Ok, so I saw this article about a spider goat, and it kind of freaks me out. I mean, we not only live in a world that can dream up and execute a plan to cross spider DNA and goat DNA, but, when presented with that technology, thinks that the best thing to do with it is to make bulletproof vests.

Granted, I’m not sure what else one might do with spidersilk produced by goats, but there’s lots of intelligent people out there. Surely someone could think of some other use. How ’bout mountain climbing rope? Or any rope? If it’s good as body armor, how bout blending it with resin and making automobile bodies? Or human body parts?

Just in case anyone thinks this is just some Halloween horror made up for the kiddies. Go on, visit the site. Not only is this stuff real, but it’s not even all that new.

And in case you can’t tell, this whole spider silk being produced by lactating goats thing, well, it just kinda creeps me out.

According to Puritan-Royalist (don’t ask) Bishop James Ussher (1581-1656), God created the world on this date 6010 years ago. This Day in Christian History explains that Ussher’s calculations, while relying on rather suspect methods, were not only the earliest known attempt at definitively dating the events in Scripture but also had influence “well into the twentieth century” by virtue of being included in the marginalia of the Authorized Version of the Bible.

TDICH also notes that while monk Denys le Petit was well-intentioned in his desire to focus the Christian era on the birth of Christ, that modern scholars now believe that Jesus Christ was actually born in 6 B.C.

Whatever the case, today seems just about as good a day as any to celebrate the creation of this little place we call earth.

Aside: Drat, TDICH doesn’t mention if they mean that Ussher dated the creation of earth itself to today, which would mean that the universe was created a few days ago, or that the universe was created today, in which case earth, animals, and humanity are a few days away.

Boys and girls of every age
Wouldn’t you like to see something strange?

One can only imagine what the wonks at Disney thought when Tim Burton showed up with the idea for A Nightmare Before Christmas. Whatever their initial thoughts, I, for one, am glad that they realized not only how much money they could make with it but also what a wondrous creation it is. I was taken somewhat by surprise last night when Wade said he had never seen the film; the film had been playing at a party he attended some time ago, but he didn’t really pay attention. After we saw A Nightmare Before Christmas 3D, he said, “So, it’s Edward Gorey and Dr. Seuss.” I’d toss in a healthy dose of Rankin/Bass and 60’s B-grade horror flicks as well, but Gorey and Seuss I think are the main ingredients.

What will become of my dear friend?
Where will his actions lead us then?

When I heard that Nightmare was being done up in 3D, I had my apprehensions, but I was generally excited. I’d never seen the film on the big screen with full-on surround sound. I figured that if nothing else, the songs would be a treat. I was not disappointed.

The folks that worked their movie magic to transform a 2D film into 3D did a wonderful job of hiding their work. Only once or twice did I sense that something had been changed to give us one of those oh-so-obvious “3D shots,” and even those were so solidly in context that I’d have to go back to the original to see if anything had actually been changed. It was the first time I’ve seen 3D effects look natural in a film. Perhaps part of that is that they were working with source material, so the story was strong and the scenes set without any thought to the 3D effects. The 3D effects worked best when the adapters used them to “push” the back of the screen further into the distance creating a sense of depth. You felt like you were looking out of a window and seeing a great ways. Anytime objects were brought towards you out of the screen, the effect was much less effective. Wade posited that the illusion was broken anytime some part of the extending object reached the edge of the screen, which I think is correct. There’s a reason so many other 3D movies feature arrows and spears getting thrust at you; they can come out of the screeen a long way without running into a border. In the end, however, the transformation into 3D added a wonderful depth to the imagery without screaming out “IT’S IN 3D!” Further, the word done on the film allowed it to be given a real good once-over in the color department, and the film looks vibrant and lovely in a kind of halloweeny, ashen way.

What’s this? What’s this?
There’s something very wrong
What’s this?
There are people singing songs

In addition to the story and the animation, one of the joys of Nightmare is the wonderful songs. Wade was not wrong to invoke Gorey and Seuss. The lyrics have a wonderfully macbre sing-songy-ness to them that mimicks the Christmas specials we all love while at the same time capturing the misfit theme that undergirds all of Burton’s work. Elfman provides a joyfully creepy tone to the tunes while making them quite hummable. There’s four or five tunes that I’m still humming, hours later.

Something’s here I’m not quite getting
Though I try, I keep forgetting
Like a memory long since past
Here in an instant, gone in a flash
What does it mean?

At a short 1 hour 16 minutes, the film does not waste a single moment. And yet, even in this short(er) film, we’re shown the wide range of emotions of the creator. After getting shot down out of the sky for a Santa Claus impersonator, Jack laments

What have I done?
What have I done?
How could I be so blind?
All is lost, where was I?
Spoiled all, spoiled all
Everything’s gone all wrong

Seconds later, though, he’s turning just a bit defiant

But I never intended all this madness, never
And nobody really understood, how could they?
That all I ever wanted was to bring them something great
Why does nothing ever turn out like it should?

Well, what the heck, I went and did my best
And, by god, I really tasted something swell
And for a moment, why, I even touched the sky
And at least I left some stories they can tell, I did

After returning to himself, and setting things aright, however, his arrogance and bluster seem to fade. The narrator asks

And would, if you could, turn that mighty clock back,
To that long, fateful night. Now, think carefully, Jack.
Would you do the whole thing all over again,
Knowing what you know now, knowing what you knew then?”

And, Jack, the Pumpkin King, older and wiser

And he smiled, like the old pumpkin king that I knew,
Then turned and asked softly of me, “Wouldn’t you?”

I was thoroughly entranced by this restoration and re-presentation of a modern classic. Is it a Christmas film or a Halloween film? Hard to say, for, like so many Burton films it’s not really about either, it’s about a creative spirit trapped by his limitations and misunderstood by all. It’s hard not to see the Pumpkin King, Willy Wonka, Edward Scissorshands, Ichabod Crane, Ed Wood, even Batman and Pee Wee Herman all wrapped up together in the same story. When Burton’s off his game, it can seem plodding and pedantic (Wonka), but in a masterwork like Nightmare we sing with Sally

I sense there’s something in the wind
That feels like tragedy’s at hand

Tragedy in that wonderful Aristotelian sense that brings catharsis and cleansing, ruth not sadness. So that in the end, we can join with Jack

That’s right! I am the Pumpkin King, ha, ha, ha
And I just can’t wait until next Halloween
‘Cause I’ve got some new ideas that will really make them scream
And, by God, I’m really gonna give it all my might

Beginning first with setting all things right.

273
Spent a lovely weekend in Beech Fork State Park just south of Huntington, WV. There was disc golf, brownies, pork steaks, an almost ever-present crackling fire, and a reunion with dear friends. Toss in a nice drive, a good movie or two, and we had a splendid Fall Break.

Note: there’s more pics; just need to figure out this whole Gallery2/Word Press thing.

truffin.com is going to be idle for a few days. Fall break beckons.

Question of the day: Why isn’t Fall Break the commercial bonanza that Spring Break is?

Talk amongst yourselves.

This afternoon I looked out my window to see large snow flakes blustering about the yard. For a bit it looked like it was going to get nasty, but a short while later the snow ceased although the winds continued their buffeting. There’s something wonderful about seeing the white flecks flying in front of the brilliant orange leaves.

Perhaps the best thing about this first taste of winter is that what with the cold and the wind it was the first test, really, of our new windows. Last year, with the old windows, such a weather occurence would have resulted in rattling windows and some drafts, all of which would have been somewhat distracting as I worked. However, today, there was nary a shake, rattle, and/or roll, and the wind stayed precisely where it belonged. Hoobah!

Sometimes federal holidays can be quite a hoot. Yesterday, we got a huge packet of mail that I’m sure was augmented by not having any delivery on Columbus Day. Not only did we get a huge packet, but is was chock full of tasty goodness. Try this on for size:

• The update disc for The Complete New Yorker. Yup, now we have every issue of The New Yorker up until early this year.
• Wallace & Grommit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Our first attempt at buying used DVDs from Netflix. And a cracking good film, too!
• The Phantom Tollbooth Wade had this sent to me via a BookMooch connection.
• One pound of Garuda Blend Coffee from Peet’s. I did say tasty.
• A pastoral letter from Richard Foster of renovare.

Of course, today’s mail was full of bills.

This morning, I started writing my thoughts on 18 Pentecost with the words, “One of the stated purposes of the Lectionary Muse.” When I tried then to find the post in which those purposes were stated so that I could link to them, I realized that I have never actually stated the purpose of the Lectionary Muse in this forum. Figuring that there had been some technical mishap in the transfer from Blogger to WordPress, I investigated my Blogger account only to find a draft of some thoughts on why the lectionary is useful. And so it is, that my fitful attempts at the Lectionary Muse have never really been explained.

So, I thought I’d state the purposes of the Lectionary Muse so that I could link back to it tomorrow when I begin my thoughts on 18 Pentecost with “One of the stated purposes…”
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…the Food Network, basically a good-hearted organization still fundamentally clueless about itself (TV or non-TV) and its audience (cooks or kitchen idiots)

So I’m leafing through the latest New Yorker when I’m met with a lovely looking piece on what used to be my favorite cable channel. It may still be my favorite cable channel, but we no longer get cable (well, we get broadcast channels + TNT via cable, but that’s it, and only because they give us a great deal for having cable internet). So, I’m humming along as I read about Julia Child and the Beginning of All Food TV when all of a sudden I find my face scraping along the ground, mouth agape, scooping up pebbles. What happened!?

The Food Network is weeding out the Old Guard real-chef cooking shows like missing Molotovs–’Molto Mario,’ Sara Mouton

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Last night I put my first batch of homebrew in bottles. In two weeks, it should be ready to drink. In honor of October, it’s a German style Dortmunder Export.

The whole process went very smoothly. One thing that I’m hoping will improve as I practice is my loss rate. The recipe was for 5 gallons/640oz, which would translate into about 53 bottles. I ended up with 47. So, I lost about 72oz somewhere.

As with any new venture, there’s bound to be some problems, and I did have a doozy. As I got into the bottling, I noticed that some of the bottles were giving me a hard time when I capped them. It took me a bit, but I finally realized that 1/2 of my bottle stock were twist-off bottles. My guess isI know now that they were the Goose Island bottles I’d saved over the summer. Once I figured this out, I made sure to exhaust my supply of regular bottles before resorting to the twist offs.

I am a bit nervous about what’s going to happen as the carbonation builds. My research online has netted me many people simply saying “Don’t use twist off bottles!” without any indication as to why. Some folks suggest that it’s hard to get a proper seal, and so the tops either blow or else the CO2 leaks out and you get flat brew. Others suggest that the bottles themselves are weaker than regular bottles and are susceptible to blowing out.

Well, we’re going to find out. I separated out the twist off bottles and stored them away from everything else so that if they do blow, the mess will somewhat self-contained. Once those bottles are emptied, they’re definitely going into the recycle bin. Even if nothing bad happens, they were a major pain to cap.

Once I have a chance to taste the finish brew, I’ll post a review and details of the beer.