Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 4
September 21, 2025
You've Come A Long Way, Charlie Brown
Just finished reading "You've Come A Long Way, Charlie Brown" by Charles M. Schulz, published by Owl Books, an imprint of Henry Holt Books back in 1971.
"You've Come A Long Way, Charlie Brown" collects the daily and Sunday comic strips from 1976, 1977, and 1978 and is of special note because it introduces Clara, who I believe would later evolve into Marcie, into the comic strip as Peppermint Pattie's friend. I think that the only time Clara is in the Peanuts comic strip is during the run when Peppermint Patty is tent monitor at the summer camp she is spending two weeks at.
Peppermint Patty's mother is one of the great unresolved mysteries of the Peanuts comic strip. In the comic strip from September 27, 1973, it is revealed that Peppermint Patty does not have a mother. No concrete explanation is given for why this is so. Peppermint Patty lives as an only child with her father, who works nights. Schulz's introduction of a single parent family in 1973 was revolutionary - even though single parents with children had been introduced into mainstream culture in various forms of media - usually the parent was a widow/widower - because it showed how the lack of a parent could impact the child in the family unit. It's also curious on how the mystery of what happened to Peppermint Patty's mother is never really focused on since she never discusses her mother; and Schulz never really commented on it, but he did address social issues in his strip on occasion.
This collection is also noteworthy because for the first time, Lucy raises the rates on her Psychiatric Help Booth to 7-cents for "Winter Rates," and she has a side hustle selling edible "Goop" for 5-cents.
Snoopy also becomes the manager of Charlie Brown's baseball team for about two weeks and boy-oh-boy, is he ever a brutal manager.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Youve-Come-Lon...
"You've Come A Long Way, Charlie Brown" collects the daily and Sunday comic strips from 1976, 1977, and 1978 and is of special note because it introduces Clara, who I believe would later evolve into Marcie, into the comic strip as Peppermint Pattie's friend. I think that the only time Clara is in the Peanuts comic strip is during the run when Peppermint Patty is tent monitor at the summer camp she is spending two weeks at.
Peppermint Patty's mother is one of the great unresolved mysteries of the Peanuts comic strip. In the comic strip from September 27, 1973, it is revealed that Peppermint Patty does not have a mother. No concrete explanation is given for why this is so. Peppermint Patty lives as an only child with her father, who works nights. Schulz's introduction of a single parent family in 1973 was revolutionary - even though single parents with children had been introduced into mainstream culture in various forms of media - usually the parent was a widow/widower - because it showed how the lack of a parent could impact the child in the family unit. It's also curious on how the mystery of what happened to Peppermint Patty's mother is never really focused on since she never discusses her mother; and Schulz never really commented on it, but he did address social issues in his strip on occasion.
This collection is also noteworthy because for the first time, Lucy raises the rates on her Psychiatric Help Booth to 7-cents for "Winter Rates," and she has a side hustle selling edible "Goop" for 5-cents.
Snoopy also becomes the manager of Charlie Brown's baseball team for about two weeks and boy-oh-boy, is he ever a brutal manager.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Youve-Come-Lon...
Captain Action - The Classic Collection
Just finished reading "Captain Action - The Classic Collection" published by IDW Publishing back in 2022.
Captain Action was an action figure created in 1966, equipped with a wardrobe of costumes and facial masks allowing him to become Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Captain America, Aquaman, the Phantom, The Lone Ranger and Tonto, Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, Sgt. Fury, Steve Canyon, and the Green Hornet. Captain Action was the Ideal Toy Company's answer to Hasbro's G.I. Joe, although the protagonist dolls of both toy lines were created and designed by the same toy-and-idea man, Stan Weston.
Now while I do have a Captain Action statue from Electric Tiki, I have yet to own a Captain Action figure. Back in the late 1960s Dad equated Action Figures for boys as Barbie Dolls for girls and no son of his was going to play with a doll. I had to wait to get a G.I. Joe until Selma, my sister, was born until Dad relented and he and Mom got me a G.I. Joe. Years later, I started collecting G.I. Joes and I have part of a wall in my house dedicated to displaying various G.I. Joes in my home office.
DC Comics) icensed the character from Ideal and published five issues of Captain Action in 1968. The comic book storyline had little to do with the toy concept, as some of the heroes licensed for use as costumes for the Captain Action doll were not owned and published by DC (Spider-Man and Captain America for example, were Marvel Comics characters), therefore the ability to change into different characters was entirely dropped. Instead, Captain Action came to possess magical coins, each of which provided him with a spectacular power from a Greek, Roman, or Norse mythological god in a similar way to the original Captain Marvel. Captain Action was given a real name of his own, Clive Arno, and was identified as a widowed archaeologist and museum curator, and was described as having located "the coins of power" in a buried city. Action Boy's comic-book alter-ego was Carl Arno, son of Clive. Dr. Evil was given a back-story too, having been Captain Action's father-in-law, then going mad in a mishap. The series lasted five issues, until July 1969, with a rather disturbing ending that resulted in the mental breakdown of the villain.
The five issues of the Captain Action comics were published in the in-between eras of the Silver and Bronze ages of comics, and this collection also includes the letters section of each comic. Long before the Internet, people actually wrote letters and mailed them to the editors of comic books to discuss occurrences in previous issues and express their concerns and ideas. Of course Social Media has now taken over the Letters to the Editor page in comic books for better or worse - though with Cancel Culture, definitely for the worse.
These five Captain Action comics are essentially origin stories for heroes and villains in the Captain Action comic book universe and are basically good versus evil under the Comics Authority Code of the time.
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Captain-Action...
Captain Action was an action figure created in 1966, equipped with a wardrobe of costumes and facial masks allowing him to become Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Captain America, Aquaman, the Phantom, The Lone Ranger and Tonto, Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, Sgt. Fury, Steve Canyon, and the Green Hornet. Captain Action was the Ideal Toy Company's answer to Hasbro's G.I. Joe, although the protagonist dolls of both toy lines were created and designed by the same toy-and-idea man, Stan Weston.
Now while I do have a Captain Action statue from Electric Tiki, I have yet to own a Captain Action figure. Back in the late 1960s Dad equated Action Figures for boys as Barbie Dolls for girls and no son of his was going to play with a doll. I had to wait to get a G.I. Joe until Selma, my sister, was born until Dad relented and he and Mom got me a G.I. Joe. Years later, I started collecting G.I. Joes and I have part of a wall in my house dedicated to displaying various G.I. Joes in my home office.
DC Comics) icensed the character from Ideal and published five issues of Captain Action in 1968. The comic book storyline had little to do with the toy concept, as some of the heroes licensed for use as costumes for the Captain Action doll were not owned and published by DC (Spider-Man and Captain America for example, were Marvel Comics characters), therefore the ability to change into different characters was entirely dropped. Instead, Captain Action came to possess magical coins, each of which provided him with a spectacular power from a Greek, Roman, or Norse mythological god in a similar way to the original Captain Marvel. Captain Action was given a real name of his own, Clive Arno, and was identified as a widowed archaeologist and museum curator, and was described as having located "the coins of power" in a buried city. Action Boy's comic-book alter-ego was Carl Arno, son of Clive. Dr. Evil was given a back-story too, having been Captain Action's father-in-law, then going mad in a mishap. The series lasted five issues, until July 1969, with a rather disturbing ending that resulted in the mental breakdown of the villain.
The five issues of the Captain Action comics were published in the in-between eras of the Silver and Bronze ages of comics, and this collection also includes the letters section of each comic. Long before the Internet, people actually wrote letters and mailed them to the editors of comic books to discuss occurrences in previous issues and express their concerns and ideas. Of course Social Media has now taken over the Letters to the Editor page in comic books for better or worse - though with Cancel Culture, definitely for the worse.
These five Captain Action comics are essentially origin stories for heroes and villains in the Captain Action comic book universe and are basically good versus evil under the Comics Authority Code of the time.
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Captain-Action...
Japanese Drums - Joji Hirota and Hiten Ryu Daiko
Just finished watching "Japanese Drums - Joji Hirota and Hiten Ryu Daiko," released by ARC Music, released in late 2010.
Now Japanese Drums - Joji Hirota and Hiten Ryu Daiko" came up as a recommendation on my eBay feed after I had purchased a few DVDs of Yamato - Drummers of Japan, so I decided to take a chance on it.
Some background on Johi Hirota may be needed - and he does have rather interesting personal and professional backgrounds. Joji Hirota was born in Hokkaido in North Japan. He began to study percussion at the age of eleven and by the time he was thirteen he was composing his own music. He went on to study at the Kyoto Municipal Arts University.
In 1972 he was invited to come to England by the illustrious Stomu Ymashta to be Musical Director and Percussionist of the Red Buddha Theatre. This was a turning point. As Joji himself says, but for that invitation he might have stayed with the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra playing Beethoven’s 5th for the rest of his life. It led to Joji becoming Musical Director and Solo Percussionist for the Lindsay Kemp Dance Company in 1977, presenting shows in Europe, Canada, South America and Japan. In 1991 the company won the Time Out award for Best Dance Company for their production ‘Onnagata,’ for which Joji wrote and performed the music.
This DVD is of a performance given in England and consists of the following performances: "Apotheosis," "Suisei Hanabi," "Solan Bushi," Hiten Ryu," "Kekkai," "Chido Setsu," "Harvest", along with a Behind the Scenes segment.
Joji and his group seemed to incorporate a lot of Western influences into this performance. It was a solid performance of Japanese Drummers displaying their skills.
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Joji-Hirota-Hi...
Now Japanese Drums - Joji Hirota and Hiten Ryu Daiko" came up as a recommendation on my eBay feed after I had purchased a few DVDs of Yamato - Drummers of Japan, so I decided to take a chance on it.
Some background on Johi Hirota may be needed - and he does have rather interesting personal and professional backgrounds. Joji Hirota was born in Hokkaido in North Japan. He began to study percussion at the age of eleven and by the time he was thirteen he was composing his own music. He went on to study at the Kyoto Municipal Arts University.
In 1972 he was invited to come to England by the illustrious Stomu Ymashta to be Musical Director and Percussionist of the Red Buddha Theatre. This was a turning point. As Joji himself says, but for that invitation he might have stayed with the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra playing Beethoven’s 5th for the rest of his life. It led to Joji becoming Musical Director and Solo Percussionist for the Lindsay Kemp Dance Company in 1977, presenting shows in Europe, Canada, South America and Japan. In 1991 the company won the Time Out award for Best Dance Company for their production ‘Onnagata,’ for which Joji wrote and performed the music.
This DVD is of a performance given in England and consists of the following performances: "Apotheosis," "Suisei Hanabi," "Solan Bushi," Hiten Ryu," "Kekkai," "Chido Setsu," "Harvest", along with a Behind the Scenes segment.
Joji and his group seemed to incorporate a lot of Western influences into this performance. It was a solid performance of Japanese Drummers displaying their skills.
Strongly Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Joji-Hirota-Hi...
September 19, 2025
On Swift Horses
Just finished watching "On Swift Horses" released by Sony Pictures Classics.
"On Swift Horses" is based on the novel of the same name by Shannon Pufahl. It's supposed to be grand sweeping romantic movie that Hollywood used to make during its golden age, yet it falls extremely far from that ideal goal of a movie made in yesteryear's traditions. It did bomb at the box office.
The premise of "On Swift Horses" is that Muriel and her husband Lee are beginning a bright new life in California following his return from the Korean War, which is upended by the arrival of Lee's charismatic younger brother, Julius. Lee is keen for the three of them to build a new life together in San Diego, but Julius decides to travel to Las Vegas instead, where he finds employment in a casino and meets Henry, a male co-worker. Julius and Henry fall in love and the two men begin a secret romantic relationship, including living together in a motel room. Meanwhile, Muriel embarks on a secret life of her own back in California, gambling on racehorses and discovering a love she never thought possible after meeting a female neighbor, Sandra.
Rather curious thing about Lee is that he is a standout guy who gets burned by Muriel because she can't be honest with home about her desire not to get married and sell her family home to begin a new life. His brother Julius is no better than Muriel.
"On Swift Horses" casts Lee as the unwitting villain of the story because he has dreams and goals for a normal life and does the hard work in trying to have a good life he envisions for himself and Muriel. At least Muriel leaves a letter of apology to Lee and a good portion of her illicit racetrack winnings so that he can try to rebuild his life somewhere else.
It's a very disjointed movie that is trying to be a great old school romantic epic, which it is not. It's trying to be a manifesto about being true to yourself while lying to others - even if you're having gay affairs with them.
Not Recommended.
One Star for accurately portraying life in the late 1950s.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FBZ9BKQQ?...
"On Swift Horses" is based on the novel of the same name by Shannon Pufahl. It's supposed to be grand sweeping romantic movie that Hollywood used to make during its golden age, yet it falls extremely far from that ideal goal of a movie made in yesteryear's traditions. It did bomb at the box office.
The premise of "On Swift Horses" is that Muriel and her husband Lee are beginning a bright new life in California following his return from the Korean War, which is upended by the arrival of Lee's charismatic younger brother, Julius. Lee is keen for the three of them to build a new life together in San Diego, but Julius decides to travel to Las Vegas instead, where he finds employment in a casino and meets Henry, a male co-worker. Julius and Henry fall in love and the two men begin a secret romantic relationship, including living together in a motel room. Meanwhile, Muriel embarks on a secret life of her own back in California, gambling on racehorses and discovering a love she never thought possible after meeting a female neighbor, Sandra.
Rather curious thing about Lee is that he is a standout guy who gets burned by Muriel because she can't be honest with home about her desire not to get married and sell her family home to begin a new life. His brother Julius is no better than Muriel.
"On Swift Horses" casts Lee as the unwitting villain of the story because he has dreams and goals for a normal life and does the hard work in trying to have a good life he envisions for himself and Muriel. At least Muriel leaves a letter of apology to Lee and a good portion of her illicit racetrack winnings so that he can try to rebuild his life somewhere else.
It's a very disjointed movie that is trying to be a great old school romantic epic, which it is not. It's trying to be a manifesto about being true to yourself while lying to others - even if you're having gay affairs with them.
Not Recommended.
One Star for accurately portraying life in the late 1950s.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FBZ9BKQQ?...
September 17, 2025
The Destroyer #105 - Scorched Earth
Just finished listening to "The Destroyer #105 - Scorched Earth" released by Graphic Audio back in 2007.
A little bit of background information about "The Destroyer" series may prove helpful.
"The Destroyer" series was originally created and written by Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir, with the first novel being written in 1963, and published in 1971 with 150 novels following the success of the first book in the series.
The Destroyer is Remo Williams, a Newark cop framed for a crime and sentenced to death. His death is faked by the government so he can be trained as an assassin for CURE, a secret organization set up by President Kennedy to defend the country by working outside the law. The head of CURE is Harold W. Smith, a man selected by the President not only for his brilliant mind but also because of his integrity. Smith is a former law instructor at Yale and served in the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. Remo's trainer and father figure is Chiun, a deadly assassin and the last Master of Sinanju. It has also emerged that Remo is the Avatar of Shiva, as prophesied in the legends of Sinanju.
Keep in mind that while "The Destroyer" novels are extremely violent, they satirize popular culture and Carl Sagan is heavily lampooned with the character of Cosmo Pagan in this outing and I got the feeling that Murphy and Sapir were no fans of the late Carl Sagan.
Mom, Dad, and I always enjoyed listening to Graphic Audio's dramatizations of "The Destroyer" series.
Remo and Chiun are called into to investigate when a single superheated zap from an invisible object in space literally vaporizes the Biobubble habitat scientists. More sizzling attacks are followed by eyewitness sightings of giant Cyrillic letters in the sky. As the White House and Pentagon hastily cover up in reflective tinfoil to ward off the deadly rays, Remo and Chiun are dispatched to Russia to stop these stealth attacks before World War III really scorches the planet. But clandestine Russian forces are ready, lying in wait.
Great Destroyer Fun!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Scorched-Earth...
A little bit of background information about "The Destroyer" series may prove helpful.
"The Destroyer" series was originally created and written by Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir, with the first novel being written in 1963, and published in 1971 with 150 novels following the success of the first book in the series.
The Destroyer is Remo Williams, a Newark cop framed for a crime and sentenced to death. His death is faked by the government so he can be trained as an assassin for CURE, a secret organization set up by President Kennedy to defend the country by working outside the law. The head of CURE is Harold W. Smith, a man selected by the President not only for his brilliant mind but also because of his integrity. Smith is a former law instructor at Yale and served in the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. Remo's trainer and father figure is Chiun, a deadly assassin and the last Master of Sinanju. It has also emerged that Remo is the Avatar of Shiva, as prophesied in the legends of Sinanju.
Keep in mind that while "The Destroyer" novels are extremely violent, they satirize popular culture and Carl Sagan is heavily lampooned with the character of Cosmo Pagan in this outing and I got the feeling that Murphy and Sapir were no fans of the late Carl Sagan.
Mom, Dad, and I always enjoyed listening to Graphic Audio's dramatizations of "The Destroyer" series.
Remo and Chiun are called into to investigate when a single superheated zap from an invisible object in space literally vaporizes the Biobubble habitat scientists. More sizzling attacks are followed by eyewitness sightings of giant Cyrillic letters in the sky. As the White House and Pentagon hastily cover up in reflective tinfoil to ward off the deadly rays, Remo and Chiun are dispatched to Russia to stop these stealth attacks before World War III really scorches the planet. But clandestine Russian forces are ready, lying in wait.
Great Destroyer Fun!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Scorched-Earth...
The Insect Epiphany - How Our Six-Legged Allies Shape Human Culture
Just finished reading "The Insect Epiphany - How Our Six-Legged Allies Shape Human Culture" by Barrett Klein, published by Timber Press.
Klein, who is a rather intriguing entomologist, worked with honey bees for his PhD at the University of Texas at Austin, and spearheaded the Pupating Lab at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. He has also fabricated some of the exhibits of the American History Museum and has restored some historical artificial displays of insects, including the giant mosquito display that was first used to education the public on the transmission of malaria.
"The Insect Epiphany" is what I is the type of sense of wonder book that always caught my attention when I was young and always prompted Mrs. Saunders - the woman I never considered to be a teacher who oversaw my sixth grade class - and other assorted teachers throughout elementary and high school to call my parents and complain that I was reading an "inappropriate book" - inappropriate because I read, and still do read, books on a variety of subjects. As a former substitute teacher for the Duval and Clay county public school systems here in Florida, it would probably be a miracle if a student read at grade level or beyond.
Klein is engaging in illustrating not just how the planet needs its bugs but how much humans have appreciated their very insect-ness over the millennia and expressed that in art, industry, technology, fashion, and our core cultural systems and histories.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1643261363/...
Klein, who is a rather intriguing entomologist, worked with honey bees for his PhD at the University of Texas at Austin, and spearheaded the Pupating Lab at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. He has also fabricated some of the exhibits of the American History Museum and has restored some historical artificial displays of insects, including the giant mosquito display that was first used to education the public on the transmission of malaria.
"The Insect Epiphany" is what I is the type of sense of wonder book that always caught my attention when I was young and always prompted Mrs. Saunders - the woman I never considered to be a teacher who oversaw my sixth grade class - and other assorted teachers throughout elementary and high school to call my parents and complain that I was reading an "inappropriate book" - inappropriate because I read, and still do read, books on a variety of subjects. As a former substitute teacher for the Duval and Clay county public school systems here in Florida, it would probably be a miracle if a student read at grade level or beyond.
Klein is engaging in illustrating not just how the planet needs its bugs but how much humans have appreciated their very insect-ness over the millennia and expressed that in art, industry, technology, fashion, and our core cultural systems and histories.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1643261363/...
The Lords of Creation
Just finished reading "The Lords of Creation" by S.M. Stirling, published by ARC Manor under their CAEZIK SF & FANTASY line/label published in 2025.
Stirling's "The Lords of Creation" series originally was a duo of two books - "The Sky People" and "in The Court of Crimson Kings" that was published by TOR Books in 2007 and 2008 respectively, and I had thought, as I suspect most readers assumed at the time, that the series came to a conclusion with final pages of "The Court of Crimson Kings" where world gates open on Venus, Earth, and Mars into what seemed to be a new universe.
There are times when I miss reading the science fiction and fantasy publishing news briefs in Locus Magazine. It always kept me up to date on when Andre Norton's new books were sold and due to be released along with my favorite other authors.
So I don't know if TOR Books had originally signed a three-book deal with Stirling's "The Lords of Creation" series, yet TOR Books did let "The Sky People" and "in The Court of Crimson Kings" go out of print, which CAEZIK SF & FANTASY have released in new editions along with realizing what is being "hailed" as the concluding volume of the series - which in the tradition of good old fashioned classic science fiction, raises far more questions than answers.
The word gates which opened to an amazed humanity at the end of "The Court of Crimson Kings" actually lead to a suspected Dyson Sphere and deep space telescopes have also discovered similar types of artificial structures in other star systems.
Yet the "Lords of Creation" are still as mysterious and unknown as they were in the first two volumes and it seems that these mysterious aliens are still active in humanity's history since the Dyson Sphere have humans from more modern era time periods from Earth's history.
Nothing is really answered about "The Lords of Creation" and while Stirling does build a rather convincing alternative world history, I don't know if the third volume in this series adds anything to the overall story or the mystery of who "The Lords of Creation" really are. Sometimes its best not to give readers an ultimate answer to a mystery in science fiction and let their imagination take the story to a conclusion they like.
Recommended.
Three-and-a-half Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTTF2MMT/...
Stirling's "The Lords of Creation" series originally was a duo of two books - "The Sky People" and "in The Court of Crimson Kings" that was published by TOR Books in 2007 and 2008 respectively, and I had thought, as I suspect most readers assumed at the time, that the series came to a conclusion with final pages of "The Court of Crimson Kings" where world gates open on Venus, Earth, and Mars into what seemed to be a new universe.
There are times when I miss reading the science fiction and fantasy publishing news briefs in Locus Magazine. It always kept me up to date on when Andre Norton's new books were sold and due to be released along with my favorite other authors.
So I don't know if TOR Books had originally signed a three-book deal with Stirling's "The Lords of Creation" series, yet TOR Books did let "The Sky People" and "in The Court of Crimson Kings" go out of print, which CAEZIK SF & FANTASY have released in new editions along with realizing what is being "hailed" as the concluding volume of the series - which in the tradition of good old fashioned classic science fiction, raises far more questions than answers.
The word gates which opened to an amazed humanity at the end of "The Court of Crimson Kings" actually lead to a suspected Dyson Sphere and deep space telescopes have also discovered similar types of artificial structures in other star systems.
Yet the "Lords of Creation" are still as mysterious and unknown as they were in the first two volumes and it seems that these mysterious aliens are still active in humanity's history since the Dyson Sphere have humans from more modern era time periods from Earth's history.
Nothing is really answered about "The Lords of Creation" and while Stirling does build a rather convincing alternative world history, I don't know if the third volume in this series adds anything to the overall story or the mystery of who "The Lords of Creation" really are. Sometimes its best not to give readers an ultimate answer to a mystery in science fiction and let their imagination take the story to a conclusion they like.
Recommended.
Three-and-a-half Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTTF2MMT/...
September 8, 2025
The Land Beneath The Ice - The Pioneering Years of Radar Exploration in Antarctica
Just finished reading "The Land Beneath The Ice - The Pioneering Years of Radar Exploration in Antarctica" by David J. Drewry, published by Princeton University Press back in 2023.
"The Land Beneath The Ice" is an example of a hard science book that I enjoyed reading when I was younger because not only does it shows the excitement of scientific discovery, but the all the preparation and hard work that goes into scientific research.
Drewry has written a highly detailed and absorbing account of the groundbreaking mapping of the land beneath the Antarctic ice sheet using ice-penetrating radar 40 years ago. What makes it of wider interest are the stories about the challenges of airborne fieldwork in the polar regions and, often entertainingly, of the politics between the British scientists who developed the technology and did the fieldwork, and the Americans who provided the logistic support and aircraft.
An interesting look at a golden age in Antarctic exploration.
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Land-Beneath-I...
"The Land Beneath The Ice" is an example of a hard science book that I enjoyed reading when I was younger because not only does it shows the excitement of scientific discovery, but the all the preparation and hard work that goes into scientific research.
Drewry has written a highly detailed and absorbing account of the groundbreaking mapping of the land beneath the Antarctic ice sheet using ice-penetrating radar 40 years ago. What makes it of wider interest are the stories about the challenges of airborne fieldwork in the polar regions and, often entertainingly, of the politics between the British scientists who developed the technology and did the fieldwork, and the Americans who provided the logistic support and aircraft.
An interesting look at a golden age in Antarctic exploration.
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Land-Beneath-I...
Duffy's Tavern - Archives Collection
Just finished listening to "Duffy's Tavern - Archives Collection" released by Radio Spirits back in 2008.
Currently out of print, "Duffy's Tavern - Archives Collection" has been patiently sitting on top of Selma's, my sister's, rolltop accounting desk in her old room - where I keep all of my yet-to-be listened to audio drama CDs for a little over 17 years. Out of the 1,643 audio CDs collections I have, I believe that I have still about 400 audio CD collections I have yet to listen to - you should see my piles of unread books...don't judge me...LOL...
Duffy's Tavern was a radio sitcom that ran for a decade on several networks CBS, 1941–42; NBC-Blue Network, 1942–44,and NBC, 1944–51, with the final episode "Archie Wins a Slogan Contest" airing on December 28, 1951, which is included in this collection.
Duffy's Tavern often featured celebrity guest stars but always hooked them around the misadventures of Archie, the tavern's manager, portrayed by Ed Gardner. Archie was prone to involvement in get-rich-quick schemes and romantic missteps, and constantly communicated with malaprops and mixed metaphors.
"Duffy's Tavern - Archives Collection" features shows from the show's final season - though has the audition show which aired on July 29, 1940
My favorite episodes in this collection are: "With Guest Vincent Price," "With Guest Shelley Winters," "Archie Writes An Opera," "Archie Runs for Political Office," and "Archie the Hypnotist."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Duffys-Tavern-...
Currently out of print, "Duffy's Tavern - Archives Collection" has been patiently sitting on top of Selma's, my sister's, rolltop accounting desk in her old room - where I keep all of my yet-to-be listened to audio drama CDs for a little over 17 years. Out of the 1,643 audio CDs collections I have, I believe that I have still about 400 audio CD collections I have yet to listen to - you should see my piles of unread books...don't judge me...LOL...
Duffy's Tavern was a radio sitcom that ran for a decade on several networks CBS, 1941–42; NBC-Blue Network, 1942–44,and NBC, 1944–51, with the final episode "Archie Wins a Slogan Contest" airing on December 28, 1951, which is included in this collection.
Duffy's Tavern often featured celebrity guest stars but always hooked them around the misadventures of Archie, the tavern's manager, portrayed by Ed Gardner. Archie was prone to involvement in get-rich-quick schemes and romantic missteps, and constantly communicated with malaprops and mixed metaphors.
"Duffy's Tavern - Archives Collection" features shows from the show's final season - though has the audition show which aired on July 29, 1940
My favorite episodes in this collection are: "With Guest Vincent Price," "With Guest Shelley Winters," "Archie Writes An Opera," "Archie Runs for Political Office," and "Archie the Hypnotist."
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Duffys-Tavern-...
September 1, 2025
Prophecies
Just finished listening to "Prophecies" by Dik Darnell and Steven Halpren, released by Etherean Music.
I found "Prophecies" at Monster Music when I was visiting Selma up in Charleston a few weeks ago. Monster Music is a great used music and DVD/Blu-ray store in the West Ashley area of Charleston.
"Prophecies" is an interesting musical version of a typical and common Christian conceit of looking for hidden meanings in the original Hebrew of the Old Testament/Torah. [Hint: A Barbara Cartland novel could contain a hidden code containing the secrets of the Universe if you look long and hard enough.] Yet Darnell and Halpren interpose Jewish theology upon Eastern and Native American religions - something that will horrify even casual Jews.
Sometimes you just have to listen to the music and ignore the motivation behind behind the music.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Eawahtah," "Eastern Messenger," "Echoes of Dreamtime," "Navi Maim," and "The Seer."
Highly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Prophecies-Dik...
I found "Prophecies" at Monster Music when I was visiting Selma up in Charleston a few weeks ago. Monster Music is a great used music and DVD/Blu-ray store in the West Ashley area of Charleston.
"Prophecies" is an interesting musical version of a typical and common Christian conceit of looking for hidden meanings in the original Hebrew of the Old Testament/Torah. [Hint: A Barbara Cartland novel could contain a hidden code containing the secrets of the Universe if you look long and hard enough.] Yet Darnell and Halpren interpose Jewish theology upon Eastern and Native American religions - something that will horrify even casual Jews.
Sometimes you just have to listen to the music and ignore the motivation behind behind the music.
My favorite tracks on this CD are: "Eawahtah," "Eastern Messenger," "Echoes of Dreamtime," "Navi Maim," and "The Seer."
Highly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Prophecies-Dik...
