Peter

From the Telegraph: Iran has chosen self-destruction, and is happy to take the world down with it Story by Sherelle Jacobs. The Iranian regime has chosen suicide. True, it will take some time for the logical conclusion of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s fatal and probably irreversible course of action to play out. Like a pre-AI automaton incapable of adapting to the input of new information, the BBC will continue to blather about Iran’s capacity for “strategic patience” and the risks of Israel “dragging” the US into a regional war. Tehran faces either a Soviet-style collapse amid a regional war it cannot afford, or bloody regime change as the revolution is eaten by its children. By directly attacking Israel from its own soil, Iran has initiated a battle of brinkmanship that it cannot possibly win. Some will argue that it was Israel that ripped up the playbook when an Iranian general was killed in Syria in an airstrike that hit parts of Tehran’s “consulate”. Still, Jerusalem’s new red lines are by now perfectly obvious to anyone of sound mind. Israel knows that it cannot afford to let the Iranian onslaught pass without a response. It also knows that Tehran – possibly soon with nuclear weapons – is likely to escalate co-ordinated displays of aggression from Syria in the east and from Hezbollah in Lebanon in the north. And with the West whispering that a pivot to Asia looms, Israel may well have decided that it is now or never. Today, it can count on America’s support in the event of a full-blown regional war; this may not be the case in a few years’ time. In other words, Jerusalem is unlikely to back down. But while a regional war would test Israel, it would destroy Iran, for the simple reason that Tehran cannot afford to take on its adversary. To raise the billions needed to bankroll its nuclear program and prop up Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, it has already raised taxes by eye-watering amounts and devalued its currency to dangerous levels. The situation may have reached a tipping point where Iran cannot increase spending to meet the demands of military escalation without bringing about its effective bankruptcy or presiding over an economic collapse likely to trigger a popular revolt. It seems equally unlikely, however, that Tehran can back down without a tremendous loss of face. Its credibility among the new generation of Islamists who prop up the regime would surely be destroyed. Khamenei would struggle to revert to his earlier strategy of channeling their bellicose energies into a domestic war on headscarf rebels . . . .

The movie, “Scoop,” on Netflix is interesting if you want to find out see how “the news” in the modern world is generated. It follows the Royal scandal involving Prince Andrew. Andrew is played by Rufus Sewell who also appeared as Lord Melbourne on the show “Victoria.” And the other big part is played by Dana Scully, 'X-Files' alum, Gillian Anderson. “The truth is out there.” “I’m not a skeptic. I’m a scientist.” – Dana Scully

I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to summer. What’s a good song to celebrate summer? “Heat Wave” sung by Ella Fitzgerald. Give it a listen. Peter "Heat Wave" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin for the 1933 musical As Thousands Cheer, We are having a heat wave A tropical heat wave The temperature's rising, it isn't surprising She certainly can, can-can She started the heat wave By letting her seat wave And in such a way that the customers say that, she certainly can, can-can . . . . The Meaning Behind The Song: Heat Wave by Ella Fitzgerald September 8, 2023 / By Lynette Coleman: Ella Fitzgerald’s rendition of the song “Heat Wave” has captivated audiences for decades. Released in 1933, it quickly became a timeless classic in the jazz genre. The song was written by Irving Berlin, a prolific composer and lyricist who was known for his ability to capture the essence of a particular era. “Heat Wave” is no exception, as it paints a vivid picture of the scorching summer heat and the emotions that it can evoke. At its core, “Heat Wave” is a metaphor for the intensity of desire and the overwhelming emotions that can accompany it. The lyrics of the song describe the sweltering heat of a summer day and how it mirrors the passionate feelings experienced during an intense romantic encounter. By juxtaposing the physical heat of the weather with the burning desire of love, the song creates a powerful and evocative experience for listeners.

I enjoy Christmas and Easter, but I also enjoy a separation of church and state. Unless I think about it, I am fairly unaware that we exist in a country that is primarily Christian, but we are still influenced by "the faithfulness" of others. Every once in a while, we will hear about some "cult" and that immediately makes me go "bah humbug" inside my brain. Is America's culture "Christian?" Some.

There was an article on the net that said Islam is on a great decline in Turkey and Robert Tracinski is insightful about the wider issue. Religion on the decline, May the force be with you. Peter Robert Tracinski wrote: I have a new piece up at Discourse asking, “What Replaces the Biblical Cinematic Universe?” This is part of a series of articles I’ve written in the past few years responding to the precipitous decline in religious belief and trying to figure out what a secular culture—which is where we are clearly headed—can and should look like. Except that in this piece, I am trying to describe what it already looks like. Specifically, I look at the role of “shared spirituality,” that is, “a set of common experiences and references that help us talk about these issues and find a sense of community and fellowship.” . . . . Each of these sci-fi and fantasy series is not just a franchise but a literary universe, not only in the sense of a shared setting with distinctive terminology, but also in a more esthetic and even spiritual sense. All works of art create their own “universe” in the sense of a distinctive view of the universe, of human beings and what we ought to expect from the world. Taking what is probably the most universally known example, consider the values you might draw out of the Star Wars films and stories. There is a longing for adventure, the importance of loyalty to friends, a certain amount of irreverence toward authority, and of course resistance against tyranny; but also an injunction to trust your feelings and intuitions (if we don’t take all that stuff about the Force too literally), and a warning against letting fear, anger and hatred control your life. Or consider my own favored denomination: Star Trek. Its advantage over other franchises is its projection of an ideal future in which we have risen above war, tyranny, and poverty, and achieved a utopia of peace, prosperity, and technological advancement. Anyone who has watched some of the shows has a sense of the “Federation values” that make this utopia possible and what is expected of a Starfleet officer: rationality, professionalism, respect for the individual, tolerance, and intellectual curiosity…. So in addition to matching the scope of religious mythology, these fictional universes also serve the same spiritual function as religion. end quote

“Remind” magazine has an interesting article this month. It claims 1939 was the golden year for Hollywood movies even though World War II was on the horizon. I definitely think they are onto something. Some of my favorites from 1939 were “Gone With The Wind,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Mister Smith Goes to Washington,” “Stagecoach,” “Gunga Din,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Drums Along the Mohawk,” “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” “Huckleberry Finn,” and “Stanley and Livingstone.”

"A Rainy Night in Georgia." And the best and only version is by Brook Benton.

From Newsweek: Former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is now the third favorite to be Donald Trump's vice presidential pick, according to several prominent bookies having seen her odds improve significantly over the past few months . . . . As of 9 a.m. ET on Thursday, Senator Tim Scott was the favorite to be Trump's running mate, with all three bookmakers checked for this piece. PaddyPower and Betfair both put him on 5/1 (16.7 percent) whilst William Hill gave odds of 9/2 (18.2 percent). end quote etc. etc. etc. From Entellingencer: Now that Trump’s GOP takeover is complete, he’s free to pick anyone he wants. And he’ll probably put a lot of stock in personal loyalty and who has “the look” (he’s known to base hiring decisions on whether candidates are “out of central casting”). This is, obviously, very creepy and inappropriate. But it’s something you have to consider when trying to predict Trump’s VP pick. end quote. Joke. Look to the trees, Grasshopper, for the cicadas chirping. As time goes by “the running” mate will stop running. Me think woman, Grasshopper. Tulsi? Maybe the prettiest from a big state. ZZZZZ.

Rubio? Maybe not. They are both living in the same state, so Marco doesn't bring the "extra" votes like someone from Ohio might. A women would matter . . . and I believe there are two possible candidates in that group that might bring electoral and the women's vote. You know that "supposition" may be on the mark because you can type in "Possible Trump VP's" and their names will appear.

We watched “Leave the World Behind” on Netflix tonight starring Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke, and I highly recommend it. It is quite riveting and I suggest watching it early in the evening. Peter From Wikipedia: Leave the World Behind is a 2023 American apocalyptic psychological thriller film written and directed by Sam Esmail. It is based on the 2020 novel by Rumaan Alam. The film stars Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha'la, and Kevin Bacon as they attempt to make sense of the sequential rapid breakdown in phones, television, and other regularly used technology which points to a potential cataclysm. Leave the World Behind had its world premiere at the AFI Fest on October 25, 2023. It was released in select theaters on November 22, 2023, before its streaming release by Netflix on December 8, 2023. It received positive reviews from critics.

Trumps huuuuuge, millions of dollar bail? It’s unconstitutional. Amendment VIII. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Some pet peeves I picked up from the Los Angeles Times Crossword Puzzle. A Hawaiian dance is called the hula and not the hulu. The term “demon possessed” is bogus because no such things as demons exists. Doom and Fate. In a sense they are not a part of reality. If we have free fill then there are only a few bad things that are unavoidable and reality is one of them . . . but I refuse to give up hope as long as I live. Some fun clues and answers? Clue, hint: L.A. digs protective covers. Answer The La Brea Tarps. Clue. It may move you. Answer: Spirit. Clue. Night vision? Answer: Dream.

We really enjoyed “The Holdovers” with Paul Giamatti. It was $5.99 on Paramount but excellent at any price. NEW YORK – Paul Giamatti can’t stop thinking about the Roman Empire. It’s a lifelong fascination that found its way into “The Holdovers,” for which he earned a best actor Oscar nomination playing a cantankerous ancient history teacher. So when we meet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on a recent frosty morning, the beloved star is eager to peruse the Greek and Roman galleries. He marvels at a serpentine bronze strigil – a fourth-century skin care tool – and stops to point out a flinty marble bust from the Julio-Claudian period.

From Associated Press: WASHINGTON (AP) — Sitting at her kitchen table in Alabama, Sen. Katie Britt called President Joe Biden a “dithering and diminished leader” and warned of a bleak American future under his presidency in the Republican rebuttal to his State of the Union address Thursday evening. end quote I only saw the last few moments of it, but the Republican response to Biden’s address was very dramatic. If it were part of a movie, Katie would need to be played by Sally Fields . . . but I still liked what I saw. It was “different.”

From FactCheck.com . . . In his final State of the Union address prior to the November general election, President Joe Biden focused on Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas war, the economy, reproductive rights, prescription drug costs and border security. Biden also criticized many of the policies of “my predecessor” — without naming former President Donald Trump. But he sometimes stretched the facts or left out important context. Biden boasted that under his leadership “wages keep going up.” But over the entirety of Biden’s presidency, wages are down when adjusted for inflation. Biden claimed that the more recent U.S. inflation rate of about 3% is the “lowest in the world!” But several nations reported lower rates than the U.S. in December. He again claimed to have “cut the federal deficit by over one trillion dollars” — although declining deficits have mostly been the result of expiring emergency pandemic spending. Biden said he had created a “record” 15 million new jobs. His 14.8 million new jobs is a record for any president in the first three years, but it’s not the highest job growth rate that any president has achieved in that period of time. He suggested that “many” of the new jobs in U.S. semiconductor factories will be “paying $100,000 a year and don’t require a college degree.” But an industry trade group previously reported that only workers with bachelor’s or graduate degrees make that much. Biden said that, “My policies have attracted $650 billion in private sector investment in clean energy [and] advanced manufacturing.” Those are announcements about intentions to invest, not actual investments. Biden highlighted recent decreases in murder and violent crime rates, but neglected to mention that they are still coming down from their pandemic peak. Biden omitted context of a Trump comment following an Iowa school shooting. The president said billionaires pay an average federal tax rate of only 8.2%, but that’s a White House calculation that includes earnings on unsold stock as income. Biden said that because of the Affordable Care Act, over 100 million people can no longer be denied health insurance due to preexisting conditions. But pre-ACA, employer plans covered many of those people and couldn’t deny policies. Biden said he was “cutting our carbon emissions in half by 2030.” That’s the U.S. goal, relative to 2005 emissions, but studies suggest current policies will not reduce emissions by that much.