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Movie: A Quiet Place 2

Worth the trip to the theater, which is quite a thing to say these days. Not quite as good as the first film, but above average for a sequel.

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Book: Cogan's Trade by George V. Higgins

I am slogging through this one. Not enjoying it at all. Jumps around all over the place and the moment I get somewhat invested in a single character, I don't read about that character again for 30 pages. Friends of Eddie Coyle was one of my favorites when I read...and this one supposedly has fans...I don't get it.

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Book: On Filmmaking by Alexander Mackendrick 

A book that makes more and more sense to me as I get older and more experienced. A wonderful type of book that requires not reading straight, but rather in sections and bursts. You could pick it up and flip to a section, read 5 pages, and learn something. How many books can you say that about?

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TV: Mare of Easttown

Can't quibble too much, because I looked forward to the finale and was surprised and satisfied with the show. Ultimately, though, I can't imagine going back to the show at all...is there a single "rewatchable" scene? And the ending, while it worked as I was watching, is the type of ending that makes genre sense, but not human/psychological sense. The murder-mystery "it was all a mistake" is the equivalence of "it was all a dream" in a psychological thriller. And it was soft. 

So yeah, I guess I am quibbling quite a bit. 

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Book: Stars in Our Eyes by Lee Darby

Memoir about living in California from the 50s to the present written by a family friend.

Kindle Samples: Cult of Smart

Big fan of Freddy DeBoer. He's onto something, but I'm not sure what.

Kindle Sample: A Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins

Why do I read these things which I already know, already practice, and has been said in other places equally well? I'm not sure...

Seriously, WTF Is Going On?

Colorado pediatric hospital declares "state of emergency" for children's mental health. 

Basically, they are overwhelmed by suicide attempts.

We all realize this has to do with internet, right? These kids need to be off Twitter and Facebook and whatever the hell else.

Ranking The Conspiracy Theories By Ideology

Conservatives:  2020 Election Stolen > Covid Is A Hoax > Covid Was Started in a Chinese Lab > Aliens Are Checking Us Out > Systemic Racism Is A Thing

Liberals: Systemic Racism Is A Thing > Aliens Are Checking Us Out > Covid Was Started in a Chinese Lab > Covid Is A Hoax / 2020 Election Stolen equally 0%

Me: Covid Was Started in a Chinese Lab > Aliens are Checking Us Out > 2020 Election Stolen > Systemic Racism Is A Thing > Covid Is A Hoax

I guess the one thing we can all agree upon is that Aliens Are Checking Us Out. 2021. Yeah, America!

Is That Our Job?

The SOS of the United States:

"The most important thing is this: What I hope that everyone takes from this is that if there isn't positive change, and particularly if we can't find a way to help Palestinians live with more dignity and with more hope, this cycle is likely to repeat itself, and that is in no one's interest," he said.

It's our job to help the Palestinians live with dignity and hope? This is a population that fought several wars to drive the legally formed state of Israel from existence. Upon losing those wars, they turned to suicide terrorism and perpetual victimhood and raise their young on horrific anti-semitic propaganda.

Good luck with that. They need to want to live like civilized neighbors. Otherwise, they can't helped. Sorry. 

Inside the NBA

Still one of the best shows on TV. Barkley's random memory recall on the details of a playoff game from 1986 -- great moment. And impressive.

Casual Observation

All the "wokeness" and race "confrontation" has somehow corresponded to a lot more actual hate crimes against Asian Americans and Jews. Anyone care to tackle this one? 

How Much Do I Sympathize with the Palestinian Cause?

Is there a lower percentage than zero? 

Question No One Is Asking

You can hardly listen to a woman discuss personal finance, etc. without them talking about the "gender wage gap." But can we agree the fun part of wages is spending them versus earning them? Could we get a measurement of who spends more of the wages, men or women? 

Asking for a friend who sees amazon packages arriving seemingly ever day that he had nothing to do with ordering. 

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Film: Riders of Justice

Perhaps the best ever depiction of "adult nerd interaction" ever put on cinema. Also, Mads Mikkelsen seeks revenge.

I will be surprised if I like a film more in 2021.

Reading

In the middle ages, narwhal tusks were more valuable per oz than gold. A gentle reminder to those investing in crypto...

Question for Palestinians

What countries other than Israel do not have a right to exist. And why not? 

It's such an absurd framing of an issue. Countries don't have a "right to exist," they either exist or they don't. Does the Ottoman Empire have a right to exist? Does the Mongol Empire? Does Formosa? 

The F***ing Internet

Every time I get down on the internet, I end up finding something incredible. Today that is a youtube channel called gears and queers, where two gay car enthusiasts talk about the BMW F30 series. 

Actual Hate Crime

Jewish men attacked by pro-Palestinian mob in West Hollywood.

Reminder: to this day, Jews are still by far the highest victims of hate crimes in the US.

The Jews should never give up Israel, IMO. That said, the settlers actions are a tactical misstep and possibly a moral one as well.

Yikes

Chicago mayor will only grant one on one interviews to black or brown journalists. 

LA Eating

Maybe it's not new, but it's new to me. Number one thing to eat in LA right now: birria tacos. And if you've had them, you know what I'm talking about. 

Stumbled upon this place in Norwalk: the GOAT of GOAT tacos.

They Didn't!

CNN headline: Bucknell University condemns 'horrific incident' against LGBTQ student community and orders investigation.

Here's what CNN describes as a "horrific incident":

Luong said the assailants banged on windows and doors, swung a metal bar at a flag pole that displays a pride flag and urinated on the front porch.

What used to be called Saturday night in college.

Strange Days

I just perused redfin a bit re: various neighborhoods I'm familiar with in Los Angeles. Routinely saw houses selling in excess of 1 million dollars that I would honestly not live in due to their condition and/or location. And believe me, I'm not very picky or snotty. Or maybe I have become. But I think my broader point is this: prices don't make no sense. 

First Things First

Can anyone explain to me what problem cryptocurrency solves?

Note: giving useless rich people something to speculate on does not count.

Los Angeles Homeless

I would rather see the mayor's home and office turned into temporary shelter for the homeless than the public parks and beaches where tax paying Angelinos go to play, but that's just me. 

I also think we ought to take advantage of the vast spaces alongside Highway 5 or even better, Nevada. Why are these options so terrible? Have you guys seen how much space there is in Nevada? Just build a permanent Burning Man. Is this such an inhuman idea?

Feeling Like the 1970s...

Gas shortages, inflation, and the Middle East burning. Now...can we at least get some good America cinema with it?

Interesting Twist

Anti-vaccers and anti-maskers are turning to masks to protect them from the vaccinated.

Sounds about right.

California Tax Rebate

Also known as the "here's $500-600 to not recall me" bill.

"Feminist" or Psychopath

Jill Filipovic "I want to hear from more men or women who regret having children." 

I could see her mother and father feeling that way.

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TV: Ted Lasso

Full first season. One of the better comedies in the past couple years. 

Yes

"The three biggest actual problems in the Black community - some of which, certainly, are partly rooted in past racism - are fatherlessness (72% O-O-W birth rate), crime (52% of murders in recent years), and academic disengagement (940 SAT). "Police genocide" isn't in the top 50.

Socialism, Household Edition

On a long road trip home with a 5 and 3 year old, we introduced them to Pez. Each child got a Pez dispenser fully loaded. We explained, they should ration them out and not eat all at once.

10 minutes later, our 5 year old had eaten 1 Pez and announced his intention to eat 1 Pez per day for 12 days. Meanwhile, our 3 year old was out of Pez.

So our 3 year old got the idea that the 5 year old should share his candy with him because in his words "You should share your candy."

Biden administration is looking at his resume.

Time For A Change

Driving from SoCal to NorCal for the first time in awhile, the thing I noticed EVERYWHERE is graffiti. It's along every highway stretch I drove, from the 5 to the 152 to the 680 to the 880 to the 101. Graffiti in the poor rural areas north of Los Angeles, to the high tech, high performance, high immigrant areas of Silicon Valley, to Oakland/Berkeley to Marin county. It's everywhere. And it depresses me. I know it's just graffiti. But is it, really? What it says to me: is that we no longer give a shit. It's like a house that hasn't been cleaned, a person who doesn't bathe, it's a sign of a society that doesn't think itself worthy of order. It's a sign of nihilism and cynicism. For all those on the left who speak of "reform" and "improvement," I see zero signs or strategy toward it. No thought. Just mindless envy and cynicism and graffiti.

Old

If you've done any of these things, you are officially old. 

I've done at least 90% of them.