The Batman Adventures (Vol. 1)

This graphic novel collects issues 1-10 of The Batman Adventures, a comic book series inspired by  Batman: The Animated Series television show from the 1990s. Here, see Batman take on Penguin, Riddler, Scarecrow, and of course . . . the Joker. Can he prevail?

I picked this up because it was billed as appropriate for most ages, and my son likes Batman. The reviewers are correct; this is fine for younger kids. The art is elementary (just like the TV show), and the stories basic. This isn't astounding storytelling, but it's a good starting point for kids in particular.

Rating: B

On Crosswords

In this season of turmoil (as we move into a home), routine has gone out the window and we've oscillated between periods of waiting/inactivity and frenetic action. It can be hard to read in such an environment, with the potential for frequent distractions. To fill the time in these past few months, I've enjoyed a hobby new to me: crossword puzzles.

As I suspect you already know, crosswords are blank grids with numbered rows & columns, where each number has a corresponding clue. All you know, based on the puzzle, is how many letters the answer contains. Solve the clue (with a word or phrase) and place one letter of the answer in each box in the appropriate row/column. Solving one row, for example, will give you letters for the columns the row intersects, helping you solve those clues in turn. Continue in like fashion until the entire puzzle is solved.

example completed crossword, from here

Crossword clues generally fall into 3 categories:

• Trivia: a fact. Examples:
• "The capital of New Jersey."
• "Ruffalo from the Marvel films."
• "Hospital in German."
• Synonyms: a word or expression that means the same thing as the clue. Examples:
• "Fix" [one answer: repair]
• "Follow closely" [one answer: dog]
• Riddles: a statement or question with double or veiled meaning [paraphrased from Wikipedia]. In crosswords, I see two types of riddles:
• 'normal' riddles. Example:
• "Ubiquitous label." [answer: made in China]
• "It may be held at arm's length." [answer: selfie stick]
• 'twisted' riddles, which are often indicated by a question mark. Examples:
• "Spots to hide?" [answer: acne]
• "Summer job?" [answer: adding]

I favor the New York Times crossword puzzles, which are released daily and increase in difficulty from Monday through Sunday. I suspect you can do those online with a subscription, though I prefer the newspaper version (NYT crosswords are published in many papers). They offer a 'mini' puzzle for free on weekdays. You can also buy books collecting said puzzles; I grab them when I find them on clearance.

I enjoy crosswords for a few reasons:

• They exercise the mind.
• They can be done in a distracting environment.
• They give insights into the depth and complexity of language. Puzzles require good vocabulary and fluency. It's hard enough to tackle some NYT puzzles being fluent in English; I have no idea how you'd approach them if you weren't. So many words have multiple meanings, so you have to be aware of them all and play with different clues accordingly. And pay close attention to wording; many crossword clues could be read multiple ways.
• They're fun to solve with others. In my house, we'd leave a puzzle on the table and a few of us would take cracks at it throughout the day. It's fun to see how differently our minds work.

I suspect my 'crosswording' will wane as we get into a routine and unpack our things. But it's something I hope to do routinely for the aforementioned reasons.

Mathematics: An Illustrated History of Numbers (Tom Jackson)

 

Nice to get back into books after weeks of chaos as we moved into our home. On to the review:

Mathematics: An Illustrated History of Numbers is just that. The author chooses 100 'ponderables'- personalities, artefacts, or concepts critical to our understanding of math- and presents each succinctly (generally one page or less).

This was a bargain bin pick-up, so I didn't have high expectations, but I enjoyed it. This is a great jumping-off point to learn basic history and concepts, and give you the terms you need to search further on a topic should you desire.

Rating: A-

What Makes a Home

image from here

This past week, we became homeowners for the second time. It's a great blessing to own; we're especially thankful to have found a house in this market. Now, the work begins.

I suspect most homeowners are like us: the minute you take ownership, you think about what you'd like to change. I think you can bin desired changes into three categories:

- immediate

- short-term (within a few years)

- long-term (someday)

The immediate things are due to safety (to people and home, like fixing miswired outlets or leaks), functionality (like a door that won't close appropriately), or convenience (like painting and carpeting- much easier in empty rooms). 

The short-term are things that need not happen right away, but it would be nice if they did within a few years. These might also have a safety/functionality component, but the need isn't dire.

The long-term are those dream projects, generally higher-cost (like renovating a kitchen or finishing a basement).

We have our list of desired changes. The challenge, for us, is binning them appropriately. In our hearts (and today's culture in general), delayed gratification is a hard concept. If we want something, we tend to want it now. So we want everything in the 'immediate' or 'short-term' cateogory. But that's not always feasible or wise.

I've spent time in our still-empty home this week working on immediate changes.  These first few days, before our things arrive, are always the hardest, and sometimes the craziest (having four contractors in our home simultaneously to give estimates for different things was a bit too much for me). And they're also some of the saddest- because I'm there alone (my family is staying elsewhere until our things arrive). And in that loneliness comes a stark reminder about what makes a home. 

Changes are nice, and sometimes needed. But what makes a home isn't the location, structure, or trappings within. I've watched people over the years pour money into their homes, only to be dissatisfied and 1) keep doing it, or 2) move and do the same thing in their next home. People have built their dream homes and then relocated within a few years. Why? I blame HGTV, which exists to encourage house envy. Just kidding (sort of)- it's because we do what humans do: we make good things into ultimate things. Our house becomes an idol that we feel will satisfy if only we do X, Y, and Z. And then we do those things and find that we're still not happy- because the ultimate satisfaction cannot be found in possessions.

So what makes a home nice? It's the relationships. It's the Lord first and foremost, who is with us wherever we are, and commands us to be obedient and content in all circumstances (which includes with our houses). It's also the people that are there with you, be it family (if you have one), roommates (ditto), or visitors. Relationships are what makes a home.

We all know people with small or poor homes that were a delight to be with- who showed genuine concern for, and generosity towards, those around them. And we all know people with magnificent mansions that were insufferable. Which home would you rather visit? Lord Jesus, grant that our home, whatever the condition, is a place of welcome and love for all. And grant us contentment in all circumstances. And I wouldn't say no to a finished basement.

The Book of Mythical Beasts and Magical Creatures (DK Publishing)

The title says it all. DK Publishing's Book of Mythical Beasts and Magical Creatures is a lavishly illustrated compendium of the same. This children's work looks at these fantastic beings from all times and cultures- European, American, Asian, and so on- presenting a short introduction to the creature and (occasionally) stories in which it is referenced. It covers all sorts of things, to include tricksters, shape-shifters, legendary creatures, sea dwellers, and birds. 

I've long enjoyed stories of such creatures (see this review on a similar book), and am drawn to books on the topic. No 150-page overview can possible capture every mythical creature known to humankind, but this book is a fantastic introduction. I like how they covered both familiar myths (Greek, Norse, Germanic) and those less commonly known here (Asian, American, Arabian, and so on). And the illustrations are beautiful. Great stuff.

Rating: A

Legends of the Wild West: True Tales of Rebels & Heroes

 

I've never reviewed a magazine before . . . but here goes. I picked this one up last week.

Legends of the Wild West is an overview of the decades (roughly 1860-1900) that saw boom towns, gold rushes, shootouts, cowboys, and more in the American West. It covers the personalities (both real and legendary), history, and legacy (to include books and movies).

I enjoyed this. In ~100 pages, you get a nice overview of that era. I'm fascinated by the West . . . I'd love to visit someday (especially the ghost towns, the best of which are summarized nicely here). There was some repetition, so I give it a minor ding for that, but overall I'm glad I picked this up.

Rating: A-