Random Topics

[Cpt Sophia M Eisley]

Just my own humble opinion on IMAX movies centering on things like the Mars Rover, but seeing it on a screen of that enormity is probably the best way to get a sense of awe from such scenery, right? Did it focus entirely on the rovers rolling about at (Mars) ground level, or did it take different view points? I guess if it was the former, it might be a little on the boring side. (I'd probably still find it interesting, considering who I work for.)

Speaking of IMAX movies, one of the best (of only a few I'd seen via Denver's History and Science Museum) is The Living Seas. Talk about breathtaking.

[Rogue Mermaid]

The Little Mermaid III?

I was watching my new Little Mermaid dvd set and discovered they are making a new one. Straight to home video release. I have mixed feelings about this. I LOVE the original, but the 2nd one just didn't do it for me. But to be fair, I think that I love the original so much that there is no way a sequel would live up to the original. I like that my favorite Disney character is getting another movie, but I worry that the story won't live up to the first one.

[Christine]

The Little Mermaid III?

I was watching my new Little Mermaid dvd set and discovered they are making a new one. Straight to home video release. I have mixed feelings about this. I LOVE the original, but the 2nd one just didn't do it for me. But to be fair, I think that I love the original so much that there is no way a sequel would live up to the original. I like that my favorite Disney character is getting another movie, but I worry that the story won't live up to the first one.

That's typical Disney for ya, just can't leave stuff alone! It's all about remakes and sequels with them now, ugh!

[Caraccioli]

Just my own humble opinion on IMAX movies centering on things like the Mars Rover, but seeing it on a screen of that enormity is probably the best way to get a sense of awe from such scenery, right? Did it focus entirely on the rovers rolling about at (Mars) ground level, or did it take different view points?

Well, all of the stuff coming from the rovers comes out of one camera and that's sitting a few feet off the ground. So you can't get a lot of expansive scenery shots. I may be confusing it with the images from the Galileo mission to Jupiter, but I think the images coming back are black and white and they computer colorize them using various reference material. So that might further limit the effectiveness of the images.

They do indulge in a lot of really well-rendered computer images of the Martian surface including some cool shots of the airbag padded landing. But it doesn't capture that sinking stomach feel you get from watching some of those almost pointless (storywise) flying and roller coaster IMAX movies.

[Caraccioli]

Huh. According to IMDB, Peter Falk's daughter Catherine is actually a detective.

[Patrick Hand]

My Boss sends me (what she thinks is ) interesting stuff all the time....(OK some of it is fun.....)

But I love this tag line at the end of thesa group messages.....

This communication, including attachments, may contain confidential, privileged, copyrighted or other legally protected information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, disclosure, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication, or any of its contents, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately re-send this communication to the sender and delete the original message and any copy of it, including all attachments, from your computer system.

Yah... right......

[Patrick Hand]

OK... I'm in a crumby mood tonight...

But is there anyplace with fun thoughts (other than never never land...)

Dang I live in a place run by Republicans.... rich bast..........<pg-13> but they ain't any fun.....

Is the grass always greener someplace else...... just "live with it"... but ... that just ain't right.........

Wagh......

heck.... I typed that I wasn't in a good mood.....

Ain't going to die fer those bas... (PG-13 MODE ON) but it gets so werrysome sometimes.......

OK... I'm going out to the garden and eat worms.................

[Red Cat Jenny]

Do what I do. Find yourself a spot where you can just look out on nature (beach, farm etc) turn your back to anything that looks like civilization, and picture it all gone. Brings a bit of relief. Helps if you have your beverage of choice along.

I did this at sunrise in the Bahamas and it was great. Very refreshing.

[Red Dog]

Republican, democrat...... I'm done with ya

I'm not a socialist, nor communist, green party, WTF, where do you go from here?

I want less government, more personal responsibility, end this Iraqi situation and get our people outta there. I agree with the cause but it's time to let them take control of their country. Get out of the UN and stop worrying about what France thinks, YOUR MY GOVERNMENT, TAKE CARE OF MY COUNTRY FOR ONCE GODDAMNIT!

Sorry for the outburst, i apologize for any ill feeling this caused. I love this country and I'm verrrrrrrry tired of watching rich, over indulged children, tell me what's best for me. I will make that decision.

[Caraccioli]

Republican, democrat...... I'm done with ya

I'm not a socialist, nor communist, green party, WTF, where do you go from here?

The current state of party politics reads like the Roman bread and circuses policy.

Take a philosophical stance and eschew the parties entirely:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarianism

(Note, I am not advocating for the Libertarian party, which is just sort of wacky; I believe the libertarian philosophy is probably what you're describing, though.)

[Red Cat Jenny]

Recently a lobbyist with a 35 year career told CNN that in his whole career he had never seen a more corrupt adminstration or hill.

As for me?

Tired of payin taxes fer naught

Tired of non union work

Tired of lousy health bennies

Tired of "Party" nonsense.

They spend more on catering and haircuts than I spend on me rent in a year!

Ready for the Piracy Party!!

Party line.. "Stand and Deliver!"

[jessie k.]

I'm ready for this election to be over; I'm just so sick of hearing politicians flinging mud at each other, and people arguing that if you don't agree with their point of view you must be stupid, and just politics in general. Not that all that will really end after the election, but hopefully it'll be a little less tense! I shoulda been a hermit.

[hitman]

I used to be a pretty hard core political junkie as a kid. I rember I started out writing a book I called looking at the world through dirty lenses ( A play on the fact my glasses are forever scrathed and dirty and yes I know with my spelling writing a book is not the best thing ) I truly believed that if I could get the world to read it people would understand. Looking back at the little kid I was I realise I still hold the same belifs but no longer think the rest of the world is worth helping. To be honest I spent election night pissed off that I was 800 miles from home and due to a last minute snafu didn't get an absintee ballot. Following the results online I found the Democrats I pulled for lost and the ones I despise won. (No major figures here just local stuff) A few of my republican canadates got in and the one I truley despise (Senator Orin Hatch Here is why IPaction.org) won handly. I miss the days of my youth when Bob Barr and Cynthia McKinny were at one anothers throats on the floor of congress. Back when there were a few politicians on both sides of an issue ready to fight for what they saw as right. Now we are flooded by Democan and Republicrats. To be perfectly honest I knew who would when Ga's 12 US Congress seat 2 years ago but it still sucks knowing I got Jhon Barrow for two more years. I think next time I'm gonna vote for Byrad Rustin's bones as a write in. Hell if I am gonna be saddeled with a liberal I at ;east want one who will stand for something. Well I'm just about out of battery life so I will end this rant with one final note, I DO NOT WORK OUT OF A HALL! Never have and never will.

[hitman]

Contrasts

On thursday I picked up a load of chain link fence in Houston thats heading for HEL-LA. To be frank I hate this load (It wiggles and wobbles and there is no way you can get confident in it.) I hate Houston and I hate LA (Yep I'm Capt. Obvious ). It's been a long damn trip and I've been paranoid for 1300 of the 1500 miles of this load. I'm worring my way through nearly 2 packs of smokes a day and I will have been a month gone the next I drag this skateboard back to Georgia. All that said I couldn't help but feel good when the sun set behind the mtns of south Arizona. The cotton candy clouds hung over the moutain tops and and the cool evening air flowed into the cab of my old Freightshaker. The constant paranoia about the load and where it is heading didn't leave but it some how seemed alot more bearable to me. Revealing in this feeling and listening to Chris Leduex sing under the westeren Sky I took the time to refelect back on my life here out on the road. The distinct contrast between the vision out my windsheild and the pure rank ugliness of some of the places I'd been and for all intents and purposes lived shocked me. Looking back on that moment in time it seems odd that the contrast would be so startiling especially after living it for nearly two years now. Mental pictures from the top of cabbage patch on a brilliant summer day were intermixed with images of my self covered in oil and sweat eating a fairly bad cheeseburger on the lid of a garbage can. (No tables on the fuel isle.) I've gone days unable to get a shower but had the immense joy of steping out of a shower and after only a few more steps watching the sun rise over the Columbia river gorge. I saw the Empire state building from a street on Long Island where I was getting unload at a job site. The veiw could only have been better if the New Yok motorisits would've stoped trying to kill me as I folded my tarps(Very farienheight 411). I saw the statue of Liberty from the GWB one clear morning. I had plenty of time to look as it would take three hours to clear the damned traffic jam I was mired in. I had the satisfaction of delivering plywood to help protect homes when Katrina hit Florida and the scary experiance of racing for the safe zone 75 miles away in a truck that wouldn't go but 63 mph. I have felt the pride of ownership as a Owner Operator and the fear of complete loss as fuel prices soared and freight tried up. All these things and so many more fill my head. I understand now a Mark Twain essay on his life as a river boat pilot where he described how it had ruined his appreciation of the mighty Mississippi river. He describes a scene one evening on the river when he had just begun to make it his lfe. I can't recall his exact words but the picture he paints is one of complete beuty. He then goes on to spell out the dangers the situation presents. I read this story when I was still a teen but now I realise much more deeply how the natural beauty of a place can be ruined by the dangers it presents. Oh well thats enough of my stupidity for tonight just thought I'd share.

[Crowsnest Kate]

You have posted some very profound thoughts here hitman. I too have seen many sights and experienced many things that have brought the same thoughts to my mind. The world is full of contrasts and contradictions that we sometimes do not understand.

Your job is one of hardships and long lonely hours on the road. Yours is a job underappreciated by most people, they do not understand your sacrifices in the sometimes dangerous path you drive down. And when thoughts are at times the only company one has on the road, it can be a long and lonely road too, far from family and friends.

Thank you for your sacrifices and your courage. I have met many truckers in my life, traveling with my father, and I have grown to respect most of the men I have met who do the work you do.

Just my two pence

Crowsnest Kate

[hitman]

Thanks Crowsnest Kate, it's always nice to be appreciated. :)

[Patrick Hand]

Hitman.... I don't know much this will piss you off.....

There are times when I have to drive a long way.... and the weather..... well sometimes it sucks.....

I don't "draft"..... but I do hang way back from a truck.......this is the part your going to hate..... If thier red lights come on...... something up the road I don't wanna hit..... and I can miss it..... (They have the "mass" but it still don't make it any better if they have to hit something.....)

Like I said... I don't "draft" behind a truck....... but there are times I let you guys "see" up the road fer me........

Dang... that didn't type out all right... but kinda sorta......

Hats off to you.... doesn't quite say it........

But the beautifull glow outta some parts of Arizonia... early in the morning..... WOH....

[jessie k.]

That was incredible, hitman, wonderfully said. A "huzzah" for you and all truckers!

[Ransom]

My husband has been a truck driver since he was 16. For awhile he did OTR with his own rig. He's hauled everything from yaghts (?) to chicken eggs. Now he stays in state and drives for a loca pet supply company, so, although he drives all over Oregon, he's only gone over night once a week. The rest of the time he's home nights after 12-14 hr days. He can get a tractor-trailer into places I wouldn't think I could get my Tundra.

So, I know where you're comming from, Hitman.

[The Doctor]

I've been steadily retreating into myself (collapsing into my own shell) for a while now, and I'm sick of the trend. That's not me, not who I am. I'm tired of this; tired of the whole business. So please excuse me as I re-exert myself, as I re-establish myself to my former manic state.

Please forgive my Freudian babbling. This has been a self-analytical rant, aimed at kicking myself in me own arse.

[Caraccioli]

I have also frequently found myself retreating into myself. But since that's pretty much who I am, I'm good with it.

[Mad Matt]

I'm a lone wolf. I don't mind it. Don't know why the hell it bothers anyone else...

[Caraccioli]

Does anyone else remember that episode of Laverne and Shirley where Lenny left Squiggy and got a jacket that said "Lone Wolf" on it, only the "L" fell off and it said "one Wolf?" (Sorry, I don't know why I brought that up. No reflection on you Matt. I'm pretty much a one wolf myself.)

[Silkie McDonough]

hate to admit it ...I remember it. Did Levern get to keep the L?

[Mission]

Say, in the trailer the girl says something about "keeping my eyes off your perfectly formed..." something. What? It sounds like "owls" to me.

Ah, it was "ass." It's clearly understandable in the movie, but not so much so in the trailer.

Pretty good flick! A bit of a departure from the previous Bonds with low gadgets (no Q!), more than the usual character development and some nice little (very little) twists here and there. The action sequence running through the contruction site was pretty amazing. They must have hired olympic athletes to do it. It was about 20 minutes too long with three times as many endings as it needed, but other than that...good stuff. I liked the mysterious Mr White's role. I almost wish they'd have explained him a little better, but it probably would have detracted from the character.