Sunday, July 30, 2017

We saw Dunkirk yesterday

I do love a Spitfire (second only to P51 - Mustangs)
We went and saw the move Dunkirk yesterday. It was something different and odd and amazing and heartbreaking.

The backstory isn't really told too much. Nearly half a million British and French troops were pinned down on the beaches in France and Belgium where the German Nazis could easily kill them. Why they didn't is a subject of great debate.

In order to save as many as possible, a flotilla of British private boats sailed to save as many men as possible.

For the "Christopher Nolan" edge (he did Momento and Inception) the timeline of the beach, boats and planes are all different (1 week, 1 day and 1 hour respectively) but integrate beautifully.

Ed captured it perfectly. It is the story of the British in general. Lots of people, lots of actors you know. BUT it was also the story of one young soldier (below) "Tommy" - just trying to stay alive. Played fantastically by unknown Fionn Whitehead.


When I interview for a job, I say my greatest skill - as a product manager - is to look at the details and quickly grasp what is the big picture, but still be able to focus on the one or two details that are critical for success. That is what Christopher Nolan has done with this picture.

The music is stunning.

In a lot of ways, this is reminiscent of a silent movie. Not that there isn't talking (you don't bring Mark Rylane, Kenneth Brannagh, Cillian Murphy and Tom Hardy and not loet them talk), but the action and music and the faces sell this story.

Saturday, July 29, 2017

Police Officer and Boys Scouts Apologize for Donald Trump's Speeches

At this rate, you should write your apology before the President speaks (both groups vetted the speeches, but then the President went off on tangents).



Friday, July 28, 2017

Eddies's Flight...

While the "Swing a Big Dick" show is going on in Washington...

While the Mooch and the Donald are showing what Big Dicks they have (the Mooch got Rance Pierbus fired - and The Donald told a cheering group of Police to go ahead and commit unlawful acts of brutality) - this was happening in the real fucking world.
  • Health Care is in jeopardy because The Donald wants it to fail...
  • Russia imposed new sanctions on us...
  • The Qatar issue is still open (where our largest mid-east base is)...
  • We are still at War in Afghaistan...
  • We are still at War with ISIS in Syria...
  • And....
and.. there was something else, what was that minor thing.

Oh yeah, North Korea launched a missile that can hit Chicago.  But by all means you New York Goodfellas - please continue to do fuck all about the world.

The DRAMA - Like Melrose Place and McCain is Kimberly!

Wow, so that happened.

Senator John McCain cast the last no vote late on Thursday night / Friday morning to kill the movement to repeal ObamaCare (the Affordable Care Act).  This is the moment. If you watch the video (link here) you will see real shock on the other Senators faces.

John McCain (back to camera) waves to Senate President to vote no.

During the 2008 election season I said some pretty bad things about John McCain and his choices (and I stand by nearly all of them - Sarah Palin anyone?). But this moment ranks up there with his perfect rebuke to a voter that said "Senator Obama is a Muslim born in Kenya." Senator McCain did a great thing this morning.

Why did he vote no? Well, what ended up as "the skinny repeal bill" was a piece of crap bill, everyone admitted it. In fact 3 Senators (including Mr. McCain) agreed to vote for it only if the House of Representatives promised NOT to pass it. They wanted this to go to committee (between the Senate and House versions) and hash out an answer.  When Paul Ryan of the House of Representatives said they would try to hammer out a solution, but still might pass this specific bill, two of the Senators folded (in the case of Lindsey Graham, like the Scarlett O'Hara's fan). John McCain, however, said this bill was worse than no bill (and he was right).

As an aside - somewhere inside his head - I am sure he thought "How do you like me now?" to President Trump.






The Mooch Is A Piece of F*cking Work!

This man is our President's White House Director of Communi-fucking-cations. He reports directly to the Head Guy and Trump loves this guy. He pissed off Spicey and Preibus to bring his ass on.

Fuck Yeah!
fucking Presidential link

Thursday, July 27, 2017

As My Mother Says...

.. this guy could fuck up a wet dream. 

How do you screw over the boy scouts after promising them no politics?

Look Over Here! Look Over Here!

In a transparent and obviously timed gesture to throw his base something... anything... President Trump "announced" that Transgender people will no longer be allowed in the military.

Before we get into the details of why this is stupid, let's talk about the method of "announcement". It was done via twitter - detail below (you have to read the 3 tweets from bottom to top, because newest tweets show up over older ones).



Despite his comments that "the generals" wanted this, President Trump didn't brief the military or the Secretary of Defense - who is out on vacation this week. So when transgender people CURRENTLY in the military and serving our country - asked what this meant, their commanders had no idea. When the press asked the Military, they said talk to the President. When the press asked the President's spokeswoman, she said ask the President and the Military (which they were doing, but okay..)

So it was half-assed and cooked up to make the base happy.

As for the "justification" that there would be "tremendous medical costs" - huh ... no. The guidelines on transgender troops state that transitioning must occur before they join the military.

As for the "justification" that there would be "disruption" - no. The military has already implemented this (for over a year) after working internally to define the best way to do it.

Look, I get that transgender and gender fluid people are confusing to those of us who are traditionally gendered. I was born a guy and want to be a guy. But confusing what bugs you and what makes someone unable to serve their country is wrong. It was wrong when it was the rich versus the poor in olde timey times. It was wrong when it was segregation before 1950 and it was wrong before it was sexual orientation in the 2000s. People who want to serve and protect the country, our values and our safety are to be admired, not denigrated. Certainly not denigrated 140 characters at a time.

PS....

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Stupid and Sore

So about 10 days ago, we went to see Kyle Dean Massey. As you recall, it was great.

I was in a great mood. Everything went really really well. Dinner was unexceptional, but Eddie and I had fun at the Tapas bar, so who cares. And then, 54 Below (the venue) sat us at a very nice table with our friends. AND, our friends loved the singer. I was happy as a clam.

I was also, I will admit, a little buzzed. I am always worrying about the other shoe dropping. Honestly, like 24/7 worried that something I really want us to do will fall apart (yes, I know at 58 I should get over it - but old habits are hard to break).  So, as the evening worked well, I got too buzzed.

Okay, in this case, let us use the word drunk.

And, once home, in a fantastic mood, I decided to slide down the stair railing.

It did not go well.

I think I bruised a rib.

Wannt wah!

The stairway in question with Trevor for scale.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

I thought this was kind of fascinating

Some group did a study of 3,000 topics.. blah blah blah.  This is what tops each states' "I hate that!" list.

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

I Bow To No One in my Love for UCLA, but isn't "UCLA College" wrong?

I got an email - shown below - that references the Senior Dean of UCLA College.

What?

"UCLA College" is University of California at Los Angeles College, which makes no sense. Now, I would get "College of Arts and Sciences" or "College of Music" - but just plain old UCLA College. What the hell?


Deal in the EMail Today

I saw this today in my Email.  It not San Francisco prices (or "Frisco" as they like to call it), but still annoying.

Monday, July 17, 2017

Kyle Dean Massey at 54 Below - With Video

He's a slip of a young man!


54 Below is one of my favorite venues, even with the late show starts and strong drinks (which I paid for the next day).

But on Saturday we saw Kyle Dean Massey. He is one of my favorite Broadway performers. I have seen him in a few shows where he comes into the shows late (yes I know I have brought this up before).

Below is a clip of him singing part of my favorite song, "I Miss the Mountains". It's all about a bi-polar woman who goes off her meds because she misses the rush. Between my grandfather and me, this song talks to me (smiley face, but also true).





Saturday, July 15, 2017

Finally! I saw Assassins

I finally got a chance to see Assassins. I have missed it a number of times. This was a City Center Encore show - which means very little staging.



It starred Steven Pasquale - one of my all time favorites, and Cory Michael Smith.  I was blown away by the "Balladeer" Clifton Duncan. Watch the number below from rehersals with Pasquale and Duncan. Great.


Monday, July 10, 2017

This is Just Crazy Ass Knee-Jerk

link
This is weird as fuck.

Aubry Plaza Week-End Double Header

Aubry Plaza is funny as hell, and will do anything for a laugh. The ruder the better.

We went and saw "The Little Hours" this week-end. It is a very funny, very dirty R rated movie that bandies the word f*ck around like it is hello. If you knew my parents, you would know why I find this funny, not offensive.  The red-band (aka - for adults only) trailer follows.

It is an odd little movie since it was based on an actual 14th Century book that essentially described the horrible life of nuns at the time. Many women were made nuns, not because of devotion to the church, but because there were excess women in some richer families and they couldn't afford dowries for all of them.
Aubry checking to see if Dave Franco is really a deaf mute
So these are 3 women that don't want to be nuns, washing floors, cleaning up after priests and generally stuck without men.  Now the language is not at all middle ages, and the "sciprt" was a 20 page rough draft with lots of cursing, but there was a sweet little story under all that filth. Go figure.

It is also funny that this raunchy ass dirty movie was produced by Aubry Plaza and other women, written by women, and directed by a woman.

Then, yesterday after my nap, I came out and was watching Eddie watching "Dirty Grandpa". I assumed for the nearly naked Zach Efron - which was the original draw, but a dirty college age Aubry Plaza hitting on Grandpa Robert DeNiro was pretty damn funny.



And now the (Red Band) Trailer for  The Little Hurs

Saturday, July 08, 2017

Day 7: Geysir

Geysir - One of the only Icelandic words to make it to English...

This is all of (except Eddie who is taking the picture) at Geysir. Then a sequence of Geysir errupting (big Geysir, not little geysir).


It starts (and happens every 8 minutes or so)





KaBloey

Friday, July 07, 2017

Last Week-end at Croton Gorge

Last Week-End Eddie and I went up to Croton Gorge. It was cool and shady and we could put our feed int he water, which I desperately needed.  It was nice.  Here are some pics.









Day 6: Gullfoss (Golden Falls)

This is Iceland at it's best - at least its accessible best. There is a grander waterfall (the one used in Prometheus), but it is in the north and not easy to get to.

On the upper left - that is a person!  The falls are huge
One of the really cool things about Iceland is they expect you to be an adult. There aren't usually much in the way of railings or warnings. They expect you to be able to take a hint and not fall in!


Rainbow!

This is the front cataract.

Eddie and I in front of the cataract

Bradly NEXT TO the upper falls.

Thursday, July 06, 2017

You Remember the "Christian" Hobby Lobby - Don't You?

Ah the "Hobby Lobby"... This is the company that refused to pay for health care that included birth control because the company (the COMPANY!) was Christian. It went to the Supreme Court and they one. (LINK) It turns out that for 5 of the Supreme Courts judges that:
a. A company can hold religious beliefs
b. The company that hold religious beliefs can act on them
c. The truth of those beliefs was unimportant to the outcome*

Well it turns out that this Christian is a liar, thief, looter and war profiteer.


Hobby Lobby purchased 5,500 ancient artifacts looted from the war in Iraq via middle men. They were warned by their own lawyers it was probably illegal. The President and expert from Hobby Lobby (good Christians) went to the Middle East where they were warned against the deal. Before you say that maybe this was an honest mistake, they wired money through over a dozen different middle men. They never meet the "owner". They had the shipments from the United Arab Emirates labelled as being from "Turkey" (isn't "bearing false witness" a big no no?).

This is one of the "Turkish Sample Tiles" that Hobby Lobby both illegally.

Dear Hobby Lobby, thank you for the sample tile. I would like to tile my floor with these ancient writing samples.
Hey - if you're to call your self Christian and proclaim that you live by the Biblical Rules in denying health care to women, you deserve contempt as a liar, war profiteer and smuggler.  Hobby Lobby should go to jail. (LINK)



*In this case, the company believed that birth control lead to abortions. Expert testimony that this was not true didn't matter. A compromise to use only birth control that prevent fertilization (as opposed to inhibiting attachment of a fertilized egg to the uterus) was also deemed "abortion" by the company - again not true as testified by evidence. But companies, in addition to being religious can, apparently, based their religious decisions on random facts made up by Fox News.

Day 5 of Iceland Pictures - Barnafossar

Ah.. Barnafossar..

A beautiful fall with a story to teach kids to be good.

The story is, there once were two bad little children. Their parents went to church one Sunday, but the children told their parents they were sick. So they stayed home.  Once the parents were gone, they went to the river to play on a rock bridge over the falls. A witch, upon seeing them and hearing their story dropped the rock bridge into the river and the children were swept away and died.

So... Go to church and don't lie to your parents.


Wednesday, July 05, 2017

And Now For Something Nice, Patriotic and Non-Partisan

But You Are Blanche - You Are In That Wheelchair

July 4th's announcement by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson confuses me.

https://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2017/07/272340.htm


Is this like not accepting Climate Change? I mean does the current administration not believe that North Korea has nuclear weapons?

Next maybe we should issue a notice we won't accept the sun rising tomorrow.