what Dave thinks about movies, books and everything
More than 15 000 scientists from 184 countries have signed a document issuing a warning to humanity about the environment. Included are points about a decline in freshwater, dwindling biodiversity, and population growth. Here’s how CBC covered the story: More than 15,000 scientists from 184 countries issue ‘warning to humanity’ We’ve seen before with CFCs […]
This article points out that donating food to charity is inefficient. Next time you’re thinking about doing it, perhaps consider donating money instead. The buyers at food banks can buy food more cost effectively than you — plus they can buy what they need. The article is from Tristin Hopper, in the National Post: I’m […]
{5/5} “Now, why don’t you explain just what Bea told you about our operation, and maybe I’ll consider not killing you all on the spot.” Serenity: No Power in the ‘Verse by Chris Roberson et al, published in 2017 Bea has been taken by the Alliance. In order to free her Mal decides to temporarily […]
Here are the movies in the series that started with Ridley Scott’s Alien. The quadrilogy Alien 1979 -> 3/5 (+) Aliens 1986 -> 4.5/5 (+) Alien3 1992 -> 3.5/5 Alien Resurrection 1997 -> 4.5/5 The crossovers Alien vs. Predator 2004 -> didn’t see it Alien vs. Predator: Requiem 2007 -> didn’t see it The prequels […]
Here are my ratings for the Batman movies that aren’t part of the DC extended universe. It’s possible that I watched 1966’s Batman movie with Adam West decades ago but I have no interest in watching it again to rate it. The graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns and the TV show Gotham are both […]
{5/5} “For now let’s move on to President Trump, the silver lining for anyone who died in 2015.” Last Week Tonight season 4, aired in 2017 John Oliver continues to bring us stories we need to hear, in a funny-yet-serious way: Tibetan sovereignty and human rights gerrymandering net neutrality vaccines local news nuclear waste presidential […]
David Brin, on his blog “Contrary Brin,” describes what he calls the war against expertise and portrays it convincingly as the most important problem in the US right now. He points out that all fact-centred professions are under assault. How could “tens of millions of Americans — who benefited spectacularly from the rise of science […]
{5/5} “Your glasses are always dirty.” The Theory of Everything, released in 2014 Stephen Hawking is a physics student and Jane Wilde is an arts student at Cambridge in 1963. Just as they start to pursue a romance, Stephen finds out that he has motor neuron disease. The doctor gives him only 2 years to […]
{4/5} “I’m sorry, you’re a great driver. You’re the best driver in the entire universe.” Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, released in 2017 Valerian and Laureline are special operatives who undertake dangerous missions in the far reaches of the galaxy. They return to Alpha, a huge space colony, after another successful mission. […]
I went to DaCapo Chamber Choir’s concert titled “The Colour of Freedom.” This concert is the start of DaCapo’s “three-year series inspired by the global refugee situation. The series is organized around general themes of Displacement (this season), Resettlement (18/19), and Renewal (19/20). Motivating the plan is the conviction that art is necessary and possibly […]