iOS Safari Reader View

A friend recommended I start reading H.P. Lovecraft's stuff and linked me to The Call of Cthulhu. I'm sure most of you have already read it and I heard of Cthulhu from several other references before, but I never read the actual short story. If you haven't read it before, I recommend it. Anyway, this anecdote doesn't really have much to do with this blog post so I'll get on with it.

I moved on to The Dunwich Horror after finishing CoC as it was very strongly recommended by coworkers and friends and it is a compelling novella to say the least. One evening I was home in bed and didn't have the energy to go into the other room to get my computer. Resignedly, I reached for my iPhone. I was surprised to find a "Reader" button address bar of Safari. I read about the feature, but had no idea how much it was going to improve my life!

I keenly tapped the button and with delight the page changed into a eBook type format. Huzzah, I don't have to pinch and zoom to get a readable view of websites on my phone!

I excitedly started poking at the the other buttons and found the send to (box with an arrow icon) has a new option to "Add to Reading List". Of course, I carelessly chose it not knowing what it would do.  

Taking an educated guess, I found the Reading List under the Bookmark menu (open book icon at the bottom of Safari) and dove in. This works a lot like Instapaper or Read It Later, but in my opinion built-in is almost always better. If you're not familiar with those services, they will save a web page for later viewing. For example, most people would rather read a ten chapter novella on their large computer screen or iPad than their phone, perhaps until now. Combine this with iCloud bookmark storage and now you can effortlessly sync the Reading List with your other devices. That's frackin' handy!

I was surprised once more when I found the next little bit. I know you're probably getting tired and thinking of saving this post for later, but hold on to your butts because this last feature of Reader will blow you away (not really and stop holding your butts; you're going to stink up your hands, seriously). 

Dictionary definitions! No more copy and paste into your favorite definition finder!! I was elated to find this because I'm kind of a word nerd lacking an overly extensive vocabulary. 

The trick here is to tap and hold on the word in question. The standard Copy menu will appear, but a new option Define is also available. 

This is what you see when you tap Define. I did discover a word or two that it didn't know, but I think 99% of the time it will not disappoint. 

P.S. I later learned that Define is available in any Safari page not just Reader view! Oh boy!

Yahoo! Toolbar Breaks Internet Explorer

It appears an update to IE or the Yahoo! Toolbar has broken IE if the Yahoo! Toolbar is installed. 


Symptoms: Internet Explorer will not open. Specifically, upon opening it: 
Internet Explorer encountered a problem and needs to close.


Solution: Uninstall Yahoo! toolbar already. What are you waiting for?

EpicWin with Google Calendar Sync?

The developer of EpicWin for iPhone is working on adding Google calendar sync. If you've forgotten about EpicWin, it's too bad because its become a very well done to do list app. I'm still using it every day. Yes, in the beginning it was thin on features, but there have been regular improvements and it stands up to the other ones out there really well. New things since it was first released include: reminders, completed task history, improved date picker, online progress sync and more. I like it because it motivates me to complete the crap on my to do list by leveling my character. No, there is still no way to compare to friends, but I don't really care about that. It's not really meant to be "won". It's meant to make task completion more interesting. We'll see how well the Google calendar sync turns out, but this is the first to do list app for iPhone that's doing this! -- that I know of.


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#15 Star Wars Episode: IV

So, I didn't skip the movie last week; I just skipped the review. Last week was a very busy week as I've been trying to keep up with a 2500 words per day goal. So far so good as the novel is at 28,000+ words.  So needless to say I've been short on time for blogging and I didn't think the world needed another review of Star Wars Episode: IV. I will say that I watched the non-special edition and it was awesome. The original special effects really made it feel more real and it made me realize how movies today could stand to do more analog effects. No matter how good CGI gets I think you will always be able tell when effects are computer generated. I suppose making models was time consuming and expensive, but it is amazing what was done with them. Go watch the original version of Episode IV and you will see what I mean. 


There is also an explanation for no mention of the bad movie. That is because I couldn't find Too Beautiful and I picked up a backup movie Zodiac Killer, but never watched it.

#16 Casablanca vs. Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders

I apologize if my posts start to show up late or lack luster. I decided to participate in National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo for short. This means that I am attempting to pump out a 50,000 word novel by the end of November! Yes, you read that correctly and yes it is insane, but I have nothing to lose and a book to gain so why the hell not. 


The movies were awesome this week. Casablanca is amazing and probably belongs a bit higher up on the list. Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders, in contrast is horrendous, but the MST3K episode is hilarious. 

Casablanca
IMDB rating: 8.7
Metacritic metascore: n/a


This film is an interesting history lesson from the get-go. During the 1940's Casablanca was occupied by the French and it functioned as a critical stop for those who are trying to escape the Third Reich. Unfortunately, most people ended up lodged in Casablanca unable to obtain exit visas. The bulk of the film takes place locally at Rick's Cafe; a club run by none other than Rick (Humphrey Bogart). He is introduced as a gruff business man, but is a real "sentimentalist" as Captian Renault likes to call him. Rick's Cafe is a popular stop for refugees because it is infamous for visa deals. Rick gets away with this because he and Captian Renault have an "understanding". Renault, chief of Police in Casablanca, turns a blind eye as long as Rick throws him some cash. Everything is business as usual until a couple German couriers turn up dead. A small time criminal goes to Rick and gives him "letters of transit" which were stolen from the murdered Germans. These letters understandably come with a lot of power and trouble for Rick as they allow the bearer to freely travel through German territory. Many of Rick's patrons would love to get their hands on the letters. Captain Renault is approached by the Nazi Major Stasser who came to Casablanca to investigate the murder and he requests that a certain Victor Laszlo headed for Casablanca not be permitted to leave once he arrives. Captain Renault asks Rick to look out for Laszlo and help keep him in Casablanca. Rick's world turns upside down when an old friend Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) appears at the door of his club on Laszlo's arm and he is forced to make a very difficult decision.


I thought the film was very well written and acted. There was some minor overacting, but I think that is part of the charm of a classic film. It was incredibly clever and funny throughout and I felt there was a healthy mixture of humor and drama with a taste of action. The story was executed masterfully and it never got boring. If you're in the mood for an excellent classic film and you've never seen Casablanca I would wholeheartedly recommend it.

Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders
IMDB rating: 1.6
Metacritic metascore: n/a


As you can tell by the poster, this movie is bad ass - with an emphasis on the 'bad' and also on 'ass'. This guy was on some serious drugs or had clinical mental illness when he wrote this thing. It's supposed to be a whimsical fairy tale about Merlin setting up shop in modern times to bring magic back to the world. Unfortunately, he only managed to bring terror and destruction. It's odd because it is not one continuous film. It's actually two separate stories and the only thing connecting them is Merlin's little shop of horrors, I mean, mystical wonders. The first story was about a man who didn't believe in magic for he was a powerful local journalist :snicker: who could take down Merlin's shop with a flick of his pen. So what does Merlin do? He gives the guy his book of spells! If this Merlin character had half a brain there is no way he would give his spell book to any old Joe Schmo. As you can probably guess, disaster strikes when the man discovers magic is real and he pays the price for using it. The second story surrounds a toy monkey holding cymbals from Merlin's shop. This clever thief robs Merlin's shop and all he gets is a toy monkey. He gets rid of it at another shop and someone buys it. Little did the buyer know that this is a cursed monkey toy. It makes its way to the buyer's home as a birthday present for his son. Seemingly harmless at first the father notices all the plant life has died around the house. He somehow connects this with the toy monkey and begins to suspect there is more to this thing. The monkey succeeds in murdering the family dog and nearly murdering the rest of the family before finding its way back to Merlin's shop. 


This is such a nice film for children to watch before bed isn't it? As I mentioned above; this was one of the funniest MST3K episodes I've ever seen. I don't know how I would've made it through without their comments. The movie had terrible acting from the guy who played Merlin and the stories were definitely not meant for children. This was a poorly made film by a certifiably deranged individual, but I really recommend you watch the MST3K episode. It is absolutely hysterical.


Next week: #15 Too Beautiful vs. Star Wars IV: A New Hope

#17 The Little Fox 2 vs. Goodfellas

This week was no contest. In fact, I didn't actually get through all of The Little Fox 2 (Kis Vuk) because I couldn't find it with English subtitles. I guess it invalidates it a bit that I didn't actually watch it, but it was so painful on the eyes and ears.

Goodfellas
IMDB rating: 8.7
Metacritic metascore: 89

Most of you should already know that this is among the top tier of mob flicks. It is loaded with talent as you can see in the movie poster to the left - No, your other left! Martin Scorcese has a knack for making you laugh one moment and shudder the next. The plot surrounds an Irish kid named Henry (Liotta) who seems to fall into the local mob and we get to go along for the ride. Eventually we meet up with the other "wiseguys": Tommy (Pesci) and Jimmy (De Niro). In comparison to Henry these two were cold ruthless monsters and this trio was unstoppable... until Tommy whacks the wrong guy. 

This was the third time I've seen this movie and I still loved it. The violence is sometimes head-turning and you can literally feel the intensity, but it's broken up with humor very cleverly. Tommy is probably my favorite character even though he is the biggest asshole "alive". You never know if he'll erupt with fire or laughter and he keeps you glued to the screen. The entire movie is gripping. On the surface you would think the film is glorifying the mob, but you learn that there is nothing to envy about Henry's life in the end. 

The Little Fox 2
IMDB rating: 1.6
Metacritic metascore: n/a

The story - I think - is that the little fox's father and other elder woodland creatures get captured by a traveling circus leaving the youngsters behind to figure out how to rescue them. I suppose it's not a bad premise, but the execution is so terrible. This Hungarian CGI monstrosity has eye gouging and ear ravaging audio and visual effects. They also worked very hard on making the camera nausea inducing, so yea there's that. Yes, I admit that I didn't watch the whole thing, but that's because it's not in english! I couldn't find any english subtitles so we just had a taste and - trust me - that was enough. And, yes, I subjected other people to it because the worst things in life are best experienced shared. Please enjoy the trailer!



Next week: #16 Casablanca vs. Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders (MST3K).

#18 Fight Club vs. Track of the Moon Beast

Sorry for the late entry, it was a really busy weekend. I was excited about this week because my research turned up some interesting data that gave "Track of the Moon Beast" some - so bad it's funny - potential. 

Fight Club
IMDB rating: 8.7
Metacritic metascore: 66

This is an odd week. Apparently metacritic has some lame-brain critics in the pool because I would expect much better than a 66 for this film. I first saw it a lot closer to when it came out - when I was still in High school, I believe - and I know I didn't "get" it at the time. It's possible I just wasn't paying close attention, but I felt like I had a lot more aha moments this time around. Edward Norton played "The Narrator" which is an interesting thing in and of itself as his character never gets a name throughout the film. The Narrator is an insomniac with an odd means of temporarily relieving it by attending support group meetings. This would be normal if it was Insomniacs of America, but he went to anything but. While on this helpful yet destructive course he meets two people: Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) and Marla Singer (Helena Bonham Carter). First is Marla who starts showing up at the support groups. The Narrator takes issue with this and is thrust back into an insomniac's hell. Enter Tyler Durden - a grade A asshole, but The Narrator is drawn to him. Over time Tyler and The Narrator develop a friendship and things get interesting. Tyler plants a seed that grows into a fight club called "Fight Club" and the first rule is you don't talk abou it, but naturally it expands. Soon it morphs into something more sinister than The Narrator expected and he does not like what he sees. 

I thought it was really interesting seeing this movie again knowing the twist. I forgot all the details and it made me look more carefully for subtle clues. I fully recommend this movie to anyone who hasn't seen it and to anyone who has. It has a lot to offer the first and second time and that is not very common in movies today.

Track of the Moon Beast
IMDB rating: 1.6
Meatcritic metascore: n/a

I have to be up front and admit that I watched the MST3K version of this masterpiece because a friend very highly recommended it. Interestingly, I think it could be watchable without Tom Servo, Crow, and Mike, but don't get me wrong; it is a great MST3K episode. The story follows the character Paul who confidently admits he is a mineralogist. As cliché as any other old sci-fi film following the same formula; Paul gets hit in the head by a piece of meteorite which changes him forever. The change only occurs when the moon is out which helps, but when it happens he becomes a stupid looking killer lizard-man. Paul's buddy Johnny Longbow - or Johnny Longbone coined by MST3K - steps in to help in any way he can. He brings the - also brilliant - police an idiotic native american tale about a man struck by light who became a murdering monster. They don't exactly buy it, but Longbow is convinced it explains everything. Kathy is the love interest in the film and is played by an awful actress. She desperately tried with every line, but all of them fell flat and you just wanted her to shut the hell up. I won't spoil the ending, but just know that it's predictable. The desert scenery was as bland as the plot, but overall the film was no Coleman Francis work - thank god. I'm excited that I've finally got to a film which moves from awful-bad to funny-bad. I will leave you with one last thing; Longbow's secret recipe for stew (skip to 3:40). Enjoy!

Next week: #17 The Little Fox 2 vs. Goodfellas.