thirteen things tagged “politics”
Rift Widens Between Elon Musk, Anyone Who Ever Met Him
AUSTIN, TX—Stressing that the billionaire’s completely erratic behavior had strained the already fraught relationships, sources confirmed Thursday that a rift was widening between Elon Musk and anyone who had ever met him. “Elon’s megalomania and tendency to lash out indiscriminately seem to have…
Like many others, I saw the movie first. Good stuff, Natalie Portman is great and Hugo Weaving is fantastic even behind a mask. This novel is not like the movie. Length and character depth aside, it’s very British in its setting, sensibilities, and its response to its time (in the movie, I do remem…
No Time to Think
by Unknown
This reading comes from the resource Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and Human Behavior. In the introduction to Rescuers: Portraits of Moral Courage in the Holocaust, writer Cynthia Ozick states, Indifference is not so much a gesture of looking away — of choosing to be passive — as it is…
On Dollar Tree, Subway, Wells Fargo, Self-Storage, Made in China, and Strip Malls
Me before Japan: I don’t need to weeb out over everything. Every place has its pros and cons. Me after Japan: unfettered corporate capitalism has ravaged the quality of life in America. I am envious of the plethora of small businesses and vendors on every block in Japan, many of which have owner…
Note 0006
This really sad article (cached) on how the author lost an older loved one to the unbelievable racket that’s Amway contains the most hopeful passages I’ve read about the current times. Emphasis and exorcism mine:
It’s hard to leave a delusion behind. In the run-up to the 2024 elections, I noticed the ways in which ****p’s political followers likewise struggled to abandon him. Some prominent ****p supporters may see him as a means to wealth or power. Others find meaning and community—or even vindication—in accepting the lies he tells. Maybe, eventually, when they see what his second administration delivers, some voters will peel away.
That’s what happened with Amway. The company is still a multibillion-dollar, global enterprise, though its domestic profile is now so much smaller that it has a page on its own website answering the question: “Does Amway still exist?” In the end, more people left than stayed. Those who came to their senses or were unable to sustain the delusion eventually quit. But things can get bleak in the middle.
This too shall pass. Let’s hope that we are all strong in what we choose to build after it does1. But it’s going to suck for a while, and for the most vulnerable amongst us. Thoughts and prayers.
If, indeed, we’re permitted to do anything.↩︎
Two Distant Strangers
(2020)
Saw with CK. 32-minute, Groundhog Day-style short film that snagged an Oscar in its category in 2021. Symbolisms and motif even a pitbull named Jeter can understand. Lots of violence and many parts were difficult to watch, which I suppose is the point1. Look at the futility of attempting reason and…
Bheemla Nayak
(2022)
Excellent cinematography and art direction. Bouncy background score by Thaman. Rana Daggubati stole the show, is magnetic in every scene he’s in, and we were all amazed by the ease with which he plays arrogant douchenozzles 💯 Could’ve been at least an hour shorter. Lovely poetry.…
The Very Clever Man
We all know one. They used to wear fedoras or berets or other identifiable hats. Many of them don’t anymore.…
Whence “Gubernatorial”?
I’m put off by the word “gubernatorial” whenever I see it. Seems very silly, saccharine, like something a 5-year old mispronounced in 1953 that just stuck because it was so cute 🙄 Nope. “Because, if you go back to where this word came from, in the original Latin, it’s from the verb, gubernare…
Election
(1999)
One of the best black comedies I’ve seen. Amazing attention to detail. Watched with LD. Reese Witherspoon was just perfect. Indeed, it was a breakthrough role for which she won a bunch of awards. Learned that Jessica Campbell who was also perfect as the angsty Tammy Metzler sadly passed away in Jan…
“Hypocrisy is the Vaseline of Political Intercourse”
Somoza called himself “president”. The Sandinistas called him a “dictator”. They called themselves “freedom fighters”. He called them “Commie terrorists”. So they kicked him out then they were in charge. Ronald Reagan called them “Commie oppressors” and he sent in the Contras, whom he called “fre…
What Do We REALLY Learn?
Via CO. Succinct, timeless.…