Five Things – 2017-08-07

2017-08-08

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Momentum – (2015 movie)

2017-08-07
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Momentum - (2015 movie) poster

Entertainment > Movies >

(on Wikipedia)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3181776/

A woman is pulled back into a life of crime, only to learn that what she helped steal has other interested parties.

A mediocre movie which just feels off and awkward. Definitely not recommended.

Olga Kurylenko is either an absolutely awful actor, or playing an absolutely awful character, or maybe both. Probably both.



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Doogee X20

2017-08-07
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Doogee-X20-front.jpg

Hardware > Phones (Android 7.0) >

was https://www.doogee.cc/detail/x-series/111/

A very inexpensive yet capable phone.

At a glance, it seems okay. Android and every app I’ve seen have many UI flaws, but that’s not the X20’s fault.

After a week of use, I have to say this is a fantastic phone. It’s the perfect beginner’s smartphone and there’s nothing I’ve done that’s been limited in any way whatsoever by its specifications. I have not run out of storage or memory.. not even close. Do note that I haven’t played any games, and I probably never will.

I am really ticked that it doesn’t have OTG support, so I can’t use the microSD for anything but charging. Powering off, pulling my charging dongle out, removing the half-case, removing the battery cover, removing the battery and moving the SD card back and forth is an awful, awful, way for me to edit files.

  • The minimum volume is way too loud.

  • The bottom microUSB port works for a USB key.
  • Warning: See BLU Products for drama surrounding a company that deals with Doogee products. It has spyware.
  • Warning: Has BeautySnap – (Android spyware) (which might be uninstallable)

  • Abandoned – As of 2023-02-20 it was never updated in all this time.



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Android

2017-08-07
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(new software template)

Android_robot_2014.png

Projects > Software > Operating Systems >

(on Wikipedia)
https://www.android.com/

An operating system most notably on mobile phones, but also found on media boxes.

Fundamentally flawed – It is tethered to Google in as many ways as they’ve made possible. From a time server, to internet traffic compression. From google play requiring an account requiring your verified phone number. From hoops to download and install software from their store. It’s fucking awful.



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The Secret Garden – (1911 book), by Frances Hodgson Burnett

2017-08-06
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My cover is different
My cover is different

Entertainment > Reading >

(on Wikipedia)

A spoiled little girl loses her rich parents and is sent away to live with her reclusive heartbroken (rich) relative.

The story is fairly awful to me, though I can see how this was popular at the time. It has definitely aged, not just in its period but in its language and writing style.

I’ll class this as “liked”, but I only see this as being good for historical reasons and wouldn’t recommend it. I’ll also class this as child-friendly, except it’s child-friendly in its context: A parent reading to their child in the early 1900s.

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Star Wars – Episode I – The Phantom Menace – (1999 movie)

2017-08-06
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Star Wars - Episode I - The Phantom Menace - (1999 movie) poster

Entertainment > Movies >
Star Wars >

(on Wikipedia)
https://www.starwars.com/films/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace
https://www.lucasfilm.com/productions/episode-1/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120915/

Do not watch this! Instead watch the fan edit Star Wars Episode I.II – The Phantom Edit – (2000 movie). Even at its much lower quality it’s head and shoulders above this movie.



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The Sword and the Sorcerer – (1982 movie)

2017-08-06
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Charging a greenhouse.
Charging a greenhouse.

Entertainment > Movies >

(on Wikipedia)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084749/

It should be summarized as: A noble kingdom is taken by force, forcing a prince to flee and live a life that turns to adventure, to later return to contest for the throne.

However. However it’s all over the place. It doesn’t properly delve into any aspect, and doesn’t properly string things together. It has all the elements of a good, or at least fair, movie, but it wasn’t written well.



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I Origins – (2014 movie)

2017-08-05
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It's a play on words
It's a play on words

Entertainment > Movies >

(on Wikipedia)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2884206/
https://www.searchlightpictures.com/iorigins/

A science guy has a thing for eyes.

Has one long mellow semi-suspenseful tone, but doesn’t take full advantage of its opportunities. It grows weaker and weaker as it drones on, and barely pretends to have a reasonable resolution.



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Gratuitous Tank Battles

2017-08-05
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Entertainment > Games >

was https://www.gratuitoustankbattles.com/

A tower defense game, but with tanks and more upgrading.

I tried the demo and didn’t give it much of a chance. For example, I didn’t customize units. I prefer the more sandbox-style of Gratuitous Space Battles.

  • From the makers of Gratuitous Space Battles.
  • The scroll wheel to zoom in/out is backwards.

  • Abandoned – The website is dead.

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