Posts filed under ‘WALT’S OPINIONS’
BALDWIN’S BOOK BARN
On the outskirts of West Chester, PA is an unsurpassed emporium of used books, Baldwin’s Book Barn.
The store, located in an actual barn, is a rambling five-floor store of used books, almost exclusively hard cover editions. A booklover could easily get lost for hours of enjoyment. Name a subject and you will find shelves of books covering that topic.
The reason I mention this bookstore is that I have two short stories which take place in this store. One of which has been recently published for the second time.
Back to my love of this store.
I am intrigued by old books, and this is the place to find a trove of them. I own a few old volumes. My oldest is a book of English history published in 1794. I enjoy holding such a book, letting my mind drift to the era it represents. Considering what life was like and who was alive when that book was published.
On a recent visit I purchased a book entitled Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars, 1861-1865 published in 1890. I find value in owning a book published shortly after the event or era no matter what the subject.
An example of this interest is an eight-volume set, not purchased at Baldwin’s, titled The Story of the Great War. The first volume is copyrighted 1916. So, this set of books was not only written shortly after the event but during the event.
This is a true example of current events.
Here is a link to the store.
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.
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.
WAR OF THE WORLDS: AN INTRODUCTION
WAR OF THE WORLDS
A REVIEW OF THE NOVEL AND RELATED MOVIES
This is an introduction to my next series of posts.
During my teenage years I was fascinated by Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). I accumulated a small paperback library on the subject. Was a subscriber to Saucer News (that topic will be covered in a future post).
With my interest in UFOs, I was drawn to the novel by H.G. Wells, War of the Worlds, published in 1898. And have been entertained, many times by the 1953 movie starring Gene Barry and the 2005 movie starring Tom Cruise.
In subsequent posts I will explore invasion ‘fact’ of the Martian invasion outlined in the book and how closely the two movies follow those ‘facts’.
I hope you find these posts interesting.
At the conclusion of my War of the Worlds discussions I will explore the current quest to discover alien life. And how it may exist closer than expected.
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.
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.
A NEW SERIES: WALT’S OPINIONS
WALT’S OPINIONS
This post will initiate a new series of posts, Walt’s Opinions.
To put matters in perspective I will quote a saying of a fellow officer I knew in the air force. Here is the PG version: Opinions are like anuses. Everyone has one.
Here you will find my opinions. I doubt that many of you will agree with most of what I have to say, but some knowledge may be offered and, hopefully, resulting in some consideration of your opinion on the subject being considered.
