I never understood why my parents called this thing a “Potato Bug.” Technically it’s a Woodlouse, but from this archive of a Dialect Survey at least I’m not alone in my “Potato Bug”-ness.
Month: July 2016
The Dark Horse
- Based on the true story, “The Dark Horse” weaves the history of Genesis Potini (in the movie played wonderfully by Cliff Curtis), a chess champion in New Zealand battling with mental illness who discovers his passion in teaching others the glory of chess, and in doing so is able to calm many of the demons in his head.
This was a great movie. Enough said.
Back in the Day
- Meanwhile, in the world of “whatever happened to?”, here comes Shannen Doherty, yes, that Shannen Doherty, as Maria, Anthony’s love interest who, of course, Anthony can’t have because she is hooked up with the made guy, Dominick.
I really wanted to like this movie, but the mob stereotypes were just too overblown.
Daisy in Blue Sky
Sometimes the look from below is better than from above.
Here is some “sun” on this Sunday.
Bachelor Games
- Moving along we learn of the military veteran friend losing his mind, one of the dudes who wants revenge, one friend who is a complete jackass, and some extra friends thrown in for supposed comic enjoyment.
Next, of course, throw in the “super-scary” plot twist.
The movie was supposed to be a horror-comedy, but I didn’t find myself laughing. Bummer because the movie had some potential as a horror film. They should have focused on that.
Yellow and Green
On a walk through the Dupage County East Branch Forest Preserve, this big beauty just wanted to be seen!
When Siri Fails
As I get older I rely on Siri, on my iPhone, to remind me of things. Okay, fine, it’s not because I’m getting older, it’s mostly just because she is there. I remember the old days just trying to plant in my memory banks the reminder of something to do. It usually worked pretty well, but then technology came along. One of the things I got in the habit of doing was calling myself and leaving a voicemail. It didn’t go off at a certain time, but there would be the small memory trigger of “Self, there was something I wanted to remember, do you remember what it was?” “No, Self, I don’t, but I remember leaving myself a voicemail, so let’s check that.” “Okay, Self, let’s do that….” (check voicemail) “Oh, yea, Self, take the chicken out of the freezer.”
Then came Siri.
Than came “Remind me at 8PM take the chicken out of the freezer.” Sure enough, at 8PM, my iPhone or Apple Watch would signal I was supposed to do something, and Siri was there with “Take chicken out of the freezer.” “Remind me when I get home water the plants.” I would get home and there it was, Siri’s gentle reminder so that plants wouldn’t die.
Usually Siri never lets me down, but there it is, in my reminders, amongst the items to keep our dog, Milo, healthy, mixed with the quarterly reminder to change the air filter, and some other things I either have coming up or, yea, I keep neglecting, a completely obscure “See if I can get another.”
Siri failed.
I vaguely remember taking my phone, holding down the Home button, hearing the little chirp, and saying “Remind me see if can get another…”, and then something I don’t remember because, well, I wanted Siri to remember for me. There had to be the Siri’s reassuring reply of “I’ll remind you.” because the reminder is in my list, sort of, but I’m sure I didn’t look at my iPhone to see if she got the reminder correct because, well, I trust Siri. The problem is that I wanted another something, and Siri was only half-listening. Maybe she was looking at her emails, or checking her friend’s Facebook update. I trusted Siri to remind me to get another of something, and Siri failed.
Bad Siri.
As I troll through the recesses of my brain to try to remember what I wanted another of, alas, it isn’t there. I really hope it wasn’t important because it will be kind of odd saying, “It’s Siri’s fault.”
There are times I think I should just go back to pen and paper, jot down the things I want to do, maybe something I need another of, and review the list at the end of the night. I suppose I could “Hey Siri, remind me at 8AM tomorrow put paper and pen in my pocket,” but now I’m a little worried Siri might not really be listening – She might be putting a selfie with fireworks in the background on Snapchat, and at 8AM I’ll get a reminder to “Put” and be left in my head with “What?”
Maybe I should just buy a wall calendar.
That’s it for this one! L8R!!
Solar Powered Garbage Cans
On my YouTube channel I have a goal in July to post a new song every day for the month. It started the other day with an ode to the first “date” I had with the woman who would be my wife. I call it a “date” because it was really just a re-connecting after 20+ years (we met in high school) and didn’t intend for it to lead to us getting married. Somehow, on this “date,” she didn’t run away screaming even after my conversations about solar powered garbage cans, red-winged blackbirds, and crabapple trees.
DVD player found in Tesla car in May crash
- A digital video disc player was found in the Tesla car that was on autopilot when its driver was killed in a collision with a truck in May, Florida Highway Patrol officials said on Friday. …
- A lawyer for a truck driver involved in the accident with the Tesla told Reuters his investigators had spoken to a witness who said the DVD player was playing a “Harry Potter” video after the accident, but the lawyer was unable to verify that beyond the witness account.
Until we have autonomous cars it’s the driver who is responsible no matter how advanced the “cruise control”, a.k.a. autopilot, might be. Here’s hoping a government recall doesn’t happen.