Post-Thanksgiving Round-Up and Open Thread
[guest post by JVW]
* Fox News reports via the New York Times that Intersectionality Bingo’s team blames My Little Aloha Sweetie for wrecking the California Senator’s campaign, confirming what I have been saying for months.
* President Trump, he of the mixed messages, signed the pro-Hong Kong bill which passed through Congress. In response, pro-democracy demonstrators are waving “swole Trump” posters as thanks.
* Along with saving the world for democracy, the United States has apparently exported the gross consumerism of Black Friday to the rest of the world, so our legacy is not always entirely positive.
* While we’re discussing retail shopping, it’s amazing and perhaps frightening to realize the number of traditional brick-and-mortar stores that are closing down for good.
* Los Angeles Metro, one of the absolutely worst-run bureaucracies imaginable, continues with its legacy of failure in operating a county-wide subway system. (This department has been sponsoring a project in my neighborhood to create a right-turn lane from one heavily-traveled street to another, a grand total of about 400 feet of road work, and the construction part of the project is now into its sixth month. For real.)
Now with the table set, feel free to discuss these or other topics which strike your fancy.
– JVW
I hope everyone had a pleasant day yesterday, surrounded by family and friends.
JVW (54fd0b) — 11/29/2019 @ 9:57 am“We need to have that conversation.”
🙂
Dave (1bb933) — 11/29/2019 @ 10:33 am1. Well, a portion of the family. Some were other places
We met in a new place, that someone had moved into in the last year, (and the address I was initially given was slightly wrong, although the picture was right, but it got corrected beforehand) and it turns out the owner of the house, a somewhat distant 2-step in-law, went to the same not big elementary school I went to, although in different years – but he knew the same teachers and staff and he actually knew my brother from then, though there would have been no relationship between our families until ten years ago.
Both his and my brother also went to the same school but no one was in the same class. Other people there knew this before me.
I have a whole bunch of topics I’ve been meaning to link in an open thread.
Sammy Finkelman (1a8726) — 11/29/2019 @ 10:57 amA mystery, ad its solution: (told in a way so that you only get the truth in the end)
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/22/world/asia/the-jungle-prince-of-delhi.html
Here;s an interesting quote, relevant in other contexts:
Sammy Finkelman (1a8726) — 11/29/2019 @ 11:01 amI hope everyone had a pleasant day yesterday, surrounded by family and friends.
Well …
nk (dbc370) — 11/29/2019 @ 11:09 am— Katie does not have a new boyfriend, she’s still with the old one.
— The cumin did not come through on the lamb chops, the garlic did, but the strongest taste was still the lamb.
— The Mandalorian was a mildly interesting novelty for the first three episodes (about only half an hour each, thankfully) — a “space”getti western with a fully masked stuntman voiced by an actor who can imitate Clint Eastwood, remember Darth Vader and James Earl Jones? like that — but nothing in the plot that wasn’t stolen from a Fistful of Dollars and Zatoichi, cringeworthy dialogue, and CGI that was already old 40 years ago. When it dipped into The Magnificent Seven in episode 4 (already done, BTW, and better, in Clone Wars) with a lady wrestler as the other six, it was time to put the off button to good use.
What kind of sicko has lamb on Thanksgiving?
I mean seriously.
🙂
Dave (1bb933) — 11/29/2019 @ 11:31 amWe had turkey, too. Ground. In the pastichio.
nk (dbc370) — 11/29/2019 @ 11:34 am“While we’re discussing retail shopping, it’s amazing and perhaps frightening to realize the number of traditional brick-and-mortar stores that are closing down for good.“
Acknowledging that Toys R Us put a lot of mom and pop toy stores out of business back when, it’s still a bummer that there are no dedicated toy stores anymore — at least not in our metro area. Our last trip to our local Toys R Us was memorable for our young kids, just to see their eyes light up. Now we pass it occasionally, with a For Lease sign, and they know enough to lament that Amazon did the dirty deed.
Whatever one thinks of consumerism and progress, I think this is sad.
Munroe (dd6b64) — 11/29/2019 @ 11:39 amI am craving, of all things, a Dunkin coffee, purely for its laxative powers. I might plow through my leftovers by tonight. Trying like heyl to avoid the car dealerships. Or should I take that last one for my self before braces-quince-roof (each roughly the same range of cost) ace me out of a well-equipped crossover SUV.
urbanleftbehind (2641dd) — 11/29/2019 @ 11:48 amM_ L____ A___ S____ will never get a fair shake from the influencers of 42nd Street for blowing up the charade campaign of Willie Brown’s fellater.
Bugg (024e40) — 11/29/2019 @ 11:50 amIt’s the decline of brick & mortar bookstores that I lament (I shopped at the original Borders in Ann Arbor, back in the day, when it was the only Borders…), but the sentiment is much the same.
Apropos this subject, on Tuesday I noticed a Black Friday sale on Xboxes promoted on Microsoft’s website. Microsoft listed the retail Microsoft stores, Best Buy, Walmart and a few other large retailers as offering the sale price, as well as Amazon.
I had some time available on Wednesday, and thought I might go grab one at the local Microsoft store to beat the Black Friday crowds. But I figured I should check whether the sale price was available Wednesday, or not until Friday. I used the chat feature on Microsoft’s website to inquire. No, they said, not until Friday at the physical store.
But Amazon would let me order it online right then and there, for delivery today (for the ridiculously low price of $7 shipping – and USPS is delivering it, so good job ripping off Uncle Sam for me Jeff! It was $11 if I wanted it delivered Saturday, wtf…).
So anyway, should I fight the crowds and head out to take my chances at the mall on Black Friday, or relax, read Patterico.com, and let somebody bring it to my door the same day? Not really a tough choice…
Dave (1bb933) — 11/29/2019 @ 11:57 amA for profit website owner had two websites geared to opposite sides of the political spectrum because he says, he couldn’t get traffic to his more neutral (center right) one. He previously tried Facebook pages devoted to science, history and humor, and they got respectable traffic but they didn’t drive traffic to his own websites.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/21/technology/LaCorte-edition-news.html
The stories highlighted on the two ideological websites look genuine, but he got banned from Facebook for using Macedonians to select stories, who had previously apparently worked for Russia circulating fake pro-Trump news stories.
Oh, and a tip from a leftwing organization who also got the New York Times involved.
Sammy Finkelman (1a8726) — 11/29/2019 @ 12:06 pm12. I think a “Doorbuster” sale means that it on;y available at the sale proce at the brick and mortar store after the sale starts. Online it s available earlier but not at the doorbuster price.
Sammy Finkelman (1a8726) — 11/29/2019 @ 12:08 pmIf only we had had someone with half the balls of The Honolulu Honey in the 2016 Republican Debates.
nk (dbc370) — 11/29/2019 @ 12:13 pmI was horrified by what I saw at the grocery store today: pumpkin egg nog.
They’ve gone too far now. This is war.
Chuck Bartowski (6fff93) — 11/29/2019 @ 12:59 pm5. NK, don’t be such a blowhard! Baby Yoda, amiright? Tell me that didn’t tug on your heartstrings just a little bit…?
Gryph (08c844) — 11/29/2019 @ 1:01 pm11. The decline of brick-and-mortar bookstores does not sadden me as much as the idea that the death of print may be inevitable, as well.
Gryph (08c844) — 11/29/2019 @ 1:03 pmThe death of print – even print newspapers – is taking awhile. Of course there are things that come gradually and then suddenly.
People can print out things on their own, and you see things much easier when you do, but the price has risen tremendously since the era of dot matrix printing in the 1980s.
Sammy Finkelman (1a8726) — 11/29/2019 @ 1:06 pmI had a pleasant Thanksgiving, but I was alone. My children in the Sacramento area were busy, so I met with them last weekend. The weather in the Sierra Nevadas was too dicey to risk a trip to see family in So Cal, so I stayed in Reno.
I had the Sad, Pathetic, Lonely, Old Man’s Thanksgiving Dinner Special at a pub a short walk from my apartment. (It was snowing, so I opted to drive.) Pretty tasty, and only $14, with 1/2 off drinks. A couple of days short of my 60th birthday, and I think I was the youngest customer in the pub. The waitresses were much younger, in their 20s, and festooned with rather unattractive tattoos. That seems to be the thing these days, sad to say.
Woke up to 3-4″ of snow on the ground this morning.
Chuck Bartowski (6fff93) — 11/29/2019 @ 1:14 pmGood Trump signed the HK resolution. Of course, now all the people who criticized him for “cozying up to the Chicoms” will praise him. Yeah.
rcocean (1a839e) — 11/29/2019 @ 1:18 pmGood Trump signed the HK resolution. Of course, now all the people who criticized him for “cozying up to the Chicoms” will praise him. Yeah.
As for the Brick and Mortar buildings. As stated, most of these are chain stores that put local shops out of business based on a higher volume/low cost model. And now they’re getting pushed aside by companies that have either higher volume and lower costs. The medium size fish that ate the little fish, gets eaten by a bigger fish. Its hard to feel sad.
rcocean (1a839e) — 11/29/2019 @ 1:23 pm21. I’ve always been able to recognize when Trump does something right. That still doesn’t prevent me from questioning his motives.
Gryph (08c844) — 11/29/2019 @ 1:35 pmThe liberals losing jobs at whatever 21 in Cantafordya should have to stay in Cantafordya forever so they don’t pollute the voting pool in Texas or Florida.
mg (8cbc69) — 11/29/2019 @ 1:53 pmGood Trump signed the HK resolution. Of course, now all the people who criticized him for “cozying up to the Chicoms” will praise him. Yeah.
All hail the Great and Wise Trump! All hail the Great and Wise Trump! All hail the Great and Wise Trump.
I clasp my hands together and bow to the four corners of the World.
All hail the Great and Wise Trump!
I perform the nine kowtows.
All hail the Great and Wise Trump.
I perform the twelve obeisances.
All hail the Great and Wise Trump!
Wasn’t he against it before he was for it? Because it would complicate Kushner-China relations? https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/11/22/trump-says-he-might-veto-legislation-that-aims-protect-human-rights-hong-kong-because-bill-would-impact-china-trade-talks/ But Congress passed it with a veto-proof majority. Yeah.
nk (dbc370) — 11/29/2019 @ 3:58 pm5. NK, don’t be such a blowhard! Baby Yoda, amiright? Tell me that didn’t tug on your heartstrings just a little bit…?
Heh!
nk (dbc370) — 11/29/2019 @ 4:11 pm21. Questioning a politicians motives, is an ugly proposition. Nothing new that President Trump has brought to politics. Absolutely nothing approaching the level of insanity exhibited by the Dems. As the system of govt we have had for 250 years, unhappy pols should be working to elect more pols that share their agenda, not attempt to negate a past election.
iowan2 (9c8856) — 11/29/2019 @ 4:17 pmBuisiness models change. Times change. The little town I grow up in had 2 grocery stores, two car dealerships, a Doctor. 3 bar and grills, a sit down restaurant, 3 farm implement businesses. Now its a convenience store, one bar, and a restaurant. The problem? Population. There used to be 3-4 families per section (640 acres) with an average of 4 children per family. Today, the average is not one family per section, and my guess, not more that 2 children per family.
iowan2 (9c8856) — 11/29/2019 @ 4:31 pmThe market has no choice but to, adapt.
agree with you iowan2, grew uo on a farm in s.w. mn. on the iowa border. a quarter section used to be enough for a catholic family with 7 kids!
mg (8cbc69) — 11/29/2019 @ 5:23 pmPP should send Ms Tulsi a Christmas card.
Kevin M (19357e) — 11/29/2019 @ 6:25 pmIf only we had had someone with half the balls of The Honolulu Honey in the 2016 Republican Debates.
We had someone with half the IQ, does that count?
Kevin M (19357e) — 11/29/2019 @ 6:26 pmI was horrified by what I saw at the grocery store today: pumpkin egg nog.
I saw that, too. I was somewhat appeased to see it on deep discount.
Kevin M (19357e) — 11/29/2019 @ 6:27 pmIt’s been around for at least 2 years now. I’ve tried it. Don’t bother.
NJRob (4d595c) — 11/29/2019 @ 6:47 pmnk:
One of the “bee-gees” (not the Australian
urbanleftbehind (e98c46) — 11/29/2019 @ 8:01 pmkind) shares your general skepticism of Oprah: http://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2019/11/29/kid-rock-profanity-filled-oprah-winfrey-stage-tirade-follows-tweet/4335223002/
“One of the “bee-gees” (not the Australian kind) shares your general skepticism of Oprah”
I just died of irony poisoning
Davethulhu (fe4242) — 11/29/2019 @ 9:00 pmAll I know, and have ever known, about this here Kid Rock is what I just read in your comments, gentlemen, and I could have done without that, too. That’s not my bag, man.
nk (dbc370) — 11/29/2019 @ 9:19 pm““The man who carried out the London Bridge terror attack has been identified as 28-year-old Usman Khan, Metropolitan Police confirm. He was jailed in 2012 as part of a plot to bomb the London Stock Exchange and build a terrorist training camp. He was also believed to have supported al-Muhijaroun, a militant jihadist network in the United Kingdom.””
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2019/nov/29/london-bridge-incident-police-city?page=with:block-5de1be768f08cd6fe586e8ea#block-5de1be768f08cd6fe586e8ea
harkin (337580) — 11/29/2019 @ 9:43 pm_
This is an actual transcript of a cabinet meeting, isn’t it?
Dave (1bb933) — 11/29/2019 @ 10:10 pmif you live in new hampshire you can still vote for tulsi gabbard in the primary even if you are a registered republican or independent. also many states allow registered independents to vote in their democratic primaries.
asset (7d65b0) — 11/29/2019 @ 10:13 pmAnd if she lasts until Illinois in March, you can decide the party of your ballot at the registrar’s table at the polling place.
urbanleftbehind (e98c46) — 11/29/2019 @ 10:26 pm#37:
From a conversation just around the corner.
Kevin M (19357e) — 11/29/2019 @ 11:14 pmnever trumpers have finally perfected – how to step on a rake
mg (8cbc69) — 11/29/2019 @ 11:45 pmTrump goes through 3 rakes a day.
Kevin M (19357e) — 11/29/2019 @ 11:59 pmNew Mexico ran out of rakes
mg (8cbc69) — 11/30/2019 @ 3:04 amhttp://michellemalkin.com/2019/10/29/radical-spawn-chesa-boudin-americas-most-toxic-da-candidate/
mg (8cbc69) — 11/30/2019 @ 3:58 amD.A.’s across the country love them some Soros money. Cantafordya is full of toxic waste.
New Mexico ran out of rakes
Thump was only here for a few days, so I doubt it. I suppose he could be getting them mail-order.
Kevin M (19357e) — 11/30/2019 @ 5:27 amBrick and mortar stores have always been closing in a free market, but they have also been opening. What is different, is that in the past, x number of closings were, more or less, ignored because there was no connection among all the stores.
But now, x number of stores closing, all bearing the same company name, are worthy of being reported on a national level, because the store chain was prolly national, making awareness all the greater.
Amazon is simply the Sears & Roebuck of our day. Whereas S & R existed to fill the void of brick & mortar locations, Amazon Addresses price and selection. I bet that USPS (and UPS, FEDEX) owes a great deal of their continued existence to Mail order. When the mail-ordered model falls out of favor, the brick and mortar model will, again, boom. I would be most pleased of the new “must go to” brick and mortar locations are of the 3D printing of custom-consumer-goods variety.
:Print my bespoke “air felipe” (Dr. Scholl’s enhanced) shoes!
felipe (023cc9) — 11/30/2019 @ 7:51 amDid you see the “South Dakota – We’re On It” meth ad campaign last week? I thought nothing could surpass that in the stupid department. That is, until that Trump shirtless “Rocky” tweet.
You can ride a horse, Vladimir, but I …… am Rocky!!!
noel (f22371) — 11/30/2019 @ 7:57 amYes, noel. If you think you have seen everything, just wait a day.
felipe (023cc9) — 11/30/2019 @ 8:00 amI used to sit there and ask myself – who would watch this dumba$$ show? Jerry Springer. Now his audience runs the country.
noel (f22371) — 11/30/2019 @ 8:02 amI agree; next it may be Oprah Winfrey’s audience.
felipe (023cc9) — 11/30/2019 @ 8:04 amFollowed by Joe Rogan’s, if L_A_S_ stays in good health and can make the I verse of her current hair coloring work, that’s her time.
urbanleftbehind (36efd8) — 11/30/2019 @ 8:14 amPoll: Majority of Republicans say Trump better president than Lincoln
Lincoln may have freed the
Dave (1bb933) — 11/30/2019 @ 9:06 amslavesalien workers, but Trump freed the warcriminalsheroes!And those so-called Republicans are what percentage of the electorate these days?
nk (9651fb) — 11/30/2019 @ 10:06 ampup tent, nk.
mg (8cbc69) — 11/30/2019 @ 10:42 amSouthern strategy complete – yes there was one, but it didn’t take completely about 2010, but a good chunk of Ellis Island and forward and its descendants curse Lincoln depending on their daily “exposure”.
urbanleftbehind (36efd8) — 11/30/2019 @ 10:43 am“ I thought nothing could surpass that in the stupid department. That is, until that Trump shirtless “Rocky” tweet.”
It surpassed all the way to freedom-loving protestors in Hong Kong.
harkin (337580) — 11/30/2019 @ 12:46 pm__
More on Drunken O’Malley (ex-Gov MD) attack on Trump DHS official Cuccinelli in a DC bar:
Cuccinelli continued: “When I turned to look I saw O’Malley and he was obviously screaming at me. For a moment I thought he was trying to be funny, as we’ve met before, which I thought was strange. It was immediately clear that he was cursing and screaming for real, to the point of veins bulging on his neck.”
Cuccinelli said he proceeded to attempt to order at a different bar within The Dubliner, but that O’Malley followed him.
“[A]t which point O’Malley pushed his way through the small group to confront me face to face, still cursing me, the President, and my Italian ancestry and he got right up in my face, bumped up against me and invited me to take a swing at him,” Cuccinelli recalled, adding, “at which point I said ‘Martin, one of us has to rise above this, and it’s obviously not going to be you.’”
rcocean (1a839e) — 11/30/2019 @ 12:46 pmMartin [O’Malley]’s behavior was as sad as it was shocking,” Cuccinelli said. “I learned on the other side of the pub that Martin’s screaming was so loud that people on the other side of the pub heard him. I also learned from others who have known Martin for years that while his behavior was shocking, it was not new to them.”
Ezra Klein
@ezraklein
“The fake university is believed to have collected millions of dollars from the unsuspecting students.”
What in the actual hell. The House should hold hearings investigating this.
__ _
matt miller
@Hillbilly_Matt
·
They should. But i bet the start date of the program will weigh against that.
___
Shaun Dakin #ClimateAction 🆘
@IsCool
·
During Obama administration
__ _
Daniel
@ddwalk34
.
OMG, another Obama policy resulting in outrage at Trump.
Color me shocked.
___
Pixie 🦃 ss
@pixiejss
·
They always spout w/o doing the actual research.
__ _
Hellion 2172
@hellion2172
Replying to
harkin (337580) — 11/30/2019 @ 12:52 pm@ezraklein
Had to be an incredible nap.
_
O’Malley is your typical Irish-American Pol. Has done nothing in life except Politics/Government. Senators Aid after Law school, then Assistant state DA for 1 year. Then Baltimore City Council for 8 years. Mayor Baltimore for 8 years. Governor of MD for 8 years.
In a debate during the 2010 campaign, O’Malley referred to illegal aliens as “new Americans”
In case you forgot, O”Malley ran for POTUS in 2016, – and got 2 votes counting his dog. He often travels to the West of Ireland and NUI Galway awarded him an honorary degree in 2008. Maybe that explains his love of illegal immigration, he’s an Irishman livng in the USA for $$$.
rcocean (1a839e) — 11/30/2019 @ 1:03 pmO’Malley’s hatred of Cuccinelli, is easy to understand. O’Malley was looking forward to a powerful, easy job in the Hillary cabinet. HUD or maybe DHS. And then a lucrative lobbying career. Or maybe a District or Appeals court Judgeship.
Instead, he’s a drunk shouting at people in a bar.
rcocean (1a839e) — 11/30/2019 @ 1:13 pmA post-Turkey Day take on Turkey. The Part I summary:
And Giuliani and Kushner and Flynn are actors in this drama. The conclusion:
It’s another example of Trump First America Second, and that everything he touches corrupts. Part II:
Paul Montagu (3d02ee) — 11/30/2019 @ 3:02 pm“U.S.—As the media continues to gaslight the American people, cover for pedophiles, and retract information when it damages their political allies, the nation is increasingly wishing there were some sort of phrase to describe the kind of behavior befitting of an adversary of the populace.
“If only there were a catchy phrase, in use for hundreds of years in a variety of contexts, that succinctly described the way the corporate press is behaving,” said one man in Nebraska. He shook his head. “Nothing comes to mind though.”
Concerned citizens convened in Cleveland to come up with a cogent callsign for the corporate cable news media.
Here is what they’ve come up with so far:
Adversary of the populace
Opposition of the citizenry
Opponent of the masses
Traitor to the inhabitants
Villian of the plebeians
Foe of the folk
Antagonist of the population
“Nothing quite has the right ring to it,” said a man from Iowa, rubbing his chin. “We just can’t put our finger on what to call these guys.”
https://babylonbee.com/news/nation-looking-for-right-phrase-to-describe-media-that-behaves-like-some-kind-of-opponent-of-the-citizenry
harkin (337580) — 11/30/2019 @ 3:04 pm_
Since this an open thread, allow me to contribute the Quote of the Day: “I’m a banker. I’m supposed to be hated.”
nk (dbc370) — 11/30/2019 @ 3:17 pmThe quote of the day is Harbaugh’s response to being asked postgame what the biggest gap is between Ohio State and Michigan
“I’ll answer your questions, not your insults,”
harkin (337580) — 11/30/2019 @ 3:25 pm_
I just got back from a local Best Buy, looking for a new laptop. What a horrible experience. I had a word with the sales manager, whose entire attitude was “Fry’s is going out of business.”
felipe (023cc9) — 11/30/2019 @ 4:02 pm65. “Be that as it may, sir, unless and until they do, I can shop there instead of here. Might I suggest you treat me as though you want my business?”
Gryph (08c844) — 11/30/2019 @ 4:28 pmhttps://thefederalist.com/2019/10/21/a-drug-cartel-just-defeated-the-mexican-military-in-battle/
mg (8cbc69) — 12/1/2019 @ 2:33 amNixon had to go to China instead of making Mexico civilized. He could have had all our junk made by christians. Now we have an absolute disaster with these ingrates of the cartel. Trump should hire private contractors to end this B.S. Obviously are DEA can’t do it. One could almost bet they run the operation for the cartel. These numbnut cartelers need to be exterminated on Mexican soil.
https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/real-life/avocado-became-problematic/
mg (8cbc69) — 12/1/2019 @ 2:38 amThese hoods will stop at nothing.
felipe, it’s been a while since I shopped at a Best Buy (or Fry’s) but I can tell you I’ve always bought refurbished thinkpads, the 14 inch ones because they can fit on airplane tables but aren’t too small for a decent keyboard.
They are usually $200 or so. I add a new battery and an SSD and it feels like a brand new machine. Maybe if I played games I’d need something latest and greatest, but I just need something that can load websites fast, type fast, handle a little physical abuse.
Execs get theirs swapped out every few years so companies have to dump these computers at a very steep loss.
Dustin (cafb36) — 12/1/2019 @ 2:52 am27.
Probably also, that more people are not shopping that much so locally. They may drive to a Walmart or Target, if there is one, and in general are used to travelling further, and that builds on itself.
That’s why only a convenience store, not a grocery; and a bar, and the restaurant, or another, is still there. Travel time is important for these things.
Does the town, or did the town, have any banks or a post office?
Sammy Finkelman (845007) — 12/1/2019 @ 3:21 am11. Dave (1bb933) — 11/29/2019 @ 11:57 am
Trump jumped on that bandwagon (but didn’t actually follow through) because Jeff Bezos also owns the Washington Post, which he hates.
Somewhat justifiably, as its latest is to claim that Gordon Sondland made up the “no quid pro quo” call, rather than that he placed the timing of that call wrong (and that probably because he had a to short consultation with his lawyer, I would say.)
IF Sondland was lying about that, he lied also to Acting Ambassador Bill Taylor, contemporaneously, and probably others, too. And what would be the point of his lie?
Not to say that Trump didn’t have it wrong when he said “I said it twice.” Sondland didn’t say that.
Trump is not relying on his memory, but his lawyers. If he did rely at all on his memory, he’d also correct the date of the call. It wasn’t on September 9, but probably September 6.
At the mall, you would get serendipity, but probably no specials just for Black Friday that you can’t find out about.
Sammy Finkelman (845007) — 12/1/2019 @ 3:34 amBought my ticket for the first showing of Star Wars on the evening of Dec 19. IMAX 3D. Unlike the previous two installments, this time it starts at reasonable hour (9:40).
I have never been a frequent cinema-goer, even back in the day when it was the primary outlet for movies. The nine Star Wars films are probably something like 10% of my lifetime cinema attendance…
Dave (1bb933) — 12/1/2019 @ 5:43 amYouGov polled Republicans about which President was better – Lincoln or Trump.
Who won?
Hint: God help us all.
noel (f22371) — 12/1/2019 @ 6:39 amOld news.
🙂
Dave (1bb933) — 12/1/2019 @ 6:55 amRemember, Donald Trump would have prevented the Civil War, which was fought for absolutely no reason!
Dave (1bb933) — 12/1/2019 @ 7:03 amDustin (cafb36) — 12/1/2019 @ 2:52 am
Thank you for the advice, Dustin. I think I’ve found a place nearby that has what I need.
felipe (023cc9) — 12/1/2019 @ 7:38 amSorry, Dave. You beat me to it. I know I am not alone in my dismay…. that the Party of Lincoln is now the Party of the con man.
noel (f22371) — 12/1/2019 @ 7:58 amHabeas corpus is so overrated.
Munroe (dd6b64) — 12/1/2019 @ 9:03 am— Abe Lincoln
After former Obama-era White House counsel Gregory B. Craig was acquitted on a felony charge of lying to the Justice Department, a jury on the case publicly asked why prosecutors targeted him instead of Trump associates.
“I just could not understand why so many resources of the government were put into this when, in fact, actually the republic itself is at risk,” Michael Meyer told reporters after the trial. “I was deeply offended personally … that this particular case was brought against this particular man. I mean where are the convictions related to Russia? Why did he get to the front of the line?”
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/nov/30/conservatives-question-if-they-get-fair-shake-wash/
Munroe (dd6b64) — 12/1/2019 @ 9:08 amThe last movie was one of the worst ever made and completely ruined the character ark of the 40 year history built up in the stories. Then there was Leia Poppins. Ugh.
NJRob (4d595c) — 12/1/2019 @ 10:28 amI’m not sure why you say this.
After A New Hope, with Luke’s transition from farm boy to hero and Han’s transition from selfish rogue to heroic rogue, what intelligible character development has there been in any of the other films?
Can’t argue here.
Dave (1bb933) — 12/1/2019 @ 10:34 amNigerian 419 scam meets Jeffrey Epstein (and a couple of prominent lawyers and the New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/30/business/david-boies-pottinger-jeffrey-epstein-videos.html
Sammy Finkelman (845007) — 12/1/2019 @ 10:40 am80. 81. character arc with a “c” as in a crescent as drawn on paper.
This is a mistake like shoe-in instead of shoo-in.
Sammy Finkelman (845007) — 12/1/2019 @ 10:44 am83 You don’t need to correct me, thanks. I merely quoted NJRob.
Dave (1bb933) — 12/1/2019 @ 10:49 am“The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it.”
Dave (1bb933) — 12/1/2019 @ 11:22 amDave @81.
I know. That;s why I had “80. 81.” and not just “81.”
I myself don’t get it straight when to have it “principle” and when to have “principal”
By the way, would “Nigerian 419 scam meets Jeffrey Epstein” be a good title for a movie?
Sammy Finkelman (845007) — 12/1/2019 @ 11:47 amWell, the Nigerian 419 scam is what is classically known as The Spanish Prisoner scam, and there was already a Mamet movie with that title. “The Pervy Prisoner” for the Epstein story?
nk (dbc370) — 12/1/2019 @ 11:57 amAs I gather from the article, Epstein was not one of the “victims” of the scam. He was the Spanish prisoner, the original owner of the treasure trove now purportedly in the scammer’s hands. The “victims” were a couple of scumbag
nk (dbc370) — 12/1/2019 @ 12:40 pmlawyersblackmailers with law licenses.In order to address subway problems, such as crowding, LA Metro is removing seats from every car to allow easier cleaning, rather than hiring more cleaners.
https://la.curbed.com/2019/11/26/20982588/metro-subway-cars-new-design
Kevin M (19357e) — 12/1/2019 @ 1:04 pmAmazon is simply the Sears & Roebuck of our day. Whereas S & R existed to fill the void of brick & mortar locations
S&R came into being due to the railroads. The railroads made it possible to ship products long distances economically, and the Sears Catalog allowed regional merchants to list their products nationally.
What needs to be stressed is that Sears was literally the original Amazon — they had the catalog and mail-order. The brick & mortar stores came later. In many places they never came; at most there was a catalog store where you could order things and pick them up in a few weeks.
Kevin M (19357e) — 12/1/2019 @ 1:11 pmSouthern strategy complete
Meh. “Southern Strategy” is what Progressives chant when they want to ignore their party’s centuries of oppression of blacks.
Kevin M (19357e) — 12/1/2019 @ 2:05 pmBought my ticket for the first showing of Star Wars
A friend of mine and I walked up to Grauman’s Chinese at 5PM on opening day 1977. No expectations. No line. Theater half full.
OMG.
Kevin M (19357e) — 12/1/2019 @ 2:11 pmI myself don’t get it straight when to have it “principle” and when to have “principal”
A principal is: an owner, a headmaster, or the most important person/thing of several.
A principle is an idea, ethic or policy.
Kevin M (19357e) — 12/1/2019 @ 2:18 pmIf you polled Democrats, who would be a better President:
1. Obama or Jefferson
Kevin M (19357e) — 12/1/2019 @ 2:21 pm2. Clinton or Carter
3. Bartlett or Franklin
Cleveland or Dayton
Kevin M (19357e) — 12/1/2019 @ 2:22 pmNever seen a star wars
mg (8cbc69) — 12/1/2019 @ 2:31 pmSaw Gran Torino, liked it.
mg (8cbc69) — 12/1/2019 @ 2:32 pmhttps://i0.wp.com/www.powerlineblog.com/ed-assets/2019/11/Screen-Shot-2019-11-29-at-8.28.41-AM.png?w=1160&ssl=1
mg (8cbc69) — 12/1/2019 @ 2:41 pmha
“A friend of mine and I walked up to Grauman’s Chinese at 5PM on opening day”
Saw The Shining opening night at Grauman’s. The audience laughed for much of it and booed at the end.
Unlike many folks, I still think it’s unscary, silly and boring.
harkin (337580) — 12/1/2019 @ 2:45 pmToday’s Biden Gaffe:
“I’m running to win.” – Joe Biden
Malarkey.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 12/1/2019 @ 2:52 pmNever seen a star wars
All but the first 3 [produced] are garbage, but that statement might explain a lot actually.
Kevin M (19357e) — 12/1/2019 @ 7:29 pmRocky wants his body back.
Paul Montagu (00daa1) — 12/1/2019 @ 7:36 pmUnlike many folks, I still think it’s unscary, silly and boring.
My wife thinks it stinks. I’ve never seen it. There are only two King adaptations I’ve ever liked, both TV miniseries: The Stand (1994), now available in HD and The Storm of the Century (1999).
They’re remaking The Stand with Whoopi Goldberg as Mother Abagail. I’m going to pass even with Alexander Skarsgård as The Walking Man.
Kevin M (19357e) — 12/1/2019 @ 7:37 pmThe only King novel I have ever managed to finish, or come close to finishing, was actually a joint venture with Peter Straub: The Talisman. And consulting Google I find it’s being turned into a feature film.
https://ew.com/movies/2019/03/12/stephen-king-peter-straub-the-talisman-movie/
I liked The Shining (movue version) because of Nicholson, not for any other reason.
Kishnevi (1a529d) — 12/1/2019 @ 8:20 pmBTW, whichever of you was the one who thought The Irishman was a lousy movie…the members of the music forum who have seen it so far agree with you.
Kishnevi (1a529d) — 12/1/2019 @ 8:22 pm*members of the music forum I belong to*
Kishnevi (1a529d) — 12/1/2019 @ 8:23 pmI liked The Stand, both the fat book and the mini-series. It would be a perfect Nexflix or Prime series.
Paul Montagu (00daa1) — 12/1/2019 @ 8:26 pmI didn’t read Maximum Overdrive but saw the movie and loved it. The ACDC soundtrack made it work.
He’s a pretty amazing author. Incredible imagination.
The Iranians are affixing blame on the right people, the Iranian leadership and their skull-crackers, not Trump for our sanctions.
Paul Montagu (00daa1) — 12/1/2019 @ 9:07 pmThere are those that liked the first version of The Stand and despise the “uncut” book.
Kevin M (19357e) — 12/1/2019 @ 10:39 pmBig 2nd Amendment case argued tomorrow.
https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/new-york-state-rifle-pistol-association-inc-v-city-of-new-york-new-york/
Kevin M (19357e) — 12/1/2019 @ 11:32 pmHeh.
I do remember there was a moderately heavy radio promo campaign leading up to the first film, using some the far-out sound effects. It came across as being dumb and over-hyped, and if anything, made me initially less interested in seeing the film.
My buddy from high school and I (we were both D&D/wargaming nerds, and played Star Fleet battles on the weekends in his basement with a few other like-minded geeks from Country Day) went on (IIRC) the 2nd or 3rd weekend, after it had gone viral. We waited (gladly) in a very, very long line.
Dave (1bb933) — 12/2/2019 @ 2:23 amI read that Star Wars 1977) was put together/spliced? like old movies, pre-1965 or so. You could follow what was going on, (and that’s why it was such a hit.)
Sammy Finkelman (845007) — 12/2/2019 @ 6:11 amIt was a hit because there were only two women in it, Princess Leia and briefly Luke’s aunt, and no swishes that you could see (except maybe the hologram of the emperor). As the series progressed and got more feminine and effeminate, it got worse, culminating with the cringe-inducing Revenge of the Sith. (Three out of four librarians surveyed agree that the book (novelization) by Matthew Stover is much better than the movie.) I mean, seriously, how much of an adventure can it be if girls and “girls” can do it?
I was a fan of the franchise only for as long as my daughter was — from around age 6 to 9. As long as she liked the toys, costumes, and makeup, so did I. When she grew out of it, so did I.
I never saw any of them in a theater. Only on television. And only the first six, and the Clone Wars cartoons on Disney XD. But I did buy a movie-quality Wookie suit for myself and a likewise movie-quality light saber for my daughter, and a great big bunch of other merch.
nk (dbc370) — 12/2/2019 @ 6:51 amC3PO says hi.
Dave (1bb933) — 12/2/2019 @ 7:45 amFun fact: Anthony Daniels/C3PO is the only actor/character to appear in all nine films.
Dave (1bb933) — 12/2/2019 @ 7:47 amBritish excluded because the whole breed, male and female, is only vaguely heterosexual. Which, BTW, Daniels is and Guinness was. Heterosexual, if only vaguely.
nk (dbc370) — 12/2/2019 @ 8:06 amIn the original trilogy everyone on the Imperial side, apart from Vader, was pretty effeminate.
Dave (1bb933) — 12/2/2019 @ 8:36 amThe Empire Strikes Back was the best Star Wars film, and then the slide began with Return of the Jedi. God I hate those Ewoks, and George Lucas can’t be forgiven for making Howard the Duck.
Paul Montagu (1e7217) — 12/2/2019 @ 8:51 amToday, Trump loses another legal fight over his Deutsche Bank records. Appeal to come.
While we all believed him when he said things like he’d love to release his taxes when the audit was done, it appears that he may have to file even more appeals, ahem, to keep that from happening as well.
noel (f22371) — 12/3/2019 @ 8:30 amI figured out what bothered me about the Irishman – it couldnt decide if it wanted to be 1 of 3 things: a. Mob Forest Gump, b. Mob Mad Men or c. Jimmy Hoffa Story.
And to think there is some SJW hand wringing about Anna Paquin not having but six words of dialogue – I kind of didnt care – I thought she was hot in this movie.
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 12/3/2019 @ 8:46 amThe only Netflix Original I liked and watched to the end was “The Ridiculous 6” with Adam Sandler, and I would have edited a couple of scenes in that too. I could only stand about fifteen minutes of the Coen Brothers effort. Haven’t even bothered with any of the others. Just because they’re made by and with Big Names, it’s still the Netflix Formula For Success: “Get them to pay steadily and watch little.”
And “I can’t even” Woody Harrelson or Kevin Kostner, whichever one it is, as Texas Ranger Frank Hamer in “The Highwaymen”. I’d get their Hollywood bumboy faces off the homepage if I could.
nk (dbc370) — 12/3/2019 @ 9:05 amSo they operate like a gym except that Thankgiving break is Netflix’ first full week of January.
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 12/3/2019 @ 9:11 amThe Dems’ impeachment report is out, and it names Ranking Member Nunes as part of the conspiracy to smear a US Ambassador, and to hurt Biden which would thus help Trump. Some excerpts from the document:
The April 7th article that Giuliani referenced was this one. Solomon’s primary source was a Mr. Kulyk, himself a corrupt prosecutor who was thrice indicted on corruption charges and has ties to Russian intelligence services. On November 25th, the Zelensky government sacked Kulyk, which is a good sign.
The calls and texts were made in early April and Ms. Yovanovitch was sacked on April 24th. DiGenova-Toensing also represent Mr. Firtash, the Ukrainian oligarch under house arrest in Vienna for bribery (and who has ties to a Russian mafioso), who US authorities are trying to extradite.
The Toensing-DiGenova team is just as shady as Giuliani. They’re also representing pro-Trump hack and opinion columnist, John Solomon. They hired Giuliani minion Parnas to be a “translator” for Firtash. Toensing-DiGenova have met face-to-face with lapdog AG Barr, purportedly about preventing Firtash’s extradition. Their son works in the DOJ Office of Legal Counsel.
More on Nunes:
The report also brings up Kashyap Patel, current National Security Council staff member and former Nunes aides who helped write the infamous Nunes Memo.
The irony is that, if corruption is to be found regarding Ukraine, it’s with Trump and the people in his orbit, not with the Bidens, where there is not a whit of evidence of corruption. Maybe Hunter is corrupt and maybe Joe is, too, but it’s on Trump and his people to prove it. So far, bupkes.
Paul Montagu (00daa1) — 12/3/2019 @ 2:50 pm