Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 3
October 5, 2025
Totally Killer
Just finished watching "Totally Killer" released by Amazon MGM Studios back in 2023.
Now I still think it shocks a lot of people, including Selma, Jeff, and Zack that I don't subscribe to any streaming services. My reasoning is very simple: while I understand that if I want to watch a movie and or listen to the latest release from a favorite musician of mine the only way I may be able to do so is through the electronic medium of the Internet - I prefer to have a physical, unedited copy of a movie, music CD, and/or audio drama CD.
I first became aware of "Totally Killer" when I happened to watch a review of it on YouTube and it caught my intention - unfortunately with a lot of movies released on streaming services, there was no DVD and/or Blu-ray release here in the United States and there was no DVD and/or Blu-ray release available for sale on Amazon.
So if there is a movie and/or series that I want to see that first aired on a streaming service, like the Old Guard II, than I have to wait until there is a Region Zero Blu-ray released in China that is available for sale on eBay.
So I always have mixed emotions whenever I purchase a Region Zero Blu-ray from China on eBay because I used to get onto Dad whenever he brought home DVD copies of movies still in theaters that he had bought at the Beach Boulevard Flea Market where his store, Splendid Dreams was. He told me that he only bought them so that Mom could see them without having to go to the theater. I went with it because I couldn't always take them to the movies.
I'm choosing to believe that eBay would not allow these sales if these Blu-rays violated copyright and international laws.
Enough self-justification.
"Totally Killer" can best be described as a fish-out-of-water comedy filled with amusing one-liners combined with time-travel sci-fi that actually kinda makes sense provided you don't actually stop to think about it.
It starts with Chris Dubasage, a middle-aged podcaster and crime tour guide who is providing the background story: In the small town of Vernon, on October 27, 29, and 31, 1987, three teenage girls named Tiffany Clark, Marisa Song, and Heather Hernandez were killed by the Sweet 16 Killer, each having been stabbed 16 times on the nights of their 16th birthdays.
In the present day of 2023, teenager Jamie Hughes goes to a concert with her friend Amelia on Halloween night while her mother, Pam, stays at home. Pam used to be friends with the three victims of the Sweet 16 Killer, and while handing out candy, she is attacked by the killer, who stabs her to death. As Jamie grieves Pam's death, she helps Amelia put the finishing touches on a time machine she created for a school project and is approached by reporter Chris, who tells her that Pam received a note from the killer that she kept secret: "You're next, one day."
At night, Jamie is chased by the killer and hides in the time machine, which activates and sends her back to 1987. She realizes that if she stops the Sweet 16 Killer's original spree, she can save Pam's life. Jamie hits upon the idea masquerading as an exchange student from Canada and is shocked to see how easy everyone believes in her lie. She discovers that Pam and her friends were despised by everyone in the town as they were bullies. Jamie manages to convince Amelia's mother, Lauren, and a teenager named Doug, her school's present-day principal, to help her. Although Jamie manages to infiltrate a party hosted by Tiffany, she is unable to stop her murder. Using the trauma to bond with Pam, she infiltrates their group and convinces them to leave for the weekend, although this backfires; they end up at the cabin where Marisa was killed in the original timeline. As Jamie works to protect Marisa, Heather is murdered instead, changing the timeline.
On Halloween night, the group reconvenes at the amusement park while Lauren works on turning a popular attraction into a makeshift time machine for Jamie to travel forward. In the present, Chris helps Amelia fix their time machine as they realize the timeline is changing. The group lures the Sweet 16 Killer into a haunted house where he attacks them, only to be impaled by Kara, the future town sheriff, with a scythe. Doug is revealed as the killer, seeking revenge on the group for the death of his girlfriend Trish. Marisa reveals that she, Tiffany, and Heather got Trish drunk one night and let her drive home, with her dying in an accident; Pam, however, was not present. As Jamie wonders why Pam received the note, a second killer appears and slits Marisa's throat.
The second killer chases after Jamie, killing Chris' father along the way. The two face off in the new time machine as it activates, and the killer is revealed to be Chris from the present. Doug was the original killer, but Chris murdered Pam and forged the note in order to generate more content for his podcast. The two fight and Jamie kicks him into the spinning machine, killing him. Upon returning to the present day, she finds that Pam is still alive. However, Jamie's intervention in the past has resulted in an alternate future in which her parents got together earlier than they had originally. Consequently, she now has an older brother named Jamie and her name is now Colette. Lauren then gives her a notebook detailing everything that had changed from her intervention: Lauren and Pam became best friends; her new brother has a husband and a three-year-old daughter; Randy, her old coach, is now the school principal; Kara became chief of police, whose weed brownies have become well renown; Damon (aka 'Lurch'), the groundskeeper, started a video game company and anti-bullying association in honor of Trish, his sister; and Chris, who was traumatized by seeing his father killed by his alternate self, has traveled to a monastery in India to become a monk, though Lauren keeps tabs on him just in case.
It's a perfect science-fiction comedy/horror movie that pays tribute to and pokes fun of a lot of time-travel and horror movies, especially Back-to-The-Future.
Great Fun!
Five Stars!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/236180611577
Now I still think it shocks a lot of people, including Selma, Jeff, and Zack that I don't subscribe to any streaming services. My reasoning is very simple: while I understand that if I want to watch a movie and or listen to the latest release from a favorite musician of mine the only way I may be able to do so is through the electronic medium of the Internet - I prefer to have a physical, unedited copy of a movie, music CD, and/or audio drama CD.
I first became aware of "Totally Killer" when I happened to watch a review of it on YouTube and it caught my intention - unfortunately with a lot of movies released on streaming services, there was no DVD and/or Blu-ray release here in the United States and there was no DVD and/or Blu-ray release available for sale on Amazon.
So if there is a movie and/or series that I want to see that first aired on a streaming service, like the Old Guard II, than I have to wait until there is a Region Zero Blu-ray released in China that is available for sale on eBay.
So I always have mixed emotions whenever I purchase a Region Zero Blu-ray from China on eBay because I used to get onto Dad whenever he brought home DVD copies of movies still in theaters that he had bought at the Beach Boulevard Flea Market where his store, Splendid Dreams was. He told me that he only bought them so that Mom could see them without having to go to the theater. I went with it because I couldn't always take them to the movies.
I'm choosing to believe that eBay would not allow these sales if these Blu-rays violated copyright and international laws.
Enough self-justification.
"Totally Killer" can best be described as a fish-out-of-water comedy filled with amusing one-liners combined with time-travel sci-fi that actually kinda makes sense provided you don't actually stop to think about it.
It starts with Chris Dubasage, a middle-aged podcaster and crime tour guide who is providing the background story: In the small town of Vernon, on October 27, 29, and 31, 1987, three teenage girls named Tiffany Clark, Marisa Song, and Heather Hernandez were killed by the Sweet 16 Killer, each having been stabbed 16 times on the nights of their 16th birthdays.
In the present day of 2023, teenager Jamie Hughes goes to a concert with her friend Amelia on Halloween night while her mother, Pam, stays at home. Pam used to be friends with the three victims of the Sweet 16 Killer, and while handing out candy, she is attacked by the killer, who stabs her to death. As Jamie grieves Pam's death, she helps Amelia put the finishing touches on a time machine she created for a school project and is approached by reporter Chris, who tells her that Pam received a note from the killer that she kept secret: "You're next, one day."
At night, Jamie is chased by the killer and hides in the time machine, which activates and sends her back to 1987. She realizes that if she stops the Sweet 16 Killer's original spree, she can save Pam's life. Jamie hits upon the idea masquerading as an exchange student from Canada and is shocked to see how easy everyone believes in her lie. She discovers that Pam and her friends were despised by everyone in the town as they were bullies. Jamie manages to convince Amelia's mother, Lauren, and a teenager named Doug, her school's present-day principal, to help her. Although Jamie manages to infiltrate a party hosted by Tiffany, she is unable to stop her murder. Using the trauma to bond with Pam, she infiltrates their group and convinces them to leave for the weekend, although this backfires; they end up at the cabin where Marisa was killed in the original timeline. As Jamie works to protect Marisa, Heather is murdered instead, changing the timeline.
On Halloween night, the group reconvenes at the amusement park while Lauren works on turning a popular attraction into a makeshift time machine for Jamie to travel forward. In the present, Chris helps Amelia fix their time machine as they realize the timeline is changing. The group lures the Sweet 16 Killer into a haunted house where he attacks them, only to be impaled by Kara, the future town sheriff, with a scythe. Doug is revealed as the killer, seeking revenge on the group for the death of his girlfriend Trish. Marisa reveals that she, Tiffany, and Heather got Trish drunk one night and let her drive home, with her dying in an accident; Pam, however, was not present. As Jamie wonders why Pam received the note, a second killer appears and slits Marisa's throat.
The second killer chases after Jamie, killing Chris' father along the way. The two face off in the new time machine as it activates, and the killer is revealed to be Chris from the present. Doug was the original killer, but Chris murdered Pam and forged the note in order to generate more content for his podcast. The two fight and Jamie kicks him into the spinning machine, killing him. Upon returning to the present day, she finds that Pam is still alive. However, Jamie's intervention in the past has resulted in an alternate future in which her parents got together earlier than they had originally. Consequently, she now has an older brother named Jamie and her name is now Colette. Lauren then gives her a notebook detailing everything that had changed from her intervention: Lauren and Pam became best friends; her new brother has a husband and a three-year-old daughter; Randy, her old coach, is now the school principal; Kara became chief of police, whose weed brownies have become well renown; Damon (aka 'Lurch'), the groundskeeper, started a video game company and anti-bullying association in honor of Trish, his sister; and Chris, who was traumatized by seeing his father killed by his alternate self, has traveled to a monastery in India to become a monk, though Lauren keeps tabs on him just in case.
It's a perfect science-fiction comedy/horror movie that pays tribute to and pokes fun of a lot of time-travel and horror movies, especially Back-to-The-Future.
Great Fun!
Five Stars!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/236180611577
October 3, 2025
Fibber McGee & Molly - Wistful Vista
Just finished listening to "Fibber McGee & Molly - Wistful Vista" released by Radio Spirits back in 2012.
"Fibber McGee & Molly - Wistful Vista" is another example of an audio CD collection in my tsundoku, my antilibrary of audio CDs that are patiently sitting in multiple stacks on-top of my sister's rolltop desk in her old bedroom.
Fibber McGee and Molly was one of the earliest radio comedies to use an ensemble cast of regular characters played by actors other than the leads, nearly all of whom had recurring phrases and running gags. Fibber McGee and Molly were actually real-life married couple Jim and Marian Jordan and the show ran from 1935 to 1959 for a total of 1,254 episodes.
The show centered around the misadventures of habitual storyteller Fibber McGee and his sometimes terse but always loving wife Molly, living among their numerous neighbors and acquaintances in the community of Wistful Vista.
This collection focuses on how the Jordans helped bring attention to the Homefront and the War Effort and War Bond Drives.
My favorite episodes in this collection are: "Mrs. Uppington Joins The WACs," "The Washing Machine," "Fibber's New Barometer Indicates Snow," "Fibber Makes A Speech For The Red Cross," "My Old Mandolin," "Rent The Spare Room To War Worker," "Fibber Buys A Diamond Ring," "Homemade Ice Cream," and "Hand Writing Analysis."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Fibber-McGee-M...
"Fibber McGee & Molly - Wistful Vista" is another example of an audio CD collection in my tsundoku, my antilibrary of audio CDs that are patiently sitting in multiple stacks on-top of my sister's rolltop desk in her old bedroom.
Fibber McGee and Molly was one of the earliest radio comedies to use an ensemble cast of regular characters played by actors other than the leads, nearly all of whom had recurring phrases and running gags. Fibber McGee and Molly were actually real-life married couple Jim and Marian Jordan and the show ran from 1935 to 1959 for a total of 1,254 episodes.
The show centered around the misadventures of habitual storyteller Fibber McGee and his sometimes terse but always loving wife Molly, living among their numerous neighbors and acquaintances in the community of Wistful Vista.
This collection focuses on how the Jordans helped bring attention to the Homefront and the War Effort and War Bond Drives.
My favorite episodes in this collection are: "Mrs. Uppington Joins The WACs," "The Washing Machine," "Fibber's New Barometer Indicates Snow," "Fibber Makes A Speech For The Red Cross," "My Old Mandolin," "Rent The Spare Room To War Worker," "Fibber Buys A Diamond Ring," "Homemade Ice Cream," and "Hand Writing Analysis."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Fibber-McGee-M...
September 29, 2025
Quiet Fire
Just finished listening to "Quiet Fire" by Ancient Future, released by Narada Music back in 1986.
I discovered "Passage" in the New Age sector of Monster Records in Charleston, South Carolina when I recently visited Selma, my sister.
Formed in late 1978 by Matthew Montfort, Ancient Future coined the term "world fusion music" to describe its use of Indian, African, Balinese, Middle Eastern, and South American rhythms, the rich harmonies of Europe, the peaceful melodies of Asia, and other musical traditions within a contemporary framework. Montfort, the group's guitarist, became fascinated by North Indian classical music during his college years, prompting him to travel to Java, Bali, China, and elsewhere in Asia to study the intricacies of musical traditions passed down from generations to generations. Over the years, Ancient Future has expanded its musical vision through collaborations with noted masters of various world music traditions who are now an integral part of what is today more than just a band; Ancient Future has grown to become a large chamber ensemble of 28 performers from around the world with over a dozen similar ensembles within it, enabling Ancient Future to realize its core mission of creating world fusion music.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Cascade," "Candlelight," "Hillside View," "Quiet Fire," and "Caged Lion Escapes."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Fire-Anc...
I discovered "Passage" in the New Age sector of Monster Records in Charleston, South Carolina when I recently visited Selma, my sister.
Formed in late 1978 by Matthew Montfort, Ancient Future coined the term "world fusion music" to describe its use of Indian, African, Balinese, Middle Eastern, and South American rhythms, the rich harmonies of Europe, the peaceful melodies of Asia, and other musical traditions within a contemporary framework. Montfort, the group's guitarist, became fascinated by North Indian classical music during his college years, prompting him to travel to Java, Bali, China, and elsewhere in Asia to study the intricacies of musical traditions passed down from generations to generations. Over the years, Ancient Future has expanded its musical vision through collaborations with noted masters of various world music traditions who are now an integral part of what is today more than just a band; Ancient Future has grown to become a large chamber ensemble of 28 performers from around the world with over a dozen similar ensembles within it, enabling Ancient Future to realize its core mission of creating world fusion music.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Cascade," "Candlelight," "Hillside View," "Quiet Fire," and "Caged Lion Escapes."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Fire-Anc...
Passage
Just finished listening to "Passage" by William Ackerman, released by Windham Hill Records back in 1989.
I discovered "Passage" in the New Age sector of Monster Records in Charleston, South Carolina when I recently visited Selma, my sister.
Ackerman is a Grammy Award winning American guitarist and record producer who founded Windham Hill Records in 1972 - perhaps best known as one of the leading New Age Music labels during it's heyday. By 1984, Ackerman no longer wanted to run a large corporation. He left California for Vermont. He built Imaginary Road Studios in Dummerston, Vermont and has continued to work as a producer and continues to release his own albums.
In addition to guitar, "Passage" incorporates violin, English horn, cello, and piano by George Winston.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Hawk Circle," "Processional," "Pacific," "Remedios," and "Passage."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Passage-Ackerm...
I discovered "Passage" in the New Age sector of Monster Records in Charleston, South Carolina when I recently visited Selma, my sister.
Ackerman is a Grammy Award winning American guitarist and record producer who founded Windham Hill Records in 1972 - perhaps best known as one of the leading New Age Music labels during it's heyday. By 1984, Ackerman no longer wanted to run a large corporation. He left California for Vermont. He built Imaginary Road Studios in Dummerston, Vermont and has continued to work as a producer and continues to release his own albums.
In addition to guitar, "Passage" incorporates violin, English horn, cello, and piano by George Winston.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Hawk Circle," "Processional," "Pacific," "Remedios," and "Passage."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Passage-Ackerm...
September 27, 2025
Two World Concerto
Just finished listening to "Two World Concerto - The Music of James DeMars" by R. Carlos Nakai, Black Lodge Singers, and Canyon Symphony Orchestra.
A professor at Arizona State University's Herberger Institute, James DeMars has been composing classical works that look to African, Native American, and other cultures. This album features three orchestral pieces and two encores for the soloists, famous Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai and the Black Lodge Singers and drummers. DeMars himself conducts the Canyon Symphony Orchestra. Far from merely an album of flute plus strings, Two World Concerto has been carefully crafted to accommodate the limitations of the Native American flute and Nakai's sensitive, smoothly flowing sound. DeMars uses orchestral Arabic scales to add to the exciting exotica and blend with the flute's pitch. Changes in tempo, atmospheric strings, majestic crescendos of sonorous horns, driving drums, gongs, rainstick, bell shaker, and other unusual percussion, and oboe, clarinet, and bassoon solos offer a rich tapestry of orchestral color and mood. Beauty, movement, and fire mark this bright concerto. The second piece is a simple, 5-minute aria for flute and orchestra; it is a gentle, peaceful song. Next, is a lively concerto for pow-wow drumming and singers. As in the traditional pow-wow, the proceedings begin with the entry of the dancers behind American (and often Canadian) flags; hence Native Drumming has Flag Song in its first part. It is based on a Blackfeet tune, put to 6/8 meter, and has a duet of horns at its conclusion. The second part, Destiny Song and Mask Dance, is passionate and powerful. We can almost see the 'fancy dancers' twisting and stomping. Shakers supplement the big pow-wow bass drum. The Sacred Mask Dance section, from the Keres Pueblo of New Mexico, is a departure from the pow-wow format. Algin Scabby Robe is the soloist against syncopated orchestral drums, shakers, and pizzicato strings. The conclusion brings back the pow-wow drumming and harmonic singers and the full brass section; all giving a final flourish. The first encore is Seasons by Robe and the Black Lodge Singers with pow-wow drum, without orchestra, as the song would be heard in gatherings. The last encore is with Nakai alone, playing a Zuni corn grinding song. The album thus is a tour de force fusion of classical orchestra and traditional Native American music.
https://www.amazon.com/TWO-WORLD-CONC...
A professor at Arizona State University's Herberger Institute, James DeMars has been composing classical works that look to African, Native American, and other cultures. This album features three orchestral pieces and two encores for the soloists, famous Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai and the Black Lodge Singers and drummers. DeMars himself conducts the Canyon Symphony Orchestra. Far from merely an album of flute plus strings, Two World Concerto has been carefully crafted to accommodate the limitations of the Native American flute and Nakai's sensitive, smoothly flowing sound. DeMars uses orchestral Arabic scales to add to the exciting exotica and blend with the flute's pitch. Changes in tempo, atmospheric strings, majestic crescendos of sonorous horns, driving drums, gongs, rainstick, bell shaker, and other unusual percussion, and oboe, clarinet, and bassoon solos offer a rich tapestry of orchestral color and mood. Beauty, movement, and fire mark this bright concerto. The second piece is a simple, 5-minute aria for flute and orchestra; it is a gentle, peaceful song. Next, is a lively concerto for pow-wow drumming and singers. As in the traditional pow-wow, the proceedings begin with the entry of the dancers behind American (and often Canadian) flags; hence Native Drumming has Flag Song in its first part. It is based on a Blackfeet tune, put to 6/8 meter, and has a duet of horns at its conclusion. The second part, Destiny Song and Mask Dance, is passionate and powerful. We can almost see the 'fancy dancers' twisting and stomping. Shakers supplement the big pow-wow bass drum. The Sacred Mask Dance section, from the Keres Pueblo of New Mexico, is a departure from the pow-wow format. Algin Scabby Robe is the soloist against syncopated orchestral drums, shakers, and pizzicato strings. The conclusion brings back the pow-wow drumming and harmonic singers and the full brass section; all giving a final flourish. The first encore is Seasons by Robe and the Black Lodge Singers with pow-wow drum, without orchestra, as the song would be heard in gatherings. The last encore is with Nakai alone, playing a Zuni corn grinding song. The album thus is a tour de force fusion of classical orchestra and traditional Native American music.
https://www.amazon.com/TWO-WORLD-CONC...
Following The Circle
Just finished listening to "Following The Circle" by Dik Darnell, released by Etherean Music.
I found my copy of "Following The Circle" by Dik Darnell at Monster Music when I visited Selma Franz, my sister, back in August.
"Following The Circle" is Darnell's interpretation of the 24-hour cycle of the Lakota Nation, which uses traditional chants and native instruments.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Spirit Rain," "Behold The Dawn," "Ocean Vision," "Evening Ceremony," and "The Circle Complete."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Following-Circ...
I found my copy of "Following The Circle" by Dik Darnell at Monster Music when I visited Selma Franz, my sister, back in August.
"Following The Circle" is Darnell's interpretation of the 24-hour cycle of the Lakota Nation, which uses traditional chants and native instruments.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Spirit Rain," "Behold The Dawn," "Ocean Vision," "Evening Ceremony," and "The Circle Complete."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Following-Circ...
Heretic - Jesus Christ And The Other Sons Of God
Just finished reading "Heretic - Jesus Christ And The Other Sons Of God" by Catherine Nixey, published by Mariner Books, a division of Harper Collins back in 2024.
I'll be honest, I think it's a really bad idea to post a review of this book about the overlooked Gospels and histories of Jesus and other individuals like Apollonius who were contemporaries of Jesus and who performed the same miracles as he did because a vast majority of 21st Century Christians do not willingly study their faith beyond the New Testament and the New Age Christian Spirituality books they read.
And I'm probably going to get a really lot of backlash a Conservative Jew reading a book that is a critical survey of the impact Jesus had on world by his followers spreading the version of Christianity based on him.
Nixey, who studied Classics at Cambridge University, takes a look at how Jesus, Apollonius - who is considered to be the Antichrist, and other Sons of G_D evolved over time - and it's an eye-opening look at why Christians hate and how that hatred has not devolved over time.
Yes, Christians do hate - trust me on this. It would not be an understatement to say that more people have died in over 2,000 years due to Christian hatred than those killed by Muslim hatred; and that hate that Christians hold on to is fully centered on how they view Jesus. Christians have killed other Christians through the past 2,000-plus years simply because they worshipped Jesus in a slightly different way.
Nixey explores how there were numerous Gospels concerning the life and times of Jesus and 21st Century Christians would be shocked to learn that a young Jesus killed people indiscriminately because he was a in foul mood. Jesus also cursed people and caused them physical harm. Jesus also owned and sold slaves for money. Think about that. Jesus was a malicious killer who bought, owned, and sold slaves for money. Jesus, also like a sorcerer, used a wand in early depictions that were erased over time to stop the idea that Jesus used magic like Egyptian sorcerers since he spend time in Egypt.
I can hear the objection now. Nixey is quoting for gospels that were rejected by the Catholic Church - which put together the New Testament used by most Christian faiths today.
Yes, she does, and there's nothing wrong about looking how a religion evolved over time.
Definitely NOT recommended for die-hard Christians, unless they want to see why Jews don't believe that Jesus was the messiah by any stretch of the imagination.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/035865291X/...
I'll be honest, I think it's a really bad idea to post a review of this book about the overlooked Gospels and histories of Jesus and other individuals like Apollonius who were contemporaries of Jesus and who performed the same miracles as he did because a vast majority of 21st Century Christians do not willingly study their faith beyond the New Testament and the New Age Christian Spirituality books they read.
And I'm probably going to get a really lot of backlash a Conservative Jew reading a book that is a critical survey of the impact Jesus had on world by his followers spreading the version of Christianity based on him.
Nixey, who studied Classics at Cambridge University, takes a look at how Jesus, Apollonius - who is considered to be the Antichrist, and other Sons of G_D evolved over time - and it's an eye-opening look at why Christians hate and how that hatred has not devolved over time.
Yes, Christians do hate - trust me on this. It would not be an understatement to say that more people have died in over 2,000 years due to Christian hatred than those killed by Muslim hatred; and that hate that Christians hold on to is fully centered on how they view Jesus. Christians have killed other Christians through the past 2,000-plus years simply because they worshipped Jesus in a slightly different way.
Nixey explores how there were numerous Gospels concerning the life and times of Jesus and 21st Century Christians would be shocked to learn that a young Jesus killed people indiscriminately because he was a in foul mood. Jesus also cursed people and caused them physical harm. Jesus also owned and sold slaves for money. Think about that. Jesus was a malicious killer who bought, owned, and sold slaves for money. Jesus, also like a sorcerer, used a wand in early depictions that were erased over time to stop the idea that Jesus used magic like Egyptian sorcerers since he spend time in Egypt.
I can hear the objection now. Nixey is quoting for gospels that were rejected by the Catholic Church - which put together the New Testament used by most Christian faiths today.
Yes, she does, and there's nothing wrong about looking how a religion evolved over time.
Definitely NOT recommended for die-hard Christians, unless they want to see why Jews don't believe that Jesus was the messiah by any stretch of the imagination.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/035865291X/...
September 24, 2025
The 90th Rupert Annual 2026
Just finished reading "The 90th Rupert Annual 2026" published by Farshore.
A little back on Rupert is. Rupert is a bear who lives with his parents in a house in Nutwood, a fictional idyllic English village. He is drawn wearing a red jumper and bright yellow checked trousers, with matching yellow scarf. Originally depicted as a brown bear, his color soon changed to white to save on printing costs though he remained brown on the covers of the annuals.
The series often features fantastic and magical adventures in faraway lands. Each story begins in Nutwood, where Rupert usually sets out on a small errand for his mother or to visit a friend, which then develops into an adventure to an exotic place such as King Frost's Castle, the Kingdom of the Birds, underground, or to the bottom of the sea. Sometimes one of the Professor's inventions opens the door to one of Rupert's adventures. At the end of the story Rupert returns to Nutwood, where all is safe and well, and where his parents seem perfectly sanguine about his adventures. In other words, great fun in the great tradition of British fantasy.
Unlike most modern comic strips, Rupert Bear has always been produced in the original form of strip with illustrations accompanying text, called "text comics", as opposed to text being incorporated directly into the art; for example, within speech balloons.
Now when I was growing up, a lot of people thought I was from English because my speech was too precise and accurate - ironically my day job does depend on my voice - and I discovered Rupert during one of my library searches about England and it's culture. I discovered the British tradition of annuals when my dear Cousin Hannah sent me a Classic Doctor Who annual for my birthday one year.
The Rupert Annuals collect stories that have appeared in previous annuals over the decades, along with an original Rupert adventure, "Rupert and the North Wind," for the 2026 annual.
My favorite stories in this annual are: "Rupert and the Butterflies," "Rupert and the Summer Roses," "Rupert and the Knight," and of course, "Rupert and the North Wind."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Rupert-Annual-...
A little back on Rupert is. Rupert is a bear who lives with his parents in a house in Nutwood, a fictional idyllic English village. He is drawn wearing a red jumper and bright yellow checked trousers, with matching yellow scarf. Originally depicted as a brown bear, his color soon changed to white to save on printing costs though he remained brown on the covers of the annuals.
The series often features fantastic and magical adventures in faraway lands. Each story begins in Nutwood, where Rupert usually sets out on a small errand for his mother or to visit a friend, which then develops into an adventure to an exotic place such as King Frost's Castle, the Kingdom of the Birds, underground, or to the bottom of the sea. Sometimes one of the Professor's inventions opens the door to one of Rupert's adventures. At the end of the story Rupert returns to Nutwood, where all is safe and well, and where his parents seem perfectly sanguine about his adventures. In other words, great fun in the great tradition of British fantasy.
Unlike most modern comic strips, Rupert Bear has always been produced in the original form of strip with illustrations accompanying text, called "text comics", as opposed to text being incorporated directly into the art; for example, within speech balloons.
Now when I was growing up, a lot of people thought I was from English because my speech was too precise and accurate - ironically my day job does depend on my voice - and I discovered Rupert during one of my library searches about England and it's culture. I discovered the British tradition of annuals when my dear Cousin Hannah sent me a Classic Doctor Who annual for my birthday one year.
The Rupert Annuals collect stories that have appeared in previous annuals over the decades, along with an original Rupert adventure, "Rupert and the North Wind," for the 2026 annual.
My favorite stories in this annual are: "Rupert and the Butterflies," "Rupert and the Summer Roses," "Rupert and the Knight," and of course, "Rupert and the North Wind."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Rupert-Annual-...
The Making War - Fremont's Children, Book 4
Just finished reading "The Making War - Fremont's Children, Book 4" by Brenda Cooper, published by Wordfire Press.
I discovered Brenda Cooper through "Building Harlequin's Moon," a book Larry Niven and she co-authored, and was published by TOR Books; and I greatly enjoyed the first three books in her Fremont's Children series, which were also published by TOR Books. Of special interest, Cooper thanks TOR Books for originally publishing the first three books in her "Fremont's Children" series.
"The Making War" was originally published in France and I did try to get a copy, but Amazon would not let order a copy for some reason or the other. [French was my first language, not English.]
So I was happy to learn that Wordfire Press published "The Making War" in English, along with reissuing the first three books in the series.
At the end of "Wings of Creation," the third book in Cooper's exploration of genetically enhanced humanity and the impact those enhancements/modifications have on children and what it means to be human and the impacts genetic modifications have on a space faring civilization; Joseph and his family headed out into space to fight a war for the freedom of all of genetically enhanced/modified humanity, with Alicia, Joseph's lover, staying behind on Lopali to become a Flyer, unknowingly becomes the catalyst for an upheaval that will alter the course of the war.
A terrific conclusion to this thought provoking science fiction series.
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Making-Fremont...#
I discovered Brenda Cooper through "Building Harlequin's Moon," a book Larry Niven and she co-authored, and was published by TOR Books; and I greatly enjoyed the first three books in her Fremont's Children series, which were also published by TOR Books. Of special interest, Cooper thanks TOR Books for originally publishing the first three books in her "Fremont's Children" series.
"The Making War" was originally published in France and I did try to get a copy, but Amazon would not let order a copy for some reason or the other. [French was my first language, not English.]
So I was happy to learn that Wordfire Press published "The Making War" in English, along with reissuing the first three books in the series.
At the end of "Wings of Creation," the third book in Cooper's exploration of genetically enhanced humanity and the impact those enhancements/modifications have on children and what it means to be human and the impacts genetic modifications have on a space faring civilization; Joseph and his family headed out into space to fight a war for the freedom of all of genetically enhanced/modified humanity, with Alicia, Joseph's lover, staying behind on Lopali to become a Flyer, unknowingly becomes the catalyst for an upheaval that will alter the course of the war.
A terrific conclusion to this thought provoking science fiction series.
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Making-Fremont...#
September 22, 2025
You're Something Special, Snoopy
Just finished reading "You're Something Special, Snoopy" by Charles M. Schulz, published by Fawcett Crest back in 1972.
"You're Something Special, Snoopy" contains the daily and Sunday Peanuts strips that ran from 1965 and 1966, and what is notable about this particular collection is that it contains the sequence where Snoopy's house mysteriously burns down in the middle of the night, and it's eventual rebuild, along with a hint that Snoopy's doghouse is bigger on the inside then it's on the outside. There is also a sequence where Charlie Brown yells at a teacher over his bad performance in a spelling bee - which is something rare for a Peanuts character to do.
Great Peanuts Fun!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Something-Spec...
"You're Something Special, Snoopy" contains the daily and Sunday Peanuts strips that ran from 1965 and 1966, and what is notable about this particular collection is that it contains the sequence where Snoopy's house mysteriously burns down in the middle of the night, and it's eventual rebuild, along with a hint that Snoopy's doghouse is bigger on the inside then it's on the outside. There is also a sequence where Charlie Brown yells at a teacher over his bad performance in a spelling bee - which is something rare for a Peanuts character to do.
Great Peanuts Fun!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Something-Spec...
