Logging

Film: Avatar Fire and Ash

Worst of the three films - similar problem with second film in that it attempts to service too many characters. Storytelling felt too "TV-ish." Saw in 2D, wasn't stunned by the visuals. Is it a significant improvement since 2008? One great element, however, the addition of the Fire and Ash queen character. Should've leaned on her more - would've liked to either see her take over from Edie Falco (who doesn't want to be in this movie) or somehow push the Colonel into more of an alliance with Jake Sully, as they were tempted to do. What are they doing with these movies? Attempting to make 6 of them? They need to complete a story, in my opinion, and move on. This film might've been better had they just picked a single lane - either the son story, the daughter-Jesus story, or the Jake story. 

I go back to my contention, The Searchers was 2 hours and no movie - no matter how epic - needs to be longer than this. Any film where half the audience needs a piss break is too long.

TV: Chappelle new Netflix

Still the GOAT, but his Israel stuff is weird...I'd almost say really weird...he should read the book I'm reading right now called The Plot Against America. For a guy who seems interested in world, he seems painfully disinterested in the oldest of all -isms, anti-semitism, a thing he is not only flirting with, but openly advocating.

Wait...What?

David, an Angel Studios film, pulled in 21 mil this weekend while Avatar pulled in 88 domestic. 

I predicted the DEI / woke movement would ultimately benefit Christianity as the adherents are ultimately looking for meaning and Christ has a lot richer answers than the HR lady who took a class on DEI and read a book or two.

These Shootings

So the story is: a 48 year old Portuguese man kills a former classmate/colleague out of envy, then randomly goes to Brown University where he used to be a student, and shoots random students, before driving off to a storage facility where he killed himself. And the reason the cops found him is because a homeless guy posted on reddit. 

I'm sorry, this sounds like the opening of a Grisham or Forsyth novel. The obvious target being the MIT nuclear scientist and the rest a cover up. 48 year old men don't explode in envy over a colleague they knew 20+ years ago. They don't go back to their graduate school and start shooting people. Something is very fishy about this whole incident.

Heated Rivalry

I know they are saying this show is a hit, but I promise not a single straight man on the planet is watching so really, how big of a "hit" can such a show be?

Venezuela

And yes, for the record, I am super confused what the hell we are doing down in Venezuela. The biggest question: why now? And it seems so counter to Trump's normal approach to FP.

Greatest Generation, No...

But perhaps the most important. 

This article about Gen Xers made me emotional.

The world without question is going mad. And I think Gen Xers are just about the only reliably sane demographic left. We just need to do the thing we're most uncomfortable with: exercising authority.

PS - This is the part that got me: 

Inspired by the D.I.Y. ethos of the 1970s punk movement, artists decided that, in today’s online parlance, you could just do things. “The wave I rode up on was, ‘Even if all you’ve got is a ukulele, get up onstage and say your truth.’ It was like a post-punk testifying,” says Phair, whose debut began as three self-produced cassette tapes she recorded, under the name Girly-Sound, in her childhood bedroom. “There was a certain amount of, ‘If you have something to say, you’re as legitimate as anyone with all this money,’” she adds. Says Stephen Malkmus, 59, the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist of Pavement, whose debut album, “Slanted and Enchanted” (1992), was made in the home recording studio of the band’s drummer: “Just being able to talk about your art in a smart way was as much as what it was itself. So you could have something a little threadbare and shoddy and held together by gum and string, but you could defend it intellectually. That gave me some confidence to maybe not be so professional.”

Deterrence

From Luttwak: "Moderate Arab leaders pointed to Gaza's destruction to silence Muslim brotherhood pressures to join the fight. That is very Roman"

Palisades Rebuild Disaster

A year gone by and not a single home rebuilt. A mayor way in way over her head. But we always knew it would be this way because CA Democrats are not selected for their competence but whether they look good on the Benetton Ad.

Turtle Island

The pictures of the Turtle Island liberators are something to behold. 

So Called Generational Wealth

I wonder what all those Millenial and Gen Z white and Asian dudes who got aced out of colleges and the job market will do with their "generational wealth" and "privilege." My guess is that it won't go to helping any minorities or non-profits or liberal think tanks.

I also think they'll figure out how to hide it before the others figure out how to confiscate it.

100%

Not a single person who supports affirmative action or diversity in hiring ever gives up their job. 

This is how you know the whole thing is bullshit.

UPDATE: This guy saying the same thing.

Bondi Beach

Four cops sitting around doing nothing for 20 minutes while the terrorist attack occurred. 

Same story from the school shooting last year when cops don't react quick enough. Need to evaluate the training for this shit.

Interesting In Hindsight

Can anyone please explain why Nicholson was wrong to order the Code Red? 

Awful Weekend

Foiled LA terrorist plot: all this terrorist shit is warm up and modeling for others.

And I agree with this: terrorism ends when fear changes sides.

Rob Reiner

I cannot imagine a worse way to go. RIP.

Hamas Destroyed Baby Formula

During a baby formula crisis in Gaza last year, Hamas destroyed shipments of it coming in. Why do people like Bruno Macaes and Nassim Taleb who seem to follow every moment of the Gaza war not discuss or report this? Sometimes I think there is something deeply wrong with the mind of people who cannot comprehend the depth of evil Israel and the Palestinians face...if you're talking about about how to get rid of Hamas, the rest of the discussion is completely pointless.

Interesting

Asian-Americans are like the smartest kids in the world, by quite a bit.

Shuuuut Up. Jesus.

Reflecting on privilege. 

The Middle East

Hearing and sensing a lot of buzz about how well things are going in the Middle East. Lots of investment flowing through UAE. And Saudi. And you see Qatar everywhere now - airlines, soccer jerseys. Is it all a tad sketch? Probably. But what would we prefer? Al Queda? Saddam? No, this is progress in the right direction and you know who knows it? Hamas. Which is why they did Oct 7. And the difference is now, it seems, the elites in major Arab countries have enough clout and wealth and know how to avoid letting their countries get derailed. Why is all this happening? My suspicion - and no one else will admit it - this is a dividend being paid for the removal of Saddam now almost 20 years down the line.

Logging

Film: Zootopia 2

Pretty lame film. I fell asleep. But the worst element was the anti-Israel, anti-settler colonist messaging. Let be upfront: there's such a thing as the law of conquest. The Jews conquered the land of Israel in the same way the Communists conquered China and Eastern Europe. If you don't believe in the law of conquest, what you mean in reality is a forever war. Should we restart the Korean war? Should we demand the Northern peninsula back since the US controlled it at one point? Should the Ottoman Turks get to reclaim Iraq? It's like playing basketball to 21 and then continually extending the game when you don't get the result you want. 

On what planet do the losers get to set the terms of the peace. None. So get with the program people. 

Logging

TV: Diddy Documentary E1

Better doc than I expected.

TV: Haunting of Hill House E2

Well done.

Free Money

These Trump accounts are dumb. $250-500 to every child. The dummies (most folks) will gamble it on bitcoin, sports cards, film school, or timeshares. The smart folks will put into target date funds or VTI and will make money, but they will have made money anyway and don't need it.

High Comedy

So in addition to Quentin Tarantino and Barak Obama, now Olivia Nuzzi releases her favorite paranoid thriller films from the 70s. Why not?

Thanksgiving Weekend in California

Two semi-local news stories: a shoot out at a kids birthday party in Stockton and a shootout at a Santa Clara mall. Both targeted, but horrific. Just a glimpse into Gavin Newsom's California. I simply don't see how anyone thinks this guy has done a good job as either mayor or governor. Does anything matter to Democrats other than "electability."

Logging

Film: Caught Stealing 

A film right up my alley. Crime film set in 1998, centered around an ex-baseball player, made by an auteur filmmaker, terrific cast. And I enjoyed the film, but nevertheless felt like it missed the mark. How? Tone. Meant to be darkly humorous and none of the comedy worked. I didn't laugh even though I could tell the moments were supposed to be funny. I found it a bit odd for Aronofsky to be doing a sort of Guy Richie impersonation. I'm all in favor of filmmakers evolving their style and so I support the effort, but I can't really say it landed for me. Some nice shots but tbh, I'm not sure I could've identified it as an Aronofsky film without the credits.