R.A. Andrade's Blog
October 28, 2019
Could The Blob Be Real? Update
This update on the previous post entitled, “Could The
Blob Be Real?” is precipitated by recent events carried by several major news
sources. A summary of those reports along with an analysis as it relates to the
question of “Could The Blob Be Real?” follows the reprint of the previous post
in its entirety. Those of you who have memorized “Could The Blob Be Real?” post
may skip to the update that follows if you do desire.
Original “Could The Blob Be Real?” Post:
Many of us wonder, “Could The Blob be real?” And then there are those who ask, “What’s the blob?” First, I’ll bring those in the dark about The Blob up to speed with those in the know.
The Blob
A different type of monster science fiction/horror movie reached theaters in 1958 which went on to become a classic. The storyline told of a meteorite falling to Earth during the dark of night outside a small Pennsylvania town in the United States. A small gelatinous organism (looks like red Jell-O) emerges and attaches itself to the arm of a curious older gent poking at it with a stick. It consumes his arm and then his entire body. Growing in size with each victim, it ultimately threatens to eat (absorb) everyone in the community. Throw in delinquent teenagers, one of whom is newcomer actor Steve McQueen, adversarial police officers, a budding romance, a little boy, a puppy and a classic movie begins its 60-year life. The movie is entitled, The Blob.
Given the popularity of The Blob, a sequel was inevitable. It came in 1972 with the title of Beware! The Blob. An oil worker, Chester, brings a frozen sample of the original blob from the Arctic. It escapes, eats a kitten, and then follows in the footsteps of its parent frozen blob to threaten at town’s inhabitants. Terrible movie with amateurish special effects. Barely watchable, even for Blob lovers, but necessary for the complete Blob experience.
Then in 1988, a remake of the original utilizing a new generation of special effects capabilities reached cinemas. Edging more toward the horror camp, the newer, The Blob, used more graphic violence as did remakes of The Thing, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It was a well-done movie, worthy of Blob aficionado attention but unsuccessful at the box office.
And finally, another remake of the original is planned. Some indications of a 2019 release, but since it’s not even at the preproduction stage, that seems unlikely. Rumors persist of Samuel L. Jackson and Halle Berry for lead roles and a movie poster appearing very similar to that of the original Alien. Whether or not it ultimately makes it to the big screen is questionable at this time.
The Song – Beware The Blob
The theme song for the 1958 movie was a catchy, fun piece co-written by Burt Bacharach who went on to win a multitude of Grammys and Oscars. “The Five Blobs” performed the song, a group comprised of a single singer, Bernie Nee, whose vocals overdubbed five times for the recording. The bouncy tune spent three weeks on Billboard chart, reaching into the Top 40 in popularity.
The lyrics:
Beware of the blob, it creeps
And leaps and glides and slides
Across the floor
Right through the door
And all around the wall
A splotch, a blotch
Be careful of the blob
Blob Trivia
The Blob was based on a true story—Philadelphia police officers saw a strange object fall from the sky in 1950. Upon investigation, they found a purple jelly-like mass approximately six feet in diameter that pulsated and glowed. The blob evaporated within 30 minutes.Unknown actor at the time, Steve McQueen landed the lead role, deciding on payment of somewhere between $2500 and $3000 instead of a percentage of the profits. Big mistake because he needed cash. The Blob earned $1.5 million in the first month of release.
Produced by a religious film company—Valley Forge Films of Pennsylvania, known for hundreds of Christian movies, needed to become more profitable. Blob producer, Jack H. Harris convinced them to take a chance on his new monster movie.The Blob represented Communism—Many assumed the Blob represented the creeping red menace of Communism. Producer Harris laughed it off. He only wanted to make a movie monster that wasn’t a guy dressed up in a suit.Original title was “Molten Meteor”—“The Blob” was decided as a title after production began, so the script never refers to the monster by that name, instead usually calling “a mass.”There is an annual Blobfest in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania—Location of the most notable sets in the movie, including high school, diner, garage, and theater, the town hosts a yearly Blobfest. Naturally during the event, The Blob plays at the same theater used in the movie. Patrons can participate in a reenactment theater “run out.” There’s also a Steve McQueen look-alike contest.
Could The Blob Be Real?
Star Jelly—A mysterious white substance nicknamed “Star Jelly” has been found in many parts of the world since the 14th century including England, Scotland, Germany, Mexico and the United States. Usually a white gooey slime found on the ground, that some have claimed is associated with meteor showers. It evaporates quickly. Studies on the translucent jelly have been even attempted by the National Geographic Society with inconclusive results. They found no evidence of DNA in the substance. The following explanations have been speculated by others:
Remains of frogs, toads, or worms.Blue-green algae that swells after a rainfall.Substance from stags during the rutting season.Slime mold.Remnants of atmospheric beasts. (I like this one)Alien life contained in meteors.
Star Jelly just doesn’t fit the profile of a proper Blob creature. Star Jelly, although intriguing, is usually white, just lays there, and evaporates. The substance from 1950 that spawned the idea for The Blob is closer because the policemen stated it fell from the sky, it was living, it was red, and it was big. But it evaporated. It did nothing exciting like eat anyone.
Conclusion:
Given the failure of Star Jelly to meet the criterion for the true Blob, the question remains, “Could the Blob be real?” The few who have dealt with this important topic, focus on single celled life like the amoeba as a model of possible life similar to the Blob. That model of life severely restricts the possibilities by size and characteristic of the movie Blob.
The Truth: The Blob could exist as a lifeform elsewhere in the universe as a multicell creature similar to Earth’s jellyfish. It could be red, or green, or whatever color gives it adaptive advantage in its environment. It may be either land based or inhabit the oceans of Europa. Life evolving to this form is perfectly acceptable to scientific constraints. Could one reach Earth on a spaceship of its own design? I believe this improbable since a creature of this nature that is nearly indestructible would not need the evolutionary advantage of high intelligence. It would be as dumb as a bunny but successful on its home world like the dinosaurs once were on Earth. But we could bring one back to our planet in a jar.
Update October 28, 2019
A new creature went on display this past weekend at the Paris Zoological Park. The creatures exhibited are advertised as life form called “The Blob,” which has given it worldwide notoriety in the news media. The organism is a know earthly species identified in the scientific community as Physarum polycephalum, and more commonly known as Slime Mold. It has existed on Earth for at least a billion years and is not that uncommon. But who would try to convince their children to go to the zoo to see Physarum polycephalum or slime mold? Not many. But, “Hey, kids…Want to go see The Blob in real life? Great marketing!!
It is an intriguing life form, being neither plant or animal. It is a yellow, single-cell creature, that can double in size in a day and has proven intelligence although having no brain. They can join to form a larger colony, behaving as a single creature, devouring bacteria, molds, decaying leaves, and even oat flakes laying in its path. Alas, no devouring of human flesh.
Does slime mold qualify as a true “The Blob” candidate?
It has some intelligence—it can plot a
path and move to its victimsIt grows quickly in sizeIt’s very difficult to killIf you cut it in two it can knit itself
back together quicklyIt’s yellow—The Blob should be red.It doesn’t look Bloblike in shape…appearance
closer to a flower than to Jello.It has not been found in movie theaters or
covering a diner.And finally—it does not devour kittens or
people.
So slime mold, although a fascinating life form, should not be confused with the real Blob.
Note:
I am a fiction writer, but research topics and provide posts like the one above for enlightenment and entertainment. If you liked it, please take a look at some of my other posts and my home page, R. A. Andrade. This post was prompted by the following passage from my novel, Three Remain:
Returning for the last load, the sound of boxes hitting the floor echoed from a shadowy aisle at the rear of the store, forcing his legs to a standstill. Faint beads of sweat formed at his hairline and his mind pictured a similarly darkened supermarket in the movie, The Blob, where a large, red, pulsating jellylike-blob rolls down an aisle absorbing people in its path.
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October 1, 2019
Three Remain Book Release
This is a brief post to announce the release of my latest novel, Three Remain by R. A. Andrade (R. A. Andrade is me and coincidentally the name of this website). It was actually released on September 23, 2019 for anyone interested in such detail. (Posts in the immediate future will return to topics inspired from passages from my books rather than about my writing or those books.)
What is the Genre?
These are some of the classifications Advanced Review
Copy readers of Three Remain judged it to be:
Science FictionMystery/ThrillerPost-apocalyptic DystopianTechno-thrillerSurvivalNot What I Usually Read, but I Loved It
Most common of these was post-apocalyptic, although the last category was my favorite as a writer.
The Back Cover Description
THREE STRANGERS AWAKE TO A WORLD GONE
QUIET. NO PHONES, INTERNET, TELEVISION, RADIO, OR ELECTRICITY. AND NO OTHER
PEOPLE.
After witnessing a meteor explode in the sky
above his home the night before, Glen awakes to a loss of all communications
and power.
On route to a work assignment before dawn,
Sara’s car veers into a roadside tree. Crawling from the vehicle to the ground,
her last memory is the fragrance of dirt and Queen Anne’s Lace.
Thirteen-year-old Traci opens her eyes to
complete blackness. A wave of fear brings a shudder as she recalls falling
asleep in the movie theater. Immediately groping for her phone, she wonders why
her parents hadn’t picked her up.
A girl, young woman, and a man discover
themselves in a countryside void of people and imprisoned by thick fog. Brought
together by circumstance, the three confront bizarre, life-threatening
challenges as they try to unravel the mystery.
Dependent on one another, the unlikely
trio must find a path to rejoin humanity.
In a place of “beserkedness,” Three Remain.
A Few Reviews
Angel– …I don’t usually go for
science fiction that much other than paranormal but this book was great! I
didn’t want to put this down and only did when I had to. I liked the thriller
part of it also. I loved the pace and plot. I loved Glen and Sunshine/Sara and
Traci as they learned to care about each other, protect each other and to
become a team and a family….I loved the challenges they had to conquer to
survive. I loved the action, intrigue, and suspense in this book. I loved the
characters and the ins and outs of this book and I highly recommend it.
Jennifer–This story is a bit different for me. It is
about three people of different ages and personalities, Glen Sara and Traci.
They each wake up to a world without others and no more technology. It is a
story of survival and learning to lean on others for coping. The characters are
written realy good and the story is good. worth a read.
Stella– yesssssssssssss. I loved
this book and the entire premise. It’s weird, it’s twisty, it’s full on
unlikeable people.
This isn’t about zombies or the fires of hell. this is about people and the
horror of what happens with modern convenience is gone.
It is NOT what you think. Nothing is what you think. This…this is…..good.
Kim–THREE REMAIN was an amazing novel. I actually never knew what was actually happening, and each time I though I figured it out, or that the characters figured it out I was wrong. Great twists and turns. I highly recommend this novel.
Copies Available At
Three Remain at Amazon 
raandrade.com Website Store[image error]
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September 12, 2019
Corn Silk – Removal or Remedy?
Corn on the cob is a wonderful seasonal treat…although
if you don’t like corn then maybe not so wonderful. If you shuck it yourself,
(shucking equates to removing the outer leaves or husks) or watch a loved one
do it for you; then you are aware of all those tenacious threads or strings
sticking out from the tip of an ear of corn that nature loving provided for
your cleanup pleasure. That tassel of shiny, threadlike fibers is known as corn
silk.
What Is Corn Silk?
The term “corn silk,” that describes hundreds of
light-yellow threads protruding from the tip of an ear of corn, first appeared
in print around the early 1850s. Each thread is connected to one corn kernel
with the purpose of capturing pollen to fertilize the attached kernel. Each ear
of corn may contain 400 to 1000 threads of silk.
Corn Silk Removal and Disposal
Picking the silk off husked corn is a chore few people
enjoy, and if too many threads remain for mealtime, the person who performed
the task is likely to get complaints rather than sympathy. And cleanup of the
silk off a floor, patio, or clothing can also be a daunting task. Placing corn
silk in a garbage disposal is not recommended because the threads will expand
with moisture potentially causing drain blockages. They’re several tricks some
creative individuals use to more easily remove corn silk. This is one example:
Alternative Uses of Corn Silk
As an alternative to disposal, corn silk can be used
to make teas and dry powder supplements. Corn silk is naturally rich in
vitamins C and K and is also very high in potassium. Corn was first cultivated 7,000
to 10,000 years ago in Mexico and the silk from corn has been used for
centuries as a natural remedy for several ailments. While there is little
medical evidence to support these claims, corn silk (mostly in the form of a
tea) is believed by some to have the following medical benefits:
DiureticUrinary tract infectionsLowered blood pressureReduce inner eye pressureReduce bedwettingKidney healthProstrate healthHair growth supplementWeight lossSkin lighteningDog incontinence
Be aware, there are potential side effects, their
importance specific to an individual’s state of health.
The following is a link to more information on the subject:
Corn Silk Benefits by Superfoodly
Corn silk tea can be purchased in tea bags, but if you would like to make your own, the link above on Benefits contains a recipe or this site:
Corn silk has also been used for the following:
MakeupHair conditionerCabbage Patch Kid dolls (some utilized
corn silk for hair.)
Note:
I am a fiction writer, but research topics and provide posts like the one above for enlightenment and entertainment. If you liked it, please take a look at some of my other posts and my home page, R. A. Andrade. This post was prompted by the following passage in my novel, Three Remain:
Instinctively, Glen yanked both Sunshine and Traci to the
ground. There was a clap of thunder as the projectile detonated, shrapnel
shearing the tops of the cornstalks surrounding them.
A few pale-yellow kernels of corn hit Sunshine’s head.
“I suspect they are not friendly,” he whispered,
looking at the corn silk draped in her hair like tinsel thrown haphazardly on a
Christmas tree. “Stay down. Let’s crawl.”
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April 10, 2019
R. A. Andrade Books
This is a R. A. Andrade books update post. Since I am
a writer, I get to do this occasionally.
The
Field Trip
The book printing industry has been in turmoil since mid-2018. Book releases at major publishers have been delayed, paper supply has been troublesome, and book printers have closed their doors as consolidation of other printing companies is ongoing. Selladore Press, who is the publisher of The Field Trip, was informed during the past two week that their book distributor closed their business. As a result, The Field Trip in either print or eBookis temporarily not available from Amazon or other booksellers. This will be rectified once Selladore Press secures another distribution system for the title. In the interim, if anyone wishes to purchase a copy of The Field Trip for the selling price of $9.95 please contact me at ron@raandrade.com or by means of the contact tab of this website menu.
Three
Remain
Three Remain is ready for printing and eBook creation. I will be working out channels for early, pre-release reviews. Tentative release date is September 23, 2019. A few, exclusive, pre-release copies may be available in June for local sales and through this website. The final front cover is shown below, created by cover designer Vanessa Verstraete:
THREE
STRANGERS AWAKE TO A WORLD GONE QUIET. NO PHONES, INTERNET, TELEVISION, RADIO,
OR ELECTRICITY. AND NO OTHER PEOPLE.
After witnessing a meteor explode in the sky above his
home the night before, Glen awakes to a loss of all communications and power.
On route to a work assignment before dawn, Sara’s car
veers into a roadside tree. Crawling from the vehicle to the ground, her last
memory is the fragrance of dirt and Queen Anne’s Lace.
Thirteen-year-old Traci opens her eyes to complete blackness.
A wave of fear brings a shudder as she recalls falling asleep in the movie theater.
Immediately groping for her phone, she wonders why her parents hadn’t picked
her up.
A girl, young woman, and a man discover themselves in
a countryside void of people and imprisoned by thick fog. Brought together by circumstance,
the three confront bizarre, life-threatening challenges as they try to unravel
the mystery.
Dependent on one another, the unlikely trio must find
a path to rejoin humanity.
In a place of “beserkedness,” Three Remain.
What
is Next for R. A. Andrade?
I will continue to issue website posts based on topics inspired by passages in The Field Trip and Three Remain. I also will return to a draft of a novel with the working title of Lunar Base Two.This is the first chapter of Three Remain
This is the first chapter of Three Remain:
Odd, she thought to
herself. How would he know which film I’m
seeing? He didn’t even look at the ticket. Traci lowered her head, returning
to texting her delinquent friends. “All three late and not even a text…what the
hell?” she muttered aloud, bumping
into a cardboard display of “Spider-Man.”
Red-faced, she snapped her head up for witnesses to her blunder. Instead,
she faced an empty lobby except for the young man manning the concession,
fiddling with the drink dispenser. Shaking the embarrassment from her head, she
returned to her phone, texting her friends that she would save seats for them. “What
the heck,” she uttered. “Where is everyone?”
“I’ll have a jumbo Dr Pepper,” she told the lanky, blond boy behind
the glass counter.
He nodded and placed a giant plastic cup under the dispenser.
“Not many people here tonight,” Traci said, making conversation.
“Yeah, kinda slow,” he answered while foamy, brown liquid filled the
cup. “What movie you seeing?”
“Zombie Cats From Hell,”
Traci responded meekly, her cheeks flushing.
“I want to see that too,” the boy said with an easy smile, placing the
overfilled cup on the glass in front of her. “Maybe on my night off.”
Relieved she had a momentary ally in movie taste, Traci smiled and
placed a ten on the counter. “Keep the change.”
She did her best to suppress her sense of disquieting frustration
mixed with uncertainty. Connecting the deserted lobby with her missing friends,
and now the empty seats around her, she sensed all was not normal. Picking the
back row, center seat, she settled in with a gulp of her drink as an ad about a
local painless-dentist played. A bitter aftertaste forced her to run her tongue
against the roof of her mouth to rub away the peculiar, clinging bite. Setting
the awful drink aside and wondering if her phone’s brains were fried, she
pulled up a few websites to ensure those connections worked while an ad about
some nearby legal firm staffed with blond, pretty people filled the movie
screen.
Coming attractions commanded Traci’s attention as the lights dimmed.
The first, The Witch Terminator,
caused her to lay her phone in her lap. Her tongue suddenly numbed, and eyelids
drooped. Struggling to stay awake, she watched a woman wearing tight shorts and
pistol flamethrowers strapped to her thighs crash through a window into a coven
of witches on a spooky, stormy night. Lightning
flashed on the screen, and Traci surrendered, her eyes sealing shut.
#
Opening the refrigerator, Glen laughed.
Staring back at him from a lightless cave was a heavily bruised apple, wrapped
slices of plastic cheese with a rumored shelf life of twenty years or more
sporting green patches of mold, and a carton of milk with an expiration date
twelve days earlier. A sorrowful transformation from the cornucopia of supplies
typical only a few months ago. Ignoring the gourmet delights, his eyes finally
set on a single bottle of Corona.
Sitting at the table, he faced his reflection
in the sliding glass door. “Cheers!” he said, raising his arm in a toast to
himself. He sat and watched condensation trickle down the Corona to form a
puddle at the bottle’s base on the mahogany table, which had never suffered as
much as a minor scratch. Reaching to take another swig, his lack of focus
produced careless movement and he knocked over the Corona. The bottle rolled
across the table, falling to the hard, tiled floor. It shattered, beer
spreading across the ceramic surface.
“Oh, that’s just great,” he shouted, jumping
up to get paper towels, broom, and dust pan. “This just makes my day complete.”
After picking up pieces of glass and while sopping up the beer with paper
towels on hands and knees, Glen caught movement through the glass in the
sliding door. Lifting his head to look, a pair of eyes surrounded by a black
mask returned his stare. “Really? Now a raccoon.”
Glen returned his attention to finishing the
cleanup but soon heard scratching from the door. He watched in disbelief as the
raccoon pawed and bit at the vinyl trim covering the outside of the door. When
he saw a long string of vinyl in the animal’s teeth, Glen crawled quickly to
the door to tap on the glass.
The raccoon found the noise interesting, so
paused its task to study the man behind the glass who it found even more
interesting. Glen rapped more sharply. The raccoon waddled off into the dark,
vinyl prize in mouth. Sighing, Glen grabbed a light jacket from the closet and
flashlight from the junk drawer to inspect the damage.
Once outside on the patio brick, he ran the
light over the door trim and groaned. “Enough is enough,” he mumbled, plopping
onto the webbed fabric lounger, shivering once with the chill of an early
August, Michigan night. Lying back, he stared up at the billions of icy points
of light, ranging from brilliant gems to dusty smears as his ears picked up a
faint ripping noise and his body sank a little lower into the chair. He
wondered if falling through the old, shredded, nylon straps to land on a
skulking racoon would complete his glorious evening.
A meteor flashed overhead. The possibility of
only a raccoon to share the event with tempered his excitement. Slipping into
thoughts of his solitary life, Glen vowed never to permit himself to love
another person because of the inevitable pain and misery.
Resting back, he hoped to glimpse another
meteor before the lounger gave way, and as if fulfilling his wish, one
appeared. It was big. Astounding. Not merely a streak of light, but large
enough to discern the solid sphere of the meteor enveloped in a seething,
burning gas. That image imprinted in his brain. A blue-green fireball racing to
Earth. Not only towards Earth, but also towards him. Glen jumped to his feet,
raising an arm across his forehead as if to protect his face from an impact
equivalent to a nuclear detonation.
A second later, it exploded high in the night
sky directly above his head, fragments hurtling outward from where the parent
object had been. No shockwave. No kaboom. No sound at all. Glen swiveled around
and around, his head cocked back as far as his neck would allow, trying to view
the canopy of falling lights. Hundreds of miniature fireballs, looking like a
Fourth of July firework display, silently fell to the Earth in an umbrella of
streaking lights and smoky tails miles around him.
The placid night sky returned. Releasing a
breath, Glen explored the heavens. Not a trace of the spectacular, celestial
event remained. Dropping his sight to the horizon, he searched for telltale
signs of fires, or unusual lights, but saw only ordinary nighttime silhouettes
of tree lines and fields.
Lunging to the patio door to return inside, he
hoped to find bulletins on the unusual meteor strike. Retrieving his cell phone
from the kitchen counter, Glen checked the national and local news websites but
came up empty. Nothing concerning a meteor event. He concluded reports of the
incident would take time to trickle into the news unless a piece hit something
notable like a building, car, or circus clown.
Glen
readied for bed by first setting the clock radio and phone alarms for 6:00 AM,
the usual workday wake time. He made one last effort to survey the seeable area
from a back window for signs of meteor strikes. Finally drifting into sleep, he
awoke occasionally with flashes of recollection about the extraordinary heavenly
event. Unable to pinpoint the reasons, the experience was not only exciting,
but unsettling.
#
Glancing at a map on her phone, Sara read the
estimated travel time to her destination at under five minutes. Dispatch had
given no sensible reason why she was assigned to tail this guy. His record unblemished,
it made no sense. “Just stay close and report anything unusual,” the dispatcher
said last night. And starting so early in the morning for a seemingly pointless
assignment irritated her. At least traffic had been great, she had not seen
another car on the road since she said goodbye to her cat at the apartment.
A curve in the road ahead showed in the
headlights and brightening sky. Worried about finding her next turn, her eyes darted
to the map again. In an instant, she felt the car swerve. Her eyes jumping back
to the windshield, she saw a tree instead of the road rushing toward her. About
to wrench the steering wheel to the left, her world changed with a deafening
bang and a punch into her chest.
Gasping to inhale a breath, her ears ringing, Sara
pushed an airbag out of the way, opened the door, tumbling onto the ground. Her
cheek felt gravel beneath it. The mixed aromas of Queen Anne’s Lace and earth dominated
her senses as consciousness slipped away.
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February 6, 2019
Are Animals More Attracted to Some People? Revisited
This is an update to a previous post, Are Animals More Attracted to Some People? I tried finding scientific studies on whether or not some people attract stray animals with little success. Plenty of studies and opinions on attracting stray people, but not much on animals. But, after reading so many experiences by people, or stories about witnessing the way some people attract animals, I make the declaration, IT IS TRUE, SOME PEOPLE NATURALLY HAVE AN AFFINITY WITH ANIMALS. It’s a scientific fact.
A Michigan resident named Chelsea recently read the original post and was kind enough to give me her personal experience on the subject. Her story and photos touched me and I believe support the premise of my declaration. These were her comments:
Chelsea: “Had just met these two. Mother and daughter, my grandpa said they never had taken to anyone before or since. Mom was very protective of Pumpkin, her baby (who I named), but loved me and would let pumpkin play with me. Pumpkin was attached to me from the day I met her..”
RAA: “That’s awesome. I wonder what about you immediately signaled “a nice human” to them?”
Chelsea: “I’m not sure, but funny thing is Pumpkin remembered me when I visited again over a year later (Grandpa lives in Kentucky). I was the first one to get a halter on her, without any problems. Years prior, one of my grandpas donkeys also took a liking to me and was borderline obsessed, lol.”
RAA: “So there is something inside you animals trust. I appreciate the comments. It is amazing what animals can sense better than people.”
Chelsea: “I believe it goes deeper than that. I believe I can sense/understand animals as well. For instance my dog Gemma that I adopted 1 year ago in March from Detroit animal control. I went there to meet her after seeing her picture online. I had seen hundreds of pictures of dogs. When I met her, she was so sweet and timid and never barked- despite being outside with construction going on less than 100ft away. However she looked like a terrifying pit mix that could rip you to shreds! But she was such a scaredy cat! The only thing was, I wanted a BIG dog, and they posted she was 80lbs but she was really around 50lbs. So I left without her. Drove a couple blocks away to the Humane society with her on my brain. Got back in my car, called my husband and said “I gotta go back and get that dog. She’s not exactly what we were looking for, but there’s something about her that is so sweet-I have to go back to get her!” And he said ok, do it! Needless to say my life has been changed forever and she truly is the sweetest big baby/scaredy cat you’ll ever meet, disguised as a Big Scary Pit Mix 
February 1, 2019
Choosing The Next President- Truth About The Electoral College
Over two years ago, a minority of voters put someone
in the highest political position for our country. Nearly twenty years ago, a
minority of voters put someone in the highest political position for our
country. On six occasions in United States history, a minority of voters put
someone in the highest political position for the country. How and why can this
happen? The Electoral College is the reason.
Origin
of the Electoral College
The following are typical rationale attributed to the
adoption of the Electoral College by our founders:
Create a separation between the population
and election of a President—The founding fathers feared direct election by
voters, concerned an individual without regard for the best for the country
could manipulate public opinion and achieve the Presidency.Feared the general population of the
sparsely-populated, new country would vote for a local, familiar candidate
since information about candidates in other states would be difficult to
obtain.Provide more influence for smaller states—Appease
smaller states concerned about having little influence on the presidential
election because of their population. Have
the most informed and knowledgeable individuals from each state select the
president based solely on merit.National campaigns were considered
inappropriate—gentlemen should not campaign. “The office should seek the man. The
man should not seek the office.)
The
Electoral College Today
The most significant change in the electoral college
today is state requirements to mandate all Electoral College delegates to cast
their votes for the candidate with the majority of votes in that state. The
only two states that do not have a “winner take all” system for Electoral
College delegates are Maine and Nebraska.
Pizza While Waiting In Long Lines To VoteSeemingly, states tried to move closer to true voter
representation by requiring delegates vote the way of the majority in their
individual states, so why do we still have the electoral college? These are
some of the reasons stated by current politicians:
“Though occasionally maligned, this system
of electing the chief executive has been successful for the American people…Over
200 years if success.”“The system empowers states, especially
smaller ones, because it incentivizes presidential candidates to appeal to
places that may be far away from population centers.”“If the president were elected by
unfiltered national vote, small and rural states would become irrelevant, and
campaigns would spend their time in large, populous districts.“While they’re clear problems with the
Electoral College and there are some advantages to it, changing it is very
unlikely. I would take a constitutional amendment ratified by ¾ of states to
change the system…unfortunately the party that has the advantage in the state
is unlikely to agree to a unilateral change.”
How
are the Prime Ministers Selected in the U.K. and Australia?
As benchmark comparators
to our country’s leader selection process, I thought it interesting to
summarize those used in two other countries. Why the U.K. and Australia?
Simple…following people from the U.S., those from the U.K. and Australia most
often view my posts. (Although at this point in time, the most often viewed is
my post on Plastic Cheese which has
little to do with politics.)
U.K.—During a general
election, local areas of the country elect an MP (Member of Parliament) from
one of the parties by a simple majority of votes. These MP represent their area
in the House of Commons. The party with the most representatives in the House
of Commons forms the government and the leader of that party becomes the Prime
Minister. Technically, the Queen invites that party’s leader to become the
Prime Minister.
Australia—Interestingly,
the Australian Constitution specifies that the executive power of the
Commonwealth is vested in the Queen (of England) and delegated to the
Governor-General as the Queen’s representative. In practice, the Prime Minister
(position not mentioned in the constitution) is the head of the government. The
leading party for House of Representatives in Parliament decides on the Prime
Minister. Traditionally, that individual is the leader of the party. Members of
the House of Representatives are elected by an absolute majority of votes from 150
electorates in the country. Each electorate covers an average of 100,000 voters.
Registration to vote and voting are required by law in Australia.
So, both the U.K. and
Australia, as is the United States, are not true democracies for selecting their
top leader.
Is
The Electoral College The Right System?
My post…my answer: NO! It is obsolete.
There were several reasons the 1787
Constitutional Convention decided on the electoral college format, but
protecting smaller states was not one of them. Some feared direct democracy but
that was only one consideration. Direct election for the president posed an
issue for slave states. They had large populations but fewer eligible voters
(slaves could not vote.) The electoral college would allow representation for
presidential election by population, not voters. The Convention agreed to count
each slave as three-fifths of a person. For example, Virginia which had the largest
population in the 13 original states would have more say for choosing the
president with an Electoral College system then by popular vote. The framers of
the Constitution protected the interests of the smaller states by creating the
Senate which gives every state two votes regardless of population.Factors were vastly different in 1787. The
map below shows what our country looked like then.
Note: North Carolina and Rhode Island had not yet ratified the Constitution so were therefore ineligible to choose electors. The New York legislature was deadlocked so therefore no electors were chosen. Vermont is not included on the map because at the time it was a separate independent nation.
It
was made up of thirteen large and small states, each jealous of their rights
and powers and untrusting of a central, national government. The United States
population was only four million distributed along a thousand miles of Atlantic
seaboard, transportation and communication being weak. National campaigns were
impractical even if desirable.
Additional distortion to the Electoral
College concept has been fostered by the requirement for all delegates in a
state being required to vote for the candidate who wins most votes in that state.
As mentioned earlier, all but two states have instituted that mandate. If 51
percent of a state’s population votes for a candidate, the votes of the 49
percent of that state are discounted for election of the president. This has
the potential to elect a president that is popular only in most large
metropolitan areas but not rural.
We have had two cases in
the past twenty years where a President has been elected by a minority of votes
from the general population. Regardless of personal opinion about those
individuals elected to office, they were not the choice of the American people.
Given current state of “instant communication” across the United States, there
is no longer any compelling rationale for an Electoral College system.W
For Additional Information:
Five Myths About the Electoral College-Washington Post
Reasons For The Electoral College-William C. Kimberling, Deputy Director FEC
Note:
I am a fiction writer, but research topics and provide posts like the one above for enlightenment and entertainment. If you liked it, please take a look at some of my other posts and my home page, R. A. Andrade. This post was prompted by the following passage in my upcoming novel, Three Remain:
“The
storm theory, however improbable, does have some plausibility,” Sunshine
commented. “As I see it, we have the option of staying put, exploring the
area bounded by the fog, or trying to penetrate through the fog.”
“I
vote for trying to get through the fog,” Glen offered first.
Sunshine
agreed, then turned to Traci, and asked, “What do you think?”
“Really,
you’re asking me? It looks spooky, but maybe I can get a text out on the other
side.”
The post Choosing The Next President- Truth About The Electoral College appeared first on R. A. Andrade.
November 19, 2018
Three Remain Cover Design
Three Remain is a novel which will be published in 2019 and this post concerns the Three Remain cover design. I can best categorize the novel as a mystery thriller with traces of speculative fiction overtones. Since the first worthwhile manuscript draft, I envisioned the Three Remain cover design to represent the following scene from the second chapter:
A sign approached, indicating two miles to Jackson Road, his exit to the hospital. As they crested a rise in the road he eased his foot off the pedal. They confronted a massive, white cloud bank rising from ground level to the sky about a mile ahead, just beyond the upcoming exit to the town of Falls Creek. The sun shined in the clear blue sky above, but ahead of them, a wall of dense, white cloud climbed from the expressway to hundreds of feet into the air.
That scene eventually fostered the following initial concept for the front cover:
Fortunately, a creative artist, Vanessa Verstraete, possessing the talent to develop sketches of multiple concepts in a short period of time agreed to take on the Three Remain cover design. Since a book’s cover is nearly, or equally as important as the title, we investigated alternatives to “car approaching fogbank,” wanting to be sure we pusured the correct choice. As was the case in the book’s title, the cover design is changing to another scene that better represents the feel, characters, and emotion of the novel.
I previously issued a post on the title change from “Sunshine at the Oasis” to “Three Remain.” That process, although agonizing and heart wrenching for me, resulted in the right title for the book. Similarly difficult, the change of cover concept is the right one for Three Remain. The design concept is based on the following passage from chapter three:
Closing the trunk, Sunshine said to Glen, “When I get my memory back I hope I don’t discover I have children. They are a pain in the ass.”
Traci mouthed “What?” and then yelled, “You know I’m standing right here.”
Sunshine chose a location on the side of a small hill overlooking the lake. Spreading the blanket on the well-manicured grass, she knelt looking across the water. The fog bank traversed the lake, hiding the far shore. She shivered.
This is the initial concept for the Three Remain cover design (also the feature image for this post). It includes wrap around art from front to back covers:
Design by Vanessa VerstraeteThe post Three Remain Cover Design appeared first on R. A. Andrade.
October 31, 2018
Fog Is Both Wonder And Peril
The shroud of fog is both wonder and peril. Fog can provide opportunities to see our surroundings painted with a different face and to hear them in a new light. Although I grew up in an area with frequent occurrences of fog, the most surreal experience I remember, was being enveloped in fog walking the streets in downtown London late at night. The buildings became ghostly in that veil, yet the combination of fog and architecture achieved beauty. One of the most dangerous experience in my life was attempting to drive through fog at night near London, Ontario, Canada. (The London nomenclature is completely coincidental and although possessing the same names, are in different countries entirely. The first was in a place called England.)
What Is Fog?—The Dictionary
A cloudlike mass or layer of minute water droplets or ice crystals near the surface of the Earth, appreciably reducing visibility.
Any darkened state of the atmosphere, or the diffused substance that causes it.
A state of mental confusion or unawareness; daze; stupor
To avoid confusion, the following is the definition of mist:
A cloudlike aggregation of minute globules of water suspended in the atmosphere at or near the Earth’s surface, reducing visibility to a lesser degree than fog.
A cloud of particles like a mist of perfume.
Something that dims, obscures, or blurs.
What is Fog?—Science
It can be considered a cloud at ground level although formed differently than a cloud. Condensed water droplets make up fog. The droplets are the result of air being cooled to the dewpoint, the point at which the air can not hold all the water vapor it contains. Unlike clouds, the cooling can be caused by a ground temperature or air near the ground. As an example, rain can cool the ground until fog forms.
More frequently, fog is formed when a humid air mass cools at night while the warm ground and water surfaces are still evaporating water into the atmosphere. Or a warm moist air mass moves over a cold surface like snow or ice. There are other processes that form fog, but the fog is the condition of water droplets or ice crystals in the air.
The most fog-prone areas of the United States are the Appalachians, northern New England, and the Pacific Northwest. Northern Gulf Coast and California coast can also have frequent fog.
The Wonder and Beauty of Fog
The allure of fog can be best communicated through art and photographs:
Where Ravens Soar – Elizabeth EllisonElizabeth also supplied the header art at the top of this post. It’s entitled: That Day
Clicking or touching her name will connect to her website.
Poetry of Fog
Fog – by Carl Sandbur
The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
The Fog – by Theresa Ann Moore
A veiled wall of misty low hanging clouds
Mysteriously conceals and restrictively shrouds.
Visibility is far from marvelous this morning…
Travelers appear from the fog with no warning.
With uneasiness, I peer into the cold space ahead.
I am in familiar surroundings, but feel lost instead.
The road before me beckons, as I apply the brake…
Accelerating without caution could be a serious mistake.
Sounds of distress are now heard from beyond my view.
No doubt someone has had an unintentional rendezvous.
Fog-A Maine Tall Tale
retold by
S.E. Schlosser
You can talk ’til you’re blue in the face about the thickest of fogs in ye merry olde England, but I’m tellin’ you now, sure as I’m standing here, that England’s fogs don’t hold nothing over them thick fogs which roll in over the Bay of Fundy here in Maine. These ain’t your little pea soupers, you can betcher life. These fogs is so thick you can drive a nail into them and hang yer hat on it. It’s the honest truth.
One of my neighbors works a fishing boat, but he can’t do nothin’ when a Maine fog comes rolling into the bay. He always saves up his chores for a foggy day. One day, the fog came rollin’ in overnight, and my friend knew there wasn’t to be no fishin’ that day. So he decides his roof needs shingling. He got started at the shingling right after breakfast, and didn’t come down ’til dinner.
“Maude, we got a mighty long house,” he told his wife over supper. “Took me all day to shingle.”
Well, Maude knew right enough that they lived in a small house. After all, she’d been cleanin’ it for nigh on twenty years, so who would know better? She went outside to take a look. And I’ll be jiggered if she didn’t discover that my neighbor had shingled right past the edge of the roof and out onto the fog!
But If You Drive In Fog
Let’s start with Advice from AA in the UK. I like this because of the language:
Use dipped headlights, wipers and demisters. (translation to English: Use low beams, windshield wipers, and defrosters.)
Use fog lights when you need to.
Don’t rely on automatic lights-they may not come on in fog.
Beware of other drivers not using headlights.
Don’t rely on daytime running lights alone.
Only drive as fast as conditions allow.
Keep a greater distance-allow three seconds between you and the car in front.
Tailing another car’s rear lights can give a false sense of security and it’s dangerous. (In the U.S. that goes for pickup trucks also.)
Adjust your speed so you can stop in the distance you can see clearly.
Don’t speed up to get away from a vehicle that’s too close behind you.
Check your mirrors before you slow down.
Open your windows to listen for traffic at junctions you can’t see. (translation to English: …listen for traffic at intersections or entrance ramps you can’t see.)
Some added advice from other sources:
Never use your high-beam lights. Causes a glare from the fog.
In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to turn on your hazard flashing lights and pull into a safe location like a parking lot. If not available, get off the road as far as possible and keep only hazard lights on. (I should have followed this one. More about that later.)
Don’t drift. There’s a natural tendency to wander to the center of the road. Keep in your lane.
Beware of critters. They are bolder under the cover of fog.
Beware of freezing fog—known as black ice.
Use the right edge of the road as a guide.
As for help from your passengers to look out for oncoming cars and obstacles on the road. (and raccoons)
And finally, don’t ever do what I did:
Driving a vehicle without fog lights and overloaded in the cargo area so that the headlights pointed above rather than on the road, I encountered a dense fog unlike any I had experienced somewhere southeast of London, Ontario, Canada. I could see the fog lit by the headlights immediately in front of the vehicle, but that was about it. I could not see the roadway at all. Determined to at least reach London that night, I ventured on. I put on the hazard flashers as recommended above but without being able to see any of the road I needed some additional action. Turning off the headlights completely, I discovered I could detect grass at the right shoulder of the road if I drove on the shoulder, but that necessitated turning off the flashers to use parking lights only. We traveled that way for about a hundred feet before fear of being struck by another vehicle overcame me. I evoked the advice rule above and got help from other family members. Turning the hazards back on, one of my children kept a vigil out the rear window for an approaching vehicle’s lights while another walked along the grass just to the right front of the vehicle, so she could yell to me through the open windows when to adjust course so to keep our vehicle on the road. It was cold outside, bringing us close to frostbite. We travelled this way for nearly two hours before the density of the fog diminished enough to see the road with the headlights on. I’m not sure how much distance we covered that way. It was akin to walking a horse I suppose. I look back on that incident, realizing how dealing with driving in fog in that manner put our family in danger. That is why you won’t find my approach for dealing with driving in the fog listed in the advice above.
Note:
I am a fiction writer, but research topics and provide posts like the one above for enlightenment and entertainment. If you liked it, please take a look at some of my other posts and my home page, R. A. Andrade. This post was prompted by the following passage in my upcoming novel, Three Remain:
Glancing up to the south, Glen saw the ominous fog looming over the rooftops accentuating the unnatural appearance of the town. There had been no dissipation or movement of the bright veil of white. He started the engine and pulled the shift lever into drive.
The post Fog Is Both Wonder And Peril appeared first on R. A. Andrade.
October 18, 2018
Could The Blob Be Real?
Many of us wonder, “Could The Blob be real?” And then there are those who ask, “What’s the blob?” First, I’ll bring those in the dark about The Blob up to speed with those in the know.
The Blob
A different type of monster science fiction/horror movie reached theaters in 1958 which went on to become a classic. The storyline told of a meteorite falling to Earth during the dark of night outside a small Pennsylvania town in the United States. A small gelatinous organism (looks like red Jell-O) emerges and attaches itself to the arm of a curious older gent poking at it with a stick. It consumes his arm and then his entire body. Growing in size with each victim, it ultimately threatens to eat (absorb) everyone in the community. Throw in delinquent teenagers, one of whom is newcomer actor Steve McQueen, adversarial police officers, a budding romance, a little boy, a puppy and a classic movie begins its 60-year life. The movie is entitled, The Blob.
Given the popularity of The Blob, a sequel was inevitable. It came in 1972 with the title of Beware! The Blob. An oil worker, Chester, brings a frozen sample of the original blob from the Arctic. It escapes, eats a kitten, and then follows in the footsteps of its parent frozen blob to threaten at town’s inhabitants. Terrible movie with amateurish special effects. Barely watchable, even for Blob lovers, but necessary for the complete Blob experience.
Then in 1988, a remake of the original utilizing a new generation of special effects capabilities reached cinemas. Edging more toward the horror camp, the newer, The Blob, used more graphic violence as did remakes of The Thing, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It was a well-done movie, worthy of Blob aficionado attention but unsuccessful at the box office.
And finally, another remake of the original is planned. Some indications of a 2019 release, but since it’s not even at the preproduction stage, that seems unlikely. Rumors persist of Samuel L. Jackson and Halle Berry for lead roles and a movie poster appearing very similar to that of the original Alien. Whether or not it ultimately makes it to the big screen is questionable at this time.
The Song – Beware The Blob
The theme song for the 1958 movie was a catchy, fun piece co-written by Burt Bacharach who went on to win a multitude of Grammys and Oscars. “The Five Blobs” performed the song, a group comprised of a single singer, Bernie Nee, whose vocals overdubbed five times for the recording. The bouncy tune spent three weeks on Billboard chart, reaching into the Top 40 in popularity.
The lyrics:
Beware of the blob, it creeps
And leaps and glides and slides
Across the floor
Right through the door
And all around the wall
A splotch, a blotch
Be careful of the blob
Blob Trivia
The Blob was based on a true story—Philadelphia police officers saw a strange object fall from the sky in 1950. Upon investigation, they found a purple jelly-like mass approximately six feet in diameter that pulsated and glowed. The blob evaporated within 30 minutes.
Unknown actor at the time, Steve McQueen landed the lead role, deciding on payment of somewhere between $2500 and $3000 instead of a percentage of the profits. Big mistake because he needed cash. The Blob earned $1.5 million in the first month of release.
Produced by a religious film company—Valley Forge Films of Pennsylvania, known for hundreds of Christian movies, needed to become more profitable. Blob producer, Jack H. Harris convinced them to take a chance on his new monster movie.
The Blob represented Communism—Many assumed the Blob represented the creeping red menace of Communism. Producer Harris laughed it off. He only wanted to make a movie monster that wasn’t a guy dressed up in a suit.
Original title was “Molten Meteor”—“The Blob” was decided as a title after production began, so the script never refers to the monster by that name, instead usually calling “a mass.”
There is an annual Blobfest in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania—Location of the most notable sets in the movie, including high school, diner, garage, and theater, the town hosts a yearly Blobfest. Naturally during the event, The Blob plays at the same theater used in the movie. Patrons can participate in a reenactment theater “run out.” There’s also a Steve McQueen look-alike contest.
Could The Blob Be Real?
Star Jelly—A mysterious white substance nicknamed “Star Jelly” has been found in many parts of the world since the 14th century including England, Scotland, Germany, Mexico and the United States. Usually a white gooey slime found on the ground, that some have claimed is associated with meteor showers. It evaporates quickly. Studies on the translucent jelly have been even attempted by the National Geographic Society with inconclusive results. They found no evidence of DNA in the substance. The following explanations have been speculated by others:
Remains of frogs, toads, or worms.
Blue-green algae that swells after a rainfall.
Substance from stags during the rutting season.
Slime mold.
Remnants of atmospheric beasts. (I like this one)
Alien life contained in meteors.
Star Jelly just doesn’t fit the profile of a proper Blob creature. Star Jelly, although intriguing, is usually white, just lays there, and evaporates. The substance from 1950 that spawned the idea for The Blob is closer because the policemen stated it fell from the sky, it was living, it was red, and it was big. But it evaporated. It did nothing exciting like eat anyone.
Conclusion:
Given the failure of Star Jelly to meet the criterion for the true Blob, the question remains, “Could the Blob be real?” The few who have dealt with this important topic, focus on single celled life like the amoeba as a model of possible life similar to the Blob. That model of life severely restricts the possibilities by size and characteristic of the movie Blob.
The Truth: The Blob could exist as a lifeform elsewhere in the universe as a multicell creature similar to Earth’s jellyfish. It could be red, or green, or whatever color gives it adaptive advantage in its environment. It may be either land based or inhabit the oceans of Europa. Life evolving to this form is perfectly acceptable to scientific constraints. Could one reach Earth on a spaceship of its own design? I believe this improbable since a creature of this nature that is nearly indestructible would not need the evolutionary advantage of high intelligence. It would be as dumb as a bunny but successful on its home world like the dinosaurs once were on Earth. But we could bring one back to our planet in a jar.
Note:
I am a fiction writer, but research topics and provide posts like the one above for enlightenment and entertainment. If you liked it, please take a look at some of my other posts and my home page, R. A. Andrade. This post was prompted by the following passage in my upcoming novel, Three Remain:
Returning for the last load, the sound of boxes hitting the floor echoed from a shadowy aisle at the rear of the store, forcing his legs to a standstill. Faint beads of sweat formed at his hairline and his mind pictured a similarly darkened supermarket in the movie, The Blob, where a large, red, pulsating jellylike-blob rolls down an aisle absorbing people in its path.
The post Could The Blob Be Real? appeared first on R. A. Andrade.
September 30, 2018
Book Offer to Subscribers
Occasionally I break from the typical themes of my posts for the topic of writing. This is one of them. I am making a book offer to subscribers of raandrade.com post notifications. The featured image above captured the publisher’s reaction to this idea.
The Offer
Selladore Press will send any subscriber to raandrade.com a free signed print copy of my novel, The Field Trip, if you purchase an ebook version on Amazon. Price of the ebook is $2.99 in the United States. Since I know I have some current subscribers in Canada, the price on Amazon there is CDN$ 3.78. Selladore Press pays for shipping of the print copy.
This offer is good until the end of October of 2018 or while the signed copies last.
How it Works
You purchase the ebook on Amazon before November 1st of this year and send me a note, either on the website Contact Form or directly to me at ron@raandrade.com. Indicate that you purchased the ebook and supply the name and mailing address where you would like the signed print book sent. Any questions, concerns, or suggestions are welcome at any time.
Possible Outcomes For You
You love The Field Trip. You get to place a copy in your private library to read again and again.
It’s just okay but you wouldn’t bother to read it again. You get to regift the book for the coming holiday season.
You don’t like the book at all. You have a physical copy to throw across the room in frustration for wasting your time. Please respect the personal space of other people, pets, or breakable room items if you end up taking this route.
Why Am I Doing This?
I like October.
Celebrate the editing process for the upcoming novel, Three Remain, going well.
Subscribers to this website who read the posts regularly should get benefits from time to time.
Hoping than anyone who likes The Field Trip takes the time to write a review on Amazon.
Risk to You
None, other than your time. If you don’t like the book or are dissatisfied in any way, I will personally return the money you paid for the ebook edition of The Field Trip.
Links to The Field Trip on Amazon U.S. and Amazon Canada are provided below. Touching or clicking on the images will bring you to The Field Trip ebook edition on the respective Amazon websites.
Thanks for being a subscriber to raandrade.com
R. A. Andrade
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