Aviously

It’s Time For Drones

@iAmAviG

January 20, 2016

Amazon comes closer every day to making drone delivery more of a reality.

A new article, via engadget explains some of the quirks of their high flying delivery machines.

They will have different units based on locale, so that rainy areas and dry areas get their appropriate birds, and the same difference between areas with large fields vs. those with lots of tall buildings.

By tailoring them to where they will be used, this will help the drones keep from crashing and/or getting tangled in phone lines and crashing thru a living room window.

Two great quotes from the article, the first on how these drones will avoid trees:

These drones are more like horses than cars — and let me explain why. If you have a small tree in your front yard, and you want to bang your car into it for some reason, you can do that. Your spouse might not be happy with you, but you can do it. But try riding a horse into the tree. It won’t do it. The horse will see the tree and go around it. Same way our drones will not run into trees, because they will know not to run into it.

The other quote talks about those vigilantes who enjoy shooting drones out of the skies:

There is, however, no avoiding thieves with guns. The company’s hoping that people will get tired of shooting at its drones once the novelty wears off.

They aren’t sure where they will launch Prime Air first, as they continue to work with Federal Agencies to make it legal here in the States.

The Big Short – Movie – Review

@iAmAviG

no comments

January 19, 2016

The Big Short is based off of a Michael Lewis book about the housing bubble (and crash) that faced America in the 2000s.
After the success of his previous books–>movies, expectations were high for this film…and it didn’t disappoint. (Previous movies were The Blind Side and Moneyball).

Starring Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale and Steve Carell as money managers taking advantage of a governments oversights and frauds(?) to make millions and billions of dollars off of other peoples misfortunes, this movie takes the housing market to the next level.

The biggest issue of the housing market is that most of us have no idea what they are talking about when they use fancy terms, and this would turn people away from The Big Short, except the movie goes out of its way to explain it to us as simply as can be.
And to do that they call on celebrities, as themselves, to explain the terms to us in stupid ways…whether it’s Margot Robbie in a bubble bath, Selena Gomez playing blackjack or Anthony Bourdain cooking halibut, they will explain the toughest terms in the simplest forms.

This movie was very good, especially considering the seemingly dull topic it was covering, and gets an 8.5 out of 10.

200 Days Until The Olympics!!!

@iAmAviG

1 comment

January 18, 2016

We are now 200 days away from the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil.

I’m a big sports fan, and almost no sports are off limits, but there is something always special about the Olympics (more so with the winter games than the summer games) that just brings Americans close together to all root for the same team.

We spend all year barking at each other over the Yankees vs. Mets—Rangers vs. Islander—Giants vs. Cowboys—and on and on—but every couple of years we get to get behind Team USA and root for the home team.

Google Messenger

@iAmAviG

no comments

January 15, 2016

For years I’ve been using Motorola’s default text messaging app:

but recently I’ve been using more Gifs in my threads, and it’s gotten annoying to have to “open” each one.

So I went to the obvious source for my Android needs: Google, and Google Messenger:

I don’t know why I’d never tried Google Messenger before, but so far in use it’s very good.

From Gifs and voice messages embedded into the threads, not having to open up a separate screen to see them is great.

It’s also a lot more colorful then what the flat, plain, Motorola Messaging had been offering.

Google Messenger can be downloaded here.

Burnt – Review

@iAmAviG

no comments

January 14, 2016

We’ve all watched Gordon Ramsay rule his kitchen, and a lot of us have read Kitchen Confidential by Chef Anthony Bourdain.
But Burnt turns the heat up, and gives us an inside look at the pressures a chef faces on his journey to be the best.

Bradley Cooper plays Chef Adam Jones as he goes on his quest to receive his third Michelin Star.
The Stars are awarded by unidentified inspectors, who can show up at any time, and fail you for the slightest of mishaps.
For comparison, Chef Ramsay currently holds 14 Stars, with Gordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road (in Chelsea, London) holding a 3-star rating since 2001.

Adam Jones faces the pressures of reopening a restaurant, bringing in the top sous chefs to help him, and shoot down his competitors, reviewers, and of course keep a close eye out for that imperfect dish that could destroy a potential Star.

This movie also stars Sienna Miller (American Sniper), Daniel Bruhl (Inglorious Bastards), Uma Thurman and Emma Thompson.

Overall this movie puts in a very solid performance, and is a 7 out of 10.

2016 NYCFC Tickets

@iAmAviG

no comments

January 12, 2016

Just like last year, I once again have season tickets for the New York City Football Club playing at Yankee Stadium.

Unlike last year, I have two sets of seats to sell, both of which in pairs of two(2)s.

The first is located down in Section 127A, Row 9, pictured here:

I also have tickets located in Section 228, Row 15, aisle seats in a covered section, protecting you from rain and sun:

Almost all the games are still available, with the prices ranging from $40 and up. Feel free to message me for info on pricing for any game you might be interested in!

Here is a list of their home schedule (times as we know it), with what’s available:
~~Sunday March 13 5:00 PM Toronto FC~~
Friday March 18 7:00 PM Orlando City
Saturday March 26 TBD New England Revolution
Sunday April 10 7:00 PM Chicago Fire
Wednesday April 27 TBD Montreal Impact
Saturday April 30 TBD Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Saturday May 21 3:00 PM New York Red Bulls
Sunday May 29 4:00 PM Orlando City
Thursday June 2 TBD Real Salt Lake
Saturday June 18 TBD Philadelphia Union
Sunday July 3 12:00 PM New York Red Bulls
Saturday July 30 TBD Colorado Rapids
Saturday August 20 3:30 PM LA Galaxy
Thursday September 1 TBD D.C. United
Saturday September 17 TBD FC Dallas
Friday September 23 8:00 PM Chicago Fire
Sunday October 23 4:00 PM Columbus Crew SC

Sicario – Review

@iAmAviG

2 comments

January 11, 2016

Sicario is yet another top movie of 2015.

Sicario (literally means hitman) focuses on FBI agent Kate Murcer (Emily Blunt) after her unit gets hit by an explosion, taking out some of her people.

Kate is then recruited by Alejandro (Benico del Toro) and Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) two unknown agents, with a shady way of handling themselves, to oversee missions against the drug cartel.

Why they picked her, and finding out what Matt/Alejandro’s ultimate goal is, will keep you on the edge of your seat for this action packed movie.

Overall this movie is a 9 out of 10.

Golden Globes – Preview

@iAmAviG

no comments

January 8, 2016

The Golden Globes will be hosted this Sunday by Ricky Gervais, and if previous performances are any indication, they should be a hoot!
With all that in mind, here are my picks for who should win some of the categories (given the nominees…not gonna add people in who don’t even have a chance!).

Also, some categories have been left out because I haven’t seen enough of the movies/shows to make an opinion.

Best Motion Picture, Drama – Spotlight — Top movie of 2015, hands down, and should be awarded this accolade.
My review could be read here.

Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy – The Big Short — This complex scenario was made simple in this great movie based off the Michael Lewis book.
Stay tuned in upcoming posts for my Big Short review.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy – Christian Bale, The Big Short — His performance as Dr Michael Burry is a notch above some of the other candidates.

Best Supporting Actress in any Motion Picture – Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina — An understated movie and her role as Ava, her performance shines through in a very quiet movie.

Best Director, Motion Picture – Tom McCarthy, Spotlight

Best Screenplay, Motion Picture – Spotlight, with a close second place by The Big Short.

Best Motion Picture, Animated – Inside Out — One of the best Animated movies in years.
My full review can be read here.

Best Original Song, Motion Picture – Love Me Like You Do, Fifty Shades of Grey — Any follower of my blog knows that Ellie holds a special place in my heart.

Best Television Series, Drama – Mr. Robot

Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy – Mozart in the Jungle — While OITNB and Transparent should rule this category, the fact that they are a little too serious at times may lower their value.
My review of Mozart can be read here.

Best Actress in a TV Series, Drama – Robin Wright, House of Cards

Best Actor in a TV Series, Drama – Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul — It’s hard to follow-up to a successful show, but Bob does a good job grabbing in the Breaking Bad crowd.

Best Actress in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy – Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Best Actor in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy – Aziz Ansari, Master of None
You can read my review of Master of None here.

Best Supporting Actress in a TV Show – Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black

Best Supporting Actor in a TV Show – Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
You can read my Bloodline review here.

Spotlight – Review

@iAmAviG

1 comment

January 6, 2016

Spotlight is easily one of the top films of 2015.

Starring Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Liev Schreiber and Rachel McAdams this movie focuses on the Boston Globe’s special “Spotlight” unit as they look to uncover the church’s dark secrets revolving around child molestation

From the local Boston Archdiocese to the entire Catholic Church the movie focuses on how the unit went about finding victims, uncovering secrets that the Church had spent years trying to cover up, and lastly trying to expose the scandal for what it was.

Rolling Stone magazine has it as the best movie of 2015, and that is really hard to argue…and to quote them:

…the movie sets a new gold standard for 21st-century cinema about journalism.

Overall this movie is a 9 out of 10.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: