Monthly Archives: November 2010

We Seven Kings of Ore-Diggers Are

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Nathan

The Seven Underground Kings, by Alexander Volkov, translated by Peter Blystone – This is the third book in the Russian Magic Land series, the earlier ones being The Wizard of the Emerald City and Urfin Jus and His Wooden Soldiers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Oz | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Constantine’s Seal of Approval

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Nathan

One significant development in the spread of Christianity was the adoption of the religion by a Roman Emperor. The Emperor in question was Constantine, son of a general named Constantius who worked his way up to an imperial throne under … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Historical Personages, History, Religion, Roman Empire | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

We Don’t Need Another Hera

Posted on November 27, 2010 by Nathan

Since I haven’t written a post about her yet, and she appears to be a significant character in Rick Riordan’s The Lost Hero, which I’m currently reading, I think it might be time for an entry on Hera. The myths … Continue reading →

Posted in Greek Mythology, Mythology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Celsus and Paracelsus

Posted on November 25, 2010 by Nathan

I’ve already discussed Paracelsus in connection with his belief in elementals, but there was more to him than that. I suppose he was what would be considered a Renaissance man, with interests ranging from medicine to astrology and alchemy. While … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Personages, History, Medicine, Renaissance, Roman Empire, Science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

We’d Always Have Walking Bird on Thanksgiving, with All the Trimmings

Posted on November 25, 2010 by Nathan

Ah, Thanksgiving. Perhaps the lamest of the holidays that we commonly celebrate here in the United States. As I mentioned last year, it’s basically a harvest festival, but the specifically American story of the First Thanksgiving involves dissenters from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Colonization of America, Historical Personages, History, Holidays, Thanksgiving | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Born to Hunt Dinosaurs

Posted on November 24, 2010 by Nathan

Since Super Mario World took place in a country called Dinosaur Land, there obviously had to be some dinosaurs there. Oddly, though, there really aren’t that many different species to be found. Aside from the Yoshis, the two main types … Continue reading →

Posted in Mario, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

If you lose your fear of God, you are an animal at heart

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Nathan

Here are some thoughts on albums I received as birthday presents: The Dukes of Stratosphear, 25 O’Clock (reissue) – Since this was a set of songs released in the eighties made to sound like they were from the sixties, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Back to Boboland

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Nathan

When I wrote about the protagonists of Rinkitink in Oz, I mentioned that one of them turned out to be Prince Bobo of Boboland under the enchantment of an evil sorcerer. So what is Boboland? Well, really all L. Frank … Continue reading →

Posted in Oz, Places | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Stars and Garters

Posted on November 22, 2010 by Nathan

I’m not really that sure how well Stardust did with the general public. The IMDb page gives it a high user rating, but I’m guessing people who are lukewarm toward it didn’t bother voting. Also, it looks like it didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in VoVat Goes to the Movies | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Strangers in a Strange Land

Posted on November 22, 2010 by Nathan

The Bible Myth: The African Origins of the Jewish People, by Gary Greenberg – This was the same author who wrote 101 Myths of the Bible, which I reviewed here. Like that book, this one is based around the idea … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Egyptian, History, Judaism, Mythology, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments