Two very cool things this weekend.

No. 1

Yesterday's drone show, on Douglas prom, in celebration of the Year of the Manx Language.

The organizers were super-lucky with the weather. It was an absolutely still, dry evening (features you can never guarantee in these parts). A good crowd had turned out to watch.



Undisclosed technical hitches meant we got off to a slightly tardy start, but once it was under way, the show was really impressive. I'd never seen a pack of drones interacting like this to form words and pictures. The amount of programming effort involved must be phenomenal.






How wonderful it would be if drones were only ever used for such peaceful purposes...

No. 2

Today we went to see Project Hail Mary at the Palace Cinema.

Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, this movie is based on a book by Andy Weir.

He's the guy who wrote The Martian, the movie version of which we saw in KL in 2015. I liked it.

I'm not a science fiction fan, but I enjoyed this one too. It's a good story, nicely blending pathos and humour.

And what happens in the end (which I won't disclose) just made me think that, yes, your loyalty has to be with those who saved your life, rather than those who callously risked it.

Three other things to note:

First, it was a very pleasant cinema experience. No irritations or discomforts (wrap up, though, because it's not what you would call warm in there).

Second, there's an interesting article here, in which an astrophysicist speaks approvingly of the "hard science" the movie incorporates.

And third, the beautiful Maori waiata Po Atarau, sung by the Turakina Girls' College choir, forms part of the soundtrack. That was a poignant little moment of nostalgia for another place that was once home...