Tralfaz

Category: Reviews

  • The problem with a long running blog

    The problem with a long running blog

    I mentioned on my other property (here) that I had been on a binge of buying physical media of movies and shows that I enjoy so that I actually own and can watch whenever and wherever I want.

    One of those series I added to my collection in 2023 was The Sopranos. The entire series, on Blu-ray disc, ran me about $50. A steal in my mind.

    I am midway through watching rips on my Plex server, and I thought I would share some of my thoughts. But, alas, back in 2016, I had three posts:

    Late to the party – The Sopranos

    Mid-Series Check in – Sopranos

    It’s Over (Sopranos)

    Well shit, I already covered it well.

    Last thoughts:

    All of what I wrote before is still true, and I got nothing. However, The Sopranos is and will remain one of the greatest pieces of television ever made. HBO has had some other follow on successes, but in my mind, The Sopranos stands alone.

  • Movie Review: Knives Out

    Movie Review: Knives Out

    I am not sure who recommended it, but the title that came across was Knives Out. I had just finished the Peacock original, “Poker Face” that was absolutely delightful (seriously, it is worth starting a trial to binge it, it is that good), and the director of Poker Face had just released a new movie on Netflix (Glass Onion) and I wanted to watch the original, so I wanted to rent Knives Out. I ended up buying a copy, and I am glad that I did.

    Set in the northeast, it begins with the birthday party of the patriarch of the family, an author of not in the genre of mystery. Clearly the author isn’t enjoying the party (for reasons that become evident later), and after the party begins to wind down, he finds himself in his room with his private nurse (played by Ana de Armas) where she makes a mistake in administering morphine, putting Thromby on a direct path to an OD. Naturally she can’t find the safety dose of Naloxone in her kit. Thromby, a facile creator, hatches a scheme to keep his trusted nurse from being blamed.

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  • Fake promoted Amazon Products shit has gotta stop

    Fake promoted Amazon Products shit has gotta stop

    Our toaster is dying. We had a good one that was gifted us for our wedding in 2000, and a couple years ago, it gave up the ghost. Alas, time and resistive heater elements are not entirely compatible. Bummer.

    We bought a cheap-ish replacement, and it worked for about three years, but the left slot ejector is stuck, and it is a pain in the arse to get toast out of it.

    Time to buy a new toaster.

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  • Binge worthy: No Offence

    Binge worthy: No Offence

    If you have Amazon Prime, and purchase (or do the 30 day trial of) AcornTV, there is a show that is worth watching.

    I make no apologies for being a fan of British police dramas, but this one is a bit over the top.

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  • Review: Bladerunner 2049

    Review: Bladerunner 2049

    I remember watching the original Bladerunner in one of the Century theaters in the 1980’s. A masterpiece of visual delight, it riffed off of the current hyper-popular branding and visual stimulation to weave a fantastic tale that succeeded, even with its overbearing narrative (the editors seemed to think us yanks needed to be hit over the head with the main plot lines.)

    So, when I heard that they were making a sequel, I was delighted.

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  • Space 1999 – a review

    Space 1999 – a review

    In my youth, I remember watching “Space 1999” a TV show. I don’t recall greatly enjoying it, but I didn’t hate it. It ran from 1975 – 1977, so I was 10 to 12 years old. A demographic that ought to have loved the show.

    Lately, I was looking for things to watch, and I found it on Amazon Prime Video, so what the hell, I clicked on it.

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  • Two Months, and 2,400 miles on the 2020 Acura RDX

    Two Months, and 2,400 miles on the 2020 Acura RDX

    Rapidly approaching 2 months with the RDX, and it is time for an update. Naturally, the 2 months, nearly 2,400 miles, and plenty of smiles are to be expected with a new car. If you read the forums, this car is the devil, and the infotainment system is a disaster (n.b. – I rented a shitbox Ford focus one with their Sync “system” and truly that was a homeless abortion).

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  • New Car time: 2020 Acura RDX

    New Car time: 2020 Acura RDX

    A while back, I began to consider the idea of moving on from a long term relationship, with my sports car, the Honda S2000 that I bought in 2008, and have lovingly cared for and driven since. It was still tons of fun to drive, a real sports car and perfectly balanced vehicle, but the sitting position, and my creaky, aging body were falling out of love.

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  • Review: 2019 Trek FX Sport 6

    Review: 2019 Trek FX Sport 6

    In April, I took a chance and bought a “Hybrid” bike (a “road” bike with bigger tires, and flat bars) to replace my trusty Lemond Buenos Aires. I have written about the Lemond elsewhere, but in summary, it provided 17 solid years and way more than 10K miles of service (only major repairs were replacing the bottom bracket, and in 2014 the wheels died and were replaced).

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  • Review: The Apple iPhone Xs

    Review: The Apple iPhone Xs

    As my iPhone 6s was nearing its third anniversary, I began to get the bug for a new phone. The battery is still fine on my 6s (reports at 87% capacity, not bad for 3 years old) and the latest version of iOS had improved its snappiness, but, it is still an older phone, and, it was time to jump to the latest and greatest. (more…)