Movie Review: The Numbers Station is irrational.

Having been properly warned by Rotten Tomatoes, but hoping for a competent techno-spy thriller, or at least a guilty pleasures-type movie, I Netflix'd up this glossy-looking movie and sat down to watch.  OK, let's take care of the big problem in the plot first:

she: "Oh noes, we r trappd in this fully functional Cold War bunker radio station with teh bad guyz trying to drill in!" 

he: "And our phones linez r cutt!  We cannot calls for helps!"

With a plot hole that big from the get-go, there's no recovering this plummeting turkey.  All that is left is good acting by Cusack and Ackerman, competently executed stunts and explosions, an interestingly gritty setting, and a lot of spiffy Macintosh computers that somehow go "*dwerp*" at every keystroke.  There are several other lesser plot holes to round things out, but I won't belabor the point.

This movie does not even rise to the level of being a guilty pleasure.  One out of four stars.  Now if only I had a 100,000 Watt shortwave radio station to blanket Hollywood: If there is no story, then we don't care.

ps: If you don't know about numbers stations, go learn over at Wikipedia.

So, think you had a bad day?

Probably nothing like as bad as Anthony Weiner's Tuesday:

• Loses NYC mayoral primary with less than 5% of vote.
• Wifey doesn't show up for concession speech.  I'll wager he'll be making further concessions – in court – soon.
• Next, he was chased through a McDonald's and into an alley by Sydney Leathers.  Even if we didn't already know who she is, just being chased by someone with the name "Sydney Leathers" is frightening enough.
• But all good things must come to an end, and while being driven away Weiner wished accompanying members of the press a cheery "Good Luck!" in the manner of the Hawaiians.

Details and amusing video at gawker.

On one hand, it's depressing that this guy got as far as he did in politics, in life, and no doubt in finances.  On the other hand, it is encouraging that 95.06% of the voters of NYC finally saw him for what he is.  Good riddance.

Lungs.

Ugh, waiting for these darned lungs to heal from this bout of pneumonia.  Biggest problem is sometimes they just don't really open up and absorb oxygen the way they usually do.  Getting better though.

The old roadies thought that smoking cigarettes (yes, you read correctly) opened up their lungs and let them breath better on climbs.  Not about to try it, but it does make an amusing picture for our modern eyes:

*choke*choke*

Offbeat Movie Weekend

Finally watched Being John Malkovich and The Truman Show this weekend.  For almost fifteen years I've been urged by friends and family to see these, and having finally gotten around to it, I can see what all the urging was about.  Man, the strangest stuff happens down on 30A.

If you want the full low-down on them, click on the above links and see their respective Wikipedia pages.  Much has been written about each, and I won't try to tack on to it here.  I will give a bottom line rating for each though: 3/4 stars for Malkovich, and 4/4 stars for Truman.

Final note: Probably not best to watch both back-to-back.

57 Grams of Protein

First real road bike ride in over a month, and my legs are were killing me.  The solution?  Behold Baconator!

From the Wendy's web page: 2 grams of fiber, 940 calories, and 57 – fif-tee se-ven – grams of protein.  nom-nom-nom-nom-burp

This bout of pneumonia is definitely on the way out.

ps: To get the same amount of protein out of tofu, you'd have to eat three cups of the stuff.  But who the hell wants to eat three cups of tofu, and what would it do to your guts if you did?  Yech.

Dark Side on the Web

Well, we all missed it around here.  Probably wasn't on the BBC's World Service West Africa Ascension Island transmitter, and the ionosphere has been lousy lately anyway.

Luckily, it's archived on the web.  Enjoy!

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Afterword, Monday 9/2: The program (programme?) is only available on the web until 11:02 GMT today.  Give a yell if you have to have an .mp3 of it.

The Price of Madness

So last Friday I had the opportunity to drive a friend's new/used '08 Mustang GT (where GT = V8 + cool accessory package).  It's a very fine car, and we both agreed that his and my '12 V6 are about the same with slight differences everywhere.  The '05–'10 V8s, stock, are all in the 300 hp range.  By 2010, they'd crept up to 315, but that was about it.  The newer '11-'14 V6s are in the same power range, 305 hp stock, with a bit less torque.  But drive'em right, and they're about the same in performance (evidence), and they certainly felt the same zipping around last Friday.

OK, so what were the significant differences?  The '08 V8 just has that sound.  Glasspack a V6 all you want, and it can sound cool, but a V8 will sound cooler.  The V8 has a smidge more torque on take-off.  Nothing a driver can't work around, but the difference is there.  And then we get to milage.  I know, I know, but these cars are both daily commuters, and $hit $tacks up when the ga$ bill comes.  He's getting 21 mpg, while I'm getting 25-ish.  Well, maybe more like 23 when I drive like I mean it.  So, beginning Sunday and ending with Monday's commute home, I tried driving like a sane person and managed to eke out 26 mpg.  (29 mpg is easy to get on interstate trips, but that's a pony of a different color.)  By coincidence, my gas bill arrived in the mail yesterday too.  No road trips on this month's bill, just daily driving, perfect for a comparison.  So I did some math: what would be the monthly dollar difference if I continue to drive like a lunatic and suffer 23 mpg, or if I try to tone things down a bit and economize at 26 mpg?

Answer: $26.30 per month.

I think we know my response.

Rock on.