Wednesday, December 30, 2015
23 Things to look for when you see SW VII again.
Of course this is spoiler packed and I'm mostly posting this as a reminder to myself, but here are some things to watch for over at io9.
Raining buckets outside. Hmm.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Movie Review: The Big Short
This is a glorious mess of a movie, a fun-with-a-brain story of three groups of investment guys who all come to the same conclusion about the housing mortgage finance industry circa 2006, namely that this turkey's about to blow. The script is full of snappy dialogue, like something Quentin Tarantino might have written twenty five years ago, and the all-star cast delivers it with aplomb. Small asides delivered by guest commentators to help the audience keep up with the financial jargon are simultaneously jarring, humorous, and very welcome.
About the cast, Steve Carell's barely-in-control crusader carries the movie. It's not an explicitly comedic role, but the way Carell plays it we can see the humor and goodness in the character, rather than just labeling him a jerk. The rest of the cast does a fine job too, and while Christian Bale got top billing, Carell steals the show.
One expectation I had going in, maybe it was implied in the trailer, was that these three investment teams would somehow merge into one supergroup, and go in sort of an Oceans 11 direction. Didn't happen. The story jumps from one group to the other, and while they occasionally cross paths along the way, it is three separate tales showing the debacle from three different angles. It's an effective technique, but just don't expect some grand unification of the cast. Real life didn't happen that way, and neither does this movie.
Finally, there are some catchphrases taken from today's political situation thrown in, like soy sauce on top of waffles. They're unwelcome, out of place, and mar an otherwise fine film. In ten years the script writer will regret those lines, and in the here and now they knock a viewer out of the story, and knock a half star off the movie's overall rating.
Bottom line: 3 stars out of 4. This is one of those films like Wag the Dog that looks behind the curtain and explains the what and how of a complex situation while simultaneously entertaining a smart audience.
Monday, December 28, 2015
FT-857D is All Together Now
Over the last few weeks I've posted a few things about a new radio: the purchase, initial setup, side rails, a go-bag, etc. It's finally all coming together now, as you can see:
Yes, that is a cartoon ham on the bag. Courtesy of the Darling Daughter.
There are a few more details, mainly revolving around the need for portable power before taking this thing hiking. LiPO batteries are out there these days, and so are the prices. Will have to do some more
Between the rails, the bag, and the mini-manual, this has all I need for the field. Oh yeah, antenna and power source, but those are another couple of posts for another couple of days.
Anyway, everything got a full shake-down this past weekend for car camping by setting up and clamping to the truck's power system out in the yard. Managed a half-dozen contacts from MD to AZ without any trouble at all. Things are working out pretty well with this radio.
Star Wars VII Review: No Spoilers
Remember how you watched The Fellowship of the Ring for the first time back in 2001 with half-dread, hoping against all hope that it wouldn't stink on ice? And remember how it didn't, and you could just sit down and enjoy the damn movie the second time through? OK, this review is now telling you that Star Wars VII doesn't stink on ice, and is in fact pretty good. So just relax and enjoy the show the first time through.
ps: Watching how things finally worked out lessens this film's meaning and impact. Let's call it 2.5 stars.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Friday, December 25, 2015
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