Movie Review: The Wolf Man (1941)

The Wolf Man (1941) directed by George Waggner

Estranged younger son Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney Jr.) returns to his ancestral estate when his older brother dies. His father (Claude Rains) welcomes him back with open arms, hoping to reunite with his eighteen-year absent son. Larry even takes a shine to one of the local girls, Gwen (Evelyn Ankers), though she is engaged to someone else. The whole village by Talbot Castle is steeped in werewolf lore. Everybody knows the old rhyme: "Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright." His dad chalks it up to superstition, though he admits there's probably some basis in reality, like the dual personality in people. Larry gets an actually dual personality after he's bitten by a wolf that turns out to be a werewolf, the son of a gypsy woman who is traveling through the village. The woman warns Larry that he will turn into the wolf and gives him an amulet for protection. Larry gives Gwen the amulet since he's more worried about her. He does turn into a wolf and starts murdering people (mostly randomly) at night.

The story moves along at a good pace and is the origin for a lot of the mythology that's generally accepted about werewolves: they need to be killed by a silver weapon; they change in moonlight; the curse is passed through biting. The characters in the movie assume this lore is ancient and accepted, making it seem like it originated somewhere else. Chaney does a great job playing the conflicted, good man who slowly comes to accept that he's been cursed. Everyone around him thinks there's some scientific explanation for what's wrong with him (though most boil down to him being insane) and that there's an actual wolf wandering around in the woods causing the troubles. Their enlightened view leads to a wolf hunt which is the ultimate downfall of Larry. 

The special effects were state-of-the-art for the time and still look decent. Part of the success is that the effects are used sparingly and a lot of the action takes place in a foggy forrest. The actors do a great job taking the story seriously and giving their characters more depth than in the average horror film.

Recommended.

Book Review: Lobster Johnson Vol. 5 by M. Mignola et al.

Lobster Johnson Volume 5: Metal Monsters of Midtown and The Pirate's Ghost written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, art by Tonci Zonjic and Dave Stewart

In the first half of this book, Lobster Johnson is up against the titular "Metal Monsters of Midtown." Three robots attack a bank but don't steal anything. The police can't even put a dent in them; the Lobster is only slightly more successful with a grenade launcher. His real success comes as he and his associates investigate three missing Zinco Corp. employees. All three were working in Jersey on armored battle suits but they have not been to work in a while. The main engineer's wife provides enough information to turn the tide of battle. The story has the classic pulp adventure feel, like the old 1930s and 1940s serial adventures at the movies.

The second half is "The Pirate's Ghost." Crime boss Wald wants the Lobster dead and has hired the criminal schemer Isog, a Peter-Lorre-style henchman if ever there was one. Isog has an elaborate plan to lure the Lobster out of the city by kidnapping Cindy, a report who is the girlfriend of Harry, one of the Lobster's henchmen. Things are moving along but Wald is going crazy, seeing a pirate compadre (i.e. the titular ghost) who gives him all sorts of bad advice. The story drifts around a bit in an unsatisfying way. The real heart of story is the relationship between Harry and the reporter. She has an offer to move to Chicago to advance her career but Harry feels obligated to stay in New York to help the Lobster. 

Mildly recommended.

Book Review: Master the Media by Julie Smith

Master the Media: How Teaching Media Literacy Can Save Our Plugged-In World by Julie Smith

A big challenge today is the glut of information and entertainment. Not only are news channels available 24/7, but the internet provides a constant stream of up-to-the-second information, from weather to international incidents to local controversies. Options for entertainment are even greater. Cable TV seems like a thing of the past with so many streaming services available. Apple Music is the biggest music retailer offering untold millions of songs. Newspapers, books, and magazines all have their internet equivalents, copies that threaten to make their originals obsolete. The sheer volume of consumable content is overwhelming and people are spending more and more time consuming it.

With a great amount of content comes a great amount of responsibility. Julie Smith's book is a call to be aware of the situation and to use it intelligently, i.e. to have media literacy. Media is crafted to connect advertisers to customers, so they work hard to provide a compelling message to buyers. Note that the message does not have to be truthful, just compelling. Sometimes it is true, or only true from a certain point of view, i.e. from a biased perspective that the consumer may or may not agree with. Awareness of media biases and techniques for persuasion is critical for consumers. The book gives an overview of television, movies, music and radio, news, books and magazines, advertising, the internet, and political media. All of these media present challenges and opportunities for the average person. The book provides a good summary of each and resources to understand more in depth. 

The book includes QR codes to other content that emphasizes points, like videos about on how the media alters images for an effect (one magazine even admits its models don't look like their pictures!) or how a few companies own all the media sources. The book doesn't dwell on negativity, but on being informed and using critical thinking to make more intelligent decisions. The supplements are great and give some direct, practical experience of the points being made in the book.

Highly recommended--Media literacy is an important skill that everyone needs today.

TV Review: Dark Season 3 (2020)

Dark Season 3 (2020) created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese

As if things were not complicated enough on this show, an alternate reality is introduced quite early in this season. Another world has all the time travel and scheming and heartache, but no Jonas. The one moment of time travel where a character goes back from 2019 and winds up as the father of Jonas does not happen. So the set of characters has almost doubled and their lives are somewhat different. The new world has a lot of mist and different hairstyles, so viewers have plenty of clues for which world they are seeing. The cross-reality interaction makes for even more interesting (and confusing) drama. The old folks, Adam and Eva, are still trying to manipulate events to what they think is their advantage, though even that falls apart under the weight of what's going on. I don't mean to be cryptic or unclear, that's just the way this show is.

Intellectually, the show is very ambitious. It deals with the inherent problems with time travel--paradoxes loom large, coherent narrative is in peril, characters intentionally lie (though sometimes they are genuinely mistaken), and viewers can wind up in just as much confusion as the characters they are watching. Toward the end, a character says that what he knows is just a drop and what he doesn't know is an ocean. Reality is far too big for any one person to grasp, let alone try to control. Such ambitions are the path to madness and destruction, even when one is trying to save sanity, people or the world. This insight is very important and easily forgotten. The characters do express some metaphysical nonsense, like being trapped in an eternal cycle of repeating events but that is easy to write off as their limited worldview. I was worried during the last episode that the show creators couldn't bring all the shaggy bits of the plot to resolution. They do find an ending that is satisfying and results in a better world.

The production values remain high. The special effects look good. Each episode in this season has a song montage toward the end which is used very affectively in the final episode. The series looks and sounds great.

Recommended.

German Oktoberfest Beers 2021

After trying some American-made Oktoberfest beers (see here), I thought I would give a set of German-made beers a similar trial. Seems only fair, right? Here they are...

Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier by Hofbrau Munchen (6.3% alcohol by volume)--The label is quite wordy: "The Oktoberfest originated in 1810 in Munich, Germany, as a wedding celebration for the Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria. This product was created especially for this event and is brewed usually for the Oktoberfest, now the largest beer festival in the world. Hofbrau Munchen (HB) is one of a selected group of breweries granted the privileges of supplying the Oktoberfest with their products. Using the highest quality ingredients, HB's Oktoberfest Specialty has it own distinctive and unique taste." The color is a rich gold. The flavor is smooth and easy drinking, with a little tang of lager flavor at the end. It's so easy to drink, I can see why it is popular at festivals. I enjoyed it a lot.

Warsteiner Oktoberfest Special Edition by Warsteiner Brauerei Haus (5.9% alcohol by volume)--The label just says that they brew according to the German Purity Law and the business has been a family tradition since 1753. The website is more verbose: "Celebrate German heritage with this authentic, German Specialty Beer. A truly German import brewed according to the German Purity Law, as are all Warsteiner beers, in limited quantities especially for Oktoberfest celebrations. This special edition has a well-balanced, mild and smooth taste with a uniquely soft, hoppy aftertaste and 5.9% alcohol. So bring a bit of Germany with you to your next Oktoberfest celebration and bring a Warsteiner Oktoberfest Special Edition." The beer has a nice, clean taste at the start but then hits the hops at the end. The bitter kick is not to my taste but otherwise it is a fine beer. The color is dark for a lager but not black or opaque. This is a typical lager experience with a little more smoothness at the beginning.

Bitburger Festbier by Bitburger Braugruppe (6.2% alcohol by volume)--According to the website, "A seasonal edition, available only in the US from August each year for a limited time: our Bitburger Festbier – tasty, full-bodied and delicately malty-mild. Created by our brewmasters to enjoy the traditional German beer festival atmosphere. A very special malt composition, including Pilsner Malt, Münchner Malt and light Caramel Malt, accounts for its fine color and smooth body. Additionally, the beer is refined with Bitburger’s proprietary and unique hop blend called ‘Siegelhopfen’ (seal hops), which is sourced from a farm just a few minutes from the brewery. This drinkable 6.2% ABV full-bodied beer is the perfect marriage of hops and malt with a slightly sweet backbone, while finishing dry." The color is rich and hazy. The initial taste has a delightful caramel sweetness that naturally blends into the dry lager ending. The aftertaste is very nice and makes this a fun, easy drinking beer.

Weihenstephaner Festbier by Weihenstephaner (5.8% alcohol by volume)--The label says nothing about the beer and the website is barely better, "Not only a hit at the Volksfest - the Weihenstephaner Festbier." This pale yellow lager from the "World's Oldest Brewery" is also a bit non-descript. It tastes like a standard lager, fairly dry with a bit of the bitter at the end. The bitterness is fairly light and would probably pair well with something salty or some nice sausages.

Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest Marzen by Hacker-Pschorr Brau (5.8% alcohol by volume)--According to the website, "Forbidden as it was to brew in summer, a stronger beer – the Märzen – was brewed earlier in March. It would finally be served at the Oktoberfest, under the “Heaven of Bavaria”. We have returned once again to the age-old recipe and recreated that gloriously smooth, honey-coloured piece of history from times gone by. And all is brewed with due reverence to the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516." The color is more like honey than copper. The flavor has the smoothness but not the sweetness of honey. The slightly sour ending makes it satisfying with some salty snack. It's a nice beer but not earthshaking.

Benediktiner Festbier by Benediktiner Weissbrau (5.8% alcohol by volume)--The website (which says Benediktiner is part of the Bitburger group!) states, "The closest thing to heaven: Benediktiner Festbier is a pleasure to drink thanks to its fine flavor, malty aroma, and intense golden-yellow color. The aromatic profile of Ettal cellar yeast paired with a soft bitterness from the hops makes Benediktiner Festbier a flavor experience.Brewed in Lich in accordance with the original Benedictine recipe for Benediktiner Weissbräu GmbH, Ettal." With a light golden color (maybe even like straw?), this beer has a light malt flavor that is very drinkable and refreshing. It goes down smooth and makes for a nice time. I liked it a lot. 

These beers all comply with those good old beer purity laws (maybe the exact opposite of Prohibition?) and sit in the same alcohol-by-volume range. They are all very close but the two favorites for me are the Benediktiner and the Hofbrau. Either one is a winner!

Movie Review: The Phantom of the Opera (1943)

The Phantom of the Opera (1943) directed by Arthur Lubin

In this lavish technicolor remake of their silent classic, Universal Studios went fully operatic in The Phantom of the Opera. The story opens with Erique Claudin (Claude Rains) playing his heart out on the violin in the orchestra pit of the Paris Opera House. He's smitten with Christine Dubois (Susanna Foster), an up and coming soprano whom he barely has the nerve to talk to. He's happy to pay for her voice lessons as an anonymous benefactor. Things come crashing down around him as his left hand starts to stiffen up. The conductor fires him from the opera; the music teacher says he will stop working with Christine; even Erique's landlady will kick him out because of unpaid back rent. Desperate to make some money, Erique takes a concerto he's been working on to a music publisher. The publisher is uninterested, though Franz Liszt (Fritz Leiber) is fascinated with the work and is playing it in another room. Erique hears his own music and goes into a rageful attack on the publisher, assuming he plans to steal the work. The publisher's assistant throws acid on Erique in an attempt to stop the attack. She is too late. Erique has killed the publisher and flees to the sewers in agony.

Christine is blithely unaware of all of this because she is being romantically pursued by the opera's baritone (Nelson Eddy) and a police inspector (Edgar Barrier). She enjoys the attention, not realizing her love triangle is actually a square. Erique takes advantage of the rumored haunting of the opera house and becomes the Phantom everyone whispers about. He sends notes to the opera managers to get Christine the lead role. He even poisons the ingenue for whom Christine is the understudy. Christine does a great job filling in but is kept in her place by the ingenue, who does not want a replacement. Tensions grow as the Phantom makes more plans while the two love interests lay their own traps for the opera ghost.

The movie has a lot of opera performances, taking advantage of the sound and color format that was absent for the Lon Chaney classic. The staging and songs look and sound great though they have little to do with the plot other than that's where the story is set. Rains gives a good performance, displaying the mousiness that turns into predation as his love becomes more bold. He's very sympathetic and comes off more tragic than evil. The dramatic unmasking scene toward the end has a hard time topping (or even getting close to) the iconic moment in the silent version. There's a lot more romantic rivalry between the baritone and the cop which is played effectively for laughs and lightens the mood considerably.

Recommended, though the movie is played more as a melodrama than a horror film.

 

Book Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender: Team Avatar Tales by G. L. Yang et al.

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Team Avatar Tales written by Gene Luen Yang, Dave Scheidt, Ron Koertge, Sara Goetter, and Kiku Hughes; art by Ryan Hill, Little Corvus, Faith Erin Hicks, Gene Luen Yang, Sara Goetter, Kiku Hughes, Carla Speed McNeill, and Coni Yovaniniz

This anthology of eight short graphic stories reprints a handful of stories from Free Comic Book Day and other places. It is a mishmash of art styles and characters, so some stories are better than others and the visual appeal will be different in each. The show's humor and creativity clearly inspired everything. The best story is "Sisters" which features Kyoshi Warrior Ty Lee. She is cheered up during a moment of feeling down when blind earthbender Toph takes her to see the circus...not just any circus, but the one Ty Lee left years ago. She didn't just leave the circus behind, she left behind six identical sisters! Comedy and heart-warming family drama ensue.

Overall the stories are entertaining but don't add a lot to the Avatar universe.

Slightly recommended--this is really for Avatar completists, not casual readers.

Book Review: New Proofs for the Existence of God by Robert J. Spitzer

New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of Contemporary Physics and Philosophy by Robert J. Spitzer

Robert Spitzer has written a book presenting proofs for God's existence that incorporate the latest understandings and insights from current physics, especially cosmology. Spitzer is well aware of the classical five arguments from Saint Thomas Aquinas as well as other medieval proofs, some of which he elaborates and enhances with contemporary ideas from philosophy and physics.

The first part of the book looks at the current understanding of the origin of the universe, i.e. the cosmology of the Big Bang. He starts out with a general discussion and then delves into very particular issues in the field, including things like the Borde-Vilenkin-Guth Theorem's Boundary to Past Time. I had never heard of that before and still don't have a solid grasp on it after reading this section. I got to a point where I started skimming because I don't know enough contemporary physics to follow the discussion.

In the second part of the book Spitzer shifts to philosophical proofs for God's existence. He begins by laying out the boundaries of philosophy and science and showing that one can argue from basic assumptions to a reasonable and responsible belief in a thing's existence, e.g. the existence of the universe or the existence of the reader of the book. He then gives three proofs for God's existence. 

The first is a metaphysical consideration that all contingent beings must be dependent on a non-contingent being for their existence. That non-contingent being must have no conditions on which it relies for its existence; it must be therefore simple, unique, and unrestricted. As such, it must be the creator of all things that are real and must sustain them in existence. This being we call God. The second proof is a modification of Bernard Lonergan's proof from 1992. Lonergan's argument proceeds from our human understanding of the universe and eventually leads to an unrestricted intelligibility that we call God. Spitzer shifts the starting point to the intelligibility of the real world to follow the same logic, a path he thinks is easier to demonstrate and more persuasive. The third proof involves the impossibility of an infinite past time, thus requiring a Creator of past time that is independent of time. 

The second part ends with a discussion of problems around disproving the existence of God, including some insights on human freedom, suffering, and the problem of evil.

The third part of the book discusses the Transcendentals, various aspects of reality that apply to every thing in the universe, e.g. unity, simplicity, goodness, and beauty. These are preeminent characteristics of God and also longings of our human nature. The divine mystery is the fulfillment of our human mysteries, the fulfillment of our desires for the ultimate in truth or beauty.

This book is very technical and as such is not readily accessible to the lay reader. I've had a good portion of philosophical training, so the second and third parts were interesting and edifying to me. The first part, as I said, was too technical for me to follow. What I am saying is that this is a very well argued book, but reader beware! Or, at least, be aware of the demands it will put on you.

Slightly recommended--if you've got some scientific and philosophical training, this is a lot more valuable and elucidating than if you are less well read in those fields.

Questions from Kids 2--Why Did They Put the River Next to the Mill?

See the first question here.

A few years ago I was driving by the ruins of a local mill (the ever popular (at least on this blog) Savage Mill) when my toddler asked, "Why did they put the river next to the mill?" After resisting a good chuckle at his expense, I said we should go visit the mill to see if we could figure it out.

Savage Mill was built over 200 years ago and primarily manufactured canvas from cotton. The mill spawned a whole town nearby, with housing for the workers and the owner, a school, and a social hall. The mill complex is big and has different buildings where the work was done.

View from the parking lot

Spinning Building with the bell tower in the background 

New Weave Building

Recreations of what they made/used

The mill is nearby the Little Patuxent River which eventually joins the Patuxent River near Crofton, Maryland. This area of Maryland had lots of mills because of the many rivers, nearby farms, and railroad tracks to the port city Baltimore. The Bollman Bridge is right by Savage Mill and spans the Little Patuxent. The river is a source of plentiful free power for the machinery in the mill.

But it wasn't always reliable. If there was a drought or even just a dry spell, the level of the river would go down and could reduce how much power was produced. To mitigate the problem, the builders of the mill dug a run, which is basically a large, long trench to divert water off the river. The remains of the run can be seen behind the mill.

They even built a stone wall to keep the water in!

"Run" the ropes course!

Signs at the mill explain that a sort of well was built just before the water wheel, so that the water could accumulate and drop at specific speeds based on how much equipment was being used.

What's left of the well

The water then flowed back into the Little Patuxent. The impact on the river was minimal.

So it turns out my son's question was much more astute than I gave him credit for...they did put the river next to the mill! I had a good chuckle at my expense.

The other thing I noticed is how much the back entrance of the mill looks like a two-car garage entrance.

Maybe a two-carriage entrance?

Book Review: Resident Alien Vol. 4 by P. Hogan et al.

Resident Alien Volume 4: The Man With No Name written by Peter Hogan and art by Steve Parkhouse

Space alien Dr. Harry is involved in two adventures this time. First, a mysterious fire breaks out downtown and a homeless man dies. The identity of the man is unclear: fingerprints turn up nothing and dental records are slow in coming. Second, he meets his assistant Asta's dad, a Native American who has guessed Harry's secret and is willing to help out with the whole alien on a strange planet situation. That's good since the Feds are snooping around, hoping to get a lead on the space alien who has been passing around counterfeit money (an early indiscretion for Harry). Both stories move together nicely, though naturally the friendship is just beginning and will continue on into another volume.

The mystery is fun if slight and the new friendship moves the overall plot along.

Recommended.

Movie Review: Phantom of the Opera (1925)

Phantom of the Opera (1925) directed by Rupert Julian

The opera "Faust" is playing at the Paris Opera House as the owners sell it to two new guys. The owners casually mention there might be a ghost in the opera house. Don't believe it but also don't try to dissuade the guy in Box Five. In fact, don't mess with him at all. The new owners head over to Box Five and are creeped out by the back silhouette. After a moment, they work their nerve up and go back in, only to discover him gone. Soon enough they are getting letters from the Phantom demanding that Christine Daae (Mary Philbin) be given the main role instead of Carlotta. Carlotta's mom refuses to budge but Carlotta does call in sick. A second letter comes, again requesting the substitution. The mother is adamant that Carlotta will sing. During the next performance, the chandelier comes down on the crowd during one of Carlotta's solos. The Phantom has struck! 

Back in Christine's dressing room, the ghostly voice that has been training her tells her to walk through the mirror, which she does, leaving behind her boyfriend Raoul (Norman Kerry). The masked Phantom leads her down to the depths of the sub-basements of the opera (a lot of old sets, props, and costumes are stored underneath--the old rooms used to be prisons and torture chambers!). He professes his love for Christine and wants her to stay. She's uneasy about the situation and plays along. As he works on a new opera, "Don Juan Triumphant," she sneaks up behind and unmasks him. He's shocked that she would do it. She's shocked by his appearance, which is indeed horrific. He eventually agrees to let her return to the opera one last time before she is his forever. He forbids her from seeing Raoul and expects her to return shortly. She agrees.

Once back up, she sends a letter to Raoul asking him to meet her at the Bal Masque at the opera house. All of Paris turns out for the festivities. She and Raoul head to the roof to plot her escape from the Phantom. The Phantom is up there too and overhears their plans. He starts making his own plans to keep her. The story continues to its tragic ending.

The movie was a landmark when it was released in the 1920s. Chaney's makeup was not photographed by any press or media, so no one saw the Phantom's face before seeing the actual movie. The unmasking scene is so well edited and acted that it has become iconic. The other parts of the production are also lavish. The Bal Masque scene was colorized to show off the Phantom's Red Death costume. Much of the rest of the film is tinted to give an atmospheric feel. The sets are huge and elaborate. The grand staircase of the opera is at least three stories tall and many of the sub-basements are cavernous. The Phantom's lair at the bottom is reached by a subterranean lake! The production is quite lavish.

The acting matches the production values. Chaney does a great job making the Phantom both frightening and empathetic. Philbin is strong and vulnerable as Christine. Even smaller roles shine, like the opera owners who are skeptical but wary about the ghost. They mostly deliver comic relief (and are out of the story halfway through). The finale gives the Phantom one last chance to show off.

The version I watched has an orchestral score by Carl Davis from the 1990s which worked very well with the movie. I think the Kino version (which is linked below) has the same score. Kino has put out lots of high-quality DVDs and Blu-rays of silent films, so they are worthy of trust.

Highly recommended--this is one of the greats of silent cinema.

Book Review: The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

The Jungle Book is a classic set of short stories and poems that has been adapted many times. The most adapted stories are the ones about the man-cub Mowgli, who is raised in a wolf pack and has a life-long animosity with Shere Khan the tiger. The original stories are different enough from the Disney and other versions to be entertaining and worth reading. Baloo is still a goofy bear but he does teach the Law of the Jungle to the wolf cubs, so he winds up teaching Mowgli too, in a more serious way. Kaa the snake is more of an uneasy ally, since he's the enemy of Mowgli's enemies at one point, thus becoming a proverbial if not actual friend. The Mowgli stories are a lot of fun.

But the Mowgli stories are just under half the book. The other famous story is "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," about a mongoose befriended by a family. Some dangerous snakes live in the family garden and the mongoose uses his wiles and his courage to fight the snakes and protect the family. The story is charming and exciting.

But wait, there's more! In another story, Albino seal Kotick discovers quite quickly how men harvest seals for their fur and searches for an island beach where the seals can live in safety. He travels all over the Pacific Ocean looking for a haven while the other seals just run through their regular life routine. He's an engaging hero though I am not sure how the story fits into the "jungle" theme.

Another tale, "Toomai of the Elephants," chronicles a boy's discovery of an elephant dancing ground. Humans (according to the story) have often discovered these "ballrooms" but never have they seen an actual elephant dance. The boy happens to ride an elephant one night and hides on the beast's back as a whole legion of elephants show up and do their dance deep in the jungle. The magical air of the story is captivating.

The final story tells of army animals (elephants, horses, mules, and camels) who brag about how great they are, though no animal shares the same greatness and they all have one (or more) flaws. They all have to perform in a military parade the next day. That parade shows how even though they are diverse in their qualities, as an organized group they are impressive to see.

Poems are interspersed with the stories. Most of them are songs that the various animals sing about or during their adventures.

The book overall paints an interesting fictional portrait of life in the wild (or semi-wild), giving the various animals very human traits. I found it very entertaining and am looking forward to rereading it in the future.

Highly recommended, even if you have seen movie versions.

Geocaching September 2021

A nearby church with a large complex has a couple of geocaches on the grounds. I found two of them. First was Grace 3 Again in one corner of the property. It's a reimplementation of a previous cache. The cache is up on a small hill and I am afraid that I scared a groundhog that was relaxing in the shade. He ran off; I ran up and found the cache fairly easily. 

Where the groundhog lies

Further down the property line are fence posts without any fencing in between them. I guess people just know not to cross the imaginary line? The next cache is called Where's the Fence? and, as one might guess, the cache is hidden quite cleverly on a post.

Maybe it's a magical fence?

In a local townhouse neighborhood is Yellow - Black Bottom.... This cache is also hidden on a hill, but down the hill, not up! I needed a little advice from the hint to find the right spot.

Not in the obvious spot

Two caches are hidden in a nearby supermarket parking lot. The Gray Top Cache... is on the front end of the lot and is a standard hide in some dense but safe foliage.

Whack those bushes!

The other cache, Black Friday Deal, is out back of the store. I walked from front to back since it was not very far and seemed like a waste of gas to get to ground zero.

The cache is back that way.

I found a trail into the woods which led to a bunch of cardboard boxes, some covered with plastic bags. It looked more like a homeless person's stash than a geocache. I looked around and didn't see anyone. Then I double checked the cache's log to see if others ran into the situation. The boxes must have shown up since the last visitor. I moved on to the cache location and saw a car drive up near the trailhead. I assumed it was another cacher ready to hunt. I made the find and headed back out. The lady was smoking and asked me if I was taking a shortcut. I said the cache was still there and she gave me a quizzical look. I realized she was a muggle and probably she assumed I was not entirely sane. I head back to my car. She drove off in hers rather quickly.

We've made it to 507 caches found!

Book Review: The Avengers Vol. 2 by B. M. Bendis et al.

The Avengers Volume 2 written by Brian Michael Bendis, art by John Romita Jr. and Bryan Hitch

Formerly defeated villain the Hood (aka Parker Robbins) has escaped jail and decided to restore his power by collecting all of the Infinity Stones. A secret cabal made up of Iron Man, Reed Richards, Charles Xavier, Prince Namor, Stephen Strange, and Black Bolt thought they had securely hidden the stones on Earth, each member in charge of one stone. Robbins collects two of them and has a run in with the Red Hulk (aka General Thunderbolt Ross), who goes to the Avengers and alerts them of the situation (Stark's stone hasn't been stolen (yet)). The Avengers begin to investigate and Steve Rogers gets mad at Tony Stark for hiding the information about the stones from him. Joining up with the Secret Avengers and the New Avengers, the three groups go after the other stones before Robbins can reach them.

The final story has Spider-Woman investigating a strange occurrence for S.W.O.R.D., the Sentient World Observation and Response Department. They deal with extraterrestrial problems and also have been off Steve Rogers's radar. Spider-Woman disappears during the mission, so a group of Avengers goes to rescue her, only to stumble on a secret cabal of super-intelligent villains who unwittingly bring a new problem back to Earth.

While the main story has an interesting premise, the execution was just mediocre. There were no clever strategies or "wow" moments. The story is so overstuffed with heroes that no one really shines out other than Red Hulk who is clearly looking for some redemption from whatever bad stuff he did before. The Steve Rogers/Tony Stark conflict reads like a re-run of previous conflicts between them.

Mildly recommended--I think I might be done with this run...there's too many other books out there that are more interesting to me.

Movie Review: Man of a Thousand Faces (1957)

Man of a Thousand Faces (1957) directed by Joseph Pevney

James Cagney stars in this bio-pic of the famous silent film star Lon Chaney. The story starts with Irving Thalberg (Robert Evans), head of Universal Studios, remembering Chaney after his death. Chaney's parents were deaf and he was always very defensive of them, often getting in fights as a child when other kids would make fun. As an adult, he's still protective and prone to outbursts. His wife Cleva (Dorothy Malone) has her own troubles. The couple has a hard time working the entertainment circuit. Cleva is pregnant and insists on meeting Chaney's parents. He hasn't told her they are deaf, so when they get to the house she's both shocked by them and worried that their child might be born deaf. Chaney is not so concerned so they have fights about it. The child turns out okay but the couple has more struggles as they manage childcare with two different entertainment careers. Chaney wants her to stay at home but she feels smothered and alone. One of the chorus girls (Jane Greer) helps Chaney out when the boy is at his theater, which causes more jealousy and eventually tragic self-harm by Cleva. Chaney moves to Hollywood for a fresh start but loses his son to the welfare system since he doesn't have a steady job or a stable home. He works hard to get both so he can get his son back. He discovers it's easy to get jobs if you can get a fresh, tailor-made face for whatever role is needed, thus generating his PR moniker "The Man of a Thousand Faces."

The movie is much more focused on Chaney's family life than on his career. Sure, they hit the highlights and Cagney gets to do a bit of vaudeville and famous Chaney film scenes (the whipping of the Hunchback of Notre Dame and the unmasking of the Phantom of the Opera being the most famous). But the story is all about the tortured relationship between Chaney and his first wife. Both of them have flaws, ones that do not mix well and cause a lot of heartache. Their son gets caught in the middle though he as a character is mostly undeveloped. It's a fine (though very fictionalized) melodrama but is unsatisfying for fans who want to know more about his creative process and technical skills.

Mildly recommended.

American Oktoberfest Beers 2021

Even better than the pumpkin spice barrage, Fall brings with it the happy inventiveness of local (and not so local) breweries. They want to imitate the Oktoberfestivities that happen in Germany every year, mostly centered around Munich. Here's a sampling I did of some American brewers' takes on the festive classic! 

Oktoberfest Beer by Lancaster Brewing Co. (5.5% alcohol by volume)--This Pennsylvania beer claims on its label, "Five malts, three hops and true Bavarian lager yeast go into our small bath brewed Octoberfest; resulting in a rich, copper colored, medium-bodied lager with subtle malt sweetness, balanced with the perfect noble hop notes, make Lancaster Oktoberfest an extraordinary classic. Prost!" The beer does have a beautiful color and a smooth, delightful taste. It drinks easy and has a lot more flavor than a regular lager. I would drink another!

Festbier Vienna Lager by Manor Hill Brewing (5.5% alcohol by volume)--Their website says, "For this traditional take on a classic style, we harnessed our German roots. This Vienna lager pours amber in color with a fluffy white head. It offers rich and bready maltiness and a hint of toast... all balanced by restrained and deliberate noble hop additions. This clean, crisp and very tasty lager is ideal for enjoying on an equally beautiful late summer or fall day. Prost!" The beer is a little cloudy and the color is maybe two shades too light for copper. It doesn't have a lot of flavor. I was hoping for something a little more robust, maybe closer to Munich than Vienna? I do like the steins on the label that look like the five side of a six-sided die.

Oktoberfest Bier by Jailbreak Brewing Company (5.5% alcohol by volume)--The website says, "Our Oktoberfest is our take on the traditional Bavarian Marzen lager. Unabashedly malt-forward, this medium-bodied, dry lager exemplifies balance between a carefully curated selection of German malts, ester-free lager yeast, and the appropriate tinge of continental hop character. Captivating aromas of actively baking bread and palate sensations of toffee-laced sourdough crust punctuate every aspect of the drinking experience, to the extent that our arms are already tired from raising our steins!" The beer has a nice coppery color that is clear. The initial taste is drier and tarter than other similar beers with a little sourness at the finish. This is more distinctive but not quite to my taste.

Festbier German-Style Lager by Atlas Brew Works (6.1% alcohol by volume)--The label says, "Lighter in color and in body than traditional Oktoberfest beers, Atlas Festbier features sweet malts under orange blossom hop aroma. An irreverent take on a German style. Lederhosen? Wear it. Schnitzel? Eat it. This Festbier tastes like Oktoberfest on American soil." This is a fairly standard lager, with less color and body than others inspired by the season. I'm not sure that works out in the beer's favor. I would never guess this is meant for Oktoberfest without the label on the can telling me. It's surprisingly unremarkable. Whoops!

Oktoberfest Lager by Von Trapp Brewing (5.6% alcohol by volume)--The label simply states, "A true full-bodied Oktoberfest lager dark in color with a fine caramel finish." It is a very coppery-colored lager, with the same ending of bitterness that isn't really what the label promises. It tastes just fine and has a charming invitation to visit the brewery's bierhall in Stowe, Vermont. Maybe if we are up there someday, we will stop in.

Oktoberfest Marzen Lager by Left Hand Brewing Co. (6.6% alcohol by volume)--The website says, "Let the rich copper hues of this bright lager shine from your stein! Our Oktoberfest märzen balances malt-driven notes of bread crust, biscuit and toasted pretzel with just the right amount of noble hop character, culminating in a dry & spicy finish. Deliciously repeatable, this take on the classic style is the perfect way to toast the season of crisp air, changing leaves and festival feasts. Prost!" The nice, light copper color goes well with the nice, light roasty flavor. The breadiness comes through brilliantly and a mouthful finishes with a dry, not bitter, flavor. I like this a lot. 

I guess it's Lancaster's Oktoberfest Beer versus Left Hand's Oktoberfest Marzen Lager. Both are excellent and would happily by a 6-pack of either. If I had to choose, I'd probably go with the Left Hand, but not just because I am left-handed! The bread-like flavor and the lack of bitterness are wonderful to me.

Book Review: How Fear Departed the Long Gallery by E. F. Benson

How Fear Departed the Long Gallery by E. F. Benson and illustrated by Seth

Church-Peveril is the countryside estate home of the Peveril family. It's also home to a plethora of ghostly apparitions, both visual and audible. The Peveril family is okay with the situation since most of the specters are benign and quite familiar. They spooks are old family members from centuries before. The only problematic ones are the twin toddlers who show up in the Long Gallery after sunset. They are not mischievous troublemakers but are genuine terrors who were tragically killed by a relative who wanted to inherit the estate. Whoever sees them dies soon afterwards, often in horrible agony. The Peverils only talk about the twins to warn visitors not to stay in the Long Gallery in the dark. As the title suggests, the problem of the Long Gallery is resolved by the end.

This story is actually a short story, not a full length novel or even a novella. This book is published as part of a series of Christmas-time ghost stories, in the old (18th century) English tradition of telling scary tales on Christmas Eve (hence Dickens' A Christmas Carol). The illustrations are fine but very few, maybe five or six in the whole text. The art follows the style of the cover above. I read this on my Kindle and found the story quite delightful--equal parts humorous and scary with a highly satisfying ending. It was well worth the 99-cent price.

Highly recommended.

I was inspired to read this story by, you guessed it, A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast #267. They also discuss Dark Benediction by Walter Miller, which I read as part of an anthology of Miller stories I had to buy because it wasn't available anywhere else (a good story was hard to find!), and Honeysuckle Cottage by P. G. Wodehouse, which I read as part of an anthology edited by Audrey Niffenegger I found at the library (so not hard to find but easy to read just one story and return it guilt free).

Book Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender: Suki, Alone by F. E. Hicks et al.

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Suki, Alone written by Faith Erin Hicks and illustrated by Peter Wartman

Suki, the Kyoshi Warrior, is captured by Princess Azula and sent to The Boiling Rock, a maximum security island prison. No one ever returns from there. The treatment is harsh. Suki realizes she can't make it on her own. When she discovers a small plant growing through the cracks of the prison yard, she hatches a plan to grow a little bit of extra food. Food enough not just for herself, but for others in the prison. She grows food. She inspires hope. She makes community. But can there be loyalty among prisoners in a place from which no one has ever escaped?

This story is another great addition to the overall plot of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Some of Suki's backstory is told, enough to give her actions credibility and to fill in the details about the Kyoshi Warriors. A lot of the story is told through images rather than dialogue, always a plus in a graphic novel. It's a fine work all around.

Recommended.

Cute Kid Pix September 2021

More pictures that didn't make their own posts...

We went to see a Washington Nationals game since we got free tickets from one of the summer reading programs. Yay local libraries! Since four of us went in, it was cheaper to buy parking than to ride mass transit (the DC metro is relatively expensive). We discovered a fun little pizza place near the stadium (and even nearer to our parking lot). Wiseguy Pizza does all sorts of pies, including Korean Chicken Pizza which my son loved.

Korean Chicken and Plain slices

Our seats in the stadium had a good view. We were on the fair side of the foul line and in the shade for the first couple of innings.

View from out seats

The Nats have suffered a lot of losses this year, especially players. Some of the big plaza posters have not been replaced yet. 

One of three has gone!

Walking around looking for the best snacks, we found an awesome view of the Anacostia River just behind the stadium.

Looks like a fun place

The game ended in extra innings with the Nats losing by two runs.

My older son went on a caving trip with his scout troop and came back with some muddy, muddy pants.

A sign he had a good time?

Showing off

Movie Review: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) directed by  Destin Daniel Cretton

Shaun (Simu Liu) is living a mediocre life in San Francisco at a valet parking job with his friend Katy (Awkwafina). They work, go drinking, and sing karaoke. Things change for him when he is attacked on a bus by agents of the Ten Rings, a secret army that has been influencing human history for a thousand years. Turns out his dad is the head of the army and has been alive for a thousand years thanks to the literal ten rings, arm bands that give him magical powers (mostly for doing violence, but also longevity). The agents tell Shaun that they are after his sister, who is living in Macau. Shaun and Katy hop on a plane where he explains his back story: He was raised by his parents in China till his mom died, then his dad started training him as an assassin, a life he eventually rejected. Now he's pulled back into a family business he wants no part of. He doesn't want his sister in it either.

The movie follows a fairly familiar Marvel story arc. Like many previous films, this one is a successful blend of Marvel superhero movie and a genre picture. In this case, the genre is martial arts. The fights are beautiful to watch--they capture the grace and precision of Asian hand-to-hand combat while adding in some magical abilities. At the beginning of the movie, Shaun and Katy are accused of being slackers, i.e. not living up to their full potential. They are forced to step up, a move that makes their lives more imperiled but also more exciting and more meaningful (another common Marvel trope). Tony Leung is especially good as the father. His motivation is to reunite with his wife, who he thinks has been sealed away in the magical village from which she came. He's a lot more understandable and sympathetic while still being villainous, much like Michael Keaton's Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming. The Marvel DNA is all over the film but they know how to run the formula and get a great product in the end. Marvel delivers another piece of solid entertainment.

Recommended.