42

In 1945, wanting to break the color barrier in baseball, Brooklyn Dodgers GM Branch Rickey signed a player named Jackie Robinson to their minor-league affiliate Montreal Royals. In 1946, Robinson played for the Royals and won that league's batting title. In 1947, he was on the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. Facing discrimination at every turn, he would go on to win rookie of the year and (eventually) a World Series title. 42 is his story.

This movie had excellent content with average delivery. It felt a bit rushed (even for stories in this genre), but had a surprising amount of Scripture-based content (from Branch Rickey, who comes off very positively in this film) and was a wonderful tale. I liked the portrayal of Robinson's struggle; they didn't minimize the pain he must have endured (and yet overcame). As is said several times in the movie, he "was built to last." Recommended.

Rating: A-

The Wild Robot (Peter Brown)

When a storm destroys a cargo ship, a few crates wash up on the nearby island. Those crates have robots. All are destroyed save one. When the animals accidentally power up Roz, the intelligent robot, they will all be in for an adventure. Can a robot survive the wild . . . and vice-versa?

This juvenile fiction book is outstanding. It explores (in an age-appropriate and winsome way) friendship, purpose, sacrifice, reconciliation, and love. Highly recommended.

Rating: A

The Sun Also Rises (Ernest Hemingway)

Set in 1920s France and Spain, The Sun Also Rises follows a group of American expatriates as they party hard (from the Paris night scene to the bull fights of Pamplona) and live in self-indulgence of drink and affairs. Does such a life satisfy?

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This novel has been called the quintessential work of the lost generation, portraying their mentality as they grapple with disillusionment following a horrible world war. I think Hemingway's point is in the atmosphere he conveys:

It was like certain dinners I remember from the war. There was much wine, an ignored tension, and a feeling of things coming that you could not prevent happening. Under the wine I lost the disgusted feeling and was happy. It seemed they were all such nice people.

Elsewhere, one states "It's like a wonderful nightmare." Drown yourself in pleasure to get by. And such is the life of depravity and hopelessness that the characters grapple with in various ways, all portrayed very subtly (this was my introduction to Iceberg theory, Hemingway's idea that writing should be sparse and imply but not overtly state).

So what did I think? I'm on the fence. It was an intriguing writing style to be sure, and there is some value here in the message. But the novel shows only the struggle, never the solution. Maybe it doesn't need to, so long as the reader realizes the futility therein and uses this as a cautionary tale.

Rating: B-

Enjoying the 2024 Orioles

Opening Day, from the Baltimore Sun

A year ago, I blogged about enjoying the Baltimore Orioles. After years of futility, things looked to be on the rise. And they were; last year, they finished 101-61, their best record since 1980. The got swept out of the playoffs, unfortunately (by the eventual champion Rangers), but things looked bright. How have they held up this year?

Really well. Their core returned, they traded for all-star starting pitcher Corbin Burnes (who started for the AL in the all-star game on Tuesday), and they have even more promising rookies this year. In addition to superstars Gunnar Henderson (last year's AL Rookie of the Year) and Adley Rutschmann, rookies Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser have shown great promise. Grayson Rodriguez (rookie last year) has become a solid #2 starter behind Burnes, and veterans like Anthony Santander and Cedric Mullins are delivering good seasons. They sent five (Burnes, Rutschmann, Henderson, Westburg, Santander) to the all-star game. Their depth chart is below.

The biggest concern: pitching. The O's lost three starters for the season, all of them good: John Means, Kyle Bradish, and Tyler Wells. Last year's star closer (Felix Bautista) is still on the injured list, though he may return soon (and veteran Craig Kimbrel has been a decent closer in his place). Their bullpen depth has been affected, too, forcing the GM to scrape the league for serviceable arms. 

Still, the future is bright in Birdland because they have drafted well (ESPN Insider recently called them the gold standard in drafting—see below). That is key for a small market team.

The key in Baltimore is patience and opportunism: they have to make the right deals for the right price to get a title in the next few years before their core becomes too expensive to keep. And I hope they do. 

So why this post? I have learned it is important to enjoy the excellence while it lasts . . . because in professional sports, things can change fast. In 2022, I posted about my Calgary Flames, who were then poised to be in great shape. That all crashed down shortly thereafter, as they lost or traded their best players and are now in full-on rebuild. I miss that team. I should have enjoyed them more when they were together. I don't want to make that mistake again.

The Orioles might win a title in the next year or two. Or they might crash and burn. We hope for the former and cheer them on either way. Let's go O's!

Another opening day photo from the Sun.

The Acolyte: Season 1

Set 100 years before Episode I, The Acolyte tells the story of a curious planet, a cult of witches, a Jedi investigation, and a mysterious Force user. At the center of it all are Osha and Mae, twins separated as children by disturbing events. With the truth shrouded, can any of them learn what's going on? (I won't say more to avoid spoilers.)

This eight-episode series has been consistently panned by fans (though part might be due to a review bombing campaign) and applauded by critics. I thought it was okay: it was fun to see a time never before explored on the big screen, new planets, and a wookie Jedi. There were also some good plot twists and intriguing storylines. On the down side, the characters weren't great, some plot elements were the 'same old thing' (in Star Wars stories), and the final episode was poorly done, unconvincing, and maddeningly inconclusive/open-ended. That in particular left a bad taste in my mouth. A second season could redeem it if done well, but as a stand-alone experience, it is unsatisfying.

Rating: C-

Walden (Henry David Thoreau)

In 1845, Henry David Thoreau moved to a self-built cottage by Walden Pond in Massachusetts. "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." He would spend two years there and recorded his experience (compressed and presented as one year) in Walden, discussing such matters as economy (building his own home), reading, sounds, solitude, farming, the pond, animals, and so on.

He concludes that "I left the woods for as good a reason as I went there. Perhaps it seemed to me that I had several more lives to live, and could not spare any more time for that one." "I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."

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Walden is a mixed bag. Thoreau's focus is on self-discovery/reliance, and (what he considers as) true independence. He rejects tradition and conformity, encouraging others to 'wake up' and think. He explores important topics like living simply, enjoying common tasks and things around you ("my life itself was become my amusement and never ceased to be novel."), listening, being aware, and the value of a quiet, peaceful life. I liked/agreed with some of his insights/conclusions, a handful of which mirror those in Ecclesiastes. So there is some value here.

There is also foolishness. Thoreau comes across as self-important and above everyone else. We're all  idiots; he alone is thoughtful. He rejects elders ("I have lived some thirty years on this planet, and I have yet to hear the first syllable of valuable or even earnest advice from my seniors.") and company ("I find it wholesome to be alone the greater part of the time. To be in company, even with the best, is soon wearisome and dissipating . . . I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude."). He considers one who is "thinking for himself and expressing his own opinion, a phenomenon so rare that I would any day walk ten miles to observe it . . ." and that "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." (That last one might be true, but not for the reasons Thoreau thinks.) He forgets that we need God and others, and there is value in elders (his argument is self-defeating . . . we shouldn't listen to him, as he is our elder). There is a good deal of hubris and foolishness here, which is why I started skimming to move this along.

He taught me a new word: excrementitious. I daresay it applies to portions of Walden. Its value is drowned in error and pomposity. Perhaps I'm not reading it as thoreauly* as I ought, but I can't help but think of humorist Dave Barry's version of this event:

Meanwhile, culture was continuing to occur in some areas. In New England, for example, essayist Henry David Thoreau created an enduring masterpiece of American philosophical thought when, rejecting the stifling influences of civilization, he went off to live all alone on Walden Pond, where, after two years of an ascetic and highly introspective life, he was eaten by turtles.- Dave Barry, Dave Barry Slept Here

That would have been highly entertaining.

Rating: C-

*nyuk nyuk

Cooperstown and Home

After an enjoyable day in the White Mountains, it was time for the long drive to Cooperstown (5 hours, 260 miles). There's no great way to get there from rural New Hampshire; a decent part of the trip is country roads. But we arrived by 4pm; enough time to enjoy the town.

I love Cooperstown. Its main street is classic Americana. The shops plentiful and baseball-focused, from cards to hats to jerseys and other memorabilia. Outside the main drag, beautiful homes and tree-lined streets abound. I could spend a few days strolling (and shopping).

After an enjoyable evening, we retired for the night.

The next day, we were ready for the Hall of Fame when it opened its doors (at 9am). The museum recommended allowing two hours to visit; we were done in an hour and a half, going at a decent pace and enjoying the exhibits (but not reading everything). The 19-minute movie at the beginning was . . . nostalgic but not great (it gave no history, but featured players talking about how they love the game and showing some iconic moments). But the rest was excellent—they have exhibits on the game's origins, select players of note (like Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson), the African American League, the Woman's League, team displays, baseball cards, and more. At the end of the experience (they recommend seeing the museum 2nd floor—3rd floor—1st floor, oddly) is the Hall of Fame itself, where almost 350 people have plaques with paragraphs describing their achievements. The latest four slots had the background marble (with player signatures) but no plaques, yet—they are to be inducted in a week or so.

After the Hall, it was time to drive home (5:30, ~340 miles). It was (mercifully) mostly highways.

The Trip in Total

It was a whirlwind, but an enjoyable one. We spent five of eight days driving for five or more hours, but got to enjoy plenty of beautiful scenery, amazing weather, wonderful friends, and some history to boot. The entire journey (below) was more than 1500 miles, though. It's good to be home and get some rest. 

Franconia Notch State Park

Franconia Notch State Park is in the heart of the White Mountains, southwest of Mount Washington. From its website: 

Franconia Notch is a spectacular mountain pass traversed by a unique parkway which extends from the Flume Gorge at the south to Echo Lake at the north. For eight miles, I-93 winds between the high peaks of the Kinsman and Franconia mountain ranges.

Its attractions include[d]:

- "The famous Old Man of the Mountain, the same "Great Stone Face" immortalized by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Daniel Webster." (It fell in May 2003)

- Flume Gorge

- Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway

- New England Ski Museum (we skipped this)

- Echo Lake

- Plenty of hiking trails in the nearby mountains

We focused on Flume Gorge and Cannon Mountain.

Flume Gorge is a 2-mile loop trail whose highlight is . . . Flume Gorge. Book tickets in advance to avoid disappointment (they have time slots, I think . . . or at least a ticket maximum). The path starts off pleasant but unassuming . . . the gorge deepens (and gets spectacular) quickly, culminating in a small waterfall. After walking 'up' the gorge, there are various other sites along the trail, to include a few 'dens' you can explore and interesting boulders (and trees on them). After the Gorge, we enjoyed a picnic lunch (there are tables near the parking lot) before heading on.

Cannon Mountain Tramway was similarly fun, reminding us of similar experiences we had in the Alps. You can buy tickets in advance or at the counter; space is limited. The cable car ends at a series of trails, most of which are in enclosed by stunted pine, but frequently open to pleasant vistas.

After dinner and a short rest, we concluded the day at a mini-golf place in Lincoln. It was significant in that an active rail line ran through the course.

Our time in the White Mountains was short but wonderful, enabling us to catch up with friends and enjoy the sights. Our one full day/two night stay was worth it. We'd head to bed on time, though, as the next day would feature the long drive to Cooperstown.