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 anti 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. 

What Is This?

Somebody made a video map of NYC with AI.

It just looks like Minecraft. 

I'm definitely missing something because I see this and immediately think what a waste of time.

Careful

Climbers plan trip using AI, get stuck. 

AI do not understand physical reality, people.

Sad, It's True...

Matt Walsh on Lindsay Clancy and the psych drugs. 

Of course the great irony is that like 95 percent of the women blaming psych drugs for Lindsay Clancy murdering her children are also on psych drugs themselves. They supposedly believe that these drugs can cause you to annihilate your family and yet that hasn’t stopped them from taking the drugs. And they certainly aren’t calling for the drugs to be banned. In conclusion, they’re totally full of shit.

My suggestion for all our problems: exercise and read more. It would work! 

That's a Take, I Suppose...

Why don't all these white women showing up for Clancy support black women?

Also

I hate thinking about all this, but if Lindsay Clancy was experiencing so many troublesome thoughts and needed help, why couldn't she just isolate herself from her family and kids? Like, just go run off somewhere. 

Logging

Film: Wayne's World

Excellent and a bit innovative. Mike Myers = Gen X genius. 

Goals Get Smaller

As you get older...I am now highly focused on keeping my grass green and healthy. 

American Women

If one of the goals was to see a female president-elect, this outpouring of support for Lindsay Clancy isn't helping the cause.

The Straits

Months ago, I theorized Iran closing the Straits would backfire because, once used, threats lose power. First, it would force all their adversaries to find workarounds. Second, the unknown ramifications suddenly become known and get priced in. 

It now appears the US dredged a channel in Oman to bypass the strait.

Apparently, this channel cannot be seen from Iran and thus allows Persian Gulf oil through, while Iranian oil gets stuck in port due to the US Navy blockade. 

Wow. 

That was quick. I figured pipelines across the desert to the Red Sea would be the solution. But they found an even better one.

I just learned yesterday, there was a similar instance in history when this occurred: during the Suez Crisis in the late 50s and early 60s. Egypt took control of the canal and closed the shipping lanes to the Persian Gulf, thus flexing their territorial muscles for political and foreign policy objectives like Iran of today. What happened? Global ships found an alternative route around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, but to make this route economically viable, they started building "supertankers," enormous oil ships. And guess what they found? It became cheaper to transport larger distances with supertankers than with smaller ships through Suez. Woops! Egypt ended up screwing themselves over in the long run.

So be careful how you play your cards.