Crash has what’s got to be one of the most powerful scenes in a movie. It’s worth watching if only for that. But it is a lot more than that. The movie is about the interleaving stories of several characters as they go about their lives in downtown LA. It is a story about racism, how it’s not limited to just one group, and the animosity it generates. It is a story that, amidst all this, there are redeeming human qualities that give us a glimpse of hope. All these was very well told. Paul Haggis (story, screenplay, and director) rocks!
Rating: 5/5
Caught a replay of the Monte Carlo Rally last night. It featured the much awaited debut of the new Citroen C4 World Rally Car on the WRC. Although it has essentially the same 2L turbocharged engine (providing a drool-worthy 315 BHP @ 5500 RPM and 570 NM @ 2750 RPM) as the previous Xsara, improvements in other systems is said to have improved overall performance. Even opposing drivers were awed. And it showed in the results: C4s piloted by Sebastien Loeb and Dani Sordo (Junior WRC champ) took the first AND second places respectively. It is, of course, in no small part due to driver skills. It looks like Sebastien Loeb and Citroen are going on a winning streak again.
The Impact XL is an underwater flashlight that can also be used for above-water outdoor activities or, if you prefer, an above-water flashlight that can also be used for underwater activities. Per manufacturer specifications, it is waterproof up to 100m. It has a single Luxeon LED bulb which can throw 170 lumens of light as far as 50m. 4 AA batteries provide burn-time of up to 50 hours. Its tough plastic body is clad in molded rubber for grip as well as additional protection. A lanyard loop at the tail end allows for the attachment of a lanyard, wrist strap, or clip. The switch is a rotating bezel. It has enough rotations to minimize the chance of opening and flooding the batteries while underwater. However, you turn it in to activate so there’s a chance, albeit pretty small, that a push, say from water pressure, will move the head in and activate. Other than that, I’ve no real complaint about this light. Highly recommended.
