director of Shin Bet, has lost a husband and most of her extended family to recurring wars and never-ending terrorism. She dedicates her life to the preservation of Israel, but to whom will she dedicate her heart? The brilliant professor from Bethel University? Or the gallant captain who now leads Kidon?

Harvey Holmes, the Sherlock of Haunted Houses, is a Hollywood TV host whose reality show just flopped. When a Lebanese restaurant owner requests his ghost-hunting services, he believes the opportunity will resurrect his career. All he has to do is exorcise the ghosts that are haunting the restaurant. It happens to be located right across the street from Muhsin’s Pottery Shop.




Thursday, December 16, 2021

Blacklist - Here we go again

So The Blacklist has returned to being a good show. I like the direction it is going with Red being the top man in that Skinner organization. And I even like his new bodyguard...that Cuban woman...  And I can appreciate her skill with  a gun. I don't believe she could beat up four dudes, though.

What I don't like is here we go again...another rift between Red and Dembe. It's like, haven't we been here before?  Yes we have. And it's a place I don't appreciate. What really bothers me about these writers is that they are clutching at straws for plotlines. I hate it when they turn Red's closest friends into antagonists. It's like the writers can't think of anything better.

It all started with Mr. Kaplan. That was painful to watch. Not to mention the constant feuding with Lizzy. Then we had to watch the first rift with Dembe. They got over it fast enough, but I thought even then it was idiotic. Now we have to go through that again? No, please no.

What I liked about Blacklist was the allies Red had. His trusted friends. And then the next thing you know, his friends are not as trustworthy as he thought. I can see it happening once. But over and over again, with one friend after another, and now his closest and most trusted friend? Please...

If they can resolve this latest rift, like they did the first time with Dembe, then okay. But we'll have to wait until after the holidays to find out. Okay. I'll wait...and I'll find out.

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