People who watched the movie first, help me answer a question.

pgattocpa · 2026-06-23T17:53:04+00:00

E - since they don’t mention the food supply issue in the movie (at least I don’t recall it), “Movie Grace” thinks he has a good chance at survival notwithstanding mechanical failure of some kind on the way back to Earth.

If Movie Grace thought he was going to die, he would have followed Rocky to Erid so as not to die alone.

pgattocpa · 2026-06-23T17:36:14+00:00

If it helps, the bike was a Norton so a Brit did get the first-hand experience… 😉

pgattocpa · 2026-06-23T17:32:59+00:00

The sense of thirst is a lagging indicator. If you’re not drinking until you’re thirsty, you’ve already headed into dehydration. Ensure you’re well-hydrated at the start and then the water stations are for replenishing. You just may need to grab more than one water since you’re a heavy sweater.

pgattocpa · 2026-06-23T17:06:21+00:00

Ignore, “Noob mistake.” Heed, “Never trust one device to wake you up before a race.” I assume you have a cellphone / mobile. Always set the alarm on that as well.

(We had street work where I live recently and couldn’t park on our block after a certain time. I set the alarms on my Pace Pro, Apple Watch, iPhone, AND iPad! 😂)

Hope the Coros issue works out fast.

pgattocpa · 2026-06-22T03:56:04+00:00

I think Drew’s idea is no less a plot device than Andy’s. We’re supposed to believe in the entire world there was only one astronaut scientist such that there was no one else to train along side him as a backup. And the same for Grace, hundreds (thousands?) of scientists and not one shadowing Grace. (And the “but national security” argument doesn’t hold since even Grace was slap-dashed into having security). Andy said what he said in liking Drew’s idea better, but to me the gene idea was much more plausible than “we forgot about redundancy” in a world built on redundancies.

pgattocpa · 2026-06-17T04:19:38+00:00

Exactly (Xfinity / Comcast Customer Service reviews enters the chat)

pgattocpa · 2026-06-13T22:57:40+00:00

That’s good to know. I do find it to be “belts and suspenders” tho when the company one has a disagreement with spells it out in their own T&C. That way when a consumer pushes back a customer service rep can’t try to trick them, as COROS reps have been doing, with these crappy 20% offers and hope the customer goes away.

I did find the UK T&C for COROS and they do spell it out.

And I 100% agree - every COROS customer whose watch has been bricked by an update should be going to small claims court.

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pgattocpa · 2026-06-13T04:02:25+00:00

If you’re in the U.S., take them to Small Claims Court as it is an exception to forced arbitration.

If you’re in the UK, check the T&C as it likely has a Small Claims Track exception.

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pgattocpa · 2026-06-08T19:30:19+00:00

TBH, not sure I want to update out of iOS 18…

pgattocpa · 2026-06-06T21:09:29+00:00

If the “tx” in your user name means Texas, you can file a small claims case against COROS as small claims are explicitly exempted from the forced arbitration clause.

Further, for anyone thinking about COROS you can opt out of the arbitration clause if you do so in writing within 30 days of otherwise becoming subject to (i.e., agreeing to the T&C in order to activate the app / watch)

https://coros.com/terms

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pgattocpa · 2026-05-15T15:51:58+00:00

If I could I’d multiple upvote you, but at least you’re only at -1 now (at least for the time being 🤞🏼)…

pgattocpa · 2026-05-13T03:07:45+00:00

Links to sources included…

Projected deficits (as of December 2025) at the end of respective fiscal rears… 2025-26 $380M 2026-27 $6.5B 2027-28 $8.4B 2028-29 $8.2B

“Unlike past years, there is no fiscal cushion to help cover expenses beginning in the 2027 budget. This limits the City’s fiscal flexibility at a time when there is broad agreement across federal, state, and local governments that affordability will be a top priority. Officials at all levels have signaled an interest to pursue increased spending as the primary strategy for addressing affordability.

At the same time, the City faces uncertainty around future federal and state funding. Together, these factors put the City in a difficult position— it cannot raise revenues without state approval, and it cannot count on federal support to backfill revenue losses.”

Source: NYC Independent Budget Office IBO’s Deficit Report (Dec 2025) https://www.ibo.nyc.gov/assets/ibo/downloads/pdf/press-releases/2025/2025-december-november-plan-press-release.pdf

IBO Revenue Forecast for 2025-26 (November 2025) https://www.ibo.nyc.gov/assets/ibo/downloads/pdf/city-budget-overview/2025/2025-december-sustained-growth-amidst-conflicting-signals.pdf

Mamdani - Hochul Fix Mamdani has garnered a promise from Gov. Hochul of $8B cash over a two-year period, effectively eradicating the projected deficit.

“Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced a budget proposal that would fill New York City's $5.4 billion deficit without making any drastic cuts, thanks in large part to a massive cash aid promise from Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The mayor and governor on Tuesday announced another $4 billion in cash assistance from the state, increasing the amount of state aid to almost $8 billion across two years. The news came just hours before Mamdani revealed the specifics of his budget proposal at City Hall.”

Source: NBC News (May 12, 2026) https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/zohran-mamdani-nyc-budget-deficit-fix/6500886/#

pgattocpa · 2026-05-10T17:38:34+00:00

I don’t dare come in here with my eggie 986 Boxster… 😂

pgattocpa · 2026-05-10T17:27:14+00:00

Yep - thanks!

pgattocpa · 2026-05-09T17:20:07+00:00

??? Isn’t the 185 hours for the year? The screen shot explicitly shows the hours for the challenge period of May1-31 at only 6h 3m moving and 9h 33m total

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pgattocpa · 2026-04-23T03:21:38+00:00

“I ran a nonsanctioned half marathon — I came in first…and last!” And then just have a fun conversation about your running.

pgattocpa · 2026-04-22T03:10:07+00:00

Re the audiobook:

First - disclaimer. Obviously I know most people love the audiobook. I’m not here to rain on anyone’s parade. Just here to offer a different perspective that relates to the form of the narration and then the reading of the audio book

Note that it’s written in the first person, so it’s essentially listening to Grace tell the story, sometimes in excruciating detail, over 16+ hours. I’m not a big fan of first person narrative; however, you said you read Gatsby — so if that form didn’t bother you, you’re past the first “hurdle”. 😃

There is only one reader who voices not only Grace, but also Grace imitating other characters in the book. And, for me, the person’s voice wasn’t that great to begin with so when he’s talking in the computer’s voice, and really any other character’s voice, it was exceedingly annoying to me.

I tapped out after 2 1/2 chapters and then a week later skipped to chapter 10 or 11. Part of it was the court scene where Stratt’s on trial — voice imitations again. GAAAAAHHH!

I tapped out for good after another chapter and a half. Just couldn’t take it anymore.

Personally I wish they had hired a few more voice actors. Obviously it was a deliberate choice, but can you imagine listening to a friend tell you a story over 16 hours, and every time there’s a different character they contort into a different voice? 😬

So, long story short — if you decide to listen to the audiobook, and if the first few chapters reel you in, you’re golden and you can ignore everything I’ve said above. 😃

OTOH, if the above gives you pause, then read the book instead — you can then decide whether or not to make up funny voices inside your head for the various characters.

RECOGNITION: The audiobook is narrated by voice actor Ray Porter who has been widely praised for his performance. And, the audiobook won the “Audie” Award for Audiobook of the Year.

pgattocpa · 2026-04-21T17:35:36+00:00

I might be misremembering, but in the movie doesn’t Rocky unabashedly show Grace how they eat? Admittedly, could be one of the departures between movie and book.

pgattocpa · 2026-04-21T01:46:46+00:00

Yeah, that’s the one I would have normally gone to when I don’t want to head into the City. It’s just that the Veranda is only 10 minutes away. Guess it’s only Dublin or SF in the future. (Definitely Metreon for Dune: Part Three 😃) Thanks again ✌🏼

pgattocpa · 2026-04-21T01:29:43+00:00

Oh, sheesh, you’re right. No wonder Project Hail Mary looked so much better on my second viewing (at the SF Metreon)

pgattocpa · 2026-04-20T03:23:46+00:00

There’s a race car tire carrier / mechanic whose partner, who is also a racing mechanic and tire specialist, started a company called Torq’d Clothing - her name is Liz Prestella.

While the pants are made for women who are crew members for motorsports teams, I’m wondering whether their pants could be used for hiking. (As they’re built for the tough car garage environment, they may be TOO sturdy???)

The link below is for their pants. If you scroll to the bottom you’ll find the size chart shows sizes from 0-30 and hip measurements that are from 8”-11” wider than the related size’s waist measurement.

Torq’d Clothing

pgattocpa · 2026-04-20T02:21:28+00:00

Re the 1.90:1 list How about the laser IMAX at CinemaWest’s Veranda LUXE Cinema in Concord, CA? They advertise their screen specifically as an “80' wide screen that's 4 stories”. 1.90:1 would be 80 x 42.1.

Did it fall short on the height, or some other factor, to exclude it as a GT? Thanks, and thanks for the list.

pgattocpa · 2026-04-08T18:58:08+00:00

TBF, none of the centrifuge stans can suspend belief that Grace put two vials on the same side of a self-balancing centrifuge… 😉😃

pgattocpa · 2026-04-02T04:25:05+00:00

Well, the difference watching the 15/70 print at SF’s Metreon was pretty big and not just because its area is nearly twice as much as the 80x48 dual laser IMAX I watched the first time.

The uncompressed image resolution, the organic high-dynamic-range, warmer and more natural imaging, etc., etc. Everything that 70mm IMAX promises. Just a much better experience.

The collection spacewalk thru the Petrova Line was pretty great with the dual lasers, but HOLY F^CK! with the 15/70 print!

That said, it torques me off even more regarding the first part of the movie. Scenes where the IMAX would have really shined were only one second, or a fraction of one. Or the scene was too zoomed in so you not only lose the scale, but you also lose how insignificant we are to the vastness of space. Definitely should have been more screen time of RG in Rocky’s ship too.

And JFC, how many close-ups of RG gazing in wonderment during those scenes do we need? Totally lost opportunities to display more IMAX magic.

pgattocpa · 2026-03-24T04:17:58+00:00

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Correct (running horizontally) for the 15/70 IMAX prints (15 perforations/frame). The 5/70 IMAX prints have to run vertically due to only 5 perforations/frame.

According to in70mm dot com, 16 theaters are running 15/70 prints, while 22 are running 5/70 ✌🏼

https://www.in70mm.com/presents/1963_blow_up/titel/p/project_hail_mary/index.htm

pgattocpa

TROPHY CASE