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Context

The fact that I gave Walk the Line and The Ringer the same rating is a testament to the importance of context. Prior to Walk the Line I'd seen primarily movies that were pretty good (both enjoyable and objectively meritorious), whereas The Ringer followed such amazements as 42nd Street. In light of this, I bump Walk the Line up to *** and demote The Ringer to **. There may be some other adjustments in coming days as I prepare a blog index to various reviews and other topics, more for my own use than anything else. Because the index is likely to become one of my extended promises, however, you'll have to wait until I actually compile and publish it to see my adjustments.

Now for a shower and more homework.

Oh wait before that I have to share with you Reason #5,629 I Prefer to Drive in the Middle of the Night: other drivers. Especially the ones in the following vehicles (at least two of whom were quite nice, though I'd prefer they hadn't been following me/each other quite so closely):
(1) blur of a station wagon which swerves into the left lane (into the space occupied at the time by Big Red (the Bonneville)), requiring me to brake and swerve almost off the road to avoid it,
(2) smallish blue car (with an ironic windshield decal proclaiming "Xtreme IMPACT") ,
which rear-ends me as I try (successfully, thank goodness) to avoid car number 1,
and
(3) tan Nissan Maxima (or was it an Altima?) which then plows into car #2.

Did I mention I had a fun drive back to Providence today?

P.S. car #1 sped away, car #2 had to be towed away, and car #3 smashed a headlight and whatever else is on the front corner of the car. The Bonneville, meanwhile, has merely a crack in the rear bumper accented with blue paint. Xtreme IMPACT indeed.

So yeah, about that homework...