Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

Let us savor the impending downfall of lawless scoundrels who richly deserve the trouble barreling their way.

And so it is for the politically and morally bankrupt Kevin McCarthy.

This isn’t Democrats spending madly. This is government catching up.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

Take hopelessness and turn it into resilience.

Stop using mental illness to avoid talking about armed white supremacy.

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. let’s win this.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

In short, I come down firmly on all sides of the issue.

I did not have this on my fuck 2022 bingo card.

So many bastards, so little time.

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

Come on, man.

Just because you believe it, that doesn’t make it true.

“Can i answer the question? No you can not!”

We’re not going back!

An unpunished coup is a training exercise.

If you’re pissed about Biden’s speech, he was talking about you.

This has so much WTF written all over it that it is hard to comprehend.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Friday Afternoon Open Thread

Reader Interactions

165Comments

  1. 1.

    SFAW

    Mental health? I have vague, distant memories of that.

    Well, at least the voices are telling me that I do.

  2. 2.

    geg6

    Fall has finally arrived here in Western PA. It’s 51F and going down to 40F over night. The only good thing is that the leaves will finally start to change colors. Plus, that means that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I love Thanksgiving the most of all holidays.

  4. 4.

    Brachiator

    I’m going to try to see a couple of films this weekend, “First Man” and possibly “A Star Is Born.”

    And even if I don’t get out of the house, TCM has a couple of my all-time favorites in the queue, the sparkling “My Man Godfrey” and “Holiday.”

    Definitely counts as a cinematic mental health break.

  5. 5.

    ruemara

    In the interest of pretty things for mental health, here’s some lovelies from the SF Conservatory of Flowers. I think this is a bromeliad? IDK, not a botanist. There was this butterfly atop a fleur in the butterfly area. I think it’s pining for the fjords.

    And for human pretties, I think this one came out very well. I was testing out my portrait pancake lens down in Oakland and I spotted this barber hanging outside his shop and thought he looked fabulous.

  6. 6.

    Elizabelle

    We have gorgeous and cooler weather in Richmond VA this weekend — highs in the high 60s — woo hoo — and Mavis Staples is in town tomorrow afternoon for the Richmond Folk Festival, which lucked out with one of the best weekend forecasts ever. (A few years ago, the first or second day was a deluge; the Sunday was perfect.)

    Beautiful site on the James River. Come on down!!

  8. 8.

    ruemara

    @Brachiator: Oh, I wish I had TCM on my cable. This weekend is laundry & furiously catching up to write for the end of the month deadline for yet another screenwriting fellowship. And deep seated panicking about our new fascist world.

  10. 10.

    Leto

    @geg6: Same in Eastern PA. Currently 60F, with tonight around 45F. This next week will see a combo of rain and highs in the mid 50s, lows in the low 40s/high 30s. My wife loves this but I’m already missing the sun/warmth. I do enjoy the leaves changing color and not sweating to death on the motorcycle commute.

    Not sure what our Thanksgiving plans will be. This will be our second year of just us and it’s still a bit weird. Past 20 years our holidays involved family/military family (large gatherings). We’re still basically new here (after almost 16 months) and don’t really know anyone.

  11. 11.

    Guachi

    Cook Political shifted three races today. Two towards the Democrats and one towards Republicans. The two D shifts were in Illinois. One toss-up to Lean D and the other Lean R to toss-up. The R shift was likely D to lean D.

    It looks like NJ, PA, and IL will be bloodbaths for Republicans.

    The net shift is about +0.7 seats to Ds as the toss-up/lean changes are 0.4 seats each but the likely to lean change is only 0.1 seats.

  14. 14.

    FelonyGovt

    I’m going to a fancy political fundraiser (for our incumbent D state Assemblyman, who’s in a tough race vs a Trump Republican) on Sunday. I’m not used to moving in such exalted (or wealthy) circles and I’m stressing about what to wear. :)

  15. 15.

    Brachiator

    @Elizabelle:

    I still have to see My Man Godfrey. Carole Lombard, right?

    Yep. Lombard and William Powell. Sophisticated comedy with a side of social commentary. Here’s the setup:

    During the Great Depression, Godfrey “Smith” Parke (William Powell) is living alongside other men down on their luck at a New York City dump on the East River near the 59th Street Bridge. One night, spoiled socialite Cornelia Bullock (Gail Patrick) offers him five dollars to be her “forgotten man” for a scavenger hunt. Annoyed, he advances on her, causing her to retreat and fall on a pile of ashes. She leaves in a fury, much to the glee of her younger sister, Irene (Carole Lombard). After talking with her, Godfrey finds her to be kind, if a bit scatter-brained. He offers to go with Irene to help her beat Cornelia.

    You could easily remake this today, complete with “forgotten men.” But the main thing is that Lombard and Powell’s comic timing is dazzling. Along with the writing and direction.

    @ruemara:

    Oh, I wish I had TCM on my cable.

    I get it as part of YouTube TV. TCM has really been crushing it with classic films recently, especially film noir and pre-Code films. I should add “Out of the Past” to my current must watch list.

  20. 20.

    Parniel

    I need to detox myself. The climate report just got me really good.

    Trouble is my social network is just full of this and I’m not sure I can handle the isolation.

  21. 21.

    WereBear

    Rainy and overcast. So much stress (political and overwork) last couple weeks put me into a flareup and I’m on meds and bed rest.

    But, print version of my cat book almost done and I sold one in France!

    Back to my Kindle and bad horror & sf movies. Everyone feel better!

  22. 22.

    Yutsano

    @geg6: It’s going to hit the low 70s in the armpit of the Columbia river area today then knock off into pants weather from there. I’ve had to break out the comfy sweatshirts. It’s great.

  25. 25.

    danielx

    @geg6:

    Was 88 on Monday and down to 40 last night….going through season whiplash at the moment. But I don’t mind it a bit at this point.

  26. 26.

    Mnemosyne

    I’m going to a romance writing shindig behind the Orange Curtain this weekend. Word sprints, award luncheons, writing workshops, and pajama parties are all on the agenda. I’ve already connected with some of my LA peeps who are also attending, so I will have some folks to cling to while I meet strangers.

    The annoying thing about LA traffic is that I have to leave here at 2 pm to get to the hotel at 3 pm for a 4 pm check-in, because if I leave at 3 pm, I won’t get there until 5 pm. Because LA traffic sucks ass. ??

  27. 27.

    Dam B

    @ruemara: Clothes is an excellent suggestion. For many years I worked for a group of very wealthy families. They were great fun to work for. We spent hundreds of thousands redoing their gardens and penthouse balconies / terraces. I overheard a critique of me one day, “He’s very fine except he says yeah. And his hair. He needs to comb it.” This was after setting up the crew and contractors in the wind, rain, and construction mud…
    Don’t stress about the rich. They’ll find ways to criticize you. Much like crying about how “poor” they are, finding flaws is one of the only games they have to fill their time.

  28. 28.

    lee

    I had a funny text exchange with a friend earlier.

    I worked with her and she retired a few years ago. The guys I work with & her all get together every so often for drinks just to catch up. She battled breast cancer recently and has since mostly recovered. We do NOT talk politics (hence why we are still friends).

    So we were in a group text about scheduling another meeting. It was going to be today but 2 of us had other commitments.

    Just about an hour ago her text “So it is because of the rain or because of the Kavenaugh affect? ;)”

    My reply “You mean we got black-out drunk and forgot?”

    Her: “No that’s not what I meant. Never mind”.

    I don’t think she is going to try and discuss politics again.

  29. 29.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @Brachiator: We want to see “First Man”. Yesterday as a total break from life, politics and everything, we went to see a Disney movie, “The House With the Clock in its Walls”. It was a good fun (spoiler: the bad guy loses). I’m kind of annoyed that all kid movies these days have to have poop, pee and puke jokes. Surprisingly, no fart jokes.

    The weirdest thing though was that the theater was completely empty except for us. It’s not the first empty or near-empty theater we’ve been in. Adding to the concern that theaters may be dying was the little spot that came on at the beginning with the director and cast all looking at us and saying “Oh, thank you, thank you for seeing our movie in an actual theater”. Without that I could just convince myself that we’re picking unpopular movies or unpopular times (yesterday was 4:25 pm on a weekday).

    Our last movie was “Juliet, Naked” and I highly recommend it, especially for its sendup of the academic type Chris O’Dowd who is obsessed with Ethan Hawke’s one-hit rock star character, who disappeared from public 20 years ago. I think the whole movie is designed to get you to the dinner scene where Chris O’Dowd is sitting across from Ethan Hawke and saying, “I’m the leading expert in the world on you.” Everything he knows is wrong of course.

    That movie, in the art movie house, actually had a decent crowd. They might be doing better than the AMC chain.

  31. 31.

    Catherine D.

    I’m making my favorite chicken and peppers stew from the last (probably) CSA sweet peppers and enjoying the sharp downturn in temperatures. Plus watching Civilizations on Netflix.

  32. 32.

    geg6

    @Leto:

    Well, you’re welcome to drive across the state and join us! We always have room for strays! Plus, we always celebrate my birthday on Thanksgiving. So it’s a double celebration.

  34. 34.

    guachi

    We are at the point where the viewing experience you can get at home from your TV and sound system exceeds that of a theater. By far.

    Theaters have size but many/most don’t have sound that’s better and almost none have a better picture than you can get at home. I’d rather wait for the movie to come out in 4K and get the disc.

  36. 36.

    satby

    I just planned my fantasy round-the-world trip online. Iceland (Northern Lights!), London (visit friends), Copenhagen (visit the first student I ever hosted), Istanbul, Bahrain (visit Qunoot), Delhi and Hyderabad (more friends), Chang Mai, Siem Reap (back to the school from last January), Kuala Lumpur (meet up with Amir?!?), Shanghai, and home.
    If I win the lottery more cities coming ?
    It’s a great way to spend a cold afternoon.

  37. 37.

    SFAW

    @Brachiator:

    It’s a great film. Not in the sense of Kurosawa-great or Kubrick-great, just a film I really enjoy watching.

    Mischa Auer was funny, too.

  38. 38.

    Brachiator

    @satby:

    I just ordered Filmstruck, I wonder if it’s a lot of overlap.

    Possibly.

    I ran across this, which is fun.

    Pre-Code Movies on TCM and Filmstruck in October 2018

    Happy October, everyone! Not a whole lot to note for the month, so I’ll keep this short and sweet.

    Lots of rare pre-Codes on TCM this month; no Universal Monster Movies from the pre-Code era. Still, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Island of Lost Souls, two of the craziest films of the era, both make an appearance on the schedule, so be sure to track those down.

  39. 39.

    Raven

    @satby: Nah, filmstruck is awesome and I think they have the subtitles for english language flix worked out. I have 35 movies in my damn que.

  40. 40.

    Lisa

    I have those flowers! They came up at our new house and they are butterfly and hummingbird MAGNETS. They also grow almost like kudzu but I don’t mind. We call them red cypress vines. Next year I’m planting them to climb on an elevated gazebo we have out back.

  43. 43.

    Mnemosyne

    @Brachiator:

    If you haven’t seen it before, you may enjoy an upcoming Boris Karloff movie on TCM called The Walking Dead. It’s a Warner Bros film directed by Michael Curtiz that is an interesting combination of gangster film and horror film as the ex-con Karloff character is framed for murder by corrupt politicians and is brought back to life by SCIENCE!

    It has some very striking images — the staging and editing of Karloff’s execution is particularly good — and Karloff plays one of his more pitiable monsters as he asks, “Why did you have me killed?”

    If you’re getting into Pre-Code, also catch 1932’s The Old Dark House, which is both creepy and hilarious.

    Also recommended from the Karloff series are the two Val Lewton selections, Isle of the Dead and Bedlam.

    All of these films will be shown next Wednesday 10/17 on TCM.

  44. 44.

    burnspbesq

    There is a new John Hiatt album out today, so Trump et al can do whatever they want. I’ll deal with it tomorrow.

  46. 46.

    Brachiator

    @SFAW:

    It’s a great film. Not in the sense of Kurosawa-great or Kubrick-great, just a film I really enjoy watching.

    Mischa Auer was funny, too.

    I’d rank “My Man Godfrey” up there with films I love by Kurosawa and Kubrick. Agree that Mischa Auer is wonderful in the movie.

    Hitchcock is one of my film gods, along with the two K’s. One of my ideal double features is “Godfrey” and Hitchcock’s Mr and Mrs Smith, also with Lombard.

  47. 47.

    Mnemosyne

    @Brachiator:

    The Pre-Code Dr. Jekyll is pretty good — Fredric March won an Oscar and Miriam Hopkins is amazing as the doomed Ivy.

    Island of Lost Souls is bonkers. Seriously bonkers. Worth watching Charles Laughton chew the scenery. Even Pre-Code, they could only imply the worst horrors of the island, but those implications are very disturbing.

  48. 48.

    Brachiator

    @Raven:

    Clarie Foy!!!!

    Oh, Hell, yes! Loved her work since first seeing her in the Dickens adaptation of Little Dorrit.

  50. 50.

    trollhattan

    Was annoyed when yesterday my (Dell) laptop decided it did not have a soundcard nor speakers. Did the usual folderal running diagnostics and what have you, all of which came up with some variation of “Everything’s fine. Say, did you want to add an audio device because you don’t seem to have one other than those bluetooth headphones.”

    Running out of options I rolled back the last Win 10 update and viola, soundcard and speakers.

    So just in case you have something like this happen, that’s something to try–doubt I’m the only one. My real quandary will be whether to make further Win 10 updates.

    Going to an SPCA fundraiser tonight, so an actual Friday thing to do.

  55. 55.

    Mnemosyne

    @Raven:

    Saw it in the theater when it first came out. Not 100 percent factually accurate, but what biopic is?

    I actually got to see Karloff’s daughter Sarah speak at a Frankenstein event this spring (2018 is the 200th anniversary of the book’s publication.) She is a hoot and is really enjoying being a “professional daughter” now that she’s retired and has time to go around to speak at these events. She showed some home movie clips that were really fun.

  56. 56.

    Betty Cracker

    @Raven: Yes, she was amazing in that scene. She was also wonderful in The Crown. I like the actor they picked to play QE2 going forward, but I will miss Foy in the role.

  59. 59.

    JPL

    @Brachiator: If you see First Man watch for the ambulance and laugh at me. When the crew was filming at a location near by, the movie trailers and such parked in a church lot nearby. While passing by one day I saw an ambulance and said wow I hope no one was hurt. My son’s face dropped and he said you know they don’t use those anymore right? whoops
    Residents in the neighborhood where it was filmed received tickets for a premiere last night.

  65. 65.

    Fair Economist

    @guachi: I don’t like theater sound. Much too loud. At this point I’d rather watch things at home when I want to watch something, which isn’t often. My husband still likes to go see movies a few times a year and I accompany him but I check my watch a lot.

  69. 69.

    JPL

    @Raven: The built a house on a lot on rounsaville road roswell ga. They kept all the period cars and trailers at a church parking lot on Crabapple. There was a nice article in the AJC about how much Gosling appreciated the neighbors.

  70. 70.

    gene108

    Took the day off of work because I needed a break. I have done nothing productive at all, besides feeding myself.

    Feels good.

  71. 71.

    Leto

    @guachi: I’ll debate you on that; how many home users properly calibrate both their TV, room, and theater sound systems? How many people, even with the automated setup guides on their home receivers/tv’s, do that properly? By a show of hands on this thread, how many people use reference setup discs/material for setting up their home systems? How often do people go back and correct?

    While I will agree that home systems deliver more convenience, I’ll debate how superior they are for actual viewing/listening experience.

  73. 73.

    Gravenstone

    @Leto:

    I’ll debate how superior they are for actual viewing/listening experience.

    It’s superior because I don’t have to deal with other people. Also being able to start/stop/rewind at one’s convenience is not to be discounted.

  76. 76.

    ruemara

    I really wish I could remember how I do a drawing effect in after effects, the next time I need to do a drawing effect in after effects. All the programs I know inside and out and I can’t remember the most basic technique I use in AE fairly regularly. It’s embarrassing.

  77. 77.

    HeleninEire

    If you have some TV time watch “Derek.” Ricky Gervais is one if my favorite comedians. I was afraid to watch because he plays a retarded/spectrum person. (Do not @ me about the word retarded. Had that convo with EFG a while ago about my sister Mary). I thought Ricky was gonna make fun.

    I should have known Ricky Gervais only punches up.

    Watch it. My Heart. I cry (but good cries) almost every episode. Derek (the person) is the best. We should all be so good.

  78. 78.

    Fair Economist

    @Leto:

    I’ll debate you on that; how many home users properly calibrate both their TV, room, and theater sound systems?

    What does “properly calibrated” mean? I enjoy what I hear at home considerably more than what I hear in the theatre. In what sense is my calibration “improper”?

  79. 79.

    Leto

    @Gravenstone: Exactly, convenience. But from a technical standpoint (correct video/audio setup) my point still stands. Also that technical point can entirely effect your viewing/listening pleasure of said movie.

    @Steve in the ATL: You remind me of my good buddy’s stance on pants: never!

  82. 82.

    trollhattan

    @HeleninEire:
    Will watch for it, as I never heard of “Derek” and Gervais is a personal favorite (made even better when Madonna got mad at him at the Golden Globes). The “Extras” episode with Bowie remains a favorite.

  83. 83.

    KSinMA

    @Brachiator: Watched “My Man Godfrey” on TCM last night for the first time in ages … I LOL’d–Needed that! Love William Powell–just a genius. And Eugene Pallette made every movie funnier.

  84. 84.

    StringOnAStick

    I’m dealing with the post-vacation chores, compounded by the water heater having gone belly up exactly 24 hours after our return. Paid to have a new one installed with a drain pan, and the next morning my husband notices the pan is half full of water. Defective water heater, replaced the next day. That makes 3 days of showering using a watering can and water heated on the stove.

    We spent 2.5 weeks in Patagonia and had amazingly good, mostly clear weather. Came home to totally socked in and now, 5 days later, the sun is finally out. Snow and teens for Sunday though and I can’t get anyone to call me back about a sprinkler blowout so I’m going to have to finagle something and insulate the pipes for that night because that’s the last sub-freezing day for the next 10 days. Fall in Colorado: sometimes it freezes early and then is glorious for weeks after that.

    And, I’m coming down with a cold, dammit.

  85. 85.

    trollhattan

    @Fair Economist:
    Where to start…
    TVs should be color-calibrated and their brightness and contrast set. Some sets come with on-board tools but others require a calibration disk for the disk player or an external calibration gizmo.

    Better AV receivers come with a tethered mic to place in the room at the main sitting position with the speakers in their preferred spots. The receiver will run calibration tones, pink noise, etc. to balance speaker output. Tip: leave the room while doing this.

  86. 86.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    OK, here’s an OT question which is OT for any conceivable thread. Are there any Curb Your Enthusiasm fans here who might be able to identify an episode from a description of a single scene?

  87. 87.

    HeleninEire

    @trollhattan: Do. I LOVED that he punched Hollywood and they got their little feelings hurt. Imagine that. Yeah, Extras is the best. I usually hate it when celebrities play themselves. But Extras was the best. Kate Winslet teaching them how to do phone sex!!!! Really?

  89. 89.

    Couldn't Stand the Weather

    It took me 45 minutes to calibrate my old Pioneer plasma TV’s picture (I bought it a year ago). The tint and hue were rather difficult to set.
    The sound was easy; any decent amp and M&K speakers, properly placed. Always great reproduction.

  93. 93.

    Leto

    @Fair Economist: Let me ask this: do you have a home theater system, or just using the TV speakers? Are your speakers calibrated for the room? For the distance between them and where you sit? For the everything in the room? Do you have the proper size speakers for the room? There’s a lot of things to consider with the physics of sound.

    I enjoy what I hear at home considerably more than what I hear in the theatre.

    Well if you have control over the volume, you probably will. I worked at a movie theater for a number of years so what I can tell you is that for action movies, they tend to turn it up a bit more. Think of things like the Marvel movies. Louder explosions, bigger sound effects, all that jazz. For stuff not like that, things primarily more dialogue driven, it’s usually at a more reasonable level. Also it’s going to vary theater by theater, even within the same chain brand.

    In what sense is my calibration “improper”?

    Because with both audio and video, you have reference level standards. Having a properly calibrated tv/audio system can make your home view/listening experience much more enjoyable. Seeing/hearing what the film maker actually wanted you to see/hear is a good thing. Most theaters have their projectors/audio systems calibrated annually. (At least the better theaters do. You can always ask the manager about that. They’ll know.) Home systems? Most people take the stuff out of the box, set it up, and leave it. They might color correct just by the good ole Mark 1 (eyeball) as to what they “remember” being correct. But most manufacturers have different out of the box experiences. Take a Sony, LG, and Samsung out of the box, hook’em up to the same Blu-ray player and they’ll all display a different level of brightness, contrast, and color. That’s why you need reference material to get it to the proper/correct levels. Same goes for audio equipment.

    Granted, the majority of people aren’t going to do this. They’ll take the equipment out of the box, do a basic set up, and never do anything with it ever again. They become familiar with it. They like it. That’s what they’re used to. Getting them to change anything and they won’t. People don’t like change. I get that. But they’re also not getting the full experience of the intended work.

  96. 96.

    Sister Golden Bear

    Tough day today, with grief resurfacing over my mother’s death earlier this year.

    At work we’re running an internal test where employee order their holiday cards to see how the website handles the load of peak Q4 orders. Obviously I’ve got one less card to order. Plus the realization that I really don’t care that much about sending cards to my brother, who I have a pretty distant relationship with (he’s let our relationship wither), let alone my extended relatives who I barely have a relationship with and don’t really want one because I can’t stand most of them.

    So feeling more a than bit orphaned and alone, and this is the first time I haven’t had to compartmentalize my feelings in order to be strong and get through things that needed to be done.

    Doesn’t help that I’m also going through withdrawal from cutting the pain meds, and also have been really feeling the full effects of estrogen.* So yeah, all the feels.

    *Pre-surgery I had problems with the testosterone blocker that’s normally used, and had to go off of it for nine months. So the testosterone had been blocking many of the effects of estrogen, including the emotional ones.

  98. 98.

    trollhattan

    @Ceci n est pas mon nym:
    Depends? If, for example, the episode where Jeff phones Larry from the hospital to go rescue his pron collection from Suzy then probably yes. Hiring a prostitute so he can take the carpool lane? Yup.

    But I spent a lot of time “watching” “Curb from between the sofa cushions, if you get my drift.

  99. 99.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @Manyakitty: OK, this actually stems from a discussion in a thread yesterday about the Union Square neighborhood of NYC. One of my few “celebrity” sightings occurred there, as they were filming a scene in a Curb your Enthusiam episode right in front of the coffee shop we were in. In fact, it’s possible my wife, who was sitting outside due to the shop being crowded, was in the shot.

    Anyway, the scene consisted of Larry David competing with a one-armed man to get a cab. They keep butting in front of each other, the other man falls, and then a passerby bends over him and says, “he’s dead”.

    I haven’t watched too many episodes of that show, but always thought it might be fun to see that one episode and see where that scene fit in. Also what happens next.

  100. 100.

    Mnemosyne

    @Sister Golden Bear:

    It’s so weird when grief hits us. My dad died after the New Year, so the first big resurgence I had was for Father’s Day. I was actually born on Father’s Day, so it was a running joke for us that I was his Father’s Day present, a joke that would sometimes have more or less bitterness depending on where we were in our relationship that particular year.

    So, yeah. Grief is going to jump up and grab you at unexpected moments. It’s the nature of the beast. And I’m sorry you have crappy relatives. ?

  101. 101.

    trollhattan

    Question for any Florida Panhandlers (now who could that include?): do building codes require hurricane clips as part of the roof system. IIUC areas downstate have such requirements but don’t know whether they’re statewide. Am seeing Hurricane Michael photo galleries showing house after roofless house. Maybe the winds were too strong for even that technology but I’m shocked at the impacts of the storm’s violence.

  102. 102.

    Catherine D.

    @Mnemosyne: My father did Broadway theather inspections for FDNY as a rookie in the 50s. He went to the theater where The Lark was playing, which starred Christopher Plummer, Julie Christie and Boris Karloff.

    Plummer was a dick, Christie was a flake, but Karloff invited him into his dressing room for coffee ?

  105. 105.

    Leto

    @trollhattan: @Fair Economist: Basically what trollhattan said. Now I’m not saying you should run out and buy a ton of stuff, nor that you should immediately become a theater lover. What I was saying was yes, for convenience, watching movies at home can’t be beat. Being able pause a movie to go to the restroom, not having to deal with sticky floors, potentially more comfortable seat, snacks that don’t cost an arm and a leg, not having to wear pants… all of that is awesome! It’s great! I love it! But from a technical standpoint, the actual things you are seeing/hearing, most people aren’t getting the full experience. And for the majority of people. that’s perfectly fine. But for some of us, it’s not. We prefer the theater. Or we want our home viewing area to, as much as we can, mimic the theater experience. And with a lot of the A/V gear on the market today, we really can. Add to that a number of really good streaming services and it means a good number of people never leave their home. Which is both good and bad.

    @geg6: Oh man, minimum of 5 hours. Hmm…

    Also I’m heading home so I’ll check back in on this in 2 hours.

  108. 108.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @trollhattan: OK, that was scary fast, and the prize committee will be in touch with you as soon as the promised funds come in from our big donor, a Mr. D. Trump in Washington, DC.

  111. 111.

    geg6

    @Leto:

    Yeah, depending on where you are, i’s probably five hours. But we have lots of guest rooms between all of the sisters’ homes. Since we eat at my sister Patty’s, she’d be happy to put you up. Or, of course, you could stay with me, my John, Koda and Lovey.

  112. 112.

    Catherine D.

    @trollhattan: Dad was wowed by Karloff because he was so approachable and friendly. He never mentioned Julie Christie’s looks – she apparently wandered backstage muttering. Don’t know if she’s a method actor or was just freaking out by playing Joan of Arc!

  117. 117.

    lgerard

    There is a guy in my neighborhood who looks EXACTLY like Boris Karloff. It would freak me out when I would catch a glimpse of him because the resemblance was really astonishing.
    A few weeks ago I struck up a conversation with him outside the local convenience store….he looks completely different when he smiles.

  118. 118.

    jl

    OMFG! #HimToo #HimToo #MaleGenocide GAhhhhhh!!!!!!
    The great Chinese climage change hoax! It all fits. I’m breaking out my Hannigan’s Conspiracy Yarn!

    Chinese researchers have produced healthy mice with two mothers that went on to have normal offspring of their own
    https://twitter.com/XHNews/status/1050849826097848321

    Actually I expect to see a GOPer campaign ad like this soon. Or something like it from the next GOPer or Trump campaign rally.

    snark tag here if needed.

  121. 121.

    TriassicSands

    @Fair Economist:

    Apparently, theater chains have large sums invested in hearing aid companies — theater sound is much, much too loud. After stuffing toilet paper wads in my ears, I finally started taking ear plugs to the theater.

    Then, I gave up entirely on theaters, not because of the sound level of the film, but the rudeness of so many of those in the audience. When people watch movies in their homes, they feel free to talk, take phone calls, etc. Unfortunately, increasingly, it seems like people can’t tell the difference between their living rooms and a public theater.

    I do think that a good film is worth seeing in the theater, but no film is worth putting up with a typical 201? audience.

  122. 122.

    NotMax

    @Mnemosyne

    1932’s The Old Dark House, which is both creepy and hilarious.

    The early 60s remake (Robert Morley!) is a fun romp, too. Also includes elements designed by Charles Addams.

    @satby

    Have heard both compliments and brickbats regarding YouTube TV. FYI, it is one of the pricier streaming services out there.

    Also, not available (yet) in Hawaii, so no personal comparison.

  123. 123.

    Mary G

    Stephen Miller wants to replay some of his old hits (WaPo): Trump administration weighs new family-separation effort at border:

    The White House is actively considering plans that could again separate parents and children at the U.S.-Mexico border, hoping to reverse soaring numbers of families attempting to cross illegally into the United States, according to several administration officials with direct knowledge of the effort.

    One option under consideration is for the government to detain asylum-seeking families together for up to 20 days, then give parents a choice — stay in family detention with their child for months or years as their immigration case proceeds, or allow children to be taken to a government shelter so other relatives or guardians can seek custody.

    It’s terrible for the refugees, but will probably fail again. GOTV!

  124. 124.

    A Ghost To Most

    A beautiful day in Denver, after several cold wet days which we desperately needed. Getting ready for 2-5 inches of snow tomorrow night into Sunday. For you skiiers, Wolf Creek Pass is open for bidness tomorrow.

  125. 125.

    ruemara

    @Betty Cracker: I adore AE and the whole workflow but sometimes, I’m just overwhelmed by all the shit it can do and the 17 different ways to do it. And then I remember and feel ever so silly that I forgot it because it’s technically easy. But now I have a simulated pencil circling the right choice in a crossword on screen. Yay.

    @Mary G: Go, Mary!

  126. 126.

    Ruviana

    @TriassicSands: Wow, the first time that happened to me was in 1978! A friend and I went to see “Julia” and the people behind us kept up a running commentary the whole time. And it was before cell phones.

  127. 127.

    r€nato

    enough schadenfreude here to get you through the entire weekend:

    watch an attempted ratfuck of Democrat Thomas O’Halleran blow up in the faces of Young Republican scumbags (but I repeat myself) who tried to donate around $40 to his campaign while posing as “Northern Arizona University Communists”.

    (making a donation to a federal campaign under false pretenses is a crime BTW)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qy9_sqvFek

  130. 130.

    Brachiator

    @Mnemosyne:

    The Pre-Code Dr. Jekyll is pretty good — Fredric March won an Oscar and Miriam Hopkins is amazing as the doomed Ivy.

    Island of Lost Souls is bonkers. Seriously bonkers. Worth watching Charles Laughton chew the scenery. Even Pre-Code, they could only imply the worst horrors of the island, but those implications are very disturbing.

    I’ve seen Jekyll, but I might try to watch it again. Love Hopkins here and in other films (including of course the magnificent Trouble in Paradise). I’ll put Lost Souls in the queue to watch.

    A movie I really want to see is The Lost Patrol, with Victor McLaglen , Boris Karloff , and Wallace Ford.

  131. 131.

    Catherine D.

    @trollhattan: Yes, probably both! Broadway really freaked out the Brooklyn boy whose family spent a century moving around the same block after arriving in NY. I have told him if he hadn’t joined the navy, he would never have gotten to the mainland.

  132. 132.

    lgerard

    @trollhattan:

    So he has RKF? (Resting Karloff face)

    Absolutely, the resemblance is amazing. I just ran across the street to buy milk, and there he was again!

  134. 134.

    normal liberal

    @Daniel’sBob:
    Also in central Illinois, since mid-afternoon, in a blob covering at least Bloomington-Normal, Springfield and Peoria. Unfortunately I can’t hold it responsible for the traffic accident (or crash, as the pros say) I had this morning, which left me with a somewhat pleated passenger door. Fortunately, no harm to my passenger, or anyone else involved. On the upside, I’ve already heard from the body shop.

  135. 135.

    NotMax

    @Brachiator

    There’s probably a ready market for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Trump.

    Although to avoid legal action, perhaps Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Snide would pass muster.

    Any Hollywood honchos listening?

    ;)

  138. 138.

    JPL

    @raven: I promised my son that we would see the movie together so he could mock me about the ambulance thing. I saw the house being built and after it burned, although I did take pics of the vintage cars.

  139. 139.

    zhena gogolia

    @trollhattan:

    It must have been Julie Harris. Julie Christie didn’t do any NYC stage work in the 1950s (or ever, as far as I know), and Julie Harris was in The Lark.

    ETA (yay, edit button): I don’t think Julie Christie is a flake.

  140. 140.

    H.E.Wolf

    @KSinMA:

    And Eugene Pallette made every movie funnier.

    I am always up for a film with Eugene Pallette in it. His supporting role in “The Lady Eve” – playing the exasperated father to Henry Fonda’s character – is one of my (many) favorites.

    He got his start in silent swashbucklers, among other genres, and his swordplay technique is up there with his comedic skills.

    The splashy, in-stream broadsword fight with Errol Flynn in “The Adventures of Robin Hood” is well-known. He also has a brilliant 3-second fight with Basil Rathbone in the 1940 “The Mark of Zorro” in which his form, belly and all, is perfect.

    Oh, and he’s left-handed/ambidextrous, which makes his on-screen fights very useful in classroom examples for southpaw students. It can’t always be Mandy Patinkin and Cary Elwes in “The Princess Bride”. :)

  141. 141.

    raven

    We watched the first one of these last night, good stuff!

    From the creator of Mad Men, The Romanoffs is a contemporary anthology series set around the globe featuring eight separate stories about people who believe themselves to be descendants of the Russian royal family. Starring Aaron Eckhart, Diane Lane, Isabelle Huppert, Christina Hendricks, John Slattery, Amanda Peet, Jack Huston, Kathryn Hahn, Noah Wyle, Paul Reiser, Andrew Rannells and more.

  144. 144.

    H.E.Wolf

    @ruemara:
    If you’re still on this thread, I’ve been meaning to say congratulations on the latest step in the citizenship process. Looking forward to the moment when you cast your first vote in a US election! The country will be the better for it.

  146. 146.

    Brachiator

    @H.E.Wolf:

    I am always up for a film with Eugene Pallette in it. His supporting role in “The Lady Eve” – playing the exasperated father to Henry Fonda’s character – is one of my (many) favorites.

    Yep. Great fun.

  147. 147.

    SFAW

    @jl:

    OMFG! #HimToo #HimToo #MaleGenocide GAhhhhhh!!!!!!

    Isn’t the approved term “The Vagenda of Manicide”?

    Asking for a friend.

  148. 148.

    Brachiator

    @NotMax:

    There’s probably a ready market for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Trump.

    Very droll. Of course, there would be no difference in the personalities of Der Donald and Mr Trump.

  149. 149.

    NotMax

    @H. E. Wolf

    Pallette was at one time known for playing swashbuckling, buff adventurers in silent films.

    Strange but true.

    In much later life he went off the rails paranoid about Communists and retreated to a fortified compound as protection against a sure-to-be-coming invasion.

  152. 152.

    Dan B

    In Global Warming news a lot of Juicers have reported huge temperature swings in the last day or two. The Jet S it ream has gone wild in the last two days. It’s swinging close to the Canadian border of Montana, swings north then south to North Carolina. This will be pulling arctic air masses to the east coast in the next day or two.
    The previous days dip was over North Dakota and Minnesota which has produced snow from Colorado to Illinois.

    Jet Stream wobbles like this are being forecast to be the new “normal”. The science behind it is interesting, like the “Famous Chinese Curse”.

  154. 154.

    trollhattan

    @zhena gogolia:
    Could be. I can only find a reference to her starting to appear on stage in the UK as early as ’57, then Brit tele beginning in ’61.

    My kid is 17 at the end of the year and I need to prod her forward so she doesn’t fall behind Ms. Christie. “Yes honey, you can act professionally and still pass calculus, if you care enough.”

  157. 157.

    zhena gogolia

    @trollhattan:

    It has to be a mistake for Julie Harris. She was in The Lark with Christopher Plummer, and I could see her muttering backstage as she prepared to go on. Not Christie.

  159. 159.

    Ruckus

    @Sister Golden Bear:
    It won’t get better but it will be easier.
    Both my folks have passed and I was holding my dad in my arms when he went. It’s been 17 yrs since he passed, almost 7 for my mom, I still think about them but the events of their passing are not the most pressing part. Just that in their own ways they were decent enough people. Hell, they put up with me…….

  160. 160.

    Duane

    Voting for this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is underway. Todd Rundgen is in fourth and climbing. Vote for Todd. ( still touring) and your other favorites @rockhall!

  161. 161.

    Sister Golden Bear

    @Steve in the ATL: I can imagine. My sympathies.

    @Ruckus: I happened to be away when both parents passed. Which I’m both saddened by, and grateful for, at different times.

    Both my father, who died 30+ years ago, and my mother were big believers in “don’t let the dead bury the living.” (In fact my father, who died of a terminal illness, encouraged my mother to find another husband afterwards if she so desired.) So I expect I’ll do the same. Long-term I’ll remember them — as you said, remember their lives, not their deaths — but will move on with my life because that what they would’ve wanted me to do.

    Right now is more finally having a chance to grieve, after having to put that on hold earlier this year. Wish I weren’t on the pain meds, because I could use a Irish wake-level of getting hammered tonight. But maybe later.

  163. 163.

    Ruckus

    @Sister Golden Bear:
    One of the last times I had a drink was the day my Scotch/Irish dad passed away in my arms after suffering from Alzheimers for 20 yrs. The kids and grandkid gathered around and we had a shot of Irish in his honor. My friend and I stayed up and killed the bottle. Same friend who took me in when I had no money and no place to live other than my van. I arrived at his place 4 yrs after my sister, his business partner, had passed and in time for my mom’s memorial. It’s been a long 17, almost 18 years. But I’m still here and there is living still to be done. Which is why you are going through all that you are. Greave at their loss, celebrate their lives, live your own. It took my sister 60 yrs and cancer that killed her 6 yrs later to realize that you only get one chance at life. Do the best you can, be a better person, make a positive mark, not just be a number in a book somewhere that no one will ever see.

  164. 164.

    J R in WV

    Here in SW WVa the weather is swinging from Hot Summertime to Cool/Cold Fall in no time at all.

    I took the snow tires (worn out didn’t remove them last spring!) off the little suv and put the other set of wheels with all-weather tires on yesterday. Much quieter running, smoother driving as well. Plan is to not drive in icy weather. All wheel drive and newish tread works OK in plain old snow, freezing rain and ice needs snow tires also too as well.

    Hope winter is white, otherwise everything is grey and brown, gloomy. White snow lifts the spirits. Is that demanding too much from nature? I just want a traditional weather pattern…. oops, maybe too late~!

  165. 165.

    Mnemosyne

    @Sister Golden Bear:

    Sorry, I may not have been clear — he actually died in January (of 2013), but the holiday that made me break down was Father’s Day, for reasons cited above. Basically, I was saying that you will feel sudden surges of grief at odd times that just happen to trigger something in you, and that’s okay. ((((hugs))))

    @Steve in the ATL:

    My dad was a stubborn old bastard and Christmas was his very favorite holiday, so he managed to hold out until January 3rd. There were 5 contributing causes of death on his death certificate, including two separate tumors, emphysema, and kidney failure, but healthcare-induced pneumonia was considered the top cause.

    Like I said, stubborn old bastard. I think he was also determined to NOT die before 12/31 so it wouldn’t fuck up our taxes, because keeping the IRS at arms length was another thing he cared about deeply enough that it would have fueled him to stay alive past the New Year.

    He was not an easy man to have as a father, but I loved him and he loved me.

Comments are closed.