Funny How...

Mainstream Democrats accept the fact that throughout much of U.S. history, local elections were gamed, cheated, and manipulated, but if you suggest that today the same type of tricks are being used in the LA Mayor race, they think it's a conspiracy theory.  

Nothing to See Here

DSA-LA procedures on how to "get out the vote" aka ballot harvest. 

Tell homeless degenerate losers how to vote for free stuff; withhold information from everyone else. Seems really healthy. Glad mainstream Dems support this.

Logging

TV: Your Friends and Neighbors

Enjoying it begrudgingly. 

Book: To Rescue the American Spirit

A Teddy Roosevelt bio - pretty interesting so far - the man punched out a gun-toting asshole who insisted TR buy him drinks in a Montana bar. Can't imagine any current President doing such a thing, although if they had, I would argue it could make him more electable. 

Film: The Rip

First 3/4 excellent. Carnahan building a quite respectable filmography.

Good on Idris Elba

Let's not make Bond woke. 

Look, there's already a black James Bond. His name is Shaft. 

Nithya Ramen

Surges to second over Spencer Pratt not by winning huge numbers from her home base and area where she's actually known (Studio City, east LA, Hollywood folks), etc. but from DTLA where she handily beats both Pratt and Bass (who's the incumbent). Shady as all hell. This lady isn't from LA, has no natural constituency, no political skills whatsoever, no track record to run on, and isn't even popular in her own district. What the hell is going on here?

Robots

Most people don't like writing, so we've created AI to do it for us. I, however, don't like dancing, so I'm going to get this robot to do it for me.

Vast Stupidity

We've now got journalists and twitter people criticizing Trump for the price of Knicks playoff tickets. 

They are holding the man accountable for the law of supply and demand. 

AI

No one is gonna pay 50-90k a year, much less 30k to "learn" how to use AI from professors and institutions that don't know. Not sure why colleges are advertising themselves in this manner. I think the symbiosis is being formed because the AI companies need to cloak themselves in respectability, which the University is willing to sell them. Meanwhile, the University systems need a huge amount of money to pay their bills. I don't see this as sustainable. At all.

Oil Markets Adjust

NY Times opinion argues what I said over a month ago: Iran loses leverage every day they terrorize the straits. 

What happens? Oil prices go up. Consumers react by using less oil. Countries ration. Higher prices. With higher prices, consumers seek out new sources and invest in new sources, like pipelines, etc. Is it a gigantic pain the ass? Yes. Is it expensive? Yes. But it will happen. We should and could obviously cut all gasoline and oil taxes that were once meant to curb consumption since we are no longer in an abundance scenario. 

The IRGC hardliners hope and pray it will send the world into a recession. They certainly do not know any more about the world economy than the rest of us, so they are bankrupting themselves and impoverishing their own country, gambling on a particular short-term outcome. Maybe they will prevail temporarily. I personally doubt it. 

A Thing I Don't Get

Not five years ago, every media personality and NBA player was up the butt of social issues, wearing jerseys that said things like "Group Economics" and now those same people are basically shills for online gambling. Huh? And it's not like they're short money - I'm looking at Giannis, Bill Simmons, etc - these are folks with more money than they can spend in their lifetimes and so why are they in the pockets of online gambling? I find it very confusing. 

News Anchors

I see this CBS news anchor is mad about being fired. First of all, if you're over 65 and a multi-millionaire taking a huge salary, I'd say any work you're getting is gravy, and you've got no real right to complain. The only way to ensure you don't get laid off in life is to own your job. Which you can't if you're a newscaster. But again, that's the life you choose. Part of the reason there's so much resentment against boomers is precisely this situation: they cling to these prestige positions long past their expiration date, denying the next generation their moment.  

Logging

Film: Speed

Peak 90s cinema. Utterly preposterous and does not once wink or nod ironically at the audience. Takes itself so seriously. Chef's kiss.

Logging

Film: Tommy Boy

Mandatory screening at business schools on how to bring back American manufacturing. Also, one of the most pro-CEO films I've ever seen. Luigi Mangione should be required to watch this movie once a week for the rest of his life.

And as much as I like Tim Robinson, he owes Spade and Farley royalties for stealing their gag in the film Friendship.