Last Sunday Morning in April

The past few weeks, I've taken advantage of the early sunrise and moderate weather to say a rosary during a morning walk. Today I got an early start (~6 a.m.) just as the sun was coming up. The light on the trees was spectacular-the pictures below probably don't do it justice.

Since I am moving tomorrow, I wanted to share some pictures of the neighborhood where I have walked the past several years. I will miss this area very much. It reminded me of my childhood in the West Park area of Clevo as well as Lakewood during my early adulthood.

This is at the intersection of South Quaker and Boulevard, looking north (so the sunrise is from the right-out of view).

This is on Boulevard looking west toward Trout Brook.

This is at the intersection of Boulevard and Trout Brook, looking West, slightly south. I have better pictures of the tree in blossom but I love the sky in this one: the wispy clouds beginning to take over the blue sky.

Looking south down South Main from the intersection with Boulevard.

The "Asia" is in line behind the preschool sign for Bethany Lutheran.

The clouds are really the subject of this picture.

Boulevard looking west from the intersection with South Main Street.

You get a sense of the residential aspect of the area from this view.

View from Boulevard at the intersection with South Main Street

looking at the NW corner.

It really wasn't this dark but I am just starting to use the camera on this new phone and so I am unfamiliar with how to adjust for shooting into the sunlight. Still, the clouds in the sky are/were spectacular. If you look carefully (maybe) you might be able to make out why this section is called Boulevard.

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Written Sunday 28 April 2018.

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

Cover of my softbound copy of Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.

I started reading the book Ben-Hur on Christmas Day (December 25, 2018) and finished on Easter Sunday (April 21, 2019).

Prior to reading this book, my only awareness of Ben-Hur was the reputation of the classic 1959 movie of the same name. A year or so ago, I was pondering possible movies for our men's movie group (from church at that time) might be interested in getting together to watch.  Being a classic biblical movie, Ben-Hur seemed a logical possibility. At that time, I also contemplated reading the book. Alas, neither came about.

With the movie and book in mind, I purchased a copy of The Illustrated Ben-Hur (see below) at a used book sale. However, despite the impressive drawings, the font was not very welcoming for reading. And so the book sat. And then, sometime in November, I came across the softbound version shown above. I got it from our local grocery store used book exchange shelf for $1.  Although there were no illustrations, the layout seemed appealing for reading.

Here are the particulars:

• First Harper Perennial Legacy Edition published 2015.
• Originally published in 1880
• Printed in the USA.
• No illustrations.
• The (14 page) Introduction by John Swansburg was "repurposed" from an article originally published on line on Slate.
• 437 pages (not including the Title page, copyright, Contents, etc and Introduction).

At first, I started to jot down definitions and phrases that I was not familiar with. Then, being so inspired, I started reading the Illustrated Ben-Hur too. Both have the same text. I would read a chapter (out loud) from the softbound copy, and then read (aloud) the same chapter from the Illustrated edition.

Dust jacket for my copy of The Illustrated Ben-Hur.

This took quite awhile: Perhaps one chapter per week. In order to save some time, I cut back on jotting notes.

The details for the Illustrated Edition:

• Published  by Bonanza Books (New York) in 1978.
• Reprint of the 1901 issued of the edition first published in 1899 (originally in two volumes).
• Illustrated with drawings (over 850) by William Martin Johnson.
• 854 pages (total for both "volumes").

Sample of illustrated edition:
first page of the story.

Sometime early in 2019, I learned of a planned showing of the 1959 movie on the big screen on Palm Sunday (4/14/2019) to celebrate its 60th anniversary. Initially, I hoped to finish the book in time to see the movie but I quickly realized it was not going to happen. Also, I decided to skip the movie when I realized it is almost 4 hours long.

I would love to write more about this book. The author, Lew Wallace, led a fascinating life (which is briefly told in the Introduction of the softbound edition-see link to the Slate version). He wrote the book somewhat as defense of Christianity as well as an exercise to increase his knowledge of his own faith. Surprisingly (Spoiler Alert!), while the book deals with the miracles and execution of Jesus, it is completely silent about the Resurrection. Overall, this story was mostly an historical adventure with a dab of Christian infatuation at the end (which was slightly disappointing but wasn't too over the top to ruin it for me).

In conclusion, I'm glad I read it. And I'm glad that I researched some of the unfamiliar places, history, and Greek and Roman gods. The text was a little challenging due to its flowery and lofty style but reading out loud helped. It was worth the effort. On to the movie next (via DVD).

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Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben-Hur%3A_A_Tale_of_the_Christ
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben-Hur_(1959_film)
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/history/2013/03/ben_hur_and_lew_wallace_how_the_scapegoat_of_shiloh_became_one_of_the_best.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lew_Wallace
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Written Saturday 27 April 2019.

More Fr. Hattie letters

I found two letters letters from Fr. Hattie from 2016 that I never posted. So I added those today:

• Now Back Home (in Africa) - letter dated June 11, 2016

• Thank You-New Instructions letter dated July 2, 2016

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Links:

http://ricketwrite.blogspot.com/2016/07/now-back-home-in-africa.html

http://ricketwrite.blogspot.com/2016/08/thank-you-new-instructions.html

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Written Easter Sunday 21 April 2019

G-Force

During the last few days, I watched the DVD (borrowed from the public library) for the 2009 movie G-Force ("G" as in Guinea Pigs). My son, Richard, and I saw it in the theater in 3D when it was originally released. At that time, under those condition, we were swept along by the special effects and enjoyed the fun. However, when we later watched it at home via DVD in regular 2D, we were quickly bored and disappointed and the movie was soon forgotten.

And then a week or so ago, Richard was telling me about a movie he had just seen in 3D (which I refuse to mention because it is mind warping garbage in my opinion). I think it was when he mentioned that the (contemporary) movie was not much besides the 3D effects, I suddenly recalled our experience with G-Force.

Curious to further test my memory, I found the (2D) DVD at a local library.  Here is what the blurb on the back of the DVD jacket says:

Buckle up for thrilling edge-of-your seat action and laugh-out-loud fun in Disney's family comedy adventure, G-Force. Just as the G-Force - an elite team of highly trained guinea pigs - is about to save the world, the F.B.I. shuts the secret unit down. But these next-generation action heroes- Darwin, loyal team leader; Blaster, weapons expert with attitude to spare; Juarez, drop-dead gorgeous martial arts diva; and tag-along Hurley - won't be stopped. Armed with the latest in high-tech spy equipment, and with the F.B.I. on their tails, the fur flies as they race against the clock to save the world.

From the producer of the "Pilates Of The Caribbean" trilogy and "National Treasure," and filled with high-octane action, daredevil stunts, cutting-edge special effects and outrageous comedy, G-Force is fantastic fun for the while family.

The way I now watch DVDs is not really a fair evaluation because I rarely watch an entire movie in a single sitting (and if I do it passes the test for being an engaging movie - or I fell asleep and have no desire to continue an exercise in futility). 

After watching the DVD, there is a lot I could say or write.The main points are:

• I wish I could experience this movie in 3D again. It was made to be seen in 3D and 2D does not do it justice.
• In 2D, G-Force is long cartoon-like adventure that 10-year old (or so) boys will probably enjoy.
• The movie portrays admirable values such as teamwork, fortitude, persistence, loyalty, family, forgiveness, and redemption.  [Spoiler alert!] No one dies and there is a happy ending.
• The movie is 10-years old and was produced by a bunch of white males. So it is not exactly in touch with the contemporary political correctness of identity politics.

I enjoyed revisiting this movie and reminiscing about a more innocent time.

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Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-Force_(film)
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Written 4/13 & 4/21/2019.