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Hi Crunchlanders. I have finally come to accept -- after spending way too much to repair my old minivan -- that I need a new kid toter. But I really don't want another minivan. The kids are all big enough to be out of child seats, and with my divorce, I really don't need a big van anymore. Maybe I'm just going through a mid-life crisis, or maybe I've finally come to accept that I can't parallel park worth a damn, but I am looking for a minivan alternative. Unfortuntely, there's some time urgency because currently my minivan sits in the driveway with brake problems. Anyway, I was looking at the Toyota Highlander, but I thought I would ask you all too if you have any suggestions. My wish list (meaning I'd like these things but only if I can afford it) includes a DVD entertainment system to keep the little guys occupied, XM radio and navigation. I don't care about guy things (HP, number of cylinders, and all wheel drive). Any thoughts? more >>

started by Momma Wang on April 08 2008. It has 18 replies, and Momma Wang made the most recent one at 03:22 PM on 05-14-2008.

Politics
The Incredible Hypocrisy of John McCain

Slime ads from the GOP The Republicans have criticized Obama by asking how he will pay for $660 billion in proposed spending. At a recent debate:Q: President Bush has talked about our staying in Iraq for 50 years — (cut off by McCain)McCAIN: Make it a hundred. My question: We've spent a trillion dollars on the Iraq war with the promise that we will stabilize the country and give the middle east a shining example of what democracy can accomplish. Mr. John McCain, how are you going to pay for just one more decade in Iraq?! more >>

started by Quest on May 10 2008. It has 1 reply, and DSF made the most recent one at 01:15 AM on 05-14-2008.

Politics
Obama and bitter

I lived in Pittsburgh for many years and Latrobe Pennsylvania for years and passed through many more factory towns in in PA. (And also in Michigan!) When I lived there it was almost a nightly thing to turn on the local news and hear of a factory closing --no exaggeration. What Obama said is just plain true. When the factory closes that the whole town survived on, 'some' people did get bitter and turn towards darker things. I saw it happen. It sickens me to watch McCain and others milk this for all its worth when they know there's truth in it. Talk about a tempest in a teapot. I've been a Hillary supporter so far but this political circus over the bitter remark is making me wonder. If you doubt, I suggest you drive through a dead factory town, as I have more times than I could ever count. more >>

started by Quest on April 14 2008. It has 22 replies, and Skyline made the most recent one at 10:31 PM on 05-09-2008.

Television & Pop Culture
How depressing.

So my Tivo did something for me today that was sort of a mixed blessing. Somehow, it divined that I'd be interested in watching the VH1 Classics program about the making of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. What it, and I, didn't count on, though, is how depressing it was to watch them intercut between pictures of familiar looking hippies making music in the 70's, with these old rich white guys who made the music 40 years ago. David Gilmore looks like a retired banker now. more >>

started by DSF on May 09 2008. It has 1 reply, and johnny anonymous made the most recent one at 09:28 PM on 05-09-2008.

Local Events
He's back

... more >>

started by johnny anonymous on May 08 2008. It has 1 reply, and Jo made the most recent one at 09:28 AM on 05-08-2008.

Game Zone
PS3 Flash

Having finally saved the $9000 needed to purchase a PS3, i was excited to be able to watch web-hosted tv shows from the bedroom. Naturally, my 1st stop was scifi to watch the most recent BSG. No such luck. I need a Flash player, but when i click thru, the flash website basically says who the **** are you?! I don't know what platform this is, and i'd rather not install Linux on here. Anyone with a PS3 get around this prob? more >>

started by Titan on May 06 2008. It has 1 reply, and DSF made the most recent one at 08:20 AM on 05-07-2008.

Crunchland
Happy Birthday P-Nut!

The Subject line says it all!. We get to celebrate yet another trip around the Sun! more >>

started by Badbill on May 04 2008. It has 5 replies, and Peanut made the most recent one at 12:10 AM on 05-06-2008.

Reviews
I am Iron Man!

Cue Black Sabbath ... I went to see Iron Man today. Of all the movies made from comic book superheros, I think this one is by far the best. Robert Downey Jr. owns the part of Tony Stark in a way I don't think anyone else could have. In fact, all the casting was superb. Inasmuch as this is about a man who builds himself an indestructible armor that allows him to fly, there is some suspension of disbelief involved. That being said, nothing was really over the top. This movie is a fanboy's wet dream. Something to go on and on about that actually has merit. Many in the audience applauded when the movie was over. Four to four and a half cows from me. PS Do not leave before the credits stop rolling or you will miss a little something ... more >>

started by Demeter on May 04 2008. It has 3 replies, and DSF made the most recent one at 05:46 PM on 05-05-2008.

Television & Pop Culture
DVD Player Censors On the Fly

I saw this advertisement for this DVD player that automatically filters out objectionable content from DVD's, automatically. Not only do you buy the electronic device, but you also get a one-year subscription to the filtering information, which apparently comes on a thumb drive. I'm curious if you think you'd ever buy such a thing. more >>

started by DSF on April 24 2008. It has 11 replies, and DSF made the most recent one at 07:35 AM on 04-27-2008.

Television & Pop Culture
Possibly the most entertaining episode of Charlie Rose, ever

more >>

started by DSF on April 22 2008. It has 1 reply, and Po made the most recent one at 08:27 PM on 04-26-2008.

Laughs
Baby vs. Tunnel

I wonder how long he had to wait in line to get on that ride. more >>

started by DSF on April 22 2008. It has 4 replies, and DSF made the most recent one at 11:44 AM on 04-24-2008.

Crunchland
Miley Cyrus plans to write memoir

Isn't fifteen a little young to be writing a memoir? Geez! more >>

started by Demeter on April 23 2008. It has 2 replies, and Samurai made the most recent one at 09:03 AM on 04-23-2008.

Politics
Washington Post letter

I can't say I know this person but clearly, they are brilliant. ... more >>

started by calvin on April 22 2008. It has 1 reply, and Skyline made the most recent one at 09:51 PM on 04-22-2008.

Crunchland
Happy Birthday Qa Cat

May you have a wonderful birthday! more >>

started by Jo on April 18 2008. It has 4 replies, and qa cat made the most recent one at 02:13 AM on 04-21-2008.

Anarchy & Subversion
Trapped!

The New Yorker Magazine has a time lapse video of a man stuck in an elevator for 41 hours. It's not graphic in any way, but if you've ever been stuck in an elevator, it's a little hard to watch. Here's his story. I've been twice stuck in an elevator. The first time was at the Courthouse Metro station in Arlington. I had just moved to the area, and had a couple of high-school friends visiting from out-of-town. As we're riding down the elevator, one of my friends comments how sturdy the elevators were. Yeah, they build these like tanks, I said, as if I knew what I was talking about. So my two jackass friends start jumping up and down, timing it so the elevator sways just a little bit. Metal against metal, the elevator screeches to a halt, not near enough to the bottom for us to exit that way. 2 hours later, the fire department ends up pulling us up and out. I don't talk to those guys much anymore. The second time was much more recently, here in my apartment building. Riding up from the laundry room, the power flickers, and the elevator just stops. The control panel doesn't respond. From what I gather, very much like what happened to the hapless fellow in the video. I was only stuck for 45 minutes. 41 hours, I would think I'd be a total basketcase. more >>

started by DSF on April 15 2008. It has 6 replies, and Quest made the most recent one at 09:10 PM on 04-17-2008.

Food!
The Last Meal on the H.M.S. Titanic

I just published a long and detailed entry describing the elaborate 10-course meal they served in the first-class dining room of the Titanic on the night it sunk, nearly 100 years ago this week. Check it out. more >>

started by DSF on April 09 2008. It has 2 replies, and DSF made the most recent one at 09:50 PM on 04-16-2008.

Crunchland
New Layout

Wow! Much easier on the eyes. I like it! Very nice DSF! more >>

started by Jo on April 05 2008. It has 13 replies, and Sheria made the most recent one at 10:15 AM on 04-15-2008.

Television & Pop Culture
Facial CG Animation is getting better.

The most common use these days is to pull actors into videogames. In the 90's, they used live action cutscenes because the graphics weren't up to par, though neither was the acting, really. (And, apparently Electronic Arts is still partying like it's 1995.) Another reason to go through this process is to make live-action movie special effects look more realistic. It'd be tricky to make a man morph into a green Hulk using make-up and film effects. Not that it hasn't been tried, and tried again, with varying degrees of success. (1912, 1931, and 1981.) But even less dramatically, if you use this method, and you decide sometime down in post production that you want the scene to be look another way -- everything from the costuming, to the actors, to the camera angles, to the setting -- it wouldn't involve a total reshoot, which would be massively expensive. Just juggle a couple of numbers and re-render. I think that's probably the holy grail of this process.

started by DSF on April 13 2008. It has no replies yet. Reply?