Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 12
June 2, 2025
You'll Flip, Charlie Brown
Just finished reading "You'll Flip, Charlie Brown," by Charles M. Schulz, published by Holt, Rinehart and Winston Inc.. back in 1967.
I discovered this collection of Peanuts comic strips that originally appeared in newspapers from 1965-1967 at Chamblin's Bookmine.
"You'll Flip, Charlie Brown" contains some of the classic Kite-Eating Tree story arcs and who can forget the arm-wrestling showdown between Lucy and the "Masked Marvel"? Also of note, this story line contains the "Measles" story arc where Lucy and Linus get their measles vaccine. Schulz did promote social causes in some of his Peanuts strips.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/335920065882...
I discovered this collection of Peanuts comic strips that originally appeared in newspapers from 1965-1967 at Chamblin's Bookmine.
"You'll Flip, Charlie Brown" contains some of the classic Kite-Eating Tree story arcs and who can forget the arm-wrestling showdown between Lucy and the "Masked Marvel"? Also of note, this story line contains the "Measles" story arc where Lucy and Linus get their measles vaccine. Schulz did promote social causes in some of his Peanuts strips.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/335920065882...
Jules
Just finished watching "Jules" released by decal Releasing.
I discovered "Jules" quite by accident. I had learned about it from a YouTube video that reviewed and highlighted independent science fiction movies, and "Jules" was one of the movies I decided to hunt down and order on Amazon because of the simple and effective story it told about lonely people connecting through a desire to help a stranger.
While Rotten Tomatoes has certified "Jules" "FRESH," the Rotten Tomatoes website, once a fairly reliable independent movie ratings website, has come under fire since it was sold and became more commercial, giving into the demands of mainstream Hollywood when it comes to how movies are rated; but in this instance, it was accurate with it's "FRESH" rating of "Jules."
"Jules" begins with Milton, a neglected elderly man who seeks relevance by attending city council meetings in his town, where he is largely ignored. He is also very glossed-over by his busy veterinarian daughter, who believes he is developing dementia. The situation is comically complicated when a flying saucer crashes into his back yard, and he is left caring for the injured alien who does not speak but uses telepathy. Milton is not believed by anyone he tells about "Jules," the alien. But when others individually discover Jules' quiet example of humanity and empathy, they are touched by his plight and join forces with Milton to help Jules repair his spaceship and return home. "Jules" is ultimately about the connections we have late in our lives and how we keep them.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Jules-Blu-Ray-...
I discovered "Jules" quite by accident. I had learned about it from a YouTube video that reviewed and highlighted independent science fiction movies, and "Jules" was one of the movies I decided to hunt down and order on Amazon because of the simple and effective story it told about lonely people connecting through a desire to help a stranger.
While Rotten Tomatoes has certified "Jules" "FRESH," the Rotten Tomatoes website, once a fairly reliable independent movie ratings website, has come under fire since it was sold and became more commercial, giving into the demands of mainstream Hollywood when it comes to how movies are rated; but in this instance, it was accurate with it's "FRESH" rating of "Jules."
"Jules" begins with Milton, a neglected elderly man who seeks relevance by attending city council meetings in his town, where he is largely ignored. He is also very glossed-over by his busy veterinarian daughter, who believes he is developing dementia. The situation is comically complicated when a flying saucer crashes into his back yard, and he is left caring for the injured alien who does not speak but uses telepathy. Milton is not believed by anyone he tells about "Jules," the alien. But when others individually discover Jules' quiet example of humanity and empathy, they are touched by his plight and join forces with Milton to help Jules repair his spaceship and return home. "Jules" is ultimately about the connections we have late in our lives and how we keep them.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Jules-Blu-Ray-...
May 27, 2025
You're Something Else, Charlie Brown
Just finished reading "You're Something Else, Charlie Brown," by Charles M. Schulz, published by Holt, Rinehart and Winston Inc.. back in 1968.
I discovered this collection of Peanuts comic strips that originally appeared in newspapers from 1968 at Chamblin's Bookmine.
Perhaps the most notable aspects of this collection is that it not only introduces Franklin as a major supporting character in the Peanut comic strip, but it also briefly introduces Jose Peterson, a young Hispanic boy who is an ace baseball hitter who plays on Peppermint Patty's team, but he doesn't have a speaking role and after four strips, he disappears, not having the same impact as Franklin did. Since Jose Peterson was introduced before Franklin, and this is just an assumption on my part, I think Schulz was testing the waters on how well a minority character would be received in his strip. Do keep in mind that I'm not actually a comics historian, so I may be wrong here.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156318673944...
I discovered this collection of Peanuts comic strips that originally appeared in newspapers from 1968 at Chamblin's Bookmine.
Perhaps the most notable aspects of this collection is that it not only introduces Franklin as a major supporting character in the Peanut comic strip, but it also briefly introduces Jose Peterson, a young Hispanic boy who is an ace baseball hitter who plays on Peppermint Patty's team, but he doesn't have a speaking role and after four strips, he disappears, not having the same impact as Franklin did. Since Jose Peterson was introduced before Franklin, and this is just an assumption on my part, I think Schulz was testing the waters on how well a minority character would be received in his strip. Do keep in mind that I'm not actually a comics historian, so I may be wrong here.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156318673944...
Beneath Coastal Skies
Just finished listening to "Beneath Coastal Skies" by Andy Rogers, released by Medwyn Goodall Music.
Rogers is a musician and Radio Presenter for One World Music Radio from Solihull in the UK, and for his latest release for Medwyn Goodall Music, he turns to the sea for inspiration with piano, keyboards, and strings.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Blue Serenity," "Drifting On The Shore," "Ocean of Echoes," "Titanic (Remembrance)," and "Whispers Of The Sea."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://medwyngoodall.com/andy-rogers
Rogers is a musician and Radio Presenter for One World Music Radio from Solihull in the UK, and for his latest release for Medwyn Goodall Music, he turns to the sea for inspiration with piano, keyboards, and strings.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Blue Serenity," "Drifting On The Shore," "Ocean of Echoes," "Titanic (Remembrance)," and "Whispers Of The Sea."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://medwyngoodall.com/andy-rogers
Tingari
Just finished listening to "Tingari" by Wychazel, released by Medwyn Goodall Music!
Wychazel is actually the non-de-plume of New Age musician Chris Green, who once was part of the New Age music duo Runestone, before he launched his solo career - though I should point out the Green released a few solo CDs while he was part of Runestone, as did the other half of Runstone, Robert Fenner.
With his latest release, Wychazel, a.k.a. Green, explores the Australian Aboriginal creation myth of the Tingari, which he brings to life Didgeridoo, log drums, skin drums, sticks & rattles, Marimba, Tjurunga, Kalimba, tribal chant, synths & samples and atmospheric effects in a continuous play CD with no breaks between tracks.
My favorite tracks are: "Outback Sunset," "Storm of Creation," and "Ancestral Spirits."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://medwyngoodall.com/wychazel
Wychazel is actually the non-de-plume of New Age musician Chris Green, who once was part of the New Age music duo Runestone, before he launched his solo career - though I should point out the Green released a few solo CDs while he was part of Runestone, as did the other half of Runstone, Robert Fenner.
With his latest release, Wychazel, a.k.a. Green, explores the Australian Aboriginal creation myth of the Tingari, which he brings to life Didgeridoo, log drums, skin drums, sticks & rattles, Marimba, Tjurunga, Kalimba, tribal chant, synths & samples and atmospheric effects in a continuous play CD with no breaks between tracks.
My favorite tracks are: "Outback Sunset," "Storm of Creation," and "Ancestral Spirits."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://medwyngoodall.com/wychazel
May 26, 2025
Intraterrestrials - Discovering The Strangest Life On Earth
Just finished reading "Intraterrestrials - Discovering The Strangest Life On Earth" by Karen G. Lloyd, published by Princeton University Press.
Lloyd, who is the Wrigley Chair in Environmental Studies and Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Southern California, is one of the leading experts in underground microbiological life.
She also has accomplished something that I haven't had to do for a long time in a review - deducting a review star for her promotion of the Woke belief that illegal immigration is acceptable, which is ironic considering how Professor Lloyd has to follow the visa regulations of the countries that she travels to collect her research samples. Espousing Woke beliefs to gain creed with the Woke Mob actually discredits scientists and the research work they do.
Only discovered in recent decades, “intraterrestrials”—subsurface beings that are truly alien—are demonstrating how life can exist in boiling water, pure acid, and bleach. They enable us to peer back to the very dawn of life on Earth, disclosing deep branches on the tree of life that push the limits of what we thought possible. Some can “breathe” rocks or even electrons. Others may live for hundreds of thousands of years or longer. All of them are living in ways that are totally foreign to us surface dwellers.
Llyod does blend a captivating storytelling style with the latest science, while revealing what microbes in Earth’s deep subsurface biosphere can tell us about the prospects for finding life on other planets
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Intraterrestri...
Lloyd, who is the Wrigley Chair in Environmental Studies and Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Southern California, is one of the leading experts in underground microbiological life.
She also has accomplished something that I haven't had to do for a long time in a review - deducting a review star for her promotion of the Woke belief that illegal immigration is acceptable, which is ironic considering how Professor Lloyd has to follow the visa regulations of the countries that she travels to collect her research samples. Espousing Woke beliefs to gain creed with the Woke Mob actually discredits scientists and the research work they do.
Only discovered in recent decades, “intraterrestrials”—subsurface beings that are truly alien—are demonstrating how life can exist in boiling water, pure acid, and bleach. They enable us to peer back to the very dawn of life on Earth, disclosing deep branches on the tree of life that push the limits of what we thought possible. Some can “breathe” rocks or even electrons. Others may live for hundreds of thousands of years or longer. All of them are living in ways that are totally foreign to us surface dwellers.
Llyod does blend a captivating storytelling style with the latest science, while revealing what microbes in Earth’s deep subsurface biosphere can tell us about the prospects for finding life on other planets
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Intraterrestri...
The Precious Dark
Just finished listening to "The Precious Dark" by David Helpling and Eric "The" Taylor, released by Spotted Peccary Music.
Ahhhh...the gold old days when you could actually discover the works of new artists in the music sections of Barnes & Noble and in chain music stores like Virgin Records and Camelot Music - not any more. I discovered releases from Spotted Peccary Music in the New Age Music section of the Barnes & Noble near where I live back in the late 1990s, early 2000s, and I have been collecting the CDs of Spotted Peccary's artists since then. Spotted Peccary is an independent music label, and they mainly sell/offer their CDS and album downloads online.
"The Precious Dark" has been chosen as the May 2025 CD of the Month by Echoes Radio, a daily two-hour music soundscape distributed by Public Radio International.
Helpling is a California based guitarist and keyboardist, recording artist and film composer specializing in ambient music and electronic music.
Eric “the” Taylor is less well-known New Age Music artist. Along with Helpling, he’s part of the ambient quartet Dark Sky Alliance and he often collaborates with other electronica artists, like Mick Chillage in The Architects of Existence, and Icelandic techno artist, Futuregrapher.
In "The Precious Dark," Helpling and Taylor merge their sounds to create an immersive, and massive ambient space that explores the scaredness of darkness.
My favorite tracks on this CD are "The Ice Has Dreams," "The Space Between Atoms," "For Those In Shadow," and "The Precious Dark."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS.
https://spottedpeccary.com/shop/the-p...
Ahhhh...the gold old days when you could actually discover the works of new artists in the music sections of Barnes & Noble and in chain music stores like Virgin Records and Camelot Music - not any more. I discovered releases from Spotted Peccary Music in the New Age Music section of the Barnes & Noble near where I live back in the late 1990s, early 2000s, and I have been collecting the CDs of Spotted Peccary's artists since then. Spotted Peccary is an independent music label, and they mainly sell/offer their CDS and album downloads online.
"The Precious Dark" has been chosen as the May 2025 CD of the Month by Echoes Radio, a daily two-hour music soundscape distributed by Public Radio International.
Helpling is a California based guitarist and keyboardist, recording artist and film composer specializing in ambient music and electronic music.
Eric “the” Taylor is less well-known New Age Music artist. Along with Helpling, he’s part of the ambient quartet Dark Sky Alliance and he often collaborates with other electronica artists, like Mick Chillage in The Architects of Existence, and Icelandic techno artist, Futuregrapher.
In "The Precious Dark," Helpling and Taylor merge their sounds to create an immersive, and massive ambient space that explores the scaredness of darkness.
My favorite tracks on this CD are "The Ice Has Dreams," "The Space Between Atoms," "For Those In Shadow," and "The Precious Dark."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS.
https://spottedpeccary.com/shop/the-p...
May 23, 2025
Crisis At Proxima
Just finished reading "Crisis At Proxima" by Travis S. Taylor and Les Johnson, published by Baen Books.
"Crisis At Proxima" is the second book in Taylor's and Johnson's Orion's Arm series.
Taylor, who heads up the cast of The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch is also part of the cast roundup on "Ancient Aliens" on the History Channel. He has worked on various programs for the Department of Defense and NASA for the past twenty years. His expertise includes advanced propulsion concepts, very large space telescopes, space-based beamed-energy systems, future combat technologies, and next-generation space launch concepts.
Johnson is a futurist, author, and NASA technologist.
Taylor and Johnson have previously collaborated on two novels.
Taylor's and Johnson's Orion Arm series borrows heavily on some of the themes explored in Ancient Aliens with aliens interfering in human development and history.
First contact with the seemingly impossible human civilization at Proxima Centauri is not going well. The Earth ships sent to render aid have not been able to reverse the contagion ravaging their population and, worse, many Proximans are now wondering if the humans from Earth are there for other, not so charitable, reasons.
The Proximans are descendants taken from Earth over 50,000 years ago from a mysterious advanced race known as the Atlanteans - who still pose a deadly threat to the Proximans and Earth.
Now there is actually hard, real physical and biological science explored in this novel, and I am curious to see who the story will progress in the next novel in the series.
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Crisis-at-Prox...
"Crisis At Proxima" is the second book in Taylor's and Johnson's Orion's Arm series.
Taylor, who heads up the cast of The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch is also part of the cast roundup on "Ancient Aliens" on the History Channel. He has worked on various programs for the Department of Defense and NASA for the past twenty years. His expertise includes advanced propulsion concepts, very large space telescopes, space-based beamed-energy systems, future combat technologies, and next-generation space launch concepts.
Johnson is a futurist, author, and NASA technologist.
Taylor and Johnson have previously collaborated on two novels.
Taylor's and Johnson's Orion Arm series borrows heavily on some of the themes explored in Ancient Aliens with aliens interfering in human development and history.
First contact with the seemingly impossible human civilization at Proxima Centauri is not going well. The Earth ships sent to render aid have not been able to reverse the contagion ravaging their population and, worse, many Proximans are now wondering if the humans from Earth are there for other, not so charitable, reasons.
The Proximans are descendants taken from Earth over 50,000 years ago from a mysterious advanced race known as the Atlanteans - who still pose a deadly threat to the Proximans and Earth.
Now there is actually hard, real physical and biological science explored in this novel, and I am curious to see who the story will progress in the next novel in the series.
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Crisis-at-Prox...
May 19, 2025
"The Journeyman Project's Legacy of Time"
Just finished listening to "The Journeyman Project's Legacy of Time" original soundtrack released by Presto Studios back in 1998.
For those who may, or may not remember, "The Journeyman Project" was a photorealistic computer game that came out shortly after the phenomenal success of the original "MYST" game in the mid-1990s and it spawned two sequels.
Now while I have all five of the soundtracks from all the MYST games, I never got "The Journeyman Project's Legacy of Time" and it was listed on eBay for around $200.00 - which was far more than I was willing to spend, until it dropped down to $29.99 and I decided to snap it up real quick when I got a private offer.
Jamey Scott composed and produced "The Journeyman Project's Legacy of Time."
My favorite tracks on the conclusion to this epic science fiction game series CD are as follows: "Prelude to Discovery," "Atlantis," "The First Artifact," "Shangri-la," "El-Dorado," "The Final Artifact," "Revelation," and "Remembrance."
Strongly Recommend.
Five Stars!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/225744607015
For those who may, or may not remember, "The Journeyman Project" was a photorealistic computer game that came out shortly after the phenomenal success of the original "MYST" game in the mid-1990s and it spawned two sequels.
Now while I have all five of the soundtracks from all the MYST games, I never got "The Journeyman Project's Legacy of Time" and it was listed on eBay for around $200.00 - which was far more than I was willing to spend, until it dropped down to $29.99 and I decided to snap it up real quick when I got a private offer.
Jamey Scott composed and produced "The Journeyman Project's Legacy of Time."
My favorite tracks on the conclusion to this epic science fiction game series CD are as follows: "Prelude to Discovery," "Atlantis," "The First Artifact," "Shangri-la," "El-Dorado," "The Final Artifact," "Revelation," and "Remembrance."
Strongly Recommend.
Five Stars!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/225744607015
May 18, 2025
Rani Takes On The World - The Revenge of Wormwood
Just finished listening to "Rani Takes On The World - The Revenge of Wormwood" released by Big Finish Productions.
While Luke Smith, Sarah Jane Smith's adopted son, makes his debut in this second, and most likely last entry in the audio sequel of the original "Sarah Jane Adventures," it seems that Tommy Knight, the act or who played Luke Smith in the series, is just there in a minor role as a scientific advisor to UNIT - so it was a missed opportunity.
And I suspect I'm going to get some "grief" for saying this, but Big Finish Productions missed a wonderful opportunity to include a group photo of the original cast reunited, and instead choose to do single images with each of them, well looking pissed off at the camera - something that was not done in the first boxed set of this series.
"Rani Takes On The World - The Revenge of Wormwood" consists of three interlinked episodes in which Mrs. Wormwood is trying to escape from her interdimensional prison: "Time Schisms!," "The Star-Crossed Diversion," and "The Ghost of Bannerman Road."
"Time Schisms!" is perhaps the best story in this outing because it deals with an unexpected way someone could inadvertently travel to the future without changing the outcome of history.
"The Ghost of Bannerman Road" brings this series to an end that mirrors they way "The Sarah Jane Adventures" concluded.
While it was nice to hear Rani, Clyde, and Luke go out on adventures, it's just not quite the same without Sarah Jane.
Recommended for fans of "The Sarah Jane Adventures."
Three Stars.
https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/...
While Luke Smith, Sarah Jane Smith's adopted son, makes his debut in this second, and most likely last entry in the audio sequel of the original "Sarah Jane Adventures," it seems that Tommy Knight, the act or who played Luke Smith in the series, is just there in a minor role as a scientific advisor to UNIT - so it was a missed opportunity.
And I suspect I'm going to get some "grief" for saying this, but Big Finish Productions missed a wonderful opportunity to include a group photo of the original cast reunited, and instead choose to do single images with each of them, well looking pissed off at the camera - something that was not done in the first boxed set of this series.
"Rani Takes On The World - The Revenge of Wormwood" consists of three interlinked episodes in which Mrs. Wormwood is trying to escape from her interdimensional prison: "Time Schisms!," "The Star-Crossed Diversion," and "The Ghost of Bannerman Road."
"Time Schisms!" is perhaps the best story in this outing because it deals with an unexpected way someone could inadvertently travel to the future without changing the outcome of history.
"The Ghost of Bannerman Road" brings this series to an end that mirrors they way "The Sarah Jane Adventures" concluded.
While it was nice to hear Rani, Clyde, and Luke go out on adventures, it's just not quite the same without Sarah Jane.
Recommended for fans of "The Sarah Jane Adventures."
Three Stars.
https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/...
