Logging
TV: Mandalorian ep 3 and 4, The Witcher
Nerding out. I was impressed with Henry Cavill's physically in the Witcher as a contrast to Pedro Pascal's Mandalorian. Pascal has been better in everything I've seen him. He's not quite right for the Mandalorian, but I still really like the show.
The Witcher pilot started off terribly but grew on me. I'll probably continue to watch.
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Hate Groups
A woman warns folks about how white nationalist groups target white teenage boys online.
The more we oppress language with the ridiculous "woke" standards and shame what amounts to typical "boy" behavior, I predict a rise in vulnerability to these groups.
When I was young, it was common sense that over strictness lead to rebellion. The most common being religious strictness. Nowadays, in coastal areas, I imagine the wokeness is even more oppressive than the religious stuff ever was in my childhood. What countervailing mainstream cultures are there in coastal areas to combat? Sports? Gamer life? Music?
A woman warns folks about how white nationalist groups target white teenage boys online.
The more we oppress language with the ridiculous "woke" standards and shame what amounts to typical "boy" behavior, I predict a rise in vulnerability to these groups.
When I was young, it was common sense that over strictness lead to rebellion. The most common being religious strictness. Nowadays, in coastal areas, I imagine the wokeness is even more oppressive than the religious stuff ever was in my childhood. What countervailing mainstream cultures are there in coastal areas to combat? Sports? Gamer life? Music?
Friday, December 27, 2019
Good Take
Trump isn't a Nazi, he's a failure.
Last sentence:
Trump isn't a Nazi, he's a failure.
Last sentence:
But the Democrats are so committed to their exotic fairy tale — Trump is a monster, Trump is a Nazi, Trump is a white nationalist, etc. — that they have forgotten how to run an ordinary campaign against an ordinary failure.Yep. And so we will be getting 4 more years of this shit.
Dishwashers
I really dislike my brand new, top of consumer reports rated dishwasher, so Trump is right on this one.
Also - do a remodel. The code restrictions are onerous and stupid. They presume users don't know how to turn on an exhaust fan in the bathroom.
I really dislike my brand new, top of consumer reports rated dishwasher, so Trump is right on this one.
Also - do a remodel. The code restrictions are onerous and stupid. They presume users don't know how to turn on an exhaust fan in the bathroom.
Saturday, December 21, 2019
Logging
Book: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
So I don't normally log books I read to my kids, but it'd been awhile and here's the ranking of children's book writers:
1. Dr. Seuss
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Now the list for everyone else begins:
Margaret Wise Brown
Sandra Boynton
etc.
He's the Shakespeare of children's books.
Book: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
So I don't normally log books I read to my kids, but it'd been awhile and here's the ranking of children's book writers:
1. Dr. Seuss
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Now the list for everyone else begins:
Margaret Wise Brown
Sandra Boynton
etc.
He's the Shakespeare of children's books.
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Logging
Film: Richard Jewell
Maybe I'm smoking crack, but I thought the film was really good.
And I read this Washington Post article criticizing the film over the portrayal of Olivia Wilde's character. So much is wrong with the article:
1) The most egregious: the writer clearly didn't actually watch the film because he doesn't note the Olivia Wilde character arc, and criticizes the film for missing a "moment" that ACTUALLY TAKES PLACE IN THE FILM!
2) More broadly, the article worries about how the newspaper is depicted in the film. Does he realize the film is about RICHARD JEWELL! The film isn't called Kathy Scrugs or the Atlanta Journal. This level of stupidity belongs in a college newspaper.
3) He criticizes a dramatic scene for not actually taking place. What? Huh? A scene in a movie was made up for dramatic effect? Does he not know what a movie IS?
What a preposterous op-ed.
Film: Richard Jewell
Maybe I'm smoking crack, but I thought the film was really good.
And I read this Washington Post article criticizing the film over the portrayal of Olivia Wilde's character. So much is wrong with the article:
1) The most egregious: the writer clearly didn't actually watch the film because he doesn't note the Olivia Wilde character arc, and criticizes the film for missing a "moment" that ACTUALLY TAKES PLACE IN THE FILM!
2) More broadly, the article worries about how the newspaper is depicted in the film. Does he realize the film is about RICHARD JEWELL! The film isn't called Kathy Scrugs or the Atlanta Journal. This level of stupidity belongs in a college newspaper.
3) He criticizes a dramatic scene for not actually taking place. What? Huh? A scene in a movie was made up for dramatic effect? Does he not know what a movie IS?
What a preposterous op-ed.
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Progressives
The biggest problem with progressivism is that it lacks idiot checks. You have this Congresswoman who sees the world in terms of exploited workers and selfish businesses, so she writes a law to attack the "gig" economy with the net result being hundreds of lost jobs and income for freelance writers.
The underneath problem is twofold. She doesn't understand how life works for freelance workers and has the arrogance to write laws to "benefit" them.
The biggest problem with progressivism is that it lacks idiot checks. You have this Congresswoman who sees the world in terms of exploited workers and selfish businesses, so she writes a law to attack the "gig" economy with the net result being hundreds of lost jobs and income for freelance writers.
The underneath problem is twofold. She doesn't understand how life works for freelance workers and has the arrogance to write laws to "benefit" them.
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Logging
Film: Uncut Gems (screener)
Couldn't resist -- I wanted to see in theater -- but last night, felt like I had to check out 20 minutes or so before bed. Of course, I watched the entire thing and then couldn't sleep. The anxiety the film induces is more subtle than I would've thought, but evident. Great performances all around. I've seen many better written movies, but movies aren't read, they are watched and in some cases (like this one), experienced.
Film: Uncut Gems (screener)
Couldn't resist -- I wanted to see in theater -- but last night, felt like I had to check out 20 minutes or so before bed. Of course, I watched the entire thing and then couldn't sleep. The anxiety the film induces is more subtle than I would've thought, but evident. Great performances all around. I've seen many better written movies, but movies aren't read, they are watched and in some cases (like this one), experienced.
Sunday, December 15, 2019
The Left vs. The Rest
Liberalism has been hijacked by THE LEFT, as someone in the UK points out.
I noticed it in the aftermath of 9/11, when many on the Left blamed ourselves for the murder of 4000 fellow citizens in an act of war. And its only gotten worse since then with the Left's obsession with racism and gender fluidity and a whole stockpile of nonsense.
Liberalism has been hijacked by THE LEFT, as someone in the UK points out.
I noticed it in the aftermath of 9/11, when many on the Left blamed ourselves for the murder of 4000 fellow citizens in an act of war. And its only gotten worse since then with the Left's obsession with racism and gender fluidity and a whole stockpile of nonsense.
Monday, December 09, 2019
Fake News
Billy Dee Williams clarifies he's not gender fluid and furthermore, doesn't know what the hell it means.
I hope America realizes the old people are the ones who are going to save us from ourselves.
Billy Dee Williams clarifies he's not gender fluid and furthermore, doesn't know what the hell it means.
I hope America realizes the old people are the ones who are going to save us from ourselves.
Good on Them
Ford and Sherman stand by Tim Ryan -- based upon his overall character.
The pettier people are about this racism stuff, the more it indicates there isn't much of a problem.
Ford and Sherman stand by Tim Ryan -- based upon his overall character.
The pettier people are about this racism stuff, the more it indicates there isn't much of a problem.
Sunday, December 08, 2019
Friday, December 06, 2019
Wednesday, December 04, 2019
Random Thoughts / Observations
My 4 year old loved the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Special. Important for parents, I think, to show kids old/slower paced tv shows, books, movies, etc, so they don't become too "present-focused."
My 4 year old came in to the bathroom while I was shaving today and basically recounted the Big Bang Theory and evolution -- he told me -- at first there were only stars in space, then a big explosion happened that created planets. Then shark eggs were created and there were sharks. Then, fish came. Then dinosaurs. Then dinosaurs died and came monkeys and humans. Now, maybe he didn't hit all the details correct, but for a 4 year old the summary of life was pretty good. I am a bit mystified about how he learned The Big Bang. My wife didn't teach him. I asked him if he learned it in school and he said no. He said his body told him. Who knows...he also peed on the bathroom floor this morning, so anyhow...kids...
I love watching regular season NBA and had this incredible idea for retirement - go live in cities where I like the NBA teams, for instance right now: Toronto and Miami for the NBA season and just go to games. Now I just need to spend the next 25 years getting the wife to become an NBA fan.
My 4 year old loved the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Special. Important for parents, I think, to show kids old/slower paced tv shows, books, movies, etc, so they don't become too "present-focused."
My 4 year old came in to the bathroom while I was shaving today and basically recounted the Big Bang Theory and evolution -- he told me -- at first there were only stars in space, then a big explosion happened that created planets. Then shark eggs were created and there were sharks. Then, fish came. Then dinosaurs. Then dinosaurs died and came monkeys and humans. Now, maybe he didn't hit all the details correct, but for a 4 year old the summary of life was pretty good. I am a bit mystified about how he learned The Big Bang. My wife didn't teach him. I asked him if he learned it in school and he said no. He said his body told him. Who knows...he also peed on the bathroom floor this morning, so anyhow...kids...
I love watching regular season NBA and had this incredible idea for retirement - go live in cities where I like the NBA teams, for instance right now: Toronto and Miami for the NBA season and just go to games. Now I just need to spend the next 25 years getting the wife to become an NBA fan.
Sunday, December 01, 2019
Friday, November 29, 2019
Logging
Film: Knives Out
I don't smoke pot, but I imagine this movie would be terrific high.
Enjoyable, but unremarkable. I hope someone with more time and energy than myself will write the manic pixie dream latina criticism that no one will read.
NOTE: Richard Jewell trailer looked incredible and wouldn't it be appropriate for Clint Eastwood at age 80something to lay the Thor gauntlet hammer down on the poison our culture has become.
Film: Knives Out
I don't smoke pot, but I imagine this movie would be terrific high.
Enjoyable, but unremarkable. I hope someone with more time and energy than myself will write the manic pixie dream latina criticism that no one will read.
NOTE: Richard Jewell trailer looked incredible and wouldn't it be appropriate for Clint Eastwood at age 80something to lay the Thor gauntlet hammer down on the poison our culture has become.
Friday, November 22, 2019
Logging
Film: Terminator Dark Fate
I ended up enjoying the movie overall, but have a theory of why it didn't do well.
#1: The three new actors aren't movie stars. Aren't even close. Not a single person would see this movie for any of them. Hollywood, I believe, has made a strategic error by not developing young movie stars and instead leaning too hard into IP.
It is easy to see as Linda Hamilton and Arnold - even with the shoddy dialog they're given - still command the screen so much more than any of the other newbies.
#2: Victim of the Franchise Success and the Suspension of Disbelief
The secret charm from the first movie is the world of the story resembles exactly our own in 1984, with the terrifying sci fi conceit. We easily suspend our disbelief. The brilliance of the 2nd movie is how it cleverly ironizes the ideas in the first. It takes the mythology from the 1st and spins it into another coherent "world," ramps up the action x100 and evolves the screen personas of the two stars (Linda Hamilton and Arnold).
In 2019, the same ideas can't play. In a real world 2019, we have been talking about Terminator-like concepts for 30+ years. The characters in Dark Fate feel like people we cannot relate to since in our own world, everyone knows about Skynet, etc. Does that make sense? I think this detail matters, because unlike the other two films, it asks us to suspend too much disbelief. Whereas the 2nd felt like we got the band back together for a bigger, more gaudy concert, Dark Fate ultimately feels like we're watching a cover band. We know it isn't real. Much as we would like to suspend disbelief, we actually can't. Not with something so familiar.
#3: For cinema fans, the movie must be graded down for shamelessly stealing plotting from both the 1st and 2nd. Again, this makes it feel like karaoke instead a new song by a good band.
Film: Terminator Dark Fate
I ended up enjoying the movie overall, but have a theory of why it didn't do well.
#1: The three new actors aren't movie stars. Aren't even close. Not a single person would see this movie for any of them. Hollywood, I believe, has made a strategic error by not developing young movie stars and instead leaning too hard into IP.
It is easy to see as Linda Hamilton and Arnold - even with the shoddy dialog they're given - still command the screen so much more than any of the other newbies.
#2: Victim of the Franchise Success and the Suspension of Disbelief
The secret charm from the first movie is the world of the story resembles exactly our own in 1984, with the terrifying sci fi conceit. We easily suspend our disbelief. The brilliance of the 2nd movie is how it cleverly ironizes the ideas in the first. It takes the mythology from the 1st and spins it into another coherent "world," ramps up the action x100 and evolves the screen personas of the two stars (Linda Hamilton and Arnold).
In 2019, the same ideas can't play. In a real world 2019, we have been talking about Terminator-like concepts for 30+ years. The characters in Dark Fate feel like people we cannot relate to since in our own world, everyone knows about Skynet, etc. Does that make sense? I think this detail matters, because unlike the other two films, it asks us to suspend too much disbelief. Whereas the 2nd felt like we got the band back together for a bigger, more gaudy concert, Dark Fate ultimately feels like we're watching a cover band. We know it isn't real. Much as we would like to suspend disbelief, we actually can't. Not with something so familiar.
#3: For cinema fans, the movie must be graded down for shamelessly stealing plotting from both the 1st and 2nd. Again, this makes it feel like karaoke instead a new song by a good band.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Black Kids Socialized Into A White World
I get the authors main point here, although I'm not a fan of reducing all these types of discussions to black and white. I think she's making a smart observation, however, that "socialization" can too easily veer into stigmatization and put kids into boxes they don't belong to make the lives of teachers and bureaucrats easier at the expense of developing kids. It's a challenging situation that requires vigilance on many levels - that of parents, schools, and communities.
I get the authors main point here, although I'm not a fan of reducing all these types of discussions to black and white. I think she's making a smart observation, however, that "socialization" can too easily veer into stigmatization and put kids into boxes they don't belong to make the lives of teachers and bureaucrats easier at the expense of developing kids. It's a challenging situation that requires vigilance on many levels - that of parents, schools, and communities.
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Monday, November 18, 2019
Kids
NYTimes piece on "End of Babies," asks a lot of the right questions and yet feels totally off.
The article focuses on Capitalism as the culprit (of course) and pays a few nods toward declining religion. But what about Culture? We opted for a dowhateveryouwantism Culture. Should we be surprised that a lot of people dowhatevertheywant instead of settling down?
All I know is that in the 1980s everyone mocked the cultural conservatives, but as far as I can tell, their warnings about what was happing inside our culture were more prescient than any other political, social, or technological group.
NYTimes piece on "End of Babies," asks a lot of the right questions and yet feels totally off.
The article focuses on Capitalism as the culprit (of course) and pays a few nods toward declining religion. But what about Culture? We opted for a dowhateveryouwantism Culture. Should we be surprised that a lot of people dowhatevertheywant instead of settling down?
All I know is that in the 1980s everyone mocked the cultural conservatives, but as far as I can tell, their warnings about what was happing inside our culture were more prescient than any other political, social, or technological group.
Kapernick
Feels like the folks (myself included) who spotted this Kapernick psychodrama from early on ought to be vindicated by the events of this weekend, but of course, no one who "supported" him will see it this way. People who see the Kapernick as a victim of systemic racism see the world as having a grand narrative of oppressor and oppressee and shoehorn reality into that narrative.
Feels like the folks (myself included) who spotted this Kapernick psychodrama from early on ought to be vindicated by the events of this weekend, but of course, no one who "supported" him will see it this way. People who see the Kapernick as a victim of systemic racism see the world as having a grand narrative of oppressor and oppressee and shoehorn reality into that narrative.
Monday, November 11, 2019
Impeachment
1) The aid to Ukraine was given and Biden's son wasn't investigated. Suggesting, in fact, the opposite of a quid pro quo.
2) Even had there been something resembling a quid pro quo. Is what Trump wanted "bad"? To investigate corruption? Let's put it another way, if he had done the same to Mitch McConnell's son would the Democrats care? The answer is no.
3) Even if what Trump did was "bad," by framing it around investigating a political rival - does it amount to an impeachable offense? IE does the punishment fit the crime? I imagine a resounding "no."
4) Does Biden's son being compromised stop anyone from voting for Biden? I don't think so.
1) The aid to Ukraine was given and Biden's son wasn't investigated. Suggesting, in fact, the opposite of a quid pro quo.
2) Even had there been something resembling a quid pro quo. Is what Trump wanted "bad"? To investigate corruption? Let's put it another way, if he had done the same to Mitch McConnell's son would the Democrats care? The answer is no.
3) Even if what Trump did was "bad," by framing it around investigating a political rival - does it amount to an impeachable offense? IE does the punishment fit the crime? I imagine a resounding "no."
4) Does Biden's son being compromised stop anyone from voting for Biden? I don't think so.
Standford Students Protest Ben Shapiro Putting Them At Risk
Their rhetoric suggests they are cowards, but dig a layer deeper and the truth is they're tyrants.
Their rhetoric suggests they are cowards, but dig a layer deeper and the truth is they're tyrants.
Logging
TV: Watchmen S1 E4
Impression: show getting too big in scope too fast and will implode under the weight of its own lofty themes. Like other Lindelof shows, from what I hear.
UPDATE: And Adrian Vite is going to fling himself into space and eventually land on Lady Trillionaire's clock, right?
Evidence of my first thesis.
TV: Watchmen S1 E4
Impression: show getting too big in scope too fast and will implode under the weight of its own lofty themes. Like other Lindelof shows, from what I hear.
UPDATE: And Adrian Vite is going to fling himself into space and eventually land on Lady Trillionaire's clock, right?
Evidence of my first thesis.
Saturday, November 09, 2019
Thursday, November 07, 2019
Tuesday, November 05, 2019
Clear Thoughts
After reading about her tax plan, hell would need to freeze over before I voted for Elizabeth Warren.
ABC reporters knew about Jeffery Epstein 3 years ago and the story got squashed. Come on! I don't want to believe in conspiracies, but this one is getting preposterous. The conservative twitter universe is right to point out the media rushed to give voice to Christine Blasey Ford and any woman who would make up total BS about Kavanaugh, and yet quashed this story because it wasn't juicy enough!
After reading about her tax plan, hell would need to freeze over before I voted for Elizabeth Warren.
ABC reporters knew about Jeffery Epstein 3 years ago and the story got squashed. Come on! I don't want to believe in conspiracies, but this one is getting preposterous. The conservative twitter universe is right to point out the media rushed to give voice to Christine Blasey Ford and any woman who would make up total BS about Kavanaugh, and yet quashed this story because it wasn't juicy enough!
Monday, November 04, 2019
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
This Strikes Me As An Interesting Development
The Daytime Emmy's eliminate gender distinction in giving out Young Actor and Young Actress awards, and instead replace it with Outstanding Young Performer.
If I'm reading this correctly, it means there will be one award given per year instead of two.
Might be worth seeing where this goes, because because if there's one thing Hollywood folks enjoy more than being on the cutting edge of wokeness, it would be giving themselves awards.
When they figure out one is less than two, I imagine some people will be miffed.
Stay tuned.
The Daytime Emmy's eliminate gender distinction in giving out Young Actor and Young Actress awards, and instead replace it with Outstanding Young Performer.
If I'm reading this correctly, it means there will be one award given per year instead of two.
Might be worth seeing where this goes, because because if there's one thing Hollywood folks enjoy more than being on the cutting edge of wokeness, it would be giving themselves awards.
When they figure out one is less than two, I imagine some people will be miffed.
Stay tuned.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Huh
Study shows the wealthy and celebrities have not changed their flying habits to reduce CO2.
I'll change my habits when the "leaders" change theirs.
Study shows the wealthy and celebrities have not changed their flying habits to reduce CO2.
I'll change my habits when the "leaders" change theirs.
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Yikes
Steve Kerr's response to being called out by Trump.
The reality is China WAY overreacted to the Morey tweet. They are bullying the NBA in a foolish way. And it's a strange world where these NBA guys are willing to pounce and criticize their own countrymen, President, and fans on issues and then fall silent when a geopolitical authoritarian foe might get their feelings hurt. A lot of folks think this is about the money. I actually don't. I think the NBA guys got flat footed on an issue they don't care about at all. Fair enough. But should've thought about this possibility when they started using the NBA platform to get fans to care about issues they don't care about. It goes the other way too, it appears.
The hypocrisy is what annoys people.
Steve Kerr's response to being called out by Trump.
"The same people who are asking me to stick to sports are also asking me to expand my horizons," Kerr said. "I guess that's what I'm hearing. Again, I will speak on the things I'm comfortable with.Ummm...I take this as a mischaracterization of even Trump's position. Trump is pointing out how willing Kerr is to disparage his fellow countrymen for not agreeing politically but then silent on a NBA BASKETBALL story involving geopolitical foe of the United States. Trump is calling out Kerr's hypocrisy, not suggesting he should become a China expert. And then this:
"As far as North Korea, I don't know much about North Korea. As far as the Ukraine situation, I don't know much about the Ukraine situation. We could just go around the world and maybe I can pinpoint a couple others I'm comfortable about, but this whole thing is so ridiculous. Again, we're fortunate in this country to have free speech. I exercise that. But part of having free speech is also electing not to speak if you don't feel comfortable about something."
Kerr declined comment when asked if he felt Morey should be fired for sending out the initial tweet.
"I choose not to be a soundbite tonight," Kerr said. "Probably too late for that tonight. I choose not to be that soundbite."It sure comes across as craven and a weasel out. Ukraine, North Korea, etc, none of those issues are related to the NBA. This one is. This directly impacts the league Kerr and all the players are a part of. This is what makes the sudden silence so telling and odd. No one expects them to be Chinese history experts, but it is completely wild that NO ONE wants to comment on an NBA GM almost getting fired over harmless tweet that hurts the feelings of an authoritarian power.
The reality is China WAY overreacted to the Morey tweet. They are bullying the NBA in a foolish way. And it's a strange world where these NBA guys are willing to pounce and criticize their own countrymen, President, and fans on issues and then fall silent when a geopolitical authoritarian foe might get their feelings hurt. A lot of folks think this is about the money. I actually don't. I think the NBA guys got flat footed on an issue they don't care about at all. Fair enough. But should've thought about this possibility when they started using the NBA platform to get fans to care about issues they don't care about. It goes the other way too, it appears.
The hypocrisy is what annoys people.
Logging
Film: Joker
A dark, grumpy movie and it seems like Todd Phillips is in a bad mood. It's a bit derivative in that, it just takes the same idea as Nolan's/Ledger's Joker and digs deeper. It pays homage to King of Comedy and Taxi Driver, but this only adds to the derivative nature, methinks. All that said, on a technical level - on cinematic/artistic grounds - come on folks - it was impressive. The story conceit, a small character study of the Joker with about 8 total characters in the film. The acting, the cinematography, the use of dance. It was good. I'm impressed on cinematic level. The cultural level...I don't really know what to say other than I was sitting next to a group of what seemed to me impressionable young men who were cheering when the Joker rose from near death and that struck me as maybe a misreading of the film.
Film: Joker
A dark, grumpy movie and it seems like Todd Phillips is in a bad mood. It's a bit derivative in that, it just takes the same idea as Nolan's/Ledger's Joker and digs deeper. It pays homage to King of Comedy and Taxi Driver, but this only adds to the derivative nature, methinks. All that said, on a technical level - on cinematic/artistic grounds - come on folks - it was impressive. The story conceit, a small character study of the Joker with about 8 total characters in the film. The acting, the cinematography, the use of dance. It was good. I'm impressed on cinematic level. The cultural level...I don't really know what to say other than I was sitting next to a group of what seemed to me impressionable young men who were cheering when the Joker rose from near death and that struck me as maybe a misreading of the film.
Wednesday, October 09, 2019
So I Get This Right
Many often vocal NBA folks are keeping silent on the Morey tweet, Hong Kong, etc. Fair enough. They say they are being sensitive to Chinese fans, but of course what they mean are powerful Chinese business interests because even rudimentary "research" into the issue would reveal what is going on - the Chinese communists are circling the wagons.
But as long as the NBA folks are being so "sensitive," let's make clear who is safe to offend and who is unsafe to offend.
Safe to Offend/Hurt Feelings/Disrespect:
Democratically elected President of United States
Police Officers
Veterans of foreign wars and pretty much anyone who thinks the US flag ought to be paid respect.
All Trump supporters
All Republicans
All social conservatives
Hong Kong Protestors risking lives for freedom
Unsafe to Offend/Hurt Feelings/Disrespect/Speak Out of Turn:
Totalitarian Chinese Government and their paid underlings
Am I getting on my high horse? Yes. Is it easy for me to get on my high horse? Yes. But my point has long been: it's also cheap and easy to be "woke." The question: does "wokeness" comes from truly felt values, or is it simply a pose / fad. Unfortunately, I'm cynical on these matters (based on experience) and view the majority of wokeness as a fad and not an expression of deep moral principles.
The Morey tweet brings it into focus.
Many often vocal NBA folks are keeping silent on the Morey tweet, Hong Kong, etc. Fair enough. They say they are being sensitive to Chinese fans, but of course what they mean are powerful Chinese business interests because even rudimentary "research" into the issue would reveal what is going on - the Chinese communists are circling the wagons.
But as long as the NBA folks are being so "sensitive," let's make clear who is safe to offend and who is unsafe to offend.
Safe to Offend/Hurt Feelings/Disrespect:
Democratically elected President of United States
Police Officers
Veterans of foreign wars and pretty much anyone who thinks the US flag ought to be paid respect.
All Trump supporters
All Republicans
All social conservatives
Hong Kong Protestors risking lives for freedom
Unsafe to Offend/Hurt Feelings/Disrespect/Speak Out of Turn:
Totalitarian Chinese Government and their paid underlings
Am I getting on my high horse? Yes. Is it easy for me to get on my high horse? Yes. But my point has long been: it's also cheap and easy to be "woke." The question: does "wokeness" comes from truly felt values, or is it simply a pose / fad. Unfortunately, I'm cynical on these matters (based on experience) and view the majority of wokeness as a fad and not an expression of deep moral principles.
The Morey tweet brings it into focus.
Tuesday, October 08, 2019
Jemele Hill
And I've finally found an issue I agree Jemele Hill on. She nails it.
UPDATE: How do I square this with Kap? Easy. There are such things as a positive and a negative right. Neither of these issues are exactly "rights" issues, but the model for thinking works. Kap does not have a "right" to play on an NFL team. But Morey does have a "right" to not be fired for speaking freely. In fact, Kap was never fired at all. He knelt at NFL games and wasn't fired as a result. His situation was quite a bit more nuanced and complicated. This Morey tweet situation isn't nuanced or complicated AT ALL. Morey said what he said on twitter. It alienated a foreign government interested in holding onto power who now insist he be removed. The entire situation is pure capitulation to an authoritarian regime for money.
And I've finally found an issue I agree Jemele Hill on. She nails it.
UPDATE: How do I square this with Kap? Easy. There are such things as a positive and a negative right. Neither of these issues are exactly "rights" issues, but the model for thinking works. Kap does not have a "right" to play on an NFL team. But Morey does have a "right" to not be fired for speaking freely. In fact, Kap was never fired at all. He knelt at NFL games and wasn't fired as a result. His situation was quite a bit more nuanced and complicated. This Morey tweet situation isn't nuanced or complicated AT ALL. Morey said what he said on twitter. It alienated a foreign government interested in holding onto power who now insist he be removed. The entire situation is pure capitulation to an authoritarian regime for money.
Sunday, October 06, 2019
Ouch
Rolling Stone and Matt Taibbi are calling bullshit on the "whistleblower" and Ukraine-gate.
Rolling Stone and Matt Taibbi are calling bullshit on the "whistleblower" and Ukraine-gate.
BAER: You know, my guess, it’s a palace coup against Trump. And who knows what else they know at this point.Trump keeps looking better in comparison to his opponents. If you just read the Ukraine story, the Biden situation seems the most fishy.
Thursday, October 03, 2019
He's Not Wrong
The treatment of the tea partiers by David Brooks and the establishment media and politicians gave way to Trump.
Tea Party was polite, inoffensive, and worried about the size of government. Their policy goals were ignored by Washington, they were called tea baggers and racist by the media. And we're surprised they gravitate to Trump?
The treatment of the tea partiers by David Brooks and the establishment media and politicians gave way to Trump.
Tea Party was polite, inoffensive, and worried about the size of government. Their policy goals were ignored by Washington, they were called tea baggers and racist by the media. And we're surprised they gravitate to Trump?
Wednesday, October 02, 2019
Logging
TV: Succession S2
Addictive.
TV: The Righteous Gemstones S1
Highly enjoyable. Some great actress discoveries...
Film: The Princess Bride
Noticed this time around Humperdinck and Count Rugen were obviously meant as gay S&M lovers. Clues:
1) Chris Saradon's performance.
2) Chris Saradon isn't the least bit interested in Buttercup, the most beautiful woman in the world.
3) Their couple-esque tiff over Humperdinck being too busy to watch Christopher Guest put to work his torture device.
4) The torture device "sucks" the life out of you.
5) Christ Saradon's performance.
Wonder when the cancel culture comes for Princess Bride...
TV: Succession S2
Addictive.
TV: The Righteous Gemstones S1
Highly enjoyable. Some great actress discoveries...
Film: The Princess Bride
Noticed this time around Humperdinck and Count Rugen were obviously meant as gay S&M lovers. Clues:
1) Chris Saradon's performance.
2) Chris Saradon isn't the least bit interested in Buttercup, the most beautiful woman in the world.
3) Their couple-esque tiff over Humperdinck being too busy to watch Christopher Guest put to work his torture device.
4) The torture device "sucks" the life out of you.
5) Christ Saradon's performance.
Wonder when the cancel culture comes for Princess Bride...
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Oh Greta
Environmentalism is for rich white people, and so is life without religion.
If climate change activists were serious, they wouldn't have its spokeswoman be a 16 year old girl. It reveals their madness, not their rationality.
I'm interested in how the powers that want to take radical political steps to combat climate change have their personal money invested. If anyone who believes the world will end in 10 years has any SP500 funds, I'm not believing them.
Environmentalism is for rich white people, and so is life without religion.
If climate change activists were serious, they wouldn't have its spokeswoman be a 16 year old girl. It reveals their madness, not their rationality.
I'm interested in how the powers that want to take radical political steps to combat climate change have their personal money invested. If anyone who believes the world will end in 10 years has any SP500 funds, I'm not believing them.
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Why Doesn't This Surprise Me
Climate change protestors leave NYC a mess.
I'm all in favor of preserving the environment in a reasonable, orderly manner, but I'm not in favor of indulging the neurosis of thousands of privileged liberals.
Climate change protestors leave NYC a mess.
I'm all in favor of preserving the environment in a reasonable, orderly manner, but I'm not in favor of indulging the neurosis of thousands of privileged liberals.
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Rent Control
If there's one thing economists all agree upon, it's rent control is a very, very bad idea.
So naturally, California has passed a state wide rent control bill.
It will exacerbate housing problems in the long run and help those who passed it get reelected in the short run by buying off renters.
If there's one thing economists all agree upon, it's rent control is a very, very bad idea.
So naturally, California has passed a state wide rent control bill.
It will exacerbate housing problems in the long run and help those who passed it get reelected in the short run by buying off renters.
0% Interest Rates
Trump calling for 0% interest rates seems to me something a radical Leftist or someone who believes in Sharia Law might say.
Not a good sign for the direction of the world, but I suppose this is what you get when the elites game the system to their own advantage. The masses will fight back.
Trump calling for 0% interest rates seems to me something a radical Leftist or someone who believes in Sharia Law might say.
Not a good sign for the direction of the world, but I suppose this is what you get when the elites game the system to their own advantage. The masses will fight back.
Friday, September 06, 2019
Are We Supposed To Be Surprised?
Walter Mosley - one of the most prominent working black novelists - is fired from a writer's room for using words that made other writers uncomfortable.
The absurdity is beyond.
Walter Mosley - one of the most prominent working black novelists - is fired from a writer's room for using words that made other writers uncomfortable.
The absurdity is beyond.
Unabomber Manifesto
A strange read.
Please don't take this as an endorsement of mass murder, but everything he says in the manifesto is more true today than when he wrote it in 1995. Sometimes like 4-5x true. Take that as you will.
A strange read.
Please don't take this as an endorsement of mass murder, but everything he says in the manifesto is more true today than when he wrote it in 1995. Sometimes like 4-5x true. Take that as you will.
Wellness At Work
Turns out employees don't need so many wellness benefits to be happy.
I go the other way on this and would correlate wellness benefits with workers being UNHAPPY. What workers need:
1) Good paycheck
2) Autonomy
3) Feedback
4) Coffee
5) Clean bathrooms
6) A little space
The rest is bullshit. I have a benefit at work like flex spending for childcare. Fine, I save in taxes, but it takes effort and work to fill out reimbursement forms. I need much much less of that kind of shit and would rather just take a bigger paycheck and or a higher IRA match. Keep it simple, stupid.
Turns out employees don't need so many wellness benefits to be happy.
I go the other way on this and would correlate wellness benefits with workers being UNHAPPY. What workers need:
1) Good paycheck
2) Autonomy
3) Feedback
4) Coffee
5) Clean bathrooms
6) A little space
The rest is bullshit. I have a benefit at work like flex spending for childcare. Fine, I save in taxes, but it takes effort and work to fill out reimbursement forms. I need much much less of that kind of shit and would rather just take a bigger paycheck and or a higher IRA match. Keep it simple, stupid.
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
I'm Betting on Hong Kong
Be water.
As powerful and committed as Beijing is, the protestors are part of the revolt of the public. CCP is 20th century, these guys are 21st.
Be water.
As powerful and committed as Beijing is, the protestors are part of the revolt of the public. CCP is 20th century, these guys are 21st.
The Public vs. The People
Fascinating Martin Gurri podcast on the revolt of the public.
We "the people" have got a real problem on our hands: the public. They're leaderless and defined by what they oppose and hunt in rabid packs. My prediction: they will eventually go after everyone's money (hint: they already are in subtle ways). They are laying the groundwork for it.
And to study the public, we ought to study infants and toddlers as I see similarities between the two.
Fascinating Martin Gurri podcast on the revolt of the public.
We "the people" have got a real problem on our hands: the public. They're leaderless and defined by what they oppose and hunt in rabid packs. My prediction: they will eventually go after everyone's money (hint: they already are in subtle ways). They are laying the groundwork for it.
And to study the public, we ought to study infants and toddlers as I see similarities between the two.
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Sad
Why are Americans not in more vocal support of the Hong Kong protestors? Protestors are non-violent, want self governance and freedom from authoritarian rule. They are facing down the most powerful autocratic government in the world who threatens the use of military force, who has employed such military force on their own population before, and yet, no one in America gives a shit. Maybe this is part of America's long history of isolation, or maybe it doesn't neatly fit into the current ideological narratives of the moment.
Why don't these Congresswomen who are so vocal against the Israeli state's injustice not equally vocal against the Chinese state injustice? Why don't they promote divesting from China?
Why are Americans not in more vocal support of the Hong Kong protestors? Protestors are non-violent, want self governance and freedom from authoritarian rule. They are facing down the most powerful autocratic government in the world who threatens the use of military force, who has employed such military force on their own population before, and yet, no one in America gives a shit. Maybe this is part of America's long history of isolation, or maybe it doesn't neatly fit into the current ideological narratives of the moment.
Why don't these Congresswomen who are so vocal against the Israeli state's injustice not equally vocal against the Chinese state injustice? Why don't they promote divesting from China?
A-Fucking-Men
A good article about Once Upon A Time in Hollywood.
A good article about Once Upon A Time in Hollywood.
Alfred Hitchcock once said that cinema is life with the boring bits taken out. If Richard Brody wants to see “political protest, social conflict, any sense of changing mores,” there is no shortage of movies now that address social justice and society’s other ails. Tarantino makes an appeal to Aristophanic virtues, those of irony, passion, beauty and song. At a time when everything is soaked in political resentment, his principle aim is not to bog us down with ever more crises, but to distract us from them. He is not interested in New Hollywood’s naturalism or anti-Hollywood’s moralism. He doesn’t care who wins the du jour culture war. His is a bright, prismatic fantasy of Hollywood. It’s ahistorical, it’s a myth. It’s pure Tarantino.
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood Re-Watch
Takeaways on 2nd viewing:
-Tarantino films are the only films that consistently make me want to make movies. I imagine others in the business feel the same. The vast majority of films - whether good or bad - don't inspire me to want to make anything. I have theories on why this is, but for another post...
-Brad Pitt definitely killed his wife.
-Leo's performance underappreciated - he plays Rick as a stutterer who loses his stutter when he drinks.
-Tarantino writes the story toward set pieces, which is why it feels uneven. He doesn't value "structure" very highly but plants and pays off very well.
-I stand by my initial claim the sequence at the Spahn Ranch is the best in the film, although upon second viewing the Bruce Lee - Brad Pitt dream sequence was pretty excellent.
-The entire movie takes place over the course of only 2 days with a few flashbacks. Night of Day 1 through end of Day 2 comprises about 2/3 of the film -- about 1.5 days. The final third of the film happens on half a day.
-Anyone offended by the depiction of Bruce Lee should be equally offended by the depiction of Steve McQueen which was more cartoonish IMO.
-Tarantino gets excellent performances - in general - from smaller actors without much acting skill, but who possess something right for the part. In this film, Margaret Qualley and the three Manson killers are examples.
-Never bored
-Audience cheered for Leo's flamethrower.
-Audience chuckled at Brad Pitt's line "don't cry in front of the Mexicans."
-OTHER THING: Narrator is used to build tension where we think Tarantino is documenting the Manson murders, but instead reminds us we are in a fairy tale.
Takeaways on 2nd viewing:
-Tarantino films are the only films that consistently make me want to make movies. I imagine others in the business feel the same. The vast majority of films - whether good or bad - don't inspire me to want to make anything. I have theories on why this is, but for another post...
-Brad Pitt definitely killed his wife.
-Leo's performance underappreciated - he plays Rick as a stutterer who loses his stutter when he drinks.
-Tarantino writes the story toward set pieces, which is why it feels uneven. He doesn't value "structure" very highly but plants and pays off very well.
-I stand by my initial claim the sequence at the Spahn Ranch is the best in the film, although upon second viewing the Bruce Lee - Brad Pitt dream sequence was pretty excellent.
-The entire movie takes place over the course of only 2 days with a few flashbacks. Night of Day 1 through end of Day 2 comprises about 2/3 of the film -- about 1.5 days. The final third of the film happens on half a day.
-Anyone offended by the depiction of Bruce Lee should be equally offended by the depiction of Steve McQueen which was more cartoonish IMO.
-Tarantino gets excellent performances - in general - from smaller actors without much acting skill, but who possess something right for the part. In this film, Margaret Qualley and the three Manson killers are examples.
-Never bored
-Audience cheered for Leo's flamethrower.
-Audience chuckled at Brad Pitt's line "don't cry in front of the Mexicans."
-OTHER THING: Narrator is used to build tension where we think Tarantino is documenting the Manson murders, but instead reminds us we are in a fairy tale.
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Jemele Hill
Is a social justice warrior posing as a sports fan.
I promise you she never watched Kap play in his last two seasons. I also promise you she knows nothing about soccer, yet writes about how the women are unfairly paid.
Is a social justice warrior posing as a sports fan.
I promise you she never watched Kap play in his last two seasons. I also promise you she knows nothing about soccer, yet writes about how the women are unfairly paid.
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Meaningless Life
On the despair felt by these school shooters.
On the despair felt by these school shooters.
It’s important to remember that these murders are also, in most cases, suicides.Robert Putnam chronicled our societal transition to disconnectness nearly 20 years ago in Bowling Alone. Now, we face the daily horror of this stuff and instead of doing anything to change, we double down on the blame culture and discuss gun regulations which would solve and stop nothing.
Logging
Script: T2
Arguably the great action movie of all time and the greatest sequel of all time for the way it ironizes its predecessor.
Book: Black Echo
I was told Michael Connelly was of a different caliber than say, Lee Child. Maybe this is a right, but I nevertheless found this book to be a bit of a slog. Nice twist toward end, but...made me realize something: maybe I don't like the detective (and its cousin, the spy) genre as much as I thought I did. The whodunit aspect are continually unsatisfying and I keep thinking author execution is to blame, but perhaps it is the genre itself...
Script: T2
Arguably the great action movie of all time and the greatest sequel of all time for the way it ironizes its predecessor.
Book: Black Echo
I was told Michael Connelly was of a different caliber than say, Lee Child. Maybe this is a right, but I nevertheless found this book to be a bit of a slog. Nice twist toward end, but...made me realize something: maybe I don't like the detective (and its cousin, the spy) genre as much as I thought I did. The whodunit aspect are continually unsatisfying and I keep thinking author execution is to blame, but perhaps it is the genre itself...
Wednesday, August 07, 2019
Mass Shootings
Do liberals honestly believe if Trump didn't get elected or didn't tweet we'd see any less of them?
These mass shootings are a horrible virus. I wish the news would stop covering them. I wish our communities had the resources - both financial and moral that were strong enough to cope with the 3% of folks who are basically nutso and need psychological help.
Do liberals honestly believe if Trump didn't get elected or didn't tweet we'd see any less of them?
These mass shootings are a horrible virus. I wish the news would stop covering them. I wish our communities had the resources - both financial and moral that were strong enough to cope with the 3% of folks who are basically nutso and need psychological help.
Why We Have A Populist Uprising Across the World
Rage dad goes viral.
Wall Street promoting "Beyond Meat" to the public while the insiders get out.
Elites wonder why the masses are rising against them? This is why. How many times does this need to happen? Public doesn't grasp the details of how and why, but they know they're being systemically fucked.
Rage dad goes viral.
Wall Street promoting "Beyond Meat" to the public while the insiders get out.
Elites wonder why the masses are rising against them? This is why. How many times does this need to happen? Public doesn't grasp the details of how and why, but they know they're being systemically fucked.
Tuesday, August 06, 2019
Gender
Someone does a gender breakdown of dialog lines by women in all Tarantino films.
Because I know when I watch movies, what I'm most looking out for is the number of dialog lines split by gender, race, class, ethnicity, etc.
Someone does a gender breakdown of dialog lines by women in all Tarantino films.
Because I know when I watch movies, what I'm most looking out for is the number of dialog lines split by gender, race, class, ethnicity, etc.
Unpopular Global Warming Thoughts
Is an easy solution to the problem of global warming moving to colder climates of which there are many? Isn't this what earlier humans would've done?
I often hear people talk about global warming, I rarely see anyone taking any action whatsoever in their every day lives to help curb global warming. I will believe we are in a crisis when the people who say we are in a crisis act like we are in a crisis. That said, a few things people could do, but won't or don't:
1) Move to a smaller house
2) Move to a closer commute
3) Travel by car or air less and train instead
4) Make less garbage, and by that I mean not getting Starbucks and all those paper cups with plastic lids
5) Eat smaller portions of meat.
These seem like reasonable ideas and very doable. Yet, I rarely see anyone choosing them.
Drastic, difficult to implement ideas seems crazy to me - so for instance, why do we...
1) Attempt to pass global warming legislation like the Green New Deal which also tries to tackle all sorts of other weird progressive ideas like guaranteed jobs program?
2) Why do we encourage people to give up meat altogether when an easier, more reasonable solution would just be smaller portions?
3) Why would anyone who thinks we are in a global warming crisis not immediately support nuclear power generation as the solution?
Is an easy solution to the problem of global warming moving to colder climates of which there are many? Isn't this what earlier humans would've done?
I often hear people talk about global warming, I rarely see anyone taking any action whatsoever in their every day lives to help curb global warming. I will believe we are in a crisis when the people who say we are in a crisis act like we are in a crisis. That said, a few things people could do, but won't or don't:
1) Move to a smaller house
2) Move to a closer commute
3) Travel by car or air less and train instead
4) Make less garbage, and by that I mean not getting Starbucks and all those paper cups with plastic lids
5) Eat smaller portions of meat.
These seem like reasonable ideas and very doable. Yet, I rarely see anyone choosing them.
Drastic, difficult to implement ideas seems crazy to me - so for instance, why do we...
1) Attempt to pass global warming legislation like the Green New Deal which also tries to tackle all sorts of other weird progressive ideas like guaranteed jobs program?
2) Why do we encourage people to give up meat altogether when an easier, more reasonable solution would just be smaller portions?
3) Why would anyone who thinks we are in a global warming crisis not immediately support nuclear power generation as the solution?
Friday, August 02, 2019
Once Upon A Time in Hollywood
Is it strange I am liking the film the more I read about it? Even the "bad" reviews? Or is the film oxygenating like a nice red wine? Why am I thinking about it so much? Why does it make me want to rewatch it over other QT films?
Is this a movie only for Tarantino fans? For movie fans? For those seeking some other way of thinking about our current politics? For people who like movies about male friendship?
Is the film's messiness intentional in some way? Why does he use that narrator? Is it basically a hang out movie?
Did Tarantino just make Zodiac meets Dazed and Confused? Or Jackie Brown meets Inglorious Basterds meets Death Proof?
Is it strange I am liking the film the more I read about it? Even the "bad" reviews? Or is the film oxygenating like a nice red wine? Why am I thinking about it so much? Why does it make me want to rewatch it over other QT films?
Is this a movie only for Tarantino fans? For movie fans? For those seeking some other way of thinking about our current politics? For people who like movies about male friendship?
Is the film's messiness intentional in some way? Why does he use that narrator? Is it basically a hang out movie?
Did Tarantino just make Zodiac meets Dazed and Confused? Or Jackie Brown meets Inglorious Basterds meets Death Proof?
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Pointless, Illegal, and Impotent
Gavin Newsom is really hitting the trifeca here. He's been really effective as governor, first passing legislation against hair discrimination and now trying to remove Trump from the California primary ballot. Meanwhile, people flee the state because of high housing costs, homelessness is skyrocketing, and we spent something like 40 bil on a high speed rail train that might never run.
Oh vey.
Gavin Newsom is really hitting the trifeca here. He's been really effective as governor, first passing legislation against hair discrimination and now trying to remove Trump from the California primary ballot. Meanwhile, people flee the state because of high housing costs, homelessness is skyrocketing, and we spent something like 40 bil on a high speed rail train that might never run.
Oh vey.
Thursday, July 18, 2019
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Liberal Bias In Media
Once you become aware of it, I find it hard to unsee. On my iphone news, I've been getting a lot of articles about Abigail Disney talking about bad working conditions for employees and how Bob Iger is overpaid, etc.
Now, it's not that I disagree with her on substance, but I find her access to the bullhorn strange. First of all, I've never once heard of this woman. Her only claim to fame is being the granddaughter of Walt Disney and having a shit ton of money. Most trust funders and rich kids keep out of the news and don't criticize the CEOs of their grandfather's companies. My point is: the only reason she's in the news is because she's spouting off on topics the liberal news find acceptable -- ie criticism of big business, criticism of Disney working conditions, etc.
I wish Abigail went a step further and talked about what a shit show the Disneyland experience is for customers. Middle and lower middle class families shelling out hundreds of dollars to wait in hours of lines and consume sugar.
My point: she's gets a microphone because there's conflict with a touch of irony and a liberal agenda.
As a counterexample: there is a massive scandal at the Department of Education about thousands of teachers who fulfilled requirements to get their school loans forgiven, but the Department rejecting en mass their loan forgiveness for various little things like clerical errors, not reading the small print, etc. There has been little to no news coverage of this failure by the Federal government to live up to promises made to hard working middle class Americans in financial distress who perform an important job to the future of our country. There are a few scattered articles and good radio piece on the scandal from NPR, but certainly not widespread media attention. Nothing near the coverage Trump receives on a dodgy tweet or even this Abigail Disney thing. This is akin to the government punishing and stealing from teachers serving underserved communities. I mean, can you imagine a more awful thing to do? Many of these teachers dedicated a decade of service only to be told they owe loans plus interest for that time.
The question is why?
And the answer is simple. Because the liberal media doesn't want to make the Department of Education look bad. They don't want to make the Federal Government look corrupt and incompetent when it comes to education policy (which it is) because they want the Federal Government to take a bigger role in education and public education. The scandal doesn't help the liberal policy or political agenda. I'm pretty sure this is why we don't see the media beating up the Department of Education on the scandal. Why aren't AOC and Elizabeth Warren talking about this issue? This issue should be a layup for them. Why? Because it doesn't make just make Trump look bad. It makes all of them look bad. So there's silence.
I also think the Department of Education is fixing the scandal. But since when is this reason for the media to go quiet on an issue? This should be a warning shot to those who propose forgiving all student loans and anyone with big ideas about how to "fix" education from a federal level. The feds have created the student loan mess, can't even execute the existing policies they have, what makes us think such a plan would could be pulled off at all?
Once you become aware of it, I find it hard to unsee. On my iphone news, I've been getting a lot of articles about Abigail Disney talking about bad working conditions for employees and how Bob Iger is overpaid, etc.
Now, it's not that I disagree with her on substance, but I find her access to the bullhorn strange. First of all, I've never once heard of this woman. Her only claim to fame is being the granddaughter of Walt Disney and having a shit ton of money. Most trust funders and rich kids keep out of the news and don't criticize the CEOs of their grandfather's companies. My point is: the only reason she's in the news is because she's spouting off on topics the liberal news find acceptable -- ie criticism of big business, criticism of Disney working conditions, etc.
I wish Abigail went a step further and talked about what a shit show the Disneyland experience is for customers. Middle and lower middle class families shelling out hundreds of dollars to wait in hours of lines and consume sugar.
My point: she's gets a microphone because there's conflict with a touch of irony and a liberal agenda.
As a counterexample: there is a massive scandal at the Department of Education about thousands of teachers who fulfilled requirements to get their school loans forgiven, but the Department rejecting en mass their loan forgiveness for various little things like clerical errors, not reading the small print, etc. There has been little to no news coverage of this failure by the Federal government to live up to promises made to hard working middle class Americans in financial distress who perform an important job to the future of our country. There are a few scattered articles and good radio piece on the scandal from NPR, but certainly not widespread media attention. Nothing near the coverage Trump receives on a dodgy tweet or even this Abigail Disney thing. This is akin to the government punishing and stealing from teachers serving underserved communities. I mean, can you imagine a more awful thing to do? Many of these teachers dedicated a decade of service only to be told they owe loans plus interest for that time.
The question is why?
And the answer is simple. Because the liberal media doesn't want to make the Department of Education look bad. They don't want to make the Federal Government look corrupt and incompetent when it comes to education policy (which it is) because they want the Federal Government to take a bigger role in education and public education. The scandal doesn't help the liberal policy or political agenda. I'm pretty sure this is why we don't see the media beating up the Department of Education on the scandal. Why aren't AOC and Elizabeth Warren talking about this issue? This issue should be a layup for them. Why? Because it doesn't make just make Trump look bad. It makes all of them look bad. So there's silence.
I also think the Department of Education is fixing the scandal. But since when is this reason for the media to go quiet on an issue? This should be a warning shot to those who propose forgiving all student loans and anyone with big ideas about how to "fix" education from a federal level. The feds have created the student loan mess, can't even execute the existing policies they have, what makes us think such a plan would could be pulled off at all?
Sunday, July 14, 2019
Teaching
Reading vs. Knowledge.
Interesting read. Strikes me that a lot of our political vitriol is due to a lack of historical understanding. I mean, these folks pushing reparations act as if this idea hadn't been tossed about before and dismissed for reasons too numerable to count.
Reading vs. Knowledge.
Interesting read. Strikes me that a lot of our political vitriol is due to a lack of historical understanding. I mean, these folks pushing reparations act as if this idea hadn't been tossed about before and dismissed for reasons too numerable to count.
Yikes, Trump
So I thought the Dems had lost 2020 with Blasey Ford and all the subsequent nutso positions and decisions, but somehow Trump managed to basically punch himself in the face here.
Instead of letting the Squad and Pelosi just rip themselves to shreds. Instead of grabbing a cocktail while watching the Democrats make themselves unelectable by raising their hands for providing health care to illegal immigrants, Trump weighs in with a non-sensical tweet about the freshman congresswomen "going back to their home countries and fixing them." The most absurd element: only one of these Congresswomen, as I understand it, are even from a foreign country. Beyond being xenophobic, the tweet doesn't even make any sense.
Dumb.
So I thought the Dems had lost 2020 with Blasey Ford and all the subsequent nutso positions and decisions, but somehow Trump managed to basically punch himself in the face here.
Instead of letting the Squad and Pelosi just rip themselves to shreds. Instead of grabbing a cocktail while watching the Democrats make themselves unelectable by raising their hands for providing health care to illegal immigrants, Trump weighs in with a non-sensical tweet about the freshman congresswomen "going back to their home countries and fixing them." The most absurd element: only one of these Congresswomen, as I understand it, are even from a foreign country. Beyond being xenophobic, the tweet doesn't even make any sense.
Dumb.
Monday, July 08, 2019
Sunday, July 07, 2019
Saturday, July 06, 2019
Glad We Solved That Problem
Gavin Newsom signs into law regulations against discriminating against hair.
Gavin Newsom signs into law regulations against discriminating against hair.
Wednesday, July 03, 2019
No Ideology or Religion
Rami Malek has conditions on his playing a Bond villain.
Also, he should not have opinions, thoughts, or desires. Last, he will not look like anything either. Oscar.
Rami Malek has conditions on his playing a Bond villain.
Also, he should not have opinions, thoughts, or desires. Last, he will not look like anything either. Oscar.
Tuesday, July 02, 2019
Too Little Too Late
Joe Scarborough tweets a vent against woke Democrats and Nike and says they're lighting themselves on fire and will reelect Trump as a result.
Trump got reelected when they put Christine Blasey Ford up there knowing full well she was probably delusional.
Joe Scarborough tweets a vent against woke Democrats and Nike and says they're lighting themselves on fire and will reelect Trump as a result.
Trump got reelected when they put Christine Blasey Ford up there knowing full well she was probably delusional.
Monday, July 01, 2019
Whitlock
On the difference between Rapinoe and Kap.
I agree with him. And still haven't watched a second of the Women's World Cup.
On the difference between Rapinoe and Kap.
I agree with him. And still haven't watched a second of the Women's World Cup.
Where Nike Stands
They pull shoes with the American Flag from the shelf, along with shoes designed by a guy who supports the Hong Kong protests.
Guess we know who owns Nike now.
They pull shoes with the American Flag from the shelf, along with shoes designed by a guy who supports the Hong Kong protests.
Guess we know who owns Nike now.
Saturday, June 29, 2019
Drunken Epiphany
The reason none of the Democrats can beat Trump is that there isn't a single one you'd enjoy getting a drink with. Think about it. If you ran across these folks at a cocktail party, you'd run the other way. Say what you will about Bill Clinton (maybe a rapist) and Barak Obama (maybe feckless as a leader), if they were at the bar, you'd want to chit chat with them. Am I wrong?
Joe Biden. I'd be awful afraid of long winded one-sided conversations.
Kamala Harris. I can think of few things less pleasant than hanging with KH.
Pete Buttigieg. Snooze.
Cory Booker. I'd be checking my emails.
Bernie. Fun for a few minutes. And then very very old.
Elizabeth Warren. Would feel like you were talking to the school principal.
Tulsi Gabbard. Close, but ultimately, isn't she just kinda weird?
Beto. Good from far but far from good.
Castro. Ugh. As enjoyable as a head cold.
Yang. Nice guy...maybe...smart...okay...I need to go to the bathroom.
Point is this. On the debate stage, the only person who'd actually be fun to hang with is Marianne Williamson and if you want to understand the appeal of AOC...let's be real...she'd be fun to shoot the shit with. Everyone else. I'd choose Netflix.
The reason none of the Democrats can beat Trump is that there isn't a single one you'd enjoy getting a drink with. Think about it. If you ran across these folks at a cocktail party, you'd run the other way. Say what you will about Bill Clinton (maybe a rapist) and Barak Obama (maybe feckless as a leader), if they were at the bar, you'd want to chit chat with them. Am I wrong?
Joe Biden. I'd be awful afraid of long winded one-sided conversations.
Kamala Harris. I can think of few things less pleasant than hanging with KH.
Pete Buttigieg. Snooze.
Cory Booker. I'd be checking my emails.
Bernie. Fun for a few minutes. And then very very old.
Elizabeth Warren. Would feel like you were talking to the school principal.
Tulsi Gabbard. Close, but ultimately, isn't she just kinda weird?
Beto. Good from far but far from good.
Castro. Ugh. As enjoyable as a head cold.
Yang. Nice guy...maybe...smart...okay...I need to go to the bathroom.
Point is this. On the debate stage, the only person who'd actually be fun to hang with is Marianne Williamson and if you want to understand the appeal of AOC...let's be real...she'd be fun to shoot the shit with. Everyone else. I'd choose Netflix.
Friday, June 28, 2019
Brief Thoughts On Democratic Candidates
Kamala Harris. She seemed to capture the spotlight and be "on brand" for what the Democratic Party has become. That said, I really, really do not like her at all. She comes across as a joyless scold and completely cynical. She is also backwards looking in the worst way, assuming a mantle of victimhood about her days of being bussed to school in liberal Berkeley California as if she grew up in the South. Please.
Joe Biden. Seems old.
Pete Buttigieg. Too young and without any significant political or business accomplishment as far as I can tell. Maybe is smart and maybe has some good positions, but his most attractive traits are: served in military, gay, rhodes scholar -- all things done in his 20s or before.
Bernie. Comes across as energetic and genuine and clearly makes his points against big business, but I don't agree with his solutions and nor do a vast number of Americans.
Marianne Williamson. Did an incredible job of making herself visible. Seems like she practices Wicca. Kinda like her being in the mix. Would bet my entire live savings she won't become President.
Hickenlooper. I don't think so.
Swalwell. Seems like he's running for Pres in order to get a job.
Gillabrand. I had never heard her speak before and only knew her by reputation. I actually thought she got her POV across well: she's an advocate for women. And I found her more likable than I imagined. I prefer her to Harris because I don't think she is a completely joyless cynic. She seemed to have both broad ideas and elegant solutions for them. I'm not sure her about her priorities or whether those solutions are realistic or legal (ie public funded elections).
Bennet. Somewhat unremarkable, almost like a bad VP candidate.
Yang. Poor guy got ignored. Seems to be his own guy. Like that he's got ideas, even though I don't think they have any chance of gaining traction.
Kamala Harris. She seemed to capture the spotlight and be "on brand" for what the Democratic Party has become. That said, I really, really do not like her at all. She comes across as a joyless scold and completely cynical. She is also backwards looking in the worst way, assuming a mantle of victimhood about her days of being bussed to school in liberal Berkeley California as if she grew up in the South. Please.
Joe Biden. Seems old.
Pete Buttigieg. Too young and without any significant political or business accomplishment as far as I can tell. Maybe is smart and maybe has some good positions, but his most attractive traits are: served in military, gay, rhodes scholar -- all things done in his 20s or before.
Bernie. Comes across as energetic and genuine and clearly makes his points against big business, but I don't agree with his solutions and nor do a vast number of Americans.
Marianne Williamson. Did an incredible job of making herself visible. Seems like she practices Wicca. Kinda like her being in the mix. Would bet my entire live savings she won't become President.
Hickenlooper. I don't think so.
Swalwell. Seems like he's running for Pres in order to get a job.
Gillabrand. I had never heard her speak before and only knew her by reputation. I actually thought she got her POV across well: she's an advocate for women. And I found her more likable than I imagined. I prefer her to Harris because I don't think she is a completely joyless cynic. She seemed to have both broad ideas and elegant solutions for them. I'm not sure her about her priorities or whether those solutions are realistic or legal (ie public funded elections).
Bennet. Somewhat unremarkable, almost like a bad VP candidate.
Yang. Poor guy got ignored. Seems to be his own guy. Like that he's got ideas, even though I don't think they have any chance of gaining traction.
Thursday, June 27, 2019
More On Debate...
...didn't watch all, of course, but what Dems fail to account for in demonizing large companies is that many Dems actually work for these companies, want to work for these companies, buy these companies products, and are mostly happy with these companies. That's why they are companies!
The way the problem ought to be articulated is that sometimes the incentives of these companies are misaligned with the public interest. Not only is this more true than reducing all problems to the issue of greed - but also frames the problem towards a workable solution.
Same with this student loan ridiculousness. The students loan crisis is the result of a well intended government policy that created perverse incentives. To pay off loans is a cheap, short sighted solution that will only incentivize more of the very problem we are trying to solve.
A way to approach the student loan problem:
a) Recognize IT IS A PROBLEM.
b) Recognize part of the "fault" lies with people taking on too much debt in an irresponsible manner. Parents and college students are adults and bear responsibility for their own actions.
c) Recognize the colleges bear responsibility for their escalating costs and have chosen to raise costs because people are willing to finance through government sponsored debt.
d) Recognize the government is complicit in the debt crisis by subsidizing loans.
e) Recognize part of the problem is our employment system / ie employers who use college degrees as a screen to weed out candidates.
I think the solution will require attacking the problem on multiple fronts in a "blitzkrieg" method.
1) Incentive companies to abandon college degrees as a screen for jobs that don't actually require a college degree and incentivize "apprenticeship" programs.
2) Put colleges partially on the hook for any and all student loan defaults of their students.
3) Create incentives akin to matching 401k contributions to paying back loans (better than simply writing folks a check).
4) Cap loan amounts students can take. You hear about these extreme cases where students are 100K or more in debt. It's crazy. If it costs that much, go to a different college.
That's just a start.
...didn't watch all, of course, but what Dems fail to account for in demonizing large companies is that many Dems actually work for these companies, want to work for these companies, buy these companies products, and are mostly happy with these companies. That's why they are companies!
The way the problem ought to be articulated is that sometimes the incentives of these companies are misaligned with the public interest. Not only is this more true than reducing all problems to the issue of greed - but also frames the problem towards a workable solution.
Same with this student loan ridiculousness. The students loan crisis is the result of a well intended government policy that created perverse incentives. To pay off loans is a cheap, short sighted solution that will only incentivize more of the very problem we are trying to solve.
A way to approach the student loan problem:
a) Recognize IT IS A PROBLEM.
b) Recognize part of the "fault" lies with people taking on too much debt in an irresponsible manner. Parents and college students are adults and bear responsibility for their own actions.
c) Recognize the colleges bear responsibility for their escalating costs and have chosen to raise costs because people are willing to finance through government sponsored debt.
d) Recognize the government is complicit in the debt crisis by subsidizing loans.
e) Recognize part of the problem is our employment system / ie employers who use college degrees as a screen to weed out candidates.
I think the solution will require attacking the problem on multiple fronts in a "blitzkrieg" method.
1) Incentive companies to abandon college degrees as a screen for jobs that don't actually require a college degree and incentivize "apprenticeship" programs.
2) Put colleges partially on the hook for any and all student loan defaults of their students.
3) Create incentives akin to matching 401k contributions to paying back loans (better than simply writing folks a check).
4) Cap loan amounts students can take. You hear about these extreme cases where students are 100K or more in debt. It's crazy. If it costs that much, go to a different college.
That's just a start.
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
I Wish
You could bottle Cory Booker's expression when Beto launches into a Spanish answer to a question that wasn't asked.
Elizabeth Warren saying Latinx was an unwelcome sign. I don't know any hispanic folks who self refer to themselves as Latinx, so to hear Elizabeth Warren doing it strikes me as phony, only slightly less than going around calling herself Native American.
As I'm listening to this debate, it seems to me there is consensus amongst the Democrats that everyone in the country - esp women - should get free healthcare and free higher education and all the "big companies" are evil and the cause of our woes.
You could bottle Cory Booker's expression when Beto launches into a Spanish answer to a question that wasn't asked.
Elizabeth Warren saying Latinx was an unwelcome sign. I don't know any hispanic folks who self refer to themselves as Latinx, so to hear Elizabeth Warren doing it strikes me as phony, only slightly less than going around calling herself Native American.
As I'm listening to this debate, it seems to me there is consensus amongst the Democrats that everyone in the country - esp women - should get free healthcare and free higher education and all the "big companies" are evil and the cause of our woes.
Fascists
The students at Bowling Green who insist on removing Lillian Gish's name from the theater.
Here's how you know they're fascists -- no one -- literally, no one -- talks about Lillian Gish. She is of no significance to the current culture whatsoever. And yet, they've targeted her. This is insanity and purely about the exercise of power and the attempt to seize control over institutions and minds.
So there's all these people out there who want to imagine themselves brave by standing up to the evil government of the USA and the evil corporations and all the racists, etc. But of course, they aren't brave at all -- this is the trend! They are not punished for their positions as Civil Rights protestors were. They are not put in the crosshairs of the British Authorities as the Colonialists were. They are rewarded and celebrated. See Ava Duvernay, a basically incompetent filmmaker celebrated only for her self-branding as a race-crusader.
The fascists are right here showing their colors and the response by all these "brave" people is the same response from all the sheep throughout history: silence.
The students at Bowling Green who insist on removing Lillian Gish's name from the theater.
Here's how you know they're fascists -- no one -- literally, no one -- talks about Lillian Gish. She is of no significance to the current culture whatsoever. And yet, they've targeted her. This is insanity and purely about the exercise of power and the attempt to seize control over institutions and minds.
So there's all these people out there who want to imagine themselves brave by standing up to the evil government of the USA and the evil corporations and all the racists, etc. But of course, they aren't brave at all -- this is the trend! They are not punished for their positions as Civil Rights protestors were. They are not put in the crosshairs of the British Authorities as the Colonialists were. They are rewarded and celebrated. See Ava Duvernay, a basically incompetent filmmaker celebrated only for her self-branding as a race-crusader.
The fascists are right here showing their colors and the response by all these "brave" people is the same response from all the sheep throughout history: silence.
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
23 Million Views
For "When They See Us." Netflix should be required disclose how many of those viewers were sleeping.
For "When They See Us." Netflix should be required disclose how many of those viewers were sleeping.
Monday, June 24, 2019
Thursday, June 20, 2019
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
All You Need To Know
San Francisco bans e-cigarettes. This is the 21st century version of Monsanto creating both the disease and the cure. San Fran / Silicon Valley is where the e-cig is created, then banned within the same borders, and happily exported to the rest of the world. So many layers of dysfunction.
San Francisco bans e-cigarettes. This is the 21st century version of Monsanto creating both the disease and the cure. San Fran / Silicon Valley is where the e-cig is created, then banned within the same borders, and happily exported to the rest of the world. So many layers of dysfunction.
Sunday, June 16, 2019
Logging
Film: Booksmart
I am an idiot for being suckered by the trailer. Booksmart is an objectively bad movie. Bad, as in, the story is poorly told. All the major "turns" of the story are false and driven by the sense the story must change direction and not by any emotional logic. The basic visual storytelling tries to hide a "style" behind what amounts to illiteracy. It's like a reading a book with grammar mistakes.
What can be said in favor of the the movie is the casting. It's good. Two main girls have chemistry. Side characters are vivid as well and many are given nice moments. Some standalone scenes and even sequences are pretty good - particularly towards the end. But as a whole, I would not recommend the film to anyone with somewhat decent taste in movies.
There are other major sins. The lesbian storyline(s) have zero sexual chemistry. None. And in doing so, reveals something about the intentions behind the marketing and making of the movie. It's overly concerned with being a female-empowerment, LGBT empowerment, a Girls-can-make-Superbad too kind of film, and swaps any soul that might've been for being "woke."
Go watch Fleabag instead. Or Superbad. Or Sideways. Or shit, even Riverdale.
Film: Booksmart
I am an idiot for being suckered by the trailer. Booksmart is an objectively bad movie. Bad, as in, the story is poorly told. All the major "turns" of the story are false and driven by the sense the story must change direction and not by any emotional logic. The basic visual storytelling tries to hide a "style" behind what amounts to illiteracy. It's like a reading a book with grammar mistakes.
What can be said in favor of the the movie is the casting. It's good. Two main girls have chemistry. Side characters are vivid as well and many are given nice moments. Some standalone scenes and even sequences are pretty good - particularly towards the end. But as a whole, I would not recommend the film to anyone with somewhat decent taste in movies.
There are other major sins. The lesbian storyline(s) have zero sexual chemistry. None. And in doing so, reveals something about the intentions behind the marketing and making of the movie. It's overly concerned with being a female-empowerment, LGBT empowerment, a Girls-can-make-Superbad too kind of film, and swaps any soul that might've been for being "woke."
Go watch Fleabag instead. Or Superbad. Or Sideways. Or shit, even Riverdale.
Thursday, June 13, 2019
Ugh
Jemele Hill defends the women's world cup team for scoring 13 goals and celebrating after 9.
Jemele Hill defends the women's world cup team for scoring 13 goals and celebrating after 9.
The shameful part is that how the U.S. women’s soccer team celebrated on the field will cause more of a stir than whether the players are paid fairly. Despite having won three World Cup titles, earned four Olympic gold medals, and generated millions of dollars more in revenue than the men in 2015, the women sometimes earn 38 percent of what the men earn per game.If the women want equal pay, they should try marking Mbappe and see how it goes. The reality is they probably play at level of D3 college guys, so the other way to look at it is that they're lucky to be making any money at all.
Saturday, June 08, 2019
Suspicious
You ought to grow suspicious of your ideological beliefs if the solutions to what you believe are the most pressuring problems involve general immiseration.
Here's CurbedLA touting the benefits of recession to the housing market.
Income inequality would greatly be diminished with a massive stock market fall.
And global warming could be solved by the majority of the worlds 7 billion people returning to poverty level conditions or dying off more rapidly.
Just saying, careful what you wish for.
You ought to grow suspicious of your ideological beliefs if the solutions to what you believe are the most pressuring problems involve general immiseration.
Here's CurbedLA touting the benefits of recession to the housing market.
Income inequality would greatly be diminished with a massive stock market fall.
And global warming could be solved by the majority of the worlds 7 billion people returning to poverty level conditions or dying off more rapidly.
Just saying, careful what you wish for.
Wednesday, June 05, 2019
Fake News
The story about Americans being unable to come up with $400 emergency expense is wrong.
It's actually not just wrong -- it's a lie. Because the folks promoting the story have an agenda and promote the story with the intention of misleading.
The story about Americans being unable to come up with $400 emergency expense is wrong.
It's actually not just wrong -- it's a lie. Because the folks promoting the story have an agenda and promote the story with the intention of misleading.
Tuesday, June 04, 2019
I'd Like To Sit This One Out
Chinese audience prefers pale skin actors.
I wish we could put the Chinese Communists in the ring against the "Woke" and just have a Mountain vs. Viper duel and deal with only the winner.
Chinese audience prefers pale skin actors.
I wish we could put the Chinese Communists in the ring against the "Woke" and just have a Mountain vs. Viper duel and deal with only the winner.
Monday, June 03, 2019
I Kind Like Clarence Thomas
An article on him.
“People who will get very upset if someone said all blacks look alike are really comfortable saying all blacks ought to think alike,” Justice Thomas said.
“If you said that blacks should not be allowed to go a library, you’d be against that,” he said. “If you said that blacks couldn’t read certain books in the library, you would say that’s wrong.”
“But now we are so comfortable saying that blacks can’t hold some of the ideas in some of the books in the library,” Justice Thomas said. “That’s absurd.”He's not wrong.
Sunday, June 02, 2019
Wokeness is Language
Word usage at NY Times.
The argument against wokeness is an argument about how the woke are changing language to suit their political end goals. The argument for wokeness is that people are finally "awakening" to the horrors of what are around them. See the plot of GET OUT. And it's the most subtle form of delusional thinking we have going today, ranking above 9/11 Truthers, Anti-Vaxxers, Flat Earthers, and those who believe in Astrology.
Word usage at NY Times.
The argument against wokeness is an argument about how the woke are changing language to suit their political end goals. The argument for wokeness is that people are finally "awakening" to the horrors of what are around them. See the plot of GET OUT. And it's the most subtle form of delusional thinking we have going today, ranking above 9/11 Truthers, Anti-Vaxxers, Flat Earthers, and those who believe in Astrology.
Saturday, June 01, 2019
And Who Is To Blame Now
Democrats control a supermajority in California. The state is solid blue, electorally. And yet, we're in the midst of a haves vs have nots crisis in housing, and opted to do NOTHING about it.
Can't blame Trump for this one.
It's almost like the Dems want the boost in ego one gets by pretending to care for those less fortunate, without actually doing anything to care for the less fortunate. Is it incompetence? Hypocrisy? Greed?
All of the above?
Democrats control a supermajority in California. The state is solid blue, electorally. And yet, we're in the midst of a haves vs have nots crisis in housing, and opted to do NOTHING about it.
Can't blame Trump for this one.
It's almost like the Dems want the boost in ego one gets by pretending to care for those less fortunate, without actually doing anything to care for the less fortunate. Is it incompetence? Hypocrisy? Greed?
All of the above?
Thursday, May 30, 2019
Logging
Film: Collateral rewatch
If you only add up Tom Cruise's performances in "minor" roles, his career would be remarkable. Risky Business, Collateral, Tropic Thunder, Magnolia, Knight and Day, Cocktail. Amen.
TV: Fleabag S2
Best writer in TV. By far.
Book: Eat that Frog
Self help shit for a teaching a class. But it's actually really useful stuff.
TV: Chewing Gum and Riverdale Pilot Episodes
Not my cups of tea.
Film: Collateral rewatch
If you only add up Tom Cruise's performances in "minor" roles, his career would be remarkable. Risky Business, Collateral, Tropic Thunder, Magnolia, Knight and Day, Cocktail. Amen.
TV: Fleabag S2
Best writer in TV. By far.
Book: Eat that Frog
Self help shit for a teaching a class. But it's actually really useful stuff.
TV: Chewing Gum and Riverdale Pilot Episodes
Not my cups of tea.
Game 1
Terrific game. Siakam too much for Draymond. Toronto defense is legit. Got a lot of crazy shots falling their way tonight, but that D won't go away. Love how Toronto can throw a lot of quality two way players out there. Kawhi off night and you still got a chance for production from Lowry, Gasol, Siakam, Green, Van Fleet, Ibaka.
Terrific game. Siakam too much for Draymond. Toronto defense is legit. Got a lot of crazy shots falling their way tonight, but that D won't go away. Love how Toronto can throw a lot of quality two way players out there. Kawhi off night and you still got a chance for production from Lowry, Gasol, Siakam, Green, Van Fleet, Ibaka.
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Yep
State and local policies are the real immigration policies.
If you like immigration, don't complain about Trump, make your hometown an affordable place to live with low minimum wage. Hence, parts of LA.
State and local policies are the real immigration policies.
If you like immigration, don't complain about Trump, make your hometown an affordable place to live with low minimum wage. Hence, parts of LA.
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
True
The rediscovery of great literature.
I still recall many of my English teachers from grade and high school...maybe moreso than any of my other teachers. I remember in high school I had this teacher Mr Feeney, who all the students liked because he was "easy." I remember sometimes in class, he would just give us 30 minutes to read. A part of me thinks back - jeez - wasn't that an easy assignment for him! But think about it. We were sitting there reading Hemingway, Steinbeck, Fitzgerald... Was there a better use of our time?
And the only other thing I remember - not the assignments or the grades or any of that - but goddamn did Mr. Feeney love the books he taught. I can't remember a damn thing he said, but I do remember he loved books and loved writing and loved sharing that with us.
I guess what I'm thinking now is that I somehow had a lot of things wrong. That the "easy" teacher was communicating to me perhaps the most important thing one can get: a love of reading. What were the "harder," more challenging teachers teaching me? Perhaps how to succeed.
Jury's out on what was more important.
The rediscovery of great literature.
I still recall many of my English teachers from grade and high school...maybe moreso than any of my other teachers. I remember in high school I had this teacher Mr Feeney, who all the students liked because he was "easy." I remember sometimes in class, he would just give us 30 minutes to read. A part of me thinks back - jeez - wasn't that an easy assignment for him! But think about it. We were sitting there reading Hemingway, Steinbeck, Fitzgerald... Was there a better use of our time?
And the only other thing I remember - not the assignments or the grades or any of that - but goddamn did Mr. Feeney love the books he taught. I can't remember a damn thing he said, but I do remember he loved books and loved writing and loved sharing that with us.
I guess what I'm thinking now is that I somehow had a lot of things wrong. That the "easy" teacher was communicating to me perhaps the most important thing one can get: a love of reading. What were the "harder," more challenging teachers teaching me? Perhaps how to succeed.
Jury's out on what was more important.
The Absurdity and Evil of Russian Communism
A pointless extermination of world whale populations.
And yet, privileged folks here in the West still sometimes contend, it just wasn't implemented correctly.
A pointless extermination of world whale populations.
And yet, privileged folks here in the West still sometimes contend, it just wasn't implemented correctly.
Saturday, May 18, 2019
Hmmmm...
Tyler Cowen's worst post -- and there are very few -- defends Harvard's decision to get rid of Weinstein's lawyer by making the claim, essentially, by taking on Weinstein, he'd be too busy to do his dorm job.
Maybe the argument, then becomes: they needed a decent reason to get rid of the guy and used the Weinstein case as an excuse. But that tells even a worse story about Harvard. Instead of just being un-American and not believing in the right of a defendant to legal counsel, they are actually just cowards who fear being construed as being in favor of basic American values. Such a sentence can only make sense these days.
Tyler Cowen's worst post -- and there are very few -- defends Harvard's decision to get rid of Weinstein's lawyer by making the claim, essentially, by taking on Weinstein, he'd be too busy to do his dorm job.
Let’s say I hired a TA for my Econ 101 class, and then I learned that TA would be defending Edward Snowden in his or her spare time. Probably I would ask for another TA! And that has nothing to do with my view of Snowden, one way or the other, or whether my students have rational views of Snowden or not (I genuinely do not know if they do).In a healthy world if a TA got another job, he'd talk to the professor and explain he couldn't do both. In the Weinstein lawyer case, Harvard made the point they were dismissing him because of the student concerns.
Maybe the argument, then becomes: they needed a decent reason to get rid of the guy and used the Weinstein case as an excuse. But that tells even a worse story about Harvard. Instead of just being un-American and not believing in the right of a defendant to legal counsel, they are actually just cowards who fear being construed as being in favor of basic American values. Such a sentence can only make sense these days.
Affordable Housing
A long article about the multitude of reasons housing is so costly.
Missing a big factor: people getting married later. The most obvious and dirty little secret is getting married means combining resources means much better odds of being able to afford a house. Demographically, young Americans are staying single longer and thus less able to buy...
A long article about the multitude of reasons housing is so costly.
Missing a big factor: people getting married later. The most obvious and dirty little secret is getting married means combining resources means much better odds of being able to afford a house. Demographically, young Americans are staying single longer and thus less able to buy...
Thursday, May 16, 2019
As I'm In The Middle of a Major Housing Renovation
A good, succinct reminder:
PL: Housing isn’t an investment. A home is an extremely undiversified bet on a single structure in a single neighborhood in a single geographic region. A home is illiquid and indivisible (you can’t slice off a piece of your kitchen to buy milk). Worst of all, a home carries high transaction and carrying costs. Historically home prices have barely kept up with inflation – and only if you continue to pour money into it for upkeep and maintenance, not exactly something you want from an investment. Housing is consumption.
Looking at it this way will allow you to make better housing decisions. Something I painfully had to cut out of the book was research on the happiness derived from housing. The quick summary is you don’t derive much lasting happiness from your home. There is plenty of research, however, that says your commute time is correlated to your happiness. The implication is it makes sense to place a higher value on your home’s location than whether it has a remodeled kitchen or extra closet space.Thinking about housing as consumption only makes academic sense. I actually think my dad put it better to me a long time ago - a house is a place to live.
Student Loans
Strange irony. A bunch of the more progressive Democrats are talking student loan forgiveness, etc. They've identified the problem, but is forgiveness the solution? If student loans are so "problematic," why does the Federal Government subsidize them? I honestly feel as though Democrats can only think about 1, maybe 2 steps ahead if you go by their policy ideas.
If you believe in equal opportunity, labor rights, and even correcting past historical wrongs, my suggestion is to come up with better ideas and better solutions as opposed to ideas that can easily be dismissed as simplistic, virtue signaling, and stupid.
A better idea:
1) Put colleges on the hook for defaults.
2) Peg financial aid that goes to institutions to reasonable rates of tuition increases.
3) Broaden GI bill, and other service oriented programs for scholarships, etc.
4) Track effectiveness of state university systems (which I think probably do a better job than we give them credit for overall)
And for the students/parents:
1) Don't take out loans than can't be easily repaid.
2) Go to cheaper schools
Strange irony. A bunch of the more progressive Democrats are talking student loan forgiveness, etc. They've identified the problem, but is forgiveness the solution? If student loans are so "problematic," why does the Federal Government subsidize them? I honestly feel as though Democrats can only think about 1, maybe 2 steps ahead if you go by their policy ideas.
If you believe in equal opportunity, labor rights, and even correcting past historical wrongs, my suggestion is to come up with better ideas and better solutions as opposed to ideas that can easily be dismissed as simplistic, virtue signaling, and stupid.
A better idea:
1) Put colleges on the hook for defaults.
2) Peg financial aid that goes to institutions to reasonable rates of tuition increases.
3) Broaden GI bill, and other service oriented programs for scholarships, etc.
4) Track effectiveness of state university systems (which I think probably do a better job than we give them credit for overall)
And for the students/parents:
1) Don't take out loans than can't be easily repaid.
2) Go to cheaper schools
Wednesday, May 08, 2019
Friday, May 03, 2019
I'm Convinced
Sullivan thinks Biden can beat Trump.
I'd take it a step further: Biden might be the only Dem who can beat Trump. Here's why:
He’s a union man, and always has been. In what was a brilliant ad-lib, Biden began a speech to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers by making a joke about the excesses of #MeToo — “I had permission to hug Lonnie,” the union leader, he quipped. Later, as he brought some kids onstage, he joked again, as he put his hands on the shoulders of a boy: “He gave me permission to touch him.” The crowd’s reaction both times was bellows of laughter. Yes, this might be seen as insensitive, or tone-deaf. It is certainly politically incorrect. But what Biden’s joke did is tell the white working class that he has not defected to the woke, white urban elites. This matters.
In a recent poll, 80 percent of Americans say “that political correctness is a problem in this country.” Hostility to new speech codes from elites was one factor that drove support for Trump in 2016. Americans do not want to abolish all differences between men and women, do not support reparations, and view college campuses as strange, alien pockets of madness. Any Democrat in 2020 has to reach that “exhausted majority” who are sick of all that. Biden has already done it.Nobody who's woke is getting elected in this country because woke people are so fucking annoying and they're the only ones who don't realize it.
Populism and Late Bloomers
Interesting piece from Overcoming Bias.
Random question: is bias such a bad thing if you are aware of it?
Interesting piece from Overcoming Bias.
Random question: is bias such a bad thing if you are aware of it?
Wednesday, May 01, 2019
I Wish There Was A Way To Bet This
Predictions:
1) Ong Choy or Chinese Water Spinach will become a more popular vegetable in the future. I don't suppose it will overtake broccoli or anything, but it's quite delicious, easily flavored, easy to cook, crunchy and fun. I suppose it will be seen in fancier/hip type restaurants if it isn't already...
2) Chimichurri will be the next salsa. You sometimes hear salsa is now more popular than ketchup. A somewhat strange comparison given the different uses. Like: would you ever say - ketchup is more popular than guacamole? But anyways, they are condiments, I guess. And made of tomatoes. Regardless, chimichurri is quite similar to salsa and can be applied to many meats -- deliciously. Salmon, chicken, steak, pork...it's high versatile, simple...
Predictions:
1) Ong Choy or Chinese Water Spinach will become a more popular vegetable in the future. I don't suppose it will overtake broccoli or anything, but it's quite delicious, easily flavored, easy to cook, crunchy and fun. I suppose it will be seen in fancier/hip type restaurants if it isn't already...
2) Chimichurri will be the next salsa. You sometimes hear salsa is now more popular than ketchup. A somewhat strange comparison given the different uses. Like: would you ever say - ketchup is more popular than guacamole? But anyways, they are condiments, I guess. And made of tomatoes. Regardless, chimichurri is quite similar to salsa and can be applied to many meats -- deliciously. Salmon, chicken, steak, pork...it's high versatile, simple...
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Military Evaluation of the Battle of Winterfell
An analysis of Team Alive and Team Dead battle tactics.
He makes good points.
But I agree with social media that the Dothraki charge was stupid and bound to failure. My opening salvo would've been to fire the cannon balls to induce a Team Dead infantry charge into Unsullied. While the Unsullied held the line, employe one dragon to burn up dead and to lure out the Night King dragon. Keep other Dragon in reserve to attack Night King when he appears. If he fails to appear, the wights get all burned up.
Use Dothraki and flaming swords as a reserve force to flank the dead should the dragons get called away to do battle with Night King or need to protect Bran.
I don't think Team Alive needed to induce battle as it was clear Team Dead came to fight. Don't think Team Dead had a siege plan.
Writer makes a good point about White Walkers not utilized in the fighting - they had spears that could take down dragons -- although we've never seen a White Walker chuck the spear, only the Night King himself. It might be reasonable to assume the White Walkers are not good at throwing.
I believe Bran's ravens were also not used well in the fighting. Seems to me, they should've been out looking for the While Walkers and then a small Team Alive navy SEAL type unit equipped with Valyrian Steel ought to be have out hunting the White Walkers.
Obviously, the Night King has a stupid top-down army design and should just put himself in a box like 100 miles away to avoid being killed, but it seems he was not designed that way.
Nevertheless, you cannot argue with success to much and Team Alive prevailed.
An analysis of Team Alive and Team Dead battle tactics.
He makes good points.
But I agree with social media that the Dothraki charge was stupid and bound to failure. My opening salvo would've been to fire the cannon balls to induce a Team Dead infantry charge into Unsullied. While the Unsullied held the line, employe one dragon to burn up dead and to lure out the Night King dragon. Keep other Dragon in reserve to attack Night King when he appears. If he fails to appear, the wights get all burned up.
Use Dothraki and flaming swords as a reserve force to flank the dead should the dragons get called away to do battle with Night King or need to protect Bran.
I don't think Team Alive needed to induce battle as it was clear Team Dead came to fight. Don't think Team Dead had a siege plan.
Writer makes a good point about White Walkers not utilized in the fighting - they had spears that could take down dragons -- although we've never seen a White Walker chuck the spear, only the Night King himself. It might be reasonable to assume the White Walkers are not good at throwing.
I believe Bran's ravens were also not used well in the fighting. Seems to me, they should've been out looking for the While Walkers and then a small Team Alive navy SEAL type unit equipped with Valyrian Steel ought to be have out hunting the White Walkers.
Obviously, the Night King has a stupid top-down army design and should just put himself in a box like 100 miles away to avoid being killed, but it seems he was not designed that way.
Nevertheless, you cannot argue with success to much and Team Alive prevailed.
Monday, April 29, 2019
Game of Thrones
Per the internet, S8 E2 was one of the greatest episode of all time and S8 E3 was a disappointment. I'm more in between. Brianne getting knighted was a terrific moment, but I felt like episode 2 was too many of the same type of scenes. Now, I get from a story perspective needing to do this, but it nevertheless felt a bit repetitive to me. Episode 3 had some awesome moments. The Dothraki Sword lighting? Are you kidding me? Awesome! The Red Woman overall stole the show. Her final moment - stunning. The Arya stuff was badass as well. Hiding from the wights and of course, the Knight King death blow. I get it didn't have the spectacular, gut wrenching plot turns of the Red Wedding, etc, but I've given up hoping for that as we moved past the books.
Biggest downsides to last night: dragon fighting and the overuse of slow motion. I couldn't follow the dragon fighting at all. I thought two dragons died - Jon Snow's and the Night Kings, but then they both showed up again. Confusing...
For the people who say it was too dark, I say, it was at night.
Per the internet, S8 E2 was one of the greatest episode of all time and S8 E3 was a disappointment. I'm more in between. Brianne getting knighted was a terrific moment, but I felt like episode 2 was too many of the same type of scenes. Now, I get from a story perspective needing to do this, but it nevertheless felt a bit repetitive to me. Episode 3 had some awesome moments. The Dothraki Sword lighting? Are you kidding me? Awesome! The Red Woman overall stole the show. Her final moment - stunning. The Arya stuff was badass as well. Hiding from the wights and of course, the Knight King death blow. I get it didn't have the spectacular, gut wrenching plot turns of the Red Wedding, etc, but I've given up hoping for that as we moved past the books.
Biggest downsides to last night: dragon fighting and the overuse of slow motion. I couldn't follow the dragon fighting at all. I thought two dragons died - Jon Snow's and the Night Kings, but then they both showed up again. Confusing...
For the people who say it was too dark, I say, it was at night.
Friday, April 26, 2019
Hitler Comparisons
People keep comparing Trump to Hitler, which is preposterous, of course.
If you're looking for the next Hitler, here's someone who meets the profile.
After years of depression, eating disorders, and anxiety attacks, she finally receives a medical diagnosis: Asperger’s syndrome, high-functioning autism, and OCD. She also suffers from selective mutism—which explains why she sometimes can’t speak to anyone outside her closest family. When she wants to tell a climate researcher that she plans a school strike on behalf of the environment, she speaks through her father...
...Greta is not alone in her mental suffering, according to the book. Her sister Beata, who was 12 when the book was written, lives with ADHD, Asperger’s syndrome, and OCD. She is prone to sudden outbursts of anger, during which she screams obscenities at her mother. What would normally be a 10-minute walk to dance class takes almost an hour because Beata insists on walking with her left foot in front, refuses to step on certain parts of the sidewalk, and demands that her mother walk the same way. She also insists that her mother wait outside during class—she isn’t allowed to move, even to go to the bathroom. The child still ends up weeping in her mother’s arms.
...Like many parents of children with similar diagnoses, Greta and Beata’s parents fight hard for their daughters to receive the right care and assistance in school. When Greta refuses to eat they do everything they can to save her from starving herself. Her father begs their doctor to save Beata from whatever it is that plagues her. To read the story is heart-wrenching, many times over...Here are her words -- words that are getting applause by folks at Davos and the UK Parliment:
“I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day,” Greta said when she addressed the world’s leaders in Davos.I fear these people way more than I fear climate change.
Advice For The Ringer
Please write less articles. And the ones you write, make them shorter.
Like, this is a good idea for an article that I cannot finish. Why are celebrities lashing back at the media? Uh? Because the media sucks and they lie?
Please write less articles. And the ones you write, make them shorter.
Like, this is a good idea for an article that I cannot finish. Why are celebrities lashing back at the media? Uh? Because the media sucks and they lie?
Thursday, April 25, 2019
Saturday, April 20, 2019
Favorite Blog Post In A Long Time
This is an incredible blog post that is basically about EVERYTHING.
Blogging so much better than twitter.
This is an incredible blog post that is basically about EVERYTHING.
Blogging so much better than twitter.
Friday, April 19, 2019
Logging
Film: Free Solo
I'm writing this blog post while watching which ought to mean something.
UPDATE: Am tempted to start a gofundme page to hand over footage to Werner Herzog and watch his recut.
TV: Catastrophe s4
My favorite season so far. Last episode terrific and haunting.
TV: After Life
First couple episodes the bits of humor were so funny it made up for the unrelenting bleakness. But after episode 5, I'm quitting.
TV: Killing Eve S2, E1
Loved season 1 and will probably not finish season 2.
Book: The Border
Pulpy fun. Not as good as I remember The Cartel being so far...but I still love it.
Film: High Plains Drifter
Clint rapes a woman within the first 15 minutes of this one!
Film: Free Solo
I'm writing this blog post while watching which ought to mean something.
UPDATE: Am tempted to start a gofundme page to hand over footage to Werner Herzog and watch his recut.
TV: Catastrophe s4
My favorite season so far. Last episode terrific and haunting.
TV: After Life
First couple episodes the bits of humor were so funny it made up for the unrelenting bleakness. But after episode 5, I'm quitting.
TV: Killing Eve S2, E1
Loved season 1 and will probably not finish season 2.
Book: The Border
Pulpy fun. Not as good as I remember The Cartel being so far...but I still love it.
Film: High Plains Drifter
Clint rapes a woman within the first 15 minutes of this one!
Monday, April 15, 2019
I'm No Expert
But it seems pretty strange to have a pension plan nearing the red after a 10 year bull market with nearly 12-15% stock returns. What happens when it dips?
But it seems pretty strange to have a pension plan nearing the red after a 10 year bull market with nearly 12-15% stock returns. What happens when it dips?
Thursday, April 11, 2019
Unusually Level Headed Piece
From the Atlantic pointing out how all of the Trump alarmists have been wrong.
How could so many get it wrong? Underlying these various accounts of doom is a major analytical flaw. In some sense, the flaw is so obvious that I wasn’t entirely aware of it until I started thinking about this article. If we exclude cases of military conquest or occupation, as occurred during World War II, there is no clear case of a long-standing, consolidated democracy becoming an autocracy. Democracies backslide—it is a spectrum, after all. But democracies, or at least certain kinds of democracies, do not “die.”
Germany is a touchstone for any conversation about the fragility of democracy. But Germany, when Adolf Hitler entered politics, was a young democracy, and the particular democratic configuration known as the Weimar Republic was even younger, having been established only in 1918. Young democracies are fragile. Moreover, Germany was suffering from historical afflictions that the United States—and, for that matter, most other countries—is not likely to experience again. In an essay for The American Interest, and also the subject of his forthcoming book Democratic Stability in an Age of Crisis, Jørgen Møller lays out the case in convincing detail. Germany, Austria, and Italy, he writes, were “bedeviled by the legacy of the World War,” which “created revanchist yearnings in all three countries, which could be harnessed by undemocratic forces on the Right that had, in the first place, been brutalized by four years of fighting in the trenches.”Here's another hint: if you know any of the people who compare Trump to Hitler, you know these are the very last people who would every ACTUALLY stand up to fascists when they are ACTUALLY in power. They - and this is a generalization of course - are more likely to be the types leading you to the gallows.
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
What He's Saying
Aspiration and the death of the middle class.
"Green" policies and local regulations mostly result in making housing less affordable and entrenching the rich. It's a threat to liberal democracy. My only question is whether this is by design or just idiocy.
Aspiration and the death of the middle class.
"Green" policies and local regulations mostly result in making housing less affordable and entrenching the rich. It's a threat to liberal democracy. My only question is whether this is by design or just idiocy.
The 401k
An article about the terribleness of the 401k.
Traditional pension plans force people to save and protect them against investment mistakes, market risks, and the possibility of outliving their savings, not to mention predatory financial institutions. 401(k)s don’t, and, lo and behold, most people don’t put enough in them, make serious investment errors, and fall prey to heavy fees that crush long-term returns. Worse, because 401(k)s can be tapped into (with a penalty) before retirement and are transferred to workers when they lose or change jobs, middle-class workers often use them as rainy-day fund when times are tough, further beggaring retirement security.
Granted, 401(k)s work well for one group — the group who needs them least. For the affluent, 401(k)s are a lucrative way to manage retirement investments. They are also a great way to build up an estate and delay paying taxes. (Traditional defined-benefit plans didn’t become part of workers’ estates; like Social Security, they promised benefits for the remainder of a workers’ lives, pooling the “risk” of living longer — and potentially running out of money — across all those covered by the plan.)I used to agree with this type of thinking. Here's why I changed:
1) My financial dealings with the state and federal government via paying nanny taxes, personal taxes, having a loan out corporation, dealing with EDD, etc. It's way more cumbersome and worse than you can imagine. Just try for instance - to call EDD to get an answer. For the record, this is an organization that my household PAYS between 1k-2k a month. And we can't get them on the phone.
2) Teaching and writing experience. Here's the thing: just because someone doesn't use a 401k right at the moment, doesn't mean they can't learn to use the 401k. People can learn. People can be taught. I think liberals in general make a huge mistake when focusing on RESULTS (which are by definition, looking at hindsight) versus focusing on IMPROVEMENT.
3) A general attitudinal shift from getting older and being a parent. People can learn when there is someone there to teach them. Rather than focusing on how stupid people are and how governments or computers or bureacrats or corporations would be so much better at making decisions for people than themselves -- how about we focus instead on teaching people to be more self reliant. Teach people thrift, savings, compound interest. I learned all this stuff when I was around 10-12 years old. Adults can figure it out. And if they can't, believe me, social security isn't going to save them.
4) Pension plans are good if managed well. But why should we assume they will be managed well? Most are underfunded, including Social Security. 401ks are good if managed well, too.
Tuesday, April 09, 2019
Student Loan Forgiveness
30,000 applied for it, 96 were granted it.
Funny how the government is so much less stringent about giving out the money than forgiving it.
30,000 applied for it, 96 were granted it.
Funny how the government is so much less stringent about giving out the money than forgiving it.
Reparations Fund
My counter for those interested in reparations would be a fund that anyone who feels guilty about their role in enslaving black americans or that they've unfairly benefitted from slavery, ought to be able to donate as much as their money as they'd like in order to right their grievous wrong. Myself, having come from Chinese immigrants and Quakers, honestly don't feel like my money ought to go that way. Also, I wasn't involved in the slave trade. Neither were they. And also, I'm not responsible for what my ancestors did. I don't get credit for the great things, nor deserve the blame for the bad things. I find it strange this issue is coming to the forefront these days.
Along these lines, should we be obligated to pay some taxes to the ancestors of Alexander Hamilton and anyone else we can think of who helped build this modern economy we all benefit from? Shouldn't we owe benefits to those who helped us as well as those we wronged? It all gets very confusing very fast.
My counter for those interested in reparations would be a fund that anyone who feels guilty about their role in enslaving black americans or that they've unfairly benefitted from slavery, ought to be able to donate as much as their money as they'd like in order to right their grievous wrong. Myself, having come from Chinese immigrants and Quakers, honestly don't feel like my money ought to go that way. Also, I wasn't involved in the slave trade. Neither were they. And also, I'm not responsible for what my ancestors did. I don't get credit for the great things, nor deserve the blame for the bad things. I find it strange this issue is coming to the forefront these days.
Along these lines, should we be obligated to pay some taxes to the ancestors of Alexander Hamilton and anyone else we can think of who helped build this modern economy we all benefit from? Shouldn't we owe benefits to those who helped us as well as those we wronged? It all gets very confusing very fast.
For The Record
I could care less about AOC "code-switching," but the content of her message is that she encourages an African American audience to take pride in driving buses, serving food, etc. I don't think she's wrong -- I actually think she ought to take the same message to Stanford and Harvard if you ask me -- but it's important to point out George W Bush made the exact same speech to underprivileged inner city kids in 1990s and was chastised by Democrats as a racist. The Democrats said to these same kids "you keep going to college." And now these same kids are no doubt some of the folks we hear about drowning in student loan debt. So you tell me - who was/is right and who was/is wrong?
I could care less about AOC "code-switching," but the content of her message is that she encourages an African American audience to take pride in driving buses, serving food, etc. I don't think she's wrong -- I actually think she ought to take the same message to Stanford and Harvard if you ask me -- but it's important to point out George W Bush made the exact same speech to underprivileged inner city kids in 1990s and was chastised by Democrats as a racist. The Democrats said to these same kids "you keep going to college." And now these same kids are no doubt some of the folks we hear about drowning in student loan debt. So you tell me - who was/is right and who was/is wrong?
Should We Be Happy About This?
Intelligence community has ways to avenge politicians that anger them.
Intelligence community has ways to avenge politicians that anger them.
Friday, April 05, 2019
Thursday, April 04, 2019
Wednesday, April 03, 2019
Thought Experiment
My 3 year old informed me today he didn't want to grow up and would prefer to say "little" forever. Now say the world of science could meet such a request - let's call it an aging blocker. Not totally implausible, right? Would this be a good idea? I mean, it must be tough if you are a 3-year old trapped inside a 30-year old body? I mean, this isn't really fair, right? Likewise, it must also be tough if you are what people call an "old soul" while in middle school and high school. Lots of movies have told us this. What is one to do? Should we be fixing this problem? Writing some legislation? Changing laws? Why not?
My 3 year old informed me today he didn't want to grow up and would prefer to say "little" forever. Now say the world of science could meet such a request - let's call it an aging blocker. Not totally implausible, right? Would this be a good idea? I mean, it must be tough if you are a 3-year old trapped inside a 30-year old body? I mean, this isn't really fair, right? Likewise, it must also be tough if you are what people call an "old soul" while in middle school and high school. Lots of movies have told us this. What is one to do? Should we be fixing this problem? Writing some legislation? Changing laws? Why not?
Tuesday, April 02, 2019
Preventing Astroids
From hitting earth seems at least as important from a human survival standpoint as manmade global warming. Yet, it doesn't provide the same benefits of virtue signaling and ability to demonize political opponents and thus we hear a lot less about it.
From hitting earth seems at least as important from a human survival standpoint as manmade global warming. Yet, it doesn't provide the same benefits of virtue signaling and ability to demonize political opponents and thus we hear a lot less about it.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Well Put
Democratic positions.
The Democrats are making it real easy to mock them. They call the vote on the Green New Deal a GOP stunt. But doesn't that imply the introduction of the legislation itself is a stunt also?
Democratic positions.
The Democrats are making it real easy to mock them. They call the vote on the Green New Deal a GOP stunt. But doesn't that imply the introduction of the legislation itself is a stunt also?
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Children and Climate Change
Cowen argues having children will help solve climate change.
He's fighting windmills. The folks who cite climate change as a reason not to have children cannot be taken at their word. They are looking for excuses to not parent. But why not admit this? Instead, they also want the ego boost. It's called vainglory.
Also related, if you want insight into who these people are, the Atlantic has a new section called "Dear Therapist."
Since hearing the news, I have been honest with her about my feelings. I reminded her that we simply cannot afford a second child and we can kiss our joint career aspirations goodbye if we have another baby. She agrees with me. More important, I said our marriage will be over in the sense that we will just be co-parents rather than lovers because I will resent her, and the baby will always be a reminder of my career sacrifice and our indebtedness...
...We're both Christians, and I know she will struggle with making the decision I prefer and might regret it afterward. I don't think I will share those regrets, but if she keeps the pregnancy I will likely enter into a state of lifelong depression and feel stuck in an unhappy marriage. I feel like there are only bad outcomes with either choice. What do we do?What an awful person is what I come away thinking...
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Arrogance
Amazon banning anti-vaccine books.
I'm into vaccinating children, but not into banning books. I can only imagine what's next. Maybe books about the Confederacy.
Amazon banning anti-vaccine books.
I'm into vaccinating children, but not into banning books. I can only imagine what's next. Maybe books about the Confederacy.
Monday, March 18, 2019
Parental Indecision Therapists
People in my age group will pay someone $400 an hour to help them figure out whether they want kids.
To not understand yourself enough by age 40 to know whether you want to have kids or not seems to me a failure of sorts. Maybe that's a shitty thing to think.
People in my age group will pay someone $400 an hour to help them figure out whether they want kids.
To not understand yourself enough by age 40 to know whether you want to have kids or not seems to me a failure of sorts. Maybe that's a shitty thing to think.
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