Thanksgiving, 2016
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England, 2017
I have been promising family in the United Kingdom for years that I was going to visit soon, and I finally managed to do it. I correspond fairly regularly with two cousins–June Ward and Tony Neve, so I had a definite location in mind–London, where Tony lives. June lives in Spain, but she’s an expat, and luckily, she told me that she would be travelling…
How Did These Giant Telescope Predictions Work Out?
I was culling my stash of old Sky & Tel magazines and ran across this article from 2000 about future telescopes. Here’s how that worked out: Next Generation Telescope was originally planned for launching in 2009. It’s now called the James Webb Space Telescope, and its launch date is planned for 2018. Two pages over in the magazine, there’s a page titled “Next Generation Space…
Skywatch at Midlothian High
This is one of the skywatches that RAS (Richmond Astronomical Society) puts on for school systems around Richmond. It’s also part of my volunteer activities on behalf of the SSA (Solar System Ambassador) program that JPL/NASA hosts. NASA wants SSA volunteers to spread the word about NASA’s programs, especially to young people. Around 20 students and parents enjoyed the night sky on Dec. 1, using my…
Amazon Dot–Now This is Home Automation
I’m having a ball with this thing. Its real power is when you combine it with a Harmony smart remote. This morning, KK said she liked my 2nd wife–she turned on the TV by talking to Alexa. I can also switch the TV to ESPN by asking Alexa. But even without a Harmony, it’s pretty useful–This morning, I got the phone number for our vet…
Sweetwater (2013) Movie
In the late 1800s, a fanatical religious leader, a renegade Sheriff, and a former prostitute collide in a blood triangle. Yes, it’s a revenge flick, and you’ll be cheering all the way. And Ed Harris is superb as the Marshal.Source: Sweetwater (2013) Movie
Standoff (2016)
Fishburne plays a contract killer who murders some targets at a quiet funeral and when a 12 year old girl takes his picture, he hunts her, to terminate the evidence. She enters Thomas Jane’s house, a ‘shell of a man’ guzzling on that liquor, because that’s probably about the best thing to do after your wife leaves you because you weren’t careful enough when your…
Teeth, movie review
Incidental discovery on Netflix. Black comedy + revenge flick. Very well done. Too many horror flicks are doomed by poor acting, which is where this one really shines. You just can’t believe that such a lovely young, good looking woman can have such a gross problem. What is the problem? Her boyfriends find out that they should not get too close to her. And we’re…
Would You Rather, movie review
Another winner from Netflix BUT only if you like unexpected and violent bursts of extreme violence. But hey, it’s only a game. A young woman is invited to a dinner party. Even though she’s nursing her cancer stricken younger brother 24×7, she’s enticed by the fact that the dinner sponsor promises to help her brother. And when she arrives she quickly finds that in order to…
Millipede on Your PC
I cannot believe how good this game is. You youngsters won’t be able to identify, but you should try it. Even with a mouse, it’s addictive. I used to spend money to play this game, and now it’s free on my PC. Life can’t possibly get any better. http://my.ign.com/atari/millipede.
Return to Sender, movie review
Not quite a horror movie, but bordering on it. It’s a slow developer, but you’ll get a good reward at the end. A woman is raped (not to be seen if you’re squeamish), but ends up befriending the attacker after he’s sent to prison. Simple story, but the character development and story are very well done. It’s also a freebie, available on Netflix.