Halloween Traditions

I’ll be the first to say that I’m not a big “holiday” kind of guy. 

Sure, I enjoy the various tropes associated with holidays throughout the year. I like light displays at Christmas. I enjoy fireworks on the Fourth of July. I eat turkey at Thanksgiving. 

I just don’t go “all in” emotionally on holidays. 

That said, Bridget and I have developed a number of traditions for holidays during the year. 

Over the past several years, Halloween has become one of those holidays. 

I like to decorate our yard each year. This year we cleaned out the garage in September (yay!) and were better able to access my collection of Halloween inflatables, so we’ve been rocking spooky decorations for a little over a month:

We tend to get a fair number of trick-or-treaters (around 60-70 a year), and we usually celebrate the experience by getting a pumpkin-shaped pizza from Godfather’s Pizza:

Some years our nieces come and help hand out candy to the kids. This picture is from 2013. Our niece Lauren dressed up as a “typical 80s girl” that year:

I tend to wear my Ghostbusters shirt … I've got it on again this year.

We also get season passes to Vala’s Pumpkin Patch each year. Vala’s isn’t your grandmother’s pumpkin patch (unless, of course, you are one of the Vala grandchildren), and I profiled the attraction in a 2016 blog post. 

This picture is from from 2014 when Bridget and I took our nieces Olivia and Julia (and one of their friends) to Vala’s on Oct. 31. I thought it was fun how the girls were locked arm-in-arm:

While our traditions might not seem like a lot, they are our traditions. They help make the season fun. 

Happy Halloween! 

Previous post: Cord Cutting 101: How We Watch TV

Cord Cutting 101: How We Watch TV

We haven’t had a cable TV subscription since July 2016. 

In that time, more people have decided to ditch traditional cable/satellite television packages in favor of over-the-air television and various streaming services. 

In the past two years we’ve seen the growth of multi-channel streaming “bundles” — which are essentially a variant on the tried-and-true “tiered” cable/satellite channel packages we’ve had the past 20 years. The main difference is that you stream the content from these bundles. 

The question is whether these packages will retain their “value” in terms of price for the long haul. 

When we “cut the cord” in 2016, we went cold turkey. 

To this day, we go without “streaming channel bundles” from outfits like Sling or DirecTV. 

This post outlines how we watch television...

MAKING THE MOST OF AN OVER-THE-AIR ANTENNA

Depending on where you live, using an over-the-air antenna to tune in your local affiliates (and their various sub-channels) is a remarkably practical way to enjoy “live” television for free. 

I’ve tried numerous set-top antennas — rabbit ears, leaf-style, and bow-tie variants. Those antennas tend to be affordable and easy to set up. They also tend to have mixed results. 

(Tuning in digital signals is far superior to the analog-era of “ghosting, striping, and shadows,” but it can still be an arbitrary exercise...)

After playing around with indoor antennas for a year, I was ready to try a more “robust” set up in our attic or on the exterior of our home.

As luck would have it, I discovered an old yagi-style antenna in our attic (that looked like it hadn’t been used since the 1970s). 

I had read a number of “tech forum” posts about re-wiring old antennas such as the one in my attic with shielded, hi-bandwidth coaxial cable. 

I outline the procedure of converting our old attic antenna is this blog post from 2016. 

I’m happy to report that it tunes 24 local channels (including all the Omaha affiliates) remarkably well — and the signal is strong enough to power the HDTVs in our living room and basement. 

The MPEG video that is broadcast over-the-air is uncompressed — terrific sound and resolution. 

However, if your antenna is too weak (and around household items that cause interference), it can cause digital “breakups.” A common problem is high wind interfering with smaller antennas. 

Using an attic antenna has eliminated that problem for us for the televisions connected to the antenna.

USING STREAMING JUDICIOUSLY

There are many ways to stream content from services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu to your TV (in addition to the streaming “bundles” I mentioned at the beginning of this post). We choose to use an Apple TV unit. 

If your goal is to “recreate” the cable or satellite package you are dropping, things can get pricey. 

Here’s what we have:

Netflix Standard Plan - $10.99/month

Amazon Prime - $119/year (or an average of $9.92/month)

CBS All Access (we opted for the commercial free version) - $9.99/month

PBS Passport - $5/month
YouTube Premium (commercial free) – $9.99/month

In addition to these services, we also subscribe to NCHC.tv so we can watch the UNO Hockey program on the road (as well as other games in the conference). The price for NCHC.tv is $109.95/year regularly (but we are auto-renewed with a special deal that is like $89/year).

We’re also testing ESPN’s new standalone streaming service ESPN+ (UNO Hockey had a series at Union College that streamed on the service, so we decided to try it out). ESPN+ is $4.99/month.

The amount we pay per month is about half the $100/month we paid for cable TV.

TO REPLICATE OR NOT REPLICATE

We are paying about $50/month for our streaming services. Looking at the services we use, you’ll notice that it doesn’t replicate a traditional multi-channel cable/satellite package in any manner. 

Some people might not be willing to make such a change. We’ve found that this setup makes sense for our viewing habits — habits that had to adjust back in 2016 when we cut the cord. 

Others will argue that we could get a multi-channel streaming package (with channels like ESPN and HGTV) for the amount we pay for the streaming services we use. 

That is true. 

We could also purchase an over-the-air DVR (like the TiVo Roamio OTA DVR, or the upcoming Amazon DVR (geared toward cord cutters). Such a move would allow us to drop the CBS and PBS subscriptions.   

However, both the PBS and CBS streaming services have been making inroads in original content not found on the broadcast side (PBS is also good about dropping “all episodes” at once for the latest seasons of shows like “Victoria” on the service — and a $5/month donation allows us to “binge” those episodes). 

DO I MISS CABLE TV?

There are certain times that we miss having a multi-tiered cable package, but those moments are few and far between. So much content exists today that it is hard to find the time to watch the programming we have available.

What I like about cord cutting is the ability to “pick and choose” the services you want, and cancel them anytime. 

We use an Apple TV box to stream content on the three TVs in our home, but streaming apps are built into a variety of streaming devices, as well as most televisions and DVD/Blu-ray players on the market — so there are many options out there for consumers. 

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS

I don’t know what the future holds for cord cutters, but there are some exciting technologies on the horizon. 

The next generation of over-the-air television is called “ATSC 3.0” and will provide consumers with stronger digital signals, 4K HDR video, on-demand content, and the ability to receive TV signals on phones, tablets and PCs (all using the same antenna tech we use today).  

FINAL SUM GAME

I remember a world before cable television. 

Part of the reason people ditched antennas for cable TV had a lot to do with the “reliability” (or lack thereof) of TV signals in the analog era.

We didn’t have a cable subscription until I was in high school (despite the fact that a number of my friends had cable in the early 80s).  

There has never been a better time to go “back to the future” and take a cue from television technology of the past. 

Cord cutting is also a great way to try something new, save some money, and use the latest streaming technology to your advantage. 

Previous post: When Kevin Costner Had a Mustache … And Played a Pro Cyclist

When Kevin Costner Had a Mustache... and Played a Pro Cyclist

If you haven’t seen the movie “American Flyers,” you should check it out. 

Kevin Costner plays Marcus Sommers, a professional cyclist who persuades his wayward brother David (David Marshall Grant) to train and race in the “Hell of the West” (a fictional bike race in Colorado). 

Together — under the fictitious "Team Shaver Sport" banner — the two learn about themselves, forge a stronger bond, and fight to win the race. 

The film epitomizes what 1980s sports movies are all about. (That decade was the greatest era for sports movies, in my opinion.)

The soundtrack is all “synthesizered,” and the race footage (for 1985) was pretty decent. It also featured Soviets cyclists (because what 80s movie didn’t feature the Soviets as antagonists?). 

I happened upon the movie in the early 1990s at Blockbuster Video when I was attempting to see every movie featuring Kevin Costner. In the intervening years it became a favorite of mine. (Warner Bros really needs to release the movie on Blu-ray.) 

It was also a movie my brother-in-law Sean and I talked about. Sean (who died in 2017) handled public relations for professional cycling teams. He traveled all over the globe working cycling races. 

When he returned from a trip, I would always ask, “How did Team Shaver Sport do?”

I learned a lot about the world of pro cycling from Sean. 

I know the reputation of the sport has become tarnished because of the performance enhancing drug scandal surrounding Lance Armstrong. 

The sport has a different culture than other professional sports (especially the highly-regulated sports environment we are used to in the United States). Based on the conversations I had with Sean, the issues precipitating the Armstrong scandal weren’t really all that unusual in the sport. 

Part of the reason I decided to revisit the movie “American Flyers” was an episode of the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast I recently listened to where Rogan interviews Lance Armstrong:

The unfortunate reality is that Armstrong’s scandal tarnished the entire sport in the eyes of the public — a perception that might be permanent. 

It certainly isn’t the sport people envisioned in their minds, and it isn’t the sport as it was portrayed in the movie “American Flyers.” 

It's worth taking the time to watch … if only to see Kevin Costner with the 'stache.

Previous post: "Book Review: 'The Hubley Case' By J. Lee"

Book Review: “The Hubley Case” By J. Lee

This month, I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of author J. Lee’s new thriller “The Hubley Case.”  (The novel is set to be released Nov. 6, 2018.)

I enjoy having the opportunity to experience new fiction writers. Avid readers tend to have a stable of “go to” authors they enjoy reading each year, so it is nice to sample different voices and characters.  

“The Hubley Case” starts off with a bang. An unassuming American (Peter Hubley) is gunned down at a Rio de Janeiro airport. The perpetrators don’t live long enough to tell their tale, and the bodies of the gunmen soon go missing. 

The investigation soon finds its way to Chicago-based FBI Special Agent Nikki Benton (who’s been at the Chicago office all of six months). Hubley resided in Chicago with his family, and worked for a company called InvestSecure. 

Nikki Benton’s superior — Special Agent in Charge (SAIC) Marcus Redmond — says of the case, “I’m not gonna blow smoke up your skirt, kid; the facts of this case really stink up the joint.” 

Redmond is correct. There is something hinky going on in “The Hubley Case” that doesn’t pass the smell test. 

As Benton works to navigate the rough waters surrounding the Hubley murder, she eventually joins forces with tough-guy Ben Siebert — a former marine who is something of an enigma.

Together, the pair deals with disparate clues, unscrupulous villains, organized crime, and family drama as they wind their way through “The Hubley Case.”

Lee delivers a capable debut thriller. There are elements in the narrative recognizable in style from pillars in the genre like David Baldacci and Lee Child. 

The final third of the novel is particularly strong. 

One of the characters who grew on me during “The Hubley Case” was the unorthodox Tom Fedorak — a Siebert cohort who serves as sort of a “Deus ex Machina” in the story, helping obtain key information for the Hubley investigation. 

At first, Fedorak’s foibles (an obsession with hotdogs and a penchant for using the term “Grasshopper”) rubbed me the wrong way, but by the final act of the novel, I found myself appreciating the Fedorak character. 

Years ago I heard author Lee Child talk about how difficult it was to come up with names for characters. What I found interesting about “The Hubley Case” is that J. Lee gave his cast of characters names that made them feel like “real” people. 

I know that is an odd comment, but let me explain. 

In a number of thriller novels you’ll get very distinct names for protagonists — Dirk Pitt... Mitch Rapp... Jack Reacher... Jason Bourne... etc. 

In Lee’s novel, the main protagonist is named “Ben Siebert” — which sounds more like the name of your insurance agent than it does a tough-guy vigilante. The same holds true for names like “Tom Fedorak” and “Nikki Benton.” 

That quirky aspect of the novel — combined with other unique facets of the story — made “The Hubley Case” an interesting read. 

For a debut novelist, J. Lee shows a lot of promise. As I turned the final page of “The Hubley Case,” I found myself wanting more adventures with these characters. 

If you’d like to learn more about J. Lee and “The Hubley Case,” visit the author’s website at www.jleethrillers.com. 

Previous post: Do These Pop-Tarts Replicate the Pumpkin Pie Experience In Your Toaster?

Do These Pop-Tarts Replicate the Pumpkin Pie Experience in Your Toaster?

It’s the season of pumpkin spice. 

These days it seems like everyone tries to do a pumpkin spice-themed “something”...

I found these Frosted Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tarts at Wal-Mart. 

First of all, I want to say what a joke it is that the “Nutrition Facts” on the side of all Pop-Tart boxes only show the information for one (1) pastry. They know damn well I’m going to eat both foil-packed tarts.

But I digress. 

The reason you’re all here is to find out if “pumpkin pie in a rectangle” is a credible facsimile of the holiday favorite.  

Let’s just say they’re “not that bad.”

I’m not the biggest pumpkin pie fan in the world (I prefer caramel apple at Thanksgiving), but these Pop-Tarts are a surprisingly decent representation. 

It has a filling similar to the cinnamon-based Pop-Tarts, but the pumpkin is more subdued. It's not as strong as some other pumpkin spice foods. 

If you want to be all ironic and have a low-brow Thanksgiving meal, these pastries would capably complement a sampling of chicken nuggets, sweet potato fries, and chilled cranberry juice. 

They are also acceptable on their own...I guess. 

I’m just thankful they weren’t totally “underwhelming” like some of the other novelty food items I’ve sampled on this blog.

Previous post: Kurt Russell Playing Santa Claus on Netflix... Oh What Fun! 

Kurt Russell Playing Santa Claus on Netflix... Oh What Fun!

Did you ever watch “Escape From New York” and say to yourself, “If only Old Saint Nick was more like post-apocalyptic badass Snake Plissken”...?

Wonder no more. 

Producer Chris Columbus (who directed “Home Alone” and “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”) is gifting viewers a new holiday movie titled “The Christmas Chronicles” — which looks to be Netflix’s answer to Disney’s “The Santa Clause” franchise. 

Kurt Russell plays Santa Claus in “The Christmas Chronicles.” For those of you who suffered through Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight,” you know Russell has no problem pulling off a bushy white beard. 

The first trailer for the movie dropped today. It is set to debut on the streaming service Nov. 22. 

“The Christmas Chronicles” is aimed squarely at family audiences (something Netflix is said to crave in its subscriber base). 

Russell’s Claus looks to have a snarky edge — not as naughty as Billy Bob Thornton in “Bad Santa,” and not nearly as nice as Tim Allen’s “Pere Noel” in “The Santa Clause.” 

I’m always a bit skeptical of Netflix original movies. Be that as it may, “The Christmas Chronicles” looks like fun. 

In 2017, Netflix featured two original holiday titles — “Christmas Inheritance” and “A Christmas Prince.” Both felt like they would have been at home in the Hallmark Channel’s  lineup. 

While neither movie was high art, Bridget and I enjoyed them. They epitomize the sort of “comfort food” viewers devour over the holidays. 

“The Christmas Chronicles” looks to amp up the production value and spectacle. It might turn out to be a big lump of coal, but the trailer looks promising. 

It’s no secret I’m a fan of schmaltzy Christmas movies like “The Santa Clause,” and am happy to see Netflix working on more holiday fare. 

I mean, how can you not be intrigued by a gruff Russell interacting with computer-generated elves?

As a fan of Russell’s highly-underrated comedy “Captain Ron,” I'm looking forward to his turn as Santa Clause. 

But don’t take my word for it. Pour some egg nog, switch on the gas log, and check out “The Christmas Chronicles” trailer for yourself:

Previous post: "Movie Review: 'A Star is Born'"

Movie Review: “A Star Is Born”

“Music is essentially 12 notes between any octave... 

all any artist can offer the world is how they see those 12 notes.” 

— “A Star Is Born” 

There is something oddly relatable about movies that spin a musician’s story. I’m not a musician, and I’ve never aspired to be a musician.

But the combination of a musician’s dramatic narrative — wrapped up in soulful tunes — creates an emotional core that, when done well, is an addicting cocktail. 

First-time director Bradley Cooper brings us the fourth remake of “A Star Is Born.” I’ve never seen the other three movies, so I can’t say how they compare to the latest iteration. Frankly, I’m not sure it is particularly relevant in this instance. 

Cooper is Jackson Maine, a popular musician who plays to packed houses, singing meaty, southern rock tunes. The unkempt artist has an appetite for alcohol and prescription pain meds.

When Maine witnesses Ally (Lady Gaga) singing cabaret-style at a drag bar, he immediately becomes smitten with the unassuming artist. 

The two grab a drink after the show, and Maine broaches the subject of Ally’s aspirations, asking if she writes her own songs. 

“I don’t sing my own songs,” she says. “I just don’t feel comfortable. Almost every single person I’ve come in contact with in the music industry has told me that my nose is too big.”

Lady Gaga’s nose is as much a character in “A Star Is Born” as is Ally. It is an interesting point of attraction for Maine as he works to convince the self-conscious artist she has potential. 

The conversation in the bar eventually ends up in a quiet, grocery store parking lot where Ally lets down her guard and sings for Maine. 

She croons, “Ain’t it hard keepin’ it so hardcore?” — a reference to her suitor and his hard-running lifestyle.

Maine invites Ally to a show. She reluctantly attends, and and soon finds herself on stage performing with Maine. Before we know it, “A Star is Born,” as Ally’s performance goes viral online and shakes the foundations of the music industry. 

At times, “A Star Is Born” feels like a film that rolled up from the 1970s. It is a love story that stays grounded with its blue collar sensibility. The overall narrative avoids being simple filler between songs. 

Cooper does a yeoman’s job in his directorial debut. The film is competently directed and crafted. I will say, though, there are a few moments in “A Star Is Born” where you can tell a first-time director was at the helm. 

Let me explain. William Faulkner once said, “In writing, you must kill your darlings” — meaning you have to be willing to excise things you love for the sake of pacing and plot. 

There are some conversations between Jackson Maine and Ally that go on a tad too long in “A Star Is Born.” I’m sure snipping content from those scenes was a difficult task because the chemistry between Cooper and Gaga is so intriguing.

I give Cooper & Co. credit for employing songs judiciously in “A Star Is Born” to further the narrative rhythm. As a result, the filmmakers avoid an affliction that can impact movies like this where the story basically becomes a glorified music video. 

Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, and Lukas Nelson (Willie’s son) wrote most of the songs in the film. Cooper also did his own singing — his rough-hewn vocals gave gravitas to the down-home anthems. 

The song that captures the flavor of the film is “Shallow,” a rousing power ballad that showcases both vocalists perfectly: 

There are also a couple really solid supporting performances in “A Star Is Born.” 

Sam Elliot plays Bobby, who has a very special connection with Jackson.

Andrew Dice Clay plays Ally’s father, Lorenzo. The screenwriters wisely avoided turning this character into a cliche. Lorenzo could have been written as skeptical father preaching "reality over fantasy" to his daughter. Thankfully, that isn’t how the character is drawn, and Clay gives one of the more endearing performances in the film. 

Some of you will remember that Cooper played Will Tippin on the TV series “Alias.” Two of his “Alias” co-stars — Ron Rifkin and Greg Grunberg — both appear in fun bit parts in “A Star Is Born.” 

The movie has already generated considerable critical acclaim and Oscar buzz. Cooper has become one of the most dependable dramatic actors in film, and Lady Gaga shows her dynamic range isn’t limited to singing. 

At one point in the film, Maine is talking to Ally about building staying power as an artist in the music business. 

“Look, talent comes everywhere,” he says. “But having something to say, and a way to say it so people listen to it, that’s a whole other bag.” 

Indeed it is... 

Previous post: Book Review: "Vince Flynn — Enemy of the State" By Kyle Mills 

Book Review: “Vince Flynn - Enemy of the State” By Kyle Mills

Kyle Mills knows how to write an espionage thriller. 

For the past couple of months, I have been working my way through his entries in Vince Flynn’s immensely popular Mitch Rapp series — in anticipation of the latest entry: “Red War.”

The Mitch Rapp character has evolved since Mills has taken the helm. 

That evolution is again on display in “Enemy of the State” — the 16th installment in the Mitch Rapp series. 

The novel once again finds Mitch Rapp employing his unique set of skills to protect the United States from players hellbent on thwarting U.S. interests domestic and abroad. 

Saudi prince Talal bin Musaid, nephew of the king, is using Saudi money to finance ISIS attacks against the United States. 

The head of Saudi Arabia’s General Intelligence Directorate — Aali Nassar — is moving chess pieces behind the scenes to forge an alliance with ISIS. Nassar is positioning himself to take control of the country should the ailing king fall. 

President Alexander has no desire to watch Saudi Arabia fall into the wrong hands. He has a secret meeting with Rapp — a meeting that results in Rapp leaving the CIA and assembling a team to go after the dastardly players working to undermine stability in the Arabian Peninsula. 

Things never quite go according to plan in a Mitch Rapp novel. Working “off the books” gives Rapp the freedom to “mete out justice,” but it also means he doesn’t have the institutional protection of Irene Kennedy and the CIA. 

One of the things I liked about “Enemy of the State” was that the heroics were a group effort. The team Rapp assembles in the novel — ragtag hired guns — feels like it could have stepped out of a “Mission: Impossible” movie.

The team includes returning characters from past novels — including old loves and former nemeses. 

One of those teammates is Donatella Rahn. There is a description in the novel of all she’s gone through as a character over the years: 

“She’d survived Mitch Rapp abandoning her to the FBI’s witness protection program. She’d survived being imprisoned in bland suburban hellhole after bland suburban hellhole. She’d even survived a few brief experiments with honest work.”

While Rapp has often worked alongside other operatives, there was something refreshing about Mills’s approach in “Enemy of the State” — a plot device that could serve the novels well moving forward. 

In addition to the intriguing team dynamics, I also enjoy how Mills is building a new “personal life” for Rapp — an aspect of the character that’s been lacking since earlier novels like “Separation of Power” and “Consent To Kill.” 

One of the more enjoyable “personal” subplots involves Mitch Rapp’s new house east of Manassas in Virginia. The finishing touches on the house were overseen by Claudia Gould — former operative and wife of the assassin who killed Rapp’s wife in “Consent To Kill.”

While Claudia might seem like an unorthodox choice to become Mitch Rapp’s “love interest,” that story arc is one of the more enjoyable aspects of Mills’s narratives in the series. 

It sort of reminds me of the developing relationship between Ethan Hunt and Ilsa Faust in the recent “Mission: Impossible” films.

Gould and Rapp work together in the field for the first time in “Enemy of the State.” She handles the various logistics for Rapp’s team — coordinating aspects of their ops, including shifting funds to various bank accounts and securing transport.

When Claudia tells Mitch the team has multiple bank accounts at its disposal, totaling around $70 million, she quips, “That should keep you in ammunition and unfashionable leather jackets for awhile.”

The relationship humanizes a badass operator like Mitch Rapp. The overall effect adds to the authenticity of the character.

Part of the joy of reading espionage thrillers is the ability to escape into the world of a character who does the things you wish you could do. Wish fulfillment is a big part of the appeal in this genre. 

I received the latest Mitch Rapp novel “Red War” in the mail from Amazon last week. I know a number of people who follow this blog have already read the book, and I look forward to joining them soon!

Also, if you haven’t ever listened to Hank Garner’s “The Author Stories Podcast,” I recommend you do. The first of his podcasts I listened to was an interview with Kyle Mills back in 2017. 

Mills includes some background on the challenges he faced during the early years of his career — very inspiring for would-be authors who get discouraged. 

“Enemy of the State” book trailer: 

Previous post: Are These Mickey Mouse Oreos a Birthday Party For Tastebuds?