MOVIE - Anthropoid

R (2:00)

Limited release 8/12/16

Viewed  8/21/16 at Midtown Cinemas, Harrisburg, PA

RT Critic:  58  Audience:  73
Critic's Consensus:  No consensus yet. (8/29/16)

Cag:  4 - Liked most of it very much

Directed by Sean Ellis

LD Entertainment

Jamie Dornan, Cillian Murphy

My comments:  How can you watch any movie that includes Nazis and not feel hatred?  This movie was the retelling of how parachutists return to their native Czechoslovakia trained to and with orders to kill the third in the Nazi command.  Because it's based on a true story and knowing the reality of the time, there are no doubts about how the story will end.  Therefore, there is no shock, but plenty of revulsion.  I'm glad these stories are being told, they should never be forgotten or untold.And this time it was the whole country of Czechoslovakia and not just its Jewish inhabitants that were targeted.  Realizing that this sort of thing still goes on in our world makes me feel so helpless.  Hatred.  Greed.  Power.    And, a side note:after watching Jamie Dornan in 50 Shades of Grey, and The Fall, it was difficult relating to him as one of the operatives....I kept seeing him as a 2015 sex god or serial killer....

RT Summary:  ANTHROPOID is based on the extraordinary true story of "Operation Anthropoid," the code name for the Czechoslovakian operatives' mission to assassinate SS officer Reinhard Heydrich. Heydrich, the main architect behind the Final Solution, was the Reich's third in command behind Hitler and Himmler and the leader of Nazi forces in Czechoslovakia. The film follows two soldiers from the Czechoslovakian army-in-exile, Josef Gabčík (Cillian Murphy) and Jan Kubis (Jamie Dornan), who are parachuted into their occupied homeland in December 1941. With limited intelligence and little equipment in a city under lock down, they must find a way to assassinate Heydrich, an operation that would change the face of Europe forever.

Postcards Received Friday, August 19, 2016

500th Card!!!  RUSSIA

Hi Chris, My name is Olga.  I live in the ancient Russian city of Pskov.  I'm an engineer.  I really hope that you like this postcard.  Best wishes, Olga

501.  Tuscany, Italy

Hallo chris,  I am Antonella, I write from Italy and the card shows the little country where I live, in Tuscany.  I am 45 years old, mother and wife.  I love to read, travel, collect postcards and little bottles of sand.  Many greetings from Italy and Happy
summer!  Antonella

502.   Alberta, CANADA

Greetings from Alberta, Canada.  Hope this made you smile.  Have a Great Day!  David

Postcard Received Wednesday, August 17, 2016

499.  Taitung, Taiwan

Hello!  Greetings from a city called Taitung, located on the eastern coast of Taiwan, R. Co. C.  My home is not far from the sea, so it is very nice around here.  I love reading and traveling, too.  Best wishes for you!

good luck, Sung

Postcard Received Tuesday, August 16, 2016

498. Germany

Hi Chris, I find it somewhat difficult to describe (the) Germany...we think live to work and are very connected to the traditions.

Greetings, Nadine

MOVIE - Nine Lives

PG (1;27)

Wide release 8/5/16

Viewed Monday, August 15, 2016 at the Carlisle-8

RT Critic:  8  Audience:  44
Critic's Consensus:  Not meow, not ever.

Cag:  3.5 Great fun even if not top-notch literature

Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld

EuropaCorp

Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Garner

My comments: For such a low-rated film, Ella and I certainly enjoyed it! It was light family entertainment...even any nail-biting parts were not actually nail-biting because it was the kind of film that you knew everything would come out all right in the end.  Well worth a couple of hours in recliners with a big bucket of popcorn!

RT Summary:  Tom Brand (Kevin Spacey) is a daredevil billionaire at the top of his game. His eponymous company FireBrand is nearing completion on its greatest achievement to date - the tallest skyscraper in the northern hemisphere. But Tom's workaholic lifestyle has disconnected him from his family, particularly his beautiful wife Lara (Jennifer Garner) and his adoring daughter Rebecca (Malina Weissman). Rebecca's 11th birthday is here, and she wants the gift she wants every year, a cat. Tom hates cats, but he is without a gift and time is running out. His GPS directs him to a mystical pet store brimming with odd and exotic cats- where the store's eccentric owner- Felix Perkins (Christopher Walken), presents him with a majestic tomcat, named Mr. Fuzzypants. En route to his daughter's party, Tom has a terrible accident. When he regains consciousness he discovers that somehow, he has become trapped inside the body of the cat. Adopted by his own family, he begins to experience what life is truly like for the family pet, and as a cat, Tom begins to see his family and his life through a new and unexpected perspective. Meanwhile, his family adjusts to life with an odd and stubborn cat, and his son David (Robbie Amell), steps up in ways Tom never expected. If any hope exists of returning to his family as the husband and father they deserve, Tom will have to learn why he has been placed in this peculiar situation and the great lengths he must go to earn back his human existence

Postcards Received Monday, August 15, 2016

496.  Girl Reading - Krasnodar, Russia

Hello, Chris!

My name is Natali.  I live in the city of Krasnodar, Russia.  I like reading books, to listen to goos music, and nature.  Ihope you enjoy this card.  with bet wishes!

497.  Peti Surat (Postbox) - Malaysia

Dear Chris,

Greetings from Malaysia.  Good day to you.  Sending you thig mailbox shaped card.  Hope you like it.

     Happy Postcard Uniting.  Love, Isabella

MOVIE - Captain Fantastic

R (1:59)

7/8/16 Limited Release

Viewed Sunday, 8/14/16 at Carlisle Theater on High Street, Carlisl

RT Critic: 79   Audience:  85
Critic's Consensus:  Fantastic's thought-provoking themes -- and an absorbing starring turn from Viggo Mortensen -- add up to an above-average family drama with unexpected twists.

Cag:  5.5 Wonderful, thought provoking movie which I really loved (though a tear jerker in places)

Directed by Matt Ross

Electric City Entertainment

Viggo Mortensen

My comments:This was a wonderful movie to watch.  Pulled me right in, I was there, laughing and crying and relating and commiserating. The whole cast really worked, and Viggo Mortensen was fabulous.

IMBd Summary:  Deep in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, isolated from society, a devoted father dedicates his life to transforming his six young children into extraordinary adults. But when a tragedy strikes the family, they are forced to leave this self-created paradise and begin a journey into the outside world that challenges his idea of what it means to be a parent and brings into question everything he's taught them.

Postcards Received Saturday, August 13, 2016

494.  Karabuk / Safranbolu, Turkey

This was in response to a swap card that I sent in May.  This was mailed on May 29th and forwarded from Tucson to Mt. Holly Springs, and it took all this time!

May 29, 2016

Hello Chris,

Thanks for the very lovely cards you sent me, I especially appreciate the guacamole recipe!  As you may know, letter writing or the post in general is not exactly popular in Turkey so it's quite difficult to get interesting cards.  This is one of the "Safranbolu" , a recent heirtage site popular because of its unique architecture.  It's about four hours awayu from Ankara.

Best wishes, Beren

495. HAND DRAWN CARD!!!  Praha, Ceska Replublika
Hello Chris,
Your post was first time I heard about jackalopes.  Buyt I find tghem terribly cute.
Wish you a great summer,
Veronika

Postcards Received 8/12/16 - After Vacation in Maine

474.  Europa MAP from Lithuania

Hello!  Greetings from Lithuania!  I'm Rilo and I live in Vilnees with my family & dog & rabbit.  I like many things but my passion is traveling and exploring new places/countries.  Maps always make the feeling of travelling, right?  I've been in many countries in Europe also visited Thailand and Egyupt.  I wish to go to America as well.!  Best wishes, Rilo

475.  Groeten uit Holland (Greetings from Holland)

Hi Chris!  It's my bike!  Typical for Holland.  I like knitting too.  Where I live is a small village, it has 2000 residents.  Heb het goed = All the best!

Anja

476.  Bavaria, GERMANY

Hi Chris,

I'm Lotte, 25 years old and live in Bavaria which is a southern region of Germany.

Best Wishes

477.  My Romania - Bucharest

Dear Chris,

This is one of the eight UNESCO painted churches in Romania, unique for the 500 years old paintings all ove their external walls. 

Regards, Marius

478.  Old Books: Greetings from Latvia!

Hello Chris!  My name is Zanda.  I live in the Labvian capital Riga together with my 3 children and 4 hamsters.  My hobby is collect interesting candles and various things with angels.  In my collection is more than 500 variety of candles.  Zanda

479.  Greetings from Belarus!

Hello Chris, my name is Yana and I live in Belarus.  My country is in the centre of Europe, near Russia.  Actgually, we speak Russian, but we have our national language tgoo - Belarussian.  Our symbols are teh bird-stork and the flower - vasilek.   sometimes people from other countries call our country "Blye eyes," because we have a lot of lakes and rivers.  We also have a lot of castles and our national animals -zubrs (they look like bisons).  Thank you for the interest in my country.

480.  Greetings from Russia

Hello, my name is Katerina.  I was born in Moscow and have lived there all my life.  My home town is very gib.  I come from a small family.  I have mother, father, and sister.  We get on well with each other.  My family is very important to me.

     Have a great day!

481.  "Awkward Family" Newburyport, MA

Hi, Chris!  I'm Nathan and it's nice to meet you.  This is a funny card I got out of a set.  They habe a very funny wibsite, too.  Have a good rest of the summer!

Nathan

482.  Zeeland: Holland

Hallo!  The only nice thing about Holland is seaside and Zeeland is province with the nicest beaches I know.  To get nice weather is the other thing - this summer we had 1 week sun, the rest only rain...  Today also...

Greetings!  Poli

483.  Russia MAP
Hello Chris!  Next week I'll go to Spain.  And last month I visited Monaco.
With best wishes, Olga

484.  "The Bookworm" Siberia, RUSSIA
Hello Chris!
My name is Valeriya.  I live in Small Siberian town Seversk.  I'm a visiting nurse in children's polyclinic.  I like my job although I gave too little free time.  I love to read too.  At present I prefer fantasy.  Maybe I'm so tired of real life problems that I would like fairy tales :)  But the most favourite book is "The Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov.  One can read this book time after time and each time this book is perceived differently...warm greetings from cold Siberia!
Val

485.  Zdar nad Sazavou, Czech Republic
Hi Chris,  Greetings from Zdar nad Sazavou, Czech Republic.  This card is from my team-building in Trebon region.  We had cycling weekend around lakes.  I've meen in Maine for two summers in Camp Winona.
Happy Postcrossing, Tom

486.  Pon XIX Jawa Barat 2016 - Indonesia
Hi Chris,
Greetings from Indfonesia.  My name is Krisna.  I really want to visit your country.  The Liberty status is really famous - Happy Postcarduniting!  Krisna

487.  Colours of Medan, Indonesia
Hello!  APA Kabar?  How are you?  Greeting from Indonesia.   Happy Postcard Unititn!!!
Mina
Medan City is the capital of North Sumatra Province, Indonesia.  Interesting places are Sun Plaza, Medan Post office, Misjid Raya, Red Cross building and Kualanamu Airport.

488.  Chinese Bridge in Alexander Park, St. Petersburg, Russia
Greetings from St. Petersburg, Russia!  My name is Anja, I'm 21 years old and I'm going to be an aviation engineer.  Happy postcardunited!

489.  St. John's, Newfoundland, CANADA
Hi Chris,
Greetings from St. John's NL in Canada.  I get a kick out of this card because it's so 'stereotypical Canada' but being from Maine you are probably familiar.
    I hope you're having a great day!  Sabina

490.  Prospect Hill Park (est. 1421), Beijing, CHINA
Hello, Chris!  Greetings from Beijing!  On this card is the Jingshan Hill.  It's only about 60 m high, but the panoram view of Forbidden City there is great!
Zhang Yuyu

491.  Zombie Cookbook Cover - Frankfurt, GERMANY
Hello Chris.  My name is Rike and I live near Frankfurt Main.  Do I understand it correctly that you like zombies?  Me too!  The postcards shows the cover of a Zombie cookbook from Germany.  It's full of humorous zombie stories AND recipes for vegetarian zombies who do no like to eat brains.  Unfortunately, you can get the book only in German language.  Nevertheless, the cover is great.  Undead greetings, Rika
PS:  Great surname!!

 492.  Russian Folktale
Hello Chris, My name is Elya, I'm from Moscow.  The p;ostcard is showing the characters of a Russian folk tale called "Fox, Rabbit and Rooster."  The rabbit and the rooster lived together, and the rabbit did not allow the rooster to look out the window. so that the fox could ot see hom.  Once he broke the ban, and the fox dragged him into her burrow.  But everything went well.  Here you can see the less popular option of tale with a cat and thrush instead of a rabbit.
Best Regards,  Elya

493.  Piestany, Slovakia
Hi!
My name is Olga.  I live in Slovakia in spa town.  I like flowers, dolphins, parrots, towns, and sew.  Happy postcrossing.

43. A Shade of Blood by Bella Forrest

A Shade of Vampire #2
read on my iPhone
2013, CreateSpace

296 pgs.

YA Fantasy
Finished 8/4/16
Goodreads rating:  4.01 ratings - 26,356 ratings
My rating: 1.5

My comments:  I don't even know why I'm reading this...it's pretty awful and all the reasons I disliked Twilight are twofold here.  The tiny little bit of plot that seeps through the repetitiousness of the stereotypical characters is somewhat interesting and the last bits of information given make one wonder wher the story's next (small) twist wil go.  There are seven in this series before the "saga" of Sofia and Derek is concluded....I doubt if I'll be reading much more.

Goodreads synopsis:  Having been delighted by the bestselling debut, A Shade Of Vampire, readers are begging for more. In A Shade Of Blood, Bella Forrest transports you deeper into a unique, enthralling and beautifully sensitive story. Prepare to be lost in its pages...
     When Sofia Claremont was kidnapped to a sunless island, uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet, she believed she'd forever be a captive of its dark ruler, Derek Novak.
     Now, after months of surviving an endless night, the morning sun may soon rise again for Sofia. Something has possessed Derek's heart and he offers her a gift no human slave has ever been given in the history of his cursed island: escape. 
     High school, prom and a chance to move on with her life now await her. 
     But will she be able to forget the horrors that steal her sleep away at night? ... or the feelings that haunt her for that tormented prince of darkness?

44. Raymie Nightingale by Kate diCamillo

listened to on Audible
2016, Candlewick Press
272 pgs.
Mid Grade CRF
Finished 8/4/16
Goodreads rating: 3.94 - 6,527 ratings
My rating: 4.5
Setting:  Contemporary central Florida

First line/s:  "There were three of them, three girls."

My comments:  This is a really hard book to rate.  There were many hugely depressing parts to the story, which I personally look down upon if it's a book for kids and there's an overwhelming amount of sadness.  However, there was humor and humanity and some really beautiful language, including high level vocabulary.  I loved listening to this, because the reader was just wonderful.  Talk about a quotation mark voice!  This book was plump full of voice, and the reader accentuated that.

Goodreads synopsis:  Raymie Clarke has come to realize that everything, absolutely everything, depends on her. And she has a plan. If Raymie can win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition, then her father, who left town two days ago with a dental hygienist, will see Raymie's picture in the paper and (maybe) come home. To win, not only does Raymie have to do good deeds and learn how to twirl a baton; she also has to contend with the wispy, frequently fainting Louisiana Elefante, who has a show-business background, and the fiery, stubborn Beverly Tapinski, who’s determined to sabotage the contest. But as the competition approaches, loneliness, loss, and unanswerable questions draw the three girls into an unlikely friendship — and challenge each of them to come to the rescue in unexpected ways. 

42. Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith

#3 Comoran Strike
listened to cd while driving
2015 Mulholland Books
492 pgs.
Adult murder mystery
Finished 8/4/16
Goodreads rating:  4.2 - 73,514 ratings
My rating:  4
Setting: Contemporary London

First line/s:  "He had not managed to scrub off all her blood."

My comments:  I love the escapades that Cormoran and Robin find themselves in, and I like having to guess and figure out connections in the mystery as I read/listen.  This third-in-the=series did seem to labor on a bit too long (months of surveillance on five different people helped me stay mightily confused at times), but it certainly kept me entertained on the road - 15 cds worth of entertainment.  Most of the time I greatly enjoy the reader of this book, but sometimes I think he makes Cormoran come off more like Hagrid than a charming 30-something.  A cliffhanger-type ending makes me wonder in what direction Galbraith/Rowling is going with the Strike/Ellacort relationship.,,,

Goodreads synopsis:  Cormoran Strike is back, with his assistant Robin Ellacott, in a mystery based around soldiers returning from war.
       When a mysterious package is delivered to Robin Ellacott, she is horrified to discover that it contains a woman’s severed leg.
       Her boss, private detective Cormoran Strike, is less surprised but no less alarmed. There are four people from his past who he thinks could be responsible – and Strike knows that any one of them is capable of sustained and unspeakable brutality.
       With the police focusing on the one suspect Strike is increasingly sure is not the perpetrator, he and Robin take matters into their own hands, and delve into the dark and twisted worlds of the other three men. But as more horrendous acts occur, time is running out for the two of them…
       Career of Evil is the third in the series featuring private detective Cormoran Strike and his assistant Robin Ellacott. A mystery and also a story of a man and a woman at a crossroads in their personal and professional lives.

41. A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest

#1 A Shade of Vampire
read on the Kindle
2012, 152 pgs.
YA Fantasy
Finished 8/1/16
Goodreads 3.83 - 37,463 ratings
My rating: 2

My comments:  I don't even know why I'm reading this...it's pretty awful and all the reasons I disliked Twilight are twofold here.  The tiny little bit of plot that seeps through the repetitiousness of the stereotypical characters is somewhat interesting and the last bits of information given make one wonder wher the story's next (small) twist wil go.  There are seven in this series before the "saga" of Sofia and Derek is concluded....I doubt if I'll be reading much more.

Goodreads synopsis for Book 1:  On the evening of Sofia Claremont's seventeenth birthday, she is sucked into a nightmare from which she cannot wake.
     A quiet evening walk along a beach brings her face to face with a dangerous pale creature that craves much more than her blood.
     She is kidnapped to an island where the sun is eternally forbidden to shine.
An island uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet. She wakes here as a slave, a captive in chains.
     Sofia's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn when she is the one selected out of hundreds of girls to join the harem of Derek Novak, the dark royal Prince.
     Despite his addiction to power and obsessive thirst for her blood, Sofia soon realizes that the safest place on the island is within his quarters, and she must do all within her power to win him over if she is to survive even one more night.
     Will she succeed? ...or is she destined to the same fate that all other girls have met at the hands of the Novaks?

Postcards Received from Luxembourg

2901.  Gentoo Penguins

We live at a very quiet (and some people say "lonely") area, surrounded by nature.  I have a very large garden, and grow everything on  fruits and vegetables we eat (and mostly still enough to give to the kids) - This garden keeps me busy and fit, and the same do our 2 little dogs.  And even though I'ma a bit far away from "social" life, I never feel bored.  I'm more than happy.  All the best, Monique.

1223.  Luxembourg

Hi!  I live in Lux only for one year and I noticed that the most common animal here is a cow.  They are everywhere.  Different colours, sizes, fluffiness.  I love them!  Also dogs are very popular and sheeps!  Be Happy! February 2018

757.  Itzig, Luxembourg

I am Dan, 52, lives in a little town called Itzig in Luxembourg/Europe.  Best wishes and Happy Postcrossing with Stan and Ollie!

510.  Luxembourg, August 18, 2016

 A Postallove Card!

Dear Chris, I send you the postcard from Luxembourg-city.  My hobbies are art, photography, and travelling to Paris (only 2 hours by high speed train).  I wish you all the best.  Many greetings!  

Jean Moni

Postcards Received from Slovakia

2064.  Bratislava, Slovakia

14 May 2021

I hope you will like this card with old window.  I like traveling and collecting postcards and fridge magnets.  Martin

1234.  Povazska Bystrica, SLOVAKIA

Best regards from Slovakia:)  I hope you like this card - picture of Castle nearby my hometown, Povazska, Bystrica.  Best wishes and Happy Postrossing!

905.  Slovakia

Traditional Windows

Ahoj!  Greetings from Slovakia, small country in the heart of Europe.  My name is Alena, I love to take trips with my family, hiking, collecting postcards and gardening.  Kind regards, Alena

638.  Greetings from Slovakia

Hello Chris!  I'm sending kind greetings from Slovakia, small country oin the heart of Europe.  

Best wishes!  Alena

493.  Piestany, Slovakia

Hi!

My name is Olga.  I live in Slovakia in spa town.  I like flowers, dolphins, parrots, towns, and sew.  Happy postcrossing.