Monday, March 28, 2016

Easter Edition

 Sunday was Easter Sunday ... no rabbits were harmed in the making of this blog.  That is actually a valid statement.  I read recently that rabbits have very brittle bones and they are also big and hallow so that is why they are so light and big.  So they would actually make a terrible pet for a child especially if mishandled because they can easily be hurt!  They have an average life span of around 10 years.  So some interesting rabbit facts for your Easter ... and also they do not lay eggs.  If they did, we would have both rabbit and chicken farms ... I mean I guess we do have both of those but for two different reasons.

Weekly Update:
Apparently it got really warm this week but since I was indoors, my chest, nose and fingers were freezing!  I thought most thermostats gauge the temperature inside the building and not based on the outside temp!  This felt it like it was taking the outside temps (almost 90) and made it freezing inside!  I mean it was pretty warm that the water in the bathroom was room temperature which is usually cold!  I don't even know where the thermostat is in the building and I have to assume there are at least two for different sides of the floor ... maybe?  Oh well, who knows but at least this coming week is suppose to be cooler with some possible rain (right, the weather man scenario again).  Well, hopefully some rain will come, as always we need it!!

At the movies:
Big weekend to kick off the Spring Break season and a little Summer.  #1 at the box office, no big surprise either is Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice with 170.1 million.  Above expectations and the 2nd weekend will be a big tell if the fans and critics are behind this new franchise to battle against Marvel.  Holding ground at #2 is "Zootopia" with another 23.1 mil and on its way to the 300 mil domestic cume mark but may fall short of it.  New at #3 is My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 with 18.1 mil and around expectations.  Dropping down to #4 is "The Divergent Series: Allegiant" with 9.5 mil and a quick burn to this franchise.  Rounding off the top 5 is "Miracles from Heaven" with another 9.5 mil as well which is fitting for this weekend.

Quote of the week:
"Lord, make me an instrument of they peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love." - Francis of Assisi

Facts & Tips:
Children grow faster during springtime.

 "You couldn't leave well enough alone, could you, little twerp? No, you had to push it. Well, now you're gonna pay!" - William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence in "The Karate Kid."

posted by McDuck @ 04:07 0 comments

Monday, March 21, 2016

I just realized I have not played a game on the computer in several weeks, maybe even months.  Just no time these days and a little lack of interest too.  I have been keeping some updated like the Blizzard games which can be done from one icon link but haven't jumped in to play anything.  Not sure why but seems like games have changed so much they are not as fun as they use to be.  Maybe there will be something to get back into but for now ... games are on hold for no particular reason.  I still play some app games but even those are starting to lose some luster and reducing some time on those as well.  This is sad ...

 Weekly Update:
Been clearing out a lot of old stuff in the garage and boxes in the house ... you come across a lot of things you forgot you had but I guess that is the point of de-cluttering, getting rid of stuff you do not even realize you have.  It is kind of sad though because you kept something for some reason and I guess that reason has changed or the priority is different.  Although these things are all worth keeping (I think) but then what do you do with it?  At the time you received or bought something, it was the coolest thing ever so you kept it to display or maybe it was something handy to use and then stored for some reason or another.  Some things are worth keeping around I guess like certain books for reference or they have a personal connection.  But most of it, I guess can go and either sell them off or give them to people who you know has an interest in a special subject ... they will give it a good home after yours.

 At the movies:
Big surprise at the box office, "Zootopia" stays on top for the 3rd week in a row with another 38 million and now breaking the 200 mil mark!  On track to hit 300 mil domestic when it is said and done.  New at #2 is The Divergent Series: Allegiant with a disappointing 29 mil.  Well below all expectations as most thought over 40, however I did see it doing below that but not by that much.  Also new at #3, Miracles From Heaven with 18.6 mil and around expectations.  Holding on to #4 is "10 Cloverfield Lane" with another 12.5 mil.  Rounding off the top 5 is "Deadpool" with 8 mil and now 340 domestic cume.

 Quote of the week:
"The miracle on earth are the laws of heaven." - Jean Paul

 Facts & Tips:
Maine is the closest U.S. state to Africa.

 "Look, Tony, I've never asked the time of day from a clock but I'm asking you, come to the dance tonight. I already told the gang you'd be there. If you don't show I'll be marked lousy." - Russ Tamblyn as Riff in "West Side Story."

posted by McDuck @ 03:25 0 comments

Monday, March 14, 2016

Daylight Saving Time Edition

 Did you set your clocks ahead an hour?  If you did not, you are probably late for something.  I was just getting use to having some sunlight in the morning to be completely dark again.  I do not like this time of year, not that I do not mind more daylight, I just hate losing an hour of sleep!  There are a lot of folks who say we do not need DST anymore ... but I do like the Fall when we get an extra hour of sleep.  I will never complain about that one, just this one because I get so little sleep anyway, that hour adds up!  I should just nap more I guess but then I can never control how long I will nap even if I set an alarm, it will still take me a bit of time to fall asleep so I would not get a full nap ... and what is a full nap, an hour?

 Weekly Update:
Plastic bags ... I have noticed lately when going to certain stores the quality of plastic bags they give.  So one would think the lower end type stories would have a less quality bag (Smart & Final and Northgate) while a higher end (perceived) store has better bags (Ralph's).  what makes a bag better quality than others?  Holes!  So in the Ralph's bag I noticed 2 out of 3 there are holes in the bottom.  Varying in size but usually very tiny.  Then Northgate bags rarely have holes, maybe 1 out of very 20 and Smart & Final has none but I do not shop there enough to get a sampling.  Stater Bros. I see as middle of the road and they are about 1 in every 5 with holes which is better than Ralph's.  Of course the gold standard is Target bags which I have never seen a hole in and have the best overall quality for the amount of business they do ... interesting.

 At the movies:
Holding on to the crown for another week with a big margin is "Zootopia" earning an additional 50 mil and now well over 100 mil domestic cume.  Now on track to potentially break 300 mil.  New at #2 is 10 Cloverfield Lane with 25.2 mil and pretty much on track.  Not a sequel film to "Cloverfield" but more of a film adjacent which is pretty interesting.  Hanging on to #3 is "Deadpool" with another 10.8 mil and slowly winding to around 350 mil cume.  Also hanging on to the #4 spot is "London Has Fallen" with 10.6 mil and could carry further.  Rounding off the top 5 is "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" with another 4.6 mil as it comes to a close.

New movies that did not make the top 5:
Quiet a few this week ... At #6 is The Perfect Match with 4.2 mil and below expectations but not surprised by it.  In at #7 is The Young Messiah with 3.4 mil and around expectations but could do well in the after market in home entertainment.  And in at #8 is The Brothers Grimsby with only 3.2 mil, way below all expectations.  I guess his last film left a bad taste in a lot of peoples pockets.

 Quote of the week:
"I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free." - Michelangelo

 Facts & Tips:
About 45% of leisure visitors to downtown New York City come from outside the United States.

 "I think you would have made a great Muppet..." - Nick Frost as PC Danny Butterman in "Hot Fuzz."

posted by McDuck @ 03:00 0 comments

Monday, March 07, 2016

Rain!  Had some rain over the weekend and my weather app did not even mention it.  In fact, it said it would be sunny and in the high 70's but then while resting on the couch, I heard water outside.  The smell of dampness filled the air and sure enough the ground was covered in water!  It was a fair rain, lasted maybe an hour or so but stayed very light.  But this is another example of why do we have weather people if they give us a completely wrong prediction?  Of course they could have said there was a 10% chance of rain and if we get it, they are right and if we did not, they are still right!  I thought we had technology for this and if there is not already, probably a website where we can view it ourselves.  I am sure it will look confusing and would take time to understand and interpret but after a few tries, I am sure we would get it and be weather people!  I am just saying.

 Weekly Update:
Not much this week except the dogs decide to eat almost a whole pack of Oreo cookies, double stuffed.  They are not skimming the counters and tables which they know they are not suppose to.  I am pretty sure Orion was not behind it but Shadow, she likes to jump and put her front paws on the counter to see what is up there ... so I am blaming her!  I was only gone for an hour too so rushed to get some hydrogen peroxide to make them throw-up.  After three doses, nothing!  And all day they both seemed perfectly normal.  But I am surprised they did not throw-up and gave it to them both because not 100% sure it was Shadow.  I know she would not share it if it was her but if it was Orion, he would have shared it with Shadow.  Or in other words Shadow would just take some.  But nothing ... so I guess they are good but surprised the peroxide did not work in making them throw up.

 At the movies:
New at #1 and with a very positive word-of-mouth is Zootopia with a big 73.7 million, above all expectations.  The film is a solid in-between season hit and should break into the 200 mil domestic mark.  New at #2 is London Has Fallen with 21.7 mil and right at expectations.  Dropping down to #3 is "Deadpool" with 16.4 mil and now breaks the 300 mil mark.  Now starting to slow down and should end up in the mid 300 range.  New at #4 is Whiskey Tango Foxtrot with 7.6 mil and slightly below expectations.  Rounding off the top 5 is "Gods of Egypt" with 5 mil and probably done at this point.

 Quote of the week:
"Do something wonderful, people may imitate it." - Albert Schweitzer


Facts & Tips:
Giraffes have the same number of vertebrae as humans: 7.

"Except, the thing is, even if I believed you, right, where you're from, what I've done - which I don't, by the way - you're still talking about beaming aboard the Enterprise while she's traveling faster than light, without a proper receiving pad." - Simon Pegg as Scotty in "Star Trek."

posted by McDuck @ 03:10 0 comments