Monthly Archives: October 2021

The World Is a Very Scarry Place

Posted on October 28, 2021 by Nathan

I’ll occasionally see references to Richard Scarry on Twitter or some other site, and I can definitely remember growing up with his books. I’m sure a lot of people can; they’re just the sort of thing people give to kids. … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Art, Authors, Cartoons, Douglas Adams, Families, Food, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Summer Turns to Winter Overnight

Posted on October 26, 2021 by Nathan

Robyn Hitchcock, I Often Dream of Trains in New York – I bought this when I saw Robyn live in Montclair. Recorded at Symphony Space in 2008, the show includes most of the songs from I Often Dream of Trains, … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums, Art, Book Reviews, Catholicism, Christianity, Concerts, Humor, Music, Poetry, Religion, Robyn Hitchcock, They Might Be Giants, Video | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Magic

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Nathan

The word “magic,” with or without the K at the end that Aleister Crowley preferred, derives from “magus,” a term for a Zoroastrian priest. I’ve seen indications that it might have referred to a specific tribe or caste. When the … Continue reading →

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You Can’t Kill the Boogeyman

Posted on October 19, 2021 by Nathan

Halloween Kills – SPOILERS for this and some other movies in the franchise! It’s not entirely fair to blame a day of the year for the people who die then, is it? Seriously, it’s a strange title, but that doesn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Halloween, Holidays, Monsters, VoVat Goes to the Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

All in How You Spell ‘Em

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Nathan

I saw something recently about the difference between the words “fairy” and “faerie.” Really, there’s no difference; the latter is just an archaic spelling. The word comes from the French for “fate,” and therefore “enchantment”; and was applied to many different … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, British, Celtic, Discworld, Etymology, Greek Mythology, J.R.R. Tolkien, L. Frank Baum, Language, Magic, Mythology, Norse, Oz, Oz Authors, Ruth Plumly Thompson, Terry Pratchett | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Born Under a Bad Sign with a Blue Moon in Your Eyes

Posted on October 11, 2021 by Nathan

The Sopranos – WARNING! SPOILERS! I’ve seen headlines recently that a lot of young people have started watching this show. Beth and I just finished watching it recently, but I don’t think we count as young people anymore. I didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Families, Food, Language, Music, Prejudice, Relationships, Television, VoVat Goes to the Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Oh Boy! A Carnival!

Posted on October 10, 2021 by Nathan

Bacchanal, by Veronica G. Henry – Eliza Meeks, a Black woman with a strange ability to communicate with animals due to her spirit guides, joins a traveling carnival during the Great Depression. It turns out to have a dark secret, … Continue reading →

Posted in African, Authors, Book Reviews, Dreams, Great Depression, History, Korean, Magic, Monsters, Mythology, Relationships, Rick Riordan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Right Off the Bat

Posted on October 7, 2021 by Nathan

When I played the first Dragon Quest, then called Dragon Warrior, I had a strategy guide from Nintendo Power that described Drakees as flying baby dragons.  This was interesting to me, as it gave a bit of a hint into … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Dragon Quest, Dreams, Etymology, L. Frank Baum, Mario, Mega Man, Monsters, Onyx Madden/Jim Nitch, Oz, Oz Authors, Pokémon, Video Games, Zelda | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Pandering to Pandavas

Posted on October 5, 2021 by Nathan

I’d been interested in the story of the Mahabharata, even more so since reading the Aru Shah books, in which the Pandavas are reincarnated as teenage girls. So I checked out an abridged edition translated by William Buck. While much … Continue reading →

Posted in Board Games, Book Reviews, Dice, Dragon Quest, Families, Games, Hinduism, History, India, Magic, Mythology, Pachisi, Philosophy, Poetry, Prejudice, Relationships, Religion, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Right City, Wrong World

Posted on October 1, 2021 by Nathan

One interesting aspect to Philip Jose Farmer’s A Barnstormer in Oz is his indication that the human inhabitants of Oz are descended from people who arrived there from our world, mostly Goths but also Celts and Native Americans. This sort … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, C.S. Lewis, Cartoons, Characters, Chronicles of Narnia, Donkey Kong, L. Frank Baum, Language, Mario, Oz, Oz Authors, Places, Prejudice, Ruth Plumly Thompson, Super Mario Bros. Super Show, Television, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment