Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 100
November 29, 2019
Recursion by Blake Crouch
Just finished reading "Recursion" by Blake Crough, released Crown Books.
The world is on the brink of a terrifying change due to a deadly contagious pathogen that creates false memories of lives never lived - or were they?. Attempting to save a woman who is suffering from False Memory Syndrome from committing suicide, police detective Blake Sutton becomes exposed but soon discovered that False Memory Syndrome is man-made - the side effect of an experiment in memory preservation gone horribly wrong and humanity may become extinct unless Sutton can piece together the reality out of his own false memories that are now terrifying real.
A great and intense read.
Five Stars!
The world is on the brink of a terrifying change due to a deadly contagious pathogen that creates false memories of lives never lived - or were they?. Attempting to save a woman who is suffering from False Memory Syndrome from committing suicide, police detective Blake Sutton becomes exposed but soon discovered that False Memory Syndrome is man-made - the side effect of an experiment in memory preservation gone horribly wrong and humanity may become extinct unless Sutton can piece together the reality out of his own false memories that are now terrifying real.
A great and intense read.
Five Stars!
November 17, 2019
Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood" released by Kino Lorber.
Just finished watching "Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood" released by Kino Lorber.
When Scotty Bower's autobiography was first published, Mom asked me to order ti for her on Amazon which I dutifully did to her, but sadly she never got around to reading it So when I got a review copy, I knew a little bit of Scotty Bower's story because I found and let Mom read some of the articles published by the Daily Mail.
Scotty Bowers, who recently passed away, was a cagey man. I also thought he was still a bit of a lonely man who outlived most
Scotty Bowers, who recently passed away, was a cagey man. I also thought he was still a bit of a lonely man who outlived most
of his friends and family, while desperately trying to help the
friends who remained loyal to him over the years. Yes, he was a hoarder - as scenes from all five of his houses showed and he was still working as a bartender. The movie ended with him going into a clinic to start kidney dialysis.
I found myself believing Scotty Bowers. He does present valid and compelling proof that would stand up in a court of law and he even has film evidence - of which a clip is shown. The biggest complaint his critics have is that every actor he talks
about is dead and they can't rebut him and also that he's betraying confidences.
Scotty Bowers, who recently passed away, was a cagey man. I also thought he was still a bit of a lonely man who outlived most
of his friends and family, while desperately trying to help the
friends who remained loyal to him over the years. Yes, he was a hoarder - as scenes from all five of his houses showed and he was still working as a bartender. The movie ended with him going into a clinic to start kidney dialysis. alysis.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Scotty-Secret-...
When Scotty Bower's autobiography was first published, Mom asked me to order ti for her on Amazon which I dutifully did to her, but sadly she never got around to reading it So when I got a review copy, I knew a little bit of Scotty Bower's story because I found and let Mom read some of the articles published by the Daily Mail.
Scotty Bowers, who recently passed away, was a cagey man. I also thought he was still a bit of a lonely man who outlived most
Scotty Bowers, who recently passed away, was a cagey man. I also thought he was still a bit of a lonely man who outlived most
of his friends and family, while desperately trying to help the
friends who remained loyal to him over the years. Yes, he was a hoarder - as scenes from all five of his houses showed and he was still working as a bartender. The movie ended with him going into a clinic to start kidney dialysis.
I found myself believing Scotty Bowers. He does present valid and compelling proof that would stand up in a court of law and he even has film evidence - of which a clip is shown. The biggest complaint his critics have is that every actor he talks
about is dead and they can't rebut him and also that he's betraying confidences.
Scotty Bowers, who recently passed away, was a cagey man. I also thought he was still a bit of a lonely man who outlived most
of his friends and family, while desperately trying to help the
friends who remained loyal to him over the years. Yes, he was a hoarder - as scenes from all five of his houses showed and he was still working as a bartender. The movie ended with him going into a clinic to start kidney dialysis. alysis.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Scotty-Secret-...
Dropping the Soap - A Dull Comedy About Soap Operas
Just finished watching "Dropping The Soap" released by dekko Films.
Somehow Jane Lynch won an Emmy Award for this rather standard and blase parody of a long running daytime soap opera called "Collided Lives." There was really nothing new and fresh in this comedy that would make it truly groundbreaking - apart from some over the top performances and "Collided Lives" scenes that stretched credulity. Oh and the attempts of blackmailing the lead character because he's gay...sort of pathetic, yet probably does happen in real life. Just not the comedy I thought it would be.
Not Recommended.
One Star for it's spot on portrayal on how classically trained, but ethnic actors were cast in Hollywood.
https://www.amazon.com/Dropping-Soap-...
Somehow Jane Lynch won an Emmy Award for this rather standard and blase parody of a long running daytime soap opera called "Collided Lives." There was really nothing new and fresh in this comedy that would make it truly groundbreaking - apart from some over the top performances and "Collided Lives" scenes that stretched credulity. Oh and the attempts of blackmailing the lead character because he's gay...sort of pathetic, yet probably does happen in real life. Just not the comedy I thought it would be.
Not Recommended.
One Star for it's spot on portrayal on how classically trained, but ethnic actors were cast in Hollywood.
https://www.amazon.com/Dropping-Soap-...
October 29, 2019
Breathtaking Sequel - "Star Light" by Hal Clement
Just finished reading "Star Light" by Hal Clement - the sequel to his classic novel "Mission of Gravity," published by Del Rey Books, February 1978.
Like all the books I'm re-reading in my Great Reading of My Favorite Books of my Youth Project, I quickly bought "Star Light" when in appeared on the shelves in the new arrivals section up in the front of Michelle's Bookstore in the Brynn Mar Shopping Center in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Once upon a time, big chain bookstores were more of a novelty than they are today - especially in the 1970s and 1980s. And I picked up my reading copy at Chamblin's Bookmine - the best independent bookstore here in Jacksonville, Florida and pretty much all of Northeast Florida.
Hal Clement was a writer of hard science fiction stories which focused on a unique problem of survival that his protagonists needed to solve in order to survive.
In "Star Light" we see the return of the Mesklinites - intelligent,possibly immortal 15-inch caterpillars - and their leader Barlennan who are exploring the mysterious super-giant terrestrial world of Dhrawn - a planet with 3000 times the mass of Earth in an attempt to figure out exactly how it fits into the nomenclature of worlds and/or failed stars.
Only Barlennan and his crew have plans that go far beyond helping humans explore a mysterious world - they want to explore the galaxy and they aren't above subterfuge to achieve their goals on the ground in amongst the stars.
An epic sequel that leaves you wondering what is transpiring until the very end. Just who gets the last laugh is left up to the reader.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Star-Light-Hal...
Like all the books I'm re-reading in my Great Reading of My Favorite Books of my Youth Project, I quickly bought "Star Light" when in appeared on the shelves in the new arrivals section up in the front of Michelle's Bookstore in the Brynn Mar Shopping Center in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Once upon a time, big chain bookstores were more of a novelty than they are today - especially in the 1970s and 1980s. And I picked up my reading copy at Chamblin's Bookmine - the best independent bookstore here in Jacksonville, Florida and pretty much all of Northeast Florida.
Hal Clement was a writer of hard science fiction stories which focused on a unique problem of survival that his protagonists needed to solve in order to survive.
In "Star Light" we see the return of the Mesklinites - intelligent,possibly immortal 15-inch caterpillars - and their leader Barlennan who are exploring the mysterious super-giant terrestrial world of Dhrawn - a planet with 3000 times the mass of Earth in an attempt to figure out exactly how it fits into the nomenclature of worlds and/or failed stars.
Only Barlennan and his crew have plans that go far beyond helping humans explore a mysterious world - they want to explore the galaxy and they aren't above subterfuge to achieve their goals on the ground in amongst the stars.
An epic sequel that leaves you wondering what is transpiring until the very end. Just who gets the last laugh is left up to the reader.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Star-Light-Hal...
September 30, 2019
Goodbye California
Just finished reading "Goodbye California" by Alistair Maclean, released by Fawcett Crest Books back in 1977.
Confession time, for some reason I never read any of Alistair Maclean's novels during his lifetime - though I did enjoy the movies based on his books when they were released. I put Maclean in the same category of Victoria Holt - another writer I didn't appreciate until I got older.
I do remember seeing "Goodbye California" when it was first released in paperback in the New Fiction Section at Michelle's Bookstore in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
I picked up my reading copy of "Goodbye California" at Chamblin's Bookmine here in Jacksonville, North Carollina - at the original location out on Roosevelt Boulevard.
The events of "Goodbye California" chronicles the events when a splinter group of Muslim terrorists led by a man only known as Morro hijacks a nuclear power station and sets in motion a plan to destroy the entire state of California .
Only Morro has made a fatal mistake. He has kidnapped the wife of Detective Sergeant Ryder and Ryder and his son start an unauthorized terror campaign against Morro and his terrorists.
What makes "Goodbye California" so intriguing a read is that it correctly assumes that interdepartment squabbling and deliberate barriers can impede counter terrorism measures.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-Califo...
Confession time, for some reason I never read any of Alistair Maclean's novels during his lifetime - though I did enjoy the movies based on his books when they were released. I put Maclean in the same category of Victoria Holt - another writer I didn't appreciate until I got older.
I do remember seeing "Goodbye California" when it was first released in paperback in the New Fiction Section at Michelle's Bookstore in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
I picked up my reading copy of "Goodbye California" at Chamblin's Bookmine here in Jacksonville, North Carollina - at the original location out on Roosevelt Boulevard.
The events of "Goodbye California" chronicles the events when a splinter group of Muslim terrorists led by a man only known as Morro hijacks a nuclear power station and sets in motion a plan to destroy the entire state of California .
Only Morro has made a fatal mistake. He has kidnapped the wife of Detective Sergeant Ryder and Ryder and his son start an unauthorized terror campaign against Morro and his terrorists.
What makes "Goodbye California" so intriguing a read is that it correctly assumes that interdepartment squabbling and deliberate barriers can impede counter terrorism measures.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-Califo...
Star Blazers 2202 - Part One
Just finished watching "Star Blazers 2202 - Part One" released by Funimation.
Set three years after the restoration of Earth in "Star Blazers 2199" the Yamato's original crew receive a psychic distress call from the goddess Theresa - except for Yume, who has no memories of her past life before the Yamato's original voyage due to an accident; and they defy orders to go out and help Theresa in order to return the favor and promise they gave to Iscandar. Yet this new journey into the unknown is fraught with grave peril for the unrelenting forces of the White Comet Empire is bearing down on Earth and they seek to destroy humanity before it can spread it's capacity for forgiveness and compassion into the Universe.
A great space opera that successfully reboots and re-imagines the original series from the 1970s/
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Star-Blazers-2...
Set three years after the restoration of Earth in "Star Blazers 2199" the Yamato's original crew receive a psychic distress call from the goddess Theresa - except for Yume, who has no memories of her past life before the Yamato's original voyage due to an accident; and they defy orders to go out and help Theresa in order to return the favor and promise they gave to Iscandar. Yet this new journey into the unknown is fraught with grave peril for the unrelenting forces of the White Comet Empire is bearing down on Earth and they seek to destroy humanity before it can spread it's capacity for forgiveness and compassion into the Universe.
A great space opera that successfully reboots and re-imagines the original series from the 1970s/
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Star-Blazers-2...
Dragonball Z - Super Broly
Just finished watching "Dragonball Z - Super Broly" released by Funimation.
I've held off reviewing "Dragonball Z - Super Broly" because even though I am a strong supporter of Vic Mignogna - I suspect that this recent anime movie in the series is going to have strong supporters on both sides of the ongoing Vic Mignogna case.
So just a reminder, feel free to disagree with me, BUT, this is my Facebook page so I have rules. Outright lies and foul language will be deleted and you will be blocked and unfriened. My life doesn't depend on how many friends and/or likes I have anywhere on Social Media.
"Dragonball Z - Super Broly" is essentially Broly's origin story and also a bit of re conning the Dragonball Z universe. While it doesn't really advance or provide any new insights into the Dragonball Z universe, it does provide a Broly with a more indepth back story while providing insight on his childhood and how he was trained to be an instrument of revenge by his father who blinded by sheer hatred.
Recommended.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Ball-Su...
I've held off reviewing "Dragonball Z - Super Broly" because even though I am a strong supporter of Vic Mignogna - I suspect that this recent anime movie in the series is going to have strong supporters on both sides of the ongoing Vic Mignogna case.
So just a reminder, feel free to disagree with me, BUT, this is my Facebook page so I have rules. Outright lies and foul language will be deleted and you will be blocked and unfriened. My life doesn't depend on how many friends and/or likes I have anywhere on Social Media.
"Dragonball Z - Super Broly" is essentially Broly's origin story and also a bit of re conning the Dragonball Z universe. While it doesn't really advance or provide any new insights into the Dragonball Z universe, it does provide a Broly with a more indepth back story while providing insight on his childhood and how he was trained to be an instrument of revenge by his father who blinded by sheer hatred.
Recommended.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Ball-Su...
The Secret Life of Pets 2
Just finished watching "The Secret Life of Pets 2" by Illumination, released by Universal.
Social Justice Warriors attacked "The Secret Life of Pets 2" during it's original release because Katie, Max's owner, fallsl in love with Chuck - a man, got married, and they had a baby boy together - Liam. SJWs really do need to get a life.
Max becomes even more neurotic in his desire to protect Liam from the dangers of great big world outside of their apartment - so much so that he develops an itch and ends up with a plastic collar to stop himself from scratching.
So when Katie and Chuck decide to visit an uncle of theirs who lives on a farm - it's never really clear who the uncle is, though I suspect he's Chuck's uncle - Max is able to overcome his anxieties with the help of Rooster, the farm dog.
Meanwhile, Gidget who Max had asked to look after his favorite toy, looses it to a den of cats and must take lessons in becoming a cat to retrieve it; and there is another side story with Snowball assuming the role of a caped and masked superhero to rescue a Siberian Tiger from a cruel circus owner. All three stories to merge together in a rather breathless and over-the-top rescue scene.
Great fun! I hope there is a sequel where Katie and Chuck have another baby and cause the SJWs to go even more bonkers - if that was possible.
While the original movie was superior, this sequel, while not raising to the heights of the original, is great fun.
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Life-Pe...
Social Justice Warriors attacked "The Secret Life of Pets 2" during it's original release because Katie, Max's owner, fallsl in love with Chuck - a man, got married, and they had a baby boy together - Liam. SJWs really do need to get a life.
Max becomes even more neurotic in his desire to protect Liam from the dangers of great big world outside of their apartment - so much so that he develops an itch and ends up with a plastic collar to stop himself from scratching.
So when Katie and Chuck decide to visit an uncle of theirs who lives on a farm - it's never really clear who the uncle is, though I suspect he's Chuck's uncle - Max is able to overcome his anxieties with the help of Rooster, the farm dog.
Meanwhile, Gidget who Max had asked to look after his favorite toy, looses it to a den of cats and must take lessons in becoming a cat to retrieve it; and there is another side story with Snowball assuming the role of a caped and masked superhero to rescue a Siberian Tiger from a cruel circus owner. All three stories to merge together in a rather breathless and over-the-top rescue scene.
Great fun! I hope there is a sequel where Katie and Chuck have another baby and cause the SJWs to go even more bonkers - if that was possible.
While the original movie was superior, this sequel, while not raising to the heights of the original, is great fun.
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Life-Pe...
The Chosen Wars
Just finished reading "The Chosen Wars - How Judaism Became An American Religion" by Steven R. Weisman, released by Simon & Schuster.
The evolution of Judaism in America into its three separate main branches - Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox - makes for fascinating reading, especially when you discover how American Judaism fractured under the weight of its dream of a unified Judaism due to shellfish and frog legs being served at the banquet honoring the first four Rabbis ordained in America and the installation of an organ in the temple at Charleston, South Carolina, and to the resistance of introducing English in services and to removing the separation of men and women in temple. [Note - when I was looking into jointing Etz Chiam, a Conservative/Orthodox temple here in Jacksonville, Florida, the membership director proudly told me back in 1992 that they had just allowed men and women to sit together. We didn't join that temple because it seemed and from the time I took Zack there nearly four years ago a country club promoting Country Club Judaism.]
Weisman also touches how the American Civil War and the question of Slavery in America divided the Jewish community and caused additional rifts in Judaism as Jews struggled to reconcile and adapt their faith to a changing world.
Weisman also examines Judaism in the 20th and 21st centuries, though I strongly disagree with his blanket statement that all Jews vote straight Democratic tickets. I'm a Conservative Jewish Republican and Jews can be Republicans.
A good, solid foray in the history of how Judaism evolved in the United States. I'm deducting one star for Weisman's nonsensical statement that all American Jews are Democrats.
Highly Recommended.
Four Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Chosen-Wars-Ju...
The evolution of Judaism in America into its three separate main branches - Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox - makes for fascinating reading, especially when you discover how American Judaism fractured under the weight of its dream of a unified Judaism due to shellfish and frog legs being served at the banquet honoring the first four Rabbis ordained in America and the installation of an organ in the temple at Charleston, South Carolina, and to the resistance of introducing English in services and to removing the separation of men and women in temple. [Note - when I was looking into jointing Etz Chiam, a Conservative/Orthodox temple here in Jacksonville, Florida, the membership director proudly told me back in 1992 that they had just allowed men and women to sit together. We didn't join that temple because it seemed and from the time I took Zack there nearly four years ago a country club promoting Country Club Judaism.]
Weisman also touches how the American Civil War and the question of Slavery in America divided the Jewish community and caused additional rifts in Judaism as Jews struggled to reconcile and adapt their faith to a changing world.
Weisman also examines Judaism in the 20th and 21st centuries, though I strongly disagree with his blanket statement that all Jews vote straight Democratic tickets. I'm a Conservative Jewish Republican and Jews can be Republicans.
A good, solid foray in the history of how Judaism evolved in the United States. I'm deducting one star for Weisman's nonsensical statement that all American Jews are Democrats.
Highly Recommended.
Four Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Chosen-Wars-Ju...
September 4, 2019
"Agatha Raisin - Series Two"
Just finished watching released by Acorn TV.
While Series Two of Agatha Raisin deftly picks up with Agatha returning to Cotswolds after her attempt to win James back when he went to Greece after their failed wedding debacle at the end of the first series; it sadly only consists of just three 90-minute episodes - "The Wizard of Evesham," "The Fairies of Fryfam," and "The Curious Curate."
All are faithful adaptions of the original novels of M.C. Beaton and Ashley Jensen definitely has great fun in the role, as do all the other actors."
Perhaps the most controversial episode in this second series is "The Curious Curate" which features a gay curate who winds up murdered for his blackmailing ways.
Thankfully a third series of Agatha Raisin's adventures are in the works.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Agatha-Raisin-...
While Series Two of Agatha Raisin deftly picks up with Agatha returning to Cotswolds after her attempt to win James back when he went to Greece after their failed wedding debacle at the end of the first series; it sadly only consists of just three 90-minute episodes - "The Wizard of Evesham," "The Fairies of Fryfam," and "The Curious Curate."
All are faithful adaptions of the original novels of M.C. Beaton and Ashley Jensen definitely has great fun in the role, as do all the other actors."
Perhaps the most controversial episode in this second series is "The Curious Curate" which features a gay curate who winds up murdered for his blackmailing ways.
Thankfully a third series of Agatha Raisin's adventures are in the works.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Agatha-Raisin-...
