A neighbor had me do her makeup for a party.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Thursday, October 01, 2015
Movie Review: The Martian
Movie Review: The Martian
The movie version of The Martian came out last night. How did it come out so soon after the book? Apparently the movie and book deals were both struck within four days of each other. The movie was great. Yeah, some stuff was cut. Some stuff is almost always cut when they adapt a whole book to fit a movie sized spot. But some stuff is added. In the case of this movie they added some fantastic shots of Mars. We've had so many landers and rovers and satellites land there that they can do some super realistic shots of the landscape and the weather patterns. And it's gorgeous.
Let me tell you what they cut without giving away spoilers. Many of the problems and disasters. Most of the math is gone. Much of the botany and biology. Much of the chemistry. Not all of it. Some of it, one could argue, wasn't cut, but assumes the viewer isn't an idiot and knows what he's doing. Some of the chemistry is explained, but the movie doesn't tell where the catalyst was scavenged from. People who've read the book will know why Mark Watney is wearing a helmet indoors in one particular scene. It's not to protect his head.
You know how the Lord of the Rings movies were long, but on DVD they're even longer for all the fans to get the scenes they want? Most fans of the book want to add another hour to the movie just so the film makers can take the time to get into the details the book did.
The movie is hard science fiction. The only thing that is technically wrong is the weather. Mars does have storms that rage at 300+ MPH, but the air is so thin that you won't feel more push than you would in a breeze on Earth. The author knew that and twisted that fact anyway to tell a good story. He said that thanks to him the country is learning that fact about Mars and he's totally happy with that.
If you liked watching MacGyver then you'll love The Martian. Both tell about very smart people doing brilliant things with limited resources and with a good dose of action thrown in.
I'll absolutely get this on DVD. I may go and see it in theaters one more time.
The movie version of The Martian came out last night. How did it come out so soon after the book? Apparently the movie and book deals were both struck within four days of each other. The movie was great. Yeah, some stuff was cut. Some stuff is almost always cut when they adapt a whole book to fit a movie sized spot. But some stuff is added. In the case of this movie they added some fantastic shots of Mars. We've had so many landers and rovers and satellites land there that they can do some super realistic shots of the landscape and the weather patterns. And it's gorgeous.
Let me tell you what they cut without giving away spoilers. Many of the problems and disasters. Most of the math is gone. Much of the botany and biology. Much of the chemistry. Not all of it. Some of it, one could argue, wasn't cut, but assumes the viewer isn't an idiot and knows what he's doing. Some of the chemistry is explained, but the movie doesn't tell where the catalyst was scavenged from. People who've read the book will know why Mark Watney is wearing a helmet indoors in one particular scene. It's not to protect his head.
You know how the Lord of the Rings movies were long, but on DVD they're even longer for all the fans to get the scenes they want? Most fans of the book want to add another hour to the movie just so the film makers can take the time to get into the details the book did.
The movie is hard science fiction. The only thing that is technically wrong is the weather. Mars does have storms that rage at 300+ MPH, but the air is so thin that you won't feel more push than you would in a breeze on Earth. The author knew that and twisted that fact anyway to tell a good story. He said that thanks to him the country is learning that fact about Mars and he's totally happy with that.
If you liked watching MacGyver then you'll love The Martian. Both tell about very smart people doing brilliant things with limited resources and with a good dose of action thrown in.
I'll absolutely get this on DVD. I may go and see it in theaters one more time.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Friday, September 11, 2015
Friday Links
Friday, September 04, 2015
Friday Links
The saga of the dead raccoon. Be sure to click "next". 12 pictures in all. [link]
Visual comedy the Edgar Wright way.
John Oliver cited by US Court of Appeals. [link]
Imagine someone so isolated that they don't know what a dog or a bear looks like. That guy found out that his guard dogs were killing all his chickens for a reason. [link]
C-17s fly like geese. [link]
Consumer Reports calls the Tesla the best car they've ever driven. [link]
And conservatives have fits. [link]
3D printing prosthetic arms. [link]
Thank you for your help. Why are we screaming at each other?
The pitch (to the studio or to us?) for the new Muppet show.
How 3M invented the force field. [link]
After about 2 minutes I totally lost the thread. A short film done in early 60's British gay slang. [link]
One of the top runners for President: Deez Nuts. [link]
Only the neighbor kids joking on my front porch give me any idea about this joke.
Pics from Banksy's Dismaland. [link]
The music video is more interesting than the music.
108 year old message in a bottle found. [link]
Midcentury modern hotel. [link]
1982 DC Comics style guide. [link]
When civilization collapses, what one fact is it most important survives? [link]
Visual comedy the Edgar Wright way.
John Oliver cited by US Court of Appeals. [link]
Imagine someone so isolated that they don't know what a dog or a bear looks like. That guy found out that his guard dogs were killing all his chickens for a reason. [link]
C-17s fly like geese. [link]
Consumer Reports calls the Tesla the best car they've ever driven. [link]
And conservatives have fits. [link]
3D printing prosthetic arms. [link]
Thank you for your help. Why are we screaming at each other?
The pitch (to the studio or to us?) for the new Muppet show.
How 3M invented the force field. [link]
After about 2 minutes I totally lost the thread. A short film done in early 60's British gay slang. [link]
One of the top runners for President: Deez Nuts. [link]
Only the neighbor kids joking on my front porch give me any idea about this joke.
Pics from Banksy's Dismaland. [link]
The music video is more interesting than the music.
108 year old message in a bottle found. [link]
Midcentury modern hotel. [link]
1982 DC Comics style guide. [link]
When civilization collapses, what one fact is it most important survives? [link]
Tuesday, September 01, 2015
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Friday Links: 28 August
Baltimore area Batman dies in car wreck. []
I regret that I never saw him on area roads.
18 CEOs called out by Bernie Sanders for economic sabotage. [link]
Conservatives opposed to misogyny? Since when? [link]
Why CG sucks... or doesn't.
Bulldog loves his box.
Cheap synthetic muscle. [link]
Mortal Combat in the back yard.
Beer that's heliumated instead of carbonated.
Game: MineCaves - A MineCraft styled game where you find the gems and keys in the dungeon. [link]
Zorro: Beyond the Thunderdome. [link]
GTA5 plugin gives you better camera control to make your own movies. [link]
JRR Tolkien's latest book. [link]
Three movie deal coming soon.
Another article calling anti-choice groups a bunch of liars. [link]
Bears playing in a pool.
I regret that I never saw him on area roads.
18 CEOs called out by Bernie Sanders for economic sabotage. [link]
Conservatives opposed to misogyny? Since when? [link]
Why CG sucks... or doesn't.
Bulldog loves his box.
Cheap synthetic muscle. [link]
Mortal Combat in the back yard.
Beer that's heliumated instead of carbonated.
Game: MineCaves - A MineCraft styled game where you find the gems and keys in the dungeon. [link]
Zorro: Beyond the Thunderdome. [link]
GTA5 plugin gives you better camera control to make your own movies. [link]
JRR Tolkien's latest book. [link]
Three movie deal coming soon.
Another article calling anti-choice groups a bunch of liars. [link]
Bears playing in a pool.
Monday, August 10, 2015
Friday Links delayed
The farmers' market on Thursday screws up Friday Links. Yeah, yeah, that's my excuse.
Place your bets on how long it takes to become Monday Links or I drop the blog entirely.
Toronto is smog free. Shutting down the coal power plants is one of the big reasons. [link]
Counter-script for dealing with telemarketers. [link]
What happens when cyclists obey the traffic laws. [link]
I don't mind stop signs meaning yield for cyclists so long as I'm not getting charged with vehicular homicide when they get hit when blasting in front of me.
Flying Human Torch.
They haven't release the light that runs 2 hours on a lift of the weight, so this will have to do. [link]
75 year old nurse commits suicide, because she knows growing old sucks. [link]
A natural quiet preserve. [link]
Making 2000 year old bread.
I used to love this dead mall.
The Nickleback of the GOP. [link]
Abandoned Japanese fishing village. [link]
Game: Error Prone - drive in a circle better than the automated cars. [link]
Popularity of swearwords across America. [link]
I made one of these for the farmers' market. [link]
Kitchen haunted by a baby ducky. [link]
The Food Babe makes up some bullshit about beer ingredients. [link]
Beer makers set things straight. [link]
"GET AWAY FROM HER, YOU BITCH!" [link]
How to build a Mossarium. [link]
Place your bets on how long it takes to become Monday Links or I drop the blog entirely.
Toronto is smog free. Shutting down the coal power plants is one of the big reasons. [link]
Counter-script for dealing with telemarketers. [link]
What happens when cyclists obey the traffic laws. [link]
I don't mind stop signs meaning yield for cyclists so long as I'm not getting charged with vehicular homicide when they get hit when blasting in front of me.
Flying Human Torch.
They haven't release the light that runs 2 hours on a lift of the weight, so this will have to do. [link]
75 year old nurse commits suicide, because she knows growing old sucks. [link]
A natural quiet preserve. [link]
Making 2000 year old bread.
I used to love this dead mall.
The Nickleback of the GOP. [link]
Abandoned Japanese fishing village. [link]
Game: Error Prone - drive in a circle better than the automated cars. [link]
Popularity of swearwords across America. [link]
I made one of these for the farmers' market. [link]
Kitchen haunted by a baby ducky. [link]
The Food Babe makes up some bullshit about beer ingredients. [link]
Beer makers set things straight. [link]
"GET AWAY FROM HER, YOU BITCH!" [link]
How to build a Mossarium. [link]
Friday, July 31, 2015
Friday Links: July 31
Guys who are abusive to women online really ARE losers. [link]
There are superhumans... of a sort. [link]
Adam Savage wires up his Captain's Chair. [link]
WOOHOO! Washington DC is the worst bang for your buck. What's $100 worth in your area? [link]
Before Adam Sandler there was a good version of "Pixels".
Marion-Kay seasoning 99-X is the Colonel's secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. [link]
Once again, Fox News is confused by the Moon. [link]
The smartphone for the audiophile in your life. [link]
More of the Old Testament/Torah shown to be false. [link]
Did I post these modern grotesques? Have some modern grotesques. [link]
note: it's only a gargoyle if it spits water.
Pretty sure this isn't canon.
Rocking out on homemade banjos.
A monitor made of thread.
Who has fired Trump? [link]
Luxury animal quarantine. [link]
University of Michigan built a small town just to test self driving cars. [link]
What most non-Planned Parenthood pregnancy counselling places are really like. [link]
It's not pool, it's loop. [link]
It's like a clean room, but for noise. [link]
Lion hunting is WAY easy. [link]
A haka is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance, or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand. It is a posture dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment.
How to build a great bicycling city. [link]
There are superhumans... of a sort. [link]
Adam Savage wires up his Captain's Chair. [link]
WOOHOO! Washington DC is the worst bang for your buck. What's $100 worth in your area? [link]
Before Adam Sandler there was a good version of "Pixels".
Marion-Kay seasoning 99-X is the Colonel's secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. [link]
Once again, Fox News is confused by the Moon. [link]
The smartphone for the audiophile in your life. [link]
More of the Old Testament/Torah shown to be false. [link]
Did I post these modern grotesques? Have some modern grotesques. [link]
note: it's only a gargoyle if it spits water.
Pretty sure this isn't canon.
Rocking out on homemade banjos.
A monitor made of thread.
Who has fired Trump? [link]
Luxury animal quarantine. [link]
University of Michigan built a small town just to test self driving cars. [link]
What most non-Planned Parenthood pregnancy counselling places are really like. [link]
It's not pool, it's loop. [link]
It's like a clean room, but for noise. [link]
Lion hunting is WAY easy. [link]
A haka is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance, or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand. It is a posture dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment.
How to build a great bicycling city. [link]
Friday, July 24, 2015
Friday Links: July 24
How to cheat sleep. [link]
Why some people are "evil". [link]
Actual 3D, interactive holograms.
A Confederation of lies. [link]
... and I can't even blame it on the Japanese.
Lego Doctor Who trailer. [link]
Shop smart, shop S-Mart. [link]
The return of Bloom County... again. [link]
Most terrifying Joker ever.
This is how Star Wars is done.
19 September
Block God from your kids' computer. [link]
Chinese visitors to SW United States 2500 years ago? [link]
How to give mosquitoes a good population check. [link]
Fog flow.
Which political party is better for the economy? I mean, setting aside the fact that one in particular routinely boasts lower unemployment, lower deficits, and all that. Whose policies are better? [link]
Why some people are "evil". [link]
Actual 3D, interactive holograms.
A Confederation of lies. [link]
... and I can't even blame it on the Japanese.
Lego Doctor Who trailer. [link]
Shop smart, shop S-Mart. [link]
The return of Bloom County... again. [link]
Most terrifying Joker ever.
This is how Star Wars is done.
19 September
Block God from your kids' computer. [link]
Chinese visitors to SW United States 2500 years ago? [link]
How to give mosquitoes a good population check. [link]
Fog flow.
Which political party is better for the economy? I mean, setting aside the fact that one in particular routinely boasts lower unemployment, lower deficits, and all that. Whose policies are better? [link]
Friday, July 17, 2015
Friday Links
Messages from BEYOND THE STARS! Or, more likely, from the actual stars. [link]
Mouse vs Scorpion: FIGHT! [link]
Judges told the Kansas Governor that he's required to fund the schools. So now he's trying to get rid of judges. [link]
Rich Californians ask what's the point in being rich if we can't use all the water we want? [link]
Shortest commercial flight. [link]
Delirium deaths: coincidence that 100% of cases are of people in police custody? [link]
The man who decides what goes on beer labels. ALL beer labels. [link]
Another history of Boko Haram. [link]
A history of musicians telling politicians to stop using their music. [link]
See through trucks. [link]
Mouse vs Scorpion: FIGHT! [link]
Judges told the Kansas Governor that he's required to fund the schools. So now he's trying to get rid of judges. [link]
Rich Californians ask what's the point in being rich if we can't use all the water we want? [link]
Shortest commercial flight. [link]
Delirium deaths: coincidence that 100% of cases are of people in police custody? [link]
The man who decides what goes on beer labels. ALL beer labels. [link]
Another history of Boko Haram. [link]
A history of musicians telling politicians to stop using their music. [link]
See through trucks. [link]
Friday, June 26, 2015
Friday Links
Laptop issues continue, but here's something.
Cartoon documentary about Washington's medical marijuana. [link]
The instrumentation that's been picked for the Europa probe. [link]
That time NBC funded a breach of the Berlin Wall. [link]
Source of weird radio station found. [link]
Robot dog/cheetah/horse can now jump. And operate off the leash.
Real Viking helmet found. It's short on horns. [link]
I mentioned the iron snail before. Here's more. [link]
I want these cats as strays in my neighborhood. [link]
The Wizard of Oz with They Might Be Giants as the soundtrack.
Clips from the DARPA Robot Challenge narrated by WWE announcers.
100 year old chalkboard discovered. It proves Oklahoma didn't know how to do math back then, either. [link]
Cartoon documentary about Washington's medical marijuana. [link]
The instrumentation that's been picked for the Europa probe. [link]
That time NBC funded a breach of the Berlin Wall. [link]
Source of weird radio station found. [link]
Robot dog/cheetah/horse can now jump. And operate off the leash.
Real Viking helmet found. It's short on horns. [link]
I mentioned the iron snail before. Here's more. [link]
I want these cats as strays in my neighborhood. [link]
The Wizard of Oz with They Might Be Giants as the soundtrack.
Clips from the DARPA Robot Challenge narrated by WWE announcers.
100 year old chalkboard discovered. It proves Oklahoma didn't know how to do math back then, either. [link]
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Westport Market - opening day report
Friday Links continues it's hiatus due to computer issues.
I've been quiet for a long time. This is partially because I've been so busy. I bought yet another house, work strange hours, rescue fallen birds, refilling the Little Library on the front of my house, have had nice weather to sit and read on the front porch in, have been spending time with various tabletop gaming groups, and I've been helping to start a farmers' market in my neighborhood. As well as the usual mowing and spraying for poison ivy when there's time.
My neighbor, let's call her Dee, is an organizer. And I sometimes wonder if she know how ghetto the neighborhood is. She decided we need a farmers' market. I didn't really think it would do well. There's not enough money in the neighborhood and there's not enough of the food conscious sorts who really care about where their food comes from. And there's not enough people to make it worth it for the vendors. ...so I thought.
Still, I knew I could be wrong, I want to improve the neighborhood, so I jumped in.
I ended up, as I often do, being a major doer. I'm not a caller. I'm not their PR person. But I'll make sure that things get done.
I created the postcard, with Dee helping refine the design, that someone else mailed to everyone in the neighborhood. The postcard featured a picture of blackberries taken on my cousin's farm in Oregon... to pitch a local food event in Maryland.
I learned screen printing and made shirts.
I made 5 signs to put up around the neighborhood. One permanent one on the site, one outside Dee's house by the light rail, and a couple that can easily move. Then a dozen small signs that go up the day of to give directions to the market and to parking. The big ones showed me how good I'm getting with a paint brush. The little ones showed me how bad I am with spray paint.
I attended a lot of meetings, some which Dee was supposed to attend but got held up at work.
I rebuilt two picnic tables in the park where they were rotting or vandalized in an ownership dispute and painted three.
I mowed the park... twice. My new electric lawn mower only does about 1/3 of an acre with a charge. It took two trips.
I helped plant a sunflower forest to help advertise the market. I'm not sure exactly how the sunflowers do that. It'll be quite a site from the light rail train as it passes, but doesn't do anything for the market.
I went to an existing market and tried to sell those vendors on coming to ours.
I designed a lighting system to go with a emissions free generator we wanted. I mean I had every watt accounted for.
I brought Gandolf to socialize and have pictures taken with people. [instagram] [facebook]
I picked up the generator and got trash and official Baltimore recycling bins for us to use.
I wasn't really involved in the press releases. Or harassing vendors to come.
The first market was last night. 5:30 to 8:00. We had five food vendors and four "other"s.
One guy was selling bags of food. You weren't sure what you were getting, but it was a mix of vegetables. He sold out and plans to be back week after week, now.
The next was from a community garden the next neighborhood over. They've changed management since we started planning and are only doing the opening weekend.
The next was from a garden of only 1/4 acre. And he has a ton of hula hoops that he brought for people to play with. He'll be back on weeks when inventory allows.
Then there was some people with a respectable farm. They had similar anticipations for the farm to mine, but sales were good enough from their two tents that they plan to come back with more food.
Then there was the egg guy. He got held up, but he had plenty of eggs for sale. This was his second farmers' market of the day. He'll be back.
Then there were the others. First there was a representative of Retrofit Baltimore. They help people in low income areas find affordable ways to make their homes more energy efficient. They'll be along once a month.
Some people from the University of Maryland Agriculture Department were talking to people about gardening.
A woman talking about the hazards of a plan to ship oil through Baltimore in fragile train cars that are known to explode was there. Her group also helped with the initial park cleanup back in April.
And a woman who makes her own veggie juice was selling there. She says she'll be back, too.
This doesn't even mention the news crews or the politicians who showed up. State Delegate Brooke Lierman comes out to all our events. Enough that she knows my face.
We had a good turnout. A raffle helped keep people around for awhile. The hula hoops and Gandolf helped.
Then we tore everything down and shoved it all in Annapolis Bog. Then we'll do it again next Thursday, and every Thursday after that until mid-October.
I've been quiet for a long time. This is partially because I've been so busy. I bought yet another house, work strange hours, rescue fallen birds, refilling the Little Library on the front of my house, have had nice weather to sit and read on the front porch in, have been spending time with various tabletop gaming groups, and I've been helping to start a farmers' market in my neighborhood. As well as the usual mowing and spraying for poison ivy when there's time.
My neighbor, let's call her Dee, is an organizer. And I sometimes wonder if she know how ghetto the neighborhood is. She decided we need a farmers' market. I didn't really think it would do well. There's not enough money in the neighborhood and there's not enough of the food conscious sorts who really care about where their food comes from. And there's not enough people to make it worth it for the vendors. ...so I thought.
Still, I knew I could be wrong, I want to improve the neighborhood, so I jumped in.
I ended up, as I often do, being a major doer. I'm not a caller. I'm not their PR person. But I'll make sure that things get done.
I created the postcard, with Dee helping refine the design, that someone else mailed to everyone in the neighborhood. The postcard featured a picture of blackberries taken on my cousin's farm in Oregon... to pitch a local food event in Maryland.
I learned screen printing and made shirts.
 |
| A few prototypes. The color they picked with bright, electric, neon, lime. |
I attended a lot of meetings, some which Dee was supposed to attend but got held up at work.
I rebuilt two picnic tables in the park where they were rotting or vandalized in an ownership dispute and painted three.
 |
| The first two tables |
I mowed the park... twice. My new electric lawn mower only does about 1/3 of an acre with a charge. It took two trips.
I helped plant a sunflower forest to help advertise the market. I'm not sure exactly how the sunflowers do that. It'll be quite a site from the light rail train as it passes, but doesn't do anything for the market.
I went to an existing market and tried to sell those vendors on coming to ours.
I designed a lighting system to go with a emissions free generator we wanted. I mean I had every watt accounted for.
I brought Gandolf to socialize and have pictures taken with people. [instagram] [facebook]
I picked up the generator and got trash and official Baltimore recycling bins for us to use.
I wasn't really involved in the press releases. Or harassing vendors to come.
The first market was last night. 5:30 to 8:00. We had five food vendors and four "other"s.
One guy was selling bags of food. You weren't sure what you were getting, but it was a mix of vegetables. He sold out and plans to be back week after week, now.
The next was from a community garden the next neighborhood over. They've changed management since we started planning and are only doing the opening weekend.
The next was from a garden of only 1/4 acre. And he has a ton of hula hoops that he brought for people to play with. He'll be back on weeks when inventory allows.
Then there was some people with a respectable farm. They had similar anticipations for the farm to mine, but sales were good enough from their two tents that they plan to come back with more food.
Then there was the egg guy. He got held up, but he had plenty of eggs for sale. This was his second farmers' market of the day. He'll be back.
Then there were the others. First there was a representative of Retrofit Baltimore. They help people in low income areas find affordable ways to make their homes more energy efficient. They'll be along once a month.
Some people from the University of Maryland Agriculture Department were talking to people about gardening.
A woman talking about the hazards of a plan to ship oil through Baltimore in fragile train cars that are known to explode was there. Her group also helped with the initial park cleanup back in April.
And a woman who makes her own veggie juice was selling there. She says she'll be back, too.
This doesn't even mention the news crews or the politicians who showed up. State Delegate Brooke Lierman comes out to all our events. Enough that she knows my face.
We had a good turnout. A raffle helped keep people around for awhile. The hula hoops and Gandolf helped.
Then we tore everything down and shoved it all in Annapolis Bog. Then we'll do it again next Thursday, and every Thursday after that until mid-October.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Monday, June 08, 2015
The police were involved
This weekend I called in my first homicide.
Got your attention with that, didn't I?
So, I'm sitting out front trying to organize stencils to make signs for our upcoming farmers market while dealing with a swarm of neighbor children when I heard a rapid "bang bang bang bang bang bang". One of the kids jokes that someone just got shot. I analyzed the timing and determined that was too fast for a car backfiring. "I think you're right. Stay there." I said, and got up, moving towards the corner. As I reached my corner I saw two guys running like a bat out of hell away from where the sound originated. Definitely a shooting. Round the corner. What can I see? Phone out. 911 ready. Is there a body? Yes. Crap. I hit dial. "All circuits are busy. Please hold." I held for several minutes before anyone picked up. "Shooting. Annapolis Rd and Kent St. Someone down. Race unknown, ID unknown, condition unknown." Cops showed up shortly after. Word is the guy had a pulse when they arrived but I saw them doing compressions when they put him in the ambulance. Word is also that he's a homeless guy. But his mother was there. She lives too far away to have gotten there that fast. They're suspicious characters. After the crowd cleared I mentioned to some officers that I saw runners and which direction they headed. Then I hung around for more than an hour so the homicide detective could question me. They took me downtown but I couldn't tell them much. My focus was on making sure help was called for the shooting victim.
What did you do yesterday?
Got your attention with that, didn't I?
So, I'm sitting out front trying to organize stencils to make signs for our upcoming farmers market while dealing with a swarm of neighbor children when I heard a rapid "bang bang bang bang bang bang". One of the kids jokes that someone just got shot. I analyzed the timing and determined that was too fast for a car backfiring. "I think you're right. Stay there." I said, and got up, moving towards the corner. As I reached my corner I saw two guys running like a bat out of hell away from where the sound originated. Definitely a shooting. Round the corner. What can I see? Phone out. 911 ready. Is there a body? Yes. Crap. I hit dial. "All circuits are busy. Please hold." I held for several minutes before anyone picked up. "Shooting. Annapolis Rd and Kent St. Someone down. Race unknown, ID unknown, condition unknown." Cops showed up shortly after. Word is the guy had a pulse when they arrived but I saw them doing compressions when they put him in the ambulance. Word is also that he's a homeless guy. But his mother was there. She lives too far away to have gotten there that fast. They're suspicious characters. After the crowd cleared I mentioned to some officers that I saw runners and which direction they headed. Then I hung around for more than an hour so the homicide detective could question me. They took me downtown but I couldn't tell them much. My focus was on making sure help was called for the shooting victim.
What did you do yesterday?
Friday, May 29, 2015
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Book review: The Martian
I finished reading "The Martian" Friday night. It's put the forthcoming movie (Thanksgiving 2015) at the top of my list of anticipated movies. Yeah, more than Star Wars episode 7.
I had no choice but to read this book. None. While walking through the bookstore my attention would be drawn to this book over and over, visit after visit. I wanted to read it right off, but it was only in hard cover and I didn't want to read it $25 worth. I finally got it when I built up a pile of gift cards. Then it sat while I read all these other books that I really wanted to read. I should have just coughed up the cash. It's totally worth it.
The story is near-future, hard-science fiction. NASA is running a series of manned Mars missions. During the third mission a particularly bad sand storm comes up and the crew has to leave before their rocket blows over. One person gets left behind, assumed dead, when the storm stabs him with a broken off antenna and blows him out of sight of everyone else. When he finally comes to he has to figure out how to expand his 400 days of food into enough to last until the fourth mission arrives in four years on a different part of the planet.
The story gets into the chemistry of breaking down the toxic rocket fuel into components that can be combined back into water and breathable air, the reclaiming of Martian soil for farming, and how much food can actually be grown with the resources at hand. He has to adapt the rover for long trips to scavenge parts from old Mars missions, real ones. And it gets into what's going on back on Earth and on the craft that left without him and their efforts to help him once they see activity on Mars.
A desperate survival and rescue story is always good, but a large part of what makes this book so enjoyable is the writing style. When on Mars the story is told via the mission logs. More of a diary or blog, really. He has no pretense of formal, technical writing for NASA. He's writing as much to amuse himself as to document things for history or for technicians. On Earth the story is told more like a normal book, but you get people bantering more.
The movie will have to cut some of the more interesting parts of the story because they just won't work on screen. So be sure to read the book as well.
I had no choice but to read this book. None. While walking through the bookstore my attention would be drawn to this book over and over, visit after visit. I wanted to read it right off, but it was only in hard cover and I didn't want to read it $25 worth. I finally got it when I built up a pile of gift cards. Then it sat while I read all these other books that I really wanted to read. I should have just coughed up the cash. It's totally worth it.
The story is near-future, hard-science fiction. NASA is running a series of manned Mars missions. During the third mission a particularly bad sand storm comes up and the crew has to leave before their rocket blows over. One person gets left behind, assumed dead, when the storm stabs him with a broken off antenna and blows him out of sight of everyone else. When he finally comes to he has to figure out how to expand his 400 days of food into enough to last until the fourth mission arrives in four years on a different part of the planet.
The story gets into the chemistry of breaking down the toxic rocket fuel into components that can be combined back into water and breathable air, the reclaiming of Martian soil for farming, and how much food can actually be grown with the resources at hand. He has to adapt the rover for long trips to scavenge parts from old Mars missions, real ones. And it gets into what's going on back on Earth and on the craft that left without him and their efforts to help him once they see activity on Mars.
A desperate survival and rescue story is always good, but a large part of what makes this book so enjoyable is the writing style. When on Mars the story is told via the mission logs. More of a diary or blog, really. He has no pretense of formal, technical writing for NASA. He's writing as much to amuse himself as to document things for history or for technicians. On Earth the story is told more like a normal book, but you get people bantering more.
The movie will have to cut some of the more interesting parts of the story because they just won't work on screen. So be sure to read the book as well.
Friday, May 22, 2015
Friday Links: May 22
Titanium spheres of life from space. [link]
Opening titles to a non-existent Black Widow movie.
A song in memory of Jim Henson.
Trailer for The Overnight, a movie written and directed by someone my lackey went to film school with.
I need to make some of these. [link]
Camels came from Canada. [link]
A quick history of Industrial Light and Magic from the people who were there. [link]
You haven't been sufficiently horrified today.
Australia's plague of spiders. [link]
3D printed zoetrope. [link]
In disaster relief, the media is another problem. [link]
3D painting. [link]
Cars as ammunition. [link]
Rats help each other out of danger. [link]
An extremely well trained dog. [link]
Opening titles to a non-existent Black Widow movie.
A song in memory of Jim Henson.
Trailer for The Overnight, a movie written and directed by someone my lackey went to film school with.
I need to make some of these. [link]
Camels came from Canada. [link]
A quick history of Industrial Light and Magic from the people who were there. [link]
You haven't been sufficiently horrified today.
Australia's plague of spiders. [link]
3D printed zoetrope. [link]
In disaster relief, the media is another problem. [link]
3D painting. [link]
Cars as ammunition. [link]
Rats help each other out of danger. [link]
An extremely well trained dog. [link]
Friday, May 15, 2015
Friday Links: May 15
NASA says their EM Drive will work in space. [link]
I don't know how big this drive is, but, in theory, we get not only interstellar relativistic propulsion, but atmospheric shuttlecraft as well.
HEY! HITLER! We're in your bathtub using your soaps! [link]
The five and a half year old who gave birth. [link]
Captain America had different to-do lists when Winter Soldier was show in different countries. [link]
Click the photo to see alternate lists.
An article ripping into Texas idiocy. [link]
The largest single cell organism. [link]
The war on rats. [link]
The sound of fear. [link]
The Muppets are coming back!
I'm not sure who's more excited, me or Gandolf. She's been Bork Bork Borking all day.
The books all white men own. [link]
Ok, the list starts out pretty weak, but gets better. I have several of these that I haven't read, a few that I have, some where I've seen the movie, a couple where I may have downloaded the e-book from manybooks.net, one or two that I started and couldn't finish, because bleh.
Anodizing a Titanium Over-Denture Bar
Turning the horrible, burning death of ants into art.
It's still a bad time to be in Baltimore. [link]
A 3D map of the nearest 100,000 stars. [link]
A couple of familiar names you'll see... Barnard's Star was mentioned in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Vega is where Jodi Foster ended up in Contact.
What went wrong in Age of Ultron. [link]
More importantly, a paragraph explaining everything that made the "Puny god." moment of The Avengers so awesome.
Music video done with pins and string. Watch the backdrop degrade.
Seriously, though, Gandolf will be upset if the new show doesn't have the Swedish Chef.
The sound of fear. [link]
The Muppets are coming back!
I'm not sure who's more excited, me or Gandolf. She's been Bork Bork Borking all day.
The books all white men own. [link]
Ok, the list starts out pretty weak, but gets better. I have several of these that I haven't read, a few that I have, some where I've seen the movie, a couple where I may have downloaded the e-book from manybooks.net, one or two that I started and couldn't finish, because bleh.
Anodizing a Titanium Over-Denture Bar
Turning the horrible, burning death of ants into art.
It's still a bad time to be in Baltimore. [link]
A 3D map of the nearest 100,000 stars. [link]
A couple of familiar names you'll see... Barnard's Star was mentioned in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Vega is where Jodi Foster ended up in Contact.
What went wrong in Age of Ultron. [link]
More importantly, a paragraph explaining everything that made the "Puny god." moment of The Avengers so awesome.
Music video done with pins and string. Watch the backdrop degrade.
Seriously, though, Gandolf will be upset if the new show doesn't have the Swedish Chef.
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