As a part-time projectionist at a local theatre, I am always being asked my opinion about the suitability of current films for children. I think Variety's description of the hearing appealing the "R" rating for this movie is a good argument for revamping the rating system. We need a rating system that simply enumerates incidents of bad language, nudity, sexual innuendo or violence. To be truthful, I think that some of the violence that occurs in PG-13 movies is a bit much for most 13-year olds.
I had several people ask me, after they had already bought their tickets and seated their family to see Meet the Fockers, whether it was okay to take their 6 or 7-year olds. The only comment I could really give was, "If you saw the first movie, and thought it was ok, you'll think this one is ok, too. If you thought it was inappropriate for your kids, this one will be even more so." The PG-13 rating in and of itself was of little help to the parents.
Peace,
Tor
Friday, February 25, 2005
These Automatic Times
The degree of automation in our modern world can become extremely annoying at times. There is an Irving Oil convenience store in Belfast, Maine, with restroom toilets that automatically flush. At least the ones in the men's room do. I am normally in favor of this type of toilet in public restrooms; however, the ones in this restroom will flush seven or eight times while you are enthroned. I have left a few notes in their suggestion box letting them know of the problem, but nothing has been done. Still, it is a very clean facility, and the folks who work there are extremely pleasant. Hopefully some Irving Oil manager will read this. Please feel free to forward this if you know where it should go.
Peace,
Tor
Peace,
Tor
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Can't Get There From Here
The good folks at alt.fan.landrover have counseled me that I should get a new gear shift lever for the Range Rover, and not try and mend the one I've got. Thereto, I have bought a salvaged item from eBay for about 80 buckaroos. Hopefully, I'll have a warmish day after it arrives to try and install it. A pleasant late winter/early spring project, eh? I remember two falls ago, I had to rebuild all four brake calipers, replace the front rotors and all four sets of brake pads. The first side of the front axle took about 12 hours. The other side, once I knew what I was doing and had all the tools to hand, took about 4. The rear, of course, not involving new rotors, took about 5 hours for both sides.
The one thing you should know, if you have to change a rotor on the front of a Range Rover Classic, is that you should do everything possible, and then some, to keep track of the swivel housing drain plug. I put the drain plug, the level plug and the fill plug into a plastic bag, sealed it, and put it in the back of the truck for safekeeping. Of course, when I needed them back, I found the drain plug was no longer in the sealed bag. I must have spent two hours on the lawn, patting it with my palm, to no avail. I had to wait two days, and pay eight bucks for shipping a 75 cent plug.
Peace,
Tor
The one thing you should know, if you have to change a rotor on the front of a Range Rover Classic, is that you should do everything possible, and then some, to keep track of the swivel housing drain plug. I put the drain plug, the level plug and the fill plug into a plastic bag, sealed it, and put it in the back of the truck for safekeeping. Of course, when I needed them back, I found the drain plug was no longer in the sealed bag. I must have spent two hours on the lawn, patting it with my palm, to no avail. I had to wait two days, and pay eight bucks for shipping a 75 cent plug.
Peace,
Tor
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
So How's the Rangie Doing?
Of course, just when you think that your Range Rover is in fairly decent working order, something traumatic happens. Sunday afternoon, as I was preparing to head in to run matinees at the movie theater, I started the old girl up. This in itself was a wonderful thing, and further proof that the battery that had been replace the previous week had indeed been defective.
The trouble started as I tried to shift the automatic transmission into gear. The lever moved, but with great difficulty. I tried moving it back and forth, and after a few tries, the lever was moving totally freely. But TOOOOOOOOO freely.
So I turned the Rangie off, and took the Honda Civic to work. On Monday (a rare day off from my day job), I took the cover off the lever box and found that the shift cable had snapped right at where it joins the lever. I'm hoping to be able to take the whole cable off this weekend, clean and lubricate it, and reattach it somehow. If anyone has any good suggestions, I'm all ears. I might end up buying a new or salvaged cable, tho. New ones run ---aaaaghh!--- $300.00 or more. I did find a salvaged one on eBay that would run about a third of that.
Stay tuned.
Peace,
Tor
The trouble started as I tried to shift the automatic transmission into gear. The lever moved, but with great difficulty. I tried moving it back and forth, and after a few tries, the lever was moving totally freely. But TOOOOOOOOO freely.
So I turned the Rangie off, and took the Honda Civic to work. On Monday (a rare day off from my day job), I took the cover off the lever box and found that the shift cable had snapped right at where it joins the lever. I'm hoping to be able to take the whole cable off this weekend, clean and lubricate it, and reattach it somehow. If anyone has any good suggestions, I'm all ears. I might end up buying a new or salvaged cable, tho. New ones run ---aaaaghh!--- $300.00 or more. I did find a salvaged one on eBay that would run about a third of that.
Stay tuned.
Peace,
Tor
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Crichton: Aliens Cause Global Warming
Everyone needs to read this extremely well-written speech from the author of State of Fear. It seems odd that science fiction authors are so often more scientifically literate than the bureaucrats who are supposed to act upon the results of science.
Peace,
Tor
Peace,
Tor
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Exclusive: NASA Researchers Claim Evidence of Present Life on Mars
Exclusive: NASA Researchers Claim Evidence of Present Life on Mars
I don't believe it is possible to understate the enormousness of the possibility of microbial life on Mars. If the entire space program were to be shut down with the exception of sending drilling probes to Rio Tinto, it would be well worth the effort.
Peace,
Tor
I don't believe it is possible to understate the enormousness of the possibility of microbial life on Mars. If the entire space program were to be shut down with the exception of sending drilling probes to Rio Tinto, it would be well worth the effort.
Peace,
Tor
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