Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 70
December 31, 2022
"Extraterrestrial Languages" by Daniel Oberhaus
Just finished reading "Extraterrestrial Languages" by Daniel Oberhaus, released by The MIT Press.
While Oberhaus does a rather through exploration of the early attempts at interplanetary, and then interstellar communication and also a through job exploring the challenges of creating a message that can at least be heard as well as understood, he glosses over the breakthroughs in deciphering animal communication here on Earth. He also doesn't really take into consideration that communication is a learned behavior and not all extraterrestrial civilizations and societies may engage in outward communications with others - there are examples of this throughout human history think Japan and China.
The 800-pound elephant in the room, is the Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence, let alone deciphering a completely alien language, suffers from a lot of preconceived notions, with the lessons learned from the early days of searching for Exo-planets completely forgotten; i.e. hot Jupiters weren't supposed to exist, pulsars planets shouldn't exist, ect. So it might not be such a good idea to have preconceived notions about extraterrestrial languages.
Recommended, with reserve.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Extraterrestri...
While Oberhaus does a rather through exploration of the early attempts at interplanetary, and then interstellar communication and also a through job exploring the challenges of creating a message that can at least be heard as well as understood, he glosses over the breakthroughs in deciphering animal communication here on Earth. He also doesn't really take into consideration that communication is a learned behavior and not all extraterrestrial civilizations and societies may engage in outward communications with others - there are examples of this throughout human history think Japan and China.
The 800-pound elephant in the room, is the Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence, let alone deciphering a completely alien language, suffers from a lot of preconceived notions, with the lessons learned from the early days of searching for Exo-planets completely forgotten; i.e. hot Jupiters weren't supposed to exist, pulsars planets shouldn't exist, ect. So it might not be such a good idea to have preconceived notions about extraterrestrial languages.
Recommended, with reserve.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Extraterrestri...
Ancient Aliens - Season 16
Just finished watching "Ancient Aliens - Season 16" released by the History Channel through Lionsgate.
While "Ancient Aliens does have a long history of recycling footage from previous episodes from past season, "Ancient Aliens" goes full throttle with a series of six episodes title "On Location" which reviewed the highlights of past episodes with ancient alien theorist Giorgio A Tsoukalos - who looks like he has a black eye - waxes poetically. The other four episodes of this abbreviated season, while new, are just rehashings of rehasings. Perhaps its getting a bit too expensive to make "Ancient Aliens"? One does have to wonder. As to why I like watching this series? It's fun seeing how they can spin everything into "aliens." And it's intriguing and amusing to see main stream scientists walk a tight rope just for some air time on televised program.
Recommended for die-hard fans of the series.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Aliens...
While "Ancient Aliens does have a long history of recycling footage from previous episodes from past season, "Ancient Aliens" goes full throttle with a series of six episodes title "On Location" which reviewed the highlights of past episodes with ancient alien theorist Giorgio A Tsoukalos - who looks like he has a black eye - waxes poetically. The other four episodes of this abbreviated season, while new, are just rehashings of rehasings. Perhaps its getting a bit too expensive to make "Ancient Aliens"? One does have to wonder. As to why I like watching this series? It's fun seeing how they can spin everything into "aliens." And it's intriguing and amusing to see main stream scientists walk a tight rope just for some air time on televised program.
Recommended for die-hard fans of the series.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Aliens...
December 25, 2022
A Death In Door County
Just finished reading "A Death In Door County" by Annelise Ryan, released by Berkley.
"A Death In Door County" is the first in Ryan's "A Monster Hunter Mystery" that introduces Morgan Carter, owner of the Odds and Ends bookstore in Door County, Wisconsin. Morgan's hobby is hunting cryptids—creatures whose existence is rumored, but never proven to be real like the Loch Ness Monster.
So when local police chief Jon Flanders turns to Morgan for help after bodies start piling up on the local shoreline, she is intrigued by the challenge because she has doubts that it's an actual cryptid, but someone who is using murder as a diversion to hide something from prying eyes.
Morgan Carter is an intriguing sleuth with a tragic backstory that has caused her to suffer from trust issues and she has her own monster that is out there somewhere in the world bidding his time until he strikes out at her again.
Ryan has written an intense and enjoyable mystery and I am looking forward to the second book in this series.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Death-County-M...
"A Death In Door County" is the first in Ryan's "A Monster Hunter Mystery" that introduces Morgan Carter, owner of the Odds and Ends bookstore in Door County, Wisconsin. Morgan's hobby is hunting cryptids—creatures whose existence is rumored, but never proven to be real like the Loch Ness Monster.
So when local police chief Jon Flanders turns to Morgan for help after bodies start piling up on the local shoreline, she is intrigued by the challenge because she has doubts that it's an actual cryptid, but someone who is using murder as a diversion to hide something from prying eyes.
Morgan Carter is an intriguing sleuth with a tragic backstory that has caused her to suffer from trust issues and she has her own monster that is out there somewhere in the world bidding his time until he strikes out at her again.
Ryan has written an intense and enjoyable mystery and I am looking forward to the second book in this series.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Death-County-M...
Solomon Kane
Just stopped watching "Solomon Kane," released by Anchor Bay Entertainment.
"Solomon Kane" is another example of Hollywood deciding to ignore the source material and cannon of an original story and recreate their own version of the popular character and origins in order to make it in their vision.
Solomon Kane was one of Robert E. Howard's creative "pulp fiction" magazine characters. Howard is best known as being the creator of Conan the Barbarian, but he also "invented" Solomon Kane, an English aristocrat who turned his back on his family name and became a sea captain for Sir Francis Drake during England's off and on wars with Spain. Kane was deadly with a sword, but he also was effective with the pistols of those days. He had a deadly and sinister reputation.
Kane is a tall, somber, and gloomy man with pale skin, gaunt face and cold eyes. He is a devout Puritan, with an unshakable faith, who lives on an endless odyssey to destroy evil and darkness in the name of God Almighty. His morality is extremely black and white, allowing for no grey areas of uncertainty. To Kane, the wicked are wicked, and the righteous are righteous, with little to nothing in between. He also seemed to have little regard for his own life and safety, giving away years of his life to pursue and track down evil doers who deserved punishment. Like Howard's other character, Conan the Barbarian, Kane shows a keen sense of chivalry and propriety, defending the innocent and the weak from their wicked oppressors.
And although Howard created and wrote about Kane's adventures first, Solomon Kane is not as well known of the writer's creations, though the original Kane stories have a solid fan base that as grown over the decades since they were published. Marvel cashed in on the Robert E. Howard craze of the late 1960s and 1970s as the writer was discovered by new generations of readers.
While Dad like Howard's Conan stories, he never really mentioned the Kane stories. I think because Kane was in essence a devout Christian. Dad was sort of funny, because he had renounced Christianity and converted to Judaism, so Dad, at times, had the fervor of a convert. Plus Kane had the Staff of Solomon, which Dad would have found off-putting, the notion of a Christian being able to use a Jewish relic.
"Solomon Kane" the movie, was meant to be an origin story, but it heavily strays from the source material and while it has great special effects and great cinematography, it's off putting to anyone who has read the original stories. Sometimes, you really don't need a full and complete backstory filled with angst, but if you do, it would help that there wouldn't be lapses in basic logic.
I stopped watching about 30 minutes in. Not to the creative team behind this "Solomon Kane" movie, Puritans would not use tattoos as a means of "magical" protection against demons, and there is no indication in Howard's stories or poems about Solomon Kane that the had any tattoos, at least not to my knowledge. Nor is there any indication that Kane hid himself in a Catholic monastery.
Can Not Recommend.
Zero Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Solomon-Kane-B...
"Solomon Kane" is another example of Hollywood deciding to ignore the source material and cannon of an original story and recreate their own version of the popular character and origins in order to make it in their vision.
Solomon Kane was one of Robert E. Howard's creative "pulp fiction" magazine characters. Howard is best known as being the creator of Conan the Barbarian, but he also "invented" Solomon Kane, an English aristocrat who turned his back on his family name and became a sea captain for Sir Francis Drake during England's off and on wars with Spain. Kane was deadly with a sword, but he also was effective with the pistols of those days. He had a deadly and sinister reputation.
Kane is a tall, somber, and gloomy man with pale skin, gaunt face and cold eyes. He is a devout Puritan, with an unshakable faith, who lives on an endless odyssey to destroy evil and darkness in the name of God Almighty. His morality is extremely black and white, allowing for no grey areas of uncertainty. To Kane, the wicked are wicked, and the righteous are righteous, with little to nothing in between. He also seemed to have little regard for his own life and safety, giving away years of his life to pursue and track down evil doers who deserved punishment. Like Howard's other character, Conan the Barbarian, Kane shows a keen sense of chivalry and propriety, defending the innocent and the weak from their wicked oppressors.
And although Howard created and wrote about Kane's adventures first, Solomon Kane is not as well known of the writer's creations, though the original Kane stories have a solid fan base that as grown over the decades since they were published. Marvel cashed in on the Robert E. Howard craze of the late 1960s and 1970s as the writer was discovered by new generations of readers.
While Dad like Howard's Conan stories, he never really mentioned the Kane stories. I think because Kane was in essence a devout Christian. Dad was sort of funny, because he had renounced Christianity and converted to Judaism, so Dad, at times, had the fervor of a convert. Plus Kane had the Staff of Solomon, which Dad would have found off-putting, the notion of a Christian being able to use a Jewish relic.
"Solomon Kane" the movie, was meant to be an origin story, but it heavily strays from the source material and while it has great special effects and great cinematography, it's off putting to anyone who has read the original stories. Sometimes, you really don't need a full and complete backstory filled with angst, but if you do, it would help that there wouldn't be lapses in basic logic.
I stopped watching about 30 minutes in. Not to the creative team behind this "Solomon Kane" movie, Puritans would not use tattoos as a means of "magical" protection against demons, and there is no indication in Howard's stories or poems about Solomon Kane that the had any tattoos, at least not to my knowledge. Nor is there any indication that Kane hid himself in a Catholic monastery.
Can Not Recommend.
Zero Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Solomon-Kane-B...
December 22, 2022
The Neutral Stars
Just finished reading "The Neutral Stars" by Dan Morgan and John Kippax" released by Ballantine Books back in February 1973.
"The Neutral Stars" is the third novel in Morgan's and Kippax's Venturer Twelve series, and Morgan's last literary foray into the shared Venturer Twelve universe. Kippax's and Morgan's plans for their shared universe after their third joint novel was published was to separate write several novels in their series before reuniting to write more novels. Unfortunately Kippax died in an automobile accident, and while Morgan continued to write novels and short stories, he never returned back to the series he had created with his friend and fellow author after the Kippax's solo novel in the series, "Where No Stars Guide" was published after his death - there was no American publication of the fourth and final novel.
The Excelsior Corporation is trying to monopolize research in to warp drive development due to the oncoming threat of the unknown alien Kilroys who have been destroying Earth's colonies - also founded by the Excelsior Corporation. But when the Kilroys launch a genetic plague on the colonists on Orphelin Three, the Chairman of the Excelsior Corporation launches a horrific plan to cover the loss of the colony while gaining an edge on warp drive research.
Now, if you easily get triggered, this novel is not for you, and neither is the series. It's a rather gritty look of the humanity's future.
Strongly Recommended!
Four Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Neutral-Stars-...
"The Neutral Stars" is the third novel in Morgan's and Kippax's Venturer Twelve series, and Morgan's last literary foray into the shared Venturer Twelve universe. Kippax's and Morgan's plans for their shared universe after their third joint novel was published was to separate write several novels in their series before reuniting to write more novels. Unfortunately Kippax died in an automobile accident, and while Morgan continued to write novels and short stories, he never returned back to the series he had created with his friend and fellow author after the Kippax's solo novel in the series, "Where No Stars Guide" was published after his death - there was no American publication of the fourth and final novel.
The Excelsior Corporation is trying to monopolize research in to warp drive development due to the oncoming threat of the unknown alien Kilroys who have been destroying Earth's colonies - also founded by the Excelsior Corporation. But when the Kilroys launch a genetic plague on the colonists on Orphelin Three, the Chairman of the Excelsior Corporation launches a horrific plan to cover the loss of the colony while gaining an edge on warp drive research.
Now, if you easily get triggered, this novel is not for you, and neither is the series. It's a rather gritty look of the humanity's future.
Strongly Recommended!
Four Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Neutral-Stars-...
December 17, 2022
"The War That Made The Roman Empire - Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian At Actium"
Just finished reading "The War That Made The Roman Empire - Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian At Actium" by Barry Strauss, published by Simon & Schuster.
I will confess, the history behind this formative period in Roman history has always intrigued. If Antony and Cleopatra had actually won their war against Octavian science and technology might have advanced more quickly and Christianity and Islam might not have risen to become a main-stream religions. And yes, I will also confess, this period in Roman history has also intrigued when I first watched "Cleopatra" starring Elizabeth Taylor on television years ago when it first aired on Turner's Classic Movies.
Strauss, who is a Professor of Humanistic Studies at Cornell University and a fellow at the Hoover Institution; who just also happens to be a leading authority on ancient military history, has written a very compelling history on this particular period history when Rome embraced authoritarian by dictatorship and how Cleopatra, who was a very skillful and savvy politician, was out-maneuvered by a younger opponent, Octavian, who could be called the world's first "fake news" broadcaster.
Now for those who like sanitized versions of history, be warned. Strauss does explore how same-sex relationships were viewed at the time - and how being in a submissive role was seen as weak. So if a discussion of how they dynamics of a same-sex relationship impacted public perceptions at that point is going to trigger you, skip this rather compelling history book.
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/War-That-Made-...
I will confess, the history behind this formative period in Roman history has always intrigued. If Antony and Cleopatra had actually won their war against Octavian science and technology might have advanced more quickly and Christianity and Islam might not have risen to become a main-stream religions. And yes, I will also confess, this period in Roman history has also intrigued when I first watched "Cleopatra" starring Elizabeth Taylor on television years ago when it first aired on Turner's Classic Movies.
Strauss, who is a Professor of Humanistic Studies at Cornell University and a fellow at the Hoover Institution; who just also happens to be a leading authority on ancient military history, has written a very compelling history on this particular period history when Rome embraced authoritarian by dictatorship and how Cleopatra, who was a very skillful and savvy politician, was out-maneuvered by a younger opponent, Octavian, who could be called the world's first "fake news" broadcaster.
Now for those who like sanitized versions of history, be warned. Strauss does explore how same-sex relationships were viewed at the time - and how being in a submissive role was seen as weak. So if a discussion of how they dynamics of a same-sex relationship impacted public perceptions at that point is going to trigger you, skip this rather compelling history book.
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/War-That-Made-...
Wormhole
Just finished reading "Wormhole" by Keith Brooke and Eric Brown, published by Angry Robot Books.
Eric Brown is relatively a "new" author for me. I discovered him several years ago when his novel "Binary System" was released several years ago by Solaris Books. I greatly enjoyed "Binary System" because it reminded me of the works of Mary Gentle, Andre Norton, C.J. Cherryh, Isaac Asimov, and Murray Leinster. So when I learned that "Wormhole" was being released, I eagerly ordered it through Amazon.
For those who came in late, Amazon banned me for posting reviews on their site because I gave a one-star review to an anti-Semitic book years ago. So no, lol, I don't receive compensation from Amazon for mentioning where I buy books, DVDs, and CDs.
Now I'm not really familiar with Keith Brooke's previous books, but I'll will try to seek out some of his other works.
"Wormhole" is an engrossing, twisty science-fiction mystery. London-based cold case Detective Inspectors Gordon Kemp and Danni Bellini find themselves suddenly pulled off all their investigations. Kemp and Bellini are asked to conduct an interview with Sir Alistair Fairleigh-White, the brother of a scientist who was murdered 80 years ago before the departure of the Strasbourg - a starship that was believed to have been destroyed on its way to Carrasco - an Earth-like planet discovered in orbit around Mu Arae. Actually not only do Kemp and Bellini learn that the Strasbourg actually wasn't destroyed, but among the crew in suspended animation is the prime murder suspect, Rima Cagnac - who can now be brought back to Earth due to another secret technological advance - a quantum matrix that can generate a wormhole. Only the truth is not what Kemp and Bellini are being led to believe, and Kemp finds himself on a mission to Carrasco to arrest Cagnac. Only the natives of Carrasco might throw more then a spanner into the works.
Classic science fiction adventure!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Wormhole-Eric-...
Eric Brown is relatively a "new" author for me. I discovered him several years ago when his novel "Binary System" was released several years ago by Solaris Books. I greatly enjoyed "Binary System" because it reminded me of the works of Mary Gentle, Andre Norton, C.J. Cherryh, Isaac Asimov, and Murray Leinster. So when I learned that "Wormhole" was being released, I eagerly ordered it through Amazon.
For those who came in late, Amazon banned me for posting reviews on their site because I gave a one-star review to an anti-Semitic book years ago. So no, lol, I don't receive compensation from Amazon for mentioning where I buy books, DVDs, and CDs.
Now I'm not really familiar with Keith Brooke's previous books, but I'll will try to seek out some of his other works.
"Wormhole" is an engrossing, twisty science-fiction mystery. London-based cold case Detective Inspectors Gordon Kemp and Danni Bellini find themselves suddenly pulled off all their investigations. Kemp and Bellini are asked to conduct an interview with Sir Alistair Fairleigh-White, the brother of a scientist who was murdered 80 years ago before the departure of the Strasbourg - a starship that was believed to have been destroyed on its way to Carrasco - an Earth-like planet discovered in orbit around Mu Arae. Actually not only do Kemp and Bellini learn that the Strasbourg actually wasn't destroyed, but among the crew in suspended animation is the prime murder suspect, Rima Cagnac - who can now be brought back to Earth due to another secret technological advance - a quantum matrix that can generate a wormhole. Only the truth is not what Kemp and Bellini are being led to believe, and Kemp finds himself on a mission to Carrasco to arrest Cagnac. Only the natives of Carrasco might throw more then a spanner into the works.
Classic science fiction adventure!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Wormhole-Eric-...
December 10, 2022
"Bad Jews - A History of Jewish Politics and Identities"
Just finished reading "Bad Jews - A History of Jewish Politics and Identities" by Emily Tamkin, published by Harper.
Confession time: I first saw "Bad Jews" on the single shelf dedicated to Judaism in the religious section of the Barnes & Noble I occasionally frequent near where I live. [I did point out to the manger of the bookstore at the time that it was a bit perplexing why an entire section on Judaism was cut down to just one shelf and I was told that it was because the Mandarin area in Jacksonville didn't have a large Jewish population - which was news to be considering all the temples and synagogues nearby - including the Jacksonville Jewish Community Alliance Building. Either this is corporate stupidity/anti-Semitism, or it could be due to the fact that as far as I know, I'm the only Jew who actually buys books on Judaism there. Or the manager doesn't know her customer base.]
Now because I was wearing a yarmulke when I saw this book - yes Jeff and Zack, I've broken the promise of not wearing a yarmulke because it's too dangerous to wear one alone in pubic in Jacksonville - I decided not to buy it to prevent the inevitable brouhaha at the cash register or if anyone saw me carrying it around in the bookstore. So I ordered it online at Amazon.com - yes, I know, I was a coward, but there are times when I feel I really don't want to deal with narrow minded idiots telling me what I can and can not read.
Basically, anyone who is Jewish is going to be called a "Bad Jew" at some point in their life. If you drink Pepsi instead of Coke, you're a "Bad Jew" because Coke is Kosher and Pepsi is not. Date and/or marry outside the Jewish faith, you're a "Bad Jew." Having the audacity to stand up for yourself, you're a "Bad Jew." If you're a Republican instead of a Democrat, you're a "Bad Jew." Don't know how to speak and read Hebrew and Yiddish, you're a "Bad Jew," which is rather ironic since I have yet to encounter one fellow here in Jacksonville who actually can speak and read Conversational Hebrew and/or Yiddish - but I'm a "Bad Jew" because I don't belong to a temple or synagogue here in Jacksonville in the over 30 years I've lived here because I'm a "Bad Jew" and when I actually spoken to Jews here in Jacksonville, they didn't understand what I was saying to I had to revert back to English.
If you don't follow the traditional Jewish norm of getting married to a nice Jewish Girl or Jewish Guy of the opposite gender, and have children, you're a "Bad Jew."
Even Rabbis are not immune from being labeled as a 'Bad Jew" or applying the label to other Rabbis or other fellow Jews. Was your conversion to Judaism overseen by a female Rabbi - then it's not seen as a legitimate conversion by some male Rabbis and you guessed it, you won't even be considered Jewish by the Rabbi who rejects you.
Emily Tamkin has written an intriguing book on what I've, and I suspect many others have dubbed, "Jewish Stupidity." "Bad Jew" is a term bandied about in an attempt to bring a false sense of security by those who want their fellow Jews to adhere to some sort of impossible community standard or norm that they themselves don't follow must of the time and it is a centuries old divisive term used to separate the perceived wheat from the chaff - yet despite the use of this term by Jews against their fellow Jews - and yes, non-Jews use this term too when they seek to control a Jew's behavior - Jewish culture and identity still carries on. And as Tamkin aptly demonstrates, what makes you Jewish is how you perceive yourself, and nobody can take away your Jewish faith, culture, and identity.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Jews-Ameri...
Confession time: I first saw "Bad Jews" on the single shelf dedicated to Judaism in the religious section of the Barnes & Noble I occasionally frequent near where I live. [I did point out to the manger of the bookstore at the time that it was a bit perplexing why an entire section on Judaism was cut down to just one shelf and I was told that it was because the Mandarin area in Jacksonville didn't have a large Jewish population - which was news to be considering all the temples and synagogues nearby - including the Jacksonville Jewish Community Alliance Building. Either this is corporate stupidity/anti-Semitism, or it could be due to the fact that as far as I know, I'm the only Jew who actually buys books on Judaism there. Or the manager doesn't know her customer base.]
Now because I was wearing a yarmulke when I saw this book - yes Jeff and Zack, I've broken the promise of not wearing a yarmulke because it's too dangerous to wear one alone in pubic in Jacksonville - I decided not to buy it to prevent the inevitable brouhaha at the cash register or if anyone saw me carrying it around in the bookstore. So I ordered it online at Amazon.com - yes, I know, I was a coward, but there are times when I feel I really don't want to deal with narrow minded idiots telling me what I can and can not read.
Basically, anyone who is Jewish is going to be called a "Bad Jew" at some point in their life. If you drink Pepsi instead of Coke, you're a "Bad Jew" because Coke is Kosher and Pepsi is not. Date and/or marry outside the Jewish faith, you're a "Bad Jew." Having the audacity to stand up for yourself, you're a "Bad Jew." If you're a Republican instead of a Democrat, you're a "Bad Jew." Don't know how to speak and read Hebrew and Yiddish, you're a "Bad Jew," which is rather ironic since I have yet to encounter one fellow here in Jacksonville who actually can speak and read Conversational Hebrew and/or Yiddish - but I'm a "Bad Jew" because I don't belong to a temple or synagogue here in Jacksonville in the over 30 years I've lived here because I'm a "Bad Jew" and when I actually spoken to Jews here in Jacksonville, they didn't understand what I was saying to I had to revert back to English.
If you don't follow the traditional Jewish norm of getting married to a nice Jewish Girl or Jewish Guy of the opposite gender, and have children, you're a "Bad Jew."
Even Rabbis are not immune from being labeled as a 'Bad Jew" or applying the label to other Rabbis or other fellow Jews. Was your conversion to Judaism overseen by a female Rabbi - then it's not seen as a legitimate conversion by some male Rabbis and you guessed it, you won't even be considered Jewish by the Rabbi who rejects you.
Emily Tamkin has written an intriguing book on what I've, and I suspect many others have dubbed, "Jewish Stupidity." "Bad Jew" is a term bandied about in an attempt to bring a false sense of security by those who want their fellow Jews to adhere to some sort of impossible community standard or norm that they themselves don't follow must of the time and it is a centuries old divisive term used to separate the perceived wheat from the chaff - yet despite the use of this term by Jews against their fellow Jews - and yes, non-Jews use this term too when they seek to control a Jew's behavior - Jewish culture and identity still carries on. And as Tamkin aptly demonstrates, what makes you Jewish is how you perceive yourself, and nobody can take away your Jewish faith, culture, and identity.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Jews-Ameri...
"Westworld - Season Four: The Choice"
Just finished watching "Westworld - Season Four: The Choice," released by Warner Brothers.
Now for those who came in late, a little over ten years ago, I cut the cord with cable, and I don't subscribed to any streaming services - a shocker I know, but since I'm approaching nearly 1,800 DVDs in my collection, I decided I probably should start actually watching the DVDs I buy, instead of letting them just gather dust on the shelves. Besides, why keep paying for a service I rarely used?
Now unless Warner Brothers does a complete reversal on it's decision to cancel the fifth season of "Westworld," which would have been the concluding season of this latest incarnation of the series - there was would used to be called a "Season Replacement Series" called "Beyond Westworld" of which only three of the five episodes aired before the plugged was pulled.
Like "Futureworld" - the sequel to the original "Westworld" movie, and yes, even to the awful "Beyond Westworld" series that aired in 1980 - Season Four of "Westworld" picks up the plot line with the latest incarnation of Dolores deciding to take her revenge on humanity by replacing key people with android duplicates after murdering them, or by having robotic parasites rewrite their brains so humans now effectively are hosts, doing what their android/robot overlords want them to do - which sets up the extinction for both organic human and inorganic intelligences here on Earth.
Enter Bernard, who leaves the Sublime - a digital universe - and embarks on a mission to save humanity and androids from mutual extinction.
Also thrown into to the mix is a group of human outliers who have not been "infected" with Dolores' mind control parasite. A continuing theme in "Westworld" is that human minds can not be uploaded into an android body because the artificial body ultimately rejects the alien intruder.
I think that the producers of "Westworld" did have an inkling that Season Four would be the last run of the series since they did bring it full circle with the suggestion that the world, or reality, if you would like is what we make it. We all make our own heavens or hells and that behavior, whether it be human or android, is cyclic, with the cautionary warning that humanity and androids will be remembered by those we leave behind.
While a fifth and final season would have been intriguing, "Westworld" I think this season brings the series to a fitting conclusion, and besides, all mazes to bring those in them back to the beginning.
Four Stars.
Recommended.
https://www.amazon.com/Westworld-Comp...
Now for those who came in late, a little over ten years ago, I cut the cord with cable, and I don't subscribed to any streaming services - a shocker I know, but since I'm approaching nearly 1,800 DVDs in my collection, I decided I probably should start actually watching the DVDs I buy, instead of letting them just gather dust on the shelves. Besides, why keep paying for a service I rarely used?
Now unless Warner Brothers does a complete reversal on it's decision to cancel the fifth season of "Westworld," which would have been the concluding season of this latest incarnation of the series - there was would used to be called a "Season Replacement Series" called "Beyond Westworld" of which only three of the five episodes aired before the plugged was pulled.
Like "Futureworld" - the sequel to the original "Westworld" movie, and yes, even to the awful "Beyond Westworld" series that aired in 1980 - Season Four of "Westworld" picks up the plot line with the latest incarnation of Dolores deciding to take her revenge on humanity by replacing key people with android duplicates after murdering them, or by having robotic parasites rewrite their brains so humans now effectively are hosts, doing what their android/robot overlords want them to do - which sets up the extinction for both organic human and inorganic intelligences here on Earth.
Enter Bernard, who leaves the Sublime - a digital universe - and embarks on a mission to save humanity and androids from mutual extinction.
Also thrown into to the mix is a group of human outliers who have not been "infected" with Dolores' mind control parasite. A continuing theme in "Westworld" is that human minds can not be uploaded into an android body because the artificial body ultimately rejects the alien intruder.
I think that the producers of "Westworld" did have an inkling that Season Four would be the last run of the series since they did bring it full circle with the suggestion that the world, or reality, if you would like is what we make it. We all make our own heavens or hells and that behavior, whether it be human or android, is cyclic, with the cautionary warning that humanity and androids will be remembered by those we leave behind.
While a fifth and final season would have been intriguing, "Westworld" I think this season brings the series to a fitting conclusion, and besides, all mazes to bring those in them back to the beginning.
Four Stars.
Recommended.
https://www.amazon.com/Westworld-Comp...
December 3, 2022
Firebird
Just finished watching "Firebird," released by Firebird Production LTD.
"Firebird" is an example of the wonderful biographical movies that Hollywood used to make that is free of agenda drive woke politics and perhaps also serves as a cautionary tale to those who are still enamored with repressive Communistic regimes and ideologies that seek to crush anything deviates from a group think norm - much like "Woke-ism" that has destroyed many an IP franchise.
“Firebird” is the true story of Sergei Fetisov and is based on his memoir “The Story of Roman.” The movie follows the love story between Sergei and Roman over the years and how it affects the people around them.
Sergei had to use a pseudonym when "The Story of Roman" was first published in Russia. He approached Peeter Rebane at the Berlin Film Festival in 2011 about turning his memoir into a movie. Rebane took the book and read it at home that weekend, and was so moved by the story he decided to turn it into his first feature film. He then began to write his first film script. After a couple of years of work, he thought that the screenplay was ready and started to look for actors to cast for the film.
Actor Tom Prior fell in love with Sergei's and Roman's story, and along with Rebane, put together a concept trailer and met with Sergei in Moscow to discuss the movie.
Sadly Sergei passed away in 2017 after having an operation for a medical crisis and never got to see the movie about the love of his life.
I have not read "The Story of Roman' - I think there was a fundraising attempt on Kickstarter to publish an English translation, but I'm not sure if it was funded.
"Firebird" opens sometime in the late 1970s during the last weeks of the two-year mandatory military service each Russian man had to do - and Sergei is up in the air about his future, he has the choice of continuing on with a career in the Soviet Air Force, or studying to become an actor, or return to help out his mother on their farm. Then a new pilot, Lt. Roman Matvejev arrives on the base and Sergei is assigned as his driver and soon the two discover their shared interest in photography. Their friendship soon blossoms into love and the two are forced to part ways in order to prevent their love affair from being discovered.
Yet even when Roman marries in order to prevent anyone from suspecting that he loves Sergei because of the danger it holds. Yet to free himself, Roman makes a choice to part ways with his wife and Sergei.
There is no Hollywood happy ending. Roman dies while on a mission to Afghanistan when his plane crashes, leaving a heartbroken Sergei behind who must come to terms with his loss.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://firebirdmovie.myshopify.com/p...
"Firebird" is an example of the wonderful biographical movies that Hollywood used to make that is free of agenda drive woke politics and perhaps also serves as a cautionary tale to those who are still enamored with repressive Communistic regimes and ideologies that seek to crush anything deviates from a group think norm - much like "Woke-ism" that has destroyed many an IP franchise.
“Firebird” is the true story of Sergei Fetisov and is based on his memoir “The Story of Roman.” The movie follows the love story between Sergei and Roman over the years and how it affects the people around them.
Sergei had to use a pseudonym when "The Story of Roman" was first published in Russia. He approached Peeter Rebane at the Berlin Film Festival in 2011 about turning his memoir into a movie. Rebane took the book and read it at home that weekend, and was so moved by the story he decided to turn it into his first feature film. He then began to write his first film script. After a couple of years of work, he thought that the screenplay was ready and started to look for actors to cast for the film.
Actor Tom Prior fell in love with Sergei's and Roman's story, and along with Rebane, put together a concept trailer and met with Sergei in Moscow to discuss the movie.
Sadly Sergei passed away in 2017 after having an operation for a medical crisis and never got to see the movie about the love of his life.
I have not read "The Story of Roman' - I think there was a fundraising attempt on Kickstarter to publish an English translation, but I'm not sure if it was funded.
"Firebird" opens sometime in the late 1970s during the last weeks of the two-year mandatory military service each Russian man had to do - and Sergei is up in the air about his future, he has the choice of continuing on with a career in the Soviet Air Force, or studying to become an actor, or return to help out his mother on their farm. Then a new pilot, Lt. Roman Matvejev arrives on the base and Sergei is assigned as his driver and soon the two discover their shared interest in photography. Their friendship soon blossoms into love and the two are forced to part ways in order to prevent their love affair from being discovered.
Yet even when Roman marries in order to prevent anyone from suspecting that he loves Sergei because of the danger it holds. Yet to free himself, Roman makes a choice to part ways with his wife and Sergei.
There is no Hollywood happy ending. Roman dies while on a mission to Afghanistan when his plane crashes, leaving a heartbroken Sergei behind who must come to terms with his loss.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://firebirdmovie.myshopify.com/p...
