Monthly Archives: January 2020

Writings

Senku

2005 Mazda Senku

(Sculpted Sliding Doors)

 

This is a four-seat sports car with a rotary engine hybrid power-train.

It’s 4.64m long, 1.85m across, and 1.4m in height and sits on a 3.1m wheelbase.

The rotary hybrid system uses a new direct-injection, two-rotor engine, combined with a motor, a generator, and a battery. The battery’s location between the engine and the firewall, combined with the compact rotary engine’s front-midship layout, helps create 50/50 weight distribution and a low center of gravity. This hybrid system also features an idling-stop system to boost economy and emissions.

The Senku has a seven-speed transmission and dry twin-plate clutch. The suspension consists of double wishbones at the front and a multilink rear setup.

Books, Television

Catch 22

Catch-22
by Joseph Heller (1961)

The novel is set during World War II, from 1942 to 1944. It mainly follows the life of antihero Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier. Most of the events in the book occur while the fictional 256th US Army Air Squadron is based on the island of Pianosa, in the Mediterranean Sea, west of Italy, though it also covers episodes from basic training at Lowry Field in Colorado and Air Corps training in Santa Ana, CA. The novel examines the absurdity of war and military life through the experiences of Yossarian and his cohorts, who attempt to maintain their sanity while fulfilling their service requirements so that they may return home.

Often cited as one of the most significant novels of the twentieth century, it uses a distinctive non-chronological third-person omniscient narration, describing events from the points of view of different characters. The separate story-lines are out of sequence so the timeline develops along with the plot.

For the TV series, there is a linear narrative of Captain John Yossarian. Played straight and not for laughs if fits the satire genre well. While most of it is light in tone, there are some very dramatic and intense scenes. One concerns a rape and others the deaths of military personnel. Most of the Military Command are portrayed as stupid of incompetent, including George Clooney as General Scheisskopf.

George Clooney
Hugh Laurie

 

Writings

Honda OW

2005 Honda WOW

(Doggy Sliding Doors)

A rather conservative chunky style. That front door needs to go further forward or the driver will be hitting it with their feet.

It’s a dog of a car.

Books

Terry Jones

Fantastic Stories
by Terry Jones, Michael Foreman (Illustrator) (1993)

Terence Graham Parry Jones (1 February 1942 – 21 January 2020) was a Welsh actor, comedian, screenwriter, film director and historian. He was a member of the Monty Python comedy team.

And author of this book and a few like it. This is full of fairy tales and myths.

Some are little morality tales.

Some explanations of how things are (cats having only one tail).

Some rather silly, others touching.

And even then (30 years ago) he was writing female characters with agency and effect.

Most are short enough to read aloud to children. But all can be enjoyed by all.

Books

Platoon F:8

Veli Unveiled
(Platoon F #8)
by John P. Logsdon (2016)

Frexle has uncovered something interesting about Lord Overseer Veli, but he needs definitive proof before informing the council.

Veli, though, has different plans. He senses Frexle’s odd behavior and decides it’s time to send the man into permanent retirement.

It’s at this point that the intricacies of the plot overtake the humour of the story. There are far too many characters. Each has their own motivations and scheme and near the end it lost the spark of a comedic story. No interest in continuing.

Books

Platoon F:7

Kidnap on Fantasy Planet
(Platoon F #7)
by John P. Logsdon (2015)

Love lost, cavemen found, and a kidnapping to cap it all off. Captain Don Harr has learned that love is not all it’s cracked up to be, especially when the woman he loves has decided to lead a sexual revolution on her home planet.

Fortunately, it’s hard staying depressed when you’ve got the Overseers as your employer.

Overseer Frexle tasks Harr and Geezer with stopping a couple of cavemen from going beyond the discovery of fire, which is insane but should prove enough to keep Harr’s mind off of lost love.

While dealing with the cavemen, an urgent message comes in from Fantasy Planet. It seems that Platoon F’s previous commanding officer, Stanley Parfait, has been kidnapped! The message reads that if the group of ruffians doesn’t get their demands met, they’ll kill the man.

Television

Good Place 51

The Good Place Episode 51 – Patty

The gang arrives in The Good Place and attends a welcome party catered to their tastes. Meanwhile, the Good Place committee trick Michael into assuming control of the entire Good Place, and they flee.

 

Lisa Kudrow as Hypatia

Chidi meets Ancient Greek philosopher Hypatia, who reveals that everyone in the Good Place has become a “happiness zombie”.

As expected, the real ‘Good Place’ is not as it seems. They appear to have come up with a solution, but I’m not sure it will work. I think they need a bit of input from the Bad Place.

 

 

 

Books

Platoon F:6

Warped Conduit
(Platoon F #6)
by John P. Logsdon (2015)

A new master. A tug on the heartstrings. A mission to destroy a planet. After breaking away from the Segnal Space Marine Corps, the crew of The SSMC Reluctant is searching for what to do next. Unfortunately, a race of beings who call themselves “The Overseers” already have plans for them. It’s one of those deals they can’t refuse.

This story is longer (60k) than previous stories (20-30k). The novel length allows for better character development and a more intricate plot. The humour also changes from a reliance of witty jokes to people doing dumb things. Again, a better story than the previous one.

 

Books

Platoon F:5

Synthetic DNA
(Platoon F #5)
by John P. Logsdon (2014)

 

After a close call in the year 2440 at the planet called “Earth,” the crew of The SSMC Reluctant makes a quick escape back to their home of Segnal. However, Geezer didn’t have time to set the clock on the GONE Drive to return them back to their own era, and things have changed greatly in the Segnal System over the past 500 years.

Again, this is better than the previous story. It takes on some science fiction themes. It’s a nice blend of humour and sci-fi.

Books

Platoon F:4

Earthlings
(Platoon F #4)
by John P. Logsdon (2014)

After their last mission, the Segnal Space Marine Corps (SSMC) saw the value of the GONE Drive. The ability to move through space in a blink of an eye would be highly appealing to any military body, but specifically to Rear Admiral Parfait who has a bit of a thing for military bodies.

This one is a bit more fun, with interactions with earthlings. The crew can blend in, which makes you wonder just how different they are from Humans. There is is bit of time travelling which it just there to move the plot along.