DAY 29: Kilauea Volcano Eruption in Puna

Day 29 of the latest Kilauea Volcano eruption in Puna, and the lava flows keep expanding.  Purple represents past eruptions, pink May 3-29 and red on May 30:

In case you were wondering why I'm continuing to daily post, it's mostly because this new phase of the Kilauea Volcano eruption began on May 3, and it seemed only responsible to report on this natural disaster.  I realize, though, that I was there a few miles from the Pu'u O'o original eruption on 3 January 1983, which has continued for almost 35 years and 5 months.  If, somehow, this current activity continues for another 35 years and 5 months, and I'm still blogging, I could well then be the oldest human in the world.  Today, this person is Masazo Nonaka of Japan at 112.  His keys to a long life are dessert and a stress-free lifestyle.  Says Nonaka, learn to say "no."

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SOLO and DEADPOOL 2

Day 28 of the recent Kilauea Volcano eruption and all is not well.  Oh, don't roast marshmallows over lava, unless you seek sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide smells and want to taste sulfuric acid and lava glass.  But the USGS says it is safe to come to the state of Hawaii.  Just avoid a tiny portion of the Big Island.  Yet, make that anywhere in the southern half, as natural air pollution covers the Kau and Kona areas.

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I went to the two top films this weekend:

                                           Rotten Tomatoes           Mojo    Me

                                       Reviewers  Audiences

Solo:  A Star Wars Story    70               62               #1         B+

Deadpool 2                          83              86               #2          A-

Solo was a box office disappointment, but still will ultimately be profitable.  And it was #1 this weekend.   Deadpool 2 has now reached half a billion dollars worldwide in two weeks.  Amazing, as this is an R-rated film and deserves that letter.  The new Disney?

Solo was nostalgic, yet new.

• How did he get his name and the Millenium Falcon?  
• Much of the same music, although John Powell (The Post and The Last Jedi) added to the original and lastest John Williams compositions.  
• Yes, Han was a smuggler and gambler.  Somehow, though, Alden Ehrenreich did not quite exude the deeper malevolence of Harrison Ford, as perhaps best shown in American Graffiti.

Where did this movie fit in the Star Wars timetable?

• 32 BBY: The Phantom Menace
• 22 BBY: Attack of the Clones
• 19 BBY: Revenge of the Sith
• ?? BBY: Solo
• 0 BBY: Rogue One
• Year 0: Star Wars
• 3 ABY: The Empire Strikes Back
• 4 ABY: Return of the Jedi
• 34 ABY: The Force Awakens
• 34 ABY: The Last Jedi

BBY is Before the Battle of Yavin, while ABY is After Battle of Yavin.  If Chewbacca is 190 years old, then those two question marks can be replaced with the number 12.

When in our time period is Year 0?  Well, if this series occurred a long time ago, then it is essentially impossible to determine.  Here is one attempt.  Or 1810.  Maybe 4.7 billion years ago if in our Universe.

Some interesting facts about Solo, the movie:

• Alden Ehrenreich played the Harrison Ford role.
• How did Han and Chewbacca meet?
• The first attempt came too close to being a comedy, so Ron Howard was brought in to remake it.

• The most intriguing character is Qi'ra, played by Emilia Clarke.
• Loved those intergalactic bar and night club scenes.
• It cost more than a quarter billion dollars to make this film, which earned $173 million in week one.  However, the expectation was a third of a billion.
• Ehrenreich has signed on for two more films, so there could well be a sequel.

I've been lukewarm on Star Wars productions, mainly because it makes no sense for technology that can travel throughout outer space at "warp" speeds still depending on swords and guns to do battle.  Something more electronic or approaching mental telepathy should by then be closer to reality.  But the current generation of moviegoers would not be happy with esoterically efficient kills.  I do like those lightsaber colors.

The next Star Wars, Episode IX, will be released in December of 2019.  JJ Abrams will direct and Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Kelly Marie-Tran and Lupita Nyong'o will return.

And in 2020 a Boba Fett focus.  Who?  The 8th most popular Star Wars character who has become a kind of cult hero.  If you're wondering how and why, join me.

As much as Solo was a minor disappointment, it was still entertaining.  Deadpool 2 exceeded expectations.  After all, it is a sequel.  But this one was better.  As I have said, I don't go to comic book films, but with certain exceptions.  Deadpool (Marvel) is about the only one because it does not take itself seriously.  If you can't stand potty-mouth dialogue, this is not one you should see.  

David Leitz directed, while Ryan Reynolds and Josh Brolin starred.  Leslie  Uggams as Blind Al returns.  Lot of casualties, but I can't remember if anyone really died.  However, during the filming, a stuntwoman was killed and TJ Miller ran afoul of sexual misconduct charges.

There was a movie song, Ashes, by Celine Dione, but those nostalgic fill-ins, 9 to 5, All Out of Love, and, especially Tomorrow from Annie (sung by Alicia Morton from from that movie) kept returning.

This is one of those films you'll need to see again, for the inane side-comments bashing everything from The Passion of Christ, Logan, Green Lantern (actually, I got this one) and a thousand other things went right over me.  The story itself is incidental.

At the end Deadpool joins his girlfriend in Heaven.  Am I giving away something really important?  Nope.  This is one of those movies where it doesn't matter.  Oh, don't leave the theater until the lights go on.  

Deadpool 3?  For sure, although Ryan Reynolds has hinted that might not happen because film powers seem only interested in optimizing the ensemble casted Avengers, Guardians and X-Men.  I suspect as star and producer of this ditsy tangent he was just trying to protect his $10 million plus fee.  

Deadpool is R-rated and the only Marvel Super Hero different enough to bring me into a theater.  Even though Hugh Jackman's Logan did well (Rotten Tomatoes 93/90) and was also R-rated (10th highest grossing R film, with Deadpool #2 and The Passion of Christ at #1--Deadpool 2 is already #12), there was no humor.  It certainly would not surprise me at all for a future crossover Deadpool/Wolverine film.

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Punchbowl, Lantern Floating Hawaii and Gold/Jacaranda Trees

Day 27 of the current Kilauea Volcano lava flows in Puna included another Halemaumau Crater plume that went up to 15,000 feet, destruction of a second Puna Geothermal Ventures well and the imminent coverage of Highway 132, the primary road into this region.  I've travelled over this road a hundred times.

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Otherwise, yesterday was a nostalgic and solemn, but exhausting, day for me.  I first walked through the McKinley High School campus.

I noticed a beautiful Gold Tree.  Then on the ground, the flowers, plus the cover of the 2018 Commencement.  My homeroom was in the left building next to the tree.  These scenes reminded me that 60 years ago in 1958 I graduated from this high school.

When those students reach my age, it will be the year 2078, only 22 years from the 22nd Century.

My next stop was the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.  I missed the formal Memorial Day ceremony, but noted that Dan Inouye, Spark Matsunaga, John Burns, Frank Fasi, Patsy Mink Jasper Holmes (was dean of engineering at the UH, home of the College of Engineering in his name) and Ellison Onizuka are interred here, among 53,000 others.

The original name of this crater was Puowaina, meaning Hill of Sacrifice.  Punchbowl covers 116 acres.  First opened in 1949, a columbarium section was added in 1982.  Next of kin of those buried here can qualify for urn internment.

Not only are there a lot of NO's, I wonder who designed the pole for the numerous flags.  Many are located where people must walk, and the flapping flag can seriously injure you.  They need to increase the height by three feet, at least.  A few photos:

I noticed that the plumeria lei they once laid (Did you know "layed" is now considered to be archaic?) is now of ti leaf.  You can see 15 Craigside from here:

Our apartment is surrounded by graves and flowering trees, including a Rainbow Shower Tree  next to 2101 Craigside, where I lived for 32 years:

A beautiful Gold Tree, plus, across the street from 15 Craigside, Pink Shower and Jacaranda trees.

When I made the decision to plant the Gold Trees for Pearl, second choice was the Jacaranda.  Mostly because she loved that tree about as much, and the purple flowers have a pleasant fragrance:

Back I went to Ala Moana Beach for lunch at L&L BBQ of beef stew and BBQ chicken:

I was impressed with this bento.  The beef was edible, while the carrot and potato pieces were just the right al dente.  L&L does an excellent job with the chicken.  

While I was eating, up came my Blue-bar Pigeon.  However, he didn't quite look right.  Then I noticed that the other pigeons looked worse.  I hope it's not about what they're eating here.

I came for Lantern Floating Hawaii.  This is the 20th year of this ceremony.

I thought I'd float a lantern, but the line to do this was so long I couldn't see the end.  However, I noticed a second tent with no lines.

This was where you go if you want to design your own float, but have them do the launching.  I've long wondered why those lanterns sailed out to sea.  You would think tide conditions determined direction.  But I guess the ocean differs from a river.  Maybe they've been lucky to get trade winds all the time.  Everything was free, but I donated $10, which they will use to clean up the park.

Initiated in 1999 at Keehi Lagoon by an obscure Buddhist sect, Shinnyo-en, this 20th year of the ceremony drew 50,000 and floated 7,000 lanterns at Magic Island.  The TV production was very professional and integrated Hawaiian culture.  The organization is headed by Shinso Ito.  

Her father (Shinjo Ito) started this new Japanese religion in 1936, and the headquarters remain in Tachikawa, close to Tokyo.  Mililani, Hawaii was the first foreign sanctuary in 1973, and temples are now in San Francisco, Los Angeles.  Taiwan, France, Italy, Belgium, Singapore and Australia.  They all have lantern floating events with now a million adherents.

A few other photos:

That is Her Holiness Shinso Ito.

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DAY 26: Kilauea Volcano Eruption in Puna

Things are getting worse on the Big Island of Hawaii:

• Halemaumau Crater (at the top of Kilauea Volcano) released explosive ash twice this morning, to elevations of 12,000 feet and 15,000 feet, meaning a lot more fallout for residents of the island.
• The first Puna Geothermal Ventures well was covered by lava, and more are threatened.
• There are now 24 fissures.

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When I posted on Memorial Day a year ago, I indicated a grand total of 651,008 American battle deaths.  Terrible, of course, and this is why we have this holiday today, to remember who sacrificed the most for the Freedom we enjoy.  However, the following summary indicates total war deaths:

American Revolution: 52,000? (Only a rough estimate)
War of 1812: 30,000? (No good numbers)
Civil War: 600,000?
Spanish-American War: 10,000? (Nobody really knows)
WWI: 16 million
WWII: 58 million
Korea: 2.7 million
Vietnam: 4.7 million
First Gulf War: 20,000 - 200,000 
Current Iraq war: 50,000 (some estimates range up to 650,000)

Add them up and you get 82 million people killed involving the USA beginning with the American Revolutionary War.  Thus, wars kill 126 civilians for each warrior.  Memorial Day should mean a lot more than just recognizing military war deaths.

Tomorrow will be Day 27 of the latest Big Island eruption.  To continue the theme of war, I will report on the latest Star Wars film.

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Tropical Storm Alberto made landfall over the Florida Panhandle today:

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