{"id":29760,"date":"2024-05-16T10:29:17","date_gmt":"2024-05-16T14:29:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/?p=29760"},"modified":"2024-05-16T20:38:13","modified_gmt":"2024-05-17T00:38:13","slug":"weylands-whey-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2024\/05\/16\/weylands-whey-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Weyland\u2019s Whey"},"content":{"rendered":"

Weyland’s Whey\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

by Weyland Smith<\/p>\n

For Your Deliberation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cody’s Wish<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cody Dorman was born with a rare genetic disorder called Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome.\u00a0 It severely impacts growth and development.\u00a0 During a Make-a-Wish visit to Gainsborough Farm, Kentucky, in 2018, a 5-month-old weanling came over to Cody and his wheelchair and placed its head in his lap.\u00a0 They bonded.\u00a0 The horse’s owners decided on the name Cody’s Wish.<\/p>\n

Cody and his family often journeyed to watch the horse compete.\u00a0 At the 2023 Breeder’s Cup, the horse’s final race before retirement, expectations were low.\u00a0 Too many great horses.\u00a0 No way Cody’s Wish could win.\u00a0 When the bell rang, he started out at the back of the pack.<\/p>\n

Then it began.\u00a0 Splattered all over with mud from bringing up the rear, Cody’s Wish slowly but inexorably made his way up to the front.\u00a0 The crowd was on their feet.\u00a0 No matter who they’d bet on, everybody was cheering for that horse.\u00a0 He won by a nose.\u00a0 Cody Dorman joined his friend in the winner’s circle.<\/p>\n

Cody Dorman passed away on his way home after the race.\u00a0 He was 17.<\/p>\n

Sounds Like Salem, Part One: The House of Seven Gables.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was a book by Nathaniel Hawthorne.\u00a0 And a movie.\u00a0 (Vincent Price was in it.)\u00a0 The house itself was designated a National Historic District.\u00a0 Sparkle had seen it before and warned me it was small.\u00a0 I’ve been an apartment dweller most of my life, so the rooms didn’t strike me as cramped, although the ceilings seemed kind of low.\u00a0 Our guide told us that wasn’t<\/em> because people were\u00a0that\u00a0<\/em>much shorter then–he said folks were only two or three inches smaller back in 1668, which seems like a pretty sizeable difference to\u00a0me<\/em>, but wth.\u00a0 I learned four things (besides how short people were back then): Sarah Good–executed by hanging–shouted at Reverend Nicholas Noyes during her trial, “I’m no more a witch than you are a wizard, and if you take away my life God will give you blood to drink!”\u00a0 Twenty-five years later, the Reverend perished himself…when he choaked on his own blood.\u00a0 I also learned that a gable is a pointed section of wall enclosing the end of a roof, the shape and design of which depend on various features.\u00a0 The house didn’t always have seven of them, but it does today.\u00a0 I believe the number of gables varied from time to time.\u00a0 And the kitchen, at least to me, was a horror show.\u00a0 The fireplace where servant women cooked was open.\u00a0 Those women wore long skirts–which were flammable.\u00a0 That rated a shiver from me.\u00a0 And the girls slept in that room, amid the dust and cinders.\u00a0 How well could you sweep that up in those days?\u00a0 Last but not least, Hawthorne himself may have been kind of a dick.\u00a0 He thought of the town as in the process of melancholy decay and saw its slavery sins as both fascinating and shameful.\u00a0 On the bus ride out of town, we passed a statue of Hawthorne which our guide claimed had its back deliberately turned to Salem.\u00a0 I guess he held a grudge about losing his post as Surveyor…<\/p>\n

Note: Some reports claim Reverend Noyes died from a brain hemorrhage instead of gagging on his own blood–but hey, that’s close enough for me!<\/p>\n

(Sources: The tour, American Writers Museum, and Wikipedia.)<\/p>\n

MUSIC Review: Saliva<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hard rock.\u00a0 They played their first show on Halloween in 1996.\u00a0 Founding member and guitarist Wayne Swinny died while on tour in 2023.<\/p>\n

My verdict: 3 broomsticks.<\/p>\n

(Found ’em Music Choice!)<\/p>\n

TV Review: The Irrational<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Oh, you’re the science guy.”<\/p>\n

“That’s Bill Nye.\u00a0 I’m actually the behavioral science guy.”<\/p>\n

Billed as a “whydunit”, this American crime drama stars Jesse L. Martin as Professor Alec Mercer, who is frequently called in by police to help out with puzzling cases.\u00a0 (People can act\u00a0so<\/em> irrationally, after all!)\u00a0 I’ve watched three episodes, and while my favorite was the pilot, I’ll always have a soft spot for the one with the Tarot cards.<\/p>\n

Premiered on NBC September 25, 2023.\u00a0 Based on a 2008 non-fiction book titled Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions.<\/em>\u00a0 By Dan Ariely.<\/p>\n

Verdict: 4 broomsticks.<\/p>\n

MAGAZINE Review: Weird, NJ<\/strong><\/p>\n

I’ve been reading this mag off and on for years, and it never disappoints.\u00a0 Published twice yearly, WNJ can be found at stores throughout the Garden State.\u00a0 (Look for their web site addy below.)\u00a0 It’s a sort of guidebook for local legends, folklore, spooky stories and news bits.\u00a0 Every cover has a bizarre photo on it.<\/p>\n

Verdict: 4 broomsticks.<\/p>\n

Website: www.weirdnj.com<\/p>\n

(Sources: Ish #61, Knowledge and Wikipedia.)<\/p>\n

Bio<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last year, while rushing to beat what’s known in the trade as the Dreaded Deadline Doom, I tapped out a column late at night only to realize to my horror after submission that it was riddled with typos.\u00a0 Fortunately,\u00a0that<\/em> turkey never saw print, but it made me wonder what I’d do if (nah, let’s be real, when<\/em>) I goof up again.<\/p>\n

The Army has a solution of sorts, called the 5 Ps.\u00a0 The sanitized version goes like this: “Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance”.\u00a0 So here’s the plan, Pilgrims: henceforth, anybody who spots a typo or similar mistake in one of my columns and points it out to me via e-mail will automatically win a coveted Null Award–which, as the name implies, is actually nothing at all.\u00a0 Nada.\u00a0 Zilch.\u00a0 Like the millions in my bank account, they only exist in my imagination.\u00a0 Great concept, hah?\u00a0 Hah?<\/p>\n

(I stole the idea from Smilin’ Stan Lee himself.\u00a0 Hey–the Weylander only swipes the best!)<\/p>\n

Send your observations to weylandsmith@yahoo.com.\u00a0 Go easy on name calling and profanities, you know how sensitive I am.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Weyland’s Whey\u00a0 by Weyland Smith For Your Deliberation Cody’s Wish Cody Dorman was born with a rare genetic disorder called Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome.\u00a0 It severely impacts growth and development.\u00a0 During a Make-a-Wish visit to Gainsborough Farm, Kentucky, in 2018, a 5-month-old weanling came over to Cody and his wheelchair and placed its head in his lap.\u00a0 They bonded.\u00a0 The horse’s owners decided on the name Cody’s Wish. Cody and his family often journeyed to watch the horse compete.\u00a0 At the 2023 Breeder’s Cup, the horse’s final race before retirement, expectations were low.\u00a0 Too many great horses.\u00a0 No way Cody’s Wish could win.\u00a0 When the bell rang, he started out at the back of the pack. Then it began.\u00a0 Splattered all over with mud from bringing up the rear, Cody’s Wish slowly but inexorably made his way up to the front.\u00a0 The crowd was on their feet.\u00a0 No matter who they’d bet on, everybody was cheering for that horse.\u00a0 He won by a nose.\u00a0 Cody Dorman joined his friend in the winner’s circle. Cody Dorman passed away on his way home after the race.\u00a0 He was 17. Sounds Like Salem, Part One: The House of Seven Gables. It was a book by Nathaniel Hawthorne.\u00a0 And a movie.\u00a0 (Vincent Price was in it.)\u00a0 The house itself was designated a National Historic District.\u00a0 Sparkle had seen it before and warned me it was small.\u00a0 I’ve been an apartment dweller most of my life, so the rooms didn’t strike me as cramped, although the ceilings seemed kind of low.\u00a0 Our guide told us that wasn’t because people were\u00a0that\u00a0much shorter then–he said folks were only two or three inches smaller back in 1668, which seems like a pretty sizeable difference to\u00a0me, but wth.\u00a0 I learned four things (besides how short people were back then): Sarah Good–executed by hanging–shouted at Reverend Nicholas Noyes during her trial, “I’m no more a witch than you are a wizard, and if you take away my life God will give you blood to drink!”\u00a0 Twenty-five years later, the Reverend perished himself…when he choaked on his own blood.\u00a0 I also learned that a gable is a pointed section of wall enclosing the end of a roof, the shape and design of which depend on various features.\u00a0 The house didn’t always have seven of them, but it does today.\u00a0 I believe the number of gables varied from time to time.\u00a0 And the kitchen, at least to me, was a horror show.\u00a0 The fireplace where servant women cooked was open.\u00a0 Those women wore long skirts–which were flammable.\u00a0 That rated a shiver from me.\u00a0 And the girls slept in that room, amid the dust and cinders.\u00a0 How well could you sweep that up in those days?\u00a0 Last but not least, Hawthorne himself may have been kind of a dick.\u00a0 He thought of the town as in the process of melancholy decay and saw its slavery sins as both fascinating and shameful.\u00a0 On the bus ride out of town, we passed a statue of Hawthorne which our guide claimed had its back deliberately turned to Salem.\u00a0 I guess he held a grudge about losing his post as Surveyor… Note: Some reports claim Reverend Noyes died from a brain hemorrhage instead of gagging on his own blood–but hey, that’s close enough for me! (Sources: The tour, American Writers Museum, and Wikipedia.) MUSIC Review: Saliva Hard rock.\u00a0 They played their first show on Halloween in 1996.\u00a0 Founding member and guitarist Wayne Swinny died while on tour in 2023. My verdict: 3 broomsticks. (Found ’em Music Choice!) TV Review: The Irrational “Oh, you’re the science guy.” “That’s Bill Nye.\u00a0 I’m actually the behavioral science guy.” Billed as a “whydunit”, this American crime drama stars Jesse L. Martin as Professor Alec Mercer, who is frequently called in by police to help out with puzzling cases.\u00a0 (People can act\u00a0so irrationally, after all!)\u00a0 I’ve watched three episodes, and while my favorite was the pilot, I’ll always have a soft spot for the one with the Tarot cards. Premiered on NBC September 25, 2023.\u00a0 Based on a 2008 non-fiction book titled Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions.\u00a0 By Dan Ariely. Verdict: 4 broomsticks. MAGAZINE Review: Weird, NJ I’ve been reading this mag off and on for years, and it never disappoints.\u00a0 Published twice yearly, WNJ can be found at stores throughout the Garden State.\u00a0 (Look for their web site addy below.)\u00a0 It’s a sort of guidebook for local legends, folklore, spooky stories and news bits.\u00a0 Every cover has a bizarre photo on it. Verdict: 4 broomsticks. Website: www.weirdnj.com (Sources: Ish #61, Knowledge and Wikipedia.) Bio Last year, while rushing to beat what’s known in the trade as the Dreaded Deadline Doom, I tapped out a column late at night only to realize to my horror after submission that it was riddled with typos.\u00a0 Fortunately,\u00a0that turkey never saw print, but it made me wonder what I’d do if (nah, let’s be real, when) I goof up again. The Army has a solution of sorts, called the 5 Ps.\u00a0 The sanitized version goes like this: “Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance”.\u00a0 So here’s the plan, Pilgrims: henceforth, anybody who spots a typo or similar mistake in one of my columns and points it out to me via e-mail will automatically win a coveted Null Award–which, as the name implies, is actually nothing at all.\u00a0 Nada.\u00a0 Zilch.\u00a0 Like the millions in my bank account, they only exist in my imagination.\u00a0 Great concept, hah?\u00a0 Hah? (I stole the idea from Smilin’ Stan Lee himself.\u00a0 Hey–the Weylander only swipes the best!) Send your observations to weylandsmith@yahoo.com.\u00a0 Go easy on name calling and profanities, you know how sensitive I am.      <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":284,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10004],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29760","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-monthly-columns"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29760","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/284"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29760"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29760\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29764,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29760\/revisions\/29764"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}