Review of
Bonanza: The Fear Merchants,
episode of the Bonanza television series
Five out of five stars
While this
episode first aired on January 30, 1960, the message remains appropriate for the
latter years of the twenty-teens. There has been a major outbreak of
anti-immigrant sentiment around the world, nowhere more pronounced than in the country
that has accepted more immigrants than any other, the United States.
The premise is
that a major candidate for mayor of Virginia City is campaigning on a strong
and uncompromising dislike of people of Chinese descent. The episode opens with
Hop Sing, the Cartwright’s cook, being beat up by thugs in the employ of the
candidate. When a Chinese boy in his late teens is falsely accused of murdering
a teenage girl, public sentiment runs strong and the only allies the Sheriff
has against a lynch mob are the three Cartwrights.
Much of the
dialog could be transplanted into the modern conversation, where several highly
ranked politicians openly accuse immigrants of being non-American and criminals.
Just as significant are the people that acquiesce in accepting the most
inflammatory rhetoric.
This is a
superb episode, showing the Cartwrights as the upstanding and brave citizens
they claim to be. Without them, Virginia City would have reverted to mob rule
and an innocent man would have been killed by the actions of a cold and
ruthless man.
Review of
The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold,
starring Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels
Five out of five stars
There is no
western hero more iconic that the Lone Ranger with his faithful sidekick Tonto.
Furthermore, Clayton Moore as the Lone Ranger and Jay Silverheels as Tonto are
firmly entrenched as the best ever in the roles. After years of playing them on
television, two full-length Lone Ranger movies were made. This one is the
second of the two.
There is a wave
of crime and terror taking place at the hands of a gang of hooded criminals
that are ruthless. Several Native American men have been killed and there is
uncertainty as to why. The local law is of no help to the Native Americans and
tensions between the whites and Native Americans are growing.
The Lone Ranger
and Tonto ride into this situation and quickly become the primary force investigating
the crimes. Prominent local citizens are the brains behind the crime spree, for
the Native Americans are being killed for the medallions they wear around their
necks. Each is a piece of a puzzle that when put together will be a map to a
lost city of gold.
The plot generally
follows the formula for Lone Ranger adventures, modern viewers may object to
the racial discrimination. For example, Tonto is beat up when he enters a
saloon as there is a policy that no red men are allowed. Silver demonstrates a
high level of intelligence in this movie, challenging Roy Rodgers’ Trigger as
the smartest horse in show business.
As heroes go,
the Lone Ranger was the ultimate in following the law and always doing good without
asking for anything in return. The crime is of course solved and as must be the
case, the last line of dialog is “Hiyo Silver away!”
Review of
What You Must Know About Dry Eye: How to
Prevent, Stop or Reverse Dry Eye Disease, by Jeffrey
Anshel, OD ISBN 9780757004797
Five out of five stars
Even if you do
not suffer from dry eye, this book is worth reading for the information about
the functioning of eyes. Even the thin layer of liquid protection on the
exposed surface of the eyeball is an extremely complicated structure. Until I
read this book, I had no knowledge of this. One fact that seemed obvious in
retrospect is that the blink reflex is the fastest reflex in the human body.
While dry eye
can lead to difficulties and can require medical attention, in nearly all cases
it can be treated and even cured by performing some basic actions. This
includes diet, topical liquids and over the counter and prescription drugs. Dry
eye is a condition that you can have without realizing it, so this book is also
valuable as an element of awareness.
Many popular books
about medical conditions are full of fluff and questionable claims regarding
treatments. This is one that rises above that and is worthy of being kept on your
shelf of medical books for reference purposes.
Review of
The Hero Two Doors Down,
by Sharon Robinson ISBN 9780545804516
Five out of five stars
Written by the
daughter of the great and pioneering baseball player Jackie Robinson, this book
is a slightly fictionalized account of one component of his incredible life. Once
he was established as a star for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Jackie rented an
apartment in an almost exclusively Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn. It was a short
distance from Ebbets Field and Jackie’s wife and son lived there as well.
Stephen Satlow
was an eight-year-old Jewish boy that lived in Brooklyn and was a devoted fan
of the Dodgers. He did in fact live two doors down from where the Robinson
family lived. Before Jackie moved in, a petition was circulated in the
neighborhood stating their opposition to having blacks live in the area. The
Satlow adults refused to sign it.
It was not long
before the Robinson and Satlow families were close friends, a relationship that
remained until this book was written. Stephen quickly became a hero among his
peers due to his friendship with Jackie, for Jackie was a generous man and made
a large number of tickets available to Stephen, his family and classmates.
This book shows
another side of Jackie Robinson, the devoted family man that was also a low-level
community activist. It is a very good story of how small acts of kindness do
make a significant difference in the lives of others.
Review of
PBS Home Video: The Natural History of the
Chicken, VHS version
Three out of five stars
The phrase “natural
history” is generally used to reference a scientific study, albeit presented in
a popular form. That was my thought when I decided to watch this tape and why I
was disappointed. This is not a scientific analysis of the role of the chicken
in human society down through history, but a series of short stories that involve
chickens.
The least
useful is the story about a man that has a very large number of roosters that
crow a lot, causing so much noise that the neighbors have trouble conducting
their lives. After their initial complaints, the neighbors filed legal action
and there are short interviews of the people on both sides. I have no idea how conforms
to the natural history of the chicken.
Another story features
a woman that has a pet chicken that she washes regularly and cuddles with. The
most interesting story is a documented case of a headless chicken that lived
for some time after its head was cut off. It seems unbelievable, but there is
convincing documentation.
While the stories
are interesting, in most cases they are more about relationships between humans
and chickens where the chickens are not quite a secondary partner.
Review of
Indecent Proposal,
VHS version
Five out of five stars
When this movie
came out, there were many people that derided the plot device of a man offering
a married couple a million dollars for a night with the wife. Their claim was
that it was immoral and truly indecent. That is too bad, for it misses the real
messages of the movie.
First and foremost,
this movie is about the power that money gives the rich over those that are
down on their luck and are desperate. They are willing to grasp at any chance
they have to right their errant financial ship. Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson
play Diana and David Murphy, a married couple that go to Las Vegas with their
last stake in the hope that they will win big enough to pay themselves out of
their financial hole. When this doesn’t work, John Gage (Robert Redford) offers
them a million dollars for a night of passion with Diana. After a reality gut-check,
the couple agrees to the proposal.
Tensions mount
between the couple afterwards and the course of their relationship sours. It
becomes a test of what they believe about each other and how they will weather
the emotional consequences of selling out. In the end, the movie becomes a
complicated love story.
Mao Zedong
famously said, “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” What this
movie illustrates is that all power grows out of the pile of cash available.
When people are down and desperate, the person that can offer massive amounts
of money has the power. After all, there must be a way for those seeking power
to pay for the guns and ammunition.
Review of
Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse Tales: Vintage
tales from Disney’s most popular animated short films, ISBN
9780789324733
Five out of five stars
Creative genius is not a strong enough phrase to
describe the people at the Disney entertainment company. From the first viewing
of the classic “Steamboat Willie” cartoon through all the early years, they
pushed the envelope and literally redefined the world of animated entertainment
and engaging characters that became stars and household names.
This book contains
images and lyrics from many of the short, animated films starring the classic
Disney characters. Mickey Mouse and his supporting characters are the stars,
but there are a few from the “Silly Symphony” series. As is always the case
with Disney, the artwork is exquisite.
What is sometimes
lost in the viewing of the films is the quality of the dialog. Reading it from
the text will make you appreciate the rhyming structure and why it appeals to
children of all ages. This is not only a book for to be read by and to
children, it is a book that adults will enjoy as well. Cartoons entertain all
people willing to accept them as joyful viewing.
Review of
So Far From the Sea,
by Eve Bunting ISBN 0439172411
Five out of five stars
There are many
dark features in the history of the United States, slavery with the subsequent
Jim Crow rules and the near extermination of the Native Americans are two of
the most prominent. One that was less deadly yet just as dark was the roundup
of Japanese Americans after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. In a moment of
national hysteria, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 to collect
all Japanese American and place them in what were de facto concentration camps.
This order was made despite no evidence that the people of Japanese ancestry were
any threat to the United States. The executive order was ultimately upheld by
the United States Supreme Court.
In general, the
people that were rounded up lost all their possessions, there are many ugly
stories of their neighbors running to pillage their possessions as soon as they
boarded the transports. Most real estate the people of Japanese ancestry owned
was then taken over by others and when they returned to claim their homes, they
were generally unpleasantly rebuffed.
This book
revisits that dark time using the plot device of a modern Japanese family
visiting the site where the father’s family was interned under 9066. Nearly all
of the structures are gone, one of the few remaining is the one they came to
see, the cemetery where the father’s father is buried. They place mementos on
the grave, including a Cub Scout neckerchief. This had special significance,
for the father was told to put on his Cub Scout uniform to greet the soldiers
so that they would know that he was an American boy.
Remembering the
dark events of the past will always remain one of the best ways to prevent
similar events in the future. Therefore, this book is an excellent educational
device to demonstrate to modern schoolchildren one of the bad things that
happened when there was a hysteria over a group of people that were “different.”
Review of
Treasures of Russia: St. Petersburg and
Its Environs, ISBN 978-5888100592
Five out of five stars
Having spent a
few days in St. Petersburg before the complete collapse of the Soviet Union, I
can personally attest to the sheer beauty of the structures in this old
imperial capital city. I was there with a delegation of American computer
professionals and some of our meetings took place in palaces appearing in this
book. We spent a half-day touring the Hermitage, seeing some of the most
impressive and priceless artwork.
We also went on
an extensive tour of the Peterhof Palace with the many gold colored statues and
fountains. Elegant and impressive, it is a tribute to the sheer will of Peter
the Great to create a monument to his grand design for the Russian Empire. Those
of us that understood the history of the region speculated on how many
impressed workers died while creating this masterpiece of architecture.
St. Petersburg
is truly a city of wonders, with more fascinating sights that can be seen in a
vacation of several days. This book of beautiful photographs captures the
essence of what is there, but there is nothing that can match walking through
the grounds of an imperial palace or seeing a painting by a master from less
than twenty feet away. It is truly the cultural capital of Russia.
Review of
A Breed Apart: A Novel of Wild Bill Hickok,
by Max McCoy ISBN 9781585479597
Five out of five stars
Although his
given name was James Butler Hickok, history, legend and myth all refer to him
as Wild Bill Hickok. Although he did some of the things that have been claimed,
his exploits have been greatly exaggerated by Hickok as well as by those that
wrote about him. It all starts with precisely how many men he killed, both as a
lawman and as a man living on the edge of the law.
This novel is
based on some facts, particularly his actions during the American Civil War and
his work as a Union spy and a scout. One event in particular stands out, it is
the gunfight he had with onetime friend Davis Tutt, where both drew their
pistols in what was likely the first “fast draw” form of duel made so popular
in the Western video genre.
It is an interesting read, Hickok was a complex man,
deadly with a gun and willing to tell the tallest of stories, mostly about
himself. Hickok also had many allies in the media when it came to making the
tall tales of his exploits even taller. Like many men of western legend, he was
sometimes the law and other times the target of legal accusations. I enjoyed it
very much, it encapsulates the complexity of the men that fought on and died in
the American frontier.
Review of
An Introduction to the Use of Generalized
Coordinates in Mechanics and Physics, by William Elwood Byerly
Five out of five stars
Despite the
title, this is not an introductory book on the use of coordinates. That is clear
starting with the second page, where the component velocity equation is given
using partial derivatives. The sections of the first chapter in sequence are “free
motion of a particle,” “constrained motion of a particle,” “motion of a system
of particle,” “plane motion of rigid bodies,” “the billiard ball,” “the
gyroscope,” “the choice of coordinate,” and “nomenclature.”
Throughout this
book, your understanding of partial differential equations and integration as
applied to physics will be challenged. Yet, despite all of the technological
advances since this book was first published in 1916, it still could be used as
a textbook in classes covering this material.
Review of
X-Men Origins: Wolverine,
DVD
Four out of five stars
Wolverine likely
has the most volatile, dynamic personality of all the X-Men. While he is a mutant
in the sense that he has incredible recuperative powers, the physically indestructible
characteristics of his powers derived from metal were made by science not
nature. As is often the case with stories like this, they are the consequences
of a secret government program to create a super soldier. In such stories, it
is necessary to have a powerful and ruthless villain that is the government
agent overseeing the program. This story has that character.
Logan has a
brother that shares his recuperative powers and the opening has them fighting
side-by-side in many wars. When the major wars are over and the only fighting
to be done is for hire, the two brothers join a mercenary band of mutants. They
track down the Earth point of origin of a meteor and when the order is to
slaughter all the inhabitants of a village in Africa, Logan walks away from the
mission and the group. He “retires” to a logging job in Canada, but as
expected, there is no retirement from his previous line of work.
There is a
great deal of action, a lot of subterfuge and some superb special effects. The
government program involves the capture and control of many mutants, which
leads to the major logical hole in the plot. Professor Xavier appears to take
them to his special school only after they have all been released from government
control. Which implies that Xavier either did not know of their imprisonment or
did so and waited until they were freed. Both of which are logically untenable
given Xavier’s significant mental powers.
That weakness
aside, this is an action movie derived from the comics that remains true to the
original story. It also explains Logan’s attitude towards the world and his
having no memory of his past.
Review of
The Wapsie-Pinnekon Legend
by Frank Vierth
Five out of five stars
Growing up in Eastern
Iowa I became very familiar with the local place names. Furthermore, I am aware
that a large percentage were derived from the Native American inhabitants. Yet,
until I read this book, I was unaware of the origin of the name of the Wapsipinicon
river. It is based on a legend, the topic of which is as old as human emotions
and conflict over mates.
The legend is
that there was a beautiful maiden named Wapsie that lived in a Native American
village at what is now the location of the Iowa town of Quasqueton. A man named
Pinnekon lived in a neighboring village and the two of them fell in love and
were about to be married. While canoeing on the river that came to bear their
name, Pinnekon was shot by a jealous man and fell into the river. Wapsie tried
to rescue him and the two of them sank between the waves.
This pamphlet is
a reprinting of the original story that is in the form of an epic poem, with
alternate lines rhyming. It is a tragic love story of the traditional form,
great joy followed by jealousy leading to tragedy. The book is a reprint
published as part of the one hundred twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding
of the town of Quasqueton. It is proof that human lends are remarkable
consistent across cultures.
Review of
What A Wonderful World,
by George David Weiss and Bob Thiele ISBN 0439207460
Five out of five stars
The text of
this book is the lyrics of the song “What A Wonderful Word,” made famous by the
great Louis Armstrong. It is a message of togetherness and the essential
oneness of the human species. While there are many children in the images, the
star is of course the great Satchmo, he appears in many of the images, mostly
as a secondary character.
There are
indeed trees of green, red roses, clouds of white and many animals resting
comfortably in the wild. The inclusion of animals is an emphasis that humans
share the planet with the other life forms that have their needs if they are to
survive as a species. Colorful without being overwhelming, the images are very
well done and are an excellent complement to one of the best brotherhood songs
of all time.
Review of
Bill Maher: The Decider,
Live!, DVD
Five out of five stars
The live comedy
routine recorded on this disk took place in the last years of the administration
of George W. Bush. Yet, many of the jokes could be recycled into more modern
performances, all that would be needed would be to change the names of the
players. Maher is a master comedian; it starts with great material and he has
the timing and delivery honed to perfection.
Since many of
his jokes are at the expense of President Bush, they suffer a little bit of age-related
degeneration. It will be helpful if the viewer understands some of the history
of the time. Despite the foolishness of politicians, humorous political
commentary is quite hard, for you have to be harsh but only to a point. In this
HBO Comedy Special, Bill Maher proves once again that he is a master of the
craft.
Review of
Predator: Race War comic,
1 of 4
Five out of five stars
There is at
least one member of the species known as Predator active on earth. Like all
others, it is a hunter, stalking, killing and dressing out humans that are
capable of putting up a reasonable fight. Many humans have been its victims,
there is a team of talented, dedicated and unusual humans that are aware of its
existence and is attempting to track it down and stop the march of trophy
deaths.
This story is an
excellent first installment of what is certain to be an engaging story. The
search for the alien Predator is complicated by a known serial killer that
claims to be responsible for the majority of the kills by the alien hunter. The
claim is made to complicate the case for the prosecution of the serial killer,
by claiming the additional victims, the goal is to get better treatment by the
prosecution and in prison.
Hunting such a
skilled and resourceful hunter is a very difficult task, it takes a great deal
of preparation and research. That foundation is laid down and I am eagerly
searching for the subsequent three volumes of this engaging story.
Review of
Religulous,
starring Bill Maher
Five out of five stars
This video is
Bill Maher at his best, being a hard skeptic concerning religious faith and
asking very tough questions of some of the people that believe. While I am sure
that he had to cherry pick a bit in finding people to interview, in some sense
it was surprising that some of the people agreed to face Maher’s very tough
questions. There are many times when the person he is interviewing seems to go
into brain lock when Maher asks a question that points out a major logical or
historical inconsistency of a religious faith.
Maher travels
to Israel and Rome in his filming of this video and recounts his own religious
upbringing in the Catholic faith and Jewish roots. There are times when he
angers the interviewee, one of the most interesting sessions is when he is
talking with a small group of American men in what appears to be a trailer and
one stomps out in anger. To their credit, the others stay and carry out a respectful
conversation, even though they are frustrated with Maher.
While many strongly
claim otherwise, religion is a work of the human mind and emotions, you see both
of them expressed in this video.
Review of
A League of Their Own,
VHS version
Four out of five stars
Put bluntly, despite
his impressive acting skills, Tom Hanks has difficulty playing a drunk.
Furthermore, his character having that problem is an unnecessary and annoying
component of the story. The premise is a look back at the inaugural All-American
Girls Professional Baseball League season. The year was 1943 and most of the
best major league players were off fighting World War II. President Roosevelt himself
decreed that baseball would continue to be played during the war and in an
attempt to keep interest in baseball alive, some of the owners of the major league
teams decided to create a professional league of women players.
This movie is a
mostly fictionalized look at the first year of the league, although they get
the main principles correct. The women were carefully managed with a strict
code of behavior regarding dress, appearance and overall conduct. For example,
they were all required to attend charm school and smoking and drinking in
public places could lead to fines and even suspensions.
Overall, the
movie has a fairly predictable plot, it follows the Rockford Peaches through
their first season of play. There is of course the big game at the end, won by
one of the stars when she was down to her last strike. Tom Hanks plays the
manager of the Peaches and when the season starts, he is a barely conscious drunk
with no competitive fire, a role that Hanks does not play well. He sobers up
over the course of the season and starts taking his job seriously. The movie
would have been better if the Hanks character would have been serious from the
beginning.
One positive
aspect is the inclusion of the fact that there was a war on, and young American
men were being injured and killed on the battlefield. In those years, nearly all
young women had a husband, brother or other close male relative potentially in
the path of a killer bullet.
Review of
Having a Baby is Fun! Cartoon and Baby
Name Book, published by Crib Diaper Service
Four out of five stars
This pamphlet
published by a diaper service in the days where only cloth diapers existed is
an incredible look back. It contains a series of cartoons related to dealing
with babies as well as lists of names for girl and boy babies. The many
references to a stork delivering a baby will amuse and puzzle modern readers.
Of all the absurdly quaint tales ever told, the one about a stork flying in
carrying a swaddled infant in its beak has to be the most bizarre.
In the modern
world of disposable diapers, the concept of companies that dealt with cloth
diapers, picking up the soiled and delivering the clean also seems to be a
concept not to be missed. The alternative was a regular special session of
laundry with particularly “dirty” clothes.
This cartoon
book is a somewhat amusing look back at what passed for baby humor in the
fifties. To the modern eye, it was an odd way to look at dealing with newborns.
I give it four stars in deference to the historical references.
Review of
MikWright … family Style,
ISBN 9780740718779
Five out of five stars
This collection
of images and associated snippets of text will generate a minimum of chuckles
in nearly everyone. There are a few jokes that contain sexual innuendo, but very
few that reach the level of crude or obscene. At least to modern readers. To
appreciate the joke, one must be able to comprehend the combination of text and
sight gag.
For example, there
is the image of the man on a ski life with the caption, “when Emmett reached
the peak, he got off.” There is another with woman on a statue of a bucking
horse with the caption, “you should see the stud that bucked me Saturday night!”
This is one of those books you read through quickly
for the first time, set it aside for some time and then read it again, often in
snippets. It is a great toilet read when you need to get your mind off the
immediate need to do some business.
Review of
The Natural Superiority of the Left-hander,
by James T. deKay ISBN 0871313073
Four out of five stars
Despite a
significant amount of study, there has been no definitive conclusion as to the reason
why approximately ten percent of the human population is left-handed. There is conclusive
evidence that there is a genetic component, but no specific cause is known. This
book is a description of many of the facts of being left-handed, including the
bias in the construction of tools towards the right-handed and words used to
describe left-handers as somehow sinister.
Two of the most
interesting facts concern the concentrations of left-handers in some
populations. There is evidence that one in three Native Americans was
left-handed at the time of the arrival of the Europeans. When NASA conducted
batteries of tests on astronaut candidates, twenty-five percent of the group
deemed the best and brightest were left-handed. Far higher than the percentage
in the general population.
The book closes
with an absurd statement, that left-handers are almost a different species than
the balance of the population. There is not much evidence for this claim, it perpetuates
the idea that left-handedness is somehow bizarre and should be suppressed. Some
of these facts are fun, others a bit silly, but all are interesting.
Review of
Korea
Reborn: A Grateful Nation,
published by the Republic of Korea
Five out
of five stars
Much has been said about the rise of the People’s
Republic of China from a poor country to a major economic power. A lot of additional
ink has been used to describe the rise of Japan from the complete defeat in
World War II to one of the top five nations in terms of national GDP. Often
lost in this is the incredible story of South Korea, completely devastated by
war in 1950-1953, the nation rose to the status of a major economic power.
South Korea now ranks at roughly eleventh place in terms of national GDP.
This book is a history of this, but it is more
a tribute to the American blood and treasure that went into the stalemate form
of victory won in the war from 1950-53. With Korea still split into north and
south sections with completely different political and economic systems, it is
an existence proof of the failure of communism.
The story is told in a small amount of text
injected into a collection of images. There are scenes from the devastating war
and then there are images from the modern nation with an emphasis on the urban
areas. It closes with tributes to the men and women that fought in the war to
defeat the north, one fact not often emphasized is that men from many different
nations fought and died in Korea under the United Nations mandate.
The Korean War should be labeled as what it
is, the conflict where communism was checked and thereby defeated. For it is a
political system that must be everywhere, or it will only exist in spots. Any attempt
to impose it can be easily countered by the simple statement, “Look at the two
Koreas.” This book demonstrates that fact.
Review of
“The Shakiest Gun in the West,”
starring Don Knotts, video
Three out of five stars
Andy Griffith
has been quoted as saying that he knew within ten minutes of working with Don Knotts
that he had to let Knotts be the funny man while he played the straight man. It
was the interactions between Griffith and Knotts on the set that made “The Andy
Griffith Show” the classic comedy it is. Furthermore, unlike other two-member
comedy teams, Griffith and Knotts truly liked each other and were the best of
friends until the end. Griffith was at Knotts’ side when he died.
This movie
stars Don Knotts in a role similar to that of Deputy Barney Fife, a bumbler with
a good heart, but still a bumbler. His character is a dentist by trade and after
graduation from dental school he leaves Philadelphia to practice his craft in
the west. There is a continuous set of bumbling acts by the Knotts character,
as he never seems to do anything right.
The problem
with the movie is that there is no strong straight person for Knotts to play
against. Barbara Rhoades plays Bad Penny Cushings and is the straight person,
but their comedic chemistry is just not there. This forces Knotts to try to
carry the scenes himself, and it just doesn’t work.
This movie
points out how necessary it is for a comedian to have a straight person to
contrast with. Knotts was typecast as the bumbler, but even the best comedic
bumblers need the straight foil to make it work the way it should.
Review of
Appalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds,
by Cynthia Rylant and Barry Moser ISBN 0590512587
Five out of five stars
The area known
as Appalachia is a significant area of the United States and remains generally
poor, despite many government efforts to stimulate economic development. Some
people refer to the residents as “hillbillies,” but the referents often take
that as an insult.
This book is
meant to be a primer on the people that make their homes in Appalachia. While
they may not have a lot of wealth, they do have a lot of pride in their
heritage and region. Coal mining is a main industry in the area, it is a dirty,
dangerous occupation that has been a part of the heritage of many families for
generations.
Written at the
level of the late elementary or early middle school student, this is a book
that does an excellent job of introducing all people to a region that is often
misunderstood and sometimes belittled.
Review of
Rocket Genius,
by Charles Spain Verral
Five out of five stars
Strong and
convincing arguments can be made for Robert Goddard having been the most
underappreciated genius every produced by American society. He was the
intellectual and experimental grandfather to the deadly V2 rockets launched by
Germany in the last months of World War II. When U. S. military personnel interviewed
the German rocket scientists immediately after the war was over, they were puzzled,
almost literally answering questions about how they did it with, “Why don’t you
ask Goddard?”
Although now
dated regarding the use of rockets in the space programs, this book is still a
valuable primer on the life of a true genius. Unfortunately, most of that
recognition as a visionary took place long after his death.
Review of
Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Warped,
by K. W. Jeter ISBN 0671567810
Three out of five stars
This story
takes a long time to develop and has a bizarre and very dissatisfying
resolution. Bajor is once again subject to political instability, while there
is a series of unusual murders on DS9. The instigating factor is discovered to
be an unusual form of holodeck that somehow penetrates into the deepest psychological
reaches of the patrons.
The entity responsible
for the difficulties is a human former business associate of Quark’s named
McHogue. Yet, Quark is adamant that there is something disturbingly different
about him. There is a coup on Bajor with a new government taking power, and
they have financial backing from the Cardassians. The new Bajoran leader names
McHogue their minister of international trade and there is a plan to build a
massive city of pleasure based on the unusual form of holodecks.
With such a
complex plot and so many tangential movements, it takes about 200 pages before
the complete background is established, even before the main crisis arrives. It
turns out that McHogue’s goals are far greater than was first thought, he plans
on modifying the very fabric of the universe.
Against long
odds, Commander Sisko is able to confront McHogue, but the mechanism where he
defeats McHogue is very thinly and unappealingly described. It is not out of
bounds to put it into the “then a miracle happens” bucket. It is as if the
author created a complex situation where the galaxy is at stake and the outlook
is grim and had no real idea how to save the day.
Review of
America in the Korean War,
by Edward F. Dolan ISBN 0761303618
Five out of five stars
Since it was recent enough and so controversial, the
Vietnam War is still in the consciousness of today’s young people. Even though
they might not know who the adversaries of the Allies were in World War I and World
War II, modern day young people know that they happened. This is not the case
with the war in Korea. Even people that have some knowledge of it are surprised
when they learn how many casualties there were in that conflict. Accurate
figures are not known, but the number of deaths is approximately 5 million,
half of which were civilians.
This book is a
brief, yet reasonably thorough description of what has often been referred to
as “America’s Forgotten War.” It was the first war where stalemate became the
goal of both sides, a situation that remains to this day. The two Koreas remain
in a state of war and it a shooting war were to break out, the number of deaths
in the first day would be catastrophic.
The level is
roughly that of the late middle and early high school student. It is an
excellent primer on the war that led to a situation that remains one of the
greatest potential flash points in the world today. Therefore, the more that
modern students learns about the Korean War the better.
Review of
Adventures in Cartooning,
by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold and Alexis Frederick-Frost ISBN 9780545249652
Three out of five stars
Although the
cover indicates that this is a book about creating cartoons and there is some
information about the mechanics of creating cartoons, it primarily a book that
contains cartoons. The hero is a knight with a horse named Edward and there is
a candy chugging dragon that must be defeated. Overseeing it all is a magic elf
that is also an expert in creating cartoons.
There are other
characters, such as a whale, knights that have been turned into vegetables and
a princess that must be rescued. The story itself is not terribly imaginative,
there is some humor and it is all juvenile. If the authors had concentrated
more on describing how to create cartoons, this would have been a much better
book.
Review of
Classics Illustrated: Ivanhoe
by Sir Walter Scott
Five out of five stars
“Ivanhoe” is
arguably the most well-known of the novels by Sir Walter Scott and it is a work
of historical fiction set in England in the twelfth century. It is a time when
knights were bold and tournaments where they competed in jousts were major
events. It is a time when there was a significant distinction between the
Normans and the Saxons and there is still hostility, although not open warfare.
The story also
includes references to anti-Semitism, in a panel on page 5 of this comic, Isaac
of York a Jewish merchant has been granted admittance. The panel shows him
walking within the village and the text is, “Isaac entered. Even the servants
withdrew from him in pious horror.”
Given the
length and complexity of the novel, the story in this comic is of necessity abridged.
Yet, it does capture the essence of this complex novel of a time of knighthood,
assimilation and accommodation. It also features one of the most well-known
English kings, Richard the Lion-hearted. This is an excellent introduction to a
complex story about a complex country. The panels that include the bandit known
as Robin Hood increase the subplots and intrigue.
Review of
First Scalp For Custer: The Skirmish at
Warbonnet Creek, Nebraska, July 17, 1876, by Paul L. Hedren ISBN
0803272359
Four out of five stars
The title of
this book is ambiguous, when I read it, I thought it meant the first scalp
taken by General Custer in his battles with the Native Americans. That is not the
case, the reference is to the first Native American scalped in revenge after Custer
was completely defeated at the Little Big Horn. Three weeks after Custer’s
death there was a minor skirmish between the American Fifth Cavalry Regiment
and a group of Cheyenne at Warbonnet Creek in Nebraska. There was only one
death in the fight, the Cheyenne warrior Yellow Hair was killed by scout
William (Buffalo Bill) Cody. Cody did in fact take the scalp of the dead
warrior and he used the event and the evidence in his subsequent Wild West Shows.
The authors
went to great lengths to research the facts of this battle that was minor, yet
significant as it was the first combat after Custer’s defeat. Recollections
were checked and cross-checked until the researchers were confident that they
had an accurate chronicle. There are many photos of the Army officers,
locations of the action and the monuments to the event that were put up in
commemoration.
Although the
battle was significant only within the context of the only major defeat
suffered by the American Army at the hands of the Native Americans, it is still
an interesting event, making this book important. It is also significant that
the whites did in fact scalp their dead Native American adversaries.
Review
of
On the Waterfront, starring Marlon Brando
Five
out of five stars
Given the gritty, hard facts of life presented
in this movie and the superb performances by all the players, especially Marlon
Brando and Karl Malden, it is easy to see why it won so many Academy Awards.
Like many great movies, it was a surprise success, there was also a great deal of
controversy. Since it depicted the union of stevedores as being controlled by a
ruthless organized crime syndicate, there were many voices of protest from the actual
leaders of unions.
Marlon Brando plays Terry Malloy, a former
prizefighter that now works unloading cargo ships. The local mob completely
controls the union and they will tolerate no dissent, they decide if a man
works or not. When Malloy’s friend is killed and he starts becoming involved
with the friend’s sister, Malloy must decide whether to continue to go along
with mob rule or to become a government witness.
It is my personal opinion that the best
performance is by Karl Malden as the local priest that stands behind the men
that want to get the crooks out of the union. His passion and principles
provide a role model for the others to do the right thing. This movie provides
one of the all-time best lines, “I coulda been a contender.” This is a movie
that you watch every few years to see how actors truly play their roles and say
their lines.
Review of
Classics Illustrated: The Prince and the
Pauper, by Samuel Clemens
Five out of five stars
The basic plot of
this classic story by Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) is one of rags and riches
being interchanged. The setting is a kingdom run by an absolute monarch, his word
is law, even to the extent where a person that displeases him can be put to death.
The two main characters are a poor boy named Tom Canty and the son of the king,
Edward Tudor. Tom is beaten by his father when he displeases him, while Edward
is of course pampered.
When the two
boys meet and discuss their lives, they decide to swap clothes so that each can
be the other for a short time. Once this is done, they realize that they could
be identical twins. Edward quickly discovers that playing the role of Tom is
very unpleasant, for it is easier for a poor boy to adapt to the role of the
pampered royalty than it is for the royalty to live as the poor do.
Edward
struggles to stay alive and somehow find a way to get back into the palace
grounds and recover his position. Tom tries to explain the situation to the
members of the royal court, but no one believes him. Finally, after the king
dies and Tom is to be coronated, the two boys meet once again, and their roles
are switched back to normal. Tom and Edward remain friends and Edward vows to
rule far more justly, for he now understands the plight of the poor.
I have long
taken the position that the classics of literature should be learned by any and
all means possible. Although the story is of necessity abridged, this comic
provides the essence of what is really just a very long fairy tale.
Review of
Cubs Essential: Everything You Need to Know
to Be a Real Fan! By Lew Freedman ISBN 9781572438163
Four out of five stars
This is a book
by a fan of the Chicago Cubs baseball team written for other fans. It is a
disjointed, nonsequential rendition of some of the high points in the history
of the team. It includes descriptions of some of the great players that donned
the uniform, such as Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Greg Maddux and Ron Santo.
Although there have only been a few championship caliber teams in the last
half-century, as Freedman points out, the Cubs were once a powerhouse. They are
also a very old franchise, one of the pioneers of major league baseball.
There are many
repeats, albeit in slightly different contexts. Popular Cubs announcer Harry
Caray is the subject of a lengthy bio, it would have better if there was more
coverage of his fellow legend of broadcasting, Jack Brickhouse.
This is light
sports reading at its best. Nothing heavy or controversial, very little in the
way of dirty laundry regarding the players and a book that you can read in
snippets. Fans of baseball in general and the Cubs in particular will enjoy it.
Review of
Goin’ Someplace Special,
by Patricia C. McKissack and Jerry Pinkney ISBN 043945624x
Five out of five stars
The context is
the southern United States during the time of Jim Crow segregation and the main
character is a young black woman living in a city. Her name is ‘Tricia Ann and
for the first time she is going to go by herself to the place she calls “Someplace
Special.” Her mother helps her don her best dress and gives her warnings to
remember what she has been told.
For young black
women at that time and place, it meant far more than the normal warnings that
parents give their female children that are venturing out alone for the first time.
Nearly every place she will go has white and colored sections and she must not
cross the social lines.
‘Tricia Ann
takes the bus and walks past empty seats until she is in the colored section.
She goes to the park and admires the fountain until she must sit down, only to
discover that the bench is for whites only. When she is at the front door of a
hotel, there is a crowd of fans that she is caught up in and is pressed inside,
only to be told to get out.
Finally, she
arrives at the public library, with the sign out front “Public Library: All Are
Welcome.” For ‘Tricia Ann, it is truly Someplace Special, for it is one of the
few public places where blacks are welcome with whites.
In the late
1950’s the library board of the city of Nashville, Tennessee voted to be fully
integrated and that act is the basis for this story. It is a slightly
fictionalized account of her childhood in coping with segregation. Black parents
routinely did not their children venture out alone until they were mature
enough to deal with the segregation and frequent ridicule by whites.
Young people
today have very little idea what was standard social policy only a few decades
ago. This book of more fact than fiction is a lesson in how things used to be
and hopefully will never be again.
Review of
Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys,
by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard ISBN 0689800762
Five out of five stars
This is one of
those stories of historical fiction that was no doubt fact for many people. The
time context is after the American Civil War, the slaves are freed and nearly
all black people in the south are illiterate. The Quakers have established a
school for blacks seven miles from the residence of the main characters, they
walk to the school at the start of the week carrying their food for the week as
well as spare clothing. The students stay at the school during the week and
then walk home for the weekend.
Virgie is a
young girl with five older brothers, and she is determined to start school in
the fall. She is told that she is too small, and girls have no need for formal
schooling, a position that she rejects. Finally, her father relents and agrees
to allow Virgie to go to school. After their things are packed, and their
father tells the older boys to take care of Virgie, the six of them start their
trek to the school.
There was
indeed such a black family (Fitzgerald) that lived seven miles from
Jonesborough, Tennessee and walked to the Quaker school there. This book is
based on tales of their lives that were passed down through the generations
until it reached the author. Therefore, this book is more a work of fact than
fiction. It is a great story about a young girl determined to learn, it also demonstrates
how there were groups that did what they could to assist the recently freed
blacks to rise up above the level of subservience.
Review of
The Art of Minnie Mouse,
Disney Editions ISBN 9781484767733
Five out of five stars
The Minnie
Mouse character was literally present at the creation of the more famous Mickey
Mouse. His first cartoon was “Steamboat Willie” and Minnie was his love
interest in that classic. Walt Disney himself was the voice of Minnie in this
as well as other early Mickey/Minnie cartoons.
Over the years,
her wardrobe has dramatically changed, from the simple skirt to a more modern and
complete wardrobe. She is often featured wearing makeup, particularly around
the eyes. She is now a truly modern woman.
This book is a
textual and visual depiction of the evolution of the physical appearance of
Minnie over the years. Following the general trend of the depiction of female
characters in entertainment, Minnie has also developed a more assertive
personality.
This is a fun
book to look at. While the wardrobe and other appearance changes are targeted
at young female readers, it is enough of a history to be interesting to adult
males as well.
Review of
Disney Alice in Wonderland Cinestory Comic,
adapted by Jeremy Barlow ISBN 9781987955057
Five out of five stars
Mathematicians,
of which I am one, regularly point out the Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll), the
author of the classic “Alice in Wonderland” was a mathematician/logician. No
book ever published has a wider spectrum of memorable and original characters,
it is a book that is just as entertaining for adults as it is for children,
even though it was published over 150 years ago.
This book is a
graphic novel rendition of that classic tale and is based on
the Disney movie, and it expresses all of the wonder and nonsensical dialog of
these entertaining characters. I have read “Alice in Wonderland” and several books
that contain commentary about it and when reading this version, I was once
again amazed at the originality of the characters. The artwork is superb, the exaggerated
features of the creatures adds to their imprint on your mind.
Review of
The New New Rules,
by Bill Maher ISBN 9780399158414
Five out of five stars
Bill Maher is
one of the funniest people in America and while he is liberal and hard on the
conservatives, especially the last two Republican presidents, he does not spare
his ideological brethren. His HBO show, “Real Time With Bill Maher” is the
place where these “rules” first appeared, and Maher has his delivery honed to a
fine edge. Many times, he his guests laugh along, sometimes hysterically. Even
the conservatives chuckle at the jokes targeted at conservatives, although
there is the occasional groan.
Political humor and satire is an essential component
of a free and democratic society, there are many countries of the world where
Maher would be jailed or even executed for what he says. Republicans and their
mouthpieces often use the phrase “American exceptionalism.” The fact that Maher
is allowed to openly say these great jokes is one of the strongest pieces of
evidence that the phrase is true, even though those that utter it often
criticize Maher for what he says.
Review of
The Moon Dragons,
by Dyan Sheldon and Gary Blythe ISBN 9781467763141
Five out of five stars
The dragon is a
mythical creature that has appeared in countless stories of legend, from
folktales to science fiction to songs to movies and television series. There is
also a wide spectrum in the way they are treated, from the loving playmate in
the song “Puff the Magic Dragon” to the fire-breathing bringer of death. In
this book, they are presented as creatures where humans have almost hunted them
to extinction, so they confine themselves to a region where humans simply do
not go.
The legend of
the Moon Dragons is widely held in the kingdom and the king demands that one of
them be brought back to his castle. Hunter after hunter goes up into the misty
mountains searching for a Moon Dragon, but none are ever found.
Finally, a poor
young woman named Alina announces that she will go alone in searching for the
Moon Dragons and she is ridiculed. Armed with the song that her grandmother
taught her, Alina goes off into the mist and she sees a small set of Moon
Dragons flying and playing in the moonlight. She returns to her village and
rather than admit to what she saw, she protects the dragons by telling everyone
that she never saw them.
Although she
does no slaying of dragons or gets rich and powerful, Alina is a genuine
heroine in this book. Her example of doing the right thing at her own expense
is a valuable lesson to children. There are some secrets that must be kept, no
matter what the personal consequences.
Review of
Peach Boy: A Japanese Legend,
retold by Gail Sakurai ISBN 0816734097
Five out of five stars
This old Japanese
folktale shares many characteristics of many legends of other cultures. A poor old
couple is childless until the woman finds a giant peach floating down the stream.
She takes it home, thinking that they will have some fresh peach as part of
their next meal. They are surprised when it opens, and a young boy emerges.
He proves to
have a ravenous appetite and grows rapidly, becoming strong and very helpful to
those around him. A group of ogres has terrified the population, stealing their
valuables and destroying their possessions. The boy vows to fight and defeat
the ogres and after acquiring a sword and being given provisions, he sets out
on his adventure.
Along the way,
he aids some wild animals by sharing his dumplings and they accompany him on
his journey. Once he arrives at the castle of the ogres, with the assistance of
the animals, he beats up the ogres and gets them to give up their treasure and
forever leave the villagers alone.
The child being
found floating on a river is a very old and ubiquitous story, think Moses of
the bible. Growing up to be the hero and sharing his belongings with wild
creatures is also found in many other tales. This is a nice story with a simple
plot, the hero saving his family and neighbors from a consistent threat that no
one else seems capable of dealing with. While not original by any means, it
still makes for a good tale to be read to children.
