And Leverage

DHS has come up with an insane proposal to deport legal immigrants immediately if they lose their job - eliminating a 60 day grace period.

Can you imagine the power now held over these folks by some shithead boss?

Google

When you Google "Sydney Sweeney controversial new ad," you can't actually watch the ad, but instead only get reactions to the ad. Modifying search parameters doesn't help. Tells you something.

Logging

Film: My Big Fat Greek Wedding

A shockingly racist, anti-white film that reinforces the Great Replacement Theory paranoia. 10x worse than Get Out.

Also, not very good.

Film: Miss Congeniality 

On the other hand, a delightful star vehicle for one of our national treasures, Sandra Bullock. All-around characterization is much better than you would think for this sort of film - up there with Clueless and Devil Wears Prada as one of the best fem-comedies Hollywood has produced in the past 50 years. Hilarious depiction of male workplace dynamics. Actually pulled off the frumpy/violent/gross ugly duckling-into-swan transition. Hard to do. Perfect role for Ben Bratt. Michael Caine is excellent. Candy Bergman has the best line of the film: "I've been dealing with women like you my entire life...feminists, intellectuals...you know, ugly women."

The Crazy Plan

It seems to me that Lindsay Clancy's defense went with what I'll call "the crazy plan": find crazy jurors who'll sympathize with his crazy client. Crazy plans, however, have a way of backfiring because crazy goes both ways.

Europe's 2-State Solution

Hate to break it to them, but Bill Clinton tried this in the 90s, and the Palestinians rejected it. Instead opted to up the ante on suicide attacks.

But good luck this time.

Vote No On Everything

LA steals money earmarked for fire victims to pay families impacted by ICE raids. I don't see how this is legal.

Okay...

"Phoebe Bridgers Praised by Fans for Showing Leg Hair and Pit Stains at Glamorous Venice Film Festival."

This makes the applause for "Free Palestine" make more sense.

Data Centers

I've got no POV on the issue, but pretty obvious the "concerns" about water and power generation costs are wildly blown out of proportion because folks don't like the vibes.

Logging

Film: The Drama

Couldn't finish. I am not a millennial and struggle to relate to their worldview. The big first act "twist" was such a boner killer. No, I don't buy that her character did what she said she did. And even if she had...maybe so what? I don't know. Millennials want to give Mao and Stalin and communism a big "pass" for murdering millions of people, but this one character "plans" a school shooting, doesn't even do it, and this is some sort of unforgivable transgression? Then the filmmaking takes a turn with flashbacks, unclear POV, and inserting the actor at a different age playing Zendaya alongside the wedding planning. Nah. Sorry, just not into this at all...

So I watched The Last Samurai instead...

Film: The Last Samurai

Man, I miss these mid tier historical melodramas...not great movies or cinematic masterpieces, but just the scale and commitment and attention to certain values and representation at the movies - there's a quality to these kind of films absent today. On some level, it's a more satisfying and impressive "movie" than even The Odyssey. Easier to watch, following, take something from, and even maybe learn something about the world (dare I say). And here's the thing: it's not even that good. But it's competent. And the older I get, the. more I can appreciate it.

PS - Tom Cruise here getting some reps for his Top Gun Maverick role

Things To Know

The Russians wanted to nuke the Chinese in the 1969 Sino-Russian war, but the US told them not to.

Is it possible the Chinese are encouraging Russia to fight in Ukraine, not to deplete the West but rather to deplete Russia? If you're a smart Chinese strategist, do you fear the US - a country that buys all your shit and basically makes you rich? Or do you fear a nuclear-armed neighbor who sits on some of your stolen land and also happens to possess two things you need - a lot of water and a lot of oil?

If I were a Chinese grand strategist, I would rather peel back the parts of Russia they stole from me and get access to cheap oil and water rather than get bogged down in a civil war against Taiwan. 

Jobs

Being an adult, homeowner, and parent means you are taking on several additional jobs, including estate planner, gardener, housekeeper, cook, nurse, driver, financial advisor, bike repair technician, sports coach. I'm sure I'm missing some...

Logging

TV: Seinfeld episodes 

The Smelly Car...watching it this time around and having some experience now with BMW...I think what everyone thought was BO in the episode was actually a funk coming from the A/C condenser that gets moisture and is very difficult to get rid of.  

If Not One Thing, Another

To get a lawn and backyard working...huge expense -  designing, grading, planting, caring...get the water schedule right, adjust for weather, mow correctly, replace dry patches, figure out the fertilizer needs. And then: raccoons come and dig up the sod looking for grubs.

No rest. 

Logging

Film: Onslaught

Not great. Or even good. 

Conservative Move

Honestly, one of the best moves conservatives could do would be to get The Fountainhead on public school reading lists.  

Not South Park

Hasan Piker gifted a hat from Satan's school of gay communism. 

Umm kay.

As Good As It Gets

I never loved the film and, in particular, didn't like the line, "I think of a man, but I take away reason and accountability," because I didn't find it true. But now...looking mighty prescient. 

I'll Stop

Can't tell why this Lindsay Clancy thing keeps grabbing my attention, but I'm beginning to understand why they did the Salem Witch Trials.