Logging
Film: Back In Action
Bad but not as bad as the ratings and rotten tomatoes suggest. This is exactly the type of thing Cameron Diaz does better than anyone in the world. It made me think of Knight and Day, a hugely underrated film. This one doesn't quite live up to that level because Netflix cheaps out on the set pieces and Jamie Foxx is no Tom Cruise. Pulling off this tone is real difficult.
Ukraine
Fascinating dynamics in these Ukraine discussions. More moderate takes here by Edward Luttwak and Tyler Cowen, both seemingly in mild support of Trump's efforts.
And then there's a former UK spy chief intelligently discussing the issue.
Spy chief points on an interesting angle - Putin needs Trump. If he angers Trump and the deal goes away - what's Putin's plan B? Will he have a better chance to make a deal in the future? Does he risk Beijing ever having second thoughts? Their own agenda? What if Europe gets their act together? What if Trump decides to continue to bleed Russia out of annoyance?
On the positive side for Ukraine - giving up land looks bad from the Western perspective - it looks like it rewards Putin. But a reminder of what Putin loses in a ceasefire. Ukraine will exist. The Europeans will have awakened to the need to defend Europe.
Putin is 72 years old. Maybe Russia regroups for rounds 2 and 3. When do those occur? And how old is Putin when they do?
That Is Correct
Macaes saying "I ask people to stop saying Trump did this or that or will do this or that. It’s the United States doing it, not Trump."
Now apply to Palestinians. Will you stop saying Hamas did Oct 7th and rather that the Palestinians and their supporters did.
Upset About Trump?
The time to do something was three years ago. Like when NPR was spending your tax dollars on this stuff.
For Europe, it was when Russia invaded Ukraine.
The Ukraine Thing
Are some of the reports about Trump's handling of Ukraine worrying? Yes, for sure. Ukrainians are some of the few people in the world fighting and fighting well for freedom. For that alone, we should be in their debt - not they in ours.
Treating them as if they are freeloaders is the most disgusting aspect of the MAGA faithful. The MAGA folks, like the wokes, prefer seeing themselves as victims of an international conspiracy rather than part of the United States, the richest, most powerful, and best country on the planet. Act like it.
Our Future
Go online to make a doctor appointment for a sick kid - they ask a long list of questions re certain symptoms one of which is the reason for the appointment in the first place. So I say "yes" has those symptoms after which the online system says - cannot schedule an appointment. So I guess we're reaching the point where hospital systems make it difficult to schedule appointments because patients might be sick. Makes a lot of sense to me.
Playing for Time?
Why isn't playing for time in Ukraine's interest? A lot folks seem to think the ceasefire helps Russia regroup and regather. For what? Another invasion? A subversion of the democratic process? If the Ukrainians can keep 80% of their land and a legal claim on the 20% of their lost territory, I say regroup for 10 years down the line when Putin and Xi are both in their 80s. Good luck on the transition of power if those places. You think US elections are hectic - imagine the chaos in China and Russia...
Read Through the Bullshit Please
Newsom saying we need to rebuild LA for the next 50-100 years.
Notice what he's doing. Buying time so that he won't be evaluated or held to account. How does one preempt criticism for not rebuilding? Extend the timeline. Say...houses aren't built because we're thinking about 50 years into the future. See how it works? These people are clowns, not to be taken seriously.
More of This
Lawsuits on Universities that ignore affirmative action laws. Also, lawsuits for cities that ignore immigration laws.
These so called liberals are often lawless, economic and political illiterates who must be stopped. They are miserable people destroying society by thousands of small cuts.
Logging
Film: 8 1/2
Great attention to side characters and faces.
Film: Dogman
Book is better.
Film: The Fugitive
How did this film didn't get nominated for best adapted screenplay? One the great cases of you don't realize what you're missing until it's gone...in terms of film writing. The dramatic ironies that unfold in the storytelling are next level. How the various story threads and character intentions weave together are so complex and sophisticated, our current landscape of cinema cannot even hold a candle. It's shocking in this "age of AI" when in theory such complicated designs ought to be "easier." Take Anora. The storytelling is completely linear -- A to B to C. Sure, we get some humor out of the dynamics but the ironies and wit are completely absent. And this will probably win best picture or screenplay. Secondly, the filmmakers give moments to so many different characters. The 6th most important character in the film - Tommy Lee Jone's ponytailed trainee has a little arc.
In Other Words
You won't have a house for 2+ years.
Newsom goes on and on about all the considerations like he were writing a grad school essay on the topic. But I can cut through the chase and translate for you - he's saying if you lost your house, you won't have a new one for 2+ years.
Defunding NIH
This guy in panic mode. But like many things, the time to panic was years ago...when scientists and colleges lost the trust of the public by going all in on wokeness and COVID neuroticism. Could they not anticipate the backlash? It was so obvious at the time. Yes, babies are going to be thrown out with the bathwater.
"Unlawful"
Meanwhile, you have Democratic cities racing to make themselves sanctuary cities. I would keep the receipts on the officials who willfully choose to disobey federal law - remember it was tried in the 1860s by the Democrats and how that worked out.
I've thought Galloway was a fraud ever since I bought his dumbass book "The Algebra of Happiness." He's a mediocre self help author. A Tony Robbins for MBAs, only less charismatic.
Brilliant
Israel's defense minister claims that countries like Ireland, Spain, and South African who accused Israel of genocide are legally required to take in Palestinian refugees.
Lawfare can be played two ways. This is the thing everyone forgets...you use the law as a cudgel against Israel, they will use it against you. Same thing now happening with DEI.
Late Charges
I don't totally understand the Trump tariffs, but now beginning to look like they're basically late charges, a simple incentive structure to enforce "good behavior."