Freedom Writers

broderic on January 14, 2007

Freedom Writers is an inspirational movie. Aren’t they all? You could’ve probably guessed the plot for this one. Take one beleagured teacher. In this case Hilary Swank is the new teacher in town who has to salvage a school in the throes of integration after the LA riots. Add in an underachieving class. The freshmen english Swank has to teach is filled with the bused in kids from the projects. Get them to perform past their capabilities. The class writes to the lady who hid Anne Francke and she visits to inspire them. Don’t forget the indifferent school administration. And the struggle on the home front for the teacher.

Yeah, you could’ve written it. Although it does inspire you. Plus some early 90s hip-hop. Good and solid.

3 of 5 stars.

15-6

broderic on January 14, 2007

That’s the first time I have ever seen a Raven lay an egg. What a pathetic performance!

When I had walked into work on Friday, people were accosting me about why I wasn’t wearing purple. Now the Ravens are not my first team. I’ll support them because they are the home team. Yet, the level of haughtiness shown by assuming that this wold’ve been a win was unpleasant.

Distopia

broderic on January 10, 2007

I have recently seen two movies that portray the future of mankind as bleak, Children of Men and Idiocracy. The first is the film adaptation of PD James’s novel, and the latter is from the mind of Mike Judge who brought us Beavis and Butthead and Office Space. Their tones are so much different the one a high-falutin’ angsty expression the other downright absurd comedy, but they point to the fact that mankind’s future is not so bright. I liked the comdey, but the drama in Children of Men held some problems.

Several minutes into Children of Men, you are left to ponder how, scientifically, the world’s human females could not produce children. In science fiction, usually that question doesn’t have to be answered. You should let the story unfold. You should settle in and feel what the movie should be telling you.

Except with this movie you get doubts. Why? How does the world devolve into a state of chaos after the realization that the human race cannot reproduce? Wouldn’t it be that human life has become more valuable?

It is missing the backstory. Not that every distopian future needs a backstory, but it needs to be believable that this could happen. I needed an explanation for why it was the female humans could not have babies. So that the lady with the baby becomes even more fantastic. A miracle of sorts. Without the scientific explanation, I couldn’t buy into the story.

Several minutes into Idiocracy, you feel that this is the future if we don’t wise up. The people are stupid because only the stupid are making babies. It points out that our worship of stupid will get us into some trouble in the future. It’s stupid and funny, but downright scary and sad. “So basically it says here you’re fucked up, you sound like a fag, and your shit’s all retarded.”

3 of 5 stars. Children of Men
4 of 5 stars. Idiocracy

iPod/iPhone

broderic on January 9, 2007

Looks as if the rumors are true. Amazing thing is that it runs a scaled
down version of OS X! If it sells as well as the music iPod, OS X will
be the platform to develop for in the next couple of years. Start up
your compilers.

A New You

broderic on January 9, 2007

While most of my blogging buddies have be quiet this year, a new addition has quietly picked up the baton and written a slew of posts this year. So if you’re tired of not reading much from me, here’s Margeaux with her rants about life.

Keynote Bingo

broderic on January 9, 2007


Tomorrow is another big Steve Job’s Keynote speech. He may introduce a new ipod phone or when Leopard will be released. Use this bingo card to play along. You know the rules. Fill in whatever Steve Jobs has said. The winner is the Apple users!

Update:Here’s the definitive Keynote Bingo Card from the originator himself.

Topo

broderic on January 8, 2007


The EMS store in Cockeysville is closing down. All stuff in the store is 30% off including sale items. They really are trying to unload their winter clothing but they have some other stuff as well. I picked up the National Geographic Back Roads Explorer topological mapping software. I figure for $35 it’s a good price.

I’m going to use to map my cycling routes.

The map you see here is the route I call “Around Mom’s Block.” As you can see it’s relatively short at just over five miles. It’s a fun little ride with a quick downhill section followed by a nice steady climb. Do it a couple times for maxmimum benefit.

First Post

broderic on January 5, 2007

Of 2007.

Well, it’s been quiet. After the burst of activity for the 31 days of December, I took a break. No posting, because I couldn’t think of anything. Should I have put down my haul from Christmas? Should I wish you a happy new year? Should I list my resolutions?

Maybe. Perhaps. I don’t know.

So I planned to lightly post for a while.

Things are the same. The calendar may say a new year, but the days go by all the same.

Aulde Lang Syne

broderic on December 31, 2006

Well, another year has come to a close. As well as the 31 days of December daily blogging. I hope you enjoyed this year. We’ll see you around next year.