Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 20
February 25, 2025
The Pillars of Creation - How The James Webb Telescope Unlocked The Secrets Of The Cosmos
Just finished reading "The Pillars of Creation - How The James Webb Telescope Unlocked The Secrets Of The Cosmos" by Ricard Panek, published by Little Brown.
Panek gives a short, comprehensive of how the Next Generation Space Telescope, which would eventually be named the James Webb Telescope was conceived five years before the Hubble telescope itself was finished. Panek takes us through the nerve-racking ons and offs of NASA and the U.S. Congress as the Webb came close to vanishing before it was eventually designed and built. Twenty-plus years into the 21st Century until it was finally launched.
It was astronomer Edwin Hubble who is quoted as saying that the history of astronomy is about receding horizons, and Panek aptly explores how the James Webb Space Telescope has expanded humanity's view of the universe.
Among the JWST's initial discoveries:
Nikku Madhusudhan used spectroscopic analysis in finding an exoplanet approximately 124 light‑years from Earth—with possible evidence of a molecule that would be a sign of life. "At their first viewing of a Webb spectrum, astronomers didn’t even have to know what they were looking at to know that it was extraordinary."
Dust is potentially a clue to one of the universe’s key growth mechanisms, but team leader Ori Fox and his postdoc Melissa Shahbandeh had to deal with dissenters who claimed there was not enough dust where they were searching. Yet stars in galaxies full of molecular gas and dust could be massive enough to burst into a supernova. "Webb’s studies of dust in galaxy after galaxy after galaxy spanning billions of light-years were, ultimately, a contemplation of our origins, on both a metaphorical and a literal level."
Rebecca Larson was sure she found a signal in noise—a break in the Standard Model? Everyone working on the Webb since it was launched already believed in the Standard Model of Cosmology, "the beginning of our universe." Now, less than a year later, headlines claimed the Webb had broken the Standard Model. "Even if Webb’s scientists didn’t get to break their own Standard Model, they couldn’t believe their good fortune. They got to be alive during the age of Webb."
A highly engrossing look at the James Webb Space complicated past and productive future.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Pillars-Creati...
Panek gives a short, comprehensive of how the Next Generation Space Telescope, which would eventually be named the James Webb Telescope was conceived five years before the Hubble telescope itself was finished. Panek takes us through the nerve-racking ons and offs of NASA and the U.S. Congress as the Webb came close to vanishing before it was eventually designed and built. Twenty-plus years into the 21st Century until it was finally launched.
It was astronomer Edwin Hubble who is quoted as saying that the history of astronomy is about receding horizons, and Panek aptly explores how the James Webb Space Telescope has expanded humanity's view of the universe.
Among the JWST's initial discoveries:
Nikku Madhusudhan used spectroscopic analysis in finding an exoplanet approximately 124 light‑years from Earth—with possible evidence of a molecule that would be a sign of life. "At their first viewing of a Webb spectrum, astronomers didn’t even have to know what they were looking at to know that it was extraordinary."
Dust is potentially a clue to one of the universe’s key growth mechanisms, but team leader Ori Fox and his postdoc Melissa Shahbandeh had to deal with dissenters who claimed there was not enough dust where they were searching. Yet stars in galaxies full of molecular gas and dust could be massive enough to burst into a supernova. "Webb’s studies of dust in galaxy after galaxy after galaxy spanning billions of light-years were, ultimately, a contemplation of our origins, on both a metaphorical and a literal level."
Rebecca Larson was sure she found a signal in noise—a break in the Standard Model? Everyone working on the Webb since it was launched already believed in the Standard Model of Cosmology, "the beginning of our universe." Now, less than a year later, headlines claimed the Webb had broken the Standard Model. "Even if Webb’s scientists didn’t get to break their own Standard Model, they couldn’t believe their good fortune. They got to be alive during the age of Webb."
A highly engrossing look at the James Webb Space complicated past and productive future.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Pillars-Creati...
February 17, 2025
Hidden In The Heavens - How The Kepler Mission's Quest For New Planets Changed How We View Our Own
Just finished reading "Hidden In The Heavens - How The Kepler Mission's Quest For New Planets Changed How We View Our Own" by Jason Steffen, released by Princeton University Press.
Steffen, who is an Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Nevada, and a longtime member of the Kepler's science team.
The universe is far weirder than anything we can imagine and when the fist exo-planets were discovered decades ago, their very existence upended the established thinking about how planets are formed.
Using the transit method of exo-planet detection, the Kepler mission discovered thousands of planets orbiting distant stars—a bewildering variety of celestial bodies, including rocky planets being vaporized by the intense heat of their host star; super-Earths and sub-Neptunes, with properties simultaneously similar to and different from both Earth and Neptune; gas giants several times the size and mass of Jupiter; and planets orbiting in stellar systems that had only been imagined in science fiction.
Steffen has done a resounding job of chronicling how a deep space mission originates from it's initial concept. to being selected by NASA, and how it works once it reaches it's destination and what the discoveries in makes means for planetary science.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Heavens...
Steffen, who is an Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Nevada, and a longtime member of the Kepler's science team.
The universe is far weirder than anything we can imagine and when the fist exo-planets were discovered decades ago, their very existence upended the established thinking about how planets are formed.
Using the transit method of exo-planet detection, the Kepler mission discovered thousands of planets orbiting distant stars—a bewildering variety of celestial bodies, including rocky planets being vaporized by the intense heat of their host star; super-Earths and sub-Neptunes, with properties simultaneously similar to and different from both Earth and Neptune; gas giants several times the size and mass of Jupiter; and planets orbiting in stellar systems that had only been imagined in science fiction.
Steffen has done a resounding job of chronicling how a deep space mission originates from it's initial concept. to being selected by NASA, and how it works once it reaches it's destination and what the discoveries in makes means for planetary science.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Heavens...
Beast of the North Woods
Just finished reading "Beast of the North Woods" by Annelise Ryan, published by Berkley.
"Beast of the North Woods" is the third stand-alone novel in Ryan's popular Monster Hunter series, featuring cryptid hunter Morgan Carter.
I discovered the Monster Hunter series by accident when I happened to notice the first novel, "A Death In Door County" on the shelves in the new arrivals section of the Barnes & Noble near where I live. I promptly ordered it online at Amazon where it was far more reasonably price than just the 10-percent discount being offered by Barnes & Noble.
[Yes, I do take photos of books I want to get at Barnes & Noble and then order them online at Amazon. Keep in mind that I rarely do this for a locally owned and operated bookstore, though I will for more pricey books that I want to read. While supporting local businesses are fine, being able to pay the utilities each month is a higher priority for me - just saying.]
There is a background story for Morgan and the recurring cast of characters building throughout the series that makes it best to read it in order.
Morgan is reluctant to take on this case because the Hodag has always been a hoax and not something that interested her, but also because of two personal reasons. For one, she doesn’t want the pressure of investigating a murder Rita’s nephew is in jail for because the case is stacked against him and Rita would never forgive her if Morgan ended up siding with the police. But, also, an unsigned message she knows is from her murdering ex-fiancé has her rattled that he’s nearby and watching her closely.
But, Morgan can’t say no to Rita so north to Rhinelander, home of the Hodag, she goes. The locals make quite a tourism bundle on souvenirs, festivals and more all around the “cute, lovable hodag” and they don’t want Morgan investigating the possibility that one is real and also killing people out in the woods. Morgan knows she’s being watched from the shadows and followed, but is it related to the case or her ex. Meanwhile, the evidence starts leading in dangerous and intriguing directions. Will her need to finish the case and make gutsy moves prove too much for the man who is coming to care for her? Or will her detecting rile a killer enough to add her death to their to-do list?
A fun mystery cozy that is filled with unexpected twists and turns for Morgan.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Beast-North-Mo...
"Beast of the North Woods" is the third stand-alone novel in Ryan's popular Monster Hunter series, featuring cryptid hunter Morgan Carter.
I discovered the Monster Hunter series by accident when I happened to notice the first novel, "A Death In Door County" on the shelves in the new arrivals section of the Barnes & Noble near where I live. I promptly ordered it online at Amazon where it was far more reasonably price than just the 10-percent discount being offered by Barnes & Noble.
[Yes, I do take photos of books I want to get at Barnes & Noble and then order them online at Amazon. Keep in mind that I rarely do this for a locally owned and operated bookstore, though I will for more pricey books that I want to read. While supporting local businesses are fine, being able to pay the utilities each month is a higher priority for me - just saying.]
There is a background story for Morgan and the recurring cast of characters building throughout the series that makes it best to read it in order.
Morgan is reluctant to take on this case because the Hodag has always been a hoax and not something that interested her, but also because of two personal reasons. For one, she doesn’t want the pressure of investigating a murder Rita’s nephew is in jail for because the case is stacked against him and Rita would never forgive her if Morgan ended up siding with the police. But, also, an unsigned message she knows is from her murdering ex-fiancé has her rattled that he’s nearby and watching her closely.
But, Morgan can’t say no to Rita so north to Rhinelander, home of the Hodag, she goes. The locals make quite a tourism bundle on souvenirs, festivals and more all around the “cute, lovable hodag” and they don’t want Morgan investigating the possibility that one is real and also killing people out in the woods. Morgan knows she’s being watched from the shadows and followed, but is it related to the case or her ex. Meanwhile, the evidence starts leading in dangerous and intriguing directions. Will her need to finish the case and make gutsy moves prove too much for the man who is coming to care for her? Or will her detecting rile a killer enough to add her death to their to-do list?
A fun mystery cozy that is filled with unexpected twists and turns for Morgan.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Beast-North-Mo...
February 16, 2025
Kung Fu Panda 4
Just finished watching "Kung Fu Panda 4" released by Dreamworks.
While Po helps his fathers Li Shan and Mr. Ping open their new restaurant, Master Shifu tells him that he must advance and become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace, which means Po can no longer be the Dragon Warrior and must find a suitable successor to take his place.
Po struggles to choose the right candidate as he does not want to lose his status, and he stumbles upon a corsac fox bandit named Zhen trying to steal ancient weapons from the Jade Palace. Po outsmarts Zhen and sends her to prison, but a group of mine workers tells him that Tai Lung has returned from the Spirit Realm and destroyed an entire quarry. Zhen reveals that Tai Lung's return was masqueraded by a sorceress known as The Chameleon, who can shape-shift into any animal she wants as well as copying various kung fu skills simply by touching them.
With Zhen's assistance, Po heads to Juniper City to take down The Chameleon, little knowing that his fathers, worried that he will not stand a chance against her, are following them. After visiting a shifty tavern and fighting off the inhabitants, Po and Zhen soon arrive at Juniper City and are almost arrested, but escape to the Den of Thieves, where they receive aid from Han, the den’s leader, and Zhen’s old mentor. From there, Po and Zhen head to The Chameleon's lair until Po is captured. It is then revealed that Zhen has been acting as a double agent for The Chameleon, and was tasked to acquire Po's Staff of Wisdom,[a] which has the power to access the Spirit Realm. Po almost manages to escape, but The Chameleon, taking Zhen's form, fools him and throws him off a cliff, much to Zhen's horror. He nearly falls to his death but is rescued by his fathers, who convince him that sometimes change can be good.
Using the staff, The Chameleon summons every deceased kung fu master and steals their skills, including three of Po's past enemies; Lord Shen, General Kai, and the real Tai Lung. After escaping for good, Zhen reunites with Po, but he refuses to back down from facing The Chameleon, so she, Mr. Ping, and Li head back to the Den of Thieves to convince them to help them save Po. As they battle The Chameleon's army of Komodo dragons, Po tries to reason with The Chameleon to no avail, although she does give the staff back to him as she no longer needs it. They battle, but when Zhen intervenes, The Chameleon turns into a Chimera of several kung fu masters. After the battle, she then shifts into Po himself, fights him, and quickly traps him in a cage before reverting to her original form.
Putting his trust in Zhen, Po gives her the staff, with which she bests The Chameleon. Po, who was only pretending to be trapped, defeats The Chameleon and returns all of the stolen kung fu to their owners, who show respect to Po and return to the Spirit Realm, with Tai Lung, finally acknowledging Po as the Dragon Warrior, forcibly taking The Chameleon with him. While returning to the Valley, Po, despite Shifu's dismay, chooses Zhen as his successor and, confident with his choice, trains her alongside the Furious Five to become the next Dragon Warrior.
"Kung Fu Panda 4" was a pleasant movie which serves to wrap up Po's adventures as the Dragon Warrior, but it does leave the door open for more adventures. Sometimes a franchise should just know when to conclude.
Recommended.
Three Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Kung-Panda-Blu...
While Po helps his fathers Li Shan and Mr. Ping open their new restaurant, Master Shifu tells him that he must advance and become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace, which means Po can no longer be the Dragon Warrior and must find a suitable successor to take his place.
Po struggles to choose the right candidate as he does not want to lose his status, and he stumbles upon a corsac fox bandit named Zhen trying to steal ancient weapons from the Jade Palace. Po outsmarts Zhen and sends her to prison, but a group of mine workers tells him that Tai Lung has returned from the Spirit Realm and destroyed an entire quarry. Zhen reveals that Tai Lung's return was masqueraded by a sorceress known as The Chameleon, who can shape-shift into any animal she wants as well as copying various kung fu skills simply by touching them.
With Zhen's assistance, Po heads to Juniper City to take down The Chameleon, little knowing that his fathers, worried that he will not stand a chance against her, are following them. After visiting a shifty tavern and fighting off the inhabitants, Po and Zhen soon arrive at Juniper City and are almost arrested, but escape to the Den of Thieves, where they receive aid from Han, the den’s leader, and Zhen’s old mentor. From there, Po and Zhen head to The Chameleon's lair until Po is captured. It is then revealed that Zhen has been acting as a double agent for The Chameleon, and was tasked to acquire Po's Staff of Wisdom,[a] which has the power to access the Spirit Realm. Po almost manages to escape, but The Chameleon, taking Zhen's form, fools him and throws him off a cliff, much to Zhen's horror. He nearly falls to his death but is rescued by his fathers, who convince him that sometimes change can be good.
Using the staff, The Chameleon summons every deceased kung fu master and steals their skills, including three of Po's past enemies; Lord Shen, General Kai, and the real Tai Lung. After escaping for good, Zhen reunites with Po, but he refuses to back down from facing The Chameleon, so she, Mr. Ping, and Li head back to the Den of Thieves to convince them to help them save Po. As they battle The Chameleon's army of Komodo dragons, Po tries to reason with The Chameleon to no avail, although she does give the staff back to him as she no longer needs it. They battle, but when Zhen intervenes, The Chameleon turns into a Chimera of several kung fu masters. After the battle, she then shifts into Po himself, fights him, and quickly traps him in a cage before reverting to her original form.
Putting his trust in Zhen, Po gives her the staff, with which she bests The Chameleon. Po, who was only pretending to be trapped, defeats The Chameleon and returns all of the stolen kung fu to their owners, who show respect to Po and return to the Spirit Realm, with Tai Lung, finally acknowledging Po as the Dragon Warrior, forcibly taking The Chameleon with him. While returning to the Valley, Po, despite Shifu's dismay, chooses Zhen as his successor and, confident with his choice, trains her alongside the Furious Five to become the next Dragon Warrior.
"Kung Fu Panda 4" was a pleasant movie which serves to wrap up Po's adventures as the Dragon Warrior, but it does leave the door open for more adventures. Sometimes a franchise should just know when to conclude.
Recommended.
Three Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Kung-Panda-Blu...
February 5, 2025
Giant Island
Just finished reading "Giant Island" by Jane Yolen, and art by Doug Keith, released Flash Light Press.
Now I have always enjoyed reading picture books because of the rich story telling with words and art, and Jane Yolen and Doug Keith don't disappoint with "Giant Island."
Yolen is a writer of fantasy, science fiction, and children’s books. She is the author or editor of over 400 books for children, teens, and adults, including Owl Moon, winner of the Caldecott award, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight, and the rest of the beloved How Do Dinosaurs series.
Two children go to Giant Island with their grandpa and don’t understand why such a small island is called Giant Island…until they explore while Grandpa is fishing. They have a great time playing and exploring, and they have a big secret when it’s time to go home.
Keith has over thirty years’ experience as an illustrator, designer, and fine artist. His resume includes forty plus illustrated books, a Benjamin Franklin Award for interior design, a television Emmy award for graphic design, and commissioned works at Windermere Real Estate and Puget Sound Energy.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Giant-Island-J...
Now I have always enjoyed reading picture books because of the rich story telling with words and art, and Jane Yolen and Doug Keith don't disappoint with "Giant Island."
Yolen is a writer of fantasy, science fiction, and children’s books. She is the author or editor of over 400 books for children, teens, and adults, including Owl Moon, winner of the Caldecott award, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight, and the rest of the beloved How Do Dinosaurs series.
Two children go to Giant Island with their grandpa and don’t understand why such a small island is called Giant Island…until they explore while Grandpa is fishing. They have a great time playing and exploring, and they have a big secret when it’s time to go home.
Keith has over thirty years’ experience as an illustrator, designer, and fine artist. His resume includes forty plus illustrated books, a Benjamin Franklin Award for interior design, a television Emmy award for graphic design, and commissioned works at Windermere Real Estate and Puget Sound Energy.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Giant-Island-J...
February 2, 2025
"Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar - Murder Matters"
Just finished listening to "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar - Murder Matters" released by Radio Spirits.
"Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar" has the unique distinction of being one of the last radio show from Radio's Golden Age to sign off the air. The last episode of Johnny Dollar, "The Tip-Off Matter", ended at 6:35 p.m. Eastern Time on September 30, 1962, followed immediately by the final broadcast of Suspense.
As typical of shows from the Golden Age of Radio, several actors stepped into the lead role, and the show is best-known incarnation with Bob Bailey starring in "the transcribed adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account – America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator." There were 809 episodes (plus two not-for-broadcast auditions) during it's 13-year run, and more than 710 of the episodes still exist today.
Bailey's 13-month run as Johnny Dollar is considered to be the pinnacle run of the series. During his time as the titular detective, the show aired daily during each weekday in its time slot for 15 minutes, until it reverted back to its original 30-minute long format.
Jeff H. and I used to listen to Johnny Dollar collections on the road, and yes, even Zack was excited when he came with us one time and got to hear a complete Johnny Dollar adventure on the way out to St. Augustine for a ghost walk.
My favorite episodes in this collection are: "The Alvin Summers Matter," "The Fathom Five Matter," "The Open Town Matter," "The Royal Street Matter," "The Red Mystery Matter," and "The Kranesburg Matter.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Yours-Truly-Jo...
"Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar" has the unique distinction of being one of the last radio show from Radio's Golden Age to sign off the air. The last episode of Johnny Dollar, "The Tip-Off Matter", ended at 6:35 p.m. Eastern Time on September 30, 1962, followed immediately by the final broadcast of Suspense.
As typical of shows from the Golden Age of Radio, several actors stepped into the lead role, and the show is best-known incarnation with Bob Bailey starring in "the transcribed adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account – America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator." There were 809 episodes (plus two not-for-broadcast auditions) during it's 13-year run, and more than 710 of the episodes still exist today.
Bailey's 13-month run as Johnny Dollar is considered to be the pinnacle run of the series. During his time as the titular detective, the show aired daily during each weekday in its time slot for 15 minutes, until it reverted back to its original 30-minute long format.
Jeff H. and I used to listen to Johnny Dollar collections on the road, and yes, even Zack was excited when he came with us one time and got to hear a complete Johnny Dollar adventure on the way out to St. Augustine for a ghost walk.
My favorite episodes in this collection are: "The Alvin Summers Matter," "The Fathom Five Matter," "The Open Town Matter," "The Royal Street Matter," "The Red Mystery Matter," and "The Kranesburg Matter.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Yours-Truly-Jo...
Ancient Apocalypse - The Americas
Just finished watching "Ancient Apocalypse - The Americas" released by Netflix.
The problem with, let's be kind and say shows that present an alternative, non-mainstream explanation for events and/or discoveries, is that they never really present anything new - they just recycle the same material over and over again in a new format or present a new twist - pretty much "Ancient Aliens" which is also produced by Lionsgate.
The main thesis of "Ancient Apocalypse - The Americas" is that Hancock reverts back to his Fingerprints of the Gods days by claiming Quetzalcoatl, Kukulkan, Oannes (from Babylon), and Osiris were all the same figure, a traveling emissary from the lost civilization; and granted there are similarities and commonalities between all three stories, but that is a weak case not supported by actual evidence.
And for reasons unknown to me, somehow Keanu Reeves has a couple minutes of screentime with Hancock to be the gee-whiz guy, but comes across as a complete fool who seems to be struggling about what he is saying.
Beautifully filmed, stunning vistas, intriguing possibilities, but no evidence - no smoking gun.
Three Stars.
Recommended, but don't buy the Brooklyn Bridge anytime soon.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156556379295
The problem with, let's be kind and say shows that present an alternative, non-mainstream explanation for events and/or discoveries, is that they never really present anything new - they just recycle the same material over and over again in a new format or present a new twist - pretty much "Ancient Aliens" which is also produced by Lionsgate.
The main thesis of "Ancient Apocalypse - The Americas" is that Hancock reverts back to his Fingerprints of the Gods days by claiming Quetzalcoatl, Kukulkan, Oannes (from Babylon), and Osiris were all the same figure, a traveling emissary from the lost civilization; and granted there are similarities and commonalities between all three stories, but that is a weak case not supported by actual evidence.
And for reasons unknown to me, somehow Keanu Reeves has a couple minutes of screentime with Hancock to be the gee-whiz guy, but comes across as a complete fool who seems to be struggling about what he is saying.
Beautifully filmed, stunning vistas, intriguing possibilities, but no evidence - no smoking gun.
Three Stars.
Recommended, but don't buy the Brooklyn Bridge anytime soon.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156556379295
Ghosts of Red Ridge
Just finished watching "Ghosts of Red Ridge" released by Well Go USA.
"Ghosts of Red Ridge" is a rather interesting movie that attempts to combine Western and Horror genres that doesn't quite raise up to high expectations it sets.
And that's a shame, because it has a great premise: In the gold bust town of Red Ridge, the local Sheriff and his Deputy deal with a gang of outlaws wreaking havoc in their midst. When the sheriff begins to experience haunting visions from the dead, the truth is finally revealed about the bandits in his town. The line between good and evil is not as defined as once thought, and he must save his town from certain destruction.
Now this is a low budget Western, with pretty good acting, but the story is not fully realized and while the spookiness factor and psychological horror of a possible descent into madness by the Sheriff is never fully realized.
"Ghosts of Red Ridge" is not a great movie, but it's not a bad movie, and there are worse movies you could waste 90 minutes on.
Recommended.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Ridge-B...
"Ghosts of Red Ridge" is a rather interesting movie that attempts to combine Western and Horror genres that doesn't quite raise up to high expectations it sets.
And that's a shame, because it has a great premise: In the gold bust town of Red Ridge, the local Sheriff and his Deputy deal with a gang of outlaws wreaking havoc in their midst. When the sheriff begins to experience haunting visions from the dead, the truth is finally revealed about the bandits in his town. The line between good and evil is not as defined as once thought, and he must save his town from certain destruction.
Now this is a low budget Western, with pretty good acting, but the story is not fully realized and while the spookiness factor and psychological horror of a possible descent into madness by the Sheriff is never fully realized.
"Ghosts of Red Ridge" is not a great movie, but it's not a bad movie, and there are worse movies you could waste 90 minutes on.
Recommended.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Ridge-B...
January 28, 2025
Disavowed
Just finished reading "Disavowed" by John E. Stith published by Amazing Stories.
I've been a long time reader of John E. Stith ever since I discovered and read his classic science fiction adventure novel "Manhattan Transfer" decades ago. Perhaps I shouldn't admit to this but I did win an autographed copy of "Manhattan Transfer" on eBay nearly 20 years ago.
Oh yes, and in the interest of full disclosure, while John E. Stith and I have never personally met, or even exchanged emails, I am friends with him on Facebook. To those who don't believe I actually suffer from near cripplingly shyness to the point of agoraphobia, I would remind you that it's easier to type on a computer screen then it is to actually talk with a person face-to-face. [Note to would be con artists and scammers, I may be shy, but I'm NOT stupid. Annoy me at your own peril.]
"Disavowed" is Stith's return to the sweeping epic science fiction adventure novel with broad humanistic themes that he is well noted for - with "Manhattan Transfer" and "Reunion on Nevermind" as examples.
When ship surgeon Nick Sparrow becomes marooned on an alien, high-gravity planet due to bungling Navy admiral ordering a raid on the wrong planet, Sparrow has to call upon all his courage, ingenuity, and quick-thinking not only to elude aliens trying to kill him for a mistake others made but to find justice in a desperate situation in which death seems to be the most likely outcome. This is a tale of betrayal, daring, great escapes, and friendship between sentient beings of all kinds.
I am eagerly waiting for Stith's next novel. Hopefully I won't have too long a wait.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Disavowed-John...
I've been a long time reader of John E. Stith ever since I discovered and read his classic science fiction adventure novel "Manhattan Transfer" decades ago. Perhaps I shouldn't admit to this but I did win an autographed copy of "Manhattan Transfer" on eBay nearly 20 years ago.
Oh yes, and in the interest of full disclosure, while John E. Stith and I have never personally met, or even exchanged emails, I am friends with him on Facebook. To those who don't believe I actually suffer from near cripplingly shyness to the point of agoraphobia, I would remind you that it's easier to type on a computer screen then it is to actually talk with a person face-to-face. [Note to would be con artists and scammers, I may be shy, but I'm NOT stupid. Annoy me at your own peril.]
"Disavowed" is Stith's return to the sweeping epic science fiction adventure novel with broad humanistic themes that he is well noted for - with "Manhattan Transfer" and "Reunion on Nevermind" as examples.
When ship surgeon Nick Sparrow becomes marooned on an alien, high-gravity planet due to bungling Navy admiral ordering a raid on the wrong planet, Sparrow has to call upon all his courage, ingenuity, and quick-thinking not only to elude aliens trying to kill him for a mistake others made but to find justice in a desperate situation in which death seems to be the most likely outcome. This is a tale of betrayal, daring, great escapes, and friendship between sentient beings of all kinds.
I am eagerly waiting for Stith's next novel. Hopefully I won't have too long a wait.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Disavowed-John...
January 26, 2025
Ancient Apocalypse
Just finished watching "Ancient Apocalypse," released by Lionsgate, and is still available, I believe on Netflix, where it first aired.
Now back in December 2013, when I was unemployed and had no real income coming in, I made a "tough" decision to try to economize and cancelled by Comcast Cable TV service. My reasoning was that I had 100s of DVDs I had yet to watch and I rarely watched shows when they aired on TV anyways.
Even after landing a full time job back in 2015, I still kept away from cable television, unless I was watching it from my hotel room, and I still don't subscribe to any of the streaming services.
So if I want to watch a series that aired on a streaming service, that means I have to usually go outside of the Untied States to find it on blu-ray. Fortunately, I can find blu-ray releases of shows I want to see on eBay, and eBay does not allow anyone to sell bootleg copies, at least that is what they say in their guidelines and they do monitor items being sold on their auction site.
Graham Hancock hosts this series which explores his idea that there was an "advanced" civilization that existed near the end of the last ice age and does present his theories and evidence for such a civilization - though keep in mind that he is not saying they were at any level beyond the Stone Age, if this civilization existed.
In the series, Hancock argues that there was an advanced civilization during the last ice age. He speculates that it was destroyed around 12,000 years ago by sudden climate change during the Younger Dryas cool period, but that its few survivors taught agriculture, monumental architecture and astronomy to primitive hunter-gatherers around the world.
Hancock does not accept that the earliest known civilizations could have arisen independently or that faraway peoples developed the same ideas, and argues that they all came from one advanced ice age civilization. He attempts to show how several ancient monuments and myths are evidence of this, and claims that archaeologists are ignoring or covering up this alleged evidence.
It incorporates the controversial Younger Dryas impact hypothesis, which has been comprehensively refuted, and which attributes climate change to an impact winter caused by a massive meteor bombardment.
It's a plausible theory, but Hancock is a journalist, not a scientist, and it should be noted that he does show and give voice to dissenting opinions in his documentary.
History is always rewritten by new discoveries and new interpretations of past evidence, yet Hancock doesn't present hard evidence, just speculative theories.
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156556379295
Now back in December 2013, when I was unemployed and had no real income coming in, I made a "tough" decision to try to economize and cancelled by Comcast Cable TV service. My reasoning was that I had 100s of DVDs I had yet to watch and I rarely watched shows when they aired on TV anyways.
Even after landing a full time job back in 2015, I still kept away from cable television, unless I was watching it from my hotel room, and I still don't subscribe to any of the streaming services.
So if I want to watch a series that aired on a streaming service, that means I have to usually go outside of the Untied States to find it on blu-ray. Fortunately, I can find blu-ray releases of shows I want to see on eBay, and eBay does not allow anyone to sell bootleg copies, at least that is what they say in their guidelines and they do monitor items being sold on their auction site.
Graham Hancock hosts this series which explores his idea that there was an "advanced" civilization that existed near the end of the last ice age and does present his theories and evidence for such a civilization - though keep in mind that he is not saying they were at any level beyond the Stone Age, if this civilization existed.
In the series, Hancock argues that there was an advanced civilization during the last ice age. He speculates that it was destroyed around 12,000 years ago by sudden climate change during the Younger Dryas cool period, but that its few survivors taught agriculture, monumental architecture and astronomy to primitive hunter-gatherers around the world.
Hancock does not accept that the earliest known civilizations could have arisen independently or that faraway peoples developed the same ideas, and argues that they all came from one advanced ice age civilization. He attempts to show how several ancient monuments and myths are evidence of this, and claims that archaeologists are ignoring or covering up this alleged evidence.
It incorporates the controversial Younger Dryas impact hypothesis, which has been comprehensively refuted, and which attributes climate change to an impact winter caused by a massive meteor bombardment.
It's a plausible theory, but Hancock is a journalist, not a scientist, and it should be noted that he does show and give voice to dissenting opinions in his documentary.
History is always rewritten by new discoveries and new interpretations of past evidence, yet Hancock doesn't present hard evidence, just speculative theories.
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/156556379295
