The Lost Bus (2025) [+] In a Northern California town (north of the SF-Sacramento line, nearer to Chico) in 2018 a wildfire starts and becomes the deadliest wildfire in California history. This movie dramatizes the plight of bus driver Kevin McKay (Matthew McConaughey) and primary school teacher Mary Ludwig (America Ferrera) as they try to get a bus full of kids out of Paradise and to safety. It's a lot more exciting than I thought it would be as they make the fire seem like an imminent threat. It does put PG&E in a rather poor light showing some of their hapless workers and a district manager trying to help. I pretty much watched it in one go which gives an indication that it is an engrossing movie.

Hello Tomorrow! #1.1 (2023) [-] Apple TV half hour drama/dark comedy. Set in an alternate 1970’s where Moon colonies exist, Jack Billings (Billy Crudup) is a con-man who runs a small company selling time-shares on the Moon but then takes all the money and leaves his team high-and-dry as he moves to another town. But then in one town he meets the son he didn’t know he had… Bright retro-future graphics but a rather depressing first episode. Did not want to continue watching.

Pixel - Turn Based Racing (2023) [+] Turn-based Gran Prix racing game on a square grid with custom-made maps. You have a gear shift which is how many squares you move in your turn. You can gear up one or two at a time and gear down I think the same so you have to be careful not to go so fast you crash into a wall. A steering wheel to set which direction your car moves (8 compass directions and 90 degree turns are fine). I think you stop before you hit another car so getting in front is a big advantage. There are 40 tracks, weather, fog, and water puddles, and some levels have a timer so even though it's turn-based you still have to think fast. It's a good concept and a nice mobile game. Has a good form factor for iPhone.

Secrets by Episode NETFLIX [/] Romance interactive stories and this app requires Netflix account. I've reviewed Episode XOXO which is the Apple Arcade version. This one is full screen on my iPad (and always in vertical mode only) and sometimes the graphics are a bit pixilated and this one also smoothly goes from chapter to chapter (you can only tell from the loading icon flashing for the next chapter). Like Episode XOXO, Secrets only has a selection of stories (21). I read one and it's a bit racier than Episode XOXO (where I've read at least half a dozen stories) and the second Secrets story is a BDSM romance so even more racier. But I guess this keeps to Netflix's gaming audience target since they also have Too Hot To Handle games.

Grand Hotpot Lounge, Sacramento, CA [+] Newish restaurant in a kind of rundown mall but inside looks nice. Room for a lot of people and they have two or three karaoke rooms and nice bathrooms. It's all you can eat with senior discounts and that includes some dim sum items. They have a lot of different things to cook at the base level and you can pay more for the next two tiers with better items. It's nice for Sacramento.