2009 Bonnaroo Lineup
I had this chilling over in the side for a little while now, but it sits very awkwardly over there so I'm just gonna post it below, and link to it from the homepage
Bye Bye Bye Analog TV
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So what does that mean for the viewers of those 421 stations? Well it probably looks a bit something like THIS. Rather unfortunate for them, but I hardly take pity. Many stations just didn't have enough forewarning to reverse the in-motion plan to shut down on the 17th, other companies were eagerly anticipating the 17th to shut down their analog broadcasters, enabling them to save money.
That's all I've got to say
Slimee, signing out
Some Quick Updates!
Hey guys, just a quick update here. I want to apologize for the lack of updates the past two days. Jess and I have been working on getting a weekly webcomic up on the site, and getting the first one drawn is taking a little bit because we're still working on getting the characters right, and since we're drawing by hand it's been a bit difficult maintaining decent replicas of characters. It's coming along EXTREMELY well though, and I think you all will like what you see when it comes up. I'm really excited for it. I am also considering a change in layout, as with each passing day, I grow a bit more frustrated with this one. So we may re-enter a construction zone here. I'll keep everyone updated
In other news, I missed LOST last night and I'll be catching up on it today, so either look out for the LOST blog tonight or tomorrow.
To those who saw my rant on the auto industry, here's a few updates for you - GM is eliminating the Saturn brand, and plans to have it completely removed by 2011. Pontiac will also receive a large de-emphasis on product, with all but a few brand-specific models (probably the Solstice) keeping the Pontiac badge. These few models will be sold at Chevrolet dealerships, however. GM's subsidary Hummer will be sold off and is also facing elimination (not really a surprise) if the company doesn't find a buyer by March 31st. Sadly, the worst for last, Saab (another GM sub) is also facing hard times, though GM said it may offer it the oppurtunity to Re-organize, if the Swedish government provides Saab with some cash flow. The Swedish Government isn't looking very likely to extend the helping hand to its ailing car company though. Read all about it at Left Lane News. I'll be sure to keep everyone as up-to-date as I can on the recent developments of the Dying of the Dinosaurs.
That's all I've got for now, keep your eyes peeled, I've got another vlog hitting youtube tonight. I'll post the video once it's uploaded
Until then...
Slimee, signing out.
Timers or Sensors? The Traffic Light Dilemma
The one thing a motorist fears above all else, is being late to get nowhere. Doesn't it always seem when you're in a rush to get somewhere, you just seem to catch every single red-light on your way? You always sit at them for what seems the longest time, and you quick glance at the clock on dashboard and back at the light...it's still red. Finally the intersecting light turns yellow and you begin to ease of the brake, ready to take off. Sensors for traffic lights seem to be the wave of the future, while some areas still cling to timed lights, believing them to be most efficient. But probably worse are the areas that utilize both sensors and timers, where nothing ever seems to work out.
Let's start off with the sensored lights (ha..censored...anyway) - the lights are based on detecting the presence of a vehicle waiting over the grid (usually visible from the pavement) and signals to the light that traffic is waiting. Depending on traffic on the intersecting street, the light may change immediately to green to prevent an unnecessary halt in moving traffic. These generally provide excellent traffic flow for most streets that go distances between lights. In areas with more lights per/mile ratio, they can sometimes hinder flow by changing at improper times for intersecting streets. Sensors can also hinder traffic by not really being very sensor oriented at all. Many sensor lights still function on a timer of sorts, and even with sensors, people can be left waiting at lights for a long time, despite there not being any intersecting traffic.
Then there are timed lights. They can be as simple as being on a fixed time, being synchronized to all change at the same time or coordinated where they turn green in waves, so as to allow a driver to catch long strings of green.
Timed lights can be great (in terms of those coordinated) but can be a major pain in the ass when they're either of the other two. In high congestion all forms of timed can be both a blessing and a curse. Once again there's the advantages and the disadvantages. Generally they're all based on the posted speed limit, so if you're in a rush, you'll miss the advantages of coordinated/synchronized and end up sitting at all the reds anyway. However, with emergency vehicles being given the ability to change a light to green for obvious safety concerns, it can defeat the purposes of the lights being sync'd up, and cause unnecessary traffic.
But what takes the cake on a failed idea, is the marriage of these two ideas. Implementing an attempt at sync'ing lights. In my area, they've done just this, only a bypass where the speed is 55 mph. The lights are designed to be coordinated, but since some of the intersecting streets along the way have sensors, the coordination fails to work, and some instances even the sensors fail to work. I guess that's where this rambling has gotten me to...
I'm upset that more attention is paid to traffic signals by the DoT. Lights designed to be co-ordinated should be re-sync'd every night at midnight or something similar in order to re-establish co-ordination should it be altered by an emergency vehicle. Sensored lights should be periodically checked from time to time to ensure their effectiveness. Intersections should also be more frequently assessed for changes in traffic patterns, to ensure that sensors and timers are more effective at intersections.
Of course, all this is unrealistic as the cost to do something so large scale, across the entire country would be vastly expensive...perhaps they should just do it in my neighborhood ;-)
End Rant!
Slimee, signing out.
Taken - Review
Oh Liam, you could have gotten your daughter back fast if you would have just used the Jedi Mind Trick.
Ok no, but seriously, I absolutely loved Taken. It is definitely a very balls-to-the-wall action movie, where the star has the ability to repel (via special "Protagonist Magnets") 99% of bullets, with of course the 1% of obligatory "Oh I got shot to prove I'm not immortal" scene.
I think this movie's strongest aspect is the flow. The movie maintains a very speedy pace throughout the 90 minutes you're in your seat. Everything has a simple explanation, and Liam's character pretty much has free roam in Paris due to his time doing shady government work for the CIA. Yet, at no point did I sit there and say, "Where are the police in all this?" because they just didn't spend enough time in the aftermath of anything to really show the cleanup.
And let me be sure to say, there was plenty for the Paris Police to clean up after Neeson showed up. Bryan Mills (Neeson's character) pretty much spends the entirety of movie killing absolutely everyone involved in the kidnapping of his daughter, from the bottom up.
I mentioned it in my review of Escape From City 17 that I enjoy the shaky cam style of filming, and while this movie spends a lot of time with established shots, all the action sequences are shot in the "shaky-cam" style and I thought it fit well. I spent much of my time comparing the action sequences to that of the Bourne Trilogy, except Bryan Mills was a lot more in favor of ending lives, rather than just beating people up.
Neeson's performance is stellar, and his deadpan line delivery is excellent for the hell-bent-retired-CIA-agent he plays. From the get-go you sympathize with his desire to spend more time with his daughter, and despise the materialistic mother who left him for Daddy Warbucks (whom we never really see develop as a character).
In fact, just about every character besides Neeson, his wife, daughter (Maggie Grace - formerly LOST regular Shannon Rutherford), and shady French Police Buddy, we never really see any character development from anyone. No one seems to live long enough to develop, and those who do live, are just kind of pushed aside to make room for more death and mayhem. Don't get me wrong, I didn't mind all the explosions and shoot outs, but after the first 15 minutes it seems, we totally lose touch with Neeson's friends with whom he aided in a job early on in the film. It seems like they could have had a bigger role in the movie, and they just got cut off a bit too soon.
All in all, I absolutely loved Taken. If you're looking for something with a lot of action this new year, Taken is definitely the movie to see right now. If you're looking for a deep movie with a lot of character devlopment and lengthy winding plot, then you're going to come out of this movie a little disappointed. Leave the thinking cap at home at home for this movie, and get ready for the adrenaline filled kill frenzy that is Taken.
A Truly Lazy V-Day, and a Yearning for Spring
Truly a lazy day indeed. Most people get all excited for Valentine's Day, and every year I spent single in my life, I'd wished I was spending it with someone, and cursing my loneliness. This year though, it just passed like any other day. Jess and I both slept in absurdly late...well no, Jess slept in absurdly late and I woke up around 10:30 to feed the cat and crawl around the webs for a few hours until it was time to wake her up.
But even after waking her up, we didn't really do anything outside of our normal routine, of just chillaxin' to the maxin'. The only really solid (semi-romantic) plans were to see Taken this evening, in oh about an hour and a half from the time I write this. Maybe it's because we're both piss-poor that we didn't spend frivolous amoounts of money on stuffed animals, chocolates, and flowers that we kind of just skipped over the holiday. But perhaps it's because those things aren't what make the day special. Perhaps it's just being with your significant other and spending time together that's special. Or on the contrary, drowning your sorrows and rejection in a nice tall pint of ale that makes the day special. Regardless, my "I Love You" Teddy Bear from last year still seems to do the trick, so I'll save myself the $5 from re-purchasing it.
On the otherside of this post, it was beautiful out a few days ago. It reached just shy of 70 degrees all the way up here in the Philadelphia area. If it hadn't been for the slight winds, I would have busted out the shorts. But alas, it was but a brief tease of the warm stuff, and just the very next day the winds began whipping upwards to 60mph, and it's only gotten worse from there. I truly do dislike the cold weather, and what it does to my state of being and my sinuses. I think I'm about ready to say goodbye to this wonderful city once I save up the money (God knows that won't be any time soon). I'm tired of the cabin fever, and the struggling to entertain myself with the same things over and over again, and going to the same places. I want to be able to roam freely in the woods and parks again, and experience the wonderful feeling of sand beneath my toes at the beach.
I'm so done with you winter!
Slimee, signing out.
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