Words 7/Recent Viewing

The meaning of "napkin math" is obvious. Neat term, but.

Have you heard of "magic numbers"? In programming, it's when you insert a number into a calculation for no reason other than it seems to make it work^. For example, when I was a tech writer in the simulation space, there were programmers who drove the bosses mad due to their habit of using magic numbers to "fix" helicopter controls or whatever. Doesn't feel right? Just add, erm, 50 to that figure there.

While I originally graduated with a double major in English/Philosophy, I studied too many Phil subjects. Even a professor in the department told me so. You need to mix it with something practical to give the BA value, whether that be an old fave like linguistics or a less typical choice such as human geography. Twice I've met young dudes heading down the same path as I was (at a house party and a local wrestling show). On both occasions, I advised them not to overcommit to philosophy. On both occasions, I know my words fell on deaf ears. It was the discipline that interested them the most, and they couldn't get enough of it. I'd been exactly the same.

^There are other definitions. I'm talking about the very worst form of magic numbers.

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* "Glorious" (2021) [Shudder]: Man finds god in roadside dunny. Literally.

* "No One Will Save You" (2023) [Disney+]: Blue girl, grey-alien gold, cuts red.

* "Scare Package" (2019) [Shudder]: Commendably original/offbeat retro horror-comedy anthology.

* "Slayers" (2022) [Kanopy]: Likably silly satire. Influencers, vamps, hunters, conspiracies. AND: Less movie than footage, graphics. Lockdown project?

* "The Flash" (2023) [Apple Store rental]: Awesome! Wildest superhero ride since "Infinity" malarky.

* "Werewolf Castle" (2021) [Prime]: Like watching a LARP. Cool ending, though.

Recent viewing

* "BookWars" (2000) [Kanopy]: NYC streetsellers. Beat poem of a doco.
* "Escape Room - Tournament Of Champions" (2021) [Netflix]: Sequel concept interesting. Execution tedious and idiotic.
* "Grinders" (2011) [YouTube]: Underground poker and the odds of happiness.
* "Neeyat" (2023) [Prime]: Country-house murder mystery, Bollywood spin. Entertaining.
* "Playing Beatie Bow" (1986) [Kanopy] <REWATCH>: From awarded novel, creepy time-travel romdram. AND: Far more interesting as an adult. Nostalgia...
* "Raven's Hollow" (2022) [Shudder]: Poe, comrades ride into formative folk horror.
* "Spider-Man - Across The Spider-Verse" (2023) [Apple Store rental]: Next-level, hyperactive sound, vision and continuity. BUT: Already too long and "To be continued"?
* "The Superdeep" (2020) [Shudder]: "Aliens" underground in '80s USSR? Mission unsuccessful.
* "Transmutators" (2023) [Kanopy]: Poster totes misleading. Universally terrible - cult potential.

Words 6

Heard a gal refer to her neck tattoo as a "jobstopper". While I'm not a fan of tatts in that area, it was a nice design and suited her style (she had lots of ink).

Despite the violent behaviour it represents, "fisticuffs" is an adorable word when you examine it objectively. Like, imagine if we said "kickipantlegs".

When I was a lad, I wrote "PLEASE WASH ME" on our car's dusty rear window and my father got so angry I never did anything like that again. OK, maybe a cheeky noughts-and-crosses game once or twice. At least I was too young to reproduce the classic joke: "I WISH MY [PARTNER] WAS THIS DIRTY!" Do a Google image search for "dirty windshield art" to see some truly amazing creations...

Learnt from a recent quiz program that when a gaggle of geese takes flight, it becomes a skein of geese. Don't tell me I need to learn a second (airborne) collective noun for every flippin' bird species! If I'd known that sooner, I wouldn't have killed so many brain cells with beer and wine.

Recent viewing

* "Dynasty Warriors" (2021): Videogame adaptation's grand military campaign disappointingly unresolved.
* "Escape The Field" (2022): Endless(?) cornfield, six strangers, six items, DANGER.
* "Knock At The Cabin" (2023): "Twilight Zone" meets Revelations, with poignant interludes.
* "Secrets Of Blackmore" (2019)": Wargaming innovations plus genius gamer begets "D&D".
* "Shazam!" (2019): Solid superheroics, laffs. Also...weirdness, sadness, overlong.

[Seen on Netflix, Kanopy, Netflix, Vimeo rental, Netflix.]

Recent viewing

* "Fire And Ice" (1983) <REWATCH>: Slow, simplistic, sexist, soso voicing, Darkwolf OP. BUT: Art delights as modern animation never does.
* "Killer Book Club" (2023): Hip remix of horror tropes lacks believability.
* "Medusa's Mystery" (2019): Competent maritime murder mystery. Well acted. Telemovie?
* "Spy" (2023): Sappy/kill-happy, nationalistic terrorist-takedown extravaganza.
* "XTC - This Is Pop" (2017): Cliche-busting bio of unique, important band.

[Seen on Kanopy, Netflix, Prime x2, YouTube.]