Is it really THAT hard for my publisher to get back to me with ‘Yes, the editing process is complete, you’re free’?
3.
JustRuss
Let the airing of grievances commence.
Commence? When did it stop?
4.
kindness
Wingnutz.
That’s all. Wingnutz piss me off.
5.
Felonius Monk
Grievance #1: See Grievance #2
Grievance #2: See Grievance #1
That is all.
6.
Sloegin
6 pages of comments in a popular tech and science blog (Ars) about poverty stunting IQ in the US but not other countries, and only 2 commenters can figure out it MIGHT be related to how we fund schools in this country (via property taxes).
Groan.
7.
burnspbesq
Grievances? Let’s see.
Naw. Insufficient time to list them all.
8.
Cacti
Grievance:
The Force Awakens sucked. I just can’t drink the kool aid and say I loved it. It sucked harder than the new death star…err…starkiller base sucked the energy from stars. It was high budget fan fiction, without a bone of originality in its fetid body. J.J. Abrams remains an overrated hack.
My person title for the film is “A Lost Hope”.
Ahhhh. That feels better.
9.
gogol's wife
People keep dying all around me. It sucks.
10.
Cermet
@Cacti: At least the director is batting a 1000 with his previous remake of Star Trek. But I had hoped he’d at least just muck it up, not Star Trek it … .
I went to buy a “Star Wars” shirt for my nephew and the only sizes they had were kids XS. He’s 13. I ended up getting an adult S, which is going to be hopelessly too big.
13.
dlwchico
The company I work for did over half a billion dollar in sales last year and even more this year.
Our holiday bonus, which was based on tenure (I’ve been there 5 years) was 50 bucks.
Either you have a rosy-eyed view of the merits of the original (it ain’t that great) or you never got around to seeing the prequels. At worst, “Force Awakens” is in the middle of the pack.
15.
Betty Cracker
I Febrezed my sofa, and now my dogs smell like Febreze, but the sofa still smells like dogs. WTF?!?!?
Ars Technica is heavily populated by Silicon Valley dudebros. People exploring the Dunning-Kruger Effect could profitably use the site for research purposes.
Just saying, if you think “Force Awakens” is worse than “Phantom Menace,” I’m not sure I trust your taste in motion pictures.
22.
raven
Got the two recycled double hung window trimmed (after a fashion) now I have decide if I’m going to tackle the bay window or wait until after xmas.
23.
Amir Khalid
@Betty Cracker:
Check back very carefully. Are you sure it was the sofa that got the Febreze?
24.
Bobby Thomson
@Mnemosyne: I actually think Return of the Jedi may be worse. I tried watching it the other night and it really hasn’t aged well. IV and V are cheesy but still hold up well.
25.
maurinsky
Pachelbel’s Canon in D, I got a problem with you and everyone who plays you during Christmas.
Also, if any original “Star Wars” fans really want to be freaked out, Mark Hamill is one year older in “Force Awakens” than Alec Guinness was in “Star Wars.”
27.
JustRuss
@Cacti: Meh, I went in with low hopes, and I have to say they were exceeded. Sure, Abrams basically remade Episode 4, but he checked off the right boxes while changing enough to make it enjoyable, for me at least. They can’t really get away with that in the next movie. Crap, now that I think about it, maybe they can. I’m hoping they’ll come up with a decent screen play, but not going to bet on it.
I enjoyed The Force Awakens and it was a pleasant surprise considering that I absolutely loathed what J.J. Abrams did to Star Trek. And happily, I stopped caring about what people thought about the things I like a long time ago.
The Force Awakens is the tribute band of the Star Wars franchise. Everything about it feels like the writers were given a checkbox form from Mickey Mouse Inc., of mandatory nostalgia that had to be shoehorned into the script.
I have some hope for Episode VIII, knowing that J.J. Abrams will have no involvement with it.
Episode IX will probably also be crap, as it will be handled by the director of Jurassic World.
Okay, previous grievance canceled. Editing is complete, and the third Please Don’t Tell My Parents I’m A Supervillain book releases February 8th, with preorders starting by January 10th. WOO! Time to party like we supposedly partied in 1999, but didn’t actually!
33.
maurinsky
I’ve never seen any Star Wars movies, but I did re-watch John Boyega in Attack the Block with my daughter last night.
Thanks. None of them are relatives, but five colleagues in the last six weeks, and other people who aren’t doing so well. I guess it’s too serious for Festivus, but other things don’t seem so annoying all of a sudden.
37.
The Thin Black Duke
@maurinsky: Boyega is a fine actor and he does a good job in The Force Awakens. And his chemistry with Daisy Ridley is wonderful.
38.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@Frankensteinbeck: I wish I wasn’t feeling as lost in the publication process as I am. I should get second pages back early next week. The Kirkus review is due back by Jan 4th. After that, it’s assemble the back cover and then send it to press, and then . . . I don’t know.
I’ve tried to set up a Goodreads page for it, but they seem to want to be able to link to something where it’s on sale. I’ve looked through how to sell on iBooks, and mostly remembered why I don’t like Apple. I need to check out Amazon and Smashwords soon for how to set things up there.
Fortunately, between my parents and grandmother, I got enough Christmas money that I won’t have any trouble covering unforeseen expenses. And I’m counting on my consultant to help me deal with Ingram-Spark.
Also, if any original “Star Wars” fans really want to be freaked out, Mark Hamill is one year older in “Force Awakens” than Alec Guinness was in “Star Wars.”
Mark Hamill’s dialog was great in “The Force Awakens.”
ETA: A grievance. I hate fricking reviews of smartphones that complain about bloatware, but don’t let you know exactly how much (in GB) there actually is. Are we supposed to guess?
I re-watched the original “Star Wars” a couple of weeks ago. I still enjoy it, but it hasn’t aged all that well.
Though I realize now that Mark Hamill is doing an imitation of Richard Dreyfuss’s voice — re-watch “American Graffiti” and you’ll see what I mean. It makes sense now that Hamill has had so much subsequent success as a voice actor.
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: Smashwords is easy to use and will distribute to several platforms. Are you setting up an author page on Goodreads, or one for the book? The author one is easy. I don’t know about the book because I didn’t do that one for myself, just claimed it once it was up.
Moving on to non-movie related grievances, I’m annoyed that a 4-rib roast costs $100 no matter where you buy it. And there is no way in hell I’m going to be able to finish a scarf for my nephew since I haven’t even started it yet.
47.
lethargytartare
I’m annoyed at being in moderation
48.
Betty Cracker
@Mnemosyne: Really? Jesus. I feel little sympathy for the object of that cheap shot since he is capable of similar flights of absurdity, but that’s a bullshit comment.
49.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@Iowa Old Lady: Goodreads says pretty clearly that it’s author program is for people who have published a book:
The Author Program is designed for people with published books, or who are in the process of publishing a book. It’s best if your work is on a bookseller’s website, such as Amazon.com or BN.com, but we will accept any author who has published a book. This includes authors from other countries as well as authors who are self-published (such as through Barnes & Noble NOOK Press or services like Lulu).
50.
srv
Only one man speaks to America:
On Oct. 30, Fairleigh Dickinson University released the results of a survey that asked 1,026 adults “Please tell me if you agree or disagree with the following statement: A big problem this country has is being politically correct.”
Over all, 68 percent agreed that political correctness was a big problem, including 62 percent of self-identified Democrats, 68 percent of independents and 81 percent of Republicans. These views cut across racial lines. Seventy-two percent of whites and 61 percent of nonwhites (mostly African-American and Hispanic) describe political correctness as a big problem. A Rasmussen poll in August found that 71 percent of 1,000 adults surveyed agreed with the statement that political correctness was “a problem in America today.”
The Force Awakens is the tribute band of the Star Wars franchise.
I do recall the words “Phantom Menance” being uttered in this thread. It is not possible to screw up Star Wars after what George “Darth Vader is just a whiny pre-teen” Lucas did to his own creation with the prequels.
@Enhanced Voting Techinques: The Force Awakens can be a tribute band even if The Phantom Menace was a parody band.
59.
catclub
@Mnemosyne:Stop reading to avoid (minor) spoilers.
I was amused by all the references to the stuff in episodes 4-5-6.
It became a caricature of itself. The light saber in the snow, for example. It couldn’t just be on the ground. It had to be standing up in snow. They had to mention a garbage disposal. ‘I’m going in, cover me” as they navigate a mechanical valley to the target. Is that too many spoilers?
Something weird in the reply button on unpopular cookie shapes. #56 by my count.
Schlong!
64.
scav
@JPL: Well, Duh, given that garden politeness and consideration of other persons feelings as well as following non-discrimination laws come under the heading. Going to bat for upfront rudeness and intolerance is the bedrock of conservative family values gittin’ their country back exceptional ‘mercan traditions. As for the rest, boogyman status accomplished!
65.
catclub
@Brachiator: I think the past 40 years have been very hard on Princess Leia’s teeth. Chewie’s are still fine.
Yep. How is it not “political correctness” to insist that people say “Merry Christmas”?
67.
Suzanne
I am completely congested and miserable and haven’t slept all night and I’m tired yet wired on Sudafed.
68.
The Thin Black Duke
@Enhanced Voting Techinques: In a way it’s almost tragic that they had to grab the car keys away from Lucas because he didn’t know where he was going anymore. No, The Force Awakens isn’t a “great” movie, but it didn’t have to be; it just had to be “good”, because the last three films weren’t. Hell, the prequels were so goddamned bad that if the new film was just “O.K.”, that would have been a triumph.
69.
Jay S
Your RSS feed is borked.
(cURL error 52: Empty reply from server)
70.
catclub
@Mnemosyne: When they were crawling in the mechanical duct of the Mill Falcon, I was hoping the girl was Kachansky of Red Dwarf. She is a little similar ( brown hair).
I know, how dare they put a woman, a black guy, and a Latino into the roles previously played by white men? Clearly an inferior version.
After 38 years, the series gets its first crack at a movie not bound up in the story of Darth Vader, and could conceivably go in just about any direction.
So they choose to…rehash the first film with gender and racial changes to the protagonists. They missed Prince Leo in the place of Princess Leia, I suppose.
How fresh and imaginative.
Starkiller base being able to blow up four planets at a time instead of one, really made it extra scary though (fap, fap, fap). I was on the edge of my seat wondering if the X-wing trench run was going to be successful in hitting its weak spot.
72.
Sad_Dem
@maurinsky: How about a relative who always calls it Paco Bell?
I know, so weak when they only have gender and race changes, because nobody cares about that shit. Why couldn’t they have left everyone a white dude like everyone knows the story is supposed to be? Why does everything have to be so politically correct? Can’t a guy just fap to an action movie without having politics shoved in his face?
Grievance: All the new christmas cookie recipes Im trying seem to have a dry to wet unbalance. Rolling out the dough is a pain; may switch everything to drop cookies.
TCMs lineup today seems to be for those folks who whine about putting Christ back in Christmas.
I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed, but Obama is always very careful to say, “God bless the United States of America.” It’s a tiny difference, but it really does change the effect.
83.
scav
@Mnemosyne: Well, it would be better if they could manage to gift the expanded universe of actors with actual stories of their own rather than re-treads and hand-me-downs, which may have been more of the point. Shouldn’t we rather be beyond the point where merely casting a girl or POC is in itself transgressive, earth-shattering and innovative?
84.
PurpleGirl
The commercials begging for charitable contributions — the animal organizations with pictures of hurt and homeless animals, the children’s hospitals, the children’s aide organizations, and wounded warrior project. All of them just XXX cents per day, YYY per month.
I know, so weak when they only have gender and race changes, because nobody cares about that shit. Why couldn’t they have left everyone a white dude like everyone knows the story is supposed to be? Why does everything have to be so politically correct? Can’t a guy just fap to an action movie without having politics shoved in his face?
Yep, cosmetic changes are the hallmark of a quality film. The X-wings and TIE fighters even come in black now! How cool is that? Maybe they can get really daring in Ep. VIII and roll out some red and blue ones! And Rey can go to the swamp world of Baygodah, looking for the great Jedi Master Doya, the long lost sister of Yoda.
A new story AND new characters is just too much to ask for. Just drink your kool aid and accept the greatness of superficial changes from Mickey Mouse, Inc.
86.
The Thin Black Duke
@Mnemosyne: Yep. It shouldn’t be a big deal but it is. And unfortunately, for some idiotic white guys in SF fandom, the idea of having a woman and two non-white men as the leads in The Force Awakens was blasphemy. These was probably the same guys who were outraged that the character of Rue from The Hunger Games was portrayed by a black girl. Maybe it’s silly, but I remember how important it was to me to see Uhuru on the deck of the Enterprise.
87.
Josie
@Shell: That is why I prefer bar cookies or those you roll in a ball by hand. I have always hated rolling out dough. I will do it if I must – for pie crusts or my gingerbread house pieces – but I refuse to do it for cookies.
88.
Gravenstone
@Eclare: I think enduring the interminable Trump threads should count as a feat of strength.
Starkiller base being able to blow up four planets at a time instead of one, really made it extra scary though
Yeah, the scene where they compare the size of the starkiller to the deathstar crossed the line from tribute band to parody. Not that it really matters, the battles were good and the characters weren’t people I wanted to cram into a rocket for a one-way trip to the surface of the sun, so I’m good.
We *should* be past that point but, sadly, the reaction by some (not you!) to the movie is showing that we’re not and there are still a whole lot of people who can’t accept a woman or POC as the lead of a sci-fi film.
It wasn’t great cinema, but it was enjoyable and I liked the in-jokes (which is what people called them before they could get sneery about “fan service”). One does wonder why the bad guys keep going back to the same weapon over and over again, but after RoTJ, it came across more as an extended in-joke more than anything else. Since the humor was what really got lost in the prequels, I was definitely glad to see it back in this one.
And, honestly, I’m not a big enough fan to have ever delved into the extended universe stuff, so it doesn’t bother me not to see it there.
Yeah, I placed my order for 2-1/2# tenderloin (for boeuf bourguignon) and it’s going to run me about $80. I provide the beef every Christmas, and every Christmas I am stunned at the price.
(Should add, though, that I eat red meat so seldom that when I do have it, I want the best available, and refuse to go with inferior cuts. So mustn’t grumble about the cost, I guess.)
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym:
I have a publisher for all that, and boy, am I grateful, ’cause when I was doing self-publishing I was wandering lost at sea. I wish you all the best of luck, and urge you to look at small presses. Check their reputation online to make sure they’re not scams, of course.
@Roger Moore:
Yes. My publisher got one specifically because my books were getting interest. The last I heard was ‘They want to see the whole series, first, because Hollywood likes serieses.’
Lucas had the monumental task of establishing the unique culture and structure of an extinct Force-based peacekeeping arm of a galactic democratic republic while sowing the seeds for the destruction of said peacekeeping arm. He justified an eventual takeover of a galactic democracy by a galactic autocracy and came up with a gray-area justification for expendable human lives (Stormtroopers). He also had to introduce a time when Darth Vader was innocent and seemingly incorruptible, Luke and Leia’s parents, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the person who would become the emperor. He accomplished this while introducing the basis of one of the best N64 racing games of all time and fight choreography that would become the basis of one of the best RPG games of all time (Knights of the Old Republic).
Yes, Lucas had execution problems and ruining the mysticism of the Force and introducing a character who spoke in ludling were both inadvisable moves. But he has a hell of an imagination, and The Phantom Menace does reflect that very well.
As for grievances, I’m still upset that there isn’t an actual cure to the “common” cold yet, because I have the sniffles, and this is bullshit.
Gonna do a standing rib roast for Xmas dinner. Herbed salt crust. May be a disaster, in which case the duck confit should help. Duck fat salves wounds.
Well, it would be better if they could manage to gift the expanded universe of actors with actual stories of their own rather than re-treads and hand-me-downs, which may have been more of the point. Shouldn’t we rather be beyond the point where merely casting a girl or POC is in itself transgressive, earth-shattering and innovative?
This x1000.
It’s 2015, not 1970. There are plenty of interesting action and sci-fi films with female protagonists. Ellen Ripley as the principle character in Alien was a bold move when Ridley Scott did it in 1979, but no one would have remembered much about it had not also been a compelling story.
97.
oldster
Grievance:
I come to this site to read tales of an accident-prone West-Virginian, low-brow smack-talking about sports and entertainment, and see a steady diet of pet pics.
And I get it! Plenty of it!
But then I also get Richard Mayhew writing some of the best-informed analysis and reporting on health insurance and Obamacare of any site on the web. I learn as much from his posts as from any source on the web–I’m pretty sure Ezra Klein learns stuff about health care from Mayhew’s posts.
What’s up with that? Did I ask to be informed? Did I ask to be edified? Did I ask to have the tone raised?
No! I’m aggrieved.
98.
Bobby Thomson
The Force Awakens uses thematic similarities to highlight differences.
Somebody had a quote a few days ago by a famous science fiction writer in 1977 bemoaning the fact that the cast of “Star Wars” looked like they were from a corn-fed Midwestern college, so it’s not like it’s the first time it’s ever come up.
At this point, my feeling is that if it’s such a minor thing to have an integrated cast, why NOT do it? But, of course, it’s not really minor to the people who complain about John Boyega being the co-lead of the film.
100.
The Thin Black Duke
@Mnemosyne: Thing is, as innovative as the original “Star Wars” was in its day, its melanin-free universe was the same old same old.
I bought a leave-in meat thermometer so I can make sure my roast gets to the proper temperature since I spent $100 on the damn thing. I’m hoping to hit somewhere between medium-rare and medium since bloody rare is NOT going to go over with my family of picky eaters.
Somebody had a quote a few days ago by a famous science fiction writer in 1977 bemoaning the fact that the cast of “Star Wars” looked like they were from a corn-fed Midwestern college, so it’s not like it’s the first time it’s ever come up.
At this point, my feeling is that if it’s such a minor thing to have an integrated cast, why NOT do it? But, of course, it’s not really minor to the people who complain about John Boyega being the co-lead of the film.
I would also go so far as to say that the characterization of Finn was not terribly progressive or innovative for the most part. The white lady was the one who was uber competent and good at everything. Finn was the black comedy relief, there to highlight what a klutz he was in comparison to Rey’s all around awesomeness, and draw laughs. His one scene that portrayed him in a fully positive light was his duel with Ren. But even at that, he was one-upped by Rey again. Poe, on the other hand, was a non-entity for most of the film.
We *should* be past that point but, sadly, the reaction by some (not you!) to the movie is showing that we’re not and there are still a whole lot of people who can’t accept a woman or POC as the lead of a sci-fi film.
Chauncey Devega visited some conservative blogs to see what they were saying about Star Wars and other films… it wasn’t pretty.
104.
goblue72
@Mnemosyne: The reverse sear method is fairly foolproof, but you do need to allow for a lot of time. You are pretty much cooking the rib roast on the oven’s warm setting for 5 hours or so. It sloooooowly comes up to the right temperature. Very hard to over-cook it that way.
105.
JustRuss
@Cacti: TIE fighters have always been black. The new TIE fighters were white. And just in time for Xmas!
@WarMunchkin: I can’t give Lucas a pass for TPM. Nobody forced him to shoot a documentary about What Happened Before A New Hope. He could have made fun movies about the pre-Empire galaxy. Instead we got….TPM and the Courtship of Darth and Natalie.
My grievance: I allow myself to get sucked into off-topic discussions about Star Wars, of which You People have too many.
Shouldn’t we rather be beyond the point where merely casting a girl or POC is in itself transgressive, earth-shattering and innovative?
We *should*, but we’re *not*. Having a female lead for what will likely be the most watched sci-fi epic of all time is pretty groundbreaking, and I’m glad for that. All things considered, although I’d like a less derivative story, encouraging a little more gender equity in the world is more valuable.
@Mnemosyne: I can be happy with a wide range of doneness. If I go out to eat I always order medium because I can live with anything between rare to well done. Mrs J is more picky but I think an end cut will suit her when the middle is reading rare.
Yes, Lucas had execution problems and ruining the mysticism of the Force and introducing a character who spoke in ludling were both inadvisable moves. But he has a hell of an imagination, and The Phantom Menace does reflect that very well.
Agree with this also.
If I had to put into one word what TFA felt like it was missing, it would be: imagination.
J.J. Abrams’ greatest talent is as a mimic, not a storyteller.
TIE fighters have always been black. The new TIE fighters were white. And just in time for Xmas!
TIEs have always been metallic gray, with black on the wings.
111.
goblue72
@Cacti: I wouldn’t disagree with that. It wasn’t Stepin Fetchit territory. But he definitely seemed written as comic relief contrast to the other characters.
112.
The Thin Black Duke
@Cacti: No, I wouldn’t agree with that dismissive characterization. For example, I thought that Finn finding his moral compass and refusing to kill the villagers in the beginning of the film was important. And Finn’s resourcefulness in rescuing Poe illustrated his intelligence. As role models go, Finn isn’t a bad one for black children to look up to.
He could have made fun movies about the pre-Empire galaxy. Instead we got….TPM and the Courtship of Darth and Natalie.
Really, the romance of Anakin and Amidala COULD have been a great story if it had only had a decent writer. The setup is great – an epic romance of lovers star-crossed by backwards and sexphobic rules from a bunch of old men, which eventually drive one of them to evil seeking to escape the unbearable and unfair stricture he lives under. It’s Lucas’s total incompetence at writing and maybe casting (Portman is a great actress but Christensen not so much) which made it awful.
114.
Germy
I know PETA are supposed to be a bunch of assholes, but it is NEVER OKAY to whip a tiger.
I’d love to see the tiger beat the shit out of that guy.
At this point, it’s really a director problem. The casting director will take his/her cues from the director, and if the director does not give specific instructions about wanting diversity onscreen, the casting director will bring in the same-old, same-old (white) types.
Casting POCs as leads is still a big box office problem, especially overseas, but that’s no excuse for having the streets of NYC look like the streets of Mayberry.
(I could also get into a long rant about people not realizing how the “classic” Hollywood movies were distorted by Southern exhibitors’ demands and the Production Code’s cowardice, but that may have to wait until I have a real keyboard.)
No, I wouldn’t agree with that dismissive characterization. For example, I thought that Finn finding his moral compass and refusing to kill the villagers in the beginning of the film was important. And Finn’s resourcefulness in rescuing Poe illustrated his intelligence.
Right up until he didn’t remember that the TIE fighters were attached to a power source in the hangar, and their escape vehicle was tethered to the wall. Silly Finn.
Once he found the white woman, his role shifted fully to punch line.
117.
The Thin Black Duke
@Fair Economist: The prequels are populated by damned good actors (Samuel Jackson, Liam Neelson, Ewan McGregor), and Lucas made all of them look bad.
118.
Bobby Thomson
@Cacti: nope. He’s a storm trooper who can aim. And he has a set of brass balls.
Well, at this point I guess you gotta grasp at whatever straws you have left.
Or in other words, you can’t argue the merits of TFA as a cinematic work or a part of a larger series, so you have to move the goalposts to “female lead!” as some sort of trump card for its completely uninspired and derivative story.
That probably was the most frustrating thing about the prequels — the seeds of an interesting story were there, but it was so poorly executed that you didn’t care about a single character.
“Force Awakens” has its share of flaws, but at least it has engaging characters that you care about.
122.
The Thin Black Duke
Maybe it’s me, I didn’t perceive Finn as a racist stereotype, so I’ll guess we’ll agree to disagree. Now “Straight Outta Compton” on the other hand…
123.
WarMunchkin
Grievance: I just realized that every Christmas is going to be taken over by Star Wars from now until the end of Disney.
Again, if you’re surprised that the sixth sequel to a popular series has a lot of callbacks, allusions, and characters in common with the previous six movies, you should probably get out more. Were you upset that Harry Potter was the hero of all of those movies? Did you demand to know why they didn’t start over with an entirely new set of characters with no reference to previous events for the sequels?
Cacti’s just mad because I’m using his own favorite tactic against him. I’m expecting a copyright infringement complaint at some point here.
126.
goblue72
@SiubhanDuinne: What on God’s green earth would you waste a perfectly good beef tenderloin (and the money) on using it for boeuf bourguignon? It’s like buying line-caught King Salmon and then using it for soup.
Unless you are making some quickie, short-cut version of boeuf bourguignon, its a waste. And frankly, less flavorful. Boeuf bourguignon demands long cooking, at low temps and using stewing meat – blade roast, beef chuck, or similar shoulder cuts. Typically lean & tough cuts but with flavor – and importantly, lined with collagen, a protein that contributes to the toughness of the cut, but which melts aways over the low, slow braising period. Which results in two things – beef which becomes fall apart tender, and more critically, a deeply flavorful, unctuous sauce for the stew.
I’ve seen some recipes out there calling for beef tenderloin for boeuf bourguignon. They typically are “short cut” recipes with much shorter cooking times that then have to come up with a hack to get the sauce to thicken and have flavor.
Stick with the original recipe. The Burgundians got it right the first time.
Grievance: I just realized that every Christmas is going to be taken over by Star Wars from now until the end of Disney.
Many of us have little or no interest in Star Wars. But Disney will never end. Eons after the earth is just radioactive soup, Mouse Ears® will be beaming images to baffled extraterrestrials.
I still say the “Star Wars Holiday Special” is the reason we haven’t been contacted.
128.
goblue72
@Mnemosyne: Agreed. When I saw TPM in the theaters, the vibe in the audience was a cross between hardcore nerds geeking out and everyone else having a “WTF” reaction.
In contrast, the audience at TFA was whooping, cheering and oohing at all the right moments. And there was big applause at the end. The vibe was more Spielberg than Lucas, but who cares. Its not like Raiders of the Lost Ark or Jaws are bad movies.
Again, if you’re surprised that the sixth sequel to a popular series has a lot of callbacks, allusions, and characters in common with the previous six movies, you should probably get out more. Were you upset that Harry Potter was the hero of all of those movies?
I found the Harry Potter stories a bore for exactly that reason.
130.
Emma
One hundred and twenty seven comments, most of which are dedicated to ripping apart a fantasy story geared towards ten year old boys. What’s next, the psychological ramifications of the proper pronunciation of vingardium levi-oh-sa?
131.
Germy
@Emma: Just wait until everyone moves from “grievances” to “feats of strength”
right. the point to some people here isn’t that it sucks that they cast more women and POC for the film, it’s that it sucks that that’s really all they did. “rehash of the jedi” and all that.
of course it’s just easier to accuse those people of being racist, sexist shitheads.
134.
goblue72
@Mnemosyne: That and its basically the plot to almost every James Bond movie, save for maybe the recent reboots with Daniel Craig. And nobody ran around complaining about that. Super Villain has a Secret Base with a Super Weapon that can destroy the world. James Bond has to sneak in and blow up the base. Rinse and repeat.
Who gives a shit. Its a popcorn action flick. Its an amusement park ride. Just enjoy the ride. It could be worse. It could be a holiday season where the popcorn flick option is Jurassic Barf. Or Lord of the Dancing Rings: The Pre-Prequel. Or Independence Day 2. (Shit – they are actually making that last one.)
135.
Mike in NC
My wife’s suitcase is floating around Atlanta International Airport. Despite the airline’s promises, not expecting it to show up until after Christmas, or maybe New Year’s Day.
136.
JustRuss
@Fair Economist: As an explanation for why Darth turns evil, yes, it’s solid, and worth exploring. I don’t know how to turn that into a good Star Wars movie, and clearly, neither did Lucas.
@Bobby Thompson: That’s a perspective I hadn’t considered, and a good read. Got me thinking about Fin:
His name, of course, references Huckleberry Finn, and he’s both Jim the escaped slave and Huck the facile but good-hearted liar. I can see how some are uncomfortable with him providing comic relief. That was Solo’s role in Eps 4-6, I’m not sure how I feel about putting a black character in that position, or if it should matter.
137.
The Thin Black Duke
@chopper: Huh? Who accused anyone of being a “racist, sexist shithead”?
138.
I'' be Frank
@Frankensteinbeck: 1999 was an ok party. We took our kids and 4 of their friends to a Hilton (with an indoor pool) The kids swam at midnight, drank carbonated caffeinated beverages till they fizzed out of noses, jumped from bed to bed, and ground handfuls of fried salted-snack foods into the carpet. We celebrated the “end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it” the best one can when one has children. Now partying like it’s 1979, maybe you should consider partying like that.
It could be worse. It could be a holiday season where the popcorn flick option is Jurassic Barf. Or Lord of the Dancing Rings: The Pre-Prequel. Or Independence Day 2. (Shit – they are actually making that last one.)
Did you know that the director of Jurassic World is slated to direct Star Wars: Episode IX? Be afraid.
@JustRuss: I usually don’t have a problem with a character being the “comic relief” (and I’m not saying that Finn is) just as long as it doesn’t reinforce bigoted stereotypes. And unfortunately, the prequels had plenty of ’em.
I can’t give Lucas a pass for TPM. Nobody forced him to shoot a documentary about What Happened Before A New Hope. He could have made fun movies about the pre-Empire galaxy. Instead we got….TPM and the Courtship of Darth and Natalie.
After watching TFA, I’ll give Lucas credit for trying new story lines, even if he lacked the skill and/or desire to pull it off.
A better writer, more interested in a good story, and less interested in licensing revenue possibilities from Jar-Jar Binks Happy Meals would have helped.
A director, who listened to his actors complaints about trying to act, in a green screen room, without any sets or props to give them an idea of the scene or setting is would have helped.
But at least you get an idea as to the limits of the Old Republic, in TPM, in keeping powerful corporations / interests under control, as well as the fact the Old Republic law and money did not mean squat in the Outer Rim planets, such as Tatooine.
I have really no clue about the New Republic or the First Order, in terms of how strong either one is.
Where did the remnants of the Empire scurry off too that they could build, not only a super weapon, but a pretty sizable conventional fleet without the New Republic stepping in and busting it up? And how far does the reach of the New Republic extend? The Empire managed to project military force all the way out to Tatooine, if needed, which the Old Republic could not do.
Even in a ANH, you find out the Empire is incredibly powerful and ruthless. There were still vestiges of the Old Republic kept together, in order to manage governance in the galaxy, such as the Imperial Senate, which was dissolved. And the Rebels are not really a match for them militarily, but managed to hit “a shot in a million” to survive to fight another day.
I liked TFA. It is well done for what it is. It is visually stunning. I just wish more explanation was given as to why the galaxy is the way it is 30 years after the Battle of Endor.
Is the First Order really a direct military threat to the New Republic? Or is this a case of a nasty insurgency / separatist movement, without the power to topple a popular government, but will end up killing a lot of people until it is put down? Or is the New Republic unpopular and on the brink of collapse and the First Order could push it over?
TFA has given me a new appreciation of Episodes I, II, and III, with regards to the ideas those episodes tried to tackle, even if the person in charge lacked the skill to pull it off.
Heading out later on today to purchase the leg o’ lamb have decided on for holiday dinner. Couscous and lima beans as sides.
As it has been chilly, toying with the idea of also whipping up cullen skink to start off the feast.
145.
SatanicPanic
It’s raining and I don’t like it. Otherwise not a ton of grievances.
146.
The Thin Black Duke
@chopper: I did. And I didn’t think she did. Then again, discussions usually turn into minefields whenever racial issues are brought up, unfortunately.
having some family over tomorrow (in laws are in town) tho we don’t celebrate Xmas. making a standing rib roast since it was on sale.
148.
goblue72
@Cacti: I got bigger things to worry about that who might or might not wind up directing a movie that won’t appear in theaters for 4 or 5 years from now. The next one is being directed by Rian Johnson, who has few quite solid movies under his belt (Brick, Looper) and one ok one (The Brothers Bloom) and Abrams has already given a big thumbs up to the script.
You really need to chill out.
149.
scav
@Mnemosyne: So, you’re really arguing for the point of arguing and scoring points by swiping techniques? Because I’m not sure that the “How dare you be unsatisfied by standard what Hollywood currently chooses to churn out” is particularly strong ground. Some people clearly liked it, others were really hoping for better. Catastrophe!
FWIW, I’m still not sure this thread has attained the heights of the Doctor Who Davis V. Moffat crusades, let alone the Classic v. NuWho militarized zone. There are more than enough Doctors to start a school of Astrology, but that might only involve more pitched battles, were it not for the mixed allegiances. Sun in Capaldi, Moon in Tennant, Rising Troughton, etc etc etc.
Nobody really apologized to you for this thread, which must be very uncomfortable, so I figured I would.
151.
JustRuss
@gene108: You’re one of those people who actually read The Silmarillion, aren’t you?
152.
goblue72
@Frankensteinbeck: Speak for yourself! I was in Amsterdam for Dec 31, 1999 with a bunch of friends, partying in the streets while thousands of drunk Amsterdammers shot military-grade fireworks into the air with improvised cannons, block after block after block. I may – or may not – have also been in an enhanced mood at the time. I most definitely was at a disco at one point in the evening. The crowds were nuts, but it was a hell of a party.
and Abrams has already given a big thumbs up to the script
In that case, trash it and start over.
154.
imonlylurking
@Frankensteinbeck: My grievance is the ebook version of your second “Please don’t tell my parents” book. It’s missing what seems to be a lengthy chunk of pages, just a few chapters in. Tyranny! Treason!
You’re one of those people who actually read The Silmarillion, aren’t you?
Yes. How could you tell?
156.
goblue72
@Cacti: Like I said, you really need to chill out. You are so obsessed with pissing in your cornflakes that your piss is now overflowing into everyone else’s cornflakes.
Like I said, you really need to chill out. You are so obsessed with pissing in your cornflakes that your piss is now overflowing into everyone else’s cornflakes.
Did that make sense in your head before you typed it?
158.
gene108
I’m fat and middle aged. I want to be thin and 25 again.
Grievances: A functional form of time travel has not been invented, where you can go back in time, data merge what you know now, with what you knew then and reset your life for a better tomorrow.
159.
Brachiator
A grievance break. I am digging into a very tasty Xmas pot luck lunch at work.
160.
goblue72
@Cacti: Oh, I think its pretty clear you are an obsessive grump.
Hollywood has always remade movies. At least half of the Silents got remade. If a film noir hit it was remade three times under varying names. And popular stars got the same movie every year until they refused it.
We are supposed to see The Movie tomorrow. It can not possibly be as bad as that thing with Jar Jar in it. I’m still in shock from that one.
As I keep saying, I won’t defend it as Great Cinema (because it ain’t) but it’s a fun popcorn movie that will let you have casual conversations with acquaintances for some months to come. Plus you can be the “cool aunt” who knows pop culture stuff to any kids in your life.
Grievance: I just realized that every Christmas is going to be taken over by Star Wars from now until the end of Disney.
Just wait until “Batman v Superman” hits the screens.
169.
catclub
From WaMonthly:
Here’s a really big story to keep an eye on:
Iraqi forces believe they are on the cusp of retaking one of the largest cities captured by the so-called Islamic State. Operations to liberate Ramadi have been ongoing since November, but security officials are saying that troops and Sunni tribal fighters have regained control of several districts in the last 48 hours, and are now advancing on the city’s main government complex.
“In the coming days will be announced the good news of the complete liberation of Ramadi,” Lieutenant General Othman al-Ghanemi told Iraqi state television, Reuters reports
Just wait until “Batman v Superman” hits the screens.
Just wait until the Justice League movies and Avengers Movies start playing the same summer and the DC and Marvel fans go at each other.
171.
Bill
Grievance: They remade Point Break?!?! Really? Of all the films that called out to be remade, the near perfect piece of cinema that is the original Point Break is pretty damn low on the list.
I don’t know what Alain just did to the mobile site, but I don’t like it. Change it back!
176.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@goblue72: Chuck and brisket have served me well in that concoction.
177.
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
@Cacti: I’m told yes. I haven’t gotten that far yet. Damned holiday obligations.
178.
feebog
Last year we lost my dad three days before Thanksgiving and my oldest granddaughter was in a horrible car accident that almost killed her on this day last year. So I have no complaints or grievances this year. We will have a full house of family for Christmas dinner. We just adopted a new rescue dog and she is working out fine. My oldest grandson will make it home for Christmas. My granddaughter is fully recovered. My middle grandson just graduated from Jobcorps. My Mom is coping with the loss of my Dad better than anyone could imagine. I had the best year businesswise in my 11 year post-retirement career. I had a stress test on my heart this morning and blew through it. I have a bad tear in the meniscus in my left knee, going to get it fixed next month. I’m downwind from the huge and ongoing gas leak in Porter Ranch, but have suffered no ill effects. Happy Holidays BJers.
179.
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
@chopper: There’s talk of remaking Big Trouble in Little China.
In the past year I have had a (much younger) friend, niece of best friend next door, a wonderful person, die, either of mysterious CNS disease which she was diagnosed with too late for standard effective treatments to help much, or of self-administered pain relief medication.
Two cousins that I love dearly had serious medical issues, one lost control of her legs and was helicoptered to U Hospital ER where they ruled out stroke and found stray voltages in her frontal lobe, so they diagnosed her with a mysterious seizure problem and sent her home with anti-seizure meds.
Other had surgery in the summer, where cancer was found and given standard treatment, which appears to have been completely successful. Her brother was a couple of years older than I and died of esophageal cancer a couple of years ago. It was quite fast, I was able to visit with him and he shared a bit of wisdom with me and my cousin who went up with me – “I don’t regret any of the things I’ve done – I regret the things I haven’t done!”
After hearing that I retired the day I was qualified – I have been doing things I wouldn’t regret ever since. Same with my cousin B who went with me, became a whistleblower at his employment, wore a wire for 2 years, and a gun. Retired about when I did. Prosecutors decided not to indict the criminals after all that worry.
But he’s retired now, and doing other things he won’t regret.
You go and do things you won’t regret too – it’s the only good revenge against getting older and losing friends and loves who span ended too soon.
benw
Well, this blog sucks for one thing, and the posts are so infrequent, too!
Frankensteinbeck
Is it really THAT hard for my publisher to get back to me with ‘Yes, the editing process is complete, you’re free’?
JustRuss
Commence? When did it stop?
kindness
Wingnutz.
That’s all. Wingnutz piss me off.
Felonius Monk
Grievance #1: See Grievance #2
Grievance #2: See Grievance #1
That is all.
Sloegin
6 pages of comments in a popular tech and science blog (Ars) about poverty stunting IQ in the US but not other countries, and only 2 commenters can figure out it MIGHT be related to how we fund schools in this country (via property taxes).
Groan.
burnspbesq
Grievances? Let’s see.
Naw. Insufficient time to list them all.
Cacti
Grievance:
The Force Awakens sucked. I just can’t drink the kool aid and say I loved it. It sucked harder than the new death star…err…starkiller base sucked the energy from stars. It was high budget fan fiction, without a bone of originality in its fetid body. J.J. Abrams remains an overrated hack.
My person title for the film is “A Lost Hope”.
Ahhhh. That feels better.
gogol's wife
People keep dying all around me. It sucks.
Cermet
@Cacti: At least the director is batting a 1000 with his previous remake of Star Trek. But I had hoped he’d at least just muck it up, not Star Trek it … .
Linda Featheringill
@gogol’s wife:
Bless you.
Nowadays, when I google folks I went to high school with I run into their obituaries. It does suck.
Mnemosyne
I went to buy a “Star Wars” shirt for my nephew and the only sizes they had were kids XS. He’s 13. I ended up getting an adult S, which is going to be hopelessly too big.
dlwchico
The company I work for did over half a billion dollar in sales last year and even more this year.
Our holiday bonus, which was based on tenure (I’ve been there 5 years) was 50 bucks.
Fuck corporate America.
Mnemosyne
@Cacti:
Either you have a rosy-eyed view of the merits of the original (it ain’t that great) or you never got around to seeing the prequels. At worst, “Force Awakens” is in the middle of the pack.
Betty Cracker
I Febrezed my sofa, and now my dogs smell like Febreze, but the sofa still smells like dogs. WTF?!?!?
Arcadia Berger
@gogol’s wife: Holding you in the Light, for whatever that is worth.
Debbie
@gogol’s wife:
Always, and it never gets less painful.
scav
@Sloegin: Well, apparently we’ve had exceptional poverty here for multiple generations.
Cacti
@Mnemosyne:
The great thing about opinions is, we can all have one.
Mine is that The Force Awakens sucked.
If the original “ain’t that great”, the beta copy of it in theatres must really be the pits.
Anoniminous
@Sloegin:
Ars Technica is heavily populated by Silicon Valley dudebros. People exploring the Dunning-Kruger Effect could profitably use the site for research purposes.
Mnemosyne
@Cacti:
Just saying, if you think “Force Awakens” is worse than “Phantom Menace,” I’m not sure I trust your taste in motion pictures.
raven
Got the two recycled double hung window trimmed (after a fashion) now I have decide if I’m going to tackle the bay window or wait until after xmas.
Amir Khalid
@Betty Cracker:
Check back very carefully. Are you sure it was the sofa that got the Febreze?
Bobby Thomson
@Mnemosyne: I actually think Return of the Jedi may be worse. I tried watching it the other night and it really hasn’t aged well. IV and V are cheesy but still hold up well.
maurinsky
Pachelbel’s Canon in D, I got a problem with you and everyone who plays you during Christmas.
Mnemosyne
Also, if any original “Star Wars” fans really want to be freaked out, Mark Hamill is one year older in “Force Awakens” than Alec Guinness was in “Star Wars.”
JustRuss
@Cacti: Meh, I went in with low hopes, and I have to say they were exceeded. Sure, Abrams basically remade Episode 4, but he checked off the right boxes while changing enough to make it enjoyable, for me at least. They can’t really get away with that in the next movie. Crap, now that I think about it, maybe they can. I’m hoping they’ll come up with a decent screen play, but not going to bet on it.
Roger Moore
@dlwchico:
You get a holiday bonus? You should be happy!
JustRuss
@Mnemosyne: Thanks. My out is indeed freaked.
The Thin Black Duke
I enjoyed The Force Awakens and it was a pleasant surprise considering that I absolutely loathed what J.J. Abrams did to Star Trek. And happily, I stopped caring about what people thought about the things I like a long time ago.
Cacti
@Mnemosyne:
The Force Awakens is the tribute band of the Star Wars franchise. Everything about it feels like the writers were given a checkbox form from Mickey Mouse Inc., of mandatory nostalgia that had to be shoehorned into the script.
I have some hope for Episode VIII, knowing that J.J. Abrams will have no involvement with it.
Episode IX will probably also be crap, as it will be handled by the director of Jurassic World.
Frankensteinbeck
Okay, previous grievance canceled. Editing is complete, and the third Please Don’t Tell My Parents I’m A Supervillain book releases February 8th, with preorders starting by January 10th. WOO! Time to party like we supposedly partied in 1999, but didn’t actually!
maurinsky
I’ve never seen any Star Wars movies, but I did re-watch John Boyega in Attack the Block with my daughter last night.
Eclare
What about the feats of strength?
waysel
All of this Star Wars commentary sucks. (Ducks)
gogol's wife
@Arcadia Berger: @Debbie: @Linda Featheringill:
Thanks. None of them are relatives, but five colleagues in the last six weeks, and other people who aren’t doing so well. I guess it’s too serious for Festivus, but other things don’t seem so annoying all of a sudden.
The Thin Black Duke
@maurinsky: Boyega is a fine actor and he does a good job in The Force Awakens. And his chemistry with Daisy Ridley is wonderful.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@Frankensteinbeck: I wish I wasn’t feeling as lost in the publication process as I am. I should get second pages back early next week. The Kirkus review is due back by Jan 4th. After that, it’s assemble the back cover and then send it to press, and then . . . I don’t know.
I’ve tried to set up a Goodreads page for it, but they seem to want to be able to link to something where it’s on sale. I’ve looked through how to sell on iBooks, and mostly remembered why I don’t like Apple. I need to check out Amazon and Smashwords soon for how to set things up there.
Fortunately, between my parents and grandmother, I got enough Christmas money that I won’t have any trouble covering unforeseen expenses. And I’m counting on my consultant to help me deal with Ingram-Spark.
Mnemosyne
@Cacti:
I know, how dare they put a woman, a black guy, and a Latino into the roles previously played by white men? Clearly an inferior version.
lethargytartare
@maurinsky:
a friend of mine from high school has something to say about that:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM
Brachiator
@Mnemosyne:
Mark Hamill’s dialog was great in “The Force Awakens.”
ETA: A grievance. I hate fricking reviews of smartphones that complain about bloatware, but don’t let you know exactly how much (in GB) there actually is. Are we supposed to guess?
Roger Moore
@Frankensteinbeck:
Woo-hoo! Do you have an agent to shop it in Hollywood yet?
Mnemosyne
@Bobby Thomson:
I re-watched the original “Star Wars” a couple of weeks ago. I still enjoy it, but it hasn’t aged all that well.
Though I realize now that Mark Hamill is doing an imitation of Richard Dreyfuss’s voice — re-watch “American Graffiti” and you’ll see what I mean. It makes sense now that Hamill has had so much subsequent success as a voice actor.
Mnemosyne
@Brachiator:
And yet he got second billing. He must have a really great agent!
Iowa Old Lady
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: Smashwords is easy to use and will distribute to several platforms. Are you setting up an author page on Goodreads, or one for the book? The author one is easy. I don’t know about the book because I didn’t do that one for myself, just claimed it once it was up.
Mnemosyne
Moving on to non-movie related grievances, I’m annoyed that a 4-rib roast costs $100 no matter where you buy it. And there is no way in hell I’m going to be able to finish a scarf for my nephew since I haven’t even started it yet.
lethargytartare
I’m annoyed at being in moderation
Betty Cracker
@Mnemosyne: Really? Jesus. I feel little sympathy for the object of that cheap shot since he is capable of similar flights of absurdity, but that’s a bullshit comment.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@Iowa Old Lady: Goodreads says pretty clearly that it’s author program is for people who have published a book:
srv
Only one man speaks to America:
Debbie
@Cacti:
Fewer words have been more truthfully spoken.
Debbie
Bet they all define political correctness a million different ways.
JPL
@srv: Very cool! The second question should have been what do you mean by political correctness…
Debbie beat me to it.
Cermet
@Mnemosyne: Those were the best things and actually, they were trained actors who (finally) could, well, act!
Enhanced Voting Techinques
@Cacti:
I do recall the words “Phantom Menance” being uttered in this thread. It is not possible to screw up Star Wars after what George “Darth Vader is just a whiny pre-teen” Lucas did to his own creation with the prequels.
Fair Economist
@gogol’s wife: So sorry to hear that.
Shell
Unpopular Christmas cookie shapes.
Fair Economist
@Enhanced Voting Techinques: The Force Awakens can be a tribute band even if The Phantom Menace was a parody band.
catclub
@Mnemosyne:Stop reading to avoid (minor) spoilers.
I was amused by all the references to the stuff in episodes 4-5-6.
It became a caricature of itself. The light saber in the snow, for example. It couldn’t just be on the ground. It had to be standing up in snow. They had to mention a garbage disposal. ‘I’m going in, cover me” as they navigate a mechanical valley to the target. Is that too many spoilers?
Mnemosyne
@Betty Cracker:
I admit, it was inspired by the bullshit he so frequently aims at others. It’s the airing of the year’s grievances, after all.
Iowa Old Lady
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: Hm. I guess I’d published academic books when I made my author page. I didn’t think of that.
Debbie
Rand’s taking Festivus seriously:
http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/23/politics/rand-paul-festivus/
catclub
Something weird in the reply button on unpopular cookie shapes. #56 by my count.
Schlong!
scav
@JPL: Well, Duh, given that garden politeness and consideration of other persons feelings as well as following non-discrimination laws come under the heading. Going to bat for upfront rudeness and intolerance is the bedrock of conservative family values gittin’ their country back exceptional ‘mercan traditions. As for the rest, boogyman status accomplished!
catclub
@Brachiator: I think the past 40 years have been very hard on Princess Leia’s teeth. Chewie’s are still fine.
Mnemosyne
@Debbie:
Yep. How is it not “political correctness” to insist that people say “Merry Christmas”?
Suzanne
I am completely congested and miserable and haven’t slept all night and I’m tired yet wired on Sudafed.
The Thin Black Duke
@Enhanced Voting Techinques: In a way it’s almost tragic that they had to grab the car keys away from Lucas because he didn’t know where he was going anymore. No, The Force Awakens isn’t a “great” movie, but it didn’t have to be; it just had to be “good”, because the last three films weren’t. Hell, the prequels were so goddamned bad that if the new film was just “O.K.”, that would have been a triumph.
Jay S
Your RSS feed is borked.
(cURL error 52: Empty reply from server)
catclub
@Mnemosyne: When they were crawling in the mechanical duct of the Mill Falcon, I was hoping the girl was Kachansky of Red Dwarf. She is a little similar ( brown hair).
Cacti
@Mnemosyne:
After 38 years, the series gets its first crack at a movie not bound up in the story of Darth Vader, and could conceivably go in just about any direction.
So they choose to…rehash the first film with gender and racial changes to the protagonists. They missed Prince Leo in the place of Princess Leia, I suppose.
How fresh and imaginative.
Starkiller base being able to blow up four planets at a time instead of one, really made it extra scary though (fap, fap, fap). I was on the edge of my seat wondering if the X-wing trench run was going to be successful in hitting its weak spot.
Sad_Dem
@maurinsky: How about a relative who always calls it Paco Bell?
Mnemosyne
@Fair Economist:
You can still have a fun party with a tribute band playing, especially if they have a sense of humor about it.
“That’s not how the Force works!”
Betty Cracker
@Mnemosyne: In that case, carry on! :)
scav
@Mnemosyne: Not to mention the mandatory flag tie-pins of Patriotism! and the boiler-plate ending of God Bless America.
oklahomo
I thought I had no grievances until I saw this on the CNN homepage earlier today:
“World awaits Kardashian holiday card”
That is news?
Germy
New “Fifty Shades of Black” trailer
Marlon Wayans, MIke Epps and Florence Henderson!
Sad_Dem
@Cacti:
Also overpaid. See also Kenny G., Stephenie Meyer, E. L. James, pundits, CEOs, the F-35, and Michelle Rhee.
Shell
Hmmm,
Link didn’t go thru
Unpopular Christmas cookie shapes.
http://www.cartoonstock.com/cartoonview.asp?catref=smtn421&ANDkeyword=cookies&NOTkeyword=&TITLEkeyword=&categories=All+Categories&artists=152&mainArchive=mainArchive&newsCartoon=newsCartoon&vintage=vintage&colorOption1=colour&colorOption2=blackWhite&orientationOption1=portrait&orientationOption2=landscape&cp=0&limit=12
Mnemosyne
@Cacti:
I know, so weak when they only have gender and race changes, because nobody cares about that shit. Why couldn’t they have left everyone a white dude like everyone knows the story is supposed to be? Why does everything have to be so politically correct? Can’t a guy just fap to an action movie without having politics shoved in his face?
Shell
Grievance: All the new christmas cookie recipes Im trying seem to have a dry to wet unbalance. Rolling out the dough is a pain; may switch everything to drop cookies.
TCMs lineup today seems to be for those folks who whine about putting Christ back in Christmas.
Mnemosyne
@scav:
I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed, but Obama is always very careful to say, “God bless the United States of America.” It’s a tiny difference, but it really does change the effect.
scav
@Mnemosyne: Well, it would be better if they could manage to gift the expanded universe of actors with actual stories of their own rather than re-treads and hand-me-downs, which may have been more of the point. Shouldn’t we rather be beyond the point where merely casting a girl or POC is in itself transgressive, earth-shattering and innovative?
PurpleGirl
The commercials begging for charitable contributions — the animal organizations with pictures of hurt and homeless animals, the children’s hospitals, the children’s aide organizations, and wounded warrior project. All of them just XXX cents per day, YYY per month.
Cacti
@Mnemosyne:
Yep, cosmetic changes are the hallmark of a quality film. The X-wings and TIE fighters even come in black now! How cool is that? Maybe they can get really daring in Ep. VIII and roll out some red and blue ones! And Rey can go to the swamp world of Baygodah, looking for the great Jedi Master Doya, the long lost sister of Yoda.
A new story AND new characters is just too much to ask for. Just drink your kool aid and accept the greatness of superficial changes from Mickey Mouse, Inc.
The Thin Black Duke
@Mnemosyne: Yep. It shouldn’t be a big deal but it is. And unfortunately, for some idiotic white guys in SF fandom, the idea of having a woman and two non-white men as the leads in The Force Awakens was blasphemy. These was probably the same guys who were outraged that the character of Rue from The Hunger Games was portrayed by a black girl. Maybe it’s silly, but I remember how important it was to me to see Uhuru on the deck of the Enterprise.
Josie
@Shell: That is why I prefer bar cookies or those you roll in a ball by hand. I have always hated rolling out dough. I will do it if I must – for pie crusts or my gingerbread house pieces – but I refuse to do it for cookies.
Gravenstone
@Eclare: I think enduring the interminable Trump threads should count as a feat of strength.
JustRuss
@Cacti:
Yeah, the scene where they compare the size of the starkiller to the deathstar crossed the line from tribute band to parody. Not that it really matters, the battles were good and the characters weren’t people I wanted to cram into a rocket for a one-way trip to the surface of the sun, so I’m good.
Mnemosyne
@scav:
We *should* be past that point but, sadly, the reaction by some (not you!) to the movie is showing that we’re not and there are still a whole lot of people who can’t accept a woman or POC as the lead of a sci-fi film.
It wasn’t great cinema, but it was enjoyable and I liked the in-jokes (which is what people called them before they could get sneery about “fan service”). One does wonder why the bad guys keep going back to the same weapon over and over again, but after RoTJ, it came across more as an extended in-joke more than anything else. Since the humor was what really got lost in the prequels, I was definitely glad to see it back in this one.
And, honestly, I’m not a big enough fan to have ever delved into the extended universe stuff, so it doesn’t bother me not to see it there.
SiubhanDuinne
@Mnemosyne:
Yeah, I placed my order for 2-1/2# tenderloin (for boeuf bourguignon) and it’s going to run me about $80. I provide the beef every Christmas, and every Christmas I am stunned at the price.
(Should add, though, that I eat red meat so seldom that when I do have it, I want the best available, and refuse to go with inferior cuts. So mustn’t grumble about the cost, I guess.)
Mnemosyne
@Cacti:
You expected the sixth sequel to a wildly successful series to have a new story and new characters? Have you ever seen a Hollywood movie before?
Frankensteinbeck
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym:
I have a publisher for all that, and boy, am I grateful, ’cause when I was doing self-publishing I was wandering lost at sea. I wish you all the best of luck, and urge you to look at small presses. Check their reputation online to make sure they’re not scams, of course.
@Roger Moore:
Yes. My publisher got one specifically because my books were getting interest. The last I heard was ‘They want to see the whole series, first, because Hollywood likes serieses.’
WarMunchkin
@Enhanced Voting Techinques: Yeah I’ll defend The Phantom Menace.
Lucas had the monumental task of establishing the unique culture and structure of an extinct Force-based peacekeeping arm of a galactic democratic republic while sowing the seeds for the destruction of said peacekeeping arm. He justified an eventual takeover of a galactic democracy by a galactic autocracy and came up with a gray-area justification for expendable human lives (Stormtroopers). He also had to introduce a time when Darth Vader was innocent and seemingly incorruptible, Luke and Leia’s parents, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the person who would become the emperor. He accomplished this while introducing the basis of one of the best N64 racing games of all time and fight choreography that would become the basis of one of the best RPG games of all time (Knights of the Old Republic).
Yes, Lucas had execution problems and ruining the mysticism of the Force and introducing a character who spoke in ludling were both inadvisable moves. But he has a hell of an imagination, and The Phantom Menace does reflect that very well.
As for grievances, I’m still upset that there isn’t an actual cure to the “common” cold yet, because I have the sniffles, and this is bullshit.
jeffreyw
Gonna do a standing rib roast for Xmas dinner. Herbed salt crust. May be a disaster, in which case the duck confit should help. Duck fat salves wounds.
Cacti
@scav:
This x1000.
It’s 2015, not 1970. There are plenty of interesting action and sci-fi films with female protagonists. Ellen Ripley as the principle character in Alien was a bold move when Ridley Scott did it in 1979, but no one would have remembered much about it had not also been a compelling story.
oldster
Grievance:
I come to this site to read tales of an accident-prone West-Virginian, low-brow smack-talking about sports and entertainment, and see a steady diet of pet pics.
And I get it! Plenty of it!
But then I also get Richard Mayhew writing some of the best-informed analysis and reporting on health insurance and Obamacare of any site on the web. I learn as much from his posts as from any source on the web–I’m pretty sure Ezra Klein learns stuff about health care from Mayhew’s posts.
What’s up with that? Did I ask to be informed? Did I ask to be edified? Did I ask to have the tone raised?
No! I’m aggrieved.
Bobby Thomson
The Force Awakens uses thematic similarities to highlight differences.
Rey is the anti-Luke.
Mnemosyne
@The Thin Black Duke:
Somebody had a quote a few days ago by a famous science fiction writer in 1977 bemoaning the fact that the cast of “Star Wars” looked like they were from a corn-fed Midwestern college, so it’s not like it’s the first time it’s ever come up.
At this point, my feeling is that if it’s such a minor thing to have an integrated cast, why NOT do it? But, of course, it’s not really minor to the people who complain about John Boyega being the co-lead of the film.
The Thin Black Duke
@Mnemosyne: Thing is, as innovative as the original “Star Wars” was in its day, its melanin-free universe was the same old same old.
Mnemosyne
@jeffreyw:
I bought a leave-in meat thermometer so I can make sure my roast gets to the proper temperature since I spent $100 on the damn thing. I’m hoping to hit somewhere between medium-rare and medium since bloody rare is NOT going to go over with my family of picky eaters.
Cacti
@Mnemosyne:
I would also go so far as to say that the characterization of Finn was not terribly progressive or innovative for the most part. The white lady was the one who was uber competent and good at everything. Finn was the black comedy relief, there to highlight what a klutz he was in comparison to Rey’s all around awesomeness, and draw laughs. His one scene that portrayed him in a fully positive light was his duel with Ren. But even at that, he was one-upped by Rey again. Poe, on the other hand, was a non-entity for most of the film.
Germy
@Mnemosyne:
Chauncey Devega visited some conservative blogs to see what they were saying about Star Wars and other films… it wasn’t pretty.
goblue72
@Mnemosyne: The reverse sear method is fairly foolproof, but you do need to allow for a lot of time. You are pretty much cooking the rib roast on the oven’s warm setting for 5 hours or so. It sloooooowly comes up to the right temperature. Very hard to over-cook it that way.
JustRuss
@Cacti: TIE fighters have always been black. The new TIE fighters were white. And just in time for Xmas!
@WarMunchkin: I can’t give Lucas a pass for TPM. Nobody forced him to shoot a documentary about What Happened Before A New Hope. He could have made fun movies about the pre-Empire galaxy. Instead we got….TPM and the Courtship of Darth and Natalie.
My grievance: I allow myself to get sucked into off-topic discussions about Star Wars, of which You People have too many.
Fair Economist
@scav:
We *should*, but we’re *not*. Having a female lead for what will likely be the most watched sci-fi epic of all time is pretty groundbreaking, and I’m glad for that. All things considered, although I’d like a less derivative story, encouraging a little more gender equity in the world is more valuable.
jeffreyw
@Mnemosyne: I can be happy with a wide range of doneness. If I go out to eat I always order medium because I can live with anything between rare to well done. Mrs J is more picky but I think an end cut will suit her when the middle is reading rare.
Cacti
@WarMunchkin:
Agree with this also.
If I had to put into one word what TFA felt like it was missing, it would be: imagination.
J.J. Abrams’ greatest talent is as a mimic, not a storyteller.
Felonious Monk
@Betty Cracker: Drunken Auntie after party?
Cacti
@JustRuss:
TIEs have always been metallic gray, with black on the wings.
goblue72
@Cacti: I wouldn’t disagree with that. It wasn’t Stepin Fetchit territory. But he definitely seemed written as comic relief contrast to the other characters.
The Thin Black Duke
@Cacti: No, I wouldn’t agree with that dismissive characterization. For example, I thought that Finn finding his moral compass and refusing to kill the villagers in the beginning of the film was important. And Finn’s resourcefulness in rescuing Poe illustrated his intelligence. As role models go, Finn isn’t a bad one for black children to look up to.
Fair Economist
@JustRuss:
Really, the romance of Anakin and Amidala COULD have been a great story if it had only had a decent writer. The setup is great – an epic romance of lovers star-crossed by backwards and sexphobic rules from a bunch of old men, which eventually drive one of them to evil seeking to escape the unbearable and unfair stricture he lives under. It’s Lucas’s total incompetence at writing and maybe casting (Portman is a great actress but Christensen not so much) which made it awful.
Germy
I know PETA are supposed to be a bunch of assholes, but it is NEVER OKAY to whip a tiger.
I’d love to see the tiger beat the shit out of that guy.
Mnemosyne
@The Thin Black Duke:
At this point, it’s really a director problem. The casting director will take his/her cues from the director, and if the director does not give specific instructions about wanting diversity onscreen, the casting director will bring in the same-old, same-old (white) types.
Casting POCs as leads is still a big box office problem, especially overseas, but that’s no excuse for having the streets of NYC look like the streets of Mayberry.
(I could also get into a long rant about people not realizing how the “classic” Hollywood movies were distorted by Southern exhibitors’ demands and the Production Code’s cowardice, but that may have to wait until I have a real keyboard.)
Cacti
@The Thin Black Duke:
Right up until he didn’t remember that the TIE fighters were attached to a power source in the hangar, and their escape vehicle was tethered to the wall. Silly Finn.
Once he found the white woman, his role shifted fully to punch line.
The Thin Black Duke
@Fair Economist: The prequels are populated by damned good actors (Samuel Jackson, Liam Neelson, Ewan McGregor), and Lucas made all of them look bad.
Bobby Thomson
@Cacti: nope. He’s a storm trooper who can aim. And he has a set of brass balls.
Mnemosyne
@Cacti:
Well, at this point I guess you gotta grasp at whatever straws you have left.
Cacti
@Mnemosyne:
Or in other words, you can’t argue the merits of TFA as a cinematic work or a part of a larger series, so you have to move the goalposts to “female lead!” as some sort of trump card for its completely uninspired and derivative story.
Mnemosyne
@Fair Economist:
That probably was the most frustrating thing about the prequels — the seeds of an interesting story were there, but it was so poorly executed that you didn’t care about a single character.
“Force Awakens” has its share of flaws, but at least it has engaging characters that you care about.
The Thin Black Duke
Maybe it’s me, I didn’t perceive Finn as a racist stereotype, so I’ll guess we’ll agree to disagree. Now “Straight Outta Compton” on the other hand…
WarMunchkin
Grievance: I just realized that every Christmas is going to be taken over by Star Wars from now until the end of Disney.
Mnemosyne
@Cacti:
Again, if you’re surprised that the sixth sequel to a popular series has a lot of callbacks, allusions, and characters in common with the previous six movies, you should probably get out more. Were you upset that Harry Potter was the hero of all of those movies? Did you demand to know why they didn’t start over with an entirely new set of characters with no reference to previous events for the sequels?
Mnemosyne
@The Thin Black Duke:
Cacti’s just mad because I’m using his own favorite tactic against him. I’m expecting a copyright infringement complaint at some point here.
goblue72
@SiubhanDuinne: What on God’s green earth would you waste a perfectly good beef tenderloin (and the money) on using it for boeuf bourguignon? It’s like buying line-caught King Salmon and then using it for soup.
Unless you are making some quickie, short-cut version of boeuf bourguignon, its a waste. And frankly, less flavorful. Boeuf bourguignon demands long cooking, at low temps and using stewing meat – blade roast, beef chuck, or similar shoulder cuts. Typically lean & tough cuts but with flavor – and importantly, lined with collagen, a protein that contributes to the toughness of the cut, but which melts aways over the low, slow braising period. Which results in two things – beef which becomes fall apart tender, and more critically, a deeply flavorful, unctuous sauce for the stew.
I’ve seen some recipes out there calling for beef tenderloin for boeuf bourguignon. They typically are “short cut” recipes with much shorter cooking times that then have to come up with a hack to get the sauce to thicken and have flavor.
Stick with the original recipe. The Burgundians got it right the first time.
Germy
@WarMunchkin:
Many of us have little or no interest in Star Wars. But Disney will never end. Eons after the earth is just radioactive soup, Mouse Ears® will be beaming images to baffled extraterrestrials.
I still say the “Star Wars Holiday Special” is the reason we haven’t been contacted.
goblue72
@Mnemosyne: Agreed. When I saw TPM in the theaters, the vibe in the audience was a cross between hardcore nerds geeking out and everyone else having a “WTF” reaction.
In contrast, the audience at TFA was whooping, cheering and oohing at all the right moments. And there was big applause at the end. The vibe was more Spielberg than Lucas, but who cares. Its not like Raiders of the Lost Ark or Jaws are bad movies.
Cacti
@Mnemosyne:
I found the Harry Potter stories a bore for exactly that reason.
Emma
One hundred and twenty seven comments, most of which are dedicated to ripping apart a fantasy story geared towards ten year old boys. What’s next, the psychological ramifications of the proper pronunciation of vingardium levi-oh-sa?
Germy
@Emma: Just wait until everyone moves from “grievances” to “feats of strength”
Eric NNY
Grievances: wrapping, baking, decorating, cards.
chopper
@Fair Economist:
right. the point to some people here isn’t that it sucks that they cast more women and POC for the film, it’s that it sucks that that’s really all they did. “rehash of the jedi” and all that.
of course it’s just easier to accuse those people of being racist, sexist shitheads.
goblue72
@Mnemosyne: That and its basically the plot to almost every James Bond movie, save for maybe the recent reboots with Daniel Craig. And nobody ran around complaining about that. Super Villain has a Secret Base with a Super Weapon that can destroy the world. James Bond has to sneak in and blow up the base. Rinse and repeat.
Who gives a shit. Its a popcorn action flick. Its an amusement park ride. Just enjoy the ride. It could be worse. It could be a holiday season where the popcorn flick option is Jurassic Barf. Or Lord of the Dancing Rings: The Pre-Prequel. Or Independence Day 2. (Shit – they are actually making that last one.)
Mike in NC
My wife’s suitcase is floating around Atlanta International Airport. Despite the airline’s promises, not expecting it to show up until after Christmas, or maybe New Year’s Day.
JustRuss
@Fair Economist: As an explanation for why Darth turns evil, yes, it’s solid, and worth exploring. I don’t know how to turn that into a good Star Wars movie, and clearly, neither did Lucas.
@Bobby Thompson: That’s a perspective I hadn’t considered, and a good read. Got me thinking about Fin:
His name, of course, references Huckleberry Finn, and he’s both Jim the escaped slave and Huck the facile but good-hearted liar. I can see how some are uncomfortable with him providing comic relief. That was Solo’s role in Eps 4-6, I’m not sure how I feel about putting a black character in that position, or if it should matter.
The Thin Black Duke
@chopper: Huh? Who accused anyone of being a “racist, sexist shithead”?
I'' be Frank
@Frankensteinbeck: 1999 was an ok party. We took our kids and 4 of their friends to a Hilton (with an indoor pool) The kids swam at midnight, drank carbonated caffeinated beverages till they fizzed out of noses, jumped from bed to bed, and ground handfuls of fried salted-snack foods into the carpet. We celebrated the “end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it” the best one can when one has children. Now partying like it’s 1979, maybe you should consider partying like that.
chopper
@The Thin Black Duke:
read mnem’s responses to cacti in this thread.
Cacti
@goblue72:
Did you know that the director of Jurassic World is slated to direct Star Wars: Episode IX? Be afraid.
beltane
@Mike in NC: Which airline?
The Thin Black Duke
@JustRuss: I usually don’t have a problem with a character being the “comic relief” (and I’m not saying that Finn is) just as long as it doesn’t reinforce bigoted stereotypes. And unfortunately, the prequels had plenty of ’em.
gene108
@JustRuss:
After watching TFA, I’ll give Lucas credit for trying new story lines, even if he lacked the skill and/or desire to pull it off.
A better writer, more interested in a good story, and less interested in licensing revenue possibilities from Jar-Jar Binks Happy Meals would have helped.
A director, who listened to his actors complaints about trying to act, in a green screen room, without any sets or props to give them an idea of the scene or setting is would have helped.
But at least you get an idea as to the limits of the Old Republic, in TPM, in keeping powerful corporations / interests under control, as well as the fact the Old Republic law and money did not mean squat in the Outer Rim planets, such as Tatooine.
I have really no clue about the New Republic or the First Order, in terms of how strong either one is.
Where did the remnants of the Empire scurry off too that they could build, not only a super weapon, but a pretty sizable conventional fleet without the New Republic stepping in and busting it up? And how far does the reach of the New Republic extend? The Empire managed to project military force all the way out to Tatooine, if needed, which the Old Republic could not do.
Even in a ANH, you find out the Empire is incredibly powerful and ruthless. There were still vestiges of the Old Republic kept together, in order to manage governance in the galaxy, such as the Imperial Senate, which was dissolved. And the Rebels are not really a match for them militarily, but managed to hit “a shot in a million” to survive to fight another day.
I liked TFA. It is well done for what it is. It is visually stunning. I just wish more explanation was given as to why the galaxy is the way it is 30 years after the Battle of Endor.
Is the First Order really a direct military threat to the New Republic? Or is this a case of a nasty insurgency / separatist movement, without the power to topple a popular government, but will end up killing a lot of people until it is put down? Or is the New Republic unpopular and on the brink of collapse and the First Order could push it over?
TFA has given me a new appreciation of Episodes I, II, and III, with regards to the ideas those episodes tried to tackle, even if the person in charge lacked the skill to pull it off.
NotMax
@jeffreyw
Heading out later on today to purchase the leg o’ lamb have decided on for holiday dinner. Couscous and lima beans as sides.
As it has been chilly, toying with the idea of also whipping up cullen skink to start off the feast.
SatanicPanic
It’s raining and I don’t like it. Otherwise not a ton of grievances.
The Thin Black Duke
@chopper: I did. And I didn’t think she did. Then again, discussions usually turn into minefields whenever racial issues are brought up, unfortunately.
chopper
@NotMax:
having some family over tomorrow (in laws are in town) tho we don’t celebrate Xmas. making a standing rib roast since it was on sale.
goblue72
@Cacti: I got bigger things to worry about that who might or might not wind up directing a movie that won’t appear in theaters for 4 or 5 years from now. The next one is being directed by Rian Johnson, who has few quite solid movies under his belt (Brick, Looper) and one ok one (The Brothers Bloom) and Abrams has already given a big thumbs up to the script.
You really need to chill out.
scav
@Mnemosyne: So, you’re really arguing for the point of arguing and scoring points by swiping techniques? Because I’m not sure that the “How dare you be unsatisfied by standard what Hollywood currently chooses to churn out” is particularly strong ground. Some people clearly liked it, others were really hoping for better. Catastrophe!
FWIW, I’m still not sure this thread has attained the heights of the Doctor Who Davis V. Moffat crusades, let alone the Classic v. NuWho militarized zone. There are more than enough Doctors to start a school of Astrology, but that might only involve more pitched battles, were it not for the mixed allegiances. Sun in Capaldi, Moon in Tennant, Rising Troughton, etc etc etc.
WarMunchkin
@Emma: Sorry.
Nobody really apologized to you for this thread, which must be very uncomfortable, so I figured I would.
JustRuss
@gene108: You’re one of those people who actually read The Silmarillion, aren’t you?
goblue72
@Frankensteinbeck: Speak for yourself! I was in Amsterdam for Dec 31, 1999 with a bunch of friends, partying in the streets while thousands of drunk Amsterdammers shot military-grade fireworks into the air with improvised cannons, block after block after block. I may – or may not – have also been in an enhanced mood at the time. I most definitely was at a disco at one point in the evening. The crowds were nuts, but it was a hell of a party.
Cacti
@goblue72:
In that case, trash it and start over.
imonlylurking
@Frankensteinbeck: My grievance is the ebook version of your second “Please don’t tell my parents” book. It’s missing what seems to be a lengthy chunk of pages, just a few chapters in. Tyranny! Treason!
gene108
@Germy:
What part of it is a tiger and it will eat you, when mad does this zoo owner not understand?
Sigfried and Roy got attacked by one of their tigers.
Tigers cannot be domesticated.
@JustRuss:
Yes. How could you tell?
goblue72
@Cacti: Like I said, you really need to chill out. You are so obsessed with pissing in your cornflakes that your piss is now overflowing into everyone else’s cornflakes.
Cacti
@goblue72:
Did that make sense in your head before you typed it?
gene108
I’m fat and middle aged. I want to be thin and 25 again.
Grievances: A functional form of time travel has not been invented, where you can go back in time, data merge what you know now, with what you knew then and reset your life for a better tomorrow.
Brachiator
A grievance break. I am digging into a very tasty Xmas pot luck lunch at work.
goblue72
@Cacti: Oh, I think its pretty clear you are an obsessive grump.
WereBear
Hollywood has always remade movies. At least half of the Silents got remade. If a film noir hit it was remade three times under varying names. And popular stars got the same movie every year until they refused it.
We are supposed to see The Movie tomorrow. It can not possibly be as bad as that thing with Jar Jar in it. I’m still in shock from that one.
Cacti
@gene108:
Does the novelization of TFA offer any additional exposition on how the political situation evolved in the post-Imperial galaxy?
Cacti
@goblue72:
I’ll take that as a no.
gene108
@Cacti:
Haven’t read any of those books relating to TFA. Not sure I want to. Too many books on my book shelf I need to start and/or finish reading.
If you want quick summaries of all things Star Wars, I’d suggest Wookieepedia
Emma
@WarMunchkin: Nah. I’m the one who should apologize. That was a petty temper tantrum.
Mnemosyne
@chopper:
If we’re not allowed to mock other commenters’ quirks anymore, I’m not sure what the point of this website is.
Mnemosyne
@WereBear:
As I keep saying, I won’t defend it as Great Cinema (because it ain’t) but it’s a fun popcorn movie that will let you have casual conversations with acquaintances for some months to come. Plus you can be the “cool aunt” who knows pop culture stuff to any kids in your life.
Brachiator
@WarMunchkin:
Just wait until “Batman v Superman” hits the screens.
catclub
From WaMonthly:
Buried on Christmas Eve, eve.
gene108
@Brachiator:
Just wait until the Justice League movies and Avengers Movies start playing the same summer and the DC and Marvel fans go at each other.
Bill
Grievance: They remade Point Break?!?! Really? Of all the films that called out to be remade, the near perfect piece of cinema that is the original Point Break is pretty damn low on the list.
Mike in NC
@beltane: Delta
muddy
@NotMax: I wanted to thank you for suggesting the orange/honey glazed carrots. That was deemed acceptable by TPTB.
chopper
@Bill:
just wait till the remake of Bio-Dome comes out.
Mnemosyne
I don’t know what Alain just did to the mobile site, but I don’t like it. Change it back!
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@goblue72: Chuck and brisket have served me well in that concoction.
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
@Cacti: I’m told yes. I haven’t gotten that far yet. Damned holiday obligations.
feebog
Last year we lost my dad three days before Thanksgiving and my oldest granddaughter was in a horrible car accident that almost killed her on this day last year. So I have no complaints or grievances this year. We will have a full house of family for Christmas dinner. We just adopted a new rescue dog and she is working out fine. My oldest grandson will make it home for Christmas. My granddaughter is fully recovered. My middle grandson just graduated from Jobcorps. My Mom is coping with the loss of my Dad better than anyone could imagine. I had the best year businesswise in my 11 year post-retirement career. I had a stress test on my heart this morning and blew through it. I have a bad tear in the meniscus in my left knee, going to get it fixed next month. I’m downwind from the huge and ongoing gas leak in Porter Ranch, but have suffered no ill effects. Happy Holidays BJers.
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
@chopper: There’s talk of remaking Big Trouble in Little China.
WereBear
@feebog: I remember your horrible holidays. So glad this one is better.
Death Panel Truck
@Emma: This x1000.
J R in WV
@gogol’s wife:
I’m sorry for your losses!
In the past year I have had a (much younger) friend, niece of best friend next door, a wonderful person, die, either of mysterious CNS disease which she was diagnosed with too late for standard effective treatments to help much, or of self-administered pain relief medication.
Two cousins that I love dearly had serious medical issues, one lost control of her legs and was helicoptered to U Hospital ER where they ruled out stroke and found stray voltages in her frontal lobe, so they diagnosed her with a mysterious seizure problem and sent her home with anti-seizure meds.
Other had surgery in the summer, where cancer was found and given standard treatment, which appears to have been completely successful. Her brother was a couple of years older than I and died of esophageal cancer a couple of years ago. It was quite fast, I was able to visit with him and he shared a bit of wisdom with me and my cousin who went up with me – “I don’t regret any of the things I’ve done – I regret the things I haven’t done!”
After hearing that I retired the day I was qualified – I have been doing things I wouldn’t regret ever since. Same with my cousin B who went with me, became a whistleblower at his employment, wore a wire for 2 years, and a gun. Retired about when I did. Prosecutors decided not to indict the criminals after all that worry.
But he’s retired now, and doing other things he won’t regret.
You go and do things you won’t regret too – it’s the only good revenge against getting older and losing friends and loves who span ended too soon.
daverave
@scav:
Hell, they ended “The Deerhunter” with God Bless America…