I just had a notion and googled Mickey Rourke. Here's what I found.
Re: Marvel, Iron Man 2: Rourke added, “At the end of the day you’ve got some nerd with a pocketful of money calling the shots. You know, Favreau didn’t call the shots. I wish he would have.”
Good God
Our freaking government sounds so goddamn incompetent and China and Iran are filling the vacuum. We just appear to be utterly lost with no sense of who we are or what we stand for nor how to win. A football team without an identity...
Italian Lives Matter
Left wing Italian newspaper chastises the NY Times. I've said it before, I'll say it again: we saved the world in the 20th century. In the 21st, we need the favor returned. A ridiculous spell has been cast across our society -- we're lead by incompetent fools who know only how to scratch, claw, and whine for power and then break things that work.
CA Public Schools
Are trying to remove 8th grade algebra. What a joke. It's almost as if the goal of these "progressive" educators is to make us dumber.
Unfortunately
All the evidence points this way:
The key insight I had as a historian working on the totalitarian regimes of the mid-20th and late 20th century was that, however possible it may be to live as an atheist, as a family, as an individual, it is a very unsatisfactory operating system for a society. Regimes that proclaim themselves atheist and seek to eradicate Christianity, have been among the worst regimes in history. It's really important to understand that, to see why the most anti-clerical regimes were also very, very wicked. This is I think a very important lesson that I learned. I came to realize, reading Tocqueville as you mentioned, that it would actually be very, very difficult to make a stable and harmonious society without some religious cement, some religious glue to hold it together. Atheism does not provide that; it's not actually a viable operating system for a stable society.
It'd be nice if someone was working on how to reconcile this issue as I fear we're pretty much headed into an ugly direction without some sort of reconciliation.
Denying Service to Cops
A SF restaurant refuses services to cops. The cops ought to return the favor.
Boycott White Companies
Add it to list of beyond dumb (and overtly racist) ideas espoused by the BLM movement.
BLMs ability to squander goodwill is almost impressive.
Abortion
It seems the Supreme Court will be limiting abortion. I can only imagine this will throw fire back onto the culture war. Ross Douthat makes a pretty compelling case against abortion and specifically abortion laws in the Times this week. It's a strange subject for myself as I get older with kids of my own. What I suppose has changed in my thinking is that it's become pretty undeniable to me that a fetus at an early stage - from any rational way of thinking - must be considered a form of life. The position that I might've considered as a younger person - that a fetus unable to survive on its own isn't life yet, does not hold up to rational scrutiny. If any one of us were on some form of life support for 9 months knowing we would be "alive" after the support - would we opt for non-existence?
And Douthat makes the point that if we want to lower abortions performed (an admirable goal for pro life or pro choice folks) that laws against it actually work. Supposedly, Texas has seen the number of abortions cut in half since enacting their own draconian law? Not that I support the law, but the overarching point he makes holds.
But I still can't imagine an America where a scared, not-fully-developed brain-wise 17-20 year old girl who gets pregnant from a boyfriend or a fling is expected to suddenly drop her life plan to raise a child. We must consider this situation realistically - is this a good life for the child? Is it good for society? Good for the mother? The reality is that many women in this situation opt for abortion - whether legal or not. I don't think we can consider these women murderers - do you? Does anyone?
It's not an easy issue.
Logging
Film: King Richard
2/3 of the way through the film I thought this one deserved best picture. The reality is that Hollywood does three things really well: spectacle, melodrama, and elevating their stars. King Richard does 2 of the 3. Will Smith's performance is strong. The melodrama works. I was completely pulled into the theme exploring the role of the father in the family. Sure, there are other themes, but to me, the overriding subject is fathering. To which I relate. Solid all around performances - the young actors were great - not asked to do a tremendous amount which again was the right choice - their characters were not as interesting or complex. Mother character ably plays a background role and thunders into the picture absolutely killing one of the great melodramatic scenes of the film. Either tennis coaches could garner a supporting actor nomination, IMO. And solid music.
But the most impressive part of the film: they shot the tennis well!
What holds the movie back is the 3rd Act. It drags. I don't see a screenwriting solution. The idea was right, but when your climax is a character walking off court for a pee break with the crowd and characters sitting around...well...it isn't exactly finding its way into great endings lectures. And by necessity, more of the story falls to the Venus character - again the right choice - but our emotions are not with her by this point. Still, I applaud this film. It layers issues of race with sport, family, class, in a vastly more complex and humane way than most films of the last 5 years (yes, I'm talking about you, Get Out).
But the movie is not "cool" and so I wonder whether it'll be given the Green Book treatment (harder tho to do with this one).
Oahu Observations
In no particular order:
1. The best $20 spent: sunglasses from ABC store
2. The worst $24 spent (plus $6 tip): French Press coffee at a fancy hotel
3. I could eat poke bowls from Foodland all day.
4. One should be contractually obligated to eat at Zippy's when here
5. The COVID restrictions in Hawaii are the strictest I've encountered. You must supply vaccine proof to dine indoors along with ID, DOB, address, etc. To get onto the island, you go through rigorous vaccine screenings as well. And my casual observation is that wait people, hotel and airport employees, etc enforce the restrictions with conviction. I cannot tell you why this is. The season? The culture in Hawaii? Job requirement? COVID experiences on the island? Tourism being a major industry? Word out on Omi variant?
6. Beach recommendations: Turtle Beach (near Turtle Bay Resort) on the North Shore for kids. Kailua beach on the east side of the island for quiet.
7. With the time change, you feel somewhat disconnected from the rest of the world here. Or at least I did. It feels like at any time of the day, everyone is doing something else than you. I rather like it for a short period of time.
8. Homelessness in Honolulu resembles the situation in LA and SF. It makes one wonder if there is something beyond progressive DAs going on in the Pacific Coast.
9. In my time here, I saw only one movie theater. But there are Red Box kiosks around.
10. A car is vital
11. Venus was incredibly bright in the night sky
12. Things I wish I had while here: boogie board for kids, snorkel, telescope. But not really worth buying a snorkel or board for 1 day...
13. Shaved ice was much better in Maui
14. Easy to hate on Waikiki, but as a central place to stay/eat I thought it worked well. If I could do again, I might try to stay in nearby part of Honolulu closer to Al Moana beach. The problem with shacking up on the North Shore or anywhere else is that I imagine it starts to feel very small very quick.
15. I heard sirens all the time in Honolulu
16. In our final night the hotel was evacuated at 4am for an emergency. It turned out a transient slipped into the hotel and pulled a fire alarm.
17. The meals overall were quite enjoyable: thanksgiving plates from a hipster take out spot (Moku Kitchen), Kona Brewery - which was pretty similar to any brewery except you're sitting on a harbor with a beautiful, lush green mountain in the background -- pretty much one of the best views in a restaurant I've personally encountered, and a favorite: shrimp scampi from a food truck in North Shore.
18. Kids get as much pleasure from buying choco pie from a 75 cent vending machine in an Alamo car rental as seeing some of the great views on earth.
19. I actually felt like reading fiction while traveling. When I got back home for some reason Selling Sunset season 4 was more appealing.
20. Pearl Harbor memorial was ok. Flying off the island it struck me being a bomber pilot would've been a tricky job -- wouldn't their targets be at least a little bit difficult to find? They were flying over places they've never been or seen before with precise targets to hit. Yet, I haven't heard a ton of stories about pilots being unable to find their targets. Maybe I haven't looked hard enough?
Logging
Films: The Harder They Fall and Clifford The Big Red Dog
Similar caliber films get put together in a review. I turned off The Harder They Fall after about 10-15 minutes. I don't know if Netflix forces films to be lit in a certain way, but I find the overlit TV look to be atrocious. Say what you will about the GOT darkness -- not being able to see some of the action -- I'd take it any day over watching every single Netflix film (exception - Mindhunter). Anyhow, I'm predisposed to like a Western, but honestly, it felt so cheap and pointless...I just couldn't bring myself to hate watch.
My kids didn't even like Clifford - first hardcore negative film review by the both of them.
Nu/Omi Varient
So we've got a new dangerous variant out of South Africa. We know little about it or whether the vaccines work against it. No matter, tons of people aren't vaccinated anyway.
Here's a thought, based upon how we fucked up before:
1) Develop a rapid test with immediate (within 15-60 minutes) results.
2) Get the tests available EVERYWHERE and FAST.
Systemic Racism
Why do all the cases involving "systemic racism" never quite hold up to actual scrutiny? I mean, it would be nice for those who believe in it to have more of a slam dunk example, don't you think? Rittenhouse case to a rational person pretty much reads as self defense. Jussie Smollett case was absurd from the get-go. Chauvin was convicted. Oddly, the best case they've got is Kaepernick, but that one only really meets the systemic racism case if you know nothing about football or Kap himself. Plus, a bit hard to argue the NFL is systemically racist when the majority of players are African American and there are tons of black coaches and successful QBs other than Kap? The arguments just don't hold up.
The CCP
A thing the world needs to come to terms with quick - within the next 10-20 years the world's largest economy and richest country will be run by what amounts to a smart gangster organization. They just disappeared a gal for her claim she was raped by an old, powerful man. Think about it.
Now, the world still remains a big place. But the spoils of this world go to people who make the rules and have the resources. If they have the money, the CCP will recruit the talent to press their position going forward.
Psychos
So it seems we now have psychopaths running our public schools.
My takeaway is: critics of the liberal project were right- the ideology ultimately collapses upon itself because it cannot provide a robust enough defense against relativism. Which is to say, a liberal has trouble defending the powerful and the morally correct over the weak and evil - which is why so many liberals have trouble with Israel and support the Palestinian cause. Similarly, a boy wants to call themselves a girl and a liberal says - kudos! Go with God. You have the freedom to choose. But the problem is now this: if a boy can be a girl, we liberals must also provide support and institutions to validate this absurdity. So what went from a non-violation of the harm principle, now rather becomes a question of resource allocation. And on what grounds can a liberal defend against trans-education, support, healthcare, and brain washing? There is no defense except in perhaps marginal cases. But people and democracies are not animated by marginal cases. They need a cause.
Lie
Newsom disappears for two weeks and cancels trip to climate conference to "stay home for Halloween with his kids." If you believe this BS, I have a bridge to sell you.
Personally, I'd be fine with him saying "private matter." But it's pretty hard to simultaneously hold the the belief that climate change is an urgent issue and then cancel meetings about it for trick or treating.
It would be rather ironic if we find out Newsom had an allergic reaction to the vaccine he's been touting -- almost ironic as Trump getting COVID after downplaying the disease.
My Fucking God
Also, they propose sweeping changes to K-12 curricula, but you can’t call it CRT, even though the curricular documents specifically reference CRT, and if you do you’re an idiot and also you’re a racist cryptofascist. Also nobody (nobody!) ever advocated for defunding the police, and if they did it didn’t actually mean defunding the police. Seems to be a real resistance to simple, comprehensible terms around here.
Because "they" are a bunch of not-very-intelligent-totalitarian-liars.
Aaron Rogers
"People" are mad because he lied about his vaccine status. No they aren't. They gave Kyrie the same "he's a dumbass" treatment. This is the exact public shaming and ridicule Rogers wanted to avoid, and the public reaction to him getting COVID validates his point.
I'm pro vaccine. I would've gotten the vaccine tested on myself last year before the approval. I think it's the best thing we've built in my lifetime.
But the question around Rogers is simple: do we have tolerance for grown up Americans opting out of using vaccines? I vote we ought to tolerate it. Others don't.
And for those who don't, I have questions:
1) How much pressure are you willing to put on the non-compliant? Will you not let them in restaurants? Movies? Will you take their jobs? Not allow them in school? Refuse them medical care?
2) Do you think your pressure will work? Can you reasonably demonstrate the pressure you apply will get more people vaccinated?
3) And with the extra vaccinations you brought to bear with your pressure, how many fewer severe cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have you prevented? Can you show any numbers?
4) How long do you intend to pressure people into vaccinations? Do you intend to require boosters for employment, school, restaurants, etc?
5) How about children? Should children be required to be COVID vaccinated even with the rate of death for children being around 1 in 100,000? Have you seen the list of vaccinations children are already required to take? I count 7-8.
6) How do we factor in natural immunity? Not at all? Do all those people who caught chicken pox as youngsters therefore need a chicken pox vaccine now, too?
Candid Health Discussion
We are getting a more candid and open health discussion through our professional athletes than our public health authorities.
“It’s a virus of health, and the most important thing would be educating people on how to live a healthier life,” Rodgers said regarding the pandemic that was exacerbated mightily by comorbidities and especially obesity.
If the public health authorities were properly concerned with "health" they could've been hollering from the rooftops early on -- get in shape, lose some weight, eat better -- in order to prepare your body for survival both against the virus and more generally...
Democrats Deny Political Reality
Democrats could moderate, or... they could also double down on calling everyone who disagrees even slightly with a progressive agenda a white supremacist.
Aim for the bushes.
Interesting Take
Mother of boy who raped 9th grade girl: she didn't struggle enough.
Can someone answer what we're all really thinking: what was she wearing?
Math(s)
California working on revising math. Rather than injecting social justice into the teaching of math, why don't we just copy what countries like Singapore and Taiwan do to instruct students. With the goal of being the #1 country in math?
I know the real reason: because that would actually demand students do work and parents and teachers hold them accountable -- things no one in our society wants to do. Since complaining on twitter is a much more productive use of time.
"Reporting"
Hollywood Reporter does an interesting article on the Rust film budget, but uses the passive voice to suggest a narrative where the math does not add up.
Given that a dispute over hotel rooms for crew was part of what inspired much of the camera team to walk off the set on the morning Hutchins died, it is noteworthy that producers budgeted $25,000 for hotel rooms for themselves, an amount to cover five people, and $95,200 for below-the-line crew, an amount to cover 21 people.
Anyone capable of answering a basic SAT question?
Yep
He's been saying this for awhile:
We're letting a noisy wing of our party define the rest of us. And my point is we can't do that," Carville told Cuomo. "I think these people are all kind of nice people. I think they're very naive, and they're all into language and identity. And that's all right. They're not storming the Capitol. But they're not winning elections."
and
"Some of these people need to go to a 'woke' detox center or something," Carville told Woodruff. "They're expressing a language that people just don't use, and there's backlash and a frustration at that."
And to be fair, I've been saying similar things for a decade and am basically told to shut the f up by fellow Dems and criticized as a Republican apologist or worse, a Trump supporter.
Problem With the Big Bang Theory
If you can understand the content of this article, congrats you are smarter than me. Money quote:
While those people who crave certainty in their life might be unhappy because of the new measurement, it's important to remember that there are no sacred cows in science, and scientists are always checking and rechecking even their favorite universal models.
Except of course when it comes to not at all verified or tested pandemic responses.
Yes It Is
Culture war is code for class war.
Talking about the yellow-vest movement, French geographer Christophe Guilluy observes: “Immediately, the protesters were denounced as xenophobes, anti-Semites and homophobes. The elites present themselves as anti-fascist and anti-racist, but this is merely a way of defending their class interests. It is the only argument they can muster to defend their status, but it is not working anymore.”
Same here in the US.
Logging
TV: Succession S3, E3
Is it just me or is Logan's argument to Shiv about not bearing responsibility re: the cruise line pretty compelling? At least so far...
And I'm sure others have said it, but Brian Cox is out of this world as Logan -- powerful, yet out of time and place, and physically deteriorating.
TV: Curb S11, E2
LD offers an understated critique of either Netflix or Hollywood - the power dynamics of the studio are thus: white dude named Don Jr in charge with 3 minions who barely speak: a character meant to read as trans, a black guy, and someone in a wheelchair.
He makes no comments about it. It lingers there like the children playing on a noose next to an American flag in a Peckinpah film.
Losing A War to China
We should not frame the question as a war with China. The war would be against the CCP. And it ought to be made clear to the top 500-1000 leaders members of that organization that they would not survive any war against us or Taiwan. At least that's how I'd handle it.
Logging
Film: Dune
Packed IMax theater on a Tuesday night -- impressive. Visually stunning, of course. Overall experience satisfying but not exhilarating. The logical comparison are Star Wars and Game of Thrones, each of which surpass Dune by quite a bit...Star Wars by the sheer storytelling propulsion, energy, and landing of character/emotional moments. The world, pace, and tone more resembles Game of Thrones, but GOT earns their narrative twists and patient character revelations whereas those are quite clunky and inorganic in Dune. I mean, Dany's hero transformation with the Dothraki was much better traced that Chalamet's, was it not?
But despite all of that, I quite liked the religiosity elements of the film alongside the trippy visuals and of course, the score.
Uhhh...
Nike celebrates a senior executive who confesses to having committed a murder.
Sounds like America in 2021.
Logging
TV: Succession S3 E1
Don't quite get why this show is so incredibly watchable given the repetitive and seemingly non-visceral nature of the conflicts. But it is. Perhaps the unpredictability of Kendall and Logan's behaviors makes it so.
On a thematic level, it's probably the best expression of how the American ruling class sees itself. Power hungry sycophants where morality exists only as a tool to shame rivals and enemies.
Film: Reappraisal of Deuce Bigalow Male Gigalo
While by no means an excellent movie, I laughed harder at these series of scenes with William Forsythe than anything I've watched in awhile. He's out Leslie Nielsening Leslie Nielsen.
Logging
Film: Smooth Talk
A rather banal, mediocre film up until the final sequence featuring Treat Williams and a young Laura Dern that merits any cinema lovers attention and reexamination. Vexing.
Film: Duece Bigalo Male Gigalo
Only watched the first act so far, but I prefer the Sandler films and Night at the Roxbury.
Bravo
To Sarandos and Hastings for standing up to the mob. Finally! Public support of free speech and art.
If the employees really cared, they'd quit and build their a competitor netflix where they only show non-offensive and non-oppressive entertainment. Good luck with it.
Logging
TV: Ted Lasso s2
I'll just repeat what others have been saying: something is WAY off. I guess they decided to take a comedy and turn it into a melodrama? What happened here?
Also - check the storytelling pace. In season 1, the show was super patient. Moved at almost a slow clip. Season 2 they rush through story. Characters make sudden leaps. Roy Kent is a brilliant TV host right out of the gate? Sam becomes an expert on Nigerian government corruption after reading one text message?
Ridiculous.
The Closer
Wanted to link this from twitter, but can't figure it out. Critics score: 33%, Audience score: 97%.
Elite vs. Masses.
Censorship
Various fill-in-the-blank groups asking to pull Chapelle special from Netflix.
Censorship has come roaring back into the picture and I'm baffled by how unoffended Americans are by it. It's happening at many levels - local schools, online, in political speech, and now the arts as well. That the forces excited by censorship feel bold enough to attack the GOAT comic of all time tells you all you need to know: we are in trouble.
Logging
Film: The Many Saints of Newark
I really wish there was an empirical way to study how film studios depict black characters post George Floyd. It's almost as if they portray every black character as the same person - good heart, victimized by the social structure, forced to do bad for the right reasons, and most importantly, cool. No flaws. No subconscious. No quirks. No humanity. And all movie reviews must praise the performance automatically. It's a template.
If you want to see real black characters on TV, reality tv set on islands do a much better job. Love Island and F-Boy Island for starters.
I hate to beat up on the Sopranos film but it seems we've gotten a lot better at making trailers than movies.
America
In the 20th century, we saved the world. In the 21st, I expect the world to return the favor.
NBA Vaccinations
I'm not heavily invested in the NBA vaccination debate, but it strikes me there is a stronger argument for mandatory vaccinations in an NBA setting (vs normal workplaces) due to physical proximity, etc.
A bit inegalitarian to force refs, team employees, etc to get vaccinated while not also mandating the same for players. Not that I'm an egalitarian.
Underdiscussed
78% of those hospitalized with COVID are overweight or obese.
Given how much we discuss masks and vaccines, there's been relatively little discussion how we could've avoided the huge COVID death toll by being generally in better shape. Why isn't this part of our national discussion?
Indicators
I know you can't fully know a person's character by the mere presence of a face tattoo, but as a simple heuristic, I would probably avoid hiring them for say...childcare or many other jobs that require good judgement.
Similarly, if a person in power spends a lot of other's people time and/or money on "anti-racism" or CRT, I'd be willing to bet they are attempting to distract you from some form of thievery on the other end.
Like, he opts to give his employees CRT training and pay Kendi versus giving them a matching 401k contribution. Which would you rather have?
Do You Have An Allergy to Lies Or Not?
Kendi claims POC don't have access to vaccines.
Are they unable to get to CVS?
Polio Vaccine
Apparently, people were skeptical of the polio vaccine when it came out and Elvis himself got vaccinated on the Ed Sullivan show to help encourage people. Huh.
Makes one wonder if anyone in the public health establishment was even thinking about vaccinate hesitancy and how one might get the message out. Did they decide upon name calling and nagging as their marketing policy?
No one thought to get in touch with Nicki Minaj's swollen balled cousin?
The Big Lie: 1619
It required no advanced knowledge of American history to understand the perversity of The 1619 Project’s lead essay’s treatment of the Revolution. If it were a high school history paper, that discussion alone would have been grounds for failure. It’s rare, after all, to read a student get every single stated fact perfectly wrong, in support of a proposition for which there is no other evidence cited, on two of the most important topics in all of U.S. history, indeed, all of modern history, the causes of the American Revolution and the origins of antislavery. But this wasn’t a high school paper, it was the New York Times Magazine, and the author was, according to her contributor’s biography, a highly acclaimed journalist. The essay may have been historically fallacious, but it was also inflammatory and attention-getting.
It's a gigantic, deliberate lie. In a real society, NHJ would be an unemployable laughing stock who hangs at Starbucks all day to use the bathrooms. Instead, she's a leading intellectual in our fractured joke of a society.
Ouch
More on the idiocy of public health officials.
Also, one of the No votes on boosters said that he feared approval would effectively turn boosters into a mandate and change the definition of fully vaccinated. So, it appears that the overzealousness to demand vaccine mandates has actually contributed to fewer people getting access to (booster) vaccines, thus paradoxically contributing to spread. A vivid illustration of the problem with, “That which is not mandatory should be prohibited.”
and
(2) leading them to “shade” their interpretation of data to promote their preferred behavioral outcome rather than answering positive (non-normative) questions with positive scientific statements, (3) thus undermining the credibility of public health institutions (FDA, CDC) and leading to things like vaccine hesitancy.
Sums it up well.
I Wasn't There
But the lawyers from the Texan ladies who attacked the NYC hostess over covid vaccination cards claim she called them the n word and accused them of having fake vac cards. The plausibility of a 24 year old female hostess 2 weeks on the job calling a group of tourists the n word in NYC seems pretty implausible to me. But still, lawyer gotta lawyer, right?
And just for my own knowledge, are we legally allowed to attack people if they make racial slurs? Asking for friends.
So Is There A Mask Mandate Or Not?
A bit of a weird take here by SF Mayor London Breed.
I basically agree with her that we ought to be loose with mask wearing, but when we wonder why Americans basically don't listen to politicians -- this is why. She's saying: don't follow my rules when it suits you -- use your judgement. So what happens when people disagree about which rules to follow?
Incoherence
We don't need vaccine boosters but the vaccinated do need to keep masking and social distancing and testing. So which is it? Is Delta dangerous or not?
We need to prioritize vaccines for the 3rd world, but had we done so, we would be "testing" the vaccines on the poor.
You need vaccine proof to enter a bar in LA, but we won't stop unvaccinated illegal immigrants from streaming into the US along the Texas border.
We need to threaten jobs to ensure the hesitant get vaccinated to have a simple, consistent policy. However, if and when a Republican were and was President, you should definitely not trust the vaccine.
Everyone needs to wear a mask, except everyone also knows we don't really need to wear masks which is why they don't at events like Obama's birthday party and the Met gala.
Science should not be political if your politics are wrong, but if your politics are right, they should be taken into account.