All posts by BagpiperDon

Announcement, Book, The Patriotic Piper Vol 01

The Patriotic Piper – PUBLISHED!

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The Patriotic Piper, Vol. 01 EBOOK COVER“The Patriotic Piper, Vol. I” — my first Highland bagpipe sheet music book — has PUBLISHED!!!  Since it’s launch last Sunday things have been non-stop.  I’ve spent nearly 10 hours each day promoting the book online — mostly talking with people about its contents and my approach to the work.  Positive reviews are coming in on Amazon and people are saying great things on Facebook.  The book and e-book even hit Amazon’s “#1 New Release in Military Marches“.

Here’s the short list of what’s in the first installment of
The Patriotic Piper …

  • 20 traditional Scottish American military and patriotic bagpipe compositions, arranged into 8 performance numbers
  • 15 delicious Scottish and Irish recipes
  • Numerous history and trivia writings accompanying the tunes and recipes

(Click here for a Longer Description)

Patriotic Piper Vol. I COVER FRONT
An early arrival! (Front Cover)

Various people have messaged saying that their copies are already showing up in the mail.  They tell me the book looks great, and it is even more interesting and fun than they expected.  As an author … well … that tells me I did my job!

Patriotic Piper Vol. 01 COVER BACK
(Back Cover)

Several proud new book owners claim to like my concept of accompanying the compositions with the tune histories.  Some even said that this was a deciding factor in their book purchase.  Numerous people have indicated their excitement about my inclusion of traditional Scottish and Irish recipes as the second half of the book.  Certainly, there’s something for everyone in The Patriotic Piper, Vol. 01.

The Patriotic Piper is a fundraiser item for the Scottish American Military Society Post #1889.  Not only am I a member, I also serve as an officer leading our small but stout Pipe & Drum corps.  This is the official music collection of the Post.  The monies raised by this book will assist Post 1889 with their projects.  S.A.M.S. is a national organization and is a Congressionally Chartered Veterans Service Organization, which is dedicated to the preservation of the contributions of the Scots to the American Military and Society.

The Patriotic Piper is Available Now on Amazon
Print Edition — Published 22Nov2020
E-Book — Published 05Nov2020

Find The Patriotic Piper
At GoodReads and
At Whidbey Island Baking Company

Announcement, Book, E-Book

BagpiperDon – Interviewed as an AUTHOR!

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Claire Buss
TOP OF THE MORNING, CLAIRE!

REAL QUICK!!! — I was recently interviewed and featured on ButIDontLikeSalad.  Yes, you read that right . . .

ButIDontLikeSalad is a writing-themed blog by a delightful lady in England — Claire Buss.   Originally Claire found me online while looking to interview podcasters.  I spoke up about the writing themed podcast I do with my friend, Tom, titled Writing On Whidbey Island.  This lead to an interview on PenToPrint.org.  On the heels of that, Claire asked me to do an interview which is now on ButIDontLikeSalad.  I talked about writing, my first book “Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies” (available on Amazon),  and my upcoming book “The Patriotic Piper, Vol. I” (also on Amazon).

Okay — you got all of that — right?!?

Well, it’s also mentioned here on my Whidbey Island Baking Company website.

ENJOY! ~ Don

Movie, Review, Zombies

Zombie With A Shotgun (2019)

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Zombie With A ShotgunWhen I heard about Zombie With A Shotgun, the title had me curious — it was a turn-around on the typical premise.  Usually the shotgun is used on the zombies, but in this case the zombie apparently has a shotgun.   The title also made me think of Hobo With A Shotgun.

I watched Zombie With A Shotgun on TubiTV — it was my first time using Tubi.  I had higher hopes about ZWAS because of the promotion I had seen online and the implied campiness.  Ultimately … the acting is thin, the dialogue delivery is hardly better, and the gratuitous Z-film boobs are further enhanced by some sort of hallucinations of lesbian kissing followed by some of the same Z-film boobs in the shower with boy-butt just to keep things in balance.  Outside of that, I barely have an idea what the point of the film was.  Were this a book a friend referred to me I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t finish reading it.

I appreciate the independent film spirit — and I honestly believe that the film wants to be something.  It has a visual polish — a certain professional look — but everything else falls short.  It is as though the filmmakers had the right money, cameras, etc to make the film but the story writing and actors weren’t much better than most of the self-produced Z-films on YouTube.  The development of whatever the story is hardly makes sense even 30 minutes into the film and it’s only 79 minutes long.

Before I finished the film I already began debating if I would rate Zombie With A Shotgun would receive my Red Blood or Yellow Puss zombie-film rating. Conclusion … maybe I need to come up with some kind of orange rating.  ZWAS isn’t a great zombie film, but there are worse Z-films.

Links

Movie, Review, Zombies

ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP (2019)

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OKAY — I finally got to see Zombieland: Double Tap!  Do some stretches, grab some Twinkies, and let’s dive in…

When any first film was an original and a hit, there’s a challenge to making Film 2.  The filmmakers can’t half-ass it and make a reheat of the first film — they have to kick-it-up a notch.  They need to bring something new to the story, not change too much from the original, and go deeper with the journey the viewer went on the first time.  In this Bagpiper Zombie-film Reviewer’s Blog opinion Zombieland: Double Tap had a bit of an interesting time navigating these concepts …

Little Rock, Wichita, Tallahassee, and Columbus

We find the main characters from Zombieland (2009) about 10 years in the future — which fits in that it’s been about 10 years between the two films.  Tallahassee, Columbus, and Wichita are living together as Little Rock is reaching her 18th birthday.  Things go bad — as they always do in zombie films — and the sequel story is off and running.

Beyond this information I’m not going to risk any spoilers … so let’s get back to what I think of the film …. which, I presume you want to know or you wouldn’t have read this far.

There’s a well written review by arabnikita at IMDB titled “Sometimes less is more and not every movie needs a sequel” that sums things up well.  Arabnikita gave the film 6 out of 10 stars and writes …

“When Zombieland came out in 2009 it was able to break the routine of zombie films by using an unorthodox style with its quirky dialogues, rules and storytelling. It was wild, fresh and most inportantly fun … but sadly, the story leaves a lot more to be desired.”
(And you know I copied and pasted that writing because ‘importantly’ has a spelling mistake.)

Big Fat Death monster truck

The ZL2 is a continuation of ZL1 — we get to see the same beloved characters, and they go on a road trip.  The quirk of the characters is brought further out by many of them running into their doppelgangers — which bring added comedy, dynamic, and … frankly … sex appeal.  ZL2 doesn’t quite amp things up from ZL1 but to make up for that in a story-fitting and story-progressing way the zombies have evolved into different dangerous types.  That and some memorable Zombieland vehicles …. and some new Rules.

So in 2030 are we going to get “Zombieland: Hat-Trick“?  Who knows — and I’d probably watch that, too.  As for Zombieland: Double Tap, I’m probably more glad than sad that it was made Vs not made, and I got a kick out of watching it.  If you’re a Z-film fan and you enjoyed ZL1, I’d say Watch It — but don’t get your hopes up too high, which is why I rate it Yellow Puss.

If nothing else, watch the film for Emma Stone …. to be supportive of her career, of course.

LINKS

Movie, Review, Zombies

RAMPANT (2018)

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So here’s my take on Rampant . . .

According to Wikipedia “Rampant is a 2018 South Korean period action zombie film directed by Kim Sung-hoon. It was released on October 25, 2018. The film features a clash between exiled prince Lee Chung and the Joseon Minister of War Kim Ja-joon with the backdrop of a spreading zombie plague.”

I like foreign films.  I don’t always have the patience for foreign films.  This looked like it was probably a well made film before I called it quits on it.

That’s the extent of my review.

I rate it Yellow Puss.

Links

Movie, Review, Zombies

The Dead 2: India (2013)

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HEY — if this reads a bit like a draft … it’s because it is!

Similar to The Dead (2010), I give this film a Yellow Puss/nearly Green Ooze score.

Similar story elements as the first film however seems that the Ford brothers have honed their craft both with storytelling and film making

A good looking American engineer is working in an economically depressed foreign country, he must make his way out with the assumption that he can get to safety

In this movie, the action is set in the Indian states of Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

Uses local talent as part of the story line more than The Dead (2010) — which is really clever if you think about it.  This and the first piece were made by independent film makers for rather little money.  By going to these other countries and writing stories that work within the local atmosphere the can get more resources and actors, making a bigger film for less money.  When it comes to India, bear in mind that Bollywood produces some goofy stuff, they also produce skilled actors, quite a few more films annually than HolloWood, and nearly-as-good special effects for less money.

Links

Once again the production encountered a number of problems.  Most of the extras playing zombies were not proficient in English and required translators.  Joseph Millson also mentioned that they did not get a permit from the Indian Government to shoot the movie in India.

If National Geographic made a travel show through a foreign country ravaged by zombies, it would be this film

Movie, Review, Zombies

Undead (2003)

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PSST — if this reads like a draft, it’s because it is — I never went back to finish writing it …. so I figured better to publish this than nothing!

Undead (2003 – US release 2005 … shucks, why’d we have to wait?!?)

Undead is a 2003 Australian zombie science fiction comedy horror film written and directed by Michael and Peter Spierig and starring Felicity Mason, Mungo McKay and Rob Jenkins.

(Not to be confused with the 1957 horror film, The Undead (film).)

Budget AUD $1 million (which in USD that’s $0.75 million)

A fisherman punching zombie fish and when that doesn’t work he starts shooting them …. and then inconveniently gets abducted by aliens.  I hate it when that happens …

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Movie, Review, Zombies

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

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Wait — what — “Thor / Ragnarok” is a zombie film?!?

Uh … YEAH!

Remember when Hela, Thor’s older evil sister played by Cate Blanchett, raised the former soldiers of Asgard?

Yep … ZOMBIES!

The undead Asgardian army (or more appropriately the Berserker Army makes Thor: Ragnarok a zombie film.  Considering that most modern Z-films have ‘infected’ zombies, these ones being raised by Hela’s powers (magic, whatever) is closer to the original voo doo zombies.

Draugr
Who’s a pretty boy?

Frankly, as zombie films go … I have to rate this one Yellow Puss.  It’s a considerably bad-ass movie, but the zombies have too little to do with it.  In fact, I think they were only shown about twice in the film.  They didn’t even particularly seem to have anything to do with the Norse concept of zombies — better known as a Draugr.

The Old Norse meaning of Draugr is a revenant.  The details of these buggers and their abilities are many.  In simple terms, they are animated corpses with physical bodies and similar physical abilities as in life.  Draugrs have superhuman strength, are able to increase their size at will, and give off the stench of decay … basically it’s a cross between a 2 year old and a teenager.  How do I know this?  Because they guard what they treasure, wreak havoc on living beings, or torment those who wronged them in life …. in other words, their parents.  Don’t believe me?  Well, they also have the ability to enter into the dreams of the living.  They live in their grave or burial mound, usually guarding the treasure that was interred with them.  When they do rise from their grave, they come out as wisps of smoke and “swim” through solid rock.

Sparkles
Keep in mind — Thor is “The God of Thunder” … but Disney makes him “The God of LIGHTENING”

Now — I’m telling you — a film with these zombies would be INCREDIBLE …. and frankly, in this regard Thor / Ragnarok fell severely short.  Sorry Disney … I guess you don’t just screw up Star Wars films (specifically TLJ / ROS) — you screw up Marvel films as well.

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Announcement, BPD Albums

An Intriguing Call Today …

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I received a call today that proved to be … INTRIGUING!

out of the blueSpring of 2012 I produced a custom solo album for a friend.  I planned the music, I ran my gear, I played for it, and I handled all the audio post-production.  The project was made under a time-crunch — I recorded and made the CD in about 24 hours, then rush-mailed it across the country to her.  This collection of music was brief but with a very specific purpose.

The crazy thing here is that I want NOTHING MORE but to say what this was about, but there’s a reason why I can’t give those details away.  Read on, you’ll find out why…

There was only ever one CD made of this album.  Today I received a phone call from my friend and she asked if I could make a back-up copy for her.  I’m not one to lose data — there have been some mistakes, and I had an only-partially backed-up hard drive crash once, but for the most part I have everything I’ve ever made or gathered.  So — YEAH — I still have the audio and everything from the custom album I made.

Back when I produced this work I wrestled with a thought…  I considered making a similar album and put it on the market.  The mental wrestle came from considering the good and bad reasons for going public with a CD of this nature.  I mentioned this to my friend when we spoke today.  She thinks it’s a great idea!  For me … it’s intriguing!  Her suggestion was that I use the same title as I gave her CD, and if I can re-use the same audio even.  She thought she might even be able to make the artwork .  Hmm … INSTANT ALBUM!

don't stop believeingNow I’m playing around with the ‘intriguing’ idea again.  While I’d love to talk about it, I can’t say really anything more.  When it comes to my album and track ideas, I always play it close to the vest — I want to protect my ideas so they don’t get stolen by someone else.  So … consider this blog post what may be the first announcement of a future album.  This could be the first of a number of albums I’ve thought to make — or with some of my work, finish — and get on the market along with my recipe book.  Cross promotion is a beautiful thing!

Review, Zombies

Ash vs Evil Dead – Season 1

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GROOVY!

Ash Williams is BACK in “Ash vs Evil Dead“!

What could be better than hearing that Bruce Campbell has resumed his mantle as the lovable horror-comedy shotgun-wielding, chainsaw-hand rube ASH???  Well, at least for fans of the original three films … (ED1, ED2, AOD)

“If Chins Could Kill” that chin would belong to none other than Bruce Campbell.  Presently, I’m little more than half-way through Season 01.  I’ve heard nothing but good things from other fans, and I quickly came to the same opinion.

Yeah, remember that creepy cabin?

Ash vs Evil Dead is staying true to the original films.  The story resumes 30 years later and Ash is … well, Ash.  He’s working at a chain store, living in a trailer park, looking for love, and not aspiring to much.  But then … after fighting The Evil Dead twice in a woodsy cabin and once with the aid of medieval knights, perhaps he’s laying low … or perhaps he’s lost his purpose?

Nonetheless, The Kandarian Demon has reemerged in Ash’s later-life, possessing hapless people and turning them into Deadites.  Ash has no choice but to gather those around him in hopes of keeping Evil from crossing over into this world.

Ray Santiago as Pablo and Dana DeLorenzo as Kelly

This new series in my opinion could not be better executed.  It lends honorable nods to the original films.  It not only strikes me as what the Sam Raimi team originally set out to accomplish, it also serves as an amped-up progression.

Ash vs Evil Dead is on the Starz network and filmed in New Zealand. Bruce is aptly joined by Ray Santiago/Pablo, Dana DeLorenzo/Kelly, and Lucy Lawless as Ruby Knowby.
(PSST!  For no apparent reason Wikipedia seems to downplay Jill Marie Jones who portrays Amanda Fisher during the first half of the season.)

Jill Marie Jones, Amanda Fisher
Jill Marie Jones as Amanda Fisher

Bruce Campbell – Official website

The music featured in Ash vs Evil Dead is also FANTASTIC!
The soundtrack is on my wish-list 🙂