Tralfaz

Category: Reviews

  • Vietnam by Ken Burns

    Vietnam by Ken Burns

    Currently in the queue on Netflix is the “Vietnam” by Ken Burns. I just finished it, and, like all the Ken Burns targets, it is outstanding.

    It starts well before the common story (with advisors ramping up through the early Kennedy administration,) back when the real drama started with the French trying to maintain its hold on its Indochina colonies after WWII. The French were abysmal stewards of their colonial properties, ruthless, and exploitative to the extreme of the indigenous population. However, their strength sapped, they turned to us, and our paranoia of the spectre of communism leaking out of the USSR and China realm, took the bait. (more…)

  • Vera – itv series

    Vera – itv series

    I have been on a British police procedural show binge lately, with shows like Hinterland, Shetland, DCI Banks, and Wallander, all extremely well produced, and very entertaining.

    A couple of weeks ago, Hulu recommended a new show, “Vera” based on characters by Ann Cleeves, and some fantastic acting by the cast. Based on cases, murders, and well developed stories. 4 episodes per season, and 3 seasons on Hulu (out of 8, BOO!) (more…)

  • Review: Bissell SpotClean ProHeat Pet

    Review: Bissell SpotClean ProHeat Pet

    Two weeks ago, we adopted a sweet little girl who proceeded to have some accidents on our carpet. She was (and remains) timid, and the stress of the new home, changed food, and her anxiety led to first diarrhea and then piddles on our carpet.

    While the carpet was sell used when we moved in (at least 8 years of heavy, rental use), we we kept it, and have had it professionally cleaned a couple of times. Fortunately, we weren’t expecting perfection, and the traffic areas are pretty grungy (closing in on 2 years since the last deep clean). (more…)

  • The Simpsons – the early years

    The Simpsons – the early years

    The addition of a Plex server, and the digitization of my DVD and Bluray discs, has given me ample opportunity to revisit some of my old favorites that haven’t been brought off the shelf in a long time. Among this collection is the first four seasons of The Simpsons. 1989 – 1993 episodes, and many essential classics. (more…)

  • Indiana Jones – a Pleasant Memory

    Indiana Jones – a Pleasant Memory

    While I have ragged on the original Star Wars Trilogy, noting that my recollection from my misspent youth was faulty in its fond memories, I recently also bought the complete seried of Indiana Jones movies on bluray. My fond memories of the magic of Indy, the stories of his adventures the fun effects. It was magical when I first saw it back in 1982 when Raiders of the Lost Ark was released. (more…)

  • Instant Pot – a month in

    Instant Pot – a month in

    Approaching the end of my fourth week with the Instant Pot, and it is time to revisit with some observations.

    First, my initial observation that it is stupid easy to use is still accurate. It really is almost impossible to screw up. Yes, I know that if you don’t have enough liquids it will fail to come to pressure, and that you can burn things in it, but I haven’t experienced that yet. (more…)

  • Aryeon: Universe Live

    Aryeon: Universe Live

    I have mentioned a few times that I am a sucker for ambitious music projects. A few months ago, Amazon Music turned me onto Arjen Lucassen, and then I found his projects, Ayreon. I bought the latest, The Source on vinyl, and holy hell, it was amazing. I bought a few more of the Aryeon project albums (on CD, as the vinyl versions had sold out, and the offered sale versions were for more than $200). (more…)

  • The Empire Strikes Back

    The Empire Strikes Back

    As I had bought the trilogy, and gone through the effort to rip them for my Plex server, I feel like I should watch them all. For some reason, I didn’t watch Star Wars: Episide V – The Empire Strikes Back in the first run. In fact, I think it was 2012 or so, when I finally watched the middle episode, having seen both the first and the third in the theater. (more…)

  • Faulty Memory – Star Wars

    Faulty Memory – Star Wars

    A fond memory of my youth was watching Star Wars in the theater. 1977, and I thought that was the best-est movie EVAR!!!!1!!! Action, great special effects, space scenes, aliens, and the voice of James Earl Jones as Darth Vader. What was not to love about it.

    I watched it a few times afterwards, but unlike some people I know, I moved on, and into other pursuits. I probably hadn’t seen the film since the early 1980’s. (more…)