Posts filed under ‘OBSERVATIONS & OPINIONS’
DETAILS OF THE MARTIAN INVASION FOUND IN THE NOVEL THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
CONTINUED
Once the machines emerge from the crater they use a heat ray and black smoke, poison gas, to destroy the humans encounter.
During the invasion the main character seeks shelter in a partially destroyed house with a curate. The curate’s fear increases, and he talks louder and louder, is discovered by the Martians and abducted.
One interesting fact is that the machines are tripods and travel using three long extended legs. Upon examination of the Martian machinery and vehicles it becomes apparent that the Martians have no knowledge of the wheel.
They communicate through telepathy. And in appearance, resemble something out of a Lovecraft story.
During the invasion Martians drink the blood of humans they capture for nourishment. Upon the demise of the Martians autopsies are performed and it is discovered that the Martian lack a digestive system, hence the need to drink human blood. During the invasion massive amounts of red vines are produced and plague the area. Nourishment to create the vines and color is also attributed to the use of human blood.
Of further note is that the Martian vehicles can be destroyed.
The Martians eventually succumb to diseases caused by the bacteria found on Earth. It is speculated that there are no disease-causing bacteria on Mars.
Finally, it is thought that if the Martians launch another invasion of Earth it will occur in a less developed country. But this time humanity will be ready.
DETAILS OF THE MARTIAN INVASION FOUND IN THE NOVEL
The novel begins with the primary character, while using a telescope at an observatory, notices flashes occurring on the surface of Mars. I use the term primary character because his name is never revealed. Also mentioned are the makings having been observed on the surface of the planet.
Eventually, what are thought to be meteorites begin landing in England and only in England which is where the invasion takes place. These are cylinders from Mars. Upon landing the cylinders form deep craters. Activity from the result of flashes and the formation of clouds of mysterious gases are observed issuing from the crater for quite some time. This is because the Martins are using more rudimentary lifeforms and advanced machinery in the construction of their vehicles due to the trouble the Martians have functioning in the greater gravity of Earth as compared to the gravity of Mars
Once the nature of the activity in the crater is realized, the man ponders what is driving the purpose of the Martians in their journey. At one point he also wonders if the Martians have a god and compares the invasion to a European country invading a ‘savage’ culture.
It is revealed that the Martians, through necessity, have increased their intelligence, increased their powers and hardened their hearts.
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
INTRODUCTION TO THE NOVEL BY H. G. WELLS
I have read the novel, The War of the Worlds, written by H. G. Wells in 1898 three times now.
The first time because of my interest in science fiction and my addiction to flying saucers. The second time was for a science fiction book club to which I belonged. The third time was after seeing the 1953 and 2005 movie based on the novel, I noticed stark differences between details of the Martians and their invasion between the novel and the movies.
What follows are discussions of the novel and then how the two movies handle what is found in the novel.
Before I begin, I want to mention that The War of the Worlds is usually referred to as a novel, but on occasion, referred to as a novella. Not knowing the word count, I do not know which classification is more correct. Also, the word count for a novel and novella at times overlap, and at times change.
HAWAIIAN DISASTERS IN PRINT
HAWAIIAN DISASTERS IN PRINT
There is a new novel recently published by Michael Crichton, posthumously entitled, Eruption, involving the threat of a volcanic eruption on The Big Island of the Hawaiian islands. The novel also involves the revelation of a secret of the military. Currently this novel is on the New York Times bestseller list for hardcover fiction.
I mention this for there is another novel, published in the recent past, which also involves the eruption of volcanos along the entire chain of the Hawaiian islands. What follows is a disaster of unbelievable proportions which will change the world forever.
For those interested, contact me and I will give further information about this novel.
WALT’S OPINIONS: INFLATION?
INFLATION?
I, like I’m sure most of you, go grocery shopping. And I still have the remnants of a memory and remember prices from one outing to the next and note the price increases.
What follows is pure conjecture on my part.
There are times when I see the price of a product increase, a large increase, at times in a week or two.
Why?
Is there a valid reason for the price increase or is there something else at play? Could it be that the manufacturer is taking advantage of the fact that inflation is constantly in the news. Could it be that there is no good reason for the increase? But, because of the constant discussion about inflation the manufacturer is relying on that fact and assuming the customer will not question the increase. The customer, because of all the inflation hype, will accept the increase as part of life. Could it be, in some cases, that the customer is being manipulated in the cause of profits?
You can try an experiment. For every product there are remarkable number of brands these days. When you buy something search the brands to see if the increase of the price of one of the brands stands out. Just an experiment.
When a company makes a tremendous increase in price, say a certain percentage in a certain length of time, they owe the public an explanation?
What do you think?
CHILDREN AND CELL PHONES
CHILDREN AND CELL PHONES
First a disclaimer. I don’t own a cell phone. My kids are grown so I don’t have one of society’s major problems: Children and the influence of cell phones.
Even with the above disclaimer I am well aware of the problem cell phones are causing with our youth. You would have to live in a cave or under a rock not to be.
We have restrictions on our children to ensure their safety. They can’t drink until they are twenty-one. They cannot, or are not supposed to, drive until they reach an age designated by the state where they dwell. We categorize movies for the protection of our children. Why can’t industry produce cell phones made for children, say for children under the age of fourteen which are limited to only communication? Could it be that less sophisticated phones would cut into profits?
Cell phones are denying children their childhood by gluing them to a screen rather than participating in constructive play. Reducing children the opportunity to make friends.
I don’t think most children under fourteen have the means to purchase cell phones on their own so parents would have complete control over the phones their children can use.
Currently cell phones, right or wrong, are ‘practically’ a necessity. But why can’t there exist cell phones, for children, whose sole purpose is for communication. For children, bring back the cell phone of the past. For the use of moms to contact their children to see what they were up to and that they were alright. With these cell phones exposure to the outside world would be limited.
As children matured the phones could provide increasing access to the outside world and information. And by the time our children reach adulthood they have developed healthy habits in the use of cell phones.
YOU KNOW YOU’RE GETTING OLD WHEN:
You remember when a judge made decisions based on the law and not the source of their appointment.
WRITER’S FORUM: PREDITORS AND EDITORS
WRITER’S FORUM
PREDITORS AND EDITORS
Years ago, Predators and Editors was a website where a writer could check if editors, publishers and lawyer were safe to use. They have been going through a transition for some time now.
There appears to be good information for writers here, but not the type of information that was available in past. So, a word of caution. Use carefully.
Preditors and Editors – Writing Corner
WARNING
As I’m sure you know in our current society very little is free. When you use a site indicating that it is free your email address or telephone number is probably being added to a list which will be sold. So, when using any website consider the value of the site to you and if it is worth the occasion annoying ad.
WALT’S OPINIONS: THE UNICORN DILEMMA
WALT’S OPINIONS: THE UNICORN DILEMMA
WALT’S OPINIONS
THE UNICORN DILEMMA
Noah must have been extremely talented in sexing animals. But no one is perfect.
And that is, perhaps, the reason why we have no unicorns today.
The commonly held theory as to why unicorns do not exist is that they were left behind with the beginning of the rain. It is possible they weren’t left behind but were, in fact, passengers on the ark.
It may be that they do not exist today for in selecting the couple to be saved, Noah made a mistake.
WALT’S OPINIONS: DIGITAL COUPONS
WALT’S OPINIONS
DIGITAL COUPONS
As far as the current increase in the price of groceries goes I am lucky that my days of supporting a family are over. However, the increase is quite noticeable to me for I still must eat,
The opinion I expressed here will probably cause disagreements because food prices are on a constant rise, due in part to corporate greed. But also, hopefully, will cause some consideration of these thoughts.
Digital coupons are a relatively new phenomenon which have appeared at the same time with the decline in traditional coupons.
Here are the reasons why I will not use digital coupons.
I feel that the people who would benefit most from the savings provided with digital coupons don’t have access or knowledge of them. At the same time the savings associated with traditional coupons are gone. Also use these coupons and I can almost guarantee that will result in receiving endless emails from the associated grocery store and associated manufacturers of the products accepting the digital coupons.
