Very good animation (natch, it's Pixar), even better than Toy Story 3 (we watched the TS3 DVD the day before). Good character development, several serious adult themes but children can appreciate it on their own levels. It has its intense and creepy moments (kids might not be able to stay still for those), but they aren't excessive. Comic relief is not infrequent. Music and volume are fine.
How Long Can John Bolton Take This? [Click] The first paragraph is the best synopsis of the Kim-Trump meeting at the DMZ that I have read; it would be very difficult to improve upon.
I think I will send Booker a single small donation to help him qualify for the third Democratic debate. I find myself musing about a Warren-Booker ticket. But it seems Booker doesn't have the chops to lead a ticket.
Good to see both Biden and Harris on the way down the rankings. May they both plummet like rocks!
One of my e-mails yesterday suggested a Warren/Buttigieg ticket. I could live with that. How 'bout you guys? Of course, my first choice remains Sanders/Abrams. But over the weekend I started toying with Sanders/Gravel. Two grumpy old white guys who don't like war or fossil fuels, who want to provide a living wage and build strong unions again,who want to bring back and turbocharge the New Deal and Great Society... I donno. Sounds pretty good to me.
I have ruled out Biden and Harris for spots on the ticket. Pete for Veep? Well, that is plausible--it isn't comparable to Kerry-Edwards. I prefer Warren to Bernie these days, but Bernie would be good and I continue to send a little love to each of them. Abrams for Veep sounds good, certainly. Oh, I just remembered a news story about Mike Pence flying somewhere, sudenly turning around and returning to DC. Will have to look it up. (I was reminded of Pence while thinking of Booker or Abrams debating him--either would make chopped liver of him, I think.)
Wil's first response was: "Great. What has Bozo done now?" Then he added: "I think Putin’s trying to keep Trump from nuking Iran and Bolton’s telling him to hurry up and drop one. Russia and China are down wind from Iran if the wind is SSW"
It sounds ominous, but whatever is going on Cheetolini will probably blurt it out because he *cannot keep his mouth shut*, also I'm quite sure he doesn't want anything ruining his Glory to Me 4th of July mess.
Of course, Russia is actually considerably north of Iran. Pakistan and Afghanistan would fare far worse. So I'm not so sure that would bother Moscow too much. Their concern may be more related to arms sales. Or maybe they're going to do something dastardly together.
The Total Solar Eclipse (visible in the southern hemisphere) starts in 7 minutes. That gives you just enough time to download The Weather Channel app, as that's the only place live streaming the eclipse.
Damn! I always watch A Capitol Fourth with Dad. It's one of those father/daughter bonding things. It doesn't hurt that Barry Manilow is often the opening act. But I'm not interested in watching it if there are going to be tanks and crap like that! I'll have to see if I can navigate the PBS site to see what if anything they say about it.
Along with Toy Story 4 they showed the trailer for Onward [Click], the next Pixar film, due out March 6th next year. It looks really fine! Ought to be good for tweenagers and up, and enjoyable for younger kids, I think.
Over the past few days I've been reading a YA thriller series called The Homelanders by Andrew Klavan:
The Last Thing I Remember The Long Way Home The Truth of the Matter The Final Hour
Our young hero, Charlie West, is patriotic though not blindly so, a person of faith though not cloyingly so, a black belt in Karate, scared of girls (in particular the beautiful and sweet Beth Summers), fond of his parents, chronically exasperated by his sister, devoted (though he doesn't realize it) to his few close friends and constantly at odds with his extremely annoying History teacher, Mr. Sherman. In short, he is a normal, ordinary teenage boy...until he wakes up to find himself strapped to a chair, being tortured. The series recounts the intertwined stories of his attempt to get home and of how he ended up in such a fix. Both the patriotism and the faith are laid on with a slightly heavy hand, but not so much as to be off-putting. Charlie is a nice kid, quite likeable, and I was rooting for him the whole way. He has some adult help on his quest, but he also encounters some very adult problems and obstacles. There's no bad language, but lots of chills and thrills. I enjoyed the series.
Film review: Toy Story 4
ReplyDeleteVery good animation (natch, it's Pixar), even better than Toy Story 3 (we watched the TS3 DVD the day before). Good character development, several serious adult themes but children can appreciate it on their own levels. It has its intense and creepy moments (kids might not be able to stay still for those), but they aren't excessive. Comic relief is not infrequent. Music and volume are fine.
Just read a review in this week's Nation. They liked it too. Must be good if you and The Nation agree. :)
DeleteI take it back. The review was in The New Yorker.
DeleteFire aboard nuclear-powered Russian AS-12 submersible kills 14 crew members.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48844013
Apparently a full complement of crew is 25.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_submarine_Losharik
Dramatic ANTarctic sea ice loss [Click]
ReplyDeleteTrump Slaps Tariffs on Solar Panels [Click] While the invisible hand of the marketplace is squeezing coal relentlessly…
Trump’s bullshitting is worse than lying. [Click] Case in point of the day:
Trump Thinks Homelessness Is A ‘Phenomenon’ That Started ‘Two Years Ago’ [Click] And is limited to Los Angeles and San Francisco?
How Long Can John Bolton Take This? [Click] The first paragraph is the best synopsis of the Kim-Trump meeting at the DMZ that I have read; it would be very difficult to improve upon.
Josh Marshall on Trump’s highjacking of the national Fourth of July celebration [Click] Looks like some parts are frankly illegal.
Illegal? When has that stopped our flabby, I mean fearless leader?
DeleteCory Booker gets a fundraising bump off the first debate [Click]
ReplyDeleteAxios-NewsWhip 2020 attention tracker: Bernie's power [Click]
I think I will send Booker a single small donation to help him qualify for the third Democratic debate. I find myself musing about a Warren-Booker ticket. But it seems Booker doesn't have the chops to lead a ticket.
DeleteGood to see both Biden and Harris on the way down the rankings. May they both plummet like rocks!
DeleteOne of my e-mails yesterday suggested a Warren/Buttigieg ticket. I could live with that. How 'bout you guys? Of course, my first choice remains Sanders/Abrams. But over the weekend I started toying with Sanders/Gravel. Two grumpy old white guys who don't like war or fossil fuels, who want to provide a living wage and build strong unions again,who want to bring back and turbocharge the New Deal and Great Society... I donno. Sounds pretty good to me.
I have ruled out Biden and Harris for spots on the ticket. Pete for Veep? Well, that is plausible--it isn't comparable to Kerry-Edwards. I prefer Warren to Bernie these days, but Bernie would be good and I continue to send a little love to each of them. Abrams for Veep sounds good, certainly. Oh, I just remembered a news story about Mike Pence flying somewhere, sudenly turning around and returning to DC. Will have to look it up. (I was reminded of Pence while thinking of Booker or Abrams debating him--either would make chopped liver of him, I think.)
ReplyDeleteWhat Exactly Is Going On With Mike Pence’s Abrupt Return To The White House? [Click]
DeleteIt gets worse.
DeletePence recalled to the White House, UN security council emergency meeting, Putin calls security advisors for emergency meeting.
^ Dean blogger Liane posted this first. As she stays very informed, I sat up and paid attention.
DeleteWil's first response was: "Great. What has Bozo done now?" Then he added:
Delete"I think Putin’s trying to keep Trump from nuking Iran and Bolton’s telling him to hurry up and drop one.
Russia and China are down wind from Iran if the wind is SSW"
It sounds ominous, but whatever is going on Cheetolini will probably blurt it out because he *cannot keep his mouth shut*, also I'm quite sure he doesn't want anything ruining his Glory to Me 4th of July mess.
DeleteOf course, Russia is actually considerably north of Iran. Pakistan and Afghanistan would fare far worse. So I'm not so sure that would bother Moscow too much. Their concern may be more related to arms sales. Or maybe they're going to do something dastardly together.
DeleteOh joy.
DeleteI think Liane was misled by something on social media. No mention of such goings-on in the press that I can see.
DeleteThe Total Solar Eclipse (visible in the southern hemisphere) starts in 7 minutes. That gives you just enough time to download The Weather Channel app, as that's the only place live streaming the eclipse.
ReplyDeleteIs Fearless Leader's "Soviet Republic of Me" military parade malarkey going to interfere with the annual Capitol Fourth celebration televised on PBS?
ReplyDeleteOh no, not interfere; improve!
DeleteDamn! I always watch A Capitol Fourth with Dad. It's one of those father/daughter bonding things. It doesn't hurt that Barry Manilow is often the opening act. But I'm not interested in watching it if there are going to be tanks and crap like that! I'll have to see if I can navigate the PBS site to see what if anything they say about it.
DeleteAlong with Toy Story 4 they showed the trailer for Onward [Click], the next Pixar film, due out March 6th next year. It looks really fine! Ought to be good for tweenagers and up, and enjoyable for younger kids, I think.
ReplyDeleteOh, and Trump capitulated on the census citizenship question.
ReplyDeleteHe didn't! That's fantastic!
DeleteOver the past few days I've been reading a YA thriller series called The Homelanders by Andrew Klavan:
ReplyDeleteThe Last Thing I Remember
The Long Way Home
The Truth of the Matter
The Final Hour
Our young hero, Charlie West, is patriotic though not blindly so, a person of faith though not cloyingly so, a black belt in Karate, scared of girls (in particular the beautiful and sweet Beth Summers), fond of his parents, chronically exasperated by his sister, devoted (though he doesn't realize it) to his few close friends and constantly at odds with his extremely annoying History teacher, Mr. Sherman. In short, he is a normal, ordinary teenage boy...until he wakes up to find himself strapped to a chair, being tortured. The series recounts the intertwined stories of his attempt to get home and of how he ended up in such a fix. Both the patriotism and the faith are laid on with a slightly heavy hand, but not so much as to be off-putting. Charlie is a nice kid, quite likeable, and I was rooting for him the whole way. He has some adult help on his quest, but he also encounters some very adult problems and obstacles. There's no bad language, but lots of chills and thrills. I enjoyed the series.
Penpersonship story of the day? week? month? year? or? [Click]
ReplyDeleteThe Day Denuclearization Died [Click]
ReplyDeleteCNN: Few answers for abrupt cancellation of Pence's trip to New Hampshire [Click] SNAFU CITY!
Judge blocks Trump policy keeping asylum-seekers locked up [Click]
Veterans will give out USS John McCain T-shirts at Trump's July 4th event [Click]