More government as nanny

If you thought this post was over the top with government acting as nanny to its subjects (no longer citizens), then you haven’t read anything.  Here is another story, also out of England, that will simply have you shaking your head in disbelief.  Thank God this is happening in the UK, not the US.  However, I am inclined to believe that it won’t be long till it happens over here.

A great idea

This is a great idea, if you ask me.  I’ll be getting one for my little one.

Movie review: The Dawn Express (1942)

You do indeed get what you pay for, as I noted here.  This is the second movie from the DVD of 20 war movies.  It was almost as bad as the first.  The plot.  German spies are out to steal Formula 311 from an American chemical company.  I thought Formula 311 was the precurser to Formula 409, and the ever picky Germans wanted to make sure their army was clean.  However, this was not the case.  Formula 311 improved the efficency of gasoline.  The German spy ring targets two scientist here in the US offering one money and threatening the other’s wife and mother.  Damn Germans. 

Apparently we have the dumbest scientists in the world, because one of the two hero scientists gets on an American Airlines DC-3 in California with the bad guys and instead of just turning in the bad guys when they land decides to blow himself up to blow the airplane and all the spies.  You just don’t have any idea of how dumb this ending is.

You get a few minutes of stock footage of an American Airlines DC-3.  Other than that this film has nothing to recommend it.  It is even made from a bad print of the movie and I wish I could say this affected my opinion of the movie.  Sadly, it didn’t.

BTW, I have no idea why the movie is called “The Dawn Express”.

Castle

UPDATE 10/31/09:  Here is the clip.

I am a big fan of actor Nathan Fillion.  He portrayed one of the best charcters in TV and film when he played Mal Reynolds in Firefly and its movie follow on, Serenity.  His new show Castle, on ABC, has him protraying a mystery writer named Richard Castle.  If you haven’t been watching this one, now is the time.  It is smart, clever, and co-stars the beautiful Stana Katic.  (Point of interest, both Fillion and Katic are Canadian by birth.)

In the most recent episode, the Halloween episode, the writers gave a cute wink and nudge to their audience.  The show opens with Castle trying on a costume for his upcoming Halloween party.  It is his old costume as Mal Reynolds from Firefly.  As he comes out, the first few notes of the Firefly theme are played.  They go one step further with this dialogue between Castle and his teenage daughter.

Castle’s daughter: What exactly are you supposed to be?

 Castle: Space cowboy.

Castle’s daughter: Okay, A, there are no cows in space, B, didn’t you wear that like five years ago?

Castle: So?

Castle’s daughter: So, don’t you think you should move on?

Castle: I like it.

Just plain funny.  Also as an added bonus, ABC has just released a book, “Heat Wave” which is the book the character Castle, has been writing one the show.  Great tie-in.  This type of cross promotion is the wave of the future.

Magazine review: IPMS/USA Journal Vol. 21 No.4

Vol. 21 #4

Another great issue.  I know that I am repeating myself, but this is consistantly the best value-for-the-money modeling magazine available today.  Despite Chris Bucholtz’s questionable judgment in including a book review by me in  this issue, it is still a great issue.  It features a nice 72nd scale M1A1 dio.  There is also the first part of a two part build of US space vehicles.  For  the a/c set, there is a story on a build of 48th scale Navy aircraft for a museum.  Join IPMS/USA now!

Government as nanny

Here they are in the UK taking kids away because they are overweight.

Movie review: Battle of the Eagles (Partisan squadron) (1979)

I bought a DVD collection of 20 great war films for $4.99.  Judging from this movie, you get what you pay for.  This is a Yugoslav film, dubbed into english about the forming of a “partisan air squadron” in occupied Yugoslavia during WWII.  It is supposedly based loosely on historical fact.  Apparently very loosely.

The only redeeming feature of this film is that you get to see a few aircraft from the 1970s Yugoslav Air Force, standing in for all manner of aircraft, from Me-109s to unidentified partican biplanes.  The acting is terrible, awful.  God awful.  The dubbing is pretty bad and the story is overdramatic and laughable.  Even the rum and coke I was drinking during the film didn’t make it better.  If invited to see this film under either of the titles noted above, run away. Run away fast.

Nationals loot

I forgot to post this back in August.  I didn’t have a wad of cash to take to the Nats, so Iwasn’t able to buy much.  I did end up picking up some things I eeally wanted.  Most of it is pictured here.  I also got some Gator Glue and a Hasegawa Ki-51.

Loot

A very nice gesture

I recently received the following from the guys who ran the Columbus Nationals.  I answered a few legal questions for them.  This was a very nice gesture.

Plaque

Overshot the landing……

by 150 miles.  Story here. I don’t care what they say.  I am sure that the pilot and co-pilot both fell asleep and that is why they didn’t respond.  Happens more than people realize.