outskirts: life and times in charlottesville

A fun post about the last line of movies is on stevewhitaker.net. Be sure to read that first one before the story continues on the subsequent post.

Casablanca is definitely my favorite of all time, but there are a few good sci fi ones kicking around. After thinking about the lines I also started thinking about the final image of some movies. Without a doubt the most classic of them all is the sled (you all know what that one is). The Usual Suspects is also high on my list.

Now, should I watch V for Vendetta tonight, or The Hidden Blade. Decisions…

As the rain drizzles along.

Although Ernesto is still down there in Florida we are getting some good torrential rain. Look at all these low pressure systems that are merging in this area. Could this become the “perfect storm” that takes out the village?

I’m sure you’ve noticed how many times I gripe about the daily power glitches in this village. On, off. On, off. Since a storm is on the way which may have a few raindrops and a breeze this means the power may go out, so the local media ran a story about the miserable state of power in this village.

With over 2,000 outages just last year…

You do the math. How many power outages do we have every day? So very Virginia.

As for the impending 2 inches of rain and 10 mph breeze this other story discussed that everyone will be out at Lowes buying supplies.

The store says customers are sure to rush in for corrugated pipes, sump pumps, and generators once Ernesto hits Charlottesville

With 100,000 people in the central virginny area, and 2,000 outages/year, how many generators do you think they sell?

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PS. I’ll keep outskirts up while I still have power. Stay tuned for live coverage throughout the storm

PPS. Current forecast seems to be for 5-10 inches. Yeah…I’ve heard that before. Just like we were supposed to get a snowflake last year. I’m still waiting.

A quick review of the new TV season that started up last week by you know who…FOX. My little postings during the next two months will primarily focus on new shows, and pretty much only things in HD (does anyone watch low def?).

Prison Break on FOX got going last week. It isn’t a new show, but since it was up against other shows last year I never had time to get in to it. Since there is nothing else on right now I tuned it and am now hooked. I’ll be getting the DVD’s of season 1 so I can zip through those when I get some time.

After Prison Break was the debut of Vanished. It is yet another FOX show where each episode takes place is a rather short time frame. Someone gets kidnapped and every episode will introduce about 30 new possible clues and mysteries so we are never sure of what is really going on. A rather familiar framework for the network, and the pace of the show is pretty weak as compared to Prison Break.

The only thing that kept me watching the first episode was Rebecca Gayheart playing a reporter. She is hot, although not quite as hot as she was in the good old Earth2 days. Unfortunately, by the middle of the 2nd episode that didn’t even hold my interest.

The show may make it through this season (or at least half of it), but won’t make it to next year.

Tonite is another new FOX show. Right after the 2nd season opener of Bones the pilot episode of Justice will be shown at 9. “Members of a powerful Los Angeles law firm take the case of a high-profile realtor accused of murder.” Sounds a bit like a knock-off of Boston Legal, but in LA with some murder thrown in (will the Bones woman have to help out?). I’ll at least take a look and let you know my thoughts…

I can’t take it anymore…why hasn’t Apple released an updated iMac this year? I want to buy a new one, but not until a new one comes out. Nothing new since January 10th.

My antiquated home dual-800 (with 3 17inch CRT’s) is no longer usable in the real-world (aka Photoshop CS2, Illustrator CS2, Director MX2004, iPhoto, iMovie, etc.). RIP. I want a 20inch iMac with a second 23 inch monitor attached.

Hey Apple…release something so I’ll buy!!!!!! Please…pretty please…

For those that drive in the wrong direction through the 4th Street underpass be cautious. For the past two mornings an officer on a motorcycle has been waiting for drivers trying to use reason to drive through the village. Is the city short on cash, or did someone notice this blog and realized how many people just roll right on through?

If they want to be smart about it they should hang out around 6pm in the evening. That would be three quick tickets in a mere 20 minutes. What does going the wrong way through a one way underpass cost today? Hmm….

On the most recent forecast Ernesto is still heading straight for us. I went to the store tonite and there was no bread or milk left on the shelves. The “old school” Virginnies were even out shopping for water, candles, bread, and milk.

Yesterday we had a thunderstorm that lasted about 10 minutes. Power was out for two hours for many (luckily not me…or how could I have watched Prison Break). What will happen if we actually get more than a 10 minute storm? The ravages will be extensive.

OK…at the start of every single season I say my Fins are going to the Super Bowl. Do I really believe it? Not as often as I say it, but there is always hope (except when in the village).

Looks as if Sports Illustrated is also high on the Fins right now, since they actually have them in the Super Bowl at the end of the season.

They do pick them to lose, but since the game is in Miami they will certainly win if they make it to the big game. No doubt about that.

Looks like NBC29 is adding a new TV network to the local airwaves. Looking a bit more closely at the posting these things strike out at me.

September 18th, 2006 will be an exciting day for viewers in Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley as we debut a new television network.

From what I’ve heard, no one watches television around here. I think we are 192 out of 209 in terms of television markets in the USA. Will viewers really be excited? Can shows such as America’s Next Top Model, 7th Heaven, Gilmore Girls, Smallville, Everyone Hates Chris, and Veronica Mars get locals jumping up and down?

CW29 News at 10 PM will cover all of the days headlines, breaking news and weather, plus a different look at arts, entertainment, and lifestyles in our area. It’s a great chance to catch up on the day’s news if you can’t stay up until 11 PM.

OK, that is just funny. How different will the view looks be? Different as in different. Different as in the same story that run at 6, but at a new time? The funniest part is about staying up till 11. The village really is that boring. It is often hard to stay up past 8pm around here. I then want to sleep in till at least noon (or whenever hunger wakes me). As for breaking news…I guess that includes things such as a school having a back to school picnic, or lawmakers chatting about transportation budgets.

The posting then chats about what channel you’ll be able to watch this on. Something up there in the 30’s or some such number. It then concludes with the line:

If you are not a current Adelphia/Comcast subscriber, contact your local cable company or satellite provider and ask them to add CW29 to your line up.

Why on earth would I ever want to talk (or get) Adelphia/Comcast cable service? This is the company that briefly promoted high def cable in the area three years ago and has done absolutely nothing since then (other than give out HD-DVR’s to many customers…and those are now antiquated). I know people who call them once a month to find out about HD service. They just say coming soon. They’ve been saying that for three years. So have fun asking…but you’d be better off getting out your rabbit ears.

As for my satellite provider do you really think they would spend the bandwidth to include this new station? We aren’t even worthy of getting any local stations on DTV since we are in such a tiny market. To top that off, local stations won’t give us permission to view national feeds, so many around here don’t get to see any of the major networks.

If the networks in town (and that miserable crappy ABC in the dump/city over the mountain to our west which is considered local even though not one person can receive it) would all give DTV subscribers permission for national feeds (which we pay for so you get your cut), then I would call up and tell them to include the new station when they are capable. Not one day before that. Until then…have fun with 28 excited viewers.

It is now past 8pm. Time to go to bed.

The latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center has Ernesto running right through Charlottesville on Friday. We sure could use that rain. I hope we get at least a foot. And then we should raise property values.