Will's Book Nook: Roald Dahl Controversy

 

 

You might be familiar with Roald Dahl, author of James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Witches. And you may also have heard his name in the news lately. The publishing house, Penguin, is re-releasing his books and they have chosen to censor some of the words and character depictions that would be considered offensive today, such as fat phobic language referring to the character of Augustus Gloop. There's been a lot of outrage over these changes, and in my opinion Penguin is trying to sanitize Dahl's work, instead of having difficult conversations about what he meant and his personal prejudices. In response to the criticism Penguin has just announced that they will release "classic" versions of the novels in addition to the censored versions. Instead of changing the words, why not add a footnote instead, acknowledging problematic nature of the language. I give Penguin and the new censored versions negative Scribbles for this silly and misguided idea.    

Will's Book Nook: Looney Toons Golden Collection

 

I know this is not book related, but I was excited to hear about the release of a remastered collection of Looney Toons cartoons. I watched them growing up, so it's nostalgic for me. Mel Blanc is also one of my favorite voice actors and a fun fact is that he did the voices for all the Looney Toons characters. I recommend the documentary Man of a Thousand Voices if you're interested in learning more about him. My top three favorite Looney Toons characters are Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Yosemite Sam, but it's impossible to choose a number one favorite. Side note: there are some jokes and story lines that would be considered offensive today. For nostalgia's sake and for all the extra features, I give this collection 5 out of 5 scribbles.

Lenten Celebrations Around the World

 

If you're in New Orleans it's Mardi Gras, if you're in Rio de Jinero it's called Carnival, if you're in the UK it's called Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day, if you're in Germany it's Karnival, Fasching or Fastnacht depending on the region. There are many more names and celebrations around the world. These celebrations typically occur during February or early March in the Christian season of Lent. According to Wikipedia, "Carnival typically involves public celebrations, including events such as parades, public street parties and other entertainments, combining some elements of a circus. Elaborate costumes and masks allow people to set aside their everyday individuality and experience a heightened sense of social unity. Participants often indulge in excessive consumption of alcohol, meat, and other foods that will be forgone during upcoming Lent." Different foods and costumes are associated with different regions. For example, the Kings Cake in New Orleans has a figurine to represent the Baby Jesus hidden inside. In Rio, revelers can be seen wearing masks decorated with feathers, gems and beads, and Germany the focus is on silly costumes. 

If we were to celebrate Carnival here in New Mexico, we wondered what it might look like. Similar to our Dia de los Muertos parades, a Carnival parade would probably feature low riders. Celebratory food would have to incorporate green chile, and maybe biscochitos would make an appearance as well. As for how people would dress up, the jury is still out. 

 

Ways to Celebrate Valentine's Day

 

There are many ways to celebrate Valentine's Day, whether with a partner, a parent, a friend, group of friends, or a secret admirer. Here are just a few fun ideas to do with any of the above!

ROMANTIC DINNER

A romantic dinner can range from a lot of things; getting Italian food (and maybe having a Lady and The Tramp moment), going out to get pizza, or staying home for a home cooked meal. While going out can be fun, it's always nice to know you helped make the food yourself. 

GOING TO THE MOVIES

It will depend what kind of movie you go to see. Obviously, a more romantic film will be great to see with a partner or a secret admirer, while a comedy or even a sad movie would be great to see with friends or family. Check to see what movies are playing.

TAKING A WALK

Going for a walk or hike is great both for exercise and for taking pictures. You can get beautiful photos of nature and of you and your loved ones. Try looking for more accessible trails if you want to go on a hike so all of your friends can come along.

GOING TO A PARK

This is a great chance to play with your dog (if you have one) with your friends, family, partner, or secret admirer. It would also be nice to bring a blanket and a book to relax with your loved ones. You could also see if the park is going to have an outdoor concert.

PICNIC

With a blanket, candles, and flowers, picnics are a great way to combine a romantic meal with going to a park. Be sure to pack your favorite foods. And also be sure to keep an eye out for any bears trying to steal your picnic basket!

Last Minute Valentine's Gift Ideas

 Uh oh! It's Valentine's Day and you don't have a gift ready! Maybe you got the date on your calendar wrong,  maybe you were distracted doing something else, maybe you have ADD and you weren't able to focus, or maybe you just plain forgot. Don't worry! We have several solutions so you can find true love at the last minute.

HOMEMADE HEARTS: "I plan on making my best friend who is blind a heart by taking a piece of paper and using a hole punch to make braille. I'm trying to be more artistically inclined. This way she can feel the heart." 

This is a great example of a quick valentine gift that also pays attention to the Valentine. Remember when you make your gift to make it special for the person you're giving it to, whether that is a loved one, friend, or family. This even includes your pets!

CARD: "I plan on making a card for my mom and my brother and my secret admirer. I'm using paper I already have, plus glue, stickers, and colors and drawings to show true love!"

It's important to remember when you are making a last minute gift to use what you already have. It's best to use the resources that you have so your Valentine knows that it's from you. Last minute isn't the time to rush or panic. Just make your loved ones happy!

POEM: "Roses are red, violets are blue, candy is sweet, and so are you!"

For a poem you could write something original or you could read something that's already been written, like a performance. Reading or writing a poem could be very romantic, even if they don't know who it's from. You could send it as a secret admirer!

BOX OF CHOCOLATES:  "Other than ice cream, chocolates are my favorite dessert."

A box of chocolates is very yummy and a quick solution if you do not have a gift since every store will be selling them. If you buy your Valentine chocolate make sure you account for their dietary needs, like buying no sugar chocolate for someone with diabetes. 

HOMEMADE FLOWERS: "Homemade flowers don't flop over and die, so that way you can keep them longer."

It's important to think about how long your Valentine can enjoy their gift. Flowers are very pretty but don't live very long. Flowers made out of pipe cleaners, tissue paper, balloons, and other things will last much longer and be much more memorable. DIYs are always very important and let your Valentine that the gift came from you and that you put a lot of work into it.

Will's Book Nook: The Adventures of Dick Tracy

 The Adventures of Dick Tracy is a 1930's radio show based on a popular comic. The author of the comic was named Chester Gould. Dick Tracy was a smart aleck type detective who faced off against very silly villains. It was a radio show that didn't take itself very seriously. Looney Toons famously made fun of Dick Tracy on multiple occasions. 

In one episode I listened to, the villain was named The Noodle. He was able to fit into small spaces like a spaghetti noodle because of how skinny he was. "This looks like the work of The Noodle!" He was stealing people's money out of piggy banks. Mel Blanc played the voice of The Noodle. He's one of my favorite actors, as I grew up with him. He actually also starred in The Looney Toons. He came up with most of the voices for the Dick Tracy radio show. 

I really enjoyed how silly the villains Dick Tracy were chasing were and how unserious the show was. It was also one of the first shows to break the fourth wall and talk directly to the audience. I thought that was very cool. Overall I like silly things so this was a fun time. 

I give The Adventures of Dick Tracy 5 out of 5 scribbles.

DIY Valentine Gift Ideas

 

Valentine's Day is just a week away, so if you don't have a gift yet, it's time to start planning. But what if you want to save some money, and/or give a gift from the heart? Consider making a gift for your loved one(s).

1. A bouquet of flowers, especially red roses, is a traditional Valentine's Day gift. But what if you made the flowers out of tissue paper and pipe cleaners? Not only are they just as pretty, but they last longer. You can also use recycled materials, like post it notes or newspaper. You can even get creative with a vase, such as a decoupaged bottle or jar. You could also decorate it with washi tape, stickers or 3-D embellishments.

2. A handmade card is also a classic option. You can get crafty with the decorations, and include a heartfelt message on the inside or even a poem! Hearts are a popular choice, especially if you made them 3-D. Flowers, cupids, or just something you love like animals.    

3. Baked goods and other edible options are usually a hit. Just make sure you take your loved one's diet into account. Cookies, brownies and candies are usually winners. But what a heart shaped pizza or a bouquet of jerky? You could even diy your own Edible Arrangement with their favorite fruits.

4. What better way to express your feelings than writing them a love song and recording it? If you have a shared "song," you could record yourself singing it. If you are not musically inclined, you could create the perfect playlist for them, just like they used to do with mixed tapes.

Will's Book Nook: Suspense (1940-1962)

 

Lurene Tuttle (left) and Rosalind Russell
in "The Sisters" on Suspense (1948)

 

 

 

Suspense was a long running radio show on CBS that had various different directors and hosts, including Alfred Hitchcock. It had the subtitle, "radio's outstanding theater of thrills" and followed a suspense-driven formula. According to Wikipedia, "the protagonist was usually a normal person suddenly dropped into a threatening or bizarre situation; solutions were "withheld until the last possible second"; and evildoers were usually punished in the end." I like the strong acting performances from leading Hollywood stars, such as Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre. One episode featured a man trying to cheat death, but it keeps showing up as if death were an actual person. He eventually catches up with him as a hitchhiker. The sound effects were creepy and effective and the twists and turns were suspenseful. So far I'd give it a 4 out of 5 scribbles. Sometimes the audio quality is a little lacking, given the age of the show.