Little wins are good

    I think I’ve blogged before about celebrating little wins, and I’m doing it again. In the last week, I’ve had two occasions to actually do a self congratulatory fist pump, though others might not have appreciated the success. So let me start with the first. I have played basketball on and off for many years. When I moved to my current home about 9 years ago, I eventually found a local pickup game, and then a second. I was rather rusty, although I was never very good. Over the years I have gotten better, at least to the point that most players figure they had better defend against me most of the time. I miss plenty of shots, though I do a better job defending. What I am known for bringing to the game is my Energizer Bunny energy and enthusiasm. I rarely get the chance at a layup, so when I got a rebound Thursday night, and decided the two defenders who had a chance between me and the basket at the other end of the court were lacking energy, I tried again for a layup. It was close at the end, as the other defender turned on the steam, though I was able to keep control and get the ball into the basket. I felt a pinch guilty fist pumping and vocalizing, as the other team had been losing regularly all night, but it really felt good to get that success. Who knows, it may never happen again. 🙂

    Three days later, while enjoying one of my usual weekend trips to the roller rink, I decided to finish the album I had started listening to, then try using Siri via my Apple Airpods to start the My 80s play list on shuffle. In the noisy rink, with their music blasting, I had serious doubts if it would work at all, or it would take several tries. The album wrapped aup, and as it started over, I double tapped my right Airpod, heard the Siri startup sound, and gave it a go. Sure enough, first time out of the gate, Siri understood what I said, and did what I wanted. I did a fist pump, though I kept the vocalization to myself. I had been trying to get Siri do some stuff earlier in the week, including something as simple as sending my location info to my wife, with no luck. I haven’t used Siri much, and am still occasionally experimenting, though this success makes me think I should keep at it, for some things anyway. Some little successes I keep to myself, and others I just have to let it out. ^_^

#sf44 #bsfm44 Sunshine

    One of the main characters in this science reality type film sbout trying to regen the Sun. This was fun snd sciency, and I, again, will avoid spoilers as this is new. Garen is now doing the wrap ups, thank yous, including to sponsors, and a story about how Teddy Peanut Butter became a sponsor. Last film, Escape from New York, is now underway. ^_^

#sf44 #bsfm44 Source Code

    This is the crash that the Army captain is expected to find the bomber for. Since this is another newish film, I’ll avoid spoilers, though it does have a flawed concept. I enjoyed it anyway. Alexei took a quick bathroom break, as he does want to see the next film, Sunshine. ^_^

#sf44 #bsfm44 Destination Moon

    Colorful space suits for a drab moon. It turns out there was a pretty well known Hollywood actor in this film, Woody Woodpecker, as an animated explanation for how rockets work, and why captains of industry should band together to get to the moon. Unlike the competition between SpaceX, Blue Origins, Virgin Galactic, et al of today. Some surprising similarities with Woman in the Moon, despite being based on the Robert A. Heinlein story. Next up, Source Code. ^_^

#sf44 #bsfm44 The Outer Limits – Soldier

    The Outer Limits, obviously. Another future klingon, as one of the actors on The Andromeda Strain was the klingon from The Trouble with Tribbles who was dissing the Enterprise, oh yeah, snd Captain Kirk. The soldier in this Outer Limits was the head klingon from the episode where an energy alien kept the klingons and Enterprise crew fighting.

#sf44 #bsfm44 The Andromeda Strain

    A couple scientists getting past biometric verification at Wildfire in The Andromeda Strain. A classic, and more realistic than Michael Crighton’s well known Jurassic Park money maker. Alexei is off for a nap, though his usual seat was taken due to many others napping already. While he does that, I’m watching the Outer Limits episode ‘The Soldier’. ^_^

#sf44 #bsfm44 Annihilation

    Our protagonist from Annihilation in the pic above. This is a recent flick, and I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet. A psychological adventure and horror movie. I won’t forgot, nevermind, I won’t say more. With The Andromeda Strain next, which Ken and Steve have seen before, they decided now was the time to go home. Alexei is planning his nap time, as he wants to see Sunshine, the movie not the celestial effect. ^_^

#sf44 #bsfm44 Star Trek VI The Undiscovered Country

    Seen here is the Enterprise, and Captain Sulu’s ship after successfully destroying Captain Chang’s cloaked Bird of Prey, and saving the peace conference. Too bad Kim Catrall was a bad guy. This movie got everyone jazzed, as only classic Star Trek can. Michael Dorn, as a klingon not Worf, was defending Kirk snd McCoy. Next is Annihilation, which I am looking forward to seeing. ^_^

#sf44 #bsfm44 Woman in the Moon

    I had the title of this one wrong, being Woman not Women. I’m glad we made it back for most of this one, as it was pretty good for a silent film. I shouldn’t be surprised, it bring Fritz Lang’s, of Metropolis fame, release teo years after. Of note, several women smoking cigars like it was natural. As usual Jeff Rapsis did his usual bangup job of providing live musical accompaniment.
    After the film, the previously announced Atomic Fireball contest, to see who is the last person standing with five Atomic Fireballs in their mouth. There are a lot of crazy people, as seen by this pic. Notice I am not there. ^_^ And they all won.

#sf44 #bsfm44 Oops, blastoff

    In all the excitement of the Duck Dodgers in the 24th and a half Century, complete with Atomic Fireballs, blast off, I forgot to blog it. So here it is. Garen has been handing out several awards, all well deserved. We decided to miss the beginning of the silent movie Women of the Moon to get a bite of dinner. Oath Pizza makes delicious pizzas, and quick too, not that we were in a rush. We got back in time dor most of the film. ^_^

#sf44 #bsfm44 Rollerball

    Well, I remembered the roller skating, and the ball. I didn’t remember it wasn’t James Caan who shot the fire pistol, nor the antique, even by those times, computers. An interesting movie with a weak plot, and distopian view of our corporate overlords. I do like roller skating though. ^_^

#sf44 #bsfm44 Dr. Cyclops

    OK I was wrong, it was fun, though I don’t think it was intended that way. Dr. Thorkel seemed decent at times, despite his self focused determination to be the sole genius. Classic cat trying to get the tiny people scene, and unsurprising lack of scientific accuracy. Radium as the primal energy for controlling life. Heh.
    Next up, James Caan in Rollerball, a film that drew my attention with the roller skating aspect. I remember next to nothing of it, so it will be like seeing it new. ^_^

#sf44 #bsfm44 Innerspace

    I haven’t seen this flick since it came out in the 80s, and it’s still fun. A lot of stars and up and comers, including Meg Ryan, Martin Short, and I recognized Robert Picardo, from Star Trek Voyager snd Star Gate fame. I think there should be a joke about an actor named Short in a film about shrunken people, though it’s not coming to me. The pic is of our hero inside his capsule inside Jack Tupper. We have another film about shrinking people, this time from the 50s. Probably won’t be quite as fun. ^_^

#sf44 #bsfm44 The line…up

    As Alexei and Douglas settle in, we await Ken and Steve. They opened the doors earlier than my expectation of 11am, and I’m not complaining. I’m already thinking I shoukd have brought another layer or two, to stay warm and to use for saving seats. 😊
    Alexei and I chatted with some long time attendees while waiting in line, including Linus from NYC. Some changes this year include no hand stamp for re-admittance, so keep your ticket with you if stepping out for a bit. Also, no manila envelope of old comics, cards, etc. Guess they finally ran out. We did get our atomic fireballs. ^_^

#sf44 #bsfm44 The line

    The temp on my watch says 28°F, and with the occassional breeze, it feels cold, though waiting in line has been colder. My physical location seems closer, though the line seems wider, so I am not sure if I am closer people count wise. if they open the doors at 11am, we have a 40 minute wait. Thinking warm thoughts.
    When we got to the Alewife T station, we discovered that the subway platform is closed, so we had to take a free shuttle bus to Davis Square. I vaguely remember a month or so ago hearing something about T issues that might impact this event. Guess so. ^_^

#sf44 #bsfm44 Tickets

    Despite a great job of getting up early and being ready to go on time, Alexei’s smile does not represent his excitement to be on our way to SF44. Ticket check selfie taken to make sure we don’t forget them at home, and we are off to wait in line. ^_^

#sf44 #bsfm44 Countdown

    Just a couple more days until the marathon, the Boston Science Fiction Marathon that is. The full Boston Science Fiction Film Festival has been in progress for a week now, with lots of Instagram postings of celebs and gatherings. I realized, as I review older posts in prep for this years Thon, that I started blogging on sf44 early, though the posts were both last calendar year.
    Like years past, I plan to post between films, and whenever the urge strikes. My new iPhone XS is pretty snappy, so my posting should be stress free, though my mental capabilities may be challenging, as the night goes on. The weather this year looks warm, comparitively speaking, being in the low 30s, no real precipitation expected, and not much on the ground. My oldest son will be joining me as usual, as well as a couple of my neighbors who are now regulars.
    I like to be able to remind myself of what films I’ve seen each year, so I gathered the announced films below. I expect there may be some additions, and I will post the actual line up Sunday morning once I’m settled in. I plan to be in the balcony again, being such s creature of habit. See you there. ^_^

Annihilation
Andromeda Strain
Frau im Munde (with music by Jeff Rapsis!)
Escape from NY
Roller Ball
Star Trek VI : The Undiscovered Country
Dr. Cyclops
Destination Moon
InnerSpace
Source Code