Where are the "smart" movies these days?

Where are they? Given that it's Wednesday night here in Reno and there's absolutely nothing on the Boob Toob, I'm watching "The Interpreter" on DVD right now. I really like this movie. Action, a bit of hidden passion, strong storyline, and good acting. But where are movies like this these days?

Sure, I like the usual guy blow-'em-up-chicks-in-hot-outfits movies, but living on a diet of action/T&A flicks is like living on a diet of regular Sunkist and Haagen Dass (or whatever). We all need to think occassionally, and the older ya get the less these dumb@ss movies work for ya. So I look for movies that make me think. "The Interpreter" is one of them. I like to give some thought to storylines and plot occassionally, without the interference of mundane, crass, or stupid storytelling. This movie does it for me.

Give these movies a look:
* "The Interpreter"
* "Home Room"
* "Virgin Diaries"
* "National Treasure"

Ok, sure, "National Treasure" doesn't fit, but it's a decent action flick that's smartly written and well-acted. :) Definately worth a look.

Time to rewind the movie to watch what I've missed while posting this. :)

Summer in Reno means...

Thunderstorms!! :) The one thing I like about summer here in Nevada: THUNDERSTORMS!! :)

For the last few days, we've had our normal afternoon thunderstorms rolling through the Sierra, including here in Reno. Spent the day chasing the fronts through the Reno area, but unfortunately there weren't any spectacular cloud formations. I've noticed that they tend to get flat and heavy in the immediate Truckee Meadows area. That leads to spectacular lightning storms a few times a year (ask me to talk about last year's storm that rolled through), but not much in the way of photo-worthy cloud formations.

So anyway, I usually head off this time of year to the Tahoe high country, or to the Mokelumne area of the Carson-Iceberg wilderness. Yeah, I know, "Where's that?!?!" Think Lake Tahoe: take the highway (89) south out of South Lake Tahoe until you hit Highway 88, hang a right, drive a couple miles, and look left. :) That, my friends, is the remarkable Carson-Iceberg Wilderness area. And yes, I'll undoubtedly post a lot about this area, post piccies, and grumble when I have to work and not be able to drive, hike, and backpack the area. :) But it's all good.

Tomorrow, Sunday, I'll be heading out again to chase some thunderheads, breathe the clean air of the Sierra Nevada, and try to push out all those thoughts and ideas that lead to me be away from the Sierra Nevada. :)

But it's all good. Talk to ya soon.

A brief introduction...

OK. This is my new blog. Welcome, enjoy the ramblings, blah blah blah.

So, a quick rundown of who I am, what I like, and such. Systems engineer, software developer, photographer, and I love travelling (driving and camping, not the more expensive flying and hotels). Live in Reno, Nevada, a transplant from the Central Coast of the Socialist Republic of California, after having my job outsourced to some Indian web developer who couldn't speak English. Hetero, age none of your business, and not patient with stupid people. :)

Love winter. LOVE IT! Snow, icy-cold temperatures, snowshoe'ing... Man, I just can't get enough of winter! :) As soon as I was able I would take every weekend, holiday, and vacation to hit the mountains, hike, enjoy my photography and geology passions... This blog thing will probably be loaded with posts about my photography, other's photography, geology, and development stuff.

Oh, and I hate hot weather. I can't describe my passionate dislike of hot weather. I've turned down lucrative job offers in Las Vegas because I don't want to work in an oven hovering around 120* fahrenheit. If it's over 65 degrees, it's hot. And I hate it. Except for one thing... :)