Minimalism Feb 10, 2023

 

I have this easy chair that I never sit in, partly because I'm suspicious it aggravates my sciatica, but I've never really found it all that comfortable.  But the usual mind things of, "I paid good money for it" or "the room will look empty without it" or "maybe I'll get used to it" have been kicking in.  

So last week I moved it to another room just to see how I felt about it being "gone" - at first the space seemed a little empty but within a couple of days I was loving seeing the open space, and of course not missing the chair since I never sit in it.

So today it's going down to the condo garbage area where someone can take it if they want it or it will just get thrown out.

Downsizing can be kind of addictive.  I get thinking there's nothing left I can discard and thenI find myself looking at something and the thought creeps in, "Maybe I don't need that", and it always feels so good when something goes.

AppleTV+: For All Mankind

 

I did not expect to like this.  However, I'm now bingeing Season Three and am totally hooked.  It's a fun mix of science fiction and soap opera.  The cast is great as are the effects.

I'm on a free three month trial of AppleTV+ that came with my new computer so I'm busy looking at what they have and trying things out.

Figure Skating

 So, I just watched the men's short program at the European Championships and, I know I'm old and not aware of or a fan of popular music, but overall I found the music choices in this competition just dreadful.

Loud, repetitive, drum-filled noise.  How can there be any artistic expression connected to this?  It's one thing for regular dancing where they can just flop their bodies around as sexually as possible, but skating provides such a wonderful opportunity for flow and speed and grace - and most of them just throw that away.

I know the new rules and marking system are fairer than anything before but it's also resulted in so many programmes being so similar.  The pairs start with a throw triple twist and then go to the other end of the rink and do a pairs jump.  The individual short programmes start with a bit of skating followed by two jump passes.  There's more variation in ice dancing but again a lot of awful music choices.

I have been a fan and follower of skating since the 1960's, and have been pleased to see so much more coverage available - thank you ISU and the internet.  But I'm sad to say that I'm losing interest in watching.  

Actually, when I'm able to watch coverage to the entire competition, it's often the lower ranked skaters in the first groups that I enjoy the most.

Junk Calls

 

My phone has been ringing every 15 minutes all morning long.

I usually screen calls and don't answer if I don't recognize the caller.

No messages were left so eventually I decided to give in and answer - three times - a recorded phishing message about a charge on my Amazon account - the second time I pressed 1 and told the person who answered that I knew they weren't Amazon and they hung up.  The third time I said they had been calling my number all morning and the response was "so what" before the hang up.

I guess if it continues I'll unplug the phone for the rest of the day.

This is so annoying.  I'm on the "No Calls" list.  I still get junk calls regularly but I just accept that as "modern life" but every 15 minutes is just a bit much.  

So yes, I can unplug the line, but that is depriving me of the use of my phone line for real incoming calls.

What we need is a system where we can list the numbers that we will accept calls from and ALL other numbers are blocked.  I wonder if such a thing already exists?

TV: Dark Winds

 

I liked this.  It was well done and intriguing.

But I have some concerns with the ending.

First, it was rather convoluted and I somewhat lost track of who was betraying who, when, and exactly what was supposed to have happened.

Second, I have some concern about the morality of covering up a crime : is it justified if it's for a "good" reason, and who decides what comprises a "good" or "bad" reason.  If this thing can be lied about then where is the line drawn between what can be lied about and what can't?

Movie: Orphan, First Kill

Well, this was just a lot of horror fun.

Julia Styles is great, and Isabelle Fuhrman is just as good.

My only quibble is with the small figure they used for back and side shots, since Fuhrman is now an adult, is too small and is jarring.

 

Netflix: Cabinet of Curiosities

This was a real disappointment.

Trite plots. Overlong.

Except the last episode (#8).  Essie Davis shines.