Logging

Film: Die Hard

When Argyle crashes the limo out of the metal garage cage at the end, the thought crossed my mind - why didn't you do that earlier? Fridge logic, I know.

A couple things:

-how does this film have so many iconic characters without famous or memorable actors? The black nerd terrorist? I can't name another film he was in. The hateable reporter? Holly Gennero/McClane? Ellis? Karl? Argyle? Takagi? I suppose the FBI guy and the police lieutenant were legit character actors and around a bunch

-McTiernan does a fantastic job staging iconic shots in this film - Hanz falling is up there with great villain endings of all time. Willis jumping off the building...these are simple writing moments, even cliche, elevated way higher by the direction.

Here We Are

The lie: 10,300,000 views and 327,000 likes 

The truth posted 12 hours later: 406,000 views and 2,700 likes

Remember when Google was the biggest, baddest tech company with the moto: "don't do evil." Now the tech companies are like - well, a little evil okay so long as it gets engagement.

PS - those who study films know the guy who says "don't do evil" means the literal opposite.

Why Weigh In

I feel a dumb obligation to have some sort of opinion on Bad Bunny...I shouldn't, I know. But the thing I'll point out is that when watching it, I feel like a foreigner missing all the nuance since I don't understand a word he is saying. I understand he is funny? That's nice. But to who? That the proponents of his performance can't understand how deliberately confusing and alienating to most Americans it is super bizarre to me. I mean, go for it...who cares...but if you think this is "bringing people together," you are 100% definitely wrong. 

I suppose we can expect some K-pop next year?

Watergate Part Deux

Isn't this the type of thing that brought down Nixon? Or at least Nicholson in A Few Good Men? Karen Bass ordered the code red, people. She needs to resign.

Salem Witch Trials

In the yoga studio.

Logging

Film: The Rock

My favorite of all Michael Bay films... an absolute sluggers line up of character actors... if you just embrace the absurdity, quite a lot of fun.

Indeed

Revolutions were fought over these issues. 

If I’m on stolen land why the F am I paying property taxes?

Pretty Evil

Putin continues to string us along. 

Hmmm...

So it appears Trump did the Maduro thing and is negotiating with Iran to make their oil available to world markets, so Russia can be induced to ceasefire talks in Ukraine?

Seems a bit complicated, but not exactly the worst idea in the world...better perhaps than the meat grinder offered by Biden and the Europeans...

Gifted and Talented

Nothing the midwit nepo babiy communists hate more than the gifted and talented programs.

90s LA Movies 

Funny how in a lot of 90s LA movies, there exists a run-in with some type of neo-nazi lunatic. Did these people actually exist (and if so, where did they hang out) or is this a figment of the imagination?

I'm thinking American History X, Falling Down, Heat (Waingro), Higher Learning...

Logging

TV: Landman S1 E4-6

Taylor Sheridan's worldview is basically a hillbilly version of BLM, which is to say, all structures and institutions are essentially in place for strong men to do whatever primal shit they want to do - kill, steal, rob, etc. 

Wouldn't It Be Funny If...

America won the AI race, but someone like Mandami or AOC wins the Presidency and uses AI to redistribute all the wealth it created?

Or, if Trump promised all illegal immigrants US citizenship if they moved to Greenland and did a political referendum for the island to declare its independence from Denmark and join the US.

We Are In

The Salem Witch trials... and ICE are the witches.

Aye 

Probably not much else matters other than not letting AI become evil.  We are in deep shit if this thing proves to be as powerful as folks say - because a determined and organized group of people could probably leverage it into causing quite high levels of destruction and mayhem.

The Gaza Obsessives 

These Gaza obsessives are hilarious. They are horrified by both re-building but also not re-building the strip. They blathered on for a year about a ceasefire, get their ceasefire, and now complain about it. I get it. They think a crime occurred. Problem for them is that the only people who agree with them are lunatics. 

Chinese Cars

You see all this stuff in the media about how amazing Chinese cars are. I'm skeptical. Do we ever see media gush over KIA's or Hyundai? Or Nissans? Or Hondas.  Subarus? These cars are all fantastic. So what's the proposition? The Chinese cars are better? Cheaper? I have trouble seeing it. Maybe I'm missing something. When I see the pictures, all the cars look like knock-offs of existing cars. And are affordable cars or car performance really a problem? Not one that I see. 

China-Taiwan

If China goes to war with Taiwan, we want them to be doing so with Generals who have zero combat experience. And then, importantly, not letting it go to a round 2.

Organized Insurrection

Penetrating the organized insurrection in Minnesota. To anyone vaguely familiar with these worlds, all this is obvious. Once you understand the Omnicause, everything falls into place.