Cafe Bucky

Ok, for any OddTodd fans, go see the April Fools cartoon. Of course, it kind of helps to be familiar with the the back catalog.

Mep!

I would like to do a cool sidebar of my ongoing media inputs. But since I don’t have that yet, I’ll toss off a few mentions while I am waiting for my boiling ravioli to achieve edible status…

Chasing Amy is a potty-mouthed romp, and a lot of fun. Ben Affleck is great in this one, and I was very charmed by Joey Lauren Adams. Of course now I gotta go back and check out Clerks, Mallrats, Dogma, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (I realize that maybe some of this stuff might suck, but that’s always the risk - that maybe you got exposed to someone’s best work, and that everything after that is a bit of a letdown)

“Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” by Philip K. Dick. The inspiration for Blade Runner. One thing I notice about SciFi is how outdated certain situations have become over time (like going to a payphone). On the other hand, it’s wonderfully futuristic for a book put out in 1968. I keep noticing the differences between book and movie (SF vs LA, for one). The desire for a live animal pet in the book is only hinted at by J.F. Sebastian’s creations in the movie. The best thing about reading the book at this point is that it’s part archeology, part SF, and a good entree into PKD’s works (now I want to read some more of his oeuvre.)

GT4. Best. Driving. Game. (of all time) I’m not much of a gamer, but I used to do many high performance driving schools. This is the closest I can get to being on the track without leaving my house. True story: While going for my Super License on the Seattle track, I misjudged the uphill transitions - my car spun a full 360 without hitting anything - I didn’t panic, and still got a bronze for the lap! I love that they included Suzuka, Sears Point, Circuit de la Sarthe (Le Mans), and, of course, the mighty Nurburgring Nordschleife (btw, back in the real world, the decal on the back of my M3 is the Nurburgring map, which I obtained from the trackside store in 1999 when I went to the European GP - among driving enthusiasts, just being able to go there and stand by the track is a sort of pilgrimage) The sheer variety of cars and tracks is overwhelming, the “feel” is accurate, and it’s truly an immersive experience. Ten Thumbs up.