Bits and pieces, erev Shabbat

I was listening to the radio this morning, and Umberto Eco was on. He had a great quotation from someone whose name I didn't catch, about how all history books are modern history (ie that they reflect the age they're written in as well as the age they're written about). Interesting thought. Also discussion of the nuances of translation, how a computer using a dictionary is completely different than a person with more of an encyclopaedia (hopefully).

On another radio show, I found out that Sandra Boynton has a new book-and-CD out, Philadelphia Chickens. I suspect I shall have to read this at some point.

Done today: started a load of laundry, started a batch of bread, retrieved pysanky, got my cousin on his way, got a tray of experimental chicken in the oven (double-wrapped).
Still to do: go to the gym, then bake challah, figure out soup, salad, any other vegetable for dinner tonight. Finish the laundry. Breathe copiously :-).

Shabbat is inching later, ending just after 5 this week. Unfortunately, the storm took the eruv down, so two weeks in a row with it down; this is not a really bad thing, I think, since it keeps people mindful of what an eruv is useful for.

[1515 update: second load of laundry in the washer, rolls in the oven, gym accomplished (thanks to Cthulhia for the pass!)(minor workout: stretching plus 23 minutes on the EXT, managing 1.6 miles), leeks (I can't believe I still had some of the white parts of leeks from a farm delivery... good thing alliums last, especially in the fridge.) and onions sauteeing for soup.]

Movie previews

Before the movie yesterday there were copious previews. I'm always curious to see what movies are previewed with the movie I've chosen to see (Also, I don't see TV ads and whatnot for movies when they come, so this is my chance to see which bits they've selected to promote upcoming flix.). However, the number we saw (5, was it? more?) seemed excessive, especially since the movie itself is long. I was disappointed to find that there are going to be a lot of movies that I have no particular interest in seeing. Not that I'd avoid them actively, but unless there's some group outing that ends up at one of these, I'm not going to pay to watch things that seem so uninteresting, predictable. I suppose I'm not in the majority, since movies make lots of money, but I don't see so many movies, and I'd like to see ones that are enjoyable and possibly even give me something to think about. I suppose it's why I end up at a lot more plays than movies, since there is much more of interest going on. Also, each performance it different. A movie stays the same, will always be the same product (though the experience may vary by the viewer. Even so.)
Oh, and why preview movies that won't be out for another half a year or so? Why not things that will be coming *soon* to a theater near you?