Trying Something New

This blog passed it’s nine year anniversary earlier this month.  Nine years ago, I rekindled my passion for amateur astronomy and photography, but along the way I decided to also review books and movies.  Then I thought returning to college to finish my degree was a good idea and my blog languished, neglected for most of the last couple of years.

My work life has also ramped up during the same time period, leaving me less time to write.  I had to give up something, and I refuse to give up reading, so writing was sacrificed.  But a recent project at work forced me to take a crash course in cloud computing (Microsoft’s Azure) which gave me a taste of the pros and cons of that environment. After discussing my thoughts with my son, who is a developer, I took his advice and created a Digital Ocean account to see if it’s a cost effective alternative to my aging hardware at home.

In less than two days, I stood up my own WordPress Droplet and exported/imported this blog into it’s new home.  To see my first post at the new site, please follow this link.

For now, I’m just dipping my toes in the Digital Ocean, so this current blog will remain active.  I want to see if this approach is cost-effective.  Moving away from this ‘free’ site hosted by WordPress, has pros (no ads!) and cons (actually costs money), so I’m going to take this slow and monitor usage.

I welcome your thoughts and comments, especially if you have already been down this road and have any insights, tips and tricks you’d like to share.

Master of Horror Lecture Series (October 2019)

Master of Horror lectures throughout the month of October at several Mid-Continent Public Library locations around Kansas City.  The lecturer is Roberta Park, who also happens to be President of the Tolkien Society of Kansas City.

Synopsis:  Horror author H.P. Lovecraft has influenced the genre for decades. Explore H.P. Lovecraft’s life, his influences, the Cthulhu Mythos, and how he developed as a horror author.

 

Schedule:

• Monday October 14th, 7 pm, South Independence Branch
• Tuesday October 15th, 6:30 pm, Woodneath Branch
• Tuesday October 22nd, 6 pm, North Independence Branch
• Thursday October 24th, 6:30 pm, Lone Jack Branch
• Monday October 28th, 6:30 pm, North Oak Branch

This Week in Middle-earth

A year ago today, I attended my first Tolkien Studies conference, hosted by the Tolkien Society of Kansas City at Park University.  I even helped re-enact the scene where Frodo is wounded by the Witch-king (I played the part of Wraith #5 in the video taken by Corey Olsen which is no longer available according to Twitch).

I’m looking forward to my second Moot next weekend in Waterloo, Iowa, also called MiddleMoot (because we alternate years between the two locations – back in KC for 2020).

And since I start off October by celebrating or at least contemplating being another year older, I decided to start a Twitter post series based on the Hammond & Scull Reader’s Companion to The Lord of the Rings, in which the timeline is very accurately tracked as the story unfolds.  So on the morning of September 30th,  the last day of that month, I finished reading “The Uruk-hai” chapter in The Two Towers and picked up the Reader’s Companion to read their research and notes on the same chapter, but instead I wondered what was happening “on this day” in Middle-earth?  So I returned back to the chapter “A Knife in the Dark” from The Fellowship of the Ring and found the corresponding entry for last Monday: 

Movie Review: Ghost in the Shell (2017) 2.5 stars

Ghost in the Shell

Released: March 31, 2017 (US)

Director: Rupert Sanders

Watched: 10/2/2019 (via Hulu and SyFy)

Rating: 2-2.5 stars

Synopsis (from IMDB): In the near future, Major Mira Killian is the first of her kind: A human saved from a terrible crash, who is cyber-enhanced to be a perfect soldier devoted to stopping the world’s most dangerous criminals.

My Thoughts

Five years ago, I watched and reviewed the 1995 animated movie of the same name. 

5*11

Five 11s

Eleven 5s

A half century and a half decade.

Two score plus a half score plus a quarter score years.

I can’t and never could drive fifty-five.

I was almost five when Apollo 11 landed on the moon.

Disappointed a woman hasn’t walked there yet.

I am starting to experience the opposite of time dilation.

Thanks to everyone who wished me well on my natal day.

Movie Review: Born of Hope (4 stars)

Born of Hope: The Ring of Barahir

Release date: December 1, 2009

Director/Producer: Kate Madison

Official Website: http://www.bornofhope.com/

Watched: late September 2019

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I stumbled across this fan film last week while researching (translation: falling down another Tolkien rabbit hole) the backstory of Gilraen, mother of Aragorn. I am always interested in Tolkien’s female characters because there are so few of them and nearly all of them have surprising agency considering Tolkien’s times. The Tolkien Gateway article for Gilraen includes a link at the very bottom that delves deeper into her tragic tale, gleaned from The Lord of the Rings Appendices and other Legendarium sources: The Tragedy of Gilraen, Aragorn’s Mother

Gilraen probably has the saddest epitaph of any of Tolkien’s characters (except perhaps Turin and his sister):

Onen i-Estel Edain, ú-chebin estel anim.
“I gave hope to the Dúnedain; I kept none for myself.”

Gilraen could not see the light for the growing darkness and despaired, living only half as long as she should have, as one of the few remaining Dúnedain.

Inexperienced Chili Taster

And I’m back after a months-long blog writing hiatus.

To get my blood flowing and brain juices churning, I’m posting a ‘joke’ my husband sent me via email way back in November 2007 that I’ve been wanting to share (and put some place where I can find it in the future).

For my ‘Let’s clean out the pantry of nearly expired canned goods’ vegetarian (more or less) chili recipe, see my blog post from December 2010 here.
Warning: Stop reading now if you will be offended by some mild profanity and tasteless (pun intended) male commentary (from Judge #3).

Notes from an inexperienced chili taster named Frank, who was visiting Texas from the East Coast:

Recently I was honored to be selected as a judge at a chili cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last moment, and I happened to be standing there at the judge’s table asking directions to the beer wagon when the call came. I was assured by the other judges (Native Texans) that the chili wouldn’t be all that spicy, and besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting so I accepted.

Spring House Guests

Three robin’s eggs in a nest on top of my back porch light. This is the second time since we’ve lived in this house that a robin has nested in that exact spot. The last time it didn’t end well for the robin chicks.

Robin’s Nest Flickr Album

I took these photos using my Samsung smartphone standing on a step ladder inside the house with my arm sneaking around the top of the patio door. I could not see the screen when I snapped the shots. Two of the photos I adjusted afterwards to enhance the visibility and vibrancy of the eggs (which were hidden in shadow inside the nest).

Porthos is lounging in the background (on the step watching me taking the photo above).

Reading the 1944 Retro Hugo Finalists

My reading list for the next several weeks, thanks to the recently announced finalists for the Retrospective Hugo Awards.  Or rather I should say my scavenger hunt because finding some of these stories will be challenging.

Update 7/4/2019: Happy Independence Day!  I’m several steps closer to completing my Hugo finalist reading.  See below for specific updates.

Update 6/19/2019:  The last push through the Best Novel nominees.  Listening (and a re-read) of Perelandra and reading ebook of Earth’s Last Citadel currently.  That leaves just Conjure Wife remaining.  I’m going to abandon The Glass Bead Game as I found it cloyingly philosophical.

Update 4/28/2019:  Finished ‘We Print the Truth’ and loved it.

Update 4/27/2019:  This week I finished ‘Proud Robot’ and a few hours of The Glass Bead Game (putting that on hold for now); started ‘We Print the Truth’ by Boucher and The Weapon Makers by Vogt.

Update 4/19/2019: Finished reading ‘Attitude’ this morning and finished ‘Citadel of Lost Ships’ yesterday.  Now reading ‘Proud Robot’ by Kuttner/Moore and listening to The Glass Bead Game by Hesse.

Update 4/13/2019:  Finished the short story category today.  Also started the “Clash by Night” novella.

Update 4/9/2019: Back at the office today so I’ll be switching gears from printed editions to one of the ebook anthologies I already own, probably one of the novelette finalists.

Update 4/8/2019:  My goal today is to finish the Short Story category and rank for voting.  (4:30 PM) Two out of three read.

Update 4/6/2019:  Scavenger Hunt Complete and Successful.  I have found readable reproductions of all finalists.  Let the reading commence or continue!

The finalists for the 1944 Retrospective Hugo Awards are:

Best Novel

• Conjure Wife, by Fritz Leiber, Jr. (Unknown Worlds, April 1943)
  • Available as an ebook via Hoopla: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11559830
  • Currently reading ebook 7/4/2019
• Earth’s Last Citadel, by C.L. Moore and Henry Kuttner (Argosy, April 1943) †
  • Read 6/21/2019; 3.5-4 stars
    
• Gather, Darkness! by Fritz Leiber, Jr. (Astounding Science-Fiction, May-July 1943)
  • Available as an ebook via Hoopla: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11558463
  • Read 6/2/2019; 2-2.5 stars (meh)
• Das Glasperlenspiel [The Glass Bead Game], by Hermann Hesse (Fretz & Wasmuth)
  • Available as an audiobook via Hoopla: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11442387
  • Abandoned (DNF) 6/30/2019
    
• Perelandra, by C.S. Lewis (John Lane, The Bodley Head) †
  • I’ve read this previously at least twice.  If time allows, I will re-read.
  • Read 6/25/2019; 3.5-4 stars
    
• The Weapon Makers, by A.E. van Vogt (Astounding Science-Fiction, February-April 1943)
  • Requested interlibrary loan via LCL 4/3/2019
  • Purchased as an ebook 4/6/2019
  • ILL checked out 4/18/2019
  • Read 5/13/2019; 2-2.5 stars (meh)

Best Novella

• “Attitude,” by Hal Clement (Astounding Science-Fiction, September 1943)
  • Found in the Music of Many Spheres anthology
  • Placed hold via KCPL 4/3/2019
  • Checked out from KCPL 4/5/2019
  • Read 4/19/2019 Excellent hard science fiction first contact SF story.  Better than the previous year’s debut short story ‘Proof’ by Clement.  (4-4.5 stars)
• “Clash by Night,” by Lawrence O’Donnell (Henry Kuttner & C.L. Moore) (Astounding Science-Fiction, March 1943) ∞
  • Read 4/14/2019 (3.5-4 stars)
• The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath,” by H.P. Lovecraft, (Beyond the Wall of Sleep, Arkham House)
  • Found in Necronomicon anthology
  • Placed on hold via LCL 4/3/2019
  • Checked out from LCL 4/8/2019
  • Renewed 4/27/2019
  • Reading but on hold 6/19/2019; still on hold 7/4/2019 (but I’ll probably finish this over the long weekend)
    
• The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (Reynal & Hitchcock)
  • Available as an ebook through Hoopla
  • Not planning on reading this.
• The Magic Bed-Knob; or, How to Become a Witch in Ten Easy Lessons, by Mary Norton (Hyperion Press)
  • Available via Hoopla Digital https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/12024250
  • Not planning on reading this.
• “We Print the Truth,” by Anthony Boucher (Astounding Science-Fiction, December 1943)
  • Found in the Compleat Boucher anthology
  • Requested interlibrary loan via LCL 4/3/2019
  • Checked out from LCL 4/20/2019 (due back 5/4/2019)
  • Read 4/28/2019 A very good (possibly great) story in the ‘what if’ SF QA grand tradition. I could snarkily summarize without spoiler with ‘A priest, an atheist and an agnostic walk into a bar . . .’ and I’d be nearly spot on. This is the second novella I’ve read by Boucher and he does not disappoint. (4-4.5 stars)

Best Novelette

• “Citadel of Lost Ships,” by Leigh Brackett (Planet Stories, March 1943) †
  • Purchased Swamps of Venus ebook anthology from Baen 4/3/2019
    • Read 4/18/2019 an action/adventure story that just happened to take place on or around a fantastical Venus. (3 stars)
    • Proposed ranking: 5
• “The Halfling,” by Leigh Brackett (Astonishing Stories, February 1943) ∞
  • • Read 4/2-3/2019; Started out strange and slow but last third compelling (3-3.5 stars)
    • Proposed ranking: 4
• Mimsy Were the Borogoves,” by Lewis Padgett (C.L. Moore & Henry Kuttner) (Astounding Science-Fiction, February 1943) ∞ †
  • • Read 4/3/2019; Insiduously chilling for parents of very young children (4-4.5 stars)
    • Proposed ranking: 1
• The Proud Robot,” by Lewis Padgett (Henry Kuttner) (Astounding Science-Fiction, February 1943) ∞ †
  • • Read 4/20/2019 (3.5 stars)
    • Proposed ranking: 3
• “Symbiotica,” by Eric Frank Russell (Astounding Science-Fiction, October 1943) ∞
  • • Read 4/6/2019; Impressed by Russell’s writing, read like an action-adventure-comedy screenplay (4 stars)
      
    • Proposed ranking: 2
• “Thieves’ House,” by Fritz Leiber, Jr (Unknown Worlds, February 1943) †
  • Already own the ebook anthology Swords Against Death, which contains this story
  • Currently reading ebook 7/4/2019

Best Short Story

• “Death Sentence,” by Isaac Asimov (Astounding Science Fiction, November 1943)
  • Found in The Complete Stories Volume 2 anthology
  • Placed hold at LCL 4/3/2019
  • Checked out from LCL 4/6/2019
  • Read 4/8/2019; This story felt and read like it should have been part of both the Foundationseries and the The Caves of Steel robot series. But ISFDB doesn’t really mention either nor does Wikipedia. Intriguing. (3 stars)
  • Proposed ranking: 5
• “Doorway into Time,” by C.L. Moore (Famous Fantastic Mysteries, September 1943) ∞
  • Read 4/8/2019; Compelling, imaginative, disturbing (3.5-4 stars)
  • Proposed ranking: 1
• “Exile,” by Edmond Hamilton (Super Science Stories, May 1943) ∞
  • Read 4/5/2019; This story is short but impactful (3.5-4 stars)
  • Proposed ranking: 2
• “King of the Gray Spaces” (“R is for Rocket”), by Ray Bradbury (Famous Fantastic Mysteries, December 1943)
  • Found in Classic Stories 1 anthology
  • Placed hold at KCPL 4/3/2019
  • Checked out from KCPL 4/5/2019
  • Read 4/8/2019; A nice coming-of-age for boys story involving rockets (every kid wants to grow up to be an astronaut). (3.5-4 stars)
  • Proposed ranking: 3
• “Q.U.R.,” by H.H. Holmes (Anthony Boucher) (Astounding Science-Fiction, March 1943) ∞
  • Read 4/4/2019; meh, okay, nothing Earth-shattering (3 stars)
  • Proposed ranking: 6
• “Yours Truly – Jack the Ripper,” by Robert Bloch (Weird Tales, July 1943)
  • Found in The Big Book of Jack the Ripper anthology
  • Placed hold at JCPL 4/3/2019
  • Hold available for pickup 4/5/2019
  • Checked out on 4/5/2019
  • Read 4/13/2019; Liked it enough to read the very next story in this anthology, also by Bloch. (3.5 stars)
    
  • Proposed ranking: 4

∞ † ∞

In anticipation of this list and some previous research, I have been purchasing ebook anthologies for C.L. Moore and Henry Kutner as well as requesting via interlibrary loan Asimov’s The Golden Years of Science Fiction Third Series anthology (for works published in 1943/1944) which contains many of the nominated finalists above (indicated by the infinity symbol [∞] above).  If I’ve purchased the ebook, the dagger symbol [†] will be used in the finalist list above.

The rest I’ll have to research using Internet Science Fiction Database (ISFDB) web site.  Earlier this year I created an account there in anticipation of nominations and finalist reading research.  Conveniently, there’s already a page with links to all the finalists found here.

As I find the anthologies or inexpensive ebooks to purchase, I will update the list above to indicate the status of my scavenger hunt.  Meanwhile, I’ll be reading the stories I already have in my hot little hand thanks to my planning and forethought.

 

Resurrecting My Inner Artist

The first snow and winter storm of Winter 2019 finally arrive the second Saturday of January. In my experience, that’s a delay of nearly ten days from when we usually have snow or a winter storm or if nothing else bitter cold below zero temperatures and wind chills. The snow we received was wet and heavy, perfect for making a snowman but not so great for my back when I went out to shovel the driveway.